Chapter Eight – Kidnapped
With the Mobians having their Chaos Powers blocked for the Olympic Games, to create a level playing field, Mario and his friends genuinely had no idea just how powerful Sonic, Knuckles, Shadow and some others actually were. But Tails was having a problem. The method of blocking the Chaos Powers, in the form of bracelets, was failing. Shadow, and Sonic, especially, were growing faster then the technology could keep up. Tails had been expecting it, but it was happening much sooner then he'd thought and he feared that the Olympic Games contests between them would have to end if he couldn't think of something.
So Tails pushed the technology as far as it would go and it only just blocked the Chaos powers, especially on Sonic and Shadow. He was worried, but thought it would be alright. Those Hedgehogs were utter powerhouses, they could handle anything. The final Olympic Games arrived and all was well, but at the end of the two-week contest, during the closing ceremony, something was wrong. Both Sonic and Shadow vanished, as Sukko has already gone home. But after much searching, no one could find them. Suddenly, Sonic was found lying unconscious in a dressing room, in a very bad way. The bracelets had gone horribly wrong and his body was violently reacting to it, was jet black lines exploded from his bracelets and were criss-crossing all over his body.
Blood poisoning.
They had to get the bracelets off and now. They were killing him, but they had moulded onto his wrists. Suddenly, Shadow bust in, looking awful, in huge quantities of pain, like a dead man walking. He was, literally. The bracelets had done the same to him, but he'd died, but thankfully, the bracelets didn't block his regeneration abilities and he'd not long woken up. Thats why he'd vanished to several days, but his bracelets were now gone. He immediately grabbed Sonic's wrists, and used his incredible Super-Strength to get the bracelets off of him.
It took everything Shadow had, which for the Ultimate Lifeform, was a lot. Finally, he succeeded, the bracelets were off, with an enormous crack, the Chaos Powers returning to Sonic's body, but the Hedgehog was still very sick. Unfortunately, Shadow checked down the Psychic Link, and Sukko was also in a bad way. He swore. The twins were entirely dependant on their telepathic connection, one brother constantly influencing the other, and if one died, they both would. It was a danger Shadow was well aware off, as he heard the Sorcerer getting treated back on Mobius. Both the twins would be fine.
Thankfully, several days in a human hospital, and Sonic made it, safe and well, but the whole incident left both he and Shadow very shaken. Tails removed all of the bracelets off everyone, with the agreement of Mario and his friends. They weren't safe anymore and nobody wanted anyone else to get injured. But now what? It was decided to abandon the Olympic Games, as were they now finished, and instead explore Earth.
Unfortunately, Bowser, the King Koopa, had other ideas, and with a blinding flash of deep, dark fuchsia pink, they all vanished. He's kidnapped everyone and taken them to the Mushroom Kingdom. Bowser then caged them, using the powerful Magic of Kamek, a lead Magikoopa. Against such incredible Magic, neither Knuckles or Sonic could get out. In fact, no one could, as Bowser was left to ransack the Mushroom Kingdom. But soon they were back, the King Koopa and his army and as Kamek scans everyone with his Magic for anything hidden. Suddenly, he lands on Sonic, with a deep frown on his face. He scans the speedster further, pointing his golden staff at him, with it deep, ruby red crystal, but the Blue Blur somehow heavily resists the Magic, which shouldn't have been possible. This completely throws Kamek.
But the Magikoopa see something in the Blue Blur's soul which blows his brain. He growled. Rounding on Bowser.
"Sire, he has a sibling, a brother." He spits, to the now silenced crowd. They all knew of Sukko, from his visit to the recent Olympic Games. But Bowser laughs evilly.
"Well." He smirked "Let's have this 'brother' summoned to us." He sniggered. But Sonic panicked, gulping hard.
"Er, I wouldn't do that, if I were you. You do 'not' want my brother here." He stammered, knowing they meant Sukko. But he is promptly ignored, and Kamek the sends his wand to the sky above them, muttering an extremely incantation, a deep purple portal appears above their heads, and someone or something fell from the sky and lands very roughly on the ground, extremely hard.
