Chapter Four – Show Yourself

Despite floating in the darkness, he could still feel the Chaos Energy of a Super Transformation. He was always in awe of anyone who could use and wield the Chaos Emeralds. It was the one skill he could not do. Despite his best efforts, the Chaos Emeralds did nothing for him. Only a chosen few could wield them. Once the Chaos Energy dissipated, Sukko instinctively knew all was well, and fell back into the deep darkness.

When he slowly came too, he heard himself being surrounded by voices. Two to be exact. Both female. His eyes were still closed.

"Do you think he's alright?" One asked. There was a long pause.

"They found him alone, locked in the Main Control Room. No idea why he was even there or what he was doing?" She shrugged. The other girl frowned.

"Do you know him?" She asked. The first girl piped up.

"Sure, he's Arthur. The Restoration Archivist. Apparently he knows more about the Restoration and the Resistance then anyone. He's really good at paperwork. But he's no Hero, so as to why he was alone in the Main Control Room." She shrugged "No idea." She added. "But also as to why he didn't come round from the Metal Virus when everyone else did, is also a mystery." She signed. "I hope he's going to be ok?" She sniffed. The second girl sounded concerned.

"How long had he been out?" She asked. Another pause. The first girl looked up.

"Several months, Tangle!" she replied. "It's a long time." She added.

Sukko woke with a start, absolutely shocked. Several months! He sat up so suddenly, he completely startled both the two girls. The larger of the two girls grabbed his shoulders.

"Easy, Arthur. You had a rough ride." She said warmly. He was confused. What? Arthur? No. His name was Sukko, but then he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror opposite and a dark, green Hedgehog, with a his single black stripe looking back at him. Indeed, his 'Arthur' disguise. Even completely out cold, his Magical disguise instinctively withheld. Sukko sighed. He physically couldn't remember the last time he showed anyone, apart from his brother, his true form. He was too used to being 'Arthur'. After a pause, he looked at the girl who held him, and nodded. She was a Lemur, and Sukko had never met her before.

She was a ring-tailed Lemur with primarily light grey fur and purple eyes. She possesses a small black nose and a very long bushy tail with grey stripes. She had grey fur around her muzzle and between her eyes, and grey fur around the sides of her eyes and on her eyelids and round ears. She had extra fur on top of her head and chest, and small cheek tufts. Tangle wore a short-sleeved black bodysuit with dark orange stripes down the sides, a yellow sleeveless top, and detailed yellow hi-tops with white laces and soles, black details, and dark orange cuffs. She wore yellow sports tape around her forearms and fingerless black gloves made of black sports tape with dark orange backings.

She let go of him. He looked around the room and saw that he was in the a Sick Bay, but not one he recognised. He eyes fell back on the Lemur. She grinned.

"Hi." She giggled. "I'm Tangle, and this is Jewel." She added, pointing to her friend, the other side of Sukko. He looked over saw a Beetle looking somewhat nervous. Jewel was a Beetle with light blue skin, pink eyes, a small black nose and a white muzzle. She had an even lighter blue iridescent exoskeleton with a pink, yellow, green, and blue rainbow-like sheen. Her antennae are light blue. The interior of her wings are cream. She wore a deep pink blazer with navy buttons, a white cravat attached to a golden brooch with a blue gem, a matching deep pink miniskirt, white gloves with navy cufflinks, navy tights, and deep pink wedged shoes.

Sukko sighed and rubbed his eyes. Looking around he would see people milling about, completely back to normal, the Metal Virus gone. They'd done it. They had won the fight against the Virus. But how and as to what happened to Eggman, Sukko didn't know and wasn't likely to any time soon. But something confused him.

"Where am I?" He asked. He had no idea where he was. Jewel giggled.

"The new Restoration HQ. With Amy's help, I've managed to organise a brand new and more efficient Headquarters. We even have a Machine Shop now." She paused, Sukko raised an eyebrow. "I'm in charge now." She added. "Amy had had enough. I don't blame her, the Archives are in an absolutely mess and neither she or I can make head nor tail of them. We were hoping you could help." She asked, her eyes pleading. Sukko giggled. That, even in his very confused state, he could do.

