Epic of Caterpillar

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And once Michael finished her prayers, she quickly dug in!

"Hmm! It's very… really good! I haven't eaten meat in so long… We mostly had fish or lamb back in heaven," she explained. "But this type of red meat has such a strong flavor, and the seasonings you added are perfect as well, Frank!"

"Thank you," Frank smiled. "It was nothing too big though, just normal stuff anybody can do… Ah right, let's try the burgers- Oh."

He noticed Ruby and Onyx staring at them with baby eyes, as if begging them to share more…

Ruby was openly drooling with her jaws open and her tongue out, while gasping loudly.

"Okay, okay, you can have some more…"

Frank quickly gave Ruby a big, juicy steak, which was only slightly cooked, and Onyx got more bones with meat on them, his favorites.

And then, Frank saw something very interesting.

FLUOSH!

Ruby used her fire breath to cook the meat until the point she wanted, and then she started eating it, it was so tender, she really enjoyed it, even if it was a bit crisp like charcoal outside.

"Dragons tend to cook their prey before eating it, did you know? Their fire is not just an attack mechanism," explained Michael. "Young dragons like her tend to still have underdeveloped, weak stomachs, so they would sometimes cook their meat before eating, she already ate raw meat, so she decided to go for cooked meat now."

"Oh… the more you know I guess," Frank nodded. "Hmm?! The burger's great… It's so tender, really nice! Well done Michael."

"Thank you! As you said, I just did something normal," Michael smiled, as she finished her sandwich. "It was delicious… I wish there was some wine to go with this though, it would be perfect."

"I have some soda, right… here," Frank opened his inventory, bringing out to cola-flavored soda cans.

"Soda…? What's this?" Michael asked. "I don't remember such a thing…"

"Soda is a sweet drink that is carbonated," Frank explained to her. "Try it out! I'm sure you'll like it."

"Hmm…" Michael drank some of it after Frank opened the can for her, as she was also clueless how to do that. "Ohh? T-The bubbles are in my tongue? It's… weird? Hmm… gulp, gulp… burp- Ah! I'm sorry…" Michael covered her mouth in embarrassment.

"Hahaha! It's fine, it's your first time drinking soda after all," Frank said. "It's great with hamburgers, honestly."

"Hmm, you're right…" Michael nodded. "So tasty! Humanity's food has only improved over the years, I am truly in awe… Ah! It was a good meal. There's lots of meat left, right?"

After they finished their meal, they sat down over the chairs, enjoying the sunlight, it seemed day and night were inverted from here and outside.

While the real world was at night, this world was at day!

"Yeah…" Frank nodded. "I wouldn't have been able to do any of this without your help, I owe you a lot, thanks Michael."

"It's nothing, Frank… we'll be together from now on too, perhaps… forever? So let's get comfortable with each other." Michael smiled, without realizing how these words could be interpreted.

"F-Forever…?" Frank skipped a beat for a second but calmed himself down. "A-Ah, yeah…"

"She's an angel you idiot! Why are you even getting happy and excited about that?" He thought, sighing.

"Huh? What's wrong? Are you feeling alright, Frank?" Michael touched his hand with her much bigger hands. And then his forehead. "Hmm, you don't have a fever, but you seem tired, you should go back to your bed for the moment."

"I-I know, yeah, thanks…" Frank nodded. "Wait… how do we return to begin with?"

"Ah, yes, simply will it, and you can open a portal back home," said Michael.

"Will it?" Frank wondered, as he suddenly saw a blue portal appear.

FLUOSH!

"It works… Alright Ruby, Onyx, you two should come back…"

Frank called them, but the two wanted to explore the island some more.

"I don't think it's safe to leave them here, what do you think?"

"Hmm, Ruby might end up hunting a few too many monsters, yeah, it wouldn't be safe for the creatures here."

"Alright, Ruby, don't be unruly… Come back."

Frank's decision was made, and Ruby reluctantly walked back towards her owner.

Onyx did the same, rolling over the grass like a slimy ball.

Once he was back inside his room, he checked his house, scanning it with his aura.

His parents were sleeping, Kamei was playing in her phone… again.

"Should I go tell her to turn that phone off? Maybe taking it away would work… Ahhh, but she's going to make a fuss about it. Can't I make her sleep somehow?"

"A sleep-inducing spell would work… Is your sister having trouble sleeping?"

"She's gotten obsessed with a phone game she doesn't stop playing… at night."

"Hmm, that's indeed not good… Sleeping is important. Let me handle this."

"Michael?!"

Frank was surprised as Michael trespassed the walls in her ethereal form, reaching Kamei and gently caressing her head, making the girl fall asleep.

Her phone was luckily connected to the charger, and once she stopped interacting with it, the apps closed automatically to save battery.

"And it's done."

"What did you do?"

"I used a Sleeping Spell, I often used them on people that was wounded, so they wouldn't suffer while being healed. It shouldn't last forever; she'll wake up naturally as always."

"That's nice, thank you Michael, can you do that every night? I really don't want her to stay up too late."

"Sure, unruly children need their sleep! I won't go easy on her because she's a child either. Strict education is important for the future of a child after all."

"…I guess so."

Frank didn't agree too much with her, but he didn't want to argue either.

And once he washed his teeth, he finally walked to his comfortable bed, Ruby cuddling with him and even Onyx sleeping over his head.

Michael remained in silence, watching the city through the windows.

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