Altar

Knuckles said "Let's search around the Altar area first" as Tikal nodded taking one side, Knuckles taking the other, Knuckles sighed as he examined the stones a bit, there really was nothing deep in these old ruins, were there? However, he decided to keep moving as Knuckles examined even closer he spotted Tikal sort of frozen by the steps. Knuckles looked at her and asked "Are you okay?"

Tikal said "Yeah," looking at the area "Just nostalgia is all," she looked up at Knuckles "I wish Chaos would remember, but he doesn't. Our little sanctuary, is in the spirit world yes, but we can't go into other spaces places."

Knuckles asked "Really?" kind of curious as Tikal looked up at Knuckles giving a nod as Tikal continued "In the afterlife there are an infinite number of sanctuaries and hells, some of these are shared but most aren't." She reached out almost like she was petting a chao back home. "The only difference is that with our strong connection to the Master Emerald, Chaos and I can go into the living world if we want to."

Knuckles looked at her somber state and said "Chaos is lucky to have a girl like you." which caused Tikal to get neon red as Knuckles asked "What's wrong?"

Tikal said "Well, Chaos and I aren't...not that I never wanted to...we're so..." she sighed and said to Knuckles "We aren't dating, I just wish we were," Knuckles now wishing he didn't bring it up. She looked at Knuckles and asked "Knuckles, do you think I have charm as a woman?"

Knuckles doubled taked at that clearly being caught off guard by Tikal's bluntness. "What?"

"Do I have any charm as a woman?" Tikal repeated looking at her body almost disappointingly, but Knuckles was definitely thinking the opposite of that as Tikal said "I know it's awkward it's just...I need to hear the truth and you're not biased."

Knuckles took a deep breath and said "Yes, Tikal, I think you do have a lot of charm as a woman, what's not to like about you? You're kind, smart, beautiful, and are always thinking of others." a ting of pink filled Tikal's face not expecting a compliment like that. "Why do you think I called you for help? I knew you'd be the right girl for the job."

Tikal took the compilement and said "Thanks Knuckles" as they searched for a little while until they both found nothing. Tikal looked at Knuckles as she said "Maybe it's not on Angel Island"

Knuckles thought about it and said "If it's not on Angel Island, I'll have to store the Master Emerald somewhere safe. The question is though, where could it be?" he started to think more "My gut says the Mystic Ruins," which got Tikal to pay even closer attention to him. "Our Tribe's secrets lay there."

Tikal thought about it and said "It's a good idea, but what about where Chaos's people are from? Shouldn't we give that a look too?" suggesting the Star Fall Islands.