InsaneJournal

Who: Carter Manning & everyone going to The Forever Tale premiere
What: The premiere of The Forever Tale
Where: The movie theater
When: February 14th, 8pm
Rating: Medium (some suggestive lyrics in the movie), but mostly pretty low.


Carter’s stomach was jumping with anxiety tonight. This was the night of the premiere of what he had to say was the most challenging movie he had ever done. Sure Not Silent Hill had zombies and a bunch of make up and stunts and stuff, but it didn’t have so much music and he didn’t have to do most of the music himself. But he was please with how it turned out and he hoped that everyone else felt the same way. However, there was that little part of him that feared that they’d all hate it. That there would be boos and he’d never be able to show his face again. That he’d never be as big as the Big Three. However he took a deep breath and made his way into the theater and took his seat right in the middle of the VIP section right in between Grace and Abby. More people filtered in and he smiled at the fact that some of them dressed up just like his last premiere. Once people had been seated the lights dimmed and the crowd quieted. The butterflies that had calmed down slightly seemed to have multiplied and sprung alive again. He almost felt like he was going to be sick so he took Grace and Abby’s hands and gave them an excited squeeze. Then the curtains open and the movie began.

The opening scene was just a view of stars and then there is the voice of Lucy Ramsey,

“Many years ago, when the human race was still quite young another world was being formed. It was different from most, it was a world that no one could see through a telescope or point out in the night sky. It was a world full of fantastical creatures and magic. The world was called Fantasma. While it was hidden from most, there were a select few who were permitted to visit, children, ones who were chosen. The magic of the world itself chose who was worthy, who was worthy of being Fantasma’s hero, who was worthy to have the magic the current hero was granted. Each hero must pass it on to the next one chosen, the magic knows, or they must return it to the world through the text…the book…the portal to the other world. One of the greatest and most well known heroes was a young boy named Bastian, Bastian Blake.” And image appeared on the screen of Simon Elwood walking in pristine setting looking around in awe. He then looks at something just behind the camera. “Bastian had many adventures, he had saved Fantasma from countless things that could have destroyed the world and all its creatures. Such great feats earned him the honor to speak with the Eternally Youthful Queen, the ruler of the land.” Camera cuts to Ingrid Anderson sitting on a giant white bed wearing a gown of pure white spread around her and a simple tiara on her head. She smiles gently and cuts back to Simon who bows to her and she laughs. He stands upright and laughs himself. “Surprisingly the two formed a deep friendship and Bastian looked forward to his visits to see his dear friend, his dear friend who never changed. When they first met he was a young boy, much younger than her, then, as all children do, he grew while she did not. It came to a point where he was older than her, but it bothered him not, it was the way things were. Usually Bastian only had to wait a few months or at the most a year between adventures…however…he has not been called for six years. At first he assumed that Fantasma was safe he wasn’t needed, but then he grew angry thinking they had replaced him. He locked the book away deciding that if they were going to forget about him…he’d forget about them. However….little did Bastian know that Fantasma was facing its greatest crises and he’d be needed more than ever. He was about to embark on his greatest adventure of all…his final adventure in The Forever Tale.”

Music swells as The Forever Tale appears on the screen then bursts into sparkles and falls down.

A soft voice (Grace Bailey’s) is whispering through the darkness, “Bastian, Bastian please, come back to us...we need your help…I need your help Bastian, please. Bastian, Bastian, Bastian.” The voice got louder and higher, “Bastian, Bastian.” Close up on Bastian’s (Julius Hudson) eyes as they shoot open and lock on a young girl (Stephanie Anderson) is crouched on his stomach, “BASTIAN!!” Julius shoots up and grabs her around the waist,

“Gwen! What are you doing in my room, get out!” She shakes her head,

“Nope, Daddy said you need to get your lazy bum up or you’ll be late…but he did tell me that about ten minutes ago, but Dora was on.” Bastian’s eyes widen as he glances over at his clock.

“Aw, shi…” notes his little sister in the room, “oot. I’m gonna be late!” Focuses on Gwen with Bastian’s legs running back and forth in front of her as she giggles. He throws his bag on his shoulder and glances over at her and throws her over his shoulder as he heads downstairs. Bastian puts her down and says to figure off camera, “Next time don’t have her be my alarm clock.” He then heads and jumps on his bike on his way to school.

Next shot cuts to him pulling up to school and parking his bike. Then to hallway as he rushes into classroom and sits down breathing heavily. Guy his age leans forward, (Nico Spinelli)

“Made is just in time bro, what was it this morning?”

“My dad thought Gwen was an appropriate alarm clock and Dora was on.”

“Ah, got it.” Leans back in his seat. The whisper is heard again, focuses on Bastian’s face,

“Bastian, please, help me.” He shakes his head to get it out.

Cuts to lunch time Bastian is holding his tray. He freezes as his eyes focus on something off camera. Cuts to girl (Sasha Santa-Cruz). Light twinkles behind her and she moves in slow motion. Cuts back to Bastian who has a dopey smile on his face.

“Oh hi Bastian, you got my science homework.”

“Huh, oh yeah.” Bastian reaches in his bag and pulls out the paper,

“Thanks so much, you’re a life saver.” She turns to leave but he grabs her arm to stop her,

“Hey, Beth, I was wondering if, I dunno you wanted to you know, go out sometime or something.” Beth tilts her head to the side,

“Oh Bastian, you’re really sweet, but I need an older guy, someone more grounded. With those stories you write it tells me your head is in the clouds and they are so detailed it makes me think that you’re starting to think they’re real. But I can’t be your Eternally Youthful Queen. I’m sorry.” She gives him another sad smile then goes off.

