Maria stood there, she felt hot and cold at the same time, her body
couldn't move the image kept playing over and over again of what her sister
said to her, she bit her lip the only thing she could do, her body wouldn't
allow herself or cry or move. 'She's gone and I'm all alone now...with no one
here...she left me to...why is everyone leaving? Why is everyone going away?
Maybe she'll come back she's probably just unconscious' Knuckles noticed
her aura was faintly glowing black now, instead of the fierce white it had
been, the child looked lost and confused. Amy went over to Maria, "Maria?"
Maria didn't answer, "Maria?" She asked again, Maria looked up at her tears
were slowly forming, "She's just resting right Amy? She'll come back
right?" Amy looked at the child sadly, and knelt down a bit, so her eyes
were making contact to Maria, "Maria, Crystal is in a better place now
where Robotnic can't get to her." Maria's eyes widened, "You're lying she
said she would never leave me alone, never ever. And she promised, she
would never brake a promise." Amy looked away she couldn't look at Maria's
face, she just couldn't tell the child her sister was dead. Maria looked at
her sister and tried to shake her, "Wake up Crystal, you gotta wake up you
said everything would be okay. And your never wrong c'mon wake--" Maria
never got to finish her sentence because a green beam shot from the sky to
Maria and she began to float up she screamed and then everything went black
for her.
Sonic, Knuckles, Tails, and Amy looked up and saw the Egg Carrier 2, Eggman seemed to have reconstructed it and had now taken Maria. His voice boomed through the intercom, "Poor wittle girl cant handle her sister is dead, oh well this girl will be more useful. I have both hedgehogs, Shadow and now Maria. Soon both will be part of my army." Then the Egg Carrier zoomed off towards the east. "Shadow?" Sonic asked looking surprised as everyone else. Amy looked at Tails, "We have to go after them!" Tails looked at her if she was crazy, "Amy the Tornado doesn't have enough fuel-" "THEN GET SOME MORE I AM NOT LOSING MARIA AGAIN!" Amy screamed, Knuckles looked at her, Amy was now panting then she looked at the ground, "I'm sorry Tails, but we'll have to find them, and soon okay? I'll bury Crystal..." Sonic looked at Crystal, "I'll help to." He picked Crystal up and Amy and him started to jog away. Tails sighed, "I never saw Amy so upset..." Knuckles shrugged, "You already know where Eggman is going don't you?" Tails nodded, "We need to fix the tornado, he's going to the Mystic Ruins."
*Meanwhile* Shadow paced about his cage, he had been found by Eggman and he had put him in this cage, Shadow grumbled something, 'that faker doesn't even know I am alive, Hmph.' He heard the doors swish open and Eggman laughing, "Your sister is now dead-" "No she's not! You are lying." Shadow saw a small hedgehog girl Eggman was holding her by the cuff of the neck, "She is, I killed her, I was supposed to kill you, but your sister saved you how sweet." "SHUT UP!" The little hedgehog girl screamed, "She isn't dead she promised me she would never leave me alone and she never brakes a promise." Eggman smirked, "Life isn't about promises and friendship and all of that garbage its about power and money and lies. Now get over it. You whiny little brat." The little hedgehog girl bit his arm, and he let go of her and she started to run away, Eggman swore under his breath, "Robots get her!" The little girl saw the two robots coming towards her she dove under the small space, and the robots couldn't turn because both of them took so much room up, Eggman swore again, "Stupid child she isn't as fast as Sonic, but she may be a bit smarter, but I'm one step ahead of her." He pushed a red button, "Metal Sonic find and bring me that small hedgehog female! Now!" "Yes Master Robotnic." Metal Sonic's metallic voice rang out Shadow grimaced and thought of him beating the pulp or machinery out of him. Eggman sat down in a comfy chair next to Shadow's cell, and turned on the cameras and watched the hedgehog girl open and close doors, Metal Sonic saw her, and she closed a door and locked it. Metal Sonic blasted the door open, in the room the little child was holding a small gun, she blasted it and Metal Sonic became paralyzed. She went over to him, and opened his circuit box and pulled out a few random wires she dropped the gun and ran out of the room. Shadow was smirking ear to ear, "So Doctor how does it feel to be outsmarted by a little five year old girl?" "She's seven, but she wont live her victory for long," he turned and two robots came out, they were not as fast as Metal Sonic nor smart, "Destroy." They both chanted, Eggman pointed to the screen, "Bring me that girl alive, you may hurt her, but make sure she is alive!" The robots zoomed out the door, Shadow turned his attention to the screen, and saw the little girl crying, she was sitting behind some crates, "Did you really kill her sister in front of her?" Eggman laughed Shadow wanted to punch him very badly, "Quite, her sister was half robotized anyway, so I tortured little Maria's sister until her heart failed from the stress and pain. It was entertaining while it lasted..." Shadow looked at him and his attention went back to the screen, the little girl was holding her knees to her chest, he saw an infer red light she sat still, she held her breath, and when the light was gone she sighed, suddenly there was a blast from the crates and the girl went flying to the wall she was knocked unconscious. Both robots took her by each arm and zoomed out of the picture, soon they heard a metallic clicks of wheels, and the girl was thrown down to Eggman's feet, "Good work." He picked her up and threw her in the cell across from Shadow's and left the room, Shadow looked at the girl questionally and then leaned up against the wall and closed his eyes.
