Okay...I am shocked I finished this today. Once again, I am trying my best to update as soon as I can. Okay...this chapter get's you inside Shadow's head...so tell me what you think. Just warning you though...you're going to see a different side of the brooding hedgehog. Trust me... OH and I want to forgive all the typos. I just reread my story and HOLY COW! I have a lot of errors! Anyway, on to the story.

POV: Shadow

I took a deep breath and began. "It all started about eighteen years ago…"

The team had gotten a call to stop a burglary in process and was actually in the middle of chasing them when I got a phone call from Professor Roberts. He told me to come to GUN immediately. I tried to ignore him, but his voice sounded scared so I decided to quickly check in. Your parents had everything under control anyway.

When I arrived Thomas greeted me, but rather jumpy. He went on to explain that there had been an accident. My DNA had been switched around during a reorganizing from the medical department to the cloning facility. Without anyone knowing, a partial clone had been made. They had discovered the clone an hour earlier. He led me to where the clone was being kept until they, and by 'they' I mean me, figured out what to do with it. My first thought when I saw it was something about the fact that she's a girl. Martha Anderson, the scientist who had discovered the mishap, had already named her Arianna Patricia Hedgehog. After much debate, I eventually decided that Arianna would remain in this facility with limited contact to anyone in the facility and no contact outside the facility.

I'm afraid this was my first mistake. I didn't tell people, not even your parents, about this clone. I was hoping she could grow up and at a certain age they could release her. Then it would be made know that I had no contact of any sort with her and she could live a normal life…but it was not to be.

Two years later I get a similar call from the Prof. Another clone; but different situation. This one was…dangerous…one that no one wanted alive. Thomas and I came up with a simple and humane solution. Give the child a sedative that would allow her to fall asleep…a sleep she would never wake up from. When we arrived on the scene, Martha refused to give us the clone. Eventually I managed to wrestle her away from it. Looking down at, once again, the girl, she slowly opened her eyes.

I paused here and tried to hold back the wave of emotion that suddenly swept over me. That day was one of the most confusing days of my life.

Nicole had turned pale at the mention that we were going to kill her. Miley was trying to comfort her without words.

I continued the story still trying to hide the emotion.

I'm not exactly sure what happened, but suddenly…I don't know exactly. We ended up not killing the clone and dubbed her Nicole. Same plan for the first clone, except we took a risk…a big risk.

About five years later, your parents found out and they were not happy with me, but eventually forgave me. Two years later the public found out. Protests began and several mobs attempted to kill them. Eventually, they forgave Arianna and went after Nicole. That's when I had to step in. Arianna was not happy that I suddenly entered her life, but I thought she got over it…until now.

I shook my head and came back to the present.

"Now I know I was wrong. She killed your parents without even breaking a sweat because she played dirty. Tail's was shot execution style, Amy and Topaz from behind. Knuckles and Sonic were caught in a force field with the bomb. There was nothing I could do. It's my fault that they're dead and I can't fix that. I should have been there earlier in Arianna's and Nicole's lives. I'm sorry."

After I finished the teens did not say a word. Silence filled the air. My thoughts encircled me, but I tried to push away the memories.

Jr finally broke the silence. "So…because you ignored the girls…our parents are dead?"

Slowly, I nodded. Unlike his father, Jr did not keep his cool and lost his temper…again.

"What! You got to be kidding! Why do we even stay here?" Faker Jr. continued his rant he'd done since day one of being stuck on this wretched island.

I droned him out and stared ahead blankly. My thoughts wandered back in time.

"Martha, give me the darned clone!"

"Never! She needs a chance, just like Ari! It's not my fault that the Professor messed everything! Please Shadow!"

"Anderson!" I growled and jumped at her. She screamed and fell back but didn't get far.

Quickly, Thomas held her down as I ripped the pile of blankets from her.

The scientist screamed as tears streamed down her face.

Ignoring her, I carried the clone over to a table and laid it down. Without a word I removed the blankets.

The baby girl slept peacefully, not a care in the world. I grabbed the pill and broke it open then spilled the contents of it into a small bottle.

Martha continued screaming and crying behind me. Arianna was pounding on the far door, and in her small voice was demanding to know what was going on.

