The Sorrows of Shadow the Hedgehog

The radiant blue Earth levitated among the darkness, surrounded by glittering stars. The color of the ocean shone in a dazzling blue with patches of soft swirling white clouds floating in the atmosphere. The north and south poles were covered in cold white snow, while the land of the center was green from forests, gray from cities, brown from mountains, and yellow from deserts.

Shadow gazed at the magnificent planet from the Space Colony ARK, where he stood behind a wide glass window in a large empty room. He stood close, with arm crossed and face stern, as he silently marveled at the majestic surface of the Earth.

He was too distracted by the Earth to see that Maria had walked into the room. "Are you going to stare out that window all day, Shadow?" she asked humorously. Shadow diverted his attention briefly from the window to see Maria walk up to his side and give him a warm greeting-smile before turning back to the view.

"It's just so…" Shadow's voice faded, unable to find the words to describe how he felt. Looking out at the Earth from the ARK, and seeing it there, knowing that there were so many things in it, so many wonderful things that he couldn't reach, made him long desperately to escape this metal prison and see the things of the Earth. The Earth from afar looked so magnificent, so how great would it be from up close? It was a mystery that lay underneath what Shadow could only see now, that was held away from him by the window that he was trapped behind, and he felt the closest that he could get when he was able to see the Earth.

After Shadow gave no response to Maria, her eyes became sympathizing with emotion that showed that she understood how Shadow felt, even without words, and that she shared his yearning. She gazed at the Earth with Shadow and they stood silently together behind the large window.

"Shadow, what do you think it's like on Earth?" Maria asked thoughtfully with her eyes still on Earth.

"I think it's filled with so many things to see and so many things to do," Shadow replied.

"But what about the people?" Maria wondered. "Do you think they're all good happy people?"

Shadow contemplated on that, and he truthfully didn't know how the people of Earth were like, the only people he knew were Maria and the ARK scientists, but he remembered what Gerald Robotnik had told him once.

"The professor said his life's work was dedicated to all of those who live down there. He once told that the reason for his existence was making people happy through the power of science." Shadow thought over again about Dr. Robotnik's words. His words about Earth and existence, it made Shadow feel emotionally overwhelmed.

"Shadow-"

"Maria," he interrupted. He felt that he had to tell her. "I just don't anything anymore. I often wonder why I was created? What my purpose is for being here. Maybe if I go down there…" he paused and looked away as he closed his eyes. "I will find the answers. Maybe…" Shadow closed his eyes tighter with anguish.

"No…Shadow," Maria struggled to say. "I…I…" Shadow opened his eyes and turned around with surprise from the weakness of her voice. Shadow was shocked to see that Maria's face had turned ghost-white and her legs were trembling.

"Shadow-"

Her eyes closed and she fell backwards. Shadow lunged forward and caught Maria in his arms.

He stood in shock at first at Maria, who lay unconscious and sickly-looking in his arms. He became worried and decided to take her to the hospital-room.

Shadow ran quickly with Maria in his arms out of the room and toward the hospital-room. He was nervous as he ran; wondering what had caused her to faint so suddenly. Luckily, the hospital-room was near.

When Shadow was about to approach the door of the hospital-room, one of the nurses opened the door to walk out. She stepped out of the room and then gasped when she saw Maria unconscious with Shadow.

"Quick, take her inside," the nurse instructed him urgently and held the door open for Shadow to bring her in.

He hurriedly rushed into the room, where hospital-beds were lined against the wall with hospital equipment around. Shadow was going to set her down on one of the empty beds, but the nurse stopped him.

"This way," she led him to a curtain that separated the right side of the room and pulled it aside. In there, was a single bed, but it was surrounded by huge intricate equipment, which must have been for treating some terribly sick patient.

Shadow stood frozen in confusion as the nurse took Maria from him, set her on the bed, and, with the help of the doctor, began attaching tubes to her mouth and wrists from the machines. Shadow was troubled and perplexed, yet speechless, by seeing Maria's frail delicate face and small little arms under those tubes attached to the machines, with monitors with digitalized numbers, different capsules in irregular shapes, and mechanical parts making vibrating noises. Shadow gaped at the machines, in denial in his mind of the clear meaning of this sight.

As the doctor and the nurse worked with the machine, Shadow slowly approached Maria's bedside and felt her hand; it was a bit cold, but then he saw her stomach moving slightly from breathing, and he felt somewhat relieved.

Shadow heard the sound of a shutting door and turned to see Dr. Robotnik walking in. With his eyebrows lowered over his glasses and his hands behind his back in worry, he went up to the opposite side of Maria's bed.

Gerald Robotnik asked in his aged voice, "How is she, doctor?"

The doctor replied, "Fairly well,. She should wake up in about ten minutes."

"Did she come here before she fainted, saying she was feeling sick, or…?"

"She was brought in unconscious."

"By Shadow?"

"Yes."

Dr. Robotnik looked down at Shadow with a grateful smile. "Thank you, Shadow, for bringing her here." All Shadow could do was give him a nod of acknowledgment in his confused anguish.