Sonic opened his eyes and looked over at Amy she was crying, he wished he could have said something but he couldn't. She looked up and wiped her tears away. She and Sonic started to walk away from the site, but then there was a bright light it held Tikal and Crystal.
Knuckles looked at the sunset, and Tails was finishing up touches on the Tornado, he and Sonic were to share the space Sonic would usually have and Amy would sit. Tails looked at Knuckles, "What's wrong?" "I dunno I feel like I'm missing something and I don't like that feeling." Knuckles growled. Tails shrugged, "C'mon, let's go pick up Amy and Sonic." Knuckles nodded and they both went in the plane, and it took off.
Shadow awoke to the sound of crying, he saw the little hedgehog girl was awake he looked at her and noticed how scared and lonely she looked. He became nervous he wasn't good with conversation, but before he could say anything the door slid open, and a robot came, the little girl stopped crying and hid under the bed, the robot looked from Shadow's cage to the girls when it couldn't see her it looked down, Shadow knew the girl was scared of the robot, she was after all only seven. The doors slid closed and the girl came out looking back in fourth through the hall way, and went on the cement bunk bed and looked out the window, "Mister how near are we to heaven?" The child asked looking over to him Shadow looked at the child, "Heaven?" "You know where good people go when they die, I want to go visit my sister I miss her." Shadow looked at the girl, and decided to play along, "Yea kid we are pretty close but in this ship we cant get out easily." The girl hopped off the bunk bed, and looked at him, "You're Shadow aren't cha? I've heard about you, you helped Sonic save the world." Shadow looked at the child, "And how do you know about me?" "My friend told me her names Ana Maria. She's my friend but she went away when that guy captured me saying that she had to go." Shadow looked at the child, "What's your name?" "Maria sir." "Sir?" "That's what I have to address everyone as other wise I get beaten." Shadow looked at he child, "Why do you put up with it?" Maria looked at her feet, "The guy said he would provide my sister with the best health and doctors available and he did so I figured a little scratched wouldn't hurt but now she left me all alone. And when we finally found Amy and we met a new friend." Shadow looked at the girl sadly, "What about your mom and dad?" "Robotized by that guy they died in the process he hadn't perfected the machine or something." Shadow looked at her, "So your sister was your only friend?" "Yea she said we would go up in the sky and go to the beach and she would teach me how to swim and make sand castles." Shadow sighed, "You know she's always with you right?" The child looked at him if he was crazy, "Where?" She asked. "In your heart, you and her will always love each other." Maria nodded, but before she could respond the door slid open, Metal Sonic appeared, and seemed to glare at Maria, "Doctor Robotnic wants to see you now." He said in his cold and metallic hateful voice. Maria looked at him, "How about later? You sorta look like Sonic cept he doesn't have metal skin and red eyes." "The doctor wants you now." He repeated. "No." Maria answered simply, "I have nothing he would want." Metal Sonic was getting angry now, he changed his hand into a cannon and fired it inches away from Maria's face, Maria yelped and hid under the bed, Metal Sonic fired again except at the bed, and the bed disintegrated, Maria looked into Metal Sonic's eyes, "Why are you so mean?" She asked he looked at her, "Because I can be." He shot at her again her arm was injured and now was bleeding, "That hurts! You are such a bully leave me alone!" Maria cried, Shadow was angered, 'Robotnic knows she's defenseless so why rub it in? She cant run that fast and she's trapped in a small space...unless he only brought her here to kill her to show the faker he was in charge.' He saw Metal Sonic fire again he missed and he blew a hole in the wall, the wind howled in pulling everything out, Maria clung to one of the bars, and Metal Sonic put his cannon in front of her face, Shadow froze, 'He wouldn't...' Metal Sonic fired, but there was no sign of Maria she had already let go, and was heading towards the ocean. Her hair was in her face she slowly closed her eyes and let her body go limp, she felt her dress flap against her ankles and a single tear fell from her face before she hit the water.
Tikal and Crystal smiled at Sonic and Amy, Crystal gave a wave while Tikal greeted them, "It is very nice to see you all again." Tikal said warmly, "Unfortunately we have no time for talking about." Crystal turned to Amy, "First of all I'm giving Maria in your supervision Amy, and please protect her. Second save her from Eggman. She is in deep trouble you see he needs her life force to reactivate an ancient power that was lost in the Mystic Ruins. Maria and I are the only ones that know how to unlock it. But if she is forced to unlock it terrible things shall happen." Tikal nodded, "A shadow of despair will always hang over the world giving evil a greater chance." Crystal sighed but continued, "You must no let Maria get anywhere near ten feet of the alter. Please she might lose her life in the process." Both figures began to disappear, Sonic looked frantic, "WAIT! PLEASE TELL US TWO THINGS! IS SHADOW REALLY ALIVE? AND ARE THEY BOTH ALRIGHT?" Tikal smiled, "Yes, and I'm not sure, Shadow is fine but I cannot sense Maria anymore." They disappeared in a flash of light, and Amy stood there, "Sonic what if something horrible happened?" Sonic couldn't answer he heard the engine of the Tornado, and told Amy to step back, as the Tornado landed they began to tell Tails and Knuckles what had just happened.
