Savages/Tikal Saves Knuckles and Brings Peace

*(Back at the Jamestown settlement, Tombo returned in a hurry, screaming for help in concern)*

Tombo: Help! Somebody, help! Help! Help!

*(Hearing him, the settlers got concerned and confused as Tombo entered the settlement and the Badniks ran up to him)*

Grounder: Easy, guy!

Coconuts: What is it?

Tombo: It’s Knuckles! They got him!

Scratch: Who got him?

Tombo: The savages!

Settlers: (Shocked) The savages?!

Tombo: They captured and dragged him off!

Coconuts: Where’d they take him?

Tombo: They headed north, presumably their village!

Grounder: How many were there?

Tombo: I don't know, at least a dozen.

*(The Badniks and settlers got angry, upset over the fact that Knuckles got captured)*

Scratch: Those filthy beasts!

*(During Tombo's explanation, Muttley, overhearing this with Dick in Dick's tent, got surprised while Dick smirked evilly, for this could be his golden opportunity to get his "Gold" from the Azteca Tribe)*

Dick: It's perfect, Muttley! I couldn’t have planned this better myself. The gold is as good as mine!

*(Outside in the settlement, the settlers and Tombo continued their conversation)*

Tombo: We’ve got to save him! He’d do the same for any of us.

Scratch: Tombo is right!

Coconuts: We’ve got to do something for him!

*(Then Dick and Muttley arrived, with Muttley carrying Dick's black battle armor and Dick pretending to be determined to "Help rescue Knuckles")*

Dick: And so we shall. I told you those savages couldn’t be trusted. Knuckles tried to befriend them, and look what they’ve done to him! But now I say it’s time to rescue our courageous comrade. At daybreak, we attack!

*(The settlers, except a concerned, remorseful, and doubt-filled Tombo, cheered a bit in agreement as Dick walked up onto a nearby platform as torches are lit. As Dick began singing, he let Muttley put his black battle armor on)*

Dick: **What can you expect**

**From filthy little heathens**

**Here’s what you get when races are diverse**

**Their souls are hellish red**

**They’re only good when dead**

**They’re vermin as they said and worse**

**They’re....**

Dick and settlers except Tombo: **Savages, savages**

Dick: (Handing out the guns to the settlers) **Barely even human**

Dick and settlers except Tombo: **Savages, savages**

Dick: (Handing out the last guns to the last of the settlers and a silent guilt-ridden Tombo) **Drive them to our shore**

**They’re not like you and me**

**Which means they must be evil**

**We must sound the drums of war**

*(Then they prepared more weapons and the settlers, except Tombo, put their helmets on)*

Dick and settlers except Tombo: **They’re savages, savages**

**Dirty shrieking devils**

**Now we sound the drums of war**

*(Then they gathered some cannons. Back at the Azteca Village, Pachacamac and his Azteca Tribe warriors, also singing, are also preparing to go into war with the settlers, as well as prepare for Knuckles' sunrise execution, and Pachacamac is wearing his red war paint over his eyes while his warriors are painting various war paint over themselves while gathering weapons)*

Pachacamac: **This is what we feared**

**Those outsiders are demons**

**The only thing they feel at all is greed**

Rafiki: **Beneath their stranger hide**

**There's emptiness inside**

Two Azteca Tribe warriors: **I wonder if they even bleed**

Azteca Tribe warriors: **They're savages, savages**

Pachacamac: **Barely even human**

Azteca Tribe warriors: **Savages, savages**

Pachacamac: (Peeking at a calm concerned Knuckles, still tied up to the pole in the prisoner teepee) **Killers at the core**

Rafiki: **They’re different from us**

**Which means they can’t be trusted**

Pachacamac: (Accepting his tomahawk club from a Azteca Tribe warrior) **We must sound the drums of war**

Azteca Tribe warriors: **They're savages, savages**

*(Knuckles becomes calmly concerned as he watched from the pole he's still tied to on what's unfolding in front of his eyes)*

