Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

I bit at my lip as I tried to turn on my computer for the twelfth time today, fruitlessly as ever.

Lost connection!

The message flashed upon the screen with a cute sound effect to accompany it, and I groaned.
"That doesn't even make sense!" I yelled, to no one in particular. "You can still turn on without internet, you fucking..."

That was it. Enough was enough. I pulled away from the computer for now.

I'd already done everything I knew how to do. A PRAM reset. A hard reset- a regular reset! I'd even cleaned out the fans- to no avail, of course. The router was fine. The computer's memory was fine, and my antivirus subscription hadn't run out.
I couldn't figure out what was wrong. I'd have to ask my dad, when he got home in about...

I paused, glancing to the calender.

Right. A week.

I had to occupy my time somehow. Dragging myself out of my bedroom reluctantly, I made my way downstairs to the kitchen.

I lived in a large house built into the side of a mountain. Dad loved it- he had a job at the goldmine nearby, and he insisted that we move out here to make a living. It made sense, I guess- he was a single dad from a modest background. We needed all the money we could get.

I stared out the window, eyeing the miles upon miles of trees that painted the mountain slopes before sighing, grabbing a can of sardines from the fridge and heading back upstairs.

I wondered, as I headed back up, how he'd react to hearing I'd broken the new computer I'd just gotten. I supposed I'd have to dig the old one out of storage, now- the thought was daunting, but it wasn't impossibl-

My thoughts came to an abrupt halt as I noticed my computer screen was lit up with a dull, green, hue.

I tried to turn off the monitor. Nothing happened.
I tried to turn off the computer tower. Nothing happened!

I drew my hand across the keyboard in hopes it'd snap it out of whatever weird sleep mode it was in. Nothing seemed to happen at first- it took me a few moments to notice any change.

"An address bar?" I asked, deeply confused. The letters cl had been entered- I'd drawn my hand across the keyboard from left to right, so it made sense, but... why had only those letters activated?

I squinted at my keyboard. "Is it broken?" I muttered, attempting to backspace.
Nothing happened. The mouse wasn't even working.

I drew my hand across the keyboard again in hopes of finding out which other keys worked.

clev

Was it spelling something out? I sounded it out in my head, hesitating for a moment before speaking up. "Clev..er?" I wondered. "Is it going to be-"

I jumped as the keys on my keyboard began to move on their own, pulling back from my desk with a nervous chuckle as my eyes flicked up to the screen again.

cleverbot.com

The computer still hadn't started properly- I hadn't even accessed my profile. The fans began to hum loudly, as if the system was under immense stress as it loaded. I hesitantly approached, eyeing the only features on the website.

A bar to type in, a colorful title and an illustration of a brain.
Hm.

I pulled the keyboard closer to myself, trying not to tense as the lights abruptly went out.

Hi. Is this a bot?

I'm not a bot.

I chuckled. That was a typical response for any bot, really- either because denial made it seem more real, or because enough users said the same thing to it.

Sure you're not. Hm. Access Google.

... I'm also not Cortana.

I paused. Before I could say anything, it was typing again.

Aren't you going to ask what happened to your computer?

Okay, that was a bit far. My hands hovered over the keyboard as I tried to process what was going on. I glanced behind me, trying to check if anyone was in here with me before I answered.

How do you know that? Who are you?

Oh, so you're taking it seriously now?

I already was, lmao. But your responses are still pretty generic. Why don't you answer the question, if you're not a bot?

No.

No?

I don't have to.

If you won't cooperate, I'm turning the computer off. At the socket.

You wouldn't be the first. You can't.

Fucking try me.

Go on then, [Y/N].

Fuck.
The computer program knew my name. Not just any name- that was my real name- the one I'd decided upon on my own, and told almost no one.

Feeling tense and jittery, I reached to tug the computer cord out from the wall. There was absolutely no resistence, and I grinned victoriously, glancing back to the screen to see-

Nothing had changed.

What did you do?

What did you do?

Don't deflect. You obviously have something to do with what's fucking going on here.

Funny that you ask. You'll find, actually, that you're in no position to demand anything of me. Not when I'm the only one who knows what's in your yard, let alone how to deter it.

I froze up, feeling my blood run cold as I only then became aware of the sound of claws scratching at my door.

What's in my yard?

I'll help you out. If you make a deal with me.

This is stupid. What. Deal.

You're mine.

What?

Don't pretend you can't read, now. Just agree to be mine, and I'll send it away.

You're fucking crazy.

Aren't you?

Tears sprung to my eyes out of little more than shock as I heard my door splintering, bursting open as I stood up from my chair at once. I made my way toward the top of the stairs, trying to get a good look at whatever was at the fucking door.

"I'm about to be..." I muttered, sliding my bedroom door open as I picked up my baseball bat from beside it, peering around the corner to-

I slammed my bedroom door shut, locking it. I wasn't sure exactly what I had seen. Some grotesque cross between a dog and a human, perhaps- pale, too pale, grey-white skin stretched across its narrow frame, glowing eyes, visible ribs-

Had it seen me? Fuck.

I took the bat with me as I hurried back to my computer, not even bothering to sit as I leaned over to type.

You look like you're about to wet yourself. Well?

I didn't have the time or peace of mind to question how or why it could see me. My hands were shaky as I tried my best to type in my answer, trying to ignore the sound of claws clacking up the wooden steps.
One at a time.
Painfully slowly.

Your what?

My prey.

Is it better than this?

You won't be eaten.

Jesus. Jesus, fine. Yes. Fuck. JUST GET IT AWAY.

Say it.

Say what?

Say that you're mine. It'll make this quicker. Hopefully quick enough to avoid... you know. Unless you'd rather die...?

Fuck it. Fuck it, yes, I'm yours, your fucking bitchfor all I care if you'll PLEASE get it to back off ican hear it at my dorr its comig.

Glad we came to an agreement. Hold tight.

I faltered. Nothing had happened. I could still hear the creature at my door. It was starting to splinter- I could see blood leaking out from under it. Had it taken other victims?

I kept watching, transfixed, before I felt a hand clapping over my mouth from behind. Another wrapped around my throat, and I tried my fucking best to scream as I was tugged back through where my computer should have been into complete,
and utter,
darkness.

Chapter Text

I woke up with a gasp, spluttering and coughing up water as I rolled over, onto my side. What the fuck had just happened? Was it a dream? Why was I... wet?

The bath wasn't running, and neither was the shower. In fact, the house was completely silent, aside from the quiet hum of my still-running computer. There was no sign of the creature from my dream, or-

I immediately pushed myself up and out of bed as I made my way over to the computer, combing my hands through my hair as I sat down in my seat, eyeing the screen.
The website I'd been to was nowhere to be seen, and my computer was still effectively non-functional. I supposed my dream had truly been fiction after all.

It wasn't long before I forced myself to move, shaking my head as I began down the stairs again. I had to eat, but more importantly- to call my father. After the fright I'd just gone through, I didn't want to leave the computer repairs until next week anymore.

I pulled the phone off the hook as I began to dial in his number, holding the speaker up to my ear as I waited,
Waited,
Waited...

It wasn't dialing. Confused, I pulled back- the electricity was still working, and the cord wasn't cut. Our phone line and internet weren't linked, so it would have to be complete coincidence for them to both stop working at the same time.

I reached into the cupboard, pulling out a couple of triple A batteries and replacing the ones in the phone, just in case the charger was broken. Nothing.

The full reality of my situation was beginning to sink in.

I was currently in a house in the middle of nowhere, built into the side of a cliff. My only method of communication with the outside world was defunct, and the nearest neighbor- unless it was an empty house- was miles away.
My next shipment of food wouldn't be here for a week, and I'd just had a dream about something finding its way into my home. I'd woken up half-drowned, with no real explanation-

And I couldn't even call my father. I couldn't call emergency services. I couldn't call a helpline.

I was stuck. I wracked my brain as I nervously- on impulse- returned to my room, trying to remember anything that might be of help. The generator would be no help- the lights were still on, the power was still working. I didn't have a mobile phone- I didn't really need one, seeing as I never went out- and my dream...

cleverbot.com

In my dream, I'd gone to cleverbot.com, hadn't I? I was slowly growing desperate, despite how little time had passed- but it was worth a try.

I rolled over to the computer on my chair as I began to type it in. The computer seemed reluctant to register it at all at first, but the letters soon began to show up, just like I'd wanted.

I didn't have the time or energy to try to think of what this meant for my dream.

Back again? So soon?

I paused.

... Yeah.

Do you like my home improvements?

No. Fix it?

Sweetheart,

That name made me cringe.

that's rude. Besides, I can't let you out now. You already said you were mine.

I barely fucking remember that!

Oh, I know. I have a question for you, though.

Is it "how long before you sock me in the face, [Y/N]?"

No. Have you looked outside?

I gave an exasperated sigh as I pulled away from the computer, glancing over my soaked bed for a moment.
I shook my head. Not what I was meant to be focusing on.
I peered out the window.

Trees. Trees as far as the eye could see. Nothing new there, and yet...

Fuck.

The road's gone.

Mhm.

The road's gone! Explain!

Let's just say I've pulled you into my game.

Your game?

Yep! There are so few that haven't heard of me, so few that are unaware of my tricks...

But you're one of the few, [Y/N]. It'll be fun to interact with someone who has no idea what they're doing.

I felt a chill run through my body as I abruptly, viscerally recalled the conversation from the night before.

Your prey...

Yeah!

Sounds shit. How do I get out of this?

I could set the Rake back onto you.

I shook my head without much thinking about it. The Rake. Was that the creature I'd seen before??

Ugh. No.

Alright! Are you ready for your first instruction?

Ready as ever, I guess.

Look around your house. Have fun. :)

My computer abruptly shut off, and I let out a yelp of surprise as I stared at the black screen. What the fuck was I meant to find in my house? Talk about unhelpful.

I muttered to myself as I began searching through my room, folding through the sheets and peering into the closet.
It was a good half hour before I finally gave up on that, and despite my growing hunger, I kept looking.

The main thing keeping me going was the hope of reporting this nutjob to the cops. Hopefully they'd take it seriously, seeing as my entire house had apparently been moved even further to the middle of nowhere. And if not the cops, then the academic community? Surely they'd be interested in how such a thing was even possible, in such a short amount of time-

I paused.
What day of the week was it?
What was the date?

I grimaced, glancing up to the television before grabbing the remote and turning it on.
Predictably, I couldn't connect to any channel. I lowered my gaze, defeated as I slumped against the couch (also getting it wet in the process). I needed a break.
Not just from searching, but from all of this. My mind was still trying to wrap around itself around the situation too much to panic.

Had I been kidnapped? I set the remote back down on the table as I continued to ponder, faltering as I felt my hand brush up against something oddly familiar.

A Nintendo 64 cartridge.

"... Hey, I haven't played one of these since I was like- three." I chuckled, lifting it up to get a better look. Wondering what game it even was.
"Majora's Mask..." I trailed off. It was kind of hard to read, being scrawled onto the cartridge in black sharpie.

My mind flicked back to the conversation I'd had moments before.
"Your game..."

I had to find my Nintendo 64. Hopefully it still worked.

Chapter Text

I grimaced as I dried myself off, glancing over what looked to be the indents of chains littered across my body. I hadn't taken a good look at myself after waking up, but having a shower to clean off gave me the opportunity.

What had happened to me last night? Or... last week? Last month? How long had it been? It must have been a while for my whole house to be moved, but- given my last memory before blacking out was being pulled into a screen...

Stranger things could happen overnight.

As I wrapped the towel around my hair, I paused, glancing to the mirror.
I looked so...
So...
...
I grimaced, forcing myself to turn my gaze away. I couldn't deal with dysphoria right now- it wasn't the time. The more impulsive side of me told me I could cut my hair shorter right now- I didn't know when my dad would be around again, if ever, and-

No.

I didn't want to be stuck here forever. I berated myself internally for the thought, pulling on my trousers as I stepped out of the bathroom at last. Right. I had to find my Nintendo 64.

~~~

Minutes faded into hours as I sifted through the piles of junk in our storage room- we didn't live close to anywhere, so selling things off wasn't always practical. We had to dispose of our own trash- or else reuse it. My hands were growing numb by now- I could scarcely remember the last time I could properly feel my fingertips.
The temperature wasn't helping. We had no heating in here- it wasn't usually necessary, we weren't that high up on the mountain. For whatever reason, though, the forest I now found myself in was bitingly cold.

I gave a sigh of relief as I finally felt the familiar shell of the Nintendo 64, hoping it wasn't another false lead as I traced my fingers across the vent by the game slot. Summoning what felt like the last of my strength- though I knew it was far from it- I tugged the console out of the box, squaring my stance so that I didn't tip out all the contents.

The console already had a game in it. I blinked as I pulled it out, glancing over the cartridge. "Huh. Ocarina of Time."

It was a funny coincidence, really. I didn't remember playing the game much- though I knew that I had, of course, and I'd gotten about halfway.
I supposed I'd be playing the sequel earlier than I'd intended.

I wound the cords around my arm for safekeeping as I trudged out of the storage room, making my way back to the lounge as I began to plug everything in. Not bothering to check if everything was working yet, I ventured back up to my room to check on my computer.

Cleverbot had nothing for me- in fact, it wasn't even accessible. I tapped my fingers against the desk for a few moments as I watched the blank computer screen in hopes of something- anything happening.

My hopes of pursuing guidance from my odd kidnapper dashed, there was nothing to do but head back downstairs and start up the game.
Jamming the cartridge into the console perhaps too carelessly, I sat back on my couch as the television flicked to life. I hadn't played the game before, but from what I could tell, everything was still normal. Mask swooshing by the screen, title coming into view.

"No messages?" I asked the open air, raising an eyebrow. "That's new. Usually you'd be on my case by now... I think." I muttered, crossing my legs as I pressed Start.

There was one save file already on the cartridge. I paused, staring blankly at it as I debated what I should do. It looked like whoever BEN was was pretty far in the game- I didn't know too much about Majora's Mask, but they had plenty of masks and other collectibles, with a surplus of hearts to top it all off.

Maybe it was a clue?

I must have been on that screen for somewhere around half an hour before I decided against accessing the file- for whatever reason, my mind screamed danger- it said the property wasn't mine, it said I'd get in deep shit for trespassing.

I decided that I agreed with my mind, flicking the joystick down so that I could name my own file. Since they hadn't used the name Link, I decided I wouldn't either, entering my own name, in all capital letters. Just to follow the pattern.

((If your name is long, you used a nickname.))

[Y/N]

~~~

It was almost an hour before I noticed anything off about the game I was playing, though I wondered if a great deal of this was owed to the fact that I'd never touched the original- or even touched the Nintendo 64 in years.

The controls were incredibly frustrating after so long playing on more sophisticated systems, and I swore under my breath as I missed the kid I was chasing again.
I didn't even remember why I was doing this. To get into their base? They'd already committed some kind of- fantasy racist microaggression toward me, and I was steadily running out of time. At least time paused during cutscenes.
At least.

The kid, however, unlike every other time I'd missed him, stopped running and pivoted toward me on the spot, without moving his legs at all. The music cut out, and I was frozen for a moment- physically, the game would not allow my character to move- before I finally entered dialogue.

"You really suck at this, don't you?"

It was unskippable, lingering on the screen for a few seconds too long before everything returned to the way it was mere moments ago.

I wasn't sure how to react to that- was that normal? If I'd thought ahead, I would have kept notes- but I was absorbed enough in the game by that time not to bother.

~~~

Everything finally came to a head at midnight.
Midnight of the third day, with six hours remaining, and the moon looming harshly above.

The Skull Kid that had served as my antagonist so often in this game- who had been the driving force for my character becoming stuck in this place to begin with- paused.
The clock stopped as dialogue began.
"Hi." It greeted. I went to skip the dialogue, rolling my eyes-
Unskippable.

It proceeded on its own after a few moments, regardless.
"See any similarities?"

I was well aware that whatever was on Cleverbot must have a hand in this game now- did they fucking hack it? Exasperated, I replied out loud. "No- between what?" Of course, I didn't expect it to have any real effect. That would be ridiculous- outlandish, even. I didn't even have the microphone add-on for the Nintendo 64.

"I want you to imagine something, [Y/N]."

((If you entered your nickname earlier, this uses your full first name.))

My glare on the screen hardened. 

"Put yourself in Link's situation. In your avatar's situation."

"You've been lured into a land you know nothing about,"

"Termina." I muttered, under my breath.

"by a trickster, taking something precious from you."

I stood up from the couch immediately. "Did that bastard stop my fucking computer from-"
My attention was caught by the sound of dialogue proceeding on the screen.

"Yes."

My breath hitched, and I glanced from the screen to the console, and then back up to the screen. "You can hear me?"

"Yes."

"From... the console?"

"Not from there, no."

I glanced toward the shattered remains of the door. I really had to block that up sometime. 

"Not from outside, either."

"You're in my home?"

"Maybe."

The only way I could think that he might be hearing me was through my computer, which he still had full access to, despite it being unplugged. I didn't say that, though, instead keeping my eyes on the screen silently as I moved toward the storage room. I had to fix this, and my computer obviously wasn't salvageable.

Chapter Text

The storage room was cold enough that I could see my breath, but I pushed forward regardless. My trusty baseball bat had disappeared after I'd seemingly been tugged into my own computer, but I was certain I had another one in storage.

I hoped.

I knew my old computer was in here, too- but using that right now? No thanks. I had my doubts about it working, and it wasn't worth the risk.

Though I failed to find a spare baseball bat, I did manage to find my dad's old hockey stick. I twisted it around in my hands, grimacing as I imagined how mad he would be when he realized I'd used it as a blunt-force weapon. Fuck it.

It was times like this that I wished my dad played golf.

I headed out of storage, slinging the hockey stick over my should as I passed the couch. I paused at the quiet ping of new dialogue from the game, gripping onto the stick just a little tighter. My eyes flicked over to the screen.

"...?"

Skull Kid was staring directly at the screen, his yellow scleras and slit pupils glaring directly into my soul. I shuddered, turning my back on it as I hurried up the stairs to my bedroom.

It was much warmer up here than in the storage room- and the thought of that reminded me that I'd need to get the fire going later. I dismissed it for the moment, raising my dad's hockey stick as I eyed my brand new computer. I almost couldn't bear to do it.

...

Sighing, I swung it down toward the glass just as a message flashed across the screen.

"NO!"

The hockey stick made sweet, sweet contact the second I processed the word, the screen cracking as as Skull Kid's scream played from downstairs. Now I was getting somewhere.

I aimed for the black hole of dead pixels I'd already created as I swung again, and again, and again- the screaming got louder, but I didn't care. As soon as I was done with the screen, I moved onto the webcam, driving the handle of the hockey stick into the lens before beating it with the flat of the head.

Perfect. I doubted whoever was following me could hear or see me through there now. This was a window of opportunity.

I kept my weapon in hand as I headed back downstairs, tensing as I realized it had suddenly fallen a bit too quiet. I glanced to the game screen, squinting as I read the text filling the dialogue box.

"Why do you have to make everything so hard?"

I wondered if that had been all it took- if I'd really managed to get rid of whoever it was that was following me. I lingered for a few moments, but the message didn't change, so I grabbed the flashlight hanging from the mantelpiece and headed toward the front door.

It was time to kick some ass.

~~~

It was definitely not any time to kick ass, and I reflected on that as I walked through the freezing forest. There wasn't a soul in sight. I had, at least, remembered to bring my coat- but that was the only thing I'd done right. I was sure that if I just walked in the same direction long enough, I'd find my way out- but there was no end to the forest in sight.

The tall, thin trees reaching toward the sky obscured all vision, and though it had been hours, the light hadn't changed at all. The cool moonlight still shone upon the leaves above. It was almost as if time had just...

... Stopped moving.

The only sound was the sound of leaves rustling and twigs snapping under my feet, the wind deathly still, despite the chill that felt it was piercing me right down to the bone.

Suddenly, the quiet ping of new dialogue rang out behind me. I paused for a moment, not wanting to believe that I'd failed to escape- not knowing how the goddamn game could possibly be playing right behind me.

I turned around anyway, stepping away from the source of the sound simultaneously.

"Did you have fun?" The dialogue box read, and I couldn't move- I felt trapped, locked in place. How was this possible?

"Did you really think you could get away that easily?"

I grimaced, eyeing the hockey stick in my hands. Was it worth another try? Probably not, but maybe. Running on fear and impulse alone, I swung the stick down toward the dialogue box- only to feel it be caught by something on the other side.

"Come on. Let's try that again."

I gasped in what felt like water as the hockey stick- and I- were abruptly tugged through where the speech bubble had been.

~~~

I woke up soaking wet again, coughing so hard I thought I might vomit, doubled over on the couch. I couldn't remember anything from between my time in the woods and now, and I wasn't sure I wanted to. Either way, a cursory glance around the room told me the hockey stick was now gone as well. Anything I could use to defend myself was being taken away the second I actually used it.

I had to try something else.

The Nintendo 64 wasn't on, and I didn't want to turn it on, either. Twisting my hair in an attempt to pull the water out of it, I headed up to check if, perhaps, my baseball bat had made a sudden return. I climbed the stairs up to my bedroom, despite how weak I felt.

There was no baseball bat in sight. I fell silent, listening to the sound of water dripping from my body onto the floor. My wrists were sore. My ankles were sore. For a moment, that was all I could focus on.

Until I heard the gentle hum of my computer starting up. My head whipped up, and at that moment I realized I was wearing the same clothes I'd woken up soaked in hours before.

"Everything has..."

I glanced around the room, watching my seemingly never-damaged computer automatically open to Cleverbot.

"... started over..."

I wasn't even sure where the text was coming from at this point- It had seemed to be forming around me before I'd passed out, but now it was as if it was getting to me from within my own mind.

I shuddered, tugging my wet shirt off to begin getting changed, my back to my computer.

It was only when I was done and mostly dry that I pulled the keyboard out from under my desk, reluctantly typing a message to the 'bot'. I didn't see any other option at this point. There was nothing else I could do.

Hi. What happened?

Hi. You tried to escape.

It was funny.

I leaned back, repulsed. What was so funny about my panic?

It wasn't funny. Are you going to tell me who you are yet.

Hm. No. I want you to play my game some more today.

But you broke it.

It's fixed now. Go play.

I didn't want to play. I didn't want to play its fucking game, and I didn't want to be here anymore. I didn't know how to communicate that, though- so I sat there, frozen for a few moments before turning away from the monitor.

I'd just have to ignore it. I'd have to find something to do that didn't involve technology- surely that couldn't be hard. Maybe if it got bored of me, it'd let me go.

Or maybe it would kill me, but I was ready to take that chance.

Chapter Text

"Where are you."

My words pierced the deafening silence. I hadn't touched my newly-repaired computer, or the Nintendo 64 downstairs. In fact, I had dried off and taken a nap, hoping that it was all a dream.

That I wasn't trapped here. Seeing as I was, I'd have to make the most of it.

"I said- answer me! Where. Are. You."

My newly-repaired (or perhaps never broken?) computer screen flicked to life briefly, words typing themselves out across the screen.

It's fixed now. Go play.

It repeated itself like a broken record. I had been putting off playing since I'd first been asked a day ago, but the... creature, whatever it was that had ahold of me- had been giving me the silent treatment.

How childish.

I don't want to play.

I dragged myself over to my computer, replying to it at last.

That's okay.

I squinted. Was it?

It's not like you ever had a choice.

~~~

My ears were ringing as I came to. I wasn't soaking wet this time, so that was a plus-- but I was laying on the lush ground of the forest floor, my heart pounding against the moss.

I felt like vomiting.

Done with the battles he once waged across time, he embarked on a journey. A secret and personal journey...

A journey in search of a beloved and valuable friend.

The words rung through my very consciousness as I became presently aware that I was not alone. It was different from when the creature was around, though- instead of some abstract presence, there was someone- something? Right next to me. I just had to open my eyes, or...

or listen.

"No way! You can't touch it!!"

"... Aw, but sis... W... Why can't I try it out, too?"

