The Last One Standing

"Talking"

'Thinking'

Ch 4

After the second floor had been opened the players that helped to clear the first floor dungeon cleared the second floor. The remainder of the players began to realize that if you were a high enough level it was possible to clear the game. Two months after the death game began one particular player was desperate for another weapon that was to her liking. In the middle of the safe zone on the fifth floor Asuna was looking for a suitable rapier to replace her current one that was at the limit of its usefulness when she saw a brown haired girl wearing the leather clothes trademark of a blacksmith. "Welcome to Lisbeth's blacksmith shop if you're looking for the best weapons in Aincrad you've come to the right place."

"Are you really that good?" Asuna asked skeptically.

"Bring me with you and we'll get the materials needed to make a weapon that'll knock your socks off." Lisbeth declared brandishing her mace. "That and there is a certain quest string that I want to do that requires a party of two or more.

"Is it a good idea to leave your store?" Asuna asked cautiously after thinking a minute.

"Don't worry about it I can store this stuff and take it with me. I'm mobile." Lisbeth answered with a grin.

"Ok then let's go." Asuna said slowly holding her hands up in surrender.

Three days later they finished tracking down the materials and completed Lisbeth's string of quests.

"Seriously why would you need to make hair dye in this game?" Asuna asked looking at the bottle with a pink fluid in it. "And why did we have to go on that long quest in the first place?"

"Because it looked fun." Lisbeth answered with a giggle. "So do you think we should sell it?"

"Hmm. Actually pink would look good on you." Asuna answered looking at her new friend. "And you really need to change your clothes, those stiff leathers don't suit you."

"You really think so?" Lisbeth asked fingering her hair before shrugging. "Ok. I'll see if I can't find something more suitable for drawing customers." Then she took the vial from Asuna and uncorked it. "Well down the hatch." She said before emptying the bottle in one gulp. "Tastes like Pepto-Bismol." She said smacking her lips.

"You're crazy." Asuna said looking flabbergasted at the other girl.

"Nope I'm insane." Lisbeth said giving her a victory sign. "Taking logic and turning it on its head daily."

"Ok can you please set up shop and forge me a rapier then I'll see if your bragging means anything." Asuna pleaded, as she massaged her temples, wanting to finish this before meeting up with her guild.

"Ok ok hold your horses." Lisbeth said materializing her merchants rug and rolling it out. A few minutes later Lisbeth was hammering away with a look of concentration on her face. After hammering the blade the correct number of times a bright light began to glow as the ingot lengthened and grew into a rapier.

When the rapier finished forming something else broke. "Why. Why oh why." Lisbeth said almost in tears as she banged her head on the anvil. "IRL I can make my own tools. In here I have to buy all my tools. There isn't a skill to forge them."

Asuna looked up from admiring her new sword and gave Lisbeth a questioning look. "What do you mean?"

"I'm a hobbyist blacksmith IRL. All I need is a good anvil and a sledgehammer and I can make all other necessary tools."

"What was that that broke?" Asuna asked curiosity peaked.

"A set of tongs the easiest tool to make if I was able." Lisbeth stated drying her eyes before sighing. "Looks like I'll have to find a shop on this floor with smithing tools."

"Well I'm sorry for your loss." Asuna said confused.

"Well thank you for listening to my ranting I need to go stock up on tools." Lisbeth said as she rolled up her mat and headed for the nearest NPC shop with the tools of her trade.

OOooOO

Kirito sat down heavily on the couch in the living room of his guilds tree house on the fourth floor. He had to laugh at their guild name 'The Collective' the three girls shot down his idea's so he was saddled with that guild name as that was what his other guild mates agreed on. "Did you find a decent replacement?" He asked the only other occupant in the room as she walked in."

"I'm satisfied anyways." Asuna answered going into the bathroom.

"Lock the door." Kirito called smiling as Asuna groaned indignantly. She definitely didn't want her bath time to become a communal gathering like on the first floor.

OOooOO

Somewhere on floor 10

Silica was bored. Kirito for some reason had them taking a break on this floor when they could be on the front lines on floor 15. Sighing, Silica wandered through the forests glad that she was high enough level at thirty-two to not have to worry about the mobs.

Behind her she heard an uncertain mewling. She spun around and saw a little blue dragon mob behind her that seemed docile enough. She materialized a handful of nuts called 'dragon nuts'. The name sounded wrong when she picked it up as a drop at least Kirito said it did. But now she thought that she had figured out the reason for this item. The little dragon slowly moved closer before snatching a few nuts from her hand and withdrawing a little to eat its nuts before repeating the process a few more times till the dragon actually laid its head in Silica's hand cooing contentedly as Silica scratched its chin before picking it up and hugging it. "You remind me so much of my cat IRL. I think I'll name you Pina." Silica said as the dragon purred contentedly.

OOooOO

"What are you doing with that creature it could attack you at any time." Asuna said in agitation as Silica walked into the farmhouse they were renting the 2nd floor of.

"How can you say that?" Silica replied quietly holding Pina as his head was turned to look at Asuna with big shining eyes.

"Come on Asuna it's not like it'll be a problem. This little guy could prove to be useful." Kirito said as the dragon leaned into his hand savoring the attention.

"Fine do what you want just don't come crying to me when you have a problem." Asuna said throwing up her hands as she left.

"Don't worry she'll come around eventually." Kirito told Silica as Pina curled up on her head purring away.

OOooOO

Shortly after floor 23 was cleared

"It's nice to finally meet the elusive Kirito." Lisbeth said as she put her hand out to shake his only for Kirito to bring her into a hug much to her surprise as he started shaking.

"I finally found you again." He whispered low enough that only she could hear and even then she wasn't sure he said anything then she felt moisture on her shoulder.

OOooOOooOO

Do I need an authors note? I really don't think so.

If you don't need one then just stop typing and post it already.

All right this the end of our newest chapter please review as you leave.