Sandman: Overture #3 (2014)

Diverse alien creatures and supernatural entities are becoming aware of the impending destruction of the universe. They are crossing the vastness of the cosmos, each with their own motivations, beliefs and intentions, and converging upon a single, unspecified point in space. On their way to visit the "city of the stars", Morpheus and the Dream of Cats arrive on a barren alien world, remeniscent of the American southwest. There they encounter the Hecateae, who try to convince Morpheus to barter with them for knowledge, leaving the Dream Cat as payment (mostly the Maiden's idea.) They offer "teasers" of information, but as they do not seem to be telling him anything new, he declines to haggle with them and leaves. The Crone makes an ominous remark that he would be better off not looking "under the bed". Arriving at a ruined settlement, Dream and the cat encounter humanoid green-skinned aliens sporting hostile attitudes and firearms. Morpheus unsettles one of them by addressing him by name. The aliens begin shooting, although they are unable to actually inflict harm upon one of the Endless. Dream produces his pouch and throws sand at them; they collapse, incapacitated by nightmares. The Dream of Cats points out that another alien — this one of a blue-skinned race — has been strung up inside one of the buildings, stripped naked and partially eviscerated, as if for food. Morpheus notes a child of the same race hiding under the bed and tells her to come out. The girl, Hope, is the daughter of the dead man and witnessed his murder. Dream helps the girl bury her father. She declines Dream's offer to wipe the trauma from her memory, relaying that the green marauders were aware of the coming apocalypse; cynically, they reasoned it was better for everyone to die quickly rather than sit around waiting for the end. Morpheus initially declines Hope's request to join them on their journey to visit the city of the stars, as she is too small and vulnerable and could not possibly keep up — also, as a mortal, not physically capable of entering the city. The Dream of Cats offers to carry her on his back. Several days into the trip, the trio are set upon by a swarm of metallic beetles. They are referenced in the beginning of the issue as having intent to "participate in the destruction and make art from the wreckage". Though Morpheus warns Hope to not harm even the smallest of them, the creatures attempt to overwhelm and intimidate him, even directly threatening his life. But at the terrifying sound of the dream-lord's laughter the swarm flees, cowed. Camping for the night, Dream begins to discuss his true nature with Hope; when he mentions one of his titles is Prince of Stories, she asks for his "best one". So we finally hear the story of his ill-fated love affair with the creature Alianora, and how she got her facial scar; of the dream skerry, Hierogram and Porpentine later referenced in "A Game of You" (Sandman #32-37). The story also explains the origin of the Gates of Horn and Ivory, and of Dream's Helm.