Neuro-Immune Deficiency Syndrome. When Maria was a little girl, she had been diagnosed with this incurable and terminal disease. She would never forget the horrified looks on her mother and father's faces while she was barely keeping her eyes open in her hospital room.

She had good days with her condition. Especially since she started living on The Ark. She could walk, talk, eat, and act so normal because on the good days, her illness was practically invisible. So much so that she often heard some of the other researchers doubt that she was sick at all.

...but on her bad days...she sometimes couldn't even hold a simple glass of water because her hands had lost their strength or were too shaky. Sometimes she couldn't move without having to force herself to use all of her might. Other times, she couldn't even see or think straight.

She didn't want to admit it...but on her bad days, her worst thoughts took control of her mind. And all of those thoughts were fueled by fear. Fear of what would happen to her. Fear of never being able to go back home. Fear of what her family may go through.

Fear of...dying...should any child have to have that fear?

Today though, was a good day. She was walking through The Ark's halls, humming a tune to herself. She had actually been writing a song to keep up her spirits and she had to admit...it was both fun and difficult. Music seemed to be a science of its very own, but she was more than happy to learn it all.

She already had a name for it, even if she had yet to finish the lyrics.

'Live and Learn'

"~Live and learn...hanging on the edge of tomorrow...live and learn...from the works of yesterday~" Maria sang to herself with a bright smile...but then, she stopped in her tracks when she saw the door to her grandfather's room was wide open.

And inside, her grandfather was sitting at his desk with his hands on his head and face deep in the worktable. Surrounding him were all kinds of crumbled up notes and blueprints. He looked...stressed.

"...Grandfather?" Maria asked, slowly walking inside.

Gerald's eyes widened and he lifted his head, turning to his granddaughter as he pushed up his glasses. "M-Maria! How are you feeling...?"

"I think today's a good day. I'm feeling much better." Maria said as she walked over to her beloved caretaker. "But...what about you? You look so...tired."

Gerald couldn't help but give a small smile towards his grandchild. "I suppose I'm bad at hiding it, hmm? Yes...I...I am very tired."

"Then you should rest." Maria said, her eyes soft. "You shouldn't be working when you're running low on rest."

"Maria, I will be fine." Gerald reassured. "I just-"

"Grandfather, you're going to rest." Maria insisted.

"Maria-"

Maria then pouted, giving her grandfather a look that was similar to that of a puppy being upset because they had not been fed yet.

Gerald was quiet before he sighed. "Alright, alright. I'll rest.'

Maria's pout quickly turned to a relived smile as she held her grandfather's hand and walked with him to his bed. "You push yourself too hard, Grandfather. You need to take care of yourself too."

"I'm only working so hard because I know where you belong. Back home." Gerald said.

"I do miss home...but I can wait for as long as we need to." Maria said, smiling up at him. "I know things are going to be okay, Grandpa. I just know it."

"...oh, Maria...what would I ever do without you?"

Maria was quiet as the wind blew through her quills while her back laid against a tree. She was just...quiet.

Yesterday had been so much for her that she just didn't want to continue her and Shadow's travels. Not yet. And her brother thankfully understood, taking her home immediately.

She had a hard time sleeping that night, so now she was just...sitting there, trying to process it all.

Her cousin, possibly her only family left other than Shadow, was some kind of evil mad scientist that was hellbent on conquering the world with an army of robots...and didn't seem to like her very much either. She was happy that Sage seemed to welcome her with open arms, but she noticed that only seemed to tick off Eggman more.

...and her grandfather...how could he do something like that? Manipulate Shadow's mind to try and destroy humanity? Slaughter countless people, families, friends, and innocents who had nothing to do with what happened on The Ark? How could he ever think that she wanted that?

She would have rather died all over again than let the planet she loved succumb to such a horrible fate...

Maria felt tears building up in her eyes again as she began to realize how the kind and sweet old man that looked after her died a man consumed by revenge.

"...revenge...a worthless cause..." Maria whispered. "You dedicate your life to getting payback...and when or if you get it, you're just left empty or a need to make up a reason to want more..."

The yellow hedgehog then sniffled as she wiped her eyes. "G-Grandpa...why...j-just...why...?"

"...I asked myself the same thing." A familiar voice said as red and white shoes stepped through the grass.

Maria slowly looked over and saw her brother standing there. She sniffled, looking back out into the distance. "...Shadow...can I ask you something?"

Shadow sat down beside her, nodding.

"...if Grandfather never warped your mind and you woke up...what would you have done?" Maria asked.

Shadow was quiet for a moment as he began to think. The silence was a mix of peaceful and deafening. But then, he opened his mouth to speak. "...I would have just wandered the Earth. I would have been confused...unsure of what to do...I would need so much time to think...but I also know that some part of me would be angry at the world. Angry at G.U.N. Maybe I would've tried to hurt them..."

Maria looked down. "Shadow...I-I'm not worth that...I never want anyone to become so angry over me...I never want anyone to hurt people in my name..."

"...I know." Shadow said. "Which is why I'd like to think that...maybe I would have remembered your wish. To give everyone a chance to be happy."

