Silver felt like he had just lied down when he was suddenly shaken awake by Mari-An "Time to go, dear". Silver sat up and heard Razor barely audible muttering as he was woken up. Silver then saw two shapes appear at the foot of his bed "S'time?" Mighty said with his eyes half open. They all got ready in silence, too tired to talk. As they went downstairs Mari-An was preparing their breakfast while Rob was bringing in their bags and checking the tickets. Ray fought a huge yawn "Where's Ash, Rotor and Hamlin". Mari-An poured soup into four bowls "They're using Chaos Control, aren't they. So they can have a bit more of a lie in". Mighty groaned "So they get to stay here? Why can't we Chaos Control" "Because you're too young and haven't passed your test. Oh, those girls still aren't up" Mari-An went back upstairs to see what was taking them. Silver was surprised "You need a test to use Chaos Control?". Rob nodded "Oh, yes. The Department of Magical Transportation had to fine a couple of people the other day for using Chaos Control without a license. It's not easy and when it's not done properly it can lead to nasty complications. This pair I'm talking about went and splinched themselves". Everyone but Silver winced "Uh… Splinched?" "Leaving part of themselves behind. Awful stuff. Thankfully we were able to reattach everything. A lot of paper work, Muggles saw severed hands still moving". Silver now caught up with the others by wincing "They were okay though?" "Oh, yes, but they received quite the fine. Won't be doing it again any time soon. Even some fully grown wizards don't bother with Chaos Control. They prefer boards, slower but safer". Mighty chuckled "Yeah, Rotor had to take the test twice. First time he appeared five miles out from where he was supposed to and landed on some poor woman doing her shopping". Ray nodded "And Hamlin only passed two weeks ago. He keeps appearing downstairs just to prove he can".
Coral and Blaze finally appeared with the latter wiping her eyes "Why are we leaving so early?" "We've got a bit of a walk" "Walk? We're walking to the World Cup?" Silver asked. Rob shook his head and smiled "No, no, that's miles away. We only need to walk a short way. It's just that it's very difficult for a large number of wizards to congregate without attracting Muggle attention. We have to be very careful about how we travel at the best of times, and on a huge occasion like the World Cup" "Ray!" Mari-An suddenly said. Ray jumped and said in an unconvincing innocent voice "What?" "What's that in your bag?". Ray shrugged "Nothing" "Don't lie to me!". She waves her staff "Accio!". Brightly coloured objects flew out of Ray's bag. He tried to grab them but they were to quick, they landed in front of Mari-An "We told you to destroy them all!". She picked up one of what was unmistakably another Ton-Tongue Toffy "Empty your bags! Both of you!". It was an unpleasant sight, Mighty and Ray were seemingly trying to smuggle out all their experiments. Mari-An kept using her summoning charm to make sure they gave up all of them. Some were hidden in their gloves, shoes and even Ray's ascot "We spent six months making those" "A fine way to spend six months. No wonder you didn't get that any G. ". All in all, the atmosphere was not very friendly as they took their departure. Mari-An was still glowering as she kissed Rob on the cheek, though not nearly as much as the twins, who had each hoisted their rucksacks onto their backs and walked out without a word to her "Well, have a lovely time! And behave yourselves!" she said to their retreating backs but they acted like they didn't hear her. She turned to Razor "Tell your father I'll send Hamlin, Rotor and Ash along midday".
