(CHZ) Cosmo: Heās taking it as bad as you could possibly thinkā¦ but thatās actually why Iām hereā¦ I need to ask Eggman something important, if I mayā¦
Eggman couldnāt help but smirk.
(X) Eggman: Heh, and I thought you hated me!
CHZ Cosmo rolled her eyes
(CHZ) Cosmo: I DO happen to hate youā¦ or well, more accurately the one I knowā¦ but itās clear you really are trying to help at least at this moment. The Eggman from my universe did not turn against Nega. That alone has proven to me youāre at least better than himā¦Ā
So if youāre at all serious about stopping him, as well as the respect you have for this universeās me for nearly making the ultimate sacrifice. Then you will help me and Tails save her. You helped Nega build the Egg Salamander, so if thereās anything you know about its design thatāll help usā¦ itād be appreciated.Ā
(X) Eggman: Hmmā¦ wellā¦ there is a hatch on the underside that could be carefully opened if you can park a flying ship near itā¦ but with the power Nega has at his disposal. It will be very risky. Youād need a really good distractionā¦
CHZ Cosmo nodded
(CHZ) Cosmo: Thatās where Sonic and Blaze come in! Nega will be so focused on trying to keep Super Sonic and Burning Blaze at bay. Me and Tails can use his plane to extract the seedling from the hatch!
(X) Eggman: Itāll still be easier said than done, but if it works. Itāll be worth wiping away Negaās smug face!
Blaze was curious about something CHZ Cosmo said
(X) Blaze: Burningā¦ Blazeā¦?
(CHZ) Cosmo: Thatās what my universeās Blaze named her super form after wielding the Sol Emeralds
(X) Blaze: Butā¦ I havenāt actually tapped into them beforeā¦ Iāve only guarded them. I donāt suppose since youāve known another me, you know how I can?
CHZ Cosmo simply winked
(CHZ) Cosmo: Youāll figure it out! Now Eggman, please follow me!
CHZ Cosmo and X Eggman started running to Tailsā house.
(X) Blaze: Heeeey! Wait! Donāt be so cryptic with me! Cosmooooo!
(X) Knuckles: Let them be, it is probably important we get ready for the battle ahead.
Blaze sighed
(X) Blaze: I guess youāre rightā¦
Meanwhile, Eggman Nega was preparing the Egg Salamander. He inserted the seedling into the Egg Salamanderās energy core and took a look at the energy readings on the machine, getting an all new surprise.
(X) Eggman Nega: Incredibleā¦ this plant is serving to be the best solar powered engine Iāve ever seen! It must be the Chaos Energy working in tandem with the already infused Sol Emerald energy Iāve already drained! Foolish Blaze might not even realize that Iāve already gotten most of their power. Her journey was all for nothing! HEHEHEHEHEEEEEEE!
Nega then climbed into the cockpit and began to fly out of the station with the swarms of Egg Pawns following him.Ā
On the ground, the heroes started to gather. Sonic, Knuckles, Amy, and Blaze stood together.
(X) Sonic: Heyā¦ where did Eggman go?Ā
(X) Knuckles: The other Cosmo is bringing him over to Tailsā house. Eggman mentioned something about a hatch that could potentially be used to free our Cosmo without having to destroy her alongside Negaās machine.
(X) Sonic: That would be preferable... Tails may say that I can do āwhat must be doneā but I just know that if I have to reluctantly kill Cosmo for real this time to save us all, he may never want to see me againā¦Ā
(X) Amy: I have full confidence you can save the day and help our Cosmo too!
Sonic appreciated the backing from Amy
(X) Sonic: Thank you, though I donāt know if Super Sonic alone is going to be enough. The energy powering up Eggman Nega includes some of Shadowās energy since we both used Chaos Regeneration. Iād be more confident with a partner.
Thatās when Blaze steps in
(X) Blaze: I suppose thatād be meā¦ ifā¦ if I can figure out how to activate the Sol emer-
Blaze was interrupted as a large machine appeared in the sky. The big red machine known now as the Egg Salamander lowered itself to tower over the heroes below.
(X) Eggman Nega: Greetings pesky blue hedgehog and friends! Iād recommend that you surrender, or I will tear asunder the link between this world and the Sol Dimension!
(X) Blaze: But Nega! That might do untold damage to both our worlds!
Nega belted out a boisterous evil laugh
(X) Eggman Nega: Nothing is more important than victory over your enemies! Iāll rule a world turned into nothing but an endless void if I have to! As long as it comes with the satisfaction that Iāve triumphed over you, Sonic, and especially my worthless counterpart! But that can all be avoided if you submit to me! I have no intention of frivolous things like an āEggmanlandā like my counterpart wanted. As long as you do whatever I say, you will enjoy a quality of life unlike any other!
Sonic shook a fist
(X) Sonic: Fat chance! I happen to like how we live now! Weāre all as free as the wind!
Nega smirked
(X) Eggman Nega: So be it, this will be so much more fun anywayā¦
The Egg Salamander activated some sort of energy sword and cut a dimensional rift. Revealing a colorful void that forged a link between Sonicās universe and the Sol Dimension.
(X) Eggman Nega: Go ahead and activate those Chaos Emeralds of yours and follow me! I will defeat you at your most powerful!
(X) Blaze: Hey! Donāt forget about me!
Blaze got out the Sol Emeralds, but she still couldnāt currently use them.
(X) Blaze: Darn it! Iāve guarded you most of my life. Why wonāt you activate?!
Nega just chortled watching Blaze try to use the emeralds.
(X) Eggman Nega: Thatās all you ever were, Blaze! Simply a guardian! Besides, Iāve already drained most of their power for the machine you see before you! There are ways to recharge them but ironically your dedication to protecting them has proved to be a mistake! A soon to be fatal one too! HEHEHEHEHEEEEEE!
Sonic turned to Blaze
(X) Sonic: Keep trying, Blaze. Iām sure youāll find a way soon. For now thoughā¦
Sonic looked up confidently at Nega
(X) Sonic: So you want Super Sonic? Iāll give you Super Sonic!
The Chaos Emeralds began to spiral around Sonic, the hedgehog closing his eyes as his blue fur became golden, his green eyes turning red, and his back spines pointed upward.
(X) Eggman Nega: Yesssss, let our final battle begin, hedgehog!
Both Sonic and Nega entered the dimensional rift, while Blaze was still left struggling with the Sol Emeralds. Amy and Knuckles attempted to give her some encouragement
(X) Amy: Come on, Blaze! You can do it!
(X) Knuckles: Focus, Blaze! I wonāt pretend to know how your emeralds work, but Iām sure the method is right around the corner.
The Sol Emeralds for a moment blinked, but faded too soon to be of any sign that they were workingĀ
(X) Blaze: Iā¦ thank you for the vote of confidence. But Nega might be rightā¦ Iām simply a guardian. Not a wielderā¦
As Blaze trailed that last statement, an orange ship came flying in. It was Creamās spaceship. Though when she and Cheese saw that Blaze was on the ground, they quickly lowered their ship down to land.
(X) Cream: Blaaaaaaazeeeeeeeee!
(X) Cheese: Chaooooooooo!
(X) Blaze: Cream!
The small rabbit as well as the chao ran up and hugged the purple cat.
((Blaze sprite from a compiled/remixed sprite sheet by Sonic1093LQ))
(X) Blaze: ! Youāreā¦ hugging me? Evenā¦ after I snapped at you?
((More after the break))
(X) Cream: Why would I still be mad? It was just a misunderstanding! A perfectly understandable oneā¦ how could I have known that a Cosmo from a different dimension was going to show up? Andā¦ andā¦ I can tell youāve been betrayed beforeā¦
(X) Blaze: ā¦Yes, youāre right. Being a princess isnāt just looking pretty and smiling for the cameras. There are so many responsibilities, many of which had me often too busy to get involved with friendships. But in my younger years, maybe when I was your ageā¦ when I had more free timeā¦ everyone that wanted to be my friend was simply trying to curry favor with royalty instead of befriending meā¦ forā¦ me.Ā
Many of my so-called friends turned out to be nothing but bullies or fraudstersā¦ and while I was learning to control my pyrokinetic abilitiesā¦ Iā¦ snapped and ended up burning someone who had been taking advantage of me. While they probably deserved it, it scared many others from trying to make friends with me.
Youāre the first to ever want to be my friend for my sake rather than my titleā¦ and thatās why it hurt so bad when I thought you had been lying to meā¦
While Blaze and Cream continued their embrace, the Sol emeralds began to glow. This time not immediately disappearing.
(X) Blaze: Soā¦ Iāmā¦ s-s-sorry, Creamā¦ I shouldnāt have yelled at youā¦ and I also apologize for calling you a liar. Knuckles showing me the Blue Typhoon was enough to tell me that what you went through was real, and that shouldnāt have been something someone as young as you should have seenā¦ especially the near loss of your best friendā¦
(X) Cream: Iā¦ I f-f-forgive you, B-b-blazeā¦
Cream then felt something odd, Blazeās body heat seemed to be getting warmer. And fast.
(X) Cream: Oh my! Blazeā¦ Blazeā¦ your body heat is rising! Are you feeling ok?!
As Blaze seems to get a bit too hot to continue hugging, Cream lets go and sees Blaze seeming toā¦ change.
Blaze looked down at her body, a fiery energy building within her.. Her fur turned pink, her purple dress turned red, her ponytail, the cuffs on her gloves and shoes, and the tip of her cat tail became flames. And a fiery aura surrounded her
(X) Blaze: I... feel fine, Creamā¦ actuallyā¦ MORE than fineā¦ this energyā¦
She looked around herself and gasped as she saw the Sol Emeralds orbit around her.
(X) Blaze: The Sol Emeralds! I did it! I unlocked their power! Wasā¦ the secret to their power friendshipā¦ this whole time?
Cream grinned excitedly
(X) Cream: Oh my gosh! You can now help Mr. Sonic!
(X) Blaze: Yeahā¦ yeah, I canā¦ althoughā¦ I hope with this powerā¦ I can help save your Cosmo tooā¦
Blaze then flew off into the dimensional rift, although Cream was confused by why Blaze said something about saving her Cosmo too.
(X) Cream: Um, does anybody know why Ms. Blaze said she hopes to save our Cosmo?
Knuckles and Amy almost didnāt want to tell her
(X) Knuckles: Creamā¦ the seedling that Cosmo was transformed into is currently being used as the power source of Eggman Negaās machineā¦.
Cream gasped and reacted in shock.
(X) Cream: WHAT?! NOOOO! Iā¦ have to go helpā¦!
Cream was about to run to her spaceship, but Amy quickly ran over and held her back
(X) Amy: No, Cream! Itās too dangerous, youāll only make it harder for Sonic and Blaze!
(X) Cream: But.. butā¦ we have to do SOMETHING!
(X) Amy: There is already someone doing something, the other Cosmo is taking Eggman to Tails. The other Cosmo Iāve heard has so much more experience than our Cosmo did. And combine that with Tailsā intelligence and reliability, I think they can do it!
Cream was still very worried, but she trusted that Amy was right. The other Cosmo did seem a lot more confident then the Cosmo they knew. And if Tails knew there was still a chance to save her, heād do anything. So Cream just looked up at the dimensional hole where Sonic and Blaze were currently fighting Nega, the fate of their dimensions hanging in the balance.
((Super Sonic sprite ripped by Bonzai))
From within, Sonic and Blaze kept swirling around the Egg Salamander, dodging attacks, and getting some hits in. Though they both were certainly holding back hoping for some sort of miracle to save X Cosmo until they were given no choice. They quickly learned though that the machine seemed to also have the combined power of Sol Emerald and Chaos Emerald energy.Ā As their attacks constantly pushed and pulled against each other with no give on either side.
(X) Sonic: Grr, this machineās certainly toughā¦ Itās a complete stalemateā¦
Nega cackled
(X) Eggman Nega: Of course! The machine is built to last! Itāll easily outlast both of your super forms! So go ahead and try, but youāll never defeat me! Youāll fall into the endless void once time runs out. But thanks to the solar battery that is the seedling, I. AM. INVINCIBLE!
(X) Blaze: Weāll see about thatā¦Ā
At Tailsā house. CHZ Cosmo and X Eggman arrived at the door. The former knocked on the door, Tails looked through the peephole, before opening the door.
(X) Tails: I thought I told you to leave me aloneā¦
(CHZ) Cosmo: I know you did, but this is urgent. I still believe we still have one more chance to save her. Iāve brought Eggman with me, he helped design the Egg Salamander. He can pinpoint an area where we can extract her from the machine!
Tails lowered his head
(X) Tails: Butā¦ if we failā¦ Iā¦ donāt want to see her die againā¦ itās too muchā¦ Sheās attached to a big threatā¦ Sonic and quite possibly Blaze are in Super Forms similar to how Sonic and Shadow wereā¦ Iā¦ I just canātā¦ I donāt want to see history repeat itselfā¦
(X) Eggman: There is a significant difference between then and now though, Tailsā¦
Tails raised an eyebrow
(X) Tails: What? That I donāt have the Blue Typhoon to shoot her againā¦?
(X) Eggman: No, donāt you remember that Final Mova had that forcefield that incapacitated most living things other than our Cosmo and robots like Decoe and Bocoe? There is no such thing here, as otherwise Nega would be affected too.
Tails gasped, it had slipped his mind, or perhaps the nightmares he had of reliving Cosmoās ādeathā where he tried to move closer to save her physically himself. But the dream, much like the forcefield, made it so it was impossible to save her himself each time clouded that memory.
(CHZ) Cosmo: Exactly! Tails, thereās still a chance!
(X) Tails: E-e-eggman.. Where can we extract Cosmoā¦?
(X) Eggman: Itāll be at the back of the machine. You and this Cosmo could fly the X Tornado up there. You should be small enough to climb into the hatch, grab the plant, and make a quick getawayā¦ that is if Nega doesnāt blow you to smithereens while tryingā¦ That machine on full power can keep up with Super Sonic. So just know he could easily swat you like a fly if youāre not carefulā¦
Tails thought for a moment, before lifting his head with a determined look.
(X) Tails: Iāll do itā¦ even the lowest probability chance is worth tryingā¦ and if things go wrongā¦ well, at least I triedā¦ and weāll reunite somewhere elseā¦ even if it isnāt this plane of existenceā¦. she risked her life for us all, I must do the same for her!
Eggman, take this wrist communicator in case you need to talk to us while weāre thereā¦
And Cosmoā¦ other Cosmo, I should sayā¦ you said before that youāre even better in the air than when you were mowing down robots in Night Carnivalā¦ correct?
(X) Eggman: Heyā¦ you know those were MY robots rightā¦
(X) Tails: Uhā¦
(X) Eggman: Just kidding, the Egg Pawns are mass produced. And the parts are reusable to boot!
Both X Tails and CHZ Cosmo just blinked twice.
(CHZ) Cosmo: Ahem, anywayā¦ yes, Tails. I have had lots of experience flying all sorts of ships, even before I met the other you.
(X) Tails: Think you could pilot the X Tornado then? Iāll need to be in the backseat for the extraction without either of us awkwardly having to switch seats in mid-air.
CHZ Cosmo nodded her head
(CHZ) Cosmo: Of course! Iād have to take a look to be absolutely sure Iāll be comfortable with the controls, but if itās anything like the ships the Tails from my universe built, I should have little to no trouble!
X Tails and CHZ Cosmo ran toward the X Tornado, the latter hopping into the pilot seat.Ā She took a careful look at the controls, and was generally satisfied by what she saw.
(CHZ) Cosmo: Good news, Tails. These controls are very similar to both mine andĀ my universeās Tailsā main plane! The only thing of course is that itās not as up to date as our current planes are. But adjusting to a slightly older model should only take a little bit of muscle memory refreshing.
(X) Tails: Thatās great to hear! Now letās get going and save my Cosmo!
(X) Eggman: Good luck, both of you, send Nega my regards and a good butt kicking!
Both young pilots nodded, and CHZ Cosmo activated the plane, going down the runway, and taking off into the air within seconds.Ā It wasn't long before they approached the dimensional rift where Sonic and Blaze were still fighting the Egg Salamander.
The group on the ground that were currently hoping that Sonic and Blaze prevailed heard the sounds of an airplane engine coming in.
(X) Cream: Hey look! I think thatās the X Tornado!
(X) Amy: Yeah! The other Cosmo must have successfully convinced Tails that thereās still a chance!
(X) Knuckles: Great to seeā¦ letās hope all ends well.
Suddenly Knuckles recieved two taps on the shoulder from someone up in a tree above him. He turned around to see an upside downā¦
(X) Rouge: Why hello, handsome red~
(X) Knuckles: GAAAH! Rouge, where did you come from?!
Rouge flipped in midair and gracefully landed on her feet onto the ground.
(X) Rouge: Iām not too late to witness the usual Big-Blue-saves-the-day-oā-clock am I?
(X) Amy: Wellā¦ weāre certainly hoping he doesā¦
Rouge turned out to not be the only one showing up, as Team Chaotix return to the group, with Vanilla walking beside them.
(X) Vector: Heeeeeeeeeey!
(X) Vanilla: Greetings, everyone!Ā
(X) Cream: Mr. Vector! Mr. Espio! Mr. Charmy! Mother!
(X) Espio: Everything going on ok over here?
(X) Knuckles: Not going to lie, Espio. Itās nerve wracking. Weāre hoping that not only Sonic and Blaze can prevail, but that Tails and the other Cosmo can get our Cosmo out of Eggman Negaās machine.
(X) Charmy: What?! Our Cosmo was taken?!
(X) Vector: Thatās not goodā¦ but if Tails is going to be the proverbial knight in shining armor, letās cheer him on as he rescues his princess!
(X) Charmy and Cream: Yeaaaaaaah!
(X) Cheese: Chao chaoooo!
Amy held her hands together and smiled.Ā Though before looking back up at the dimensional rift, she noticed something on Vectorās face.
(X) Amy: Uh, Vector? Is thatā¦ lipstick on your cheek?Ā
Creamās mother looked sideways sheepishly, smiled, and blushed while Vector smugly grinned
(X) Vector: Oh you noticed, huh? It was a gift from Ms. Vanilla for helping save her daughter! I donāt think Iāll ever wash this cheek again!
Charmy leaned over to Espioās ear as they whispered to each other.
(X) Charmy: You are so turning invisible to watch that cheek while heās asleep when we get back to the agencyā¦
(X) Espio: Already planning on itā¦
While the group was all smiles, just about all of them were anxiously awaiting for Sonic, Blaze, Tails, CHZ Cosmo, as well as the plant of X Cosmo to make it all out intact. They all looked up in the sky and continued to hope for the bestā¦
Within the dimension itself the battle continued to go on and on without any end in sight.Ā Negaās machine managed to tank the swarming hits by Super Sonic and Burning Blaze, at least in part because of the tremendous energy that the seedling was giving the Egg Salamander.Ā Any time Super Sonic and Burning Blaze were knocked away, they just got right back in.
(X) Sonic: Ugh, the energy me and Shadow gave the seed Cosmo has become is now a thorn in my sideā¦Ā
(X) Blaze: Does that meanā¦ we have toā¦
Blaze looked at Sonic with concern, she didnāt want to destroy the plant either. But if was about the fate of their dimensionsā¦
Thankfully, Sonic shakes his head
(X) Sonic: I donāt even think we could do that all on our own. Itād require an extra boost from sayā¦ the Blue Typhoonās cannon to fire it straight at him to work just like it was with the Metarex. But Tails destroyed that possibility a while ago, and quite frankly I donāt blame himā¦
(X) Blaze: I agree, if fate determined that he had to shoot his lover twice. Iād understand if heād just let the universe die just because it was so cruel to him.
Knuckles showed me what remains of the Blue Typhoon earlier, even not having seen it firsthand, the scars from that battle were quite evident. Your friend Tails has clearly been through a lot, and Iām glad he wonāt have to repeat what clearly still haunts him to this day. But if we donāt even have that option are weā¦ doomed?
As Sonic and Blaze tried to think of something they could do to break the stalemate, a plane comes flying in, Sonic instantly recognizing it as the X Tornado.
(X) Sonic: Tails?!
He flew in closer to the plane both to check on his friend and also protect him in case Nega tried to fire at him. He checked the pilot seat, but instead of Tails he found CHZ Cosmo. Though Sonic soon took a look at the backseat to see Tails in there too, who had the most determined look on his face. He didnāt even look at Sonic, his gaze entirely focused on the Egg Salamander.
CHZ Cosmo spoke from the planeās speakers to Sonic.
(CHZ) Cosmo: Sonic! You and Blaze have to distract Nega while we get in close. We have a planā¦
Sonic didnāt even have to ask what the plan was. Tailsā face was enough of an indicator that this was a rescue mission. Blaze flew over to Sonicās side.
(X) Blaze: Hey what are you two doing here!Ā We can barely scratch that thing with our super forms, itās dangerous to be here!
(X) Sonic: Blaze, theyāre here to rescue our Cosmo. We need to help them in any way we can. Not only is it important for saving a dear friend, but it might be our only shot at saving the dayā¦
Blaze gasped
(X) Blaze: I seeā¦ well, letās not waste any time thenā¦
From within the Egg Salamander, Eggman Nega chuckled
(X) Eggman Nega: These foolish kids want to play hero against my invincible machine? Youāre not going to pull one on me like you did to my stupid counterpart!
Speaking of Negaās counterpart, he started a call with Tails from a wrist communicator
(X) Eggman: Make this count, Prower, we've only got one shot at this!
(X) Tails: I will, Eggmanā¦ (Iām going to save you, Cosmoā¦ I have toā¦)
Nega then fired a barrage of rockets and lasers at the X Tornado. Sonic and Blaze destroyed a majority of the rockets, while CHZ Cosmoās piloting experience allowed her to dodge everything thrown their way.
Sonic tried to get Eggman Negaās attention, taunting him.
(X) Sonic: Is that all you've got, Nega? Pathetic! I didnāt know your plan was to BORE us to death!
A clearly annoyed Eggman Nega grumbled
(X) Eggman Nega: Iād choose your last words more carefully, hedgehog!
Nega took the bait and started going after Sonic, giving time for Tails, CHZ Cosmo, and Eggman to plot their next move.
(X) Tails: Soā¦ Eggman, how are we supposed to get to this hatch you mentioned?
(X) Eggman: Thatās the hard part of all thisā¦ somehow you have to hope heās invested with Sonic and Blaze long enough for you to sneak in. But even then he himself will be on the move. Heād easily catch someone trying to board his ship if you go in directly. You might have to figure something out with Sonic and/or Blaze to manage some sort of window of opportunity. Just a few seconds is all that is needed for you to squeeze yourself insideā¦
While it was Blazeās turn to catch Negaās attention. CHZ Cosmo flew the plane over to Sonicās side.
(X) Tails: Sonic! We need you and/or Blaze to find a way to not only keep Nega distracted but still. If weāre going to save Cosmo, we need just a brief moment!
(X) Sonic: Got it, buddy. Though I donāt know if thereās anything I can think of thatāll get the time you need. But maybe Blaze has something up her sleeve.
SSonic flew on over to Blaze in the air, and as they knocked away more of Negaās rockets and dodged more lasers, Sonic mentioned what Tails needed.
(X) Sonic: Blaze, is there anything you can do that will keep Nega still while Tails enters a hatch heās just small enough to enter?
Blaze thought for a moment while continuing to dodge, and went back to Sonic.
(X) Blaze: Well I may have something, but it's a long shot. As a word of warning, you have to tell both of your friends on the plane to close their eyes. Otherwise it will be detrimental to them too. And make sure not to yell it out, or otherwise Nega might see whatās going on. This move is going to be bright even for those glasses of hisā¦
Blaze flew over in front of Nega, while Sonic flew over to the X Tornado. He used hand signals to point to his eyes and then closed them multiple times.
CHZ Cosmo gasped
(CHZ) Cosmo: Tails! I think Sonic is telling us to close our eyes for a moment! Iām going to briefly launch autopilot!
CHZ Cosmo presses a button to allow the X Tornado to fly on its own. And as instructed, both close their eyes.
Blaze, in front of Negaās window, began to charge up a move. Curling up into a ball before unleashing a light as bright as the sun
(X) Blaze: SOLLLLLAAAARRRRRR NOVAAAAAAAAAA!
(X) Eggman Naga: GRAAAAAAGGGHHHHH!
Nega was blinded for a short moment, his eyes felt like he had just stared at the sun for a few minutes. All within the flash of Blazeās technique.
(X) Sonic: COSMO! TAILS! NOWāS YOUR CHANCE!
Both opened their eyes, CHZ Cosmo immediately retaking control of the plane and flying behind the Egg Salamander, directly where the hatch was. Tails quickly opened the windshield on the backseat (the same one that his Cosmo had asked to drop down from on the day they had first met), and got to work on the hatch, opening it and then squeezing himself inside. He climbed around the inside the machine, frantically looking for the seedling. And hoping that she wasnāt damaged while being used as a battery for Negaās machine.
As soon as he had found the plant, he whirled his tails straight at the glass container, and reached in to grab the plant. An emergency siren started blaring within, but Nega was still recovering from the flash of Blazeās Solar Nova.
(X) Eggman Nega: HEY! WHATāS GOING ON BACK THERE! I SWEAR AS SOON AS I CAN SEE CLEARLY AGAIN YOUāRE DEAD MEAT!
But before Nega could even finish that sentence. Tails was already on his way back out. Falling into the backseat. Holding the pot tightly in his arms. He told CHZ Cosmo toā¦
(X) Tails: FLOOR IT! NOOOOOOOW!
CHZ Cosmo boosted the X Tornado out, flying out of the dimensional rift as fast as she could.
The crowd below gasped, and they wondered if this was good news.
(X) Cream: Didā¦ did they do itā¦?!
(X) Knuckles: I sure hope soā¦
Back within the rift, Nega finally regained his eyesight as he glared at Blaze.
(X) Eggman Nega: Amusing little light show there, Blaze! But it accomplishes noth-
Nega then took a look at the readings of his ship. He had drastically lost a large amount of battery power.
(X) Eggman Nega: No way! Iā¦ canāt believe this!
Nega went back to check on the seedling that had been powering his ship. And to his horror, he found that it was no longer there,Ā with nothing but a broken container in its place.
(X) Eggman Nega: NOOOOOOO! Itās gone! My shipās battery! How did this happen?! Waitā¦ did that idiot counterpart of mine plant a weakness in the ship?! I should have never trusted him from the beginning!
Nega quickly worked to try to get backup power running.
(X) Eggman Nega: No matter! I still have enough saved up solar power to beat both Blaze and Sonic for good! With just a little more time, Iāllā¦
Sonic and Blaze were in perfect sync as they spiraled around and prepared to attack the now much weakened Egg Salamander, without the plant that was X Cosmo powering it.
(X) Eggman Nega: No no no NO NO NO NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Sonic and Blazeās charge devastated the Egg Salamander, sending it reeling, all the way back to the Sol Dimension, in fact. Eggman Nega was defeated.
Sonic and Blaze gave each other a victorious handshake.
(X) Blaze: Weā¦ we did it! And your universeās Cosmo was saved too!
(X) Sonic: Always great when we get the best possible ending. You did great out there, Blaze. I only wish you could stay longer. I didnāt even get the chance to see what you can do in a 1-on-1!
(X) Blaze: Iām sure a friendly spar between us would be epic. Your friend Knuckles gave me a taste of what youāre capable of, and I can tell it would be very closeā¦ but yes, I need to get going soon. There are two things I need to do for your world though, before I close off the portal between us.
That is unless you want Eggmanās henchmen to stay in my universe for whatever reason.
(X) Sonic: If you mean Decoe, Bocoe, and Bokkun. Then please bring them back, they may be Eggmanās henchmen but theyāre a part of our planet too.
(X) Blaze: Got it, I shall retrieve them then.
(X) Sonic: But whatās the other thing youāre talking aboutā¦
(X) Blaze: That.. youāll see soon enough.