“The Eternally Youthful Queen is like nine…that’s jailbait…I don’t like jailbait.” He shakes his head and sits across from his friend.

“So…what happened?”

“Shot down, apparently she wants, ‘An older more grounded guy.’”

“Then what is she doing with Mikey?” His friend motions with his head over Bastian’s shoulder. He turns to see Beth smiling flirtatiously at guy. Turns back to his friend,

“But Mikey’s just a junior. I’m a senior. He’s younger than me like a year.”

“Maybe she thinks you’re a sophomore,” he says with a shrug. Bastian glares at him,

“Why on earth would she think I’m a sophomore?”

“I don’t know dude, maybe it’s those stories you write I mean honestly dude you make yourself the main character, I mean at least change the name or whatever. Maybe she sees it as childlike wonder.” Bastian glances behind him then back to his friend,

“But I was here before her, how on earth would she explain that or how I’m a sophomore.”

“I don’t know dude, she’s kind of stupid.” Bastian nods,

“You’re right, she is stupid.”

“Hot, but stupid,” his friend adds.

“She’s nothing compared to your princess, damn she sounds hot.”

“My what?”

“That chick, you know in your story, the whatever whatever Queen?”

“The Eternally Youthful Queen,” Bastian looks at him disgusted, “Dude she’s like nine, why does everyone think she’s the love interest in my story, she’s nine.” His friend shrugs,

“I don’t know I just imagine that she’s gonna grow up to be really hot and your and her character are gonna hook up.”

“Dude, she’s the Eternally Youthful Queen, Eternally Youthful…she doesn’t age…ever…she’s has always been nine.”

“But still…if she grew up I bet she’d be hot.” Bastian is about to retort then seems to pause to think about it,

“Actually you’re right, she’s be really pretty if she was older.”

“Just my suggestion dude, in your next piece Eh-Que should get older and you two should hook up.”

“Ick? Who is ick?”

“Not ick man, Eh-Que. Like EYQ, Eternally Youthful Queen, like a nick name, Eh-Que.”

“Still sounds like ick and she’s not ick at all.”

“So she is hot.”

“Dude she’s nine!”

“BASTIAN!!” the voice screams. Bastian grabs his head.

“Dude you okay.”

“Yeah, yeah, just a headache. I’m fine.”

Cut.

Bastian enters through door. Shot of Gwen sitting on the floor holding and ornate book with The Forever Tale branded on it.

“What are you doing with that?” She glances up at him,

“I found it up in the attic and I want it.”

“It’s mine though,” Bastian yells. Gwen shoots back as she holds the book to her,

“You left it in the attic and your name’s not on it so I wanted it and it’s mine now.”

“No it’s not, give it back.” Bastian makes a grab for it. She pulls it tighter and turns away,

“DADDY!!” Bastian hushes,

“Shhh, shhh, fine, have it. See if I care.” Bastian turns to leave and close up on his face before he heads up the stairs,

“Is this where those stories you told me came from?” A bittersweet smile comes to his face,

“Yeah, kinda.”

“Oh, cause personally Bastian is being a real jerk. She keeps calling for him and he ignores her, what a jerk.” Bastian turns,

“What? She?”

“The queen? She keeps calling for Bastian’s help and he keeps ignoring her, he thinks he’s imagining it, or he’s still bitter that they’ve waited so long to call him back.”

“Well, maybe she should have kept in touch.”

“I think she was a little busy ruling the kingdom. Also shouldn’t he be happy that he did such a good job last time that they didn’t protection for a while.”

“Still, they could have called him back just to catch up, he probably feels used.”

“But she’s dying!” Bastian freezes,

“Dying?” Gwen nods. “And no one knows what to do, Bastian is there only hope. If I was their hero I’d go back and save her, I’d at least try, that’s more than Bastian is doing. I hope they kill him off, he’s a jerk.” Bastian is still stunned. “Bastian, are you listening to me?” He is shaken out of his shock,

“Yeah, yeah, he’s a jerk. Hey Gwennie, can I just….borrow that book for tonight. I promise I’ll give it right back, I just…am inspired and want to write the next part of the story for you. Let me redeem Bastian in you eyes.”

“Okay…he better not still be a jerk.”

“I promise.” She holds out the book and Bastian grabs it and sparkles seem to erupt when he touches the book and it starts to glow. He races upstairs and opens the book.

“Bastian please,” the voice cries.

“Don’t worry, I’m coming.” He places his hand on the open pages and there is a bright light and it cuts to the light fading and Bastian opening his eyes. A grin spread on his face,

“I’m back.” Cuts to a wide landscape shot of Fantasma. There are vast meadows with flowers and trees twisting into shapes all around and there is the Crystal Tower atop several waterfalls. Cuts back to his face as his smile falls, “the queen.” He starts to run cut.

Cuts to him running in the entry way to the room atop the tower. The crowd murmurs and part the way to let him through. He makes his way to the door and knocks gently before entering and the same voice is heard.

“Bastian please, come back. I need your help.” The room is pitch dark and there is a shot of his silhouette appearing in the doorway,

“I’m here. What’s wrong, why is it so dark in here.”

“Oh Bastian it’s horrible, I’m too ashamed to let you see me like this.”

“I can’t very well help you if I can’t see what is wrong. Please my Queen, you can trust me.” There is silence before a meek voice says,

“Yes…yes you are right Bastian. I trust you above any else. Just please…do not be horrified by my appearance.” The lights flicker on and cut to Bastian blinking trying to adjust to the sudden change in light. Then he looks off camera and gapes. Cut to The Eternally Youthful Queen (Grace Bailey) and slow pan up from her feet up to her head. Her figure is still glowing in the ethereal way her younger self did. Pull back to full shot, “You see Bastian, it is simply horrible, I’m horrifying aren’t I?”

