(There's currently an ongoing theory about a mysterious woman that's constantly been showing up through the Sonic franchise named Professor Victoria. And that she is actually the younger sister of Maria!

But we don't really have enough evidence for that and while it would be pretty awesome to see more of the Robotnik Family in future games or comics, we just don't know for sure if that will be the case. So until then?

I'm making her up-)

After that day, Maria found herself closer to not only Amy Rose, but The Rabbit Family as well. They hardly knew her, yet they made her feel welcome. And in return, she returned their kindness whenever she could. She found herself visiting them a few times.

Maybe some part of her did so because she missed her parents and Vanilla was a lot like a mother to her. And Cream was even more welcoming, taking any chance she had to hug the yellow hedgehog.

Gemerl was also quite nice to chat with...even if it was mostly Maria doing the talking. He was a good listener though.

Whether it was some kind of coping mechanism or because she just genuinely loved their company, Maria felt more like her old self again. The pain and fear of what happened to her family and what some of the ones she loved or wished to know had become was still there. It wouldn't leave. She knew that.

But having friends and people like them made it so much easier to get through.

And when Shadow found out, he seemed pleased. It seemed to him, they were good influences. Hopefully he thought the same way about some of the other acquaintances/totally not friends that Shadow had made. After all, the more the merrier.

But today was going to have yet another meeting...just not with someone she expected...

Maria hummed as she looked at the chess board in front of her, clearly trying to think about her next move.

Shadow waited patiently, munching on more coffee beans since the sun was still rising. Back on The Ark, chess was one of their favorite games to play.

Maria then smiled and grabbed a piece...but it suddenly slipped right out of her fingers and onto the floor. "Oops!"

Shadow hummed. "Still getting used to your new hands, I see."

Maria sighed as she reached down. "Yes, I am. I've been getting better at drawing with them! But...it doesn't help that they're so much bigger than my old hands that it makes trying to grab smaller things kind of difficult."

Shadow then let out a small smirk. "You are also much shorter."

Maria blinked and then smiled sheepishly. "I may have had to buy a stool or two...but anyways, back to the game!"

She then took her piece and moved it, and almost immediately, Shadow moved one of his right after.

Maria scratched her head. "Shadow, you can take your time. Chess isn't about speed."

"I already have the ultimate strategy in mind." Shadow said plainly.

Maria was now the one smirking as she moved another piece. "Like your 'ultimate' recipes?"

Shadow slowly looked to the side. "...I thought you promised never to talk about that."

"Shadow, you almost blew up the kitchen!" Maria laughed.

Shadow scoffed as he moved another piece. "Clearly my cooking...needs some improving..."

"I'm sure if we could eat fire, it would've been delicious." Maria said.

Shadow's eyes then narrowed. "Have you been hanging out with Sonic...?"

Maria smiled. "A little! It's hard to catch him sometimes! He's always moving and I...umm...haven't gotten entirely used to my own speed. But Tails and I have been becoming good friends! He and I like to discuss theories on ancient history or pitch ideas for new inventions! Plus, he's wonderful with catching me up on some of the more recent advancements in technological science!"

Shadow then sighed quietly in relief. "Tails is very intelligent. And if I recall, you and him are the same age. He'll be a good influence."

Maria then moved another piece. "Shadow, your rivalry with Sonic is starting to concern me. The times I do bring him up, you just get grumpy. I think you two would be very close if you just gave it a chance!"

"No." Shadow said.

"But-"

"I may respect Sonic as a worthy opponent and at times, he and I work incredibly well together." Shadow explained. "...but his redeeming qualities are not often on display. I will not go out of my way to 'hang out' with him, but I can tolerate his recklessness and love of talking as fast as he runs when I need to."

Maria sighed. "It was worth a shot..."

"Oh. And checkmate."

Maria's eyes widened and she looked down, now utterly dumbfounded. "Huh?! How did you take my king already?!"

"You should pay more attention to the game." Shadow said.

Maria then rubbed the back of her neck, laughing. "I guess so, huh? Good game, Shadow! Up for another?"