Sonic and Blaze then quickly flew out of the rift, their appearance instantly resulting in cheers from the crowd of friends who knew that this must mean theyāve won. They both floated down, Sonic reverting to his regular form, but Blaze staying as Burning Blaze for a little while longer. Sheād need to stay in that form to both retrieve Eggmanās robots as well as the other thing that she had hinted to Sonic about.
Sonicās first instinct was to run over to Tails. Who was still holding this universeās Cosmoās seedling.Ā
(X) Sonic: How ya feelinā buddy? Glad that you saved your girlfriend?
Tails didnāt answer at first, remaining oddly quiet as he was just relieved that this time he was able to save Cosmo this time around.. It felt cathartic for him in many ways, he got the chance to do something he couldnāt do during the battle against Final Mova. He looked up towards Sonic with a smile.
(X) Tails: Yeahā¦ yeah I am. Now I can start thinking of ways to protect her while sheās still regenerating. Itās going to be a worrisome couple of years, or even a whole decade. But as long as she comes back eventually, Iāll be there for her whenever that day comes.
Thatās when Blaze gently flew near Tails with a knowing smile
(X) Blaze: But what if you didnāt have to wait?
Tails gasped at that suggestion
(X) Tails: I meanā¦ I would much rather her regenerate now if it was possibleā¦ but the other Cosmo said itād take a while soā¦ I donāt know what you mean by not having to waitā¦
(X) Blaze: Tails, and Cream as well. I have something special to tell you both about my dimension that will interest you.
Cream stepped forward
(X) Cream: R-really? What is it?
(X) Blaze: Thereās a part of my world known as the Plant Kingdom. A beautiful place full of all kinds of plants. Legend has it that the kingdom once nearly went extinct. Before wielders of the Sol Emeralds were able to use their power to quickly restore and grow the kingdom to a prosperity that to this dayā¦ still holds.Ā
The word Sol means Sun. Can you imagine what magical sunlight, combined with the refreshing of a soul that Chaos Regeneration might have done? Can you guess what that might mean for that little seedling?
Tails and Cream quickly thought over Blazeās words, and when they had figured it out, their eyes went wide, loud gasps escaping from their mouths, and then they both grinned.
(X) Tails and Cream: Y-y-you can speed up Cosmoās regeneration?!
Blaze simply nodded
(X) Blaze: I fully believe that I canā¦
Sonic himself was impressed with the idea
(X) Sonic: That sounds great! Just like how Chaos and Sol energies worked together to defeat Eggman Nega, It will do so again to bring back our Cosmo faster then she would have done otherwise!
Tails wasted no time
(X) Tails: Isā¦ is there anything you need me to do before theā¦ ritual I guess?
(X) Blaze: I only need two things.Ā I suggest you put the seedling down on the ground. And Creamā¦ do you still have the amulet that we pieced together when we first met?
Cream nodded, as she pulled it out of her pocket
(X) Cream: Yes, of course!
(X) Blaze: Please lay it next to the seedling. From what I can gather, those amulets are important to her kind.
CHZ Cosmo nodded to give an indication that it was.
(X) Vector: I hope Iām not being rude about pointing this out, but how is our Cosmo going to take that another her exists?
That made the whole group also a bit concerned about that as well
(X) Tails: Uh, Iāll have to explain it to her. But I think for now if this works, sheāll be too focused on wellā¦ actually being still alive to notice that thereās two of her. Once things settle down weāll tell her whatās happened as of late.
(X) Amy: I hope she doesnāt get heartbroken thinking Tails cloned her assuming she was goneā¦
Both CHZ Cosmo and X Tails grimaced thinking about that
(CHZ) Cosmo: Iāll make sure to help explain everything to her. Itās going to be as weird for me as it will be for her to be speaking with another self. But it should be clear weāre from different universes, weāll also have Blaze briefly here to also back up that other dimensions have been in play.
(X) Tails: On that subject. When do you think your universeās me is going to get here?
(CHZ) Cosmo: Iām unsure, but I know he will have been looking for me the entire time that Iāve been trapped here. Heāll eventually find the right universe along with my universeās Cream and Blaze.
(X) Cream: Oooo, another me is arriving soon?! You hear that Mother? Iām going to have a twin for a short time!
Vanilla just blinked, but giggled
(X) Vanilla: I guess Iāll have to bake twice as many cookies then, heh heh!
As amusing as this small talk was, Tails got serious and placed the seedling down on the ground, Cream also laying the scarred amulet near the seedling.
(X) Tails: Ok Blazeā¦ weāre ready.
Blaze nodded and stretched out her arms. She put all of her focus on the seedling and the amulet.
(X) Blaze: Just like the Solar Nova during my fight with Nega, I suggest all of you close your eyes for a short moment. This technique shouldnāt be as eye searing as a nova is. But Iād take caution regardlessā¦
Everyone did as Blaze asked and either closed their eyes or looked away. Once Blaze felt the necessary energy flow within her, she was ready to repeat one of the legendary powers of the Sol Emeralds.
Magical light shone outward from Blazeās hands into the seedling. The amulet began to float up, and the seedling startedā¦ growing. It became too large for its container, breaking the white pot and rooting itself into the ground. The seedling could no longer be called as such as it became a full-on plant with a very tall stem, and large leaves. The group stared in awe at the size of the plant. Once it reached its full size, a flower bud grew, with an interesting glow from within that could be seen even from the outside.
(X) Tails: Inside that flowerā¦ thatā¦ must beā¦ herā¦
It was only a moment later when the bud finally began to bloom. A giant pink flower, and in the center of it... Wasā¦ X Cosmo, laying down as if she was currently in a deep sleep.
Even though he was aware this was going to happen, Tailsā was overfilled with emotion as he flew up. Tears dropped from his eyes as he reunited with the love he had once thought was gone forever. He sat next to her as she was lying down. Taking a clear look at her, she looked a little different. She wasnāt in a fully grown form like she had been before her near sacrifice, she was as small as she had been for most of the journey on the Blue Typhoon. Her hair however was slightly longer, and her roses were bloomed just like how they had been on that fateful day.
Tails then picked her up in his arms. Tears of joy continued to stream down his face. He could feel a heartbeat, her warm body temperature, confirmation that she was indeed alive again. Or more accurately, had been still alive all along. A part of him was almost half expecting to suddenly jolt awake in his bed just to reveal that this entire adventure had been just another dream to take everything away from him. But any remaining worries were quickly dispelled as X Cosmo began to awaken. She grunted as if she had been woken up from a deep slumber early in the morning. Though the sun was setting, not rising in the background.
X Cosmo slowly opened her eyes, and the first thing she saw was Tailsās face. His eyes constantly gushing tears of joy. Still only about half awake, she tried to speak.
Tails couldnāt resist, he hugged her as tight as he could.
(X) Tails: Yesā¦ Yes, Iām right here, Cosmo! Youāre safeā¦ safe with meā¦
The reunited couple remained in an embrace on top of the flower, everyone below watching the scene either crying tears of joy themselves, dāawwing at the sight, or showing stoic pride for Tails who had long earned this chance to be happy.
Cosmo gradually became more and more aware, happy to be in Tailsā arms. But then something worried her as her eyes went wide.
(X) Cosmo: Wait! What became of final mova?! Didā¦ what I did work? Orā¦ orā¦ did we allā¦ perish andā¦ this isā¦ the afterlifeā¦
For X Cosmo, her memory went blank after she had said what she presumed to be her last goodbye to Tails. She didnāt know how long it had been yet since she put her life on the line to save the galaxy.
X Tails reassured her however
(X) Tails: It worked, Cosmoā¦ the Metarex are gone now. Youāre back with me on my planet!
(X) Cosmo: H-h-howā¦ is this p-possible?
(X) Tails: Sonic andā¦ Shadowā¦ saved you using Chaos Regeneration. They were able to revert you into the form of a seed. And thanks to a brand new friend we met, you grew back quicker then you might have otherwise!
She did vaguely recall moments before her memory blanked out that Sonic and Shadow yelled out the words Chaos Regeneration
(X) Cosmo: Iā¦ I seeā¦ umā¦ whoās the new friend you say sped up myā¦ regeneration?
(X) Blaze: That would be me, welcome back Cosmoā¦
Blaze floated gently over towards the two. Cosmo stared up at the awe-inspiring sight of Burning Blaze. It might have been because she was still a little groggy from her āslumberā, but it was like seeing a deity of fire before her very eyes.
(X) Cosmo: W-w-who are y-you?
(X) Blaze: You may call me Blaze, Iām a princess from the Sol Dimension that came over to Sonicās world initially just to retrieve my worldās emeralds. But along the wayā¦ I found much nobler purposes. From getting to know your friend Cream, and to helping you find your way back with your friends after the terrible things you went through. You deserve a second chance at life, Cosmo. I hope you can now live a long and happy life with those whoāve you endeared yourself to over the course of your journey on the Blue Typhoon
As for me, this might unfortunately be the last time you ever see me. As I must get back home soon, I seek to close the portal between our worlds.Ā
Blaze turned around and looked down towards the group below.
(X) Blaze: I want to thank you all for your help. And if itās true that weāll never see eachother againā¦ just know Iāll never forget you. Especially you Cream.
The small rabbit was a mess of emotions, she was half overjoyed to have her friend from the journey in space. But she also knew she might never see Blaze again, which gave her many bittersweet feelings.
(X) Cream: G-g-g-go-goodbye B-b-Blaze! Iāll never forget you either! Iāll be right here if you ever do come back! Iāll m-m-miss you!
Blaze shedded a few tears from her own eyes.
(X) Blaze: Iāll miss you tooā¦
She waved to the rest of the group before preparing to fly away.
(X) Cosmo: W-w-w-wait!
The newly regenerated Cosmo yelled out to Blaze before she could go anywhere
(X) Blaze: Hmmā¦?
X Cosmo gave the princess a warm smile
(X) Cosmo: Thank youā¦ for b-b-bringing me b-back.. I hope I get to see you again one dayā¦.
(X) Tails: Iām forever in your debt, Blaze. You have no ideaā¦ how much this means to meā¦
Blaze smiled back toward them both.
(X) Blaze: Youāre very welcome, I hope you and Cosmo can now live together in peace. Without any more worry of war and destruction.
Goodbye everyone, once more, thanks for everything and Iāll hold out hope that we will see eachother againā¦ some dayā¦
Blaze then finally flew off to the portal, not closing it just yet as she still needed to retrieve Bocoe, Decoe, and Bokkun. But the whole group looked at the portal with the feeling of having met a new ally. Tails then gently picked up X Cosmo and used his namesakes to gently fly them towards the ground. He let Cosmo stand on her own two feet. She wobbled a bit, some lingering effects from having just come back from the form of a seed still present. But once she was stable, Amy and Cream ran up and hugged her.
(X) Amy: Weāre so happy to have you back, Cosmo!
Cream didnāt even say anything, she was just a mess of whimpers and sobs. Just so glad to have her back. Her chao Cheese also held on tight to her. Nearly the entire group surrounded Cosmo to celebrate her return.
CHZ Cosmo watched from a distance behind a tree. As they mentioned how weird it would be, she didnāt want X Cosmo seeing her to overshadow this reunion. Sheād let X Tails begin to explain her situation before meeting her properly.
(X) Vanilla: I think itād be a great idea to celebrate with a Welcome Back Cosmo party! Everyone is invited to me and Creamās house! We didnāt exactly prepare any decorations, but just having a dear friend back shall be a party in and of itself!
Everyone cheered and gladly accepted Vanillaās offer. They began walking together, ready for a night of mingling and of course surrounding Cosmo with the love and appreciation of everyone who got to know her while on the Blue Typhoon.
Strangely X Tails and both of the Cosmos were the only ones not heading there yet. X Cosmo took this opportunity to hold both of Tails hands, their eyes sparkling as they looked at one another. CHZ Cosmo was still watching from behind the tree.
(CHZ) Cosmo: (Itāsā¦ beautifulā¦ this moment right here is why I donāt regret leaping into the portal to here one bitā¦
Although I do kind of hope my universeās Tails gets here soon. Itās going to get mighty awkward between me and the other me if Iām here for too much longerā¦)
X Tails and X Cosmo then embraced each other again. They both bore incredible trauma from the war with the Metarex, but now that they were in each other's arms, they knew that nothing would ever get between them ever againā¦
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Tails, Cosmo, Cream and Cheese were welcomed by Princess Blaze. Blaze guided them to particular sights throughout her world from her palace to the many islands across the Seven Seas. And are now on their last stop of the tour: The Coral Caves
((Blaze sprite from a compiled/remixed sprite sheet by Sonic1093LQ))
Cosmo: Oh, Iāve almost forgotten how beautiful the Coral Caves wereā¦
Tails: It certainly is, Cosmo! ā¦Though not as much as you!
Cosmo blushed
Cosmo: Oh stop it, you! *giggles*Ā
Cream from behind the couple joined Cosmoās giggling while Blaze rolled her eyes, but smiled at the cheesy flirting between Tails and Cosmo.Ā
Tails: Thank you so much for being our tour guide, Blaze! And thank you as well Cream for helping set this trip for us! Itāll really make her seed day all the more special!
Cream beamed a smile and hopped happily
Cream: Youāre welcome, Mr. Tails!Ā
Blaze on the other hand seemed confused
Blaze: Huh? Whatās this about a Seed Day?
Cosmo blushed a little in embarrassment
Cosmo: Ahehheh, what Tails means, is today happens to be when the seed I was born from was planted. To be truthful, my bloom day in September is the one I consider my real birthday. Iād feel a bit greedy if I celebrated essentially two birthdays a year... but I have been wanting to go see the Sol Dimension again and catch up with you. So if Tails wanted to take me here today for that reason. I don't mind.
Blaze: Ah, gotchaā¦ regardless, youāre all welcome. It was about time I started to reconnect with all of you. Some friend that I have been showing up to only birthday parties or racing/sports competitions lately...
Cream: Thatās alright, Ms. Blaze! We know youāre a ruling princess, how busy you have been, and thereās a whole dimension on your shoulders. We do wish we could see you more often, but that doesnāt mean we think any less of you. Iāve kind of been absent when it comes to most recent adventures too. But I suppose that means Gemerl has kept me and my mom safe!
Creamās chao Cheese raised an arm in support of Creamās words
Cheese: Chao chao!
Blaze sighed
Blaze: Thank you, Cream. But I do feel like I could have at least helped the Resistance put up a better fight while Sonic was missing. Apparently, I was so out of the loop that I showed up a whole SEVEN MONTHS after Eggman and Infiniteās takeover was resolvedā¦ imagine if I had come back only to see Eggman had secured total victory, or worseā¦ everyone of you met a terrible fate.
Tails frowned remembering the struggle it was to keep the resistance afloat. But soon gave Blaze a confident smile as he also recalled how they prevailed despite the many hardships.
Tails: I wonāt lie, that was certainly a tough time for us. But we donāt blame your absence for it. Besides... thanks to myself, Cosmo, and Knuckles we were able to hold off Eggman tilā Sonic found his way out. Itās now up to us to make sure Eggman never gets that close again!
Cosmo: Look at the bright side, Blaze. I havenāt seen Eggman Nega try anything in a long while.
Blaze: As much as Iād like to say that Iāve been actively holding him back from reaching you all. The truth is, I havenāt seen him a lot lately eith-
???: Hee hee hee hee, perhaps itās time to change that, PRINCESS!
Blaze: *gasps and then hisses* Urgggh, of course Iād jinx itā¦
The interdimensional counterpart to Dr. Eggman chuckled with a menacing grin as he looked at his arch-nemesis.
Eggman Nega: Itās certainly been a long time hasnāt it, Blaze? Care to do some catching up? I see youāve brought friends! Theyāre all welcome to share your fate todayā¦
Blaze: What do you want, Nega? If youāre seeking the scepter, good luck. Youāll never access it again. And even if you destroy me, you would lose any remaining chance of getting it. Only I know how to get inside.
Nega just chuckled in response
Eggman Nega: Weāll see about that, I have some of my robots checking every nook and cranny around the altarās doors and even the altarās building for any exploitable crack! Every old templeās gotta have a weakness, even if my robots have to forcefully dig through the aging stone!
Blaze gasped
Blaze: Nega, that is not a good idea. Forcefully attempting to get inside is prone to causeā¦
Suddenly the whole area around both the evil doctor and the group of friends.
Tails: ITāS AN EARTHQUAAAAAAAAKKKEEEEEEEEEE!
As Tails yells, everyone panics and starts to run.Ā
Eggman Nega: Grrr, with any luck this quake will take all of you out and Iāll have all the time in the world to find a way inside. Goodbye Blaze, hopefully for the last time!
Blaze hissed and shook a fist at the escaping Eggman Nega, but soon focused on simply protecting herself and her friends. She uses her pyrokinetic powers to blast down any dangerous rocks falling towards her and her friends. Though while the panic ensues, a cave-in occurs that splits Cosmo from the rest of the group.Ā
Cream: NOOOO! COSMO!
Tails: Cosmo? COSMO?! WHERE ARE YOU?!
Cheese: Chaochao?!
As Tails panics, the quaking seems to stop. And they have a moment to digest what just happened.
Tails: Nonononono, Cosmo please be ok! Blaze! Cream! Help me dig!
A faint soft voice is soon heard that helps reassure Tails rings out.
Cosmo: i-i-i-Iām... Iām ok, Tailsā¦Ā
Thereās a tiny spot in the rocks between both sides where they can see each other. But it was very small. Blaze punches it to at least make the space a bit bigger. With enough of a push, maybe they could get Cheese to the other side. But thatās all they could really do. Tails breathed a sigh of relief that Cosmo was ok, he feared she could have been crushed by the cave-in.
Tails: *sigh* Thank goodness, youāre okā¦
Blaze: Iām glad youāre alright too, Cosmo. But we have to assess the situation. Weāre going to have to take the long way around. We donāt have the power necessary to break through a cave in of this size. Maybe if I smashed it at full speed I could try, but it might only risk making it worse. We also need to watch for aftershocks, so hereās the planā¦
Cosmo, I need to tell you the password so you can get inside the altar of the Jeweled Scepter. There you will be well protected from any potential aftershock damage.
Cosmo: Areā¦ are you sure about giving me that password? It seems quite important to youā¦
Blaze: Not more important than keeping my friends safe. Besides, I believe I can trust you. Princess to Princess, shall we say? *winks*
Cosmo giggled
Cosmo: Ha, sureā¦ though what will you all be doing in the meantime?
Blaze: We will go the long way around to the other side. Weāll need to stick close to each other in case another cave-in tries to split another one of us away. But weāll eventually reach the other end to retrieve you. When youāre inside, just sit tight and donāt touch the scepter.
Cosmo nods
Cosmo: I understandā¦ so, whatās the password to the altar?
Blaze: Ok, first of allā¦ I hope there was still enough space in that brain jampacked with known languages for you to to learn some of our ancient languages. Cause youāll need it.
Cosmo smiled
Cosmo: I did in fact study any and all languages I saw from the last time I was in the Sol Dimension. There were a few languages from other planets that I already knew that had a similar dialect if you could believe it.Ā
Blaze: Thatās good to hear. Listen closely, Cosmoā¦ the password isā¦Ā
Blaze mutters something that Tails nor Cream can understand what sheās saying. Or in terms of the former would take tinkering with a machine to translate into something he can read. But with a girlfriend from space thatās already affluent in so many languages. There was almost never really a need for him to do so.
Cosmo: Thank you, Blaze. Iāll see you all soon! Love you, Tails!
Tails: Love you tooā¦ stay safe, Cosmo!
Cosmo: I will!
((More after the break))
Cosmo runs off toward the direction of the altar
Before she can get into the chamber though, three of Eggman Negaās robots that survived the earthquake stand in her way. Cosmoās far from deterred however, as she runs at full speed and prepares her vine whips. Her versatile whips smashing one on its head, and slamming one away into a cave wall. She retracts her whips back into her sleeves before coming face to face with the last one. She jumps toward the robot and launches both whips at once. Impaling straight through the robotās chest. Making a hole big enough for Cosmo to jump right through.
Cosmo was now all clear for the entrance to the altar. She clears her throat, before saying the password Blaze gave her to the entrance. The altar accepts the password as the door glows before opening. Just in case there were still more of Negaās robots nearby, she says the password again while inside to close it.
She takes a deep breath as she could now simply relax here until Tails and the others arrive. Though while she waits, she might as well give the place a good look. It was a circular room where besides the two entrances, ancient tablets repeat all around the scepter. The Scepter itself is highlighted by a glow as if the sun was shining down onto it.
Cosmo kept in mind Blazeās warning not to touch the scepter. Though she at least wanted to take a closer look at it. She had seen the scepter before, but she never got the chance to see it up close like this when she, Sonic, and Tails had been sent to the Sol Dimension. Eggman Nega and Captain Whisker had taken the scepter before she could see it like this. And by the time that adventure was over, she just wanted to get back home.
Cosmo walked closer and made sure to keep her hands down so as to not touch it. She could see the pretty gems around or in the curvature of the top of the scepter.
Suddenly however, a shaking feeling startles Cosmo, she gasps, caught by surprise by what seemed to have been an aftershock. Cosmo loses her balance and one of the tips of her rosebuds knocks over the scepter.
Cosmo: Ohnoohnoohnoohno!
As the scepter hits ground, it begins to glow and it shoots something out that expands into a large oval with floating Xās orbiting around it. Cosmoās about to attempt to try to use the scepter to dispel what had just spawned. But what she sees from inside the portal, she could simply not ignore. First she sees Sonic with a somber expression on his face.
Cosmo: (Is thatā¦ Sonic? Is this a portal back to our dimension? He's looking kind of glum...)
Cosmo noticed a rather somber expression that was rarely seen of the blue hedgehog. But she gasps louder when she sees who else is there, she couldnāt help but move closer to take a look.Ā
It was Tailsā¦Ā
Gears turn in Cosmoās head as she realizes this is a different dimension, as she knew her Tails was still with Blaze and Cream.Ā
But whatās more, this Tails was bawling in tears, his head deep in Sonicās shoulders. She had never ever seen Tails this distraught before, and she had thought she had seen him at some of his lowest points.
Cosmo: (Whyā¦ why is Tails crying hereā¦? ...Wait, is the portal shrinking?!)
Cosmo was forced to make a quick decision, she could allow the portal to close and stay safe until the others arrive. Or she could investigate what is distressing the Tails of this universe so badly. By the speed of the portal closing she doesnāt even have enough time to grab the scepter
Cosmo: (I... must knowā¦ I canāt let any version of Tails in my sight be left like this!)
Cosmo makes her decision, and leaps into the portal without another thought.
Months after the Metarex were defeated and Chris went back homeā¦
(X) Sonic: You know Iām always here to support you when youāre missing you know who. I do need your help though figuring out whatās going on with seems to be a double trouble of Eggmen this time.
X Tails sighed
(X) Tails: Iām so s-s-sorry Sonicā¦ butā¦ butā¦ I-i-i donāt know if Iāll ever truly be o-over itā¦ I do really want to help you solve whatās going on between both the two different Eggmanās, and that purple cat girl you saw earlier. But I donāt know if Iām going to be of much useā¦ while Iām still grievingā¦
(X) Sonic: Take all the time you need, maybe Iāll go for a run and search for the next chaos emerald. I know itās hard grieving someone who was so special to you. Youāre still an important part of the team though, and I need your expertise if weāre going to defeat both of the doctors. I know youāll push through this somehow. Just think Tails, what would Cosmo have wanted you to do.
X Tails thinks back to when Cosmo supported him on the Typhoon when he was in self-doubt about his skills as a captain. If she were here whether physically or spiritually, he knows it would be a similar conversation. Thinking about it does cheer him up a little, but itās also a double edged sword. As itās a reminder that he wonāt ever hear her voices of support, or her voice at all.
(X) Tails: ...L-l-leave me beā¦ go get the next emerald, Iāllā¦ try to figure out something while youāre awayā¦
X Sonic looked at his buddy with concern, but felt it might be a good idea to get a head start towards the next emerald.
(X) Sonic: Iāll be back, Tails. If youāve thought of something Iāll keep a communicator on my wrist if you need to contact me. And Iāll be back here as fast as I possibly can. But most of all, Take care of yourself.Ā
X Sonic grabs his trusted friend in for a hug before running off. X Tails appreciative for how much Sonicās had his back in the months since the Metarexās defeat. But he still sighs deeply as he walks slowly into his workshop. He walks up to his room, the first thing he looks at being the pot with the seed thatās all thatās left of Cosmo. He closes his eyes and lowers his head.
(X) Tails: (What ifā¦ I never get over what happenedā¦ Sonic has faith in meā¦ but Cosmoā¦ she had been through so muchā¦ and for ādestinyā to say sheās supposed to die for the crimes of her kind's leaders... Iāll also never forgetā¦ that it was I who shot herā¦ Regardless or not that it was to save the universe, I WAS FORCED TO KILL HERā¦ itās one thing to lose someone I loved butā¦ to have been the one to end her life, even as she requested itā¦ it just hurts so badā¦ Iām not sure anyone, even Sonic, understands that Iām not just sad over her deathā¦ but the guilt I have of having to take that shotā¦ itās justā¦ too muchā¦)
Suddenly, X Tails can hear grunting from a soft voice over from the other side of the room, his ears even perking up a bit, as it sounded eerily familiarā¦ He walks on over, to find something, or rather someoneā¦ prone on the groundā¦ and they looked just like...
Thanks to the power of the Sol Emeralds, X Cosmo had been regenerated in mere moments instead of the decade or less that had been estimated by CHZ Cosmo. Once the overflowing joy amongst the group for Cosmoās return began to subside. X Tails explained to her what had been the turn of events that led to her regeneration. From how long it had been since she nearly sacrificed herself to save the universe, Sonic and Shadowās Chaos Regeneration, the rather somber period afterward, the first appearance of Eggman Nega and Blaze the Cat, the sudden appearance of another Cosmo from a different universe, and so much more.
(X) Cosmo: Iā¦ I almost donāt know what to sayā¦ while I still donāt entirely regret what I did, since it did rid the universe of the Metarex, I canāt help but apologize for the effect that it had on many of youā¦ especially you, Tails. Trust me when I say that if I knew that there was a way to both defeat the Metarex for good and cause less emotional stress, I would haveā¦ But it seemed like the only option left if the galaxy was to be savedā¦
X Tails sighed
(X) Tails: I perfectly understand why you did that by now, as much as it hurt. It made sense, no one was going to get past that invulnerable barrier but you since the Metarex leaders were fellow members of your kindā¦
I just wish that I hadnāt had to be the one to pull the triggerā¦ regardless if it was for the universe. It broke me inside that I had thought I had taken a life, and said life being someone I grew to love over our journey on the Blue Typhoonā¦
(X) Sonic: Not to butt in, but if Cosmo had asked someone else to fire the cannon in your stead, are you sure you wouldnāt have held resentment for whoever did it? No one there wanted to have to fire at Cosmo if we didnāt have to.Ā
Itās also true you were the only one who had experience using the cannon. Anyone else wouldnāt have had the steady hands to aim it right, and it wouldn't have been any easier to get over our own feelings about what it might mean for Cosmo.
X Cosmo softly laid a hand on X Tailsā shoulder
(X) Cosmo: To add to what Sonic saidā¦ Iām very proud of you, Tails, and I hold no ill will, even if I had actually perishedā¦
Tails turned his back
(X) Tails: Thatāsā¦ thatās not what you said in my nightmaresā¦
(X) Cosmo: What you saw in your nightmares was not me, bad dreams purposefully fuel your darkest thoughts and fears. If I had more time I would have assured you that you did the right thing, but before I could I di- or ratherā¦ lost consciousness as I was transformed into a seed thanks to Sonic and Shadow.
(X) Sonic: Ironically, if you had died. You probably would have still been able to talk to Tails. I heard Dark Oakās voice speak to me when I was back on my planet
X Cosmo gasped
(X) Cosmo: Whatā¦ what did he say?
