Tikal Consults Starfire/Arrival in the New World

*(Later by the river's shore, Tikal and Pikachu's group are sitting around, talking as they admire Tikal's armband on her right shoulder)*

Ace: So, basically, your pa wants you to be steady like the river?

Tikal: That's what he said.

*(After looking at the water in the river for a bit, they jumped back in surprise when two otters popped up at the surface playfully, startling Zazu and the Gangreen Gang, even though Tikal and Pikachu giggled a bit)*

Zazu: (Flatly) Apparently not steady at all.

Snake: Hey, Tikal, whyssss not consssult Sssstarfire about your dream?

*(Thinking it over upon hearing Snake's idea, Tikal and Pikachu's group, even Ace, happily agreed)*

Tikal: Maybe she might know about it.

Arturo: Starfire may have cryptic answers, but she is very wise.

*(Then as the otters swam ahead in the river, Tikal, Pikachu, and the Gangreen Gang, except Billy who climbed into the river water and Zazu who can fly, boarded Tikal's canoe and Tikal began paddling away from the village down the river to go see this Starfire, with Zazu tapping on each three turtles' shells, getting their attention. During this, Tikal started singing)*

Tikal: **What I love most about rivers is**

**You can’t step in the same river twice**

**The water’s always changing, always flowing**

**But people, I guess, can’t live like that**

**We all must pay a price**

**To be safe we lose our chance of ever knowing**

**What’s around the riverbend**

**Waiting just around the riverbend**

**I look once more**

**Just about the riverbend**

**Beyond the shore**

**Where the gulls fly free**

**Don’t know what for**

**What I dream the day might send**

**Just around the riverbend**

**For me**

**Coming for me**

*(They then passed some wildlife hanging around by the river and even a waterfall)*

Tikal: **I feel it there beyond those trees**

**Or right behind these waterfalls**

*(Then some fish fell from the waterfall onto Ace, much to his annoyance)*

Tikal: **Can I ignore that sound of distant drumming**

**For a handsome, sturdy husband**

**Who builds handsome, sturdy walls?**

*(They see a beaver build its dam nearby)*

Tikal: **And never dreams that something might be coming**

**Just around the riverbend**

*(They approach a small waterfall, much to Snake, Arturo, and Grubber's concern)*

Tikal: **Just around the riverbend**

*(Then they drop down the waterfall perfectly without tipping over and/or sinking in the water, much to Snake, Arturo, and Grubber's relief-turned happiness. Then they, along with Tikal, Pikachu, Zazu, Ace, and Billy, are having a blast down some more smaller waterfalls until they reached a calmer part of the river with a rainbow shining down over it from the water's mist combined with the sunlight)*

Tikal: **I look once more**

**Just around the riverbend**

**Beyond the shore**

**Somewhere past the sea**

**Don’t know what for**

**Why do all my dreams extend**

**Just around the riverbend?**

**Just around the riverbend**

*(Then they come upon a forked path in the form of two river paths, the left side leading to the sea, and the right side leading to this Starfire's location. Tikal then looked down at the river's water at her reflection, and began pondering as she envisioned Seifer, in calm politeness, holding his hand out to her, as if wanting to take her hand and kiss it)*

Tikal: **Should I choose the smoothest course**

**Steady as the beating drum?**

**Should I marry Seifer?**

**Is all my dreaming at an end?**

*(But in her imagination in the reflection, Tikal politely declined Seifer's hand kiss offer, and then Seifer's image vanished. Then she looked at the forked river path)*

Tikal: **Or do you still wait for me, Dream Giver**

**Just around the riverbend?**

*(After her song ended, she then calmly paddled to the right side river path towards this Starfire's place. Once at a glen with a pond at the end of the river, Tikal, Zazu, and Pikachu's group climbed out her canoe, or in Billy's case, climbed out of the water and shook some water off. Then they approached a giant weeping willow tree and sat at a stump-like seat as a female voice spoke and some animals arrived and gathered around)*

Female voice: (Voice-over) Is that my dear Tikal?

Tikal: Starfire, I need to talk to you.

*(Then the tree glowed and emerging from the light as it died down is a female figure. The figure is a female esper-like tree spirit with pale green skin, long forest green hip-length hair, glowing green eyes, and wearing a green collar with an emerald gem brooch, a forest green cropped tanktop with green lining, a green armband on her right arm, green gauntlets, a forest green miniskirt, a green belt with a green buckle, and forest green boots with green cuffs and soles. She is Starfire, Tikal's friend who is a wise tree spirit)*

Starfire: Good morning, child. I was hoping you’d visit today.

