==ARTIST'S NOTES==

This is a fan-made story of Shadow's 'real' past.

Ever wonder what would happen if Shadow was attullay human on the ARK?

The True story of Shadow

It has been a few years since Shadow discovered the truth about his past, and everything on earth has been peaceful

Eggman hasn't made any plots to take over the world. But Shadow just can't seem to get a few things off his mind, and therefore he finds himself back on the ARK once again.

"Why. Why can't I seem to put the past behind me!" He started, as he walked across the ARK's hallways. "I've tried but every time I close my eyes I see the G.U.N's patrols swarming in and seeing Maria's face as she sends me to earth..." Shadow turned to go inside of Maria's room; he remembered some of this... Where they used to mostly be. He sighed.

"I just can't seem to make since of anything anymore is there something I'm missing about WHAT CAN IT BE." Shadow yelled as he slams his fist into the side off the wall hard. It caused a crack on the wall, and then pieces of the wall crumble. A book falls out of the hole and lands right near Shadow, he curiously saw the title. 'Maria's Diary'. "What's this" He said picking up the book, he opened up a page, and a photo was in one of the pages, he slid the picture out of the book, trying to be careful not to rip it while doing so. He looked at the picture carefully, it was a group picture...It was all black and white. So probably from the time Maria was from. He looked at the picture more; the picture seemed to be of Maria, Gerald Robotink, and some other guys he didn't know. But he knew they were workers at the labs, but there was one guy who really stood out. That seemed...Familiar somehow….

"Who is that?" Shadow asked, looking more at the picture, seeing more details of the guy. He looked like- "No it can't be is. Is this…me?" He asked himself. The boy looked so much like him! The hair was black and red, not exactly like his. He wore clothing, similar to his body. White fur on the end of his collar, and red tips on the end of his sleeves, like on his arms.

"No this is impossible! I was created as a hedgehog! I was never human or was I…" He looked at himself in a mirror in Maria's room, and then looked at the photo in his hand. "No this can't be true…What happened to me? In this book…Could this hold some of my true past…" Shadow began tp read, he was determined to find out something about his past!

"This must be Maria's diary so everything I about being created is a lie but how all I can do now is read to find out..."

"Dear Diary,

Today Grandfather tested out his new machine he's been trying to get to work for a while I told him maybe he should hire someone to help him out he says he doesn't trust anyone with his

Projects except the workers he trust I just hope he gets someone one day who can knows a lot about machines to help"

Maria walked down the hallway of the ARK, all was really normal. Nothing too weird, her grandfather was working on a new invention, and everyone was helping. He closest friend Ty ran up to her, he lived in the ARK with his father, but his father unfourtnally died on a illness, so now; he lives here on the ARK with Maria, since she was like a sister to him.

"Hey Maria! Where you heading?" Ty asked giving off a smile, he was younger then Maria, so he had to look up at Maria while talking to her. "I'm going to check on grandfather, he's been getting so frustrated lately!" Maria started, she was often worried about her grandfather mostly ALL the time! "I'm hoping he just doesn't work too hard, he was up all night last night trying to get that machine to work…" She said as she bit her lip, worried that the machine might hurt him. And even worse, kill him… "Has he mentioned what it does yet?" Ty asked, being a curious little kid. "Not yet, I'm hoping he does soon, I'm just DYING to know!" She said being somewhat impatient, she just wanted to see the thing her grandfather was working on. He never told her what it was, or basically, or anything was really. "Maybe we could get it out of Doctor Draco," Ty said snickering a little bit. "Maybe," Maria started to think about it, but considered not to do that, "But I doubt it he's his most trusted worker!" "I'm sure we could get it out of someone if we keep asking!" Ty pleaded Maria to go with it, cause he REALLY wanted to know! So badly! Maria sighed and smiled at T. "Your right. We just have to keep trying then," She said right before she heard something in the background.

CRASH! Ty and Maria looked towards the lab; there was smoke coming from the lab! Maria gasped as she started to run to the lab, Ty looked worried and started to follow alongside her. They both ran into the lab, where Professor Gerald and his workers were working. When they got into the room, they saw a small fire on the machine. Wasn't too big, but wasn't too small either, but it was quickly put out by one of the workers.
"Grandfather is everything OK?" Maria asked running up to him, she looked like she was about to cry, she was much worried about him! He didn't look hurt, or dying. But she was still worried! "I told you not to come in here when we're working!" Gerald rubbed his head and looked at Maria. Maria looked down in quite sadness, "But I wanted to see if you were ok…" She said as she looked up at her Grandfather with sorrowful eyes. He sighed roughly, he didn't want to yell at his only granddaughter, "Well I'm fine," He said. "You still didn't get that thing work all that!" Maria started, "Thing is going to do is get you killed!"