Cut to Bastian has a goofy smile on his face, the same when he saw Beth, “Horrifying isn’t the word I’m looking for.”

“Oh Bastian please it’s awful simple awful.” Bastian shakes his head slowly,

“No…it’s nice.” The queen looks away a faint blush on her cheeks.

“Bastian there is no time for that, think straight please, I am the Eternally Youthful Queen, I am not supposed to age. But look at me I’ve grown. If this continues Fantasma will be no more.” She buries her head in her hands and cries. Bastian goes over next to her and holds her in his arms and pats her back awkwardly.

“Now, personally I think you’re overreacting a bit, but you are the queen and I won’t question you. While I don’t think your hideous or anything, far from it actually, I do admit what has happened as quite strange and not normal and you are vulnerable. Have you spoken to the oracles?” She shakes her head,

“No, they are far from here and never venture from their post. Also very few have ever gone to see them and survived to return. You are one of the few.”

“And I believe I’m the other,” a voice off camera says. Bastian and the Queen look at the doorway there stands Artran (Alfie Tibbits). Bastian stands up and approaches him,

“Artran.”

“It has been too long my old friend,” Artran turns to address the queen, “Now my queen tell me….whoa. You’ve grown…that is troubling.” Bastian glances between the two of them,

“But you’ve grown too.”

“It is normal for my people to age and grow Bastian, we are not magical nor immortal like the queen. Her growing is not a good thing.” Bastian shrugs,

“Well I don’t exactly consider it a bad thing, but it isn’t normal that is for sure.”

“You both must go to the oracles to find out what is causing this,” the queen says. Artran shakes his head,

“Your Highness, that will not work. The oracles only can give answers questions regarding the person asking. You would have to ask yourself.”

“Well that settles it then,” Bastian says then turns back to the Queen, “You’re coming with us.”

“Are you mad, I can’t leave, not like this, my people will panic,” the queen said now rising from her seat.

“Then for this trip you are not the queen, you are a normal girl, maybe a girl from my tribe, you will travel with us in secret, majesty it is the only way,” Artran says. The queen looks worried then nods,

“It is the only way.”

“Her highness isn’t going anywhere without me,” a high pitched voice says. All people turn to see a three foot tall skinny blue creature that looked like some kind of dragon. Bastian smiles,

“I wouldn’t expect her to, not with you around Grandu.”

“Good for you to acknowledge that Hero Bastian, I am the Queen’s guardian and I must be around to protect her in this fragile state.” The group holds in their smiles then all nod. Cut.

Shows a shot of Artran on a horse with Grandu perched on his back, and right behind him Bastian and the Queen on a horse. The Queen has on a long brown hooded cloak to hide her appearance. A few quick shots show them going through the surrounding villages. Then a somewhat barren land. There is silence between them. Focus on Bastian, who glances back,

“So…since we’re supposed to be secretive about you being with us…what should we call you? Calling you highness or anything wouldn’t exactly be very secretive.” She glances up,

“I don’t know, I don’t have another name. How about you give me one Bastian. A name from your world.” Bastian gave a little smile then bit his lip,

“Well it’s not going to be Eh-Que.”

“What? What is Eh-Que?” Bastian gave a little laugh,

“It’s just….you know what never mind.” A little silence, “Way to put the pressure on me, giving you a name, that’s big. Finding one that fits.” He glances back at her, “Well…you’re really graceful…how about Grace.” She smiles and looks out,

“Grace…I like it. Thank you Bastian, on this mission I shall be Grace.” She leans her head on his back and he smiles. Cut.

Next show shows Artran holding up his hand and halting the horses.

“We have to go on foot from here.” Cuts to Bastian helping Grace down she slips and he grabs her a bit too tightly,

“Oh I’m sorry.” He places her down gently and blushes,

“It’s okay. You okay.”

“Yes of course,” both look away from each other and blush.

“Come on this way,” Artran says. Montage of the group going through a jungle. Artran and Bastian are cutting away the vines and bushes to get their way through. Grandu is perched on Bastian back. Then they come upon a cave that glows slightly with a blue glow.

“You three go it, they usually only accept creatures with magic, getting out alive was most likely a one time deal. I don’t want to push my luck,” Artran says. Grace and Bastian nod and the two enter with Grandu waddles in behind them on his short stubby legs. There are two identical sparkly blue creatures. Bastian goes down on one knee and Grace simply bows her head. Grandu throws himself to the ground before them. The two creatures speak in unison in a sing-songy tone,

“Your royal highness, you have grown, time seems to be trying to catch up to you. That is troubling.”

“Please great oracles, I have been growing faster than even a normal human mortal. I must stop it and you know why. Please what is causing this?”

“Of course we know why. If you take on the appearance of an eighteenth cycle, magic is lost and Fantasma fall to pieces.” The two giggle. “Hero Bastian, long time you took to come to your queen aid? Why?” Bastian looks down guilty,

“It had been six year and I hadn’t been called, I was hurt and felt like I was nothing more than just someone to fix their problems. I thought we were more, friends.”

“We are Bastian, but we shouldn’t be,” Grace says desperately.

“What? Why?” She looks down sad,

“Because if we form a friendship we risk the chance of getting too attached and it will hurt more when we have to say goodbye…forever.”

“Forever, what are you talking about?”

