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rainbowmoonstonestories · 11 days ago

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Let Your Dreams Be Your Wings | Chapter 27

Chapters: 27/? Fandom: The Sandman (Netflix 2022, minor content from the Comics) Rating: Explicit Relationships Dream of the Endless/Morpheus x F!Reader Characters: Dream of the Endless/Morpheus, Lucienne, Matthew the Raven, Mervyn Pumpkinhead, Hob Gadling, Death, Rose Walker, The Corinthian, other minor Sandman characters, Original Characters. Warnings: 18+ content (minors DNI), explicit sexual content, POV switching, very long chapters to read. Summary: You always dreamed of becoming a successful Fashion Designer, sharing your creations with the world and making your father proud. But with him being very ill and so many costs solely weighting on your shoulders, things didn’t go as planned and you had to take a different path instead. An interesting offer led you to the elder Alex Burgess and you were hired as a new housemaid for a very good pay. However, your kindness and outstanding empathy convinced the man to give you an additional task for a doubled compensation; gaining the trust of Dream Of the Endless, held captive into the basement for over a century. Despite the shock of finding such an ethereal entity stripped of all his clothes and contained into a confined space, you had to accept for the sake of your father. But the more you got to speak to the mysterious anthropomorphic personification who didn’t utter a single word, the more you were lost into his eyes that, conversely, seemed to contain the entire universe. A deep connection formed between the two of you, separated only by a thick layer of glass.

Little did you know, what started like a simple housemaid job was about to change your life forever.

Credits: The moon dividers were made by firefly-graphics

Tagging: @number-0-iz, @emarich7, @jaziona92, @bridkesby @gallantys . If anyone else wants to be tagged in the next updates, let me know.

You can also read this on AO3 if you feel more comfortable!

Author's note: Writing this chapter was pure joy. It features heartwarming romance, and some absolutely NEEDED smut. I've also added a bit of additional lore about the Reader and story in general, which will eventually transition to the sequel based on season 2. The new episodes will premiere in less than two weeks from today, and that feels absolutely unreal! The moment Chapter 28 will be posted, we'll be already halfway through the second season.

This chapter contains A LOT of tooth rotting fluff, and I'm not even ashamed. I plan to complete this story within the next three chapters, and I suspect the sequel will inevitably force me to add a good amount of drama and emotional traumas, even though I'm working behind the scenes to create an alternative ending that will hopefully make sense. As we know, things are definitely getting darker and more tragic this time around.

WARNING: NSFW and huge chappy ahead.

As more mysteries unfolded and your light powers grew stronger in the Waking World, you cherished every moment with your King of Dreams and the child growing in your womb.

Consciousness returned as you surveyed the chamber Morpheus had crafted within his castle, the amethyst formations casting a gentle glow beneath the ornate canopy, while beyond the window doors stretched the infinite expanse of the dream realm, beckoning with its distant sounds.

You were shaken by pure relief as you confirmed that your reconciliation had indeed been real, dispelling the momentary anxiety that had accompanied your waking state. Your fingertips traced the intricate patterns of the celestial bedding, your nightgown seamlessly merging with the stellar design.

As you adjusted to the dimly lit surroundings and attempted to sit upright, a sudden wave of intense nausea overcame you, compelling you to rise from the bed and make your way to the adjacent washroom. Though you had managed to hold it back until now, your stomach demanded release as you hurried across the polished floor and knelt before the toilet. The feeling was far from pleasant—your throat burned as if lava were pouring out, your eyes clenched shut as you held yourself steady.

Exhausted breaths escaped you as your voice reverberated through the spacious room. Despite your discomfort, you found yourself letting out a weary laugh at the sight of the ethereal liquid in the basin, which swirled around on its own and immediately returned to its pristine appearance.

Rising to your feet, you approached the sink where the mirror reflected your fatigued countenance, dark circles beneath your eyes, your face now bare of makeup. You let the cool water flow over your hands, its gentle cascade providing a moment of respite as you sipped from your cupped hands, letting the cool water refresh your palate and cleanse away the lingering bitterness. The acrid taste faded completely, replaced by subtle hints of mint and lavender.

With a deep exhale, you gripped the sides of the sink as a shadow shifted behind you. Meeting Morpheus' gaze in the mirror, you offered him a smile before turning to face his concerned expression.

“Hey.”

"You are in pain," he observed, his eyes settling softly on your midsection.

"Well, that's a well-known side effect of pregnancy. I'm learning to cope with it," you replied with a shrug.

"I was not present for you when you needed me," he stated, his velvet voice tinged with regret. "I have failed in my responsibility to ease your burden."

"This isn't a burden, Morpheus. I'm carrying your child. And you're here now."

You leaned forward, nestling against his chest as his hands gently encircled your waist, his lips coming to rest against your forehead.

"You are here, aren't you? This is real."

"I am quite real," he reassured you. "And I shall not abandon you to solitude again."

You hummed contentedly, breathing in his anchoring scent, the blend of sandalwood and herbal musk bringing deep comfort.

He gently loosened his embrace as his fingers traced the material of your nightgown, following the curve of your hips and settling against your stomach. "You require rest, my sweet."

Your legs trembled slightly as your symptoms persisted, the sickness rushing back the moment he guided you away from the washroom and back to the king-sized bed. As you sank gracefully onto the pillows and Morpheus seated himself at the edge of the bed, a pang of sharp pain caused you to wince, a soft groan escaping your lips as your brow furrowed in distress.

"Ugh. This little one is certainly stubborn," you said. "As much as I love her, I'd kill for a full night's sleep."

Without a word, Morpheus extended his hand toward your abdomen, his palm resting gently against the fabric covering the growing swell beneath. In an instant, the nausea dissipated again, replaced by a strong sense of tranquility that permeated your entire body, from your toes to the tips of your hair.

Your eyes fluttered closed as you melted into the mattress. “Mhh…”

"Is your suffering eased, my love?"

"Oh yes. Whatever you're doing, it's absolutely working."

You reached for his palm, pressing it more firmly against your stomach as you offered another smile. "Thank you."

"To tend to you, to care for you while you carry our child... it is my deepest honor, and my sacred duty."

Your eyes glistened in the soft light of the room as the amethysts' purple luminescence reflected across his skin, tracing the contour of his jaw.

"I've really missed you, Morpheus," you reiterated. "Without you, I felt so lost."

"I was... blind. A fool who could not see what was before him. I am truly and deeply sorry."

"I wanted to hate you," you blurted out, causing him to freeze. "I wanted to be angry with you for the rest of my life."

His head hung low. "And yet you have chosen to forgive me. Why?"

"Because I love you," you replied simply. "And I knew that even if I wanted to, I could never despise you. How could I, when you've become everything to me?"

"Such kindness is undeserved."

"And why do you think that?"

"I who swore to be your eternal protector have instead caused you the deepest of wounds."

Your lower lip trembled. "You broke my heart."

"Yes."

"But you never intended to."

"No matter."

"It does matter. Your love for me is unmistakable."

His fingers traced small, soothing strokes, the gentle motion endearing. “I do love you. More than all the stories ever dreamed.”

"That's all I need, really. As painful and frightening as it was, I never truly stopped waiting for you."

"Would you still have welcomed me back into your heart, had our child not bound us together?" he asked, his tone carrying both hope and resignation.

You answered with absolute conviction. "Of course. Without a moment's hesitation."

“I…”

"Morpheus, I'm not here with you simply because of the pregnancy. Even before I knew I was expecting, all I wanted was your return."

"After bearing witness to my nature, to the darkness of my actions, to the weight of centuries of pain I have inflicted. You desire my presence still."

You chuckled. "You speak as though that were something inconceivable."

"In my eternal existence, all those I have loved, were inevitably lost."

You tightened your grip around his hand, brushing your thumb across his knuckles. "And yet here I am. The past doesn't dictate the future. I may not agree with all your decisions, but that's what love is about. I won't turn against you just because we have different approaches."

"You possess such strength of spirit, such profound wisdom. Your heart holds a compassion that even the stars would envy. You could have chosen an ordinary existence, a life untouched by nightmares, free from the weight of immortal beings."

You shook your head vigorously. "A life without you? What kind of horrible existence would that be?"

His eyes softened, a faint crimson tinge returning to them. “My love…”

"You must stop diminishing yourself this way. I understand you want what's best for me, but I thought we had moved past your assumption that I couldn't find happiness with you. You said yourself that the book was a trial, one we successfully overcame."

He listened attentively, his throat constricting.

"That first time I saw you—caged, emotionally broken, stripped of everything—I could still perceive your greatness. I felt your power radiating through the glass. And in that moment, everything finally clicked into place."

Your chest tightened as memories flooded back, from your first step into the Burgess estate to the life-changing moment you stood before the Lord of Dreams.

Tears welled in the corners of your eyes, but you blinked them away. "I no longer felt empty, because deep down I knew you were that missing piece of me I had been searching for all along."

A faint, vulnerable smile crossed his lips.

"I know that sounds rather sentimental," you continued. "But I assure you, this was never some fleeting, childish infatuation."

"Such thoughts have never crossed my mind."

Your eyelids felt heavy now, but you fought against sleep. "When I was a child, unable to dream, I would often hope The Sandman would visit my room, sprinkling sand into my eyes to guide me into the world of dreams."

You wrapped your hands around his wrist, holding onto him like an anchor.

"If only I had known that one day I would fall in love with him. That unbeknownst to me, he would become the most beautiful dream imaginable, and welcome me into his realm."

Before he could respond, a laugh bubbled up and spilled from your lips. "I can't imagine what you must have thought of me that day. I was such a mess back then, wasn't I?"

He tilted his head slightly, watching you with those deep, unfathomable eyes that seemed to contain entire galaxies within their depths. "That is not quite accurate, my love."

"Oh, come on, Morpheus. Be honest," you said with a wide grin. "I promise I won't get offended."

He arched a brow, clearly amused by your playful self-deprecation. "I thought you were the most magnificent mortal I had ever seen. Your spirit burned like a spark in the darkness."

Your teasing smile softened into something more tender. "Really?"

He nodded, his free hand reaching to tuck a stray lock of your hair behind your ear. "I saw your kindness, your strength, your refusal to stand idly by in the face of wrongdoing. And though I dared not acknowledge it then, you awakened something ancient within me that I had long forgotten existed.”

"And now?" you asked, your gaze soft and full of love. "What do you think of me now?"

Morpheus leaned in closer, his expression warm and unguarded, the way he reserved only for you. "Now... I believe you are my redemption. And that has been truth itself since the moment you first crossed my path."

"So, I wasn't just some annoying human after all?"

"No, my love," he denied, his tone light but sincere. "You were always a rather remarkable creature."

"Remember when I grabbed that chair and tried to break the glass before they dragged me away? Looking back, I was quite reckless. That was hardly what I'd call remarkable."

“Reckless? Perhaps,” he admitted with fondness. "Yet I found your courage most admirable."

"Admirable? Me, wildly swinging a chair around like a lunatic? I was about to make a complete fool of myself, and you consider that admirable?"

The corners of his mouth twitched upward even more. "Yes. In a world that has grown accustomed to turning a blind eye, you chose to confront that which you deemed unjust. Such defiance... such resolve... it revealed the very essence of your being."

You looked down at his hand, still tracing soft patterns along your abdomen. "Well, when you put it like that, it doesn't sound so ridiculous, does it?"

"Such an act was anything but ridiculous. You brought change to what had remained static for millennia. In you, I glimpsed... the first ray of hope I had known since the dawn of dreams."

Your cheeks flushed as you shifted deeper into the pillows. "Even when my heroic moment was nothing more than a chair and blind fury?" You paused thoughtfully, a soft hum escaping your throat once more. "The chair-wielding hero and the Dream King. Quite the dramatic pair, aren't we?"

His visage filled with admiration. "And now... we are three."

Your heart fluttered like a butterfly, wild and free. "And she gets to hear the tale of how her father met her mother. What a wonderful bedtime story that would make."

His fingers spread further across your covered belly, tracing the imperceptible rhythm of the baby's stirring, growing inside. "And she shall weave stories of her own, as the Princess of the Dreaming, a bridge between realms mortal and eternal."

"Who would have imagined that from that day in the basement, we'd find ourselves here, together in your castle, with a child on the way?"

He regarded you quietly for a moment, his gaze filled with an unspoken gratitude. "You have given me the most precious of gifts imaginable, treasures beyond measure. Your heart… and a child."

"And I would face a thousand Corinthians, a million Desires, and an infinite number of Hecates if it meant staying with you, where I belong. That is never going to change, for as long as this mortal life grants me."

"Then allow me to be worthy of your love and forgiveness. To guide you through the realm of dreams that was barred to you for so long. Let me care for my Queen... and our Little Star."

Your body trembled with excitement, your teeth gleaming in the dim light as you giggled. "I want nothing more. Words can't express how happy this makes me."

Your hand fell to your side, but his remained still, placed above your womb. No sand was needed—his voice alone served as the enchanted key, low and powerful, enveloping you like a protective haven. “Sleep, my beautiful Y/N.”

Your eyelids fell softly shut, your breathing deep and steady. "Morpheus?" you called, your voice barely audible.

"Tell me, my love."

Hovering between wakefulness and sleep, your body floating weightlessly, you felt compelled to share your thoughts, knowing that Morpheus would hear them regardless of your state of consciousness.

"Our daughter is going to adore you."

Deep within your being, you sensed an inexplicable connection between the developing life inside you and Morpheus, an authentic bond that surpassed the typical biological limitations of early pregnancy, as if your child already possessed an awareness of and longing for her father's presence.

Exhaustion finally claimed you as you drifted back into the realm outside, your mind surrendering to its gentle embrace. Slipping into slumber, Morpheus' resonant voice gradually faded from distinct utterances to otherworldly whispers, eventually becoming one with the ambient essence of the Dreaming.

"And I shall spend every waking moment of your existence ensuring you know the depth of devotion the King of Dreams holds for you both."

You stretched your arms gracefully as you traversed the polished floor of your chamber, your bare feet silent against the cool surface while your nightgown swayed elegantly at knee-length. After completing your morning ablutions, your skin carried a subtle fragrance from your bath, and your slightly damp hair felt like strands of satin against your skin.

Stepping onto the balcony, you were greeted by the mystical dreaming sky and verdant landscape, their beauty even more enchanting than the previous evening. The Dreaming was full of life, rich and prosperous, in a way you hadn't seen for quite a while.

The sound of beating wings could be heard in the distance, growing louder as the familiar, magnificent animal approached from the horizon. The wind stirred around you, and you watched the dragon descending, gliding elegantly before your balcony with its golden scales shimmering beneath the dreamlight. You smiled warmly at the majestic beast, who acknowledged your presence with a gentle dip of its head before continuing its patrol of the realm.

You ran your hands along the parapet, feeling the cool, solid marble beneath your fingers. This was real, you had truly returned to the realm of dreams in physical form, fully awake and present. The air carried the mingled scents of moonflowers, fresh grass, and sea salt. Soft chants and lullabies floated through the æther, accompanied by delicate chimes that seemed to ring in celebration.

Then, a presence rippled behind you, heralding the arrival of the monarch himself. You spun around with enthusiastic energy, grinning in delight as Morpheus came into view. His dark presence was framed by white curtains, billowing around him like dancing silk, mirroring your recent dream.

He was breathtaking, regal and powerful, his eyes like twin pools of celestial marvels.

You moved instinctively toward him, arms outstretched as you rushed to embrace him, pressing your lips to his with passionate fervor. Morpheus made a soft sound of surprise before yielding into the kiss, his fingers weaving gently through your hair.

"Hi," you whispered breathlessly, rising on tiptoes as you clung to his shoulders.

His hold was strong, hands now pressing against the small of your back, requiring minimal effort from you to stay upright.

“How are you feeling, my love?”

Reluctantly pulling away, you placed your palms around his neck, fingers toying with the back of his dark locks. "You worked a miracle, I can't remember the last time I woke up without morning sickness."

A satisfied smile graced Morpheus' features. "You find yourself in my realm now. It seems the Dreaming itself embraces our child, offering its protection."

"It's not just the Dreaming, it's you. I can't explain it, but I feel this peace inside me... and I know it isn't mine alone."

"Then it shall be my greatest pleasure to attend to both of your needs."

Your mouth crashed against his again, your body inching closer as your inhibitions dissolved. "Good. Because right now, I simply cannot stay away from you. And our little one seems to agree."

"I am yours entirely," he breathed. "And I will remain by your side for all of existence."

The air filled with nothing but gentle melodies; lips meeting in tender kisses, sighs, and rustling clothing. His mouth traced a path down your neck with feather-light touches, each kiss softer than the last, until reaching the delicate slope of your shoulder. His fingers found the strap of your nightgown, lowering it with care—your heart fluttering, breath growing shallow as your eyes closed in pleasure.

For weeks, you had longed to feel him close to you, to hear the low, rich timber of his voice, and to experience his devotion anew. Now here he was, standing before you in all his splendor, treating you as if you were the most precious being across all worlds.

"I heard your voice that night, my love."

His statement pierced through your thoughts like lightning, rendering you temporarily awestruck as your mind struggled to comprehend its significance.

"My voice?"

"It cut through the endless void I had created, more beautiful than any dream I have ever woven."

"But I'm only human,

And I bleed when I fall down,

I'm only human, and I crash and I break down,

Your words in my head, knives in my heart,

You build me up and then I fall apart,

Cause I'm only human.”

Through the dazzling stage lights that illuminated the room, you had caught a glimpse of a dark, statuesque silhouette in the blurry mist. Your rational mind attempted to dismiss it as nothing more than a trick of the light, born from your desperate wishes and hopeful heart.

"You were there…? I thought I had imagined it."

"You did not. I heard every word, felt all of it."

"I was hoping you would."

His lips pressed against your skin, his nose inhaling its fresh scent. "You are far more than merely human, my heart. In fact, I wish to prove it to you.”

"Morpheus," his name escaped like a prayer, like a spell you wished to bind to you forever. "I—"

"Yes," his answer came with absolute certainty. He knew precisely what you wanted, and he would give you far more than you could ever dream of asking for.

Your body trembled with anticipation as his lips traced their journey back up, finding yours once more. “Say my name again… and again.”

"I could speak your name all day, Morpheus."

“Again.”

“Morpheus.”

“More, my love. It is pure music when spoken by these perfect lips of yours.”

And so you obliged, between passionate kisses, breathing his name over and over with growing enthusiasm. "I really want you. I need you."

"You shall have me. Every fragment of my being, for all of eternity."

Morpheus' sentence hinted at something big; a love that would stretch far beyond the years at your disposal. While mortality meant your time was finite, the prospect of living forever had begun to intrigue you with each passing day. Hob's proposition of eternal life, the chance to share endless days with Morpheus and your child, held an increasingly compelling appeal that you could no longer dismiss.

For now, however, your thoughts were consumed only by the Lord of Dreams, the sovereign of your heart.

Suddenly, as your kisses became more insistent, a luminous golden light emanated from your hands where they rested against his chest. The same glowing energy that had formed in your previous nightly adventures, the very force which had brought you to the Book of Paradoxes, now returned with heightened force, extending along your arms in intricate, vein-like patterns of radiant filaments.

"Oh!"

"Y/N?"

You took a step backward, staring at your hands in visible apprehension, as he observed in silent contemplation. "Right, about this... I haven't told you yet."

"I am aware of this development," he replied. “My love, you—”

"Wait, don't. I don't know what's going to happen. Maybe... maybe you should stay away from me until it stops."

While there was no evidence suggesting your power could be dangerous, given its apparent role in healing the Dreaming’s wounds and escorting you to prophetic knowledge, its true nature was still undefined. Though Hob had no adverse effects after coming into contact with it in the Waking World, you couldn't completely dismiss the possibility of unforeseen implications.

But Morpheus would not be deterred, his face set with resolute purpose. His cool hands reached for yours, fingers gliding along your skin until his own began to shimmer with gold.

"This energy, this light... it stems from pure goodness itself. You cannot harm me."

"But… I still don't understand what it truly is."

"It has always resided in you. Slumbering beneath the surface. A power as old as your very existence." He cupped your face, his thumb caressing beneath your eye as your irises sparkled with incandescent fire. "You possess such exquisite radiance. You look so beautiful, my love."

"I'm carrying Morpheus' child. Clearly, these powers are coming from the baby."

Astra's brow furrowed thoughtfully. "In part, yes. But I believe there's more to it than that."

"What do you mean? I'm only human, Astra. Morpheus is the one who has full control over this realm, not me. And surely, his child is no different."

"You may not have direct control over the Dreaming, but I think you're more than you believe yourself to be. This golden light? It's undoubtedly coming from you."

You chuckled, shaking your head. "I never had it before. This is no coincidence."

"Look, I may not have all the answers—and truly, only he would know for certain. But as a supernatural creature myself, Y/N, I can assure you that this magic isn't coming from our future Prince or Princess of the Dreaming. Not entirely at least."

"So Astra was right… this power isn't coming from the baby, is it?"

"Our daughter has awakened something that was latent, something that has always been yours: Your kindness shining like a beacon, your outstanding bravery, and the wisdom in your words bringing solace to those who hear them."

The tendrils of light swirled and transformed, slowly retreating until they settled at your fingertips. “What does this make me?”

"You are who you have always been. The very same mortal who came to me that fateful day. The one who earned my love. The one who now carries my child."

Kissing the crown of your hair, he enveloped your upper arms with gentle care. "You are my Y/N. You belong here, with me."

"I always have. And I always will, until the end of time."

"You are mine, and no one else's."

The golden light faded completely, your skin returning to its natural state. With another kiss, you sealed your promise of infinite loyalty and adoration, meant for him and him alone.

"So much has changed in my life since I met you. When I look at you, I see my entire future. You're everything I'll ever need; whether I live forever or remain mortal, it doesn't matter."

"Your courage astounds me, and your spirit is boundless. I shall ensure that every facet of your being remains untarnished, shielding you from the darkness of doubt and uncertainty."

Your fingers moved across his shoulder blades. "I want you to take me, Morpheus. Please… make love to me."

Your words acted like a magical trigger, unleashing something neither of you could contain.

"Then, let me show you pleasures that only I, the King of All Dreams, can offer you.”

Morpheus' gaze turned wild, his eyes darkening with hunger as they took in every inch of you, his lips magnetically drawn to yours. You were entangled like chain links, united like two ends of the same thread.

"There's no other living creature in the entire universe who could compare."

You walked to the bed where the sheets lay disheveled from your night's sleep. He followed close behind, his lips wet and plump, staring at your face as though you were the most exquisite delicacy to savor. You eased onto the mattress, your hand in his, as his knees pressed into the plush surface and advanced toward you.

You parted your legs to welcome him, his coat opening behind. Your eyes met in silent intensity as his palm traced slowly up your thigh, your nightgown following the path upward. A shiver ran through you as he looked at your abdomen, where the subtle curve of your growing belly revealed itself before him.

"You are... truly magnificent."

"If I am magnificent, then you are utterly glorious."

"You are bearing this precious life within you. I am merely a vessel through which this miracle came to be."

"You say that as if it weren't important."

"It is, but this child is unlike any other. You carry a being of extraordinary power, and you do so with remarkable grace."

You laughed. "Please tell me she won't suddenly pop out in a matter of days."

His eyebrow raised in confusion. "’Pop out’?"

"I mean, look at Lyta. She became pregnant one day and went into labor almost immediately."

"She conceived with a ghost in dreams, with time itself bending to the will of my realm. She was under the influence of the Vortex, distorting reality in ways that cannot occur to you."

"Well, that's reassuring. I was a bit worried there for a moment… this is your child we're talking about, after all."

His hands resumed their exploration, coming to your chest, your skin warming at the cool contact. “But she is also yours. We shall witness her journey unfold at her own natural rhythm.”

"That is good to know—ah!"

Your body quivered as he reached your breasts, the soft material of your attire grazing your nipples as it gathered around your collarbones. Morpheus' throat bobbed at the sight, your peaks hardening instantly in the cool air.

“Morpheus—”

“Look at you,” he murmured teasingly. “I have barely touched you, my love. And already your body trembles beneath my hands."

"I need more," you purred. "Give it to me, Morpheus."

His temples met yours, sharing the intimate space where adoring sighs met. "Tell me. What fantasies shall I bring to life for you?"

"Just… keep going. Touch every part of me."

"Mh."

Delighting in your need, Morpheus moved lower, leaving your breasts neglected and yearning for his attention. “Perhaps I should begin with these delectable legs of yours.”

His hands slid sensually up your thighs, pausing to rest at your hips, deliberately avoiding where you ached for him the most.

"Or perhaps, this." He caressed your waist, the gesture loving rather than lustful as he finally made direct contact with your swelling. "Here where my creation stirs, a testament of what we have made together."

"I can't wait to see you holding her. The mere thought makes my heart soar."

"For now, I can hold our child through you. Though I suspect her mother has... other needs at this moment."

You exhaled shakily. "As much as I like this... yes. You're driving me crazy."

"Would you prefer I move my hands... higher, my love?"

At last, his palms enclosed around your breasts, caressing them with profound reverence, holding them as if they were precious jewels meant for eternal worship. When his thumbs brushed against the rigid tips, an electric shock surged through your form, intensified by weeks of separation and your heightened sensitivity. His movements were unhurried and precise, setting your nerves ablaze as your impatience mounted at an unbearable speed.

You moaned, your lower lip caught between your teeth. "Y-yes. Exactly like that."

“You are a masterpiece,” he expressed. "Your hair is like molten sunlight."

Remnants of light cascaded along your tresses, flowing downward until they merged into your heart.

“Your neck, so elegant and graceful… a column of pure beauty.”

He punctuated each word with a new kiss, beginning at your hairline and trailing his affections down your cheek before returning to your throat.

“And your breasts… perfection incarnate. Like ripe fruit waiting to be plucked.”

Your heart thundered, its fierce rhythm pounding in your ears.

“Please—”

“Allow your King to take care of you.”

His lips closed around one peak, savoring it with sweet abandon. Gentle, wet sounds were produced as his mouth released and reclaimed each nipple, his desire for you insatiable. You moaned again, your head falling back, fingers clutching the sheets for support. Your skin burned with rosy patches blooming across your body, each sigh and gasp urging him onward.

His measured, languid kisses and licks upon your nipples were earth-shattering, a sensation beyond description.

“You are a temptation I cannot resist,” he said hoarsely, his lips descending, where moments ago his hands had wandered. “So soft. So perfect. Made for me.”

He kissed along your stomach, lingered at your navel, and traced the stretching muscles underneath. "Our child. She dreams even now, fragile as a newly formed star, yet far more formidable than we can imagine."

You stroked his hair, noticing how his right hand grasped your knee, guiding your legs further apart. "She is the daughter of the Lord of Dreams. Of course she'll become invincible."

"And with you as her mother, no being would dare stand against her."

"Ah!"

Your hips jerked and twisted as his middle and forefinger captured your clit, still covered by the thin layer of black cotton. He moved them in tentative circles, causing you to writhe and groan, the amethysts above glittering and chiming like magical bells in response.

His fingers curled under the elastic bands, holding their position. “May I?”

With a mere thought, he could have made the garment vanish into a swirling cloud of sand, no questions asked, leaving you bare and exposed without preambles.

"I love how thoughtful you are with me, but you can do anything, Morpheus. Right now... I just want you to take the damn thing off and make me scream."

A deep, guttural growl rumbled in his chest as his lips pressed against your inner thigh in appreciation, his gaze perpetually fixed on yours. Holding your panties on both sides, he slid them down your hips excruciatingly slowly, trailing the silken fabric along your legs and past your ankles. The motion was sinuous and erotic, yet incredibly grounding and absolutely right.

Letting the undergarment drop to the floor, Morpheus beheld your form with such zeal that for a moment, words failed him entirely. You were like a sacred sanctuary, an unyielding storm that bends but never breaks, a goddess carved in time and space. You were living poetry, a flame that set his endless world alight.

No sculptor's chisel nor painter's brush could capture the spectacle laid out upon these celestial sheets. Your chest rose and fell more rapidly, the nightgown still bunched above your breasts, leaving them bared. Your clit pulsed with irrepressible urgency, beckoning him to feast upon the divine offering in front of him, like a pearl in moonlight.

And so, drawn by your silent invitation, Morpheus lowered himself to your center, his tongue ravenous to taste. Your eyes rolled shut, head pressed into the pillow, your legs quaking as your fingers wove through his hair. He was relentless, his tongue exploring and consuming, one hand settling protectively over your abdomen as the other gripped your thigh.

"A-ah! Morpheus, I... wait—"

You were already about to tumble over the edge, faster than you had thought possible. He didn't cease, merely responding with a deep "Mmh" while increasing both pressure and pace. You cried out, gripping his hair as pleasure-filled moans escaped your lips, your voice climbing higher.

It crashed over you like an unstoppable cyclone, your orgasm bursting forth unrestrained and overwhelming in its raw power. Your body tensed and shuddered as his mouth coaxed every wave of pleasure, from the apex of euphoria to the sweet, lingering aftershocks.

Spent and breathless, you collapsed onto the bed, your limbs heavy and tingling. Your cheeks tinted with a deep scarlet, your hands covering your face in shy embarrassment.

Your voice emerged muffled, barely audible through your fingers. "I'm so sorry..."

"Why do you apologize, my love?" he asked with a hint of amusement.

"I didn't mean to finish so quickly."

With a gentle smile, he grasped your wrists and moved your hands away from your face, revealing your wide, teary eyes. "You are exquisite in your vulnerability, my sweet."

