Chapter 6

Battling monsters, aliens, robots and a fat man that was in the shape of an egg, there was a lot in this world that could surprise and shock Sonic the Hedgehog…

…that was until he met the girl on the ARK.

"You are…..no…but how?"

"Cryogenics," Maria said simply, "I was frozen for about 47 years and woke up about 3 years ago."

"I don't mean that…it's just…you were SHOT!"

"Yes Captain Obvious I was shot," Maria muttered, "I guess you know stuff about the ARK then?" Sonic nodded causing the girl to sigh. She pulled the collar of her shirt down to show on how close they were to being dead smack into her heart.

"The bullet was two inches from my heart. I'm extremely lucky the solider that was told to kill me had bad aim," she chuckled. Sonic looked over at Maria. The cheerful and happy go lucky girl of this morning had left and was replaced by one of sadness and depression. He walked over to the girl and grabbed her hand.

"Look on the bright side Maria, you're still alive."

"And what does that mean," she asked. The hedgehog gave one of his signature grins.

"It means this world still isn't done with you. Your time wasn't ending 50 years ago. You're here for a different reason. You just need to just jump in and make your mark in this place." His emerald eyes locked onto the sapphire blue ones of Maria's, her face no longer holding the frown but a small smile. She wrapped her arms around the hedgehog and hugged him.

"Thanks Sonic," she said her voice barely above a whisper, "that really means a lot to me."

"Aw don't sweat it," he said, "Oh and you're sticking with us. Knowing GUN…they'd have search units everywhere looking for you. Plus...Shadow normally runs into us…if he likes to or not." Maria's eyes lit up with that last statement.

"You mean you know about…"

"Yeah…Mr. Grumpyhog has a giant past of stuff…and he used to talk about it all the time…but he tends to keep everything now inside doesn't show anything. I think it's the amnesia…"

"Huh…wait, what amnesia?" Maria blurted out in confusion. Sonic looked at her.

"Yeah…he got better. Long story…had a bunch of aliens in there. But the point is we'll get you to him not matter what," Sonic yawned, "And with that…I'm heading to bed." Sonic bounded off into the house with Maria fallowing a few minutes later.

-XXX-

Sleep seemed to be a difficult task for Maria. The words that Shadow had said plagued her mind. Now that it was morning everything was starting to catch up with her and was trying her best not to fall asleep at the table. Sonic walked into the room carrying three bowls of…something and placed them on the table.

"What is this?" Tails questioned, swirling the slop with a spoon.

"Oatmeal," Sonic stated, "Eat up."

"You cooked this?"

"Sure did!"

"Not eating it," Tails said as he pushed the bowl away. Maria finally getting the strength to lift her head up to see Sonic, looking hurt over the fact no one was going to eat his cooking. The feeling of guilt washed over Maria. She grabbed her spoon and plunged it into the oatmeal and shoved it into her mouth. The taste burnt chalk covered her tongue causing her to gag, but she managed to swallow it and proceeded to drink a glass of water to try to get the taste out. Tails and Sonic looked at her in awe.

"Wow, you actually ate Sonic's cooking. You're really brave Mars," Tails gasped still in awe.

"How'd it taste?" Sonic asked, wide eyed and curious about his meal. Maria looked at him and shook her head.

"It tasted like burnt chalk," She said. The three looked at each and laughed as Sonic grabbed the bowls and threw out the oatmeal and started scrubbing out the pot.

"Glad I didn't eat it," Tails said, "Anyways, are we going to Angel Island today?" Sonic, who was full focused on getting the oatmeal pot clean, gave a thumbs to Tails.

"Kay I'll go get the Tornado ready," And with that, Tails was off. Maria watched the little fox run off towards the garage and walked over towards Sonic to help dry the dishes.

"You think it's a good idea not telling Tails?" Maria asked.

"Tails is smart, but he's also a kid" Sonic stated, not looking away from scrubbing out the pot, "He'll either figure out something is up or just accept you as who you are to him now as Mars." Taking his eyes away and looking at Maria, "Anyways you should go get dressed or shower or something." Maria nodded, grabbed her back pack and went upstairs.

-XXX-

Maria stretched as she walked towards the garage. Her blonde hair, braided down her back, glistened in the sun, wearing a pale blue t-shirt with a white tank top underneath. Black jeans soaked up the warmth of the morning and brown hiking boot complete with dry mud from her escape from home. As Maria gets down to the garage, she looks up at the plane.

"Everything going good there?" she asked. Tails popped his head out from the garage, wiping off the oil and grease from his face.

"Yep! We're going to leave here really soon, Sonic's on his way," Tails said as he starts to get into the cockpit of the plane.

"Uh…how do I get up and in the plane?" Maria asked. She had never seen a biplane before and had only been in a commercial jets 3 times in her life. To her, flying was an extremely new experience. Tails jumped down on to the bottom wing and extended his hand.

"Let me help, you just climb up and jump into the passenger pit," Tails said as he helped pull Maria up.

"But…where's Sonic going to sit…"Maria asked. Tails shrugged.

"Where he normally stands...on the wing. Anyways go sit."

Maria didn't think twice on that order and went to the back in which the passenger pit was. She clicked on the seat belt as the engine started to roar and the plane started to move. Maria closed her eyes as the wind brushed past her face. She opened her eyes as the plane took off, seeing the ocean down below…

And then a loud thunk came from above.

