Chapter Seven – Magic
Shadow now had a major dilemma on his hands. Revealing the Sorcerer, could potentially risk himself and his daughter. He growled. They wasn't happening. Both families were on the run from G.U.N. and the Mobian Authorities for completely different reasons, but both would be immediately slaughtered if caught. Suddenly, his mind turned to the others. Rouge, Knuckles and Tails. He'd been impressed, honoured even, at the level of kindness, generosity and protection he'd been given over the years, especially towards Violet. He trusted them implicitly.
Maybe Sukko should do the same. His brother did. Sukko being the Sorcerer was just too big for Shadow to keep to himself, so he decided the tell them. All of them, including the girls. Nobody believed him, but when Max overheard, and in the raw panic of pure fear, as he proceeded to run straight from Angel Island, a Hyperblast explosion behind him. They all knew it was the truth.
Shadow made everyone swear no to breath a word to anyone. Now associated with Magic, now all their lives were in danger, which he knew would be enough to keep the girls mouth's shut.
But Max didn't come back. In fact, it was several months before he showed again and Shadow knew exactly what would being him home. His daughter. He was utterly besotted with her, and even though he'd heavily hid it to become friends with her, he definitely wanted to become more. Violet hadn't noticed but Shadow very much did, but he huffed. Was Max worthy of his daughter? Initially, he thought no, but now, as he knew the truth about his family, Shadow was beginning to rethink.
Max didn't have Magic, he was certain of that. Neither did Sonic either. But Sukko was a different matter. Shadow gulped. What of his other children? There had to be Magic there. Shadow realised that it wasn't about him or Sukko anymore, but their children's survival, and future generations. Maybe it was time to give the Purple speedster a chance, as one day, he spotted him, hiding behind a tree, peering around it, his eyes transfixed on Violet.
Shadow just smirked. Max was positively drooling over her. It was rather funny. But he looked around, the Sorcerer was nowhere in sight, but Shadow had hunch that he was actually there. He was certain Max had told him, but the fact that he'd allowed his son back the island did mean something. Did he fear the Sorcerer? No. It was mysterious, illusive, yes, but Shadow didn't fear him. He respected him, and Sukko back at himself. He was intelligent enough to see what was happening here.
But at the father of the girl, Sukko had put the ball in his court, and as ruthlessly protective Shadow was of Violet, he had to let her go at some point. Why not to a male who deeply love her and whose family would protect her with their lives. As good as himself. Finally, he smirked. Yes, he could have her, but not before a little wind up first.
Suddenly, he moved silently, very quickly and snuck up behind Max's back so fast, that the Purple Hedgehog never saw him coming. He growled as he grabbed Max, extremely fast, by the back of the neck, from behind. He squealed in pure fright as he turned around, going absolutely white. Shadow was well aware that the Purple Hedgehog was utterly terrified of him. He allowed his eyes to glow a deep, menacing red, as he bore down on Max, growling hard. He hissed, very coldly.
"Found something, Hedgehog?" He leered. Max's eyes widened, shaking his head hard, ears down. He was on the verge of tears. He whimpered.
"No, Sir." He sniffed. But Shadow peered around the tree, and taking Max with him, immediately saw Violet in his eyeline, completely unaware of the situation, chatting with the other girls. Shadow's eyes narrowed at Max.
"Are you sure about that?" He snarled, but Max outright panicked, tears running down his face. He cried.
"No, Sir. It's not what you think." He sniffed. But Shadow growled, harder.
"Isn't it?" He hissed. "You love her, don't you?" He sneered. But Max shook his head, in utter panic.
"No, Sir." He stammered. But Shadow growled. Max squealed, fearing the truth would get him killed. It wouldn't, but he didn't know that. Max whimpered again, but as Shadow roared at him, he completely cracked. He squealed, speaking extremely quickly.
"Yes, Sir, I do love her. But I swear, I'll never hurt her. I look after her, and care for her, and do anything you want from me, but please, don't kill me." He screamed, the tears rolling down his face.
Shadow scoffed, desperately trying not the laugh. For two reasons. One, Max cracked far too quickly, never did his Uncle broke that fast, and two, that declaration of love was utterly adorable, though Shadow knew Violet would wipe the floor with him. But he didn't care, it was utterly genuine, him meaning every word of it. But young love was that naïve, he remembered himself with Maria, even if she never return his admirations. Smirking hard, suddenly, Shadow let Max go. He fell forwards in utter shock, where he immediately got to his feet and ran straight for the girls, throwing his arms around Violet, crying his heart out over her shoulder.
