It was indeed the same Reynard that had watched play Sky Chase earlier this year. Coral rolled her eyes "Oh, for heaven's sake, Razor. He's only a Sky Chase player" "Only a Sky Chase player? He's one of the best players in the world". As Soleanna followed the Grimm students inside Manic was on his tip toeas tyring to get a better look at Reynard. Three sixth year girls were rummaging through their bags "I can't believe it. I don't have any quills" "Maybe he'd fine signing in lipstick" "Really?" Coral said at the sight. Razor was also looking through his bag "Nothing. Silver, you got a quill?" "No, they're upstairs". Once they got to the Great Hall the trio sat down at their usual table. Neither school seemed to want to sit with the Shinobis however. Sylvania decided to sit with Gossamer and to Razor's frustration Reynard and the rest of Grimm sat with the Raijus, something that made Rutan look very smug. The two schools' attitudes to their accommodations were polar opposite. The Sylvania students looked like this beautiful hall with its fancy decorations and food was their idea of squalor. Grimm on the other hand looked like they had never been treated so well. They stared up at the starry black ceiling with interest and looked very impressed by the golden plates in front of them. Silver noticed that four new chairs were placed at the staff table "What're the other two for" "The other two judges. The Championship has five in total. The headmasters of the three Schools and two representatives from the host country's government" Coral answered. Locke then entered with Windermere and Benidict. The Sylvania students all rose to their feet when they saw their headmistress and did not sit back down until she did at the staff table. A few of the Soleanna students laughed at this although they fell silent when their own Headmaster approached the podium "Good evening, Ladies and Gentlemen, Ghosts and most importantly guests. I have great pleasure in welcoming you all to Soleanna. I hope and trust that your stay here will be both comfortable and enjoyable". One of the Sylvania girls gave a derisive laugh, "No one's making you stay" Coral said glaring at her.
The plates in front of them filled with food as usual and everyone dug in "What's this in the soup?" Razor asked looking at the big bowl in the middle of the table "Herb of Calm" Coral said. Razor looked like it didn't agree with him "What?" "It's from Spagonia. I had it on holiday. It's very nice" "I'll take your word for it". Big entered the hall finally, some of his fur was burned and his hands were bandaged. He sat up at the staff table in his usual chair "Looks like the Plasmas are thriving" Razor said. "Excuse me, are you wanting ze soup?", they turned around and saw a yellow Mongoose girl from Sylvania. Silver thought she looked very pretty with purple hair, and she wore a green and purple top and skirt. Razor stared opened mouthed trying to reply but seemed incapable. Silver pushed the bowl towards the girl "Yeah, you can have it" "You have finished?" "Yeah, it was great" Razor finally managed to say. The girl nodded thankfully and took the bowl back to the Gossamer table where she and her fellow pupils happily poured some into their own bowls. Razor continued to stare "She's an Illumina" "Of course she isn't. I don't see anyone else staring at her like an idiot" Coral said. She wasn't exactly correct with that, many boys' heads turned when the girl crossed the hall "They don't make them like that at Soleanna" Razor joked. Coral tapped his shoulder "When your eyes are back in your head have a look at the staff table". Silver and Razor looked up, the two extra chairs had been filled by T.W Barker and Puff. Once the plates were all wiped clean Locke rose to his feet again. Silence crossed the hall as he approached his podium. Everyone watched eagerly waiting for what was coming "The time has come. The Emerald Championship is about to start. I would like to say a few words of explanation before we bring in the flame just to clarify the procedure that we will be following this year. But first, let me introduce, for those who do not know them, Mr Puff the Pufferfish, Head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation". There was a polite applause given by the students "And Mr T.W Barker Head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports" there was a much louder applause at Baker's name. Once the applause died down Locke continued "Mr Barker and Puff have been working tirelessly over the last few months on the arrangements for the Emerald Championship they will be joining myself, Professor Benidict, and Lady Windermere on the panel that will judge the champions' efforts". Locke smiled at the sudden excitement at the word champion "The Flame if you please, Mr Rykor".
