"So Tails wants to focus on collecting the Emeralds?" Chaotix asks to confirm what he heard was right. Hikari had returned to him to explain not only what had happened in Emerald Hill but the mission Tail's had given him.

"Yes." Hikari affirms. "Tails says we'll need them."

"He's right." Okami's voice echoes as a small, light blue orb flew out of Hikari and transformed into a translucent blue wolf form. "You'll need them as well to complete your training."

"You mentioned that before." Hikari says, looking at Chaotix. "What did you mean though?"

"Ah right." Chaotix exhales, "I never finished explaining that did I?" lol

"Tails did sort of interrupt you." Okami says sitting down next to Hikari.

"In order for you to use your more powerful abilities you need more Chaos Emeralds..." Chaotix says "At least for now. If you work hard enough you'll be able to use them without relying on the Emeralds but for now they're your lifeline. Guard them with your life." he instructs "Without all of them you'll not be able to use any of your forms right now either."

"So what was that thing back when I first found out about all of this then?" Hikari asks "When I turned all golden? Wind was quick to call me 'Super Hikari' there."

"I guess it's more of a safety thing." Chaotix says "You said it yourself, you felt like you were going to explode right?"

"Yeah. I felt all of this energy swelled up inside me and it took all I had to not just let it all out." Hikari says.

"Because you still need to learn control. More Chaos Emeralds will help you with that by giving you a safe conduit to filter your extra energy into." Chaotix answers. "I know I taught you a lot but that level of control is something you'll need to learn over time and with the help of Okami. He will help you from here on."

"You mean you're done?" Hikari asks.

"In a sense, for the time being, yes." Chaotix nods. "Anything further from me can only come later. You should focus on finding the other five Chaos Emeralds. Do that and I can teach you the rest of what I can."

"I don't even know where to begin!" Hikari complains. "Mobius is huge and I can't just go wandering around looking. Tails would never allow that."

"Focus and meditate." Chaotix says "Clear you mind and focus on their energy. If you call out to them…they will answer."

Hikari, unsure exactly what Chaotix meant, sighs and shuts his eyes. He took a deep breath. Then another. He thought of nothing but the Emeralds. It was then he felt a vision rush to him. The yellow Emerald. Nestled in a cave surrounded by a thicket of vines and jungle undergrowth of the old GUN occupied jungle. Then another vision, the Red Emerald laying in the ruins of an old Echidna city near the Mystic Ruins. Followed by one of the White Emerald buried under the drifts of snow deep in the Icecap Mountains. Next a vision of the cyan emerald high in the skies on Angel Island. Finally a vision of the purple emerald. It was in a room, hooked up to some device it was held within the heart of Dr. Robotnik's base of operations: Eggman Land.

Hikari's eyes shot open and he leapt to his feet. "I saw them…all of them…I have to let Tails know!" He exclaims running off leaving Okami and Chaotix.

"He's hasty." Okami comments.

"As was Ragis. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree Okami. Until he rescues him, you'll need to be there for the young lad." Chaotix sighs.

"I will be." Okami affirms. "He needs all the help he can get. Especially with the protection ward on the Chaos Emeralds."

Hikari had made it to the command center where Tails was. He explained each vision and the fox compiled a map showing where the remaining five Chaos Emeralds was located. With that he summoned Wind and Mason. The four looked over the map trying to plan how to recover each Emerald. "Troubling…" Tails says "I should have figured Eggman would have at least one but for it to be in his main base of operations? We're talking near impossible odds to get that."

"It'll have to be our last one." Wind says "We grab it when we confront Robotnik."

"What of the cyan?" Mason asks "Nobody's been able to access Angel Island since Sonic, Shadow and Rage went missing four years ago. Eggman tried with one of his flying carriers and even that failed."

"Maybe Hikari can." Wind theorizes "As a Chaos Guardian he may be able to get through."

"The barrier around Angel Island can only be passed by a Chaos Guardian." Hikari says "Rage must have put it up to ensure at least one Emerald was safe regardless of what happened."

The others look at him in surprise. "How did you know that?" Wind asks.

"I don't know…" Hikari says "I just felt this need to say that…"

"You're welcome." Okami says.

"Okami…" Hikari answers.

