Chapter Five – The Apprentice
Sonic The Hedgehog was famous for going to days without sleep, especially in long extended fights against Eggman, but needed to eat. The calorie consumption of Super-Speed was enormous. Becoming an expert in foraging as he'd practically eat anything if hungry enough. Sukko was the exact opposite. He could go for days without, or on relatively little food, but he had to sleep. The Chaos Sorcery and it's resulting drain, made him sleep. He couldn't be a Sorcerer without it.
Lying flat out, on his front, on the bed, as dawn was just breaking, he was gently lying in darkness, when he heard it, deep in the bowels of his mind.
{Help Me!}
Sukko's eyes snapped open, the largest frown possible on his face. He didn't move a muscle. The voice in his head sounded exactly like Sonic, but it definitely wasn't his twin, and Sukko couldn't be one hundred percent certain if he had dreamed it. He was still very groggy. He listened and concentrated, wondered if the voice would speak again, or if he was going crazy. The minutes ticking by felt like an age. Finally, it was back.
{Please Help!}
Sukko immediately sat up. Same voice, different words. He definitely hadn't imagined it. It sounded incredibly distance and very frightened indeed. The feeling of fear was intense. The voice was somewhat high pitched, shaken and sounding very young indeed.
A boy.
Then it hit Sukko and hard. He and Sonic could talk telepathically because of the Physic Link that they, as identical twins, had but did it apply to all Sorcerers too? Having never met another before, Sukko had no idea and as he was now guessing, neither did Arthur. He was just calling to anyone and everyone for help, not expecting at all to be heard. But for Sukko to hear him, did make sense. He had Telepathy, a Chaos Sorcery technique, then maybe the boy did to. Techniques and casts did vary between Sorcerers but there were some crossovers too.
Sukko took a deep breath, calming himself deeply. The boy was very frightened and would freak upon hearing a response. He sighed.
{Hello?}
Arthur was in a mess. The young Wolf pup had never wanted to come to the Order of Elden but he had been forced into it. Eight years of age and now in way over his head. He had mostly dark grey furred with light grey around his long muzzle, front torso, and the light grey stripe running the entire length of the underside of his long bushy tail. He had a black nose, triangular ears and blue eyes. He wore white gloves with bright red ties, white socks and dark brown shoes with black laces. He was now chained by the wrists in the one of the dungeons of Elden Fortress.
Now with tears streaming down his face, he had no idea if he'd ever get out alive. His gravely ill father had sent him to the Order of Elden in the hope of a better life for him. The Wolf pup hadn't wanted to go but his father was dying and the family's land was up for sale. But Arthur had failed. He was just to frightened of revealing the real truth to the Order. The fact that he had Chaos Sorcery. Born with the power. A true Sorcerer. Streams of bright emerald green hue of luminescent vapour had started appearing from his hands completely on it's own, and with Arthur having no control over it, his father had believed the Order of Elden could help him. But then Arthur had arrived and saw just how grasping and greedy the Wizards were, he feared for his life if he told the truth. So he hid his Magic. Maybe a little too well, as the Wizards found nothing on him, and reduced him to the extremely minor job of squire to Wizard Everglade. Unfortunately, a lack word from his father had now meant that he had died. Their land had been sold and now the Wolf pup was now alone. His mother dying during his birth.
Arthur heaved. A squire. It was a roof over his head and food in his belly. Hiding his Magic from Everglade was easy as he had no idea how to cast and Arthur quickly noticed that his Chaos Sorcery directly responded to emotions. The calmer he remained, the more control he had, the easier it could be hidden. He never lost his temper. He daren't, no matter that Everglade did to him. He'd loose control, show himself and then as a real Sorcerer, he'd almost certainly be killed, especially after what he'd read in the Library. A squire was better then telling the truth, but Wizard Everglade was a difficult Skunk to please, and he regularly got beaten. It had been working for Everglade for three years wondering if he'd ever get out when he met Sukko. He'd never seen a Blue Hedgehog before. In fact, he'd never seen a real Hedgehog.
The species was very rare in the Sol Empire as they weren't actually native. Any and all Hedgehogs were travellers from Mobius to the Sol Empire through freak dimensions portals such as lightning strikes. Blaze was aware of this, but knowing that Hedgehogs were both extremely powerful in Chaos Energy but also a very loyal species, from her encounters with Sonic, Amy, Silver, and Shadow. Blaze felt that she had no reason to banish the small population here and allowed them to stay. Arthur had heard of Hedgehogs, especially the Blue Blur but had never met one before.
