Days of the Past

He stood there, still awestruck, still confused about what was occurring around him. He didn't know what to do, or what to think for that matter. All the echidnas which passed him, they were all as lively as could be. Smiling, laughing, talking with one another. They said hi to him, being sure to address him by his title. Starman. They weren't allowed to call him Shadow, only a select, rare, few. Millikan made that known the first time.

Tikal. This world's Tikal. The older woman who he found himself attracted too, was leading him off for an unknown destination. Her skirt was still swaying through the air, drawing him near to her. Deep down inside, the black and red hedgehog couldn't believe she was real. He thought that this was all a dream, or worse, a nightmare. He thought she wasn't real, just a ghost created by his overactive mind. To prove himself right, he touched her.

His hand fell on her shoulder, stopping her in her tracks. Tikal turned around, confusion in her blue eyes. She stared at him, wondering why he had stopped her so suddenly. He could only stare into her wonderful angelic face in awe. He wanted to say something, but he couldn't say anything. The warmth he felt as he grabbed her slender arm was real. This wasn't some Chaos sucking vampire who looked and acted like his Tikal, this was his Tikal. Flesh and blood, completely real.

"Tikal..." he whispered as he slid his fingers through her long dreads.

"Shady," she replied with a blush, "You're embarrassing me in front of everyone..."

As if he cared. He kissed her, right then and there, something he would never do in the right mind. But he wasn't in his right mind. If he was, he'd be currently fighting some god on earth. But here, he wasn't. He was back in Cielo Isla, he was the Starman once again.

"Shady, stop," Tikal commanded as she broke the kiss, "Its obvious your helmet constricted air to your lungs, that's the only way you're acting this way..." she slightly chuckled as she lifted his helmet and pulled away, "Now will you stop kissing me so we can get on? I'm not going another moment without food, Shady."

She seemed so natural, like how he remembered her. The way she walked off, he knew where she was heading. Home, right?

Wrong, it was a different building, closer to the Master Emerald, but still within the city halls. Shadow followed here there, stopping only when she went through the building's front door. He placed his hand on the doorway, turning around to see the city he trekked through. It was as if he warped directly into the past, without a change in the world. He groaned. As nice as this place was, it wasn't his world.

"Tikal!" he called as he pushed through the doorway.

He stopped suddenly, seeing half-closed teal eyes gazed back. Shadow felt his heart freeze up in his chest when he saw her. The sultry bat, hunched over on the table, glaring at him out of spite. Her waist, covered in a skirt. White tube top covered her chest. Sandals on her feet. Spiked gloves on her hands. Various golden bands with jewels encrusted within them. She was wearing clothing which would fit any Knuckles Tribeswoman, but why? Why was she wearing this? What business did she have to?

"Rouge?" he said in shock.

"Well handsome..." she said spitefully, "Finally decided to come home, huh?"

"Rouge," Shadow remarked, "What are you doing here?"

"Don't ask me that..." the bat answered as she glanced away, "You bring me four thousand years to the past, only to ask me why I'm here? You're off in the head, Shadow..." she shuffled her face closer to the table she sat on, eventually burying her visage into her arms, "You should be lucky the diamonds here are so wondrous. I would have never come..." she said through a muffled voice.

"Can you believe your sister came by?" Tikal stated as she walked from a "I'm so happy she did! She even brought Omega with her."

"Omega?" Shadow repeated in confusion.

The entire house rumbled like a quake all coming from the room Tikal just exited from. She stepped out-of-the-way, allowing Shadow's eyes to befall a certain robot he called 'ally'. The machine, was much like Rouge. He was the exact same person, save for the fact that armor was laying upon his body. Echidna armor, it looked as if people had to build it from scratch just for him.

Omega walked to the table, holding various pots and pans filled with food. Placing them upon the table, he took a seat near Rouge. Shadow watched this with his eyes open wide with shock. It was as if he entered some weird, bizarre world. Twilight Zone much?

Everyone soon sat at the table, save for Shadow. He just gazed down with confused eyes, trying to parse the craziness his eyes were seeing. Tribal adorned Rouge, tribal adorned Omega, Tikal was alive, they were all at Cielo Isla, four thousand years in the past. How in the name of Maria did any of this happen? Should he not be facing Tikhaos at this moment in time.

"Great, I think Chaos broke Shadow again..." Rouge bemoaned out of annoyance.

"I figured the same thing..." Tikal stated.

"Sit down, Shadow!" Omega merely commanded.

