A/N: What do you do with a lazy writer, what do you do with a lazy writer...

Been way too long, guys. Hope you enjoy!

January 6th, 2023

-Garr

Their faces hid beneath brass lids, eyes masked by an industrial green glow from goggles of rippled glass. Pitching my back against moistened brick, a lingering dark and roaring depth left me only a vestige of bronze to observe. In this affair answers were currency, value they wished to force out with an obscene promise lest I reject.

"Where is the Mechanist?"

My chilling lips pressed together, leaving only faint breaths audible for their hungry ears. Pyrrhic this was, as a set of shaking hands robbed me of a tough cover, my own digits baring white backs. They weren't fooled, their fingers tightening around my collar as masked chuckles escaped them.

"I'll repeat myself," my captor's observer said, "tell us right quick, or they swim."

Fingertips numbed as they clung to mortar, muscles coiling as I stared back at their blinkless eyes. My wrists leaned against bindings of metal, its frame a single piece of bolted chassis. It all moved so slowly, a brush with hardened clay reminding me how tangible this was. Moisture poured down my stiff back, this was not a dream.

"Buddy, be real. Is one Mechanist really worth all your friends? You were an escort, right? We're just looking to sanction."

A soggy smell had overpowered all other senses, some mixture of algae and fish refuse lingering like an infection. Who these 'men' were was beyond me, none of their equipment shared traits with any player I've met, except one. My tongue curled back, its bed dry as eyes stared back.

"Something's not adding up," my captor said, "What does he look like?"

I shook my head, glaring at them as they kept close formation. Cowards, it's so easy to maintain eye contact when one's shield protects them. One chin rose among these thirsting jackals, a set of vacuum tubes clicking in place over their mask as I tugged feebly at restraints. Others turned pieces, a hiss of heated air barely escaping pipework.

"Hunt, how long till it opens?" one asked, "can hear it peeping."

"Eight minutes, plus or minus thirty."

They looked back to me with a patient, knowing inflection.

"Garr?!" I heard from within deeper pits, "hurry! Please!"

My muscles caved as legs curled, their sinister green lenses all I could clearly perceive.

"Garr, tell them! Please!"

"You better spill it," one said with a shrug, "the fish won't care as much as we do."

No reply left my lips, only a wavering stare. Haru let these dogs loose on me, telling them I knew where their "Mechanist" was. It was Rika they wanted, either her or what gift she held. How they knew of her presence, I could only guess the archaic beacon she activated. The priest who would not be named must've set them on their trail, should've dealt with him. Water crashed against walls past my own, groaning eagerly with a low slosh as my eyes fogged.

"Garr!?"

My heart slowed as their voices reached with unseen hands, their calls irking me to spare them. These were my friends, all of them to differing extents. Kuradeel had helped me since the beginning, teaching me the art of basic swordsmanship. Graye was Oran's best friend, and even if he was critical of me, I much preferred honesty over empty platitudes. He meant everything with the deepest desire for peace, how could I possibly fault him? My heart beat slower, my stomach tightening.

"What's your connection to the Mechanist?"

Graye never meant me any true hostility, I could see it from every meeting. Oran, what were they doing with him? Had they already killed him? My world shrunk, sight depreciating as shaking worsened. Leafa, Kirito's family member was back there. She wasn't pleasant towards me, though unlike Graye never admitted her reasoning. Family, the most valuable thing of all for an ideal person was thrown in for barter. My throat clamped with an instinctive, rejecting reflex.

"Three minutes, tick tock."

"Garr, what're you waiting for?! Please, I'm sorry! For everything!"

Haru sounded off, but no past grievance could warrant this, not in any sane world. I've known Haru since my first days in this mess. Asuna was there, but she wasn't the one begging. Of all the voices I heard behind me, hers never reached me. Rika's closest friend had her life in my hands, but showed no despair. It forced my stomach's contents to near escape, as numbness took over. I wanted to be someone Asuna could come to, despite everything. She was my love's best friend, something I wished to share with all my heart. It wasn't only her either, Taiyama needed Asuna alive. His emotional state would affect everyone back home, based entirely on my decision.

