Hemlock Grove

Music played throughout the town. It was night, and there was a certain type of buzz. It had been a few days since the death game had been announced. It was strange, the farther away one ventured from The Town of Beginnings the more people embraced the game. It had been a few days, a hundred people died. Either from enemy mob or suicide… It was a dark thought to think that people could just…

The sounds of violins and string quartets embellished a cheery idea, that so many would have had if this was just a simple game. Yet many who had come out here only wanted to move on. As Marcus sat in the tavern, his mind kept wandering to the time in the beta… Dark ice covered spruce trees glared their way down on him, they seemed to lean closer swallowing him into their dark and deadly embrace.

He shook his head. Looking at the cup of tea. It tasted nothing like real tea which angered him greatly. He threw the cup at the wall, letting out a grunt of frustration as he ran his fingers through his thick hair. Getting out of the chair in a storm, throwing it over like a stampeding tornado. He shoved a few NPC's out of the way. Once he was outside he threw the sword sheathed in his holster hard at the wall. It broke shattering into millions of shapes.

"All over a cup of tea. Yeah fucking right."

He knew he would regret breaking the blade. He took a long drawn out breath. Nobody ever told them it would be easy, nobody ever said it would be so hard. Beth let out a soft whine pawing at his foot. He felt compelled to strike the animal, his fist balled into one ready to beat the living hell out off the stupid dog he kicked her once knocking her down, he was ready to strike again. He pulled it back immediately. He fell to his knees, his lips quivered. A single tear formed in his eyes.

"I'm…~! I'm so sorry, Beth!"

A sickly cough escaped his mouth his nose felt runny. He continued to well up. Beth stared at him, for a second he thought she would turn tail and run. She came a little closer, and licked his face. If she died… He'd tell her he loved her more than he could any other dog. She would haunt him for the rest of his life… Her near silent whines made him clamp up. His arms raised and he took his best friend in a searing hug. He heard someone approaching as did Beth. He turned sharply even though people couldn't attack in Towns he had to keep his guard up.

"Blake wants to see you." He was dressed in the standard issue black and purple Belladonna clothing. Marcus never bought into the whole uniform thing, yet he understood the need to represent or the uniform's ability to strike fear, or show that you are part of something bigger. So he wore the standard black; he disliked purple but wore it when necessary.

"Right, I'll be at HQ soon." Marcus got up on his feet, rubbing the tears free from his red, swollen eyes.

He wandered through the streets of the simple town. It wasn't big or anything, it was rather small. A tiny population of NPCs, very few players, completely dominated Belladonna territory. The small town was covered in alchemy shops. It was a hostile and swift takeover. One hundred players throwing all their resources and col into the one town. They purchased all available property and had a sizeable military grip over the region. Of course the guild hadn't been properly established. That wasn't until floor 3. They had a massive party, that was the best way saying it.

Any player who wandered too close was turned back unless they purchased something. So, the strongest players in the game would come round frequently. The reason this location was so perfect. Was because it had an abundance of the very thing the Belladonnas got their name from. The town of Hemlock Grove was in a small swamp where the flower bloomed. So the town often had a shady or murky feel to it. None the less, it was home to them. They sold potions of varying effects, Marcus wasn't a master alchemist but he wasn't bad. He could hold his own with the best of them.

A small wooden fort. Here the Belladonnas HQ was going to be located the more col the guild got the more they would expand. Eventually moving on to the upper floors. While they weren't managing the town and making a profit like other merchant players. They trained extensively, the Belladonnas had a reputation to uphold. They had received word from Scouts that some players wanted to congregate and discuss the First Floor Boss.

"They would obviously make an appearance… for the right price…" Marcus chuckled at the thought. Getting a few dozen able bodies to fight in a boss room was often difficult, but when col is involved thats another story.

As he shoved the gate open, Marcus barged into the main room. Blake was sitting alone in the room. Nobody would come in to see her. She relayed her orders only through female members of the 'guild'. Ever since it was released that she was, in fact, female, and they had all been deceived she refused to show her face to any of them.

"It's been a while, Blake." He sat down in front of her. Her long black hair trailed over her face. Marcus got one good look at her in the arena. From what he could tell. She was gorgeous and definitely not as old as she said she was. She looked rather young, for him to be completely honest.

"And you're not who you said you were." She looked up, she was rather unimpressed with his appearance as a whole, she noticed he wasn't wearing the purple she requisitioned.

"I know. I could say the same for you." He tilted his head motioning towards her breasts. She blushed before smacking him across the head.

"OW!" He yelped rubbing his scalp with a tender hand.

"Shut up! That didn't hurt. You're not wearing the purple I got you." Her voice was so matter of fact and demanding it irritated him. In the Beta, when she was a guy she sounded so cheery and warm… but now. Yea. She sounded like an outright bitch.

"I don't like purple."

