I had managed to stay awake, somehow, and saw morning slowly come. I stifled a yawn mad I wasn’t one of those video characters that could go days without sleep. Hmm, wonder how a displaced Link would function. Guess it would depend on what game they came from.

“Did thou stay up all night?” Like would they be like the Smash version or BotW, these are questions that need answers. “Are we being ignored?” Was someone talking to me? Turning my head slowly I saw Stella with the blanks balled up and held under her arm. Her normily immaculate clothes and hair showed that she had moved around a bit in her sleep.

“Do we need to find someone for you, umm, like a stylist?” I asked my speech slow. I wonder if Heal would give me some energy. Or would it be Health Heal sense exhaustion could be considered a debuff. I should be able to access it now.

“No, we always look our best.” Stella stated while passing me the pillows and blankets. I shoved them into the bag repressing another yawn.

“I’m sure,” I mumbled out trying to figure out how to work Health Heal. If I used happy thoughts for Heal then maybe Health worked by me using, I don’t know maybe healthy thoughts. I went through my head trying to find what something to match and just went to the time I visited doctors or dentist. My family was on very good terms with our dentist, we even got invited to their house for the fourth of July. I felt my exhaustion slowly leave me as an energy similar to Heal but different flow through me I stood up. “So any idea where we are?” Out of either of us she would know where we are.

“We are sorry to inform you that we have no idea where we are.” Stella said shaking her head. “We don’t recognize the location, this world has changed since we have last been here.”

“Well looks like we’re going till we find something.” Come on Comet give me something here. I felt my senses start turning me toward one of the nearby mountains. “Comet says we start over there.” I point in the direction before walking over.

“Ah yes, that Demon,” Stella says following me. “How many do you have? We never got an answer.”

“Oh I have elven Demons. Though I can only access a few right now.” I kept having to tap Comet due to the lack of trail anywhere nearby. Checking I’m relieved to note that this is passive so I’m not using any of the chain. Would hate to get into a fight and not have any Demons all because I needed a compass.

“We see, are we included in this number?” Stella asked trying to keep the conversation going.

“No you are number twelve.” We continued on with me changing DS to a machete so I could easily clean the way. “Before you ask though I only have access four of them at the moment.” As we made our way around the mountain I see the guiding light break off into two different directions. What? My head swivels back and forth looking between the two of them. Were there two different cities nearby? Or two ways to get there. I mean there are almost hundreds of ways to get to the same location but I would think Comet would let me know the most efficient route. So why try to show me somewhere else?

“We shall not be ignored!” I yelled at being pulled out of my thoughts. “Now tell us what you deemed more important than our conversation!” Man she seemed mad.

“Comet’s guiding light thing just went off in two different directions.” I try to explain still trying to figure out which way to go. “One is heading deeper in the forest while the other is toward the mountain.” Reaching into my pocket I fished around and pulled out one of the gold coins I won. “You win we go toward the forest, lose we go hiking.” Seeing her sigh before nodding I flip the coin.

“Heads.” Stella says as the coin comes down. Slapping my hand down I hold it for a second before showing he the tail side of the coin. “Very well, shall we head toward the mountain?” With a nod we both head out. “So did thou really stay up all night?”

“Yeah, had to.” Man I hate awkward conversations. Well I am the one making it awkward but point still stands. “Someone had to make sure no critters tried to kill us in our sleep or steal things.”

“Ah I see, we had not thought of that, for that we apologize.” Stella said offhandedly, but hey I’ll take what I can get.

“No problem,” I waved off clearing the way more. Fun fact: after becoming the Demon Gazer I seem to have gained a video game characters endurance. Meaning I don’t get tired from walking or fighting. Now running, strenuous activity, or staying up all night will tire me out. Found that out during training. As we fell back into silence I checked my slot one to see if there was anything I could do about that atrocity. No matter what I tried the clothes stayed. So having to admit defeat I instead made it slot three while making a new slot one. Which confused me so much now that I thought about it. Slots just means weapons, so how did it change my appearance? Not that I’m going to complain. Upon nearing the base of the mountain the forest thins allowing me to see farther.

“So we go around or over?” The peanut gallery asked having taken out her glaive to keep herself entertained. Huh, wonder if I can use the mini radio to find something to listen to? No bad thoughts stay on track!

“We go through it,” I explain as I walk up to a stone wall. With a quick kick part of it fell away leaving a door in its place. “Wonder why someone would make this then hide it?”

