DISCLAIMER:
The stories in the "Celebrity" section of Literotica are all fictional parodies - none are true, nor are they approved of by the celebrities named in the stories. Authors write these fictitious stories about famous people for the same reason that Larry Flynt made fun of Jerry Falwell, because they can. The Supreme Court of the United States, the country where this site is located, has ruled that parodies involving famous people are perfectly and totally legal under the United States Constitution. The specific case law on this was decided in the case of "Hustler Magazine, Inc. et al. v. Jerry Falwell" in 1988. No harm is intended toward the celebrities featured in these stories, but they are public figures and in being so, they must accept that they are fair target for parodies by the public. We believe in the first amendment, and more broadly, in the basic principle of free speech and this section may push the boundaries of that principle, but the United States Supreme Court has approved of this type of material. We believe that the Supreme Court was correct in their decision.
Author's Notes: The characters of Rubiss, Gwaelin, Lorik, the monster archetypes, and the world setting are not my creation. This is fanfiction, and I have put my own spin upon the DQ world in this story. No toe-stepping or offense is intended.
This story picks up where my previous stories in the chain left off. You’ll want to read VR:DQ4, VR:DQ2, VR:DQ3, and VR:DQ5 (in that order) to know the whole story. Hope you like it!
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The featureless sky above was unnerving, devoid of clouds, sun, or any other feature that should be there. The dull gray made me feel like I was inside some sort of dust-covered snow globe.
I could see well enough, but the lighting gave the impression of a late fall overcast, chill and gloomy despite the warmth of the air. The grass was much the same color as the evergreens, a deep green so dark that it was hard to tell where the shadows ended and the boughs began. The sea and mountains I could see were equally bland and almost lifeless looking.
I tightened a couple of straps on my magic armor and sheathed my flame sword, thinking that the somewhat mournful overworld theme running through my head fit the place perfectly. After visiting the other bright and welcoming DQ worlds full of life and beauty, this one was a sharp and disheartening contrast.
I’d already seen several slimes and even a few red slimes, but the creatures had shied away from me. If I remembered my last save in the game properly, I was on my way to the final battle in the SFC remake of the game. I couldn’t translate more than a little of the Japanese, but I knew the original game so well that I’d had little trouble finding my way. Thus, the monsters were fleeing from me exactly as they would have the hero in the game.
I could see the town of Brecconary and Tantegel castle a short distance away. Both looked far more like dark ages fortresses than the cities and castles of the other DQ worlds. Turning toward the sea, I could see the black basalt specter of Charlock rising from the swirling mists. I could just make out the one bright spot in the world, the Rainbow Bridge.
The old man had hinted that I was supposed to go to Kol, but I really wasn’t looking forward to the long hike around the mountains. The place was depressing, and I felt exhausted for some reason. Turning back toward town, I decided to stop off in Brecconary for a beer or three and a rest.
The streets were paved with crumbling stone and lined with buildings constructed of whatever the occupants could find. A few substantial structures of stone lined the road, but most were made of wood, and some were little more than rude shacks.
The people looked as downtrodden as their town. Everyone moved slowly from place to place with their heads down, and few spoke or acknowledged the others they encountered. Once I stepped into the inn, I realized that the tiles in the game had left out a lot. There were actually several rooms in the inn, and a small drinking area with a bar. A few townsfolk sat around nursing their brew silently, but I did see a few listening to a flute player with faint smiles on their faces. I grinned as well, recognizing the tune he played as the town theme of the game.
“Welcome to my humble establishment, good traveler. Do you seek a place to bed down, perhaps?”
I turned to the innkeeper and nodded. “I need a beer and a bed something fierce.”
The innkeeper’s smile spread far wider, and I could see hope in his eyes. I assumed that he probably didn’t get much business to the tavern, and even less from people seeking rooms. I tried to remember the cost of the inn from the game, and then doubled that. I still had more gold coins jingling around in my bag than I knew what to do with, so I figured I might as well spread the wealth.
“Good Master, this is...”
“What I’m paying you,” I said, cutting him off. “Just take it.”
“You are most kind. I will endeavor to make your stay here the most grand you have ever experienced.”
“I appreciate it,” I responded, taking my room key from him.
I walked over to the bar and took a seat. The flute player was now recounting the legend of Erdrick. I knew it well enough, considering I’d played through it in DQ Three several times. He linked the current descendant of Erdrick to the story, trying to drum up hope amongst those listening.
I dropped a coin on the bar and ordered a beer, chuckling as the barkeep bit into the coin before staring at it in wide-eyed surprise. I turned back to the minstrel telling his story, and something hit me. I knew I was in the SFC version of the game, because I’d been able to discharge a fireball from my flame sword as I chose my equipment. The minstrel was referring to the characters and places in the game by the familiar U.S. localization terms, though.
“Your mind changes things around to make you more comfortable,” a voice I knew all to well said from behind me.
I turned toward the old man with a sigh, wondering what he was going to pull on me this time.
“They aren’t even speaking a language you could actually understand. It’s part of the magic.”
“Thanks for the heads-up. I suppose you’re here to try to shuffle me off to Kol. Well, go fuck yourself, old man. I’m staying right here.”
The old man waved his hands in front of him in a gesture of mocking fear, and then scoffed before saying, “I’m here for the beer. You’ll go exactly where you’re supposed to go.”
“Yeah, whatever,” I grumbled, purposely turning away from him as I finished my beer. When I glanced back over my shoulder a little while later, the old man was gone. A look around the room didn’t reveal him anywhere.
I shrugged and ordered another beer. A little while later, with a good buzz on, I dropped a couple of coins in the minstrel’s hat and headed for my room. Just like hunger is the best sauce, exhaustion is the softest mattress. I fell asleep almost as soon as my head hit the scratchy pillow.
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I awakened to cries of alarm, the sounds of a fight, and a drakee furiously beating its head against the window of my room. Fortunately, after so long practicing, I could pull on my armor as quickly as any soldier in the DQ worlds. I managed to get dressed and get my sword ready just as the drakee burst into the room.
With little room to swing my sword in the tight confines, I resorted to a maneuver that had served me quite well on numerous occasions. I blocked the screeching bat-like creature with my shield, constantly batting it toward walls. Finally, the critter was in the perfect position to smash it hard against the wall with my shield.
