Dot HackLegend of the Crimson Guard

Vampwriter

Alrighty then! In chapter one we were introduced to Twilight, a newbie Long Arm. When her classmate is unable to join her in "The World" due to personal reasons, she is taken under the wing of Roan, the Blademaster. He showed her the ins and outs of "The World", and Twilight caught on quick, reaching level seven on her first day. Over a week has now passed.

Chapter 2

A Meeting of Friends

Twilight stood off to the side out of the way as she waited for someone to arrive. In her hand she now holds and level 8 Bloody Lance. Her armor consists of a level 12 Hunter's Hood, level 7 Ring Mail, and she used items she saved up to trade for level 22 Smith's Gloves and level 17 Snow Panther.

Her classmate, the one that was supposed to be with her the first day, was returning to "The World". A week ago her aunt had been injured after having a heart attack and was taken to the hospital. But her aunt was very strong willed and wouldn't go easily. Within three days she was downgraded from critical and two days later woke up. After two more days in bed, her friend told her, she was trying to get out of bed and generally cursing up a storm. However no one in her family cared. They were just glad she was alive.

A trio of rings descend as someone else shows up. Finally, she had arrived. "Hey, A-20! Over here!"

A-20 is a female Twin Blade, for those of you who've never seen the original Dot Hack. She wore a pink outfit with zigzags and polka dots all over it, and she had short hair. Her face was most notable, as she didn't seem to have a nose and her eyes looked like slits. She looked over in the direction from which the call came and saw Twilight standing to the side. She smiled and waved at her friend as she walked over.

Twilight and A-20 hugged. "I'm glad you're back," said Twilight.

A-20 nods, "Good to be back." They walk into the crowd. "So where are we going?"

"To meet with someone," was the only answer Twilight gave. She sent an email ahead to make sure Roan was ready. The response came a second later. "Excellent," she said quietly.

"You say something?"

"No."

A-20 looked skeptically at her friend for a moment but decided to let her keep her secrets. It was evident she was planning something for a surprise.

They arrived at the head of and alley way and Twilight checked to see if anyone was watching, then A-20 squeaked as Twilight grabbed her and hauled her down it. Twilight stopped before a door and knocked once. Another Long Arm answered the door. "Ah, Twilight. The others have arrived." He made way for them.

Twilight nodded, "I know. I mailed him as we approached."

He simply nodded in response as Twilight and A-20 entered and he closed the door. The three entered the main room to see several others in the room waiting. There were two Wavemasters, a male and female, a male Blademaster, another Twin Blade, male, and of course the other Long Arm.

A-20 looked around the room and was quite impressed with the group. "Wow, you guys look well prepared," she said. Around the room were weapons and equipment, each organized by class.

Twilight smiled, "Thanks, glad you like it." She looked around the room making eye contact with each person until she had everyone's attention. "Alright everyone, I'd like you to my friend A-20," everyone says hi, "A-20 I'd like to introduce my party. The one who let us in is Lance, the Twin Blade's name is Raider." Indicates Wavemasters, "Over there we have the twins. The boy calls himself Rip Tide; he pretty much uses water spells, but balances them with some good fire armor with backup wood spell. His sister's name is Pyre. She's his exact opposite. She uses fire spells with water and earth as backups." She turns to the Blademaster, "And this is our leader, Roan. He's the one I mentioned who showed me "The World"."

A-20 and Roan shake hands, "Thanks for getting her started for me."

"Your welcome," he said, "When she told me what happened to your aunt I felt I should help since there are far worse people a newbie like her could have met."

"You're right," A-20 nods, "There are people out there that would take advantage of a newbie."

sweatdrop "Well that didn't happen, now did it?" asked the girl in question.

They all get a good laugh out of her embarrassment.

"Alright," said Roan, "If we're through with the formalities, what say we go on an adventure? I know of a dungeon with some great items in it."

The vote is unanimous. They gather up the items and supplies they would need and head off for Theta Server Highland City Dun Lorieag. They accessed the gate and headed off to an area called Inferno Fortitude Lava flow, a high level area. Because of Twilight's current level they all knew that they would have to keep an eye on her.

They arrived in a large valley moments later and each scanned around for any threats. One of them activated a fairy's orb and the others gathered around to study the map. There were several portals scattered around the field that they would need to visit. So over the next couple of hours they ran around the field and visited each portal.

Twilight stayed just inside the combat zone so she would gain exp. After a few battles she threw in with others and fought. Rip Tide and Pyre made sure to look after her so she wouldn't get killed.

