(I DON'T OWN SHADOW, THE ULTIMATE LIFEFORM, ALREADY! SONIC TEAM DOES!)

Maria Hedgehog

Age: 21

Species: Hedgechidna

Eyes: Green

Hair: Black w/ Red streaks

Skin: Green

Teeth: Fangs

Role: Sonic's sister

Personality: Enraged easily

Elements: All

Main Elements: Fire & Darkness

Ring, Ring, Ring

I picked up the phone.

"What is it? It's 2:46 a.m."

"Maria! I need you! There's been a huge disaster here on earth and no one can remember what happened! Bring all the Black Hearts! What in the…"

The line went dead.

"Shadow!"

I got dressed and alerted the team.

"What time is it? Did your boyfriend say he needed help again?"

Breeze was never a morning person.

"He's not my boyfriend. Besides, wouldn't you go if Xipho called?"

I glared.

"Probably not."

Breeze took a sip of her coffee.

"Ugh!"

"What happened?"

Stella, the youngest, only 14, looked at Tiavinah in search for comfort.

"Earth's in trouble… again. Maria, I think you're being a bit extreme with this. You dream about the guy every night, you could have dreamt the whole conversation."

Tiavinah looked weary.

"But…"

The team went back to their rooms.

I went back to bed but couldn't get any sleep.

All I could think about was how much I missed Shadow. Sure, I missed Sonic, but he's my brother. Shadow's friendship with me was different. It wasn't one sided. If I was ever in need of anything he'd come. I repay him by coming when he calls.

Ring, Ring, Ring

I picked it up.

"Hello!"

"Where are you, Maria?"

"It's all a dream."

"What!"

"I'm not really talking to you. I'm dreaming."

"Well this is one heck of a dream. Did Breeze say not to come?"

"They all did."

"Well, I guess it's decided then."

"Shadow, I miss you so much."

"I miss you too, Maria."

He hung up.

I sat on the line for I don't know how long.

"Please hang up and try again. Please hang up and try again. Please hang up and…"

I smacked the receiver onto the charger and lay down on my bed.

I, Maria, born of fire, empress of darkness, lay on my bed crying like a 2 year old.

Why did I have to leave the team, leave Sonic, leave Shadow?

Why wasn't I helping them right now?

"Oh, Shadow…"

"You're going to have to get over him at one point, Maria."

Breeze entered the room.

"I don't want to get over him! I just want to see him again!"

"You will, in time."

"If I'm his freakin' empress why are we parsecs away from each other?"

"It's like you said, Maria, he's not your boyfriend. He's your guy friend. It'll be easier to get along than you think."

"Easy for you to say, you hate him!"

"That's not the point."

"Just go away."

"You can't continue to live in the past."

"Breeze, I'm not! He's not dead, he's alive. He's on earth fighting evil, without me! He calls me every day! You and Xipho can stay together 'cause you're official! But I have limited ways of keeping in touch with Shadow!"

"IF YOU'RE SO FREAKIN' WORRIED ABOUT THE GUY, WHY DON'T YOU JUST PULL HIM OUT OF REALITY!"

Breeze stormed off.

"Omigosh, Breeze, you're a genius! Breeze?"

I shrugged.

I concentrated hard on Shadow.

Eventually I was able to pull him out of reality and into my mind.

"Shadow!"

"Maria!"

"Shadow, I can't believe it's you!"

I ran up and hugged him.

"Oh, Shadow. I've missed you!"

"Who gave you the idea to pull me out of reality?"

"Breeze."

"Breeze did? Wow."

"What's happening on earth? Is your physical being fine? What about Sonic?"

"We don't know. Somehow a bunch of people went missing and when they came back they didn't know who they were or anything. All we know is they all have A-shaped scars on their backs. My physical being is just fine. Last time I checked Sonic was trying to perfect his burping skills."

"A-shaped scars, Hm… I'm not sure what that would mean."

"Maria?"

Someone called from outside my mind.

"I gotta go."

"Figured."

"Call me."

"When haven't I?"

I giggled.

"Maria?"

Stella came and sat next to me.

"What's Shadow like?"

She was so young, so innocent, her gaze just about tore me up inside.

"Shadow and I look a lot alike."

I said it in chunks, searching for the right words.

"Such as, our hair, black with red streaks. And our, teeth, we have fangs."

"I have fangs!"

Stella looked happy to know there were others like her.

"We tend to get overly emotional, angry mostly."

"Same here!

She smiled.

"We don't take advantage of one another; we're… friends, really close friends."

"Sonic said Shadow was incapable of emotions such as love."

"He is capable of anger therefore he is capable of love. My dad once told me that.

I miss my dad. I haven't seen him since I was 6. He still calls me his little girl and he hasn't missed one of my birthday parties."

"I wish I had that kind of relationship with my parents."

"I'm sure it's doable."

"I'm not."

"Hey, you're our little ball of sunshine here at the Black Hearts. Don't get all mad just 'cause of your parents. And, hey, I can't stand my mom! If it makes you feel better, go against every rule they set for you and I'll make sure nothing bad happens."

Stella laughed then she sighed.

"Thanks, Maria, for everything."

"No prob., little star."

Stella left the room.

I felt happy about being able to make a difference in Stella's life.

But, I still couldn't deny my aching to find Shadow, see him in person.

To tell him how I felt.

To tell him…

Whoa there!

Tell him what?

There's nothing here to tell him!

He's doing fine at the Sonic Team and you're doing fine in the Black Hearts.

Everybody wins.

I don't!

I wanna see him!

I wanna know he's safe!

I don't feel right waking up without him being just a wall away.

Not know ing if he's alright.

We haven't gotten into 1 single fight since I left.

I can't even get mad at him any more!

I used to be a pro at that!

Sigh.

I turned over onto my stomach.

I pressed my head into my pillow and screamed.