Front Line - Floor 62
June 14 - Year 2
After a lot of fun with the kids, ending with AFCK's delectable dinner, the Wondercolts were finally all back, together, at their Headquarters in Mishe. It still was a bit on the early side for most of their bedtime routines, but the next morning would bring a tough day with all Wondercolts hitting the Labyrinth.
Backbreaker had guild business to discuss, but she called the meeting in her room, not the guild hall. Astro was also asked to join them. The spearwoman didn't appear surprised, but Bladescape had been picking up on a suspicion that something big had happened in the Labyrinth, which was why they teleported out early. It was also the perfect time for them to let Astro know they had decided she was their choice for their third guild leader.
"Astro," Bladescape said, faltering. She suddenly felt like she was betraying Knightstar. She pushed through the feeling. "Backbreaker and I want you to join the guild's council as our third leader."
"Wait," Astro said. "This has nothing to do with the Labyrinth?"
"Not yet," Backbreaker said with a nod. "This business is first."
"You are not a replacement for Knightstar," Bladescape continued. "But we need a third. And when she comes back, we don't want her to have the extra pressure of leadership. We also want to give out real titles for the guild, and build more of a hierarchical structure. We are large enough."
"Barely," Astro nodded as she took a moment to think. "Bladescape is our commander, but probably not commander because it’s Heathcliff's title. Backbreaker is our Lead Tank. We need a better name for that. I would be the Strategist, a role I have been playing from the start. Knightstar was a Statistician. AFCK is our head chef. Diemond is our Armorer. What else?"
"Kiefer is a lieutenant officer sort of position," Bladescape added. "To lead a third party when we fragment our groups more."
"Good call," Astro said. "I think this will work. And I will take the position. But it has nothing to do with the voting. I am the one who submitted the blank piece of paper."
"We didn't look," Backbreaker stated. "We have been quietly eyeing you for the position for a little while."
"Good," Astro grinned. "That entire debacle is best forgotten. I'm not sure what Thunder was thinking, but I am glad Diemond stood up against her proposal. I wish she didn't put forth another candidate, but it was at least some resistance."
"You have something else to discuss?" Bladescape asked Backbreaker. "As a full council again, we can do it now."
"And need to," Backbreaker stated with a nod. "Fer' once, I made an executive decision today. We ran into the Geigi Clan. Lobelia is havin' a hard time. They lost three members the other day in a regular battle in the Labyrinth. It was bad luck. They are faltering in their ability to be a front line guild an' overall they are not happy with it. Tomorrow we're meetin' up with them and tacklin' the dungeon together."
"Cool," Bladescape shrugged. "I could use a whole support team this time around. It's been an odd few days."
"That is the idea," Astro said. "Bolster each other up, while being safer. We can't afford to lose them on the front lines. But I am afraid their time is almost up."
"Pick your party," Bladescape told Backbreaker. "I will support your choice, however you divide us."
"Me‽" Backbreaker exclaimed. "Why? That's your job."
"You have spent the last two days with the same party in the Labyrinth," Bladescape pointed out. "Plus you actually set up this opportunity with Geigi Clan. So divide us using that knowledge. I don't have it, but you do."
"I'll sleep on it," Backbreaker said, resigning herself to the task.
"We all need sleep," Bladescape said. "Anything else before I go to bed? It was a hell of a day for me."
"But you did it in typical, Sunset Shimmer and Wondercolt fashion," Backbreaker said, putting her hand on her shoulder for support.
Bladescape smiled at her dear friend. "I'm not sure I would go that far, but thanks."
"Go," Astro said. "I'll think about our organization a bit more as I head to bed."
They split up. Bladescape stepped one door over to her room and entered it. She jumped with a yell as she saw the dragon head still on her desk. She had completely forgotten about it.
Astro tackled Bladescape, covering her friend with her own body from whatever had scared her. Backbreaker barged in, yelling a war cry as her hammer was glowing orange above her head. As impossible as it was supposed to be, both of them had interpreted the cry to mean that Laughing Coffin had gotten into Bladescape's room and was waiting to kill her.
"I'm fine," Bladescape coughed from under Astro. "I just forgot about that."
Backbreaker dropped her hammer to rest on her shoulder and turned to close the door. The others had heard the blood curtailing scream and war cry and were packed outside the bedroom door. They couldn't see anything with Backbreaker blocking the door.
"She just scared herself y'all, that's all." Backbreaker said as she closed the door in their face, preventing any follow up questions.
Astro pulled Bladescape up onto her feet and immediately asked the question. "What is that? As a guild Councilor, I deserve to know."
