Shadow'd just read the note for himself. Everyone was on their edge of their seats for his verdict of this foregone conclusion. The note was plausible. He recognized the handwriting as Gerald's. Doesn't agree that he's considered too powerful, if anything he has the ideal amount of power anyone wishes they could have.

The Maria in front of him was and wasn't Maria simultaneously. She seems like Maria speech and body language wise. But her voice… never mind, different body, different voice. She definitely was a clone, therefor not the original. But he'd didn't care if it turned out he was a clone, why should he care if this was still Maria? He looked up into the canary's teary eyes, and she looked back. They radiated the same kindness Maria always does. He figured that her memory wasn't complete. "Time for some questions. Are you ready?"

"Yes." She nodded.

"What's the last thing you remember?"

"Uhmm… I am not sure... " Maria's head was kinda fuzzy on that subject. "...You won in Monopoly, you liked the battleship piece." Maria smiled, she almost won with that one.

Shadow shared a mutual smile, for he had some fond memories of Monopoly. He had trouble holding back his own tears. He needed to buy it for Rouge's house. It's been years since he played. "That doesn't really give me an idea when your memory was uploaded." The Ultimate Monopoly player said.

"You could have just asked what month it is. It was June."

Shadow gasped very slightly. "That's two months before..." 'Better not to bring it up how she died for now if these inconsistent detective haven't already.' He gave the detectives behind Maria a look. Espio is as stoic as himself is at times and Charmy's just snickered.

"Before what?" Maria skeptically asked. She had some idea, Shadow's tone in his voice gave a lot of hints.

Shadow's face visibly cringed. He ignored the question. "Let's hurry things up. Tell me something only Maria would know about me." He said with a dramatic finger point.

"In your shoes you have a hidden compartment for your "lucky security hanke-""

"MARIA!" That was all the convincing Shadow needed, as far he's concerned she's truly Maria now. Emotion took over the Ultimate Life form as he tightly glomped his lost friend, cheeks touching, barely even caring she told an embarrassing secret. The feathery cheeks were a pleasant sensation for the both of them. "I missed you..." Tears came from Shadow's eyes for the first time in… Did Shadow ever cry? What's that? A single tear in Sonic Adventure 2? Never noticed. For the first time in a long while and an even longer time since he cried so hard.

The Chaotix were taken back. "This is surreal." Espio whispered to Charmy.

Maria wiggled her arms free enough to hug Shadow back. "Are you okay, Shadow?"

"Yes." Shadow replied. "In fact: I feel fantastic." Shadow tone lightened up. It's still really shaky from the crying though. After a while they loosened their grip, first Shadow, then Maria when she got the hint.

"You play monopoly and have lucky hanky?" Moment breaker Charmy snickered.

"Don't tell anyone about the latter, you little insect." Shadow threatened with a underhanded finger point. The bee kept snickering and the rest are unfazed.

"Shadow..." Maria said like a disappointed and annoyed older sister. Shadow wordlessly crossed his arms.

"Let's go." Shadow took Maria's hand, the money bag, Maria's bag(s) of clothes and went for exit.

"Goodbye, thank you for everything." Maria waved.

"Wait!" Vector yelled. Making the Hedgehog and Canary stop. "This one job's free. Someone in your position shouldn't have to pay." The croc pointed at Shadow. "You, however, can pay for her clothes." Shadow glared at the detective.

"Here's the receipt." Espio said from behind the two, startling at least one of them. He handed over a note too. It read: Onday'tay Entionmay Ofpray Eraldgay'say Inalfay Omentsmay. Luckily, Shadow is the Ultimate Pig Latin comprehender.

He took some money out of the bag. "Here… Farewell." Shadow grumbled half heartedly. "Allow me to take you home." He said a little softer to his aviary friend as he, again, took her hand and almost dragged out of there like a child. Maria gave a smile and waved goodbye again.

"And don't worry about that case Omega's case. We're on it. And Maria, feel free to come by if there's some detective work to be done."

"I shall." She replied. The door closed.

"I haven't seen him this happy in ever!" Charmy said.

"Don't get used to it!" Shadow shouted back.

"Shadow, bee nice." Maria was barely heard as she teased.

Later, by the nearest bus stop…

"You've changed a little bit." Maria said.

Shadow sighed. "I have..."

"You used to be not as grumpy. A lot must've happened."

"You have no idea. It's a long story, it started with your death, got amnesia as well lost some common sense and an alien invasion. I'm leaving a lot of details out."

"Should I be lucky I wasn't a part of that?" She said unsure.

