The Child That Could Be Chapter 12
By Angnix
(Yeah, this chapter isn't heavy on the action, but I did add humor, a guy in a girl's body has many humorous possibilities. . . but it is not all funny especially toward the end, and this is the last chapter.)
Tikal, or should I say Knuckles? I don't know, hmm, Tikal/Knuckles, was now throwing punches in the air. Tails seemed a little concerned.
"Uh, are you just going to beat up Rouge and take the Emeralds back?"
"Yeah, duh!"
"Well, uh, I don't think that would be good Tik. . .uh Knuckles. Could you at least try to find out first why she stole the Emeralds?"
"I already know. She wanted to steal the Emeralds in the first place. See never really liked me, she just wanted the Emeralds. I can't believe I abandoned the Master Emerald for her! Now I have to set things straight."
"Well, uh, where is Rouge?"
"She didn't try to hide at all, she's at her house, when I saw her she was shining the Emeralds with wax."
Sonic seemed a little ticked off.
"Well, I called her and told her what happened, I wonder if she got the message then?"
"Who knows, but I am going to find out."
"Uh Knuckles, do you want us to go with you?"
"NO! This situation is my fault and it is my responsibility to fix it all on my own. You guys stay here and guard my body! And make sure the nurses are nice to it! If I return to my body I don't want to find any bedsores, will you guys flip me over periodically and stuff and check everywhere for bedsores and rashes and such?"
Everyone looked at Tikal/Knuckles very, very weirdly, especially Sonic.
"Uh, I really don't think anyone here wants to do that Knuckles, uh and how thoroughly do you want to be checked out?"
"Never mind."
Tikal/Knuckles walked out of the hospital room when she, uh he? realized there was something else she, he had to take care of and walked up to a nearby nurse.
"Excuse me, where is the bathroom?"
"Down the hall young lady."
"Young lady!?!? I otta. . . oh wait, never mind, uh, thanks."
Tikal/Knuckles headed straight for the men's room and to one of the urinals, looked over at a guy next to him and said "hi". The guy immediately zipped up his pants and looked at Tikal/Knuckles very, very strangely.
"Oh, sorry sir, I keep forgetting I have a girl's body now. Excuse me."
The man kept staring as Tikal/Knuckles walked out the door.
"Wow, I didn't know they did sex change operations at this hospital."
Tikal/Knuckles entered the ladies restroom, Knuckles felt really, really weird and just tried to get the job done without looking. Anyway, Tikal/Knuckles ran toward Rouge's house. Tikal/Knuckles was trying to figure out the best way to approach Rouge, he/she saw a light on upstairs and assumed that is where Rouge was, so Tikal/Knuckles climbed up the side of Rouge's house, before Tikal/Knuckles got there sobbing could be clearly heard coming from the window. Tikal/Knuckles peeked in and sure enough Rouge was sitting on the side of her bed crying. Tikal/Knuckles decided to tap on the window to see how Rouge would react. Rouge looked over at the window and ran up to it and opened it.
"Tikal, I see I didn't kill you."
Knuckles decided to act like Tikal since Rouge thought she was Tikal.
"No, are you going to try to kill me now?"
"No Tikal, I know Knuckles is dead and it is my fault. According to Sonic's message he saw you on the island and glided out to you and got hit by the curse and died. That is not what I wanted to happen!"
"Well Rouge, what did you want to happen? I mean, would Knuckles want you to steal the Emeralds?"
"In this case yes! He was sad that he couldn't guard the Emeralds, so my plan all along was to steal the Emeralds and make you think I stole them just for me, but in fact give them to Knuckles so he wouldn't be separated from them. Then Knuckles would like me and maybe forget about you. Now neither me nor you can have him."
"Rouge, you need to think. Knuckles cares about the Emeralds being safe, the Master Emerald is safest on Angel Island. If you would have done that believe me, Knuckles wouldn't have liked you, he would have been very mad at you and would have forced you to return the Master Emerald to where it belongs."
