Chapter 1
Mac Anu… the newbie city. Been a while since I was here last.
Ichikuke walked down the main road, watching all the other players conversing. It was one of the things he liked to do to pass the time. His blue robe rustled as he moved, and his matching cap kept his messy brown hair down. He was hoping one of his friends would be here, especially Tsukasa, as the two had more in common than they like to admit. He also wished Tsukasa's girlfriend, Subaru, was here.
Ichikuke, or Ichi to his friends, turned and entered the town square. Judging by how many people were there, he guessed it had to be around mid-day in the real world. It never ceased to amaze Ichi how many people actually played "The World."
"Hey! Ichikuke!" he heard someone call. Ichi turned around to see a young man dressed in an orange outfit with a matching hat. He had teal colored hair and blue eyes. He was waving for Ichi to join him.
"How you doing Kite?" Ichi asked, coming onto the bridge Kite was standing on.
"I'm doing really well. I haven't encountered any Data Bugs recently. And I don't think Balmung has found anything either," Kite said.
"I see," Ichi replied, his head bowed in thought.
"Hey? You okay?"
"Yeah. Just a little bored. I was thinking of trying to level up in a little bit."
"Just be careful. You know what could happen if you die in here right?"
"Yeah I know. Oh, I just got a message from Bear. I need to go."
"Alright, see you later Ichi."
Ichi walked over to a spinning ring that was filled with a watery substance. He raised his staff and shouted "Theta Server!" Golden data rings surrounded Ichi, traveling up from his feet.
Seconds later, the golden rings had transferred him to a town that was placed on the sides of mountains. If you looked over the edges of the walkways, all you would see would be white clouds.
"Over here Ichikuke!" a somewhat deep voice called out.
Ichi looked up to see his friend, a blademaster named Bear, waving to him from an outcropping. Ichi could see three other people with him, but couldn't quite make out who they were. He could tell one was a wavemaster like himself, judging from the staff that was visible.
The outcropping wasn't too high, so Ichi sprinted to the base of the mountain and used his own staff to catapult himself up to their level. He landed cleanly and looked around. He saw that Tsukasa was there with Subaru, as well as Tsukasa's friend Mimiru. Ichi grinned slightly and sat down with them.
"How's it going guys?" Ichi asked.
"I'm alright," Mimiru said. "Been busy with homework though, so I haven't been able to log on as much."
"Me and Subaru are sharing an apartment now, that way we can work on our education together," Tsukasa said, pushing his tan and brown cap that matched his wavemaster outfit back on his head, revealing some of his white hair. Ichi paused in his thought for a moment, remembering that even though Tsukasa was a boy in "The World," he was actually a girl in the real world. He knew Tsukasa and Subaru made a good couple, even if it was slightly odd.
"And I've been busy with work as usual. I still need to catch up with BT," Bear said, rubbing his neck.
"What about you Ichi?" Subaru asked sweetly.
Ichi's head fell slightly. "Oh, you know… just wandering around, conquering a few dungeons and stopping PKers…
"Well, what about your current state?" Bear asked. "Been able to log out?"
"I already told you I'm not in a position to do that," Ichi said, looking at the ground. "I haven't been in front of a terminal since I put on that stupid prototype VR helmet. From what I've heard from the people who have been talking about it, my body just flat out disappeared, and we all know where it went."
"It got transported here," Tsukasa said quietly, knowing the story.
"It's still really hard to believe that CC Corp managed to invent something that completely digitized a person's body and brought them here," Bear said with a hand on his chin.
"Do you think Aura might have something to do with it?" Tsukasa asked.
"It's possible," Mimiru said. "We should ask Kite, he knows how to contact her."
Ichi looked up, "I saw Kite in Mac Anu. I think he was waiting for Orca."
Ichi stood up. He looked back at the rotating Chaos Gate he'd used to get here, and then looked back at the others.
"Anyone wanna come with me?" he asked.
"I'll come," Tsukasa and Subaru said at the same time. Subaru giggled as Tsukasa blushed and looked away.
I need to have a talk with that boy/girl sometime, Ichi thought.
"Sorry, but I have a paper to finish for class tomorrow. I'll won't be back on till after class is over," Mimiru said, standing up. "See ya." Mimiru disappeared in a group of rising rings as she logged out.
"I need to go meet BT in the Lambada Server," Bear said, standing up as well. "I can walk you to the Gate though."
A little while later, Tsukasa, Subaru, and Ichi appeared in Mac Anu. Tsukasa was almost immediately run over by someone in a red and grey suit with a horned, skull-like helmet and glowing red eyes.
"Oh, I beg your… Tsukasa?!" the man said.
Tsukasa recognized the man and also remembered his new name.
