The cool night air rushed past Hikari as he held onto the wing of the recon craft. Droplets of water splashed up in his face. To his left was Wind, to his right Mason.

They were flying low to the ground and the lights of Eggmanland were visible on the horizon. "We're still on course! We should reach the drop point in about 5 minutes!" Wind shouts.

"Once you jump you'll need to be quick." Tails advises over their communicators. "Once you have the Emerald I predict about fifteen minutes max before Eggman can get the defenses' power rerouted to auxiliary. We need the explosives planted by then."

"What if we encounter him?" Hikari asks.

"Do what you have to." Tails replies "We can't afford to fail."

"So what's plan B if the bombs aren't set?" Wind asks.

"You'll have to deal with any defenses." Tails answers. "Be careful. The FFS Manticore will be on standby to evacuate you."

"The Manticore?" Hikari asks, looking at the two at his sides.

"A submarine." Wind says "Run by Espio's team. It was a GUN vessel before Eggman demolished the United Federation."

"I just hope we make it…" Hikari mutters looking at the edge of the island. It was time.

"Imposing radio silence. Local comms only from here on. Good luck guys." Tails says as the three stood up. The drone sped over the edge of Eggman land and the three jumped into a gap between two towering metal structures that the drone had squeezed into. It then quickly flew up and was shot down shortly after.

"Alright this is it…" Wind says.

"I still don't like that this section is dark." Mason grumbles.

"It's fine!" Wind chuckles, "A little darkness hasn't hurt anybody."

"I am more worried about a trap." Mason says as he and Wind took a few steps in the direction they needed to go. Hikari however stood still.

It took a second before he spoke up. "Guys…" Hikari says in a shaky voice causing them to turn around.

"Hikari…?" Mason asks.

"C'mon buddy, we're wasting time!" Wind chuckles with a cocky grin.

"Guys…I want to be straight with you." Hikari says "Before we go any further…"

Hikari's solemn and grim tone caused Wind to frown with concern. "What about?" Mason asks, taking the words out of Wind's mouth.

"I am…not so sure about all of this…I'm scared." He answers

"C'mon it's Eggman!" Wind laughs "We've done this how many times?"

"YOU'VE done it…." Hikari scowls, emphasizing the first part of the statement. "This is my first time doing anything like this…the time I saved you…that was a fluke. We only got away so easily because Eggman thought I was my father…"

"Hikari, you trained for this, didn't you?" Mason asks, crossing his arms with a more concerned look.

"I trained yeah…but that was against projections for beasts that barely exist, not the Robotniks…not this…and after I obtained the fourth Emerald…" Hikari trailed off. He paused, looked at his friends and sighed. "I am worried what will happen once I have all seven so…I want you two to hold on to the ones you got for now…"

"What's got you so worried about having them?" Wind asks "You're a Chaos Guardian!"

"Wind…when I got that fourth emerald I felt like I was going to explode!" Hikari shouts "Yeah I am a Chaos Guardian but I also have zero experience outside of training and one encounter with some badniks. Look…unless I need them…all seven…I want you guys to hold on to the Chaos Emeralds you got." Hikari admits. "If I can't control it…You'll need to run. I can't afford to harm the two of you…"

"Hikari…" Mason says, "Why didn't you say anything earlier?"

"I…couldn't bring myself to do it." Hikari sighs "I'm sorry…"

"Hikari, we're in this together." Wind says "No matter what happens we'll be here for you. That's a promise."

Hikari looked back up at the two and smiled. "Thank you…" he says in a gentle tone. "Honestly with you guys at my back…I feel as though I can do anything."

"We can do this." Wind says "We'll beat Eggman, Eon and then we'll get our fathers back!"

"Right." Hikari nods as he walks up, finally closing the gap. "Mobius en Aeternum…" he says.

"Where'd ya hear that?" Wind asks.

"Mighty…" Hikari answers "Said it was an old Freedom Fighter battle call."

"Haven't heard it in ages." Mason chuckled as the three turned the corner and reached a lift.

"It looks like this would take us down…" Wind says "But without power it's useless."

"Any way we could?" Mason asks.

"Beats me." Wind shrugs. He then turns to Hikari. "Hikari?"