"I am not," you pouted, lips forming a delicate frown.

"You deserve every moment of pleasure. After all, I am the King of Dreams - it is my privilege to fulfill your deepest longings. To care for you as I could not during our time apart. And now that you have returned to me, I shall ensure you want for nothing."

A peaceful sigh escaped you as your body surrendered into contentment. "You always know exactly what to say."

"And I will tell you more, praise you, cherish you, through all the days to come."

You pulled him down into a kiss, tasting your own essense on his lips as he positioned himself above you, your legs parted on either side. You could feel his hardness pressing against your core, yet he remained patient, awaiting your consent, relinquishing all control.

Your hand brushed along his shoulder, sliding over the thin material of his shirt until reaching its edge. You let your fingers slip under the hem, grazing his lean muscles, pale skin against ebony clothes, which contracted at the slight caress. Then, you deftly undid his trousers, his manhood meeting your touch as you proceeded, proud and erect for you to receive.

"Do you think I will be a good mother?" you asked him, wrapping your palm around his shaft, finally free from its restraint.

"You are going to be extraordinary. Of that, I have no doubt. Mh—"

"I could never do this with anyone but you."

Directing his length to your entrance, you held him there for a heartbeat, balanced at the threshold.

His patience had worn thin, his body trembling with restraint. “I must confess, I find my resolve has reached its end. In fact, I cannot wait any longer.”

You grinned, moistening your lips as he eased himself between your folds, just enough for his tip to be enveloped by your heat.

“I wish to claim you as mine. Will you grant me this?”

"Morpheus, honestly!” You laughed, overcome with infinite love for this being between your legs as you clutched the shawl collar of his coat. “What more do you need me to say? I'm already taking you inside me and have no intention of stopping. Just do it, claim me. There's nothing I want more than this, more than you."

At that, Morpheus' resistance finally crumbled, leaving only an insatiable craving for you and his own physical need. With a rough, powerful thrust, he entered your body to the hilt, making you whimper and convulse. His pelvis established a rhythmic motion, tranquil at first, only to inevitably quicken at the incessant sound of your moans.

Your legs wrapped around his waist, meeting his movements as your lips and tongues melded together in a battle of dominance, one neither of you was truly willing to win.

“Tell me, my love. Is this to your satisfaction?”

You were in absolute ecstasy, your inner walls clenching and tightening around him with each thrust, sweeping away every ounce of decorum. "Yes! You are incredible. Harder!"

"Harder?"

"Please."

His length twitched and pulsed, joining with you like two pieces of one whole. "If that is what you wish."

Morpheus obliged, shifting his position before driving into you with breathtaking force. His arms held you with fierce desperation, as if you might dissolve into mist and leave him stranded in desolate loneliness. He rocked against you with deep, commanding movements, his ragged breaths and growls filling your ear.

You were the light that pirouetted through his shade, divinity wrapped in mortal form. He wanted to map constellations on your skin, every inch of your being, immersing himself in your brilliance.

“So tight, so wet. All mine.”

"I absolutely am. Forever and always. I've been yours from the beginning, even when I didn't know you; when you were nothing more than a fairy story."

He slowed momentarily, sweeping the hair from your face, shaking with bridled eagerness. "You have brought me to my knees. Even my realm holds no sway in your presence."

You inhaled, adjusting your position, pushing your legs further up around his hips and crossing your ankles against his lower back.

He resumed, pushing in and out of you with demanding insistence. "Your voice echoes through the endless halls of my castle. Love me, crave me, call out for me."

"Yes, yes! I love you, Morpheus. I love you so much. I'm so close—I can feel it building. Please don't stop."

"I shall see you through to the very end," he promised. "Let me feel every tremor, every wave of your ecstasy. Give yourself to me and I shall take you beyond the confines of dreams."

"You do that every day, even in absence—ngh! Ah, Morpheus!"

"Yes... surrender everything to me."

The wet sounds mingled with the crystal chimes as you both teetered on the edge of rapturous release. His fingers found their way back to your chest, teasing your nipple with a delicate squeeze. As that familiar tension coiled at your core, you reached down to rub your clit, synchronizing with the rhythm of his thrusts until the combined sensations built into an exquisite crescendo that would utterly shatter you.

"Seeing you writhe in my arms, pleasuring yourself before me... you are nothing short of sublime."

“Oh….!”

And then it arrived, just as powerful as the first, a climax that made your toes curl and eyes shut in exhilaration. Your hand closed around his, holding it against your breast as your body gave in, tightening around him in pulsing contractions.

His hips bucked wildly, his own limit approaching. “I—I… I-”

"Do it, please!"

With that, his body heated up as his pleasure erupted forward like a cosmic flare. He stared at you, presenting the most splendid sight of the Dream Lord lost in pure delight, jerking and filling you with the warmth of his seed. He was gorgeous, enticing in every way conceivable, your fingers still circling your sensitive nub to savor the last ripples of your orgasm, until you could take no more.

When at last you both stilled, a peaceful silence fell between you, wrapped in your embrace and sharing gentle kisses. You listened attentively to the soundscape outside, from the distant dragon's passage to the dream choruses and soft turn of pages.

"That was… wow," you revealed, panting.

"Was it?"

"Mm-hmm. Amazing."

"You are marvelous, my Queen," he intoned. "Making love to you is my greatest indulgence."

"’Queen’," you mused. "I rather like that."

“You are. My magnificent goddess of light. My everything.”

Shifting to sit up, his softening length slipping from you, you took his face between your hands and looked at him with the brightest of smiles. "I don't know how I became worthy of your love, but I wouldn't trade this life for any other."

"Worth is hardly sufficient to describe you, my love. You would bring even the mightiest beings to submission."

"I don't care for other beings, I only want to be with you."

"You have me. I am yours, irrevocably."

You guided his hand to rest upon your abdomen, pressing your lips to his shoulder through the woolen material of his coat. Your nightgown pooled delicately at your waist as he stroked your hair, his fingers grazing your neck while keeping his head against yours.

In the tranquil moments that followed, quiet spoke more than words as the Dreaming bore witness to your souls inexorably intertwined, a new life flourishing and linking the mortal and immortal realms as one.

"Bloody hell, you're joking, right?"

You chuckled, shaking your head, holding the phone between your ear and shoulder as you washed mugs. "I assure you, I am not. Why would I jest about such a matter?"

"How is it you've got every bloody mystical creature in creation flockin' to your doorstep?"

"Trust me, I haven't a clue. But honestly, at this point, I couldn't care less."

"Well, at least he's got his marbles back in order. It feels like a great stone's been lifted off my chest, if I'm being honest."

"I'm sorry for worrying you so much."

"Don't give it another thought, Shortcake. Not like you went looking for all that rubbish to begin with."

After turning off the water and drying your hands, you returned to the living room. "I honestly don't know what I would have done these past few weeks without you."

"Listen love, you can always count on me, yeah? No questions needed."

Lying on the couch, you grimaced faintly. "I know. I'm incredibly grateful to have you in my life."

“I heard that.”

"Hmm? Heard what?"

"You're not feeling well again, are you? That little noise you made there, clear as day."

Stroking your stomach, you let out a wry laugh. "I've felt dreadful ever since I came back. I suspect it's my little one making her displeasure known."

"I have no clue how all this dream business works, but couldn't you have stayed with him for a bit longer?"

"Oh, he wanted me to. In fact, he asked me to stay until the baby is due."

"And you went and turned him down? That's a bit of a bold move."

You laughed. "Despite his brooding, he was quite understanding. Even though I could stay there without time affecting our world much, I can't just return with a newborn out of thin air. Besides, I have work to accomplish here and now. He accepted to let me get my stuff in order back home, at least for today."

"Right then, makes sense. Though I'll admit, I’m a bit surprised he didn't put up more of a fuss, knowing him as I do."

"He's changed, Hob. He's truly giving it his all."

“I can see that.”

"It would be in your best interest, and that of our child, to remain here in The Dreaming. I am... concerned for your wellbeing."

"Morpheus, you know I love being here with you, but I have responsibilities in the Waking World."

Though expected, your answer still made him frown. "As you know, the rules of time and space bend differently here in my domain. You need not sacrifice your mortal obligations."

A grin tugged at the corners of your lips as you fixed the collar of his coat, brushing your nose against his cheek. "I know, but how would I explain the baby to anyone else? Using a cryptic pregnancy excuse isn't a solution."

You could see the disappointment forming on his face, his typical moping cat look returning.

"Okay, listen," you said, taking his hands in yours. "I love that you want to be there for me throughout the entire pregnancy, it means more to me than words can express. You and the Dreaming are my home now, that cannot be denied.”

"I fear your mind is made up on this matter."

"It is, but I want you to be part of this journey. You're the father, I would never exclude you."

After a thoughtful pause, Morpheus relented. "Very well. But I propose a compromise, my love."

"What kind of compromise?"

"I would ask two things of you: that you allow Matthew to watch over you when I cannot be present... and that you return to me each night in The Dreaming. Not in slumber, but in your conscious form."

You nodded. "That sounds reasonable. But I can't travel between realms on my own. Are you suggesting you'll come fetch me yourself?"

“Yes.”

Your eyes grew wide with astonishment. "You would do that? Come for me every single day? Accompany me back and forth when I have work and commitments?"

"Such a simple task means nothing. I would traverse the very fabric of existence for you."

"You're sweet, but I would never want to take you away from the Dreaming. I know there's still so much to rebuild after all that happened."

Like you, Morpheus proved to be equally stubborn. "You need not concern yourself with that. I simply wish for you to live the life you choose, both in the Waking World and here, with me."

"Even if that means dividing your time between realms?"

"Time spent in your presence is never wasted, my love."

You kissed him, nearly mimicking Ella's happy dance while restraining your elation, clinging to his shoulders as joy sparkled in your eyes. Still, Morpheus' satisfaction shone through in his smile, holding you in place.

"Then, my King, I’d say we have an agreement."

He drew you closer by your waist, his spirit visibly brightening. "Excellent."

"Oi, love? You still with me?"

"Ah, yes, sorry. I was lost in thought for a moment."

"Right then, gonna let you get some rest now. Give me a shout if you need anything, yeah?"

You stretched out on the couch, gently rotating your ankles. "Of course, thank you so much, Hob."

“Oh, and Y/N…. I meant to ask….”

“Yes?”

"Have you run into any other odd characters lately? Besides all them supernatural beings you've been telling me about."

You rubbed your chin pensively. "Odd? Well, I've seen plenty of weird things, but nothing particularly unusual comes to mind. Why do you ask?"

"Ah, well..."

You waited patiently as he hesitated before continuing, his response coming as a rushed and obviously dishonest explanation. "Nevermind then. Just me rambling on like a right old fool."

"Wait, what—?"

"I'll be checking up on you soon."

The call ended abruptly before you could inquire further, leaving you contemplating his unexpected behavior. His tone had carried a distinct note of concern - something that, given your recent experiences, warranted further investigation.

You started browsing through TV programs to occupy your evening, barely paying attention to what was playing on the screen. The more you contemplated the situation, the more questions arose about the implications of Hob’s allusion.

You sat up straight, the movie in the background now forgotten. "That was peculiarly strange, even for him."

To complicate matters even more, the next workday began with quite an unexpected turn of events.

You had just settled at your desk and powered up your equipment, preparing the day's schedule and upcoming executive briefing when a sudden commotion disrupted the studio's serene atmosphere. A sharp cry was followed by the forceful closing of a door, echoing through the corridor and making your skin crawl. Upon investigating, you observed several colleagues congregating near the restroom entrance, worriedly looking at the scene before them.

Confused, you tentatively approached the assembly, Oliver's voice rising above the hushed whispers. "Ella, sweetheart. Please, let's talk about this."

Amanda was standing behind the CEO with a brewed cup of coffee in her hand. As you moved beside her, you asked, "What's happening here, Amy? Is Ella all right?"

The woman sighed, shaking her head. "I have no clue. She just bolted to the bathroom like lightning, and I'm pretty sure she was crying. What on earth could be wrong this early in the morning?"

Oliver continued to knock, but no reply came from the other side. "Ella, I know this is difficult, but please. Don't shut me out."

As the tension in the area visibly escalated, Amanda intervened with a rough throat-clearing sound. "Everyone, let's give them some space, shall we?" She prompted the group to disperse, making sweeping motions as if creating an invisible shield around the CEO. "This isn't something we should eavesdrop on. Come on, back to work."

Although they all seemed deeply concerned about Ella's state of mind, after exchanging a few silent glances, they eventually returned to their respective posts, with only Freya staying behind. She was visibly distressed, letting out a deep breath as she gave your wrist a light squeeze. "Please keep me updated, and don't hesitate to call if you guys need anything."

You nodded firmly, watching her walk away with increasing apprehension. Meanwhile, Oliver sighed in frustration, resting his forehead against the door in complete resignation, his fist bumping softly upon the wooden surface.

Amy gave your shoulder an encouraging pat and smiled warmly before taking her leave, the coffee now cold, her typically sophisticated poise evident as she departed. The moment felt ominous, leaving you uncertain whether to intervene.

Taking a deep breath, you reached out, brushing your hand over Oliver's elbow, cocking your head questioningly. "Oliver? Maybe this is none of my business, but... what's going on?"

He closed his eyes, removing his glasses and pinching the bridge of his nose. "I was hoping for a different outcome."

"I don't understand."

"She... she received some bad results, Y/N."

"Bad results?"

"Wait, she didn't tell you?"

"She hasn't mentioned any of this to me. Medical results? Is that what you're referring to?"

He paced anxiously back and forth, massaging the back of his neck. "We’ve been trying for so long to…" He faltered, his words trailing away into stillness.

"I had no idea she was sick. Is this serious?"

"It’s not physically dangerous for her, but... emotionally, that's another matter entirely. She had such high hopes, we both did. I just don't know what to do now."

You rubbed your temple. "I'm a bit confused."

"Y/N, I hate to put this on you, but I could really use your help. You're the only one I can turn to."

"What can I do?"

He swiveled toward the door, his eyes red and distraught. "I think I’m the last person she wants to see at the moment. Perhaps she'll listen if you talk to her."

“I can try.”

Oliver stepped aside, muttering a "thank you," and allowed you to take his place by the door. His breathing was unsteady as you gently knocked several times, the bathroom remaining silent, with no word spoken from inside.

After a brief pause, you announced your presence, calling your friend quietly. "Ella? It's me. May I come in?"

You listened at the entrance, catching the faint sound of footsteps on the other side. When you heard the lock click, careful to keep the hallway hidden from view, you exchanged a knowing look with Oliver, which he answered with a tight smile. Ella didn't appear, but her gesture came as an invitation, meant only for you to take.

You stepped into the restroom, securing the door behind you. Ella stood hunched over one of the sinks, her blonde hair falling forward to obscure her face as soft sobs escaped her lips.

Your heart ached with compassion as you placed a gentle hand on her back. "Ella, please tell me what this is about."

"He didn't say anything?" she asked, sniffling.

"No. I think he wanted you to tell me yourself."

She shook her head vigorously, tears streaming down her face. "I shouldn't be telling you this, not now."

"Why not? If you're worried I'll panic at the news, please don't be. Whatever it is, I'll need to face it eventually, and I refuse to let you go through this alone."

The more she tried to speak, the more her desperation took over. "No, it's not that. I know how you are, I don't want you feeling guilty about my situation."

"Guilty? Why?"

"Because you always put others before yourself. I can’t ruin your happiness."

You turned her to face you, brushing the unkempt hair aside, her eyes now rimmed with smudged mascara. "Stop. Just tell me already."

A ghost of a smile tugged at her lips. "I'm your boss, remember? You don't get to give me orders."

"We stopped being boss and employee the moment I walked through that door. Think of it like we're back in secondary school, hiding in the bathroom and crying over our problems."

She hiccupped, pressing her hand to her mouth. "Sometimes I wish we could just go back to those days. It seemed so much easier then, when all we had to worry about was which dress to buy or how awful our dates happened to be."

You chuckled, rubbing her shoulders in a soothing motion. "Come on, tell me what's wrong."

She looked at you with trembling lips, fresh tears welling up in the corners of her eyes and spilling down her cheeks in rivulets. "Promise me you won't start blaming yourself."

"I don't even know what you think I should feel guilty about."

"Fine, okay." She inhaled shakily, her nails absently scratching at her hand. "Oliver and I... we've been trying to have a baby for quite some time now. It just hasn't worked."

Oh.

"At first, I thought it was low probability, bad luck or incorrect hormone calculations. But after a while, we suspected something wasn't right."

The realization struck you like a thunderbolt, draining all color from your face.

"Oh, for heaven's sake! See? I knew you'd react this way!"

"I didn’t say anything," you protested.

"That's not necessary, your face says it all. Y/N, I really can't handle this right now."

"Okay okay, I’m sorry. So you underwent medical tests," you concluded. "And received the results today?"

She grimaced as all her attempts to contain herself proved futile. "I'm not physically able to have children. I don't really understand all the terminology in these tests, but… all I know is that my body is broken, and I can't get pregnant, Y/N. Not now, probably not ever."

The breath rushed from your lungs, rendering you paralyzed on the spot. "Please don't say that. You're not broken."

"No? Then what am I? I just wanted to have a family with the man I love. To give Oliver the child he's always wanted. What's left for us now? What am I supposed to offer him?"

"Your heart, Ella. He married you because he loves you for who you are, not because he saw you as a means to have children."

She let out a bitter laugh. "But that's also why he married me! We talked about this years ago. We both wanted the same future; to settle down, have kids, build our family together alongside our business. And now it's just us, with no hope of growing larger. Because I'm bloody defective."

"Stop it, you're not some malfunctioning machine. And regardless of what these test results say, you can't give up hope like this."

She crumpled against the wall, crouching down. "What do you suggest then? That I keep deceiving myself? Pretend the problem isn't there?"

You knelt before her, taking her hands in a firm grip. "No, but many women have conceived even when doctors said they couldn't. There are countless stories like this, Ella. Medical conditions can be unpredictable. Just because you can't become a mother right now doesn't mean it's impossible forever."

"You didn't even see the results."

"I don't need to."

She scoffed. "This isn't the time to make light of your ‘gut feeling’ again."

"When have I ever joked about it? After everything you've witnessed, do you really think I'm making fun of you about something this dire?"

She pondered your words, her eyes flickering with uncertainty.

"Ella, I've learned so much this year. I've experienced things beyond what anyone would believe possible, and I fell in love in the most unconventional way, with someone who makes every single day of my life a wonder. Literally."

Her eyes and nose were an angry red. "I know you're experiencing things beyond my understanding, and I'm happy for you. But I'm not like you—I'm just ordinary. My life is mundane, filled with daily struggles."

"And you think mine isn't? There might be some magic in my life, but it's not as if everything automatically transforms into sunshine and butterflies. A car nearly hit me head-on a few nights ago, and that could have cost me more than I dare to think about."

Her eyes widened in shock, her back straightening. "Wait, what??"

Gently easing her back down to a seated position, you steered the conversation back to its original focus, not wanting to derail the matter at hand with tales of your own mishaps. "The bottom line is, life is a rollercoaster, Ella. Sometimes we rise, sometimes we fall, but we always find our way back up again."

"What if I truly can't have children? What then?”

"There are different paths you can explore."

She sighed, running her fingers through her hair. "I know we could adopt, but I really want to have Oliver's baby. Does that make me selfish?"

"No, it only makes you human. And as such, you feel."

When her gaze lifted, transfixed and solemn as she peered into your eyes with rapt attention, her fingers lay still against her thighs. She was perfectly motionless, absorbing every word with an almost trance-like focus.

"Here you were, suffering in silence, yet you still managed to be genuinely excited about my pregnancy."

"Of course I did. I am happy for you, truly… I only wish I could share it with you. How wonderful would that be, going through such a miracle together, watching our children become best friends?"

Rising to your feet, you assisted Ella to a standing position as she regained her precarious balance. You proceeded to dampen a cloth and cleanse her face, carefully removing the traces of mascara before they set. "Now, that would be such a wonderful dream, wouldn't it?"

"Yes," she replied, her eyes still set on your face. "It would be one hell of a legacy."

"Like I said, don't let these test results define your future. Do more checks if necessary. Keep trying. Be the same, exceptional woman that I always admired, the one Oliver is so desperately waiting for outside."

Gradually, her composure returned as the tears subsided and her trembling ceased. She regained her professional posture, examining herself in the mirror while smoothing her hair and adjusting her suit with practiced precision.

"Then I suppose I should give it my all, right?"

"That's exactly what I want to hear. Go to your husband, talk to him. We'll keep producing, creating, and transforming; the fashion world as much as our own lives. Keep your head high and stay confident that everything you wish for will find its way to you."

Finally, a wide grin spread across her lips, contrasting sharply with her earlier despair. "When did we switch roles? You’ve become so wise I can barely recognize you. Who are you and what did you do to Y/N?"

"I told you. Everything changed for me last summer."

"Well then. If I ever meet your boyfriend again, I'd love to shake his hand."

Smoothing her attire, she strode toward the exit, her stilettos clicking crisply against the porcelain tiles. As she disengaged the latch and the barrier swung ajar, she paused mid-step, then gracefully rotated to face you one final instance. Her visage reflected tranquility and wonderment, blending into an expression you'd never previously witnessed.

"By the way, Y/N…"

"Hmm?"

She took a measured breath, collecting her thoughts before speaking. "Do you know that you're literally glowing?"

Your brows knitted together in confusion. "Glowing?"

Ella said nothing more, only held her smile as she left you alone in the restroom, the voices outside now muffled by the door. Frozen in place, you glanced down at your hands, observing that the familiar golden luminescence had returned once again. Your skin emanated a radiance reminiscent of candlelight, as glowing streams of energy permeated through the fabric of your shirt.

Then you caught sight of it in your reflection—a spark in your eyes that made you jump in shock. Mouth agape, you blinked several times hoping to see it disappear, shaking your hands as you frantically tried to will the power away.

"No, no, no, no, this can't be happening now. Not here."

You turned your palms upward and applied cold water, waiting for it to take effect. The light began to fade, dissipating like liquid along your skin. Unfortunately, your irises retained their glow, and as you studied them in the mirror, you noticed how they seemed to dance and shift, creating an overlay of color that moved in perfect synchronization with your eye structure.

It took you a good half an hour for them to readjust, the light slowly retracting and melting like glitters scattered in the wind, leaving no trace of its supernatural display.

Throughout the entire workday, you had been more than just on edge; you were practically vibrating with terror. Despite your nerves, the executive briefing proved remarkably productive, and the fact that you managed to remain seemingly calm during the presentation was nothing short of miraculous.

In truth, you feared your awakened abilities would suddenly unlock themselves anew during the meeting, causing you to light up like a human LED in front of the attendees. Fortunately, your physical appearance remained stable with no visible changes, allowing you to keep a properly collected facade.

Ella remained discreet, sending occasional smiles your way. You noticed her and Oliver sharing private conversations during their breaks, exchanging soft touches, loving glances, and brief kisses. Wanting to give them space, you quietly slipped out of the studio at the end of your shift, making your way down the street and across the park.

The breeze ruffled your hair as you breathed in the fragrant scents of nature, reflecting on the day's events and all they entailed. Though you had tried to be supportive in the restroom, Ella's revelation now weighed heavily on your mind, and you deeply regretted sharing your embryo scan. It was difficult to witness her struggling with infertility while your own pregnancy had occurred spontaneously and unexpectedly, without any prior intention or preparation. Her genuine smile and enthusiastic celebration of the news, with that glint of happiness in her eyes, showed what a truly extraordinary person she was.

And in turn, the mere thought left you feeling utterly wretched.

As you rummaged through your bag for your phone, a golden spark emanated from your fingertips and struck the inside, causing it to glimmer momentarily. You stopped walking, raising your hand to observe as the glow rapidly spread from your nails, illuminating your entire palm to your wrist.

"You have got to be kidding me!"

As passersby walked along the treated path, you tucked your hand into your jacket and kept your head low, feeling a strange warmth forming in your eyes again. You ran aimlessly through the park, not watching where you were going, taking random turns down the most deserted walkways you could find. You were distancing yourself quite considerably from the underground station, but with your current condition, being surrounded by rush hour crowds seemed ill-advised.

In the distance, a child pointed toward you as you rushed past, trying to get his mother's attention, who was thankfully absorbed in her phone conversation and failed to notice your hurried form. Your hand tightened into a fist, and the trapped light shone through your jacket, making the fabric appear see-through.

You quickened your pace, desperate to find somewhere to hide, when you nearly collided with someone who had just blocked the way. You were about to stammer an apology and rush past, but then a voice—the most soothing, grounding voice—spoke your name like a balm.

Morpheus.

Your eyes met as he studied you intently, his hands tucked in the pockets of his Waking World attire, his cerulean gaze shifting from your hidden fist to the golden ring in your irises.

“My love.”

Finally pulling your hand free, you extended it toward him with a pleading look. Appearing lost, scared, and confused, your voice cracked with insecurity. "What should I do?"

Without second thought, Morpheus silently took your hand, bringing it to his lips as they brushed against your luminous knuckles. You stared, barely blinking, his presence alone calming your nervousness; the way he brought your hand to his face, guiding it to rest against his cheek, was more comforting and invigorating than any spoken reassurance.

Then your surroundings began to shift. The lush greenery of the park dissolving into opalescent walls and columns, the atmosphere dimming to reveal candlelight dancing through colored glass windows. The soil beneath your feet transformed into marble, while the fresh scent of leaves and resin gave way to mineral undertones, crisp ozone, and the rich fragrances of sandalwood, myrrh, and black amber.

You sighed in relief, brushing your thumb along his cheekbone, as golden filaments floated in the air before erupting into a glittering cloud. The light in your hand dimmed to nothing, leaving your skin with its natural hue.

Just like that, the phenomenon vanished for the second time.

"This could have gone terribly wrong," you said with a wry chuckle. "Thank you for finding me."

"I sensed your anguish rippling through the Dreaming, my love. Your essence called to me across the realms."

"I started glowing like a lamp right in front of my friend at work today, and I'm fortunate it was her who witnessed it rather than someone else. I have no idea what's happening."

"Your light grows, it flows through you now like sand through an hourglass. Though untamed at present, with time and patience, you will learn to bend it to your will."

"What if I cannot control it?"

"The question is not whether you can control it, but how magnificently you shall wield it."

Exhausted, you rested your head against his shoulder, savoring the comfort of his vicinity. "Unlike you, I'm not accustomed to being magical, Morpheus."

"You have always possessed this power within yourself. Your emotions give it strength, and here, in my realm, you may find peace while mastering it."

"Right," you said pensively. "I doubt I could do it in the Waking World. The last thing I need is to accidentally fry all my appliances. Or worse, bring down the entire building."

"I will teach you to harness this power, but for that, you must remain here, in the Dreaming."

"I can't risk becoming a freak show, so… I’ll stay."

You could sense his exultation, almost imperceptible, as his arms tightened around you. "Then, let me guide you through this. Allow me to remain at your side, for as long as you need."

You smiled contentedly as his fingers threaded through your hair, his deep voice a melodic rumble against your ear as you wrapped your arms around his torso. "If you think I'll ever stop needing you, you are deeply mistaken."

The waterfall in Fiddler's Green created a mesmerizing sensory backdrop, your eyes drifting shut as the gentle breeze of the Dreaming whispered across your features and danced through your clothes. Your hands were lifted before you, palms upturned, a frown creasing your forehead.

You grunted, letting your arms drop to your sides. "This is ridiculous. Why does it only come to me when I don't need it, but never when I want it?"

"Such mastery requires time," Morpheus intoned. "Your light moves in synchronicity with your soul."

"I don't know... I've been trying for two hours straight, and I haven't seen even a single spark."

He took a step forward, taking hold of your hands. "My love, do not strain against it. Let it flow as water finds its path, and it will come to you."

You sighed. "It's just... I'm afraid I might accidentally hurt someone, even you."

"Your light flows from a place of love. It cannot bring harm."

"It may be innocuous now, but you mentioned it's growing stronger. And if I can't even make it appear at will, what's going to happen the next time my eyes light up?"

Morpheus' thumbs gently traced the insides of your wrists, anchoring you to the present moment. "Y/N, you will not hurt anyone, so long as your heart remains aligned with compassion. That is your core, my love. It is your truth."

"And if that’s not enough? I don’t come from power. I wasn’t born to rule anything."

"No," he agreed, eyes deep and glinting like pale blue galaxies. "Not to rule, but to change."

You blinked at him, your breath catching as his palm descended to rest against your sternum.

"Your light did not awaken because of error, but because you love, fiercely and selflessly. Do not seek control through fear."

"How should I do it?"

"Close your eyes."

You lowered your eyelids, obedient to his request.

"Now… breathe. Remember the first time you felt it stir."

You recalled the first awakening, occurring in the midst of your separation from the Dream Lord. As Astra began to deteriorate and fade from the Dreaming, the prospect of losing him—as you had lost the one you loved—paired with witnessing the realm's potential collapse, had made your heart clench with unbearable sorrow.

Morpheus leaned forward, his forehead pressing against yours. "There. Do you feel it, my love?”

"Yes..."

It had come during various significant moments: while immersed in the ocean of your private land, and when restoring vitality to Morpheus' mighty creation reduced to dried, rotten scales due to the Endless’ despair. Through this mystical energy, you forged an inexplicable bond with the ancient Book of Paradoxes, revealing transformative wisdom that paved the path to your destined reunion.