Shadow nodded and began setting up the board...before once again, his communicator began to beep. He growled slightly.

"Is that Abe...?" Maria asked.

"It is...our last search for Team Doom was a dead end. I sincerely hope he has a credible source this time." Shadow said before answering. "This is Shadow."

"Shadow. This is Abraham. Is Maria there?"

Maria smiled. "Hi, Abe!!!"

Commander Tower's voice laughed. "Hey, Ria. How have things been? I...know you've been learning a lot lately..."

Maria's eyes softened. "I won't lie...it still hurts...but I have so many wonderful people by my side that I find it hard to be sad! You and Shadow are terrific examples!"

Shadow smiled a little.

"That means a lot, Maria. I know we haven't talked as much as I'd like to though."

"No, no! I understand! Running G.U.N is a very time-consuming job, but it's important!" Maria said. "But, do I finally get to meet your grandson?"

"Not yet...actually, I called for you specifically. Maria, remember how your parents sent us a message about you having a sister? When we were on The Ark?"

"Y...yes...?"

"Well...I did some digging and...I found her."

Maria's eyes widened and she shot out of her seat. "YOU DID?! Where is she?! How is she?! Is she healthy?! Is she-?!"

"Maria, give him a chance to speak." Shadow said.

Maria nodded rapidly. "Of course, of course, of course!"

"Well, to answer your question...Samantha Bright is in her 50's, has a husband and a son who's recently graduated college, and works as a doctor in Station Square Hospital."

Maria already felt a large sense of pride within her and she smiled. "I guess she wouldn't keep our last name after marrying."

"...actually, she...had it changed long before that..."

Maria's eyes immediately widened in shock and confusion. "H...huh?"

"According to our files, she changed her last name the moment she legally could. My guess would have to be because...well-"

"Ivo and Grandfather haven't exactly given our family a good reputation..." Maria said, looking down. "I...can understand that...but I'm happy that her life's gone so well!!! And she's a doctor!!! Imagine how much studying she had to do! Or even better, all the diseases and illnesses she's already found the cure to!"

"Speaking of which...I think I can pull some strings and arrange a meeting between the two of you. I figure this meeting is long overdue. Whaddya say, Ria?"

Maria was quiet for a moment as she began to think. One part of her was filled with pride over her baby sister's accomplishments and eagerness to finally meet her face to face. See what her interests were and how her life had gone. Maybe even ask about her parents.

...but the other half was nervous and timid. She had gotten confirmation that she hadn't become a deranged mad scientist like her cousin, yes, but...she was a hedgehog now.

Ivo hadn't accepted her into the family...what if Samantha wouldn't either because of what she was? She had accepted her form very quickly...but would her sister? Ivo certainly didn't.

"Maria...?" Shadow asked, his eyes soft.

Maria looked at Shadow and then took a deep breath. "...I would like to see her. Whether or not she accepts me as her sister is her choice, I want to see my family."

"Alright. I'll let you know. Abraham out."

Shadow then walked over to his sister, his eyes soft. "You look nervous..."

"I...I am..." Maria said. "I...I know what I just said, but...but I'd still like for her to accept me and not give me the same look that Ivo did..."

Shadow set a hand on her shoulder. "Maria, Eggman is a complete and utter buffoon. You should not strive to win his attention. It's worth nothing."

"I-I just know that there is some good in him!" Maria said. "But...that doesn't change how he feels about me...a-and I'm worried Samantha may feel the same way. She was a baby and I was already 12 years old back on The Ark...to her, I'm some stranger...and while she's aged 50 years, I don't think I've aged at all..."

"Maria..."

"And even more so, I'm...I'm not human." Maria said. "What if that's why Ivo didn't accept me? What if that changes Samantha's view of me? I...I don't think of myself as a freak. I like this new form even if it's taking some time to fully adjust to all that it can do...but it's so hard to be fully confident when your own family members scowl at you instead of smile because they're expecting a human."

