Tikal

"The servers are the 7 Chaos. Chaos is power, power enriched by the heart. The controller is the one that unifies the chaos."

- Tikal, Sonic Adventure

Tikal (ティカル) is a fictional anthropomorphic echidna from the Sonic the Hedgehog series. She is a spirit from 4,000 years ago and the daughter of Chief Pachacamac. She was once a member of the Knuckles Clan who resided in what became Mystic Ruins.

In her youth, Tikal lived in a period of war where she opposed her father's power-hungry ways of invading other countries. During this time, Tikal befriended the local Chao and their guardian Chaos. When Chaos went on a destructive rampage after her father attempted to steal the Chaos Emeralds and the Master Emerald, Tikal stopped Chaos by sealing it inside the Master Emerald with her own spirit. 4,000 years later, Tikal was released from the Master Emerald when Dr. Eggman planned to use Chaos to take over the world, where she aided Sonic the Hedgehog and his allies by showing them visions of her past in an effort to stop Chaos from destroying the planet. After Chaos had been calmed by Sonic, Tikal left with Chaos to live their lives in peace.

Early Life
Tikal was born 4,000 years ago to Pachacamac, a member of the family of chiefs that lead the Knuckles Clan. During her youth, Tikal was raised by her grandmother, the chief of the Knuckles Clan, who passed on her teachings, pacifistic beliefs, her knowledge of the Chao, and the their people's legends related to the Master Emerald and the Chaos Emeralds at the Altar of the Emeralds, including an old mantra associated with the legends, to Tikal. Tikal, in turn, loved her grandmother dearly and believed everything she was taught wholeheartedly, resulting in her becoming a peace-loving pacifist. Tikal also always cherished her grandmother's words, especially her old mantra, which she was not sure of what meant though she had her suspicions.

When her grandmother passed away, Tikal's father, Pachacamac, took over as the leading chief of the Knuckles Clan and began carrying out his ambition to expand the Knuckles Clan's kingdom, directing his people into a series of successful, violent and swift conquests of the neighboring countries. Following her grandmother's ideology and wishes, Tikal opposed her father's warmongering ways and tyranny.

In the following period of war, Tikal spend her time outside the Altar of the Emeralds. Eventually, she managed to pass through the sacred barrier that kept intruders from getting near the altar, where she to her astonishment discovered the Chao. While the Chao were initially frighten of her, Tikal assured them that they were safe with her, and she managed to gain the trust of the Chao due to her gentle nature. Shortly after being accepted by the Chao, Tikal met Chaos, when it revealed itself to her. Tikal was initially startled and frightened by Chaos, but she soon came to realize its gentle nature and learned of its duty to watch over the Master Emerald, the Chaos Emeralds and the Chao that lived at the altar, and she managed to befriend it. Over time, Tikal spend much of her time at the altar where she would entertain herself with the Chao and Chaos, often to seek sanctuary when her father became too much to bear. Eventually, Tikal managed to gain Chaos' trust and was allowed by Chaos to enter the innermost areas of the altar. Though she was hesitant about this at first, Tikal entered the altar upon Chaos' assurance, where she saw the seven Chaos Emeralds and discovered the Master Emerald, which made her come to understand the meaning behind her grandmother's mantra.

When the Nocturnus Clan threaten to wipe of the Knuckles Clan, Pachacamac set his eyes on stealing the Chaos Emeralds and the Master Emerald at the altar with force to gain the power to destroy their enemies. When Tikal learned of her father's plans, she sought out Pachacamac and pleaded him not to go through with his violent plan, fearing the worst for the altar's residents. When Pachacamac insisted that the Emeralds were needed for their survival, Tikal tried to convince him that violence and taking others land were not the right path to peace and begged him not to do it, but to no avail. Unable to change her father's ways, Tikal returned to the Altar of the Emeralds, warning Chaos that her father would soon attack and tried to persuade it to take the Chao away from the altar to safety. When she heard from Chaos that it could not leave the altar, Tikal promised disheartened that she would try to talk to her father again, and assured the local Chao that she would not let them down.

Despite Tikal's attempts, she was unable to change her father's mind about stealing the Emeralds. Eventually, Pachacamac lead a group of Echidna warriors in a brutal attack on the Altar of the Emeralds. When Pachacamac and his men stood before the altar, Tikal and the Chao intervened by blocking Pachacamac's path to the Emeralds. Desperate as she made her final stand, Tikal refused to move upon her father's orders and beseeched them to stop, insisting that their never-ending greed were the enemy and begged her father not to do this. Ignoring her words, Pachacamac charged forward with his men, trampling over Tikal and knocking her unconscious.

