Chapter Nine – The Maze of Mirrors
Blaze was gobsmacked. She'd gone from potentially fighting to the death at the shrine to being outside the Palace in the blink of an eye. She gulped, knowing what happened. Something she didn't believe even possible. Teleportation. She'd collapsed on the floor when she'd landed, and was now winded, gasping for air, when suddenly she was helped to her feet. Gardon was delighted to see her. He beamed.
"Your Highness, I'm glad your alright?" He smiled, but then he frowned. "You back later then we were expecting." He added. Blaze heaved, brushing herself off.
"We got side tracked." She huffed, but then as she looked around her heart fell. The town and her Palace had been torn to shreds, as dawn now rose on the horizon. There were fires burning everywhere, and most of the townspeople had congregated in the Palace for protection. Thankfully, no one was hurt. She growled. The Order of Elden had been through here, ripping her home apart, looking for her. But then as she notice, the Palace and the town had been heavily defended, somewhat forcing the Order to look elsewhere. In the corner of her eye, she noticed something that made her smile. Magic, but bright emerald green. She followed the light, and to her amazement, she found a small boy, a Wolf pup, casting with nothing with his bare hands, desperately trying to repair her precious Palace. She cocked her head, fascinated.
'Sorcerer?' She thought, as she watched the Wolf pup work. Arthur had been working franticly since Sukko and Everglade left, the boy quickly Mastering the techniques his Master had taught him, though managing the drain was more of a challenge. He threw Telekinesis everywhere, to repair the Palace and had become efficient at it, until the Order of Elden ripped through a second time.
They charged through the Palace, reducing it to dust, which seriously angered Arthur, as he and the staff had only just fixed it. So he defended the place and the town, having memorised the layouts of both, he was able to run rings around the Order of Elden. The boy was able to cast much faster then them, and run away before they had a chance to retaliate. He couldn't defeat them, he wasn't strong enough, but became one very large annoyance, when the Order of Elden finally realised that neither the Princess nor the almighty Sorcerer were here, they just left, leaving the Wolf pup with enormous clean up job.
Amazingly, he was almost finished, except he was struggling to put out some of the fires. He jumped a mile when the approached from behind by Blaze tapping him on the shoulder. He accidentally sent a very large plumb of emerald green Magic everywhere. He whirled round, and immediately seeing the Princess, he bowed, held out his wrists under her nose, and panicked. He apologised.
"Your Highness. I'm sorry, but I swear, I mean you no harm." He stammered. Blaze just stared down at the wrist, running her finger over the now fully healed brand mark there. Her royal family Seal, and noticed, yet again, the slight blue tint to it. She rolled her eyes. Sukko had found another Sorcerer, which he was obviously training, one born in her kingdom, potentially the very first in a millennia. She sighed. Of course, he had. He'd only been in her kingdom for less then a fortnight, three days of which he'd actually been awake and the Blue Hedgehog had turned the entire Sol Empire upside down. But without him, Blaze realised, it would have been completely destroyed. She was intensely grateful, as she nodded, reassuring the boy. He was thankful but still frightened.
Suddenly the mighty Sorcerer's name being called made them both turn, and immediately come running. Blaze was worried but Arthur was gobsmacked, upon seeing the twins. He blinked
"Whoa." He gasped, only to be immediately shut down by the Princess. She watched intently. Sonic's head was now in his brother's lap, as he knelt down of the floor. He'd been taken from Everglade, and as Sukko closed his eyes, the delicate streams of bright blue luminescent vapour-like hue poured out of his hands and into his brother's head. With seconds, Sonic jolted as he started breathing again, and then suddenly a big smiled appeared on his face as he immediately settled, his eyes still firmly closed. Suddenly, he began to purr, as he curled up in Sukko's lap, putting a thumb in his mouth, and sucked on it loudly.
Sukko's smiled as he eased off the Magic slightly, allowing him to stroke his brother.
"Shhh." He beamed as he watched his twin fall into a deep slumber. Sukko then picked him up in his arms, Sonic curling up tightly into them. But Everglade was still worried. He gulped.
"He is alright?" He stammered, pointing to the Blue Blur. But Sukko just giggled.
