After an interesting journey through gray mists, waters made of crystal beads, magic castles populated by familiar faces (and flying fish!), Brishen and her companion, Jynx, have made their way to a strange building that resembled the Temple. Ghosts walks its halls. Savanites who signed to nobody or who ran from nightmarish apparitions. Still, they were harmless, and all things considered the building seemed to be the safest place for now. There was edible food and drinkable water… and a soft place to sleep.

Jynx had been insistent on sleep, and finally Brishen relented. Slowly the bat drifted off to slumber, and into dreams…

There had been a castle on Morpheus, a dream place of tea parties and childish joys. Brishen finds herself in another palace and dressed not in a frilly party dress, but a gown sewn of light and gemstones. Around her, music plays as a ballroom forms around her. Several Eeee, Khattas, and other species look at her and ogle; some even applaud at her arrival.

There's the faintest disorientation as the young Eeee looks down at her exquisite dress, watching patterns of light play across her form. A hand reaches up to twirl a lock of hair around a slender finger, her ears canting slightly at the sound of applause.

Brishen's hair is perfectly in place, appropriate for such an event. A young Eee with white fur approaches her. "Madame Kara… will you not sing for us? We would all like just a taste of your voice." He bows, wings fluttering against his back.

Brishen's wings spread in crescents behind her as she clasps her hands neatly and bows. "I would be honored. Thank you." She bites her lower lip and looks about at the ballroom.

"Thank you, Madame Kara! Oh thank you!" He bows several times. "She's going to sing for us! Please, help her to the stage!" The crowd parts and a Kujaku takes Brishen's arm, gently leading her forward. Every eye in the room is upon her, adoring her, almost worshiping her.

Brishen follows, her steps light as she walks towards the stage. There's something distracted, however, in the cant of her ears, in the way her dark brown eyes fall to her hands, to her bright gown. ( Last-Daughter – Eve! I – What am I doing here? )

The bat is led up to the stage and her escort weaves his way back into the crowd below. A Naga sitting at a harp whispers to Brishen, "Hsst! What should we play, mum? A Ballad? A dancing song?"

Brishen blinks, staring at the Naga with enormous brown eyes. "I – " She looks out on the ballroom, at the audience. ( Wake up. Come on – wake up! )

The crowds mumble in confusion at Brishen's hesitation. finally the Naga shrugs and begins to play a soft ballad on her harm. Violins and other stringed insturments add their soft supple notes to the melody.

"Jump in whenever you're ready, Ma'am," the snake hisses, grimacing.

Brishen shakes her head, once, then cants an ear towards the harp. It's not hard to follow the melody, to add to it as notes seem to twine with the Naga's strings. Her voice is soft and low as she closes her eyes, the words that fall from her lips a delicate knotwork, a song about a young woman who waits for the soldier she loves to return from a grand and distant war.

The ballad continues, several couples break off and dance softly, some sit and admire the bat's voice. A couple of the ladies dab at their eyes. The Naga at the harp nods to herself and plucks gently at the strings as the ballad winds on.

It's not hard for the young Eeee to grow lost in the song, her eyes tightly shut, her body pulled taut like the Naga's harp as she draws the notes of sorrow from her soul; for the young soldier sent to battle, for the love she sent to deliver a dangerous cargo long ago.

Finally, the ballad ends. For a moment there is silence, and then uproarious applause as the spectators cheer the Eeee's voice.

Brishen opens her eyes, smiling as she looks out upon the audience. Her wings spread out behind her as she bows.

The musicians begin to play another tune, this one a gentle dancing song. The crowd disperses into couples again like a parting sea. Except for one lone Eee who remains at the foot of the stage. His fur is charcoal black and his eyes hold a warm green color. He continues to stand, his hands clapping softly.

Brishen casts a bright smile to the green-eyed fellow as she floats down from the stage. She brushes a lock of hair from her eyes. "I'm glad you liked the performance."

"I did indeed, Madame Kara." He gently takes Brishen's hand and kisses it softly. "I would be most honored if you would dance with me."

Brishen gathers her gown up a little and curtsies. "I would be delighted."

