There were a few interesting differences between organic and synthetic beings, some becoming more apparent after spending a long time with one other. Neo Metal Sonic harmonized well with his wife, Amy Rose... Really, they could do everything together. Metal felt comfortable in his body and had more power than he ever thought possible for his form. Amy's love made him feel like he could conquer the world with ease— not that he was interested anymore, of course. Maybe.



As perfect as his beautiful Amy was, she had to endure the faults of being organic. One struck her particularly hard recently... She caught a nasty case of the flu after taking an overseas vacation with her friends. Amy would've fought harder to convince Metal that it wasn't the fault of her friends, but that required not basically coughing her lungs out.



"They compromised you. I will end them."



"No you won't—" Amy interrupted herself, covering her mouth with her arm to cough. She lay in their bed, her head propped up with several huge, fluffy pillows. "Guh... They didn't do anything wrong, Metal. I think Tails got sick too."



"My poor wife..." Metal's voice softened as he placed his palm sideways on her forehead. "Your illness has caused you to defend your worthless allies."



"I'd get onto you if I weren't exhausted—" She coughed again. "— right now. Ugh..." She went into another coughing fit.



Metal tilted his head as he watched her. "It's time to retake your medicine so you can rest properly."



"No complaints here..."



While Metal left to grab her medicine, Amy glanced around their bedroom. There was light pink floral wallpaper, something she had back when she lived alone, though Metal didn't seem to mind it. Photos of her with her friends lined the walls between cute decorations she collected over the years. Of course, there were photos of her and Metal, most prominent and most frequent out of everything on display. Her eyes were too tired to focus on the pictures themselves... She wiped her face and sighed. She had practically no energy, so there wasn't really anything she wanted to do, but... It wasn't like she wanted to keep sleeping. Metal certainly wouldn't let her wander too far out of bed.



He returned with some liquid medicine and a glass of water in hand. Amy downed the medicine in one huge gulp, then shuddered and drank the whole glass of water in seconds. She grimaced from the taste of the medicine and tiredly stared off as she let her stomach settle.



Metal tilted his head, amused. "I started the kettle for you, too."



"Thank you, my love..." Amy's voice was lower from her stopped nose— she sneezed into her arm and groaned. "I'm glad you can take care of me... And I can be as close as I want."



"Nothing could pull me away from you, my darling Rosy." He wiped her arm with a tissue. "I'll lie with you after I bring your tea."



"Aw, you're the best...~"



"Correct. I am also the best because I cannot make you sick, unlike your allies," he sneered.



She laughed and interrupted herself with another cough. "Stop, don't make me laugh!" she coughed out.



"I didn't say anything funny!"



"I know, but it still got me." She tiredly smiled at him. "I do want to keep hearing your voice..."



"I am happy to keep speaking to you." He caressed her head as she lay back again. "Just a moment." He left the room, and soon came back with a cup of soothing tea. As promised, Metal joined her in bed. She took no time in snuggling herself against him, propped up only to drink her tea. She leaned her head against his chest and sighed.



"Your cool chest feels so nice against my face... I wanna stick my head into the opening of your turbine."



"You will not do that."



Amy weakly giggled, then slightly lifted up her tea for him. He took the cup and put it on the nightstand beside him. "I'll just feel you, then," she muttered. She nuzzled his chest and sighed again. "I know I should rest, but I'm not sure I can sleep..."



Metal averted his eyes in thought. "... If you desire to keep hearing my voice," he started, glancing at her again, "maybe I could read to you."



"Ooh, even better. Could you tell me a random story?"



"... You want me to make up a story?" he asked.



"Yeah~" Amy propped some pillows against him and settled even more; she curled up to his side, while one of his arms got separated from her by a barrier of pillows. She looked like a stuffed animal in the crook of his shoulder, just barely sticking out from the covers over them.



"I don't know how creative I am..." Metal grumbled to himself and stared out at nothing. "Give me a moment."



