Editing Maria Robotnik

<!--Please do not include any line including Shadow and Maria loving each other. The way Maria speaks toward Shadow is how she treats him like a family. Thank you for understanding.-->{{Tab
|title1 = Main page
|tab2   = Gallery
}}
{{Otheruses4}}
{{Infobox character
|title        = Maria Robotnik
|image        = SXSG Maria Render.png
|caption      = Maria Robotnik, from ''[[Shadow Generations]]''.
|first        = ''[[Sonic Adventure 2]]''
|games        = 
*''[[Sonic Adventure 2]]''
*''[[Sonic Adventure 2: Battle]]''
*''[[Sonic Battle]]'' {{Mention}}
*''[[Sonic Heroes]]'' {{Mention}}
*''[[Shadow the Hedgehog (game)|Shadow the Hedgehog]]''
*''[[Sonic Rivals]]'' {{Cameo}}
*''[[Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood]]'' {{Mention}}
*[[Sonic Adventure 2 (2012)|''Sonic Adventure 2'' {{C|2012 remaster}}]]
*''[[Sonic Forces: Speed Battle]]'' {{Cameo}}
*''[[Team Sonic Racing]]'' {{Mention}}
*''[[Sonic Frontiers]]'' {{Mention}}<ref name="EggMemoMaria">{{Cite game|dev1=[[Sonic Team]]|date=8 November 2022|game=Sonic Frontiers|system=PlayStation 5|publisher=[[Sega]]|area=View Fish-o-pedia Menu|quote='''[[Egg Memo|Egg Memo 17]]''': I [Eggman] never really knew my cousin, Maria. Everyone spoke of her like she was very special. All that love for someone who was gone when I was! Right! There! But I have to wonder. Back then, was she anything like Sage is now?}}</ref>
*''[[Shadow Generations]]''
|media        = 
*[[Archie Comics]]
*''[[Sonic X]]''
*''[[Sonic Comic]]''
*''[[TailsTube]]''
*''[[The Jet Black Hedgehog: Shadow the Hedgehog]]''
*''[[Sonic X Shadow Generations: Dark Beginnings]]''
*[[Sonic the Hedgehog (film series)|''Sonic the Hedgehog'' (film series)]]
|birthplace   = [[Earth]]<ref name="SXSG">"I have longed for the day I can return to Earth."</ref>
|englishactor = 
*[[Moriah Angeline]] {{C|2001}}
*[[Rebecca Honig]] {{C|2005}}
*[[Stephanie Sheh]] {{C|2024}}<ref name="PR">{{Cite web|url=https://x.com/Tracker_TD/status/1790413464206184913|title=Tracker (@Tracker_TD) on X|date=14 May 2024|accessdate=14 May 2024|work=X}}</ref>
|japanactor   = [[Yuri Shiratori]]
|otheractor   = 
*[[Anissa Bellone]] {{C|French}}
*[[Elena Moreno]] {{C|Spanish}}
*[[Giulia Maniglio]] {{C|Italian}}
*[[Rieke Werner]] {{C|German}}
|species      = [[Human]]
|gender       = Female
|age          = Unknown<!--Please do not put in anything, including her age in "Sonic X", unless you get a solid source for her age from the games. Thank you for understanding.--> {{C|deceased}}
|hair color   = Blonde
|skin color   = Peach
|eye color    = Dark blue
|attire       = 
*Dark blue hairband
*Dark blue top
*Light blue dress
*Dark blue shoes
|family       = 
*[[Gerald Robotnik]] {{C|grandfather}} †<ref name="SA2"/>
*Unnamed father<ref name="Info"/>
*Unnamed mother
*Unnamed younger sister
*Unnamed uncle<ref name="Info"/>
*[[Doctor Eggman|Dr. Eggman]] {{C|cousin}}<ref name="SA2"/>
*Possible unnamed cousin(s)<ref name="SA2Guide">{{Cite book|author=[[Prima Games|Prima Development]]|title=[[Sonic Adventure 2: Prima's Official Strategy Guide]]|publisher=[[Prima Games]]|pages=2–3|chapter=The Beginning|date=20 June 2001|isbn=978-0761536147}}</ref><ref group="note">While it is stated in the [[Sonic Adventure 2: Prima's Official Strategy Guide|Prima strategy guide]] that Maria is one of the cousins of Eggman, showing that he has more than one cousin, this does not directly mean that this also applies to Maria. For example, this at least one other cousin of Eggman referred to in the strategy guide may be Maria's sister.</ref>
*[[Eggman Nega]] {{C|indirect descendant}}
|alignment    = Good
|likes        = 
*Life
*World peace
*[[Shadow the Hedgehog|Shadow]]
*[[Gerald Robotnik|Her grandfather]]
*[[Commander Abraham Tower|Abe]]
*The [[Earth]]
*Helping people
*[[Space Colony ARK]]
*The aurora borealis
*Learning new things
*[[Spagonia]]'s food
*Playing chess with Shadow<ref>As recounted by Shadow in [[Sonic Twitter Takeover]] #8.</ref>
|dislikes     = 
*Fighting
*Weapons
*[[Black Arms]]
*Killing
*Abe's antics
*Her [[Neuro-Immune Deficiency Syndrome|condition]]
|skills       = 
*Astronomy knowledge
*Positive influence
*Engineering knowledge
}}
{{Quote left|I know I'll see [[Shadow the Hedgehog|you]] again. And if fate draws us apart, I will always be in your heart.|Maria Robotnik, ''[[Shadow Generations]]''}}
{{nihongo|'''Maria Robotnik'''<ref name="SA2">''[[Sonic Adventure 2]]'' ([[Dreamcast]]) United States instruction booklet, p. 12.</ref>|マリア・ロボトニック<ref>''[[Sonic Adventure 2]]'' ([[Dreamcast]]) Japanese instruction booklet, pg. 27.</ref>|Maria Robotonikku}} is a character that appears in the [[Sonic the Hedgehog series|''Sonic the Hedgehog'' series]]. She is a young [[human]], the granddaughter of [[Gerald Robotnik]] and the cousin of [[Doctor Eggman|Dr. Eggman]]. Born on [[Earth]], Maria suffered from a [[Neuro-Immune Deficiency Syndrome|terminal illness]] with no known cure. To save Maria, Gerald brought her aboard the [[Space Colony ARK]] to keep her condition in remission, while he worked on [[Project Shadow]] in hopes of developing a cure. Gerald's research produced [[Shadow the Hedgehog]], with whom Maria became close friends. When [[Guardian Units of Nations|G.U.N.]] later shut down the ARK, Maria was killed by a [[GUN Soldier|G.U.N. Soldier]] while trying to assist Shadow in his escape from the colony. Her passing had a major impact on Shadow's psyche, and proved to be an event that would strongly influence the fate of the world in the decades that followed.

