" Seige, I no more want to work with those wretched fowl then you do. But would you rather have a vengeful god destroying what remains of your sanity?" Wraith asked him with a smirk. " Dragaunus may threaten and blow hot air, but he won't kill us. He needs us - we're the only Saurians here."
" But Morpheus won't need anybody," Seige finished. " Yeah, yeah, I got it."
Chameleon skittered ahead and looked in. No one, not even a sentry drone. " The boss and Morpheus must be in the main viewing room."
" They are. When I left, they were planning another trip into the younger duck's dreams again." Wraith cast his gaze about nervously, and then fixed it upon the transporter. " Let us go now."
Seige rumbled up to the controls and entered the coordinates for the Pond. " I can't get you into the Pond itself - those ducks have transporter shields up."
Chameleon snickered. " I bet I can get us in!" he boasted. " I did before disgusing myself as that old man."
Remembering Chameleons success at impersonating Michi, the janitor, Wraith nodded. " Let's go."
************************************************************************
" NOOOO!! PLEASE!" NoseDive screamed in terror. He was thrashing around wildly, bucking on the bed in an effort to get away. Wildwing tried to grasp his brother's arm, muttering a curse as he just missed being kicked in the head.
" NoseDive! Wake up! It's me, Wildwing!" he shouted, trying to reach Dive. If anything, his words made him shake his head with a low moan of fear. He resumed his frantic attempts to escape. Tonya's machines were going wild, recording everything. Tonya tried to aid Wildwing but part of her mind remained focused on the machines. Not only was his brain being affected, but a surge of adrenaline surged through NoseDive as he battled the shadows within his mind. His heart rate sped up and his breathing became a harsh sound.
" Wildwing, he's hyperventilating!" she cried. She grabbed a paper bag. " Hold him down!"
" How?!"
" I don't care! Sit on him if you have to!"
Wildwing flipped up and on the bed, straddling his brother and effectively pinning his legs down. He grabbed Dive's arms and leaned forward, pressing his weight onto them. Trapped, NoseDive lay there with tears streaking his feathers as Tonya placed the bag over his beak.
" Deep breaths Dive!" she ordered the now semi-conscious duck. NoseDive's eyes were still terror-filled, but sanity could be seen, creeping into them. Tonya breathed a sigh of relief as NoseDive began breathing into the bag. Wildwing eased off the pressure and climbed off him, but kept a loose grip on Dive's arms. After a few minutes, Tonya removed the bag and turned on the medlab equipment to scan him for after-affects. Wildwing leaned down to face his brother, feeling the tremors coursing through him.
" NoseDive, can you hear me?"
A small nod. Wildwing saw the fear in his face. He saw that NoseDive wouldn't look at him for longer then a few seconds at a time.
" It's okay baby brother. I'm here, everything's okay," he soothed. " I won't let anything happen to you."
NoseDive closed his eyes, feeling the tears well up. When he opened them again, he saw Wildwing also crying. Wildwing never cries! The thought raced through his fogged mind. It was another dream! He sobbed openly now in relief, that Wildwing hadn't really turned on him. Wildwing blinked back his tears and leaned in, resting his forhead against Dive's arm. After a few minutes Wildwing composed himself and looked at his brother.
" You okay NoseDive?"
NoseDive glanced quickly at him and then looked anxously at Tonya. " I'm fine, can I go now?"
Tonya snorted, but her eyes remained gentle. " Not yet. You were hyperventilating - I'm scanning you now to make sure you're really okay."
" I said I was."
" Tonya," interjected Wildwing. " Why did Dive have a harder time waking up this time?"
" I'm not sure." Tonya mused, checking over her readings. Then her eyes lit up. " Wait a minute! This looks interesting!"
" What?"
" Right here!" she jabbed her finger at the paper. " Right here is where Dive started shaking. The readings get stronger."
" So?"