"You have a great imagination! You designed yourself, even," she mused. "I'd say that's pretty creative."



"I suppose so..." They comfortably stewed in a brief, quiet moment. His eyes flashed red and he slightly lifted his head. "Here, I know what story I could tell. Maybe you will like it."



Amy's tail wagged as she admired him. From his very first reply, she knew she'd love whatever he'd say. She closed her eyes, relaxed, breathed out slowly as Metal gently threaded his free hand through her quills.



"It's a story unknown to most, a tale with no title, lost through time and warped by whispers passed through generations. In ancient times, different creatures roamed the earth and different species ruled the planet. Some were so rare and unique that those in our time believed them to be metaphors for wars and natural disasters. For the ancient Green Valley region, however, there were no metaphors. Their largest threat was very physical, very literal, and very dangerous."



"Oooh."



Metal confidently lifted his head. "They were plagued by a terrifying beast conjured out of the earth: a dragon, scales like plates of steel, teeth like lava-forged blades, and webbed wings as wide as fields. Most notable was a brilliant golden crystal embedded in his chest, as bright and swirling as his fury. Once every year, he passed through the villages of Green Valley, stripped them of materials and livestock, and destroyed all who dared challenge his might. Many suffered from his claws, crushed by his force. No matter the preparations, the region failed every time. The dragon could only be slain by shattering the jewel embedded in his chest, but no one could ever get close enough to try."



Amy reached her hand over his torso and made grabbing motions. He took her cup of tea from the nightstand and handed it back to her. She quietly listened, slowly taking a sip. She fought the smile on her face as he continued:



"He would also only spare those who agreed to do his bidding. Entire villages were taken over, turned into facilities harboring treasure or into factories creating tools that continued to assist his takeover. Green Valley had been green in name only; it turned into a wasteland, brown and riddled with scrap."



"Wait, I have a question."



Metal glanced at her. "What is it?"



"Was the dragon handsome?"



"... Yes, incredibly. However, no one else thought so because they had poor taste and were also busy dying."



Amy grinned. "Gotcha. Carry on."



"There was one other who knew the dragon was handsome; as the dragon had been conjured from the earth, a powerful maiden had been born from the sky. Gifted with gilded armor and a mighty hammer, the great paladin was equipped to face the dragon. His simultaneously pleasing and menacing appearance would not dissuade her from her quest to slay him and free the region from his tyranny."



The medicine Amy took had already suppressed her cough. She slowly finished her tea and lifted the cup for Metal to take one final time. She fully settled against him, eyes closed and ears perked up to listen.



"The new year arrived and the dragon reappeared to continue his conquest. He was to check the villages he owned and give other villages the choice to join or be razed. One such village endured destruction year after year, but their forces had dwindled drastically and their capable soldiers had fallen. The dragon gave them the same choice they had the previous year: become a part of his legion or die fighting it. This time, however, the dragon had grown impatient from years of their insolence; if they denied joining once more, they would all become part of the earth. Their stubbornness marked their downfall with their final choice: die fighting. The dragon opened his maw; his throat glowed with an eerie, electric-white light—"



Metal played a sound of lightning striking the ground. Amy's ears twitched.



"He emitted a blast of energy, aimed right towards the villagers... But something strange happened. The magnificent blast had been completely deflected. The dragon focused on the source— a hammer. The paladin appeared and knocked the blast away with a single swing. This action was baffling— no other creature had ever been able to counteract his attack in such a way. The paladin was also beautiful, so beautiful that it infuriated him. However, he was more angry in the moment that she so casually intervened."



He continued:



"The paladin approached the dragon to further separate him from the villagers. 'You will torment this land no longer!' she shouted. 'I will be the one offering a choice this time: leave in peace and never return to Green Valley, or meet your demise by my actions.' The dragon scoffed when she spoke— such a creature dared to challenge him?"



He leaned his head back and stared at the ceiling.



