Spoilers ahead for the DLC if you haven't played it or watched a walkthrough you have been warned.
Spike and Sonic had proceeded to run through a portal that led them to the next island, this island had a large ancient structure and 5 similar towers that looked like the ones from Rhea. They were about to continue but they then heard a familiar voice
"Hold it you two!" Eggman's voice is heard and they slow down and look up to see he and Sage had came down.
"What's wrong?" Spike asked curious with Sonic wondering as well.
"Before you two embark, there is one other scenario you two must consider." Sage told them.
"Okay we're listening" Sonic said interested with Spike nodding in agreement.
"Moments ago your friends sacrificed their corporal forms to suppress your cyber corruption and return you to this dimensional plane, and they left Spike in charge of fixing this." She begins to explain. They both look down sadly knowing that.
"They were so close to being free again, and they gave it all up for me.." Sonic said sadly.
"Don't worry Sonic, we'll get them back" Spike said determined and Sonic nodded.
"I don't care how many islands or Titans it takes, we're getting them back this time!" Sonic said confidently and eggman groaned.
"Please none of those tedious speeches about the " Super power of teamwork"" Eggman mocked and Spike shook his head at that.
"What are you trying to tell us Sage?" Spike asked.
"Of my millions of calculations, there was one so remote and unlikely i did not consider it. However, it could be the one to save us all." She explained.
"What is this you saw?" Spike asked curious.
"Well we're all about beating the odds, what's the plan?" Sonic asked.
"I can reverse your friends efforts and restore them, i can then create digital copies of Spike and they can help explore the islands with them to seek out the Emeralds" She explained.
"How will that work?" Spike asked.
"These digital copies can accompany alongside them, and whatever knowledge they gain will be given to you, and when it is done they will disappear but you will gain any strength and skills they learn" She explained.
"I can stabilize your cyber corruption for a brief time, and we can work on converting them into a new power for the both of you." She explained.
"I like that plan" Spike said with a smile Sage then turned to him.
"Your body has been consistently growing because of the Emeralds, we can use that to our advantage, if you can focus their power into your body, you could become large enough to take on our foe and be strong enough to save us. " She explained.
"How can we do that?" Spike asked.
"you two must seek out the ones who can give you both control of that power, Spike's cyber corruption wasn't nearly as bad as yours Sonic, but it can be used to strengthen him to be stronger, and you two can save Father" Sage explained and they nodded in understanding, with Eggman smiling at that.
"And the world too right?" Sonic asked.
"It is his to conquer so yes" Sage answered, Spike shook his head disapprovingly at that.
"Yeah, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it" Sonic said with Spike nodding in agreement.
"I like the sound of that, let's do it to it!" Sonic said with a thumbs up with Spike agreeing as well.
"Be forewarned, the trials you face will be grueling. and we will have precious little time" Sage warned.
"Doesn't sound so bad to me" Spike said with a smile
"We're all about beating time trials! Let's go already!" Sonic said ready to go with Spike ready as well.
Sage then created a blue light and it flew into Sonic and Spike, the corruption then started to form around his body and he went onto his knees. Tails, Amy, and Knuckles appeared in their digital forms again with all of them looking surprised seeing him almost corrupted again.
"I just tried to save you i'm not doing it again!" Knuckles said annoyed.
"Sonic? What's going on?" Amy asked as Sonic was getting up.
"I know it's been rough, and things are confusing, but i need you to follow our lead." Sonic told them with Spike nodding.
"I know it's concerning, but trust us. We know what we're doing." Spike told them.
"We need you to find the Chaos Emeralds, while Spike and I take care of something else." Sonic told them, just then 3 digital copies of spike appeared next to them as they look surprised by it.
"Sage created these copies in order to help you all with this, they may be copies, but they're just like the me you know. They'll accompany you until this is all over" Spike explained with the Clones nodding in agreement.
"Alright we trust you two." Amy told them as one of the clones walked next to her.
"You can count on us!" Tails said ready to go.
"Heh, piece of cake!" Knuckles said with a smile. Spike then looked at the clones.
"Don't let anything happen to them alright?" Spike asked them.
"Heh don't worry about it!" A clone told him.
"we are you after all" another one told him.
" you have nothing to worry about!" the third one told him. Spike nodded in understanding, Eggman was then getting impatient.
"Get on with it already!" He told them and they all looked upset at him for that, they all then noticed red energy was starting to form into the sky.
"It's coming.." Eggman said with worry.
They all agreed to Split up. Amy and the Spike clone were currently near a muddy field and got ready to go.
"You ready for this?" Spike asked.
"Let's do it." Amy said ready to go.
"Alright, time to find some emeralds!" Amy said as they were starting to move on, they had done a few platforming challenges that were pink but had a koco with a backpack that gave them points to unlock new ability's.
" The chaos emeralds always wound up in the Ancients vaults, so let's look there!" Tails told them.
"Securing emeralds in vaults? What will they think of next?" Knuckles asked.
'Hey they've been in every island we've searched on, so it's most likely" Spike said as they continued on.
"Don't rush me i'm looking!" Knuckles said as they moved.
Spike and Amy had done some of the platforming challenges to unlock more skills and uncover more of the island. Spike had learned to summon these special cards that he can attack foes with, he also learned to do a triple jump and hover in the air.
"When did you get into fortune cards Amy?" Spike asked as they continued.
