The Rosebook ; random/misc

Dreams Aren't Just Dreams (Story)

Blair woke up in a very large bedroom. She was lying in a four-poster bed with pink drapes. The walls were white, with vintage-looking, maybe Victorian paintings. To her left, there was a large window, draped with curtains, the sun beaming in. Blair gazed around for a clock, and saw that, on the mantle of the fireplace, the clock face read "9:33." She snapped up. Where was she? Is this a dream? She ran to the window. The view was...incredible.

She was high up, with a view of a crystal clear blue lake in front of her. It glistened in the morning sun, ducks and swans swimming in it. She could also see a grand forest, with trees of all colors and sizes. What was this place? She was about to turn around to bust out when someone cut the silence. "Good morning, I see that you're already awake."

Blair jumped. A middle-aged woman was standing in the doorway. She wore a white dress shirt and a bow tie. She was carrying a tray with...food?

"Ma'am, where the HECK am I?!" Blair shouted. The woman didn't answer. Blair realized that she was being impolite. "Oh, I'm sorry, ma'am. What I meant to say was: Where am I?" The woman smiled.

"Welcome to Illutopia, young one. My name is Rose, and I'm your servant while you are in the palace. What may your name be?"

She hesitated. "Blair," she said, apprehensive. She wasn't sure whom she could trust here.

"Well then, good morning, Blair. Here's your breakfast." She placed the tray on the table near the door, then walked out. As the woman left, Blair noticed that her gait was...really smooth, a bit much to be normal. That thought left her mind, though, as she saw the tray. Wait, pancakes?! Starving, she immediately pounced on her breakfast.

After that meal, she looked into the closet to change into something more decent. She noticed that all the clothes were her size and style. Strange. She put on ripped jeans, a white t-shirt, and black Converses. She pulled her long, brown hair into a ponytail, put some makeup around her green eyes, and left the room. After wandering the various halls, she went down the stairs into a grand entryway. A beautiful woman in a long, flowing dress stood downstairs.

"Ah, I see you've explored, how are you?" Her voice was sweet, but had a slight...annoying tone, as if her words were rehearsed. Blair didn't answer, not knowing who she was. "Oh! You don't know who I am. I'm Princess Mirage ("What a name..." Blair thought.), the ruler of Illutopia. And you are...?"

"Blair," Blair said, "So...where am I?"

"Welcome to Illutopia! I believe you dreamed yourself here, just like everyone else. Here, you are free to do anything you wish. You are a welcome guest in this palace for as long as you're here. Just...don't go into the forest. Until it's your time..." The last part was very quiet, but Blair picked it up. What did that mean? The princess seemed a bit...strange.

She wandered into the courtyard where the lake was. There were rose bushes, fruit trees and many more. She tried an apple off a tree. It was the sweetest apple she'd ever had. She explored around, trying fruit, picking flowers, and petting the animals, who seemed used to people. As she walked, she reached the edge of the forest. Why was she told not to go in? She edged closer. It seemed pretty scary, though, so she left. Then, she was struck with an idea. She ran to her room, put on a swimsuit, and ran back to the lake. Smiling, she jumped in. It was so refreshing and cool.

Many days past, and Blair was really enjoying herself. She could eat anything, play around anytime, she had unlimited freedom. She felt young again. She could barely remember how much time has past, but she didn't care. She just wanted to stay here, with all this freedom, for a long time. This fuzzy, happy feeling was amazing. One evening, though, as she strolled around, she saw a young man, lying on the ground. His breaths were very shallow. She ran over.

"Sir?! Are you okay?"

"I knew this would happen," he said. His voice was faint. "I couldn't get out fast enough, but you can..." Blair was confused. Why did she need to leave? "Listen carefully, you have one month from when you arrived to find a way out before you Switch. Go to the forest, there are witches who can help you ("Witches?!" she internally screamed.). Hurry........." He went still. Blair was in shock. Then, right before her eyes, the man's hair changed to a shining turquoise. She blinked, and the man had teleported into the forest, now clothed in a dark robe. What just happened? Was this world of happiness...hiding something?

Blair ran into the castle, looking for the princess.

"Princess, this man just...died and came back with colorful hair and went into the forest. He told me some confusing stuff...what's happening?" She was rambling.

The princess looked at her strangely. A fake smile spread across her whole face. "Thank you for telling me. Please stay in the castle until we've settled down."

"Wait, why won't you tell me anything?" Blair said. Suddenly, soldiers burst out of nowhere to take her. This world was definitely not what it seemed. Blair bolted.

She ran until she was deep into the forest, the soldiers long gone. Blair looked around, the rush in her blood fading, being replaced with...worry. Every tree basically looked the same. The sun was setting fast. Where was she? She wandered around, looking for shelter, and stumbled upon a cottage. She carefully knocked on the door. It slowly opened, revealing a young woman with purple hair that matched her eyes.

"Ummm, hi," Blair said, suddenly shy, "Do you mind if I...stay here a little bit?"

"Oh, of course," said the woman, gesturing her inside. Her voice was kind, but misty, or distant. Blair walked in. It was a one-room cottage, filled with many strange things. There were substances of all kinds everywhere. Bookshelves lined almost every empty wall.

"You're a witch, aren't you..." said Blair.

The woman nodded, "My name's Violetta, and you're a human, right?" Blair nodded slowly. "What's your name?" Violetta gave off a bit of a motherly vibe.

"Blair, and this place, I can't stay here," Blair said. "It seems amazing, but it definitely has some shady stuff going on."

Violetta was looking down, deep in thought. Suddenly, she snapped up.

"Wait, if you're human...then...how long have you been here?" Violetta asked, suddenly worried.

Blair counted the days. "It's been...wait...it's a bit hazy..." The days had blurred together. She tried her best to regain composure. "Umm...let's see...14, 15...oh CRAP, it's been almost four weeks." In fact, today marked a complete month of being in this...illusion of happiness.

"We need to get you out, now." Violetta ran around the cottage, frantically grabbing ingredients and stuff. She grabbed a spellbook and rifted through.

"OK, frog legs, dandelion petals, fly wings...Blair, stand back." Blair backed to the wall. Violetta filled an empty cauldron with all the stuff she gathered, then poured the contents on the ground in a circle. The middle swirled together, creating a hole of light.

"It's a portal. Jump in, you only have a few minutes before your Switch," Violetta said. Blair stood at the edge of the portal.

"Do you want to...come with me? You kinda look...sad that I'm leaving...'' Blair said.

Violetta shook her head sadly. "I wish I could. I'm afraid I have to stay to help others who come along. You, though, can get out of this...corrupted world. Hurry, jump in, go home!" She needed no further urging. Blair took a deep breath, and jumped.

She was falling, blinded by light. Where's the bottom? All of a sudden, Blair was in her bedroom. She looked at the clock. It was 9:33. The calendar was on the same day as she fell asleep, and landed in that place. No time had passed here. She got out of bed. Was that a dream? She had a feeling it was a bit more than that. That's when she noticed a small note on the side of her bed. She read it, and her eyes widened. It confirmed her suspicions. She left the room her thoughts a jumbled mess.

The note read "Remember, Blair, not all dreams are just dreams. ~V."

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I may come back to this someday.

Also, Jungkook's tattoos...