"Yet, at the same time, it was exciting." He turned his head to look at Amy again. "He hadn't been truly challenged, not in a very long time. He was curious if she actually lived up to it... And he was impressed that she so boldly spoke against him. So, the dragon entertained her offer: 'You will meet your demise instead, Paladin. You have the privilege of witnessing my full power.'"



When Metal spoke in the dialogue of the different characters, he used completely different tones of voice: a soft yet energetic tone for the paladin, and a harsher, deeper tone for the dragon. Amy smiled more.



"The paladin should have been terrified, because the dragon was as strong as he was handsome. Yet, strangely, she was calm and collected, her visage brimming with determination. The dragon wasn't sure if she was that brave or that careless; perhaps she was a bit of both. He hated to admit that it fascinated him and even caught him off guard, but he would never tell her that. He had an image to uphold, after all, and he would not let this challenger ruin his work. The two of them left the village to have their brawl out in a nearby field... So it began."



Metal clenched his free fist, gaze forward as he told the story:



"The paladin lived up to her threat. She was agile, defensive, and quick to act. The dragon, however, was quicker. He was very fast, actually. The fastest. Unfortunately for him, speed could not break through her hammer, and in fact, it made her strikes more powerful. Holy metal clashed against hard scales, its impact heard through the valley with a unique, ominous gong. He snapped his jaws, sliced at her, whapped her with his tail, each movement she elegantly avoided or blocked with her weapon. Most would have been dead by then, but not the paladin. It was confusing. It was... exhilarating. As they fought, he realized he did not want to kill her, but he did not yet know why. This impulse... he took it as a sign that she was meant to play a different role in his conquest. The power she had— it could be his."



Metal glanced at Amy; her eyes were still closed and she had a large smile on her face. The rhythm of her heartbeat told him that she was awake and listening thoughtfully. He gently caressed her with his free hand again.



"As they fought, the dragon devised a plan. He feigned weakness by collapsing after an attack. She approached him to strike the crystal in his chest and end the battle— her mistake. He swept her off her feet with his tail, separating her from her hammer. The paladin was plenty capable without her hammer, but she no longer had any means of defense— and, just as quickly, the dragon snatched her with his claws. He grabbed the hammer with his tail, then flew away, leaving Green Valley to go to his true home. Of course, the paladin struggled, yelled all kinds of insensitive words and threats. She could not escape his grasp, however. It was pointless to struggle. She watched as the scenery below them changed from ravaged land, to unclaimed mountains, to the shore. Eventually, only the ocean was below them. Finally calm, the paladin asked: 'Why haven't you killed me?' A sensible question. The dragon had never spared anyone in such a way. The dragon did not answer her."



A brief pause. He leaned back more in their bed, Amy adjusting in turn.



"The dragon held the paladin close enough that she had a good view of the golden crystal in his chest. As she stared at it, a spark ignited within her own chest. A strange connection, indescribable by her own words, but... She wanted to know more. The paladin took the opportunity to ask more questions and learn about the dragon. He was not much for talking, and each question made him more confused. He assumed her questions were to gain some kind of tactical advantage... But what tactical information could be gathered by asking how old he was or if he had any interests? The questions were so outlandish that he found them insulting. She was insulting."



He scoffed.



"Eventually, they arrived at a huge, lonely island protected by jagged mountains. In the middle of the island was an extremely large and impressive castle, nearly as big as a city itself. There, the dragon ascended to the tallest tower and went through a window to enter his chambers. Before the paladin could gauge her surroundings, the dragon locked her in a massive cage. He finally spoke back after denying her conversation for so long:"



He went quiet for another moment. Amy opened her eyes and glanced at him.