Despite her wounds, Tikal came to, only to discover the horrible destruction and carnage that had befallen the area; it turned out that when Pachacamac and his men attacked the temple, they injured the Chao living there, angering Chaos at the treatment of its kin and causing it to be consumed by rage. Chaos then used the negative Chaos Energy of the seven Chaos Emeralds to become Perfect Chaos, and had proceeded to kill Pachacamac, his men and wiping out nearly the entire Knuckles Clan. Understanding that Chaos was now blinded by rage and would not stop its rampage until it had destroyed the rest of the world, Tikal decided to stop Chaos. Returning to the Master Emerald, Tikal used her grandmother's mantra and pleaded the Master Emerald to stop Chaos. Using her spirit as a catalyst, Tikal sacrificed her body to trip Chaos of its power and seal it away within Master Emerald. However, the resulting ritual also sealed Tikal's spirit inside the Master Emerald as well.

Sonic Adventure
For the next few millennia, Tikal's spirit existed inside the Master Emerald with Chaos, their hearts coexisting with one another. 4,000 years after Tikal had sealed herself and Chaos inside the Master Emerald, they were released by Dr. Eggman, who had discovered ancient tablets describing the event with Perfect Chaos and had decided to use Chaos to help him conquer the world by making it transform into Perfect Chaos again. To free Chaos, Eggman shattered the Master Emerald, successfully awakening and recruiting Chaos, but unknowingly awoke Tikal's spirit as well. Upon being freed, Tikal emerged as an ethereal spiritual ball from the shattered remains of the Master Emerald and drifted away. Realizing that Chaos would resume destroying the world once it got all seven Chaos Emeralds, Tikal strove to stop Chaos by finding others she felt would be the most able to heed her warning and cry for help.

Tikal eventually came into contact with Sonic the Hedgehog and his allies - Tails, Knuckles, Amy, Big and E-102 Gamma - where she appeared before them in spirit form and showed them visions of her history with Chaos, hoping that they would see the cataclysm that befell the world before, and what would happen if Chaos obtained the Chaos Emeralds again.

Despite Tikal's best attempts to warn the heroes, Chaos betrayed Eggman and managed to obtain the Chaos Emeralds, using their negative energies to become Perfect Chaos again. As Perfect Chaos began destroying Station Square, Tikal appeared before Sonic in her spirit form, who had arrived with his friends to survey the situation, where she revealed her physical form to him and told him about the history of Chaos' sadness and anger. As Perfect Chaos then released the Chaos Emeralds, having drained them of their negative energy, Tikal pleaded Sonic to seal Chaos away in the Master Emerald again to save the world, but Sonic disagreed with her as Chaos' anger would never vanish like that and that history would likely repeat itself once again. Tikal asked Sonic of what other choices they had, but then Sonic's friends arrived with the Chaos Emeralds and Sonic used their positive energies to transform into Super Sonic. Super Sonic subsequently defeated Perfect Chaos, returning it to normal and neutralizing its anger. Tikal then appeared before Chaos and showed it that the Chao it had protected were still alive and were care for by the people of Earth. Thanking Sonic and his friends for their help, Tikal rose into the air with Chaos and disappeared in a flash of light to live their lives in peace.

Sonic Adventure 2 and Sonic Adventure 2: Battle
Tikal is an unlockable character in the Dreamcast game, Sonic Adventure 2 and its remake Sonic Adventure 2: Battle. To acquire her, the player has to complete all of Knuckles the Echidna's missions with an "A" rank. She is then available to play in 2-player in the treasure hunting game as well as in the kart game. In the GameCube re-release Sonic Adventure 2: Battle, she is initially playable in Treasure Hunting. Sonic Adventure 2 reuses several quotes from Sonic Adventure rather than using new lines from Tikal. Some people believe that her appearance in 2-player clears up the plot hole of her disappearance, while others think SEGA put her there for fans.

Sonic Advance and Sonic Advance 2
Tikal additionally appears in a Chao mini game in Sonic Advance and Sonic Advance 2 that is playable by combining one of the games with Sonic Adventure DX. This game involves Tikal giving Sonic tips on where to find a specific Chao for Cheese the Chao.

Sonic Pinball Party
Tikal makes a cameo appearance in Sonic Pinball Party as an animated stone carving on the Angel Island board.

Sonic Rivals and Sonic Rivals 2
Tikal makes an appearance in Sonic Rivals and Sonic Rivals 2 on several collectible cards.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Tikal also makes an appearance in Super Smash Bros. Brawl as a sticker.

Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood
Though Tikal does not appear in person, she is mentioned, along with Chaos and Pachacamac, several times by the characters in Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood, as the events of the game centers around the history of the Echidnas. Additionally, information about Tikal can be read in the game's codex.

