Chapter 7: Aftermath
Alex lay unconscious on the ground as her allies fled. Heruseus stood over her body holding his locked sword. Talon and Dragonstar gaped at the sight of the once puny nerd. Heruseus turned around to them and gave a huge grin. Dragonstar sighed, "You can be so insufferable. But yet, very reliable. I'm sorry for everything,"
"Meh. I'm cool," Heruseus shrugged.
Talon sighed, "You guys are weird,"
Heruseus stuck his tongue out and laughed, "Let's head home,"
"Agreed," Dragonstar nodded.
"So do you guys mind if I come with you guys?" Talon asked.
"Does the diamond in Minecraft mind it when you mine it?" Heruseus smiled.
"Uhhh," Talon said, confused.
"The answer is no. You can come with," Dragonstar sighed. "Theo's metaphors are so dumb,"
"They're brilliant. Besides it's a reference to Tobuscus. Did you know that Tobuscus is in Sword Art Online with us?!" Heruseus exclaimed excitedly.
"Wait, really?" said a voice.
The trio turned to see Grimmjack, Gaia, Titanus, Terriblelizard, Lance, Aris, Optic Flare, Diana, Azerath and a hooded figure.
"Gaia!" Dragonstar ran and hugged Gaia.
"Who's the dude in the hoodie?" Heruseus asked casually.
"That would be a girl," Terriblelizard snorted.
"I'm Diana's sister, Leona," said the hooded girl.
Leona pulled off her hood. She had long brown hair and deep brown eyes. She stood about a head taller than her sister. At her side was a one-handed sword, and on her back was a shield. "Where you serious when you said Tobuscus is in the game?" Grimmjack asked.
"Very," Heruseus smiled.
"How'd you figure it out?" Grimmjack murmured.
"That'd be my fault Grimmy-wimmy!" cackled a voice with nasal inflection.
"Argo!" Heruseus turned and smiled.
"That'd be me Heru-chan!" Argo cackled once more.
"Did you just call him Grimmy-wimmy!?" laughed Gaia.
"I give everybody nicknames. By the way yours is G-boy," Argo smirked.
"G-boy?! Not even G-man?! I wanna seem older!" wailed Gaia.
"Ok, you can be G-gramps," Argo laughed.
"That's even worse!" wailed Gaia.
"You did ask to be older," Terriblelizard chuckled.
"You got it Dinobreath!" Argo smiled.
"Hahahahha, Dinobreath! Hahahahahahah," Titanus laughed.
"It seems like T-kiddie is having fun," Argo smirked.
"T-kiddie…" sulked Titanus.
"And that over there D-chan," Argo pointed at Diana, "That's A-boy, and L-boy," she pointed at Lance and Azerath, "That's Hothead," she pointed at Flare, "That's Girly-boy," she pointed at Aris.
"Not cool!" Aris seethed.
"Sorry, I suggested that one," Heruseus admitted.
Aris punched him in the arm. "And that over there is Chicken Hair," Argo pointed at Leona.
"Chicken Hair…What does that even mean?" Leona muttered.
"And of course Dragonbreath," Argo cackled.
"What do you want Argo?" Dragonstar asked through gritted teeth.
"I'm here to double check that Heru-chan is alive and to give him this." She produced a silver key no bigger than her pinky finger. "He asked for it awhile back,"
She tossed him the key and he caught it with ease. "Thanks," he said as he lifted his sword up to the key.
He inserted the key into the lock and the lock shattered. A window appeared before Heruseus with all the information about his new weapon. In the Category field it read One-Handed Longsword/Katana and in the Name field it read Dākuburū.
"Dākuburū? Doesn't that mean Dark Blue in Japanese?" Argo asked.
"Something similar to that, yeah," Heruseus smiled.
"Whatever see ya later Black Brains!" Argo cackled at the nickname for their guild as she left.
"It's Dark Theorem Rat-Face!" screamed Dragonstar.
"What are you doing!? She'll kill you if she heard you!" Heruseus feared for Dragonstar's life.
"Yeah right-" Dragonstar began but was interrupted by, "WHAT DID YOU CALL ME!?"
"Yeah, you're screwed," Gaia and everyone stepped away.
After a few days, floor 13 was cleared and everyone had moved on to floor 14. This floor's theme was a steampunk design. Heruseus swung his Dākuburū left and right cutting through enemies as if they were butter. The scraps of metal left shattered. "Now it's Shulk time!" Heruseus said in an Australian accent. "You can't have 'rainbow' without Reyn, baby!" he said in a deeper Australian accent. He said "This is the Monado's power!" in the first accent and then, "Rock solid!" in the deeper voice.
"Just stop making Xenoblade references!" Talon wailed.
"Oh that's what that stuff is!" Dragonstar sighed.
"Yeah, Xenoblade was one of both Theo and Josh's favorite game series," Talon muttered sadly.
"Let's finish it off with a chain attack!" Heruseus said in his Australian accent.
"Oh shut up!" Aris screeched.
"You know he won't, just do a switch, that's basically a chain attack," Talon sighed.