“He hasn’t been told yet, has he,” the oracles reply.

“Told me what,” Bastian asks looking back at Grace and the oracles desperately. The oracles smile,

“It is the classic tale of the creator, when the creator made this world magic was granted to few and there was a rule applied to prevent it from being misused. Innocence needed to still be intact. Cynicism and selfishness needed to not exist. Magic was taken before that would happen. So it is with the hero magic. Creator made is so. Hero is chosen by magic and must pass on to magic to the next one before it disappears for good. Magic knows the next hero, always has and always will.”

“Wait a minute,” Bastian looks over at Grace, “You mean I’m not the only hero…I’m just one of many?” She nods,

“You are upset, that is why we rarely tell the hero until right before they leave their final time…this time may be your last Bastian, I’m sorry but you are getting close to the time where the magic will leave you. You must return home and pass it on to the next hero. If not Fantasma will have no hero.”

“Well why can’t I just keep it, I’m still innocent, I’m not selfish.” Grace shakes her head,

“It doesn’t work that way, it is the rule of magic, once you reach adulthood magic is taken away. Greed settles in once adulthood hits, it’s inevitable.”

“But I’m not I’m different,” Bastian says taking her hands.

“The rules cannot be changed for you Bastian I am sorry.” He runs a hand through his hair. The oracles smile,

“If magic was kept by hero soon they would wonder why a small girl was in change they would think they could do better. But little would they know that the Creator has more power than anyone could possible comprehend.”

“What a minute, who is this Creator you keep talking about?”

“Me…I’m the Creator,” Grace says. Bastian stares at her stunned,

“You mean you…” She nods with a small smile,

“I created this whole world and everything in it. Everything is a part of me and a part of me is in everything, we are eternally linked.” Realization dawns on Bastian’s face,

“That’s what you meant, if you get to the physical age of adulthood, you’ll lose your magic and no longer be linked to Fantasma and it will be destroyed. That’s why you were eternally young.” Grace nods,

“I used to even be younger than that but I had to be locked away to keep Fantasma safe and we needed a hero, so I pushed some of my magic so hard into another world. That made me age to the age you remember me of.”

“You mean in the beginning you were an infant, but then how would you have ever communicated what you wanted from us?”

“She is the Creator, she would make it so,” the oracles said.

“How many cycles have you passed Bastian?” Grace asked,

“Seventeen,” Bastian says with his eyes downcast, “that means in a few months in my world I will be the age of adulthood and I can never return.

“I am sorry Bastian, I wish it were not so,” Grace says. The oracles eyes glow white their hair begins to float around them

“Bastian Blake, the magic will know who is next, someone with an imagination and innocence as great as you. We foresee it is your princess.”

“Princess, you have a princess in your world,” Grace asks.

“No….it’s Gwen…my sister is the next hero?”

“Yes….the princess Gwen…the magic has chosen her since her birth…a great hero she shall be.”

“Wait you haven’t yet answered, what is causing the Queen to age? What will become of her?”

“The Queen shall die.” Bastian glances at Grace who has gone pale. Grandu gives a little whimper. “But Fantasma can still be saved, follow the trail of age and death and you will find your answer.” Their hair falls down limp again and their eyes return to normal, “We have told you all we can…the journey and the answer must come to you alone. The journey to them is the answer, the journey will aid in your success. Now go. Time is growing short.” Cut.

Artran is sitting outside tracing patterns in the dirt with a stick. The sky quickly turns dark and he glances up,

“What on earth?” Then quick close up on his face as he gasps and is overtaken by darkness.

Cuts to him coming to bound to a chair. His surroundings are dark like a cave with only a few candles. Two female creatures who look to be covered in tar and charcoal with glowing yellow eyes approach him,

“He awakens my mistress,” one of the creatures.

“About time too, I was growing impatient,” a cloaked figure approaches him.

“Who are you? What do you want from me?” Artran asks as he struggles against his restraints.

“You my dear boy, I want nothing from you per say. I am after what my mother was after before me. I want the Creator’s magic, I want to rule all of Fantasma.” She pulls back her hood to reveal her glowing red eyes and long blond hair that has black lowlights woven in.

“Zhandala,” Artran snarls, “we should have known. You’re what’s behind the Queen’s illness, you don’t understand what you’re doing if she dies Fantasma will be destroyed, you will be destroyed as well, you will have nothing to rule. You will fail just as your mother Xayide failed.”

“Do not speak of my mother, she was foolish and put too much faith in the selfishness of humans from the other world. I will not make the same mistake. I will just tweak with nature a bit and let things run its course.” Zhandala (Laney Evans) circled Artran, “Making her age is more than just making her magic wane, it causing something deep inside those who age.” She leans down to whisper in his ear, “Feelings.”

“Feelings, feelings,” the two creatures approach and start to stroke his face. Zhandala leans back, “the desire for a mate arises, you make that one person more important to you than any other. Initially I suspected it would be you. The hero from her world who she has known her whole life. But no…it was the human boy Bastian, how tragic. She knows she can’t keep him and he knows that she cannot come with him. They have to be apart forever nothing can change that.” She removes her cloak to reveal a completely black outfit, “Now I just need to decide what to do with you. Pity I initially had thought I’d have to work with the human boy. Much more pliable than you.” She moves in to stroke his cheek and he jerks away. “So reluctant, don’t worry my dear, you’ll see it my way soon enough.” She steps back and her two creatures come aside her and she starts to sing. Throughout the number she throws different ingredients into her cauldron and her creatures start stroking his hair. At one point she sits on his lap and leans in and laughs at how she can’t be saved. Then the creatures force his mouth open and she and them continue starting at him singing as he starts to convulse. When the song ends he opens his eyes which have gone red and bares fangs.

