Tails had been thinking for a while about a way to make his beloved Cosmo able to go out more. Sure, with his company he could, but it was rather hard due to her power being over plants. While Amy was herself the catalyst and Maria was with fungi, Cosmo could be the one to transport them. Mainly she could make Maria's fungus be somewhere else without the spore sharer Shadow had on his cuffs. Tails were rational, of course, she was the highest danger over the three, but her mind wasn't one who loved carnage. Well, that was how she was before ding, and the only death she had caused in this new life was Eggman. The golden fox sighed and walked towards the cafeteria where he saw Shadow and Rouge talking.
"Tails! Sweetie!" said Rouge, she started to treat him like some type of little brother/son now. "Shadow is being a meanie and doesn't want to spill the tea!"
"So, what was it this time?" Asked Tails, he also was curious about Shadow's last mission.
"A whole town vanished. For weeks everyone who tried to go in couldn't access it" he said seriously. "Seems the activity started some months ago. I was able to access it two weeks ago and the thing was a major disaster"
"And why did you tell him and not me?"
"He isn't as annoying"
"You're no fun!"
"I don't care. I just handed the only evidence remaining of that town" Shadow looked back at Tails. "What brought you here?"
"Well, I'm trying to see if I can plead for Cosmo's outside permissions"
"Of course," said Shadow with a nod, he understood Tails the most since Maria had similar restrictions. In his case, he had to burn the fungus right after the time was done.
"But I came up with an idea...I just need you guys to take me to the commander. I would go to Signas, his right-hand man, but he is way in another mission"
"Of course darling! C'mon shady!"
"Don't call me that" growled Shadow getting up from his seat. The three of them headed towards the office, Tails gulping nervously as they got inside. Looking at the commander Rouge cleared her throat.
"What is it agent Rouge!?" asked the commander. Then he saw Shadow and Tails and frowned at them.
"What a welcome," she huffed "Now I understand why no ladies want to be with you Boss"
"Shut up!" Tails facepalmed andShadow rolled his eyes, she wasn't helping. "What do you want?"
"I craved a boon," said Tails trying his best not to look nervous, his tails down but not moving.
"What boon?"The commander was looking at him suspiciously.
"H-How about we change some of the rules made." started Tails "We have to evaluate these anomalies more." he cringed internally hating to call his friends and girlfriend that word "So, we could turn them into a team to help us out in missions. They could be part of the exterior unit had here!"
"Isn't that a great idea boss?" said Rouge with a grin.
"They are great in combat and would help us study more about them." the commander was considering it, Tails could feel his hopes starting to go up. The probabilities were also rising towards success "They also are durable. Perhaps this also would help them take out their pent up energy and use it for good"
"Plus, fewer escapes," mumbled Shadow.
"But, this will only be able to happen with their escorts in place" added Tails trying to sweeten the deal.
"Fine"
"Thank you!"
"They will be known as team Mystic"
Ever since that day, they were allowed to go out more, since, if there was anything dangerous they could lend a hand easier if they were not with the confines of the facility. Thus Cosmo and Tails, on their first day outside from the facilities, decided to go and visit Cream and her other at their home.
They had discovered Cosmo was able to transport people along with her by using the plants as a teleporting system. Dr. Cain explained that humans had a legend of something similar to Cosmo called dryad. When they arrived at the Floral Forest Village Cosmo frowned, something felt off, Tails looked at her concerned. She had to always have her eyes closed to avoid people noticing how strange they were now. Not that it was a problem, since plants and Tails always were guiding her.
"What's wrong, Cosmo?" Tails asked his love. The seedrian turned back at him seriously.
"I believe someone is close, something that is neither kind nor normal. Something just like me" she mumbled. "I fear what might come or what it is"
"An anomaly," said Tails gripping his basket tightly"We should inform G.U.N"
"Please inform G.U.N through your device,"
"Before that, we should gather all the information we can, shouldn't we?"
He really didn't want more people ruining this day, selfish, maybe, but right now, he didn't care. Cosmo nodded, both of them walking through the seemingly peaceful town. Tails glanced around, scanning with his eyes everywhere. There were fewer people than he remembered, Cosmo was undisturbed. Suddenly, they saw a young rabbit running towards them at full speed.
"Look, it's Cream!" said Tails, waving his hand at her. The poor panting rabbit ran headfirst on Cosmo, who automatically hugged her.
"Greetings Cream," said Cosmo with a soft smile. Cream looked up with a terrified gaze. Tails frowned, about to explain to Cream the situation when a voice made the young rabbit stiffen.
