Another month passed by. Yet, these past two months were far from the peaceful, blissful time Ronan had envisioned for them.
"I'm sorry, Ron." Lily said, staring down at the floor with a heavy, somber expression as she stepped out of the bedchamber. "If Liora remains trapped in this constant cycle of anxiety and fear, I can't give you any reassuring updates about the baby. The child isn't kicking because she's frightened. Everything Liora experiences directly impacts the baby, and the baby is terrified because his mother is terrified. You need to find a solution to ease her mind, Ron, and fast. For now, just make sure she takes her prescribed medication on time."
Ronan's heart stopped for a terrifying second. He stood frozen, unable to find his voice, managed only a stiff nod. Lily offered a gentle, sympathetic pat on his shoulder before turning to walk down the hall.
Stepping softly into the quiet room, Ronan found Liora fast asleep. Even in her dreams, Liora was visibly uncomfortable, her brow deeply furrowed in distress. Biting his lower lip to force back his own rising tears, Ronan walked over and carefully sat on the edge of the mattress.
He lay down beside his wife, wrapping his arms around her with extreme care so as not to put any pressure on their growing gem, who was now five months along.
Silent tears slipped from Ronan's eyes. Though he had begged her not to worry, Ronan was consumed by stress. Night and day, his mind raced with terrifying thoughts of how to safeguard his child from the encroaching Darken. All four royal guardians had taken up residence inside the Brown mansion, establishing an absolute perimeter to protect Liora. Yet despite their best efforts to project an air of complete security, a suffocating dread hung over everyone. So, would Liora, who's expecting a baby, really be able to stay stress-free?
Every night, Ronan would softly hum soothing melodies in his deep, rich voice, holding Liora until she finally drifted off to sleep. It was the only thing that worked. Still, everyone anxiously awaited a single sign of life from the child. Five months had passed, yet the unborn prince remained completely still, no flutter, no movement, no kick. Compounded by her relentless fears, the silence in her womb left Liora utterly heartbroken and drained.
Their departure for the Mo Kingdom was scheduled in two days. Everyone held onto the desperate hope that returning to the kingdom's sacred energy would finally soothe Liora's fragile mind.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"Happy birthday, my love!"
Ronan's loud, joyful shout startled Liora out of a deep sleep. Waking with a gasp, Liora instinctively cradled her stomach with one hand while glaring at Ronan.
"Rony, you almost gave me a heart attack!" Liora whined softly. "Why are you yelling so early?"
Ronan let out a bright, boxy laugh, gathering Liora into a tight, affectionate hug. "Sorry, my love! Happy birthday!"
Yet, no smile touched Liora's lips. She merely mumbled a quiet, "T-Thank you..."
This was Liora's second birthday since meeting Ronan, but celebrating it was something she had never done. Her mother and father had tragically passed away on the exact day she was born, turning her birthdate into a day of solemn mourning.
Ronan knew this painful history all too well.
"R-Rony... you really don't have to celebrate or do anything special, okay?" Liora murmured softly, trying to head off any grand plans.
"It's your special day, so it's entirely your choice." Ronan replied, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "However... we are going shopping to buy clothes for my little bean sprout today!"
Liora's eyes instantly widened, a rare, genuine spark of joy lighting up her face. "Really?"
Ronan nodded eagerly. For the first time in months, he saw a glimmer of true excitement return to Liora's features.
Then, Liora pouted, letting out a soft huff. "Oh, Rony... can't you please pick a cuter nickname than 'Bean sprout'?"
Ronan burst into a booming laugh. "No way! He'll always be my little bean sprout! That's what he looked like when I first saw him on the screen!"
Liora couldn't help but chuckle, a sweet, radiant bunny smile finally gracing her lips.
"You are so ridiculously cute today." Ronan cooed, reaching out to gently pinch Liora's full cheeks.
With their spirits lifted, the two freshened up, boarded Ronan's car, and happily set off toward the city's finest baby boutique.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The afternoon turned out to be a wonderful blur of laughter and lighthearted joy. For a few blissful hours, Liora felt so free that she almost forgot the heavy anxieties of her pregnancy. They wandered through high-end shops before taking a long, peaceful stroll through a sunlit park.
Sitting down on a shaded bench, Liora rested her head back, letting out a comfortable sigh as she patted her legs. "Rony, you owe me a full leg massage until dawn tonight. Look how swollen they are already."
Ronan chuckled warmly, leaning over to press a soft kiss against Liora's cheek. "I'll massage them for as long as you want, my love. All I wanted today was to put a genuine smile back on your face."
Ronan reached out, gently resting his hand over the pronounced swell of Liora's belly. "So... is my little bean sprout still behaving in there?"
Liora giggled softly. "Yeah, he's fine... but he's suddenly craving strawberry ice cream."
Ronan smirked playfully, raising an eyebrow. "Is that craving for the baby... or for his mommy?"
Liora's smile faded into a cute, suspicious frown. "I don't like anything with strawberries. You know that."
