Seven months go by, Hikari trained day in and day out with Chaotix. Each day was more or less the same. Wake up, physical agility and strength before some lecture and finally practical application.
Since then Hikari has gotten comfortable with his basic powers; Chaos Spear, Chaos Lance, Chaos Blast and Chaos Burst and teleportation with Chaos Control. As for his more advanced powers, Hikari could use some of his Elemental Chaos, however just three. Inferno, or fire. Icy or ice, and Aqua or Water. Beyond that he was unable to control any other forms of Elemental Chaos and without all 7 Chaos Emeralds it was impossible to get him started on learning his Forms.
Chaotix had worked him hard each day. At the start it was a lot of physical training just to get Hikari used to how much exertion it can take when he's using his abilities. He pushed Hikari to his limits and beyond. Not a day went by that Hikari didn't go to bed sore and exhausted.
Chaotix admired his determination. Wind and Mason constantly wanted to try and see what was going on and when Hikari had any down time tried to get him to tell them. However Hikari remained silent. What he was doing was something that couldn't be shared with others. It had to be secret.
In the last seven months Tails had limited the mission numbers due to what had happened the day Hikari found out about everything. Tails had gotten concerned about what might happen if what few able bodied Mobians he had left were caught. Especially Wind and Mason who made up what was essentially the last team that he was able to send on critical operations deep into Robotnik's territory.
Most of New Knothole wasn't willing to do a lot of work outside the safety of the town. So many had given up hope that Eggman could even be defeated and it was only a matter of time before they were snuffed out.
Hikari was in the training yard for the New Freedom Fighters with Chaotix who had two humanoid figures on each side. They would fire fast moving energy blasts at Hikari and his job was to dodge them and attempt to close in and strike Chaotix. Something he had yet to do.
He'd come close on several recent attempts but Chaotix was expecting him and would move or Hikari would get struck. Hikari looked intently at Chaotix who smirks as the two figures began firing upon Hikari.
Swiftly he managed to flashstep to the side and evade the first barrage and he started running in a circular motion with the two firing relentlessly at him. He'd slowly move closer and closer. Chaotix watched him as he continued to speed up. Then he turns to rush the opening and Chaotix throws a burst of fire. It struck Hikari and Chaotix smiled until the image of Hikari vanished.
"What?!" Chaotix exclaims "An afterimage?!" He steps back before he feels a foot strike him in the back of his head and he falls to the ground.
"Surprise." He hears Hikari say as he turns and Hikari was standing over him with a hand stretched out to help him up. Chaotix smiled a soft smile and accepted the hand.
"Well played." Chaotix says acknowledging he had been bested.
"Chaotix…I want to ask you something…" Hikari says.
"What is it?" The old wolf responds showing he was open to a question.
"How much more training is there…?" Hikari asks. "Before I am ready?"
"Well…there's not much left for me to teach you…" Chaotix admits "Learning how to use your powers is easy. Now it's up to you to use them and make the training mean something."
"What else can you teach me?" Hikari asks.
"Well…" Chaotix sighs "I guess that was a poor choice of words. Really the only thing left for you to do is claim your Blade of Chaos…Anything further requires that to be done first..."
"I feel a 'but' coming…" Hikari mutters.
"But without a second Guardian, I am not sure how we'd get you one. Traditionally one Guardian would use a special power to project the initiate into the world of the Blades to find their blade while another watched over them…for safety in case something went wrong."
"I don't need one." Hikari states "I am fine with what you've taught me. Besides tradition, why else would I need one?"
"Hikari…" Chaotix says with a concerned look "It's more than judy tradition…" he sighs "They are what help protect us from Darkness and yours will very much be a guide…"
"If I may…?" A grizzly voice echoes and a feral, bright yellow wolf with beady red eyes comes out of Chaotix.
"Okami?" Chaotix asks.
"Chaotix…I believe it's time." The wolf says.
"Okami…what are you saying?" Chaotix asks, taken aback by the spirit's words.
"I respect you, Chaotix. However, it is time we part ways…I would like to go with Hikari." Okami says.
"What?!" Hikari and Chaotix exclaim in unison.
"Okami…are you sure…?" Chaotix asks.
