A Date With Miss Tikal

He turned and faced the great Emerald quickly. At first, all he saw, was his own reflection in the Emerald's hide. He was completely unsure if he actually heard the call, or if his mind was just playing a horrible joke on him. His feet brought him toward the Master Emerald, where he lay his hands on it once more.

"T-Tikal...?" he stuttered, eyebrow raising.

The Emerald remained silent for another minute or two, before an answer was finally given.

"You came back to me..." her voice, so calming like an angel, echoed through the air ways.

The wind picked up, blowing a gust in his direction. It did little to burden his stance, for he remained tall in the sight of the Master Emerald, and the call of a certain princess. He felt the individual furs on his body quiver, as his quills bounced from the gale. His fingers only tightened against the Emerald, however, slowly curling inward, as he played her words over and over again within his mind. He didn't know what to do, other than stare doe eyed into the great rock.

Just, where did things move on from now? Or, better question, could he get her to say anything else.

"Tikal... Is that... you...?" he was so slow, so broken in his words, as if he didn't believe what was going on, as if it were just impossible to take in.

"Starman..." she whispered, faintly, confirming his question.

The hedgehog stepped back. He felt his heart freeze in his chest, as he clenched tightly his own chest. It got so hard to breathe right now, so near impossible. If he fell out right now, due to lack of breath, at least he could say there was a reason behind it. He truly didn't know how to react to what was being said to him. What next? That question was always being pondered, all the time in his head.

"Starman..." she whispered once again, sending tingles down his spine.

"Tikal..." he fell to his knees, and laid his head on the Emerald's side, "Tikal..."

His eyes closed tightly shut, as his forehead laid on the Emerald. He didn't know why, but he just felt like focusing was making him feel better. His hands were constantly increasing the grip they held on the great rock, as if he could pry out the answers from it. But in his mind, all he saw was green. Flashy green. And within that green, he saw something. A figure. A woman's figure. Said figure was shining a brilliant white, making it impossible to tell who it was. But he knew who it was. He knew all to well.

"Tikal..." he whispered.

"Starman..." she answered.

He watched, as that white figure reached out for him, and that made him leap back. Fingers moving up to his muzzle, he found tears to be dragging down his cheeks. He touched them, and watched as they dyed his glove a dark color. The sight of the teary substance, staining his glove, made him angry. He shook the tears away, before returning his ruby glare to the rock at his front.

Tikal's calls had faded away, making his heart drop. Once again, he stepped for the Master Emerald, laying his hands on the side of it.

"Tikal..."

"Starman... You came back to me..." her heavenly voice answered, "You actually came back to me..."

Her voice sounded like sweet music to his ears. Her calls, made his heart calm, despite the intensity he was feeling at first. He wanted to hear more of her voice, though this pit that swelled in his heart said other wise. He felt wrong, oh so wrong. He had left her here, and the sound of her voice made that known. He could feel the pain that seeped through her words, no matter how well she masked them.

But the pain, the pain was offset by, happiness.

"You came back to me..." she repeated, as if she couldn't believe her own words, "You actually came back to me..."

The hedgehog didn't mount a reply, however. He just stared forward, gazing into the rocks brilliance. He didn't know how to go upon things. Should he talk to her, try to ask her how things were over the last four thousand years? Should he explain how, to him, it was nothing but a few seconds? Or should he just keep things to himself? Whatever the answer may be, standing around like this wasn't helping.

"Tikal..." he stated again.

"Are you... just going to stand there...?" Tikal asked, her voice just so hard to place a finger on.

He found his feet moving forward, bringing him up to the Emerald's midst once again. At the same time, that pit in his heart returned, screaming at him for reason he did not understand. In this warm touch, he started to caress the Emerald, low, unsure, groans escaping his lips. He felt as if he had cursed her to this existence, cursed her to sit inside an Emerald, for the rest of her days.

"Shadow..." she whispered, "Please... Stop..."

