*Little Spoilers*

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Cynthia's POV

"Zeref?" I whispered, my chest feeling heavy at his name.

"Harumi-chan... what's the meaning of this?! Don't tell me your on this jerk's side and Zeref!" Sting growled and clenched his fists.

"Of course, he is the Emperor of the Alvarez Empire but not many know that he is Zeref, the dark mage himself." Yorii gave a soft chuckle.

"That bastard is trying to do that again? Not on my watch." Sting hissed as I stared over to Harumi who had a guilty look on her face.

"H-Harumi... please don't tell me it's true." I croaked, my chest feeling heavy as I was on the verge of crying. But she didn't mutter a word, only with a glare and I flinched.

"How dare you use Harumi against her own will!" Rogue yelled angrily.

"Against her own will? It's not like she had a choice to begin with." Yorii smiled and patted Harumi on her head.

"Why you! Playing with Cynthia's emotions, using Harumi-chan as a tool as a way to get Cynthia to Zeref... is unforgivable! I won't let you have your way!" Sting roared as he ran towards Yorii to aim for a punch, but he dodged it at ease.

"Why is Zeref so persistent to get me?" I growled.

"Asshole. You're exactly like Zeref." Sting hissed at Yorii and cracked his knuckles as my knees were about to buckle.

"Sting, let's get him together." Rogue said as he came up by his side.

"Yeah, let's go!"

"I've already told you. I am not here to fight but to bring a message to Cynthia or for her to come with me. Either way would work." Yorii sighed and jumped into the air with Harumi by his side.

"You coward. You're just running away." Sting smirked and an irk mark appeared on Yorii's head.

"Just let me talk to Cynthia." Yorii said smoothly.

"No way in hell! White Dragon's Roar!"

"Shadow Dragon's Roar!"

"Retention Wall." Yorii muttered as both of their magics were suddenly absorbed.

"What the-" Rogue gasped.

"That's uncalled for!" Sting growled.

"U-Uso..." Lector grimaced.

"Fro thinks so too...."

"Absorption magic..." I mumbled as I squeezed my arm.

'This has got to be a dream. Harumi siding with Zeref? But she's so sweet and innocent... a mere child. Now Zeref wants me more than ever and use such farfetched methods for me to go to him? Especially at the time when I died to seal Kurai. What more does he want? The more I deceive Zeref the more he tries to take me away and hurt my loved ones. This can't go on forever.

If only...

I need more power.

Or... there is a choice for me to choose.'

I sighed, rubbing my forehead as I slowly walked towards Sting and Rogue, leaving Lector and Frosch behind.

"Sting-kun, Rogue-kun! That's enough." I shouted.

"Cynthia?! What are you doing?" Sting hollered with a shocked expression.

"You musn't." Rogue added.

"That's okay Sting-kun, Rogue-kun. Please let me talk to him. I promise it'll be quick." I said sternly.

"What a wise choice you've made, Cynthia." Yorii smiled in victory.

"It'll be only a minute." I told him.

"Of course my Queen." he courteously bowed and directed me with his hands to walk within the forest behind him.

"Cee-chan! I'm coming with you!" Sting yelled and I slightly turned back to look at him with a worried face.

"It'll be fine. I promise to come back." I smiled to reassure him.

"I trust you Cee-chan... but not him! I don't trust him one bit." Sting snarled and I walked over him and gave him a sweet comforting hug which he returned and laid his chin on top of my head.

"Sting-kun..." I mumbled and rested my head on his chest to feel his heart beat.

"Cee-chan.. I don't want you to go with him. I don't have a great feeling about this..." he nuzzled his face closer to my neck, placing gentle kisses.

"I know.. me neither, but I have to. I want to anyways. I'll just see what he wants with me first.. I don't want any of my loved ones to be hurt anymore. I'm tired of everyone saving me and putting their lives on the line. This time... I don't want to run away. I want to seek their answer."

"But I ..." he said in uncertainty.

"You trust me... don't you Sting?" I said seriously and looked into his beautiful blue eyes.

"I trust you."

"Good. Just use those Dragon hearing of yours and scent. Okay? It'll be very fast."

"Hmph. Okay Cee-chan. You promise me. If that one minute is already up, I'm running right inside to get you with no hesitations. You hear me?" he lifted his head to place a kiss on my forehead and I smiled.

"Of course my love. It's a promise." I pecked him on the lips for a sweet and short kiss before walking back to Yorii who was waiting patiently for me near the entrance of the forest.

"Follow the path, my Queen." Yorii said, pointing towards a trail that looked like it was an abyss within the forest. I nodded, my eyes lingering at the creepy forest ahead.

"Let's get this over with." I sighed and started to walk in the forest trail.

"Harumi. Watch these two while I talk with Cynthia." Yorii commanded and she nodded.

"Hai... papa." she monotonously said and I flinched at her emotionless tone.

"One minute and that's it, you jackass!" Sting yelled and I gave out a low chuckle.

"We're starting the one minute now!" Rogue said and crossed his arms over his chest, as Yorii and I proceeded to walk within the forest. Leaving them behind.