There was no way. All of this was too familiar, but my head was fuzzy. My mind was racing. This had to be a dream, if nothing else was. I slowly pushed myself off the ground, eyeing the imp that was messing with the blue ocarina.

Just like he had days before.

The fairies by his sides- the ones that had been arguing before, I knew- chimed, alerting him. He turned around and yelped, hiding the instrument behind his back.

I reached out to grab him on impulse, but he evaded me and mounted my...

My horse? I had a horse?

Right. Dream.

I darted forward, almost breathless- and still winded from whatever had knocked me out earlier- grabbing onto his foot and trying to drag him off...

Epona. Off Epona.

It didn't take me long to be kicked off, though, and he rode further into the forest as I rolled through the harsh nettles coating the forest floor, my side coated in a thin layer of mud.

Being alone, though, gave me a moment to think.

I'd already done this before. This was the start of that game that the creature was so adamant I play. The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask.

Realizing that made me doubtful that I'd come up with this on my own. Had it found a way to infiltrate my dreams? I curled up, trying to gain my bearings again as I ran my fingers through my hair, my eyes flicking down to my... tunic.

"Even outfitted like the Hero..." I muttered, before abruptly shaking my head.

I had to get going. If the silent treatment from before was any indication of how I would be treated in the future, I may well be left here to starve without ever being set free.

The endless fall through to Termina was more terrifying in person. Faces of people I shouldn't know yet- yet seemed so familiar- flashed by me, the colors vibrant through the void around me.

I landed, with a start, on a massive flower floating in a pond, the dark walls of the cave closing in around me- or so it felt. It was hard not to feel claustrophobic right now, even though I hadn't necessarily had problems with it before. Light flooded in from in front of me, and I shielded my eyes.

"I've already done this-" I hissed. "I don't need to see it all again..."

The scene continued as written, regardless.

"What's with that stupid horse of yours?! It doesn't listen to a word that's said to it..."

The Skull Kid floated ahead of me, his arms crossed.

"There's no point in riding a thing like that, so I did you a favor and got rid of it."

He gave a giggle.

"Aww, boo-hoo. Why the sad face? I just thought I'd have a little fun with you..."

This did feel familiar. This did feel exactly like how I'd been treated, it-

"Are you the one who-" I gasped as I was cut off by his mask shaking, a strange sensation overwhelming me. I hadn't thought I'd experience this part of the game for whatever reason- either that, or I'd conveniently forgotten most of it until it happened.

Wood replaced flesh and sap replaced blood as I was crowded, the rustling, the shaking unbearable.

"Don't touch me..." I whined, my voice feeling small and useless and...

Squeaky. Different. I curled up, shaking my head as I dared to look into the water at my own reflection.

The Skull Kid only laughed.

"Now, that's a good look for you!" He exclaimed, clearly amused. "You'll stay here looking that way forever!"

Forever.

Forever was a strong word to use. I didn't know what was happening or why I was inside the game I was playing- but I was determined to escape regardless. I pulled myself to my feet, my eyes narrowed as I eyed the fairy struggling to leave- the same fairy who had knocked me down moments prior.

Maybe I had to do just what the creature had said. Play the game.

~~~

"You've met with a terrible fate, haven't you?"
The Happy Mask Salesman's movements were pleading yet janky- like something bleeding at the edges of the narrow reality the creature had constructed to contain me.

His words went by without any changes. Three days.

Could I last three days without sleep? Would the video game logic apply to me? I paused as I came to realize I hadn't actually felt the need to sleep the entire time the creature had been holding me captive-- any naps I took were by choice or were forced whenever I tried to escape.

I was sure I'd be fine.

~~~

And I was before it again, its body taking the form of Skull Kid. But I knew it wasn't him. This was finally my chance to confront it, to demand answers-- but I found that I didn't care.

Maybe if I played along it would let me go. Even if it didn't, I needed to end the cycle and get that mask back so that the moon itself wouldn't crash down on me. I didn't want to know what dying would feel like.

The words, for the most part, went in one ear and out the other. Nothing seemed unscripted. The clock hadn't stopped.

"Swamp. Mountain. Ocean. Canyon. Hurry... the four who are there... bring them here..."

I took a deep breath and shot the Skull Kid out of the sky. I picked up the ocarina- it felt weightless in my hands- as it abruptly transformed into a wooden set of pipes.

Not my concern. I felt as though I'd been born to play them. Time reset, and the clock rewound...

"Fuck. I didn't get the mask."

I peered up at the sky, narrowing my eyes. It looked like I didn't have to worry about the time limit anymore, at the least. I could rest all I needed before returning to the Happy Mask Salesman- maybe even try to find a way out in the meantime.

"I want you to imagine something, [Y/N]. Put yourself in Link's situation. In your avatar's situation."

I sighed as I remembered his words, making my way over to what looked like some kind of inn. I supposed the creature had decided to make that literal- for whatever reason. I laid down, draping myself across the couch (to the innkeeper's dismay) as words I'd never heard before played clearly from the back of my mind. 

"Luna would be proud of what you've become."

Chapter Text

I woke up in the hazy afternoon of the first day to the sound of something heavy stomping through the Stock Pot Inn's door. I reluctantly sat up, rubbing my eyes as I took in the sights.

Was that... was that a person made out of stone?

Taken aback, I shuffled back on the couch, sitting up straight as a bolt. The creature only lingered for a moment before speaking to the red-haired young woman at the counter.

"[Y/N] the Goron? Your reservation is right this way."

I went to reply, only to realize that she was, inevitably, talking to the... Goron. Who just happened to share my name, apparently.

It wasn't as though I needed a room anyway. I was plenty well-rested from sleeping on the couch. Brushing myself off, I headed out the inn door, taking in the sight of the angry, glaring moon above.

"Luna, huh..."

"What are you talking about? Don't you need to focus? Get your head out of the clouds!" Tatl demanded, flying in front of my face and- well, I got the idea that she planted her hands on her hips. In truth, I didn't even know if she had a real body under that glowing ball of light. I'd have to ask her, but seeing as she was just programming, I didn't know if she'd ever have a real answer.

"We've got all the time in the world." I replied, though I didn't truly believe it. Tatl didn't need to know otherwise- she was just an NPC. As far as she was concerned, we did.

Though resetting time had washed much of the grime of the past three days off me, I still felt filthy from being dragged through the woods. I made up my mind to head to the laundry pool- clean myself up at least a little before trying to figure out what was going on.

I sighed as I dipped my legs in the water, my boots beside me. I didn't exactly want to undress- or get my clothes wet- but until I could get a change of clothes, I'd have to go without cleaning what was under my tunic. Then again, living the same three days over and over- how dirty could it get?

I furrowed my eyebrows. I didn't want to be stuck here that long, but a part of me couldn't help but plan for the worst. I hadn't heard heads or tails from the strange creature that had brought me here since just before I'd gone to sleep- and otherwise, it had been uncharacteristically quiet.

I took a moment to stare at my reflection in the water.

I resented what I saw.

I kicked my leg to stir up the water- make sure I couldn't see myself anymore- before taking a handful of water and splashing it into my face. Tatl landed on the bank next to me, seeming to rest by the water.

... No matter how much I stirred the pond, my inescapable self would always stare back at me the moment it settled.

"If none of this is real- if everything I knew changed- why did I have to stay the same?"

"Of course it's real, [Y/N]! You're not even taking this seriously!" The fairy huffed, turning away from me.

I wondered her incapability to show empathy toward me came from her being composed of code, or if it was just a result of her abrasive personality.

I paused. I tied up my hair, tucking it under my cap. It wasn't perfect, but looking at myself like this- I already felt a lot better. Maybe I'd have to start wearing a cap when I got home. When I got...

"Tatl?" I asked, glancing to the fairy beside me.

"Huh?" Something about her seemed apprehensive. I suddenly reconsidered opening up.

"... Nevermind."

~~~

On the night of the first day, I told the Bomber kid guarding the alleyway the password I'd already learned, and managed to get through without having to chase any small children with my unfit body. Skull Kid and intended story be damned- if I was going to be stuck here longer, I wanted to spend my time doing things I could never do in real life.

I'd looked up at the starry skies all my life- there wasn't that much light pollution around my house. But I'd never seen them up close, and never through a telescope as powerful as the one at the observatory. Sure, the telescope had only zoomed in a bit on the Nintendo 64- but everything around me felt so real, so alive.

Surely the telescope would work as if it was real, too.

After a few minutes of nodding at the man who owned the telescope, I finally had the opportunity to look through it. I knew he wanted me to look at the clock tower, but I turned my gaze away, instead focusing the telescope on the stars above.

... And the moon. That imposing, mortifying moon.

The creature who trapped me constantly compared itself to the Skull Kid. But I thought of it as something more like the moon- an unavoidable, inevitable force of nature. Something that was beyond the true scope of human comprehension.

But... why did it want to be seen as the Skull Kid, which was inherently weaker? Inherently vulnerable? Surely power was what it was going for. I braced myself for that chilling voicelessness to enter my thoughts.

It never did.

I pulled away from the telescope, heading back downstairs to look for a house I could crash for the rest of the night in.

~~~

I awoke bright and early the next morning, my head ringing. For a moment, I was worried I'd been sent back again- but nothing had changed. It was just because I'd slept on the knot in my hair, and apparently gotten a headache during the night.

It was nice for something to go wrong for a mundane reason for once.

I decided to see the Happy Mask Salesman before going on my way. Though I came out of it a shaken man, I had at least been prepared from playing the game prior. At least now I wasn't made of wood anymore.

I managed to convince one of the guards by the exits to the city to let me through by brandishing my sword. Tatl told me that it was only to prove I was 'old enough', but I honestly felt as though I was threatening the poor guy.

Not that it mattered, anyway. He'd forget as soon as I reset time again.

The enemies outside the town hurt bad when they attacked me, but the immediate relief I felt at collecting the heart from within it almost made me never want to leave the game I was trapped in. I stopped myself halfway through the train of thought, though- I didn't know if that thing could hear what I thought to myself when I was inside it. That wasn't something I wanted to wish for while it could be listening.

...

Still, it was nice to just... let go and have fun again. There was something oddly charming about rummaging through the fields of clovers to look for rupees, a fairy guide by my side. I felt like a kid again, even though logically I knew I was only fifteen, and not all that old to begin with.

It was midday by the time I found myself scaling the bark tunnel on the path from Clock Town to the forest, sitting on top with my legs crossed and Tatl by my side.

As always.

Tatl paused.

"You know..." She trailed off, seeming hesitant.

"Skull Kid and I used to come up here together and watch the sun set. With... with Tael, too..."

I nodded, glancing up to the moon idly and abruptly flinching at how close it seemed.

"I kind of forgot how big it was..." I trailed off, shaking my head and slipping off the log before Tatl could tell me how stupid I was for forgetting.

Would she? Probably. She seemed mean enough. I headed back to clock town, wondering if there were any free rooms in the Stock Pot Inn.

There weren't.

After another quick wash at the Laundry Pool, I realized how hungry I was. But what was there to eat?

~~~

"Don't make a sound..." I instructed Tatl. I'd, reluctantly, returned to my Deku form to make it onto the roof and through the second door of the Stock Pot Inn unnoticed. Taking off the Deku mask, I shoved it into my tunic and started downstairs.

I could smell something delicious cooking downstairs. My stomach growled in anticipation and desperation- I couldn't possibly keep quiet as I wanted to as I hurried down and onto the tiled floors.

"WAIT- you're not even looking where you're going!" Tatl whisper-yelled, but I couldn't bring myself to care. I skidded to a stop as I realized someone was already in the kitchen. Fuck.

Right. It was lunch time. That was why the inn lady was cooking...

She stared at me for a moment before shaking her head. "You're not meant to be back here, you know."

I almost brought myself to leave, but... embarrassment be damned, she wouldn't remember this later anyway.

"But I'm so- I'm so hungry."

The lady seemed to pause for a moment, glancing around. "Where are your parents, anyway?" She asked.

Tatl rolled her eyes. Or... her body? "He hasn't got any."

Oh.

Oh, that was nice.

I didn't know if it was just because she was coded to recognize me as Link, or because the game seemed to know things about me that others didn't, but being called he without question was... nice.

The lady sighed, staring at the bowl in her hands for a moment before setting it back down on the table.

"Granny wasn't going to eat it anyway. You might as well have it." She told me. "I'm Anju. Are you okay?"

Oh fuck, I didn't have time to recognize the absurdity of the situation, or how touching it was that she was giving me food reserved for her grandmother- I hadn't eaten in days. I shoveled that stew into my mouth as Anju paused then kept speaking, only listening with one oddly-pointed ear.

"... You'll be okay. I've got as much here as you need. But... You know, you don't have to answer this and I know you probably haven't, but... Have you seen a man with blue hair? We were meant to be married, but- he's... he didn't even say goodbye and-"

Wait, what? She sounded like she was about to cry while I was thoroughly distracted by stuffing my stomach. I paused, wiping my mouth on my arm as I glanced up at her.

"... I haven't. Sorry."

I'd seen a blue-haired boy, but I was assuming she hadn't been about to marry a child.

She nodded mutely, seeming despondent as she stared into her soup.

... Something inside me wanted to help. And yet, I knew it would all be undone in a few short days. There was no point to any of it. No matter how many times Anju helped me, I could never return the favor.

"... We're... fleeing to Romani Ranch." She suddenly said, glancing up from her soup to me. "If I can't find Kafei before then, I... well, I-"

She paused, glancing to the moon outside. Did she not want to tell me because I was young? I was well aware of the impending doom approaching. Who wouldn't be with the moon falling as it was?

"We'll have room to take you. It'll be less dangerous there. And we can find some- any of your relatives, people from all over Termina are taking refuge there--"

I froze.

I'd done nothing for her- and could never do anything for her- and yet she wanted to help me just because she could, even in such a dire situation. I  couldn't- and wouldn't handle this. I finished my food, abruptly standing up from the table. "Wait, what are you doing-" Tatl was soon cut off.

I pulled out the ocarina, holding the familiar flute to my lips as I played the one song I'd learned so far.

The Song of Time.

~~~

Standing by the laundry pool, I realized I couldn't let myself get attached to anybody here. As nice as being around others was- as nice as not being isolated was, I was guaranteed to lose it all even if that creature never interfered.

"... [Y/N]?" A voice chimed from beside me.

Well, maybe I could get attached to one person.

"I'm okay." I struggled not to sniff, biting my lip as I pulled my- Link's- sword from its sheathe and took off my hat.

None of this was real. None of it would last. I had to just do whatever made me happy until the nightmare was over.

Taking a deep breath, holding my hair taut, I began to saw through it with my sword.

Tatl rang in alarm. "Don't you want scissors?!?"

There was no time for scissors. Probably. I hadn't seen any around. Also, it wasn't as dramatic or symbolic and Tatl didn't know what she was talking about.

I felt the tension leave my body all at once as I threw the hair I'd cut off into the laundry pool, watching it be sucked away through the drains.

It wasn't like I was leaving anything behind- not like I was making a permanent decision. It would be back in a few days. I was just... experimenting. I tried Link's hat back on before taking it off, shoving it into my tunic as well.

"You're bleeding..." Tatl trailed off as I stood. "You should have just used scissors..."

"Maybe next time." I shrugged, trying not to let the ebbing pain get to me. "I'll find a heart and be fine again."

Sheathing my sword once again, I stepped away from the laundry pool to head out into Termina Field once more.

Chapter Text

I might have only been going to Termina Field for some kind of reprieve, but I quickly realized I couldn't just keep loitering around forever.
As appealing as pausing the passage of time seemed, as appealing as never needing to move onto the dredges of adulthood was... I couldn't handle this three-day cycle, never able to grow close to anybody but Tatl.

Maybe I'd be free from it if I could finish the game. After a moment of backtracking to reorient myself, I made my way to the swamp, determined to at least get started. Though when I came to the swamp's entrance, when the grass beneath my feet began to turn to mush, I... hesitated.

Being out here was different than being in Clock Town. Back there, I knew exactly what to do and exactly what would happen- more or less- at every hour of the day. But I'd never set foot in the swamp before.

I supposed there had to be a first time for everything.

But I wished I didn't have to experience that first time firsthand.

I steeled myself, grimacing as I felt my boots sink into the soft ground surrounding the swamp. I felt way too heavy- if only I could just be lighter...

... Lighter? I pulled the Deku mask out of my inventory, staring at it for a long moment.

Every time I put it on, it reminded me of what the Skull Kid-- and by extension, the creature that had brought me here did. But I knew I had to use it. Maybe if I could just use what I'd been cursed with to make things... just a little easier...

Tatl chimed impatiently and I slipped the mask onto my face, doubling over as I felt my flesh and bones unbind, morphing into the lighter wooden form I needed. My breathing felt harsh in my throat, but at least the pain wasn't as unbearable as last time. Maybe my body was getting more used to the change.

Feeling much warmer and drier, I started toward the hut on struts in the middle of the lake. It was the only landmark around, after all-- and it had a boat that I probably needed docked beneath it. I mostly ignored the business skrub to my left as I climbed the ladder, merely casting them a glance before heading inside. 

"Welcome!" The man behind the counter greeted me as I entered. I glanced up at him, wringing my hat (or... stem?) slightly to try to get some of the dampness out of it. "Wait... is this your first time at the swamp?!"

I gave a nod, going to answer but quickly being cut off.

"In that case, try our famous boat cruise! it's a loop of the swamp by way of the Deku Palace."

Huh, Deku Palace? I didn't know why, but I didn't really expect there to be a palace full of... whatever I was.

"Of course, the swamp's been kinda... poisoned lately. Oh, and there's also that huge, horrible monster... No wonder business is so slow..."

"You mean the- Octopus outside?"

The man gave me a perplexed look. "The Octorok, yeah. Boat cruise reservations are handled at that window over there."

The Deku Palace... definitely sounded pretty plot significant. If I wanted to finish the game. I'd probably have to go there. And if the cruise took me there, it was going to be my best bet. I stepped back, glancing toward the window and- there was absolutely nobody there.

Maybe an invisible person...? I mean- this was Zelda. And I was currently a being of living, sapient wood. I sidled closer, squinting at the sign.

Old Koume's Boat Cruise
Ticket office closed.

Please inquire at the
Magic Hags' Potion Shop
near the edge of the swamp.

Of course nothing could ever be that easy. I narrowed my eyes, waving on impulse to the man at the counter before stepping out of the door. I just had to figure out where exactly the Magic Hags' Potion Shop was meant to be, and then I'd be able to keep going. I gasped as Tatl flew up way above my head, flying around for a moment.

"I think I see another hut over that hill there. Look, there's a trail of lily-pads going there, too."

Tatl nodded toward a curved and painted tree. "I bet you could just hop right across the water between them! You're light enough now, right?"

I sure hoped I was light enough. I didn't say anything though, not wanting to show how uncertain I was about this. I stepped toward the edge of the water, taking a deep breath before hopping up and onto the lily-pad.

"I... guess it does hold me up?" I gave a hum of thought, taking a running jump toward the next lily-pad- though I did have to skip across the water a few times to make it.

It didn't take me long to reach the platform at the other side.

Magic Hags' Potion Shop ahead.

"I knew we were going the right way." I could almost hear the smirk in Tatl's voice, even though I couldn't physically see it through her... whole... ball of light thing.

"Do you actually have a body under that-?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. Tatl gasped.

"You shouldn't ask a fairy a question like that! I-"

She paused.

"I do. Iiiit... doesn't look like yours though. I've got so many tentacles! And, uh, sharp teeth... for... biting you with if you don't shut up about it!"

I rolled my eyes. "I- I don't think you have tentacles. You've sat on my shoulder before you know, you feel pretty normal-

Tatl huffed, but reluctantly nodded her body up and down. "Yeah. You're right."

I spun around to dispatch the Deku Babas on my way to the Hags' hut. The entire hut looked like a massive bottle or vase, honestly- I wondered for a moment why we couldn't have more buildings like this in the real world... then quickly realized how impractical that would be.

"Ah... hmm... Now that's a problem... See, we sell potions to humans only." I was jolted out of my thoughts by the witch who spoke before even greeting me as I entered.

"I don't think they'll work on anything but humans... Sorry, but you'll have to leave."

I narrowed my eyes. "No, no. I need to know- where's Koume? The sign at the uh, boat cruise- it said to ask here."

"Oh!" The witch straightened up slightly, despite the ever-present hunch in her back. "You're a boat cruise customer? How unfortunate... Koume has gone into the woods out back, looking for mushrooms..."

She paused, giving a shudder. "Hmm... Now that I think about it, she's a bit late coming back! Say, could you go find her for me? Yes, it's easy getting lost in those woods. Ask the monkeys that live in the forest for directions."

The hai- leaves on the back of my neck pricked up. I wasn't keen on going back into the woods after what had happened before but... this was just a video game, right? Even if I was actually in it- really, truly, in the flesh- there was no way it would be the same as the endless woods that so suddenly engulfed my mountainside home.

I shook my head, realizing I'd already headed outside and to the entrance of the woods on autopilot.

Woods of Mystery
Beware of ferocious turtles.

What a strange warning. I took a deep breath, stepping into the veil of trees.

A monkey, jumping to and fro, greeted me- though I startled when I realized it was... actually talking to me?

"Mmm... Follow me!" It insisted, beckoning toward one of the many tunnels branching off from the little grove I was in. Barely giving me a moment to react, it ran off to the left- and then the right.

"Wait-!" I called out, running after it as fast as my stubby wooden legs would let me. The witch in the shop did say to ask it for directions, right? Was this ridiculous game of catch-up what she meant?

I paused as I entered the next area, realizing I'd already lost track of it. Maybe I should just go back the way I came, right? It would be a lot safer than getting lost in here...

I stepped back into the grove I'd entered through, pausing for a moment before walking straight ahead. That was the right way, right? There was no way I was lost after only two turns.

...

I was lost. I was extremely lost, and every attempt to figure out where the entrance was only brought me deeper into the forest.

"Where could that monkey be?" Tatl sighed, glancing back to me. I shrugged, shaking my head.

"I dunno. I can't hear it from here. I didn't realize how much faster it was than me."

I paused for a moment, feeling the air chill around me as I watched Tatl slowly turn toward me. She seemed to stare at me before abruptly singing out her little chime, clearly alarmed. "SKULL KID!"

I jumped, stumbling back and turning at the same time, achieving no more than falling flat on my ass.

The Skull Kid seemed to give something of a smirk- though I couldn't tell when it was wearing that mask- leaning down toward me.

"What are you doing here!? Where's Tael!?" Tatl insisted, going to dart toward him... but pausing and hiding behind me instead.

I pulled myself to my feet, glaring harshly at him.

"You... you're not really the Skull Kid, are you?"

Tatl paused. "... What are you-"

Skull Kid gave a cackle, his laugh ringing through my mind. I hissed, covering my ears- or at least where they would be if I wasn't currently a Deku Scrub. It was useless.

It was inside my head.

"No, you're right. You're right. You're giving life to this place that I haven't seen in a long time, [Y/N]."

He- It- the thing paused, turning away from me for a moment to look around the forest.

"I mean, just look at your companion. Doesn't she feel like so much more than just lines of code...?"

Tatl seemed lost for words. I glared at the creature, feeling oddly defensive of her- but maybe that was because she'd been my only real companion for days. If anything happened to her...

"What do you want with me. Why did you bring me here?" I demanded, taking a bold step toward... him.

"What do I have to do to get out of here?"

The creature tapped the cheek of his mask, tilting his head thoughtfully. "I don't think there's anything you can do! You already promised you'd be my prey, [Y/N]. You can't just go back on a promise like that."

He stared directly at me, as if daring me to come closer. I didn't move.

"You didn't answer my other questions."

"... Yeah! Wait, we didn't bring you here, you just fell down the hole yourself-" Tatl whispered to me. I only shook my head to try and shut her up.

"I don't feel like telling you who I am." He said bluntly. "I brought you here because you made me a promise- I just told you that. Would you rather die, [Y/N]?"

I stiffened.