Ronan leaned in close, his lips brushing the shell of Liora's ear as he whispered softly, "Well... I wasn't talking about that the sweet kind of ice cream."
Liora's eyes went wide as saucers. Flushing bright red, she raised both fists and began playfully beating against Ronan's chest. "Yaaaah! You absolute pervert!"
"Aaaaah, love, stop hitting me! It hurts!" Ronan laughed, ducking his head while trying to catch Liora's wrists.
Unbothered by her dramatic whines, Liora kept swatting at him, her sound laughter ringing through the park.
"Hey! Don't you see your mommy hitting on your poor daddy?" Ronan called out, looking down at Liora's stomach with a playful pout. "Give your mommy a little punishment for hitting on me!"
Ronan reached out to secure Liora's hands, but before he could-
"Aaahh!" Liora suddenly gasped aloud, clutching her lower abdomen as her breath hitched.
"Love?! B-Baby, what's wrong?!" Panic seized Ronan instantly.
Liora sat frozen, her mouth parted in sheer disbelief as she pressed her hand firmly against the side of her stomach. "A-Ah... baby, talk to me! A-Are you in pain?!" Ronan stammered, terrified out of his mind.
"R-Rony..." tears of overwhelming joy welled up in Liora's eyes as she looked up. "He... he just kicked."
Ronan froze, his entire world grinding to a halt. "W-What?"
Instead of speaking, Liora gently took Ronan's trembling hand and pressed it firmly against the right side of her swollen belly.
Ronan's breath caught in his throat. Right beneath his palm, a distinct, firm little nudge pushed back against his hand.
"D-Did you feel that, Rony?" Liora whispered softly.
A massive tear spilled from Ronan's wide, stunned eyes. He stared at Liora, utterly speechless, and nodded slowly. Lowering his head, Ronan rested his face flat against Liora's belly, letting his tears soak through the soft fabric of Liora's dress.
"Baby..." Ronan sobbed softly, his voice trembling with deep emotion. "D-Do you really love Daddy that much, hmm? T-Thank you... thank you so much, my brave little boy. T-Thank you for showing me that you're okay."
Ronan wept openly against him as the baby continued to flutter and kick right against his cheek. He nuzzled his face tenderly against Liora's stomach, pouring all his pent-up love and relief into the gesture. Tears streamed down Liora's cheeks as well as she gently stroked Ronan's soft hair, a profound sense of peace washing over her soul.
Eventually, Ronan sat up, pulling Liora into a warm, fierce embrace. "Lio... i-is he really okay?"
"Yes, Rony... he's okay. Our baby is completely okay." Liora reassured him, rubbing soothing circles across Ronan's back.
They remained wrapped in each other's arms for a long time, soaking in the miracle.
"Oh my god!" Liora suddenly gasped out a laugh as the kicks grew stronger and more frequent. "He's getting so active now! Wow, this isn't going to be easy, Rony... it actually hurts a little!"
Ronan let out a tender chuckle, smoothing his hand over Liora's stomach to calm the energetic child. "Hey, little one..." he cooed in a soft, gentle baby voice, "don't hurt your mommy~"
Liora gasped in mock indignation, staring at Ronan in disbelief. "That is so unfair, Rony! Why does he only listen to you?!" she complained playfully as the vigorous kicking instantly softened into gentle rolls beneath Ronan's touch.
Ronan beamed with immense pride. "That's right! He's Daddy's proud little prince."
Liora smiled softly, her heart overflowing with love.
The moment they returned to the mansion, Ronan made it his personal mission to proudly recount every detail to the guardians.
"He loves me the most! He stops kicking the second I tell him to." Ronan boasted repeatedly like a child, the iconic boxy smile never leaving his face for the rest of the evening.
Later that night, as they lay in bed, Liora gently caressed her belly, a serene smile on her face. "See, my little prince? Look how happy your daddy is... Always keep your daddy happy, okay? Always stay safe with us."
If only they had known that their radiant happiness was destined to shatter by dawn. How could Ronan possibly endure it if his little prince, and the bunny angel who meant the entire universe to him, were ripped away in an instant? Fate, it seemed, had no intention of granting them a peaceful eternity.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Morning arrived quickly. Today was the day of their journey to the Mo Kingdom. The night before, the couple had meticulously packed all of Liora's and the baby's essentials. Ronan wouldn't be staying permanently, as corporate matters required his presence on Earth, but he had planned to travel between realms frequently to be with them.
"Lily, are you all packed and ready?" Ronan asked, stepping into the hallway as Lily emerged from conducting Liora's final check-up.
"Ah, yes! I can hardly contain my excitement." Lily replied with an eager smile, and Ronan nodded warmly.
"Then go check on her and come downstairs. We're leaving after breakfast, okay?" Lily nodded when Ronan said that.
"I'll bring Liora some breakfast."
