Lisanna shivered standing outside the Fairy Tail guild, feeling the cold snow press against her face. She smiled. She liked this type of year, when it snowed, and it turned into a bitter cold at Magnolia. Sighing, she continued to walk down a path down a small forest. She turned at every corner, and stopped when she was finally at her destination.
She stopped in front of her mother's grave.
It's been already 10 years since she had died, and it seemed as if no one remembered. Lisanna thought it was sad how her own mom died during the winter, when it was the most beautiful season.
"It's already that time of year again, huh?" a voice said behind Lisanna sadly. The white-haired mage turned to see her sister, Mirajane, standing sadly in front of her.
"Mira-nee..." Lisanna muttered, "So you came too?"
Mirajane nodded, and smiled warmly, "Every year, I'd see you run off during this time, in a rush. It's as if you don't want anyone to know of your sadness, right? You just want it buried deep in the snow, where no one can ever find it."
Lisanna looked at the ground, silent. It was true, she didn't want to burden anyone with this. She just wanted to go alone. Somewhere no one worried for her.
"I was just the same," Mirajane continued, "But now, I realize it's not so bad to depend on my friends in my guild and family." She turned, and left saying, "You should head back soon. Natsu's looking for you, and I would imagine he's worried."
Lisanna muttered a thanks, and looked back to her mother's grave. That smile she would always force in the guild, and that happy laugh hid what she really felt inside. She just wanted to go back the way things were with Elfman, Mirajane, and her parents. She hated feeling that way, but if she could exchange her future for her past, she regretted to admit she would accept it. Even her memories with Natsu weren't strong enough to balance her heart in place.
And yet, she wanted to feel like with Natsu, she would be fine. With everyone else at the guild, that smile could be real, as well as her laugh.
Lisanna heard someone arrive from behind her, and she turned to see Natsu there, gasping for breath.
"So... here... you... are..." he stuttered.
The white-haired mage forced a smile, "Did Mira-nee tell you I was here?"
"Well, actually I came on instinct. I remembered when we were younger you told me you're mom died around this time," Natsu answered with a grin.
"I see," Lisanna replied, looking at the ground sadly, "And you still remember that?"
"Well, I guess so. It seemed pretty important to you, and I didn't want to forget it. I'm surprised no one else is here, though..."
"No one else knows," Lisanna answered, "Only you, Mira-nee, and Elf-nii-chan. I come here alone though."
"Oh," Natsu said, ruing what he said before, "So it's like some secret, or somethin'?"
Lisanna didn't answer, instead she sat on the snow, and gazed at the gray sky, while reaching her hand out in the air, pretending to clasp the clouds to herself.
"Isn't this time of year the prettiest?"
"Huh?"
"Mom always liked the snow packing around the area neatly. She said it looked like a Wonderland, and seemed as if all the troubles in this world suddenly disappeared. Too bad that way the day she too disappeared - but all her struggles and conflict here seemed to leave her, and I'm sure she's like an angel in the sky."
Natsu smiled at her, "Well you're pretty strong for someone who has lost their mother."
"No, to be perfectly honest, I'm not. It's hard to smile without her, and it's hard to enjoy life without her. Everyday, I want to cry, but for some reason, the tears won't come out. It's not that I hated her, but it's harder for me to admit that she left this world. She's gone. Even if I look in the village, or even in a different country, I will never find her."
Natsu sat next to her, while saying,
"I wouldn't say that, you'll find her one day, but until that day comes, you have to live towards the future, with a new fate, and new choices. You have friends don't you? So why are you alone here? Everyone at this guild has a sad past, but that's why we're all here - to look towards the future, make new friends, and new enemies - like that Gray bastard..."
Slight tears formed in Lisanna's eyes. They slowly trickled down her cheeks, as she tried to speak, but nothing came out.
"It's even worse if your going to cry about it!" Natsu exclaimed nervously, trying to figure out if he made her cry.
Lisanna noticed her tears, and managed to say, "No, I'm sorry, it's not your fault. I'm just... I'm just so glad."
Natsu looked at her confused, wondering how someone could cry out of happiness.
"I'm sure Mom will be glad to know I picked out a new husband," Lisanna teased, trying to take out her tears, as she stood.
"What did you say?!"
"You did promise me when we were younger, right?"
"But... that was like a million years ago..." Natsu argued, turning bright red.
"Right, right, you still have a few more years to mature. Now come on, let's go back to the guild," Lisanna smiled, reaching for his hand, and pulling him up.
And so, they both hurried back to their guild, where Mirajane waited for them, and welcomed them in.
Little by little, Mirajane thought, Although it may take a while... Lisanna will be healed from her wounds in her heart. I'm glad she has such a good friend like Natsu...
"Mirajane!" Lisanna cried, "Hurry up!"
Mirajane smiled, watching her sister grow well with Natsu.
"I'm coming!"