Sukko just blew his mind. He was strong, majestic, kind, especially in the eyes, and powerful. Arthur could feel the incredible power on him, even if he didn't really understand what it was. It wasn't Sol Energy, that was for sure, but it made sense considering that all Hedgehogs come from Mobius. But he was so calm, so reserved. The complete opposite to the rumours of the Blue Blur that he'd heard. Arthur was confused, when for a split second their eyes met, and the Wolf pup felt the powerful Hedgehog dive deep into his mind. He was frightened but didn't stop him. There was something about this Hedgehog that screamed trust and that he wasn't going to hurt him. He quickly found the Chaos Sorcery to his complete horror, only to reveal, to Arthur's utter confusion, his own.
The Hedgehog had Magic? What? Now he definitely wasn't the Blue Blur, so who was he? The revelation had caused Arthur to drop everything, causing Wizard Everglade to attack him, as usual, only for that same Hedgehog to defend him. Stunned, as no one had done this before, Arthur had felt the Chaos Sorcery surge within the Blue Hedgehog, and badly frighten Wizard Everglade. Running straight back the Elden Fortress. Arthur had struggled to keep up only to get back in time to overhear Wizard Everglade talking to the others of the Blue Hedgehog potentially being the Sorcerer. Arthur gulped. So he hadn't imagined it, but when Sukko was confirmed as the Blue Blur himself, more confusion set in, to the point where Arthur made a run for it.
But he was caught by the Wizard guards at the gates of Elden Fortress, but as he was marched back the Wizard Everglade, he walked pass the Library, to see it somewhat empty. Almost half of the rows and rows of books that lined the magnificent Library were gone. Arthur frowned. What was going on? No one, in the history of the Order of Elden ever removed the books from the Library. The Magical knowledge was considered too sacred, so where were they and more importantly, why wasn't anyone complaining about it? The Wizard guards did nothing as they passed. Back to the chambers of Wizard Everglade and the worst beating of his life. Arthur didn't defend himself. He didn't know how, not against that kind of Magic and wished for Sukko, more then ever, to come and get him. But he had no idea of the Blue Hedgehog even would.
Then Arthur was dragged from the chambers by Everglade and to the feet of Riverton, the Wolf pup overhearing he was to the put to death with the next Black Magic cast and that preparations had already begun. But he was confused. He'd heard rumours that the Order of Elden killed but had never seen it in person and now he was very confused. He'd witnessed a lot of Magic. But murder, no. Not even the shooter of the failed poison dart received that fate. His soul was removed, by the use of Black Magic, but his was left alive but a mindless shell, working for some hideous pirates across the ocean. Arthur shuddered. He wasn't convinced that the Order of Elden were actually capable of killing, not until recently. Things had been changing. It was a just a feeling, but regardless Arthur didn't like it and now desperately wanted out.
Riverton, laughing evilly had thrown him into the dungeons, where Arthur had cried and cried, praying for a miracle. He wasn't expecting one at all, least of all a reply to his calls. He didn't care who heard him, he just wanted to go home. Suddenly, he jumped an absolute mile.
{Hello?} It asked. The voice was warm and soothing, strong and powerful. The confusion in the voice could clearly be heard. Arthur gulped, looking around but the guards in the hallway of the dungeons did nothing and no one came running. He heaved, desperately clinging on to it. He outright panicked.
{Please help me.} He bellowed, but not entirely how he was doing it or even if the voice would respond. {I'm being put to death.} He called, panting heavily, but staying as quiet as possible, terrified of being found out.
Sukko, back at the Palace, heaved, his eye's widening. He'd been heard and his fears of Arthur true, but he had to calm to boy, as he was of no use in this panicked state. Time to be a mentor. Something he'd never done before. He sighed and gulped, trying to calm himself still further. He heaved.
{Calm yourself, please.} He asked. {I can't help you, when your this wound up.} He added, but it wasn't working, as through the link that Sukko had established between them, the Sorcerer had access Arthur's emotions through his powerful Telepathy, he was still outright panicking. It was heavily grinding against the Sorcerer. He growled, beginning to loose his temper with the Wolf pup. He gritted his teeth. Time for some tough love.
{ARTHUR!} He shouted, sending a huge amount of power down the link. The boy screamed, but then immediately silenced, becoming calm but now very frightened. Sukko sighed. It was better but not much. At least he wasn't panicking anymore and would now listen. He heaved, he hated doing that, but sometimes discipline was needed, even if it was against his own twin brother. He smiled. {Don't cross me, kid, because that's what happens.} He leered, but then relaxed, as he could feel Arthur nodding on the other end. Sukko rubbed his face, he had the impression, today was going to be a long day. He heaved, again. {Look, kid, I mean you no harm. I just have a short fuse in my temper, and your panicking, kind of, found it.} He admitted. {But I can help you. I want to help you, but I can't until you start talking to me.} He pleaded. Sukko was beginning to wonder if he had frightened the boy away.
