Pregnancy changed how time felt.
Days no longer rushed past Aren; instead, they unfolded with deliberate calm. He noticed things he might once have overlooked—the precise moment morning light touched the river, the subtle shifts in Liora's posture as her body adapted, the way Charizard adjusted their flames to keep the apartment at a constant warmth.
Nothing was rushed.
Nothing needed to be.
Liora moved carefully but confidently. She disliked being treated as fragile, and Aren respected that. He stayed close without hovering, attentive without smothering.
The handheld device remained silent.
Its lack of interference reassured them both.
Outside, the city lived on, blissfully unaware of the quiet significance growing within a single apartment.
Chapter 42 – A Body's Wisdom
Liora trusted her body.
She listened when it asked for rest, moved when it asked for motion, and never pushed beyond comfort. Aren watched, impressed by how naturally she adapted.
Her Pokémon responded in kind.
The female Charizard became increasingly attentive, often positioning herself between Liora and the outside world during walks—not aggressively, just present. The male Charizard mirrored her movements, keeping pace with Aren.
Their bond had deepened into something unmistakably mutual.
Partner Bond
Status: Stable
Emotional Synchronization: High
Aren saw it clearly.
This was not ownership.
It was choice.
Chapter 43 – Unused Strength
A minor dungeon fluctuation occurred three districts away.
News feeds buzzed quietly. League responders handled it efficiently. No injuries. No panic.
Aren watched the coverage with mild interest.
He felt no pull to intervene.
Strength unused was not wasted—it was reserved.
The Suicune sensed his thoughts.
You understand balance now, their presence seemed to say.
Aren nodded silently.
Chapter 44 – Preparing Without Pressure
They prepared in small ways.
A second bedroom was cleared—not decorated, just opened. Pokémon-safe materials replaced sharp edges. Ambient energy stabilizers were installed, not because of danger, but because Aren could see how subtle fluctuations affected emotional states.
Everything was done gently.
No excess.
No obsession.
Liora approved every step.
"We're not building a fortress," she said. "Just a home."
Aren smiled. "Exactly."
Chapter 45 – A Change in Dreams
Liora began dreaming vividly.
Not prophetic dreams. Not visions.
Just… intense clarity.
Sometimes Pokémon appeared. Sometimes light. Sometimes nothing at all.
She woke calm each time.
Aren listened without analysis.
Some experiences were not meant to be interpreted.
They were meant to be lived.
Chapter 46 – Quiet Celebrations
They marked milestones privately.
A shared dessert.
A longer walk.
A night spent watching old tournament footage purely for nostalgia.
Joy did not need witnesses.
Charizard watched alongside them, rumbling softly at particularly flashy battles.
The Suicune lay nearby, half-aware, half-dreaming.
The household felt complete.
Chapter 47 – Thoughts of Tomorrow
Aren sometimes wondered what kind of world their child would inherit.
Not in fear.
In curiosity.
Peace had lasted generations here—but peace was a living thing. It required care, understanding, restraint.
He resolved silently:
If power passed on, it would be taught gently.
Never as expectation.
Always as option.
Chapter 48 – The City at Night
Late-night walks became rare—but meaningful.
The city looked different after midnight. Softer. Less performative.
Streetlights reflected off wet pavement. Pokémon slept openly beside humans. Trust lingered in the air.
Liora leaned against Aren as they walked.
"This world is kind," she said.
"It is," Aren agreed. "Because people let it be."
Chapter 49 – Nearer Than Before
Time passed almost unnoticed.
Then one morning, Liora paused mid-step.
Aren caught her immediately.
"I'm fine," she said calmly. "Just… closer."
Closer to what needed no explanation.
The handheld device pulsed gently—still no numbers.
Just confirmation.
Chapter 50 – Holding the Moment
They stood together by the window that evening, city lights stretching endlessly beyond.
Aren rested his hand against Liora's stomach.
Not thinking ahead.
Not looking back.
Just being.
The Suicune watched quietly.
Charizard slept peacefully.
And the world—unchanged, unaware—continued to turn.