This is the story of a girl. This girl lives in America, has a nice and pretty well off family, and just loves games. She just never expected anything like this.

Prologue

"You got the Nerve Gear Helmet?!" the two eldest siblings in the Drake family cried out their shock in unison, as their parents pulled the large box out of its bag. The two younger children heard that and in curiosity, moved closer to see as well. Together they almost blocked the box from view and started knocking over the youngest children while doing so. They quickly froze and apologized though, seeing the look the eldest shot at them.

"Yep! Since you kids have been doing so well lately, both in your school work and house work," the father said smiling; though if it was from the scene he just saw or the happiness his kids showed it was hard to tell. "Your mother and I decided to buy everyone a gift. But that'd cost too much so we bought this."

The kids laughed and giggled and the mother, from her place on the couch next to the box, then spoke. "This is just like with the Wii 3. You all take turns and if we hear any fighting it is turned off. The usual rules." she said. The kids all nodded and said they understood while the oldest out of the bunch, Gabrielle Drake, was looking over the box.

The mom stood up and headed for the stairs, the dad following. "We're going to bed. You kids figure out who goes first on your own."

"Quietly." The dad added.

As the parents disappeared up the steps to their bedroom the Drake kids all started talking at once. Each of the older kids wanted to play with the helmet first but since that's impossible they had to pick who to go first.

Gabrielle watched as her siblings bickered and just rolled her eyes. While she was happy her family now has THE newest in gaming, she didn't really care if she went first or last. But the fighting was getting annoying so Gabrielle cleared her throat loudly. "Hey!"

Once all 6 of her siblings turned to her and zipped it, she smirked. "I know how we can choose who goes first. Rock, Paper, Scissors Off. Whoever wins then gets to go first."

There was a short pause then everyone agreed. Gabrielle paired everyone up and, with herself included, started the game that has stood the passing of time. The game only took up about 4 minutes of their day but the winner was surprised. "Well what do you know? I guess if you don't want to go first you end up first." Gabrielle said with a smile while her siblings pouted. She stood and picked up the box.

"I'm going to set it up in our room," Gabrielle said referring to her shared room with her four sisters. "Laura, please keep them under control and I'll be down in about an hour, hour and a half, two hours, eh."

"You better not be up there for two hours!" Laura said though the smirk on her face showed she wasn't as serious as she sounded. "If you do, I get to go for two hours next."

Gabrielle shrugged and turned to the steps. "Sure, whatever." she said with a wave of her hand. She walked up the stairs hearing her sister turn on the TV. Once she reached the top she turned into her room and after slipping the box inside she gently kicked the door closed. She put the box down on the carpet and opened the box.

"Hmm, cool." Gabrielle muttered to herself as she pulled out the helmet. After looking it over she put it on her bunk and reached into the box again and pulled out the instructions.

"OK, first I plug the helmet in. Duh."

Gabrielle pulled the cord and plugged it into the wall outlet.

"Now I install the game." Gabrielle slipped in the game and started to turn when a loud ding hit her ears. "Already? Wow, that's some scary-fast installment. OK, now I just have to put the thing on and 'configure my body specs into the game to insure total accuracy and flawless movement.'"

Gabrille slipped on the helmet and for the next half hour followed the instructions. From moving her arms up and down, to her legs, to bending and touching her middle. She also had to do quite a bit of finger and toes moment. To the point she started wondering if she should do some Tutting and see what'd happen. The last thing she saw made her wonder jokingly if the helmet was reading her mind.

"'Can you dance? If so; please do a quick 2 minute dance to finalize the configurations. If not, just slip the helmet off.'" Gabrielle read and she sighed. "What am I gonna be doing in this game? Yeesh..." After thinking about it, Roxie figured 'what the hey' and after clearing a space turned on her music player and did some Hip-Hop dancing. When the time was up she smiled panting a little and slipped off the helmet. "I'm gonna get some water. Then play this game."

Gabrielle left the helmet on her bunk and quickly run to the kitchen. Once there she found Laura making herself a snack. "Huh? What are you doing here?" she asked when she saw Roxie come in.

