Me (Soul): This is the final chapter (a pretty long one if I might add). So, let's get on with it, as I've done the disclaimer thousands of times before.

Enjoy!

Shadow's point of view:

SMASH!

The sound echoed throughout the nearly empty room as Shade and I barged into the final door and we were then at the core of the Ark.

"What is the door made of?!" I hissed through gritted teeth as Shade grasped his most likely dislocated shoulder.

"Re-enforced steel, idiot." Shade grumbled, popping his shoulder back into place.

"I'll still break it down." I growled, and rammed my shoulder into it a few more times.

"Not going to work." Shade said in a sing-song voice, and Chaos Speared the door. It burned a tiny little hole through the door, but enough to see a bit inside.

"Chaos... Spear!" I growled, and launched said attack at the door.

The door sizzled, and began to melt from the intense head that the Chaos Spear generated.

I then ran through the door, to see that I was in some sort of heart. I looked along a long pathway with a stream of acid running through the centre of it. At the other end, was a huge round-about, the acid filling up the shallow pool.

Further along, there seemed to be a shrine with seven pillars surrounding it. Above the shrine, was a huge prison-like thing.

I pulled out my green Chaos Emerald, and saw six other Chaos Emeralds floating above six of the pillars, while a massive green emerald (probably the Master Emerald) that radiated power levels stronger than any god rested in the middle of the shrine.

"Finally... You arrived at long last, Shadow the Hedgehog... And I see that your not alone..." A demonic voice echoed from the shadows.

"Show yourself, coward!" Shade challenged, only to get a spear of darkness shot right next to his head.

"As you wish, Shade the Hedgehog..." The voice rasped, and a monsterous screech echoed throughout the room. The Biolizard walked in, it's mechanical eyes glaring daggers at Shade, Maria and I. Well, it looked at Maria as if she was a prize he'd just won.

On the back of the Biolizard, was a cloaked figure. He had dark grey skin, many black quills that stuck out all over the place, with blood red highlights. The figure opened it's eyes to reveal a pair of blood red eyes.

"I am Darkwing, the true Lord of Demons! You three are lucky, being the first ever life forms to see my true form. Oh well... Your going to perish from existance when I'm done here." The cloaked figure spoke, but it's mouth didn't seem to mouth.

Darkwing then jumped down from the Biolizard, and charged towards me.

"Shade! Take down the Biolizard! I'll handle ugly here!" I yelled at my younger brother, and met Darkwing's charge.

Darkwing melted into the shadows, only to reform ten feet up into the air.

"DROWN IN DARKNESS!" Darkwing roared, and I seemed to be swallowed up in darkness.

I found that I couldn't breathe, let alone move.

Focus on something... Something that brings the hero side out on you... A voice echoed through the darkness.

Who is that? I asked, only to get no reply.

I focused on Shade, my brother. No luck.

My father, the professor. Same result.

Earth, my longing will to go down there with Maria. Maria...

The darkness began to lighten up as I thought of Maria.

Maria's deep blue eyes, her long, golden hair and her cute face.

I could begin to breath again.

I continued to think of everything Maria and I ever spoke about - every 'I love you' she ever said to me; all of the hugs we eve shared and all of the times she kissed me on the cheek when we were younger.

The darkness melted away around me, and I saw a very annoyed Darkwing floating in the air.

"What's wrong, Darkwing? Sad that I'm still breathing?" I taunted, and he then had a smug smile on his face.

"Yes, but that will change when your loved one no longer breathes." He grinned wickedly, and teleported over to where Maria was helping Shade with the Biolizard.

"NO!" I roared, and ran towards them, but I was too late.

Darkwing pulled out a dagger, and stabbed Maria multiple times in the stomach.

"YOU BASTARD!" I snarled, and rammed my fist directly into Darkwing's ugly face.

I whipped out my Chaos Emerald, and teleported around the demon lord. I punched and kicked him around, my burning rage enveloping me in a crimson red aura.

I then Chaos Controlled behind him, and Chaos Blasted him.

Darkwing was sent sprawling across the ground, and into the acid. Darkwing then began to boil, and melt.

"No... This can't be happening... Not now!" Darkwing rumbled as he stood up in the shallow pool.

"Well, it is, so get over it. See you in hell, prick!" I snarled, and kicked him.

"NO! CURSE YOU, SHADOW! I'LL HAVE MY REVENGE, JUST YOU WAIT! VENGENCE SHALL BE MINE! YOU SHALL NEVER REMEMBER THIS DAY - ONLY THAT G.U.N killed Maria Robotonik!" Darkwing's voice echoed, and he went right up the shrine steps, and into the Master Emerald.

The Biolizard then let out a final cry of pain, and melted away into a sludge that looked like liquidised crap on the ground. It then seemed to merge with a portion of the acid, and the sludge floated up to the prison. It was then sealed, and began to beat - like a heart.

I then ran over to the bleeding out Maria, and cradled her head in my lap.

"Maria..." I muttered, and a tear trickled down my cheek.

"Don't cry... Shadow." Maria's hand reached up and wiped a few of the tear away.

"Why always me?!" I cursed under my breath, and more tears fell.

"Don't die, Maria... We'll go to Earth together!" I said rapidly, and she gave me a small, weak laugh.

"Shadow... I see Earth now... The flowers and... Grass are pretty..." Maria muttered, growing a deadly pale.

"Maria... Don't die... Please..." Tears were leaking out now.

"Shadow..." She muttered, and I leaned down.

I kissed her on the lips. Maybe it would happen like it did in the books Maria once read with me, where a kiss revives Sleeping Beauty.

Unfortunatly, it didn't.

Maria's lips tasted of freash blueberries, and I could of stayed here for the rest of eternity.

I then pulled back, to listen to Maria's shallow breathing.

"I love you, Maria." I cried, letting it all out now.

"And I... Love... You... Too... Shadow... The... Hedgehog..." The life then faded from her eyes.

"No... MARIA!" I cried, resting my forehead against her's.

Then, a group of soldiers seemed to run in, and I felt a burning pain in my lower back. I didn't care though, as Maria was dead. I wanted to be with her for all eternity. For the rest of our lives.

I guess that the new body will never be finished.

I'll avenge you, Maria, my love... Were my last thoughts, and then the world faded to black.

Steam rolled out from the capsule.

I leapt out of it, unnoticed by the one who set me free.

"What's that?! Is that you, Sonic? Are you trying to spoil my plans again?!" A fat man yelled. He looked a lot like the professor. He had a bushy brown moustache, a bald head, dark blue glasses and a red lab coat with black leggings.

"Wait a minute, your not Sonic! This is impossible!"

"My name is Shadow." I began, "Since you were so kind to release me, my master; I will grant you one wish."

Alarms then began to blare, and fat man began complaning. "Now what?!"

"Behold, the true power I possess!" I announced, and Chaos Controlled over to a guard robot, to prove my strength...

Me (Soul): And 'Shadow the Hedgehog: Shaded Secrets' is DONE!

This isn't going to be made into a trilogy, but I WILL do a one/two shot on Shadow meeting Maria when he dies after the Final Hazard (end of Sonic Adventure 2). This story is sort of tied to my 'Sonic Origins saga', just throw out the fact that Shadow dies at the end of SA2 and that's that!

Yeah, yeah, a tragic ending, but it was needed. I mean, when you first started reading, you MUST've known that Maria was gonna die in the end!

Oh well, now that Shaded Secrets is done, I only have two more stories to complete so I have just one to focus on. *happy dance*

So, see you guys later! And don't forget to Read and Reivew your thoughts - the good, the bad and the ugly!

~The Prince of Souls (Soul Rebirth)