The wolf turned to Hikari then to Chaotix and dipped its head. "I am. It's been an honor Master Chaotix but like the other former Council members it is time your Blade moves on. I want Hikari to bare me from now on…"
Chaotix smiled softly and sighs "I understand you've been chomping at the bit to get back out there. You always were the type to be in the heat of battle…Wolf."
"There's something you haven't called me in a long time." The spirit wolf chuckles as Chaotix raises his left hand. In it, a black bladed sword formed. The blade jagged like fangs of a wolf and the grip fuzzy like that of a tail. It then morphed into a much more standard shaped double-edged sword still black like the midnight sky, the hilt and handle a deep dark purple.
Both Okami and Chaotix walk up to Hikari. The older mobian smiles as Hikari held his hand up and grips the blade by the hilt just above Chaotix's hand. "Hikari Chaotic, Take Wolf and prove you can be a shining beacon of hope."
Hikari nodded firmly as Chaotix let go and Hikari's expression changed to a look of shock. He felt a rush of energy and warmth from the blade. Okami, or Wolf, sat and slowly faded. "Together we'll bring back hope." The wolf says. "We have a lot of work to do."
"What else is there to teach me...Chaotix?" Hikari asks.
"You've got a lot of training left." the old mobian sighs. "We haven't even touched on forms or Elemental Chaos..."
"Forms?" Hikari asks "Like Super Sonic?"
"Well yes but for you it's different." Chaotix sighs "For us a Super Form is merely one of many we have..."
Chaotix got ready to continue but he was interrupted by Tails who was running up the small incline leading to the training ground. A look of panic dominated the fox's face "Hikari! Chaotix!" The fox pants.
"What's going on Tails?!" Hikari asks almost instantly.
"W-wind and Mason…they're in trouble!" Tails exclaims.
"What?!" Hikari exclaims "What happened?!" He demands to know.
"I sent them to investigate a Chaos signal we got…in Emerald Hill and they activated their distress beacon a few minutes ago…it's Eggman…please Hikari!"
"I'm on it!" He affirms nodding before running off.
"Hikari wait!" Chaotix calls after him and grabs his arm. Hikari looks back.
"What?" He asks, looking at the old wolf with a worried glare..
"Are you sure?" The old wolf asks. "I can't go with you. You'll be on your own."
"That's not true." Hikari smiles "I have Wolf!" he chuckles.
Chaotix smiled a soft, trusting smile "Be careful Hikari..." he sighs letting go "And come back. You still have a lot of training ahead of you...especially if you want any chance at helping your father..."
"Don't worry!" Hikari says with a firm nod "I'll help Mason and Wind out then be right back to train!" With that the young hedgehog ran off down the hill.
"I wasn't expecting him to be so quick to run off like that…" Tails says "He's changed…"
"Reminds you a bit of Sonic doesn't he." Chaotix chuckles.
"Yeah, that's what worries me." Tails answers. "He's never seen real combat, just your training…He could get hurt..."
"I have faith in him. Hikari learns quickly and his Chaos Aura is strong. I am sure a little bout with Robotnik will do him some good. Besides I doubt they even expect him to come."
"I am more worried about after" Tails sighs.
"He's got a lot to learn." Chaotix sighs "However a lot of it has to come from him...I can teach him the methods to use Chaos, the rest is up to him..."
Meanwhile…
Wind and Mason were tied up on the ground with a group of six robots aiming guns at them while Dr. Eon was looking at the two with a victorious grin on his face. Two more robots stood next to Dr. Eon as a guard. They were situated at the foot of a hill. Behind Dr. Eon, Eggman was trying to get to some strange ruins that the Chaos Emerald was trapped in "I thought you'd come if we used the Chaos Emerald as bait." The younger man chuckles.
"This isn't over…" Wind says, his gaze filled with disdain for the scientist.
"See that is where you're wrong…Wind the Hedgehog." Dr. Egfman laughs, turning around "With you and Mason both out of the picture the rest of your Freedom Fighters will lose hope. None of you special Mobians will remain. Sonic, Shadow and Rage are out of the picture too! Tails won't have the heart to keep fighting!"
"The Freedom Fighters are more than just us!" Wind shouts.
"Say whatever you want." Dr. Eon scoffs "It's over." Dr. Eon raises a hand and the robots prepare to take them.