But he hadn't. Arthur was shaking on the floor of the dungeon in both wonder and fright. That power. It was incredible. He'd never felt anything like it and it was far more then anything he'd ever seen at Elden Fortress. But also there was a feeling. The trust, it was back again, and he nodded, but then as he checked to door, to make sure no one was coming, he realised something. He frowned.
{Hey, how do you know my name?} He whimpered, both respectfully and fearful. The person on the other end was significantly more powerful then him. But Sukko just giggled, confusing Arthur still further. He grinned.
{We've already met, Kid. But I don't like that boss of yours.} He smiled. {Though I have to admit, scaring him did make my day.} He sniggered. But then Arthur went absolutely white. His dream. The Blue Hedgehog. He did come. The Wolf pup gulped.
{Your the Blue Blur!} He stammered. Only to get howls of laughter from the other end, which lead to yet more confusion. Sukko giggled. That was funny. He grinned.
{Close and yet so wrong, on so many levels, at the same time. Trust me, Kid, I'm not my brother.} He smiled. Arthur's jaw dropped, but then he quickly thought of something he'd read that made sense. He blinked.
{Twins?} He asked, very timidly. Sukko raised an eyebrow. Arthur was the first person in the Sol Empire to work this out on his own. But Sukko frowned, noticing this.
{Yes?} He questioned, hoping to get the Wolf pup talking some more. But then Arthur got very excited. He bounced.
{I have read it somewhere in one of the books in the Library, here is Elden Fortress. That identical twins exist, but are extremely rare. All twins born here, in the Sol Empire are fraternal.} He stuttered, but Sukko frowned. The information was useful, but not that surprising, but as least the Sorcerer had got him talking but then Arthur heaved. {Please, Master. Can you help me?} He begged, the desperation back in his voice. But Sukko gulped, somewhat surprised. He knew what being called Master meant, and that Arthur had immediately accepted his mentorship, completely and utterly willing to follow him, and leave the Order of Elden behind. But to Arthur, it made sense. To trust a fellow Sorcerer. Though he still didn't understand how. Why wouldn't he follow the Blue Hedgehog. But still, the name grated on Sukko hugely. He growled.
{Whoa, Kid, you can immediately drop the 'Master'. My name's Sukko. Now where are you? I take it then that Elden Fortress is the home of the Order of Elden?} He growled, getting back to business. Arthur nodded intensely, him to eager to get out. He sighed.
{Yes, Master Sukko. I'm in the dungeons of the Elden Fortress, and the Order is planning to use me as the sacrifice for their next Black Magic cast. Though.} He added, somewhat confused. {The last one didn't need one, according to Wizard Everglade.} He shrugged, somewhat absent-mindedly, temporarily forgetting that Sukko was still listening. But then he suddenly realised, still feeling the Hedgehog there, and panicked. {I'm sorry, Master Sukko, I spoke out of turn.} He stammered, bowing his head. Sukko smirked, and rolled his eyes. But then he fumed. The Master Sukko was better, but not perfect and getting Arthur to break that was going to take time, but right now, he'd take it. As for the previous Black Magic cast not needing a sacrifice. That was almost certainly the Serpent Sickness, and Sukko's hunch that the plague being non lethal was correct. A sacrifice would have made it deadly, the curse instantly killing it's victims. He sighed. So the Order of Elden were not natural killers, but the corruption was slowly turning them into murderers. But from Arthur's information, no one had died yet, but as Sukko knew only to well, that was only a matter of time. But then he heaved.
{So you want me as your 'Master' and I accept.} He smiled, to an absolutely ecstatic Wolf pup. He cried with delight.
{An Apprentice?} He squealed, desperate to learn even some of Sukko's incredible power, but he got immediately cut across by the almighty Sorcerer. He growled.
{Yes.} He spat. {But that also means lying down a few ground rules.} He added, making Arthur gulp, obediently nodding intensely. But Sukko sniggered. {One, I'm not Everglade. You sound like you've suffered at his hand, I guarantee, you won't at mine. I don't work like that, and two, speak your mind, Kid, especially through a Telepathic link, which is what we are talking down now. You have more information on the current situation then I do.} He added, keen to get the Wolf pup talking again. Sukko still had no idea as to the location, defences, weaponry, or landscape of Elden Fortress. Information he desperately needed if he was to storm the place. He sighed. {Now, where is the Fortress?} He asked.
