Good Evening, welcome to the latest writing exercise that I still mentally intend of taking about 15 minutes (although I’ve been averaging 20-30, I get into the ideas). Please leave your feedback and your own responses to the prompt.
Prompt: In a strange twist of events, your protagonist wakes up to find that their dreams and reality have swapped places. Their dream world, full of magical creatures and extraordinary adventures, has become their new reality, while their mundane life is now only experienced in dreams. How does your character adapt to this new reality, and what challenges do they face?
Genre: Dreams
Source: 24 Writing Prompts About Dreams
Time Spent: 40 minutes
Word Count: 1297
Prompt: In a strange twist of events, your protagonist wakes up to find that their dreams and reality have swapped places. Their dream world, full of magical creatures and extraordinary adventures, has become their new reality, while their mundane life is now only experienced in dreams. How does your character adapt to this new reality, and what challenges do they face?
Kim awoke with a start. She had been having a stressful dream about the Dragons of the Nightrealm attacking the city of Golin, Capital of the Varin Confederacy, a frequent setting of her dreams. She, Kim the Valiant, sworn protector of the realm, advisor and lover to the Azure Duchess, had managed to bring one of the dragons down by organizing a barrage of fire from various Ballistae scattered around the city. The position she was at had been overrun by a mob of Dragon Thralls, those bewitched to serve the dragons. She had downed several and allowed most of her soldiers to fall back, when one of them got behind her and struck at her head, which was the point she woke.
Normally dreaming of herself as Kim the Valiant soothed her and gave her hope and happiness. She knew it was a dream, but still this vision of herself gave her hope to get through her real life. Kim Chance worked a stressful and unfulfilling customer service job that made use of a fraction of her intelligence and interests, and it was only a combination of a good paycheck, okay benefits, and some wicked and fun friends that made it all worth it. Still, most days she came home to her one bedroom apartment, at dinner watching something streaming, cuddling with her cat and dog, and going to bed to do it all again the next time.
Kim groaned, she had awoken with a splitting headache and her muscles were sore, which she found odd given that it had been several weeks since she’d had a proper workout, and rose from bed. It was at this point, finally properly opening her eyes, that Kim became confused. Rather than her apartment, she found herself in a large room, with a grand four poster bed in the center, which she had just risen from, and various items she recognized form her dreams were scattered about.
Kim went to run a hand through her hair and realized that her head was bandaged, and there appeared to be a wound exactly where the Dragon Thrall had struck her. It happened occasionally, a sort of dream within a dream, and she knew what to do, she pinched herself. Nothing. She tried to will herself awake, that worked sometimes when she dreamed lucidly, but still nothing. Finally, taking a deep breath, she slapped herself as hard as she could.
There was a sharp sting of pain, and then nothing, and then the real pain of the hit rushed in and Kim gave an involuntary noise like a squeak and clutched her cheek. At the same moment, a voice came from the door.
“Kim, my dear, whatever are you doing? You were sorely hurt yesterday and really the healer says you should not be out of bed,” said a beautiful woman, a little taller than Kim, that glided in through the door. Her blue dress was tight and cinched at the waste, giving highlight to her curves. Her dark brown hair was tied behind her ears and bound with a beautiful circlet of dazzling gems and gentle chains. She carried a book, as she always did, in her hands. A concerned smile showed her bright teeth and her ice-blue eyes were full of concern. She was Ladha Cora, the Azure Dutchess.
Kim stared a moment in shock before stammering, “the Azur. . .sorry, Ladha, how did I come to be here? I had expected to wake up in my apartment to a hungry dog and cat and have to go do my stupid customer service job.”
“Customer Service?” chuckled the tall woman. “My love, sometimes you say the strangest things. You were brought her be three of your shoulders after one of the Dragon Thralls had managed to deliver a blow from behind. They managed to save you before they could finish the job. The healers and I did good work, but we knew it would be a while before you were back with us. The battle, of which you turned the tide and did much to inspire our troops and save our city, was won, thought not without cost.”
“Oh my, two days?! I am so going to be fired!!”
The Duchess flashed a look of deep concern, “you were never on fire, and the thought that you were troubles me, I must say. If it will ease your concerns, your dog and cat have been fed and are receiving their usual care and love from our staff. Your apartment you gave up years back when you came to our kingdom and began living the palace. Do you really not remember?”
Details of her old dreams swam back to Kim as she thought about this. Certainly some of those dreams had felt more real than others, and there was a sort of narrative. But what about her other life. She didn’t love it, but if she spent all her time in dreams, what would happen. Still, as time passed the world around her seemed more, and more real, and the ‘real’ world seemed to be more and more like the dream. If that was her dreaming, why had her stupid subconscious come up with things like rent, and taxes, and customer service jobs?
Lost in these thoughts, the Ladha had approach and placed to hands on Kim’s shoulders and looked into her eyes. “My dear, I have seen you become confused before, and talk of things beyond our understanding, but have never seen it so acute. I shall call for the healers and they can check again now that you are awake if there are other injuries or causes for concern.”
As the Azure Duchess made to turn around, Kim’s hands shot up, placed her own hands on her lover’s shoulders and drew her in for a gentle kiss. “Its okay, I am quite alright. I think a combination of my injury and a very vivid dream had me confused for a moment as to what was going on. Forgive me.”
“Of course, I forgive you, how could I not,” beamed the duchess. “Now, let us get you back in bed. You need your rest and I imagine it was a stressful waking just now.”
Kim started climbing back into bed and after Ladha had pulled the blankets up, Kim reached out and took her hand. “Join me?”
The Azure Duchess tried to look stern at this, but could not hide a sly smile on her face, and immediately began looking through the pages she had in her hand, “really? you’ve just been injured!”
Kim matched her sly smile and shrugged, “well, just be gentle then.”
Ladha chuckled as she tossed the papers and book onto one of the small tables next to the bed. “Luckily for you, I have dealt with all the business of the day.” Pulling back the covers and sliding into bed she chuckled and added, “and I am not planning being THAT gentle with you.”
Kim was not sure whether the world of Kim the Valiant, or that of Kim Chance were the real one. . .or maybe both were dreams. For the moment, she would take what this opportunity offered, of spending time doing the things that fulfilled her, where her contributions were valued, and she had someone who she loved and loved her. All she could do was embrace this happiness and hope it lasted.
I didn’t intend to turn this into a slightly romantic direction, but that is just sort of how the story unfolded for me. I hope that you enjoyed! I would love to read your response to this prompt as well and also what you think of what I wrote!
I hope you all have a wonderful day, get the chance to do or experience something creative, and I’ll catch you on the next one.
– Jon
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