"No... I can't..." he answered, growling, "I... I can't believe what I did! I... I should've been there. I should have come back when... when..."

"You couldn't do anything about it, Shadow..." Tikal answered, her voice still hollow, "I had to do it... And only me..."

"But I could have done something!" he yelled out to the wind, "I... I left you there, I didn't come back! I..."

"Shh... Shadow..." she whispered, "Just... Be quiet..."

Suddenly, the Master Emerald began shaking. This great light spread out from it, swallowing the area whole in its brilliance. Shadow raised his hand to cover his eyes, fearful that his vision may be ruined. And then, he felt warm. He felt his body grow loose under this light, as the need to fall down took him. He remained standing, just as best he could. That was, until, a hand fell upon him.

"You can open your eyes now..." Tikal's voice called out to him.

His lids fluttered open, taking brief glances at what was around him. His blurred vision tried to make things right, but it would take a while. He first saw pillars, the aged brown and black pillars, that at one point in time held the Chaos Emeralds at their tops. Then, he saw the skies, the clean dark skies, with glowing white stars, dancing within them. After rubbing his eyes, the images focused themselves, showing that he was still standing in the Emerald Altar's midst.

And there was someone standing before him.

His fiery crimson orbs, peered long and hard into these clear cerulean eyes. He started looking up and down her figure next, taking in the sights of her orange dreads, the golden diamond encrusted band on her forehead, the golden necklace, that hung from her neck, the white tank top like shirt, that ended above her stomach, the green, red and white skirt, that was attached to her hips, and the white sandals. But, most of all, the blue bands around her wrists.

But there was something wrong with her. As he peered forward, into her body, he found his eyes to be actually peering through her. He could see the Master Emerald, shining through her, as if she were a ghost. An apparition.

Tikal's hands reached forward, both of them. Her face was without emotion, however. Matching her movements, the hedgehog reached forth with his hands, grabbing a hold of hers. Their hands were now intertwined with one another, and they held tightly onto them. Shadow gazed down to the hands, finding them to be, oddly, filled with life, and warmth. The exact opposite of what he expected them to feel like.

He was further surprised, when he found Tikal's fingers to be moving. Each one of her digits, carefully moved, so they could be in between his own fingers. She increased the hold on him a moment later, her hands becoming near vice grips. The hedgehog didn't show pain though, even though the grip was hard enough to make a grown man cry. The most he did, to show a reply, was give a scowl. Then he gazed up.

Tikal's indifferent face was still there, though her eyebrows were moved in, and her blue eyes looked stormy. She briefly opened her mouth, showing fangs, as her intense grip grew even greater. He continued staring into her, especially her eyes. They looked so hurt, and so angry. And he could understand why.

"Why..." she whispered, her hand growing, "Why?"

He didn't answer her. That only made her angrier.

"WHY!?" she barked, forcing his ruby eyes to snap away. She didn't like that either, and her grip increased to near hand crushing proportions, making him look forward. Gazing into her eyes, he saw shining tears trickle down her transparent body, "Answer me! Shadow!"

Her command ruffled his quills, but did little to garner that which she wanted. Did he not know this would only increase the pain he was feeling? Maybe so, he just didn't care.

