EQG: Sword Art Online - Aincrad

by Mindrop

Episode 32 - Blue Stones

Floor 22 – Front Line 58

March 26

Bladescape exited the NPC shop in Coral, the main settlement on the quiet 22nd Floor. It was late in the evening with a nice sunset coming through the slits in Aincrad between the Floors. She had come straight here from Floor 57.

Up to that point, Bladescape had spent a total of three days on the Floor, and all three were during the radically short time it took to clear the docile floor. Almost no monsters appeared and it had no dungeons, bosses, or quests, that she knew of. It was a Floor of Lakes and woods. Perfect for fishing and wood crafting. Backbreaker came to this Floor to fish.

The NPC shop did not have any Blue Stones. It was no surprise, but it was a decent place to start. Bladescape was not sure where else to go except to the inn for rest. She was dragging from her time hunting the Dagannoths. The encounter with Laughing Coffin was also a big emotional weight to be carrying.

A commotion from the players in the hamlet caused Bladescape to search her surroundings better. Her Search Skill hadn't picked up anything dangerous. Finally, she saw a large snake was making its way by a group of players, minding its own business and headed in Bladescape's general direction. The scales suddenly shimmered like a rainbow as the sun caught them just right.

"And just what do you think you are doing‽"

Bladescape leaped as she twisted around to face the voice that had come from behind her. She even drew her sword. Her nerves were on edge more than she thought, which was no surprise considering what had happened only a few short hours prior.

Split in her vision by her blade was Doombunny. A very angry Doombunny. Her arms were crossed and brow furrowed as she waited for an answer. Except Bladescape didn't know what she had asked. Colorra circled around Doombunny and slithered up her master to perch on her shoulders and torso.

"Well?" Doombunny demanded.

"You scared me," Bladescape panted. She was still very tense and hadn't even lowered her sword. She couldn’t. "I don't know what you asked."

"I asked you what you are doing here?" Doombunny said, annoyed she had to repeat her question.

A crowd of ten or so players had formed. Half were clearly fishermen, the other wood crafters. They probably had never seen this much "excitement" in their little town.

"I'm here collecting materials," Bladescape fired back, annoyed. "The bigger question is what are you doing here! You're supposed to be with Knightstar, Lessa, and Diemond! You also are under safety restrictions to be with two guild members at all times."

Doombunny huffed. "We heard from Knightstar that you had been jumped by orange players. It didn't take me long to hear who exactly it was who jumped you." Doombunny didn't say Laughing Coffin. She didn't want to disrupt the small-time folks who were just trying to survive in SAO. Floor 22 was quiet and a perfect place to live while waiting SAO's clearing out. "I'm not dumb. I skipped out and tracked you here to provide you back up. You got the hides you needed, now it's on to non-combat items. Colorra and I will be helping you and backing you up. And there is nothing you can do about it."

Doombunny had a high Search level. She could track players, especially friends. It was an in-system ability that the higher rankings of the Search Skill provided. Bladescape had been able to do it for a while.

Bladescape lowered her sword and then shakily put it away. She pulled up her menu and sent a message to Knightstar that Doombunny had arrived to join her, and that the others needed to stay on task.

"Fine," Bladescape said, sending a party request. "You can stay. I have to spend the night here. I had one hell of a time hunting the Dagannoths and their flag boss."

"You soloed a flag boss‽" Doombunny said, shocked. Her anger had subsided since she had won.

Bladescape nodded. "I didn't have a choice, and the ground in the swamp didn't give me a lot of room to work with. At most, I could have had another player with me. I unexpectedly ran into the orange players. They weren't hunting me. It was a big mistake on their part. I knocked them down a few pegs."

"Wow" a fisherman said. "You took down a boss on your own?"

Bladescape shrugged. "I won't lie, it wasn't easy. But I'm up at the top as one of the clearers for a reason. And I wasn't going to waste a teleport crystal and then work all the way back to where I was a few hours later with some back up."

"Then what are you doing down here?" another asked.

"I need to acquire a large amount of Blue Stones for a crafting project," Bladescape explained. "And not stones that are blue, but the item called Blue Stones. Floor 22 was where I was told to start looking. I was told to look all along the edges of the lakes."

"Yeah, they are here," he confirmed. "But they are spread out. If you need a lot, you will have to search for a while, across the whole Floor."

"Maybe," Bladescape said, a sly grin growing on her face. "But maybe you and others would be willing to help me. I'll pay you at least 5,000 Col per full bag. The price may go up if it proves to be harder to gather all the stones I need."

Bladescape opened her menu and pulled out a small sack. "This is the size of the sacks I need filled up with the stones. I'll leave 20 here and you guys can see what you can rope up nearby. Me and my friend will head further out to see what we can drag up. I'll be back in 3 days, and we can trade here."

"You'll pay 5k for that small sack being filled with Blue Stones? I'm in!"

The others around were as well. Bladescape handed out sacks and then went to the inn. She would hand out more sacks in the morning if other players decided to make some easy money. The news would pass around soon enough.

The inn only had one room available to rent. Doombunny and Bladescape had to double up. It felt good to have another body in the bed, as small as it was.

The morning brought several more stone hunters. She passed out the bags and then the two of them were off. Since Doombunny didn't have Sprint, it was a much slower hike than what Bladescape could do on her own. It brought both frustration and contentment at having someone to watch her back. Doombunny wasn’t straying far as she hunted for the stones. She was always in sight.

They came across one of the small streams that provided the lakes with fresh water. Doombunny picked up a small stone from the myriad of others at the bottom.