==Appearance==
[[File:Maria R.png|left|thumb|247x247px|Maria from [[Shadow the Hedgehog (game)|''Shadow the Hedgehog'']].]]
Maria was described as beautiful,<ref name="SA2" /> yet frail in appearance.<ref name="SA2Guide" /> She was a young human girl who stood about a head taller than [[Shadow the Hedgehog|Shadow]]. She had wavy shoulder-length blonde hair, dark blue eyes, and pale peach skin. For attire, she wore a dark blue puffy-sleeved blouse with light blue trims over a light blue, knee-length dress with long sleeves, a dark blue hairband, and matching blue shoes with white soles.

In ''[[Sonic Adventure 2]]'', Maria's clothes were paler in color, and she was barefoot. In ''[[Shadow the Hedgehog (game)|Shadow the Hedgehog]]'', her blouse goes all the way down to her hips as opposed to stopping just under her stomach, and she did not have the long sleeves.

==History==
===Past===
It has been implied that Maria comes from a long line of brilliant scientists.<ref>[[Backbone Entertainment]], [[Sega Studio USA]] (24 November 2006). ''[[Sonic Rivals]]''. [[Sega]]. Area/Level: [[Meteor Base Zone]] ([[Shadow the Hedgehog|Shadow]]'s version). "'''[[Eggman Nega]]''': Heh heh heh... I'm here to change my destiny! I come from a long line of brilliant scientists, but that lineage was disrupted with Dr. Eggman's failures!"</ref> She was born on Earth, and when she was young she traveled to [[Spagonia]] with her family.<ref>[[Shadow Generations]]. Area: [[White Space]]. '''Maria:''' "The food on the ARK is okay, but I really miss the cooking on Earth. Before I got sick, I went to Spagonia with my family. The food there was amazing! Have [[Shadow the Hedgehog|you]] found a favorite food? All I've ever seen you have is coffee."</ref> Sometime after, Maria contracted the incurable and fatal disease [[Neuro-Immune Deficiency Syndrome]] (NIDS).<ref>[[Gerald Robotnik's Journal]] entry #428.</ref> As a result of this, her grandfather [[Gerald Robotnik]] brought her aboard the ARK in order to try and develop a cure for her illness.<ref>[[Gerald Robotnik's Journal]] entry #428.</ref> Due to her illness, which left her frail and weak, Maria needed constant attention, which meant she could not leave the ARK's hospital, leaving her confined in space.<ref name="SA2Guide" /> Additionally, her condition was only mitigated by the low gravity onboard the ARK, further confining her to the station.<ref name="ESI">{{Cite book|first1=Ian|last1=Flynn|last2=[[Sega]]|title=[[Sonic the Hedgehog Encyclo-speed-ia]]|publisher=[[Dark Horse Books]]|date=8 December 2021|page= 119|isbn=978-1506719276|quote=Maria Robotnik - A loving and generous girl suffering from NIDS (Neuro-Immune Deficiency Syndrome). She lived aboard the ARK so that the low gravity would keep her condition in remission.}}</ref> Despite getting medical help, Maria only grew weaker over time. While looking down at the earth from the ARK, Maria developed an interest in it and longed to return home.<ref name="SA2Guide" />

Onboard the ARK, Maria was looked after and cared for by her grandfather.<ref name="SA2Guide" /> Maria came to mean everything to Gerald,<ref name="diary">[[Sega Studio USA|Sonic Team USA]] (23 June 2001). ''[[Sonic Adventure 2]]''. [[Dreamcast]]. [[Sega]]. Cutscene: Last Story. "'''[[Gerald Robotnik|Gerald]]''': I found Maria's name among those who died when the ARK was shut down. She meant everything to me! And I couldn't bear the thought that she died because of my research. I lost everything!"</ref> and the two of them would work and live together onboard the ARK.<ref name="SC">[[Wikipedia:BioWare|BioWare]] (30 September 2008). ''[[Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood]]''. [[Nintendo DS]]. [[Sega]]. Area/Level: Codex. "'''[[Gerald Robotnik|Prof. Gerald Robotnik]] entry''': His most remarkable creation was the Space Colony ARK, where he lived and worked with his granddaughter."</ref> Maria also befriended a young boy named [[Abraham Tower|Abe]] whom she would play with.