"I just wanted Knuckles so bad!"
"In what way? Emotional or physical?"
"Physical. You know what I am talking about, he's so handsome, so dreamy, and that night so close to. . ."
"And I fell off the bed.Yeah, I will admit, he's one handsome fella, but did you have to try to kill Tikal in order to have me? Is a physical relationship that important to you?"
"Well, I just didn't like the thought of Tikal trying to take what I wanted. . .wait a minute, did you just say I tried to kill Tikal in order to have you?"
"Uh, no. . ."
"Oh, it must be me then. Anyway, I just want everything to be right again."
"Well, for one thing you can return the Emeralds to Angel Island."
"Well, okay, if that is what Knuckles would have wanted. If only that could bring him back though, I would tell him the truth about everything. You know what Tikal, you can have him, if you can convince him you like him. I mean come on Tikal you were acting very Amy-like there, that's annoying."
"Rouge, weren't you acting pretty darn Amy-like to Knuckles?"
"Holy cow you're right! Oh man! Anyway, let's return the Emeralds, they remind me of him anyway."
"That sort of sounded like you do like him on a deeper level."
"Maybe, but if he was alive and if he liked you more, I will try not to kill you, I promise."
"Before we go to Angel Island we have to pick up Knuckle's body so we can return him home. Sonic and everyone else are very mad at you, so I will go back and convince them that you mean well by bringing the Emeralds with me to the hospital and giving them up to them. Then because of the curse on everyone else I will ask Tails to take me and you to the island so we can put him to rest together."
"Okay, I will."
Tikal and Rouge entered the hospital, Tikal had the Emeralds. Tikal had Rouge wait outside while she went in bringing out one Emerald to show them. Everyone looked up relieved especially Sonic.
"So Knuckles, did you beat her up?"
"No, didn't have to, she got your message Sonic and she was crying, she stole the Emeralds to give them to me thinking that if she took the Emeralds from Tikal I would like her, but now she seems genuinely sorry and in fact is waiting outside and gave up the Emeralds willingly. Tails, will you fly me and Tikal and my body to Angel Island to return the Emeralds? Now that the Emeralds are safe I have no reason to stay here. I want to rest peacefully on my island, I don't want to be hooked up on those machines anymore."
"I guess so Knuckles, are you sure?"
"Completely sure. And Rouge doesn't know it is me, so call me Tikal, okay?"
"Sure thing Knuckles. Well, goodbye Knuckles, rest in peace."
Everyone in the room started to cry again.
"Goodbye everyone. See you again someday."
Since Knuckles doesn't have any living relatives Sonic was authorized to sign the papers to allow Knuckles to be taken off life support and to bury him on Angel Island. Tails, Rouge and Tikal/Knuckles took off toward Angel Island with the lifeless Knuckles in hand. The plane landed, Tikal/Knuckles and Rouge got out of the plane and carefully lifted Knuckles out and the Emeralds. They waved goodbye to Tails as he flew off for a while, Tails had tears rolling down his face.
"So Tikal, should we bury him first or replace the Emeralds first?"
"Replace the Emeralds first."
Tikal/Knuckles held the Master Emerald and placed it on its rightful resting place. Then they both took the Chaos Emeralds and climbed the pillars to place each Emerald on the top of it. The island started to just shake at first, then it slowly started to rise higher and higher in the sky. Rouge looked over at Tikal and smiled.
"Now you can leave Tikal and rest Knuckles since your Emeralds are safe again."
"You knew?"
"I'm a spy, it's hard to keep things from me. You accidentally said something about falling off the bed, I doubt Knuckles would tell that to Tikal. Plus I have very good hearing and I heard everything you said to them in the hospital room while I was waiting outside."
"Well, yea. Anyway, goodbye batgirl."
