Revelational Epiphanies.

Celebrations. There are revelers dancing around the Maypole. Rejoicing the destruction of a dangerous enemy. "She's gone!" they shout. They couldn't be happier. Right? They couldn't be happier. Look what they have; a fairytale ending. The one who killed her. He is praised. He seems happy enough. Because happy is what happens when all your dreams come true. Isn't it? Happy is what happens when all your dreams come true. "Speech! they shout. "Speech!"

He stumbles up to the front of the crowd. He clears his throat nervously and begins to speak.

"I couldn't be happier. Now that she is gone, happiness is spread throughout the land. We can stop living in fear. Though it is, I admit, the tiniest bit unlike I anticipated.

The crowd exchanged looks.

"But I couldn't be happier," he continued. "I simply couldn't be happier...Well. Not simply. Because getting your dreams, it's strange, but it seems a little, well, complicated.

The crowd stirs uneasily.

"There's a sort of...cost. There are a few things that get...lost. There are bridges you've crossed you didn't know you'd cross until you'd crossed them."

The crowd stirs again, louder this time.

"And if that joy, that thrill, doesn't thrill like you think it will--" he cuts off and pauses for a few moments.

"Well, with this perfect ending and the ballyhoo and celebrations, I couldn't be happier. Because happy is what happens when all your dreams come true."

"Isn't it?" he asked quietly.

The crowd is silent.

"Isn't it?" he demands, "What then? What is she, the Cruel One, was scared? What if she was alone and confused? What if she didn't know what she was doing? Are you happy? Are you happy knowing that you killed an innocent woman? Are you?"

The crowd is silent.

"Answer me!" he cries.

Finally, someone speaks.

"She had to be destroyed. She killed an unsuspecting civilian."

"You didn't answer my question! Are you happy with the idea that you might have killed an innocent woman?" he shouted.

"She had to be destroyed. This was our dream. We're happy..."

"You disgust me," he spat.

"...What were your dreams?"