This story would not get out of my head. I needed to see Dream in love. This started as a one-shot and became something so much more.
I took some inspiration from Labyrinth and Sailor Moon for a few of the characters. The storyline will be an AU of the show, following some bits, but generally taking its own path.
TW: Smut!
Let me know what you think :)
Eons Ago
It was supposed to be a glorious night, where all the greatest entities of the universe would come together. A night where the oldest, most powerful beings reunited with their kin and danced the evening away in blissful celebration.
It was the Silver Millennium, a titular time where they say that the universe balances itself. It is said, that on this day, all beings would understand peace, harmony, and reality would find the perfect union between light and dark.
It is why during this time, the omnipotent would take physical form and unite for a single evening. No blood was to be shed. No quarrels were to be had. It was an evening of life and death, all existing at once.
The King of Dreams knew it was a requirement to go, and truthfully, he abhorred every moment in which he'd had to be in the presence of his brothers, sisters, and possibly his parents(if they even showed). It seemed like a true waste of time and mental energy to be patient with those who simply did not deserve it.
It would take much more for the old immortal to be excited about something.
On a sealed plane of the cosmos, the universes created a single location for only tonight. After, the location would cease to exist and reality would resume as usual.
The grand castle where tonight's ball would take place had spiraling towers made of old moonstone, archways of ancient times, and remarkable gardens full of glowing orchids. The plane was drifting between time and space, surrounded by sparkling stars, beckoning for the night to begin.
Morpheus stood in front of this mythical palace created out of time and space, wondering if he should even go in to greet those inside. He really, really, didn't want to.
He cast a glance at the beautifully glowing flowers lining the walkway, making note of something similar he'd like to create when he returned to his realm.
The King of Dreams was never fearful, but rather reluctant. While he had to, unfortunately, interact with his siblings, there were other beings of reality attending the Millennium ball as well. Kings of the Fae, Angels and Archangels of various dimensions of existence, Gods he'd rather never speak to… It was a night where the greatest powers of the universe would merge, and to Morpheus' distaste… a night of mingling.
He did not do small talk.
He did not enjoy small talk.
Should he misspeak, would he be erased from all areas of the Cosmos? Would he piss off another ancient being whose conversation he'd dare not entertain? It was a night of posturing without the bite. It was rather cumbersome.
The attendance tonight seemed like a childish task for The Endless, but nonetheless, Morpheus stood outside the grand castle with dread in his wake.
"Oh don't be such a brooding bore, big brother. The cease-fire for the night is to be taken seriously," A melodic voice drawled from behind where Morpheus stood.
Dream was silent, unwilling to participate in a battle of wits with his younger sibling Desire. The leather-clad figure moved in front of Morpheus' line of vision, tilting their head to the side and yellow eyes flashing. The black corset ran down the length of their body, leading into a skin-tight skirt and bright ruby heels.
"That means you have to be on your best behavior as well," Dream spoke, his voice level.
Desire licked their red-stained lips, brows raising slightly. "That doesn't mean I can't have a little fun with those attending. After all, it is a night of temptation."
"You don't say," Morpheus whispered, his eyes glued to the front doors of the place. He was not very tempted to say the least.
Desire cocked their head, a small smirk tugging at the edge of their mouth. "So serious and stern. Mommy and Daddy aren't going to be here tonight, so you'll just have to find someone else to coddle you."
Morpheus said nothing.
"Desire, perhaps you shouldn't start the night with taunting," A new, serene voice chimed in. Morpheus internally sighed with relief as Death placed a smooth hand on his shoulder, now both facing Desire and the towering hall behind them.
Desire's lips pouted slightly in a mocking expression. "Boo Hoo. Boo You. I think there are many more delectable things inside, wouldn't you say?"
The golden eyes glanced at Death's timeless attire of black on black. Black sparkling gown, tulle sleeves, hair wild yet tame. Morpheus had on elegant robes with stars embedded into the cuffs. Simple. Uneventful.
"Why don't you go find out for us?" Death retorted, swooping her hand down to now interlock with Morpheus' arm. Desire grinned widely, silently agreeing, before pivoting on their heel and moving up the stairs to the front doors of the palace.
A soft sigh of relief escaped Morpheus' lip at Desire's departure.
"You shouldn't let them rile you so easily," Death whispered, her deep eyes searching her brother's intently. She slowly guided them in Desire's path towards the entrance of the ball.
"Did I seem riled?" Dream lowly replied, showing no hint of the anxiety stirring in his chest.
"No, but I do know you better than most."
"I will abide by the cease-fire for the evening."
"Great— I do not wish to work tonight," Death smiled slightly.
The two initiated their slow ascent up the stairs leading to the large double doors, engraved with ancient markings of the event. The whisper of the wind whipped around them, swishing the bottoms of their dressings. There was a stillness in the air as the two Endless approached the front doors. It seemed as if all of time stopped(which it had, to some extent), and reality was taking a new form tonight.
Slowly, the large white stone doors glided, revealing the festivities inside.
A grand ballroom, one with an open sky, yet with golden sparkling chandeliers dripping with crystals from the emptiness of space above.
The floor was twisting with starlight as if the galaxies of the universe were running beneath their very feet. The cream walls lined with gold twinkled, as if they were too, alive. A soft hum of violins was drifting through the air, although Morpheus could not pinpoint where the music was coming from.
"The music is your own internal hymn, as there is no music playing," A voice drifted from Death and Dream's right. A large figure approached, cloaked in robes, a hood covering his face, and shackles bound to his wrist.
