//------------------------------// // Last stop // Story: Mass Effect: Element of Kindness // by CommanderApplejack //------------------------------// Chapter 126 Last stop Rainbow sat high on top of one of the Presidium buildings’ roofs, watching the shuttles go by as she skulked. They’d returned to the Citadel after the very close call with the collector ship to upgrade the Normandy's armor so they could at least tank a hit from some serious firepower.  This though mattered little to Rainbow for the moment as she grumbled. After the fight with the collectors, Dash had retreated into the showers where she took off the armor’s hard plates and then was rudely reminded she couldn't take off the undersuit.  Though she wouldn't admit it to anyone else, she'd quietly cried in the shower with the water's noise-masking her sniffing as the water uselessly rolled over the hermetically sealed suit.  That's what had her up in the edge of the roof for the last eleven days, she just didn't feel like going out onto the Wards with the others to do whatever and just wandered the streets of the station on her own. That also meant she hadn’t talked that much to the asari justicar and drell assassin that had joined the crew yet. Luckily her waiting would soon be over as Shepard had announced that they would depart in the evening as all the new armor plates would be installed after which they'd pick up the last member of the team Shepard wanted to have assembled. Apparently the quarian they were going to pick up was a good friend of the old crew. I wonder how the quarians live with being locked in their suits… at least my helmet isn’t that restrictive. She shivered as the thought of being trapped like that crossed her mind, her feeling of self-pity lessening a bit at the thought. “Guess I’ll get back to the ship then,” she sighed, talking to no-one in particular as she opened her wings and gliding down to a shuttle landing area. As she arrived back at the Normandy she passed through the airlock running into someone she had not expected to see there. “Princess Luna?” The alicorn was clad in a mat black armor not too dissimilar to her own, though the helmet was something else. Unlike Rainbow’s, which was of a more asari design and only covered her muzzle leaving the rest up to mass effect fields, Luna had a hardsuit shell around her face, her hair flowing from a slit at the back, and a thin blue line of light across the helmet to give her vision to the outside world. “Ah, Rainbow Dash, good to see you again. I didn’t see you come by the consulate over the last couple of weeks,” Luna said, her voice slightly modulated through the armor’s speakers. “Yeah, just wanted the peace of mind for a bit,” Rainbow said as she walked deeper into the ship along with Luna. “Say, Princess, why are you wearing that stuff? Are you coming along?” Luna chuckled and nodded, stepping into the elevator with the pegasus. “For a short time, yes. Fluttershy informed me of your soon to come venture onto a derelict reaper to retrieve this ‘IFF’ tag. I wish to come along as I have expertise in mind-bending magic to negate the corrupting effects of the reapers.” “That sounds… Very useful to have actually,” Rainbow admitted walking into the observation deck she’d claimed for her own, sitting down on the couch while Luna took off her helmet and got a drink from the room’s bar. “So how are you holding up?” Luna asked as she sat down in a chair across from Rainbow, surprising her. “I’m fine Princess...” Rainbow said without meeting Luna’s eyes. “I’ve seen plenty of warriors in my time, Rainbow Dash. You were pulled from a very peaceful world and thrown into the fire of this one, that does something to you whether you are willing to admit it or not,” Luna pointed out, taking a sip from the drink levitating beside her. “I… am not sure. I know why I fight, Fluttershy accidentally showed me something nightmare-inducing, but I’m… I’m not sure how to describe it.” “Do you fear to lose what it means to be a pony?” Rainbow nodded while gazing off out of the window and watching the other vessels docked at this particular bay. “You are no less of a pony than anyone at home, Rainbow, perhaps you’re even more so. You stood up for what you honestly perceive to be right, willing to stand and get hurt or even die for it if the need be there.” Luna stood up and sat down next to Rainbow, wrapping a wing around her. “Do not fret on this and don’t shut yourself off from your friends, Fluttershy was getting worried about you.” Rainbow sighed and gave Luna a small smile. “Thanks, Princess” “Just call me Luna, we’re not in Equestria and I’ve been enjoying talking to people on equal terms,” Luna chuckled, finishing her drink. “Will do Luna,” Rainbow chuckled as well, deciding to change topics. “So, if you’re going to join us out on the reaper, what are you going to use as a weapon? Because you’re going to have to have something to defend yourself.” Luna smirked as she pulled the hilt of a sword, the same black color of her armor, without a blade from under her wing and lit it up. A large orange omni blade coming out of the base of the hilt as it came to life. “I must admit I am not that proficient with the weapons of this galaxy, swords though have been my expertise for thousands of years. I carry a pistol as well but I fear I’m not proficient at hitting anything at longer ranges.” “Not gonna lie, that’s awesome,” Rainbow chuckled as Luna put away the sword again. “Though on the pistol front, do you want some pointers?” “If you want to give some instructions then that would very much be appreciated,” Luna smiled, Rainbow springing off of the couch. “Awesome! Let me just get a set of blank-firing pistols and meet me down in the hangar.”