Past, Present, No Future
by: Shigure Hakuya
Being cuddled by her mother feels like heaven for Lucy. Of course, she haven't seen her own mother for years. Right now, both of them are inside Lucy's room, with Layla humming a song and Lucy slowly falling asleep.
Ah, Lucy can now feel herself floating...
Then she fell asleep...
Lucy smiled to herself when she woke up. Maybe its still early to be awake in three in the morning, right?
Finding a way to train in this time, she now found her feet at the front of the Heartfilia library. Books, really placed a spot on Lucy's heart. Books that can take her to other world just by reading its contents. It also can make her cry, smile and feel saddened. But still, books are just the only thing that can be preserved for a long time, right? With the proper atmosphere and place, books can live forever.
Now Lucy sounds like the first master, isn't it?
Well, she is really influenced by the antics of Mavis Vermillion. The way she walks, the way she talks, the way she plans...it's too perfect for Lucy.
But what amaze Lucy is that the first master really is strong. Her spirit can still appear upon them even without contact from her physical body. It's great. Really great.
Slightly twisting the metallic door knob, Lucy smiled upon knowing that this room isn't locked. Then she entered.
Many books are lined up in its shelves. It's properly organized. From encyclopedia to dictionaries. Story books to classics. Ah, it feels like heaven being surrounded by books.
Then now, Lucy sat down on a chair, slowly pushing it beneath the books of magic. From how to use magic to how to summon familiars. Then Lucy grabbed the book of Meditation. Lucy really like meditating but found it really hard to do it, due to the noise that the Team Natsu emits when she does one. Then Lucy started to read...
Lucy can now be found inside the garden, with her in a meditating position. Breathing in and out slowly. Mind focusing at a certain symbol, which was her keys. Gladly, meditating was really easy, without noise. Then she can feel it. That sudden surge of power is within her palm but cannot grasp it. She can hear the sways of the leaves and the dance of the morning sundew. Its refreshing...
Then Lucy moved on to another book named Means of Tarot. Fortune telling is one of Lucy's major interest but she can't find the right time to start it. Its like she's too shy to show her interest to Cana whenever when they're helping each other.
Then Lucy started reading, from the Tarot cards' history to the meaning of the Card's different arcana. From the Fool to the Universe from the Thoth.
Lucy said to Layla that she wants to learn how to fortune tell and of course, her lovely mother obliged her.
Both of them are now in the town of Hargeon. A sudden urge to go to Magnolia hit her but once again tried to stop it. They are now inside a magic shop. Now this shop is really familiar...
"How can I help you?" A muscular voice was all Lucy heard as she saw the much young face of the store clerk. Lucy backed away, now is he really that normal looking before? That man which she met before when she first came to Hargeon and used her womanly charms that costs only a 1,000J discount, now that pisses Lucy.
Then Lucy went to the magic items space. There, she can see swords, wands, cards, keys and many more. Then she go herself a whole pack of Tarot cards with the Thoth version included. Then got herself a silver key. Then she smiled serenely upon seeing the key of the Canis Manor. Then they payed and went home via train.
Then Lucy started to train with her keys. Her mother lended her some keys. Lyra, Horologium, Crux and Plue are now in her. Then she tried summoning. When Lucy tried summoning one, it took a chunk of her magic energy. Well, she's still a child so its still acceptable. Then now, Lucy succeeded in summoning Plue, with his dog-self and forming a contract with her. Her mother was surprised upon seeing her child being more and more a Celestial mage she is. She looked proudly to Lucy. Maybe she have the strength to summon a gold key.
That exact night, Lucy found herself sitting on chair with her newly bought cards in front of her. Then she remembered what she read from the book. She examined her cards and saw the major arcanas.
"The Arcana is the means by which all is revealed..."
The Fool (0) which means innocence, chaos, divine inspiration, spontaneity, freedom, madness and it is the "jack of all trades".
...Attaining one's dream requires a stern will and unfailing determination...
The Magician (I) which means initiative, action, self-confidence, manipulation, power and it is the "right hand of the Fool".
...The silent voice within one's heart whispers the most profound wisdom...
