My dreams came true!



I had the best holiday season ever... More than the best. And also pretty weird, but that was par for the course. Usually my friends and I exchanged gifts with one another, but I told them to spend whatever they would on me on the shelters for the city instead. The big showdown between Future Sage and Neo Metal happened over three months ago, though it still felt like yesterday with all the building that needed to be done still. I spent my holidays making food with my friends and making sure everyone in need had some hot meals to last them. It was so much fun... We really felt like a community.



Even Metal helped in his own way. He didn't accompany me when I celebrated with my friends, but we did bake a bunch of cookies together that I ended up sharing with everyone later. They all loved it aside from the lingering weirdness about me being with Metal. I didn't care at all, though. I'd never been happier.



When I went back home after a long, fulfilling winter night, I saw the most beautiful vase of flowers... The colors of the flowers themselves were totally new, too. They were shimmering and opalescent like the flower Metal used to confess to me, gosh, so long ago at this point, but they were like a rainbow of delicate jewels. They were placed in a clear vase, which was also new, and the vase itself had a beautiful red ribbon tied around it. The petals of the flowers gently glowed in the dark, like moonlight constantly shined over them. They were... breathtaking. I was speechless.



"Welcome back, Rosy." Metal's voice! I turned my head towards him. He walked out of the mini-workshop from beside the bathroom, which was where he was building his Neo form again. I felt like he wasn't too far off from finishing it! "I know you said you didn't want anything, but I wanted to give you flowers anyway," he explained.



My eyes got all blurry with tears. "Metal...!"



I hobbled over to him and fell against him. He tightly held me back, letting out the cutest chuckle ever. I smothered his face with kisses, only stopping when I was satisfied.



I whined a little. "I don't have anything for you..." Hah! As if. I whipped out an envelope from my jacket pocket. "Just kidding! There's a love letter and maybe some other surprises," I said with a wink as I handed it to him. "I can't slip on our tradition."



He tilted his head, giving me that loving gaze. "Thank you, Rosy." He pressed his muzzle against mine one more time and I felt that shock I always loved. He gently touched my face, let his claws grace down one of my cheeks. I blushed under his touch. "I..." He averted his eyes. "... I want to go somewhere. With you, preferably."



I blinked. "Right now? This late?" I asked.



He nodded. "Yes... If that's not too inconvenient." He put the envelope on the counter by the vase. "I'll open your gift when we return."



"Okay! Are you gonna keep me warm?" I teased, putting my hands on his chest.



"Always, my Rosy." He guided me back outside, then picked me up. I ducked my head against him as he flew me to wherever we were going. His body quickly heated up and broke through the devastating chill in the air. I only looked at our surroundings when he slowed down.



"The greenhouse?" I asked. He took me to where our future home would be... The framing for our house was already laid out, though Metal didn't do too much with it while he was working on his new body. The greenhouse, however, was complete and gorgeous. He put me down, and together, we both went inside.



The whole place was covered corner-to-corner in gorgeous flowers, all different shapes, sizes, colors, amount of glow... It smelled heavenly, too. In the far back was a water fountain that trickled fresh water, and even further back was a section with chao trees and a bunch of chao furniture. Nova was asleep in a tiny hammock suspended near the ceiling. There were other sections of the greenhouse that had tons of vegetables and fruits as well... We could honestly live off of it. I used the surplus to donate to the city; Metal didn't mind and it wasn't like I could eat it all that quickly, anyway. The greenhouse itself felt pleasantly warm, a stark contrast to the biting cold outside. The area was well lit by moonlight.



I took in a deep breath of fresh, floral air. "What's up, cutie?" I asked Metal, looking his way.



He took my hand and guided me to the center of the garden, where we were totally surrounded by the prettiest flowers I thought could ever exist. He only got better at gardening, and he was already amazing at it... I'd never get used to how lovely they all were.



He took a while to speak, eventually averting his eyes like he was nervous.



"I want to... give you something," he muttered. "I thought I would do this after returning to my true form, but a different feeling came over me. So..."



I was kinda confused. "You went all the way out here to give me something?" I asked. It was sweet, but he already gave me the bouquet at home...



He opened a panel from one of his arms and took something out. Whatever it was, it was small; I couldn't really get a good look at it. He closed his hand into a fist and just as quickly closed the panel. "... You explained I should wait for a special moment, but that's hard for me. Every moment with you is special. How could I choose which one is more special than the other? It's aggravating. I have an easy time seeing what's better, crafting perfection, honing my skills, but I struggle measuring our time spent together. Truthfully, there have been many moments I wanted to do this, but I had the urge to speak to you now. Maybe that's what you meant."



Special moment? I--



Oh my God. Was he talking about what I thought he was talking about? Was--



He gently took my hand. "Rosy, what I'm giving you has great significance to me. It's from my very first body. I saw my old body and... I wanted to give it a fitting end. I destroyed most of it. What I didn't destroy, I made into something new." He opened his other hand over mine, placing an object in my palm.



It was a rose gold ring with a gorgeous silver pattern around the band. I... My face had never felt so hot. I didn't know what to do with myself.



"This ring actually still has functioning data within it," he said. "It contains the recording of when I first fell in love with you and some of my files afterwards, including a file that contains your first letter to me." He gently moved the ring sideways; in the reflection of the moonlight, I saw engravings of the first flower I ever gave him, and the first flower he ever gave me. "I etched in the first significant flowers between us."



I looked back at him, making him return my stare. After a short moment, he looked away from me again.



"It's a terribly inefficient way to carry data, but I thought the sentiment would be appreciated. Though this ring carries some of our earliest memories with one another, my intention in giving it to you is to... make more memories. To deepen our bond with marriage." He looked back at me. "This is... a proposal. Do you accept?"



...



My legs gave in under me.



"Rosy?!" He grabbed me before I collapsed against the tiled floor. He lowered me down.



I felt the cool metal of his hand against my face. Whew, that felt good.



"Are you alright?" Metal asked with a panicked tone. He quickly checked me over. "Are you wounded? Is the scar bothering you?" He carefully scanned my side.



"M-my scar's fine!" I yelled, blushing heavily. "O-oh... Oh... Oh my God." The moment was catching up to me. "D-did you..." I unfurled my hand, the ring still in my palm. I had to control my breathing. "Marriage? Me? I'm... Marriage?" I squeaked. Tears ran down my cheeks.



"What?"



I tightly hugged him and accidentally knocked him onto the floor. I thought I was talking but actually I was sobbing. I heaved out huge breaths and rubbed my head against his.



"I'm very... I'm very confused," he muttered.