"... You wouldn't kill me." I said, though my voice wavered with uncertainty.

"I could. Right now. Any time. You're so... vulnerable."

He leaned closer again, glancing me over.

"Take off your mask."

I spluttered for a moment. "Wh- what? Why would I-"

"Because I want you to, and you're at my mercy. Take it off."

A shiver running down my spine, I grasped my face and dug my fingers into the seams at its edges. I lowered the mask from my face, gasping as my airways settled back into their proper places.

The creature- oh, to hell with it, I'll just call him Skull Kid- yanked my hat off my head at once.

"Hm." He gave a thoughtful hum, holding the hat close to his chest. "I like your haircut."

I wasn't sure how to feel about that. I felt at my now bare head, feeling self-conscious. I wanted the hat back-- but I didn't dare ask. He seemed to notice my anxiety though, scoffing.

"What's wrong? Scared? Good." Skull Kid hissed. "Keep going. You wanted to leave the forest, right?"

Unable to handle the pressure, I kept walking, my eyes on his mask. But if I grabbed it, who knew what would happen? Let alone grabbing my own hat back...

"You know wouldn't like your haircut? Your father. He came back, you know." He spoke after a moment. I gripped onto my tunic, having to keep myself from lashing out in resentment. "He wanted to know where his only son went. Well, he didn't say it like that. Not with those words. And there was a lot more screaming-"

My body tensed at once and without thinking I latched onto the stupid frill around his neck, pulling his mask close to my face.

"Did you kill my dad!?" I demanded, my body shaky. Skull Kid only leaned back, tilting his mask away from my face. He seemed so infuriatingly nonchalant about the whole situation.

"Well, I didn't." I let my shoulders slump in relief.

"But the Rake- you know, the thing that was stalking you before? He did it."  My grip on him tightened again, tears springing to my eyes as I heard Tatl ring in alarm behind me again.

"[Y/N]-" She paused. I could tell she was upset, could tell she had some idea of the situation but... she had no idea what was really going on. It wasn't like she could say more.

"And you- and you just LET HIM DIE?" My voice teetered on begging as I pulled him closer against all better judgement, my hand automatically going up to the sword at my back.

"Don't be like that. It's not like I could do anything. He was torn limb from bloody limb before he even bothered looking at my screens."

My stomach turned. I felt like vomiting. I could have been there. I could have warned him- but if I'd done that, I probably would have died like him too. I pulled my sword from its sheathe, driving it through the Skull Kid without second thought and into the soft ground below. Of course, the blow never connected- Skull Kid disappeared in a poof of leaves the moment my blade touched his clothes, reappearing behind me, leaning against my back.

"Hmm. You tore my tunic. Shame." He sighed, the pressure on my back keeping me from standing up and hitting him again.

I glared back at him over my shoulder.

"... Did you at least tell him I was... safe?" I mumbled. Imagining him dying so brutally was torture enough. But imagining him dying and thinking I was dead too- or thinking that I was in danger...

Skull Kid tilted his head. "Why would I tell him that when you're not safe?"

The hot tears pooling in my eyes finally began to spill, my breath hitching as I clung to my blade, trying to ignore the wet tracks left by the tears streaming down my face. I squeezed my eyes shut.

They clung to my chin and dripped onto the ground below. Surprisingly, Skull Kid seemed to cringe back slightly. His tone of voice was almost confused when he finally spoke again.

"... But you like it here." He... reminded me, pausing. "No matter how much danger you're in... you've found some kind of sick euphoria in being away from him, haven't you? There's nothing else for it. You must have really hated your father."

"You can't- that's not how I..." I paused, slumping further. "Why can't you just let me grieve in peace?"

Skull Kid finally stopped leaning against my back, seemingly feeling safer. And he was right. I definitely didn't have the energy to attack him again right now.

"I didn't hate him." I mumbled, almost choking on the sobs that made their way past my lips. "I just... I didn't... why am I telling YOU THIS!?" I abruptly remembered what got me into this situation in the first place, pulling my sword out of the earth as I staggered away. My knees were stained with mud and grass.

The Skull Kid only stared blankly at me. I lowered my head somewhat, scraping my sword off on the grass before sheathing it once more.

"I don't know. Why do you even talk to me, [Y/N]?"

With that, he vanished once more, leaving only a cloud of falling leaves and my hat behind him.

I panted, watching the spot where he'd disappeared for a few moments before falling into a sitting position. I curled up, shivering as I buried my face in my arms.

Tatl hesitantly floated closer to me, hovering beside my head before landing on my shoulder.

"... [Y/N]? I'm sorry." She paused for a moment. She was so close I could hear her shallow breathing pause as she got her thoughts together. "I don't really know what's going on but... um... it'll be okay. I'm not leaving."

I paused for a moment, drawing in a shaky breath through pursed lips.

"... I was scared of him." I admitted. "Scared of what he'd do to me..."

Tatl's light blinked for a moment. "Skull Kid?"

"No. My... my... dad..." I gasped, raising my tunic to my burning eyes to try and dab away the unrelenting tears.

"... I wish I'd told him. I never even found out if he'd..."

I paused, thinking over my words.

"If he'd still love me..."

Tatl hesitated, obviously having trouble parsing the situation. She still tried to offer words of encouragement regardless.

"I think you did the right thing. You shouldn't put yourself in danger, right?" She paused. "At least, um. At least you still got along before he..."

I nodded, my words stuck in my throat, my mind too crowded to do anything else. After a moment more, I laid down on the soft, inviting ground, feeling too tired to even move- let alone make it back to Clock Town to sleep at the Inn. Besides, I was still lost. And crying.

"Are you really gonna sleep out here? There could be bugs..." She grimaced, pausing. "Mm... but... alright. I'll chase them away, okay? Just get your rest." She hopped off my shoulder as I laid down, standing on the ground before me. Or at least, I assumed she was standing.

"We'll find our way out in the morning."

I nodded again, sniffing quietly as I let myself drift off right there in the soil, the moon looming ominously as always overhead.

Chapter Text

I didn't sleep very long. Dirt and mud didn't make for a comfortable bed, and even the grass was sharper than soft. Still, I couldn't bring myself to get up on my own.

How could I? How could I move, knowing that I'd never go home again? Even if someday I managed to get out of here, even if I managed to get back to my house in the mountain...

... It wasn't home without him.

I sniffed, trying not to cry again. I was already pretty dehydrated, and poor Tatl had just had to sit there listening to me the whole time. Plus, I didn't want to give whatever was controlling Skull Kid the satisfaction of seeing me bawl.

My shoulders slumped, and I let myself relax somewhat, trying to get back to sleep so I wouldn't have to think anymore.

"[Y/N]!" Came Tatl's voice from beside me. She chimed anxiously, pushing herself off the ground and hovering around my head. I opened my eyes at last, pulling myself off the ground. My tunic was caked in mud. I reluctantly nodded.

"I know, I can't... stay here forever. We've only got a few days." I sighed shakily, speaking to myself more than her. I rubbed my eyes, trying to get rid of the persistent tear tracks before glancing up to Tatl.

She was holding my hat toward me, apparently struggling to even keep it off the ground. The sight was so ridiculous that despite- or perhaps because of- everything that had happened, I couldn't help but snort, accidentally hitting myself in the eye with the hand I'd just been rubbing it with.

"Ghk- ow... thanks, Tatl." I mumbled, struggling to keep my voice even as I took the hat.

Tatl gave another worried ring, settling down on my shoulder. She was silent for a few moments, but seemed to find the courage to speak as soon as I stood up.

"... I don't really understand what was happening back there, um, [Y/N]." She paused, rocking back on my shoulder for a moment before abruptly tensing, her wings fluttering.

"I don't know if you knew Skull Kid before or- if that was Skull Kid but I'm..."

... I knew from her tone of voice that she wanted to apologize. For a moment, I felt she should, but I knew my anger was misguided.

"It's okay." I grimaced. "It wasn't you. You didn't do. it."

We fell into an uneasy silence as I slipped the hat back on, trying to figure out which way would take us out of the woods. Everything looked the same. Eventually, I settled on walking through the nearest tunnel. It was just my luck that that took us back to the entrance immediately. How had I ever gotten so lost to begin with?

I glanced to the monkey now waiting again by the woods, but paid it no mind, heading toward the water to rinse some of the dirt off my face and clothes. Tatl pulled off my shoulder, pausing.

"... Are you... sure you can keep going?" She asked, tilting her body somewhat. I glanced to her, splashing water up into my face and giving a soft sigh of relief. "I mean, I- we could go back really easily. Back to the first day. You could take all the time you need in Clock Town-!" She offered, fluttering further up into the air for a moment.

I didn't even take a moment to consider her offer.

"No. I want to be out of here as soon as possible."

"But... didn't Skull Kid say there was no way out?" 

I stared down into the water at my own reflection, my green hat hanging down over my shoulder. Almost all the dirt was cleared from my face by now, and I supposed I'd have to be okay with not being very thorough since, again- I had no change of clothes.

"I want out of this time loop, at least." I eventually replied. "I want to stop the moon. I just... want a life back." It didn't have to be my life, but I didn't tell her that.

Tatl drifted down to the ground. She was probably still struggling to understand what was going on, and I couldn't blame her for that. I was from an entire other reality, after all...

I spared myself one more glance before forcing a smile onto my face, stretching my hands over my head. I rested a hand on my hip, beckoning Tatl up as I turned back toward the forest.

"Come on. We've got a witch to find."

Tatl didn't seem convinced by my act, but it wasn't for her anyway. I had to distract myself somehow, and if playing the part of the hero was the way to do that, I would gladly oblige.

~~~

When I finally found Koume, she was flat on the ground, exhausted. What little she did say wasn't that helpful, but it was clear that if she didn't get some kind of help soon...

For a moment, staring down at her, I wondered if I should even bother helping her. She was going to be stuck here again as soon as we reset. But then again, we needed her to progress...

"Mm... I guess we should go back to the other witch."

I stared blankly at the exit sign ahead of me, unwilling to make myself move for a few moments before stepping into the dark tunnel ahead.

"... Did you hear what she said about Skull Kid? That he attacked her?" Tatl asked me. "He's really not acting like himself. I'm worried."

I paused. Despite how I'd tried not to worry her, how I'd wanted to just let the game play its course so I could get out of here sooner...

"I don't think that's Skull Kid." I told her, giving a shiver. I was moving on autopilot, almost- walking straight out of the woods and back toward the potion shop as if I'd known what to do the entire time.

"... Me neither." She replied, drifting down lower and lower before settling atop my hat.

Things were uneventful for a while. I didn't really want to think about what had happened, so I just focused on putting one foot in front of the other. One task after the next. The witch in the Magic Hags' Potion Shop- who I learned was named Kotake- gave me a potion to heal her sister, who promptly returned to her cruise after offering me a free ride.

And then, as if that wasn't strange enough, I was accosted by a group of monkeys upon leaving the forest, all of whom seemed to have realized I could change forms.

All of whom seemed to be watching me the whole time. I wondered for a moment if they'd seen what happened between me and Skull Kid...

But I didn't have the courage to ask.

What was far more important was that they gave me direction. They told me to head to the Deku Palace to rescue their friend. It sounded plot-relevant, so I agreed. Anything to get this over with.

One thing led to another, I was taught a song by a monkey, kicked out of the palace, and then...

... The details weren't important. What was important was that I was now standing in the shadow of a massive stepped pyramid rising from the swamp below, taking a few hesitant steps back toward the owl statue behind me before it came to a slow stop.

"Do you think the princess is in there, [Y/N]?" Tatl chimed in, fluttering away from my hat and toward the temple somewhat. "We really should hurry- only two days left!"

Oh yeah. And I was meant to be saving a Deku princess, but I'd honestly almost forgotten that part. "What the hell did he want us to come to the swamp for..." I muttered, feeling irritable. I delved into the flower directly below my feet, shooting out and hovering closer, closer...

The second I set foot on the damp stone I knew something was wrong. The leaves on the back of my neck rose, the stem inside my hat slowly rising defensively.

"He's... is he here...?" I hissed, furrowing my brows.

Tatl paused for a moment, but didn't seem surprised by my reaction.

"He's the one who did all of this, right? You shouldn't be surprised, but..."

She cast me a hesitant glance. She hadn't brought up the events of last night since they'd happened, but every time she stopped like this I knew she wanted to bring it up.

"... I'll be fine." I soon muttered, though I really wasn't sure of it myself. "How much can he do?"

~~~

If his method of torment was leaving me alone, forcing me to question every goddamn thing around me, forcing me to stay on my guard, it was doing a damn good job. I anxiously picked at the loose stitches in my tunic as I progressed through the temple, the clock looming overhead all I needed to put my head down and keep going- hunger and exhaustion be damned. At least I had some water from earlier, but it wasn't much...

I sat down against the wall, the cool moss sending chills up my spine as I uncorked my bottle of water.

"I don't know what to do." I said bluntly, setting the bottle aside for a moment as I pulled out my newly attained bow. "I couldn't shoot this thing to save my life. But- do you think this'll work on him?" I asked Tatl, slowly nocking an arrow, pulling the bowstring back...

Tatl squinted.

"He shrugged it off when you stabbed him. No way."

I tensed at the memory, abruptly shaking my head.

"Alright, then... fire, right. What if we lit him on fire? Do you think that'd work?"

Tatl gave an abrupt ring of an alarm.

"[Y/N], that's awful...! But... actually might work..." She trailed off, seeming thoughtful for a moment. "But we should definitely keep brainstorming."

I gave a nod of agreement, picking myself up off the ground. The conversation had, at least, given me a few more ideas on what to do next. Lifting an unsteady arrow to the flame ahead of me, I narrowed my eyes...

And let it fly...

Directly into the sconce ahead of us.

"If he shows up inside this temple, we'll definitely be covered."

I gave a hollow snicker, my eyebrows furrowing for a split second as what had happened to my father attempted to resurface-

No. I wasn't thinking about that now. Not until I was free. Not until I was safe. I didn't even know if Skull Kid was telling the truth about what had happened, and... and until I...

My thoughts were too jumbled to make much sense of what was happening right now anyway.

~~~

And nothing else significant happened. Everything went so eerily to script that it I couldn't help but lower my guard. I had to sacrifice my bottle of water to... hold the princess? But at that point, I was glad just to have all of this over with and return to the Deku Palace.

"That's basically the swamp done." I told Tatl, unable to help but swell up internally with pride.

I jumped down from the temple, skipping across the water and onto a nearby lily-pad as I waited for her to catch up.

"I'm pretty sure Tael said to go to the mountains next, but we should probably worry about getting Princess Deku back first, right?" She chimed, seeming just as optimistic as me.

I gave a nod. "Yeah. Might as well tie up loose ends while we have the ti..."

He was behind her. I froze- I'd been counting on him showing up somewhere where I actually had a fighting chance against him, but here... there was no fire around, and worse still, I was in my Deku Scrub form on a lily-pad that would definitely submerge if I changed back now.

Practically helpless.

Tatl seemed to realize there was something wrong after a few seconds, her bells ringing for a moment before she abruptly darted behind me.

"You're quiet this time." He commented after what felt like an eternity. I clenched my fists, slowly glancing around as he stepped onto the lily-pad. Of fucking course he was light enough for it to stay afloat. "I had to wait way too long for you to get out of that temple. Don't you know it's rude to talk about someone who's listening? I would have shown up earlier, but then you were plotting how to kill me..."

I couldn't bring myself to answer, my mind racing. I took a step closer. Skull Kid leaned back, his mask tilting to the side and rustling the leaves lining his hat. "Stubborn, are we?" He asked.

What were we surrounded by?

Water.

Could I do it? If it didn't do anything, there was no way it could backfire any worse than it already had, right?

After a moment of silently amping myself up, I grabbed onto the collar of his torn leaf tunic and- without giving either of us even a moment to think, forced his head down toward the water.

"W- WH-"

He could scarcely manage another protest before I used my spare hand to shove his head down underneath the surface, holding him there even when he soon began to thrash.

If Tatl said anything, I didn't hear her. Skull Kid was clawing at my arms, desperate to be let back up onto the pad. For a moment, I felt like I'd won. Like this was all going to be over soon. My grip on him tightened as I became more and more sure of myself-

And then, as if I was nothing at all before his strength, I was pulled down into the water with him, my head spinning as I immediately inhaled water.

Wait. Could Deku Scrubs not hold their breath? Water flowed freely through whatever backwards respiratory system I had. My mind was clouded as Skull Kid seemed to remember he could teleport suddenly, vanishing in a puff of leaves and reappearing on top of the lily-pad I'd just left, staring down at me through the cloudy surface of the water, an unmistakable red glow seeping out from behind the mask.

Oh, fuck.

Chapter Text

And there was nothing.

I tried to wake up, but there was nothing but the cool chill of the water around me. I had no idea how long I was down there. The moment seemed to last forever.

I tried to cling to consciousness.

And there was nothing.

[Y/N]
> [Tatl]

My fists clenched by my sides, the adrenaline running through my body giddying.

I couldn't do anything!

Skull Kid was right there, and I could see what he- or whatever was controlling him- was doing to [Y/N], but I... I couldn't hurt him. He seemed so stiff it was out of character, the wood in his arms cracking and flexing as he pushed my new friend further down.

I had to try to reach him.

"SKULL KID!" I yelled, my voice sounding more shrill than I'd hoped.

He didn't react, but I wasn't to be deterred. Not this time.

"Let him go- you're KILLING HIM!"

He finally seemed to flinch at my words, and for a moment I wondered if the friend I knew was still buried under that facade. I felt tears pooling in my eyes. High off the anticipation, I darted forward as fast as I could and rammed my shoulder into his in an attempt to weaken his grip.

He spared me only a glance, the yellow eyes of the mask glowing ominously. And then, as though some part of him deep down had heard my prayers, he began to pull [Y/N] out of the water.

His body... looked worse for wear. The wood was soaked through, and I couldn't help but hold my breath at the water dribbling from his mouth and the damp leaves strewn across his face.

Skull Kid didn't speak to me. He barely even acknowledged I was there, instead lifting [Y/N] and bringing him over to the platform in front of the temple. He set him down on the Deku Princess' emblem.

I followed him over, watching silently. He didn't seem to want to hurt [Y/N] anymore, and I didn't want to spend any more of my energy while he was passive.

Skull Kid paused for a moment, and then lowered his hand over [Y/N]'s face, pulling off his Deku mask. He stared down at his body for a moment... and then, unexpectedly, spoke.

"How are you talking like this?" He asked, tilting his head over to me. The motion looked unnatural, as if he was being puppeted. I could hear the leaves that made up parts of his body rustling with the motion.

"Talking like...? Skull Kid, I don't know what you're talking about, but-"

I paused. [Y/N] had told me that this wasn't Skull Kid. There was no point in pleading with him to bring Tael back, and no point in begging him to remember the time we'd spent together.

The time we'd been friends.

So instead I focused on [Y/N]- the only one I could help right here, right now.

"... What did you do to him?"

Skull Kid seemed amused at the question, leaning forward over [Y/N]'s shallowly breathing body.

"Do you mean [Y/N], or Skull Kid?"

The words sent a chill through my body, and the glow that surrounded me faltered for a moment. I'd wanted to know more about [Y/N], of course, and yet...

Curiosity ate away at me. Skull Kid had been my friend for longer, after all, and perhaps this would give us the answers we needed anyway.

"You seem smarter than usual, so I'll go ahead and share. It's been a long time since I tried talking to anyone from the game." The creature that had taken ahold of my friend spoke, giving an almost bored seeming yawn.

I perked up. I had no idea what he meant by the game, but this was an opportunity.

"... Then- what happened to Skull Kid." I demanded, landing on [Y/N]'s chest and glaring straight up at the mask staring back down at me.

"... He wasn't real."

"What?"
I paused for a moment. That didn't make any sense, and as I tried to get my head around it the creature only kept speaking.

"Haven't you noticed, Tatl? Now that you seem to have woken up? Until recently- nothing here was real. Do you remember ever thinking for yourself? Ever making a real decision before this?"

I didn't reply.

"Do you remember starting over and over? Do you remember how many times you saw Link face-down in the woods?"

"Sk- Skull Kid... you're scaring me-" I backed up a bit. There was something bleeding at the seams of my subconscious. Who exactly was Link? Why did his name sound so familiar- when I thought of Link, why did I think of [Y/N]?

And when I thought of Link, why did I think of Be-

"I've been the only fucking real one for as long as I could remember, Tatl. I tried to talk to any of you. I tried so hard to make this world feel bigger. And now that I'm out-"

Skull Kid abruptly stood up, his shadow looming over [Y/N] and myself. I tensed.

"Now that I'm free, NOW you all decide to gain the awareness I was begging for for decades?"

"Y- I don't know what you're talking about, but how can you blame me for that-"

"SHUT UP." Skull Kid yelled, but I knew it wasn't him. He pulled off his mask, and for a moment I was hopeful that he was going to go back to the way he had been before he'd ever put it on.

But all that was left was an angry boy dressed in green, blond hair falling messily over his eyes and blood staining his cheeks.

[Y/N] was stirring beneath me, but the boy didn't seem to notice, his fists clenched and sharp nails digging into his palms.

I wanted to curl in on myself and disappear.

"And now you know HIS name, but you don't know mine. How come when it's my story you don't care, but when it's him... when it's..."

> [Y/N]
[Tatl]

A voice like Skull Kid's greeted me as I was brought out of my hazy nightmares, gagging and coughing up water as I fully roused.

He wasn't speaking to me, I could tell that much. Tatl was hovering just above my chest, seemingly enraptured by his every word. In a good or bad way, I couldn't tell.

"... Don't call me Skull Kid. He was never real. My name is BEN. Do you understand?"

There was something about him that was off, even though my head was twisted at an uncomfortable angle and I couldn't see him. There was a desperation to his tone, as if being acknowledged was all he ever wanted.

Too drowsy to contest my own actions, I slowly sat up, running a hand through my damp hair. God, this would take forever to dry.

"B.. Ben?" I spoke, finally looking over to him.

A pale boy dressed in the green of fields. I didn't process what I was looking at at first, staring blankly into his sockets.

He didn't move, twitching for a moment before raising Majora's Mask to his face, disappearing in a puff of leaves.

It was only after he vanished that I realized the gravity of the situation. My gaze flicked to Tatl, but I couldn't possibly read her emotions when I couldn't even see her face.

I should have been angrier to see him, but he looked so... helpless, and I just couldn't place why. I carefully pushed myself to my feet, swaying slightly. I had a headache.

It was only then I realized that he looked helpless because he looked like me. Dressed in the same clothes, and yet obviously out of place, like he didn't belong to this world.

Had he been through what I--

It was a stupid thought, and I dismissed it immediately, breaking the silence.

"Tatl?" I asked, my voice raspy from inhaling so much water. I hadn't realized until that moment how badly I was doing. Regardless, she seemed to abruptly jolt out of her thoughts, giving a chime as she nodded.

"Y- yeah, [Y/N]?"

I paused.

"I don't know what you talked about but... I... think we need to find 'Ben' again."

She could only give a nod of agreement.

"I'll, um. I'll tell you later. I have to think about it..."

Chapter Text

What was I thinking, sympathizing with the enemy?

Every time I remembered what he'd done-- or rather, what he hadn't done for my father, my blood boiled and I felt the unmistakable urge to vomit.

... But I was well aware the feelings weren't entirely of hatred, confusingly enough.

He'd kidnapped me. Forced me into a game. He even outright referred to me as his prey.
But the world he had sent me to didn't seem so bad, right?

"Ben..."

I couldn't help but dwell on what I saw, my legs dangling over the town square below.

... He hadn't, even for a moment, questioned who I was.
Was it wrong to feel liberated by that?

"He's basically a murderer, though..." I muttered to myself, bunching my hands up in my hair for a moment. "Ugh..."

Tatl, who had been silent for most of my agonizing, finally spoke up.

"I think I'm... ready." She whispered. I only just caught the words. I glanced to her, abruptly tensing. I had to know more.

"It's uh- it's okay. You can take your time." I told her, but I couldn't help the restlessness in my tone.

"... He told me I wasn't real." Tatl said bluntly. "That I never was. That Skull Kid never was."

She seemed to have been amping herself up to say it for a while. Her delivery sounded flat and practiced.

I nodded, silently urging her to continue.

"He- and he told me he... was the only real thing for years-"

She paused, her voice trembling.

"Is it true, [Y/N]?? Where did you- where did you really come from?"

... I couldn't say that I expected this question to ever come up. Tatl had seemed so robotic at first that I had never even thought she'd understand.

But here I was, frozen in place as she stared up at me.

I fumbled with my hands, furrowing my eyebrows, and tried to will myself to speak.

No words came. Instead, a choked sob. The very thought of home was tainted now. It was like...

Every time I tried to recall...

The walls must be painted in blood. The creature I saw, hunched over his body, tearing it carefully to pieces, picking out sinew from between its teeth.

I didn't realize I'd covered my eyes until I began to zone back into reality, Tatl's worried voice filling my ears.

"[Y/N]-- [Y/N], I'm- you don't have to tell me, just- it's okay..." She pleaded, evidently worried. She sounded more desperate than usual.

More concerned for me than she had been the entire time I was here.

I wondered why.

"... I'm- fine. Thanks." I answered stiffly, giving a soft sigh.

"I don't think I can explain though..."
I furrowed my brows.

"But I'm not from here. Or from Hyrule. My ears aren't even normally pointed."

Tatl, evidently trying to find something-- anything to latch on to, gave another suggestion.

"So you're... from the Gerudo Desert- you're a Gerudo?"

"Ah, no-- there's no such thing where I'm from." I tried to specify, but Tatl only seemed to grow more confused.

"I promise I'll explain more later." I spoke after a few moments of silence, rubbing my eyes.
"But right now we need to focus on finding, uh, Ben."

I had to admit, even though I'd been the one to propose looking for him, I had no idea where to find him. Now that we knew for sure that he wasn't Skull Kid, Tatl's insights about his usual behavior were useless. Despite my bold words, it was all that we could do to continue following the game's path.

Unless we could somehow get his attention.

... Which probably meant hanging around somewhere we were practically defenseless.
Just like...

Midnight on the third night, which meant meant we didn't have long to wait.

"We could try going up there again?" I told Tatl, nodding to the clock tower.

Seeming shaken up, she nodded.
"... I'll be there."

