NOTE: As usual, I'm not a member of SEGA. I don't own the characters. Unless I have the sudden urge for own characters.

Little pink rose: Thanks for the review. To answer your question, only memories of Sonic and Shadow are in the story. Unlike my Meeting At The Sunset story, the two will be unable to return to life like Cream did. Unless….grins

And now, Knuckles narrates. (How I managed to pass off as Amy I DON'T know.)

Eternal Struggle

Chapter 2: Memories and Love

The explosion had took place. Nothing more could be done. Me and Tikal, along with Amy, Tiara, and everyone else, could only watch as the blast ripped through half of Station Square, leaving nothing in it's place. Sonic and Shadow were killed instantly.

As the population slowly returned, the four of us, Tails, Cream, Rouge, Omega and the Chaotix Detectives stayed at the hill where we were safe. Safe, yes maybe. But we were torn apart. Amy and Tiara suffered the most.

As the days progressed, one by one, we started getting over the deaths of our friends. We knew Amy and Tiara couldn't, but what we did was wrong. We couldn't find a way to help them. So we left them. I regret that forever.

When the day of the funeral had passed, me and Tikal made our way back to our apartment, as it was part of one of the blocks that managed to survive the destruction.

A full two years had passed since the event. In light of it, money and income had become hard because of the repairs to the city and sewer system.

Tikal had just got home from work. She was a kindergarten teacher now. She loved the job, as it reminded her of the Chao back from her time. She hung up her jacket and sat down in the chair opposite me, exhausted. But I could see there was just a little more than exhaustion in her face.

"You okay Tikal?" I asked her, worried about her of course. She sat there, a blank expression taking her face, when she suddenly burst into tears. I looked at her confused, then ran over to her to comfort her. Amidst the sobs, I managed to hear her well.

"It's buh-been a y-year." She squeaked. I looked at the calendar we had on the wall. April 23rd. The same day as since the Chaos Explosion. Trying to keep back my tears, I held her close by me, stroking her quills trying t get her to relax.

Somehow, she broke free and ran straight for the bedroom. I just watched her, before deciding to follow her. I found her on the bed, still crying. Tears now started streaming from my eyes. I sat down next to her, putting a hand round her shoulder.

It had been hard for us recently. We were finding it hard to admit our feelings for each other. Income was becoming a bit of a problem. We were also deciding on when we would start up contact with Amy and Tiara again. I did just that while Tikal was at work.

"Why did they have to go?" She squeaked amidst the sobs. I then remembered the full argument we had with Sonic and Shadow on that day.

Flashback:

Tails, Shadow, Amy, Tikal, Tiara, Rouge, Cream, Omega and the Chaotix with a few members of the public were stood around me, Sonic and the Chaos Emeralds.

"Sonic, you and Shadow can't take that beast alone." I said. "It's suicide."

"And you're suggesting that we sit here and wait for it to kill us?" he shouted at me.

"I'm saying that you need help." I offered.

"We can take it." Shadow said softly.

"Besides, where were you when we stopped that Prototype from destroying the world?" Sonic spat. "You had as much reason to harness the Emeralds power as me and Shadow did! You were practically in the same room!"

"I couldn't." I replied. "It was my duty to get the Emeralds away from the core of the ARK."

"WELL THEN WE DON'T NEED YOU!" Sonic exploded in my face.

"SONIC!" Amy's voice took over. "Stop this now!"

He calmed down at her words, then apologized to me. Then, in a flash, him and Shadow became Super and rushed off to battle.

Normal Time:

More tears came from my eyes. I brought Tikal close to me. I tried to get her to calm down. But it seemed impossible with our lives seemingly separating. But there was only one way I could fix this. Luckily, I had the item for just a short while now, and we had been together long enough. But I kept postponing. An idiot's choice I admit.

Letting go of her, I got off the bed and kneeled in front of her. She looked at me, slightly confused. I was scared with what I was about to do, but it had to be done.

"Tikal." I started, trying to keep my voice a normal as possible. "We've been together for near on three years now, we've come through a lot and we stayed together what happened. I love you, always have done, always will do."

I pulled out a small sapphire blue box from my jean pocket, then held it open between Tikal and myself. She looked in awe at the item inside. It was a ring, yes, but it had jewels much similar to those of the Emeralds. She then looked back at me.

"Will you marry me?" I asked her.

More tears came from her eyes as she threw herself at me, hugging me tightly. When she let go, she managed to say something.

"Yes." I smiled at her, taking the ring out of the box and placing it on her finger. She then kissed me instantly. After we separated, she managed to say something else.

"I love you too Knuckles. Always and forever."

I moved back onto the bed, and held her close to me, our struggle now at an end. We had each other, and no one could stop us from being happy.