*(Suddenly, she gasped in happiness and amazement upon noticing Tikal wearing her armband)*

Starfire: Why, you're wearing your mother’s armband!

Tikal: (Nods) That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. My father wants me to marry Seifer Almasy.

Starfire: (Aghast) Marry Seifer Almasy? *(Frowns)* But he's so serious.

Zazu: We know.

Ace: And this is where you come in.

Tikal: That's right. My father thinks it’s the right path for me. But lately I’ve been having this dream and I think it’s....

Starfire: (Interested) Oh, a dream?! Let's hear all about it!

*(Then all of the animals started chittering in excitement)*

Starfire: (Trying to quiet the animals) Okay, we're excited! Okay, let's be quiet please.

*(But the animals continued chittering away)*

Starfire: Quiet.

*(But they still chittered away)*

Starfire: QUIET!!

*(From that shout, the animals quieted down. Then a frog sitting on a lilypad lets out a loud croak, only for Starfire to glare at it in annoyance, making the frog comply as well that it leaped into the water off the lilypad. Then Starfire resumed her conversation with Tikal)*

Starfire: Now, child. You were saying...?

Tikal: Well, I’m running through the woods and then right there in front of me is an arrow. As I look at it, it started to spin.

Starfire: (Interested) A spinning arrow? *(Ponders in curiosity and interest)* How unusual.

Tikal: Yes. And it spinned faster and faster and faster until suddenly it stopped.

*(Around Tikal's line above, Billy, Pikachu, and a nearby rabbit spun their heads at Tikal's spinning finger gesture and after she finished saying her line, Billy, Pikachu, and the rabbit got dizzy from the brief spinning)*

Billy: (Dizzily) Whoa....

Pikachu: (Dizzily) Pika....

*(After Billy, Pikachu, and the rabbit snapped out of their dizziness, Starfire pondered and then began to explain in a wise cryptic way)*

Starfire: Hmm. Well, seems to me this spinning arrow is pointing you down to your destined path.

Tikal: But Starfire, what is my destined path? How am I ever going to find it?

Starfire: (Chuckles a bit) Your mother asked me the very same question.

Tikal: She did? What did you tell her?

*(Starfire then explained)*

Starfire: I told her to listen. All around you are spirits, child. They live in the earth, the water, the sky. If you listen, they will guide you.

*(Then a female spiritual voice, the Wind Spirit, started vocalizing a bit with the wind, much to everyone's notice as Tikal stood up with Zazu and Pikachu's group in curiosity)*

Tikal: I hear the wind.

Starfire: (Nods) Yes. What is it telling you?

*(Tikal listened, but couldn't understand)*

Tikal: I don't understand it.

*(Then Starfire starts singing in calm encouragement as the colored leaves-filled wind blew around Tikal calmly, as if talking to her)*

Starfire: ***Que* *que* *na-to-ra***

**You will understand**

**Listen with your heart**

**You will understand**

**Let it break upon you**

**Like a wave upon the sand**

*(Listening carefully during the song, Tikal suddenly realized what the wind is telling her)*

Tikal: It's saying that something's coming.

*(Then she got confused)*

Tikal: "Strange clouds?"

*(Then she, Zazu, Pikachu's group, and some squirrels climbed up the tree, or flew in Zazu's case, as Starfire, concluding her song, and the rest of the animals remained below)*

Starfire: **Listen with your heart**

**You will understand**

Wind Spirit: (Voice-over) **You will understand**

*(As the song ended, Tikal, Zazu, Pikachu's group, and the squirrels arrived at the tree's canopy and looked out at the faraway view to see what the wind is telling Tikal what it saw. Sure enough, Pikachu's group, Zazu, and the squirrels gaped in surprise at what they just saw with Tikal and quickly darted back down to Starfire and the animals in a panic, much to Starfire's confusion)*

Starfire: (Calling out to Tikal, who is looking) What do you see?

*(Tikal got interested as she saw what Pikachu's group, Zazu, and the squirrels saw; Two giant strange-looking white clouds)*

Tikal: Clouds. Strange clouds....

*(At the seaside shores of the forest, the Susan Constant, the clouds revealed to be its sails, slowly stopped. In his cabin, Dick, with his coat, gloves, and helmet off, opened his window and looked out at the forested view with a calm evil smirk)*

Dick: Look at it, Muttley, guys. An entire New World chock full of gold, just waiting for me.

