Here come two characters that haven't appeared yet.

8. A Crash Course in Flying

Blossom woke up when she rolled over on to the sports section of the newspaper. She blinked for a moment before sitting up.

"Morning darling," said Eddyin anunreasonably cheerfully for the morning, "there's a cup of tea to your right."

Blossom grabbed it and took a sip, before glancing down at the sports section. "Don't you want this?" she asked.

"Nah, Chelsea… I mean the Yankees won again. Anyway, I'm too busy reading the news." He smiled, and started flicking through the paper. "Ah, here's a good editorial. Quote, despite the obvious bravery of the heroes who actually performed the rescue, some of the credit must go to the temporary leader of the SSR, Blossom Panner, who has clearly developed a level head, good judgement, and an element of modesty to compliment her never questioned leadership abilities. Insiders report that she took personal charge of the situation, planed and coordinated the President's rescue, as well as dealing with the difficult circumstances caused by Sonic's disappearance with professionalism, courage and firm leadership. She has surely staked a strong claimto get thejob permanently." Eddy handed her the paper. "Good day yesterday?"

"Challenging," Blossom replied, after some consideration and another sip of tea.

"As challenging as today's going to be?"

Blossom blinked. "How?" Eddy laughed.

"It's Saturday! You're going to try to teach MJ how to fly."

Blossom smiled to her self. "Oh yes," she said. "We better get started then."

"I'll start breakfast," Eddy got up. Blossom was about to go for a shower, when something struck her.

"Were all the newspapers complimentary?"

"Even the tabloids," Eddy laughed. "But what were they going to do? The President had just been kidnapped, which paper was not going to run that story? And they all had to try to find a different take on the story, so they all mentioned you at some point. According to the internet."

"You had a busy morning, looking all that up."

"Not really, it's eleven o'clock."

Blossom responded to this by having a quick shower before heading down stairs. In the kitchen, Eddy was frying away, while Edward was trying to ignore MJ, who was eating raw chicken. Blossom sighed. She really wished MJ had accepted their offer to cure her.

"Eddy, do you have to serve MJ raw meat while we're eating."

"She was hungry," protested Eddy. MJ nodded vigorously, sending a few bits flying from her mouth. Edward pushed his plate away.

"I'm not hungry," he said, with a look of distain on his face. MJ shrugged and swallowed the chicken.

"Can I have yours then?" The acid that had built up in her mouth gave her voice a slight slur. Edwardhanded his plate over, and MJ attacked the meat, giggling slightly. She looked up at Blossom. "You're going to teach me how to fly mum, aren't you?" she said excitedly.

"Yes, but don't talk with your full," Blossom replied. MJ jiggled excitedly, and kept on eating, so Blossom turned to her son. "Do you want to come too Edward?" She'd asked this question a lot. Edward shook his head, as he had every time.

"My stomach wound hurts," he said but that wasn't the real reason. Still Blossom found it hard to accept that he simply didn't want to. It seemed unnatural for a ten year old boy not to want to be able to fly. She shrugged.

"Okay, you go and lie down. MJ, go upstairs and put something warm on, it can get pretty cold up high."

MJ scampered off, Edward followed more gingerly. Blossom watched him go.

"I really hope there aren't any long term side affects from that wound, Him has some pretty nasty tricks."

"It'll be fine," Eddy reassured, "Him was trying to kill Edward, so I don't think he thought as far ahead as a plan B."

"I just don't like it, he's still in pain."

"He's not! He's just a good play actor. I guarantee this afternoon that I'll have him out in the back garden playing baseball or something, and he'll be as active as he ever was." He handed Blossom two plates. "You better feed the thing in the basement anyway."

Blossom nodded. "Thanks Eddy. I think I'll eat with him, he could probably do with some company. And I want to gloat a bit."

Sonic distractedly poked at his sausage. Blossom looked at it.

"Its pork," she reassured. Sonic paused.

"I see you had a big success yesterday," he said. "Live on television and all."

"Yes, I think the SSR came out of it very well."

"And you let the heroes who did it take the credit." Sonic looked up at her. "That must have made you very popular," he said spitefully.

"Yes, I think it did."

Sonic tapped his foot for a moment. "They like your leadership then?" he asked. Now he sounded depressed.

"I think so."

"Going to make it very hard for them when I take back over isn't it." Sonic spoke the words, but there was no conviction in his voice. He knew what was coming, but Blossom doubted that it made it any easier when she said it.

"Sonic, I don't think you will. They don't trust you… or the powerful members of the SSR don't trust you."

"It's a presidential appointment," Sonic once again protested with little vigour. Blossom nodded.

"True, but people like Wonder Women and Batman have the President's ear. And they won't want a killer in charge, and nor will he."

"Just about all of them have killed at some point," Sonic sulked, "including the person they're going to appoint." He looked at Blossom. She shifted slightly.

"Me?"

"Why not? You've got the talent, the looks – of a hero I mean, I don't know anything about what makes a human attractive – and the stomach. You appeal to both sides of the organisation: The 'truth and justice' side due to your background as a child hero, and the 'justice is revenge' side, I mean they think you killed Brick, your true love, because he killed Superman! You can't get much better than that. Do you want the job?"

Blossom hesitated, but decided not to lie. "Yes. Yes I do."

Sonic looked at his feet. "Thank you for being honest," he said, and Blossom could tell that he meant it. (Sonic was an awful liar, remember?) "I'd just like you to know that I think you're the best person for it. Under you, the SSR will go from strength to strength. And once I'm out the way, you won't have to worry about the truth getting out, will you?" Blossom nodded.