"I would've liked your company when I had amnesia. But then the aliens attacked. It's for the best that you stayed out of that. And during that time the world broke apart, among other events." He stated flatly.

Put yourself in her shoes, you've been dead for 50+ years, you get better (for a lack of willingness to give a better term) and you hear this. Your face is probably as precious as her's right now. So many different emotions at once because she trying to visualize it. "Well… You've had some excitement… How do you fare now?"

"After I got my memory back I decided to leave my past behind me."

"Sorry to put a damper on your plans." Maria teased.

"You know I don't mind you." He said softer than usual. He pulled her in for a hug. She complied.

"Ow." She said as one of the Ultimate Spines penetrated through feathers, causing her to unintentionally push Shadow away.

"Sorry. I thought something was off with our earlier hug..."

"It's not your fault." The conversation ended there. Time for a new one: "Made any friends?"

"Yes, we'll meet them soon. I live with them in Night Babylon."

"I don't remember that city in the atlas of the Empire States we had."

"It's a city of the night, and one of the many casino cities, people rarely sleep."

"Why would you live there?"

"Rouge, runs a business there."

"Who is Rouge?"

"One of my friends." And then it was quiet for a while. The bus was really late. They surprisingly hadn't much to talk about. On the ARK, they usually talked about what's it like down on Earth. Wanting to explore it.

"...UT HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO PAY THE BUS FARE!?" Something with the voice of an funny Austrian accented burly man yelled in the distance to someone. The other voice was audible, but not understandable. Shadow did recognize the two though. "HOW WAS I SUPPOSED TO KNOW THAT WAS THE WRONG BUS!?" They came closer from the direction the bus is drives to.

"By looking at the time. 11:11 is a different number than 11:41. You just confused an one for a four among other ones." A soft sounding tried to teach his friend. His arm over his shoulder.

"I'M CONFUSED!"

"Building you with such limited intelligence was not one of Dr. Eggman's greatest idea." Why yes, they are Orbot and Cubot; Dr. Eggman's gofers. "But you're far from the worst."

"REALLY?"

"I don't know." Orbot finally stopped looking at his friend to look forward where's going. He saw Maria from the side, he and Cubot recognized that was some behind her. Probably someone they don't know. Of it is someone they know, but they don't have know that. "Good morning." Orbot greeted the two as he joined them waiting for the next bus.

"Good morning." Maria replied, as she stared at the curious robots. They were nothing like any robots she had seen. "You're designs are simple yet genius, who created you?"

"They're created by a scientist known as Dr. Eggman."

"IT'S SHADOW!" Cubot tried to runaway with Orbot in hand. Orbot was scared too, but had courage. He held his counterpart back.

"You know these two, Shadow?"

"They're the right hands of one of the most notorious terrorists. Don't worry about them though. They're pathetic."

"HEY!" Cubot yelled.

"No, no, Cubot. He's right." His tone was bit fake.

"NO, WE'RE NOT PAFETHICK!" That's the accent for your info.

"We're done with this argument." Orbot stated.

"WE ARE?" Cubot scratched his head.

"We're just here to take the bus."

'I could follow those two to Doctor's base to save the Chaotix the trouble and Rouge's money. But bringing Maria home took more of a priority. If this really is their way home I've to clue those detectives in.' Shadow mentally facepalmed himself. 'Should've exchanged phone numbers.' Shadow thought. "We noticed. Don't try anything." He pointed at the two with a chaos spear.

Maria, once again, didn't know what to think. Here were two 'terrorists' in front of her, and Shadow was nonchalant. Her hand was tingling at the sight of the energy coming out of Shadow's hand.

Hurray! The bus is finally in sight. Everyone got ready. "Sorry 'bout the delay." The bus driver apologized. "Th' previous bus had a terrible accident, th' cause's not yet known. It's 'n terrible shape. Tis trip is on th' house." Maria and the 'bots thanked and took their seat.

Few Minutes Later…

'Riding a bus is amazing!' Maria was in awe as she looked out the window. So many places to went by she'd like to visit one day.

Shadow was looking at reflection directed at the 'bots. "Mary." Shadow said next to her.

"Huh?"

"Can you go by the name; Mary?" He asked nicely.

"Why?"

"You're starting a new life more or less, might as well embrace it." Shadow explained. Maria stared at her friend. "Okay, your name is distracting me…" He deflated. "I'll still call you Maria in private if you want."

"All right, if it helps you." Maria's sure that wasn't the whole story. But he had good points.

The same as the previous time stamp…

"HEY ORBOT, WHO'S GOT THE EMERALD?" The vocally chaotic Cubot whispered.

"My sensors indicate that that orange cat with red stripes has them." Orbot pointed.

