CHAPTER 8

The servers are the seven Chaos

Chaos is power

Power is Enriched by the Heart

The controler serves to unify the Chaos

"The Master Emerald controls them all."

Tikal rolled on her side. She couldn't sleep. She was thinking about her family. Her father and her grandmother. "Why father?" she whispered remembering what had happened again. "Why didn't you listen to me?"

"Tikal," came a voice at her elbow.

She rolled over to address the speaker. Knuckles was staring down at her concerned. "Are you all right?"

She nodded. "I'm just thinking about something."

"If you don't mind my asking. What?"

"Just about what happened in my time."

"Oh. I see."

She sat up. "I don't know why that incident bothers me so much," she said. "For some reason I keep blaming myself for it. Is that natural?"

"I believe it is."

He put his uninjured arm around her shoulder. "Don't worry about it, Tik," he said softly. "It wasn't your fault."

"But Chaos..." she began.

"What about him?"

"Eggman wouldn't, couldn't, have captured him if I had stayed with him at the shrine."

"Tikal, don't worry about it," he said making her look at him. "That wasn't your fault. Look, we have two more places to look for shards. Night Babylon and the Emerald Beach. Once we find them all and restore the Master Emerald I promise we'll go find Eggman and get Chaos back."

"But you saw him in Station Square," Tikal said. "He was in his second form. Don't forget what he did to your arm. What if he's bigger? What if he hurts more then that next time?"

Knuckles glanced down at the sling. "He's not going to. Don't worry about it. He's your best friend. I know he didn't mean it. I think Eggman might have brain washed him or something."

That only upset her more. Knuckles rested her head against his chest in a comforting hug. "Don't worry," he said soothingly as he rubbed her back comfortingly. "No matter what Eggman did to him we can always undo it."

"I hope so," she said softly.

The next morning the two echidnas left before Tails woke up. They knew they had to head back to the city to find the rest of the Master Emerald shards and it would take them awhile before they got there. They had to get an early start.

The two climbed the stairs to the train station. When they reached the top they began walking back the way they came.

Awhile later they arrived back in Station Square.

"Which way is Night Babylon?" Tikal asked, when they stopped to rest for a few minutes next to the Train Station entrance.

Knuckles pointed. "That way just past Central City."

He started walking again. She quickly followed not wanting to be left behind.

When they arrived in Night Babylon Knuckles said. "This place is dangerous, so be careful. If you happen to run into a sneaky little bat girl get away from her as soon as possible, okay?"

The echidna princess nodded indicating she understood. "Okay."

"Let's split up. We'll cover more ground that way."

Tikal only nodded again, even though she didn't really want to split up again. She looked down at the staff. I wonder what I'll find this time? She didn't want to tell him how she felt though. He might think I'm being a baby.

"Tikal?" he said looking back at her.

"I'm okay."

"All right. Let's begin."

They headed in different directions.

As Tikal searched every alley and building for the shards she began to get the feeling that she was being watched. Whenever she looked around she saw no one though. I must be imaging it, she figured and tried to ignore the feeling even though it stayed.

Tikal noticed an Emerald shard laying on the ground. Finally! She ran up to it and reached down to pick it up.

Some one grabbed it then slapped her hand.

Tikal gasped in shock and pain. She looked around. No one. She still sensed someone though. She could just feel them staring at her grinning and laughing mockingly.

"I know you're out there!" she shouted keeping her voice steady. "Show yourself!"

Someone stepped out of the shadows. It was a bat in a purple and pink jump suit.

"Who are you?" Tikal asked.

The bat tossed the Emerald shard up and down in her left hand as she studied the female echidna with her green/blue eyes. "My name is Rouge the bat," she said. "And who are you I might ask?"

"I-I'm Tikal," the echidna princess said.

Rouge studied Tikal a moment londer. "Hmm, an echidna," she said softly. "You wouldn't happen to know Knuckles would you?"

