*Chapter 4: Land of Mobius/King Eclipse*

Shadow, Maria, and Amy arrived in the Land of Mobius, but outside the castle grounds where it was ruined. Shadow looks in shock to see his home in crisis. Eclipse ruined everything. The skies are dark, flowers are dying, everything is dark and cold. Maria looks around the fields in dismay. This place was once beautiful before Eclipse arrived. Now, Shadow will have to fight him to take back his kingdom and restore everything.

"What do we do now, Shadow?" Maria asked. "Should we just walk in the castle?"

"No. That would be too risky to do so." Shadow said. "Maria, no matter what happens, you stay right by Amy."

"But, Prince Shadow, you can't do this alone." Amy said. "The Black Arms will catch you, and...they will capture me and Maria."

"They won't." Shadow assured her. "If only I knew where everyone is before I was cursed, they will help us." Maria came by him with a worry look.

"I come here to help you, Shadow. I'm glad you wanted me to come along." She told him. "We will fix this place, Shadow. Together." Shadow smiled at her and took her hand.

"Of course." He said.

"Watch out!" Amy cries out, using her wand to shoot the alien that is coming after them. The black alien roared in agony and fell backwards. Shadow took out his sword with a glare, looking around him as Maria came behind him.

"They're here." Shadow said. "Amy, thank you for looking out for us."

"We have to move." Amy said. "There could be more coming along after one of them is injured." Shadow and Maria nodded at her and rush down the grass. Amy flies above them, gripping on the wand and spotted the Black Arms coming after them. "Incoming!" She says. Shadow began charging at the Black Arms with his sword and gather his power. He made a swing and slash the aliens. Maria watches in awe.

"Whoa..."

"Maria, look out!" Amy cried out. Maria look above her to see the Black Hawk charging down at her. Amy uses her wand to shoot the Black Hawk to make it fall down to the aliens. Maria came by Amy's side. "Watch my back, Maria. You're my eyes while I take care of some aliens who are facing me." Amy said.

"Okay." Maria said, looking around and up to see if there more of those hawks. She turned to see Shadow fighting most aliens with his power that is filled with power he makes. He jumps in the air and let out a cry.

"Chaos Spear!" He throws the lightning bolts at some of the aliens to paralyze them. He slashes them with a sword to finish them. Maria smiled at the fighting skills Shadow has. He is strong.

"Maria, pay attention!" Amy says, shooting at the Black Arms that are after Maria who is distracted. The girl look back to see them down and Amy tapped her foot at her. Maria chuckled nervously at her.

"Sorry..."

"I said watch my back. Not staring at your love interest." Amy said. Maria blushed at the last part. Amy turned back to see Shadow being surrounded by the Black Arms with their weapons, and a Black Hawk came down with a figure on top. Amy kept Maria behind her and watch the hawk land by Shadow. The alien got off of the Black Hawk and smirked at Shadow who glares.

"Shadow the Hedgehog. I hear that you have returned." He said.

"Eclipse." Shadow growled. Maria bit her lip nervously.

"It's been a while since you were gone, Shadow. I have missed you, brother." Eclipse said. Shadow took a step forward towards him.

"This kingdom, this land, this world, is not yours to keep." Shadow told him. "I let you live once, but now, I will destroy you with my bare hands."

"Ah. Afraid you won't do such thing." Eclipse snapped his claw fingers and a scream was heard. Shadow turned to see Maria and Amy being grabbed by the Black Arms. Maria is struggling.

"Maria!" Shadow cried out. He glared at Eclipse who smirked evilly. "Release her! Release Amy!"

"I'm surprised at you, brother. This human girl broke the curse of yours?" Eclipse laughed. "Could it be love? Hahahaha." Shadow gritted his teeth.

"Let Maria and Amy go." Shadow demanded. "It's me you are worried about."

"Oh? I thought you were already taken care of when you were cursed." Eclipse said by coming over to Maria. "How important is this girl, Shadow?" He reached for Maria's chin to bring her down to his head. "You'll do anything for her, right?"

"What're you doing?" Shadow asked. Eclipse uses his claw to prick Maria's skin, making her wince. "Stop!"

