Chapter 3: A Winter Miracle

"Cosmo, you can transform and pass through the gravity field. In your new form, you will be like me. Your destiny will be fulfilled. You have the power to stop the Metarex and save our universe." Earthia, Cosmo's mother, whispered.

Cosmo's voice echoed into Sonic's ears, "It's alright. I have them immobilized. Now you'll be able to destroy the Metarex and save the galaxy. Don't worry about me. Just fire the Power Cannon now."

In the Blue Typhoon, a single tear fell on the ground. Now that he was alone, Tails hesitated before pressing a button, pulling up the targeting computer. His hand was on the trigger, but it grieved him to pull it.

Three Weeks Earlier

"Let's go."

The alien Metarex fleet, overseen by the giant Dark Oak, prepared for take-off. Their destination? Mobius. They had made a deal with a scientist, where they would help him build the Ultimate Lifeform, so long as he paid up. Pay, he didn't. This infuriated the Metarex so much they prepared for interstellar war.

They took off for Mobius. Arriving through a rift in seconds, the Metarex waged war on the people of the planet below. Unfortunately for them, the people had been warned. That scientist, Dr. Ivo Robotnik, reluctantly teamed up with his biggest enemies to take down the Metarex and Dark Oak.

How did they plan to do that? They build a massive spaceship, dubbed the Blue Typhoon, and met the Metarex in the sky, where they fought. The Metarex were made up of Seedrians, one of whom was Cosmo. She was young, and did not want to fight the Mobians. Upon discovering this, the self-proclaimed 'Sonic Heroes' took her in.

Cosmo and Tails bonded quickly, spending much of their time on the ship together. Unfortunately, all was about to change. It was discovered that Cosmo had a unique ability that allowed her to take down Dark Oak, thus scaring the Metarex away, if she utilized the power of the seven Chaos Emeralds. However, this would result in her death. It wasn't any easy decision, but she knew it must be done.

Now

"Tails, we must act immediately! Prepare to fire the cannon at my command!" Robotnik shouted over the radio.

The Sonic Power Cannon rose from within the ship, and Sonic jumped into it.

"Sonic Power Cannon, fire!" Robotnik shouted.

"Roger!" Tails responded. His command said one thing, but his mind and body.. his heart.. screamed another. He tried to pull the trigger, but couldn't bring himself to kill the one he loved most.

"Tails, I know this is difficult, but the galaxy is in danger, and time is running out! You must fire now!"

"I-I" Tails stuttered, "I can't.. what about Cosmo..?"

"She knows what she's doing. Cosmo is carrying out her destiny. She was meant to save the galaxy, and we have to help her."

"But you're my friend, Cosmo. I'm sorry, but I just can't do it!"

The spirit of Cosmo reappeared in front of Tails, "Trust me, Tails... You have to fire. It's the only way to save all of us."

"I trust you... but you mean a lot to me... I don't wanna lose you, Cosmo."

"You won't, Tails. You'll defeat the Metarex, and spread the seeds of my clan through the galaxy."

"I believe in you, Cosmo."

The Metarex had discovered Angel Island's Master Emerald and attacked it. They wanted to access whatever was within, and Cosmo was the key to stopping them. She had magical yet natural properties that allowed her to send them back to their own dimension.

The problem was that Tails had fallen in love with Cosmo.

"Your friendship has meant a lot to me. I wish we could spend more time together, but I understand; this is your only hope to save the galaxy and bring your clan back. I'm sure your seeds will find a place to grow and find a new home. Good luck, Cosmo, and goodbye."

Tails opened the safety and pressed the button, firing Super Sonic at Dark Oak, the lord of the Metarex.. and Cosmo. The blast was so strong that it destroyed the Sonic Power Cannon and the shockwave threw the Blue Typhoon back slightly.

Super Sonic managed to completely destroy Dark Oak, and the Metarex once and for all. While he had survived, Cosmo had not. The Chaos Emeralds were sent spiraling across the planet's atmosphere, and Cosmo was fatally injured.

Cosmo's spirit floated around before vanishing, whispering, "Thank you, Tails. I'll never forget you. I love you."

Six Months Later

Snow fell gently down to the streets of Station Square in the waning hours of another December evening. A myriad of Mobian shoppers ran to and fro in a frantic search to find the best deals, the cutest decorations, or that video game system their child just had to have in one of the various shops that were lined up and down virtually every street.

