Chapter Twelve

The storm didn't last very long, only a few minutes, and Silver Star used that chance to return home, like Warsmith told her to. The next few weeks, the young filly continued to visit her giant metal friend, telling him about her day and playing a few games with her. Even when she brought homework that stumped her, the Dreadnought helped her figure it out. Granted, she wanted him to tell her the answer, but the giant kept saying. "One does not learn, if they are just told. They must find the answer themselves, while their teacher simply points them in the right direction." She didn't understand it fully, but Silver Star could understand that the Dreadnought was passing down some wisdom to her.

One day, the filly quickly returned home, her mother hadn't returned yet from having to deal with an issue that Mayor Mare needed assistance with, Spike helping Rarity like always. So, Silver Star flew to her room, and pulled out the pictures she drew of her and the Dreadnought. For some reason, today, she drew one with her mother and herself, Warsmith behind the two of them. Silver Star did not understand why she did it, but something about doing it felt right. The image made her smile, almost like a complete family portrait.

Then it hit her, Ms. Cheerilee wanted to do a show and tell tomorrow, and Silver Star didn't know what to bring. Most colts and fillies bring something that belongs to either of their parents… She has already brought everything her mother had to offer. "Silver! I'm home!" Twilight yelled, snapping the alicorn filly out of her trance. The sounds of hoof clops coming up the stairs followed. "Are you home, sweetie?"

"I'm in my room, mummy!" Silver Star replied, quickly gathering up the pictures and hid them under her bed, replacing her drawings with finished homework.

The door slowly opened, Twilight walking in with a tired sigh. "How is my silly filly today?" She asked, nuzzling the filly.

"I'm good, mummy. Just going over my homework, real fast." Silver Star said, Twilight pulling away. "And what I will bring with me tomorrow…"

"Oh, tomorrow is show and tell, isn't it?" Twilight asked, rubbing the back of her head. "So, what would you like to burrow this time?" She asked.

"I've already showed everypony your things, mummy…" Silver Star noted, her mother frowning. "I was thinking… Maybe I could bring something of daddy's?" The filly's gaze went to the tusked helmet, hanging on the wall.

Twilight looked to the helmet, as well, and then smiled. "I like that idea, sweetie. Show the others how special you are, having two unbelievable parents." She said, flying up and unhooking the helmet, before going back to the filly. "Be careful, though… No telling what will happen, if you play with it too much."

Silver Star nodded, taking the rather heavy helmet with her magic. "I will, mummy… Promise." She agreed, smiling at the fact that she had something new to show off. "I will be extra careful."

Twilight nuzzled Silver Star again, smiling. "I know you will, sweetie… And daddy will be watching, so give him a show!" She said, the filly gaining a determined gaze.

-Ponyville Schoolhouse-

Silver Star was nervous, placing a hoof on the oversized bag every now and then. Her turn was coming up soon, waiting on the unicorn colt, Avin Lulamoon to stop showing off his mother's magician's hat and cape. She didn't know how to present the helmet, all of her ideas were too overconfident or show boating for her classmates. Plus, she didn't have very many friends here, and didn't want to one up anypony.

"Thank you, Avin, for once again showing us your mother's former outfit." Ms. Cheerilee said, ending the colt's long winded speech.

"Of course you should be thankful, Ms. Cheerilee. Tis not every day that Avin shows off his other's greatness!" Avin said, showing his mother's flare for third person talking.

Ms. Cheerilee rolled her eyes, then looked at the paper. "Alright, next up is Silver Star." She said, giving a warm smile. "Come on up, sweetheart, and show us what you've brought."

"Y-Yes, ma'am." Silver Star said, grabbing the bag and trying her best to fly it over to Ms. Cheerilee's desk.

Mid-flight, the filly overheard the class bully whisper. "Great, she's probably brought one of her mother's prized books again." Sapphire Crown said, rolling her eyes. "Should have guessed as much, from some blank flank."

The comment made Silver Star even more nervous, as she sat the bag down, and stood behind it. "So, Silver Star, what have you brought?" Ms. Cheerilee asked, still holding her warm smile.