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A few minutes later after walking in the forest and at designated location~

"Start talking." I said with no emotion as I leaned my back on a tree.

"Heh. Very hasty with details."

"Shut up and start."

"My my. The way you are now will not get you anywhere or as a Queen of such attitude. I suggest you need to fix it up." he scolded and I rolled my eyes.

"Does it look like I'm Queen material? No? Good. Didn't think so. I'm not letting you make me do anything for Zeref." I growled.

"You're hysterical."

"Hah. You make me laugh."

"Zeref has been watching over you sometime."

"He what..."

"You've heard me... he was watching over you for some time now. Not that it's important at the moment right now." he paused as my face grew hot.

'Watched me? H-He didn't watch me bathe or anything perverted did he?! I'll kill that son of a mage.' I thought with embarrassment and anger.

"You're blushing." Yorii stated.

"Thank you Captain obvious! I didn't know." I rolled my eyes and gazed away from him.

"As I was saying since I don't have... much time." he paused before gazing at me with those empty green eyes of his, and I shuddered. "Lord Zeref is very fond of you to be his Queen, he wishes to talk to you as soon as possible. You can either come with me now... or wait for a week to come and visit his palace."

"Queen my butt. I have no intentions of becoming his, as you may already know. I am happily taken with the bestest boyfriend I have. You can tell Zeref to find a new Queen to his liking, because ... I. Reject. His. Offer."

"That's a shame. He already made plans with you as his and to rule the empire. He cannot stand being alone to reign over the land of Alvarez Empire."

"He did what?!"

"I won't say it again." he sighed in annoyance and I grunted a 'tch'.

"Yeah.. I heard you."

"So what will it be? Will you come to his Majesty's palace in a few days? I will come to escort you to his empire. You don't really have a choice anyways." he snickered.

"And if I refuse?"

"He will come and pick you up. Death shall be spreaded throughout his surroundings. Including your loved ones. He will not hesitate to kill to those who are in his way." he glowered his look and I grew tense as sweat beads were falling from my face. I gulped thickly as my heart quickened its pace, making it harder for me to think and breath.

"I..."

"The choice is yours. You either come or let your comrades to die at such a horrible death. You have a fews days to answer. But I may already know your answer..." he chuckled as I glared at the ground below me.

"I got it." I muttered, my bangs covering my face.

"Good. Would you like to ask any questions before my time is up?" he raised an eyebrow and I narrowed my eyes.

"Actually yes. Why on Earthland is Harumi your daughter? She doesn't ever deserve to be sided with Zeref or your side, even if you are her father. Darkness is not the right path." I snarled and he chuckled taking a few steps towards a boulder and sat on it.

"That's a simple answer." he answered so laid-back as I narrowed my eyes and felt myself to grit my teeth at his casualness.

"... She's not really my daughter in the first place." he sneered and I tensed up even more than before.

"What the hell does that mean?!"

"It means that she is a mere tool... a body that I created out of plastic and magic."

"You don't mean to say..."

"Yes. Harumi is a doll, fragile and has no soul. Only a doll made out of clay."

"B-But she feels warm! I can hear her heart pounding, her voice, her appearance and body is all too humane." I stammered in shock and in pain.

"She is, but a mere doll. Nothing more or nothing less."

"You bastard!" I screamed and tried to slice him with my spear that I quickly equipped. I managed to cut of a few strands of his hair, but that wasn't enough to kill him. He actually dodged my quick attack quite gracefully, getting me worked up and frustrated with this bull shit.

"Looks like my time is up. Until we meet again, Cynthia Adara. Our soon to be Queen." he chuckled as he flew up into the air with Harumi, who was instantly by his side.

"Oh and one more thing... do not speak of this to anyone or to that stingy boyfriend of yours. This is a secret between you and me." he smirked as I inhaled sharply, trying to remain calm.

"No way in hell." I whispered, keeping my stare at the ground but later gazed up to see Harumi with a emotionless face.

"Til later."

"Harumi-chan!" I shouted trying to reach for her.

But sadly, I couldn't reach her... they vanished into thin air.

Little did I know...  someone was eavesdropping in on the conversation not too far from us.

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Sting's POV (A few minutes before Yorii & Harumi left)

"Oi, Harumi-chan! Don't tell me you actually side with him? Your father is siding with evil!" I grunted to her who had a stoic expression, after Cynthia left with Yorii to talk in the forest.

'I still don't trust him.'

"..."

"Harumi-chan."

"..."

"Oi!" I was getting irritated by the minute.

"..."

"Tch."

"..."

"..." this time an irk mark appeared on my head.

"I've had enough with your damn silent treatment! Tell me what's wrong? I promise that I won't let him hurt you." I shouted at first but later grew soft to see her tensed up body as I took a step forward.

"..."

"I think you're scaring her." I heard Rogue to say sarcastically.

"Shut it Rogue. I'm trying to make a conversation."

"I only love and obey my daddy. All for Lord ... Zeref." she mumbled the last aprt, making me to feel upset.

"I don't believe you."

"Fro does neither!"

"I agree..." Lector added in on the conversation.

