He was standing at the end of a very long, dimly lit chamber. Towering stone pillars rose to support the high ceiling. Each of the pillars were in the shape of dark magical creatures, snakes, Grazers, Gaia Titans, Biters and many more. The place was well lit but the walls gave it a green gloom. At the end of the chamber was a massive statue of a Lynx's face, Raiju the Lynx. In front of the statue was a pool of water and just at the edge lying on the floor motionless was a small lavender shape "Blaze!". Silver sprinted to her and dropped to his knees "Blaze, wake up. Please wake up" she didn't move. Silver took off his gloves and tried to feel for a pulse. He gave a sigh of relief, she was still alive but there was definitely something wrong, she was stone cold. At first he thought she was petrified but she wasn't frozen, Silver could move her "She won't wake". Silver jumped from fright and looked over to a small cave entrance beside the statue of Raiju. Silver couldn't believe his eyes "Sam? Sam Tund?". It was indeed Sam Tund, as young as the day he caught Big. The only difference was that he didn't have his Talismans. Sam nodded and approached Silver who looked back at Blaze "What do you mean she won't wake. She's not…" "She's alive. But only just". Silver stared at the young echidna "Are you a ghost" "A memory. Preserved in a diary for over fifty years". Silver then realised, the diary… the diary was in Blaze's hand. He shook his head, he can figure this out later "You've got to help me, Sam. We've got to get her out of here. There's an Iblis Snake". He reached for his gloves but they weren't there.
He stood up and looked around "Did you see…". He then saw that Sam, still staring at Silver, was holding his gloves in his hands "Thanks". He reached out his hand which just made Sam smile. Silver stared at him in disbelief "Look, we've got to go. Iblis could be here any minute" "It won't come until it's called" "Called? Look, give me my gloves. I might need them". Sam's smile broadened even further "You won't be needing them" "What?" "I've been waiting a long time for this, Silver. For the chance to see you. Speak to you". Silver was beginning to lose his patience "Look, I don't think you get what's going on here. We're in the Chamber of Secrets. We can talk later" "We're going to talk now". Silver narrowed his eyes and looked between Sam and Blaze "How did she get like this?". Sam spoke in a pleasant voice "Well, that's an interesting question. And quite a long story. I suppose the real reason Blaze is like this is because she opened her heart and spilled all her secrets to an invisible stranger" "What're you talking about?". Sam gestured to Blaze "My diary. Little Blaze has been writing in it for months and months, telling me all her pitiful worries and woes". He looked impatient "How her brothers tease her. How she had to come to school with second hand robes and books. How… how she didn't think famous, good, great Silver the Hedgehog would ever like her…". The whole time he never took his eyes off Silver "It's very boring, having to listen to the silly little troubles of an eleven-year-old girl. But I was patient. I wrote back. I was sympathetic, I was kind. Blaze simply loved me". An echoing voice that Silver recognised as Blaze started speaking "No one's ever understood me like you, Sam… I'm so glad I've got this diary to confide in… It's like having a friend I can carry around in my pocket".
Sam let out a laugh, a cold laugh that didn't suit him. It made the hairs on the back of Silver' sneck stand on end ""If I say it myself, Silver, I've always been able to charm the people I needed. So Blaze poured out her soul to me, and her soul happened to be exactly what I wanted… I grew stronger and stronger on a diet of her deepest fears, her darkest secrets. I grew powerful, far more powerful than little Blaze. Powerful enough to start feeding her a few of my secrets, to start pouring a little of my soul back into her". Silver stepped back not wanting to believe what he was getting at "What do you mean?" "Haven't you guessed yet, Silver? Blaze opened the Chamber of Secrets. She strangled the school roosters and daubed threatening messages on the walls. She set the beast of Raiju on four Mudbloods, and the Squib's Chao". Silver frantically shook his head "No. She couldn't. She wouldn't" "Yes. Of course, she didn't know what she was doing at first. It was very amusing. I wish you could have seen her new diary entries… far more interesting, they became". The echoing voice of Blaze returned "Dear Sam, I think I'm losing my memory. There are feathers all over my robes and I don't know how they got there. Dear Sam, I can't remember what I did on the night of Halloween, but a Chao was attacked and I've got paint all down my front. Dear Sam, Hamlin keeps telling me I'm pale and I'm not myself. I think he suspects me… There was another attack today and I don't know where I was. Sam, what am I going to do? I think I'm going mad… I think I'm the one attacking everyone, Sam!". Sam grinned at the horrified look on Silver's face "It took a long time for that stupid girl to stop trusting her diary. But she finally became suspicious and tried to dispose of it. And that's where you came in, Silver. You found it, and I couldn't have been more delighted. Of all the people who could have picked it up, it was you, the very person I was most anxious to meet…". Silver's nails wee digging into his palms, he struggled to keep his voice steady "And why did you want to meet me?".
