Snow Angel
is a Sonic the Hedgehog one-shot by SnickerToodles. It is a derivative fic to the Echoes of Eternity trilogy and is an AU on what could have happened after The Promise if Maria had survived. Despite this, it can be read as a stand-alone piece as it acts as an alternate version of Shadow's canonical backstory.
In Snow Angel, Shadow the Hedgehog manages to escape to Earth with his terminally ill human friend Maria Robotnik. While in hiding, the two have to figure out how to survive the winter while also dealing with Maria's slow decline. Things get worse when their sparse medicine supply runs out.
Tropes:
- Dark Fic: It's about a child slowly dying. It deals with issues of starvation, survival, and death. Shadow also kills humans, unlike in the games. Snow Angel is obviously darker than anything in Sonic the Hedgehog canon, but it isn't overtly dark.
- Death of a Child: Maria is said to be at the cusp of being a teenager. She ends up succumbing to her NIDS.
- In Spite of a Nail: Maria ends up on Earth with Shadow, but she still dies of NIDS.
- Interspecies Friendship: Fauna/human relationships were rare at the time, so this element makes Maria and Shadow stand out all the more.
- Older Than They Look: Maria's nearly 12, but her sickness has the side effect of causing her to look at least five years younger than she is.
- The Runaway: Maria and Shadow run away to Earth. They're on the run together, but locals are told that Shadow has Maria held hostage.
- The '60s: It's mentioned in The Promise that Maria died in 1962, thus this fic takes place in that year too.
- Snowball Fight: Maria and Shadow have one after seeing snow for the first time.
- Tragic Dream: Maria's dreams of living on Earth are in vain, and she realizes it.
- What If?: "What if Maria and Shadow both made it to Earth?"
- What Measure Is a Non-Cute?: Maria can't bear to eat a cute rabbit.