"And what do you hear?" Death lightly asked, her gaze falling on her brother, Destiny.
"Not a single sound."
"What I would do for silence," Morpheus muttered to himself, his eyes drifting around the room and identifying the various entities and beings who occupied this hall on this very night.
Death gave Morpheus a small pat on the arm, a nod to Destiny, before removing herself from the two glowering Endless. She disappeared into the crowd as Destiny took his place by Dream's side.
Morpheus studied the crowd and saw the notorious Gods of Ancient Greece, the powerful Zeus and Hera greeting several of those around them in the far corner of the hall. Their powerful stance was one to be noted as if they owned the room. Zeus' ego was truly the peak of unpleasantries. The Norse Gods were here too, believing that their realms were superior. Again, the ceasefire was something required for the evening.
He also identified those of the Fae, as well as the most infamous Fae— The Night King. The Lord of the Below, a realm between Hell and Earth whose only known reason was to drive its inhabitants mad. Not the Night as in his mother, but the darkness that warranted chaos. The shadows in the corner of your room. That feeling that something was chasing you when the light went out.
The Night King had golden hair, mismatched colored eyes, pointed ears, and a smile with razor-sharp teeth. He often found the Night King wandering into nightmares, bating young children to join him in a land of illusions. He has given the Night King several warnings to stay in his realm, as once he ensnared those children, it was the end. Tortured, beaten, defiled. They were as good as in hell when their hopeful eyes said yes and took the Night King's hand, walking out of the dream and into emptiness.
On the other side of the room, there were two entities that he has never met but knew well. A beautiful, lean woman with silver hair swooping down to the end of her back. She had a sparkling crown embedded into her head with moonlight skin and bright eyes. Next to her was a man of equal beauty, his raven hair falling to his shoulders and indigo hues glowing. Both were in ivory, with gold moons circlets shining on their foreheads. The King and Queen of the Moon Kingdom.
Morpheus' gaze flickered around the room, as he wondered how many people he could avoid until the night's conclusion.
"It will be a night to remember," Destiny whispered by Dream's side.
"Is that a prophecy or a thought?" Dream asked, glancing up to his hooded brother.
A light chuckle emanated from the masked figure. "A night to remember, for you."
"I know you jest. This night is quite… uninspiring."
"Does the truth of what will unfold startle you?"
Morpheus' brows furrowed slightly, his gaze trying to search for clues but finding none behind Destiny's shielded face. Morpheus chose not to reply, flicking his line of sight back to the room.
"They say The Great Power, the greatest we've seen but not known, will reveal itself."
"The Great Power," Dream replied blandly, as if in disbelief.
Rumors have existed of The Great Power. A tale told to all those who believed themselves to be God, but find themselves failing in comparison to what it is. The Great Power was told to be the singular source of creation of reality, the cosmos, eternity, and the whole of existence. If that power were to be revealed tonight, it definitely would not be a night of no quarrels. It would be a very on night for his sister, Death. There would be bloodshed to claim that power.
"How is it that The Great Power has existed, but has not be revealed?"
Morpheus could feel Destiny smile knowingly. That would be all he received from his brother. Destiny was never one to say the last page of the book as he strode away.
This night truly did seem like a chore. An Endless immortal as old as he needed more than simply drinking and dancing to amuse him. Morpheus found himself drifting to the corner of the hall. Perhaps here, no one would bother him.
Unfortunately, the evening would only continue to drag, as his least favorite person started a slow walk toward him.
A white smile flashed, the mismatched eyes of the Night King narrowing at Morpheus. "Did you hear the news, King of Dreams?"
"You're going to stop stealing children in their sleep by giving them false illusions of grandeur?"
The High Fae ran his tongue along his pointed teeth, a smirk tugging his mouth upwards in what could only be seen as a look of a madman.
"I am to be betrothed," the Night King announced, his eyes gleaming with malicious intent.
"How wonderful," Morpheus couldn't hide the slight disdain in his voice. A server, who was a Fawn, drifted towards the two and offered glasses of champagne. While they couldn't get drunk per se, it was the new feeling of the chilled glass in Dream's hand that gave him something else to focus on outside of the ruthless Fae beside him.
The Night King almost sneered, "You don't seem happy for me, King of Dreams. I had hoped you'd be at the wedding."
"I hate to disappoint."
"She is quite beautiful you know, my bride-to-be."
Morpheus was reluctant to respond, taking a small sip of the bubbly in his hand.
"The most beautiful bride in existence," The Night King bragged on.
"Does she have a heart of stone as well?" Morpheus couldn't hold his tongue hard enough to stop the bite in his tone. Who else could deal with this creature? Who would ever come to love his boundless cruelty?
A small shrug came from the Fae. "There will be an adjustment period, but I am sure she will come to love the Below as I do."
There is the catch. The bride-to-be doesn't know how awful her future husband was or what he did. He almost felt pity.
"The sounds of screaming children is such a delight to grow accustomed to," Morpheus mocked, his fingers tightening on his glass. His hatred needed to be reeled in. He had agreed to a cease fire today. He could not let the anger within him well up to the surface. The rage of The Endless bubbling beneath the pale skin.
"Ah, here she is," The Night King mused, swallowing down his entire glass in a single swoop.
Morpheus' gaze shifted to what could only be described as a heart of a glowing star. A woman entered the room from a spiraling staircase from above the hall, and all eyes immediately moved to her form. Morpheus knew this story very well— people often dreamt of a moment like this.