Rykor then approached Locke and placed down a stand with a glass orb on top. Inside the orb was a small object holding a white flame. Everyone held their breath as Locke said "The instructions for the task's the champions will face this year have already been examined by Mr Puff and Mr Barker and they have made the necessary arrangements for each challenge. There will be three tasks, spaced throughout the school year, and they will test the champions in many different ways. Their magical prowess, their daring, their powers of deduction and, of course, their ability to cope with danger. As you know, three champions compete in the tournament. One from each of the participating schools. They will be marked on how well they perform each of the Tournament tasks and the champion with the highest total after task three will win the Emerald Cup. The champions will be chosen by an impartial selector: the Flame of Solaris". He gestured to the white flame "Anybody wishing to submit themselves as champion must write their name and school clearly upon a slip of parchment and put it into the Flame. Aspiring champions have twenty-four hours in which to put their names forward. Tomorrow night, Halloween, the Flame will return the names of the three it has judged most worthy to represent their schools. The Flame will be placed in the entrance hall tonight, where it will be freely accessible to all those wishing to compete". He pushed his hand against the glass, and it went through as if it was smoke "To ensure that no underage student yields to temptation I have put a spell on this glass. No one under the age of seventeen will be able to put their hands through it. Finally, I wish to impress upon any of you wishing to compete that this tournament is not to be entered into lightly. Once a champion has been selected by the Flame of Solaris, he or she is obliged to see the tournament through to the end. The placing of your name in the Flame constitutes a binding, magical contract. There can be no change of heart once you have become a champion. Please be very sure, therefore, that you are wholeheartedly prepared to play before you drop your name into the Flame. Now, I think it is time for bed. Good night to you all".
As the students all left the Hall Mighty and Ray discussed "An age restriction spell? That's it?" "All we'd need is an ageing potion for that" "But I don't think anyone under seventeen will stand a chance" Coral chimed in. Ray shrugged "Speak for yourself. You want in on this?" he asked Silver and Razor. Silver thought about everything Locke said and he imagined how mad he would be if he found a way to enter. He thought it best he would just have a quiet year this time. As they headed for the door Benedict led his students. He was leading Reynard like he was his star pupil and also seemed very quick to criticise the other students "Wipe that food off your robe, you disgusting boy!" he yelled at one of them. Silver reached the doors the same time Benedict did, so he politely let them through first "Thank you" Benedict said carelessly. He glanced at Silver and then froze. The Grimm students came to a halt and stared wondering what the hold up was. Comprehension slowly dawned and some of them openly pointed directly at Silver. A few then gasped from what Silver assumed to be his eyes changing colour from the sudden attention "Yes, that's Silver the Hedgehog" came a growling voice. Striker was now standing behind Silver glaring at Benedict. The old echidnas face drained of colour "You?" "Me! And unless you have something to say to Mr Silver, Benedict, I suggest you get moving. You're blocking the doorway". Without another word Benedict got moving. Striker watched him util he disappeared, there was a look of great distrust and dislike on his face.
Usually on a Saturday students would be late for breakfast but today a lot of people, trio included, came down earlier and ate their breakfast in the entrance hall to see who was entering their name "Anyone yet?" Razor asked a third-year girl when he arrived. She shrugged "All the Grimm students but no one from Soleanna yet" "Might have done it last night when we left" Silver said. Then Mighty, Ray and Manic ran down the steps behind them "We've taken it" "What?" "The aging potion. A few drops. We only need an extra few months. We're gonna split the money between the three of us". Coral looked concerned "I don't think this will work. Locke is sure to have thought of this" the three of them ignored her and approached the Flame. Mighty went first, he held the parchment with his name in his hand and moved it cautiously to the glass. Then with all eyes on him his hand went through the glass. Ray yelled triumphantly and pushed his hand through as well. They were both about to put their paper in when suddenly they were blasted back. They sat upright and everyone laughed. They both had identical white beards. The entrance hall rang with even louder laughter which even Mighty and Ray joined in when they got a good look at the other.
Manic was laughing the hardest, very smug that he managed to avoid the same fate. Locke then came out of the Great Hall looking very amused "I did warn you. I suggest you both go see Madam Vanilla. She's currently tending to two other students who attempted the same thing. Although I must say they didn't have quite as fine beards as the both of you". When the twins set off for the hospital wing Silver, Razor and Coral decided to get their breakfast. Since it was Halloween, the yearly decorations had been put up around the Great Hall. When they sat down Marcos told them about what he had heard "Some Raiju guys had put their names in last night. Heard them bragging about it" "We can't have a Raiju Champion" Silver said in disgust. Larry nodded in agreement "All the Yagyus are talking about Sonic. Don't know if anyone is Gossamer's tried yet". Perci then sat down next to them "I did it. I put my name in" "You're kidding?" Silver said in surprise. She shook her head "Birthday was last week" "Well, I hope it's you. A Shinobi Champion would be great" Coral said. After breakfast was finished the trio decided to go see Big, provided he didn't ask them to help with the Plasmas. On their way out they noticed the Sylvania students all gathered up around the Flame of Solaris. Windermere watched as all her students one by one put their names into the flame including the Mongoose girl from yesterday.