"You know how long I sat in there, Shadow!" she cried, "Do you know how long I waited!? Waited for you!? Day after day, month after month, year after year, decade after decade, century after century, millennium after millennium, I waited for you, Shadow the hedgehog," she grew frail, and her eyes closed, though the tears still spilled, "I watched as my people died out. On this floating island. Our customs, our traits, vanished, all save for one. I spent forever in the Emerald, unable to go anywhere, unable to leave. And I was so alone. Not even Chaos, with whom I was trapped with, could alleviate me of this pain this loneliness. He was so angry, so hurt, he never forgave me for what I did that day. I watched him, I watched Chaos' mind deteriorate with every day that passed, and I feared the same would happen to me. But I wouldn't allow it. You know why!?" that rage return, "Because of you! I waited for you! Waited, waited, waited! I hoped, I prayed, you would return. Every night, before I died, I stared to the stars. I dreamed, that you would fall out, just like you did the first time. I was hoping that, you would come to me, take my hand, and we would whisk off, leave the Knuckles Tribe behind, leave the Nocturnus Tribe behind, leave all of it behind. We would make our own tribe, we would be separate from all the other tribes, and their incessant squabbling. We would be the perfect symbol of how a tribe should be. Free of all this violence, but willing to protect others. It was a silly dream. Us, with children. But it was all I had, because I found myself loosing hope. And then... then Perfect Chaos happened. I must have been selfish. I could have done a million things that day," she started chuckling, but this was forced, "I could have... made Chaos disappear, or sent him somewhere else. But I didn't. I trapped us within that Emerald, trapped both of us. I thought I could have my friend back, since he was all I had left in the world. But that wasn't all. I thought I could finally meet you. I thought you would return, sooner or later. But of course, you never did. And I sat there... In that rock... Waiting, for you. I was given a chance to leave, too..." she gazed up to him, scanning his stoic and indifferent face, "When Sonic came. To save the world. When the Master Emerald was shattered, and I was finally freed. I could have left. I could have finally gone on to the afterlife, returned to the heavens on high. Sonic defeated Perfect Chaos, he saved the world, and I appeared before him in his friends. I wore this visage, this happy one, thinking that I could finally be free. Chaos and I would return to the heavens... together... But I didn't do it. I almost did it, I almost went on to the after life. I could have been with my family, and my people once again. But I just, couldn't do it," she once again increased the grip she held on him, "Because of you! All because of you! Every time I got the nerve, the thought, to head on up! I just thought about you! You and that promise! And how you lied! I thought you would appear, out of nowhere one day! But you just never did! YOU LIED!"

"NO I DID NOT!" he answered, his voice growing stronger than hers.

She grew quiet. Her lips closed, her stance loosened, and her grip grew tender. Unconsciously, the hedgehog sighed, thankful that her grip loosened. But his stare changed back into hardened glare, as his ruby eyes met her aqua ones.

"I didn't lie..." he whispered, "I came back for you..."

"Why did it take so long?" she asked, body growing frail, "Why did it take you so long to come back?"

She got a few feet closer. Despite the fact that she was still ghastly and see through, her body continued to give off heat and warmth, like a living person would. She wrapped her arms around him, and placed her face firmly in his furry white chest, her eyes closing while she sobbed with sadness. He found his hands wrapping around her back, pulling her closer to him. And then his eyes closed.

All he could think about, was her words, and how hurt she was. The hedgehog had been trapped for a measly fifty years, and he was enraged by that. But her? She was trapped for four millenniums. That easily made his sentence pale in comparison. The difference was, however, he wasn't waiting for someone. He was trapped, but she, she trapped herself. No. She didn't trap herself. He trapped her.

He. Trapped. Her. All with his words. All with his own promise.

"I'm sorry..." he whispered, an unwanted hiccup coming from him, "I... didn't mean too. I didn't want to," he dragged his finger across his eyes, finding a tear leaking out, "Ever moment I spent, thinking about the fate I made you face. I felt worse, and worse. The thought of you, sacrificing yourself to stop Chaos. And how I wasn't allowed to do anything about it. It made me so..."

"You... You knew all along?" she whispered.

"Yes..." he answered, "I knew what you had to do. I didn't want it to happen to you, but I had to let it happen to you. I wanted so badly to bring you along with me, to take you to the future, so you wouldn't be alone. I should've saved you, though. I should have done what was right. I let you die..."

He started sobbing, an act which he never considered before. Maybe it was because, he was telling her the truth. The cold hard truth. And he could just tell it was tearing her up inside.

