Chapter 9: A Little Piece Of The Past

Shadow and Elle appeared in front of the Capital City Building. A building that wasn't as much damaged as the other buildings around it. This building is what Shadow believes will help his young friend…

"So…why are we here?", asked Elle.

"This building has files of every legal person here in the nation", Shadow answered, "we'll have to search those files to help you find your family".

Elle smiled and nodded, "Alright…"

Shadow grabbed Elle and Chaos Controlled into the building. Where they landed was a guess, but it didn't bother Shadow. Once inside they ducked and waved their way toward the building's files. Upon reaching the room, Shadow and Elle looked at the door's locks. "We can't get in", Elle complained, though Shadow just smiled and broke the lock easily.

The two walked in and looked around. There were some computers to their right and a lot of cabinets to their left. "Elle", Shadow started to say, "Check the cabinets for any files concerning your family".

"And you?", Elle said, though she can tell by Shadow's expression she just asked a dumb question, she just smiled.

"I'll check the computers", Shadow answered still with his frown, "I believe there is still more to the Black Arm invasion that I still don't know".

"Alright then…", Elle said and walked toward the cabinets. Shadow continued to look at her for a moment until he finally turned around, "…Alright…let's get started". Shadow turned to the computers and noticed that they were still on, "Lazy humans", Shadow thought. Shadow sat down and began to search for some information regarding the invasion.

Shadow typed in "Black Arm Invasion" and began the search. He wasn't happy, as all it gave him is info he already knew. He frowned and then typed "Events Involving Shadow" and still he got info that was similar as before, though the sources were VERY wrong. He rubbed his head, "Damn it! Is there anything that will help me!". Shadow then typed in "Black Arm Leader".

Shadow smiled, he searched and finally found something that interested him. Suddenly Elle yelled, "SHADOW! LOOK! I found some-", Shadow rushed up to her and put his hand on her mouth. "Quiet!", Shadow said to Elle, he put his hand down and calmly asked, "What did you find?". Elle gave Shadow the files she had. Shadow looked through them, and was sure they found what they were looking for.

"Does it show where they are?", Elle asked awhile standing on her toes.

"Hold on…", Shadow said as he searched for their location in the files. Shadow looked over the files until his eyes focused on answer to Elle's question. He slowly lowered the file and looked at Elle, "…It says here…that they are…deceased".

"THAT CAN'T BE!", Elle yelled. She fell to her knees and began to cry. Shadow looked at her and then back to the files again. He decided to check the information on Elle that was sure to be on the file as well. What he found shocked him, on the same file it said "Family", a little bit lower was the girl's name…but to the side it said "deceased".

Shadow looked up at Elle, who was still crying on the her knees, and back to the file. He turned to the cabinets and searched for Elle's own file. He finally found it and opened it. It said it was updated a day after the Black Arm invasion started…it said the same as her parents files…it said she was deceased.

Elle looked up and asked, "What do you have their, Shadow?". Shadow looked down at the file and said, "Nothing…", he put back the three files of the family. Shadow walked up to Elle and dried her tears from her eyes, he finally said, "…I can't lie to you", he kneeled down and finally said, "I checked your file as well…it says you're deceased".

Elle looked at Shadow completely confused, "WHAT? How is that possible?".

"I'm just as confused as you", Shadow said standing up putting his hands on his hips.

Elle looked down confused at what she just heard. Shadow looked at Elle and then noticed a small black bag hanging on her side. Shadow pointed at it and asked, "What that?". Elle looked at Shadow and followed his finger to the bag. She opened it and pulled out a small box and finally said, "It's this weird little box…I can never open it".

Shadow motioned for her to give it to him. She obeyed and handed over the box to Shadow. He noticed a key was needed to open it, but it didn't bother him. He forced it opened with is bare hands even causing Elle to say, "Careful!". He opened it and gasped at what was inside. He took it out…it was a small necklace with a small little diamond handing from the chain. It had a familiar looking style of the letter "R".

"Maria…", Shadow whispered. He closed his eyes and remembered when Maria showed him the necklace…

----------

"What's that?", Shadow asked pointing to the necklace around his friend's neck.

"This?", Maria asked as she held the necklace in front of Shadow, "This belonged to my mother…who I didn't get to know too much because she died when I was young".

Shadow looked down, "I'm sorry for making remember such a painful memory".

"Don't be sad!", Maria said grabbing Shadow's hands, "It's okay! My grandfather always said to never think of the bad part of a memory, but think of the good things".

Shadow smiled, "Alright then". He looked up at Maria, "I'm glad you're my friend, Maria".

Maria smiled, "Shadow…someday I want you to have this necklace, okay?".

Shadow shook his head, "Okay…".

The two held hands and walked out of the room. He was very happy then…

----------

"Shadow?", Elle said shaking his arm.

"Hmm? What?", Shadow asked still holding the necklace in his hand.

"I think…we should join Sonic and the others", Elle said.

Shadow shook his head. Before he can prepare to use his Chaos Control, the door opened. Shadow got in a fighting position as Elle ran behind him. Through the door came the G.U.N Commander. He looked at Shadow, who became calm and stood straight up. The Commander smiled and asked, "Any reason why you are here?".

"I wanted to find where my mom and dad were, but we found they are dead", Elle said.

The Commander looked at Elle and said, "I'm so sorry…". He soon noticed the necklace Shadow had. He easily recognized and asked, "How did you get that necklace?". "Elle had it in box", Shadow answered, "I'm guessing one of the soldiers took it from Maria after they shot her". The Commander looked around a found a chair, he sat down and said, "Their was always a mystery to Maria's death. Shadow, maybe you could find out the truth!".

"Where at?", Shadow asked, really interested now.

Before the Commander could answered, Elle spoke up, "At the Robotnik family estate".

Shadow and the Commander looked at her. "How did you know that?", the Commander asked.
"I'm not sure…", Elle said.

Shadow looked at the necklace and then looked up, "We're going to find out! Where is the estate?".

"Berlin, Germany…", the Commander answered, "…the estate has all the files concerning the family".

Shadow closed his eyes, "Alright…Elle lets go!".

Elle held on to Shadow and closed her eyes. Shadow opened his eyes and asked, "Have you heard from Sonic yet?". "Yes…", the Commander answered, "We're going to be sending G.U.N forces to help them at the Glyphic Canyon".

"Elle and I will try to get there as fast as we can, alright?", Shadow said.

The Commander nodded and then saluted, "I hope you solve the mystery".

Shadow saluted and then raised his hand. He yelled his signature skill, "CHOAS CONTROL!", and disappeared. Elle and Shadow's next stop…his creator's home to undercover the truth of Maria…

As Shadow and Elle disappeared, the Commander looked at the computer screen that Shadow was using. He walked toward it and looked at it. The screen had information on the alien leader, Black Doom. It also said what they found when the leader fell after his fight with Shadow…nothing at all…

As I said last chapter, the next two chapters will be short. We're all one step closer to the end, so I hope you guys will enjoy the end I set up. As always, HAVE A NICE DAY!