The Tri-Blade Alliance
Chapter 9: Merry Christmas
A/N: I'm back, everybody, with a new update! I decided that, since it's a total pain to switch between the anime and the story for details, I'm just going to paraphrase all of the quotes said from this point. This takes place at the time that Kirito looks for Nicholas the Renegade to bring back Sachi. Enjoy!
-Arctic01
Disclaimer: I don't own SAO.
(x)
December 24, 2023
Floor 49: Mulgien
Kirito sighed as he sat on the bench, waiting for the info broker who agreed to meet up with him. While doing so, he thought of...God, it hurts to think about them―about her―even now.
"Ducker!" Kirito only had time to scream as the aforementioned player was assaulted by an endless number of enemies. It wasn't long before he shattered.
They walked into a trap room. Their crystals wouldn't work. Sachi…
She was the last to die in the room.
Kirito walked out of the room, solemn and beyond grief.
"Hey," a voice said. Kirito shook himself out of his thoughts and spoke to the person behind him without looking.
"Hey, Argo," Kirito said.
"Word's been going around that a Christmas Flag Mob called Nicholas the Renegade appears around this time."
"So?"
"So if you manage to defeat him...well, there've been rumors that he'll drop an item that can revive fallen players."
Kirito looked up. "Where is he?" he demanded.
Argo shook her head. "He only spawns at a certain fig tree."
Kirito stood up. "Thanks," he said, making his leave.
"Wait! Aren't you going to pay me?"
"Why would I? You told me the same thing everybody knows." Kirito turned back to leave.
"You know that mercenary everyone's been talking about?"
Kirito sighed in exasperation and turned to look at Argo again. "What about him?"
"I told him the same thing I told you."
"And?"
"Don't be surprised if you find him there."
(x)
June 22, 2023
"Keita," Kirito began.
"What's up, Kirito?" The two players were standing outside, in the light of the setting sun.
"Everyone…" Kirito bit his lip.
"What about them?"
"Ducker...Samasaru...Tetsuo...and Sachi…They're all dead."
"Wh-what?" Keita stepped back, shocked. "T-t-tell me you're joking!"
"I wish I were," Kirito replied, looking down with his eyes hidden under his hair.
"How…?"
Trap room on Floor 27. It was also an Anti-Crystal Area. I was the only one who got out."
"But you're the same level as us! How did you survive?!"
"Well...That's the thing. I'm not really level 20."
"...Then what level are you?"
"40."
Keita stepped back in horror. "You...you―"
"Lied to you. Yeah."
"You're a beater. You had no right to be with us!"
Keita looked down, eyes covered by shadows. After some time, he stepped onto the edge of the floor.
"Wait!" Kirito called out. But it was too late. Keita fell over and shattered when he hit the clouds. Everyone had gathered over to watch the player jump, gasping and whispering.
Throughout all that, Kirito was leaning over the edge with his head outstretched, too shocked to move.
Floor 35: Forest of Wandering
"Dude!" Kirito heard a voice call out to him. Kirito turned to look at Klein and his guild.
"Hey, Klein," Kirito said in his usual murmury tone. "Why are you here?"
"To find the boss that spawns around here. You doing the same?"
"Yeah."
"Well, you should at least get a partner."
"I'll manage."
"If you say so." Klein looked up in thought. "How do you think Arctic's doing right now?"
Kirito's response was a shrug. "Who would know?"
Before Klein could pursue the topic any further, the group looked around to see dozens upon dozens of players teleport around them. "Damn it! It's the Holy Dragon Alliance!"
"What's so bad about them?" Kirito inquired.
"Nothing's wrong with them, honestly," Klein said while everyone drew their weapons. "But they'll do anything to be the ones to earn a rare item; they'll even go as far as to become orange for that item."
"I'll help you," Kirito said, hand near his blade.
"No, don't. We'll hold them off; you get the item."
"Klein…" Kirito ran towards the portal.
(x)
For the most part, Klein and the Fuurinkazan actually held their own, even going as far as to reduce the number of members to fifteen.
It wasn't long, however, before their durability ran low. Klein took down two guys with a slice of his katana, but was blindsided by a HDA member.
Right before he could strike Klein down, the member was cut in half-and shattered-by a jet black blade. Klein looked up, slightly scared for his life. "Are you Shadow?"
Shadow nodded and teleported to kill the remaining members. When there was no trace of them left, Shadow turned to Klein. "Where is he?" Klein pointed to the direction where Kirito teleported. "Thanks," Shadow said, tossing Klein six healing items.