But your memory dug deeper, back in time and to that distant day in the basement, when your hand touched Morpheus' through the glass; so close yet so far apart. You had felt it even then, the same warmth expanding through your limbs, permeating your body with liquid gold. It wasn't just a visualization, a metaphor, or a feeling... it was, as you now realized, something far more powerful and significant.

Your eyes pressed tightly shut, golden light blooming from your fingertips at last, soft and pure, spiraling like threads. It wrapped around your joined hands in powerful swirls, your chest lighting up at heart level, where his hand connected with it.

You could see the bright glow expanding. You gasped, eyes flying open. "It worked..."

Morpheus grinned, prideful and ecstatic. "As I knew it would."

The moment he stepped back, you raised your arms with flowing elegance. The light responded to your mental commands, streaming naturally with your movements. It merged seamlessly with your golden bracelets, causing the metal to radiate with an intensity rivaling daylight.

Little by little, the glow dissipated, leaving behind tiny sparkles that settled onto the grass, making it rustle in the wind that formed.

"Your emotions... they are what fuels your light, what gives it power," he explained. "When in doubt, your heart holds the answer."

"Or I can simply think of you, and that will calm everything down," you said with a smile.

He approached again, reaching for your abdomen, where your Little Star was peacefully developing under his amiable care. "Or perhaps that, if you wish."

With an overjoyed squeal, you leapt into his arms, wrapping yourself around him like a vine.

With consistent practice and Morpheus' expert guidance, mastering control over your light became increasingly effortless, though occasional spontaneous outbursts and persistent illumination still occurred on their own. The Dreaming's influence had the power to pacify your nerves, its restorative energy recharging your spirit. Time seemed to move at a languid pace, with both day and night taking on the uncanny quality of a waking dream.

The denizens of the realm were all taking a liking to your physical presence among them, Abel and Cain being particularly overjoyed at the news of your pregnancy. They were elated, vying with one another to shower you with attention and provide you and your unborn child with every imaginable luxury. Their smiles were infectious, as they presented wonderful blends of aromatic tea alongside homemade confections that surpassed any earthly bakery's creations.

Although the Lord of Dreams had previously fathered the ill-fated Orpheus, his son's demigod heritage and mortal upbringing in the Waking World with Calliope meant he never truly inhabited the realm of dreams. Thus, your child, being innately connected to the Dreaming itself, represented an unprecedented and outstanding addition to the domain. Despite being merely a tiny speck of life in your womb, your daughter was already the talk of the dream folk, who considered he a harbinger of renewal and abundance for their world.

In addition to your light training sessions, Morpheus dedicated considerable time to enriching your stay in the Dreaming and making each moment unforgettable. During one such occasion, he led you through unexplored regions of the Palace; a labyrinth of chambers, curated to reflect your personal aesthetic and interests. Every alcove, window seat, and reading nook bore your distinctive imprint, from the arrangement of cushions to the carefully selected books, as though the castle itself had anticipated your arrival and morphed itself accordingly.

The two of you approached an enigmatic entryway that commanded attention, with a majestic door whose towering frame was beautifully carved and decorated with intricate celestial etchings. Golden patterns were covering the surface, reminiscent of swirling cosmic nebulae that danced over the ornate woodwork.

With a regal gesture, Morpheus beckoned you to cross its threshold. "I want you to find your place here. To have a sanctuary made from dreams, where fragments of the Waking World may take root."

Curious, you ventured into the room, your senses overwhelmed by the bright sunlight that filtered through the windows, bathing the space in a welcoming embrace. As your eyes adjusted, you were immediately awestruck by its contents and design, leaving you breathless and incredulous at the amount of detail and consideration that clearly went into its forging.

The room had been neatly arranged into a sophisticated atelier, rivaling any high-end fashion studio in the mortal dimension. An array of elegant bust mannequins stood at attention, while a pristine canvas awaited on a wooden easel. The main workstation displayed an impressive collection of fabrics in unique colors and textures, complemented by an assortment of precious gemstones and professional tools, all carefully curated for your artistic endeavors.

"Morpheus, I..." You stammered. "This is..."

"I understand how important your craft is to you, my love. I wish for you to continue creating, even here, in my realm. Your visions will take shape, and your creativity shall know no bounds."

"I'm at a loss for words. You've given me so much... I don't deserve all this."

His smile had become a near-permanent fixture, rarely fading from his face since you arrived.

"You deserve the universe, my heart. And everything the cosmos has to offer."

"I can barely speak, I... I don't know how to thank you."

"Your happiness is all I require."

Running your fingers across the fabrics displayed on the table, you marveled at their unprecedented quality and softness. Your attention was drawn to an elegantly bound leather notebook positioned discreetly in the corner, its pristine pages awaiting your artistic inspiration.

"Can I really have this room for myself?"

"Everything here belongs to you, and you alone," he reassured in his silken timbre. "Whatever rooms you want, I will create them for you."

Turning to face him, you moved forward with weightless grace, your embroidered dress trailing behind you like a royal gown. "What more could I possibly wish for? Right now, I'd rather have a kiss from my King."

"As many kisses as you wish."

"Don't tempt me like that."

Your lips met his as you emitted a sultry hum, your hands cradling his face on either side. The room filled with the soft echoes of your mouths as a flock of iridescent butterflies drifted through the open windows, their delicate wings catching the light. One butterfly alighted in your hair, transforming into an elegant crystal hairpin that secured a loose strand behind your ear. Another alighted upon your neck, its wings elongating into delicate ribbons that formed an intricate lace choker.

Before you could voice your question, Morpheus answered in advance. "This is a demonstration of what the Dreaming can give you. The realm itself shall be your canvas, transforming your imagination into reality."

You stared at the butterflies with wonderment as they painted a magical path toward the desk. Leaning in, you touched one with your fingertips, causing the delicate creature to pirouette graciously before landing upon your nail, its gossamer legs delicately encircling your skin in a sweet embrace. The wings changed colors in a repeated gradient sequence, rippling across the beautiful membranes.

An unbridled grin lit up your countenance with unrestrained delight. "You know, I was thinking—" you rotated on your heels, hand resting on your abdomen. "—our little one will absolutely love playing here. The Dreaming is truly the most breathtaking playground any child could wish for. And she’s lucky enough to be your daughter."

"It is I who am honored to be the father of this child. She is yours... and mine. The Dreaming is forever changed by her coming."

You kissed his cheek, the butterfly hairpin in your hair scattering rainbows throughout the room, reflections bathing every wall.

In that precious instant, Morpheus moved beyond his mantle as Master of Stories, embodying the dual essence of father and partner, experiencing a sense of wholeness he had never known before—that he had always kept at bay, his pride standing as an obstacle.

And now, those walls had fallen away. For you had become his exception.

Frantic footsteps resounded through the marble hall of the ancient temple. The sky was so bright it needed no sun, its luminosity enveloping the towering structure in natural bloom. Green trees and waterfalls created a paradise-like setting, yet despite this spectacular, mystical vista, Paregoros' mood remained as dark as the blackest night, as barren as the driest desert.

"Wait!"

She stopped abruptly, rolling her eyes, her entire posture exuding irritation. "Don't even try, Damaris."

Damaris sighed, gathering her dress as she descended the stairs. "Look, I understand your perspective."

"Do you? Because from what I recall, you were quite adamant about having her banished."

"We didn't banish her," she pointed out, coming to a stop in front of her. "You know the rules. There was no sign of power in her then, she was just a normal child."

"And now that things have changed, you conveniently want her back? She has built a life for herself in her world. And even beyond it."

Damaris shrugged dismissively. "There was no possible way to foresee this. And besides, you've always distrusted the Endless."

Her voice thundered. "This isn't about Dream, it's about my daughter! I wasn't allowed anywhere near her or the man I loved. You forfeited any right to reclaim her when you left her in the human realm."

"First of all, you made your choice fully aware of the consequences," Damaris said coldly. "You conceived a child with a mortal man even though you knew it was forbidden. I act not on my own accord, but at the will of the High Matrons. And they wish only to guide her, to nurture what she has become."

"Of course they do," Paregoros replied, her voice laced with sarcasm. "You're expecting the impossible. There's so much more at stake here: her career, her father, her friendships."

"I know we cannot take her against her will, but she still has the chance to make this right."

"You believe she should abandon everything she loves, kneel at your feet and birth a legacy for your ends rather than hers."

"We act in accordance with the laws of divine balance. She is a beacon. Beacons do not belong in shadows."

"Yes. Indeed, they belong to no one—not even you."

Damaris scoffed. "I don't have to tell you what could happen if she stays with him. He was a father once, and look what happened to Calliope’s boy."

Paregoros winced, looking away.

"Do you truly want your daughter to suffer the same fate as her?"

"My daughter is her own person, and though I once had reservations about him, I cannot deny that he has changed."

"Ha! Changed? Oneiros? Don't be absurd. Someone like him is incapable of change. Your daughter possesses something unique, Paregoros. And this child she carries… it's a child of light. We must protect it from Dream's corrupting influence."

"ENOUGH!"

Damaris jolted backward, her eyes wide as saucers.

Paregoros heaved with rage, her eyebrows drawn so tightly together they narrowed her eyes to slits. "I have caused my daughter enough suffering. I would never ask her to endure the same fate I was made to accept, not that I would succeed even if I tried. "

"But it would be different for her, wouldn't it? Unlike you, she would have both her child and her mother by her side. We will present her with this choice regardless of what you wish for, but you could make the process far easier. Need I remind you that you visited her of your own accord when you were meant to keep your distance?"

"Say what you will, I'm washing my hands of this."

Damaris pursed her lips in evident disappointment. "You would rather have her stay in the Dreaming, with a being shaped by solitude and duty? A king who brings storms even in his rare moments of weakness?"

"He has held her when her light faltered, bringing her more joy than she has ever known. Oneiros earned the trust you now seek to barter away.

Damaris pressed her palm against her forehead in exasperation. "Do you even hear yourself? You speak of him with fondness after all his past actions, those horrendous deeds you once condemned. You were the one who didn't want him anywhere near your daughter, were you not? One misstep from him, and she will pay the price. As will the child."

"I don't expect you to understand. Unlike me, you've never been a mother, Damaris." Paregoros folded her arms across her chest, her eyes watering as old memories surfaced. "Seeing Y/N grow up without me was like burning in Hell. I wouldn't wish that on anyone… not even Oneiros or Lucifer themselves.”

"Sentimental as always, but that has already been your downfall once. Compassion or otherwise, it seems your very purpose blinds you to reason."

Paregoros released a mocking laugh. "Compassion doesn’t make me blind; it makes me just. We are concepts that predate language and art. I exist as an amplifier of Aphrodite's and Peitho's gifts, awakening when love is wounded or trust stands on the brink. Power is not something we seek, it is granted when needed."

"Yes, and such power is not his to keep."

"How can you be so insensitive? He remains the father. He would never allow you to keep the child sealed away from his realm."

"Even he must recognize his boundaries within the greater order of things."

"Ah, of course. Everything comes down to rules and order with you. Best of luck with that."

Damaris clicked her tongue. "You know as well as I do. He claimed to love Calliope, but his own pride mattered more than she ever did. And let's not forget how uninvolved he was in Orpheus' life. Or Death. Or in that place in between... whatever remains of him. What makes you think it will be any different with your daughter and grandchild?"

"If he truly didn't care, he would never have returned to her. As for my daughter, she made a conscious choice that requires respect."

"Please. She's merely indulging in her little human crush on a godly being. It must be that charm of darkness that so many mortals seem drawn to nowadays."

Damaris' words dripped like poison, the cruel curve of her lips causing the Daemona to clench her hands into fists, indignation flaring in her expression with renewed ferocity. "How dare you?"

Damaris dramatically responded with a wave of her hand. "Come now, I meant no offense."

"No?"

“I just—”

"You criticize her humanity, yet you seek to confine her power solely to our realm. If you believe my daughter can be swayed from her principles and convictions, that she'll abandon him and take their child away, you're going to hit a brick wall."

Damaris averted her gaze, looking offended. "She was born here. Why should she not return to where she originates from?"

But Paregoros pressed on, her voice sharp with insistence. "Because she's not some tool for you to manipulate. You sent her away at birth for lacking divine power, and now she's transformed into something entirely new. Something unprecedented, beyond any of our understanding."

"That is precisely why we cannot let Oneiros exploit such power."

Paregoros smiled icily, her eyes devoid of compassion for the first time in her eternal existence. "Because you wish to exploit it yourselves, do you not?"

"You—!"

"Fortunately, my daughter has enough wisdom to make her own good decisions, and that won't sit well with you at all."

Her arms fell to her sides as she turned, departing without a backward glance, leaving Damaris behind in her own simmering disdain.

"If you do not intervene, then we must, for their sake."

Though the Envoy remained stationary, her final question could be heard across the widening distance, her voice rising in pitch.

"Would you accept it if she chose the Endless over us? The Dreaming, over Klyseidos?"

Paregoros strode onward, replying with a sardonic gesture. "She already did, Damaris. I'll have to live with it, as will you. Unless, of course, you wish to disrupt the boundaries within the greater order of things yourself."

"And what if she falls?"

"She will rise anew. She always has."

She trotted away with composed dignity, her footsteps resonating through the temple as she made her way through the main entrance and down the road, her jaw held tight as her ire hung in the salty air.

Transitioning back to the Waking World proved to be a strong adjustment, as you wove your mundane existence back into your everyday life. Everything you had learned in the Dreaming's confines had proven invaluable, as your light stayed carefully contained, reappearing only in moments of complete seclusion rather than spilling forth unbidden in the presence of others. Mastering the equilibrium of this newfound capability was still a formidable challenge, but your proficiency in preventing spontaneous illumination at unwanted moments marked undeniable progress in your journey of self-control.

Ella hadn’t mentioned the incident at all, interacting with you as naturally as a spring breeze. You recognized her diplomatic tactfulness, as she was undoubtedly biding her time with characteristic patience, waiting for the perfect occasion to broach the subject. You acknowledged the futility of fabricating pretenses, knowing you had to resort to authenticity.

During your nocturnal sojourn into the dream realm, you encountered Astra in front of an immaculate, crystalline lake nestled within the forest. The creature acknowledged your presence with a welcoming smile, his dark eyes twinkling, while his lustrous coat resembled the finest velvet spun from moonbeams.

"I find you well, Y/N. Finally, we can all breathe a sigh of relief, yes?"

"You can definitely say that again. How is the Dreaming faring?"

"Some areas still show damage from the Vortex’s influence, and well... Lord Morpheus wasn't exactly in the right state to repair them. But I'd say things are returning to their proper order now."

Your lips curved into a serene smile as you acknowledged his words with a graceful inclination of your head. "I suppose it takes time, even for him. Still, the Dreaming feels quite different these days."

"Thanks to a certain someone, I dare say."

"I wouldn't give myself that much credit."

"That's the thing about you; you don't have to try. You complement the Dreaming, us, just as perfectly as you complement him."

Validating Astra's observation, a gentle zephyr wafted through the area, carrying with it an intoxicating fusion of night-blooming flora and amber notes, the aromatic symphony dancing upon the dreaming air. The familiar's face shone with a celestial warmth, suffused with a veneration that mirrored your own deep-seated devotion to him and the tapestry of the Dreaming realm.

"Would you like to walk with me, my lady?" he inquired.

You unfurled the diaphanous layers of your gown, letting the fabric cascade around you in waves as you bowed. "With pleasure."

The forest metamorphosed with each visit, displaying serpentine pathways and sprouting peculiar arbors. Astra's hooves produced melodious whispers against the ground as he accompanied you, while overhead, a spectacle of blue dream auroras painted the sky in waves of chromatic splendor.

"No matter how many times I explore this place, the Dreaming continues to amaze me. I imagine you never grow bored of living in such a wondrous domain."

"It certainly has its perks, being ever-changing."

"You never feel lonely, do you?"

"Not at all, I have plenty of friends here. Animals and creatures of all kinds, even the flowers. You'd be surprised how talkative they can be."

A melodious titter escaped your lips. "I don't think anything could surprise me anymore."

"Says the one who stares at everything with wonder."

"Can you blame me, though? The Waking World has its own little miracles and beauties, but I could never live a life like the one I experience here."

As you walked onward, an inexplicable chill enveloped your arms, while an enigmatic echo traversed among the canopy of leaves, its secrets lost to the winds.

"Did you hear that?"

"I hear many things," Astra said. "At times, you might hear fragments of conversations from other mortals' dreams. The realm never truly falls silent."

"Yes… of course. I might still be on edge after the whole ordeal with the Book of Paradoxes."

"Understandable. That was no trivial matter for any of us."

Desiccated foliage and gnarled twigs shattered under your footfalls, as a thin layer of vapor coiled sinuously along the forest's periphery. That voice returned once more, its ghostly melody moving nearer, threading through the branches until it coalesced into an unmistakable utterance of your name.

"It can't be just me, though, can it? Don't you feel like something is wrong?"

Before the familiar could respond to your inquiry, the fog expanded like a veil spread open, surrounding you at an alarming velocity. It enveloped you in its gelid embrace, bleaching your vision into alabaster nothingness. The ephemeral disturbance, fleeting as a moth's wingbeat, disappeared after a few blinks, yet when clarity returned, the terrain had subtly transformed - an uncanny shift that left the dreamscape feeling inexplicably altered.

"What just happened, Astra?"

An eerie disquietude permeated the atmosphere, casting forth an aura that felt unnatural, even by the standards of the Dreaming realm.

When only silence replied, you turned around. "Astra?"

Your friend had vanished into the haze, dissolved like morning dew, leaving only the faintest echo rebounding from an unfathomable distance. All that was left behind was a haunting emptiness and disquieting trepidation, as your hands instinctively sought refuge around your midsection, cradling the precious life that linked to the Dreaming's pulse.

"Astra!"

Summoning him proved fruitless, as an instinctive premonition told you that your solitary presence was ordained in this barren location, a territory whose nature diverged markedly from the well known imprint of Morpheus' craftsmanship.

“ʸ/ₙ…”

The earlier voice resonated again then, with amplified intensity and unmistakable clarity.

"Cₒₘₑ ₒᵥₑᵣ ₕₑᵣₑ."

After the cryptic tome had been sent into the void between dimensions, you had foolishly assumed that obscure calls would no longer plague your existence. Now, as this dream played like an ominous message from the unknown, your blood ran cold at the unsettling parallels.

Nevertheless, your legs began moving autonomously, guided by a force that pulled you beyond the woodland and brought you face-to-face with a liquid barrier; a vertical expanse of water that resembled a wide curtain made of frosty glass.

In bewilderment, you stared at how it defied gravity, like an ocean's surface standing upright instead of lying flat, stretching toward the sky. A continuous sheet of mist covered its highest reaches, as your reflection deformed in the moving waves in front of you.

Extending your hand toward the wall, you caressed the aqueous surface, feeling its gelatinous texture. With newfound courage, you pushed through the watery blockage to its opposite face, encountering only air—proof that it served as merely a thin partition separating the two places.

Your instincts were imploring you to flee, yet some magnetism anchored you in place. You took your hand out and it was immaculate, dried, with no sign of wetness or freezing. The barrier was neither tangible nor incorporeal, just an abstract construct similar to the ephemeral nature of dreams.

"When in doubt, your heart holds the answer."

With determined momentum, you propelled yourself through the barrier, sensing merely a subtle switch in your environment. Again, your form emerged completely untouched by moisture, and as you regained your posture to observe the translucent wall behind you, a golden radiance suddenly burst out from your palms. You made no attempt to repel it, following the trail it painted on the ground, your eyes scanning the enclosed sanctuary covered in lush greenery.

But your attention was immediately captured by the massive monolith ahead, emblazoned with an ancient glyph which triggered a flash of recent memory. Your heartbeat quickened as anxiety gripped your chest, head moving from side to side in denial.

Moving closer, your light started to fade, converging into an intricate sigil beneath the tome, one you could not recognize.

The tome bore no markings or identifying features to reveal its provenance. With hesitant trepidation, you reached for the cover's edge, and at the slightest contact, the book sprang open of its own accord.

The ordeal appeared to have concluded, yet Destiny unveiled another chapter that you were dreading to live through.

Just as terror began to seize your mind and constrict your slumbering breath, before you could turn and run away, a soft presence made itself known.

"Y/N, do not be afraid."

Your light formed a halo around the monolith, ascending from the ground and creating undefined shapes a few inches away from the massive rock. It was tethered to your outstretched palms suspended in the air, merging into what appeared to be a figure, partially diaphanous.

When the entity materialized completely, you scrutinized its form with mounting stupor. The spectral image, though devoid of distinguishing facial features, bore an uncanny and striking similitude to your physical appearance. You were gazing upon your own doppelganger made of golden light.

"Who... are you?"

Your double stepped forward, its featureless face somehow forming a smile. "I am you - the voice that’s been in your head since time immemorial. I am the whispers in your dreams, the intuition that moves you, your consciousness made real." Its voice was a thunderous symphony, each word in layered tones. "I am the force that flows through your veins, your primordial light, burning bright since the dawn of your creation."

"You... you are my light? You're actually alive?"

"Yes, in a sense. I can only communicate with you through your dreams. This is a sacred place that exists within yourself, one beyond even his reach."

"You mean Morpheus cannot find me here? But the Dreaming belongs to him, it's an extension of himself. There is no place he cannot see."

"Yes, but you are a Dreamwalker, Y/N. You can traverse where no other mortals dare, unlocking dreams that are not necessarily your own. And in doing so, you forge new ones."

Your eyes widened in disbelief. "I am a Dreamwalker?"

From ancient lore, you knew that Dreamwalkers were extraordinary souls blessed with the ability to traverse the dreamscape at will during their sleep, and in some special instances, could even breach the veil while conscious through spiritual practices like deep meditation, lucid awareness, or mystical artifacts. Unlike ordinary dreamers who moves aimlessly, a Dreamwalker has the gift to chart their course through the planes, treating the dream realm as intimately as their earthly dwelling.

"From your very first experience here, you navigated this realm without Morpheus aiding you. You discovered the gate, even the main hall of his ruined castle. You wandered freely through Abel's and Cain's territories, found your way into Lyta Hall's lost dream."

"I thought that was the Vortex's doing."

"A Vortex has the power to tear through the fabric of the Dreaming and merge separate dreams into one, but no. That was you."

With a deep breath, you turned your attention back to the glyph etched into the monolith. "What about this symbol, then? What does it mean?"

"This sigil serves as both a key and an anchor."

"What does it unlock?"

The luminous apparition tilted its visage, letting a soft quietude descend between the two of you.

"That is something you must discover when the time is right."

You let out an exasperated scoff. "Seriously? Can't anyone give me a straight answer for once? I'm tired of all these riddles!"

"This isn't a riddle, Y/N. This is your destined revelation."

"Right. What's the point of all this?"

The entity gestured at the marking, illuminating it with heightened vibrance. "You must memorize it. One day, you will need it."

"Why?"

"Because it represents what you are becoming."

"None of this makes sense."

"It will. When the hour folds, it will open. When the thread burns, it will seal. But not yet."

Your eyes blazed with incandescent fury and celestial wrath. "That’s it?"

You turned in a slow circle, your voice rising as irritation bubbled on your skin, the shadowy surroundings now bathed in the brightness of your magic. "Why must it be me? Why can't I just be normal?"

The light flickered. "You seek meaning, but you yourself are meaning."

"I don't even know who, or what, I am anymore."

"You are the question and the answer. You are the line unwritten."

"Oh yes, that makes everything so much clearer, thank you."

The presence, this time, almost sounded amused. "You aren’t prepared to understand."

"Why?" you asked, your voice raw with exasperation.

"Because knowing too much too soon unravels a thread that is already strained. If you pull on it now, it may snap."

"All this talk of 'threads', but threads of what?"

"Of life itself."

Surrendering to the doppleganer’s words, too exhausted to argue about matters that would only add more confusion to your tumultuous mind, you studied the intricate round configurations inscribed into the glyph, sensing its mystical energy intertwining with your force.

"You brought me to this hidden corner of my head, separating me from my familiar. And for what purpose? Just to show me this glyph? What should I do now, then?"

"Live. Create from your imagination. Embrace the infinite depths of love and devotion. Become the mother you are called to be. But speak of it to no one, not even him."

"Why must I keep this from Morpheus, of all beings?"

"You must walk this path alone, or neither of you will reach its end."

You clutched your pendant, feeling the warmth of your light mingling with the stone's power. "I want complete honesty with him, no secrets between us."

"Still, your silence guards him. You will do the right thing, the only one that can give you both what you seek."

"What might that be?"

Its hand brushed your cheek with the faintest touch. "Eternity."

"But—"

"This is your gift, Y/N. Protect it well."

A tempestuous wind dispersed the haze as the being pressed its fingers to your furrowed brow, causing your flesh to prickle and buzz. More white vapors surrounded your form and consumed the scene, your light waning into oblivion, bringing your clone with it.

Then, like a house of cards, the entire dream crumbled into darkness.

Consciousness returned with a sharp intake of breath, and as you regained your bearings, the chamber in the Dreaming fully shaped in front of you, its vast panorama visible through the grand window. A strange tingling sensation prickled across your forehead, yet upon examination with your fingertips, the skin was still smooth and unchanged, only slightly warmer compared to its usual temperature.

Exhaling softly, you swept your tousled locks away from your visage and drew back the starry covers, your bare feet padding softly across the floor as you retrieved the flowing vestment suspended from the bed's canopy. Draping it around your shoulders and allowing its fabric to billow gracefully behind you, you quietly made your way to the door, easing it open just enough to slip outside.

The palace corridors lay empty and silent, save for a few beings gliding along distant staircases and remote passageways. You navigated purposefully toward your intended sanctuary, your footfalls whisper-soft against the polished marble as you wound through archways and past entrances. At last, you reached the workshop Morpheus had conjured for your artistic endeavors, moving inside among the bust mannequins and glassy butterflies whose iridescence intensified in the nocturnal glow. They flapped their wings slightly while remaining stationary in their places.

Approaching the mahogany writing desk, you retrieved the pristine leather-bound journal that awaited its first inscription. Grasping a pencil, you delicately turned to the final leaf, meticulously recreating the enigmatic emblem from your dream in the lower margin. Although you ignored its real significance, an inexplicable impulse drove you to preserve its likeness before it could fade from memory.

You stared at the finished sigil intently, its strange charm mesmerizing your thoughts, when a shadow moved in your peripheral vision.

"Y/N?" Morpheus' voice intoned tenderly.

With cool nonchalance, you closed the journal against your chest and pivoted to face him.

"What brings you here? You should rest, my love."

"I just woke up feeling strangely inspired," you explained, masking a hint of regret behind your smile. "I wanted to sketch it, or else I may forget about it tomorrow."

"A mind such as yours brims with creativity. Each idea more extraordinary than the last."

The Dream King was, in fact, blissfully unaware of the occurance.

You wrapped an arm around his neck and kissed his lips, setting your journal back on the desk. "I do have my limits though. After all, you are the true master creator here."

"And yet, even in my vastness, I find myself humbled by such magnificence before me."

"Oh, you flatterer!"

You abandoned yourself into his embrace, momentarily forgetting about the journal and the glyph reproduced inside.

"I just know that when our daughter is born, she'll be the most beautiful of all."

"Then I shall have two most precious muses gracing my realm with their… inspiring presence."

"You must walk this path alone, or neither of you will reach its end."

"Your silence guards him. You will do the right thing, the only one that can give you both to what you seek."

"This is your gift, Y/N. Protect it well."

You peered at the leather-bound tome once more, maintaining your serene expression intact. The symbol held secrets meant for another time, and divulging its existence felt intuitively incorrect. The marking was now safely preserved among those pages, awaiting the moment of its necessity. For the present, you rejected the burden of metaphysical interference disrupting the happines you were building together, as nothing felt more right than being with the one you loved.

"Keep those sweet words flowing, and sleep will be the last thing on my mind."

His eyes sparkled with mischievous intent, his mouth curved into a faint, playful smirk. "If you do not want to sleep, then perhaps I shall find another form of entertainment.”

Your brow quirked upward, your embrace tightening as you arched closer to his countenance. "Well, I'm not tired anymore. By all means, my King, do entertain me."

Historic establishments always held an incredible allure. The Old Coffee House in Soho beckoned you whenever moments of leisure presented themselves, a venerable place that had weathered centuries since its 1772 origins, seamlessly blending traditional culture with the vibrant spirit of modern London's tavern scene**.**

You perused your digital correspondence and browsed haute couture updates on your mobile device, while a steaming cup of aromatic brew rested atop the rustic oak surface of the table. Your palm settled tenderly on your abdomen, an instinctive motion that had become second nature and deepened the connection with your unborn little one.

A newcomer breezed through the entrance, exchanging pleasantries with the baristas as her footwear echoed across the plush flooring. Your gaze caught sight of her ensemble - an elegant trench coat, classic British boots, and a fashionable handbag draped casually from her shoulder. Your artistic sensibilities compelled you to analyze her style, but you refocused on your phone and feigned disinterest in her movements.

Yet this mysterious visitor evidently harbored intentions of her own.

"Mind if I sit?"

You glanced up at her face to confirm she was indeed addressing you, your eyes flashing with mild surprise. "Uh… no, not at all…"

“They still serve that bloody rosehip blend here, don’t they?” she asked, eyeing the tea as she lowered herself onto the adjacent stool.

You blinked and nodded, shifting to sit straighter against the leather couch. Had she mistaken you for someone else, or had you forgotten meeting this woman before?

She offered a gentle smile, brushing aside her chestnut locks, and placed her forearms against the wooden surface. An enigmatic silence descended upon you as she scrutinized your features with an unreadable yet penetrating stare.