He couldn't be seen behind the long black coat that covered him. All the Koopas laugh, but then Bowser then make a beeline for the new arrival, and opening his mouth, promptly covers him his flames. But Sukko saw it coming, and instantly scrambling to his feet, his placed an almighty forcefield between himself and the flames, and stood his ground hard. But Bowser bore down on him, but the Sorcerer was stronger, as suddenly his temper got the better of him, and a deep purple aura began to surround him. He'd been recently ill, and it had left him in a somewhat bad mood. With an almighty roar, he forces the flames backwards and finally throws an astonished Bowser high into the air and back into his own army.
He was utterly stunned and was left face-to-face with a second Blue Hedgehog, who's temper was quickly melting away, with a rather large smirk on his face. But Bowser was angry, and before Sukko could do anything, Kamek waves his powerful staff, and with a flash of bright pink light, and everyone was gone. Bowser, the Koopa, and all of the captives, which caused Sukko to swear in response.
Suddenly, all of captives suddenly landed in the dungeons of Bowser's castle. A floating island, similar to Knuckles's Angel Island, but this was significantly bigger, and comprised mainly of a large, somewhat ancient brick built traditional castle, taking up most of the Island. This castle was, in itself, sent into the side of an active volcano, which is constantly erupting red hot lava, in all directions. It had therefore covered everything in deep, dark, black ash. Living on the floating monstrosity, was Bowser himself, Kamek, the Koopa General, the Shy Guys, and the vast army of the Koopa Troop. The net results was, that there were guards everywhere.
Unfortunately, in the transfer, Bowser had split the boys and the girls, so Daisy, Peach, Amy, Toadette, Blaze, Cream and Rouge were elsewhere, and knowing Bowser, under maximum security, as he was still chasing Princess Peach. Left behind were Sonic, Tails, Mario, Luigi, Toad, Silver, Shadow, Knuckles, and Donkey Kong. Luigi roared banging against the sides of the dungeon, only to have Kamek's Magic explode out from it. Luigi wore a green hat with an 'L' symbol. He wore a long-sleeved green shirt and blue overalls on the inside. He wore red and white striped socks similar to that of a candy cane. Luigi is a fair-skinned, tall Human with an oblong face. He has short brown hair and a dark brown moustache. He has bright blue eyes and wore white gloves and brown shoes. He roared in frustration.
"There's got to be a way out of this." He spat, but Mario was staring down on Sonic, who was in another dungeon, arms folded, very quietly staring out of the barred window. Mario was a twenty-five year-old Italian Human, similar height to Sonic himself, and from a different version of Earth, to where the Olympic Games were held. He had fair skin, is short and stocky in stature, and is a bit portly. He has bright blue eyes, a big nose, and a thick dark-brown moustache with six bumps on it. Mario had short brown hair with two sideburns, three large bangs pointing upwards, four short bangs pointing upward at the back of his neck, and a sprout-shaped cowlick. He wore a red sweater and blue overalls with yellow buttons. He wore a red cap that has the 'M' symbol for the first letter of his name and wore white gloves, and brown dress shoes.
He couldn't quite believe what he'd just witnessed. Bowser being thrown off. He physically didn't believe it was possible. Everyone was still stunned. The Blue Blue seemed nervous, and even Shadow and Tails kept their distance. They both knew why.
Magic, and it highly illegal status, back on Mobius. The truth would change everything, but as the boys tried and failed to get of the dungeons. Kamek's power was just too strong, the Blue Blur realised he may not have a choice. Sukko had already found them, and the girls, but had stayed back, as the twins were desperately and rather quietly, discussed options down the Psychic Link. As powerful as Kamek was, he'd got nothing on Sukko, and the mighty Sorcerer would rip him to pieces, but was it the right thing to do? This wasn't their home, and the implication for their family could be dire. In the end, it was decided that Sonic should make the call.
Did he trust everyone enough, to know the truth, and keep his family safe? Especially in this new kingdom? He just didn't know, as he rounded on Mario.
"Hey, whose in charge here?" He asked, his tone rather cold. "This is the Mushroom Kingdom, right?" He wondered. Maria nodded, though he deeply frowned at the question.
"Er, Princess Peach. But she's been taken elsewhere, along with the other girls, but I don't know where. Bowser had been trying to chase her unsuccessfully for years, that's why he's separated them off. I hope they're alright." He spat. But Sonic just smirked.
"Sukko's already messaged me to say, he knows where we are, but he's still looking for the girls. He just wants to know what the plan is." He nodded. But Tails gasped.