[[File:SandM.png|thumb|left|225px|Maria and [[Shadow the Hedgehog|Shadow]] watching the [[earth]] together, from ''[[Sonic Adventure 2: Battle]]''.]]
In an attempt to save Maria's life, Gerald, who was the greatest scientific mind of his time, agreed to work on [[Project Shadow]], a government project for creating an immortal life form. The reason for this was that Gerald believed that he could make a cure for Maria's illness with the creature they sought to make.<ref name="SA2Guide" /><ref name="SA2J">{{Cite book|publisher=Enterbrain|date=10 October 2001|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070205100113/http://sonichq.mobiusforum.net/newsite/news/index.php/id.54|chapter=５０年前の真実"|title=ソニックアドベンチャー2パーフェクトガイド|language=Japanese|isbn=978-4757706255|accessdate=5 February 2007}}</ref><ref name="SC" /> Gerald's research eventually led to the creation of [[Shadow the Hedgehog]], an immortal and powerful creature, who received a soul identical to Maria's.<ref name="SB">[[Sonic Team]] (27 February 2004). ''[[Sonic Battle]]''. [[Game Boy Advance]]. [[Sega]]. Area/Level: [[Gimme Shelter]]. "'''[[Rouge the Bat|Rouge]]''': He was not interested in researching weapons. He was researching a way to bring happiness and hope to all people. But, he was forced by the government and by the military to use his research for war. That's why he gave you and Gizoid a "soul." A soul identical to his beloved granddaughter, Maria."</ref> Maria eventually befriended Shadow and they grew very close to each other. While raised together,<ref name="SA2Guide" /><ref name="SegaA" /> Maria remained by Shadow's side and they would spend their time together gazing down upon the earth from the ARK's control room, wondering what the planet was like and wishing to visit it. At one point, she encountered Shadow looking at a [[Death Leech]]. After hearing the black hedgehog express a degree of self-loathing due to essentially being created from the [[Black Arms]] DNA, Maria assured him that he possessed a heart and that he'll eventually find people who he can care for.<ref>''[[Sonic X Shadow Generations: Dark Beginnings]]'' Episode 2: "[[Finding the Way]]"</ref> At another point, Maria saw the events of the aurora borealis and hurriedly had Shadow come with her to see its beauty. Because she in her excitement ended up over-exerting herself, she had a brief fainting spell from her NIDS condition. Afterwards, Maria and Shadow had a short discussion of living on Earth. She also comforted Shadow when he expressed frustration at how, despite being created to cure maladies, they still hadn't found progress to curing Maria yet. Maria assured her friend that she was nevertheless happy to spend time with him. However, Shadow and Maria then witnessed the violent escape of another of Gerald's research projects, [[Emerl|the Gizoid]], as well as it heading directly for Gerald Robotnik's laboratory, prompting her to request Shadow to save her grandfather. Shadow then vowed to save Gerald and return in one piece.<ref>''[[Sonic X Shadow Generations: Dark Beginnings]]'' Episode 1: "[[Shadow and Maria]]"</ref>

When the [[Artificial Chaos]] went on a rampage onboard the Space Colony ARK, Maria sought out Shadow to help save the ARK. Shadow complied with Maria's wishes, saying that he would do anything to protect her and the ARK, and the Artificial Chaos crisis was soon after averted by the combined forces of Shadow and G.U.N..<ref>[[Sonic Team]] (15 November 2005). ''[[Shadow the Hedgehog (game)|Shadow the Hedgehog]]''. [[Nintendo GameCube]]. [[Sega]]. Area/Level: [[Lost Impact]].</ref> 

When the government began growing suspicious about Project Shadow, Gerald prepared a contingency video for Shadow where he told the black hedgehog about Project Shadow's imminent shutdown and about how he was meant to defeat the [[Black Arms]], an evil alien race who helped create Shadow, with the [[Eclipse Cannon]] when they returned in fifty years to conquer earth. During the recording, Maria joined her grandfather and promised to help Shadow protect the planet alongside him.

Sometime after the completion of Project Shadow,<ref name="SC" /> Maria's peaceful existence was shattered when [[Guardian Units of Nations|G.U.N.]] attacked the Space Colony ARK to eliminate everything and everyone related to the project, as the military had come to believe that Project Shadow was 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 in some escape capsules.<ref name="SA2J" /> While Gerald distracted G.U.N., Maria and Shadow tried to escape the raid,<ref name="SA2J" /> but Maria was unwilling to leave the other researchers in the captivity of G.U.N. and pleaded Shadow to help them.<ref name="The Doom">[[Sonic Team]] (15 November 2005). ''[[Shadow the Hedgehog (game)|Shadow the Hedgehog]]''. [[Nintendo GameCube]]. [[Sega]]. Area/Level: [[The Doom]].</ref> After Shadow had made his decision, he and Maria continued onward, but were attacked by a [[Heavy Dog]] on their way to the escape capsules. Fortunately, Shadow defeated the Heavy Dog, allowing him and Maria to resume their escape.<ref name="The Doom" />

[[File:Shadow Generations Shadow's Flashback 2.jpg|thumb|225px|right|Maria making her request to [[Shadow the Hedgehog|Shadow]], from ''[[Shadow Generations]]''.]]
Eventually, Maria and Shadow got to the ARK's escape pods in the research center. There, Maria saved Shadow by initiating his escape pod's launch with him in it. However, the G.U.N. soldiers were right behind them, and Maria ended up being mortally wounded by a G.U.N. Soldier's gunshot. With her last strength, before saying goodbye, Maria asked Shadow to protect the world for her sake and give everyone a chance to be happy, just as the black hedgehog was jettisoned from the ARK. Afterwards, as Maria perished, her last words were "Bring hope to humanity."<ref name="Journal">[[Sonic Team]] (27 February 2004). ''[[Sonic Battle]]''. [[Game Boy Advance]]. [[Sega]]. Area/Level: [[Prof. Gerald's Journal]] [[Prof. Gerald's Journal#Journal 7|#7]]. "My beloved granddaughter... They tell me her parting words were, 'Bring hope to humanity.'"</ref>