"WAHHH," Maria screamed, ducking for cover from the loud noise. Tails didn't seem fazed of the noise.

"Nice landing," He said.

"Eh…7.5," Sonic said unimpressed.

"You're a JERK!" Maria screamed

-XXX-

Angel Island, a floating island in the sky and something Maria had never seen. The vast green plains seemed to be endless until they reach the mountains. Waterfalls drained down into the sky, giving the floating island and misty effect to it.

"Whoa," Maria awed as she climbed out of the plane. Tails fallowed suit as Sonic was already off and running about. Her eyes, trying to look at everything at once, finally locking on to a big structure that looked like a shrine of some sort. She ran up to the shrine and looked up at it. The stairs seemed to go on forever; the markings on the stone walls seemed to tell a story. As Maria started her climb up the stairs, a shimmer of light came from the top.

"What's that?" Maria thought as she looked up at the shimmering light.

Sonic finally took some notice of what was going on and saw Maria climbing up the shrine steps. Sonic sighed and decided to catch up to her as she reached the top.

Maria looked at what was the shimmering light. The giant emerald seemed to just sit in place and seemed to spin.

"Wow, that a big emerald," Maria said, examining the big gem.

"Yep, that's the Master Emerald alright," Sonic said, causing Maria to jump.

"When did you get here?" Maria stammered out.

"30 seconds ago," Sonic shrugged, looking around for something or someone, "Now where is that Knucklehead…?" Maria just rolled her eyes and went back to gazing at the giant emerald, over whelmed with the feeling of two different types of presence in it. She reached her hand and touched the gem.

"If your hand is not off the Master Emerald in the next five seconds, I will break it."

The statement was so cold and aggressive sounding Maria took her hand off it immediately and looked to see what was talking to her. Her eyes landed on the bright red echidna, his indigo eyes showing that he was ticked with her for touching the gem.

"There's the Knucklehead I know," the hedgehog exclaimed too excitedly, "Did you ditched your duties of guarding the emerald again?" he teased causing the echidna to snort.

"The only time I leave the island is when YOU need me to help you save the day from Eggman's latest scheme of sorts," he looked over at the girl, "and you know better than anyone, hedgehog, that humans are not prohibited on the island, ESPECIALLY nowhere near the Master Emerald." Sonic glared at Knuckles, finally having enough of being scolded for bringing Maria up was officially ready to spar against the echidna.

"We didn't want to leave her alone Knuckles, so stop being so…so DUMB!"

Maria smile slightly as the other two whipped around to see Tails standing there. The fox kit looked upset over their fight. He walked over to Maria, but stopped in front of Sonic.

"You know better than to pick fights," Tails sternly said. Sonic nodded. Tails looked over at Knuckles.

"You barely know Mars Knuckles. You just judge her because she's human," he looked over at Maria, who was smiled at him, "Just give her a chance." Knuckles nodded and mumbled something that sounded like "fine".

-XXX-

When everything calmed down, the echidna seemed very quiet and docile. The only thing that seemed to aggravate him would be the blue hedgehog. After of morning of nothing but having fun the early afternoon came and three left on the plane taking a different route home.

"What do you call a country that only as pink cars?" Sonic asked excitedly. Maria looked at him and shrugged.

"I don't know what do you call a country that only has pink cars Sonic?" Tails questioned.

"A PINK CARNATION!" Sonic yelled. Tails just shook his head as behind him Maria busted a gut from laughing so hard.

"That was bad."

"I know it was, but yet it was so funny," Maria chimed in when catching her breath. The three of the started to laugh again when the loud BANG filled the air and smoke started to come out of the plane.

-XXX-

In the middle of a clearing of a wooden area stood the Tornado 2, and three bewildered comrades looking over it.

"You made sure EVERYTHING was in working order before we left buddy?" Sonic asked. Tails looked over at Sonic completely stumped on what just happened.

"I triple checked everything Sonic; you know I wouldn't allow the Tornado out if I didn't. Everything was fine before we left. I don't know what happened," the sheer panic on fox's voice indicated that he was honestly lost on what to do. Maria looked at the two.

"Okay," She said, her voice causing the other two to look up, "We're going to need at least give Tails time to figure out what happened. While he's doing that, why don't you and I Sonic go look around and see if we can find help." The other two nodded as Tails gave Sonic a walkie talkie.

"Keep in touch," Tails said and went back to the plane as the other two went off.

-XXX-

"Were you taught defensive training…considering you lived with a GUN Soldier?"

Maria rolled her eyes. Five minutes away from Tails and the questions started, "No, though Nokia did teach me how to use fire arms…defensive training was done then ARK…grandpa hated the fact I could knee drop people."

Sonic cocked his head to the side in confusion.

"Oh…"Maria stammered, "Shadow and I worked out a system up there. He taught me how to defend myself and I taught him how to play the violin." This cause Sonic to giggle as the edged their way out of the wooded area…

Which in turned caused Maria to freeze at the site of her high school…

In the middle of Station Square.

-XXX-

AN: I honestly can't tell you why this took so long. I feel bad. But I'm make to kick some butt with this fanfic! I hope enjoy and do leave a review.

Darko's Moonlight 91 OUT…and going to work!