"So. Dream of the Endless? Must be one hell of a bedtime story."

The moment she spoke again, you almost choked on your tea.

Your eyes darted furtively around the café to scan for potential listeners within earshot. With hushed tones, you asked, "You know him?"

"We’ve crossed paths. Bit of a moody bastard, but he’s all right. Word is you've managed to soften him up quite a bit."

"I suppose so."

A peculiar disquiet crept over you, leaving you ambivalent about whether her approach was genuine curiosity or if she represented another foe seeking to disturb your tranquility. Her attention dropped to the flashy pendant around your neck, then drifted down to assess your growing belly, where your child with Dream resided.

"Oi, look. You’re not just shacking up with some cosmic entity here. You’re a walking crack in the universe’s blueprint. And believe me, that’s not an insult."

"Thanks... I guess. Though I'm not quite sure what you mean by 'walking crack.'"

"I don't have all the answers myself. But being a magic user, let's just say I notice things others don't."

"A magic user? You mean like a witch?"

“Not a witch, Occult Expert. You know, demonology, black magic, fighting the forces of evil - that sort of shit. Not exactly what most people fancy for a career.”

Finally relaxing, you found her quirky attitude disarming and sensed no hint of danger. "Sounds like fun."

"Pays well enough to keep me in designer boots, can't fucking complain about that."

Shrugging off her coat, she sported a refined button-up blouse tucked into form-fitting denim, her physique deceptively delicate despite wielding enough mystical knowledge to tame mythical creatures with a mere incantation.

Still, you couldn’t help but wonder if her presence at the café was mere coincidence or deliberately orchestrated.

"So, you seem to know about me, but I doubt Morpheus would discuss our relationship like ordinary gossip. What's this really about?"

“Sharp. I like that.”

A knowing half-smirk tugged at your lips as you shrugged.

"Right then, love. Might as well get to it: Hob Gadling. You know him, right?"

"Have you run into any other odd characters lately? Besides all them supernatural beings you've been telling me about."

"Hob? Of course. Are you telling me that he would just spill my story with Dream? That doesn't sound like him at all."

"He did not," she confessed. "Not until I pestered him with my questions and made it well impossible for him to avoid me. I did my research, he's got a good heart; immortality didn't rot it out, somehow. But lately there's been something... off about him. When you've dealt with as much nonsense as I have, you develop a sixth sense for this crap."

"Hob? Mixed up in the occult?"

She pivoted her face in negation. "Turns out you're the anomaly here, in a very strange way."

"Hold on—how exactly did your investigation lead from Hob to me?"

"Your magical signature's practically dripping off him. Given who you're with and what you're carrying inside you, it's not exactly rocket science why. There is… something about you that even my knowledge can't explain."

Had your light begun seeping into the mortal realm, turning you into a magnet for those attuned to psychic frequencies?

"It’s stronger lately. Much stronger. At first I thought we might have a fuckingmess on our hands."

Your mouth curved into a contemplative grimace. "And now?"

"Now I see it’s not a curse. It’s a convergence. You're not just carrying an Endless' child, you're bloody well pulsing like a heartbeat between dimensions."

"So why are you really here? To warn me? I suggest you get in line."

"Relax, I just wanted to offer you a healthy drink. Though I reckon you're sorted with that tea of yours. And while we have a good chat, I could figure out why this world is folding in strange places wherever you walk. And maybe even lend a hand if you need it. First time's free.”

Savoring another draught of your beverage, you exhaled a pensive whisper. "Obviously. I've learned to be wary of people offering help without expecting something in return."

She let out a sardonic snicker, giving an affirmative nod, before bellowing at the bartender to fetch her the most potent libation available.

"Nothing comes without a price," she pronounced, turning her attention back towards you.

"Except I never asked for your service."

Her bearing was distinctly unpolished, her tactics lacking finesse and sophistication. Yet beneath that gruff exterior, her eyes revealed an underlying gentleness necessarily masked by the demands of her profession.

And beneath it all, perhaps, a hidden pain.

After a momentary pause, she announced, "I'm Johanna. Johanna Constantine, since you haven't asked."

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 (currently reading) Chapter 28 (coming soon) ->

#the sandman #the sandman morpheus x reader #dream of the endless x reader #morpheus x reader #the sandman fanfiction #the sandman writing

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nsfwitchy2 · 3 months ago

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Tagged by the WONDERFUL @nostalgic90s - coincidentally I was literally just thinking about you last night lol

1. What was the last thing you drank?

Chocolate peanut butter and banana smoothie ✌️

2. Where was your profile picture taken?

…… furaffinity???

3. Worst pain ever?

Migraines, I’m always baffled by my coworkers who say they can work through them - like bestie how are you even standing right now

4. Favorite place you've ever traveled?

Bold of you to assume I’ve traveled. I guess the place I went to college? It was in the middle of nowhere, we had one bus that took us to the nearest city and one bus that went in a circle around town. Also we had cows, pigs, goats, sheep and horses. Sometimes when you weee on the bus you could see deer just wandering through peoples yards. Easily the best place I’ve ever stayed long term.

5. How late did you stay up last night?

Uhhhh fuck if I know lmao I fell asleep on the couch and woke up at 3am

6. If you could move, where would you move to?

Preferably somewhere rural with lots of folklore around it - like Ireland or the Appalachians

7. What do you collect?

Oh boy that is a LOADED question lmao

I guess my biggest collection is dolls - mostly Little Apple Dolls, though I have a few Franklin Mint Marilyn Monroe porcelain dolls and I’d love to get more of those some day. I have my fantasy reborns, which I would also like more of <3. I have some clown dolls and BJDs. I’d love some of the anthropomorphic Betty Jane Carter dolls, I think those are ADORABLE. I also have a hentai figurine but idk if she counts lol

On the smaller end, I collect a lot of Lilo and Stitch and Lion king stuff - extra points if it’s from Lion King 2 because that one is my absolute favorite. I collect a lot of Marilyn Monroe memorabilia, and I collect vintage porn and pinups. Oh, and music boxes, I love music boxes.

8. Favorite day of the week?

Sunday, Monday and Tuesday - hear me out on that lmao. Sunday and Monday are my days off - I usually use Sunday to run errands and volunteer at a horse rescue every other weekend, Monday I usually spend cleaning, taking care of my plants and bugs, or just giving myself a day to do nothing for once except lay on the couch and watch TV. Tuesday is when I go back to work - but it’s also the one day a week I get to work with two of my favorite coworkers, and unless something goes HORRIBLY wrong with the scheduling, we usually have a blast. Like last Tuesday I came into work and one of my coworkers was playing Kesha. You KNOW it’s gonna be a good day when the DJ for the day is playing Kesha 😩😩

9. Amusement park or concert?

Depends on the concert and the amusement park. I’ve always wanted to go to an amusement park for a date with a nice butch who wins me tons of prizes at the game stands <3

But if I’m going alone than I’m gonna say concert lol

10. When was the last time you cried?

I don’t remember and I’d like to keep it that way ✌️

Probably not that long ago but I’m not gonna kill my morning drudging up miserable shit from the past if I’ve already forgotten about it lol

11. Who took your profile picture?

Oh shit I just realized I never put artist credit in my bio, fuck me lmao

Anyway my icon is by Kitchiki on FA, I absolutely love her work <3

12. Who's the last person you took a picture of?

One of the performers at the burlesque fetish ball I went to last Saturday, her performance was just her getting a live corset piercing. My three friends at the show were quite squeamish about it, I…. Was not lmao

13. What's your favorite season?

Spring or summer - I love the trees and green grass and flowers and sunshine, plus seeing all the baby animals down at the pond near my job. Also my wardrobe is like 99% spring and summer clothes lol

Although winter is growing on me lately, I’ve found that my tolerance for cold has gone up significantly this past year 🤔

14. If you could have any other career?

I’m literally debating quitting my job as we speak in favor of becoming a typist, solely for the financial stability. So, maybe not the best time for me to answer this question lol

15. Who's your celebrity crush?

I don’t really have celebrity crushes, more as I have like…. A select amount of female celebrities I find very pretty but more in the sense that I want to look like them. Oh and Dolly Parton - she’s not a crush or someone I want to look like, she is simply Mother™️

16. Are you a good influence?

Depends on who’s asking I guess 🤷‍♀️

17. Does pineapple belong on pizza?

Pizza is not a food I care enough about to really care what toppings other people put on it

18. You have the remote, what are you watching?

Either venture bros or invincible season 3 episode 8

Aaaaand ngl I’m skipping the very last question cause I think it’s stupid

But I will tag @radioactivesourdough @airconditionedgirl @last-knight-who-was @b-rainlet @guroboyfriend @wandering-wolf23 @thotsyndrome @jervis-tetch-my-beloved @syggwolf @spasmolytic-convulsion @evilaroships @princesstokyom @solaceinabandonment

#nsfwitchytalks #ok I’m stopping myself before I tag more people

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justjams2003 · 9 months ago

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The Desire to be Loved-7

Summary: Love is Desire's first creation. As Cupid she shoots her arrows of love and rips them from people's hearts too. Occasionally, shooting a soulmate arrow. What does she do when her first Soulmate arrow in 100 years is between Cupid and Dream?

Pairing: Dream of the Endless x OFC Love/Cupid/Venus (you know how these beings have millions of names) (Also technically it could be an x reader because love is sort of anthropomorphic but in this story a she)

Warnings: Manipulation, threats, crying, cliffhanger, unedited, kind of like enemies to lovers, soulmate au, cursing, gore, snake slander :(tell me if I miss any.

Word count: 2k+

Dividers by: @hyelita

Tags: @intothesoul @bridkesby @coffeebeforewater @i-voluntears @dreamingblueberries @idkamt @deniixlovezelda @lmg-stilinski24 @superbreadsoul @poemfreak306 @lexi-anastasia-astra-luna @fries11 @lost-inthe-v0idid

Masterlist

Part 6

The hall is somehow even quieter than when Morpheus was captured. Everyone is far too scared to interrupt the stare down between Dream and Love. Love doesn’t need to breathe and yet it feels like she is suffocating. This...might just be their first time seeing each other since Dream gifted her the realm. Each had been too busy with their duties.

But it’s not awkward or painful between them. For the first time in Lucine’s life, she sees her master reach out. His long slender arm escapes from under his starry robe. A stark white contrast against the darkness of the dreaming castle. A gentle big outreach for her to come closer.

There is a click as she steps forward, her body instinctively wanting to be closer to him. She know she should think more clearly about this, and yet, she doesn’t. Love’s smaller, tanner hand slides into his and with seconds Dream’s arms are around her. Cradling her close and an unknown sob shudders through her body.

Tiny hands grab onto the felt of his big black coat. The fabric absorbs the tears that gently roll down her cheeks. She shakes her head, her golden spun hair falling lose from her usual braid. “Don’t, don’t do that. Please, don’t do that again.” She begs, her body shaking and Dream places a kiss on the top of her head.

His large hand cradles her head and every time she begs for him to never mess with her mind again, he replies with a simple: “I won’t. I’m sorry.” Lucienne has never seen Dream be anything but stoic and angry. Discipline of his realm and his creation has only ever been the only thing he enacted.

But now...he’s cradling this little flower. The embodiment of love and joy and everything soft and cuddly. An emotional girl who feels everything and anything from the slightest blink and trip. Hushing her as she cries into his chest. Black against her pink. And the red thudding heart the two of them share.

When her cries slowly die down, she realises the position they’re in. And that the whole court is just sort of standing there...watching them as Dream comforts little Love. She steps back, looking up at him with these teary brown eyes that makes him want to burn the world down all of the sudden.

“I’m sorry, it’s just-” She realises how she must look. She wipes her tears off on the back of her hand. She flattens down the frizz of her hair. “-it was like with Desire. And-” Dream stops her with a gentle hand on her upper arm. Rubbing soft circles to remind her that her body is hers and she has control.

“I understand, Love. I acted before thinking of how it might affect you and I...I must earnestly apologize.” He speaks and again everyone is scared to breathe. That century must’ve really done him good, or perhaps it’s the ball of sunshine he now feels responsible for because he’s never apologized before...

Love lets her shoulders drop slightly, feeling the weight drop from her back. She sort of looks around from Dream to the librarian to the raven. She realises that she’d likely interrupted something. She swallows, “I’m sorry, um,” she gathers her thoughts, “you called me here...” She looks up at Dream, allowing him to finish the question on his own.

Dream seems to ignore the utter urgency that he was feeling before this. And he doesn’t allow for Love to slip from his arms either. He shows nonchalance to the rest of his people, but behind her back, he balls the fabric of her dress in his hands. Resting on her lower back, clenching the pink dress until his knuckles turn whiter that the pale he already is.

All from guilt, utter guilt. How could he not have thought this through? The seriousness of having to fix this great danger in the universe overcame all his mind and then hers. He hadn’t even realised he could climb in her mind like he can his other subjects. Dream can do that with the dreaming inhabitants because they are a part of him. That would mean that Love is a part of him...

It has to be true because their hearts beat in the same rhythm. Not yet one because she still carries the arrow with her. But they know, they know they’re meant to be. Their souls yearn for each other, no matter how their minds fight the reality of it all.

Lucienne forces herself to speak up. To step forward because it would seem her creator’s mind has faded to other matters. Much prettier matters than the horrifying gaping black hole that could possibly consume the dreaming, an ugly matter. “Cupid, why were you talking to Rose?” Big golden eyes, usually warm and caring now confused and frightened.

“I’m not there for her.” A sweet voice that makes Dream’s cold icy heart begin to defrost. “But you were with her?” Lucienne repeats. “Her friend, Lyta. She has a broken heart but refuses to let go... It can be quite the horrific site and if the arrow stays in her heart much longer, the effects could be drastic...” They all turn and look to each other, like they know something she doesn’t.

“What?” Lucienne sighs and Dream conjures up his sand, making up sights and sounds to explain the severity of the situation. “Rose Walker. Something called a dream vortex....”

She feels like a little girl who’s just been scolded. She can’t understand them, she can’t understand how they don’t see to even care about Rose, as a person. She’s just a girl looking for her brother. Why they’re so dead set on killing her, she can’t comprehend it. Rose has a whole life she’s meant to live. A pink or maybe red arrow waiting for her somewhere in the world. A heart tethered to hers, waiting to see her smile for the first time. And they just want to take that all away, no consideration for what Destiny has planned for her.

Cupid huffs, pouting like a little girl too. Her pouting lips resting against her knees that are pulled up against her chest. Her bare toes digging into the mud that oozes water, coming from the lake, when she does. She watches as the little fish go to take a nipple of her toes and then jump away when she wiggles them just a little. Then the ripples of water it creates across the pond. Bouncing from the walls of mud and reeds all the way under the little stone bridge allowing the teddies access over the pond.

They berated her too like a little girl. How dare she even consider that the life of one girl is as important as the whole dreaming and all its dreamers? She can’t even believe they’d ask such a thing. She loved all the mortals, with all her heart she loved them. Even when they curse and scream at her for the agony she has no choice in. Is she just a naive little girl? Should she keep her nose out of Dream’s important politics and stick to her fairies and teddies and hearts and arrows?

How can she not say anything? Accept it as is? Accept the death of a young woman, because, what? She might harm Dream? That girl won’t harm a fly, unless of course the flies that dare sit on her brother’s food. Can’t Morpheus understand that it isn’t hate that fuels her but love, love for her brother? Of course he can’t. He’s never loved anyone. If he did, she’d be the first one and maybe the only one to ever know. The fact that he seems so complacent and maybe even started this idea of killing the girl makes her utterly furious at him.

Furious...?

Has Love ever been angry before? She’d felt sad before, mourning the death of a love bond. Guilty, yes, when having to take the love from people. Scared when Desire taunted her so. Obedient when he’d command her. Empty when he’d take over her body. But not angry at him for it... Even when she had accidently taken that soul, she was not angry. She was scared, scared of herself, scared of what Desire might do, what might happen to her.

But angry, like this? No...

The hot sun’s rays are interrupted by a dark cloudy man who sits himself down right next to Love. Well...with a distance of course. A distance that makes both of their hearts tugg but neither of them would admit it. They can’t love each other, the arrow has not been planted. And they can’t like each other, they’re polar opposites. But they do, at least, Dream knew it was guilt that he felt when Cupid’s smile dropped learning about Rose. And a complete and utter sense of emergency to fix this.

At least, Dream thinks there shouldn’t be a universe where she isn’t smiling. Much less pouting and brooding in her garden, her flowery kingdom, like she does now. It’s a wrong doing for the universe for his little sunshine to be cloudy...His?...

“You look like a fairy. Like those the little girls dream of...” Cupid shrinks away from him and hides her wings when he makes the comment. “I’m not a fairy. That’s a fairy.” She looks at one of her creatures, tiny little fluttering wings and jumping from flower petal to dew drop. “Of course not.” He replies, hoping that agreeing with her might be at least a start to remedy the situation. But it isn’t and he realises that when she huffs and turns away, suddenly the moss growing on the tree is much more interesting than anything on the side he’s sitting.

His hand twitches as he stops himself from grabbing her face and forcing her to look at him. He has to be soft he keeps reminding himself. He can’t just take what he wants. But he himself isn’t ever sure what it is that he wants. Why suddenly seeing her in such distress make him... angry...? Who dares hurt such a sweet soft thing, love herself?

“Love-“ her head swivels for her eyes to snap at him and glare his soul straight out his body. “Leave.” She huffs, with this new sudden stubbornness he’s never heard before from her. “No.” He replies with the same zing. His stark eyes clash with hers. As if in a battle of wits to see who’s the most stubborn. Nothing but their breathing and the chirping life around them is to be heard. Besides, of course, the clashing swords of wills.

But she’s never been one to fight and even less so with someone who’s done so much for her. She stands up. No longer challenging his mirroring of her own stubbornness, she walks until she feels the wet, squishy mud of the lake in between her toes. “Dream...you have done much for me. Brought me peace and allowed me to bloom...” She walks until she can feel the warm lake water up to her fingertips.

“Showed me the power I did not know I held...” She walks until she can feel the slimy plants cling to her waist. “But know this-” She turns, her hair frizzy from the humidity of the lake. The sunlight hits her just right, making her look like a nymph that makes Morpheus’ heart beat just a bit faster than it had been. And her brown eyes look just about ready to devour him for the sin of even thinking about going against her will.

“-I will not put the well-being of the humans over a love that must still bloom.” And then she walks until the aqua swirls in her ears and stings her eyes. All only to make it seem that the tears rolling down her cheeks are only that- water. All only to convince her heart that their connection hasn’t pooled into a reservoir she saves for herself when the loneliness creeps up on her. That the flowers of love aren’t being watered. And that the branches of the heart hasn’t started to flourish for the first time since her creation.

Desire had to have loved her at some point, right? This can’t possible be the first time she’s felt all...warm inside. But she had been so angry...? The agony humans feel when they are in love she remembers to be quite similar...

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speciallivery · 4 months ago

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I got tagged by @valentin1k, thank you! I love dropping snippets <3

rules: tagger gives a word, then for each letter of that word you share an excerpt from your WIPs that start with that letter.

I got the word RICE I will be passing along: TALK

“Right - My name is Captain Bagnaia,” The human, -Bagnaia- swallows. He raises an eyebrow. “Can you tell me what is yours?” Marc closes his mouth with the click of his teeth and shakes his head. “You can’t speak then?” Bagnaia furrows his brows and sighs with something Marc places as small relief. Marc is inclined to agree, afterall speechmaking is such an awfully human trait. It would anthropomorphize Marc too much in front of his wardens. His fitted larynx shifts forward. There’s bile rising up in his throat, it tastes like survival. “I promise you, we will not harm you.” The man speaks in an amiable voice, just for Marc. Another thing meant just for Marc, is the question hidden in the unsteady thumping of Bagnaia’s heart’s gradual crescendo. Please, mermaid, promise me to return the favour.

“I had plans —” Marc says. “ — To have sex, no?” Valentino says slyly as he kicks off his shoes and sprawls out on the couch. “Your plans were to fuck.” Marc stops himself from turning red in the face by focussing on the white-hot heath of the anger that’s creeping up his spine. “Yes, but you weren’t part of that.” “I know, poor Pecco, however will he cope.” Marc huffs,“who says my plans have changed?” He can just send Valentino Rossi away and still text Pecco and have a good time celebrating his win, instead of — instead of, well, whatever this is supposed to be. “I do. Now fetch me a beer from the fridge. I know you keep them for post-race celebrations.” And Valentino looks at him, like that. That all-knowing, uncaring smile. Marc very nearly crumbles. He tells himself to keep his spine rigid when he — as if compelled — moves over to the fridge anyway.

Captain Bagnaia comes to talk to him at least once a day, albeit briefly. He had anxiously tried to bargain with Marc, for Marc to please stop the shrieking sibilation. Please tell me if you are displeased, please, my men need their sleep. (And so does he). But how could Marc? Bagnaia brings him two fish daily and Marc swallows them whole. He cannot tell Bagnaia that mermaids disfavour fish as it sustains but does not fill, does not soothe. Gnawing hunger has rooted itself bitingly into Marc’s guts. It leaves him vacant, wearied - not ravenous. “What was that?” Bagnaia asks. “I-” Marc repeats, his voice hoarse and unpractised. “I can… not…eat fish.” Bagnaia pales. He looks at Marc with bewildered horror, like Marc has magically managed to set seawater ablaze. “Okay,” he exhales, shakily. He rakes a hand through his hair, “okay.” Dialogue is greatly gratifying. “By…the by - Marc.” He tries; it’s short syllables to start with. “My - name is… Marc.” “Marc-” captain Bagnaia echo’s. “Okay, sure -Marc.” Marc concludes that he likes the sound of his own voice.

“Eh,” Oscar regains himself, it’s quite unusual that he misses his target. “That was a warning shot,” he deadpans. “Fucking hell, Dan are you okay?” Lando — no last name given, yells at Ricciardo whilst he aims his gun at Oscar, hand trembling. “No, fuck, he just shot me!” “He did,” says Mark. “But like he said, that was a warning shot, now drop both of your weapons, because the next one will hit something vital.” Oscar takes that as his cue to take aim again. The Honey Badger and Lando. Turns out, it is their lucky day.

Tagging some writer friends <3 @fall0utmind @carbonmono @localsealboy (or the starwars side blog) @toxicrivalries @charleslelurk @neptunescore and @onboardsorasora

#Match the snippet to the fic guys <3 #fic talk

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the-true-shinetales · 2 years ago

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Unity.

A force that brings people together. Like a roaring campfire on a chilly night.

Fire.

A primal element. One that heals, destroys, protects. An element that can bring forth the best and worst in something.

Foxfire.

A sacred flame of azure blue, a symbol of unity across Sinnoh. My flame.

Who am I? My name is Michael Flooffire. But please, call me Shine. I promise I am not as formal as I look. It's a pleasure to meet you.

(More info under the cut)

The current ref-sheet of the fox you see. Capable of both feral and anthropomorphic forms. For the sake of this blog: Feral state will be the default in asks and such, but anthro can be shifted to upon request. It is not normal in reality for a Pokemon known to be quadrupedal to stand in a bipedal stance. The abnormal height of 4'0 in either form can be explained through Hisuian Alpha genetics.

You may be asking, who is this fox? What is a "Shinetales"?

The answer to that is simple. A "Shinetales" is an 'ascended' Ninetales, Kantonian or Alolan origin does not matter much. It is the species name Shine took for himself upon the ascension, given his shiny coloration. His typing is Fire/Psychic.

The details of his ascension are kept purposely murky, for there to not be an oversized pantheon of Mythicals and Legendaries. Shine's domain is that of Unity. Bringing people, Pokemon, and elsewise together, and standing against what may drive them apart.

Shine himself is a compassionate and caring individual, lending an ear or helping hand anytime he is capable of doing so. If you just need something soft to lay against while you vent your troubles, he will not mind in the slightest. Simply ask.

Do that let that completely fool you, however. He is a capable battler and fighter, and will staunchly stand up for his sense of right and wrong. Sometimes he is misguided, but his heart is always in the right place. He's just... not the best at tempering it.

(MUN)

Hi! I'm Michael, and despite what you may see here, Shine is /not/ my 'sona! Just one of my many OCs. And Shine is special, because as it turns out, I'm plural and he is my headmate. He wrote most of what you see above himself. We are the Stormsoul system. I am the main host and front. If there is either no icon or a lightning bolt emoji, it is me speaking in some capacity. Mostly applies OoC. If in character and there's no emoji, it defaults to Shine. If something is OoC and has a flame emoji, then that is Shine directly speaking. In either case, story-related plot will be marked with the tag #shineposting

Thank you for reading through my rambles. I hope we can all enjoy my forays into unreality.

Minor edit: Since I never mentioned it, any follows that come from @abs0ulut1on are from us!

#unreality #pokemon irl #rotomblr #pokeblogging #pokeblogging intro #shineposting

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biomorphic-beast · 1 year ago

Note

Hey!

I am currently doing research into mechanophilia in an attempt to understand and explain the phenomenon to other people. As someone who experiences forms of objectum and mechanophilia, I wanted to write an essay to further explain the topic.

I was wondering if you could answer a couple questions for me related to the topic? Just some things to do with your definitions of mechanophilia, the ways it manifests for you, etc.

Any answers given could be anonymous if requested.

I always find it hard to reach out without it sounding like I'm a bot, but I thought I'd give it a shot after looking through your page!

Thank you, and I hope to speak with you!

Hello,

I am sorry to dispoint but I am afraid I cannot be of help in your research .

You are actually the second person to contact me for an interview on the topic since I started doing polls so I think its for the best I make things clear.

I am not actually a mechanophile, nor am I objectum. My attraction is robots is purely in the realm of fiction and I have had very little experience of being sexually attracted to real life machines.

Though that isn't to say I have no experinces with object anthropomorphization; I certainly remember the days when young teenage me turned to technology like Cleverbot for comfort.

The Sexy Robot Tier list is really just one big inside joke between me and my friends. I admitted that I had developed feelings for the character X-5 from Atomic Betty when I was younger on the friend groups discord channel and that somehow spiralled into this whole mess.

As to why I used tags like #robophilia, #technophilia and #mechanophilia on my Sexy Robot Tier List post. Well like I said on my pinned comment:

"With the combined efforts of the robotfuckers and machine smoochers of tumblr, I hope to create the most accurate ranking of Sexy Fictional Robots via democratic vote"

I wanted to get the opinions of people who actually were a part of these communities as well as just wanting to do something fun for the month of April before going back of my usual reblogs.

I am sorry I couldn't be of much help.

All the best,

Bio-Beast

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earthtocaptainsky · 8 months ago

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Earth to Captain Sky • he/they • very gay • adult • USA based • Multifandom artist, occasional streamer, and Space Cruiser Captain

DO NOT REUPLOAD OR USE MY ART WITHOUT PERMISSION. I DO NOT ALLOW MY WORK TO BE USED FOR AI. pfp/header are ok with credit!

Common Topics: Genshin Impact, Honkai Star Rail, Obey Me!, One Piece, Batman & Robins, Trigun, Bungou Stray Dogs, various Kpop groups, and a lot of other anime, manga, and books 🥰💜

🪐Accounts and Codes🪐

All accounts of mine are under EarthtoCaptainSky and are available through my linktree here

I reblog art here in my little art gallery blog CaptainSkysArtCollection

Game Codes

Genshin: 617281815 Honkai Star Rail: 601108053 Wuthering Waves: 500412003

🌠Current Projects🌠

Siege SMP as Lyra du Arcturus

Siege SMP is a modded Minecraft SMP. Many content creators are part of the project and we all play individual characters. I play Lyra du Arcturus, a mage recently appointed to the Magic Council as the fire mage. I appear on other's streams and occasionally on my own. I have also been working on a small comic following Lyra's story.

#Siege SMP #Lyra du Arcturus

One Piece-Genshin Redesigns

This is my current ongoing project. I’m redesigning One Piece characters to fit within Genshin Impact. I’ll be picking an element and weapon for each character I do as well as writing a little bit about how I’ve decided they fit into Teyvat. I'll be doing the Straw Hat crew and perhaps a few other characters.

#One Piece #Genshin Redesign

🌌OCs and Original Works🌌

Oh No! The Demon Lord Stole the Hero!

This is my own story, a Grecoroman-themed fantasy with a bit of the Ars Goetia thrown in. The overall idea is a romance in the middle of a war between humans and demons. Hyacinth is the Hero with conveniently light-related powers. The love interest is Azazel, the Demon Lord. It’s styled after the general anime Yuusha story with a hero and the Demon Lord final boss, but with my own twist and a few more Western fantasy elements than you’d normally find in a Yuusha story. Most of my posts have been on Patreon, but will likely end up here soon.

#Oh No! The Demon Lord Stole the Hero! #Hero x Demon Lord

🌟Other Tags🌟

#original art (not fandom related art) #the captain (art or posts related to my Captain character) #my ocs (art or posts related to my own characters) #my art (any art I have done) #sky answers (ask answers) #sky speaks (text posts, rambles, notices, etc.)

TWs: Triggers and warnings are tagged as #tw [trigger] ex: #tw blood

🚀Commissions🚀

I do commissions, but usually not requests. You are allowed to ask, but there is no guarantee I'll draw a request. I am happy to work on projects and budgets within reason. If you want a commission or to use my art for any type of project feel free to reach out! My Commission Form is available here or through my linktree. You can also go through my Ko-Fi for commissions or donations here. My TOS agreement is part of the Commission Form.