" So, right after that was when we first attempted to wake him up." She pointed to another spot on the paper. " See the second brain wave pattern? It gets stronger - there! It's like whoever is attacking him, is holding Dive prisoner. Dive's patterns seem to pause briefly, like he's being held. After that brief pause in the chart, his brain waves are the exact same as the invaders!"
Wildwing looked upset at that. " So, basically what you're telling me is, when Dive sleeps, he's at the mercy of whoever is sending him these dreams!"
Tonya took off her glasses and wiped them off. " Essentially, yes. "
" Is there a way to block the interference?"
" I have no idea," Tonya sighed. " If it were mechanical, I'd have a easier time saying yes to that. But this looks magical Wildwing. I don't know anything about magic."
Wildwing's shoulders sagged slightly. Then he stiffened. " We'll think of something. Even if it means going to the Raptor and stopping those lizards personally. Right NoseDive?" He turned to his sibling, hoping his words had cheered him up a bit. NoseDive flinched slightly under his sudden gaze. Wildwing's eyes suddenly widened in realization.
" NoseDive? What was that last dream about?" He sat down next to him. NoseDive shook his head.
" N-nothing..."
Wildwing sighed. " It was about me, wasn't it?" NoseDive froze for a second - and then relaxed a bit.
" Yeah." he whispered. " We were back on Puckworld, y'know, when Canard found us?"
" Yeah."
NoseDive struggled to get the words out. " Well, this time 'round, you didn't want me to come along. You attacked me, saying it was merciful compared to what you were going to leave me to - the camps..." he broke off, shuddering as the gruesome images came back to him full force. Wildwing winced. He remembered the camps. Sleepless nights as screams of pain and terror filled the darkness. Days of backbreaking labour. Hundreds of their people suffering from starvation. The dead lying where they had fallen, and failed to rise. He shuddered in sympathy for NoseDive. It had taken a long time, but both he and NoseDive had eventually come to terms with their fears and nightmares. They had put the past behind them where it belonged. To have someone reach into Dive's psyche and pull them back to the surface was cruel, evil. Anger rose in him until he thought he might choke on the strength of his emotions.
" We're gonna stop this Dive," he vowed, jaw clenched. " I swear to God, this is going to end, one way or another."
Hating to interrupt such a moment but knowing she needed to, Tonya came forward.
" Wildwing? We need to talk."
" What about?"
" Let's go outside."
************************************************************************
Mallory's head jerked up as Duke came into the room, bearing a party-size pizza.
" What'd ya get?" she asked.
" Triple cheese, mushrooms, pepperoni, bacon, and hamburger." Duke placed the pizza down on the coffee table as Mallory lifted her feet from it. Her eyes softened.
" NoseDive's favourite."
" I know." Duke glanced briefly at her and turned a faint shade of red.
Mallory sighed and leaned over, laying a hand on his forearm. " I'm worried about him too Duke."
Duke shook off her hand. " He'll be fine. The kids been through a lot, but he always lands on his feet."
" More lives then a cat."
" Damn right!" Duke let out a short burst of laughter. Then he sobered. " I'm sorry Mal. You're right. I am worried. This is something we can't fight! How can we help him?" He slammed his fist down in frustration. Mallory opened the box and took out a slice of pizza, biting into it while studying Duke. So that was it. Duke was more then worried about NoseDive: he was angry at himself for not being able to help. Well, it makes sense, she thought. Duke had never been happier when Canard recruited him. He had been accepted, not just for his skills, but because Canard had liked him too. And we've all become like family to him. And to Duke, you were supposed to protect family. Duke had made that mistake before - he had let petty jealousies ruin what little relationship he'd had with his brother Rance back on Puckworld. Then the Saurians came, and well, there wasn't a chance for Duke to apologize and make amends with his sibling. And since being stranded here, he's taken Dive under his wing, so to speak. It had amazed her to see big, tough Duke L'Orange acting like a protective mother hen over all of them, especially the kid. Wildwing may own the title of worrywart over NoseDive, but Duke was almost as bad. He lost one brother and gained another. Mallory finished her slice silently. Grin had joined them, gazing at them questioningly.