It was then a barrage of Chaos Spears struck the bots that were next to Dr. Eon and they were destroyed. Dr. Eon looks around in anger. "What?!" He exclaims as a dark red blur blows by. The remaining robots are then destroyed.
"Now what?" Eggman groans as he turns and on the hill he sees the silhouette of Hikari outlined in the sun. None of his features were defined due to the sun setting behind him, "Rage?!" He exclaims in fear. Dr. Eon looks to the hill as well.
"Impossible…" Dr. Eon says "There's no way he could have escaped! Who are you?!"
"Hands off my friends." Hikari says in a low voice as he walked out of the glare to the point that Eggman was able to see him.
Eggman couldn't help but see Hikari's father in him. While it was unknown to him, he didn't know Hikari's origins. "You can't be…we have to go!" Eggman shouts to Eon who looks back unsure as to why Eggman was in such a panic but he followed the large scientist.
Hikari walked over to Wind and Mason. Wind was absolutely beside himself. "Hikari! Talk about a rescue!" He exclaims as the maroon hedgehog knelt down and undid their bindings.
"You guys okay?" He asks. Both nod and look at the rubble that Hikari had created.
"What's that?" Mason asks, pointing to a small green glint in the setting sun. Wind walked over to it.
"It's the Chaos Emerald!" He exclaims reaching for it.
"Wait no!" Hikari shouts almost instinctively. He extended his left hand in a 'stop' motion and the Emerald flies to him. Startled, he was barely able to grab it as it came flying to him.
Wind whistled at the sight "Hikari how did you do that?!" The hedgehog exclaims in surprise. Both he and Mason walked up to Hikari
"I-I don't know…" Hikari answers "I am still learning so much…"
"So much about what?" Mason asks "You've been all quiet the last few months and now all of a sudden you show up to save us and using that strange magic nonetheless!"
"Will you believe me if I tell you?" Hikari sighs as he asks his two friends, both of whom nod. "I…I am a Chaos Guardian…"
"That…makes a lot of sense…" Mason says "The reason you;ve been held up in the training camp the last few months...you've been training haven't you?" the black hedgehog asks and Hikari nods confirming his thoughts.
"Just like your old man…which means…" Wind says happily.
"I have a lot to live up to..." Hikari answers.
"This is awesome! We can finally bring an end to Eggman!" Wind exclaims. "Let's go show him right now!"
"No!" Hikari exclaims, shaking his head in a panicked denial "I am not ready to face someone like him!"
"Come on, it's not that bad!" Wind chuckles. "Egghead's nothing!"
"Then why haven't we been able to stop him before?" Hikari barks "You don't get it Wind...I barely have control over the basics and until we secure the Chaos Emeralds I can't do a whole lot!"
"Why don't we argue about this later." Mason says "You may have spooked Robotnik but he'll send badniks to clean up soon. We can't be caught up in that."
"You're right." Wind sighs giving Hikari a look. "Let's go back to New Knothole."
Hikari looked back to Wind as he held the newly acquired Chaos Emerald close. To their surprise it shrunk!. "How...Hikari did you do that?"
"I...don't know?" Hikari asks himself more than says. "This is what I mean, I still have so much to learn!"
"That was you." Okami's voice echoes in his head.
"O-" Hikari starts to say aloud but he got stopped by a bark from the wolf spirit.
"Don't say anything!" it says "You'll look weird. For now just put it somewhere safe and I'll have Chaotix explain it later."
Hikari simply put the gemstone in his pocket and caught up to Wind and Mason who had begun to walk back to one of the hidden paths back to New Knothole. A stump by the large stream that supplied a large amount of the water for Emerald Hill. It led to an old small underground base that had a teleporter that linked back to New Knothole.
These small outposts had maybe six or seven people at them monitoring equipment and watching out for threats. It was the closest you could get to field work without going into the field. This small outpost was run by Espio the Chameleon who was waiting for them in the main room.
"Wind, Mason, it is good to see you again." he says bowing.
"Long time no see Espio." Wind says mimicking the bow. "How have things been?"
"We've had little activity here. If anything was to happen, you know that we'd say something." The older purple chameleon says looking behind their shoulders to Hikari. "Oh! You have someone new with you..." he exclaims.
