Disclaimer: I am not the owner of Rise of the Guardians or Sword Art Online
"Hey, wait up!" a voice called out, stopping Jack and Jaimie on their way to explore the next floor. Jack glanced over at Jaimie for a moment before turning to face the approaching player. He was surprised to see a small group of them actually, including Diabel, Kibaou, and the other guy that had accused him and Kirito of being beta testers.
"What do they want?" Jaimie asked, confused after they had yelled at Jack. The kid stepped closer to the winter spirit, worried over what they would do to them.
"Look, I never got the chance to thank you properly back there. I would probably be dead now if it wasn't for you. You were a beta tester too, right?" Diabel said, smiling over at Jack.
"Actually, no. Kirito was and he gave me the warning that something had changed. I was closer than he was to you, so I was able to get you out of the way just in time it seemed." Jack explained, shrugging.
"Wait, you were a beta tester?" Jaimie asked, catching on to the hint left in Diabel's question. Jack realized it a second later, his eyes widening at the man in front of him.
"That's so cool! How fun was it back then, before all of these weird rules that make it seem so serious? I imagine it was awesome, running around and fighting monsters without having to be afraid of anything." Jack commented with a grin.
"It was, I guess, but it is kind of hard to see it that way now. Do you mind telling me your names?" he asked after a moment, walking with them as they left the boss room.
"Oh, right. I'm Frost and this is Believer. As for the game, you just gotta see the fun in it. It's what games are meant to be, after all." Jack told him, watching as Kibaou followed along with the other guy.
"Look, we were actually thinking of starting a guild now that we were moving further into the game. We were hoping you two would like to join us and be members." Diabel said, watching the other two look a bit uncomfortable with the invite.
Jack had heard of guilds in this game, knowing that a few of them had started to pop up already. He had even talked with Jaimie about starting one themselves, kind of a joke in a way. He still remembered that conversation rather well.
"So, we're starting a guild, huh? Why?" Jaimie had asked.
"Well, duh. This world needs some Guardians and I can't think of a better way to recruit them. It isn't like Manny is here to choose anyone, so we just have to do his job for him." Jack had replied.
"Wait, you want me to be a Guardian?" Jaimie had asked, growing excited.
"Of course, kid! An honorary Guardian of Childhood, we could even make an oath for all members to take and everything." Jack had replied. Jaimie had laughed, shaking his head.
"Nope, we aren't Guardians of Childhood here, we're the Guardians of Aincrad, protecting players everywhere in this world." he stated with a smile.
"Alright, then that'll be our name. Once we get a few more players on board, we'll create the Guardians of Aincrad, together. Then we can start having some real fun!" Jack had replied.
"Well, Believer and I were kind of going to start one of our own eventually. We've got our own idea in mind on how to play this game." Jack told them, wishing they could join. Diabel seemed like a nice guy, even if his friends were a bit rude.
"But we need you! No one else here knows this game like you two do, not even Diabel. Thanks for telling us you were an ex-beta tester, by the way." Kibaou grumbled, glaring over at his friend for a moment before turning towards Jack.
"Uh, we don't really know the game that well. I mean, we are both rather new to MMORPGs in general and we aren't all that skilled. We're just here to have fun." Jaimie said, stepping out from behind Jack slightly.
"Well, if you don't wish to join our guild, how about we join yours? Either way, we still end up playing together, which is what matters in the end." Diabel suggested, watching the other two nod in agreement.
"Alright, but there is something you should understand about our guild idea. It's more about enjoying life in the game, rather than beating it. We're here to have fun, and help others do so as well. As long as you're okay with that, I don't have an issue with you joining." Jack told them, watching them nod.
"Oh, and those guys need to understand that beta-testers aren't any different than the rest of us. We are all trapped in here and working towards the same goal. It isn't fair to be mean to them because they got to play the game in the past." Jaimie added, pointing towards Kibaou and the unnamed player.
"Yeah, I guess you're right there. Sorry for yelling at you earlier, we just got scared when we saw how close Diabel came to dying. He's our friend in real life too, believe it or not." the stranger said. "I'm Aki by the way, pleasure to meet you." he added after a moment, shrugging.
"Believer and I are friends in real life too, so I get it." Jack told them, grinning over at Jaimie.
"Wait, so we are really starting a guild?" he asked with a grin, while Jack nodded and grinned right back.