" Don't know, big guy." Mallory opened a can of coke. Grin nodded.
" We will though. And then we will stop whomever or whatever is causing this," he promised. Then he also grabbed a pizza slice. Tonya and Wildwing entered the room, Tonya looking stressed, and Wildwing with his head down slightly, as though the weight of the world were pressing down on his shoulders. Duke leapt to his feet.
" What's wrong?"
" Relax guys, he's fine for now," Tonya sighed. Mallory raised an eyebrow.
" For now?"
" That's what I wanted to talk to you guys about. NoseDive's not gonna be okay much longer."
" What do you mean?" Grin asked.
Tonya rubbed her eyes wearily. " During this last little dream session, NoseDive started hyperventilating. His dreams are starting to affect his health."
The Mighty Ducks stared at her, not totally comprehending.
" But they're just dreams!" Duke protested. " Aren't they?"
Wildwing looked at him. " Apparently not."
Tonya broke in again, eager to explain. " First off, Wildwing made me notice something. NoseDive had only been asleep for a few seconds before he began dreaming."
" So?" came from Mallory.
" So..." Tonya continued, glaring at her for the interruption. "...NoseDive isn't reaching REM sleep, the stage of sleeping where you get all your rest. And if Dive first started experiencing these dreams almost three days ago..."
" Then technically, he hasn't gotten any sleep for 72 hours." Mallory finished.
Tonya nodded. " He's suffering from serious exhaustion. It's not just the lack of sleep, it's the surges of adreneline racing through him during each nightmare. He's not recovering from each surge like a normal person. Add in the battle, and morning practise from yesterday, and the fact that he hasn't really eaten since the nightmares began, and you have one duck who's on the verge of collapse."
Silence greeted this. Then Duke spoke up. " What else is there, Tonya? You're holding out on us."
Tonya cleared her throat. " It's getting more serious. Each attack is harder for him to wake up from - he's literally at the mercy of whoever is causing this."
" Aaaannnd?" prompted Grin.
" The last dream made him have problems breathing. If he had been alone, it's possible he could have eventually suffocated."
" Great! " burst out Duke. " What if the next time he's scared so badly he has a heart attack?"
" Calm down Duke!" snapped Wildwing.
" Forget it Wildwing - I wanna get moving! Let's quit waiting around here for the next nightmare to arrive, and go knock the cure out of Dragaunus!" He stood and began pacing. " This inactivity is driving me nuts! At least by attacking, we're trying!"
Wildwing stood up and blocked Duke from stalking around. " We're all worried Duke." he said softly. Duke stared at him, and then crushed him with a hug.
" I know. But we have to do something!"
" We will." Wildwing gazed at his teammates, seeing the resolve in all of them. But how to begin? They had always waited for Dragaunus to make a move first - the Raptor's cloaking device prevented them from getting a permanent fix on it's location. How would they find Dragaunus?
Suddenly they heard the alarm go off. Someone was at the Pond's front gates. Wildwing and Mallory headed topside. Reaching the main hallway, they went to the front doors. And stopped short, seeing who it was through the glass. Mallory groaned.
" I don't believe it..."
************************************************************************
NoseDive slowly opened his eyes. It was no use - he couldn't sleep. Not that he wanted too. No more dreams, he pleaded his with his mind. Sitting up slowly, he rubbed his face roughly, his eyes feeling gritty and his throat as rough as sandpaper. He reached out to the bedside table and grabbed the glass of water Tonya had left for him before herding Wildwing outside. Wonder what's so important they can't include me? NoseDive was starting to get sick of this.
" I can't sleep because I'm afraid of my dreams, yet I can barely stay awake. And when I am awake, my friends and family go out of their way to keep secrets from me," he muttered. " Maybe this is a dream too!" A wave of exhaustion flooded over him, bringing a sense of warmth. He felt himself slide backwards against the sheet, drifting. Suddenly he snapped awake, lungs bursting, chest pounding.
