*Chapter 7: Something There*

The next day at the enchanted castle, Shadow is on the balcony with Sonic and Knuckles, watching the blonde girl walking on the snow, wearing a cape and have a hood on. Popping out of the snow, there are chao. Making cute noises at her, Maria smiled at the sight of them. The three of them are flying towards her, nuzzling her face and hair, making her giggle.
Shadow smiled softly at this. He touches his arm covered in bandages. He never felt anything like this for anyone. Something warm fills his heart, it makes him happy and calm.

"I want to do something in return." Shadow spoke. "But what?"

"Well, the usual thing." Knuckles said. "Flowers, chocolates-" Sonic nudged him.

"No, no. It must be something really special." He told his friend who rolls his eyes. "Something like sparks or interests." Sonic cupped his chin in thought, then he formed a smile. "Wait a minute!"

Later that day, Shadow leads Maria to a door that she's never been inside yet. The black hedgehog turned to her, holding the doorknob.

"Maria, there's something I want to show you." He said. "But first, you have to close your eyes." Maria made a curious look on her face, looking down at him. Shadow formed a smirk. "It's a surprise." He said. Maria slowly closes her eyes. Shadow opens the door, and took her hand to guide her in the mysterious room. They walk in a dark room.

"Can I open them now?" Maria asked.

"Not yet." Shadow told her. He made her stop in the middle of the dark room. "Wait here. No peeking." He rushes over to the windows, opening the curtains for sunlight to brighten up the room.

"Can I open them?" Maria asked, eager to see what the surprise is.

"Alright. Now." Shadow told her. Maria opened her eyes, she let out a gasp of awe. She is inside the gigantic library. All around her are books. Books are everywhere. Must be thousands, or millions!

"I can't believe it! I've never seen so many books in my life!" Maria said, looking around. Shadow smiled at her.

"You...like it?"

"It's wonderful!"

"Then it's yours!"

"Really? Oh, thank you so much!" Maria ran over to Shadow and hug him. The black hedgehog blushed a bit, but returned the embrace.
Near the door, the servants watched the whole thing, and glad that the girl liked the library.

"Would you look at that?" Vanilla said, smiling at Sonic and Knuckles.

"I knew it would work!" Sonic said with a grin.

"She's so happy, and she gave Shadow a hug!" Knuckles said. The servants left the entrance to give Shadow and Maria some time alone together.
Maria picked out the book and went over to the chair. Shadow stood before her, crossing his arms to watch her read. The girl looked at him in concern.

"Would you like me to read this story to you?" She asked.

"Of course." Shadow said. Maria flipped to the first page and began to read the black hedgehog a story. As she was reading, Shadow watches her eyes scan over the book, and she brushes the hair out of her eyes. He feels more warmer around her. He never wanted to lose this feeling.

"Shadow?" Maria asked. Shadow blinked and look at her. "Sorry, but...I want to ask you something..." She said.

"What is it?"

"Well..." Maria began. "People from the village think I'm...odd. Like I'm not like any other girls. But, I'm just being me. Do you think it's...wrong of me of not being a normal girl?" Shadow stares at her.

"No." He replied. "Being different from others is fine. You are you. Who cares what other people think?" He said. Maria smiled a little.

"I guess so. Being different from others is just who you are. We can be born that way. Many people have the same hobbies in my town, but I have different hobbies and dreams." She said. She reached for Shadow's hand. "Thank you for understanding me, Shadow." The black hedgehog smiled at her. Maria stared up at him again before going back to the book. "Shadow, there's something that I wanted to know, but you don't have to talk about it."

"What is it?"

"Do you...have a family? I mean, besides your servants?" Maria asked. Shadow went silent for a moment. No one's ever brought up about his family. The black hedgehog sighed a bit when memories come to him. He barely knew about his parents. When he was a boy, they were gone. Shadow looked at her.

"No." He replied softly.

"Oh." Maria said, looking down at the book. But Shadow spoke again.

"What about yours?" He asked. "You only have your grandfather and cousins, right?"

"Yes, but...my parents died when I was a baby." Maria said. "The only thing I have to know about them is a portrait of them. I look like my mother, because my eyes, and hair color. I wish I could know them before they were gone." Shadow felt bad for the girl. They do have a lot in common after all. They have no mother or father, only people who look after them. Maria looked back at Shadow with a small smile. "Now, that was out of the way, how about we continue where we left off?" The black hedgehog smiled, nodding at her.

After they finished the book and their lunch together, the two are outside to have fun. Maria wore a red jacket, and a pink dress. Shadow wore a red cape on the other hand. Maria had a bag of bird seeds in her hands, she scoops up in one hand and pours it in Shadow's hands. She told the hedgehog to stay still and calm as the birds came over to him and they hopped in his hands and eat the seeds. Shadow smiled at this. Maria smiled at him, walking away to feed the other birds by the tree.

'He was mean before, but now...he is happy when I'm around him. He did save my life last night, and I nurse his arm. I guess what he needs is a friend.' Maria thought as she feeds the birds by placing the seeds down on the snow. Shadow slowly turned to watch her.

'Such a kind young girl, and she is very beautiful. Her smile makes my heart beat, her eyes sparkle that night, and her hair is like gold...' Shadow thought, and he notices Maria staring back at him, finishing feeding the birds. The two stare at each other in silent. Maria smiled a little at him and went behind the tree bark, thinking for bit to get to know him more. She peaks her head to see Shadow finish feeding the birds and they fly away from him.

'So strange. I feel something warm in my heart. That hedgehog makes me feel safe and happy after all he's done for me. But, he is no prince charming, is he?' Maria thought. She watched the black hedgehog brush back his spikes with his hands. Maria made a grin and pick up some snow. She turns it into a snowball, and throw at him. It hits Shadow in the back of the head, making him turn in shock.

"Hey!" He cried out. Maria giggled and hid behind the tree. "So, that's how you wanna play..." Shadow chuckled. He is making a big snowball and rush over to the tree. But he felt another snowball hit him from behind again, making him drop the big snowball, causing it to fall on his head. "Oof!" Shadow fell on the snow, shaking the snow off of his head. Maria laughed at him. Shadow turned, making a playful glare at her. "I'll get you for that!"

"Just try, Shadow!" Maria says by sticking her tongue out at him. Shadow growled and chase after her around the area, throwing snowballs at each other. Shadow uses his hover shoes to catch up with her. Maria let out a cry and fell on the snow. Shadow chuckled at her. He helped her up. Maria throws snow at his face, and laugh with him. Shadow wipes the snow off of his face.

"No fair." Maria said.

"I had to catch you." Shadow said. "Wanna return inside and get us warm by the fire?"

"Sure." Maria replied. The two walked back in the castle. From the window, the servants watched since they were playing snowball fight. Sonic chuckled a bit.

"The master was playing with her. Who knew?"

XX

The servants watched Shadow and Maria sit by the fireplace, reading a different book together. The close the doors and began to talk.

"There's something there between them." Knuckles said. "I think they start to like each other."

"I see that the master is falling for her." Sonic said.

"Wonder if Maria feels the same?" Vanilla said. "I'm sure she will love him in return."

"But she must!" Knuckles said. "If she does love the master in return, the spell will be broken. The rose doesn't have enough pedals. Time is running out."

"Knuckles, relax. We still got some time." Sonic said. "Maybe perhaps things will get better. Today is going great, and tonight will have to be extra special!" The servants left the halls, forming plans for tonight.