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Throughout the bright, long corridors, soft humming can be heard faintly. It echoes and bounces off hollow walls. Getting closer to the main room, the humming gets louder and more centralized. Sitting in front of the spacious window, is a young girl and an anthropomorphic hedgehog. The humming very much coming from the girl. She does so to the hedgehog with his head laying in her lap. She gently smooths out his quills, as they look out in the endless stars. The humming comes to a calming stop but her gentle strokes continue.
“What song is that?” asks the hedgehog, looking up towards the girl. Returning the gesture, the girl smiles down at him.
“It’s an old song I heard once. I don’t quite remember the lyrics, but it reminds me of yourself.”
The hedgehog looks back towards the window, his face contorted in thought. As he turns back to the girl, his ear flicks in curiosity.
“Could you try and sing me some of the lyrics? Please?” His face goes unchanging but the girl can tell he’s intrigued. She nods and clears her throat, taking a moment to think.
Her voice flows naturally, as she sings the long lost melody. She knows she probably butchers some of the words but the twinkle in the hedgehog’s eyes are too alluring not to continue. So, she sings and sings. She sings the same tune, slowly remembering all of the song, until a yawn erupted in between the words. The hedgehog jumps up at that and immediately tries to help the girl up.
“Ah, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize how late it was. We should get you to bed. You must be exhausted.”
Another yawn comes through, before the girl can speak again, taking the hedgehog’s hand to stand.
“No, no. It’s completely all right. I’m more than happy to sing to anytime, you know?”
The hedgehog nods in understanding but his face stays stern.
“I know, but I shouldn’t have been so reckless with the time. Let’s go.”
The girl only giggles and takes the hedgehog’s hand again, as they walk together down the halls. Their surroundings start to turn dim the further they get down the hallways, eventually going completely dark. It doesn’t last long, as Shadow wakes up in bed.
He lays there on his back for while, swishing the images that just transpired around in his mind. The melody Maria had sang rang through his brain and out through his mouth. He brokenly hummed the tune, not sure if he was quite getting it right. Being awaken from his stupor, the lump beside him rolled over to face Shadow.
“What are you doing up? Another memory?” Sonic mumbled. He rubbed at his eyes, as he moved closer to Shadow. Shadow turned over on his side, taking Sonic in his arms and nodded.
“It was of one night that Maria had sung to me…” He paused, taking his time to retell the sweet tale. Sonic patiently waited. He knew that sometimes Shadow would remember random moments from his time on the ARK. Whether good or bad, it still took a lot out of Shadow to retell. So, Sonic simply brushed his hands repetitively down his back, encouraging Shadow to continue. “We were in the room with the big window facing out into space. We liked to spend our time in there a lot. I was laying my head in her lap and she sung me a song that she said reminded her of me.”
“Was that the song you were trying to hum just now?” Shadow nodded. “Would you be willing to sing me it?” Shadow gave a slight grimace but Sonic pouted a little, hoping to hear more of the song. Shadow sighed.
“Fine. Get close.” Sonic smiled widely and snuggled up into Shadow’s chest. While Shadow threads his fingers through Sonic’s quills, he begins to sing.
It starts off uncertain, however, as he continues, the words and melody come to him naturally. Some of the lyrics were most likely wrong but it was a lovely song either way. Shadow couldn’t help but smile as he sang. He hadn’t thought about this song in so long. He felt so warm, not only just wrapped in Sonic’s arms but the feeling of Maria, as the song fell from his lips.
He doesn’t know how long it’s been since he finished the song. When nothing came from the other hedgehog but soft snores, he kept humming the melody, filling the silence. Evidently, Shadow falls asleep along side Sonic. However asleep, the song continued to play in Shadow. The song forever his.