Azteca Tribe warriors: (Briefly peeks at Knuckles, then resumed their preparations for the upcoming war) **First we deal with this one**

**Then we sound the drums of war**

*(Then we cut between the Jamestown settlement and Azteca Village as both sides prepared for their upcoming war)*

Dick and settlers except Tombo: **Savages, savages**

Coconuts: **Let’s go get a few, men**

Pachacamac and Azteca Tribe warriors: **Savages, savages**

Dick: **Now it's up to you, men**

Azteca Tribe warriors: **Savages**

Settlers except Tombo: **Savages**

Dick, Pachacamac, Azteca Tribe warriors, and settlers except Tombo: **Barely even human**

**Now we sound the drums of war**

*(As the song came to an end, smoke from both sides' fires came together, indicating that their upcoming war is coming. At Starfire's glen as a soft twilight appeared, Tikal is seated at the tree's stump, still saddened over what will await Knuckles as Starfire, Therru, Zazu, Meowth, the Dazzlings, and Pikachu's group were concerned for her calmly, with Starfire being told what is going on)*

Tikal: (Sadly) They’re going to kill him at sunrise, Starfire.

Starfire: Then you have to stop them.

Tikal: (Calmly on the verge of crying) I tried, but I couldn't.

Starfire: But don't you remember your dream?

Therru: Don't you want to make things better?

Zazu: Think about Knuckles, your people, Knuckles' men.

Ace: Where's our confident Azteca Tribe Princess we knew?

Gangreen Gang except Ace: Yeah?

Tikal: (In angry tears) I was wrong, everyone, I followed the wrong path! (Calms her anger down, breaking down crying calmly) I feel so lost.

*(She buries her face in her arms above her knees and calmly cried silently as everyone watched this and became unsure how to cheer Tikal up. Suddenly, Billy remembered something while perking up, much to Zazu, Meowth, Pikachu, the Gangreen Gang, and Dazzlings' confusion)*

Billy: Wait a minute...!

Zazu, Meowth, Gangreen Gang, and Dazzlings: What?

Pikachu: (Confused) Pika?

*(Billy then rummaged through the hollow trunk of the tree for something as everyone, except the calm crying Tikal, watched in confusion. Therru and Meowth then went up to Tikal)*

Therru: (Soothingly) Tikal....

Meowth: (Patting Tikal's right shoulder in comfort) It'll be alright.

Tikal: (Crying calmly, her face still buried in her arms) How will it be alright?

*(Billy then came up to her, presenting her Knuckles' compass)*

Billy: This will make it alright.

*(Tikal lifted her head up slowly, slowly and calmly finishing her silent calm crying in confusion. Then, with tears still in her eyes, she accepted the compass from Billy)*

Tikal: (Confused) Knuckles' compass?

*(Suddenly, as she and the others watched the compass, its arrow started to slowly start spinning its arrow as the colored leaves-filled wind gently blew around them. Tikal, upon watching the arrow starting to spin a little faster slowly, calmly realized what that means)*

Tikal: The spinning arrow....

*(Even Starfire, Zazu, Therru, and Pikachu's group realized while Meowth and the Dazzlings got confused)*

Starfire: It's the spinning arrow from your dream!

*(Hearing her, Tikal then watched the colored leaves-filled wind blow around her and everyone else and then her eyes filled with tears of joy this time, realizing this is her mother's spirit telling her "You can do it, there's still hope.")*

Tikal: (Now in calm happy tears in realization) My mother is speaking to me....

Meowth: (Confused) What?

Therru: (Getting it) This is her saying to not give up.

*(Getting it as well, Zazu, Pikachu's group, and the Dazzlings understood)*

Zazu, Gangreen Gang, and Dazzlings: She's reboosting your confidence!

Pikachu: (Happily) Pikachu!

Meowth: (Confused) What does that mean?

*(Pikachu whispered in Meowth's ear, explaining away, and then Meowth understood as well)*

Meowth: (Realizing happily) Oh, the ol' spiritual guidance technique!

Tikal: (In calm happy tears) Yes, so on second thought, I was right! This spinning arrow *was* pointing to Knuckles! That is my true path!

