Huh, it's only been two months since I announced by hiatus? That's crazy, it felt like so much longer...probably because the last real chapter went up like a month before...
Anyway, hey guys! I'm back! Now before we get into today's (hopefully) good chapter, I'd like to address a few things.
Firstly, thank you guys so much for all the kind words and support of the update I made in January. Hearing so many kind words was honestly heartwarming. I can't express what it meant to me, I never could. All I can say is thank you :)
Another thing, if you guys for one reason or another stalk my profile, you'll know I wasn't exactly "gone" from my FT fic, which has been getting a lot of updates since around the time I put this story on hold. So if any of you feel cheated, allow me to explain. That story has been "completed" for a while now. At least on paper, I still need to write it all out. It's not hard for me to get the words flowing over there, even when I was having trouble in school.
And then...There's Partners. Partners was so much harder to get the words down for, even when I know where I want to go. The following is also five times larger then my FT fic, meaning there's a lot of pressure to not mess it all up. Plus there's the whole Kirisuna debacle, going places that the canon has not explored, and ALO which is hard to make not suck...
It's hard guys :(
And this difficulty I was having placed me in a rut. I couldn't get the words to flow. Top that off with my exams coming up (at least when I updated last) and I was in danger of failing a few course and then I'd have to retake the year... But after the near miss on that front, I've decided to tackle this again! And I intend to finish it god damn it!
Also FYI, if you're reading this after March 13th, 2016, the update was deleted, don't worry about it :)
So, for the first time in, what, three/four months? Enjoy!
February 28th, Frost Zone
The cold would've been unbearable if Kirito was an actual human being. But, he was just an avatar in a game, so it wasn't that bad.
As he and Asuna trekked through the snow storm in their attempt to find the Leprechaun capital, Kirito was given time to devise a strategy as too what he was supposed to say to the Leprechauns to convince them to fuel the Spriggans and Undines with weapons to help the Sylph and Cait Sith fend off the Salamanders. It wouldn't be an easy task, far from it, but in the end Kirito hoped it would be worth it.
Kirito stopped as he bumped into Asuna.
"What's the matter?" he asked her, looking at her. She had a small smile on her face.
"I think I found it." she answered, pointing ahead, Kirito followed her gaze to what she had found. There, in the distance, was what appeared to be a gigantic factory. It had smoke stacks pointing high into the sky and billowing out smoke, and the windows warm glow were a stark contrast to the frozen wasteland everywhere else Kirito looked.
"I'm no genius," he said. "But that looks like a capital to me." Asuna nodded.
"We're almost there, so what are we going to say to them?" Kirito started to walk next to her, pondering this as he thought.
"First off, we should establish we're here peacefully, not some kind of two person scouting party." Asuna nodded, and then kept her hair out of her face as the wind whipped it around.
"True. From the looks of things they might think we're using the war in the west as an excuse to march north to take more land."
"Exactly, so if we just tell them we're here on behalf on Iris and Orist, they may be more inclined to listen to us." Asuna frowned.
"I hope we make it in time." She said, looking down. "From the way that battle went a few days ago, I'm not sure how much longer the Sylph and Cait Sith can hold out." Kirito nodded.
"We'll have to hurry, yeah. Not hearing from Leafa isn't very soothing either, so..."
Before Kirito could finish his sentence, a metal cage sprung up around them.
"What the hell?!" He asked, reaching for his sword. Asuna was ahead of him, hers already drawn.
"It's a trap." She said. "And we walked right into it!" Kirito swung at the bars, but his sword resounded off of it uselessly. A few more attempts later, but he had still not made any headway with the cage.
"Well then," Asuna said, "Now what?" Kirito shrugged.
"I don't know. I suppose we..."
"Hands up!" Kirito looked over in the direction of the voice to find a squad of players coming out of the darkness. They had mechanical looking wings, and were carrying weapons the designs of which Kirito had yet to see.
Leprechauns.
The man in front of the group came up to the side of the cage.