"Yes!" I cried out.



"... You're also confused?"



"I'll marry you!"



"Oh...!"



I was a total mess. I was crying like a baby. Even though we talked about marriage quite a bit at this point, I never expected when he'd actually propose to me. I was so happy with our new routine, living together, going on dates, spending lazy days when we couldn't be bothered to do much else. I didn't want to hope it would get better out of fear I'd be demanding too much from my good luck... But then it did get better. He proposed to me! For real!



"Are you crying because you're happy...?" he quietly asked.



I vigorously nodded. He held me a little tighter, nuzzling my head with his. "I love the ring so much," I cried out while I was curled against him.



"I'm having trouble understanding you," he said, his voice lighter this time.



I let go of him and sniffled, wiped my face. "I said I love the ring! It's so beautiful," I sobbed... I put the ring on and AHH I wanted to see it forever. It fit my hand perfectly... Of course it did. Metal knew so much about me. "I'm never gonna take it off, ever," I sobbed. "No one can make me. It's..." I cried more. "I'll always have a piece of you with me?"



He laughed as he sat up. What was so funny?! I glared at him.



He laughed again! "You're very cute, my Rosy. I'm happy I could make you feel many emotions." He felt the side of my face and brushed my tears away. "Yes, a piece of me will always be with you."



I held his head with both of my hands and kissed him as hard as I could. Probably not the best kiss because I was a total wreck, but he needed to know how much I loved him.



"I love it," I sniffled again, letting go of him to look at my ring again. "I'm blown away. This is, like... Wow. I'm..." I started crying again.



He gently held me and gave me all the time in the world to calm down. I hugged him tightly and just let myself feel everything that was happening.



Eventually, I tired myself out. I wasn't sure how long we were there. I could stay in his arms forever... My Metal...



I kissed him one more time after I fully calmed myself. "I love you," I sighed, touching the side of his face again.



He slightly leaned in to my hand and watched me with a gaze I loved so much. "I love you too," he replied. "Do you want to go back home?"



I nodded and got up from the ground; I took his hands and helped him up, too. He swept me back into his hold and took me out of the greenhouse-- whew! I forgot how cold it actually was outside.



He took off with me snuggled in his arms once more. I kept my face pressed against him to feel the warmth of his body. I lifted my hand to admire the ring as we flew by. He really made it from his old body?



"When did you make the ring?" I asked out of curiosity.



"Hm?" He glanced at me, then continued looking forward. "For a while, I was thinking of what significant item I could give you to do a proper proposal. I had a feeling on what I wanted to do with my old body, but I wasn't entirely sure yet... We talked about our lives together. Then, we went on the date to build our future home. My thoughts guided me into what to do then."



"Wow... You really never cease to amaze me, Metal. You can do so much... Honestly, you could do anything you want. It's been a little while since you've been separated from Eggman. I know our future's kinda stacked right now... After you're done with your new body, there's the new house to focus on... And I want us to have that huge wedding!" I gasped. "Oh, gosh, I have to plan that! Ahh! That'll be so fun! Agh, but I don't want to get distracted from helping with the city... No, I'll do both! Wait--" I coughed. "I'm getting distracted in general. Uh, basically, my question is... When your plate's clean, what else do you wanna do? Have you figured out anything you want to do as a person?"



"You amuse me, Rosy," he said lightly. "To answer your question... I'm not sure. There's a strange enjoyment in figuring it out along the way. I don't want to look forward and anticipate the next moment so constantly." He was quiet for a brief moment. "I'll continue to care for the garden... I also want to make new flowers and thoroughly study them. I want to watch over Nova and spend time with you, my future wife," he said proudly.



I was gonna cry again! I was his future wife! My face was on fire. He was my future husband!



"I do enjoy menial activities like gardening far more than I thought I would, but I risk feeling bored. I don't necessarily have any goals that require me to fight anyone or hone my combat skills. I'll figure out a way to fight them anyway."



I blinked. "Wait, what do you mean?" I asked.



"Nothing that should bring you concern for your allies... Hmm, actually, you should have concern for yourself. Watch your back," he teased.



"Oh, I know exactly how to handle an ambush," I teased back. I rubbed him under the chin and smooched him-- he rocketed through the air at an even greater speed! I laughed and held on tightly to him as he took me through the air.



As soon as we got home, I could hardly think about anything else. He tried to put me down, but I kept clinging onto him. I kissed him again, again. He fell back against the couch. I was going to keep him there until I knew I expressed every ounce of my love.



I loved him so much... I couldn't believe it. He was really my fiancé.





Ahhhh!!! I didn't know who to tell first! Wait, yes I did. After I spent some quality time with Metal last night and a good chunk of the day, I set off towards the city. It was a bright, sunny afternoon; cold bit into the air while my face was on fire the whole time! I wasn't gonna hide that I was engaged, but there were only a few people I knew would share my excitement. I went up to an apartment building, luckily on the other side of all the devastation from before. I made my way inside and went towards her apartment door...



Knock, knock!



Rouge opened the door, her eyes half open and her hair in some hair rollers. She had one of her fancy, fluffy purple robes on. "Hey, girl. Isn't it a bit early?"



"It's 3PM," I replied with a snort.



"It is?" She looked behind her, probably glancing at her wall clock. "... Huh. Well, come on in, love."



"Don't worry! I won't stay for long." I walked in after her while she went to make some coffee in her kitchen. I posed nearby. "See anything different?"



"Hmm, you're your usual chipper," Rouge mumbled, staring me up and down. "Cute outfit... Love the scarf..." Her eyes dipped down, then she gasped. "New ring?"



I wiggled my fingers to bring more attention to my engagement ring.



"... Wait..." Rouge's eyes shot wide open. "Is that an engagemen--"



"Yeah!"



"Girl!" Rouge woke up and excitedly went over to examine my hand. "How cute! Oh, I'm so happy for you!" she beamed, then eagerly hugged me. Hehe! My tail proudly wagged. She went back to examining my hand: "Mm, missing anything cuter and far shinier, though."



"I think it's perfect!" I huffed, twisting the ring while it stayed on my finger. "Metal made it out of parts from his old body."



"From your tone, I assume you think that's very sweet?" she asked with a chuckle.



"Yes! It's one-of-a-kind and I don't want anything super flashy anyway. It'll go with every outfit..." I let out an airy sigh.



Rouge laughed more. "You know what, it fits you both."



"Oh! Oh! Look." I took the ring off to show her the engraving on the inside.



"Aww...! You know, I'll give it to your man. He has a few coveted skills," she said with a giggle. "Maybe I could get him to make some jewelry for me."