In the middle of all this hustle and bustle, a somewhat small kit wearing a purple winter coat and a fluffy hat, one of the nice ones with a bobble on, weaved between shoppers, desperately trying to keep his grip on the plethora of shopping bags he had his arms around. Bells from within the bags jingled as he dodged his way down the sidewalk, their rhythmic ringing being interrupted every time he bumped into someone.

"Whoops! Excuse me, ma'am," Miles apologized as he knocked into yet another female mobian, "Kinda having a little trouble keeping all these things balanced, you see. Heh..."

Despite his seemingly childish personality remaining as bright as ever, inside it had been overshadowed by a much more depressing emotion. Grief. It had been six months since the loss of the one he loved most, but he still couldn't seem to cope with it. He told himself that she wasn't gone, that she was fine, but deep down he knew that he would never see her again, that he would remain alone forever.

Eventually, he reached the street where he remembered parking the Tornado. Unfortunately, the snowfall was beginning to pick up, and all the cars, and planes, parked on the side of the road were already transformed into identical snowdrifts.

Carefully setting his goods down, Tails walked over to the only plane-shaped pile of snow and began dusting the snow off it. It took a good five minutes before he finally managed to free the Tornado out from underneath the snow. After he was done with that, he grabbed his bags and placed them into the back compartment of the biplane.

He then took off to the skies, back to West-Side Island, towards his lonely abode. He looked down as he flew over the freezing ocean, the frosty fields and forests, a large purple cat fishing in an icy lake, even more snow. He would do anything to see her again, to be with her again. He sighed deeply, a tear sliding down his face. Landing at his workshop, he noticed that Sonic was waiting for him.

Sonic looked at him as he hopped out of the plane and sighed, "You're thinking of her again, aren't you? Tails, it's been a few months. Cosmo would have wanted you to move on." He said.

Tails turned towards him, eyes filling with tears, "I know, but it's still so hard! Right when I was about to shoot, I realized I couldn't because I loved her. Her spirit.. it.. she.. she told me she loved me! Why couldn't we have the chance to be together.."

Sonic stood there, half-shocked. He doubted Tails had told anyone that he had loved Cosmo, though it would make sense, "I'm sorry buddy, I never knew. I didn't realize this was so hard for you."

Time passed, as it always does. Days of December came and went, and it seemed like it was Christmas Eve within the blink of an eye. Tails was still alone, of course. He had mostly stayed alone for the last fortnight, tinkering in his workshop and occasionally visiting his favourite spot in Emerald Hill Zone. The area where Wood Zone and Emerald Hill meet, the area where he first met Sonic. It was currently covered in snow. A place that used to bring him joy; nostalgia, happiness. Not anymore. A few tears swelled and rolled down his cheeks as he kept whimpers back.

"If only you were here now Cosmo, I'm still sorry, no matter what you said," he said softly as a slight whimper escaped from his muzzle. He put his forearm to his eyes and wiped away the tears, "At least you're safe and happy," he said with a slight smile, "Finally, I did something right; even if it did hurt me".

To the kit's surprise, he saw something in the sky. An apparition, like a ghost. The ghost of...

"..Cosmo.." was all Tails could say.

After the final Metarex battle, Cosmo was embedded into a tree, similar to the fate of her mother. There was one way she could be free, but it was nearly impossible. If she used enough of her energy, she could become a spirit and transcend to the afterlife - but maybe there would be time to stop by an old friend.

She had to try. It was her only hope. She tightly braced herself as she painfully struggled to absorb the remaining energy from her family's bodies, which were lying gently on the dirt. Purple rays of light came towards her as she focused on her new form.

"Tails. We haven't much time. I just.."

"Cosmo!" Tails chirped, "I didn't think I'd ever see you again! But you're here! Everything is going to be okay now!"

"Actually, Tails. I.. I'm only here because I have unfinished business. My family.. they're all back together again! And Dark Oak - my father - he's not evil anymore. Everything will be all better. The Metarex are gone."

"So why are you here, Cosmo?"

"I'm here to spend Christmas Eve with you, and then it's time to say goodbye, so I can move on to the afterlife."

Cosmo pulled something out of of the air. It looked like a shard of glass, but instead of seeing through it, it was like looking into space.

"A Celestial Shard. For you. A reminder of our time together."

Tails was weeping with joy, "Our final night, it will be a good one. Why did you decide to come back to me before going to the afterlife?"

"Because no one deserves to be alone at Christmas, Tails."

"Sir, sir!"

"What is it?"

"The Nexus is in danger."

"Oh, no.. they know. Send in The Agency."

"On it, sir."