*Chapter 9: Free and Home Again*
Shadow took Maria to the West Wing and lead her to his room. He took the mirror that was lying by the rose. Shadow hands Maria the mirror, telling her that it will show her anything she wishes to see. Maria took the mirror.
"I wish to see my grandfather and cousins." She said. The mirror glows, making her look away for a moment and look at what the mirror is showing her. In the mirror, it shows Gerald, Ivo, and Isabella in the woods, lying on the snow. They look sick. Gerald is coughing. "Oh no. They're sick, and grandfather could catch a death." Maria says in shock. Shadow looked at her in silent. Maria's eyes form in tears. Shadow looked at the rose that is wilted in the glass dome. He realizes he had to do the right thing. His ears lower a little when he spoke to Maria.
"Then you must go to them." He said.
"What did you say?"
"I release you." Shadow told her, turning to her. "You're no longer my prisoner."
"You mean...I'm free?" Maria asks.
"Yes." Shadow replied. Maria smiled at him. She's about to give back the mirror. "No. Take it with you." Shadow said. "So you'll always look back and...remember me."
"Thank you for understanding." Maria said. Before she could leave the room, she pets his spikes. Shadow didn't smile as she left him alone. Knuckles came in with a smile.
"Well, master, I got to say you did well. I knew you had it in you." He said, coming all the in. Shadow didn't turn to him as he looks at the wilted rose.
"I let her go."
"Oh yes, you-" Knuckles paused when he realized what Shadow said. "You what?"
"I let her go, Knuckles." Shadow repeated. "I had to."
"But, how could you- But, why?"
"Because..." Shadow slowly turned to his servant. "I love her."
XX
Knuckles explained to the servants what Shadow had done. They are all very shocked and disappointed by this.
"But he was so close." Sonic sighed.
"At least he learned how to love." Vanilla said. Sonic formed a smile of excitement.
"That's it then! That should break the spell!" He said.
"No. It's not enough. She must love him in return." Vanilla said, shaking her head. Cream and Tails hears them and silently leave them.
Maria left the castle with her horse, and she could've sworn she heard Shadow crying out her name in sadness. Maria is in the woods, looking for her family. She kept calling out their names. After a while, she spotted them in the snow, but sees Ivo and Isabella holding Gerald close to them, trying to wake him up. Maria approached them, telling them to put Gerald on the horse and head straight home. Ivo and Isabella didn't ask how she got here, but listened to her anyway.
They all returned to the village and head straight to their house, bringing their cold grandfather inside. By the house, there is Myrin forming a smirk.
"They're back. Now time for a show!" He says, leaving the area.
XX
Gerald opened his eyes and see his grandchildren around him. His vision becomes clear when he sees Maria there with a smile.
"Maria?"
"Shhh..." Maria whispered, giving him a hug. "It's all right, grandfather. I'm home." Gerald returned the embrace, chuckling.
"She found us." Isabella said. "So, we came back."
"I've missed you all so much." Maria said, pulling away from Gerald and give her cousins a hug as well. Ivo and Isabella groaned a little, but returned the hug. Gerald sat up, grabbing Maria's hand.
"But, how did you escape from that hedgehog?" He asked. Maria smiled at him.
"I didn't escape." She told him. "He let me go."
"But, that terrifying hedgehog!" Gerald growled lowly. Maria shook her head.
"He's different now. He's changed somehow..." She said. Just then, a noise is heard from the bag. Coming out was two cups. Cream and Tails along with the mirror.
"Hi." They both cheerfully said, hopping over to the family. Ivo and Isabella were shocked to see them move and talk. Maria giggled.
"Hello, little runaways." She said. Gerald held Cream up.
"Hello there, young one. I never thought I'd see you again." Gerald said with a chuckle. Tails turned to Maria.
"Maria, why did you leave? Don't you like us anymore?" He asked.
"Of course I like you all, it's just that-" Maria was cut off when a knock was heard. She got up to answer it. She opened the door and see a man with glasses and a coat on. "May I help you?"