"A couple years back, it was a hobby that i took interest in" Amy explained.
"Heh, pretty fun to know that you can beat up enemy's with cards, it's like how can they do damage when they're literally paper?" Spike said laughing
"I know it's funny right? but i found my ways other then just using my hammer." Amy said as they went to the flower field.
"Just hope the others are handling well" Spike said hopefully with Amy agreeing.
They eventually reached the vault but were surprised to see the Emerald wasn't there.
" Wait...It's not here? Why isn't it here?!" Amy asked worried.
"I don't know Amy, maybe it's somewhere else" Spike suggested.
" The vault we found was empty, we'll try another, you guys should too" Tails told them as he and his Spike clone were searching for the other vaults.
"what good are these vaults if they don't do their job?" Knuckles asked frustrated" We'll find them just a matter of time" Knuckles said as he and his clone went on to find the others.
" I think there may be one in that structure. We should go see if it is" Spike said pointing at the large structure in the field.
"Good idea, let's go!" Amy said as they ran to the thing.
Spike and Amy had entered the temple avoiding cannons that fired them and jumping over some gaps as well, they eventually found another vault but the emerald wasn't there as well.
"Not here either? Where could they be?" Spike asked worried as they saw it.
"Maybe we can get some insights with my Fortune Cards!" Amy suggested as she pulled out a few, Spike was wondering how they floated in the air but wasn't one to judge right now, but all they found didn't help them.
"All these cards are telling us is that things are " obscure" and that " danger approaches"! "We know that already!" Amy said frustrated, Spike put a hand on her shoulder.
"Don't worry. I'm sure there's another way." Spike said as he tried to think of something, he then got an idea.
"Wait, maybe the Koco can help!" Spike suggested and Amy's eyes widened.
"Of course! Maybe the Koco can help!" Great idea Spike." Amy told him and Spike nodded.
"Let's go find the Elder's!" Spike told her and she nodded as they made they're way out.
"All the vaults are empty! Wait you two have a lead? Tell us what you find!" Tails told them.
' What if someone beat us to them. Rouge, the Babylon Rouges! They better not have or we'll bust them up!" Knuckles said frustrated.
"Knuckles i don't think these people even know about this place, we're going to find the elder Koco, they might know something." Spike said as he and Amy kept moving on.
"Forget the vaults! me and my Spike will search them the old fashioned way! You guys search for them however you want!" Knuckles told them. Spike sighed as he couldn't argue with them now and they continued to go on.
Spike and Amy did more exploring of the island, they did more challenges and got more skills to use in battle, now Spike could summon Amy's hammer and spin around enemy's at high speeds, and he also could home in on multiple targets at once.
"Where did you get this hammer Amy?" Spike asked as they continued.
"I got this a really long time ago, it's been one of the most important things i have" Amy explained and s Spike nodded in understanding as they continued.
They eventually found the Elder Koco with a large ring around his back.
"Ah my kind hearted friends of Sonic, you have led our people to the Digital dream. We thank you." The elder said gratefully and they smiled at that.
"It was our pleasure. Do you know what happened to the Chaos Emeralds?" Amy asked.
"They're not in the vaults we've found them at." Spike explained.
" Our enemy's have infested this land and are using our creations against us. The Emeralds are here on this island, but we have hidden them with our own technology." The elder told them and they nodded in understanding.
"Thank you for telling us this." Spike said gratefully.
"Thanks for the insight! We won't let you down." Amy told the Elder and they left to find more help.
They had to search for the Hermit Koco as it could also have some advice, it was on the smaller island that was next to them, Spike was able to fly them over thanks to his wings.
"Wow Spike, you sure learned to fly in such a short time with them" Amy said impressed.
'I know, i can't tell you how great it feels, i'm glad i get to help you all out on this." Spike said with a smile.
"I'm glad too, hopefully we can find the emeralds." Amy told him as they continued, They eventually found the Hermit Koco near a Cyberspace portal, but it was asleep.
Spike and Amy were trying not to be rude but they heard a sound from the sky and they soon realized they had to hurry. Amy coughed a little loudly hoping to wake it up and luckily it did.
"Who goes there?! Oh the ones who traverses dimensions. i trust you two have been well." It asked and they nodded.
"we've been fine, but we need your help" Spike said with worry.
"We're sorry to disturb you but we need your help, can you tell us what happened to the Chaos Emeralds?" Amy asked.
"The enemy is trying to brake the seal and escape the Digital realm, we have used our technology to combine and hide the Chaos Emeralds" It explained.
"Thank you for this, we'll find them" Spike said confidently.
"Thanks for the insight! We won't let you down!" Amy told it, they looked at eachother and nodded and left to find the Emeralds.
They could feel the Emeralds presence, they saw that it was on a platform in a vault in the air, Spike and Amy had went through some more platforming challenges dodging cannons and jumping over large pink platforms. They eventually found an Emerald in a vault.
"Finally, thank goodness!" Spike said relieved as they found it.
"I'm glad they're still here." Amy said gratefully, they walked up to it to try to collect it but were knocked back from a shield.
"What the?" spike asked confused
"It looks like it's still locked, let's hope Knuckles and Tails and their Spike's are able to find a way to open them" Amy said hopefully.
"Yeah.. me too." Spike said as they looked at the sky hoping the others are handling things well.