"WHICH ONE?"

"The one with the white muzzle and belly."

"OKIE-DOKIE!" Cubot pulled out net bazooka and shot at the cat. Miraculously, he flawlessly caught him. The bus driver lost his concentration, the bus was swaying left and right. Everyone was laying on the floor or on top of each other.

"Wow! This ain't cool." That orange cat said.

"Good job!" Orbot shot a hole in the roof with a laser gun. "Quick! Before anyone can catch us!" He yelled as activated his fancy-schmancy new jet pack attachment.

"JA!" Cubot grabbed onto Orbot's torso. And they blasted off. No they didn't, the jet booster wasn't built for to support 'red cat''s weight. Ergo; they go slower than planned.

"HEEEEAAAAAAUUUUULP!" The cat said clinging onto the hole. The bus began tilting. The driver hit the brakes. Everyone who just got up were lying down again. A lot of them screamed in pain.

Shadow got off Maria quickly to chase them through the hole. Maria did the same, once she pulled out some black needles. Shadow threw many Chaos Spears at them. He misses. "You're going to hit that cat." The 'bot keep flying higher.

Maria was right. "Damn." Shadow looked at Maria's wings. "Can you try something?"

Not all that much later...

The orb and the cube both held on to the net. "Sorry about this. We just came to get your Chaos Emerald."

"SO GIVE IT TO US!" Cubot yelled.

"Chaos Emerald?" The redcat was confused. "All I have is this ruby." He pulled out of...

"That's a chaos emerald." Orbot snatched the gem away.

"My ruby!"

"HERE, TAKE THIS PARACHUTE!" Cubot said, and Orbot delivered. The cat hastily put it on.

"Now don't forget to pull it the string… We're letting go now." Orbot warned him. "3, 2,"

"Now Mary!" Shadow yelled hanging Mary's talons?/feet.

"Thunder Shoot!" Mary launched an electrified Shadow at the 'bot. Since it's at level 0, it just stuns them while they fall down clasping net. Shadow nabbed the net with the cat, and boomeranged back to Mary. "You are all really light, all things considering." Mary noted as she descended slowly.

The two 'bots broke free from being stunned. Not sure if that's the right to say that. "We still have the Emerald! Let's get out of here!"

"WE'LL BE BACK!" Cubot yelled as they blasted off.

Back on the ground...

"I really didn't know that's a Chaos Emerald, Mr. Shadow. If I had known I wouldn't have taken it with me." The orange feline explained. "At least got a nifty parachute out of this."

"How did you acquire it?"

"The parachute?" He asked, hopefully as a joke.

"No." Shadow answered lighting quick. "The Emerald."

"It just struck me in the back of my head." What also got struck was the cat's face. "Was that the Emeralds relocating after using all seven's power to the fullest?"

Shadow shrugged with his arms folded. "They should've landed in a special zone again." He looked to his side to the fallen bus on its side. "All of this could've been avoided." The cat agreed.

"I can fly." Shadow heard over the other people chattering. He looked to his other side to see Mary looking at her wings?/arms. Shadow walked over to her.

"Thanks again, Hedgehog." The cat gave him a thumbs up. Shadow didn't reply.

Maria noticed the presence of Shadow. "I never had such an adrenaline rush." Mary said with a hand over her heart.

"You did good."

"Thank you." She hugged Shadow. He didn't protest. "It was so... electrifying."

"Let's get the bus back on its feet. Step aside, everyone!" He announced. He tilted bus back on it's wheels. Don't worry, Shadow and Mary's stuff was okay throughout all of this. All the people too, but they aren't important. It's also assumed that the bus still works.

Eggman's Base, a Few Hours Later...

"Hooooooooooooohohoho!" The doctor laughed as he polished the Chaos Emerald. "Good job, for once you two aren't completely, absolutely awful." He complimented them once.

"We've had some trouble." Orbot said. "Shadow, his new friend, Mary and Cubot's inability to read a clock nearly stopped us." Cubot's somewhere else.

"Repeat that." Eggman wanted to be sure he heard him right.

Hello there! Narrator here. There were plans to make Maria have no (chaos/)powers, plans change. The species and gender of the cat was chosen by the writer's sister. We've once again no gag. But this time we have a reason. That reason being that Shadow's summation of his life SA2 through ShTH being good enough. Okay, we got one:

Maria Robotnik: The Ultimate Question asker.

No… That's just lame… Lemme try again:

"Sorry about this. We just came to get your Chaos Emerald."

"So give it to us!" Cubot yelled.

"Chaos Emerald? I've never won at a special stage in my life!"

...