Six months later…
"Does anyone else have any concerns?" I asked, looking around the room.
And by everyone, I meant the three sentinels, Valerius, the three guardians, Bahamut, and finally Irene.
Six months since I'd become king of this kingdom.
Nothing else had changed much, to be honest. My subjects were the ones truly managing the kingdom—ALICE the AI, to be specific. The rest were left to manage their own territories while ALICE guided them and helped improve the lifestyle of not just my citizens in the capital, but throughout the entire kingdom.
"Actually, there is one matter we need to consult Your Majesty with," Leviathan spoke.
I glanced at her. "Hmm?"
"Will you lift the concealment around the continent?" she asked.
The concealment. The barrier my future self had put up when he'd traveled back in time to hide our continent from Acnologia. I was surprised they were asking about this now.
Then a thought came to mind. A few weeks ago, I'd been curious about the concealment myself and checked on it. It was still running perfectly.
"What does that have to do with—" I started, then stopped. "Ohhh." I saw the nervousness behind their eyes. They were afraid of Acnologia.
I laughed and leaned forward. "Do you want me to lift it?"
They replied nervously, "Whatever His Majesty desires."
I laughed again. "I won't. It's not time yet."
I saw the relief wash over their faces.
Before I ended the meeting, I had another announcement. "I'll be gone for a few months. It's time to go back to Fairy Tail."
I glanced at Irene, who nodded softly towards me.
The room went quiet. I could see the questions forming in their eyes, but no one dared to ask. After six months of steady leadership, the idea of me leaving—even temporarily—probably worried them.
"ALICE will handle everything in my absence," I continued, trying to ease their concerns. "You all know how capable she is. The kingdom will run just as smoothly as it has been."
Valerius cleared his throat. "How long will you be away, Your Majesty?"
"A few months, maybe longer. Depends on what needs to be done there." I stood up, signaling the meeting was coming to an end. "Any other questions before I dismiss you all?"
"When will you leave?
"Tomorrow," I said.
They all nodded. The silence stretched for a moment before Valerius spoke up. "We'll make sure everything runs smoothly while you're gone, Your Majesty."
"I know you will," I replied, offering a small smile.
Bahamut rumbled softly, "Take care of yourself out there."
"Always do." I stood and walked around the table, clasping a few shoulders as I passed. "I'll send word when I can."
One by one, they began filing out. Irene lingered by the door, waiting for the others to leave first. When it was just the two of us, she stepped closer.
"I can't believe how amazing the kingdom has become," she said, her voice filled with genuine wonder.
I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. "It's not just me. Everyone played a part."
She shook her head. "That's not true. You are the reason for this. For everything."
There was truth in what she was saying. My items, my technology—both magic and science-based—had played a massive part in improving the lives of my subjects.
"Maybe," I admitted quietly. "But I couldn't have done it without all of you supporting me."
Flick.
Irene had just flicked my nose.
"Ow! What was that for?" I rubbed the spot, giving her an incredulous look.
"You're being humble," she said with a smirk. "That's really unlike you. The Aiden I know would've already taken credit and probably added how he's the greatest king who ever lived."
I opened my mouth to protest, then closed it. She had a point.
"I was being modest," I muttered defensively.
"Modest?" She raised an eyebrow. "That word doesn't exist in your dictionary."
I laughed. "True."
"Are you ready to leave?" Irene asked next.
"Of course," I replied. Then I grinned. "I want to follow Zeref's example of leaving the kingdom most of the time. I mean, these guys can handle everything. Besides, I'll be leaving a communication lacrima in case of emergency."
Irene rolled her eyes. "Comparing yourself to that guy now?"
"Hey, it worked for him." I shrugged playfully. "Alvarez survived just fine."
We walked out to the balcony together, and I couldn't help but survey the capital spread out below us. The streets were bustling with life—merchants calling out their wares, children running between the market stalls, couples strolling hand in hand. Laughter drifted up from the plaza where a street performer was entertaining a small crowd.
What amazed me most was how easily people had adapted to all this modern technology. I'd expected resistance, confusion, maybe even fear. Instead, they'd embraced it like they'd been waiting for it their whole lives. A businessman was talking on one of the communication devices I'd introduced, while nearby, a woman was using an automated water dispenser. It was like watching two different eras blend seamlessly together.
It's like having modern earth here in Earthland.
"Look at them," Irene said softly, leaning against the railing.
I felt a swell of pride in my chest.
"Being a king isn't so bad after all," I said, watching a group of kids chase each other around a fountain.
After a few moments, Irene leaned against me, her shoulder touching mine as we stood there taking in the view.
"Aiden," she said softly.
"What is it?" I asked, glancing down at her.
"I'm pregnant."
I blinked. Then blinked again. "You're... what now?"
"Pregnant. You know, with a child? A baby?" She was trying to keep a straight face, but I could see the amusement dancing in her eyes.
My brain seemed to short-circuit for a moment. "But... how... since whe..." I gestured vaguely between us.
"Well, when two people love each other very much—"
"I know how it works!" I interrupted, my face heating up. "I just... we're having a baby?"
"We're having a baby," she confirmed, unable to hide her smile anymore.
The weight of it hit me then. We were going to be parents. I was going to be a father.
