A story based around Tikal. Truly, I never saw myself writing this, but it's cute and that's all that matters right? Y'know if I think correctly, Tikal was my favourite character right after Amy, until I started coupling Sonic and Amy. Tehe!

And for anyone who's super picky, Tikal maybe a spirit but she was herself on the end of SA and that's enough for me! Oh and this is probably based around say umm... after SA2? As usual! Tehe!

Disclaimer: I don't own Sonic characters in anyway. The song belongs to Avril Lavigne. The song is I'm with you. It stops short.

He didn't know why he was running around so late, the thrill of the darkness he assumed. But a lot had changed since the Ark incident, maybe not as much as he thought, only one week had passed. The sky was lit brightly with the light from the full moon, the stars seemed to glow exceedingly beautiful within the darkening night. He was running through the forest, many shades of green and brown meshed into the surroundings as he picked up speed. He was Sonic The Hedgehog. Sonic tried very hard to hide any of his feelings, it took him a long time to actually believe Shadow had died. Now he guessed, he was trying to get over it, in his own way. Running for him was like drawing or writing, it let him think.

Sonic stopped, now this was a rare occasion. But, he could hear music. It sounded like a violin playing.

He was in the forest of the Mystic Ruins and quickly manoeuvred around the maze and down the mine cart track to follow the music. He raced out the exit of the mine cart and stopped yet again. The music was still there. He shook his head, maybe he had lost it or something, he shrugged and ran over to a large hole in the wall near the Train Station. He swiftly jumped into the tunnel and ran until he was over a huge hole, but instead of falling, an air current picked him up and sent him to a different tunnel. He raced through the dark tunnel, it was too dark to see anything but he didn't need to see where he was going, he was following the music.

He came to the end of the tunnel and everything seemed to change, he was looking straight ahead at the small island part that held the Master Emerald but... It was still connected to the bigger island that Sonic was standing on. Then, he saw her. She was standing on the side of a stone bridge, he had seen her before, it was Tikal.

'I'm standing on the bridge, I'm waiting in the dark. I thought that you'd be here, by now. There's nothing but the rain, no footsteps on the ground. I'm listening but there's no sound.'

She was watching the waterfall close to the bridge and slowly swaying left and right.

'Isn't anyone trying to find me? Wont somebody come take me home?

It's a damn cold night. Trying to figure out this life.
Wont you, take me by the hand, take me somewhere new? I don't who you are, but I... I'm with you. I'm with you.. Mmmm.'

I'm looking for a place, I'm searching for a face, is anybody here, I know? 'Cuz nothings going right, and everything's a mess. And no one likes to be alone.

Isn't anyone trying to find me? Wont somebody come take me home?

It's a damn cold night. Trying to figure out this life.

She turned her head and saw him, she instantly stopped singing and an awkward silence came between them.

"Hello." She blushed and looked away, Sonic walked over to her.

"You're really good at singing Tikal. Hey, you know, we're having a party over at Rouge's umm... Do you want to come" He held out his hand and she looked at it for a moment and smiled. "Sure, thank you Sonic." She blushed and took his hand. With a bit of his help, she jumped down from the side of the bridge and almost fell onto her face but he caught her around the waist. "Careful." He smiled and she nodded and faced away so he couldn't see her face becoming a darker shade of pink.

"Okay see you there, it's in two days. Oh, do you know where Rouge lives" he asked and she shook her head, no.

"No problem, I'll pick you up on the night okay" Sonic smiled and as soon as Tikal nodded, he raced off. "See ya"

Two Days Later

It was around 4 pm, Tikal was slowly drifting around near the Train Station, she wore a dark purple bandana and a long sleeved blue shirt and a long purple skirt that went to her ankles, she also wore dark blue sandals. She linked her hands behind her back and swayed slightly, waiting for Sonic the hedgehog who was due to turn up any minute. At just that moment, Sonic came off of the Train and jumped clear off the high platform and landed right in front of Tikal.

