Last chapter, King Metallica's  memories of his first pals concluded. They ended with him accidentally destroying and sinking the island he ruled, which occured after he tried to defeat invaders using his Emperor form. He then chose to forget about the place entirely due to him blaming his citizens for the catastrophy...

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253 years into the future, in Amandeath and Metallic's anonymous motel room...

Metallic's P.O.V.

I slowly open my eyes, I suppose I closed them in the first place... but... wow. I can't believe I chose to forget about a mistake of mine as horrid as that...

"...Heeey, you're back... find anything handy in that, that metal head of yours?"  I hear... right Amandeath say from close by, just how long was I out for? It matters not, this disgusting guilt in my chest must be addressed first. I'll tell her the truth... but I can't even bare to look at her right now.

"Handy to some extent I suppose. I do know that since the day I gained sentience 253 years ago, I've never known my purpose. Also- even back then... I've always had a need for citiz- no, pals! Yes, whenever I was left without pals I felt a... awful feeling inside of my chest. So maybe you were right- I might just be programmed to help people. Either way, that must be why I've always had pals throughout my life- and why I unconditionally loved them so much..." I say as I rub the carpeted floor that's beneath me.

"Crap- you're old as shit... I mean that is pretty cool I guess. Anyways... I know this may not be the best time to ask- but isn't 200 and whatever years ago about when that island suddenly vanished? What was it called... Demosri? Yeah, that's it, learned about it back in school during history. So how did people react to that, any clues as to how it happened or-"

"I happened." I interrupt, which makes Amandeath stay quiet...

"That was the very island I woke up on- and that I ruled my first set of pals on. Which consisted of the entire island... and using the Emperor, I accidentally destroyed and sunk... everything... and even worse, I blamed it on THEM! That's why I made myself forget about that place- and how I was able to do that." I explain to her as I continue to look down at the floor, seeing my currently bronze hands in front of me. What have I become... I'm a disgrace to my Kings... are they my kings anymore?

"Hoooooooooly shit... that was YOU? I mean- I can see HOW based on your last attack but, to sink the whole damn place? How does that even work... anyways, right I'm trying to be your therapist here. Uhhhh... oh, yeah I thought you said you always loved your "pals" even when it was obvious they didn't love ya back. What gives, why'd you blame the first ones for their deaths then? Doesn't seem like you loved them unconditionally if you're asking me." Pal #3 replies, her voice is cracky and she sounds a little off but... anyways, I'll address that later. I think she's onto something, and I am too now. About my faith in fact...

"You're right, that IS quite strange. I think I did like them but... it seems as though me killing ALL of them made an exception in my unconditional palship. ...Well what pals of mine did I love the most recently? You and Seric- PERHAPS Karia. Then Kodan, and Restroid... but now I don't know about him, due to what he said to me earlier... I can't believe what he's doing with Kodan's name now, killing innocents. ...Yashashasha! Maybe this is too much for an old bot like me to handle..." I respond, trying to act happy but- really I am feeling quite overwhelmed.

"Ya, must be tough, since you seemed to like the Red Fists and all. That Restroid guy sure was weird, kinda in a cool way I guess... wait. I just remembered something he said to you before we left... yeah it was about our bitch Karia. He said you were "blissfully ignorant" to the fact that she was the one that killed Kodan, maybe that appli-"

"Y.E.S.!!! Sorry for the interupption, maybe I should stop that- but that's it! That was why I made an "exception" back then with the people of Demosri. I am, or perhaps I may be programmed to be absurdly ignorant about the facts that hurt me the most. That's why I blamed them for what happened, and called them "betrayers"- when it was just me who was a foolish king."

I continue, "When I met my future pals from that point onward, I probably noticed that- many of them didn't like my personality. But I still needed pals... so what did I do? I fooled myself to think that they liked me back, just as much as I loved them." I say as I swing my fist to the floor, which puts a hole in it- whoops but who cares now!

Amandeath starts to slowly clap, then says, "Ignore me if you want I don't care, but yep from the stories I've heard of your other pals- nah I agree with you, that sounds spot on. Impreeeessive stuff man... so what're you gonna do with that info now? What were we originally talking about again? ...Oh right you hating Karia now yeah? On that point, her killing your criminal pal Kodan probably isn't that bad in the eyes of the Five Kings by the way. He was sure as hell going against the government after all." She finishes... no... I KNOW what I have to do now.

I place my right hand on my neck, "True- but that doesn't matter to me anymore. Whether Karia killing Kodan was... just, I'll decide myself when I see her again. But the Five Kings, I've been conflicted about my connection to them as of late and... I've decided. I will no longer be following their faith!" I declare as I finally have the strength to creakily swing my head up from the dirty ground beneath me.