"So…what are we splitting up then?" Mason asks.

"I dunno…" Tails says "The Chaos Emeralds are dangerous in the wrong hands."

"Yeah and Eggman has one." Wind scoffs "The faster we gather the others the better."

"We will have to be very careful how we go about this." Tails adds "If Eggman figures out that we know where the rest of the Emeralds are then he'll move to secure them as well."

"Could we use that to an advantage…?" Tails asks himself aloud.

"What do you mean?" Wind asks.

"Hikari, can you call out to them Emeralds and summon them?" Tails asks.

"I don't know." Hikari answers. "I would think that Chaotix would have taught me that…"

"What gives you the idea he could?" Wind asks Tails.

"Rage could…I didn't know when he learned that though…" Tails answered.

"If it was that easy, why would I be going through all of this?" Hikari remarks. "So what's the plan?"

"Given the locations of the remaining Emeralds…Hikari you'll go get the one on Angel Island and the one in the Mystic Ruins. A strange barrier closed the island off not long after the incident in the Icecap Mountains. I have a feeling a Chaos Guardian can pass through though…Mason you'll go after the one in the Iron Jungle…which leaves the one in the Icecap mountains to you Wind."

"And Eggman?" Mason asks "What should we do if they catch on? There's no way we can take on the two of them If we're caught alone."

"We don't really have a choice but to take this risk. We need to get to the Chaos Emeralds before both Eggmans can." Tails says "Even if Hikari wasn't a Chaos Guardian, collecting them has always been a priority."

"Well what are we waiting for?!" Wind scoffs "Let's go!"

Wind and Mason both ran off after this leaving Tails and Hikari alone. They were silent for a bit before Hikari finally broke it. "Tails…I need to know, did you know about all of this?"

"What do you mean?" Tails asks.

"About me…that I had these powers inside me all this time…" Hikari elaborates.

"To an extent, yes." The yellow fox replies "I am sorry I kept it from you. Rage told me it was possible you had inherited his blood. He trusted me to not say anything though."

"Why not?!" Hikari exclaims. "Why would you both lie?!"

"To protect you." Tails explains. "Rage told me how lonely his path has been, how emotionally exhausting and painful it is…he wanted to save you from all of this. When Rebecca…rather your mother died after childbirth he was certain that was a sign. He grew distant after she died…she loved him for who he was and not what he was. After her death I was the only one he really trusted…he and Sonic had grown somewhat distant and he never really talked with Shadow…"

"…I see…you didn't do it because it was in your interest…rather my father asked you?" Hikari asks.

"Yeah…and when you began showing signs before your little incident I honestly didn't know what to do." Tails answers "With Rage gone I couldn't just ask him…"

"I should go." Hikari sighs turning to the exit.

"Wait!" Tails exclaimed as he scrambled to a desk on the other side of the room. Hikari turned back around and watched the fox look through the desk before he pulled a small earpiece and a box device out and handed it to Hikari. "Here." Tails says as Hikari took it and placed it in his left ear. "It's one of our communicators…with it you can contact Wind, Mason and myself here at HQ. Other channels for the regional outposts exist as well. You should visit the one in the Mystic Ruins and meet with Cream the Rabbit. She has done a lot of work in that region and can probably give you some help."

"I will." Hikari says with a firm nod.

"Be careful…" Tails says "We don't know if Eggman is watching Angel Island. If he is, it's likely you will have to deal with his robots after you collect the Emerald."

"If anything happens I'll be sure to let you know." Hikari says. Tails nodded as the hedgehog left the room. A few silent minutes went by and the fox finally sighed.

"I hope we're not in over our heads." The fox sighs as he looks back to the map. Wind was already nearly on location. Mason was about halfway and Hikari, having just left, had made some progress. He had the shortest distance to cover.

It wasn't long until Wind's cocky voice came on the comm link. "Emerald secure, first as usual!" He chuckles.

"It's not a race Wind." Tails grumps over the radio. "Return as soon as you can and keep an eye out for you know who."

"Relax Tails." Wind chuckles "I'll be back before you know it!"

Meanwhile, Hikari had made his way into the Mystic Ruins. He was instructed to meet up with Cream but where would he find the outpost in a place with jungle as dense as this?

