"How did you get here Shadow?" Cindra asked with innocent eyes. They were walking along the city. Shadow wanted to talk to Mia more, but she had some sort of business. He decided to wander the city for some sort of clues instead. He did have a while after all.

"Some sort of teleport potion in a lab floating in space."

Cindra giggled, walking with perfect strides and posture as if it were second nature, "You're very funny Shadow."

Shadow half smiled, "Can I ask you something?"

She nodded eagerly, having taken to the hedgehog. Shadow thought a moment before speaking.

"What is Mia's job exactly?"

Her face hardened to all business, "Well, when a young girl... joins this dimension, she is trained to guide, watch over and keep the order of everyone here. We are the only who age here, and only age until it is our time. Mia is a fully mature Spirit Guide. I am a Guide in Training."

Shadow's ruby eyes widened. He hadn't realized Mia had such a complicated job. He is even more grateful that she is so willing to help him. If only he knew why. They walked a moment, passing by the bright, grand houses. Everything looked the same to Shadow. In fact, the brightness almost gave him a headache, "How does one... join?"

She bit her lip contemplatively, "Well..."

"Ella! Hello!" A young, African girl with bouncing, black curls ran up to Cindra, pulling her into a tight hug, "I never thought I'd see you again!"

Cindra's golden eyes shifted to silver and watered instantly, "Lil? How? What?"

Lil pulled back, her golden eyes shining, "Mia explained everything! I'm sorry I didn't mean to call you Ella!"

Cindra turned away, her eyes darkening to a coal color. Shadow was beginning to understand the eye colors. They change on depending on their emotions. If only he knew why they were like that. Cindra's eyes were swelling and she tried her hardest to hold her face like a stone, "It's Cindra now, and you must address me as so," Her voice cracked with emotion at the end, "What we were before ended when I died. I am so-" She choked and now tears were running down her face, "How did you?"

Lil's face darkened to an almost anger, "The world's gone crazy! There are rumors about the return of Solaris and people are actually doing human sacrifices to appease him! I was one of them!"

Cindra finally broke down and ran away, gathering her skirts and flying away, calling for her phoenix. Shadow sped off for the palace, finally putting it all together in his head. This is where people go when they die! Their eyes and names change and they can't age unless they are Spirit Guides. Now he needs to know who Mia is! The palace was coming closer to view until Shadow all but busted down the door. He flew down the hall so fast it would have set a fire path in the living world. He banged on Mia's door hard, "We must talk Mia!"

The door opened to a concerned face. Mia's hair was down and she wore only a simple, baby blue dress. Shadow's heart stopped. She must be-

"What is it Shadow?"

Shadow barely held himself together enough to ask if he could come in. After walking in the door, he spun around, "What was your name before?"

Her silver eyes darkened a shade, "It doesn't matter."

"The hell it doesn't! It matters to me! Or do you not care anymore?" His anger fumed, years and years of pain and rage boiling over. He had to know! He had the right to know!

Her eyes changed a shade almost identical to Cindra's a moment ago, "Shadow..."

He crossed his arms stubbornly, setting his jaw and narrowing his eyes, "Yes?"

She sighed in defeat and sat down with a slump; her golden hair falling over her shoulders, "This is hard to say Shadow."

Shadow's heart broke, seeing the pain in her eyes. So much pain, "Maria..." He whispered, almost reaching out to her.

She cringed, "No Shadow! The girl who was Maria died! I am but her soul reused and recycled! I exist solely to guide! The only thing that allowed Maria to live on was you," Her voice quieted as she looked deep into Shadow's eyes, her own shifting to a rusty color, "The fact that you remembered me, loved me the way siblings do, and missed me allowed me to exist. Now that you see me like this, I am nothing!"