They finally set off. It was chilly and the moon was still out. Only a dull, greenish tinge along the horizon to their right showed that daybreak was drawing closer. Silver, having been thinking about thousands of wizards speeding toward the Sky Chase World Cup, sped up to walk with Rob "So how does everyone get there without all the Muggles noticing?" "Oh, it's been a massive organisational problem. The trouble is, about a hundred thousand wizards turn up at the World Cup, and of course, we just haven't got a magical site big enough to accommodate them all. There are places Muggles can't penetrate, but imagine trying to pack a hundred thousand wizards into Avalon or platform nine and three-quarters. So we had to find a nice deserted moor, and set up as many anti Muggle precautions as possible. The whole Ministry's been working on it for months. First, of course, we have to stagger the arrivals. People with cheaper tickets have to arrive two weeks beforehand. A limited number use Muggle transport, but we can't have too many clogging up their buses and trains. Remember, wizards are coming from all over the world. Some use Chaos Control, of course, but we have to set up safe points for them to appear, well away from Muggles. I believe there's a handy woods they're using as the point. For those who don't want to use Chaos Control, or can't, we use Warp Gates. They're objects that are used to transport wizards from one spot to another at a prearranged time. You can do large groups at a time if you need to. There have been two hundred Warp Gates placed at strategic points around Mercia, and the nearest one to us is up at the top of that hill over there, so that's where we're headed". Silver wanted to learn more "What kind of things are Warp Gates?" "Anything, really. But they have to be something unintrusive so Muggles don't pick them up. They'll just be old rubbish or something". The sun slowly rose over the hill as the group inconspicuously walked through a muggle village to the bottom of the hill. They started climbing as the wind got strong freezing them. Eventually after getting a tight chest and seizing legs they made it to the top. Rob checked his watch as he caught his breath "Well, we've… made good time. We've got ten minutes to spare. Now we just need to find the Warp Gate. Everyone look around".
They clutched their stitches as the roamed the top of the hill for signs of rubbish. After a few minutes "Rob! Over here! We've got it" "Jules!" Rob said happily. The group converged on two individuals. The older man, a blue hedgehog wearing a red shirt and had a bit of grey hair among his quills had his hand shook by Rob "Everyone, this is Jules the Hedgehog. He works for the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. And I think you know his son, Sonic". Yes, the other boy was the Yagyu Sky Chase Captain, Sonic the Hedgehog "Hi" he said to everyone. Everyone said hi back except Mighty and Ray who simply nodded, they apparently still hadn't forgiven Sonic over beating them at Sky Chase last year. Jules meanwhile looked quite tired "Long walk, Rob?" "Not too bad. We're not far from here. You?" "Had to get up at two, didn't we Sonic? I'll tell you; I'll be happy when he gets his Chaos Control Test. Not complaining though. Wouldn't miss the Cup for anything. These all yours, Rob" he said acknowledging the large group. Rob shook his head "Not these two. They're friends of my son. Coral and Silver". Rob's eyes widened "My God, Silver the Hedgehog? The Silver the Hedgehog" "Uh… Yeah" Silver said awkwardly. After four years he still felt uncomfortable over people staring at him. Especially when they stared at his eyes waiting for them to turn gold which based of Jules' reaction, they did this time. He shook Silver's hand "Sonic's told us about you. Told us all about playing against you last year. I said to him, I said, Sonic, that'll be something to tell your grandchildren, that will. You beat Silver the Hedgehog".
Silver couldn't think of a reply to this. Mighty and Ray were scowling behind him. Sonic looked slightly embarrassed "Dad, I told you, Silver fell off his board. It was an accident" "Yes, but you didn't fall off, did you?". Jules slapped his son's back "Always, the gentleman. But the best man won, I'm sure Silver would say the same, wouldn't you, eh? One falls off his board, one stays on, you don't need to be a genius to tell which one's the better flier!". As if to end the conversation Rob got between them "Nearly time, Jules. Do you know if anyone else is coming?" "No, Finny and his girl are already there and the Fawcettes couldn't get tickets" "Well, best we get ready then. We've only got a minute left". Jules agreed and held out an old brown boot "You all just have to touch it. A finger will do". With some difficulty due to their bags the nine of them crowded around the boot and held onto it. Silver wondered how silly this sight must look to some Muggle watching from a distance. Rob kept one eye on his watch "Three… Two… One". It happened immediately; Silver felt as though a hook just behind his navel had been suddenly jerked irresistibly forward. His feet left the ground; he could feel Razor and Coral on either side of him, their shoulders banging into his; they were all speeding forward in a howl of wind and swirling colour. His forefinger was stuck to the boot as though it was pulling him magnetically onward and then. His feet slammed into the ground, Razor staggered into him, and he fell over. The Warp Gate hit the ground near his head with a heavy thud. Silver looked up. Rob, Jules, and Sonic were still standing, though looking very windswept; everybody else was on the ground "Welcome" a tired voice said.