“Perfect.” Zhandala cackles. Now a little cover to hide you appearance from your friends. Now you will lead them here and kill Bastian with this,” She waves her hand over his face and he looks as he did before and the creatures bring forth his sword, “It is infused with a deadly poison, only fatal to mortals. So leave the Queen to me, by the time she gets here she will be so weak she won’t be able to fight me from stealing her magic and power of Creator.” Artran smiles at her,

“Yes my mistress.” Cut.

Bastian, Grace, and Grandu exit the cave all looking crushed. Artran is sitting where he once was,

“What did the oracles say? Nothing good I can see.” Bastian bites his lip,

“They said the Queen is going to die, but Fantasma will survive somehow. They said to follow the age and death and we will find the cause. But I have no idea what that means.”

“Maybe they mean that,” Artran motions with his head for Bastian to look behind him where there are a grouping of petrified trees. Grace gasps,

“My beautiful forest, what has happened to you?” She gently touches the tree, “There are so many.”

“That’s the way I reckon,” Bastian says and approaches her, “Let’s go.” Cut back to Artran who stands up,

“Right behind you.” He looks down at his sword and touches it gently with a small wicked smile. Cut.

Night falls and the group is sitting around a fire simply staring into it. Grace stands up and goes over to a tree and touches it gently before look up at the sky. She begins to sing. Throughout her singing alone she is smiling and touches the tree again and some sparkles come from her hand and the tree seems to come to life and bloom. She then walks around the forest healing everything she passes. She twirls around a tree and her eyes settle on Bastian still sitting at the fire as her smile drops and she sings ‘all at once everything looks different now that I see you.’ Bastian meets her gaze and smiles and goes over to join her. During the instrumental they speak.

“So, your world is pretty amazing isn’t it,” he says. She looks up at the stars again and smiles,

“It is, I haven’t been out of my tower since the first attack on my life. They need me to be safe. I haven’t seen so close how my world has flourished without my constant attention. It’s all so beautiful.” Bastian grins,

“Yeah it is. Come on I want to show you something,” he takes her hand and leads her through some woods to a shallow pond surrounded in rocks. A bright smile comes to her face and she lifts her skirt to her knees and goes into the water and splashing around in it laughing. Then Bastian begins singing his verse. He leans against a tree in awe as he stares at he and they show her the water making her hair sparkle and her dress glow in the moonlight. Near the end of his verse she turns back to him and starts walking towards him. On the line ‘I’m where I’m meant to go,’ she slips and he catches her in a dip as they start singing together.

He lifts her back onto her feet on ‘and it’s warm and real and right.’ He lifts her slightly and turns to put her on dry rocks on the line ‘and the world has somehow shifted.’ She unwraps her arms from around his neck and her hands rest gently on his shoulders as his rest on her waist as they stare at each other with adoring eyes and finish singing. At the end they lean into kiss. Suddenly Grandu speaks up startling them out of the moment,

“Mistress, my lady, you must not wander off in your weakened state, come back, you must sleep, you must be strong to save Fantasma.” He grabs her hand and leads her away from Bastian. Grace keeps looking back at him and Bastian looks back, a mixture of fear and longing in their eyes. Cut.

It’s light outside and the group is still walking through the woods Bastian and Grace don’t look at each other and Artran just looks forward and Grandu is blissfully oblivious. Grace runs her hand along the bark of another one of the trees causing it to blossom then leans against it and stares at Bastian and starts to sing Throughout the song she is just walking along sometime at a distance from him staring at him longingly. And she alternates between being cold towards him or smiling at him in that adoring way when he helps her through rough terrain. Once the song is done she sits down on a rock and stares at him, “I must pretend I don’t care, Bastian and I can never be. He cannot stay and I cannot go. It’s hopeless.” She hugs her knees to her chest, cut to Bastian who is also sitting down with the rest of their party and stares at her longingly.

They start walking again and he starts to sing. Throughout the song he looks at her adoringly and looks simply in awe of her and shots of the sunlight making her hair shine and her seem to glow. Also several shots of him walking behind her as she smiles brightly and makes the trees blossom with a simple touch. Once the song is done he leans back against a tree and looks at her, “We don’t make sense, she is needed here and Fantasma needs a new hero so I can’t stay. I need to let this go…I need to focus on making sure she lives, I won’t let their prophecy comes true.” Cut.

The surroundings get more barren and Grace stumbles slightly and Bastian catches her,

“Grace what’s wrong?”

“Oh Bastian, everything is so cold and dead. My kingdom…how could I not know this was happening? I’m afraid…I know the oracles say I will die and I can accept that, if it means my kingdom will survive and flourish I will give my life happily. But I still am afraid. Being an immortal one doesn’t think of death often or ever really. I don’t know what’s waiting for me after…if there even is anything. What do you believe Bastian, mortals like you must think about it, what do you believe happens after death?”

“I really don’t want to talk about this Grace, because you aren’t going to die, I won’t let you,” Bastian says as he grasps her hands.

“Bastian, please, just tell me, just in case,” Grace says her eyes tearing up slightly. Bastian takes a deep breath, looks down then back to meet her eyes,

“My mother died, when I was very young. I remember her last days, she held my hand and said we’re all part of a forever tale, that we never end, we go on. While death may seem like an end it is only the end to a chapter in life. It has to end to start on another chapter, and amazing chapter. When you die you go to a place where everyone you lost will be there waiting for you. There is no pain, no fear, no doubt, it’s perfect. It’s serene. And when you go up there, you can look down on those you left behind. Watch over them, keep them safe. My mom said she’d do that for me and for Gwen and I feel her…all the time…even here…I feel her.” Bastian voice breaks in the speech and his eyes tear up. Grace moves a hand up to stroke his cheek,

“Thank you Bastian, that’s good to know.” He keeps one hand in hers and they continue forward. Cut.

