Shadow watched from a distance as the battle unfolded, and for a moment, he was almost impressed that the villains' plan was working. But then Sonic got an idea that involved some odd structure that Shadow could have called modern art without taste- he only knew it was supposed to be a bookcase because he had seen an advert for it in some spam he happened to get out in the ruins. From there, the battle turned back into Sonic's favor to the point he could have Eggman on his knees; that was when Shadow decided to take some action and knocked Sonic off and away from Eggman.

"Pathetic." Shadow muttered as he gave a nasty glare to the mad doc. "Even with all this help, you still couldn't defeat Sonic."

With that, Shadow and Sonic went into a one on one battle that was both equal and opposite. Doctor Eggman tried to get close to the battle, to watch them like a circus show, to which Shadow knocked the doctor's carrier out of the way before going back into battle with Sonic.

It still didn't stop that moron.

Shadow only stopped attacking Sonic to look at Eggman. "Get out of the way you buffoon." the black hedgehog demanded, allowing time for Sonic to hit him. Shadow crashed through some house, but he walked off the pain to start back again. He took Sonic up by his scarf then used enough velocity to send the two flying in the air; Sonic was able to get a hold again before the two started to plummet back down to the earth, causing Shadow to land into the horribly built bookcase.

"Hey!" Sonic said, almost sounding upset, "We worked all day on that!"

"Your shoddy craftsmanship brings shame on all hedgehog kind." Shadow smirked. "And for that, you shall perish..."

In a flash, Shadow disappeared from the spot and reemerged to punch Sonic into the air before he could even react. Another flash and Shadow kicked the blue pest back to the ground, leaving nothing more than a large impact mark from Sonic's fall. Of course, Doctor Eggman had to ruin it all.

After muttering something about victory, the doc attempted to take of picture of the two, forgetting that he had left the flash on. The flash blinded Shadow for long enough that Sonic was able to make a come back attack.

"You fool!" Shadow hissed at Doctor Eggman with anger. "I had him just where I wanted him!"

"Sorry!" Doctor Eggman replied in a tone that almost wasn't apologetic at all, "That one's on me Shadow. Forgot to turn off the flash… The pic looks great though if it's any consolation!"

"Enough!" Shadow declared, "How's a guy supposed to destroy his foes with dolts like you wandering around?!" and with an unnerved eye roll, Shadow turned to Sonic. "We'll meet again soon Sonic," Shadow promised, "But next time, on my terms."

Leaving on that note, Shadow teleported out of the village and back to the ruins. Whatever pain he felt from the battle he simply shook off.

Maria was never going to associate with that moron when she finally woke up. Ever.

With a yawn from a good fight that didn't quite go in his favor, Shadow cracked his knuckles as he went to the computer console to get out the codes once again. Everything seemed to be fine, maybe even better than fine.

Near the console, a type of Ancient music player he happened to dig up was playing the Nutcracker suite; the song in particular being the Waltz of the Snowflakes. She really liked that piece- once saying that it described what it felt in her illness quite well. She also liked the Pas de Deux, a. Intrada too for the way it sounded so calming yet a bit bittersweet; just like their relationship, she said, just what's it's like to be the friend of someone so stoic and almost uncaring as Shadow.

Wait a minute, there wasn't music playing when he left earlier.

Shadow looked over the side of the console and nearly felt his jaw drop to the floor.

The capsule…

It…

It was…

It was empty!

Shadow shook his head, almost refusing the believe it. But as he walked over to the capsule he found that it was more than reality. The capsule was completely emptied with the glass down to let what was once in now out.

It worked.

That stupid old thing worked!

Now he had another problem. That machine had worked, but what did it do with the creature that was once inside? Slowly, as Shadow thought this over his face started to grow more pale. There was now a wild Maria on the loose, and although she could do no harm, what would others do when they found out she was related to Doctor Eggman? Forcing himself to move, Shadow quickly started to follow the little trail of still wet footprints from the fluid that helped to resurrect Maria.

He didn't even want to think about what would happen if she crossed paths with Sonic…

. . .

And that's how Maria should be introduced into the Sonic Boom franchise cuz no one said that if the right technology existed, they couldn't just go and bring her back. And if the Ancients are capable of time travel, then let's have them have the technology to resurrect the dead. Yes? Good.

Since the Sonic Boom series is essentially an AU of the main continuity (nor will it ever be serious enough to handle an A.R.K. episode, I'm sure), we're going to say that Shadow obtained her body (or, a good sample of her DNA) around the same time he did whatever it is he did to get to Bygone Island. She's not a clone, more of a Maria pulled before the fatality (hinted with Shadow snagging a book on quantum physics, which, according to Bioshock Infinite and Undertale, is what holds the secrets to time travel and messing around with the universe). The real question here is if Maria will remember being dead; and just like the sequel to 'For Archives Only', I'll get to it... eventually... maybe. But just between you and me, I think that fluid the Ancients had has more than something to do with it. Where did he get that...?

(Also, if you want to take Maria in account for Shadow's behavior in the Boom series, consider her death as the reason why he was berating Sonic for relying on his friends in Rise of Lyric, which makes the topic of Maria more interesting.)