Chapter 8: Dragon, Time-skip, Start of Canon
(AN: Another chapter boys! Don't worry though, third one incoming!!!)
Previously:
Kirito: So you can't talk at all? And your name is Neo?
...
Roman: (thinking) I'm going to thank that brat by killing him.
...
Alice: (smiling) Doesn't this look interesting?
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(Kirito POV:)
Kirito: (sweating) Whoa whoa whoa, let's calm down now...
Alice: Hmm? I am calm?
Kirito: Oh by the way...
Yang: (grinning) Trying ta change the subject, aye?
Kirito: No, Alice, you still need to open [Amayori's Egg], don't you?
Alice: Oh! That's right!
Ruby: (confused) What are you guys talking about?
Alice: (excited) Our new pet dragon!
Ruby and Yang: Dragon?!
Ruby: (stuttering) B-but aren't t-those extinct?
Yang: (sighing) Ruby, it's Kirito and Alice we are talking about. Nothing is surprising anymore!
Kirito: (thinking) I wish I had a dragon.
A screen appeared in Kirito's face, and as he read it, he grinned.
Kirito: All that aside, we have quite a bit to do. We only have eight months until Beacon starts, so let's train hard!
Ruby: Aww, you guys are all gonna leave me at Signal?
Kirito: (grinning) Who knows? Maybe you can get lucky.
Alice: Well then, let's do this!
Ruby, Kirito, Yang: (excited) Yeah!
(TIMESKIP Brought to You By... Hit? Wrong Anime!)
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(1 Day Before Beacon Starts)
(Kirito POV:)
Four people are sitting in a living room. One is swinging her legs back and forth while sitting on a chair. Another is reading a fashion magazine. The third is laying down on my lap, while I stroke her hair.
Ruby?: Hey Yang! Let's go to [From Dust till Dawn]! I want to get a new weapon magazine!
[Name: Ruby Rose]
[Title: Cookie Monster]
[Head: Red Hoodie]
[Chest: Black Blouse]
[Legs: Skirt]
[Feet: Black Combat Boots.]
[Weapon: Crecent Rose]
[Health: 800/800]
[Aura: 775/775]
[Semblance: Petal Burst]
[Silver Eyes: {LOCKED}]
[Level: 35]
[Strength: 34]
[Agility: 40]
[Intelligence: 15]
[Endurance: 20]
[Dexterity: 25]
[Luck: 28]
Yang?: Sorry Ruby, but I think I'm going to hang back instead.
[Name: Yang Xiao-Long]
[Title: Sunny Little Dragon]
[Head:]
[Chest: Tan Jacket]
[Legs: Black Mini-Skirt]
[Feet: Brown Boots]
[Weapon: Ember Celica]
[Health: 960/960]
[Aura: 880/880]
[Semblance: Burn]
[Level: 39]
[Strength: 42]
[Agility: 26]
[Intelligence: 20]
[Endurance: 36]
[Dexterity: 17]
[Luck: 23]
Ruby: What about you Alice?
Alice: (stretching) Nah, Kirito's legs are too soft to give up. I feel like it should be the other way around though.
[Name: Alice Kirigaya]
[Title:]
[Head:] [Sub Head:]
[Chest: White Dress Part 1] [Sub Chest: Fragrant Olive Chestplate]
[Legs: White Dress Part 2] [Sub Legs: Fragrant Olive Leggings]
[Feet: Black Boots] [Sub Feet: Fragrant Olive Boots]
[Weapon: Osmanthus Blade] [Sub Weapon:]
[Health: 1070/1070]
[Aura/Sacred Power: 1040/1040]
[Semblance: LOCKED]
[Level: 45]
[Strength: 42]
[Agility: 23]
[Intelligence: 28]
[Endurance: 34]
[Dexterity: 26]
[Luck: 35]
[Free Points: 120]
Skills:
[Active Skill: Enhance Armament LV 12]
[Active Skill: Throwing LV 18]
[Active Skill: Skill Connect LV 48]
[Active Skill: Elemental Sword Attacks LV 60]
[Active Skill: ID Create/Destroy LV MAX]
[Active Skill: Sacred Arts LV MAX]
[Active Skill: Observation LV MAX]
[Self Skill: Weapon Break LV 4]
[Self Skill: Parrying LV 87]
[Self Skill: Dodging LV 91]
[Passive Skill: Blacksmithing LV 12]
[Passive Skill: Riding LV 24]
[Passive Skill: Hiding LV 34]
[Passive Skill: Cooking LV 42]
[Passive Skill: Battle Healing LV 60]
[Passive Skill: Pain Tolerance LV 67]
[Passive Skill: One-Handed Sword LV 86]
[Passive Skill: Sprinting LV MAX]
[Passive Skill: Fiery Will LV MAX]
[Companions:]
[Amayori] [Bond: 100] [Status: Tired]
Ruby stares at Alice with killer intent.
