Pain. A pulsing pain in my head woke me from my sleep. As my vision cleared, I saw the one thing I needed to see. "Maria…"

"Shadow! You're awake! Oh I'm so glad you're okay. Grandfather was afraid that you weren't going to make it…"

"Why? How long have I been out?"

"Two and a half weeks."

Two and a half weeks! That's even more time I lost that could have spent with Maria. I would no longer waste time. I was ready to be re-introduced to her and start my new life.

Only one thing stood in the way of our happiness: Dr. Eggman. Not long after I had regained my strength, the good Doctor paid me a visit, but it was not a normal check up. Instead of vaccines and medicines, he brought a giant hunk of metal, a flying behemoth to crush me to dust. However, the Doctor forgot to check his bolts for tightness, because all it took was a single homing attack to dislodge the claws. Perhaps he had not calculated for the anti gravitational battlefield he chose just outside that ARK, or that I would use the Chaos Emeralds to change into my super form.

As long as Maria and I are together, nothing else matters. We are the guardians of the ARK and of the Chaos Emeralds as one. Nothing can disturb the ARK, because the Professor has equipped the ARK with a shield powered by the Chaos Emeralds. He has also updated the weapons so that no matter how much or little warning that we have, we can defend the Chaos Emeralds with ease.

Sonic and his friends come and visit too. They have met Maria and have made friends with her as well. They add more meaning to both of our lives, and keep Doctor Eggman occupied down on earth.

Some may say that the life I lead is one that was wasted. Was it though? Eggman couldn't build another machine because he had nothing to power it. Tails, in secret, found a new energy source to power his little plane, and Maria is alive. What more is there to life?

As for me, I am content with the life I have chosen here upon the ARK. I am with Maria, and nothing else matters. I will protect the Emeralds and Maria until the day I die. And with that, the story of Shadow the Hedgehog ends.

Hi guys! It's Wiz again, here to thank you for your support. I'm glad you read my fanfiction, and just so you know, this is the first one I have completed! Woo hoo! But seriously, you still need to review because that is the right thing to do and stuff. Yeah.

Happy Spelling!

Wizard Typist