Things I will draw: NSFW (no public post & must follow my TOS), OCs, existing characters, D&D, graphic assets, comics, pngtubers, real people (Must follow my TOS), among other things Things I will not draw: Furries (I don't do full-on anthropomorphic, stuff like cat ears are fine), certain NSFW topics, excessive gore Other: I also do Minecraft Skins #Art Commissions

🪐Patreon🪐

If you like my art consider checking out my Patreon! I offer coloring pages, wallpapers, behind the scenes content, early access, special commissions, and Patreon exclusive content. You don’t have to make a paid pledge to see some artwork before I post it on other platforms or to get select wallpapers and coloring pages I offer!

#sky speaks

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fnaf-stories-and-posts · 8 months ago

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Halloween Night at Freddy’s (Pizzaplex) [Act Finale]

Prequel fic to Christmas With A Freddy by ShadowBelle23 (Me) on AO3.

Since Evan is now being called Dave. I know that some people think that Cassidy is the crying child and Afton’s son while Dave is the fifth victim of Afton. No, it’s vice versa because of Princess Quest.

Since there’s already a living child character in this fanfic called Dave, I’ll leave the name Evan alone. Also, I wrote this fanfic a year ago and I’m going through it now to polish it up compared to the original AO3 post.

Word Count: 5,796

Character Count: 32,679

Reading Time: 21 minutes 5 seconds

Speaking Time: 32 minutes 12 seconds

————————————————————-

*Earlier*

Max and Dave were indeed nervous. They stood by Freddy’s room as Gregory and Crystal held his hands. “I wish you luck down there,” Freddy tells them. “It’s not very safe, but I trust you can handle yourselves.”

“We got this!” Max says and summons Ro-bow via teleportation. His appearance made Gregory smile in awe.

“Don’t worry, Freddy. I’ll make sure Vanny won’t touch them,” Ro-bow tells him reassuringly. Gregory gives Max his novelty Fazwatch. “I don’t know if the walkie-talkies will reach you underground. But I know this will. If you get in trouble, you can summon Freddy to you with it.”

Max then takes the watch and puts it on. He and Dave get a good luck hug from Freddy before heading to the underground. Then Freddy goes back to his room with Gregory and Crystal.

Rachel, stood in Gator Golf alone like she was supposed to. “Look alive and helpless people. We have exactly until six AM to catch Vanny. And we mustn’t waste a single hour from the nine we have,” Rachel says. “If we don’t see or hear from her in two hours, we will hunt her if we have to. We must make this night count.”

“10-4,” Isabel says. Rachel knows it’s her usher habit kicking in from using a walkie-talkie. Then the others copy her statement. Now, they wait.

With Max again. He, Dave, and Ro-bow had started looking underground for Onesie. So far, they’ve found broken STAFF bots, a bunch of miscellaneous things too, and a bunch of boxes filled with who knows what. They did find Onesie’s “bed” during their search, but no trace of her in it.

“Where is she?” Max ponders worriedly.

“It’s okay, maybe she’s around somewhere,” Dave tells him. Then they stumble across an offline animatronic dog. Not anthropomorphic. It’s small and about the size of a beagle. With its color palette being grayish-brown. His head is large and triangular with a sloped forehead, having long snout with a big nose, a gaping wide mouth filled with sharp fangs, pointed ears, and yellow piercing eyes. He has his matted fur missing in places, revealing the tarnished metal underneath a couple of wires sticking from his ears, and one large hole in his belly opening his stomach cavity, which houses a primitive circuit board. He wears a blue collar with a dog tag, Dave looks at it and it reads "Fetch".

“Not Onesie, but I hope we’re close,” Dave says and gently pets the offline dog. “I hope she’s alright.”

“I’m sure she is. She’s just hidden in this underground labyrinth of hallways,” Ro-bow assures him. They kept looking but they just kept coming across a lot of dead ends. Both Max and Dave were starting to get worried.

“Where is she?” Max ponders. “I thought she would be down here.”

“Me too. Maybe she’s somewhere else,” Dave says. As he approached a wall to lean on, he fell through it like a ghost with a scream.

“Dave!” Max and Ro-bow exclaim.

“Are you okay?” Max asks worriedly.

“Yeah!” Dave says assuringly and walks through the wall to return to them. “It’s a hidden doorway cloaked with illusion magic of some sort. It’s empty inside.”

Max and Ro-bow enter with Dave. Indeed, it was space-wise. But many things filled it. Like one of the charging pods for the Glamrock animatronics. But it was painted on in purple, with words, warnings of ‘Do Not Open’ and such. It even had purple smoke spewing from the bottom.

“What… what is that?” Ro-bow then wondered. Dave sees a light switch and they see a light turn on above a wall. On it was a large graffiti painting of a man in purple wearing a yellow rabbit costume holding a knife covered in blood with six children's corpses surrounding him. Their faces are covered by a mask of a familiar animatronic, even the Marionette. Above and under the mural, words were written; YOU CAN’T ESCAPE US WILLIAM AFTON!!!

“Well hello boys,” a creepy voice was heard from behind them. They turned around to see Vanny enter the room. “Thank you for finding my master for me. Those old bucket heads have kept him well hidden down here for a very long time. And since you have done the dirty work to find him, I’ll have to repay you for your kindness…” then takes a knife out from behind her. “In death!”

She raises her arm holding the knife. Before Max and Ro-bow got the chance to retaliate, they heard something coming before tackling Vanny to the ground.

“Good boy, Fetch!” Dave exclaims happily, cheering for the animatronic. Dave and Max hear their phones go off and see a text message from… Fetch?

‘U OK?’ It reads.

“Yeah, thanks for saving us, Fetch,” Max says gratefully.

*Ding* ‘NP ;) So, should I kill her for you, my masters?’.

“No!” Dave tells the dog. “And please, don’t call us your masters. I’m Dave, the other boy is Max. And Robin Hood over there is Ro-bow.”

*Ding* ‘Nice to meet you’.

“Get off of me, you stupid mutt!” Vanny yells which earned her a mechanical growling from Fetch.

Then they heard footsteps, “guys?” Max asks and hopes it is their friends to aid them. Alas, it was not. Just an army of endoskeletons. “Fetch, defend Dave. Attack endoskeletons,” Max commands Fetch. He barks in response, gladly jumping onto an endoskeleton and attacking it. Its teeth tearing into the metal like beef jerky.

Ro-bow starts shooting arrows at them and Max activates his Portal Master abilities while protecting and shielding Dave. Dave finds a metal pipe to use as a weapon, sure, it’s ineffective against the endoskeleton’s bodies but not the face like the eyes. Quickly he wraps twine around it and ties it on to have a grip on the pipe.

He starts swinging the pipe at the animatronics’ faces and Fetch tackles them to rip them apart. “Thanks, Fetch,” Dave says. As they continued fighting, Max tried to contact Freddy, but the watch wasn’t working. “What’s wrong with this thing?” Max asks in frustration.

“What’s wrong kiddo?” Vanny asks with a little cackle. “Having problems calling SOS?”

“I’m detecting an EMP on her,” Ro-Bow announces. “We’re on our own.”

“What do we do?” Dave then asks. “If we stay, who knows how many more of those endoskeletons will be coming? We’ll tire out and she’ll get whatever’s in the capsule. If we leave, she still wins.”

“Sadly we have to leave,” Max says. “We have to warn the others.”

“Warn them all you want. They will die and animatronics will rise to slaughter humanity and take over,” Vanny cackles. “There’s no savior for humanity.”

Max scoffs. “Vanny, there’s a lot you don’t know about us. Believe me, your plan will fail,” he says. They trashed enough endoskeletons and made their leave through the open exit.

As they made their way out, they ended up bumping into their friends as they went up the steps. “What happened?” Rachel asks.

“Lots. It’s bad. In short; I think Vanny just unleashed a bad man from a prison to keep him in,” Dave says. The group moves away from the staircase to let them up.

“Okay. That’s simple, we clobber both and it’s done,” Rachel shrugs.

“They have an army of endoskeletons,” Max adds.

“I’ve dealt with Badniks bigger than that,” Isabel then shrugs. Then their walkie-talkies went off.

“Guys, something is wrong with the STAFF bots,” they heard Elliott’s voice cry worriedly over it. So they go to find him. And they witness seeing the STAFF bots pull themselves apart. On purpose. While Elliott is destroying the STAFF bots with a pink and white Freddy and a fox animatronic. A blue bunny puppet on the right hand of the Freddy. They destroy the STAFF bots like an infestation of roaches.

“Elliott, what’re you doing?!” Gin cries out.

“No time to explain! Start destroying as many of the bots as quickly as you can!” Elliott says.

“Why?” Gin then asks. The pink and white Freddy then points with his Bonnie hand to a group of STAFF bots assembling themselves into one being. Like “The Blob 2.0”.

“That’s why!” The Freddy says in stress. “And how I could tell what they’re doing is, to put it short, I experienced a “been there-done that” moment before exactly like that. But they’re infected with a virus that’s making them do this.”

The group looks at each other. Isabel then destroys the progress on the Blob STAFF bots using her Chaos abilities while destroying the rest. Now the bots were attacking them rather than disassembling and reassembling themselves into one.

“Guys,” the pink Freddy then says urgently. Probably communicating with someone. “Vanny has unleashed Afton. I repeat, Vanny has unleashed Afton. Code Purple.” Then he continues smashing STAFF bots with the group and the pink fox.

“So, which one of you troublemakers got Vanny to find Afton?” The pink fox then asks the group of humans.

“That would be me, my friend Dave, and Ro-Bow,” Max says in shame. “We went down there to find Onesie.” Then he looks at Pink Freddy. “Also, aren’t you The Blob?!”

“No!!!” The bear says offended, facing Max as his faceplate starts clicking from being open a little and coming back to close. “Just because the abomination has a duplicate of my handsome and charming face doesn’t mean I am that thing. I have no relation to it. Second, Onesie doesn’t need you two in her life. What you did was reckless and now look where it got us!”

“Well excuse me!” Max sounds offended with sarcasm, now confronting the bear. “I didn’t know there was a serial killer locked away in the Megaplex’s basement! Maybe you should have put a notice down there! Or have provided better security!”

“We didn’t need it because we thought no one but Vanny would go down there to find him! And if you weren’t looking for Onesie, none of this would have happened!” Freddy then argues, his faceplates now clicking more aggressively.

“I was just trying to be a good friend!” Max counters. “She seemed upset and I just wanted to help!”

“She doesn’t need help! She’s fine with us as it is! And since when did you humans care about us machines anyway?! Last I remember, humans would give me and my animatronic family controlled shocks daily without hesitation or concern!” Freddy then continues, his faceplates close to swinging fully open.

“FOR THE LOVE OF-!!!” Isabel rages, sounding very angry, then turns to Max and Freddy. “Funtime Freddy! Last I recall, I’m very capable of handling myself and if I need help or not! You don’t get to decide my choices for me of what I do and don’t want! Also, apologize to me and my friends immediately! How dare you insult us humans saying we only intend on hurting you when you tried to murder a teenager you hypocrite bear?!”

Thankfully they have trashed the STAFF bots that were in the area so everyone could react. So far, everyone but Isabel was shocked by what just happened. But Isabel was angry that her face turned a pretty shade of red.

“O-onesie?!” Funtime Freddy stammers in shock from discovering the truth and Isabel nods. Now his faceplates stay closed, like his emotions recoiling from Isabel’s outburst. “You’re a human?!” She then nods again.

“As much as we want to ask questions, we now have two evil rabbits running around doing who knows what,” the blue Bonnie then says, recovering from the sudden emotional shock from Isabel’s outburst. “So, can we get back to that and worry about this later?”

“Bon-Bon’s right, Freddy,” Isabel tells the pink and white bear. “So save whatever questions you have until this is all over. For now, this is what we do.” Then speaks through her walkie-talkie. “Freddy, Roxy, Chica, Monty, meet us at the front entrance. Sun, take Gregory to safety in our suite. We need our Crystal back.”

“10-4, Superstars,” Glamrock Freddy responds.

“10-4,” Sun then says.

“I’m staying with you guys,” Dave says and looks at his pipe for a weapon. “But I can’t do much with this.”

“Here, let me see,” Rachel says and Dave hands it to her. “Upgraded,” casting a Tech spell on the object. Then Jamie added his own. “Enchanted Durability.” The pipe changes from the transformation, making it more weapon-like than a piece of junk thrown together into one.

They then hear barking as more animatronics show up, coming running to them. “It’s okay, these guys are cool,” Funtime Freddy assures the humans. “They’re my friends.”

“There’s more of you guys?!” Gin asks in shock.

“Yeah, ancestors of Freddy’s. But we don’t have time to explain,” a brown Freddy with red rosies on its face tells them. Then the Glamrocks show up with Crystal.

“Gregory is safe with Sun,” Glamrock Freddy tells the group. Then the Glamrocks look at the predecessor animatronics in awe. “Are you guys…?”

“Yes, they are,” Max assures him. “We’ll get to introductions later. I get it, we did a bad thing, we’ll fix it and get Afton back into his “Pandora’s Box” and stop Vanny too.”

“Speaking of Afton,” the black and white puppet animatronics says. Then once they said that, everyone felt the ground shake in slight tremors.

“What… was that???” Jamie then asks. More of the ground shook until they saw a large fist punch a hole in the wall before multiple hands tore it apart. Coming through the wall is DJ Music Man, its eyes purple instead of black with Afton and Vanny riding on its head. Holding onto the headband to the headphones it wore.

“Here’s Afton!!!” a male voice singsonged menacingly. They assumed it was the amalgamation creature with Vanny on the DJ’s head. Afton is a combination of animatronic and human, very disgusting, rotting, and corpse-like. “Now here’s some familiar faces I know. All together in one place; the originals, the toys, as well as my dear Circus animatronics. Welcome home, my pets. Welcome home!”

None of them looked pleased to see him. “You seem to keep getting more uglier every time we meet, Mr. Afton. Or should I call you Burntrap now?” the puppet says in disgust to Afton. “Seriously though, has surviving two buildings on fire not been enough for you to get the hint you should just give up?! Or is what you call your brain too fried to care?!”

Afton, now Burntrap, laughs menacingly. “Oh dear sweet Charlie, you always had your daddy’s witted tongue. I have to admit, he is a clever man, he is. It’s a shame he died without knowing his plan failed, which makes him a fool as well!” Then an army of endoskeletons and STAFF bots show up and surround the group.

“He was your friend! He trusted you! He cared for you!” The puppet, AKA Charlie spits at him, the insult towards her deceased father riled her.

“That was his mistake!” Afton yells at the puppet. “Your father could have never seen the potential I saw! He only cared about making children happy including you, the precious daughter of his! Disgusting! Emotions of kindness and happiness are pathetic and make people soft! Fear and terror are strong! They can control and conquer anything!”

“You’re wrong, Afton!” Charlie says to him. “Murder and domination are not justified. Sure, you got what you wanted; immortality. But I still see the same monster that took many children’s lives in the past years ago, including mine. You can spread your fear and terror all you want, it may be strong to you, but it just comes to show how far of a person you have become. You’re nothing more than a shadow of yourself. You could have been a loving father, a caring friend, and a good husband. But you threw it all away while everyone you know is dead. Now, we’re here to clean up the mess you’ve created and to end your reign forever.”

“Big talk for a little girl,” Afton chuckles darkly. “I know you’re scared of me. Because if you weren’t, you would have done me in years ago rather than now.”

This time, Charlie laughs, but it is in amusement. “Oh, I’m not scared. I wasn’t then and I wasn’t now. I was just letting karma roll its punches before I stepped into the ring. Now it’s my turn, and I will make my daddy proud,” Charlie declared before her form started to change into her Nightmarionne form. “I will be your waking nightmare!” Then lunges at Afton, knocking him off DJ Music Man’s head. Thankfully the animatronic no longer suffered from the virus once Afton was off.

The battle then has begun. The Portal Masters activated their forms and changed outfits. Fighting the endoskeletons alongside the animatronics. The original Freddy, Bonnie, Chica, and Foxy changed into their nightmare forms too, which was a huge advantage in the battle.

As they fought, Rachel noticed Isabel targeting Vanny and her only. She couldn’t help but overhear their conversation, and it was kinda hard to with how loud Isabel can be.

“Vanny, you and I have done the same song and dance for many months now. And this time I’m very serious, why did you kidnap me and put Remnant in my head?!” Isabel demands. “Because of you, I can’t ever dream again when I sleep! I’m always awake whether as a human or animatronic! You took away my joy of sleeping!

“Well, if you want to know that badly… sure,” Vanny evilly chuckles as she nimbly avoids Isabel’s blade. “Before the puppet interrupted my plan. I was going to kill your human body while your conscious mind was in the animatronic. Then infect you with the Glitchtrap virus, and make you gain the other animatronics’ trust-“ but she got interrupted by Isabel putting a hand to Vanny’s neck.

“You were gonna use me as a Trojan horse?!” She exclaims angrily.

“Well, I’m glad you saved me the trouble anyway without the virus. You gained their trust just like I wanted you to, then we’ll infect them as well and kill your friends. Afton will win and humanity will fall,” Vanny cackles.

Isabel rolls her eyes from her annoying statement and Chaos Blasts Vanny against a wall. Thankfully Vanny’s costume suit was thick enough to take the brunt of the attack. But it did make her feel dazed. “Spider Rope,” Isabel casts, and Vanny’s body becomes tied up in thick magic rope-like webbing, constricting her movements for any chance to escape.

“Just to let you know, your ordinary knife won’t be able to cut yourself free,” Isabel says, seeing Vanny at least attempt to free herself. Then sees Funtime Freddy confront her after breaking an endoskeleton.

“You became Onesie against your will?” He asks curiously, which makes Isabel realize he overheard.

“Yes,” Isabel says gently as she slashes some endoskeletons in half with her sword while protecting Vanny from harm. “I understand if you’re mad at me, you have the right to be. I kept the secret from you and the others. But Charlie and Goldie wanted me to not tell you all to protect myself.”

“They knew as well?” Freddy then asks, destroying another endoskeleton.

“Yes, because they saved me from Vanny and took my Onesie body as I fled,” Isabel continues. “I never wanted to hurt you or your friends in any way. I understand you’re skeptical towards humans and I won’t deny you the right to be. But I continued being Onesie for you guys, your dad is a heartless jerk. No one should be his puppet, not even you. You guys deserve better, even freedom. Now let’s get this over with and we can continue talking later.”

Funtime Freddy nods as they break more endoskeletons together.

Currently with Burntrap and Charlie, the prior is getting himself beaten by Charlie’s advantage in her nightmare form. His body and face get whipped by the three long tendrils that make up half of Charlie’s arms to the elbow. And her skinny body while being ten feet tall makes it hard for Afton to hit her.

“What’s the matter, Burntrap? Scared of a little girl?!” Charlie says in a slightly sarcastic mocking tone. Amused that Burntrap is failing so hard.

“No! Why would I be?!” Burntrap huffs in frustration before getting slapped in the face by her tendrils.

“Ooh, someone is being a big liar,” Charlie chuckles in amusement as she can feel his fear. “You know, this form isn’t just for looks, I can sense the fear and dread coursing through you like vampires can sense people’s heartbeats. I’m not stupid to know that you’re terrified of me, Mr. Afton. You’re terrified that the sweet, innocent little girl you once took the life from, outside in the rain, has now become this. That your prey has turned tables and now has become your predator. Isn’t that right?”

Mr. Afton backs up from Charlie’s statement, bumping into Golden Freddy as the empty suit is now standing. Goldie grabs Afton harshly, keeping him from escaping.

“K-k-karma has done its w-w-work. Now it’s our turn to play with you!” Golden Freddy says it’s voice sputtering in glitches.

“No! NO!” Mr. Afton shouts, now they can hear the slight terror in his voice. “Look at you! Look at the nasty thing that you have become! Look how small you are! How worthless you are! You are wretched little beasts! I created you!”

Charlie and Goldie look at each other and shake their heads from that pathetic statement. Then they heard the sound of a gun being shot before Afton got electrocuted. Thankfully Goldie doesn’t have to worry since they’re immune to it and let Afton fall. They looked to see a man with rotting purplish skin wearing old tattered clothes. Its eyes are completely black except for the tiny white light in each of its eye sockets. Just like Goldie and Charlie. The man holds a taser gun while having an angry look on his face.

“I knew you would come back,” the man says. The battle stops as all STAFF bots and endoskeletons are destroyed. Monty then grabs Vanny from the floor but both humans and animatronics are shocked to see a living corpse of a human.

“What’s… happening?” Jamie asks curiously. Then sees Isabel smirking alongside Funtime Freddy and the Circus animatronics.

“Just watch,” Isabel assures Jamie.

They watch as Afton gets up, groaning in pain as the corpse continues holding the taser gun at him. Goldie and Charlie watch him to make sure he doesn’t try to run. “Hello Dad, didn’t expect to see me did you?” The corpse says to Afton.

“M-Mike, my boy, a little too old for temper tantrums now are we?” Afton stutters, now sounding hopeful. Reaching a hand towards his son Mike swats it harshly in retaliation.

“I’m not your boy anymore, Dad,” Mike says firmly. “And thanks to you, I’m now a walking skin suit. I went down there at the Rental to find Elizabeth like you asked and I did. In return, the Circus animatronics tricked me, gut my insides out like a pumpkin and they combined themselves to become Ennard so they could escape the underground facility inside my body. Now I’m here to make you pay for what you did.”

“Why don’t you make them pay instead?” Afton says, gesturing to the Circus animatronics which were now frowning at him.

“Because they remind me of the people I love most since you based them off of our family. Ballora is mom, Circus Baby is Elizabeth, Funtime Freddy is Evan, and I’m Funtime Foxy. They may be a bit twisted and crazy, but I love them as equally as I do my mother and siblings,” Mike says, his voice going soft as he doesn’t stop giving his father dirty looks. “Unlike you, my father died long ago before you met your demise in Spring Bonnie’s suit to become Springtrap. And now that they have you, I’ll let them decide on what to do with you.”

Then he steps back and away while still keeping his taser pointed at his dad. “We’re keeping him alive,” Charlie declares. “As much as it pains us spirits not going into the afterlife. It’s more worth it to see him suffer.”

“What he did to us, is not d-d-death. But it’s exactly what he deserves,” Goldie states. “Because death is what he wants and we won’t g-g-give him it.”

Isabel then steps forward. “Just keeping him alive isn’t enough as a punishment for what he put you through,” she gently says to them before casting a curse spell;

“Beware the Reaper's Curse, a grim spell I weave,

To haunt the living, no respite they'll receive.

Survivors of death, eternal torment they'll bear,

No solace in life, but death's release they'll share.”

Magic runes appear on Afton’s body and he begins to agonize in pain. Even being vocal about it.

“Yes, that’s good enough for us,” Goldie nods in approval. “I’ll take him back to his prison.” Then grabs Afton and teleports away. Mike puts away the taser and the Circus animatronics go to give him apology hugs.

“Now, another thing,” Isabel adds, seeing Vanny being held by Monty. She then waves Funtime Freddy over. He comes willingly and he opens a hatch in his arm. And Isabel grabs a blue star power ring from it including a tiny handheld device and a cord. She finds a USB port in Vanny’s costume head and attaches the handheld device to it using the cord. With the blue star power ring, she puts it into the device to power it.

“Let’s get rid of that nasty Glitchtrap virus,” Isabel continues. A “download” bar is on the screen, the percentage went high quickly until a beep was heard. Isabel unplugged the cord from the head and took off the costume head.

“There, you’re free now. You have no reason to do his bidding anymore,” Isabel says. Under the costume is a blonde-haired woman with bags under her eyes like she barely slept. “It’s Security Guard Vanessa!” Glamrock Freddy says in awe.

Everyone gives the woman space as Isabel helps her out of the suit. Thankfully Vanessa is wearing clothes underneath it. “So, what do you want me to explain?” Isabel asked.

“Anything,” Rachel admits. “Because my mind is trying to piece things together like someone explaining the plot to The Godfather rather than me watching it.”

“Alright, I’ll start with my situation as short as possible,” Isabel sighs. “Months ago during the summer, I was out with Bocoe and Decoe. We came across the store manager at this place, they saw Bocoe and Decoe and asked if they could do some maintenance work around here. I allowed it and the boys agreed. Fast forward, the boys are doing their work here and I had to use the bathroom. Vanny catches me off guard and chloroforms me. I wake up underground on a cot next to a humanoid animatronic body that’s Onesie.” Isabel takes a deep breath and continues.

“And I also wake up to a splitting head pain to find out my head was cut open. I didn’t know why until Marionette and Golden Freddy saved me. Then later I discovered that Vanny put Remnant in my head, and well, you get the gist.”

“Why didn’t you tell us? We could have helped you,” Elliott asked.

“I didn’t want to worry about you guys, besides, this was my problem,” Isabel says which her friends either facepalmed or took a deep breath in.

“Izzy, you’re our friend. If a problem happens to one of us, we deal with it together as friends,” Jamie tells her. “I still remember when you were stressed about the Chaos Emeralds, I wished you come to ask us for help.”

Isabel sighs as she looks at the floor. “Now I wish I did. I’m sorry for not asking for help then and now. This all could have been avoided tonight if I told you guys my problems rather than handle it myself.”

“But you become Onesie when you sleep?” Rachel asks.

“So, I don’t know why that’s a thing,” Isabel admits, then looks at Vanessa.

“I don’t know why either,” Vanessa admits. “It was my Vanny persona’s idea anyway. She preferred not to share anything with me. But I believe she was trying to experiment with Remnant’s effects on humans. I’m sorry for the pain I had inflicted upon you, Isabel. I tried to stop her but Vanny was too devoted to Afton to care about other people.”

“It’s okay if I hadn’t. I wouldn’t have helped you and the other animatronics anyway. I’m glad to be your friend, Vanessa,” Isabel admits to the blonde, and they hug.

“Then what’s their story then?” Rachel asks Isabel.

“That is… something that will have to wait another day. Their story is too long to cut short but to start. When William Afton was a human, long ago in the 1980’s. He murdered six children; Charlie, Gabriel, Jeremy, Susie, Fritz, and Cassidy. Everyone but Charlie got their bodies stuffed in an animatronic suit. And their spirits have possessed them since then. Circus Baby has Elizabeth Afton’s spirit possessing her and Golden Freddy is sharing Evan’s with Cassidy,” Isabel starts.

“I see, so you guys were trying to keep him from murdering any more kids,” Amelia says in understanding.

“We should start getting this place cleaned up,” Vanessa says. “You guys created quite a mess.”

“I’ll go get Sun and Gregory,” Elliott says and runs to their suite. Thankfully with the combination of teamwork and magic, it was like the battle with Afton never happened.

Also, Isabel surprised them with a menu bunch of pastries and treats that got delivered to their suite before the megaplex closed. Even allowing the animatronics to eat some, Vanessa and Gregory too.

“So, you’re a zombie?” Gin asks Mike.

“I guess you could say that. Or a lich,” Mike responds casually.

The Freddy’s got talking including the Bonnies, Chicas, and Foxys. Marionette/Charlie and Sun talked while playing with Crystal, Gregory, Ro-Bow, Max, and Dave.

“It’s interesting to see a wolf Foxy, love the hair,” Funtime Foxy compliments Roxy.

Roxy chuckles. “Thank you,” she says bashfully. “How come you and Toy Foxy look alike?” The two pink and white foxes look at each other and shrug unknowingly as to why. Mangle/Toy Foxy was no longer the rearranging amalgamation she once was, now standing on two feet like her counterparts.

“Darling, call me Mangle,” Toy Foxy tells Roxy kindly.

“Mangle, why?” Roxy asks curiously. And Mangle chuckles before explaining; “kids treated me like a toy. Pulled me apart and rearranged me. It got so bad, that the technicians gave up. I’m glad Charlie put me back together again.”

“Me too,” Roxy says, sounding grateful. “I’m just gonna say that you two look like siblings due to designing laziness.”

“I’m fine with that,” Funtime Foxy says, and Mangle nods.

Toy Bonnie then talks to Glamrock Freddy. “Where’s your Bonnie?” He asks curiously. Glamrock Freddy shrugs, “he’s been missing for a long time now.”

“Not anymore,” Charlie says as they overhear their conversation. “I found your Bonnie. I’m currently in the finishing stage of fixing him. You’ll have your Bonnie back.”

Glamrock Freddy hugs Charlie. “Thank you!” He says happily. Charlie returns the hug with Lefty joining in.

Midnight then strikes the clock and the ghosts of the dead children emerge from the animatronic bodies to play. Evan and Elizabeth float to their brother Mike and they hug happily as they’re reunited.

“They look so happy even in death,” Dave says and Max nods.

“I think they’re just happy knowing Afton can’t hurt anybody else,” Max adds.

“That, and Mr. Afton underestimated the value of friendship and kindness,” Ro-Bow adds too.

“I agree,” Cassidy says. “As long as there is light, there will always be people who will stand up against his darkness.”

Isabel is sitting down on a chair as Dr. Krankcase and Mags are summoned to do a check-up on her head. “I can feel the Remnant device under your skin,” Dr. Krankcase says. “We can have this removed tomorrow, but you’re gonna have to stay awake during the procedure.”

“As long as it’s out of my head, I’m okay with that,” Isabel smiles.

“And we also have to remove all your hair,” Mags adds with bad news and Isabel sighs sadly.

“Well, that’s fine too, hair can grow back,” she admits.

“And we’ll be there with you,” Rachel adds. She, Isabel, Jamie and Crystal hug.

