The following day, around mid-morning, Shadow came around to Amy's cottage home and asked to see Tikal. He decided that the two were going to spend the day together again, which Amy had already been informed of when she presented the duo with a packed picnic. Tikal blushed as Amy pushed her out the door and said goodbye before Shadow took her by the hand and led her to his bike.
'This certainly is a lovely surprise, Shadow.' Tikal smiled.
'It's no big deal.' Shadow shrugged as he helped her onto the bike.
'It is to me. So where are we going today?' She asked as she wrapped her arms around his waist.
'You tell me?' He smirked, firing up the engine.
'Huh?'
'It's your turn to pick.'
Tikal was taken aback by Shadow's gesture, but was wracking her brain trying to think of somewhere they could go for the day. Well, she had one thought… but was it a good idea? The ebony hedgehog revved the engine a few times, waiting for a response, making the young echidna more and more nervous. She finally decided she trusted this boy, and she wanted to tell him everything.
'Alright, I have somewhere in mind. We can't take the bike all the way, though.' Tikal smiled.
'Ok then, show me the way.' Shadow smirked.
Tikal pointed down the dirt track and waited for the wind to brush through her pastel quills. She was getting used to the feel of holding onto Shadow as the pair sped down the tracks on his metallic beast. It wasn't exactly a short trip, so they spent maybe half an hour on the bike, speeding down the dirt tracks until they came to a patch of thick bushland.
Tikal dismounted the bike and grabbed the picnic before slowly walking up towards the bush. She couldn't stop staring, her eyes were glued to the trees. She felt tears welling up in her eyes as flashbacks from when she was younger came rushing back…
'What this, 'Mia?' A young village girl asked, pointed towards the thick scrub land. 'This, my darling, is a secluded part of the Forbidden Forest. You must promise me to never go in here or any other part of the Forbidden Forest, understand?' Nemia questioned her. 'Yes, 'Mia.' The young girl giggled and embraced him in a hug. 'It's very dangerous in there, Lolita. You would never want to go in there!' Tikal added. 'Oh no!' She shrieked. Nemia watched his daughter figure and the young tribe girl skip off back towards the tribe, talking about the forest as he turned back to face it. This area was dangerous and dark, but on the other side it was bright and brilliant, home to a royal Chao colony… which Tikal discovered soon after. No elders risked going through the forest, unsure of exactly what it may hold. Not just that, they did not wish to disturb the Chao colony in their peaceful gardens. Fortunately for Tikal, she was the only teenager in her tribe and knew she could easily get away with visiting the colony without getting caught. As the days went on, more and more often she visited the Chao colony and spent the majority of her days there. She was never allowed to show anyone of how she made it to the colony, fearful that evil may overtake the Chao and their ways. Little did she know that she would one day show it to someone. Someone she trusted… someone she was in love with. Wait… WHAT?!
'Oh, uh… no. On the other side.' Tikal snapped out of her thoughts and smiled slightly at him.
'Ok then, let's go.' The ebony hedgehog said as he walked forward, only to be tugged back.
'You have to promise me something.' Tikal said firmly.
'O-Ok?' Shadow said nervously.
'This is our secret. Where I'm showing you, has to be between us.' Tikal said, her grip tightening on him in fear.
'Promise.' Shadow smiled and squeezed her hand for reassurance.
Tikal gave him a small smile before the two began to traipse through the forest. Tikal led the way, making sure to go around her tribe. She knew how risky it was, but she wanted Shadow to see this… Ever since she began coming here, she made herself a track that led to the pond. Before they knew it, they came to a clearing which revealed a large pond surrounded by flowers and shrubs of all kinds.
'Holy crap.' Shadow said in awe.
'It's beautiful, isn't it?' Tikal giggled.
Shadow looked down to find five or six Chao hugging his feet before they flew up to Tikal's face and blew her kisses. She giggled and teased them on how she told them she would return to them. Shadow couldn't help but smile when they led her to the pond and began putting flowers in her hair. She turned around and gestured for her ebony companion to join her, who was now holding the basket.
'What is this place?' Shadow looked around as he began setting up the picnic.
'One of the last remaining Chao colonies on Mobius. My guess is Cream's Chao, cheese once belonged to a colony like this.' Tikal smiled.
'So I guess you're the only one that know about it, right?'
'Well, sort of. My… uh, family… know it's around here but don't know it's exact location. Other people suspect it's whereabouts but are usually wrong. But I'm not the only one that knows now.' Tikal giggled as she bravely placed her hand over Shadow's, stopping him from preparing the picnic.
They gazed into each other's eyes for a few seconds, allowing a blush to creep onto both of their face. They finally broke the tension with a giggle and continued to set up lunch. They began to nibble on some fruit and sandwiches, watching a few members of the Chao colony splash around in the water. Shadow couldn't remember the last time he had laughed this much, or if he had ever laughed this much to begin with.
Tikal stared in awe at the ebony and crimson hedgehog as he ate and watched the Chao play in the water before flying over to him and nuzzling into his fur. Tikal smiled, knowing this was a sign of trust and happiness. The eventually went back to the water and floated in the crystal clear liquid, soaking up the rays of the sun.
'What is it?' Shadow smiled, noticing Tikal staring at him.
'Oh, uh… Well,' Tikal stuttered, blushing furiously, 'you're just really sweet.'
'Gee, thanks. You're pretty cute yourself.' Shadow blushed back.
'Maybe I can trust you…' Tikal thought allowed.
'You can trust me with anything? What's on your mind?' Shadow shuffled closer, scoffing down the last of his sandwich.
'Oh, well…' Tikal snapped out of her audible thoughts, 'I was thinking maybe it's time I told you where I came from.'
'Ok then, shoot?' Shadow leaned back on his hands.
'Well, you have to keep an open mind.'
'I can do that.'
'Ok, have you ever heard of the Knuckles Clan legend? How the Chief commanded his soldier to go to war with chaos and it killed almost the entire clan?' Tikal began.
'Yeah, Chief Pachacamac. Something like four thousand years ago, his daughter sealed herself, Chaos and the remains of the clan away in the Master Emerald to save themselves from neighbouring countries and Chaos' wrath.'
'That's right. So you know how years later Chaos was awakened by-'
'Doctor Eggman. We know him all too well.' Shadow smirked.
'Right, so when Chaos was released the tribe members were led by the Chief's daughter into a secluded area of the planet and went into hiding.'
'Yeah, which is where they still are somewhere to this day, right?
'Well, the tribe is. The daughter…' Tikal trailed off.
'The daughter?' Shadow coaxed her.
'The daughter is sitting in front of you.'