"Let me see." He says walking up and examining the blank screen that was the touch panel that acted as a call button. The maroon hedgehog rubbed his chin before he moved to the platform of the elevator itself.

"Why is it at the highest position if it's off?" Mason asks "Wouldn't it recall down to the bottom floor?"

"If you're smart when you build one, yes." Hikari says opening a panel on the floor of the lift. "Less tension and stress on the system…"

"How do you know all of this?" Wind asks.

"Tails taught me a lot of basic engineering and such. I basically act as the handyman half the time around HQ…" Hikari answers. "Well…I did anyway."

"I am guessing that doesn't exactly translate to Eggman building designs?" Wind asks.

"Not exactly but…" Hikari says pulling a wire up. "A few things are universal…" he says as he draws his sword from the sheath on his back and cuts the wire.

"I am not sure I will follow." Wind says as Hikari signals for the two to join him on the platform.

"The big wire? It's the mainline." Hikari says holding both ends close together. "Thanks to Chaotix…" he grunts as he lifts a finger over the exposed wiring and arcs some electrical energy from his finger to the wire which sparked to life. The lift then made a loud metallic screech as it began to move. Hikari held the wire firmly to keep the current he had sparked going. Slowly it began to descend.

"Good work." Wind cheers.

Meanwhile…

Dr. Eggman and Dr. Eon were both sitting at different spots in an observation room within the ship depot for the Sky Fleet. It was then a small blip appeared on one of the map screens.

"That's strange…" Dr. Eon says "Hey, the lift in Sector 7 that leads to the sub levels just powered up!"

"Again?!" Eggman exclaims "I thought I ordered that thing get fixed months ago! Orbot?!" The large scientist shouts angrily.

Shortly after a small red orb in another console popped up, Orbot, one of Eggman's many assistants. "Yes sir?" He asks.

"The Sector 7 Sublevel Lift…did I not order it to be fixed?! Nothing in Sector 7 should be powered outside of the Chaos Emerald reactor room!" Eggman shouts.

"We did, sir!" Orbot objects "Maintenance drones repaired it two weeks ago."

"Then why is it online?!" Eggman snarls.

"I don't know!" Orbot responds in a fearful tone.

"Find…out…" Eggman growls

"Could that surveillance drone we shot down have something to do with it?" Dr. Eon asks "Wasn't it around the same time we shot another down that we had issues with that lift in the first place?"

"No, the faulty wiring just tripped last time." Eggman sighs looking at the lift's blip "Still…odd. Just the lift?" Dr. Eon clacked away at the keyboard in front of him and nodded after a window was pulled up.

"Correct, no cameras or security features are active. Hell, not even the operation panels." Dr. Eon replied.

"So it's going back to Sublevel 4 then…" Eggman says grooming his mustache and looking at the screen. "Make sure the maintenance drones get temporary clearance to pass the checkpoints to that area."

"Eggman?" Eon pipes up.

"What is it boy?" The large man asks.

"I have a concern about the elevator…don't you find it a bit too convenient? I mean it powers up shortly after we deal with one of the drones that silly resistance uses?" Eon states.

"It first broke when we shot one down." Eggman answers. " Nobody besides you and I know what's in that area. To Miles and his furballs that area is just a dark pointless place."

"On that note how is development in fixing the power system coming along?" Eon asks "To accomodate for that?"

"Should be ready in a few weeks…" Eggman answers "The Chaos Emerald seems different from when we used them in the past…"

"Perhaps that was because of that red hedgehog." Eon says "After he came into the picture you said you gave up on them."

"Indeed…after we trapped him using the Icecap Transporter though I never expected to see him again…" Eggman comments "I am surprised he hasn't made an attempt on the Emerald yet."

"He will soon." Eon says "There's no way he'll let you keep it."

"Which is why it is imperative that we get that sector up and running as soon as possible. So that we can monitor the emerald." Eggman sighs "In the meantime we need the fleet armed and ready. It's time we begin Operation Overlord…"

"Do you really think we should?" Eon asks "If we announce too early then there is no doubt it would lessen the impact…"

"Tails and his New Freedom Fighters won't know. Besides, Tails is hesitant and timid…he can't act like Sonic or Acorn could…" Eggman chuckles.