“We can think of a few reasons but that is not important.” Stella said waving it off. We walked a ways into the dungeon as the lights started to dim around us. The stone work was cracked in a few places but overall looked well put together and was holding up well. I held my hand up in front of me as I focused up on trying to make a fire.

“Come on, come on… GAZER FLAME!” In my cupped hand a blue flame formed. The flame flew in front of me before hovering there. “Now stay!” Don’t know how this compares to the game but hey floating fire is useful. Turning I saw Stella giving me a blank stare. “What?”

“Nothing just wondering if you talk to all inanimate objects.” Seems I’m out of the formal thou category. What I do research, occasionally.

“Only when I feel like it.” I shot back while squinting. The Gazer Flame provided some light but it was still pretty dark in here. Plus if games, Legend of Zelda in particular, taught me anything it’s that dungeons had traps and puzzles. So not being able to see very far was going to be a problem. I ran energy through the SIVA in Demon Slayer but all I got was a dull light so I let it go with a sigh. “Long shot but you wouldn’t happen to have any light spells?” I asked while grabbing my bag and shoved my entire hand in there. Maybe I had a flashlight or something in there.

“We in fact do but would prefer to save our magic for more important matters.” Stella said with a wave of their hand. Oh how much I wanted to chew her out for that but my gamer instincts were yelling to save MP. I should properly get her some MP Regen artifacts soon. Next town for sure. Probably call Ed then too.

I stuck out my tongue a little in concentration before pulling out a flashlight. “Thank you foresight!” I cheered while turning it on. A beam of light lit up the path forward as we continued on our way down. “So… how you doing?”

Stella shot me the most confused expression while her brain tried to process what I said. “...We think we slept on our shoulder wrong. We are not used to sleeping in caves or rougher terrain.” Well that was more than I was expecting.

“Yeah sleeping outdoor requires a bit of work. I remember, somewhat, my first time camping outdoors. Wound up putting my tent on an ant hill, was not fun, at all.” I said back while swinging my light back and forth. Something was a little off, I just couldn’t put my finger on what yet. Man this is going to drive me crazy.

“Yes even our memories of Luna tell us that we always had a bed and other sleeping essentials with us so we would not sleep on rocks. So then Demon Gazer please tell us why it is that you do not have a bed in your bag?” That is a very good question. I mean Furiter was a thing in both games, used to up characters stats, so why didn’t I have one of the beds? No bad brain focus on the uneasy feeling in our guts. Why are we so on edge, were we about to be attacked?... Wait a second here…

“It’s quite, too quite.” I muttered suddenly spinning pointing my light in all directions, yes I checked above me, I’m not that stupid. “Where the hell are all the monsters? Where are the slimes that want to digest us in their fluids?” I cry out trying to figure things out. My mind was cycling through tropes while I cursed myself for jinxing everything.

“Yes now that you mention it we to find it odd that not one creature is about. Dark energy clings to these very walls.” Stella added throwing my mind into overdrive with the new pariona added on to it.

“Damn it!” I cursed wishing I had more lights. Well time to remember my rules of how to survive a horror movie. “Rule one: Just leave!” I turn to go back the way I came but found a wall in the way. “No, no, no, NO,” I start saying as I summoned my mental map. I saw the grayed line behind me meaning it was a one way wall. Don’t ask me how a wall can be one way it just lets you walk through it then block the way, “NOOO!” I screamed while trying to figure out what to do next.

“So sense you can’t do whatever ‘rule one’ is, what now.” I did not need this right now. Need to stay on track and not die.

“Rule two: Never split up. It never helps, ever.” Unless you had a talking dog, but I’m not bring that up, sense I do have one. “So Rule three: Slow and steady, always check things.” I am not letting something sneak up on me. “Come on we are finding the exit and leaving.” I let Demon slayer slide up a bit and turn into a crossbow. I needed long range for anything coming up.

“Here we thought you would like walking around finding treasure.” Stella said following close, good she is listening to me.

“Maybe later but right now I had no sleep and we are not equipped for an area this dark.” I say while waving our single flashlight around. If there is something I hate it is not seeing what is coming up. Heck I don’t even have another flashlight and Gazer Flame I sent behind is barely giving any light. Damn it at this rate I’m going to start jumping at any sounds in the distance. “Now come on I want out of here,” note for the future, stop going in new places without full equipment.