On the just-as-creaky motel bed in front of me, I can see pal #3 lying and glancing down at me with her currently red, purple glasses covered eyes with a slightly open mouth. Um- does that mean she approves of my decision? I hope so... I place my hand overtop of the exposed crowns that are engraved into my unpainted neck to further prove my point.

Anyways I continue on, "Ahem! I decided to follow the Five Kings in the first place 253 years ago, solely because I thought I would always have someone to love me. Just as long as I loved them back. But... I know they don't love me back. Ever since I annihilated my first pals, I've already been damned in their eyes no doubt. From the TINSY bits of scripture I've read, forgiveness is near impossible to obtain from our lords for grave sins. And of course, my entire life has been filled with mistakes against their rules. B.U.T.! That only applies if all of their stories are accurate anyways, and so since I may already be damned I've decided to convert to... paldeology!" I say with a million quick nods as I cross my arms.

"...Hahahaha- wait what you're serious? Sooo what, you praise US as Gods instead of the Five Kings and their creators now?" Amandeath asks with an funny smirk being on her face, but she still seems off for some reason... maybe it's those drugs she bought. Anyways, back to her question about my newly discovered paldeology,

"Well I mean, technically... yes. I'll make you guys my entire universe I mean! Since I've already had plenty of life experiences, my only goal now is to be happy- and from past experience, that comes purely from being with my pals. And this time, I T.R.U.L.Y. know that you all love me too, and so I'll be fine basing my entire life on keeping you guys safe and happy! Yes, that sounds perfect- the ultimate resolution!" I say, with a massive weight being lifted off of my chest now!

"...Not to rain on your parade there bud but- you sure you wanna base your life on us? What if any of us dies before you? Would you just have no purpose? Kinda sketchy if you ask me... but. Considering you're smiling away after remembering how you destroyed your first pals, I guess you REALLY do like us so... eh. I dunno." Amandeath says which- does bring my mood down a tad bit, and so it makes me move my metal lips side to side in contemplation as I look down to the floor.

"Any of you will die over my dead body, believe me on that one. But yes... it is odd that I'm able to be happy after remembering that horrid day. Perhaps because the people of Demosri died so long ago? Or maybe I didn't feel as attached to them? But no... even then I still did like my prior pals, they just didn't like ME as much." I say as I slowly start to stand up, but boy am I noisy now and this is hard! I'll wait to stand...

"Anyways- my lack of remorse is another reason for why I'm leaving the Five Kings and their creators! I feel nothing when I kill except for if it's my pals, and I think that's for the better now. So then- I'll... somehow go knock some sense into Restroid, we get the money we need for Marlox- and then we return to our leftover pals! Who may be killed by me after some interrogation but- I highly doubt it." I say with hope as I try to slam my fists together- but my stupid new arm gets stuck instead... welp. I guess I'll have to do some more repairs soon, but anywho Amandeath replies,

"Sounds gooooood to me, but ya please lets try to avoid any nasty deaths with Seric and Karia. You'd better hope that THEY'RE ok with your resolution too by the way, you've basically just tossed away your morals now. Kinda like me. Guess you being naive isn't so bad... also. Good candy choices from yesterday by the way, haven't had Selken Jaws in years." Amandeath the T.R.A.I.T.O.R. says which makes me swing my head up, and loe and behold I can now see her holding one of my crunchy blue candies above her mouth!

"H.E.Y. those are mine nimrod, you said that if I listened to you you'd let me buy them yesterday!" I shout as I force my body to stand up and stumble towards her. But before I can arrive at the scene, Amandeath drops the candy straight into her mouth. With zero remorse!

*CLANK- CRASH!*

"Oh come on I'm hungry, happens after you pop these kinda pills... and hey you're a paldeologist now, aren't you supposed to worship us?" Pal #3 says as I fall back down to my knees next to the bed she's lying on. So THAT'S why she was acting so strangely, she's using those "drugs" she bought again... but her words still confuse me...

"Well- no- but... the religion is a work in progress! O.K. so fine, you can have one more Selken Jaw and that's it. Of course you know I would always share stuff with you guys but, I barely ever get to buy stuff from Tony's anymore so..." I come to a, fair enough conclusion... hmmm...

"Uhhhhhhhhh...... sorry but I kinda finished off the pack whe-"

"W.H.A.T.?!" I screech as I force myself to stand once more, and I use my creaky body to my advantage to flop towards Amandeath- but she rolls out of the way, dang it I'll make her throw them up if I have to!

A/N: To be continued in part 2!