"'You will remain here while I decide what to do with you.'" Metal stared forward again. "Truthfully, he didn't know what would become of the paladin. He left his chambers at last with the hammer still in his tail. Dead silence. The paladin took some time to examine the room... It was awfully empty, far less extravagant than what she expected since he gathered treasure from Green Valley over many years. There were dark curtains that covered the window the dragon entered from, a large red carpet on the floor, and finally, a dusty chandelier suspended below the ceiling. The paladin knew she couldn't sit and wait for death to claim her— or wait for whatever else the dragon had planned. That same feeling in her chest grew. She needed to get out of the cage, then go from there."



Metal fully turned his head down towards Amy.



"How are you feeling?" he asked.



Amy perked up, though with a drowsy look. "I'm fine, keep going~"



He lovingly rubbed one of his claws under her chin. "You are relaxed, then?"



"Yes~ I haven't felt the need to cough. I wanna know what happens next! Does she get out?"



Metal proudly continued: "The paladin searched around the bars of the cage in hopes that anything would stick out to her. She eventually noticed that one set of bars had indentations in no particular pattern or order... As her sight adjusted to the dark room, she reached forward and touched the indentations. Her eyes widened in realization; they were claw marks. The dragon had been in this cage before... maybe many times before. Why? He knew how the cage worked, managed to put her in it... And then he left. It confused her as well."



Amy adjusted again, resting her arms around Metal's waist. She let out a soft, clogged up purr.



"One section had a more thorough concentration of marks than the rest. Though the paladin was without her hammer, she still had her armor. She bashed herself against the marks, over and over. The bars creaked and cried from her methodical force, and finally—"



Metal let out the sound effect of bars clattering to the floor.



"She was free. She carefully exit the dragon's chamber and went through the same door he used prior. She descended down a spiral staircase, then came out to another hall in the castle. Here, she saw the extravagance she expected. Gold lined the halls, jewels and trophies adorned each surface. She moved quietly and carefully. The dragon took her hammer somewhere— she needed it to slay him... Slay him? The spark in her chest manifested into doubt. Her instinct guided her down the halls, then— she heard an unfamiliar voice, followed by the dragon's. She couldn't make out what the first voice said, but she heard the dragon respond with a very clear, melancholic tone: 'Yes, Master.'"



Metal's head slightly lowered, appearing melancholic himself.



"The paladin couldn't believe her ears. She went to the source of the voices and arrived by a thickly decorated throne room. At the throne was a wicked summoner draped in blood red robes. Though the dragon towered over him, he harbored not even an ounce of fear. In one of his hands was a golden orb similar in composition to the crystal in the dragon's chest. He smoothed his palm over it; the orb glowed brightly and the crystal brightened in turn. The dragon bowed to the summoner, then left the room. The paladin hid from sight; she noticed the dragon no longer had her hammer as he walked past her. He went towards the direction of his chambers. Foolishness caused the paladin to quietly follow."



His voice softened as he continued:



"The dragon returned to his chambers, and of course was shocked that no one was there. His eyes flared in fury, lava dripped from his jaws— he settled just as quickly when he looked at the doorway. The paladin was there with her arms extended out. She did not want to fight. 'Dragon, was it not your idea to conquer Green Valley?' she asked plainly. Her voice had such an... empathy to it, a tone that the dragon never heard before and a tone that confused him even more. 'Are you trapped?'"



Metal scoffed once more.



"She asked such a simple question and the answer should have been obvious. Of course he wasn't trapped. He was not in the cage. He got to fly around and raze the land as he saw fit. But he... He didn't say that. He wasn't sure how to answer her question. He was silent for so long that the paladin said something else: 'For ages, we believed that you were the one in control. But—'"



He growled aloud.



"The dragon interrupted her words. 'I am in control! I proudly created your suffering, and I will continue to. Your screams are my pleasure. You live to do my bidding only.' His words, though firm and boisterous, rang hollow to the paladin's ears. She saw something in his eyes that he did not want to be visible. The paladin stepped forward and the dragon instinctively backed away."