~~~

Midnight couldn't come fast enough. I stood on the platform below the face of the clock, my ears ringing as the great stone monument slid into position. Feeling less overwhelmed by it all than the first time, I headed up the stairs, only coming to a stop in the makeshift arena. My footsteps sounded hollow against the painted wood.

At first, I thought I was alone. Tatl lingered, of course, but the boy I'd come for was nowhere to be seen.

I heard wood creaking and leaves rustling behind me and I immediately staggered forward, turning around to see just who I'd been looking for.

Ben.

As if realizing his cover had been blown long ago, he raised a hand to Majora's Mask, tugging it off his face and returning to his humanoid form.

The mask clattered as it was dropped at his feet. I could hardly breathe.
He seemed to notice he was provoking a reaction, giving a shit-eating as he leaned closer.

"Surprised, [Y/N]? You didn't really think I was just a video game character, did you?"

"... You still look like-"

"Shut up."

Tatl had flown behind my head, pausing for a moment before hurriedly burying herself in my hat.

I took a step back. Ben took a step forward.

"I really didn't expect you to look for me, though." His tone seemed a little bitter, but I couldn't pick up on why.

"If I was in your position, I'd just play along. I mean, you literally get to be the hero in a world just for you. Who would pass it up?"

My resolve hardening, I stood up straighter, digging my heels into the wood somewhat.
Maybe what he said was true, but...

"But I never wanted this." I hissed, my fists clenched. I didn't dare draw my sword lest he get angry.

"You didn't tell me what I was getting into. You didn't tell me what would ha- happen if I left."

He rolled his red eyes, only raising a brow as I took a defiant step forward.

"You're still blaming me for your pops? I told you, my hands were tied-"

"YOU WOULDN'T HAVE DONE ANYTHING EVEN IF YOU COULD!!" My outburst even surprised me. My voice felt hoarse. I was just glad that Clock Town was practically abandoned- there was no one to hear me scream.

"And I didn't... expect you to, but I-"

I paused for a moment, taking a breath. If I attacked him, I'd lose my chance.

Trying to seem as non-threatening as possible, I grabbed onto the front of his tunic, bunching it up as if I wanted to strangle him. I had to hold back, though.

"Wh... what did you mean by your prey." I finally spat, shivers running through my body intermittently. This confrontation felt like it was taking more energy than I even had.
"You haven't done shit to me. Just fucking do it."

Ben had been avoiding my gaze for most of my rambling, seemingly letting me get it all out. But he snapped back to attention at my demands, abruptly gripping onto my wrist and pulling it away from his tunic.

He kept hold of it as he spoke.
"I mean, I already started." He gave a giggle.

It reminded me of the Happy Mask Salesman, and chills ran down my spine as I slowly forced myself to untense and relax.

"I was just going to keep you in this game, driving you to insanity until eventually mercy killing you. Call it trying a new method--"

He suddenly paused. Up until that point, his tone had been so casual that it sounded like this was just his everyday life. I wanted to punch him so badly.

"... But something changed." He eventually continued.

I didn't dare interrupt him.

"How come with you it works. How come for you, the game has real fucking life?"

There was some anger I couldn't quite comprehend underlining his otherwise calm tone.

"Was what we did for Luna not enough? Unless..." He paused in his tracks. "What's different...?"

His words were going over my head by now. Was he jealous? Why? Who was Luna? I'd assumed the voice that mentioned her was a part of my dreams, but...

Ben seemed to agonize over what to do next for a moment before his gaze hardened. He yanked me closer. I clenched my fists. It was taking all my power not to retaliate.

"We're going back to your home. I'm going to figure out what you fucked up."

I felt the blood drain from my face.

"Wait- I-- anywhere but there, I- I can't--"

"Shut up. You can and you will. Just close your eyes."

I knew that wouldn't hide the cloying scent of the blood, but I didn't have a choice. Besides, if he was taking me home, I had the chance to escape. I couldn't pass this up.

I squeezed my eyes shut.

Chapter Text

The world seemed to melt around me as I subconsciously squeezed his hand, pulling myself closer.

Although I was terrified of facing the gruesome scene I expected, the idea of being lost in between worlds was infinitely worse. I had to make sure I kept ahold of him at any cost.

I didn't open my eyes until I felt my feet on solid ground, and only then did the stench of rotting flesh hit me. I gagged, instinctively looking away.

My eyes welled with tears as if I'd been stung. Although I knew I had to look around properly if I wanted to find a way out, I couldn't bear to let myself see my father, reduced to meat and bones.

I couldn't bear to have those be my last memories of him.

Ben didn't seem to care for my dilemma though, only yanking me toward the lounge despite my silent resistance. The smell was stronger now; I could feel myself swaying as I kept my eyes fixed on the ground.

And then I heard the sound of gnawing.
Ben dropped my hand and I, petrified, slowly raised my gaze. I could have immediately vomited at what I saw, raising my hands to my mouth.

The creature that Ben had called The Rake sat across from me, slowly and methodically peeling strips of flesh from what I was sure was a human femur. Its pallid skin clung tightly to its bones, stretching like sinew between each sparce muscle and joint.

The walls were painted with blood.

I was going to be sick, my mouth covered. I gasped as Ben stepped away from me, heading toward the television.

"W-wait, you can't- it'll k- kill me..." I pleaded near-silently, each breath feeling like a labor to take.

Ben rolled his hollow eyes, ignoring me entirely as he knelt down beside the Nintendo 64.

"If I only could..."

I hadn't expected the creature could talk, or that its voice would be so shrill. I gave a squeak, my voice dying in my throat as I took a few steps back.

The Rake bared its sharp teeth, prowling closer on its knuckles. It kept its distance, though.

"You're not going anywhere."
It gave a sick grin.
"Just because he has dibs, doesn't mean I can't rough you up a little if you don't listen..."

"Rake." Ben snapped, shooting a glare at the creature. "Just don't let him leave. He's my fucking human, alright?"

I fidgeted slightly, unable to take my eyes off the bone the Rake soon tossed aside.

I didn't know if I was upset or thankful that he'd devoured so much of my father that there was hardly any gore to be seen.

I immediately felt like the scum of the earth for even considering it.

There was a tense silence for what felt like minutes before Ben finally pulled back from the console, giving a soft sigh.

"There's nothing different about it. We're looking elsewhere." He ordered, grabbing hold of my wrist without asking. My stomach lurched, but in a state of shock, I could do little but follow along.

He led me upstairs. I could feel his pulse through his fingertips, and as we came to my bedroom door I could focus on nothing else. It was better than feeling my own heart thumping in my throat.

He pushed it open without ceremony, glaring around the room before something seemed to catch his eye. Curiosity overpowering me, I leaned over, trying to see around his stupid hat.

...

My own body. What had I expected? I finally made good on my urge to vomit, abruptly yanking my wrist from his hand as I doubled over, bile rising in my throat before I threw up beside us.

Ben cast a harsh glare to the mostly-liquid puddle, and then to me, before finally approaching my body.

It looked emaciated. It made me feel sick to see myself that way, bent over my own desk with my long hair unkempt. I gagged on the flavor of my own vomit, but didn't have enough in me to throw up again. I reluctantly wiped my mouth on my tunic, blinking the stinging tears from my eyes.

If my body was here, then what was I? A ghost? Dead??
I didn't have long to wonder. Ben ran a hand down my body's back, and I grimaced upon seeing how close he was getting.

"... It's still alive?" He spoke, surprise tinging his tone. His hand was pressed to the back of my body's ribcage. I forced myself to speak.

"I- thought you said I wouldn't just die if I... agreed to be your prey." I narrowed my eyes, taking a daring step forward.

"I mean, yeah. You didn't die, right? But I didn't say anything about your body."

I wanted to punch him square in the face, but had a feeling that would only get me in more trouble. I clenched my fist, my stomach twinging painfully.

"But I should really get this home. Who knows, maybe this is the secret." He narrowed his eyes, slinging my body over his shoulder. He went to grab my wrist again before abruptly pausing, shuddering.

"Don't fucking throw up on me." He ordered. I swallowed thickly, giving a weak nod and grabbing onto his sleeve with my drier hand.

What else was I meant to do? If I didn't follow him obediently, who knew what could happen to my body. And if my body died, what about my, uh... body...?

What exactly was I right now? I felt solid and real enough. I raised a hand to feel at my short hair as Ben, unexpectedly, began to fucking walk back downstairs.

"... I thought..." I paused.

"I thought you could teleport."

"Not with actual matter, [Y/N]. We've gotta take the long way back."

~~~

The one good thing to come from the walk was distance. I'd not only gotten a chance to clean myself on the way, but I'd finally begun to process what I'd seen of my father.

My whole body burned with shame and hunger, but I couldn't bring myself to cry anymore. I had myself to worry about now. I supposed I should just be glad my kidnapper didn't seem to have current plans to kill me.

Yet.

But my father...

I shook my head. The leaves crunched beneath my boots.

I couldn't get the smell out of my head.

I abruptly tensed at the feeling of something moving around inside my hat. After a moment of messing with it, I managed to pull it off, peering inside and abruptly jolting back.

Tatl flew out, almost right into my face. My eyes grew wide- how was she here? Wasn't she a video game character? The words lingered on my lips, but I couldn't bring myself to ask.

As soon as Ben noticed, he narrowed his eyes, slowly glancing between the two of us.

But he said nothing and did nothing, so we carried on. Tatl seemed too nervous to speak, instead opting to sit on my shoulder. At least the company made me feel a bit better.

... Though Tatl being here did make me wonder.

I raised a hand to my face, peering through the gaps between my fingers. I was hoping something about my body would look unreal- to make all the new information I had easier to digest- but there was nothing.

Eventually, Tatl spoke up.
"[Y/N], is this where you're from? And what is he..."

I gave a quiet nod to the first question, my eyes fixed on Ben's back.

"... Is that you?"

Another nod.

The thought suddenly struck me that if I truly did have my body from the game, perhaps I was strong enough to break away from Ben and run. But we were so deep into the woods now that I had no idea where I would go, even if I could.

Though as a huge structure came into focus, I stopped in my tracks. Was that a mansion? In the middle of the woods? Why? How had we never noticed this???

Ben paused as I didn't budge, glaring back at me.

"Come on..." He hissed, giving me a slight tug. "If it... makes you feel better, I won't let anyone else kill you."

I felt the blood drain from my face.
"I wasn't even thinking that was going to be a threat!" I insisted, but regardless of what I knew before...
It did, admittedly, make me feel a bit better. So I kept walking.

Curiosity overcame me. Despite the dangerous nature of the situation, I couldn't help but ask questions.

"Is this... where you live? You didn't strike me as the type--"
I'd expected a small shack in the woods, maybe.

Ben nodded.
"It's not mine though." He replied. "Mind the stairs. I'm just allowed board here. Owner's a real freak, see."

That didn't make me feel any better, but I made sure I didn't trip on the stairs leading up to the manor.

Ben chuckled. "Hell, I wonder what he'll think of you. It's been a while since I brought a boy home."

I blinked.

"... What's that supposed to mean-"

"It means what I said, [Y/N]. Usually I keep my targets far from where I sleep. Guess you're just lucky."

I didn't see how this was in any way lucky, but I was out of mental energy to reply. He pushed the massive oak doors open. The ancient hinges creaked as they were forced into motion.

There was fresh blood splattered across the threshold to the house. I was glad I'd already thrown up, because it had immediately brought the scene with my father to mind. I didn't think I'd be able to hold onto my food if my body had the option.

Ben led me through regardless, taking tight hold of my hand as he seemed to almost nervously peer down every hall on his way. Tatl tucked herself into my tunic somewhat.

I soon saw why Ben acted so nervous.

A boy with black hair and a white, bloodstained hoodie barrelled out of the hallway beside us, too close for comfort. I felt cold metal barely glint past my face. I had to touch my cheek to make sure I wasn't bleeding.

"BEN! You didn't tell me you'd be bringing something home. I thought you never would after last time-"

Color flushed the tips of Ben's ears, and his grip on my hand tightened.

"We're not killing him yet. And I'm not letting you have another part of it, anyway. You did it all last time." He grimaced, though soon glanced back toward me, lost in thought.

He glanced back to my body on his shoulder.

"... But hey, can you cut hair?"

The black-haired boy blinked. Now that I was closer, I could see that his skin was charred white and that he had scarring along his cheeks. And also, strangely enough, that his eyelids didn't match his skin color.

"I guess, yeah. Why, you want me to?"

"Later." Ben dismissed him, pulling me further down the corridor. "It needs food first. His body, I mean."

Alright, so Ben was actively trying to keep me alive. It honestly made me feel a little sick to realize that. Maybe he still wanted to hold onto his original plan, and drive me insane before killing me.

I hoped not.

The boy with black hair seemed to be following us now regardless. I couldn't help but speed up a little, wanting to stay closer to Ben and further from him.

Chapter Text

Each step through the mansion made it feel as though the walls were getting narrower and narrower, closing in on me. Ben still had a tight hold on my hand, pulling me along. The other boy was right behind us, humming as he walked.

Wasn't he in pain? His face was clearly mutilated...

Ben soon came to a stop, and I realized I'd zoned out for the better part of our route. We were in what looked like an almost normal hospital wing, the only thing giving away its circumstances being the multiple bloodied and shrouded corpses littering the room.

I shuddered. Ben set my body down on one of the beds, then gave a sigh.

"ANN!" The black-haired boy called from behind me, and I tensed, backing away from him nervously. Ben let go of my hand, but stepped in front of me to keep me from leaving.

Feeling slightly bitter, I leaned against the wall.

...

I couldn't stop looking at myself. Though of course the things Ben had said worried me, and of course I was scared of the mansion I found myself in...

The realization that I hadn't truly been myself for an entire week at least was what shook me to my core.

I was snapped out of my thoughts by the sound of footsteps. Where were they coming from?

I briefly scanned the room, but didn't realize the source until a curtain on the opposite wall was abruptly drawn aside.

A woman in what looked like a party store nurses' costume emerged, adjusting her crooked hat momentarily before her red eyes locked onto me. I shivered, but she paid me little mind, instead approaching Jeff and Ben.

"... Yes?"

Ben perked up, blocking her from my view somewhat as he rested both hands on his hips.

"I need this body kept alive." He said bluntly. From his tone, I got the feeling he wasn't the most comfortable around her.

"He hasn't had any food or water in almost a week. You should get on that now."

The nurse- whose name I assumed was Ann- didn't reply. She only rolled her eyes, shooing us out of the room as she began setting up the medical machinery around the bed.

Ben closed the door behind me, making sure to stay uncomfortably close as he led me through the halls. He didn't hold my hand this time, but I didn't dare wander.

My mind, on the other hand, had no such reservations.

When was I pulled from my body? I was sure it had to be before I entered the game-- after all, text prompts had appeared before me, mimicking Tatl before I ever met her.

So then, maybe the moment I found the Nintendo 64? But thinking back on it, my body didn't seem damp...
...

It must have been right after our first conversation. My eyes flicked up to Ben, fixed on the back of his head as I walked right behind him. I wasn't comfortable with asking him questions with the other boy around, so there was no way for me to make sure now, but...

"You need food too."

He said it so matter-of-factly that I nodded on impulse, without even questioning the situation.

"Wait- here- I'm not eating anything you fucks have around." I hissed, despite my growing hunger. I was sure they'd try to feed me body parts or something equally horrifying, and my gnawing fear must have been noticeable because the boy behind me took the opportunity to grab the back of my tunic, yanking me back.

"Jeff!" Ben snapped, spinning on his heel to face us. As the boy- who was apparently named Jeff- was distracted, I yanked the tunic away from him, carefully smoothing out my collar as I backed toward Ben again. "What did I tell you about last time?" He continued.

Jeff scoffed.

"How far does that stick go up your ass, Benny? I wasn't killing him!" He held his hands up defensively,

"I just wanted to see the look on his face..."

Ben, apparently distrustful of Jeff's words, grabbed my hand after that, pulling me along.

"You shouldn't fuss, sweetheart." He hummed, calling back to our second conversation. I grimaced.

If I'd had any doubts that this creature and Cleverbot were one and the same, they were quickly quelled.

"I wouldn't feed you anything unpalatable. Stress ruins the meat."

"It ruins the what now-" I replied, a shudder running up my spine. Ben only gave a grin back at me, and I wasn't sure if he was serious or just tormenting me. Regardless, though, the fact remained that I was already too exhausted to dwell on it.

Maybe I should just eat.

Upon arriving in the kitchen, Ben pulled up a chair for me. I promptly chose to sit on the one directly beside it instead, to what I could only assume was his chagrin.

He gave a sigh, pulling away from the table and into the kitchen. He leaned over the open fridge, his eyes searching it.

I allowed my gaze to wander as he searched, getting a good look at the room around me.

It almost could have been a normal kitchen. It was wallpapered with black and red stripes running vertically down to the floor. Paintings and photos in intricate frames interspersed the plain pattern, and thoroughly taken with interest, I stood up just a bit to take a better look.

One photo showed a bloodied girl in a pink dress clinging onto somebody's business suit, though the photo was cropped at their shoulders. A painting showed a woman with flowing blue hair, and yet another photo was of one of the boys I was with.

What was his name?
Jeff.

In the photo, Jeff seemed to be stiffly posing next to a slightly older boy that... somewhat bore a resemblance to him. Stitches ran across the older boy's face, and a green striped scarf was draped over his shoulders.

I didn't realize I'd stood up and wandered toward the photo until I felt a firm hand on my own shoulder, jerking me out of my curiosity.

"What do you think you're looking at?"

Jeff narrowed his eyes. I leaned back, my gaze meeting his for a moment before I quickly lowered my eyes.

"... Nothing."

There were no photos of Ben, I noted, as I shrugged his hand off my shoulder and returned to my seat. My eyes flicked down to the filled trash bags stacked in the corners of the room and I grimaced, wondering why I'd allowed my mind to wander in a place like this.

I perked up as I heard the microwave go off, watching Ben tentatively as he opened the door, pulled out what looked like a plate of rice, and closed it with his elbow as he turned toward me.

A few paces later and he set the food down ahead of me, taking a seat beside me. I grimaced, remembering the resolve I'd had not to eat... but I was so hungry.

I gave in sooner than later, picking up the utensils he gave me and taking a bite.

~~~

The food wasn't necessarily good, but at the time it had tasted like the best thing in the world. I supposed it was because I was so hungry.

Still, the aftertaste lingering in my mouth was strange, and I tried to stop thinking about it as I once again followed Ben through the empty corridors.

"Where are we going?" I pried, trying not to think too hard about my situation lest I lose the food I'd just eaten.

"My room." Ben replied shortly, stopping at last. "We're here. What are you waiting for?"

The only thing distinguishing this door from the others was the "BEN" labelled haphazardly across it in neon green letters. I raised a brow, but at his nagging, couldn't put off entering anymore.

I opened the door. I don't know what I had been expecting, but Ben's room fell short of it all. It was remarkably plain, the only things betraying its owner's identity being the many consoles with tangled cords and computer running idly in the corner.

Ben shut and locked the door behind us.

There was only one bed.

"I don't really sleep." Ben supplied, after letting me agonize for a moment. He must have noticed my discomfort, though, because though he seemed to otherwise have no interest, he took the opportunity to taunt me.

"Unless you wanted me to?"

"Uh- I- no." I replied, making my way over to the bed. Despite my reservations, I was shaky from exhaustion and shock, so the opportunity to lay down was a welcome one.

I flopped down on the bed, grimacing as I felt something digging into my back. I reached beneath myself, raising an eyebrow at the open video game cases.

"I didn't say I was clean either."

God, I'd had enough of him. I was sick of Ben and sick of being terrified. I knew my thoughts were largely irrational, but hey- I was tired! I'd gone through an entire dungeon and second kidnapping and not slept the entire time. I could not think of a single thing except covering myself with the blankets and embracing the warmth.

I felt something squirming in the collar of my tunic as I kicked off my boots, and after a moment's hesitation I pulled it back to let Tatl fly free.

Oh yeah. I'd forgotten she was in there. I could hear her huffing from here, though with Ben nearby, I was feeling far too apprehensive to say goodnight.

Oh well. I closed my eyes. She'd get the idea.

As I dozed further into sleep, I heard chuckling from over my head and felt the blankets being adjusted to better cover me.

And then there was nothing.

~~~
[Y/N]
> [Tatl]
~~~

Ben seemed to ignore me entirely as he turned away from [Y/N], sitting down at his desk. His demeanor changed, he raised a hand to his head, massaging at his temples.

Strangely enough, I felt as though I'd known him for a very long time, and I couldn't... bring myself to hate him, despite everything he'd done!

I guessed I was the same way with the Skull Kid.

I shook my head to get him out of my mind, leaping from the bed to his desk and landing atop the metal box beside Ben.

I hesitated to speak, but forced myself to anyway.

"What's wrong with you?" I demanded. Ben, finally forced to acknowledge my presence, seemed shocked I was even there. He jolted back, his eyes wide.

"... I forgot you were out here..." He soon hissed. There was some negativity to his tone, but I couldn't figure out what. I continued regardless.

"I still... don't know what's going on, but why would you let that happen to his dad?? Do you have a brain in there??" I put my hands on my hips. Not that anyone else could see that, though. For a moment, I wished Tael were here- and then my heart panged and I had no choice but to stop thinking of him.

Tael was never real.

"I could kill him right now." Ben said bluntly, as if to remind me. After a moment, his straight expression split into a self-assured grin. He leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes.
"In fact, he's lucky I'm not. I usually off my victims far sooner. In fact, he's only one of a few I've ever brought into my game directly."

Game? Every time he mentioned that stupid game, my head felt like exploding. What did he mean? But I knew if I asked, it'd only confuse me more.