"Does it look like I care what colour's you do or don't like. Put it on now." Marcus found it a little absurd that she was already making demands of him, but he did it nonetheless. Once he was wearing the purple pants, he held back vomiting once he saw it.

"Happy?"

"Not quite. We've had a frequent increase in players coming in to trade so thats got me smiling slightly. However. That brings me to why you're here. Your my top lieutenant and your being seen moping around destroying things abusing others. Its gotta stop. I don't care what problems you're going through just fix it. That will be all." She shifted her position turning away from him.

"You can try be more sympathetic you know. People might respe...~" Marcus huffed but was halted by her laugh.

"Sympathy is for the weak who need to be pitied by others to feel stronger than they actually are. Your no baby Makasu, so you can grow a sack and forget your problems with this world. When we fight and get out of here and you never see me again, thats when you can whine and act like a little bitch. Not here. Not when you need to be strong. When others need you to be strong." A classic of hers. The sympathy speech. He fell right into it.

"Anything else?" He asked with an extremely volatile rage building inside.

"Yes. Move as swift as wind, be as orderly as the forest, be as fierce as the flames, and be as unshakeable as the mountain." The famous words of the Guilds motto. It made no sense to him. After all they were practically merchants who rarely saw combat outside the clearing team.

"Yes Ma'am." He bowed courteously before stomping out.

After Marcus' fight with Blake. He did as he was told. He leveled accordingly. Beth leveled with him. Soon, they overshadowed many of the mobs on floor 1. But the time had finally come. A meeting had been called. For all the top players of SAO. The fight for level 2 had come, all of them had been called to Tolbana.

Marcus arrived a night earlier to scout on Blake's orders. She wanted to see if this was serious or just some plot to steal the best gear of the best players. She was cautious and Marcus respected that. Blake would arrive with twenty of the party's best, soon after it started. All he had to do… was watch and wait. He equipped his hood pulling it far over his head. He sat at the amphitheater shaped building, eagerly anticipating its start. A few people had huddled around. Not nearly as many as he thought would arrive. In the Beta almost everyone was here they had to fight for priority on the raid list. But now…. As he watched the amphitheater it was so empty in comparison. He was so focused he barely even registered the blue haired knight begin to speak. It sounded like...

"Yuor all konw wyh uoyr haer tadoy."

Marcus kept his eyes focused meaning his sense of hearing had diminished. Beth did the same by his side growling at anyone who got too close or looked like they were going to disturb its master. His eyes were judging and harsh, he assessed every 'able' body. It wasn't good. Many of these people were one level to low to be of any use. However any help was good help in his mind, so he was thankful for their bravery, no matter how suicidal it was. Illfang the Kobold Lord was no boss to joke about. He was the most difficult of them all. After two and three, they sort of got used to the type of combat they had to employ, as well as tactics.

However these people… They were laying down their lives. Most of them didn't even look afraid. What was wrong with them. Marcus was shivering in his boots, cold sweat dripping down his spine. Even Beth could sense that death was creeping under the bed, waiting for them to close their eyes and accept a slow gentle sleep never to wake up. It irritated him the more he looked at them, so ready, so eager. Cause if they weren't afraid they would fail. Fear doesn't shut someone down; it wakes them up and readies them for the hardest battle of their life.

Someone sat down next to him. She was wearing full black and purple, long black hair trailed out of her hood. Blake had arrived she didn't say anything she was waiting for him to give a full report.

"Not impressed. We have the numbers. They have too much confidence not enough fear, I don't expect a full survival rate, to many under levels. Gear is good for all I can tell they brought the hard core stuff. To many people already going I say just one or two parties of Belladonnas. Two groups of six. Should be enough. If not then we send more in as reinforcements. Agree?" She took a few seconds to ponder his report, she got her own glances of everyone there.

"I agree." She said quietly trying not to draw attention, many people were whispering to each other so it was easy to pass it off as nothing.

"Fear cuts deeper than any of their swords it just hasn't reached them yet." He said this and she looked at him strangely. His nose twitched and she giggled.

"Why did you say that. So corny." She giggled like a schoolgirl, her signature crossed legs emerged again.

"I just thought it was my time to say something deep and meaningful. What did it not work?" He asked.

"Not at all, keep trying though." She punched him lightly on the shoulder. He smiled, she was certainly different from the last time they met.

"Why are you suddenly so…~" She coughed stopping Marcus.

"It was a…. Shark week… then." It took him a few seconds to realise what she meant by that. Making him silent and he shut right up instantly.

"Alright it looks like everyone's teamed up!" The blue haired man was finally audible to Marcus. He tuned in on the conversation only for it to be interrupted.

"Hold up a sec!" A Ginger with spiked hair jumped down from the steps landing at the centre stage.

"My names Kibaou, got that! Before we take on the boss I want to get something of my chest! We all know about the two thousand people who died so far. Yea, well some of you need to apologise to em right now!"

There were gasps among the crowd, but not from Marcus. His face lit up with glee. He loved it when people demanded things of which they knew nothing. This guy was obviously some but hurt player. He wanted to go down there a knock him around and force him in line. He almost got up to do so, when Blake held him back.

"What! Let me hit him once!" Marcus chuckled clenching his other fist.

"If we go round beating up anybody who wants to raise their voice. We are gonna be the ones staring down the end of the barrel in the long run. So sit and fall in line." Blake's words bared some merit, this wasn't the beta test. There were many more players now. They could be hunted down and lynched just as easily as they could do others.

"You win this time. Are the others here?" He figured if he kept himself busy with Blake he wouldn't have to listen to any other frivolous nonsense.

"They are. The rest are waiting for confirmation that the floor has been cleared."

"Have you formed the party?"

"Yeah, I just have one last thing to do." She began fiddling with her menu. He couldn't see what she was doing. But soon enough. The invite bar popped up on his screen.

"You don't want me to lead the other team?"

"No. I want you to watch my back." She stood up, she was walking away. That gave him a rather endearing look at her posterior.

"Can do." He looked away back towards the invite. He reluctantly accepted it.

Night soon fell upon them. The town was ablaze with players. They were drinking and enjoying their time, possibly final moments with each other. And why not good memories before your death, it is always more pleasant to focus on the fun times.

Marcus sat with the rest of his party. They each had a drink in their hand. The thing about alcohol in Sword Art was that it induced the same feeling if somewhat over exaggerated. They were drunk after one drink! And they kept going! They were up to their fifth each. Most had passed out. While two of them remained. Marcus was up to the point where if he kept drinking his health would begin to deplete. So he stopped. The woozy, buzzing feeling, remained. His head was spinning in complete circles with ducks flying around his face.

"Makasu?" A female voice echoed in his head. It rebounded of all surfaces splitting his skull as it continued to drown out into his brain.

"HELLO!" he shouted, trying to pinpoint the location of the voice. Soon enough he stumbled forwards tripping into the fountain. A face full of icy water gave him the wake up jolt. It was as if a taser had been fired shocking his brain back into functionality. However the drunk feeling still washed over him.

"Are you okay?" Familiar brown hair. He reached out cupping her face. He leaned in so close his vision was so blurry he could barely see ten centimeters in front of him.

"Lisbeth! What're you doing her! I mean what's a cuuute girl like yo'self talkin to mwah!" He smiled resting his head into her shoulder.

"Are you drunk? You look ridiculous." Lisbeth tried to push him onto his feet but he had given in and his full weight fell on top of her. She crumpled and soon he was on top of her.

"Kiss yer prince before he go to war!" Marcus screamed into her face. As 'attractive' as this was to her she couldn't help but object.

"Makasu I…!~" She was halted by a swift kiss to her lips. He held on refusing to let go. She was frantic what was he doing! However he slowed down and his violent touch turned soft and sweet. She found herself resting into his loving cradle. Her hands found his arms and she soon guided him to hold her. She kissed him back. He stood up leaving her hanging. However she was soon hoisted upwards as he carried her like a baby.

"Makasu! What are you doing?!" She laughed as he swirled her around sweeping her down the street.

"I might die tomorrow. I don't want to sleep alone tonight."

The demand was strange, however she didn't want to object. The classical romance, all of it, it was so amazing in her mind. When he dragged her into his room at the inn, he slammed the door shut. She squealed when he threw her onto the bed and dove on top of her. But just before anything could happen, Lisbeth was forced to hear the worst thing of all...

"Zzzzzzzzzzz…" His snores rang through her ears. She sighed.

Getting up Lisbeth tucked him into the bed. She smiled as he snored so peacefully below her.

"Well goodbye my Prince." She heard him mumble. She leant in a little closer.

"You can stay here." He smiled grabbing her then throwing her onto the bed, befor passing out for the final time.

"Alright one night. Next time you can buy me something nice." She had a big grin on her face as she began to hug his much warmer body.

Blake looked out onto the stars that surrounded Aincrad. She felt something was amiss. The sky hung heavy like an impending darkness that wished to swallow her whole. She felt the shadows tug at her body, darkened tendrils wanting to pull her into the swirling, ever consuming void. Yet when she looked around she saw nothing. It was just a figment of her imagination. Could she see things in a game? Did people hallucinate when using the NerveGear? Or was she just special?

"Illfang the Kobold Lord… he uses an axe and a buckler for defense. When his health drops below a third he swaps to a long curved sword." She rehearsed the specifics in her head; adapting combat styles to match his, changing one was going to be a challenge.

"Come now, Blake. We've fought him before. It's going to be easy." The hushed male voice emanated from the shadows.

Easy. Sure.

A/N

I accept OC's pretty much unconditionally for this fic. However the extent to which they are used is completely my decision. I have an OC Template on my profile where you can write up your characters, however one condition please don't write their profile's like they are the main character. At best some of them will only get a recurring role, I have to really like the OC for them to get major roles.