He threw one of his hands in the air as he continued:



"She challenged him with a question. 'If that's true, then why is your room occupied by a cage you can fit in? Where are all the rewards you reaped for yourself?' The dragon had no answer for her. After another long moment of silence, she softly spoke again: 'I am not meant to slay you, Dragon... I think... I am meant to set you free.' Her words, for some reason, made her beauty stand out even more. Different feelings stirred within the dragon. Anger, disgust, despair... Hope. He wanted to believe her."



Metal paused for a while. He stared at his hand, totally unmoving.



...



"He shook away his doubt and challenged the paladin in return. 'Even if I was under control, that would not stop the wreckage I caused. What if true freedom means I claim the entire world and not just your precious land?' He spoke with such venom in his tone, yet it did not seem to affect the paladin. He did not like looking at her because it made him feel strange. He did not like thinking about why it made him feel strange. The paladin approached him and he continued to step backwards until he pressed himself against the wall. She reached her arms out, gently touched his chest. The crystal glowed once more… Through the crystal, she saw an unwavering desire for life."



...



Snooore...



Metal slightly tilted his head. He squinted down to Amy, who totally passed out. Her nose was clearly very stopped while her mouth hung open, a tiny spot of drool making its way down her chin. He growled a little... then he relaxed.



"I suppose the point of the story was to get you to rest anyway," he muttered. He wiped the drool off her chin and watched her for a while. Metal very carefully moved her to a more comfortable position, then held her in return. Her grip on him tightened, and just for a second, her snoring stopped.



...



Snooooooore...



Nevermind, it was back. He rested his head against her and let out a purr of his own. "Work hard on your recovery, my Rosy," he spoke very softly.



He lay with her for a few hours and felt oddly soothed by her snores. He treasured the way she felt in his arms, adored how her quills got progressively messier as she shifted in her sleep. Eventually, it was time to make her some food— he wanted her to properly eat as much as she needed to properly rest! He gently pressed his muzzle to the top of her head, then slowly unraveled himself from her hold. He replaced himself with a jumbo chao plush; just like that, she clung onto it. He could hear her snores as he went towards their kitchen.



Metal had just finished stirring ingredients into a hearty pot of soup when he heard the floorboards creaking behind him. He lifted his head and turned around—



Amy sleepily clutched onto the chao plush and had her head leaned against it. She watched Metal with narrowed, tired eyes. Her tail slightly wagged. "Are you making food for me?" she asked.



"Yes, my love. You should go back to bed; I'll bring you a bowl."



"Nghh... I've been in the bed all day," she mumbled. "And I want to be here with you." She sat down at an armchair close to the kitchen, using the plush as a pillow while leaning over to watch him. "Can you tell me what happens next?"



Metal glanced at her. "... What happens next is that I feed you, and then you go back to bed."



"Nooo, I meant the story. The paladin found out the dragon obeyed someone else, then she confronted him, right?"



"Oh... You want me to keep telling the story?" he asked just to confirm.



"Please~"



He turned back around and looked at the pot of soup. "... It has to simmer for a little while, anyway." He walked over and scooped her into his hold, then sat on the chair instead. Amy eagerly snuggled up to him and used the plush to relax against him.



"Yay~!"



Metal caressed the back of her head and fixed a few of her stray quills. "The last thing I mentioned was that the dragon wanted the paladin's help, though he went through his own denial alongside some strange, conflicting feelings. The paladin approached him and felt an unwavering connection to him. It was something neither of them could explain. Her touch was... warm. He felt like... she had something he lost. He craved her power, but it was only in this moment he realized the power he sought for was not physical strength."



Amy held one of his hands as she patiently watched him.



"The dragon knew the paladin was beautiful, but now she was unbearably gorgeous. He finally looked at her, and he could no longer look away. He nearly thought she cast a spell to enrapture him. She made one final plea to him in a soft, gentle voice: 'Please tell me what binds you here, Dragon...'"



"Is she thinking about how handsome he is?" Amy teased.



"Oh, yes. She always thought he was handsome outwardly. Because he was, extremely so. But looking at the crystal had her recognize an inner beauty that not even he knew he had. It's what drove her forward."