Ronan glanced into the bedroom, catching sight of Liora sleeping peacefully. Smiling softly, he turned and walked down to the kitchen.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Pacing around the counter, Ronan pondered aloud. "Now, what would my little prince like to eat today?" He checked the dishes he had prepared, humming thoughtfully. "Ah, right... Liora can't handle spicy food like she used to."
With a meticulous, loving touch, Ronan set aside all the heavily spiced dishes, carefully arranging Liora's mild favorites onto a silver serving tray.
Over by the archway, Michael and Sophia stood watching the scene with soft smiles.
"He's going to make an incredible father." Michael murmured softly to Sophia.
"Yeah," Sophia agreed, her smile widening. "He's so genuinely happy about the baby."
However, Sophia's smile faded slightly as she drew in a quiet, heavy breath. Deep down, anxiety gnawed at her. She, and everyone else, was secretly terrified. If anything were to break this fragile, beautiful family, none of them would be able to survive the grief.
Sophia silently prayed to the heavens with every passing second that their journey would be safe.
Sophia and Michael turned to head back upstairs, but the sudden, sharp sound of shattering glass made them freeze.
Clatter!
Both shot their heads back toward Ronan.
"Ron!!" they yelled in unison, sprinting toward him as Ronan stood frozen, trembling violently with wide, unseeing eyes. The glass tray lay shattered at his feet.
"Ron! What's wrong?!" Sophia cried out, shaking his shoulder, but Ronan remained completely unresponsive, staring blankly ahead.
Michael's breath hitched as a dark dread settled in his stomach. "Ron... what did you just see in your mind?!"
"L-L-Liora-"
Before Ronan could finish the name, a blinding flash of crimson light engulfed him, and he vanished into thin air.
Michael and Sophia stood paralyzed for a fraction of a second, their minds failing to comprehend the sudden disappearance. But the very next instant, a blood-curdling, agonized scream echoed from the floor above, stopping the heart of everyone in the house.
Sprinting upstairs at breakneck speed, Michael and Sophia were joined on the landing by Maya and Ethan, who had rushed out of their quarters.
They burst into the master bedroom, only to find Ronan collapsed on the floor beside the empty bed, clutching his head and screaming like a wounded animal.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!!!!"
"R-Ron?!" Maya gasped, rushing forward.
"D-Darken! He took my angel!!" Ronan roared through hysterical, ragged sobs.
The guardians snapped their heads toward the bed. It was completely empty.
Ethan summoned his spiritual senses, his face draining of all color. "She... she isn't anywhere on Earth." he whispered in utter horror.
Ronan violently pulled at his own hair, letting out a raw, terrifying cry. The latent power of the gem took complete control of his aura, swirling around him in a tempest of wild, destructive crimson energy.
"We are going to the Mo Kingdom... RIGHT NOW!" Ronan growled out, his eyes glowing a lethal, terrifying red before he instantly teleported away.
. . . . . . . . . . . .
News of an heir to the throne had already swept across the Mo Kingdom like wildfire. The Movian citizens had gathered in the capital, decorating the streets and throwing grand festivals to mark the miraculous blessing.
On this day, dressed in their finest ceremonial attire, the people lined the royal courtyards, eagerly awaiting the arrival of their Emperor and Empress. Joy and anticipation filled every corner of the realm.
Suddenly, a violent crimson light tore through the courtyard as Ronan materialized. Disregarding the cheering crowds, he frantically searched every corridor, every hall, and every corner of the palace, only to feel the devastating truth settle over his soul.
Liora was not in the Mo Kingdom.
"L-Liora isn't in the Mo Kingdom either..." Ethan whispered in absolute despair as he and the other guardians materialized beside him.
The last thread of Ronan's sanity snapped. His legs gave out, and he collapsed onto the stone floor. Ethan dropped down instantly, catching him before he hit the ground.
"Ron!!"
Ronan's face went eerily blank for a second before a torrent of desperate, agonizing tears spilled down his face.
"E-Ethan... where is my angel?" Ronan sobbed hysterically, clinging tightly to Ethan's robes.
The other three guardians gathered around them, tears blurring their own vision.
"Mike... where is my prince? W-Where did that monster take his mommy?" Ronan wept, his voice breaking into frantic, ragged gasps. "Maya... my little prince, h-he listens to me! P-Please tell him to come back to Daddy! Please!"
Ronan continued to weep uncontrollably, rambling incoherently as his mind fractured under the overwhelming grief. Tears streamed unchecked down the faces of the four guardians as they watched their powerful emperor crumble into a helpless, broken man.
Maya knelt beside Ronan, wrapping her arms around his shaking frame to hold him together.
"D-Don't give up, Ron." Maya sobbed softly, trying desperately to anchor him. "We will find your angel and your prince... we will save them from the Darken, I promise you! We can do this... Love possesses a power that nothing in this universe can ever destroy. Your love will bring your angel and your prince back to your arms."
Maya spoke those desperate words simply to keep Ronan from slipping into complete despair, entirely unaware of just how profound, and prophetic, those words would eventually prove to be.