Chapter 22: Sayonara Shadow the Hedgehog

It can't be. It just can't.

The thought ran through Shadow's mind after seeing what had played out before his eyes. It seemed one of the GUN soldiers had managed to get off a clean shot. Right through Maria's chest as Shadow could see Maria's blue dress being stained with red. Maria's eyes were wide open in shock, Shadow didn't think he'd ever forget the look on her face. This couldn't be it though, he was Shadow the Hedgehog, the world's Ultimate Life form. There had to be something he could do. Anything. Quickly, Shadow takes ahold of Maria's hand as he pulled her into the room he had just opened. Once there, he slammed the door shut wanting to dash over and push something in front of it to keep the Soldier's out while he tended to Maria, but there wasn't anything in there. Just a console built into the side of the wall. It wasn't even sticking out. So Shadow had to be quick as he glanced over to Maria who was now clutching her own chest and standing next to said console while leaning on the wall to keep her balance.

"Maria..." Shadow said quickly crossing over, "... you should lay down. You're injury..."

Shadow was having trouble speaking at the moment but, it seemed Maria wouldn't be able to fair much better. She looked up at Shadow, knowing there wasn't much time left for her.

"Shadow..." Maria said, "I... I'm sorry."

This peaked Shadow's interest as he finally got over gently moving Maria's hand to look at the injury. Sure he wasn't a doctor, but there had to be something he could do.

"There's nothing to be sorry about," Shadow said, "Now save your breath. I'll fix you. I promised the Professor that I would. I won't break that promise."

Yet, Maria took Shadow's hands in hers. She knew there was nothing he could do and her time was almost up. She hated it, hated that this would be her final moments. Yet, she had to speak. Shadow looked down at her hands clutching onto his, causing her to look up into her eyes.

"Shadow..." Maria said her voice already starting to shake, "I... I'm sorry that it has to end this way..."

"Don't say that," Shadow pleaded with her, "We... we can get you down to Earth. We'll... freeze you. If it can stop your disease, it can stop this."

Maria could only smile at the black hedgehog. Here she was, dying from a bullet wound, and he was still trying to do everything he could to protect her. That's just one of the things she loved about him.

"That... wouldn't work," Maria said, "... I wouldn't survive the trip back down... I'm sorry, Shadow."

"We have to try!" Shadow said he couldn't lose her. Tears were starting to develop in his eyes. This only caused Maria to smile even more, even though she could feel the pain increased.

"I'm... I'm glad to have met you Shadow," Maria told him, "I know Grandfather created you to heal me, yet, the more I spent time with you, the more I fell for you. I don't think that was what he had intended but... I... I love you Shadow."
She said it. She finally confessed her feelings towards the Mobian. She felt so silly waiting so long. Not to mention she always wondered if it would have ever worked out between them. She was human after all and he wasn't. But she didn't care. It was his humanity that she fell for, nothing else. Shadow, however, stood there, stunned. She actually cared that much about him. Sure, he wouldn't deny that he had strong feelings towards her as well. He just wanted to protect her with everything that he had and right now he was failing that very thing. He was going to lose the best thing that had ever happened to him.

"Maria I really care about you too," Shadow said, "That's why I can't lose you. Please, Maria get in the capsule with me."

Maria looked at him. She could hear the sounds from outside as the GUN soldiers weren't far from their door. Now, it was her turn to protect Shadow even if that meant doing what she was about to do.

" Ok," Maria said, " I have to set the coordinates Go ahead and wait for me on the platform."

Shadow didn't like the idea, as he wasn't sure if Maria would be able to walk that distance without help. But, he trusted her. He nods as he takes a step to the platform where the Capsule would come down. He turned around just as he heard Maria speak.

"I'm sorry "

With a push a of a button, the capsule closed around Shadow, causing him to Gasp in surprise.

"Maria?!"

He was trapped and there wasn't anything he could do about it. Not without damaging the platform.

"Shadow please don't hate me," Maria said and began to push some buttons on the console. The GUN soldiers were getting closer so she knew she didn't have much time, "But I want you to promise me something "

"Anything.. just please, don't do this," Shadow said knowing full well what Maria had intended to do.

"Promise me, that you'll forgive them," Maria said, "Everyone, deserves a chance to be happy. They they were just scared of what Grandfather was going to do. So please promise me."

"I " Shadow wasn't sure what to do at the time.

"Promise me!"

Maria was now desperate her finger on the button, but she was also just trying to stay conscious. Shadow could see this as he did the one thing that he could do.

"I I promise."

"Thank you "

Maria hesitated just looking at the black hedgehog tears flowing down her eyes. She didn't want to do this. But she had to save him. Yet, her strength was almost gone. So, she said one final thing.

"Sayonara, Shadow the Hedgehog."

Maria pressed the button. Shadow watched as she collapsed and a host of GUN soldiers came flooding in the room. But it was too late to stop Shadow as the capsule shot him out from the Ark and straight for the blue planet called Earth. Shadow just stood there, watching as the Space Colony Ark get smaller and smaller as he zoomed away from it. That was the place he was born, the only place he ever knew. Everyone he knew was now gone. All the Scientists were dead, he could only imagine what may have become of the Professor, and Maria...

As Shadow continued to watch the Ark grow smaller, his hatred only grew. They had taken everything from him. Yet, he remembered what he promised Maria. He promised to forgive them. But how could she expect him to do a thing like that? All for what? Because they thought the Professor was going back on their deal? Maybe feared what the Professor was capable of... or what HE was capable of. They didn't deserve to live. None of them did. Forgive them? No. What they did is unforgivable.

"I'm sorry Maria..." Shadow said as the space capsule continued it's course to Earth, "It looks like I'm going to have to break your promise."

Maria did say she was going to come with him. He didn't blame her as deep down, he knew that she wouldn't have made it. So he didn't see this as anything different than what he had done.

"But, I'm going to make you a new promise," Shadow said as the capsule entered the Earth's Atmosphere. Shadow could feel as the Capsule began to shake as it did. The entry wasn't going to be easy. But soon enough, the capsule made it through and was now heading down towards the Earth's surface. The Capsule was moving rather fast, almost too fast as with each passing second, the Capsule got closer and closer to the ground. Shadow could see this but he didn't care. He was the World's Ultimate Life Form, he'd survive. But before, what looked to be the inevitable crash, he said one final thing.

"For I promise you... Revenge!"

The Capsule hit the ground, crashing as things went tumbling around from the impact. It stayed mostly intact due to being made of some pretty tough material, but its lone occupant was tossed about violently. Soon, the capsule stopped. As Shadow predicted, he was survived, but he was left unconscious and he would remain in this unconscious state until he was woken up 50 years later by Maria's own cousin, Dr. Ivo Robotnik.