" You idiot! " he snarled at himself. " You almost fell asleep!" But you can't keep this up forever, a snide voice in his mind told him. NoseDive ran his fingers through his hair, tugging on the tangled strands in mute frustration. Tears began welling in his eyes, and he tried to force them to go away. Big, tough duck you are. Crying all the time. He raised his head, feeling nauseas at the movement. At the far end of the room was a mirror and NoseDive studied his appearance. His normally cheerful face had taken on a thin, haggard appearance. His blond hair, normally his pride and joy, hung limply in clumps across his face. He raised his hands slowly and watched them tremble. Then he looked into his own eyes. Deep, dark circles surrounded bright blue eyes that stared back at him in defeat. He could taste the bile in his throat, feel the tears in his eyes. He thought of his nice comfortable bed and he was nearly overwhelmed with sheer terror and panic. Is this what I have to look forward to? he thought, breathing raggedly as he fought back his fear. He nearly broke down at the thought of going through the agony for the rest of his life. I CAN'T do this! he wailed silently. He drew his knees to his chest and wrapped his arms around them, tugging the blanket up. He rested his head on his knees, and began to rock himself back and forth. Go away, his mind whimpered. Please, go away. His eyes fell upon Tonya's omnitool which she had taken off so's not to interfere with her equipment during the tests. If memory served him right, one of the functions included a knife. He picked up the tool and pressed a button, watching the blade spring into existence. He turned it slowly, watching the light catch it and reflect back off. A part of his mind was screaming at him to stop, but another part of his mind was feeding off his exhaustion and mental incoherence. I'm going insane, he thought detachedly. Some part of him should be shocked he thought, but all feeling had left him, leaving him numb. He lowered the blade to his wrist and held it there. His thoughts stretched far ahead of him: always jumping, never sleeping. Constantly checking his back for attacks by his friends, never knowing what was real and what wasn't. Hell, maybe this isn't real, he giggled. This is another dream, I'll bet! He traced the blade with his finger. It must be. I'd never hold a knife to my wrist. He giggled again, a highpitched noise that was strange to his ears. Only one way to find out. He slowly drew the blade across his wrist, watching the thin red line well up and then spill over. It wasn't very deep, and NoseDive was shocked to feel a stinging sensation radiating from the wound. This is real! He mentally cried out, staring at his wrist, utterly absorbed. The blood trickled down his wrist but NoseDive made no move to bandage it. Instead, he contined to stare at the wound, going into shock at the sight. His mind fogged over: Stop, he commanded. Was he referring to the flow of blood? Or to the endless cycle of fear? Please stop.
They'll never stop, a voice told him. NoseDive raised his head, eyes huge and confused.
" Who said that?" he asked shakily.
I did. NoseDive shook his head - the voice seemed to be coming from within his own mind.
" Oh good, now I'm hearing things," he said darkly. " I'm ready for the funny farm now."
The voice snorted at him. If you weren't before, just talking to yourself would qualify you.
" Great - I'm hearing voices and what are they doing? Instead of dating tips or advise, they're lecturing!" NoseDive laughed crazily. I'm going insane!
Just about, the voice agreed. NoseDive lost his patience.
" Who the hell are you??? What are you doing in my head?? Leave me the hell alone!!!" he screamed, his throat raw.
Are we finished? the voice asked sarcastically. NoseDive sank back against the headboard breathing heavily. His wrist was really starting to hurt now, but he brushed it aside.
" What do you want?" he asked in a defeated tone.
Maybe I should answer your other questions first, hmmm? NoseDive shrugged in resignation. Very well. I am Morpheus, God of Dreams.
" So?"
So I know why you're having these nightmares.
" Oh yeah? Who's to say you're not the one who gave them to me in the first place?" NoseDive growled.
I did.
" WHAT???" NoseDive reared up. The sudden movement made him dizzy and he barely leaned over in time before he vomited into the garbage bag next to him. " Shit. Memo to me - no more fast moves." He was feeling strangely light-headed.
Shall I continue?
" If I say no, what are you gonna do - hit me with another nightmare?" Dive sneered nastily.
