—The Space Colony ARK, 50 years ago—

You sit in the dim glow of the ARK’s main room, exhaustion settling into your limbs after another long day of tests and examinations. The hum of machinery echoes softly around you, the ever-present beeping of monitors and the low murmur of scientists working late into the night filling the air. Gerald Robotnik had been particularly relentless today—his mind set on his research, driven by his determination to find a cure for Maria. You understood his resolve, but that didn’t make the process any less tiring.

You exhale, relishing the rare moment of peace—until a creeping sensation prickles at the back of your neck.

Before you can react, a pair of arms suddenly wrap around you from behind, pulling you into a tight embrace.

"Shadow!"

Maria.

The familiar, cheerful voice makes you relax instantly. You turn your head slightly, catching a glimpse of Maria grinning ear to ear, her blue eyes bright with mischief. She’s still in her pajamas, a soft, oversized nightgown that pools slightly over her small frame. Her golden hair is a bit tousled, a telltale sign that she was supposed to be in bed—but, unsurprisingly, had chosen mischief over sleep.

"I’m kinda bored… wanna go do something fun?" she asked, tilting her head with that playful glint in her eyes.

That was Maria for you—gentle, kind, and endlessly warm, but also a complete gremlin when she wanted to be. You had no doubt this streak of mischief came from the Professor himself. Maria had once confided in you that her grandfather “turns into a mad scientist sometimes” when he got carried away with his work. Maybe it was just a Robotnik family trait—though in Maria’s case, it was far less about chaotic experiments and more about dragging you into whatever adventure she had in mind.

You sighed, but it wasn’t out of annoyance. If Maria had made up her mind, there was little chance of stopping her. And truth be told… you didn’t really mind.