"Whoa, that was fast." He praised. But Sonic smirked, his voice surprisingly cold.
"We're Blue Hedgehogs, Tails, we don't do things slowly." He hissed, somewhat frustrated with the situation. "So, what's the plan?" He scowled, repeating himself. There was silence, as Sonic just growled. "Look, if we were back on Mobius, in this situation, I'd have Sukko join me, and just outright destroy this place, after he broke us break out. But one, Eggman would never do this, he's actually scared of my brother, and two, this isn't our home. There are enormous consequences to such an action. It will leave huge environmental scars across the planet below. Mobius recovers very fast from them, and can be forced to heal very quickly, hence why we do it, but the Mushroom Kingdom, I don't know. The place feels very different, with balance of energies varying hugely here, then from back home. What do you think your Princess is willing to sacrifice? How much does she want Bowser stopped?" He asked. But Mario gulped.
"I have no idea." He admitted, but then he thought. "She want's Bowser permanently gone, but I don't think she'd want the planet destroyed in the process." He shrugged. But Toad shook his head.
"No, that's not good. Our natural environments have taken thousands of years to grow and mature. To destroy them would be devastating. They would never recover." He squealed. But Sonic growled.
"Alright, so outright blasting this damn floating island is out of the question, then." He hissed, frowning hard, his eyes seemingly off into the distance. His demeanour suddenly seemed a little bit too cold, for the Blue Blur. Very odd, but then he frowned. "I wonder, without his pet Magician, how powerful is Bowser?" He asked. But Toad gulped.
"Very. No one had ever defeated Bowser one-on-one, without any external influences, like the Power-Ups. As for Kamek, he's an extremely powerful Sorcerer, his Magic is the reason, Bowser has such huge leverage. No one had ever broken through his sorcery, not even Donkey King." He stammered, as the giant Gorilla in the corner just shook his head. He'd pounded that Magikoopa's Magic hard, in the past, and had gotten nowhere. But Sonic just smirked, and hard, facing them all.
"Are you sure about that?" He hissed, and suddenly, he raised his right hand, and with an almighty crack, and a blinding flash of bright light, as the Blue Hedgehog's eyes glowed bright blue, the Magic between the dungeons, vanished. Everyone just gasped as suddenly, Tails squealed, and ran in for a enormous hug with the powerful Sorcerer.
"Uncle Sukko." He stammered. "My chaos, you swapped places." He gasped. Sukko was in the Blue Blur's attire. He looked perfect. It was uncanny and extremely disorientating. Literally only his mannerisms, were giving him away. Even Tails hadn't noticed. But the Sorcerer just rolled his eyes, smirking hard.
"Oh, come on, Fox. Genetically identical twins, it's the oldest trick in the book. Like I said, we don't do things slowly, hence no one saw the swap. When Sonikku realised that you guys were getting split up, he asked to go after the girls." He nodded, and then suddenly, he stared into the distance again, blinking hard, his eyes suddenly glowing blue. "Actually, he's found them. Finally. He stood right outside of their dungeon. Currently, no one know he's there. There are being kept at the top of the main tower. It's looks as though, Bowser is going after the Princess again, and he's not giving her a choice, but to accept him." He hissed. But Mario growled.
"That's not happening." He hissed. But Sukko rounded on the Human.
"Quite." He growled, heavily disliking anyone being forced into anything. He heaved. "Like I said, me and Sonikku can potentially take out the King Koopa, and this entire floating Island, but how much collateral damage are you willing to take? Doing this without it getting nasty, is going to be difficult." He hissed. But Mario was getting frustrated. He felt like a fool for being duped, and he was struggling to trust the Blue Hedgehog in front of him. He growled.
"Who are you?" He spat. "I've never seen anyone push back Bowser, with nothing but their bare hands." He hissed. Tails and Shadow gulped as Sukko just heaved and hard, saying he three words that would change everything. He decided to tell them the truth. He wasn't on Mobius anymore, and Chaos Sorcery seemed to be legal here, in the Mushroom Kingdom, so there wasn't really anything they could do about it. He sighed and hard.
