"Professor Gerald, I know you've been working hard to improve Maria's condition..., but she's getting sicker every day... I can see it! She won't be able to live long enough for you to find her a cure!"

The tall man in a white lab coat stroked his gray mustache with a sad expression on his face. "I know that it's hard for you to understand, Shadow... Sometimes humans get sick..., and sometimes, cures can't be made fast enough to help give them the life they deserved..."

Machines were making noises in the background as the hedgehog and the professor began to walk down a halfway full of inventions, creatures, and robots. Each of them an experiment to try and find a solution to Maria's illness. Shadow ignored them all. He was the only one out of all of them to actually have any promise in helping Maria.

"Gerald..., it's not fair. Humans born with an illness don't deserve to die so soon! Especially Maria! She's innocent and her life is being stolen from her. We've been doing almost nothing to stop it!" Shadow shouted with frustration.

Gerald stopped in front of a metallic door and entered the pass code. Once the door opened, he finally replied to Shadow. "On the contrary..., we've been doing everything to ensure Maria's life isn't stolen too soon. Observe!" he said as he held out a red gemstone to Shadow.

"How is a rock supposed to help her?"

Offended, the professor huffed with annoyance. "This isn't just some rock! This is the key to earning more time than we could ever have bargained for! Behold, the Phantom Ruby!"

Shadow skeptically looked over the Phantom Ruby. "So, what does the Phantom Ruby do?"

"It can create illusions using a power that's very similar to yours, Shadow. However, that part is not what I'm currently concerned with. An illusion is one thing..., but the Phantom Ruby has an infinite space inside of it where time is frozen and nothing ever happens. It's dark, cold, but anyone who enters the Null Space could potentially live forever and never age a second," Gerald explained. He grinned his scientific genius grin to Shadow. "Isn't it brilliant?!"

"Brilliant?!" Shadow demanded as he slammed the Phantom Ruby down onto a table harshly. His eyes burned with anger at the idea of Null Space. "You're going to banish your own granddaughter to a universe where nothing exists forever until you find a cure?! How long might that process take?! Maria will be all alone in Null Space for what could be eternity! Why would you even dare to do that to her?!"

Of course, Gerald expected an outburst from Shadow. The professor took back the Phantom Ruby and ran his fingers over the smooth surface. "Listen to me, Shadow... The Phantom Ruby can be programmed. I have the power to change Null Space however I please. Right now, it's an endless empty space... But if I seal Maria in this gem... It will be a sunny, natural world with flowers, rivers, trees... The Phantom Ruby can create friends for her in the world I'll make. It's true that they're illusions, but whenever they see Maria, they will talk and act like normal people. Inside of this Phantom Ruby is the life Maria always wished she could have down on the planet. Shadow..., this ruby might just give Maria... a normal life."

An astounded look came over Shadow in a heartbeat. He gazed at the Phantom Ruby now in wonder. "It could... do that?"

The professor nodded his head to Shadow. "Now, don't go slamming it into any more tables!" He took the ruby and put it back in its place of protection. Shadow and Gerald left the room safely locked and secured and went back to the research lab. Shadow had a distant expression on his face.

"Professor..., can I go into the Phantom Ruby with Maria when the time comes...?"

Gerald smiled at Shadow and nodded to him. "I fully intended for you and Maria to be together to the end."

--

"SHADOW! Wake up!! I only left for a minute to get something to help your arm! Please don't be dead!" you found yourself crying as you tried to shake him awake from the ground.

After a moment, Shadow opened his eyes. "I'm not dead. I was only sleeping. I lost a lot of energy earlier, so I'm trying to recover my strength." He glanced up at you. "No need to cry, (y/n)..."

Thankful he wasn't dead and that he was just asleep, you sighed with relief. "Okay... I was just making sure..." You reached for his arm and started dabbing his wound with some cotton. Shadow had teleported both of you out of Null Space and back to the real world. You went and found some natural plants and things that could help him start feeling better. "I know I'm not an expert, but at the very least, I try my best."

"Cotton, huh? That wasn't a bad idea. But did you have to pick it from some thorny plant?" Shadow asked.

"Yes... But if it's for you, I'll pick any plant! No matter how thorny it is!" After saying this, you continued drying his arm. The cotton was absorbing the blood really well. Once the wound was mostly cleaned, you took the rest of your cotton, put all of it into some large leaves, and tied the leaves tightly around Shadow's arm. Not a work of art..., but effective.

"It seems so primitive...," he said as he inspected what you put on him.

"Be quiet! It's better than anything you could do! Besides, you're dead set on not going to a hospital, so take what you get," you retorted bitterly.

"I wasn't complaining! I was just pointing out that it--!"

You turned your back away from him with damaged pride. Nothing in you wanted to hear what he had to say about it. You also didn't want to speak a word to him about it either. Shadow understood that you were mad because of his comment..., but seemed to also understand that he could take advantage of the situation. He stood to his feet and went up to you. Once he reached you again, he sat beside you. As close beside you he could manage. "Why are you so mad...? I believe I've said worse to you... Or are you mad because my opinion actually means something to you now...?" he asked with a... different tone of voice than you were used to. Very low... very calm... very... mischievous.

"Get away from me, Shadow," you told him abruptly.

"If I did that..., how would I kiss you again exactly? Unless if my ears deceive me, I believe you told me that you liked it..." It was that plotting smirk on his face again. But this time, you doubted that he was going to purge his feelings like last time.

Hearing him bring it up made your heart flutter rapidly. A vivid image of the moment that morning suddenly came flying through your mind. Your anger faded into that feeling again. The one you were feeling all morning before the volcano. The embarrassment that, for some reason, made you feel good... and want Shadow even more. "Stop it... Now is hardly the time for any of that! I'm supposed to be making you feel better!" you told him. You weren't about to just say yes to him right off the bat.

