Thankyou for choosing to read my story. If I made any mistakes, I'm sorry, cause I just checked over this story about a million times. Well please review!

I was falling… My body burned… My heart was pounding… I couldn't take it. I wanted to die, but this death was too slow and painful. I couldn't stand it! Looking around with the last of my strength, I saw the stars, and the brightest one: ARK. Right then, I noticed a white light flowing around in front of me. My body stopped falling and I floated in space while the illumination took figure of a juvenile girl no older than twelve.

"Shadow…" she said in a soft voice. I knew that voice.

"Maria?" I spoke as the figure showed her twelve year old form. I saw a gentle smile appear on her face. Somehow I found strength to stand. I walked up to her.

Light tears fell from the young woman's eyes. She bent down and wrapped her arms around me. "Shadow, I missed you…"

"Maria?" I looked at her.

When she was done, she stood up. "Shadow, you are not to die yet."

"What?" I gave her a depressed look. "I kept your promise…"

She smiled lightly. "Yes I know, and I'm so proud of you but," She looked down to Earth. "Not everyone is happy."

"What do you mean? I stopped ARK from colliding. I changed from bad to good… What else do they need?"

She looked at him sternly. "You alive…"

"Wha--? Maria, no… I wanna be with you!" I shouted.

She collapsed to her knees in front of me. "I told you, it's not your time. Someone down there needs you. Besides if you die now, you'll go to hell."

"Okay…" I then immediately threw my arms around her. "I'll miss you, Maria." I whispered.

"I'll miss you too." she placed her hands on my shoulders and pulled me away. "Sayonara, my friend. I'll see you sometime again." I nodded.

When she disappeared,my world turned black and I passed out.

(A beautiful day in May)

I was so tired and weak. All my energy was gone. "Oh god." I groaned out in pain. I noticed the TV was on, but then it was either muted or turned off.

Then Iheard small footsteps walk towards me. Suddenly there came a light 'oof'. I guess whoever stood next to me, sat down. I couldn't take it no more. I wanted to get up. I wanted to move, so I tried the first thing that came to my mind.

"Where am I?" I spoke still having my eyes closed and still on the bed.

Suddenly a girlish giggle sounded. "My house, silly."

I so badly wanted to beat this person up for not being descriptive. Right away I sat up and looked over to see a childish rabbit smiling at me.

"Miss Amy said you'd act this way when you woke." she smiled.

"Amy?"

Flashback

ARK space colony-

"Look, it's Shadow!" she saw him looking out the space colony window and ran over to him. "Shadow we need you! Please help us!" she begged.

The black hedgehog responded in his usual dark voice. "It's all going according to plan… Besides, there's no way to save anyone."

"There has to be! I know that people fight over the most trivial things, but some people may be selfish, like the Professor said. But they try their best and never give up on living. That's why you should help them out. Saving them is a good thing. Shadow I beg of you, please help us."

Shadow has a flashback of Maria

A tear falls from Shadow's eyes as a smile appears on his face.

"Shadow?" Amy asked worried.

"I have to keep my promise to Maria… and you." and he ran towards the centre of ARK.

End Flashback

"She found you in the Mystic Ruins. Miss Amy had no room for you in her house, because she thought you would freak out if you saw too much pink." she stopped and took a breath. "So she asked if you could stay here and I didn't mind."

I was speechless. 'Why would they care so much about me?'

(days later)

After laying on the couch a few days, I realized I had to get moving. So I found all my strength and went for a walk. Leaving the Rabbits while they weren't looking.

While walking around, everything seemed sodifferent. I never actually got tosee the real Earth.I saw people walk beside me.ButI knew theystill hated me. As I would walk past them, they would either turn away or whisper to someone they had next to them. I also got glares from everyone I walked past. I hated it, and they knew, so they continued.

I thought I would have been liked since I saved the Earth helping the faker. Well, I guess it was my fault, but I did right my wrongs.

I couldn't take it no more, so I turned around back to the rabbit's house. So wanting to get out of the house, and not even asking her name. I returned to her house and opened the door revealing the rabbit watching a kiddie show on TV.

"Hello, Mr. Shadow!" She chimed out as she watched me enter. I just stared at her.

"So you got a name?" I asked coldly.

She giggled girlishly. "I'm Cream." she stood up and walked over to me. Ijustnoticed how much shorter she was to me. Cream looked up and spoke, "I'm only six." Suddenly Vanilla walked in.

"You're back." She smiled at me. "Are you hungry? I can make you something if you are."

I shook my head and she left back to the kitchen.

Cream took my hand. "Mr. Shadow, I wanna show you my house."

"Uh, that's okay. You don't-"

She cut him off. "Yes I do!" she looked at me. "What if you get hungry and you can't find the kitchen?"

"Heh, I think I'll be fine." Suddenly I felt myself being pulled around the house.

Five minutes later, "This is my room." she smiled. It didn't have much. It's walls were light blue along with a light pink carpet floor. In the corner was a small bed with a pink blanket. A small doll house sat in another corner. Next to it was a basket of dolls. The basket looked like a picnic basket with a handle. Pictures of her and her friends lined her walls. And a stuffed Easter rabbit sat up against her bed.

She looked at me. "I don't have much stuff, but I like what I got."

I looked at her. She shut her door and walked to her mom's room. When she arrived she opened the door. "This is my mommy's room. You can't go in it though. Only she can." she walked to a different room. "This will be your room. Mommy doesn't want you sleeping on the couch, so you have to stay in this room." Inside the room walls were a pale tan and the floor was a dirty brown. It had a bed and a brunette coloured closet. "It's not much but you can do whatever you wantwith it."

I walked in the room and sat on the bed. Cream walked in. "Are you okay, Mr. Shadow?"

I forced a smile but I could tell she knew it was fake by the way she frowned at me. I stood up and walked downstairs towards to kitchen and saw cooking. Cream followed me in. "Do you want something to eat?" I shook my head and continued walking to the front door.

Suddenly I heard a voice behind me. "You're leaving?" I turned around and bent down to Cream's height.

"Well Cream, I can't stayhere forever. I'll be back, but later on." I patted her on the head and walked off.

(June)-a month later

I built a small place in the Mystic Ruins. And was out running a lot. But I knew the rabbit missed me so I had to return to her and Vanilla's house.

I reached their house and knocked on the door. There was no answer. I knocked again. Nothing. So getting impatient, I opened the door and looked inside. The house was empty. I walked in and went upstairs. I opened the young rabbit's door and saw her playing with dolls. Her back was towards me. I walked in and sat down beside her.

"What'cha doin'?" I said. Cream immediately jumped from fright. And left out a small scream. She ran turned towards me; tears were in her eyes.

"Shadow?" she called out. "Are you gonna stay here, now?" she gave me a sad look.

"Well," he smiled. "Okay." Cream hugged him.

"Thanks Mr. Shadow."

During the summer, everyone had many picnics, but the one Shadow and Cream will always remember the one when Cream pledged him as her best friend.
(December 10th)

"Uh, Cream?"

"Yes Mr. Shadow?" she spoke while still watching TV.

"I've gotta go help Sonicstop Eggman. Do you think you'll be okay by yourself? Since your mom's gonna be leaving for work soon?"

"Yeh, Mr. Shadow." and I immediately left.

...Somewhere I belong

(A little later)

"Cream!" Vanilla called

"Yes, mommy?" she said while watching TV.

"I'm going to work. I'll be back in six hours."

"Mommy, be careful! There's a blizzard coming later!"

"Don't worry, Sweety! I'll be back." and she left.

Hope ya liked! I'm gonna continue with another chapter later.