"I made the promise thinking that you were dead," he continued, "I knew how you were going die, fighting Chaos, sealing him up, and I thought that would have been it. I made the promise believing that... you could die... happy. But it didn't go as well as I thought. I heard... your mother, speaking to me. She made me remember. She reminded me that... you were waiting for me..."

Tikal pulled back, breaking their grasp, and finally allowing him to stare into her blue orbs. Just by staring at her, he could tell she was thinking about what he just told her. And if it was affecting him this bad, then he could only imagine how it was making her feel. Now he was in the spot light again. Now he was waiting for the reply, and was worrying if it was bad, or not.

"So you knew...?" she asked, though it was so silent, it appeared to be a whisper through the wind.

The hedgehog closed his eyes first. Then his arm moved up, and clean the tears from his eyes. This sigh came from him, a moment later, a sigh that set his emotions back to the coldness he was recognized for. And, to bring all this together, he crossed his arms. He just had to wait, wait for her reply. And he would accept it, even if it was bad. In fact, he'd rather it be bad. Because, he felt like, he deserved it.

"I forgive you..."

That was the exact opposite of what he was expecting. He thought she would attack him, yell at him, or finally ascend into heaven, without a word. Did she not hear what he just told her? Did she not hear how, he knew of her fate, and did nothing to stop it? Obviously she did. Why else would she make a reply like this? Then, if that were true, why? Why did she accept him, and his follies.

"Shadow... Starman..." she whispered, "I remember what you said to me. A phrase that, I kept with me for the longest time. What we have..." she chuckled, and smiled at him, "It's... an Immortal Bond..."

Then she kissed him. The hedgehog was taken off guard by the movement, when he suddenly felt her lips rumbling along his. He just stared into her, even though her eyes were closed. When he felt her lips press harder, he realized what she wanted. His hand grabbed her by his back, and pulled in her close, while his eyes closed shut. Opening his mouth, he finally allowed her tongue admittance to meet his.

And as their tongues danced with one another, he heard these tasty moans come from her. They pushed him forward, making him increase the grasp he held onto her. She moaned louder and longer from the touch, as her hands moved from his chest, and around his neck. It was funny, really. Even though she hadn't kissed in over thousands of years, and even though he was never the kisser in the beginning, the two were just so perfect for one another.

Her eyes suddenly open, and sensing this, his eyes opened too. They still held on to one another, as they peered intensely into one another eyes. Her hand moved up to his face, and touched it tenderly. He didn't break his hard visage, as he just allowed her to do so.

"I'm sorry..." she whispered, "I just wanna make sure this isn't some... nightmare... I don't know if I can take anymore of them..."

"It's not..." he whispered, face moving forward, so their noses touch, "I wouldn't allow it to happen..."

"I hate you, Shadow the hedgehog..." she whispered, but with a smile, "You did something to me I can't explain. After all these years... I feel..."

"Whole... again...?" he answered for her.

"Yes..." she answered, "Whole again..."

Their close proximity broke away moments later, and Tikal's blue eyes pierced the air to him.

"Here..." she suddenly said, stretching forward her hand, "Let's go for a walk..."

"A walk?" he replied, his hand moving forward to touch hers

"Yes, a walk," she answered, smiling sweetly, "I think it's the least you can do for me..."

The comment made him smile.

"Yes..." he responded, their hands meeting in a loving bond, "The least I could do for you..."

…

Their feet walked in perfect unison. The hold they had on one another was so very close. Their hands remained on one another, though she had gotten even closer. Her head lay on his shoulder, as her free hand held tightly onto his arm. The words they shared earlier belied the feelings they had now. His face was so hard, like usual, but it was hiding this pained visage. Her face seemed to show the pain and hurt, and though she forgave him, the pit still remained in her heart.

Maybe things happened to fast between them. Maybe they shouldn't have fallen so hard for each other, in such a short time period. But they did, and this is the fallout of their desires, their union, their trysts. Hurt feelings, and unsureness. It was hard to describe.

