"Dinner is ready!" Gerald called over the intercom, "Come and eat"
"On our way Professor." Shadow answered back picking Maria up bridal style. She hugged around his neck in some pain. Her legs had been giving her trouble for a while the NIDS was flaring up again.
They met everyone at the cafeteria, Shadow set Maria down in her chair.
"Thank you Shadow." She hugged him tightly.
"Your welcome." He smiled and went to take his seat. But was called away by some G.U.N troops.
"Hey hedgehog!" They called him over. Shadow's ears twitched and he looked over at the group of troops.
"Nice training today, y'know for someone like you." They shrugged and chuckled amongst themselves.
Not knowing what to say he turned back to Maria.
"What's that supposed to mean?" He asked her.
"Don't worry about it Shadow, they don't say anything worth listening to." She shook her head. He sighed and bowed his head, "Am I missing something here?"
"What do you mean?" She asked.
"I... I don't know. I mean, I sorta feel treated like a lesser around here. They act surprised that I can do the same things they can." He said.
Maria paused for a moment thinking of what to tell him. The professor sat down with them bringing a tray of food.
"Here we are!" He said happily.
"You did wonderful today Shadow." He put a plate in front of him.
The food sidetracked the hungry hedgie. As the little family ate at their table Shadow's sensitive ears couldn't help but pick up conversation around them.
"Y'know, some one aught to tell him. I mean helping people or not, no pet's should be aloud at the table."
"Yeah. I never thought about animals until now. I'm only getting white felines."
"It should have never changed, they should still be working for us. The rodent should have stayed back in Africa like the reporter said."
Shadow stopped and looked around for a moment. The room was filled with people. Brown hair, blond hair, red hair. Blue eyes, brown eyes, except for the shaded eyes of the professor and Maria's purple eyes. Clothing, lab coats, business attire, the G.U.N uniform, Maria's blue dress.
Something was different he could feel it. Finally he looked at the professor. His skin color white as a ghost. Maria's skin fair and flawless porcelain. And Everyone else around had the same tone. Then he took a glance down at himself.
His jet black fur next to Maria's soft white arm. It never meant anything to him before until he realized everyone else had a problem with it.
"Shadow?" Professor watched him.
"Sorry." He looked up, "I just... can't help but listen." He shook his head and pulled at his ear.
"Listen to what?"
"People talking behind and around us."
Maria nudged Shadow and whispered to not be a eves dropper. But Gerald leaned in closer with curiosity and asked, "What are they saying??"
"I... I don't think they like me to much." He sighed, "They call me a pet, and I shouldn't eat at the table. And something about Africa."
The professor's face shaded red and he took off his glasses cleaning them again. Maria frowned and held Shadow's hand.
"Your not a pet Shadow." She said, "Your the best-est friend I ever had."
He smiled softly.
"They're in the wrong Shadow. Don't let their wrong doings effect you." Professor said as an order. Shadow nodded obediently.
-After dinner-
Shadow tucked Maria in her bed and got out a book.
"Wait Shadow. I'm going to tell you a story." Maria said.
"Wha... okay." Shadow put the book down. The little girl pat her bed for him to sit with her."
"Once upon a time, there were explorers of the Earth." She began.
"Where you are from." Shadow stated. 'Another Earth story' Shadow thought, 'what a wild and crazy planet. With all it's oceans, and land forms, magma and different minerals. Oil and things called cars! Earth quakes and volcanoes, tornadoes and big waves that destroy. Earth... always changing, building and destroying and rebuilding. And there's still so much I don't know. Oxygen and gravity... holidays and why they exist.'
But this story was not a good story, and worse and more disturbing than the other stories that has been told. No mater how big a wave of destruction can be and devastating a tornado could get, this story was worse than all of them. Tonight Shadow learns about humanity and their very cruel ways. Most humans are very unkind and do not treat each other as equals. They do something called judging, and they dis-like you for any reason possible. You skin color, hair or eye color, your weight even!
"I don't like this story." Shadow stopped her.
"I'm sorry Shadow." She yawned and hugged him closely.
"Why? Why do they do that? I, I've done nothing to them." He said.
"It's just the way some people's brain's operate. Your very kind Shadow, you've done nothing wrong."
"Their brain? But... your not like that. Are you?" He asked looking at her.
"No silly. I love everyone. Everyone deserves an equal right and opportunity. No mater what they are."
"And Professor, he's not like that either." he said.
She smiled, "mhm."
"But... why is everyone else?" He asked still so confused.
"Everyone is different. We can't all think the same. Me and Grandpa aren't the only ones who think like that. They're are others. But sometimes, you have to look real hard."
"Are there still, S-sl-aves?" He asked tripping on the foreign word to his vocabulary.
"Slaves? No not this point in time. We got enough good people to get together and stop it. Because it was really wrong."
"But, why does everyone still not like me here?" He let his ears fall.
"People are going to dis-like. Not everyone will love. Some of them disagree with the decision. But we just have to ignore their rude comments. It's all we can do." She pet his chest fur. Shadow sighed still not at peace with his new knowledge of the world and even the people he is around.
"Good night Shadow." Maria yawned.
"Good night Maria." He purred as she fell asleep using his chest as her pillow.