*(Muttley is helping Meowth shine up his gold coin on his forehead while the Dazzlings are fixing their hair)*

Muttley: (To Dick) And scores of adventures waiting for us. *(To Meowth and the Dazzlings)* Right, Meowth, Dazzlings?

Meowth: Do you think we’ll meet some savages?

Starlight: I highly doubt there might be any possible savage here.

Dick: (Ignoring Starlight, answering Meowth's question) If we do, we should be sure to give them a proper English greeting.

*(Trixie then happily pulled some gift baskets out)*

Trixie: Oh, I know! Maybe we'll give them some gift baskets!

Dazzlings: (Happily agreeing) That can appease them!

Muttley: (Happily agreeing) That always works!

*(Dick and Meowth rolled their eyes in annoyance)*

Dick: (Muttering) And they came so highly recommended.

*(Then Knuckles came in)*

Knuckles: It’s perfect, Governor. The water’s deep enough, we can pull right up to shore.

*(Then he happily greeted Meowth and the Dazzlings by noogieing their heads playfully without using his spikes on them, much to Meowth's surprise and the Dazzlings' delight, for these five are, apparently, good friends with Knuckles and, just like the crew, get along with him well. Meowth, on the other hand, dagger glared at him after the noogieing finished)*

Adagio: (Giggles a bit) Knuckles, easy on our hair.

Dazzlings: (Agreeing happily) Yeah.

Meowth: (Groans in annoyance a bit) I hate when you do that.

Knuckles: (To the Dazzlings, ignoring Meowth) Sorry about that.

*(Dick then seated at his desk as he and Knuckles resumed their conversation)*

Dick: Very well, then. Give the order.

Knuckles: Already done, Sir. I’ve got a crew assembled and they’re ready to go.

Dick: About the natives, I’m counting on you to make sure those filthy heathens don’t disrupt our mission.

Knuckles: (Shrugs) Well, if they’re anything like the savages I’ve fought before, it’s nothing I can’t handle.

Dick: Right. That’ll be all, Knuckles, there’s a good man.

Dazzlings: (Happily) Wish you luck, Knuckles.

Knuckles: (To the Dazzlings) Will do, girls. *(To Meowth, noogieing him a bit without hitting his spikes on him again, making the Dazzlings giggle a bit at this)* See ya, Meowth.

*(Meowth, annoyed that he was noogieed again, dagger glared at Knuckles)*

Meowth: (Flatly in annoyance) Yeah, bye.

*(Then Knuckles left the cabin as Dick sipped some of his wine. Then Dick turned to Muttley, Meowth, and the Dazzlings)*

Dick: The men like Knuckles, don’t they?

Aria: Of course they do, Dick.

Sonata: He is very nice.

Trixie: Brave and caring for us.

Adagio: Incredibly handsome to the girls.

Starlight: And he's never afraid to explore the world and its inhabitants, whether they're nice and/or dangerous.

Meowth: (Scoffs while shining his gold coin again from where he got noogieed, sarcastically) Yeah, especially with his stupid noogies.

*(Dick then stood up and went up to a mirror)*

Dick: I’ve never been a popular man.

Muttley: (Approaching Dick to help him get ready) I like you.

Dick: And don’t think I don’t know what those backstabbers at court say about me.

Muttley: (Putting Dick's gloves on his arms) Oh yes.

Adagio: All that talk about you being a pathetic social climber who’s failed at everything he’s....

*(Annoyed that Adagio is somewhat mocking him with that line, Dick cut her off)*

Dick: (To Adagio in a calm savage tone) I’m very well aware that this is my last chance for glory.

*(Then he got determined with an evil smirk as he let Muttley put his coat and helmet on as well)*

Dick: But mark my words, guys; When King George sees the gold these peasants unearth, success will be mine at last.

Meowth: (Agreeing in confidence) Indeed!

*(Then he noticed the Dazzlings not saying anything in agreement, he elbows Adagio, making her and the Dazzlings, in realization, agree flatly)*

Dazzlings: (Flatly) Indeed.

*(Out on the Susan Constant's deck, a rowboat was lowered onto the seawater as Grounder, Coconuts, and Tombo looked out at the forested shores of the New World in amazement)*

Scratch: (Calling out to the crew) Wake up! Shake those legs!

Grounder: It's incredible.

Coconuts: And it's all ours.

