"Bastian, why is it taking so long to get to the Lazulian Sphynxes? I just walked through the Magic Mirror Gate not too long ago. Oh look, I'm back in the desert again, apparently." Atreyu said, ignoring that last comment I made.
"Before you actually go on any farther, Atreyu, why are they called the Lazulian Sphynxes?" I asked.
"I've heard that they are made out of the gem essence called Lapis Lazuli, found on certain islands in the Sea of Possibilities." Atreyu said.
"Oh! We have that in my world too! It's very valuable here too." I said
"So wait, you have gem essences in your world too?" Atreyu asked.
"We don't have just the essence, but we have whole gems. I wish I could show you one, but I don't have one on me. Hey wait, isn't the Auryn concidered a gem?" I asked.
"Actually, yes. I mean, we do refer to it the "Gem", sometimes." Atreyu said.
"Cool! You have gems in your world too!" I shouted.
"Seriously? If that's the case, maybe we were meant to both be the chosen Warriors." Atreyu said.
"Hey, what's that? I see two blue glowing objects in the distance. Is that them?" I asked.
"Yes." Atreyu started.
"They're gorgeous, and thankfully not as scary as the first ones." I said.
"I've never seen them before, only heard of them, since I've only lived out in the Grassy Ocean and really don't see anyone or anywhere outside my Tribe. Going on this journey with you this far has been amazing. I've seen so many things I've only heard about in passing. Don't you agree, Bastian?" Atreyu asked.
"It has been amazing, and I wouldn't have it any other way, Atreyu. When we save the world, you're definitely going to have to show me around." I said.
"No problem. We're best friends now, right?" Atreyu asked.
"Absolutely." I said.
"And here we are. That was quite a walk, wasn't it?" Atreyu asked.
"It was." I said.
"Welcome Atreyu. We are proud you have been able to get to us. But we have some most unsettling news, that you may be already aware." The left Lazulian said.
"About the Empress, I presume." Atreyu said.
"Yes. You are here to find a cure for her?" The right Lazulian asked.
"Not just that. I have seen the Warrior from Beyond the Boundaries at the Magic Mirror Gate, and I would like to know how he could get here." Atreyu asked.
"But he is already with you, isn't that enough?" The right Lazulian asked.
"Right, Bastian?" The two Lazulians chorused.
"Oh, looks like they know you're here, Bastian." Atreyu said.
"Of course. We know everything. Who would we be if we didn't?" The right Lazulian asked.
"Definitely not the Southern Oracle, dear sister." The left Lazulian laughed.
"Atreyu, was that supposed to be a joke?" I asked.
"I can't actually tell." Atreyu said.
"Our apologies, Warriors, we should not be making jokes at this time." The Lazulians chorused.
"But you are most lucky, Atreyu, you've already brought him this far. And Bastian, all you need to do, when Atreyu gets back to the Ivory Tower, is simply give the Empress a new name." The left Lazulian said.
"So, basically the Empress and her Assistant sent Atreyu and I on a wild goose chase, and I could've given her a new name in the beginning the whole time?" I asked.
"I agree with Bastian. Why didn't someone tell me sooner? He has been with me since I stepped forward at the Lotus Pavilion the first time? He could've done it right then and there!" Atreyu shouted.
"But, Atreyu. Maybe it was a chance for developing your character, now that I think about it. Kind of like Dorothy and her Ruby Slippers in the Wizard of Oz." Bastian offered.
"Who? And are there really slippers made of rubies?" Atreyu asked.
"Nevermind, I'll tell you after we save Fantasia." I said.
"Bastian is right. You possibly wouldn't be alive right now if you didn't leave your Tribe when you did." The left Lazulian said.
"I suppose you're right." Atreyu said, as both of the Lazulian Sphinxes started to crumble.
"What's happening? Are you two okay?" Atreyu shouted in worry to the Sphinxes.
"We are crumbling away, The raging storm is upon us." The left Lazulian said.
"But we are very glad we could help you. Now go, young ones. Do what you dream." The right Lazulian said as they crumbled into blue sand.
"Atreyu...you need to get out of there! We've got our answers! No more time! It's going to be now or never!" I shouted.
"Talk...to me...as I'm running! Where...do I go?!" Atreyu shouted in between breaths.
"You need to get back to Falkor as soon as possible!" I shouted.
"Got it!" Atreyu shouted, as he ran back through the crumbling Magic Mirror Gate.
"...Oh, man, this is bad. Hmm...maybe that Edward guy knew what he was talking about. Didn't the Magic Mirror Gate just get destroyed? That can't be a coincidence, Atreyu, as PageHoppers are normally very accurate." I said.
"It's probably...not...Bastian...!" Atreyu said as he ran through the now defunct Judgement Sphynx Gate, and all the way back up to Falkor.
"Falkor...where'd...Scientiste go?"Atreyu asked, hands on his knees, out of breath.
"He went to the other world to join his friends, and so did his wife." Falkor said.
"What's happening? Did the raging storm finally make it here?" Atreyu asked after he finally caught his breath.
"It looks that way, Atreyu. Quick! Get on my back, maybe there's a way we can still outrun it." Falkor said.
"Where are we going?" Atreyu asked.
"Back to the Ivory Tower, of course! We've got the Empress's cure, and the Warrior from Beyond the Boundaries! We have little time to waste now." Falkor said.
"But Falkor, that's the direction the raging storm followed us from! Are we just going to fly right through it and hope we make it out alive?" Atreyu asked.
"Falkor, please listen to Atreyu! This is insane! No one ever makes it through storms like that! I'd know! I've lived through quite a few hurricanes. Hurricanes are no joke." I said.
"Hurricanes?" Atreyu asked.
"Well, if you keep going in this direction you're going to fly into a Fantasian equivilant of a hurricane!" I shouted to Atreyu, but I directed that comment at Falkor.
"You've got the Auryn, and I've got luck, we should be fine. Actually, since we have the Warrior from Beyond the Boundaries with us too, we have both of the Auryns, which means twice the protection." Falkor said.
"Okay, Falkor, I hope you know what you're doing..." Atreyu said.
"I do too, Atreyu. I do too." I said.
Atreyu, and Falkor flew through the air, as quick as the fastest recorded lightning bolt. They were heading in the direction of the raging storm. The storm was the only obstacle in the way of Atreyu making it back to the Ivory Tower. But The Ruler clearly had other plans for him.
"This is perfect...he's heading right for the Realm of the Nothing. Go my Black Tails, bring Fantasia's Greatest Warrior to me!" The Ruler shouted and out poured all of his Black Tails, most staying as winds and rain, and some deciding to turn into fierce falcons and eagles, some even decided to turn into pitch black SuperSticions.
"Falkor! I told you this would be a bad idea, two Auryns and a Luck Dragon or not! We should turn back now!" Atreyu shouted over the winds and rain.
"Atreyu! Do you not trust me? I have gotten you out of trouble more times than you can count!" Falkor shouted over the winds and rain.
"And besides! Where would we turn back to?" Falkor shouted over the winds and rain.
"This may be dangerous, but Falkor's got a valid point." I said.
"Then, let's do this. FOR FANTASIA...!" Atreyu shouted as Falkor plunged into the storm.