"But... it would make me feel better. Therefore, you'd still be doing your job," he said assuringly. You could feel his uninjured arm coil around you and his hand caressed your neck lightly. "You sure you want me to leave...?"

Every nerve in you was freaking out. Every thought was begging to see what Shadow was going to do. Every feeling wanted to know what it would feel like... But fear was holding strong. At first you didn't answer Shadow's question because your fear was so strong. Shadow seemed to sense this.

"Don't be scared. I'm not going to hurt you. I know this is all new to you, but what I'm doing isn't a bad thing. But if you don't want me near you, then I'll keep my distance," he told you. You felt his embrace loosen a little as if he were pulling away from you.

"NO! Wait. Don't... let go...," you told him. When you felt his embrace loosen, you felt something very familiar... Loneliness. Like on the Ark. Lack of friends... Lack of physical contact... Lack of life. Shadow was probably the first after Maria to connect with you... You used to think he was mean and only cared about Maria..., but he was protecting you from those who wanted to hurt you. And now... he was finally showing you who he really was. Faster than you intended, you grabbed his hand to prevent him from backing away from you. "I... I... I don't want you to stop... I think... it'll make me feel better, too... Especially... after all of those years in such isolation on the Ark..."

You couldn't see Shadow's expression, but you felt his arm tighten around you again. When his voice returned, it was low and filled with remorse. "Had I known who you really were, I would have seen you... And made sure you didn't feel so alone... I can't begin to imagine what living alone on the Ark was like for you... It was hard enough for Maria and me to live in that place. We had each other, though." Shadow paused a moment and you could feel the side of his face brush against yours. "I'm sorry..."

Hearing Shadow say that brought both joy and sorrow to your heart. Sorrow from the memories and happiness from how much he valued you. Whether if he was acting or not, you were certain of one thing: you didn't want him to let go... Still afraid of what he'd do if you remained silent with him for too long, you kept talking. "Was this how you often comforted Maria...?"

Shadow curtly nodded. "Yes... Maria... often needed lots of emotional support. She knew she was going to die one day soon... And knowing something as cruel as that... would terrify her. She would cry in her room and in the lab... So, I would comfort her... much like this."

"I see..."

"But this is different... Because unlike your sister, you have a chance to live the way you want to. And unlike myself from back then..., I'm not only comforting you to make you feel better." He felt you tense up... Still scared.

You could feel your heart pulsing faster and harder than ever before. You could feel your face burning red... It was happening again... "I'm... sorry. It's just that I'm not... used to... this, you know?"

"Do you want to be used to it?"

You thought a moment about his offer. The answer was obvious. "...Yes."

"Then I only have one piece of advice. Trust in me."

With those final words, he held himself back no more. In barely less than a moment, his lips were to yours once again. You could feel your heart skip! Then it slowed as you eased into his kiss. All of your tension and fear flew away in the strong, heartfelt moment. His embrace became tighter and he let his free hand do seemingly whatever it pleased. For a moment he stroked you hair steadily and in a rhythm. Then he ran his hand lightly down your neck... just barely allowing his fingers to touch. You couldn't ignore the overwhelming sensation of pleasure you got with each and every second and from his each and every movement. A cool breeze flew by, but you were completely drawn into Shadow's warmth... Without thinking, you brought your hands to his chest. Immediately, silky softness caressed your fingers... You brushed your fingers across Shadow's chestfur and you could hear him let out a small sigh. You knew... he was feeling the same thing you were.

Shadow... He cares about me... He wasn't pretending just because of his promise to me... His emotions are just as real as mine! Shadow is here... confessing to me... Confessing that he cares about me... just as much as Maria. Shadow... he loves me...

Shadow... loves me?

No. Shadow loved Maria. Right? He couldn't just abandon her for you. That wouldn't make any sense! Shadow would always remain loyal to Maria... No matter what. This was just temporary. As soon as Maria is revived by the chaos emeralds, Shadow will forget all about you. That was it. Those thoughts brought you from being in an elated trance to drowning in miserable realization. Shadow seemed to notice the sudden shift in atmosphere.

He ended his kiss, but he didn't pull away. There was a slightly confused look on his face. You also noted that he was still blushing from before. It was faint, but certainly real. "What's the matter?"

You didn't feel like telling him..., but then again, if you told him, then you'd know the truth for certain. Instead of asking him outright, you started asking questions to lead up to it. "Shadow..., do you... love me...?"

Shadow took your hand and held it close to his chest. He nodded his head without any uncertainty. "Yes."

You felt your face heat up and your heart fluttered. However, you had to know for sure if he would leave you for Maria one day. "But..., you love Maria..., right?"

He figured out instantly why you looked so upset. Unlike for your last question, he hesitated. "We both know that I do love Maria..., but it's not quite like this. I'd give my life for you and Maria in a heartbeat. However, I grew up with Maria. We're more like siblings. I know you're Maria's twin, but I've always felt different about you."

"Even on the Ark...?"

"I didn't understand you at the time, but I did know you were different from Maria. If I had known more about you, then our relationship would have been very different than what it was...," he explained. You felt his hand slowly release yours.

Even though you heard him say it to you, you still couldn't quite convince yourself that it was true. You couldn't believe that Shadow would ever give up Maria for you. Despite your doubts, you didn't speak another word.

"You don't need to worry...," you heard him murmur. The softness of his voice soothed your conflicted mind. Shadow looked you straight in the eyes with an intense expression. "I'll never leave you, (y/n). Never."