Kylie the Echidna

In another time, Kylie was the best of friends with Tikal. The two were a bright spot for each other in the darkness of war. While Tikal started to befriend the Chao, Kylie was busy tending to the crops outside her family's home. One day, Tikal took Kylie to meet the Chao, and though initially frightened at first, Kylie took a liking to the Chao and enjoyed sneaking them some fruit from her garden.

After Tikal's sacrifice to save the Chao and stop the Knuckles tribe from seizing the Master Emerald, Kylie was completely distraught. Her only friend in the world had gone for the cause of protecting the innocent. Not only that, but most of their tribe had been wiped out by Chaos, and Kylie was one of the few survivors. After a long period of mourning, Kylie found herself making occasional trips to the Emerald Shrine to see the Chao. Perhaps she was under the impression that Tikal's spirit was watching her when she was with the Chao. If Kylie made enough trips, maybe she and Tikal would be reunited one day.

Legend goes that Kylie created the first Chao Garden; she brought some of the Chao to the garden by her home, where they played until they went back to the shrine. She adored the Chao so much, and made it her duty to care for them as Tikal once had. One day, a neighboring tribe attacked what was left of the village, and Kylie had become the only casuality as she too, tried to protect the Chao from harm. The legend goes that Chaos saw the battle and took pity on her soul, allowing her spirit to join it and Tikal within the Master Emerald. Today, it's said no matter what Chao Garden you visit, you just may be able to see Kylie's own spirit there, tending the garden.