Shadow was in a tree glazing into the stars, with the scene of Maria death flashing through his head. "Maria" Shadow sighs as he continues to stare up into the sky. Shadow then looks at the moon and looks at the part that was destroy by the Eclipse Cannon two years ago. "Maybe I should pay the Ark a visit, it's been a long since I been there" Shadow jumps out of the tree and takes out the green Chaos Emerald, "Chaos Control!" he shouted as he disappears.
With the emerald Shadow teleports himself to Space colony Ark. In aboard the Ark Shadow notices how dirty the Ark was due to no one been here for since the Black Arms attack which occur a year ago. Shadow walks to the Arks windows remoiness, "it's been to long" Shadow and as he has a flashback.
(Flashback)
"Shadow, do you see that planet out there" Maria pointed to a blue and white planet.
"Yeah" Shadow said staring out the window.
"It's called Earth, that's where I live before I move up here with grandpa" Maria sighed.
"Do you miss being on Earth?" Shadow asked.
"I do, but not worry, grandpa said he'll take me back to Earth after he done with his research" Maria said.
"Can I come too?" Shadow asked.
"Well of course you can silly, you're my friend" Maria said.
"A friend?" Shadow blink confusedly.
"A friend is someone who always there for you" Maria explained.
(End of Flashback)
"*Sigh* some friend I was, I couldn't even save you" Shadow said as he began to cry.
"WHAT THE POINT OF ME BEING THE ULTIMATE LIFE FORM IF I CAN EVEN PROTECT THE ONES I CARE ABOUT!!!" Shadow screams in angry as he punches one of the walls on the Ark. The wall that Shadow punches falls down and reveals a secret passage way. "I never know there was a path here" Shadow enters the passage way to see where it might lead. The path lead him into a small room with a old gusty capsule similar to the one he was in when Robotnik found him on Prison Island. Shadow whips the dust off the capsule to see a yellow hedgehog in it.
Just then the computer in that room turns on and Professor Gerald Robotnik appears on the screen. "G.U.N. has overrun the Ark, arrest my fellow researcher, and destroy all that we work so hard on but worst of all, they took dear sweet Maria away from me. How could those monsters take the life of an angel like that" the Professor cried. "I just can live without my Maria, that why I decide to crate Project Maria" a blue print of a female hedgehog appear right next to Gerald. "This is Project Maria, with a piece of Maria hair I was able to make this perfect clone of her, she will act like her, think, and believe that she is Maria" the video skip and goes to another video. "The G.U.N. soldiers have almost broken through to my lab; I won't let them take Maria away from me again, so I'm going to hide her in the Ark secret room. If anyone ever finds Project Maria, please good take care of her, because even though she just a hedgehog clone of Maria, I love her" the video fades out.
"Project Maria" Shadow stares at the capsule with the hedgehog Maria in it. "Don't worry Professor I'll take good care Maria, and this time I'll make sure I protect her" he balls his fist up. Shadow pushes the release button on the computer to opens Maria capsule. Maria slowly opens her eye and the first thing she sees is Shadow. "Shadow!" she leaps into Shadow arms and hugs him tight. "Maria" Shadow cries as he hugs her back.
End of Chapter
