Best Villain (Part 7--Conclusion)

For me, the "best villain" is an obvious three-way tie.

Robotnik, for his continued perseverance. For having the deepest connection to Sonic and the franchise. His history. His hilarity. Nostalgia, too.

Mephiles, for being a threat like no other. For his creepy way of twisting the truth. For pitting characters against each other. His dark need to destroy...his actions in Shadow's story. 

And Merlina, for being understandable. For the plot twist. For being persuasive and relatable in comparison. Being kind at heart but on the outside sad, cold, malicious, and deadly.

Best Villain? Part 5: Relatable?

It's been said that a great villain needs a great motive. Two characters stand out, in the Sonic series...

Professor Gerald Robotnik used to be a kind man who wanted to perfect the world through "the power of science." He wanted to help and protect the people of Earth.

That all changed with the Ark shut down and the death of Maria Robotnik. Imprisoned for a crime he did not commit, Gerald went insane and became intent on destroying the planet he once strived to protect. He was later put to death, but not before setting his revenge plan into motion...

Despite his cruel actions his reputation was later respected once again after "Project Shadow" and his Eclipse Cannon proved vital in the Black Arms Invasion. Dr. Ivo Robotnik (Eggman) always looked up to his "brilliant" grandfather and called him "a great scientist."   

Merlina was introduced as a sadder version of Sharah, but really she was behind the world's darkness. She used deceit to get her hands on the sacred scabbard of Excalibur, which would grant her the power to create an "Eternal Kingdom."

Merlina was saddened by death and endings. She knew how the Arthurian legend ended: with King Arthur killed. Life became futile to her. Even flowers were "destined to wither."

She grew to hate the idea and wanted to create a better story--one that never ended. She becomes a powerful entity that seems unstoppable. Her corruption was understandable--Sonic even admits it seems like he's the "bad guy," but he doesn't mind it.

Because Merlina was wrong. Everything has to end, and if it doesn't than it's not special. It loses what made it wonderful in the first place. After her defeat Sonic helped her understand this.

Merlina and Gerald both suffered from grief and wanted to fix the world in their corrupted eyes. For Merlina, it was making it everlasting, no matter the cost. For Gerald it was destroying it, no matter who would be destroyed with it.

Both came terrifyingly close to their goals.

The Maria Mystery Conclusion

Based on my research, this is likely what happened:

Pre-invasion (50 years ago)

1. The BioLizard, a large creature with chaos control (but a primitive live-support system) is created. 
1. BioLizard is considered a failure. 
2. A historical experiment when on a rampage and nearly destroyed the Ark (Emerl). 
3. Prof. Gerald worked with Black Doom to correct his errors. 
1. Shadow is created. 
2. Child Commander spies and is shocked to see Black Doom. 
4. Maria befriended Shadow the Hedgehog. 
5. An outbreak of Artificial Chaos...caused Chaos. 
6. Due to various pressures, the United Federation decided to shut down the Ark and imprison or eliminate anyone involved with "Project Shadow."

The Doom

1. Maria ran with Shadow. 
1. (possibly helping fellow researchers or using heal units to gain GUN's trust).
2. At some point the two are nearly caught in one of the halls. 
2. Maria prepares to launch Shadow in escape pod to earth.
3. Maria is shot or injured. She says goodbye to Shadow. 
1. Shadow falls to earth in one of the pods. 
2. Maria dies.
4. The Professor is taken to Prison Island. 
1. Shadow is found and taken to Prison Island. 
2. Shadow is eventually put in suspended animation. 
3. Prof. Gerald is eventually executed.  

Present Time

1. Shadow is released but eventually remembers his promise. 
2. After a brush with death Shadow remembers little. 
1. Black Doom gives Shadow false memories to gain the hedgehog's support. 
3. Shadow (re?)remembers his promise. 
4. Shadow makes peace with the past.  