"What, Sonikku?" He asked. Everglade nodded. The Sorcerer smiled. "Yeah, he'll be fine. He could do with better management of his drain, though. This always happens every time he Teleports, though that last one, in getting all those guards out was very impressive." He grinned. "He just needs to sleep it off." He sighed. Everglade was gobsmacked, in fact, every one in hear shot was. Then Sukko promptly walked off in to the Palace, carrying Sonic with him, forcing everyone to follow him, including the Princess. Everglade ran up to him. He gulped.
"But Sukko, I didn't think Sonic could cast." He stammered. The mighty Sorcerer turned round and faced him. He deeply sighed.
"When we were conceived, the Powers-That-Be decided that one embryo, and therefore one baby, wasn't strong enough to carry both sets of Chaos Powers from our parents. So the embryo split and thus the powers, but the divide wasn't even. I got my mother's Chaos Sorcery, and Sonic, our father's Super-Speed. But also the ability to harness Chaos Energy directly, Chaos Wield. I can't do that, but I do have our father's power of Super-Flight. I very rarely use it, even though it was, at one point, my only method of high speed travel, before the Orbing developed. I can't Teleport via Chaos Sorcery, because Sonic has that Magical technique, his only cast. Even the Magic itself split, me getting everything else." He heaved, but then he smiled, looking down at his twin, as he walked again through the Palace, and to the simple white bedroom, he been given. He grinned. "You know, our parents didn't even know Sonikku was even there when I was born. But the umbilical cord split halfway along it's length, and two cords went back inside Mother. Then the race was on by the doctors to get him out alive. You have no idea how proud I am of him and his achievements, despite everything." He added, as he went in, comfortably laying the Blue Blur on the bed, who gently snored away, fast asleep, into the pillow and left, shutting the door. He heaved, looking extremely somber. Everglade grabbed him. He growled.
"Look, what happened to you, back on Mobius. It wasn't your fault. You couldn't control what you were born with. You were just doing the best you could with what you had." He comforted. He could only imagine the hell the twins went through there, in a dimension where Magic was banned. Sukko had his back against the door, sighing deeply. It had been a long three days, and it wasn't over yet. He looked around, he was surrounded by people, all eyes were on him, pleading with him, desperately looking to him to help them, to save them. To be the hero. The super illusive Hedgehog wasn't used to this much attention, but yet here in the Sol Empire, it felt right. He could do this. Come out of his shell, and fight to save the kingdom. Fighting an enemy this tough without the Blue Blur wasn't going to be easy, but Sukko had to step up and prove that he could indeed match the mighty Hero of Mobius. He had the power, he just needed the confidence. To be the one to save and protect Sonic for a change. Finally, he deeply sighed again and nodded, to everyone's delight, especially Blaze's. He was about to leave when Blaze collared him. She frowned.
"Will he be safe in there?" She asked. With the impending attack from the Order of Elden, she was worried. But looked at her into his deep green eyes and loomed over her somewhat. He sniggered.
"Princess." He grinned. "No one has ever broken through one of my Magical Seals." He leered and with that his eyes burned bright blue and his hand, palm completely flat, he bangs it on the door of Sonic's rooms. Magic exploded out from his point of origin, slivering across the walls in all directions and enveloping the entire room, leaving it with a pale blue glow, and a very familiar dragon image, matching the one on his back, now hovering on the door. He set the extremely powerful Magic in place, and then he was done. Sonic was safe. Sukko was left panting, holding his slightly pained hand, as loud grunting behind them, made them all turn round, as four Palace guards were carrying the mighty Jewelled Specter, which was flat under it's side, all struggling under it's immense weight. Blaze then looked at Sukko and then back at the Specter. She had an idea. The Sorcerer rolled his eyes, grinning, knowing exactly what she was going to ask. She smiled, somewhat pleading.
"Sukko." She asked. "Can you do that again?"
Blaze readied the entire Palace for battle stations. She knew she didn't have long. Sukko had felt the Magic of the Order of Elden, as they Airborne casted their way across the Sol Empire looking for them, as they couldn't track or follow either of the teleports. He suspected they would be there within the hour. Blaze had had two Sorcerer pledge their loyal to her, and boy, did she made them work for it, especially Sukko. He put a second Magical Seal on the room of the Jewelled Scepter, a dungeon, deep in the bowels of the Palace, locking several guards in with it. He objected, but Blaze insisted. She growled.
