I love this chapter. Why? Because we are literally only chapters away to a reunion. Which reunion? Well, that's spoilers. Shh…

Reviews!

StarlightSparks: ...I don't know what spoiler we're talking about. But glad you enjoyed it. Sonic grabbing for his life was my favorite part as well. That… was amazing. PUNS. I'm terrible at puns.

ultimateCCC: If you think he's bad here, you should see him in Miles from Home… unless you've already read that.

gwencarson126: I love Sonic and Tails brother moments. It's adorable… Thanks!

KyubiMaster9: If it's not a word, it should be. Spazzy.

That Speedhunter: I'm sorry that it's a little hard to keep track of. Two story lines will be melding soon so it will get easier. Then it turns into one storyline. If it get's too confusing, my suggestion is to go back and read by POV's. Not chapter. So, all of Sonic's, then Sonia's, then Manic's. … I don't know what Need For Speed is. Sorry.

Autumn: Yay! Tails!

juancastri11: I'm glad you're enjoying the 'updated' characters. Are Manic and Sonia now tolerable? Halo and I have been working hard on character development (it's really fun!).

Alright, now let's head back to poor Sonia who's been stuck on Angel Island for past two chapters

Sofia's POV:

Three full outfits were all sketched out and I was working on the fourth when I finally glanced at my watch. It had been over an hour since Knuckles had left the island. To be completely honest, I didn't really care that he had been pulled away. I mean, come on- it's his job! Whatever it is… A Guardian has to make a living, right? Besides, it was nice to catch up on my fashion designs. I couldn't recall the last time I had been able to draw this much in total silence.

I was well prepared to draw until five before becoming worried about Knuckles returning very, very late. Turned out I didn't have to wait that long for an echidna to show up. It just wasn't the one I was expecting.

I had just finished shading the skirt on my fourth dress when a sudden, "Good afternoon," made me slip and ruin the drawing.

"Ah!" I whirled around and pulled out my gun from my purse. Almost forgot I even had that thing.

A female echidna was standing in front of the Master emerald, her hands hanging at her sides. She was a lighter red than Knuckles and was wearing a tribal outfit of some sort. Her skirt was a light green, red, and light green diamond pattern and she wore a white tank-top with a golden necklace/neckline that seemed to have jewels embedded in it. Her right arm had a golden armband and her hands had white gloves and blue bracelets. The shoes were simply white and wrapped up her legs. White bands were wrapped around her locks that were held back by a gold headband, also containing a jewel.

I stood up and backed up slightly, "Who are you? How did you get here? What-"

The woman held out her hands out, palms up, "I am sorry. I did not mean to startle you. I am Tikal, a Guardian of Chaos."

I stared at her, a little suspicious, "Knuckles didn't mention you."

"I don't usually appear to strangers, but I wanted to meet the girl Knuckles is crazy about and Chaos seems to have a peculiar interest in you."

"What do you mean?" My interest was caught, but I didn't lower the gun.

Tikal motioned at the emerald, which seemed to be glowing a little brighter than last time I glanced at it, "Chaos is very pleased with your actions in life, Sonia."

Okay… creepy girl telling me that a spirit is pleased with- wait did she say, Sonia?

"My name is Sofia," I looked a little nervous and glanced behind me. Where was Knuckles?

Tikal smiled, "Not according to Chaos. Sonia Aleena Hedgehog. A lovely name, if I may say so."

I'm not an idiot. When some lady says she's sent from Chaos and somehow knows my full name, then I'm going to believe her. I lowered the gun and hesitantly sat on the top step of the shrine, "You really are a Guardian, aren't you?"

Tikal smiled, "I'm sorry again for frightening you. I understand your uneasiness. Although with your abilities, I'm a bit surprised at your reaction."

"How much do you know about me?" I asked.

"As much as Chaos told me. Your name and your gifts was the most detailed he got."

"At least he spared me my private life."

"No, Knuckles told me about that."

I rolled my eyes. Of course he did. "Well, you apparently know about me. Who are you? And how come Knuckles hasn't mentioned you?"

Tikal went on to explain how she lived inside the Master Emerald with Chaos and how she helped out when Chaos gets unleashed in a bad mood. Apparently that happened a few years ago which when she met Knuckles face to face the first time. Since then, she showed up a few times to keep Knuckles company and gave him pointers or help with recent Chaos Emerald problems (whatever that meant). By the time she was done explaining, it had been almost two hours since Knuckles had left.

"Wonder what's keeping him," I asked aloud.

Tikal frowned, "Not sure… usually it doesn't take this long to defeat Robotnik."

"Do what now?"

"Oh, that's right. Knuckles hadn't gotten there yet. It's a long story, but I'll shorten it down. There is an evil man who is trying to take over the world and Knuckles helps GUN keep him in line and attempt to bring him in."

