Shadow and Rutan had just arrived at the house in which they lived. It was a small hut that was in the middle of a vast forest very far from the city. The hedgehog and echidna lived together for eight months in this very peaceful place where no one has bothered since his stay there.

Flashback

Rutan had left home after having a heated argument with Dimitri. But he did not plan to leave things well and left without a place to go. He could not get a job to earn some money and buy food, so he had no choice but to steal in supermarkets without anyone noticing.

One night while wandering through the forest, starving and without energy to continue, was surprised by a group of policemen. He tried to flee but were too many and the missing energy could not escape them; so they managed to catch when they pushed him doing it hit the ground. What they were looking for they had heard that he was who stole food from supermarkets and were going to go to prison.

When they got up and began to wear away, suddenly there was a shadow in front of everyone and launched an attack which caused a large cloud of smoke. When everything was back to normal and the mysterious Rutan be gone. The police began to review the entire perimeter, but found no trace of them.

Far away, the mysterious being and the echidna had appeared in a cabin. Both were safe from the police.

"Thanks for helping" Rutan told him their savior, who was wearing a hood covering his face.

"Not at all" said to be getting off his hood, revealing that it was the Ex-King Shadow.

The echidna is surprised to see him, for he had not heard of the black hedgehog occurred since the coup in which he had been dethroned.

"It's you! How did you know I needed help?" Rutan asked.

"I've been following you since the day you left your house" said Shadow.

"Why? You were spying on me?".

"No. I was in a building near your house watching the moon when suddenly I heard that you were yelling at Dimitri not want anything from him and that you could take care of yourself".

"So you decided to follow me?".

"Yes. But the reason is because I followed Dimitri asked me, as he is very worried about you. He asked me to protect you"

"That old fool worried about me after what happened?".

"He knew that if I let you just going to end up worse than they already are right now. He wanted you to have a guide at your life so you're better person and so when he learned that I had returned, he asked me to me. "

"Why you?".

"Look, when I was released from my prison I released Tikhaos in Kingdom of Acorn and see how destroying the entire city I realized what I had done wrong in the past. That's when I decided to be a better person and help whoever needed. Therefore Dimitri asked me to be your guide. If you knew it has changed a lot in your absence".

"I see, but despite that I will not forgive him".

"Well, that's your decision. And tell me, why were stealing food from supermarkets?".

"I had no money for food, so I had no choice".

"Life is very hard for someone who does not plan anything ahead".

"Yes, I learned that lesson. But now I have another problem. Such insurance police are looking me right now and I have to go, and I will not go back home".

"You could stay and live here with me. This cabin is very spacious for the two. I could tell Dimitri you're here".

"I dunno, I think I really do not like this environment".

"If you want you can go, but this time I'm not going to save the police".

"Well, okay I'll stay. But only because I have to go. Not yet relied heavily on you".

"As you wish".

Suddenly one from the echidna stomach rumble was heard.

"Are you hungry?" asked the hedgehog.

"Yes. I have not eaten anything all day".

Shadow took some apples from a small fridge and gave them to Rutan to eat. This took them and started eating the fast.

Over time the two became good friends until he reached a point where they began having a relationship of father and son.

End of Flashback

"I still can not believe that Salma is dead. If I had been there at that moment she would still be alive" said the echidna.

"Rutan must stop thinking about what could have happened. I know what you feel, because I also lost a dear person over fifty years ago" said the black hedgehog.

"I know, Shadow. Since you told me many times in the past eight months. But apart from that I also feel a little sad for my aunt and my cousin".

"That surprises me about you. You told me you did not have much contact with Julie-Su and Lara-Su you had a bad relationship".

"Yes, but I ended up discovering that deep down wanted them to both after all".

"Those feelings come to light when it is too late".

"Good. I'll prepare lunch. What do you want to eat?".

"Anything. Anything would help cheer me up".

"Wait ten minutes and I'll bring your lunch. As you can read one of the books that are on the table".

The echidna reached out, took one of the books and began to read.

...

Tikal was a stranger to her place or at least in those moments when he remembered nothing. It was in front of an altar on which there was a giant emerald green. Around the altar there were seven pillars on which each had a small emerald colored differently.

"Where am I? This place is very familiar to me. But I do not recall ever been here".

Suddenly came flying toward her a group of small blue creatures who were very happy to see her.

The orange echidna approached creatures and told them as they stroked their heads "What cute are you all".

