Perchance to Dream

Anne opened her eyes...and gasped upon finding herself in a 'strange', new world.

The 'ground' where she lay felt warm and fuzzy, and resembled a pink cloud.

with the sky a pastel of colors, ranging from pink, lavender and baby blue.

there were more cotton candy colored clouds floating around,

as well as what appeared to be floating doors and windows.

"what...the hel-"

"Anne?" spoke a voice.

Anne looked to see Olivier laying near her, himself having just awoken.

"Oliver!" Anne went to Olivier, and helped him to sit up.

"Ollie, where are we? This place looks like Care-a-lot and Cloudsdale fused into one!"

"not even gonna try to understand what that means." spoke Olivier,

as he began to survey the new, strange environment.

"based on what I know about the supernatural...I think we are in the Dream Realm.

"The what?!"

Olivier grasped Anne's hands as he and Anne slowly got up.

"The Dream Realm. It's another form of reality that everyone has been to without knowing it.

When we sleep, our astral forms pass through this realm. It is where our dreams come from."

Anne then shivered. "and...Nightmares?"

"THAT is the Nightmare Realm, and it is a separate realm from this one." said Olivier.

"There are ways to enter that Realm from here, but they are easy to avoid."

"Then let's avoid that place at all costs!"

"Agreed."

The pair then took a moment to examine their surroundings.

"so, this is what the Dream Realm looks like?" spoke Anne.

"Not all of it. Like actual dreams, the Dream Realm is ever changing." explained Olivier.

"The laws of physics have no meaning here. If you can dream it, then it is real."

Anne took a moment to ponder this. "Sooo...if I imagined having a Blueberry Slurpee right now, then-"

In that instant, a plastic cup filly with an ice cold, blue liquid

literally popped into existence, and floated into Anne's hand.

"whoa. that is cool...Literally." said Anne. "could use a-"

a Straw then popped in the air.

"thank-you." said Anne, taking the straw and sipping of her drink. "Hmm...doesn't quite taste the same."

"Well, this IS a Dream." said Olivier. "In the end, Dreams are just illusions."

At that moment, the cloud that the two were standing on spread away.

Revealing (or, transforming) into a small island of flat ground floating in the void.

"Well, that's an improvement." mused Olivier.

Anne stomped her foot on the ground, testing it. "feels sturdy...almost sturdy enough to-"

Before Anne could finish, a shimmering light overtook her body.

And in an instant, her usual clothes transformed into a platinum blue gown.

"oh, my-"

Olivier stared blankly at Anne (who looked like a Princess from a Fairy Tale.)

Then, that same shimmering light overtook HIM, changing his own clothing.

The Witch Boy was now wearing and outfit like one would wear to an Opera,

With a blue cape with a moon and stars pattern on it, and shoulder flaps shaped like the Sun.

"Okay, this is really weird." spoke Olivier.

Anne smiled as she approached Olivier. "well...as long as we are here. you wanna dance?"

Olivier looked at Anne...and smiled. "sure. no sense wasting a dream, right?"

Anne placed her hands over Olivier's shoulders, and Olivier grasped Anne's waist.

They both locked eyes as they began to dance together, spinning steadily in a circle.

As they danced, a tranquil music began to play all around them.

~a dream is a wish your heart makes. When you're fast asleep

In dreams, you will lose your heartaches. Whatever you wish for...you keep.

Have faith in your dreams and someday. Your rainbow will come smiling through.

No matter how your heart is grieving, If you keep on believing...

The dream that you wish...will come true.

a dream is a wish your heart makes. When you're feeling small

Alone, in the night you whisper. Thinking no one can hear you at all

You wake with the morning sunlight. To find fortune that is smiling on you

Don't let your heart be filled with sorrow, For all you know tomorrow...

The dream that you wish. will. come. true.~

When their dance concluded, Anne rested her head against Olivier.

Olivier did what came natural, and embraced his girlfriend tightly.

"this really is a dream" spoke Anne. "I almost don't want to wake up."

"I know. but we will have to eventually." said Olivier. "we have responsibilities...people that need us."

Anne pulled from Olivier, and looked at him. "yeah...but as long as we are together, we can do anything."

Olivier grinned. "Olivanne against the World, right?"

Anne smiled. "yep. Olivanne against ALL worlds."

(("THAT'S SO SWEET...")) spoke a third, echoed voice.

Olivier quickly grasped Anne as something very, VERY big appeared in a shimmer of light.

The two teens looked up at some strange, alien creature with pink skin, and branch-like fins upon it's head.

Anne then recognized what type of creature that it was. "wait...You look a little like Loggle from Amphibia."

(("THAT IS PROBABLY BECAUSE I AM AN AXOLOTL."))

"you...don't look like any Axolotl I have ever seen." spoke Olivier.

(("HOW SO?"))

"Well, you are GIGANTIC for one." began Olivier

"and, don't take this the wrong way, but you also kinda have a goofy looking face."

(("NONE TAKEN.")) spoke the Axolotl, bluntly. (("I PROBABLY LOOK STRANGE TO YOU

DUE TO BEING AN INTER-DIMENSIONAL BEING, AS WELL AS AN AXOLOTL."))

"that...would explain some things." said Anne.

(("I SUPPOSE MY FORM IS A BIT MUCH...GIVE ME A SECOND HERE."))