"Uh… well, now I'm glad I sent him. Sounds important." I pulled my knees up to my chest and stared out at the scenery. "Does Knuckles...like me?"

Tikal looked a little surprised, "Of course he does! Why would you think that?"

"Well… I just am trying to figure things out myself. This is the first time I've actually dated a guy like him- heck, a guy- and I have no idea what to do sometimes. He's just so… sweet and kind and such a gentleman. Not at all what I'm used to."

Tikal sat down next to me and placed her hands in her lap, "You should have heard him when he came home after that first day you met. He was just as confused as you are now. Knuckles debated for days if he should call you. I finally told him to just get it over with."

I smiled. I could practically see Knuckles nervously pacing around the emerald with his phone trying to figure it out and get the courage to dial the number. "At least I'm not the only nervous one."

We laughed and continued chatting. I finally got the courage to ask Tikal what she knew about my abilities, as I didn't understand them myself.

What I received was very insightful indeed.

"You are descended from a chosen champion of Chaos. Chaos energy runs through your veins, blessing your family with special abilities. You inherited the ability to see visions of past, present, and future. Chaos energy is generally what will set the visions off, but sometimes they can just come. Take your most recent vision for instance. Knuckles had an emerald on him at the time. Close proximity made a vision occur."

Well… that explained a lot, "But back in my village, I always had them. Almost every day."

"That… is difficult to explain. I am forbidden to say the reason, but your Uncle may have some answers to that riddle."

"Uncle Chuck hates my abilities! Why would he keep me somewhere that they'll go off?"

"He probably didn't know. You're Uncle has strayed far from his chosen path."

I frowned, "What do you mean?"

Tikal shook her head, "I'm forbidden to say."

"... Great."

"Don't take offense from it," the echidna stood up, "Chaos is very protective of his secrets."

"What about Manic? Does he have powers?" I often suspected that my brother was hiding something from me.

"Yes, but not in the same way as you. Chaos is not as pleased with his use of them."

I groaned, "Any destruction of property or loss of life?" Don't give me that look- I remembered his antics from when we were kids like it was yesterday.

"You'll have to ask him when you see him. Chaos is much more pleased with your elder brother."

My eyes blinked at her, a little confused. I smiled sadly, "Yes, Maurice did save us, didn't he? His speed was very useful…. I miss him."

"He misses you as well," Tikal frowned slightly. "Pardon, but why do you say, 'was'?"

"Well, um… he died. A long time ago." Now I was really confused.

Tikal frowned, "Chaos instructs me to ask, 'Are you sure?'"

Of course I was sure! Why wouldn't I be sure? My mind was swimming slightly. This was getting very strange, very fast.

"You knew Manic was alive, even though he has been missing for many years. A triplet intuition, if you will. Did you ever feel your brother leave to the afterlife?"

I stared at her, "I was six! How am I supposed to know if-"

Tikal took my hands gently and smiled, "Close your eyes and concentrate. What does your heart tell you?"

My instincts took over. Slowly, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I cleared my mind and focused. I am unable to describe what I did exactly, but a sudden warmth seemed to fill my heart and my eyes flew open.

Maurice was alive.

Oh my Chaos…

"Tikal… I-" I couldn't finish, but felt the tears start to come.

Tikal looked concerned, "Sonia, are you al-" she stiffened and her hands flew up around my wrists, her grip suddenly turned to iron. Her eyes glowed green.

My vision from a few weeks ago suddenly came back to me. Female echidna with green eyes… Oh Chaos. Frantically, I tried to yank away, but to no avail. The one time I don't listen to my visions!

Tikal's voice pulled my attention. It was hollow and fierce, speaking with with an unyielding power.

"The Darkness is growing

The Eldest Lives

It has been left Unguarded"

I continued to struggle, but Tikal's grip was too tight, unyielding and unwilling to let go. She continued,

"Favorite of mine

Listen well to warnings

As the trail grows faint

Return to the beginning

Although the Future you may see

You can never turn it

Family must be cleaved to

It is easily lost

Trust in those you love

At times they know more than you

Do not underestimate the Darkness

It will kill"

My resistance finally stopped and I just stared at the Guardian, my terror and wonder growing continuously stronger.

Favorite of mine

Remain strong and remember:

You are one of

My Chosen"

I felt my skin seem to go cold and my mind almost exploded with visions blurred.

Maurice screamed and fell to his hands and knees as a ring of energy thrust outward.

The old ruins stood hidden in the greenery. Manic grabbed my arm, "Maybe we shouldn't do this…"

I stood in a hospital room staring a beeping machine that barely made any noise. A black and red hedgehog occupied the bed, complete with life support systems and bandages wrapped around his head and chest.

Manic suddenly whirled around and smacked me, "Shut up!"

