Sonic, Antoine, Rotor, and Bunnie followed their princess almost immediately. The air around them felt tense with anticipation, each step carrying them further into the unknown. As the group reached the stone marker, Sonic's heel began its familiar rhythmic tapping against its stony exterior, the sound echoing faintly in the quiet.
The tapping had barely reached its fifth beat when the chair beneath them jolted violently. With a sudden, ear-piercing screech, the entire structure shot into the air, its occupants clinging desperately to its unyielding surface. Shouts and yelps of surprise filled the air as they soared over the temple wall. The chair landed unceremoniously on a series of ancient stone blocks, its rough descent jarring them to their core.
"Oh my stars, this must be the place!" Bunnie exclaimed, her voice trembling slightly as the shock of their unexpected journey began to wear off.
"It is," Sally gasped, springing to her feet with a determined look. Brushing herself off, she gestured ahead. "Come on!"
The Freedom Fighters scrambled after her, their curiosity and resolve reigniting as they approached the grand stone temple that loomed ahead. Its ancient walls seemed to pulse with an enigmatic energy, beckoning them inside.
The interior of the temple was unexpectedly modest, its darkened chamber no larger than one of their huts back in Knothole. Sunlight streamed in through a small opening in the ceiling, bathing a simple table in warm light. Upon it stood two vastly different models of the temple they had just entered, each containing a scroll of parchment.
The first model glittered tantalizingly, its intricate design carved from a solid block of gold. The second, by contrast, was a hastily constructed stick hut, its rough materials reminiscent of the makeshift shelters back in their forest home.
"Sally," Rotor said gently, his eyes flicking between the two models. "Why are there two scrolls?"
"One is fake," Sally replied, her posture stiffening as the weight of the situation settled over her. "If we approach the wrong platform, the temple will explode."
"Explode?" Antoine shrieked, his trembling hands flying to his mouth. His knees wobbled as he muttered a chorus of "Oh no, no, no," his panic threatening to overwhelm him.
Sonic took a cautious step forward, his sharp eyes narrowing as they darted from the gold model to the stick hut and back again. "Man, they sure don't make this easy," he muttered under his breath.
"Somewhere, there's an answer," Sally murmured, tapping her finger thoughtfully against her upper lip. Her mind raced as she struggled to piece the clues together.
"Hey!" Bunnie's voice broke through Sally's concentration, her tone bright with realization. "What about all those hieroglyphics Nicole's been translatin'?"
Sally's face lit up as Bunnie's suggestion sparked a revelation. "Yes, yes, yes!" she exclaimed, her excitement mounting. "The Arrow Stone! 'We each see things differently'—that's it!"
"It... it is?" Rotor asked uncertainly, confusion creasing his brow.
"Yes," Sally said, her voice steady as confidence surged through her. "We overcame the first obstacle, the chair, with our intelligence." She gestured toward Sonic, whose grin widened as he bowed theatrically.
"Thank you, thank you," Sonic said, his exaggerated display earning amused smiles from the group.
"And this," Sally continued, motioning toward the two models, "is the second degree of awareness: spirit."
"Yo, that's us—the Freedom Fighters!" Sonic said, catching on quickly.
"Yeah!" Rotor chimed in, glancing at Antoine and Bunnie. "We're survivors!"
As the group turned their focus back to the scrolls, their excitement gave way to quiet contemplation. The golden model was undeniably dazzling, its ornate structure radiating wealth and power. Yet, something about it felt wrong—its grandeur clashed with the essence of "spirit" as they understood it.
Their gaze shifted to the stick hut. Simple and unassuming, it was constructed from sticks and dry grass—the very materials that formed the foundation of their lives in Knothole. Its humble appearance resonated deeply with them, a poignant reminder of their unity and resilience.
In unison, their voices rang out, firm and certain: "That's it!"
"Only one way to find out," Sally said resolutely, taking a step forward. Her heart pounded in her chest as she approached the stick hut, the ethereal glow emanating from it growing brighter with each step. "I... can... do this," she whispered under her breath, her voice steadying her nerves.
Behind her, Antoine whimpered softly, his fear barely contained as the light intensified. The others held their breath, watching anxiously as Sally reached out. The mysterious glow engulfed her and the table in a sudden, blinding flash of light.
Sonic, Rotor, Bunnie, and Antoine instinctively shielded their eyes, their hearts racing. When the light finally faded, they uncovered their faces hesitantly, their gazes landing on Sally.
She stood before them, unscathed and holding the scrolls in her hands. Her calm smile and confident thumbs-up were enough to ease their worries.
"Sal?" Sonic called, his voice tinged with uncertainty. Her reassuring expression silenced his concerns.
Taking the fragile, ancient scrolls into her hands, Sally unrolled one carefully and handed it to Bunnie. Removing Nicole from her boot, she steadied herself and commanded, "Nicole, translate."
The device blinked and beeped before speaking: "Translation: The Sacred Scrolls of Maga contained herein are the Seven Wonders of Mobius. Powerful natural wonders, but dangerous if misused."
Nicole paused, and Sonic couldn't help but tap his foot impatiently. "Nicole, we're waiting," he said, his tone light but expectant.
"The first wonder is the wind tunnel called: The Breath of Mobius."
"Blowhole," Rotor said with a small grin, earning a smirk from Sonic.
"That's where the big wind came from," Sonic added. "Cool. What's next?"
"Courage," Sally replied, her expression turning serious.
"Say what?" Sonic asked, frowning in confusion.
Sally powered down Nicole and returned it to her boot before continuing. "There are three degrees of awareness," she explained, taking the scrolls back from Bunnie. "The last test is courage."
A sudden grinding noise broke through the room, the sound of stone against stone reverberating ominously. The group gasped as a false wall slid aside, revealing a shadowy figure.
Their hearts sank as Robotnik stepped forward, his sinister grin widening as his eyes locked on the scrolls in Sally's arms.
"Surprise," he purred, his voice dripping with malice.