(X) Sonic: Something about how the true nature of animals wonāt change, hypocritical statements that we destroy planets, and how the future will be fixed some day.
X Cosmo lowered her head
(X) Cosmo: I seeā¦ so even in death he wonāt believe in the harmony between plants and animalsā¦Ā I guess thatās to be expected.
Tails turned back again to face Cosmo
(X) Tails: Well, I guess thatās good that we sent him screaming into the afterlife after the pain and misery heās causedā¦ especially now that youāre safe and sound with us once more. And thereās nothing he can do about it!
X Cosmo smiled
(X) Cosmo: Now thatās the spirit, Tails!
(X) Knuckles: Forget Dark Oak and the Metarex, theyāre just history now. Itās great to have you back with us again, Cosmo.
Everyone else either gave a short cheer or silently nodded.
(X) Tails: Yeahā¦ Iām so thankful that you were able to return to us after all, Cosmo. For as long as we both live, I wonāt waste this second chance. I know that itās only been roughly a number of months. But the time I thought I had lost you forever was the worst time of my life, and I donāt know if I would have ever truly recovered if you were truly goneā¦
(X) Cosmo: Oh, Tailsā¦
She softly walked up and hugged him
(X) Cosmo: I wonāt waste this chance either. With the Metarex gone, Iāll be happy to live alongside you and everyone else here who helped me save the galaxy.
(X) Tails: C-cosmoā¦ can youā¦ p-p-promise me something?
(X) Cosmo: Yes, Tails?
(X) Tails: P-p-pleaseā¦ n-never leave me like that a-againā¦
He held on tightly while sobbing into her shoulder.Ā X Cosmo giving him a reassuring scratch behind the ears. Though after a little while, as she got a good look at his head, she gasped.
(X) Cosmo: Wait, thatās a bandage on your head. Did you hurt your head againā¦? I apologize, I didnāt notice until nowā¦
(X) Tails: Oh, this? No no, Iām alright. This isā¦ actually, the same bandage you gave me when we were stuck in that cave. Remember?
(X) Cosmo: Oh thatās rightā¦ I didnāt realize you still had that. Why are you wearing it again if your headās not hurt though?
(X) Tails: To put it simplyā¦ it becameā¦ a memento of you. If itās a little too weird, I can take it off. Especially since the other you said it might have been part of your body you tore off. Isā¦ is that true by the way?
X Cosmo stood silent for a bit before nodding her head
(X) Cosmo: I didnāt want to confirm it back then as maybe youād think it was weird. But yes, the bandage I made is actually made of cellulose that evolved to look like a ādressā for females of my clan. It looks close to indistinguishable from white fabric until you look at it close enough.
And Iām actually quite touched that you decided to wear it to remember me by. Although thankfully you no longer have to simply remember me. Cause Iām right here! Feel free to wear it as long as youād like
X Cosmo giggled, before holding Tailsā hands
The room just fell into a silent harmony as many who had thought they had run out of joyous tears from X Cosmoās return earlier started up the waterworks once again. Eventually, a certain crocodile couldnāt take it anymore as he lunged, picked them up, and gave X Tails and Cosmo a big hug.
(X) Vector: OH ITāS TOO BEAUTIFUL! YOUNG LOVE REUNITED AFTER SUCH TRAGEDY! The day you two get married is going to be the best day of your life! The Chaotix Detective Agency will make sure of that!
Vanilla shot Vector a dirty look, not impressed by his antics.
(X) Vanilla: Vector, let them go this instantā¦ and theyāre just children. Let their relationship grow over time before saying the āMā or the āWā wordā¦
On command Vector does as Vanilla says.
(X) Vector: Erā¦ rightā¦. Sorry, miss! And sorry to the both of you tooā¦ Ms. Vanilla is right. Thinking marriage is way too soonā¦ gotta have the first date, first kiss,Ā the commitmen-
Although he may have gotten on Vanillaās nerves, Vectorās shenanigans did seem to lighten the mood in the room.
(X) Cosmo: Oh, and for theā¦ erā¦ other me I suppose? Itās strange to be looking at basically a mirror of what I used to look like.Ā But I am happy to hear of your contributions to my return as well.
(X) Cream: Yeah! As funny as it sounds, I donāt know if Blaze would have thought about regenerating our Cosmo without the other Cosmo here to give us an idea of what really happened to her!
CHZ Cosmo curtsied for the group
(CHZ) Cosmo: Why thank you! I came here for the specific purpose of discovering why the Tails from here was so upset, and cheering him up, if possible. Iām glad that I pursued that to the very end, even if I donāt know when my Tails is going to arrive and take me back. Trust me, itās as weird for me as it is for you to be seeing another me. But everything your Tails said about you definitely made me want to meet you more and more, and Iām glad I got to have that chance thanks to this universeās Blaze.
As soon as my Tails arrives, I would like to have a personal talk between our counterparts if thatās ok with the both of you.
X Tails and Cosmo were quite open to that idea.
(X) Tails: Iām looking forward to seeing the other me too! Iām sure that weāll have some interesting things to talk about!
(X) Amy: Until then, if itās still going to be a little while until the other Cosmoās friends pick her up, we've gotta think about living arrangements! I would guess that Tails wants our Cosmo to live with him. But that just leaves the other Cosmoā¦ maybe we should call you Othsmo just so we have a bit of a simpler way of differentiating you two.
(CHZ) Cosmo: Heh, that sounds fair enough.Ā But I am curious too where the other me plans to live. In my universe, I technically have two homes. Sharing Tailsā workshop, or a mobile home spaceship given to me by my mother. Do you still have your own space ship, other me?
(X) Cosmo: The only ship of my own was the one I crash landed in when I first met Sonic and everyone else.
(X) Knuckles: That ship is still where it was when it first landed. Weā¦ kind of used it as the backdrop for a funeral of sorts. It was too personally upsetting for Tails to attend, but we planted red and pink flowers all around the ship to show our respects. By now it must be a full garden.
(X) Cosmo: Awwwā¦ thatās very sweet of all of youā¦ as awkward as it is now from my perspective, since it was meant to be a memorial to me.
(X) Amy: I guess now it only commemorates when you first got here instead! Much less somber now! That is unless you want Tails to fix it up so maybe itāll start working again.
X Cosmo thought for a moment, before shaking her head
(X) Cosmo: I think Iāll leave it as it is. If I want a new space ship, Iāll let Tails make one for me. But for now I want to take my time settling here. Iāll be happy to have a room in Tailsā house if thereās space.
(X) Tails: Ah, unfortunately I donāt have an extra room just yet. But I fully intend on building you one! Youāll need at least a temporary home until itās done, though.
(X) Cosmo: Oh really? Hmmā¦
Vanilla walked up and looked down with a warm smile towards X Cosmo
(X) Vanilla: Thatās easy, thereās a spare room in this very house you can use. In fact, that roomās bed was the very same one we moved you to after Tails, Amy, and Cream found you unconscious next to your ship.
This idea from her mother excited Cream as she hops up and down.
(X) Cream: Oh my gosh! Cosmo, it'll be like weāre sisters!
(X) Cheese: Chao chao!
X Cosmo was a little surprised at the offer, but the more she thought about it, the more she thought it was perfect.
(X) Cosmo: Iā¦ I accept! In factā¦ if itās alrightā¦ would it be ok if I can freely switch between Tailsā house and Creamās house even when the room in the former is finished?
X Tails smiled and gave a thumbs up while Vanilla nodded
(X) Tails: As long as thatās what you truly want, Cosmo!
(X) Vanilla: Itāll be a pleasure to have you live with us every now and then, Cosmo. Iām sure Cream will look forward to every visit!
Now that where X Cosmo would live was settled, the attention shifted to where CHZ Cosmo would stay in case it ended up taking even longer for her universeās Tails, Blaze, and Cream to finally arrive.
(X) Amy: Now how about you, Othsmo?
(CHZ) Cosmo: Uhā¦ hmā¦ maybe Iāll live on Angel Island until my Tails finally shows up? Iām quite familiar with it back in my universe. If thatās ok with you, Knuckles.
Knuckles acted a little surprised, but thought about it
(X) Knuckles: Huhā¦ well it is floating again after that adventure we just had. A good sign that things are finally back to normal. And having a polite guest like you might be welcome.
(X) Rouge: Hey wait a minuteā¦ you keep telling me you donāt allow guests on your island every time I askā¦
(X) Knuckles: I said POLITE guests, Rouge. Take a hintā¦
((More after the break))
The banter caused some chuckles throughout the room. Although Rouge soon realized that there was probably something she should say to X Cosmo now that she had returned.
((Credit to QuadFactor for Rouge sprites))
(X) Rouge: Say Cosmoā¦ our Cosmo. Iā¦ need to say something thatās been heavy on my mind for a while, especially after everything that has happened with the Metarex.
X Cosmo had an idea as to what this was about, but she silently nodded to signal Rouge to begin.
(X) Rouge: Iā¦ am so very sorry for that day that me and Shadowā¦ accused you of being a willing spy for the Metarexā¦ the very moment I realized you were attempting to sacrifice your life for the galaxy made the guilt drop like a brickā¦ and itās only gotten worse since thenā¦ you were as much a victim as anyone else, and we should have recognized that
X Tails shot a glare at Rouge as if to say āYeah, you should haveā without actually saying it. X Cosmo, on the other hand, lowered her head and thought about Rouge's words for a moment.
(X) Cosmo: R-rougeā¦ Where isā¦ S-shadow... by chanceā¦
(X) Rouge: Not on this planet thatās for sure. Upon the first time your boyfriend saw Shadow after that final battle, he vented all of his frustrations with him while he still thought you were gone. Not easy to forgive attempted murder. I canāt shake the feeling that itāll take a number of years for me to get back in Tailsā good graces, and I was only an accomplice. I donāt know if heāll ever forgive Shadow even with you back.
X Cosmo turned to Tails
(X) Cosmo: Isā¦ is that trueā¦?
He sighed and looked X Cosmo in the eyes
(X) Tails: Itās true that Iād rather never see Shadow again, yes. While youāre back with me now, I still canāt get over him refusing to talk with us first. I still think about what if he had killed you in your sleep before we even knew he was after youā¦ I also canāt forget the cold stare as he chased us through the Typhoon. Even with the caveat that he had apparently lost a lot of his memory, it was hard to see Shadow as the same one who helped us back on Chrisās world on the Space Colony ARK
(X) Cosmo: Cream had mentioned to me how Shadow was a hero that helped you all in the past. So it was certainly a shock when he announced his intention to kill meā¦ still, thereās a part of thatā¦ canāt entirely fault him for it. I knew for a long time that my body had been bugged to record all of you, and I never disclosed that out of fear that theyād kill me and/or Iād lose your trust and friendship. Even as an unwilling spy, I never told you all that the Metarex knew where the Blue Typhoon was at nearly all times. And so from that end, thereās little to no difference from a willing or unwilling spyā¦ which is why I nearly abandoned you all shortly afterward.
(X) Cosmo: It wasā¦ a huge relief, that despite my deceptionā¦ You all trusted me to stay regardless, thatās when I knew all of you were truly my friends. I thought that the moment you found out youād all treat me like a traitor just as Shadow hadā¦ With the exception of Tails and Cream, I still wasnāt entirely sure all of you had accepted me, but that day proved me wrongā¦
(X) Sonic: Heh, just think. We still got the best of them despite you being their unwilling eyes and ears! Gotta think of how embarrassing it was for them that we still had our victories despite the advantage they had! And in the end, it was you who foiled their ultimate plan. If you count as a spy, maybe you became our double agent! Better look out Rouge, she might be a better spy then you one of these days!
Rouge chuckled, if a bit nervously.
(X) Rouge: Now, nowā¦ donāt get carried awayā¦
(X) Cosmo: Iād rather leave my āspyingā days behind me if you donāt mindā¦ though while weāre on the subject, Iāll say thisā¦ I do kinda want to see Shadow againā¦
This surprised just about the entire group
(X) Tails: Are you serious, Cosmo?! Even after what he tried to doā¦?
(X) Cosmo: I understand your hesitation, Tails.Ā But remember, Shadowās also half the reason Iām still here. It wonāt absolve him for what he did earlier.Ā But with the Metarex gone, he has no reason to be hostile to us anymore. Iād like a chance to start over with him. It was a time of warā¦ and war brings out the worst in everybodyā¦
Tails still looked stunned, but he could kind of understand where X Cosmo was coming from. CHZ Cosmo also had some similar remarks after she had been told what had happened between Shadow and her counterpart.
(X) Rouge: For what itās worth, I witnessed exactly what pushed Shadow over the edge to attack you. Though maybe I should save that story for another time, the whiplash of the mood in this room has already switched too many times. This should be a āwelcome backā party for you Cosmo, not a āmemory lane of PTSDā party.
(X) Cosmo: Yeah, maybe itād be best to save that for if Shadow comes back. Maybe weāll have more context and understanding.
X Tails grumbled and whispered to himself.
(X) Tails: Iām not sure anything could justify attacking Cosmo in her sleepā¦Ā
(X) Cream: Canā¦ can we change the subject? Iā¦ donāt like to talk or hear about this stuffā¦
The group actually agreed with Cream.
(X) Rouge: I need to use the restroom anyway, mind pointing me to the right direction Ms. Vanilla?
(X) Vanilla: Of course Ms. Rouge. The bathroom should be in the hall to your right.
(X) Rouge: Thank you!
While the group wondered what to talk about next Rouge quietly walked to the bathroom. But she actually didnāt need to use it, she got out a keypad and started typing a messageā¦
Far off from Sonicās Planet, Shadow was brooding on a desolate planet. When he suddenly heard some sort of notification sound from Rougeās ship.
(X) Shadow: (What? No one had contacted me the entire time Iāve been gone, I thought I was out of signalā¦)
Shadow began to read the entire message.
āShadow, this is Rouge. Sorry for the sudden message, I thought about contacting you earlier but it always happened to slip my mind shortly afterward. You didnāt think Iād let you have my ship without some way to get in touch. Itās what you get when you choose to pick a former government spyās ship~
Regardless, I have someā¦ interesting newsā¦
Cosmo is back, and I mean, BACK back. Sheās fully alive again and healthyā
Although Shadow wasnāt drinking anything he just about spittaked.
(X) Shadow: Wait, seriously?!
He thought about ignoring the message if it was nothing but Rouge boasting her government work. But the news about Cosmo caught his attention, so he kept on reading.
āWhatās more Shadow, is that she has expressed interest in seeing you again. You donāt have to honor such a request if you feel that itās still best to let things be. And Iād fully understand if you feel it doesnāt change a whole lot. Foxboy is still quite touchy about you even with his girlfriend back. So if thatās still the main deterrent, feel free to stay away. But I thought Iād at least let you know what happened.
And at the very least some of your conscience can be cleared up now that you and Big Blueās attempt to save her wasnāt entirely in vain.
I hope youāre doing well out there, Shadow. Iāll see you soon if you decide to return, but if notā¦ then just continue to take care of yourself.
Cheers, Rougeā
Shadow stared silently for a moment before closing his eyes, going into deep thought.
(X) Shadow: (Shouldā¦ should I bother going backā¦? Maybe Cosmo being back might lighten their ire with me, but once again Sonicās planet was never my ownā¦ on the other hand. Maybe some apologies are due, I did see Cosmo nearly give her life much like I haveā¦
Not to mentionā¦ my memory has been returning to meā¦ andā¦ Iāveā¦ been feeling all the more guilty each dayā¦ cause thinking about it nowā¦ Cosmo really wasā¦Ā likeā¦) Erghā¦
Shadow placed a palm on his forehead as he suddenly got a painful migraine. Once it subsided, Shadow thought to himself silently a little longer, before finally deciding to activate Rougeās ship, and flew back in the direction of Sonicās planet.
Back at Vanilla and Creamās house, most of the group mingled and/or snacked on foods that were available. Charmy seemed to be sniffing something in the air.
(X) Espio: Charmy, if youāre sniffing for food you know you can just go ahead and get it.
(X) Charmy: Oh uh, this scent is not foodā¦ but whatever it isā¦ it smells really goodā¦
(X) Vector: Itās probably just Vanillaās air freshener or something, Charmy. She spruces up this place a lot!
(X) Charmy: But Iāve been to Vanilla's plenty of times and never smelled something like this!
(X) Vector: Could easily still be an air freshener, just a different scent thatās more appealing to you?
(X) Charmy: Hmmā¦ maybe butā¦ ah wellā¦ maybe Iāll ask Ms. Vanilla after the party. Iāll find out what it is sooner or later!
āAs the party continued, X Cosmo just seemed to feel the love and appreciation from everybody she got to know during the long journey on the Blue Typhoon. Though there was someone who she remembered from those days that didnāt seem to be here. She turned to Sonic to ask a question.
(X) Cosmo: Say Sonic, I noticed that Chris isnāt here. Is he busy?
X Sonic shook his head
(X) Sonic: Chris went back to his planet. Shortly after we returned home Dr. Eggman built a one way rocket that had a brief window of time where it could send him back.
(X) Knuckles: He could have waited for the Master Emerald to restore itself after the damage it took during the final battle against the Metarex. But I guess he did have family and friends he needed to return to.
(X) Tails: While uhā¦ other things were occupying my mind at the time. I did begin to miss Chrisās presence pretty quick, it was clear to me he inherited much of his Grandpa Chuckās ingenuity from his contributions while on the Blue Typhoon!
X Cosmo frowned
(X) Cosmo: Thatās a shameā¦ and he probably still thinks Iām dead. I wish there was some way we could let him know that Iām ok at the very leastā¦
This reminded Vanilla of something
(X) Vanilla: Hm, you knowā¦ I seem to remember that Chrisās family was able to send extra luggageā¦ and even a big red spaceship to our world. They suddenly appeared at the Master Emerald shrine even without the Master Emerald being there.
(X) Vector: Ms. Vanillaās right! Me, Espio, and Charmy saw a spaceship appear out of nowhere that must have been sent by Chrisās grandpa!
(X) Tails: Huh! If the coordinates of Chrisās machine that sent him here are still connected to our world, perhaps we can do the vice versa? Maybe we can send at least a letter and some photos to show Chris that youāre back and safe with us now!
X Cosmo held her hands together and smiled
(X) Cosmo: That would be wonderful! All of you were such great friends to me, so having Chris know Iām alright would make this reunion feel all the more complete!
X Sonic scratched his head
(X) Sonic: Now I kinda feel bad that I didnāt think of that. We could have given him a goodbye letter shortly after he left so that he at least had some way to get a proper send-off.
(X) Knuckles: Iām sure Chris will appreciate hearing from us regardless of how long it took to realize we could do that.
(X) Tails: Weāll just make sure to have a group photo at the end of the party for us to send and then we can draft a letter with all of our signatures at a later date!
(X) Amy: And hey! It doesnāt have to be the only time we send something to Chris! We can be pen pals with him and his family, sending letters back and forth every now and then!
(X) Knuckles: Iām not sure I like the sound of the shrine of the Master Emerald becoming something like a mailbox for everybody, but as long as no one overuses it, Iām sure itāll be worth hearing how Chris is doing.
The possibility of contacting Chris gave the party a slightly more cheery mood even amongst the already positive feelings that X Cosmoās return caused.Ā
Some time passed before a knock was heard at the door.
(X) Vanilla: Iāll get it!
Vanilla opened the door for the sudden visitor
(X) Vanilla: Hello! Are you here for the partā¦ EEEEEEE?!
Vanillaās eyes went wide as it was none other than Dr. Eggman, Sonic quickly rushed in front of Vanilla.
(X) Sonic: Hey! Whatās the meaning of this Eggman? Here to spoil all our fun, like usual?
(X) Eggman: Hohoho! Youād expect me to, wouldnāt you. But I swear I come in peace, this time at least. I even brought a few more guests!
Eggman moved to the side to reveal Bocoe, Decoe, and Bokkun were back and unharmed. The three robots waved to everyone inside.
((Credit to Toad900 for Bokkun, Dolphman for Decoe and Bocoe, and FinalBeyond for Eggman))
Decoe: Greetings, Sonic and Friends! I know weāre supposed to be enemiesā¦
Bocoe: But after the ordeal weāve been throughā¦ we really wanted to see some familiar faces again so we knew for sure that we were homeā¦
Bokkun: We were so so SOOOOOO scaredā¦
(X) Sonic: Hm, wellā¦ Vanilla, this is your home. So you get to decide if they get to attend the party.
Vanilla thought for a moment
(X) Vanilla: Well if they donāt mean any harmā¦
(X) Tails: I think we can let Eggman here this one time, he DID just help us defeat Eggman Nega and save Cosmo after allā¦
Knuckles eyed him suspiciously
(X) Knuckles: But if I catch any of you doing any funny business, I will personally escort you out with my fists.
(X) Eggman: Considering the Egg King fell to mostly the kids of this group, and Iām here on my own two feet, thatād be like poking a hornetās nest with a stick expecting not to get stungā¦
(X) Charmy: It sure would be!
Charmy chuckled while raising up his stinger.
Eggmanās presence did make some of those at the party a bit uneasy. But him pointing out that he was only on his own two feet amongst the full cast of Sonic and his friends did give a sense of security even if Eggman tried to pull something.
(X) Sonic: Itās good to see Blaze brought you all back. How was the Sol Dimension though you three?
Decoe: Oh it was just awful!
Bocoe: We had pirates that wanted to dismantle us into scrap!
Decoe: If it werenāt for a raccoon girl, we might not even be here!
Bocoe: She certainly saved us, but she also wouldnāt shut up!Ā
Eggman chuckled
(X) Eggman: Heh, now you must know how it feels whenever Iām with all of youā¦
Sonic smirked
(X) Sonic: Hey now Eggman, donāt act like you didnāt miss them. The whole reason you began to work with Nega was because he had you thinking Blaze destroyed them!
Bocoe: Waitā¦ he cared about us that much?!
(X) Eggman: H-h-hey now! Donāt get carried away!
Decoe and Bocoe quickly hugged Eggman
Decoe: I knew deep inside you cared about us! Thatās proof!
(X) Eggman: Aggghhhh! Let go! I was angry about my base being lit on fire! Had n-n-nothing to do with you t-three!
Most of those attending the party just chuckled seeing Eggman struggle against the hug from his formerly missing robots. As much as Eggman verbally abused them, there probably was a small part of him that did miss having them around. Meanwhile, Bokkun searched through the room for someone in particular. When he saw where Cream was, tears flowed from his eyes as he flew over to her.
Bokkun: Oh Cream! I thought I would never see you again!
Cream was a little confused as to why Bokkun singled her out. But tilted her head and smiled.
(X) Cream: Iām glad youāre ok, Bokkun! Looks like both Eggman and our group got to have happy reunions! Bocoe and Decoe, why donāt you say welcome back to Cosmo for us!
Bocoe: Wait, Cosmoās back?!
The two let go of Dr. Eggman, and they searched the room for Cosmo. Hilariously, Bocoe found CHZ Cosmo, and Decoe found X Cosmo as they separated.
Bocoe: Oh so itās true! And it looks like youāre even returned to how you looked before!
Decoe: Wait, Bocoe. I see Cosmo over here and it looks like her flowers still bloomed and her hair is a bit longer!
Both robots were kinda stumped for a moment before they realized what was going on.
Bocoe and Decoe: Thereās TWO Cosmos?! Which oneās the real one?!
Both CHZ and X Cosmo giggled. The former thought to herself
(CHZ) Cosmo: (These two sure remind me a lot of Orbot and Cubotā¦)
(X) Tails: Itās a bit of a long story, you two. But in short, the one that looks no different from how she used to look isnāt our Cosmo. Sheās from a different universe, whoās just waiting for her friends who are searching for her as we speak. While the Cosmo with the slightly longer hair and bloomed ears is the one that we traveled with.
Bocoe: Oh boyā¦ more dimensional shenanigans that almost fry our circuit brains trying to understandā¦
Decoe: Weāll just take your word for it then.
Both of them turned toward X Cosmo now knowing which one was her
Decoe: Weāre happy to see youāre back, Cosmo!
Bocoe: Thank you so much for holding back the Metarex at the last moment!
X Eggman then approached X Cosmo
(X) Eggman: Ah yes, Cosmo. If itās alright I want to talk to you. If I mayā¦
X Cosmo was a bit uneasy, to say the least. She had seen for herself how wishy-washy Eggman could be, either working together with Sonic or sometimes even aiding the Metarex. She knew that ultimately Eggman made the right decision to help defeat the Metarex in the end. But she did remember the time where they had thought he had legitimately allied with them.
(X) Cosmo: Y-y-yesā¦ D-doctorā¦?
(X) Eggman: What you did for the universe took guts. I want to express my gratitude for being so willing to put so much on the line so that the galaxy can stay as vibrant with life as possible. I know that it appeared at times that I was working with those genocidal tyrants. But once I realized what they really wanted, I knew I had to do everything in my power to assist Sonic to destroy them for good. Feel free to believe me or not on this.. but Iām relieved for both your own sake and Tailsā heart that youāve returned. A young pure soul like yours would have been a shame to lose forever. You shall always have my utmost respectā¦
The room fell silent, with many surprised that Eggman had such sincerity for X Cosmo. The subject of Eggmanās sincerity herself wasn't sure how to take it.
(X) Cosmo: U-uhā¦ T-thank you?
Eggman then smirked, and proudly posed
(X) Eggman: ā¦Once the Eggman Empire has been established. I promise that youāll have free rides on Eggmanland for life! I can even throw in a plus 1 for your boyfriend if heāll stop being annoying with his planes. HOHOHOHO HOOOOO!
The entire rest of the party just groaned and/or facepalmed
(X) Sonic: Of course in typical Eggman fashion he had to ruin even his rare nice momentsā¦
From there the party continued as normal, or as normal as a party could be where Eggman and his henchmen were involved. Everyone from the X universe were mingling, eating, laughing, and overall having a good time. CHZ Cosmo, the only one here not from this universe, was happy to be amongst the group. Though she took a moment to look out the window at the night sky.
Just as CHZ Cosmo turned around back to the party, a bright flash appeared not far from the window she was sitting by. The brightness was enough to surprise those within the house.
(X) Vector: Is someone lighting fireworks outside?
Bokkun: Fireworks? Without me?! How dare they!
CHZ Cosmo carefully watched what was going on, and saw a circle that might very well be aā¦ portalā¦ she sat still wondering if someone was arriving. And pretty soon she could see three silhouettes. Tears of joy filled her eyes as she stood up and started running out the door.
(CHZ) Cosmo: Theyāre here!
Bocoe: Huh? Whoās here?
X Tails turned to X Sonic
(X) Tails: This must be Othsmoās me, Blaze, and Cream!
CHZ Tails, Cream and Blaze stood outside the portal, looking around. But it wouldnāt be long until they heardā¦
(CHZ) Cosmo: TAAIIIIILLLLLLLLLLS!
Tails smiled wide, it looked like Black Roseās tarot cards were right. The X marked the spot.
(CHZ) Tails: COSMOOOOOOOO!
The search was over, CHZ Tails and Cosmo were back in each otherās arms at last. Blaze smiled, as Cream cheered.
((Blaze sprite from a compiled/remixed sprite sheet by Sonic1093LQ))
(CHZ) Cream: Hooraaaaaay! We found her!
Many of those from the X Universe walked outside to witness another reunion between a Tails and a Cosmo. This one with less tragedy being resolved but nonetheless still satisfying.
Bocoe: So wait, thereās two Tails?
Decoe: Heās always had two Tails, what are you talking about?
Bokkun: Hehe, I guess thereās four Tails then!
Though Bokkun gulped and blushed seeing who else was here.
Bokkun: ā¦And two Creams tooā¦ sheās just as cute as the one here!
CHZ Tails and Cosmo continued their embrace for a little while longer, before they let go and held each otherās hands.
(CHZ) Tails: You ready to go home, Cosmo?