"But you locked Sonic in?" She spat. But Sukko just grinned.
"No I didn't. Sonikku and I was identical twins. We share the same DNA. Even though Sonikku can't generate or wield any Magic, outside of the teleport. My Magic responds to him. It believing that he's me. He's always be able to open all of my Magical Seals. The only person other then me who can." He giggled, but then his growled, bearing down on the Princess. She relented, allowing Sukko to release the guards from from the Seal of the Jewelled Scepter. But she still insisted that the room still be heavily guarded, nonetheless, of which the Sorcerer compromised.
He signed. His thoughts turned to his home, back on the Mobius. The Penthouse Suite and the incredible Magical Seal on it. He hadn't forgotten about it. There was nothing in there of significant value, just photographs and mementos of the twins lives and their achievements. But still, Sukko had bought that apartment, it had huge sentimental value and he wondered how, if at all, he could go back and get it. But he knew that wasn't possible. He was not welcome on Mobius, certainly not anymore. He had no means to get home, other then Blaze's manipulation on Sol Emeralds. Only suitable for travelling one person, it was how they got Sonic to the Sol Empire, but getting an entire Penthouse here, no. Certainly not an entire building. He wondered how long the Magical Seal on the Penthouse had lasted with him in the Sol Empire, a completely different dimension. He suspected it was still there, but not for much longer. He had to resign to the fact that it was gone, and that life was now far behind him.
He felt this fight was going to he tough. He was going to give his all. This calm before the storm was excruciating, and wondered how Sonic dealt with it. He was struggling. But he and Everglade did have an agreement on one thing. The Order of Elden was taking longer get here then expected, and they both suspected why. They had returned to Avalon to perform another Black Magic cast, potentially to create a monstrosity to bring with them. But Sukko was confused. He frowned.
"But doesn't Black Magic that take time and preparation to cast?" He asked, as the Palace was now fully repaired and town damped down, and now empty. Everglade nodded, but he was also incredibly frightened.
"Yes." He stammered. "But you can significantly increase the power and speed of a Black Magic cast by sacrificing lives at it. The Order of Elden had a huge amount of students on it's books, who by now, would have been corrupted. Riverton would now think nothing of slaughtering them all to create a Black Magic cast strong enough to take us out, or at least, in theory." He cried. But Sukko gulped, terrified as the potential cost. He heaved.
"Not us. Everglade. Me." He admitted. He agreed with Everglade, but had absolutely no idea what it could be, and looking at the Skunk, neither did he. But he just stared. The Sorcerer sniffed. "I'm who he wants. I'm the one with the power. I broke the mould." He sighed, but Everglade just giggled, making Sukko frown still further. The Skunk smiled.
"Look, no offence, but you wouldn't be the brother of the Hero of Mobius if you didn't." He grinned. Sukko raised an eyebrow, but Everglade just beamed. "I know. I heard the stories. I didn't believe them at first, thought they were too far fetched. How could one Hedgehog have so much power, and yet be so utterly willing to give everything for the ordinary person." He giggled. Sukko nodded. That described his brother perfectly, it was what made him so proud. But Everglade grabbed his arm. He sighed. "Then I met you, and the first thing you did, was save my life. I see your brother in you and I believe the stories now. The power, the bravery, and completely willingness and utter stubbornness to do the right thing, even if no one else agrees." He grinned. He looked at the mighty Hedgehog, his head barely making his shoulders, as he the same height as Arthur. Everglade smiled.
"If anyone can do this, you can." He encouraged, of which Sukko nodded, but not completely convinced. His thoughts did go to his twin, sleeping deeply within the Palace. Sonic was out of this fight, but Sukko wasn't convinced of he could actually help. This was a fight of pure Magic, his territory, not his brother's, the Blue Blur potentially getting in the way. Regardless, this wasn't just a fight for the Sol Empire, but for his family too. Suddenly Arthur came running up to them, having finally finished his duties. But then Everglade frowned. "But I don't understand something. Why did you want the Palace cleared out and looking pristine but with everyone hidden deep in the dungeons?" He asked, but Arthur nodded, in agreement. He panted.