"I have Magic." He admitted simply, to enormous gasps around the room, especially from the Mobians. Suddenly, lifted his right hand, above his head, and snapped his fingers again. Suddenly, a small ball of bright blue light appeared and began circling around the Sorcerer, from top to bottom. In the process, his attire changed. The long, black coat appeared, his black tattoos, silver bracelets and the cherry red and white shoes vanished, replaced with brown and beige leather boots. It was a phenomenal piece of Magic casting, even if it was simple for the Sorcerer. He sighed and hard.
"My name is Sukko, I'm the brother of the Blue Blur, and I'm the most powerful Sorcerer in the galaxy, just as Sonikku is the fastest thing, on foot, in the universe. We hide our family, from, not only Eggman but the Mobian Authorities, the world government. Because back home, on Mobius, Chaos Sorcery is highly illegal, due to it's horrendous corruption issues, and comes with a penalty of death. For not just the Sorcerer, but their entire family. But I swear, that's not us. My family were born with the power, we never asked for it, and we use Magic because we must. To survive. We don't have a choice. It's why I'm the King of Stealth, I have to hid it." He panted, the he glared at everyone. "Oh, come on. You all know Sonikku." He grinned, folding his arms, especially to his fellow Mobians. "But he never lied to you. He doesn't have any Chaos Sorcery, I promise, he can't cast. It's just me, but he's completely immune to any and all Magic, hence how he was able to thwart Kamek." He added.
He explained this because none of Sonic's friends knew of him. Of course, they didn't. He was forever wiping their memories of him, after every encounter, so they never remembered. But also he wanted the residents of the Mushroom Kingdom to know the truth, because one, Sonic had spoken so highly of them, and two, Magic was was being used here, and therefore, it could be a possible place, a safe-haven, for the entire family to run to, if everything collapsed back on Mobius. Sukko had no intention of wiping any memories from Mario and his friends. It wasn't appropriate. Regardless, he just sniggered. Suddenly, Sukko blinked, his head snapping upwards, his eyes glowing a deep blue again. "Sonikku wants to know what the plan is? He's ready to get the girls, just say the word." He relayed to everyone, sounding somewhat impatient. But Mario frowned.
"How do you know?" He wondered. But Sukko smiled as Tails had moved away. The Sorcerer nodded.
"Sonikku and I share a Psychic Link. We can hear each other's words, thoughts and feelings instantly, inside each other's minds. It only works when we are on the same planet or dimension, but it becomes horrendously strained when one of us moves. When you were all brought here, I immediately knew something was going on, but I got summoned, which saved me the trip of following." He giggled. Several people gasped as again, especially from Silver and Luigi, both of whom were fascinated it, this had been heard of before, but now was not the time to dwell on it. Tails was in deep thought, when suddenly he had an idea, as he rounded on the Sorcerer.
"Uncle Sukko, tell Sonic to go, but can he break through Kamek's Magic?" He frowned, but the Blue Hedgehog immediately nodded.
"Yes, easily. With enough speed, and I'm talking borderline god-like levels of fast, Sonikku can disintegrate any Sorcery to dust. It physically can't take the intense strain." He nodded but then he heaved, "Including my own, which is why, if push came to serious shove, in a fight between us, he would win." He admitted, with a heavy heart. But Tails grabbed him, and nodded.
"Don't go there, Uncle Sukko. You haven't corrupted on us, yet, and you never will. Your Sonic's brother. Your heart of gold, is as big as his is." He smiled. But Sukko closed his eyes and heaved. Suddenly, he rounded on the Fox, and smirked.
"What do you need?" He asked, but a huge squeal of delight from Tails. He bounced and hard.
"Yes, right, Uncle Sukko, get us out of here, and take out Kamek. The only Magic I want to see around here, is yours." He ordered, the Sorcerer nodded. Then he moved to the others. "Mario, and Luigi, take Shadow and Knuckles, and go after Bowser. You have experience in fighting the King Koopa, you know how he works." They all nodded. Then he looked at the Grey Hedgehog. "Silver and Donkey Kong, take on his army. They shouldn't be a match for you." He added, of which Mario just gasped, as Silver nodded.
"Whoa, on your own?" He stammered, as he stared at the Psychic. The giant Gorilla just nodded, shrugging hard. But Tails cut across Mario, growling hard.