"Well if it happens it happens there would be nothing I can do about! Now leave the lab!" Gerald commanded his granddaughter, but Maria folded her arms in a grumpyish way,
"No grandfather!" She replied, "Why can't you just find someone who know more about mechanical work!"

"I don't need anyone but my own workers!" He started to yell at Maria, not loudly. But he was going to start. "Now leave my sight at once!" Maria looked tough, but that face soon turned to sorrow, she covered it up by turning her head, "Fine! I will!" She yelled as she ran out of the room with Ty following right beside her.

"Professor Gerald!" Doctor Draco came running over to Doctor Gerald, helping him up onto his feet. Draco is one of Doctor Gerald's finest and most trusted workers, he's been working on the ARK for years with Doctor Gerald. "Is everything alright?" He asked worried like. "No not everything is alright, I keep making Maria worry about me with this invention!" He said pointing to the machine that they were working on, which seemed to be out of order now…"I don't know what is wrong with it…I've made harder inventions, but I just think something is missing…" He said shaking his head, sighed roughly. He looked at the door, where Maria went off to,
"Maybe Maria is right, maybe I need someone who can help with the machine work…" He turned to Draco, "I think it's time to hire another worker" He said. "Do you need me to help find anyone?" He asked reaching for a pencil in his pocket to write about this, But Gerald shook his head, making Draco put the pencil back in his pocket.
"No I think I can do this on my own..."

Maria ran into her room, she jumped into her bed, she laid her head onto the pillow; with her head in the pillow. She groaned and kicked her feet a little, not roughly, but she kept at it.
Ty walked into the room and sat next to her on the bed, he looked worried about her. She seemed depressed… "Are you ok Maria?" He asked patting her back. Maria stopped kicking, knowing Ty was now in the room. "No I'm not!" She lifted her head to see Ty, she sighed again. "I can't stand seeing grandfather like this! He's always angry over his stupid inventions lately! Sometimes I feel like he's taking it out on me…" She said her voice raised while yelling, but got quieter as she got depressed. "He's not taking it out on you Maria…" Ty started, "He's just afraid of you thinking he's a failure, he's usually able to work with machines he just having a little trouble, and he doesn't want you to be disappointed!" He paused, he looked at Maria. Who seemed still depressed about it. He patted her back, "You see him as an amazing inventor…He just doesn't want to let you down is all…"
Maria looked at Ty, she closed her eyes for a bit to think, "I guess your right he's does get a little upset when I ask how things are going…So he hesitates to answer them he's working so hard…" Maria suddenly got an idea in mind! She smiled as she got it. "Maybe I shouldn't ask about it for a while! Then when it's done, I can ask all the questions I want!" She said grinning in delight now! "Yeah! So I guess I shouldn't bother him for a while either! I'm always peaking in on the experiments he gets so ticked off but it's funny!" Maria laughed a little bit, and so did Ty, happy to see her happy now. Ty looked up at a clock in the room, he noticed the time. "Oh! I got to go, so I'll see you later Maria!" He said jumping off the bed and going out of the room. Waving good-bye to Maria, Maria waved back to him. "Ok! Bye Ty!" She exclaimed, she rested her head back onto the pillow. She smiled softly. She was going to make her grandfather happy, so they don't have to worry about eachother…
She sighed, and fell asleep…