Kirito: (blushing) You need to get off of me eventually sis, I need to bring out [Aoiyoru] and feed him!
[Name: Kazuto Kirigaya]
[Title:]
[Head:] [Sub Head: Illusion Hood]
[Chest: Black Shirt] [Sub Chest: Blackwyrm Coat]
[Legs: Black Pants] [Sub Legs: Blackwyrm Pants]
[Feet: Black Shoes] [Sub Feet: Blackwyrm Boots]
[Weapon: Night Sky Sword] [Sub Weapon: Blue Rose Sword]
[Health: 1170/1170]
[Aura/Sacred Power: 1185/1185]
[Semblance: LOCKED]
[Level: 49]
[Strength: 58]
[Agility: 30]
[Intelligence: 41]
[Endurance: 38]
[Dexterity: 35]
[Luck: 39]
[Free Points: 137]
Skills:
[Active Skill: Enhance Armament LV 14]
[Active Skill: Throwing LV 30]
[Active Skill: Skill Connect LV 52]
[Active Skill: Elemental Sword Attacks LV 59]
[Active Skill: ID Create/Destroy LV MAX]
[Active Skill: Sacred Arts LV MAX]
[Active Skill: Observation LV MAX]
[Self Skill: Spinning Shield LV 9]
[Self Skill: Parrying LV 87]
[Self Skill: Dodging LV 91]
[Passive Skill: Blacksmithing LV 18]
[Passive Skill: Riding LV 20]
[Passive Skill: Hiding LV 47]
[Passive Skill: Pain Tolerance LV 60]
[Passive Skill: Battle Healing LV 69]
[Passive Skill: One-Handed Sword LV 89]
[Passive Skill: Cooking LV MAX]
[Passive Skill: Sprinting LV MAX]
[Passive Skill: Fiery Will LV MAX]
[Companions:]
[Aoiyoru] [Bond: 92] [Status: Hungry]
Alice: (pouting) Fine, but you are giving it back to me when we go to [Beacon].
Kirito: (blushing) Fine!
Kirito: (thinking) A lot of things changed, I got my own dragon, which I named [Aoiyoru], or "Blue Night", we all got stronger, unlocked new skills, and I got used to both [Blue Rose Sword] along with Alice's teasing. Well, kinda.
I walked outside and began my chant.
Kirito: [System Call! Summon Companion! ID [Aoiyoru]! Discharge!]
As I finished, a blue dragon appeared, looking at me with an expression that looked similar to puppy eyes.
Kirito: (patting his scales) There there, I have food.
The dragon perked up as Kirito opened up the [Inventory] he shared with Alice. It had grown a lot during the eight months. Now that they had ID Create, they get to choose whether they want an empty one or one filled with almost every single mob in SAO.
[Inventory]
99+ [Boar Hide]
99+ [Frenzy Boar's Meat - Raw]
42 [Frenzy Boar's Meat - Cooked]
6 [Small Metal Piece]
89 [Metal Ingot]
42 [Killer Mantis' Sickle]
2 [Iron Broadsword]
99+ [Emergency Potion]
94 [Aura Potion]
2 [Cat Ears and Tail]
1 [Illusion Hood]
2 [Dust Kit]
52 [Pointed Stinger]
13 [Flask of Poison]
45 [Sharp Claw]
...