"We don't have anything against Spriggans or Undines." He told them. "So just turn around and we'll pretend we never saw you, okay? You get to live, and no one finds out a scouting party got sent up here."
Kirito knew this was going to happen. They were unannounced, after all.
"No no, you've got it all wrong." He said, keeping his hands up. "We're not a scouting party, promise." The man didn't seem to buy it, so Kirito just laughed. "I mean really, a scouting party of two people? Seems a bit pointless."
"You'd be surprised." he answered. "So promise to leave the Frost Zone, and you can leave."
"We aren't leaving." Asuna said. "Because we aren't scouting. We want to talk to your leader. Can you take us too him?" This seemed to raise red flags among the group, but they needed to get through.
"Why?" He asked.
"Because we want to talk to him about your neutrality." Asuna answered immediately. "Is that possible? or will we be subjected to more shakedowns along the way?" The man seemed to be thinking what Asuna said over, before he looked over at Kirito.
"Title?" he asked. At first Kirito was confused, but soon he realized what he was talking about and pointed up. His name and Ambassador title showed up there, making the man's eyes flicker in acknowledgement. After staring at the both of them for a moment longer, he sheathed his blade.
"Hand over everything in your inventories." He said. "Weapons, that is. We don't want any trouble."
"Alright, just keep calm." Asuna said. After the two of them had handed over anything the man deemed a weapon, the cage around them collapsed. The man turned in the direction of the factory looking building, and motioned for them to follow. Walking after the man, flanked by the other four Leprechauns, the group went silent. Kirito could understand the hesitation, obviously. They didn't want to get involved, but understood the risks of playing neutral for too long with decent amounts of land.
War was war, after all. Even if it was virtual.
February 28th, Erilea
As soon as Asuna and Kirito stepped foot inside the capital, all eyes were on them. Which was a given, seeing as they were the only two here not of the Leprechauns.
As Asuna followed their guide through the city, she took a moment to look at the spectacle that was the Leprechaun capital, Erilea. From the outside it looked like a factory, but on the inside there were houses lining the streets and the smoke stacks led into the ground or other buildings.
"It's pretty." She offered their guide, but she didn't get a response. Maybe he didn't think so. He saw it often, after all. As they walked, others looked at them, pointed, and whispered. The paranoia the races in ALO seemed to have made Asuna so confused. What had the game been like before when the Salamanders hadn't started a country-wide war for power?
"You ready?" It was Kirito speaking to her, but in a low tone so the man guiding them wouldn't hear him. "We weren't given any info on their leader, so I don't know how he'll react to the offer of aligning with us."
"Okay." Asuna said. "I'm ready for anything." Kirito nodded and smiled, before placing a hand on her back.
"We'll do it together." he said. "So don't worry." Asuna's heart fluttered in delight, but she shook him off.
"Don't look suspicious." She said. "They're already eyeballing us." Kirito nodded and stepped away, which allowed Asuna to calm down. She really needed to get her emotions in order, and what Iris had said to her a few days before were not helping matters any. Soon, their guide stopped walking, so Kirito and Asuna did the same.
"This is his office." The player told them. "Are you ready to meet him?" Asuna looked over at Kirito, who nodded at her. She turned back and nodded herself.
"Yeah, we're ready." The man nodded, and then scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"I really only asked because he's a bit eccentric..."
"Huh?" Asuna asked, but he shook them off.
"Noting, nothing." He opened the door to the building, which allowed Asuna and Kirito in. They followed him down a very long hallway which, at the end, had very metallic looking door. The Leprechaun knocked.
"Tair-san?" he asked. "There's a Spriggan and Undine here to see you, sir..." There was silence, before the man nodded slowly and turned to them. "He'll see you now." He told them. Nodding, Asuna took charge and opened the door, walking inside the office.
Inside, behind a desk and looking out a window overlooking the Frost Zone, was a man. This man looking incredibly bulky, wearing what looked to be a business suit outfitted with armor plating. He had a bushy black beard to match his black hair, and he turned to look at them as they entered.
"Ah!" He said, a smile growing on his face. "Our visitors from the East! How are you?" Asuna was a bit startled by the kindness."