"Oh, please." I put the ring back on and admired it on my hand again.



Rouge watched me, smiling too. "Alright, so what's the story? Did you bully him into proposing?"



"No!" I huffed again. "He did it all by himself. I didn't lay down any hints or anything," I said, lifting my nose in the air. "He proposed to me last night, and it was so beautiful; the moon was out and everything."



Rouge grinned. "Well, you have got to let me help you plan your wedding."



"Ahhhh! I don't even know where to start with that! I fantasized about weddings so much, but now I'm drawing a total blank!"



"Haha! Just take one step at a time. There's surely a wedding planner around that's to your taste."



"Well, I would need to rent a venue... Uh..." I quietly whined to myself and grappled my head. "Oh, God... Where's the wedding gonna be? I often imagine an outdoor wedding... But weather's a factor! And what if someone crashes it?! Ugh, and it has to be a perfect time of year, not too hot, not too cold-- agh! But there's still so much to do here in the city!"



"You are spiraling, girl. Relax!" Rouge put her hands on my shoulders. "The city isn't your responsibility. The destroyed buildings are nearly rebuilt and, while the city does owe you for those efforts, they're competent... Somewhat. Not the first time a giant monster has destroyed things, weirdly enough. There's probably some weird 'giant creature' protocol these places have."



I took a deep breath. "Okay... You're right."



Rouge chuckled. "I'm always right, darling. Let me get dressed, then let's go celebrate with something to eat! My treat. Tell me everything on your mind while we look at some wedding dress pics."



I gasped and eagerly hopped in place. "Yes! Yes!"



I successfully calmed down and left with Rouge to enjoy a wonderful outing. While we ate some sweet café food, we went through pictures online to gossip about different dress choices. Honestly, I wanted to go big and poofy. How many chances would I have to actually dress like a fairytale princess? That's right: just one! I wanted to be sexy too, though. There were so many pretty corsets I could have for my dress...



So much time passed while we were yapping away. I forgot I told her I only wanted to visit for a short time... Ugh, but we had so much fun! We finally walked out together. "You were the first to know... I need to go tell a few others!"



Rouge chuckled. "I'm honored. Have fun~!"



We parted ways. I knew where I'd head next: Tails's workshop! Sonic should've still been in town. I enjoyed the cold winter stroll down city streets. To get to Tails's workshop, I had to pass through the buildings that were still heavily under construction. Rouge was right about how fast they built, for what it was worth. People would get to move in and resume their lives as normal before too long.



I heard some lively banter as I approached the front door. I opened it instead of knocking; inside, Sonic and Tails sat together on their living room couch. They were in an in-depth discussion about how wild one could go with chili dog toppings while they also ate some chili dogs. Belle was here, too! She helped box away some holiday decorations some feet away from them since the season was over. I had to remember to do the same, oops.



"But, like, what if it just looks like a chili dog?" Tails asked, raising a brow.



"If it's got the spirit, it's a chili dog. It's about the essence," Sonic replied with a confident nod.



"... Uh... No, I don't think that's right. What if it's made of cake or something?"



Sonic stuffed his face. "It's still a chili dog, just... cake! Tails, I dunno what's so complicated about this," he continued with a muffled voice. Tails snickered, eating his too. "Oh! Hey Ames!" Sonic said with a full mouth, waving my way.



"Hi, Amy!" Tails and Belle echoed.



I grinned. I was so happy to see all of them! "Hey! Wow, putting down the decorations early this year, I see," I joked.



Belle sighed. "I didn't want another situation where they had the tree up into summertime."



"Hey! That's a thing people do!" Sonic retorted.



"It caught on fire during one of Tails's tests last year!" Belle exclaimed. "You were lucky I was passing by and saw the light from the window!"



Tails hummed aloud. "Oh, right... Okay, yeah. Good call." He hopped up from the couch after finishing his food and helped Belle box away the decorations.



"It's fine! Anyways, what brings ya here, Ames? No tinhead with you?" Sonic confidently crossed his legs and leaned back against the couch.



I rolled my eyes with a smile. "No Metal today. I don't take him everywhere... But I do have some exciting news!" I clapped my hands together and eagerly jumped up and down. "Go on, guess. Guess!"



"Metal really liked the car polish you gave him?" Sonic joked.



"No!" I yelled... Not a bad gift idea, though. But Sonic was just saying it to be lame!



"More buildings got finished?" Tails asked.



"No, it's about me and Metal!"



Belle put a box down on a nearby table and watched me for a second. She raised a brow, tapping her chin in thought... "Wait..." Her eyes honed in on my ring. "That looks weirdly familiar."



Sonic gasped aloud. "Hey! I know that ring. You got engaged?!"



I eagerly nodded and giggled. I showed off my ring, making Sonic and Belle rush up to me. I knew Tails wouldn't be the excited type, but that was okay! He smiled warmly at me while the other two gawked at my hand.



"Congratulations! Wow, that's amazing!" Belle beamed. "That explains some weird messages he sent me a while ago..."



"Thank you!" I giggled. "... Wait. How did you know about my ring?" I asked Sonic, raising a brow in turn.



He grinned. "Found it at the Eggman base you left your hammer at back when everything went down. I gave it back to Metal after bullying him to visit you in the hospital. Sooo, you're welcome."



"You're the best!!!" I eagerly replied. I'd bully Sonic back later. "I hardly know what to do with myself! Ahhh!"



"When's the wedding?" Sonic playfully asked.



"When the time is perfect," I said with a light, airy sigh.



Belle giggled too. "I'm so happy for you two! When you get married, does that make us sisters in a way?"



I gasped. "It does! I never even thought of that!" I hooked Belle into one of my arms and playfully hugged her from the side. "I'll be a good big sis, promise."



"As if you aren't everyone's big sis," Sonic said with a laugh. "Can I be the--" Sonic's statement was cut off by a yelp from Tails.



Tails stared at the window behind us and near the front door. We all glanced-- Metal was there, hilariously ominous, his head angled down as he stared through the window.



He was so cute! I blushed as I opened the front door. "You can knock, you know!" I called.



"I just got here." He walked over to me and gently touched under my chin. My tail was wagging like crazy! I felt like I was falling in love all over again! "Hello, Rosy," he said so sweetly.



I eagerly smooched him.



"Hi, Metal!" greeted Belle.



"Hello, Belle."



"Well well well, if it ain't the man o' the hour," Sonic teased.



"Hedgehog." That was about as good-natured of a greeting Sonic was gonna get. For what it was worth, I was proud of him! He turned his head towards Tails. "Tails. I request your power," he said calmly.