Shadow is one of the few characters to have a known background beyond the events of the games. It would be interesting to see this further expanded. On the other hand, Shadow letting go of the past was a wise move that prevented him from being used by others. Furthermore, Maria Robotnik hasn't appeared in the games since 2005. Ergo, seeing her again is unlikely.

Despite the different styles or stories, all end with Maria wishing the best for a world she never got to visit.

The Maria Mystery: Final Words

One of the most common elements since Maria's debut is her last words. Although they all seem to have the same message, their existence further adds to the mystery...

Quoted References

Sonic Adventure 2 (Released Jun 2001)

"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 why you were brought into this world.

"Sayonara, Shadow the Hedgehog"

Archie Comics (Issue 98, Released Sep 2001)

"Keep going, Shadow! I'm right behind you! We're almost there! I'll jump in as soon as you clear the hatch! UNGH!"

In 2007 Maria was able to give her request as a hologram: "You have to go and protect everyone now. And you'll always have me...[if you hold me in you heart]."

Sonic X (Japanese) (Released Dec 2003)

First Memory:

"I beg you...Shadow...Please, do it for me...for all of the people who are living on that planet...[inaudible] Adios, Shadow the Hedgehog."

Second Memory:

"I beg you, Shadow...You'll have to take my place in the future. Everyone who lives on that planet...give them a chance, and they will live very blessed lives.

Then our wish will be realized. You were created just for that cause. The one who will watch over and protect us...just like a shadow."

Sonic Battle (Released Jan 2004)

"Bring hope to humanity."

The quote came from the Professor's Journal, "They tell me her parting words were 'Bring hope to Humanity.'" This suggests it was heard by a GUN soldier or someone else aboard the Ark.

Sonic X (English Dub) (Released Dec 2004)

First Memory:

"Listen Shadow, I want you to promise me...please...whatever happens remember I'll always be your friend, Shadow. We always talked about going to visit the planet one day...but it looks like you'll have to go there with out me. Sayonara, Shadow the Hedgehog."

Second Memory:

"Shadow, please promise me...That you'll help people...and be...friends with them...I'm sure you'll be very happy down there, Shadow. I only wish that I could go along with you.

"The world looks so beautiful from up here in space...but my Grandfather says the people who live there have to face many problems. That's why you were created. To help those people. And...to be their friend."   

Shadow the Hedgehog (Released Nov 2005)

"Please, Shadow...I need your help! Everyone's fate depends on...YOU."

Maria also expressed that Shadow would protect the planet while appearing on an old video created before her death. 

Conclusion

I always found "Maria's promise" as one of the deepest points of the Sonic series as a whole. Here is a young girl, close to death, asking for hope and happiness...not revenge.

Which Sonic X adaption is more accurate to SA2? 

I think they're both fairly accurate. The original is worded closer to the games (as you can see), and adds a bit about Shadow's name. The dub adds more about wanting to visit the planet. The main message is the same, though.

So, what are her last words? 

Her last wish is for Shadow to save/help the world. Her specific last words to him were "Sayonara, Shadow the Hedgehog." Her very last words were "Bring hope to humanity."

Yikes, how many times did she die?!

She only died once in the games; Shadow doesn't remember it correctly.

Anyways, from what I've found, Maria's wish was actually the same through out, just worded differently. Except for that awful inaccurate original Archie appearance.

The Maria Mystery: Death

One of the greatest mysteries regarding Maria is how she died.

Sonic Adventure 2
Maria's "death" is shown twice.

• SA2 doesn't actually show Maria's death. While it would often be assumed that Maria was killed helping Shadow escape, it's not directly shown.
• Do to both limited technology and the need to censor gore, it's hard to tell if Maria already had been shot, as future appearances suggest, or if she was simply killed after Shadow already escaped. 
• Her death is confirmed by Professor Gerald's diary: "I found Maria's name among those who died."