Meanwhile, the lift reached the bottom floor. The three hedgehogs stepped off and looked around the large room. "What is this place?" Wind asks

"According to our intel this is the Main Generator. The Chaos Emerald should be close by…" Mason says looking at a small map on a tablet device he had.

"There." Hikari says pointing to a device in the middle of the room. There the purple Chaos Emerald lay nestled atop a large round protrusion on a square machine. Various small components and panels were strewn across the face that was in front of them including monitors that were keeping tabs on various levels of power output, heat and other metrics.

As the three got closer the emerald glowed brighter. Hikari and Mason stopped when the power output began increasing. "What's wrong?" Wind asks.

"It's reacting to something." Hikari says.

"So?" Wind chuckles "We're right here!"

"Wind, be careful!" Mason shouts. "We don't know what it's reacting to!"

"Relax. Everything is fine." Wind chuckles. As he approached the Emerald did nothing.

"We don't know that Wind!" Mason shouts "The Emerald is reacting to something!"

"You worry too much." Wind scoffs.

"Dammit Wind…" Mason shouts running forward to grab him.

"Mason!" Hikari exclaims trying to grab him. He missed his chance and Mason ran up to Wind grabbing his arm.

"What's wrong with you Wind?! You could have gotten us killed!" Mason scowls. "What if you cause the Emerald to react?!"

"Clearly I didn't! Neither did you!" Wind shouts. The two exchanged a glance then looked over to Hikari. "Wait a second…"

"Hikari…" Mason says "It was reacting to you!"

"Yeah so I am staying here." Hikari states. "I could blow that thing up! So grab it and let's get going!"

"He's right." Mason says as he and Wind reach the device the Emerald was hooked up to. They look it over to see if they could find a way to deactivate it.

"This is different from other bits of Eggman tech…" Wind says "Is it newer?"

"Could be. Which would be why it's as inefficient as it is?" Mason comments.

"Well I have an idea." Wind says raising a hand "Let's just smash it!"

"Wind no!" Mason shouts attempting to stop him. He was too late, Wind smashed the glass around the Chaos Emerald and grabbed it. As Wind smashed the glass an alarm sounded before being silenced with the power going out.

"Damm." Mason curses "We have to go, time's wasting!"

"How do we get back up?!" Wind asks as they rejoin Hikari and they run to the elevator shaft.

"You don't." A voice laughs as a large mechanical monstrosity drops down from the ceiling of the room. This flattened most of the objects in the room.

"How-" Wind exclaims as a large bubble-like shape on the head of the beast which almost looked like an amphibious creature opens to reveal Dr. Eggman.

"The minute you got close I knew something was up when the Emerald's reading spiked." Eggman laughs. "But I didn't expect it to be you. I thought it was our friend Rage."

"What do you mean? You trapped him with Sonic and Shadow years ago!" Wind shouts.

"Hm?" Eggman looks a bit confused "You were saved by him in Emerald Hill…"

"No we-" Wind starts to object but Mason silences him.

"We don't know who saved us." Mason lies.

"I see." Eggman grunts. "Oh well…it doesn't matter now. You three…" Eggman pauses and looks at "Three…" he smiles "I didn't realize you have a newbie with you!" He laughs "Oh what a shame you brought him right into certain doom!"

"You really love to hear yourself speak don't you?" Mason scoffs.

"Anyway, since you three were so nice to deliver me the other six Emeralds…hand them over. Now." Eggman orders "Or you can call this place your tomb."

"Never." Wind says getting ready to fight.

"I have to agree with him, there's no way we're going to give you the Emeralds!" Mason responds.

"Very well." Eggman says as the dome closes once more. "Then I will end you here and now!" He laughs "My Egg Gecko once stumped Sonic and now it will end you!" He shouts as the mech stands tall and fires beams of energy from two eye-like areas on the head.

The three leap out of the way. Hikari backpedaling into some debris while Wind leaps for the mech and Mason rolls off to the side. Wind tries spinning up and striking Eggman but is flicked away by the beast's tail.

Mason fumbled with his bag hoping to get his rifle. With the two being preoccupied, Eggman focused on Hikari. "You have most of the Emeralds…" he comments as the mech fires some strange device at Hikari.