The hedgehog did so, but slowly. His ruby eyes ran the full length of the table, eventually falling upon Tikal herself. The older Tikal who was appearing to be more and more alive as time went on. All of this appeared to be real. Had it not been for Rouge and Omega being out-of-place, he would have believed he was warped to the past. But things seemed off, of course.

"Shady!" Tikal called, getting his undivided attention, "You seem really... weird today? Chaos' mind games don't last this long. Are you okay?"

He stared down from her, his ruby eyes falling upon the table. Then to the food, then back up to her.

"What's going on?" he asked, lowly, trying to get a straight answer from the individuals around him.

"Well, isn't it obvious?" Tikal asked, "I mean, we have Omega here and Rouge. You know how long it is to get them here, you always complain about doing it."

"Oh, so you complain, huh?" Rouge asked spitefully.

"Shady..." Tikal said, "This is anniversary of the day you fell from the sky, you know? That's why you're wearing your armor, and that's why these two are here."

"It... is?" Shadow asked, still awestruck.

"Uh-huh. Everyone's getting ready for the tribal dance later. You were too, that's why you were at the Temple of the Gods..." her face grew understandably concerned, "But. I don't know. I might ask father to call things off if you aren't feeling well, because you aren't acting well at all."

"I'm... fine!" he stated, sharply looking away, "I... just think I hit my head..."

He heard Tikal giggle, which brought his vision back to her. She found his words so childish and cute, which made his cheeks flare red. He didn't like being laughed at, even if it was through Tikal's lips.

"Well, let's eat hm?" Tikal said as she gazed down to her plate, "If we don't get through this soon, then the tribal dance will be derailed, and everyone's going to be unhappy."

His vision drifted down to the food on his plate. His hands raised weakly, as if he were about to grab his eating utensil. But before grabbing it, he stopped and pulled back. His gaze shifted back up to Rouge and Tikal, who were both eating. Omega was just sitting there, because he's, ya'know, a robot. But Shadow couldn't bring himself to eat. His heart began to race for seemingly no reason, and he hunched over, almost in pain.

"Sh-Shadow!" Tikal called in shock.

"No!" he ordered instead as he placed his hand down upon the table, "Don't..." he shook his head, waving off the thought, "I'm fine..." he stood from the table, "I just nee to... think, real quick..."

He started walking out of the room, much to Tikal's surprise. She stood up, walked over to the doorway, only to stop and gaze back to Rouge and Omega.

"Just... stay here, we'll be back..." she said weakly, before whisking out the door as well.

The older Tikal stood outside, gazing up and down the city streets of Cielo Isla. The setting sun was giving way to the night, which was when the tribal dance would occur. But it couldn't happen if the Starman wasn't here. She gazed left and right in search of him, where she saw his frame at the great doorway. He pushed through, exiting out of the city's main hall. Tikal followed.

Stopping at the doors entrance, the echidna princess watched as he walked down the bridge toward the Master Emerald Altar. He seemed so serious. Well, more serious than usual. His hands were fists, his face was stern, he wasn't skating as he usually did. There was something wrong, if that wasn't obvious before. Tikal began to follow, her feet as silent as usual.

But Shadow stopped, his feet meeting the altar's steps. Tikal stopped too, trying to remain silent. He took a step forward, his footsteps moving extremely slowly. Tikal made her way down to her lover, still remaining silent in her antics. Then he said something, nay, yelled something.

"AKNA!" the hedgehog roared, "I KNOW YOU'RE THERE!"

Tikal was taken aback by his words. Akna? Why did he yell out her name? Simple. The illusion was broken. It was quite far-fetched anyway. She should have broken it sooner.

The hedgehog stopped at the Master Emerald, gazing at its wonderful luster with hard ruby eyes. He stared up to the skies next, watching as the first few glimpses of stars came into the land. He growled lowly under his breath, trying to make out the message he saw in them. But there was no message, there was only stars. Growling again, he thrashed about, eventually slamming his hands upon the Master Emerald. This garnered him an unexpected reaction.

"My daughter goes through all the trouble to bring you here, and this is how you react?"

The Master Emerald began to shake and shimmer. The green light it owned grew blinding, forcing the hedgehog to cover his eyes. When the shine vanished and he was allowed to see, his ruby eyes found silver blue ones staring back. An older echidna, with shining fur, stared back at him. Akna the echidna.

Her arms were crossed in a less than stellar pose, matching his not too pleasant disposition. He crossed his arms, walked forward, and spoke.