“Thanks, guys,” Isabel smiles. “You know, I’ve been thinking. These animatronics need a forever home, they’ve had a history of misery for a long time and no one has given them anything. Since I have nine and three-quarters of treasure chests full, I think I should steal a page out of Eggman’s book and make an amusement park home for anyone who wants to live in Skylands. Sure, the Academy is quite large but I don’t want to overcrowd it.”

“Where are you thinking to build it?” Jamie asks.

“Probably at Dr. Krankcase’s old lab. We can tear it down and remake a new one when I decide where to put it,” Isabel says. “And you guys can help too since my problem is your problem now.”

“That’s a wonderful idea, I’m sure Master Eon would agree to that,” Rachel chuckles. “Happy Halloween guys.” Then the Portal Masters group hug together.

*Elsewhere in the depths of the megaplex*

A different creature stalks its caged area. Wanting a way out. “I-I’m Gregory,” a glitchy mechanical voice says. “I-I-I’m Greg-g-gory.” Then the being gave it one more shot. “I’m Gregory.” Now mimicking the boy perfectly.

————————————————————-

I want to thank those who have followed, liked, reblogged and commented on my works. I hope everyone has a Happy Halloween, be safe, have fun and be responsible.

#fnaf #five nights at freddy's #fnaf fandom #fnaf au #fnaf fanfic #five nights at freddy’s #five nights at freddys #five nights at freddy #five nights at Freddy’s fanfiction

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hanzajesthanza · 11 months ago

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… i realize this is just a middle-aged guy version of the “nerdy girl makeover” trope where there’s a girl who wears glasses and lumpy shapeless clothes… then at the end of the movie she has a makeover where she does her hair and makeup, wears a dress, takes off her glasses, and walks down the stairs, surprising all her friends and boyfriend with how pretty she ~actually is~

i think it would be really funny if regis had a kind of fucked-up haircut

“he could save everyone except himself” but like with regard to the barbery, and not the surgery. kind of like when chefs don’t cook very well for themselves. or when fashion designers wear sweatpants all day.

but moreover. i think the aesthetic effects of a bad haircut would help to dampen his natural lugosian allure and good looks. to reduce any potential suspicions

#but like with a velvet kaftan instead of a dress?#c: regis #the witcher books #the elbow-high diaries #i think the appeal of geregis is not only platonic romantic whatever #but the feeling from geralt that sometimes he sees regis and fees a great sense of relief they are allies and that #he wasn’t hired on contract to deal with him haha #‘every day i wake up and i’m thankful you’re not a boss battle’#because there’s two ways this vampire on staircase-witcher at the bottom situation could go #the first one is above #the second one involves a choir vocalizing dies irae and a red health bar appearing at the top of the UI #regis: ‘what is it’ | geralt: ‘i’m just happy to be alive’ | regis: ‘aww’ | geralt internally: 😅😅😅#like okay canonically geralt had no sense of regis when they met #but i’d like to imagine that after they spend more time talking (specifically in beauclair) geralt comes to pick up on something #i think fringilla pointed it out to him and after that he tried to notice it and then he couldn’t un-notice it #geralt isn’t very magically inclined unlike eskel but he does have some dull talent with it #so i imagine he is capable but it takes him a lot longer to sense things than would be necessary to survive as a witcher without a medallion #like he can’t recognize a presence immediately or even within a few days. but a few months? maybe…#it would still be very dull and undefined though which makes it all the more intriguing (and a little ominous) to him #imagine what it’s like for an actual sorcerer. perhaps geralt would ask fringilla about it. hm.#fringilla sensing regis: hydrogen bomb | geralt sensing regis: coughing baby #tag: the anthropomorphism speaks through me

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rainbowmoonstonestories · 2 months ago

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Let Your Dreams Be Your Wings | Chapter 26

Chapters: 26/? Fandom: The Sandman (Netflix 2022, minor content from the Comics) Rating: Explicit Relationships Dream of the Endless/Morpheus x F!Reader Characters: Dream of the Endless/Morpheus, Lucienne, Matthew the Raven, Mervyn Pumpkinhead, Hob Gadling, Death, Rose Walker, The Corinthian, other minor Sandman characters, Original Characters. Warnings: 18+ content (minors DNI), explicit sexual content, POV switching, very long chapters to read. Summary: You always dreamed of becoming a successful Fashion Designer, sharing your creations with the world and making your father proud. But with him being very ill and so many costs solely weighting on your shoulders, things didn’t go as planned and you had to take a different path instead. An interesting offer led you to the elder Alex Burgess and you were hired as a new housemaid for a very good pay. However, your kindness and outstanding empathy convinced the man to give you an additional task for a doubled compensation; gaining the trust of Dream Of the Endless, held captive into the basement for over a century. Despite the shock of finding such an ethereal entity stripped of all his clothes and contained into a confined space, you had to accept for the sake of your father. But the more you got to speak to the mysterious anthropomorphic personification who didn’t utter a single word, the more you were lost into his eyes that, conversely, seemed to contain the entire universe. A deep connection formed between the two of you, separated only by a thick layer of glass.

Little did you know, what started like a simple housemaid job was about to change your life forever.

Credits: The moon dividers were made by firefly-graphics

Tagging: @number-0-iz, @emarich7, @jaziona92, @bridkesby @gallantys . If anyone else wants to be tagged in the next updates, let me know.

You can also read this on AO3 if you feel more comfortable!

Author's note: And here you are the part we were all waiting for! It's quite big still, but at last, these two lovebirds are getting back together.

WARNING: Mention of blood and a bit of gore (from a nightmare).

As Morpheus pursued his quest to uncover the truth behind the Book of Paradoxes' mystery, you carried on with your life as best you could, balancing between the dream world and the waking one. Before you could reunite with the love of your life, entities from your past suddenly reappeared before you. The very ones you had hoped never to see again.

Morpheus observed the golden threads permeating the area, their luminescence dancing through the restored verdant landscape. The radiant energy resonated within him, its gentle warmth embracing his being and coiling around his heart.

“She did this,” he whispered, trailing his fingers along one of the tendrils, which shimmered and reformed around his touch.

Astra nodded, his dark, star-filled eyes catching the warm light. "Yes. Quite impressive, isn't it?"

"I abandoned my responsibilities to my realm. My grief has caused devastation once again. One that I had no right to expect her to mend."

"Well, not truly catastrophic, but close enough. Even I, my lord, felt the effects of your... shall we say... dark disposition."

"Her essence lingers within you. You are as much my creation as you are hers, in this moment," he intoned, his voice deep and resonant. "Astra... I must make amends. You sought to counsel me, to issue warning, and I..."

"You needn't make amends, my lord—at least, not to me."

Morpheus took a tentative step forward, walking into the center of a glowing spiral that formed before him. "Can I even dare to hope she would welcome me back into her life? That I could be deemed worthy to stand beside her, to be present for our child?"

"Why shouldn't you? It won't be easy, certainly, but her love for you knows no bounds. There's nothing she wants more than having you back."

“How…”

“My lord?”

"How can a being like myself be deserving of such devotion? I, who am as eternal and ruinous as the darkness itself."

"The real question is: are you willing to accept such boundless love into your heart? Are you truly ready for everything she has to offer?"

Morpheus lowered his gaze to the ground. "All I truly desire is to have her by my side. Yet I find myself haunted by the possibility that I am destined to bring only destruction."

"I understand you're still pondering the book's prophecy, but from what I can see, they will both face doom without you around. The reverse isn't true."

“Perhaps.”

"I am certain of it, my lord."

Bright streaks wove through the atmosphere, synchronizing their movements with the guardian fireflies that watched over this section of the realm.

"Look at this. The Dreaming welcomes it—loves it, even. She is no ordinary dreamer, and no ordinary mortal, either. She never was. You may be darkness, but she is light. Like day and night, you belong together. You are intertwined, neither able to truly exist without the other."

You were nothing but light. His light. You represented the sun, the moon, and the stars.

"Then let me be your light, always. Wherever you go, whatever you face, I’ll be with you.”

"The tome made itself known to her, much as it did when I first discovered it in the library halls."

"And do you know why?"

"No. Though the reason eludes me, her connection to the book runs far deeper than I initially perceived."

"And that proves there is more at work here than meets the eye."

“Yes.��

Astra's hooves tapped against the ground. "Her light endures. It has healed what was withering in the Dreaming... through your child."

"Our child... A miracle born of dreams. A being of infinite possibility."

"Could they be destined for something beyond merely inheriting your throne?"

"I cannot venture to predict what lies ahead, Astra. What I do know is that this child represents something unprecedented… a being who exists between realms, born of both dreams and mortality. A convergence of shadow and radiance."

Astra's expression darkened. "In a sense, wouldn't they be similar to Daniel Hall?"

“No,” Morpheus' voice grew grave. "Daniel's existence is different. He came to be through the union of a human and a ghost, influenced by a Vortex within my domain. His nature is that of dreams, exceeding mortal flesh."

Astra's eyes narrowed. "And your child, though conceived here in the Dreaming, came from the union of a physically present human and the Dream Lord himself."

"Indeed," he intoned solemnly.

"But is she truly human anymore? This power she possesses... she's the daughter of a Goddess."

Morpheus' eyes closed as a string of light passed through his hair, like a gentle breeze. "She has divine lineage, yes. And yet... her mortal essence remains an integral part of who she is."

"And what about your child?"

"My child is something entirely unique. What grows in her womb holds power beyond measure. Power I have yet to understand."

A firefly drifted toward Astra, its ethereal glow casting a gentle glow across his snout.

"You seem troubled."

Morpheus fell silent, his gaze trailing a shimmering path of light as he gathered his thoughts.

"Everything I have undertaken, every choice I have made. The very foundations of my existence, my purpose, my destiny... All of it has been transformed into something entirely new. It pales in significance compared to her and our unborn child."

"And is that such a terrible thing?"

"No… She is magnificent. A true force of divine nature. How could something of such exquisite beauty ever be terrible?"

"Then... to hell with the book? No offense, my Lord, but I fear this path may lead to even more dead ends."

"Even so... I can feel the energy transforming around it. I require but a moment more to contemplate this fully."

Astra sighed. "She may not have that luxury of time. What if disaster strikes again?"

"Then I shall watch over her, eternally vigilant. It was my gravest mistake to have left her side."

Morpheus turned, the golden filaments now permanently woven into the fabric of his realm, like shimmering liquid light on a celestial canvas.

"You speak truth in this matter, Astra. She belongs to me, as I belong to her. Our child represents the embodiment of our connection, something I must protect at all costs. I must not fail again."

With an elegant nod, Astra followed the Dream King as they traversed the mystical landscapes, the majestic spires of the castle forming before them through the cosmic expanse.

A golden trail drifted behind them, accompanying the Dream King's journey to the palace before merging seamlessly with its ancient foundations.

Upon waking, you discovered your name prominently featured across news outlets and social media platforms, an unexpected development you weren't prepared to face given recent events. While getting ready for work, you stumbled upon audience-captured footage of your previous evening's performance circulating online, accompanied by articles featuring it to great acclaim.

“Y/N Y/LN Stuns on Stage: A Muse, A Mystery, A Moment to Remember!”

"Ethereal, Elegant, Enigmatic – Y/N Y/LN Captivates the Audience in a Spellbinding Performance.”

"The Fashion World's Darling Proves She’s More Than Just a Style Icon.”

“Who Is Y/N Y/LN Singing For? Fans Speculate on the Meaning Behind Her Emotional Display.”

Fortunately, the headlines and contents maintained discretion regarding your companion that evening, with no photographs or mentions of Hob appearing in any media coverage. The near-incident on the street also went unreported—except for a brief news item about a drunk driver hitting a lamppost—allowing you to preserve your personal boundaries while garnering professional recognition.

It remained unclear whether this was merely coincidental or a deliberate act of discretion by the local authorities. Regardless of the circumstances, the absence of scrutiny surrounding the occurrence was a welcome relief.

However, Hob immediately xpressed clear regret about the predicament, constantly berating himself. "Bloody hell, love. This is on me entirely. Should've thought about how all this might put you in the spotlight, shouldn't I?"

With a smile, you shook your head. "Hob, don't worry about it. You wanted to do something nice for me, and I honestly ended up enjoying myself."

"But that fucking car nearly took you out right in front of me, didn't it? If I hadn't been such a stubborn git, if I'd just let you stay home like you wanted..."

"Don't dwell on it now. Really, Hob, none of this is your fault. There's no way you could have predicted it."

He exhaled shakily, running his fingers through his hair. "But if it weren't for that magical bit he gave you... I can't even bring myself to think what might've happened."

"Honestly, what troubles me most is that he wasn't there. He must know about it, yet... he still chose to leave me alone."

Lucienne's smile softened as she clasped your wrists. "He’s always been particular in how he handles matters of the heart. He's suffering just as deeply as you are. Though he may not show it in conventional ways, his inability to rest speaks volumes about his regret."

"We could face all this together. Why is he avoiding me?"

"While I wouldn't presume to know the precise reason, I can quite say he finds himself utterly paralyzed by shame at the thought of facing you."

Could his reluctance to confront the situation truly justify his continued absence in moments of need? He could have offered some indication of his presence, a subtle signal perhaps, to demonstrate the depth of concern Lucienne had described. Yet no such gesture appeared, leaving behind only silence.

Before you could sink into another wave of despair, Hob cleared his throat and leaned forward. "Right. There's the thing, Shortcake - got something rather important to tell you."

"What do you mean?" you asked.

"Last night, when I popped out to buy tea, wouldn't you know it… I spotted him. He was standing right there in front of the building, brooding away like the dramatic bastard he is."

The breath caught in your throat, your pulse seeming to slow to a crawl.

"What? He was here?"

"Look, Y/N, I know this whole thing is driving you mad. I had a proper word with him about it too. But listen, and you can trust old Hob on this one, that guy is absolutely besotted with you."

You swallowed. "What did he tell you?"

“He said he's working his arse off to sort this whole mess out. And, I’m quoting him verbatim here, that you are ‘his heart, his universe, and the very essence of who he is’. That's about as deep as it gets.”

You sat silent, absorbing the weight of those words as they resonated through your mind repeatedly. ‘His heart. His universe. The essence of who he is.’

“ Right now, you and that child are the most important things in all the realms to him. And I can assure you that he loves you more than anything."

"I know you're desperate to see him, but I hope knowing all this brings you a bit of peace for now, yeah?"

Taking a deep breath, you delicately dabbed at the corners of your eyes to prevent tears from falling. With a relieved laugh, you nodded several times, the motion more for your own reassurance than his.

Morpheus’ care and devotion only magnified the frustration of his continued distance from your life. Nevertheless, there was comfort in knowing he was watching over you, working towards a resolution that would allow your family to unite properly; you, your beloved, and your child yet to be born.

If anything, this knowledge provided a measure of temporary solace, indeed.

"Thank you for telling me, Hob. I truly needed this."

"Of course, I couldn't keep that from you. You were out cold on the sofa by the time I made it back."

"I'm sorry... you made a special trip to the shop at night just to get me tea, and I fell asleep before drinking it."

He chuckled. “That was well worth it though. Now, let me give you a proper lift to work, yeah? Don't want you pushing yourself too hard in your delicate state. Honestly, I'd rather you stay home and put your feet up, but..."

"No, I'll go. I have stuff to do. I can’t afford to slack off now, knowing I'll need more time off when the baby arrives."

He gave a concerned look. "Are you certain you're up for it? Haven't had a proper kip, and after that nasty business last night..."

"I'm certain. Come on, let's go—I don't want you to be late for class."

With renewed confidence evident in your smile, you retrieved the keys and headed for the door. Hob followed close behind, adjusting his jacket collar while wearing an equally pleased expression.

"I reckon that'd be worth every bloody minute."

When you arrived at the office, you were greeted with enthusiastic applause from your colleagues in response to your recent media attention. The company experienced an immediate surge in business metrics, with a significant increase in both sales figures and website traffic. New customers, previously unfamiliar with the team's product line, began placing orders at an unprecedented rate, destabilizing the servers on more than one occasion during the morning alone.

All things considered, the night out had proven beneficial in more ways than one, putting the terrifying close call behind you.

You found yourself marveling, once again, at the extraordinary turn your life had taken. After years of persistent struggles when even your most determined efforts seemed to lead nowhere, your encounter with Morpheus at the Burgess estate had brought a supernatural level of protection that seemed to shield you from even the slightest misfortune throughout every facet of your daily routine.

Still, you couldn't help but keep a cautious perspective, and as the company's success grew with each passing week, you held onto your humility and authenticity. While this professional success was gratifying, preserving your genuine self and a balanced outlook was essential. There would be no compromises.

That afternoon, while working on new design sketches and managing incoming emails, you noticed Ella at your office door. She entered quietly after knocking a couple of times, taking a seat across from your desk, her smile seeming to mask apparent nervousness.

"What is it?" you asked, noting her peculiar expression.

"Just the usual media inquiries coming in. They're all requesting interviews with you."

"Did you tell them we're declining?"

"As always. But are you certain you don't want to consider this opportunity?"

"You know how these things work, Ella. They're not interested in our actual work—they just want juicy gossip, especially after last night. No thanks."

"Well, I can't blame them. You've always been an incredible singer. It's no surprise you caught their attention."

You shook your head. "I'm not a singer. I'm just someone who enjoys music and hums tunes from time to time. Besides, what I do in my private life is my business alone. I understand I'm no longer anonymous at this point, but I won't blur the lines between my personal life and business."

She smiled warmly. "Always so humble, even now. That's why I chose you."

You laughed. "You hired me because you had an empty desk to fill."

"Well, yes. But I wouldn't just hire anyone, you know."

"I know. And honestly, I'm grateful I was the one who sent in my application to the company at the right time."

“Mh.”

As you typed away at your keyboard, you noticed her lingering glance and pressed lips. With a weary sigh, you stopped typing and settled back in your chair, hands folded in your lap. "All right, I can tell this isn't just about work. What's really going on?"

"Honestly, Y/N, you drive me crazy sometimes."

Your eyebrows arched in surprise. "Why? Is it because I won't do the interviews?"

"Oh, forget the interviews! Are you seriously pretending nothing's going on? I've known you for years, and I can tell when something's up."

Uh oh.

“I don’t understand.”

"Yes, you do. Are you really that afraid to tell me?"

“I—”

"Your stomach issues, how you rush to the bathroom thinking no one notices, your switch from coffee to tea, and the way you've started wearing looser shirts—as if you're trying to hide something."

Your eyes dropped to your hands, watching your fingernails idly trace the hem of your shirt.

"Y/N, I know what's going on. You're pregnant, aren't you?"

Despite your best efforts to keep discretion, such subtle changes couldn't escape the notice of someone who had been a close observer of your life for so many years.

"I know we've lost touch for a long time, and I probably don't have any right to expect you to still see me as your confidant now that we work together. But... please. Tell me the truth. You've always been my best friend, even during the time we were apart. And I'm sorry I never proved it to you."

You smiled, pushing your seat back slightly and relaxing your shoulders. Quietly, you retrieved a plastic folder from your bag at the edge of the table, containing the ultrasound scan you'd begun carrying everywhere with you. After taking a moment to study the image, you handed it to her. "Lying to you would be pointless, I suppose. And honestly, hiding it for weeks has been exhausting.”

Ella stared at the photo in silence, her eyes widening as realization dawned.

“Your guess is correct, Ella. I am pregnant."

“Oh my God!!!!”

In an instant, she leapt to her feet, performing one of her signature happy dances, tapping her heels against the floor. "I knew it! This is amazing! You're going to have a baby!"

"Shh, Ella, please! I don't want the entire studio to hear you."

Returning to her seat, she fanned her face as tears of happiness formed at the corners of her eyes. "Sorry, I'm just so excited. How far along are you? It looks so tiny, just like a little bean."

“Six weeks.”

"Right, you started to feel off as soon as you returned from Cape Kennedy. But wait a second... you were there for two weeks, weren't you? Wasn't your boyfriend still here in London?"

"Hey! What are you hinting at?"

"I'm just trying to piece things together—but it's not my business anyway."

You rolled your eyes. "I know what you're thinking, but I can assure you, he's the father. He was in Florida on a brief work trip at the same time I was there," you invented on the spot.

"Oh, really? How fascinating! What does he do anyway? You've been quite private about this mysterious man... and several other things, come to think of it."

"It's just... well, it's complicated."

She brushed her hair back over her shoulder. "And what about that time your pendant started glowing? You never explained that one to me either."

“And I will, I promise you.”

"I haven't told Oliver yet, by the way. As understanding and kind as he is, I worry he'd think I'm losing my mind. He'd probably just chalk it up to stress from everything that happened."

The complexities of your relationship and the extraordinary circumstances surrounding it made explaining the full situation impossible without revealing sensitive details about Morpheus and what he represented.

Morpheus… your wonderful Dream King, whose absence left an aching void in your soul. You yearned for it all - the timbre of his voice, his distinct fragrance, and the paradoxical sensation of his cool touch against his encompassing warmth.

"Look, there are things that can't be explained simply. It's not that I don't want to tell you—I really do. I just need to find the right way to explain it without breaking certain rules."

She sighed. "You know what? I won't press the issue, not right now. You're having a baby! This is such a wonderful moment, I don't want to spoil it with all my questions."

“Thank you.”

"He knows about it, right?"

You nodded. “He does.”

"So when's the wedding?"

Knives in my heart…

"One step at a time. We're still processing the pregnancy… it wasn't exactly planned."

"Well, still. You've been together for... what, almost a year now? And with this wonderful miracle happening between you two, I think you should definitely consider marriage. Don't be like Oliver and me, who wasted years letting fear and insecurity hold us back."

With Morpheus investigating the Book of Paradoxes, could you allow yourself to envision a similar future together?

"In two and a half months, it'll be a year. And if it happens, you'll definitely be the first to know."

"I'm counting on it! I'm going to be your maid of honor. My own wedding was so rushed I could barely invite my family. That's how crazy things were between us."

"But you're happy with Oliver, aren't you?"

"Yes, happier than I ever thought possible. That's why I wish the same for you, Y/N. Even though I don't really know your boyfriend, I've never seen you so invested in someone before. It means he must truly be the one."

Though uncertain about your relationship, you knew with absolute conviction that Morpheus was irreplaceable. If circumstances prevented your union, you were prepared to embrace single parenthood rather than seek another partner.

You wanted him, and only him, even if that meant accepting the inevitability of mortality while he continued his immortal existence, knowing he might one day find love again after your passing.

Once alone, you found yourself in the quiet of your office, with only the soft hum of electronics and steady tick of the wall clock for company. Unable to contain your emotions any longer, you let out a quiet sob, tears streaming silently down your face as your pregnancy-heightened hormones swept through you, leading to another cathartic cry.

Although you clung to hopes of reuniting with him sooner rather than later, especially now that you knew he was watching from the shadows, he left a continuous sense of blinding emptiness that seemed to grow with each passing day.

Time was meant to heal all wounds, but this was a gash destined to remain, impossible to mend without the one who had caused it.

Lucienne meticulously examined the book's contents, encountering the same directive that had compelled Morpheus to end things with you. Though she sensed there must be deeper implications contained in the tome's ominous prophecy that could reveal an alternative interpretation, the solution was still unattainable notwithstanding her thorough investigation.

From Lucienne's perspective, the conundrum was perplexing. If the prophecy truly foretold a catastrophic fate should your bond with Lord Morpheus persist, then logic would dictate that separation would lead to your prosperity and enrichment. Yet the evidence suggested otherwise.

During the librarian’s discussion with the Endless regarding your near-fatal incident in the Waking World, a concerning possibility emerged. Somehow, fate had guided you to that specific intersection at the precise moment when a drunk driver would approach, and the presence of the Dreamstone had proven crucial in averting disaster. Had you removed it following the separation, the consequences for both you and your unborn child could have been severe.

This raised a logical inconsistency: How could the Book of Paradoxes deem separation from the Dream King beneficial to your safety when his divine protection had proven instrumental in preserving your well-being?

The text appeared to be intentionally misleading, hiding its true revelations from view. Still, historical accounts and documented testimonies consistently described the book as an immutable oracle of dark prophecies, bearing the same unalterable certainty as Destiny's book or the eye of the Fates. The tome's accuracy had been consistently demonstrated with a high degree of reliability.

"The essence of this tome has changed," Morpheus stated. "It bears her signature now. As if her very essence has become woven into these ancient pages."

"Could her mere touch have caused this? True, she did find it again in our library. However..."

"My knowledge extends through millennia of dreams and nightmares, yet when it comes to her... she continues to be an enigma that even I cannot fully fathom."

Lucienne turned the pages one by one. "She told me the book found her, my lord, though how this came to be eludes me. Is it possible the tome itself beckoned to her? That it was bound to be discovered by her alone this time?"

"It is possible," he spoke. "The book concealed itself from me, taunting me with its whispers through the shadows of The Dreaming."

"Are we quite certain she is… merely human?"

"She is unquestionably mortal. And yet..." He paused. "She transcends all I have known in my eternal existence."

"She has become intertwined with the very essence of The Dreaming. This realm recognizes her as one of its own now. Almost as if she were meant to be here all along. I must profess....”

"Go on."

She placed the book on her desk, adjusting her spectacles with precise fingers. "If I may be so bold. she appears to command a certain... authority here. As if The Dreaming itself recognizes her as its rightful queen."

Morpheus tilted his head back slightly as he considered her words, a subtle smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "I believe you've made quite an astute observation."

"In all my years serving as librarian of The Dreaming, I've witnessed countless dreamers pass through these halls. Mortals of every kind have wandered our realm, even those rare sleepwalkers. But when she first materialized in your throne room during your imprisonment, I sensed something else. Something unrecognizable."

He nodded, inviting her to continue.

"She traverses realms that should be inaccessible, realms and dreams that were meant for others. Denizens here have taken quite a shine to her, perhaps there's more to her abilities than mere sleepwalking."

"A sleepwalker..." His voice trailed off, deep and velvet like. "Yes. That might be but one fragment of a much larger truth."

"Indeed, just one piece of a rather intricate puzzle, my lord."

"I must ask you to continue examining the book, Lucienne. There are matters that require my immediate attention."

"Of course, my lord. Though The Dreaming endures, it still needs your guidance to truly thrive."

With a respectful acknowledgment, Morpheus walked away, his dark attire creating a stark silhouette against the library's ambient glow.

Like ink dispersing in water, he melded with the castle's newly transformed atmosphere, where golden light now perpetually illuminated parts of its chambers.

In the late hours of the night, when the city streets lay quiet save for the occasional passing vehicle, Nathaniel Ashford made his way into his apartment. He deposited his keys in the entrance hall's bowl before discarding his shoes and jacket with little regard for their placement, then proceeded wearily to his bedroom.

The effects of alcohol were evident in his unsteady gait as he relied on nearby furniture for balance and support. He collapsed onto his bed fully clothed, lying on his back with eyes closed in exhaustion. He found himself in a downward spiral, struggling with sobriety and unable to break free from his self-destructive behaviors. The received one-year license suspension and substantial fines for driving under the influence did nothing to diminish his alcohol dependency, compelling him to continue his dangerous habit regardless of potential legal consequences.

His labored breathing and throbbing temples signaled his descent into unconsciousness. As sleep overtook him, his vision faded to complete darkness, awareness slipping away into the depths of slumber. His essence drifted into the void, his physical form becoming ghostlike and weightless.

He sank into what appeared to be a dreamless rest, until a resonant, commanding voice echoed through his mind.

“You dare.”

His eyes snapped open, and he found his bedroom transformed - a strange mist settling across the familiar space. From the darkened corner near his bed emerged an imposing figure, its otherworldly presence marked by luminescent eyes that pierced through the gloom.

The man tried to move, to sit up, but found himself paralyzed. His breath came in short, panicked bursts as the figure stepped closer. The air crackled with something ancient and terrible, something that seeped into his very soul, gripped him in an iron hold and bound him to the shadows.

"You were given a chance to reflect," the voice continued, emotionless yet charged with restrained fury. "And yet you persist." His voice deepened to a menacing whisper. "You remain a threat."

The man wanted to scream, but his throat refused to work.

Morpheus loomed over him now, a towering form in his own nightmare. "You nearly stole what I hold most precious." His tone darkened, laced with something far more dangerous than anger—judgment. "Two lives that are not merely sacred to the mortal realm, but vital to the very fabric of The Dreaming itself."

Suddenly, the man was no longer in his room. The walls twisted into a grotesque reflection of his reckless nights; flashes of himself behind the wheel, his thoughts mingling with the blaring of horns, the screech of tires.

Then—an impact. A body flying. A woman's scream.

His breath came in sharp gasps as he released his grip on the steering wheel, horror dawning across his features at the sight before him. The victim lay motionless on her side, tousled hair splayed across the asphalt. An eerie stillness pervaded the scene, broken only by the thundering of his pulse and the harsh glare of headlights cutting through the darkness.

"OBSERVE." Morpheus' voice cut through the vision like a blade. "See the devastation you nearly wrought."

Trembling, he exited the vehicle, the frigid night air assaulting his senses, each step forward feeling leaden and uncertain. A soft splash beneath his foot drew his attention downward, where his gaze met a horrifying sight: crimson liquid, dark and viscous.

He had walked into a pool of blood. Your blood.

"WATCH."

The man was forced to look, helpless as the dream played out. He recoiled, his breath catching as the gravity of his actions descended upon him. Compelled by an inexorable force, he approached the motionless form with trembling steps, kneeling beside your body as the blood seeped into his clothing. His hand hesitated before making contact with your jacket, then slowly gripped your shoulder to turn you over. A strangled sound escaped his throat as dread consumed him, knowing with devastating certainty what he would find.

