-Chapter Eight-
-Irongarde's Cathedral-
The entire ship's Warband, including the mortal crew not working vital positions on the ship, had gathered. Many were silent, not wishing to disrespect the warsmith, others were whispering to one another, wondering what this was about. All became silent, when Zarrix walked out on stage, the girls and Kalex right behind him, and stopped at the position where vox speakers had been set up. These were in place to help the crowds hear him, along with inform those not able to make it.
The warsmith looked at those, who had catered. There was no order to it, Astartes stood with mortals, and the crowd was mixed together. It reminded him of the days when they fought for the Imperium, alongside the Imperial Guard. He let out a long sigh of regret. He had been lying to them, and himself, this whole time.
"Brothers… And crew of the Irongarde… As you all know, we are being pursued by three warships of the III Legion." He started, whispers of hate towards the III Legion, along with mortal fears, quietly followed. "They had been planning to betray us, this whole time. However, the attack on our command vehicle and our retreat from battle prevented their ambush. They now have to try and chase us down. Because of them." Zarrix motioned to the girls, Kalex stoically standing guard over them. "They are special, and unique. The Emperor's Children want them, as tribute, to their foul Daemon God. I will admit, they are extremely special. I knew, the moment I saw them, and claimed the three as mine."
"They shall not have them!" An Iron Warrior yelled.
"We will fight them, to the last Legionnaire, before they even touch them!" Another yelled.
Others began to put their own input, but quickly silenced when Zarrix motioned for it. "I am glad you all feel this way, but I know it will change once I tell you why they are special." He continued having a hard time figuring out a way to word the next part. "They are not human, but forms of equine creatures." Gasps were heard throughout the crowds, along with whispers of disbelief. "They became this way, after passing through a dimensional abnormality." Zarrix motioned for the girls to join him, allowing the three to stand in front of him. "They are Princess Twilight Sparkle, Miss Rarity, and Weather Captain Rainbow Dash. Before any of you ask how I know this… Well, seems there was a few data files that had recorded some of their many adventures… This has been the source of how I retained my sanity. With the III Legion now after them, I have ordered the Irongarde to return to Orion V. To get them home."
"My Warsmith! Why do you wish to protect them?" A Legionnaire asked, many agreeing with the question.
"Because, I have lied to you all… I haven't supported the Long War, like many of you." Zarrix admitted, those whispering falling silent. "I only went along with it, due to our Lord was in support of it all, and believed in it." He stopped, looking at the sage edge, in thought. He was brought back, as Twilight placed a hand on his power claw, smiling up at him. Zarrix nodded, turning his attention back to the crowd. "In truth, I longed to, once again, engage in glorious conquest, without worry of betrayal due to the influence of Daemons and sacrificing our honor for their own malicious intent… To once again raise the war banners over the ruined fortress of our enemy!" No one interrupted him, no one had any words to challenge him. "I saw this, even though the act was small, as a chance for redemption… To return our honor!"
The crowd stayed silent, the Astartes looking at one another, while the mortals were too afraid to. The silence was broken, when Sergeant Malk and Alor stepped forward. "My Warsmith… Are you saying, the adventures these three took part in… Kept you from falling into madness and insanity, like our brothers?" Sergeant Malk asked.
Zarrix nodded to them. "That is correct. They allowed me to remember who I was, to hold on to what it means to be an Iron Warrior of the IV Legion."
The two Sergeants looked at one another, and nodded, before facing the crowd. "Brothers!" Sergeant Alor yelled, all eyes on him. "No matter where they are from, or who they are… It seems we have a debt to repay! A debt, which our honor is on the line for! If our Warsmith says they need to return home, for him to feel redeem… I say we enforce their journey home with our ranks, our corpses if need be, and see them home!" Sergeant Alor threw his fist into the air. "Who is with me!?"
The entire Cathedral was in an uproar, of Astartes cheering! Every one of them yelling about personally leading them home, becoming a shield for the girls, or how they will personally lay waste to the III Legion to protect them. The display shocked the girls, Zarrix's emotion remaining unreadable because of helmet. They all fell silent, when Zarrix raised his claw up again. "I thank you all for this, my brothers… But I know we cannot do this alone." His gaze went to the mortal crew. "That is why I ask you, not demand you… Crew of the Irongarde Battle-Barge… Will you help us get them home? Will you stand against the III Legion? I can understand if you are too afraid to."