Hikari was caught in fear and barely even noticed the incoming attack. He went to move, however it was too late. A strange net like fiber tangled around him immobilizing him. "I'll save you for later." Eggman chuckles sinisterly

"Hikari!" Wind shouts as he looks over to his friend.

"You should worry about yourself!" Eggman laughs as he turns his attention back to Wind. With a movement of the controls he swats at Wind with the rear leg of the Egg Gecko. Wind barely evades it.

As for Mason he had gotten one of the explosive charges he was going to use on the fleet and tossed it at the Egg Gecko. Eggman laughs as he swats it away.

"It's no use! You're powerless against the Egg Gecko!" He laughs as the tail wrapped around Mason and shocks him. The young hedgehog screams in pain and shortly after goes limp. Not dead, knocked out.

"Dammit Mason!" Wind shouts as he is struck by a surprise hit from a laser beam.

"Wind!" Hikari shouts, struggling to break free. Wind fell to the ground as Eon floated down in an Eggmobile.

"Power is rerouted." He says "Looks like you're cleaning up here."

"This was far too easy. These children couldn't come close to Sonic or Shadow!" Eggman chuckles as he grabs Wind in the left hand of the Egg Gecko. "They'll make for nice CyberMechs…"

"No!" Hikari shouts.

"You can stop struggling." Eggman sighs as he opens the dome once more. "That net is far too strong for someone like you to tear."

'After all this I was too scared…' Hikari thinks 'I failed!'

"Hikari!" Okami's voice echoes in his head. "Calm down! You need to focus!"

Hikari sighs. "What do I do…?" He asks softly.

"You have all seven Emeralds right here! You can use them. You have to use them!" Okami shouts

"But what if I can't control their power?!" Hikari asks.

"You can! You just have to believe in yourself for once." Okami responds "Now stand up and show them who you really are!"

"So…" Eggman's voice was much closer this time and Hikari snapped out of the trance he was in and looked to Eggman. "Who are you? I've never seen you before. Never seen you listed in any of the Freedom Fighter's records yet…you remind me of someone…"

Hikari looks to see the head of the mech and Eggman mere feet from him. He sighs and focuses. He had to recall his training. He felt a surge of energy and he looked Eggman in the eyes. This was it. He knew what he had to do.

"My name…" He says as he manages to stand up. "Is Hikari…"

"What…?" Eggman asks as Hikari glows.

"Hikari Chaotic the Hedgehog!" The red hedgehog shouts "I am the son of Ragis Chaotic the Hedgehog!" He continued as the Chaos Emeralds that Wind and Mason both had punched through the armor of the tail and hand and flew to Hikari. With that all seven appeared around him. "…and I am a Chaos Guardian!" Hikari states as a pillar of light surrounds him.

Eggman backs up and drops both Wind and Mason in his shock. "Impossible!" Eon shouts as he flies backwards.

The pillar faded and Hikari stood there, the net that had once restrained him had disintegrated and Hikari glowed with a radiant, powerful golden light encasing his maroon fur and his eyes glowed a furious shade of crimson.

"It can't be…" Eggman says in pure shock.

Hikari then extends his right arm and his Blade of Chaos appears in his hand before he lowers it to his side. Eggman gathered himself and squared the Egg Gecko up with Hikari. "Impressive trick! But tricks are nothing more than that!" he shouts.

"Let's do this!" Hikari shouts as he charges full force at Eggman. Eggman moves to swipe the Egg Gecko's tail at Hikari however he was able to leap above the tail and land on the back of the mech.

"Get off!" Eggman shouts as small turrets pop up. Hikari drives his sword deep into the back of the Gecko and runs down the back. Behind him small explosions from vital bits of armor would cause fragments of metal to go flying in all directions. One as luck would have it struck Dr. Eon's Eggmobile causing it to lose control and crash into the ground.

As Hikari reached the head he lept into the air and landed back face to face with Eggman who was furious with the way this was going. How could a novice kid be making a fool out of him? It was inconceivable to the large scientist. "You're better than I expected I'll admit…" Eggman says. "You're not some groveling wimp like the rest of them…"

"Speak for yourself." Hikari scoffs. "I see why everyone holds you in such low regards. You seem to underestimate people."

