Maria's POV:

Amy is very eccentric. She's already carrying six bags, and I'm carrying her other two. "C'mon Maria, don't you want to buy something to make you look even cuter?" She keeps asking me.

"Yes," I always tell her, "But, I've never done anything like this before, I don't know what would make me look cuter."

So now we're in a very pink store filled with pictures of human girls only wearing undergarments. Grandfather would never approve of this, and Shadow would run out. But, I'll do whatever makes my new friend happy. Back on the ARK, I had only just started wearing makeup, which if I think about it was not much, and wearing the 'top underwear', then again, I was human then. Now I'm this. I need to find answers.

"Oh wow, yours are bigger than mine, but smaller than Rouge's. Thank god. Then again, she's a lot older than us." Amy said suddenly. I looked down at my chest and asked her shyly, "Who's Rouge?"

"Someone I know, she's out there. She works for GUN," I gasped before letting her continue, "She's in her 20's I think, a bat, and a self-proclaimed treasure hunter. She hangs around Shadow a lot for some reason."

I jumped up so fast I became dizzy and fell.

"Oh no! Maria, are you ok?" There were tears in my eyes and I didn't know why. Shadow, with a 20 year old bat who works for GUN? He made it to Earth? Is he ok? Where is he now?

Amy helped me up and frantically checked over me. "Amy, you know Shadow?" I asked her.

"Oh dear," she sighed. She grabbed my hand with both of hers and said, "Let's go find Sonic; I'm sure he'll know what to do!" And just like that she was dragging me off.

Shadow's Journal:

The next day, our search led us to Soleanna. Rouge was more upbeat than usual, and I was more quiet than usual. "I get the feeling I've been here before, but I don't remember this place," I said

"Same," she replied, "The chaos emerald should be that way, inside the main city. That's strange; it feels like it's moving."

"Someone must have it," I sighed, "And whoever does, I'm taking it back, No matter what." She smiled and shook my head as she flew after me into the city.

Once we were on Main Street she carried me to the rooftops. "It should be up there, by the bell," Rouge said as we flew higher. I saw pink and blonde blurs instead. "Well if it isn't Sonic's little girlfriend," Rouge said as we landed, "Who's your new friend? I haven't seen her before." Amy hid the blonde behind her back and said "You two just stay away, we're looking for Sonic. You can just be on your way now." Before Rouge or I had the chance to reply, the blonde stepped out from behind Amy. My eyes grew huge and my chest started to hurt. What? Why am I feeling like this? I don't know this girl, I remember thinking.

"Well well well, isn't she a cutie? How old are you blondie?" Rouge said in her smart aleck way.

"My name is not 'blondie'," the new girl replied, "And I'm fifteen."

"My name's Rouge 'not blondie' what's yours?"

"Maria."

Rouge quickly looked at me with an eyebrow raised. "This Maria has your chaos emerald Shadow. Any explaining to do?"

I took a step back and clenched my fists. This can't be, I thought, that was all just a dream right? She's an imposter; a fake who stole my emerald is all. But I couldn't bring myself to believe what I was thinking. This girl looked exactly like Father's sketch of the 'new body' project. She had the same voice, but stronger. The same hair, the same eyes, the same scent, and my chaos emerald which was in pieces in her ears when I last saw it. There was a high chance this blonde hedgehog was my Maria.

The girl took a step toward me, ignoring Amy's pleas. "Shadow?" That didn't prove anything, she had heard Rouge say my name. "Where's Grandfather? Did he make it to Earth with you?" That proved a lot.

I couldn't bring myself to speak. I just stared at her with an intense look and shook my head, before turning away and jumping back down to the streets.

"Shadow! Wait!" I heard her cry. Then I saw her jump after me. "Damnit," I muttered and ran to catch her. She was very light.

"Be careful Damnit." She looked up at me with big blue eyes, now the eyes of a hedgehog. I set her down and she looked at me sternly. "Why did you run away from me?"

"You're not Maria. You can't be."

"Shadow, what's wrong?" Damnit, how could it not be her?

"The Professor is dead. You died. Everyone on the ARK died and it was shut down. But you sent me here and saved me. It's been fifty years, Maria."

She gasped and held a hand to her mouth.

"I worked with the professor to create a new body for you, a stronger one so you could live. And now you're here and even I don't know how you got here."

I began to walk away. She grabbed my hand. With tears in her eyes she whispered to me "You need to fill in the blanks Shadow. I'm scared, I'm confused. And now I'm sad because of what you've told me, but happy to see you alive on Earth with friends. Shadow, help me."

I nodded and squeezed her hand. I'm the reason for all of this, and I have my dearest friend back. It was time to take responsibility for messing with destiny.