[Flashback]

It all started out over ninety years ago. Everything was filled with darkness for Runa. That was until her eyes fluttered open. At first, she thought it was some kind of blur. Then, once her eyes opened, she saw a young man with black slightly spiky hair, blue eyes and fair skin. He wore a lab coat with white shirt underneath, black pants, matching shoes, glasses with a black frame and a small pocket filled with needed things such as three ballpens of different colors — black, blue and red.

"Hello, Runa," he said to her.

"Hello?" she replied questionably.

He took her hand and helped her walk to the mirror to see what she looked like. After that, he introduced himself as Professor Michael Lucas. Professor Lucas gave Runa the amulet used to communicate with creatures big and small, read and understand thoughts and feelings and seek souls when needed. They both had fun together like a father-daughter team. Runa was told to call him his name, but it was okay for her to call him 'father' instead.

One day, when Runa was in the bedroom relaxing on her bed, Professor Lucas came in.

"Feeling relaxed, Runa?" he asked her.

"Yup," she nodded.

"Every time I see you relaxing, you look like you're thinking of something, so what are you thinking about?" Lucas asked.

"I've been thinking, father. While we have fun together as a family, I've been wondering. Why am I created? What is my main purpose? What is my destiny? What am I going to do aside from being with you as your daughter?" Runa asked.

Lucas smiled as he sat beside her, "I'll tell you when you figure it out in your own eyes."

Runa turned to him after a few moments of translating into a simpler one: To figure things out for herself.

"Yes, father. I understand," she replied.

———————————————————————

5 years later...

Runa was walking down the streets to get some fresh air when she heard quick footsteps behind her. She turned to see nothing. Instead of moving on, she looked around to see if there was someone stalking her.

Just then, Runa heard an engine being turned on. She turned to see someone driving a car. The trunk and the backseat held his treasured property. The driver, whom she assumed was the robbery, drove away with multiple police vehicles chasing him.

Runa knew she had no choice, but to help the police, so she ran after the thief. She jumped on top of the police car. Then, another, then another, then another. Until she reached the car that's near the robbery's car. She knocked on the window on her right and asked an officer to borrow the gun.

The officer agreed after Runa made a promise to be careful. After she grabbed the gun, instead of aiming at the car, she started to aim at the tires. A while later, she was able to shoot the right target causing the tire to be flat and the car to stop.

———————————————————————

After the robbery was arrested...

"Here's your gun, officer," said Runa, giving the gun back to its owner.

The officer, who owned that gun, was a girl and she wore her police officer outfit. She had brown wavy hair, fair skin and hazel eyes.

"Thanks," she said. "Hey, you're not one of Professor Lucas' creations, are you?"

"Well, yeah. How did you know?" Runa asked.

"I've heard a lot about you and plus, I'm one of his relatives," the officer answered.

Runa's face lit up,"Really?"

"Yes. I'm Officer Michaels, but my friends call me 'Clara,'" she introduced herself.

"So my father's last name is Michaels?" she asked her.

"Well, not exactly. He's my mother's cousin," Clara said.

"Well, okay. I'm—" she began.

"Runa. I know," Clara cut her in. "Remember what we talked about a little moment ago? I think you just found out your purpose."

Runa’s eyes widened as she made a quick guess,"You mean helping heroes like you?"

"Yes. You are created to help those who cannot defend the world on their own. I mean, without you, we would've never caught the most wanted robbery," Clara said.

"Thanks, Clara. It's an honor to meet you. Maybe we could hangout sometime or even better, fight together," Runa said.

"We sure could," she answered, smiling at her.

For another five years, they hung out together and fought alongside each other in times of trouble. Professor Lucas was pleased that she found her purpose all by herself. Everyday, she spent most of her time with Clara. Yup. Everything was perfect for her. Until one night…

———————————————————————

Runa and Clara were on a mission to retrieve one of the most ancient artifacts in Mobius. They were provided with support by some of the new recruits who happened to be very skilled.

When they found the artifact, the ones who provided support for them betrayed them. The new recruits turned out to be a group of gangsters. Runa and Clara fought them, side-by-side. Then, a while later…

“Runa, look out!” Clara yelled out.

Runa turned to see Clara. Just as Clara came on sight, a loud gunshot was heard. A few seconds later, Clara was dropped to the ground. Further behind Clara, Runa saw that one of the group of gangsters shot her. Her eyes widened in worry, fear and horror.

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!!!!”

The gangster, who shot Clara, let out an evil chuckle. “How naive.”

With that, the gangsters retreated with the artifact.