"Ah, w-we're okay." She said. The man laughed.
"Of course! Sit, sit!" Asuna looked over at Kirito, who shrugged, looking just as confused as her. They both sat down in the chairs opposite the man, who leaned back in his own.
"So, what we came to talk about was..." Kirito started, but the leader waved him off.
"You must at least introduce yourself first, young man!" He said. "We are meeting for the first time after all!" Asuna made a face. This guy wasn't exactly what she'd been expecting. "I'll go first, if you two are shy. My name is Tair, and I'm the leader of the Leprechauns." Asuna cleared her throat.
"My name is Asuna, and I'm an Ambassador from the Undines." She said.
"I'm Kirito." Kirito followed. "Spriggan Ambassador." Tair let out a belly laugh.
"It's very nice to meet you, Kirito and Asuna! Now that that is out of the way, what may I ask are you two doing so far North? And looking for me on top of that?" Asuna cleared her throat.
"You see Tair-san, we came here to..."
"Wait! Let me guess!" Asuna stared at Tair in shock as the man started to think. "Ah! yes of course! That must be why you're here!"
"Um..." Asuna tried, but Tair was already standing up and walking for the door. Both Asuna and Kirito followed after him, wondering just what it was that he was doing. He strode down the hall and took a left in the lobby, towards another door. he pressed a hand against the door, which caused it to glow and open up.
What looked like an elevator greeted them once it did.
"What are we doing?" Kirito asked. "Where are we...?"
"In we go!" Tair said, shoving both of them inside. Both of them stumbled as they did so, which resulted in Asuna's back hitting the wall. Kirito soon followed suit, but at least tried to stop himself.
He ended up pinning her against the wall, his face mere inches from hers. They stared at each other in shock, heat rising to their faces.
"...S-Sorry." Kirito said, slowly backing up. Asuna's heart was racing.
"...U-Uh huh." She said quietly.
Tair didn't even seem to notice what had happened.
"Wait until you see this!" He said. "It'll blow you away!"
"See what?!" Asuna asked, already feeling short tempered after nearly touches foreheads with Kirito. "Where are we going?!" Tair just laughed.
"You shall see, my blue friend!" he replied. Asuna brushed herself off and waited, albeit impatiently, for the man to show them whatever it was he assumed they wanted to know. Soon enough, the walls were replaced by glass panels, allowing the three of them to look outside the elevator.
Asuna' breath hitched in her throat as Tair laughed.
"Behold!" He shouted, holding out his arms to display it. "The Leprechauns Blacksmith and Mining facilities!"
Asuna was in disbelief at the size of it. There were so many Leprechauns making weapons at countless different forges, all of them working on all sorts of different weapons. She assumed the aforementioned Mining took place lower, but she could only assume how impressive it looked.
The elevator stopped in what appeared to be a walkway above it all, and Tair stepped off. Asuna and Kirito followed suit, and the man stopped to overlook the operation.
"We have all of our best blacksmiths working down here." he said. "On some of the best weapons and armor outside of a legendary drop."
"Wow..." Kirito whispered. Asuna couldn't help but agree. It was quite the impressive operation to be sure.
"Why is it all underground?" Asuna asked. "Surely it was a hassle setting everything up." Tair laughed.
"Not at all! Some of the strongest minerals in the game are deep in the earth! So putting everything down here with the best blacksmiths pumps out the weapons as fast as possible! But don't misunderstand, oh no, there are plenty of normal forges above ground! These are just for the race storage in case of trouble!"
So, in short, that meant the best of the best was done here. Asuna could see why the allegiance of the Leprechauns meant a lot to Iris and Orist.
"How many weapons do you produce on average."
"It varies. But usually a few hundred every day!" This kept sounding better and better for them. All they needed to do was convince Tair to help them defend the Sylph from the Salamanders, and the war turn in their favor. Tair turned and began to walk back to the elevator, so Kirito and Asuna followed him, not wanting to get left down there.
Once they were back on the ground level of the office, Tair began to walk back to his office, And Asuna leaned in to Kirito.
