Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail or its characters; that right belongs to Hiro Mashima.
Lycrosis is also known as the Red Spider Lily. A few fun Facts!
- The Red Spider Lily is called the 彼岸花 ("Flower of the Other Shore" aka "Flower of Paradise")
- Used at funerals in Japan and China.
- Their bloom represents the changing of Summer to Autumn.
- A symbol of reincarnation
- Show the path to hell for the dead (Loved ones who passed away) to follow safely.
Lucy stood there at the grave, her eyes hooded as she looked down at it. Noting that it was clean, meaning someone had been by recently to visit. A sad, wane smile curling her lips as she just looked at it. Tears burning along the bottom edge of her eyes as a pang of loss and sorrow filled her heart. It had been a year since her last visit. Which was remorseful to her. The time between each visit was getting longer and longer now.
Did it diminish how she felt? No. Did it mean that she didn't care? No. Rather it meant that her feelings were so much stronger now. Sure she still did what she always did after an eventful day. But nothing compared to just coming to visit the grave itself. Even if it dredged up painful memories of a harrowing parting. A life cut way too short. A life lost before it had been allowed to live to the fullest. Leaving the pain of those left behind to be shouldered as a burden.
But it wasn't a burden, not to her. She would always refuse to let it be such a thing. The happy and sad memories that had been made were always there in her mind, heart, and soul. And she would never let them fade. It would be an insult to the person who had passed on and gone across that eternal river. Their soul moving to the next life, with hopes of being reincarnated. It was what she had wished for that person. The gods knew that they deserved it.
So as the first roll of thunder rumbled across the slowly darkening sky, Lucy felt the first tear trickle down her cheek. No matter how many times she told herself that she would not cry, she always did. A lot of time had passed since her special person had passed. And she had grown a lot. Learned to stand on her own feet, secure in herself. Knowing that she was not ever alone.
A tremble of her lip, of which she bit down on to keep the sob from coming out. The pain making her eyes even brighter as she knelt down and ran her hand across the smooth gravemarker. Reading the name and date, forcing a smile to her lips. Soon enough lightning flashed across the sky, illuminating the pale stone as even more tears streamed down her face, mixing with the few raindrops that were falling slowly and sporadically from the blustery clouds above.
When the feeling of pressure clamped down on her shoulder, Lucy jumped straight up and spun. The kind gaze that met her had the damn finally breaking as she leaned into the person. The familiar warmth of that lean muscled chest and a strong arm as she cried was enough. The feel of their calloused hand stroking her hair as she let it all out. Only to go still at a soft cooing sound coming from the person's other arm.
Pulling back and looking up first into purple eyes that held nothing but love for her, Lucy then looked at the source of cooing. Making a smile pull her lips upward in happiness. This was the purpose of coming today, the anniversary of her mother's death. Shifting she reached over and took her precious little bundle from her husband, Lahar. Steeling herself as she turned to face the grave once more, kneeling down.
"Hi, Momma. I am here to visit again. Like always I am trying to be strong like you wanted," she said in a whisper as she felt Lahar's hands rest on her shoulders, silently supporting her.
Giving a watery chuckle, Lucy shifted their daughter, so that the little girl with large brown eyes and black-green hair could see it. Noting the way she looked curiously at it before laughing happily.
"I brought someone special to visit you. Last year I came I was pregnant... Well, I thought you'd love to meet your granddaughter, Amanda Layla Ziegler," she said, choking back another sob that was threatening to escape. "Dad, he loves her to pieces and was so happy we gave her your name in remembrance mom. I know just how you and dad felt when you had me now. I wish you could meet her mom, you'd spoil her rotten."
Trailing off as the rain grew heavier, Lucy stood up and gave a rather forlorn look at the grave marker. Wanting to stay longer, but not willing to risk her little girl's health for her own selfish desires. It was no one fault that a summer storm had to roll in and make this a short visit. But silently she promised herself and her daughter that they'd be back a lot soon. Even with her duties and guild stuff. There was always the letters now that she had introduced her daughter formally, that she wrote almost every day still to her mother.
Letting a natural smile appear on her face as she looked up at Lahar who held his cape open for her to step into, Lucy thanked her lucky stars that she was alive and had all these blessings. Even in light of the new stuff, they'd all learned about certain guild members and leaders. The defeat of past evils. Everyone was finally moving on. Knowing that she was able to come this far because her mother was always watching, helped Lucy keep her head high as she looked up at Lahar as they walked.
"I Love you, Lahar," she said softly. Earning a faint blush and soft grunt in reply. Amazed that he was still embarrassed by this after almost two years of marriage.
As the couple walked away, they didn't notice a single red flower grown and bloom on the grave, a faint yellow light glowing and shaping into the tiny figure of a woman that resembled Lucy. A smile on her lips as she watched with great love and happiness as the small family walked away in the rain before fading away.