Lost in Sorrow's Shroud

Sally was up and about preparing for a girl's night out. Then, Amy came in. She wasn't that happened.

"Oh, you're back." Sally stated. "I was thinking on having a girls night out as a reward. Maybe we can show Cosmo that spa you and Bunny went to last time." Amy didn't respond to that; at that moment, the princess stopped what she was doing now concerned. "Um… Amy, are you okay? You seem down in the dumps."

"Cosmo… won't be joining us." Amy sighed in saddened.

"What's the matter did something happen?" Sally asked. "Where's Cosmo?"

Marine was in the hallway, when she saw Tails running by with his face covered. She just stood there for a moment.

"Blimey, I wonder what that was about?" Marine asked herself as she continued down the hallway. Then, she came across Sonic and Amy sitting on the couch in the main lobby.

"I just don't know, Ames." Sonic answered a little down. "I don't know if I said something wrong."

"I don't think you did, I hope." Amy stated.

"I mean, I don't know how to deal with these kind of situations." Sonic admitted. "I can make sarcastic comments to keep things under control, but this… this is something out of my league."

"But can't you at least try a little harder?" Amy stated in annoyance.

"I am trying, okay?" Sonic asked in reply. "And…" The two of them looked and saw Marine.

"Oh, uh, sorry." Marine stated blushing. "I was just… uh… you know."

"Marine, can you please check on Tails?" Amy asked. "I'm sure you could do a better job of cheering him up than some others."

"I did what I could." Sonic rebuked her.

"Guys, guys, please." Marine stated trying to calm the two down. "Your fightin' is only going to make things worse." Then, Amy sighed.

"Yeah, I suppose your right, Marine." Amy answered. Then, she paused for a moment. "Marine, you need to get to Tails' room fast. He is in danger."

"Who's attacking him?" Sonic asked. "Badniks?"

"There…" Amy stated. "There's no one in the room."

"How could he be in danger?" Sonic answered since no one is in the room.

"But still he is in a very depressed state." Amy replied to Sonic. Then, she turned to the raccoon. "Go, Marine. The sooner you can get to him the better."

"I'll try for struth." Marine answered as she walked away.

"Now, Sonic." Amy replied. "Let's have a talk about how to be a little more compassionate with your wording."

Marine came to the door of Tails' room. She gently went up to the door where she heard the whimpering of the fox.

"Tails, are you in there?" she asked calmly. "Are you okay? Please answer, Tails." She gently opened the door and found the young fox curled up nearly in a ball. She saw Tails with tears rolling down his face. "Tails?" The fox looked up to see Marine.

"Marine…" Tails stated with tears in his eyes. Then, he cried once again. Marine just went over to him and sat down beside him.

"What's going on?" Marine asked.

"It's Cosmo…" He replied, continuing to cry. "She's gone… Why wasn't I able to save her…?" He paused. Marine just hugged him. "I've completely failed as a hero… At this point, I'll never be as good of a hero as Sonic…"

"Tails," Marine said hugging him. "I believe you did what you could and I believe that Cosmo felt the same way."

"Are you certain, Marine?" Tails asked her.

"I have a reason to believe so." The raccoon replied. "If you need any help with your burden, I'll help you. Sonic can help you. Amy can help you. All of us can help you through these harsh times."

"I, also, picked out something for her. I was going to give it to her when we got back." The fox continued. He pointed to a red box nearby. Marine went over and opened it up. She saw a lavender flower brooch inside.

"That's very pretty, Tails." Marine replied.

"But now, I can't give it to her." The fox continued.

"My recommendation is to hold onto it as a relic." Marine suggested. "It will help you remember the good times with her."

"I'll do what I can." Tails replied trying to lighten up. "From what I heard from the Chaotix, you were among one of the more annoying ones. But I must admit you are a genuine nice and caring person."

"Well, I end up doing most of the chores around the Chaotix headquarters." Marine stated. "It's mostly with three immature little boys and one grown man in the group."

"Really?" Tails asked.

"Yeah, in my opinion, the only mature one is Espio." Marine stated. "I can understand Charmy being immature, he's just a little kid. There's no excuse for the other two."

"I'm surprised that two of the older guys are still need some growing up." The fox answered, now no longer crying.

"If I have time, do you want me to come by tomorrow and we can hang out?" Marine asked.

"Okay…" Tails replied. "At least, to help me get back up on my feet once again. To recover from these scars from Cosmo's death." Marine helped Tails on his feet once again.

The night came and day followed. Marine and Tails went out into the park. Barely any dialogue was spoken as they walked through the greenery. The fox froze in place.