"That was a lot of weapons." he said. "We really do need their help."
"I know." He whispered back. "Now question is, how do we convince him?"
"He seems a bit..." Asuna didn't know what word she could use where she wouldn't sound like she was insulting him. "...Weird. It may not take much, or it may take a lot. I don't really know." They were back in the office, and Tair sat down to smile at them.
"So, what did you think?" he asked. "Pretty damn impressive, huh?" Kirito nodded.
"Very impressive." he agreed. "Can we get down to business now, Tair-san?" Tair made a face.
"I thought you wanted to see our forges." he said. "Was that not what you wanted?" Asuna resisted the urge to face palm. Why would they go the whole way up here to look at the forges and leave? if anything that'd make them a bigger scouting party then anything.
"No, it isn't that, although it amazing." Kirito said, keeping a level head. "What we wanted to ask you was if you'd be willing to at least consider an alliance with our races, the Spriggans and Undines." Tair's facial expression flickered, but the still looked confused.
"Why?" He asked. "Our neutrality was decided when the Salamanders started this war."
"I'm sure you're aware," Asuna said. "But the Salamanders are moving in on Swilvane. The other races, at least ours, are rallying to try and stop them before they can gain too much leverage." Tair just stared at them. "And we want your support and items to help us fend them off of the Sylph capital."
"Interesting." Tair said, now seeming much more serious then before. "You want us purely for our weapons and armor?"
"Who said that?" Kirito asked immediately. "We need the support of every race, because the Salamanders are so big. If they get Sylph territory, it'll put pressure on the smaller races, such as yours. And if the Cait Sith lose to many good fighters to the death penalty, then they'll be under pressure to surrender as well."
"Basically," Asuna continued, "We want your races help in keeping the leverage to our side and forcing the Salamanders back where they belong, which is their own territory. And if they refuse to become peaceful, possible take them out." Asuna really did hope it didn't come to that, but the possibility was there." Tair ran a hand through his beard as he thought about this, making Asuna feel a little nervous he'd refuse.
"You make a compelling argument, Ambassadors." He said. "This would be a hard sell to my people, you understand. None are very interested in fighting."
"Completely understand." Kirito said. "Iris and Orist said the same. But we need you, Tair-san. We need your support." Tair closed his eyes and hummed quietly, still thinking. Finally, Tair looked up at them.
"I will think about your proposal." he said. "However, I have something to ask of you, Ambassadors." Asuna made a face.
"What is it?" Tair turned and looked out his window.
"At the very north of the map, there is a metal." he said. "One we have yet to acquire. if you were to retrieve such a metal, it would greatly help sway my people to help you."
"Okay..." Kirito said. "Where is it?"
"Hm...No, saying it is a metal would be inaccurate." Tair continued. "It is ice." Asuna frowned.
"Ice?"
"Yes. At the heart of a glacier in the sea to the North, near the edge of the playable map, is where it sits. An ice that can be molded into the ideal weapon. Very strong. If you two were to retrieve it, I would consider it a great debt we would need to repay."
"And you'd repay with your services?" Asuna finished, Tair nodding.
"What do you say?" Asuna looked over at Kirito, and they looked at each other quietly before they both smirked.
"Just show us the way, Tair-san." he said. Tair smiled.
"Thank you. It is directly north of here. You will see the Glacier floating off shore. Go now, I assume we need to make haste to help the Sylph's" Kirito and Asuna stood, and turned to leave the room. As they did, Asuna wondered how they were to find the Ice Tair wanted. Glaciers were made of it.
"Kirito, Asuna." Both stopped and looked back at the Leprechaun leader, who looked dead serious. "The North Sea is very dangerous. Only the best players ever return alive. Please be careful." Both of them nodded, and Kirito smiled.
"We've survived a lot of things, we'll be fine."
If only Tair knew how true that was.
See, now this is so much better than what I had before, two months ago. Again, I'm so sorry for the wait, and I'll do my best to bring you all regular updates! And as always, I hope you enjoyed! Leave a review!
