Maria Robotnik (Sonic Speed)

Maria Robotnik is a character in ''Sonic Speed. ''She is the human granddaughter of Gerald Robotnik and the cousin of Dr. Eggman, suffering from an incurable terminal illness.

Past
Maria Robotnik was born and raised onboard the Space Colony ARK. Before she could visit Earth however, she contracted Neuro-Immune Deficiency Syndrome, an incurable and inevitably fatal disease. Due to her illness which left her frail and weak, Maria required constant attention, meaning that she could not leave the ARK's hospital, leaving her confined in space. Despite not getting medical help though, Maria only grew weaker over time. While looking down on the Earth from the ARK, Maria developed an interest in it and longed to go there. Onboard the ARK, Maria was looked after and cared for by her grandfather, Gerald Robotnik. Maria came to mean everything to Gerald and the two of them would work and live together onboard the ARK. Maria also befriended a young Commander whom she would play with.

In an attempt to save Maria's life, Gerald agreed to work on Project Shadow, a medical project for creating an immortal life form, in hopes that he could make a cure for Maria's illness with the create they sought to make. Gerald's research eventually led to the creation of Shadow the Hedgehog, who Maria befriended and grew very close to. While raised together, Maria remained by Shadow's side and they would spend their time together gazing down upon the Earth, wondering what it was like and wishing to go there. When the Artificial Chaos went on a rampage onboard the Space Colony ARK, Maria sought out Shadow to help save the ARK. Shadow complied to Maria's wishes and the Artificial Chaos crisis was soon averted.

Some time after the completion of Project Shadow, Maria's peaceful existence was shattered when GUN attacked the ARK to eliminate everything and everyone related to the project since Shadow was deemed too dangerous. Meeting up with her grandfather during the attack, Maria was entrusted with Shadow by Gerald, who told her to escape the ARK with Shadow. While Gerald distracted GUN, Maria and Shadow tried to escape the raid but Maria was unwilling to leave the other researchers in the captivity of GUN and pleaded Shadow to help them. After Shadow had made his decision, they continued onward, but were attacked by a Heavy Dog which Shadow defeated.

Eventually, Maria and Shadow arrived at the ARK's escape pods, where Maria saved Shadow by initiating the escape pod's launch with him in it, but was mortally wounded by a GUN soldier's gunshot in the process. With her last strength, Maria pleaded to Shadow to protect the world for her sake and give everyone a chance to be happy, just as he was jettsioned from the ARK.

Season Six
Maria's death was an event that deeply struck those close to her and would have a strong influence in a conflict that would determine the fate of the world. Shadow, who witnessed Maria's death first-handed, was traumatized by this sight and came to loathe humanity for what they did. The Commander also suffered a deep loss which made him develop a life-long grudge at both Gerald and Shadow for inadvertently killing her. However, none was more affected by Maria's death than her grandfather, Gerald, who went mad with grief and made a plan to destroy the world to avenge her.

Maria's final request for Shadow to protect the world and it's people would be a driving force in the hedgehog's life, which Shadow made the promise to keep despite his loathing of humanity. When Shadow was reawakened nearly fifty years later though, his subsequent actions were motivated by avenging Maria's death by destroying the human race. It is not until the eleventh hour that Shadow remembered Maria's dying wish, and he aided Sonic the Hedgehog and his friends in stopping the very plan he had set into motion, seemingly sacrificing his life in the process. Currently, Shadow strives to keep his promise to Maria, which had made him save the world multiple times.

Quotes

 * "Shadow, I beg of you, please do it for me...for a better future! For all the people who live on that planet, give them a chance to be happy, let them live for their dreams. Shadow, I know you can do it. That's the reason you were brought into this world. Sayonara, Shadow the Hedgehog."
 * "Please, Shadow, I beg you! Help grandfather and those onboard the ARK. Please!"
 * "Shadow, what do you think it's like on Earth?"
 * "Bring hope to humanity."