Therru: (Getting it even more) So your dream was a prediction of eventual good things to come for you in the future!

Tikal: (In calm happy tears, to Therru) Yes.... *(In calm happy tears, to the colored leaves-filled wind)* Mother, thank you so much!

*(Then the colored leaves-filled wind's gentle speed picked up, gently blowing around Tikal and the others, even gently blowing away a calmly cheered up Tikal's tears away from her eyes, sending them flying into the air until they were gone. Then suddenly, Tikal noticed a familiar light appearing on the tree in front of her and, upon turning around, she realized what that is)*

Tikal: Sunrise is starting to come....

Starfire: I sense it's not too late, Tikal, let the Spirits of the Earth guide you!

*(Then as Tikal's group looked out at the direction of the start of sunrise slowly approaching as the colored leaves-filled wind ended slowly, the compass' arrow started spinning like mad until it abruptly stopped, pointing straight at the approaching sunrise)*

Starfire: You know your path. Now go for it, follow it!

*(Determination kicking in calmly, Tikal's group then charged off, ready to save Knuckles and stop the upcoming war. With Dick and the settlers, they have left the Jamestown settlement, all ready for battle to rescue Knuckles, or for Dick's case, just to get his greedy hands on the "Gold," as their song resumed)*

Dick: **This will be the day**

*(Then he gave the order)*

Dick: Let's go, men!

*(Then he and the settlers, including the reluctant Tombo, began marching towards the Azteca Village's direction, armed with their guns. At the Azteca Village, Pachacamac watched the sunrise coming)*

Pachacamac: **This will be the morning**

*(Then he gave out the order to the two Azteca Tribe warriors at the prisoner teepee)*

Pachacamac: Bring out the prisoner!

*(The two Azteca Tribe warriors, having untied Knuckles' hands from the prisoner teepee's pole, have already retied his hands behind his back and are now forcefully dragging him with Pachacamac and the rest of of the Azteca Tribe to take him to their execution spot)*

Azteca Tribe warriors: **We will see them dying in the dust**

*(With Tikal's group, they continued running in determination, hoping they could stop the upcoming war and save Knuckles as Tikal joined in the song)*

Tikal: **I don’t know what I can do**

**Still I know I’ve got to try**

*(Then we cut in between the three scenes as the song continued)*

Dick and settlers except Tombo: **Now we make them pay**

Tikal: **Eagle, help my feet to fly**

Pachacamac and Azteca Tribe warriors: **Now without a warning**

Tikal: **Mountain, help my heart be great**

Dick, Pachacamac, Azteca Tribe warriors, and settlers except Tombo: **Now we leave them blood and bone and dust**

Tikal: **Spirits of the earth and sky**

Dick, Pachacamac, Azteca Tribe warriors, and settlers except Tombo: **It’s them or us**

Tikal: **Please don’t let it be too late**

Dick, Pachacamac, Azteca Tribe warriors, and settlers except Tombo: (During Tikal's above line) **They’re just a bunch of filthy, stinking**

**Savages, savages**

Pachacamac and Azteca Tribe warriors: **Demons**

Dick and settlers except Tombo: **Devils**

Dick: **Kill them**

Dick, Pachacamac, Azteca Tribe warriors, and settlers except Tombo: **Savages, savages**

**What are we waiting for?**

**Destroy their evil race**

**Until there’s not a trace left**

**We will sound the drums of war**

**Savages, savages**

**Now we sound the drums of war**

Tikal: (During the last three parts of the above lines) **How loud are the drums of war?**

*(At a huge hilltop with a long cliffside with a boulder laying near the edge, the two Azteca Tribe warriors forced a now exhausted and weak Knuckles' head onto the boulder as another Azteca Tribe warrior hands Pachacamac the tomahawk club for him to use to crush Knuckles' head as part of his execution. At the same time, Dick and the settlers arrived at the edge of the forest below the cliff, ready to attack)*

Dick, Pachacamac, Azteca Tribe warriors, and settlers except Tombo: **Now we see what comes**