Once the gangsters left, Runa ran to Clara and kneeled beside her. “Clara. Clara! Are you okay?! I’ll call the doctor and get you to the hospital!!!” she said worryingly.

Clara coughed out. Her left hand laid on her right part of the stomach where she got shot. Her other hand held Runa’s hand.

“Runa… find your… purpose,” Clara said weakly.

Runa’s eyes widened. Tears were filling her eyes. “Wh-What are you talking about, Clara? We both know I already found my purpose!”

Silence filled the air.

“Clara?”

Another silence.

“Clara?!”

Another silence.

It took a few moments before Runa realized something. Clara’s eyes were closed. Her eyes widened in horror and shock.

“Clara? Clara! CLARA!!!!!!!!!!”

Panic shot through Runa. Her body stood and ran around the room like she’s going cranky. “Help! Somebody, HELP!!! Somebody... Somebody HAS to help her!!!!!"

Runa raised her head directly to the ceiling and screamed from the top of her lungs. “SOMEBODY, HEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

After that, Runa pulled out her walkie-talkie and placed it on her right ear. She pressed one of the buttons and spoke through the walkie-talkie. “Yes! This is Officer Runa to the U.F.P.D.! Officer Michaels is down!!! She’s shot!!! We have to get her to the hospital!!!”

And that’s what the U.F.P.D. did.

———————————————————————

Later on…

Runa was already in the hospital. She sat on the chair in the Emergency Room. Her hands clasped as she hoped Clara was okay and that she’s alive and well.

Then, a while later, Clara was transferred directly to one of the hospital rooms, so that her family would visit her. Runa, Professor Lucas and a few other relatives visited Clara.

A few days later, Runa was called by Clara in the hospital room. Once she got inside, Clara asked the doctors if she and Runa could talk privately. The doctors agreed and left the hospital room.

Once they were alone, Runa walked to the right side of Clara’s hospital bed. Her hands clasped around Clara’s right hand and she stared at her in worry.

“Clara, are you okay?” Runa asked with tears welling up her eyes. “Tell me. Please, tell me you’re okay!”

Silence filled the air.

Then, a few moments later, Clara spoke up weakly. “Runa… there’s a… purpose… I want you.. to fulfill… but it’s not… what you… think.”

“What do you mean ‘it’s not what I think?!’” Runa asked her.

“Your father… created you… for a… different… reason… but it must… not… be known… to the… public.”

“Wh…What is it?”

“It’s not… what. It’s…”

Runa saw Clara uttering her next word, but she couldn’t hear it. Nonetheless, she kept listening to her.

“Runa… please… promise me,” Clara said.

"P-Promise what?" Runa asked her.

"Promise me... that you'll… take my… place... as a person... determined… to protect… the world. And please… promise me… that you’ll… stay… alive… and find your… real… purpose… in life. Always… remember... that no matter… what happens... whether we're… together or not... I'll always... be your… best friend," she explained weakly.

Runa’s eyes widened as tears finally rolled down her cheeks. "No. Clara. Don't.”

"Goodbye... Runa… the Hedgehog... I'll never... forget you," Clara said, her last words before her eyes closed.

Runa heard a beep from the computer beside the bed. Every part of Clara’s body was no longer activated.

Runa felt her heart shatter. “Clara! No… No. Clara!”

“CLARA!!! CLARA!!! CLARA!!! CLARAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

As Runa screamed, her hands launched to Clara on her bed to wake her up. Loud screams such as “CLARA!!!”, “NOOOO!!!”, “PLEASE!!!” and “PLEASE, DON’T DIE ON ME!!!” were heard.

Soon, the doctors came into the room and grabbed Runa outside the hospital room. More loud screams like “HEY!!! PLEASE, LET ME GO!!!” and “PUT ME DOWN!!!” were heard.

Soon enough, Runa was set down by the doctor just as the door to the hospital room closed. Runa ran to the door and tried to open it, but it was locked. After a few attempts, Runa clenched her fists tightly and banged the door really hard. “Clara…” Runa slid herself on her knees and broke down her tears.

“Clara… CLARA!!!”

“Runa,” the doctor, who grabbed Runa out, called out to her.

Runa glanced at the doctor in horror.

“I’m sorry. There’s nothing we can do,” the doctor said.

Not knowing what else to do, Runa ran out of the hospital doors and headed into the grassy fields. A while later, Runa tripped over a stone and landed on her knees. Then, she broke down in tears.

“No!”

As she said this, Runa continued breaking down in tears.

———————————————————————

The next day...

