WARHAMMER DOES NOT BELONG TO ME. MASS EFFECT DOES NOT BELONG TO ME.
Time to wrap this up.
Honor-Bound
Epilogue
A New Dawn
"Shepard's legend had already been born, but it was after the Final War that we all realized that there would be people to hear about it."—Captain Elias Locke
…
Shepard stood on the walls of Nuln, watching as the sun rose. Ever since recovering enough to walk, she had taken to coming to the walls and waiting for the sunrise. No one was sure why she'd developed this habit, and some suspected that not even Shepard knew.
Almost two months had passed since the Final War had ended, and the Empire was still recovering. Half of Altdorf had been razed to the ground, and much of the north was in ruins. Bodies were still being recovered, and the death toll continued to rise. Despite their grief, the people of the Empire greeted each new day with steadily growing hope.
"Alexia?"
Shepard glanced over her shoulder. Eliza stood behind her, smiling sadly; little Eleanor yawned and rubbed her eyes with one hand, while the other held her mother's. Behind her, David looked up with concern that had no business being on the face of such a little boy.
"I thought you'd all still be sleeping," Shepard said lightly.
"We were," Eliza said, and handed her a letter. "But a messenger came with a report, and it sounded important. Also, Morgrim is heading back home today."
"Right." Shepard turned back to the rising sun. "Just give me a minute."
Eliza bit her lip, but stayed put. David, on the other hand, walked up to his mother and hugged her. Shepard bit back a sob and gently knelt to hug him back.
"Mother?"
"Yeah, kid?"
"I'm still sad about Father."
Shepard nodded and pressed her face into her son's hair. "So am I."
Tears welled up in David's eyes. "When will I stop being sad?"
"You probably won't," Shepard admitted, as much to herself as to David. "But it'll hurt a little less as time goes on. Just remember the good times you had with him, and don't let yourself get too sad. He wouldn't want that."
David nodded. "All right." He yawned. "Can I go back to sleep?"
Shepard gave him a wobbly smile. "Sure you can, kid. Eliza will take you home, and I'll be there in a little bit."
David nodded and sleepily walked over to Eliza, who raised a single eyebrow at Shepard.
"I'll be back soon," Shepard promised.
Eliza sighed, but gently escorted the children down the wall and towards the house. Shepard now worked from the Countess' office, but she refused to call it home. Once Eliza and the children were gone, Shepard turned back to the sun.
She allowed herself to be lost in memories. So many people she loved were gone—some to their homelands, where she was unlikely to see them again, or they were dead. She dreaded the day when their faces faded from her memory. Maybe she would write a memoir; that way, she would never truly forget, and if someone else read it, they would know what she was really like.
She also remembered her own words to David. She couldn't fixate too much on the past; none of her friends, living or dead, would want her to wallow in grief. She had to keep pushing forward. She had to live.
Shepard looked down at the letter in her hand and nodded; maybe it was a trick of the morning light, but there was just a little more life in her eyes.
"Time to get back to work."
…
Thus ends the tale of Alexia Shepard. However, the following is a summary of those close to her that survived the Final War, and what information about the Empire during the decades later that remains intact.
Elias Locke: After the war, Locke was promoted to General, and led a Nuln army for twenty more years. He was greatly admired, not only for his adventures alongside Shepard, but for his own exploits. He went on to revolutionize mobile warfare among strategists, and his treatise on asymmetrical combat is still held in high regard.
In his personal life, he was determined to be better than his father, and he ensured that his family would know that he loved them very much.
Michael Lichtseele: Michael proved himself a powerful leader of the faith, and he eventually climbed the ranks within the Church. He became an Arch-Lector five years after the war, and when Volkmar the Grim finally died of old age, it was Michael who became his successor. The new Grand Theogonist wasted no time implementing martial training for the many zealots that emerged following the war.
While it was never confirmed, there were rumors that Shepard helped to temper his warlike tendencies, and Michael organized humanitarian programs across the Empire. However, when he died, it was discovered that he left behind secret orders to canonize Shepard into a Saint of the Empire upon her death. Shepard, of course, never found out, for everyone knew she would have fought it.
Heinrich Gettmann: While his efforts during Shepard's hunt for the shards was lauded, he was especially honored for how he fought during the Final War. However, he expended far too much energy, and he slowly withered away. During his last months, he convinced the Patriarch of the Celestial Wizards that their order needed to be more involved with the common people. Within five years, every town in the Empire had a tower that housed at least one Celestial Wizard. Harvests became more efficient, and storms were more easily prepared for. Aside from those who knew him, few ever recognized Gettmann's efforts during this time, but he was not a man who sought glory after death, and when he passed, he was content.
