Sonic Universe, Space Colony ARK, 50 years ago.
I'm Shadow the Hedgehog, the Ultimate Life Form, born on the Space Colony ARK. I was born just over a month ago, and it was Professor Gerald Robotnik, a great scientist, who created me. Even though he's explained to me several times why I was born, I still have a lot of questions. Fortunately, I can count on Maria, my only friend and the professor's granddaughter. And that day, as I wander around the ARK, something intrigues me.
Today, none of the scientists are working, which is quite rare, as it's always a mess here. Everyone is smiling and chatting, as if something important is about to happen. Some of them are hanging weird decorations on the wall, shiny and colorful. I wander between the scientists, occasionally getting pushed out of the way by the hustle and bustle. Finally, even when nobody's working, it's still a mess. In the main hall, I notice a large banner with a strange phrase written on it:
"Merry...Christmas..."
Christmas? What on earth is Christmas?
I'm used to asking myself lots of questions about this world, "What is it?", "How does it work?", "Why?" because I don't know much about it yet, and often I feel it's a bit complicated to explain it all to myself. But what is Christmas? That's my question for today. And I know who can answer it. There's only Maria, or maybe the Professor.
I immediately set off in search of her. I weave in and out of the scientists, moving from room to room. It's so big here that I keep getting lost. Finally, I find her by the windows, where we spend most of our time observing this strange planet called Earth.
- Shadow: Maria!
Maria returns, a little surprised. As usual, she's lost in thought when she looks at the Earth. It's the same for me, because this planet intrigues me. Maria has put on her pretty blue dress today, the one that suits her so well. Under Earth's soft blue light, she's even more beautiful.
- Maria: Oh Shadow...is that you? Are you all right?
- Shadow: Yes, what are you doing?
- Maria: I'm resting for a while, then I'm going to help Grandfather and his colleagues prepare for Christmas. There's a lot of work to do, so I have to help them if we're going to have an unforgettable day.
Maria talks to me about Christmas as if I know what it means. I feel a bit stupid asking her what it is, as I do every time I ask her a question. But this "Christmas" thing really intrigues me.
- Shadow: Maria...what's "Christmas"?
Maria stares at me, a little annoyed.
- Maria: But...didn't Grandfather explain it to you?!
I nod. It's true that the Professor usually explains a lot of things to me, but he seems to have left out "Christmas". But I don't blame him, I've still got so much to know, he can't tell me everything.
- Maria: What an airhead! My poor Shadow, you must have wondered what's going on!
- Shadow: Yes, I must admit I'm a little lost...
Maria thinks for a moment before answering.
- Maria: If I had to explain the whole idea of Christmas to you, it would be a bit long... so I'll simplify. Christmas is a celebration where we get together with our loved ones once a year, on December 25th. Presents are given, the tree is decorated, a good meal is prepared, but above all...
Suddenly, her face takes on a calmer, quieter look.
- It's a unique opportunity to get together with the people you love.
I understand...I guess. So, Christmas would be just another of the holidays the teacher told me about, but I sense in Maria's voice that this one sounds more important. That there's something more to it.
- Shadow: And do people on Earth celebrate Christmas in the same way?
- Maria: We've always celebrated it that way, so I suppose it must be that way on Earth too. But I'd like to see...one day...
Maria turns her head to me, and I know why: she doesn't want me to see her cry. She's always dreamed of going to the Earth that so fascinates us, but her health is too fragile. She can't leave the colony. Maria...
- Shadow: Maria...
I take her in my arms. I don't want to see her cry. She's everything to me.
- Shadow: I promise that one day you'll get better and we'll go live on Earth. Together, just you and me...
Maria holds me tight, and I hold her even tighter.
- Maria: Thank you, Shadow...you're so kind...
After a few seconds, we finally let go. I run my hand over her face to dry the tear that has just fallen. She takes my hand.
- Maria: Come on, Shadow. Let's go and help the others. Maybe you'll understand even better what Christmas is all about. Anyway, you'll have all day to see it.
- Shadow: Yes, it's still a bit hard for me to understand...
Maria gets up and walks towards the main hall. I follow her as she turns around.
- Maria: Besides, I've got a feeling this Christmas is going to be particularly wonderful...
That last sentence catches my eye. Firstly, because I still don't know why Christmas is something "magical" and I don't know why it should be even more so this time.
- Maria:...Because you're here. And you make me happy.
Maria steps back into the main room. I freeze for a few seconds, all shook up. Maria has just said that I make her happy.