"If you want this girl to live, Shadow, you will sacrifice your life. Give up your crown for good." Eclipse said. Shadow growled a bit and look at Maria's face who shook her head at him. Shadow shuts his eyes and sighed a bit.

"Eclipse, do what you wish to do with me. Let Maria and Amy go." He said.

"Shadow, no!" Maria protested, forming tears. Eclipse smirked. He ordered his aliens to release Maria and Amy. Shadow got handcuffed by the bigger aliens and take him down to the road that leads to the castle. Maria watches in dismay. "Shadow! Don't do this to us! What about Mobius? What about Christmas?" She cried out. Shadow turned to her and gave her a sadden smile.

"I want you to live, Maria. Don't worry about me. Amy, take care of her." Shadow said. Amy watches in silent. She can do something to stop the aliens and free Shadow there, but two against many wasn't enough. They need help to rescue Shadow from death. Maria turned to Amy, drying her tears.

"We have to do something!" She said. "We came here to take back Shadow's kingdom! We can stop Eclipse!"

"But we need some friends who can help us, but I don't know where they are." Amy said. "We can't go against the Black Arms or Eclipse ourselves." Maria started to pace around the grass. But a young voice is heard from the air. Amy and Maria looked up to see a fox boy flying with his twin tails, wearing a brown vest.

"Amy! You've returned!" He said. Amy smiled at him. The fox land next to her. "Where's the prince?!"

"Tails, I'm so glad that you are here!" Amy said. "Prince Shadow has been taken away so Eclipse can let us go."

"Us?" Tails questioned. Amy pointed at Maria who waved. "Who's she?"

"Maria. She's the one who freed the prince from the curse!" Amy said. "Look, we don't have much time. Where is everyone else? We need to rescue the prince!" Tails flies above the girls.

"I'll gather them at the hideout! You two meet us by the castle walls!" He said. He flies away. Maria smiled. Help is on the way.

"Let's go, Amy!" She said, running off.

"Maria, wait for me!" Amy said by flying with her wings.

Shadow is chained on the wall in the dungeon. He couldn't pull the chains off of him because they are too strong, and Shadow didn't want to lose his energy of trying. Eclipse came down the stone steps to see Shadow struggling a bit. He chuckled.

"Hello, brother. Feeling comfortable in there?"

"You better keep your promise after I die. You let Maria live." Shadow said.

"Tell me something, Shadow. Do you have feelings for that human girl?" Eclipse asked. "Because if you do, it wouldn't change anything. The girl is a human. You two are from different worlds." Shadow snarled a little, but turn his head away.

"She's different. And I don't care if she is human or not."

"How different?" Eclipse asked.

"What do you care?" Shadow muttered a bit. Eclipse turned away to leave, but spoke once more.

"You will die in an half hour. Say your prayers, Shadow, the Prince of Mobius." He said. He walked up the steps and close the door and lock it. Shadow let out a sigh. He had to do this for Maria. He'll do anything to protect her. If only he could tell her that he loved her. But, at the same time, Eclipse might be right about one thing. If the two love each other, it wouldn't change anything. They are both different. Shadow didn't care. He loves Maria no matter what.

"Please forgive me for this, Maria. I chose this so you can live. Amy, please take care of her for me."

Amy and Maria snuck in the castle grounds and found Tails with the other mobians he said that he gather from their hideout. They all turned to see Maria with Amy in confusion. The green crocodile turned to the fox.

"This is the girl who saved the prince? She's a human." He said.

"It doesn't matter, Vector." Amy said with a sneer. "Okay everyone, we have a kingdom and a prince to save. Prince Shadow is in the dungeon in order to spare Maria and my life."

"Eclipse will end him if we don't do something now." Maria spoke. "I may be different, but I did free Shadow from the curse back in my home. I'm glad I did. This world needs our help, it needs Shadow. So I come here to help Shadow, Amy, and all of you. You will have your world back to the way it was before." All of the mobians looked at each other, and they smiled with triumphant.

"She's right!" A blue hedgehog spoke. "We have a kingdom to save, and we will rescue our true ruler!"

"Eclipse will fall!" A red echidna said with determination.

"Well, what are we standing around here for? Let's go!" A white hedgehog exclaimed. Everyone raised their fists in the air, cheering. Maria smiled at everyone. Time to fight.