After battling every monster on the field they rested outside the entrance of the dungeon for about half an hour to rest and heal after the last battle they had been through.

A-20 walked over and handed Twilight a Green Tea she had brought with her.

"So how you doing?"

Twilight accepts the drink and drinks half of it down. "Pretty good actually." Takes another sip. "And you?"

A-20 shrugs. "Eh, I can't complain." She drinks another Green Tea.

Roan gets up from his perch and stretches. "Well, I guess it's time to hit the dungeon. Let's go."

Everyone finished off what they were doing and fell in behind their leader. As soon as they entered the first large room in the dungeon they were immediately set upon by a group of monsters. They alternated fighting parties every few battles, keeping it to at least five people to keep things from becoming to confusing.

Twilight was fighting especially hard. For some reason as they descended into the dungeon she started acting funny. She was methodically steering them toward the exits leading toward the lower levels. When questioned about her persistence she said she felt like she was being pulled toward the lower levels by something strong and she had little choice in the matter.

So they progressed through progressively harder battles as they descended to the final level. The group entered the chamber that Twilight directed them to and stopped half way to an alter at the other end of the room. There before it was one last portal.

Twilight motioned for the others to hang back and approached the portal. As the portal triggered Twilight moved into ready position. The creature was revealed to be… a Thunder Wyvern of all things.

"Stand aside beast, or be destroyed!"

The Wyvern looked at her for a moment, as if it was sizing her up. She took this opportunity to cast Ap Vorv on herself to increase her physical defense to protect from its physical attacks. When it attempted to charge at her Twilight dove under the Wyvern and took a slash at it.

Twilight made sure to keep behind it while attempting to form a plan to defeat it. Twilight suddenly felt extra power flow through her and looked to her friends. Several of them were using various magics and scrolls to increase her physical and magical powers.

The Thunder Wyvern attempted to hurl a bolt of electricity at her, but thanks to her magic defense increase combined with a light increase nullified most of the damage. Twilight countered its attack with a darkness attack of her own, her physical and darkness increasers adding to the damage. Twilight backed off and used a darkness scroll she had with her.

As the battle went on Rip Tide and Pyre healed Twilight and restored her SP when it got to low. Twilight unleashed her only level three OrmeAni Zot scroll, and as the claws shot out of the ground the Wyvern finally met its end.

Its body vanished and the treasure chest appeared on the alter before them. She sat down for a moment. Twilight stared at the box.

'Is whatever's been drawing me here in that box?'

A hand on her shoulder broke her out of her thoughts. A-20 was looking at her worriedly.

"Are you okay?"

Twilight nods tiredly, "I'll be fine." She looks over at the chest on the alter a short distance away. "Now lets find out what's been dragging me here."

The others came up as A-20 helped Twilight stand. They walked over to the alter and stared at the chest. Twilight points her spear at the chest to make it open. A bright light shines out of the chest as it opens, forcing the others to shield their eyes for a moment.

The light dies down and everyone turns to see what has been revealed. Floating there is a golden glaive measuring eight feet in length; the pole is about six and a half feet, and the blade is another foot and a half.

"Who seeks me?"

Everyone jumps at hearing a rich female voice in their minds. Twilight answers,

"Who are you?"

"I am known as the Twilight's Glaive. Are you the one who bears the name of Twilight?"

She nods, "I… I am she." Twilight stutters.

They could almost swear that the glaive nodded in response, "Good. Then you are the one I have sought for so long, 'He or she who posses the name of Twilight shall be granted a gift of the Twilight Dragon.' So it was written, so it shall be done."

The light flashed again, but this time it focused on Twilight herself. Runes appeared on her armor and clothing, her armor likewise turned gold and her clothes red. Finally the glaive floats into her hands as the light dies down. For a few moments she stands there looking like she's slightly perplexed as she looks at the alterations to her original character design.

Raider slaps her on the back, breaking her out of her inspection. He laughs, "Well this is sweet! You look so cool!"

She looks happy for a moment before an image crosses her mind's eye and her face falls again. "Yeah, I suppose."

Without any warning she suddenly logs off the area, leaving the others to wonder about her sudden change of attitude.

Raider looks at A-20, "What was that all about?"

She shakes her head, "I don't know, but I intend to find out."

The group logs off and heads back for Mac Anu.

So what's up with Twilight? We'll have to find out in the next episode of Dot HackLegend of the Crimson Guard.

That's it for now. Please R&R, look forward to some good responces.