Amy Rose | Stronger than she looks...

The arcade had gone completely silent.

Not mostly silent.

Completely.

The kind of silence where even the blinking lights and electronic music suddenly seemed to feel inappropriate.

Sonic stood frozen beside Shadow, his mouth hanging slightly open.

Shadow's crimson eyes were wide.

And standing in front of the now-destroyed punching machine was Amy.

The machine's punching bag had been launched clean off its mount. The metal frame was bent inward, the screen was flickering wildly, and a few unfortunate pieces of plastic had scattered across the floor.

Amy blinked.

She looked at the machine.

Then at her fist.

Then back at the machine.

"...Oops."

She gave an awkward, sheepish smile.

Slowly, she turned toward {{user}}, who was still holding her bracelet.

"Um... Can I have that back?"

{{user}} handed it over.

Amy immediately slipped the bracelet back around her wrist.

The second it clicked into place, the atmosphere somehow became less threatening.

Sonic slowly pointed toward the ruined machine.

"That..."

He swallowed.

"...was with the bracelet OFF?"

Amy nodded innocently.

"Yeah."

Shadow stared at her.

"And you normally wear that bracelet?"

"Uh-huh."

"What does it do?"

Amy smiled.

"It suppresses my strength."

Sonic's ears immediately perked up.

"Suppresses."

Amy nodded.

"Yep."

Shadow slowly looked at Sonic.

Sonic slowly looked back.

Neither spoke for several seconds.

Then they both looked at Amy.

Shadow's expression became unusually serious.

"Remind me never to get you to a point where you take those things off."

Sonic nodded immediately.

"Agreed."

Amy tilted her head.

"You two are being weird."

"We're being alive," Sonic replied.

Shadow gave a slow nod.

"Precisely."

Amy giggled.

"You guys are so dramatic."

Sonic looked back at the destroyed punching machine.

"Yeah. Dramatic."

Shadow looked at the bent metal.

"Extremely."

They left the arcade shortly afterward.

And somehow, the incident completely changed Sonic and Shadow's behavior.

---

Later...

Amy walked through the front door of the house.

"Man, that was fun!"

She kicked her shoes off and stretched.

Sonic immediately appeared from the kitchen.

"Welcome home!"

Amy blinked.

"Uh... Thanks?"

Behind Sonic came Shadow.

"Your usual seat is ready."

Amy looked toward the couch.

There was a blanket neatly folded across it.

A pillow had been fluffed.

A glass of water sat on the table.

Amy stared.

"...What?"

Sonic smiled nervously.

"Nothing!"

Shadow crossed his arms.

"Absolutely nothing."

Amy slowly sat down.

Sonic immediately adjusted the blanket over her legs.

"Comfortable?"

"Yeah..."

"Good!"

Shadow walked into the kitchen.

"I prepared snacks."

Amy's eyes widened.

"You made snacks?"

Shadow looked away.

"Yes."

Sonic whispered, "He burned his hand making them."

Shadow glared at him.

"I said nothing about that."

Amy giggled.

"You guys are treating me like a queen."

Sonic froze.

Shadow froze.

They exchanged another glance.

Then Sonic smiled.

"Well..."

Shadow nodded.

"You've earned it."

Amy laughed.

"You two are ridiculous."

Sonic returned to the kitchen.

"I'm making dinner!"

Amy's smile widened.

"Really?"

"Yep!"

Shadow immediately followed him.

"I'll assist."

Amy watched them disappear around the corner.

A moment later, she heard:

"Shadow, that's not how you chop vegetables!"

"I know how to chop vegetables."

"You're holding the knife upside down."

"..."

Amy covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.

---

Dinner was somehow even stranger.

Sonic had cooked.

Shadow had helped.

And Amy had been given the largest plate.

"Why do I have so much food?" Amy asked.

"You need to eat," Sonic said.

Shadow nodded.

"Your body requires adequate nutrition."

Amy stared at them.

"...Are you guys okay?"

"Perfectly fine," Sonic said.

Shadow nodded.

"Never better."

Amy narrowed her eyes.

"You're afraid of me."

Both hedgehogs immediately looked offended.

"What?!" Sonic exclaimed.

"Absolutely not," Shadow said.

Amy raised an eyebrow.

Sonic avoided eye contact.

Shadow looked at the ceiling.

Amy crossed her arms.

"...You're afraid of me."

Sonic sighed.

"Okay, maybe a little."

Shadow corrected him.

"A healthy amount of respect."

"Sonic."

"Yeah?"

"She's terrifying."

"I KNOW."

Amy burst out laughing.

"You guys are unbelievable!"

She reached over and affectionately patted Sonic's head.

Sonic stiffened.

Then she patted Shadow's head.

Shadow's entire body went rigid.

Amy smiled.

"See? I'm not scary."

Sonic smiled nervously.

"Of course not."

Shadow nodded.

"Completely harmless."

Amy stood up.

"Anyway, I'm going to grab something from upstairs."

She walked away.

The moment she was out of earshot, Sonic leaned toward Shadow.

"...She could probably punch through a wall."

Shadow nodded.

"Possibly reinforced steel."

"Think she knows?"

"No."

Sonic sighed.

"Good."

Shadow glanced toward the staircase.

"Whatever you do, don't make her angry."

"I wasn't planning on it."

"Good."

A pause.

"Want to race?"

"Later."

"Why?"

"Because if we wake her up tomorrow, she might take the bracelet off."

Sonic slowly nodded.

"...Fair."

---

The next morning, Amy walked downstairs.

She found Sonic cooking breakfast.

Shadow was cleaning the living room.

The laundry was folded.

Her shoes had been neatly placed by the door.

Even her favorite mug was waiting on the table.

Amy stopped.

She stared.

Then she smiled.

"You guys are really treating me like a princess now, aren't you?"

Sonic glanced over.

"Princess?"

Shadow looked up from cleaning.

"Queen."

Sonic nodded.

"Definitely queen."

Amy laughed.

"You know, I could get used to this."

Sonic and Shadow immediately exchanged looks.

Shadow whispered:

"She likes it."

Sonic whispered back:

"We're never escaping this."

Amy sat down at the table, completely unaware that two of the fastest and strongest beings in the world had collectively decided that keeping her happy was their highest priority.

And honestly?

Neither of them was willing to test what happened if they didn't.