"Wolf?" Hikari finally speaks and the spirit of his blade appears next to him.

"What's wrong?" The translucent golden wolf ask as the scaled the steps to enter the old Echidna temple where he had the vision of the Emerald.

"Have you felt anyone around?" He asks

"I've had this feeling we're being watched." The wolf answers.

"I know…I don't like it." Hikari says, looking around. It was then he saw it, a shadowy silhouette in the trees looking down upon him. "Okami!" He calls and the wolf looks to the trees and the figure lept. Swiftly the wolf changed into Hikari's blade just in time for him to block a knife.

Hikari's battle-ready green eyes met a pair of brown eyes. Two floppy ears nearly brushed against his arms as he threw a kick to force his assailant to make distance. Whoever it was they lept to the bottom of the pyramid that Hikari stood firmly on.

He finally got a good look at them. It was a female rabbit. White and almost cream colored fur stood out prominently against the lush green forest floor. A black shirt with a bandolier of pouches slung over the shoulder. The top was just a bit too short to meet the black pair of skintight leggings. The female rabbit had a sleek feminine figure. Some brown hair say upon the crest of her eyes.

The gaze of the female wasn't intense like Hikari's, it was much more timid. Like a kid trying to look tough almost. Even though she was clearly older than Hikari. Finally she spoke in a soft and shaken voice "Whoever you are…don't move! I-in the name of the New Freedom Fighters your trespass in our territory is unwelcome!"

"I have a name and it's Hikari Chaotic!" Hikari shouts keeping a gaze fixed on the female rabbit.

"Hikari…?" She gasps "As in Rage's son Hikari?!!" She asks and he nods. The rabbit put her weapon away and slowly walked up to him.

"You knew my father?" Hikari asks.

"I did…he saved my life a few times when I was a kid. I'm Cream the Rabbit…" she introduced herself. "What brings you out here?"

"The Chaos Emeralds." He replies "There is one here amongst the ruins."

"You're kidding right?" Cream asks "We found it down there a few weeks ago…however we've been unable to contact Miles…"

"You mean your comms are messed up?" Hikari asks

"Yes but there's more…" the timid rabbit shook her head. "We were hit by some strange monsters and most of our people are wounded"

"Monsters?" Hikari asks.

"Strange beasts…all black and…these red eyes…" Cream says with a shiver. "They show no mercy and just…vanish if we manage to defeat them. Like poof into a cloud of smoke!"

"Sounds like Dark Spawn…" Okami's voice echoed in Hikari's head. "But that's impossible."

"Could it be Dark Spawn…?" Hikari asks.

"Dark Spawn…?" Cream asks, tilting her head curiously. "I've heard that name before…how do-" Cream was cut off by a call of her name,

"Cream!" It shouted as a red armadillo comes rushing down the hill on the north end of the clearing. He sees Hikari and immediately aims a rifle at him. Instinctively Hikari gets in a ready stance.

"Mighty no!" She shouts "He's one of ours!"

"Really? Who sent him?" He asks "We haven't had communications for days!"

"I am Hikari, Miles sent me." Hikari says "We're collecting the Chaos Emeralds."

"So now he grows a backbone? Pretty convenient it's right after we're decimated!" Mighty spits "How can I trust you though?"

"Mighty!" Cream hisses "Why else would he be here?!"

"He could be one of Eggman's agents!" Mighty rebuttals. "I bet he sent those beasts again!"

"What are you talking about?" Cream asks.

"Those beasts…" Mighty says with a voice stained with anger unlike any Hikari had heard. "Attacked again! They're not giving up! How convenient he shows up right after an attack!"

A rustling was heard from behind Mighty who looked back. "Dammit!" He curses as he turns around and backs up to Cream as small shadowy creatures emerge from the treeline. They stood there staring down the three.

"Are those the creatures?!" Hikari asks.

"Don't act like you don't know!" Mighty snarls.

"Look I am on your side!" Hikari shouts. "How about I prove it…"

"How do you plan to do that?" Mighty scoffs.

Hikari readies his sword "By wiping these things out." He says. Mighty didn't get a chance to reply before the swarm charged. Hikari leaps for the beasts and his sword sliced through them effortlessly as if it had been designed to destroy them. Mighty opened fire and took out a fair share in a hail of gunfire. Between the two's efforts the beasts stood no chance and were soon dispatched of.

