—Shadow's POV—

I walked down station Square on my way to Miles's house at about 5 o'clock in the afternoon. The blue faker told me to meet him and Miles at their house because they had a 'solution for my problem'. I knew exactly what they meant, and even though I knew they didn't I deceided to go anyways. It's not like I actually had something to do. I didn't have any GUN missions this weekend (Rouge and I pony workedcon weekends because we had school during the week), Rouge was busy, and Omega was over at GUN headquarters.

I was wearing a pair of black jeans, a black T-shirts under a black leather jacket, and my usual skate shoes.

I got to Miles' house about 30 minutes later and knocked. "Sup Shadz!" greeted the blue hedgehog as soon as he opens the door. "Hello faker...and 'Shadz' isn't my name" "Well 'faker' isn't mine"

Miles came and stood beside the blue one and greeted me. "Hi Shadow...so glad you could make it" he said with a smile. "Well I didn't had anything better to do" I said. "It's not like you have a life" mumbled Sonic, but it was loud enough for me to hear. I glared at him as Miles elbowed him. "Be nice" he whispered, but he was too stubborn to listen. "Well its true!"

I had had enough of this bullshit. I hadn't cone here to get insulted! I began to make my way to the door when Miles grabbed my wrist. "Please don't leave, Shadow!" he pleaded. "Why? All Sonic's done is insult me! I am not going to put with it.." "He'll stop"

"Yeah I'll stop...I'm sorry Shadow...I've been stressed all week that's all" said the faker. I hesitated before answering. "Okay...I'll stay"

"Good" answered Miles. "So what do you want? why did you wanted me here?" I asked crossing my arms. The faker and Miles looked at each other and hesitated. "Well..." Miles started, "I invented a machine...that might be able to bring Maria back. But I need to test it." said Miles. My heart began to pump slightly faster as I heard her name. Maria...There wasn't a day when I woke up without her on my mind. I could still hear her angelic voice and I could still see her ocean-blue eyes. I even remember the first time she held my hand as we looked at Earth from the Ark. The warmth and softness of her hand...

I shook my head and tried to focus on Miles' words. "Okay. what do you need?" I asked him immediately. "A DNA sample. That's all" he replied

"NOW HOW THE F-"

"Maybe you could find some of her hair in the Space Colony Ark..or some splattered blo-...I-I mean...uh...I'm sorry" he said uneasily. At that moment all I could see and remember was blood. Maria's blood splattered on the flo-

"Shadow are you okay?" asked the idiotic blue sea urchin. "Yes...I'm fine..." I answered as I took a green chaos emerald from my quills and teleported before any of them could say anything else.

I appeared in one of the hallways of the Ark. The metal walls were slightly rusty and the glass on the othe other side and small cracks in it. But it gave me good view of the little blue planet Maria loved so much.

Someday...someday, Shadow, we'll go down to Earth up see the beautiful things that await there for us...the blue ocean, the green grass...

I walked down the hallway trying to find Maria's room, but all I could do was remember more of those precious moments.

We'll be friends forever...right Maria?

Yes Shadow...forever and e-ever

...Maria...why are you crying?

Maybe I wouldn't remember. I mean it has been years since I've been here. I stopped my tracks until I reached the dead end of the hallway. In front of me was a door 101. I thought wouldn't kill to look, so I opened the rusty metal door and walked inside. It was Maria's room. Everything was covered in dust. The closet doors, the desk, the bed and the drawers. There was nothing useful in sight, so I decided to search the drawers and found a red hairbrush. It still had some golden hair on it. I just couldn't believe my luck. Looks like I do have a good memory.

"Wow" said Miles. "I didn't actually think you would find any" he said as he put on a pair of latex gloves. "Now if you could leave the scientists alone so he can work" said the faker as he began to push me put the door. I decided to not protest and take a nap under a tree on Miles' backyard.

I heard a voice calling my name. "Shut...up...Sonic" I groaned as I tried to go back to sleep. But he wouldn't leave me alone. His ungloved hand began to rub my chest. At that moment my eyes snapped open, only to see it wasn't Sonic. It was a blond hedgehog with light blue eyes and she was wearing blue shorts and a white tank top that was too big for her. She looked so...so...

"Oh my gosh your nose is bleeding! are you okay?"

"Yeah...who are you anyway?"

She leaned closer to me and laid her hand on mine. "Don't you recognize me, Shadow?"

Shadow?

"M...Maria?" This can't be...It possibly couldn't!

I could feel my heart racing faster, and being overwhelmed with something...emotion?

What emotion? Because it felt pleasant. It felt nice and made me feel...relieved?

