~Dream, Lucianna~
"Where are those little rascals?" A gentle voice whispered, and Lucianna couldn't help but watch as a woman walk by and then leaned over some bushes as if searching for something, playing ignorant to the snickering voices that were coming from behind her. The woman then straighten up, humming in thought, before sighing in defeat. "Oh well, if they don't show up, then I will have to give my freshly baked pie to the others then."
"NOOO!!" Two voices shouted in sync and followed by silhouettes running towards the woman, who turned around, hugging her legs soon after. "Pies! Ours!!"
"Ahahaha!" The woman laughed. "Of course, of course."
"Is mama bullying my boys again?" A warm, masculine voice suddenly asked and then arms wraps around the woman's waist hugging her tight to the body of a man that seems to appear out of nowhere.
"Mama said no pies!" One of the boys shouted and the adults laughed, while the children whined. As Lucianna watched the scene she couldn't help but realized that she couldn't see their faces, despite that, she did find the scene heartwarming. She then continued to look on even when she's slowly waking up and the last thing she heard was.
"Come back to me!"
~Present, nearly sunrise~
A couple of eyelids fluttered open, showing the live world's warm blue eyes. Lucianna yawned, stretching her arms above her, before rubbing her eyes and then standing up. She then went to their bathroom, towel in hand, and took a bath, not minding how cold the water is. Once she was done, she went back to her room and then began to wear an off-shoulder, long-sleeve, white dress, and overlay it with a dark green spaghetti strap dress, followed by her pump shoes.
After changing, she checked on her kids and smiled when they were still sleeping before going further inside and preparing their outfits for the day. She then went out and head towards the stairs which were lowered down, meaning her father is already up and is probably cooking their breakfast. And this is correct, Laxus is currently cooking their meal and when he heard footsteps coming down, he paused and looked over his shoulder.
"Good Morning, Papa." His daughter greeted him, making him smile.
"Good Morning, Little Light." Hearing that childhood nickname, Luci sighed in defeat.
"Please don't call me that."
"Ahahahaha!" Laxus laughed, before the egg that he cooked on a plate and went to cook another batch as his daughter grabs an apron that was hanging on one of the hooks and then grabs a picnic basket. "The boys still sleeping?"
"As a rock." Lucianna nodded and then grabs a loaf of bread and then a knife. "Do you want pure meat on your food?"
"Of course!" Laxus scoff. "But make it look like it's vegetables so that the boys won't notice."
"Riiighhht…" The Midnight-haired girl sighed and went to prepare the food that her father and children will eat during their family bonding. It was quiet for a couple of minutes, with only the sizzling of oil making the sound when Luci opened her mouth and asked.
"Have you ever thought that the reason why there's no phoenix around is that they were captured by the Sinisters?" Her question made her father pause before sighing in defeat.
"A lot of us thought that as well, we even thought that perhaps Marcelino and his child were captured too since no one saw him since the war."
"Did Grandpa help him during that war centuries ago?" Luci asked, putting her prepared food in the basket.
"He did, before he died he told me multiple times about how amazing he was and that his story should be passed down." Laxus agreed, before turning off the stove and grabbing the plates on the counter, before putting them on one of the tables in their tavern.
"Based on Grandpa's story, do you think he can be captured or even allow his child to be captured?" His daughter asked as she followed after him, basket on the bar counter, and then grabs four water glasses.
"If you asked me, I don't think so." Laxus grabs more plates and did the same process as he did with the one previously. "But, with how things are we couldn't help but assume the worse."
"...Then we could only assume phoenixes are caught then," Lucianna muttered and could only wait for her Father's nod. Once the plates were set, the young lady went and grab a rope that was hanging on the side of the wall and could only snicker as muffled thuds are heard. Her father laughed as well, as he could hear what happen with his enhanced hearing while slicing a loaf of bread and covering it with jam.
It took nearly 10 minutes for the boys to run down and to their table, all freshen up, despite the disheveled hair. Lucianna and Laxus burst laughing at their appearance, stopping their meal preparation for the boys' plates. Said boys merely puffed their cheeks before sitting across their mother and could only wait for their food to be on their plates, once everyone has their own meal, they began to eat. It was a warming scene, where everyone was laughing and filled with happiness, and no one couldn't help but think that nothing is wrong with the world. But the adults know that was not the case, still if it helps them take their mind off a few things, then it's fine.
"Are you boys excited?" Laxus asked, and his human grandchildren nodded in agreement.
"Yes!"
"I'm going to find the best and most beautiful sea shell and give it to mama!" Ashish declared making his mom giggle.
"And I'm going to catch the biggest fish for dinner!" Asher declared, only to receive a wagging hand from his grandfather.
"Ah, ah!" Laxus said. "No catching fish that are twice or thrice bigger than you, young man!"
"But Grandpa!" Asher whined.
"No, the last time you fished something bigger you nearly got eaten." The only lady in the room laughed as she jokingly said.
"Asher is a delicious treat for the fish~"
"Mama!!" Asher puffed his cheek and then brighten up when his mother said.
"If you fish, make sure your Grandfather is behind you and your brother is beside you."
"Luci," Laxus stated.
"Admit it, Papa, you like how Asher can catch gigantic meals, especially since you are the one finishing it."
".... Can't deny that." Everyone at the table laughed and then soon enough they were done eating and Laxus was already heading out with his Grandkids tugging his hand and heading towards the sea, leaving behind his daughter, who waved at them before heading back inside the tavern and cleaning up.
It took a while to finish clearing everything and she was done, her whole business was sparkling, despite knowing that it will be dirty due to her rowdy customers. She was just standing behind the bar counter, wiping mugs when the door to her tavern opened.
"Welcome!" She greeted, looking up from her task and feeling her breath hitched, her heart clenching in fear at the sight she was seeing. For there, standing at her door, were a group of men, holding swords and/or guns, with no symbol of knights on their clothing.
"Hey, Girlie." The man at the front greeted, grinning darkly. "Got any rum?"