Chapter Seven: Knuckles and Tikal Get Prepared
At Angel Island, Knuckles and Tikal were at the altar guarding the Master Emerald. The alter wasn't the same as it was before however, it was now inside a castle that Knuckles and Tikal had built for them, when Tikal and the echidna tribe were brought back.
The castle was made to be homely, as Tikal was still eight months into her pregnancy. So they needed it to be homely enough for the baby, when they arrive.
Knuckles and Tikal at this moment just finished reading the text sent by Amy, and they both gasped in horror.
"Amy's in trouble!" Tikal exclaimed.
"Where the hell did Scourge get an airship with such a thing attached to it? We haven't ever heard from him in years!" Knuckles wondered.
"Maybe that's why he hasn't troubled us in so long. He must have had been building this plan for years, and then decided to launch at whenever he believed the time was right." Tikal guessed.
"Probably so. But we can't let him get away with this. There must have been a reason why he's done this. Why? I don't know yet. And if we don't find Sonic soon, the world could be in trouble." Knuckles said with worry.
"Well, you better go and find Sonic then. I'll go and find Amy." Tikal demanded.
"No, Tikal! This is not something you should be doing! You should be here resting, you're eight months pregnant, and the baby is due soon!" Knuckles feared.
"I'll be fine, Knuckles. Amy's location is only below this island." Tikal explained.
"Yeah, but that's not the point, Tikal. What about Sonic, and what about Scourge? You'll never know if they'll come back, and attack." Knuckles explained.
"I have a defence shield, remember? I can defend myself." Tikal told him.
"Not in your condition, you can't!" Knuckles snarled.
"Look, why are you being like this?! My friend is in trouble, and I want to help her. I'm not going to just leave her, so she can get into trouble, or be in more danger." Tikal told him.
"Because Tikal, if anything happened to you, I've got two people to lose!" Knuckles cried, as tears fell from his eyes.
Tikal noticed the tears. She's rarely ever seen Knuckles cry. Seeing him cry, made Tikal tear up as well.
"Knuckles, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you cry." Tikal said sadly.
Knuckles walked towards Tikal, and warmly wrapped his arms around her lovingly. Tikal snuggles into his chest, and wrapped her arms around his waist.
"Don't you see, Tikal? Without you, I'm nothing! I have no other reason of living, if you're not here with me. And now you're pregnant, it'll kill me inside if I lose you. Because not only will I lose you, I'll lose our baby too." Knuckles stated sadly, as he placed a hand on her abs.
Knuckles felt the baby kicking inside. Tikal's eyes filled with more tears, and he held onto Knuckles tighter.
"Knuckles...!" Tikal sobbed.
"You're my meaning of life. Without you, I'm nothing. You're my rock, you're my world. I can't take the risk of losing you." Knuckles told her.
"Still just as warm and loving as the day I returned here. And the day you proposed to me." Tikal smiled warmly.
"Those good old times, where we were happy, and not needed to worry about danger threatening us." Knuckles smiled back
.
(Knuckles singing)
I just want you to know, how I love the way you laugh
I want to hold you high, and take your pain away
I've kept our photographs, and I know they serve me well
I want to hold you high, and take your pain
.
(Knuckles and Tikal singing)
Because I'm broken, once I'm lonesome
And this won't feel right, when you've gone away
.
(Knuckles singing)
You're going away
You won't feel me here, any more
.
They break the embrace, and look into one another's eyes. Tikal placed a hand on Knuckles' face.
.
(Tikal singing, Knuckles improvising)
The bad is over now, now we may breathe again
I want to hold you high, you'll steel my pain away
There's more than this to learn, and nothing more to fight
I want to hold you high, and steel your pain
.
(Knuckles and Tikal singing)
Because I'm broken, once I'm open
And we don't feel like, we are strong enough
Because I'm broken, once I'm lonesome
And this won't feel right, when you've gone away
.
"Please, Knuckles. Let me go and help Amy. I'm worried about her, she's one of my good friends. I only want to help her. Please, Knuckles." Tikal pleaded.
Knuckles sees more tears falling from her eyes. Knuckles sighed with worry, but he really hated to see that she was crying. He used his thumbs to wipe her tears away.
.
(Knuckles and Tikal singing)
Because I'm broken, once I'm open
And we don't feel like, we are strong enough
Because I'm broken, once I'm lonesome
And this won't feel right, when you've gone away
.
"Alright. But on one condition." Knuckles told her.
"And what is that?" Tikal asked.
"When you find Amy, bring her back here to Angel Island as soon as possible. I want you all to be safe, while I go and find Sonic." Knuckles explained. Tikal nodded in agreement.
"Thank you, Knuckles. And I will. I promise you that." Tikal replied.
"Well, I better go and find Sonic. Take care, Tikal. Send Amy my love, and get back here as soon as possible. I love you." Knuckles told her.
"I love you too, Knuckles. You be careful as well." Tikal replied.
After that, they kissed each other on the lips lovingly, and moved in their separate ways. Tikal began floating down towards the cliff, while Knuckles jumps off the edge of the Island, and glides towards the city, in hope that Sonic is there.
.
(Knuckles and Tikal singing)
Because I'm broken, once I'm lonesome
And this won't feel right, when you've gone away
.
(Knuckles singing, Tikal improvising)
You're going away
You won't feel me here, any more
.
After that, Tikal looked around for Amy. She looked long and hard, until she saw pink quills in the distance.
"Amy!" Tikal called.
Knuckles was still gliding towards the city.
"I sure hope that Sonic is in the city somewhere." Knuckles hoped.
Out of nowhere, he saw a huge explosion at the gas station. This startled Knuckles. He looked on, and saw a black aura in the fire.
"What the fuck?! No, it can't be!" Knuckles exclaimed in panic.
After that, he glides his way towards the gas station.