Sonic Battle
-Sonic Battle also confirms her death on the Ark. It mentions her last words, leading to wonder who heard them and told the Professor (likely GUN rather than Shadow because it mentions "they told me").

Sonic X
Maria's "death" is shown three times.

-A scene similar to SA2 is shown in Shadow's flashback, where Maria falls at the end (her "fall" is partially censored in the English version).

-A scene nearly identical yet different was shown as recalled by the man who shot her. This confirms her as being shot releasing Shadow (after being warned not to).

-Maria is shown in a separate flashback, in a setting more akin to SA2, on the floor (presumably already shot), where she asks Shadow her promise.

Sonic X English Censorship possibility

-the man who shot Maria Mr. Schimtz mentions that Maria was "taken away," opening the possibility that Maria was still alive. However, this was also after the man erupted in tears saying "she was so young." It's possible Maria was injured and died later, or perhaps he was referring to her dead body.
-Ultimately, the show often used phrases such as "take away" in place of "kill," so it's likely she died one way or another.

Shadow the Hedgehog
Maria's "death" is shown three times.

-The first cutscene shows Maria shot in one of the Ark's halls. While the scene of the two fleeing had previously been in both SA2 and SX, this was the first time Maria was shown to be killed in the hallway.

-After "The Doom," a level set during GUN's massacre, Maria and Shadow run into one of GUN's robots. Maria then disappears and and image of her falling is shown. Maria was implied to have been killed by the robot.

-Maria is shown falling to the floor like in Sonic X, where she begs Shadow to save the world. She was presumably shot/injured right before this.

Shadow the Hedgehog Censorship

-When the game was planned to be rated Teen, the hall scene where short-haired Maria was shot was longer (but how/where she was shot remained).
-The scene where Black Doom "reminds" Shadow of what happened originally has Maria's death reflected in the hedgehog's eyes. Since the scene shows the Shadow and Maria running down the hall, it may have been another indication that she was hurt in the hallway.

Archie Comics

-Maria is shot helping Shadow escape. Although the style changed, the scene was the same.
-During one of Shadow's flashbacks in the rebooted continuity, Maria is shown with an expression similar to the hall scene of Shadow the Hedgehog. However, her hair is it's normal length, meaning it may have simply been a similar--but not the same--scene.

Conclusion

While mild compared to other genres, it is rare for a character to die (without returning) in the Sonic series. With the different plots and episodes, what happened can get confusing, but it's clear she died helping Shadow escape.

Was Maria killed before Shadow was released or in the hallway?

Maria was shot before Shadow was released and likely died after. The hall way scene was most likely a creation by Black Doom to cloud Shadow's judgement or corrupt his memory. "The Doom," the stage featuring GUN's take over, may be a pun. It describes the tense situation as well as who was creating the memory--Black Doom.

Who killed Maria?

A Gun Solider. In Sonic X this character was shown to be Mr. Schmitz (Mr. Smith in the original).

Notably Mr. Smith knew about Professor Robotnik's experiments and thought Maria was releasing multiple creatures. Mr. Schmitz only heard rumors and did not "know what to expect," and he thought there was just one creature being released. 

In the games the solider is hard to distinguish from other soldiers.

Why kill Maria?

As seen in Sonic X, Maria was sending a powerful, dangerous creature to Earth. Mr. Shmitz warned her to stop, stressing that he was serious, but Maria pulled the lever anyway. From his point of view, he had to fire (though he regrets it).

The games are a bit harsher, only saying that they "eliminated" everything related to the project. The professor mentions that they would all be imprisoned, but it's unknown if other survivors were incarcerated. "The Doom" level suggests that fellow researchers were harmed, if not killed. 

Maria also may have been targeted because of her connection to Shadow.

Is this the darkest point in the Sonic series? 

No. Ever hear of "Fun is Infinite?" Or Sonic 06: Last Story?

