Chapter two

Sunlight seeped through a quite decorated window into a very magnificent, royal looking room, and on the body of sleeping Ruby, who was slouching down the side of her bed.

She jerked herself into a sitting position when she opened her eyes, remembering the event of the previous night. Ruby looked around in shock at her environment. Where is this place and what was she doing in it.

Ruby looked behind her and forward, unable to make sense of the environment.

“So I'm dreaming.” She resolved as she stared at her surroundings. It looked like a queen blessed a girl with her greatest wish.

Ruby got up to observe the room cautiously. She opened a large wardrobe standing opposite the bed, and saw beautiful dresses, shoes, tiaras and other princess stuff as she would term it.

Observing further, a little shelf with books in hard brown covers of different sizes. Ruby walked around the room a little more, and stared at herself for a while, in a full figure mirror, beside the wardrobe.

There were two doors, one that led to a bathroom and the other led outside the room. There was also a six foot high structure with a curtain just beside the bathroom door that someone could dress behind.

A chair stood, facing a portrait mirror close to the exit door.

She looked through her window and saw a lot of chariots, people, buying and selling things in places that looked like they were separated for a market.

High up, about five storeys high, so she could see the houses and people going about their businesses.

“OK, so this is definitely not the modern times I'm living in.” She said in amazement, going to the bed, a little ecstatic.

“But why can I feel this dream? Why can I think and control myself to do what I want? I still have memories of my real life.” She stretched her body trying to test her environment.

“Ruby, think.” She walked slowly in circles. “What happened last night... I remember.” She pondered, stroking her chin.

Her soliloquy was interrupted by two girls chattering in argument as they came into her room, they continued arguing as if not noticing her.

“I choose what she wears today.” Said a blond girl wearing a light green flower dress, putting her hands on her waist. The light brown haired girl wearing a yellow dress, just a little below her knee and just a bit taller raised her hands midway, putting her thumb to her first finger on both hands and trying desperately to explain something.

“No, no, I will do that because we played a game yesterday and the stake was, whoever won, got to dress the princess for three days.” The blond girl hit her head in frustration.

“Really, I thought I was going to win, you are terrible at that game, how should I know that fate would stab me in the back and look favourably on you?” Standing in a proud manner the brunette smiled and pushed her chest forward.

“It's karma young lady!”

“I was...”

“Stop, OK just stop!” Ruby cut them off before they could begin another round of argument.

“Who are you and what are you doing here?” There was an awkward silence in the room, the two girls constantly stared at each other in confusion, the brunette walked closer to the blond and whispered something to her.

“I think it's what the sorcerer said.”

“Ooh.”

The silence fell deeper after the blond's reply. The blond finally broke the flow of air, unsure of how to answer Ruby's funny but serious question.

“Hail. My name is Lilly Chasmy, the second, that's because my mom is named Lilly. I'm your friend, and a handmaiden.” She said in the most polite way.

“I'm Rose Dugana the first.” The brown haired girl said after Lilly. She looked to the ground appearing to battle with herself.

“The first is not needed, I'm just Rose, Rose Dugana, I'm also your friend and a handmaiden, you know, instead of guards following you everywhere. That could be cumbersome, and it can really ruin fun, we follow you and get you things you need, even when sometimes it's not in our power.” The two girls drew on the ground with their feet as if remembering a bad experience and shortly began their phase of confusion. Ruby looked behind her stretching lazily and back to the two girls, not knowing how to continue the conversation.

“OK, so you're telling me that if I want ice cream, cake and stake without paying you can get it for me?” Lilly scoffed.

“You are the princess, I don't know who will have such a grudge and collect money from the daughter of a king that has done so much for the kingdom.” Rose put on an assuring expression.

“Everybody loves you.” Rose scratched the side of her head and watched Ruby sink in deep thought.

“Now only if I knew what they meant.” Lilly responded.

“What time is this?” Rose and Lilly looked at each other, then back to Ruby like they were cartoon characters.

“The sun rose not long ago. I believe the time should be about seven O'clock.”