"Yes, but you'll see, I promise." He hissed. "And as for me, I'll take Toad and back up Sonic with the girls, and get them off this floating island. They going to need another flyer, other then Blaze, and Cream, and Toad to negotiate." He paused, and then whirled around at everyone. "Oh, and people, try not to crash the place." He added. Suddenly, Sukko grabbed Tails, and placed his hand on his forehead, and with a bright blue glow, instantly downloaded his twin's location to the Fox. He blinked hard, and then shook it off, thanking his Uncle, as he ran for the main door of the dungeon, and where Kamek's strongest Magic was.
But against the Sorcerer, the lasted barely seconds, as everyone stood behind Sukko, as he literally disintegrated the door. It wasn't that the Sorcerer's Magic was any more powerful then Kamek's. It was approximately equal. It was simply because Sukko had a ruthlessly deep understanding of his own power, and abilities, able to cast laterally, and more cleverly. The Magikoopa just didn't, completely taking it for granted. Sukko had been forced to fight during the war, with his Magic, leading him to be significantly more experienced and knowledgable, as the Sorcerer was able the just circumvent the Magikoopa's casts, find the cracks, and then just disintegrate them, and as always with Blue Hedgehogs, he was able to do this extremely quickly. They all ran for it, the Sorcerer taking the lead, his incredible Magic, casting with nothing but his bare hands, ripping though anything Kamek had left behind. Suddenly, they were free, and immediately everyone went their separate ways, just as Sukko gave the word, as his twin finally landed on the girls.
There was utter pandemonium. Well, certainly for Bowser, whom in a matter of seconds, had no idea what hit him, as several explosions around his floating island castle happened all at once. All the Mobians were seasoned warriors, and even though Mario had heard that they had been fighting Eggman for years, it really showed. They had all, unfortunately, done this before.
Mario struggled to stay on task, worrying about Peach, but he had to trust Sonic, Tails and Toad to get the job done. He raced ahead, heading for the main throne room, of the castle, which was in the main courtyard, where Bowser liked to hang out. Soon Luigi, Knuckles and Shadow on his tail, but he was rapidly getting outpaced by the Mobians. These guys were fast, especially the Ultimate Lifeform, and the Echidna easily able to keep up. The brothers were struggling and now they realised they desperately needed a power up, if they had any chance of against Bowser. The Mobians had an edge with their own superpowers, they now needed one.
Suddenly, as then ran through the castle, they pass a storage room, thankfully full of power-ups. They grab hand-fulls of them, pocketing them, and then each proceed to eat one. Mario the Cat Bell, and Luigi, a standard mushroom, which made him larger, stronger and faster. Now they could keep up with the Mobians.
Both Shadow and Knuckles just shrugged, as they left and ran for the outdoor throne room. Bowser stopped them, with Princess Peach, tied up near by, him having moved her, and was about to make a speech. But Shadow, who temper was badly flaring, didn't give him a chance. He charged forwards, jumped high in the sky, planted a punch right across the King Koopa's face. He tumbled backwards, as Shadow just grabbed Peach, and with the mastery of an almighty whistle of a certain family, he then proceeded to open his mouth slightly and curl his bottom lip under his top front teeth. As if making a 'f' sound. He then placed his tongue to just behind those teeth, as though making a 'th' sound and together, between the two, he let it rip. The resulting whistle was so loud, that it shook the entire courtyard, as Shadow used his incredible brute strength, he physically threw the girl extremely high in the air, to everyone screaming.
But the Ultimate Lifeform just smirked, as a roar of sound, from above, told him otherwise, as Sukko just flew in, to utter astonishment, grabbed the girl, and was gone, before anyone could do anything. Then in the distance, he passed Peach on to Tails, who quickly got her to safety, where Toad was looking after everyone. Suddenly, there were explosions of deep pink Magic as Kamek went after Sukko, but Shadow just smirked. With the girl gone, they no longer had to play nice, and Bowser just lost his temper. He went for the Ultimate Lifeform, but was blown away, by speeds that equalled the Blue Blur himself. During the Olympic Games, he's seen none of the superpowers on any of the Mobians either, as they had all been blocked, and had, rather stupidly assumed they didn't have any. Bowser couldn't land a punch, and when the others joined the fray, both Mario and Luigi got almost immediately thrown backwards, the both having their power ups knocked out of them.