She had flowing brown hair, running the length of her back with perfect curls cascading behind. She had a lean frame, dressed in a white gown and gold adornments around the bodice. Light seemed to radiate beneath her cream colored skin under the chandelier's glow. Rosy cheeks, bright eyes with starlight inside, lips pink and soft. She was a woman people dreamed of, as she was too exquisite to behold in real life. The Princess of The Moon.
There was a strange sense of uncertainty on her face, as if she were initially clueless about the number of people in the room before her. Her bright eyes scanned the room and locked on the two royals with the crescent moon adorned on their forehead. Their daughter.
A low growl came from the Night King next to him before he hastily pushed through the crowd to the bottom of the stairwell.
Morpheus saw the woman audibly gasp as she saw the Night King make himself known, swallowing down a lump in her throat. Within seconds, as if on cue, an expressionless mask clicked into place on the Princess before she slowly descended the staircase.
It was then that a very very strange realization dawned upon Morpheus. It hit him like a tidal wave. He… did not know her.
It was unlike any of the Endless to not know someone, as they knew everyone. How could someone like this, with great importance and at this ball, be someone he has never seen before? How was this even possible?
Did she… not dream?
It was the only explanation. Morpheus felt himself grow immensely curious, as well as a strange sense of dread when her delicate hand fell into the gloved hand of the Night King at the bottom of the stairs. Her face was that of royalty, hiding any true emotions outside of the small smile she gave to those around her.
The Night King viscously grabbed her waist, pulling her close and whispering something in her ear. Her chest rose and fell, her mask slightly slipping before she closed her eyes tightly to catch it. When the Night King shifted away, she was the perfect picture of composure.
The Fae removed his hand from her waist, guiding her towards the center of the room as the true orchestra progression began. Her white dress swished behind her, as if leaving starlight in its wake.
Morpheus took another drink.
"Stunning, isn't she?" Death returned to his side.
"Do you know her?" Morpheus asked, his eyes never leaving her guarded face as she initiated the start of a dance. Other entities had joined in as well, dancing alongside the betrothed couple.
"Alena, Princess of the Moon Kingdom, Serenitas."
A peculiar feeling rose up in Morpheus' chest.
"I… do not know her. She has never entered my realm before," The Dream Lord admitted. "Don't you find that… strange?"
Death frowned deeply, shaking her head. "That doesn't seem right, does it? Everyone dreams."
"Everyone dreams," He confirmed. "But why not her?"
The Night King roughly grabbed her again by the waist, her facing showing nothing out of the ordinary as he leaned in close and smelled her. It was vile, an attempt to claim her. He could practically hear the growl from the Night King as he almost ravished her publicly.
And in that moment, where the Fae was distracted in his task, the Princess' eyes fluttered to meet that of the Dream Lord in the crowd.
He felt the air leave his lungs. It was as if time stopped at that very moment as he connected with her on a cosmic level. Her stare was penetrating, intense, binding. Her bright eyes were trying to communicate something he didn't understand. It was a gaze that held so many words, but was entirely unspoken. What did she want to say?
It was a split second of looking into those deep pools of sapphire eyes, that he saw the answer to his own question.
"Morpheus," Death interrupted, noticing the staring exchange.
The eye contact broke and the Night King swirled her again.
The Dream Lord inhaled deeply, distraught, and finally with an understanding of why. Why has he never had her in The Dreaming? Why she was a new face? After thousands of years of living, he just… knew why.
"She's hopeless," Morpheus breathed finally. "She's never had hope in her life. She's never had the capacity to dream."
She's a prisoner of her own mind…
Death frowned instantly, as if knowing Morpheus' words as her own. "Perhaps meeting the King of Dreams will give her purpose— a reason to dream… A reason to have hope. Maybe that's why you're here tonight."
Dream's face grew expressionless. He knew that the Night King would only give her more of a reason to hide, to lock herself away… that man was a true monster, beyond any capacity of love or reasoning or kindness. If this Princess was the only person in all of eternity who could not dream, it was his purpose as one of the Endless to ensure she could.
The dance slowly came to its conclusion and a light round of applause fluttered across the room.
The Princess bowed her head to the High Fae, showing no sign of discomfort, before she excused herself towards her parents. Her father, The Moon King, had a stone cold expression, unmoving. Her mother, the Queen, seemed to let more of her sadness peak through the stoic facade she attempted to hold.
Her mother's hand fell to her daughter's shoulder, brushing back a ringlet from her smooth neck in a soothing gesture.
It was then that her father glared at his daughter and then smiled as the Night King approached the family. As soon as the Fae made headway towards the three, the Princess immediately dashed away into the crowd without a word, as if she couldn't bare to be near him again. The Moon King's piercing eyes followed her as she disappeared into the crowd, before again, warmly turning to his future son-in-law.
As if on cue, Death gave a small smile and a pat on Dream's back. "Go find her."
Dream nodded, understanding that things happen for a reason. He could almost hear Destiny mocking him for the way Fate aligns itself.
Dream wandered through the labyrinth of the temporary castle in an attempt to find the Princess. He immediately noticed that she had exited the ballroom and must've been somewhere else within the area.
His pace was urgent, but still not fast enough to draw suspicion.
Before he knew it, the sky opened up to him as he left the building through French doors, his eyes taking in the fullness of the magnificent grounds that were crafted for this night alone.