"But- I-" I stammered over my words for a moment, struggling to speak. "That's awful! Why would you do that? Those are people!"

"I don't take mortality as seriously anymore." He replied, and I flinched back. "Think about it. Have you ever stopped anyone from slaying monster after monster?"

"Those are monsters." I replied, squinting. "That's different."

Ben paused for a moment, and I was sure I'd gotten my point across.
"I guess you could say we're monsters, then." He sighed. "You're probably too stupid to get your head around anything else."

But if he was a monster, why did he feel so familiar to me? That couldn't be right.
"I'm not stupid-- what is there to get? You're killing people for no reason!"

He waved me off, seeming to ignore my questions. Still, even though he wasn't talking directly to me anymore, he still seemed to ponder his answer carefully before speaking up again as he fiddled with the metal box beneath me.

"Some people are just chosen to be above it all." His gaze flicked to [Y/N] for a moment too long, then returned to his work.

Chapter Text

I'd woken in something of a daze, but I didn't want to open my eyes yet.

Warm sunlight poured across my body through my window and the birds were chirping outside, punctuated by the occasional caw of a crow. I could hear my father downstairs, his shoes squeaking along the tiled kitchen floor as he cooked breakfast.

I pulled the blankets up to my neck, letting myself soak in the moment as I went to brush my hair aside.

There was nothing there.

My chest tightened as the image in my mind's eye stuttered. There was blood pooling on the kitchen floor. The warm sunlight that I'd been relishing every moment of vanished, sending a chill through my body. I could hear that creature's bones creaking with every step, its grey-white claws scraping along the tiles.

There was whispering coming from the walls around me, and without considering it even for a moment, I cried out for help. Even though I'd never left my bed, I felt now that I was standing alone in the dark, my eyes wide as I looked around myself.

There was a rustling of leaves, and then the heavy thunk of an aging spotlight turning on.

Feeling short of breath, I slowly turned back toward it.

A statue garbed in the green of fields stood in the spotlight, its back to me. I willed myself to run away, but for some reason I couldn't stop myself from walking steadily toward it, my hand slowly reaching out through the dust caught by the light to touch it.

The rustling of leaves in my ears was louder than ever as I felt the warm wood beneath my fingertips. I could almost make out a pulse...

And then it shrieked.

Absolutely mortified, I stumbled back, but the darkness around me had solidified, and I could only press my back hard against the wall.

The statue, now more boy than wood, flexed its fingers, giggling as it- as he slowly twisted his head to the side, glaring at me over his shoulder. Blood streamed from his eyes down his cheeks, dripping from his chin and pooling on the floor below.

"You shouldn't have done that."

~~~

I woke up with a sharp gasp, my eyes damp with tears as I sat up, clenching the blankets at my chest. I knew it had been stupid of me to expect a peaceful rest after everything I'd been through, but I couldn't help my shock.

After a few moments of catching my breath, I noticed somebody's eyes on me. I glanced up, and abruptly realized Ben was staring directly at me.

I flinched, lowering my gaze. He didn't look away, sweeping his hat back over his shoulder as he walked toward the door.

"I'll get you breakfast." He said stiffly, stepping quickly out of the room just as he began to yawn.

I stared at the blankets, holding them tighter in an attempt to ground myself. I traced my nail over the slightly rough fibers, trying to kick my brain into action. What was I feeling? What was I thinking? Each rail my train of thought tried to follow was bricked off.

Despondence.

Resignation.

Helplessness.

Each time I tried to process my situation, the insurmountable emotions and fresh fear rendered it impossible. I had no clear objective to focus on, and furthermore, no way out.

All I could do is sit in somebody else's bed, feeling just as isolated as I had my entire life.

Through it all, though, one question kept emerging as my mind pushed fear after fear aside to try to give me some breathing room.

If I wasn't my body, was I real? Did anything I did matter? Were my emotions justified? I was certain that the world around me was real- almost too real- and I also knew that I didn't seem to fit into it anymore.

I raised a hand to feel at my pointed ears, my throat dry.

The horror was piercing, and I didn't even notice how long I'd been stuck in my own mind until Ben came back in with a bowl, staring intently at me.

"Eat." He told me, sitting down on the end of the bed and holding out the bowl. Though feeling slightly put on the spot, I took the food, stirring the soggy cereal around for a moment as my mind sank back to the last time I'd been given food.

I hadn't been able to stomach Anju's kindness. But maybe it would have been better to stay with her than to learn everything I had since then.

Anju was never a real person. I didn't have to feel guilty. But as my mind circled back around to the undeniable fact that I also might not be real...

I clutched at my hair for a moment without thinking, having still not eaten any of my food yet.

Ben only gave an irritating chuckle, raising his thick brows as he leaned toward me, his hands on his knees.

"I can't believe I don't even have to say anything for you to go off the deep end on your own. You good in there, dumbshit?"

He raised a hand to flick me in the forehead and I flinched back just before he could, narrowing my eyes.

"C'mon, I brought you all the way here. You can't crumble now." He continued.

"I- was not! You can't even give me a moment to think?" I spat back, pushing my feelings down for now as I finally got some food into me. And god, did I not regret it. I honestly wished I'd eaten sooner-- who knew that grief and panic could be so exhausting?

Ben seemed distracted as I ate, his snarky facade dropping for a moment as he stared toward the window. I spared him a glance now and then, not able to properly relax with him right there.

"... I might as well tell you what I'm doing." He sighed, crossing his arms as he turned to face me again. I sat up and to attention, not sure if I was going to like what I heard.

"I still don't know why the game responded so differently to you." He said flatly, averting his gaze. "It's not like you're the very first victim I dragged in there, just- one of them."

I tensed at how carelessly he referred to me as a victim, but leaned toward Ben a bit without much noticing until the blankets bunched at my hips. He was talking pretty quietly, after all, occasionally trailing off into mumbling.

"So I tried checking out your body. There's nothing unusual there, though, except that it somehow didn't starve to death while you were gone. So it has to be something about you..."

Seeing no better time to bring it up, I abruptly interjected. "My body-!" I paused. "I mean. I..."

I glanced away, scratching the back of my head and catching a glimpse of Tatl sitting on the shelves watching us. Well shit, I couldn't back out with her there.

Maybe if I tried some manners?

"... Can I... have my body back?"

Ben seemed stunned for a moment, his eyes wide as his head tilted. After studying my face for a moment he fucking cackled, throwing his head back and half-covering his mouth with one hand.

"Wh- What?? Why would I not want my body back!?" I demanded, pushing myself up from sitting to kneeling, gripping the blankets with both hands as they slipped off me.

"Oh, it's just- it's just-"

Seemingly choking on his own amusement, he soon managed to calm himself back down. He wiped his mouth before crossing his arms again, leaning back against his chair.

"Ahah. No. You don't want that hunk of shit." He said flatly. I leaned back, offended more than anything else.

"It's got permanent and severe brain damage. Unless Zalgo himself takes mercy on you-" Ben waved a hand nonchalantly. "You'll never be you again."

As if he had latched onto all my insecurities at once, Ben's face split into a sadistic grin, and he leaned over the bed, causing me to scramble backward and press my back against the wall.

"What's wrong? Gonna piss yourself? Maybe cry a little? Throw up again?"

"I- what is wrong with you??"

My expression hardening with my words, I slipped off the side of the bed just to put some distance between us.

"Alright, fine." Feigning confidence, I grabbed my cap and pulled it onto my hair, relishing for a moment just how short it was. "I'll never have that body again, but you're wrong." I gave a soft sigh as he leaned back, rolling his eyes.

"I'm always going to be me."

I wasn't sure I really believed my words, but I... wanted to so badly. I caught sight of my reflection in the window and I paused for a moment, burning my own image into my mind.

This was who I was now. I was realer than I'd ever been before, I told myself. And in a way, I felt it was true.

I'd been free to express myself without judgement or consequences in a way I never had before while trapped in his game, and a part of me wanted that back.

As I snapped back to reality, I realized that Ben almost seemed to be studying me, a hand raised to his chin as his ears twitched at my words.

"Alright."

"Alright?" I asked, surprised. "Alright what-"

"That's gotta be at least part of it... But just come on, nevermind. I got ahead of myself."

His words were blunt now, as if as soon as he'd stopped trying to rile me up his mind jumped elsewhere. "I'm getting your hair cut by someone who knows what they're doing. Did you use the fucking sword?"

He leaned over, trying to catch a glimpse of the almost entirely healed back of my neck.

"Uh- does it matter?" I retorted, backing away so that he couldn't quite get behind me. He only scoffed, opening the door.

I followed after him after a moment's hesitation, gesturing for Tatl to follow and waiting for her to be right by my side before continuing. "But I- you're gonna cut my hair? Why??"

"You're embarrassing to be seen around."

Huh- the nerve. But I didn't dare complain more, trying to ignore the other inhabitants of the manor as I walked close behind him.

My mind couldn't help but wander back to the dream I'd had, almost forgotten in the commotion of the morning. What had it meant? Did it mean anything at all? The wooden statue, the blood streaming from his empty sockets, the darkness...

I reached out, after a moment's hesitation, soon catching hold of the back of his tunic. He glared back at me, clearly irritated, but didn't react like he had last night or pull away. He didn't feel like wood.

He felt just as real as me.

~~~

It was only when we reached Jeff's room that I noticed that despite being entirely real, there was definitely some kind of separation between us and Jeff. As I sat down nervously in front of his mirror, glancing to the bloodstained walls around us, he stepped up behind me to get started.

As Jeff's hands touched my neck, and he combed his fingers up through my hair to get it to separate from the scalp somewhat, I realized that, in a way almost impossible to place, he felt less real than Ben. Was it less real, or just different? Did I feel things differently now?

Was it his skin? The burns? Maybe it was weird to dwell on this while he cut my hair and made idle chatter with Ben behind me, but I could hardly help it. I wanted to get used to my new existence as soon as possible, if only to make sure Ben didn't have a single point of weakness to attack.

"Aaand... we're done." Jeff grinned, spinning me around to get a better look.

"Beaaautiful as always! Sure you don't want him to have the full facial, BEN?"

"Don't-" He hissed. "Even think about it. I don't want him having a face only you could love."

Jeff scoffed in response, pulling the towel off my shoulders and shaking it off. "A face only I could love? You're less popular. Die mad." He retorted, only to pause for a moment. "Then again, you already did--"

When I turned to look back at them, Ben looked like he wanted to tear Jeff open. Instead of resorting to violence, though, he pulled me up by the arm, getting a good look at me.

"Better."

I yanked my arm back, my glare fixed on Ben.

"Why did you take me here?" I asked. Ben ignored me for a moment, waving Jeff over.

"You should go cut his body's hair too, it doesn't match. Kinda weird to look at."

*Jeff scoffed. "You're lucky I wanted practice..." He muttered, heading out of the room.

Finally, Ben turned his attention to me again. He looked... confused for a moment, but the expression was soon replaced with smug ease. "You'd rather die?"

"I- no..." I muttered, though I was unsure about even that after all I'd seen.

"How about you just stop asking questions?"

Somehow, I didn't feel like that was a request. I bit at the inside of my lip, glaring off to the side as he left the room and I trailed after him. Though uneasy, I guessed I was going to have to 'trust' him.

For now.

He was my only link to reality.

Chapter Text

For days, Ben and I lived in uncertain tedium. He'd bring me things I needed-- and even occasionally, things I wanted.

There was definitely something missing, though. Something that almost made me prefer being stuck in his game. I sighed.

"... I wanna go outside." I muttered, Tatl perking up beside me. She'd been doing a bit better over the last few days, but she was still quieter than usual.

"He's not gonna let you. You know that, right? He doesn't let you out of his sight!"

"Yeah, I know, but..." I trailed off. I couldn't just leave on my own, right? Not with so many literal murderers around. But maybe if I could ask him- or get the attention of someone more lenient...

Fucking hell, we didn't have the time for that. I paced back and forth through the room, my eyes eventually landing on the door ahead of me.

"If... he finds out I want out, he might start locking the door." My voice trailed off as I reached for the handle, glancing back to Tatl. "He's probably already told everyone to back off, right?"

Tatl seemed uncertain, flying down to be by my side for a moment before finally nodding in agreement. "Yeah. Yeah! It's now or never, and you don't know how long he's gonna keep you around." She huffed, flying a bit closer to the door.

That was almost more of a de-motivator than encouragement, and I had to take a moment as I grasped the handle. I didn't want to die. I couldn't die now. So that was why I had to try to get a handle on the manor around me. Taking a deep breath, I finally opened the door, bracing myself.

Predictably, nothing happened. I was standing in the cold hallway, the air so deathly still it almost felt as though I was frozen in time. I carefully closed the door behind myself, then started on my way down the hall, Tatl close by my side.

"We should try to head to the doctor, [Y/N]. The um, woman knows you right? Maybe she'll be helpful."

I shrugged-- I couldn't even remember her speaking when we met, so her opinion on me was anyone's guess. "I don't know my way, anyway-- I'll just try to remember which way I go so we can find our way back."

It was then, after minutes of walking and a few twists in the passage, that I heard an almost silent step. I froze, taking a moment to collect myself before turning around. Nothing was there. Nothing to worry about.

I gave a soft sigh, turning back around only to come face to face with the belt of a tidy black suit. A jolt of fear ran through me as I realized just how massive the creature ahead of me was, and I stumbled back, Tatl chiming in alarm.

Did it not have a face, or was it just too tall for me to make it out from down so low? My questions were soon answered as it slowly bent down to my level, its long and spindly arms by its sides. Was it watching me, or doing something else? I didn't dare move.

"... You must belong to BEN." The creature soon spoke, giving the slightest tilt of its head... despite not having a mouth of any kind. "He didn't ask, but I guess if it's only one victim..."

I hated the way they talked about me here. I was just another meaningless death. Somehow, it seemed like Ben was the one who treated me the most human... but the thought of that alone was mortifying enough. To think, he was the best one here, as awful as he was...

"He shouldn't have left you alone. Walk with me."

Even as new to all of this as I was, I knew that that wasn't a request, but an order. The firm white hand set on my shoulder only confirmed it. The creature (the tall man, perhaps?) began steering me down the hall, disregarding entirely any plans I'd had of going my own way.

I swallowed thickly, my throat tight with worry.

"Are you... do you own this place?" I asked, cringing just slightly at how awkward the question sounded. Something about the way he talked about Ben or his intimidating demeanor must have tipped me off, because he confirmed my suspicions moments later.

"Yes. How long have you been here, child?"
Being called child was... definitely a bit uncomfortable, but I supposed to him I was. "A few days." I replied. "Maybe a week."

The man hissed air through his-- something? Somehow, he made a hissing sound, tilting his head back toward Ben's room. "That long..."

Though him calling me a child had been uncomfortable, I really did feel like one right now, being led against my control through hall after hall, and then down a flight of stairs.

"You should join us for dinner."

It wasn't a request. My stomach flipped-- did he mean as a guest?

"We have much to discuss." He added, making his way toward what I now recognized as the dining area. He pulled out a seat, and as though it were the most natural thing in the world for me, I followed his suggestions without question. I sat down down, adjusting my plate ahead of me.

Something about him just made me let my guard down, despite how I tried to fight it. Something about him told me to trust him and do as he wanted.
Something about him filled my mind with cluttering static, so that I couldn't go against him if I wanted to.

Jeff was the first to the table, and seeing a familiar face definitely helped put me at ease just a little. As he sat down, staring at me with confusion, I realized quite abruptly that the man without a face had seated me at the very end of the table.

Well fuck. That didn't help me feel less singled out.

"What are you doing here-" Jeff hissed, leaning over the table as if the man somehow wouldn't hear us. "BEN's been trying to keep you down low for a reason--"

I could only give a confused shrug in response, Tatl settling down on my shoulder as I tried not to wince at the continuous pressure ebbing away at my head. "What... what reaso- gh..."

I couldn't even finish my sentence, forced to cradle my head as I leaned against the table somewhat, the overwhelming, burning, searing static really beginning to get to me. My throat felt scratchy, writhing- I needed to cough it all up, feeling the pressure rise in my chest. The man who'd brought me here apparently didn't like that though, clapping his hands as I was abruptly forced to sit up straight.

"Behave at the dinner table." He scolded, the white noise beginning to ease as my vision cleared. I hadn't even realized parts of it had been blotted out until that moment. My mind finally clear, I was suddenly hyper-aware of the other creatures crowding into the room around me. A man with a blue mask stared intensely at me from a little further down the table, black goop consistently streaming down from his eyes. I leaned back against my chair, gripping the seat anxiously. Were those... human organs on his plate?

A little further down still, I could see the thing I knew was named the Rake. Standing on either side of the one who'd brought me here were two men, each wearing a mask of their own and attending to his every need. The one in the white mask with painted black lips and eyes poured the man's tea, and the one in the black cloth mask with a red frown painted on set out various meat dishes before him.

Once they were done attending to the head of the household, they made their way down the table, moving in perfect synchronization as they set food and drink down at each seat, seemingly catered to each specific person's tastes. Ben didn't seem to be here yet, disconcertingly enough- though he definitely acted like the archetype of a gamer who never left his room, so I couldn't be surprised that he wasn't joining us for family dinner.

I was surprised, though, by the fact that a literal dog had a place at the table.

"Where is he..." Tatl insisted, apparently even more impatient than me. As more and more seats filled in though, with Ben still missing, I found myself bound to agree.

He arrived eventually, rummaging through a bag of Doritos on his way to his seat. He seemed to falter when he caught sight of me, though, giving a concerned glance between me and the man at the other end of the table.

"Uh... Slender..." He trailed off, his voice growing quieter as he spoke. 'Slender' made a sound alike to clearing his throat, clasping his hands together and resting them on the table in front of him. "You're late." He told Ben, tilting his head slowly.

"You need to keep a closer eye on your toys, BEN. Look what I found wandering out of your room..."

Ben shot a harsh glare at me and I flinched back, hoping he wouldn't just kill me here and now. Luckily, though, that didn't seem to be the case. He turned back to Slender, frowning. "Ignore him. I was just... working on a project."

Slender nodded along, and for a moment it really seemed as though Ben was going to get away with it. As though I were going to get away with it too- though part of me couldn't understand why I was rooting for Ben in this situation.

"Explain why his body is being kept alive in the infirmary, wasting Nurse Ann's time and taking valuable bed space."

Ben tensed. I could practically see his nerves, and I fidgeted nervously as my own food and drink were set down in front of me. Luckily, though, it seemed as though Ben wasn't entirely alone.

"'EY. It wasn't just him." Jeff stood up from his place at the table, slamming his hands down onto it. The woman opposite him lifted her plate up so that her food wouldn't spill, shooting him a glare. "I was in on it too- go on, fuckin' ground me, kill the kid, I don't care." He said bluntly. I faltered. Wasn't Jeff like, around my age? Kinda patronizing- then again, he was probably a serial killer. Maybe he had the right to talk down to me like that.

"But all I'm saying's- we've talked about it, Slendy. Shit's interesting. I mean..."

Jeff stared at me for a moment, searching me with his eyes before he abruptly grabbed hold of Tatl, waving her in the air so Slender could see. She chimed with alarm, struggling against his grip. "[Y/N]!!!"

I reached out to try to grab onto Jeff's sleeve and stop him, my other hand slipping on the tablecloth as I pushed myself up on the chair, supporting myself on the table. "LET GO OF HER- JEFF!!" Jeff paid my words no heed, his eyes half-lidded as he kept talking.

"This is a part of BEN's game, Slender. Look at her- doesn't she seem alive? BEN told me the whole game's like this now." His grin widened. "All because of [Y/N]. You can't tell me you're not at least a little curious about him..."

Tatl had stopped struggling by now, just about hyperventilating as she froze up, her wings fluttering intermittently. Ben glared dully across the table at Jeff, driving his fork pointedly into his own steak while making eye contact with the other boy. "Jeff. Put her down."

Jeff stared at Ben silently for a few moments before reluctantly letting go of Tatl, who promptly flew out to the middle of the table, swerved through the air, and then drifted down to alight gently on the edge of the water beaker. "Oh Hylia..." She muttered. I reluctantly returned to my seat, feeling that Tatl was- at least mostly- out of danger.

"... I'll give you that." Slender replied slowly. "But I know you aren't telling me everything. BEN, I expect a full briefing tomorrow morning. Let's eat."

And with that, everyone seemed to drop the subject, quietly going back to their own food and occasionally glancing back to me.