None of the mortal crew said a word, many looked scared out of their mind. Zarrix sighed, he knew this was a long shot. They weren't Astartes, and wouldn't stand a chance against the genetically enhanced Emperor's Children. "For Warsmith Zarrix, the Unbreakable!" One yelled, followed by mortal cheers…. Astartes soon rejoining the cheers.
Those on stage nodded at the cheers, Zarrix asking for silence again. "Once Twilight finds where we need to go, we will reinforce the position. Every mortal will be on the planet, set Servitors to man the Irongarde." He said, letting out a small chuckle. "I have a plan for… Unexpected reinforcements. Now go, my sons, my children! Prepare for battle. Praise your armor and weapons, chant the rites for their power in battle! Prepare the Machines of War, to battle our enemy! Awaken our Slumbering Fallen, so they may stalk the lands once more and destroy our foes! Dismissed!"
The Irongarde echoed with cheers all along the ship's corridors, sounds of those preparing everything need, before the crowd began to disperse, those on stage gathered around one another. "That was epic, Zarrix!" Rainbow Dash said, Twilight hugging on to his waist.
"Yes, though I did have a hard time thinking of what to say." Zarrix looked to Sergeant Malk and Alor. "I must thank the two of you… Your assistance was valuable."
They both nodded. "We are Astartes of the IV Legion, and sons of Perturabo… But you are our Warsmith, and you have faithfully lead us for centuries…" Sergeant Malk started, Alor placing a fist over his chest.
"Our loyalty falls to you, Warsmith. Honor dictates we follow your lead, even to the Imperial Palace or the Eye of Terror itself." Sergeant Alor finished.
"Such loyalty…" Rarity said, placing a hand over her heart. "I must admit, seeing such a display makes one want to rally to them. Not to mention, why Rainbow Dash here is mixes so well with you all." She giggled.
"What do you mean, Lady Rarity" Sergeant Malk asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Oh, darling, the three of us are part of the Elements of Harmony. Rainbow Dash being the Element of Loyalty." She giggled, motioning to herself. "Mine being Generosity, and Princess Twilight's being Magic."
The two Sergeant looked at one another, confused. "Do not underestimate it, because of the name. The Elements of Harmony defeated three god-like beings, one of them twice." Zarrix said, Kalex giving a confirming nod. The new information made the two Sergeants give them a bit of distance.
-Over Orion V-
Twilight was on the Irongarde's bridge, sitting on the command throne. Both of her eyes were closed, concentrating all her power on locating the Nexus Point. It was much harder, this world did not have the abundant magic that Equestria had. However, she cannot give up and the crew were waiting for her. She pushed it further, a lavender aura appearing around her body. Sweat began to fall down her forehead, this was becoming straining for her.
When the point appeared, as a lavender dot to her mind. "There!" Twilight yelled, pointing towards the world, a purple dot appearing on the view window. "It is within a large temple, at the city's center." The crew nodded, and began working on the coordinates.
Zarrix walked up next to her, and placed a hand on Twilight's shoulder. "Well done, Princess. Go, and get some rest." She nodded, and quickly left with an Iron Warrior escort. The moment she left, Zarrix looked back to the crew. "Master of Vox!"
"Aye, sir!" The Master of Vox shouted.
"Open a vox channel to any Imperial Astartes Vessel within range." He ordered, the crew looked at the warsmith. "Plan B, encase we fail, and the III Legion is starting to overwhelm us."
They all nodded, smiling at the notion. "Channel open, my lord. Ready when you are." The Master of Vox said.
Zarrix nodded, letting out another stressed sigh. "To any Loyalist Astartes that can hear this message. I am Warsmith Zarrix, the Unbreakable, of the IV Legion, the Iron Warriors. I know it is strange to hear from me, a Traitor Astartes Commander. However, despite what I have done, I only did it because of my orders." Zarrix stopped, thinking about the next part, carefully. "I… Regret every bit of it, guilt rusting my iron soul. I have spent centuries looking for some way to redeem myself, and found it a few weeks ago. My Warband discovered three young maidens, blessed by the God Emperor himself… One possibly having some linage to Lord Sanguinus, due to her angelic wings." The warsmith smirked, he had to think of that one for quite some time. "Now, my Warband… No, my Grand Company, fights to keep her out of the III Legion's hands. They wish to offer them up to their foul, daemonic, god as tribute."
The crew listened to his words, smiling. Some were former Imperial Navy, serving within Redemption Fleets with Astartes. Those words brought tears to their eyes. Images of powerful Imperial Battle-Barges coming out of the warp, to rescue them, appeared in their minds. They prayed that the Emperor's Angels of Death could hear them.