Shadow then gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. "It should not matter if you are a hedgehog or a human. If you really are proud and happy with this new form, then you shouldn't have to think about how others see you...because whether it's with skin or quills, you are still the same person that guides others into the light. That always finds a way to smile even in the darkest of times...and if it makes you feel any better? I think that your sister will adore you as much as we all do."

Maria smiled and then hugged her brother tightly. "Thank you, Shadow...even if this goes bad...I have you. Because you're just as much my family as they are."

Shadow slowly smiled as well and even hugged back with both of his arms.

A gesture surprising to many...but not to Maria Robotnik.

"Goodbye! Have a wonderful day!" Dr. Bright waved as she watched a mother and her child walk away from her office, with the child gleefully licking at a lollipop.

What kind of hospital wouldn't have lollipops after all?

Dr. Bright then took a seat and began looking through her computer, wondering if she had any other appointments or if she could possibly go home early, sit on the couch with her husband, and just watch those adorable 'Chao In Space' movies.

He'd call her a nerd for pointing out all the unrealistic science and she'd just point at the wedding ring that he gave her. They'd laugh and just enjoy their time together.

But then, her phone suddenly rang. And it wasn't her office's phone, it was her own personal phone. She reached into her pocket and then held it to her ear. "Hello?"

"Dr. Samantha Bright?"

"That would be me. Who is this?" Dr. Bright asked.

"This is Commander Abraham Tower of the Guardian Units of Nations."

Dr. Bright's eyes nearly bulged right out of her skull and her glasses almost fell off her face. She then slowly peeked out the window, as if expecting a sniper to just be right outside. "...u-umm...hello, sir...pray tell, why is the government calling me...?"

"It's alright, you aren't in danger or in trouble. This is actually a bit of a personal request. If you have the time, do you think you could arrive at our headquarters?"

"I...don't see why not. But is there a special reason?"

"You could say that. Someone really wants to meet you and I think you deserve to meet them too. It's better to explain once you're here."

"...well, I suppose I can clear my schedule. I'll be there as soon as I can, sir." Dr. Bright said, admittedly still a little suspicious that a military commander was requesting she come over to their headquarters.

"Appreciated."

Then, Dr. Bright hung up and then began packing her things into her purse. "Well...guess movie night will have to wait...in case I am at gunpoint, I better let Michael know there's leftovers..."

After a bit of paperwork, talking with other doctors and nurses, and then a hour long drive...she made it to G.U.N Headquarters. Which already looked intimidating enough, but there were soldiers all around the entrance...and also a man likely around her age, possibly older. He seemed to be waiting for her to let her through.

And after that whole admittedly awkward process, Dr. Bright parked her car and then slowly stepped out, turning around. "Commander Abraham Tower?"

"That's me." Commander Tower said as he shook her hand. "Thank you for coming on such short notice."

"I guess you could just call me curious...what is the reason for having me over?" Dr. Bright asked. "Is it because of my cousin?"

"You openly admit that you're related to Dr. Eggman?"

Dr. Bright sighed, her eyes narrowed. "He is one of the reasons I can't call myself a Robotnik anymore...and given that you are who you are, you likely already knew that."

"You got us." Commander Tower chuckled. "But no. But...someone did want to meet you."

"That being...?"

"They're waiting inside." Commander Tower said. "And...be nice. She's kind of nervous."

Dr. Bright tilted her head, but shrugged as she and The Commander walked inside...and waiting for them in the lobby was what caught the doctor's eye immediately. Instead of soldiers, it was...Mobians.

One was a black hedgehog she had heard about from his reputation alone...the other was a yellow hedgehog she had never seen before. She had cared for quite a few Mobians in her lifetime and befriended plenty. If she was being perfectly honest, their vast history was much more interesting than their own.

"Is that them?" Dr. Bright asked, facing Commander Tower.

Commander Tower nodded. "That's them."

Dr. Bright hummed before walking over to the two hedgehogs, not saying a word because Commander Tower seemed perfectly ready to do the introductions himself.

"Shadow, Maria? She's here." Commander Tower said. "Meet Dr. Samantha Bright."

