I know I said that my next story would be '06-related, buuuuuuuut... I just had this idea one night and it was one of those ideas where your eyes shoot wide open and you're like "Oh my god, I HAVE to write this". So here I am ^_^;;

Honestly I'd been debating with myself for so long whether I wanted to think of a way to work Cosmo into my fics or not. I love her (and Tailsmo) so much, but her death in Sonic X was so wonderfully done that I didn't want to just say it never happened, and I didn't want to bring her back via Deus ex Ass-pull, either. If she returned, it'd have to be through a trial that almost costs Tails everything.

And yes, I know the game that Witchcart appeared in was Tails Sky Patrol, not Tails Adventure, but... it was just too catchy of a title, okay? This is A Tails adventure, not THE Tails Adventure, a'ight? :)

Miles "Tails" Prower was working late into the night, nearing the stroke of midnight, on a pair of shoes that would aide Sonic in his next adventure. So focused was he on his task that he had failed to even notice how dark it had become outside. He moved back-and-forth between his workbench and his computer, inputting data and running experiments until he was satisfied that his invention was working as intended.

"Alright, I think I've got it!" he cheered as examined the underside of one of the shoes. "They're more durable than they were before, and should be able to store more energy from Power Rings! But I'm a little worried about the weight… I wonder if they'll significantly affect Sonic's speed?"

Tails heard a noise behind himself, and jumped as he turned to see what it was. The door to his workshop remained closed, and there was nothing that seemed to have fallen inside the room. He put down the shoe and approached the door, looking around as he began to grow nervous.

"My, I didn't realise you were into gardening, Tails." Tails practically leapt out of his skin as a voice called out from behind. It was a grating voice, and one that he was familiar with. He turned to find its owner, Wendy "Witchcart" Naugus – a troll witch – stood before him, laughing at his stunned expression. "I must say, it's a lovely little sapling."

Tails noticed the plant pot in her hands and gasped, racing forwards and grabbing it as he swung his tails. "GIVE THAT BACK!"

"Oh!" Wendy jumped back to avoid the attack, amused at the reaction she had gained. "My, so aggressive over a little plant!"

Tails held the pot protectively, glaring at the witch. "it's not just a plant! It's-"

"Your dear friend. Cosmos, was it?"

"Cosmo," he corrected, and then regarded her with a confused look. "How do you-"

"Word travels fast. At least, when it's news concerning you and your friends. Are you hoping she'll grow back if you just water her and expose her to enough sunlight?"

Tails looked down at the sapling. While it was true that it had sprouted since he put the seed into the pot, its growth had stopped shortly after that. "I… I don't know, but what else can I do?" He returned to glaring at Witchcart. "Anyway, I don't see how that's any of your business! What are you doing here?"

"My, my, my! Haven't you turned into quite the feisty one?" Cackling, Witchcart walked over to Tails' workbench, inspecting the shoes that were laying there. "It must be that Quickster's influence. I recall you were far more timid, when we last met."

"I still kicked your butt, and I'll do it again, if you don't leave now!"

"But I come to you with an offer!"

"Not interested!" Tails opened the door, punctuating his disinterest.

"Really? Not even when it concerns your little girlfriend?" Though his face didn't change, his eyes moved momentarily to the sapling. Witchcart cackled. "There may be a way to bring her back, you know? But doing so will require the kind of magic only I can offer."

Tails rolled her eyes. "Yeah, sure. And all I have to do is, what? Help you conquer a city? Sell information on GUN's defences? Or maybe you just want me to lure Sonic into a trap."

"All I want from you, dear, is… a body."

At this, Tails raised an eyebrow. "A… what?"

Sighing, Witchcart rolled up her sleeve, revealing her arm which was far more wrinkly than the rest of her body. Some of the skin fell off, evaporating into mist as it hit the floor. "Do you recall how I looked when we first met?"