The Axolotl then glowed brightly, momentarily blinding the two teenagers.

When their vision returned, the Axolotl looked like a native to Amphibia,

having a more humanoid body, and normal facial expression and wore a flowing robe.

(("I trust this form is...less goofy, right?")) spoke the Axolotl (his voice even more normal.)

"oh, yeah. Much better." said Anne. "You look like someone I knew, now."

Olivier then approached. "Who are you?"

((Well, you could say I am the ruler of this realm.")) said the Axolotl.

(("Although, this isn't my world. I came from...somewhere else, someplace VERY far.

but when I found this place, I came to like it and made it my new home."))

"Sooo...you are like "The Sandman", or something?" asked Anne.

The Axolotl chortled.

(("Many sentient beings of many different cultures have called me different things.

But, YES. "Sandman" is a moniker that I am also familiar with."))

"But, do you have a NAME?" repeated Olivier.

(("I do...though, you could never pronounce it.")) said the Axolotl.

(("But if you must address me by name, there is one that I rather like."))

"Okay...What do you want us to call you, then?" asked Anne.

(("BOB.")) answered the Axolotl, bluntly.

Both Anne and Olivier looked at the Axolotl as if he were nuts. "BOB?!"

(("yes...Bob.")) repeated 'Bob', the Axolotl.

(("So many "intelligent" beings always feel the need to overthink, and complicate things.

When sometimes...it is the Simplest of things that really matter in the end."))

There was a brief pause.

"guess I can't argue with that logic." said Olivier.

(("I must say...I am quite surprised to see you two here.)) began Bob.

(("Usually dreamers who enter this realm go straight to their personal dream worlds."))

"Where is that?" asked Anne.

(("You see those floating doors and windows in the void?")) spoke Bob.

"I was wondering about those." mused Anne.

"Do any of theme lead to the Nightmare Realm?" asked Olivier. "If so, then please tell us so we can stay away from them."

(("you need not worry about that, Olivier Clawthorne.")) spoke Bob.

(("I keep the only portal to that place under close watch, you won't find it by accident."))

"You sure?, because lately we've been having more Nightmares, than Dreams." spoke Anne.

(("I have no control over that.")) said Bob. (("when you sleep, you don't always enter my realm.

Sometimes you do...other times you enter the Nightmare Realm. Or, you don't go anywhere at all."))

"I hate my nightmares." said Anne, trembling.

Olivier then held his girlfriend. "it's okay...I don't like mine, either."

"wait...I have another question." spoke Anne, looking at the towering Axolotl.

(("Feel free to ask me anything. It has been so long since I had anyone to talk to."))

"If you are the ruler of the Dream Realm...then does the Nightmare Realm have one, too?" asked Anne.

Bob grimaced, as if struggling to think of a right way to answer.

(("yeeeah...but, I wouldn't worry about him too much.")) began Bob.

(("Ever since his attempt to breach the waking world, that insane 'Dorito Chip' has been pretty quiet."))

"Do I even want to know what you mean by that?" inquired Olivier.

(("Probably not...best to leave it be."))

"fine, then...Guess we'll be staying here until we wake up." mused Olivier.

(("If you wish, I can direct you to your respected dream worlds...OR, someone else's."))

Anne and Olivier looked up at the Axolotl. "Go into someone else's dreams?!, that sounds...wrong."

(("and Dreamwalking, isn't?")) spoke Bob, bluntly.

Olivier grew pale. "oh...you know about that, huh?"

(("of course I do...and, you are taking quite a risk in doing so.")) continued Bob, sternly.

"I have a good reason." countered Olivier.

(("Then allow me to make it easier for you.."))

Bob the Axolotl then snapped his fingers, summoning a floating door.

Olivier recognized the door...it looked just like the main door to The Owl House.

(("You wish to see your mother again...Well, she is currently asleep and in her Dream World."))

Olivier froze as he stared at the floating door. "y-you mean...I can see her?"

Bob nodded. (("you can...but only for a short amount of time. Edalyn Clawthorne will awaken soon.")

Anne looked to Bob. "and, Sasha?"

Bob made a sad expression. (("She is currently being plagued by nightmares...and so, beyond my reach."))

Anne frowned at this. "oh, sash..."

"So, we can't contact Sasha without going to the Nightmare Realm, then?" spoke Olivier.

(("I am afraid not."))

Olivier scowled in frustration. "typical."

"well...at least you can see your mom again, right Ollie?!" spoke Anne, trying to be upbeat.

Olivier was back to feeling nervous as he stared at the door leading to his mother's dream world.

It was all he wanted, to see his mother again...yet now that he had a chance, he was reluctant.

What would he even say to her?, would she be furious with him? (he wouldn't blame her if she was.)

Olivier mentally scolded himself. WHY was this so hard?!

"oliver..." spoke Anne, approaching.

Olivier looked to his girlfriend as she touched his shoulder.

"if you are feeling nervous...I can go with you." said Anne, who then looked to Bob. "I *CAN* go with him, can't I?"

(("of course.")) answered Bob the Axolotl.

Olivier inhaled deeply, grasped Anne's hand tightly. "okay...here we go."

Olivier grasped the door handle...and then turned it with a CLICK.

[End of Part Thirty-One]