Maria's Way Out (A Sonic the Hedgehog Fan Fic)

Chapter One- Maria the...Hedgehog?

"MARIA!!!" Shadow screamed, tears streaming down his face. "Shadow...stop...don't worry..." I whisper, trying to comfort him. I reach my hand out toward him and place it on the glass tube. "...Shadow, I need your help, the fate of the world depends on...you.." I gasped, before collapsing. Shadow slams his weight against the glass but it's too late. The tube drops. But right before he left, I managed to open my eyes, smile, and point from my heart towards the direction of his heart. I hope he knows what I mean. He has to know what I mean. But before I can speak anymore, my heart stops and I go cold.

"...Wha...where..." I whisper, breathing heavily and opening my eyes. What do I see around me...? It's too bright and blurry. I see someone standing above me and I hear a voice.

"I see you've awakened, Maria...the Hedgehog."

"Who...are...? Where...?" I ask, shakily sitting up and groaning. It's so painful. "Where's grandfather? Who are you?" I ask, when I finally regain my voice. "Ah-ha...my darling cousin. I am Dr. Ivo Robotnik, the greatest genius on earth! And we are both the grand-siblings of the 'great' Gerald Robotnik. I don't think you ever met me, but--" "Oh, yes, Ivo! It's been a while but--" I start. Then I look him up and down. "Um, you've sure grown....?" I stutter, confusion clouding my mind. "Yes, let me explain. You see...well...Shadow..." as soon as he says his name all the memories come flooding into my brain and stinging my senses. Me playing with Shadow in my room. Shadow and I laughing at one of his corny jokes. Him hugging me when I went off to school. And finally...him calling my name when I...well...died...right...? Didn't I die...? "Maria, listen. After you died, Gerald gave you to me so I would freeze you in a special preservation capsule. I didn't know how to save you, and after you died, well...let's just say Gerald went off his rocker. Anyway, after years of experimenting, I calculated how to save you. I took your brain, heart, and some DNA and...well...look." he finishes, rolling out a mirror. I step onto the solid white ground, but fall. Eventually, I gain my balance and look at myself.

What? What did he do to me? I am a...hedgehog...? I pet my new ears and look at my little tail. I feel my fur and blink my blue eyes. I smooth out my hair. Yes, a hedgehog! Maria the Hedgehog... "I tried to make you look like your former human self. How...does it suit you?" he asks, tapping his foot. "Well, I'm not used to it, of course but..." I fade out. After pausing to think, I say "Thank you, cousin." Ivo nods and rocks his feet a bit before going on. "Good. Now I have some explaining to--" "Where's Shadow?" I interrupt. "Excuse me?" he asks, blinking under his goggles. "Where is Shadow?" I calmly repeat. I need to know if he made it after that drop. "Well, that's the thing. He sort of, well, he and I, we're not exactly on the best terms right now..." he mumbles. "Please explain, Ivo." I ask him, placing my hands on my lap and sitting back down on the white bed in the white room. He clears his throat and begins. "I have goals, young cousin. I have great leadership and great smarts. You may not understand, but I am sort of an evil genius." My eyes widen in surprise, but he goes on before I can object. "I want to rule Mobius, Maria. But Sonic the Hedgehog--a blue hero with a 'heroic' team-- stops me every time. Shadow was very confused and was even a 'bad guy' at one point." he goes on. "But sadly now, he's on the opposing team and is against me." I smile. So Shadow did find his way. "Ivo, everyone goes their own way, I suppose, so I won't waste time arguing with you over your choices." I say. Ivo nods respectfully. "But I must find Shadow and be with him!" I almost yell at that part. I quickly clear my throat and look at the floor. It seems like years I've been in total darkness without Shadow. I miss him deeply. "Ivo, how long have I been out...?" I ask him. "Well...around 53 years." he says. I stare into space. That...that can't be possible...after all this time...? I wonder how Shadow would take it if I revealed myself in this form? Would he believe me? "Goodbye, cousin, I have to go." I say. I strain my eyes around the room looking for a door. "Could you show me the way out?" I ask. "...urgh..." Ivo gruffs. "Just this time, Maria, for relative sake." he says. He takes two giant steps toward me until he is towering over me. He bends over and glares at me. "But not again." he finishes. He stands back up and pulls a remote from his pocket. He presses a button and an unseen door pops up and opens. Two robots step in and escort me through the countless halls, stairs, and elevators. Finally, we arrive at what looks like the final floor. A door opens. But not like I expected. It opens from the floor in a big circle, like a whirl-pool. A bag of sorts gets slapped upon my back and I stumble and fall out into the air. I twirl unable to gain balance in the sky. Finally, I twist myself onto my back, falling quickly. "Oh, and I even gave you some powers in case you decided to work with me, but apparently you won't be. But don't worry--I gave you weaknesses as well!" Ivo shouts. But through his goggles I saw a glaze of care in my cousin's eyes. I whirl back around and spread out my limbs so I gained some control. When I see the ground around me start closing in, I pull the hanging string on my bag, and sure enough, a parachute pops out. I glide gracefully down. Then, in the distance, I see a little village. I decide to head there. I land about what looks like 15 minutes from the village, in the forest. I take off the bag when I land and stop to think. I shouldn't tell Shadow right away. And this all means...Gerald is gone...? I'm not human? Has Shadow changed? What ability did Ivo put into me? I push all of these thoughts away and walk on.