*Chapter 7: Christmas Morning*

"Maria! Maria!" Someone is shaking her awake. Maria opened her eyes to see Gerald there. "Oh, thank goodness. I was so worried. What're you doing in here? Have you been staying in this grand hall all night?" He asked. Maria sat up and look around her. She's in the ARK's grand hall. There's a Christmas tree all lit up, and see Abraham and Mardic there with presents. Maria looked at her hands to see that she is no longer a hedgehog. She's human, in her blue nightdress. Wait, was she dreaming? She got up from the floor where she was sleeping. What happened?

"Grandpa! Where's my nutcracker?" Maria asked, looking around the tree.

"Nutcracker?"

"The one you gave me last night." Maria said. "It's a nutcracker hedgehog! You're about to fix it for me today. Ivo was messing with it and-"

"Nutcracker hedgehog?" Gerald asked. "I never give you one of those strange things." Maria felt her heart stop. Her nutcracker is gone. She began to explain the whole story about last night's events. From the beginning when the nutcracker transformed into a hedgehog, named Shadow, who is the Prince of the Land of Mobius. Where Amy took them to the world where Eclipse took over. The battle between the Black Arms and the mobians. And then Maria transforms into a hedgehog and she is the princess. Then lastly, Eclipse came back for revenge, and Maria was gone. Gerald and everyone stared at Maria in silent. Ivo and Isabella are there, snickering at the story they heard from their cousin.

"That's the dumbest story I've ever heard." Isabella said.

"But, it's true!" Maria said. She looks at Gerald. "Grandpa, it really happened! You gave me a nutcracker hedgehog who happens to be a cursed prince! You believe me, don't you?"

"Maria, I believe that you've been dreaming." Gerald said. "But, that's some story you told. It could be a great fairy tale to tell to children." Maria started to tear up. Gerald spoke again. "Maria, go to your room and get dressed. You realize it's Christmas Day, right?" Maria didn't say anything and walk away. Gerald crossed his arms. "Strange. What made her think I got her a nutcracker hedgehog?" He wondered.

"Maybe she was dreaming after all." Mardic guessed. "It sounds real to her, but...the story sounds hard to believe if it actually happened."

Maria is standing in the escape pod room by the window to see the view of Earth. She is wearing a white dress with a red headband with a Christmas flower on again. A tear fell from her eye to think about last night's events. Was it real? Or was it really a dream? It felt so real to her. Shadow is the nutcracker, a prince. The Land of Mobius. Eclipse the Black Arms King. Amy the Sugar Plum Fairy. Was it all not real? Maria sighed sadly and dry her tears.

"I should've known. It's all a dream." She said. "I should get back to the grand hall where everyone is." She starts to leave the room. She slowly walks down the corridors. "Oh Shadow..." She sighed, thinking about her prince. "You may be part of the dream, but...I miss you. I want to hold you close."

"Who're you talking to, Maria?" A voice asked. Maria turned to see her nurse coming up to her. "Maria, what's the matter? Why are you sad? It's Christmas."

"Oh, it's nothing, Martha." Maria replied. "I had a dream last night, and...it was wonderful. I guess it will sound silly to you if I tell you." Martha smiled a bit at her.

"I would to hear all about it after the party, dear. Now come along, everyone is waiting." She took Maria's hand to get down the corridors.

"Yeah..."

"And there's someone you would like to meet in the hall as well. He's been asking about you." Martha says. Maria didn't listen as she walks with her, thinking about Shadow.

They arrived at the grand hall to see everyone. Maria remained by the doors to see everyone having a nice time. She's too upset to be happy on Christmas. She couldn't get Shadow out of her head. His red eyes, those spikes with red stripes, his smile, his voice...

"C'mon on, kiddo. It's Christmas. It's supposed to be a wonderful time." Mardic says by coming over with Abraham. "Don't be sad because of the dream."

"Wanna make a gingerbread house with me, Maria?" Abraham asked, hoping it would make Maria feel better. But the girl shook her head. "Oh, Martha said to meet someone who wants-"

"No thank you. Just...leave me be. I want to be alone for a bit." She said. Mardic sighed sadly and walked away. Abraham wanted to try again by asking if Maria wanted sweets or eggnog, but nothing helped. So, Abraham followed Mardic down the hall. Maria look down at the floor as the music started to play and hear everyone else laughing with joy and dance around. Her dance with Shadow along with the music last night was wonderful, and Maria will never forget it. She didn't want to call that memory a dream. It really happened. Someone else came over, and it's one of Maria's cousins.