Heruseus charged a sword skill and struck the monster robot. "Switch!" called out Talon.
Talon used a sword skill. "Switch!" said Flare.
Flare finished off the monster with his sword skill. "Jeez, that was a lot more tedious than it should've been,"
"Hey does anyone know the time?" Gaia asked, and then gasped as Heruseus got a scary grin.
"IT'S REYN TIME BABY!" Heruseus said in the deeper accent.
"Kill him now please," Titanus pleaded to a nearby monster, who responded by attacking.
Heruseus ran up to the monster and cut into scrap. "Look out Shulk," he said in the same accent.
"This is going to suck," Titanus sighed.
"Why the hell is he doing this now?" Lance screamed.
"It's because it's the steampunk floor, and the monsters are like the Mechon, the main antagonists in Xenoblade Chronicles and Xenoblade Chronicles 3D," Talon explained.
"I see. Why didn't he tell us?" Dragonstar sighed.
"Cause you'd tell him he couldn't do it," Talon explained as if it were obvious.
"That's so accurate," Dragonstar agreed.
"Let's go!" Heruseus said in the first accent.
"I can only handle this for so long…" Flare muttered.
Three days later, floor 15 had been unlocked and was quickly conquered. It was on to floor 16, a mesa themed floor. "Oh man, this floor is so dry," complained Flare.
"Get over it. You have a problem with every floor; Floor 1: Too Bland, Floor 2: Too Many Cows, Floor 3: Too Many Trees, Floor 4: Too Wet, Floor 5: Too Many Mushrooms, Floor 6: Too Greek, Floor 7: Too Stoney, Floor 8: Too Symmetrical, Floor 9: Too Much Kelp Floor 10: Too Sandy. These are just a few examples," Heruseus sighed.
"I just have higher preferences," Flare muttered.
"Whatever Little Miss Princess," Aris sighed. "Eww! A bug!" He shrieked.
"You're one to talk Aris," sighed Gaia.
"Shut up man! I just was um, startled!" Aris muttered.
"N00b," Heruseus muttered.
"I am not!" Aris cried.
"Sure, which is why you forgot how to use a sword skill on day 4 of S.A.O," Heruseus sighed.
"That was an accident!" Aris whined.
"Shut up! I'm tired of hearing everyone whine!" Diana shouted.
"Thanks," Terriblelizard sighed.
"They pissed me off as well," Diana laughed.
"Oh come on!" Aris whined.
Diana pulled her rapier from her scabbard. She held it an inch from Aris' throat. "No. More. Whining. Are. We. Clear?" She said very slowly.
"We are so clear. Clearer than a crystal!" Aris said, in a high pitched voice.
"Good," she said pulling back her Knight's Rapier (+6A2S).
Heruseus looked at his Dākuburū (+2S2Q) and sighed. "I can't believe such a hard to unlock sword would only get me this far," he sighed. "And the worst part is that the sword was a pain in the ass to get. I had to do so many quests,"
"Poor guy. You should get new armor with a new sword once we get into town," Dragonstar empathized.
"Yeah. This coat is so ragged," Heruseus agreed.
Dark Theorem arrived in the main town of the 16th floor, Balden. "Ok, so everyone, go do what you need to and meet back inside this tavern in a 2 hours. We clear?" Heruseus ordered.
Everyone else nodded.
Heruseus ran to the nearest shop. The town itself was very confusing. Each facility was in an alcove in the side of the cliff. Each was connected by a series of wooden stairs. When Heruseus finally found the shop he ran inside to find female clothing and armor. It was a female only place. And shamefully, there were already several female players inside. "Get out of here, pervert!" one screamed. "Wait! He's kinda cute!" said another.
Heruseus ran out of the shop faster than humanly possible. He found a neutral shop where he bought a long coat with a hem that reached down to his ankles. He also bought a ring that increased Speed and a cowboy hat that increases throwing accuracy. He ran to a sword shop and bought a black longsword. The sword itself had a short black grip with no guard. The blade was pitch black. Its name was Kuro. The sword had twelve upgrade attempts. Heruseus swung the sword a few times before smiling. He ran outside and ran to the tavern. No one was outside and there was a lot of cheering from inside. Heruseus went inside and found Flare chugging ale. "Whoa! This stuff is nothing compared to real beer! Who wants to try my in a drinking contest next?"
"I'll take you on," Heruseus said in a stern voice.
"Fight me! I mean, drink me! I mean, get outdruken by me!" Flare sputtered.
"Outdruken isn't even a word," Heruseus sighed.
Heruseus sat down next to Flare as called out, "Bartender! Gimme the strongest stuff you have!"
"Gimme the same!" Flare shouted.
"You do know that we can't get drunk. It's basically like drinking a really strong soda," Heruseus said in a low voice.
"Yeah," Flare whispered.
The bartender brought over the two strongest drinks, Hellfire Ale. It was supposed to be strong and spicy. "Bottom's up!" Heruseus gulped and linked arms with Flare.