The girls were both shocked and delighted to see him, but Violet looked back, scowling at her father. Shadow just huffed. He'd pay for that one, but it was totally worth it. He'd got to the truth of exactly how the boy felt. It was genuine, and now he was satisfied. He disappeared out of line of sight to rest against a tree, but not before he felt an invisible weight on his shoulder, as someone was obviously resting his head on it. Shadow smirked.
"Back again, Sorcerer?" He hissed, coldly, but Sukko just giggled behind his cloak of invisibility, which he suddenly appeared from behind it. He looked up from his forehead resting on Shadow's shoulder, to gaze at him. The Ultimate Lifeform blinked. Sukko looked awful, looking like he'd not slept in months. He heaved.
"Two things, Stripes. One, I knew it was a matter of time before you worked it out. So when Max told me, I wasn't surprised. That's why we didn't come back straight away. I've been watching you, wondering if you and the others would keep your word." He heaved. Shadow sighed. He didn't blame Sukko for sneaking around. Magic and it's potential consequences were dire, he had to find out they could truly be trusted. Sukko was very wary. He had had friends before, but when they learned the truth, they had betrayed him, to the point of almost costing him his life. Now he trusted no one, outside of the family. He heaved. Now might be the time to change that. His children were growing up, leaving home soon. Did he want to spend his later years alone? In the end, he decided, no. These four people, and their children. Yes, he liked them. He liked them a lot. He smirked.
"And your conclusion?" He leered. Sukko shrugged.
"Your alright." He grinned. Shadow's smirk just broadened. But Sukko just heaved, putting his head back in his shoulder. "And two. Thank you so much with Max. I don't think I can take that boy any longer." He looked up again, smiling weakly. "I'm Telepathic, and Max had done nothing but talk, with both his mind and his mouth, non stop about Violet. Constantly. He wouldn't shut up. How am I suppose to do back-to-back shifts at the hospital and get some sleep with that racket. Take him off me, please." He begged. Shadow just sniggered, and hard. That was very funny, but the Sorcerer did look like he was on the verge of keeling over, swaying very badly.
Shadow nodded, but as dusk landed, it began to get late. Max and girls, who were delighted to see him again, all soon vanished to their separate beds, and Shadow indicating to Sukko to follow him. The Sorcerer frowned, and went after him, as the Ultimate Lifeform lead him through Angel Island and to a clearing where fallen logs had been set up around a dug out hollow, which a pile of sticks had been placed. Knuckles, Rouge, Tails were setting up a camp fire, with marshmallows and toast. Zooey had already taken herself and Amber to bed.
Sukko got stared at as he entered the clearing, but immediately, he got Rouge and Shadow either side of him, holding him up, once they realised just how tired he was. He nodded. All of the sudden, despite the fact that neither Rouge nor Knuckles had spoken to him properly, the revelations didn't matter. They meant nothing. They were all just a group of friends, just trying to do the best they could for their children. The Sorcerer was sat down on a log, where he just heaved, grinning inanely. He was still swaying. Shadow joined them. Rouge immediately rounded on him.
"Is he alright?" She asked, indicating Sukko. Shadow nodded.
"Yes, too much bombardment of noise, not enough sleep." He hissed. Sukko nodded, point to Shadow.
"And thanks to this friggin' awesome guy. I now have peace." He beamed, throwing his arms out. Unfortunately, he leaned back to far and then proceeded to topple off the log. He groaned. "Ow." He winced. Several people giggled, and Sukko scrambled back onto the log again, but Rouge just grinned.
"What is that?" She asked, pointing at the black tattoo beneath his coat. It ran from his shoulder, down the full length of one side of the front of his body, down to his left knee. Sukko looked up, and grinned, pulling the coat aside.
"It's a Phoenix." He giggled. "I've also got the Rod of Asclepius, as a Doctor, on my right arm, and the huge Dragon down the entire length of my back." He smiled. Suddenly, he got stared at. "What?" He shrugged. "Can't I be the brother of the Hero of Mobius and a Goth?" He giggled. Rouge just smiled.
"And a Sorcerer?" She asked. But Sukko just shrugged, swaying slightly.