"Hi, sorry I'm late." He smiled and Tikal raised her hand in greeting. "No problem." She chimed.

"Ready to go" he asked and she nodded happily, he suddenly picked her up all bridal style.

"Hold on" He grinned and Tikal squealed with excitement as he began running.

"Wow" She held onto her bandana with one hand and had her other hand wrapped around Sonic's neck, she looked around with amazement as their surrounding began to blur. If anyone saw them, they would probably look like a blue, purple and orange blur.

In mere minutes he stopped and they were in front of Rouge's club, he carefully set Tikal on her feet and she stumbled a bit before regaining her balance.

"Wow, thanks Sonic." She smiled and he gave her a thumbs up.

"No problem" He grinned, showing no signs of exhaustion from running so far so fast. Tikal felt envious, and maybe something else.

The streets were getting quiet, since it was after school hours, there were only a few people walking around from after their jobs. One amongst the people of which was watching the blue hero ever so carefully, it crept over to a dark alley and spied on them, shortly after it moved yet again until it was right behind Sonic.

"Hey! Sonic" She screamed with glee and instantly tackled Sonic, he almost lost balance but regained it before hitting the ground.

"Uhh Hey Amy." Sonic smiled but he looked a bit concerned and looked a bit around before focusing on the pink one, it seemed she was ready for the party as well, she wore a long red dress with spaghetti straps and a matching purse and shoes.

She let go of Sonic and spotted Tikal, Sonic taking advantage at this moment, ran inside. Amy was about to yell after him but decided against it and faced Tikal.

"Ooo competition." She grinned and walked inside, Tikal tilted her head as a chao would when it was confused, because she was very well confused. She didn't want to try figure out anything right about now, it was time to party after all.
Tikal walked to the door and opened it, music was blaring loudly and she almost jumped back in shock at it, Sonic was yelling at Rouge and pointing to the thing making the loud racket. Tikal stepped in and let the door close by itself, Amy was already cuddling up to Sonic and Rouge walked over to the box thing and turned a knob on it, the music started to quiet down.
Tikal sighed in relief and looked around at the others, she saw Cream and her chao's Cheese and Chocola happily taking their hands off their heads and begin to talk to each other. Big was sitting nearby Cream with his friend Froggy on his head, he opened his mouth to say something but suddenly forgot it and kept the look on his face that he was trying to think but nothing was going through. Tails was happily toying away with a small thin box thing with a name on the side saying 'Game boy Advance SP'. The guardian known as Knuckles was leaning against the wall near the door and Tikal decided to greet him first, she approached him and smiled.

"Good evening Knuckles, how are you doing" She asked and the echidna shrugged and looked to the door. "It's too loud here, if it gets any worse, I'm leaving... By the way, why are you here" Knuckles asked, both of them not really noticing his sentence was put rather cruelly.

"Sonic invited me." Just as Tikal said that, the music began its loud racket again. Knuckles yelled something and threw his hands in the air and walked out, Cream and her chao's held their heads again and Big kept that blank look on his face. Rouge was bouncing around and stopped when Sonic yelled something again, she raised her middle finger at him and continued dancing. Amy stepped over to the music box and pushed a button, the music stopped completely and everyone except Rouge sighed in relief. Amy held a microphone in her hand and grinned.

"Karaoke Time" She yelled, the speakers making her voice even louder. "Who wants to go first? No one? No one" Amy asked again and again, Tikal tilted her head when Amy pointed to her. "Tikal! Come on" Amy motioned for Tikal to step up beside her, Tikal nodded nervously and walked up beside the hyperactive hedgehog. "Umm Amy..." She asked quietly, Amy held her hand over the microphone and leaned over to her"Yea" She asked.

"What is Karaoke" Tikal blushed and Amy stared at her for quite a while.

"... Geez..." She sighed and pointed to a television"See that? You watch that and words appear on it, you just sing the words along with the beat, into this thing." Amy said and pointed to the microphone, Tikal nodded a bit, it made a little sense, might as well try it out. "Sure, I will try my best." Tikal smiled and Amy handed the microphone over to her as music began to slowly play, Tikal looked to Sonic and he nodded with a smile, Tikal nodded and turned to watch the screen.

