Talizorah
Tali'Zorah/Shepard
Commander Shepard and Tali'Zorah vas Normandy, the brilliant quarian engineer whose romance involves literal trust with her life.
What is Talizorah?
Talizorah is the fan-given name for the romantic pairing of Tali'Zorah and Shepard from Mass Effect. With over 28,000 works on Archive of Our Own, it's one of the most popular ships in the fandom.
Why fans love Talizorah
The ultimate slow-burn romance with genuine intimacy challenges, watching Tali grow from nervous pilgrim to confident woman and admiral.
Most Popular Talizorah Fanfics
The highest-rated Talizorah stories on AO3, ranked by kudos.
One Shepard is not enough
by Eclipsephoenix
John Shepard has lost everything. His friends, family, home and more. Given a second chance and a mission by a Watcher, he is sent to another world to help another Shepard in her quest and to counter dark forces at work. But nothing is ever simple as more divergence events happen and more Sheaprds a
Of Friends and Families : A Shepard and Zorah Story
by Justin_Time
A chance encounter at a Mass Relay shifts Humanities destiny in a tremendous way. With the Alliance coming in contact with the Quarian Board, the Two Species become fast Allies in a Galaxy betting against their success.But beyond the grander politics at play, we delve specifically into how this Firs
Only in America 2: Walmart Boogaloo
Completeby UserButObvious
Shepard, hung over and covered in blood, goes to Walmart to buy ammunition, as he left his on the ship. He drags a reluctant Tali along for the ride.
Test Subject 47-R / Codename: Rose
by Hunttijuntti
She was only nine years old when she was taken. Over 160 years later, she wakes up on an operating table—terrified, mutated, and more powerful than anyone imagined. Her instincts unleash a storm of biotics and Force lightning that levels an entire research facility. Commander Shepard and the crew of
Retrocausality Effect
by Wanderer_D
The Crucible was completed, and the final cycle had taken place. The Reapers won. However, for a single time-traveler, that didn't mean it was the end. Tali'Zorah nas Rayya knows nothing of that future where her people were destroyed alongside everyone she ever loved. She has no idea what's coming f
Despite You Tomorrow Will Be Another Day
by Desdemonia
She shot the energy conduit. A brilliant burst of light blinded her, and she felt her body burning up in the microseconds it took for the Crucible's energy wave to hit. Time seemed to slow to a crawl. She wondered if her death would be painful. She hoped not; she thought she deserved a little more t
Reverence for the Gallant: Part I
by South_Star_327
Tali’Zorah and Johnny Shepard become an inseparable couple as soon as the Reaper hordes are completely decimated by the Crucible.-They split their time between their homes on Rannoch, the Citadel, and Illium, finding work as specialists and advisors on occasion.
Shepard's Compicated Surprise Birthday
Completeby OliverDeVienne
No summary provided.
Mother Knows Best
by TheLivingMyth
Long before the Citadel Council, before the Protheans, even before the mysterious Inusannon, the galaxy was not silent. An ancient, ferocious race emerged - not by chance, but by necessity. Born from the will of nature itself, they were forged to challenge an enemy that had disrupted the natural cyc
Wrath of the collectors
Completeby Hereward_whitehall
The Thrilling sequel in my telling of the Mass Effect trilogy.jump in to see everyone's favourite cast as they glide their way through the events of Mass Effect Two. new characters, races, and factions dot the twin's journey as they race against the clock in an effort to stop the mysterious collecto
Commander Shepard, The Greatest to Ever Live
by Samael61
Commander Shepard, the singular greatest soldier the alliance and the humanity as a whole ever had and ever will. One man army whose mere name envokes fear in the hearts of the enemies of the Systems Alliance. A force of nature protecting the humanity against the galaxy. Or: A crack fic where Comman
Shepard vas Normandy
by FalconEcosse
Alexis'Shepard has fought her way through the ranks of the Alliance Navy, proving herself time and time again until she was the candidate they had for the Alliance's chance at a Spectre. How will she balance the demands of the Alliance on Commander Shepard and the expectations of humanity that carri
The Zhorusian Saga: The Terran Crusade
by donutz992
He built an empire on the bones of worlds. Now he wants theirs.The Commonwealth gave humanity the stars—alien allies, impossible technology, twenty-two years of unprecedented growth. But peace was always an illusion.The Ascendant, Emperor of the Thessian Empire, has discovered the Armory beneath Mar
Drowning
Completeby gvarchangel
Even when all is right with the galaxy, when the Reapers are gone and retirement is bliss... sometimes, it can feel like too much. Especially for a pair of very traumatized, very loving soldiers. Sometimes, you're still drowning, and you need to find peace wherever you can. This is one of those mome
Real and Mine: Part I
by South_Star_327
Miraculously surviving the Citadel’s destruction, Shepard makes a full recovery and joins Tali’Zorah in building a new home on Rannoch during widespread galactic unrest.-Despite his survival, Tali’Zorah harbors steady resentment towards Shepard for his many close calls during the war and continues t
Love, Reapers & Becoming Shepard: A Memoir
by Neurodivergent_Melody (Neurodivergent_Pixels)
An in-universe memoir written by an alternate universe version of Shepard that is non-binary, AuDHD, four years younger and grew up with and eventually dated Tali’Zorah in their formative years. They break up after attending the Alliance Academy together, and reunite during the events of the first g
Ripple Effects
by Cpt_Stumpy
A normal patrol after the war with the Forerunners in 2559 quickly becomes a disaster as the UNSC Infinity finds itself somehow back at Earth... but not the Earth they know.
Collector
Completeby Belyst
Two years. Two years since the Normandy was attacked, and Tali had to watch it explode while traversing the vacuum of space silently in an escape pod. Two years since Shepard died and her world felt like it was imploding. Two years since her heart shattered, and she had spent an eternity crying on a
Mass Effect: Continued
by ProfessorGrey
The Reaper Invasion might have been defeated, but it was not without sacrifice. The galaxy is in ruins and with the destruction of the Mass Relay network, the restoration process is near impossible. Luckily, the brightest minds of the galaxy had been stranded on Earth and they have been working tire
Are we more than our memories?
by NoPunnyNamesLeft
How does spending two years dead affect your brain?Will your neurons survive? Will your memories remain intact? Will you remain intact? This is a fanfic of Colonist Sole survivor + Ruthless Shepard thrust back into a galaxy he barely remembers, that seems to barely remember him (that last part is pr
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does Talizorah mean?
Talizorah is the ship name (portmanteau or nickname) for the pairing of Tali'Zorah and Shepard. It's used by fans to tag and search for fanfiction featuring this relationship.
How many Talizorah fics are on AO3?
There are over 28,000 Talizorah fanfiction works on Archive of Our Own.
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