"I'm not old enough to leave yet; you know that, silly." Gabrielle joked as she got a small cup from a previous Friday's trip and filled it with water.

"Hardy-har-har. You know what I mean, goof." Laura said with a roll of her eyes and a smirk. Gabrielle chuckled and took a big sip of the water. She told her she just spent the last plus half-hour just getting set up. "What? Wow, now I'm not too interested in going next. Not saying I don't want to, but a half hour?" she said a bit incredulously.

Gabrielle shrugged and chuckled again. "Well, that just gives me a better chance to play longer. So if ma and pa ask, I only just started playing, OK? See ya'."

Roxie went up the stairs with pep in her step, and humming under her breath. As she closed the door she her phone suddenly vibrated. "Hmm?" Gabrielle pulled out her phone and pulled up the text app. Her face quickly lit up and after fixing up her hair a little and checking her face Gabrielle pushed the Call button. After a moment a males' face appeared on the screen.

"Hello Gabrielle! Siblings leaving you alone for once?" he asked smiling. This male specimen was very good looking, even with that kind of silly beard he had started growing. He had white skin which was a little tanned from all the outdoor sports he does, dark brown hair that was as close as Ryotaro Tsuchiuras' hair as humanly possible. He was tall for his age which was mostly thanks to his mother. And he is Gabrielles' best guy friend.

"Yep! And guess why?" Gabrielle smiled back as she climbed on her bunk on top of the bunk-beds she and Laura shared.

"Why? What happened?" he asked curious. Gabrielle put the phone down and after a drum-roll held up the helmet. "Whoa! Are you serious? You have a Nerve Gear Helmet?"

"Yep! Ma and pa just got it today. Isn't that great?" Gabrielle said sounding proud.

"It's more than great, its' perfect! I was texting you to tell you that my parents bought one too!"

"What, really!? That's awesome! Now we can meet up in the game." Gabrielle said feeling excited now. "Although, if it puts us in different servers we won't be able too."

"Aw don't be so negative." he joked and laughed at Gabrielles' 'hey!' "Look, I just finished setting this thing to my body movements. Have you?"

"Yep, just did like eight minutes ago. I was thirsty."

"Well then how about we go in at the same time? That way we have a better chance of meeting up."

"That might work." Roxie said rubbing her chin with the smile slightly teasing. "When did you get so game-smart?"

"Ha-ha. Oh, and have you picked out your avatar?"

"No, not yet."

"Tell me when you do. Give me some details and when we go inside the game I'll try to find you."

"Good idea, though you do know there's bound to be loads of other girls using the avatar I pick."

"Hmm, true. Then how about this; I'll ask you a secret phrase. First I'll ask your name, and then I'll ask the phrase. IF you respond then you'll know it's me. Sound good?"

Gabrielle nodded smiling impressed. "Great idea, Mr. Karate master. Ok, the name I choose is Roxie. One minute as I put this…thing on," she said as she slipped the helmet on her head and started it up. First she made her account and then went to the avatar list. Thankfully it wasn't full of set avatars like one online site said and Gabrielle enjoyed picking out her new look; even adding a few inches to her height. Afterword's she told her buddy and then after he made his own the two picked a phrase. It was:

"I have something important to tell you."

"Ok, ready?" Gabrielle said as she fixed the bed to make herself comfortable.

"Ready! See you in the game, Gabrielle."

"See you Ethan." Gabrielle hung up the phone, slipped on the helmet, and entered the world,

Of Sword Art Online.

WaterToa Notes.

!Hola! Hi everyone! Yep, a new fanfic. My muses decided to take a long trip around the world and when one came back with a mild sunburn I got a, pardon the pun, burning desire to write a fanfic for SAO, my new favorite anime. :) My other story muses are sadly still on vacation but they have sent replacements so more stories may be on the way. Oh, and one more thing.

I decided to wait to read the SAO fanfics on here until I have more of my own story on here. I don't want to copy and I don't want to end up changing my ideas or anything. So if you see anything that seems copied, just know I didn't intend it to be.