What's in a Name?:
The sun was bright, the weather was warm and balmy. All of the parents had taken their children to a park to enjoy a picnic in the early fall sunlight, trying to relax, just enjoy a moment. Though several weeks had passed since their separation from their children, they still felt that burden. They hadn't been there to protect and guide their children, and they worried that something would happen in the future that would force their children to be on their own again.
Levy, though, had done more than worry. She'd thought. She'd read. She'd researched.
And now that she had all of the children in one place, she was ready to pass on her message.
She held her bag close to her chest as everyone finished their meal and walked to the center of the circle that had been formed by their quilts.
"Hey, can I have all the kids come here for a minute?" she loudly asked.
Standing to their feet, one by the one, the children came toward her. Some ran, some walked, some skipped, some of the older ones carried the younger ones on their hips as they clustered around Levy.
"Alright, everyone get in birth order, oldest to youngest, and then circle up," Levy smiled.
It took the children a while to figure out who went where, and it took them even longer to make a proper circle, but eventually they got it right.
"Okay, let's sit down," Levy said as she sat cross-legged on the soft grass, all the children following her example, though not silently, they were all chattering to each other.
"You guys are probably wondering why I had you sit in birth order," Levy stated, to which all the children nodded in agreement, still muttering to each other.
"Well, as I'm sure you all know, here in Fairy Tail we're not just a guild, we're a family. And in a family, a true family, no one is just left on the sidelines, we all have a role, a purpose. You all know that, right?"
The children all nodded, scooting closer, their chatterings stopping as they gave Levy their full attention.
"And the role of the adults in the family is to pass down lessons to the children. So my generation, your parents' generation's job is to teach you the lessons that we learned when we were children, or the lessons that our elders, the generation before us, didn't get to teach us. And one of the things most of us in our generation have in common is that we didn't have parents, for one reason or another. It's a tragedy we all share, but one we have a chance to remedy through you. Because even though we didn't have parents, we get to be parents to you. We get to instill wisdom, and purpose within all of you."
The children all nodded as they listened intently.
"Now, when a baby is born, what's one of the first things the parents do for that baby?"
"Burp them?" Igneel asked.
Levy giggled. "True, but that's not what I was talking about."
"Hug and kiss them?" Isla asked.
"Also true, but not the answer I'm looking for."
"Name them?" Layla asked.
"There it is! We name you. And names have meaning."
"They do?" July asked, cocking his head to one side.
"They do," Levy nodded. "They have meaning. And those names, along with their meanings, are a part of your identity. A part of who you are, and your role in this world, in this family. Like I said, my generation, your parents generation, didn't have parents to guide them in finding their purpose, or their role. But we can make that better by guiding you into becoming who you're meant to be, not forcing or controlling you, because your journey is still yours to make, but to lead you in the right direction."
The children all nodded as they scooted ever closer.
"And one of the first and most important things we do to help guide you is by giving you your names. Not only is it something that you will carry with you as a part of your identity for your whole life, but it's something that you own, no matter what. Even if we, the ones who originally gave it to you, are not with you, you still own it."
Small gasps arose from the children, eyebrows raising as they began to understand why Levy was having this talk with them to begin with.
"So, I want to take some time to go over all of your name meanings with you, so that you can remember them even if we, your parents, aren't with you. You each have your own individual names, but you also have your family names. You're all a part of a smaller clan within our bigger Fairy Tail family. And each of those clans have their own role to play. So, I'm going to start with my own girls,"
Persephone and Koree scooted closer to their mother, eyes wide, attention fully devoted to their mother.
"Persephone, Koree, you're both a part of the Redfox clan. A red fox is an elusive and rare animal. So you two are rare, one of kind creatures. And, do you know what a red fox symbolizes?"
Both girls shook their heads "no."
Levy reached into her bag and pulled out two neatly inscribed cards.
"They symbolize passion. We're the passionate ones of the family, we're the ones who put our all into everything we do, 100% percent, and encourage our family members to do the same."
Both girls took their cards, looks of captivation on their faces as they read the word "passion" on their cards.
"Orlandos," Levy called, beckoning Benedict, Portia, and Vera towards her. "Your clan name actually has two meanings, and they are both fitting because, let us be honest, the ones who held your name before you did not carry it well."
"Hmph" Benedict sniffed, thinking of his dastardly father and uncles.
"And while they fulfilled one of your name's meanings, they did not fulfill the other. And now you three can. The first meaning is 'Fame.' Your father and uncles certainly are famous, but not for good reasons. Which is where the second meaning comes into play. The second meaning is 'Heroic.'"
All three of the Orlando children gasped as they took their cards.