The greenery of the garden around him sparkled to life, the flowers glowing with the mystical magic of the realms. Morpheus bent down to touch one of the ivory flowers, noticing how beautifully it shimmered under the starlight.
The pads of his fingers lightly grazed the smoothness of the petal, only for something unique to happen. The sparkles within the flower lifted into the air, leaving the flower itself dull and dying. The blinking lights then formed to move… they began to guide.
Morpheus followed the lights as they started to show him a path through the gardens, one that he would not have taken on his own. The lights stopped in front of a hedge, and slowly, the the vines ripped apart. Slowly, but surely, the hedge cleared to a single pathway, and the lights continued forward again.
The King of Dreams followed suit, having a knowing feeling as to where they were leading.
When he heard the hiccups and sound of gentle crying, he knew for sure.
On the other side of the hedge was the single person he was looking for, and he could not help but feel overwhelming pity at her collapsed form. He saw her chest heave up and down as she laid on the floor. Her head was in her arms, her curls creating a curtain over her face and blocking it from view.
He stood in silence as he watched. She was destroyed.
"Please go away," a trembling voice whispered. "I don't want to talk."
"You're crying." Morpheus stated, noticing the hedge behind him had closed and the twinkling lights have vanished.
The girl did not reply, but her back shook with the rapid inhalation of air as she gasped for her breath.
"You're hurt," Morpheus revised, taking a step forward.
The woman's hand gripped the grass beneath her, her knuckles growing white with the tightness of her skin. She did not reply for a moment, before her hands pushed her up to sit.
Morpheus tried as best as he could to reel in what he was feeling, but something in him was able to snap. The Princess' eyes were red, in sharp contrast to the bright blue hues where the starlight dulled beneath them. Her face was streaming wet, uncontrolled…. she looked as if she had lost her most precious loved one.
"I'm dying, if that's what you mean," She spat cruelly. "I'd like to die alone, thank you very much."
Morpheus found himself coming closer to the ground, kneeling a few feet away from her. His voice was gentle as he asked, "Why do you think you are dying?"
Her lip trembled, but a fire was brimming beneath her words. "I've been dying since the day I was born."
Hopeless. Completely hopeless.
She was broken. Was she ever… complete?
The Moon Princess sniffled, rashly wiping away tears that kept flooding from her sad eyes with the palm of her hand.
Morpheus couldn't help but feel her agony. He felt her endless eternal pain reaching into his immortal heart and causing the ice to melt surrounding it.
"Your impending marriage?"
He saw the conflict ripple across her face as if he were reading a descriptive book. Her nose scrunched slightly as her eyes met his. It was all he needed to know to know how her choice was not her own, but that of her parents. It was typical to have arranged marriages, but this one seemed quite loveless. A dagger pierced through his chest, chipping away even more at his caged ice-ridden heart, purely because he knew what she was walking into. He felt her agony that kept her hopeless.
"I'm Morpheus," The Dream Lord stated. "One of The Endless."
Her still-watery hues locked onto his, a glimmer of starlight slightly returning behind them. "I'm Alena." No title… just a woman.
Her breathing slowed down and her hand came to rub her collarbone in a self-soothing way. She shook her head as if speaking to herself and in disbelief of what she was going through.
Morpheus' words cut through her silence, "You do not have to go through with it if you do not want to."
Alena's expression tightened. "I don't have a choice, Morpheus." The way his name rolled off her tongue sent an ache through his heart. No choice… no hope, not even a shred.
The woman fully sat up now, her legs hidden beneath the swell of her dress fabric around her. She brushed her hair behind her, revealing the smooth planes of her neck. Her arms came up and wrapped them around herself protectively. "I would burn my skin off if it removed the memory of his touch."
Morpheus couldn't help but huff out a small laugh. "I'd do much more to remove him from my life if I could."
Slowly, his body lowered from a kneeling position to sit on the ground near her. A ghost of a grin pulled at her pink lips. "He's awful, isn't he?"
"He causes my realm a great deal of pain," Morpheus continued lowly, agreeing.
"I do not wish to marry him," Alena stated, her fingers rubbing her arms soothingly. "My parents cannot wait to remove my set of chains to bound me to someone else."
The Dream Lord cocked his head, watching her intently. "Have you always felt chained?"
"How obnoxious is it to say yes?" Alena replied weakly, "I've never even left the Moon Kingdom before tonight. You'd think a Princess would have limitless potential."
"But you haven't." Morpheus confirmed. The woman nodded only once before letting her hands fall into her lap and gripping the fabric of her skirt.
How sad. To be a woman full of the possibility to make changes to her world, but shackled and unable to do so. Then, to be sold like cattle to the cruelest man of her realm. Even the demons in hell could dream, yet she could not. What terrors lie behind her eyes? How could he fix it?
A breath escaped her lips. "Which realm are you from?"
"I am the King of The Dreaming."
And with that, her eyes widened. Her pink lips parted, and it was as, in those single words, the tiniest glimmer of happiness peeked through her sadness. "You're… Dream?"
"Yes."
She glanced down at her hands, lightly touching her fingertips as if unsure what to say next. She glanced back up at him, opening her mouth to say something, but words failed her. Morpheus has never seen such a bewitching mouth.
Alena's jaw tightened before she whispered, "I've never dreamed before."
That overwhelming sadness was there again, snuffing out any bit of light.
"I know," Morpheus replied. "I'd like to help you dream."