Maria felt the salty and cold water immerse her, she began to sink all of the air was out of her body, she began to drown but for some reason she did not care, she felt all of her worries go down the toilet but then she saw Amy's face her hurt face and new energy leaped in her. She opened her eyes they stung a bit but she could still see, she struggled to a small island ahead about twenty feet away she saw the ship landing so she did not go on shore instead she went to a mouth of a cave under water, thankfully there was an air tunnel that went to the surface, she heard voices, "Search every piece of this island she couldn't have gotten far." She heard foot steps, and she heard another voice she recognized it as Metal Sonic's, "Yes Master," she heard him zoom off. She heard another voice but she couldn't make out what they were saying so instead she sat in the cove drying off, she guessed it was around nighttime because the sun didn't come through the little hole. She fell asleep, the next morning she heard angry voices, "What do you mean you couldn't find her?" It was Eggman's voice, Metal Sonic's voice sounded annoyed, "Well Master she probably drowned on impact with the water." "FIND THE BODY THEN!" Metal Sonic dove into the water, she heard Eggman's footsteps go about, "Hard help, Hmph, I suppose you find this amusing Shadow?" There was no response, Maria couldn't hear any because she felt cold wet hands wrap around her mouth and her body, Metal Sonic gave a low hiss, "I was searching all night for you. And where do I find you? Right below our feet, you are stupider then you look." "Why?" She managed to get out. "No questions." Metal Sonic hissed, his cold fingers now wrapped around her neck, and he raised the other hand to the top of the cave and put out a warning shriek and blasted the cannon, Maria bit her lip. As Metal Sonic jumped up, she felt sick. She saw the sun, and squinted for a little bit then her eyes focused to see Shadow in a cage and Eggman catching some rays, "Dr Robotnic I have found her." He threw her down in the sand, to his feet, Eggman looked down on her, "You thought you could get away did you?" "No." Maria replied quietly, "I thought I could die." Eggman looked at her and scowled, and slapped her, "Don't be fresh you have set us back a whole day." Maria looked up at him, "Sorry, didn't know there was a schedule." Eggman growled, "Didn't your worthless sister each you any manners?" Maria looked up at him, "She wasn't worthless! She was really good at everything! So stop insulting her!" Eggman spat in the girls face, "Keep thinking that and maybe it will come true. You're just as worthless as your sister!" "If I'm so worthless then why do you keep lookin for me?" Maria cried. Eggman looked at her and then glared, Metal Sonic was looking from girl to Eggman. Shadow kept his eyes on Maria. Eggman stood there for the longest time, and Maria started to back away, "Well tell me!" Maria demanded still staring at Eggman, "I want to know why you want me so much! You killed my only friend so you could get to me!" Maria was in tears, "TELL ME!" she screamed, tears falling down her face, the sky rumbled and clouds appeared, rain began to fall and the little girl stood there, "WHY!" she screamed a lightening bolt came and snapped a palm tree in two behind her, the wind started to blow, Maria's face was stained with tears, "You cant think of a reason can you? A reason that has no selfish desire. You shall pay for what you have done Doctor Robotnic, as my last act in protecting this child you shall pay dearly." Maria's voice was gone replaced it, there was a wise and frightening voice.
Eggman backed away, "We aren't even there yet, how is it possible?" Maria was glowing white, wings sprout from her back, her dress became white, and her fur became white as well her blue eyes were blazing with hatred. A sword came from nowhere, the girl had sandals, and she began to spin the sword. "You have taken everything from this child and now Eggman I'll take everything from you." Her sword began to glow and she went further up into the air then began to do a spiral down, she went straight through Eggman's ship, she did it twice more quickly to. The ship blew up not even a metal fragment was left there was only a few pieces of glass. She turned to Shadow and cut his chains and shackles. She tore the cage apart. Next she turned to Eggman, "All of the robots you have created are gone as your ship." Metal Sonic looked at her, his blazing red eyes did not show anything, he wasn't being shut down. All of the other robots were destroyed, now Maria looked at Robotnic, and sneered, "You have nothing now but the disloyal piece of junk, I warn you Eggman you seek her power but she can only use it twice. Even though I am not her guardian another is seeking her. And when they find her they will hurt you badly. Not kill because the three hedgehogs, and echidna and the fox that seeks her out. Will come together and make sure you pay dearly." The light around Maria started to fade, the wings disappeared, the sword went away, but her dress was different. She was wearing light blue jeans and a top with ancient designs on it. She wore the same sandals; she began to fall from the air. Shadow panicked and ran as fast as he could, he caught her in time. Her fur was now a light brown, and she was unconscious. Her limp body was in his arms he suddenly felt something, 'what is it about this child that is so familiar?' His thoughts were broken, "Shadow give the girl here. Now." Shadow looked up, "Why should I?" Eggman sneered, "Do you intend to die soon?" Shadow put the girl gently down, and faced Eggman, "And why would you think that?" Shadow sneered, "You have nothing to threaten me with except that piece of junk you call the faker's counter part." Metal Sonic stood there and charged at Shadow, who dodged, Eggman pulled a rifle and aimed it at the girl lying motionless on the ground. 'If I cant have the power...no one will.' He pulled the trigger, Shadow and Metal Sonic were entangled in fighting, Shadow looked up and saw the bullet, it was going for Maria but there was nothing he could do. He tried to get away but Metal Sonic had his arms wrapped around Shadow's neck. Eggman began to laugh, Shadow felt cold, he saw the blood trickling down the child's back, and he had shot her. Shadow felt anger rush over him, he pulled out of Metal Sonics grip and punched him. He ran over to the girl, he put his head down to her chest, he felt tears coming on. 'I barely even knew her...so why am I crying? She barely said ten words to me...' he remembered how she had asked if they were close to heaven because she missed her sister. He saw the bullet it wasn't in to deep, he removed his gloves and carefully took out the bullet, and he saw some leaves and put it over her wound and tied it together with his glove. He picked her up and he felt a burst of energy go through him he began to run, he went in a cave he didn't bother to go into the cart, he just ran. He stopped and noticed a huge drop he carefully went down the ladder and began to run into the Mystic Ruin's forest. He saw a temple, 'To obvious' he saw a little creek and followed it to a little space he looked around and jumped over some poison ivy, he noticed it was a small space between the many trees and bushes, he must have run past it a million times. He laid the child down and took some leaves from the branches and lied them down like a bed. He picked up the child, and laid her down. He sat down on a near by tree and leaned up against the trunk he fell asleep.
