(A/N: I had this idea while I was playing Sonic Adventure DX Directors cut for the Gamecube. Although I've been a fan fro a while, this is my first Sonic the Hedgehog Fanfic. It's mainly Knuckles' story so Knuckles fans should like it. It takes place after Sonic Heroes. The first chapter will be short as it's a prologue.)
Disclaimer: Sonic the hedgehog and all related characters belong to Sega and Sonic Team and are copyrighted by them. I have no profit motive for writing this; I'm just a fan. I do own a couple of the characters that appear.
Thinking back"As far back as I can remember, I've been living alone on this island, miles above the ocean surface. Defending the Master Emerald from danger and waiting for my people to return to me. I don't know why this task has been placed upon me, whether it was a mission, an accident or a curse, but I know that one day, my people will return someday. I only wish that I will be alive when that day comes. Since I've brought the Chaos Emeralds back with me, life has been no different, harder if anything. I observe the skies to see if anything that could harm the Master Emerald approaches."
Knuckles pondered these lines as he sat at the altar where the Master Emerald stood. The Chaos Emeralds lined the outside of the Master Emerald. Much to his surprise, Dr. Eggman hadn't come after the Emeralds in some insane plot to take over the planet. Knuckles was unsure of the reason of this, perhaps it was because Eggman had learned his lesson, although this was unlikely. Possibly it was because he was plotting again, this was the most likely. Knuckles continued to watch the skies around his island. The most he saw was a bird flying near the island. Things had been quiet since Eggman's most recent defeat. Knuckles thought back to his previous battles to protect the Master Emerald. The one that stuck in his mind the most was that time when Chaos was released 2 years ago. It wasn't because of Chaos that made this incident stick out; it was because of Tikal, the first of Knuckles' tribe to return, even if it was only to stop Chaos. He often found himself wishing that she would come back. He was unsure of why Tikal had left after Chaos had been calmed. He suspected it was because she felt she was no longer needed. He then thought back to the times when Tikal had taken him into the past. He realised that Tikal was the first of the tribe who wanted to reach peace without invading others. Knuckles sighed and looked up to the sky. He figured that she'd never come back, no matter how much he wanted her too. As he sat down, he heard an engine nearby. He stood up and looked around to try and find the source of the sound. He eventually saw Tails flying the Tornado 2. He flew past the island without landing to visit so Knuckles assumed he was on a test flight.
"False alarm." Knuckles muttered to himself. He sat back down in front of the Master Emerald and turned to look at it. He admired the sight of the large green Emerald sitting in its place spinning as it always did. In many ways, it was hypnotic, watching the Emerald spin constantly. There were times when Knuckles would feel sleepy from watching the Emerald spin all day. As he watched the Emerald spin, he heard a sound coming from the island.
"What was that? It sounded like an impact." Knuckles said to himself. Without a second thought, he started running around the island. He eventually came across a crater on the island. In the crater was a small meteorite, about 1½ yards in diameter. On closer inspection, he saw that the meteorite was a perfect globe shape and it seemed to be divided in half around the cirumference.
"This is strange, why wasn't the island damaged?" Knuckles asked. He ran back to the altar and Checked on the Master Emerald. It was undamaged by the impact. Knuckles then returned to the meteorite. When he got there he sensed an energy coming from within the meteorite.
"This is very strange." Knuckles muttered. He jumped down to the meteorite and tapped it. It wasn't made of rock, but of a substance he'd never come across before. He felt the division and found a small gap between the two halves of the Meteorite. He tried to prize it open but it wouldn't budge.
"I think there's something inside this, if only I could open it." Knuckles said in frustration. After he said this, steam came flowing out of the meteorite and it slowly began to open. Knuckles leapt back out of instinct and prepared to attack whatever came out.
"If you intend harm, I want you off my island!" Knuckles shouted. He heard a voice from inside the meteorite.
"Please, I mean no harm Knuckles." The voice said. The voice sounded feminine and the tone was full of peace. It was also a voice that was familiar to Knuckles, but he couldn't put his finger on it.
"How do you know my name?" Knuckles asked. The meteorite was now fully open but Knuckles kept his distance.
"We've met before, I believe about 2 years ago." The voice replied. Knuckles' felt his heart skip a beat. He watched as a female Echidna stood up. She was wearing a white and green skirt with a top of the design of the ancients. She was mostly orange except for a white stripe around her neck. Knuckles recognised the female figure that stood before him.
"I-it can't be!" Knuckles exclaimed in shock. He had another look at the figure that stood before him.
"Tikal?" Knuckles asked.
(A/N: Sorry if that was a little short for me. I was trying to set the scene for Tikal's return, and give some background information. Hope you enjoyed it. Please read and review. To Nightw2 and PurpleCobra247, I had this first part ready for a while and thought I'd post it now, that's why I've done two posts in one day.)