"Yep, just time to make it official. Oh! We forgot about the oath!" Jack said, realizing they hadn't come up with it yet.
"Oath? What oath?" Diabel asked, confused over their actions.
"Right, well our guild is going to be known as the Guardians of Aincrad, based on a….club of ours back home. There's this whole oath we go through to join…here let's try and come up with it now." Jack said, rubbing the back of his neck. It was an important thing for the Guardians to take that oath, so it had to be important for guild members here too. He wasn't going to let it slide, not in any form.
"So, will you three, Diabel, Kibaou, and Aki vow to watch over the child-er, players of this world? To guard them with your life—their hopes, their wishes and their dreams, for they are all that we-ah no, that won't work. Hmmm, Believer, you've heard it before, you have any ideas on how to finish it?" Jack asked, turning towards his friend.
The kid thought about it for a moment before smiling and nodding. "For we are all in this together, it's all that we have, and all that we will ever need." Jaimie finished, grinning over at the winter spirit.
"I don't know about this…it sounds kind of serious…." Kibaou commented, running a hand through his hair as he heard the oath. Aki was frowning as well, realizing that these two players were serious about their words.
Diabel was the first to nod, stepping forward towards Jack and Jaimie. "I will. We all will, to help free us all from this death game." he said seriously, watching Kibaou and Aki slowly start to nod in agreement.
"Yeah, he's right. We've got to keep the others safe, there's no way we can win if too many players die!" Aki added, while Jack sighed and shook his head.
"You guys really need to learn to lighten up. I'll show you eventually, I guess. Anyway, welcome to the guild, honorary Guardians. Now we just have to make it official in the game." Jack told them, smiling as he formed the new guild. It seemed like he was taking Kirito's advice as well, joining with some friends to play together through this world. Maybe Kirito would join when they met next, it would make it so much better having him around too.
This was the start of their small guild, one that ended up growing rather steadily. Jack was surprised at how many Guardians joined in this world, people simply looking for a place to relax and have fun. Jack was able to help them through the game, leveling up other players and showing them how fun this world could be. It really wasn't that different from real life, after all. It felt real and they could do almost everything they could do in reality here, so they could all live happy lives in Aincrad. "Hey! Frost, right, remember me?" someone yelled out, interrupting Jack one day as he was helping someone learn how to fish.
A few more floors had been cleared by this point, opening up more quests for people to take. Kleine was approaching, making Jack's eyes widen. He hadn't seen the man since day one and Jack was happy to know that Kleine had survived this long. Besides, Jack was relieved to have a break from this. Fishing was boring for Jack, since it involved sitting around and being patient, two things he never really liked doing.
"Kleine! How've you been? Have you seen Kirito around?" Jack asked, curious. Winter was approaching soon, so Jack would be in his element once more it seemed. That would be when he reserved his time for Jaimie, having snowball fights and sledding on anything they could find in the game. He would make it just like back home, no matter how hard it was. They would laugh like they did on snow days, and they would even bring along the other guild members to show them how to enjoy it. Jack found it funny that they had even taken to calling Jack the Guardian of Fun in here, just like his title back home. They understood him well enough to guess his center, even within the game.
"Nah, but I've heard a ton about you lately. You're the leader of the Guardians of Aincrad, right? The one they call the Guardian of Fun?" he asked, watching Jack nod and grin over at him.
"That's me. We're just enjoying the nice weather while it lasts, learning to fish and relax right now." Jack told him, watching his guild member smile back at his friend.
"I think I'll head to my house now, though. Thanks for the help, Frost!" the man said, putting away his fishing rod and leaving.
"Anytime, it's what we're here for! Don't be afraid to ask for help, especially if it will make the game more fun for you in the end." Jack told him with a grin. He was figuring out how to do his job within the game, cheering himself up as time went on. Jaimie was happy for him too, even though it made him busier than normal. They were still high enough level to fight on the front lines, but Jack tended to sit back and help others instead of joining on boss fights. Not only did he want to keep Jaimie away from them, but he also didn't want other players feeling left out.
"I've been looking all over for you! Your guild is amazing and my friends and I all wanted to join. I met up with them back in the Town of Beginnings, but to be honest, we haven't really been able to get very far on our own. We're still only about level twenty, to be honest." Kleine said, grinning as he rubbed the back of his head.