Bladescape sighed and sat down on her bed. "It's from the Last Attack Bonus from the King Black Dragon. It's called the Black Draconic Visage. It has an item ranking of S, but I have no idea what it is for. I assume some type of crafting since it isn’t food. And if I poke around in the wrong place, then other players will find out about it. I don't want them to know the King Black Dragon is dead. Or better put, that I killed it with Doom and Kirito. That is a complicated mess of a situation."
"Yeah, you mentioned somethin’ about that yesterday," Backbreaker said. "Well, you're safe, that there is what matters. We don't need to bother you anymore."
"Agreed," Astro said. "We can solve that mystery, smartly, later."
They exited the room and Bladescape put the dragon head in her materials storage for now. She almost hung up Harmonic Salvation, but instead she pulled out the thorned spear. It was a pathetic weapon compared to what she had, or even what Astro had. But it had almost killed her. It would also make for a good reminder so that she didn't falter again. She put it on the rack where Harmonic Salvation usually went. She would get another display rack on the next free day.
Bladescape pulled out the necklace she had taken from Kurayaro's neck. It had belonged to an unnamed girl he had murdered. She was one of the first killed by a fellow player. It held no enhancement, which meant that it held some form of meaning to the player who had been wearing it. The chrysanthemum was a very special and powerful flower to Japan. It was featured everywhere: on official government documents, buildings, and other governmental items for well over a millennium. Unfortunately, the exact meaning of this necklace was lost forever.
You could only equip a single necklace, at least officially. This was an unenchanted piece, meaning she wasn't going to try and wear two pieces in the same slot. If Doombunny could wear three daggers on her, then Bladescape was certain she could also wear it. There was a lot of clothing and equipment players wore that didn't fit into the slots. SAO was more complicated and immersive than slapping on a few preset types of armor.
Bladescape swept her hair out of the way and then she slipped the necklace on. The system didn't reject it or stop her from locking the clasp. She let go and looked down. It hung lower on her armor than the geode necklace did, but it was on a long chain. Bladescape pulled her armor off and put it on the stand so she could reorganize the layers.
Ashley had made her armor to be as few pieces as possible. It was a comfortable set for her torso, made of a few layers but ultimately one piece. She didn't need to wear anything under it or under her platelegs. The geode was usually nestled between the bottom layer of her armor and her outer breastplate. It was sometimes visible, especially if you were up close like Kurayaro had gotten. The chrysanthemum necklace was going to sit completely under her armor. Against her amber skin it was mostly lost because it was so fine. But it felt nice. And no matter what its meaning was to its previous owner, she would wear it to honor the dead.
Bladescape fell onto her bed, not even bothering to wear anything over her body. It was just her in the room. Her and the bed.
her sleep wasn't particularly restful, but it was sleep. She felt wrong as she woke up. It was like she was not in SAO. More like SAO was a dream and she could feel the real world around her. But that wasn't quite it either.
Bladescape tried to brush it off as she got up. She rolled out of bed and onto all fours. She stood there, butt in the air as she tried to comprehend why her fists were on the ground. Then she realized that she couldn't feel her fingers. Everything felt like she was back in Equestria.
Bladescape groaned in defeat and flopped onto her side. She laid there as the feeling in her hands finally began to morph from hoof to fingers. As soon as she felt "normal," Bladescape slowly got up. She had no idea what had happened, but it was over. At least, it was over for now.
Breakfast had just started when she arrived as the last one to the dining room.
"Glad we didn't have to wake you up," Backbreaker said, smiling warmly at her. "Everythin' alright? You don't look like your normal self."
"Didn't sleep well," Bladescape yawned. "Woke up feeling like I wasn't in my body. Like I was split between here, I.R.L., and possibly Equestria."
Backbreaker leaned in closer and spoke quieter. "Could they um, have gotten you back there to, uh, do anythin'? Maybe magic?"
"I don't think so," Bladescape said as she sat down. "They would have to run an internet connection through to Equestria, and I am not sure if that is possible."
"Sounds silly when you put it like that," Backbreaker shrugged. "Just play it safe today and hang back a bit. You don't need to be as aggressive as usual. We have a whole army."
"Does everyone know the plan?" Bladescape asked Backbreaker.
"Not yet," Backbreaker said. She stood up to address everyone. Most of them had been paying attention to the conversation anyway. "Everyone, this mornin' we want to officially announce that Astro has taken the empty seat on the guild's council. It was a decision we have been discussin' for a while now to keep the power balance in the guild strong an' fair. We also have another guild announcement. We are going to be givin' out some positions soon, to keep us officially organized. We are large enough to give out real positions. For example, Kiefer will be our official Party C leader, for whenever we split into three or four parties. Which is somethin' we have been doin' more of recently.