"I'm Dr. Veldon, Miss Robotnik. I've come to collect your grandfather." The man replied. Maria was confused. The man moved away to show her the wagon with a cell window. "We'll take good care of him." The man said. Maria gasps to see that the wagon is from the asylum. Maria wouldn't allow it. She glared at Veldon.
"My grandfather is not crazy!" She said. But she sees the mob around the area. They are shouting about what Gerald said the day before. "No! My grandfather is not crazy! You guys are!" Maria cried out, heading out of the door to confront the crowd. Ivo and Isabella peeked out with Gerald to what was going on.
"Maria?" Gerald wondered.
"Gerald, tell us again old man." A red head teen smirked, holding a torch. "Tell us how terrifying this hedgehog is!" The mob chuckled at this. Myrin was by the house, smirking at this.
"He was about 3 feet or so, he stands on two like us!" Gerald exclaimed. Ivo made a face palm at him. The red head covered her mouth from laughing as Gerald continues. "And he can glow like a witch!" The mob burst out of laughter.
"You hear this guy?"
"He is crazy!"
"No way a hedgehog could be that big and could stand on two feet!"
Maria hears the mob making fun of her poor grandfather. Veldon signals his assistances to take away the old man. They lead him to the wagon. Maria grabbed Veldon's arm.
"No! You can't do this!" She begged, but the doctor pulled away from her. Maria felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned to see Myrin there.
"Poor Maria, such a shame to see them go away." He said in a fake comforting tone.
"You wouldn't let them take him away, would you?" Maria asked. Myrin scratched his thin beard.
"I believe I could fix this mistake, if..." He paused, looking at Maria.
"If what?"
"If you marry me." Myrin said, forming a smirk.
"What?" Maria was disgusted by this.
"One little word, Maria, that's all there is." Myrin said, taking her hand. Maria pulled away from him.
"Never!"
"Have it your way." Myrin scoffed and walked away from her. Gerald was close to be put in the wagon. Maria knew one way to save him. She rushed back in the house. Ivo and Isabella were too scared to save Gerald when the mob was shouting. Maria came out with a mirror.
"My grandpa is not crazy and I can prove it!" She said to the mob. Myrin and the mob looked up at her to see the mirror. "Show me Shadow the Hedgehog!" She said and the mirror shines and it shows the black hedgehog with red stripes, shutting his eyes in despair. Everyone was shocked to see this. Gerald was released by the men.
"That's him! That's him!" Gerald said, pointing at the mirror.
"Is he dangerous?" A woman asked, holding her son close.
"No, no!" Maria replied. "He wouldn't hurt anyone. Please, I know he looks scary, but he's very kind and gentle." She smiles as she looks at the mirror. Myrin noticed how the girl felt about the hedgehog. "He's my friend." Maria told everyone. Myrin grabbed her by the shoulders, making her turn to him.
"If I am right, I think you have feelings for that monster." He said. Maria pulled away, glaring up at him.
"He's no monster, Myrin." She growled. "You are!" With that, she slapped Myrin across the face, making everyone gasp. Myrin rubbed his cheek where it's red, he glares down at Maria. He snarled and slapped her, making her fall on the ground, dropping the mirror. Gerald rushed over to Maria, holding her close. Myrin picked up the mirror, seeing the hedgehog in disgust.
"She's as crazy as the old man." He said. "This hedgehog will come for your children! He'll come out in the middle of the night!" Everyone gasped.
"No, he wouldn't!" Maria said, trying to stop the man.
"We're not safe until his head is on my wall! I say we kill the hedgehog!" Myrin said. The mobs agreed, raising their torches in the air. Maria tackled Myrin down, grabbing his shirt.
"No, I won't let you do this!" Maria cried. Myrin pushed her off of him.
"Try and stop us!" He said. "Lock her in the wagon with the old man!" The men grabbed Gerald and Maria and threw them in the wagon. Myrin locked them inside and turn to the mob. "We can't them warn the monster! Now, who's with me?!"
"I am!" The men said at the same time. The mob followed Myrin down the road with weapons to find the castle.