Felix Jaeger: Felix survived the Final War, though his injuries were so severe that he was barely able to walk for almost a year. Shepard told him of Gotrek's fate, and though he mourned the loss of his friend, he honored his oath and finished writing the Slayer's epic tale. When he was fully recovered, he took a journey to Karak Kadrin and presented the full collection of My Travels with Gotrek to the Slayer King. Gotrek Gurnisson's honor was restored, and an entire month was reserved for the telling of his adventures every year. After this final task, Felix returned to Altdorf and opened a small shop, where he lived out the rest of his days in quiet tranquility, though he did visit Shepard from time to time.
Ahuila: Amazingly, Ahuila survived her injuries at the Everchosen's hands, though she would never be able to fight as she once had. Inspired by Shepard's new role as Elector Countess, Ahuila became the first official Amazon Ambassador, and helped establish political relations with the Empire. She also acted as a moderator between the Empire and the Lizardmen, and was credited with preventing two different wars when several Elector Counts tried to secretly colonize Lustria. Both Ahuila and Shepard were instrumental in peacefully convincing the settlers to return home. Both women kept in contact as often as they could for the rest of their lives.
Khalida: The High Queen of Lybaras returned to Nehekhara as a conquering hero. Her respect for the Empire grew, and as its technology outstripped the magic of the Tomb Kings, she tried to convince Settra, ruler of all Tomb Kings, to accept peace. Settra refused, and launched a massive assault on the Empire; this invasion was thwarted by a massed air attack that turned a hundred miles of land into what is now known as the Field of Bones. Settra and many of his closest supporters were destroyed in the slaughter, and their spirits returned to their pyramids.
Khalida, who had not been part of the attack, used this opportunity to disrupt the rituals that would have brought the Tomb Kings back, forever banishing their souls to the afterlife. She became undisputed ruler of Nehekhara, and fortified the land against intruders, but never launched an attack outside her territory. Only Shepard was ever allowed to visit her lands, an offer that was only taken up once.
Tyrion and Teclis: The twins returned to Ulthuan with Aliathra, who was crowned Everqueen upon her arrival. The two brothers were charged with defending the realm of the High Elves with all they had, and soon, the two began planning a campaign against the Dark Elves. This campaign involved a coalition of High Elves, Imperials, Dwarfs, Amazons and Lizardmen in the largest army the world had ever known.
However, the invasion was far less taxing than expected. With the banishment of Chaos, many of the most powerful elements of Dark Elf society were helpless and easily routed. Still, the Dark Elves were strong enough to last for five bloody years. After the war was over, Teclis spent many years researching better ways to heal both body and mind, for the tens of thousands of slaves rescued were hardly in any position to rejoin society.
Marius Leitdorf: The Mad Count also survived his injuries, and returned to Averland with tales that, for once, were not exaggerated. He ruled well for the rest of his life, though he did have to be reined in by Shepard or the Emperor from time to time. Many were glad that the Count's horse, Daisy, died before him—though none were stupid enough to say so in his presence—because it forced him to pick a legitimate successor.
Karl Franz: The Emperor was never able to use his left arm after the war, and though he could never be the warrior he once was, the Empire was no longer in nearly as much danger. As such, Karl Franz turned his attention to statecraft, and the Empire flourished. He lived long enough to see electricity become commonplace in every level of society, and when he was not speaking to her in person, he was speaking to Shepard through a device she called a 'telephone'. When he passed on, Karl Franz left the Empire at the beginning of a golden age.
Eliza Locke: With her adopted sister focused on running an entire province, Eliza took over running the many factories and laboratories Shepard owned. At first, she worked alongside her old friend, Leitzer, but when her fellow former apprentice died of sickness, she established a council to run what was later known as Shepard Engineering Incorporated. Some of the members of this council attempted to bully the new chairwoman into doing their bidding, but this stopped when Eliza bluntly told them that she had fought a Vampire—while the men on the council had never held a weapon in their lives—and had no qualms with dueling any of them to the death. That, and Shepard's message to the men that they would die horrible deaths if they ever tried to manipulate her sister again, quieted the council, and the company became the most prosperous on the continent.
David Shepard and Eleanor Locke: As they grew up, David discovered his talent for both politics and warfare, while Eleanor inherited her mother's engineering genius. Both became the pride of Nuln, held up as a shining example of the next generation, though their parents were careful in keeping them humble. Years later, Shepard would laugh when her prediction about the children came true when David announced at a family dinner that he was courting Eleanor.
After they married, David's mother slowly involved her son more and more with running the state, and when she eventually retired, David became the new Elector Count of Wissenland. He served his new role with such aplomb that, after Karl Franz died, he was named the new Emperor, and was forever known as David the Enlightened.