===Legacy===
{{Quote left|[[Shadow the Hedgehog|Shadow]], I beg of you! Give [[Earth|them]] a chance to be happy!|Maria Robotnik, ''[[Sonic Adventure 2]]''|file = QuotMariaRobotnik.ogg}}
Maria's death was an event that had a huge impact on the friends and family of the young girl, strongly influencing several conflicts that would determine the fate of the world. [[Shadow the Hedgehog|Shadow]], who witnessed Maria's death first-hand, was traumatized by this sight and came to loathe humanity for what they did. [[Commander Abraham Tower|Abe]] (who later became the commander of [[Guardian Units of Nations]]) also suffered a deep loss, as Maria was like a sister to him, which made him develop a life-long grudge against both [[Gerald Robotnik|Gerald]] and Shadow for their perceived role in her demise. 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 by having the [[Space Colony ARK]] collide with the earth once all seven [[Chaos Emerald]]s was inserted into the [[Eclipse Cannon]]. To ensure his plan's success, the professor brainwashed Shadow, twisting his memory of Maria's last request so that Shadow would be motivated to seek revenge at the human race.<ref name="SC" /> Before he went insane though, Gerald made Maria's last words the keywords that would activate [[Emerl]]'s free-willed emotion-based A.I.<ref name="Journal" /> It has also been implied that the moments leading to Maria's demise were a partial motivating factor behind Shadow rushing to rescue Rouge the Bat from dying in Prison Island's destruction after she was caught in a similar situation.

Contemporaneously, Maria was allegedly seen in a very positive light amongst the people, even after her death. This sparked some jealously from her cousin, [[Doctor Eggman|Ivo]], who, despite never actually meeting her in person, appeared to dislike her because of her being seen as someone very special despite having died, leading to him not getting much attention from relatives. However, during the [[Starfall Islands]] [[Sonic Frontiers|incident]], over fifty years after Maria's death, Ivo, now having become the infamous Dr. Eggman, would wonder if she was much like his own "daughter", [[Sage]].<ref>''[[Sonic Frontiers]]''</ref>

Maria's last request for Shadow to protect the world and its 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, he sought to avenge Maria's death (due to Gerald manipulating his memories)<ref name="SC" /> by destroying the human race. It was not until the eleventh hour that Shadow remembered Maria's dying wish, and he aided [[Sonic the Hedgehog]] and his allies in stopping the very plan he had set into motion, seemingly sacrificing his life in the process. Shadow survived his ordeal only to lose his memories, with the exception of a disturbing image of Maria being shot. When the Black Arms invaded and set Shadow out to rediscover his purpose, [[Black Doom]] would use Maria's demise at the hands of the humans to sway Shadow to his side. Fortunately, Shadow learned of his true purpose from a final video message from Maria and Gerald, which gave him the motivation needed to obliterate the Black Arms.

Currently, Shadow strives to keep his promise to Maria,<ref name="SegaA">{{Cite web|author=[[Sega/Sega of America|Sega of America]]|publisher=[[Sega]]|url=http://www.sega.com/sonic/globalsonic/post_allabout.php?article=soniccharacters|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050305082053/http://www.sega.com:80/sonic/globalsonic/post_allabout.php?article=soniccharacters|accessdate=26 October 2017|archivedate=5 March 2005|title=Shadow|quote=Maria, who was raised with Shadow and was Shadow's only friend, died in front of his very eyes; her final wish was that Shadow save the world. Saving the world from what is a secret only Shadow knows. Traumatized by the grief of her death, Shadow remains strong enough to keep the promise he made to her.}}</ref> which has made him save the world multiple times.

====''Shadow Generations''====
Maria, along with Gerald, was pulled from a time before their deaths by the [[Time Eater]] and stranded in [[White Space]]. At one point, Maria saw Shadow on the other side of White Space and tried to get to him, but her grandfather stopped her. Later, after Shadow completed [[Sunset Heights (Shadow Generations)|Sunset Heights]], he heard someone scream. Maria was seen being chased by three [[Black Warrior]]s that were trying to kill her, but she was saved by Shadow. Upon being saved, she reunited with a surprised Shadow, who was shocked to see her and her grandfather again. After Shadow lost the [[Shadow the Hedgehog (Sonic Generations)|rival match]] to the likes of a [[Sonic the Hedgehog|blue hedgehog]], Maria commented on how nice Sonic seemed. When Black Doom came and proclaimed that Shadow would be his servant, Maria replied that the black hedgehog would never serve Black Doom and that they were nothing alike. Afterwards, when Shadow began to be corrupted by [[Doom Powers|his powers]] and his anger towards Black Doom, Maria calmed him down and revealed the reason why she named him "Shadow": without light there is only darkness, but a shadow guides the way to the light. Later, Maria encouraged Shadow before he went to face [[Devil Doom (Shadow Generations)|Devil Doom]]. 

After the defeat of [[Neo Devil Doom]], Maria and Gerald began to return to their own time. A frantic Shadow attempted to stop [[Rouge the Bat|Rouge]] and use [[Chaos Control]] to freeze them in time, but Maria stopped Shadow and reminded him that his friends needed his help. She told Shadow that she would see him again and that she would always be in Shadow's heart. Though overcome by emotion, Shadow reluctantly left, shedding a tear, and Maria returned to the past with her grandfather.

