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“Merry Christmas! Thank you for coming!” Amy shared a brief hug with Rouge the Bat as the older mobian arrived with a very exhausted black hedgehog, Shadow. Who had only finished a G.U.N mission that went on for an entire month. The same hedgehog held out a pink present with a red ribbon for the pink hedgehog and looked away, stuffing his hands into his coat when she took the present and thanked him.
“It was no trouble, Amy. We’re both happy to be here. Aren’t we, handsome?” The bat nudged Shadow’s shoulder with a smirk. Grinning more when Shadow’s ears pinned back and he returned her gesture with a scoff.
“Yes. Thank you for having us, Rose.” Shadow replied. His anger was not towards Amy, it never was nor ever will be. He just wished he had more time to gather himself before he was shoved into a suit and given that pink present labeled “For Rose” by the same bat that seemed to enjoy how his expression changed with Amy’s innocent face still staring at him.
Amy nodded. Directing them to the snacks and refreshments over by the kitchen. Setting her gift down underneath the Christmas tree where the other presents were placed. She had planned this Christmas party for months now, she was happy everyone was here having a good time.
Almost everyone…
Amy’s eyes skimmed over at her clock hanging on the wall. It was past 7pm, meaning whoever she was waiting for was officially late. Heading out the mudroom and opening the door to be greeted by nothing but the cold winter.
The pink hedgehog sighed, of course they wouldn’t be here. Why would they? It wasn’t exactly a good idea inviting a robot to a Christmas party whose whole mission was to destroy Sonic and the rest of her friends, including her.
“Oh Metal..” She was about to close the door. Maybe freshen up her sadden look in the bathroom before she returned back to the living room to mingle with everyone who had come, but that changed when a familiar hum came from outside.
A blue robotic figure hovered in the air, setting their feet down on the snowy ground with a soft thump. Red eyes flickering with unease until they met Amy’s shocked green ones.
They too were holding a gift. A yellow box wrapped in red ribbon.
“You made it!!” Amy rushed outside, crushing the metal robot in a hug. Metal had quick work to move the present away from being squashed by the hug, but they too were happy to see Amy. The small hums and clicks were a sign.
“I didn’t think you would! I know I had asked you during a bad time, I mean who thought asking someone to come to a party during a fight was effective?”
Metal rolled their eyes. The two were fighting one another about a month ago. Eggman had ordered Metal to deal with the “pesky pinky” before zooming off to Sonic, and just when they had pinned Amy to a corner and was ready to finish the job, the confident hedgehog asked Metal if they would be free on December 24th.
They didn’t know what really drove them to come in the first place. Metal had more things to care about than some stupid holiday that occurred once a year.
The same pink hedgehog that was talking their metal ear off was an ally of their inferior self and a threat to the Egg Empire, yet Sage, the AI daughter of their creator, somehow convinced Metal that Christmas was a special time. Many mobians and humans celebrate this holiday with their families and loved ones. It held good times and special traditions that passed by the years of those before them.
“Mainly” Sage explained, opening a file she was looking forward to skimming through, “Christmas is about giving someone something that holds love.”
L o a d i n g.
Love: Unspeakable affection. Two partners holding a deep emotion towards one another.
Example: Pink hedgehog expressive love.
Constantly hugging, smiling, talking to inferior.
Inferior.
Inferior.
Touching. H o l d i n g.
System rebooting. Please hold.
The robot wanted to shrug it off, they didn’t have anything or anyone special in their life.
Amy Rose was free to do whatever she wanted with that lowsome copy. She didn’t need them.
That was the case until the AI girl transferred one of Metal’s old memories into their system, back when it was still a new prototype.
Snow.
They had been laying there for some time. The tired engine, smashed by the red echidna, hummed drastically.
Someone tripped over them. Their damaged sensors kicked into overdrive to identify who was there.
Amy Rose, her younger self, shocked and frightened when she saw it was Metal Sonic.
Yet, she dug them out from the snow and offered to take them home.
She talked about the seasons while they were pulled along. Then to flowers, painting, and wanting to someday find someone to spend the rest of her life with.
Metal rolled their eyes.
She had slapped a red bow on them when they reached their creator’s door step, much to their dismay. They remembered glaring at the smaller hedgehog.
Then a flower was given to them. A yellow flower with red lined petals. Fragile, soft, and it held something deep in the wires and database of the robotic hedgehog.
“Merry Christmas.” Was the last thing she said to them.
Metal looked down at the hand that once held that same flower. Booting up the rest of the memory file during their free time. The rest of the memory file played out with their creator had taken the flower and tossed it to the side when they were brought in after.
They remember after being fixed, reseted, and scolded for not returning back to base sooner, they rushed back to where the flower had been tossed and picked it up. It spent the rest of the day finding something to help preserve it.
Metal found themselves returning to the spot, an old abandoned Eggbase up in Angel Island where that same flower was preserved by the prototype they were before.
Flower. Given by pink pesk- hedgehog.
Status: Testing tube 06 requires a new cartilage of blue plasma. Sealed plant’s energy stabled.
L o a d i n g.
Task: Require more blue plasma. Locate perfect container to hide and wrap testing tube for “Christmas.”
Side note: Ensure colors match that of the flower.
L o a d i n g.
Primary Objective: Return Flower.