"H-huh? For what?" Tails asked, his eyes wide.



I crossed my arms. "... Did you blow out the power again?"



"Yes."



I groaned and hung my head.



"I fixed it, but the amount at the house is far inferior to what I actually need. This location should suffice... Alternative solutions require me breaking into an Eggman base, but the power needed would definitely be noticeable."



"Yeesh... Fair enough." Tails sighed a little. "Alright... I assume this is for some kind of upgrade?"



Metal turned away and walked back outside. He showed up in the doorway with his larger Neo form draped over him! I didn't even realize he was already done! "My new body has a unique composition, so the initial activation process takes an incredible amount of power," he explained.



Sonic let out a whistle and placed his hands on his hips. "It's the upgrade," Sonic said with a grin. "Say, maybe Tails will let you use the workshop if you promise to stay on your best behavior~"



"I promise to not kill you unless you annoy me," Metal sneered back.



"I've never annoyed him, so I think we're good." Sonic sent an exaggerated wink Tails's way.



"W-wait, I'm..." Tails's voice faded. Belle and I readily accepted Metal, while Sonic was confident he could handle him if anything went wrong. Tails, though... He came a long way since he first knew Metal and even helped him regain his independence, but I didn't blame him for still needing time.



Sonic picked up on his hesitation. "How about this? Let's make a deal, Metal. A real one."



Metal squinted at him. "What, then?"



"In exchange for allowing you to use the workshop for your upgrade, you'll answer my call for help one time, no questions asked. My call for help could be for anything: could be some new threat, could be helping grandma cross the street, could be Eggman. And when you answer that call, you promise to help to your best ability and without endangering others."



The worst part was that Metal was actually having to consider the deal. "I have conditions," he eventually replied. "No exploits, no technicalities. I can't be the threat you request my help for. The help ends when I feel the issue has been resolved."



"Hmm. You drive a hard bargain," Sonic hummed, tapping his foot. "Two tweaks: one, I won't use you as a technicality if you do cause trouble down the line, but you can't attack anyone at their homes for as long as the deal is active. Two: we have to agree when the issue's resolved. If we can't agree, we have a race as a tie-breaker."



Metal paused in thought. Sonic held out his hand, grinning.



"Your additional proposal puts you at a disadvantage. I am both faster and better than you," Metal replied, lifting his nose in the air. All the tension for me broke in that moment; I couldn't help but giggle.



"If you're feeling nostalgic, let's race with you in your base form, me in my usual cool form. BUT, separate from the deal, let's still race with your Neo form since I wanna see if you're really that much better as you say."



...



Metal shook his hand.



"What did I just witness?" Belle muttered.



Tails sighed. "Well, what I heard was that this is an official safe zone as long as the deal's honored."



"I don't see why Metal would break it," I replied with a smile. "I'm happy you could come to an agreement. It's really okay to use the workshop for his upgrade, then?"



Tails nodded. "J-just for this, though. Sorry."



"I don't want to return to your workshop," Metal said back. "I prefer to have my own."



"Wow!" I beamed. "It's happening, then!"



He gave me a single nod. "It should only take a few hours..." He turned towards Belle, readjusting his hold on his new body. "Belle, I'd like you to monitor my transfer."



"Of course! Let's get started." Belle was the first into the workshop, while Metal followed after her. The top of his new body's head bumped against the door frame, so he had to lower himself to fit through. The rest of us followed in turn.



I watched as Tails redirected power to all concentrate on whatever Metal had to plug himself into. He propped his new body up and, with Belle's help, prepared his current one for the transfer.



"Wait!" I called, running up to Metal. He slightly tilted his head as he looked at me. "You're gonna go offline, right?"



"Just for a little while. I'll be back, my Rosy."



"Well..." I fidgeted a little. "I have a question for you first..." I heavily blushed for the thought reaching my mind at all.



Everyone briefly left the room, giving us a moment of privacy. I twisted my ring on my finger, internally preparing to ask.



"Yesterday, you said you thought you'd propose when you're in your true form. I thought that'd be farther off than it is, but you're about to do it now... Why didn't you wait, then?"



"I couldn't wait another day," he softly replied.



I felt so hot I was gonna pass out. I unbuttoned my coat to let out some hot air. Whew. Less chilly in here than I thought.



He leaned in and kissed me. "I will dream of you."



...



I kissed him back. I wanted to stay there with him. He put his arms around me. I pressed against him. "Metal..."



... I remembered where we were. I forced myself away from him and feverishly looked away. He chuckled, making me only more of a hot mess. I felt his claws brush through my quills. "See you soon," he said.



"I love you," I replied.



"I love you t--"



"Can we add 'no making out in the workshop' to the deal?!" Sonic shouted from the other room.



"Shut up!" both Metal and I yelled at the same time. Oop. We exchanged a loving glance at each other.



I coughed. "O-okay, I gotta get out of here before I delay the transfer by a billion hours." I walked away backwards. He gave me the cutest little wave. I accidentally bumped into the wall, then slid myself back through the doorway.



The wait began...



I stayed at the workshop, but I didn't want to see the actual transfer. I stationed myself on the living room couch and watched TV while everyone else was in the actual workshop area. I impatiently bounced my legs as I sat there... I kept hearing different machine-like sounds from the room behind me.



Sonic eventually joined me. He gave me a grin. "So, what's your opinion on Neo, exactly?" he asked.



"Metal's always going to be Metal," I said with a wistful sigh. "I love him so much. As Neo, though, he's so much happier. I love him getting to fully express himself... Ugh, we can't talk about him! That'll make the wait more agonizing!"



Sonic laughed again. "Then... We battle it out!" He offered me a video game controller... Yeah, this would work.



Sonic and I played games together for a little while. Eventually, Tails joined us. He was a little nervous, but he relaxed a little over time. Honestly, I needed to relax too...



The lights in the entire house buzzed and flashed. The three of us instinctively hopped out of our seats.



"Th-the power! What's happening?" I asked.



Tails focused on the lights above us. "They should be doing the last part of the transfer--"



POP!



Everything went dark. Even Tails's place didn't have enough power?



I panicked and ran towards the workshop. I could only see Belle's glowing blue eyes.



"Oh, gears... E-everything should be fine! Hold... Hold on..." She shuffled through the darkness.



Two red eyes blinked on in the dark.



"Metal?! Are you okay?!" I called out.



The red eyes blinked back off. Shit! No!



...!



I felt his claws. He gently touched the side of my face, slid down to touch my chin... His hand was far bigger than what I was used to.