"Now that was always a side issue. There is only so much Magic you can so in a fight, without getting caught. That was how Stripes worked it out. During the war, the authorities were on to me. 'The Sorcerer.' He was sent to track me down, but he didn't find me. He came close, but no." He heaved. "I just dropped off the radar. Concentrated on being a Doctor, until the whole 'Sorcerer' thing blew over, but I never really returned to the fight. Sonikku had got it all covered, to be honest." He admitted. Everyone sighed, but Tails coughed.
He'd been staring at Sukko. The likeness was just mind blowing. The twins were indeed identical. The Sorcerer had been completely avoiding him ever since Max moved to Angel Island. They had yet to speak face-to-face. Tails knew why. Sukko wasn't Sonic, and the look on the Blue Hedgehog clearing stated that fact. He just didn't want to be hugged and clung on to, but a desperate Fox wanting his brother back. Sukko wasn't interested in that kind of friendship, neither was he going to stand for it, either. Sukko obviously knew what Sonic meant to him, but now Tails had to do the same in return, and show the Sorcerer his own respect and keep his distance. At least, until they knew each other better. He turned back to the fire and growled.
"Why won't this thing light?" He hissed. He'd been working at the pile of sticks, trying to get the fire started, on this beautiful clear, full moon night. But Knuckles came behind him, with more wood. He growled.
"I told you Tails, the wood is too wet. It has been raining on the island for days." He spat. But Tails just heaved.
"But it's a gorgeous evening. I just wanted to take advantage of it." He sniffed, rather upset. But Sukko, watching it all, just giggled, to the point to where he was being stared at, again. He nodded.
"May I?" He asked, indicating the fire. But Tails just frowned. What did he mean? Suddenly, Sukko's eyes glowed a deep, bright vivid blue, and as he concentrated on the fire for a few seconds. Suddenly, it exploded in enormous bright blue fire, making everyone jump. The fabled blue flames of Chaos Sorcery. Tails screamed.
"Whoa!" He squealed, falling backwards. Sukko gulped, biting his lip.
"Oops, sorry. I should have warned you about that." He sniggered. Pointing to the tattoos. "Pyromaniac." He added, rolling his eyes. Suddenly, he deeply sighed. "I need tea!" He spat, and promptly held up a hand and snapped his finger, of which pearly white Orbs surrounded it as, from out of nowhere, a large white mug appeared, brimmed high with streaming hot tea. He sipped it. It was bliss, as his body relaxing in the utter pleasure of it. It had been far too long since he'd properly enjoyed his favourite beverage. It was the only thing keeping him awake. He was being stared at, again. The Magic was actually real. He blinked at them.
"What?" He shrugged. But then he giggled. "Your not going to do or say anything. I already know. I'm Telepathic." He admitted. But Rouge gulped.
"What to mean by 'Telepathic'?" She stammered. But Sukko leaned to her, giggling.
"Exactly what it says, Rouge. Or is it because you don't want anyone to know that you've wanted to get Stripes between your legs." He sniggered. Rouge goes scarlet, as Shadow's eyes widened. That had not happened. He gasped. But Knuckles growled.
"What?" He spat. But Rouge panicked, shaking her head. The two of them had been in a relationship for most of the last decade. They married a few years ago. She gulped and hard, looking at Sukko. Telepathy? How else would he know. She when white.
"No, nothing happened. It was just this one thought, I swear." She cried. But Sukko just rolled his eyes. He heaved.
"Cool it. Knucklehead. She's telling the truth." He hissed. Immediately, there was utter silence. A blast of the past with the Blue Blur on his voice. It was uncanny. Knuckles heaved, turning to Sukko. He'd been deeply struggling with the whole identical twin issue ever since he'd first seen Sukko. That was how much Sonic meant to him. He'd desperately wanted to talk to Sukko ever since he saw the Sorcerer stood at the bottom of the alter on Angel Island, just staring up at the Chaos and Master Emeralds, incredibly proud his and his twin's achievement, but missed him. But truthfully, he didn't want Sukko, he wanted the Blue Blur, not this imposter. But Sukko wasn't an imposter. Struggling to cope, Knuckles almost cried.
"Please." He desperately begged. "Don't do that. It's bad enough that you look like him. Don't sound like him, as well. I just can't bare it." He stammered. Sukko's face fell. Maybe that little stunt wasn't such as good idea. He knew these people had been close to his brother. He'd read it on their minds, but he'd underestimated just how close. Time to show a very distinctive difference. He sighed, as he concentrated, as he opened up his mighty telepathy and entered all their minds. He spoke to them, without moving his mouth at all. He heaved.