**Of trying to be chums**

**Now we sound the drums of....**

*(Then Tikal arrived on top of the hill and rushed over to edge towards Knuckles and Pachacamac quickly as her group stayed put, hoping she'll make it)*

Tikal: (During the last part of the above line) **Is the death of all I love**

**Carried in the drumming of..?**

Tikal, Dick, Pachacamac, Azteca Tribe warriors, and settlers except Tombo: **War? (War)**

*(On cue of the last word in the song as it ended, Pachacamac almost swung his tomahawk club at Knuckles' head when Tikal leapt onto Knuckles' body and used herself as a shield to defend the outsider echidna she came to fall in love with, making Pachacamac stop in confusion)*

Tikal: (While landing on Knuckles' body, stopping Pachacamac) No!

*(Silence as the Azteca Tribe and settlers stopped what they're about to do upon this moment in calm confusion. Then Tikal spoke up in calm determination to her father as she continued to shield Knuckles)*

Tikal: If you kill him, you'll have to kill me, too!

*(Shocked on what Tikal just said, Pachacamac hesitated, but then became sternly insistent)*

Pachacamac: Tikal, stand back! I must avenge Seifer!

Tikal: Never! I will not!

Pachacamac: Why not?!

Tikal: Because I love this outsider, Father.

*(Everyone, except Tikal's group and Tombo, got calmly surprised on what Tikal just answered. Then Tikal explained the real truth)*

Tikal: Another one of those outsiders accidentally shot Seifer to death last night, because it was all an accidental misunderstanding this outsider and I were trying to clear up between us and Seifer!

*(Hearing her say that, everyone eased down in calm confusion and realization as Tikal's group, Knuckles, and even Tombo became calmly happily proud for Tikal standing her ground for Knuckles and everyone else, with Tombo actually proud of Tikal for clearing the misunderstanding he accidentally caused last night)*

Tikal: And all of you, look around you, this is what the Path of Hatred has foolishly brought us!

*(She lays her head on Knuckles', which he lets her)*

Tikal: And Father, this is the path I choose. What will yours be for our sake?

*(Silence descends, as both sides, except a silent suspicious Dick, contemplated calmly and silently. Then suddenly as sunrise had started its completion, slowly turning into morning, the colored leaves-filled wind gently blew around everyone, making them ease down calmly, as if coming to an understanding by Tikal's diplomatic words of wisdom, all except a suspicious Dick, that is. Tikal's group and even the Azteca Tribe calmly realized this is the silent spirit of Tikal's mother, reassuring them that her daughter is right, they and the settlers are, indeed, blinded by rage and confusion at each other that they've almost lost sight of what's important, and that's getting to know each other's real selves before actions could be made. As soon as he realized with everyone, except Dick, Pachacamac then gave a calm soft smile and hands back his tomahawk club to the Azteca Tribe warrior, who also understood now, who gave it to him a moment ago, much to Tikal's group's calm hopeful reaction)*

Pachacamac: (Making his rightful announcement to everyone with a calm soft smile) My daughter speaks with wisdom beyond her years. We’ve all come here with anger in our hearts, but she comes with courage and understanding. From this day forward, *if* there is to be more killing, it will not start with me.

*(Everyone, except a suspicious Dick, smiled calmly, understanding that Pachacamac's right. Even Tikal's group and Tombo smiled calmly, glad to see that both sides have decided to not blindly fight each other to the death, that Tikal removed herself from Knuckles' body as he slowly straightened up to look at her with a soft smile of gratitude to Tikal. Then Pachacamac turned to Terra)*

Pachacamac: Release him.

Terra: (Nods) Yes, Chief.

*(Then with his knife, he cuts the ropes tying Knuckles' hands behind his back, untying him. Once freed, Knuckles then hugged Tikal in calm happiness as she calmly and happily hugged back, glad to see it all turned out okay in the end. Even both sides smiled calmly at this, glad to see them together. Dick, on the other hand, casted aside his suspicions and got determined)*

Dick: (To the settlers) Now's our chance! Fire!