"W-Well, I know everypony probably thinks I brought something from my mother, but this time…" Silver Star opened her bag, showing some of the iron gray helmet. "But this time is different… I brought something that belonged to my father."

"Something boring, probably." Sapphire Crown whispered, rolling her eyes, the other foals nodding.

Silver Star pulled out the helmet, and sat it down in front of her. The helmet's tusks allowed the red eyes to be seen. "This helmet belonged to the strongest, coolest, and unbelievable pony; my mother knew…. My father, Iron Warrior." She said, smiling at the confused group of foals, some were even beaming with excitement at the battle worn helmet. "My mom said he left his helmet behind, before facing off with a dangerous monster… Saving her life, along with my aunts Rarity and Rainbow Dash." The helmet's eyes flashed for a mere moment, giving it a mysterious look.

"Oh please, everypony knows that isn't true." Sapphire Crown blurted out, the other foals looking at her. "Everypony knows that your father left after finding out your mom was pregnant."

"Sapphire Crown!" Ms. Cheerilee yelled out, making Silver Star jump a bit.

"Well, it's true! My older sister, Diamond Tiara, said her mother is unbearably high maintence and scared him off." The royal blue earth pony filly said, defending herself. "Besides, she's a blank flank still. I don't see how she is Princess Twilight's daughter."

"Take that back!" Silver Star screamed, accidently kicking the helmet. This caused the relic piece to turn on, and start speaking the same language, she heard from Warsmith's body.

The foals all looked at the helmet, as the helmet's eyes lit up red. "Scanning target now." The helmet blurted out, in a monotone voice. The eyes were locked directly on Sapphire Crown. "Royal Blue overweight equine foal, female. Physical Body Structure: Thirty-five percent. Combat Ability: Fifteen percent. Intelligence Level: Ten percent. Total Threat Level: Zero."

The class began to flat out laugh at what was just said, though Silver Star was tearing up over what Sapphire Crown said. "D-Did that piece of junk just call me stupid and fat!?" The bully yelled.

"Affirmative." The helmet confirmed, the class laughing even louder, before continuing. "User mental state unstable. Danger to User being only possibility. Alerting nearest Battle Brother." The sounds of beeping followed.

-Everfree Forest-

Warmsith slowly came back to life, waking from his slumber, but still unable to move. "Wha-huh?" He grumbled, his thunderous voice scaring off a few birds. "An Iron Warriors' Distress Beacon? Terminator Codes, from my helmet?" He slowly nodded, internally. "Confirm acknowledgement of Distress Beacon."

-Ponyville Schoolhouse-

"Messaged received. Venerable Dreadnought made contact. Course of Action: Alert Venerable Dreadnought of position, or lead aggressors to Dreadnought; so they may bring the Legion's wrath." The helmet announced, some of the foals freaking out.

"That piece of junk is useless, as the blank flank that brought it!" Sapphire Crown said, Silver Star tearing up even more… This was the one thing she had of her father, and the moment she had a chance to show it off, everything was ruined.

Without a word, the alicorn filly packed the helmet up, into her bag, and flew off with it!" Silver Star, wait!" Ms. Cheerilee yelled, but the filly was already long gone by then.

Silver Star just kept flying, despite the blinding tears in her eyes. She ignored all the ponies telling her to slow down, or asking what was wrong, and just kept flying towards the Everfree Forest. Before she knew it, the filly ran right into a familiar metal leg. "Strange way to say hello, Silver." Warsmith said, as Silver Star shook the daze off.

"S-Sorry…" She mumbled, wiping both eyes with her hoof, removing the large back from her back. "I-I just had to get away from school, and didn't see where I was flying."

"Why is that, Silver?" Warsmith asked, secretly wishing he could move to comfort her more.

"A stupid bully was saying my father didn't want a blank flank, like me, after I showed off his helmet… That my mom ran him off because how she-…" Silver Star was cut off by a bellowing growl from Warsmith.

"Do not believe such words, Silver!" He roared, making the filly jump. "Your father would have loved you, and cherished you from day one!"

"H-How do you know?" Silver Star asked, never seeing this side of the Dreadnought.