"Sure." He smiled. "I can help you with that." He added. His voice was extremely cracked. Jewel cheered but Tangle had been eyeing him up, her arms folded. Sukko looked at her.

"What?" He asked confused. Tangle looked somewhat putout.

"So." She spat. "What happened? How'd you end up, out cold, on the floor of the Main Control Room of the old HQ and why did Sonic The Hedgehog himself, carry you from there to here, literally straight after coming back from vanishing like that?" She grilled. She spoke very quickly.

Sukko was absolutely stunned, and literally had no reply. He didn't know that the Hero of Mobius had vanished for a second time. But he was extremely honoured that the he would think of him that way, but the fact that he'd disappeared, completely through Sukko. He sighed. At least he was home and safe now.

Soon the Doctor came by and ushered the girls away, and a few days later, Sukko was allowed to leave the Sick Bay. The new Restoration HQ was enormous. Far larger then the old one, with a significantly more cavernous Great Hall and multiple entrances and exits. Sukko fully understood why. They didn't want a repeat of the disaster at the old HQ, with the Zombot attack, no one could get out. This one was a lot better designed.

Still in his 'Arthur' disguise, Sukko had a good explore of the main cavern, the Great Hall. There were shops on the main floor, and a recreational area, and only on the second floor in the centre of the cavern, did Sukko finally find the Main Control Room. He was greeted with a enormous huge from Jewel on arrival.

"Arthur!" She hollowed. She wasn't alone. Amy, Tails, Knuckles, Sonic, Tangle and Rouge were all there. His brother too. Sukko was delighted to see that he was alright. That he'd made it. That the fight was worth it. Jewel grabbed him by the hand, brought him forward, and formally introduced him to everybody. Sukko personally thanked Sonic for carrying him here. The Blue Blur shrugged it off.

"Forget it." He giggled. "In my books, nobody gets left behind. No matter who they are." He winked. The two Hedgehogs eyes met for a second as if there was something there. This was short lived however as Jewel cut in.

"Arthur!" She stammered. "The Archive." She hinted, indicating a room down a hallway, running off the Main Control Room. There was a distinctive note of 'please help' in her voice. Sukko nodded to his new friends, and left.

The room was in the worse mess he had seen in his life. Paperwork everywhere. There was no way that anyone could successfully run a Restoration or even a Resistance with there paperwork in this much mess. Now he understood why Jewel was so desperate. She appeared at his shoulder. She sighed.

"I'm good at organising." She said. "But this is way over my head." She admitted. She was panting in panic. Sukko looked around the room. Despite the mess, he could see a pattern. A lifetime's experience of Chaos Sorcery had left Sukko with a ruthlessly good eye for detail. You have to, with Magic. You can't afford to get it wrong. Casting wrong could cost you your life or someone else's, especially with the extremely high-level Magic that Sukko normally dabbles in. He sighed looking at Jewel.

"So, what have you done so far?" He asked. Jewel excited grabbed Sukko and the pair went through it in detail. Over the course of the next month. Sukko spent his entire time in the Archive, while the others went out and fought Eggman. Apparently, he was still around, and so were the Zeti. But Sonic and company dealt with them and soon they were sent back to where they came from, the Lost Hex. As for Dr. Starline, he just seemed to have vanish, however they did successful get their wooden robot friend Belle back to the Restoration. There no sight or sound of Dr. Starline anywhere. The wooden robot, however, seemed to be hysterical about how the weird Platypus Doctor had stolen something from her. But considering, the robot was very agitated and accident prone most of the time, the Restoration just ignored her. She was safe, and really, that all they were bothered about.

Sukko sighed. He was glad he wasn't involved. The Archive's mess was a full time job, and his Chaos Sorcery still hadn't returned back to full strength. Sukko frowned. How badly did he push himself? Only now, did he realise it was way too far. He had to, to help his brother but now he needed the time to rest, and this job was perfect, no Magic involved. All seemed well until the rumours started.