==Personality==
[[File:ShadowGenerationsMariaBio.jpg|thumb|Maria's profile from ''[[Shadow Generations]]''.]]
While frail in appearance, Maria was strong in spirit.<ref name="SA2Guide" /> Eternally cheerful, optimistic and positive despite her condition, Maria could see the good in almost anyone or anything. She was likewise a very kind, loving<ref name="ESI" /> and generous<ref name="ESI" /> soul who always put others before herself, supported her friends, and held an unconditional love for the people of the world, even showing compassion towards her enemies when they were distressed. Because she never got to visit [[Earth]] after she was moved to the Space Colony ARK, Maria was very interested in the planet and wished to see it.<ref name="SA2Guide" /> She was as well very encouraging as she could make others accept themselves and calm others down when in stressful situations, including Shadow. She had unwavering faith in the people she trusted, as she strongly believed that Shadow and her grandfather would cure her illness.<ref>[[Gerald Robotnik's Journal]] entry #589.</ref>

Always gentle and thinking about others before herself, Maria was one who found it easier than most to forgive and forget, not to mention trust. Even after G.U.N. violently raided the ARK and shot her down, Maria did not hold any ill will against the people on earth and only wished for them to live happy lives. She was also utterly selfless as she sacrificed her life for Shadow's sake, having faith he would carry on her dreams for her.

Despite her youth and frailness, Maria was brave, determined, and had a strong sense of righteousness. When the [[Artificial Chaos]] were on a rampage, Maria wanted to stop them to save the innocent, and during the G.U.N.'s raid on the ARK she refused to leave the injured researchers behind. Even on her deathbed, Maria remained undeterred and only wished for Shadow to fulfill his purpose.

Maria may have a taste for the macabre or unconventionally cute, as shown by her enthusiasm and care for Shadow, despite his intimidating appearance and knowledge of his alien origins, as well as her comments on finding the [[Artificial Chaos]] "kind of cute" when they split apart.<ref>[[Sonic Team]] (15 November 2005). ''[[Shadow the Hedgehog (game)|Shadow the Hedgehog]]''. [[Nintendo GameCube]]. [[Sega]]. Area/Level: [[Lost Impact]]. Maria Robotnik: "When the research experiments split apart, don't you think they look kind of cute?"</ref>

==Powers and abilities==
Due to her [[Neuro-Immune Deficiency Syndrome]] (N.I.D.S.), Maria suffered from a frail and weak disposition. However, on days where her health was good, she was able to run fairly quickly and had enough strength to land weak blows.

Much like the rest of her family, Maria exhibited a growing intellect and was extremely bright despite her age and disability. She showed a knack for engineering and design, having helped create Shadow's [[Air Shoes]] with Gerald with functionality, form, and comfort in mind. She also seemed to have an interest in astronomy, as she was excited to show Shadow the aurora borealis and noted that people "could only see them from certain latitudes" down on Earth.<ref>[[Sonic X Shadow Generations: Dark Beginnings]] episode 1: "[[Shadow and Maria]]". '''Maria:''' "It's the aurora borealis. You can only see them from certain latitudes [[Earth|down there]], but up here, we can see the whole...the whole..."</ref> 

==Relationships==
===Gerald Robotnik===
[[File:ShadowGensMariaAndGerald.png|thumb|150px|left|A photo of Maria with [[Gerald Robotnik|her grandfather]], from [[Gerald Robotnik's Journal]].]]
[[Gerald Robotnik]] is Maria's grandfather and the one who took care of her when she was suffering from her disease.<ref name="SA2Guide" /> Like Maria was the jewel of Gerald's eye,<ref name="SA2Guide" /> Maria was very fond of Gerald and was always seen smiling and caressing him in his presence. She always referred to him as simply "grandfather" and she admired him for his creations that could help mankind, most noticeably his [[Heal Unit]]s.

During Gerald's work on [[Project Shadow]], Maria also seemed to assist him at several points with his research. She was pictured holding a salamander that might have been used to create the [[Biolizard]], and designed the concepts that would go on to become Shadow's [[Air Shoes]]. However, Gerald did keep Maria in the dark about many of the darker aspects of the project, such as the Biolizard, though he was hesitant to do so.

===Shadow the Hedgehog===
{{Quote left|It breaks my heart to see [[Shadow the Hedgehog|you]] so full of anger. This isn't who you are. Do you know why I named you "Shadow?" Because without light there's only darkness, but a shadow will show you where to find the light. Do you understand? I don't want you to be driven by darkness. I want you to be happy. Stand in the light with peace in your heart.|Maria Robotnik, ''[[Shadow Generations]]''}}
[[File:SXSGDB PS5 Bonus Scene 16.png|thumb|225px|A vision of Maria hugging [[Shadow the Hedgehog|Shadow]], from ''[[Sonic X Shadow Generations: Dark Beginnings]]''.]]
Maria's closest relationship was with [[Shadow the Hedgehog]], a creature created to help cure her illness. The two met aboard the Space Colony ARK and formed a very close bond, becoming inseparable.

According to Gerald's journal, Maria was Shadow's guide to the world and he was her trusted friend. He was completely devoted to her, helping her with her condition and being her protector. Shadow cared deeply for her well-being and safety: once, after she nearly passed out from overexertion, he caught her before she fell to the ground and then reminded her not to get too excited so as not to worsen her condition.<ref>[[Sonic X Shadow Generations: Dark Beginnings]] episode 1: "[[Shadow and Maria]]". '''Shadow:''' "The low gravity here only keeps [[Neuro-Immune Deficiency Syndrome|your condition]] in remission. You should know better than to exert yourself."</ref>

At first, Shadow's sole purpose in life was to cure her, and when he discovered that he could not cure her illness, he was deeply saddened and distressed, as he did not want to lose her. As a result of this, he began to question the purpose of his existence. However, Maria never blamed him for this and was always there to comfort and encourage him. Maria was a guiding force in Shadow's life, doing her best to erase any doubts he had about the purpose of his existence. Even after discovering that Shadow was created with Black Doom's DNA, Maria never stopped loving him, believing that his actions are what define him. Maria was the most important person in Shadow's life, mostly because of her support when he questioned his purpose for being. Shadow trusted Maria enough to share his doubts and inner conflicts with her, mainly about the purpose of his existence. Maria, in turn, always comforted and reassured Shadow when he doubted himself.