"I will just say that I knew him, before being entombed within this Dreadnought." Warsmith answered, the filly tilting her head. "Your father loved your mother, and gave up his life to protect her. I know this, because that was the battle which caused my entombment!"

"What do you mean 'caused you entombment'?" Silver Star asked, rubbing her eyes more, before another question came up. "And… You never told me why you can't move." She flew up to his helmet, looking into his visor.

"I fought alongside your father, during the battle. By the end, my body was damaged and I was entombed within one of my Legion's venerated Dreadnoughts." Warsmith answered, the filly listening while she floated there. "As for why I cannot move, I do not know. I believe it has something to do with my cybernetics. I am waiting to be called by someone special."

Silver Star nodded, landing on to the Dreadnought's chest. "M-Mind if I… Stayed here for a while?" She asked.

"Go ahead, little one. But do not stay too long, we don't want your mother worrying." He agreed, the filly laying down next to his helmet, slowly falling asleep. "Really wish I could move, so I can vent this rage." Warsmith thought, preparing to enter his slumber once more.

Silver Star, feeling a parental protective aura wash over her, was already in a dream like state. When she heard his words, the filly smiled, and yawned. "Ok… Daddy…" This caused Warsmith to internally flinch, but also smiled. Hearing her call him that, actually made the Dreadnought feel like he was out of the tomb once more…. Felt like he could touch the filly, and hug her. The armor slightly responding with a creaking sound, but it didn't move.

-Just Outside of Ponyville-

The III Legion Tactical Marine kept himself hidden, nearby the train station, per Narious orders. From what he could tell, besides the equine creatures, some having psyker abilities and others able to fly, the town was defenseless. The Astartes honestly felt like packing up and calling it a day. That is, until a familiar lavender pony caught his attention. "What's this?" The Astartes muttered, his visor zooming in on the cross bred mare, with both wings and a horn. "It is one of the equine creatures… But she seems familiar."

The mare was standing outside of the train station, tapping her hoof. From what the Astartes could tell, she was waiting on someone, impatiently. "Twilight Sparkle!" A male voice called out, making the Astartes go wide eyed.

"It's her! That slave the Warsmith had!" He, mentally, yelled.

"Twilight, how are you, dear?" A unicorn stallion asked, walking up to her with two pagasi behind him.

"I'm good, Bone Saw." She replied, hugging the unicorn, then the two pegasi. "Silver Star is at school, I hope we can-…"

"Princess Twilight!" A female voice yelled, drawing the four's attention, as a magenta mare ran up to them, she obviously looked frantic to the Astartes.

"Ms. Cheerilee? What's wrong, did school let out early?" Twilight asked, the four suddenly noticing her panicked state.

"I-It's Silver Star… She's missing." Ms. Cheerilee said, between breaths. "She ran out, during her presentation…. Sapphire Crown made fun of her, and caused her to have a breakdown…" The mare looked around, eyes wide. "I searched all over Ponyville, but I couldn't find her!"

The unicorn stepped towards the mare. "Calm down, Ms. Cheerilee, we will find her." He said, looking at the now distressed Twilight. "Twilight, is there anywhere Silver would have gone, when she is upset?"

Twilight snapped herself out of the panicked daze. "She would sometimes go to a random cloud, above Ponyville, or the park, to calm herself down… B-But I don't know." She answered.

Bone Saw nodded, looking at the two pegasi. "Storm Shield, Sky Sword; check the clouds." He ordered, the two replying with an "on it!" and shot off. "Ms. Cheerilee and I will continue the search, through Ponyville… Twilight, go get Star Saber and Spike. The more we have searching, the better." Twilight nodded, teleporting to the Friendship Castle.

"A-Are you sure we can find her, before she gets hurt?" Ms. Cheerilee asked, the two galloping off.

"Ms. Cheerilee… I know my niece, she is strong as her father and mother." He said, smirking. "And I'm confident we will find her."

The III Legion Astartes watched all that happened, remembering seeing a filly bolting to the nearby forest not too long ago. Smirking, he reached up, to the side of his helmet, and activated a vox channel. "Captain…. I have some new information."