*Chapter 12: Death of Shadow/Transformation*

The servants rush over to the balcony and stop at their tracks when they see their master and Maria on the balcony in the rain. Shadow was rolled on his back and Maria held his head, trying to look at him. Shadow groaned a little and look up at her. He pants a little, smiling a little.

"You...you came back." He said.

"Of course I came back. I couldn't let them just..." Maria sighs a little, hugging him. "Oh, this is all my fault. If only I'd come sooner."

"Maybe, it's better this way." Shadow said.

"No. Don't talk like that." Maria hushed him. "You'll be okay. We're together now, everything's going to be fine." Shadow reached for her cheek.

"At least I got to see you...one last time." He said. He loses consciousness, and let out his last breath. Maria covered her mouth with her hands, shaking her head. She shook him a little. He isn't breathing or moving.

"No, no!" Maria begged. "Please. Please, don't leave me." She started to sob and rests her head on Shadow's chest, feeling his soft white chest fur. "I love you." She whispered as tears fall from her eyes.
The last pedal on the rose fell. The servants mourn their master and thought it was too late that they will be stuck in this curse forever. Sonic rubs Knuckles back as he sobs a little and Vanilla shuts her eyes sadly.

Maria's still crying over Shadow's death until some colorful magic shooting stars drop from the sky. Maria lifts her head up and see what was happening around her. She felt Shadow's body being lift up in the air, his cape wrapping around him. Maria crawled back, watching in awe and confusion, as did the servants.
Shadow's body was glowing brightly, and his form started to grow tall and light beams shine out from his fingers. His fur slowly disappearing turning into skin, his spikes are getting a little short, and clothes on him appeared. Maria doesn't know what is going on, yet she continued to watch.
Then, the light dies and Shadow turns into a human young man. He was lowered to the ground. Maria was about to approach him until the man slowly got up. He stood on his feet, looking at his hands and feel the fabric of his clothes. He turned around, revealing himself to Maria.

"Maria, it's me." He said, coming over to her, touching her hand, but Maria didn't say anything. She studies his features. Black spikey hair with red streaks, tan skin, wearing black and red clothes with a red insignia in front, and wore the same hover shoes. Maria looks into his eyes, and see they are ruby red. Maria smiled at the human, knowing that this is Shadow.

"It is you!" She said. She wrapped her arms around him, hugging his form. Shadow returned the embrace, smiling at her. They pulled away, looking at each other's eyes. Shadow brushes the hair away from Maria's eyes. They both lean in and kissed for the first time. Fireworks appearing around them as they kissed. Everything was getting brighter, and now the servants are human again.
Sonic has blue spikey hair wearing a blue outfit, Vanilla is a woman with brunette hair wearing a apron, and Knuckles has red hair wearing a red and gold suit. Shadow approached them with smiles, so happy that they are back to normal. Maria watched them with a smile. She figured it out. Shadow was cursed as a hedgehog, and must be in love and have love in return in order to become human.

"I've been a selfish fool for years. And I wanted to apologize. Can you ever forgive me?" Shadow asks his servants.

"Of course we do, master." Knuckles said with a smile. Shadow turned to Maria.

"Let's go find your grandfather." He said, taking Maria out of the West Wing. As they left, Vanilla hears her daughter calling for her. There is a little girl with brown hair in pigtails, wearing a white dress, running up to her. A mother and daughter hugged each other as Tails followed Cream. Tails has blonde hair and wearing a white shirt with jeans.

"It's a miracle!" Sonic cried out. "We're human again!"

"We shall celebrate!" Sally says. Her red hair is long and curly, wearing a maid outfit.

Later in the castle, Shadow and Maria had a dance in the ballroom while the others were watching them. Even Gerald, Ivo, and Isabella are there. Shadow and Maria are wearing the same suit and dress from before. They share a kiss before they begin to dance.

"Ah, lovely couple." Sonic said.

"Well, Sonic old friend, I'm glad that our master has fell in love." Knuckles said by coming over to the young man with blue hair.

"Yes. I told you that Maria will break the spell." Sonic said.

"I beg your pardon, Sonic, but I believe I told you that." Knuckles said. Sonic chuckled at him.

"No you didn't, I did."

"You absolutely did not you blue headed freak!" Knuckles said, shoving Sonic.

"You hot-headed red head!" Sonic growled, and the two started to fight. Rouge and Sally shook their heads as they watched, but turn back to the dance that Shadow and Maria share.
Gerald stood next to Vanilla and Cream, wiping a tear from his left eye.

"Are they gonna live happily ever after, mother?" Cream asked.

"Oh, of course, my dear." Vanilla replied. "Of course."

"But, do I still have to sleep in the cupboard?" Cream asked. Gerald chuckled. Vanilla giggled along with Cream. Ivo and Isabella roll their eyes playfully and watch their cousin dance with her prince.

And so, Shadow and Maria do live happily ever after. They decided to get married since the spell is broken, and Maria becomes a princess of the castle. Shadow couldn't be happier. And that is the story of how a beauty met a hedgehog.

*The End*