"...and that's what they both said." Amy finished. Knuckles frowned, "That's it?" Sonic nodded, "So have any idea where-" Amy looked up and shouted. "The Mystic Ruins! Sonic it all makes sense! Besides Chaos there is another creature another of darkness and Maria is the only one left who can release it! But if she's-" "Not forced then she can bring out a creature of ultimate good." Tails finished, Amy glared, "I was getting to that.." They all hopped into the plane and flew off towards the Mystic Ruins.
Shadow woke up to the sound of giggling, he opened one of his eyes partly, he saw Maria up holding a butterfly looking at it with great curiosity, it flew from her hands onto her nose making her sneeze a bit. The butterfly flew off, Maria looked over to Shadow, and noticed he was awake, "Hi ya!" she said happily, she looked around, "Where are we and where is Eggman?" Shadow had both of his eyes open now but still was sitting, "You don't remember?" Maria shook her head, "Nothing bad happened right?" Shadow looked at her, "Not much we escaped when Eggman was...speaking to himself." "Oh okay. Shadow?" He looked up, she looked at him, "Why do people hurt one another?" Shadow looked at her and sighed, "They sometimes lose sight of what's important." Maria sat down next to him cross-legged, "What is important?" "Friendship, love, all that stuff." Maria looked at him, "Are you mad?" she asked, he turned to her in surprise, "Why would you think that kid?" "I dunno. You just seem angry." He looked at her, "I'm not angry don't worry and if I was it wouldn't be you I would be angry at." Maria bobbed her head up and down, "Oh okay, anyway I found this pretty jewel. See? It's blue!" She showed Shadow and his eyes widened, "Where did you find that?" "In the bush over there I didn't go far I was scared I would get lost." Shadow looked at her, she handed the emerald over to him, "You should have it." She said happily, Shadow looked at her, "Why?" "Cuz I dunno what to do with it. And you know what it is. I don't wanna break it." Shadow for the first time smiled a bit, 'I know who she reminds me of! She reminds me of...me...except I'm a friend to her that knows everything. Ironic.' Maria looked up suddenly, "Shadow? What's that sound?" He listened and noticed it was like a plane, and then he saw something that confirmed his anticipation "Hide!" He pulled her into a bush, and they both hid there. She looked up, "Shadow? What's going on?" He looked at her, "If we stay quiet nothing okay?" She nodded, both of them stayed quiet as the plane descended, Eggman stepped off of it, and so did Metal Sonic. "Go and check the temple!" he commanded, Metal Sonic zoomed off, Eggman paced about, Maria tugged on Shadow's shoulder, he looked at her, she pointed to something, it looked like another plane, he squinted, 'Is that...' Maria smiled, and whispered, "Shadow it's Sonic and Amy!" He nodded he felt cold and numb Maria held her arm it still had one of his gloves on it, she quietly took it off and handed it back to him, the wound was gone. "Ana Maria healed it for me." The other plane landed taking sight of Eggman, Sonic jumped from the plane as did Knuckles, "Where is she Eggman?" Sonic demanded, Eggman turned, "Hello Sonic, and you to Knuckles. To be quite frank I haven't the slightest clue." Amy and Tails had landed the plane, Amy brought out her hammer, and whacked Eggman on the head making him fall, "Where is Maria you self centered pig!" she screamed, "My sister had better be alright or else Eggman!" Amy screamed again raising her hammer, but Metal Sonic punched her in the stomach, Maria's eyes widened, "AMY!" she screamed, she ran from the bush to Amy, Amy looked at Maria from her position on the ground, "Your okay...your okay thank god!" Metal Sonic made a dash for Maria, Shadow felt anger go over him, he ran at full speed bashing Metal Sonic away from Amy and Maria. He turned to Eggman, "Looks like the spirit was right!" "Metal Sonic! Bring her to the temple now!" Metal Sonic recovered and shot at Shadow it missed and then it shot at Amy but missed purposely, in the confusion he grabbed Maria who screamed and ran to the temple, "I don't think so!" Sonic cried running after the misshapen robot, Shadow began to run to and caught up to Sonic, "Hello Faker, bye faker." He held out the Chaos Emerald, "CHAOS CONTROL!" he shouted, he ran in front of Metal Sonic and grabbed a shaking, and crying Maria from his hands. Sonic curled into a ball and attacked Metal Sonic, he went right through him in the stomach Metal Sonic fell down and as he hit the ground he blew up. Shadow looked down to Maria, and saw something, 'No!' There was a dart in her arm, and she was shaking all over and her pupils were dilated. She screamed, and Sonic looked up, Shadow took the dart there was a note attached to it, Sonic read it, "If I can't use her power than no one can. That way Sonic and Shadow there wont be anything left for her to turn to but the darkness. Eggman!" Shadow put the girl down, and she opened her eyes for a moment, "Shadow help me, and it hurts a lo-" She screamed in pain again. Sonic was shaking, he noticed something there was an alter and they were on it, his eyes went into shock, Maria began to glow, and she closed her eyes her hair going wildly in every direction her limp body began to float everything was white, even her eyes, she started to dance, in the air Sonic and Shadow watched the mural began to glow and a monster looking like a snake a rose except it was made of shadows and it's eyes were slits of red, it roared. The temple crumbled Shadow and Sonic couldn't get to Maria they tried but soon were covered by the rocks that were falling down, the thing started to slither out of the temple, leaving it in ruins.