They were in this part of the island, where the treetops blinding their view of the stars. The moonlight still peered through the forest's holes, painting the forest walkway in gleams of silver, in contrast to the darkness. The sight of it all was breathtaking, and so was the silence. Not one animal toiled in the least bit, as their feet brought them through the dense greenery.

She yawned briefly, something she hadn't done in four millenniums now. He smiled at the sound, his hand raising to touch her forehead. The touch made her wilt, but not in a negative way. She enjoyed his hand on her, for even that was a enough love for her. When it moved, it didn't make her feel bad, instead, it made her move up to him closer.

Their feet eventually met a rocky path, one that snaked out of the forest they stood in. Tikal broke free from her dark lover briefly, in order to gaze down the path they were heading down. The fields the rocky path went down, were all bouncy and curvy. It was funny, for Tikal recognized this place. Long ago, her people populated the area, setting up tents and tending to the field. Looking at how empty it was, made her heart tremble a bit. Her hand clenched her chest, as this somber visage came to her face.

She suddenly felt Shadow's hand moved through her arms, grabbing her close once more. She gazed up at him, and he gazed back down. His finger then stretched forth, and dragged down the area, in between her eyes. The touch tickled her a bit, bringing an unwanted, but much-needed, smile to her lips. Once his finger moved, she stared up at him with this acted look, one that made him chuckle inwardly.

He started moving a few moments later, and she followed suit soon. Their feet brought them down the rocky pathway, moving through the hills and fields. She followed the many bounds and yards of the greenery, as this smile came to her lips. Right now, she started to forget her position. It wasn't until her eyes opened, and she saw straight through her arms, that she grimaced and remembered. Shadow must have sensed her displeasure, for the hedgehog hugged her tightly then. And it made her smile again.

Their feet brought them to a cave, where they stopped briefly. In unison, their ruby and aqua eyes lined the walls and ceiling of the cave. It reminded them of a place that existed four thousand years ago. A certain place where they began bonding. Maybe it was the same place, just changed thanks to thousands of years of eroding and shifts.

Tikal took lead then, pulling on him in a want to go in. He nodded stoically, before following her inside. The many drips of the water from the ceiling, against the rocks on the floor, echoed long and hard into the cave. Bouncing off walls, sounding like piano notes being strung loosely together. When the cave got to dark to see, the hedgehog withdrew his green Emerald, shining a light into the room. She gazed upon his nonchalant face, the image of him bathed in a green light seemed to entice her. She wanted so deeply to talk to him, but the silence between them was so great, she didn't want to break it.

Light suddenly appeared, but not light coming from Shadow's Emerald. Natural light, from the moon. They walked a few more yards, before coming out of the cave on the other end. They stood on the side of this mountain now, gazing out over a sea of forest. The hedgehog was caught off guard, honestly, because he didn't feel moving up in a slope within the cave. Whatever the case may be, they were up here, and the view was breathtaking.

On this mountain side, they could see clear over Angel Island. Though the floating land mass was great, they could see the very edge of it, where the body of water it forever held, poured over, and into the seas that lay beneath. She heard him breathe in and out slowly, and it sent rumbles through her body. Rumbles she enjoyed.

She suddenly got the urge to go somewhere. She pointed down toward the forest, drawing his attention to a temple that stuck out through the green. Sense the silence was too good to destroy, she merely pointed and gestured toward the construct. He smiled a few moments later, showing he gained her call, before his lips melted back into that hardened line. She suddenly felt his arms holding her up, bridal style, the feel of it making her yelp.

The next thing they knew, they were blasting through the forest, wind screaming in their direction. She kept her eyes closed at first, before remembering she couldn't get hurt anymore. She was, technically dead, after all. She gazed up and around to the forest beside them, watching them blur as she and Shadow zipped by. Her quills bounced through the waves of wind, and she watched them dance in the air. Her eyes eventually trekked back up to his face, seeing as he rushed through with that usual indifference of his. Her hand suddenly touched him, making him snap his eyes over to her. He didn't make a face or anything, he just stared at her. And she stared back.