She makes me happy too. I love her more than anything else in the world.
I'd do anything for her.
I finally regain my composure and follow her towards the main hall.
Maria and I enter the main room. I have the impression that the scientists are a little more organized than before. They've set up a gigantic table in the middle of the room, and are now starting to set up the chairs.
- Maria: Come on Shadow, let's see the Christmas tree!
At the end of the room, there's a huge tree, which the scientists are putting the finishing touches to with a few decorations. I notice it's a bit bald at the top, so they must be having trouble getting up there.
- Maria: Do you need some help?
A scientist turns around, looking a little lost.
- Scientist: We're having a bit of trouble getting to the top of the tree, to place the last decorations...and the star of course.
Maria turns to me and winks.
- Maria: Shadow, would you go up there and hang the last of the decorations? And the star too?
I nod. I can't refuse Maria anything. I take the box of ornaments and use my shoes to fly to the top of the tree. I try to place the decorations evenly. To be honest, I'm decorating, but I don't really know why I'm doing it, because it makes no sense to me to decorate a tree. From below, I can see Maria saying something to all the scientists, but I can't hear her, I'm far too high up. Finally, I place the gold star at the top of the tree. Just then, everyone steps up to the tree and Maria shouts:
- Maria: The tree is finished! And it's all thanks to Shadow! Bravo!
Most of the scientists applaud me, which causes me a sort of embarrassment, but others do nothing, and some even look at me sideways. I know there are some who don't like me, because to them I'm just the result of a harmful experiment.
And sometimes I wonder if they're right. Because deep down, I don't really know who I am.
I go back downstairs to Maria. She smiles broadly at me.
- Maria: Thank you Shadow! It's perfect!
- Shadow: Tell me, Maria, I was wondering... why do you decorate a tree for Christmas? What does it mean?
- Maria: It's tradition! Every Christmas, we decorate a tree and that's where we leave the presents.
In fact, at the foot of the tree, I notice a mountain of presents. Still, I find it an odd tradition. Whose idea was it to take a tree and decorate it? I don't think it's worth trying to figure it out. If I had to find the answer to everything, I'd be 1,000 years away from knowing everything.
- Maria: Shall we take a look in the kitchen?
Immediately, we head towards the kitchen, which is a few rooms further on. There too, it's a total mess. Around twenty cooks are in the kitchen. I can smell thousands of smells caressing my nose. Maria approaches one of the cooks and licks her lips.
- Maria: Oh that looks good! I can't wait to taste these wonders!
- Cook: Ah Maria, it's you! And Shadow is there too! As you can see, we are hard at work. We better act quickly if we want to feed everyone!
- Maria: Do you need some help?
- Cook: No, don't worry. You should rather rest Maria, and take care of your health.
- Maria: I'm fine! And I don't like feeling useless.
- Cook: Well, if you want to feel useful, go find the Professor! He'd have to make sure everything was in place, not just dinner! But he's so distracted! It seems like something is bothering him. But as a mule-head as he is, he won't say a word about it.
It's true that for some time now, the professor has been behaving strangely. He's constantly worried, and not just because of Maria, I know. But he doesn't like to talk about it. I do not know why...
- Maria: Well, I'll go get it, then.
- Cook: Wait! Taste this before you leave!
- Maria: Here Shadow! Eat it !
The cook hands me a piece of food that I don't know. It's a kind of crispy dough, with fruit on top. I taste a little bit: it's sweet, but a little acidic too. The crunch is really nice. I don't know what it is yet, but I love it.
-Shadow: What is that?
- Cooking: Wait, have you never had apple pie?
- Shadow: Apple...Pie ?
- Cook: Apparently not. It's a pie, which is simply prepared with apples.
- Shadow:...okay...I like it. I really like it. It's good.
- Cooking: I'm happy to hear it!
- Maria: Come Shadow, let's go get Grandfather !
We leave the kitchen to go to the laboratory, where the professor spends most of his time. Suddenly, a scientist approaches Maria.
- Scientist: Excuse me Maria, can you help us set the cutlery? We are really overwhelmed, and there are barely three of us to take care of it…
- Maria: Yes, of course. Shadow, will you go get Grandfather?
- Shadow: I'll go right away.
Maria takes some cutlery from the scientist's hand and they both head towards the main room. So I go to the lab alone. I'm about to go in when I hear a voice say:
- Are you sure, professor? Is it that serious?
- If it wasn't serious, I wouldn't talk to you about it!
Eh ?