But Knuckles stood his ground, able to withstand and then trade blows with the King Koopa. As the Echidna slammed giant Turtle, it almost knocked Bowser senseless. He gasped, staring straight it him. A creature equal to his own incredible strength, that's impossible. But as he was going to quickly find out, he wasn't the only one, as Shadow began hit equally as hard. He gasped. Super-Speed and Super-Strength, what was going on, as the Ultimate Lifeform just pummelled the King Koopa, taking no prisoners. This, very much, left Mario and Luigi behind.
But Bowser wasn't going down without a fight, as both Shadow and Knuckles worked together to attack him from each side, until finally the King Koopa was left swaying. The two Mobians just charged at him, Shadow super-spinning, just as Knuckles roaring, blasting him with an almighty punch, straight at him, sending the Black Hedgehog at ruthless speeds towards the King Koopa, sending him backwards, repeatedly through the walls of his own castle and clean off the island itself, to crash land in the ground below.
They ran after him, check the all clear, but Knuckles was growling, holding the shoulder, he punched the Ultimate Lifeform with.
"Ow, Chaos hell, your heavy." He hissed, blasting the Ultimate Lifeform. But Shadow just shrugged, as Knuckles just held out a fist for him. "Nicely done, by the way." He added, with the smiled. Shadow just stared, utterly stunned. But the Echidna smiled. "I don't know what's going on between you and Sonic, or that brother of his, whomever he is, but the Blue Blur obviously trusts you enough to teach you that unique whistle of his." He sighed. It was very rare talent, but trait that ran in the incredible special family, as all the brothers could do it. But as Knuckles stood there, there was an air of familiarity to the Sorcerer. Like what had been said about him was the truth, and should be trusted. But Shadow gulped.
"But Sonic didn't teach me the family whistle, Sukko did." He admitted. But Knuckles heaved.
"The brother?" He asked. Shadow nodded, but the Echidna heaved. "But he's a Sorcerer who has Magic, which I don't exactly trust, but the fact that our memories of him, are extremely temperamental, I think is for a reason. A good one." He hissed, instinctively noticing the constant memory wipes. "But it's obvious that the Blue Blur has the control. He's in charge, as the brother is intensely loyal to him. I can see it in his eyes. But with the Magic, it must be safe, as I doubt Sonic would let him do it, otherwise." He asked. Shadow nodded again, but Knuckles heaved, rounding on him. "You know, don't you. The truth?" He added, the Ultimate Lifeform heaved. Sukko's own children, as well as the Chaos Sorcery itself. But he growled.
"Yes, but it can't ever be spoken, not while the war still rages, back home." He hissed. He was beginning the think the Echidna could be trusted with the truth, but not all of Sonic's friend group. There were several that were far to wayward and talkative. But it wasn't his judgement call. Knuckles heaved, seeing it the Black Hedgehog's eyes, his intense loyalty to the family. He just looked down at the at his own fist.
"Well, then, that's good enough for me." He praised. "Look after them." He added, indicating it, for the Ultimate Lifeform to take. Shadow smirked, as he took the gesture of friendship, and fist bumped the Echidna. He nodded.
"You have my word." He promised, meaning it wholeheartedly, his word always being his bond. Suddenly, Mario squealed, looking at the grounds below Bowser's flying island and castle. His army was approaching and it was vast. Donkey Kong was already down there, ripping through the Koopa Army, but he also was getting out completely outgunned by his Mobian companion, even with a power-up. Silver was just tearing though the army, his Psychokinesis just tearing the army to shreds. But the Koopas just kept coming as Donkey Kong looked upwards, and spotting Mario and Luigi, just gave them an enormous shrug, with a enormous grin on his face.
Wow, these Mobians were good, as more of the Koopa army, began appearing on the horizon, they were about to be overwhelmed by numbers. Knuckles growled, tapping Shadow on the shoulders.
"Come on." He hissed, indicating below them. Shadow smirked and nodded, as the both of them backed up, to both Mario and Luigi's horror, the Mobian's physically jumped off the island, and dived for ground below. The Ultimate Lifeform called as he leapt.
"Find Sukko, he's still on the island." He ordered, as he plummeted to the surface below. He then Chaos Controlled, doing a perfect teleport, landing it, and then just ran for the approaching army, blasting them, with his sheer strength and speed. Knuckles glided down, and soon joined in. Mario gulped as he noticed that everyone, other then themselves, was now off the island. All the girls were safe, as now everyone, including Sonic was going now for the army. Only Kamek and the Sorcerer were left behind.