I loved Amy Rose... I loved my Rosy. I didn't deserve her, but she told me a long time ago that it didn't matter what I deserved or didn't deserve. She loved me because she wanted to. She expressed her feelings because she wanted to.



I would let her do anything she wanted. I belonged to her. She belonged to me. My Rosy.



She let me lay in her bed the entire day and even joined me after allowing Nova to harass me. At some point, she woke up from a nap and made some food... She eventually coaxed me out to eat with her. Her food was lovely and she looked very happy that I ate with her. She had some fruit to share with Nova. Afterwards, the three of us stayed in her living room.



I didn't feel like doing anything, but I wanted to watch her. She played some video games on her own while I held her in my lap. Amy allowed Nova to play with her plushes. We didn't talk very much, but it was nice. I liked watching her.



She never talked to me about anything significant after she calmed me down. She probably wouldn't bring it back up... she really wasn't mad or disappointed. I didn't know why she wasn't. She even thought she put too much pressure on me.



I loved her. I didn't know what to do with myself afterwards, but I loved her. We parted only for her to take a shower. Nova and I took turns throwing a ball at one another. Their laughter pierced the quiet, heart above their head each time they threw the ball. Their aim was getting pretty precise... One of their throws hit me right on the forehead.



I was absorbed enough in playing with the child that I never noticed Amy leaving the bathroom and dressing into fluffy night clothes. Nova was very captivated, climbing onto Amy's leg and rubbing their face against the fabric.



"Oh my gosh, cutest idea ever. We should get fuzzy pajamas for Nova," Amy said with a grin.



"I imagine they wouldn't move," I replied, amused. I stood up since I was no longer playing with Nova.



Amy giggled as Nova climbed up further, then clung to her shoulders from behind. "I think it's bedtime again. Or, well, bedtime for me. I wouldn't mind having my favorite person to cuddle, though," she hummed, slightly turning away while still looking at me from the corner of her eye.



"I'll join you, Rosy."



Her face brightened. She lifted her arms and gave me a hopeful stare.



"... I see your legs don't work," I mumbled.



She opened and closed her hands repeatedly. She amused me... and she was cute. I picked her up, causing her tail to violently wag. She clung to me just as tightly as Nova clung onto her. "You're so big and handsome," she purred out, rubbing her face against mine.



"Thank you, Rosy." I walked to bed and got in while still holding her. Both her and Nova adjusted and excitedly cuddled me.



"So comfy... You're like fuzzy pajamas," she said with a whimsical sigh.



"I genuinely cannot comprehend how you feel that way," I replied.



"You're so warm against me... and you're smooth. I know just where to rest against you. You smell like my bedsheets... So nice..." She whiffed me, which made me let out an involuntary sound of amusement.



"Strange woman," I said.



"Yeah~ A little bit." She caressed the other side of my head. "I love you, my sweet Metal."



"I love you too, my Rosy. Sleep well."



She just as quickly settled. I closed my eyes and focused on how she felt in my arms. I took the time to rest and organize all my data...



...



I deleted the automatic recordings from the past few days. I didn't want to think about them anymore. I wanted to forget, too, but I knew I wouldn't. Amy wanted me, so I would be fine eventually.



I didn't pay attention to anything for a while... I didn't move until I detected sunlight fighting through Amy's curtains. I turned my eyes on. Morning arrived... Amy hadn't moved an inch, sleeping peacefully against me. Beautiful.



I spent a few long moments enjoying our closeness, then I carefully got out of bed to make her some breakfast. Wasn't sure what I could make... Maybe something sweet. I left Amy's bedroom, figuring the answer would come to me.



Nova was sitting in the space between the kitchen table and the living room, blank stare, but this time, it was... different. A translucent barrier surrounded them.



"Nova?" I asked. I approached them, but they didn't respond to my voice or look at me. The barrier began to obscure them, hiding them behind a cloak of cyan and yellow. I didn't know what it was. It...



I rushed back to the bedroom and shook Amy.



"R...Rosy. Rosy."



"Wah! Whuh?" She cracked her eyes open, at first panicked. When her eyes locked onto mine, she drowsily stared at me. "What's up, cutie?"



"I don't know what Nova is doing," I said. "I'm... concerned."



Her eyes widened more. "What are they doing?"



We went away from the room so she could see. Amy gasped out.



"What? What does it mean?" I asked.



She laughed. "We'll see, won't we?"



"We'll see?!" I repeated in disbelief. "Tell me!'"



"They're fine. Nova's just growing up," she replied. "I think it's funny you knew that chao were linked to Chaos but not, like, how they evolve."



"I was going to research more on them!" I exclaimed. "I never... This information wasn't useful to me before," I admitted.