Mighty looked at Hikari and sighed "That's a start." He says before turning to Cream "Cream you need to get back to base. Your mother…"

"What about her?!" Cream exclaims almost immediately.

"She was injured." He says "Our medical staff is already overwhelmed…"

"Mighty." Hikari says "Let me come too…"

"Just because you helped us doesn't mean I trust you…or believe you came from HQ." Mighty says with a glare.

"I can repair your comms." Hikari states. "I spent a lot of time doing scutt work until recently. I had to do repairs on HQ's constantly. Please, you have to believe me…"

Mighty looked at Hikari with an untrusting glare as Cream spoke up. "Mighty he's the real deal…I knew Hikari back when I was stationed at HQ…he can fix the comms."

Mighty rubs his chin and sighs "Fine. If you can do that we'll talk." He grumps "Don't make me regret this."

"You won't." Hikari promises.

"Stay close." Mighty says before leading Hikari and Cream back into the thick underbrush. They made it to a bush before Mighty inputs a code on a device in his glove and a small door is uncloaked on the ground. He opens it and urges the two inside.

Cream was the first down the stairs with Hikari right behind her. Mighty ensuring the entrance was secure was last in. He hurried to catch up just in time to direct Hikari to the comms room. With Hikari redirected he was able to follow Cream to the medical ward.

Hikari entered the room and a large green crocodile was digging through a wall panel and he spoke up "I told you Mighty you'll be the first to know when I get this fixed!!!" He shouts.

"Excuse me?" Hikari replies.

"Wait a sec…" the crocodile sighs as he turns and takes a step back. "You're not Mighty, who are you?"

"Hikari…" the hedgehog answers. "Mighty wanted me to look at the comms…see if I can help…"

"Oh? Well nice to meet you! I am Vector! I run comms around here. If you think you can fix it, be my guest. I've had zero luck."

Hikari walked over to the panel and looked around. "Where's the main unit?" He asks. "Oh it's over on the console." Vector says pointing at a console with radio and other communication equipment and one large computer monitor.

The red hedgehog walked over and looked at it before crawling under it and looking at the wires and components linked to it. "That's strange…" Hikari calls.

"What is it?!" Vector exclaims.

"The line that leads to the relay is all chewed up!" Hikari exclaims. "But only the one for your mic…"

"That would explain why we can still get traffic…" the crocodile nods. "I can grab a spare."

"Hold on." Hikari calls "This is even stranger. Your encoder card is fried…but not the rest of the board!"

"Which means it wasn't a power surge…" Vector responds as he dug through a box of cables. He then goes to a second box and pulls a small computer like card out before bringing Hikari both components.

"This was deliberate." Hikari says as he replaces the wire. "Mighty will want to hear this." He continues before getting a small shock as he replaced the fried encoder card with the new one. "Ow!" He exclaims, shaking his hand.

"You okay?" Vector asks.

"Yeah…" Hikari sighs "Gimme a hand?" He asks extending his arm for some help. Vector walked back over and grabs the hedgehog's hand and helps him up to his feet. "Thanks." He says brushing some dust off his shirt.

"Who do you think did this?" Vector asks.

"I dunno." Hikari responds as they leave the communications room. Vector locked the door behind them as Mighty comes down the hall.

"Well?" He asks. Vector waved him over. The three then re-entered and Vector seals the room.

"What's this about?" Mighty asks.

"Go on. Tell him." Vector instructs Hikari.

"Someone sabotaged the main communications unit." Hikari answers.

"What?" Mighty exclaims "How is that possible?!"

"That's beyond me." Hikari says "The encoder card on the main unit was fried which would explain why nobody at HQ was receiving communications from you guys."

"What causes that?" Mighty asks.

"No idea." Vector says "Which would be why we couldn't figure it out. I mean who'd think to fry something like that? Why not change the encryption key instead?"

"Because only you and I can do that." Mighty scoffs. "Nobody else would have access…but frying it…those beasts still could have done that."

"I guess it's possible." Vector guesses scratching his chin.

"As for you, Hikari, was it? Thank you." Mighty says.

"Of course." Hikari says "How's Cream's mother doing?"