The voice sounded impatient. I could do much worse if you're not careful - how would you like to literally be scared to DEATH?
NoseDive sat back and held up his hands in mock surrender. " Can I just ask you something?"
What?
" Why me?" NoseDive asked in a quiet tone.
If you'd let me finish, you'd know. NoseDive gave a small nod, subdued. Much better. As I said, I am the God of Dreams. I once lorded over the earth with my fellow gods. My job was to monitor the sleep of humans, to inspire them with visions of success and fortune, to guide them when they were lost and sick at heart. I virtually created the human imagination by encouraging dreams of fantasy and make believe. I punished with cruel nightmares.
" Why? What did I do to you?" NoseDive asked again.
Not just the deserving get nightmares - fear can inspire men to be better people. Fear can help sharpen one's instincts. Fear can help children recognize danger. Nightmares serve just as good a purpose as dreams of flight and fancy. The voice seemed to darken it's tone. And then came the day the man fought back against the gods. We were reluctant to battle because man was, and is, our greatest achievement. They blamed us for their failings and fell to using black magic, taught to them by gods who had been cast out, like Satan, Judas, Mars, Ares and others who had taken up residence in the prayers and beliefs of other cultures. Two Roman "priests" the voice snorted in derision, used the dark arts to banish the gods, and sealed us away in eternal torment. Though I was able to infect them with nightmares the likes of which would send you straight to insanity, we were all trapped in hell. You would call it limbo, a lifeless void.
" Huh. Sounds like they had the right idea," NoseDive muttered. He was starting to feel sleepy again. Darkness was creeping in around the edge of his vision; he rubbed his eyes, trying to keep the darkness at bay. The voice sighed again.
I was summoned back by a Saurian magician, Wraith.
" Knew those damn Jurassic Park-rejects were involved." He yawned.
Their leader, the one called Dragaunus wanted to attack your leader, Wildwing. For freeing me, I had no alternative but to help. He wanted subtlety, so that none of you would realize what was happening. So we decided to influence your dreams, to drive Wildwing crazy with worry.
" Doin' damn good job..."
But this is far enough. I will soon have my strength back fully, and will be able to deal with those Saurians in my own way. But I have come to enlighten you on something.
" I'd rather you just take away my nightmares." Dive blinked at him.
I cannot do that.
" Oh, but you can give me them?"
I can only influence what's already in the mind I'm inhabiting. Dreams and nightmares both have to come from within. What I started with you, was something you were already facing. I merely brought your true fears and worries to the forefront of your mind.
" What are you saying, exactly?"
I stopped interfering with the second nightmare you had involving your team mate, Grin.
" Tonya said that there were two brain wave patterns!" Dive objected. " Apparently, I'm at your mercy!"
I stopped interfering - but I can always watch. And you're at the mercy of yourself. These nightmares are of your own creation - and I can do nothing to stop them. True, I enhanced them at first, but you've taken control of them ever since. And to directly interfere in such ways as you have asked me to, would be to erase the problems completely instead of learning to deal with them.
" I can live with that, " Dive argued, eyes sliding shut again.
No you can't. You may not be human - but your mind is similar. To run from your problems or ignore them, does not make them go away. You'll be doomed to repeat it again, and again. And that will kill you just as surely as the knife wound you inflicted on yourself.
Why am I not surprised, NoseDive sighed. " It's my fault...." The blood from his wound was soaking the sheets beneath his wrist, a crimson pool puddled on the ground. The omnitool fell from his grasp, clattering to the floor. His head fell back and he slipped into unconsciousness. The voice and it's owner studied the unconscious duck for a moment; and then exited his mind.
***********************************************************************
" I don't believe it!" Mallory said again, puck launcher trained at their guests. Seige snarled at her and Chameleon hid behind him in case Mallory got trigger-happy. It had taken a lot of fast talking to keep Mallory and Duke from going into full-out battle mode when the three Saurians had knocked on their door, but only concern that Dive's cure lay in their hands had kept them at bay. After hearing the story, Wildwing stepped forward, bristling with rage but Tonya held out her arm.
