Inspired by this gif set on Tumbler: kaidaned . tumblr . com . post/131101183518/an-endless-dark-in-sovereign-galaxies-the-light-we (remove the spaces, fanfiction is being a bit of an arse)
Also the song that goes with that: The Light We Cast from the Everybody's gone to the Rapture soundtrack.
I own neither.
The three pillars glow and Shepard could almost cry at the choice that lies before her.
She is so tired. Has she not sacrificed enough?
But she stumbles forwards, her feet nearly giving way as she limps up the ramp.
The green is calming but it feels…wrong. To take away the choices of a galaxy without their consent, she cannot do that.
Likewise, the blue outright repulses her. Controlling the Reapers would not end well.
That leaves the red. The destruction of Reapers was what was intended from the beginning. She laughs, the sound tumbling from her lips, drowning in the hum of the Crucible. One more sacrifice for the galaxy.
She staggers forwards, each step feels like a herculean effort. Time seems to slow as she slowly, ever so slowly makes her way up to the red pillar.
Her hands shake as she aims but she manages to still the tremors. This must be perfect. She will not fail. One shot, two, three and at the fourth, there is a rumbling and the Crucible at last fires.
Now everything has come to rest.
Fire sweeps out, and she closes her eyes against the rush of heat.
The end has come.
She remembers the Normandy and her beloved crew and smiles. It's been a good run. The best.
And I am not afraid.