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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-no… I’m c-clearly seeing t-t-things…. (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 universe’s Tails. With a look of concern, she simply says his name.

(CHZ) Cosmo: Tails…?

Hearing her say his name only irked X Tails more.

(X) Tails: G-g-g-g-go away! I-i-i… k-know you’re just some kind of c-cruel daydream or a m-mirage! The moment I think you’re back, you’ll just disappear! Don’t 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 side… compels him to tackle hug her to the ground.

(X) Tails: C-C-C-C-COSMO! YOU’RE BACK! I DON’T KNOW HOW, BUT I DON’T CARE! I SWEAR I’LL 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 isn’t the Cosmo he knew. But it’d be worse to pretend as if she was her counterpart not just for this Tails’ 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: What’s wrong, Cosmo? Aren’t you… happy to be back?

(CHZ) Cosmo: sigh LIsten, Tails… I’m not a daydream, mirage, or anything like that… I promise that I am really here… but… the thing is, when you say that I’m ‘back’. I do not know what exactly I came back from!

X Tails gasps

(X) Tails: You… d-d-d-don’t 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: (Did… she lose her memory? Like… ugh… Shadow after his “resurrection”? Wait a moment…) 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 them… then you should have forgotten all about me and everyone else too… this doesn’t make any sense…

Tails thinks for a moment, and soon thinks of a strong possibility, but is admittedly a little scared to ask.

(X) Tails: Um… Cosmo… how… how did you end up here, and most importantly… how did you know my name?

CHZ Cosmo sighed

(CHZ) Cosmo: I entered… some kind of portal… I uh… saw you crying on Sonic's shoulder from the other side, and couldn’t resist wanting to help… so I went in. And I knew your name… 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.

Tails’ heart sank. This confirmed his theory, as bitter as it was. It brings to mind the transport machine that sent him and the others’ from Chris’s world back here.

(X) Tails: Of course… of course there has to be a catch… WHAT ELSE DOES THE UNIVERSE WANT TO DO WITH ME, HUH?! Tease me with the thought that someone I loved was back… only for it not to be the one I knew! WHILE THE ONE I DID KNOW STILL IS… S-S-S-STILL IS…

It looks like he’s about to break down again when CHZ Cosmo embraces him again.

(X) Tails: L-l-l-let go! You shouldn’t need to care for me! There’s 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 couldn’t bear seeing you in a state that I had never seen my universe’s Tails be in.

Plus, the portal was shrinking and I didn’t have much time to decide whether to help or stay put. I had to know what was wrong…

I guess by now, I’ve heard the jist of it, so… my counterpart sacrificed her life to save this universe from whatever the Metarex was… I hope I’m not at risk of opening a sore wound, even if my appearance might be doing so already… but, do you think… 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 isn’t sure he wants to go down the memory lane. But even if he knows now this isn’t his Cosmo, seeing her face again was enough for him to feel so much better than he was just minutes ago.

(X) Tails: Ok… but… just a heads up, it’s a long story… and… while the universe was saved in the end thanks to yo- or, I’m sorry… the other you… It’s far from a happy one…

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 course… his Cosmo’s 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. And… her father was the leader.

(CHZ) Cosmo: (Everyone… Galaxina, Mother… and all those innocent planets… how… how could my father… have done such a thing?! He… he wasn’t planning to do the same thing in my universe… was he…? If… I get back, no… when I get back… I’m sure Blaze, Tails, and Cream are looking for me at this very moment… I have to ask my mother about this…)

Tears in her eyes she looks up at X Tails

(CHZ) Cosmo: …And I thought Green Gate and my kind had it rough in my universe. I… i-i-i don’t know what I would have done if I had been through everything your Cosmo went through… it’s a miracle she didn’t give in to despair!

(X) Tails: Wait, something happened to your kind in your universe too?

(CHZ) Cosmo: Not to the extent that happened here… but yes, a monstrous army called the Black Arms attacked our planet and wiped out about half of us… many family friends as well as my father perished. I still don’t like talking about it… but compared to my counterpart from here… I can breathe some relief that it wasn’t nearly THAT bad… for one, my mother and Galaxina are still very much alive. Although, my Mother didn’t exactly come out unscathed…

X Tails walks closer and gives CHZ Cosmo a hug

(X) Tails: Maybe you didn’t go through the same things that my Cosmo did… 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 deserved…

CHZ Cosmo smiled

(CHZ) Cosmo: Thank you, Tails… 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 together… you’ve both gone through and seen things that you shouldn’t have had to see. Both you and her deserved so much better…

X Tails’ eyes filled up with tears

(X) Tails: T-t-t-t-thank y-y-you… that means a lot to me...

While they hug once more, Cosmo notices something about Tails’ appearance that got overlooked during this confusing meeting.