(x)
Kirito stopped in front of a glowing fir tree. He looked around, but there was no trace of the boss. However, he heard a sound and looked up. There was a sleigh pulled by reindeers streaking across the sky. When the sleigh reached the tree, a figure dropped down.
It landed with a heavy thud. Kirito covered his eyes from the snow that fell upwards upon this creature's landing. He removed his arm and got a good look at the boss.
Nicholas the Renegade was-there's no other way to say it-a twisted Santa Claus. He had pale blue skin and yellow-white hair, red strabismic eyes, and a spiky mustache and beard.
Another sound was heard from Kirito's left side. He turned to see Shadow crouched with a hand on the ground, as if he'd just landed, and his left hand holding his blade. He stood up straight and nodded at Kirito. The latter returned the nod.
A truce to fight the boss.
Nicholas the Renegade began to speak, but wasn't given the chance as both players rushed the Flag Mob with their blades; they charged their sword skills and let out fierce battle cries―with Shadow's being a mixture of grief and rage, and Kirito's being a mixture of grief and hope. Together, the two black-clad swordsmen attacked the boss.
(x)
Kirito lay on the ground panting heavily after the intense battle he just fought. He did it. He beat the boss. But he couldn't get the item he needed. He watched in sadness as Shadow held the item in his hand and opened the flavor text. Kirito was surprised to see the mercenary begin to shake as he looked down. Kirito opened his mouth to speak, but did not get the chance to. Shadow tossed the item behind him to Kirito, who caught it in his hands after sitting up. "Take it. I don't need it."
Kirito half-expected him to turn around and comically yell, "IIIII NEEEEEDDDD IIIIIITTTT!" but that didn't happen. "You were so adamant about getting it earlier―" he began.
"I said I don't need it," Shadow harshly cut him off. He stood where he was for a few seconds and looked down. After a while, he looked back up and turned around to face the beater, who had stood up fully. "Never look a gift horse in the mouth, Kirito. Otherwise, it'll end up biting you in the end." Kirito was taken aback with how...broken the mercenary sounded. With that, Shadow walked through the portal, and Kirito was alone.
Kirito looked at the item. It was labeled Divine Stone of Returning Soul. It was an orb that was in an oval-shaped container (which looked slightly like an egg), and was light blue. He opened the flavor text, and read to himself, 'The item can be activated on the player's shortcut menu or by holding the materialized item and uttering «Revive ... [Player's Name]». The effect will only work during the time frame between the death of the player and the disappearance of item's effect light, which is approximately ten seconds.'
Kirito was motionless. He couldn't even use the damn thing?! Then why the hell did he even bother?! Kirito looked down, and let the item slip from his hand. Then, he raised his hands to his sides as he threw his head back and let out a loud scream of all the frustrations he couldn't put into words.
(x)
After Kirito gave the item to Klein, he went back to his room at the inn. He was depressed. He was disappointed. He was currently EVERYTHING negative in the world of Sword Art Online, and the real world too. As he prepared to leave the inn to suicide run the boss, he received a notice in his inbox. He had received a gift? He was beyond curious now. Kirito opened the inbox and took out the item. He was shocked to see it start playing a message.
(A/N: Because the message gave me too much of the feels, I'm not going to add the message that Sachi leaves for Kirito. Just watch it on Netflix or Kiss Anime. Seriously. Just do it. Not that hard.)
(x)
Shadow's inbox rang, causing him to wake up and sit up on the bed he was sleeping in. He silently left the inn through the door (And no, he doesn't sleep in his normal clothes; he sleeps with his coat off, like a civilized piece of mercenary scum.) instead of the window as usual. He opened his inbox to play the message.
I knew I shouldn't have put my contact info to the public.
He was surprised to have a crystal fall into his hands. With no other option present, he played the message. The crystal hovered silently in front of him.
"Wow. I, uh...I am not good at this stuff. Well-(deep breath)-here goes. Hey, Shadow. It's me, Kirito.
"I just wanted to say...Thanks. For your help, I mean. I guess we both had our agendas for that revival item, right? Too bad it wasn't what we hoped for. But, that brought me to a realization. It also made sense with what Eros said earlier: you lost someone dear to you. Like me.
"That's why you wanted that item. You wanted it as much, if not more than, I did. And now comes the purpose of this message. (Another deep breath) There are people, like the ones we lost, who were undoubtedly scared of dying in SAO. And who wouldn't be? No resets in this world. And so, I wanted to ask you.
"If you ever come across somebody-anybody-in need of help in any way, then please: Help them. I know helping others isn't your cup of tea, but we all gotta try new things every now and then. It's up to us if the tea leaves a bitter taste in our mouths."
Shadow looked at the now dormant crystal, letting it fall and shatter. He looked up at the inn, then at the town, and shook his head.