Maria slowly faced her brother, her eyes once again starting to water.

"Maria...people let their emotions take full control when they grieve, especially when the one they lost meant so much to them and now they have to understand that their life has changed forever because of that loss." Shadow said. "I...I don't forgive The Professor for what he tried to do...frankly, I don't even know how to describe how I feel about him...but I can understand why he did what he did...it doesn't make it right, but I can understand."

Maria wiped her eyes. "...I just wish that...that he had thought about what he was doing...how many lives he was going to take...did he truly think I wanted that?"

"I'm not sure." Shadow said.

"...I don't want to admit it, but...I-I'm almost afraid to see if my baby sister is even still alive..." Maria whispered. "Eclipse said she was gone, but...if he lied about Ivo, he could've lied there too...I-I don't want to imagine what my- what our sister could have turned into..."

Shadow turned towards her. "I...I can't blame you for being scared...but no matter what, Maria, I am here for you. I always will be."

Maria sniffled and then hugged Shadow tightly once again, burying her face into his shoulder.

Shadow wrapped his arms around her, holding her close and even stroking her quills in an attempt to comfort her. Like how he used to with her hair during her bad days on The Ark.

"...thank you, Shadow..." Maria whispered. "It...it makes it so much easier to not go through this alone..."

Shadow nodded before his communicator suddenly beeped. His eyes narrowed and he slowly broke the hug, tapping the device. "This is Shadow."

"Shadow, this is Commander Tower. I have an assignment for Team Dark."

"H...hi, Abe." Maria said with a light smile.

"Hey, Maria...is...everything alright?"

Maria sighed. "I am. I just learned something that I'm...still trying to process is all. I will be okay."

"Good. That's a relief."

Shadow then huffed. "What's the assignment?"

"We think we've gotten traces of 'Team Doom' all across the globe...they're searching for something. But we aren't sure what."

"...I won't leave Maria-"

Maria put a hand on her brother's. "Shadow...it's okay. This mission sounds important. I will be okay for a few hours on my own."

Shadow was clearly hesitant, but sighed and then nodded. "Very well. I'll rendezvous with Rouge and Omega."

"Excellent. And, uhh, Maria? Whatever you're going through...I'm here if you need to talk. Plus, I think you'd love to meet my family. My grandson especially."

Maria's eyes widened and she giggled softly. "I promise I will meet him soon. Your family sounds wonderful."

"Thank you. Just take it easy, Ria. Tower out."

Shadow sighed before he looked at Maria. "I'm going to call someone to watch over you at the very least."

Maria nodded. "Okay. I...think it might help to get my mind off all this anyway. Even if only for a little bit."

Later that day, Maria was reading another book with Nyx playfully sitting on her head. This book in particular was about the legend of Light Gaia and Dark Gaia, godlike beings who inhabited the very Earth itself.

"I always believed in magic when I was little...it's amazing to see it's real, isn't it?" Maria smiled, looking up at the Dark Chao on her head.

"Chao." Nyx said.

Maria giggled, eventually putting a bookmark in the chapter. "Thank you for being here with me, Nyx. I...don't feel completely better, but...it helps to remind myself that I am not alone in my pain. That I am not alone...in general-"

But then, there was suddenly a knock at the door. Maria hummed and then set Nyx back down on the couch, walking over to the door. This must've been whoever Shadow called.

The yellow hedgehog opened the door...and her eyes widened at the sight of another hedgehog like her, Shadow, and Sonic. But this one was...pink.

Her quills were almost like hair, much like Maria's except much shorter. She had golden rings on her wrists, a rather adorable red and white dress with matching boots, and emerald eyes.

"Oh!" The pink hedgehog smiled. "Hello there! You must be Maria!"

Maria smiled brightly. "That's me! Are you the person Shadow called?"

"Yup! And I never mind doing a favor for friends!" The pink hedgehog said before shaking Maria's hand. "My name is Amy! Amy Rose!"

Maria's eyes sparkled. "That's a beautiful name!!!"

Amy laughed as she stepped inside. "Awww, thank you! Your name is just as nice! Especially since Shadow tells us so much about you."

"It's almost alarming how popular I am already amongst his friends." Maria giggled as the two sat down.

Nyx eventually walked back over, crawling right into Maria's lap. "Chao."

Amy gushed, clasping her hands together. "Well hello there, Nyx!"

"Chao." Nyx greeted.

Maria smiled and held her and her brother's Chao close, nuzzling him and even kissing his forehead. "I've only known him for a few days, but I already love him to the very ends of the Earth..."

"Do you know how to properly care for him?"

"Yup! I've researched as much as I can on Chao!" Maria said, gesturing to a pile of books nearby. "It helps that I love to read!"

"Seems you and Shadow have that in common." Amy laughed. "Shadow will sometimes have his nose in a book during social events just to get out of it."

Maria snorted, covering her mouth. "That happened on The Ark too. He was always so nervous back then, it was adorable!"

"Tell me everything." Amy said with a wide grin.

"Well, whenever one of the researchers would attempt to talk with him, he'd just slowly walk behind me and use me as a hiding spot." Maria smiled. "It was one of the few times he wasn't making this face."