"Yes, everyone's down there, safe, including the Princess. It's cramped, but they'll be alright." He heaved. "Er. Master Sukko, her Highness isn't very happy about it. She wants to join the fight." He stammered. But Sukko just grinned.
"Well, I'm sorry, but she's going to have to lump it." He spat, to the stares of the other two. The Sorcerer sighed. "If there was one thing Sonikku taught me about fighting wars, was that a kingdom are a people, not a place. If the Order of Elden break through us, who's the last line of defence for her people." He sniggered. Both Everglade and Arthur just looked at each other, both amazed that neither had realised that before and that Sukko was exactly right. Everglade heaved.
"The Princess." He heaved, now fully realising how much of a tactician Sukko really was. But then he growled. "So what's the plan? And no, your not pushing us off, we are helping you." He hissed, both him and Arthur standing their ground against the mighty Sorcerer. But Sukko just smirked.
"Actually, I was relying on that." He sniggered, to yet further stares. Then he sighed. "Hey, if your expecting an all-out battle with guns, bombs and explosions, then your talking to the wrong Blue Hedgehog. That's seriously not style." He giggled. But his comrades looked at him, very confused. But Sukko just giggled. "Ever heard of a Maze of Mirrors?"
Everglade and Arthur were now running to the opposite end of the Palace, both with massive grins on their faces, having just had the King of Stealth divulge the most incredible plan on them, proving he truly was the King of Stealth. The three of them were still not strong enough to take on the Order of Elden on the battlefield, even though the Order's ranks would have significantly dwindled. The students were now gone, slaughtered, but that still left around thirty high ranking corrupted Wizards of the High Order, including Riverton to deal with. But Sukko suspected that Riverton himself would hang back with his Black Magic creation, whatever that was, and send the fodder in first.
But it was still three against thirty. It didn't put the odds in their favour. Powerful Wizards able to quickly group cast were not easy to destroy, but alone, potentially they could be. Hence the Maze of Mirrors. Sukko was an expert illusionist. It was how he was never caught by the Mobian Authorities despite being the Sorcerer. Therefore, using the exquisitely detailed map of the Palace that Arthur created and memorised, of which Sukko, using his Telepathy, pulled from his very mind, he planned to manipulate the Palace in such a way, as to separate out the Wizards until they were alone. Then he'd send them towards Everglade and Arthur.
The Skunk now had in his hand an ornate but powerful sword, with a sinusoidal blade. Sukko had conjured it, for him, out of thin air. Everglade knew, from his own experience, that without a staff and more importantly, the powerful crystal on the end, a Wizard was pretty much useless. Once the corrupted Wizards were alone, it was then two against one, was Arthur and Everglade could then take them out, the Skunk using the sword the destroy the staff and crystals. But in destroying their Magic, Everglade suspected the Wizards would die. Unfortunately, there was nothing they could do about it. One by one, they had a chance to destroy the Order, all they had to do was be patient.
Soon, all was quiet, and for now, they waited.
Riverton was beaming down at his loyal following. They were now less in number, but much stronger. Thirty of his most powerful Wizards. All of the juveniles of the Order had indeed been sacrificed, dead and now he stood a top his mighty creation. Finally, the troublesome Sorcerer have finally been located.
The Palace.
The Lizard frowned. An odd place for last stand. A fortress or castle would have significantly stronger, but no matter, the Blue Hedgehog was going to die tonight. Finally, he gave the word, and the Order of Elden left for the battle, as he slowly walked his enormous monstrosity from Avalon, out across the ocean and towards the royal family residence.
Finally, the first of the scouts of the Order of Elden arrived, Airborne flying in. They landed and looking around, they were gobsmacked. They had destroyed the fortifications and most of the Palace a mere hours ago, and now it was looking absolutely pristine and untouched. Looking like nothing had happened. The two Wizards stared at each, their deep red eyes frightened, somewhat nervous. The front doors were wide open and the place was cold, dead and silent. Creepy and shadowy, all that could be heard was the bird song outside. They almost turned and left, now not convinced anyone was here, when suddenly one of them caught a glimpse of something Blue moving fast across the Palace, inside, and there was only one person, that they knew of, in the Sol Empire, whose fur coat colour was Blue.
The Sorcerer.