The creatures were made happy and started saying repeatedly "Chao, Chao". Then they started to fly up to the large emerald.

Tikal went upstairs and saw the creatures revolved around the emerald while laughing.

Suddenly a female voice was heard saying "The servers are the seven Chaos... Chaos is power, enriched by the heart".

"That phrase. That phrase is...".

Orange echidna awoke suddenly. Had only been a dream, but it seemed so real. He sat on the bed trying to remember what had just dreaming. He wondered which could mean everything.

Suddenly the bedroom door opened and in came a viper red.

"That's good. Now wake up. How do you feel?" Knuckles asked.

"I feel great. Thank you Mr. Knuckles" said Tikal.

"No need to call me Mr. Call me only by my name. I do not like formalities".

Suddenly there came another red echidna the room carrying a tray in his hands.

"Tikal, want you to meet my brother. His name is Knecapeon Mace, but everyone called Kneecaps" Knuckles said.

"Nice to meet you" Kneecaps said.

"My pleasure" Tikal said.

"We brought a soup" said the brothers.

"Thanks a lot".

"For now only you could bring this. When our friends Vector and Espio return from shopping to handle them will bring something more" Kneecaps said.

"Do not worry. That's fine. I do not want to burden" Tikal said.

"Do not say that, you're not a burden. You rather our guest" Knuckles said.

Knuckles and Tikal had an exchange of views and a slight blush came to see the girl's cheeks, which Kneecaps noticed.

The orange echidna back to reality without knowing he had just happened in those seconds that finished crossing.

Kneecaps approached and passed the tray with the soup to his brother.

"Tikal, the soup is very hot, so be careful to drink it" Knuckles said as he handed a spoon.

"I'll".

After six minutes Tikal soup was finished and handed the plate and spoon Kneecaps, which left the room to wash both objects.

"So you want to continue lying in bed or get up a bit and prefer a walk to discover the kingdom" said the red echidna.

"I want to do the second thing" said orange echidna.

Knuckles helped Tikal to get out of bed. When the orange echidna took the first step to walk almost tripped, but the red echidna took her in his arms before she hit the ground. Upon seeing him so close to each other, both blushed slightly. But let those feelings aside quickly.

"Are you okay?".

"Yes. Please avoid my fall".

"Do not mention it. Well, let's take a walk, I'll be your guide".

"I'm very anxious, I want to see everything".

"Ok, let's go".

When both left the house, not realizing kneecaps was watching the whole time and began to smile at them together.

...

Vector and Espio were going towards the supermarket to buy things that Knuckles and Kneecaps had commissioned them. Both had met again with Charmy on the road and this was accompanying.

"I can not believe Tikal has returned to its normal form. I thought that this merger would be permanent" said the bee.

"I believed it too, but things went well" said the crocodile.

"Now the question is, How will all this happen?" Chameleon himself was said.

On the way to the supermarket three passed near the ruins of Castle of Mobius. Vector and Espio began to feel sad to recall that there were dead Argyle, Salma and Juanita; and that the funeral of them had been that same day in the morning.

Charmy saw them put his hands on the shoulders of his two friends and said "Do not be sad, because soon you will see that things will get better for you two. I have confidence in that".

The crocodile and chameleon turned around and smiled at the bee, as that phrase put in a good mood either.

They walked a few blocks while talking about various things that had happened in the past, he soon forgot about the tragedy.

"By the way Vector, those blows everywhere with you and Espio they are. This morning did not have them" said the bee.

"Say you had a confrontation with Knuckles and this was the result" said the crocodile.

"So who lost".

"Not at all. This time it was me who won".

"As if to believe that lie. Knuckles is stronger than you".

"I'm telling the truth, seriously".

"I'm not the same kid naive before. I am an adult and when you're lying".

"Vector Charmy this time was the one who won" said the chameleon.

"Wow, that's great" said the bee.

"Because if you believe it and not me" said the crocodile.

"For the simple reason that he has always been honest with everyone, not as 'other' I can mention" Charmy said.

"I've never lied" Vector said.

"What are you doing now" Espio said.

The crocodile decided to remain silent before they were to humiliate himself while discussing on the subject of honesty.

When they were one block from the supermarket, they heard a female scream that came from one of the alleys. The three came and saw five beings with black masks on the faces surrounding two rabbits (mother and daughter), a small blue creature and one magenta hedgehog with pink spikes.