As we walked I saw the hallway open up into a room. I held up my hand as I slowed down. My gaming instincts were yelling at me that opponents were up ahead. I turned the flashlight off while peaking over the door. A broken lantern lay on the floor giving off a faint light and thankfully letting me see four skeletons with a faint red haze around them. Damn it, the only way forward was through here. I slowly backed up as different plans went through my head. “Stella do you know how strong those things are?”

“Hmm,” She shuffled past me as she gazed at the enemy. “They seem quite old so they are bound to be quite strong. We would suggest avoiding them.”

“Easier said than done. BUT, this is the only way,” I let out a sigh as I finished the plan. “I suggest we rush full force and try to take them out before they see us.” I turned to Stella who deadpanned at my brillent, but obvious, plan. “Now let’s go full force.”

I looked at Stella eye to eye as I pulled at the Star Power trying to get it to move. I felt it surged forward as it pushed forward. “Stella break your chains and become the True Queen of the Moon!” The words poured out of my mouth as Stella was enveloped by blue chains. I knew there would be a bit of dust kicked up but damn I really should have tested this before doing this. The chains were smashed to bits with a hysterical laugh as Nightmare Moon stepped forward. Very little had changed about her except that the once mechanical wings that hover behind her were now actual wings that looked like a cross between bat and bird. I heard the skeletons start heading our way.

Thankfully the door blocked them all from coming out at once and they seemed dumb enough not to change strategy. “Bolt!” I screamed launching the aura spear while Demon Slayer turned into a spear. I saw a red arrow launch over my shoulder as the arrow impacted it went up into a giant fire storm. “Mars Bane,” I pressed on stabbing forward as the attack went off four times. The fire died down showing a pile of ash and two skeletons still pressing forward. I let out a small curse while brining my shield up blocking a hit from the first skelton. I barely registered the pain lacing up my arm as a foot bone sneaked past and impacted my stomach. I was sent past Stella who launched a blue sparking arrow that hit the first skelton which upon impact started spazzing as the second passed. The second was quick to slash at Stella who managed to block the slash.

“Mars Bane,” Demon Slayer launched forward and knocked the second back. I spun it around landing another hit, “Bolt!” Make that two. Thankfully it crumpled down into a pile of ash as the first finally recovered and sprinted forward. Another blue sparking arrow hit it but didn’t slow it down much. “Mars Bane!” I had barely gotten the Concentration in as I launched another attack as it to went into a pile of ash. I let out a sigh as a Heal started working through me. “Well that went well.”

“Yes, we are glad that the fight went well and we have returned to our rightful…” Her thought ended as a golden light flashed out of her. Once more Stella stood where NM had once been. “So it appears that it is not permanent, yet.” I saw the glare she gave me demanding that I find a way.

“Yeah I’ll get right on that.” I mumbled out while rubbing my shoulders. I might not get tired anymore but that didn’t mean my arms didn’t hate carrying these heavy things. I took in the room before me. It was a barren room with only a table, a few chairs and a bookcase off to the side. Oh there was also some golden armor set off to the side. “What do we have here.” I walked forward slowly as I reached out my armored hand. It landed on the shoulder piece where I felt a bit of slow movement. “Still barely alive eh, well better fix that.” Checking my MP pool I saw that I have about two or three Heals in me. Should be enough to get them more then stable. I launched the first one going through the process of summoning my happy and loving memories before going right onto the second Heal.

“It seemed that you have found what the servants of the tomb were playing with.” Stella said from behind me. Having used up all my MP I stood up slowly while fishing around my pouch looking for some MP restoration items.

“So if those were the servants then rule fifteen must be followed.” I could see Stella about to question me and was about to answer when a groan interrupted us. I was prepared to go against another zombie when I saw it came from the sun guard in front of us. Slowly golden eyes looked up and a loose gaze met mine.

“Oz?” A tired voice asked as I found the item I was looking for. Bringing out the seed I threw it into my mouth and felt the MP flood my system.

“Huh you look… familiar.” Damn I feel like it was on the tip of my tongue. I mean gold eyes and green hair was a bit unusual. “Sit still I should have you good soon.” I casted another heal on her wanting to make sure she was in good health.

“We need to go…” She started and stop a few times as if trying to get her mind working. “Yeah we need to go help Sunset.” Oh that was how I knew her! She was part of that one team…

Which meant if she was here then Sunset, Lightning something, and Indigo Zep were here. So one out of four found. I hate this dungeon already.

Author's Notes:

I want to give special thanks to Aerigim for helping me with this chapter. So if you notice marked improvement in my writing capabilities make sure to thank them.