Amy quietly purred and continued to listen.



"The dragon could deny her assistance no longer. He replied to her with full honesty for the very first time: 'My Master, the great summoner, was the one who brought me to life, and he is also the one who can send me back to the earth. If I do not follow his commands willingly, he forces control by using the orb in his hand. I cannot interact with the orb myself due to an invisible barrier, but he fears that I may one day figure out how to... So, when I am not conquering in his stead, I am put away until he needs me again.'"



...



"He could see the heartbreak reach the paladin's eyes. He did not want to see such pity from her. Just as quickly, though, she balled her fists and proudly stood before him. 'You will not go back in any cage, Dragon. I thought my hammer was forged to shatter the crystal in your chest, but I now believe its purpose is to shatter what controls you. Please, return my hammer to me, and let's face this summoner together.' The dragon admired her resolve. Her attractiveness at this point was ridiculous and nearly aggravating."



Amy giggled.



"The dragon lowered himself so that she could climb onto his back. She mounted him, and then he obscured her with his wings so he could carefully traverse through the castle. He initially stored the hammer away so its unique properties could be studied later. Unfortunately, as he got to the armory... it was gone. 'Strange... I left it here,' the dragon mumbled. Just then, they heard—"



Metal raised his head and wickedly cackled. Amy put her hand over her mouth to keep herself from laughing with him.



"'Are you looking for something, my faithful dragon? Did another foul mouth attempt to poison your mind?' It was the summoner, holding the hammer in one hand and the orb with another. 'Did you really think you could sneak that worthless girl past me?'"



Amy blinked, confused.



"The paladin was confused," Metal mused as he watched her. "It was here she discovered the dragon never told his master about her status as a prisoner. He did plan to tell the summoner eventually, though something stopped him. He instead brought the hammer and claimed that he had her weapon as a trophy. Even as the summoner claimed to know where the paladin was and implied that he heard their conversation, the dragon was not going to reveal her. He felt the most relief with her close, clinging to his back for safety. The dragon was also angry; a paladin who dared challenge him and even held her own against him was anything but worthless. He had half a mind to confront the summoner himself... But reality set in. 'Reveal her to me,' the summoner hissed. The orb glowed and the dragon growled in pain. His wings slowly opened, and— she was no longer there. The dragon had no idea where she went... He felt her mere seconds ago."



"Oh! She's crafty. I like her."



"Her quick thinking was partially why she survived her initial battle with the dragon at all. He took her disappearance as a blessing, because then he could not rightfully report her to his master. Still, he was forced to be honest: 'The paladin was on my back, though I no longer know where she is.' The summoner was frustrated by the truth. The summoner turned around and— 'AGH!'— he had been kicked to the ground. Before he knew it, the paladin reclaimed her hammer and aimed it at the summoner himself."



Amy excitedly wiggled and waited for his next words.



"The summoner, though he looked weak on his own, was capable of terrifying magic. He conjured all sorts of minions in an instant, all aiming for the paladin while he created barriers around himself. The paladin tore through them— with her holy hammer, each minion disappeared in a puff of smoke. The dragon could not attack his master, but he could dispose of the minions so long as he wasn't commanded to leave them alone. Time was of the essence; he threw himself into the crowd and destroyed all creatures in his path. His jaws poured out smoke as he said to the paladin: 'Focus on the summoner while you can.'"



He proudly continued:



"The summoner could not believe his eyes. The dragon really did betray him. With a rage-filled grimace, the summoner shouted: 'Destroy the girl!' The orb glowed brightly and the dragon's whole body seized. He did not want to fight the paladin, though his body no longer listened to him. He opened his maw, and facing the paladin, his throat began to glow that ominous white. She had seen this before."



Amy's tail patted against the back of the chair they sat on together.



"The dragon shot another radiant blast of energy. The paladin triumphantly lifted her hammer once more."