“Okay.” Ruby answered.

“Pick one of us to choose what colour of clothing you are going to wear.” Lilly took a step forward, waiting anxiously for an answer. Ruby stepped backward a little.

“This is going to...” She stopped at a realization. These two girls were her classmates, they were her best friends, she could hardly recognize them even though they wore almost the same hairdo. They wore light long gowns and beautiful black sandals.

“You are Tessa.” She said to Rose who was already advancing to the wardrobe. She turned slowly to face Lilly.

“...and you are Pearl.” Ruby's energy doubled as she went either way, hugging the confused girls severally. They both furrowed their brows and Lilly decided to put it off.

“My princess who is picking out your dress today?” Lilly smiled widely trying to get an answer that favoured her. Ruby could not hold back the smile of glee that crept across her face, seeing her two best friends in this incredible fantasy. She was literally the princess of her dreams.

“Tessa picks my dresses.”

“And who would that be, seeing that it is just two of us?” Lilly responded with a streak of frustration.

“That is Rose.” Ruby pointed at Rose who jumped slightly as she opened the wardrobe.

“Yes!”

“Ill luck.” Lilly gave a sigh of defeat and Ruby watched Rose browse through the many clothes in the wardrobe... She picked out an orange, round neck, flair dress that reached the ankle and a black shoe. She hung the dress on her left shoulder and reached for the tiara in another compartment.

“What do you think about this?” Rose asked.

“I think it's cool, good,” she nodded, admiring the pretty dress hung on Rose's shoulder.

“I think we can do better with these shoes.” Rose, bent down again opening the part where shoes were kept. She scrolled with her eyes before picking a pair of orange flat shoes. Lilly who had been silent all the while finally spoke up.

“OK princess you can wear that. As always we are here if you need any form of assistance.”

Rose handed the things she was holding to Ruby who was still very confused.

'How am I a princess? Is someone kidding me.' She thought. She stared angrily at Lilly. “Pearl. Can you explain to me, what's going on? I don't remember auditioning for a role, and why are you acting, hand maidens?” Ruby thought again that she might not be dreaming. 'A dream's not supposed to feel like this'. She thought. Lilly's palm became sweaty and soon was joined by her neck. She didn't really understand why the princess was acting the way she was, except for the reason someone had told both of them. “Everything is nice, but at least tell me if you are acting.” “Sorry, we are not doing a play my princess, no play.” Lilly said not knowing exactly how to answer her. “Then what, where is this?” She shook her head in frustration. 'Maybe I'm dreaming, if so I will wake right?'. She thought as she turned around Slowly. She went to the bathroom and made do with what she had and took her bath. Drying herself before going behind the curtain. Ruby dressed slowly while thinking of the situation she found herself. Resolving to flow with it, she put on the orange shoe. She walked away from the curtain and stood straight. The two girls who sat at the edge of her bed jumped to their feet. Lilly gasped and they both stared at her like they had never seen her in the dress before. “How is it?” Ruby didn't know if it was good. The time they both took to stare was rather scary to Ruby. “Wonderful.” “Graceful.” “Blissful.” “Beautiful.” They both took turns to admire her. “You have never looked more beautiful... except your hair.” Lilly said, dashing to the chest of drawers on the left side of the princess' wardrobe. Rose sat Ruby on the chair facing the mirror, Lilly brushed her hair neat with the brush she picked from the drawer. “Now you look more beautiful.” Lilly admitted. “So where do we go first?” Ruby asked. If this was a dream as she had already decided it was, she might as well explore. “We could go to the palace library to read about creatures or to the bakery like we have done in the past and almost every other day....or we can go to the rainbow river.” Rose tried to remind the princess of their routine like movements. Lilly snapped her fingers in agreement. “Yes! Please let us go there. The last time we went there was, was, was...” Lilly put her finger on her chin speculatively. “A long time ago.” She replied, putting her hands together. After giving it little or no thoughts, Ruby agreed. “Wherever that is, let's go there.”