Disclaimer:

I don't own Sonic the Hedgehog or affileated characters.

They belong to Team Sonic Co. and so on

Author's Note: Hello everyone, this is Isumo1489. Sorry to say, but my work on Light of the Lost is slow at best. However, this story is something else that has been dancing in my head for a while. I hope to update sometime soon on my other fic. Meantime, here is a short fic to see if I should continue it. It's my first Sonic fic and second fic overall. Please be gentle and review if this has been of any interest. Now, ON WITH THE SHOW!

Memoirs of a Black Hedgehog

Chapter 1

The Past Remembered

The days have grown long during the summer. The earth's rotation allowing for the optimum amount of sun for its inhabitance. It's funny for someone like me, created on a space colony, to know so much about a small planet's workings when those that live there barely notice. My name is Shadow, the last inhabitant of Space Colony Ark. I am the greatest work of Dr. Gerald Robotnic, and the forgotten protector of a long dead girl by the name of Maria.

I was created for many reasons. Most, though, have been explained to me by now. I've lived through the conspiracy and the fog of my past. I guess it comes with the title "Ultimate Life form". My creator, in the beginning, had made a deal with a race of beings known as the Black Arms. They were discernable from any other race in the galaxy by their red and black coloring……like me. Gerald, who feared for the life of Maria, his precious granddaughter, agreed to help the Black Arms if they could help him create the Ultimate Life.

The reason was this, since few would ever understand his decision. Maria had a disease called NIDS. At the time, it was incurable. Gerald's government research was for the perfect super-soldier. The project's true meaning for him, however, was to find a way to cure Maria, or at least strengthen her so she could defeat the illness herself. The Black Arms' DNA, which was used in the creation of the Ultimate Life, was able to utilize what was called Chaos Energy. A power created exclusively from 8 gems which contained the amazing power. This power could destroy an entire planet if properly harnessed…..or save the life of one of the most innocent creatures nature has ever produced. Gerald created Project Shadow, me, from the combination of the Black Arms genetics and the genes of a previously unknown anthro-morph hedgehog. The result was a powerful and fast creature, capable of sonic speeds, higher thinking than most humans, and a soul.

Gerald's design said I'd have needed to reach maturity before my blood would become stable enough to be used for Maria. It would be a catalyst that would alter her very being into what he code-named a "Child of Chaos". Where he came up with the term, I'll never know. All I do know was that, as Gerald saw Maria and I interact, he realized he created more than a cure. He created, as his journals said, "a son, one who's very reason for existence is to be with my darling granddaughter. More than that, Maria also shares the same devotion for him. I only pray these feelings will guide them to a happy existence, together." Most would say the professor was mad, letting Maria and I get so close. But I think, perhaps, it was his most brilliant idea to that moment.

I look back upon his diaries these days. I just read and remember my days with Maria. Our time together as I learned of life, fun, and most importantly, love. I'll never forget her smile, such as you'll never see on any short of an angel. She was so giving and understanding. She would play games with me and in general make life so bright. I remember that she once gave me a small doll on my "birthday". I grew to near maturity in 2 years, but my first birthday would always be special to me.

(Flashback)

"Shadow," Maria called to me running down the hall to where I walked. "What is it?" I asked curious as to why she was out of breath. She panted a few minutes then brought a roughly sewn doll from behind her back, "Happy Birthday Shadow!" I was stunned that she would do this for me. I mean, I was created in a pod for god's sake! As I looked at her hands, though, I saw band-aids on her fingers.

I, understandably, was shocked she'd sewn this herself and gone through all that trouble for me. I took the doll and looked at her hopeful face. "Maria," I said in a rather low and confused tone, "I appreciate this, but why? Why did you make this for me? I mean…well…" I trailed off as Maria began to laugh. "I made for you, silly," she said in a lighthearted tone. "After all, it was one year today you came into everyone's lives, mine included," she finished with a slight flush. It wouldn't be until later I would learn it was called a blush and she must have been embarrassed by her statement, somehow.

Satisfied, and strangely happy that Maria was so glad I was here I said, "thank you, I'll always treasure it. I just wish I could do something for you." Maria, as she often did, started to tear up when I said that. She grabbed me into a hug right there in the hallway, half whispering, "Shadow, you've done more than you know just by being with me here. You're my dear friend and I couldn't have lived on this stuffy station without you here with me." Small tears came down her face, all the while I was realizing how much I meant to her.

I reached up and wiped her tears away with my glove and smiled at her. She only looked at me through tears as though I'd leave any second. I hugged her as she did me, and afterwards brought us to her room. I normally stayed there anyway, but this time, I laid her down on her bed and tucked her in as she had done for me. As I moved from the bed, I heard her whimper, so I stayed at her side, the doll still in my hand. She blinked at it, so I said, "I'll call her Sonia, she's a hedgehog like me, and so she deserves a name like mine."

Maria fell asleep, with me at her side, smiling that night. And in her arms and mine, was Sonia the Hedgehog, my first birthday gift. It was such a small gift, sewn together from such a softly spoken 14 year-old. I would always remember Maria with kindness, more accurately love, but it would be strange that I'd never appreciate just how much of my world she was until I lost her.

(End Flashback)

I have yet to find Sonia the Hedgehog, probably because it was destroyed during the raid 50 years ago. Or rather, the raid 53 years ago, I guess that is more accurate. I come to the Ark often now; the government hasn't stopped me yet, not that they could. I have read nearly all of my father's files and will soon return to earth. So really, all I do is sit and reminisce about what once was. However, there is one file that refuses to open. I've been trying to crack the inscription for over a month and have had no luck. Not even Maria's name opens it, though it opened many of Gerald's previous files.

I'm going through many combinations when an odd thought just came to me. 'Sonia,' with that thought I type the name in. Instead of rejection, the file opens with blueprints not unlike my own. But it's not the diagram that catches my eye, but the title at the top of the page.

(Project: Re-Birth/ Subject: Sonia the Hedgehog)

End Chapter.