Another one for you all! Hope you enjoy it!

The strengths of love and friendship

Chapter Fourteen, Wounds no magic can heal

The Tester stood silent, if looks could kill Sonic and Shadow would have dropped stone cold before they had time to blink. The cat looked as though he was going to go for their throats.

"How?" He half spat at them, "how did you win? How could they WIN!". The Tester's anger was so heartfelt and strong that it seemed to overpower him. His fur stood on end and his fists were clenched.

Shadow stood his ground, looking at the cat with his usual cold frown and red eyes. "You know the deal cat" he said plainly "We won fair and square, now bring them back. Every one of them!". Shadow's voice was the essence of calm, he spoke as though he was talking to a small child who had been caught stealing sweets and not a creature who could kill him with a wave of his hand.

The Tester sighed heavily "I suppose I have no choice. I allowed you to take the Trial on behalf of the fox and you triumphed and therefore I shall comply". The Tester raised his arms and as he did so the spears containing Cosmo, Knuckles and Tikal dissipated and the trio dropped to the ground. With a second motion the scrapes and bruises that covered Sonic, Shadow and Knuckles faded away, leaving them completely devoid of blemishes and fully healed.

Sonic still wasn't happy though, he fixed the Tester with blazing emerald eyes "Well?" he said simply.

"Well what?" The Tester retorted. "I have held up my end of the bargain, you are healed and your friends are returned, so what is it you want?". A smirk crept onto his face as he worked it out. "Oh, the fox!" he laughed "That wasn't in the sdeal. The deal was that if you won the plant would live, I never ones mentioned Miles".

"His name is TAILS!" Sonic threw himself at the cat, only to be instantly repelled. The Tester lifted Sonic into the air the same way he had held Tails before his death.

"You dare to attack me?" He growled. "You are no better then the fox and you shall die in the same way" He raised his free hand and Sonic's life flashed before his eyes for the third time in as many minutes.

"Wait!". The one word stopped the Tester in his tracks and he turned to see Cosmo standing before him, tears welling up in her eyes. "Please don't do this. You already killed Tails, don't kill Sonic too!". She was crying freely now, her blue eyes glazed over completely.

Even the Tester was troubled by the sight. "But you are alive and your wounds have been healed, for what reason are you crying child? Tell me" his voice sounded genuinely caring. "Tell me" he repeated softly.

Cosmo could barley speak. "I'm crying because I still have a wound and so does Sonic. It's a wound that no amount of magic or power can heal because it's not a physical wound. The wound is in our hearts and only one thing can heal it… please… bring T-Tails, b-b-bring him". Cosmo couldn't continure, she collapsed on the floor, her sobs uncontrollable.

The Tester was taken by surprise at her answer and laid Sonic gently back on his feet. The cat walked slowly towards Cosmo and crouched beside her. "Please…" he spoke gently for once, a natural purr in his voice. "Please stop this crying. Any wound that can be felt by the heart is a wound that should never be permitted to bleed" he sighed "So I shall return young Tails to you but please know this:; I shall revive him of my own accord, it is not allowed by the rules of the Trials. I am not a bad person, this merely my purpose."

The Tester smiled at Cosmo who wrapped him in a brief yet tight hug. "Thank you" she whispered and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand "thank you so much".

With yet another wave a light appeared and vanished. In it's place stood a small animal, an animal with a button nose and sapphire blue eyes, an animal whom was the remedy to the broken heart of Cosmo and the saddening of Sonic's.

Cosmo ran forward and grabbed the young fox in a tight hug. "Tails!" she cried joyfully. Her eyes glazed over again, only this time with tear of joy not sorrow. In front of all around the areana, she kissed him.

Well that's it for another chapter! R&R if you would be so kind. I think the next installment will be the last, so thank you so much to everyone who's followed so patiently and don't forget to reccoment it to your friends!