She didn't know how long she had stayed in bed. She snapped awake to find that she wasn't alone. Her grandfather was sitting close to the edge of her bed. He looked worried. She knew that she went too far.

"Grandpa." She watched as he looked at her sadly. Tears started to well in her eyes. "I'm…I'm sorry."

He just looked at her. "You scared all of us, Xenia. I just want to know more about this Ziph character."

She flinched upon hearing his name. She wasn't sure that she could handle it. "I thought he was kind."

He sighed. "You've been told that the world out there is dangerous. I just want to know why thought you needed to leave with him. Did he threaten you?"

She shook her head. "No…" She didn't want to talk about this. She feared where her thoughts would lead her. If he knew the real reason, he would be angry with her. She couldn't believe that she had found that bastard to be attractive. He was the son of Cetus. The demon that ruined her family. The monster that had taken her father from them had gone and made a son using her father's body. She could just imagine how crushed her mother would be if she found out.

"Xenia, can you talk to me?" Her grandpa said, making her jump.

She sighed. "It's just a lot to process. I didn't think that he would make another child." She said, trying to get off of the subject of that. She couldn't think of Cetus making a child. She didn't want to think about how the boy had made her feel. Before she had run into Maky and his friends, she had been pretty content to follow him anywhere. Why?

Then there was what that little girl had said to her. Did Ziph really come to Fiore just for her? How did he even know about her? Sure, Cetus gained power after she was born, but she didn't know that the demon knew of her existence.

"Neither did I. I didn't even know that he was keeping Flare around for that." Her Grandfather didn't look at her. He only stared at the wall. "Did that boy do anything to you?" He asked.

She couldn't stop herself from turning red if she tried. She had gone along with him kissing her. He was insane, but for some odd reason, she had been drawn to him.

"Xenia, did he touch you?" He said, sounding more firm.

She looked down at the bed spread. "He…he kissed me."

Her grandfather looked angry. "Anything else?"

She felt embarrassed. She didn't want to talk about this stuff with him and she really didn't want him to know that she had enjoyed it. "No."

The older man sighed. "I know that you are going to be mad at me, but I'm going to assign you a body guard."

She felt herself stiffen. "But Grandpa…"

"No buts. You are clearly a target for Cetus's plans and I would feel better if you had someone to guard you." Her Grandfather argued.

She glared at him. "I can take care of myself."

He sighed. "Then why were you just taken?"

"I left because I wanted to!" She snapped. "I wanted the freedom he promised me!"

Her Grandfather looked at her, then back at the wall. "You are free. It's just dangerous."

"You know that it's not the same!" She said, pulling herself out of bed. "It's like I'm a prisoner in this place. Do you really expect me to stay here?"

He looked at her sadly and she wondered what was going on. "You're not staying here."

"What?" She pondered.

"You will be moved to the Fairy Tail guild. There are more people that can look after you there." He stated.

She tensed up. She was going to have to come face to face with her mother. She had to wonder how off her rocker the woman had become. "But I don't want to go there."

"You will go and stay there. We have no idea what that boy is planning and I want you to stay safe." Her Grandfather snapped.

She looked down at the bedspread. "Is this because I disobeyed you again?"

"You know the reason, Xenia." Her Grandfather sighed. "Lily will be going with you. I know that Makarov will want to see her."

"Who is she anyway?" She asked. The strange little girl seemed to know who Ziph was.

"She's your cousin. Your uncle, Vik, has returned." She froze. Her Grandfather sounded so happy, but at the same time she was a little confused. Cetus's shield was supposed to be impenetrable. How did they get out? "You should take the time to get to know all of your cousins. I know that Maky and Goyle will want to see you. Along with your mother."

She nodded. "Mom is going to be angry with me."

Her Grandfather frowned. "I should have never taken you from the guild."

"I wouldn't have learned anything if I had stayed there." She said. "Even If you haven't tried to show me anything new in ages."

He sighed. "One of these days, you will see that I was right all along."

She rolled her eyes. She just couldn't see that happening.

"Now go ahead and pack. Gunner and Lily are waiting for you." He said standing up and leaving the room.

She stood there for a second and took everything in. This wasn't fair, but she had no choice.