"Your clan are the heroes of our family. You're the ones who have overcome adversity. You're the ones who shoot for the stars, no matter the odds, achieving success and fame wherever you go."
"Wow," Benedict whispered under his breath, stunned by Levy's declaration over him and his sisters.
"Look, Mommy, we're gonna be heroes!" Portia called, holding her card above her head.
"You already are to me," Reina smiled through her tears.
Levy smiled at the Orlandos before continuing on. "Dreyars."
Farrah, Cato, and July all came out of the circle and sat in front of Levy.
"Your family's name has a really long meaning. It means 'a committee of three lawmakers.'"
"WHAT!?" July shouted as everyone laughed at the ridiculous meaning.
"But since that's really long and kinda silly, I just shortened it to…" Levy pulled three more cards out of her bag. "'Leader.' Your clan are the leaders of our family."
"Oh," July nodded, taking his card along with his siblings.
"But there's one of you who has another name. Farrah," Levy beckoned for the girl to stay as her brothers made their way back to their place in the circle.
"You still carry your birth family's name 'Lee,'" Levy continued. "And Lee means 'Clearing.' Now, look where you are in this circle," Levy said, pointing to her unoccupied spot. "You're the eldest of this generation. You're the one clearing the way for all those coming behind you."
"Huh," Farrah mused, as she took her extra card and headed to her spot. "I guess I am."
Levy nodded in affirmation before calling: "Dragneels. What do you think your name means?"
"Dragon?" Igneel asked as he and his sisters drew close to Levy.
"It does sound like a dragon. And you are the grandchildren of a dragon, but that's not what it actually means," Levy said as she held up five cards inscribed with the word: "'Protector.' You're our family's protectors. Your clan is the one who keeps our family safe."
"Cool!" Igneel cheered, snatching his card.
"Oh," Layla breathed, eyes wide as she read over her card.
The Dragneel children made their way back to their spots and Levy called:
"Fernandez."
The triplets practically tripped over themselves to get to Levy, Roman following patiently behind them.
"Your clan's name means 'Journey.' We all have our own journeys we take in life, but your clan is the one that helps everyone in the family go through their journeys safely. You support our family through this journey of life, no matter how tough it may get."
"So...roadtrip?" Eva asked, making everyone laugh.
"Maybe not quite yet," Levy giggled before calling: "Fullbusters."
"I hope ours is good," Meeko said as he and his siblings took their seat in front of Levy.
"Your clan's name means 'Resilient.' You're the strong ones of our family. No matter how hard or heavy life gets, you never break. You stand strong for your loved ones."
"Yup, that's good," Meeko nodded proudly, taking his card.
"I'll say," Bianca smirked.
"Strauss," Levy called.
Lorelle, being considerate for once, went to pick Vance up before walking to Levy, carrying her little cousin on her hip.
"Your name means 'Crest.' A crest is a symbol that represents a family. Your clan is the one that makes sure our family is never forgotten."
"Figures I'd get the important job," Lorelle bragged as she carried Vance back to his spot before taking hers.
"And last but not least, Conbolt."
Isla stood to her feet and skipped to Levy's side.
"Your clan name means 'Omen.' While everyone else may be focused on the past, or the present, you're the one who reminds our family to look to the future and to keep moving forward."
"Wow!" Isla exclaimed as she took her card and raced back to her spot.
"Now, to go over your own, individual names. Starting from oldest and going to the youngest. Farrah."
Farrah leaned forward, fully engaged in Levy.
"We already established you're the leader clearing the way for everyone else. But do you know what Farrah means?"
Farrah shook her head "no."
Levy smiled as she held up a card. "Joy."
Farrah gasped while taking the card.
"And your middle name, Rei, means 'Beauty.' So you're the leader clearing the way for all those behind you, but you're also the one reminding everyone of the joy in life. And that, even though life can get hard, there's always beauty to be found."
Farrah nodded, engrossed in Levy's lesson as she took the other card from her.
"Moving on to Benedict," Levy said, turning to the boy. "Your first name means 'Blessed.'"
Benedict smiled, taking his card.
"But what about your middle name? Mace?"
Benedict's smile faded as he hung his head.
"Like your family name, you have a chance to reclaim that name. Mace means 'Weapon.'"
Benedict flinched. That meaning was a little too fitting.
"But remember," Levy continued, setting a hand on Benedict's shoulder. "You're not Mace Orlando. You're Benedict Mace Orlando. You're a blessed weapon of heroism. And look who you're right next to in this circle."
Lecy gestured her head to the side. Benedict turned his gaze to follow her indication, smiling at the sight of Farrah.
She's the leader out there, clearing the way, keeping everyone's spirits up with her joy and beauty. That's a hard and scary job, but look who's standing right behind her, heroically defending her."