Sonic, Knuckles, Tails, and Amy looked up and saw the Egg Carrier 2, Eggman seemed to have reconstructed it and had now taken Maria. His voice boomed through the intercom, "Poor wittle girl cant handle her sister is dead, oh well this girl will be more useful. I have both hedgehogs, Shadow and now Maria. Soon both will be part of my army." Then the Egg Carrier zoomed off towards the east. "Shadow?" Sonic asked looking surprised as everyone else. Amy looked at Tails, "We have to go after them!" Tails looked at her if she was crazy, "Amy the Tornado doesn't have enough fuel-" "THEN GET SOME MORE I AM NOT LOSING MARIA AGAIN!" Amy screamed, Knuckles looked at her, Amy was now panting then she looked at the ground, "I'm sorry Tails, but we'll have to find them, and soon okay? I'll bury Crystal..." Sonic looked at Crystal, "I'll help to." He picked Crystal up and Amy and him started to jog away. Tails sighed, "I never saw Amy so upset..." Knuckles shrugged, "You already know where Eggman is going don't you?" Tails nodded, "We need to fix the tornado, he's going to the Mystic Ruins."
*Meanwhile* Shadow paced about his cage, he had been found by Eggman and he had put him in this cage, Shadow grumbled something, 'that faker doesn't even know I am alive, Hmph.' He heard the doors swish open and Eggman laughing, "Your sister is now dead-" "No she's not! You are lying." Shadow saw a small hedgehog girl Eggman was holding her by the cuff of the neck, "She is, I killed her, I was supposed to kill you, but your sister saved you how sweet." "SHUT UP!" The little hedgehog girl screamed, "She isn't dead she promised me she would never leave me alone and she never brakes a promise." Eggman smirked, "Life isn't about promises and friendship and all of that garbage its about power and money and lies. Now get over it. You whiny little brat." The little hedgehog girl bit his arm, and he let go of her and she started to run away, Eggman swore under his breath, "Robots get her!" The little girl saw the two robots coming towards her she dove under the small space, and the robots couldn't turn because both of them took so much room up, Eggman swore again, "Stupid child she isn't as fast as Sonic, but she may be a bit smarter, but I'm one step ahead of her." He pushed a red button, "Metal Sonic find and bring me that small hedgehog female! Now!" "Yes Master Robotnic." Metal Sonic's metallic voice rang out Shadow grimaced and thought of him beating the pulp or machinery out of him. Eggman sat down in a comfy chair next to Shadow's cell, and turned on the cameras and watched the hedgehog girl open and close doors, Metal Sonic saw her, and she closed a door and locked it. Metal Sonic blasted the door open, in the room the little child was holding a small gun, she blasted it and Metal Sonic became paralyzed. She went over to him, and opened his circuit box and pulled out a few random wires she dropped the gun and ran out of the room. Shadow was smirking ear to ear, "So Doctor how does it feel to be outsmarted by a little five year old girl?" "She's seven, but she wont live her victory for long," he turned and two robots came out, they were not as fast as Metal Sonic nor smart, "Destroy." They both chanted, Eggman pointed to the screen, "Bring me that girl alive, you may hurt her, but make sure she is alive!" The robots zoomed out the door, Shadow turned his attention to the screen, and saw the little girl crying, she was sitting behind some crates, "Did you really kill her sister in front of her?" Eggman laughed Shadow wanted to punch him very badly, "Quite, her sister was half robotized anyway, so I tortured little Maria's sister until her heart failed from the stress and pain. It was entertaining while it lasted..." Shadow looked at him and his attention went back to the screen, the little girl was holding her knees to her chest, he saw an infer red light she sat still, she held her breath, and when the light was gone she sighed, suddenly there was a blast from the crates and the girl went flying to the wall she was knocked unconscious. Both robots took her by each arm and zoomed out of the picture, soon they heard a metallic clicks of wheels, and the girl was thrown down to Eggman's feet, "Good work." He picked her up and threw her in the cell across from Shadow's and left the room, Shadow looked at the girl questionally and then leaned up against the wall and closed his eyes.
Sonic opened his eyes and looked over at Amy she was crying, he wished he could have said something but he couldn't. She looked up and wiped her tears away. She and Sonic started to walk away from the site, but then there was a bright light it held Tikal and Crystal.
Knuckles looked at the sunset, and Tails was finishing up touches on the Tornado, he and Sonic were to share the space Sonic would usually have and Amy would sit. Tails looked at Knuckles, "What's wrong?" "I dunno I feel like I'm missing something and I don't like that feeling." Knuckles growled. Tails shrugged, "C'mon, let's go pick up Amy and Sonic." Knuckles nodded and they both went in the plane, and it took off.