She gave me a warm smile. "Your friend Tails explained everything, and your friend Sonic let me borrow this clothes" she said. "I...I can't believe its really you" I said and hugged her tightly. It seemed so unreal, like a dream. I felt as if my heart could explode. it was such a strong feeling. A positive feeling. But I could feel my eyes watering and my heart pumping, which confused me because tears often mean sadness. "M-maria..." I whispered, "y...you don't know how much I've missed you" I said before kissing her cheek. "Shadow are you crying?" she asked pulling away from the hug. "I-I'm not crying" I answered. "Sure you're not" Maria teased before giving me a kiss on the cheek.

We went back inside Miles' house and talked for a while. Miles explained why Maria was in a hedgehog's body (which I didn't really paid attention to). The important thing was that she was here. He also said that he had tested a blood sample from Maria and she turned out to be negative for a lot of diseases. He said the names but I was too diatracted too pay attention. Suddenly, Maria hugged me tightly. "Did you hear, Shadow? I'm not sick!" she said happily. I looked at Miles and saw that he looked uneasy. He was going to say something before Maria exclaimed excitedly, but stopped himself. Maybe it was something negative. I decided to ask him afterwards when Maria wasn't around.

Miles began to explain to Maria the basics of the technology of our time (which only confused her more) and Sonic began to tell her 'what guys find hot' about girls.

"Sonic I don't believe that's something she needs to know that" I interrupted him. He turned to me and smirked. "Why? She's a girl and it's normal for her to be interested in guys...thought it be hot if she's into girls..." he said, making Maria blush in embarrassement. He smiled at her and winked. "Besides...I'm available"

I growled. How dare he?!

"You mad Bro? you jelous?"

"I'M NOT JELOUS!" I yelled. This was outrageous! I WAS NOT JELOUS! WHY WOULD I BE?!

I looked over at Maria who was giggling at the scene with a slight blush in her face. I looked away to hide the blush in my face. "Anyway..." said Sonic, "we need to get you some clothes. You can't be running around in my clothes" he chuckled, "And I know just the girl who can help"

Amy came over in 5 minutes. I'm pretty sure she ran put her house as soon as Sonic said the word 'shopping' into the phone. "It's a pleasure to meet you! I'm Amy Rose" said the pink hedgehog as she shook Maria's hand violently. "I'm Maria Robotnick" "Shadow has told us so much about you!"

Oh no.

"Really?"

"Yes! He's always talking about your beautiful eyes and your soft-"

Miles coughed loudly to interrupt the awkward moment. I sighed in relief. I owed him for saving my ass. "Aaaannnnyyywaaayy...when are you girls going shopping?" asked Sonic. "You mean we" said Amy. "What do you mean 'we'?" asked Miles. "Well you guys need new clothes" said Amy checking her watch. "And we better get going, the mall closes in 3 hours! we don't have enough time!"

Oh God. How much time did we needed?

As soon as we got to the mall, we split up to buy clothes we needed. I hated the idea of being separated from Maria, but Amy insisted because they had to buy 'girl stuff'

"Now what is that supposed to mean?" I asked. "Bras" replied Amy. "O-oh" I said awkwardly. "Then let me give you some ring bills" I said as I reached into my pocket for my wallet. "No no I'll buy it" she said. I shrugged and put my wallet away.

"Uh...I hate shopping!" cried Miles. "Yeah! You gotta go from store to store to find clothes and walk and walk and walk and walk" said had syopped at a couple of stores already. I bought a blue T-shirt (which made Sonic gasp wgen I bought it) "But I'm sure Shadz doesn't mind" "And why would you think that?" I asked. "Because...you wanna look hot for Maria"

I tried not to blush and shoved him. "Shut up!" I hissed. "Let's just walk around and wait for the girls" suggested Miles. "Good idea, Miles" I said. "Shadow...why do you keep calling me Miles? just call me Tails"

"okay...Tails"

"Hey guys!" called a familiar voice from behind us. I turned around to see the pothead white hedgehog in company of Charmy, Espio and Knuckles. "Hey pothead" I greeted with a chuckle. "Shut up Shadow..so what are you guys doing here?" he asked. "Oh you know...hunting chili dogs..." answered Sonic sarcastically, making Charmy and Espio laugh. Knuckles just chuckled. We talked for a while while waiting for the girls to finnish their shopping. It turns out Cosmo, Blaze, Rouge, Tikal, Cream and Marine (who was brought against her will by Cream) were there too.

