Tikal (Archie)


 * For Tikal and Chaos' counterpart on Light Mobius, see Tikhaos.

Tikal is a fictional character in the Sonic the Hedgehog comic book series and spin-offs. She is an ancient Mobian Echidna from hundred of years ago and the daughter of Pachacamac. She was a member of the Knuckles Clan who set out to colonize an area in Pais Misterioso, but entered a three-way with the Felidae and the Nocturnus Clan. When Chaos went on a rampage, Tikal stopped the creature by sealing it within the Ancient Onyx at the cost of sealing herself along with it. When Dr. Eggman liberated Chaos in an attempt for world domination, Tikal assisted Knuckles the Echidna and his allies in defeating Chaos. When Chaos returned to normal, Tikal along Chaos and the Servers returned to a separate Zone where they could rest in peace.

Early Life
Tikal was born hundred of years ago to Pachacamac, leader of the warrior caste of Echidnas from Albion. During her upbringing, Tikal followed her grandmother's teaching in her pacifist beliefs.

Tikal and her caste were a part of the Second Downunda Colony who departed from Albion to colonize Mobius and spread Echidna culture. The colonists eventually arrived in Soumerca where they made their settlement in Pais Misterioso while Tikal was still very young, but soon ran afoul with the hostile natives, the Felidae. Tikal's caste, who became the Knuckles Clan, and the sciences caste that became the Nocturnus Clan, remained behind for to fight for their while the other colonists left, but Tikal's clan soon came into conflict with the Nocturnus Clan as well, leading to a three-way war.

Many years after the war began, Tikal was exploring the Mystic Ruins with her father when they discovered an altar-like Chao Garden that was supported by seven Chaos Emeralds, whic was home to Chao and as well the resting place for the Ancient Onyx. Shortly after discovering it though, Tikal was ordered to stay at the ruins by her father when he had to leave for battle against the Felidae. Curious about the Chao, Tikal sought out the small creatures. Due to her gentle nature, Tikal earned the trust of the Chao and their guardian Chaos, becoming their friend.

When the war against the Felidae and the Nocturnus Clan was going against the Knuckles Clan, Tikal's father sought to harness the Chaos Emeralds at the Chao Garden to win the war. Refusing to let the Chao to get involved in the war, Tikal tied to block her father's brutal attack on the garden, telling him that greed was the enemy and would only lead to more, before begging him to stop. Despite this, Pachacamac ignored Tikal and charge by Tikal, into the garden. Enraged by this, Chaos used the Chaos Emeralds' power to wipe the Knuckles Clan out, except for Tikal. Realizing that Chaos had been corrupted when protecting its family, Tikal and the seven powerful Chao known as the Servers sought to stop Chaos. Eventually discovering Chaos' weakness, Tikal sealed Chaos inside a Zone in the Ancient Onyx with her own spirit, while the Servers transformed into the Super Emeralds.

Release and Aiding the Heroes
Over the next centuries, Tikal remained within the Ancient Onyx with Chaos, trying to sooth its anger. Hundred of years after the incident, Tikal was released from the Ancient Onyx along with Chaos by Dr. Eggman, who sought to use Chaos to destroy Station Square and conquer the world. After Eggman had open the Ancient Oynx, Tikal got through Eggman's forces unnoticed as a small orb. Realizing the danger Chaos presented to the world if it managed to reach full power, Tikal sought out the help of Knuckles the Echidna.

Eventually, Tikal found Knuckles, where she showed him the history of Chaos and herself, and told him why she needed him. Tikal then worked with Knuckles to keep Dr. Eggman from getting the Super Emeralds by leading him to where he was needed. Despite that it seemed like Chaos was defeated by Sonic the Hedgehog and Knuckles, it survive and managed to locate and absorb the seven Super Emeralds, transforming into Perfect Chaos and began destroying Station Square. During this rampage, Tikal came to Sonic and showed him visions of Chaos and her own past, before appearing to him, Knuckles and the Knothole Freedom Fighters in her original form. Opting to defeat Chaos without destroying it, Tikal performed an ancient ritual that let her weaken Perfect Chaos enough for her to suck the Super Emeralds out of it and pass them onto Sonic, who used their positive Chaos Energy to transform into Super Sonic.

In the insuring battle, Super Sonic managed to defeat Perfect Chaos with the help of Knuckles, returning Chaos to its uncorrupted base form and making the Servers emerged from Chaos. Praising the heroes for their work, Tikal teleported herself, Chaos and the Servers back to their Zone in the Ancient Onyx to rest in peace.

World's Collide
When the Prime Zone's timeline was altered by the second Genesis Wave, Tikal's history was slightly altered as well. In this timeline, much like the original timeline, Tikal aided Sonic in his battle against Chaos.

Personality
As opposed to her clan of warriors and especially her father, Tikal is a devout pacifist and a gentle spirit. She severely opposes violence and greed, and abhors fighting, and will attempt to sway people away from their destructive paths peacefully. Regardless of her opposition to fighting though, Tikal is a strong defender of truth and peace, and is not above helping others fight to protect the world.

Despite her people's warlike ways, Tikal loved her people deeply and tried to talk them out of the violent ways. When she failed, Tikal became determined to insure that no one else to come to suffer under Chaos' wrath. Also, despite Chaos' hostile and violent nature after its corruption, she continued to consider it a friend, and wanted nothing more than to calm its anger so that it could find peace.

Powers and Abilities
The full extend of Tikal's abilities is unknown, though she presumably possesses a connection to the Chaos Force, which gives her a range of mystical abilities. With it, Tikal can communicate with other and induced visions in individuals, levitate, teleport herself and others to other locations, and as well seal herself and Chaos within the Ancient Onyx. She is also able to perform an ancient ritual that ended up being named after her, Tikal's Prayer, to weaken Perfect Chaos enough for her to suck the Super Emeralds out of it.

Trivia

 * During her appearances in the comics, Tikal's design has been fairly inconsistent with her game counterpart's. In her first appearance in the comics, Tikal's fur was red and later tan-pink in the other issues, while her eyes were constantly green. On her first appearance, she also had a full head of hair and bangs on her forehead, but it was only in that issue. Also, her design in the flashbacks changes from a design similar to her game counterpart, to a version with a different hairstyle and attire, and no forehead jewelery. In her more recent appearances, Tikal's design is more like her game counterpart, but with the wrong footwear.
 * Tikal's name is misspelled as Tical in multiple instances, such as in Sonic the Hedgehog #83, #84, Sonic Super special #13, and the letter pages for Sonic Super special #15.
 * Tikal is one of the two female echidnas in the comics without a hyphenated name (the other being Shade). This is because her name comes from the video games, which did not apply the hyphenated name formula in the comics.