"Yes," Tikal replied defensivly. "Why do you ask?"

"Oh, nevermind," Rouge said chuckling.

"What?" Tikal pressed. "What's so funny?"

Rouge walked up to Tikal for a closer look. She circled her grinning. "What are you doing?" Tikal asked, as she began to feel nervous.

Rouge smirked. "Just as I thought!" she proclaimed, as if she had just dicovered the cure for cancer.

"What?"

"You, honey, have been around the Master Emerald!"

"So?"

Rouge folded her arms and scowled. "Knuckles never lets anyone near that thing," she explained. "How could someone that looks like you be able to see it?"

Why is she being so arrogant to me? Tikal stared at Rouge. She began to remember something Knuckles had said about someone trying to steal the Master Emerald all the time. He had said it was a bat. Was it Rouge?

"Are you a thief?" she asked carefully.

Rouge put her hands on her hips. "So you've noticed," she said snidely.

"So you're the one Knuckles mention," Tikal said, beginning to feel a pang of anger rising inside her. "The one who won't stop trying to steal the Master Emerald."

"She can be taught," Rouge said rolling her eyes. Then she said. "So what?"

"You shouldn't be doing that."

"How come?"

I don't want to tell her but I have to. Maybe she'll understand a little. "If you did you'd also be kidnapping."

"Huh? What are you babbling about?"

"I and another person were sealed in the Master Emerald. We had been for over four hundred years."

Rouge stared at her a moment longer. By the look on her face, Tikal could tell the bat had something else to insult her about. "So that's why you look so different. Those cloths are way out dated."

Tikal was surprised at the bat's attitude. She'd never met anyone so rude in all her life. She doesn't understand a thing I told her either.

"Hey," Tikal said putting a hand on her hip. "That's not very nice."

"And neither am I," Rouge said.

"Look, I'm not here to get in a fight with you," Tikal said, trying to keep things peaceful. "I'm only here to help Knuckles find the pieces of the Master Emerald."

"What are you? His sister or something?" the bat asked.

"No, we're not even related. We're just from the same tribe."

"I should have figured. You smell bad too. Don't tell me you're his new girlfriend. Figures you're ment for each other!"

This affended Tikal. What's her problem? Why is she being so rude? She doesn't even know me!

In a sudden flash of temper peaceful Tikal raised her fist and punched Rouge right in the face. The bat fell on the pavement, a look of surprise on her face.

"Maybe that will teach you some manners," Tikal said standing over her.

"HOW DARE YOU!" Rouge shrieked, pouncing on Tikal and scratching at her face.

"I dare!" Tikal screamed raising that staff in both hands. "TAKE THIS!"

She brought it down on Rouge's head. "OWWWWWWW! YOU'RE GOING TO REGRET THAT!"

A fight broke out.

Knuckles heard a crashing sound coming from the direction of Club Rouge. It didn't take long for him to figure out what it was.

"Uh oh, looks like Rouge finally met Tikal," he said out loud.

The red echidna ran toward the club. "I just hope she doesn't beat her up too much!"

When he reached the club he stopped in his tracks and stared. "I can't believe it!"

He found Tikal, sweet peaceful Tikal, sitting on top of Rouge punching her in the face.

Well I didn't expect this!

When Rouge saw Knuckles standing there staring she screamed. "GET HER OFF ME!"

Knuckles rushed over and pulled the echidna princess off the bat.

Rouge shot into the air. "Keep her away from me!" the bat shrieked, her eyes as big as plates. "She tried to kill me!"

Knuckles looked at Tikal who had calmed down. "What happened?" he asked.

The echidna princess hung her head. "She insulted me and I lost my temper. I- I punched her in the face."

"She hit me with that ugly stick too," Rouge put in. "Knuckles, you should really stop dating wild ones."

"She's not my girlfriend!" the Master Emerald guardian shouted.

"Oh," Rouge said, landing. "Whatever you say."