He was indeed here, and holding their staff's aloft, ahead of them, they charged inside. Through the foyer and entrance hall and down the main corridor. They turned round one corner after another. Nothing. The Palace still deathly silent, not a soul to be seen. Finally, they stopped, looking around confused. Suddenly, whispers could he heard ringing out across the Palace, as Sukko, hiding behind his Cloak of Invisibility, having seen them arrive, began to Telepathically play with them. He moved silently around them, casting Illusions, which he could behind his Invisibility, heavily ensuring the whispers sounded like they were coming from two different directions.
It worked, as the two Wizards split up, each independently following his own paths. Smirking, Sukko's eyes glowed bright blue as he threw up an illusionary wall between two Wizards, to ensure they never found each other again. It looked real, that is until you tested it. Then it was fake, but that was the point of a Maze of Mirrors. To give the impression that what real was fake, and what was fake was real. He throw up further walls, many with large mirrors, and managed to contain one Wizard in a loop. Sukko kept the silence and the eeriness of the Palace to an absolute maximum, to keep the Wizards from casting as all cost. They would simple be too nervous, as Everglade mentioned Wizards don't cast unless they have to, because the cost of the drain is so high. If they did, the trick and thus the plan, could be potentially blown. The other, began to stray further and further away from his comrade, a walls seemed to disappear and reappear all around him, until finally, to his completely confusion, he was stood opposite Everglade and Arthur. But they were on him and fast. Everglade growled.
"Now." He squealed, as Arthur concentrated, as streams of emerald green hue of bright luminescent vapour, exploded from his hands as the Telekinesis wrapped itself round the Wizard, holding him firm. But the Wolf pup didn't have the stamina to hold him for long, but that didn't matter, as Everglade immediately swung Sukko's sword straight at the Wizard's staff. It sliced in two and then he swung it again, straight at the almighty red crystal on the end. It shattered on impact, completely destroyed, as the Wizard screamed, having forcibly had his Magic removed from him. The corruption wasn't leaving without a fight, as it took the Wizard's soul with it, leaving him nothing but a mere empty shell.
Finally, unable to cope, the Wizard's body suddenly exploded in a cloud of jet black dust, leaving nothing but the broken wooden staff on the floor. Both Everglade and Arthur was horrified and somewhat shaken. They were expecting the Wizards to perish, just not quite like that, and suddenly the Wolf pup's emotions got the better of him. He squealed in delight, rather loudly.
"Hey, we got him." He yelled, only for Everglade to immediately grab him by the mouth. He growled.
"Shh. Hold your tongue, boy." He spat, as the sudden noise, caused the second Wizard to immediately look for his comrade. This angered Sukko, who sent his temper straight down the Telepathic link to Arthur, who immediately silenced. He nodded, but growled himself, he pushed Everglade off of him. He hissed.
"You are not my 'Master' anymore." He whispered. But as Everglade faced him, he hung his head. He sniffed.
"I know." He quietly heaved. "Someone much more worthy then me, now has that honour. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have treated you as badly as I did. Before the Order of Elden corrupted, we always believed ourselves better then everyone else, and now I realise, we really weren't. If you had told me that you were a Sorcerer, I probably would have had you killed, rather then have the audacity to train you myself." He admitted. But Arthur just smiled, accepting the apology. He could see how much Everglade had changed and how broken the system was. Suddenly, he piped up, maybe a little to loudly. He grinned.
"Hey, with the Order of Elden gone, we can start over." He bounced, but Everglade growled at Arthur, backed up by Sukko, who with his sensitive hearing the other end of the Palace, could still hear him. He gritted his teeth.
"Shh." {Shh.} They both snapped, one by mouth, the other in his mind. Outnumbered, Arthur gulped, terrified Everglade glared at him. "Yes, but not if you blow our cover." He hissed, under his breath, but then his sighed, holding out his hand to the Wolf pup. "Look, we have to work together on this." He added, nodding desperately. Arthur looked at it. It was a hand of peace, and finally, of friendship, as equals. He smiled, nodding, taking the hand, just as the second Wizard was flung at them, straight through an illusionary wall.
He was so confused that he didn't see what hit him, as Arthur and Everglade attacked, his staff and crystal smashing in seconds, leading to his explosion. As the jet black dust cleared, they suddenly both giggled. This might actually be fun, but all of a sudden, Sukko's Telepathy stormed in on the both of them, his enormous power roared, him growling harshly. Everglade froze and Arthur whimpered. He snarled at them.