Coral knocked Big's door "Bout time. Thought you lot forgot where I live" "We've been really busy, Big. We just…". She never got to finish her sentence as Big opened the door and she was stopped dead by his appearance. He was wearing a suit; a hairy brown horrible suit and his whiskers were styles to resemble a fancy moustache. Coral after a few moments decided it would be best not to comment "So… How are the Plasmas?" "They're gettin' massive, mus' be nearly three foot long now. On'y trouble is, they've started killin' each other" "Oh, no, really?". Coral looked back at Silver and Razor who were still stunned by Big's bizarre new appearance. Big nodded "S' okay, though, I've got 'em in separate boxes now. Still got abou' twenty" "Oh, great" Razor finally said, Big missed the sarcasm. They went inside and were soon immersed in Big's excited talk over the Emerald Championship "You wait," he said, grinning. "You jus' wait. Yer going ter see some stuff yeh've never seen before. Firs' task-ah, but I'm not supposed ter say" "Go on, Big" "I don' want ter spoil it fer yeh. But it's gonna be spectacular, I'll tell yeh that. Them champions're going ter have their work cut out. Never thought I'd live ter see the Emerald Championship played again!". After much time speculating over what the Tasks Silver noticed something out the window "Hey, the Sylvania kids are going back up to the castle. It must be time to choose the champions" "What!?". Bug suddenly shot up ran over to his drawers and poured a bottle cologne on his neck "Big, what's going on?" Razor asked covering his nose from the strong smell. Big didn't answer and with his face bright red he rushed out of the cabin. The trio watched him from the window and saw that he was now talking to Windermere as she went up to the castle "He didn't even wait for us" Coral said. The three let themselves out of the cabin and headed up, they met the Grimm students about halfway and followed behind them.
They entered the great hall; all the torches were out. The only light was the bright white from the Flame of Solaris which was resting where the podium used to be. The trio joined Mighty and Ray who were clean shaven and taking their failure quite well "I hope it's Perci" Mighty said. Everyone waited eagerly, none of them cared that the Halloween feast had been cancelled due to the extravagant one they had yesterday. Locke with Benidict and Windermere on either side of him expectantly approached the Flame. Behind them was Barker who was beaming with excitement and Puff who looked positively bored. Locke addressed the students "Well, the Flame is nearly ready. I estimate it just needs another minute. Now, when the champions' names are called, I would ask them please to come up to the top of the Hall, walk along the staff table, and go through into the next chamber". He indicated the door behind the staff table "Where they will be receiving their first instructions". Everyone impatiently waited, some checking their watches. Then suddenly the Flame fluttered violently and then out of it shot a small, singed piece of paper which fluttered slowly down. The edges of the paper were burnt but the writing was still clearly visable. Locke caught it and held it near the flame to allow him to see it "The Grimm Champion is… REYNARD THE WOLF!". There was an eruption of applause by everyone, not just the Grimm students. Reynard smiled as he walked up the hall. He shook Locke's hand before going into the next chamber "Bravo, Reynard! Knew you had it in you!" Benedict said. The applause died down when the Flame started to flicker again.
Another parchment was released, and Locke read it "The Champion for Sylvania is… MINA MONGOOSE!". The very Mongoose girl Razor suspected was part Illumina rose from her seat. There was applause however there was very little coming from the Sylvania students who all looked disappointed that they were not chosen. Once Mina disappeared the silence was at its most tense, the Soleanna Champion was next. Again, the Flame released a piece of parchment "The Soleanna Champion is… SONIC THE HEDGEHOG!" "No!" Razor yelled. Thankfully no one heard him as the applause from the Yagyu table was deafening. Sonic was grinning broadly as he shook Locke's hand and went into the next chamber. Locke beamed as he turned to the audience "Excellent! Well, we now have our three champions. I am sure I can count upon all of you, including the remaining students from Sylvania and Grimm, to give your champions every ounce of support you can muster. By cheering your champion on, you will contribute in a very real-". He suddenly stopped and it was apparent why, the Flame was flickering again, even more violently than before. A fourth piece of parchment was released and slowlly fluttered down. Automatically Locke grabbed the parchment out of the air and read it. There was a long silence as everyone stared at him. Finally, Locke cleared his throat and said "Silver the Hedgehog".