Mogul Rising Saga Episode 2: Marked Friends Devil's Due
Still close to the Power Ring Pool, Eve finds herself being forced to fight against her friends.
Through Mighty, Tails, and Mina, "Mogul says, "Rise, my Fourth. Complete the New Fearsome Foursome."
Seeing the strange eyes, diamond on their forehead, and hearing Mogul's voice, Eve fears that Mogul is able to control them from within his cell
"I know you were up to something. Mogul! But using my friends to attack me and carry out your dirty work! That's really really low!" Eve angrily says.
Suddenly, Mina speeds past Eve, but she is able to dodge.
Eve angrily says, "Stop doing this! Just let them go!"
Through Mina, Mogul says, "They are my to use, girl."
Eve soon stops to see Tails as Mogul says, "I found each of them and mark them in the past. All they needed was my telepathic signal to awaken to my control."
"I don't care! I said, let them go!" Eve angrily says.
Suddenly, Eve turns around as she lands to see Mighty running to her.
She jumps over Mighty as she says, "I'm not fighting my friends!"
"You could have prevented this. You and your brother, if you'd listen to me this morning," Mogul says.
Eve then lands on the ground and Tails flies in to punch her. Eve quickly uses her arm to block the attack.
"If you think I'm willing to give in to your demands, you're officially out of your mind! And if what you're saying it's true, why am I not being controlled?!" Eve angrily says.
"Suddenly, Mighty punches Eve in the stomach and then he grabs her by the collar of her shirt. And then pins her by the ground. Eve grabs Mighty's hand to break free.
Through Mighty, Mogul says, "Because of Sonic… Remember Eve… I found you when you were deep in thought about finding your brother. Despite my offer, you refused and believed there isn't much I could do to assist you. However, having a powerful and skillful Freedom Fighter as an valuable asset is a bit too tempting to pass up. I was able to mark you, but Sonic interfered. I can only use my mark to connect with you using my telepathy."
"So that's what you did when I first met you," Eve asks.
"Precisely little one. Now you will give me what I want," Mogul says.
Eve angrily says, "I don't think so."
Then mutters, "Sorry Mighty."
Eve then uses both of her legs to kick Mighty off from the stomach. Eve quickly turns her head to see Mina speeding towards her. Suddenly, Ash pounces at her to the ground.
Ash shouts, "Mina! What are you doing?!"
"Ash?!" Eve asks, shocked.
"Mighty!" A boy's voice shouts.
"Tails! Eve!" A young girl's voice panics.
Eve turns her head to see Ray and Cosmo running to them.
"Eve, what's going on? Why are you fighting with Tails and the others?" Cosmo asks.
"I'll explain in a second," Eve says.
She jumps off of Mighty and grabs Tails. Then lands on the ground with Tails in hold.
"Blasted weak child! Release him!" Mogul angrily shouts.
Eve shouts, "No! I'm not going to let Tails go! I don't want to fight my friends! Just stop while you can! You know they might not be able to fight me.
Eve turns to see Ash having Mina pinned to the ground.
"Mina? C'mon, hon. What are you doing?" Ash asks, as Mina struggles to break free
"Not with conventional fistcuffs, it would see…" Mogul says.
Eve turns her head to see that his voice is coming through Mighty.
"But there are other chinks to your armor," Mogul says.
Just then, Tails uses his foot to slam on Eve's, making her scream and let go. Then Mina punches Ash in the face. When Cosmo and Ray try to reach Mighty, the armadillo spin dashes past then, Then uncurls and runs on his feet. Mina runs in the opposite direction and Tails takes flight into the sky.
"Eve!" Cosmo says, worried and runs to the hedgehog.
"Ash, are you okay?" Ray asks, standing next to the mongoose.
"What do you think?! Mina just hit me! She's never done anything like that! What's going on?!" Ash says, sounding upset.
Then turns to Eve, "And what's with that weird thing on your forehead.
Eve groans as she rubs her head, "It's Mammoth Mogul! He somehow was able to use some kind of telepathy to control them. The only reason why I wasn't controlled because Sonic interrupted him when he was trying to place this mark on my forehead."
"But why is he doing this?" Ray asks.
"He's doing this because of this demand he told me and Sonic this morning. Sonic thinks he can't do much in his cell, but I suspected he had something on his sleeve," Eve says.