Shadow awoke to the sound of crying, he saw the little hedgehog girl was awake he looked at her and noticed how scared and lonely she looked. He became nervous he wasn't good with conversation, but before he could say anything the door slid open, and a robot came, the little girl stopped crying and hid under the bed, the robot looked from Shadow's cage to the girls when it couldn't see her it looked down, Shadow knew the girl was scared of the robot, she was after all only seven. The doors slid closed and the girl came out looking back in fourth through the hall way, and went on the cement bunk bed and looked out the window, "Mister how near are we to heaven?" The child asked looking over to him Shadow looked at the child, "Heaven?" "You know where good people go when they die, I want to go visit my sister I miss her." Shadow looked at the girl, and decided to play along, "Yea kid we are pretty close but in this ship we cant get out easily." The girl hopped off the bunk bed, and looked at him, "You're Shadow aren't cha? I've heard about you, you helped Sonic save the world." Shadow looked at the child, "And how do you know about me?" "My friend told me her names Ana Maria. She's my friend but she went away when that guy captured me saying that she had to go." Shadow looked at the child, "What's your name?" "Maria sir." "Sir?" "That's what I have to address everyone as other wise I get beaten." Shadow looked at he child, "Why do you put up with it?" Maria looked at her feet, "The guy said he would provide my sister with the best health and doctors available and he did so I figured a little scratched wouldn't hurt but now she left me all alone. And when we finally found Amy and we met a new friend." Shadow looked at the girl sadly, "What about your mom and dad?" "Robotized by that guy they died in the process he hadn't perfected the machine or something." Shadow looked at her, "So your sister was your only friend?" "Yea she said we would go up in the sky and go to the beach and she would teach me how to swim and make sand castles." Shadow sighed, "You know she's always with you right?" The child looked at him if he was crazy, "Where?" She asked. "In your heart, you and her will always love each other." Maria nodded, but before she could respond the door slid open, Metal Sonic appeared, and seemed to glare at Maria, "Doctor Robotnic wants to see you now." He said in his cold and metallic hateful voice. Maria looked at him, "How about later? You sorta look like Sonic cept he doesn't have metal skin and red eyes." "The doctor wants you now." He repeated. "No." Maria answered simply, "I have nothing he would want." Metal Sonic was getting angry now, he changed his hand into a cannon and fired it inches away from Maria's face, Maria yelped and hid under the bed, Metal Sonic fired again except at the bed, and the bed disintegrated, Maria looked into Metal Sonic's eyes, "Why are you so mean?" She asked he looked at her, "Because I can be." He shot at her again her arm was injured and now was bleeding, "That hurts! You are such a bully leave me alone!" Maria cried, Shadow was angered, 'Robotnic knows she's defenseless so why rub it in? She cant run that fast and she's trapped in a small space...unless he only brought her here to kill her to show the faker he was in charge.' He saw Metal Sonic fire again he missed and he blew a hole in the wall, the wind howled in pulling everything out, Maria clung to one of the bars, and Metal Sonic put his cannon in front of her face, Shadow froze, 'He wouldn't...' Metal Sonic fired, but there was no sign of Maria she had already let go, and was heading towards the ocean. Her hair was in her face she slowly closed her eyes and let her body go limp, she felt her dress flap against her ankles and a single tear fell from her face before she hit the water.
Tikal and Crystal smiled at Sonic and Amy, Crystal gave a wave while Tikal greeted them, "It is very nice to see you all again." Tikal said warmly, "Unfortunately we have no time for talking about." Crystal turned to Amy, "First of all I'm giving Maria in your supervision Amy, and please protect her. Second save her from Eggman. She is in deep trouble you see he needs her life force to reactivate an ancient power that was lost in the Mystic Ruins. Maria and I are the only ones that know how to unlock it. But if she is forced to unlock it terrible things shall happen." Tikal nodded, "A shadow of despair will always hang over the world giving evil a greater chance." Crystal sighed but continued, "You must no let Maria get anywhere near ten feet of the alter. Please she might lose her life in the process." Both figures began to disappear, Sonic looked frantic, "WAIT! PLEASE TELL US TWO THINGS! IS SHADOW REALLY ALIVE? AND ARE THEY BOTH ALRIGHT?" Tikal smiled, "Yes, and I'm not sure, Shadow is fine but I cannot sense Maria anymore." They disappeared in a flash of light, and Amy stood there, "Sonic what if something horrible happened?" Sonic couldn't answer he heard the engine of the Tornado, and told Amy to step back, as the Tornado landed they began to tell Tails and Knuckles what had just happened.