During the funeral, Runa kept mourning and mourning for her. Eventually, Professor Lucas comforted her by saying that there's still someone left to care for her and that was himself. After that, she hugged him knowing that he'll always care for her.

Since then, Runa vowed to protect her friends, her family and the people she cared about. Most especially Professor Lucas. This also resulted her to grow more overprotective of her workmates in the U.F.P.D. The policemen and policewomen were annoyed by this, but they managed to tolerate her because they knew how much Clara’s death had affected her.

———————————————————————

2 years later...

Runa was on a mission with her new partner to stop an evil gang from harming a place that’s far away from her home. Then, a while later, they noticed that they had been tricked, so they went back to their hometown. There, Professor Lucas’ lab was set on fire. Runa gasped in horror. She ran inside the lab without thinking, but her partner grabbed her right arm, stopping her.

“No, Runa. It’s too dangerous. We have to think of a new plan to save your father,” he said to her.

Runa turned to her partner and glared at him. “I don’t care! I just want my father alive and well!”

With that Runa yanked her arm and rushed inside the lab. Runa searched everywhere for Professor Lucas. So far, he was nowhere to be found. A while later, fatigue took over her. She collapsed to the ground and everything blacked out.

———————————————————————

28 years later…

Runa woke up with amnesia. And she was lying on a bed in the guest room. When she woke up, she saw the faces of Aleyah, Pearla and Bruce.

Runa sat up and asked them, "Who... Who are you?"

"My name is Aleyah the Hedgehog and these are my parents, Bruce and Pearla," Aleyah introduced herself and her family.

"What happened? Why am I here?" asked Runa.

"First, you were lying down in Forest Hill unconsciously a few days ago, so we took you in. Second, we thought it would be bad for you to be left alone. That's another reason why we took you in," explained Bruce.

“Oh. I see,” Runa said.

“Do you remember anything, dear?” Pearla asked her.

Runa’s head lowered down. She closed her eyes and went into deep thought. After a few moments, she opened her eyes and finally answered, “I… don’t think I remember.” Then, something popped into her head. She turned to Pearla. “But I do have a name. Runa.”

“Runa, huh?” Aleyah responded. Then, she sent Runa a bright smile. “That’s a nice name.”

“Thank you,” Runa said, smiling back at Aleyah.

"Do you mind if you could be part of this family and have Aleyah as your sister?" Pearla asked Runa.

"That would be nice," answered Runa.

"Great!" exclaimed Aleyah. "Welcome to the family, sis!"

Runa smiled in appreciation and started her journey on becoming part of her adoptive family. Along the way, she adopted her five chao friends, starting with Rosy, Mystico, Bearace, Juniper and Shania.

———————————————————————

[End of Flashback]

"My relationship with Aleyah and her parents lasted long until the day Sonic disappeared after the battle with the Xorda," Runa explained. "We were brought to Leo, Lariel and the Royal Guardians in the Leone Kingdom. My adoptive dad had asked Leo to train me as the Royal Guardian. I never really thought about it, but for some reason, I agreed.

"During my years as the Royal-Guardian-in-training, we continued defending the Leone Kingdom and I had improved myself as a great member. At the same time, strange images had occurred in me. Even I had to fight my roboticized father. One time, we managed to stop the second digital zombie apocalypse. The first one happened fifty-eight years ago.

"Then, one day, something bad happened. Over fifty years ago, Leo and Lariel were about to get married. In the middle of the wedding ceremony, Leo got bitten by a mischievous Underworlder named ‘Venia.’ Her venom would turn Leo into an evil mobian if he lives longer and if we don’t do something fast. So we had to search for a cure.

“We tried Kung-guó, but there was no cure, so we headed to the secret kingdom of Afrikonkryk. As time went on, Leo started acting meaner. We finally found the cure when we arrived, but the glass holding the cure shattered on the floor. So again, there was no cure.

“Later on, there was a battle in Afrikonkryk. We had to hold them off while Lariel watched over Leo as the scientist-slash-princess of Afrikonkryk, Shuzie, remade the cure. Along the way, an Underworlder went past us and went to a place where Leo laid. Lariel fought the Underworlder off the best she could, but it wasn’t enough. So Leo had no choice but to give her backup.

“During the battle, Lariel got killed by that Underworlder. Leo was enraged. He fought that Underworlder and defeated him physically, but not mentally. We didn’t realize what was going on until we saw Leo killing Arrogan with anger and vengeance in his eyes. Since then, Leo kept growing darker and darker. We tried to help him, but we couldn't, so we parted ways with him.

