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| - Carrying Sonic through the air, Tails comments that they've found no sign of Ixis Naugus and he's afraid that they've lost him. Sonic disagrees, saying they're still hot on his tail...and that it's actually really hot. The pair are then astonished to come across the source of the heat: an entire mountain covered in fire. Sonic and Tails are confused that the blaze is having no effect on the surrounding forests and decide to land in a village that they spot below them. Seeing a resident, they ask if she can spare any water, but she informs them that the water supply is dangerously low and thus carefully monitored. She then informs them that the fire has been burning for 100 days, prompting Tails to ask why the villagers haven't relocated. His question draws the attention of another villager, who introduces himself as Li Yuen and their first new acquaintance as Li Moon, his granddaughter. Li Yuen questions whether the pair would be so willing to abandon their home, a point that Sonic concedes to. Sonic asks what the cause of the fire is, and Li Yuen informs them that the Iron Queen cast the spell after the villagers resisted the will of her partner, the Iron King. Li Yuen goes on to say that only the Fan of Fen Xing has the power to put out the blaze, and that it's locked in the Iron King's arsenal. Sonic volunteers to retrieve it, though Li Moon thinks him more foolish than brave for doing so. The two Freedom Fighters take off to retrieve the fan, unaware that the Iron King and Queen are watching them magically at the Iron Fortress. The Queen questions whether or not the two might be allies, but the King immediately senses that the pair intend to interfere in their plans. The Queen assures him that they need not worry, and determines that all they need is a "spoiler to add to the mix," and spots a likely candidate in her staff: Monkey Khan. Sonic and Tails continue towards the fortress, but the heat from Mount Stormtop begins to get to them as they spot clouds in the distance. Tails' concern about the possibility of a storm is brushed off by Sonic, only for lightning to strike near the pair. They are then confronted by the source -- Monkey Khan -- who warns them to go no further. Sonic is confused, as his last meeting with Khan ended on a good note, only for the angry Monkey to begin attacking him again. The Hedgehog quickly senses that something is wrong, noting not only Khan's strange behavior but a weird glow emanating from his eyes. He tries to reason with Khan as the Monkey attacks him, trying to help him find another outlet for his rage. Amused by the display, the Iron Queen then appears, and informs Sonic that his efforts are useless-Khan's rage and temper have made him an easy victim of her Magitek. She claims that he is now unstoppable, though Sonic denies her claim, and then orders Khan to finish the Hedgehog off. Sonic realizes that he's in trouble, and Tails quickly determines that he as to act quickly to save his best friend. He flies towards the Iron Queen and breaks her staff, breaking her spell. Monkey Khan, freed from her control, asks what is going on, while the Iron Queen flees in rage over her defeat. Tails then examines her broken staff and finds several Power Rings that were installed in it, undoubtedly to amplify her powers. Recognizing that they are dealing with dangerously powerful enemies, Khan is hesitant to press on, but Sonic takes the lead. Some time later, they arrive at the Iron Fortress, which Tails is unnerved by despite the bravado of his companions. They find their entrance unbarred, and begin to suspect that they're heading into a trap. Finding the arsenal, they prepare to enter it, only to be attacked by the Iron King wielding his Tremor Mace. Sonic orders Tails to find the fan, leaving Khan and himself to deal with the King. Tails sorts through the weaponry-everything from blades to missiles-and locates the fan, which he then gives to Sonic. The Hedgehog then employs the magic of the artifact, blowing the Iron King out of the fortress and a good distance beyond that. The trio, impressed with the fan's powers, head back to Mount Stormtop to employ them one more time, only to run into the furious Iron Queen. Still displaying magical abilities despite her lost staff, she attempts to stop the heroes, but Sonic is able to extinguish the flaming mountain using the fan. Defeated, the Queen flees while swearing revenge, while the heroes land to be greeted by an overjoyed Li Yuen and Li Moon. After learning of Khan's role, Li Yuen mentions a prophecy of a great Monkey King, surprising Khan, which leads Sonic to complain about Khan getting the credit for his heroism.
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