Lucy and the Definitive... Cat?

A Garden of Endings

Well, you made it this far and thank you for being patient. We are now at the end and this story has been a blast to write! I hope you've enjoyed reading it.

May you have a beautiful and healthy 2021.

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The magic faded around Lucy as she gently pulled back from Mard. She met his midnight eyes and gently touched his flushed cheek. He pressed his warm forehead to hers as they held each other in the slowly brightening world.

She blinked noticing the sunlight bounce off green grass that looked more vibrant than it did before. "Mard, I think..." her voice trailed off as Mard slowly rose before extending a slim hand and helping her up. He turned her around and she looked over the once desolate and gruesome battlefield.

The spinning vortex was gone, the Abyssal creatures no longer entering Earthland, and beautiful flecks of shimmering magic danced in the wildflower fragrant air. Her mouth fell open as she saw a restored field, now covered in small pink wild roses, and confused translucent spirits hovering above each one.

Mard wrapped his arms around her waist and put his head to her shoulder, "I am sorry Rosebud. We could not save them."

Lucy looked down at her boots for a moment and felt her heart clench at not just his words but the pain in his voice. She said nothing as she heard a slight sniffle and felt as his body shivered against hers. A tear fell out of her eye as she looked over the new garden before her.

Their magic had done this, it had destroyed the darkness and the creatures of madness. It also transformed all the shells of the human hosts into beautiful flowers. From the death and decay of the moment to renewed life and sadly the loss of many people.

Another tear fell as she met the pained gaze of a young spirit, a woman around Lucy's own age.

"I'm sorry," she whispered to the spirit, who only nodded, her translucent hair swaying a bit from the movement.

The spirits all began to float towards each other, their mouths moving but Lucy couldn't hear anything. She bit her bottom lip as tears poured from her eyes and she could feel the warm tears of Mard dampen her shoulder. For all the beauty around her, there was pain.

Their pain and together she shared this heartache with Mard. Her arms laid on top of his, holding her middle as she tried to stand tall and face the aftermath of what was done.

It never should have happened, she thought.

I agree, Mard mentally whispered.

Thank you.

For what? Mard mentally sighed as his head lightly tapped against her shoulder, we failed.

Lucy sniffled and dashed away a tear from her face, we knew there was a chance...

As she watched she saw Corvus put his axes into the ground and slowly walk towards the group. He shot her a sympathetic look and motioned for her to join him. Lucy wasn't certain what it was about she remembered that he was native to the Plane of Mists, a kind of clearing house for the deceased.

"Mard, let go. I think Corvus needs us," she said as she patted his forearms.

He lifted his head and let go of her, "one second Rosebud, I am undignified." She nodded quietly and didn't look back at him, knowing that Mard was trying to swipe away the tear tracks on his face.

He drew in a long heavy breath and took her hand, "thank you."

Lucy ran her thumb over his knuckles and nodded, "let's go."