The One-Thousand Year Gate
Chapter 2: The Earthen Monsters
"Hang on," shouted Sonic, spinning through the portal. "I think it's almost over."
Sally and Bunnie clung to Sonic's hands, fighting desperately to keep themselves from separating while spinning out of control.
"I hope so, sugah, because I'm gettin' dizzy," shouted Bunnie.
"I'm going to be sick," shouted Sally.
Without warning, the three of them plopped down onto dry ground.
"Whoa, let's do that again," said Sonic, jumping onto his feet.
As the dizziness wore off, they noticed a battle before them. Robotnik's robots were crowding around moving clumps of dirt in various shapes that crawled toward the robots on whatever passed for appendages. The statues kicked up dust from the rust colored ground as they lumbered toward the robots, unimpeded by their laser fire. Their bodies crumbled bit by bit with every fire from the robots' weapons. As some of the statues got closer, they swung their limbs at the robots, sending out screeches of metal against stone. Robotnik and Snively were running off toward the jagged rocks for cover.
"What in the hoo-ha is going on here?" asked Bunnie.
"Nicole," said Sally, holding her up, "identify!"
Nicole buzzed. "According to legend, some ancient societies had the power to animate masses of moving sand into life to use to protect cities and treasures. I believe these are the creatures of legend known as golems."
"Well, what in tarnation are they doing here?" asked Bunnie.
"I don't know, but we need to get out of here," said Sally. She noticed that Sonic was visually scanning the area in thought. "Sonic, what're you doing? We need to go."
"Do you guys notice something familiar about this place?"
Bunnie and Sally examined the desert. It was a wide expanse of dry soil stretched for miles save for eroded canyons and mountains to the north. In fact, it seemed very similar to...
"The Great Unknown?" said Sally in shock.
"Or at least a similar desert," said Sonic.
From out of the foray of golems and robots, a rhino-shaped golem charged toward the three, its long horn leveled to skewer them.
"Sonic, look out," shouted Sally.
"Hold on tight," shouted Sonic as he grabbed them by the arm, "cause we're juicing."
Sonic sped off into the shallow ravines, the rhino golem following close behind. He did not get far as he came to a halt at a dead end.
"Well that's strange," said Sonic. "In the Great Unknown we came from, the ravine isn't supposed to end here. It's supposed to be longer than this and wider."
The rhino appeared at the mouth of the ravine, charging toward them, its stone hooves clopping loudly against the ground. Sonic did a spin dash though the golem, smashing part of its front leg into a shower of sand, causing it to slide to a stop, but the grains easily reassembled themselves like flies clumping together, repairing the leg.
Bunnie punched the rhino in the face, but the grains of sand once again reassembled. She ducked as the rhino tried to gore her with its horn.
"What in tarnation is this thing?" shouted Bunnie as she dodged the golem's horn a second time.
Sonic spun through the golem again, plowing through it length wise, releasing a green colored crystal from within. When the crystal hit the ravine walls, it smashed into pieces with a soft crack. Once it shattered, the golem's body plopped onto the ground, leaving a pile of sand.
"What was that?" asked Sonic.
"I don't know but this is really strange," said Sally, picking up the shards of the green crystal. She pulled out Nicole. "Nicole, analyze."
"The crystal is not naturally formed. It appears to be an artificial crystal created through supernatural means as indicated by the ambient energies radiating from it."
Sonic tapped his foot impatiently. "In English, Nicole."
"The crystal is magical."
Sally put Nicole away, thinking to herself. "That's strange. Wizardry is a nearly extinct art, so what existing magic could make a pile of sand come to life?"
"Maybe Naugus did all this," suggested Sonic.
"Even if Naugus could create something like this, how could he unleash it here? We don't even know where we are. Sure, it somewhat looks like the Great Unknown, but we could easily be on another planet or dimension."
"Well, I think ya'll will need to look around some more," said Bunnie. "Let's see if we can get a better view from up there." She grabbed onto the handhold of the ravine and climbed up it.
"Bunnie, wait for us," said Sally.
They climbed up the rocks to the top.
"This is strange," said Sally, looking outward. "It does resemble the Great Unknown, but the shape of the mountains and canyons are a little different."
"And I don't remember that mountain over there," said Sonic.
"Sonic, I don't think that's a mountain," said Sally.
"Why not?"
"Because it's moving."