Tombo: I’ve never seen anything like it.

*(Scratch then arrived with a rope ladder, dropping it down on the side of the ship to the rowboat below him, Grounder, Coconuts, and Tombo)*

Scratch: It can look like Dick’s knickers, for all I care, just as long as we get off this stinking boat.

*(Then Knuckles joined them in climbing down to the rowboat)*

Knuckles: Come on, men! We didn’t come all this way just to look at it.

*(Then they boarded the rowboat and paddled slowly and cautiously towards the shore. Above a high cliffside, Tikal, Zazu, and Pikachu's group arrived secretly and hid themselves up above to see what's up. As they watched silently while hidden above the cliffside, Tikal, Zazu, and Pikachu's group got curious about the new strangers they're seeing in a bigger strange-looking canoe. Down below, Knuckles, Tombo, and the Badniks disembarked off the rowboat once at the shore and while Knuckles looked around in interest and amazement and even began to climb up towards the cliffside, making Tikal, Zazu, and Pikachu's group hide themselves in a nearby bush, Tombo and the Badniks, unaware of Knuckles wandering off, then helped some of the crew pull the Susan Constant towards the shore to anchor it with a long lifeline rope)*

Scratch: Keep it tight, guys, keep it tight!

Coconuts: Steady, steady! Ah, that’s far enough!

Grounder: (Hands the end of the lifeline rope to Tombo) All right now, tie her off.

*(Tombo then turned to where Knuckles once stood, throwing the end of the lifeline rope to the spot)*

Tombo: Here, Knuckles, tie up this end.

*(Then he and the crew noticed Knuckles is missing and began looking around)*

Tombo: Knuckles? Knuckles?

*(Then he and the crew spotted Knuckles looking around on top of the cliffside)*

Tombo: (Calling up to Knuckles) What are you doing up there?!

Knuckles: (Calling down to Tombo and the crew) Getting a better look!

*(Then he proceeded to check the beautiful view of the forest in amazement while Tombo and the crew decided to leave him alone for now and finish tying the Susan Constant down. Still hidden, Pikachu's group suddenly got interested in Knuckles)*

Pikachu: (Whispering to the Gangreen Gang) Pika....

Ace: (Whispering in agreement) Yeah....

Arturo: (Whispering) I think we should check him out.

Ace: (Whispering) Good idea, Arturo.

Snake: (Whispering) But what if he'ssss...?

*(Ace slaps him)*

Snake: (Whispering) I meansss, let'sss do it.

*(Then Pikachu's group emerged from the bushes quietly and cautiously approached Knuckles slowly, despite Tikal and Zazu, who noticed, trying to stop them in concern. Zazu then pulled at Ace's tail)*

Zazu: (Whispering and straining) Get back in the bush!

*(But Zazu's grip slipped from Ace's tail, causing Zazu to crash back into the bush next to Tikal and Ace to be sent flying into Pikachu's group, who then bumped into Knuckles, getting his attention)*

Knuckles: (Pulling his knife out) Hey!

*(He then noticed Pikachu's group, grinning nervously at him. Then, to their relief, Knuckles got interested and curious on the six new animals he's encountering as he puts his knife away)*

Knuckles: Well, you’re strange-looking fellows.

Billy: Duh, you look kinda strange-looking as well.

Gangreen Gang: Yeah.

*(Hearing them speak, Knuckles wasn't afraid)*

Knuckles: So you, too, can talk?

Ace: Yep.

Knuckles: Well, I know a couple of animals friends back there that can also talk.

Ace: (Interested) Huh.

*(Grubber blows some raspberries, much to Knuckles' confusion)*

Knuckles: (To Grubber) Can't you talk?

*(Grubber blew a raspberry, shaking his head "No." Then Ace proceeded to explain)*

Ace: He has a disability. He only communicates through his raspberries.

Knuckles: (Interested) Really? Then what did he say?

Ace: He says "Are your friends nice?" That's what he said.

Knuckles: (To Ace) Okay, I understand now. *(To Grubber)* Yes, they are friendly.

*(Suddenly, Billy's stomach growled a bit)*

Billy: Suddenly, I'm hungry.

*(Hearing him, Knuckles then pulled a biscuit out)*

Knuckles: You can have this if you'd like.

*(Pikachu's group got curious)*

Pikachu: (Curiously) Pikachu?

Snake: What issss that?

Knuckles: It's called a biscuit, and yes, it's food. Well, sort of.