As much as CHZ Cosmo did want to get back, she knew that she still wanted to stay a little longer and let her Tails and Cream see who she had been with this whole time.
(CHZ) Cosmo: I will be ready soon, but Iād really like all of you to stay a little longer. The Vanilla of this universe is holding a party. You should partake it in a little bit! Also the other you has been curious to see you. You should also meet this universeās me! Weāve got plenty to talk about!
(CHZ) Tails: We gotta consider Blazeās thoughts too though.
(CHZ) Blaze: Hey, if you all want to stay here a little while longer until Cosmoās fully ready to leave, I donāt mind. Iāll stay back here and guard the portal while you enjoy yourselves. Iāll make sure that no one in this universe ends up trapped outside their dimension.
With Blazeās permission, CHZ Tails and Cream joined the party inside. They would remark on just how similar this universeās version of their friends were to their own. If they didnāt know any better, theyād almost think that they were already home. The fact Eggman was there disturbed CHZ Tails and Cream a bit, but CHZ Cosmo explained that this Eggman oddly helped during the adventure she went through while she was here.
The X and CHZ versions of Cream had some fun together, even playing with X Vanilla by showing up in one place and then Vanilla finding the other one in the next room. After which they used face paint to make sure everyone knew which was which. X Cheese and CHZ Cheese seem to eye each other like friendly rivals. They seemed to want to challenge each other in either a Chao Race or Karate but both of their Creamās called them back before any sort of competition could begin between them. X Cream asked her CHZ counterpart about CHZ Blaze, who stood outside silently, wondering if that was good news for eventually seeing the Blaze she met again. CHZ Cream assured her counterpart that she would see Blaze again, thus giving X Cream more reason to be cheery then she had already been with both X Cosmoās return and the ensuing party hosted by her mother.
Eventually however, both versions of Tails and Cosmo asked if they could head into the guest room that X Cosmo would be sleeping in once the party was over. They wanted some personal time to talk to their other selves.
As soon as the door was closed, they recapped to each other everything that had happened, and in X Tails and Cosmoās part, told what had happened against the Metarex. CHZ Cosmo had already heard most of this not too long after she met X Tails, but this was the first time that CHZ Tails had heard of his counterpartās tragedy.,
(CHZ) Tails: Iā¦ justā¦ thatās incredibly sad that you had to shoot your own Cosmo for the sake of the universeā¦ I donāt even want to imagine if the same happened to us.
(CHZ) Cosmo: Thankfully now a happy ending has come out of it, thoughā¦ I have to imagine some of the scars remainā¦ especially for the other meā¦ I lost many that I cared about on Green Gate when the Black Arms attacked. But if I was the only survivorā¦ itās just too horrible to think aboutā¦
(X) Cosmo: Perhaps one of my few solaces is I was born long after things got bad for Green Gate. So I never really got to see how beautiful it used to be. I could only get mental images from what Galaxina and our friends described what Green Gate was like. At leastā¦ before they p-p-perished t-tooā¦ sniff
(CHZ) Cosmo: I almost feel bad telling you about myself and some of my tragedies. When itās clear that compared to you, I got off easy. My universeās versions of our mother and Galaxina are still alive for one. Green Gate was damaged but thereās hope it will eventually recover, andā¦ perhaps my father was silenced before he could make things worseā¦
X Cosmo tilted her head
(X) Cosmo: Father? What do you mean?
(CHZ) Cosmo: Iām talking about Dark Oak! Earthia was your mother, she was married to Lucas just as in my universe. And Lucas became Dark Oak! I hope itās not the case, but thereās a real possibility my father wanted to do what he did in this universe as well!
X Cosmo shook her head
(X) Cosmo: Dark Oak isnāt and was never my father. And I donāt even mean that in a āI personally disown himā way. There literally is no blood of his running through my xylem.
(CHZ) Cosmo: Wait, really?
(X) Cosmo: My mother produced me entirely asexually. So there was never a need to recognize Dark Oak as a parent.
CHZ Cosmo gasped
(CHZ) Cosmo: Oh myā¦ I had heard asexual reproduction was possible in our kind. It takes being in the form of a tree for a continuous amount of months or years, and even then itās rare a viable child gets produced. Most attempts usually end up in the death of the seed. And itās often only done in emergencies. In whichā¦ an impending extinction certainly countsā¦
As for myself, I do have my fatherās blood running through me. Iām starting to wonder if thatās a bad thingā¦ cause if heās anything like he was in this universeā¦ Iā¦ couldnāt bear even acknowledging I was his daughterā¦
X Cosmo placed a hand on her counterpartās shoulders
(X) Cosmo: Listen, you got to see a healthy Green Gate for yourselfā¦ correct?
(CHZ) Cosmo: Well, yesā¦
(X) Cosmo: And Lucas had a hand in your development as you grew up, right?
(CHZ) Cosmo: That is true, tooā¦
(X) Cosmo: Then heās already cared for you more than Dark Oak ever did for me.
CHZ Cosmo paused, thinking about what her counterpart said
(CHZ) Cosmo: I donāt knowā¦ there were times he was pretty strict with me and Galaxina. But I suppose you have a point. I had lived with him for years. He had cooked for and fed me, and as tough as he could be sometimes. He did teach me some forms of self-defense. But even if he did care for meā¦ I still would rather not associate with him if all along his plan was for me to succeed him in a galactic empireā¦
She turned to CHZ Tails
(CHZ) Cosmo: I know that when we get home there might be questions waiting for us to answer for TailsTubeā¦ but I feel that I must get in contact with my mother as soon as possibleā¦ to see if she knows anything about what my father was planning before Black Doom killed him.. I just want to know the truth about my fatherā¦ everything I heard about Dark Oak leaves me afraid of the kind of person he was deep insideā¦
CHZ Tails nodded
(CHZ) Tails: Understood, Iād really like to know as much as I can about this too. I didnāt exactly have a high opinion of him when I briefly met him when we visited Green Gate. But if he was planning the same things Dark Oak was. Then he was just a monster all alongā¦
(X) Tails: For both of your sakes I hope he wasnāt. Though I suppose even if that was the case, another villain took care of him for you before the damage could be done.
(CHZ) Cosmo: Either way itās something that needs to be resolved when we get back home.
(CHZ) Tails: Speaking of which, we should probably think about heading out soon enough. Is there anything the both of you want to talk with us about or do before we leave?
X Tails and Cosmo thought for a moment
(X) Tails: I heard you mention something called āTailsTubeā. What is that?
(CHZ) Tails: Oh! To put it simply, it's a show that we host where we answer questions from fans. Itās really fun!
(X) Cosmo: How does your show work?
(CHZ) Cosmo: We stand in front of a flying screen that serves as a sort of electronic blackboard, speaking directly to an audience watching online. And answer whichever questions we have chosen to answer.
X Tails and Cosmo were intrigued by the idea
(X) Tails: It does sound like it could be fun! What do you say Cosmo?
(X) Cosmo: Hmmā¦ Iām not too sureā¦ have I ever told you I have a bit of stage fright?
(CHZ) Cosmo: Thatās understandable, I was kind of shy starting out being a part of Tailsā show too. But it becomes more natural over time.
(X) Cosmo: I seeā¦ well, I guess I can give it a try.
(X) Tails: We donāt exactly have a screen though.
(CHZ) Tails: Then why donāt we build you one then! We can head off to your workshop and make one before we take off back to our home universe. Ok?
X Tails and Cosmo nodded before the two sets of counterparts left the room. They informed CHZ Cream and Blaze that they were going to build a big screen for their X universe counterparts before leaving.
At the workshop, X Tails, CHZ Tails, and CHZ Cosmo all worked together building and welding the screen. X Cosmo wasnāt as tech-savvy as either of the other three, so she just watched. But she did get to decide the painted colors. She suggested that it be themed after the blue and white color scheme of the Blue Typhoon, with yellow boosters on the bottom.
Moments later, they were done. X Tails placed a finishing touch by painting a blue X on the right side of the screen. They activated it to make sure that it was working, giving a thumbs up as it performed to their expectations.
(X) Tails: Hmm, if me and Cosmo are going to have our own showā¦ I wonder what weāll call itā¦
(CHZ) Tails: I meanā¦ if you want to just call it TailsTube here too, we wonāt mind. Weāre in separate universes.
(X) Tails: Yeah, but I donāt want to copy you bothā¦ Ooh! I got it! Weāll call itā¦ āXtra Miles!ā after my first name!
(X) Cosmo: Hehe, that does sound kind of cute! Iāll concur with Xtra Miles!
(CHZ) Cosmo: Very sweet name, but now that youāre set. I think itās time we start heading back.
(CHZ) Tails: Yeah, letās gather around the portal with everybody else to give our goodbyes.
Not long later, everyone at the party packed together before CHZ Tails, Cream, Cheese, and Cosmo went back to their universe.
(X) Tails: It has been great having you here Othsmo, thank you so much for not only giving me hope again but helping get my Cosmo back.Ā
She curtsied
(CHZ) Cosmo: Youāre very welcome! I couldnāt leave you as upset as you looked through the portal, I just had to help. Though I apologize to my own Tails for any stress I caused.
(CHZ) Tails: We certainly saw some strange things while looking for you! But seeing our counterparts happy and reunited after the ordeal they went through. Iād say it was worth it.
(CHZ) Blaze: You lovebirds, ready?
Both CHZ Tails and Cosmo nodded. The X incarnations of Sonic and friends all waved them off before they finally got back to the Mystic Ruins.
(CHZ) Tails: Aaaahā¦. So good to finally be back home. Apologies Blaze if that was asking a lot of you to look for Cosmo.
(CHZ) Blaze: Itās alright, I know how much you and Cream care about her. For what itās worth, it was kind of interesting seeing some of those universes. Maybe for the exception of that one where Sonic had a brotherā¦ ughā¦
(CHZ) Cosmo: Wait, like a legitimate blood brother? Not adopted sort of like Tails is here?
(CHZ) Cream: Mmhmm! He also had a sister! Of which she was in a relationship with that universeās Knuckles!
(CHZ) Cosmo: Well thenā¦ the both of you should tell me everything you came across while looking for me some other time. Iām really curious now about the universes you searched for me!
(CHZ) Tails: Oh we sure will, but letās just relax now that weāre homeā¦
(CHZ) Sonic, Amy, and Knuckles: TAILS! COSMO! CREAM!
Sonic, Amy, and Knuckles quickly ran up to their returning friends
(CHZ) Sonic: There you all are! We were all worried something happened to you! Did your vacation become a full on adventure at the Sol Dimension? Perhaps Eggman Nega was up to no good yet again?
(CHZ) Blaze: He was a reason why things went downhill. But he was a non-factor from then on. Cosmo got trapped in the multiverse somehow. And both Tails and Cream begged me to go looking for her. It took a while but we eventually found her.
(CHZ) Cosmo: Weāll be sure to tell you all about itā¦ butā¦ yawn I think itās about time we get a good nightās sleep. I was just at a party in the dimension I was in.
(CHZ) Tails: Iām pretty tired tooā¦ multidimensional travel sure takes a lot out of youā¦
(CHZ) Cream: My motherās probably been worried sick about me. Miss Amy, can you escort me and Cheese back home?
(CHZ) Amy: Of course, Cream!
(CHZ) Cream: Thank youā¦ and Miss Blazeā¦ thank you so much for helping us find Cosmoā¦ we really do appreciate it.
(CHZ) Blaze: Youāre all very welcome. I better get back to the Sol Dimension though. Who knows what Nega might have been doing while I was absent. I suppose at least all that traveling made sure that the jeweled scepter remained out of his hands.
Everyone there waved goodbye to Blaze as she headed back and closed the portal. Amy and Cream went off together to get the latter back home.
(CHZ) Knuckles: Well itās good to see both of you are ok. Have a good night.
(CHZ) Sonic: What Knuckles said, good to have my buddy and our favorite flower girl! Seeya both tomorrow! We have a race competition to practice for!
(CHZ) Cosmo: Ooooh! Thatās right, that is coming soon isnāt it?
(CHZ) Tails: Itāll certainly be great to have some fun after all that! Weāll be ready when you are, Sonic!
Sonic winked
(CHZ) Sonic: You sure? Because Iām ALWAYS ready! But seriously, gānight both of you. Make sure to tell me what you both saw sometime!
(CHZ) Tails: Of course, Sonic!
Once CHZ Tails and Cosmo were alone. They held hands as they walked to the workshop. Getting in their beds up in the log cabin on the top.
(CHZ) Tails: Goodnight, Cosmoā¦ if thereās one thing Iāve learned from our time in the Multiverse. Our love transcends multiple universes! And I wasnāt going to give up looking for you until I could sayā¦ I love you once more
(CHZ) Cosmo: Love you too, Tailsā¦ and that is a sweet thing to knowā¦ Guess we were destined to be together.
(CHZ) Tails: Yeahā¦ destiny.
The two then began to drift off to sleep with plenty of plans for the next day, from the serious matters in regards to Cosmoās family to more lighthearted events such as practicing for the next racing competition.
Back at the X Universe, the party eventually wrapped up. With a timed camera set up so that everybody could be in the shot that they hoped to send to Chris, having remembered that his family were able to send physical items to the Master Emerald Shrine. At around the time X Tails was building the screen with the CHZ Counterparts of him and Cosmo. He also grabbed a sleeping bag from his house so he could sleep on the floor of X Cosmoās room. When most of those at the party left for their own homes.Ā
The young couple said goodnight to each other before they had the best rest theyād had in a long time.
Hours later, when it was early in the morning, as X Tails woke up from his sleeping bag, he looked to the bed, although it looked like X Cosmo had woken up before him, because she wasnāt there. He looked out the window, and found X Cosmo in the distance standing atop a hill with her arms stretched out directly under the sunlight. He proceeded to walk out of the house to the hill Cosmo was standing on.
((The Shining Road English lyrics by Dream Kittu and Cafe Chaotix))
ā« From the first time you held me in your arms,
The whole world fell under a spell
The great adventures would connect our hearts
But secret love was sealed in the rain ā«
ā« Oh boy, come walk with me
And together weāll uncover every key
That locked away the realm of dreams unbound
Where our fantasy will be set free ā«
(X) Tails: Good Morning, Cosmo! Is it alright if I ask what youāre doing?
(X) Cosmo: Hmmā¦ u-umā¦ I almost donāt really know myselfā¦
(X) Tails: Huh? What do you mean by that?
(X) Cosmo: I think I ended up sleepwalking out to this hill as the sun started to rise. Because I woke up suddenly outside, with this urge to bask in the sunā¦
(X) Tails: Hm, sleep walking towards the sunlight sounds weird. But you do have plant biology. Are you sure itās not normal for you?
(X) Cosmo: I mean I did like to take in sunlight before, but I never felt likeā¦ this sort of sensitivity before? I certainly never sleepwalked towards the sun or any other star in the sky before all this. Itās likeā¦ my body was just begging to get out in the sun compared to how it used to. And as soon as I did, I felt a rush like no other time beforeā¦ I feel more energized, more aware, ā¦dare I say, more powerful?
ā« I wanna know, to be alone
With you on the rising hill secretly
Like the birds all around are free to fly
Watching over you and I, ātil the dawn
Someday I know this love will glow
Leading hand-in-hand the way through the mist
To the road thatāll shine, open to find
Souls intertwined, ātil the end of time
I never wanted this, a shattered mind
Locked in my heart, pain youāll never see
It doesnāt matter ācause Iāll always find
Your shining smile, and my heartās at peace ā«
X Tails wondered what this meant, though he did remember X Cosmo had been used as a solar battery for the Egg Salamander along with being regenerated faster through the Sol Emeralds.
(X) Tails: Well, while you were still in the form of a seedling. You did get quite a lot of exposure to the Sol Emeraldās power. You think maybe there were some side effects?
X Cosmo gasped
(X) Cosmo: That does sound like it makes sense, I just hope there isnāt a problem that arises with that much exposure. For now, I can only feel the benefits from gathering sunlight. But who knows what else this means for meā¦
(X) Tails: I guessā¦ it'll be something worth studying together! Whatever the Sol Emeralds granted you, should be fascinating to discover over time! For now though, how about we get ready soon to launch our first episode of Xtra Miles!
(X) Cosmo: O-o-oh rightā¦ Iāll try my best, Tails. But donāt be surprised if maybe Iām a bitā¦ quiet at firstā¦ I wonāt exactly know what our audience will expect of meā¦
(X) Tails: Honestly, Iām a little nervous too. But the other me seemed quite confident that it was a great bonding activity between him and Othsmo. Like she said, it may get more comfortable as time goes on.
X Tails then gently held X Cosmoās hands
ā« Oh boy, you never show
Any fear or inhibition, only hope
I wanna hold on too, be like you
Brave enough to leave and let it go
I wanna love you quietly
Living in the fairy tale of our dreams
Though the pages are faded, pictures lost to the ages
We are crossed with the stars
One day I know the wind will blow
Clear away the dew from cold morning mist
And the seal of the road that shines to behold
Will be broken now, and forevermore ā«
(X) Tails: But most of allā¦ I canāt stress enough how happy that youāre back with us, Cosmoā¦ this was everything I wanted after everything we went through on the Blue Typhoon. Just you and me, having fun and discovering things together. No more Metarex, no more War, and a lifetime of possibilities between usā¦ Iā¦ I love you, Cosmo. I will cherish every second Iām with youā¦ cause I know how close we were to never seeing each other againā¦
X Cosmoās eyes sparkled as joyous tears filled her eyes
(X) Cosmo: I-i-iā¦ l-l-love you t-t-too, T-Tailsā¦ Iāll never forget what you and the others did for not just me, but the entire galaxyā¦ I shall cherish every second I spend with you as wellā¦ I only wish I could make up for leaving you so depressed for the months I was just a seedlingā¦
Iām sure itās far from being enough, but maybeā¦ youāllā¦ like thisā¦
Cosmo leaned her head over, her mouth getting closer to Tailsā own. The young fox blushed with eyes wide open wondering what she was doing. And then it happened...
Their first kiss. Or at least the first one that Tails could really feel this time, as the attempt by Cosmo to kiss him while as aā¦ spirit? projection? Whichever it was, that moment was when it really dawned on Tails that she might really be gone. But that wasnāt the case this time, he knew now she was more alive than ever.
When their kiss ended, they then held hands as they walked down the hill back to Cream and Vanillaās house. Where Vanilla had fresh breakfast ready for them. For X Tails and Cosmo, it was a new beginning. A shining road that awaits them for the rest of their lives.
ā« Calling you
Ringing through the endless night
Sorrow in my breaking voice, Iāll reach out with your name
Calling you
Answer me, reveal the light
Everything will be released, never be the same
I wanna know, to be alone
With you on the rising hill secretly
Like the birds all around can truly see
All the magic in our dreams and journeys
Someday I know this love will glow
Leading hand-in-hand the way through the mist
And the seal of the road that shines to behold
Will be broken now, and forevermore ā«
CHZ Cosmo was still a bit dazed from the interdimensional travel she had just taken. She sits up, as X Tails rubs his eyes.
(X) Tails: N-n-noā¦ Iām c-clearly seeing t-t-thingsā¦. (Has my grief driven myself to insanity?!)
He turns his back toward her, lowering his head and placing his hands on his head. CHZ Cosmo opens her eyes and slowly sits up. She looks on over to this universeās Tails. With a look of concern, she simply says his name.
(CHZ) Cosmo: Tailsā¦?
Hearing her say his name only irked X Tails more.
(X) Tails: G-g-g-g-go away! I-i-iā¦ k-know youāre just some kind of c-cruel daydream or a m-mirage! The moment I think youāre back, youāll just disappear! Donāt make this worse than this already is!
Tears streamed down X Tails cheeks as CHZ Cosmo began to stand up, dusting off her petals before walking closer. She stepped carefully towards him, and as soon he was in arms reach. She softly laid a hand on his shoulder.
(CHZ) Cosmo: Could a mirage do this?
The touch on the shoulder was enough for him to realize that she was was actually there. The logic part of his brain is going crazy wondering how this was possible. But the emotional sideā¦ compels him to tackle hug her to the ground.
(X) Tails: C-C-C-C-COSMO! YOUāRE BACK! I DONāT KNOW HOW, BUT I DONāT CARE! I SWEAR IāLL NEVER LET YOU GO EVER AGAIN! I MISSED YOU SO MUCH!
CHZ Cosmo has no idea what exactly X Tails is talking about, clearly it has something to do with whatever happened to her counterpart. She comforts X Tails, though she knows she does have to tell him the truth. It might hurt him again to know she isnāt the Cosmo he knew. But itād be worse to pretend as if she was her counterpart not just for this Tailsā sake but her own Tails back in her original universe.
They stay in an embrace a little while longer before they let go. Tails initially overjoyed smile turns to a frown as he sees her with a downtrodden look
(X) Tails: Whatās wrong, Cosmo? Arenāt youā¦ happy to be back?
(CHZ) Cosmo: sigh LIsten, Tailsā¦ Iām not a daydream, mirage, or anything like thatā¦ I promise that I am really hereā¦ butā¦ the thing is, when you say that Iām ābackā. I do not know what exactly I came back from!
X Tails gasps
(X) Tails: Youā¦ d-d-d-donāt remember?! The war against the Metarex? Our space travels on the Blue Typhoon? YOUR S-S-SACRIFICE TO SAVE THE UNIVERSE?!
CHZ Cosmo just blinks. And shakes her head.
(CHZ) Cosmo: No, none of that is ringing a bell
This confused X Tails to no end
(X) Tails: (Didā¦ she lose her memory? Likeā¦ ughā¦ Shadow after his āresurrectionā? Wait a momentā¦) B-b-b-but Cosmo, the only reason we met was because you arrived on our planet to warn us about the Metarex! If you had lost your memory of themā¦ then you should have forgotten all about me and everyone else tooā¦ this doesnāt make any senseā¦
Tails thinks for a moment, and soon thinks of a strong possibility, but is admittedly a little scared to ask.
(X) Tails: Umā¦ Cosmoā¦ howā¦ how did you end up here, and most importantlyā¦ how did you know my name?
CHZ Cosmo sighed
(CHZ) Cosmo: I enteredā¦ some kind of portalā¦ I uhā¦ saw you crying on Sonic's shoulder from the other side, and couldnāt resist wanting to helpā¦ so I went in. And I knew your nameā¦ because another you is my boyfriend, assuming you have all the same friends here as we did back there. I know Sonic and the others quite well too.
Tailsā heart sank. This confirmed his theory, as bitter as it was. It brings to mind the transport machine that sent him and the othersā from Chrisās world back here.
(X) Tails: Of courseā¦ of course there has to be a catchā¦ WHAT ELSE DOES THE UNIVERSE WANT TO DO WITH ME, HUH?! Tease me with the thought that someone I loved was backā¦ only for it not to be the one I knew! WHILE THE ONE I DID KNOW STILL ISā¦ S-S-S-STILL ISā¦
It looks like heās about to break down again when CHZ Cosmo embraces him again.
(X) Tails: L-l-l-let go! You shouldnāt need to care for me! Thereās another me out there luckier than me apparently! Just go b-b-back!
(CHZ) Cosmo: Snap out of it, Tails! I'm more than likely trapped here until help arrives. But I had to know what was distressing you. I have my own Tails, but I couldnāt bear seeing you in a state that I had never seen my universeās Tails be in.Ā
Plus, the portal was shrinking and I didnāt have much time to decide whether to help or stay put. I had to know what was wrongā¦Ā
I guess by now, Iāve heard the jist of it, soā¦ my counterpart sacrificed her life to save this universe from whatever the Metarex wasā¦ I hope Iām not at risk of opening a sore wound, even if my appearance might be doing so alreadyā¦ but, do you thinkā¦ you can fill me in on everything you know about your Cosmo?
This is an odd situation to be in for X Tails. To be asked by another Cosmo, about the tragic fate of his own. He isnāt sure he wants to go down the memory lane. But even if he knows now this isnāt his Cosmo, seeing her face again was enough for him to feel so much better than he was just minutes ago.
(X) Tails: Okā¦ butā¦ just a heads up, itās a long storyā¦ andā¦ while the universe was saved in the end thanks to yo- or, Iām sorryā¦ the other youā¦ Itās far from a happy oneā¦
X Tails told just about all he remembered. From Cosmo's ship coming down like a shooting star, the fate of his Cosmo's family and species, the deadly Metarex on their tail at nearly every corner of the galaxy, and of courseā¦ his Cosmoās sacrifice.
((More after the break))
As she heard about the fate of her family and entire species in this universe, the more she was horrified. Only getting worse when X Tails said that the leaders of the Metarex were of her kind. Andā¦ her father was the leader.
(CHZ) Cosmo: (Everyoneā¦ Galaxina, Motherā¦ and all those innocent planetsā¦ howā¦ how could my fatherā¦ have done such a thing?! Heā¦ he wasnāt planning to do the same thing in my universeā¦ was heā¦? Ifā¦ I get back, noā¦ when I get backā¦ Iām sure Blaze, Tails, and Cream are looking for me at this very momentā¦ I have to ask my mother about thisā¦)
Tears in her eyes she looks up at X Tails
(CHZ) Cosmo: ā¦And I thought Green Gate and my kind had it rough in my universe. Iā¦ i-i-i donāt know what I would have done if I had been through everything your Cosmo went throughā¦ itās a miracle she didnāt give in to despair!
(X) Tails: Wait, something happened to your kind in your universe too?
(CHZ) Cosmo: Not to the extent that happened hereā¦ but yes, a monstrous army called the Black Arms attacked our planet and wiped out about half of usā¦ many family friends as well as my father perished. I still donāt like talking about itā¦ but compared to my counterpart from hereā¦ I can breathe some relief that it wasnāt nearly THAT badā¦ for one, my mother and Galaxina are still very much alive. Although, my Mother didnāt exactly come out unscathedā¦
X Tails walks closer and gives CHZ Cosmo a hug
(X) Tails: Maybe you didnāt go through the same things that my Cosmo didā¦ but even that much is too much for someone like you to go through. I was kinda hopeful that you were a Cosmo where nothing like this sort happened to you. So at least I know somewhere out there you were having the life that my Cosmo deservedā¦
CHZ Cosmo smiled
(CHZ) Cosmo: Thank you, Tailsā¦ I will say that despite what happened to my planet, I am still mostly happy. As I of course live alongside my Tails and everyone else.
She then embraced him back
(CHZ) Cosmo: As such, I feel like it should be me giving you all the hugs and comfort hearing what you and the other me went through togetherā¦ youāve both gone through and seen things that you shouldnāt have had to see. Both you and her deserved so much betterā¦
X Tailsā eyes filled up with tears
(X) Tails: T-t-t-t-thank y-y-youā¦ that means a lot to me...Ā
While they hug once more, Cosmo notices something about Tailsā appearance that got overlooked during this confusing meeting.
(CHZ) Cosmo: Oh no! Iām so sorry, I just realized the bandage on your head. Were you hurt recently?
X Tails blinked
(X) Tails: Oh, this? Noā¦ my head is fine. You see, when I mentioned we were stuck in an underground Metarex base when I recapped our adventures with my Cosmo, I did in fact hurt my head at that time. But then she tore a part off her dress to wrap it around my head. Once I was all better, I left it somewhere on the Blue Typhoonā¦ and wellā¦ after what happened. I came across it again, and put it back on my head. Not as a bandage this time, butā¦ as a memento of her....
(CHZ) Cosmo: I seeā¦ although, are you awareā¦ that thereās a possibility that youāre wearing what was literally a part of her?
X Tails grimaces
(X) Tails: WAIT, WHAT?!
(CHZ) Cosmo: I-i-i-i m-mean that may not be how it is in this universe! But in mine, the petal ādressesā are actually part of our body. Coincidentally enough, Iāve done the same thing for my Tails.
Tails lowers his head
(X) Tails: Didā¦ did she hurt herself doing that?