"I will need a second in command," she offered. Sonic didn't even blink.

"I don't need your pity Blossom. It is time I moved on, I think. Once Shadow's gone, I'll take my leave. Find another planet that needs my help or something."

"Find someone else to torment," added Blossom. Sonic chuckled.

"If you like," he said. "By the way, who's here with Shadow?"

Blossom paused for a moment. "Knuckles and Tails," she said. Sonic nodded.

"Right, they won't be here long then, so I won't be filling up your basement for ever!" he handed his plate back to Blossom, who took it up stairs with her, locking Sonic in the basement again. Only then did she consider why she'd omitted to tell Sonic about his daughter.

Blossom landed in a clearing in the woods. She put MJ down, who hopped around excitedly.

"You're going to teach me here? Aren't you, Aren't you?"

"Yes here will do," Blossom said. The trees would help give MJ a sense of how high she was and the ground was quite soft, just in case. "Now before we start, just remember that flying can be dangerous. Don't go higher than you feel safe to, keep an eye out for power cables at all time, and stay away from airports. Bit like flying a kite really."

"Okay, got it. Now teach me please!" MJ could barely keep still. Blossom hesitated.

"It's difficult," she said. "I never really learnt you see, so I'm not sure how to teach it." She floated off the ground a bit, trying to work out what she was actually doing. MJ, watched, and tried to strain herself off the ground.

"Ah, got it," Blossom said. "Stop trying MJ and listen." She landed. "It's all about sweeping our energy underneath and behind us, rather like a jet engine channel the air. That's why we leave an energy trail while flying."

"Okay got it!" MJ paused. "What energy?"

Dam, thought Blossom. "You know, the sparks that jump off you when you're angry, that sort." She powered up a small energy ball in her hand to show it. MJ looked worried.

"I don't think I can do that," she whimpered.

"Sure you can. It's…err… all about not thinking about it. Some superhuman creatures really need to concentrate when learning to use their powers, but to puffs it should just come naturally. You've just got to expect it to happen."

MJ blinked. "So what do I do?" There was confusion and worry in her bright pink eyes.

"Okay, see that tree over there. Throw the ball in your hand at it."

MJ looked at her hand. "I don't have a ball," she said.

"Don't look at the hand, just cup it as if you have a ball, believe you have a ball, and throw it."

MJ was always one for trying. She took her had all the way back and threw it all the way through. It was a good throw. And the tree exploded.

MJ jumped back and looked at her hands.

Blossom laughed. "See, you're a natural! Like your Mum!"

MJ nodded, concentrated, and two small energy balls flickered into life, one in each hand. She looked at them, gasping slightly. "Can I throw them again?" she asked, slightly in awe of herself.

"Sure, and try to keep up a steady rate of fire."

MJ did, bowling them down towards any target she felt like hitting. Blossom watched MJ go to work like and adorable little demon, she sure had the aggression of a superhero. Maybe it was the spider in her brain. Then, she noticed something.

"MJ," she called, "take a look down!" MJ did, and shrieked in surprise. She'd been concentrating so hard on her energy balls that she hadn't noticed that she'd lifted a few feet off the ground!

"MUM!" MJ flapped her hands around, trying to keep balanced. Blossom walked over and took her hand.

"It's okay MJ," she steadied her. "See, you're hovering!"

"I know, I… I want to come down!"

"Oh come on MJ, your higher than this when your hanging from the ceiling at home!" She lifted off the ground herself, and gently pulled MJ upwards. "See, perfectly safe…"

MJ swung her other hand round and grabbed on to Blossom. "Don't let go!" she squeaked.

"I'm not going to. Look we're above the trees."

"Okay, that's high enough! Can we go down now?"

"You can go down when ever you want MJ." The Spiderpuff looked around.

"HEY! YOU LET GO!"

"MJ you're flying!" Blossom said happily. MJ wobbled.

"I am?" her initial excitement returned. "How do I move sideways?" she asked.

The scope fitted neatly on to the top of the gun. Its owner nodded slightly. This couldn't be better. No witnesses. No noise. Just a moving target. And being one of the best shots in the universe, that was no problem.

MJ felt she was getting the hang of it. But she was hungry. So as she zipped around near her mum, she spotted a pigeon out of the corner of her eye. Without thinking about it, she fired and energy ball at it, which shot it down, and then caught it with a web line and dragged it towards her self. She was just about to bite into it, when Blossom spoke up.

"MJ, want are you…"

"What?" said MJ, trying to release the bird without Blossom seeing. No response. "Mum?" she turned round. Instinct suddenly took over and MJ yanked her self out of the way of an oncoming bullet she hadn't even seen or heard. It whistled passed her ear. The next one went through the space where her chest had been moments earlier. MJ responded by firing blasts in the general direction of where the bullets had come from, still surviving on instinct. The gun fire soon stopped, and the five year old human brain took over from the Spiderpuff instincts.

"MUM!" she shouted. Still no response.

She looked around desperately, holding bach tears of stress.Eventually, shespotted her. Lying on the ground, she had a bullet through her chest. MJ tried not to panic, and to ignore the bewitching smell of blood. She quickly flew down to her.

"Mum," she whispered. Blossom looked at her, and smiled.

"It's not as bad as it looks," she said hoarsely, "but could you get me to a hospital quickly please."

"Okay mum," MJ said as bravely as she could when her mother was coughing up blood. She picked her up gently and sacredly. "I will."

Okay, Thanks for reading. Please review. Thanks.