People were beginning to remember their time as Zombots. Tidbits of information hear and there, in dreams and nightmares. As more and more people visited the Sick Bay, one thing became apparent. Multiple people kept describing Psionic powers. Showing as a luminescent vapour of bright blue hue emanating around someone. Only one Chaos Power on the whole of Mobius showed itself like that, though it did vary in colour. Just one, and Sukko's was deep rich royal blue and everything he did and made with it was always that single colour.

Chaos Sorcery.

People were frightened. The history of Chaos Sorcery was widely known. It was believed that all Chaos Sorcerers were dead, but not only was one alive but might be working for Eggman. If that was true, the Restoration stood no chance against him, even with all the power it had. Sukko was unaware of this, he been too busy for rumours, but Tangle still wasn't convinced. She had heard the rumours, and that with the strange circumstances of which Sukko was found. She decided to confront him.

On a quiet day, Tangle silently slithered into the Archive where Sukko and Jewel were working, closed the door and locked it. Sukko heard the door, and looked around. Upon seeing Tangle, he smiled.

"Oh. Hi." He grinned, but as he turned back to his work, he heard four words that sent absolute fear straight through him. Tangle huffed at him.

"Are you the Sorcerer?" She spat. Sukko stared, unable to hide the terror. Even Jewel stared. But she shook it off. She rounded on Tangle, moving past Sukko.

"What! Arthur?" She defended. "He's just a normal guy who does the paperwork, thats all." She shrugged. But Tangle wasn't buying it.

"But what about the rumours, and the weird place we found him. It all adds up." Tangle argued. Sukko had been quickly thinking while the girls had been bickering. Tangle was exactly right, and if she had figured it out, so would others. He had to make a split second decision of whether to trust them or flee. He sighed. He was tired of running. He now could handle anything the Restoration could through at him. He was strong enough. The Zombots had proved him that. Jewel was in tears.

"Well, I don't believe you." She sniffed. "I really like Arthur. How can you say something like that?" She howled. Tangle was about to argue her case, when Sukko cut straight across her. His voice, stern, hard, and somewhat cold.

"Because it's the truth!" He spat. Instantly silenced, both girls stared at him. Sukko smiled, and then emitted a bright blue hue emanating from his hands, and used is Chaos Sorcery in the form of Telekinesis to lift both the girls off the ground, sailing them through the air and setting them down, extremely gently, either side of him. They were both still silenced and now very frightened. Sukko could see this. It hurt. He didn't want anyone to fear him. He softened his voice, as best he could.

"Look, I'm not a bad guy." He pleaded. "Granted, my name's not Arthur nor am I a green Hedgehog, either." He sighed. Jewel was tearing up. She looked very betrayed. "Unfortunately." Sukko continued. "I can't tell you who I really am." He sighed. Tangle finally got her confidence back and cut in.

"Why?" She spat. Sukko closed his eyes, he knew why. He looked at Tangle.

"Family!" He admitted. Both the girls stared at him. He continued. "My younger brother fights for the Restoration against Eggman. He had absolutely no Chaos Sorcery, I swear." Sukko cried. "But because of the law, they will take him too. He would die because of me, of something I was born with. It's not fair." He growled. Tears fell down Sukko face, he'd finally cracked with everything that had happened to him over the recent months. Both girls were stunned, it was not the answer they were expecting. But eventually, they too agreed, it wasn't fair.

"So, you hide to give your brother his freedom?" Jewel asked. Sukko looks up, and nodded. Tangle gasps.

"Wow. That's one hell of a sacrifice." She panted. "I really hope your brother's worth it." She asks. Sukko smiles, drying off his tears. He sniffed.

"Oh, he is!" Sukko announced, extremely proud. But then Tangle huffed, very putout, again. She rounded on Sukko.

"So, who is he?" She spat, but Jewel immediately came between them, panicking.

"Tangle!" She squealed. "He can't tell us, remember. Plus, we have no right in asking." She grilled. Sukko was shocked at being defended like this. He sighed.