According to Commander Tower and Rouge, Maria was the only person who could calm Shadow down and convince him not to do something.<ref>[[Sonic X Shadow Generations: Dark Beginnings]] episode 3: [[To the ARK]]. '''Commander Tower:''' "You could have talked him down, Rouge!" '''Rouge:''' "There's only one person who could ever do that." '''Commander Tower:''' "True. And she was lost to us a long time ago."</ref> This claim was later supported by the fact that Maria convinced Shadow to let her and Gerald return to their own time. Shadow was visibly distressed, but he complied with her wishes and chose not to stop them from disappearing.<ref>As shown in [[Shadow Generations]]' final cutscene, "Never Forgotten".</ref> She is by far the person who has made Shadow the happiest, and they shared the same dream: to visit [[Earth]].

Unfortunately, Maria was shot and killed by [[Guardian Units of Nations|G.U.N.]], who considered Project Shadow too great a threat to the world. They eliminated everything they could related to the project, including the people aboard the [[Space Colony ARK|ARK]]. Ultimately, Maria's love for Shadow led her to sacrifice her life and her dream of visiting Earth to save him from the G.U.N. military. Even as she lay dying, Maria's only thoughts were for Shadow to fulfill his purpose, and she begged him to do it for her, knowing that he could make their dreams come true for her sake. Her final words of farewell were "''Sayonara, Shadow the Hedgehog.''"

===Abraham Tower===
[[File:Maria and the Commandor.png|thumb|225px|Maria embracing the young [[Abraham Tower|Abe]], from ''[[Shadow the Hedgehog (game)|Shadow the Hedgehog]]''.]]{{Quote left|Have [[Shadow the Hedgehog|you]] seen Abe? You know, little Abraham Tower? I'm worried about him. He's the only other kid on the ARK with us. Sometimes he feels like my little brother, hee-hee! His family helped convince Mom and Dad to let me come into space. After all, if they brought their son, it should be safe, right? I was never worried, though. I know Grandfather wouldn't endanger anyone.|Maria Robotnik, ''[[Shadow Generations]]''}}
[[Commander Abraham Tower|Abraham Tower]], nicknamed Abe, was one of Maria's friends before she met [[Shadow the Hedgehog|Shadow]]. In terms of how they got along, Maria basically had a brother-sister relationship with Abe. The two of them would often play merrily with each other, though Maria would sometimes be annoyed with Abe's antics and chase him, but they still cared for one another.

===Dr. Eggman===
{{Quote left|G.U.N., the [[Guardian Units of Nations]] wanted to erase all evidence of the [[Project Shadow|whole thing]]. They sealed Shadow away and silenced anyone who knew about him - including Maria. I never knew her, but I still take that personally...|Dr. Eggman, ''[[Shadow 101: A Brief History of Shadow the Hedgehog]]''|file=QuotMaria&Eggman.ogg}}
Maria and her cousin Ivo, later known as [[Doctor Eggman|Dr. Eggman]], never knew each other. However, he appears to resent her for people thinking better of her and ignoring him, thus hurting his ego. During the [[Starfall Islands]] [[Sonic Frontiers|incident]], the doctor created the A.I. [[Sage]], eventually coming to consider himself her father. At one point during the incident, he wondered if Sage was anything like how Maria was.<ref name="EggMemoMaria" /> He also admitted when recounting the events of Shadow's encapsulation that, regardless of his personal views on Maria, he nevertheless took the circumstances behind her death personally.

===Friends/allies=== 
*[[Big the Cat]]
*[[Commander Abraham Tower|Abraham Tower]] {{C|close friend, close as siblings}}
*[[Gerald Robotnik]] {{C|grandfather}}
*[[Researcher]]s
* [[Shadow the Hedgehog]] {{C|best friend}}
<!--Please do not add E-123 Omega and Rouge to this list, neither party (Team Dark and Maria) mentioned encountering the other - Omega did mention it, but he did not physically encounter her. Thank you!-->
===Neutral===
*[[Guardian Units of Nations]]
<!--Please do not add Sonic the Hedgehog to this list. Maria only saw him from a distance, but she never encountered him face-to-face. Thank you!-->
===Enemies===
*[[Artificial Chaos]]
*[[Black Arms]]
**[[Black Doom]]

==In other media==
===Animation===
====''Sonic X''====
{{Main|Maria Robotnik (Sonic X)}}
[[File:Maria Robotnik Sonic X profile.png|thumb|225px|right|Maria Robotnik, from "[[Sonic's Big Break]]."]]
Maria Robotnik appears in the ''[[Sonic X]]'' anime series. She is a [[Human (Sonic X)|human]] from [[Earth (Sonic X)|Earth]], and a member of the Robotnik family.

Her role in the series is identical to her game counterpart. Maria makes a number of appearances through [[Shadow the Hedgehog (Sonic X)|Shadow the Hedgehog]]'s memories in flashbacks. Like in the games, Maria was a terminally ill patient confined to the [[Space Colony ARK (Sonic X)|Space Colony ARK]]. During her stay on the ARK, Maria became very close to Shadow. When [[Guardian Units of the Nations (Sonic X)|G.U.N.]] came to shut [[Project Shadow (Sonic X)|Project Shadow]] down and seize Shadow himself, Maria sacrificed her life to save Shadow, though not before asking him to protect the world for her sake.