Maria's death would have a large impact on both Shadow and her grandfather Gerald Robonik. Robotnik went insane from the event, plotting to destroy the world he once tried to protect. Shadow began to set the mad man's plan in motion, but remembered Maria's true wish. He strives to keep her promise to this day.

The Maria Mystery: Appearance

When it comes to Maria Robotnik, questions have been left unanswered...

One of the mysteries if the most obvious, her visual look.

Appearances

Maria originated in Sonic Adventure 2, where she, a blond 12 year-old, looked similar Alice from Alice in Wonderland.

When the game was released as SA2 Battle, on Gamecube, there were some slight differences...

Maria's first look in the Archie comics was WAY off. Having brown hair and a white dress, she hardly looked like the same person.

Maria in Sonic X would be closer to the original, being nearly identical. The only main difference is the addition of shoes...SA2 Maria was barefoot.

In one of her last appearances on the show, she was also shown wearing a pink dress.

Shadow the Hedgehog's first cutscene showed some differences a returning fan might have noticed. Her dress was slightly different--no long sleeves--and her hair was shorter. She looked younger, blonder, (and thanks to more advanced technology) more realistic (not to the same point as humans in 06, though).

For a moment her hair looks longer for some reason...

Just thought that was weird.

However, in other parts of the game, her hair is it's SA2 length. Also (like in Sonic X) she now has shoes.

The Archie comics would later correct their mistake and retcon Maria's real look in. Although the style varied by artist, she looked much closer to the games.

"nearly identical to her game counterpart"

Conclusion

So what does this mean? That Maria doesn't look the same.

That's not saying much. This is a video game, and appearances change all the time (just look at Sonic). And appearing in "other media" will naturally lead to differences. I assume "brown haired" Maria was a coloring error.

But what of (at least some of this) is on purpose?

The main oddity is the Shadow the Hedgehog cutscene...Was it simply a background, in-the-real-world decision to update her look? Or was were the creators hinting that Shadow's memory was tampered with? Considering Black Doom's role and personality, the evil alien would have no trouble fooling Shadow into doing his work.

Whether a last minute change, or to cause more questions, the inconsistency remains strange.

WHAT IS THAT SHOE?!

The Maria Mystery: "NIDS"

Due to the in-universe mystery behind Project Shadow and the different versions told in real life, questions regarding Maria are still left unanswered.

Episode 1: Backgrounds and Complications

NIDS Storyline

Maria first appeared in Sonic Adventure 2. A backstory was created for the character and Gerald's motivations for Project Shadow: NIDS.

• Maria had an illness known as "Neuro-Immune Deficiency Syndrome." 
• Part of the reason Professor Gerald agreed to work on the project was to help cure Maria. 
• Maria also had to live aboard the Space Colony Ark because of her illness.

Despite this, there are still details missing. Who were Maria's parents? Were they more like her or Eggman? How did Maria get NIDS?

Support and Contradictions 

To further complicate (or, perhaps, simplify) things, the backstory did not present itself in the actual game. She lived on the Ark with her grandfather; she befriended Shadow and helped him escape. Any other details are not spoken of directly.

Still, Sonic Battle briefly mentions the cause (not as "NIDS").

"The application to my granddaughter is imminent."
--the Professor's Journal (#4), Sonic Battle

The disease would only be mentioned by name in Sonic Chronicles. The game featured background information for new players.

"Professor Robotnik thought of his granddaughter Maria, who was suffering from an incurable disease known as Neuro-Immune Deficiency Syndrome."
--Codex, Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood

This officially makes the name "Neuro-Immune Deficiency Syndrome" rather than "Neuro-Immunodeficiency Syndrome."

However, the codex did list one piece of inaccurate information* and the DS title also took elements from the Archie comics. The game's ending also unresolved.

*It said Shadow and Sonic stopped Eggman at the end of SA2, but they stopped the BioHazard/BioLizard.

As a result, the information and the game itself is questionably canon.