(CHZ) Cosmo: If itās like in my universe, then she should have felt no pain whatsoever. It grows back much like hair or fur. But again, I donāt know for sure if thatās the same here. Iā¦ apologize if I made what was simply a precious memento of her awkward or even a little morbidā¦
Tails pauses for a moment, before actually smiling.
(X) Tails: Well, whether or not it was a part of her body. Or just a part of a dress, it was clearly a sign of what she was willing to do for meā¦
She had always been willing to sacrifice something for othersā¦ up to, and including her lifeā¦ as we found outā¦
I know our meetingās a little awkward, talking about another you... But even if you arenāt exactly her, it does kind of feel like I fulfilled a wish of seeing her one last timeā¦
(CHZ) Cosmo: On that noteā¦ is it alright if Iā¦ umā¦ took a closer look at the seedling that was left from the other me? Maybe evenā¦ hold it?
X Tails blinked again, one Cosmo wanting to hold whatās left of another? On one hand it almost sounds like something that could cause some sort of strange paradox. But at the same time, maybe itās ok for one Cosmo to fully explore what happened to another. He thinks for a moment before ultimately shrugging.
(X) Tails: I donāt see why not, just be careful if you plan to hold it.
CHZ Cosmo nodded, and walked on over to the seedling that grew from the seed that Sonic collected attempting to save Cosmo. She gives a respectful bow and moment of silence, as odd it was to be doing so for what was another her. Before finally reaching out with her hands toward the pot. As her fingers get closer she doesnāt realize a faint glow is coming from her ruby amulet. As soon as her fingers touch the pot. She gasps as she feels an odd tingle, her ruby amulet growing brighter until itās pure white.
X Tails reacts in shock
(X) Tails: Hey now! Whatās happening?!
CHZ Cosmo looks down at her amulet, and finally sees the reaction it was having to the pot. It was normal for her amulet to glow while feeling for the life of a plant or a planet. But this was the first time that it involuntarily reacted without her having to put a hand on her chest.
(CHZ) Cosmo: Itās nothing to worry about, Tailsā¦ my amulet is just reacting to the plantās life forceā¦ althoughā¦
She then goes ahead and grabs it to hold on to it with both hands. Suddenly power surges with her amulet growing as brightly as it possibly can. A bright white aura surrounding her
(CHZ) Cosmo: Ohhhh myyyyyyyyyyyyy!
Tails stares wide in disbelief at the sight.Ā
(X) Tails: What does this mean?!
(CHZ) Cosmo: I-i-i-i-iām not sure! I have never felt such a lifeforce before! Or at least certainly not one from a plant this small! Itās incredible!
Carefully, she puts the plant back where it was. And walks away, her amulet dimming itself back to normal. She still was however reeling from the power that coursed through her body while holding the pot to the point she has to sit down and breath heavily as if she had just ran a marathon
(X) Tails: Are you ok, Cosmo?
(CHZ) Cosmo: Iāmā¦ fine. But whewā¦ Iām serious. I've never felt anything quite like itā¦
Tails pauses for a moment, before asking his question again
(X) Tails: Do you at least have a theory of what this could possibly mean?
(CHZ) Cosmo: Well, you have to remember that Iām from a different universe, so any theory I might have might be totally off base from this reality.Ā
But before I tell you what I might think. I want to ask you a question of my own, do you have your own theories on what the seedling might eventually become when itās fully grown?
Tails thought to himself for a moment. Admittedly through all this grieving, heās never imagined what the seed Cosmo left would eventually become. Or at least he certainly doesnāt want to hold on to hope in some fantasy dream scenario where the seedling turns into a revived Cosmo.
(X) Tails: I feel like the most realistic scenario is that itāll just be some kind of tree and nothing more. Something toā¦ grow in the backyard once it starts getting too big for the pot.
CHZ Cosmo tilted her head
(CHZ) Cosmo: Is that all you can guess?
X Tails thought some more. And came up with one thatās something of an in between of the dream of a fully revived Cosmo and just a simple tree to remember her by.
(X) Tails: Well, it might be a long shotā¦ but it could be a fully new seed that grows up into a kind ofā¦ offspring from her? Itād be our duty to protect the new last member of Cosmoās speciesā¦ itād be a bit awkward though, if Iām expected to be the fatherā¦? Might be a little too soon for me, Iām not even 10 yet!
CHZ Cosmo thinks over both of Tails possibilities.
(CHZ) Cosmo: While I canāt directly refute both of those possibilities. Especially since again, this is a different universe. Butā¦ Iāll tell you this. Iāve felt the life energy of small seedlings of this size, all sorts of trees, and plants that eventually gave birth to a newborn of my kind.
Would you like to know how the energy from that seedling compares to similar plants of its kind or even full-grown trees?
Tails paused for a moment before nodding
(CHZ) Cosmo: This being a different universe might provide a fair share of doubt. But if our universes are at all similar when it comes to the biology of myself and the other me. There is no way this seedling simply becomes a normal tree. Nor do I believe that itāll be a newborn once this plant fully growsā¦
X Tails is speechless, he's trying to figure out for himself without getting carried away. He eagerly awaits what CHZ Cosmo believes what this means.
(CHZ) Cosmo: Iāll understand if you choose to deny it so as to not get your hopes too high, but my working hypothesis is this: Your Cosmo is not dead, and sheās been in some sort of supercharged stasis the entire time.
Tails eyes instantly widen, and his loudest gasps of the day ring out.
(X) Tails: WHAAAAAAAT?! ARE YOU SERIOUS?! SHEāS... NOT GONE?! I. I-i-i-i donāt know if I can bring myself to believe thatā¦Ā
(CHZ) Cosmo: As youāve told me while recapping her ādeath', you saw her become a tree. In certain circumstances, weāre also capable of reverting to a seed form. But itās only used as a last resort survival mechanism and often requires someone else being there to plant and nurture the seed until they grow back, which can take many years.Ā
Nowā¦ can you remind me again what Sonic and Shadow did trying to rescue your Cosmo?
(X) Tails: You mean, Chaos Regeneration?
Something clicks in CHZ Cosmoās mind
(CHZ) Cosmo: That explains itā¦ the life force of this seedling must be supercharged by the power of the Chaos Emeralds!
She walks closer to X Tails and gently holds both of his handsĀ as an act of reassurance.
(CHZ Cosmo): Tails, I know it'll be hard to believe this after all this time without her. But I think itās very possible that at this very moment, your Cosmo is slowly working on coming back to you. You just need patience, and need to continue to take special care of the seedling while youāre waiting for that day. I canāt promise itāll be anytime soon, and it may very well take until youāre as old as Sonic is or even longer. But have faith, Tails. Youāll be reunited with her some day, and you two will be as happy together as I am with my own Tails. Alright?
Tails hardly had any idea of what to say. A part of him still thinks this might be too good to be true. But what source on this subject could be more trustworthy thenā¦ another Cosmo? For the first time in a long time, he sheds no tear of sorrow or mourning. But tears of joy, even if itās still strange that it took meeting a different Cosmo from another universeĀ in order to restore his hope of seeing his own Cosmo one day.
He embraces CHZ Cosmo again, his joyful tears soaking her sleeve.
(X) Tails: I-i-i-i really hope youāre right! Butā¦ it sounds probable! Maybe Chaos Regeneration did work! Itās just slower than we expectedā¦ thank you so much, Cosmoā¦ I remember you said that you're trapped here until someone fetches you, I'll keep you company until you're back safely with the other me!
Until then, let's bring Sonic over here! He needs to see you!
X Tails runs on over to enthusiastically grab his communicator.
(X) Tails: Sonic! Sonic! Sonic! You must come over here, quickly!
(X) Sonic: Whoa there, I havenāt heard your voice sound this chipper in so long! Whatās the occasion?
(X) Tails: Just get back here, and youāll see. Did you find another Chaos Emerald by chance?
(X) Sonic: I did, yes! Found it in Mirage Road, had another encounter with that other Eggman as well. I donāt suppose you were happy because you found some important information for me did you?
(X) Tails: Sadly, I donāt think it has anything to do with the current situation. But just get over here! Thereās someone here you gotta see!
(X) Sonic: ā¦Wait, itās not that purple cat girl is it?
(X) Tails: Nope, again. I donāt think they have any relation with whatās going on.
CHZ Cosmo gasped
(CHZ) Cosmo: (Waitā¦ purple cat girl? Is Blaze already here to take me back home? ā¦And oh no, did Eggman Nega follow her here?! I better wait until this universeās Sonic is here so I can get a better picture of just whatās going on hereā¦)
(X) Sonic: Well, in any case. Iāll be there in a jiffy. Seeya soon, Tails!
(X) Tails: Seeya, Sonic!
X Tails turned towards the potted plant that he now knows might actually be his universeās Cosmo. He lifts the pot with one hand, and looks at it with a relieved smile.
(X) Tails: (I should have known youād pull through. I promise you, Cosmoā¦ Iāll work to see you again no matter how long it takes!)
CHZ Cosmo and the X Universe versions of Sonic, Tails, Amy, and Cream remain stunned from the sudden outburst from Blaze before she ran far away. She had yelled at Cream after assuming her to be a liar because to her, it looked like Cosmo was actually very much alive, and thus Cream had been taking advantage of her. The young rabbit still has her face buried in her palms, tears leaking through the space of her fingers.
All while CHZ Cosmo looked quite distraught
CHZ Cosmo: (Didā¦ I screw up everythingā¦? By trying to get Sonic and Blaze to work together fasterā¦Ā
I didnāt think about how my counterpartās sacrifice might have affected Cream, and thus made a significant part of Blaze and Creamās bond in this worldā¦ oh dearā¦)
CHZ Cosmo walks to Creamās side, lowering her head before apologizing.
(CHZ) Cosmo: Iā¦ Iām sorryā¦ Creamā¦ itās my fault that happenedā¦
Cream still with teary eyes looks up at Cosmo
(X) Cream: W-what d-do you mean? You shouldnāt bear any blame at all! But Iām so conflictedā¦ Iām happy youāre b-b-backā¦ butā¦ B-b-b-blazeā¦ She thinks Iām a l-l-liar nowā¦
(CHZ) Cosmo: Thatās the thing, Cream. Iām not the same Cosmo you befriended beforeā¦
(X) Cream: ā¦Wha- What?! What are you talking about?!
(X) Amy: This is crazy! Please elaborate! Cause you look and sound just like her, so it wasnāt hard to assume that somehow, someway, yo- or ratherā¦ she had returned to lifeā¦
CHZ Cosmo nodded and explained to these alternate versions of her Team Rose companions
(CHZ) Cosmo: Before I ended up in this universe, I had no clue what the Metarex were for instance. Whereas the Metarex had everything to do with the other me. Is that simple enough to understand?
Cream looked down
(X) Cream: Waitā¦ soā¦ o-o-our C-c-cosmo is s-stillā¦ isā¦. S-stillā¦.
She starts crying into her palms again.
CHZ Cosmo then goes down on one knee and places a hand on the shoulder of this alternate version of her best friend.
(CHZ) Cosmo: H-hey! But me, Sonic, and Tails have good news about the other me!
(X) Tails: Thatās right, Cream and Amy! You know I cared about our Cosmo so much too. Iām not sure if I could have participated the way I have on this adventure without knowing what this other Cosmo allowed me to learn!
Amy and Cream do notice a more positive demeanor in Tailsā behavior. Just by his face alone, they could tell he was in the best mood in a long time. Something positive clearly had to have happened for him to suddenly feel so much better.
(X) Cream: Wā¦ what is the good news?
(CHZ) Cosmo: Cream, the other me you befriended on Tailsā spaceship is still aliveā¦ sheās just slowly growing back in that potted plant that Tails kept. We have reason to believe Sonic and Shadowās Chaos Regeneration did work. Itāll just take a long time before she comes back in fullā¦
X Cream gasped
(X) Cream: R-r-r-reaaallllllyyyyyyyyy?! H-howā¦ how long will it take?
(X) Tails: This is still going to be the slightly tough part though, we arenāt 100% sure when sheāll be back. Maybe it could only be a number of months, but the other Cosmo said it could also take many years. As far as a decade evenā¦
(X) Amy: A whole decade?! Ohā¦ thatās bittersweetā¦ but at least you know ahead of time. Imagine if 10 years from now, you still didnāt know Cosmo was regenerating. And by the time she comes backā¦ you had moved on from her ādeathā and fallen in love with someone else by the time you were fully grown, Tailsā¦
Tails actually hadnāt thought about that
(X) Tails: Oh geez, yeahā¦ thatā¦ would have beenā¦ awkwardā¦ to say the leastā¦
While the length of time it may take for her to fully regenerate still provides a twinge of sadness. The news that the Cosmo she had befriended on the Blue Typhoon was saved after all has allowed Cream to stand up and wipe the tears from her eyes.
(X) Cream: Iā¦ Iām relieved that our Cosmo is still aliveā¦ and Iāll be sure to welcome her back whenever she doesā¦ butā¦ that still leaves Blazeā¦ I know she stormed off and probably looked like a jerkā¦ but even in the short time Iāve gotten to know herā¦ sheās better than thatā¦ I know she isā¦
I have the feelingā¦ that sheās been burnt by attempts at friendship beforeā¦ and thatās why she felt betrayed when she thought I had lied to herā¦ I wish I was as fast as Mr. Sonic. Iād really like to tell her how much of this is all one big misunderstandingā¦
(X) Tails: Actually speaking of which, maybe itās worth it if you tried to catch up with her, Sonic. It might not be too late to clear this all upā¦
Sonic thinks about it for a moment before shaking his head
(X) Sonic: I think we already have a certain friend of ours going after her that will be able to set her straight.
(X) Amy: Huh? Who?
(X) Sonic: Knuckles, of course. He did say he wanted to get her back for burying him.
(X) Tails: Didnāt you joke that Blaze would just bury him again?
(X) Sonic: Eh, I actually said that to motivate him further. Call it a hunch, but I think Blaze and Knuckles could settle things out between them after another fight. Just like how he and I settle our differences.
CHZ Cosmo thought for a moment
(CHZ) Cosmo: That might just work, or at least I hope soā¦ I donāt know if the hindsight I have will help anymoreā¦ But even so, there is one thing that Iāve been meaning to warn Cream aboutā¦
(X) Cream: Huh? Warn me about what?
(CHZ) Cosmo: Cream, the events unfolding have similarly happened before in my universe. For example, the reason Blaze left this island in my universe was because the Tails I know accused her of knowing something about the incoming dimensional collision. And the other you from my Universe followed herā¦ the Blaze and Cream I knew didnāt have theā¦ sudden falling out that just happened
But alsoā¦ Eggman kidnapped the other you as a way to lure Blazeā¦ so it might be more important than ever to protect Cream from Eggmanās clutches.
So, Cream if you pleaseā¦ can I ask you to stay with us? Between everything going on, we shouldnāt add Eggman putting you into distress and making you a bargaining chip to someone whoās no longer guaranteed to try to save youā¦
(X) Cream: sniff Blazeā¦ I-i-i understand thoughā¦ Eggman has captured me before, so I wouldnāt put it past himā¦
(CHZ) Cosmo: And Sonic, you should find your way to Eggmanās fleet. The next Chaos Emerald should be there.
(X) Sonic: The 6th Chaos Emerald along with an excuse to break some of Eggmanās toys? Count me in!
CHZ Cosmo sighed
(CHZ) Cosmo: I just hope weāre not too late to turn things aroundā¦ I hope Sonicās right that Knucklesā confronting her could set her straightā¦
X Tails gently lays a reassuring hand on CHZ Cosmoās shoulder
(X) Tails: I wouldnāt be so worried, Cosmo! Weāve been racing against the clock many times over, and Sonic has always come out on top!
The gesture is enough to help reassure her. For it reminded her thatā¦
(CHZ) Cosmo: Youāre so much like the Tails that I loveā¦
X Tails sheepishly blushed
(X) Tails: G-good to knowā¦ I promise youāll reunite with the other me soonā¦ Kinda curious about him myself.
CHZ Cosmo giggled
(CHZ) Cosmo: If you get to meet him youāll realize youāre basically twins!
(X) Tails: Hahaā¦ itās a shame though that my Cosmo wonāt likely regenerate by thenā¦ imagine if we could get to compare the both of usā¦
(CHZ) Cosmo: Iād love to meet her too, but making sure this world is safe and getting back to our proper universe is more important.
With the group understanding the plan, Sonic goes off to get the next Chaos Emerald. While Tails, Amy, and CHZ Cosmo stay around Cream. Anticipating any attempt of Eggman to try to capture the little rabbit.
((More after the break))
Meanwhile, Blaze was far away from where Cream and the others were. Still angry, but also heartbroken.
(X) Blaze: (Of course she was no different from anyone elseā¦ Should have seen it from the start to be honest, when she expressed excitement at me saying I was a Princess. Maybe thatās on me for saying I was, but then Iād have been the deceiver)
Blaze sighed before looking around, in this still all too new world/universe.
(X) Blaze: (Without Cream I have no guide to this worldā¦ ughā¦ itās going to make things so much harder. The good news is thereās only two more to goā¦)
???: HEY! I FINALLY FOUND YOU!
(X) Blaze: (Ughā¦ I unfortunately recognize that voiceā¦)
Knuckles arrives having finally caught up with Blaze.
(X) Knuckles: That was a dirty thing you did burying me under those rocks! Iād like to see you try that again! Youāre not getting away this time!
(X) Blaze: I told youā¦ I had nothing to do with what happened to your islandā¦
(X) Knuckles: I actually know that now, but those Sol Emeralds might have been why! And I know youāve been collecting them! And regardless or not if Angel Island falling was your fault. Itās personal, now!
Knuckles jumps high up in the air and lunges for a punch on Blaze, who dodges the attack. Knuckles hitting the ground, resulting in a small crater. The two end up trading blows in fisticuffs. Unlike their last fight there wasnāt something Blaze could use to trick Knuckles. Though she suspects even if there was, Knuckles would be more aware this time.
The fight ends up dragging far longer than their last bout. It goes back and forth until Knucklesā strength starts to wear down Blaze. He is soon making her walk back further and further, until she gasps as she realizes sheās near a cliff. Blaze makes an effort to try to run from the edge but Knuckles anticipates with a hook, making her close to falling off and now hanging on to the cliffās edge.
(X) Blaze: Ok ok! I concede! You win this time! Just help me please! Iām not good about heightsā¦
To Blazeās surprise, Knuckles actually does help her up quickly.
(X) Knuckles: There, Iād say that makes us even! Youāre a solid fighter. That was as fun as a fight with Sonic was, and with none of his dumb quips!
Blaze looked puzzled
(X) Blaze: ā¦I thought you were mad at me about burying you, why are you acting soā¦ friendly?
Knuckles laughed
(X) Knuckles: Yeah I might have gone off about that, but thatās on me for being fooled. Like I said, weāre even now. And I also heard all about you thanks to the other Cosmo
Blaze raised an eyebrow
(X) Blaze: āOtherā Cosmo? Isnāt there just the one?
(X) Knuckles: Believe me, it was a bit confusing tooā¦ but apparently thereās the Cosmo that traveled into space with us and then this one that suddenly appeared from another dimension. Not unlike you if I recall correctly.
Blaze still looked skeptical
(X) Blaze: Are you in on Creamās lie too? She had me sympathetic about her plight only for it to seem Cosmo was perfectly fineā¦
(X) Knuckles: Cream? A liar? Thatād be so unlike her, sheās a good kid. Vanilla taught her all the good qualities. Including honesty.
This began to put some seed of doubt in Blazeās mind. Was she wrong to assume such bad things about Cream?. But she shook both fists before responding.
(X) Blaze: Ok, but I need solid evidence that there was ever another Cosmo before Iām convincedā¦
(X) Knuckles: Hm, well if vouching for character isnāt enough. I could take you to Tails house to see the seedling that the Cosmo we knew she became.
Blaze raised an eyebrow
(X) Blaze: ā¦Youāre telling me this other Cosmo became some sort of inanimate house plant? Not exactly dispelling my skepticism here.
(X) Knuckles: As strange as it sounds, itās true. Cosmo is part of a race of aliens that are living, breathing plants. And as it seems we found out from the other Cosmo. She might be regrowing after she nearly sacrificed herself. But who knows how long thatāll takeā¦
Blaze remains a bit unconvinced
(X) Blaze: Uh huhā¦
(X) Knuckles: But, I do know one thing that may provide the evidence you need. Follow me further into the caverns.
Blaze stood and paused as Knuckles started walking, but she soon followed after him. Curiosity taking over, and a general fear that maybe she had been wrong to snap at Cream like she did.
Back with CHZ Cosmo and the others, they escort X Cream through a forest.
(CHZ) Cosmo: Oh! Cream, your mother told us that you and Blaze glued the other meās amulet back together. Do you happen to have it on you?
Cream nodded
(X) Cream: Yes! Itās right here!
Cream lifts up the amulet. It was shaped just like CHZ Cosmoās amulet, only of course with a significant X shape crack in it. Everyone stopped in their tracks to take a look at the amulet. Tails was a bit nervous, but he walked closer to Cream.
(X) Tails: Umā¦ is it alright, can you let me hold it. For just a little bit at least?
(X) Cream: Oh of course, Mr. Tails! I know how special she is to you!
Cream hands over the amulet. And Tails holds it in between his palms. If he had seen this before he had been told his Cosmo was slowly regenerating. He probably would have broken down in tears. But while he still sheds tears looking at it, he manages a smile.
(CHZ) Cosmo: When the other me does regenerate you may want to keep that amulet handy. While itās another of those things Iām unsure are the same in this universe. They help regulate our aging as well as control our tree forms.
X Tails gasped
(X) Tails: Tree forms?! Likeā¦ you can switch between being a tree and your usual form at willā¦?
(CHZ) Cosmo: ā¦Yeah? Why do you look concerned?
(X) Tails: ā¦Itās just that the one time I saw it being used was of course just before our Cosmo attempted to sacrifice herself. The way she merged her roots with Dark Oak, I wasnāt sure if that was reversibleā¦ For a while I was unsure if I would ever look at a tree the same way after thatā¦ though there is one concern I must bring up. When my Cosmo regeneratesā¦ will she still be a tree?
(CHZ) Cosmo: That I canāt answer with 100% certainty without knowing everything that differentiates this universeās version of Seedrians compared to my own. But you must remember that one time is a very very small sample size. Itās just as possible your Cosmo was capable of transforming back, just that the roots of her tree form helped tighten her grasp around Dark Oak before her near-sacrifice.
Tails goes into deep thought
(X) Tails: Perhapsā¦
(CHZ) Cosmo: Remember it was the Chaos Emeralds that were used to save her, when you consider that they turn thoughts into power. Iām sure whatever thoughts Sonic and Shadow had of regenerating her, itād be as you remember her. And sheāll likely naturally age even as sheās regenerating. If itās the worst case where itāll take a decade, she should be fully grown when she comes back just as you will be.
(X) Tails: Oh, thatās a good point and also great to hear! Perhaps I shouldnāt be too worried then about my Cosmo being stuck as a tree forever then. Just walking through this forest made me think about itā¦
Amy put her hands together and stared up to the sky with stars in her eyes
(X) Amy: Oh Tails, just imagine itā¦ years from nowā¦ me and Sonic will be getting married.., and then when I throw out the bouquetā¦ it lands straight into Cosmoās arms! And you two will know itāll be your turn next!
Tails looks up to the sky just imagining himself marrying Cosmo, his cheeks blush
(X) Tails: Yeahā¦ thatā¦ sounds niceā¦
Cream hopped happily
(X) Cream: Yes! Yes! Yes! And I can be the flower girl on both of those wedding days!
(X) Amy: Why settle for just the flower girl? By then youāll be old enough to be a maid of honor, Cream!
Cream gasped.
(X) Cream: Oh! Thatās right! ā¦Although I still feel like Iāll want to do flower girl duties anyway,
(CHZ) Cosmo: Nothing says you canāt be both the maid of honor and the flower girl if the newlyweds allow it! (Itās amazing just how similar this universe is to ours, I very much recall that weāveĀ had similar conversations before)
(X) Amy: Thatās right, Cream! I would be more than happy to let you do anything you want to do during me and Sonicās wedding! And Iām sure Tails and Cosmo will let you do the same!
Cream squeeādĀ
(X) Cream: I canāt wait for both of those days!
Tails just about whispers to himself, still in the midst of daydreaming of the future.
(X) Tails: Yeahā¦ I feel the sameā¦
The group continues to walk together for a while longer. At some point however, they begin to hear a faint voice that catches their attention. They walk in the direction they could hear the voice until it starts to become more recognizable. Especially to Cream.
???: elpā¦ Help! I need help! Pleaseā¦ somebody!
(X) Cheese: CHAO CHAO!
Cream: GASP Youāre right, Cheese! That voice does sound like Mother!
Cream starts running ahead as fast as she can
(CHZ) Cosmo: Cream! Wait for us!
But Cream has already rushed ahead, Tails, Amy, and CHZ Cosmo all begin to run after her.
(X) Amy: Did Vanilla really get lost in the forest somehow?
(X) Tails: I donāt knowā¦ but we better help her if she is!
Cream gets closer and closer to the source of the voice but for some reason doesnāt see her mother. She can even hear screaming.
(X) Cream: M-mom! W-where a-are you?!
???: Oh Cream, darling! Thank heavens, itās so nice to see youā¦
Suddenly, the ground gives way under Creamās feet as she yelps, both her and Cheese end up locked in a cylinder made of tough glass and metal.
(X) Eggman: As in itās nice of you to DROP IN. HOHOHOHOHO!
(X) Cream: Nooooo! Dr. Eggman?! W-where is my m-mother?!
(X) Eggman: Donāt worry, Cream. Your mother is safe and sound, at least for now. I simply used a digital simulation of her voice to lure you here! I need you as bait to deal with that pesky cat friend of yoursā¦
CHZ Cosmo, X Tails and Amy catch up and gasp as they see Eggman had caught Cream
(CHZ) Cosmo: Oh nooo! We gotta help her!
Eggman was caught by surprise, he was hoping to grab and run with Cream before being caught.
(X) Eggman: Shoot, so you had friends nearby. Shouldnāt have been so careless, but no matter. Iām not afraid of either of you three. Youāre no match for the EGG KING!
Eggman unleashes a large humanoid mech, with spikes protruding from round shoulders, thatās mostly a large torso with the doctor seated in the head, and a rocket lower half keeping him afloat.
Amy pulls out her hammer, though Tails looks really worried about facing this thing just on their feet.
(X) Tails: I donāt know if weāre going to be able to take care of that thing with only the three of us!
(CHZ) Cosmo: We have to try! Help would be very much appreciated right now, but I donāt know weāre going to find it on such short not-
Suddenly a boisterous voice is heard off to the side, from the leader of a familiar trio
(X) Vector: HERE WE COME TO SAVE THE DAAAAAAAY!
Vector, Espio and Charmy arrive just in time as reinforcements
(X) Eggman: Ugh, these foolsā¦
(X) Amy: Whoooooa! Itās Team Chaotix!
(X) Tails: What are you 3 doing here? I mean Iām glad youāre here to help, but I had no idea you were nearby
(X) Vector: Itās simple Tails! I heard the voice of Ms. Vanilla from MILES away and came as quick as I could!
(X) Charmy: More like 50 feetā¦
(X) Vector: Shush, Charmy! Regardless. Where is she?! I must save her like a knight in Shining Armor!
(X) Tails: Sorry, Vector. Vanilla isnāt actually here, Eggman faked her voice to lure Creamā¦ but if you help us save Cream Iām sure sheād still be very grateful!
(X) Vector: Whaaaaat?! How dare Eggman pretend to be Vanil- I mean, use her motherās voice to capture little Cream!
(X) Espio: I think if we work together, we can take him down
Eggman grumbled. He was not expecting this much resistance to come so quick.
(X) Eggman: No matter! I will crush all of you! And then Blaze is next!