Then sadly sighs, "I never expected this and that he got hold of Mina, Mighty, and Tails… and who knows how many more he marked."
"But why?" Cosmo asks.
"What does he want?" Ray adds.
Then Ash asks, "And where did they go now?"
"He never told me what he wanted, and I have no clue where Tails and the others are going, but I'm planning on finding you?"
"Let us come too," Cosmo says.
"Yeah. Mina's in trouble. There's no way you can keep me away from this," Ash says.
"Yeah. I wanna help Might too," Ray says.
Eve then grabs Ash, Ray, and Cosmo's hand, "Then we better hurry!"
Eve then super speed as her feet can go to the Detention Center in a short amount of time. When they arrive, the four walk down the stairs to confront the one responsible for this mess.
Eve angrily says, "Alright Mogul. You got my attention, and I demand an explanation!"
"Which part of 'dormant magical mind control' did you not comprehend?" Mogul questions.
"Stop playing games with me, Mogul! Where are Tails, Mina, and Mighty?!" Eve demands.
"I am still willing to trade. Will you listen to my terms? Mogul says.
Eve is not pleased, it's almost like Mogul is ignoring her. However, it seems that he is willing to trade, if it means Eve getting the others back safe from wherever they're going.
Eve, still sounding angry, calmly says, "I might consider it, but I just want to know where my friends are. If you can do that, then I'll think about it."
"Hmm, very well," Mogul says.
Mogul's eyes begin to glow bright green. Suddenly, Eve feels a sharp pain in her head. She grunts and grits her teeth in pain as she holds her head with her hands. She falls to her knees. Suddenly, Eve sees Tails flying high above the clouds.
Then Mogul says for her and the others to hear, but Eve can only see where they are, "You will be willing if I show you the whereabouts of your friends, very well. I'm sending Tails high as he can go until he passes out from the thin atmosphere. I do not expect the ground to be much of a cushion."
The next image is that Mina is running so fast that she is running on the water.
"I've sent Mina to run out to the center of the ocean. Once there, I will tell her to stop!" Mogul adds.
The last image shows Mighty walking towards what looks like Dr. Eggman's base, and the lights are on as well.
Mogul then says, "While Mighty, for all his tremendous strength, will walk into Dr. Eggman's base without a fight."
After showing the images, Mogul ends the psychic connection with Eve. Seeing and hearing what Mogul reveals has her stunned. Ash, Ray, and Cosmo are shocked as well to see what Mogul is having them do.
"You… you would have them killed…" Eve softly says, practically terrified.
For Eve, she feels that she's going to end up losing those she holds dear all over again. She almost lost her family and friends in the past, and was able to gain them back, but now, Eve feels that she might lose them if she doesn't do something.
"But why? Why would you do something so horrible?" Cosmo asks, stunned.
"She's right. What you did is really terrible!" Ray adds, freaking out
Ash quickly asks Eve, "You're fast enough to catch them, thought? Right? Right?"
"Any one of them, but… they're…" Eve answers, losing her speech.
Then Mogul answers, "They are too far apart. Or do you use your speed to rally the Freedom Fighters? Do you have time to explain everything? Do you have time to find which part of the sky, which expanse of beach, or which road to Eggman's base you need to save them?"
Eve stands up and atoms her foot on the ground with full rage.
She angrily says, "I get it! You've got me beat, and whatever you did! I get it! But don't take this threat at me on my friends! Now what is it you want!"
Ash, and the others stand back looking a bit scared.
Mogul holds his hand up and shows two images. One of them shows himself in the form when he has taken the Enerjak from Dimitri, and the other is a Chaos Emerald.
He then says, "I once was a god, girl. Universes were mine to create or destroy. I have been reduced to a minor sorcerer in a cage. You will bring me the Chaos Emerald I have sensed while in confinement, and you will restore the power that is rightfully mine."
Eve is not pleased to hear his demand, but what is fully on her mind are her friends' lives.
"Fine, I'll get you the Chaos Emerald, but I want your word that my friends return home unharmed, or no deal!" Eve says.
Mogul evilly grins and says, "You have it. Welcome to the Fearsome Foursome."