Amy happily cuddled up to Sonic, he sweat dropped and tried to move but she had him pinned. Rouge smiled and resisted the urge to laugh or insult Tikal's knowledge of karaoke, she was stuck, it was a modern song she didn't know. Rouge walked over to the confused one and held out her hand to the microphone.

"Here Tikal, I'll take it for you." Rouge smiled and Tikal smiled brightly in return"Thank you Rouge, I was stuck there." Tikal handed the microphone over and Rouge instantly began singing to the song, everyone had to admit, she was really good at it. Tikal stepped aside and looked among her friends, Cream, Tails, Cheese and Chocola all looked like they were enjoying themselves. Big was just watching the television, not too sure on what everyone was clapping about. Amy was still cuddling up to Sonic, that's when what Amy had said made sense. Amy was in love with Sonic and Tikal was getting stuck in between them, sure, Sonic didn't show he cared for her back but it was kind of obvious to any girl of what he truly felt.

"Oh my.." Tikal murmured and quickly ran outside, not many of them noticed, except Sonic. Outside it was getting cold but Tikal really didn't pay attention, she looked to the sky and sighed loudly, he's so perfect of course he would have someone else...

Tikal sighed again and began walking down the side walk, the wind hissed cruelly down the street and it seemed clouds had joined the gloomy event as well. Her sandals made a slight clicking sound on the pavement, Tikal stopped and heard another click somewhere nearby. She turned around but saw only the street behind her, she started walking again and heard that second clicking. What was it? It wasn't behind her, it was somewhere else.

Suddenly, Tikal bumped into someone.

"Oops! Sorry si" She stopped mid sentence as she looked upon a black hedgehog that resembled Sonic somewhat as most hedgehogs would, he had glaring crimson eyes and reds stripes on his quills, arms and legs.

"Umm hello, sorry.. I wasn't watching where I was going." Tikal smiled, rather flushed and embarrassed and was about to walk past him but the hedgehog grabbed her shoulders and continued to glare at her. She started to get scared by this dark hedgehog.

"I need your power." He said in an empty echoing voice, Tikal noticed that she could see straight through the hedgehog.

"Ah! You're a ghost! How can that be! Stay away" She yelled and struggled in the hedgehog's grip, he didn't let go. His face neared hers and she tried to back away but still to no avail, his lips brushed against hers gently and he smiled demonically. He quickly pressed his lips against hers and a strange connection started between the two.

'It is the only way I can live again, do not fight me.' His dark voice whispered in her mind, Tikal felt herself becoming weaker and slowly begun to get sleepy. She wasn't going to fight, she could feel his soul dripping with pain, she closed her eyes and let her power be taken. 'Maria... The Ultimate Life form... The Eclipse Cannon... For all the people on that planet... I promise you... Revenge!' Thousands of thoughts and memories passed through her in mere seconds, it all suddenly stopped as she quickly lost consciousness.

"Tikal" Sonic had just opened the door to the club and spotted Shadow laying Tikal gently on the ground, He ran over to him. "What did you do to Tikal" Sonic demanded and the dark hedgehog smirked and clenched his fist. Shadow looked down at Tikal for a moment.

"Thank you." He muttered and turned and quickly sped off.

"Hey! Get back here Shadow! What did you do to Tikal" Sonic shook his fist in a threatening manner but soon decided he should find out what was wrong with the echidna before going off to catch Shadow. He knelt down to Tikal and lifted her head off the cold pavement... Didn't Shadow die at Ark? How is it he was still alive? The door to the club opened again and Tails stepped out, he gasped and ran over to them.

