*Chapter 5: Rescue and Battle!*

Amy carries Maria to have her climb through the window as the mobians are below, waiting for Maria to bring the rope down. As she ties the nearest pole, she checks the room to make sure no one was around. Amy flew inside as the red echidna climbed in along with the red and black armadillo. As the rest of the gang are climbing in, Vector came in front of the door, peeking out to see the throne room where Eclipse is sitting in.

"What's the plan, Vector?" Maria asked in a whisper. "Where is this dungeon where Shadow is held?"

"We have to wait for the aliens to bring him out, and that is when we will stop the execution." The crocodile said. "They will never see us coming."

"We have to move it before those aliens sees us." The red echidna spoke. Everyone nodded and split up in groups to leave the room. Maria is with Amy and Vector to get to the other door, but as they open it, they let out a cry of shock to see three Black Arm aliens there. They start to charge at them, but Vector closes the door and told the girls to run, but Maria stood by with a determined look.

"I will not be a burden! I come here to save my friend. I won't be some damsel in distress like in those fairy tales." Maria said. The door burst open, and the aliens growled at them. Vector starts to punch one of them, and the sword fell out of the hand of the alien. Maria picked it up and see one alien coming towards her. Maria glares at it, holding the purple sword in front. She will fight for Shadow. Amy uses her wand to attack the third alien. Coming through the doors is Eclipse, he sees his guards fighting a crocodile, a fairy, and a human girl. He snarled.

"Black Arms! After them!" He ordered. More of the aliens came in the room. Maria turned around to see them coming. She ran past them and see Eclipse there taking out his red sword. "You should have left when you had the chance, girl." Eclipse said.

"I'm not leaving when my friend is in danger, you rat!" Maria snapped. Eclipse sneered at her.

"Rat, you say? I'll show you who's a rat around this castle!" Eclipse clashes his sword onto Maria's. They fight each other, guiding each other to the throne room. "You will die along with your prince charming!" Eclipse taunted, making a jump, swinging his sword at Maria, but she ducked down and move to the right.

"You are not the king, Eclipse! You're a monster!" Maria said, swinging her sword at him, but he blocks her. As the two fought, Tails and the mobian bee watched in distress. Seems there's going to be a change of plan. Get Shadow out of the dungeon, and help Maria.

"Charmy, we have to rescue Prince Shadow." Tails said.

"Right." The bee said with a nod. The two ran off from the throne room in a hurry. Amy watched Maria sword fighting with Eclipse in worry. She turned her head back to the hall where Charmy and Tails head off to where Shadow was held in.

"Maria can't do this for long. Eclipse can easily wear her out." Amy said. "If only I could help Maria with my magic, but Eclipse is too powerful..."

"Mighty, alien behind you!" A red echidna shouted. The armadillo turned and duck his head down when the alien swings a staff. Mighty jabs the knee of the alien who roars in agony.

"Thanks, Knuckles." He said. The two fight the aliens with the white hedgehog who uses his psychic powers, and a purple cat with fire. Tails and Charmy flew above the fights to get to the dungeon, but there is one Black Arm guard with a key in hand. Charmy smirked when he had an idea. Tails watches his friend charge at the guard and have his stinger out. The guard roars as Charmy stung his bottom. The key was dropped to the floor. Charmy picked it up and wave at Tails.

"Come on, Tails!" He said. Tails flew towards him and look down at the alien who groans in pain, rubbing his bottom. They both laughed and went down the hallway where the door was seen. Charmy got the key to unlock it and he and Tails rush down the dungeon to rescue their prince.

Shadow hears the door unlocks from the top of the steps. Tails and Charmy came down with a key to get Shadow free from the chains.

"What's happening up there?" Shadow asked as he stepped away from the wall.

"We came to fight. Amy and Maria are up there in battle!" Charmy exclaimed. Shadow made a look and rush up the steps to leave the dungeon. Tails and Charmy followed the prince.

'I'm coming, Maria!' Shadow thought as he ran pass the black aliens that are busy fighting the mobians.

Maria was pushed down by Eclipse and he pointed his sword at her. The purple sword was inches away from Maria, but she couldn't grab it because Eclipse had her down.