"Oh! Dear! Cream, you shouldn't run like that, you could hurt people!" it was Vanilla scolding her daughter in her usual soft tone. Cosmo frowned and Tails understood, the presence was coming from Vanilla.
"Please... don't go..." whispered Cream.
"Now Cream, don't bother them too much!" Vanilla looked at Cosmo shocked. "Oh my! You are back!"
"Yes, we made a portal," said Tails "It was the plant I took care of"
That was the cover story the agency had agreed on.
"I see, well then, wouldn't you like to come to dinner?"
They nodded, Cosmo allowing Cream to cling to her dress. They entered the home and waited for Vanilla to finish cooking and put the gifts away. The house looked washed out, not as lively as Tails remembered. Cosmo mumbled something about humidity. There was also a slightly musty and metallic smell covered by the aroma of the cooking meal.
"Cream, what is wrong?" asked Tails kneeling on the floor in front of the sofa where his lover and Cram were sitting.
"Mommy isn't Mommy anymore..." she whispered. "She is bad..."
"Bad?"
"What is wrong with her Cream?" asked Cosmo gently stroking the rabbit's head. Tails typed into his communicator discreetly and then turned it on to transmit the conversation to HQ.
"She has been inviting many people for dinner" she answered. "She tells me to go upstairs after dinner because she wants to talk like grown-ups. She locks me inside...and plays music...but, but...they scream! I can hear them screaming! I'm scared... She said that it's to let me be little forever...but I...I.."
"Cream! Bring our guests here!"
"Please...run..." pleaded the rabbit, but the two shook their heads. It was true. Cream was supposed to be fourteen, yet, she still looked like a six-year-old.
The diner went well, they also had gotten permission to investigate the situation. So, when Cream was sent to bed, they followed Vanilla.
"Oh! I didn't notice you two coming here!" She said the shadows didn't allow them to see her face well. "Well, then, please follow me"
"Miss Vanilla, I couldn't help but notice, Cream is awfully small for someone of fourteen years old," said Cosmo politely.
"Oh! Dear! Cream is six years old! I understand blindness can confuse things"
"But...Tails is..."
"Big for his age! Aren't you dear?" Tails looked at Vanilla confused, he was debating if to answer positively or with the truth.
"uh..."
"Well then, come," she said ignoring the previous conversation. "Why don't you come with me to the basement for us to catch up?"
If that wasn't the most alarming phrase ever, Tails would rip off one of his tails. They still did as told, knowing they would find the answers they sought if they did so. The air was much thicker, and though Tails knew Cosmo had no problems, he had trouble breathing correctly. He also noticed the sound of metal.
"What are you holding?" he asked innocently.
"Oh? This? Its a cane, as you know, it is a little hard to go down these stairs at my age"
They were wise enough not to comment on that. Dark and musty, with barely any light, the overwhelming smells just were too much to overlook.
"Cream love you two very much, you know?"
"We love her too," said Cosmo. "She is like family"
"You could stay if you wish too, there would be no problems!"
"Sorry, we have stuff to do back at home. Like checkups on Cosmo to stabilize her" said Tails.
"My, such a shame. But I promise there will be no need for that soon"
Cosmo opened her eyes, having lifted her hand and used the plants and moss growing in the room to tie up Vanilla. Tails turned on the lights, and what welcomed them was horrifying. The bricks were compressed bodies of the missing people, there was even some wh were still breathing somehow. Their parts, in order to be compressed, had been sewn together. Blood covered everywhere, this place hadn't been cleaned. Wimpers echoed in protest to the light and pain.
As for the elder rabbit, she was barely able to struggle, her eyes were no longer there. r at least, they couldn't be seen, because on top of them, being held by the top and bottom eyelids were a pair of black porcelain buttons. Her teeth were sharp like those of a shark. Tails noticed on the floor fake dentures that she must have used during dinner and a gigantic needle that could be confused with a cane. It was bloody and rusty.
"Tails, I am going to incorporate violence. I apologize" Tails nodded, picturing all the evidence and calling the HQ. "Go and find Cream, when they get here do not let her come here."
"Yea"
Just as told, he ran towards the room, using his laser cannon at the lowers frequency, he opened the door. Tails found Cream shaking under the bed hugging Cheese. He didn't hesitate and took the small bunny in his arms. When the fox noticed a vine with a flower crown slithering towards him, he smiled, taking the crown and placing it on Cream's head.
"She won't hurt you now"
"I know...mom won't hurt anyone now..." she answered between sobs. The three of them left with the G.U.N agents, never to return to that house again.