"Vanilla?" Mighty asks. "I…don't know…she's stable but…those beasts got the jump on her."

"I see…" Hikari sighs "What are they?"

"They're Dark Spawns." Tails' voice comes from the speak in the room.

"Tails!" Hikari exclaims as the three turn to the video screen.

"Miles!" Mighty says happily. "It's good to see you again."

"What happened over there?" Tails asks "I haven't been able to get through for almost a week!"

"Sorry but we had some communication troubles. This guy here fixed them." The armadillo says using his hand to motion to Hikari.

"Thank you Hikari." Tails says "Did you secure the Chaos Emerald?"

"We have it." Mighty says. "We secured it not long before our comms went dark. In fact those…Dark Spawn you called them came after is when we got the Emerald."

"Strange." Tails says "Dark Spawns don't normally pop up naturally on Mobius anymore…they're summoned and we haven't seen any in years!"

"You sent Hikari to secure it?" Mighty asks.

"I did." Tails says.

"Why send some newbie? Why not Wind or Mason?" Mighty doubts.

"Because…he's Rage's kid." Tails says.

"Does that mean…he has the same powers?" Mighty asks and Tails nods.

"We have plans to collect all 7 and use them to finish Eggman off for good…and rescue Sonic, Shadow and Rage." Tails says.

"If that's the case I'll see to it that Hikari is given ours." Mighty nods "I'll leave Vector with you in the meantime to get resupplies sorted out."

"Alright." Tails says with a nod.

"Mobius in aeternum Tails." Mighty says.

"There's one I haven't heard in a long time." Tails chuckles.

"What's it mean…?" Hikari asks.

"It's an old Freedom Fighters battle call. It means Mobius Forever." Mighty says as he digs in a sack he had on his back and pulls out the red emerald and hands it to Hikari. "Good luck kid." Mighty says. "We're counting on you."

Hikari takes it and nods "I won't let you down. It's time we turn the tides of this war." He says with determination.

"Hikari, move on to your ext objective." Tails says. "Angel Island is nearby

"Got it." Hikari says. Mighty unlocks the door and Hikari exits. He heads back down the long passage way where he was about to the stairs back up before he was stopped by Cream.

"Hikari!" the rabbit calls. The maroon hedgehog turns as she approaches him.

"Yeah?" He asks and she looks at him.

"You're going to Angel Island aren't you…?" She asks

"Yeah…" he answers "I have to…if we want to stop Robotnik and all…"

"Please be careful." She requests.

"I will." He promised. Cream smiled and waved as he left.

"One more…" Hikari says to himself as he looks up to the sky. On the horizon Angel Island was visible. Water from the rivers glistened in the sun as it fell into the deep ocean below. "Question is…how do I get up there?"

"Have you considered flying?" Okami asks him. "Chaotix did teach you, how didn't he?"

"Well…yeah but…" Hikari murmured nervously "I am not exactly…good…at it."

"You're hopeless sometimes." Okami sighs "You don't really have a choice here Hikari…"

"You're positive It won't be a waste of time…" Hikari mutters.

"Hikari…you need to trust me on this." Okami replies.

"Fine." He groans as he focuses. Slowly he lifted off the ground and he looked down. "Not afraid…" he whispers as he slowly, shakily, yet ever so calmly began to fly up to the floating island.

"See?" Okami chuckles "You're a natural!"

"Yeah because hedgehogs are meant to fly…" Hikari scoffs as he reaches the island. He lands on a outcrop that was clearly made for overlooking the world below but just happened to be perfect to land on as well.

A heavy breath escapes his mouth and he looks at the thick forest before him. Slowly he walked forward and it was then a barrier of a translucent blue color became visible. He stopped and looked at it.

He didn't know what it was but something just seemed to call him forward. He continued to walk knowing full well of the barrier. He put a hand out to try and make contact but his hand instead phased inside the barrier . He gasps before walking through as if it was never there.

"See?" Okami asks as he appears next to the young hedgehog. The two began walking. "Nothing to worry about."

"Yeah now what?" He scoffs.

"We head for the Shrine of Chaos. Where the Master Emerald is kept." Okami answers. "That's where Rage stowed the Emerald is it not?"

"Yeah…" Hikari sighs as he began walking the trail further inland.