CHAPTER 4

When Knuckles came back to the spot where she stood Tikal said, "Knuckles, I think we'd better head back to the shrine."

"Why?" he wanted to know.

"I have this feeling that something is wrong there," she clasped her hands in front of her, "Please, may we please go back?" she pleaded.

He hesitated a moment then gave in. "Oh, all right."

They retraced their steps.

Tikal was the first to arrive. She immediatly ran to the top of the stairs. She came to a stop at the top and gasped.

"What?" Knuckles asked, coming up behind her.

Tikal sank to her knees and picked up a shard of the Master Emerald. It was plain to see what the problem was but she made it known anyway. "Chaos is gone."

Knuckles had the sudden feeling of guilt, like it was his fault. If he hadn't of been so deperate to find those shards this never would have happened. If only I had waited until he'd woken up, the male echidna thought, if I had he could have come with us.

He heard the sound of sniffling and looked down. He saw Tikal wipe away some tears.

"Hey, are you okay?" he asked, kneeling down beside her.

Tikal shook her head. "No, I'm not okay," she said.

"What's wrong?"
"This is all my fault," she said bitterly, "if it hadn't been for the awakening of my spirit this never would have happened."
"Aw, c'mon Tik," Knuckles said, putting his hand under her chin and making her look at him, "it wasn't your fault."

"Yes, it was." she insisted.

"Tikal, you need to stop blaming yourself for everything, "he went on, "it's not your fault. It's mine. I should have waited until he woke up."
"But I should have stayed with him," she objested, "I could have protected him."

"It's not your fault," Knuckles interrupted sharply.

Tikal stared at him startled. She could never stand it when people yelled at her. She had to get away.

Before Knuckles could do anything to stop her the female echidna got up and dashed off.

"Tikal, wait!" he called after her.

Tikal ignored him and kept going.

Knuckles watched her until she'd disappeared into the trees then sat down. He felt terrible. Once again his temper had gotten the better of him. I wish I could just keep my big fat mouth shut for once, he thought angrily, poor Tikal. I hope she'll be okay.

Tikal ran until she stumbled and fell, scraping her knee on a sharp stone. She let out a small cry then got on her hands and knees and tried to catch her breath.

As she knelt there she thought about what Knuckles had said. It wasn't his fault, she thought shaking her head, it was mine. I should have stayed at the shrine. If I had Chaos would never have disappeared.

She sat back and looked at the shard she still held in her hand. Maybe if she concentrated real hard she'd get an idea on where the Chao Guardian was. Well, there's no sense in not trying, she thought.

She closed her eyes and concentrated. Nothing came. She let her hand drop with a sigh. It was hopeless.

Maybe I'd better ask Knuckles to help me. Then again he only cares about the Master Emerald. He probably won't help me even if I ask him.

Tikal stood. I might as well go back anyway. He may be worried about me.

The female echidna slowly began to walk back to the shrine.

As she walked she suddenly heard a voice calling her name. "Tikal! Tikal were are you?!"

"Knuckles?" she said to herself. "is he actually looking for me?"

"Over here!" she shouted.

A moment later Knuckles came crahing out of the trees and ran up to her. "Tikal, why did you run off?" he asked, putting his hands on her shoulders and shaking her in anger and relief, "don't you know it's dangerous out here?"

"I'm sorry," she said, "I just needed to be alone for awhile. I didn't mean to worry you."

"That's okay, I guees," he said. He stopped shaking her and hugged her instead, "I'm glad you're okay, but I think we should get back to the shrine. It's dangerous out here in the jungle. Who knows what might have happened to you."

Knuckles let her go and waited for a reaction. She nodded. "I think you're right," she agreed, "let's go."

They headed back.

When they arrived they sat down on the bottom step but didn't say anything to each other. The two had other things to think about. Things they couldn't discuse with each other.

Maybe I'm wrong, she thought, maybe it wasn't my fault that had happened at all.

She looked up at the sky her thoughts wandering places she'd never let them go. They even seemed to drift back in time to when her father had tried to steal the Chaos Emeralds from Chaos. He ended up meeting his doom thanks to his own greed.

And I couldn't stop it, she thouhgt sadly, shaking her head, he wouldn't listen to me and now he's gone. It was his own fault not mine.

Then Tikal felt guilty for thinking such a thing and shook her head. How dare she think that about her own father. What was wrong with her?

Maybe I should just stop thinking about it. It's gone and done with. There's no need to dwell on it.

She tried to stop thinking about it, even so, it still bothered her. I'd better try something else. Like helping Knuckles find those Emerald shards and get Chaos back.

Tikal stood up and grabbed Knuckles hand. "Come on," she said.

He looked up at her. "What?" he asked, staring at her like she was weird.

"We are going to find those shards together," Tikal said with determination, "and we must find Chaos before something bad happens to him."

Knuckles face showed surprise. "You actually want to help me?"

"Sure why not?" she said, "there's nothing else to can do."

"All right," Knuckles said uncertainly.

"Good," Tikal said, jerking him into a standing postion, "now let's go."

She practicully drug him from the shrine.

"Uh, Knuckles before we get too far I eed to know soething," she said.

"Yeah?"

"Who do you think could have taken Chaos?"

"Probably Eggman."

"Hmm.."

"What I don't understand is why did Eggman take Chaos anyway, " Knuckles said as they ran, "after what happened before you'd think he would know better."

"I don't know," she said, "but I never met Eggman so I don't know. Maybe he didn't learn his lesson."

"Maybe," Knuckles said.

Tikal didn't reply to that. She was thinking. Why would Eggman want Chaos again? What use is he to him anyway? If I ever meet Eggman I'll have to ask him and find out. But what if he doesn't ask my questions? Then what am I going to do?

She glanced over at Knuckles wondering if she should ask him but thought better of it. He might not like the question since he doesn't seem to like Eggman. She could understand. After what the scientist had done to him she couldn't balme him..

It really doesn't matter if I don't talk to him though, she thought, all I care about is getting my freind back before something bad happends to him. Oh Chaos, I hope you're all right.

For awhile both echidans didn't say anything. Knuckles didn't bother saying anything anyway. He had other things on his mind. Mostly the Master Emerald and how was he going to find all the pieces.

I wonder if Rouge stole some of them, he thought, maybe that's why they're scattered.

He felt himself getting angry. That rotten bat girl could never keep her grubby hands to herself.

His grip tightented on Tikal's hand as he ran even faster. Just wait until I get my hands on that not good-

"Knuckles," Tikals voice broke into his thoughts.

He looked at her. "What?" he demanded.

"You're crushing my hand," she replied.

Knuckles looked down at her hand. It indeed looked crushed. "Sorry," he said loosening his grip.

"It's all right," she said rubbing it, "it wasn't tour fault."

There she goes again, he thought.

"I hope I didn't hurt your hand too bad," he said in concern.

"No, it's fine," she said flexing it to prove it. "see."

Suddenly the earth began to shake and they heard a loud rumble. "What is that?" she asked holding Knuckles arm for balance.

"The island is falling," Knuckles exclaimed, "without the Master Emerald's power this place is just like like any other island. For some reason the reaction took longer then usual."

Tikal lost her balance and fell into him. Knuckles caught her in his arms and held her up. Before she could open her mouth to thank him or ask questions they heard a loud: BOOM!

The whole island rocked and swayed. The chaos was so bad it knocked them over.