Shepard
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The fresh, cold air of night felt relaxing against my week old face.
I had my eyes closed facing up towards to starry sky, a small smile on my face. To think that not long ago I was up there, racing through the infinite expanse of space. I can still remember just sitting in the Normandy, looking off into the dark abyss. The seamlessly peace expanses of the stars twinkling in the distance.
I let out a sigh and tilt my head down to face the ground. I need to forget about being Commander Shepard the Human and start anew as Shepard the Pony. Most would say that’s a step down and I would have to agree with them. I was Commander Shepard, first Human Spectre and savour of the galaxy thrice and now I am a pony, a simple pony sort of like the ones that used to live on Earth. But I think the worst thing is the fact I don't know if everything I did payed off.
Did the Crucible? Did everyone make it? Did my friends survive?
All I hope is that if they did that they're not grieving over me. They all deserve to be happy. I couldn't have done anything without them, I'm as much of a hero as they are.
I let out another drawn out sigh and opened my eyes to once again look up into the inky blackness of space. The night sky as never looked more amazing. Before I never got the chance to just sit back and watch.
The last time was my final moments with Anderson.
I felt a tear roll down my cheek as I reminisced about my old friend. Without him I would have been executed for all I did.
I was soon cut off from my daydreaming by a sound of hooves clopping on the stone path in the garden I sat in. "Is anypony here?" I heard a voice, I couldn’t quite place it but it seemed to make me feel a little better.
"Y-yea." I said in a weak voice, sniffling my nose and wiping my years away.
I turned and was met with an odd sight. There standing behind me was a deep blue pony with hair that looked like the night sky, little light twinkling like the stars above. She was also a good three feet taller than me but the thing that stood out the most was that she had both a horn and wings. I haven't seen something like this before.
"H-hi." Is all I managed to get out before I sighed and looked back into the night sky.
"Shouldn't you be inside? It's awfully late to be out, you could just wait till morning." She said starting to approach me.
"There are no stars in the day." I replied.
She seemed taken aback. I heard her drop dead in her tracks before she said "y-you like the stars?"
"Yea, one of my favourite things."
She walked right up next to me. "Do you mind if I join you?" She asked.
"Not at all." I said.
She sat down next to me and looked up into the night sky. "Not many watch the night anymore, it's sad really." I could sense some sadness in her words.
I let out an 'MMMmmm' in response.
We sat there for some time just looking up into the cold night sky. The stars twinkling up above, seeming to have a life of their own.
“Why were you crying?” my companion asked turning her head to look at me.
“You saw that did you?” I replied looking down with a faint smile.
“Yes.”
“It’s nothing to worry about.” I said trying to shrug it off.
“But the best way to help is to tell somepony.” She said continuing pushing.
“*sigh* I’m just thinking about an old friend.” I said closing my eyes.
“What happened to them?” She asked.
“He died.” I said letting a tear fall from my eye.
“Oh, what happened?” She asked before saying. “That’s if you want to.”
“W-we were trying to help everyone from where I live, we were at where we were meant to be but nothing is that easy.” I said letting out a sigh.
“Waiting for us was once someone I followed orders from, I don’t know what he did but he somehow controlled me. I was made to point my weapon at my friend and made to fire it. *swallow* but it wasn’t quick, it wasn’t painless. He lasted minutes before his injuries caught up with him. We sat there looking up to the stars like we are now. I think he would have wanted it that way.” By now my cheeks where drenched by my tears.
We sat there in a long, drawn out silence while she let me cry my heart out about a good friend. “I know what it’s like to lose a friend, it’s not something you get used to.” She said looking to the ground as well.
“But it doesn’t mean it’s the end of the world, there are many more ponies out there who will be your friends. You just need to know the right place to look.” She said looking back up to the sky.
I returned my focus back up to the sky to see a shooting star fly past. “Thank you.” I managed to get out in a low voice.
We sat there looking up into the sky. It felt like a massive weight has been lifted from my chest. “What’s your name?” I quietly asked tuning to her.
“You don’t know who I am?” she asked raising an eyebrow.
“I’m sorry if it’s rude but I don’t I only got to Equestria about a week ago, I barely know anyone.
“No, it’s fine. My name is Luna. What’s your?” Luna asked.
“My name is Shepard.”
We sat there for a good hour after that just looking for peace up into the cold abyss of the night sky.
“It’s been a nice night but I have to get to sleep if I want any energy for training tomorrow.” I said getting up.
“You’re training for the guard?”
“Yea, I’m trying to join the night guard.” I said with a slight chuckle.
“Why are you training for the royal guard?” she asked.
“I was once a Commander in a different army, I guess it’s just in my nature to want to help people.”
“You were a Commander?” she asked.
“For several years. Had my own ship and everything.”
“Well good night to you Shepard, I hope we can see each other again sometime.”
“Thank you for the company Luna.” I said with a smile.
And with that I headed back to my room to rest up for the night.