"Hey, why are you over here?" Ivo asked with a look. "Are you still upset about that dumb dream you told us?" Maria glared at him and turn her head away. "A nutcracker hedgehog prince. That's a stupidest thing I have ever heard. How could a non human being like a diseased girl like you?" Ivo asked, taunting Maria who continues to ignore him. Ivo shrugged and walk away from her. He bumped into someone. He looked up to see the red eyes looking down at him, sneering. Ivo slowly moved away from him. The man moved his eyes over to Maria who didn't look at him. He came over to her with a small smile.

"Are you alright, miss?" He asked. Maria didn't look up.

"Not really."

"Why are you upset?"

"I had a...'dream'. It felt so real. You see, my grandfather gave me a special nutcracker hedgehog. But, it was cursed by the Black Arms King. The nutcracker is the prince." Maria said. "His name is Shadow the Hedgehog. He's not like the ones I know here. He's...different."

"He happens to be the ruler of the Land of Mobius, right?" A male voice said. Maria blinked a few times. She looked up at the young man with black hair with red streaks. Red eyes. And the voice sounds very familiar. Maria got up from her seat in shock. It couldn't be him. Could it? The man is wearing a black jacket with white fluff in front, black jeans, and a belt. Maria couldn't help but to think that this guy looks like...Shadow. The man smiled.

"...Who...?" Maria wondered. The man bowed to her. Like the black hedgehog from the dream did.

"Hello, Maria." He said. "It's me."

"...Shadow?" Maria wondered. She went over to him and touch his hair lightly. The man smiled at her and took her hands. "Shadow, is it really you?"

"Yes. It's me, my princess." He replied. Maria's mouth dropped to the floor in shock, but she let out a gasp of happiness.

"Oh...it is you!" Maria said with a smile. She wrapped her arms around Shadow's neck as he spun her around, making some people look at them. Gerald noticed this, but smiled at the sight. Martha smiled at the two. Though, she was wondering how Maria knows him before. But, it didn't matter. Maria is happy again. Greta and Mark watched in confusion, but Greta made a sneer.

"Who is that?" She asked.

"Maybe a guest? A friend of someone from Earth?" Mark guessed. "That young fellow seems to know Maria somehow..."

"He is a bit strange..." Greta said, eyeing the couple. Shadow puts Maria on her feet and place his forehead on hers.

"Oh, Shadow...I really thought you were part of the dream." Maria said, nuzzling her forehead on his..

"No. It was real. Last night really happened. I'm here for you." Shadow said. "I love you, Maria. I love you so much. I never want to lose you."

"I love you too, Shadow. And I don't want to lose you either." Maria said. They both lean in to kiss as the mistletoe appears above them. Everyone in the grand hall watched them with smiles and let out some 'awws'. Greta scoffed at them silently in disgust and walked away as Mark took a sip of his wine, happy that his niece found a soul mate.

"Ahh, young love." He says. Ivo made a look of disgust as Isabella crosses her arms in jealously. Mardic and Abraham watched their friend kissing her new soulmate. Abraham covered his eyes, wanting the moment between them to be over. Mardic laughed at him. All that matters is that Maria is back to her happy self. Little did everyone know, Amy was by the Christmas tree, wearing a red coat, giggling a bit.

"Merry Christmas, Maria and Shadow. Your life starts now." She said before disappearing.
Shadow and Maria pulled away from the kiss and went over to the Christmas tree. Shadow picked up the box and hand it over to Maria. He watched her open the present and lift the lid of the box. Inside was a nutcracker. Maria smiled and hugged her prince. Shadow looked over to see confusing Gerald and gave him a wink, smiling. Maria pulled away from Shadow, and held his hands and see her evil aunt and cousins watching from a distance. Maria quickly stuck her tongue out at them. Shadow chuckled at Maria's childish act and kiss her forehead. Maria looked up at him.

"Merry Christmas, Shadow."

"Merry Christmas, Maria." The two kissed once more in front of the tree and the snowflakes appear around them.

This has been the greatest Christmas ever.

The End

*Author's Note: I have to finish this Christmas Special early so that way it won't be finished late by the end of the holiday. So, hope you all enjoy and thanks for reading!*