*(Knuckles then breaks the biscuit into six pieces and hands each piece to Pikachu and each member of the Gangreen Gang. Pikachu's group then ate their piece and loved it)*

Ace: Wow! That's delicious.

Pikachu: (Happily) Cha...!

Knuckles: Glad you liked it. Try eating it for four months straight.

*(Pikachu and Grubber then called out to the bush, with Grubber blowing a brief long raspberry, with the still hidden Tikal and Zazu, who were watching this in amazement, glad to see Pikachu's group making friends with this stranger)*

Pikachu: (Happily to the hidden Tikal and Zazu) Pikachu!

*(Noticing the bush, Knuckles got curious)*

Knuckles: You got a friend back there?

Ace: Sure do, Mister.

*(Then as Knuckles approached the bush to see, Tikal got nervous, worried what Knuckles might do if he saw her. Suddenly, Zazu zipped out and greeted Knuckles quickly)*

Knuckles: Whoa!

Zazu: Sorry for startling you. I'm the friend they're talking about.

*(He gestures to Pikachu's group. Getting it, Pikachu's group agreed)*

Gangreen Gang: Yeah, that's him.

Pikachu: (Nods in agreement) Pika.

*(Suddenly, they heard a horn is heard blowing away a bit back at the shore. Then Tombo, unaware with the crew of what Knuckles is doing, called out to him)*

Tombo: Knuckles, you better get down here! The Governor’s coming ashore!

Knuckles: (Calling to Tombo) All right! *(To Pikachu's group and Zazu)* Nice meeting you.

*(Then, after giving some biscuits to Pikachu's group, Knuckles left. Once all alone as Pikachu's group gobbled some biscuits down, they and Zazu turned to Tikal, who quietly emerged from the bush)*

Zazu: It's alright, for now.

Tikal: (To Pikachu's group) He seems nice, for a stranger.

*(Billy burped softly from the biscuit he ate)*

Billy: Excuse me.

*(Then Ace got interested)*

Ace: You know what? My boys and I are gonna see that guy's friends he talked about before.

Snake: Ssssee what they're like.

Pikachu: (Agreeing) Pika.

Tikal: Okay. But stay hidden.

Zazu: And don't do anything reckless.

*(Then with that, Tikal and Zazu remained hidden while Pikachu's group secretly headed down to the shore where the Susan Constant is via the high tree branches hanging nearby the cliffside. Unknown to everyone, an Azteca Tribe member scout saw the crew settling down at the shore from afar, carrying strange-looking weapons he's never seen before. Then he retreated back to the village. Once back at the village, Pachacamac, having been told by the scout from what he just saw with his people, is holding a meeting inside his teepee, with Rafiki, Seifer, and Terra attending it)*

Male Azteca Tribe member 1: Did you see some of their skin? Pale and sickly.

Male Azteca Tribe member 2: Some even have hair on their faces like dogs.

Pachacamac: (To his people) My brothers, we must know more about these visitors. *(To Rafiki)* Rafiki, what do you see?

*(Answering that question, Rafiki then chanted a bit as he sprinkled some powder into a small bonfire sitting in the middle of the teepee, unleashing some smoky images of the strangers and what they appear to be doing. As Rafiki explained away, the smoky images then showed what he is describing)*

Rafiki: These are not men like us, but strange beasts with bodies that shine like the sun, and weapons that spout fire and thunder. They prowl the earth like ravenous wolves, consuming everything in their path.

*(After the smoky images finished, the Azteca Tribe grew calmly concerned of what Rafiki just explained. Then Seifer spoke up in determination)*

Seifer: Great Pachacamac. I will lead our warriors to the river and attack. We will destroy these invaders the way we destroyed the Kaliente Tribe easily.

Pachacamac: But Seifer, in that battle, we knew how to fight our enemy. And these pale visitors are strange to us. Take some of our men to the river and observe them before we can decide if those strangers are friendly or not. Until then, let us hope they do not intend to stay.

*(Giving a nod, Seifer, taking Terra and some Azteca Tribe warriors with, left to go investigate these strangers at the shore)*

***Coming up: After naming the area Jamestown, as well as Meowth meeting and forming a rivalry with Pikachu and the Dazzlings meeting and falling in love with the Gangreen Gang, the settlers proceed, under Dick's orders, to start digging up some of the forest for gold. Then later, as Knuckles explores more of the New World's forest, he and Tikal, along with Pikachu's group and Zazu, finally meet.***