//------------------------------//
// Chapter 1 - New Beginnings 
// Story: Sword Art Equestria 
// by Navy Shadow 
//------------------------------//


Chapter 1 - New Beginnings


A flash, and Kirito was back in the game world, Aincrad. A floating castle above the clouds, taller than the tallest skyscraper in New York and he was on the bottom floor. The castle didn’t really stick to normal world rules. Each floor of the castle was floating around 100 foot above the last floor, the only way to the next floor was through a dungeon with a boss at the end. Killing the boss unlocks the next floor. If you were to be living in a town inside Aincrad, you'd think it was just a normal city in a normal world. because everything looks normal. You look up and see blue skies and clouds, and below your feet is soft green grass, everything just felt right.

Kirito looked around him. surrounding him were 9999 other players. Everyone had been dumped back into the plaza, where they were when Kayaba showed himself and revealed his true intentions for this game. Remembering his personal wish to Kayaba he opened his map from his menu. There he found a new city, situated a few miles away from his current location; The Town of Beginnings. Ponyville, It was here. Cities, towns and villages from all over Equestria had been scattered around Aincrad’s many floors. Kirito took off instantly. Not even bothering to wait for his friend, he'd be fine on his own, besides, his friend had people who were coming to game with him anyway. Kirito found the exit to the town of beginnings and set off running down the new path to Ponyville.





Around halfway down the path, Kirito caught a glimpse of something in the corner of his eye, it was flying, and looked sort of like a large bird. Bigger than he’d ever seen. He slowed to a stop and looked around to see what it was. He looked around for a while longer before seeing a rainbow streak fly up from a tree in the distance. With a smile he started waving at the thing causing the streak of rainbow colours, calling it down to talk to him.

The flying animal seemed to have seen him as it stopped in mid air and then started to slowly head towards him. As it got closer he saw the creature had 4 hooves, a rainbow coloured tail and mane, a blue coat and more importantly it had wings, it was a horse with wings, It was a pegasus.

Kirito suddenly remembered where he was running to, and made mental note to get someone to slap him later.

The rainbow haired pegasus steadily approached the now facepalming human.
“Hello?” She called out apprehensively. “Do you speak my language?”

Kirito looked up at the floating pony.
“Hi. I’m Kirito. And you?”
"Rainbow Dash, and that wasn't a direct answer to my question. I'll take it anyway. Do you know where I am? I was just resting on a cloud over Ponyville when all of a sudden there was a flash of light and it seems to have moved to somewhere completely different."

‘Is it possible that Kayaba gave them complete memories?’
“Um well you see, I’m not actually real… Well I am, in a sense but this body of me isn’t real. Well actually it is now.”
“Get on with it” Rainbow Dash was getting impaitent.
“Well i could tell you the short version which explains nothing or i can give you the long version which will take around 10 minutes.”
“Well… Ponyville is a 10 minute walk from here, I think. I can’t tell with these new surroundings, but you can tell me as we’re walking if you want. If that’s where you were headed in the first place?”
“That sounds like a plan. And yes I was heading there actually.”

Rainbow Dash landed and began to walk towards the town of Ponyville.
“You comin or are you just gonna stand there staring at my flank?” Rainbow smiled back at him
“Coming…”

They both started to walk the path as Kirito started to explain everything. From the virtual world they were in to the NerveGear device every player was plugged into. He left out the details of what happens when the virtual bodies die, or what will happen when the game is either completed or all 10000 players die and the world is deleted and the game shut down as he didn’t want to think about that right at that moment, as he was with Rainbow Dash and it was a happy time for him.

More or less 10 minutes later, Rainbow Dash and Kirito arrived in Ponyville. As they entered a few ponies stared at Kirito as if he was some strange animal.
“Um, Rainbow Dash… Just a question that’s been on my mind. Why is it that everybody else around here is looking at me like i’m a wild animal but you had no problems approaching me earlier?”
“Well, to tell you the truth, I'm still a little wary of you, as you stand on 2 legs and you're carrying a sword.” Rainbow admitted. "But you seem nice, and you haven't shown any signs of hostility towards me or anypony else, so I'm willing to give you a shot." She said. Truthfully she added, "It also helps that we seem to use the same language." She looked around the town "Some of the other ponies might take some convincing, though. Do you want me to give you a tour while we're here? It might help get you acquainted"
“Why not…”

Rainbow walked Kirito around Ponyville, showing him all the landmarks such as Sugarcube Corner, the edge of the Everfree Forest, the Library, the Farm and the Boutique. Kirito was amazed at everything in this seemingly small town. As they walked back to the Library. Rainbow asked kirito if he enjoyed the tour. Kirito responded with a small nod as he was still looking around, amazed that he was actually here, inside Ponyville.

Suddenly a door slam broke him out of his amazement as a purple mare ran out towards Kirito and Rainbow Dash

“Rainbow! Something has moved Ponyville from Equestria! And most likely every other town, city and village too!”

“And this, Kirito… is Twilight Sparkle.”