The sky turns dark suddenly when they arrive at a mountain.

“We’re here,” Artran says then points to a small point of land jutting out from the mountain, “there, the cause is there.” Focus on Bastian’s hand clenching Grace’s tighter then close up on their faces as they look at each other. Cut.

Enter onto rocky formation from the mountain. Bastian, Grace, and Grandu look around.

“Artran I don’t see anything I thought you said it was here,” Bastian says turning back to him. Artran has been backing towards the opening of a cave. Laughter is heard and Zhandala makes her way out from the cave with her two creatures by her side. She runs a hand up Artran’s arm,

“You did well my pet, led them here perfectly. You will be rewarded.” Artran looks at her,

“I do only as you command mistress.” She smiles,

“No I want you to lose this cover I want your friends to see your true face.” She waves her hand in front of hi face to show his red eyes and fangs.

“Oh Artran no,” Grace cries. Grandu whimpers and hides behind Bastian who draws his sword,

“Artran, you…all this time. No, this isn’t you. What have you done to him?”

“I just made him a bit more agreeable, he was a tough one to crack, I thought I’d have to deal with you. Humans from your world are much easier to control. But apparently I was wrong in assuming that our lovely ruler’s new grown up body would cause her to ache for someone more like him. Imagine my surprise that it was you she desired.” Bastian shares a quick look then her turns back to her.

“So that was your plan all along? To make me fall in love, what would that accomplish?” Zhandala shakes her head,

“No my dear, please give me a little credit here. That was just a side bonus. I want your power to wane like I knew they would if you aged. I’ve been infecting the land with my death magic, letting it into everything, your food and parts of the land. Parts of you kingdom you wouldn’t know about being locked up in that tower of yours. Not much longer and Fantasma will fall. So you have two choices. Let your magic go and let all your people all your creations, your beloved Bastian die. Or…give me your power, give me the power of Creator and they will live. Things will change but your beloved will still live and I will send him home, safe and sound.”

“I will do neither,” Grace said standing tall and firm as she locks eyes with Zhandala, “Fantasma will go on and flourish, if I gave you the land you would turn this wonderful world into a dark and deadly place, my people would suffer and die horribly and you wouldn’t care. I cannot and will not let that happen.” Bastian smiles over at Grace then turns to Zhandala,

“You’ve lost Zhandala, she’s more powerful than you, give in and reverse what you’ve done.” Zhandala laughs,

“Silly boy, don’t you understand what’s happening.” She holds out a hand and shoots a bolt and Grace who falls.

“Grace,” Bastian goes to her and holds her.

“She’s minutes away from reaching the milestone of adulthood, she’s become mortal by the moment, her power is draining away from her fast, it makes her susceptible to my death magic,” Zhandala says, “if she will not give me her magic I will take it by force.”

Grandu storms forward, “You will not tough her royal highness you witch, she has power of all the stars in the sky and you should fall to your knees before her and another thing…” he continues on and Zhandala yawns then snaps her finger,

“Gina, Dina silence him.” Her two creatures go forward and grab him.

“Oh he is so cute.”

“Can we play with him mistress?”

“Yes mistress pretty please.” Zhandala smiles at Grandu struggling against the girls,

“Of course you may then when you’re done I can make you both a wonderful dragon stew.”

“Oh thank you mistress.” The two drag him off into the dark of the cave. Bastian has helped Grace up,

“Are you okay?”

“I will not let her have it Bastian, I swear it.”

“Oh, how touching, holding on hope where there is none,” Zhandala says with a laugh.

“I will never stop fighting, as long as there is breath in my body I will not let you have my magic, Fantasma will never be yours,” Grace shouts back.

“We’ll see about that. Artran…kill the boy, I’ll take care of her highness myself.” She raises up her hand and shots dark bolts and Grace who holds up her hands in a shield of light to block the magic then dispel it.

Artran draws his sword and approaches Bastian, “yes my mistress.” He swings at Bastian who blocks it with his own.

“Artran,” Bastian as he keeps blocking his blows, “snap out of it. This isn’t you. Come on buddy, it’s me Bastian. And she’s your queen. We’re your friends.”

“I obey my mistress, she is my only one I must do her bidding,” Artran replies.

“No, no you’re a brave warrior, you’ve saved this land and the queen many times, don’t you remember. The Blackness, the Doom, all of those things we defeated together. We defeated Xayide, you saved me from her. She did to me what her daughter has now done to you. You saved me, brought me back, reminded me of myself. Artran please.” Artran snarled and made a wide swing which Bastian blocked then delivered a strong hit to Artran’s temple with the hilt of his sword stunning him. He glances over to see Grace crouched down on the ground with only a little bit of light coming from her hands with Zhandala’s power overpowering her.

Grace then falls as she dispels Zhandala’s attack. Bastian goes to her. “Grace, Gracie, come on stay with me here.”

“Bastian I’m so tired, I’m sorry I’ve failed Fantasma and everyone, I’ve failed you.”

“No, no you haven’t come on keep fighting I know you can, you can’t die, Fantasma needs you…I need you.”

“Oh how sweet, united in death. Artran let us show some kindness and let them say goodbye.”