The mountain stood up on its own four legs like a huge behemoth with no facial features to speak of aside from a shapeless lump of sand for a head. The huge golem slowly marched along the dry land, its massive body swaying from side to side with every step. Every step let out a low thump, and sent soft tremors through the ground.
"I had no idea a golem could get that large," said Sally.
"And who're they over there?" asked Bunnie. In the distance were a group of figures waiting behind large boulders.
"Let's go see." Sonic grabbed Sally and Bunnie, leaped off of the ravine, and raced off for a closer look.
When they reached the clearing, the first figure they saw was a ruby red dragon who hunched behind a rock. Startled, Sonic hid behind some boulders. As the three of them examined the dragon, he looked no older than Dulcy back home, though he had curved horns sticking out of his head and spines running down his back, giving him a fiercer appearance. A band of animals armed with swords, clubs, and explosives were lined up beside him.
"What're they doing?" asked Bunnie
"I don't know, but it looks like they're setting up an ambush," said Sonic.
"And who's that dragon over there?" asked Sally.
The giant golem crawled toward the group, sending out shockwaves through the ground with every step. Sonic's sharp ears were close enough to hear the conversation of the animals.
"Tulo, are you sure about this?" asked a raccoon to the dragon.
"Of course, just aim for the legs," said Tulo. When he gave the signal, they all lit their explosives with flint and tinder and hurled them at the golem. The bombs exploded, obliterating the golem's front leg in a shower of sand. The golem showed no sign of pain, but it toppled over in a heap, kicking up dust. More bombs were thrown at the golem's head, however, most of the bombs bounced off of the golem and exploded onto the ground. Only one exploded near the golem, blasting part of its face.
When Tulo saw part of the golem's leg reform, he shouted, "Everyone, keep firing. I'll finish off the head." He took off over the golem, flying high over the explosions, and tossed another bomb at it. The bomb exploded another chunk off the head, but the head as a whole remained intact.
"We have to help them," said Sonic.
Sally protested. "But we don't know if they're..." Sonic rushed off into the foray. "...friendly."
Sonic spin dashed into the golem's arm, shattering it into pieces, much to the amazement of the onlookers. Sonic turned around and burrowed his way into the other four legs, causing the limbless golem to plop down onto the ground.
Tulo, who hovered overhead, saw Sonic in amazement. "What incredible speed and power."
The golem, with its crumbling face slowly reforming, knocked Tulo out of the air with a swat of its snout—or what passes for a snout—and Tulo was sent plummeting to the ground.
Bunnie rushed out and caught Tulo with one arm, grunting with the effort.
"What are...?"
"No time to explain, sugah. Just get back out there."
"R-Right." Tulo climbed out of Bunnie's arms and flew off. The rest of his warriors were scattered, running for their lives as smaller golems swarmed them to the giant golem's aid.
"Everyone, retreat," shouted Tulo.
They all ran from the golems except for Sonic who continued to pound at the giant golem's legs, keeping them from reforming. Once everyone was at a safe distance, Sonic followed them into a nearby crevice.
"Thank you for your help," said Tulo, "but who are you, strangers?"
"My name is Sally Acorn, and this is Bunnie Rabbot, and Sonic."
"My name is Tulo and these are my Freedom Fighters." Tulo motioned to the animals beside him.
"Freedom Fighters?" exclaimed Sonic in surprise.
"Oh yes, we came from a secret village in the Great Forest."
"The Great Forest?" parroted Bunnie, her mouth agape with surprise.
Tulo curiously stared at the surprised looks on their faces. "Uh, was it something I said?"
"It's nothing," said Sally.
"Nothing?" chimed in Sonic. "But that's exactly where—"
Sally jabbed him in the ribs with her left elbow.
"Where did you guys come from?" asked Tulo, confused.
"The One-Thousand Year Gate," answered Sonic. "Do you have any idea where we are?"
"I have no idea what the One-Thousand Year Gate is, but I do know you're currently in the middle of the Great Unknown."
"And could you take us to your hidden village?" asked Sally.
"But what about Ro-butt-nik?" asked Sonic.
"We still don't know what he's up to," said Sally. "We should at least take the time to understand where we are and what's happening. So Tulo, will you let us into your village?"
"We normally don't allow strangers into our village," said Tulo, "but you saved our lives when you could have let us die so I trust you. Hop on my back, and I'll take you to Knothole Village."