Tikal (Archie)


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

Tikal is a fictional character from the Sonic the Hedgehog comic book series and spin-offs. She is the spirit of an ancient Mobian echidna bound to the Master Emerald, and the daughter of Pachacamac.

In the Pre-Super Genesis Wave timeline, Tikal was a member of the Knuckles Clan who hundred of years ago 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 and herself within the Ancient Onyx. 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. They eventually arrived in Soumerca where they made their settlement in Pais Misterioso while Tikal was still very young, but 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 settlement while the other colonists left, but Tikal's clan soon began fighting the Nocturnus Clan as well.

Many years after the war began, Tikal was exploring the Mystic Ruins with her father when they discovered a Chao Garden supported by seven Chaos Emeralds, which was home to Chao and resting place for the Ancient Onyx. Shortly after, as Pachacamac left to fight the Felidae, Tikal curiously sought out the Chao and earned the trust of the both Chao and their guardian Chaos thanks to her gentle nature.

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 tried to stop his father. However, Pachacamac ignored Tikal and charged 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 it. Eventually discovering Chaos' weakness, Tikal sealed Chaos inside a Zone in the Ancient Onyx along 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 and Chaos were released from the Ancient Onyx 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 reached full power, Tikal sought out the help of Knuckles the Echidna.

Finding Knuckles, Tikal 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. When it appeared that Chaos was defeated however, it returned 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 weakened Perfect Chaos enough for her to suck the Super Emeralds out of it and passed them onto Sonic, who used their positive Chaos Energy to transform into Super Sonic.

In the insuring battle, Super Sonic and Knuckles defeated Perfect Chaos, returning it 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, Tikal aided Sonic in his battle against Chaos.

Post-Super Genesis Wave
When Mobius was rocked by the Shattered World Crisis, Tikal and Chaos both reached out to their former home in order to help out. While Chaos descended to the planet's surface in order to keep the oceans from draining away, Tikal contacted Knuckles to explain that they were witnessing an improperly timed occurrence of a natural recurring phenomenon. Sensing that Light Gaia, the spirit who could restore the planet to normal, was weakened, Tikal asked Knuckles to search for him, which he agreed to. Like Chaos, Tikal then became involved in helping the Knothole Freedom Fighters defend the city of Meropis from Dark Gaia's Minions. Working together with Eusebes Shrine priestess Coral the Betta and her apprentice Pearly the Manta Ray, Tikal recited the Mystic Melody in order to restore the city's protective shield. She also explained why the shrine's patron Chao, Aquarius, had taken so long to emerge from her cocoon.

Tikal also apologized for not communicating with the Freedom Fighters sooner, reporting that Dark Gaia's energies inhibited her. She was able to inform them that they could find the Gaia Temples essential to the planet's restoration using the Mystic Melody, which was learned by Amy Rose under Coral's tutelage. However, her strength was depleted and she was forced to withdraw, leaving the heroes to continue their quest without her. Manifesting her spirit again on Shrine Island, she congratulated Knuckles on bringing both Chip (Light Gaia) and a Chaos Emerald back to the island for safety. She was then introduced to Relic the Pika, an archaeologist who quickly recognized Tikal's ancient clothing and was ecstatic about the possibility of talking to her. However, she first had to report that Angel Island was apparently the site of an alien invasion: that of Eclipse the Darkling and the Dark Arms. While Knuckles, Relic and her assistant Fixit, and Team Dark reluctantly joined forces to address the problem, Tikal led Chip to the Hidden Palace Zone to keep him out of harm's way.

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, 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 these skills, Tikal can give other visions, make herself and others levitate, teleport herself and others to different locations, and as well seal herself and Chaos within the Ancient Onyx. She is also able to perform an ancient ritual named after her, Tikal's Prayer, to weaken Perfect Chaos enough for her to suck the Super Emeralds out of it.

Tikal is the only known person so far who is able to communicate with and understand Chaos' language.

Trivia

 * During her appearances in the comics, Tikal's design was 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 jewelry. In her more recent appearances, Tikal's design is more like her game counterpart, but with different 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.