"Where am I"

"You are in an interesting anomaly, Starman," Akna answered, that smile returning as she placed her fists on her hips, "You're supposed to be dead. But you aren't. You're supposed to be alive. But you aren't. You're somewhere in between, like a pocket dimension."

"What are you talking about?" he asked as he stepped closer, "I'm dead?"

"Supposed to be," Akna repeated, "But you are also supposed to be alive. Listen, Starman, things are going to get confusing," she shook her head as she stood from the Master Emerald she sat upon. A moment later, the older echidna gazed to the skies, "You're battle with Tikhaos is affecting you deeply, Starman. You know you want to kill her, you know you must kill her. But you won't. You believe, for some reason, that the being you face is Tikal. My Tikal and your Tikal..." she shook her head, face becoming stern, "That's simply not true."

"I know that..." Shadow answered, arms crossing.

"No you don't..." the echidna replied, making the hedgehog snap his vision over to her, "You know that's not the real Tikal, yet a part of just can't accept it. You think you'll be able to separate her from Chaos, save the day, and have the woman of your dreams back. But that is certainly not true..." Akna's face became understandably hurt, "Shadow the hedgehog. There's nothing you can do. Tikal is gone..."

"No she's not!" Shadow answered, marching up to match the woman before her, "I wished Tikal back, and she came back! I just need to make Tikhaos realize Finitevus is a liar! Once they separate, everything will go back to normal!"

"I know Finitevus," Akna answered, "And I know he's not lying. That being is an Emerald who thinks she is my daughter..." she placed her hand upon Shadow's shoulder, "Earlier when we spoke, I told you the Master Emerald has never dealt with a problem like this. Bringing someone to life after they've been one with Chaos. So when it formed Tikal, it did so the only way it knew how. By making her into an Emerald. The Master Emerald took as many memories and personality traits it gained from my daughter, and formed the person you wished for. But, it ultimately, failed."

"I don't believe you..." Shadow answered, making the echidna gaze down to him.

"You don't?" she repeated, not completely surprised, "I figured..."

"If that Emerald is not Tikal, then where is she!?"

"I'm here... Shadow..." her voice echoed from behind.

The hedgehog locked up. Then he turned around. The older echidna who looked like Tikal, walked slowly behind him. Her face was a smile, yet it held obvious pain and disappointment.

"You have no idea how wonderful it is to see you again."

"You're not Tikal," Shadow remarked, making the apparition grimace, then falter.

"I guess I deserve that," the echidna answered, "I did bring you here against your will. Surprised you, really..." she giggled lightly, "But can you blame me? We haven't seen each other in such a long time. I just wanted to spend a day with you. I guess that isn't going to happen, however..."

"Go... away..." Shadow demanded, his frame growing slightly enraged.

Tikal reached forward, her hand grasping him by the back of his neck. Immediately, he felt weak. All the power he had within him, evacuated almost immediately. He fell forward suddenly, trying to understand why this happened. Falling into Tikal's arms, she held him up with loving arms. His eyes traveled up to hers, where he saw her smile.

"I'm Tikal, Starman," she stated, "Really..."

"Where am I?" he asked, still in disbelief of the woman before him.

Tikal silently giggled, making the black hedgehog grow wide-eyed briefly. Then she rose her hand high, as if to touch the sky. But, no, she didn't touch the sky, the sky touched her. Like paper, the echidna tore down the sky and the land around them. All that was left, was the Master Emerald, and the altar. Everything else was an expansive void of darkness and universes. Shadow was, unnecessary to say, awestruck.

"Don't listen to my mother, Starman," Tikal said as she shot the older echidna a glare, "She doesn't know what she's talking about."

"I know exactly what I'm talking about," Akna stated, "Its you who thinks she knows everything. Remember! I've been in here longer than you have!"

"Like I said, Starman," Tikal brought her vision back down in a loving manner, "You aren't dead. But you aren't alive..."

"Then... What am I?" he asked, slowly beginning to believe.

"You've become one with Chaos Force, Shadow. Like and my mother. You, the Chaos Emeralds, the Master Emerald, and the power which binds them, now runs with you."

But the hedgehog shook his head as he walked weakly backwards. Glaring into his hands, he couldn't believe the words Tikal told him. He and the Chaos Force were now one in the same? It was impossible. Sure, he used the powers of Chaos more times than anyone else, but he couldn't be fused with Chaos. That would make him some sort of god. If there was ever a time to freak-out, now would be the time.

"No, no, no, Shadow!" Tikal called, stopping him in his tracks, "Now is not the time to go crazy!"

"How can I be one with the Chaos Force?" Shadow asked, "When did this happen?"