" Wait a minute. Let me see if I have this right," she said wrinkling her brow. " Wraith conjured up a dream god to give NoseDive nightmares. And all of this was to drive Wildwing nuts, to distract him enough to let Dragaunus attack?"
" That was at the beginning, " Wraith allowed. " I'm afraid Dragaunus has become intrigued with the possibilities of attacking all of you in this manner - he's quite enamoured with the subtlety. It's normally not his style."
" No shit," Duke spat out. He was on edge, wanting so badly to whip out his sabre and give the saurians a quick fencing lesson. Coupla quick swipes and we could have some headless lizards to mail back to Draggy. He forced the pleasing thought away with an effort. " Normally he likes guns and big explosions! What changed his mind?"
" The way this method has of attacking just one primary target, but it still affects all of you, " answered Seige with a growl. " He's put off wanting to kill you, and wants to continue with mental torture."
" It's a lot more fun!" chimed in Chameleon popping out from behind the orange lizard. Seeing five ducks glower at him, he immediately dove behind Seige again. Mallory hissed at him.
" Any time you want some fun lizard," she hefted her puck launcher. "...bring it on!!"
" Knock it off, you two!" snapped Wildwing. " Wraith, how do we get Morpheus out of Dive's head and back into limbo?"
" Wait a minute!" Duke interjected. " Why are you three helping us anyway? Draggy ain't gonna be too happy about that."
" Good. Maybe he'll blast them." Mallory growled. Duke gave her a tight grin.
" Down girl."
Seige broke in. " Because as bad as Dragaunus is, Morpheus is worse!"
" Yes," agreed Wraith. " Morpheus needs us to keep him in this dimension until he regains his strength. However, once he's recovered..."
" You're afraid Morpheus is going to turn on you and drive you insane with nightmares!" Tonya guessed.
" Well, give the lady duck a prize!" Chameleon said sarcastically. Grin moved up.
" Now, answer Wildwing's previous question. How do we help NoseDive?"
" There is a vortex portal in the nose of the Raptor. You know this, yes?" Wraith asked. The ducks nodded. " Okay. Using an ancient human spell Dragaunus found during one of our excavations and an amulet of my Saurian ancestors, I was able to combine it with the properties of the vortex portal. When the portal opened, amplified by my magic, it generated an opening into limbo. I used the amulet to lock on to the gods essence and pulled. Morpheus was brought through. However, the strain of keeping it open was too much and I was unable to keep the portal open any longer. The amulet was used to capture the gods essence and act as an anchor. This kept him from slipping back into limbo. Now, his power is growing stronger; it's only a matter of time before he's at full strength."
" And I see you still haven't answered Wing's question," Duke drawled, holding his sabre out and playing with the blade idly.
" I was getting to that!" Wraith snapped. " If I can get the time needed to cast the spell with the vortex portal, I can open the gateway again. If you smash the amulet near the opening, Morpheus will be sucked back into limbo. If we wait too much longer however, he'll be able to stay without the amulet as a lock."
" So we have to sneak aboard the Raptor again." Mallory's eye's had an evil glint in them. And then it's payback for what they did to NoseDive! Mallory wasn't a emotionally demonstrative person normally. And she'd be the first to admit NoseDive could be just as much a pain in the neck as an asset to the team. But this was too much. What Dragaunus and Morpheus had done to Dive was cruel, heartless torture, plain and simple. They had been unable to help him. But now, she had just been given a target. " Time for a little fun!"
" Gear down, Mallory," Wildwing said. Then he turned to Wraith. " The vortex portal is in the front of the Raptor. Morpheus and Draguanus will both be there?"
" Yes. Along with many of his drones, I dare say."
" Okay. You three can teleport us into the main room." His mind was racing furiously to devise a plan. Visualizing the layout of the portal room of the Raptor from memory, he continued. " Mallory and Duke?" The two looked up sharply. " You two are responsible for keeping Dragaunus at bay. Seige? You and I will protect Wraith while he casts the spell. Do you have the amulet?"