The High Priestess (II) which means hidden knowledge, wisdom, patience, modest, and it is the "female mystery".
...Celebrate life's grandeur... Its brilliance... its magnificence...
The Empress (III) which means prosperity, creativity, fertility, sexuality, abundance and it is the "mother figure".
...Only courage in the face of doubt can lead one to the answer...
The Emperor (IV) which means manipulation, the desire to control one's surroundings and it is the "father figure".
...It is indeed a precious gift to understand the forces that guide oneself...
The Hierophant (V) which means education, authority, conservatism, logical and it is the "wiser one".
...There is both joy and wonder in coming to understand another...
The Lovers (VI) which means cheerfulness, the emphasis on social interaction and it is the "popular one".
...One of life's greatest blessings is the freedom to pursue one's goals...
The Chariot (VII) which means victory, conquest, self-assertion, control, war and command, and it is the "aggressive one".
...To find the one true path, one must seek guidance amidst uncertainty...
The Strength (VIII) which means self-control, gentleness, courage, virtue and it is known for its strength of heart.
...It requires great courage to look at oneself honestly, and forge one's own path...
The Hermit (IX) which means wisdom, introspection, solitude, retreat and it is the one who hides away from others.
...Alongside time exists fate, the bearer of cruelty...
The Wheel of Fortune or Fortune (X) which means fate, luck, opportunity and it is the one who is involved in making important choices or decision.
...Only with strength can one endure suffering and torment...
The Justice (XI) which means objectivity, justice, rationality, concerned with matters of fairness and it is mostly the "stoic" type.
...In the face of disaster lies opportunity for renewal...
The Hanged Man (XII) which means self-sacrifice, binding that makes one free and it is the one who paradoxes and hanging between heaven and earth.
Then Lucy's eyes widened upon seeing the next card...
...
The Death (XIII) which means foreboding, doom, metamorphosis, deep change, regeneration, cycle and it is the one who changes mostly.
Lucy sighed upon reading the next arcanas...
The Temperance (XIV) which means synthesis, prudence, harmony, merging of the opposites and it is the one who struggles to find a balance in their lives.
The Devil (XV) which means temptation, selfishness, impulsive, healthy bond of commitment, greediness and it is the "proud" one.
The Tower (XVI) which means arrogance, prejudice, authoritarian organization and it is the one who find themselves fallen from grace.
The Star (XVII) which means hope, self-confidence, faith, altruism, luck, generosity, peace and it is the "joyous" one.
The Moon (XIIX) which means creativity, inspiration, dreams, madness, illusions, fear and it is the one who has troubles in accepting themselves.
The Sun (XIX) which means happiness, joy, optimism, accomplishment and it is the one who is in deep thoughts about the meaning of life and manages to find their answers.
The Judgement (XX) which means the one who realizes one's calling, gaining a deep understanding of life and the one who feels acceptance and absolution.
The World (XXI) which means fulfillment, wholeness, harmony and the world's totality.
With her mind clear, she started to shuffle the cards. Arranging it now properly, she cut the cards to three, each of the same height as the other. With her precise hand, she returned all of it to one stack. Then now picked one by magic means. She swiped a card and all was finally revealed...
(0) The Fool in its upright position...
Once again, the Fool started its journey. Infinite possibilities happens and one may change its own course of life.
(I) Then, The Magician in its upright position...
Full of confidence and power, the Fool manages to keep forward even in struggles.
(XVI) Next, The Tower in a reversed position...
In one of those struggles, the Fool was being placed down by fate. Wasn't it unlucky?
(VI) But then, The Lovers in a reversed position...
Then Fool rushed in making choices. Now the fall is in front of the Fool.
(XIII) Finally, The Death in its upright position...
The Fool is now faced in its final destination. Its change is now occurring. What will happen?
Then Lucy went back to her bed started to fall asleep. Tomorrow, she'll start training regarding the Celestial keys...
To be continued...
A/N: Containing many information about arcana from Persona 3.
Also, I don't know what I'm typing this time. Sorry for this lame chapter. Again, sorry for the wrong spiellings and grammurs.