Note: I do NOT own Sonic or any of the characters! I don't own any of it. It belongs to Sega.
I love pairing ShadowXMaria, so I wrote this. This fiction references quotes from Shadow's flashbacks in Sonic Adventure 2, the Archie Sonic Comics and Sonic X. Shadow becomes delusional shortly after Shadow The Hedgehog and Sonic The Hedgehog (2006.) This fiction is rated M due to language and sexual content in later chapters. Leave any questions, comments or suggestions in the review box!
Shadow inhaled and exhaled heavily, running through the metallic hallway of the Space Colony ARK that leads to the observatory room. He didn't look back; her delicate hand placed within his own reassured him that she was still there. He could feel her breathing heavily on the back of his neck.
"Find them before they escape!"
He quickly turned his head left to right, looking for an escape. They entered the observatory room. Maria let go of his hand and ran towards the wide observatory room window.
"Wait, Maria!"
He went after her. She turned to look at him; the look of fear flaring within her fierce, blue eyes slowed his pace as he neared the center of the room. She pulled down a lever on the control panel, imprisoning him in an escape capsule.
"What?" he managed to grunt, but he couldn't manage to say much more. He was paralyzed with shock and fear. He placed his hands against the glass of the capsule. He could only anticipate what he knew was going happen.
"Shadow, I beg of you...do it for me,"
"Maria!"
"For all the people...on that planet...Sayonara...Shadow The Hedgehog."
She let go of the lever. He felt the capsule drop.
He violently jerked upward, the sudden movement waking him instantly. He sat up, panting in an attempt to catch his breath. As he opened his eyes, a single tear slid down his left cheek. His eyes were glossed with tears. He looked around. There he sat, in the exact same observatory room in front of the exact same escape capsule from 50 years ago.
Hmph. Getting startled for nothing. How pathetic. How...childish.
He looked up and laughed at the thought. He was usually incapable of caring; let alone crying for others, but he was sensitive when it came to anything relevant to Maria.
Why did I ever think that I could protect her?
He hesitated a moment before standing and negligently walking toward the wide window of the ARK's observatory room. He placed my hand against the glass, staring at his reflection. He felt his eyelids become heavy. He slowly blinked, only to see Maria's reflection next to his own when he opened them.
He turned to his right to see Maria sitting on the floor beside him. She looked like a princess, wearing her light pink baby doll dress with a pink headband; her tiara. Her silky, golden curls falling down the small of her back.
God, she is beautiful.
Then it hit him. There she was, sitting right in front of him.
How the hell did I not realize it sooner?
"MARIA! Oh my god, are you hurt? Are you in any pain? Maria? My god, I swear I won't leave your side even for a moment,"
He was kneeling on the ground beside her now, his arms wrapped around her, tightly pulling her against himself. He buried his face into the side of her neck, trying to hide the uncontrollable sobbing. She blinked in confusion and looked down at the distressed hedgehog sitting in her lap.
"Shadow?"
He pressed her harder against himself.
"I won't break this promise, Maria. God, just don't leave me. Please, don't leave me ever again. Stay by my side forever. I'm going to protect you,"he sobbed.
"What are you talking about, Shadow?"
He felt so guilty, he couldn't reply.
I don't deserve to be alive.
Maria turned her head, looking at the glittering stars through the window; the glossy, blue planet below them glowing brightly.
"I want to hurry up and recover...Then I can go down to that planet...and bring Shadow to make friends with them," she said sweetly, looking back at Shadow.
His eyes widened and he started to tremble.
She's said that before...
"Shadow...it's a pleasure to know you. You make me very happy," she said shyly. "It's an honor to be your comrade and your friend on the sophisticated research lab, the ARK,"
Shadow looked at her. He didn't recall this part of the conversation. However, he had long decided to quit questioning the situation. He was with Maria. He pulled her closer to him.
I don't give a fuck whether this is real or my mind is screwing with me. If this is the only way I can be with Maria, then so be it.
"Maria, if this is what it takes to be with you, I don't mind in the least."