Shadow blinked. The last thing he remembered was a fiery explosion, the chaotic cacophony of battle, and... falling. Now, he found himself surrounded by an endless expanse of light—soft and warm, not the harsh, clinical light of Eggman's laboratories. It felt... peaceful.
"Shadow."
He froze. That voice, achingly familiar, cut through his confusion. Slowly, he turned, and there she was. Maria.
She looked exactly as he remembered—blond hair cascading like golden threads, blue eyes twinkling with warmth. Yet, there was something more radiant about her now, as if she was a part of the light itself.
Shadow staggered forward, his composure crumbling. His knees hit the ground as he stared up at her, the stoic mask he wore for so long shattered. "Maria... I—I failed you. I couldn't keep my promise. The world is still broken."
She knelt in front of him, cupping his face in her hands. Her touch was soft and steady, anchoring him in this strange, luminous place. "You didn't fail me, Shadow. You've done more than I ever dreamed. You kept going, even when it hurt, even when it felt pointless. You've made the world brighter, little by little." "Maria," he whispered, his usual gruffness softening.
Shaddow struggled with his words. "Is this—am I—"
"You're here," she said gently, walking closer. "And yes, you're... no longer on Earth. You've done enough, Shadow."
He scoffed, crossing his arms. "Didn't feel like enough. Earth's still a mess."
Maria smiled, tilting her head. "Earth is a mess. That's the point."
Shadow blinked at her bluntness. "Not exactly comforting."
"Not supposed to be," she replied, gesturing for him to walk with her. "Earth is a dark place, Shadow. It's chaotic, unfair, and random. Most of what happens there isn't anyone's fault—it just is."
Shadow frowned as they strolled through the luminous landscape. "Sounds like a pointless existence."
"Not pointless," she said, her tone insistent. "The world is dark, yes, but that's why people like you—and me—matter. We're there to bring a little light, to make it bearable. Even if it's just for one person."
Shadow raised an eyebrow. "Is that what you were doing? Making my life 'bearable'?"
Maria grinned. "Well, someone had to. You were an absolute grump."
He snorted. "Still am."
"Tell me about it," Maria teased. "But even so, you've done good, Shadow. You've saved lives, protected people. You've shown that even in the darkest places, there's hope. That's what matters."
He fell silent, digesting her words. After a moment, he smirked. "So, the afterlife is where all the caring people are? Kind of a weird setup, don't you think?"
Maria laughed. "It's not so much about caring people as it is about... clarity. Here, everyone understands each other. There's no pretense, no pain. You'll get used to it."
"I doubt it," he muttered, though his tone lacked bite.
Maria led him to a grand piano, gleaming like polished silver, in the middle of the light-filled expanse. "Remember this?"
Shadow quirked an eyebrow. "You're assuming I'll play."
"Oh, you will," she said, sitting on the bench and patting the spot beside her. "Don't make me start without you."
Reluctantly, Shadow sat. His gloved hands hovered over the keys, and then, as if muscle memory kicked in, he began to play. Maria joined in, her notes complementing his, creating a melody that was both haunting and hopeful.
"You're still terrible at tempo," Maria teased mid-song.
"And you still can't play a proper crescendo," Shadow shot back.

"Yer still a snoogle boogle, whatever that is. Let's think of something funny" suggested Maria, as she played the final note to the song.

"Okay" replied Shadow.

"Remember when Sonic thought the Sonic fast food place was named after him?" asked Maria.

"Yes. Haha. What a fool. Mere mortal! What a buffoon" said Shadow.

"I know right? He even walked into the place, bursting through the double-doors of the joint like Yosemite Sam, thinking everyone in there

would recognize him instantly! Is that why he likes chili dogs? Ha, funny!" said Maria.
They laughed, their music filling the space until the light around them seemed to shift. The luminous world gave way to a kaleidoscope of colors. Trees made of shimmering jellybeans sprouted around them, their sugary scent filling the air.
Maria clapped her hands. "This was my favorite place as a kid."
Shadow eyed the vibrant landscape with suspicion. "This looks ridiculous."
"Ridiculously fun," she corrected, plucking a jellybean from a nearby tree and popping it into her mouth. "Come on, try one."
Shadow reluctantly followed suit, biting into a jellybean shaped like a star. "Huh. Not bad."
"Told you," Maria said, grinning. "See? Even you can lighten up."
As they wandered deeper into the jellybean forest, Shadow felt something unfamiliar—a strange sense of peace. He wasn't sure he'd ever truly felt it before, but here, with Maria, it seemed... right.
"Maria," he said finally.
"Yes?"
"Thank you. For everything."
She smiled, her eyes shimmering. "You're welcome, Shadow. And thank you—for keeping your promise."

"Everything's gonna work out fine," replied Shadow.

"We're nearing the end of the line!" replied Maria, smiling.
Together, they strode through the candy-colored forest, the weight of the past left behind. And as they disappeared into the vibrant light, Shadow's voice echoed:
"We're the ultimate!"