As he turned you over, however, he was confronted not with human features, but with the stark, expressionless visage of a mannequin - an unsettling blank canvas that seemed to stare back at him with hollow intensity, despite its eyeless face.

“What—”

Suddenly, he found himself thrust back to the driver's seat, the vehicle surging forward uncontrollably. His frantic efforts to stop the car proved useless, because the brake pedal had vanished beneath his foot. His hands fused to the wheel, the grip inexplicably tightening with each attempt to release it.

Through the misty darkness ahead, your figure returned in the middle of the street. Your features were completely obscured, but he could sense your penetrating gaze fixed upon him, scrutinizing his very essence.

The second impact was even more devastating than the first, with your form launched through the air before crashing onto the pavement with brutal ferocity. His anguished screams pierced the night as he begged for the nightmare to cease, yet this was merely the beginning of his torment.

A distant wail pierced the atmosphere, its haunting echo resonating from every direction. An infant's distressed cries filled the place as a cradle formed where your body had been. Nathaniel staggered away from the vehicle once more, the engine now halted by an unseen energy. With mounting terror, he walked to the ornate crib where blood remained ever present, and reached for the blanket inside.

The soft fabric changed beneath his touch, becoming saturated with red. The cushioned interior lay vacant, bearing silent witness to an unspeakable loss.

The environment shaped again, becoming a stark, clinical morgue. A solitary examination table dominated the space, its stainless steel surface supporting a sheet-draped figure in the oppressive cold.

Morpheus appeared behind him, his presence radiating authority as he looked at Nathaniel with cold contempt. "Do you understand what you would have ripped from my grasp?"

Shuddering involuntarily, the man wrapped his arms around himself as an intense chill permeated his being. Though shrouded by the sheet, the feminine form beneath was unmistakable - most notably, the pronounced curve of a gravid abdomen pressing against the white fabric.

"N-no... I... I didn't mean—"

"You did," Morpheus’ voice boomed with controlled rage. "When you chose to indulge in your mortal vices, you neglected to consider the consequences of your decisions."

Nathaniel shook his head, wanting to shield himself from the grotesque scene, his eyelids forcibly open. A sinister presence urged him forward again, compelling his unwilling feet toward the examination table. With trembling hands, he grasped the sheet covering you and pulled it back. The table beneath was barren and empty, revealing a sight so disturbing that he stumbled backward, desperately scrambling away, retching violently.

Upon the steel surface rested a human heart, still pulsating with rhythmic movement, detached from any corporeal form.

"She bears my child."

The words struck like a hammer to Nathaniel’s chest.

"Not only did you imperil her life, but that of an innocent soul yet unborn." Morpheus spoke with deceptive quietness, carrying the weight of a storm held at bay. "A child who draws their first breath in dreams. A child whose very existence will reshape the boundaries between realities."

A terrible emptiness filled the air, suffocating in its finality.

“Had fate aligned differently that night, you would have destroyed something… eternal. Irreplaceable. To this world, and to me."

The man choked out. "No—I didn’t—I’m sorry!"

Morpheus tilted his head, his gaze unreadable. "Your apologies mean nothing. I shall not permit another opportunity for causing harm."

The dream continuously shifted, twisting into an endless loop of suffering, of loss, of everything the man could have caused.

"You will endure every excruciating moment of this until remorse grips your soul," Morpheus declared with an unyielding decree. "And should you fail to mend your ways," His eyes blackened, stars flickering within them like distant, dying embers. "Then perhaps it is best you never wake."

The nightmare swallowed Nathaniel whole, dragging him into the abyss.

Hopefully, this time, the man had learned an important lesson—both for his own safety and that of others who might cross his path.

Otherwise, Morpheus would ensure his punishments were delivered through the worst, darkest ways conceivable.

An impenetrable fog obscured your path as you ascended an endless staircase, your blue gown's fabric gracefully cascading behind you. Through the mysterious haze, Morpheus' castle loomed in the distance - a majestic structure that, despite its grandeur, was somehow tantalizingly out of reach.

A sense of restlessness pervaded your being as the shadowy atmosphere mirrored your internal disquiet. You continued to ascend, but the castle lingered at an impossible distance, making you pause your journey. A familiar tingle started to spread along your hands, attracting your attention downward. The golden luminescence had returned, transforming your skin into an almost crystalline transparency, with streams of radiant energy flowing where mortal veins once coursed.

Guided by intuition, you extended your arms in a deliberate motion, your hands moving through an opening gesture. The mist retreated at your command, dissipating into nothingness as your radiant power illuminated the way ahead like a beacon in the darkness.

The castle remained stationary, but at the foot of the staircase, a verdant expanse of trees emerged, with vegetation flanking both sides of the staircase. You proceeded gracefully yet purposefully, reaching the grassy terrain with effortless elegance as your light diffused into the surroundings.

The distinct aroma of damp moss and stone filled your nostrils, accompanied by the melodious sound of rippling water nearby. Intrigued, you ventured forth to locate its origin, walking through an unfamiliar, thickly wooded area. Near the river stood a life-sized Grecian statue, its classical form enhanced rather than diminished by the patina of time, with tendrils of ivy gracefully embracing its weathered surface.

(Image generated with Sora AI for visual purposes)

A gentle smile graced your features as you observed the floral crown adorning its head. You traced your fingertips along the stone arm, exploring its textured surface where leaves and moss had left their lasting impressions.

"Beautiful," you remarked, gently brushing away a stray leaf that had settled on the statue's eyes.

While seemingly out of place at first glance, the statue's presence harmonized perfectly with its surroundings. The aesthetic choice aligned with the classical Greek influences found throughout Morpheus' domain, from the ornate busts adorning the throne room to the towering stone sentinels guarding the castle's exterior.

Absorbed in contemplation, you were startled by an unexpected movement, causing you to step back instinctively. The stone beneath your fingers had stirred, and as you watched in astonishment, the statue began to animate, awakening to life and breath. Its head gracefully rotated toward you, the carved eyes opening to fix their eternal gaze upon your form.

Motionless, you waited as the sculpture conducted its silent examination, not in a hostile way, but rather with curiosity. Its stone lips formed a gentle smile before the previously touched arm rose, its cold marble fingers making contact with your cheek. The statue's thumb traced gently across your temple, offering an unexpectedly tender and soothing caress.

You leaned into it as your eyes glistened in the shadowed light, the gesture fleeting, its quick withdrawal leaving only emptiness behind.

It reached for the floral crown, carefully lifting it from its position. With fluid movements, it extended it out to you as an offering - a gift bestowed for reasons unknown. With each motion, the stone structure emitted soft, resonant sounds, firmly affixed to its pedestal. You knelt reverently as the statue placed the natural arrangement upon your head, the crown settling perfectly as if it had been specifically designed for you.

"Thank you," you whispered, gently touching the interwoven branches.

The statue responded with a nod before resuming its original posture, its form becoming rigid once more. In mere moments, it had reverted back to its immutable state, its countenance restored to its timeless serenity.

Having no alternative road to take, you gathered your gown and proceeded through the garden's intricate tapestry of vines and blossoms, while the illumination changed from daylight to evening's embrace. The celestial expanse above became a mesmerizing canvas, where twilight hues seamlessly merged with an infinite array of stars, their cosmic glow guiding you onward.

Though uncertain of your destination, an inexplicable force pulled you deeper into the heart of the Dreaming. The lush forest eventually gave way to a vast clearing, where an endless sea of grass stretched toward the horizon. Here, the unobstructed view revealed a magnificent panorama above, a natural observatory requiring no telescope.

This vista held depths beyond mere galactic beauty - surpassing both the starlit majesty above and the natural sanctuary enveloping you. As you gazed upward, the glowing bodies commenced a mystical dance, converging into a perfect circle before falling down like stardust. Your attire underwent a remarkable transformation, the sleeveless gown evolving, its fabric extending to embrace your arms completely. The neckline rose elegantly to form a high collar adorned with a subtle triangular décolletage, the skirt's already prominent length extending further, flowing like a majestic royal train. Deep blue gradients adorned the intricate details, with magical embellishments scattered across the fabric, mirroring the starry display above. Your entire being produced a goddess-like radiance, from the crown of flowers disappearing and dusting your tresses with sparkles to your crystalline lashes, Your skin appeared as powerful, pulsating energy, and your metamorphosed attire echoed the nightgown from your previous sojourn in the Dreaming.

The indescribable splendor of the moment made you into what could only be described as a starseed incarnate.

“Y/N?”

Astra's voice resonated from behind as he approached with measured steps. His eyes, like liquid starlight, held the essence of dreams themselves.

“Astra!”

"You look glorious," he murmured. "Like a deity crafted from the stars."

"I'm just dreaming."

"Yes, but that doesn't make it any less... you."

He moved closer, gently nuzzling your belly with his snout. "I'd say the little one is enjoying it."

“How can you tell?”

"I am a dream—I can sense the very essence from which they are created."

"Yes... after all, this child is Morpheus' offspring."

"Correct. But you see, the baby is as much his as it is yours. It is not only a child of the Dreaming, it is something more."

"Do you mean a hybrid?"

"Neither I nor he truly knows what this child will be."

You clasped your hands together, resting them over your slightly rounded abdomen. It was astonishing how visibly your pregnancy already showed after only six weeks. "Have you discussed the baby with Morpheus?"

Astra nodded. "It's literally all he can think about now. Well, besides the Book of Paradoxes."

"In a good way, I hope?"

"Absolutely!"

You sighed, brushing away a glittering strand of hair. "It's ironic. He talks about the baby with everyone except me."

"Have patience for a little while longer, my dear."

With an exasperated groan, you rolled your eyes. "Even Lucienne keeps saying that, and my best friend from the Waking World seems to share the same sentiment. But do you all truly believe I possess infinite patience?"

"I don't believe anyone thinks that."

"Then stop telling me to simply wait around. I've done nothing but that for weeks."

Astra tilted his head, lowering his eyes. "Indeed... I apologize. I cannot blame you for growing weary of this situation."

"I just want him to talk to me… to say something, anything at all."

"I'm afraid he won't speak with you until he's certain everything has been resolved and your relationship can return to what it was before."

You chuckled. "Typical Morpheus—ever the stubborn creature. Too bad I'm just as immovable as he is."

"You are truly meant for each other, that's for certain."

"That's not what that book seems to suggest."

Astra looked skyward. "But it's just what it is; a book. Ink written on paper. Its words may portray the darker aspects of your story, but the facts speak for themselves."

"That's all very poetic, but frankly, it's bollocks." Crossing your arms over your chest, you were nearly blinded by the intense stellar light radiating from your sleeves. "All I hear about is this book predicting my doom if our relationship persists, while I'm dealing with actual danger in my world; like drunken maniacs nearly running me down in the street."

Your voice quivered as you felt the tendrils of wakefulness tugging at the edges of your mind.

"And then I discover I'm pregnant, forced to handle everything alone because the father of my child won't even come near me. You all offer kind, encouraging words, but the fundamental problem remains unchanged."

Astra hummed in acknowledgment.

"I genuinely adore you all, but you need to stop telling me everything will be okay. I swear by the very core of this realm, if he doesn't get his head out of his backside soon, I'll drag him by the ear myself. Dream Lord or not."

"Oh, that would be... rather interesting to witness."

You chortled. "Yeah, well. I can be particularly biting on a bad day, but challenging me in my pregnant state? Good luck to you."

"I shall make sure to relay that message to him."

You shook your head with a faint laugh, but your smile quickly faded. "Can you tell him something else for me?"

"Of course. What would you like me to tell him?"

Your arms dropped softly to your sides. "Tell him that I love him."

"Ah, I can assure you, he already knows that."

"That doesn't matter. Please, promise me, Astra."

The deer familiar drew himself up, his neck muscles tensing with purpose. "I give you my word, Lady of the Dreaming."

You inhaled the distinct aroma of the realm - a complex blend of scents punctuated by delicate notes of sandalwood.

Closing your eyes, you felt your body gently fading away as morning light through your window dispelled the night's magic. With a whispered breath, you replied, "You all keep saying that too."

As consciousness beckoned, the Dreaming slowly melted into the ether, giving way to the tangible reality of the new day ahead.

"Oi love, you absolutely certain about this? Don't fancy the thought of you being here all by your lonesome, if I'm being honest."

You smiled. "Don't worry, Hob. You've already spent so much time looking after me here… I can't expect you to camp out in my apartment and let you sleep on my couch forever. I'll be fine."

He massaged the back of his neck. "I don't care if that couch turns my spine into a pretzel. If it means keeping you safe, I'll sleep on the damned thing till kingdom come."

You chuckled. "I appreciate that, but I'd rather keep you as you are. I don't want you turning into a human pretzel."

"You absolutely sure about this? Not that I don't trust you can handle yourself and all that, but blimey, I hate thinking of you in here all weepy by yourself."

You sighed. "It's fine, really. I'm trying to look at things differently and trust that this is just temporary."

"Right then. I'll get out of your hair. But listen - you need anything, and I mean bloody anything at all, you ring me straight away, yeah? Don't even think twice about it."

"I pinky swear."

Watching him gather his belongings evoked a deep emptiness, as his presence had become a comforting constant in your household. The ensuing solitude proved more impactful than anticipated in the days that followed, and you found yourself frequently gravitating toward each window throughout the day, even while at work, searching the darkness for Morpheus' distinctive silhouette.

It was time to focus on self-care and prioritize both your health and the wellbeing of your unborn child. While Morpheus' distant vigilance provided some comfort against the fear of permanent separation, you knew it was only a matter of time before you would face this situation head-on, even if it meant metaphorically storming through the Dreaming's walls to reach him.

If only it had been that simple.

On a mild afternoon, you strolled to the nearby park, basking in the pleasant warmth of the sun as a gentle breeze caressed your hair. Finding a quiet bench, you settled down, resting one hand protectively over your abdomen while gazing at a towering oak ahead. The baby's presence within you was becoming more tangible each day, delicate yet strong.

As you sat there, you reflected on the intricate emotions that had emerged since Morpheus' withdrawal. The more you pushed yourself toward the castle’s throne room, the more the Dreaming itself seemed to construct an invisible barrier, keeping you at a careful distance from its ruler, as though protecting both parties from an untimely confrontation.

The predicament was disconcerting, as Morpheus held complete control over your interactions (or rather, lack thereof), effectively preventing you from reaching him.

Suddenly, a peculiar change swept through the atmosphere, defying any logical description. The natural vibrancy of the surroundings ceased, as though time itself had been suspended. Passersby stood motionless, frozen like figures in a photograph. An eerie silence descended upon the park - no birdsong, no whispers of wind - leaving only an intensified sunlight that cast a stronger light on you and across the landscape.

The entire world was paralyzed, colors muted slightly, and even the rustling leaves halted midair. Your fingers tightened around the bench's edge as your respiration increased, and you started to question whether you had inadvertently fallen asleep in this public place, or perhaps even dreamed about leaving the house altogether.

But as three mysterious figures emerged from behind the bench and came into view, all questions were immediately answered. Your entire body tensed with apprehension, your brow creased deeply with concern, and your expression hardened with foreboding.

"Oh, you've got to be kidding me. You lot again?"

The Three were just as ominous as before, their forms now draped in flowing white rather than black, looking serene but with an unsettling power. Their faces—the Maiden, the Mother, and the Crone—were completely unchanged from your previous encounter, each radiating an equal measure of wisdom and menace. They moved around you in a slow circle, their penetrating stare fixed upon you with unsettling intensity, until they came to a stop.

Their strategic positioning effectively formed an impenetrable barrier, confining you to the bench, though you were fully prepared to assert yourself if circumstances demanded it.

“What do you want now?” you snapped, unwilling to tolerate any more enigmatic riddles being thrown your way.

The Maiden spoke first, her voice delicate yet piercing. "We come bearing no malice, dear Y/N."

The Crone let out a raspy chuckle. "No, not malice at all. Merely a message."

Your eyes narrowed as anger bubbled in your chest. "A message? Like the one you gave me before, dripping with disdain for Morpheus? What is it now—you're going to tell me how awful he is? How I shouldn't be with him?" You gestured sharply. "Save your breath and leave me be."

The Mother moved forward, her voice both soothing and resolute. "We see more than you do, little one. More than he does. We know what the future holds."

You crossed your arms. "You see it all, don't you? Past, present, and future. I've heard and read everything about you ladies. Well, guess what? I don't care what you think you know. And you don't get to meddle in my life or his. My future is mine alone to dictate."

The Crone cackled again, the sound grating. "Such fire. Perhaps you'll need it when the time comes."

“What time?” You demanded, your voice rising. “What are you trying to say?”

The Maiden tilted her head, studying you with unnerving calm. “You bear the child of the Dream King, do you not?”

Though your pulse quickened, you kept your expression neutral. “What of it?”

The Mother folded her hands. “That child ties you to the Endless in ways even you cannot imagine. And that tie... it will bring you both great joy, but also great peril.”

Your hands balled into fists. "I don't need your cryptic bullshit. My child is none of your concern."

The Crone’s smile widened slightly, wise and patient. “Oh, but it is. All life is our concern, little goddess.” She leaned closer, her icy breath chilling your cheek as she sat next to you. "Beware the paths ahead—the choices he shall make, and the decisions destiny will force upon you."

The Maiden's voice grew gentle. "Know this, Y/N; fate is fickle, and so is love. It has proven fatal to numerous Gods throughout history."

At that, your anger boiled over. "And you think I need you to lecture me about the fragility of love? I've lived it, felt it, and fought for it every step of the way. So spare me your dire predictions about matters I understand more deeply than anyone."

The Three exchanged glances, sharing a wordless agreement.

"You wear your mother’s warmth like a crown. But compassion is not a shield from consequence.”

"Everything bears consequences."

The Mother intoned, “your defiance is admirable, but dangerous. Even strength has its limits, my Daughter. Remember that."

You grimaced. "Since when am I one of your own?"

“You are one of us,” The Crone responded. "A Daughter of feeling, of story, of fate. Born of light.”

“We do not wish you harm,” the Mother continued. “But we do not grant you mercy, either."

"I never asked for mercy. With all due respect, I am not afraid of you. And I won't leave him simply because you declare him unworthy."

"You speak of the Dream King. Though he has abandoned you, your heart stays loyal to him. Yet he is Endless—his story was written long before yours began."

“Stories can be rewritten.”

The Maiden’s lips twitched into something between a smile and an admonition. "To rewrite fate means altering everything that comes after—love, loss, sacrifice—each word inscribed anew."

The Crone rose, her long wavy hair billowing in a nonexistent wind. “You stand at a crossroads. The child binds you to him, and to his sins. You can choose a different path. One that leads away from ruin.”

You took a deep breath, your voice soft yet steely. "Now you sound just like the Book of Paradoxes. Should I steal this child from their father? Hide them away? Forget about everything he means to me? No. I've already made my choice, and it isn't changing."

“Then so be it, little one. But remember: we offered warning, not threat. Choices have power, and they always bear fruit.”

"Thanks, but as I said, I don't need your warnings."

The Mother's mouth twitched with vexation. “You speak with certainty, Daughter. But certainty often becomes tragedy. Your prayers, then, will be wasted.”

The scene dissipated as swiftly as it had started, with the Three walking away, vanishing in a flash of light. Life resumed its natural rhythm in the park - leaves dancing in the afternoon breeze, the gentle touch of the cool air against your skin. You were immobile, your anger simmering beneath the surface.

You refused to let their dark portents cloud your conviction - not after everything you'd been through.

"To hell with it," you muttered. "We're going to prove them wrong."

You placed a protective hand on your belly once more, glaring at the spot where they had stood. "Whatever happens, I don't need their guidance to know what's right."

The constant interference from cosmic forces seemed determined to test your resistance, striving to cast shadows of misgivings over your already troubled relationship with the Endless. Instead, all this only strengthened your unshakeable commitment to reconcile with the love of your life, regardless of what ancient prophecies or supernatural beings might decree.

Through weariness and frustration, you would still gladly overcome any hardship and obstacle to protect your beloved Morpheus.

Even if that meant standing up against the fundamental principles of existence itself.

Matthew hastened to the Dreaming, his wings carrying him rapidly through the boundary between the Waking World and the realm of dreams. With urgent purpose, he made his way to the library where Morpheus was engrossed in his studies, laboring diligently to decipher the mysterious tome that had led to your separation. He meticulously examined ancient manuscripts and historical documents, with Lucienne's desk accumulating comprehensive notes and research materials.

The raven swooped down to perch at the edge of the desk. "Boss! Hey boss - hate to crash in like this, but there's some seriously weird stuff happening topside."

Morpheus and Lucienne looked up from their readings. "How do you mean by 'weird,' Matthew?" Lucienne inquired.

"Uuhh… really strange business if you ask me, but..."

"Tell me, Matthew," Morpheus said, his eyes fixed intently on the raven. "Has something happened to Y/N?"

"Well, not exactly. Look, I don’t know what it was, but everything froze up like someone hit the cosmic pause button on reality for a sec. It felt scorching hot and bone-chillingly cold at the same time.”

Lucienne's brow creased, perplexed.

Morpheus’ voice tinged with concern. "Tell me what you witnessed.”

"See, that's just it - I didn't catch much of anything. She was just sitting in the park, and then boom! That started happening."

"She's all right though, isn't she?" Lucienne asked gently.

"Yeah, she's fine! Still her usual self and everything. Though I did hear her muttering things to herself - sounded pretty determined too. She said something like, ‘We’re going to prove them wrong’, and ‘I don't need their guidance to know what's right’. Hell if I know.”

At that moment, A shadow crossed Morpheus' face. "I do."

“My lord?”

“It was them,” he answered grimly.

"’Them?’ You mean the Three?"

"They have visited her before."

"What purpose could they have in seeking her out?”

He stood as still as a sculpture, his eyes blazing with burning rage. “They do not appear without cause. They see her as another pawn to be toyed with in their game of fate.”

Lucienne's face grew somber. "Might this be connected to this book we've been studying?"

“Perhaps.”

"Well, whatever they said to her, she was right pissed about it. Trust me boss, she's not letting it get to her," Matthew interjected.

"This is all my doing," Morpheus confessed, heavy with regret. "The legacy of my mistakes and all their consequences have found their way to her, in spite of everything I've done to shield her from them."

“My lord—”

"And yet, she defends me still."

“I don’t need their guidance to know what’s right.”

"Perhaps this tome contains the truth after all," he murmured, his fingertips trailing along the black leather of the book that lay closed on the table, pulsing with a dark energy clashing against something brighter—hope. "I am the root of her misfortunes, casting shadows upon a light that deserves better.”

Matthew cocked his head. "Aw come on boss, that's complete crap and you know it!"

Lucienne spoke softly. "Matthew—"

“But,” Morpheus added, “she carries our child. A being of such purity that it awakened mending powers lying dormant within her essence."

He traced a sinuous circles over the volume, his fingers moving without any precise scheme.

"Why do I sense these disturbances in the fabric of her existence, even when we are apart?"

Matthew shuffled his feathers with a shrug. "You ever considered that maybe - just maybe - this book's got it all wrong in the first place? "That maybe you're actually keeping her safer than she'd be without you?"

"I'm afraid the matter is far more complex than that, Matthew," Lucienne noted.

"Look, I may not be the sharpest bird in the flock when it comes to all this mystical nonsense. I mean, I used to be just a regular human before… but something here just doesn't add up."

Morpheus' hand halted, his palm resting flat on the leather cover.

"Did you ever get that feeling when you two were together? That nagging little voice in your head warning you she was in danger? Because I'm betting you didn't."

“I…”

Morpheus reflected on your relationship's beginning, particularly the night he disclosed his history with Nada and explained the ancient prohibitions against mortal-Endless relationships. His primary concern had been for your wellbeing, dreading the possibility that you might face a similar fate - the potential loss of everything meaningful in your life, perhaps even your very soul.

However, these fears were soon proven unfounded, as in the months following your fateful meeting in the basement, your life was blessed with nothing but positive changes and fortunate developments.

You gave a sardonic nod, pressing your lips together in a bitter smile. "Ah, I see. So you're simply accepting this fate? You won't even let me make my own choice?"

"Not if it means every moment you spend in my presence brings you one step closer to your own destruction."

"Destruction? Morpheus, this is absurd. We've been together for months now, and all I've seen in my life is growth."

And he, the Lord of Dreams, who had endured searing losses and believed himself unworthy of affection, discovered, for the first time, the true meaning of genuine happiness. A happiness that dissolved into sorrow through his own misguided futile efforts at protection, tearing both of your hearts to pieces.

"My concern for her was ever-present, but..."

Lucienne scrutinized the tome thoughtfully, her mind piecing together the puzzle.

“My lord, what was it that Y/N's mother revealed about this book? Didn’t she mention that it only appears to specific beings when they are meant to see it, at predetermined moments in time?”

"Tell me what you are contemplating, Lucienne."

"If I may venture an observation, sir... I'm curious about your state of mind when you discovered the book. What thoughts were occupying you in those moments before it appeared?"

His mistakes were indelible, and their consequences irreparable. But your gentleness was immeasurable and irreplaceable, your wisdom a fount from which even Morpheus himself could learn. You were extraordinary, delicate yet powerful, so intensely significant to him that Morpheus understood he had never loved anyone as strongly as he had fallen for you.

Losing you would threaten to leave an unfathomable void in his existence, potentially shattering him beyond imagination. Your absence would leave him utterly bereft.

His body went rigid as understanding struck him with devastating force, as if the immense pressure of the Dreaming itself was bearing down upon him.

Morpheus experienced an unprecedented, profound sense of bliss and inner peace. After innumerable centuries of existence, he finally grasped the true meaning of being cherished, and his understanding of love had undergone a drastic metamorphosis. A human had taught him more in a brief span than eternity ever could, smoothing the sharpest edges of his being. You had believed in him when everyone else saw him as a monster, perceiving his past misdeeds as steps in his growth.

In his heart, he struggled to fully embrace his good fortune. A nagging doubt persistently gnawed at the back of his mind - the fear that he, an eternal being marked by past transgressions, might somehow diminish your remarkable spirit.

"Based on my research, this book appears to be more than just a collection of prophecies. It is not an artifact, but rather a sentient entity—one that moves freely through the fabric of time and space. Though I suspect you were already aware of this, given its whisperings."

Morpheus gave her a pensive nod, his gaze unfocused as he processed the implications.

"I know you value your privacy, my lord, and I won't pry. However, consider that this book most likely found its way to you at this precise moment for a purpose. It's responding to your feelings, your decisions... perhaps even the path that lies ahead of you. It reacts to the evolving destiny of those who interact with it. I believe it to be less of a prediction, my lord, and more likely a trial you must face."

Morpheus' lips pursed slightly. "Now I understand why it concealed itself from me. Why I could not find it again," he said with quiet resignation. "I misinterpreted its message entirely. In my folly, I cast it aside. But Y/N... she was always meant to be the one who could mend this."

"I believe that to be the case, my lord. It appears this was destined for you both."

"That's harsh," chirped Matthew.

"Now, if we examine these critical passages in detail," Lucienne proceeded, reaching for the tome and opening it to the first pages. "The verses seem to depict an impending doom—a love cursed to unravel, a fate set to be undone. But now that I look at them from a different perspective, they may well be cautioning us about the consequences of your separation, rather than your union.”

"Yeah, see, that's exactly what I've been trying to tell you!"

"My lord, your perspective has been clouded by doubt. About her, about what the two of you have built together. If you examine these parts again, with everything you now understand... what do you truly see?"

Lucienne turned the book toward him and pointed to the first line of the enigmatic text inscribed.

"I struggled with interpreting this text differently myself at first. But you, my lord, being who you are, surely understand the deeper meaning behind these metaphors far better than I."

He had acted against his very nature as the Lord Shaper, failing to see beyond the surface meaning. Despite spending countless hours analyzing those prophetic lines, his point of view was horribly obscured by preconceptions. His fear of repeating past dynamics and potentially depriving both realms of your creative mind had prevented him from perceiving the truth behind the illusion. His understanding of the book's nature was limited to historical accounts and experiences, failing to consider its deeper metaphysical implications.

He was willing to let you go if it meant preserving you from harm—even if the alternative meant cherishing your love until your final breath. He would rather endure the pain of separation than risk the complete erasure of your existence. He had made his choice with finality, declining to honor your request to seek guidance as partners.

Indeed, there had to be deeper significance beneath the surface. Much like how the Death card in tarot represents transformation rather than literal demise, the Book of Paradoxes appeared to have crafted its prophecies with particular layers of mystery, requiring careful interpretation to reveal the true nature underlying these trials.

His fingers traced the edges of the ancient text, following the intricate shapes of the ink. The pages seemed to resonate with a new pulsing vitality, the ancient tome once again whispering incomprehensible murmurs into his consciousness.

As he studied each page, the familiar verses echoed differently. The illustrations had been altered, depicting your figure oriented towards his direction. His hand froze mid-motion as the page slipped from his grasp, his gaze transfixed by a detail that undoubtedly had not existed in the book previously.

A fresh set of verses was right before him.

Tears welled in his eyes, catching the soft illumination of the library as he blinked.

As both Matthew and Astra had indicated, Morpheus had misinterpreted every single word he had consulted. Now, staring at these new inscriptions, the clarity of their message was undeniable.

The foretold darkness was still there, yet he now understood with startling clarity that far from being the harbinger of your downfall, he was destined to be your sanctuary—your beacon of love and the father of your child, just as you would be his guiding light in the shadows.

