[AIG]
Chapter Two
[AIG]
The Emerald Chamber, Hidden Palace Zone, Angel Island
In a flash of light, Tikal had brought herself, the five Freedom Fighters, and all seven Chaos Emeralds to a large room in the heart of the Island filled with technology best suited to a fortress' control center, which is what the place might as well had been with Angel Island being that exact fortress. The Freedom Fighters were then awed by the sight of the Chaos Emeralds being drawn over a deep pit where they would be suspended in a column of light that most of them could tell was Chaos energy, followed by the control systems being activated as well as the green Chaos Emerald itself growing in both size and mass much to the visible delight of Tikal.
"Odd's bodkins!" Tails was the first to exclaim at the sudden change. "What happened to that Chaos Emerald?"
Giggling at Tails' reaction, Tikal explained. "With all the Chaos Emeralds reunited, the Master Emerald has been restored. While the Grey Emerald may control the other six, the Master Emerald possesses the most in raw power."
"How did the Chaos Emeralds get split off from each other in the first place?" Johnny asked for the sake of argument.
With all eyes returning to Tikal, the female echidna looked embarrassed before answering. "Truth be told, Johnny, I don't remember how it happened, or when, but I suspect that it had something to do with the Star Posts, considering it was drawn to the Nightmare Country twice before in this lifetime at least."
"The Nightmare Country?" Porker repeated questionably before realizing. "Oh! You must mean the Special Zone!"
Sonic snorted to himself. "You got to admit, guys, that place is the stuff of nightmares."
Showing a slight smirk at Sonic's joke, Amy then turned back to Tikal with a questioning look. "What do you mean by "this lifetime", Tikal? You almost made it sound like your immortal or something."
Seeing Tikal show a small smile made the Freedom Fighters a bit unnerved as Tails then asked. "Are you immortal?"
Laughing to herself for a bit, Tikal then explained. "Not in a literal sense, my friends. I can still be affected by time, sicknesses, and mortal wounds to name a few things, but eight thousand years ago, when Angel Island was still part of Mobius' surface, my people went to battle with an alien enemy that sought the conquest of our world as part of the larger conquest of our entire universe. Eventually, the Echidna Empire was able to drive the invaders back, but at the cost of the Echidnas themselves vanishing from the known world. All except for one who would serve as a Guardian until the Echidnas may return, and in order to ensure that Guardian would last, my father, the Chief, established a means for me to reincarnate into the same form I was when the war happened every time I succumb to death."
"Huh, so it's kind of like the mythological phoenix then?" Tails said to better understand.
Tikal nodded. "There are some drawbacks, however. With each rebirth, my strength decreases, and my memory becomes a blank slate, so not only do I have to train my body and mind to be a proper Guardian, but I have to rely on previous notes to remind myself the importance of my task and who I was before this Island came to be."
"You can't use your magic to look into the past?" Asked Sonic.
"It doesn't quite work like that, Sonic. My family was gifted with the power to look into the future, but the past and present are different matters altogether. So, while I feel it in my heart that the Echidnas are not extinct, I have no idea where they are right now."
"I don't mean any disrespect, old girl, but it sounds like your old man gave you quite the unenviable job." Johnny said to her with a sympathetic look and his fellow Freedom Fighters felt the same way as well.
Showing a cheerless smile, Tikal replied. "Maybe so, but it is necessary." Smiling more genuinely, she then added. "Besides, for the first time in so long, I have pleasant company to spend time with whenever available."
Returning the smile alongside his friends, Sonic then said with his right hand raised. "You're more than welcome to become one of us, Tikal. Together, we'll defeat Robotnik and restore freedom to the entire planet."
Gratefully accepting the handshake, Tikal said back. "I'll always be happy to help, Sonic, but I'm afraid my duties here will keep me from playing an active part in your war against Robotnik's evil. However, there are other ways that I can help you with just as you can help me as well."
"How so?" Porker asked when the two stopped shaking hands.
Turning to him, Tikal beamed. "I'm glad you asked, Porker, because I'll need your technical knowledge to help me work Angel Island's defenses." She then added worriedly. "This place wouldn't make a great refuge if the force field wasn't reestablished, after all."
Taking a quick look at the control systems, Porker nodded eagerly. "I'll get started right away."
"And should we find anyone really needing to escape from Robotnik, we'll send them your way." Amy added while Porker did what he needed to do.
Tikal nodded. "The Mushroom Hill Zone can host the entire Emerald Hill Folk if needed, the Death Egg can house even more, and although Robotnik tried to divert my attention away from it, I learned of a newly constructed theme park on the Island that can provide extra room as well."
"Robotnik constructed a theme park?" Sonic asked in an ironic tone of voice.
"Well, he does like his money-makers as I'm sure you know, Sonic."
"True."
"Anything else we should do, Tikal?" Tails asked her, willing to help.
Tikal then showed a frown as she replied. "For the immediate future of Angel Island, we'll need to negotiate with a group, who, while I know you're not on good terms with presently, will be needed to provide further knowledge on how to work the Island's defenses."
Sonic groaned as he said. "Please tell me it's not the Marxio Brothers by any chance."
"Actually, they were the ones who supervised the new Carnival Night Zone and got teleported off when I did the same with Robotnik, but no, Sonic, the people I'm referring to are the Sky Pirates of Captain Plunder." Seeing the Freedom Fighters all groan at the news, Tikal retorted with narrowed eyes. "I know. It's not something I'm looking forward to either, but in the event anything happens, we'll need to be prepared for anything and everything."
"That's fine, Tikal, but how do you suppose we negotiate with Plunder?" Asked Johnny.
Sighing with exhaustion, Tikal answered. "By giving him a sample of treasure from the Sandopolis Zone, Johnny. I just hope he sells it to someone who will take good care of it until I can get it back someday."
Sonic then interjected with his hand on Tikal's shoulder with a nice enough smile. "Look on the bright side. Between the info from the Death Egg and this entire island, we've got some advantages on walrus chops for once."
Amy then added with a smile. "Plus, with the Carnival Night Zone, you can supply a lot of money to go into making the place lively for your people's welcome home party after we take down Robotnik for good."
"And I'm sure a lot of people wouldn't mind coming to live here and help out, if you gave them a chance." Tails said.
"I know I could live here." Porker said back from the control systems.
Returning their smiles with one of her own, Tikal nodded energetically. "That's right, everyone!" She then had a teasing smile as she said. "But you better get ready for the circus. The audience will need you."
"Huh?" The five Freedom Fighters collectively said while Tikal let out a kind laugh, happy to have made friends for the first time since becoming the Guardianess.
[AIG]
Felt inspired to add on to this, after all, so I did the best I could.