Well, fanfiction about Baby Shadow and Maria often explores their relationship in the Sonic universe. It might show their early interactions, like how Maria was kind to Shadow when he was first created. Maybe it details some adventures they could have had together on the Space Colony ARK.
One common theme is protection. Shadow might be depicted as being very protective of Maria, given her fragile nature. Another theme could be discovery, as Baby Shadow discovers the world through Maria's eyes.
There's 'Maria's Shadow'. In this fanfiction, it focuses on the more tender moments between them. It shows how Maria's presence in Shadow's life was like a guiding light, and the story is filled with heart - warming scenes that really bring out the love aspect.
A common theme is the bond of friendship. Maria was an important person in Shadow's life, and many fanfictions explore how that friendship was deep and unique. For instance, they might show how Maria's kindness towards Shadow made him more empathetic.
One possible plot could be that some sort of strange chaos energy experiment goes wrong. Shadow is caught in the blast and suddenly transformed into a baby hedgehog. Sonic and his friends find him in this state. They then have to take care of him while trying to find a way to reverse the transformation. They might face challenges like protecting baby Shadow from Eggman who could see this as an opportunity to get rid of Shadow once and for all.
One interesting plot could be that Baby Shadow and Maria go on an adventure in a magical forest. They encounter strange creatures and have to use their unique abilities to get through various challenges.
Obviously, Shadow himself would be a main character even in his baby form. Sonic would also be a key character as he is often the hero in these Sonic - related stories. He would likely be involved in trying to figure out how to turn Shadow back. Tails could be another main character as his intelligence would be useful in finding a solution to Shadow's transformation. He might study the cause of it and try to come up with a remedy.
Friendship is also a big theme. How baby Shadow forms his first friendships or bonds with other characters in the Sonic world. For example, he might meet characters like Tails or Knuckles when he's a baby and they start to build a relationship that will be important as he grows older in the fanfic stories.
One way to find suitable 'Shadow and Maria the Hedgehog' fanfiction is to check out Sonic - themed forums. Often, members will recommend their favorite stories that are family - friendly. Some fanfictions might delve into the bittersweet relationship between them, like how Shadow copes with Maria's loss in a more platonic and heartfelt manner, rather than any adult - oriented way.