"Now for the day's plan, y'all. Yes, we are hittin' the Labyrinth, but for those who don't know, we ain't doing it alone. We're gunna be teamin' up with Geigi Clan. Lobelia and her guild will be waitin' for us at the labyrinth's entrance.
"This is a tough labyrinth, y'all. It's heavy and slow. The hobgoblin things wield a lot of maces. Our Shields will earn their worth. I bet we will break up and be dispersed within new parties with our friends, but to start, I will have Astro, Thunder, Lessa, and Kiefer. Blade will take Doom, Joltron, Die, and AFCK. That splits us to 2 shields each. Lessa's been dealin' with their maces well. Especially for a non tank."
Everyone agreed with the plan and headed out to get their armor and equipment. Bladescape and Backbreaker went to the front door, as usual. Bladescape actually sat down in a chair while she waited.
"It really was a tough day for you," Backbreaker stated. "I knew it was bad, but I don't think I know how bad."
"I lost myself to anger," Bladescape explained. "That guy we captured, who stabbed me... well I turned my blade on him to punish him. And sort of to punish myself for my past mistakes. It's complicated. I'll just leave it by saying I faced my demon again."
"I trust you," Backbreaker replied. "But I am here, as yer' friend, whatever you need. If you need to go ridin', just let me know."
"Thanks, AJ," Bladescape smiled. "And I mean AJ. Because that is really who you are, especially with your friendship. Backbreaker is an unmovable shield I forget to thank. AJ is so much more in real life, but just as unmovable and unwavering."
Backbreaker chuckled nervously. "Now don't you make me cry. That ain't fair."
Bladescape chuckled with Backbreaker as the others gathered around.
Backbreaker took charge again. "Geigi Clan's members are tough, but hurtin'. Let's give 'em the respect they deserve, but not try and heal a wound that only time can. We need to fight with them, showin' them the way. That they can do this, and can continue to do this. We can't lose them on the front lines, so let's build up their morale. Because who are we?"
Everyone knew what to yell.
"WONDERCOLTS!"
Bladescape (SS): Lvl 83 – Two-Handed Sword – Search – Weapon Defense – Leather Armor – First Aid – Battle Regeneration – Sprint – Acrobatics – Blade Throwing – Extended Weight Carry - Greatsword
Thunderborne (RBD): Lvl 75 – Rapier – Sprint – Acrobatics – Armor Pierce – First Aid – Battle Regeneration – Leather Armor – Weapon Defense – Extended Weight Carry – Search
Backbreaker (AJ): Lvl 78 – Heavy Shield – One-Handed War Hammer – Extended Weight Carry – Heavy Metal Armor – First Aid – Battle Regeneration – Fishing – Search – Martial Arts – Acrobatics
AFCK(PP): Lvl 75 – Two-Handed Axe – Parry – Cooking – Weapon Defense – Martial Arts – First Aid – Battle Regeneration – Light Metal Armor – Thrown Weapon – Musical Instrument
Diemond (R): Lvl 75 – Heavy Shield – Mace – First Aid – Battle Regeneration – Heavy Metal Armor – Tailoring – Light Metal Armor Forging – Heavy Metal Armor Forging – Jewelry Making – Extended Weight Carry
Doombunny (FS): Lvl 78 – One-Handed Dagger – First Aid – Hide – Search – Listening – Battle Regeneration – Fighting Spirit – Familiar Communication (Colorra) – Drug Mixing – Reveal -- Fencing
Astro (PS): Lvl 75 – Two-Handed Spear - Purchase Negotiation – Armor Pierce – Acrobatics – First Aid – Light Metal Armor – Battle Regeneration – Weapon Defense – Parry – Extended Weight Carry
Kiefer: Lvl 73 – One-Handed Curved Blade – Parry – Weapon Defense – First Aid – Battle Regeneration – Light Metal Armor – Slash Weapon Forging – Katana – Martial Arts - Search - Armor Pierce
Lessa: Lvl 72 – One-Handed Sword – Shield – Light Metal Armor – First Aid – Battle Regeneration – Equipment Repair – Metal Equipment Repairing – Armor Pierce – Search - Acrobatics
Joltron: Lvl 75 – One handed Axe – Heavy Shield – Heavy Metal Armor – First Aid – Battle Regeneration – Metal Refining – Cooking – One Handed Weapon Creation – Two Handed Weapon Creation – Extended Weight Carry