Neither! Mari was found in an abandoned laboratory that had been using Shadow and Sonic's DNA for genetic testing. There's a little bit of Silver's as well due to an anomaly the group hasn't been able to find and solve (And honestly they kinda don't want to since it might erase Mari completely from the timeline) She's been being raised by mostly Shadow with help and care from Sonic too.
Things have taken a bad turn in the roleplay regarding the android... (More context and reading under the readmore!)
The realization that this was one of the stray Shadow androids changed things. Sonic knew how these creations were at times. Usually cold, unrelenting, and with no personality to themselves at all. They were essentially made to be a kind of cannon fodder a long time ago, but Sonic had no idea they were capable of everything he'd seen over the past couple days. This one seemed like it showed a genuine sense of care for Mari and Sonic, it was so kind and gentle with them. Sonic still had his guard up, but now he had questions…
"Why are you here? What's the point of sneaking in while the real Shadow's been gone? We have no emeralds or anything else you'd want."
"I was supposed to retrieve an emerald you had." The android sighed and shook its head. "But things changed. I no longer want to steal from you. Well, not an emerald anyway." It reached out to touch Sonic's hand and carefully held it. "I want this life Shadow has with you and Mari."
"Woah woah, back up!" Sonic took a step back, but didn't take his hand away yet. "I'm only interested in Shadow, the real Shadow. Not you. But do you actually want to have a good life? I mean, that's something I can help you with. You don't need to go chasing after what Shadow has. And you definitely don't need to keep working for Eggman. Maybe me and Mari can help…"
The android watched carefully, and as Sonic talked, it started feeling… hopeful? As much as it wanted this life with Sonic and Mari, the real Shadow would be coming back eventually. And it knew it probably couldn't live up to the strength Shadow had to overtake him. If it couldn't have what was here, then maybe a real life with someone else, maybe with friends, and maybe-
A loud crack of thunder sounded through the building as a chaos spear was launched across the apartment and lodged completely through the androids chest. Sonic jumped away in shock and looked over in time to see Shadow warping over to grab the android. "Shadow wait!!"
Shadow, the real Shadow, turned with a fierce glare pointed directly at Sonic. His grip on the android's neck tightened as he observed the apartment. Pancake batter in a bowl on the counter, a sizeable dent in the wall of his weapons vault that had set off the silent alarm in his communicator, and not a single sign of any further struggle. All signs pointed to the fact that this android did not enter his home by force.
"You let this thing in here!?"
"No! No I- we didn't know it wasn't you! We-"
"Do not rope Mari into your screw up!" Shadow flung the android down and advanced on Sonic. "You let an android into my home, you let it get close to Mari! You know what these things are capable of!"
Sonic stood his ground, brow lowered in frustration at Shadow. "I'm serious, we didn't know it wasn't you! It acted just like you do!"
"Bullshit!"
"I'm telling the truth!"
"Do you have any idea how much danger Mari was in with that thing in here!?"
"Stop calling it that!"
"That's all it is! An object! Did you seriously let yourself get fooled by appearances alone!?"
"No!" Sonic let out a frustrated noise and shook his head. "It acted just like you! Same voice, same attitude, just… Just more like you on your good days."
Shadow's quills were rattling with how flared they were from his rage. He couldn't believe that Sonic allowed something like this to happen. These androids were only ever meant to be weapons, and Shadow knew how dangerous they were. He snarled and reached up to try smoothing his quills to keep calm, but it didn't help. "I cannot leave you alone for five minutes without something stupid happening! Just what do you mean by me on 'good days' anyway?"
Sonic sighed and shrugged as he looked back at the android. "I dunno, just… Vulnerable, with no walls. I thought maybe something went wrong on your mission. I- I really thought it was… you…" He looked back to Shadow, now clearly wearing an expression of regret and embarrassment with how his ears laid back.
Shadow raised an eyebrow at the sudden change in demeanor from Sonic. Why did he look so scared, and guilty…? He glanced to the android, then slowly looked back to Sonic. "… Did you sleep with it?"
Sonic's eyes widened, but he stayed uncharacteristically quiet.
That reaction was clearly the wrong one, because the next thing that happened was Sonic getting grabbed and slammed into the tile floor.
"Is it not enough that I let you fuck around all you like!? I grant you more freedom than anyone else would let you have, and you couldn't draw the line at a damn fake!?"
"I didn't know!"
"You knew something was different and you did nothing to confirm it was even me!? You think a glorified walking computer is just the same as the real person in front of you now!?"
"No!"
The air around Shadow crackled with static as his rage intensified. The mark on his back opened with gnashing teeth as he pressed his hand down with more force on Sonic's chest. "Was it better!? Is that what you want me to be!? You want me to just be vulnerable, soft, weak!? Am I supposed to just forgive you and pretend this never happened!?"
Sonic knew he'd fucked up big time, but he wasn't expecting Shadow to get this upset. He grabbed Shadow's arm and kicked him off, then sped to the other side of the apartment to get out of the way of Shadow's next punch. Dodging Shadow was already a tough task, but right now it was almost impossible. But Sonic couldn't keep this going in front of Mari. She'd already seen enough.
"You don't have to forgive me!" He narrowly missed a swipe from Shadow's claws and dashed for the patio door just as Shadow tackled him, and both fell from the building.
With both of them gone, the apartment was suddenly very quiet, save for the occasional spark from a broken wire inside the android. By now, a small puddle of oil had started to pool underneath it from severed lines. It sat up against the wall beside the front door, looking down at the spear in its chest. It looked sad, with drooped ears and a frown on its muzzle. Whatever Sonic wanted for its future was likely not happening now. Which was a shame, it had been looking forward to more nice things…