"Is there something wrong Harumi-chan? We promise to help you. We're... family... aren't we?" Rgue asked softly, making her to quiver.

"It's just as Rogue said, Harumi-chan... We're family... Cynthia is your mommy... Rogue is your uncle, Lector and Frosch are your friends... and for me... I am baka Sting bee, ne? Harumi-chan." I gave a small grin.

"F-Family... My only family is with daddy, mommy and Z-Zeref." she bit her lip.

"I don't believe you, Harumi-chan. We know that's not true."

"I... I only listen to daddy and Lord Zeref... mommy is going to stay with me forever!" she clenched her fists after her sudden outburst, making us to go in shock.

"Please come back with us..." Rogue softly said.

"Yes... please Harumi-chan!" Lector started to cry.

"Fro thinks so, too!"

"What do ya say, Harumi-chan?" I asked gently and brought out my hand for her to reach.

I saw her to hesitate and twitch as she was debating to grab my hand. I even brought it out more for her to reach and grab a hold of. There's no way that I'm going to let them take Harumi away into darkness... I know what Cynthia would want for little Harumi. And that was not darkness.

A parent's love for their child.

Even if Harumi is an annoying little brat... she can sometimes be fun, cute and a loving child.

Sometimes... I have those hardships and rivalry with her to gain Cynthia's attention for the past days... but it's been fun.

She can't leave, not yet.

I treat her as my own daughter actually...

She will come back to us, to me and Cynthia.

So we can be a family once more.

"Harumi-chan. Please come back with us. We... would be upset if you left us like this... your mommy Cynthia wouldn't be happy." I motioned her to come, but she only glared back at me with harsh eyes.

"Daddy is calling me. I must go." she said bluntly as she started to walk into the forest. Before I even let her to walk, I instantly grabbed a hold of her tiny wrist... which I thought I did... But apparently something shocked me, as I saw my hand to itch and go through her... wrist?

She slightly turned her head to look at me with such despair, loneliness and pain.

"Har...umi... chan..." I whispered to see her vanish.

"Harumi-chan!", "Harumi!" Rogue, Lector and Frosch ran up behind me.

"S-She's gone..." I muttered, and looked down to stare at my hand that I made contact with her tiny wrist.

'How come I didn't see this before? Man I'm so stupid! Argh!' I thought in anger as the others looked at me like I was crazy.

"Shimata!" I cursed and started to run inside the forest.

"Oi! Sting! Don't run off on your own!" Rouge called out to me.

"I'll be back! I need to get Cynthia!" I yelled back, as I ran at top speed towards my Mate.

It only took me a few seconds to finally see a clearing of an open field with boulders and many trees.Nothing really interesting but there was one thing that caught my attention.

A figure... kneeling on the grassy ground with their hands on their face.

Crying softly as the wind was gently breezing through their long and light sand brown hair.

My chest tightened to see her like this. I started to walk towards her, and with every step I take... the more I see tears to run down her soft and pale cheeks. I inhaled sharply, my heart pounding and my ears listening in on her quiet sobs. Finally reaching her, I slowly went down on my knees to gently wrap my arms around her for comfort and love.

It shatters my heart and being to see her like this.

They will pay for making my mate to cry in front of me.

I lifted one hand up to gently stroke her head. Her long strands of hair running through my covered hand with my glove, as the other hand kept place on her tiny waist. I brought down my face to kiss her forehead and soon to rest my chin on top of her head, inhaling her sweet aroma.

She continued to cry out her heart's content, making me to get more upset.

"Shhh... It'll be alright... I promise..." I cooed and started to rub her back gently with my hand that was on her waist.

"B-But... Harumi-chan..." she croaked in between her sobs.

"I know... I've been so reckless...forgive me... I didn't notice until now... I promise to get her back." I gritted my teeth as I held her tighter as she rested her head on my chest. I felt her to grab onto my feather boa for letting out her frustrations out, which I didn't mind at all.

I needed to comfort my mate.

I needed her to know that everything is going to be okay.

"H-Hai... Sting-kun..." Cynthia cried into my chest, as I scrunched my face in frustration.

"We'll get Harumi-chan back... back so we can be a family together again." I mumbled before I gently lifted up her chin to face me.

"H-Hai..." she quivered.

I locked my eyes with her beautiful, yet swollen purple orbs that were glassy. I felt my chest to tighten even more, to see her face swollen from all of the tears she shed.

I don't want her to go through this again.

Ever.

"Sting-kun..." she whispered as I stared down to see her plump and full soft lips that was yearning for a kiss, as she was leaning in closer to me.

"Cynthia..." I softly whispered before planting a gentle, soft and passionate kiss on her sweet soft lips.

Not caring about anything around us.

'Daga... It's a promise, to get Harumi back and to protect Cynthia with all of my life. I swear on it.'

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What did you guys think? Sad about the truth of Harumi-chan...
I'm actually really upset, but its good at the same time... of how I typed it it well...? I think  ._.
Oh man.  The ending with Cynthia crying and Sting comforting her ... Ughhhhhh. So upsetting. Any mistakes, I'll yada ya ~

Hope you guys liked this chapter !
Til next time .
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