Coral screamed, Elias leapt to his feet and moved next to Knuckles. Infinite gestured to the emerald on the floor "Found that near the Granifer. Thank you, Hedgehog". He then looked to Knuckles "You forgot to take your potion, Knuckles. When I went to bring it you I found a map on your desk. It told me everything I needed to know". Infinite then removed his mask, not a very smart move, a wizard's magic was more unstable without a secondary. But it was clear from the look of triumph on his face that Infinite didn't care "Oh, vengeance is sweet. How I hoped I'd be the one to try and catch you" "Infinite". Knuckles tried to step forward but Infinite moved his hand in his direction making him stop "I've told the headmaster again and again that you're helping your old friend Elias into the castle, Knuckles, and now here's the proof. Not even I dreamed you would have the nerve to use this old place as your hideout". Surprisingly Elias was smiling with amusement "Brilliant, Fini, once again you put your keen and penetrating mind to the task and as usual come to the wrong conclusion". Knuckles stared at him annoyed but Elias didn't notice "Now if you'll excuse us, Knux and I have some unfinished business to attend to". He made a move but Infinite put the tip of his finger against Elias chest "Give me a reason. I beg you". Knuckles stayed on the spot not trying to provoke anything "Infinite, you need to hear us out. Don't be a fool". Elias scoffed "He can't help it. It's habit by now" "Elias, be quiet!" "BE QUIET YOURSELF, KNUX!".
Infinite glanced between the two of them "Look at you two, quarrelling like an old married couple" "Why don't you run along and play with your chemistry set!?". Infinite took a step closer to Elias "I could do it you know". Knuckles moved forward "Infinite, just listen" "I'll deal with you next, Knuckles" "You fool. Is a schoolboy grudge worth putting an innocent man in prison?". In an instant Infinite fired a spell that wrapped Knuckles in snake like cords that knocked him to the floor and then gagged his mouth. Silver didn't know what do to or who to believe. Razor was equally baffled but then Coral took a hesitant step forward "Professor, it… It woulnd't hurt to hear what they have to say… Would it?" "Miss Coral you are already facing suspension from this school. You three are out-of-bounds, in the company of a convicted murderer and a Zilla. For once in your life, hold your tongue!" "But-But if there was a mistake-". Infinite looked quite deranged "KEEP QUEIT YOU STUPID GIRL! DON'T TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND!". He looked back at Elias "Shall we go?". Elias smirked "Absolutely. As long as this boy brings the Chao up to the castle I'll come quietly". Elias raised and eyebrow "To the castle? I don't think we need to go that far. All I have to do is call the Prelates once we get out of the Granifer. They'll be very pleased to see you, Elias". Elias eyes widened which Infinite relished "Do I detect a flicker of fear? Oh, yes, the Prelate's Kiss. One can only imagine what that must be like to endure". He moved closer and spoke through clenched teeth "It's said to be nearly unbearable to witness but I'll do my best". What little colour was in Elias face was now gone "You've- You've got to hear me out. The Chao! Look at the Chao!". But Infinite seemed beyond reason. He put his mask back on "Come. All of you". He snapped his finger and the cords around Knuckles went to his hand "I'll drag the Zilla". Before he knew what he was doing Silver was suddenly standing in front of the door blocking Infinite "Get out of the way, Hedgehog, you're in enough trouble already!" Infinite snarled.