While Eggman might have been able to deal with Tails, Amy, and CHZ Cosmo if they were by themselves. Team Chaotix added 3 more nuisances. Amyās Piko Piko Hammer, Tailsā dashes, CHZ Cosmoās whips, Vectorās strength, Espioās ninja reflexes, and Charmyās flight speed worked together to either gradually damage the Egg King or otherwise make him swing as if trying to swat a swarm of flies. No matter how many arm swings, or lasers he shot at them.Ā Eggman got overwhelmed by the teamwork from his 6 foes.
CHZ Cosmo used her whips to restrain one of the Egg Kingās arms as Espio threw shurikens at weak points, with a big body slam by Vector ending up breaking the Egg Kingās right arm straight off. The Egg King temporarily loses its balance.
CHZ Cosmo and X Tails take the opportunity to free Cream from her capsule. And as Eggman tried a desperate charge. Cream and Cheese take their anger out on the doctor as she flies up to the head and points Cheese to strike the cracked windshield. Exposing the doctor, and Charmy flying straight ahead to sting the doctor multiple times. The rest cut off the other arm. Leaving Eggman no choice but to retreat by escaping in his eggmobile. His attempt to kidnap Cream had been foiled by a group of kids and Team Chaotix
As soon as Eggman was out of sight. The group celebrates their win.
(X) Tails: Oh boy! Just wait tilā Sonic hears what we just did!
(CHZ) Cosmo: Yes! Great job, everyone! We saved Cream!
(X) Vector: All in a good day's work for us!
Espio deadpanned
(X) Espio: Psh, nevermind that we just happened to be nearby because Vector got us lost trying to find anything he can about the current situationā¦
(X) Vector: Shut up, Espio! We were on the case and we were close to finding clues!
(X) Charmy: Suuuuuuure we wereā¦
Everybody else giggles and laugh
(X) Cream: Thank you all for saving me, everyone! You all did great!
(X) Tails: But our job isnāt done! We should reunite with Sonic soon, by now he should have the 6th Chaos Emerald! Then we can look for the last one, and hopefully also resolve things with Blaze.
The group did one big group high five before they got out of the forest.
Meanwhile, the defeated Eggman still grumbles from having lost to such a pesky group. He then gets a call while floating off. Itās Eggman Nega.
(X) Eggman Nega: Did you capture your suggested hostage?
Eggman sighed deeply
(X) Eggman: No, Negaā¦ I failed to capture Cream.
(X) Eggman Nega: Well, well, wellā¦ havenāt you proved to be utterly useless, itād be outright pitiful if it wasnāt so funny.. You lostā¦ to a six year old and her petā¦ hehehehehe! And you say you have an IQ of 300.
(X) Eggman: Hey! For the record I DID briefly have her capturedā¦ I just was not expecting to get jumped by 6 of her friends at once! There was that annoying fox, that Sonic-obsessed pink hedgehog, a plant alien that I wasnāt expecting to have combat abilities let alone a strong vine whip, and then there was the entirety of Team Chaotix. Donāt you see the bumps on my face?! Those stings hurt!
It was almost as if they knew I was going to capture Cream somehow!
(X) Eggman Nega: Excuses, excusesā¦.
(X) Eggman: As if youāve had any more success with Sonic! Unless you managed to succeed while defending our fleetā¦
Eggman Nega paused
(X) Eggman Nega: Yesā¦ unfortunately I had anotherā¦ setback against that blue hedgehogā¦
(X) Eggman: Now do you understand what Iāve had to deal with for years now? Not as easy as you thought, is itā¦
(X) Eggman Nega: At least I didnāt lose to elementary school kids and some bumbling detectivesā¦
(X) Eggman Grrrr..,. Maybe this team up was a mistake! Iāve had just as much success with Bocoe, Decoe, and Bokkun with less of the sassā¦Ā
(X) Eggman Nega: Iād say that says more about you than me at this point.Ā
Eggman Nega then quiets his voice to a dastardly whisperĀ
(X) Eggman Nega: Perhaps, you should join them soonā¦
(X) Eggman: Huh? What was that?!
(X) Eggman Nega: Nothing, my counterpartā¦ Iāll just tell you that Iāve sent a robot to fetch something that will entirely make up for your failure. A potentially very powerful energy source was found on my sensors. Something that may help power our latest and best invention yetā¦
(X) Eggman: If itās just another Chaos or Sol Emerald I donāt know what itād do at this point when Sonic and Blaze have most of themā¦
(X) Eggman Nega: Itās neither of thoseā¦ although it does seem to have a strange amount of energy akin to a Chaos Emeraldā¦ and given its color, it may put a whole nother definition of āgreen energyā
(X) Eggman: Good gracious please donāt tell me you tried to grab the Master Emerald! That angry echidna will chase you to the ends of the earth!
(X) Eggman Nega: Hmmm, I did notice a huge emerald was left unguarded for the time beingā¦ but no, itās far too large for our machine.
Eggman tries to think whatever else it could be but is stumped
(X) Eggman: Well I guess Iāll just find out once Iāve met up with you in person. Still need to get these bee stings patched upā¦
(X) Eggman Nega: Of course, see you soonā¦
Their communications close, and Eggman Nega opens up a camera view on his computer screen that is the point of view of the robot he sent after a new power source.
(X) Eggman Nega: I donāt know howā¦
On the screen, the robot has a clear view of what Nega was hinting at to Eggman: A decorative white pot with a green seedling.
(X) Eggman Nega: ā¦But this little plant may have just what I need to destroy everybody in my way. Heheheheā¦ HEHEHEHEHEHEHEEEEEEEE!
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X Sonic & Tails along with CHZ Cosmo move north of the Night Carnival, to a more mountainous region close to an ocean, they however are stopped by a roadblock made out of a large pile of rocks standing in their way.
(X) Sonic: Uh oh, what happened here?
(X) Tails: Looks like a landslide has closed this roadā¦ we may have to find another way arou-
X Tails is suddenly interrupted by a familiar, and angry voice coming from nearby
(X) Knuckles: You dirty bat! You better help me out of here or I swear Iāllā¦ grumbles
(X) Sonic: Uh oh, looks like Knuckles is in a pickleā¦
X Sonic runs toward where they find X Knuckles stuck between two rocks, and the teasing giggles of a familiar batgirl with her legs crossed while sitting on a rock nearby
(X) Rouge: If I help you out, will you give me the Master Emerald?
Knucklesā reply is as swift as Sonicās top speed
(X) Knuckles: NO!
(X) Rouge: Oh cāmon, that island of yours isnāt even floating any more. Canāt I at least have onnnnnne tiny piece? As a treat?~ I could use a new ringā¦
(X) Knuckles: NO MEANS NO!
Knuckles grumbles some more while Rouge chuckles at his predicament as Sonic approaches the two
(X) Sonic: Knuckles? Rouge? Whatās going on here?
(X) Rouge: Well if it isn't Big Blue, I donāt know what happened to Handsome Red hereā¦ wink but itās pretty funny
Sonic gets closer to KnucklesĀ grabbing on to a stuck arm and trying to pull Knuckles out himself.
(X) Sonic: No goodā¦ Rouge, I know you like teasing Knux here but we really should get him out. Who knows if we may need him for an ongoing situation.
Rouge shrugged
(X) Rouge: Fine, I guess I suppose Iāve already had my funā¦ Rouge spins herself into a drilling formation as she breaks the rock preventing Knucklesā movement. Knuckles slowly getting up, half of his body still asleep from not being able to move.
(X) Knuckles: Would have been nice if you did that WITHOUT Sonic asking you toā¦
Rouge giggled
(X) Rouge: But I donāt get too many opportunities to talk with you while youāre being a hermit on that formerly floating island
X Tails and CHZ Cosmo walk in
(X) Tails: Formerly floating? What exact happ-
(X) Knuckles: GASP TAILS! LOOK OUT!
(X) Tails: Wait wha- AAAAAH!
Knuckles tackles Tails away from CHZ Cosmoās side
(X) Tails: Knuckles?! What the heck are you doing?!
(X) Knuckles: There was a ghost beside you!
CHZ Cosmo tilted her head
(CHZ) Cosmo: G-ghost? (ā¦Oh right, heās probably assuming Iām the other me who ādiedā)
X Sonic shook his head
(X) Sonic: Did one of those rocks take some brain cells from you, Knucklehead? Even if she was a ghost why would Tails need to be afraid of Cosmoās ghost?
(X) Knuckles: You never know! It could be one of King Boom Booās minions trying to lure Tails into a trap or something! Didnāt you tell me one of them possessed Amy back on Chris' world? But if thatās not the caseā¦ Wait a momentā¦
Knuckles runs over to CHZ Cosmoās side and curiously pokes her. Noticing that sheās actually there, and not a spooky trick.
(X) Knuckles: Whuhā¦ howā¦ Tails, did youā¦?
(X) Tails: Itās a little more complicated than thatā¦ but before we explain. Tell me, what happened to Angel Island.
Rouge looked incredulous
(X) Rouge: Your girlfriendās suddenly back to life, the same one that your grief turned you into even more of a loner then Knuckles here for weeks, if not monthsā¦ and youāre concerned about Angel Island?! Who are you and where is the real Tails?
Tails scratches the back of his head
(X) Tails: Ahehheh, I get that it looks that way but seriously weāll explain soon! But for now I can say that in short, she is not the same Cosmo that traveled with us.
(X) Knuckles: So wait, does that make her some kind of clone you created though all that science you do?
CHZ Cosmo giggles
(CHZ) Cosmo: Nah, Iām not a clone. But please Knuckles, listen to Tails and tell us what happened to Angel Island.
(X) Knuckles: To put it simply I donāt even know, the island just stopped floating for some reason. But I am starting to suspect it has something to do with that purple cat girl! The same one who buried me under those rocks in the first place
Rouge mocked a gasp, puttingĀ the back of her hand over her forehead in an overdramatic and joking fashion
(X) Rouge: Knucklesā¦ youāve been seeing another girl?! Ohhhhh Iām absolutely heartbroken, I thought we had something special!
Knuckles gets even more red in the face, though itās hard to tell if it's sheer anger, blushed embarrassment, or both at the same time.
Rouge giggles watching him seethe, Sonic chuckles alongside her. Knuckles just and crosses his arms before continuing.
Rouge giggles, Sonic chuckles alongside her. Knuckles grumbling and crosses his arms.
(X) Knuckles: As I was saying, I saw that catgirl with Cream. Something seemed awfully suspicious about her, especially when I thought I saw what could have been a Chaos Emerald!
(X) Tails: Are you absolutely certain she had a Chaos Emerald?
(X) Knuckles: Well I didnāt see the exact shape of what she had in her hand. But what else could it have been?
CHZ Cosmo speaks up
(CHZ) Cosmo: No, I doubt thatās what she had in her hand
Knuckles raises an eyebrow
(X) Knuckles: And how are you so sure? You just came back to life, which by the way still has to be explained to meā¦ and all of a sudden youāre telling us you conveniently know this girl? Was she an alien friend of yours or something?
(X) Tails: Knuckles! We already told you, sheās not the Cosmo that was with us when we fought the Metarex!
(X) Knuckles: Then why is she acting like she knows us?
(CHZ) Cosmo: Because I know another version of you and the othersā¦
Knuckles is given more details of what has happened lately. Though the information seems to overwhelm him.
(X) Knuckles: Ugh, this is too much. Are you sure there isnāt some sort of weird partial memory loss. This alternate dimension stuffā¦ I know Chrisā world was something like it. But why all of a sudden do we have 2 more dimensions involved? Why has our planet of all places seemingly become the centerpoint of space and time. Urghā¦ Iām so confused, and still ANGRYā¦ I think I need to punch something just to clear my head!
Knuckles walks on over to the rocks blocking the road and starts mercilessly letting his frustrations out on them. The rest of the group just watched him with wide stares and blinking eyes. When Knuckles is done, heāc created a path through which Sonic, Tails and CHZ Cosmo could walk through.
(X) Sonic: Uhā¦ thanks for the path?
Knuckles wasnāt even considering that he was helping out Sonic when hitting those rocks. But decides to act like that was the intention.
(X) Knuckles: Youāre welcome, Sonic! Though before you all go, Iād still like to hear a bit more from Cosmo here.
(X) Rouge: Maybe I can help with thatā¦ Cosmo, do youā¦ recall anything about me andā¦ Shadow at allā¦? It might help Knuckles understand whether you are the Cosmo we knew or not, andā¦ also some guilt Iād really like to shake offā¦
(CHZ) Cosmo: (Guilt? What could Rouge be so guilty aboutā¦) Well, the Rouge I know weāre at best casual friends by now. I donāt see the other you that often, but we do get along. Shadow thoughā¦
A big smile comes from her face, she puts her hands together as her eyes shine.
(CHZ) Cosmo: Heāsā¦ me and my kindās greatest hero!
Knuckles acts surprised, while Tails face turns serious as he turns his back.
(X) Knuckles: Okā¦ NOW I am convinced this isnāt the Cosmo that was with us. Thereās no way the Cosmo we knew would see Shadow in such a positive lightā¦
CHZ Cosmo looked concerned. Hearing what Knuckles just said, Rougeās face of guilt, and especially Tailsā suddenly serious face.
(CHZ) Cosmo: ā¦Ok I think itās finally time for someone to explain what exactly Shadow did to my counterpartā¦
((More after the break))
Everyone else other than Tails shows grave frowns, not sure how to explain this lightly.
(X) Rouge: Wellā¦ umā¦ how do we put thisā¦ Shadowā¦
(X) Tails: ā¦Tried to kill her
X Tails interrupted with a near whisper
(CHZ) Cosmo: Huh? Tailsā¦ canā¦ can you repeat that?
Tails turned around, Tails faceā just about baring his fangs as his teeth clenches before he yells
(X) Tails: I SAID SHADOW TRIED TO KILL HER!
CHZ Cosmo puts both hands over her mouth. She could barely fathom why Shadow would do such a thing
(CHZ) Cosmo: Heā¦ he had to have been mind-controlled by the Metarexā¦ surely?
(X) Tails: If only that had been the caseā¦ but no, he made the conscious decision that our Cosmo should die because he assumed, and without telling what evidence he has, that she was a willing SPY!
(X) Rouge: He didnāt exactly have his memories thou-
(X) Tails: YOU SHUSH! I still havenāt forgotten that you were basically his accomplice! You said she was a plant in more ways than one!
Rouge lowered her head placing her left hand on her right arm
(X) Rouge: Sigh Itās true the more time has passed since her sacrifice, the more guilt-ridden I feel about that dayā¦ If our Cosmo is regenerating as this other Cosmo told us, at least I may still get the chance to apologizeā¦
CHZ Cosmo seems nervous to ask given Tailsā mood isnāt in the best place right now. But she turns toward Rouge.
(CHZ) Cosmo: Um, Rougeā¦ by any chance do you know where this universeās Shadow is?
X Tails about murmurs quietly to himself
(X) Tails: I donāt care where he isā¦ I hope I never see him againā¦
(X) Rouge: He umā¦ asked to borrow my spaceship, not that I had much use for it with the Metarex gone. And he did so not long after a heated conversation he had with Tails last time he was here. Foxboy here might have legitimately guilt tripped him into leaving this planet indefinitely.
I witnessed their conversation myself if you want to hear about it. I doubt Tails in any mood to retell it himself.
X Tails had his back turned to the group. Practically confirming Rougeās doubts. CHZ Cosmo frowned, she wonders if she should hear about what happened the last time this universeās Tails and Shadow last saw each other. But thought it was best to get it all out there, so she understands how to proceed from here.
(CHZ) Cosmo: Go ahead, Rougeā¦ tell me all you remember of this conversationā¦
Rouge nodded
(X) Rouge: It is thankfully a bit easier to talk about now that we know our Cosmo might be slowly regenerating. But back when we all thought Cosmo was still gone foreverā¦ itā¦ was hard to watchā¦
FLASHBACK START
On a dreary and cloudy day, X Tails had just finished landing the Blue Typhoon, much of it still retaining the damage it sustained in the climactic battle against Final Mova in the bottom of a deep canyon. He seeked a place to put whatās left of the large space ship where he would never see it again. Itās true the ship had good memories associated for him too. But Cosmoās sacrifice had tainted all of it.Ā
The last thing he did before leaving the ship was laying controlled explosives around the entire cockpit. He told Sonic heād do that in case Eggman got the idea of trying to engineer the Blue Typhoon himself to use against them. That now besides the damage it had taken against Final Mova, the entire cockpit would have to be rebuilt too if it was to be used again. But deep down they both knew that Eggman was fully capable of creating his very own ships, he likely wouldnāt use a ship that Sonic and the others know from top to bottom.
It didnāt matter where he was on the Blue Typhoon, wherever he went. The first thing that came to mind was what he and Cosmo did together in each room of the ship. The room where she tried to set up a surprise party by herself before he and the Chaotix stepped in still had some of the decorations left from where they were that day. The hallways with leftover damage from when either Shadow was chasing him and Cosmo or from the final battle, the launching bay where Cosmo had brought him tea while he was fixing up the X Tornado and other ships, and other places where memories of his time with Cosmo that only made him feel worse about what it all led up to. He nearly had another breakdown walking through the halls this last time, but he persevered and flew out of his ship with his namesakes.Ā
He looked down at the Blue TyphoonĀ one more time before pulling out a controller with a big red button. It was for the explosives. With a single press, the cockpit of the Blue Typhoon was blown up. Rendering the vessel unusable until the control systems get rebuilt. He thought about destroying the entire ship, but who knows if there would be another adventure that requires them to go to outer space. Tails hopes that if they have to go somewhere far off in space in the future, itās years from now. Where maybe by then he will have built an entirely new ship, and/or when he had finally gotten over Cosmoās death, if he ever does.
What Tails didnāt know was that there were two nearby enough to hear the explosion. Rougeās sensitive bat ears heard it while she was flying. She flew in the direction of the sound and hid behind a wall of rocks. The other one seemed to have had their solitude suddenly broken by the explosion. An irritated look on his face as he ran over to investigate.
He gasped as he ran over to find Tails, looking over the cliff solemnly just like he had just been doing before the explosion rocked the canyon.
(X) Shadow: What are you doing here, Tails?
Tails turns around with an unamused face.
(X) Tails: I should be asking the same thing to youā¦
Shadow could feel the disdain in Tailsā voice
(X) Shadow: sigh I get it, Tailsā¦ Cos-
(X) Tails: LEAVE HER NAME OUT OF YOUR MOUTH, SHADOW! You tried to murder her! And now she IS gone, maybe not by your hand. But are you happy now, you got what you wantedā¦
Shadow was taken aback, Tailsā raised voice echoing throughout the canyon adding to the tension between the two.
(X) Shadow: Hey, circumstances have changedā¦ I know now she was forced to spy for them butā¦
(X) Tails: BUT WHAT?! YOU COULDNāT HAVE TALKED IT OVER WITH US FIRST INSTEAD OF NEARLY KILLING HER IN HER SLEEP?!
Shadow looked down
(X) Shadow: Iā¦ I had no idea that she had already endeared herself to you and the others. I especially underestimated how much you in particular felt about her. I am sorr-
(X) Tails: DONāT YOU ATTEMPT TO APOLOGIZE TO ME! It was HER you should have apologized toā¦ BUT NOW YOU NEVER WILL! YOUāRE ONLY SAYING SORRY NOW THAT SHEāS GONE! IF SHE LIVED, YOU PROBABLY NEVER WOULD HAVE APOLOGIZED!
Tails stepped closer to Shadow, actually kind of scaring the Ultimate Lifeform. As he backs off slightly.
(X) Tails: In factā¦ I bet I know why Chaos Regeneration didnāt workā¦ it wasnāt that you and Sonic failedā¦ you probably HELD BACK ON PURPOSE!
(X) Shadow: Thatāsā¦ thatās not true! I put nearly everything I had in both trying to save her, but also had to reserve some strength from containing the blast. I was very close to dying for good that time.
(X) Tails: Maybe you SHOULD haveā¦ Tell meā¦ Whyā¦ WHY DO YOU GET TO āSACRIFICEā YOURSELF AND LIVE ON AND COSMO DOES NOT?!
Shadow lowered his head and sighed
(X) Shadow: ā¦I have no answer for that. Itās true, itās not fairā¦
Tails turns his back toward Shadow
(X) Tails: Then maybe you can tell me this, Shadow. Even if I know youāre still recovering your memories, letās say you had a girl you really care aboutā¦ and someone or some agency likeā¦ I donāt knowā¦ G.U.N. perhaps, has determined without evidence that she was a spy. And thus she had to die with not even a chance to prove her innocence and/or whether she had been bugged wilfully or not
Something about this didnāt seem right to Shadow, as if Tails was saying something he knew about Shadow that he still doesnāt quite remember fully
(X) Shadow: Whatā¦ what are you insinuating?!
Tails doesnāt answer, he simply continues his analogy.
(X) Tails: And then think about thisā¦ you successfully fend off her attacker. Only for sometime later a situation happens where itās either her or the entire world is destroyedā¦ and you have to pull the trigger.
Itās either the one person you care about the most, or the untold billions of lives at stake that you donāt even knowā¦ and she herself is insisting you shoot no matter how much it tears you up insideā¦
Tell me, Shadowā¦ what would you doā¦
If that girl was none other thanā¦ Mariaā¦
Shadow gasped
(X) Shadow: (Theā¦ same nameā¦ Rouge mentioned in the Metarex baseā¦)
As if a psychic blow had been put on him, Shadow grunts as heās forced to his knees and he places his arms on his head.
(X) Shadow: (Whyā¦ why does that name cause me to flinch so muchā¦ I donāt understandā¦)
Tails simply begins to walk off, leaving Shadow there all alone. Rouge, who had been watching the conversation, looked stunned. Once Tails was out of sight, Rouge flew over to Shadowās side to help him up.
(X) Rouge: I knew that fox was hit hard, but I didnāt think he was going to bring up the M word in front of youā¦
(X) Shadow: Urghā¦ Rougeā¦ can I ask you something?
(X) Rouge: Yes?
(X) Shadow: Your spaceshipā¦ Iādā¦ Iād like to use it.
Rouge blinked
(X) Rouge: Well, itās not like I need it anymore with the Metarex dealt with, so I guess you canā¦ but why?
(X) Shadow: This planet isnāt my home, I shouldnāt be hanging around hereā¦ especially if others are going to hold me as if I was partly accountable for what happened to Cosmoā¦
(X) Rouge: Now hold on, that was just Tails. Cosmo was very special to him, not everyone is going to be so hostile to youā¦ and what about Eggman helping you out with your memories.
(X) Shadow: You really donāt think anyone else who was on the Blue Typhoon will hold the day I attacked Cosmo against me after what happened? I doubt it.
As for the Doctor, hmmph, I think by now heās only used my memories as leverage for me to work for him. Even if he does know my memories, he doesnāt seem like heās ever going to tell me without any strings attached.
(X) Rouge: Will traveling through space really help you out though? I doubt youāll find your way to where Chrisā and the ARK is.
(X) Shadow: I donāt think I need the ARK to regain my memories. I just need solitude in space, I think my memories have been slowly returning. But I need to be aloneā¦ itās for the best that I donāt stick around anyway.
Rouge still wasnāt sure, but she figured she didnāt need her ship for now.
(X) Rouge: Alright, do whatever you feel is best, Shadow. I hope you come back though once youāve cleared your head.
Shadow turns his back
(X) Shadow: ā¦I canāt promise that. This may very well be the last time we ever speak.
Rouge stood silent for a moment
(X) Rouge: Ifā¦ if thatās the case, I hope you get your memories back. And that you rest easy, however much of the past may haunt youā¦
Shadow simply solemnly nodded, before running off.
END OF FLASHBACK
There was simply a moment of silence as Rouge told what happened between X Tails and Shadow. CHZ Cosmo frowns and lowers her head.
(CHZ) Cosmo: t-t-Tailsā¦ I completely understand your feelings about this universeās Shadow. Iām not going to tell you that you were wrong to yell at him. Attempted murder is serious! He deserved a stern talking, and you were right to point out that Shadow could have simply talked about it with you, Sonic, and the others before resorting to sneaking into her room without telling anyone his intentions. Even with the caveat that he lost his memory, that was no excuse for him toā¦ almost be just like the G.U.N. soldier that killed Maria. It might have been a bit of a low blow, but mentioning Maria to Shadowā¦ was kind of warrantedā¦
X Tails just quietly nodded
(CHZ) Cosmo: I will still say though now you must know that Shadow did try to make up for it by attempting to help Sonic save her from death, and you know now that it worked! Just more slowly than you and everyone else tho-
(X) Tails: I know what youāre going to sayā¦ that once my Cosmo does regenerate, and if Shadow ever does return... I should find it within my heart to forgive himā¦ I just don't know if I can do that.
Even if he does deserve credit for saving her. I canāt simply forget when he was relentlessly chasing us down throughout the entire ship. It was like a real life horror movie. That cold scowl of his as he walked up to our Cosmo who was scared out of her mindā¦ itāll take more than saying sorry before I ever consider forgiving him. Him being half the reason Cosmo may still regenerate doesnāt make up for the fact he had once threatened her life.
He sighs, and lifts his head up
(X) Tails: ā¦But letās forget about Shadow for now. We have more important things to take care of.
(X) Knuckles: I guess we can get back to Cosmo explaining what she thinks that catgirl had in her hands.
CHZ Cosmo nodded
(CHZ) Cosmo: Right, as I was going to sayā¦ Blaze more than likely had a Sol Emerald. Theyāre sort of her dimensionās incarnation of the Chaos Emeralds
Knuckles realized something
(X) Knuckles: Perhaps the Sol Emeralds being in this universe has interfered with the Master Emeraldās power and thatās why my island fell!
Rouge grinned mischievously
(X) Rouge: A new set of emeralds you say? Maybe I should find one for myself, might make a good hunt~
(X) Tails: Please donāt even joke about this, Rouge... The Sol Emeralds likely have to go back if weāre going to avoid any collision between our universes. Do you want to cause a time suspension phenomenon or possibly something worse all because of your greed?
Rouge sighs as sheās denied once again
(X) Rouge: Fiiiiiineeeā¦ I guess Iāll just go my own way then, Iām sure Big Blue will fix this mess. If we ended an intergalactic war, surely two Eggmen is nothing. If you need my help feel free to go find me, but it may come at a costā¦
She looks at Knuckles with half-lidded eyes
(X) Rouge: Iāll offer one more time, handsomeā¦ I can be your mercenary for hire if you promise I can make a ring out of a piece of the Master emerald~
Knuckles deadpanned
(X) Knuckles: The answer is still noā¦
Rouge giggled
(X) Rouge: Canāt blame a girl for trying! But in that case, Iāll wish you luck boys. And same for the other Cosmo here. Canāt wait to hear how this ultimately wraps up
She winks one more time to Knuckles before waving and lifting off. Knuckles just grumbles
(X) Knuckles: That girl drives me battyā¦
(X) Sonic: Chuckles Well, she IS a bat after all.
(X) Knuckles: And youāre not helpingā¦ regardless, I should take my leave as well. I need to give a piece of my mind to that cat that buried me
(CHZ) Cosmo: You know Knuckles, weāre looking for her too. Why donāt you tag along?
(X) Knuckles: I appreciate it, but I gotta decline.Ā
(X) Tails: If you find her before us, donāt rough her up too much. We may need her..,
(X) Knuckles: No promises, Tails. You know I have to get even with that catā¦
Sonic looked over to Tails and CHZ Cosmo with a smug face
(X) Sonic: I guess weāll be rescuing him from another pile of rocks soon enoughā¦
Knuckles growled
(X) Knuckles: You wanna go?! Iāll take both you and her down one after another!
X Tails and CHZ Cosmo just giggled
(CHZ) Cosmo: Some things never change no matter the universe, huh?