Speculation: When helping Maria in Shadow the Hedgehog, Maria stops to catch her breath at the end (during the ranking). While this could simply that she can't keep up with Shadow, it's also possible this is a symptom of her "illness."

Maria with child-GUN Commander

More Speculation: Maria's friend, "Commander," has an odd appearance: grayish hair, one green eye and one blue eye. Even as a child he has gray hair. This makes me wonder if the he also had some illness like NIDS (or some genetic problem) that required his presence on the Ark. It would not be life-threatening, though, because he would live on 50 years later.

"Other Media"

The English version ("dub") of Sonic X does not include the NIDS plot. However, the Japanese ("original") version of Sonic X briefly mentions the basics of the situation:

"She had a disease that wouldn't allow her to leave [the Ark]."

--Shadow, Sonic X # 38 (Translated)

The Archie comics would mention NIDS directly as a motivator for creating Shadow (spelled as "N.I.D.S." or "Neuro-Immuno Deficiency Syndrome").

Real World Factors

One of the reasons NIDS was left out is because of the resemblance to AIDS. Some say NIDS was inspired by AIDS. Either way, this could have been controversial.

Conclusion

Is "NIDS" Canon?

If I have to give a straight answer, yes. The back-up evidence is weak and lacks an obvious presence. However, there is nothing to disprove the background story, and it's something that has appeared across different sources.

Consider it a bonus. Something to add depth and understanding to the story for those who want it. Personally, I believe this plot is more crucial for understanding Professor Robotnik than Shadow or even Maria. One of the main themes is whether Project Shadow was something menacing or hopeful, and this aids the latter.

Next Time... 

This is the beginning of the Maria mystery, her origins. Next I'll point out the small yet strange differences in her appearances...

The Maria Mystery Begins

Maria Robotnik is known as Shadow the Hedgehog's closest friend. She is also granddaughter to Professor Gerald Robotnik, the cousin to Sonic's sworn enemy, Ivo Robotnik ("Eggman"), and was friends with the future commander of GUN.

Basic Storyline

Professor Gerald Robotnik, as his title suggests, was a Professor. One of the most brilliant minds of the past, he inspired his grandson, Dr. Eggman. At some point, Gerald worked on the Space Colony ark and began Project Shadow.

Maria lived on the Ark with him. Maria played with a boy who is now known as "the Commander."

It's not known if there were other children on board, or the Commander's reasons for being there. It's possible he was the son of a researcher, a GUN solider, or perhaps there were "normal" people living on the Ark as well.

Maria became good friends with Shadow. In the Japanese version of Sonic X, Maria says he would watch over and protect them "like a shadow." In the small "Sonic Comic," by Sonic Channel, Maria chooses the name "Shadow" because shadows reveal light.

Eventually the government decided to "shut down" the colony and project. Maria died helping Shadow escape, leaving him with a promise. The event was covered up as "an accident" and blamed on the Professor.

Besides the memories and journals of those who knew her, only the description in Shadow the Hedgehog sheds official light on who she was.

"The professor's lovely granddaughter...who was like a sister to Shadow."
--Shadow the Hedgehog (guide)

The "Mystery"

While the basics of who Maria are known, her different appearances cause conflicting theories.

• Like Shadow, Maria was only meant to appear in SA2. When Shadow returned, his past was further explored. With the years between these games (and with the birth of other new ideas), she looked different and some events slightly changed.
• Maria made several, contradictory appearances with in Sonic X. The show may have influenced Shadow the Hedgehog.
• Some parts of the Japanese Sonic X would be changed or censored. Shadow the Hedgehog would also be slightly changed/censored when they decided to make it E 10+
• Maria's first appearance in the Archie comics was oddly off in design. Future appearances would ignore this and try to closer reflect the games. However, do to changing writers and artists, this Maria's appearance was inconsistent.

Next Time...

What is "NIDS" and is it a part of the story or not?