Tikal started to glow, a ball of light materialized and Tikal fell on the ground. But then she got up, she looked around knowing what had happened and just looked at the ball of light. She and Rouge now stood together as the ball of light just stayed there not seeming to want to leave. Tikal ran up to it.
"Goodbye Knuckles. Have a good rest!"
"See you again someday."
But then suddenly a column of water appeared and out of it came Chaos. Tikal looked sad though.
"Chaos, where were you when we needed you?"
Chaos spoke to her and Rouge telepathically.
"Lessons needed to be learned by everyone. Knuckles needed to realize how important it was to guard the Emeralds. Rouge and Knuckles needed to realize your love for each other are for the wrong reasons, love out of physical attraction or just because you are lonely is wrong and ends in disaster. Tikal needed to know how lonely the Emerald Guardian feels so Tikal could understand Knuckles' loneliness better."
"Why did we need to learn all of those lessons and in such a painful way?"
"To prepare you for what is to come. Emerald Guardians came to be soon after I and Tikal were imprisoned in the Emerald, there were two of them at one time, one male and one female echidna. Their male child became the new male Guardian and he would then choose a female to be his mate. Both are needed for balance, the female and the male living as one, they were required to totally understand what it would be like to live each other's lives so they would totally understand their mate. Tikal was forced to live as a lone Guardian, that only lasted just for a day but you now understand what Knuckles had to go through day in and day out, so now you understand him better. Knuckles lived in Tikal's body for a short time, he got to experience what it was like to be Tikal. Everything that happened occurred for a purpose, so that the right order of things would be restored. The curse is lifted."
With that Chaos disappeared. Tikal seemed surprised, she didn't even know about the need for the female Guardian. They looked over at Knuckles, they saw a twitch in his hand. Rouge and Tikal ran over to him quickly, Tikal put her head on his chest. She could hear a gentle thump in his chest and feel his chest move up and down slightly. Then he opened his eyes and smiled.
"Everything is now as it should be."
(That's it! Don't worry, there will be a sequel really, really soon!!!)
By Angnix
(Yeah, this chapter isn't heavy on the action, but I did add humor, a guy in a girl's body has many humorous possibilities. . . but it is not all funny especially toward the end, and this is the last chapter.)
Tikal, or should I say Knuckles? I don't know, hmm, Tikal/Knuckles, was now throwing punches in the air. Tails seemed a little concerned.
"Uh, are you just going to beat up Rouge and take the Emeralds back?"
"Yeah, duh!"
"Well, uh, I don't think that would be good Tik. . .uh Knuckles. Could you at least try to find out first why she stole the Emeralds?"
"I already know. She wanted to steal the Emeralds in the first place. See never really liked me, she just wanted the Emeralds. I can't believe I abandoned the Master Emerald for her! Now I have to set things straight."
"Well, uh, where is Rouge?"
"She didn't try to hide at all, she's at her house, when I saw her she was shining the Emeralds with wax."
Sonic seemed a little ticked off.
"Well, I called her and told her what happened, I wonder if she got the message then?"
"Who knows, but I am going to find out."
"Uh Knuckles, do you want us to go with you?"
"NO! This situation is my fault and it is my responsibility to fix it all on my own. You guys stay here and guard my body! And make sure the nurses are nice to it! If I return to my body I don't want to find any bedsores, will you guys flip me over periodically and stuff and check everywhere for bedsores and rashes and such?"
Everyone looked at Tikal/Knuckles very, very weirdly, especially Sonic.
"Uh, I really don't think anyone here wants to do that Knuckles, uh and how thoroughly do you want to be checked out?"
"Never mind."
Tikal/Knuckles walked out of the hospital room when she, uh he? realized there was something else she, he had to take care of and walked up to a nearby nurse.
"Excuse me, where is the bathroom?"
"Down the hall young lady."
"Young lady!?!? I otta. . . oh wait, never mind, uh, thanks."