Brishen can't help but be reminded of Gnarr as she curtsies. She giggles quietly to herself.

Brishen is led across the ballroom floor. Ornate designs pattern the tiles below her feet like some great tapestry. The bat takes one of Brishen's gloved hands, puts another hand on her waist and leads her into the ballad. His movements are strong, but there's some skill to his step as well. "I thank you for allowing me the honor of dancing with you, Madame Kara," he whispers into her ear.

Brishen knows enough to let the tall bat take the lead and keep it. Her gown swirls about her ankles as she tilts her head, slightly, and smiles. "How could I resist, sir?"

The black bat chuckles. "I am honored, quite honored. But you've given me the chance to speak with you. I wished to pass my thanks along to you, for all of your help."

Brishen's voice is soft, her eyes bright as daggers. "For my help?"

"Yes." The bat twirls his dancing partner and smiles softly at her. "Thank you for bringing me here, for showing me."

Brishen's gown twirls and gathers about her ankles, mirroring the circle she describes across the ballroom floor. She smiles, her eyes fixed on the bright green of black bat. "And what have I shown you?"

"Morpheus," The black bat answers. "I have decided to name myself after the place of my rebirth. You may call me Morpheus, Madame Kara."

Brishen's eyes narrow, ever-so-slightly. Her voice has the faintest of sharp edges as she looks up at the black bat. "What may you have been, before your birth?"

"You are a very smart woman, Madame Kara," Morpheus answers. "I believe you know exactly what I was."

Brishen nods, and for a moment she smiles. "I do know what you were." She leans close to whisper to the black bat. "You are much more handsome than you were when last we met."

"Now THAT… is something I was not expecting you to say to me." Morpheus smiles and twirls his partner again. "Most of our dialogue has consisted of you telling me to be quiet and… 'shove off'."

Brishen's smile is bright and almost innocent and fails utterly to reach her eyes. She continues, once her twirling path meets with the black bat's eyes. "You are being polite."

"Was I being rude before? I was only fulfilling my function." Morpheus arches an eyebrow.

Brishen draws close to the black bat. "No, I don't think you were ever rude."

"Impolite then. Well, I apologise." He dips Brishen and slows his step. "Do you wish to wake up now?"

Something bright kindles in the young Eeee's eyes. "Not just yet. I have an inkling of what your function once was – What is it now?" She remains close to the dark bat, her gown bright contrast to his black fur.

"I am not sure what my function is. For now I am content to explore and observe." Morpheus picks up his step again. "And what do you think my old function was?"

Brishen's eyes are bright as she is drawn along with the black bat in their elaborate, illusory dance. "To offer to whom you met what would eventually destroy them. I haven't forgotten the dragon, nor what you said when last we met."

"You are wrong. I offered happiness." Morpheus purses his lips. "Can I help it if those who controled me wished for things that drove them mad? I never offered anything that I could not give. Not even when I offered to allow you to see your lost love again."

Brishen whispers, her voice almost sad. "What you can offer me would not give me happiness."

"No… I suppose it would not." The black bat slows his step again, barely moving. "He is happy, but his joy apparently only brings you sorrow."

Brishen shrugs, a fluid motion that casts streams of light along her gown. "If he is – If he's happy without me – I won't take that from him. I love him, but I don't own him, nor do I want to own him."

"So you no longer think the image was a fabrication?" Morpheus' eyes widen a bit.

Brishen's smile is almost gentle as she whispers, "It doesn't matter if it is or not." She steps back to regard the black bat, a hand held lightly at his waist. "You really don't know me at all, do you?"

"Does it matter?" He frowns slightly. "The image hurt you, I explained it to you, you called me a liar. I offered you an image that had brought you happiness before." He shrugs. "My goal is no longer to bring happiness, so it does not matter to me."

Brishen lowers her chin, slightly, though her eyes remain fixed on Morpheus'. "And what is your goal, now?"

Morpheus steps back out of the dance, gently giving Brishen's hand a kiss. "My goal was to thank you, and I have done so. Now my goal is to find a new goal, I believe." The images around him begin to fade, the dancers' forms take the shape of twining plants. "Good awakening, fair lady."