Next morning, Maria woke up with Ty jumping on top of the bed and yelling excitingly at Maria.
"Wake up Maria!" He exclaimed happily as he kept on jumping. Maria rubbed her eyes still being tired, "W..What's going on?" She asked lifting her head to see Ty better. "Professor Gerald wants to see you!" He said jumping off the bed, he went off to the opening of the door. Maria yawned loudly and waved her hand. "Ok, I'll be there in a minute.." She yawned and shooed him away so she could get ready. "Ok! See you there!" Ty exclaimed running off to the lab.
Maria got up out of bed, she walked over and got herself dressed, out of her nightclothes, and into her regular day clothes. She brushed her hair quickly, knowing she had to get there soon, and put on her shoes. She started going off, out of her room, and to the lab. She rushed into see Ty, Her grandfather, and some workers. They were all standing around something, or someone? "You wanted to see me ?" Maria asked him.
"Yes Maria…" He started looking at Maria, "I know you've been worried about with my new invention, but you won't have to worry about that anymore! I took your advice and hired someone who knew about mechanical issues. Maria I would like you to meet Shadow," Professor Gerald moved away, to reveal a younger boy, just about Maria's age. He looked…strange. "From what I've heard from everyone he's the one you need when you're having trouble with machines," Professor Gerald said.
Maria had no clue of what to think of Shadow, he seemed a little weird to her…he seemed a little imitating, and she's never seen anyone wear some much black before! "Hello Shadow. It's nice to meet you," Maria said smiling kindly. "And I guess it's nice to meet you to," Shadow said, seeming a bit annoyed about it, he folded his arms after saying that. Maria looked at Shadow, a bit annoyed at his tone of his voice when talking back.
"So shadow where did you come from?" Ty asked, becoming very curious about Shadow and what he does. "The earth." Shadow said, not giving out any location. Just, 'The Earth'. Ty just look at him
"Shadow…um so I heard you know a lot about machinery type stuff," Ty said trying to give off a smile at Shadow, but he just glared at him. "Well then you heard right, I can fix mostly any machine…" He said, seeming so proud of himself.
"So does that mean you can help the professor with his invention?"
"Of course it does well."

"I'll believe it when I see it…" Maria gave Shadow a very challenging look, like she wanted to fight him.
"You'll see very soon Mary," He said, getting her name wrong, making Maria ticked off now.
" ITS MARIA"
"Yeah whatever,"
Shadow walked past Maria, he smirked. Looking all cocky like. Maria stuck out her tongue at him.
"I can't believe that guy! What a jerk!" She started to complain, as she started walking away. Ty followed close beside. "Why couldn't Grandfather hire someone normal why he have to get that…thing!"
"I think you should give him a chance Maria…" Ty said trying to get Maria to calm down.
Maria sighed, "I guess your right, I'll try to get along with him…" Maria said, also thinking to herself 'But the good thing is if the machine blows up it will be shadow caught in the blast not grandfather'

In the lab Gerald, Doctor Draco, and Shadow are hovering around the machine trying to figure out how to get it to work, they seemed puzzled, and worried that it might blow up. "Yesterday we got it to work but it seems like the power supply isn't strong enough," Doctor Draco said trying to give Shadow some information about the machine.
"I'm going to take out the old power supply unit and build another one" Shadow said, looking at the Doctors. "Why? That's the strongest we can get," Professor Gerald said, questioning Shadow.
"I've been experimenting with smaller machines with a power unit sort of like," Shadow said pointing to the machine, "This. I had trouble find something strong enough to power it, but then I got my hands on one of these!" Shadow pulled a gem out of his pocket, it was a green gem, glowing brightly. "That's a CHAOS EMERALD!" Doctor Draco shouted, they were very rare! He wondered how he found one of those!
"How did one of those?" Doctor Draco asked, looking at the glowing chaos emerald. "It wasn't easy," Shadow said smirking proudly. "After months of building, I've been able to finally make inventions powered by the chaos emerald! It can power anything!" Shadow looked over at Doctor Draco, "Draco take out the old unit, shadow make a new emerald powered one! We'll finally get this up and running in within a couple of days!" Doctor Gerald exclaimed excitingly.