"Very rarely do I…" Eggman sneers.

"Let's end it." Hikari says, gritting his teeth. The hedgehog ran full force at Eggman, a bright glowing aura around him. Eggman began to move but Hikari's speed was too much. He rammed right into the Egg Gecko and blew through the body.

"Impossible!" Eggman exclaims as an explosion rocked the room.

This explosion finally got Wind to come around. The dark blue hedgehog looks up to see Hikari and Eggman duking it out. He then looks over to see Mason passed out against the wall. He pulled himself to his feet and ran over to Mason.

"Mason!" Wind exclaims, shaking the black hedgehog. He stirs some before his eyes open.

"Ugh…Wind?" He says "What happened?"

"Don't worry about that right now." Wind says "We need to go."

"What about Hikari?" Mason asks.

"He's dealing with Eggman." Wind says.

"We can't leave him!" Mason exclaims standing up slowly.

"We won't." Wind says "But right now we need to give him space to take Eggman-" Wind stops as a loud explosion rocks the room. He shoots his head around to see the Egg Gecko slammed into the wall of the room.

It was shortly after a red flashing light illuminates the room with a red hue as an alarm blares. "WARNING, WARNING CRITICAL FAILURE WITHIN MAIN POWER GRID ENERGY LEVELS BEYOND SAFETY PARAMETERS! EVACUATION PROTOCOLS ADVISED!" An automated voice screams over the PA system.

"No!" Eggman shouts as he ejects from his now totaled Egg Gecko. "This isn't over!"

"I believe it is…" Hikari says watching Eggman escape. Dr. Eon not far behind. With them gone both Wind and Mason ran up to Hikari.

"We need to go." Wind urges.

"I know." Hikari says as they turn to the elevator.

"Dammit we're trapped!" Mason curses.

"Hold on." Hikari says, grabbing both him and Wind in each arm.

"Hikari what do you think-" Wind begins to ask but he trails it into a scream as Hikari flies up the elevator shaft. As they flew the island shook with explosions.

"Get Espio here." Hikari urges.

"Right." Wind says pressing a button on his communicator's control screen. "Wind to Manticore, we need extraction now!"

"Wind, what's going on?!" Tails asks over the radio feed. "Eggman's radio channels are flooded with panic!"

"Eggmanland is going to blow!" Wind answers.

"CRITICAL FAILURE IN 5 MINUTES…" The voice from before announces over the PA.

"Manticore is at the extraction point. Hurry!" Espio answers.

"Almost there." Hikari says as they fly out of the top of the shaft and Hikari flies them through what could only be considered streets to the edge of the island where the surfaced sub was waiting. On the deck was Mighty waving for them.

Hikari put both Wind and Mason down on the deck before landing himself. Quickly the four descend down the hatch and Mighty secures it. "Go!" Mighty shouts into a squawk box next to the ladder up. The sub began moving as the three hedgehogs finally got to breathe. Hikari collapsed as the Chaos Emeralds dropped around him.

"Hikari!" Wind calls running over to him. "Are you okay?!"

"I…think so…" the maroon hedgehog answers weakly. "That…took a lot out of me…"

"Rest Hikari…" Mason says as they look at a screen in the room. On it an aerial feed of Eggmanland. Explosions rocked the island before one giant explosion filled the screen.

"We did it…" Wind chuckles as disbelief washed over him. A broken laughter erupted from him before he cheered. "We won!"

"We can celebrate when we get back to New Knothole." Mighty says "Good work."

"We couldn't have done it without Hikari." Wind chuckles ruffling the red hedgehog's black hair.

"Hey…" he says, pushing Wind away. "I only did what I had to do…"

"We know." Mason says "You did great. It was like you weren't even you!"

"What do you mean?" Wind asks for Hikari.

"I mean…normally you're pretty timid Hikari…not so confrontational like that…" Mason shrugs.

"I don't know why…maybe it was the Chaos Emeralds…" Hikari says softly.

"I think it's because deep down you knew you could do it." Wind chuckles "You had to do it and that's your strength!"

"What do you mean?" Hikari asks, confused.