Then, she scrunched up her face and tried to imitate her brother's usual angry and stoic demeanor as best she could, causing Amy to laugh.

"Perfect imitation! You should be an actress!" Amy joked. "But, in all seriousness, I can understand that having to be social can take a lot out of someone. I think I'm lucky that Shadow once willingly came to my birthday party. He did not want to go to Sonic's."

"I met Sonic yesterday actually! He's so nice! I don't understand why Shadow doesn't like him..." Maria said.

Amy held up her hands. "W-well, I wouldn't say that they don't like each other!"

"Really? Shadow elbowed him in the stomach..."

"It's just they're...rivals for lack of a better word. Like brothers constantly competing against each other! I can tell that deep down, they both respect each other!"

"Oh! I see!" Maria hummed.

Amy then suddenly...blushed, her fuzzy cheeks as rosy as her name. "Sonic's a very respectable person..."

Maria noticed the blush on her face and gasped, covering her mouth for a moment. "Do you like Sonic?"

"If you mean like as a friend? Sure...but if you mean like-like...?" Amy said with a shy smile. "Yes. Very, very much."

Maria squealed, practically hopping right out of her seat after carefully putting Nyx beside her so he wouldn't fall. "That's so cute!!! You two would make an amazing couple!!!"

Amy's blush grew. "Awww. Ya think so?"

"Yes!!!" Maria smiled. "You should tell him!!!"

Amy rubbed the back of her neck. "Umm...well, I have. Several times actually when we were younger."

Maria's smile faded. "Did...he reject you...?"

"Ummm...a little." Amy said. "It's complicated. I first met him when he saved my life from an evil scheme by Eggman. Back then though, I was...a little too forward..."

"How so...?"

"...I kind of wanted to marry him when we were about 8?" Amy said with a sheepish grin.

Maria grimaced. "Ohhh..."

"Yeah. Sonic's a free spirit. He hates being held down by anything really and to him, a relationship means slowing down...over time, I began to understand that." Amy said. "I calmed down. I didn't try to force him into marriage or insist he take me out on a date and...and that's when he started to be around me more. Even now, we hang out so much more than we used to."

Maria's smile once again returned and she clasped her own hands together, her eyes even sparkly like when her parents read her a fairy tale as a little girl. She could practically hear her new friend say the words 'Happily Ever After'.

"My feelings haven't gone away." Amy said. "If anything, they've grown stronger. I admire his caring nature, his endless determination and courage, and how even during the worst moments? He's able to keep smiling...although, I've definitely started to see a bit of his flaws over time."

"Everyone has flaws. No one is perfect." Maria smiled. "But...does anything or anyone really need to be?"

"Not at all." Amy said. "But enough about me! What about you? How have things been...?"

Maria was about to answer, but quickly recalled what had happened yesterday. And for a moment, her vision flashed back to the sight of her grandfather chained up in a cell and announcing his plan for the end of humanity.

'All of you ungrateful humans who took everything away from me shall feel my loss and despair!!!'

"...Maria?" Amy asked, her eyes soft. "Is everything okay?"

Maria snapped out of it, returning to her senses. "...yes. They are okay, but...yesterday, I learned about something that...that really hurts..."

Amy's heart clenched, and not needing another word, she quickly pulled Maria right into a caring embrace.

Maria smiled softly and hugged back. "Thank you..."

"Do you want to talk about it?" Amy asked.

"No...I'm sorry."

Amy just smiled. "You don't have to apologize...how about we do something fun then? To help lift your spirits?"

Maria tilted her head. "Like what?"

"Well...how about shopping?" Amy suggested. "I think you could use a look to go with your new form!"

Maria looked down, only just now realizing she had never changed out of the strange bio-suit that Eclipse gave her. And once again, she grinned wide at the pink hedgehog. "Let's do it!"

Amy smiled and then scooped Nyx into her arms. "To the stores we go!!!"

The two hedgehogs went to the closest mall they could find and started browsing...well. Pretty much everywhere.

Treats, cute clothes, books, plushies, and Maria was even briefly distracted by the technology department. Although, she had to admit that there really wasn't much of a difference between the Genesis 15 phone and Genesis 16 phone besides one of them having a better camera.

They even attempted to buy some costumes for Nyx...but he threatened to rip them to shreds if they tried putting him in any of them.

Yeah. He was Shadow's Chao, alright.

Amy was now patiently waiting in one of the rooms, humming softly to herself. She then looked at the changing room. "How does it feel? You were practically in love with it the moment you saw it!"

"It feels good! And it reminds me so much of my old dress." Maria's voice said before the door opened and the yellow hedgehog walked right out.

And with a blue headband to go with it, Maria was now wearing a blue blouse over a light blue dress. She even had white gloves instead of the clawed red ones that came with her bio-suit, with her silver Inhibitor Rings remaining on her wrists.

Amy gasped, her emerald eyes sparkling.

Maria smiled and lightly spun around. "How do I look?"

"YOU LOOK ADORABLE!!!" Amy smiled, hugging her new friend tightly. "How do you feel?"

Maria hummed softly and looked at herself. Then, she looked back at Amy with a warm grin. "Like me."