All of them, hung over me. My bones bent under their collected weight, leveraging heavily over a single thought. It all corroded my veins, not for what could possibly go wrong, but what would come to pass.

"What is, a fruit?"

My question resulted in little change in body language, one looking down a passage.

"You know, keeping warm at night?"

"He?" one chuckled.

"No, no," one said to his cohort, "she."

"I thought it was a he," another said, "that would explain a lot."

"Doesn't change a thing," their leader said, with eyes returning to me. "So are ya?"

My throat clamped tighter, my brow furrowing.

"Yes...we are."

"Oh damn, we got a gear-head. Be real with me, is she worth it to you? Those friends of yours wanna love too, ya know."

A low crashing of waves chilled bones, a payment due.

"Two minutes."

Rika's face flashed in my head, tearful and miserable in the custody of strangers. She would fight them, only to be overpowered. All of this weight cracked my insides, doubt filling every widening gap with unyielding greed. This uncertainty would, however, foster a strain of grasping claws. They dug into what I wished fastened. From further down a lightless tunnel, friends from many walks cried out, begging me to give in to men of iron and bronze.

"Hunt?"

One of this commander's subordinates walked from whence we came, stopping briefly and casually.

"Your orders, sir. Inform sub-lead of news."

A grunt was followed by a nod, this agent vanishing into plumes of soggy nothing. My stomach was near heaving, life draining from shaking eyes and lips as unblinking lenses of plague green stared back. Teeth ground against one another, my nostrils sniffling as my chest swelled and burned with a near shrieking level of rage. Not at what could possibly happen, not what might occur. This was answered before I even started.

"Any second now, boy. Spill."

Raising my gaze again, bared teeth softened all to a whisper.

"Take...them."

A grinding of stone was heard, cries turning to screams of such an intensity, my body frigid and stiff. eyebrows furrowed at my captors. They stared back with lowered shoulders, a sense of defeat masked only with a raise of weapons as a liquid poured over my shins. Demands to kneel were made, a ball of spit their only reward. Puncturing bolts bent legs, a strange consumable presented forcefully against unfeeling lips. Drinking or drowning, senses blurred as screams behind me died down. Coughing and spurting, a weak cry escaped as glass shattered in my weakening state.

"The hard way then, I like you."

I flailed weakly, sleepily. The splashing, it slowed. A crackle, two. Water rushed out from sightless depths, their blackened mass rimmed with frothing bubbles. As a mask clamped around nose and lips, a stray head of white peaked from depths...vanishing with a flash of blue.

-Agent Hunt

Shoes crashed as water reached up my soles, legs already peaking efforts as I raced down these abandoned works of Cel. This entire operation was a complete mess, start to finish. First the lack of support, rushed reconnaissance, and a pissing pencil pusher.

The suspects cried out as canals opened, first squad converging my direction, my sprint slowing as I waved them back. They seemed surprised, even going so far as to hold me back as I tried passing.

"Hunt, news?"

"VIP, move."

"Did he say so? He said all suspects were-"

"Miscalculations were made," I said, "insuring security's our responsibility."

"By Cel," sub-leader Mathis stepped aside, "go then, we'll tell Regis-"

"Negative," I said before passing, "his bias' compromised enough."

They stepped aside, their auto-bolts swaying in their steady stride, if only I could afford such laxity. The suspects were held in place by these same weapons, their eyes wet and wavering. Even with my cover, I could only faintly direct my gaze near theirs. Regisfort's orders were clear, no witnesses. The why was simple, he knew what prestige awaited him if he bestowed the rogue Mechanist to Atlean authority.

"Please," one said, her short blonde hair frayed. "We didn't do anything."

I passed this woman by without a word, water rising to my knees as I rushed to my priority target. Of all the despair in these poor people, she would be who surprised me most. The queen of that new, tiny kingdom stood without so much as a shiver. Her eyes honed on me, their fixation steady and controlled.

"Hunt," one of ours said.

"I'm taking this one."

"Was hoping you'd say that," another said, "command's going off reservation."

"I'm not going," the VIP said, her arms crossing. "not unless they go too."

"If I had enough equipment, I could." I said with a glance towards our remaining team.

Of all five present, not a single yes emerged from flooding depths.

