Chapter 1

An ebony-and-red hedgehog guided a cloaked figure down a wide, dimly-lit corridor. The only audible sounds were that of their footsteps temporarily filling the empty air. At once, they reached a door at the end of the hallway, and the unidentified figure pulled back a silk purple curtain, revealing a door. The figure reached out with delicate, unsteady hands and pushed open the entrance.

The two entered a large room. The only things inside were a small, round table, two chairs, and three candles that provided a source of light in the otherwise pitch-black room. The hedgehog and the figure made their way over to the table. The hedgehog pulled a chair out from under the table for the being, and slowly sat down in the chair opposite of his guest's. The flickering candles between them lit up their faces eerily.

Unsure of what they should say to each other, the two sat in silence for a minute, until the hedgehog finally spoke up.

"I couldn't save her."

"You couldn't, Shadow?" The being's tone was unwelcoming...and female.

The hedgehog was already irritated. He suddenly stood up in rage, wanting to leap across the table and choke her. "You dare imply that I didn't give everything I had to her? That I didn't do everything in my power to save her?!"

"You know you didn't!" The female sounded as though she were already in tears. "You were there to protect her, to keep her secure...and you..."

"...failed," Shadow finished for her. He sat back down. "Nobody needs to remind me."

"We should both be over this by now. But somehow, Shadow, we're not. It's always because of Maria." The woman coughed. "Something always goes wrong because we can't let Maria go."

His voice was barely more than a whisper. "How can you say that?"

"Shut up. You think you went through a lot? Did you ever, even once, consider what I had to go through when I found out?"

Once again, Shadow felt enraged. He clenched and unclenched his fists, in an attempt to control himself. It was all he could do right now not to flip the table over and leave this fool all by herself.

"What, is the Ultimate Life-Form out of words?" The woman chuckled, then began having a coughing fit.

Shadow felt a growl rise in his throat. "You don't know me. And no matter how much you would deny it, you didn't even know her."

The woman laughed again as she tried to fight off her coughs. "Do you even know who you are?"

Shadow stood up and began to walk out of the room. "I don't have time for your immaturity."

"Wait! I...I'm sorry. You and I both know we need to have this conversation."

"For your own sake, you don't want to mess with me right now."

"What about for Maria's sake? Don't you think she would be happy, seeing us talking, trying to make progress?"

Shadow's ear flicked. Perhaps she was right. "...I think Maria would want us to move on, not dwell on the past. I loved her, yet I failed her, and that's all there is to it. Nothing can be changed. Nothing can be erased."

"You contradict yourself. You know, I basically said what you just said only a few moments ago. Anyway, quit being hard-headed and come sit back down," the woman said.

Shadow hesitated. Would Maria truly be happy seeing the two people she cared for most in the world having a conversation? He believed she would. He turned around and glared at the woman. "Fine. But..."

"Yes?" The woman piped up. Shadow could see hope gleaming in her eyes.

"I'm doing this for her. Not for you."

A/N: Well...I just thought of this plot earlier today. I have already written the second chapter, so you won't have to wait long to read that. But anyway, I hope you liked it! Think you know who the woman is? ~PierceTheBre