To begin with, I want to point out that I say Morpheus because Daniel-as-Dream does not refer to himself as such, feeling unworthy of that man's shoes, and I mean it because I do not mean that my life as Dream would continue as Daniel, as the next-following Dream of the Endless. Those of you who understand how this works know what I mean. To others: There's always an Endless to fit the aspect. It's just a question of who fulfills the role.
Anyway, Morpheus-as-Dream.
From the beginning of life, there has been Dream...as well as Destiny, Death, Desire, Despair, Delight/Delirium, and Destruction. And out of them all, the most-interesting power is Dream. I never knew just how original the Sandman's power can actually be, simply because most of it exists in sleep and the subconscious. He does not kill, not unless there is no alternative and still maybe not then. Dream is, though standoffish and unnerving to some, actually a nice guy. Not as nice as Death is, but then Death kinda' has to sympathize with all the people she's removing from life. But although Dream's life is one REALLY LONG Shakespearean tragedy, there are alot of bits that make his life very cool.
For starters, the lives that he's influenced is about as Endless as his state of being. In 'The Wake', literally everyone was there to see his passing and those on the procession closest to him were massive in number, so many clearly appreciated him, as well he knew. Knowing that you're appreciated is important in an Endless existence. Still, DURING his life, Dream is an epitome of creativity. He has caused and recorded all the greatest stories never known right along with the ones that DID become known. He has sown terror and contentment in the mind, and had to take on the odd adventure for good or for ill, so his life is hardly boring.
Here's the part that I like the most: Yeah, so remember how Dream was killed and it's all technically Shakespearean tragedy because he commissioned The Tempest out of Will himself? As you approach the act by which the Kindly Ones actually lash out, you begin to notice how a number of his actions have brought this upon himself, but then as you go even further back, and read how he responds to the question of his responsibilities and change (especially when speaking to Destruction), you start to see it: He did it on purpose. If the choice was to adapt or die and he could not adapt, then he had to die, of course. But...because he is who he is, and the nature of the Endless, he also did what he did to adapt BY dying.
He planned it for eons, poking and prodding many places and many means, all without notice because it did not seem to break any of his rules, nor change who he was. He even made it so Desire thought that he/she was getting revenge, but then realized too late that this was not the case. One picture, just a dream of Dream, confirms the suspicions: Morpheus, no longer Dream of the Endless, cast aside his power and responsibilities through the proper channels (Death) and joined Destruction on his journeys. And as to what happened to him after, only Neil knows for sure.