"These are not MoSS," I said, "nullify the last order."

"And risk my family's life?" one said, "I'm sorry, Hunt. Be thankful we won't say anything...but command's gonna drop you for this."

"I'm staying textbook," I pointed a finger, "if I gotta claw outta this peat-hole myself, I'll see you all in a season."

"We'll keep the drinks cold."

"I'm taking you're not listening."

The queen's demand was entrenched, no budging to be found. For everything I said, none of it felt accountable, other than a clenched fist around small wrists. She gasped, throwing herself back against bricks, pulling me along with strength I hadn't calculated. As grimy water rose to our waist, she pushed and yanked, clawing and punching as I eventually forced irons below palms.

"Stop!"

"Take us too!" the others said, only to be held up tighter.

"I'm not dying like this!"

Their tallest pair drew hands, lashing out at their observers as I tugged the queen away. I turned away, a series of cracks, screams, and groans drowning out behind us.

"One's loose!" an agent said with a shout.

"Don't, she has no idea where she's going."

"Let go!" the queen shrieked, "I'll kill you for this!"

My lips pressed together as my handcuffed wrist towed her along. Rovia's canals filled further and further, our stomachs below greenish waves. Drawing my only spare rebreather, I stopped in this suffocating hall. Facing her I presented, but her tossed head showed only rejection.

"You'll need this."

"I know."

"Put it on."

"And then what? Huh?"

"You go home."

"When they couldn't?" the queen said with a dismissive swipe, "thanks, but I'd rather join them."

"But you're that queen," I said, "you're with the leader south of here, yes?"

Her lips furrowed, what rebellious rebukes she entertained silenced with a lowering of eyes. Easing my breath, I leaned the breathing mask forward.

"You must go home, for their sake."

Her eyes rose to mine, though incapable of seeing past what shielded them. Her lips folded inward, shivering before taking it, allowing me to assist in proper attachment. She embraced what encased her face, and fell into it...like a fever.

Sun Dancer

A cold wind blew, and there's no one to see what rose from old wooden docks. She swam the second she was freed, never to look back. Rovia's skyline was beautiful that evening, but my hesitation to return brought stray thoughts from far flung alleys. Should I just spill out, make my way back to Atlea? Should I stay and try dealing with Command?

If one thing was clear, it was the unpopularity of recent decisions. Perhaps I could start a hold, get Regisfort buried under the legal branch while we continue searching? Others knew what he had done, I wouldn't be alone. Was given an aether call, had to report back for further instructions.

Guess I wasn't given a squeeze, yet. I returned to the house on Rovia's outer rim, its eastern walls and windows reflecting an evening stained lake. From within it, a battered king quivered, his bounded chair broken as men fastened feet. Staring down at him, Regisfort smiled softly with subtly shown teeth. Upon my entry, he trained an eye to me before refocusing.

"Perfect time, Hunt. Was about to ask you to deal with their Mal'ioth worshiper. We got him in recovery."

"No need," said a squad-mate, "I've already hit him with sedatives."

"Do you think that was my intention?" Regisfort said with a sharp turn, "he's going to wake up again."

"And we'll be long gone, won't we?"

"Some of us will."

A chill gripped my chest, my eyes darting to the fallen king. Misty eyes and a blubbering lip left little to the imagination, his arms and face thick with burns and sweat.

"You've been leaking him," I said to Regisfort.

"Things had to be done, cut the back channel."

Our agency made the practice of leaking forbidden for obvious reasons. Our weapons all held a canister of steam atop their mechanisms, enabling us to lob multiple shots, unlike some cruder variants. If one unscrewed it just enough, it'd let out said gas, scalding anyone beside it.

"So 'Garr'," Regisfort turned back, "how'd it feel, murdering all of your friends for a little action?"

Nothing was spoken, unsurprisingly. Hours passed, with nightfall eventually leading command to pull us aside, leaving both him and his slumbering friend meagerly attended.

"While hasn't spoken of her exact whereabouts," Regisfort said, "he has given some emotional responses towards Zumfut."

"I would concur, commander." one said, "but perhaps we should exercise caution? The amount of under-hand stuff's gonna turn enough heads on its own."

