#at least he kinda did have that arc in the Sonic X comic issue C:

[flingmetothemoon]

Idk if this video was already uploaded onto Tumblr yet or not or if the post no longer exists, but I'll still put it up here to be safe, this video is made by KeyBlack, AKA "The Artist Formerly Known as SquigglyDigg.".

-Genuinely unpopular opinion: I prefer the idea of Maria being Sonic's close friend in the past than Shadow's. Why? Simple. The idea of Shadow wanting to avenge the death of someone who loves earth and wants him to help humans BY hating humans and wanting to destroy their world not only makes zero sense, but it makes him come off as a manchild (or I should say "Hedgechild") who throws tantrums way out of disproportion even though he's supposed to be a sympathetic character. If Maria survived (she didn't, just saying if), how would she feel if someone who is like a brother to her came back to hate the very thing she loves and completely went against her wish? Sonic being friends with her makes PERFECT sense. It'll explain why he loves nature and exploring. Fans complain about his more relaxed and aloof sides in Sonic X (half of season 2 were anime adaptations of the Sonic Adventure games) but it makes sense to me because even when he doesn't directly remember the trauma, his body that grew up with wanting to be on earth still gives him an instinct to go off on his own and appreciate beauty and his brain might be telling him to isolate himself in case if he ever were to draw too close to people, the tragedy could possibly repeat itself. Poor Blue Blur, someone give him a hug! :C

Headcanon fuel time

-Sonic was a young hoglet when Gerald took him in to use him as a base for an Ultimate Lifeform. Gerald was busy working half the time, so Sonic spent more time with his granddaughter Maria. Sonic and Maria were each other's first close childhood friends (close enough that they considered each other siblings). One of their favorite games to play was tag because it was the best way to use up energy and bond. Gerald taught Maria how to invent so one day, Maria invented Sonic his own socks and red shoes when his preteen stage finished.

-About 50 years later, Eggman found a deep-frozen body of Sonic in the deep depths of an -0 degree ocean and took him to South Island to thaw in hopes to find an opportunity to take his powers for world domination.

-When Sonic woke up from cryonics, he got amnesia and had to learn life skills again. Although he won't admit it, Sonic has self identity issues because he can't remember where he came from.

-Sonic regains his memories of his past in Space Colony ARK after the events of Sonic Adventure 2. When he gains memories of Maria, he becomes unusually depressed to the point that even his friends notice it (they're used to the upbeat and positive Sonic). He took the death of her very hard since losing Maria is like losing his sister.

And with that backstory in mind, maybe Shadow was actually Sonic's unborn brother/cousin! :O