Tails nodded. "You were human, or looked more human, at least. Actually, I was kinda shocked when I saw you next time and you were… well…"

"That was my brother's doing," she told him, pulling down her sleeve. "When he found out that I'd let myself be defeated by a mere child, he laughed at me! He claimed that it was proof that my human blood was holding me back! He then cast a spell, that turned me into… this!"

"Your brother?" Tails asked.

"Walter Naugus. Unlike me, he inherited our father's genes, and was born a troll! While I admit that this form has made me more powerful, it also comes with some rather nasty side-effects."

Tails thought back to the state that her arm was in. "It's falling apart," he surmised.

"At the rate that it's degrading, I'll be nothing but dust by this time next year." She regarded Tails now not with a look of amusement, but one of pleading. "You are the only one I can turn to. The only one who can help me, and might just show enough mercy to do so."

Tails tried to keep a stern face. "What makes you think I'd show you mercy?"

"Because you're you. You showed mercy to me and my henchmen before, and even to that birdbrain from the Battle Bird Armada." Witchcart dropped down to her knees, wincing as she moved, and bowed her head. "Please."

"…" Sighing, Tails asked, "What do you need?"

Witchcart grinned. "A new body. One that I can put my spirit into."

"You'd just abandon your old body? Just like that?"

"This body is done for," she said. "I'm not strong enough to undo my brother's magic. The next best thing I can do is escape it."

"Well, have you tried… asking your brother for help?"

"Unfortunately, Walter is gone. He was defeated not long after he cursed me to this form."

"And if I help you, you'll… You think you can bring Cosmo back?"

"I can. I know of a magical artefact that can do just that." Witchcart raised her head and pointed to the sapling. "So long as some form of her still remains, I can restore her to the point before she died. The fact that the seed has sprouted into a sapling is proof that her spirit still lingers."

Tails looked at the sapling, staring at it for several long moments as he mulled over the witch's proposal in her mind. "… If I do this, I want you to promise that you'll do no more bad things."

"If I were to make that promise, you would have to do something extra, too," Witchcart replied, and upon seeing Tails' glare returning, she sighed. "Magical contracts are very particular, boy. Each party must benefit equally from it. I agree to bring back your friend, and you give me a new body. If you demand more of me, you'll need to offer more, first."

"So even if I do this, you'll still continue doing bad things."

"And if you don't, you may lose the one chance you have to bring Cosmo back to life." Rising to her feet with a groan, Witchcart approached the young fox. "Of course, you defeated me before. Surely you can do it again, right? Are you really going to pass up this chance, just to keep me in-check?"

"It wouldn't be right to take such a huge risk like that," he said, his eyes wandering to the sapling in his arms again. "But I…" Clenching his eyes shut, Tails gritted his teeth together, trying to get out the words, 'No! Get out! I'll never help you!'. Instead, he opened his eyes, and slowly reached out a hand. "Okay."

Grinning, Witchcart shook his hand, a dark-purple aura surrounding them. "Don't be alarmed," she said as she noticed Tails being startled by the sudden intrusion of magic. "This is simply the contract being established. The terms are set, then."

"But we bring Cosmo back, first!" Tails sputtered quickly, hoping to set the rules in his favour before it was too late.

"Fair enough," Witchcart agreed, and then the magic dissipated. She reached behind herself and pulled up her hood. "Well then, I'll return in the morning, after you've had a good night's rest. It is well past your bedtime, after all."

Tails watched in silence as the witch left his home, the door closing behind her. With a heavy sigh, he slowly walked back over to his workbench, gently placing the plant pot down and staring at it. "I hope this is the right thing to do… I wonder what Sonic would say?" Looking over to his computer, Tails walked over and sat down. "I should send him a message, just in case Wendy tries to double-cross me…" His hands hovered over the keyboard, frozen as he tried to decide what he should write.

"… Tomorrow," he decided, climbing out of his chair and turning off the lights, before climbing into his bed. It was late anyway, and Tails knew that he would need a clear head before confronting Witchcart the following morning.