Ask, Ray, and Cosmo are worried about Eve's decision, but what choice does she have? Either she stands up to Mogul or saves her friends.
Suddenly Nicole appears and asks, "Eve? Ash? Cosmo? And Ray? What are you all doing here?"
"Nicole, where did we have the Chaos Emerald stashed?" Eve asks.
Confused, Nicole answers, "Castle Acorn. Why?"
"Thanks Nicole! Come on guys, I'm going to need your hand!" Eve says.
"Right," Ash says.
The group then hurry up the stairs and out of the Detention Center.
"What's going on?" Nicole asks.
Eve and the others hurry as fast as they can. Meanwhile, Tails continue to fly in the sky and are starting to run out of breath. Eve uses her Chaos Energy to lift the others as she carries them and runs up the wall. At the same time, Mina continues to run on the water. Eve and the others are able to climb over the wall and hurry inside the castle.
In her room, Sally is sleeping until she hears a strange sound. She wakes up and as she lets out a yawn.
She then rubs her eyes and asks, "What was that?"
Sally walks to the door and opens to see Eve speeding past her with Ash and the others. Soon, Eve is able to reach the room where the Chaos Emerald is kept in a capsule. Nicole is able to appear and use her nanites to stop her feet and Ash flies to the capsule. Meanwhile The Dark Legion who are at Eggman's base spot Mighty and he isn't moving.
In the room, Ash and Ray are able to crash through the capsule and the Chaos Emerald flies out. Cosmo then catches the Chaos Emerald as Eve spin dashes through restraints and grabs onto the others. She then speeds through the window and lands on the ground. Then the four speed as fast as Eve can carry them. Eve rushes down the stairs and into the Detention Center. She places the three on the ground and channels the Emerald's power.
Suddenly, Nicole appears in front of them and panics, "Stop! Please! You can't!"
Eve then begins to spin dash as she says, "I'm sorry Nicole, but this is life or death!"
With the power of the Chaos Emerald, Eve spin dashes so fast and hard that she destroyed the glass wall holding Mogul inside. Eve falls to the ground and drops the emerald in the process. And Mogul now has it in his possession. Soon by his command, Mina, Tails, and Mighty are able to escape from harm and return to the Power Ring Pool.
Eve groans as she sits up as she feels her head feeling dizzy.
Nicole panics, "Eve, are you insane?! I can't contain that kind of power!"
"I'm sorry Nicole, but Mogul didn't leave with any other choice," Eve says.
Cosmo steps in, "Eve had to give him the Emerald! Mogul threatened her!"
"She's right. Mina would have drowned if Eve didn't give it to him. Not to mention, Mighty will be blasted by Eggman's robots and Tails will crash straight to the ground," Ash adds.
"What?!" Nicole asks, shocked.
"I-its k-kind of a long story," Ray replies.
"Such inane squabbling…" Mogul says and places the white Chaos Emerald on his chest.
Soon, Mogul begins to gain his full power of his Ixis Magic. That causes the glass walls of the other cells to shatter, freeing The Hooligans and Naugus. Eve and the other quickly turn to see Mogul sending a powerful blast. Eve and the others are thrown across the hall and they all get slammed to the wall, and fall to the ground.
"Eve! Ash! Cosmo! Ray!" Nicole panics.
Suddenly, Mogul stands behind her and says, "You are not needed here, my dear."
With a snap of his fingers, Nicole disappears. Eve and the others groan as they try to stand up, Ash and Ray are practically close to losing consciousness.
"Is everyone… okay?" Eve softly asks.
Cosmo hotels her head and says, "I… I think so."
Suddenly, Eve's body becomes petrified and levitates in the air close to Mogul. Her arms are pinned to the side and unable to move her body at all.
"Oh yeah, you're ridiculously powerful again," Eve says, annoyed.
Then mutters, "I'm not in the mood for this right now.
"Forever spouting your empty bravo, aren't you.. Our business is concluded, girl. The Foursome have served me and are now decommissioned," Moguls says.
"Huh?" Eve says, confused.
Then Mogul says, "It is time for a change in tactic, little girl. Something I came to understand in my immortality was that I cannot beat you or your brother."
"What? I'm afraid I don't understand," Eve nervously says.