It wasn't hope that passed through her expression this time, but almost… desperation. "Really?"
The King of Dreams nodded, and before he could choose his words wisely, he said, "I think someone like you would have the most wonderful dreams."
"Why do you say that?"
"Because someone who has seen only shackles has the capacity to dream entire universes if given the chance," Morpheus spoke, a smile tugging at the edge of his mouth. He couldn't help but want to give her hope.
"Do you think I can? After all this time?"
The way his heart was beating like a bird in a cage, the way his immortal soul started to feel electricity running through his fingertips… he knew this was why he was here. This is what Destiny had in mind. A night to remember.
"Yes."
A full, gorgeous smile spread across Alena's face. A smile that was only in recognition that someone understood her for the first time. Water welled up near the corners of her eyes as she laughed, "Goodness, I swear I'm not this much of a crier." Her wrists came to tap away the shimmering buds of water that leaked.
Morpheus couldn't stop the corner of his lip from quirking upwards. "Relief tends to do that."
"So what are you, like 1000 years old?"
"Older than that," The immortal said simply. He almost forgot how… young she was.
"I'm certain you've seen much more tragic things than a lonely Princess crying about her impending marriage to the evil king," she snickered fully at her own situation.
If only she knew she was the only person he's ever met that hasn't dreamed before. It was, in fact, quite tragic to the Endless. What would he do to keep that smile on her face? To give laughter to someone who hasn't experienced joy in so long. It was making him feel light, drunk even.
Alena tilted her head, examining his face. "Do they do this idiotic ball often?"
"Tonight is a special night. It's the day when reality is supposed to balance itself. Light and dark, good and evil."
"Do you believe in that?"
"I believe in many things, as well as the powers of the universe righting itself." Dream noted smoothly, "However, to have all the universe's creations in one place, gorging themselves on drinks and dancing, does not seem like we are correcting anything at all."
"A rebel then," Alena grinned.
"A realist."
"Dream the Realist. An oxymoron if there ever were."
Before they knew it, both of them had laughter bubble up and wracking through their lungs at the absurdity of it all. The two gave their fullest smiles and Alena's eyes sparkled. Her hand reached out in front of her, palm up and waiting.
With full openness, she asked, "Tell me about your favorite dreams."
No one… no one has ever asked what The Dream Lord dreamed of. What he imagined. What he created.
Dream could've sworn she sparkled under her skin when he took her hand, giving it a small squeeze. "How much time do we have?"
Hours could've gone by, and time did not seem to matter. The two were frozen, together, spinning tales of adventure and magic and beauty. While the Princess was not sleeping(and therefore not dreaming yet), she spoke to wild stories that her mind concocted after listening to a few of Morpheus' creations. The first step.
Dream and Alena moved to sit next to one another, propped up by the hedge behind them.
The full belly laughs were… endless.
"Do you really think that a Horse would be happy if it lost its snout?" The Princess' hand covered her mouth as happy tears pricked her eyes. "It would look so lost. How would you lead it?"
"Perhaps it'd never know what life was like with a snout," Dream murmured, his eyes looking up to the twinkling stars above. With her, her imagination unlocked, it felt like a breath of fresh air. He glanced over to her crinkled face, her hand on her forehead, shaking it slightly from the remnants of the idea.
"Do you think its neigh would come out more like a naaaahhh?"
Morpheus nearly snorted at the words coming out of the Princess' mouth. When was the last time he felt so light? "I'd hope the horse could at minimum, keep its dignity with a neigh. Anything is possible."
The curiousness of her unleashed mind would be something that would inspire him for centuries.
"Gosh, I can't remember the last time I laughed like this," Alena admitted lowly, turning to face the Dream Lord. "Thank you for reminding me that I have laughter in my lungs."
Her head leaned back against the hedge, the smile lines by her eyes deepening before she continued, "If you could give me laughter, I know you can give me dreams… but what do you want in return?"
Morpheus simply shook his head, "Nothing."
Her gaze searched his, now full of brightness and starlight with the redness from earlier gone. She looked at him, into him, and she couldn't help her hand reaching down and touching the long fingers of the Endless. She slowly clasped her hands around his, lifting their intertwined fingers to her chest.
If anyone could make an immortal go speechless, it would be this Princess. He looked towards their hands, resting dangerously close to the top of her chest, to her full lips, and back to her glittering eyes.
He inhaled deeply, knowing every ounce of control he's ever had was to be tested.
"Please, what can I give you to repay you." She pleaded, gripping his fingers tighter.
"You haven't even dreamed yet. You owe me nothing."
Alena shook her head, her brown curls framing her face. Her free hand came up and hesitantly grazed the sharp jaw before her. Her light touch caused Morpheus' eyes to close for a moment, inhaling, before meeting her gaze.
The fire at the contact of their skin was blazing beneath the pads of her fingers as she lightly traced over his cheek.
"I cannot give you much," Alena began to speak, "and it might be wild to admit, but if this is the equinox of balance, then what I'm about to say will make sense." The Princess swallowed, as if trying to search for the right words as her thumb stroked Dream's face slowly.
"If I'm to have my life in shackles, I want my heart to be free. I want my heart with the man who creates dreams."
Morpheus' eyes widened slightly, feeling her fingertips burn his skin and the sensation traveling to his belly. How could she do this to him? How could her confession draw this emotion from a soul who has experienced so much that feelings had become numb?
How could this girl… leave him speechless. It took him a moment to reply.
"You want to give me your heart?" Morpheus said, his voice low and soft.