Vrrr... The power shuttered back on. I saw a belt and turbine in front of me. I craned my head up; Red eyes blinked back on. Metal, in his beautiful Neo form, looked back down at me.



"Hello, Rosy," he said.



My heart just about leapt out of my chest! Then I literally leapt at him, hehe. "Metal!"



He tightly held onto me while I peppered his face with kisses. "The transfer was a success," he said on the verge of laughter. "No amount of damage can make me revert back."



My tail wagged so hard. "How do you feel?" I asked. "That's what really matters."



"I feel truly normal again."







I had been in my true form for about three months. Every week, every day, every hour, every minute, I enjoyed all of it. Each night, Amy fell asleep beside me. Each morning, she woke up, her limbs tangled with mine. I got to see her in all ways, when she considered herself presentable to others and when she didn't. I always thought she was beautiful. More than beautiful... She was everything.



I liked being there when she came home. I liked going home and seeing her there. Her presence was a welcome consistency, one I constantly craved and treasured. After my future self and the future Sage had their conflict, we've been enjoying our peace. Even better, Amy had become my fiancée, my future wife. She had many, many ideas about weddings and shared them with me. I slightly frustrated her for not having any sort of preference, but that also gave her an excuse to talk more about it. I loved listening to her. My only request was that all flowers at the wedding be grown by me; I didn't want an inferior display for what should be a monumental occasion.



When I had time to myself, I tended to my garden. My previous patrolling duty was a habit hard to kill... I found myself surveying the nearby city often and I liked to watch other cities for no other reason than to observe. I kept myself busy with building our new house. Amy really did want a massive home, two stories and several rooms. I wasn't sure what she wanted to do with all that space... But I didn't mind it at all. I looked forward to completing another pristine creation.



I was happy. I could smell again, I could eat. I went wherever I wanted to. I didn't have to worry about a sudden call driving me back to sterile, metallic walls. I didn't have to listen to anyone anymore. After recovering my true form, I was no longer a prisoner; I was free for the very first time. Even before the loyalty programming got added, I was shackled to a desperation to prove myself. I no longer felt my previous burden.



I thought frequently of the ones from the future. To honor my future self, I kept the same voice processor for my upgrade. Their reality was one we could never be a part of... Yet, I felt a strange sense of concern. I hoped they found their own peace as well. Never knowing their actual fate brought a different kind of loss for me.



Amy also thought of them frequently. She made charms to represent my future self, Carillon Rose, Cavalier Sonic, and the future Sage, all of them displayed near the front door so we would see them whenever we left the house. My future self had the colors black, blue, and red, a silver star at the end but with an embossed edge. Carillon Rose: red, silver, and green with a pink heart. Cavalier Sonic: gold, blue, and green with a silver dragon's head. Lastly, there was the future Sage: black, red, and cyan with a white crescent moon. Amy explained to me why she chose what she did, why the colors and the shapes made her think of them. I thought it was her own way of honoring them.



I asked her how she made the charms since I wanted to make one myself. She showed me how... Very simple, but amusing in its own way. There were a lot of different beads and an innumerable amount of colors she collected at some point. I made one that was red, pink, and white. I chose a silver heart for the end of the charm... I put it with the others. It represented the Amy that suffered a fate we avoided. I didn't want to forget her, either. When I told Amy about the charm, she cried quite a lot. I didn't want her to cry, though her sorrow was temporary; she truly believed our future selves would reunite. For some reason, I believed as well.



...



My future self wanted to alter this timeline in one more way before he left. He told me one of his biggest regrets was how he failed to reconcile with Sage. He gave her a deep grief that Eggman gave him: the premature loss of one they loved.



I hated Eggman. I would never forgive him, even knowing he could never make me hurt Amy again. A part of me was disgusted Sage could ever feel any familial bond with him, but the fact was that we were raised differently. I was built with a purpose that tortured my existence, and even then, I wanted to please him and be praised. She was built to give information, then their bond increased as she explored her newfound sentience. Their connection was always peaceful, emotional, non-demanding. My future self told me I shouldn't kill Eggman, regardless of my feelings.



He heavily implied I should reconnect with Sage. I had two sisters despite only ever seeing one. Even with Eggman as a factor, I didn't have to close myself off. That being said, I wasn't sure how I could ever reconcile with her. She didn't understand my love for Amy or why I didn't want to serve Eggman anymore.



... I also didn't understand my own love for a while, so I imagined it was even harder for others to grasp my feelings. Belle told me a long while ago that it was easy to misunderstand me... However, a few people did understand eventually. Sage could one day be the same.



Little Planet was only a few days away from returning to orbit. It's been a year already... I felt like a lifetime had already passed. A year ago, I had my second date with Amy at Collision Chaos. We raced each other to get the largest amount of flower seeds, and the loser had to do whatever the winner said. We never knew our lives would change so drastically and for the better.



I reflected on all my thoughts as I wrote a letter at Amy's desk. I had some time to myself since Amy was off somewhere; she didn't tell me where she went, though she sounded very eager. I would find out later, likely.





Writing for anyone not Amy was very difficult for me. I wasn't sure this letter was good at all. I didn't even want to sign it... Surely Sage could tell it was me.



Honk, honk!



I heard a car horn right outside. I peeked through one of the bedroom windows; an RV hummed in the driveway, towering over Amy's comically small car. Amy eagerly waved from the RV's driver's side window.



I walked to the front door to meet her. She hopped out of the RV and spread her arms out ecstatically. "Let's make a new tradition!" she began, her voice as cheerful as ever. "Long road trips to Little Planet each year! Heh? Do you like the idea?"



I was amused she got the RV, yet asked me for my opinion only then. In fairness, there was no way I would refuse such a meaningful opportunity. "I love it," I replied, slightly tilting my head. "You are a bit too excitable, though. Little Planet won't appear for a few more days."



"I know," she huffed. "I thought it'd be nice to get there as soon as it appears. But I don't mind waiting... I still gotta pack and get everything together!" She clapped her hands together. I saw her tail wildly swish from under her dress. "When do you want to leave?"



"Whenever you like, my Rosy... Though I do have to do something first. Shouldn't take too long."



"Ooh, okay. Take your time!" she beamed. "You wanna see inside the RV first? I rented the one with the tallest door I could find." She gave me a large, goofy grin; I found nothing cuter. We were apart for far too long... I closed in our distance and lovingly lifted her chin. Her cheeks immediately flushed from my touch... Such an incredible ability for me to have.



"I'm very tall and elegant, but you don't need to adjust for my height. Anything less is an excuse to be closer to you."