Remy sighed as he looked at Ivan. Neither of them liked this, but this was the only chance they would have. Vik told them that the hole in the shield was not going to last forever.

Vik was sitting there staring at the ceiling. His youngest son was dealing with being separated from his daughter. It was only for now. It wasn't permanent. He put his hand on Vik's shoulder. "This is the only way. You know that she will be safe there."

Vik nodded. "I know, but I can't help but worry. Lily's not used to the outside world. She's smart, but with Ziph running around, I'm going to be on edge."

"Laxus will keep an eye on her. Trust me, between him and Makarov, she will be safe." Ivan stated. "It's Xenia that I'm worried about. She could still run off."

"She'll be too busy. She'll have plenty of kids her own age to run around with." Remy stated. He heard a knock on the door and he turned to find Carma standing there with Warner.

"Gunner will keep her safe." Warner said.

Carma sighed. "I just wish that she hadn't tried to run off like that. I just wanted to get them talking. Gunner felt bad about what he had said earlier."

He had to wonder what the boy had said. "And what would that be?"

Warner rolled his eyes. "All the boy said was that Cetus's shield had to have a weak point. There was no reason for her to take offense to that."

Now that was surprising. "She has a lot of bite to her."

"Gunner's got his hands full." Warner said.

He chuckled. "That he does. But that isn't the reason that we are all here." He looked back at Vik. "How long do you think that the opening will last?"

"I don't know. From what Lily said, it looks like Prince Ziph made it, so there's a chance that it's only going to be open while he is in Fiore." Vik said.

"So we have no idea if it is even an option." Ivan said.

"Not exactly. Cetus was preparing for war. There is a high chance that he will plan a strike." Vik said crossing his arms.

"What should we expect from his armies?" Warner asked.

Vik looked terrified. "There is no army."

"What?" Remy said in confusion.

"He doesn't need an army. His power is strong enough that he can make one at will. The people of Miresa will fall to his hand. He will devour their souls and used the empty husks for his amusement." Vik said.

The room had gone quiet, his son had to have some experience with Cetus's real power. "If that is the case, then his war will be far more deadly than we thought it would be."

Vik nodded. "It doesn't help that I was the one that had to oversee everything that asshole was doing."

He raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean by everything?"

Vik looked down. "I don't want to talk about it."

Ivan walked up and put his hand on Vik's shoulder. "You need your space and I understand that, but we need to know everything about Cetus. Anything could give us an advantage."

Vik shook his head. He just didn't want to say anything. It had to be too gruesome for him to even think about it.

"What a shame." Everyone turned and they came face to face with a man that he detested. General Francis Corwall. "You know that a refusal to give up intel to the King's men is a crime of the highest order." The man chuckled.

Ivan glared at him. "I would like to see you come back in one piece from that wasteland!"

The ancient looking old man cackled. "I would have in my younger days, but sadly, I can't do much with these old bones." Corwall looked back over at Vik. "If I remember correctly, you were once in league with 25. What a shame. You turned your back on the King, that's treason you know?" The man said pointing at his son.

He couldn't take it. He gripped the man's finger and got in his face. "If I remember correctly, my husband and I were also charged with treason. You're precious King isn't perfect."

The old man scowled. "I've never liked you."

"Good, like I would ever want an old man like you singing my praises." He snapped.

"Are we having this conversation again?" Arlinton said, walking into the room.

He noticed that Warner wasn't even looking at him. After they had been introduced, Arlinton didn't seem to know what to do. So their relationship suffered. "Is mom done with her adjustments to my equipment?" Arlinton only nodded.

"Just stay out of our business, Brass. I don't have time for your shit." He snapped.

Arlinton only laughed as he lit up. "I believe that any news from Miresa is the business of the King's men."

"Of course you would think that." Warner scoffed.

"Excuse me?!" Brass said turning back to his son.

Warner chuckled. "You four and Corwall. You're nothing but dogs that the King can call to do his bidding."

"You know nothing, kid." Arlinton growled.

Warner only rolled his eyes. "Please, you really think that you're in control? That he will let you live after this is over? Don't make me laugh. Mom, Carolta, Sasha, and you will be returned to dust."

"Warner!" He snapped and the younger man looked at him. "Take a deep breath and calm yourself." He said.