"What happened! Is Tikal alright" He asked but Sonic shook his head, he didn't know. "We should get her somewhere safe." Sonic muttered and Tails nodded. "But where's a safe place" Tails asked himself and then smiled with a slight 'hmm', Sonic looked at him. "Oh no... Not that! Anything but that"

A few minutes later

"Sure! Tikal can stay over at my apartment." Amy smiled, definitely oblivious to what had happened earlier. Cream and Cheese were having fun with the microphone and Sonic laid Tikal on a bunch of cushions, Amy looked around the club, almost everyone had left. "So like, what's wrong, did she faint or something" Amy asked and Sonic shook his head. "I don't know." He replied sadly.

"Uh huh..." Amy muttered and looked at Tikal"I wonder when she'll wake up.' She thought.

"Hey Cream! It's time for us to get back, you can go home tomorrow and Tikal's coming too." Amy yelled to the rabbit, Cream and her chao's all looked disappointed but the chao's flew over to Tikal and soon agreed it was time to go as well.

"Okay let's go everyone, Sonic" Amy yelled at the blue one"You'll have to carry Tikal." She smiled and slowly he nodded, probably expecting more. He lifted Tikal off the Cushions and Amy held the door open, Cream and her chao's walked out and Sonic also exited the club, carrying Tikal of course. Amy soon got in front of the group and led them to where she lived.

Inside Amy's Apartment

Amy's whole apartment was like a party area, pink was everywhere. Decorations sat here and there in a bizarre mix in colours to seem like it was always a happy cheerful place to be. It was. Amy directed Sonic to a guest room she had, Sonic took note of how many pictures of Amy were around the place, she was always smiling, always happy. He laid Tikal on a bed in Amy's guest room, this whole room was pink as well. Cream and her chao's quickly scurried in and stood beside the bedside to look at Tikal.

"Good night miss Tikal." Cream whispered and the chao's nodded, they quickly and quietly ran out again. Sonic sighed and walked out of the bedroom, Amy was standing nearby and she walked up beside her blue hero. "So... What happened to her" Amy asked and Sonic shrugged with yet another sigh, Amy wasn't let down so easily and she didn't think Sonic should've either. "Cheer up Sonic! Whatever happened I'm sure it wasn't your fault" Amy bounced up and down in emphasis to cheer up, Sonic rolled his eyes and smiled. "Okay, thanks Amy. Well, I'll come by tomorrow to check up on her, so see ya tomorrow." Sonic waved slightly before speeding right out of the apartment.

The next morning

"humm nmm." She murmured quite sleepily and rubbed her eyes with a balled up fist, she yawned and slowly looked around at her surroundings. It was some time in the early morning as far as she could tell from the sunlight just barely streaming through the curtains, she stood up and walked to the door and peeked out, no one was up yet and the strange design of this place had her baffled. Where was she? She walked into a living room, it had two dark pink couches and a coffee table between them, there were two windows to her right with pink curtains, the carpet and walls were both pink as well.

"Miss Tikal! You're awake" A small rabbit known as Cream ran up to Tikal and smiled in greeting, two chao flew up beside her and lifted their hands in hello in unison.

"Um.. Hello... Can you tell me where I am" Tikal asked, looking over the strange area again and again.

"Oh no! Don't tell me you have amnesia miss Tikal" Cream squeaked in her high pitched voice and Tikal shook her head.

"No, it is just, I have never been here before... That is all." She smiled and the chao's both smiled and circled her legs, Cream sighed in relief.

Tikal tried to understand what she was feeling just then, she felt a strange amount of sensations, her legs felt like they wanted to collapse, her arms needed to move and her neck had the strangest feeling on it. 'Grrr' A hollow growl rumbled from somewhere around the top of her skirt, Cream giggled.

"Are you hungry miss Tikal" She asked and Tikal tilted her head. "What" She couldn't understand it, for over 200 years she had been a spirit and never had she been hungry, what was going on? Unless... Losing her power meant...

Tikal closed her eyes and concentrated, nothing happened... She was... A normal echidna!

Dun Dun Dunnn! Tikal's a normal echidna! And what is Shadow up to? Find out next time.