Kirito: Here you go!
I threw him two pieces of [Frenzy Boar's Meat - Raw]. We had so much the [Inventory] couldn't keep out, so had some extra meat for his food.
[+4 Bond with [Aoiyoru]!]
Ruby: Kirito, can you come with me?
Kirito: Sure, get on!
I pulled out a [Saddle] and attached it to [Aoiyoru] before we both hopped on.
Kirito: Let's go!
We started to fly upward before zooming through the skies.
Ruby: Whoo-hoo!
Kirito: It's fun, isn't it?
Ruby: Yeah! Look! I can see the town!
We started to descend on the ground before landing. We don't want to scare the townsfolk with a dragon after all.
Kirito: [System Call! Return Companion! ID [Aoiyoru]! Discharge!]
[Aoiyoru] let out something similar to a purr before disappearing.
Ruby: It's over there!
Kirito: Yes yes, let's go.
Ruby pulled out a set of [Headphones] and put them on before covering her head with a hood. We both walked in after greeting the shopkeeper before looking around. Ruby grabbed a magazine and started to read it, while I looked at the TV in the corner.
Narrator: (from TV) Legends. Stories scattered through time. Mankind has grown quite fond of recounting the exploits of heroes and villains, forgetting so easily that we are remnants, byproducts, of a forgotten past.
Kirito: (thinking) This is how they are going to do the narration? Creative.
The TV shows gems glowing green and fade to show simple pictures of a man rising from the earth before being surrounded by creatures, barely held back by warriors.
Narrator: (from TV) Man, born from dust, was strong, wise, and resourceful, but he was born into an unforgiving world. Inevitable darkness — creatures of destruction — the creatures of [Grimm] - set their sights on man and all of his creations. These forces clashed, and it seemed the darkness was intent on returning man's brief existence to the void.
Black sets in on the TV, then suddenly lessens as light grows brighter and brighter until a gem rises from it and lowers itself into the hands of man.
Narrator: (from TV) However, even the smallest spark of hope is enough to ignite change, and in time, man's passion, resourcefulness, and ingenuity led them to the tools that would help even the odds. This power was appropriately named [Dust].
The TV zooms out to show men shooting lightning, raising swords, and aiming rifles at the retreating beasts as a castle appears behind them.
Narrator: (from TV) Nature's wrath in hand, mankind lit their way through the darkness, and in the shadow's absence came strength, civilization, and most importantly, life.
The castle zooms out to show a map of Remnant, which houses other buildings until they disappear in flashes of white and the map is lowered to show the scattered moon over a city at night.
Narrator: (from TV) But even the most brilliant lights eventually flicker and die. And when they are gone... darkness will return.
Narrator: (from TV) So you may prepare your guardians, build your monuments to a so-called "free world", but take heed... there will be no victory in strength.
Five people entered the store and spread out.
Kirito: (thinking) Roman and his henchman huh?
Narrator: (From TV) But perhaps victory is in the simpler things that you've long forgotten. Things that require a smaller, more honest soul.
Then the TV had rewind and played the same clip again. As the TV does that, Roman begins his monologue.
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(3rd Person POV:)
Roman: (flicking his cigarette) Do you have any idea how hard it is to find a Dust shop open this late?
One of the henchmen points his gun at the shopkeeper.
Shopkeeper: (raising his hands; shaking) P-please! Just take my Lien and leave!
Roman: Shh, calm down, we're not here for your money. (to the henchmen) Guys, grab the Dust.
A henchman opens a case and removes one of several cylinders, which the group uses to take Dust from the tube containers on the walls.
Henchman 1: (placing another open case on the display to the shopkeeper) Crystals. Burn. Uncut.
The shopkeeper proceeds to fill the case. As another henchman goes for another tube, he hears a slightly muted song from a girl's direction and unsheathes his sword. Meanwhile, the third henchman takes notice of Kirito and walks towards him with a gun in hand.
Henchman 2: (pointing his sword at her back) Alright kid, put your hands where I can see 'em. (no response) Hey, I said hands in the air! You got a death wish or something!?
Henchman 3: (aims gun towards me) What he said.