Benedict's smile returned, wider than before. "Thanks Aunt Levy," he said as he took his cards, retook his place, and leaned over to peck Farrah on the cheek.
"Nashi," Levy called, becking the young girl to her side.
"Your first name means 'Ours.'"
Nashi's brow furrowed, a little confused as to what that could indicate.
"So you're not just some random kid wandering aimlessly through life. You're not a lone wolf. You're not a solitary soldier. You're ours. You're our Nashi."
Nashi's eyebrows raised, her eyes stinging slightly.
"And your middle name, Lucy?" Levy continued. "Means 'Light.' It's a name you got from your mother, who pulled us together and kept us going through some of our darkest days. She was our beacon of hope. And now she's passed that light on to you. You're our light. And look at where you are in the circle."
Nashi lifted her head, following Levy's pointing finger.
"You're at the front of the line. So we have Farrah clearing, leading the way. We have Benedict, our blessed hero, defending our leader. And then we have you, lighting the way. Being our beacon of hope through the dark times."
"Wow," Nashi gasped, eyes stinging all the more.
"Here you go," Levy said as she put the cards into Nashi's hand. "Go take your place, beacon."
Nashi slowly made her way back to her spot.
"Storm," Levy called.
"My name is 'Storm Gray.' It's a weather occurrence and a color," Storm scoffed, making every laugh.
"True, but do you know what a storm and the color gray symbolize?" Levy asked.
Storm shook his head.
"A storm symbolizes 'Strength. And the color gray symbolizes 'Balance," Levy answered as she passed Storm his cards. "Look at the three people ahead of you in line. Someone has to keep them balanced. And that is going to take a strong someone."
"You're telling me?" Storm jokes, making everyone laugh again.
"Cato," Levy called. Cato respectfully inched his way forward.
"Your first name means 'Shrewd.' And your middle name, Makarov, means 'Blessed.' Just like Benedict. But, how do you tell a blessing from a trap? Sometimes they're hard to tell apart. And sometimes blessings come in disguise. Sometimes a hard trial is really a blessing, because it makes you stronger in the end. It takes a shrewd person, a shrewd leader, to be able to spot all the blessings happening all around us. And, for this family at least, that person is you."
"Okay," Cato nodded. "I'll try."
"I know you will. And you'll succeed," Levy smiled before calling: "Roman."
Roman stood, brushed his pants off, and made his way to Levy.
"Your first name means 'One of Strength,' so you're one of the stronger ones in this family. And your middle name, Robert, means 'Bright Fame.'"
Roman nodded, taking his cards.
"So you, and your siblings, are helping everyone through this journey of life. But you're the one standing strong against the hardships of this world, making sure that journey is as bright as it can be, and through that bringing fame to our family."
Roman nodded again. "Thank you."
He stood and walked back to his spot.
"Persephone, c'mere, sweetie," Levy smiled as her daughter walked to her side. "Your first name has two meanings. It can either mean 'spring' or it can mean 'death bringer.' So you can either be someone's sweetest dream, or you can be their worst nightmare."
"Yeah, that sounds about right," Persephone nodded as everyone chuckled.
Levy smiled as she pulled out a second card. "And you middle name means 'of high quality.' You're a high quality person, my dear, don't let anyone tell you or treat you otherwise."
"Thanks, Mom," Persephone smiled as she took her cards and went back to her spot.
"Koree," Levy called as her second daughter came running towards her. "Your name means 'free-standing maiden.' So whenever things get hard, no matter what happens, you stand tall and you stand free."
"Sweet!" Koree grinned.
"And your middle name means 'messenger.' So look at where you are in the line," Levy said pointing to the circle of children. "You're towards the end of the elders. So you're the one who makes sure the older ones are listening to the younger one. You're the middle woman."
Koree nodded as she took her cards. "Alright. Got it. Messenger."
"Bianca," Levy called.
Bianca stood and walked to Levy's side.
"Bianca, your first name means 'Shining,' and your second name means 'Light,'" Levy passed Bianca's cards to her. "You're not meant to just fade into the background. You're meant to stand out. You're a shining light."
Bianca smiled bright as she read over her cards, taking her spot back.
"Portia," Levy called.
Portia walked to Levy's side.
"Your first name means 'Doorway-'"
"Doorway?" Portia wrinkled her nose and hung her head. "Oh. That's a little strange."
"No, it's not," Levy said, putting an arm around Portia's shoulders. "It's not because you're the one who holds the door open for new people to come into our family."
Portia raised her head slightly, now interested.
"You were the new girl at one point. Maybe sometimes you still feel that way. So now you'll be the one to help all the other new boys and girls coming in behind you find their place. You know why?"