"If you'll have it, yes."
Slowly, the Princess unclasped their fingers and pressed Morpheus' open palm over her exposed skin above her breast, right above her heart. He could feel it beating so fast, so powerfully beneath her soft body. A heart fluttering of life that would soon be snuffed out by the Night King.
"Give me night I will remember until I die," Alena whispered, her rose-scented breath ghosting over his lips. Her eyes searched his, begging him to give her one more reason to find hope.
He knew he had no choice in the matter. His body acted on instinct as he crashed his lips against The Moon Princess.
It was as if the universe needed this moment to balance the scales. As Dream pressed his mouth against that of the Princess, the stars in the sky began to shimmer in a way they never have before. It was as if time, space, reality, and existence, aligned in this very moment and were exploding because of it.
Morpheus had never experienced such a surge of emotion within his body, a heated sensation that rippled throughout his chest as his lips took Princess Alena's breath away.
Her hands came up to wrap around his neck, drawing him closer, as if he'd slip away from her. Morpheus' hands came up to wrap tightly around her waist, the heat of his hands burning through the fabric of her bodice.
A small gasp escaped Alena's mouth as she kissed back the Dream Lord with everything she had. His tongue prodded her mouth open, to which she gladly invited him in. The sweetness of her tongue drove him over the edge.
Was there such a thing as love at first sight for The King of Dreams?
Morpheus would believe anything was possible as he cradled her head in his hands before running down the expanse of her creamy neck. His mouth met her there, giving full kisses with the sweep of his tongue down the length. The passion was burning within him, unlike with any other lovers he's taken in the past.
He needed to devour her whole— he needed to give her something she'd remember forever. He needed to claim her heart as his.
She moaned as she tilted her head back to give him more room, his tongue gliding down to kiss above the top of her breasts. His fingers hooked inside the straps of her dress before gently removing them from her shoulders. His other hand worked masterfully behind her, removing the ties of her corset and pulling the strings apart.
Slowly, but surely, the top of Alena's dress came undone while Morpheus kissed her chest, her jaw, and her neck. He showered her with kisses, making up for all the lost time and all the time they would never have.
He intertwined his long fingers into her now wildly flowing hair around her shoulders. He inhaled her sweet scent, drenched in arousal and need. His mouth planted needy kisses from her collarbone to her jaw before capturing her lips with his.
Two souls, beginning to merge. Two hearts, beating as one. The universe hummed in the unity of the two, but one soul, did not.
While Morpheus and Alena molded into one another, mismatched eyes leered at them from afar with rage pulsing within.
Alena twisted her hands into his wild raven hair, tugging him closer, needing his warm skin on hers. The top of her dress slowly fell always as her breasts became exposed to the sudden coldness. Her pink nipples peaked as she shivered. Morpheus took a moment to draw back, breath heaving deeply.
"You are magnificent," He murmured, his darkened eyes scanning her pearly skin and the gentle rise and fall of her chest as she inhaled with anticipation. The faint blush that surfaced on her cheeks was probably the most radiant thing he's ever seen in all his years of life.
Slowly, he worked off the top strings of his robes and let them fall to the wayside, leaving his bare chest shining in the light of the overhead stars.
Alena equally devoured him, her mouth immediately making contact with the planes of his chest. Her mouth felt like molten lava on his body and stirred every bit of power within him. He felt her breathe life into him that he's never experienced before.
Her sweet mouth, her rosy cheeks, the blush spreading across her body, all while kissing him… pleasing him… he almost couldn't take it. He flipped her onto her back, touching the grass beneath her. And he just looked.
Her chestnut curls were sprawled around her and her exquisite eyes stared up into his soul. How could he give her up? How could he let that monster destroy the light that was this woman?
He'd never let him take her. The possessiveness that overcame him had to be the universe's way to stake his claim, to show balance. They were meant to be together.
"Morpheus," Alena breathed, and their bodies collided. It was a call to action.
He pressed against her, ravishing her with kisses and licks until her breaths became moans. Her hands traveled up his neck, and his hands traveled down her body. He pushed the final piece of her dress off of her, leaving only her in only her underwear.
As quickly as he could, he undid his slacks and discarded them. His hardness pulsed through his boxers as he watched her slowly cover herself with her arms.
"Don't." He ordered calmly, his hand coming up to cup her cheek. "You do not need to hide from me."
Her glassy gaze was all he needed to slam his lips back down onto hers, pressing the full size of his body against hers. Only thin pieces of clothing separated them, and he knew he needed to be within her. He needed to feel her heat around him, and the desire to fill her was overwhelming.
Alena whimpered against his kiss, his fingers lightly pinching her nipples beneath him. She arched into his touch as his tongue met the other breast.
As he suckled on her ever so slowly, his hand trailed down to find the slick folds of the Princess. She was dripping with want, soaked all the way through. He almost couldn't believe how ready she was, how badly she needed this moment with him as much as he needed it with her.
She was going to give him everything she could. He would greedily take it. It was unlike him to be so… forward, so… human, but there was a connection deep within him that pulled him to her. He knew from the moment he saw her that she would end up beneath him. He knew from the moment she asked him to tell her his dreams, that would he would become undone. He knew from the moment she gave him her heart, that he would never let it go.
His fingers looped into her waistband and quickly discarded the garment. Soon enough, his own followed suit until they were bare. His fingers gently prodded her folds apart and felt her thighs trembling with his touch.