Flare finished the ale first, but Heruseus could clearly see he was having a hard time keeping it down. Heruseus grinned but he too was struggling. Dragonstar walked in a sighed, "Leave it to these idiots to do something illegal,"
"How is this illegal?" Terriblelizard was already seated with a ale in her hand.
"You're encouraging this!?" Dragonstar yelled shocked.
"I'll just have some water," Gaia sighed.
"I'm not drinking," Diana pointed out.
"Nor am I," Leona said proudly.
"That's because we're girls," Dragonstar sighed.
"I'm offended. I'm a girl!" Terriblelizard moaned.
Leona coughed awkwardly, "I apologize, I thought you were a man with long hair,"
"Seriously?! Not cool!" Terriblelizard seethed.
"I apologize," Leona repeated.
"Guys chill out and have a drink," Grimmjack said, relaxed.
"Fine," Diana sighed.
Leona sat down quietly next to her and began to drink. Dragonstar sighed, "I give up,"
She sat in between Gaia and Heruseus. "You know, I'm surprised you two don't fight about me,"
"That's so stupid!" Gaia groaned.
"Yeah, c'mon, this isn't some cliché movie!" Heruseus said with a tsk.
"Really? That makes sense. I mean shouldn't the most important guy look hot?" Dragonstar teased.
"Shut up," Heruseus said sternly, got up and left the tavern.
"What's his problem?" Dragonstar muttered.
"I guess he's done being talked down to without a fight. That may not have been the easiest way to fight back, but still a fight. I recommend you go speak with him Miss Stephanie," Leona scooted over to Dragonstar.
"I'll go talk to him first," Flare sighed and got up.
Flare walked outside and went right to see Heruseus looking over a cliffside, over the ravine next to Balden. "Heruseus," Flare sighed, "Stop being mopey-" but he stopped when Heruseus turned around.
Heruseus' normally dry face was wet with tears. Flare glanced to the ground and saw wet spots. "Hey, what's wrong?"
"…Why does she have to put me down, you know what I mean?" Heruseus wiped his eyes.
"You once told me this, do what the Dec3mber Remix says to do," Flare said.
"Which is?" Heruseus sighed back.
"Stay strong," Flare said.
"Eh, that was a long time ago, we were like, 6," Heruseus sighed.
"Yeah, 2015 was a pretty weird year huh?" Flare sighed.
"For the both of us," Heruseus said.
"Well, I'm gonna head in and tell Steph she can come out. You ok with that?" Flare asked.
Heruseus shook his head. "I don't want to see anyone right now. I just want to sit here and listen to LilyPichu's lilies I-V. You know what I mean?"
"You've always been a sucker for Lily. By the way, as a late Christmas gift, I'll tell you that there is a way to listen to stuff on YouTube Red+," Flare smirked.
"Cool. I'll unlock it and Skype when I get the chance," Heruseus smiled weakly.
"Are you sure you'll be ok?" Flare said, worried.
"Yeah, I don't care if she comes or not. Don't tell her this but, to be honest, I'm not gonna say much to her," Heruseus said emotionlessly.
"Be safe out here. She will come out you know," Flare rolled his eyes.
"Yeah. I know. See you," Flare left.
Heruseus stood alone over the balcony. He watched the sad sunset as he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned to see Dragonstar, who stood next to him. "Hey," she said softly.
Heruseus did not respond.
"Beautiful isn't it? And I'm not talking about me, I mean the sunset," Dragonstar joked.
Heruseus didn't even crack a smile.
"Why won't you talk to me? I'm sorry about inside ok-"
"Are you?" Heruseus cut off in a ragged voice. "Why don't I believe you?"
"How am I supposed to know?" Dragonstar yelled back.
"Argh! Just shut up! You ruined my quiet time out here! Just leave me alone! God, no matter how many times you apologize you always seem to forget you're sorry and say something stupid again! Go away ok! I don't want you to be near me!" Heruseus screamed at the top of his lungs.
"Theo, chill out!" Gaia said, running towards them.
"You can't go anywhere without each other can you? You know what? Nevermind. Just, nevermind," Heruseus yelled as he walked away.
"No, say it! Quit being a coward! You've always been like this! Why? What are you so afraid of!?" Dragonstar yelled.
"Stephanie, stop," Gaia said before it could get to serious.
"No, I want to know why? Why?" Dragonstar pestered.
Heruseus burst into tears. He couldn't contain himself. "Why? I never learned how! I never learned how to be brave! Josh was my shield. He didn't allow anyone or anything touch me and now he's gone! I don't know what to do anymore! What can I do without him? I have-"
Heruseus was interrupted by a hug. Gaia had run up to him. "I know how you feel. Josh was my friend too. Not as close as you two are, but still close,"
"Were," Dragonstar corrected.
Heruseus began to cry harder. "Gee, thanks Steph, real smart move," Gaia scowled.
"Sorry, I didn't-" Dragonstar started.
"Just stop talking for a bit," Gaia said.
Heruseus let the warm tears run down his face as a shadow watched from afar.