The cage opened, and to the shock of Androcles, the very same lion he had rescued emerged from the door. He did not growl at Androcles, he just sat there and cleaned his fur.

"KILL HIM!" The Emperor boomed while chewing on a large leg of cooked mutton.

Androcles could only state in disbelief, yet he walked towards the lion.

The Emperor took another chunk of mutton in his mouth and greedily watched as Androcles raised his sword.

The lion looked up at Androcles, then started to purr and rub against his body, eventually falling asleep for a moment.

The Emperor gasped, along with everyone else who was watching. His chunk of mutton he'd bitten off fell to the floor with a splat, and he cleared his throat. How could this man be friends with such a wild beast? And why?

He couldn't let Androcles kill the lion.

"STOP THE FIGHT!" The Emperor boomed. "I ORDER YOU!"

The Emperor quickly ran down to Androcles, who'd dropped his sword to the ground.

"My boy..." the Emperor asked, approaching Androcles. "What is your name?"

"Androcles." The man introduced.

"Androcles," the Emperor said. "Today, you have enlightened me. You have shown me the impossible. You have shown me that friendship is stronger than any battle tactics or weapons, and for that, I shall pardon you. You will live here in my palace with your lion and teach me your ways.."

Androcles smiled, the lion gave a huge lick to his and the Emperor's faces.

"I'd be more than honored to do so, sir!" Androcles exclaimed.

And so, young Androcles and the lion lived out the rest of their days in the palace. Their behavior towards each other even taught the usually grim, unkind Roman Empire to be a little more kind towards each other and their allies!

End.