Shutting out any sound, I picked the kid up and was about to give her the bottle when the small child opened her eyes. Red stared at red as the kid looked me in the eye. I felt my mind waver, and then pulled myself together. Slowly, I began to bring the bottle to the baby. She reached out eagerly and smiled. I froze.

The kid continued to grab at the bottle, but I wouldn't bring it closer. Within that brief smile, I saw something that looked…familiar. An old friend…who was long gone…make that two old friends… But I also saw something else; sorrow, acceptance, and…bravery? It's like the kid knew what was going to happen and had simply accepted her fate. She wasn't afraid of dying…and her eyes…they seemed full of some hidden secrets. A lot like mine…

I felt a wave of sorrow wash over me. Trying to pull myself together, my brain reached out to any sort of answers. "What would Maria do?" Of course I knew what she would do…but was it the best decision?

"Shadow! What are you waiting for!?" Roberts yelled.

Martha continued to cry and scream.

After a deep breath I attempted to give the child the bottle, but my arm didn't move. I finally felt my resolve crumble. I placed the child comfortably back in her blankets and turned towards the two scientists with the poisoned bottle still in my hand. Without a word, I raised my arm and threw the killer at the ground. Glass shattered loudly as the Professor cried out in surprise.

"Shadow, what are you thinking?!"

Martha began to calm down, but was still shaking with shock. Roberts had released her and marched over to me. "What the heck are you-?"

I cut him off. "I've changed my mind."

He gave me that look. The one that came before someone was going to try and call me crazy…scared and nervous.

"Um…Shadow…I don't-"

"I don't care. Leave her here under Martha's care with the other clone. Got it?"

The professor tried one more time. "Shadow…this is a bad idea. She's twice as st-"

"I Don't Care!" Breathing deeply I glared at him.

The scientist swallowed and nodded slowly. "Fine…"

I turned around and began to walk out of the trashed lab.

"Wait!" Martha called out to me.

I paused, but didn't turn around. "What?"

"What…what should her name be?"

I rolled my eyes. "Why are you asking me?"

Martha took a deep breath. "I- I thought…you might want to…"

Startled and a bit pleased I thought. My mind immediately wandered to her smile and the name popped in my head. "Nicole Maria Hedgehog." Without saying another word I left the building.

I shook my head away from the memories as Jr finished his speech.

"This is all your fault!"

Annie, Topaz and Arnold nodded in agreement. Miley looked at the ground while the clone I had been thinking about still seemed confused and disappointed in me.

I shook my head slowly. "Yes Jr I am. And I am so sorry. I really am."

The blue hedgehog crossed his arms and rolled his eyes. "You don't care about us! All you want is to get out of this job. You never cared about us, our parents, the world, or anyone for that matter!"

I saw Nicole's head snap up at those words. She motioned for Jr to shut up, but the damage had been done. I was already mad at Arianna and at myself but my anger boiled over at his words.

Within seconds I had marched over and stood directly in front of Jr. The anger in my eyes must have been very evident because he shrank back a little. "Don't ever talk to me like that again. Because despite what you think…I do care; but I don't show it. So blame me for your parent's deaths, blame me for your problems, but don't ever say those words again," I hissed softly.

Jr scrambled away from me. It took all my strength to not chaos spear him, but the message had gotten through…hopefully.

The rest of the teens seemed angry, but decided to not risk my anger.

I sighed. "Alright, Miley get that force field back up. Everyone else bed; tomorrow we'll continue training. Report at nine am."

Ignoring the gasps of surprise at the time I whirled around and teleported away. Once I was in the hidden cave I'd discovered a few years ago I allowed my emotions out. I screamed and hit the ground once then curled up in a ball and allowed the silent tears to fall: for Maria; for the professor; for Thomas; for Martha; for 1st Generation; for 2nd Generation; for Nicole; but especially for Arianna.

Don't kill me! But I think it's kinda of...interesting...anyway, I hope you enjoyed it! I'm going to try and post the next chapter tonight because it shouldn't take to long, but no promises. Anyway...Review and tell me what you think of Shadow's head. But keep in mind what he's gone through in this story. Hope you enjoyed it!