Thoughts of Obsidian
by the Shorai Saiyan

Chapter 8

Maria's Gift

It wasn't until Christmas that I got the chance to see Shadow again. Boy was it a suprise to see him!

The shuttle landed on the colony and I was escorted off as usual, but when Professor James greeted me at the landing bay instead of Grandpa and Shadow like I had expected, I got worried. Even more worried when James smiled and took my luggage for me. He even led me down the hall to my usual quarters where he opened the door. I stepped in and my jaw dropped.

Sitting on my bed was my grandpa and in front of him stood Shadow! My black hedgehog had grown to match my height. He had been given red and white shoes and white gloves to wear. He had developed crimson streaks up his arms and legs and a white tuft of fur on his chest. His ruby eyes held a new highlight of orange that sparkled as he smiled at my reaction, revieling glistening white teeth. I almost fainted at the change in him.

"Suprised, Maria?" He asked, his voice no longer that of a small child, but of a mature teenager; almost dark and quiet. I sat on the floor before I could fall over. My mouth felt like cotton, stomache turned upside down, hard to breathe. I cried and he couldn't figure out why. "What's wrong, Maria?"

"He ages more rapidly than we humans do. Just like a normal hedgehog. Last time you saw him, he was-- in his terms-- about six. Now, he's almost thirteen, but in our time, he's barely over a year old." My grandpa explained, gradually moving off my bed. I started to laugh, but at what, I had no idea. I just laughed.

"And you thought I was silly! What are you laughing at?" Shadow asked, crossing his arms and tilting his head to the side. I tried to anwer, but I couldn't through all of my laughter. Shadow shook his head and smirked at me.

The intercom buzzed for a second, calming me from my fit of laughter. Then a voice announced that the Christams dinner would be starting shortly. It was three days early! I pointed this out to my Grandpa.

"I know." He smiled. "We elected to move the dinner to today because most of the personelle are returning to Earth to spend the holidays with their families."

"That means I get the next seven days to do whatever I want." Shadow smiled, showing off his shimmering white fangs. I was glad to hear that I get to spend quality time with my Grandpa and Shadow, and a little curious to know what they kept Shadow up to while I was in school.

Grandpa cleared his throat, "I guess we'll leave you to get dressed and meet you outside the cafeteria."

"Okay. I'll be there shortly." I said quickly, popping the locks off my suitcase. I turned back to Shadow before he followed Grandpa out of my room. He paused and turned to me.

"I'm glad you're back, Maria." Shadow whispered. Something about that statment got me worried about him. I went over to him and hugged him. He hesitated in hugging me back, so I faced him.

"What have they done to you?" Shadow stared at me for a second before looking away. "Shadow?"

"I'm not supposed to tell you... I want to, but if I do, the Professor will... I can't. I'm sorry." At that instant, Shadow kicked on his new shoes and airbladed out of my room and was gone.

What had they done to him?

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Author's Note: I finally updated this thing! Actually, this chapter was lying arround in my computer for god knows how long. I just recently found it and finished it. But what do you think? R/R/F

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