Jack smiled over at him, standing up and nodding. "Sure, but you all have to take the oath first." Jack told him, walking over to Kleine who frowned slightly at Jack.
"Oath? Oh, I heard about that, but I thought it was some kind of joke. You really make all players swear an oath before joining your guild?" Kleine asked, while Jack nodded.
"Of course, it is what makes us who we are. Besides, Believer helped me come up with it so I'm not leaving it out anytime soon." Jack told him. "Alright, so will you, Kleine, vow to watch over the players of this world? To guard them with your life—their hopes, their wishes and their dreams— for we are all in this together, they are all that we have, and all that we will ever need." Jack said, using the most serious voice he could manage. Even so, he found himself laughing after he finished, thinking that he did a terrible impression of North. It just wasn't him, so he failed miserably every time he tried to swear someone into the guild.
"What's so funny about that? It sounds serious, like a big deal, man! Gosh, I mean I guess I don't have a problem with helping others out, but guarding them with my life? You really expect us to die for others in this game?" Kleine was saying, actually taking this promise more seriously than some of the other players Jack had met.
"Uh, sorta. I mean, it's more about helping them out, making sure they're having fun and enjoying things here in Aincrad." Jack told him, watching Kleine nod.
"Alright, then I guess I'm in! Don't worry, I'll make my friends take the oath too, Frost! Then we'll all be part of the Guardians of Aincrad!" he cheered, rushing back into town.
"Hey, I'll go with you. I'm meeting Believer in town anyway." Jack said, getting up and following after Kleine. He had something to talk to Jaimie about, something strange that had happened recently. No one could find out about it, not when it could drastically change the rules of the game. Even Jack was afraid of it, worried over how it might change his experience here.
"Really? That kid has made it all the way out here? I'm impressed, most of the kids his age are still back at the Town of Beginnings." Kleine commented, while Jack nodded.
"That's where they all are? Maybe I'll stop by and see if any of them want to join. This game can be really fun once you figure out how to play it." Jack said, walking by his side.
"Nah, let them be. They're better off down there, where they are safe from monsters and the stress of this death game. Believer is already out here, so I guess there is no harm in keeping him around, but it is dangerous to keep going. The game will only get more challenging as we move up from here." Kleine commented, watching Jack nod.
He knew it would change eventually, that people were getting too happy and hopeful for Pitch's desires. He was still waiting for the moment when something changed, when he found a way to strike fear into everyone's hearts once more. Many players were still afraid, players that Jack couldn't reach. He had helped many of them, but he couldn't do as much here as he could back home. He wasn't magical here, so it was tough trying to be a Guardian in this world. "Our guild isn't playing this game to win, we're playing it to have fun. You're right that things will get harder, but for now we should just enjoy our time here." Jack insisted, while Kleine nodded in reply.
"Maybe you guys have the right idea after all. Keeps your spirits up as you keep going through the game, at least. I rather like your style, Frost." Kleine commented, while Jack grinned right back at him.
They had finally arrived at the town now, where Jack would see Jaimie for the first time this week. He made sure to keep track of where the kid went, though he was typically spending time with Diabel and other guild members lately. Jaimie was waiting right at the entrance of the town, grinning wildly when he saw Jack at the entrance. "Frost!" he yelled, running forward and hugging him tightly.
Jack stepped back, a bit surprised at first, before returning the kid's hug. "Hey, it's good to see you too, kid. Remember Kleine?" Jack asked, pointing over towards his companion. Jaimie nodded, smiling over at him too.
"Hey! You joined the guild!" Jaimie said, noticing the symbol by Kleine's player icon.
"Yeah, me and my buddies are all joining the Guardians of Aincrad! Now that I've found Frost, anyway. Glad to see you're still around too, kid, I was worried for ya when I realized how young you were." Kleine commented, watching the kid simply smile back at him and laugh.
"Yeah, I guess I am a bit young for this game, but I've got Frost here to keep me safe. With the guild now, I've got a ton of players helping me out too, so I'm never really alone in this world. Oh, speaking of which, Diabel is in town too. He wanted to see you again and talk to you about possibly going after some special event boss in a few months." Jaimie said, grabbing Jack's hand as they began walking further into town.
