As Silver had no idea how a bath would help with the egg, he decided to do it at night, that would give him plenty of time to try different things. Reluctant though he was to accept more favours from Sonic, he also decided to use the prefects' bathroom; far fewer people were allowed in there, so it was much less likely that people would be patrolling that corridor. He planned his excursion carefully. He'd be caught out of bed once before and he wasn't planning on it happening again. He would take his Emerald obviously and he unearthed the Chaotix map from the bottom of his trunk. So, on Thursday night once the others were asleep, he sneaked out of bed, went invisible and headed out. Razor had left the portrait hole open for him. It was awkward to move with the Emerald when his other arm was carrying the egg and also trying to hold the map out so he could see where everyone was. Silver had learned a new trick with the Emerald over the summer. If he tapped the top of the emerald twice when he was using it he could see himself and things he was holding when being invisible allowing him to watch the map without revealing it to others. He easily reached the fifth floor; the instructions told him to go to the statue of the cloaked rhino. Silver grabbed the left arm and pulled it down like a lever "Pine fresh". The rhino sunk into the floor revealing a door "All this for a bathroom?" Silver whispered. Silver went through the door and turned visible. At the sight of the bathroom Silver decided he wanted to be a prefect. It was softly lit by a splendid candle-filled chandelier, and everything was made of white marble, including what looked like an empty, rectangular swimming pool sunk into the middle of the floor.

About a hundred golden taps stood all around the pool's edges, each with a differently coloured jewel set into its handle. There was also a diving board. Long white linen curtains hung at the windows, a large pile of fluffy white towels sat in a corner, and there was a single golden framed painting on the wall. It featured a blonde Merobian lizard who was fast asleep on a rock, her long hair over her face. It fluttered every time she snored. Silver moved forward, looking around, his footsteps echoing off the walls. Magnificent though the bathroom was and quite keen though he was to try out a few of those taps now he was here he couldn't quite suppress the feeling that Sonic might have been tricking him on. How on earth was this supposed to help solve the mystery of the egg? Nevertheless, he put one of the fluffy towels, the emerald, the map, his clothes and the egg at the side of the swimming-pool sized bath, then knelt down and turned on a few of the taps. He could tell at once that they carried different sorts of soap to mix with the water, though it wasn't bubble bath as Silver had ever experienced it. One tap gushed pink and blue bubbles the size of footballs; another poured ice-white foam so thick that Silver thought it would have supported his weight if he'd cared to test it; a third sent heavily perfumed purple clouds hovering over the surface of the water. Silver amused himself for a while turning the taps on and off, particularly enjoying the effect of one whose jet bounced off the surface of the water in large arcs. Then, when the deep pool was full of hot water, foam, and bubbles, which took a very short time considering its size, Silver turned off all the taps, pulled off his pyjamas, slippers, and dressing gown, and slid into the water.

It was so deep that his feet barely touched the bottom, and he actually did a couple of lengths before swimming back to the side and treading water, staring at the egg. Highly enjoyable though it was to swim in hot and foamy water with clouds of different-coloured steam wafting all around him, no stroke of brilliance came to him, no sudden burst of understanding. Silver stretched out his arms, lifted the egg in his wet hands, and opened it. The wailing, screeching sound filled the bathroom, echoing and reverberating off the marble walls, but it sounded just as incomprehensible as ever, if not more so with all the echoes. He snapped it shut again, worried that the sound would attract Rykor, wondering whether that hadn't been Sonic's plan. Then something happened that made him jump so badly that he dropped the egg, which clattered away across the bathroom floor, someone spoke "I'd try putting it in the water, if I were you". Lah was sitting cross legged one top of the taps. Despite not usually wearing clothes Silver still felt a bit vulnerable with her here when he was in the bath "Lah, why are you here?" "I heard someone through the pipes. Where have you been? I haven't seen you in ages" "You stay in a girl's bathroom". Lah sighed "That didn't stop you before" "I got told off. Couldn't come back" "Oh, I see. Well, anyway, I was saying you should put the egg in the water. That's what Sonic did". Silver rolled his eyes "Spying on him too, were you? Watch out for prefects going for baths a lot?" "Sometimes. But I've only talked to you" "What an honour". Silver took the egg and looked at Lah who nodded encouragingly "Just open it". Silver took a deep breath and submerged himself into the water. He then opened the egg. There was a beautiful sound, a voice, a woman's voice singing.