This question seemed to excite Sam "Blaze has told me all about you. You're whole fascinating history". He stared at Silver's eyes which were burning gold ever since hearing the story about Blaze "I knew I must find out more about you, talk to you, meet you if I could. So I decided to show you my famous capture of that brainless oaf, Big, to gain your trust" "Big's my friend! And you framed him, didn't you? I thought you had made a mistake, but-". Sam let out another laugh "It was my word against Big. Well, you can imagine how it looked to old Professor Scruffy. On the one hand, Sam Tund, poor but brilliant, parentless but so brave, school prefect, model student… on the other hand, large, blundering Big, in trouble every other week, trying to raise Clawbeasts under his bed, sneaking off to the Deep Woods to wrestle Krakens… but I admit, even I was surprised how well the plan worked. I thought someone must realize that Big couldn't possibly be the Heir of Raiju. It had taken me five whole years to find out everything I could about the Chamber of Secrets and discover the secret entrance… as though Big had the brains, or the power. Only Locke seemed to think he was innocent. He persuaded Scruffy to keep Big and train him as gamekeeper. Yes, I think Locke might have guessed… He never seemed to like me as much as the other teachers did…". Silver managed a smile at this "I bet Locke saw right through you" "Well, he certainly kept an annoyingly close watch on me after Big was expelled. I knew it wouldn't be safe to open the Chamber again while I was still at school. But I wasn't going to waste those long years I'd spent searching for it. So I decided to leave behind a diary, preserving my sixteen-year-old self in its pages, so that one day, with luck, I would be able to lead another in my footsteps, and finish Raiju the Lynx's noble work" "Well, you haven't!".
Silver looked triumphant "No one's died this time, not even the Chao. In a few hours the Meridian Draught will be ready and everyone who was petrified will be all right again". Sam smirked "Haven't I already told you. Killing Mudbloods doesn't matter to me anymore. For many months now, my new target has been you. Imagine how angry I was when the next time my diary was opened, it was Blaze who was writing to me, not you. She saw you with the diary, you see, and panicked. What if you found out how to work it, and I repeated all her secrets to you? What if, even worse, I told you who'd been strangling the Cuckys? So the foolish little brat waited until your dormitory was deserted and stole it back. But I knew what I must do. It was clear to me that you were on the trail of Raiju's heir. From everything Blaze had told me about you, I knew you would go to any lengths to solve the mystery, particularly if one of your best friends was attacked. And Blaze had told me the whole school was buzzing because you could speak Parseltongue. So I made Blaze write her own farewell on the wall and come down here to wait. She struggled and cried and became very boring. But there isn't much life left in her. She put too much into the diary, into me. Enough to let me leave its pages at last. I have been waiting for you to appear since we arrived here. I knew you'd come. I have many questions for you, Silver the Hedgehog". Silver fearlessly moved closer "Like what?" he spat. Sam now smiled very pleasantly "Well, how is it that you, a young boy with no extraordinary magical talent managed to defeat the greatest wizard of all time? How did you escape with nothing but a pair of scarred eyes, while Lord Finitevus' powers were destroyed?". Whatever Silver was expecting it certainly wasn't that "Why do you care how I escaped. Finitevus was after your time". Sam slightly tilted his head "Finitevus is my past, present and future". Sam put on Silver's gloves and made a gesture in the air which created shimmering words.
SAM FLOREV TUND III
With a wave of his hand the letters of his name started to rearrange. Silver watched them wondering what he was doing then finally when half the letters were in their new place he realised. His mouth fell open, he stared at the news words in disbelief.
