Hopes and Dreams

Foreword & Prologue

Hi! I'm Cam and welcome to Hopes and Dreams! This is my first story here on Wattpad and my first Minecraft Youtuber fanfic. If you like dystopian stories with religious themes, this is the story for you. I'll try to make it packed with action and adventure. It's the result of a year's worth of planning so I hope it's good. 

This story will be split into 2 halves with the first being centered around Dream and George with the second adding in more characters, mainly the Sleepy Boys. This story is going to be long, but I'll try to publish about once a week so you don't get too bored waiting. So sit back, relax, and get ready for a ride through Hopes and Dreams.

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Prologue

 Though oceans of people pushed against me, I felt myself float up the cathedral stairs. Every care was left at the door as I pushed my way inside. Quietly, I stopped to reverently rest my worn, weathered hand on the marble door frame. The cold seeped into my skin, but the feeling was comforting. Quiet chatter filled my ears accompanied by the melodious chorus of voices singing praises in a language lost to time. I tilted my head back to drink in the glorious building I was blessed to stand in. The ceiling stretched high above my head, making me feel small and insignificant in this grand universe. Light filtered gently through the stained glass windows casting watery shadows of their pictures onto the floor. Rows upon rows of pews were beginning to fill with people. At the head of the church rose an empty pulpit, and behind it stood an enormous marble statue of a veiled figure with feathered wings. He had no gaze, but his silent presence made me shrink. My clothes were stained and torn. I wore thin excuses for shoes on my feet. As I tore my gaze away from his majesty, I noticed the people filling the seats were dressed just as I was. With my doubts satisfied, I took an empty seat and joined in the anxious waiting.

The chatter quieted as a figure ascended to the pulpit. His face, like the statue behind him, was veiled. His fine robes swept the floor behind him. He carried an air of regality and importance around him. He waited patiently as the choir finished their song and quieted. Tense silence filled the grand cathedral as we waited for the figure's first words. Finally, he raised his arms, looking remarkably like the stone giant behind him

"My people," the prophet said warmly. He did not need to shout; his voice carried clearly over the congregation. "I thank you all for gathering here today. You are blessed for your diligence." He brought his arms down and situated them calmly on the pulpit.

"A beautiful day such as today makes my soul sing with gratitude, as I'm sure it does yours. I feel most grateful for the life we are granted each day. This reminds me of the glorious day hundreds of years ago when we were brought out of the gall of bitterness and into the new day.

I felt my heart quicken as I listened to his words. The story of that day was one I had heard so many times, but it never ceased to amaze me. My soul begged to hear it again.

His veiled gaze swept over the silent congregation. "How blessed we are to know not of what it was like to live in what came before. The line between human and animal was blurred; once righteous people would fight for basic necessities, and they were at the mercy of the horrible monsters now trapped behind our walls. Just when they were about to be destroyed, our glorious god descended upon them to deliver them from their suffering. He built the walls to keep us safe from the terrible monsters. He brought order where there was none. He appoints each great king that leads us with bravery and faith. Through our god, we were freed. Through Touhan, we were saved. That is why we gather and give our gratitude to him. We thank him for the glorious order and for saving us from certain destruction. My people, let us lift our voices in praises unto him!"

I felt my soul burn bright with conviction. I lifted my head to the sky and let loose my voice in praise. The joined voices of hundreds of others in the congregation drowned my own, but I knew Touhan heard. My god heard even me, a lowly peasant. For that, I shouted my praise. For my safety, I glorified him. My eyes burned with tears and I let them flow. My soul felt so light, so free.

"Praise be to my god," I shouted into the tumultuous sea of voices. "Praise be to Touhan! Through him, we are saved! Through him, we are free!"