===Books and comics===
====Archie Comics====
{{Main|Maria Robotnik (Archie)|Maria Robotnik (Pre-Super Genesis Wave)}}
[[File:Maria Robotnik Archie.jpg|thumb|225px|left|Maria Robotnik [[Post-Super Genesis Wave timeline|post-Super Genesis Wave]], from [[Archie Sonic Universe Issue 60|''Sonic Universe'' #60]].]]
Maria Robotnik appears in the ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (Archie comic series)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' [[comic]] series and its spin-offs published by [[Archie Comics]]. She was a female [[Overlander]], the daughter of [[Geraldo Robotnik]] and [[Meredith Sanders]], and a member of the [[Kintobor Family|House of Ivo]].

In the [[pre-Super Genesis Wave timeline]] 50 years ago, she was suffering from [[Neuro-Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (Pre-Super Genesis Wave)|Neuro-Immuno Deficiency Syndrome]]. Maria was looked after by her grandfather [[Gerald Robotnik (Pre-Super Genesis Wave)|Gerald Robotnik]], who made [[Shadow the Hedgehog (Pre-Super Genesis Wave)|Shadow the Hedgehog]] to develop a cure for her. However, Maria never had a chance to spend time with Shadow before the [[Guardian Units of the Nation (Pre-Super Genesis Wave)|military]] raided and attempted to seize Shadow. As she got Shadow into the escape pod, she was shot in the back and killed as Shadow watched. A year after his awakening, Shadow encountered a digital version of Maria who helped him uncover his purpose.

Following after the [[Super Genesis Wave]], Maria became virtually indistinguishable from her game counterpart.

====CoroCoro Comic====
{{Main|Maria Robotnik (CoroCoro)}}
[[File:Shadow CoroCoro manga promo.jpg|thumb|225px|Promotion featuring Maria, from ''[[The Jet Black Hedgehog: Shadow the Hedgehog]]''.]]
Maria appears in the ''[[The Jet Black Hedgehog: Shadow the Hedgehog]]'' [[manga]] series published by [[CoroCoro Comic]]. She was a female living aboard the [[Space Colony ARK]] suffering from an illness. She often spent time playing with [[Shadow the Hedgehog]] before the Earth National Defense Forces raided the Space Colony ARK and attacked her. In her last words she confessed her love for Shadow and asked him not to let rage or prejudice consume him.

=====Journey through White Space Arc=====
Maria gets transported to [[White Space]] before the events of the raid of the ARK unfold, she slowly gains back her senses through Shadow and [[Bug-Eye]] gathering the [[Three Wishing Orbs]].

===Films===
====Paramount====
{{Main|Maria Robotnik (Paramount)}}
[[File:MariaSonic3.JPG|thumb|150px|Maria Robotnik, from [[Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (film)|''Sonic the Hedgehog 3'' (film)]].]]
'''Maria Robotnik''' appears in the ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (film series)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' film series produced by [[Paramount Pictures]] and its spin-offs. She is a young [[Human (Paramount)|human]] and the granddaughter of [[Gerald Robotnik (Paramount)|Gerald Robotnik]]. She lived on [[Earth (Paramount)|Earth]] and befriended [[Shadow the Hedgehog (Paramount)|Shadow the Hedgehog]] during his time in a G.U.N. facility where Maria lived. She was later killed when the government aimed to shut down [[Project Shadow (Paramount)|Project Shadow]].
{{Expansion}}

==Quotes==
{{Quote2|Can we wake him up now? Can I meet him?|Maria to her grandfather, ''[[Shadow Generations]]''}}
{{Quote2|[[Shadow the Hedgehog|Shadow]], what do you think it's like on [[Earth]]?|Maria wondering about the [[Earth]] with [[Shadow the Hedgehog|Shadow]], ''[[Sonic Adventure 2]]''|file=Maria-What is it like on Earth.ogg}}
{{Quote2|Please, Shadow!  I need your help! My Grandfather's experiments... Something's gone horribly wrong! [...] The research lab... it's going to be destroyed! Something must be done! Please, Shadow, I beg you! Help grandfather and those aboard the ARK! PLEASE!|Maria begging Shadow to save the ARK from the [[Artificial Chaos]], ''[[Shadow the Hedgehog (game)|Shadow the Hedgehog]]''|file=ShTH Maria-Something's horribly wrong.ogg}}
{{Quote2|[[Shadow the Hedgehog|Shadow]], I beg of you... Please, do it for me... for a better future! For all [[Human|people]] who live on [[Earth|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 why you were brought into this world. Sayonara, Shadow... the Hedgehog.|Maria's last words during her sacrifice, ''[[Sonic Adventure 2]]''|file=SA2 Maria's last words.ogg}}
{{Quote2|Please, [[Shadow the Hedgehog|Shadow]]... I need your help! Everyone's fate depends on... YOU!|Maria's last words to [[Shadow the Hedgehog|Shadow]], ''[[Shadow the Hedgehog (game)|Shadow the Hedgehog]]''|file=ShtH Maria's last words.ogg}}
{{Quote2|Shadow, I believe in you.|Maria during the [[Expert Mode]] of [[The Last Way]], ''[[Shadow the Hedgehog (game)|Shadow the Hedgehog]]''|file=QuotMaria&Shadow.ogg}}
{{Quote2|Don't worry, [[Gerald Robotnik|grandfather]]. [[Shadow the Hedgehog|Shadow]] and I will protect [[Earth|this planet]]. Right, Shadow?|Maria promising to help Shadow protect Earth from the [[Black Arms]], ''[[Shadow the Hedgehog]]''}}
{{Quote2|Shadow will never serve [[Black Doom|you]]! He's nothing like you!|Maria expressing her faith in Shadow when Black Doom claims that Shadow will be his servant, ''[[Shadow Generations]]''}}
{{Quote2|[[Shadow the Hedgehog|You]] have a big heart. It may be difficult for you to express it, but I know that deep down, you really do care. About me. About everyone! What you do is what defines you. I know you're having a hard time finding answers, but I'm certain you will one day. Then, you'll find even more people you can trust.|Maria Robotnik, "[[Finding the Way]]"}}
{{Quote2|I believe in [[Shadow the Hedgehog|you]]. With your courage, you can do anything. And if you ever have trouble, you can always count on me to help you.|Maria assuring Shadow that he can find his place on Earth, ''[[Sonic X Shadow Generations: Dark Beginnings]]''}}