I let out a cry of pain and fell to the ground, the tears already trying to escape.

Someone wrapped their hands around my throat and I felt my airway close off. Manic's screams of terror filled my ears and pain shot to my brain making me want to scream, but was unable to. Then it all suddenly stopped. The sound and pain vanished.

I still wasn't breathing.

Everything went black.

Knuckles POV:

I leave my island for two hours and what happens? I almost die and come back to find my girlfriend unconscious on the ground next to the Master Emerald and a solid Tikal.

DID I MISS SOMETHING HERE?

"Tikal!" I shouted, running to Sonia's body. Maybe… if I was lucky… she was just having one of her migranes. Yeah, that was it. This was just a bad spell. She'd be fine.

Unless…

I whipped around to face Tikal. "Did she touch the Emerald?"

Tikal looked just as scared as I felt, but she shook her head. "N-no!"

"Did she hit her head?"

"No-"

"Did she eat anything from any of the plants?"

"No-"

"Then what happened?"

Tikal shut her eyes and breathed deeply, pressing her palms together for a moment, remaining silent except for her slow, calming breaths.

"Tikal!" I shouted. "We don't have time for this! What- happened?"

"Soni- Sofia… she, erm… how do I put this tactfully…?" said Tikal slowly. "I'm not exactly sure."

"What do you mean you're 'not exactly sure'?"

"We were just talking and I blacked out for a second. When I came to, she was just… like this," she spread her arms out towards the still girl.

Two things about that sentence were off, "You were talking to her?"

"...Yes."

"Why?"

Tikal bit her lip and looked down, "It's complicated. I don't understand it completely, myself."

In other words, 'I'm not entirely sure what happened and even if I did know I can't tell you'.

I knelt down and gently checked Sofia for injuries, "The black out. Why did you black out?"

"Chaos did something. I felt the surge in energy, then… this."

Chaos surges could be very harmful to the living, especially if not used to the exposure. My heart picked up again and I scooped the girl up into my arms. "I'm taking her to the hut to see if she'll improve. You," I glared at the Guardian, "and I are going to have a chat later."

Tikal gave a small nod of acknowledgement and bowed. Then she simply vanished.

I jogged through the forest with Sofia in my arms, holding her tight. I was glad my hut wasn't too far from the Master Emerald, only a little ways off from the shrine. Chaos, if she wasn't okay… she's going to break up with me after this. I'd break up with me after this. Amy was right. Great idea, bringing her to the island and leaving her by herself! Now your (possibly soon-to-be ex) girlfriend is unconcious! Way to go!

I made it back to my hut in record time. It wasn't anything special, just a place I had built for shelter from any storms passing over the island. Inside was a makeshift bed, some food storage, and a pile of dry logs, along with a small arsenal of ropes, spears, and carved stone knives I had made myself.

I laid Sofia down gently on the bed and began to frantically pace. What do you do when your girlfriend passes out from unknown reasons? Give her medicine? Fresh air? An electric shock? I was freaking out.

Chaos must have been feeling very generous today. Sofia moaned then slowly opened her eyes, looking very confused.

I knelt down and frowned, "Hey… um, you okay?"

She blinked, "Where…" her voice trailed off as her brow furrowed with concentration.

"You were passed out by the Master Emerald," I rubbed my hands together, "Did you have an episode or…?"

Sofia blinked again, then her eyes grew wide and she looked a little frantic. "Oh Chaos…" her hands flew up to her mouth and she went pale.

I began to apologize for leaving her alone, but trailed off as I noted she wasn't paying attention, but seemed to be a million miles away. As gently as possible, I placed my hand on her arm, "Are you okay? Do you need a doctor? Sofi, what's wrong?"

Sofia opened her mouth but no sound came out. She gulped a few times, hesitated, then mumbled something.

"What?"

"I…"

"I still can't hear you."

Her voice raised just barely enough for me to hear. "I need to go."

"Oh. Okay." I stood up and offered my hand, but she ignored it. She's mad at me. Chaos, I'm boyfriend stew. Why does this stuff always happen to me?

I lead her out of the house and down the steps. The ride back to the mainland on my Extreme Gear was silent and uneventful. The whole time I debated if I should break the silence, but couldn't find a way to start a conversation that wasn't painfully awkward.

Sofia barely mumbled a goodbye when we arrived at her apartment before she wandered inside. I stood in place, before wandering down the streets, lost in my swirling mess of thoughts.

Oh, the foreshadowing and the tension. I want to scream in excitement and annoyance.

Tell us what you thought of Knuckles POV and if you liked it or if it needs a different take on it? (we tried to aim for stating facts and no intentional humor).

This is going SO SLOW. I'm annoyed by myself. Can we get this done yet?

Sorry, I'm annoyed at a computer program. I'll be fine next chapter.

Review please!