He watched Warner do what he asked, but noticed something out of the corner of his eye. Arlinton was glaring at him. "Carma and I are going to go and look at Arma's report. There may be something in her notes." With that Warner stormed off and his wife followed.

Ivan sighed. "Can we go one day around her without snapping at each other?"

"You know that is impossible." He stated.

Arlinton said nothing to him and it looked like Corwall had run off. Vik still sat there in silence.

He turned to his son and smiled. "Why don't you go by Blue Pegasus?"

Vik flinched. "I don't know."

He continued to smile at his son. "It will probably do you some good."

Vik shook his head. "I don't know about that. After the things I've done…Kitt and Edvin could never love me."

"So your kid's a faggot too." Arlinton snapped. Just in time for Ivan to punch him in the face.

"Just because you don't know how to deal with your son, doesn't mean that you get to make comments about my son!" Ivan retorted.

Brass let out a small huff. "You really think I have a son?" The former brunette looked between the two of them. "I think he prefers treating the two of you like that." And with that he stormed off.

"Really what is with everyone? He has a chance to spend time with Warner and Gunner, but does nothing. What an idiot." Ivan said annoyed.

He smiled. "Says the man that never wanted children, but can't get enough of them."

Ivan stared at him. "I never said that I didn't want children, I just didn't want to be a father like my father was."

He laughed. "And that meant that you didn't want to be a father at all." He leaned forward and gave his husband a kiss on the nose. "But you know, I think fatherhood really suited you well."

Vik just sighed. "If you guys want to do that, go get a room. I may have not seen you in 15 years, but that doesn't mean I want to watch you play kissy face."

"You know, we could always do this until you finally decide to go to Blue Pegasus." Ivan pointed out and he chuckled.

"We could even go as far as to make out right here." He joked.

His son rolled his eyes. "Why is this so important to you guys?"

"We just want to see you happy." Ivan said.

Vik sighed. "It's not that easy and you know it."

Another laugh came in through the doorway. Arma giggled to herself. "Really Vik, just go do it before I call them here myself."

Vik gave her a glare. "Like you would dare."

She only laughed. "Try me."

He looked over at Ivan. Vik had never acted like this before. He was always pretty stand offish with women. He thought that it may be that she was like a sister to him, but then Vik smirked. "You're on."

She giggled as she tried to make it to the door. Vik moved quickly and in seconds he was tickling her sides. She had leaned into him as she started laughing. "St..Stop…Ha."

Vik only smirked to himself. "Do you give up?"

She tried to roll away from his tickling but he had a firm hold on her. "Nev…hahaha…never…"

Vik laughed as she got the upper hand and turned in his arms. Her foot tripped and she fell against his chest and the two of them just stared at each other. "Um…"

The two of them had turned red and now he could see something else there. Was there a chance that Vik was Bi instead? He did have a child with Rosa and from what they knew about her, Rosa was dead. Then there was the issue of Arma's sexuality. He knew that she almost always went for women. Did she see Vik that way? If he didn't believe it before, he did now.

Remy sighed. "Why don't you two go and talk things over?" He knew that Vik had been through a lot of shit. Maybe Vik knew what he was doing. His son had lived all of those years without the men that he loved. Vik found comfort in the arms of another and if he was right, that was happening again. Vik's fear would keep him away from Kitt and Edvin, but from the look of it, it would drive him right into Arma instead.

Vik did as he asked without question and he had Arma left. "Ivan what are we going to do with that boy?"

Ivan just smiled at him. "We let him live that's what."

Ziph chuckled darkly to himself. They really thought that they had the upper hand? He could see their plan from the beginning. He already knew about this Fairy Tail guild.

It was just too bad. His bride would never make it there. He blended back into the shadows as he watched the party of three.

That boy was the bane of his existence and Lily was a little traitor. What was she doing outside of Miresa? His father would not be very happy about that, but that was of no concern of him. His father would be happier after he saw his new bride. He just knew it.

To Be Continued…

Author's Note

Sorry, this is late. I made it a lot longer to make up for it.

If you think that General Corwall came out of nowhere as a character, then you haven't checked out the oneshot on my page. Teleport My Heart will tell you all that you need to know about him.