What self-respecting Shadow fic wouldn't have a flashback sequence to the good ol' days on the ARK?
"Shadow, are you going to stare out that window all day?" Shadow snapped out of his trance and looked up into those sweet, trusting eyes of hers.
"How long have you been standing there, Maria?"
"Not long. It's kinda funny to watch you," she said as she crouched down beside him. "It's like when you're dreaming, 'cept you don't kick as much."
"I guess you could call it dreaming. When do you think we'll be able to go down there?" The Professor insisted that the planet below was a breathtaking place and would often tell stories of the people and places there to Maria and Shadow before bed, where they would sit wide eyed in wonder and amazement. He would talk about the majesty of gargantuan waterfalls, the sweet smell of fresh cut grass, the dapple of raindrops, and so much more that Maria had to write them all down in order to remember it all. She carried her small pink notebook everywhere with her, and not only was it overflowing with stories of the planet called Earth, but also contained sketches of Shadow and the Professor and several short stories penned by Maria herself.
"I don't know, but Grandfather said that it would be soon."
"He says that every time we ask."
"I know he does, but one should always have some faith in those they love, Shadow."
That same evening the black and crimson hedgehog slipped out of bed as soon as he was sure that Maria was sound asleep and went on his nightly stroll around the colony. It was interesting to see the other researchers work feverishly on their projects. The Professor would never talk about what everyone else was working on, but said that they were trying to assist the military of Earth, called GUN (which by the way, was not just an incredibly bad pun in English- 'gun' is the Japanese word for 'army'). The Professor often said that he was never there to aid the military- according to him he was only there to use the research facility as a means to find a cure for his beloved granddaughter. How he ended up with the position of 'Head of Research' puzzled Shadow, but then again his second title of 'World's Leading Scientist' might have had something to do with it.
"Professor," Shadow said as he poked his head inside the main lab, where the elderly man was bent over his desk writing something. He looked up and nodded to Shadow to come in.
"I can't speak for long, Shadow- this paper needs to be in first thing tomorrow morning."
"I'll make it quick then. How close are you to finding a cure?" The large, bald man avoided the hedgehog's accusing gaze.
"I'm trying as hard as I can, but we can't expect a miracle in a case this serious. We are going to try to operate next week, but we're not entirely sure if it'll do much good."
"…So every time you tell her that you've come even closer to finding a treatment, you're merely filling her head with lies and false hope?"
"Shadow, listen-"
"How DARE you? How can you look her in the eye and say such things?"
"Well how would YOU feel if I came up to you and said that you might not live another three months?" The agitated and elderly scientist proclaimed as he slammed his fist onto the desk so hard that it shook. "How would YOU feel if you had to go to bed every night believing that nothing can be done about it?" The hedgehog was speechless. He had never mentioned how much longer Maria had… "I'm trying as hard as I can. There is nothing worse than failing than not trying at all. Nothing starts until you take action. Goodnight." He ushered Shadow out of his lab and quickly shut the door behind him. Shadow awoke with a start in his bed at GUN headquarters. In the pitch black of night he could easily make out the deep red numbers on the clock on his nightstand. Damn flashbacks…