(X) Tails: Sure seems like Sonic and Knuckles are always destined to butt heads no matter whatā¦
X Tails and CHZ Cosmo manage to prevent Sonic and Knuckles from fighting citing that they need to find the next Chaos Emerald. Knuckles flies off on his own path to search for Blaze, and the rest finally move down the road that Knuckles had opened for them.
The three reach the waters, though Cosmo is a bit puzzled to see no fleet of ships
(CHZ) Cosmo: Umā¦ Sonic, Tails, does G.U.N. still exist in this universe?
(X) Sonic: In this universe? On Chrisā planet if that counts, sure. Here thoughā¦ not really
(X) Tails: Why do you ask, Cosmo?
(CHZ) Cosmo: (Wellā¦ that slightly complicates things, when these events happened in my universe Sonic found the next emerald on a fleet of G.U.N. ships but if theyāre not hereā¦ perhapsā¦) It was just a quick question I wanted to know. But I think the next emerald could be underwater.
Sonic grimaces
(X) Sonic: Uhā¦ in that case how about the both of you get this oneā¦ you know how I am about waterā¦
(X) Tails: I could go back to my lab to give each of us a respirator.
(CHZ) Cosmo: There is no need, Tails. Thereāsā¦ something you should know about me. Remember when I told you that I breathe out oxygen?
(X) Tails: Yes?
(CHZ) Cosmo: That means when underwater, I can produce bubbles of air that help keep you and Sonic safe from drowning!
Sonic gasped
(X) Sonic: Whoa, really?! Darn, I could have really used that when I was at the Water Palace!
(X) Tails: Thatās amazing! I wonder if our Cosmo had that capability... Though she didnāt exactly tell us she could while we were on Planet Hydo.Ā
(CHZ) Cosmo: Wait, isnāt Hydo supposed to be a dry planet?
(X) Sonic: Well itās back to being one after we saved its planet egg. But when we were there, it had a LOT of water. TOO much water in factā¦
(CHZ) Cosmo: I seeā¦ the planet egg thing is still a bit weird to me. But I suppose as long as it means the planet is safe now. Regardless, follow me! Iāll make as many bubbles as necessary to help the both of you breathe underwater as we search for the Chaos Emerald.
X Sonic and Tails both nod as they wade into the ocean together with CHZ Cosmo to search for the 5th Chaos Emerald.
((Co-written with my proofreader since Chapter 8, @marowakky))
CHZ Cream decided to next visit the portal with an oddly-shaped gem for its symbol.Ā By this point there was no real rhyme or reason for picking a portal, just hoping for the best.Ā
On the other side they found themselves on a small sandbar, and what looked to be a pirate ship approaching.
???: Ahoy there!Ā Need a lift?
CHZ Tails, Blaze and Cream blinked.Ā The girl aboard the ship that had just called to them looked like Amy, but decked out in pirate gear.
Tails' eyes went wide.
(CHZ) Tails: Uuuhhhhā¦ y-yeah. Yeah we need a liftā¦
Blaze had a remark
(CHZ) Blaze: Well, at least pirates are something Iām used to seeing back home
Tails was a little weirded out by the whole outfit and gear, but decided not to ask any questionsā¦ yet.
(No Place) Amy?: Batten, Sails, help me get these land-lubbers aboard! Give 'em a warm welcome from the crew of Cap'n Black Rose!
What looked to be this universe's versions of Rouge and Tails flew from somewhere out of sight of the CHZ trio, airlifting them onto the ship.Ā When Sails came for Tails, he responded by flying onto the ship himself.
Tails landed on the ship, looking around, his eyes scanning the area, slightly in awe at the ship itself, but his mind was racing with questions. He couldn't help but notice the odd appearance of the other versions of his friends, and especially the pirate Amy.
(CHZ) Tails: (This is bizarreā¦ is this a world where Sonic and the others are all pirates?)
There were also pirate versions of Knuckles and Big aboard the ship.
Tails' eyes widened even more as he saw the pirate version of Knuckles. He couldn't help but stare for a moment, stunned by the fact that there was a pirate version of his friend. He leaned over to CHZ Cream, his voice hushed.
(CHZ) Tails: Pirate Knuckles?! W-What is going on hereā¦?
(No Place) Knuckles?: Who be these land-lubbers ye brought aboard, Cap'n? Unless me eyes hornswoggle me, one o' 'em resembles Sails here, although it wouldna be the first time we've had a lookalike in no-place.
CHZ Blaze stepped forward, trying to explain the situation as best as she could.
(CHZ) Blaze: It's a bit complicated. We're not from this universe. We come from a different place, and we're looking for someone. We don't mean any harm.
Dread: Ya needn't worry. We haven't had many visitors recently, but ye ain't the first land-lubbers from another universe we've had here. Allow me t' introduce meself. Me name be Knuckles the Dread, formerly Cap'n Dread, afore I bestowed dat t' Black Rose.
Tails and CHZ Cream exchanged a curious look.. This universe was certainly proving to be full of surprises.
(CHZ) Tails: It's a pleasure to meet you, Dread. I'm Tails, and these are my friends Blaze and Cream.
(CHZ) Blaze: My friend Tails here has a picture of who we're looking for.Ā Weāll understand if you don't recognize her, but weāre hoping we can find her soon.
Tails nodded and pulled out the photo of Cosmo, holding it up for Dread to see. He hoped that somehow, they could find some information here.
(CHZ) Tails: We're looking for this girl. Her name is Cosmo.
Dread: Hmm...Ā Can't say I've seen her, although she certainly be a cute lass.
Sails came over out of curiosity, his eyes widening as he saw the picture.
Sails: Dread, I donāt know if I be only dreaminā or anythin', but I recall being saved by someone that looked like her when I went overboard a fortnight ago.
Tails' eyes lit up with hope at Sails' words. He turned to look at Sails, a mixture of excitement and anticipation on his face.
(CHZ) Tails: Wait, did you say you were saved by someone who looked like her?
Sails: Aye, I be well-nigh sure o' it. I donāt reckon I saw her fully, 'twas pretty dark out, but I reckon I can vaguely recall her faceā¦ If it's alright wit' the Cap'n, I can lead ye t' where we were when I fell overboard.
Tails and CHZ Cream exchanged a glance, both of them clearly eager to follow any lead they could find. Tails then politely asked Black Rose, hoping she would agree to Sails' request.
(CHZ) Tails: Please, Captain Rose, this is important. If there's even a chance that Cosmo is nearby, we have to take it!
Captain Black Rose: Aye, by the look o' yer eyes, ye must care quite deeply fer her.Ā A lost lover, perhaps?
Tails simply nodded, with Black Rose putting her hands together and a wide grin on her face finding this utterly adorable.
Captain Black Rose: How romantic! O' course weāll help! Everyone, letās setās sail!
Tails breathed a sigh of relief, grateful that Captain Black Rose had agreed to let them follow up on the lead. He shot a thankful look towards Sails, who was already making his way to the helm to set the course.
(CHZ) Tails: Thank you, Captain Rose. We appreciate your cooperation.
Moments later, Sails had guided the Kraken to the area that he had gone overboard.
Tails and CHZ Cream followed Sails closely, their hearts pounding with anticipation.Ā The area Sails had led them to was a stretch of the ocean that looked just like any other, but they held out hope that they were getting closer to finding Cosmo.
Sails: Look, thar she be!
Tailsā eyes followed Sails' gesture, and his heart skipped a beat as he saw, in the distance, a familiar figure floating just above the surface of the water.
(CHZ) Tails: I-Is that... Cosmo?
If this was indeed Cosmo, she was only visible from the waist-up.Ā She waved at Sails, smiling.
A mix of relief and excitement washed over Tails and CHZ Cream. Seeing the familiar figure in the distance, even if they couldn't see all of her, filled them with hope.
(CHZ) Cream: Cosmo! It's really her!
Tails and Cream together flew down with twirling tails and flapping ears respectively closer to what they believed to be their Cosmo.
???: Eep!
āCosmoā dove underwater in response to the approaching fox and rabbit.
(CHZ) Tails: Hey! Where are you going?!Ā
Tails dove into the ocean to follow right after her. If this was their Cosmo this was odd behavior for her. His joy was soon shattered when he saw her entire body. āCosmoā didnāt have her delicate legs, instead there was a white fishtail with a green tip on the fluke.Ā
((More after the break))
Tails' eyes went wide, he was utterly shocked at the sight, his mind racing to comprehend what he was seeing. He surfaced back up to the water.
(CHZ) Tails: W-What... Howā¦
Then the Mermaid Cosmo surfaced as well
???: U-umā¦ Iām sorryā¦ but I think you may have confused me for someone elseā¦ Although you do look very much like someone I saved beforeā¦
CHZ Blaze overheard and realized that once again their journey was far from over. She raised her voice from the top of the ship.
(CHZ) Blaze: I'm sorry, Tails, it would seem that once again that Cosmo is native to this universe.
A mix of frustration and disappointment washed over Tails' face. He had been so sure that they had finally found the right universe this time, and now it seemed like they were back to square one. Tails and Cream then flew back up to the ship. Shaking the water out of their fur once they got on.
Sails was now getting his first full look at the mermaid Cosmo, he seemed to be quite instantly smitten with her.
Sails: Sheā¦ sheāsā¦ b-beautifulā¦
Dread: I'd be careful, Sails.Ā She may be a sirenā¦
Tails couldn't help but notice the smitten expression on Sails' face and the warning from Dread. He looked back at the mermaid Cosmo, his thoughts a mixture of concern and curiosity.
(CHZ) Tails: A sirenā¦? Is she dangerous?
Dread: I couldn't say fer sure, but I'd be careful all the same.
Tails nodded in agreement, understanding the need for caution. He knew all too well how dangerous the worlds they were venturing into could be, and the last thing they needed was to encounter another enemy.
(CHZ) Tails: Okay, we'll be careful then. But, um, just to be sure... What are the signs of a siren? Just so we know what to look out for?
Dread: Mostly stunnin' beauty, 'n a singin' voice dat sounds enchantin'. Many a victim has dove overboard aft hearin' the shanty o' a siren, only t' be keelhauled and devoured.
Tails nodded, committing those characteristics to memory. The thought of being lured to their doom by a beautiful, entrancing song was unnerving, to say the least.
(CHZ) Tails: Got it. Gorgeous, mesmerizing singing voice. Anything else?
Dread: Naught dat I can recall. Few 'ave lived t' tell the tale o' encounterin' a siren, so knowledge be scarce.
Sails: Well, if naught else. She certainly got tā first part downā¦~
Captain Black Rose and Batten giggled together seeing Sailsā helplessly in love.
Tails sighed, realizing that their knowledge of sirens was limited. It would probably be best if they kept their guard up whenever they were near the mermaid.
CHZ Cream spoke up, her voice tinged with curiosity.
(CHZ) Cream: So... what do we do now? Should we talk to her?
(CHZ) Blaze: I suppose it wouldn't hurt, so long as we keep our guard up.
Tails nodded, agreeing with CHZ Blaze. They had come this far, after all. It only seemed logical to try and talk to the mermaid, even if it meant being cautious.Ā
(CHZ) Tails: Alright then... let's go speak to her. Just... remember to be careful, okay?
CHZ Tails, Cream, Blaze along with Black Rose, Dread, and Sails lowered and took a lifeboat towards where the mermaid was staring curiously.
Sails wasted little time in calling out to the mermaid Cosmo.
Sails: Ahoy thar! I suspect 'twas ye who saved me a fortnight ago?
The mermaid nodded, while looking to the side and blushing. It seemed the feelings between them werenāt one-sided.
???: Yes, it wasā¦ May Iā¦ board your life boat? Just for a little bit at least
The group exchanged glances, considering the mermaid's request. Dread was still afraid this was a siren trap of some kind. But Sails enthusiastically welcomed her onto the boat. Using his hands to pick her up.
Sails: Welcome aboard!
Now everyone could see her clearly as she politely sat next to Sails.Ā From the waist up, she was about identical to the Cosmo they knew, but where Cosmo's petal-dress would be was long sea-anemone-like tentacles, and of course the white and green fishtail instead of legs.
All of them stared at the mermaid Cosmo, taking in her appearance. There was a sense of familiarity in her features, despite the differences.
Dread stared her down with suspicion
Dread: Be ye a siren?
???:Ā A sea-dryad, actually.Ā I've never seen a siren myself, but I've heard a lot about them. Theyāre awful, horrid, shapeshifters who often pretend to be sea-dryads like me to lure sailors to their doom. I understand your crewmateās hesitance to trust me given that, but I assure you most of us are quite friendly! Oh yeah, and my name is Coral, by the way.
Tails and the others listened intently as Coral explained her nature. The fact that she claimed to be a sea-dryad rather than a siren put them slightly more at ease.
(CHZ) Tails: A sea-dryad... So you're not like the sirens we've heard about, then? You're not dangerous?
Coral: Of course not.Ā I'd rather eat water-borne insects and sea-snails than people. Yuck!
Coral stuck out her tongue to express her disgust
Tails couldn't help but chuckle a bit at Coral's response. The image of the friendly sea-dryad munching on insects and snails struck him as rather innocent and amusing.
CHZ Cream, unable to contain her excitement, blurted out a question.
(CHZ) Cream: Iāve never seen a real mermaid before! Are there others like you?
Coral: Of course! Most Sea-Dryads live in the underwater cities of the Green Sea. My mother is Queen Euphyllia, and I also have an older sister named Galaxea
Sails: Wait a second, yeāre nah jus' a mermaid. But a mermaid princess too?!
Coral: Well, yes. But my aforementioned older sister is next in line for the throne and Iām fine with that, as I have no aspirations to rule the Green Sea. Iām much happier exploring like I have been doing.
Something about Coral being royalty worried Sails, however.
Sails: Willā¦ will yer family even accept some matey like meself, since Iām far 'n away from a prince?
Coral: Phbbbt, pleaseā¦ my mother is one of the kindest out there and told me and Galaxea sheād accept anyone we believe weāve found true love with as an honorary family member no matter who they are. And there is a long history, even if itās not too common, of Sea-Dryads finding love amongst land dwellers.Ā
Itās just a matter of how much the couple is willing to put up with the obvious difficulties of a relationship between someone who lives in the sea and the other on land. Those who have found clever workarounds either built pools or if a Sea-Dryad needs to be mobile farther inland. There have been wheelchairs made for us in mind.
Sails: Yarr! I could prolly build ye a wheelchair if ye needed one, Coral!
Batten giggled
Batten: Ye might needs t' make one fer our retired cap'n here, first!
Dread turned around, obviously offended
Dread: Why ye scallywag! Iām nah DAT ole yet! 'n arenāt ye 2 years older than me?!
Batten: Maybe, but ye certainly act 20 years older then ye actually be. Sometimes it already feels like yeāre on a mid-life crisis~
Dread: Why yeeeeeā¦
The rest of the group just giggled from the banter between Batten and Dread, before Coral had a question of her own.
Coral: For those not from this universe, I heard you call me the name āCosmoā. Is that something I should know about?
(CHZ) Tails: Yeahā¦ we've been looking for a girl named Cosmo, and you look a lot like her. Just with... uh, slightly different anatomy from the waist down. Here, why donāt you take a look
Tails showed Coral the photo of Cosmo
Coral: Oh my, she really does look a lot like me! Iād dare say thatās very close to what I imagine Iād look like if I was born a land dweller.
Sails sheepishly put two fingers together before asking his next question
Sails: So uhā¦ Coral, ābout the night you saved meā¦ may I ask what you were doing before that happened?
Coral nodded
Coral: Simply exploring the surface really. Part of the Sea-Dryad lifestyle is exploring the oceans and finding allies on friendly beaches, ships, and/or sea ports. If we find ourselves in any danger, weāre normally fast swimmers so most of the time we escape. But it seemed like it was you who was in danger that night. I saw you close to unconsciousness underwater and quickly got you back to the surface. I swam you over to a nearby buoy for you to hang on to
You barely saw me since it was dark out, enough that maybe you groggily saw my head at some point. But uhā¦ Sea-Dryads have night vision. So I could see you quite clearly.
She blushed, and placed a hand on top of Sailsā own.
Coral: And uhā¦ youāre very cute, Sailsā¦
Sailsā heartbeat got faster as he was flattered by the compliment.
Both of them sheepishly looked away and blushed, all while scooching closer to each other. CHZ Cream was loving the adorable sight.
(CHZ) Cream: Dāawwwwā¦ you two are so cute! Just like our Tails and Cosmo! But with a tropical flair!
Both of them smiled before Sails asked another question
Sails: So, do ye 'ave any hobbies underwater?
Coral: Well, like many other sea-dryads my age I do like to collect and trade sea shells! Oh! And I very much enjoy singin-
Suddenly Dread pulled out his sword
Dread: So ye DO be a Siren!
Coral: Eeeeeeep!
Sails immediately blocked Dreadās way
Sails: Hey! She bein' beautiful 'n loves singin' doesnāt mean sheās a siren! Arenāt mermaids allowed t' 'ave beautiful singin' without suspicion?!
Black Rose also wasnāt happy with Dread
Captain Black Rose: Sails be right, Dread! If ye donāt drop yer sabre right now, even if ye're the former cap'n. I will nay hesitate t' make ye walk the plank! Jus' look at Coral, would a monstrous siren look dis scared?
Dread looked at Coralās face and while a part of him might still suspect itās an acting job, her expression does seem to indicate an innocence there that wouldnāt be there if she was lying, he lowered his sword and sighed
Dread: Maybeā¦ but both o' ye shall remember wha' Iāve taught ye. The ocean be full o' beauty, but tharās also a lot o' unknowns. Fatal unknowns if ye nah be careful.
Still a bit shaken by having had a sword pointed at her, Coral hung tight onto Sails.
Sails: Donāt worry, Coral. Dreadās jus' bein' overprotective o' his former crew. Heāll warm up t' ye in time.
He then turned toward Black Rose
Sails: Say, Capān! if we add Coral t' the crew. I bet her knowledge o' everythin' underwater could be o' use t' us!
Captain Black Rose: Dat sounds like a great idea, Sails! Me 'n Batten would love another lass in the crew!
Dread: Belay dat. how do ye suppose sheāll join us bein' half fish... Sheād dry up real fast on the deck! Yeād be proposin' a fate fer her worse than anythin' me sabre can do!
Sails: Donāt ye remember wha' Coral said earlier? We could build a pool on the deck!
Captain Black Rose: Arrr, I forgot t' mention dis when Coral first nattered about it. But dat does remind me Catfish has also wanted more water sources other than usin' the lifeboats in the ocean fer Froggy! So another reason t' 'ave a pool would be great!
Dread: Well, I still wants t' make sure we can trust her fully afore we add her t' the crew. I get Sails 'n Coral 'ave plundered each other's hearts, but letās give it some time.
Coral: I.. actually agree. Itās best that I ask my mother before I can tag along anyway. She usually allows me to do what I want with little to no trouble. But I donāt know how sheāll feel about me being on a ship with pirates aboard. Even cute ones, hehe
She giggled looking lovingly at Sails.
Dread: Another concern I 'ave be those tentacles ye 'ave dat look like a dress. If Iām nah mistaken those be based on anemones. Which means those things can sting 'n inject venom!
That did even cause Sails, who was still the closest to her, to back away a bit with concern. But Coral quickly assured everyone aboard.
Coral: Itāsā¦ true that they can sting, but I have full control of them. Basically, theyāll sting if Iām in full self-defense mode. When you threatened me with a sword, I was actually more afraid Iād accidentally inject venom into Sails than I was for me. Cause if I did something to him after you threatened meā¦ itād only make everyone on the ship believe I was a siren or otherwise had evil motives.
But to prove a demonstrationā¦
Coral lifted up one of her tentacles.
Coral: Sailsā¦ Please lay your hand on the tentacle I lifted up. No harm will come to you, I promise. I saved your life before, you trust me to not suddenly trick you like this, right?
Sails did have a little bit of hesitance, but soon smiled and grabbed the tentacle.Ā
Sails: I trust ye, Coralā¦
It was slimy and slippery, but otherwise he felt no pain nor did anything feel like something got into his bloodstream. Coral giggled
Coral: I should also mention theyāre quite ticklish, hehe!
As much as CHZ Blaze appreciated the moments of small talk, she felt they should focus back on finding their Cosmo, and thought it was time they either started island hopping or just moved on from this universe altogether.Ā Before she could speak up, CHZ Cream suggested something to Captain Rose.
(CHZ) Cream: Say, Miss Captain Rose, you wouldnāt happen to have a deck of fortune cards that can maybe point us in the right direction in the search for our Cosmo?
CHZ Blaze turned to CHZ Cream, a slightly surprised expression on her face at CHZ Cream's suggestion. The idea was an interesting one, although she wasn't sure if seeking out predictions from tarot cards would be helpful.
(CHZ) Blaze: I suppose this couldn't hurt to try. Although I wouldn't put too much stock in what they say...
She looked over to CHZ Cream, silently asking if she was sure about this.
Black Rose, overhearing their conversation, looked over at CHZ Cream and gave a small, somewhat sinister smile.
Captain Black Rose: Fortune cards, hmm? Aye, I do 'ave a deck. But why do ye ask?
(CHZ) Cream: We've been searching through several universes, searching for our friend.Ā I thought that maybe a fortune card reading might point us in the right direction.
Black Rose's smile widened a bit at CHZ Cream's response. She took a moment to consider the suggestion before nodding.
Captain Black Rose: I suppose I could perform a readin' fer ye. But be warned, sometimes the cards can be cryptic in thar meanings. Ye might nah like wha' they 'ave t' say. Weāll needs t' go back up t' the ship too. Be everyone comin' along?
Most of the people on the boat indicated they wanted to get back on the ship. But it was Sails who decided to decline, and without explicit permission from her mother as well as no pool on the ship as of yet, Coral couldnāt quite go with them either way.
Sails: Ye all go on ahead, Iām goin' t' keep Coral company a wee while longer. If datās alright.
The Captainās eyes just sparkled, as she very much supported Sailsā feelings for Coral as best she could.
Captain Black Rose: O' course, Sails! Jus' make sure t' signal us when yeāre ready t' get back on the ship.
After all of them climbed a net ladder back to the shipās deck Black Rose led them to the Captainās quarters for a different kind of deck. Her deck of cards of course.Ā Once inside, she removed a small box from a drawer beside her bed.Ā Once the CHZ trio entered the room, their curiosity piqued by the sight of the small box she retrieved from her drawer. They watched intently as she opened it, wondering what the fortune cards would reveal.
After a quick reading, Black Rose looked up and smiled.
Captain Black Rose: If me intuition be correctā¦ the cards be sayin' āWhen all else fails, remember dat the 'X' marks the spot"
The words "the X' marks the spot" echoed in their heads as they tried to make sense of the cryptic message. CHZ Cream, being ever hopeful, tried to decipher the meaning behind the words.
(CHZ) Cream: āX marks the spotā...? What does that even mean? Is there some kind of treasure we're supposed to find?
Tails thought for a moment on Black Roseās words and he started to think back if an X had shown up during their search. He reached an eureka moment when he remembered something significant.
(CHZ) Tails: Wait!Ā Wasnāt there a portal among our choices with X's around it?!Ā That might be where Cosmo is!
CHZ Tails' sudden exclamation startled the others, but at the same time, it sparked a glimmer of hope.
(CHZ) Blaze: I do remember such a portal, although Iād still be careful about trusting the word of the cards. But we can follow the lead anyhow, and hope for the best. This does mean we might be taking our leave though, Captain Rose.
Captain Black Rose: Understood, 'twas nice meetin' ye all! I hope ye find yer lover, Tails!
Before Blaze used the scepter to take them to the next portal, CHZ Tails and Cream watched Sails as was swimming in the water with Coral, quite enjoying himself. The two were even playfully splashing each other.
Dread was looking at them with a soft smile on his face, while it would take some more time to warm up to Coral, seeing Sailsā happy face was all that was needed to ease his nerves and just be happy for the boy.Ā The CHZ trio couldn't help but smile at the sight of Sails swimming and playing in the water with Coral.
(CHZ) Tails: Looks like Sails and Coral are getting alongā¦ swimmingly, wouldnāt you say?~
CHZ Blaze just rolled her eyes while CHZ Cream giggled
(CHZ) Cream: Hehe, good one Mr. Tails!
As they prepared to leave, CHZ Tails turned back to see Sails and Coral sharing a tender kiss.Ā CHZ Tails couldn't help but pause for a moment to witness the sweet moment between the pirate and the mermaid. It was a sight that warmed his heart, despite their situation. He smiled, wishing they could stay a little longer to bask in the happiness of the two.
Eventually, however, it only quickly reminded him that his mission was to make sure he could have such moments again with Cosmo.
(CHZ) Tails: Letāsā¦ letās goā¦
With that, Blaze opened the portals and they hopped into the one with X's floating around the edge.
***
Elsewhere, in a place called the void, another alternate universe Tails was piloting a small spacecraft.Ā In the seat behind him was an alternate universe version of Amy, that looked like she had been turned into a robot.Ā The alternate-universe Tails had seven mechanical tails in addition to his two regular ones.
Tails (?): Rusty, if my calculations are correct, the disturbance in shatterspace came from somewhere around here.
Rusty Rose: Affirmative, Nine, my sensors are also picking up the disturbance.
Nine continued to pilot the spacecraft through the void, relying on Rusty's sensors to guide them towards the disturbance in shatterspace. He was focused on the task at hand, his seven mechanical tails twitching with anticipation.
Meanwhile, Rusty was busy analyzing the data from her sensors, trying to pinpoint the exact location of the disturbance.
Nine: Can you narrow down the location any further, Rusty?
Rusty Rose: Alert!Ā Alert!Ā Anomaly in shatterspace forming!Ā Take evasive action immediately!
Nine's ears perked up at the sudden alert from Rusty, and without a second thought, he quickly maneuvered the spacecraft to avoid the anomaly. His mechanical tails worked in unison, providing him with extra stability and control as he dodged whatever was happening within shatterspace.
Nine: What's going on, Rusty?! Can you identify the anomaly?!
As if in answer, a portal formed where the spacecraft had been moments before.Ā After taking some readings, Nine's eyes widened.
Nine: It can't be...
Rusty Rose: What is it, Nine?
Nine: It would appear that this new shatterspace portal leads directly to Sonic's world.Ā But how is that possible?Ā His portal disappeared after him and Shadow went through it.
Nine stared at the portal, his eyes still wide with surprise at the revelation. He couldn't even begin to imagine how a portal to Sonic's world had suddenly appeared when it was supposed to have disappeared.
Nine: This shouldn't be happening. The portal that Sonic and Shadow used was supposed to have closed permanently. But somehow... it's opened again, and it's connected directly to Sonic's worldā¦ although, the more I look at itā¦ I donāt know if this is the Sonic that we metās world exactly, something seemsā¦ off.
Rusty Rose: Should we investigate?
Nine: We shouldā¦ maybe we should bring at least a little bit of backup. Letās go to No Place first and see if Knuckles the Dread is free to explore with us.
X Knuckles leads X Blaze further into the canyon. After a rematch between the two, Blaze needed more evidence about the space adventures that Cream had been in, particularly of the thought to have been deceased Cosmo.
Eventually, they reached the ship. The size of the Blue Typhoon was still quite a marvel as it towered above them as they stood on the canyon floor, though the scars the ship had taken from the final battle were still very much visible.
(X) Knuckles: Here we are, Blaze. This is the ship we flew through space while battling the Metarex, as you can seeā¦ itās been through a lot.
Blaze looked at the ship astounded. This was a huge ship, and the visible damage it took certainly seemed to show it had been in an epic battle.
(X) Blaze: ā¦Is it ok if I explore the top of the ship?
(X) Knuckles: Go ahead, be careful though, I donāt know what parts could be more fragile and perilous to climb with all that damage.
Blaze smirked
(X) Blaze: Heh, Iām a cat. Nothingās too hard for me to climb.
The both of them carefully climbed up to the deck of the ship. Blaze saw more damage that she couldnāt see from the canyon floor.