Amy smiled warmly. "Nova will be back to normal in just a few minutes."



"... Okay."



We went closer to the barrier... It was shiny. I lightly touched it; it was squishy like the composition of a chao itself. I scanned the barrier, but I couldn't gather any substantial data from it. All I knew was that Nova was inside, and Nova was... growing up.



"Chaooo!" We heard Nova's muffled call from the inside of the barrier. Their voice sounded... strange. Slightly lower, scratchier.



"Ooh, sounds like they're almost out of the cocoon." Amy held my hand and patiently watched the barrier with me.



It was a cocoon. Metamorphosis. That made sense... I think. The cocoon began to change shade, becoming translucent once more. We could see Nova at last.



Nova increased in size and their 'spines' that matched mine were even more prominent. Their eyes were uncharacteristically narrow, irises white and sclera a faded blue. Their body was a very dark blue, much like my own, and they had white streaks on their spines, hands, and feet. Their wings were large, black, and pointed... The wings themselves looked like they were part of the collar I gave them, still clasped around their neck. Their belly was a concentrated yellow. They had a spiked and pointed red ball above their head.



"Whoa! Nova looks so cool!" Amy beamed. "I wonder what type of chao Nova is... Run? Power? But their wings are so big! Maybe they're a Fly type!"



I had no idea what Amy was talking about. I just knew Nova looked different, yet still very much like me.



The cocoon disappeared entirely, and then Nova's eyes widened back to their usual shape. They looked at both of us curiously. "Chao!" they shouted as usual, though their voice was still that different pitch.



"Hello, Nova!" Amy called in return, leaning down just as excitedly. Nova's tail wagged as they fluttered up to Amy's eye level. "Look at you! You're so big now!"



"Chao!"



I tilted my head as I stared at them. "... Nova is... an adult, then?"



"Yup! You've taken such good care of them. Look how big and strong Nova looks," Amy said, proudly gesturing to the child. I would still call Nova a child because they were small and acted like a baby.



Nova fluttered up to me next. I gently petted them, their ball turning to a heart as it usually did. I supposed nothing changed that drastically.



Purrrrr! Nova was very happy.



Amy airily sighed. "Nova has got to be the coolest chao I've ever seen. They look just like you. They change a little less when they're adults, too, so Nova is pretty much going to stay like that until it's time for them to reincarnate. Maybe their appearance will change a bit, but it's clear what they wanted to grow into."



"The child is incredibly naive... They should not want to be me," I mumbled. Nova flew over to one of Amy's plushes and began playing with it, acting as if nothing happened.



Amy smiled. "Nova loves you. The love you gave them guided them well... And it'll continue to guide them. This is an amazing achievement, Metal!" she beamed.



"I... I suppose it is," I said, crossing my arms. I watched Nova for a while. "Of all the chao that exist, I will say Nova looks the most majestic of them."



She giggled, nodding. "I agree~ Very cute, a tiny terror for sure."



"... I probably cannot take Nova in public when I'm in disguise."



"Yeah, I think it's pretty obvious who they take after," she said with another laugh. "But that's okay. We'll be sure Nova gets all that time and attention they need. Oh! We need to tell Belle!" she excitedly added.



I slowly nodded. "... Nova should go back to the base." I hung my head. "I will apologize to Belle in person. I was supposed to spend time with her the other day."



Amy gave me a softer smile. "That's really sweet of you. I think that sounds like a good plan. Do you want me to go with you?"



"... Yes..."



Her smile turned into a grin. "Okay. Let's have some nice breakfast, then I'll get ready and we'll head out. I need to take pictures of you and Nova when we get there!"



"You need to?"



"It'll be so cute! You two match perfectly! Nova even has a little cape!" Amy went over to Nova and gently touched their wings; Nova didn't seem to care what she did.



I sighed. "... Okay. Let me make you breakfast."



Amy's tail wagged. "Sure~"





Amy and I stood side-by-side in the lab of the old base. Belle was so absorbed in her work that she did not realize we were there.



"Belle--"



"Gears and starters!" She visibly jumped and accidentally banged her knee on the desk. "Ah! Uh-- H...hey! Hey guys!"



Amy snorted in amusement. I stared at Belle.



"... I didn't mean for our time together to be cut short... Especially not by a spectacle." I averted my eyes. "I apologize, Belle. I would like to spend more time with you for when the convenience next strikes."



Belle stared, surprised, but then she gave a softer smile. "That's fine, Metal... I'm sorry, too. I thought it'd cause more trouble if I told you Sonic was the one who told me about the library... I didn't expect him to be there."



I shook my head.



"Are... Are you okay?" she asked, frowning.



"I'm fine," I said. "The Hedgehog is not dead?"