He played the sound of lightning striking the ground.



"Like before, the blast had been deflected—"



There was the sound of glass shattering.



"... And shot through the very orb in the summoner's grasp, penetrating the invisible barrier that protected it."



Amy's eyes sparkled.



"The paladin felt a similar joy. It was broken, and the summoner was devastated. He did not know how the dragon's blast with the paladin's hammer could break through the barrier. He didn't have time to contemplate, either— the paladin knocked him unconscious with another valiant swing. She turned towards the dragon with a wide grin on her face..."



Metal lowered his head.



"But the dragon collapsed. All color faded from him. The crystal on his chest lost all its light. The paladin could no longer see the passions within, the very desire that connected her. He was... no longer there."



...



"The crystal completely shattered and the dragon exploded into a mist of ash. The paladin cried out, devastated; she had slain the dragon after all. She fulfilled her original purpose, the one she thought would have changed..."



Amy slapped his chest, tears budding at her eyes and a huge frown on her face. He returned her gaze with smiling eyes of his own.



"She stared at the pile of ash before her, then noticed an unnatural lump. She cautiously approached and reached out... It was not a pile at all. She instead touched a shoulder, then felt more... A back. A head. She heard a quiet, muffled groan... A man emerged from the ashes. His eyes met hers and she felt the very same connection she had from the crystal. The dragon was never a dragon at all... Instead, he was like her."



Metal watched as Amy's expression went from devastation to complete awe. He gently caressed the side of her face and continued, still admiring her:



"She set him free like she hoped to. He finally knew then what it felt like. He could do whatever he wanted. Good, bad, anything; no one could tell him what to do anymore. And he knew exactly what to do first..."



Metal leaned in and lovingly pressed his muzzle to hers. They exchanged a brief, pleasant kiss unique to them...



He slowly separated from her. "... Thank you for saving me," he whispered.



"Metal..." Amy heavily blushed. She brought her hands to his face and lifted herself to give him another kiss.



"... The man said that. Not me."



She giggled. "What did the paladin do, then?"



"She gave him a gaze that ignited every bit of life within him. She embraced him and kissed him back, uncaring about the black ash that smeared on her armor. What happened afterwards, no one knows. Did Green Valley return to its former glory, or did the man continue his devastation in other ways? Were they always going to fight against the conjurings of the summoner? Those who passed this story down could only guess... But considering present-day, I don't believe the man missed his time as a dragon."



"I like to think they got married and tackled every problem that came their way."



Metal tilted his head and brushed his claw under her chin. "Maybe they did," he softly replied. "... I am done with the story. Now you will go to bed and I will bring you soup."



Amy joyfully laughed, then interrupted herself with another cough. "Okay, okay~" She got out of his hold and stepped towards the bedroom. Metal got up after her and went to check on the food.



She stopped at the doorway and took a moment to look at him. He surely was devastatingly handsome...



"I await your cute, formerly scaly butt," she teased, then finally disappeared into the bedroom.



Metal briefly turned around... He was pleased she finally went back to bed. He focused on the soup again and got a bowlful for her.



Amy settled in bed just in time for Metal to deliver her a nice, hot meal. "Yay, thank you!"



"You do seem to have a bit more energy after your nap. Your illness should fade away before too long," Metal said with a confident nod.



"It's because you're so good to me," she purred back. "I do have a question, though."



"Yes?"



"The paladin had friends, right?"



Metal sat in bed with her once again. "Yes, she did. I imagine they weren't very fond of the man since his actions as the dragon were not forgotten."



Amy grinned. "I'm sure he wasn't very fond of them, either."



"Certainly not. They were all incredibly annoying and insignificant. But... the paladin's belief in others, regardless of how they were or where they came from, was one of her most beautiful traits. Her face was, also."



She laughed again with a deep blush. "Aw... I loved your story, Metal. I hope more gets discovered in the archives one day."



"Maybe... We'll have to see what happens next."