{I apologise.} He stammered. {This is the real me.} He admitted. {What's the point of being a Telepath, if your not a total git with it.} He giggled. {But Knuckles. I know exactly how you feel. More then can imagine. I have forgotten the number of hours Sonikku and I talked over this line. But to know that now, I'll never hear his voice again on it, it's tough.} He sniffed. {I'm sorry. Your right. I shouldn't have done that.} He cried as tears just rolled down his face. Rouge went for him, to cuddle him, but to her surprise, Knuckles got there first. The Echidna grabbed him and pulled him close, as Sukko just cried his eyes out on his shoulder.
Ten years on, and the Blue Blur's death was still raw. It was what brought these five friends together. Sonic, in life and in death. The brother. The best friend. The rival. The confidant. The sparing partner. Sukko, Tails, Shadow, Rouge and Knuckles. It was what they all had in common. That and their children, sleeping on the island with them. Finally, they all relaxed, and as the evening wore on, Sukko's began opening up a bit more. Coming out of his shell. He didn't show of any more Magic. It really wasn't his style.
Suddenly, Sukko wriggled, frowning hard.
"Hang on, I'm sat on something." He heaved, and getting up and plunged his hand into his coat and pulled out a hard, flat object with pages and a title. Sukko smirked. "Ah, yes. My book. My world domination plans are in here. Forever got my nose in a book, me, when I'm not working, or on a date. I just hid and no one finds me, it's great." He giggled. They all stared and upon seeing the book, immediately squirmed. It was fictional gothic horror and about as gory as you could get. The printed cover has images of bloodied body parts and severed heads. Even Shadow whined. He knew the book, but even he, himself, as a general horror fan, drew the line somewhere. Rouge heaved.
"World domination plans?" She stammered, utterly terrified. But Sukko just laughed.
"And you, Miss Rouge, need to learn when I'm joking. It's not real. This." He smirked, indicating the book. "'The Winterburg Chainsaw Massacre' is a book that proves that killing everyone is one why to do it. But I love it though, it's so funny. It's an absolute favourite of mine. They all kill each other with chainsaws because of virus, right, which as a Doctor, I know that is completely counter productive for the virus, as it just kills itself off, which is exactly what happens. It's just gory for gory's sake." He grinned. "There are eight of these books, in the series, and I am desperate to get my hands on the rest. Besides, I didn't think there was enough people in the world to kill off." He giggled, very sarcastically. Everyone joined it, the utter absurdity of it, just making them smile. But Tails frowned, gulping hard.
"I'm surprised that your choice of genre, considering..." He stammered, letting the sentence hang. But Sukko smiled.
"Sonikku was the Hero." He grinned. Tails nodded, but Sukko heaved. "Remember Fox, we're complete total opposites. He's the ultimate good guy and I love gothic horror, short of actually being evil, which as you know, I'm not. But Sonikku didn't follow any genre, he lived for the adventures, never watched them on the screen, or read them in a book. He had no the patients for it. But if I desperately needed him to rest due to horrendous hyperactivity, I'd just drag him to the cinema for an eight-hour overnight gothic horror movie marathon. It would work like a charm, as he'd sleep the entire way through it." He smirked, and suddenly, they all laughed.
Yes, that was their Blue Blur.
Watching the movie with Sonic used to be horrendous. He'd never stay awake, no matter what they watched. It drove them all crazy, until in the end, they all just gave up, doing movie night's without him. But his brother, as a Doctor, Sukko was using that fact to get him to sleep when he couldn't, was ingenious, though, truthfully, not that surprising.
They all talked long into the night, laughing and joking, toasting bread and marshmallows, far into the early morning. Everyone was keen to get to know the illusive brother more. But what they got and what they expected were entirely separate entities. Away from the stealth, Sukko was a total comedian, very sarcastic, extremely well read, and along with the telepathic games he started playing, he successfully embarrassed everyone there, but it was also huge fun at the same time. But finally, the Sorcerer gave out, falling asleep in the most awkward position possible on the log.
But no one was leaving. As the night wore on, they all just bedded themselves down around the camp and went to sleep. Even Shadow took a short nap. It had been a long day. He didn't normally sleep, but the day's event, along with his daughter being a handful, had left him tired.
But all was not well, as everything changed in the morning.