Portia shook her head. Levy pulled out another card.
"Because you're a queen."
Portia gasped, eyes growing bright."
"That's what your middle name, Reina, means. It means 'queen.'"
Portia giggled as she took her cards and skipped back to her spot.
"Lorelle," Levy called. Lorelle all but strutted to Levy's side.
"Your first name means 'Prosperity.' And your second name means 'Eternal.'"
"So does that mean I'll be rich forever?" Lorelle asked.
"Well, maybe, but not-"
"I knew I'd marry a rich man!" Lorelle cheered as she snatched her cards and sauntered back to her spot. "Read it and weep guys!"
"Whatever," Bianca rolled her eyes, still looking over her own cards.
Levy just sighed as she called: "Minette?"
Minette cartwheeled to her feet and ran to Levy's side.
"Your first name means 'Faithful Defender.'"
"I knew that," Minette nodded as she took the card.
"And your middle name, Erza, which I'm not even sure if your mother knows this," Levy smiled as she pulled out another card. "It means 'Gift.' So you are both a defender and a gift to all of those around you."
"Cool!" Minette cheered as she ran back to her spot. Eva didn't even wait for her name to be called before she ran to Levy's side.
"Your first name means 'Life,' and your middle name means 'To be Heard.' So you keep everything lively and you make sure everyone's voice is heard."
"Well, I try to at least," Eva said as she took her cards. Von stood and made it to Levy's side as Eva took her seat.
"Von, your first name means 'hope,'" Levy said as she passed Von's card to him. "And your middle name, like your father, means 'greatness.'"
Von's eyes grew wide as he held his cards.
"Not only do you bring hope to those around you, but you encourage hope and greatness in your peers."
"Thank you," Von said as he held his cards to his chest and walked back to his spot.
"Layla," Levy called.
Layla stood to her feet and tiptoed to Levy's side.
"Your first name means 'Beauty' and your middle name means 'Gracious,'" Levy said as she passed the cards to Layla. "You remind everyone of the beauty all around them, and you show them graciousness and mercy when they become bitter and forget to look at that beauty.'"
"Wow," Layla smiled, hugging her cards to her chest. "Thank you, Aunt Levy."
Layla all but twirled her way back to her spot. Igneel eagerly jumped to his feet and ran to Levy's side.
"Igneel, your first name means 'Champion,'" Levy said as she held the card up.
"Aw, yeah!" Igneel cheered as he took the card.
"And your middle name means 'Praised.'"
"Double aw yeah!"
"Now, don't go getting a big head," Levy giggled as she ruffled Igneel's hair. "You might be our praised champion, but make sure you praise your friend's efforts as well."
"I will," Igneel promised as he took his cards and ran back to his spot.
"Meeko," Levy called.
Meeko stood to his feet and eagerly squatted down in front of her.
"Your first name means 'Prosperous,' and your second name means 'Wealth.'"
"Who's the rich one now, L'oreal?" Meeko asked as he took his cards and stood to his feet.
"Maybe you'll be the rich man she marries," Bianca jokes.
"Oh, HECK no!" Meeko shouted, causing a few snickers from the other kids as Lorelle turned her nose up at him.
"Vera," Levy called. The young girl skipped to her side.
"Your first name means 'Faith,' and your middle name means 'Hope.'"
"Is that good?" Vera asked.
"Yes," Levy giggled.
"Okay, then I'm happy. Thank you!" Vera smiled as she scampered off.
"Isla," Levy called, beckoning the young girl to her. "Your first name means 'Refuge,' and your middle name means 'Wellness.' So you're the one that makes sure everyone else in our family is okay.'"
"Okay, I'll try," Isla promised, taking her card and scampering off.
"July?" Levy called.
July ran ,tripped over his feet, brushed himself off, and kept running to Levy's side.
"Your first name means 'Youthful,' and your middle name means 'Light.' So whenever things get too heavy, you remind everyone to just have sun child-like fun."
"Fun!" July cheered, waving his cards over his head. "Fun! Fun! Fun!"
Levy and the other adults giggled as he clumsily took his seat.
"Kyri," Levy just stood to walk to the four babies at the end of the line who had, surprisingly, stayed put. "Your first name means 'Sun,' and your middle name means 'Warmth.'"
"Ooh!" Kyri cheered as she took her cards.
"Luna, your first name means 'Moon,' and your middle name means 'Dark Fortress.'"
"Juven, your first name means 'Youthful,' and your middle name means 'Blessed.'"
"And finally, Vance. Your first name means 'Gracious,' and your middle name also means 'blessed.'"
Levy waited for a moment, giving all the children a chance to read over the meanings of their names one more time before she said.
"Now, no matter what happens, you can remember who you are."