Jack nodded, keeping his smile on his face even though he wouldn't get to tell Jaimie about what had happened yet. Maybe another time would work, when they were alone. The kid was really the only person he could trust with it anyway, the only person who understood what this game really was. No one would believe him anyway if he started saying that the boogeyman created this game to make everyone afraid. They were all teenagers or older, unable to believe in fairy tales anymore. "Special event boss? I'd like to get in on that one, sounds like fun. Plus, you'll need a warrior like me around to take it down anyway." Kleine commented, clearly boasting his own skills. Jack almost laughed at him about it, but decided not to. He wasn't going to offend his friend by doing so, so he simply smiled and kept walking.
"Sure, you can meet Diabel with us after we go see your friends." Jack told him, moving quickly through the town.
It didn't take long to get Kleine's friends into the guild, so they quickly went to the café where they were meeting Diabel. "Frost, you're here! I see you've brought a new recruit with you as well." Diabel said, seeing the third member of their group. Jack nodded, sitting down across from the blue haired player as he joined with the other guild members here.
"Yeah, this is Kleine, just took the oath today along with his friends. Looks like we're getting a ton of Guardians in this world right now." Jack commented, giving Jaimie a slight knowing look since they were the only ones who understood how exclusive this club really was. The kid laughed slightly at the joke, before glancing down at the table uncomfortably.
"Right. Anyway, I've heard a rumor going around about a one-time event that didn't even happen in the beta. Apparently, on Christmas Eve there is going to be a special event boss for us to beat." Diabel said, while Jack's eyes widened. Christmas Eve…dealing with Pitch Black…Jack already could see where this was going. The twisted maniac was going to make the players kill North! Even if it wasn't real, Jack was feeling uncomfortable with the idea.
Jaimie noticed the change in his mood, frowning slightly over at Jack. "Frost, what is it?" Jaimie asked, watching his gaze turn towards the table.
"Just a game, don't worry about it. I have a weird guess about who the event boss will be, that's all." Jack commented, focusing back on Diabel.
"It's actually already been released. His name is Nicholas St North, AKA Nicholas the Renegade. He'll show up under some fir tree and it is our job to find it. He drops an incredibly rare item from what I've heard." Diabel added, while Jack had stilled. Jaimie had started coughing on his drink, spitting it out as he heard the name.
"North? The boss is North?" he asked, his eyes going straight towards Jack.
"Relax, kid. He isn't here, he's back home remember? You know how busy he'll be around then, anyway." Jack said softly, still gazing at the table. Pitch would make it as realistic as possible too, trying to destroy North's image for anyone in the game that still believed in Santa. He would likely fight with two swords, be large and intimidating, just like the real deal. Jack could see it already, the idea forming in his head. He really didn't want to fight against North, not even if it was a fake version of him.
"Wait, what's wrong?" Diabel asked, confused at his companions' attitudes.
"Yeah, it's just an event boss. It's not like he's gonna be as hard as any floor boss we find in this game." Kleine added, noticing their grave looks.
"We'll help you guys level and prepare for the battle, even help you find the tree, but I think Believer and I will sit out on the final battle. We actually have a friend that goes by the nickname of North, it just feels way too similar. Especially with how crazily obsessed our friend is about christmas." Jack explained, knowing that he couldn't tell them the full story.
Jaimie nodded in agreement, shuddering slightly. "Man, I can't even begin to imagine it. Fighting against North? He's almost as large as Bunny!" he said, getting strange looks from their friends.
"Your friends have some strange names, Frost. Regardless, we won't force you to join the battle and we would be grateful for your help." Diabel said, nodding to his companion. They soon got up and went their separate ways, but the event stayed in Jack's mind throughout the night. Pitch Black was going to destroy each of the Guardians within the game, he was certain of it. North was just the beginning. It wouldn't be long before they faced the others, all in the concept of just defeating some special event boss for a rare item.
I'm a bit tired tonight, but I am kind of excited for where this story is going. Sorry for any mistakes I missed as a result, I did try and edit the best I could at the moment. For anyone interested, I did create a Facebook page for my account. The URL is listed on my profile.
This story isn't getting much feedback...as much as I personally love this story, it helps to know that others enjoy it as well. Reviews are much appreciated, and at the moment, I only need two more on this story for you guys to get weekly updates (Sadly, I'm not getting much feedback on any of my stories, with the exception of Cursed Love). Even if you have something you see that needs improvement, I'd love to hear from you.