He came to a screeching halt suddenly, the wind that traveled behind them rustling them up. She took her eyes away from him a moment later, and aimed at the temple they stood before. They saw grass and trees growing up the side of the temple. The hedgehog peered down to the priestess in her arms, when she got out of his palms. She, pointlessly, dusted off dirt from her skirt, before taking a few steps to the temples. She stopped suddenly, when she realized he wasn't following.

Her blue eyes trekked up his black and red frame, as she thought about why he wasn't following. He merely stared back, arms crossed, eyesight growing tighter. She knew he wanted to say something, but she wouldn't allow him to. She clamped her hand on his, and gave this sunny smile. And then, she started to lead him into the temple.

The ceiling had long since been destroyed, thanks to years of wear and tear, revealing the silver moon on up high. It brightened up the area they stood in, revealing a place of prayer it seemed. Many objects lied around, but one stood out amongst the rest.

This helmet, with a star imprint on the forehead piece, laid atop this pedestal, with this white cloak wrapped around the very same pedestal. A golden ring lay there, in the helmet's midst, shining bright against the brilliant moonlight. The ring was busted and dented in random areas, looking as if it went through hell.

His eyes were so trained on that ring, he didn't notice it when she let go of hand. The only time he returned to life, was when Tikal slipped into his sight. She pranced around for a bit, before stopping to stand before the helmet and cape. Then her head and body turned, and her hand reached out for him.

"Starman..." she whispered, the first words in a long while.

Her words spurned him, and brought him forward. He came to an abrupt stop at the helmet and cloak, he called his, thousands of years ago. Her hand slithered against his hand after a moment, where they grasped each other softly.

"We paraded you around as a hero, Starman," Tikal whispered, rubbing her head against his arm, "Told stories of you to are children. Calling you a great judge, who hated evil. You have no idea how disheartened I was, when people started to forget about you. Some of the people in the city, couldn't even remember your species. But the tale remained, that was good..." she started chuckling, "Knuckles, you know Knuckles, when no ones around, he puts on your armor, and runs around here like some kind of super hero."

Suddenly, her hand reached forward, and touched the ring. Lifting it up, she broke away from Shadow's grasp, in order to stand before him. And when she did, she looked at him, and bowed.

"I suppose... This is the embodiment of our promise..." she whispered.

She looked up when he grabbed the ring, and held it in his hand. Gazing down to his wrist, he saw the empty spot where the busted ring once sat. He slithered it one, hearing a familiar 'CHINK!' noise once it fastened itself in place. To be honest, he had forgotten all about the ring. His powers didn't fluctuate nearly as insanely, as he thought they would. But once that ring got on, he felt relieved. Stable. And he made this noticeable, by a warm moan that came out. It made her giggle.

"What?" he asked.

"Nothing..." she whispered, getting closer, "Nothing at all..."

She once again wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him down so their lips could meet. And his gripped her waist, holding her tightly as their lips were locked hard together. These moans and groans escaped them, as tongues tasted each other. But through the kiss, her face got hard, as tears started to pour out. She didn't want it to end though, she wanted this kiss to last forever. She tried her hardest to keep her hold on him, tried her hardest to keep their mouths connected. She didn't even care for the fact that air was escaping her, or the fact that his grip on her was growing too tight. As if he were trying to pull her off. She wanted to stay like this, forever.

"Tikal..." he called, breaking it, to her displeasure.

"No..." she whined, "Please, Shadow..." she looked at him, tears streaming down her astral face, "Please, Shadow, please... I can't take it anymore..." she covered her eyes, while her lips started to tremble, "I've been... alone for too long..." she crouched down, and started so sob uncontrollably, "To... Long..."