"Simple," Akna answered from behind, "The moment you clashed with Tikhaos, the powers you were exerting and the powers of her being, along with the seven Chaos Emeralds, ripped a gap in the space-time continuum. Flinging you here..." she suddenly started laughing, as if it were a joke, "Yeah right! Honestly, we haven't the slightest clue why you ended up here..." Akna then gazed to the Master Emerald, followed by Tikal, and lastly Shadow, "I guess... the Master Emerald chose you..."

"Why? What was I doing for it to choose me? I can't waste time here! If I do, there's no telling how destructive Tikhaos can become! I need to be sent back!"

"Calm down, Starman," Akna stated, "You'll be back with plenty of time, okay? We just need to clear things up, alright?"

"Clear up... what things...?" the hedgehog asked next.

"Shadow..." Tikal whispered, "You won't be able to defeat Tikhaos, unless you let me go..."

He turned back to gaze upon her. Tikal was crestfallen, but she knew her words to be true. But not Shadow. He shook his head, not believing, or not wanting to believe Tikal's words.

"What are you talking about?" he asked, growing slightly angered.

"Shadow... if you keep this up... you won't be able to stop Tikhaos," his beloved stated, "You think that you can save me inside of her. But you can't. I'm not inside of her..." she moved closer, "I know it's hard for me to say it, but..." she shook her head, "Shadow. I've never been inside that Emerald," she looked up to him with eyes that appeared as if she would cry, "When you made that wish, I felt myself being pulled by the Master Emerald. But I didn't go. I did not head your wish. I stayed connected to the Master Emerald, and moved beyond the plane of existence I was trapped within. When I did, the Master Emerald ran into a problem. I tried to bring me back, as per your wishes, but I did not want to go back. So it did the best it could. It brought me back as an Emerald."

He grabbed her. It was sudden, shocking, she gasped in fear. His hands held tightly onto her collar, making her gaze down upon him. He was crying. But he was also angry. It was as if he could destroy her where she stood.

"Why?" he asked in such a callous, heartless, emotional manner.

"Because it was not my place..." she answered, eyes closing, "Shadow... I don't expect you to understand my decision. I don't even understand my decision. But I made it. My place is not with you in that world. My place is here, within the Master Emerald, keeping the world in harmony. If I were to leave the Master Emerald, there's no telling what kind of Chaos would run rampant upon the land..." she cupped his face, bringing it closer to her's, "I didn't make the decision because I hate you. I loved you so much, it was so very hard to make that decision. I wanted to live with you, but I can't live with you. The world wouldn't allow it. I wouldn't allow it..."

"Why...?" he asked again, his voice getting caught in his throat, "Please. Tikal..."

"My grandmother often said... no one sacrifices themselves, without a reason," Tikal whispered, "I sacrificed myself four thousand years ago, so the world would be spared Perfect Chaos' rage. That was my sacrifice, and that is how it should be... forever..."

"But does it have to be?" he asked.

Her lips met his. It was a kiss unlike the ones he had before. The love he felt resonate from her tender lips, imbued his person with power. And because of this, he began to glow. Shadow and Tikal parted ways as a burning white and blue aura flowed from his body. He felt stronger, so much stronger. As if he could do anything.

"What is this?" he asked, his tone so shocked.

"That's the Chaos Force, Shadow," Akna answered, "Feels amazing, don't it?"

"For all intents and purposes, you've become a god, Starman!" Tikal yelled, "But it won't last forever! Do what you have to do, before it leaves you, okay?"

"But..." he gazed back down to her, as he floated higher and higher, "Tikal..." his eyes closed, tears falling, "I... apologize..."

"For what?" she asked back.

"Because I never told you the truth," he answered as his eyes opened, "I never told you who I was in the future, or how people hated me!"

"Yes you did!" she answered, "Remember! We were on the river, flowing toward the Nocturnus tribe, and you told me something I didn't believe!" his eyes widened, "You told me how the people of the future hate you, because you are too strong, and how your friend Maria was killed because of it. You even called yourself a demon," she smiled, "But you aren't a demon! Demons don't have hearts like you! Demons can't love like you! You're the Starman, Shadow! The Starman!"

All around him, light started to pour, blinding him. But he took Tikal's words to hard.

"I am... the Starman..."

Eyes opened. He continued staring up to the storming skies. Deep down inside, he wondered if the vision he saw was really true. But because of the lack of pain within his body, he knew it was. Aye. Despite the battle he endured, he was clean of any blemishes or markings. Bones broken in the brawl were mended, as if they had never occurred in the first place.