Maria felt the salty and cold water immerse her, she began to sink all of the air was out of her body, she began to drown but for some reason she did not care, she felt all of her worries go down the toilet but then she saw Amy's face her hurt face and new energy leaped in her. She opened her eyes they stung a bit but she could still see, she struggled to a small island ahead about twenty feet away she saw the ship landing so she did not go on shore instead she went to a mouth of a cave under water, thankfully there was an air tunnel that went to the surface, she heard voices, "Search every piece of this island she couldn't have gotten far." She heard foot steps, and she heard another voice she recognized it as Metal Sonic's, "Yes Master," she heard him zoom off. She heard another voice but she couldn't make out what they were saying so instead she sat in the cove drying off, she guessed it was around nighttime because the sun didn't come through the little hole. She fell asleep, the next morning she heard angry voices, "What do you mean you couldn't find her?" It was Eggman's voice, Metal Sonic's voice sounded annoyed, "Well Master she probably drowned on impact with the water." "FIND THE BODY THEN!" Metal Sonic dove into the water, she heard Eggman's footsteps go about, "Hard help, Hmph, I suppose you find this amusing Shadow?" There was no response, Maria couldn't hear any because she felt cold wet hands wrap around her mouth and her body, Metal Sonic gave a low hiss, "I was searching all night for you. And where do I find you? Right below our feet, you are stupider then you look." "Why?" She managed to get out. "No questions." Metal Sonic hissed, his cold fingers now wrapped around her neck, and he raised the other hand to the top of the cave and put out a warning shriek and blasted the cannon, Maria bit her lip. As Metal Sonic jumped up, she felt sick. She saw the sun, and squinted for a little bit then her eyes focused to see Shadow in a cage and Eggman catching some rays, "Dr Robotnic I have found her." He threw her down in the sand, to his feet, Eggman looked down on her, "You thought you could get away did you?" "No." Maria replied quietly, "I thought I could die." Eggman looked at her and scowled, and slapped her, "Don't be fresh you have set us back a whole day." Maria looked up at him, "Sorry, didn't know there was a schedule." Eggman growled, "Didn't your worthless sister each you any manners?" Maria looked up at him, "She wasn't worthless! She was really good at everything! So stop insulting her!" Eggman spat in the girls face, "Keep thinking that and maybe it will come true. You're just as worthless as your sister!" "If I'm so worthless then why do you keep lookin for me?" Maria cried. Eggman looked at her and then glared, Metal Sonic was looking from girl to Eggman. Shadow kept his eyes on Maria. Eggman stood there for the longest time, and Maria started to back away, "Well tell me!" Maria demanded still staring at Eggman, "I want to know why you want me so much! You killed my only friend so you could get to me!" Maria was in tears, "TELL ME!" she screamed, tears falling down her face, the sky rumbled and clouds appeared, rain began to fall and the little girl stood there, "WHY!" she screamed a lightening bolt came and snapped a palm tree in two behind her, the wind started to blow, Maria's face was stained with tears, "You cant think of a reason can you? A reason that has no selfish desire. You shall pay for what you have done Doctor Robotnic, as my last act in protecting this child you shall pay dearly." Maria's voice was gone replaced it, there was a wise and frightening voice.
Eggman backed away, "We aren't even there yet, how is it possible?" Maria was glowing white, wings sprout from her back, her dress became white, and her fur became white as well her blue eyes were blazing with hatred. A sword came from nowhere, the girl had sandals, and she began to spin the sword. "You have taken everything from this child and now Eggman I'll take everything from you." Her sword began to glow and she went further up into the air then began to do a spiral down, she went straight through Eggman's ship, she did it twice more quickly to. The ship blew up not even a metal fragment was left there was only a few pieces of glass. She turned to Shadow and cut his chains and shackles. She tore the cage apart. Next she turned to Eggman, "All of the robots you have created are gone as your ship." Metal Sonic looked at her, his blazing red eyes did not show anything, he wasn't being shut down. All of the other robots were destroyed, now Maria looked at Robotnic, and sneered, "You have nothing now but the disloyal piece of junk, I warn you Eggman you seek her power but she can only use it twice. Even though I am not her guardian another is seeking her. And when they find her they will hurt you badly. Not kill because the three hedgehogs, and echidna and the fox that seeks her out. Will come together and make sure you pay dearly." The light around Maria started to fade, the wings disappeared, the sword went away, but her dress was different. She was wearing light blue jeans and a top with ancient designs on it. She wore the same sandals; she began to fall from the air. Shadow panicked and ran as fast as he could, he caught her in time. Her fur was now a light brown, and she was unconscious. Her limp body was in his arms he suddenly felt something, 'what is it about this child that is so familiar?' His thoughts were broken, "Shadow give the girl here. Now." Shadow looked up, "Why should I?" Eggman sneered, "Do you intend to die soon?" Shadow put the girl gently down, and faced Eggman, "And why would you think that?" Shadow sneered, "You have nothing to threaten me with except that piece of junk you call the faker's counter part." Metal Sonic stood there and charged at Shadow, who dodged, Eggman pulled a rifle and aimed it at the girl lying motionless on the ground. 'If I cant have the power...no one will.' He pulled the trigger, Shadow and Metal Sonic were entangled in fighting, Shadow looked up and saw the bullet, it was going for Maria but there was nothing he could do. He tried to get away but Metal Sonic had his arms wrapped around Shadow's neck. Eggman began to laugh, Shadow felt cold, he saw the blood trickling down the child's back, and he had shot her. Shadow felt anger rush over him, he pulled out of Metal Sonics grip and punched him. He ran over to the girl, he put his head down to her chest, he felt tears coming on. 'I barely even knew her...so why am I crying? She barely said ten words to me...' he remembered how she had asked if they were close to heaven because she missed her sister. He saw the bullet it wasn't in to deep, he removed his gloves and carefully took out the bullet, and he saw some leaves and put it over her wound and tied it together with his glove. He picked her up and he felt a burst of energy go through him he began to run, he went in a cave he didn't bother to go into the cart, he just ran. He stopped and noticed a huge drop he carefully went down the ladder and began to run into the Mystic Ruin's forest. He saw a temple, 'To obvious' he saw a little creek and followed it to a little space he looked around and jumped over some poison ivy, he noticed it was a small space between the many trees and bushes, he must have run past it a million times. He laid the child down and took some leaves from the branches and lied them down like a bed. He picked up the child, and laid her down. He sat down on a near by tree and leaned up against the trunk he fell asleep.