Tikal/Knuckles headed straight for the men's room and to one of the urinals, looked over at a guy next to him and said "hi". The guy immediately zipped up his pants and looked at Tikal/Knuckles very, very strangely.
"Oh, sorry sir, I keep forgetting I have a girl's body now. Excuse me."
The man kept staring as Tikal/Knuckles walked out the door.
"Wow, I didn't know they did sex change operations at this hospital."
Tikal/Knuckles entered the ladies restroom, Knuckles felt really, really weird and just tried to get the job done without looking. Anyway, Tikal/Knuckles ran toward Rouge's house. Tikal/Knuckles was trying to figure out the best way to approach Rouge, he/she saw a light on upstairs and assumed that is where Rouge was, so Tikal/Knuckles climbed up the side of Rouge's house, before Tikal/Knuckles got there sobbing could be clearly heard coming from the window. Tikal/Knuckles peeked in and sure enough Rouge was sitting on the side of her bed crying. Tikal/Knuckles decided to tap on the window to see how Rouge would react. Rouge looked over at the window and ran up to it and opened it.
"Tikal, I see I didn't kill you."
Knuckles decided to act like Tikal since Rouge thought she was Tikal.
"No, are you going to try to kill me now?"
"No Tikal, I know Knuckles is dead and it is my fault. According to Sonic's message he saw you on the island and glided out to you and got hit by the curse and died. That is not what I wanted to happen!"
"Well Rouge, what did you want to happen? I mean, would Knuckles want you to steal the Emeralds?"
"In this case yes! He was sad that he couldn't guard the Emeralds, so my plan all along was to steal the Emeralds and make you think I stole them just for me, but in fact give them to Knuckles so he wouldn't be separated from them. Then Knuckles would like me and maybe forget about you. Now neither me nor you can have him."
"Rouge, you need to think. Knuckles cares about the Emeralds being safe, the Master Emerald is safest on Angel Island. If you would have done that believe me, Knuckles wouldn't have liked you, he would have been very mad at you and would have forced you to return the Master Emerald to where it belongs."
"I just wanted Knuckles so bad!"
"In what way? Emotional or physical?"
"Physical. You know what I am talking about, he's so handsome, so dreamy, and that night so close to. . ."
"And I fell off the bed.Yeah, I will admit, he's one handsome fella, but did you have to try to kill Tikal in order to have me? Is a physical relationship that important to you?"
"Well, I just didn't like the thought of Tikal trying to take what I wanted. . .wait a minute, did you just say I tried to kill Tikal in order to have you?"
"Uh, no. . ."
"Oh, it must be me then. Anyway, I just want everything to be right again."
"Well, for one thing you can return the Emeralds to Angel Island."
"Well, okay, if that is what Knuckles would have wanted. If only that could bring him back though, I would tell him the truth about everything. You know what Tikal, you can have him, if you can convince him you like him. I mean come on Tikal you were acting very Amy-like there, that's annoying."
"Rouge, weren't you acting pretty darn Amy-like to Knuckles?"
"Holy cow you're right! Oh man! Anyway, let's return the Emeralds, they remind me of him anyway."
"That sort of sounded like you do like him on a deeper level."
"Maybe, but if he was alive and if he liked you more, I will try not to kill you, I promise."
"Before we go to Angel Island we have to pick up Knuckle's body so we can return him home. Sonic and everyone else are very mad at you, so I will go back and convince them that you mean well by bringing the Emeralds with me to the hospital and giving them up to them. Then because of the curse on everyone else I will ask Tails to take me and you to the island so we can put him to rest together."
"Okay, I will."
Tikal and Rouge entered the hospital, Tikal had the Emeralds. Tikal had Rouge wait outside while she went in bringing out one Emerald to show them. Everyone looked up relieved especially Sonic.
"So Knuckles, did you beat her up?"