"With what we're getting out of it? They won't care. Stick with me on this and we'll get top grade positions, easy."

"I'm guessing that means a dump?" I asked.

"If you'd be so kind. It's not like you made any mistakes so far."

His focus on me left me frozen.

"Why don't you do as you suggested?" Regisfort said with a smile, "I always respect enthusiasm."

I looked to everyone else, fingers curling tight as they trained on me like wolves. Morals were one thing, but a promise of elevation was another. I nodded, but kept close account of my equipment as I re-entered the home. The king looked to me briefly, vicious as it honed and burned against me. I grabbed him, dragging him out to the nearest dock.

His mangled chair was still attached, his wounds would lure any and all predatory denizens lurking below these depths. My squad wasn't present, reassuring me in their absence the trek I'd have to make in due time. Looking down at this 'Garr', I stood to enjoy the lakeside breeze. Molten orange eyes stared back, tears pouring out of corners as his glare clawed. Lowering my head, I did well to create distance between us.

"You better hope this works," he said with a low growl.

His words were joined with weak laughter, his head shaking as he cried. I looked away, east of Rovia. I could reach Zumfut easily on foot, required only time. Whether I liked it or not, the Mechanist had to be secured. This fallen king babbled names, delirious from decisions made.

"I could only save one of them," I said.

His chattering stopped, but not his shivers.

"The rest of my squad wouldn't risk breaking rank either, I tried."

"Who?" he asked.

"The queen," I said, "her name's uncertain to me."

"Don't need it...that or your games."

"Then let me explain," I said with direct eye contact, "because nothing that happened here was acceptable."

"No games."

"Command's broke, he wants to take the Mechanist for political gain back home. I cannot let him get away, not after this. You know where she is, so does Regisfort."

Garr's body slowed as he focused, his eyes solely on me as his breathing softened.

"I can only conduct so much as one, you know where this is going."

"And you think I'm gonna do it," Garr said, "Do you know...what you ask?"

"You want her to be safe," I said assertively, "what you did there, says everything."

He again said nothing, a predator eyeing me with wrathful intent.

"If we work together, both of us can win. You can save her, and I can redeem my unit."

Hate, that's all I could see behind them. Sniffling softly, his nails dug in wood

"And what's to stop me?"

"Only a promise," I said softer, "I'm only trying to correct."

For once his gaze shifted, back towards Rovia's waters, his chin lowered. His wrists shook, wood groaning as its already weakened state bent beneath engorged muscle. This man by himself threw us around with just his hands, so my immediate instinct was to step away.

An arm snapped, leaving its tied bounds without foundation. Thrusting forward, the second limb gave way in moments. Fibrous restraints relaxed, slipping and piling onto worn pavement, mounds of coiled snakes left to rest as their captive stood. With a swift hand, Garr swiped what defense I raised, his left grasping my throat without pause.

But to my surprise, his grip was soft.

"Where do you need to be?"

Breath burst out of me in relief, a nod followed shortly with an answer.

"Nohr."

Sun Dancer

January 7th, 2023

It was before sunrise, before the grass could reflect its golden hues when Asuna's horse stepped upon tiled road. Few if any souls, save for Urbus security saw her, and fewer still so much as recognized their queen. Disembarking with weary, steady eyes, Nohr's queen devoted every ounce of herself towards a swift return home.

From within chiseled halls of stone, she found Taiyama fully alert and approaching. Taking Asuna in with open arms, he drew her in before closing their bedroom doors.

"You read what I sent?" Asuna asked, shivering in his grasp.

"In pieces," Taiyama said in a lowered tone, "I've sent Kibaou my orders, I'm just...unsure how to bring it up with Wick."

Asuna nodded, resting her head upon a warm chest.

I don't care right now, I'm so tired. I'm happy to be here, away from all this.

"May I sleep for a little?" Asuna said weakly, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't be like this."

"Sleep," Taiyama said, "leave the rest of it to me." His gaze shifted back to their double doors, "this won't take long."

Only after the click of a lock and doubling of local security would Nohr's king step out, Aincrad's sun yet to climb Urbus' heights. Walking in early morning shade, his shaking hand hailed members of Kibaou's ALF from every corner he stormed through. As their shadows lengthened, a blackened eyed turned north, to a dojo left master-less without word.

