It felt surreal.

Waking up as a mobile dungeon core. While before I floated round the inner space of the storage pendant, now I am the pendant.

Being a rock was strange when you've spent more than a decade in a human body. It was more strange when you consider whose neck you're hanging from.

On the other hand, as she walks, I move up and down, which is... disconcerting. Not much of a problem when I couldn't feel it, but now...

Darn it, I really wish I was reincarnated into a golem or something, that way I'd get to keep memories, and get a badass upgrade that does not involve me bouncing helplessly around the princess' neck.

But- But- But- But it didn't take me long to figure out some of my newfound dungeon abilities. And guess what? I can manipulate the surroundings using my mana. And I have a shitload of mana. Getting more of it? Not a problem. Just gotta make sure I don't blow myself up.

Though, I have to wait for my mana to saturate the surroundings before I can do anything. And that is very difficult while I'm moving. So I stopped trying. Instead, I wait for the princess t stop.

And wait. And wait. And internally scream. And wait some more.

Finally, after what seems like hours (In reality, just twenty minutes), the princess finally stops. At her palace. The one the king made just for her. How do I know that?

Sometimes I get a little bored. So I then resort to keeping an eye out. Literally. Or as, well, something without eyes can do that anyway.

Point is, I learnt a lot. The city is one of twelve, and each has a prince or princess governing it. Whoever's city is best, gets to become the next Queen/King. The king himself only gives advice to his children, and only steps in when needed. Other than that, he is very kind, from what I've heard. He spend most of his time going around the cities, and helping in small ways, that amount to a lot.

The princess- the one I'm stuck to doesn't like her father. They had some fight about the princess not wanting to live up to her responsibilities (Or so I heard, cause from what I've seen, if she ain't sleeping, eating, or well, shitting, she's working) and wanting to run off in some fanciful dream of adventure.

Anyway, I have to say, I admire her determination, but I think she's just burying herself in her work to not think about something. I don't have much to go on, so I can't say for sure what that something is.

Occasionally, I see a shadow of depression on her face, before she seals it up with that cold look she so often has.

I can't say I'm not worried, but I don't really want to intefere. I might end up making things worse, since I don't really know what the problem is.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

In the end, I decided that we both needed a friend. Me, because even though I'm anti-social (And a bit of a jerk), I don't want to die without anybody remembering me. Again, that is.

Also, because as much I might deny it, I know that I tend to get lonely as well sometimes. And god only knows how many problems I got.

So yeah, having a friend would be nice.

"Hey." I say, startling her.

She was sitting on a (Overly, in my opinion) decorated couch, her head on her hands, and a farway look in her eyes. I recognize that look. It's one I've had many times before.

She jumps and looks around, searching for the intruder.

She'd heard me talk before, of course, but that was in the storage space. Also, I had spoke with a thick and obviously fake accent, but it was good enough to make sure she couldn't recognize my real voice.

"The necklace." I say.

She blinks and looks down.

"Huh?" She says. "How?"

"It's complicated. Thing is, I wanted to ask you something."

She frowns, expecting the worst. Or so I think. I have no real idea about what's going on in that head of hers.

Yup, this is my ingenious plan. Not as if I had tons of experience to go off of.

"Can you be my friend?" I ask.

Her eyes widen in surprise, not expecting that. Well, if a blue rock named Blue ever asked me if I could be it's friend, I'd have been surprised too. So, no surprise on that.

"Oh, um... yes. I mean, yes, I can. I me- I can be your- your friend." She stumbles over her words as she says it. Surprising, considering she's a princess who handles negotiations with people that could blow her to pieces if they wanted to, on a daily basis.

"Great!" I say, with fake enthusiasm.

I wanted to let her guard down, here. It'd make her more trusting of me in the future, and also forms a more steady relationship. I'm guessing. In reality, all I thought was, 'if I acted like a little kid, how likely was she to decline?'.

And that's my plan. Or something like it, because I have intentions of acting like a child through out our friendship. So I decided to go for, 'vulnerable lonely boy'. It's killing me.

But, well, if I let good 'ol me take over, things will go from nice and cozy, to WWIII in an instant. So, no go on that.

Her eyebrows raise in pleasant surprise, a small smile tugging at her lips.

"I know I have a lot to explain, but... I think you're looking a bit... worse for the wear right now, so maybe tomorrow. And also, take us to a spot that has no people around for miles. Oh, and don't worry, I'm not going to kill you, in case you were wondering. I just want to show you something... amazing, I guess. So? What do you say?"

Her mouth was partially open, still reeling from all that I just said, digesting it.

She clears her throat.

"Of course. But first, introductions. We may be friends, but we do not even know each other's names."

"Oh, right, I didn't even think of that. I'm Blue, nice to meet you."

She smiles.

"Blue? Very well, Blue, I am Princess Avin. It is nice to meet you as well. "

"Great! Well, you should know that you can sleep safe, with me watching over you now. Not that you wouldn't be safe, with all the guards and all, just that I'd be watching over you. And it's not even a problem, since I don't sleep. Oh, and the person you've been talking to before this conversation? That wasn't me. Well, it was, but not the real me. That was... well, you know what? I'll explain it tomorrow. You look like you're going to fall off your feet at any moment, now. So, you should go to sleep, and like I said, I'll be looking out for you, now that you're my friend."

She blinks slowly, smiles, and then stumbles off into her bedroom, and jumps onto the bed, and closes her eyes. A minute later, her breathing has turned more even, and she's deep asleep.

Then, two figures enter my perception. They're cloaked, and are carrying daggers on them.

Fuck. Cliche' assassins. What do I do?