The battle between Lucifer and Dream was going to commence soon. I just had this deep gut feeling, that something bad was going to happen, and he was going to be trapped here. Imprisoned once again. I hung back, as the rest were on the balcony, ready to speak to the demons below.

"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen," Choronzon spoke normally, but his voice travelled below. He also was raising Dream's helm high up for all to see, before lowering it. "Today for your entertainment and delectation, a formal challenge," the demons below cheered, but I tried to pay no attention as my mind reeled with the possibilities, the worst outcome and the whole lot. Which was an odd thing for me to do. "The challenger is Dream. Once the Master of the Realm of Sleep," I felt the eyes of Dream on me, and I raised my head up, to see him staring at me, and he knew I had something on my mind.

He walks from the balcony, and heads my way, our eyes never disconnecting. But my mind could not stop reeling with the different outcomes this could have.

"Are you sure about this?" I asked, once he was close enough, and he stood in front of me, only a few inches apart.

"Is the Lady of Chaos worried?" He replied with his own question, leaving just that monotone deep voice of his, ringing in my ears.

"You just got out of one prison, do not fall in another," I retorted, giving him something to think about. He just gives me a look that he never gave me before. A look of appreciation. It took me back, as I thought the day would never come. Suddenly, Matthew caws alerting us that he wants to speak to Dream. Matthew hops on by, and down the steps that we first came up. Dream followed, before kneeling down to one knee to stare down at his raven.

"Matthew, I need you to return to the Dreaming," he instructed.

"What? No!" Matthew didn't sound pleased with the suggestion Dream put forward.

"It's the only reason I allowed you to come here,"

"So I could leave you?"

"If I should not be able to leave this place. I would not have Lucienne left alone with no word of my fate," he was entrusting Matthew to be the bearer of bad news if this does go south, and he loses. "Not again," he was thinking of the last time he was imprisoned, and Lucienne all alone and no word from him or what happened. "The sand will take you back,"

"I'm not going back," Matthew lifted one of his legs up and placed it back on the ground, assuring Dream he would not leave.

"Morpheus, am I interrupting a preliminary bout of some kind?" Lucifer spoke, coming to stop to the left of me. She was very quiet, and sneaky like that. Dream raised his head up from Matthew to look at Lucifer.

"Just a ringside pep talk, your Majesty," Matthew announces, bowing his head with the last words he spoke. "We came here for the helm and we're not leaving here without it,"

"We shall see," Lucifer thrived on being smug, and winning. Matthew began to flap his wings and fly up in the air, and land on one of the columns to watch from above. I went down the steps as Dream raised to stand to his feet.

"If you lose Dream, you'll be stuck here, forever," his eyes connected to mine as they moved away from Lucifer. "Someone's bitch," I was trying to make him see that losing wasn't an option.

"I will be fine," he replied softly, having full faith in his ability. He steps forward, but my hand flew up to his arm, grabbing that biscip of his. Feeling that black leather he was wearing. His gaze cocked back over, their eyes meeting once again. I just stared into his dull blue eyes, but I could tell they were old, and had seen a lot.

"Do not lose," my voice was stern in a way, warning him not to lose this. I lowered my hand from his arm, and watched as his eyes lingered for a moment before he went up the steps, and onto the platform. They got into position across from one another, ready to begin. I positioned myself on the outskirts of the platform, so I have the view of the two opponents.

"As the challenged, I set the metre and take the first move," Lucifer instructed the rule.

"Very well," Dream had no problem in going second. "Make your move," he was ready, but truth be told I was nervous as hell.

"I am... A dire wolf. Prey-stalking, lethal prowler," I could hear a faint snarling sound echo within the room. This game was mind based, so those two would see their version in their minds, but to the rest you could hear the faint echoes of the game.

"I am a hunter. Horse-mounted, wolf-stabbing," the sound of a horse trotting along came to ear, before an arrow being shot from a bow whistled out. Just then, Lucifer grunts in pain as she leans over, grabbing the wound that she was shot at. She breathed heavily, as she pulled her hand away to see blood pooled in her palm. And the wound was visible as day on her. She did not look happy.

"I am a serpent... Horse-biting," I could hear the serpent unlocking its jaw and attacking, and the horse neighing in pain. "Posion-toothed," dream turned his head in the direction of me, but even from here I could see the poisoned venom, coursing through his veins and into his face.