Samantha smiled and then held out her hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you both!"

Shadow and Maria took one look at her and their eyes widened slightly...but both for different and yet similar reasons.

Shadow's eyes were wide because Dr. Bright was practically the spitting image of Maria when she was human. Yet, she was clearly older and with green eyes instead of blue. Not to mention shorter blonde hair that already had a small amount of gray streaks.

As for Maria, she was just left shocked at the sight of her that she was there at all...and that she was all grown up...she looked so different from the baby pictures she had been sent.

Shadow then spoke first, shaking her hand. "Dr. Bright."

"You must be Shadow The Hedgehog." Samantha said. "Your reputation speaks for itself...and on behalf of humanity, I thank you and all your friends for saving the world so many times!"

Shadow nodded before turning to Maria, his eyes softening at the nervousness evident in her face and movement.

Samantha then walked over and gave a gentle smile. "Hello there, dear...Maria, was it?"

"Y...yes..."

"It's alright, you don't need to be so nervous." Samantha laughed, already used to talking to nervous kids from her time as a doctor. "I'm no one special...and you know, Maria is a lovely name. Something to be proud of. I once had a relative with that name."

Maria slowly looked up at Samantha, her eyes wide.

"She was my sister actually." Samantha said with a soft sigh. "I never got to meet her though...but my family always spoke so highly of her that...it felt like I knew her already. Funny how that works, huh?"

Maria didn't say a word...before suddenly pulling the doctor into a tight hug.

Samantha's eyes widened, clearly a little startled. But, she hugged back anyway. "Well, you're certainly friendly!"

"There's a reason for that, ma'am." Shadow said. "Maria was the one to request this meeting..."

"She was...?" Samantha asked. "Why-"

"M...my full name is Maria Robotnik..." The yellow hedgehog said, slowly looking up at her sister.

Samantha was dead silent, her expression of confusion already starting to weaken the yellow hedgehog's confidence. "I...is this...some kind of dark joke...? Because it's not-"

Commander Tower then suddenly held out a file. "It's no joke, Dr. Bright...as hard as it may be to believe, that's her full name. In this file is everything you'll need to know."

Samantha slowly took the file and then began to read it, fastening her glasses. She felt the yellow hedgehog slowly let go of her as she read through the file.

It had just about everything listed. How Team Doom had stolen her body, used the blood of The Ultimate Lifeform to bring her back from the dead, and several blood tests with the Robotnik DNA on full display.

Maria could practically hear her own panicked heartbeat...she was just waiting for the unamused glare that her cousin had given her.

...but it didn't come...instead, Samantha slowly lowered the file and then looked at Maria. "...is...is that...really you...?"

Maria slowly nodded. "I...I-I know it's hard to believe..."

"I...I mean...a little, heh!" Samantha said as she knelt down to Maria's height. "I...I mean, you're shockingly more adorable than in all the photos my- I mean...our parents showed me..."

Maria's eyes then widened and she looked into her sister's eyes. "Y...you aren't...disappointed...?"

"Disappointed? No. Shocked? Yes. Questioning the laws of science? Without a doubt." Samantha laughed...before suddenly smiling wide. "I...I'm honestly still processing, but...but I guess I'm the older sister now, huh?"

Maria found her eyes, once again, start to water as she pulled her sister into another tight hug. And this time, the hug was quickly reciprocated.

Shadow and Commander Tower just lightly smiled, as if well aware this was going to happen.

Samantha then suddenly tightened the hug, laughing softly as she felt her own tears begin to build up. "I...I-I used to practice what I'd say to you, but...but I can't think of anything..."

Maria laughed, tears falling down her now fuzzy face. "O-oh, Samantha...I couldn't relate more..."

"50 years...50 years..." Samantha whispered as she slowly broke the hug to face her sister. "I...wow..."

Maria wiped her eyes, unable to keep herself from smiling and giggling. "I-I'm sorry. I was so nervous that you'd...be disappointed..."