His footsteps grew closer to her. All these emotions, had hit her all of once. First anger, then happiness, and now grief. To cry, it was something she so desperately wanted to do now. And at the same time this sadness was in her, fear took her as well. He was here, before her, yes, but so what? She was still connected to the Master Emerald, bound to it, forever. She would never leave. Ever.

"Just don't go, Shadow..." she cried, "Just don't go..."

She was waiting for a reply, waiting for anything. And when she didn't get one, she gazed up to him. She saw his ruby face gazing down, where she remembered these words that triggered him before.

Funny, how she remembered these specific words.

"Shadow, I beg of you..." she saw his fiery eyes grow brighter, "Don't leave me again..."

He reached down, and grabbed her hand. She continued frowning from the touch, though she felt her spirits rise.

"I remember..." he whispered, "Someone telling me once, that the Emeralds can bring someone's dreams to light."

She cocked her head at his words. She understood where he was coming from with his words, but they just didn't make any sense. How could they do anything but bestow a being with power?

He suddenly brought her up, and placed his lips near her ear. Where he started whispering.

"The servers are the seven Chaos," he began at first, making her eyes widen, "Chaos is power, power enriched by the heart..." how did he know her family's prayer? When did he ever hear it? "The heart is the controller. The controller serves to unify Chaos..."

"What are you doing Shadow..." she whispered, before biting her lip.

"My dream is for you to be real, Tikal..."

The Master Emerald began shaking.

…

Four thousand years ago.

The sands in the canyon were blowing so powerfully. If any being stood in the midst, they'd probably be pelted by the burning sediment, and sent leaving. But one being remained tall against it, despite the danger it posed to itself. This being, cloaked in a purple garb, moved slowly and silently through the canyon. Its foot steps were loud, as it kicked up sand with each foot it took.

Then it stopped. The beings hand reached from its cloak, as it got down on its knees. Sitting there, half buried by sand, a red echidna head. One of the echidna's eyes were half-open, revealing green orbs as it stared off into the sky. He appeared dead, of course.

The being in the purple cloak reached down, and gripped the echidna's forehead. Pulling up, it showed that the echidna head was just that. A head, no body attached. The blood around this echidna's head seemed to have already dried up. But here was the crazy thing.

He wasn't dead.

The cloaked being pulled back its hood, revealing the sight of a Gizoid. The Gizoid cocked its head at the sight of the disembodied head, as its blue eyes shined brighter.

"What did I tell you, Dimitri..." the Gizoid suddenly said, "What did I tell you..."

Fin

And there we go. 32 chapters, and over 170k+ words later. Boy oh boy, its been quite a ride. We've laughed, we've cried, and I'm pretty sure we've all 'ooh'd' and 'aww'd' with awesomeness. And what can I say at the end? Seriously, what can I say?

I suppose I can start off, the way I always start of these endings. By saying thanks. Thanks to my followers, thanks to my favoriters, and thanks to my reviewers. Thanks to TheDivines, musicalocelot, Random Person, ultimateCCC, GunmetalTheHedgehog, crazyshine, Elegant Solace, Ultra Chaos, ABSOselfRBED, LiveOutLoud143, TheVideoGamer, Kegger98, A11eyCat, and bearvalley3365. If there's anything I love, its reviews. And you guys reviewed more than once. Seriously, I really enjoy it when I get a reviews, it brightens up my day. And this story has so much, more than any story I've ever written. I seriously love it when I get new reviews though, I can't describe it enough. It just gets me going, well that and the will to write!