"You think you can defeat me? The King of the Black Arms? And make things all better for this world?" He asked. "Heh, you are a stupid human girl. You have no idea that this is the place where you will die with your prince and your new friends. You can't beat the unstoppable." Maria glared up at him.

"Shadow will stop you, Eclipse. You will pay for what you have done to him and to this world." She said. "The reason why you took over his throne is because you are jealous of him." Eclipse raises a brow. "You don't need to rule like Shadow. Everyone was afraid of you, and think that you will make things worse. Shadow told me the story about you two. After Shadow was crowned to rule this kingdom, you've lost it. You cast a spell on him and send him away. And now, he's returned to make things right."

"Enough, girl!" Eclipse said. "You don't know nothing about me!" He raises his sword up, getting ready to strike Maria. Amy cried out for Maria's name, reaching her hand out. In a flash, something blocked Eclipse from doing so. "What?!" Eclipse cried out to see Shadow using his sword to block the strike. Maria gasps to see her hero in front of her. "You...you are getting on my nerves!" Eclipse says, jumping away. Shadow smirked at him.

"Let's finish this, Eclipse." He said.

"As you wish, brother." Eclipse said with smirk. They both charge at each other and clash their swords. Maria watches them as she crawls backwards. Amy rushes in to see the prince and the alien king fight each other.

"Don't give in, Prince Shadow." She says. "Do this for us. For Maria." She looked over to see Maria cup her hands together, watching the fight with worry.

"Please don't let Eclipse win." She whispered. Shadow's hand glows and uses Chaos Spear on Eclipse, but the alien wasn't paralyzed for long, he claws Shadow's shoulder, ripping the fabric of the red jacket. Maria gasped a bit, but Shadow wasn't harmed by the scratch. Eclipse uses his fists to hit Shadow in the face and then kick him away. Shadow grunted as he lands on the floor, but quickly recovered. He charges at Eclipse and swung a kick at his face. The alien flew towards the throne and hit his head. Shadow glared at his enemy and pick up his sword. Eclipse held his head and look up to see the hedgehog standing before him, bringing the sword back...

"...Brother..." Eclipse spoke. "We are...family. You won't kill your own blood...would you?" But Shadow launched the blade in and...

STAB!

Maria gasped as she covers her mouth with both hands, Amy stood there with shock. Shadow brought his sword back, the blade is covered in blood. Eclipse made a mourn that is weak, and his body when limp. The mobians came in the throne room to see the alien king dead on the throne. Eclipse has been defeated at last. Shadow dropped his sword and turn to his people who cheered for him. After a moment, everything around them turns brighter.
Outside the castle is a clear night sky, the flowers are blooming in the moonlight, everything went back to normal. The castle turns to gold than crumpled.
The mobians continue to cheer for their prince, and Maria ran up to him and hug him.

"Shadow, you did it!" She says. "You defeated the King of the Black Arms!"

"Hail Prince Shadow!" Everyone chanted. "Hail Prince Shadow! The Black Arms King is dead!"

"I couldn't have done it without you, Maria." Shadow said, smiling at her. Maria then gave him a kiss on the forehead, making him blush. Suddenly, something amazing happened. Maria began to glow...

"Huh?" Maria was shocked by this. Her feet was off the ground and continue to glow. Everyone watches in awe and confusion. Shadow watches Maria slowly start to change.
Her body was growing small, to become a same size like the mobians, but an inch shorter than Shadow. Her blonde hair turns to long spikes that are down, ears are on her head, and a tail behind her. And she is no longer in a nightdress. It transformed into a pink gown. And a crown is appearing on her head. Maria had her feet on the floor, and look at herself in shock.

"Oooooohhhhh." Everyone said together.

"She's a hedgehog." Charmy said.

"Not just a hedgehog..." Knuckles spoke. "She's...the one." As everyone start to mutter, Shadow stares at Maria for a long time. He doesn't know what to think. But this just happened. Maria is now a beautiful yellow hedgehog with gold hair, wearing a golden crown, and wore a dress. She's the one. She is truly the one.

"Shadow...what happened to me? I'm a hedgehog just like you! But...why am I wearing this?" Maria asked. Shadow came up to her, holding her hands.

"Maria...I can't believe it, but it happened." He said. "Not only you broke the curse, you are...the one."

"What do you mean?" Maria asked. Shadow smiled at her.

"Maria Robotnik, you are the princess."