Julius strokes her cheek, “I need you Grace more than I think you know. It’s always been you and I just think I was too stupid or blind to notice. But it’s always been you, just you. I love you Grace.”

“Oh Bastian, please don’t make this harder than it already is,” Grace cried.

“No, I know we can’t have forever, but right not I’m not going to deny it anymore I love you Grace, my Grace.”

“I love you too, my hero, my Bastian, I will miss you and I will always watch over you. I may have enough to send you back before this world is destroyed. Remember the good times please.”

“Gracie, no.” She extends her hand to open a portal.

“Bastian you must go as soon it is open, I don’t know how long I can hold it.”

“Just give up Highness, give me your power of creator, give me control of every rock and tree all the power of everything, just give in.”

“Bastian go.”

“Grace no, I won’t leave you.”

“Bast….”

“Grace no,” he drops his head to kiss her firmly and light starts to glow from them.

“What is this,” Zhandala shouts, “Artran kill him, stop him!” He stays still. “Artran, I said kill him.”

“No,” Artran says.

“I gave you a direct command Artran kill the boy now!” Artran turns to face her, his body shaking as it fights within himself,

“I will not betray my friends.” He raises his sword and stabs himself with his own sword and falls.

“No!” Zhandala screams then turns to yell into the cave, “Get out here you two idiots.” All that is heard is shrieks and the sound of flames. She turns back to Bastian and Grace still caught up in their kiss. “If you want something done right you have to do it yourself.” She holds up her hands to gather energy but is rocketed back against the wall.

Bastian falls back to the ground and glance up at Grace, who is glowing white and almost seems to be floating,

“Zhandala.” Zhandala turns to look at her,

“Oh you just won’t give up you stupid cow.” Grace shakes her head,

“I will never give up my land to someone like you. How dare you use the gift I granted you and your family for such evil and destruction. I am your Creator and what I can give I can take away.” Grace holds out her hand and some darkness from Zhandala goes into her.

Zhandala gasps and holds her chest. She motions with her hand, “My magic, it’s gone. How…you can’t.” Gina and Dina run out of the cave with Grandu close behind who keeps blowing fire at them. Zhandala draws a dagger from her sleeve, “You may have my magic but I can still destroy you.” She lunges towards Grace with a wave of her hand throws Zhandala backwards. “So…your highness, grand Creator…you going to kill me…show your true colors.” She shakes her head,

“No…I will not kill you…but I will make something of you that will help this world. To help fix all the destruction you and your family has caused.” Grace waved her hand and Gina and Dine who flew back and became Ivy on the walls surrounding the came. Close up on Zhandala who looks at her hands as they twist and change. Her fingers become longer and start to sprout leaves,

“No…” Her torso becomes longer “NO!” She screams before her body hardens into its new state. A large tree. The glow around Grace fades as she smiles. She turns back to Bastian and smiles extending her hand to help him up.

“That was…how?” Bastian asked.

“Something Zhandala said. The power of the Creator is in every rock and tree, everything. I give them some of my magic. I exist to keep them alive and they exist to keep me alive. When Zhandala tried to destroy it I started to age. And while the magic I always have was fading, my magic was still all around me. Even in you.” She reaches out to touch his cheek, “And Grandu and…” she pauses as her face turns to horror, “Artran.” She and Bastian go over to their friend.

“Artran, can you hear me,” Grace says. Artran opens his eyes to meet hers,

“My queen, you are starting to look like your old self…it’s nice to see,” her croaks out then coughs.

“Can’t you heal him do something, you’re the Creator,” Bastian begged.

“Possibly,” her hands glow but nothing changes, “It just as I feared it’s more than just a wound, oh Artran what was on your blade.”

“Poison,” he managed to get out, “a mortal poison. It was meant for you Bastian.”

“You stupid idiot why did you stab yourself,” Bastian said laughing as his eyes tear up. Artran tried to laugh which turned into a cough,

“Well my body was fighting hard to stab you so it was either let it or stop myself the only way I could think of. You’re welcome by the way.” Bastian laughs.

“My healers may be able to help we must get back to the Crystal Tower. Grandu,” Grace reaches out and runs a hand over him leaving sparkles. Suddenly he turns into a giant blue dragon with wings. Bastian and Grace help Artran on and make their way back to the Crystal Tower.

They land on the platform outside her buildings and Grandu suddenly morphs back into his small form and stumbles into a stop. He shakes his head,

“Majesty, please don’t do that again, I find it quite startling.” Grace nods. Her advisors rush out,

“He’s been stabbed with a poison blade, summon the healers immediately.” They rush off. Cut.

Bastian and Grace are holding hands as they stand outside Artran’s room. A healer comes out,

“Your Highness I am so sorry, but apparently the poison is one we’ve never seen. It seems to be made from something we have never seen before. There is nothing we can do.” Bastian looks away and runs a hand through his hair as Grace looks into the room as a pensive look comes to her face,

“What if he was an immortal?” The healer looks at her confused as Bastian turns back to her.

“Well the poison wouldn’t have any effect. His body would nullify the effects and the poison itself in a short amount of time. But I don’t understand.” Grace turns back and says,

“He was pivotal in saving my kingdom, he is a hero who has saved us and our hero Bastian several times. I will not let him die like this. There is only one way.” The healer’s eyes widen,

“But majesty you can’t be suggesting…”

“It is the only way,” Grace said firmly, “I will give my life for his. That is final.”

“No,” Bastian shouts as the healer scampers off, “Grace, no what are you saying.” She gives him a bittersweet smile.

“Bastian can’t you see, I know understand what the oracles were saying. I will die, but not by Zhalanda’s hand. Fantasma will go on as Artran taking my place. I will give my life for his.”