Dr. Robotnik dismally gazed down at Maria and gently brushed aside her blonde hair which had lay on her cheek.

Shadow raised his eyes to Dr. Robotnik and asked quietly, "Professor?" He looked up toward Shadow to listen. "Is Maria…going to be okay?"

Dr. Robotnik sighed heavily and hesitated to answer.

Shadow asked again, "Why did this happen?"

The professor looked down at Maria once more in grief and answered, "It seems that I will have to explain to you now about Maria's horrible condition, the thing that agonizes my heart the most, and may do to yours also."

"Maria has a disease called NIDS: Neuro Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome, which is a body function disorder. Every so often, her body fails and she faints, so we have to connect her to this machine." His voice was becoming shakier and a tear ran down his face from behind his glasses. "We have to use the machine to properly revive her. She can be sick for up to three weeks sometimes in this hospital bed with the machine supplying her with energy."

Shadow gaped in despair at the terrible news. He felt deep pain from the pain that Maria had to go through. Why did this have to happen to her? She was so sweet and innocent, and Shadow would have done taken the suffering for her himself if he could.

He asked, "Will Maria ever become cured of the disease? Is she going to be okay?" He clenched his fist as he waited with suspense for the answer, hoping for the best.

Dr. Robotnik opened his mouth to speak, but he paused, having a look of doubt on his face, contemplating on the words that he should say. Then he just shook his head. "Don't worry Shadow; I'll take care of it." Giving Shadow a small assuring smile, he stepped away from the bed and gave him a quick pat on the shoulder before walking towards the door and out of the hospital-room.

Shadow stayed at Maria's bed-side to wait for her to awaken. He loyally stayed with her, with his hand on her hand, and the nurse working on the machine behind him. Even though the professor had said not worry, he did worry a lot for her, and he worried about how sad and miserable she'd be, but he did trust Dr. Robotnik when he said that he'd take care of her.

Shadow felt Maria's hand move. Maria took a deep breath and slowly opened her sleepy blue eyes. She examined the place and saw that she was on the hospital room, and then she looked at Shadow.

He asked her. "How are you feeling Maria?"

She smiled weakly at him and answered, "I feel really tired and weak, but I guess I'm okay."

Seeing that Maria was awake, the nurse came briefly to ask, "You doing okay, sweetie?" and after Maria nodded she said, "Just tell me if you need something," then she walked away and closed the curtains.

Maria lowered her head slightly in guilt and said faintly to Shadow, "I'm sorry if I scared you before, Shadow. I just … don't like talking about this."

Shadow answered, "It's fine. The professor told me about it." He didn't want her to worry about him when she was the one who was sick.

When Maria raised her head, Shadow was surprised to see tears forming in her eyes. "This is why I can't go to Earth," she despaired through tears and sobs. "I have to stay with Grandfather so he can take care of me and he's trying to find a cure to this. My parents said it was best to stay with him and to be here since it's away from all the other people. Grandfather said that it could be contagious if someone is around me too often when I'm sick." She paused to wipe tears with the back of her hand. "I get really lonely sometimes all by myself in here since no one can stay in here too long." Maria looked at Shadow and was able to giggle a little through her tears at the uncertain face he was giving her. "Don't worry, grandfather told me that you can't get it."

So Shadow remarked, "Then I'll stay with you here if no one else can. I'll be here whenever you're lonely."

Maria's face lightened up at the thought of having a friend who could stay without the danger of catching her disease. "Thank you, so much Shadow." She said in appreciation. "That would really help."

"No problem," Shadow replied.

Then Maria scrutinized Shadow thoughtfully and asked, "Why can't you go to Earth, Shadow?"

Shadow remembered the despised cause with loathing, although he was acceptant of its rational reasoning. "The professor isn't completely finished with all of the projects and research on, or related, to me," Shadow said with reluctance towards the words. "He also told me that the world isn't ready for me yet, and that I am not ready for it either."

He sighed disturbingly upon reflection of their situations. "You and I both share this unfortunate ruin."

With her eyes nearly dry, Maria tried to take Shadow's depressing view to a brighter light. "But then we have each other to get through it together," she said. "Everything will be alright if we're there for each other."

Shadow already felt warmed by Maria's words. If she could soothe him now, then she could soothe him through the toughest problems, and they'd give each other hope together.

Maria remarked, "If I ever get the chance to leave, Shadow, I'll wait for you."

"And I'll wait for you," Shadow said back. "We'll go to Earth together and I can take you to see all the great places there."

Maria nodded. "And we can go and see my family."

"And we can go to the big cities with skyscrapers."

"And to forests with pretty flowers."

"And to all mountains covered in snow."

"And little shops that sell dolls."

Shadow and Maria laughed humorously at Maria's last suggestion and they were now smiling as they imagined going to Earth.

"Maria," Shadow said with sincerity. "I promise I'll take you to earth someday." This made Maria smile, and Shadow wanted to see that smile on her face when he took her to Earth. This promise was a promise that Shadow was determined to fulfill.