"I am a bird of prey," he recovered quickly, and stared back at Lucifer. "Snake-devouring, talons ripping," a bird caws, and then a scratching sound that they made, and Lucifer twisted her face to the right, as if she had just been attacked. She gasps, touching her left cheek that was scratched.

"I am a butcher bacterium," she was getting higher on the food chain here, and clearly she was pissed. "Warm-life destroying," Dream grunts as he falls to his knees all of a sudden. I refrained myself from stepping forward. He was in so much pain, it was clear to see but he forces himself to raise his head up to look at Lucifer. One side of his face began to be eaten away, the flesh quickly decaying and rotting.

"I am a world," Dream responded after a small pause, but his voice was low. "Space-floating, life-nurturing," I could hear the birds tweeting, and smell nature. I saw he had stood back up, looking normal once again.

"I am a nova," Lucifer raised her voice slightly. "All-exploding, planet-cremating," dream screams as part of his face begins to burn away, as if he was being hit by a nova. Suddenly, he drops back to the ground, grunting in more pain. He tries to get up, but is too weak to do so.

"I am a universe," he spoke weakly. "All things encompassing, all life embracing," though his voice was still weak, I could picture the universe. The many stars, the beautiful colours it can create.

"I am anti-life," just like that the room became colder, even if that was possible as we were in Hell. "The Beast of Judgement. The dark at the end of everything," Dream's complexion dramatically changed to that of a decaying corpse. His cheeks and eyes sunken in, his skin much paler and darker. "What will you be then, Dream Lord?" His breathing was shallow, as he laid on his side.

"I..." His voice was barely audible, as he tried to force himself up, but couldn't. "I... I..." Lucifer held a grin as wide as the chester cat, stepping closer to Dream.

"Boss? Hey, Boss!" Matthew came hopping on over, shouting at Dream to alert him.

"Still with us, Dream?" Lucifer was gloating, in her heart - if she had one - knew that the game was won.

"He is, and it's his move. Your Majesty," Matthew shot back, but kept his manners in respect of being a leader of a realm.

"There are no more moves. What can survive the anti-life?" It was a done deal, anti-life was inevitable, it will come for all at the end of creation.

"Hey, boss. Listen to me. You know what can survive the anti-life? You... Dreams don't fucking die. Not if you believe in them, and I believe Dream of the Endless would never leave his raven here alone, in Hell with Lucifer," Matthew gave a good speech, but would it be enough? I didn't want to involve myself in this affair. But I was never good at keeping out of other people's drama.

"Matthew's right," my voice soared through the air, as I walked towards Dream, feeling the eyes of Lucifer on me. "You would not dare leave another raven, not after what happened with the last," I crouched down and stared at Dream. "I might not express it, but I believe in you Dream. I fucking believe," I assured him in my belief in his ability, in his existence.

"I... Am..." Dream slowly, leaned up, and stared at Lucifer. But I took a few steps back, watching it unfold. "Hope," he expressed the word, as bright lights shone into the room, making Dream rise to his feet.

"Hope," Lucifer could not believe it. The light that was being shined began to fade, and Dream was returned to his natural pale self.

"Well, Lightbringer? It's your move. What is it that kills hope?" She was outmatched, and winning for her was off the table. I couldn't help but smile at the fact that he won the game.

"Choronzon, give him his helm," Lucifer turned and looked at the Duke of Hell as she was out of moves.

"No... I won't," he states, not wanting to hand it over. "It's mine. Please," Mazikeen walks toward the Duke, grabbing the helm off of him, literally ripping it out of his hand. Before using her other hand to grip his throat, and throw him over the balcony, down below. The demons below cheered, enjoying the little surprise.

Dream approached the balcony and that of Mazikeen, as she spun around, and held the helm out for him to take.

"Thank you, Mazikeen," he thanked her, but she walked away, as Dream turned his gaze to Lucifer. "Thank you, Lightbringer. The Ruler of Hell is honourable, indeed. I will not forget this," he was even thanking the Devil.

