**not fully edited**

I hadn't been to this place since that dream which feels like ages ago, neither in my dreams nor in the real world. The leaves crunched under my feet as I walked around, trying to figure out my purpose here. They park was just as dark as it had been that day before that freaky fountain started glowing. I was avoiding the fountain, but because of the darkness I had no idea where I was going.

This time I knew I was in one of those dreams again, I was used to them by now, they didn't scare me as much as before anymore. This dream was a little different than the others in some way, but I couldn't exactly pinpoint what it was.

It felt like an eternity had passed since I had been walking, trying to find what I was doing here. I was tired, and just decided to give up and sit down somewhere, thinking that it was just another blank dream like the ones I had before. I started walking towards a bench that I could barely make out with the help of the moonlight.

I sat down on the bench and let out a sigh. I subconsciously noticed that the park lights had fluttered on, but I was too lost in my thoughts to care. Should I tell someone about these dreams? Will it be too weird for them to understand? Was this even something to worry about?

I literally jumped a feet in the air as I heard someone say "Not really" from beside me. I turned sideways to see a petite girl sitting there, swinging her legs in the air as she looked around the park. I kept staring at her for a minute and finally our eyes met. I had never seen such unique eyes before, they were bright pink with little speckles of purple. She had dark red hair, cut really short, almost in a pixie cut. The hair was a contrast against her pale clear skin. She raised her eyebrow in question and I realised that I had been staring at her for a little too long. I cleared my throat and looked away.

I could swear that I had read somewhere that we can only see faces of those whom we've seen before in our dreams because our brain can't make up faces and I was positive that I had never seen her before in my life.

"That's what you think" she scoffed. Did I say that out aloud?

"No" she replied, chuckling. What's happening?

"Um who are you?" I asked finally.

"Not important. C'mon we have to go now. It's almost time. Oh my god I'm so excited" she squealed. Not important?! We have to go? What?

"What? Where? And seriously who are you?" I asked.

"Ugh, if you must know, I'm Penelope." She replied with a sigh and started pulling me away without any notice and I almost tripped on my own foot.

"Where are you taking me?" I asked trying to free my hand from her tight grip.

"It's top secret." She chuckled but turned around as I increased my resistance and rolled her eyes at me, "Don't worry, I won't hurt you." She continued as she probably noticed the fear in my eyes.

"But where. are. we. going?"

"He was right. You will be difficult." She said, but wait, her mouth didn't move at all. Could I read minds too now? And who was this 'he'?

"Ah the young ones." She chuckled and then continued with a huge grin "we are going to get you ready for your coronation."

"My coronation? I'm sorry I think you have the wrong person" I laughed. She huffed in annoyance and replied "Oh god, will you just come with me already?" My laughter died down as I realised that she was serious.

"What? are you serious?" I asked surprised.

"Just follow me"

This time I decided to just go with her. This was just a dream anyways. After walking behind her for a few more minutes we stopped infront of the old recreational building near the fountain. We entered the building and I fumbled around, searching for the light switch. Finally after switching on the light I looked around the room, it was just as it had been when I last came here with Sarah and Amy to play some table tennis but now there were some fairy lights decorating the only mirror in the room and near the mirror was a long sparkly light blue dress hanging on a coat rack. I looked around for Penelope only to find her standing next to me.

"So do you like it?" She asked, standing with her arms crossed and looking at the dress with admiration. I didn't blame her, the dress was beautiful.

"Yes" I replied in awe. I took a few steps towards the dress only to be stopped by Penelope. "What do you think you're doing?" She asked with her hands on her hips and a brow raised in question but continued without waiting for my answer "You smell of sweat. You should take a shower first." She said pointing to the bathroom on the opposite side of the room. Gee thanks, I thought as I made my way to the bathroom. Oh wait-

"Uh does that mean I will be wearing that dress to my apparent coronation?"

"Yes Ivory." But why was I even getting crowned? My parents never told me that we were royal. Maybe I'll be the queen of the new broken scene. Hah okay sorry. But seriously how was this my coronation?

"Are you quite done?" Oh yeah, I forgot she could read my mind. "Yes I can, now will you go take a shower, quickly, we don't have all night, it's 11 pm!" She cried pushing me towards the bathroom lightly.

"Okay okay." Could this dream get any weirder?

~•~

"Wow you look prettier than I thought. This dress looks amazing on you." Penelope gushed as she twirled me around. I stared at the beautiful girl in the mirror. The dress was tight fitted at my chest and then flowed freely till the ground. The fabric glowed against my pale skin.

"Yes it does" I whispered. "Here" Penelope said handing me a light pink box with a white bow on top. I looked at her in question and opened the lid when she nodded in reply. Inside the box was a beautiful, almost transparent, white veil. "You must wear the veil during the ceremony." She explained. I just nodded in reply and tried it on.

It fit perfectly and it almost reached halfway through my back and just covered my eyes at front. It went perfectly with the dress I was wearing. Well this dream was beautiful yet weird. I still had no idea why I was getting coronated, and who was I even ruling over? Penelope giggled at that and I shot her a glare through the mirror and asked her to stop reading my mind. "Okay sure" she replied trying to stifle her laughs.

"Okay we better go now, I can hear everyone assembling." Penelope said once my make up was done, I had asked her to keep it simple as I didn't feel like being caked up whilst wearing such a plain yet beautiful dress. The dress shimmered as I moved in the light and the veil covered my face just right. "Okay I'm coming." I said as I slipped on my heels.

"Will you at least tell me why am I being crowned?" I asked Penelope as I followed her to wherever this ceremony was. "You'll know soon" she said and turned around and stopped in her tracks "Oh and can I still call you Ivory after you become our queen?" She suddenly asked staring right at me. Whose queen? Who are these people? "Uh sure I guess" I replied unsure of what to say. She just smiled in response and resumed walking. What did all of this even mean? This dream felt so real that I was starting to worry.

"Don't think too much Ivory, you'll get all of your answers soon. You're just as safe here as you would be at home" Penelope said from in front of me. I sighed loudly, deciding to trust her on this. "Psst psst, that's not how a queen behaves" she said in at teasing voice, referring to the sigh. "Whatever" I said, feeling a bit more at ease than before.

We were soon near the fountain and I could hear people chatter away, but as we entered everyone grew quiet. I could feel everyone's eyes on me as I followed Penelope to the base of the fountain. When we reached there, we turned around to face the audience. They all were staring at me with different emotions, awe and fear were two contrasting emotion that I could make out from them.

I looked at Penelope and saw that she was busy talking with the person who I assumed would officiate the ceremony. He was tall and had long white hair and just as white skin. As if sensing that I was looking at her, Penelope turned around and shot me at reassuring smile. I smiled back and scanned the audience once again to see if there were any familiar faces and my eyes landed on a pair of eyes.

What was he doing here?

***

Heyy guys! How are you? Long time!
Soo here's the update! This one has probably been my favourite to write amongst all the chapters so far, Ivory's dreams are always fun to write! So I really hope you enjoyed the chapter!

Oh and did you guys like Penelope? Yes/No let me know in the comments! It was fun writing her though! 😂

Also, Thanks to statisticlaire for making such a lovely fan cover for Ivory! The cover is attached with the chapter! I'm so glad that you like my book so far! People like you keep me motivated to write more! Please keep reading and supporting me like this! :)

That brings me to the fact that Ivory has more than 1K reads now!! THANK YOU, you guys are awesome! ♡

Your support means a lot so please vote, comment and spread the word! x

P.S. Please vote for my book in Brigade Wattpadians Award if you haven't already! The link is in my bio! ♡

P.P.S Happy Holi!! 💚💙💛💜