"Tarnished Knight?" the wavemaster asked.
"Good to see you again," Tarnished Knight said, smiling. "And Lady Subaru as well of course."
Tarnished Knight bowed to Subaru before turning to Ichi.
"My apologies, but your name escapes me," the knight said.
"I'm Ichikuke, but my friends call me Ichi," the blue robed wavemaster said.
"Oh, so you're the one?"
"The…one?" Ichi asked, slightly confused.
"The one who got digitized."
"Oh, yeah I am."
"It's kind of hard to believe though. How could CC Corp transfer a body like that with a VR helmet?"
"Want proof?"
Before either Tsukasa or Subaru could stop him, Ichi brought out an Amateur Blade he'd recently acquired and slashed at his upper arm. He winced at the sudden pain, and brought a rag just under the wound, keeping the blood from getting out of hand. After seeing the stunned look on Tarnished Knight's helmeted head, Ichi performed a Repth spell and healed himself.
"I…it's true," Tarnished Knight said. "Have you reported this to CC Corp?"
"I had Balmung do it," Ichi said. "I got a reply a little while later from the Administration saying I'd somehow been shipped a prototype VR helmet that had malfunctioned. They're working on trying to solve it now. I haven't been able to log out in well over two months."
"I see. Well, let me know if I can be of any help," Tarnished Knight said, exchanging member addresses with Ichi. After that he bowed to Subaru and shook hands with Tsukasa before gating away.
"Well, shall we go find Kite?" Ichi asked.
They walked over to the bridge to find Kite sitting crossed legged on the railing, staring at the water.
"Hey Kite," Tsukasa said. Kite didn't respond.
"Kite?" Subaru said.
Ichi waved a hand in front of Kite's face. "Maybe he stepped away from the computer?"
Kite suddenly sighed and closed his eyes, then looked around and saw his friends standing around him.
"Oh, hey," he said, rubbing his neck. "Sorry, I had Yasu- I mean Orca on the phone."
Ichi chuckled. "I keep finding it interesting that people freeze when they take off the helmet. Some people get stuck in really odd poses."
They all glanced at someone who was standing on one leg, and had his hands out like he was holding a tea cup and a saucer.
"So, what do you guys need?" Kite asked.
"We wanted to know if you could get a message to Aura," Ichi said. "I need to find out if she knows anything about me not being able to log out."
"Of course I'll help!" Kite said jumping off the railing. "Come one, I know of only one place where I can send her a message."
Kite led them all to the Chaos Gate. He held up his right hand and shouted, "Delta Hidden Forbidden Holy Ground!"
When the gold rings disappeared, the group found themselves standing on a bridge leading to an old cathedral. The bridge behind them had been completely destroyed, leaving noting to be seen but swirling grey clouds. Kite led them inside the cathedral and toward the alter.
"I liked this place better when the Aura statue was still here," Kite said.
They reached the chain fence that blocked further passage to the alter and Kite leapt over. Ichi was about to follow suit but Kite held up a hand.
"I'll take of this," he said.
Kite walked to the top of the alter and raised his right hand. Something began glowing around his wrist and the fabled Twilight Bracelet appeared. Five data prongs shot out and pointed upward. After several seconds the data prongs disappeared and the bracelet soon followed suit. Kite rejoined the others.
"It may take a while for her to respond," Kite said. "But when she does I'll let you know okay?"
"Thanks a lot Kite," Ichi said, shaking Kite's hand.
"Anytime."
Tsukasa and Subaru suddenly looked at each other with wide eyes.
"Did you just notice too?" Tsukasa asked.
"Yes, I didn't know we'd been here that long," Subaru said.
"What's the matter?" Ichi asked.
"We need to go," Tsukasa said. "It's already midnight and we both have a physics class in the morning."
"How's college going then?"
"Really well," Subaru said. "If we finish this year and we'll both have Master's degrees."
"That's great. Well, I don't want to hold you up any longer. Maybe I'll see you guys tomorrow?"
"I hope so," Tsukasa said. "See you later."
Tsukasa and Subaru both left the cathedral and gated out. Kite turned to Ichikuke.
"What are you going to do now?" Kite asked.
"Probably go to sleep myself. I think I'll stay here. It's real peaceful and quiet. I'm surprised not many people come here."
"Yeah, word got around that there's nothing here so people stopped coming. Well, I'd better go to. Talk to you when I get a reply."
"See you Kite."
Kite left and Ichi walked to one of the old benches and lay down. Falling steadily toward sleep Ichi glanced at the alter.
I hope Aura can help.
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Sorry for the fast intro. Things will start to take a more… story-like pace after this. I just wanted to get something posted.