Scanning file 0 0 0 0 1 2
If it wasn’t for how damaged they were back then, they might have tried to stop her, perhaps invite her inside. It was a long way home for her to go alone.
Scanning complete.
Task: Prepare necessary preparations for Amy Rose’s Party.
So they were now at Amy’s house. Being crushed by her hug and endless rambling about who arrived and who was with who. All for wanting to return the favor of what was years ago.
“Is that for me?” Amy paused her topic about how Silver was eying Blaze a bit too much. Now noticing Metal had a gift in their free hand.
Metal backed from the hug, nodding and holding out the gift to her.
Amy beamed with joy. Gloved hands taking the gift and cradling it close to her chest.
“Thank you, Metal. I’m not sure what to say.” She laughed when the blue robot crossed their arms and tilted their head up, knowing they were proud of themselves.
“I would say come inside, but I didn’t really…” Amy scratched the back of her quills. Her smile dropped, she might have forgotten to tell everyone that Metal may be dropping by.
Metal would sigh if they could, settling for a sharp beep.
“I know! I know!” Amy shook her head. Mentally beating her hide for not coming up with a better plan.
“We can hangout in the mudroom? Everyone else is in the living room chatting.” She offered, taking Metal’s hand when the robot agreed with a shorter beep.
The two went inside, Amy closing the door behind them and kicking off the snow in her shoes. Metal was looking at the next door that led to the living room, listening to the laughs and giggles from everyone there.
“Sorry.” Amy spoke softly, noticing Metal’s eyes lingered to the noise in the living room. Holding that familiar look she would see Shadow holding when it came to gatherings.
Metal held out their hand, showing that it wasn’t a problem.
The two remained standing, the floor and steps were wet by the snow Amy’s friends had brought in when they arrived and Amy didn’t want to get her Christmas outfit wet.
Amy’s attention went back to the present in her hand. The color choice was familiar, but she couldn’t figure it out. She turned and slightly shook the box, hearing a small clink and clang. Something nosy was inside. Maybe a bell? Or some weird Eggman thing that hopefully wasn’t a bomb or tracking device.
Her thoughts were short lived when Metal reached out and snatched the present back.
“Hey?!” Amy pouted, Metal rolled their eyes at her again. Shaking their head from side to side and giving the present back.
“Is it fragile?”
Her question was answered with a nod.
“Can I open it?”
Metal was silent. The gears in their head began to roll as they decided if that was a good idea or not.
Amy perked up when a nod was given to her again.
“I wonder what’s in-“ Amy carefully pulled the red ribbon apart. Tearing the yellow wrapping paper with ease.
A flower.
Amy gasped. Not just any flower, but the same flower she had given Metal years ago.
No wonder the choice of ribbon and wrapping paper was familiar.
The flower was sealed in a testing tube. It was beautiful. Fresh and perfect as if it was never plucked from the ground in the first place.
“Metal…I don’t know what to say.” She had to hold her breath when Metal was right in front of her. Seeing that their hands were clenched. Was Metal nervous? Amy didn’t know something as serious about eliminating Sonic from the face of the Earth could even get nervous.
“Thank you. I didn’t think you would have kept it. Gosh- that was so long ago.”
Metal released a small beep. Followed by a few more.
It sounded like a tune. One that didn’t go on for too long, but enough that Amy would find herself humming in the near future.
Amy with care, gently set the sealed flower down. Wrapping Metal Sonic into a hug. Feeling the robot tense before they too awkwardly responded back with a slow pat on her back. Making the pink hedgehog chuckle.
“You’re so bad at this.” She teased. Pulling away and looking up. A mistletoe stood above them.
“Dang it Cream.” Amy shook her head and was about to reach for the hanging plant when Metal too looked up. Trying not to laugh when Metal gave her a confused look.
“Don’t worry about it. Cream thought it would be cute to place mistletoes around here to catch the cute couples.”
Metal took another look at the plant. Skimming through files for anything it may have seen or heard from their creator before pulling up the Eggnet. Sage said it was good to “surf the web” to find things they wanted to know.
S c a n n i n g
Mistletoe; Shrub evergreen plant that grows from the top of trees. Sign of love and peace. Commonly used during Christmas to encourage partners to share a kiss.
Kiss.
S c a n n i n g.
“A little help would be nice.” Amy mumbled, standing at her tippy toes to grab the plant. She couldn’t understand why Metal got all silent now, well they can’t talk but even then they were a bit too quiet.
Before Amy could grab the plant. She was met with a harsh headbutt by the same blue robot.
“Ow!” Amy yelped. Hands reaching for her head.
Metal froze. Their own hands reaching for Amy when they picked up on someone’s voice.
“Ames? You okay? I thought I heard you scream.”
“Yeah I’m-“ Amy looked to see that Sonic was in front of her now. Her metal friend was no longer in the mudroom. “Fine…”
“Well if you’re done doing…whatever it is. Come on inside, Knuckles is about to challenge Shadow to musical chairs. It’s gonna be great!” The blue hedgehog rushed back into the living room, making sure to leave the door open for Amy.
“Okay! Just stop running around my house!” Amy sighed. Rubbing her head again before she picked up her gift from Metal. Ashamed she didn’t get to give them their gift.
“Merry Christmas, Metal.” Amy said softly. Running her finger over the sealed flower.
“We’ll see you soon.”