" No - it's in a stasis field next to the generator."
" Grin. You'll grab the amulet while we're doing the spell. As soon as you have it, wait for Wraith's signal to break it."
" Understood." The giant duck bowed his head in acknowledgement.
" Once Morpheus is sent through the portal, ducks? We will be making an immediate retreat. First priority after disposing of the god is to get everyone home in one peice. Got that?" Wildwing stared hard at Mallory and Duke. They nodded. " Get your licks in while you can." Tonya stepped forward.
" Wildwing? What about me?"
" Tonya, I need you to stay with Dive. He's in bad enough shape - I don't want to leave him alone." Wildwing's throat ached. He wanted so badly to take on Morpheus and Draguanus himself. But he knew that petty vengeance would be detrimental to the real mission of sending Morpheus into limbo. Mal and Duke had some built-up tension to release, a luxury that he as the leader, could not indulge in. He had to make sure Wraith and Seige wouldn't doublecross them, and he'd be able to tell with the Mask of Ducain if what they were doing could be turned on them. Tonya glanced at him.
" Okay."
" When do we leave?" Duke had holstered his sabre and faced him expectantly.
" Soon. I just want to let Dive know what's going on. Give him some hope to hold on to."
************************************************************************
Morpheus came back to his own body and looked up at Dragaunus, who was staring at him, anger visable on his features.
" And what was so important about this little jaunt into that duck's mind, that you could not bring me?" he growled.
Morpheus looked at him distastefully. " Call it a god thing."
" No!!" Dragaunus slammed his fist down on the main console in the portal room. " Might I remind you that you are here only because of me! And I can send you back to limbo just as easily!" He gestured to the amulet in the stasis field, glowing an amber light. Morpheus swallowed his rage at such a disrespectful tone directed at him. A god. Patience, he counselled himself.
" Might I remind you, that soon you will not be able to hold such a threat over me. You may think you are superior, but I am a god, and as such, still hold the sword of Damoclese over your insignificant head!"
Dragaunus started slightly at the power in Morpheus's voice.
" I'm sorry, my friend. I have been getting a little caught up in the excitement. Accept my apology." Dragaunus ground out between gritted teeth. He then turned and stalked out. Morpheus waved his hand and an ornately designed gold-and-glass goblet filled with a ruby red liquid appeared in his hand. Sipping at it, he pondered his dilemma. Truth be told, he wasn't all that upset that the young duck he had visited was at the end of his rope. He'd seen worse. Inflicted much worse on kinder people. NoseDive was just another human. Well, half-human. But it was the fact that he had been ordered to do so by another half-human type creature, that was bothering him. As a god, he had to do his job correctly. If fate had decreed NoseDive suffer the nightmares, Morpheus would have done it without another thought. Immortal beings rarely wasted their time worrying about the welfare of one mortal. But he was being ordered around as one would a servant. And, he had been gone such a long time. None of the other gods exist here, he thought, a slight pang of lonliness invading his thoughts. Not even the fates. Which was a pity - he'd always been rather fond of the future fate. She always let him know ahead of time what dreams he'd have to inflict, saving him much work. He sighed and took another drink of his wine. What he'd told NoseDive was true. If he eliminated the nightmares, he'd be erasing a deeper part of NoseDive that defined who he was as a person. NoseDive had to confront his fears to win. It happened very seldom, but there were mortals who had won out over the nightmares and became better people as a result. Those two Roman priests were different though. He chuckled wryly at the memory. They had been hit so hard by him as punishment for banishing the gods, they had committed suicide less then twenty-four hours later. Was NoseDive strong enough? Probably not, he thought, remembering the bright red of NoseDive's blood as it flowed, soaking the sheets.
" It is no matter," he decided finally. " Soon, I will be free of this accursed amulet-anchor and I will take over as the head god since Zeus is no longer here." He smiled contentedly at the thought. He'd always wanted to be king.