"I will hold them back, for long as I can. My force is dwarfed by their own, but our Will is of Iron. I shall not falter, nor will I let them take these girls. This is our chance at redemption, in the Emperor's eyes. I pray to see you on the battlefield… Brothers." Three words suddenly appeared within his mind, three words he hasn't spoken in many millennia. "For the Emperor." Zarrix finished, motioning for the transmission to be cut. "Did it go through?"
"Yes, my lord. There were eight ships within range of our transmission." The Master of Vox answered. "Whether they pay any mind, is unknown."
Zarrix nodded. "Open a vox throughout the ship." The Master of Vox nodded, and gave him the green light once done. "Attention, Sixty-Seventh Grand Company, this is the Warsmith! Upon my orders, prepare for battle, we go to war!" The vox channel quickly shut off, as Zarrix turned around. "I will join them soon, there are a few things I must handle first." The crew nodded, and began deployment operations.
-Irongarde's Brig-
Zarrix knew the way here, and now he was standing in front of a cell. Glaring at him, were three sets of Astartes eyes. "I know none of you have any reason to trust me… However, I cannot hold you any longer. Not if I wish to complete my redemption." He said, a mortal opening the cell. "Your armor is down the hall, along with your weapons."
"The only redemption, for traitors, is death!" One of the Minotaur spat out, the other two remaining silent.
"That may be so… And I will probably face it, killing Astartes of the III Legion and protecting three girls blessed by the Emperor." Zarrix said, leaving them while the mortal freed the three. "You are free to do, as you please. Whether you fight the Emperor's Children with us, or run away… Is your choice."
He may regret doing this, but it is a must. They could be of use in their last stand to protect the girls. His attention was caught when a vox started to beep, and activated it. "My Warsmith." It was one of his Captains.
"Speak, I am heading to get the girls ready" Zarrix said, moving through the corridors.
"The Grand Company is ready for deployment, we await your orders." The Captain said.
"Have the Techmarines awaken our Venerated Brothers?" Zarrix asked, walking on to an elevator.
"Yes, my Warsmith." The Captain answered, Zarrix nodded. "They have even woke your old guard."
"Good, the Grand Company is green to deploy." Zarrix said, smirking at the thought of seeing his close brothers again. "We will join you soon. Iron Within."
"Iron Without, Warsmith." The Captain cut the vox channel.
-Zarrix's Chambers-
"Are you sure it is possible, Twilight?" Rarity asked, placing a hand on her friend's shoulder. "It took a lot for you to find the Nexus Point, alone."
"I'm sure, Rarity… Though, I will be needing a lot of rest afterwards." Twilight said, smiling at her friends. "Let's just focus on going home."
Before Rarity could say another word, the doors opened and Zarrix walked in. Kalex saluted and the warsmith returned it. "It is time. There is a Thunderhawk waiting for us, in Hanger Bay Seven." He said, looking to Kalex. "Escort Rainbow Dash and Rarity to the Hanger. I wish to speak with Princess Twilight alone." The champion nodded, having the two girls follow him, Zarrix's eyes fell on to her, who was barely a meter away from the Terminator. "Twilight, I-…"
He was interrupted, when she suddenly ran forward and hugged his waist. "Please… Don't do anything stupid, when we leave." She demanded, trying to hold back the tears but failing horribly.
Zarrix smiled, and placed a claw over her. "I won't, promise." He agreed, stepping back and pulling something out of his armor. When he held it out to her, Twilight noticed it was a necklace, with the Iron Warriors' insignia on it. "It has a distress beacon within it. If I am away, and you're in danger… Press the symbol, and the beacon will be sent to my cybernetics."
Twilight nodded, and placed the necklace around her neck. "I wish you could come with us, Zarrix." She admitted, smiling up at him. "I doubt I'll find anypony like you, in Equestria."
"I am rather unique, this is true." He chuckled a bit, reaching his claw up to her. "But I know you will find someone… You are beautiful, smart, more unique than me, and very talented; it would be considered insane not to like you." He slowly embraced Twilight's smaller frame, the princess hugging his waist once more, looking down at the silver skull on his waist. "The necklace will allow you to carry me with you, though… If you ever need me, place your hands around it and I'll come charging to your rescue." He suddenly picked Twilight up, in his left arm, turning to the door. "Now… Let us go, the others will be waiting."