Lavender Snow

Illusions

Fai was an idiot.

He was a rich idiot, and he talked too much.

Dream did not like Fai.

Or most anyone.

And yet, here he was, sitting in a drab meeting, listening to the rich idiot ramble on and on about himself. It was the most boring and stupid lecture he had ever heard. Dream was very close to falling asleep when Fai decided to change his approach.

"What?" Dream said, jerking his head up.

"I, er, do you. . . want a demonstration?" Fai's eyes flicked around the room, but he couldn't see the emperor in the dark throne room.

"Fine, fine, go ahead." The sooner this was over, the better. Dream leaned back and yawned. "Remind me again what you're demonstrating?"

"Ah. . . My power, sir. And how I think it could benefit you-"

"All right, all right, get on with it before I really do fall asleep."

"Yes, sir." Idiot.

Dream scratched his arm, glancing around the room, waiting for something to happen. And then he was sitting on the edge of a plateau, looking down into the void below. A pebble slipped off the edge and fell into the darkness.

"You see?" Fai's voice came from all sides, but was nowhere to be seen. "Fully charged, my powers are completely realistic. Anywhere I've been, I can recreate in perfect detail, no matter how long it's been or how hazy my memory is."

Dream brushed his hand against the rock. It was grainy and brushed off easily. "Teleportation? Or astral projection?"

"Neither, sir. Illusion combined with phantom sensory. You're still in the throne room, and you won't be able to physically move while in this state, even though your mind believes you're moving in the illusion. Convincing?"

"Very." He turned and swept his hand through the air behind him. It did not hit the throne. "What's the Enderian's name?"

The illusion disappeared. Fai tucked his hands behind his back, the hint of a smile on his face. "I only know its numbers, sir, but I can bring it by tomorrow-"

"10:30, sharp. Don't be late." Dream leaned back in his throne and closed his eyes.

Interesting. . .