A/N: Again, inaccuracies probably abound in this fic, so be forewarned. This chapter took a bit more thought than the first, but only a bit more ^_^ 'Tis why it took me so long to write. Enjoy! Thanks for the reviews.

For Mature Readers Only Chapter 2 – The Oracle

"So have you seen her, Falcor?"

Falcor shook his head. "I've only heard rumors, actually. And she refuses to let anyone see her. Therefore I can only tell you what I've heard. But I imagine that it's true."

Bastian shook his head. "This is all too much…" he muttered. "I can only imagine what she's like now. So you say she isn't dying, though?"

"No. She would have announced that, you know."

"Not necessarily. She probably remembers the last time that happened; everyone got all upset and panicked. Everyone instantly lost hope."

Falcor chuckled. "Not everyone panicked, Bastian. There were those of us who kept our heads and wits about us. But at that time, it was hard not to get upset. After all, she is the center of our world. And the most we could do was our best. We certainly did that. But it was you, Bastian, who brought us back. You are the keeper of our world, whether you like it or not. The very instant you made the decision to keep Fantasia alive was the moment you became our life."

Bastian could only stare at Falcor, trying not to acknowledge the tears welling up in his own eyes as Falcor smiled and winked. Those were powerful words…powerful, and at the same time, condemning. He had brought Fantasia back, and had basically forgotten it for the last ten years.

Feeling a rise of indignation, he reminded himself that he would have remembered if the Empress had called on him. After all he couldn't really go back if he wasn't needed, now could he? However, he really didn't believe that. These people weren't just those he'd saved a long, long time ago…they had once been his closest friends.

Perhaps it was reality and its demand to get rid of any sort of fantasy. Sure, he might try to write it, but it was one thing to have actually lived it. Real life was the anti-fantasy, the anti-imagination. Where was room for imagination when your father was lying in a hospital, close to death? Bastian felt his chest tighten in a mixture of sadness and rage. This was all so messed up. What if he didn't manage to return before his father died?

He didn't even know if he could help them again. Especially because he wasn't a child now. How could he help them if he didn't have the imagination of a child anymore?

Falcor seemed to read Bastian's thoughts, as he sighed, and shook his head. "Bastian…anything that I could say to you would not take away your fears. I merely ask you this…do not worry. Go, talk to the Southern Oracle, and listen to what She has to say. You can make your decision from there."

Bastian nodded. "I think that I can do that."

Falcor smiled. "Good."

****

Engywook returned from the little cave, his arms full of a stack of rolled up notes and maps. He dumped them on the ground and pulled one of his notes out, unrolling it for Bastian to look at. Bastian, of course, had to lean down and squint to see the tiny writing.

"Now listen closely," the little man said sternly, shaking his finger at Bastian. "The Southern Oracle has two gates. One, is the sphinxes. They are not the hardest gate, but possibly the most dangerous as they will kill you should you tarry too long. The second gate is the mirror, into which you will look and see your true self. This is the hardest gate. Most people go crazy if they stare into it for too long. The bravest man might see a coward, and the coward might see a brave warrior. All of it depends on them."

"I've seen this before," Bastian said. "Atraiu looked into the mirror and saw me. Will I look into the mirror and see Atraiu?"

"No," Falcor answered. "At the time, you were living his adventure. There is no one living yours but yourself."

"So I'll just see myself, then, right? Doesn't sound so hard."

"Ah, but who is your true self?" Engywook asked, pointing his finger directly at Bastian's nose. "You haven't seen him yet. He could be someone that you would never expect."

Bastian sighed. "So what about the first gate? Don't I have to get past it first?"

"Indeed. As you have said, you have seen this before. Go up to the gate and RUN as fast as you can through the sphinxes, preferably before their eyes open. Run, and do not slow down."

"No problem there," Bastian muttered, remembering the knight who ended up char-grilled to grisly perfection. He shuddered, and took a deep breath. "Well, let's get this over with."

***

Bastian hugged Falcor once more before following Engywook and his crook-nosed wife up the small hill of rocks. The little people riding, of course, in their little basket to the top. At the top was a small telescope, and in the distance Bastian could see the brilliant golden light that seemed to beckon him. He shuddered again and forced himself not to get anxious. That could wait for when he spoke to the Oracle.

Engywook chuckled at the expression on Bastian's face and hopped over to his telescope. "Ah, they're as bright as ever tonight. Come, have a look."

Bastian knelt down and peered through the telescope, gazing at the two golden sphinxes on each side of the canyon. Their eyes were closed. He wished they would stay closed. Forever. But, aside from the 'look-of-death' aspect of it, they were remarkably beautiful. Stunning, in fact.

He stood back up and dusted the dirt off the knees of his jeans. "Well, I guess I'll be going now."

Engywook gulped, and nodded. "Good luck."

Bastian smiled. "Thanks." As he started down the hill to the canyon, he could hear Engywook start sobbing behind him. He rolled his eyes. This couldn't be so hard. Could it? Of course, Atraiu had a couple of close-calls, but that's because he hadn't had a clue what was going on. Right?

Either way, he was going to find out pretty soon.

Bastian walked slowly towards the sphinxes, somewhat wanting his little trip there to be as long as possible. He began talking out loud to himself. "What the hell am I doing here? I should be visiting my father as much as possible. Or I could be at home, grieving my extremely failed test, listening to Anna gripe about her latest crush, or perhaps sleeping. Yes, sleep would be nice. I would certainly like some sleep about now…but no, I'm here. I'm walking along this really dark and dismal canyon towards two glowing statues of death. Why am I doing this again? I mean, I know that Fantasia loves me and I used to be their hero and all but…oh god, this is getting so old. I'm starting to sound like a broken record even to myself."