I AM LORD FINITEVUS
Silver then stared at the grinning boy in front of him, a boy that would grow up to kill his parents and so many others "You? You're the Heir of Raiju? You're Finitevus?". Sam nodded "It was a name I was already using at Soleanna, to my most intimate friends only, of course. Did you really think I was going to use my filthy Muggle father's name forever? I, in whose veins runs the blood of Raiju the Lynx himself, through my mother's side? I, keep the name of a foul, common Muggle, who abandoned me even before I was born, just because he found out his wife was a witch? No, Silver, I fashioned myself a new name, a name I knew wizards everywhere would one day fear to speak, when I had become the greatest sorcerer in the world". Silver's brain seemed to have jammed but he managed to get out "You're not!" "Not what?" "Not the greatest sorcerer in the world. Sorry to disappoint you and all that, but the greatest wizard in the world is Locke the Echidna. Everyone says so. Even when you were strong, you didn't dare try and take over at Soleanna. Locke saw right through you when you were at school and he still frightens you now, wherever you're hiding these days". The smile faded from Sam's face, replaced with an ugly look "Locke's been driven out of this castle by the mere memory of me" "He's not as gone as you think!" he was speaking at random, wanting to scare Sam, wishing rather than believing it to be true. Sam opened his mouth to speak but then suddenly froze. Music was playing from the entrance to the chamber. It was Locke's pet wisp "Burst?" Silver said as Burst was flying towards them carrying something. It approached and dropped something covered in a rag in front of Silver. He picked it up and unwrapped it revealing it to be Caliburn. Sam suddenly laughed so loudly the echo could make you think there was ten of him "So this is what Locke sends his great defender? A singing Wisp and a blunt sword? Do you feel brave, Silver? Do you feel safe?". Silver didn't answer, he may not know what use Burst or Caliburn were going to be but he wasn't alone anymore. Finally Sam stopped laughing "Now, Silver, to business. Twice in your past, in my future, we have met. And twice I failed to kill you. How did you survive? Tell me everything. And I do mean everything. Remember, the longer you talk the longer you stay alive". Silver was thinking fast, weighing his chances. He had no chance in a duel but the only other option was keep talking and Blaze wasn't going to last much longer. He decided to get this over with "No one knows why you lost your powers when you attacked me. I don't know myself. But I know why you couldn't kill me. Because my mother died to save me. My common Muggle-born mother" he added shaking with suppressed rage.
He was now inches from Sam's face "She stopped you killing me. And I've seen the real you, I saw you last year. You're a wreck. You're barely alive. That's where all your power got you. You're in hiding. You're ugly, you're foul". Sam's face was contorted but he then forced an awful smile "So, your mother died to save you. Yes, that's a powerful countercharm. I can see now… there is nothing special about you, after all. I wondered, you see. There are strange likenesses between us, after all. Even you must have noticed. Both half-bloods, orphans, raised by Muggles. Probably the only two Parselmouths to come to Soleanna since the great Raiju himself. We even look something alike… but after all, it was merely a lucky chance that saved you from me. That's all I wanted to know". Silver thought for a moment that he was going to be killed by his own talisman but instead "Now, Silver, I'm going to teach you a little lesson". Sam turned and faced the statue of his ancestor. He spoke with a hiss but Silver knew what he was saying "Speak to me, Raiju. Greatest of the Soleanna Four". The mouth of the statue started to slowly open. Sam turned back to Silver grinning "Now, let us match the power of Lord Finitevus, Heir of Raiju, against the famous Silver the Hedgehog". Out of the dark void of the statue's mouth came a glowing red shape. It was the Iblis Snake, a massive serpent made of lava with four spiked mandibles around It's head. The top spike moved upwards revealing a third eye. Silver knew he stood no chance. He turned around before he could look into its eyes and he ran to the entrance. Iblis approached it's master who hissed "Kill him" before saying in English "Parseltongue won't save you now, Hedgehog! It only obeys me". Iblis roared and chased after Silver. He was halfway across the chamber when Silver, running so fast tripped over his own feet and fell forward. He kept his head down not wanting to look at the beast but he could hear it, it was so close now "Help me! Someone, help me!". Iblis was about to strike when the music returned. Burst flew and crashed into Iblis' face and began attacking his middle eye "NO!" Sam yelled. Once done with it, Burst went for the other eyes. Silver slowly turned to look, it was safe now, none of it's eyes, especially the deadly one were open "Your Wisp may have blinded it, but it can still hear you!" Sam said. Iblis flailed it's massive head around having no sign where to go. Silver got to his feet and tried to back away but he hit a puddle. There was a small splash which was enough, Iblis' head immediately stopped and looked directly at him. Silver moved out of the way just in time to not be eaten and ran down a round passage on his right. He ran as fast as he could down the passage. He turned a corner but was met with a metal grate that prevented him going any further. He heard a roar and jumped around to see the blinded Iblis approaching him. It opened it's wide mouth and let out a bone chilling growl.