Henchman 2 goes over to her and turns her around, the hood dropping to reveal a surprised Ruby wearing headphones. He motions for her to lower them.
Ruby: (doing so) Yes?
Henchman 2: I said, put your hands in the air, now!
Ruby: Are you... robbing us?
Henchman 2: Yes!
Ruby: Ooohhh...
Kirito: Ruby, you can fight back now.
As Roman waits for his men to finish the heist, he hears a "Hey!" and "Hyah!" and the two henchman flies past him. Roman calmly motions for the other two to handle Ruby and Kirito.
Henchman 1: (raising his gun at her) Freeze!
Ruby tackles Henchman 1 as they crash through the window. The other men look outside as Ruby gets up and unfolds Crescent Rose into its scythe form. Roman scowls, but Ruby smiles back at them before twirling the weapon around, striking it into the ground and turning off her headphones.
Roman: Okayyy... (to his remaining henchmen) Get her!
The henchmen head out of the shop and run towards Ruby, only for Kirito to appear and bash his head with his [Night Sky Sword].
Roman: (to Ruby, dropping his cigar and crushing it with his cane as approaching police sirens are heard) You were worth every cent. Truly, you were. Well, Red, Blackie, I think we can all say it's been an eventful evening, and as much as I'd love to stick around... (raises his cane and opens the bottom to reveal a rifle with a cross grid) ...I'm afraid this is where we part ways.
Roman unleashes a red blast at Ruby, who pulls out her [Crecent Rose] and fires at the ground, leaping over it. When she lands and looks up, Roman isn't there and is climbing up a ladder on a nearby building.
Ruby: (to the onlooking shopkeeper) You okay if I go after him?
The shopkeeper gave a short "Uh-huh", and Ruby grabs Kirito's hand.
Ruby: Let's go!
Roman makes it to the roof, with Ruby high-flying again and landing right behind him dragging Kirito with her.
Kirito: (groaning in pain) Ow...
Ruby: Hey!
Roman: (stopping at the edge) Persistent...
Ruby readies to fight him, but a getaway Bullhead rises up and opens the hatch to allow Roman inside.
Roman: (turning around and holding up a red Dust gem) End of the line, Red, Blackie
He throws it out at her feet and fires at them, resulting in a large explosion.
Roman: Whoa-ho-ho! (stops laughing when he sees something on the roof) Huh?
A woman in a purple cape is now in front of Ruby and Kirito, casting a circle of protection over them with her wand. As Ruby looks on, the woman waves her weapon and summons several streaks of purple at the craft. Roman is thrown around in the back until he goes to the cockpit, where a woman in red, her face unseen, is struggling with the controls.
Roman: We got a Huntress!
The woman gets up and heads toward the back as Roman takes the controls.
The woman glows purple for a moment and aims another blast above the craft, resulting in a dark storm-cloud right over the jet.
Roman: The hell...?
With a flick of her wand, large jagged hail starts falling that pummels the jet and even breaks through the window, narrowly missing Roman's head.
Roman: Sh*t.
The woman reaches the back and her arms and chest light up like fire, aiming a burst of energy at the woman who nearly killed Roman. The Huntress blocks it, but the flame splatters behind her and glows hot with the enemy's raised hand. The Huntress back-flips out of the explosion, which destroys part of the roof, and magically gathers the shards to create a large arrow, which she throws at the craft. The fiery woman shatters the arrow with several blasts, but it reforms just in time to hit the side of the jet due to Roman's quick aerial lean. The wreckage separates and reshapes into more arrows that encircle the jet, but the woman summons several glowing rings around herself that expand and destroy the shards.
Ruby, finally acting, reverts her scythe into its rifle form to fire at the woman, who blocks each shot and creates several blazing circles around her two opponents. Glynda telekinetically pushes Ruby and rolls herself out of the explosion's radius; looking up to see the hatch close and the craft fly away.
Ruby: (looking at the Huntress) You're a Huntress! (putting on a pleading, awe-stricken face) Can I have your autograph?!
The Huntress looks at both of them with a glare in her eyes.
Kirito: Ruby, I think we are in trouble.