Chapter Twenty-Three: Master Emerald Restored
With Knuckles, he was still in his super form, and he was flying back towards Angel Island. When he saw the Island, it was back in the sky. He was happy to see this.
"Great! The Master Emerald has been restored, and Angel Island is back to its old self." Knuckles stated in relief.
He flies up towards the Island, and flew towards the Alter of the Master Emerald. The Alter was back to its normal shape, even after Knuckles demolished it in anger. He lands in front of the Master Emerald, and changed back into his normal form.
"Now to return to my duty of guarding the Master Emerald. Thank you, Sonic, Tails, and Shadow. And thank you Tikal. I couldn't have done this without your help. I am happy that they can be happy with a woman, can't say the same about me. But I am happy for them." Knuckles thought sadly.
He was about to take his seat next to the Master Emerald, until he saw the Master Emerald glowing white. Knuckles stood there stunned.
"What is going on here?!" Knuckles wondered.
He looked into the Master Emerald, and saw a figure making their way outside. After the figure made their way out of the Emerald, the white aura surrounding the Master Emerald slowly died down. Knuckles gasped in shock when he saw who it was.
There stood a female echidna, with cobalt blue eyes, peach orange fur, she wears a white tank top, a tribal dress with beige green and red triangular patterns, white sandals with white straps, thick cobalt blue bracelets, white gloves, a gold band on her head with a blue pear, and also a gold necklace with also a blue pearl. Knuckles was shocked to see this person.
"It can't be! Tikal!" Knuckles exclaimed in shock, as a tear fell from his eye.
"Hello, Knuckles. Surprised to see me? Especially when my appearance is a lot older than you have seen before?" Tikal teased.
Knuckles ran towards Tikal, and he hugged her closely, and Tikal hugs back. Knuckles even lifted her, and playfully swung her around.
"But I don't understand, why are you here? How did you even get here? And how are you like older than the last time I saw you? You look like twenty-six." Knuckles wondered.
"Well, you have done an amazing job guarding the Master Emerald this long. So in the afterlife, they knew that you should be rewarded with something special. Or someone even. They couldn't send back a younger me, so they send me back to Mobius a lot closer to your age." Tikal explained.
"Reward me, with what? And why?" Knuckles wondered
"Because you were dedicated to save the Master Emerald, and you even took my word about what to do to retrieve it, even if the mission seemed impossible. I also heard your wishes, Knuckles, about how you wished about meeting someone, and hopefully starting a family. That is what I am here for. That was what you saw in the stars, that woman you were with and had children? That woman was me!" Tikal smiled.
"That was you? The woman of my dreams in the stars, that was you? No wonder my heart was beating like crazy the last time we spoke." Knuckles stated in surprise.
"Well, I am glad your feelings towards me is the same as mine towards you." Tikal smiled again.
Knuckles smiled back. Tikal kept her arms around Knuckles' neck, as Knuckles kept his arms around Tikal's as they stayed in front of the Master Emerald.
.
(Tikal singing)
How long would you forget me?
How long would you plan to hide your face?
All these lies my soul's now taken
My heart's at war with my faith that is shaken
But once there was a time where my hope was alive
Felt you near, you and I, could not get any closer
You would speak, I'd believe, there's no doubt that I have inside
.
(Knuckles and Tikal singing in harmony)
I want to go back, to where we all began
I want to go past, these walls that held us in
To trust what we know, feeling you so close
I now hear your heartbeat
I want to go back, back with my first love
.
(Tikal singing)
You are my first love
.
(Knuckles and Tikal singing in harmony)
How long would I forget you?
And how long could I move on like you're not here?
You bring light to my eyes in these darkest places
You bring hope in my heart when I can hardly take it
.
(Knuckles and Tikal singing, Knuckles improvising)
I want to go back, to where we all began (I want to go back)
I want to go past, these walls that held us in (I want to go past)
To trust what we know, feeling you so close ( I want to trust you)
I now hear your heartbeat
I want to go back, back with my first love (I want to go back)
.
(Knuckles singing)
I have revival
Now, let the fire fall
(Tikal singing)
I've long to feel again
The touch of your hands
(Knuckles singing)
I need a breakthrough
You've helped me to trust You
.
(Tikal singing)
Knuckles, you've restore my passion
I want to go back, to where we all began
I want to go past, these walls that held us in
.
(Knuckles and Tikal singing/improvising)
I want to go back, to where we all began (Go back)
I want to go past, these walls that held us in ( I want to go past)
(That has held me in)
To trust what we know, feeling you so close (I want to trust you)
I now hear your heartbeat
I want to go back, back with my first love (I want to go back)
.
(Knuckles singing)
Tikal
(Tikal singing)
You are my first love
Knuckles, oh
.
Suddenly, the Alter of the Master Emerald changed its appearance. It was no longer an Alter, it was a palace. It felt more like a castle than an alter. Knuckles looked around wondering what this was all about.
"What has happened?!" Knuckles wondered.
"Well, we can't live at an Alter, can we? The after life awarded you with a palace, me, and your tribe. Look into the Master Emerald." Tikal explained.
Knuckles looked at the Master Emerald, and saw there was a lot of people on the island. Families, friends, and many more. Knuckles was surprised as tears fell from his eyes, he then looks towards Tikal, who also sheds happy tears.
"I love you, Tikal." Knuckles told her.
"I love you too, Knuckles." Tikal replied.
Knuckles then drew his head closer to Tikal, and placed his lips on Tikal's for a loving passionate kiss. The same white aura was flowing from both Knuckles and Tikal, and neither of them noticed. Even if they did notice it, they wouldn't care, the moment they share at this moment was all that mattered. Knuckles' tribe has returned, and he gets to spend all eternity with Tikal.