I can tell by that that she doesn't believe me. Well who cares what she thinks? "Look, Rouge, I'm sorry that Tikal attacked you," he went on. "The only reason we are here is to find the pieces of the Master Emerald."

"Oh, so she was telling the truth," Rouge said. She reached into her cloths and pulled something out. "Here."

Knuckles took the shard. "Thank you," he said.

Rouge turned away. "It really doesn't matter anyway," she said. "I like complete gems. I have no use for it."

The bat flew away. "Farewell!"

When she was gone Knuckles looked at Tikal. The echidna princess had her head down. "Tikal," he said.

She looked up at him. "Knuckles, I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"For doing that to her. Please forgive me."

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

She make a confused face. "Isn't she your girlfriend?"

"No! Why would she?"

"I don't know. I just thought..."

Knuckles took her hand. "I'm not in love with Rouge. I'm not really in love with anyone. Besides Rouge is taken. Even if she weren't I wouldn't go out with her."

Tikal sighed. For some reason these words made her feel a whole lot better.

"Is that the last shard?' she asked changing the subject.

Knuckles shook his head. "I can sense more around here. I have a feeling Rouge lied and she has more."

"How can you be sure?"

"Because she seemed a bit nervous before she flew away," he replied. "I think we'd better check out Club Rouge while we're here."

"Where is it?"

"Right there," he said pointing.

Tikal looked in the direction his finger indicated. She saw a one story building with a huge neon sign that proclaimed: CLUB ROUGE. They were standing right next to it.

"Looks deserted," she commented. "How would Rouge get in without us seeing her?"

"The back," he said. Then to her comment he added. "I think Rouge and Shadow are in there."

"Who's Shadow?'

"A black hedgehog people mistake for Sonic even though they don't look a thing alike."

"Oh."

"Let's go," he said jerking on her hand.

In two steps they were at the front door. Knuckles banged on it. "Hey, open up!" he shouted.

The door opened a minute later. The two echidnas stepped back. A black hedgehog stepped out.

"Knuckles knock it off. What do you want?" the hedgehog demanded.

"I want the rest of my Master Emerald, Shadow!" the red echidna explained. "I know you and Rouge have them in there!"

Shadow leaned against the door frame and crossed his arms. "If we do I don't know anything about it," he said. Then he noticed Tikal. "By the way while you're here, why don't you introduce me to your new girl friend."

"She's not my girlfriend," Knuckles muttered so no one could hear.

"I'm Tikal," the echidna princess said.

Shadow smiled slightly. What a cute little girl. "Pleased to meet you. My name is Shadow. I'm the world's Ultimate Life Form."

"Do you have to tell that to everyone?" Knuckles demanded.

"No, just to those who don't know," Shadow said simply, as if that was obvious.

"What's an Ultimate Life Form?" Tikal asked.

"Somebody who can't die," Knuckles said shortly.

"So you're immortal?" Tikal asked, staring at Shadow in awe.

The black hedgehog nodded.

"Uh, Shadow, we really need those shards," Knuckles cut in. "Could you ask Rouge to give them to us? I know she has them even if you don't."

Shadow shrugged. "I can try. I don't know if it will do any good. Rouge rarely gives back anything she steals."

"Just ask her!"

"Okay! And don't even think of blowing up at me!"

Shadow turned around in a huff. Before Knuckles could say anthing more the black hedgehog went back inside the building.

A few minutes later Shadow came back out. He held about five Master Emerald shards. "Here you go," he said, handing them to Knuckles. "When I told her who was outside she went crazy and said something about a princess beating her up and just handed them over. I wonder who she was talking about."

Knuckles chuckled.

"Tell Rouge I am sorry about that," Tikal said.

Shadow stared at her. "You mean you did that to her?" he asked.

Tikal nodded and looked at her sandled feet. "I am very sorry about that."

Shadow didn't say anything more. She heard him give a short chuckle. Then he turned and stepped back inside the club shutting the door behind him.