Belle gave me a slanted smile. "He's fine, too."



"Good." Would've been a pathetic way to go.



"Also, I'd love to hang out again! Oh, um... I brought the books you collected at the library. They're on a table in the vegetable garden."



I honestly forgot about them. "Thank you... How did you know about the books I wanted?" I asked.



She glanced at me, glanced away, glanced back. She was unsure of what to say, which meant that the Hedgehog was probably involved.



"Nevermind," I said. Amy ran her hand down my arm, smiling at me. I kissed her. I didn't really care that Belle was there. When I next looked at Belle, she was paying an awful lot of attention to a wrench that she was doing nothing with.



Amy laughed; she likely noticed Belle's behavior as well. "Everyone's good... So... Belle, you gotta come see Nova! They're--" She looked behind. "... Huh. Where'd they go?"



Belle turned around and jumped again. Nova stood there, blank stare.



"Oh! There they are," Amy said cheerfully.



"Chao!"



Belle leaned down, her eyes widened. "Wow...!"



Amy walked over to re-examine Nova. "They're even cuter, don't you think?"



Belle chuckled, standing back up. "They are, but I think maybe a little spooky too..."



"That's what makes them so adorable!" Amy picked Nova up and lightly tossed them in the air, catching them as they fell. Nova giggled, raising their arms and implying they wanted to be tossed again. She played with them for a while... Very cute. "We need to figure out what kind of chao you are, Nova. I'm so curious! We'll do some tests."



"Tests?" I asked.



"Yeah! Or find a chao doctor, I guess... Maybe testing is better. I'll see what I can do! It sounds fun." She stopped tossing Nova in the air, instead walking over to me. She placed them in my arms and brought out a camera.



I squinted at her. "Already?"



"Yup, you're not getting out of this one. Oh! Let's go somewhere prettier. The garden!"



"The second garden," I emphasized.



"Yeah, yeah! Fine!" Amy flailed in dismissal. "I got plans for you later, Belle. Seeya!" She was the first to walk off.



Belle stared at me, terrified. "Wh-what does she mean?" she asked.



I shrugged. "I have to follow her... I'll speak to you later as well, Belle... Have a fruitful day."



She smiled at me. "I will... You too! Bye Metal, Nova!"



"Chaooo!"



Amy waited for me in the elevator, so we went up together. She got more excited as we approached the vegetable garden, instructing me to sit or stand anywhere while holding Nova. She took... so many pictures... but she giggled or stamped her feet excitedly when she got a picture she particularly loved. I'd pose as much as she wanted.



Even when I thought we were done taking pictures, she took more. I picked a fruit off one of the trees to give to Nova and heard the very familiar 'click' of her camera. While Nova was eating, I put them in their bed; they quickly settled, eating while half-laying down.



"Do you have any ideas on anything special we could do for Belle?" Amy asked while looking through her camera lens. She was focused on Nova, thankfully.



I thought for a moment. "She mentioned wanting to be on the ocean in a boat."



"Ohh?!" Amy lifted her head, her eyes sparkling. "A daytrip! Oh--oh!! I know what to do! We can take a few others along, too! This'll be so much fun!" she beamed.



"... Uh... Who do you want to take along?" I averted my eyes.



"Pshh." She flailed her hand at me. "I'll handle all of this. Put trust in your queen."



I suddenly laughed. I didn't expect her to call herself that. "Sorry, whose queen?"



She flipped her quills. "Yours, obviously."



"I'm detecting quite an ego imbalance," I replied, amused. I picked her up to look at her face-to-face. Beautiful. She giggled, cheeks lightly flushed. She gave me a playful stare that made my temperature rise.



"You planted the idea in my head. I think I like it! Don't worry, though. You're my equal."



I tilted my head. "So you do want me to help you rule the world."



"Oh, Metal~ You already rule my world," she said, caressing the side of my face. She kissed me, I think intending to be playful, but it... affected me far more.



I truly didn't know what to say. I held her tightly to me... I loved her. She ruled my world-- no, she was my world. She was everything.



She let out a much softer sigh. "I can tell you're still a little sad... But I'm glad you're feeling much better," she said, leaning her head against mine. "You're everything to me."



... "I was... thinking the same about you," I said.



She giggled. "We'll always be each other's favorites. That makes me so happy~!" She eagerly smooched me, then smooched again. She went on an attack with her kisses. I slightly moved my head away, but she didn't care. I was receiving her love regardless. Satisfied with her onslaught, she rubbed her head against me, her tail viciously wagging. "My Metal," she said with another dramatic sigh.



"My Rosy." Sometimes it was hard to comprehend... but she was no one else's. I wanted to be a person worth her love, even though she didn't care. I hoped one day I could be.