Interlude: Ashley

She glared daggers at the aliens that surrounded her. She shoved them away from her if they got too close, especially the asari. One Asari couldn't take a hint, so she deck her...him?...it. Whatever. She didn't care.

News came from Eden Prime that the invasion was repelled, but the count of the dead was over 4,000 and climbing. She gripped the rail in front of her. The soil in the plants around her began to tremble and rise in the air. Many nearby aliens took notice and walked away quickly. Then to her shock and horror, she received news of her unit that was under her command, the 212, was completely wiped out.

Ashley slumped down to the ground. Her eyes glazed over as she thought of the 257 personal that was in the 212. All gone. She shakily pulled out a note, from Private Kaleen, who invited to her upcoming wedding in 6 months to be her best women. Tears began to form when she remembered the memory of her excitedly accepting the offer before she left to take the N-4 test 2 weeks prior. Both her and Corporal Ryan were heading to Terra Nova to tell his parents. Kaleen was well liked by Ryan's parents and Ryan told her in secret that they were pushing Ryan to marry Kaleen. The poor griffon lost her parents when she was younger. Both parents were at Mindoir when the Mindoir Assault took place. Kaleen was only 11 at the time. She ran away when she was told of their fate, and lived on the streets before finally making friends with Ryan, who followed her to a small shack of a home at the edge of the city. Ryan's parents opened their home to her and stayed with them ever since.

Oh god...Ryan's parents would be devastated when they hear the news of their son and soon to be daughter in law are dead. She perked up when word came out of a single survivor. She hoped it was Kaleen or Ryan, not caring about how small of a chance of that happening. Then her hope was crushed when an image of a purple unicorn came up. She recognized the pony as the Sergeant Major Sparkle, the Shield of Elysuim, was the only survivor of the devastated 212.

Anger gripped her as she began to receive more and more reports. The entire 2nd Frontier Division was devastated as well. The only one to walk away cleanly was Sergeant Major Sparkle. Over 1000 personal was part of the 2nd Frontier Division, almost all of them permanently injured or dead. Once again, only Sparkle survived walked away.

Sparkle...

She was the cause...

How was it possible for her and ONLY her to walk away from something like that...

Images flashed through her mind, hundreds of faces she met and talked to everyday for the past 3 years, gone. The few survivors of the 2nd Frontier Division were permanently disabled. Even magic had limits in what it could heal.

"Williams!"

"Prime Minster?"

"Pay attention. Commander Shepard and his crew will be arriving shortly. I will be receiving his and Sparkle's report soon. I need you to make sure they don't do anything stupid while they are here on the Citadel."

Ashley narrowed her eyes at the name. This was her chance...

Her chance to find out why her friends died...

To find out why Kaleen and Ryan died before they could join...

To find out why the only person that lived was her...

And correct that if she was not satisfied with the answer.