No matter how slowly he walked, he still eventually had to get there. He felt his stomach lurch when he briefly glanced at the rusty metal of what probably used to be a suit of armor. Whoa, it was still here…that was amazing. And to think…if he got fried to a crisp, he'd still be lying there in another ten years, too. That was comforting. He grimaced.

He stopped, and looked up at the statues. They really were huge…huge, and deadly. Thankfully they hadn't opened their eyes yet. He started to think that he really shouldn't be standing there just staring at them…oh no, it was too late.

The shards of light peeked through as both sets of eyes began to slowly open. Bastian froze, and could only stand there in horror. He willed himself to move, but to no avail. He could only stare at that blinding light, looking back and forth as each one's eyes opened, and he suddenly felt as though he were in a dream…one of those dreams that he was being chased by something and couldn't run. If he just closed his eyes, he would wake up, and this would really be a dream like all the other times. He would be asleep at his desk; it would probably be time for that test now, actually…unless he missed it already. No…no…if he closed his eyes, he would wake up.

But he couldn't close his eyes, either, and the sphinxes eyes were now fully open. Bastian braced himself for the blast of a lifetime and silently prayed for it to be quick, squeezing his eyes shut.

Nothing.

For a moment he wondered if he was really dead. After all he hadn't felt a thing, and surely he would be feeling a lot worse if he were alive. He braved a look; yes, the eyes were still open. Both sets of eyes gazed down at him, such a blinding white that he had to shield his eyes with his hand. He was very confused; why weren't they attacking? Were they just waiting until he came closer?

And then a loud voice came out of nowhere and nearly scared him out of his wits, "What is your purpose for being here?"

Bastian looked around, seeing nothing, and then looked back up at the sphinxes. Well, there was no one else…but they had never talked before, had they? Normally they just killed anyone who went through…they didn't exactly try to start up a conversation. However, Bastian quickly reminded himself that while this was unexpected, he really shouldn't complain.

"What was that?" he asked.

"What is your purpose for being here?"

"Purpose for being here?" Bastian repeated. "You mean, why I want to see the Southern Oracle?"

"Why are you in Fantasia?"

"I came because I was called here," Bastian said. "Why? Doesn't the Oracle know that already?"

"The Oracle knows why you were called. She does not know why you are here. You do not belong here."

Bastian felt something akin to a knife being plunged through his chest at those words. Indeed, he'd felt that way from the beginning…actually ever since he'd opened his eyes one morning and realized he was no longer a child. If such things occurred. He'd known he didn't belong from the second he'd opened his eyes and found himself in Fantasia. But that didn't change the fact that he was there, and there was no way to get back. Or perhaps there was no way he could go back without trying to help them.

And he needed to find out just what was going on first.

"I'm here because my help was requested," Bastian replied. "To repay the Empress for all that she ever did for me. I could never refuse her."

"It was not her place to call you."

"Nevertheless, I'm here. I will do what I can."

"Are you certain that your help is needed?"

Again, another stinging blow. Bastian wanted to ask them what their problem was, but thought the better of it.

"No, I'm not certain," he replied. "But if I can help, I want to. And to do that I need to speak to the Southern Oracle."

The sphinxes were silent a moment, as though mulling over his reply. "Very well," they said. "Be quick."

"I intend to," Bastian said, and walked through, half-expected them to suddenly fire off and fry him into tiny bits. But the sphinxes were calm, still, though their horribly watchful eyes were still on him as he passed. He suppressed yet another shudder, and instead thought about Engywook's reaction to all of this, a smirk crossing his lips. The sphinxes eyes closed as he reached the other side, and disappeared into the realm of the Southern Oracle, where everything went white.

***

Engywook was more than surprised at the sphinx's behavior.

"WHAT??!! He just walked right on through! HOW??? WHY??? Oh dear, oh dear, this is far too much for my heart to take."

***

Snow, everywhere, rushing into his face and stinging his skin, his eyes, his lips. He was chilled straight through to the bone, and shivering uncontrollably, but now was no time to stop. Nor could he turn back. It was so cold, though…so cold. He held his hand up to his face in an attempt to shield his eyes from the snow, but it was in vain as the blizzard was so thick that he could barely see two inches in front of his face. However, he continued on, stumbling through the white haze in what he hoped was a straight line.

Again he asked himself why he was there. Really, his answer had given the sphinxes enough reason to let him pass, but what was it for? Would Fantasia again be reduced to nothing? Would he once again have to revive it? He didn't know if he had any wishes left…except one. That his father would live. Any other wishes he might have possessed seemed irrelevant at that point.

It wasn't long before his thoughts were interrupted by the realization that there was something ahead. Something shiny and equally as white as the snow blinding his vision. It was no doubt the mirror, and Bastian picked up his speed, coming to stop before the clear glass that seemed to shimmer with life. He stared at it, and waited with an anxiously beating heart to see his 'true self'.

He stood there for what was probably five minutes, and no reflection came onto the mirror. Bastian frowned, and leaned forward until his nose almost touched the glass…still no reflection. All he could see was endless darkness, not even a reflection of his body. It was like he was staring at a wall.

What did it mean? Either the mirror was broken, or there was something seriously wrong with him. Bastian wanted to believe the first option, but something inside of him told him that the latter was true. Either way, he wouldn't know unless he asked the Oracle…which was next. He lifted one hand, and moved to place it on the glass of the mirror, but instead his hand went right through it. Of course…it had been a door, as well. He remembered that now. Taking a deep breath, he stepped through.

***

A/N: Stay tuned for The Southern Oracle in Chapter 3, and for some questions to be answered. Such as what's the deal with the mirror?