At every moment, his sea foam eyes locked with hers. He studied her expression, memorizing the way she blushed and moved as he started to touch her most intimate parts. Slow strokes, fast strokes, before slowly diving into her warmth. His cock throbbed with anticipation, needing to fill her and connect with her on the deepest, cosmic level.
This was meant to be. This was destiny. This was… how it was always meant to be. Her small body was in his hands, quivering at his touch as he plunged his fingers within her. He was meant to create universes with her by his side. He wanted his seed warm within her, blooming.
Alena gasped for air as he kept a ruthless rhythm with his fingers before adding another. She shook in his arms, feeling the spiraling warmth creep up into her abdomen. Her flushed cheeks, her breath shaking.
"Tell me you want this," Morpheus whispered to her, seeing the starlight shimmer beneath her skin.
She inhaled deeply, her hand coming to cup his cheek and bringing his mouth to hers. Her scent of sweet roses infiltrated him and she whispered against his lips, "I only want you."
It was all he needed to position himself above her, lining himself up at her entrance. He stared into her eyes, wanting to watch every second as he slowly pushed into her. He could've sworn he saw a supernova begin to explode within her, her expression open and wanting.
Morpheus slid in deep, ensuring he wasn't hurting her, but goodness the warmth and tightness of her was almost too much to bear. She felt incredible. Her wetness made it slick for him to push inside and he fill her. He never stopped staring at her face, and she never stopped looking back at him.
His forehead rested against hers as he began to move within her, holding on for life as he tumbled into ecstasy within her. He could stay here within her forever if he could. He had never felt such endless pleasure.
But moreso, he felt that indescribable heat expand within his chest, like an invisible string was working its way into hers and tying them together. The more he pumped into her, the more he knew he could never leave her. He felt her love wind into his veins, leaving permanent marks.
A deep groan escaped his throat and her breathy moans grew louder. She took him so perfectly, so completely, like she was made just for him. His hands came around her behind and squeezed her bottom, lifting her hips so he could plunge in deeper.
His angel. His Princess. His creator.
He felt his undoing rapidly approaching, and hers as well. Her moans slowly rocked her eyes into the back of her head, her mouth parting in pure pleasure. Morpheus grabbed her jaw, forcing her to look into his eyes as he ravished her mouth in with his tongue.
She gasped against his mouth with rough exhales, knowing her end was near. She felt the coils build up within her, ready to unravel. Morpheus, too, knew that her tightness, her warmth, the way he filled her so completely and how she took him all the way, was something he would crave for the rest of his waking days.
Their hearts were pounding in rhythm with one another as they both came undone. Their eyes locked, their bodies rippling with an orgasm that shook the universe down to its very beginning. The pleasure seared their veins, imprinting a mark that would stay forever. They were life, they were everything. He watched her as she exploded like a star, unfurling beneath him in waves of pleasure.
Morpheus powerfully thrust into her, spilling his seed seated deeply within her as he claimed her as his.
The silence of the night only had the final gasps for airs of the two lovers, still coming down from the intensity of their joining.
Slowly, his hand came to cup her face lovingly, knowing very well he put stars into her eyes. His mouth came to kiss her forehead, lightly speckled with perspiration. It was like she was shining from within and it was so very beautiful. Her smile was radiating.
He was still seated inside her, unwilling to separate from her.
His thumb stroked her blushing cheek as he whispered, as if he didn't realize he said it out loud, "You've undone me."
With full understanding, a small smile lifted her lips. He knew she felt the same.
Alena and Morpheus spent as long as they could in their blissful universe surrounded by the hedges. They pointed out stars in the sky, their naked bodies pressing against one another and covered by Morpheus' robes.
She leaned against the smooth expanse of his chest as she whispered, "Can you freeze time?"
He gazed down at her, fingers twirling into the curls of her hair as he replied, "I've never wanted my Father's gift until now." He placed a gentle kiss on the line of her hair, softly stroking.
Silence played between them as they settled into their new reality, replaying the memory of the joining over and over.
Morpheus remembered how mesmerized he was when the Princess walked down those stairs. How curious he was that she was a face unknown. How strange to find someone not in The Dreaming.
He remembered how hopeless she was, but little did he realize that he too, needed that light. She gave him laughter, a reason to smile. She gave him her heart and with that, they would create the most intricate stories together. He was ready to see what eternity would look like together.
He would do everything he can to bring her to him.
"Will you come to me tonight, in my dreams?" Alena asked softly, breaking the silence and gazing up at her lover.
A warm smile spread across his lips, knowingly. "Every night, I will come to you in your dreams."
When the night came to an end, and the Silver Millennium was coming to a close, the great deities of this universe began to depart.
Princess Alena and Morpheus returned back to the party at some point that night. No one truly had noticed their hours of absence, as the jovial party continued throughout the evening. As they returned, only one Fae King knew where his future wife had been.
And the Fae knew, as all members of chaos do, exactly how to deal revenge to those who deserve it.
Alena had reunited with her family, trying her best to keep her composure after the world-bending experience she just had with Dream. Moon King was displeased with her extended leave, but he surely didn't show it.
Dream knew he couldn't say goodbye in person to the Princess, but knew he would see her again soon… very soon. His gaze instantly locked with hers across the room, communicating all that he could. Morpheus' small, small smile was all he could give to continue playing his part well. He imprinted her glowing face in his memory across the great hall.