"Be disappointed? I'm thrilled!!!" Samantha cried. "I mean, I didn't expect a hedgehog but...look at you! You're so small and cute!"

Maria laughed. "S-Samantha!"

"I'm serious! Look at you!" Samantha exclaimed as she very gently took her quills/hair into her arms. "And you're so soft too...but even if you came back as an old woman like me, I wouldn't be disappointed because...i-it's you! Mom and Dad always talked about you! The whole family did in fact!"

"T...they did...?"

"They wanted me to remember you, I guess...for a long time, I dreamed of getting to meet the big sister whose smile could light up the sky." Samantha smiled. "And now I get to see that smile...it's lived up to its reputation."

Maria then hugged her sister for a third time, laughing. "A-and you're so big now!!! I-I couldn't even hold you, let alone now!"

"You obviously wouldn't be able to hold me in your short little body!" Samantha teased. "Maybe I'll pick you up instead!"

Maria laughed once more...before her eyes softened. "But I...I really am sorry, Samantha..."

"Sorry...? For what...?"

"For not being there. I...I wanted to come back home in time to be there for your life. To teach you everything I knew! To be your best friend!" Maria said. "But...I missed that...and you've grown up perfectly fine without me..."

"...Maria...if you think I'm going to blame you for getting shot, you have another thing coming." Samantha said sternly. "That was not your fault...did I want to meet you? Yes. Did I wish you were there? Of course...but I don't like to look back on the past. Because it's happened already and dreaming about it doesn't change it. So instead of thinking about what you've missed...start thinking about all that we can do now in a bright future."

Maria snorted. "Was that a pun...?"

"Maybe." Samantha grinned. "That's for me to know and you to decipher."

Maria laughed. "Y-you're so silly!"

"Yes. Yes, I am." Samantha said.

Shadow then stepped forward. "I told you she would like you, Maria."

Maria gasped and then held her sister's hand. "Oh! Samantha, this is Shadow!!! He's our brother!!! Well...I guess my brother since I have his blood, but he was my brother even before that! Oh! And Abe would be our brother too!"

"Gee, as if our family tree wasn't already confusing enough." Samantha laughed, looking at the Ultimate Lifeform and commander. "So...I take it you two knew Maria back on The Ark?"

They both nodded.

"...then I owe you my thanks...for keeping my sister happy." Samantha said. "Because if she's this happy? Clearly you two have been a good enough influence."

"More like the other way around." Commander Tower smiled. "We'll give you two a moment."

Shadow nodded. "I'll be back soon, Maria."

"Okay!!! Bye, Shadow!!!" Maria said before looking back at her sister. "There's so much you have to tell me!!!"

Samantha laughed. "You want to hear 50 years worth of boring stories?"

"Every detail!!!" Maria smiled. "And...one important question actually..."

"What is it, Maria?"

"...did...did Mama and Papa...pass away...peacefully...?"

Samantha's eyes widened...and then softened as she recalled the experience. She then took a deep breath and nodded. "Yes. Losing you was...one of the worst things to ever happen to them...but they managed to live a good life either way. At least, I think so. When their time was up, they were ready..."

Maria slowly smiled. "I...I'm sad that I didn't get to say goodbye...but...I'm glad that my...death...didn't tear them apart..."

"It took some time, but yeah." Samantha said. "I think telling me about you helped them out a lot...which now brings me to my own question, but uhh...it's a bit much..."

"Oh! Of course!"

"...what was it like? Being gone and then...coming back?"

Maria's eyes widened and then she looked at her hand for a moment. "It was...strange...in ways I can't describe...I...have vague memories of being somewhere, but it almost feels like a dream. What I remember more vividly was waking up in a brand new body. It was a bit of a sensory overload."

Samantha's eyes softened. "I can imagine...but the likeliness of there being some kind of afterlife now aside? Let's make up for lost time, hmm? Have some sister bonding time."

Maria gasped. "I'd love that!!!"

"Let's see if we can go find snacks here." Samantha said as the two sisters walked off, reunited after nearly 50 years.

Funny how life has a funny way of bringing people together.