“Grace I can’t let you, I won’t. I told you, I need you. It’s only you,”

“Bastian please, don’t make this harder than it is. With Zhalanda gone things go back to the way they were before. You cannot stay, you have to go back and pass your powers onto your sister. Then next hero…Artran’s hero. And I do love you, but you will find someone else I know it. You are a strong and amazing man Bastian Blake. I know I am not the only girl in this world or yours who see this. You will find someone else and you must promise me that you will go after it. Don’t let the memory of me stop you.”

“But Grace…” she puts a finger to his lips,

“I have already made up my mind Bastian, it is my job to protect Fantasma and as I said that I would happily give my life to make sure it would go on and flourish. If I let Artran die then I am what Zhandala thought I was. A killer, I will not let him die if I know that I can do something to stop it and I will.” She lowers her hand, “I should send you back before it happens, I won’t make you stay for it.” Bastian nods,

“I will miss you.”

“And I will miss you my Bastian.” He grabs her to him and she clings to him as they share a passionate kiss. When they part a portal opens up behind him and the healers approach her from behind, “Farwell my love.” They start to lead her back towards Artran’s room.

“Grace no!” Bastian reaches towards her but the portal’s power is too strong and he gets one last look into her eyes before he is sucked back.

There is spiraling and Bastian opens his eyes and he’s back in his room.

“No, no.” He opens the book and touches it, “Come on, come on, take me back.” Nothing happens. “No!” He throws it against the wall and collapses on his bed. Cut.

A few weeks later appears on the screen then fades. Bastian parks his bike and walks solemnly toward the school building. Logan, his friend, comes up next to him,

“Come on dude, I’m sick of this mood you’ve been in, I hope this isn’t about Beth still.”

“Beth,” Bastian said slightly shocked, “no, not Beth.”

“Then it’s about that really depressing ending to your saga that you told me about. You kill her off, honestly! She grows up and is all hot and she and Bastian fall in love then you kill her. If you ever want to sell that some day you need to change that.”

“No…it’s a tragic ending for her, she’s a noble being and that is how she is. Life blows sometimes, and that is what I wrote. Life.”

“Yeah, but honestly dude if you do want to sell it, change his name, really. Also throw an epilogue in there. Maybe she doesn’t die. I mean maybe Bastian and she both misinterpreted what the oracles said.”

“Dead or not, she would have to stay in Fantasma and he’d have to return to pass the magic on. They could never be together.”

“Fine dude, but seriously you got to get out this funk fast cause I hear there is a new girl in school and she is not only hot but smart.”

“Logan….”

“Okay fine, just wanted to help my buddy get out of his funk with a piece of hot smart tail, but whatever.” Bastian starts walking towards the door of the school and he hears a laugh which causes him to pause. Everything around him seems to blur as he turns towards the sound and he sees a girl turn towards the stairs in slow motion. Their eyes lock…it’s Grace. A slow bright smile spreads onto her face. Bastian drops his bag and races towards her and swoops her up in his arms and kisses her with all he has and she kisses him back. Pan up to the sky then the sky changes to a ceiling and a fan then pans down to Bastian sitting on Gwen’s bed with the book in his hands.

Gwen is under the covers with her knees held to her chest as she stares at Bastian with undivided attention. The book is open and he is reading her,

“And what Bastian didn’t realize that when the oracles said the Queen would die they did mean it. However, not in the way Bastian believed. The Queen gave her life, her essence, to Artran, her immortality all of her magic. So the Eternally Youthful Queen was no more. Now there was just an Eternally Youthful King and the people of the land rejoiced. To thank the queen for her sacrifice he granted her wish, that he didn’t even need to ask her what it was. So the now mortal queen was sent to Bastian’s world and the moment he saw her he ran to her and kissed her with all he had. The Queen and her hero would be together forever and nothing would tear them apart. That is the end of their story but there are still several more chapters unwritten in The Forever Tale.” He closed the book, “the end.” Gwen beamed,

“You definitely redeemed Bastian just as you promised. And he and the Queen are living happily ever after.” Grace enters the room,

“Well they’re working on it. Hi.” She and Bastian share a quick kiss.

“Ew!” Gwen said. Bastian laughed,

“Okay bedtime Gwen.” She grasped the book in Bastian’s hand and he notices her hand sparkle slightly and the book pulse with light once. He looked back up to meet her eyes,

“Can I just keep the book for tonight? I’ll give it back tomorrow so you can work on the next chapter.” Bastian glances back to Grace,

“How about you keep it from now on. The adventures of Bastian Blake are done, you need to start writing your own, make sure to tell me all about them.” Gwen’s eyes light up,

“Really? It’s really mine?” He nodded with a smile,

“Yeah, for a while it is.” He leaned down and pressed a kiss to her forehead and some sparkles traveled from him to her and her forehead glowed from where he kissed her. He pulled back and smiled at her, “Night Gwen.” He shut the door and took Grace’s as they walk away from her room.

Cut to Gwen sitting in bed and she opens the book. A voice over of her voice reading says, “It was true the adventures in Fantasma of Bastian Blake and the Eternally Youthful Queen were done now they had to face the greatest adventure of all. Real life in Bastian’s world. However Fantasma had a new ruler an Eternally Youthful King, Artran and like all rulers they would need a hero. Bastian’s time was done and now it was time for the new hero, the strong, the brave, the princess, Gwen!” At the ending sentence the book glows brightly and a yellow light glows on Gwen as her hair blows back slightly and a bright grin comes to her face. Cut.

Then the credits roll.