She was the woman who tied an invisible string bound to his heart. Who opened the door to his imagination in ways he never thought. Who made him feel pleasure rippling throughout him with an intensity that could build worlds. She was the perfect puzzle piece to bring Dream back to appreciating and loving life.
For once, he was excited to see what tomorrow would bring. The lonely, numb Dream of the Endless felt alive again.
Dream was smitten.
Giving a small nod to the Princess, he turned around to make his exit back to The Dreaming.
Hours passed, and Princess Alena had never made it to his realm. Dream sat on his throne, waiting until his now-hope-filled lover would reunite with him. His fingers tapped against the arms of his chair, waiting… waiting.
He felt like time was drawing on in a way it had never before. He knew she would come to him with every fiber of his immortal being. She had to — they were meant for each other. Their souls were intertwined, and their bodies were one.
Even if he couldn't stop her repulsive marriage, he could always capture her when she slept and give her a lifetime of happiness in her dreams. Balance to counter the horrors of her waking day until he could figure out how to break her free from the Night King. She was to be his, and he'd help her escape into his own arms for eternity.
He inhaled impatiently, wondering when he'd sense her awaken in The Dreaming.
When Death's footsteps sounded in his hall, everything within him splintered.
He's never seen Death sad before, but when her bottom lip began to tremble, he knew something was wrong. He felt the drop within his chest as he rose from the throne of Dreams.
"Tell me," he quietly ordered, intensity laced his words. He saw her face full of something he's never seen before and it frightened him. She couldn't answer immediately.
Death watched him carefully, her hands gripping one another tightly as she spoke, "Tonight, I passed both the King and Queen of the Moon."
A tremor ran through the ground below.
"What."
"A great, dark evil attacked the Moon Kingdom. A being of total chaos. I do not know how it was summoned, nor was it supposed to be. I was not supposed to pass them today, but something changed. Something no one had anticipated."
The room quaked beneath their feet as shadows of darkness curled around the bottom of the throne.
Wetness pricked on the edges of The Dream Lord's eyes, his insides feeling raw. What was happening?
Death's lips formed a thin line as she continued, "This evil was cast by a great wielder of disorder. The Chaos Demon destroyed and killed everyone ruthlessly. The Kingdom perished, and the people are no more."
Silence dripped through the hall of Dream. He could hear his old heart thump wildly, the blood rushing to his ears and making it almost hard to hear. Did he dare speak the words?
"What of Alena?"
He had to know. She was his, and not even Death, could claim her.
Death was thoughtful with her words, regarding the rage begin to simmer off her younger brother. "A light appeared, brighter than anything we have ever seen. I believe this light was The Great Power, although we don't know where it came from. It destroyed the darkness and stopped the Chaos Demon from spreading through the galaxy, and with it, took Alena. I'm so sorry, I could not find her to pass her. She was gone, taken by the light."
She was gone.
She was gone.
She was gone.
The silence was met with the shaking of the glass room. The rustle of the windows became more apparent as they rattled.
"She was not there?" His voice was close to a whisper. Anger brimming, curling, freezing his warm heart.
"Everyone else on the Moon I had passed. She is the only one I could not find. I'm so sorry, Dream."
His expression grew hard, and his eyes prickled with wetness. His jaw locked, and his breathing was deep as he tried to enforce his emotional shields.
One would never know that Morpheus was truly enraged. The composure of The Endless, locking away the emotions that tore through him for a moment more.
"I will see you around, brother," Death whispered, knowing that he needed time alone to grieve.
As soon as her presence was gone, he couldn't take it anymore. His anger exploded outwards, causing the windows of the glass throne room to shatter as his insides began to shred and devour himself.
Dream felt the coldness seep into his soul where warmth had been moments ago. Profound agony ripped into him as his teeth gritted and more glass shattered upwards from the floor. The castle trembled with his rage.
How could someone summon something as powerful as a Chaos Demon? Who summoned it? Where was Alena now? Was she taken to another realm? Death made it pretty clear that she was dead, but could he accept that? Where was her soul?
How could something so good, when he hasn't felt anything in centuries, rise up and be snatched away?
Did… Destiny know? He had to have. He knew there had to be a cosmic bond between him and the Princess, beyond simply love or sex. He knew The Great Power would appear that night, only to save the universe but take her life with it.
How cruel.
Morpheus felt wetness slide down his pale cheek, the pads of his fingers lightly tapping it away. Why even create The Endless to have feelings?
They only caused him such pain. He couldn't be this emotional… he couldn't allow himself to feel desire, despair, destruction, or even the inevitability of death.
He was Dream. He was The Endless. He was simply here for a task to reality.
Morpheus thought of her beautiful face one last time before taking the memories of tonight and slowly locking them away. One by one, he took the stars in her eyes and placed them into a box. He took the memory of her heart and stashed it in the deepest recess of his mind.
And finally, her smile and laughter… Dream's fingers touched his lips one more time before letting the thought disappear. Sealed away.
The King of Dreams inhaled slowly, letting the splintered room reconstruct itself, and the tremors ceased. The pieces of glass lifted one by one, falling back into place along the walls and floors.
Lucienne at this point entered as Morpheus, once more, sat down on his throne. Silence.
"Sir, are you ready for today's agenda?"
His cold eyes watched her, the emptiness filling his soul and the darkness webbing over his heart.
"Yes," he lowly agreed. Time goes on. His job, his duty to humanity, was Endless.
Boom. There you have it. The reason why Dream is known to be ruthless to so many. The anger behind his eyes.
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