Sonic and the Black Knight
In Sonic and the Black Knight, even though Tikal is not mentioned in the game, when a file is chosen, Tikal is one of the default names.

Sonic Colors
In the console version version of Sonic Colors, even though Tikal is not mentioned, when a file is chosen, Tikal is one of the default names, just like in Sonic and the Black Knight.

Mario and Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games
Tikal also appears in Mario and Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games as one of the many unlockable costumes that can be worn by a player's Mii. The costume gives the Mii the stats of Tikal.

Sonic Generations
In the console/PC version of Sonic Generations, Tikal makes another cameo on a billboard in Speed Highway advertising a movie in the Chao in Space series, titled "Chao in Space III: The Search for Tikal".

Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed
Tikal additionally appears in Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed as a sticker.

Personality
Because of her grandmother's teachings, Tikal is a devout, gentle and kindhearted pacifist with a peaceful temperament. She strongly opposes greed, violence and conflict, and wishes for everything to be in peace, harmony and tranquility, both between allies and enemies alike. She stands firm by her peaceful teaching, never once resorting to violence, and will try to resolve conflicts peacefully through talk, going as far as to desperately beg others to stop their evil ways. While she abhors fighting, Tikal is willing to stand up to defend peace herself when needed, as she tried to block her clan's attack of the Altar of the Emeralds, and is not above helping others in their fights to protect the world and harmony.

Tikal is extremely compassionate about the people around her and non-discriminatory, never treating anyone with prejudice. She is an amiable person and is liked by everyone. Even when her clan disapproved her ideals, choosing to follow the paths of war, and father having closed off to her, Tikal cared deeply for her father and clan, and attempted to sway them from their destructive path. When she failed to stop her clan, Tikal became determined to never let anyone relive the tragedy that caused her clan's destruction. Also, despite Chaos' corruption of anger and sadness, she still considered it her friend.

While Tikal only want everyone to live in peace, she tend to have moments of oversight when trying to achieve it. She often chooses the quickest path that will restore immediate peace, rather than what might restore harmony and be for the greater good of everyone involved. Still, Tikal is well-meaning in her intentions and she is quick to forgive and forget.

Powers and Abilities
Tikal is one of the few known people who is able to access and utilize the powers of the Master Emerald, allowing her to harness the Master Emerald's various abilities. She is also able to, as the only known person, to communicate with and understand Chaos' language.

After transcending into a spirit and being locked up in the Master Emerald for millenia, Tikal obtained various mystical powers. She is able to assume the discorporate form of a floating red and white sphere of light that can move through midair very fast, and she can spiritually assume her original physical form as well. Other mystical abilities she also possesses include making herself in her physical form and others levitate, and teleporting herself and others.

Another skill Tikal has displayed as a spirit is the ability to temporarily transport people back in time in their mind, similar to a vision. During these "visions", people are able to physically interact with their surroundings completely in the past, and can even bring things they pick up back to the present, such as when Tails brought back the Rhythm Badge. While people's minds are visiting the past, their bodies in the present enter a trance-like state and can even move on their own accord until their minds return from the past.

Weakness
Tikal's weakness is that she is not as physically strong as some of the characters, as shown in most media. In Sonic Adventure 2 and Sonic Adventure 2: Battle, she throws short punches and can't sense Emeralds as well as the treasure hunters, but is instead faster than them.

Sonic the Comic
Tikal made an appearance in the Sonic the Comic comic book series. In the comics, Tikal was the daughter of Pochacamac and a member of the Acient Echidnas that fought a war against the Drakon Empire for control of the Chaos Emeralds 8,000 years ago. Fearing the danger, Tikal transported Sonic to her time period to help battle the Drakon. However, when Sonic was about to be killed by Chaos, Pochacamac was forced to send him home.

Archie Comics
Tikal appears in the Archie Comics' Sonic the Hedgehog comic book series and spin-offs. In the comics, Tikal was the member of the Knuckles Clan, a warrior caste of a group of Echidna colonist from Albion. They settled in Soumerca, where she and the Knuckles Clan remained behind and entered a territorial war against the Felidae and the Nocturnus Clan. There, Tikal befriended Chaos and the local Chao.

When Chaos went on a rampage following her father's attempt to steal the Chaos Emeralds, Tikal sealed herself with Chaos inside the Ancient Onyx to stop Chaos. After several hundred years, Tikal was freed when Dr. Eggman sought to use Chaos to conquer the planet, where she aided the heroes in stopping Chaos for good. Following that, Tikal returned with Chaos to their own Zone to rest in peace.