"That's right you guys haven't met." Wind says moving to the side so Hikari could walk up and bow his head in greetings. "Espio, this is Hikar."
"Hikari?" Espio exclaims "You've grown."
"You...know me?" Hikari asks, a little freaked out.
"I visited with your father when you were young. You probably don't remember." Espio chuckles, "I am glad to see you're taking after your old man."
"You could say that." Hikari says, looking up and away.
"I shouldn't keep you. I am sure Tails is waiting for you back at HQ. Whenever you're ready the teleporter is." Espio says. The three thank the older chameleon and Wind leads Hikari to the teleporter room.
"Hey, Hikari." Wind says as he pushes a few buttons to get the machine ready to go.
"What?" The red hedgehog asks.
"I know the last year has been a lot for you...if you ever need someone to talk to you know you can talk to Mason and I..." Wind says "We worry about you..."
"Thank you Wind." Was all Hikari says as the hum of the portal grew louder and a blue swirl of energy appeared. Mason was the first one through. Wind smiled and turned before he hopped in.
"See you on the other side, Hikari." He says hopping in.
Hikari stood there a bit nervous. He had never used one of these before. Would it be like when he used Chaos Control? Should he just use Chaos Control?" He was scared but knew he had to tough it out. How would he ever hope to stand up to Robotnik if he fretted over such little things? With a sharp inhale he tensed up, closed his eyes and walked through.
It was a weird feeling. He felt warm and all of a sudden cold. Slowly he opened his eyes to see Mason and Wind looking at him. Wind started laughing. "What's so funny?!" Hikari barks.
"First time." Wind chuckles "You were scared."
"What if I was?" Hikari scowls "I haven't been out running field ops for years like the two of you!" he grumps.
"If you two are done." Mason pipes up. "I am sure Tails is worried sick."
"Right. Let's go." Wind says as the three walked out of the main portal hub of HQ and up to the War Room where Tails was pacing around the room frantically. When he heard the auto-door open he shot his look over to see Mason and Wind. The yellow fox's face lit up in relief as he ran over.
"Mason! Wind! You guys are alright!" he exclaims hugging the two "You had me worried sick!"
"All thanks to Hikari." Wind chuckles "All he did was destroy some of Egghead's badniks and he sent the running with their tails between their legs. We even got a Chaos Emerald! It was weird though..."
"Weird how?" Tails asks.
"Eggman acted like he knew Hikari..." Mason says.
"It was almost like he thought I was...Rage." Hikari says.
"Strange..." Tails says, crossing his arms. "I am sure it's nothing to worry about. I am glad everyone made it back okay. Wind, Mason I want you two to go and rest." he orders.
"With pleasure." Wind yawns as he and Mason head back. Hikari goes to follow but Tails stops him.
"Hold up Hikari." Tails says. This got Wind and Mason's attention. Both stopped and turned around to hear what Tails had to say. "Hikari...I had my doubts about sending you on this...had Chaotix not said anything I would have said no..."
"I know." Hikari sighs.
"You accomplished your task." Tails continues "You got Wind and Mason back safe and sound for which you have my deepest gratitude. Just...don't get used to it."
"What...what are you saying?" Hikari asks.
"For now I am not going to let you go on field assignments.." Tails elaborated.
"Oh come on!" Wind exclaims. "How many people here can boast that they destroyed eight badniks without any of them noticing?!"
"That's not it." Tails says.
"Then why don't you want him out with Mason and I?!" Wind shouts.
"I want him to focus on getting the other five Chaos Emeralds." Tails says. "In the end we're going to need all of them if we're to put an end to Dr. Eon and Dr. Eggman."
"Since I am sensitive to them...you think I can track them down..." Hikari guessed.
"Correct." Tails affirms. "Plus, if we're going to get Sonic, Shadow and Rage back, no doubt all seven Emeralds will only strengthen our chances."
"That's a lot of ifs...and a lot of things that are reliant on me..." Hikari says nervously.
"We'll be there to back you up, Hikari!" Wind says with a smile.
"Is that all?" Hikari asks and Tails nods.
"You three are dismissed. Hikari, please go find Chaotix and talk with him. He's got more details to help you get started."
"I will Tails...thank you." Hikari says with a soft smile.