"...and that's what they both said." Amy finished. Knuckles frowned, "That's it?" Sonic nodded, "So have any idea where-" Amy looked up and shouted. "The Mystic Ruins! Sonic it all makes sense! Besides Chaos there is another creature another of darkness and Maria is the only one left who can release it! But if she's-" "Not forced then she can bring out a creature of ultimate good." Tails finished, Amy glared, "I was getting to that.." They all hopped into the plane and flew off towards the Mystic Ruins.
Shadow woke up to the sound of giggling, he opened one of his eyes partly, he saw Maria up holding a butterfly looking at it with great curiosity, it flew from her hands onto her nose making her sneeze a bit. The butterfly flew off, Maria looked over to Shadow, and noticed he was awake, "Hi ya!" she said happily, she looked around, "Where are we and where is Eggman?" Shadow had both of his eyes open now but still was sitting, "You don't remember?" Maria shook her head, "Nothing bad happened right?" Shadow looked at her, "Not much we escaped when Eggman was...speaking to himself." "Oh okay. Shadow?" He looked up, she looked at him, "Why do people hurt one another?" Shadow looked at her and sighed, "They sometimes lose sight of what's important." Maria sat down next to him cross-legged, "What is important?" "Friendship, love, all that stuff." Maria looked at him, "Are you mad?" she asked, he turned to her in surprise, "Why would you think that kid?" "I dunno. You just seem angry." He looked at her, "I'm not angry don't worry and if I was it wouldn't be you I would be angry at." Maria bobbed her head up and down, "Oh okay, anyway I found this pretty jewel. See? It's blue!" She showed Shadow and his eyes widened, "Where did you find that?" "In the bush over there I didn't go far I was scared I would get lost." Shadow looked at her, she handed the emerald over to him, "You should have it." She said happily, Shadow looked at her, "Why?" "Cuz I dunno what to do with it. And you know what it is. I don't wanna break it." Shadow for the first time smiled a bit, 'I know who she reminds me of! She reminds me of...me...except I'm a friend to her that knows everything. Ironic.' Maria looked up suddenly, "Shadow? What's that sound?" He listened and noticed it was like a plane, and then he saw something that confirmed his anticipation "Hide!" He pulled her into a bush, and they both hid there. She looked up, "Shadow? What's going on?" He looked at her, "If we stay quiet nothing okay?" She nodded, both of them stayed quiet as the plane descended, Eggman stepped off of it, and so did Metal Sonic. "Go and check the temple!" he commanded, Metal Sonic zoomed off, Eggman paced about, Maria tugged on Shadow's shoulder, he looked at her, she pointed to something, it looked like another plane, he squinted, 'Is that...' Maria smiled, and whispered, "Shadow it's Sonic and Amy!" He nodded he felt cold and numb Maria held her arm it still had one of his gloves on it, she quietly took it off and handed it back to him, the wound was gone. "Ana Maria healed it for me." The other plane landed taking sight of Eggman, Sonic jumped from the plane as did Knuckles, "Where is she Eggman?" Sonic demanded, Eggman turned, "Hello Sonic, and you to Knuckles. To be quite frank I haven't the slightest clue." Amy and Tails had landed the plane, Amy brought out her hammer, and whacked Eggman on the head making him fall, "Where is Maria you self centered pig!" she screamed, "My sister had better be alright or else Eggman!" Amy screamed again raising her hammer, but Metal Sonic punched her in the stomach, Maria's eyes widened, "AMY!" she screamed, she ran from the bush to Amy, Amy looked at Maria from her position on the ground, "Your okay...your okay thank god!" Metal Sonic made a dash for Maria, Shadow felt anger go over him, he ran at full speed bashing Metal Sonic away from Amy and Maria. He turned to Eggman, "Looks like the spirit was right!" "Metal Sonic! Bring her to the temple now!" Metal Sonic recovered and shot at Shadow it missed and then it shot at Amy but missed purposely, in the confusion he grabbed Maria who screamed and ran to the temple, "I don't think so!" Sonic cried running after the misshapen robot, Shadow began to run to and caught up to Sonic, "Hello Faker, bye faker." He held out the Chaos Emerald, "CHAOS CONTROL!" he shouted, he ran in front of Metal Sonic and grabbed a shaking, and crying Maria from his hands. Sonic curled into a ball and attacked Metal Sonic, he went right through him in the stomach Metal Sonic fell down and as he hit the ground he blew up. Shadow looked down to Maria, and saw something, 'No!' There was a dart in her arm, and she was shaking all over and her pupils were dilated. She screamed, and Sonic looked up, Shadow took the dart there was a note attached to it, Sonic read it, "If I can't use her power than no one can. That way Sonic and Shadow there wont be anything left for her to turn to but the darkness. Eggman!" Shadow put the girl down, and she opened her eyes for a moment, "Shadow help me, and it hurts a lo-" She screamed in pain again. Sonic was shaking, he noticed something there was an alter and they were on it, his eyes went into shock, Maria began to glow, and she closed her eyes her hair going wildly in every direction her limp body began to float everything was white, even her eyes, she started to dance, in the air Sonic and Shadow watched the mural began to glow and a monster looking like a snake a rose except it was made of shadows and it's eyes were slits of red, it roared. The temple crumbled Shadow and Sonic couldn't get to Maria they tried but soon were covered by the rocks that were falling down, the thing started to slither out of the temple, leaving it in ruins.