"Honourable? You joke, surely," she sounded bitter, and filled with anger. "Look out there, Morpheus," she strides on over to the balcony. "The billion Lords of Hell stand arrayed about you. Tell us," she turns to face him and steps closer. "Why should we let you leave? Helmet or no, you have no power here. After all. What power have dreams in Hell?" She questioned, but she was trying to assert her dominance once again, always wanting to be on top. But number one.

"You say I have no power here... Perhaps you speak truly," Dream began. "But to say dreams have no power in Hell... Tell me, Lucifer Morningstar. What power would Hell have if those here imprisoned were not able to dream..." Dream pauses, for a second, wanting to add to the dramatics. "Of Heaven?" Shocked, simple as that. He threatened the devil, with the promise of her prisoners of Heaven. She fucking hates that place. It was bold of Dream to speak of Heaven here in Hell, I thought she was going to rip his head clean off.

"One day, Morpheus... We shall destroy you,"

"Until that day, Lightbringer," he was smug in his reply, as he tilted forward to bow ever so slightly. Without another word, he turns and walks away. He passed me, but I felt the eyes of Lucifer on me.

"A moment, Lady Chaos," Lucifer's voice brought my attention back to her. She descended from the balcony, and headed to me. "It was a surprise to hear that you are with one of the Endless," she stops in front of me, making me tilt my head up to meet her piercing gaze. "And even offering to aid him," Lucifer looked surprised.

"My alignment with one of the Endless, surely does not concern Hell's leader?" I pondered the question to Lucifer as why would she be so interested.

"An alignment that will be terminated soon. I hope," Lucifer lips tugged into a grin. "The Lords of Chaos assured that your obedience was guaranteed. That your creation was to serve them, and Hell," she was threatening me with my creators and what we agreed upon millions of years ago. "You do well, not to stand against the hordes of Hell," now that was a threat.

"I remember the arrangement," I replied, dismissing her threat as I would be squished if I went up against her. "Do not worry, if you call upon me. I sure will heed thy call," a smug smile came to my face, as we all know I would heed the call of Hell. "Always a pleasure, Morningstar," I curtsy, but it was one of the half-assed, mocking ones. Our conversation was brief, but meaningful.

I turned my back, and walked away. Heading back through the palace, out of the massive door. Seeing Dream waiting for me just outside, but I brush past as we had nothing to speak about. In no time we reached the gates of Hell, and they opened for us. Dream went forward, holding his helm tight in his grip. We arrived where we landed in Hell upon the hill side, deserted and bare.

"You think Lucifer will come after you?" Matthew spoke up.

"Why?" Dream responded, wondering why he would even ask the question.

"Because you just publicly humiliated the Ruler of Hell," Matthew was worried about his master.

"It was fun to watch though," I remarked, finding Lucifer being humiliated is a one in a lifetime type of thing. Dream raises his helm up and places it on his head. "Can you even see?" I questioned as the helm looked rather wide eyed and stuffy.

"I can," he responded to me. "I can see the ruby," he states, as the helmet's eyes began to turn red. He pulled free his pouch of sand and it was already pouring the sand from within. I stepped closer to Dream, as the vortex of sand swirled up us. I was blinded by the gains of sand, but it sent us to where we needed to be.

Once the sand faded, I could see that we were in a container, it was cramped but the shining of the ruby alerted us to that it was here. I turned my head to see Dream remove his helm, and had an outfit change in the process of teleporting. He had returned to the normal clothes he had.

Matthew was pecking at the crate it was in, making Dream place his helm down and head on over to the crate. Before taking it in his hand, and crouching down to the ground, placing it there. He opened the lid with ease, and the shine of the ruby beamed out. I stepped closer to look at the gem, it was pretty and the power radiating from it was immense. He smiles, grabbing the ruby in his hand and slowly stands back up with it. But the smile on his face changed dramatically.

"Something's wrong," he states, making me come closer to him and stare at the ruby, feeling what he meant.

"I feel it too," the ruby was emitting some strange energy that I couldn't describe but it felt like someone had tainted the ruby.

"Someone's altered it," the gem began to glow even brighter, and suddenly, a pulse was emitted from the ruby, sending a shockwave out, hitting Dream and I. We both flew back into the pile of boxes behind us. I hit into the back of the container, and slumped down the wall. I felt weak, and powerless in a way. Within seconds, I was out cold...

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