She let out a squeak. I couldn't resist... I leaned down and kissed her. "W-well...!" She stammered a little before finally getting out a full sentence: "There will be plenty of chances for that..."



We kissed again. "I'm glad. Please, show me around," I said.



I had fond memories of our first road trip the previous year. Amy was just as excited here, showing me all the storage spots, how much nicer the shower was than the last RV's shower, the kitchen space. Each object she shared, she also shared an idea of what we could do together, how we could use the space. I wanted to do it all.



Amy, satisfied with her tour, skipped back inside the house. By the time I followed her inside, she already disappeared into the bedroom to begin packing. She dragged out a suitcase and began sorting through all of her clothes all while mumbling to herself on what to bring. I passed her and returned to the desk, examining my letter one more time. I stored it in my arm.



...



"I'll be back soon, my Rosy." I leaned down to her one more time; she met me half-way and kissed me.



"I love you, my Metal~ Be safe." Her gaze to me was incredibly loving and welcoming. "... Oh, actually, I forgot I have to help my friends with something. I should be back by tonight. I'll message you, okay?"



"Of course. I love you too, Rosy... Enjoy your errands."



After one more embrace, we temporarily parted ways. I didn't like being apart from her whenever I thought about it, though reuniting filled me with boundless joy. I better understood the phrase 'distance makes the heart grow fonder' after experiencing it for myself.



Eggman rarely stayed at a base longer than a year, let alone a few. The last base he considered his home territory had been lived in for a couple years. He didn't stay much longer after the encounter with my future self and the future Sage, though with his living patterns, his next base was not going to be that far away. I had my doubts he lived in the 'vacation' base; he was strangely superstitious about his relaxing time.



With all that in consideration, I wasn't sure where his new home territory was. I disconnected from the Eggnet long ago and rerouted myself with a different and secure connection. I didn't want to draw unnecessary attention to find his new base... So, I decided to do something else. I made my way to the forest and entered the cave I used to enter so frequently. My door codes still worked... I went inside.



I cleared out everything from the old base months ago. All of my and Amy's belongings were at our current home. I never went back here after I fully moved my gardens and made a new living space for Nova. I instructed Belle to take all the materials she needed since I wouldn't guard this area anymore. The halls were as hollow and empty as every Eggman base was. Still... I felt nostalgic. It was my first home.



I went towards the server room where I severed the base's connection to the Eggnet long ago. All it took was a bit of rewiring, then... There. The base had a working connection and would be visible to anyone who had access to Eggman's database. She would notice.



I placed the letter on a nearby console, then left. I had no desire to overstay my welcome.



Since Amy wasn't home, I explored the city from above. Damage from the last conflict had been fully fixed. Eggman seemed to have been taking a break of his own as well... Temporarily, most likely.



Thankfully, Amy's friends also left me alone. We had a silent, mutual agreement, our paths crossed only by coincidence. Most of them didn't like me and I didn't like most of them, either. Of them, I liked Big... I also tolerated Rouge in incredibly, incredibly small doses. I actually didn't mind Cream either, but her mother-- and especially the Chaotix-- were far too nervous for her to act on any curiosity towards me. The bee from the Chaotix was also very curious about me. I had a feeling he'd try to speak to me more if it weren't for his team. I liked being treated normally, but I would be lying if I said I didn't enjoy casting fear to others.



As I watched the busy streets, I thought of how Amy and I went on public dates. We sometimes carried out errands with one another, all while I stayed in my true form. I only liked using my disguise to eat or to drive Amy's car, so gawking bystanders was a common occurrence. I could make whatever changes to myself I liked, though I preferred bonding with Amy as my best self... Not that I had complaints about any forms of our affection towards each other.



I landed on one of the tallest buildings in the city and watched the horizon before me. I carried Amy here on our very first date... I liked the location. Even before I confessed to Amy, I liked resting here and watching the sky.



The air cooled as the sun began to set. I didn't realize how long I was out.





!!! I received a message from Amy. She was able to contact me with her phone, so long as my connection was available.





I flew into the air immediately. I had to find her.





... She was not actually in need of help. I relaxed myself and felt a little irritated.





My irritation faded away just as fast. Her messages were lively, her energy infectious... I loved her. I rocketed towards the greenhouse where my gardens were and where Nova preferred to live. She sent me a picture of Nova sitting on top of the frame of our unfinished house with a caption about how cute they were.



I didn't see her when I got there; Nova was proudly perched on top of the unfinished house still. The door was unlocked... I stepped in and locked the door back before actually looking around.



"There he is~!" cooed Amy from behind me. I turned around--



She was in a dress I never saw before. Sleek and a dark, crimson red. The dress hugged her curves. I realized I was staring. She noticed at the same time, then giggled, her cheeks lightly flushing. I paid attention to her face; she had immeasurable beauty accented with makeup she wore on special occasions. A flower pin adorned her styled quills... She had small earrings that matched her dress. "Stunning."



Her pose got a little shyer. She smiled, delicately brushing back her quills as she slightly broke our gaze. Her engagement ring glistened from fairy lights adorning the greenhouse's inner framework. "Thank you..." she murmured. I wanted to pick her up and hold her close to me.



... What was the special occasion?



"Uh... surprise!" she beamed. "Impromptu date. Okay, that's a lie. I've been working on this for a while." She took my hand and guided me through the garden, taking me to the picnic table I had in case she ever wanted to relax there. She covered the table with a silky cloth. On top were a bunch of covered silver platters... She made food?



"A dinner date?" I asked.



"Not just a dinner date, but the dinner date. First, let me explain my process. Ahem." She gestured me to sit down on one side of the table, so I did. She stood beside me, lovingly rubbing the top of my head. "I've been studying you ever since you got your true form back. I've gotten really good at reading your body language and expressions! And yes, you do have expressions," she said before I could tease her.



"Mmhm. Go on."



"You do the cutest thing when you really like something you eat. I won't even tell you what it is because I know you'll stop doing it," she said lightly. "Combined with my previous study of your eating preferences, I learned you're a man of extremes."



"Interesting theory. Prove it."



She giggled. "Well, you aren't very picky with food when I give it to you... but you definitely have favorites. You like anything super sweet or super spicy."



"Hm..." I truly never thought about it. "That explains why you're my favorite, then," I teased.



She slightly wiggled, her cheeks flushing more. "Aww...! Keep it up and your night will end well, cutie." She said that like it wasn't already going to.



Amy lovingly stroked my head as she pressed her side against me. I could tell she wanted to be more affectionate, but was stopping herself for her duty towards the dinner date. She was very cute. I would have fun messing with her.