(X) Blaze: Waitā¦ was the cockpit totally destroyed during the battle?! How did you all even get back home!
Knuckles was directed to where what used to be the control room, which had been totally detonated.
(X) Knuckles: Oh no, that was damage done after we got back home. Our ship took a lot of damage, but luckily we could still fly it safely home when it was all over.
Blaze looked puzzled once more
(X) Blaze: Then whatā¦ what happened to it when you all got back home?
Knuckles sighed and closed his eyes
(X) Knuckles: Tails destroyed it himselfā¦
(X) Blaze: But whyā¦?
(X) Knuckles: Cream did tell you she wasnāt the only one who grew attached to the Cosmo that traveled with us right? Tails very much grew close to her. During the final battle, she transformed into a tree that attached itself to the remaining Metarex leaders, and told Tails to shoot her with the shipās cannon. Knowing full well sheād likely die. And while circumstances have changed where thereās still hope for her to regenerate, for months we had thought she really had died. And Tails never wanted to see that room ever again. So he destroyed itā¦ to him, the cockpit of the Blue Typhoon becameā¦ and I quoteā¦ āThe room where I killed herā
Blaze stared solemnly, at the same time beginning to realize that she had overreacted towards Cream. A ship this huge, the damage the ship had taken, and the effect of Cosmoās ādeathā on others then Cream seemed to imply showed that Cream was never lying.
Blaze then sat down, and lowered her head
((Blaze sprite from a compiled/remixed sprite sheet by Sonic1093LQ))
(X) Blaze: Iā¦ Iām such an idiotā¦
(X) Knuckles: Hm?
(X) Blaze: If Cream wasnāt lying thenā¦ sighā¦ itās still too lateā¦ cause she wonāt forgive me for thinking sheās a liarā¦
Knuckles smiled
(X) Knuckles: I wouldnāt say that, Blaze. Cream will understand. Sheāll forgive you, thereās a lot of confusing things happening lately. And a Cosmo from a different universe showing up after what happened to our Cosmo definitely adds fuel to the fire.
Blaze still didnāt look too sure
(X) Blaze: I donāt knowā¦ even if she says that sheāll forgive meā¦ I donāt think I can forgive myselfā¦ it may be for the best, as we may never see eachother again after this is overā¦ But umā¦ you said that the Cosmo that Cream knew is regenerating?
(X) Knuckles: Yeah, itās sounding like the prevailing theory is that Sonic and Shadowās Chaos Regeneration did work. But sheās slowly growing back in the form of a seed. Sheās currently residing in the potted plant I told you about that is in Tailsā house.
Blaze nodded
(X) Blaze: I see nowā¦ (...Wait a moment, ifā¦ Cosmo is mostly a plantā¦ I remember a famous legend from the Plant Kingdom about the Sol Emeraldsā¦ maybe they couldā¦)
Blaze suddenly stood up fast, a smile on her face and her hands in confident fists.
(X) Blaze: I know how I can make everything right! And itāll be all the more reason to get all the Sol Emeralds back!
Knuckles crossed his arm and smiled
(X) Knuckles: Now thatās the spirit! From one emerald guardian to another, letās finish this!
Reinvigorated with purpose, Blaze and Knuckles leave the Blue Typhoon.
Meanwhile, with a string of many defeats to Sonic, Blaze, and others, X Eggman and Eggman Nega regrouped inside the launching pad for a space station that Eggmanās robots had been building since the two started plotting together. The station was meant to intimidate and hover above similar to the Death Egg from so long ago, all while the station also served as a lab of which Eggman and Eggman Nega worked together to build their ultimate creation. Of which Nega believed they had found a perfect power source.
(X) Eggman: Alright, alright, Negaā¦ Iām finally here. What is this so-called power source for Project Salamander youāve found?
Nega smirked
(X) Eggman Nega: It may not look like much, but sometimes good things are found in small packages. BEHOLD!
Eggman Nega swiftly moves to the side with a stretched arm presenting a small cylinder capsule containing a small potted plant with artificial sunlight shining down from inside.
X Eggman is initially unimpressed, not realizing the significance of it at first.
(X) Eggman: Our power source for the Egg Salamanderā¦ is a tiny plantā¦? You have to be kidding meā¦
(X) Eggman Nega: Donāt judge a book by its cover. This little plant was detected to have hidden depths of power on par with the Chaos Emeralds! And according to past logsā¦ your computers detected it.
(X) Eggman: What?! How dare you! You hacked into my past logs?! Without my permission?!
(X) Eggman Nega: Hehehehe, Iāve hacked into more than you knowā¦ but surely you trust me with this information. We are partnersā¦ are we not?
He trails those last three words rather sinisterly.
(X) Eggman: You could have asked first! If weāre partners, some solid communication is all Iām asking for!
Nega scowls
(X) Eggman Nega: Itās you who have been keeping secrets from meā¦ yes, I hacked into your systems recklessly. But I found outā¦ that youāve known about this small plant for long before we even met! And even detected the same high energy signal I saw! This was in the possession of one of your enemyās residences! Donāt you realize that they could have ended up using it against you if you had done nothing?! But now we can turn the tables!Ā
Eggman protested
(X) Eggman: Iām sure thereās a very good reason I chose to ignore it! What, do you think it will grow into an Eggman-eating-plant? I donāt care how much Chaos energy it has. Itās a plant! It wonāt move around unles-
Eggman suddenly has a realization
(X) Eggman: Waitā¦ Nega, you said it was found in the house of someone close to Sonicā¦?
Nega nodded
(X) Eggman Nega: According to your data, it belonged to the two-tailed fox. One of the kindergartners that you somehow lost the Egg King toā¦
Eggman turned pale, he knows what the plant is, or at least was. Heās also flashbacking to when his computers found the energy originally, he scoffed it as a computer glitch at first. But he had heard that Sonic and Shadow recovered just a seed in an attempt to save her during her sacrifice against the Metarex. Eggman may often be loud and proud to be evil, but he can be thankful for those who give the ultimate sacrifice to save the world he wishes to rule, or what was that caseā¦ the entire universe. Heās often respected Sonic and the others even after years of stopping his plans. And even Eggman felt sympathy for young Tails having to shoot someone he cared about. If maybe there was a fleeting moment where Eggman was concerned about the energy, he respected Sonicās youthful sidekick enough that he didnāt want to touch what was clearly a memorial to Cosmo.
He took another look at the cylinder in which the plant stood. And now noticed more than ever that it was the same exact plant he had checked that day. His mind froze, unsure of what to do from here.
Eggman Nega noticed the indecision from him, finding it suspicious.
(X) Eggman Nega: Whatās wrong? You look like youāve seen a ghost!
Eggman snapped out of it and shook his head
(X) Eggman: Umā¦ hold on, Negaā¦ before we use it for the Egg Salamanderā¦ can youā¦ let me study it? Entirely by myselfā¦ I just want to, er. double check if itāsā¦ proper for the machineā¦?
Nega raised an eyebrow
(X) Eggman Nega: And why exactly canāt I be there for your study?
Eggman frowned, and thought quickly of how to explain his thought process for taking it himself.
(X) Eggman: The plant is from my universe! Iāll be able to discover things faster, and Iāll report back to you as soon as I can!
He then walked over to the control panel to enter his password to free the plant.
(X) Eggman: Now if youāll excuse me, Iāll just take this an-
Computer: ACCESS DENIED
(X) Eggman: WHAT?! But I never changed the password!
Eggman Nega started snickering, before it bellowed out into a boisterous evil laugh.
(X) Eggman Nega: Hehehehehe, Sorryā¦ But everything you have is now under my control! And I have a suspicionā¦ that you were going to give the plant back to Sonic and the othersā¦ werenāt you?
Eggman backed away and waved his hands
(X) Eggman: N-n-nooo! I swear I w-wasnātā¦
(X) Eggman Nega: You clearly know something about the plant that I donātā¦ why donāt you enlighten me?
(X) Eggman: What? Me? Nooooā¦ itās just an ordinary plant! Maybe some chaos emerald dust got in its soil or somethingā¦ ahahahahaā¦
(X) Eggman Nega: I do not think mere dust could have such high reading signalsā¦ and these lies are so unbecoming of youā¦ Tell me the truth, what do you know of this plant?!
Eggman sighed
(X) Eggman: Fineā¦ do you remember what I told you about the Metarex?
(X) Eggman Nega: Mmmmhmmmmā¦
(X) Eggman: The umā¦ seed that this plant grew fromā¦ is all thatās left of a sentient plant girl. Who happened to be the same species as the Metarexās leaders. You actually have seen her briefly in a sense when you were at the Night Carnival, though not the same one obviouslyā¦Ā she was allies with Sonic sure, butā¦ without her, trees and non-sentient plants might have been all that was left of life. She gave up her life to prevent the end of the universe as we know itā¦
(X) Eggman Nega: Hmmā¦ intriguingā¦
(X) Eggman: ā¦Which is why I donāt think itāll be of any use to us. Itās simply all that remains of the hero that still left us with a world to conquer at some pointā¦ we shouldnāt desecrate it!
Nega crossed his arms and smirked.
(X) Eggman Nega: Do you really think I care about such frivolous moral rights as respecting the dead? If sheās gone, she wonāt be able to protest, and if itās at all useful to our plans we should use it! What youāve said has only sold me further on using this plant as a power source! If she had the power to prevent the death of the universeā¦ we could in turn use that same power to threaten the very universe! Just think about it for a moment! Whereās your scientific curiosity?! The potential is limitless!
Eggman clenched a fist
(X) Eggman: I may be a scientist, and an evil one at that even! But there are lines even I wonāt cross!
(X) Eggman Nega: And thatās why you were always so weakā¦
Eggman suddenly grabbed an offhand wrench, approaching the cylinder with the plant to try to quickly smash the glass and take the plant away.
(X) Eggman Nega: EGG PAWNS! STOP HIM!
A squad of Egg Pawns got in Eggmanās way just before he got close enough with the wrench.
(X) Eggman: Hey! I created all of you! In factā¦ override Negaās orders and attack HIM instead!
Eggman smiled, hoping for them to turn towards Nega. But nothing happened as they continually stared at their original creator. Eggman quickly realized Nega had taken control of his entire army. And seemingly even overridden his administrative recognition.
(X) Eggman Nega: Heheheheheā¦. everything that belongs to you is mine nowā¦ maybe soon youāll be seeing those annoying minions of yoursā¦
Eggman gasped
(X) Eggman: Waitā¦ are you telling meā¦ YOU were responsible for the destruction of Decoe, Bocoe, and Bokkunā¦?
(X) Eggman Nega: Oh no, theyāre not destroyed or at leastā¦ not at the time I saw themā¦ when I was traveling between the Sol Dimension and hereā¦ Iā¦ swapped places you could sayā¦ in theory they could still be functionalā¦ if a certain pirate I know hasnāt turned them into scrap by nowā¦ HEHEHEHEHEHEHEEEEEEEE
But yes, I lit fire to your base to mask the illusion that a certain pyrokinetic cat was responsibleā¦ but now that Iāve gotten access to your entire arsenalā¦ youāre as good as uselessā¦ or perhaps DEAD is the better answer! EGG PAWNS, DESTROY HIM!
On that cue Eggman ran, being chased by his own creations through the stationās hallways. Though a moment later, Nega facepalms
(X) Eggman Nega: Dang itā¦ I forgot he had the final few emeraldsā¦ no matterā¦ if his dumb robots fail to destroy him itāll just be all the more of a test for the Egg Salamanderā¦
He looks maliciously at the plant in the cylinder
(X) Eggman Nega: And you little girlā¦ are about to be my key to ruling the universe! HEHEHEHEHEHEHEEEEEEEEE!
Eggman managed to dodge traps along the hallways. While hiding, he managed to find a laser weapon as self defense. Shooting any egg pawns in his way, he finally got to the docking bay where his Eggmobile was stationed. He activated it and got himself out of the base. But he wasn't safe yet as the station's outer cannons began to fire at him as the space station also started to lift into the air. Eggman managed to expertly dodge most, but eventually a stray shot damaged the thrusters. And Eggman was forced to brace for a crash landingā¦
Not far off, Knuckles and Blaze were running together searching for Sonic and the others before a sudden shake on the ground spooked both of them. As they saw a ship in the shape of Eggmanās head begin to lift off. As well as the ships firingā¦ at what seemed to be Eggman himself?!
(X) Knuckles: Is that Dr. Eggman being attacked by his own ship?!
Blaze quickly deduced what was going on.
(X) Blaze: Eggman Nega must have decided he has no use for him anymore. Figures their egos would eventually butt heads.
They watched the smoke trail of the Eggmobile as it was sent down to crash-land.
(X) Knuckles: As much as he probably deserves it, I say we question him to see whatās going onā¦
Blaze and Knuckles ran to where they last saw the trailing smoke of the Eggmobile. As they approached the wreck of the small ship. Knuckles raised his fists in case Eggman tried to pull something.
(X) Knuckles: ā¦Eggman? Whatās going on here?
The doctor gasped, and seemed to be oddly happy to see the red echidna.
((Eggman sprite credited to FinalBeyond))
(X) Eggman: Knuckles! Am I so glad to see you! Always been the friend of Sonicās I can count on the most!
Knuckles crossed his arms and frowned
(X) Knuckles: ā¦You mean all those times you tricked me? Mr. āI was just about to consume this delicious banana!ā
Blaze tilted her head and raised an eyebrow
(X) Blaze: ā¦Do I want to know what that was about?
(X) Eggman: Blaze! Youāre here too! Also great! Becauseā¦ Iād like to apologizeā¦
This puzzled both Knuckles and Blaze
(X) Eggman: You werenāt the one who lit fire to my baseā¦ I know that nowā¦
Blaze just crossed her arms
(X) Blaze: I have been telling you that ever since the first time you attacked me! It took you this long to realize I didnāt do anything?!
(X) Eggman: Nega had a charisma about him that felt trustworthyā¦ I mean he did look like me after allā¦ but he was behind it all the entire timeā¦ heā¦ also told me that Decoe, Bocoe, and Bokkun were not destroyed but rather sent to the Sol Dimensionā¦ though who knows if theyāve survived this long over thereā¦ But regardless! He tried to kill me! He has control of my entire army! And heās gone insane! I need the both of you, Sonic, and all of the rest of your furry friends to do what you always did against me against him!
Knuckles snarked
(X) Knuckles: Sounds like you know now how itās like to get tricked! Hahahaha!
Eggman grumbled
(X) Eggman: Grrrr, laugh all you want Knucklesā¦ but perhaps I should have led with the fact I have something for Blaze that might convince you for sure that I want Nega taken down now!
(X) Blaze: Huh? Something for me?
Eggman put a hand into his pocket and took out the final 2 Sol Emeralds, and tossed them into Blaze's claws.
(X) Eggman: For you, Blaze. I still had these with me while escaping. You should now have all the Sol Emeralds!
Blaze gasped
(X) Blaze: Wait, youāre serious?!
Eggman simply nodded, and also pulled out a purple Chaos Emerald, tossing it over into Knucklesā gloves.
(X) Eggman: I also have the last Chaos Emerald for Sonic and something dire to tell Tailsā¦
Knuckles stood there stunned.
(X) Knuckles: Well thenā¦ I suppose that's proof enough that youāre on our side this timeā¦ but donāt you think about using this particular time to trick me the next time! Iāll be watching you!
(X) Eggman: Of course, of course! (No promises on that, however!)
Blaze got an idea, pulling out a piece of strong rope.
(X) Blaze: Letās use this to cuff Eggmanās hands. Sonic and the others will probably be more receptive to talking with Eggman if they believe heās our prisoner.
(X) Knuckles: Good idea.
Eggman actually let them tie his hands without resistance, completely willing to comply with Sonic and the others until Nega was defeated. And should he happen to be tossed into a prison cellā¦ he knows heād find a way out, somehow.
(X) Blaze: I guess now we should try to find Sonicā¦
She lowered her head
(X) Blaze: And Cream as wellā¦
Eggman seemed confused
(X) Eggman: Wait, I thought you two were tight friends by now? Am I wrong?
(X) Knuckles: She and Cream had a bit of a falling out due to a misunderstanding. If you talked with Sonic at all at any recent point you know that other Cosmo that appeared out of nowhere? Blaze assumed she was the Cosmo that went into space with us, and thus she thought Cream had been faking her death all for sympathy points.
(X) Eggman: Ohā¦ well that would have made kidnapping Cream awkwardā¦ Blaze might not have even shown up!
Blaze gasped
(X) Blaze: You were going to use Cream as a hostage all to fight me again?! Why do that to such a little girl?!
(X) Eggman: Hey, I might not be Nega level evil. But Iām still evil! It wouldnāt have even been the first time I kidnapped Cream!
(X) Knuckles: I sure hope unlike last time you kidnapped her Chaos Control doesnāt warp us againā¦
Blaze raised an eyebrow
(X) Blaze: It sure sounds like you and the others have been through some strange adventuresā¦
(X) Knuckles: You donāt even know the half of itā¦
Blaze, Knuckles, and Eggman then traveled together to catch up with Sonic and the others.
X Sonic had just returned with the 6th Chaos Emerald, the light blue one, and he had just heard what X Tails, CHZ Cosmo, Amy, and Team Chaotix did while they were gone.
(X) Sonic: Way to go everyone! Iām quite proud all of you put one-up on Eggman while I got the emerald! Especially you, best buddy!
He patted Tails on the head, with the little fox smiling pridefully.
(X) Sonic: So Cosmo, now that we only have one emerald left. Do you know where the last one will be?
CHZ Cosmo jogged her memory a bit
(CHZ) Cosmo: Wellā¦ the awkward thing is the last one was on a big space station that lookedā¦
She looked up in the sky, and gasped.
(CHZ) Cosmo: Exactly like that!
Sure enough, far up in the distance was a purple ship in the shape of Eggmanās face floating high up in the sky.
(X) Sonic: Ha! Right on cue, we can use the X Tornado to get up there! Isnāt that right, Tails?
(X) Tails: You bet!
(X) Amy: And me and Cream can provide supporting fire with our spaceships as you head on the way there!
(X) Cream: Iāll gladly help out the best I canā¦ although, I do need to check up with my mother so she knows Iām ok. My spaceship is in the garage anyway, so I need to get home regardlessā¦
(CHZ) Cosmo: Of course, Cream. I do suggest you have someone to go with you though. I donāt know if Eggman might try to take you again.
Vector enthusiastically raised his hand
(X) Vector: Ooh! Ooh! Me and the boys will gladly escort Cream back home! Pick me!
Espio deadpanned
(X) Espio: Youāre just volunteering because you know this means you get to see Vanilla againā¦ arenāt you?
(X) Charmy: Youāre so predictableā¦
(X) Vector: Shuuuuuusshhhhhh!
Cream giggled
(X) Cream: Ok! You three can go with me!
Vector couldn't contain his excitement
(X) Vector: Hooorraaaaaaaaaaay!
He picked up Cream and Cheese, and placed them on top of his head.
(X) Vector: To Ms. Vanillaās abode! Post-haste!
(X) Cream: Iāll be back soon everyone!
Cream and Team Chaotix left the group, while the rest started towards Tailsā house. Though on the way there. they are found by Knuckles and Blaze, with Eggman in tow.
(X) Knuckles: Yo! Sonic, Tails, Amy, and Cosmo!
(X) Sonic: Hey Knuckles! ā¦And Blazeā¦? AND EGGMAN?! Please donāt tell me Eggman tricked you into doing something for him againā¦
Amy had already drawn her hammer in anticipation for Eggman trying something funny
(X) Blaze: Hold on everyoneā¦ Eggman surrendered to me and Knuckles. As you can see, his hands are tiedā¦
Eggman turned around to show that a rope was wrapped tight around his gloves. He then turned around to face Sonic.
(X) Eggman: Iāll understand any skepticism any of you show, but I have no means to attack even if I wanted to! Whatās moreā¦ youāre probably looking for the last Chaos Emerald.
(X) Sonic: Hmmph, are we going to have to make you talk to tell us where it is?
(X) Knuckles: Thereās no need, Sonic. He actually gave me the last emerald as he surrendered.
Knuckles pulled out the purple Chaos Emerald, the last one they needed. Sonic, Tails, Amy, and Cosmo all gasped. Though before they could celebrate, Sonic began to wonder something.
(X) Sonic: How do you know that this isnāt a fake emerald? After all, we tried that trick on him during the ARK. Not to mention he could have studied the Metarexās own fake emeralds to make his own!
(CHZ) Cosmo: Well, wonāt all you have to do is check how it responds to the other 6? Just make sure the emeralds donāt activate before Sonic needs to become Super Sonicā¦
Sonic put the six he had on the ground and Knuckles kept hold of the seventh. Sure enough, they glowed identically, seeming to confirm that this was the real one.
(X) Tails: Seems like itās true, Eggman has given us the final emerald!
(X) Eggman: Hmmph, all of you sure have trust issuesā¦
Knuckles deadpanned
(X) Knuckles: You think?!
(X) Blaze: Eggman also gave me the last two Sol Emeralds. So our quest is complete now, I supposeā¦
(X) Sonic: I guess thatās proof enough that Eggman is helping usā¦ but why?
Eggmanās face turned serious
(X) Eggman: Nega betrayed me, he took over my army, he revealed HE was the one that sent Bocoe, Decoe, and Bokkun awayā¦ andā¦ Tailsā¦ Iām afraid I have some bad news for youā¦
The young fox gasped, worried about exactly what Eggman had to tell him.
(X) Eggman: The plant you have back homeā¦ the seedling that represents the memory of the Cosmo that sacrificed herself for us allā¦ was taken by Negaā¦ as a new power source for the Egg Salamanderā¦
Tails immediately froze up, his pupils shrunk to nearly the size of a millimeter.
(X) Tails: W-w-w-whatā¦
The rest of the group also gasped.
(X) Amy: Oh no! Not our Cosmo!
(CHZ) Cosmo: P-p-p-power source?!
(X) Sonic: Noā¦ Tailsā¦
Sonic immediately walked over to Tailsā side. Knowing he wasnāt going to take this well.
(X) Tails: Noā¦ nononoā¦ NO NO NO NO NOOOOOO! YOU HAVE TO BE LYING! THIS BETTER BE JUST ANOTHER OF YOUR LIES!
The doctor lowered his head
(X) Eggman: Iād like to say I amā¦ listen, I tried to get it backā¦
(X) Tails: SHEāS NOT AN IT! THAT PLANT IS HER, EGGMAN!
(X) Eggman: Whoa hey! I didnāt mean anything by that! But what do you mean that the plant IS her? Just in a metaphorical sense orā¦
(CHZ) Cosmo: Doctorā¦ the plant is this universeās incarnation of me thoroughly and literally. She has been slowly regenerating herself this entire time. Sonic and Shadow were actually successful in saving her, but itāll still take a whileā¦ and thatāsā¦ assuming the plant stays healthy and safe...
Eggman gasped
(X) Eggman: Ifā¦ thatās the caseā¦ thenā¦ her lifeā¦ may yet againā¦ be in dangerā¦
Tails eyes welled up with tears, and he turned his back, before he began to sprint back home. To see for himself if it was really true.
(X) Sonic and (CHZ) Cosmo: Taaaaaaails!
Knuckles, Blaze, Amy, and Eggman stayed behind, Amyās hands covering her mouth.
(X) Amy: Thisā¦ t-this is a-awfulā¦
Blaze was distraught too, the plant was supposed to be her way of making things up fully with Cream. But Nega just had to ruin her plan.Ā
After a long moment of silence, Blaze turned to Amy.
(X) Blaze: Do you know where Cream wentā¦? I was expecting her to still be with all of youā¦ I want to apologize for myā¦ assumptions earlierā¦ I was wrong to yell at herā¦
Amy nodded and understood
(X) Amy: Cream went back home, sheās being escorted by a trio of friendly detectives we know. Before Eggman showed up with the final Chaos Emerald. We were going to take our spaceships to help Sonic get the last emerald ourselvesā¦
(X) Blaze: Ah, I seeā¦ I donāt know if sheāll forgive me in turnā¦ or if I even deserve toā¦ butā¦
(X) Amy: But nothing! Cream will absolutely forgive you! Youāll be tight again with her soon! Sometimes friends get upset with each other, and thatās ok! Though for now, our priority should beā¦ finding a way to save our Cosmoā¦ if we canā¦
(X) Blaze: I agreeā¦
At Tailsā house,Ā Tails has reached his front door with Sonic and CHZ Cosmo close behind. Tails immediately checked the window he left Cosmoā¦ and it was true. She wasnāt there, and it absolutely shattered him inside. He fell to his knees, began to bang the floor with his fists, and his eyes were a fountain of tears. As if he was back in the depressive state he was when he still thought his Cosmo was dead. For all he knew, she might already be dead for real.
X Sonic and CHZ Cosmo approached the very upset fox cautiously. Not saying a word, but were there for support if he needed it.
(X) Tails: Iā¦ I failed herā¦ WHY DIDNāT I THINK TO HIDE HER?! I was so excited that she wasnāt actually gone that Iā¦ forgot how much of a target that energy she still had might beā¦! This is all my faultā¦ A-a-a-and n-nowā¦ I MAY NEVER GET HER B-B-BACK!
He continued to sob, the carpet below him becoming soaked from his tears.
Tails then looked up towards Sonic.
(X) Tails: Itā¦ has a possibility of happening a-again doesnāt itā¦ with our Cosmo being a power source for Eggman Negaās machineā¦ it might mean weāre weighing Cosmoās life and/or our universeā¦ youāll even be Super Sonic againā¦ ITāS SOUNDING ALL TOO FAMILIAR! I-I-I-I CANāT TAKE IT! I DONāT WANT TO POSSIBLY SEE HER DIE AGAIN! Or I suppose more accuratelyā¦ for real this timeā¦
Tails finally stood up again, but only to walk towards his desk and lay his head on it
(X) Tails: Just goā¦ Sonicā¦ do what you have to doā¦
Sonic could only look at his best friend with concern, though even he knew there was a chance that he might have to destroy the Egg Salamander while X Cosmo was still powering it if it was the only way to save both dimensions. He almost wanted to tell Tails if there was an opportunity, heād try to ensure her safety. But he also knew he couldn't promise that. That was what hurt the most, he couldnāt assure him that it might end any differently than the last time their Cosmo was attached to the current threat. He walked out of the room, not saying a word, leaving only CHZ Cosmo and X Tails there.
There was silence for a little while before CHZ Cosmo attempted to comfort Tails.
(CHZ) Cosmo: Tai-
But she was quickly interrupted.
(X) Tails: I appreciate everything youāve tried to doā¦ butā¦ even if you look just like herā¦ sound like herā¦ I have to consider you a different person. Pleaseā¦ just leave me be. Seeing you only makes this hurt all the more worseā¦ Iām sure the other me thatās looking for you will find youā¦ and you can proceed to have the life togetherā¦ Iāll probably never haveā¦
It broke CHZ Cosmo's heart to see this universeās Tails like this again. But she respected his wishes and backed away. Closing the door, and heading out of the house. Sonic had already ran back to prepare to face Eggman Nega. While CHZ Cosmo thought to herself while outside Tailsā home.
(CHZ) Cosmo: (I gotta think of somethingā¦ and quickā¦)
She thought over what she had learned about this universe since she got here, and any recent events that could help save this universeās incarnation of her. She gasped, as if having thought of something that might just save both the day and X Tailsā heart.
(CHZ) Cosmo: (Unlike in my universe, this universeās Eggman is now actively helping us against Eggman Negaā¦ he helped build the Egg Salamander, maybe he knows a design flaw or some other way we can extract the other me out before Sonic and Blaze have to destroy the machine! I need to get Eggman over here now!)
Reinvigorated with hope, CHZ Cosmo ran back to where Knuckles, Blaze, Amy, and Eggman were. She is determined to help this universeās Tails, and the other her, have the chance to reunite one day to be in true love...