For her part, Eleanor eventually took over running Shepard Engineering Incorporated, and with some collaboration from her mother-in-law, pioneered the first Human-made satellite launched into orbit. Because of her achievements, and who she was married to, she was known as the Empress of the Skies.
Alexia Shepard: After the war, Shepard led Wissenland into the Empire's golden age. She was beloved by not only her own people, but by citizen across the Empire. Even other Elector Counts who opposed some of Shepard's reforms couldn't help but be impressed by her resolve, and when the results of her many projects bore fruit, hardly anyone ever crossed her.
Though she only showed it to her closest friends and family, Shepard spent many years quietly grieving for those she lost, and she spent a sizeable chunk of her vast fortune in honoring their memory, even if it was only donating money to the Celestial and Jade Colleges. When Stormwing's mate produced several eggs, Shepard took personal interest in making sure that her trusted mount's offspring were healthy and strong.
Her greatest act of personal grief, however, involved her late husband, Gregor Helschlitt. He was buried in an ornate tomb, and a great statue of him, standing beside his Demigryph, was erected in front of it. This tomb was guarded by the few remaining Ironrock Knights, and access was forbidden to all but a select few. For almost ten years after it was built, Shepard visited the tomb every day to lay a flower at the foot of the statue. Eventually, these visits dwindled to a single visit a year, but even after the pain in her heart faded to a scar, Shepard refused to remarry, despite many would-be suitors.
Shepard's life was also filled with joy. Her son's wedding to Eleanor, their many achievements, and especially the birth of their son, whom they named Gregor.
Eventually, when Shepard felt her son was ready, she retired and granted David the title and position of Elector Count. Soon after that, she journeyed to Karak Eight Peaks and returned Unbak Urk to its rightful home.
Most of the rest of her life was spent in seclusion, though she did return to prominence every so often with a brilliant new invention. We can only speculate what she was doing when not working, though in this chronicler's humble opinion, it was likely that she became more and more lost in memories.
Shepard's unusual enhancements kept her alive far longer than any of her friends within the Empire. As each of them succumbed to the rigors of time and passed on, Shepard became more and more withdrawn, though she did still work tirelessly from the shadows.
Finally, fifty years after the Final War and two weeks after the birth of her great-grandson, Shepard brought her family together and announced that she was taking a journey, following the path of Sigmar. Whether she wanted to make an honest pilgrimage, or was simply curious about Sigmar's eventual fate, none know. Her family attempted to talk her out of such a notion; after all, she was over ninety years old, and her health was beginning to fail. When they couldn't sway her, they tried to get her to agree to at least travelling with a guard, but they were again rebuffed.
The next day, Shepard left; the last record of her comes from a party of Dwarfs that crossed her path through the mountains.
Shortly after this, she was named Saint Shepard, the Hand of Sigmar, and within a generation, people across the Empire began venerating her and her family as divine. Soon, she became part of the Empire's pantheon of gods. However, the truth of her divinity is a matter of theological debate, and not for this record.
So ends the tale of Alexia Shepard, the most influential person in the Empire since Sigmar Himself. Hers was a life of destruction and creation, of protection and vengeance, of triumph and tragedy. May we all strive to live with her kind of strength and wisdom, for she was the greatest of us all.
And… here we are. This won't be the longest story I've written on this site, but damn, it's certainly the longest completed story. There's not much I can say here, but I am going to miss this. I've grown to love these characters, and this world, but like all things, I must say goodbye.
Now, I have an idea for not just one, but two sequels involving Shepard. However, I've been given an ultimatum by my parents: they're kicking me out soon, and I'm desperately searching for a job. I'm on the verge of being homeless, which obviously limits my ability to write fan fiction. Unless I get a REALLY nice job within the next few weeks, my only hope of not living on the streets is if you all either buy my book (and hey, it's a completed story, so why not?), or support me on P-atreon. Seriously, guys; my health isn't great, and it'll get a lot worse if I'm living under a bridge. Please consider buying my book from my website (link in my profile), or go to Amazon and look up Alpha Sanction by Josh Gottlieb. If you don't want a book, please be an awesome person and support me on P-atreon; if every one of you chips in five bucks a month, I'll be able to write more stories!
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Thank you all for being such a great audience! For now, it's time to say goodbye to Honor-Bound. Goodbye Shepard, Parral, Richter, Eliza, Locke, Stormwing, Gregor, Gettmann, Michael, Ahuila, Quetza, David and Eleanor. Goodbye Morgrim, the Blightscar siblings, and even Henrietta. Goodbye to all the OCs I've created and forgotten, and goodbye to all the canon characters I love so much. I hope all of you enjoyed reading this story as much as I've enjoyed writing it, and I hope to one day get to write the sequels!
Once more, with feeling:
FOR THE MUFFIN!
