Welcome to Chapter four. I know I promised a bit more action but as it turned out it didn't fit the story to have everything happen here.

The strengths of love and friendship

Chapter four, The strengths of love

[At green hill

Tails arrived panting and sweating. Following Sonic was not simple. Had it not been for the fact Tails had been here countless times he would never have found the place.

Tails stopped and gasped, his mouth hanging open in amazement and disbelief.

Everyone was there: Sonic, Knuckles, Amy (who had attached herself to Sonic like a leach. Seemingly trying to squeeze him to death). Cream and Cheese were standing with Vanilla, Rouge and the Chaotix. Even Eggman was with them (wearing a three piece suit in a vain attempt to look formal).

They all had strange looks on their faces, some of pity, some of sadness and some of disgust.

In the centre of the group was the Master Emerald, surrounded by the Chaos Emeralds and a number of small, white seeds placed in an unnaturally neat circle.

A long silence followed, which Sonic broke.

"So Tails" He said cheerily "I guess you're wandering what this is all about?"

"Well, yeah" Confirmed Tails "What are all those seeds?"

"All in good time pal" Said Knuckles as he and Sonic began to tell their tale.

Flashback

Sonic was lying back against a tree, dozing quietly and thinking back over the events of the pas few weeks.

He had his regrets for what had happened: that time he'd lost his temper and for a brief moment become dark, the second loss of Shadow, all the planets they'd been too late to save.

But Sonic's biggest regret was the death of Cosmo. He wasn't particularly sad over the loss of her, (he hadn't really bonded with her) but for Tails.

Sonic hadn't understood how much Tails had cared for her until the end, when he'd given his friend the only thing they found of her… A seed.

Suddenly a blinding light appeared out of nowhere.

Sonic leaped to his feet, ready to defend himself from whatever was going on.

The light diminished and a glowing figure was clearly visible, all but her eyes a pure white.

"Cosmo" Sonic said in disbelief "is that you? What's going on?"

"Sonic" said Cosmo. A light echo in her voice. "I have been given one contact with life and am using it to talk to you".

"But why me?" asked Sonic "surely you should be talking to Tails, he needs this the most?

"Yes he dose" admitted Cosmo "but I have seen the future and need your help to prevent what I have seen"

"Sure but… What future events?" questioned Sonic.

"Roughly five months from now, Tails' depression will get to him and he will…" Cosmo cut off and began to cry "He will kill himself! Oh Sonic! It's all my fault!" she collapsed with tears.

Sonic was shocked "but how can I stop that happening?"

Cosmo took a deep breath "revive me Sonic, find the eighty seeds I spread around the galaxy and use them to bring me back. If you do you'll ultimately stop an even bigger disaster."

"But how will I know where to look?"

"Follow your heart, you have the same connection to the seeds as you do with the Chaos Emeralds" Cosmo explained.

"Great!" cried Sonic "I'll get Tails and Knuckles and we'll be on our way".

Cosmo shook her head "Knuckles can go with you, but Tails must not know what you're doing, the trek is too dangerous for him in the state he's in".

"I understand" said Sonic and with a thumbs up, he turned to find Knuckles"

"Sonic wait!" Cosmo called after him.

He turned "what is it?"

Cosmo raised her hands and two beams of light flew out. They hit Sonic in the hands, burning a small circle in each glove.

Sonic looked at his hands, there were two black circles on them.

"What did you just do?" Sonic asked in surprise.

"I have given you new strength" explained Cosmo "now you can fire energy from you hands, similar to what Shadow dose.

Sonic held out his right hand and pointed it skywards, instinctually knowing what he had to do.

"Chaos Beam!" he yelled and a beam of pure energy exploded from his hand with so much force Sonic almost fell backwards.

Cosmo smiled.. "Thank you" she whispered. And with that, she disappeared.

[Present day

Sonic finished his tale to shocked expressions from all but Knuckles, Rouge and Eggman.

"And that's where we've been all this time" commented Rouge "Sonic and Knucky have been finding the seeds and I've been looking for the Emeralds."

"But how have you been travelling space?" asked Tails.

Eggman coughed.

Tails Amy and the Chaotix turned in surprise.

"You mean you've been helping them?" Vector asked in astonishment.

"Well…" Eggman looked for the right words. "With tails out of the game, I had nobody worth competing against" he paused to finger his moustache "and well… I guess I kind of like the kid and felt sorry for him" he admitted..

Tails was amazed "thanks Eggman" he half stammered.

Eggman gave his trademark grin and laughed "Don't get used to it fox boy".

"So buddy" Sonic cut in before an argument could start. "Ready to bring your true love back?"

Sonic said the words 'true love' in Tails' ear so nobody else could hear. He accompanied it with a cocky "I promise I won't tell them".

Tails blushed "You bet I am!" he cheered…

Ok. I promise the next chapted will have a bit more intresting stuff happen. Keep up the R&R