"In fact, you can't tell anyone, about any of this. At all." He panicked. "If not for me, then for my brother. If people start investigating me, it will eventually get traced back to him, and that can't happen." Sukko heaved. He was absolutely adamant. So much so, that the girls eventually agreed. But Tangle still wasn't satisfied.

"Ok." She spat. "I'll keep my mouth shut, but under one condition." She hissed. Sukko gulped. What was going to be asked of him? He stared at Tangle, frightened. To his surprise, she giggled.

"When all this is over, with Eggman and stuff. Will you tell us who your really are then?" She grinned. Sukko sighed with absolute relief, and pulled both the girls into a deep embrace. He was proud to have made the correct choice. He smiled.

"Ladies." He said, delighted. "You have my word." He smiled. Tangle hugged him, all fears disappearing. However, she could feel the incredible Chaos Power inside of Sukko. Both the girls could. Tangle looks at him.

"Speaking of Eggman, you could really kick his butt with that kind of power." She giggled. Jewel squeals, shaking his head.

"Tangle, he can't. Not without exposing his brother." She stammered. Sukko puts his hands up to calm the girls.

"Look, my brother is in charge of our fight against Eggman. I help as and where I can. I would love to fight side by side with him. But because of the law, I can't, unless nobody cares, which is highly unlikely to happen. I won't do anything like that with his go-ahead first." He sighed. That was true, Sukko didn't care about his own life, he did everything he could to protect his brother. Jewel smiled.

"You know, your one of the most selfless people I've ever met." She announces. Sukko lowers his head, he cheeks going scarlet. He huffed.

"Oh, I wouldn't go that far." He said, embarrassed. But Tangle folds her arms.

"Hey, er...what do we call you?" Asked Tingle. Sukko looks up but Jewel cut across him.

"Let's just stick with 'Arthur'." She giggled. Sukko shrugged, no objection from him. He looks back at Tangle. She bit her lip. She speaks very quickly.

"Can we to the flying thing again?" She asked. "It was rather fun." She added, rather sheepishly. Sukko grinned.

"It's hovering." Sukko corrected, and then he giggled "Sure." He laughed, and over the course of the next hour, Sukko uses his powerful Chaos Sorcery in the form of Telekinesis to hover the three of them around the room. It was quite draining for him, but huge fun. In fact, he'd never had so much fun in his life. Truthfully, he'd never had friends who knew before either. It was incredibly refreshing and he never wanted to end, but they still had work to do.

Now that Jewel knew he had Magic, he made sorting out the Archive a lot easier and quicker, as she would keep a look out for him. Tangle, on the other hand, constantly made him laugh. She kept randomly coming up to him trying to guess who the infamous brother was. Over the course of the next few weeks, she guessed, pretty much every male in the Restoration. None of them were correct, but he wouldn't have told her even if she did get the right one. Sukko found Tangle enormous fun and found himself falling for her.

Sukko shuddered. He had to shake that off. What could he give her? Apart from a lot of heartache and that wasn't fair. Among Sapients, inter-species relations, were not at all common, but they weren't unheard of. The reason, compatibility. In order to breed, a Sapient must breed with members of his or hers own species. Hedgehogs with Hedgehogs, Foxes with Foxes etc. Tangle was Lemur, and Sukko, in his true form, was not. He could never give her a child.

Sukko shook it off and went about his business, but things were a foot in the Restoration. The rumours of a Sorcerer had significantly gathered steam, but that wasn't the only rumour. Recently there had been a series of kidnappings, quite a large number, in fact, only for the victims to be found almost immediately, acting little weird but largely fine. It was very strange? Why kidnap someone, only to let them go straight way? It made no sense? Was this the Sorcerer? Nobody knew and the fear was mounting. Everyone now believed Sorcerer to be evil, and unbeknown to Sukko, he now had an Ultimate Lifeform on his tail.