"I'll think about it."
(x)
Waiting.
That's all the pseudo-leader of the Tri-Blade Alliance would do on Christmas Eve. Just wait for an old friend. A friend he knew was never going to show up. Solar looked at the clock in the room. The time read 11:45 PM. Then, he looked to his right. His girlfriend, the love of his life, was sitting beside him on the couch, dressed in her sleepwear, arms wrapped around his, and waiting as well. Though, he knew that she couldn't wait for much longer. He could tell that her eyes were begging to close, so she could sleep, but she chose to stay awake, for his sake. She looked back up at him, and both exchanged a tired smile. Akira snuggled up closer to Solar and put her head on his shoulder. He responded by placing her head on his.
Both shifted their eyes to Skye, who was also in the room with them, waiting, HOPING, for Arctic to come back. She was wide awake, like the only man in the room. After five more minutes of waiting, she sighed and stood up. "He's not coming," she said with tears in her eyes. This was unlike Skye, as she never gave up; a trait that all Tri-Bladers shared.
Solar sighed and stood up, with Akira still attached to his arm, and ran a hand through his hair with his free hand. "I guess not." After about a second's silence, Solar opened his menu and brought out a box, small enough to hold with one hand. After receiving curious looks from his friends, he told them, "It was the last thing he gave me before he left. He told me open it about 6 months after he left. I gave him a month and a day extra. I guess it's time to open it now."
Skye looked at the clock. 12:00 AM. Then she looked back at her best friend, and nodded in confirmation. Akira let go of her boyfriend's arm to watch what was going to happen next. Solar opened the box and pulled out two folded pieces of paper. When he opened the one with the label, Skye got a notification from her guild. She opened it up, and read a message on the guild's page. It was just one sentence. "The new leader of the Tri-Blade Alliance is Solar. ―Arctic." Needless to say, the other two were shocked to hear this. Akira looked towards Solar, and was scared when she saw an expressionless look on his face, as he read a notice that told him that he was promoted to leader.
Slowly, Solar opened the other piece of paper, and was honestly relieved when he did not receive a notice that read 'PSYCH!' He read this letter out loud.
"Solar,
If you're reading this, then it really has been 6 months since that day. Maybe more. Who knows. Anyway, there's really only one reason why I'm writing you this letter. I want to apologize.
"I'm sorry. For everything. For leaving the guild. For leaving you and Skye. For leaving you to unofficially carry my burden. For leaving without a second thought. I might return, but things change, you know.
"I decided to make you the leader because you're honestly the most capable and the most respected, both in the Tri-Blade community and out. Don't get me wrong, Skye's suitable for the job, but she's way better at keeping the more rowdy members in check. If she's not there to keep those guys in check, there won't even be a guild for you to lead. I know, I know, I'm exaggerating, but still.
"This letter isn't going to be that long. I just wanted to end this letter on a preferably good note. All I can say, without giving away too much of my real life, is that, besides my sisters, you two are the closest thing to a family I have. Especially in this damn game. I know that, wherever I go, you two will be with me. In spirit, obviously. Just know that I will be with you. Jesus Christ, this is turning into a cliche.
Solar, you're like the brother I never had. I regret that we couldn't have spent more time together. Then again, one can never spend too much time with their family, can they?
Skye, you're like my younger sister; so happy and full of life. Please, don't change on my account.
Akira (I know you're there), you're like my crazy cousin. Or would you prefer sister-in-law? Either way, your pick, and that's who you are to me. And dead is not an option.
"I'm just rambling at this point. I really don't want to leave, but I'm gonna have to. Don't hold it against me. You have no idea what I'm going through.
Take care, guys. I love you.
Your brother-in-arms,
Arctic."
Everyone was silent. Skye and Solar had tears running down their faces, and Akira's were threatening to flow. So, it was true. He wasn't coming back anytime soon. Their leader―and brother―had left them.
Solar drew in a shaky breath and let it loose. He looked at the clock. 12:39 AM. He looked towards his friends. "It's time to go to sleep, guys. We'll talk more about this in the morning." Skye nodded and left the room. She stopped halfway, right next to Solar. She turned to him. He looked at Akira, who nodded. He opened his arms, and let his best friend hug him and let her tears out on his comforting shoulder.
A/N: Sorry for the late update guys! I meant to upload this sometime yesterday, but it was incomplete, I just went through a nose surgery, so I was too busy recovering. Solar actually had to complete this chapter for me, so give him props. Right now, he's working on the next chapter, which we PROMISE will be up on New Year's Day. Oh, and one last thing: Merry (late) Christmas!