Silver leaned down and picked up a stone as quietly as possible and tossed it past Iblis. It hit the wall with a loud thud that echoed through the cavern. Iblis stopped inches from a petrified Silver and slowly backed away. It headed further down the passage searching for its prey. Silver felt like he was going to be sick but he didn't have time to waste. He went back out into the main chamber where Sam was waiting next to Blaze. Silver ran over and fell down next to her body. Sam laughed "The process is nearly complete. In a few minutes she'll be dead and I will cease to be a memory. Lord Finitevus will return. Very much alive". Silver felt Blaze's forehead, she was almost gone. With a loud bang Iblis burst out of the pool in front of the Raiju statue, the water was bubbling with heat. Silver fell onto his back, but then he noticed something. Caliburn was lying on the floor, but he was glowing. Silver ran and picked it up, or at least that what he was planning on doing. Instead he did what could best be described as pulled another sword out of Caliburn. Indeed, Caliburn was still lying on the floor right where Silver left it but no longer glowing. The sword in Silver's hand was different, it looked similar but the hilt was pulled back and had a ruby incrusted crown in the middle . The blade was longer and as Silver was pleased to see, it wasn't blunt. Silver held this new sword tight and ran to the side of the statue of Raiju. He started climbing it, the sword hit the rock which gave enough sound for Iblis to find him. Silver found his footing halfway up the statue and held out the sword. He flailed it trying to keep Iblis back but it didn't work. Iblis tried to strike, Silver just managed to get out of the way. Iblis was strong as a huge chunk of it's former master's face broke off. Silver got to the top of the head and stood his ground. He intentionally tapped his feet on the rock to get the creature's attention. The creature leaned closer, Silver swung the sword and managed to get a cut across the face but this just seemed to make it angrier. It pushed Silver and he fell backwards dropping the sword. He got back to his feet and saw that the sword was about to slide off the head. Silver ran to grab it as Iblis opened it's jaws ready to finally finish him off. Silver grabbed the sword and then putting all his weight behind it he launched the sword upward right into the roof of the creature's mouth. The creature let out a terrible screech of pain. But Silver wasn't doing much better, a searing pain was rising up his arm.
He yanked the sword out and screamed, a stone fang was lodged in his arm. Iblis writhed and flailed around for a few moments before finally falling backwards and hitting the ground dead. Sam stared at his pet's corpse, no sadness or sympathy, only disappointment. Silver, breathing heavily wrenched the fang out of his arm and climbed down the statue. As he approached Blaze's body something was happening. The room was beginning to spin, he could barely stand. He fell to his knees next to Blaze. Sam watched him with great satisfaction "It's not pleasant. Iblis venom. It spreads through your entire body and then slowly begins to rise in temperature. I'm going to watch you boil alive. You'll be with your dear Mudblood mother soon". These words allowed Silver to gather what little strength he had left in him. He moved closer to Blaze and removed the diary from her hands. He laid it open in front of him confusing Sam "What're you doing?". Silver then raised his other hand, he still had the Iblis fang. Sam for the first time looked terrified "Stop! NO!". Silver brought the fang down and pierced one side of the diary. Sam screamed, his chest burned away like it was made of paper. He could still moved and tried grab Silver but he was too slow. Silver brought the fang down on the other side of the dairy which was now bleeding the ink. Sam screamed even louder as his own face began to disintegrate. Silver closed the diary and this time brought the fang down with enough strength to pierce all the pages. Sam let out one final screech before disappearing, all that was left were Silver's gloves which fell to the floor. Silver didn't have any energy left to celebrate this achievement. His breathing was getting slower and his insides felt like they were on fire. Then came a faint moan, Blaze had woken up. She sat up and her bemused eyes scanned the scene. The corpse of the Iblis snake being the first thing she saw was clearly not helping. She then saw a blood soaked Silver and the diary. She let out a gasp and tears fell from her eyes "It was me. I tried to tell you at breakfast but I c-couldn't in front of Hamlin. Sam made me. He's-He's out of the diary". She looked around paranoid about where he could be. Silver shook his head as best he could "He's gone". His weak pained voice made Blaze get a better look at his arm "Silver, you're hurt" "Don't worry. Blaze, you need to get yourself out. Follow the chamber and you'll find Razor". There was a sound that Silver could barely hear now but he still recognised it. Burst landed on his knee. Silver smiled "You were brilliant, Burst. I… I just wasn't fast enough". Silver stared at the floor waiting for it to come.