Arthur nodded, finally understanding. He had almost been regretting his choice of Sukko as his new Master, having some second thoughts as it was a huge leap of faith but he was delighted, and realised that he now had to guide Sukko exactly to his location if he wanted to get out alive. He heaved, quickly filing through his memories of the Order of Elden ready to relay to his knew Master. He concentrated.
{The Wizards train and live at Elden Fortress on the Mountainous Region, on the Island right next to the Palace Island where the Princess lives. The large, white marble castle-like citadel set deep into the large, extensive pine forests of the mountain and is not easy to find. It is shielded from view with a powerful cast, and can be easily missed by those not Magically inclined.} He explained. Sukko smirked. Should be easy for him to find, as he suspected the cast would light up the entire fortress in a bright yellow light. Breaking said cast in order to get in, that was going to be another story. He sighed. Arthur continued. {The Order of Elden seriously does not like to be disturbed so the Fortress is guarded around the clock. By Wizards, with powerful casts and quick reflexes, often working together to bring down intruders.} He added. Sukko gulped, now somewhat panicked. Group castings again. The one thing, other then his brother, he couldn't block. That was going to be a serious problem. He heaved.
{How many Wizards are there?} He asked, as calmly as possible, desperately trying to hide his fear. Arthur closed his eyes and concentrated, desperate to get the information as correct as possible. He knew this, he could do it. He sighed.
{The Order of Elden has a very large following, around a hundred. But most of those Wizards only do small time casts, extremely basic. They are the students. Only a handful, around thirty or so Wizards, are of the High Order, including the guards, which actually have any level of Magic that could harm, such as Everglade and...} He added, only to cut across by Sukko. He growled.
{Riverton.} He hissed, of which Arthur nodded. He stammered.
{He's the head of the entire Order. What he says go, goes, as all who enter the Order must pledge their loyalty to him. Apparently, it's a powerful cast that can't be broken. Thankfully, I didn't have to.} He heaved, absolutely relieved. {Only those accepted by the Order for training in Magic have to take the oath. Somehow I managed I to hide my Magic, as I feared for my life if they knew.} He admitted. But Sukko was seriously impressed. He smiled.
{Actually Arthur, your better at Magic then you think you are. To hide your abilities from the Order is very impressive, especially without training. You do have potential, if I can get you out. What would suggest?} He asked, genuinely having no idea. As a Sorcerer, to hide his Magic from four Wizards when casting was just about doable but a thirty powerful Wizards in a citadel heavily impregnated with the stuff, was going to be next to impossible. Arthur had succeeded because he yet processed the high-level casts, and his very fledging Magic was able to hide under the radar. Sukko was just too powerful, even with all stealth skills. If he casted, they would find him, immediately. So if he couldn't hide his Magic, he'd have to get in without it, which wasn't going to be easy. But then Sukko frowned, as he didn't immediately get a reply, suddenly feeling fear from the Wolf pup. He gulped.
Arthur was trembling, as he suddenly heard voices from outside the dungeon door. Two Wizards were talking, not anyone Arthur recognised but truthfully he didn't know absolutely everyone in the Order. He could clearly hear every word.
"Is the boy ready for this evening's cast?" One of the asked. The other Wizard poked his nose into the dungeon, to take a good look at Arthur. He saw and squealed in fright. But the Wizard just smirked evilly, his eyes glowing bright red. He left, to continue to conversation back out in the corridor. He sniggered.
"As well as expected." He leered. His comrade also just laughed, his eyes also bright red. They were about to move on, when they were suddenly interrupted. The Lizard charged down the corridor. Riverton's eyes were burning a bright fire red, the corruption now seriously taking hold, and now beginning to spread across the entire Order. He growled.
"Is the Black Magic cast ready?" He commended, impatiently. The two Wizards looked at each other. One of them gulped.
"Preparations are still ongoing. It is a highly complicated cast. One of the most complex the Order of Elden had ever done. We will be ready by midnight tonight." He explained but then he frowned, looking at Arthur's dungeon door. "Is the boy right for this cast? He doesn't seem to have any Magic?" He shrugged, but Riverton rounded on both of them. He smirked
"I think you'll find there's more to the boy then meets the eye. I can feel it, but can't explain it. Besides it's not the boy I want, but who is coming for him, if my spy is correct." He hissed, to the complete confusion of the other Wizards. But he sniggered. "You'll see." He snarled, before moving away, obediently followed by the other two. Soon the corridor was empty and Arthur was alone. Suddenly he cried in pure terror straight down the Telepathic link. Sukko frowned, now extremely worried. He had heard nothing but silence for several minutes but daren't say anything, just encase he endangered Arthur. He didn't think the Wizards could listen in, but truthfully he didn't really know the full extent of their powers, and likewise them with himself. Right now, it was his only advantage against them. The Wizards underestimating his true power. He heaved, desperate for anything.