The hedgehog stood tall. His emotionless eyes glided upon the chaos. The field he battled upon was littered with destructive debris. The great air vehicles which fought in the skies, now sat on the lands. Various robots which were destroyed were also placed about. Only one survived the carnage; a mechanical blue hedgehog which was missing an arm and a leg.

The hedgehog walked past all of it, his eyes gliding over the horizon. The creature which caused the destruction was there, moving off for the next land it must destroy. Perfect Tikhaos. The hedgehog stared to the sky, allowing the wind to rustle through his fur and quills. His eyes finally closed, as he took in a long, deep, needed breath of air.

His entire being suddenly exploded. A burning blue and white aura took his entire being. He rocketed into the air, like a star. At the speeds of light, he appeared right before the monster he was sent to quell. Tikhaos stopped its roar, when the Starman appeared before it. But this cease-fire was short-lived, for the water dragon quickly struck. The Starman didn't move; he allowed the aquatic tendril to strike him. When it did, the tentacle erupted, severing off from the rest of Tikhaos' body.

The water god pulled back, unsure of what to do now. The Starman on the other hand began to glow brighter. Pieces of metal flew toward him, mending the various markings of his ruined armor. After a few moments, the armor he wore was completely free of scratches, dents, and tears. His cape too. It was as if the armor was new once more.

The Starman's eyes erupted blue, as he brought his hard gaze down upon his foe. Tikhaos readied its tentacles, prepared to strike down the judgmental god. The Starman pulled back, his hands meeting one another. Pulling back, he formed a bow out of Chaotic energies, and an arrow as well. He pulled the arrow back, while Tikhaos roared before him.

Upon release, the arrow flew straight true. It tore through the very fabric of existence to deliver upon Tikhaos an attack of godly proportions. The exploded tore through the air, making the stormy clouds above evaporate from its brilliant shine. Water was tossed everywhere, causing a torrent which bore down to the ocean floor. Tikhaos reappeared within the spiraling waves, still roaring out with fervent rage. The Starman once again fashioned a bow and arrow out of pure light, firing it down upon Tikhaos being. Once more, the entire planet erupted from the explosion he triggered.

What a turn around. Whenever Tikhaos got the chance to counter attack, its limb would merely glide through the Starman. And then he would strike it down with his amazing powers. And with each explosion, a storm on the planet would be sent away. Soon, the skies overhead showed nothing but stars, and the Starman himself.

It was almost over. The Starman prepared one final arrow; his body burning a heated red. Tikhaos was ready to, fruitlessly, strike at him. It didn't know that destruction was only a few moments away. He was prepared to fire his final arrow, but stopped.

He turned around, there was a burning green light in the sky, aiming directly at him.

"Piercing the stars..."


Maverick Talks!

Ah-ha! I did post to chapters in a day! Hands off to me! Yes, uh!

Well, it is a bit shorter than the last time, but hey? What did you expect? I decided to cut down on this chapter, because, ya'know. The next chapter and stuff.

Anywho, this chapter had us go back to Cielo Isla, but just ever so shortly. And in it, all seemed to be well. Rouge was there, so was Omega, and he didn't have to go and destroy something. There was even going to be a tribal dance for him, isn't that nice? But the world wasn't real. It was partly created by Shadow, and Tikal, thanks to the Chaos Force.

You know, in Tribal Dance, chapter 29 was the longest chapter, and the one directly after the fights. In this story, the fighting is still going on. I wonder when it will all end. Seriously, when will it end? I haven't the slightest clue yet. Oh well.

Oh yeah, that statement in the end, 'Piercing the stars.' That's how powerful the Eclipse Cannon is if you have all seven Chaos Emeralds. Well, I assume. That's what Black Doom said in Shadow the hedgehog, anyway. But if the Eclipse Cannon can blow up stars with enough Chaos Emeralds, that makes it stronger than the Death Star. That suddenly sounds awesome.

Welp, another chapter down. I can feel the end of this story coming, can't you. I mean, yeah, it'll be longer than Tribal Dance (chapter wise at least), but that doesn't mean its going to be extremely long. Makes you wonder, really. The story had a wild amount of twists and turns. How do you think it'll all end, huh? All I can say, is you know me. Take that as you will.

I've decided to take Millikan the fox and make her an original character. You know, with her own world and stuff, because everyone loves her. It'll be totally unconnected to the Sonic world. Sounds like a good idea, wonder how it'll work.

Maverick Kay Prime