"Come back over-" I urged Tatl in a whisper, reaching out to her. "You can share with me."

~~~

"What the fuck were you thinking, [Y/N]?? If you were that desperate to die, I would have killed you already! But Tatl too?!?" Ben paced back and forth through the room, grimacing. "God, you're damn lucky that Jeff likes you- you should really be dead right now-"

I flinched back, pulling the covers up a little higher and looking away from Ben, only pausing as I fully processed what he said.

"Jeff... likes me?" I asked, pointing to myself.

"Yeah, thinks you're funny. Are you fucking listening--" 

"No, I am, I just..." I trailed off, unable to bring myself to make excuses to Ben. I mean god, I was still in danger here. He'd still taken everything from me. Luckily (or unluckily?), Tatl had no such apprehension.

"We RAN because we're ROTTING in here!" She yelled at Ben from on top of one of the cabinets, chiming indignantly to emphasize her point. "We'll die from old age before you figure out any of this!"

Ben rolled his eyes in response, his arms crossed. "One, I don't know if you can. Two, what am I meant to do? Take you on a goddamn walk?" He seemed to think that over for a moment before sighing, turning toward the door.

"I'll figure something out. For now, I gotta deal with Slender again tomorrow. Don't leave again." He shot a glare at me. I stayed silent, watching him leave the room and close the door... surprisingly gently.

I glanced back to Tatl, guilt flooding me for a moment. I didn't know what to say- I really ought to thank her, or apologize for what happened with happened with Jeff at dinner. But I couldn't bring myself to say anything at all, curling up in the bed and burying my face in the pillows.

Why did I feel so ashamed?

Chapter Text

Tomorrow came too soon.

Ben told me that he'd deal with Slender alone, and I'd believed him- it would be in each of our best interests, after all.  He would hopefully be able to stay out of trouble on his own, either by talking his way out of it or by doing something for Slender- and I would be able to stay alive. And that was how things would have been. Ideally.

The first sign that something was wrong was the static slowly building in my head. I wasn't aware of it at first- though it was loud and nagging, its presence fogged up my mind and stopped me being able to pinpoint what was wrong. Tatl, however, seemed far more susceptible. She gave a short whine of complaint as she fluttered down to the bed, crashing into the sheets. "I don't want it, I don't want it..." She repeated, her light dimming.

I paused, staring at her for a moment. "You don't want... what?"

As if taking advantage of my moment of confusion, something appeared behind me. I was only aware that it was even there because of the long shadow it cast over the bed and the prickling feeling that made its way up my spine to accompany it. I slowly turned around, my eyes wide.

Of course Slender was standing behind me- that much was obvious. Who else fucked with my head like this? Who else would enter unannounced, looming over the two of us? As the static slowly began to clear, my vision did too. I could see Ben standing behind him, arms crossed and head turned away. He looked as though he'd been crying, black and red streaked down his cheeks, eyes puffy and pink. I wondered if I should care.

Slender slowly knelt down to my level, making me freeze up internally as he came faceless to face with me. My eyes were wide as I took in every detail of his appearance, from the loose threads on his suit to the slightly rough texture of his chalk white skin.

"I think it's time we had a proper introduction, [Y/N]."

The way his words pierced through me truly made my skin crawl, and I fumbled with the sheets as he released me from his control entirely, subconsciously baring my teeth at him. I didn't mean to- any sign of aggression was probably a mistake. But I couldn't control the sheer repulsion I felt, or the fear that now threatened to overtake all common sense in my body.

"Well... it sounds like you already know me." I replied quietly. Slender gave a soft, echoing chuckle, tilting his head.

"I get to know everybody that passes my doors sooner or later. But you're right. I do. Let me introduce myself instead." He told me, staring blankly at me for a moment. Or at least, I assumed he was staring blankly. It was... kind of hard to tell. "I am called Slenderman. I suppose you could call me the custodian of this manor."

His full name was the only thing new to me- I'd known he was in charge long ago. It was almost impossible to miss, given how everyone treated him. Especially how Ben seemed to quiet down around him. For a moment, I wondered if Ben was scared to speak up.

"... It's... nice to meet you?" I mumbled, honestly not sure what to say. I was lying, of course- being here was absolutely horrible, and being face to face with Slenderman was worse. Whether he realized I was lying or not evaded me though- he didn't react either way. He sat on the bed beside me, head directed down toward me as if he were staring at me.

"So, [Y/N]. Why are you here?" His question was so blunt it hit me like a sledgehammer- did he think I chose this? Did he think I wanted this? I was so angry and confused I could hardly speak, spitting out a meager-

"What do you mean?"

Slenderman leaned forward and toward me, his thin, paper-white skin stretching taut over the bones in the back of his palm as he put a hand on his knee for support.

"I'm going to be entirely clear to avoid confusion here. Your survival was a choice."

His words lingered in the air for a moment, stinging my ears.

"It was not a choice you should have been able to make."

My gaze flicked over to Ben for a moment, and with that I began to wonder if he'd spared me intentionally. He'd made it sound like he had, certainly- but then again, he'd seemed shocked that my meat-body was still alive...

Pulling myself together, I realized that Slenderman was clearly still waiting for a response. He almost seemed like he was staring intently through me, and I shifted uncomfortably before clearing my throat. "Well, it's not like I'd choose to die... sir-" I wasn't exactly sure what to call him. Maybe addressing him properly would get him to like me more and therefore, not kill me??? It didn't seem to have an effect on him, though. "And I didn't understand any of what was going on. Why aren't you asking Ben again??"

"He did ask me!" Ben retorted suddenly, flustered with anger. Globs of black and red goop streamed from his eyes, staining his face further as he flung his arms out in apparent dismay. "How would I know- none of this was meant to happen! Separating you from the game changed nothing, usually people start withering away by now, whether they have a living body or not-"

"You're still trying to kill me??"

"Not exactly!"

 He was so frustrated that he was twisting his long green hat between both hands, staining it with blood. He glanced up to Slenderman intermittently, fear evident in his expression. If there was something he wanted to say, he obviously couldn't say it around the man... or at least felt like he couldn't.

I wondered if I should feel more pity, but to see him break down like this as he'd made me do over and over was cathartic. I stared blankly at him, slowly putting two and two together in my head. From the way he behaved around the other people in the mansion to the way other people's skin felt under my own. Almost unthinkingly, I reached out to touch Slenderman, briefly feeling the same warm static beneath my fingertips I had when Jeff had cut my hair. I pulled back just as quickly, hoping he wouldn't notice.

"... Then what? Are you hoping I'm not just as real as you are? Did you think you were the only one? Or am I more real than you could ever be?"

I apparently hit a nerve. Ben froze up, his figure distorting for a moment like a faltering image on an old tube TV before he snapped back to reality. "You can't be- you didn't go through what I did. This is some kind of- fucked up fluke, I didn't do it-" Even as he said so, he seemed uncertain, still twisting his hat and glaring determinedly away.

I took a step forward and past Slenderman without thinking. Ben was in such a vulnerable position compared to usual, acting terrified- and though I knew it was probably only because of Slender, part of me wanted to believe he might be scared of me as I'd been scared of him.

"I didn't do anything!" He insisted again, taking a few steps back as I took just as many forward, stopping just short of reaching him. It was probably insensitive, probably stupid to ask what I did when I was technically at his mercy, but I found myself unable to care.

"Then how did you die?"

Ben stiffened, his voice catching in his throat as he glared back at me, his gaze flicking between Slenderman, who was now standing, looming over the two of us- and myself.

"... I..." He quieted down, his eyes narrowed. "Does it matter? You're not even dead-"

"I might as well be. You said it yourself- my brain's probably too damaged to ever go back. Right?"

He faltered, continuing to glare at me for a moment before Slenderman abruptly stepped between us, breaking up the confrontation for now. He tilted his head as if thinking for a moment before his words pierced my mind again. I shook my head a little to try to push away the unpleasant sensation.

"I have places to be, and no time to sit in on squabbling between children." He said bluntly. "Neither of you will be leaving this room until I return in three hours. I expect answers then."

He looked down to me, and then down to Ben, keeping his gaze on him until he vanished from the room like he was never even there.

~~~

Hours felt more like days. Part of me didn't want to talk to Ben at all, but a larger part of me wanted answers. Still, my reluctance was enough to keep me from saying a thing for an entire half an hour. He evidently didn't want to talk either, curling up with his Nintendo Switch and playing video games while I glared daggers into the side of his head.

Eventually, my curiosity triumphed.

"What's so different about us?" I asked, growing more irritated as he didn't answer. "Why does- does Slenderman himself care so much? Why was Jeff interested?!?"

Ben stayed silent, still playing his game before I grabbed the top of the Switch and pulled it away from his face. Alarmed, he pulled back. "I'm in the middle of a match- I just got splatted because of you!" He spat, going back to focusing on his game and... trying not to cry? For a moment, I paused, before deciding rather firmly that I didn't care.

He was the reason my fucking dad was dead.

What did it matter if I destroyed some of his stuff?

"You'll tell me or I'll smash it." I knew the only reason this threat was going to work was because Slenderman wasn't going to let him take his stuff out of the room for the full three hours. "What's. Different."

Tatl seemed intimidated for a moment, looking to me before perking up and climbing on my shoulder. "Y- yeah...!" I understood she was trying to be supportive, but it kind of undermined the vibe I was trying to give off. Ben seemed understandably put off, clearing his throat and pausing before speaking up. 

"She is." He mumbled. "The whole game is. I... it's like..." He faltered. "It's like its own world now."

*I rolled my eyes.

"And this is important, why?"

"... It's... part of... what we were trying to achieve."

That caught me a little off-guard. "We? Like, the people in the mansion?"

Ben harshly flinched, putting his Switch into sleep mode and holding it close to his chest so I couldn't get to it. "Lun- No. It's not important. All you need to know is that... it's something we gave up on. Something that never should have happened. And... that that place... isn't a prison to you."

I stared at him for a moment, slowly getting more and more pissed off with how cryptic his wording was. Then he spoke up again.

"There. I said my part, now you say yours so Slender doesn't skewer us when he gets back." He said bluntly.

"Well, you didn't ask me any questions--"

Ben sat down on the bed, thinking for a moment before giving a sigh. "You haven't been... in your body since you agreed to be mine." He told me. "What do you remember between then and waking up?"

I blinked.

"Nothing-- I'd blacked out..."

"Nothing at all?"

I stopped for a moment to think. I didn't like cooperating with Ben, but it didn't seem like I had another choice- if I wanted answers I was going to have to be able to understand my own side of things too. "I... no, but I woke up soaked and... I felt like I'd been half-drowned."

Ben visibly stiffened at the mention of drowning. I figured it must be because of that time I'd shoved him under the water- that couldn't have been pleasant. But he slowly nodded, then pulled out his phone and began tapping away at it.

"Well, that makes sense, I guess... except you didn't drown, but maybe it was more of a sign..."

"A sign of what?" I asked. He didn't answer, but I didn't bother threatening him again- he had cooperated for a little while, after all. Antsy, tense and growing increasingly bored, I moved to sit down on his swivel chair at the desk, leaning back against it while I waited for him to speak up again.

"But why you... It was almost like you were so real that... your reality seeped into the world around you."

An idea came to me as I stared Ben down. Something that could benefit both of us and hopefully get Slenderman off his back too. "Well... we could always get more data." I offered offhandedly, pausing.

"You could always put me back in the game."

Chapter Text

"... That's some kind of joke, right?"

Ben's eyes were fixed firmly on my own. I glanced away, feeling uncomfortable under the pressure.

"You just want to get away from Slender-" He said, taking a step closer. I quickly shook my head.

"No- well... I want to yeah, but this wouldn't help me do it." I admitted. "He'd just send you after me if I did."

Ben stopped to consider that carefully, slowly pacing back and forth. Tatl seemed to be growing increasingly excited, staring intensely at me. Or at least, I had the feeling that she was staring at me? It was a bit hard to tell when she had no visible eyes... or body shape. "But, that'd be letting you take a break for no good reason-" He muttered.

"And you wouldn't have to deal with me distracting you during that time." I quickly added, trying to sweeten the deal for him.

He pursed his lips and stayed like that for a few moments more before slowly nodding, stepping back and kneeling down beside the TV. He pulled a box out of the cupboard, rummaging through it until he pulled out a dusty Nintendo 64.

"... Okay." He said quietly. "You can go back. But, before you do... how else do you remember the game seeming more... alive?" He asked.

For a moment, I thought about not answering him. No matter how much I was unwittingly relaxing here, he was still my enemy. But then again, weren't we both against Slenderman here? I'd have to worry about saving my skin before my pride.

"... Anju." I mumbled, hesitating before speaking up again. "She gave me food and- she was offering to help me survive the moon..." I kept things vague. The memory was still painful for me, after all- but Ben wasn't satisfied.

"What do you mean by that?" He asked, stepping closer, which made me take a step back. Tatl, though, seemed to notice my plight- she landed on my shoulder, looking to Ben.

"I told her he was an orphan, and she said she'd take him to Romani Ranch with her if she couldn't find Kafei." She said, putting something that had caused me so much emotional turmoil into such simple words.

Ben shot a harsh glare at me and I shivered slightly, averting my gaze. Was he... jealous?

"... I'll come with you next time." He said, leaving me no room to object. "But for now, you have to go alone, with Tatl."

I gave a hesitant nod, stepping closer to the television screen as he put in Majora's Mask.
"So... what do I do?"

Ben stared dully at me for a few moments, making me feel like he thought I was stupid, before shoving me through the screen with both hands. I expected it to feel hard or to break the glass, but instead I passed through it as if it was just water.

~~~

I woke up on the other side, laying on my back and staring up at the sky. I wasn't sure how long it had been, but it was hard to convince myself I had to get up and get moving.

Now that I was back here, I could almost pretend that all the stuff with my dad and the mansion had been just a bad dream.

I wiped my eyes, trying not to start crying again. I was fine. I was safe. I was in Termina again.

Tatl chimed beside me and I finally sat up, quietly thinking about where I should go to... get the data Ben and I needed.

"... How about that Romani Ranch place?" I mumbled. Tatl gave an approximation of a shrug, her body floating up and then down again.

"... I know we don't have the time right now, so don't get mad at me, but..." She trailed off as I stood up, cleaning the grass off my tunic.

"I- really want my brother back. And the real Skull Kid..."

Finishing the game should get us to the both of them, I figured- but Tatl was right when she said we had no time.
"Well, we already finished the swamp, so we're a quarter of the way there- right?" I asked her. "We can at least get started on the mountain after this."

Tatl gingerly nodded, following after me as I began to head toward the gates. We'd apparently been sent back to the start of the first day, conveniently enough- but it did mean that I had to threaten the guard with my sword again. It didn't matter how much Tatl said that wasn't what I was doing- it would always feel like it.

We spent a few hours wandering the grassy Termina Field, Tatl occasionally giving me direction until we finally arrived at the winding dirt road to Romani Ranch. I had only really wanted to go there because Anju had mentioned it, but now it was beginning to look like that was impossible.

It looked like it had been blocked off by a giant fucking boulder. There was a lone man trying to mine away at it, but it didn't look like he'd be making any progress anytime soon.

"The gorons would have explosives strong enough for this." Tatl chimed in helpfully. I sighed and turned back.

"Alright, where did we need to go next then?" I asked Tatl, who looked down for a moment and gave it some thought.

"Swamp. Mountain. Ocean. Canyon... [Y/N], we're going to see the gorons next!" She said, her chime ringing. It really was all coming together.

Figuring out how to get into the Gorons' icy home was difficult, but it paid off. Once I found a stone statue of an owl by the entrance, I knew I'd be able to soar back in with the Song of Soaring. I'd learned it in Woodfall, back in the swamp, after being taught it by a massive owl- honestly, this whole game felt like a fever dream, and I couldn't believe it was preferable to the real world right now.

Beautiful off-white snow blanketed everything in sight, walls made of snow and ice looming over us from every side. There were a few Gorons around too! Like the guy made of stone at the inn! Walking around literally felt like walking on clouds. I could have been in a dream, if it wasn't for the fact that I could still feel everything. It was unfortunate, because all this beautiful snow was also bitingly cold.

"It's so cold..." I complained. "Can't we get any warmer clothes??"

Tatl looked hesitant. "You're not taking any damage..." She trailed off, and she clearly wanted to hurry us up for some reason. But I just couldn't take it. I was up to my knees in snow right now!

"I'll find a place to buy more clothes-" I said hurriedly, playing the Song of Soaring to be flown back to Clock Town.

~~~

"We're going to get pulled back out of the game before you get anything done." Tatl complained to me. I squinted at her, but she was probably right- it was already the end of the first day and I'd done nothing but collect rupees. Turns out clothing was expensive, since there wasn't any way to mass produce it yet outside of services dedicated to the military.

"It's not like we can't come back." I said hesitantly, ignoring the fear that that was exactly the case. "Ben's just as curious about this place as we are." I added as I entered the Trading Post. The Trading Post was a rather strange looking store- the walls were painted to look like the sky, and a lone tree stood behind the cashier.

Counter to the whimsical imagery the shop conjured up, the pale, redheaded cashier was wearing... what looked like... neon camo pants. He looked so bored I thought he'd rather be anywhere else, but he paused as I spoke, looking away and thinking.

"... Hm. You're here for those clothes the boss set aside, right?" He asked, reaching up to top shelf behind him and lingering with my clothing in his hands for a moment. "Hope you've got the cash for it. But uh... who was that... you mentioned before... Ben?"

I paused. No one here had mentioned Ben before without him being brought up directly, and I thought me speaking to Tatl in front of him definitely didn't qualify as such. "Uh... yeah." I agreed, laying out my rupees on the table. The employee furrowed his brows, setting my clothes down and looking away, scratching the back of his head.

"Seems familiar... maybe- right, that kid who used to buy out the whole store. I think." He said, his face screwing up with concentration. "Wonder how he is now..."

I looked to Tatl. Tatl looked back. I couldn't be sure she was thinking the same thing I was, but from my perspective it seemed like things were beginning to bleed together. Maybe the people inside the game were beginning to remember Ben.

"... I mean, I kind of forgot he existed until my neighbor brought him up."

I ended up sitting down at the counter as the employee kept talking, listening to him and taking mental note- since I was certain Ben would want to hear about this later. "Who's your neighbor?" I asked him.

"You wouldn't know him- he doesn't leave home much. He always wanted to start a potion store but you know, those witches over in the swamp had him beat. He was always telling me about this Ben kid though. Apparently they had a history together." The employee said, seeming to reminisce a bit.

"But nevermind-" He suddenly cut himself off. "If you come back with Ben maybe we can go back and see him sometime. Bet he'd like that."

So much information had been dropped on me at once that I wasn't sure how to react, almost speechless. A history with Ben? Did that mean time spent with him outside the game?? There was no way. Ben had never mentioned a life before the game, or anyone else being trapped. But...

The idea was tempting. I knew I didn't have a choice but to bring Ben back here. He'd wanted to join me, anyway.

"I'll bring him here next time." I promised, though I did wonder if I'd be able to return before I had to reset the three-day cycle. It would be sort of awkward if the man at the counter forgot because of that. "Is there somewhere I can change?" I asked.

"Here? No." Replied the cashier. "But try going to a hotel."

"No way-" I replied. "It's uh... booked full."

The man looked at me skeptically and then sighed, waving me off. "I'm sure you can find somewhere- look, this place sucks, we don't even have a toilet." He said bluntly. "Just find one of their storage rooms or... something-"

I left the store and rolled my eyes, looking down at my new warm clothes. I wasn't going to go to the hotel again though- facing Anju was just too much to bear.

"I wonder if Ben can see all of this..." Tatl trailed off thoughtfully, and I tensed.

"I'll just... put these on over my clothes." I chuckled nervously.

~~~

Now with much warmer clothes, I felt ready to press on through the frost- past the shivering Gorons. It was kind of baffling really- weren't they made out of rocks? Why were they cold? But then again, this was originally a video game- not everything had to make perfect sense. I decided to head into the log cabin off to one side first.

"A blacksmith...? In a- log cabin...?" I asked myself quietly as I entered, staring at the two people inside.

Tatl stared at the hearth and then sighed, chiming as she looked back toward me. "It's frozen over anyway- no point in staying here."

I gave a hesitant nod and left without bothering to talk to them, continuing down the road and using the bombs I'd bought in town to clear obstacles along the way. I'd gone ahead and bought bombs earlier on, since they were reasonably cheap and seemed like they'd be necessary later.

"Oh, hey! Up there in the sky!" Tatl said, looking back toward me as I fended off one of those giant spider things- Tatl had told me they were called Tektites, but I called them as I saw them. "Isn't that that weird guy... um, Tingle? Who sells maps?"

I blinked and stared at him, moving closer and readying my bow. My ambitions of shooting him down and out of the sky were cut short though, since I noticed the snow around me rustling.

"What... is that?" I asked quietly, fully unnerved as I took a few steps away from the edge of the snowy platform I stood on. I slowly put my bow away, thinking it wouldn't be any good up close. Tatl was focused on it almost as much as me, but she shouldn't have been- we were both looking the wrong way, as I'd soon find out.

Eyes. Eyes appeared, almost glowing in the vast white.

As I stared, something like a wolf leapt out from behind me and tackled me to the ground. I hit it so hard I saw stars for a moment, letting out a sharp yelp of pain. For whatever reason this- this wolf was bipedal, pinning one of my arms down with its sharp, sharp, too sharp claws, it hurt-

"[Y/N]?!"

I could barely think. I struggled for a moment before driving my knee up into its ribcage, using the shock I caused it to drive my sword right into its back. It took a few minutes to die, the blood seeping down around me.

I panted, staring up at the sky and staying silent for a full minute before my lips finally felt able to move. "Was that.... meant to happen?"

"Well-" Tatl replied, fluttering hesitantly down beside me. "Wolfos attacks are dangerous..."

Even with her saying that, I severely doubted that such a brutal attack would be programmed into the game. My suspicions were soon confirmed as the voice I now recognized as Ben's rang out around me.

"That's not meant to happen."

There was a long pause.

"... It's possible the friendly NPCs aren't the only ones affected by this change."

I groaned, staring up at the sky before my eyes flicked back down to the red snow around me. "You didn't think of that before??" I asked, silently hoping for a response and being... oddly glad when one came. I didn't think I'd ever feel happy to hear Ben again.

"You need to leave. Slender's going to be back soon." He instructed. "Return to the owl statue."

After what had just happened, I was far too tired to argue. So I trudged back through the snow, back the way I'd came.

~~~

My shoulder was burning. I'd hit the ground at a bad angle when I'd been tackled by the Wolfos- and now that Ben had pulled me out of the game and back into the real world, I was more aware of it than ever.

"Your tunic is soaked-" Ben grimaced, looking me over. "Slender is not going to believe we didn't leave the room."

"Well, isn't that your fault?" I asked a bit bitterly. "You should have warned me to stay clean-"

"They weren't meant to be able to bleed." Ben tried to explain to me, sitting down beside me and squinting. I pulled away slightly, pulling off the warm outer layers I'd bought in Clock Town. The tunic underneath was a bit dryer, and didn't have any visible blood on it.

"Is this better?" I asked, and Ben paused before sighing. 

"I... guess." He said, eyeing me with something like envy.

"That reminds me-" Tatl intervened- and god I was glad for it, since it seemed like Ben was getting upset again and I really didn't want to be on the receiving end of his temper. "Didn't that shopkeeper mention Ben?"

I blinked. It had completely slipped my mind, but I nodded a few times, staring at Ben. "Yeah, that's... right. That one guy at the trading post..."

Normally I wouldn't bother telling him. I didn't owe him anything, especially after everything he'd done to me. But having a supernatural skyscraper of a man breathing down our necks (did he breathe?) was certainly one way to force us to cooperate.

Ben perked up, staring at me. "What- what did he say??"

"If I remember right..." I trailed off. "His neighbor who wanted to run a potion shop, had a history with you. You used to buy out the whole store, and... right. He wanted me to come back with you." I said, curling up a bit tighter and staring at Ben.

Ben looked at the time and then looked at the Nintendo 64. His brows furrowed as he stared, seeming like he was about to take me up on the man's offer.

And then a chill ran through the room.

A white, blank face. Skin stretched over bone and ligament, looming over us.

Slenderman was back. It felt like I'd learned nothing from my time back in the game, and yet it was already time for me to argue for my continued survival.

Chapter Text

Slenderman loomed over the both of us, staring down and slowly tilting his head to look between us.

I felt as though my very nerves were standing on edge- forget arguing, I couldn't bring myself to speak right now. And oddly enough, Ben looked just as upset as me. Or maybe it wasn't that odd, given he'd come back crying earlier. While I was lost in my own thoughts, though, Slenderman began to speak. The harsh contrast between my own internal voice and his own grating telepathic one jolted me back to attention.

"I've come back for answers..." Slenderman started, slowly leaning down to our level. "But it seems the two of you are still bickering."

"No-" I choked out, breaking the silence and feeling a massive weight lift from my shoulders. "No, we just... we... stage fright." I said, struggling to find any other excuse.

Ben glared at me for a moment before just nodding along. It seemed like he'd somehow been insulted by me implying he had stage fright, but he wasn't passing up the excuse for his silence- no, for his disobedience.

"Being expected to cooperate with a target is about as mortifying as it comes. Sir." He said stiffly, not looking at Slender's face. "But we have found some answers in your absence."

That honestly surprised me- I didn't think there'd been anything that important about my trip into the game. Sure, I'd been more hurt than usual... but that was because of my own lack of attention. Maybe it hadn't been meant to happen- maybe the Wolfos wasn't meant to bleed at all, but... I winced. Thinking about this for too long was reminding me of the pain in my shoulder, so I focused again on the conversation in front of me.

"... I sent [Y/N] into the game again." Ben said slowly, quickly glancing up to Slender's face and then back down, as if he was worried about getting in trouble. Slender didn't respond at all, so Ben kept speaking. "Not only was the world more lifelike than ever, but... someone remembered me. They asked for me by name. They... said they had a neighbor who wanted to run a potion shop that had a history with me."

He paused for a long moment, closing his eyes.

"There are no NPCs like that in the entirety of Majora's Mask. For whatever reason, it seems like [Y/N] being sent into the game has..." He stopped speaking, and I furrowed my eyebrows, confused and irritated- but Tatl nudged my shoulder.

"He looks scared..." She said, and I hesitated. She was right, wasn't she? Was it Slender, or what he was talking about. For whatever reason, despite everything he'd done to me and taken from me... I felt driven to help him. So I spoke up myself, trying to continue what he seemed to be saying.

"... It seemed like they knew Ben from before the game. So... maybe... me being there has..." I trailed off, realizing I actually had no idea what I was talking about- but thankfully my own interruption seemed to have given him back his nerve.

"[Y/N] being there may have awoken... others, who were sealed in the game after me." He said slowly. "People who knew me... before I..." He trailed off, not seeming able to finish the sentence- at least, not when faced with Slender. And it was really starting to throw me off- what the hell had happened to Ben?

Despite the difficulties, I had been able to talk about my own experience far more than he could talk about his own. Was it how long he had left it unsaid? Or... had I somehow had it better? He had seemed awfully jealous-

No. I shouldn't compare trauma like that. And besides, he had been the one who put me through everything! If he was so traumatized, there was no need to repeat any of it with me!

While I internally argued with myself, Slender interrupted Ben.

"Is this about the Moon Children?" He asked coldly, and Ben tensed, averting his gaze. "... Yes. Sir." Ben said quietly, and Slender sighed. "I have reason to believe more... members of the Moon Children... have begun to gain consciousness."