*(The Azteca Tribe and even Tikal's group and Knuckles got calmly concerned, but the settlers, including Tombo, refused, much to their calm relief)*

Tombo: No!

Scratch: They let Knuckles go, for crying out loud!

Coconuts: They don't want to fight us!

Grounder: And their princess really *is* a nice, brave, wise, and smart gal!

Dick: (Aghast) What?! *(Angrily)* It’s a trick, don’t you see? Fire!

*(But the settlers and Tombo still refused, now getting angry at Dick, having, by now, realize that Knuckles and the Dazzlings are, indeed, right about the Azteca Tribe, as well as Tikal. Dick shook his sword angrily at them, about to bark his orders again, but seeing the angry defiance in the settlers' faces, he became enraged even more, consumed by his greed for gold, that he finally snatched a settler's gun away)*

Dick: (Aims the gun at Pachacamac, much to everyone's concern) Fine, I’ll settle this myself!

*(Just when he got ready to shoot Pachacamac, Knuckles got determined and jumped at Pachacamac, pushing him out of harm's way)*

Knuckles: Look out!

*(Then Dick, angry at Knuckles for interfering, fired his gun anyway, and, to everyone's horror, Knuckles got offscreen shot on the side of his torso, offscreen grazing him)*

Tombo: KNUCKLES!!

*(Even Tikal's group rushed over to Knuckles' side in concern as he clutched his covered bullet wound in pain. Then Tombo, the Dazzlings, settlers, and even Meowth got really livid at Dick, with Meowth and the Dazzlings joining the angry settlers)*

Tombo: You shot him on purpose!

Meowth: (Angrily) That is definitely low of you!

Dazzlings: You monster!

*(Shocked at that accusation by his own men, even Meowth and the Dazzlings, Dick tried to make up an excuse to make Knuckles the bad guy)*

Dick: He stepped in *my* way! It's *his* fault!

*(But thankfully, the settlers didn't believe him and instead apprehended him roughly)*

Scratch: (Angrily) Knuckles and the Dazzlings were right!

Coconuts: (Angrily) We never should have listened to *and* trusted you!

Grounder: (Angrily, to a settler, who gladly obeyed, while grabbing Dick) Grab the gun!

Dick: (While being roughly apprehended and fighting to hold the gun) Traitors! Unhand me, I say! How dare you?!

*(Then Tombo finally snatched the gun away from Dick)*

Tombo: Put him in chains!

Meowth and Dazzlings: You heard him!

Dick: (Glaring bitterly at Tombo, Meowth, and the Dazzlings) I’ll see you all hanged for this!

Tombo, Meowth, and Dazzlings: And gag him as well!

*(Then as soon as the settlers took Dick away to place him under arrest, Tombo, Meowth, and the Dazzlings then returned to Knuckles' side along with Tikal's group and even Pachacamac and Rafiki, who is observing Knuckles' covered bullet wound)*

Adagio: (Hopefully) Will Knuckles be alright?

Tombo: Please tell us he'll be alright!

*(After Rafiki finished observing Knuckles' covered bullet wound, he gave a reassuring smile)*

Rafiki: Rest assured, he'll live.

*(Relieved, Tikal's group and Tombo sighed in relief)*

Trixie: Thank God.

Rafiki: However....

*(They listened)*

Rafiki: From the way I see this wound, I'm afraid he'll need to return from whence he came if he's to be healed.

Pachacamac: If not, then he *will* surely, and eventually, die from that wound.

*(Hearing him say that, Tikal's group, Knuckles, and Tombo looked at each other, silently understanding)*

Knuckles: (In calm pain) He has a point.

*(Then with that after giving a nod, Tikal's group, with Tombo, Pachacamac, and Rafiki's help, carefully and gently carried Knuckles' injured body down the hill back towards the direction of the Jamestown settlement to get him ready to be brought back to London later)*

***Coming up: The finale; As Tikal says her goodbye to the recuperating Knuckles, will she choose to go with him, or stay with her people? Only time will tell.***