“Thirty years passed since then and Leo was still under the control of darkness. We tried to find a way to defeat him and get him back to normal but it’s no good. Clifton once had an idea about Lariel getting through to him, but we disagreed because she died. Intellizo took over as the leader of the Royal Guardians, with Bashiri and Billie as assistant leaders. We fought Leo countless times. So far, we didn't know how to defeat him.

"That was until the Lariel from a different dimension came into this world and helped us turn Leo back to normal. After that, she disappeared and we never saw her again.

"Sometime after that, I felt a gut-feeling calling me to someplace beyond the forest. I tried to ignore it, but the gut-feeling kept overtaking me. And so, I embarked on a journey to wherever the gut-feeling takes me. Soon, I ended up in Nekronopolis. and the rest is history.

“Now, you know," Runa concluded.

Shadow was quite shocked to hear Runa's whole story. But he's also in a concerned expression, which was publicly noticed. She's... No... It couldn't be true... Is she really.... Is... Is she... really like me?

It also reminded Shadow of a tragic memory when his certain special friend died right in front of his eyes. Then, for the first time ever, sympathy for Runa struck through him, but it's never shown physically.

It took Shadow a while before he finally spoke up. In a barely audible voice only Runa could hear.

"Maria."

"What?" Runa asked, turning to him.

"Maria. Maria Robotnik. That's the name of my best friend."

"What happened to her?" Runa asked Shadow in a low, concerning tone.

"Over a hundred years ago, Professor Gerald Robotnik created me in the Space Colony ARK. Since the day I met Maria, we became best friends. Then, there was a disaster at the ARK. Maria and I tried to escape, but..."

Shadow wished he could say his words further, but none of them escaped his mouth. Right now, he's stuck in concentrating with holding his tears in as that same tragic memory ran through his head.

Runa's eyes were filled with sympathy. The fact that she heard his words sent a few more familiar memories in her head, but were difficult to explain. Then, learning that they experienced the same thing, she was about to speak up when Shadow continued much to her surprise.

"...she was shot. Then, in her final moments before she died, she had asked me to promise her... that I would give people a chance to live happily in their lives."

Runa's eyes were full of sympathy to hear this. Then, she spoke up with her heart full of apology and sympathy.

"I'm sorry about what had happened."

"It's fine. At least I moved on with the promise I intend to keep: to protect the world and its humanity."

After hearing Shadow's words and feeling his comforting presence, Runa had been comforted by the fact that they experienced the same thing with a slight difference. And so, she laid her hand on his right shoulder and spoke up in a normal, determined voice. She also smiled at him. She had no idea where those words came from, but she knew it's just what Shadow needed for comfort.

"No matter what happens, wherever you are, I'll be there for you. Always. And so will Leo, Intellizo, Clifton, Billie and Bashiri."

Now, that brought Shadow into a shock. Apart from Maria and Hope Kintobor, there had never been someone being that caring, warm and polite before. And apart from Rouge and Omega, there had never been someone who's that much understanding and respectful before.

With that, Shadow began to explain his adventures after the battle with the Xorda, from finding his own purpose in life to his moments with Hope, then from that up to his fight with Enerjak, then from how he got defeated by Enerjak to how he's brought back by Jani-Ca.

Runa nodded in understanding. A few moments later, her head slightly looked down and a faint blush appeared on her cheeks. She now had a warm smile on her face. She let out a light chuckle. "Thank you... Shadow. For telling me."

Shadow nodded. "It's no problem." 

After a moment of silence, Runa felt something in her. That feeling was the same feeling she had when she was at the balcony.

"I feel like..." She turned to Shadow. "...we're almost the same, aren't we?"

After a little while of silence, Shadow nodded. "Yeah..." He turned to Runa. "...we are."

Then, another feeling struck through Runa. This time, it's not just any kind of feeling. It's something... new. And also... warm and fuzzy. Sure, friendship and emotion are one thing, but this feeling... she didn't know because she'd never felt this kind of feeling before.

Strange. What is this kind of feeling ever since Shadow and I open up to each other? I mean, it's like I've been feeling something... strange the first time I saw him, but... it's... unexplainable, Runa thought.

At the same time, a new feeling struck through Shadow as well. It somehow made him want to get closer to Runa, see her every now and then and maybe for her to be in his arms.

What is this strange feeling I've been feeling ever since Runa and I talk a lot more? I don't know what's happening, but... it's... unexplainable, Shadow thought.

Before either of them could point things out, electric shocks spread across their bodies. A few moments later, they collapsed to the ground.