One morning, as Sukko and Jewel were heading towards the Archives, for another day's work, where they were about to be met up with Tangle. But as they crossed the large expanse of the main cavern, the Great Hall, a crowd of people, all carrying Wispons, blocked their path. The Wispon was a gadget-like weapon. Each standard model comes in a distinct design that combines the design and colour scheme derived from a specific Wisp's breed's anatomy with portable tools, like handguns, hammers, drills, and similar mechanical devices. The Wisps themselves are hidden inside of them.

Jewel was about the ask them to move, when Sukko was attacked and grabbed from behind, out of nowhere by someone very fast. Super-Speed fast. Tangle and Jewel screamed.

"Arthur!" They cried, but Sukko put his hand up to silence them. He wanted them out of this. Sukko instantly recognised the Telepathic signature. The incredibly cold, dark presence he'd encountered earlier and immediately filled with fear. The Slayer.

But as Sukko looked around, the person who grabbed him was no Slayer, and even though he had never met him before, he knew exactly who it was.

Shadow the Hedgehog.

The Ultimate Lifeform had Sukko in a tight neck brace, and he feared one wrong move from Shadow and he would break it. It seemed like he had gotten curious about the Sorcerer too. Now, he was very interested to see whose side he was really on. Shadow found him easy to find, able to see the high levels of Chaos Power in him. He'd got the jump on him, even with his powerful Magic. Sukko knew that only one with Super-Speed would have caught him out like that. Shadow was growling. He was a Black Hedgehog with red eyes, a patch of white fur on his chest, a tan muzzle, and tan ear canals. He had six quills on his head, four of which curve upwards while the other two curve downwards, two spines on his back, and a small tail. He had red stripes on each of his head quills, around the edges of his eyes, and on his arms and legs. He wore white gloves with black cuffs and red tongues, and rocket skates which, like his gloves, have black cuffs and red tongues. Shadow wore golden rings, one on each of his wrists and ankles.

He leant down to Sukko's ear and spoke in nothing more then a ice cold whisper.

"Caught you. Sorcerer!" He leered. Sukko's absolute worse fear was now realised. Shadow could see right through him. Through his Magical disguise. He still appeared as a dark green Hedgehog, but Shadow could sense the Magic. Sukko gulped. What else could be see? Shadow looked up at the crown opposite, who raised their weapons directly at Sukko. He smirked, evilly. Jewel panicked, but Tangle heaved and look a deep breath. Shadow didn't scare her and was about to go between the crowd and Sukko, when someone beat her to it. He Super-sped in with a cloud of dust, right in front of Shadow, the crowd behind him. The hands out wide, firm footed. He was going nowhere.

Sonic The Hedgehog.

This angered Shadow immensely, and surprised everyone else. His eyes narrowed.

"Hedgehog." He growled. "Move." He hissed. Sonic gritted his teeth, he stood his ground.

"If you want to kill him." He said, indicating Sukko. "Then you going to have go through me." He demanded. This immediately cause murmurings from the crowd behind him, the Wispons buzzing loudly, as though the Wisps themselves objected. Killing a Sorcerer was one thing, the Hero of Mobius was quite another.

Shadow said nothing, but continued to growl at him, his smirk broadening. He tightening his grip on Sukko's neck. He gasped.

"Sonikku! Don't." He breathed, desperate not to get the Blue Blur involved. Sonic rolled his eyes.

"Shut up. Sukko!" He grinned. Shadow's smirk vanished. He was stunned. Wait, they knew each other! Shadow was aware that Sonikku was Sonic's real name, (it was what Sonic was short for) but as far as he knew, only a handful of very select people knew this. Close friends like Tails, Amy and Knuckles. Sonic saw this and decided to pressed the advantage. This was his choice. It had always been his choice. He took a deep breath, because he knew that what he was about to do was going to change everything. Between, him, the entire Restoration and Eggman. But he now finally agreed with Sukko. Time to stop running. They had both had had enough of being separated, because of the law. Whatever the consequences, they would take them on together, from now on. All eyes were on Sonic. He took another deep breath.

"Sukko." He paused and then stood firm.

"Show yourself...Brother!"