"Are you okay?" I asked, searching her eyes. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine. A little nervous, but fine." She placed a hand over mine. "Are you... are you happy about this?"
I pulled her closer, wrapping my arms around her. "Of course I am. More than happy."
"Looks like we really do need to go back to Fairy Tail," I said.
She nodded against my chest. "Yes, we do."
We'd been planning to have the wedding, but we couldn't do it without family. And Fairy Tail was family.
They deserved to be there for this, to meet our child, to be part of this new chapter we were starting. The guild had always been more than just a place to us. It was home.
I couldn't wait to see Erza's reaction.
"She's going to spoil this child rotten," Irene said, as if reading my thoughts.
"Are you kidding? The whole guild will."
"Are you kidding? The whole guild will. This kid won't know what hit them."
Irene laughed. "You're right."
After a few moments, Astra arrived, floating in front of us on the balcony. My Pokémon—a female Mewtwo who could turn into human form thanks to the Human-Human Fruit—hovered gracefully in the air, her psychic energy shimmering around her.
"Aiden," she said telepathically, her voice echoing in our minds. "I sensed strong emotions from this direction. Is everything alright?"
I nodded. "Everything's more than alright. Irene is pregnant."
Astra's eyes widened, and her psychic energy flared with excitement. She immediately floated closer, her hands reaching out toward Irene's stomach. "This is wonderful news! Congratulations to both of you!"
"Thank you, Astra," Irene said with a warm smile, placing her hand over the Mewtwo's. "I hope you'll help us look after the little one."
"Of course! I will protect this child with my life," Astra declared, her telepathic voice filled with determination.
My Pokémon have really taken this continent as their home over the past six months. It had been a while since I'd seen most of them, except for Astra and Blaze who lived here in the capital. Each of them had found their own way to contribute to the kingdom, which made me prouder than I could express.
Zephyr, my Pidgeot, was off roaming the world—probably enjoying the freedom of endless skies. Last I heard, he'd been spotted near the eastern continents, delivering messages between distant kingdoms. The guy had turned into an unofficial postal service.
Levi, my Gyarados, had made himself comfortable in Leviathan's territory, which seemed fitting. The two sea dragons had apparently become fast friends, with Levi helping patrol the coastal waters. Fishermen often reported seeing his massive form gliding beneath their boats, keeping sea monsters at bay.
Sun, my Annihilape, and Kaisel, my Scizor, were traveling the continent together, exploring its mysteries and ancient ruins. They'd sent word through Astra about discovering some interesting underground caverns filled with old magic. Those two made quite the exploration team—Sun's raw power clearing the way while Kaisel's precision handled the delicate work.
Blaze, my Arcanine, had been by my side ever since we got here. Speaking of him, I hadn't seen him all day, which was unusual. Then again, the people of the capital absolutely loved the guy—he was probably getting spoiled somewhere in the market district. Children would run up to pet his fur, and merchants always had treats ready for him. He'd become something of a mascot for the city.
And finally, Rayna, my Tyranitar, had claimed a mountain nearby for nesting. She liked to sleep, and honestly, a mountain was probably the only place big enough for her to get comfortable. Occasionally, she'd wake up and help with construction projects, moving massive boulders like they were pebbles. Then she'd lumber back to her mountain and sleep for another week.
"By the way, Astra, we're going back home to Fairy Tail," I said. "Do you want to come with us?"
Astra shook her head, a gentle smile in her psychic presence. "I like it here. And besides, Sun and Kaisel invited me to explore some ruins with them in the next few days. I'm curious about what they've found."
"Those old underground caverns they mentioned?" Irene asked.
"Yes. There's something... interesting about the magic there. I want to investigate." Astra's eyes gleamed with scientific curiosity. "Don't worry about me. I'll keep an eye on things while you're gone."
"Just be careful," I said. "And if anything happens—"
"I'll contact you immediately through the communication lacrima," she finished. "I know, Aiden. Go enjoy your time with your guild family."
After a few more minutes of conversation about the kingdom's affairs and reminding her to check in regularly, Astra gave us both a warm telepathic goodbye and floated away, her form disappearing over the city skyline.
After a long, thoughtful silence, I turned my head to look at her. A slow grin tugged at my lips—the kind she instantly recognized.
Irene narrowed her eyes. "Why are you smiling like that?"
I tilted my head, feigning innocence. "Smiling like what?"
"That smug, pervy grin." She poked my chest with a finger. "Don't even think about it."
"But I am thinking about it," I said, stepping closer, my hands slipping to her waist. "My queen just told me she's carrying our child. If that's not worth celebrating properly, I don't know what is."
She tried to hide her smile, failing completely. "You're impossible."
"I'm enthusiastic," I corrected, leaning down to brush my lips against her cheek. "Very, very enthusiastic."
"You know the royal suite is newly renovated," she murmured, arching an eyebrow as her fingers toyed with the front of my shirt. "Bigger bed. Stronger soundproofing."
"Well, now that's just responsible planning," I replied with a grin. "Clearly, someone was anticipating an occasion like this."
She laughed softly, taking my hand. "Come on then, Your Majesty."
"Lead the way, Your Highness," I said, following her as we stepped back into the palace halls.
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