Shadow's stomach knotted and his heart bled for her. It seems even though she was sent to this bright paradise, they really did kill Maria. She was always full of love and life. Now she's broken and sad. Shadow sat beside her and placed a hesitant hand on her shoulder, "I'll always love you Maria. You'll never be Mia to me! You'll always be my responsibility... my sister. Even though I have a husband and a daughter, I still missed you, and always will. You gave me the strength to keep going. I would have been a broken, lifeless being without you. You still exist! I won't let you fade away!"

It seems Maria still ha the power to get a lot of words out of Shadow. He truly was made for her.

Her eyes lightened to a color somewhere between gold and silver and she smiled, "Really?"

Shadow smiled and nodded, "You've always been with me Maria. You would be ashamed of me if you knew how long I spent trying to get revenge. It took my husband and his friends to show me the right way."

Her smile grew and her eyes were golden now. She hugged Shadow tightly and cried softly, "Thank you Shadow! Now I can be free!"

Shadow rubbed her back, feeling his own throat tighten, "So can I."

Maria sat up suddenly and turned, her long hair flowing along her back almost as if in water, "He's here! He's early, something's wrong!" She ran out the door, her bare feet padding on the perfectly polished floors. Shadow followed close behind, wondering what was wrong. The second he stepped outside, he understood why.

A deep chasm had appeared in the golden sky. Inside there was a swirl of black and gray. Shadow assumed a battle stance, but a look from Maria told him to back down. He stepped back into the palace out of sight.

"What are you doing here?" Maria shouted at the storm, "Either come at the agreed time or show yourself!" Despite her calm and gentle nature, Maria did sound threatening as she shouted.

A deep, and bone chilling voice answered, almost freezing Shadow's heart, "Oh do not worry dear Mia. I do plan to show myself!"

Her face paled ans Shadow knew she recognized the voice too. Shadow shouted, "Maria! Can you stop him?"

She shook her head, her eyes almost completely white except for her pupils. Shadow growled and stepped out.

"What do you want Doom!"

He heard a throaty laugh as the black star with a single red eye floated down. It flew to the hedgehog and glared, "I want the same as you Shadow! Forget the chaos emeralds! We must stop Robotnick!"

Shadow huffed, "Since when do you care about humanity?" He glared the bloody eyes menacingly.

The star racked back and laughed, "I do not! I always care solely about myself Shadow, you know this! However, I need this planet to be full of life for my comet to pass it effectively."

Shadow crossed his arms, "Explain."

Your planet's power, it's core. It pulls my comet just enough to push it past the stars and slingshot it to the next planet with life. However, this would not be near strong enough without the life on it. What other reason must I have?"

Shadow wasn't convinced, and he knew Black Doom knew it. Maria stood beside Shadow now, "Don't believe him Shadow, he can't be trusted."

Shadow didn't respond. He only continued his little glaring contest with this eyes as if it was the most amusing thing in the world. The eye angled toward Maria then back, "Do this with me, and I'll bring her back to life. She will wake up on the Ark at the exact same place, the exact same age she died."

That had him.

"Shadow no!" Maria said, clutching his shoulders, "No one has the power to do that! Doom couldn't save me the first time! He makes promises he cannot keep! Please Shadow!"

Shadow looked into Maria's silver eyes and sighed, "He didn't fail to keep you alive Maria. I did. He does have incredible power. I know this."

Maria looked at Shadow like she couldn't believe what she was hearing. She clenched her fist against her chest and closed her eyes tightly, "Shadow, you can't! I won't forgive you if you do this!"

Shadow felt his heart clench and he closed his eyes, holding his famous passive face, "I was not created for your affection. I was created to protect you."

"It's a deal then!" Doom shouted, his eye spinning for the hole in the sky, "You will meet me on the Ark in thirty seconds! Say your temporary goodbyes now!"

Shadow fell to her knees, her face torn, "How could you Shadow? You just set me free and now I am chained once again!" She looked away, "I hate you!"

Before Shadow could say anything, a dizziness swept over him, and he was fading. The last thing he saw, was Maria running to the palace.