Silver stood his ground "Knuckles could have killed me about a hundred times this year, I've been alone with him loads of times, having defence lessons against the Prelates. If he was helping Elias, why didn't he just finish me off then?" "Don't ask me to fathom the way a Zilla's mind works! Get out of the way, Hedgehog" "YOU'RE PATHETIC! JUST BECAUSE THEY MADE A FOOL OF YOU AT SCHOOL YOU WON'T EVEN LISTEN". Infinite now had his hand pointing at Silver "SILECNE! I WILL NOT BE SPOKEN TO LIKE THAT!". He looked madder than Silver had ever seen him "Like father, like son, Hedgehog! I have just saved your neck, you should be thanking me on bended knee! You would have been well served if he'd killed you! You'd have died like your father, too arrogant to believe you might be mistaken about Elias. Now get out of the way, or I will make you! GET OUT OF THE WAY!". Silver made his mind up in an instant "Expelliarmus!" except it wasn't just his voice, Razor and Coral had both perform the spell at the same time. The three spells hit Infinite at once and launched him into the wall knocking him out. Elias took a deep breath of relief "You shouldn't have done that. You should have left him to me". Coral checked that Infinite was still alive, she started to whimper "We attacked a teacher. We're going to be in so much trouble". The ropes around Knuckles disappeared and he got to his feet "Thank you, Silver" "This doesn't mean I believe you" "Then it's time we gave you some proof. Razor, give me the Chao". Razor held Wacky close to his chest "Okay, just wait a second. Even if this is true, there are millions of Chao. How's he supposed to know it's this one if he's been stuck on Prison Island?". Knuckles frowned and looked back at Elias "You know, that's a good a question. How did you know without the map?". Elias reached into his torn prison outfit and took out an old newspaper page. It was the one that reported on the O'Hedges holiday. Knuckles took the newspaper and stare at the picture "How did you get this" "Max. When he came to inspect the Prison last year and I asked for the paper. And there was Mordred sitting on the boy's shoulder. I watched him transformer so many times". Knuckles eyes widened "Of course" "What?" Razor said angrily. Knuckles stared at Wacky "His left hand has a chunk out of it" "So?". Sivler then remembered "All they could find of Mordred was-" "A finger! The damn coward cut it off when he knew I was tracking him down. When I cornered him he yelled I betrayed Shadow and Tikal, blew up part of the street and then slid into the sewer". Razor still held onto Wacky "He probably just got into a fight with another Chao or something. He's been in my family for-" "Twelve years? Awfully long life for Chao. No reincarnation or anything?" "We-We've just been taking good care of him".
Knuckles kneeled down and stared at the struggling Chao "Not looking too good now though is he? He looks very sick" "He's been scared to death of that crazy thing" he pointed at Aquarius. But Silver knew that wasn't right, Wacky was already getting sick before Aquarius, it was ever since Razor returned form Sandopolis, around the time Elias escaped. Elias petted Aquarius "This Chao isn't crazy. It's one of the smartest ones I've ever met. She recognised Mordred immediately for what he was. She's been helping me". Coral blinked "What?" "She met me while exploring the castle grounds while I was in my lizard form. Eventually I managed to convince her I meant well and she's been trying to get Mordred for me. When she couldn't she collected a note of the passwords for the Common Room. But Mordred had caught wind of what I was doing and he faked his death again". This jolted Silver back to his senses "And why did he fake his death? Because he knew you were about to kill him like you killed my parents!". Knuckles shook his head "No, Silver-" "And now you've come to finish him off!". Elias nodded back to looking deranged "Yes, I have!" "Then I should have let Infinite take you!". Knuckles got between the two of them "Silver, don't you see, all this time we thought Elias betrayed your parents and Mordred tracked him down. But it was the other way around" "THAT'S NOT TRUE! HE WAS THEIR SECRET-KEEPER! HE SAID SO BEFORE YOU TURNED UP. HE SAID HE KILLED THEM!". Elias seemed to calm from this "Silver, I as good as killed them. I persuaded Tikal and Shadow to change to Mordred at the last moment, persuaded them to use him as Secret-Keeper instead of me... I'm to blame, I know it... The night they died, I'd arranged to check on Mordred, make sure he was still safe, but when I arrived at his hiding place, he'd gone. Yet there was no sign of a struggle. It didn't feel right. I was scared. I set out for your parents' house straight away. And when I saw their house, destroyed, and their bodies... I realized what Mordred must've done... what I'd done" his voice broke and he looked away. These words seemed to trigger something in Knuckles "Enough of this!" he said with a steely note in his voice. He moved back to Razor "Razor, give me the Chao" "What're you going to do with him?" "A spell to make him reveal himself. I promise you, if he's not Mordred it won't hurt him". Razor hesitated then at long last handed the thrashing Wacky to Knuckles. He held him tight "Ready, Elias". Elias took the Chao and Knuckles put on his Shovel Claw "One… Two… Three…".
