Exhilaration. Pure exhilaration overwhelmed me as I set eyes upon the blue Chaos Emerald spoke to me in a voice that was very gentle, delicate and loving that I thought she might be back.

"Shadow?"

" Maria? Is it really you?" my voice was not near me, it was very far away, however closer than it had ever been. I timidly stepped forward, holding my hand to touch the Emerald. When my gloved hand touched the wondrous jewel, light brighter than I had ever known, erupted from that splendid gem, the Chaos Emerald, and my beloved Maria stood before me. Her beautiful blue eyes overflowed with tears, and she knelt down, (she had grown so tall!) and held me close, ma face close to hers.

"Shadow, oh Shadow, is it you? Or am I dreaming again?"

"No, Maria, it's me, Shadow the Hedgehog, the Ultimate Life Form. Maria, I have searched so long, and now I have found you. Maria…" My eyes filled to the brim with tears, filled with wasted years, futile efforts, evil deeds, and all hatred. They fell away with the tears, and I became a new hedgehog, reinvented. "Maria, you're back…"

"Oh, Shadow, Shadow, I'm not. Not really. Look…" I looked as she glanced toward where her cryogenic freezer, and she was still in the cold, unforgiving ice, her head still held purposefully held high, her lips faintly smiling…

"Wha—but I—how are you—" this could not be true, how could she be out with me, yet trapped in the frigid frost.

"Shadow," she leaned over and kissed my spiny forehead, "the power of the Chaos Emerald is letting me speak trough it. It is reading me, knowing my thoughts, projecting my semblance through, and allowing me to interact outside of my body. Shadow," her voice grew grim, her words meaning much, "you must hurry, you must find my grandfather, my chamber is deteriorating, it is falling apart, and –"

"Maria, I can't. Your grandfather is in prison. GUN arrested him when they took over the ARK, and it will be very difficult to get him here without breaking the law," It seemed strange now that when I had grown a conscience, it was when I needed to break the law the most. But no, Maria would not approve, and I had shed my darkness when the Chaos Emerald cast Maria into my world. I would do no evil.

"I don't care, I can't leave with just a taste of a new life with you. Get him here at all costs. Shadow, I know this enormously different from me, but I must get out, or I will die. I know it's very wrong, but it must be done. Please, I beg you Shadow…"

"But I know a fox, he's young, but he's very good with technology. Could I simply get—"

"No! My grandfather is the only one who can save me in time! Shadow, please, do this for me. We can live happily again." The thought of a simple life with Maria aboard the ARK was very alluring to me. I struggled with my inner demons, and I came to a conclusion:

"I will. I'll do it for you Maria."

… … …

It was lunchtime for Dr. Gerald Robotnik, possibly the greatest scientist this world had ever known. Now his world consisted of a straitjacket, whitewashed cinderblock walls, and a metal door with a barred window. Any human contact was pleasant by him; life in solitary was a lonely one, and even the contemptible snarl from the guard bringing his sandwich was welcome. He spent his many hours alone thinking of his life. Maria, Shadow, the ARK, but, alas, such memories were just that: memories. He would dream of getting revenge on this planet, on the people who had imprisoned him. He'd dream of the great things he could have done for life on this miserable planet, but mostly he dreamt of Maria, and life on the ARK. Now, his life was a dreary, woeful re-run: day after day the same old thing. He gladly accepted the sudden and unexpected company of a certain hedgehog, who showed up one day, interrupting the Professor's redundant life.

"Professor," I said. "It is good to see you. It has been so long, and I have searched for so long…"

"Shadow," said Professor Gerald, "Why have you come to visit me?"

"We don't have much time. I found Maria. She needs our help. Quickly, you must come with me."

"In case you haven't noticed, Shadow, I'm in solitary confinement in the middle of a military base, surrounded by soldiers, robots, and security cameras. They will notice if I disappear."

The Professor was being so difficult! I pulled out the blue Chaos Emerald, and Maria with it. "Grandfather, its me, Maria,"

"No, it can't be, can it?"

"It can and it is." I said. I looked him strait in his eyes, covered by his thick spectacles. "Maria needs you. If you don't do anything, she will die. Do you still want to stay here, or will you help her?"

He faltered, his words choked with tears, but his meaning very clear. "I will go. Maria will not die because of my inaction. Let's go."

Yes! Maria is going to live! "Thank you, Professor." Gripping the blue Chaos Emerald tightly, I called, as if a prayer of joy, "Chaos Control!"

Oh, yeah! Shadow is the best! He can do anything, if he puts his mind to it. I wonder if Professor Gerald can help like Maria says? (Evil laugh)

On a more serious note, this chapter was a real joy to write; it made me cry (see how much of a pansy I am? I make myself cry!). This chapter just jumped from my heart to my computer. I barely needed to change anything to satisfy myself with the story. You know what? I'm so full of emotion right now I'm not even going to yell at you all to review. Aw, who am I kidding? YOU NEED TO WRITE A REVIEW! I DON'T CARE IF YOU LOVED IT OR HATED IT LET ME KNOW! Sorry I yell so much, but you need to let me know if this story is worth writing.