"No, didn't have to, she got your message Sonic and she was crying, she stole the Emeralds to give them to me thinking that if she took the Emeralds from Tikal I would like her, but now she seems genuinely sorry and in fact is waiting outside and gave up the Emeralds willingly. Tails, will you fly me and Tikal and my body to Angel Island to return the Emeralds? Now that the Emeralds are safe I have no reason to stay here. I want to rest peacefully on my island, I don't want to be hooked up on those machines anymore."
"I guess so Knuckles, are you sure?"
"Completely sure. And Rouge doesn't know it is me, so call me Tikal, okay?"
"Sure thing Knuckles. Well, goodbye Knuckles, rest in peace."
Everyone in the room started to cry again.
"Goodbye everyone. See you again someday."
Since Knuckles doesn't have any living relatives Sonic was authorized to sign the papers to allow Knuckles to be taken off life support and to bury him on Angel Island. Tails, Rouge and Tikal/Knuckles took off toward Angel Island with the lifeless Knuckles in hand. The plane landed, Tikal/Knuckles and Rouge got out of the plane and carefully lifted Knuckles out and the Emeralds. They waved goodbye to Tails as he flew off for a while, Tails had tears rolling down his face.
"So Tikal, should we bury him first or replace the Emeralds first?"
"Replace the Emeralds first."
Tikal/Knuckles held the Master Emerald and placed it on its rightful resting place. Then they both took the Chaos Emeralds and climbed the pillars to place each Emerald on the top of it. The island started to just shake at first, then it slowly started to rise higher and higher in the sky. Rouge looked over at Tikal and smiled.
"Now you can leave Tikal and rest Knuckles since your Emeralds are safe again."
"You knew?"
"I'm a spy, it's hard to keep things from me. You accidentally said something about falling off the bed, I doubt Knuckles would tell that to Tikal. Plus I have very good hearing and I heard everything you said to them in the hospital room while I was waiting outside."
"Well, yea. Anyway, goodbye batgirl."
Tikal started to glow, a ball of light materialized and Tikal fell on the ground. But then she got up, she looked around knowing what had happened and just looked at the ball of light. She and Rouge now stood together as the ball of light just stayed there not seeming to want to leave. Tikal ran up to it.
"Goodbye Knuckles. Have a good rest!"
"See you again someday."
But then suddenly a column of water appeared and out of it came Chaos. Tikal looked sad though.
"Chaos, where were you when we needed you?"
Chaos spoke to her and Rouge telepathically.
"Lessons needed to be learned by everyone. Knuckles needed to realize how important it was to guard the Emeralds. Rouge and Knuckles needed to realize your love for each other are for the wrong reasons, love out of physical attraction or just because you are lonely is wrong and ends in disaster. Tikal needed to know how lonely the Emerald Guardian feels so Tikal could understand Knuckles' loneliness better."
"Why did we need to learn all of those lessons and in such a painful way?"
"To prepare you for what is to come. Emerald Guardians came to be soon after I and Tikal were imprisoned in the Emerald, there were two of them at one time, one male and one female echidna. Their male child became the new male Guardian and he would then choose a female to be his mate. Both are needed for balance, the female and the male living as one, they were required to totally understand what it would be like to live each other's lives so they would totally understand their mate. Tikal was forced to live as a lone Guardian, that only lasted just for a day but you now understand what Knuckles had to go through day in and day out, so now you understand him better. Knuckles lived in Tikal's body for a short time, he got to experience what it was like to be Tikal. Everything that happened occurred for a purpose, so that the right order of things would be restored. The curse is lifted."
With that Chaos disappeared. Tikal seemed surprised, she didn't even know about the need for the female Guardian. They looked over at Knuckles, they saw a twitch in his hand. Rouge and Tikal ran over to him quickly, Tikal put her head on his chest. She could hear a gentle thump in his chest and feel his chest move up and down slightly. Then he opened his eyes and smiled.
"Everything is now as it should be."
(That's it! Don't worry, there will be a sequel really, really soon!!!)