Maria was chasing Ty through the ARK. Maria always enjoyed playing with Ty in the Ark, kept her mind off of the invention and her grandfather.
"I'm going to catch you Ty!" Maria exclaimed trying to grab Ty, but he kept on running away from Maria quickly. "I'd like to see you try! You aren't fast enough!" Ty was faster than Maria, but Maria was determined to catch Ty this time!
Ty ran through the hallway, and when Maria ran after him she bumped into something! She fell to the floor and looked up and saw she ran into…
"Shadow! Oh I'm so sorry!" Maria said getting up, brushing herself off while apologizing.
"Why don't you watch where you're going!" Shadow glared at Maria as she got up, he wasn't too happy about her running into him..
"I'm sorry I was chasing Ty!" She kept apologizing,
" I should been watching where I should have been watching where I was going," He said mockingly. "This isn't a playground you know!"
"Of course I know!"
"Then stop acting like it is!"
Ty ran walked down the hallway and saw Maria and Shadow yelling at each other, he was confused at why they were yelling at each other.
"Maria what's going on?" He asked rubbing his arm, worried he was also going to get yelled at.
"It's SHADOW! He's being a jerk AGAIN!" Maria said turning to Shadow again as she yelled.
"Umm…Shadow maybe you should try beging a little nicer to Maria, She's been here longer then you she knows more about this place," Ty said, trying to get them to stop fighting. It didn't seem to be working too much…
"Don't tell me what to do squirt!" He yelled turning to Ty angrily. "You think I'm not going to have a kid tell me what do!"
Ty stared at shadow looking like he wanted to attack him…
"HEY! Don't yell at him you haven't even been here for a full day and your already causing trouble!" Maria grabbed Shadow's collar, making him turn towards her.
"You're the one who wanted your grandfather to hire someone Mary!" He slapped her hand away from him, glaring at her.
"IT'S MARIA! Forget it!" She turned to Ty "I tried give him a chance but he just has no heart it all he cares about no one but himself!" Maria yelled before running away with tears running down her eyes. Ty tried to run after her, but tripped and looked at her run away. "Maria Wait!" He yelled trying to get her to stop, but she wouldn't...
"Jeez, what's her problem…" Shadow said crossing her arms.
Ty turned to Shadow in anger once he got up. "How could you just sit there in act like a jerk in front of her for NO reason! I told her she should give you a chance, but I don't think you deserve it any more!" Ty yelled angrily at him,
"Ok then do you want me to do?"
" I think you should go apologize to Maria! At least think about it! Maria's never really had anyone but her grandfather! She's been alone half of her life!" He said looking where Maria went off to. "I think you should be friendlier or just don't talk to her anymore! I HATE seeing her upset if you make her cry any more you'll be sorry!" He said, seeming like he was going to turn into an angry animal and attack him! Shadow opened his eyes wide in surprise, Ty had a look in his eyes full of anger he may be young but that look freaked Shadow out a little bit!
Shadow just walked away, he did start to feel a little guilty about upsetting Maria…
As he's walking down the hall in his all he could think about was what Maria said to him…
'You don't care about anyone but yourself'
It seemed like it just kept on echoing through his head, just until he couldn't take it anymore!
He walked to Marias room and knocked on the door "WHO IS IT?" Maria shouted loudly, in her voice you could tell she was still crying.
"Its Shadow," He said kind of calmly. He knew he couldn't get her to calm down, not after the fight they got into.
"GO AWAY! I don't want to see you anymore!"
"Maria I'm... I'm sorry for yelling at you…I know I can't make you forgive me, but I would really like if you could somehow…" Shadow said, he sounded kind of sad.
Maria opened the door slightly all he could see was half of her face. She didn't say anything, just look at him.
"Maria I'm really sorry for yelling at you, this is all new to me…I really don't know how to be social with a lot of people..."
Maria looked at him, he seemed like he was getting sad. She sighed quietly. So he wouldn't hear her.

"Like you, I was alone most of my life. I always felt like an outsider around people I've never really had any friends I've just always been so full of anger…" Shadow clenched his fist and looked at the door. "I take it out of the wrong people,"
"Well for half of my life I was alone, I was so young when my parents died I can't even remember being on earth...My grandfather raised me up here on the ark. I don't even remember what is looks life down on earth anymore, since I could never go down there anymore…" She said opening the door, to show all of her now.
"Wow that sounds awful…" Shadow looked at her, "I guess I could try to forgive you but it will take time, I haven't talked to a new person in a long time, So I'm just so used to friendly people that I don't know how to handle people with a slightly different personality's…" He said looking up at her face now.
"I'm sorry for yelling at you too. Maybe we could try to get along and be friends," Maria said smiling a warmly at him.
"I guess we could try," Shadow looked up at Maria's smile, and gave off a small smile.
"So shadow I just have one question," She started; "What's with all the black?"
Shadow looked Maria with a sarcastic look and said "What's with all the blue?"
Maria looked at him smiling and they both started laughing at each other.

AUTHOR'S NOTE;

If you're wondering who Ty is; He's the Sargent from Shadow the Hedgehog (the Game)

and Doctor Draco is a FC/OC on the ARK