He slashed the air and a blue light erupted and hit Wacky. Wacky fell to the floor and his body began twisting madly. His body was growing, changing and then suddenly standing between Elias and Knuckles was a naked green cobra snake. His eyes darted to the door and back again "Hello, Mordred. Long time no see" Knuckles said pleasantly as if old friends growing out of Chao was normal. Mordred's voice shook "El-Elias? Knu-Knuckles… My old friends". Elias looked like he was about to strangle Mordred but Knuckles stopped him "We've been having a little talk, Mordred. You might have missed some of it while you were cowering". Sweat was forming on Mordred's head "You-You don't believe him, do you, Knux? He wants to kill me like he killed Shadow and Tikal". Elias growled but stayed put while Knuckles spoke "No one's killing anyone until we've sorted things out" "Sorted things out?". Mordred's eyes shifted to the many blocked off exits of the room "I knew this day would come. I knew he'd come back for me" "You knew he would get off Prison Island when no one else has?" "He has dark powers, Knux. How else did he get out of there? I suppose He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named taught him a few tricks". Elias gave a hollow laugh "Finitevus? Teach me tricks?". Mordred, flinched, "What's wrong? Can't stand hearing your master's name? I don't blame you, Mordred? His people aren't happy with you" "I don't know what you mean" "You haven't been hiding from me. You've been hiding from Finitevus' old supporters. I heard things on Prison Island. They all think you're dead, or you'd have to answer to them. I've heard them screaming all sorts of things in their sleep. Sounds like they think the double-crosser double-crossed them. Finitevus went to the Vigil's Hollow on your information and he met his downfall there. And not all Finitevus' supporters ended up on Prison Island, did they? There are still plenty out here, biding their time, pretending they've seen the error of their ways. If they ever found out you were alive, Mordred". Mordred was now drenched in sweat "I… don't know… what you're talking about. Knux, you can't believe this-this madness" "I must admit, Mordred, I find it hard to believe an innocent man would want to spent twelve years as a pet Chao" "Innocent but scared. If the Dark Lord's supporters were after me it's because I put their best man in prison". Elais face contorted "How dare you!". He went and grabbed Razor's dagger form his hand, Razor was so in shock from Mordred that he didn't even react. He put the tip to Mordred's throat "Me, a spy? When did I ever sneak around people who were stronger and more powerful than myself? But you, Mordred, I'll never understand why I didn't see you were the spy from the start. You always liked big friends who'd look after you, didn't you? It used to be us... me and Knuckles... and Shadow".
Mordred was practically panting for breath now "How can you say such a thing, Elias?" "Tikal and Shadow only made you Secret Keeper because I told them to. I thought it was the perfect plan... a bluff... Finitevus would be sure to come after me, would never dream they'd use a weak, talentless thing like you... It must have been the finest moment of your miserable life, telling Finitevus you could hand him Tikal and Shadow". Mordred started to cry. Coral stepped forward "Professor Knuckles, can I ask something" "Certainly, Coral" "Well, Wacky… I mean… this man has been sleeping in Silver's dormitory for three years now. If he's working for You-Know-Who why hasn't he tried to hurt Silver until now". Mordred was broken out of his hysterics "You see! Thank you, girl. You see, Knux, I wouldn't hurt a hair on Silver's head. Why would I?". He glanced at the door again so Elias pushed him back "I'll tell you why. Because you never did anything for anyone unless you could see what was in it for you. Finitevus' been in hiding for fifteen years, they say he's half dead. You weren't about to commit murder right under Locke's nose, for a wreck of a wizard who'd lost all of his power, were you? You'd want to be quite sure he was the biggest bully in the playground before you went back to him, wouldn't you? Why else did you find a wizard family to take you in? Keeping an ear out for news, weren't YOU, Mordred? Just in case your old protector regained strength, and it was safe to rejoin him" he glanced at Silver. Mordred said nothing at this, "Mr Elias?" Coral said. Elias was taken a back by being addressed like this "Yes?" "If you don't mind me asking, how did you get off Prison Island if you didn't use Dark Magic?" "Thank you, girl. Exactly what I-" Mordred said before Knuckles silenced him. Elias pondered the question "Unlike the other prisoners I managed to keep my sanity. I knew I was innocent and that worked as a driving force to keep me sane and the Prelate couldn't take that from me because it wasn't a happy memory". He shuddered "But sometimes when it became too much I could transform into my lizard form. The Prelates don't affect Mobani as strongly as Mobians. The Prelates are blind, you see, so they couldn't tell I was changing. They thought the change just meant I was losing my mind. But then I saw Mordred in the paper. He was at Soleanna where Silver was. I knew what he was doing. If he ever heard a hint of the Dark Lord returning he take advantage. If he handed Finitevus Silver then who would dare accuse him of treachery? I had to do something. I was the only one who knew Mordred was alive". Silver remembered what Rob said "Talking in his sleep. Always the same words. 'He's at Soleanna'".