Unfortunately, she let me go. "With all that knowledge in mind... I made the best dinner for you. The ultimate dinner! My... finest culinary work!" She uncovered one of the plates to show off a delightful, steamy meal. I caught myself laughing before I paid attention to what was on the plate.



"Fantastic presentation," I said. She made me feel light and loved. I examined the plate itself... It was a meat dish, well seasoned and paired with glazed vegetables. It all smelled heavenly. I was curious what was exactly 'sweet' or 'spicy' about them.



She excitedly wiggled, her face entirely red. "Um...! So! I made a special glaze from scratch just for you! It's got a lot of sweet heat to it. It should go really well with everything, which I also cooked to perfection! The vegetables are from the garden, which you will definitely know from the exquisite taste. I made me some dinner too, but it's got more sweet and less heat, heheh." She opened another cover to show her own meal, very similar in appearance but noticeably the glaze on hers had less color.



"It looks delicious. I'll enjoy eating it, I'm sure." I moved my chair closer to the table. "What about the other covered plates?" I asked, reaching for one. She slapped my hand.



"Later!" she snapped.



I chuckled again. She happily sat down on the other end of the table... We exchanged a loving gaze.



"Oh! Wait." She grabbed a wine bottle and poured two glasses. "Okay, I don't know anything about anything, but I was told this drink would go well with it. If it sucks, then blame Rouge."



"Noted," I said lightheartedly.



"Hehe... Please enjoy, my love." She settled in her seat and gave me her widest smile. Before touching my food, I caressed the side of her head one more time.



"Thank you, my Rosy. I will." I leaned back and focused on the plate in front of me. Hmm... I shifted to my organic disguise, but instead of my usual coat, I put myself in a black suit. I wanted to match her degree of formality.



Her face somehow got redder. "Aw...! You're fancy!" she squeaked.



"This is the dinner date, after all," I replied. She looked incredibly happy with me.



I cut off a piece of meat and tried that first...



...!



She was not kidding. It was incredibly spicy with a sweet undertone I very much liked. I hardly knew the flavors could combine that way. She giggled as she watched me.



I squinted. I didn't know what I did that caused her to react.



"You like it?" she softly asked.



"I love it. Your cooking is divine," I said with a firm nod. I didn't want to wait any longer; I got into my meal. She giggled again and began to eat hers as well.



I loved her food. I thought about all the time she spent cooking, picking the perfect vegetables from the garden, taste testing to get it just right for me. I could taste her hard work... her feelings. It really was perfect. Nothing could be better.



We lovingly talked to one another in between bites. Truthfully, the sweetness I craved more than anything were the words that left her mouth. I was full... I was happy. I had never been warmer.



We held one of our hands across the table while we ate with the other. The air filled with her beautiful laughter and eventually sounds she made whenever she got flustered. I loved all the reactions I got from her. I treasured this day and would fondly review my recordings at a later date. I loved her more than anything.



After we finished our meal, she revealed what was on the other plates. They were cheesecakes draped in fruit and another syrup she made herself. She excitedly talked about her baking process, how much fun she had making it... how many times she tweaked the recipe.



I devoured my cheesecake. She was so happy with my appetite that she gave me her unfinished half so I could eat the rest. It was incredibly enjoyable. I hoped she had more.



We had a wonderful date together. After we finished our meals, I picked her up and held her in my true form. I stood with her in the middle of my garden... Beautiful. She gave me a certain grin that indicated she was mere seconds from covering my face in lipstick.



"You know," she hummed. "I never asked... What's your dancing skill?"



"My dancing skill?" I repeated. "Zero. I've never danced."



Her romantic smile softened. "Do you want to try it with me?" she asked, leaning in closer to me. Her mouth was very close to my muzzle, but she didn't kiss me. It was torture.



I closed the distance. Our kiss carried the tension of being too far from each other the entire date. We exchanged a pleasant shock. As soon as her mouth parted, she brought herself against me for another.



"I'll do anything with you, Rosy," I eventually said.



"I want to have a long, romantic dance at our wedding... I want you to hold me like this," she said with a gentle sigh. She took one of my hands and intertwined her fingers with mine. "Our chests together, our faces close, gently swaying with one another while listening to music that marks the beginning of our married life together."



"What music do you want?" I asked.



"I'm not sure... Something meaningful," she said with a soft smile.



I thought back for a moment. I recalled the song she played in the car when I was first terrified of losing her. She believed it was music that would ignite my soul. I accessed the music file and began playing it aloud for her.



Her ears twitched, then she lifted her head. There was a look on her face so hard for me to describe. She might've been on the verge of tears, but she never looked happier. I couldn't escape from her beautiful eyes... I never wanted to.



I was hers... She was mine. Always.



We kissed again, then she leaned her head against my shoulder. I let myself sway to the music, focusing on how she felt with me. I would never forget.





We left on a pleasant road trip to Little Planet the day after our dinner date. Just like before, we took long, secluded roads out towards Never Lake. Amy brought her camera this time, taking an obscene amount of pictures on even the first day.



The only factor that changed the previous year was simply that we loved each other even more. Also, I was in my true form, so I couldn't fit beside her in the driver's seat. I still managed to make it work.



We were both in incredibly high spirits. We talked about just about anything, reminisced over our last memories with Little Planet. We planned to go through all the zones again and collect flower seeds. She even planned to wear a swimsuit under her dress for Tidal Tempest. I thought the sentiment was ridiculous, but amusing.



We also entertained the idea of staying more than one day, resting in the RV, then exploring one more time. Amy loved the idea of having a picnic there. I was happy to do everything she wanted and more. I would enjoy our trip to Little Planet just as much.



Of course, in being gone several days, I asked Belle to make sure Nova was eating properly and not getting into too much trouble. I trusted her to handle the surprisingly daunting task and I hoped to repay her efforts at another point in time. I could have a truly worry-free time with Amy.



We drove into the night. When we stopped, we watched the stars on top of the RV just like we did the previous year.



"What did you wish for last time?" she asked me as we lay together.



"I am not telling you."



Amy giggled. "Because it won't come true? Are you saying it hasn't?"



I felt hotter. "... I am not telling you that, either."



She giggled again. "Well... Mine has." She cradled my hand to her face... I brushed against her cheek with my thumb. She was soft and just as warm. "Do you think Little Planet will be happy to see us back?"



"If it's sentient, it's probably sick of us," I mumbled.



"Aw, I don't think so. You've been getting rid of all those robots. Ooh! We could have another contest."



I chuckled. "Sure, Rosy."



...



"Are you allowed to say your wish if it comes true?" I asked.