Sonic X
Tikal mirrored her Sonic Adventure role in the anime series Sonic X. Bella Hudson does Tikal's voice in the American version of Sonic X.

In Sonic X, Tikal tried to stop her father Pachacamac from taking the seven Chaos Emeralds to defeat their enemies. In this process, she and several Chao were injured, which angered the water beast Chaos. Chaos killed Pachacamac and the remaining members of the tribe, forcing Tikal to stop and calm Chaos by trapping it and her inside the Master Emerald. When Chaos was resurrected by Dr. Eggman, Tikal arrived where Chaos had taken all of the Chaos Emeralds and Perfect Chaos, in the presence of Sonic the Hedgehog and co. They gathered all seven Chaos Emeralds and restored their power, allowing Sonic to transform into Super Sonic, allowing Sonic to beat Chaos. Tikal then took Chaos with her home.

Family

 * Pachacamac (Father)
 * Unnamed grandmother

Friends/Allies

 * Chaos
 * Chao
 * Sonic the Hedgehog
 * Miles "Tails" Prower
 * Knuckles the Echidna
 * Amy Rose
 * Cream the Rabbit
 * Big the Cat
 * E-102 Gamma

Enemies/Rivals

 * Dr. Eggman
 * Pachacamac the Echidna

Quotes

 * "The servers are the seven Chaos, chaos is power, power enriched by the heart, the controller is the one that unifies the Chaos." - A poem taught to her by her grandmother.
 * "How can I make you understand?"
 * "The fight is over, harmony is restored, and life goes on."
 * "I beg of you.."
 * "Gather 50 rings, and press the Action button while you're jumping. You'll transform into Super Sonic! But watch out for your ring consumption." - An unused line from Sonic Adventure.
 * "I'm sorry, you're not one of them"
 * "I'm sorry." - When using a special attack in Sonic Adventure 2.
 * "I must do something.." - Tikal at the beginning of the Treasure Hunt Race in Sonic Adventure 2.
 * "I'm Tikal!" - Tikal introducing herself to Tails and when being chosen for a Treasure Hunt Race in Sonic Adventure 2.

Theme Song
The main theme of Tikal from Sonic Adventure is "Theme of Tikal".

Trivia

 * Tikal is named after a ruined Mayan city in Guatemala whose name means "Place of Voices" . Her father, Pachacamac, shares the name of both an Inca solar deity and a city of the Inca Empire, located near Lima, Peru. In addition to this, the pyramid in the Mystic Ruins, an adventure field in Sonic Adventure, resembles the one in the city of Tikal, and the Lost World level retains aspects of Maya ruins, such as the rotating snake and the jade. Tikal's attire is also derived from the Mayan civilization.
 * It is unknown where Tikal really went with Chaos. It is possible that she may not reappear because when asked about it to Sonic at Sonic Central, he responded that he did not "know exactly where they [Tikal and other minor characters] are" - possibly suggesting that she will not be in the games any time soon. A popular theory was that she went back to the Master Emerald, but this is generally considered to be untrue, for when it shattered in Sonic Adventure 2, she was nowhere be seen. It is possible, however, she was within the shards. The image after the Super Sonic story credits shows Tikal at the Master Emerald Altar at Angel Island, but it is unclear on what the picture really depicts; the past, the future, a form of Heaven, or something else.
 * She is one of the few Sonic characters with visible feet. Other characters wear shoes all the time.
 * Her in-game model in Sonic Adventure shows her shirt as covering only her chest, though official artwork makes it into a tanktop-like garment revealing her midriff. (This could however just be how her model appears in the game)
 * Her skirt pattern differs from an X-shape to diamond-shapes in various artworks.
 * In her Sonic Adventure official artwork, Tikal has an extra wristband on her right hand.
 * When playing as Tikal in Sonic Adventure 2: Battle, her lines are simply voice clips from Sonic Adventure.
 * Tikal's eyes are different colors in different continuities; in the video game series they're blue, in Sonic X they're purple, and in the Archie series they're green.
 * However, in one scene of Sonic X, her eyes are blue.
 * When Tikal does a victory pose in Sonic Adventure 2, her brass knuckle disappears.
 * There is an unlockable costume for your Mii in Mario and Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games based on her character appearance.
 * In her Sonic Adventure artwork, she has a long train on her skirt. But in her other appearances, she does not.
 * In Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood, Shade refers to Knuckles as "Pachacamac's descedant", hinting that Knuckles may have some relation to Tikal.
 * If you use the Action Replay moon jump code in Sonic Adventure in a cutscene that she is in, you can make her jump, perhaps hinting that she was playable in one point in development.