Eyebrows moved with lips, lowering as Tai reasserted his gaze to a temple of brass and spinning cogs.

What do I tell Wick? He's always been a quiet type, but I don't know how he'd take it.

His hands pushed against embroidered doors with tactless brashness, revealing halls devoted to gods unheard by human ears. No choir of words was chanted, but a hum of vibrations, whose cadence resonated heavily. Their leader froze, looking to Nohr's reddened king with widened eyes as weapons deployed.

"I'll cut it short," Taiyama said with a planting of his [Spear], "you're under arrest, someone's fucked up."

"Why so sudden?" the priest asked with alarm, "surely we have a misunderstanding."

Tai would hear no pleas, just as their hands would find no reprieve. Irons clamped around wrists, resistance met with hardened clubs and dragging feet. A promise of lethal force did well to pacify possible protest, but numbers still held power. It would be until midday before Nohr's king would find remote peace, having what few members of Yole's church placed between iron and brick. PoH would find him alone in his throne, crouched forward, his expression soft as he approached.

"Knew we shouldn't have trusted them," PoH said with a sigh, "I'm sorry for what happened, man."

"It's not me," Taiyama said with a shake of his head and steady rise. "It's Wick, it's everyone. Asuna told me what happened, and now I feel...like shit, frankly."

"Why?"

"Garr saved Asuna, dude. Said he demanded they spare her life, that was his last call."

"Hm," PoH followed Tai around his hall, "surprised they'd allow it."

"I'm glad she's safe."

"As am I, I'm just curious. What will we do?"

Resting beneath warm sheets, Asuna's eyes remained open, despite forced efforts from strained eyelids. Eavesdropping, a shudder ran through the queen.

If it convinces them to be friends again, it's worth it. I know what Garr really did, I'll bury it behind me too. If only I could sleep, they're following me.

"Keep things cool, tell Wick, maybe quit."

"Already?" PoH asked, "I'm sure this is manageable."

"Too much drama, not enough progress. Seriously, nobody actually wants this to work. I'll consider it more, later."

-Taiyama

They entered, one of whom I called a close friend. In today's time, any friend was a great fortune to have, let alone keep. I had only wished I could rise from this chair a happy man, but truth allowed no rest. Wick's expression dimmed, clearly in response to my own lack of cheer. The details of how Leafa died, this I couldn't speak of, not then. Even Yuuki displayed somber color, a delicate hand around her friend as I bowed my head.

"You guys wanna drink? This's a bit rough."

"I'm okay," Wick said, his voice strained with restraint. "We...saw on our friends list."

"There was nothing I could do," I said, resting my cheek against knuckles. "Everything I know's what she said."

"Who?" Yuuki asked with a glare, "was it one of us? The game?"

Her latter option brought a nod out of me, forcing a rearranging of my position as I hunched forward.

"They worked for Cel's thugs," I said in a harsher voice, "had all of this high tech. I've arrested everyone associated with that cult, least around here."

"Where?" Wick asked, his voice turned calm.

I spoke as clearly as Asuna's story and gentle censorship allowed, these walls of stone dim despite nearby lights. While Yuuki showed an expected level of anger, Wick's lack of words kept me on notice. His eyes glued to polished tiles, with a face darkened as it wrinkled with forced reigning.

"Wick?" I asked.

"I'm...just trying."

"Trying?"

"To make light of this," he said with a raised face, "the cactus mobs keep pressing from one side. We've got undead popping up all at once, and now the one person I hoped..."

His statement ended with a sudden shift in his stance, shoulders turned as he looked back from our palace entrance. A lone guess reached me as feet faced us, felt like the air was heating from it as I sat up. Yuuki eyed Wick carefully, looking very much alone in this discussion.

"You wanna go?" I asked.

"I gotta get her sword," Wick said, "something to keep her alive. But, I don't think going alone's a good idea."

"Who said you were?" Yuuki asked with a raised voice, "I'm right here!"

"Wasn't gonna pressure you," Wick said before pausing, "wait, I guess I just did."

