Shadow's Life: Alternate Story.

Chapter 4

It was now bedtime for Shadow and Maria. Gerald had spent many hours since they arrived at the apartment, answering all Shadow and Maria's questions.

"Come on, it's time for bed." Announced the professor, as he directed Shadow and Maria to their bedroom.

The Newcomers of Earth then followed Gerald to a temporary bedroom. The room was a small room, that was almost completely bare except for the 2 single beds and a closet.

"Grandpa, where are all my books?" asked Maria, as she anxiously ran around the room, trying to locate the books that she owned on the Ark.

"Yeah, we need our bedtime story." Shadow declared as he joined Maria in the hunt for the books.

"I left all your books on the Ark." Replied the Professor. He now regretted leaving all the books on the Ark, he knew that Shadow and Maria would now both refuse to settle without a bedtime story.

"Why Grandpa?" asked the Young Girl, as a disappointed expression developed on her face.

"We can't sleep without our bedtime story." Declared the Ebony Hedgehog.

"I promise that when we move out of this apartment, I will get all your books off the Ark." Reassured Gerald, as he rubbed the back of his head.

"But, we can't sleep." Replied Maria, as she let out a sigh.

"I'm not going to bed!" Shadow exclaimed, as he folded his arms, and ran out of the bedroom.

"Shadow, get back here!" shouted Gerald, as he chased after his own creation.

Gerald knew that Shadow was not fully matured yet. He had just been created and was going to be very Childlike for the next few months, as he reached his maturity.

"You know me and Maria can't sleep without a bedtime story." Announced the newly created hedgehog, as he started running around the apartment. He bounced restlessly on the grey sofa that was in the tiny living room.

"Shadow, people in the other apartments are trying to sleep. If you go straight to bed right now, I will tell you and Maria a bedtime story." Declared Gerald, he was now feeling really frustrated by Shadow's behaviour.

Shadow then came to a halt; "Really?" Questioned the crimson-streaked Hedgehog, as he excitedly sprinted back to the bedroom.

"Yes, but you and Maria must climb into your beds first." Announced the Professor, as he watched the youngsters climb straight into their beds.

Gerald then took a deep breath before he began the Story; "Once upon a time, well not all that long ago, a girl and a hedgehog lived on a spaceship, called the Space Colony Ark..."

"Is this story about me and Shadow?" Maria asked as she jumped into the story.

"You will find out if you keep listening."

Gerald replied as he continued to tell the story; "The Girl had been very sick, but the Hedgehog had just made her better. So her Grandfather was now able to move back to Earth with her and the Hedgehog. Now that the Girl had been living in Space for such a long period of time, She had to learn to adjust to Earth with her Best Friend, he was the Hedgehog who had just made her better. She and the Hedgehog would face many challenges, as they adjusted to life on Earth, but the Girl knew that her Grandfather would help her and the hedgehog along the way. " Gerald then finished telling the story, as he caught his breath.

"What challenges do we face?" Curiously asked the Ebony Hedgehog.

"You will both face many challenges, as you both adjust to Earth." Replied Gerald, as he let out a yawn.

"Like What?" Maria asked again.

He let out a tired yawn as he responded, "You will discover the Challenges on your own."

"Will you really help me and Maria face the challenges?" Wondered Shadow.

"Yes I will, anyway Goodnight, we will talk more in the morning." Announced Gerald, as he turned out the light, and walked out of the Bedroom.

Gerald collapsed in bed. He felt very exhausted, after having to chase around after Shadow, and answering the constant string of questions that Shadow and Maria were always asking him. But His rest was short-lived. He was woken about an hour later to some very loud giggling that was coming from Shadow and Maria's bedroom.

The Professor got out of bed and headed to the Newcomers of Earth's room. He found that the light was back on, and then he discovered the friends running around the room, having a pillow fight.

"What are you both doing? It's getting late." Declared Gerald, as he sighed at the Friends.

"The noise outside is keeping me and Shadow awake, so we decided that if we can't sleep, we must play," Maria announced, as she gave her Grandfather a smile.

After living in the Ark, Maria and Shadow were not used to the noise of a city. They had both become very restless due to the unfamiliar noises that never stopped in a busy city. The Professor now knew that noise was going to be one of the many challenges that Shadow and Maria would now have to face.

"Now, this is one of your first challenges to face, the noise of the city." Responded Gerald, as he continued to yawn.

"How do we face the noise?" wondered Shadow, as Maria hit him with a pillow.

"I know a way, that will work tonight, but tomorrow you must face the noise." Announced Gerald, as he walked out of the room, then he returned a few minutes later with 2 sets of earmuffs.

He then gave a set of earmuffs to Shadow and Maria.

"Use these tonight, but you must try facing the noise tomorrow night." Declared the Professor, as Shadow and Maria put the earmuffs on.

"I will try." Replied Maria, as she climbed back under the blankets on her bed.

"Now both of you get some sleep, and I will take you both to a surprise location tomorrow." Announced Gerald, as he turned out the light, and left the room.

He then climbed into his own bed, where he instantly fell into a deep sleep. He knew that it would take a while for Shadow and Maria to adjust to nearly everything Earth had to offer.

Author Notes

I hope you all enjoyed reading chapter 4 of this story. Sorry for taking 2 months to update it, I was busy working on the other fanfics, and I was suffering from Writer's block for this story. Anyway, sorry if I make Shadow out of character. He has not faced the tragedy that happened on the Ark, so he does not need to be acting like a hedgehog who is suffering from PTSD.