The next morning, Tikal began to stir causing Rudolph to awake as well. As the two stared at one another, they realized that they were holding on to each other and Rudolph quickly pulled away with his face resembling that of a cherry. "I'M SO SORRY!" Rudolph said as he jumped out of her bed. "I was just trying to put you in your bed but you held on to me and I couldn't get free! I know I should've moved but I didn't-"

"It's ok." Tikal whispered causing Rudolph stop and look at her. "I was wondering why I was so warm last night, I guess I have you to thank." Tikal said with a small blush causing Rudolph to blush even harder.

'She's… she's not mad at me…' Rudolph thought. "Eh, no problem." Rudolph grinned as he scratched his head.

Tikal smiled as she got out of bed, "I need to freshen up, I think I smell."

"I don't. I think you smell wonderful." 'Why did I say that!'

Tikal's blush began to deepen, "Oh! Thank you, but I'll be right back and afterwards, maybe we could have breakfast together."

"Sure that would be great." Rudolph said with a large smile receiving one from Tikal as she stepped in her bathroom. "Damnit! What am I thinking!" Rudolph said as he slapped his head. "I need to leave before I stir up more problems for her. If her father sees me HERE of all places in the world, there's no telling what he may do to me." Rudolph sighed as he began to walk around Tikal's large, pure white room filled with flowers in vases and pictures everywhere whether photos or drawn by what seemed like a child. As Rudolph looked over her pictures, his eyes were locked onto one picture… which had two echidnas, one tan and the other brown, standing in a field flowers. 'Does she remember?' Rudolph asked himself as he stared at the picture. 'No, she couldn't, she would have said something by now.' But then suddenly, Rudolph heard a gasp and once he turned around, he saw a pink female echidna staring at him in shock. "This isn't what it looks like."

"W-who are you?" She asked as she took a step back.

"I'm one of Tikal's friends, miss."

"Rudolph!" Tikal called with gee as she stepped out of the bathroom wearing a long silk sky blue dress. "How do I look?" Rudolph couldn't help but stare as a blush slowly crept onto his face.

"PRINCESS!" The maid called as she took a hold of Tikal and pulled her into a hug. "I heard you were back but I didn't believe it! But it's true you're finally home!"

"Yes I'm back and there's no need to worry anymore." Tikal said with a smile but then the maid quickly turned to Rudolph.

"Who is he, princess?"

"This is Rudolph, he was one of my friends who rescued me."

The maid was quick to stare at the young princess, "Really?"

"Yes really."

"Oh… well it is a pleasure to meet you Rudolph." The maid said as she bowed.

"Please don't bow to me." Rudolph said in embarrassment. "Wait, what did you mean you heard she was back?"

The maid had a look of confusion on her face. "What do you mean? Everyone knows of the princess' return. Everyone is waiting to see her."

"See her?" Rudolph asked in confusion.

"Look outside." Both Tikal and Rudolph walked over to the balcony window and saw that every single echidna out of the entire kingdom cheering for Tikal as she entered the daylight.

"Wow." Rudolph said as he looked around. "Look at everyone. They were really worried about you, Tikal."

"Yes and now I can show them that I'm perfectly fine." Tikal said as she opened the window walked towards the railing, then Tikal turned to Rudolph, "Would you please come with me?"

"I… I shouldn't…" Rudolph said as he turned away but then felt Tikal grab his hand.

"Its ok, as long as we're together, no one will hurt you." Rudolph slowly nodded his head as he stood behind Tikal as she looked out onto the cheering crowd. "Everyone! Can I have your attention please! I just want to thank my friends for rescuing me from the evil Dr. Robotnik."

And as she looked onto the crowd she noticed Sonic and her friends cheering with the crowd. "And I would also like you to thank those individuals as well; they are Sonic the hedgehog, Miles Prower, the Master Emerald Guardian, Knuckles, my new friend, Blaze the cat," Everyone cheered as they turned to the waving group. "And I would like to thank a very special person who risk his life many times to keep me unharmed, my friend Rudolph the echidna." Tikal smiled as she stepped to the side and pulled the terrified Rudolph to the balcony.

Everyone in the crowd quickly grew silent as the crowd stared at the brown echidna until Sonic and his friends began clapping. And slowly, other echidnas joined them and in no time, every single echidna was cheering for Rudolph.