"I'm not sure... But, there's something fun about not saying it, right? For me, let's just say my life couldn't be better."



"Mine too," I muttered.



The first time we went on the road trip, Amy said it was a test in how we would get along when we spent an extended amount of time together. Ultimately, we got along very well and we became even closer after our first fight. A year later, I had a hard time imagining living in a space without her. I felt comfortable listening to her, even just her breathing. She calmed me like no one else could.



Our journey took us to Never lake at last, and there floated Little Planet. It looked the same as it always did: mysterious, varied... beautiful.



Amy wore the same pink, airy dress she wore the previous year. Instead of straighten her quills down, she kept them up. Good choice since we were going to have a mandatory traversal through the water. She twirled around and asked me how she looked. I kissed her and admired her form. The only downside to exploring was that it was time spent not embracing her.



"Are we gonna try to explore through all of Metallic Madness?" Amy asked as I picked her up outside of the RV.



"Honestly, probably not. I just want to get flower seeds. It's not as fun to explore."



She giggled. "I remember how badly I wanted to make out after Stardust Speedway."



"Yes... I was worried you'd not want to make out after we went to Metallic Madness. It's not exactly romantic."



"Oh, Metal...~ Every place with you is romantic," she said with an exaggerated, whimsical sigh. She playfully smooched me a few times, then nuzzled me as I rose into the air. "Where are we going first~?"



"Where it all began, of course."



I flew towards the underside of the planet where Collision Chaos loomed directly over the lake. The sun was bright and the planet's scenery was plentiful. Amy laughed as gravity shifted and I adjusted to make a proper landing.



"Oh no~!" she said with a fake squeal. "I'm being kidnapped!"



"Are you going to do that every time we're here?" I asked.



She laughed. "Maybe."



"I'm already carrying you, so it doesn't count. I have to give you a running start first," I said, lifting my nose in the air.



"Ooh, you wanna try to capture me for real?" she asked in a teasing tone. "Where would you take me?"



"Now, why would I spoil the surprise?"



She happily wiggled in my hold. "It won't be so easy this time... Don't be so confident you can."



For someone who so often chased others, she also loved being chased. I was amused by her. When we got to a grassy platform, I gently put her down. We were surrounded by strange chrome structures, pink rock faces, orange mountains, and vivid green grass. I looked back at Amy; she was genuinely deciding on whether or not she wanted to run for it. I tilted my head and admired her... I slightly lifted her head by the chin. "You desire a contest, then. What do I get if I win?" I asked.



Her face reddened by an incredible amount. "Now, why would I spoil the surprise?" she echoed.



Before I could get out any kind of reply, Amy brought out her hammer and launched herself away with eager laughter. Very cute. I let her have a head start... It was courteous to let her think she had a chance.



... I waited for long enough. I blasted towards her direction at top speed. Steam rose from freshly broken robots along the path. I took an upper route and slashed at any rogue robot I saw, of course gathering their seeds for future use. Amy went a far distance... I didn't see her at all.



I had fun figuring out her path. I could tell when she used her hammer to fly in the air since there were random indents in the grass. I got rid of the robots she missed and took an alternate route to catch her by surprise.



Little Planet felt homelike in its own way. I found the surroundings comfortable. I already made so many positive memories with Amy here. I felt excited to meet back up with her again.



...! There she was. Strangely, though, she stood still. Her posture indicated she was unsure about something. Catching her that way would be less fun. I approached her normally.



"Rosy?" I asked.



She glanced at me and passed me a brief smile. "Hey! Sorry," she sighed, looking forward again. A time post was in front of her with 'Future' listed on both sides. "I was ready to make you fight for capturing me, but I saw this sign and got lost in thought..." She turned towards me completely. "Metal, you said you couldn't go to the future before, right?"



I nodded. "In addition, Carillon Rose mentioned it being destroyed in some sense when she was having that fight with the future Sage."



"Do..." She looked at the time post again. "Do you think it's still destroyed...?"



"... Want to find out?" I asked.



She hopped into my arms without a second thought. "This doesn't count as you capturing me, by the way," she huffed.



I chuckled. "We'll play again when we satisfy our curiosity. Is that fair?"



"Yeah~"



Whirrrr...



I passed by the sign at top speed. I wasn't sure how long it'd--



We were surrounded by a bright green vortex...! We were successful. I continued speeding forward. I watched for an opening at the end of the tunnel... There.



As soon as we were through, I slowed to a stop.



Pink rock faces were a light green-- there was green everywhere. The grass, somehow even more vibrant. Orange mountains in our time were instead flushed with green vegetation here. What were chrome structures were also green and supporting boundless amounts of plant life. Neon signs matched their surroundings. The sky was bright, vivid blue. Never Lake was just as blue, sparkling from the sunlight.



"Whoa..." Amy looked around, her eyes wide. "It's so pretty."



I flew forward, wanting to explore a little more. I didn't see any robots around... I didn't even see their remains. Wildlife skittered around us as we went through at a slower pace. The animals were more curious than afraid.



"Metal, look," she started, pointing to a colorful field in the distance. "Let's go over there. What's that?"



As I approached the field, I realized it was full of flowers. There had to be hundreds of them, taking over the whole field and growing to the very edge of the cliff. I carefully put Amy down.



The flowers shimmered with all sorts of colors. Their petals looked as delicate as lace, gently swaying with the wind. I only had to look at them once to know they didn't naturally grow here... Or at least, they didn't used to.



Amy and I didn't need to exchange any words. She brushed the tips of her fingers past the flowers as she moved forward. I stopped walking so I could watch her.



She stood in the middle of all the flowers with the largest grin on her face. The sunlight hit her in a perfect way... The scenery before me was like a painting-- no, it was better than a painting. It became a precious memory.



She turned her head and looked at me, her gaze filled with boundless love. I was completely mesmerized by her. We watched each other for a long time.



Breathtaking. I would never forget.



The moment ended when something else caught her attention. She tilted her head, then walked towards the very center of the field. I followed her this time.



We both approached a metallic statue surrounded by unique, glowing flowers... The statue itself depicted Amy.



Her metallic form sat on a flat base with her legs folded, her favorite dress on, every quill in its place, each detail exact and down to the lines on the soles of her boots.



She held the same flower I gave her to confess my feelings. She had a soft grin, a loving gaze towards the flower. I didn't know a statue could be so lifelike. Even the crafting on the flower was so intricate that I almost thought it was placed there.



The statue itself was very embedded in the ground, though it looked impeccably clean. I wasn't sure how long it existed.



There was a plaque at the statue's base. A message had been engraved in its center: