Lost Ground: Dead World of Indieglut Lugh
A group of people stood at the edge of the lake. These were normal players, not involved with anything beyond their own free time. They frequently came to this area to relax, watching the beautiful glowing white tree.
"I gotta get some homework done…so let's head back."
"Alright boss."
The third just nodded silently.
The three of them got up to leave, when a fierce blue light shone behind them. They turned around and stared at air above the lake, where a glowing blue orb slowly descended.
(Play Sonic Adventure: Event- Strain)
The water beneath the lake churned and bubbled.
"Uhh…Boss?"
"Grein…this isn't normal is it?"
The large man just shook his head.
"B-Bordeaux! What's going on?!"
"Shut it Negimaru!"
A pillar of water shot into the air, engulfing the orb. The water twisted and swirled like a tornado.
"Holy shit…"
A pair of glowing green lights appeared inside the twister.
"Hey…are those…eyes?"
The green eye like lights seemed to narrow as the area rumbled.
"What the hell is going on here?!"
Suddenly, two glowing blue claws shot from the watery twister. The left one slammed into Grein.
"Grein!"
The big man gurgled as he was disintegrated.
The right one shot for Bordeaux.
"Look out!"
She was shoved aside by Negimaru…who couldn't get himself out of the way fast enough. The claw shot straight through him. He started disintegrating as well.
"Bordeaux…"
"Negimaru! You idiot! Why the Hell did you do that?!"
"You're…my friend. I couldn't…stand losing you a second time."
"Friend? You IDIOT! I'm not your-
"You are…to me…go…get out of here…before…before it's too late."
"Dammit…you bastard…fucking dying on me…" She stood up angrily, glaring at the twister. "I'll get you back for this you son of a bitch! Nobody PKs my followers but ME! You hear me asshole?! NOBODY!"
The twister glowed blue again and shot out the claws. She dodged out of the way and ran to the platform. She warped out just as one of the claws slammed into it. After she had been fully transported away, the eyes closed, and the twister faded back into the water.
The second gem had appeared.
Trials of a Goddess
Chapter III: Awakening of Water
It had been three days since the encounter and ensuing battle with Kira. Zefie, Alkaid and Aura were recovering steadily. When Alkaid logged out from The World that day, she found her real self wearing horribly burnt clothing. Of course, that caused her to have a momentary breakdown, but she recovered from it, and trashed the clothes. A couple days later her parents confronted her about it, having seen the wrecked outfit in the trash.
(Play Final Fantasy VIII: SeeD)
She explained to them that once again, she was involved with a massive event within The World. They argued that for her safety they would prevent her from playing, but she fought back, stating that the stability of The World, and possibly the entire Net itself was at risk.
"Do you remember Shinzaki Zero?"
"Yes, he was that boy you were friends with years ago, wasn't he?"
"He died recently."
"Oh my!"
"But that's not all; he died while playing The World."
"All the more reason to-
"No! You don't understand, his mind…his mind is IN The World! His body here is dead, but the same thing that knocked ME into a coma happened to him, only he was alone at the time, and his body stopped working. His mind is in The World, and it's been trapped inside a giant stone. I have to help get him back, no matter what!"
"But Chika, we can't just-
That was when the unexpected happened. A brilliant red light erupted from Chika's chest, surprising all three of them.
"Wh-what is…?"
"The light of Courage…"
The two women turned to the lone male.
"Well I'll be damned…my daughter holds the Light of Courage…"
"Father…you know what this is?"
"An old legend I read as a child. Humans were created with six brilliant energies. Courage, Hope, Wisdom, Intelligence, Purity and Desire."
"Desire? I thought the last one was Honor."
"You know of the legend?"
"Well…Zero…"
"Ahh, I see. Yes, I understand why he'd be confused. True Honor IS rare these days…but no, the last energy was that of Desire. Legend states that whosoever controls all six of these energies, is granted power rivaling that of a God. For centuries, when the legend was created, humans warred over the power, each one attempting to claim it as their own…however, they learned that it wasn't material, it came from within. Thus they gave up their efforts, and shunned such things, considering it weak and useless."
"Dear, how did our Daughter come to hold this power then?"
"Zero…"
Both looked at her.
"He…he had this power…all along."
"What do you mean?"
"When I met him…well, not WHEN I met him, more like, a year after we became friends…he told me of his…condition. His mind was fragmented…split into seven pieces."
Her parents looked confused.
"He wouldn't go into detail…just that something happened to him not long before that that caused him to split his thoughts seven ways. Well, each one embodied a different aspect…each one being the same as the legend Father speaks of…"
"You said his mind…was trapped in the game? The same way you were trapped in a coma?"
"Yes…only his wasn't as a result as a malicious attack…it was an accident made by one of the original AI of the game, Morgana. She wrote a program that would use the first person to find her's character data as a stepping stone to be reborn…but Zero…he lived alone…and for weeks he was left unconscious without food or water…and his body died…while his mind was trapped."
"That game…"
"I know it's dangerous…but for some reason his mind fragmented again…or at least…something happened…maybe he's recovering and they've returned to protect him…"
"Who?"
"His Guardians…this light…this energy…belongs to Alkaid…my character in The World. We fought the Guardian of Flame, Kira, a female Kitsune placed in charge of protecting the Ideya of Courage."
"We?"
"Alkaid, the AI 'Goddess' Aura…and her Daughter Zefie."
"And that is why…"
"Why my clothes were burnt? I guess so…Alkaid WAS hit with a good few attacks…but…I don't think anyone knew…that it would transfer over to the physical world…"
"I see…it would seem we have no choice in the matter."
"Father?"
"You are determined to bring him back? At any cost?"
"Yes…"
"Then you must do so. You hold the Light of Courage…it shall protect you."
"But- what if-
"She will be fine. Notice that the only things that were burnt at all were her clothes."
"Yes…His Guardians can't Data Drain…or anything similar…so my mind and body will be safe."
"Though I will request that you keep us updated on your progress…"
"Why, you thinking of playing too?"
"This online game…The World…it sounds…interesting…to say the least. I'm not as young as I once was…as much as my mind may wish it was…so perhaps…in time…you…and your friend Zero…can assist two old timers in joining you in your efforts."
"Eh, why not? With them combined Zero and Aura should be able to stave off anything that threatens The World…we just have to get him back first…"
"What is your next goal?"
"I don't know…The others told me that the Crystals appear when they want to. So we're waiting for the next one…it's funny…I was the first one to find the Ideya of Courage…it appeared right where I was sitting…thankfully I knew Zero…or Kira probably would have roasted me right off…gave me a weird gem too…"
"A gem?"
"Yeah…a small orb, much smaller than the Ideya…she said it was part of two…"
"Agni and Rudra…"
"What?"
This time Chika and her father turned to her mother.
"The Legendary twin blades…one of flame and one of…something. Nobody was certain what the second blade was made from. It varied between Ice and Wind."
"Sweet…Alkaid's a Twin Blade…that weapon would be PERFECT for her…"
"It would seem that way."
"Wicked…alright Xenmaru…Alkaid's coming to help!"
"Xenmaru?"
"Ahh…Xenmaru is Zero-kun's character name…"
"Interesting…"
"What is?"
"Don't you see? His name means 'Circle of Zen.' And if you were to place two circles right next to each other…"
"You'd get a crude Infinity symbol…"
"Wow…Zero-san must have put a lot of thought into his name."
"It looks like he did…now I'm even MORE interested in getting him back!"
"Then go, and be safe my daughter."
"I will…thank you mother, father…for supporting me."
"The Light of Courage will protect you."
"Yes…it will."
The World…
"Dammit where is he?!"
Bordeaux had been spending the last hour looking for Haseo. She checked his Guild Shop, and all of the Root Towns, even the Arena, but no luck.
That's when she saw them.
"Alright Kuhn…we've got to report back."
"HEY!"
Atoli and Kuhn turned.
"You two! You're Haseo's friends right?!"
"Bordeaux…what do you want now?!"
"Take me to Haseo!"
"What? Why do you-
"Dammit woman, don't talk, do it! I need to see Haseo!"
"Look, we don't have time to deal with you, we're busy!"
"It's fucking important dammit!"
"Kuhn, let's bring her with us."
"What?!"
"What?!"
"She sounds like she's telling the truth…"
"How do you-Oh…right…you can hear it can't you?"
"Yes…"
"Alright…but try anything funny…and you'll be dealing with something that makes AIDA look like child's play."
Bordeaux gave a small shiver at that thought, but composed herself and joined the party with them.
"I hope you know what you're doing Atoli."
"Trust me."
Theta: Restoring Lover's Dream
"So…did anyone find anything?"
"Not a thing…"
"Nope."
"Sorry Aura."
"Damn…"
"Well, Kuhn and Atoli are still out there."
"Yeah, maybe they-
The two warped in.
"Hey you're back! Did you-
A third orb appeared.
"B-Bordeaux?!"
"Fucking finally! Do you know how long I've been looking for your sorry ass Haseo?! You're never around when you're wanted dammit!"
"I-you-what?!"
"Look…I hate to ask…but I need your help with something."
"I'm not letting you PK me-
"THAT'S NOT IT YOU IDIOT!"
He fell back in surprise.
"Grein…and Negimaru…we were attacked by this…tsunami."
"A what?"
"Some fucking big blue ball just showed up and made something attack us!"
"A…big blue ball?"
"Another Crystal!"
"Where did this happen?!"
"The Dead World of Indieglut Lugh."
"It must be Chaos…the Guardian of Intelligence."
"Who the what?"
"Long story, not much time."
"Alright we've got our next target. Morgana, set the view screens-
"WAIT A FUCKING MINUTE!"
Everyone stopped and turned to Bordeaux.
"What the FUCK is going on here?! What the hell was it that attacked us?!"
"We've GOT to stop doing stuff like this…"
They explained what was going on.
"Son of a bitch…"
"My thoughts exactly."
"Alkaid!"
"Sorry I'm late…had to do something really quick."
"Right…so who's going?"
"Well I will…"
"Alright so Aura..."
"I would like to try my hand at this."
"Ovan…"
"I'll-
"I'm going too."
"What?"
"That fucker did something to Negimaru and Grein! I don't know if they're fucked up or not in the real world, but either way it killed my fucking partners, I'm going."
"You can't-
"Fine."
"Aura?"
"She has a perfectly fine reason for going. Ovan has his Avatar, and I'm…well…Me, so she'll be fine."
"Damn right I will."
"Alright, time to head to the Lost Ground!"
Before you summon a lynch mob (which would only be mowed down by my army of ADR's…and if you understood what those are, you fucking kick ass.) I'm gonna tell you this chapter was NOT what it was originally. I had planned for an interlude like chapter where Aina showed back up, Alkaid's and Aina's Ideya reacted and showed the group how Xenmaru earned the Ideya of Courage…but that wasn't working too well, so this ended up writing itself.
I hope I portrayed Bordeaux's personality right…she strikes me as a rather vulgar person…much like Tayuya in Naruto…
Wolfy: School? Blegh, school sucks. Useful for a while, but then it just craps out on you…like an early 360. Can't sleep? Blind yourself with flashing lights and colors at night. DDR helps with that. Or read. A lot. Tax your brain enough and you'll conk right out. And yeah, now that you mention it, Alkaid DOES have a fox tail belt…
TheAzureDolphin: Well, I hope this clears up which Chaos you meant…and if you still don't get it…there's always next chapter. Best bait? My brain isn't working that well right now, mind explaining?
PirateCaptainBo: Don't feel stupid, I never come out and say that "this music fits here." I just command you to play it. End of what indeed…
Yamimaru: Green is indeed wind.
So that's one for Blue and one for Green…same question, green or blue. Yamimaru and AzureDolphin have selected theirs…everyone else…PICK GODDAMMIT!