==Trivia==
*In the [[Nintendo GameCube|GameCube]] and [[PlayStation 2]] versions of ''[[Shadow the Hedgehog (game)|Shadow the Hedgehog]]'', Maria can be played by player 2 in the stages [[The Doom]] and [[Lost Impact]], where she can run at high speed and smash tough objects and enemies by slapping down on them.  She also can damage enemies by jumping into them, though it has to be very close. This is the only game in which she is playable. This in turn makes her the first playable female human in the ''Sonic'' series.
<gallery type="slideshow" widths="225">
SonicAdventure2 Maria.png|Maria's eyelashes in the [[Dreamcast]] version.
SonicAdventure2Battle Maria.png|Maria's eyelashes in the [[GameCube]] port.
</gallery>
*In the original [[Dreamcast]] version of ''[[Sonic Adventure 2]]'', Maria had lengthy eyelashes. In ''[[Sonic Adventure 2: Battle]]'' and all subsequent appearances, they were removed.
*Maria's name is the password for both activating Shadow the Hedgehog and accessing the ARK's files about Project Shadow. The password is formatted as "Ma-Ri-A" because of Japanese phonetics (matching the katakana for her name "マリア").
*In ''Sonic Adventure 2: Battle'', a narrator with Maria's voice can be unlocked by getting all 180 [[emblem]]s in the game. It can be bought in [[Chao World]]'s [[Black Market]] for 30,000 [[Ring]]s. In the original Dreamcast version of ''Sonic Adventure 2'', it was a VMU download that was available on the game's official website.
*The song that played during Maria's flashback scenes in ''Sonic Adventure 2'' and ''Sonic Adventure 2: Battle'' was an instrumental mix of "[[Throw It All Away]]", Shadow's theme in the game.
[[File:Lego Maria and Shadow.png|thumb|right|The Lego versions of Maria and Shadow.]]
*In the [[Lego]] set 76999 "Super Sonic vs. Egg Drillster", one of the parts included depicts Lego versions of Maria and Shadow. It is used for the screen of Dr. Eggman's computer.
*A character called Marie from another [[Sega]] game, called ''Rhythm Thief & the Emperor's Treasure'', has a similar design to Maria.
*In the original Japanese version of ''Sonic Adventure 2'', a gunshot can be heard before the flashback scene of Shadow being put in the capsule indicating that she was shot. In the English version, no gunshot is heard, but Shadow still screams "MARIA!" like she was hurt. When selecting Japanese voices in the North American and European releases, the gunshot can still be heard.
*In ''[[Team Sonic Racing]]'', one of the [[Performance Part]]s for the [[Dark Reaper]] is named "Maria's Boon".
*During the third part of the Sonic [[Wikipedia:Twitter|X]] Takeover viral marketing campaign for ''[[Sonic Forces]]'', one of the questions directed to Shadow was asking how Maria was, with both Eggman and Sonic being wary of answering that question, and Shadow giving a veiled threat to the sender in response.<ref>[https://youtu.be/hatZevmrNT8?t=622 Sonic Twitter Takeover 3 - All Answers (Sonic, Shadow and Eggman)#@Mudkip Captain]</ref>
*[[Takashi Iizuka]] said if Maria was still alive today, she would have been older than [[Doctor Eggman|Dr. Eggman]].<ref name="Info">{{Cite web|url=https://x.com/JKT_sonic/status/1771490357559119899?t=o2Jq8p577yuTzqNqjaOfpA&s=19|title=율링(ユリン) {{C|@JKT_sonic}} on X|publisher=율링(ユリン) {{C|@JKT_sonic}}|work=X|date=23 March 2024|accessdate=23 March 2024}}</ref>
*Prior to ''Sonic x Shadow Generations'', it was assumed that Maria Robotnik was born on the ARK due to her asking Shadow what Earth life is like in a manner that indicated she never personally experienced the planet. In the Japanese version of the scene, she was actually asking Shadow's opinion of the planet specifically. This was given a bit of a nod in Gerald Robotnik's Journal where he explained she lived on the ARK long enough that some of the staff assumed she was born on the ARK.

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}
{{Doctor Eggman}}
{{Sonic game characters}}
{{Adventure 2 info}}
{{Shadow info}}
{{Shadow Generations info}}
[[de:Maria Robotnik]]
[[es:Maria Robotnik]]
[[fr:Maria Robotnik]]
[[lt:Marija Robotnik]]
[[nl:Maria Robotnik]]
[[pl:Maria Robotnik]]
[[pt-br:Maria Robotnik]]
[[ru:Мария Роботник]]
[[uk:Марія Роботнік]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Robotnik, Maria}}
[[Category:Family of Doctor Eggman]]
[[Category:Females]]
[[Category:Heroes]]
[[Category:Humans]]
[[Category:Playable characters]]