In case anyone missed the notes in Chapter 11, this is the SAD ENDING to the story. If you would like the HAPPY ENDING, please go to Chapters 14 and 15.

Chapter 12: You'll Always Be a Hero

During the night, Shadow's condition deteriorated rapidly and the last of his energy faded away. As the icy grasp of death strangled the remnants of his life force out of him, he felt frightened for the first time in his life because he didn't know what to expect when his life ended. He never thought he'd be able to die since Professor Gerald had told him he was immortal. Consumed by fear, he attempted to call out for someone to be with him, but with his diminished energy, he couldn't muster much more than a whisper.

"Please, someone come back... I didn't know it was going to be like this. Please, I can't do this alone..."

Another intense cramp crushed his heart further, and it was the last one he would feel as he succumbed to his injuries. His vision grew dark as his heart beat for the last time, and he could no longer breathe. Shadow knew his final moment was upon him.

But then, a magnificent blue glow filled the room, out of which emerged a translucent human figure surrounded by a soft light. The phantom visitor gradually made its way to Shadow's bedside, which petrified Shadow because he had no idea who was in the room with him. He closed his eyes, afraid to see what was going to happen next. His spectral guest reached down and stroked his head and face, which felt like a light breeze on his fur and skin. Shadow opened his eyes upon feeling this unforeseen sensation, and when he looked up, he saw the face of his very first friend smiling back at him.

"Maria? Is it really you?"

"Yes, it's really me."

"Oh Maria, I've missed you so much! It's been so long! But what are you doing here? How are you here?"

"It's time for you to come home now, Shadow. I'm here to help you to the next part of your journey."

"My journey?"

"I'm so proud of you for protecting that young girl from getting hurt, and for saving your hedgehog friend's life. But your time on Mobius is done, I'm afraid. I came because I saw how scared you were and I didn't want you to be alone. But you have much more living to do where you're going, and I'll be able to join you."

Shadow's ears perked up a little hearing this. "You mean... we can be together again?"

"That's right." She extended her hand to him and he accepted it. Despite his physical weakness, Shadow managed a smile. He began to cry a little seeing his dear friend again after so many years.

"Oh, Maria. Finally."

Shadow's fears melted away knowing that not only would he not be alone in death after all, but the person he loved most would be there with him. He could feel the last of his energy leaving his body, but his mind and heart were at peace knowing what awaited him.

"Are you ready to go?"

"Yes," Shadow spoke the last words he'd ever say in his earthly body.

Maria took his hand and slowly pulled his soul from his body. Shadow felt strange all over as his spirit was detached from his corporeal form, but the sight of Maria's smile comforted him during his transition. His vision went black for just a moment and he lost feeling throughout his whole body. All of his physical senses stopped and he existed in complete nothingness. But then, he could see and hear again, he felt alert and light, and was free from the pain of his injuries. A comforting warmth encircled him like a blanket. He looked down at himself to see that he had taken on a form similar to Maria's.

Shadow looked back and saw his body being left behind, a sight that he found most surreal. As delighted as he was to see his beloved Maria once more, he felt despair knowing his new friends would be heartsick when they discovered his remains the next day.

"I'm so sorry to leave you all. Goodbye, my friends."

"They'll be okay, Shadow. It will be hard for them at first, but I promise when they heal, they will smile when they remember you."

Shadow's sorrow was short-lived, and he soon found himself engulfed in a magnificent light. Maria still held his hand in hers, and all his fears and sadness vanished. The two of them departed from Knothole Village to go on their new journey, together.

Sally got up the following morning after a night of no sleep and knocked on Shadow's door before entering. She found him still laying in his bed, but with his eyes open and a blank stare. She shook his shoulder lightly.

"Shadow?"

No response. She already knew he was gone, but she had to make sure. She held Nicole over his chest and tearfully asked her, "Nicole, do you detect any vital signs?"

Nicole beeped a few times before responding. "No sign of vital activity detected."

Sally held him for a moment and cried. "I'm so sorry, Shadow. You put up a good fight." She closed Shadow's eyes.

She made her way to Sonic's hut to tell him the news first. Sonic had managed to doze off by the time Sally entered his hut and she shook him awake.

"Sonic, wake up."

He buried his head under his pillow, still half asleep. "Just five more minutes."

Sally's voice was breaking with strangled sobs. "Sonic, get up. It's Shadow."

He pulled his head out from under his pillow when he heard the change in her voice. He knew it couldn't be good.

"He's gone."

Sonic didn't say anything - he couldn't find the words, but his eyes grew wide and filled with tears. While both of them had been expecting the worst, it still hurt to have to face the actuality that their friend was really gone. The two of them held one another through tears.

"I never thought I'd have to deal with the same friend dying twice. Or at least I thought he was gone after the ARK mission."

"Wait, Shadow was the friend you lost when you were on the space colony?"

"Yeah, after we dealt with the Eclipse Cannon and the Biolizard, I watched him fall to Mobius and I figured he died. Because, I mean, who could possibly survive that? But then I ran into him a few months later. I guess being in super form let him survive the fall. But this time is different. This time, I know he's not coming back."

Sonic got up and headed out the door with Sally close behind.

"We need to make arrangements for a funeral," Sally said.

"I need to see him one more time."

"You're sure you want to see his body?"

"Yeah. I know he won't be able to hear me, but I need to say a couple things to him."

The two of them made their way back to Shadow's hut. He looked rather peaceful, as if he were just sleeping, and Sally and Sonic stayed in the room with him for a few moments.

"I can't believe he's gone. He died saving me."

"I feel awful. I got him away from Robotnik, but in the end, Robotnik got him anyway. If he didn't steal Shadow's Chaos energy, he might have been okay. If we knew where his emerald went, he might have been okay. If I just ran a little faster, he might -"

Sally stopped him. "I know, there were a lot of things that might have changed the outcome of this whole thing. But given the circumstances, we all did our best for him when he needed us, including you."

Sonic's expression went from dispirited to enraged. "I swear I'll make that fat bald prick pay for this if it's the last thing I do!"

Sally dried her eyes. "I should go tell the others. They need to know too."

Sonic said, "Okay. Hey, I'm gonna sit with him for a couple more minutes to say goodbye."

Sally closed the door behind her and Sonic pulled a chair up to Shadow's bedside. He was haunted by how still his friend was – he knew he was dead, but it somehow still just didn't feel real. He didn't have to see a body when he lost Shadow the first time.

"I'm sorry things turned out this way. I'm really gonna miss you. Wherever you are, I hope you take care of yourself, and maybe one day I'll see you again. You were a good person. You were my friend."

Sonic put his head down on the bed and shed a few tears for his friend. He didn't feel like he had to keep his emotions under wraps like the previous evening. He was able to finally release all the anguish inside him and sobbed into the sheets. Being in the room and seeing Shadow's lifeless body made it sink in that he was really gone, and Sonic was finally feeling the weight of his loss. Once he was able to collect himself a little, Sonic continued talking to Shadow as if he were there and could hear him.

"Thank you for saving my girl. I never got the chance to tell you before you died. I could never thank you enough for what you did for her, or for me."

He held Shadow's hand before leaving. "You'll always be a hero to me."

Author's Notes: Maria appearing is actually a thing that has been observed by those who work closely with people who are dying, such as nurses or those who provide hospice services. It's called "visioning." It occurs when people who are near death see their deceased loved ones in the room with them and may even speak to them. Whether it's merely a hallucination or actual spiritual activity is anyone's guess. So I didn't totally make that part up.

Please proceed to Chapter 13 for the second part of this ending.