Come seek us where our voices sound,

We cannot sing above the ground,

And while you're searching ponder this:

We've taken what you'll sorely miss,

An hour long you'll have to look,

And to recover what we took,

But past an hour the prospect's black,

Too late, it's gone, it won't come back

Silver pushed out of the water and took another deep breath. Lah laughed "Heard it?" "Yeah". Silver went back and listened to it a few times to memorise the whole song and then tried to think. He had to find people who could be heard underwater "Lah, what lives in the lake besides the Xorda?" "Oh, all sorts. I go down there by accident sometimes when people flush me and I'm not ready". Silver glanced at the painting "Merobians" "Oooh, very good. It took Sonic much longer to find that out". Silver grinned as he remembered the rest of the song "So I have to find the Merobians in the lake and recover something" he worked it out. But then slowly his excitement drained out of him, he wasn't a very good swimmer. Menniker got lessons when he was young, but Silver never did (Menthor and Cynthia probably hoped he'd end up drowning somehow). There was also the fact that Merobians lived at the bottom of the water they lived in "How am I supposed to breath?". Lah let out a sob "How could you?" "What?" "Talk about breathing in front of me!". She started to cry, "Sorry, I forgot" "Oh, yes, it's so easy to forget little Lah's dead. Nobody missed me when I was alive. Didn't find my body for hours. But I made sure they didn't forget about me after I died. I made sure of that". She stopped crying and had a sinister grin "I followed my bullies around for years. I remember at one of their weddings…".

Silver wasn't listening anymore, there had to be a spell he learned that could help you breath underwater. Coral would know, but how was he going to ask her without revealing he only just now learned about the egg clue. Lah was still going "Of course after that they all complained to the Ministry I had to come back here to my toilet". Silver climbed out of the bath and dried himself with the towel, it was the softest one he's ever used. Lah watched him put his shoes and Talismans back on "Will you come visit me?" "Er… I'll try. See you, Lah. Thanks for the help" "Bye, bye" she said gloomily. Silver turned himself invisible, checked the map and then headed back out of the bathroom. Once he got out the statue grew back out of the floor the block the entrance. He checked the map again, Rykor was in his office with Spooky, Charmy was bouncing around the trophy room but then Silver saw something that made him stop dead. There were feet moving around Infinite's office but it wasn't Infinite it was labelled "Puff". Mr Puff was sneaking around Soleanna at one in the morning. The feet moved around the office stopping at certain spots. Silver knew he should go back to Shinobi Tower but unfortunately his curiosity got the best of him he turned in the opposite direction. He was going to find out what law-abiding Mr Puff was up to. It just seemed to out of character for Silver to just ignore. But then as Silver went up one of the staircases without thinking his foot sunk through the trick step. He tripped forward throwing the egg to the ground with a loud *CLANG*.

The Chaotix map fluttered onto the floor as well, but he just managed to hold onto the Emerald. His foot was stuck in the trick step, he couldn't move. He tried to free himself when "CHARMY!" Silver froze. Rykor appeared standing at the top of the stairs. Silver was doomed, if Rykor went down the steps for god forbid find the Map he'd know Silver was there, he never erased it. To his incredible luck Rykor was instead drawn to the Egg. He grinned at Spooky on his shoulder "My sweet, look at this. This belongs to one of the Emerald Champions. Charmy's been stealing". He laughed and yelled at thin air "You hear that, Charmy! I've got you! Locke will have you out now!" "Rykor, what's going on? What're you yelling about!?". Silver might have been sick; Infinite was standing at the doorway behind Rykor. Silver thought his heart was beating fast so hard there wasn't a point to him being invisible. Rykor was still smiling "It's Charmy's" "Charmy? But Charmy couldn't have broken in" "Broken in, sir". Infinite was already getting impatient "I heard banging coming from here-" "It was the egg, sir. Charmy stole it!" "And when I passed my office, I found it broken into!". Rykor was astonished "Charmy broke into your office" "Didn't you hear me. Charmy couldn't have done it. No Poltergeist could get through the protection. I need you to help me investigate". Silver was silently pleading for Rykor to go with Infinite especially when he noticed Spooky looking in his direction. He got the impression she could smell the soap on him, why did he have to use so much? Rykor still hadn't moved "The thing is, Professor, the headmaster will have to listen to me this time. Charmy has been stealing from a student, it might be my chance to get him thrown out of the castle once and for all" "Rykor, I don't give a damn about that meddling Poltergeist. I need help with-". The familiar clunk of Striker's walking stick was heard and then he appeared at the door "Slumber party, gentlemen?". Infinite glanced away with what Silver read as contained fear. Rykor went off "It's Charmy, sir. He stole one of the Champions eggs and then Professor Infinite found his office was broken-" "Shut up!" Infinite hissed. Striker looked around the scene and then Silver's heart stopped, Striker can see through Chao Emeralds.