"I shall use small words so you can follow. I've risen to godhood, and I've fallen in your presence. No matter what power I wield, the fates convene to ensure your victory. Even if I were to act now, I am certain something would thwart me or rescue you. It is a cosmic punch-line I've grown quite weary of."
"The advantage I have is time. As an immortal, I can wait you out. May not defeat you, but you will never know peace," Mogul adds.
"Um vindictive much?" Eve replies.
"I call it 'patience,'" Mogul says.
He then gently puts Eve back on the ground as he says, "You may call me 'petty' or dismiss me as a nuisance. I can endure such small barbs knowing you will not rest easily from this day forward."
Suddenly, a bright light begins to surround Mogul, the Hooligans, and Naugus. At the same time, Ash and the others regain consciousness to see them glowing.
"My first act is to set my prison-mates free. I'm sure they'll look you up later," Mogul says.
Beans soon begins to cry, "I'll write! Everyday! I'll miss you!
But Nack says. "Haha! You've earned yourself one free job from me, Mogul!"
Eve and the others are soon blinded by the light and cover their eyes to protect them. When they open and unshielded them, they can see that Mogul and the others are gone. Soon… Eve and the others hurry to the Power Ring Pool to see Tails, Mina, and Might, but they don't look very happy. Tails is hugging himself as she shivers.
Mina sadly turns to notice, "Here they come…"
"Mina!" Ash says, running to her.
Mina begins to cry and hugs Ash. Ash hugs her back and tries to calm her down.
He softly says, "Shh, Angel. It's over."
"Mighty, are you okay? Are you feeling alright?" Ray asks, hugging Mighty.
Mighty hugs Ray and says, "Totally ashamed. Now I really know how Knuckles feels right now."
"That, and cold," Tails adds, shivering.
Cosmo hugs him, "You're very cold, Tails."
"I… I… know," Tails says, shivering.
Eve simply stands as she lowers her head in depress. It's like a part of her has shattered.
Suddenly someone calls out, "Guys!"
The group turn their heads to see Nicole appear as Sally, Rotor, Sonia, and Manic rush to them.
"Sally? Nicole? What's going on and the others doing here?" Cosmo asks.
"That's what I like to know. Nicole found you busting into the castle and taking the Chaos Emerald. And then Eve practically gave the Chaos Emerald to Mogul. She didn't know what's going on, only that some of you were on the verge of death or something. I like an explanation from all of you," Sally says.
"It's a long and well, not a good story," Ray says.
"But Eve didn't have a choice since he has taken control of Mna, Mighty, and Tails and almost sent them to a death wish," Ash says.
"What are you talking about?" Rotor asks.
"Mogul somehow got control of Mina and the others somehow and attacked us. Eve was marked as well, but the only reason she wasn't controlled was because Sonic interrupted the marking when Mogul wanted to control her," Ash says.
Suddenly, Ray notices, "U-u-m, E-E-Eve a-are you o-okay?"
Manic, Sonia, and Sally look at each other with confused looks.
"Are you okay?" Sonia asks.
They notice that Eve's shoulders are shaking and haven't said a single word since they arrive
"Come on cuz, say something," Manic says.
When Sally and the two hedgehogs walk up to her. They stop in slight surprise to see Eve has tears coming out of her eyes and her lips are quivering and she lets out whimpers.
"Eve, what's wrong?" Sally asks.
The next moment, Eve covers her face with her hands and continues to whimper and her shoulder shakes.
"Eve," Nicole says, worried.
Sally turns to the others and asks, "What happened?"
Ash sadly says, "Well, remember what I said about Mogul taking control of Mighty, Mina, and Tails?"
Sally nods her head.
"Mogul used them to blackmail her that Tails, Mighty and Mina will be killed if she doesn't give in to his demand. Eve had no choice but to restore Mogul's power by giving him the Chaos Emerald," Ash says.
Upset and has her hands covering her face, Eve shouts, "Please everyone, just leave me alone!"
Eve then runs off as the tears fall from her face and her hands still covering them.
Cosmo calls out, "Eve, wait!"
Sadly, Eve is already gone. Sally and the others simply stand in their possession and can tell that Eve has been deeply wounded, and not by a physical means. The Freedom Fights simply remain where they are as the sun begins to rise for the new day, but it's going to be a very sad one for all of them.