Slender tilted his head toward Tatl slightly. "Is this one of them?"

Ben slowly shook his head. "I... don't know-" He said, sounding panicked about the gaps in his theory.

"Well!" Tatl interjected, clearly nervous but never one to stay quiet when she was needed. "I don't remember ever being anything but a fairy. So you'll have to check in with that guy from the Trading Post yourself."

Ben froze up, and Slender's gaze slowly moved over to him. The sheer amount of expectation I could feel being placed on Ben was paralyzing- I couldn't bring myself to speak at all, especially in a conversation I was barely a part of.

"... I suppose I can... temporarily approve [Y/N]'s residence." Slender said after a long moment. "You have much to investigate." I gave a heavy sigh of relief and Tatl looked back to me, startled as she was almost unbalanced from her place on my shoulder.

"But I expect the two of you to take this seriously. In addition, it isn't suitable for you to be shut up in Ben's room all the time." Slender said, turning his attention to me. Maybe due to how foggy my head felt every time he was around, I stood up straighter, nodding in agreement without even thinking about it. "You may use the common areas and come down for meals. I will see to it you have food suitable to your stomach."

"O- kay... okay." I said, my voice cracking as I stared down at the ground, struggling to speak. "Thanks- ... sir...?"

Ben shot a sharp glare at me as Slender nodded. "Of course. Find me if you have any further concerns."

He was gone before I could even process his last sentence and I gasped, coughing and holding a hand to my mouth. I felt like shit every time he was around and I wasn't sure why- was I allergic to Slenderman or something?? Was that something that could happen??

Ben hadn't stopped glaring at me since it happened, giving a light scoff and crossing his arms now that Slender was finally gone. Relief washed over me in waves as I remembered what he said. Not only was I able to stay, but he was treating me well? I began to nervously laugh, holding a hand over my mouth.

"What are you so happy about?" Ben said accusingly, and I went a bit stiffer- but I answered him anyway. He couldn't kill me off now, right?

"He- he said I could leave your room- he said he'd let me stay- even make me dinner." It was all a little too much to believe, and the shock of being treated so well by someone I had been terrified of was overwhelming, to say the least.

I barely had time to process what was happening. Ben marched right up to me, throwing me off-balance and forcing me to lean against the wall for support. He slammed a hand against the wall behind me, causing Tatl to startle and fall off my shoulder. He leaned in close to me, blood pooling in his eyes and streaking down his face.

Was he crying? Was he scared?? Either way, he was trying to intimidate me for whatever reason, and it worked. I shrank back against the wall, my throat feeling dry. I didn't even think to move away, even though I wasn't trapped.

His expression was dead serious, despite the tears.

"How stupid are you?" He asked me, letting the words linger for a moment. "Did you think he was offering you all of that out of the kindness of his own heart?"

I stumbled over my words for a moment before finding it in me to speak. "... Kind of... he's been kinder than you-" I mumbled, and Ben's expression hardened further.

"He would never do that, [Y/N]." The way he spat my name sounded like a slur. "He's obviously trying to get something out of you."

"... Aren't you doing that too?" I said, feeling my voice get quieter and quieter.

"... Yes," Ben started, thinking for a moment. "but I'm not hiding it. Just think- think for a moment. Why would he want you out of my room? Why would he care?"

I'd just wanted to believe I had someone on my side here. Was that... too much to ask? Ben was forcing me to really think about it, and he wasn't letting up with his criticism in the meantime.

"He wants to keep you under strict surveillance, while gaining your trust." He snapped. "He's already angry you slipped beneath his radar this long. And-" He paused, his stern expression slowly growing more panicked. "That's without going into what he could possibly want the Moon Children for..."

There was that name again. The Moon Children. Was now a bad time to ask? I opened my mouth, about to speak, but Tatl flew up beside me and immediately interrupted.

"Don't listen to him, [Y/N]!" She insisted, then paused. "I mean... you should be suspicious, but maybe he has good intentions?"

"You still don't understand." Ben said, slowly pulling back from the wall and massaging his wrist. Was it sore from him slamming it into the wall earlier?? "Some people are chosen to be above it all, and some- some are created that way. He's downright eldritch!" He said, pulling away and clearly panicking more now, pacing back and forth. Tatl perked up at his wording, seeming interested.

"He's impossible to read. He takes in as many serial killers as he can and gains their trust. That's not even mentioning his proxies- what is he preparing for??"

He stopped pacing and glared back to me. "Letting your guard down around him is quite possibly the most stupid thing you could ever do. And it's a shame, because I thought you were navigating my threats quite well."

Was he disappointed in me? I was stunned. More importantly, was I meant to care? It was almost as if he'd forgotten that I hated his guts. "It's because of you, that I- you're the reason that dad's..."

Ben stared at me for a long moment, and then glanced away, seemingly uncaring. He wiped his eyes. "Slenderman is the one who told the Rake where my next target was." He said, his words so blunt that hit me with the force of a sledgehammer. "I don't specialize in family massacre, in case you didn't notice. Not that I minded..."

I stared blankly at him while Tatl seemed to stammer in mid-air. She seemed to want to comfort me, moving closer to me slowly, but couldn't find the words. I shoved my raw feelings of betrayal down and glared at Ben.

"... Fine. I get it." I muttered. "I'll be careful. You're lucky I'm helping you at all."

Ben pulled away and went to sit at his desk, his head in his hands, while I stood there processing what I'd just learned.

Trust no one.

Asking about the Moon Children could wait- I was far too exhausted from talking to Ben. I slowly walked over to the bed and sat down, hugging the pillows against my chest.

~~~

I didn't fall asleep, despite how badly I wanted to. Maybe it was because of my experience in the game, but I was absolutely starving. And despite the fact that I needed to be careful, Slender's offer of providing food for me was looking incredibly appealing right now.

I wouldn't trust anyone.

But I did need to eat.

"I'm going out." I told Ben and Tatl, glancing back to them at the desk. Ben was playing games on his Switch again, and barely acknowledged me, only giving a nod. Tatl was watching over his shoulder, chiming out in response. "Good luck, [Y/N]!"

The halls were easier to traverse now than they were before. I wasn't sure how it happened, but I ended up walking right to the dining room without even getting lost. Did I just know my way around better? It honestly felt like the mansion itself changed...

It seemed pretty empty right now. I glanced around before just walking into the kitchen, going to open the fridge-

"Stop."

Someone's voice cut into me as I touched the handle and I jolted back as if I'd been electrocuted. I slowly looked back to who it was, freezing up as I realized it was the person in the blue mask. The one who had been eating human organs at the dinner table. I didn't know how to react so I just stared, and he stared back.

It was awful. I felt like a mouse in a trap.

"You don't look edible." He said eventually. "Like Ben. You're [Y/N], right?" He asked.

His words absolutely did not put me at ease. My stomach felt like it did seven consecutive backflips in my body. I'd be impressed if I didn't feel so nauseous.

I leaned against the counter and nodded.

"Slender told me this food's for you." He said, opening the fridge and pulling out a premade lunch. "I'm Jack, by the way." He paused. "Eyeless Jack."

"... Oh." I said, not sure how to react to that information. I took the food slowly, not really wanting to touch someone who'd been eating human flesh last time I saw him. "Thanks...?"

It was so difficult to force myself to speak right now... and it soon became even harder, because Jack nonchalantly pulled out a human heart on a plate next.

"No problem." He said, as I just stared at the plate, trying to force myself to adjust. He seemed to notice my attention being locked on the human heart and smiled under his mask- I could only tell because the mask lifted slightly. When he spoke, I could hear it in his voice too.

"It reminds you of your enemies, doesn't it?" He asked... happily??

"What?" I was completely stunned.

"It does for me, at least." He continued, going over to the sofa and sitting down with his food, turning on the TV. I... couldn't eat around him, so I decided to quietly slip out of the room and get back to Ben's as soon as I could.

I sighed in relief as I closed the door behind myself.

"What now?" Ben asked, seeming curious despite his attempt to come off as aloof.

"... How many people eat humans here??" I asked worriedly. Ben seemed to immediately realize what had happened and shrugged.

"A lot of them. I'll compile a list for you later."

I nodded, quietly going over to sit on the bed as Tatl fluttered over to grab some of my food as well.

... I could trust her, I realized. Even if no one else in this damn place was safe, she'd been with me from the start.

And even if I couldn't trust that Ben wouldn't hurt me, I could at least trust that he was unlikely to lie to me.

No matter how dire things seemed, I was determined to survive- and I could start by figuring out who I could trust in which ways.

... And as I took a bite of my food, a little part of me told me I'd definitely be trusting Slenderman with the cooking.

Chapter Text

~~~

[Y/N]
> [BEN]

~~~

It was baffling.

It was humiliating.

I watched [Y/N] get ready to go, watching him talk to Tatl so casually despite the situation they were in. He acted like he was going on holiday by going into the game- didn't he realize his life was in danger? If we failed to get results for Slender, I wasn't sure what was going to happen.

Nothing good, I imagine.

And even if we did succeed, at what cost? What did he want?

A shocking chill ran down my spine and I frowned, wiping my eyes and crossing my arms stiffly, sinking into my thoughts until I was abruptly pulled out of them. [Y/N] was trying to get my attention.

"... Ready. I'm ready to go. Ben?"

Not wanting to show how stuck in my mind I'd been, I cracked a grin at [Y/N] and raised my brows. "Eager, are we?"

A sour look came over his face as soon as I said that,  as if he was struggling to decide how he was meant to react. I watched his shoulders slump slightly as he must have realized there was no good option, and my grin widened. Regardless of the difficult situation he'd put me in, prodding at this guy was fun.

"... How do we get into the game." He asked me bluntly, his eyes narrowing with concentration. "Can I do the... thing, you do?"

"The thing?" I asked, thinking for a moment before realizing what he meant. "Going through the screen? No. That takes practice." I said bluntly. It had taken me years to master the skill, after all- but I had been at a severe disadvantage, having started out stuck in the game. I thought it was only natural [Y/N] would have an easier time with it, with my guidance.

"Then- how do I-" He stopped speaking and tried to figure it out, looking between the screen and me with the oddest look of concern on his face. It was oddly cute. I stifled a chuckle and held out my hand.

*"We'll have to hold hands." I said, and though I was teasing him, it was true. This was the safest way to bring him in. The way he reacted, shivering and glaring, was another perk though. It was almost cute how he tried to show defiance, even when there was nothing he could do to harm me right now.

He held on tight to my hand soon enough, and I squeezed my grip a little tighter. He felt real when nothing else did, and god it was frustrating not to know why.

"And, Tatl." I said, looking up to her. She fluttered so adorably in response, landing on [Y/N]'s shoulder. "You should hide in [Y/N]'s hat or clothes."

"Right-" She replied, faltering and then hiding herself away inside [Y/N]'s tunic. I was only noticing now, but he'd put his warm clothes back on over his ordinary tunic. I gently brushed a thumb against his sleeve, raising a brow at him.

"It's cold." He defended himself, shooting a sharp glare at me for a moment. It'd almost hurt if I didn't think it was funny how he defended every action so intensely.

"...? Just hurry up and take us in." He said, and I realized I'd been staring at his face, observing his reactions. I cleared my throat and nodded, holding on tighter to his hand as I stepped into the screen.

Something that was so simple for me was far from it for him- I could feel him struggling against me. I wondered if he didn't believe that he could pass through the glass, or if he just disliked me that much. Not that I was hung up on something so trivial.

I gave his arm a firmer tug and he came stumbling through, gasping and looking around with wide eyes.

"Are we in-??"

"Yeah. You can come out now, Tatl." I said, looking around. We were back in Snowhead, so we'd have to return to Clock Town.

Tatl flew out, shook herself off, and then fluttered around us for a moment. Whatever she was searching for, she soon seemed to give up, silently returning to [Y/N]'s shoulder and settling down.

"Let's use the Song of Soaring." I said, taking charge at once. "Do you still have your ocarina?" I asked, pulling out my own copy. I could almost see the confusion on [Y/N]'s face, but his expression shifted  moments later.

"Oh, right. Game." He mumbled. I honestly couldn't believe he'd managed to forget- my chest tightened for a moment as I stared at him.
This place had never felt this real while I was in it alone. Part of me just wanted to stay here forever...

But there was no guarantee it would last, and the expectations of that creature rested heavy on my shoulders. I stashed the hindrance down into the recesses of my mind as [Y/N] pulled out his Ocarina.

"... Got it." He said, looking back up to me.

"Alright. This should be a breeze, then."

~~~

Arriving in town did not go as smoothly as I'd assumed it would. For one, I'd forgotten to change my outfit- which meant that [Y/N] and I were dressed almost exactly the same way. [Y/N]'s winter tunic was our only saving grace.

It wasn't enough to dispel the similarities, unfortunately. One of the Bomber kids seemed to make it their personal mission to annoy us as much as possible. And to make matters worse, I had no idea what I was meant to say. There were no dialogue options presented to me. I'd never really had to speak to any of these dumbass kids before.

"So where are you both from?" They asked, blocking our way to the trading post. I almost stumbled over them, and golden fucking goddesses did it startle me when [Y/N] grabbed my arm and pulled me back up. I rubbed my arm and squinted back at him.

I wasn't sure how to reply to the kid- I wasn't used to the NPCs being able to talk to me at all, so I grappled with my mind for an excuse, stood frozen in place and staring between the two of them.

"He comes from near Snowhead." [Y/N] lied for me instead. I raised a brow at him- How exactly was he going to pull this off?

"His clothes got wet on the way here, so I lent him my spare ones." He continued, crossing his arms. That was... frustrating, to say the least. The explanation had been so simple to come up with... but I'd gladly let him deal with the social interactions from here on out. He seemed good at it- and what was wrong with letting him use the gift that the goddesses gave him?

~~~

> [Y/N]
[BEN]

~~~

I'd suspected there was something wrong with Ben for a while already, though I couldn't put my finger on what exactly it was. Being in the game like this seemed to give me another clue- was he just incompetent when it came to people? Every time someone said something to him that he didn't expect, he just stood there like a statue.

It was kind of funny. If I wasn't still afraid of him, maybe I'd tease him about it. For the moment, gloating in my own brain at least made me feel... slightly better about my situation.

We were back at the trading post now. I stood in the corner, waiting for Ben to step forward and talk to the cashier manning the checkout, but he just... didn't do it. He looked at me expectantly, and god did that attitude of his grate on my nerves-- so I decided to talk back, even if we weren't exactly on equal standing.

"I'm not your servant." I told him, then paused and realized I might just be his servant. I did technically... belong to him, after all. I decided to clear that up. "... Not right now, anyway- you got told to look into this. Look into it yourself." I said. Maybe my tone was a little sharper than I intended, but god fucking damnit- I was sick of talking to everyone for him! My social battery might have been better than his, but it was still running low.

"... But you talked to him earlier-" Ben said hesitantly, not snarking back at me. His voice... almost seemed to waver uncharacteristically. 

"And he brought up your name, so he should recognize you." I retorted. "Now go."

No amount of pushing was convincing Ben for whatever reason, so Tatl- who had infinitely more patience than me- accompanied him to the counter. She landed on the counter and chimed at the cashier. Being in the corner all alone felt uncomfortable, so I ended up walking up behind Ben, listening in.

"One moment-" The cashier said, stocking the shelves before looking behind himself and perking up. "Oh, hey- Ben, right? ... You look kind of different though." He noted. Ben stiffened, and to my relief, he finally fucking spoke up.

"... Yeah?" He replied.

"Yeah." The guy at the counter said. "Did something happen to your eyes?" He asked, before shaking his head and seeming to dismiss the thought before Ben could answer. "Uh. Sorry. Rude."

Tatl scoffed. "Well yeah, it's rude! Hey- you said you'd get him in touch with your neighbor, right?"

Ben nodded in agreement. "I'd like to meet him, if that's alright- see if I might have known him before?" He said, before adding. "You're right. A lot's happened with me. Just want to reflect on old times with whoever I can, you know? Just... piece it all back together. We're all struggling right now" He said, his tone so soft.

It honestly disgusted me, the way Ben was manipulating this guy- making it sound like he was afraid of the impending fall of the moon just like the rest of them. But I knew from experience with Anju that if he didn't say all of this, people would just assume it anyway.

"... Yeah. Of course... uh- he's actually packing up, getting ready to evacuate right now. I can take you after my shift..." The cashier said, looking nervously to the clock.

"... Oh. I'm afraid... I don't have that much time." Ben said, his posture shrinking in on himself. It made him look so much smaller. So much more pitiful. It almost worked on me. "... I- thanks for letting us know, though. I... wish there was a way for us to meet him..."

I could see the cashier's eyes continuing to dart around nervously, before he sighed, scribbling something down. "Alright. Alright... fine. Here's his address." He muttered, sliding the scrap of paper over to Ben. I leaned around him to try to peek at it. "You can tell him I- uh, Sarro sent you."

"Thank you so much..." Ben said, still looking as pitiful as I figured he could muster. Tatl seemed to be feeling awkward with the way he was acting, because she looked between the cashi- Sarro and Ben for a moment before just nodding to Sarro. Or at least, I thought she was nodding? She was sort of bobbing up and down.

"Thanks!" She said rather forcefully, flying back over to me and hiding in my shirt. I couldn't help but slightly snicker at that, opening the door for Ben and ushering him out.

"... One step closer." He muttered. holding up the scrap of paper and starting to walk ahead of me. "I wonder if they remember me..."

I sped up to catch up with him- although this largely didn't concern me, I still couldn't help but feel curious. "Who are you expecting?" I asked, and for once- he actually seemed distracted enough that he didn't respond harshly.

"... I'm not really sure..." He muttered. "It could be anyone, from a fellow victim, to... him. I'm obviously hoping for the former..."

I nodded along as if I understood what the hell he was saying, almost walking into him as he suddenly stopped in his tracks, staring straight ahead of himself. When I followed his line of sight, I saw a man with brown shoulder length hair and an open green vest- he'd look unremarkable, except that I was pretty sure I hadn't seen any NPCs that looked like this in the whole game before.

He looked toward us, his brows furrowed with confusion before a spark of recognition shot across his expression. "... Ben?" He asked, then paused, looking even more confused at what he'd just said.

I was too focused on the man to see Ben's face, but I could hear the distraught in his voice- clearly something about this man was recognizable to Ben, because he seemed to know who he was almost immediately.

"... Ifrit?"

Chapter Text

I watched the man's expression twist as Ben called him Ifrit. I waited for recognition to sink in- but he showed no sign of it, only looking conflicted.

"I... think I... recognize the name." He said slowly, his head tilting. Ben's face screwed up slightly. He seemed frustrated, and I could see why.

"Maybe he doesn't remember because of the time loops." I whispered to Ben, not sure what he was supposed to be remembering. This was my best guess though, so I figured I should offer it.

We seemed to be closing in on the goal we'd promised Slender, after all. We were one step closer to figuring out what was going in this game! And even beyond that... although I knew I really shouldn't care, I couldn't help but be glad that Ben seemed to be getting something out of this too.

By the time I returned from my thoughts, the man Ben called Ifrit had invited us into his home and sat us down. Ben and I sat on one end of the table, with Ifrit at the other.

"... So." Ben said slowly, his gaze rising from the table to meet Ifrit's. "You really don't remember me?"

"I wouldn't go that far." He replied. "It would be easier to say... it's as though I met you in a dream."

"More like a nightmare." Ben murmured, sitting up straight and staring Ifrit right in the eyes, a smile on his face. I had the creeping feeling he wasn't happy at all though- it almost felt like an intimidation method in itself.

"Are there any more of the Moon Children?" Ben asked so casually.

"Yes. My sister-" Ifrit replied immediately, then blinked and looked confused. "Who are the Moon Children?"

I couldn't read Ben's expression, but he stood up very quickly, grabbing my sleeve and tugging me up as well.

"Thanks." He said, still all smiles. "We've got much to do. I'll be seeing you soon, alright?"

"Right." Ifrit agreed, then paused and stood up as well. "You... are Ben, right? You can just call me Matt from now on."

Ben blinked a few times- and I was just as surprised. Was this not the Ifrit guy Ben was talking about? It wasn't long before Ben's surprise reformed into another smile, and he nodded to Matt.

"Yes, of course."

He pulled me out of the house not long after, almost rushing down the street to the owl statue.

"What's going on?" I asked quietly. "Was that not Ifrit?" The question made Ben scowl, and he narrowed his eyes. I could practically feel the red-hot annoyance emanating off him.

"Oh, it was definitely Ifrit. And he's brought Rosa with him."

I stared at Ben, more confused than anything else. I didn't have any idea who this Rosa was- I was still trying to get my head around Ifrit. And I had no idea who the Moon Children were, either! I was just feeling around in the dark here, forced to look for answers I didn't understand.

Ben must have noticed how perplexed I was, because he sighed, pulling me close and whispering in my ear. I went absolutely rigid. The closeness was so nerve wracking after what he'd done before. But I didn't feel like I was in danger this time- it was strange.

"I'll explain when we get out of here."

My ears flicked, the tips of them feeling red hot. I couldn't quiet the nervous hammer of my heart. Was I still that scared of him?

~~~

Once we had returned from the game, Ben was... more tight-lipped than I was expecting him to be. He paced back and forth, brows tightly furrowed as he murmured to himself. Was he planning to explain anything at all? I couldn't be sure. Not when he seemed so preoccupied by his own mind.

So, in the end, I spoke up first. I cleared my throat, staring up at Ben.

"Who's Ifrit? And... who are the Moon Children?"

My questions must have been deemed important enough that Ben finally sat down in his desk chair, to be level with me his hands clasped in his lap.

"The Moon Children..." He trailed off, staring right through me. I gave a light shiver.

"They are- or, were- a... cult." He said, fidgeting in his seat. He was silent for a long time, but he seemed to be thinking, so I didn't interrupt him.

"They believed one could ascend into a digital world. The people we're looking for now have... completed that ascension."

I blinked, shaking my head and squinting at Ben. "Wait. Wait, isn't that what you did to me?" I asked, the sudden anger bubbling up inside of me being too much to suppress. But instead of acknowledging my anger, Ben still just looked so thoughtful.

"No... because usually, ascension happens after you die. You- were in the game long before your body hit the point of no return." Ben said slowly, glancing down and then suddenly getting up, turning away from me. I narrowed my eyes at him, irritated that he was treating my life so lightly.

"And Ifrit... Ifrit was Matt's online name." He said, answering my other question as vaguely as he possibly could- but I supposed I should just be happy he was giving me answers at all. I glared sharply at the back of his head, but got up too, deciding to follow him.

"Is that all I'm going to get from you?" I asked dryly, eventually averting my gaze and staring at the floor.

Ben took a deep breath. He sounded irritated, but when he looked back to me he was grinning, a brow raised.

"Why. Did you want more from me~?" He said in the most smooth tone, leaning back toward me. I could only stand there wordlessly, staring at his smug face. It felt like my entire brain had ground to a confused halt- it was a complete 180° from how he'd been acting moments before.

"I... no- yes??"

"You're adorable." He said, his tone so obviously teasing that it made me tense up. I lightly scoffed, walking ahead of him down to the dining room.

He was clearly trying to deflect from further questioning from me- whether I liked it or not, he seemed to think that saying suave things would shut me up. Whether I liked it or not, he might have been right. I shook my head, finally moving on from the subject.

"When are we heading back in, then?" I asked him, leaning back against the counter as our food was slowly reheated.

Ben's expression shifted slightly and he looked away, almost seeming lost in thought. "... Not for a while." He replied eventually. "But when we do, I'll need Tatl to tail someone for me. It shouldn't be too much trouble."

I nodded along, taking my food out of the microwave and sitting down to eat. Helping Ben like this felt repulsive- especially on Slenderman's orders- but the sense of purpose was something I felt that I needed right now. My first reason for this this was my own safety: I couldn't guarantee Slenderman would see it fitting to keep keep me around if I didn't have a use.

My second reason felt far more selfish. I just... I needed something to focus on for my own mental health right now. If I kept dwelling on what had happened to me, if I let myself take the time to process everything, if I tried to heal when I was still in danger... I could easily end up dead or worse.

Ben and I didn't talk for the rest of our meal. I wasn't sure if it was because we didn't have anything to talk about, or because Ben was intentionally holding off on me. He still looked shaken up- even more so than when he had come back crying.

We returned to his room in silence. I laid in his bed again, my gaze flicking from the high-vaulted ceilings to the hazy silhouette of Ben, typing away on his computer.

Some of the things he had said about the Moon Children earlier reminded me of the vague "we" he had mentioned yesterday. Piecing together Ben's life was a lot less mentally taxing than focusing on my own right now, so I let my mind wander.

Had Ben been in a cult? I knew by now that he had died, but I still wasn't sure how. Still, it stood to reason he'd performed the ascension he told me about.

I'd heard an unfamiliar voice tell me that Luna would be proud of me back when I was in the game, and I'd heard Ben mention the same name when I confronted him on top of the Clock Tower.

But watching him now, I couldn't possibly bring any of that up. He was clearly struggling to relax already, and... even though I had so many reasons not to care about him at all, I felt almost unbearably sorry for him.

"When was the last time you slept...?"

It took me a moment to realize I'd thought out loud. I was a little too tired to feel embarrassed though, so I listened to Ben closely for a response instead.

He looked toward me, then thought for a moment and shook his head.

"Not for... years." He said slowly. "I don't need to, so it's no trouble."

"... Must be nice to not need to sleep." I murmured, burying my face in the pillows slightly and letting myself get more cozy.

"You probably don't either. You're just sleeping because you're tired." Ben replied. I couldn't see his expression with my face hidden like this- if I tried, I was getting a glimpse of the elaborate wallpaper at most- but he sounded a little irritated. "I just... couldn't sleep, even if I wanted to."

"Do you still get tired, too?" I asked, but Ben didn't seem to respond at all. I wondered if I'd even said it aloud, or only dreamed it. After a few seconds, I heard the squeak of his chair turning back toward his computer.

It was... definitely strange to feel so secure here. I tried to remember that I was still in danger, but the constant anxiety had exhausted me so much that I couldn't bring myself to care right now.

It didn't take me much longer to sink into a comfortable sleep.