A brief laugh left Yuuki, fresh air considering how serious this was getting. My lips flattened as I looked away, he had a point. He was my bro, never judging me despite everything, so answering this was easy.

"Ready up," I said, "I've got you, bro."

"You sure?" Wick asked with a tilted head, "you're the king."

"And you're my bro," I said while checking inventory, "just give me a minute. I've got something."

[To Garr: Thank you]

-Oran

It was darker than night down there, its air musky with fish and plant. The soles of my shoes squished, wetter than my eyes despite everything. Led by a lone light from this roach of an elf, I stopped as he slowed around a circular chamber. With how humid everything was, he couldn't see. But I did, I saw Graye's weapon. It laid there in strands of moss.

I fell into it, my knees thumping against stone so hard I swore it cracked. There it was, this was it. Picking it up, I couldn't think straight, it all felt so cold. None of it was fair, the system cheated him, there was no way it could just take Graye away. It had to break rules, he was too strong for them.

"I'm sorry."

My grip tensed around that [Glaive], head whipping around to the insect who dared. Kept under all that gear, that coward couldn't say it to my face. I looked down again, hunching over not even a second later.

What was I gonna do?

Graye was always there, always with those ideas, dreams of happy things. He gave me the courage to even step up in the first place. Without him, I would've ran off from that raid, too scared for my own life to care. Everything around me, it shrank till it crushed me into a dime.

We were trapped in the belly of this horrible machine.

And the machine's bleeding to death.

"We must hurry," it said, "the canal's going to open again."

"Why?"

"You'll drown if you don't."

"Would deserve that, more than him."

He looked frantically, pacing briefly before approaching.

"We talked about this, I know who killed your friend. We can make things right."

"No I can't!" I said, shaking my head. "If I could do anything, he'd still be here."

A groan left the roach's lips, this roar getting louder.

"You make up your mind, Regisfort has to go. It's a shame you couldn't do what he'd want."

I stopped, heat shooting up my gut, a fist flying his way without a second's thought. Stone met knuckle, its surface chipping as a dull thump resounded. I missed him entirely, he must've dodged beneath me.

"Don't say that," I said.

"Suit yourself."

He turned away, the light fading at his slow departure. Looking down at my fist, I found only broken skin, but no pain beneath it. These knuckles had turned a reddish-silver, Garr's experiment left each finger heavier than ever. That's when it occurred to me, he said I could wield lightning. With this, I stood a chance against them. But what even was it?

Looking down at a fading sheen, I was quick to follow the roach. He may have helped this, but he was my best chance. My only chance at avenging the closest friend I've ever had.

It was dark outside too, the loneliest night since this wreck started. Wandering south towards that bridge, I stopped for a look, to where he slept.

"Regisfort mentioned of two possible pick-ups," the roach said, "the first will be a dud."

"How do you know?"

"With what happened tonight, I'm sure it's set the southern kingdom against our foundation."

"But we don't know you."

"No, but you do know we're linked with Cel, much as I disagree with their dogma. The Church will get capped, leaving us without an immediate exit."

"But you said they're after the Mechanist."

"They would, but I doubt they'd get far. Your friend's told me."

"If we catch them there," I said, "we'd have a better shot."

"Whoever goes in is digging their own grave," he said before glancing around, "Regisfort won't be that stupid. We gotta strike him down, and only him."

"What about Garr?" I asked, "we're just gonna walk off on him?"

"Whoever goes in," he said again, "I'm sorry. If time was on our side, I'd let you talk, but time is on his field."

I was already so numb from everything, still didn't feel right.

"You're letting him die."

"I gave him a chance," the bug said harshly, "what he does after is on him. We're moving."

I couldn't go without saying anything, my menu opened as we made our way across creaking planks. Slowest message I've ever written, couldn't make sense of anything. It was only with a final glance back, did I stop. It wasn't him that caught my mind, it was a lone horse. Tied to an eroded post, its plain chestnut coat barely stood out. Looking down at my knuckles again, I wondered. Was this gift only for us?

A/N: Holy snap, this took way too long to make! Hey guys, hope you haven't forgotten about Demon Slayer! I'm working on getting the last chapters out, do not lose faith. Thanks for reading this chapter, and I hope to hear from any of you soon!