"You know that when all of the chips are down that you have to win. You can't be afraid, you have to face it head on and you can!" Wind smiles.

"You really are Sonic's kid…" Mighty sighs.

"You know after this we can't stay in the shadows." Mason says. "This isn't going to go unnoticed."

"Tails has a plan for that." Mighty says. "After we all get back he said he'll explain."

"It's not over yet…" Mason says "We dealt a significant blow by destroying both Eggmanland and the Egg Fleet but they still have other bases and facilities. Until those are dealt with we're not done…"

"And we have to get Sonic, Shadow and Rage from the Dark Realm." Wind adds looking at Hikari with worry who was out cold.

"Not now." A soft voice echoes as Okami appears in front of Hikari.

"Woah…who…are you?" Wind asks "A ghost?"

"I am Okami…or Wolf as Master Hikari calls me." The spiritual wolf answers. "I am the spirit within his Blade of Chaos."

"Cool." Wind chuckles. "You're like his…spirit guide or something." He then gets an elbow from Mason who gives him a glare.

"What's wrong with him?" Mason asks

"Hikari needs to recover…" Okami states "He overdid it…using his powers like he did was more than his body could handle…"

"Is he going to be okay…?" Mason asks concerned.

"After some time, yes." Okami answers with a nod "However there is something you should know…this excursion into the Dark Realm you all want to go on…is one Hikari will have to do…alone…"

"What?!" Wind shouts "So he can claim all the glory?! I don't think so! We're a team! He's not going in there alone!"

"Wind!" Mason barks, "Calm yourself." He glares at Wind before looking at Okami and simply asking one question; Why?

"The Dark Realm is dangerous to people from Mobius. Its atmosphere has Darkness that if exposed can…change people…" Okami sighs "Only Chaos Guardians are naturally immune…anyone else would need to be under a protective ward…one Hikari doesn't know and I can't recall…"

"Who else knows it?" Wind asks, his voice still riddled with anger.

"Rage…and his Blade of Chaos." Okami answers "They could teach him but…well the problem is obvious…"

"We'll save it for another day then." Mason says "We need to rest. All of us."

"Yeah…" Wind sighs rubbing the back of his head. "We've done enough for one day…" he looks over to Hikari who was asleep on the cold floor.

"He really is exhausted if he can sleep there…" Mason comments.

"Hold on." Wind says looking at Okami "If Rage knows it…who taught him?"

"I…I don't want to say." The wolf sighs "I can simply assure you it wasn't Chaotix, becauseI don't know how…"

"Why not?!" Wind spits.

"Wind!" Mason shouts again "Stop acting like you're owed answers from Hikari or this spirit!"

"When he plans to send my friend somewhere dangerous alone I think he can tell us why we can't go." Wind says, crossing his arms.

Okami looks at Wind with a glare of annoyance but it softens and the spirit sighs. "The one who could teach it… is a traitor…he is one we'd rather forget…"

"You mean Dex." Mason says.

"How do you know that name?!" Okami growls.

"Rage mentioned him a few times." Mason says

"Who's Dex?" Wind asks.

"He betrayed the Chaos Guardians a very long time ago…Rage and Chaotix are the only ones who survived…the rest are dead or missing and presumed dead…" Okami sighs while lying next to Hikari. His ears laid back in a sad like move.

"I'm sorry." Wind says "It's not your fault though…"

"It is…Chaotix and I should have seen it…we were blinded by our own pride." Okami answers "I simply hope by training Hikari we can atone for the past…"

"What do you mean?" Hikari asks.

"Hikari!" Okami exclaims, startled. "How long have you been awake?"

"Not long." He says sitting up and groaning "Ugh…I am sore…" he complains rolling his left shoulder. "But…how do you and Chaotix want to atone…? The Chaos Guardians are gone…unless you count Rage and I…"

"That's a discussion for another time, young one." Okami says "Something that we can discuss after everything is all said and done…and I mean we as in all of us."

"Fine." Hikari sighs with a groggy tone.

"You should rest." Wind says, offering a hand to help the hedgehog up. Hikari takes it and they walk down to the crew quarters where some bunks lined the walls. The three all took a bed and laid down.