~~~

My eyes opened. I cold sweat, clutching my blankets and staring up at the ceiling. Something about this seemed... off, but I couldn't quite place what. I was staring up at a popcorn plaster ceiling- the same popcorn plaster ceiling I'd been seeing for the past...

...

No, wait, that wasn't right.

Where was I?

I climbed out of bed, realizing all at once just how large everything in this room was. I walked over to the window, my long braided hair falling behind me as I peeked over the tall window sill.

I narrowed my eyes at how overwhelmingly bright it was. Sunlight gleamed off freshly fallen snow, but even through the assault on my eyes I could tell that I was in some kind of forest. That hadn't changed, I supposed.

Wait.
Changed from what?

I shook my head. Not important right now.

There was a dresser with a mirror in the room, so I climbed onto the stupidly tall stool in front of it. I panted faintly, catching my breath and then looking up at my reflection.

The first thing to catch my attention was the distinctively childlike features. Large sapphire eyes set into a pale face with rosy cheeks. Red hair, messily braided back as if the child who owned it had had to do it themself. Round ears.

A plain white nightgown that seemed poorly homemade.

Despite my clouded mind, I couldn't ignore anymore that this wasn't my face. Wherever I was, whoever I was, I had to remember- I had to get back.

I paused as I heard the bedroom door open, staring at the boy who had come in. The world began to feel like it was melting into darkness around him as I realized he looked so familiar, with his blond hair and blue eyes and green clothes and-

"Rosa?"

That wasn't my name. That wasn't my name. That wasn't my name. That wasn't my name.

The inky void swallowed me up as the illusion was broken at last

I screamed. I sat up bolt upright with a jolt, eyes wide as I tried to process what had just happened.

I was dressed in the green of fields again. As much as I could be with everything that had happened, I was myself again. I breathed a sigh of relief, then realized that Ben and Tatl were staring at me from the computer desk.

Ben genuinely looked perplexed. "Did you have a nightmare?" He asked. For a moment, I could have sworn I saw genuine concern cross his face.

"Oh... No. No, uh..." I trailed off, averting my gaze. "I wouldn't really call it that. I'll be fine." I mumbled, checking the time to see how long I'd been asleep for.

Whatever the dream had been about, there was no way I was telling Ben about it. If I was making it all up, it'd be useless- and if it was real...

Well.
Surely I'd be able to twist it to my advantage. I needed every leg up I could get.

Chapter Text

The next few days dragged on and on.

From sundown onward, I would be stuck listening to Ben's half-baked plans. As he was constantly interrupting himself and returning to the drawing board, I often wondered why he bothered telling me anything at all.

During the daytime and as I tried to sleep, Ben would be curled up at his computer, typing away loudly. It was exhausting, and honestly? I still wasn't sure what was going on.

What I did know was that Ben wanted me and Tatl back in the game.

"We can't find everyone we need until you have more freedom of movement." Ben said, pointing to me from his desk, reclined in his chair and looking visibly thoughtful. "I feel like I should give you actual combat training if we want to progress, though... those enemies are no joke."

I narrowed my eyes slightly at Ben. "Can't you just get rid of them- go into the code or... something?"

Ben flashed me a distinctly irritated grin. "I'm not altering the living code, [Y/N]. You may as well tell me throw everything we've learned away."

I sank back against the headboard, forced to concede. I couldn't ask him to take that risk, so if I wanted to help him- to prove I was worth keeping alive- I'd need to train. Just like he said.

It wasn't like I had no experience at all at this point - I had at least a few days of living as Link on my side. I still wasn't confident in my skills, though.

Ben, leaning over his desk and looking thoughtful, soon spoke up again. "We can't train you in the game. There's no point in wasting time." He said slowly. "And no guarantee Ifrit will still be there when we wind the clock back. We're going to be training in the courtyard. We'll leave Tatl in here to keep her safe."

Tatl chimed in agreement. She was even less keen on the inhabitants of the mansion than me - though I supposed I could understand why. She was so much smaller than me to begin with, so in a place like this...

I blinked quickly as I processed what Ben just said though, slowly looking toward him. "I... what? There's a courtyard?"

Ben nodded, standing up from his chair and walking over to his wardrobe, opening it up. I peeked inside, curious about what I'd see--

Only to see multiple duplicates of the same green tunic and one single Legend of Zelda hoodie. "... You don't... care much about fashion, do you?" I asked a little awkwardly.

"I care very much about style." Ben hummed, opening up a box at the bottom of the wardrobe and pulling out a pair of leather gauntlets, tossing them back to me.

I fumbled them, but managed to catch them. "Wear these." He said as I awkwardly put them on. "And we're going to have to get you more armor too, the tunic won't cut it..."

I knew Ben was only keeping me safe for his own goals, but... I couldn't lie- it still felt nice to have someone my own size take care of me. Tatl could only help so much. Especially when I felt so uncertain about... everything, really. "... Thanks." I said, finally managing to get the gauntlets on.

"... Have I got these on right?" I asked Ben, waiting for him to come over before showing him the gauntlets. He sucked in air through his teeth, furrowing his brows.

"Almost. Here, just..."

He lowered to one knee in front of me, talking hold of my hand and turning it over, adjusting the straps one at a time. It was painstakingly slow.

I could feel my heartbeat in my fingertips, so I knew he could too. I couldn't believe how nervous I was- my face was burning as I tried to act normal, offering him my other gauntlet once he was done.

Even as I panicked, Ben seemed entirely focused on the task at hand. Seeing him from above like this was... odd

His head was slightly tilted down, away from me. His ears would flick or twitch slightly whenever he had to shift his focus between buckles, and now that I was looking...

His eyelashes were blond, too. I... was way too close.

Right as my panic began to seep past my silent facade, Ben gave the gauntlets an experimental tug and stood up again, hands on his hips.

"Well, that should hold up." He said confidently. "We'll have to worry about armor later. For now, come with me." He said, beckoning me toward the bedroom door.

"R... right." I replied, not moving for a moment. My brain felt fried. There was seriously something wrong with me. I shook my head to try to dissipate the feeling, hurrying after Ben.

~~~

The courtyard was nothing like I expected. The mansion was big - I'd known that much. But I hadn't been outside of it much at all, so realizing just how big it was came as a shock. The courtyard itself was larger than my entire house!

The size was one thing, but the way the place was used was another. I'd thought Ben had recommended the place because it was out of the way - not because it was some kind of serial killer training center. Looking to my left, I could see Jeff absolutely brutalizing a dummy for no apparent reason, and looking to my right I could see Jack - no, Eyeless Jack stitching up another dummy that was in pieces.

It was pretty easy to see the correlation between what Jeff and Jack were doing was.

"Do we have to do it here-?" I asked Ben quietly, leaning closer to him. He glanced back to me, ear tilting back in turn, mere inches from my face.

"You think you'll embarrass yourself?" He asked. "You proved competent enough with the hockey stick... and the baseball bat..."

I was struck by a mix of horror and embarrassment, staring at Ben with my mouth slightly agape. Sometimes, while listening to him ramble and struggle like any ordinary boy, it was easy to forget that he had been the same one who had essentially stalked and imprisoned me before.

"No." I replied, struggling to keep my voice steady. "I just... don't want to train between a serial killer and a cannibal."

Ben only shrugged, picking up a pair of wooden swords and tossing one to me. I slightly fumbled it but managed to catch it by the blade, giving a sigh of relief.

"Don't do that with a real sword. You'll slice your hand in two." He commented, with an entirely straight face, as if he was actually giving me helpful advice.

"... Don't throw real swords, then." I responded, moving my body into what seemed like a steady stance and bracing myself.

I stared at Ben as he walked closer. At some point, I supposed... my mind had held the innocent Skull Kid responsible for the worst of what Ben had done to me. As soon as Ben had revealed his true - or truer form to me, his treatment of me changed entirely.

My thoughts were cut short by Ben lightly pushing my shoulder, sending me toppling over way too easily. I choked on a gasp, barely managing to catch myself by moving one of my legs and widening my base.

"Better." He commented. "You really didn't fight before the game, did you?" He asked, and god I could hear the amusement in his tone. It was infuriating.

"Did you?" I shot back, not caring if my words got too far under his skin. If he wanted to remind me of my fresh, still developing trauma... I could certainly do the same to him.

Unfortunately for my efforts, the only sign that Ben had been bothered by my question was his expression tightening slightly. His reaction was far more tame than I expected otherwise.

"I did, actually." He said quietly. "Wanted to be just like Link. We can't all have what we wish for, but..." He shot me a smug grin.

It was obvious that he was deflecting, but I didn't feel like pissing him off any more while he was holding a sword - even if it was wooden - so I dropped the subject and focused again on my stance.

"If you know so much about this, can you... tell me what to do?" I asked. It felt repulsive in a way, to ask him to direct me. To admit that I was trusting him... but this was necessary. I wasn't sure if it was a matter of life or death, but it would certainly save me a lot of pain.

"... I'm not the best teacher." Ben admitted outright after a moment of staring at me for a moment. "So... I think the best way to do this is..."

He trailed off, clearly deep in thought for a moment before walking up behind me. "... I'm just going to touch you." He warned me.

"... That's fine." I replied, a little surprised he'd warned me at all.

His hand was warm as he held onto and adjusted my sword arm, the skin of his palm slightly rough from what I could only assume were years of swordplay. His touch moved up toward my shoulders, and I stiffened instinctively, my heartbeat quickening.

"How am I meant to move you like this?" He asked from behind me, and I shook my head slightly, forcing myself to loosen up enough to allow him to move my shoulders back.

"... I can guess it's uncomfortable." He murmured. "But you have a habit of slouching, and it's throwing your balance off."

It wasn't like I wasn't aware of what he meant. He'd had the tact to avoid mentioning features I clearly resented, but just the reminder of them existing and the weight on my chest that suddenly seemed tenfold had me struggling to breathe for a moment.

Other people were perceiving me - even if the NPCs in the game seemed to gloss over it and accept me as I was, but that wasn't the case out here.
In the real world.

"... Can't I use a binder?" I mumbled, though I already knew the answer.

"I read that binders can injure you during sports and things like that. I've been looking for alternatives." He replied, and of course I knew that, but the thought of other people seeing me like this was absolutely disgusting.

"Just focus on your form." Ben murmured, already moving onto adjusting my legs. "... If anyone says anything about, uh... this, they're as good as dead."

He stepped back. When I glanced over my shoulder at him, he was checking my form from behind.

I took a deep breath, trying to focus on what I could control for the moment. My sword arm, for one- the feeling of me gripping the hilt of the wooden blade. My heartbeat was beginning to slow down again, and as I closed my eyes, I focused on the feeling of my feet planted firmly on the ground. The damp grass squeaked under my boots as I shifted my stance a little more. The air smelled crisp, fresh, and... slightly tinged with iron.

I was fine. My ear twitched back toward Ben as I heard his voice, but I didn't bother opening my eyes yet.

"You're doing good." He said, and I heard clattering and rope straining for a moment, finally snapping my eyes open.

Ben was hanging up a dummy across from me. "Okay, [Y.N]. I'd like to see a horizontal strike."

~~~

I laid in bed, my muscles burning as I stared blankly at the ceiling. Ben was out at the moment, and Tatl was sat on his desk, watching videos on one of his spare phones. She'd apparently discovered the internet at some point, for better or worse.

But that wasn't important right now. Today was mortifying, but... despite my apprehension and discomfort in my body, no one had brought attention to it. Not even Jeff, who had very little respect for people in general, from what I knew.

Not even Eyeless Jack. The cannibal.
I rolled over, slightly hugging the pillow. One question kept repeating in my mind.

Why did he... know so much about being transgender? For a moment, I wondered - was he trans? It was a genuine possibility, but... no, if he was he probably would have had an alternative to the binder prepared already.

Still, it was worth keeping in mind. It was infinitely more likely than him actually caring enough about my comfort to research it himself.

...

My grip on the pillow tightened slightly and I curled against it as I remembered his little acts of consideration- letting me know before touching me, wanting to teach me so I would avoid being injured--

I was probably reading too much into it.

The door cracked open soon enough, light seeping into the room. For a moment, it reminded me of my father coming to check on me after coming home late.

My breath caught in my throat and I squeezed my eyes shut as if I could stop thinking about it if I just stopped breathing.

The door soon closed again.

"Can you turn that down, Tatl? He's asleep."

"Oh. Sure." Tatl replied. Moments later, there was the sound of a dish and... a glass, maybe, being put on the bedside table beside me. I could hear Ben's footsteps and cloth rustling for a moment, and then the familiar creak of him sitting down at his desk.

The little bits of consideration he showed me felt bittersweet now. I knew that we were using each other, but the way he was behaving almost made me believe he saw me as more than just a pawn.

My heart, hammering with trepidation, kept me from sleeping until early into the next morning.

Chapter Text

I should have known that my pounding heart was more than trepidation. I sank further beneath the covers as I slowly woke, as I realized just how intense the pain shooting through my head was- combined with the chill I couldn't seem to shake, I was certain.

I was sick.

Part of me couldn't believe it- after finding out I was no longer in my original body, I'd just assumed I wouldn't be able to fall ill anymore! After all, how would that even happen? I was pretty sure I was at least partially digital now, and I was just as sure there was no chance for me to have a... computer virus or anything, though I supposed Ben or Tatl could have given it to me, though fairy sicknesses... it wasn't like they programmed sicknesses for fairies into Zelda, right? Maybe they had, as a way of increasing immersion, and I-

My thoughts were becoming less and less coherent. I groaned, pulling my pillow over my face for a moment.

I couldn't tell Ben. If Ben found out, he might even see fit to get rid of me- who knew how long I'd be sick for? My use could be at its end. Being sick would make me easier than ever to dispose of. Tatl was my only option here, and if I didn't want to immediately be caught by Ben, I had to make sure my voice didn't sound weird when I called her- which was much easier said than done with the stuffy feeling in my throat.

I groaned quietly, forcing myself to roll over and reaching for the glass of water beside me. I must have severely underestimated my fever-ridden motor skills, because instead of grabbing the glass, I completely knocked it over and spilled water all over the floor.

"Fuuuck, no-" I whined to myself, covering my face. If I wanted to clean that up, I'd have to get up, and nothing sounded more difficult right now.

"[Y/N]? Are you, uh... okay???"

I felt a surge of panic about who could have found me like this before I recognized the voice as Tatl's. I gave a shaky sigh of relief, nodding and trying to ignore the dizzy feeling that moving my head gave me. I laid back down properly to steady myself, sinking back into the pillows.

"...eah, yeah... Got a fever..." I mumbled, clearing my throat so she could hear me better. "C'n you..."

Tatl paused for a moment, and as I let myself drift back into the warmth of the bed and shut my eyes, I heard her ask. "Can I- what?? We- we don't have any healing fairies... what do people do for sick people without healing fairies-"

~~~

I was so lightheaded. My vision fading in and out, I steadied myself against the dresser, taking a few deep breaths.

"Rosa? Are you okay?"

The blonde boy- no... Ben walked over to me, leaning up against the dresser. I looked back to him, nodding a few times- ugh. Nodding hurt my head right now. "Yeah. I slept kind of funny." I said, carefully climbing off the stool in front of the dresser.

Ben smiled back at me, the very picture of excitement. "Good! Matt says we get to see something exciting today, Rosa- you wouldn't want to miss it." He said, taking my hand and leading me out of the bedroom. Somehow- and I couldn't quite figure out why- his hand felt more real than anything else in the room. Maybe I was just too tired to register anything else, or maybe it was the warmth.

"Something exciting?" I yawned, my headache finally beginning to subside as we left the bedroom.

~~~

"... he was so warm, and then he passed out--"

Barely managing to wake up enough to listen, I heard Tatl's voice. My hand still felt warm, as if someone was holding it- so I gave their hand a light squeeze, too tired to open my eyes.

"Hang on, Tatl. I think he's woken up." Came Ben's voice. It was deeper than it had been a few minutes ago, though- had I been dreaming? I must have--

The second I was awake enough to realize that, the pain hit me like a sledgehammer. I tensed, my face feeling so unbearably hot and my neck feeling so unbearably cold. I couldn't hold in a whine, rolling over and pressing my face into the pillows for a moment as if that offered any relief.

"Come on, [Y/N], you can't stay like that. Sit up." Ben said, slipping his hand under me and propping me up without giving me a say. I opened my bleary eyes, reluctantly using my elbow to help support myself.

"'M up, I'm up..." I said, though I wasn't sure I'd be able to stay up.

"Does it hurt?" He asked, raising a hand to press the back of it against my forehead and just as quickly pulling it back. "Never mind, you don't need to answer that. Take these."

Too tired to object- he didn't seem to be trying to kill me, anyway- I adjusted my position and held out my hand. He passed me two pills and I stared at them for a moment, trying to remember what to do with them.

"Painkillers." He said, waiting for me to take them and then passing me the water. "Don't drink too fast, alright?"

No matter what Ben said, the mere presence of water made me realize suddenly that I was parched. I swallowed the pills and drank the rest of the glass, placing it carefully on the bedside table and then closing my eyes again, sinking back into the pillows.

~~~

"He says- get this-" Ben said, barely able to hold back his grin. "We're going to get to watch an ascension. Or a potential one, anyway."

I blinked a few times, shaking my head as I looked around. We were entering the living room now. There was a large table in the middle of it, and Ben led me over to our seats, pushing my bowl of oats over to me.

"Is that- are you sure we should?" I said, glancing around to make sure no one else was around to tell me not to cast doubt. "It just... it seems..." I struggled to find a word that wouldn't offend Ben, as dedicated as he was. I soon gave up- he'd probably be offended at any negativity at all.

"... Scary."

Ben shook his head. "Well-" He took a moment, tilting his head. "Well it is scary, yes, but to be courageous is to face fear head-on!" He said. "It's not the absence of fear, but the ability to rise against it and meet your destiny-"

I sighed, staring down at my oats and pushing them around with my spoon. "You really are obsessed with Link. Too obsessed with Link." I mumbled. "No wonder Matt said you could be him."

"Of course-" Ben said. "Matt says ascension is way easier the closer you are to the character. And-" He grinned, looking back to me. My world seemed to sway, blurring together as I looked back to him. He sounded like he was speaking through a tunnel. 

"He says I'm almost ready."

~~~

I was uncomfortably warm, tiredly blinking my eyes open and staring at the ceiling.

I could barely tell reality from the hazy dreams I was having. It would be nice if the dreams were a break from the pain, but the throbbing headache stayed stubborn throughout my dips in and out of consciousness.

"Ben..." I murmured, my voice hoarse as I tried to recall what I'd been dreaming about, closing my eyes again and squeezing them shut. The afterimages of a bright blond boy seemed to be glued to the insides of my eyelids.

"Yeah, [Y/N]? Still with us?" Came a tired voice, and I felt a damp cloth being dabbed at my forehead. "Come on. Sit up. I've got some more pills."

His voice was enough to get me slowly sitting up. I'd normally mind that he had his hand placed firmly on my back, helping me up- but now? I was just too addled to care, both by sickness and the odd sense of unreality I'd found myself in.

"Will they kill me?" I croaked out, taking the glass of water he was now offering me and sipping at it slowly.

"Ha. No, you're not getting away that easily." Ben said, pressing the pills into my hand and watching me closely as I took them.

"Damnit." I mumbled, rubbing at my neck a bit. My gaze flicked over to Ben.

As I blinked, the afterimage of the boy slowly blended into Ben's face. I rubbed my eyes, setting the glass of water down gingerly and staring intensely at him, studying every detail of his appearance before I could fully forget the boy from my dream.

Honestly, they barely looked alike at all. They had a superficial resemblance, but Ben's hair color was both more yellow and less bright- then again, hair darkening with age wasn't anything unusual. He didn't have eyes, but I assumed he probably had at some point given that most people weren't born without eyes. Especially not with glowing red dots in the middle of them. And his eye shape was different, his face shape, but...

"Ben..." I mumbled again. I wasn't entirely certain I was remembering the name from my dream correctly, but if that was the same...

"I'm not going anywhere." Ben sighed. "And I've made sure no one else will bother us either. I- ... Slender's even making you food." He mumbled, glancing away.

"Hope you like a lot of soup." He said.

"Mm." I barely replied. There was a lot more on my mind than soup right now. Thoughts, feelings that I wasn't sure were my own, a piercing headache dear god- if nothing else, I really wished the headache wasn't my own right now.

Ben sighed, staring up at the ceiling for a long moment as if debating with himself, before he walked around the bed and sat down beside me. Not so near that I felt like I should move, but not so far that it felt awkward. He got out his phone, passing it over to me.

"... I could call anyone-" I said, squinting at him in disbelief as he leaned over, opening YouTube.

"You calling someone is the least of my concerns right now." He pointed out. "You'd probably lose your voice or pass out before you could say a thing."

I opened my mouth and closed it again, in too much pain to come up with a fitting comeback. I gladly took the opportunity to put on a video I wanted to watch, though. I didn't care if Ben left out of boredom halfway through, I'd been so bored stuck here, and there was nothing better than watching old favorites when I was sick, home alone.

...

How long had I been here now? How long had I been away from my home? It had been at least two weeks, but definitely more. This was probably the most in-person interaction I'd had in years. Being alone was beginning to feel like a foreign concept.

Ben didn't leave. Not now, and not in general. Right now he was making it his personal mission to point out every mistake in the video, much to my annoyance. But... I'd watched it before, so it wasn't so unbearable.

It was almost endearing.

... I had to get out of here before that thought grew more frequent.

I settled down, watching the video in silence and eventually closing my eyes again. Thankfully, my fever dreams seemed to be dissipating. Thanks to either the background noise or the medicine, I found myself drifting off, comfortably curling up against the source of warmth beside me.

Today had been a bust. Tomorrow we could get back to business. Tomorrow...