He alone could see the full strangeness of what was going on. Striker's mouth opened in surprise, but he very quickly composed himself "Did I hear that right, Infinite, your office was broken into?". Infinite finally looked at him coldly "It's unimportant" "I beg to differ. Who would break into your office?" "A student I daresay. It's happened before. Trying to make illicit mixtures". Silver knew what he was referencing and knew exactly who Infinite was suspecting. Striker looked sceptical "So you think it was potions ingredients? Not hiding anything else in your office?" "You know I'm hiding nothing, Striker. You searched my office quite thoroughly". Striker had a devious smirk "Diamond Cutter's privilege. Locke told me to keep an eye on-" "Locke happens to trust me. I refuse to believe that he gave you orders to search my office!". Even Striker was surprised by his anger "Of course Locke trusts you. He's a trusting man, isn't he? Believes in second chances. But me, I say there are spots that don't come off, Infinite. Spots that never come off, d'you know what I mean?". Infinite did something very strange, he seized his left hand as if it hurt. Striker laughed "Go back to bed, Infinite" "You have no authority to send me anywhere. I have as much right to prowl the castle as you do" "Prowl away. I hope to meet you in a dark corridor sometime. You dropped something by the way". To Silver's horror he pointed down at the map lying on the floor near Infinite. Silver threw caution to the wind; he frantically waved his arms and mouthed "It's mine. It's mine". Infinite kneeled down and reached for the map with dawning comprehension growing on his face "Accio!". The map flew past him, and Striker caught it "My mistake. It's mine. Must have dropped it earlier" "The Hedgehog" "What?". Infinite gritted his teeth "The Hedgehog! That's his egg and so is the parchment". Infinite stuck out his arm and reached around like a blind man.

He was heading right for first steps on the staircase Silver was stuck on. Any second now but then "There's nothing there, Infinite. But I'll be happy to tell the headmaster how quickly your mind jumped to Silver the Hedgehog!". Infinite was inches from Silver but stopped and turned to face Striker "Meaning what?" "Meaning that Locke's very interested to know who's got it in for that boy! And so am I". Nobody said anything for a moment. Infinite forced himself to be calm "I merely thought that if Silver was wandering around after hours again. It's an unfortunate habit of his. He should be stopped… For his own safety" "Ah, got the boy's best interests at heart, do you?". Another pause and then Infinite said "I think I'll go to bed" "Best idea you've had all night. Now, Rykor, that egg if you please". Rykor clutched the egg tighter "But, sir, Charmy" "You can talk to Locke about Charmy in the morning. For now, that egg must be returned to the Champion". Rykor hesitantly handed the egg over and left. Infinite did the same with a bitter look. Striker looked at the wall, Silver guessed his eyepatch let him see through many things. Finally, he smirked "That was a close shave, Silver" "Yeah… Thanks". Striker looked down at the map "What is this?" "Map of Soleanna" Silver said not being able to hide the pain his leg was in. Striker opened at the map and stared opened mouthed "Forelock's mane! This is some map" "Uh, Professor, could you help me, please" "What? Oh, of course". He grabbed Silver's arms and managed to harmlessly pull him out of the trick step. Striker looked back at the map "Silver, did you see who broke into Infinite's office" "Oh, yeah, it was Mr Puff" "Puff? Are you sure?". Silver nodded "Positive" "Well, he's not there anymore".

Silver could tell this meant something to Striker "Why would Puff want to break into Infinite's office?". Striker stared at him as if sizing him up, trying to decide if he should tell him "I'll put it this way, they say old Striker's obsessed with catching Dark wizards. But I'm nothing… nothing compared to Puff". Silver considered "Do you think it has something to do with all the stuff recently" "Stuff?" "The World Cup, the Nocturnus, the Dark Mark". Striker smirked "You're a sharp boy, Silver. And yes, that's probably what if Puff is thinking. People have been worried since the Cup. If there's one thing, I hate it's a Nocturnus that walked free". Silver stared at him; did he mean what Silver thought he meant. Striker folded the map closed "And now there's something I want to ask you?". Silver's heart sank, he was going to ask where he got the map but instead "Can I borrow this?" he held the map. Silver was surprised and also hesitant, he's very fond of that map. Not only was it incredibly useful but it belonged to his father. But at the same time, he couldn't deny he owed Striker a favour "Yeah, okay" "Good boy. This could be useful". He looked very impressed "You ever thought of a career as a Diamond Cutter, Silver?" "Uh… I've never thought about it" "You should. And incidentally I'm assuming you weren't just out for a walk". Silver shook his head "I worked out the clue" "Nothing like a nighttime stroll to get your brain working, eh? Well, you better get off to bed". Silver nodded, turned invisible again and left with all his stuff minus the map. His mind raced on the way, why was Puff at Soleanna, what did he suspect about Infinite and was Striker right, could he be a Diamond Cutter? He thought it wouldn't be a bad idea for him although he might want to check if Striker's injuries was the usual or the exception first.