"Tails…? What's wrong?" Marine asked. The young fox didn't answer her. Then, she looked up. She spotted a field of red petunias. "Oh…" She added.

"Can I take one with me?" Tails asked.

"I doubt it." Marine answered. "But I know another way to get one." She guided Tails to a picnic table. She pulled out two pieces of paper, she tampered with the papers until a flower came from them.

"How did you do that?" Tails asked.

"I simply folded the paper until they reach the right shape." Marine answered as she pulled out a bunch of paper. "Would you like to try?"

"Okay." The fox answered as he grabbed a sheet of paper. He still felt down. Then, Marine pulled out a pen.

"How about writing a memory for each flower?" Marine said. "That's what I usually do."

"All right." Tails answered gently taking the pen. After a while, they had made ten flowers, each with a written memory inside. Whenever, the fox's eyes began to water, Marine over her condolences and tissues.

"Are you still sad, Tails?" Marine asked.

"I shouldn't be crying all the time." The fox stated, standing up. "I have to be strong for her sake."

"But don't forget her memory, Tails." Marine answered.

"I won't forget about her." The fox explained. "But I have to move on now. I feel I can continue with my life now."

"You…" Marine stated.

"Can do that now." A lower voice interrupted. And they noticed that the flowers nearby that Tails stared at have now wilted.

"Wait, who interrupted me?" Marine asked. The two mobians looked around.

"Don't even spare her a memory." He voice continued and the two looked towards the voice. They saw the towering figure of a mastodon.

"Mammoth Mogul." Tails stated in annoyance. "What are you doing here interrupting my time with Marine?"

"You know this creep?" Marine asked.

"Sonic and I have encountered him once before." Tails explained to her.

"I just happened to notice that you were making paper flowers…" He used his magic to levitate the ten flowers over to him. "in memory of your precious Cosmo." Then, he burned them in flames. "Don't bother, she had it coming anyways."

"That's a lie, Mogul, leave this instant." Tails demanded.

"Why should I?" the mastodon stated. "I'm just telling you that Cosmo deserved such a fate."

"Now you insult her?" Tails stated angrily. "You have no right to declare who lives and who dies." Then, the mastodon paused.

"Oh that's right. I almost forgot." He stated, smugly. "I told her NOT to tell anyone about the deal." Tails and Marine looked at him in confusion.

"Wait, what deal?" The fox asked.

"A deal that she and I made a while back." Mogul answered.

"What kind of deal?" Tails asked again. Mogul then began to explain what happened…

Cosmo looked in horror as Sonic came into the infirmary in critical condition, after he had been brutally tortured by Metallix. Everyone was frightened on whether or not Sonic was going to make it. Cosmo noticed that everyone was in disarray and close to hopelessness, especially Tails.

"I don't know what's going to happen to Sonic." Cosmo thought. "I wish there was something I can do." Just then, Mammoth Mogul came behind her.

"Excuse me…" he stated. Then, Cosmo turned around and was surprised to see a mastodon.

"Who are you?" Cosmo asked him, not recognizing the mammoth.

"I am Master Donald." Mogul stated to her. "But I happen to notice that you are feeling down, what is troubling you?" She paused for a minute.

"You see, I'm friends with Sonic the Hedgehog and…" Cosmo said.

"Sonic the Hedgehog?" Mogul stated interrupting her. "The great hero of Mobius?"

"Yes." She replied. "He's very injured and in critical condition. I don't know what to do." Then, the mastodon lifted a hand into the air. He brought it back down.

"I fear that your hedgehog friend won't survive for much longer." Mammoth Mogul stated to her with sadness in his voice. Cosmo became very upset upon hearing this, not being able to detect the deception that came out of his mouth.

"What am I going to do?" She asked in a panic. "What am I going to tell the others?"

"However, I can fix this conundrum." Mogul stated.

"You can, Master Donald?" She asked curiously.

"I can for you see. I am a powerful sorcerer." The mammoth explained putting a hand to his chest. "I can make it so that way Sonic will survive this and heal him instantly."

"That's amazing." Cosmo replied in awe. "Please, help Sonic."

"Not so fast, little one." Mogul replied to her. "Unfortunately, to have someone survive this, the balance between life and death must remain intact. In other words, someone has to take his place. Who are you going to choose to take his place?"

"I'll take his place." Cosmo answered. The mastodon was surprised to hear this.

"You… are you certain?" He asked. "What makes you wish to take his place?"

"He is a great hero as well as the others." Cosmo replied. "I'm not that much of a hero, but if I can at least give one last gift it'll be life."