{Don't get complacent, it's not over yet. There are more Wizards on the way.} He hissed. {I've spotted at least a dozen of them landing by the front door.} He added. Then he smiled and sighed. {Let's leave the fun and games until later, alright.} He grinned. But Everglade and Arthur nodded, sending their apologises, and then the mighty Sorcerer vanished. They both heaved. They had work to do.
Sukko sighed. He hadn't meant to be harsh on his comrades but he had learned that here, in the Sol Empire, Magic had rank. The more powerful you were, the higher the rank, and Sukko was at the very top. So he pulled rank, though he wasn't very happy about it, knowing he'd potentially upset them. But he wasn't Sonic. He didn't take the softly, softly approach with his friends, to avoid hurt feelings. The Sorcerer was concise, direct and to the point. He was a Doctor. Being gentle wasn't something Sukko couldn't afford to be, especially when someone's life was on the line, and you were the only person who could save them. That's how people died. He was very much a one for getting the job done.
Sukko smirked, as the Wizards entered, equally as nervous as the others, but in this second wave, there was more of them. Twelve in total and Sukko knew this would test both his patience and tactics to separate out each Wizard. It was like playing twelve games of chess at the same where, where Sukko was the only person who could see all the pieces. Thankfully, chess was a favourite game of his. He was, by no means, a Master but he was good. He significantly increased the fright factor of the Palace and then he let the game begin. Slivering silently around the Palace, in between his own illusions, Sukko began to expertly single out the Wizards and send them to their doom. Arthur and Everglade ready for them.
The haunting whispers, eerie footsteps and the ice cold presence of the Palace left the most corrupted of Wizard absolutely terrified, unable to see their invisible enemy, despite the fact it was broad daylight outside. Several Wizards casted out of fright. One of which coincidentally missing Sukko by millimetres, and that told the Sorcerer to up his game. This was the King of Stealth at his absolute best, playing mind games from the depth of the shadows, creating complete confusion and bewilderment, as he moved the walls of the Palace around fast and effectively. He moved if they were smoke, silently and deadly, as one by one he sent all twelve Wizards to their death. His comrades taking down each and everyone of the them. Brutal, yes, but they had no choice. They just couldn't have corruption present in the land. Magic wouldn't be able to move on from it. But corruption was always going to be a threat to Magic. That was the price paid for using the incredible Chaos Power. It was ruthlessly high. But with the correct management and right believes, Magic could prosper, significantly reducing the threat. But it would never entirely go away.
As one wave of Wizards were disposed off, another arrived. The third wave of ten this time, all of them expecting the same. To be joining an all-out fight in pure Magic at the Palace. It is what they trained for, combat wise. But what they got was entirely different, and no amount of Magical or combat training, could have prepared them for a highly illusionary fight with a powerful Telepath. That is, unless you knew Sukko, extremely well, and only person could ever claim that. His brother.
Maybe in the future, two hundreds years from now, where Telepaths and other powerful mental Chaos Powers are more common, then maybe they could develop the training needed to fight and win this kind of battle. But right now, no, and the powerful Sorcerer was slowly winning.
But it took hours.
Sukko, himself, was fine. He was infinitely patient, just like his brother had infinite stamina but his comrades, not so much, mainly suffering with boredom, and Arthur was really struggling. Everglade was desperately trying to keep a lid on it, but even he was wondering when his silent torture was going to end. But it didn't, as more as for Wizards were sent to them, over the coming hours, as a further ten were sent through the Mirror Maze and their deaths.
Finally, in the late-afternoon, the last wave of Wizards landed. Six, which made a total of exactly thirty, and as Sukko suspected, that was all of them. He knew why they were coming in waves. Riverton. He believed they were heading for an all-out fight with Sukko at the Palace, and as the mighty Sorcerer destroyed one lines of Wizards, he wanted to time it so, the next wave would attack in the hope of tiring him, before his arrival. But he foolishly, didn't use Magic to look ahead and actually spy on the Sorcerer. He only located him. Sukko knew he hadn't. He would have felt it if he did, like last time, but he suspected he wouldn't. Corruption is so unbelievable arrogant, so grasping for power, that his always assumes that the enemy is weak, and that corruption can't be beaten.