Elias was clearly getting angry again but took breaths to calm himself "It was like a fire lit in me. An obsession. Not a happy one, the Prelates couldn't take it from me. So, one night when they opened my door to bring food, I slipped past them as a lizard. It's so much harder for them to sense animal emotions that they were confused. I was thin, very thin. Thin enough to slip through the bars, I swam as a lizard back to the mainland. I journeyed north and slipped into the Soleanna grounds. I've been living in the forest ever since, except when I came to watch the Sky Chase, of course. You fly as well as your father did, Silver". He stared at Silver and Silver didn't look away. Elias gave him a pleading look "Believe me. Believe me, Silver, I never betrayed your parents. I would have died before betraying them". And at long last Silver believed him, his throat was too tight so he simply nodded "No!" Mordred cried. He fell to his knees as if Silver's nod signed his death warrant. He crawled to Elias feet "Elias, it's me… It's Mordred… You wouldn't" "Get off! I have enough filth on me". Mordred then turned to Knuckles "Knux, you can't possibly believe this. Wouldn't Elias have told you if the plan had changed?". Knuckles gave Elias a strange look "Maybe not if he thought I was the spy. Is that why you didn't tell me, Elias?". Elias looked away ashamed "He was recruiting Zillas… I couldn't be sure. Forgive me, Knuckles" "Not at all, King. Will you forgive me for thinking you were the spy all these years" "Of course. Shall we kill him together?". Knuckles stared down grimly at Mordred "Yes" "No, you wouln't… You won't". Mordred desperately looked around and then tried to crawled to his old master "Razor… Haven't I been a good friend… A good pet… You won't let them kill me, will you?". But Razor was staring at the snake with the utmost revulsion "I let you sleep in my bed" "Good master… Kind master… I was a good pet, wasn't I?" "Making a better Chao than a man isn't something to be proud of, Mordred" Elias said. Mordred then turned his sights to Coral and pleadingly grabbed the hem of her dress "Sweet girl. Clever girl. You-You won't let them… Help me!". A horrified Coral pulled her dress away from him and backed against the wall. He turned to his last hope "Silver, you have your father's face. Look just like him".
Elias suddenly grabbed Mordred by the throat and made him stand "HOW DARE YOU SPEAK TO SILVER! HOW DARE YOU TALK ABOUT SHADOW IN FRONT OF HIM!". Mordred broke free and ran and wrapped his arms around Silver who froze "Silver, Shadow wouldn't have wanted me killed. He would have understood. He would have showed me mercy!". Elias threw him to the floor "You sold Shadow and Tikal to Finitevus! Do you deny it?" "I didn't mean too. He forced me to-" "DON'T YOU LIE, MORDRED! YOU WERE PASSING INFORMATION TO HIM FOR A YEAR BEFORE THEY DIED!". Mordred sobbed "He was taking over everywhere. He would have killed me! What would you have done?" "I WOULD HAVE DIED! I WOULD HAVE DIED RATHER THAN BETRAY MY FRIENDS! I WOULD HAVE DONE THE SAME FOR YOU!". Knuckles and Elias stood side by side staring mercilessly at the snake "You should have realised, if Finitevus didn't kill you, we would!" "Goodbye, Mordred" "NO!" Silver suddenly yelled before putting himself between them and Mordred. They both looked taken a back "Silver, this piece of filth is the reason you have no parents. He would have handed you to Finitevus without turning a hair. His stinking hide meant more to him than your whole family!" Elias yelled. Silver stood his ground "I know. But don't kill him. We'll take him to the castle". Mordred crawled to Silver's feet "Thank you. Thank you" "Get off me! We're taking you to the castle to prove your still alive. After that the Prelates can have you". Elias slowly lowered Razor's dagger "You're the only one with the right to choose, Silver. But think… This what he's done" "He can go to Prison Island, where he belongs". Knuckles nodded "Fine. Move out of the way, please". Silver hesitated, "I'm going to tie him up. That's all, I swear". Silver moved and Knuckles with a slash tied Mordred in ropes. Elias glared at him "But if you transform, Mordred, we will kill you", Silver nodded in agreement. Knuckles then went over to Razor and magically put a bandage and splint over his broke leg "I can't mend bones so I suggest we take you up to Madam Vanilla". Razor stood and nodded "That's better. Thanks" "What about Professor Infinite?" Coral asked. Knuckles stared at the unconscious body "I think it would be best to leave him here until we get back to the castle".