Silver thought dying didn't feel too bad, the pain was leaving him. Although as it went on he started to wonder if he was dying. The pain was leaving but nothing else seemed to be. The room was getting clearer and he felt his strength return. He looked down, Burst was crying. His tears shined around the wound on Silver's arm except to Silver's amazement there no longer was a wound not even a scar. Silver smiled "Healing powers? I forgot" he petted Burst "Thanks". Blaze was staring at the spot where the wound had been in equal amazement. Using the sword as a partial aid Silver got to his feet and then helped blaze to hers. He picked up the diary and gave Caliburn to Blaze "Let's get out of here". As they walked Blaze wiped her tears "I'm going to be expelled. I've looked forward to coming to Soleanna ever since Ash came and n-now I'll have to leave and… w-what'll Mum and Dad say?". Silver couldn't say anything, he didn't know how he was going to prove Blaze's innocence if the diary was destroyed and Sam Tund with it. They climbed through the door and headed up the cave until they could hear the distant sound of rocks moving "Razor!". They made it to the wall which had a large opening in it now "Razor, I've got Blaze. She alright!". Blaze climbed through first and was immediately pulled into a hug by Razor "Blaze! You're okay! I don't believe it! What happened? What… Where'd that come from?" he said spotting Caliburn in Blaze's hand. Then Silver came through with his own sword and after him came Burst "He's Burst. He's Locke's. He brought these" Silver answered. Razor saw the blood and then saw Blaze was crying "What happened?" "I'll explain later. We ned to get out of here" "But-" "Later!". Silver wasn't going to tell Razor who exactly it was who opened the Chamber, not in front of Blaze. He changed the subject "Where's Geoffrey?" "He's back there. He's a danger to himself".
Geoffrey had apparently heard the voices as he then appeared "Hello. I seem to be lost could someone tell me how to get out of here?". Razor nodded "Well, how are we getting out of here?". Burst then flew in the middle of them and extended out his arms like hooks. Razor stared at him "It looks like he wants to carry us. But he's too small for that" "Wisps are fascinating creatures" Silver said. He smiled "Professor Geoffrey" "He means you" Razor added to Geoffrey. Silver pulled him towards Burst who extended his arms to hook under Goeffrey's armpits. Razor took Geoffrey hand, Silver took Razor's other one and then Blaze took Silver's. Then without missing a second Burst took off carrying them up the pipe. Goeffrey started laughing "Amazing! This is just like magic!". Sadly the ride came to an end with Burst lowered them onto the floor of Lah's bathroom. Behind them the sinks closed around the pipe hiding it again. Lah appeared and stared at Silver "Oh, you're still alive" "Don't sound so disappointed" "Well, I was just thinking that if you did die, you'd be welcome to share my toilet". The moment they got out of the bathroom into the deserted corridor Razor let out a sound of disgust "Silver, I think Lah has grown fond of you. You've got competition, Blaze". Blaze didn't say anything, tears were still rolling down her cheeks. Razor noticed "Where do we go?" "I think he wants us to follow him" Silver said pointing at Burst who was leading them one way. They strode after him and found themselves at the entrance to Locke's office. The statue had already spun around to make a staircase which meant someone was already up there.