Sukko smirked, knowing that couldn't be further from the truth. Corruption was so incredibly blind that Riverton had unknowingly sent the last of his Order of Elden to their deaths. A trap, as finally Sukko watched in relief and somewhat exhausted delight from the intense concentration, Arthur and Everglade dispose of the very last Wizard, him exploding into dust, a large pile of broken staffs at their feet. As they both heaved, heavily panting, they were greeted with the still absolutely deathly silent Palace and a Sorcerer who, grinning inanely, couldn't resist it. Still behind his Cloak of Invisibility, he moved between them, grinning. He smirked.
"Boo!" He smirked, finally revealing him, to the horrified fright of his comrades, scaring them both out of their skins. They both jumped miles, as they screamed the entire Palace down, to the intense giggling of the Blue Hedgehog. Unprofessional, yes, especially for the King of Stealth, but he was also the identical twin brother of the biggest child of the galaxy. For Sonic, any excuse for fun and games, even in the middle of an all-out fight. Especially against Eggman, and Sukko remembered, back on Mobius, reading about the frustration this caused his friends fighting on the front line with him. There were times, like now, when that child-like persona severely rubbed off onto the mighty Sorcerer. Beside, he'd planned ahead, they were safe during this lull for a short while, and he was also grinning with delight to actually have a plan go perfectly for once. That seriously hadn't been the case since he arrived in the Sol Empire.
He raised an eyebrow, as both Arthur and Everglade screamed blue murder, mainly by swearing at him, a lot. The Skunk grabbed him, heaving.
"Don't do that." He growled, throughly unimpressed, Arthur agreeing franticly. But Sukko just smirked, which quickly broadened, his hands deep in the pockets of his long black coat. He grinned.
"Two things. One, you don't know me that well, and two, King of Stealth." He sniggered, as he quickly vanished again, and then casted Illusions from behind the Invisibility, which he could. One of only a handful of casts of which he could, he completely restored the Palace to his original state, removing all the fake walls and mirrors. Arthur and Everglade watched in amazement as the Palace seemed to violently twist and contort, until everything was back to where it should be, but to their astonishment, they found themselves standing face-to-face with Blaze, who was equally as gobsmacked. She was told there with a few guards behind her, looking terrified. She gulped as she stared as the two Magic users.
"Hi." She stammered. Arthur and Everglade stared back, shaking themselves. Everglade nodded.
"Hi." He acknowledged. Blaze looked around. She has just witnessed one of the most incredible fights of her life, completely from the sidelines, and now she had no idea what was going on. Never had her warm and inviting Palace, felt so cold and eerie, and yes, she was frightened. She looked down at the pile of broken staff on the floor and looked up. It was now so quiet in the Palace, you could have heard a pin drop. She gulped.
"Is it over?" She shuddered. Suddenly, at her left shoulder, completely and utterly out of nowhere, a voice attached to a Blue Hedgehog, appeared at her ear, causing her and her guards to jump a mile. He giggled.
"No." He spat. Even Everglade and Arthur jumped again, though this time not as hard, as Sukko slivered round them and folded his arms. Blaze was left heavily panting, as she watched Sukko walk across the large stoned floor, the feet of his leather brown boots, not making a single sound. He looked at him, now deeply respectful. She heaved.
"Now I understand why the Mobian Authorities never caught you. You really are the King of Stealth." She panted. Sukko nodded, he smiled, but then deep sighed.
"Trust me, Princess. If I don't want to be found, you will never find me, and yeah, talk to Sonikku, I had my moments." He hissed, but then he bit his lip. "Coming out of my shell, hasn't been easy. I have been hiding for so long." He admitted, then he immediately went back to the task in hand, mainly to get off the uncomfortable subject, turning towards front door. "The Order of Elden is gone. The first round of this fight is complete. That just leaves..." He explained, only to be immediately cut across by Blaze. She growled.
"Riverton." She hissed. Sukko nodded, but suddenly there was an almighty bang, as the very earth beneath them began to shake, causing the entire Palace to quake. They screamed, as suddenly a second explosion landed, and then a third, as though something extremely large was now appearing to be slowing walking towards them.
The monstrosity. It was here.