{Arthur?} He asked as comfortingly as possible. Arthur panicked but then calmed himself when he realised who was talking to him. He stammered, speaking extremely fast.
{Master Sukko, they're on to us.} He squealed and then he recounted word-for-word what he'd just heard just outside the dungeon door. Sukko swore. He'd underestimated the Order of Elden. Either the Wizards were far more organised then he expected or the corruption was far more ingrained into the Order then he'd predicted. Truthfully, he suspected the latter. Which made it significantly worse. They were going after him. Made sense, considering he was the most powerful person in Magic in the whole of the Sol Empire. But also now meant that rescuing Arthur, Sukko would be walking straight into a trap. But he growled, who was this spy? Sukko suspected he knew who. That sly Weasel at the tavern whom he'd healed of the Serpent Sickness and then witnessed everything he did afterwards. Now this made things difficult, as now the Order of Elden had a heads up of some of the Magic he could do, but it was by no means everything. His temper flared.
Dawn had now properly risen over the Sol Empire as the maid came in with the breakfast again, which Sukko immediately gobbled up, having not eaten since the previous morning. But he was deep in thought, desperately trying to work out a plan. For the next few hours, Arthur was safe. He was certain that the Order of Elden knew he was listening in somehow, and now expected him to immediately come running in for the boy. No. The infinitely patient King of Stealth had other ideas. He was going to leave to the absolute last minute to rescue the boy, leading the Order of Elden to believe he wasn't coming. It was risky, but Sukko believed, worth it. A classic diversion tactic.
But as Sukko got up, did his morning routine, and left his room, something in the back of his mind, kept telling him the Princess was in danger, but he didn't know how. To take her with him to the Fortress of Elden was far to risky but the Palace had been heavily fortified overnight. Blaze's precautions against the Order of Elden's betrayal. He smirked. He really liked Blaze. A lady constantly on the same page as him. But no amount of fortifications was going to stop Magic if it truly wanted to get in, and he found out later, it didn't. But Blaze had her Palace staff and guards, as well as her own powers, whatever they were. She was a safe as she could be for now.
Sukko had to get Arthur. He'd promised the boy. But he needed information, so over the next few hours, as he went about his business in the Palace, Blaze suspecting nothing and still with the Telepathic link open, he made Arthur tell him everything he knew about the Order of Elden. The boy nodded, recounted in the tiniest of details, of all he knew. Everything was there. Names and descriptions of all the Wizards he knew of, expert retellings of every cast he'd ever witnessed, superb summaries of the books he'd read there, and an incredible detailed layout plan of the citadel itself, room by room, including guard movements, as best he knew, which wasn't all of them, and very accurate directions to the Fortress of Elden itself.
Sukko heaved. The information was incredible, far more then he'd ever dreamed of, but as he smirked, he realised one simple thing, as he finally worked out a plan. Arthur had one incredible memory, far better then his own, and as he looked around the Palace, itself as much of a labyrinth as Elden Fortress, if anyone could memorise the place, then the Wolf pup could. Now Sukko was certain that Blaze was going to be dragged into this, he just didn't know how or where, and now desperately needed a way to get her to trust him completely, no matter what happened. But with all the Magic and corruption flying around, that was going to be difficult as he suspected the Order of Elden was going to try and turn him against her. Why else would they go after him?
But Sukko had some defence against corruption. The pure heart of gold he shared with his twin brother gave him some protection, able to withstand some of the corruption, but it didn't make him immune. He desperately hoped it wouldn't lead to that, and for the first time since arriving in the Sol Empire, he missed his twin. Having Sonic around, would make this rescue so much easier as he could have watched the Palace but the Blue Blur wasn't here, so Sukko had to do the best he could with what he had. But all was not well down the Physic Link. He'd been feeling a lot of sadness from Sonic for most of the morning, but apart from comforting him, there was nothing more Sukko could really do. He heaved.
'I hope he's alright?' He wondered in his thoughts, realising that concentrating on the task in hand was now the best he could do. But he was still rattling his brains trying to find a way of getting Blaze to trust him, no matter what. As he watched her in the Palace, interacting with Gardon, one of her guard's, his eyes suddenly widened. He looked down at his wrists and a smirk appeared, which quickly broadened, lighting up his whole face. His eyes sparkled.
He had an idea.