Rudolph stared out onto the crowd and slowly a smile formed on his face and he turned to the smiling princess. 'Tikal… no one in the world could be as kind, pure, and as beautiful as you.' Rudolph thought as he glazed at the echidna princess. As the two stared at one another, Rudolph suddenly kissed Tikal throwing everyone in the crowd into shock. Noticing the silence, Rudolph quickly came back to his senses and pulled from her and franticly looked onto the crowd with everyone resuming their cheering. Rudolph turned to Tikal in shame and he ran from her, through her room, jumped down the entire 20 stories and ran out the back door and into the desert without turning back.

Rudolph ran and ran, he couldn't stop, every fiber in his body was forcing him forward. "Why! Why Damnit! WHY!" Rudolph shouted as he ran further into the desert. But then suddenly, a blue haze appeared circling Rudolph forcing him to stop. Once Rudolph stopped running, the blue haze disappeared and Sonic stood standing in front on him. "Get out of my way, Sonic!" Rudolph shouted.

"Why should I?" Sonic asked with a hint of annoyance in his voice. "And more importantly, why did you run from Tikal?"

"It's none of your business!" Rudolph yelled.

"Yes it is! Look we all know that you like Tikal, its time you go back to her and explain yourself."

"I don't have to explain myself to anyone!" Rudolph shouted as he took a step forward.

"Now get out of my way!"

"I ain't going nowhere!"

Then Rudolph rose his arm and aimed his hand at Sonic, "Move, or die!"

"Do you really want to abandon the one person you care for that much?"

"I told you to move!" Rudolph shouted as green ball appeared in his hand.

Sonic stood still as a smile formed on his face. "You're not gonna shoot me."

"Don't test me!"

"I'm not gonna move." Rudolph glared at Sonic as he fired his blast. Right after his blast was fired, a huge explosion appeared blowing smoke in every which direction. Once the smoke disappeared, a mountain that once stood several miles away was now gone from existent with a grinning Sonic still standing firm. "Told you so."

"Just get out of-"

"Rudolph!" Someone called from behind him. When Rudolph turned around, he saw Tikal running towards him. When he turned around again, Sonic was gone but before he could take another step, Tikal was already right behind him panting. "Rudolph… why?"

"I'm sorry, I should have never kissed you."

"Why did you run from me?" Rudolph never turned to her; he wouldn't dare look at her. He couldn't, not after what he did. He gave himself false hope, he disrespected Tikal, her father, her people, how could he even beg for forgiveness. "Rudolph… please… answer me."

"I… I can't… I can't be with you… no matter what."

"Who says?"

"Everyone Tikal… everyone… I'm despised by everyone… by my people… and yours… I… I won't ruin your happiness to keep mine."

"Rudolph…" Tikal whispered with a smile. "You haven't changed, have you? You're still the same sweet little boy that I met all those years ago."

Rudolph turned to Tikal in disbelief. "I… I thought…"

"You thought I didn't remember didn't you? Well I do Rudolph, I do. I still remember that day, how we laughed, talked, played in the flowers. Rudolph, I know you care for me… just like I care for you. You don't have to be alone anymore, I love you Rudolph, I really do and I promise to do whatever it takes to make you happy." Rudolph couldn't understand it, but he was crying. He hadn't cried since his father's death all those years ago, the pain from that sight forced away all of his emotions after his father's death leaving him alone. He never understood what it was like for others to care about him, but now he had someone who truly cared for him, who loved him despite what he was, someone who could look beyond his shell and see him for what he truly was. Suddenly, Rudolph was unable to hold himself up any longer as fell to his knees with tears rolling down his cheeks. He clutched Tikal's dress as he wailed with Tikal holding him. "Its ok Rudolph… you've been through so much… please let it all out. I'm here for you… and I won't leave you ever."

After minutes which seemed like an eternity, Rudolph slowly grew silent as he stood up, wiped the tears from his eyes, and looked into Tikal's eyes. "Tikal… I…"

But Tikal quickly placed her hand over his mouth, "Whatever you do, please don't apologize."

"I was going to say that I wanted to stay with you… if you'll let me."

Tikal instantly pulled Rudolph into a hug, "Of course!"

Rudolph returned the hug with a smile, "Thank you princess."

Tikal just giggled, "Call me Tikal, ok?"

"Only if you call me Rudy." Tikal looked t Rudolph and he sighed, "Yeah I know, Sonic kinda grew on me."

Hearing this, Tikal couldn't help but smile as she turned away pulling Rudolph. "Come on, we should get back."