The Side Where No Stars Shine

Normal Again...

The Next Day...
Lucy's POV

I could tell that even after spending quite some time with the guild, Lior felt a bit left out.

He was in the back room, by himself, while the rest of us were out here.

I felt bad, but I knew I needed to let him be.

Meanwhile, I was so glad to be back with everyone.

I knew I'd made it hard on them for quite a while.

"Hey Luce, how old is Lior anyways?" Natsu asks me.

It came to me that they probably didn't know Lior too well.

"Lior is probably... around Erza's age now?"

"Really? That's..."

"Unexpected, right?" I add.

My team nods.

"Yeah, he's my older cousin, but he's such a big baby." I tease, even if Lior wasn't in the room.

He's always been such a softie, so I was surprised when I saw him under Lilith's control.

I remember when we were little how I'd always try to pinch his cheeks.

He'd tell me to stop, but I'd just laugh.

I'm so glad things are back to normal.

I'm with my friends and family, and everything is okay again.

Still, it was hard to believe things had gotten so out of hand.

Then, I remembered.

"What ever happened to Lilith?" I asked them.

The room became silent.

"Lucy... Lilith is dead." Erza said bluntly.

I didn't get emotional.

It didn't mean much to me, personally, but I knew if Lior found out...

"Does Lior know?"

They nod sadly.

He must've taken it hard.

So, Lilith was gone then.

Drama and conflict with Black Rose was over.

We could get back to our normal lives.

We could move on.

"What are you guys talking about?" Lior questions, walking into the room.

He was finally joining in on the conversation.

"Nothing... just how much of a baby you are!"

I pinch his cheek, laughing.

"Lucy! I told you to stop with that already!" He yells, embarrassed.

"You really think I'm going to?! Besides, that was years ago!"

He tries to break my grip.

"Yeah, so I'm older now! Stop treating me like a kid!"

I just keep laughing happily, and the others joins in.

Lior rolls his eyes stubbornly.

I'd missed every bit of this...

So everything is how it should be.

Lucy is herself...

Conflict is over...

But is it really?

Is this really the end?

Keep reading... :P