The lunar motif, representing the realms of night, dreams, and the unconscious mind, served as a potent metaphor throughout these verses, underscoring your intrinsic connection to the Dreaming, and to the moonstone crystal he had gifted you.

In truth, you possessed the unique ability to serve as his redemption, if he would simply relinquish his protective barriers and allow your destined connection to flourish.

Love was not merely the answer—it was the solution. Your bond was an essential part of your shared future, a connection that was meant to exist, not be severed.

Though mortal in nature, you possessed extraordinary qualities that set you apart from Nada, and from any other human who had ever come too close to his kind. The path that lay ahead for both of you held secrets and possibilities that defied the original laws, even for Dream of the Endless himself.

"I now can see, Lucienne. Matthew. I let the weight of my past actions, what I once was, convince me there could be no other outcome. But I was mistaken. The book has been attempting to show me the truth all along, and I foolishly dismissed it."

Lucienne's expression softened as she exhaled quietly, her lips forming a graceful smile.

Matthew startled as the Book of Paradoxes emanated an intense luminescence, forcing even Morpheus to retract his hand. It unleashed a brilliant, blinding flash, before vanishing from the library in a swift current of air, scattering various documents across the table and onto the floor.

In an instant, tranquility settled over the library once more, as Lucienne surveyed the mess left in the wake of the magical disturbance. Morpheus rested his fingers against the wooden surface, savoring its tangible presence beneath his touch.

The empty space where the tome had rested served as silent testimony that the enigma had at last been deciphered, finally unlocked.

It was done. It was sealed. It was over.

All that remained now was atonement.

"Man, that was some real freaky stuff," Matthew croaked.

Through another layer of mist, you traversed a solitary road, its destination obscured from view. Yet tranquility permeated the atmosphere, as a gentle azure glow pierced through the shadows.

The vapor swirled, giving way to delicate fabrics swaying gently in the air, their soft touch brushing against your skin like gossamer veils. They parted respectfully at your arrival, their forms creating an opening before you like devoted guardians acknowledging their sovereign.

As you ventured forward, the haze gradually softened, revealing a chamber where, at its heart, stood a solitary crib.

(Image made with Sora AI for visual purposes)

Stars glittered across the floor and danced upon the curtains, while an infinite expanse of celestial lights stretched into the void. The divine display moved in mesmerizing circular movements, reminiscent of the crystalline beauty found in mortal light projections.

The room was silent, save for a subtle movement beneath a dark blue blanket inside the crib. You approached with careful steps, bending over the little cushion where you found a newborn infant. The child was clearly visible now, unobscured by dream distortions, the scene continuing in smooth progression. As the baby’s eyes fluttered open, they revealed striking cerulean irises - unmistakably familiar - which mirrored the cosmic spectacle surrounding you. Their gaze met yours, deep and penetrating, as you carefully lifted the tiny form with trembling hands.

The infant remained peaceful as you cradled them in your arms. Their dark hair reflected their distinguished lineage, bearing the undeniable aura of the Dream Lord himself. The authenticity of this vision, whether it formed from reality or merely your subconscious imagination, felt undeniably grounding.

As you tenderly held the infant against your chest, your hand supporting their delicate head, the fabrics rustled behind you. A presence made itself known, moving through the curtains before coming to rest several paces away. As you turned, you gasped at the sight of Morpheus, who stood among the shimmering veils, his expression filled with wonder and awe.

For countless nights, you had hopd to find him in your dreams, only for him to persistently elude you. On the sole occasion when your paths had crossed during your sleeping hours, he turned away from you and retreated, leaving behind unspoken sentiments and another scar upon your heart.

Now he stood in front of you, his presence commanding yet gentle. He took a step forward, his eyes falling reverently on both you and the baby in your arms. Words failed you as you stayed there, unable to give voice to the myriad things you wanted to say, to the emotions coursing through you.

The dream began to fade, the mystical chamber dissolving into nothingness as your mind pulled you back to your waking life. Morpheus' figure evaporated like stardust in the wind, leaving your arms bereft of the infant they had held moments before.

You awakened suddenly, drawing in a sharp breath as your full awareness returned, your heart racing within your chest while tears gathered at the corners of your eyes. Instinctively, your hand drifted to your abdomen, but the Dream King was nowhere to be seen.

Had his presence been genuine, or merely a creation of your deepest longings?

The workday extended well beyond regular hours at the studio due to increasing demands. Following the success of your recent collections in the market, the C&J brand has experienced heightened expectations. High-profile clients and agencies had submitted requests for specialized designs, necessitating an even greater level of precision and craftsmanship than usual.

While intense and time-consuming, the work brought immense satisfaction. The global recognition and appreciation for your designs served as a testament to your professional journey and creative vision.

After receiving your authorization, Ella had discussed your status with Oliver. They both demonstrated exceptional support and consideration, their genuine concern visible through frequent check-ins and offers of assistance. While they may have been somewhat overprotective, they created a positive environment that proved invaluable during this period.

Retrieving your keys, you tiredly reached your building's entrance. Dusk had settled, bathing the sidewalks in the gentle glow of street lamps. As you were about to insert your key into the lock, a deep voice called your name, causing you to freeze in place and almost drop all your belongings.

“Y/N.”

You turned slowly, your gaze meeting Morpheus as he came forward. You suddenly forgot how to breathe, staring at him in shock, his expression unreadable.

For a moment, you questioned the veracity of his image.

“Morpheus….”

“My love.”

You carefully returned the keys to your bag, your trembling hands betraying your shock as you stepped closer to him. With mere inches separating you now, a tempest of emotions - anger, relief, hurt, need - welled up inside you. Yet in his presence, you found yourself rendered speechless and still again.

"What are you doing here?" you asked in a whisper, your voice trembling.

"I have come seeking you," he replied. "Time has passed... painfully so."

"It's been weeks," you pointed out. "You've been avoiding me this entire time."

“My apologies.”

His touch on your shoulder felt peculiar as his hand traced down your upper arm—a subtle but noticeable difference from his usual mannerisms. His gestures had noticeably changed; where he had once been delicate and reserved, his grip was now firm and purposeful as his hand moved along your arm with unmistakable intent.

He was just as striking as ever, his beauty and regal bearing unaltered. But there was an incongruity that felt unsettling.

"You appear weary, my dear. Let me help ease your burdens. Allow me to care for you as I should. As has been your deepest desire."

Your eyes narrowed as suspicion began to rise in the pit of your stomach. His attitude seemed too casual, given the long separation and the significant revelations regarding the Book of Paradoxes—along with your pregnancy. How could he respond with such apparent nonchalance, without mentioning any of those occurrences?

"Is this how you're going to act? Ignoring everything that happened without any explanation?"

Even his smile was completely out of character.

"I shall explain everything in due time. But first, allow me to tend to your needs."

The way he leaned in, pressing close with an uncharacteristic intimacy that left you paralyzed and shivering in terror, provided incontrovertible confirmation that he was not who he claimed to be.

You knew Morpheus as deeply as your own reflection; his distinctive gaze, the careful way he carried himself, the cadence of his speech. Every gesture and interaction had its own signature, and this impersonation failed to capture all those essential details that sent your heart fluttering whenever you were near him.

This... this was most certainly not him.

Then you noticed it, a flicker of gold in his eyes that was clearly foreign to the Morpheus you knew and loved. Revulsion coursed through you as bitter realization struck, and you immediately withdrew from the creature’s touch, stepping back with decisive force.

“My love?”

"Don't 'my love' me. If you thought you could deceive me with these pathetic tricks, you were sorely mistaken."

His expression shifted to one of exaggerated shock, the artifice so glaringly obvious. “I don’t understand—”

"Oh, drop the act. Did everyone agree to use me as a pastime lately or what?”

"Y/N," His voice took on a stronger, more menacing tone. "I assure you, I have no idea what you speak of."

You became venomous, each word a strike. “Dream has never had golden eyes, and he most certainly would never behave the way you do. So tell me, Desire, what are you really here for?"

Slowly, the illusion of Morpheus collapsed, revealing the Endless’ true form - a statuesque figure with gleaming golden eyes, crimson-stained lips curved into a knowing grin, and platinum hair swept back in an elegant style. Their attire transformed from Morpheus' darkness to pristine white, very similar to the one you had seen at the Fashion Show's establishment.

"My, aren't you just precious. A pity you've spoiled my little game so quickly."

Pressing your lips together, you glared at them. "I'm not in the mood for this."

"Quite a change from our last encounter. You didn't even know who I was then, did you?"

"No. But as they say: fool me once, shame on you. You won't fool me twice."

They let out a low laugh, circling you with predatory fluidity. "Oh my sweet Y/N, don't be frightened. You're practically one of us now, aren't you? For however long that lasts, of course."

"Frightened? Oh no, I'm livid. Do you really expect me to treat you with respect after what you've done to him?"

"Of course he's told you about me. But you've only heard his version of events, haven't you? His perception of the truth. Though I can hardly blame you for that."

Your blood boiled. "Do you honestly think orchestrating the birth of a Vortex—forcing him to kill his own blood and face the Furies' vengeance—was merely a matter of perception?"

They shrugged. "It was a deliciously wicked plan, wasn't it?"

Rage coursed through you as your body responded viscerally to them. A powerful warmth spread beneath your skin while your eyes began to illuminate, golden threads of energy spreading across your form in an intricate tapestry. It pulsed and subsided as quickly as it began, serving as a clear warning of what you could unconsciously unleash.

"You planned his imprisonment too, didn't you? If you think you can continue this senseless vendetta, know this—I won't stand idly by while you scheme to get him destroyed out of pure spite."

For a moment, their smile wavered, but their surprise was brief. "Mmm, you're far more intriguing than you let on. How fascinating."

"Stay away from me. I can't even stand to look at you right now."

You moved past them, your body nearly grazing their form as you retrieved your keys from your bag anew.

"Oh I know. It's my brother you're pining for, isn't it? Poor sweet thing... He doesn't care, he never does."

"Yeah, right."

"Come now... I could give you everything you've ever wanted. Every delicious little desire you've tucked away in that precious heart of yours. After all... aren't dreams just desires waiting to be fulfilled?"

Your hand closed tightly around your keys, holding one like a makeshift knife. "I swear, if you don't leave right now—"

"Well then," they purred, slinking closer with a sinister grin, pearly white teeth glinting in the dim streetlight. "Let me show you just how... delightful things could be."

In an instant, reality warped and mutated around you, the familiar alleyway converging into a canvas of melting colors. Red walls took form and encircled you, their surfaces gleaming with an unnatural polish that reflected your image with mirror-like clarity.

"Welcome to my domain, little butterfly."

A rhythmic pulsing echoed through the otherwise silent room, its crimson interior reminiscent of an artificial cardiovascular structure.

"Take me back immediately," you demanded, your voice low and dangerous.

"Come now... let me get to know my favorite sister-in-law better. Besides, I'm simply dying to meet my little niece or nephew growing inside you."

"If you dare come anywhere near my child—"

"Oh dear, you're breaking my heart," they said with a fake pout, pressing their hand delicately to their chest.

"I will not repeat myself again, Desire. Take. Me. Back. Now."

"All this stress can't be good for that precious little one. Come, sit with me."

Realizing that further resistance would be futile and counterproductive, you felt your strength beginning to falter as exhaustion set in, accompanied by a wave of dizziness and mounting nausea.

Desire settled into a minimalist chair, gesturing elegantly to the space beside them. Your apprehension at being so far from known territory was difficult to brush aside, but fatigue began to overcome your resistance. Your body, exhausted from the day's events, betrayed your determination as you inevitably gravitated toward the offered seat.

The rigid surface provided little comfort, and Desire's unwelcome proximity became even more disturbing as they reached out to stroke your hair and face, causing tension to ripple through your muscles.

"I don't know what you want to do with me, but you're wasting your time."

"Oh, I can see exactly what drew my dear brother to you. Such fierce spirit... such delectable defiance."

You hardened your jaw.

"Sweet thing, my brother has a habit of falling for mortals. You're just another passing fancy in his eternal existence."

Your hands tightened into fists atop your knees. "Stop."

"This child won't keep him by your side. Just look at dear Calliope... such a tragic tale. And poor little Orpheus... torn apart while my brother watched idly from his domain."

"You have no right to speak about him or his son that way."

Their fingers expertly pressed against your scalp in what should have been a soothing motion, had it been performed by anyone else.

"And why shouldn't I? After all, I am family. I've been there through it all, watching every moment, while you weren't even a whisper in existence."

You pulled away harshly, sliding to the farthest side of the chair. "I'm so tired of everyone reminding me how mortal and short-lived I am. You all think you know him better only because you've been around since the dawn of all living things, but that means absolutely nothing."

"That's simply the way it is. My brother has had his infatuations before, and every single time, they've ended in a disastrous way."

"Yeah, well. None of them were me."

They laughed, their voice reverberating against the crimson membranes, hollow and cruel.

As they advanced, you found yourself cornered, with only the option of retreating to the floor beneath you and crawl backwards. An entirely unappealing prospect.

"Why throw away everything you could have for someone who'll never truly care for you? I can give you what you want. Right here, right now."

As you met their gaze, you felt a mystical pull — one that seemed designed to ensnare any mortal they seeked, just as they had done with Unity Kinkaid. Their hand returned to your hair, running through it from root to tip with practiced elegance, letting the strands slip between their fingers.

They were trying to exploit your momentary vulnerability to ensnare you, but you refused to be deceived.

With feigned sweetness, you grasped their jacket's lapels, nails grazing their exposed collarbones. Leaning in close enough to sense their subtle resonance, you fixed them with a steely glare.

"What I want is for you to screw yourself and forget I even exist," you hissed.

Your gesture caused Desire's calmess to break, their amusement turning into visible displeasure. Offended, they rose to their feet, walking to an elaborate display wall adorned with particular artifacts, one that seemed more than a mere corner filled with decorative pieces.

"See this lovely collection? All of us Endless keep our siblings' sigils in our realms. Little tokens that let us summon one another whenever we wish."

You swallowed. “So?”

"Let me offer you a little reward for your... resilience. I could summon Dream, let him come to you. Wouldn't you love to see him?"

Your heart lurched, caught between a flood of joy and the cold grip of fear at what might follow.

"Yes, how about a lovely little reunion?"

“Wait—”

As they extended their hand toward a silver mask resembling a crow's skull, Desire's expression twisted into an even more malevolent smirk. “My sweet brother Dream. It is I, Desire. I stand in my gallery and hold your sigil.”

The response came immediately, and at the sound of that voice, you nearly collapsed to the floor, desperate to scream and call out his name.

"Desire. What is it you want?"

The coldness in his tone was palpable, and understandably so.

"It's rather about what you want, dear brother. As it happens, I have a very special guest here in my domain—someone who's absolutely desperate to see you."

He needed no explanation, for he already knew whom they were referring to. "Tell me you did not."

The triumph on their face was absolutely maddening. “Come. I am extending an invitation."

You wrapped your arms around your midsection, feeling unsteady on your legs despite being seated. Footsteps rang out through the corridors, and as you looked up, Morpheus came forth from one of the lengthy crimson passages. His black shoes struck the smooth floor, halting as his cerulean eyes met your face, brimming with anguish and concern.

At last, there stood Morpheus, the real Morpheus, before you.

“There you are.”

At their words, his face contorted with unbridled irritation. "Desire, I believe I have told you to stay out of my affairs."

"Oh, but I'm doing you a favor, aren't I? This poor girl has been waiting for you."

Desire slid behind you, gripping your shoulders as their lips hovered near your ear. "Unless you'd prefer to leave her defenseless."

You winced as the dreamstone around your neck flared with a faint luminescence, its power somehow dampened. A worrying thought crossed your mind—would the stone's magic hold any sway over the Endless themselves?

Witnessing your discomfort, Morpheus' patience wore thin. "Y/N, come to me."

Without deliberation, you moved swiftly to comply with his directive. Desire released their hold, permitting you to step away without protest. As you moved to Dream’s side, he placed a protective hand against your back.

"You can thank me now or later, sweet Dream."

Desire's actions were clearly calculated to assert dominance over their brother, demonstrating their continued ability to influence and provoke Morpheus regardless of his admonitions.

“Thank you?” His fingers tightened around the fabric of your shirt. "If you ever dare to come near her again, I shall ensure your suffering is eternal."

Desire's laughter could be heard through the chamber one final time, but Morpheus had already turned away. As he guided you from the crimson realm, your surroundings altered again, eventually settling into the shadows of what had become your second home.

You expected him to return you to your dimension and depart immediately, without uttering a single word or showing any sign of intention toward reconciliation. However, as the known ambience of his castle's throne room shaped around the two of you, you regarded Morpheus with an inquisitive look.

"This is not the Waking World."

He blinked slowly, tilting his head. "No."

You had waited so long to be welcomed back into this hallowed hall.

"Why did you bring me here?"

His voice flowed like honey, rich and soothing. “We must talk, you and I.”

Your lips trembled as waves of pent-up frustration crashed through you like a tide. "Oh, so now you want to talk? After ignoring my calls for so long?"

Morpheus lowered his gaze, reflecting pain and remorse like a wounded creature in deepest distress. In an instant, you felt a pang of regret for your harsh outburst, steadying your breath and fidgeting with your fingers. "I’m sorry... I shouldn't have snapped like that. That was rude."

“Your anger is justified.”

"No," you said with a defeated sigh. "You just rescued me, I have no right to treat you unkindly." Spotting the marble stairs at the center of the room, you sank down onto the steps. "I just... I need a moment."

Your stomach churned uncomfortably, accompanied by a throbbing headache beginning to manifest.

"You are unwell." Not a question but a statement.

"The symptoms come and go. I just need some rest."

His expression tightened as he watched your weakened state—exhausted and vulnerable, managing both your daily responsibilities and pregnancy without his assistance.

“Y/N,” he muttered, moving closer, but keeping a respectful distance. “I… I owe you an apology.”

“Do you?”

He nodded gravely. “The Book of Paradoxes speaks in riddles. I spent countless nights parsing its ancient verses.”

“I know.”

“When all paths led to darkness, I chose to bear the burden of separation. A cruel mercy perhaps, but one born of devotion.”

You shook your head, pinching the bridge of your nose. "That felt more like torture than mercy. Besides, even without you, I still ended up risking my life at least once.”

“I am aware of that.”

"All that suffering... tell me, was it for nothing?" You choked out,

“I sought to shield you from harm. To preserve you from the inevitable consequences that follows when one of the Endless dares to love a mortal. But… I have committed a grave error.”

You sniffled, wiping away the tears already tracing their trail down your cheeks.

“My actions have achieved precisely what I tried to prevent, placing both you and our unborn child in the path of destruction.”

“So, the book was just… what, a joke?”

“A trial of fate,” he affirmed. “Like a mirror reflecting the depths of consciousness, the book’s cryptic whispers resonate through the very fabric of reality itself.”

“How?”

“It constantly shifts, revealing truths uniquely tailored to each bearer who dares venture into its pages. Even I, in all my centuries of existence, find myself humbled by certain mysteries that lie within its ancient bindings.”

You let out a pained chuckle, more a lament than laughter. “It’s been so hard, Morpheus.”

“I know, my love. If I had known the path to resolution, I would not have exiled myself from your existence.”

"I just wanted you by my side. We could've faced this together."

“I was trapped in this labyrinth of misunderstanding, each turn leading me further from the truth."

As you finally managed to suppress the rush of nausea, you looked at him through blurry vision. "You said the book is tailored for those who find it, that it represents a trial of fate. What about those passages that convinced you to leave me? What message was it truly trying to convey to both of us?"

"The book was a reflection of my darkest fears - that I would cause you harm, that I would lose you forever... that my love would bring about your demise, as it did with Nada. I could not bear to witness such a fate befall you as well."

Your shoulders slumped. "Morpheus… I've told you before, I'm not Nada."

"No. You are unlike any I have known before. Your presence has changed the very essence of who I am, Y/N. Everything I once believed about myself has been transformed into something... unexpected."

"What does it mean?"

"Your connection to my realm, and the child we have created together, have altered everything I once believed to be immutable."

“Stories can be rewritten.”

The Maiden’s lips twitched into something between a smile and an admonition. "To rewrite fate means altering everything that comes after—love, loss, sacrifice—each word inscribed anew."

A grin tugged at your lips—a genuine sign of victory—at the prospect of having already proven the Fates' predictions ineffectual.

However, your somber mood quickly returned. "I'm sorry you found out about the child like this. I wish I had been the one to tell you."

“I did learn it from you, in a way,” he specified.

“You did?”

“I had an illuminating discourse with an unexpected visitor. Your mother seeked my presence, desiring council; her understanding of the book's mysteries eclipsed even my accumulated knowledge.”

"My mother? Why? I thought she disapproved of our relationship from the start. Why did she suddenly start caring?"

“She finally comprehended the depths of my eternal devotion to you.”

To say you were surprised would be an understatement, as warmth bloomed in your heart at the thought.

“I perceived her unspoken truth about your condition,” he elucidated. “And so I came to the Waking World, to gaze upon what my stubbornness had rendered me blind to for so long.”

You recalled that particular night when, after waking, you had observed golden particles suspended in the air around your bed. At the time, you had simply attributed this phenomenon to your own light abilities, remnants drifting lazily through the atmosphere.

“You were there...”

“I was.”

"But that doesn't change the fact that I couldn't tell you directly myself. I was terrified... and perhaps a part of me was afraid of how you would react."

“Why?”

“I…”

“My love,” he said quietly. “I would never take our child away from you, if that troubles your mind.”

Your brow knitted thoughtfully. "I know you wouldn’t. That's not what I was referring to."

“…Oh?”

You folded your arms pensively. "I didn't know how to approach the subject after what you've been through. You were a father once… and after what happened with Orpheus… I just... I didn't want to stir up those painful memories again."

His face softened, a gentle curve playing at the corners of his mouth. “Did you harbor concern for me? That knowledge of this child would resurrect the shadows of my past?”

You relaxed your legs, joining your hands in your lap. "Yes."

“I am responsible,” he said solemnly. “The burden I placed upon your soul was... unforgivable.”

You hung your head, exhaling a heavy sigh. "You didn’t, not intentionally. I understand your perspective."

He stood rigid, restraining himself from moving any closer. “I do not deserve your kindness.”

"This isn't about what you do or don't deserve.” You lifted your eyes toward the star-filled dome above, its motif a recurrent element in your own dreams. “The night of the accident, I had taken off the Dreamstone. It reminded me of you, and I hated it... I hated not seeing you anymore, not hearing your voice, not feeling your love."

His lips parted, yet he remained silent, allowing you to continue uninterrupted.

"But then, a voice in my head urged me to keep it with me, not to discard it. I faced a choice: ignore my instinct and leave the stone behind, or put it on again. I chose to wear it."

His hands clenched into fists at his sides.

"What I mean is, even if we have a predetermined destiny, our choices still shape our course through life. You tried to keep me safe by leaving me, but I’m actually safest when I am with you. Whether here or in the Waking World, it makes no difference."

The ambient sounds of the Dreaming permeated the castle walls - a symphony of ethereal whispers, crackling flames, and the gentle rustling of ancient tomes.

You cherished every aspect of it.

"The Dreamstone has protected both me and our child. It shielded me from the studio fire, and it even kept the Corinthian at bay in Georgia. The evidence is undeniable, Morpheus. I just wish you'd been there—that we could have discovered this baby together."

He tentatively advanced, bearing the weight of centuries upon himself. “You still hold such affection for me. Yet I have sullied this bond with my failings.”

Your breath came out in trembling gasps. "Of course I do. Nothing could ever change that, not even how infuriating you can be sometimes."

Morpheus closed the distance between you, extending his hand to your face. His touch was feather-light and cautious, filled with such tenderness that it instantly erased the residual tingling left by his sibling.

"Y/N, I know I do not have the right to ask. But...do you believe you could find it in your heart… to forgive me…?"

When you looked at him, his luminous eyes were filled with desperation and pleading. With all the strength you could master, you pushed yourself away from the steps, passing by him while contemplating your response, one hand pressed against your chin.

You gathered your thoughts, allowing yourself a moment to find equilibrium. When you turned to him once more, he watched your movements with an expression of anticipation. He stood tense with nervousness, bracing himself for rejection.

"Swear it," you commanded. "Swear to me that no matter what happens, no matter what prophecy you find or hear, no matter what anyone tells you about me or our future, you won't leave me again."

You cried freely then, releasing all the sorrow you had tried to suppress for so long. "Swear to me that we will face everything together as partners. That you will seek my help. I love you more than the universe itself, Morpheus, but I cannot bear to be abandoned again, left waiting for your return, not knowing if it will be in vain."

His rigidity gave way to unstable steps, his coat brushing against your arms as he stopped in front of you. The flaring redness rimming his eyes revealed weeks of concealed agony, as tears traced silvery paths down his face.

“I swear it.”

Your heart ached at his vulnerability - you had only seen such raw emotion once before, in his memories of Jessamy's tragic end.

"I swear it on all that I am. I swear it upon the Dreaming itself. I swear it on what remains of my son. And I swear it upon my unborn child."

His words struck deep, leaving you breathless and breaking down your last emotional defenses. “Never again?”

“No. Never shall I abandon you again. I make this solemn vow.”

A strangled sound escaped your chest as your crashed your lips against his, hands cradling his face as if holding the most precious treasure in existence. His arms encircled you at once, fingers weaving through your hair and grasping a few tresses with quivering digits. You held onto him like a lifeline, your arms wrapping around his neck as you deepened the kiss, tongues meeting in a passionate embrace.

The room filled with the melody of sighs and soft moans as you abandoned yourselves to each other, all the pent-up longing and desire exploding like fireworks. Morpheus’ breath was hitching, shaking, tears mingling between you as your lips danced together. The candles' flames intensified, their sway celebrating the rekindled connection between your two souls.

When you finally detached from him to catch your breath, you wiped away the tears that stained his cheeks, also collecting the fresh ones that formed.

"Oh, my silly Dream," you whispered with a smile. "What am I ever going to do with you?"

Leaning forward, he touched his forehead to yours. “Forgive me. Please. That is all I dare ask.”

You kissed him one more time, puckering your lips softly against his—a kiss he immediately returned.

"Though I was tempted to keep you on edge a bit longer, I don't have the heart for that. I've already forgiven you," you reassured him. "And while we're on the subject, I believe I owe you an apology too, Morpheus."

“An apology? To me?”

"Mmhm."

“Why?”

Absently touching your abdomen, you let your fingers slip onto his hand. "The first night we spent together, I told you I was protected. And it's true, I really was—I'd been on birth control for a long time. But when I was here, as your guest, I didn't have my medication with me."

His fingers curled around yours, initially cold, but instantly warming in your hold.

"Time moves differently between here and the Waking World, and I completely lost track. I was conscious and should have been more careful, but... I made a mistake. This child came to be as a result. I'm so sorry, Morpheus… I know it must have been shocking."

His eyes shone, though his tears had subsided. "You need not apologize to me, my love."

“It’s just…” You trailed off,

“The responsibility lies with both of us.” He paused, studying your abdomen with heartfelt wonder. “And it is... a blessing beyond measure.”

"Really? But... do you truly want this with me?"

“I would not have it any other way.”

Your posture relaxed visibly as your tension melted away from your features.

Morpheus reached toward your abdomen, his hand hovering with tentativeness. His expression held both hope and uncertainty, as if unsure whether he had permission to make contact. “May I…?”

Gently, you guided his hand to rest atop your abdomen where your child was growing, his palm spreading softly against the material of your shirt. “You must.”

He remained still, sensing the energy flowing in you, your hand protectively covering his. Morpheus' eyes widened in wonder, his lips parting as dark red rings returned around his eyes.

"Is something wrong?" you asked, reading his face.

“No, nothing is wrong,” he said with fondness. “I sense the child's essence. It resonates through the tapestry of dreams.”

“Aw.”

“She shall become a most magnificent arbiter between our worlds.”

You blinked as his other hand reached your waist, pulling you closer. "Wait... 'she'?"

“Yes,” he replied with a smile. “Our daughter.”

The Endless' ability to perceive beings and their biological imprint was truly phenomenal. In contrast, modern medical imaging was required to detect the initial cardiac activity of your developing child.

“We’re having a little girl….”

As everything crashed down on you, you finally relaxed into his arms, your legs becoming wobbly yet remaining steady enough to keep you standing. All those weeks of pain, grief, and insecurity—all the tears that had fallen and continued to spill—everything you had endured was worth it for this single moment of happiness.

"I love you. More than all the stars across infinite universes."

You gripped the back of his coat, holding him firmly, your face buried in the crook of his neck. "I love you too, Morpheus. I've missed you so much."

"I have missed you as well... as has my realm. Will you rest here tonight? Allow me to care for you, both of you, as I should have done from the beginning?"

You chuckled softly, your lips trembling as your nose traced the line of his jaw. "Absolutely."

All that was left was a sense of completeness, in spite of all the warnings and dirty games you had forcibly tackled.

"As long as you're the one sending me to sleep, my wonderful king."

Final notes: The next chapter will include lots of romance, and also bring back the smut. From now until the finale, the story will feature nothing but wholesome and positive events, along with a bit of additional lore.

I would also like to credit Corridor Digital on YouTube for their "ROT" video, which you can find here. It's a Silent Hill fan film that I highly recommend if you're not a SL fan. I used it as an inspiration for the nightmare part specifically.

#the sandman #the sandman netflix #dream of the endless x reader #morpheus x reader #the sandman fanfic #the sandman writing

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