"Very well, then." Mogul answered. "It will be uncertain when you will perish. But no matter what or when, you must NEVER tell anyone of the dialogue between us, otherwise the spell will be broken." Then, he put out his hand towards Cosmo.

"I understand what I have to go through." The medereck answered and she shook his hand.

"Then, the deal is done." Mogul answered as he raised his staff. Then, a lightning bolt fired out of the rod and struck the room where Sonic was in. And she noticed that Sonic was completely healed like the mastodon said he would. She noticed that everyone was happy.

"Thank you…" Cosmo replied. But noticed that the mastodon was gone.

"Don't forget your end of the bargain." Mogul stated to her.

Mammoth Mogul just laughed as he finished the story about the deal between him and Cosmo. This put a startled look on the faces of Tails and Marine.

"I have never ever seen a moron that bleeding stupid." Mogul replied. "She didn't even realize that I was bluffing about the hedgehog dying from his injuries. Give a few months and he'll be good as new." Tails glared at him.

"You took advantage of our worries about Sonic for your selfish gain." Tails growled at him and he tightened his fists.

"Oh that's the only thing I did." Mogul answered. "I saw a medereck come by my doorstep who went by the name of Lucas."

"Lucas?" Tails stated in surprise.

"He wanted me to get rid of you." The mastodon explained. "And he showed me the skull of a monster called Lyric. Using the skull, I brought back the serpent from the grave. I told him to eliminate you. But to take care of two tasks, I also told him to kill that medereck girl you call Cosmo."

"You… you…" Tails stated getting angrier and angrier at him.

"Oh, yes. One more thing." Mogul hummed. "There was a detail I forgot to mention to her." Then, he pulled out a glass jar, inside was the terrified ghost of Cosmo trapped inside trying to break out. "Her soul will forever be trapped in my possession, thus I can use her essence to rejuvenate myself." Mogul stuck his trunk into the jar and took a mighty sniffed. Cosmo felt as she was being ripped in half, she wailed out in complete torment. A half of her was left in the jar, while the other entered Mogul. He pulled his trunk out feeling a little nauseous. "As long as I keep some in the jar, she will regenerate and I can repeat the process over and over again. But she tastes a little bitter for me."

With moment of seeing Cosmo in such brutal pain caused the young fox to become more and more furious until he finally snapped. Tails roared at the mastodon in total rage with fire was burning in his eyes, and lunged towards him. The fox had the intent of strangling the mammoth for what he did, but he passed right through Mogul. Then, he chuckled.

"You didn't think I would gloat in person now, did you?" Mogul asked Tails. "I find your emotions for this girl amusing, even after you learned about the deal."

"I'm going to take you down and free her from your slimy hands." Tails roared charging a second time. The mastodon continued to mock him with a sinister grin on his face.

"I would love to see you try and free her." The mammoth rebuked him. "But there is no way you can overpower me."

"I wouldn't be surprised if you had Sonic's dad trapped with you." Marine went next to him.

"Sonic's father?" Mammoth Mogul replied. "You think I have Sonic's father as a prisoner?" He chuckled at him. "What do you take me for, an idiot? He is my nemesis who kept foiling my plots. Why would I want him where it will be much easier for him to take me down?"

"Cosmo, can you hear me?" Tails asked. The ghost of Cosmo looked up as though she hear him. "Cosmo, I'm going to get you out of this mess. I promise you."

"Enough…" The mammoth stated, using his magic to throw the two mobians backwards. "But my talks with you are over." He looked at Cosmo as he levitated. "Your dearest will never escape her agonizing pain, and she will always be my captive… for all eternity. The mammoth laughed in a diabolical manner as the phantasmal version of Mammoth Mogul disappeared from sight.

"Damn you, Mogul." Tails stated in anger.

"What do we do now?" Marine asked the fox. He went back to the picnic table and pulled out a pen. The raccoon girl went up to him.

"I had made a promise to Cosmo." Tails replied. She saw the writing on the paper say 'the day I swear to free her from her glass prison'.

"You don't have to go it alone, Tails." Marine said.

"I don't have to." The fox answered. "Even if I can't take on Mammoth Mogul on my own, that doesn't mean he can be defeated that the hands of many."

"I'll help you in any way I can." She replied as the flower was folded and formed a Belvedere. She saw Tails put on the paper flower on his chest and flew up to the top of the tree.

"Mammoth Mogul…" Tails said into the open air with his fist up. "I swear this vow. I will become stronger than ever before and I will rescue Cosmo from your evil clutches and I will make it so you will never again make another person suffer from your wicked deals. As a sign, I shall wear this paper flower on my chest during my crusade against you." He made a momentary pause as a look of determination filled his face. "I will never falter and I shall not rest until this is done."