Shadow of a Doubt

Forest Time

The cool wind stung at Maria's eyes as she ran into the forest behind the house. As soon as she got outside, her speed slowed, but was still quite fast. A good way into the trees, she stopped, confused and unsure of what to do.

Leaning against a large spruce, the golden hedgehog slid down to the base to rest on the soft ground. She pulled her knees up to her chest and let the tears that had been held back for so long fall.

"I... I died!" She said quietly, sniffling. "No wonder Shadow is so closed off and cold; I was shot right in front of him. God! Now my cousin wants to use me as a weapon to get rid of my new friends."

Maria looked up at the clouds.

"What am I going to do? Should I tell them who I am? If I do, I'll have to face Shadow and my feelings for him. I- I can't tell him." She cried, shaking her head.

"Tell who what?" a voice asked from behind her.

Maria looked around to see a pure white bat leaning against a neighbouring tree.

"Oh. Hi, Rouge." Maria muttered, resting her chin on her knees.

"What's the matter, sugar?" Rouge asked, moving to sit next to her. "You can tell me."

"I got my memories back, a-and I don't know if I can tell the others who I am." she sniffed.

Rouge slid her arm around Maria as she started to sob even more. They sat like that for a while. Silent, but not uncomfortable.

"How about this: you tell me who you are and I can give you some advice. You can't keep big things like this all bottled up inside."

"Alright... uh." She took a deep, shaky breath. "My name is Maria Robotnik, I died around 60 years ago, and have been reincarnated into a super weapon by my cousin Ivo."

"What?!" Rouge was taken aback by this.

"See? How can I tell them without having to face Shadow? I'm not ready... I can't do it."

"So, wait. You're the famous Maria that Shadow has been pining for all this time?"

"Famous?" Maria arched an eyebrow.

"Yeah. Almost everyone that knows him personally knows that you were his best friend. Shadow has been depressed and miserable on and off ever since you died. You're the reason he's with us today."

"Wow. That makes me sound important. I was just the girl slowly dying of an incurable medical condition." she explained as she watched the scenery around her.

"No. You were -are- the reason for Shadow's existence. Without your grandfather taking him in and claiming him to be an experiment, he wouldn't be here. If not for your promise, he probably would have tried, or even succeeded, in killing himself. He misses you that much, sweetie." Rouge countered.

"I guess you're right. But how can I tell them?"

"For today, I'd say just tell them you have nowhere to go and no living family. Then spend a couple days mentally preparing yourself to tell everyone."

"That's perfect, Rouge! Thank you for the advice." Maria exclaimed, giving her a proper hug under the arms.

Rouge was a little surprised by the contact, but hugged back.

They soon parted ways and Maria started walking back towards the house. After she had ran out, the group had spread out around the house and started looking for her, each walking outwards to create a large circle.

Maria walked slowly, thinking over what she would say. She neither liked nor was used to running so using her speed, she decided, would be for training, combat, or emergencies. Her water powers, however, felt completely natural and caused her no discomfort or strain to use.

About half way back, she came across a wide river she hadn't noticed earlier. Maria stood at the edge for a moment, looking at her reflection. She was still in her pajamas; a blue t-shirt with Minnie Mouse on the front and navy pants with little Minnie and Mickeys kissing all over them. Her hair was disheveled but not too bad. The cut on her arm just a line of missing fur now.

Maria waved her hand over the surface and willed the water to rise and take the shape of her human body. She then proceeded to look between the two versions of herself.

Was I really that skinny near the end? I guess I had more trouble eating with that round of treatment. You know what? Being a hedgehog is going to be way better than being in that dying cage of a body. Plus, I feel more at home in this body type. She thought, referencing her thicker body and significantly larger chest. A mature body for the adult she now was, not stunted in its growth by disease or medications.

As the wet self portrait melted back into the rushing river, Maria gave it a little salute as farewell. She then hesitantly stepped out onto the river. Maria easily manipulated the surface tension to support her weight and crossed over.

It was another couple minutes before she met up with any of the group.

"Maria? Is that you?" Silver asked, emerging from behind a tree.

"Yeah, it's me."

Silver quickly sifted through Maria's thoughts, hoping to get a glimpse at who she really was. Finding what he was looking for, he gasped and backed into the tree.

"Oh my gosh! You're... but you were... how...?" he stammered.

"I know, I know..." She soothed.

"You have to tell the others!"

"No way! I am not ready to face Shadow." Maria argued, shaking her head. She then pointed a finger at him and threatened, "Don't you dare tell them. If you do, I will not hesitate to drag you to Angel Island and back at the speed of light."

"Okay, okay, jeez. But don't leave it too long..."

Maria gave him a smile. "Don't worry, I'll try not to."

"What are you going to tell the others?" Silver asked as they began to make their way back.

"You'll see."