Maria and the girls met us 2 hours later in the food area. Maria was now wearing blue skinny jeans with a tight blue shirt with a text smile on it. She looked beautiful (especially since she wasn't wearing any makeup)

Suddenly, Sonic elbowed me. "Dude...looks like you're too happy to see her" he whispered as he handed me one of Amy's shopping bags. I blushed as I realized what he meant and quickly laid it on my lap. Luckily none of the girls notices this. But the guys did. Damn it.

"So...what are we gonna get?" asked Blaze making sure everyone in th gang heard her.

"How about pizza?" asked Cosmo. "Yeah pizza" agreed Tails almost as soon as she said it. I couldn't help to chuckle. "But I want ice cream" said Silver making his puppy face. "No Silver" Blaze said simply.

I looked over at Maria. She was still looking around the mall. Everything was new to her since she had been locked up in the Ark for so long. And specifically since this was a different planet, not Earth. At least she's not sick anymore. Tails told me that he had run some tests with a blood sample of hers and she turned out to be as healthy as Sonic.

"Are you okay with pizza Maria?" I asked her. "Uh...okay" she responded.

We had decided what to order and let Blaze and Silver order. Sonic, Amy, Espio, Charmy, Maria and I sat at one table while Rouge, knuckles, Blaze, Silver, Tikal and Marine sat at another. Cosmo, Tails, Charmy and Cream decided that they were not hungry and they decided to walk around the mall before we left. I was kind of awkward to be getting chairs from other tables and putting them by our table so we could sit together. But hey, we were teens.

Maria seemed to be enjoying herself so far. Amy and her talked and talked while Sonic, Espio and I ate and exchanged a few words (There's a huge difference!)

"So...what about the accident from earlier?" asked Espio.

Shit.

"I...don't wanna talk about it" I said embarrassed. Maria looked at me and smiled. I couldn't help to feel my heartbeat increase as I smiled back. From the corner of my eye I could see Espio's and Sonic's eyes go wide. Then Charmy's when he came back and floated next to Espio. "SHADOW IS SMILING?! is the world gonna end Espio?" asked Charmy. "I hope not" answered Espio.

"Oh my God Mr. Shadow's smiling!"

"Holy Shit!" cursed Knuckles. "C'mon guys leave him alone..." said Blaze while everyone was diatracted looking at me. Then she slowly reached for the last slide of pizza and bit into it. "C'mon guys just leave me alone" I said beginning to feel frustrated.

"Shadow...why are they so shocked to see you smile? what do they mean by- "

"Well well well looky here" said a familiar voice from my right. I turned to see Scourge Hedgehog standing there. I growled at the sight of him. Everyone hated him. Why? Because he was a conceided bastard who didn't have respect for anyone or anything. He's stubborn, cocky and my enemy since he is friends with Mephiles.

Without looking I already knew Espio was taking out his ninja stars and Sonic had stood up. "Hey hey I'm not causing any harm" Scourge said as he put his hands up in defense. "I just came to say hi to Shadow's new girlfriend"

"She is not my-

"And to warn her about your anger issues.. " he interrupted. "Anger issues?" asked Maria. "Don't listen to him" I heard Amy say to Maria. "Just admit it Shadow...you have anger issues...and this hottie doesn't deserve ya" he said licking his lips. "Show more respect you scumbag!" I yelled and stood up from my seat. I could feel everyone's eyes on me, making cold sweat run down my spine and my forehead, but I didn't care. He had to have respect for Maria!

"Remember that time you tried to stab my eyes out with a pen?"

"You put drugs in my locker!"

"And that time you broke Sonic's arm?"

"It was P.E., we were wrestling and it was an accident!"

"How about the fact that you're yellin' just now?"

This damn bastard wanted to provoke me! He walked over to Maria and eyed her up and down. "You know what I would do to you?"

That was it. I lost it! I growled and ran towards him. I grabbed his right arm and twisted it till it made a cracking noise.

"AAAAHHHH!" screamed the green hedgehog. But I wasn't finished. I lifted him up and slammed him into our table, breaking it and covering him in soda and the leftover sauerkraut and grade. "F...Fiona..." he called out before passing out. Then his girlfriend Fiona came running towards him. But she was no different than him. She was a bitch.

I was breathing heavily because of the rush and fury running through me. I looked around me. All I saw were shocked looks and scared looks coming from the younger ones. Cream was hugging Sonic tightly as she hid her face in his abdomen, while Tails and Cosmo held each other. Then there was Maria. There was no way to describe the expression on he face. She whispered something to Amy and they left. Then everyone started to leave without saying a word.

I was about to leave when saw the mall cop coming towards me, so I decided to stay. I might as well pay for the damages that can be fixed.