(CHZ) Cosmo: Oh no! I’m so sorry, I just realized the bandage on your head. Were you hurt recently?

X Tails blinked

(X) Tails: Oh, this? No… 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 Typhoon… and well… after what happened. I came across it again, and put it back on my head. Not as a bandage this time, but… as a memento of her....

(CHZ) Cosmo: I see… although, are you aware… that there’s a possibility that you’re 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 ‘dresses’ are actually part of our body. Coincidentally enough, I’ve done the same thing for my Tails.

Tails lowers his head

(X) Tails: Did… did she hurt herself doing that?

(CHZ) Cosmo: If it’s like in my universe, then she should have felt no pain whatsoever. It grows back much like hair or fur. But again, I don’t know for sure if that’s the same here. I… apologize if I made what was simply a precious memento of her awkward or even a little morbid…

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 me…

She had always been willing to sacrifice something for others… up to, and including her life… as we found out…

I know our meeting’s a little awkward, talking about another you... But even if you aren’t exactly her, it does kind of feel like I fulfilled a wish of seeing her one last time…

(CHZ) Cosmo: On that note… is it alright if I… um… took a closer look at the seedling that was left from the other me? Maybe even… hold it?

X Tails blinked again, one Cosmo wanting to hold what’s 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 it’s ok for one Cosmo to fully explore what happened to another. He thinks for a moment before ultimately shrugging.

(X) Tails: I don’t 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 doesn’t 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 it’s pure white.

X Tails reacts in shock

(X) Tails: Hey now! What’s 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: It’s nothing to worry about, Tails… my amulet is just reacting to the plant’s life force… although…

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.

(X) Tails: What does this mean?!

(CHZ) Cosmo: I-i-i-i-i’m not sure! I have never felt such a lifeforce before! Or at least certainly not one from a plant this small! It’s 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: I’m… fine. But whew… I’m serious. I've never felt anything quite like it…

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 I’m from a different universe, so any theory I might have might be totally off base from this reality.

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 it’s fully grown?

Tails thought to himself for a moment. Admittedly through all this grieving, he’s never imagined what the seed Cosmo left would eventually become. Or at least he certainly doesn’t 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 it’ll just be some kind of tree and nothing more. Something to… 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 that’s 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 shot… but it could be a fully new seed that grows up into a kind of… offspring from her? It’d be our duty to protect the new last member of Cosmo’s species… it’d be a bit awkward though, if I’m expected to be the father…? Might be a little too soon for me, I’m not even 10 yet!

CHZ Cosmo thinks over both of Tails possibilities.

(CHZ) Cosmo: While I can’t directly refute both of those possibilities. Especially since again, this is a different universe. But… I’ll tell you this. I’ve 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 it’ll be a newborn once this plant fully grows…

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: I’ll 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 she’s 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?! SHE’S... NOT GONE?! I. I-i-i-i don’t know if I can bring myself to believe that…

(CHZ) Cosmo: As you’ve told me while recapping her ‘death', you saw her become a tree. In certain circumstances, we’re also capable of reverting to a seed form. But it’s 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.

Now… 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 Cosmo’s mind

(CHZ) Cosmo: That explains it… 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 hands 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 it’s 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 you’re waiting for that day. I can’t promise it’ll be anytime soon, and it may very well take until you’re as old as Sonic is or even longer. But have faith, Tails. You’ll 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 then… another Cosmo? For the first time in a long time, he sheds no tear of sorrow or mourning. But tears of joy, even if it’s still strange that it took meeting a different Cosmo from another universe 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 you’re right! But… it sounds probable! Maybe Chaos Regeneration did work! It’s just slower than we expected… thank you so much, Cosmo… 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 haven’t heard your voice sound this chipper in so long! What’s the occasion?

(X) Tails: Just get back here, and you’ll 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 don’t suppose you were happy because you found some important information for me did you?

(X) Tails: Sadly, I don’t think it has anything to do with the current situation. But just get over here! There’s someone here you gotta see!

(X) Sonic: …Wait, it’s not that purple cat girl is it?

(X) Tails: Nope, again. I don’t think they have any relation with what’s going on.

CHZ Cosmo gasped

(CHZ) Cosmo: (Wait… purple cat girl? Is Blaze already here to take me back home? …And oh no, did Eggman Nega follow her here?! I better wait until this universe’s Sonic is here so I can get a better picture of just what’s going on here…)

(X) Sonic: Well, in any case. I’ll 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 universe’s Cosmo. He lifts the pot with one hand, and looks at it with a relieved smile.

(X) Tails: (I should have known you’d pull through. I promise you, Cosmo… I’ll work to see you again no matter how long it takes!)

TO BE CONTINUED...

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