If there was one thing Rose never expected, it was being apart of a royal monarchy, or in rule of anything in general. Rose stammered on her words, until she was able to say, "The queen of a land?", she asked quietly. Satisfied with Rose's response,  Queen Stellina smiled. "Not to frighten you, but not just a land, your land, your world." Rose rapidly looked up. "How am I supposed to be expected to rule a kingdom? I am not royal, I have no “training” whatsoever to be a queen. I can't." "Yes you can. This," the queen gestured her arms out to the castle,"is yours, my dear. No one else's." Rose was shaking, her whole body, quivering with shock. "Why? Why me?", she asked in fear. "This is your destiny, your purpose, your life is here. This was made for you, I promise.", Queen Stellina explained. "There is no need to fear because this is your safe haven." Rose was now breathing normally. "I, um, I need some space please, is there somewhere I can go?", Rose asked desperately. "Yes, go out the front doors, then take a right, you will see a flower bed.", replied the queen. But before the queen could finish, Rose had already fled for air.

Rose ran breathlessly to the bench. The breeze was refreshing after feeling waves of heat on her body, although the castle was cold. "Oh my gosh, this can't be happening, I'm hallucinating." "Rose, are you alright?", an already familiar voice asked. "Celeste, please go, I need time alone." Celeste huffed. "I'm here now if you need to know anything, really." No response. "Please Rose? We really need you-", but before she could finish, Rose interrupted. "NO, you don't! And I don't need you to tell me to accept the fact that a complete stranger told me I'm a future queen, of a world no one even knows about! So sorry if I'm frazzled right now, because being told my life is in a world that seems like an unrealistic fantasy, isn't easy to handle, OK?" Celeste flinched at her yelling. 

"I want you to know that me, or the queen are no strangers…", then stopped. "And this world, your world will feel like home.",she said with a smile. Rose raised her head to face her. "Really?" "Yes, of course! Uniclandia is yours to rule, plus, what is there to go back to?" "My life!", Rose shot back. "Fine, what is your life like?" Rose's jaw tightened. "Really? You're going to challenge me?" This time, Celeste didn't flinch, but straightened. "Yes, I am. So, tell me." Rose puffed. "Fine. Well, I have my family-", but she was already cut off. ''How much family?", Celeste pressed. Rose stared down at her feet. "My parents. I need them and they need me. They are my everything." Celeste blinked a few times. "Okay, besides that, what else?" Rose glared at her for asking such questions. "I am currently finding a job, more specifically, a career." "Any luck?" "No…", then she laughed halfheartedly. "What's funny?", Celeste asked curiously. "When you ask questions like this, my life seems so meaningless. Ugh!", Rose groaned, putting her face in her hands. Celeste stopped talking to give Rose a moment of peace. 

"So, what if I told you everything, and everyone you needed, was already here?" Rose shot up. "You mean my parents are here?! Please, take me to them!", she pleaded. "Woa, hold your unicorns! You will see them here eventually, just not now. Sorry to get your hopes up." Rose shrunk back into slouching. "Oh." Celeste gave her a sympathetic look. "I don't know what to do to convince you, so, I'm gonna go back inside.” After taking a good amount of steps away, Rose called to her. "Wait! Don't go. You have a good point. If I have no real purpose with my life if I can’t find myself a career, and my parents will be here, why not start a new one here with them, right?" Celeste nodded wildly. "Okay, okay, as long as your word about my parents are true, I will stay here. Got it?" "OMG, YES YES YES!!! YAY!!!", Celeste shouted, jumping up and down like a kid in a toy shop.  "Alright. Settle your unicorns!", Rose laughed. “Oh, okay, sorry! I'm just so happy you're staying! I swear on the stars, this decision you won't regret." “Alrighty then. Here comes a new life!", Rose exclaimed. 

Celeste took her by the hand and started leading her back to the castle. The strange thing was, was that the feel of her hand was so familiar, like she had held it before…"Come on, slowpoke! Let's get back quickly to tell the queen. She will be so pleased!", she squeaked. "Like I said, you won't regret it.", she reassured. "Hopefully not", she whispered to herself. Rose knew those were the words, the promise her life depended on. Celeste yanked open the large doors and pulled Rose inside. It was so sudden, to make such a life changing decision. She didn’t even think about what else might be there; memories, their friends and neighbors, but now wasn’t the time to think about it. Right now, was the time to think about her other decisions, the ones she didn’t know were coming.

“My queen! We have great news!”, Celeste shouted, breaking the peaceful silence. Queen Stellina flinched at Celeste’s shouting. “Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to disrupt you.”, she whispered, shrinking back. “Forgiven. What is the excitement all about?”, she asked, with a slight shakiness in her voice. Celeste nodded to Rose, as if it was her que. “I decided to stay, but only if what Celeste’s promised me is true. If my parents are really here with me, I will start a new life here, as we both agreed to.” , Rose stated with confidence. The queen looked satisfied and overwhelmingly joyed. “Yes, the promise she made you will not be broken.” Rose overfilled with joy. “But it won’t be easy. The way of becoming queen is a challenge, and you are bound to face a line of obstacles, before achieving your rewarding destiny.” Rose stopped breathing, and the throne room fell ghostly silent. “What challenges?”, she asked, with a shaky breath. 

“A dark, unwanted, evil will threaten you future, and if you don’t banish this evil, your chance of having a promising future, will be shattered. Are you still willing to achieve a successful life, my dear?” Horror dawned Celeste’s face, then breathed. Turning to Rose she said, “Rose, you have to. You might be scared, but once you conquer that fear, and banish this evil, you will know at the end it willis be all worth it. Please, Rose, this is your only chance to live happily. We know this is the best shot for your life. So, will you accept your future, and the path to get to it? Say ‘I accept’ if you do.” , Celeste explained, anticipation filling her heart. “My only chance to live happily? How would you know that?”, she asked offended. “Please, we know what will happen if you don’t. We are giving you this opportunity of a guaranteed life- please, we want to protect you.” Rose swallowed hard. After long moments of thinking she then said, “I accept". Queen Stellina smiled from ear to ear, but with a twinge of fear in her eyes. Rose had said the words that will lead her to her journey. Whatever was ahead for her, it was final. There was no turning back now.

If you enjoyed this chapter, please consider giving this a vote.⭐
Thank you!