But, most of all, thanks to these two people. First, Lordoftheghostking28. Lordoftheghostking28 is some one who I really need. You, my friend, have no idea how great your notes are when it comes to proofreading my stories. Maybe I should get a beta reader, as you proposed, it sounds like I really need one. That being said, thanks. Your notes are really great, they make my earlier chapters look prettier than they originally did. And last, but certainly not least, I have to thank Kurine. I believe I've already talked about Kurine, so you may be wondering why do it again? Because she's that awesome! For those who don't know (and must have not been reading my Maverick Talks) Kurine drew fan art for my story. I've never had fan art before, so the sight of them spurned me forward. Normally, I look at various pictures while I'm writing. But now, I can look at pictures of my own stories, when I write. That feeling just drives me so, you have no idea. Thanks Kurine, you have made me such a happy man. If you haven't seen them yet, you should go and see. The pictures she has are awesome. And oh yeah, Kurine, I'm waiting for my next one. But seriously though, thanks.

And now, my friends, my readers, my reviewers, everyone, its time for the last, Maverick Talks!

So yeah, this chapter. Originally it was going to be a bonus one, since I was planning on the earlier chapter to be the last one. But of course, things didn't end up that way. I was originally going to give this story a much different, much more bitter ending, but I of course decided against it. Let's be honest, sometimes it's just better to have a happy ending, than a painful one. So, with this ending, I was giving it some ambiguity. Why was the Master Emerald shaking you ask? You decided, though I'm sure we can all come to a sound agreement.

To be honest, the whole scene with Tikal yelling at Shadow for leaving her, was supposed to come at the end. But when I was writing things, I got kind of carried away. I didn't mean too, but I did, so yeah, it happened way earlier than I originally intended. Oh well.

The ending as well. When it comes to Dimitri, I felt like I had to do that, like I had to show he was still alive. Why? Well in the comics, Dimitri became Enerjak, and I'm not really sure what it did to him, but it left him a disembodied head. And yet, for some reason, he didn't die. I'm not sure if they brought him back to life or something, but whatever. In the comics, he becomes a robotic head that runs the Dark Legionnaire. In this story, the reason why Dimitri survived Enerjak, was because he's that awesome. Oh yeah, Dimitri survived from awesomeness alone. Originally, it was going to be Lien-Da who found him, revealing that she didn't die from the tornado. But I just enjoy the thought of a random Gizoid finding him, a random Gizoid who may or may not be Finitevus. I'm sorry for the cliffhangers you guys, I just couldn't help myself. Does that mean a sequel, or am I just yanking your chain? We'll see... We'll see... When it comes to me, you're always left guessing.

Sky Sanctuary was supposed to appear to, as both a battleground for Shadow and Enerjak, as well as a little date spot for Shadow and Tikal. Why didn't it appear, despite my extensive knowledge of Sonic Geography? Honestly, I don't know why I didn't put it here. I think I blacked out for a moment. But lets count all the Zones I spoke of and mentioned! Mystic Ruins, since Cielo Isla is technically what it is, Hydrocity Zone, my personal favorite Zone from Sonic 3 & Knuckles, Red Mountain and Lava Reef were both mentioned by Bicab, Mushroom Hill Zone, Sandoopolis Zone, Marble Garden Zone, and Chrome Gadget Zone. And though I don't believe Glyphic Canyon is apart of Angel Island, it still gets its own mention. And I supposed the G.U.N. Base too. So that's ten, ten zones. You see, I know my Sonic. A bit too well. Hm...

So what next hm? I believe I've asked this questions a thousand times in the story you just read. What will happen next? What's up next for these Characters? Will all be okay? Who knows? Me? You? God? Yeah, I'm pretty sure God knows, it is kind of his MO, after all. That being said, I suppose we mortals will just have to wait and see. Keep your head in the clouds, and your feet on the ground.

And just so ya know, the reason why Knuckles can spin dash, despite not being a hedgehog, and living on an island apart from everyone else, is because of Shadow. He taught Tikal how to spin dash, who taught the others in her tribe, who continued to pass on the ability on and on and on, until Knuckles learned it. You're welcome.

Now, what will be my final send off? Crap, I had the perfect one to give, but now I can't remember it. Oh yes.

Remember! The end is not always the end. Sometimes, its just the beginning.

Maverick Kay Prime