"Here's one," Doombunny said. "Reveal isn't just a Skill against other players and animals. It also allows me to find specific items."

Bladescape's heart both stopped and moved to the pit of her stomach. The stone was no bigger than a marble. If that was the size of the stone, and she needed 80 bags, this would be a huge task.

"Here," Bladescape said, extending the bag. "Put it in here."

"What's wrong?" Doombunny sweetly asked.

"I need 80 of these bags."

"Oh my," Doombunny said with her sweet voice. "Well I am sure that was just a baby stone. Oh shoot! Now I sound like Pinkie Pie going off about stones and their families."

Both of them had a good laugh. AFCK was convinced that in this virtual world, rocks had a family, they grew up, had babies, and after they died, they were supposed to be harvested like a vegetable. There had been no references even hinting at that, but it wasn't something they could fix, even with logic. Some of AFCK's neural networks were locked into infinite loops of false or illogical thinking patterns, but all of them had to have their own patterns set by the shock of it all and what this game actually meant. Every single player alive had to have their own logical pitfalls they were stuck in because of the nerve gear.

They began to search the stream further. Bladescape found a Blue Stone that fit in the palm of her hand. It wasn't some tiny pebble. There was hope that this task would not take too long.

Every Wondercolt carried a sleeping kit for use in the field. They now had to keep watch if they rested, running shifts, but they still carried it as standard gear. Search helped reduce the chance of being jumped. At higher levels, they could set a field up so that if the distance was broken, an alarm woke them up.

They camped out overnight and continued their search in the morning. The had gathered a good 10 bags from the first stream. Each stream they came across had other stones, varying in size and quantity.

They traveled away from Coral, almost to the boundaries of the wall. There was a lake that backed the outer wall of Aincrad. The water calmly lapped against smooth stone shores. There were plenty of blue stones dotted around, but it wasn't going to be enough.

"Sunset!" Doombunny called excitedly from further down the shore. "Under us is a whole bunch of the stones! Just waiting to be uncovered."

Bladescape began digging, tossing aside the regular stones with little care. After a good 8 inches were cleared away, there was plenty of stones hidden. They filled up 50 sacks just on that jackpot alone. They almost had what they needed.

"What are you going to do about the others hunting stones for you?" Doombunny asked as they bedded down for the second night.

"I'll pay them, as promised," Bladescape yawned. "They don't know how many I need; they also don't know many we acquired. Bringing back extra won't be a problem either."

"Good point."

The second night was a lot more peaceful as the shore gently lapping at the rocks helped calm them down with its lullaby. Bladescape slept an extra few hours because of it. The morning sun, slipping in from between the floors, still made sure they were awake by its gentle, but piercing, rays of warmth.

The hike back was quiet, uneventful, and beautiful. The vast lakes, hills, and forests made it one of the prettiest Floors designed by Akihiko Kayaba and his team. This death game was still a game at its core, despite what it had been turned into.

They got back to Coral in the late afternoon on day three. News of their arrival sparked the fishermen and wood crafters to come and present their bags of Blue Stones while Bladescape and Doombunny ate dinner in the local NPC restaurant. It was the only NPC place to eat in the small village.

Bladescape paid full price for a filled bag. Others brought in sacks only half filled, or even less, their luck being lower than others. Bladescape paid what she thought was a fair amount for their harvest and the players of Coral made some easy money. In the end, Bladescape had 89 bags of Blue Stones.

Bladescape (SS): Lvl 79 – Two-Handed Sword – Search – Weapon Defense – Leather Armor – First Aid – Battle Regeneration – Sprint – Acrobatics – Blade Throwing – Extended Weight Carry
Knightstar (TS): Lvl 68 – One-Handed Sword – Shield – Equipment Appraisal – Parry – First Aid – Battle Regeneration – Light Metal Armor – Search – Armor Pierce
Thunderborne (RBD): Lvl 71 – Rapier – Sprint – Acrobatics – Armor Pierce – First Aid – Battle Regeneration – Leather Armor – Weapon Defense – Extended Weight Carry – Search
Backbreaker (AJ): Lvl 74 – Heavy Shield – One-Handed War Hammer – Extended Weight Carry – Heavy Metal Armor – First Aid – Battle Regeneration – Fishing – Search – Martial Arts – Acrobatics
AFCK (PP): Lvl 71 – Two-Handed Axe – Parry – Cooking – Weapon Defense – Martial Arts – First Aid – Battle Regeneration – Light Metal Armor – Thrown Weapon – Musical Instrument
Diemond (R): Lvl 71 – 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 68 – One-Handed Dagger – First Aid – Hide – Search – Listening – Battle Regeneration – Fighting Spirit – Familiar Communication (Colorra) – Drug Mixing – Reveal
Astro (PS): Lvl 71 – Two-Handed Spear - Purchase Negotiation – Armor Pierce – Acrobatics – First Aid – Light Metal Armor – Battle Regeneration – Weapon Defense – Parry – Extended Wight Carry
Kiefer: Lvl 68 – One-Handed Curved Blade – Parry – Weapon Defense – First Aid – Battle Regeneration – Light Metal Armor – Slash Weapon Forging – Katana – Martial Arts
Lessa: Lvl 68 – One-Handed Sword – Shield – Light Metal Armor – First Aid – Battle Regeneration – Equipment Repair – Metal Equipment Repairing – Armor Pierce – Search
Joltron: Lvl 72 – One handed Axe – Heavy Shield – Heavy Metal Armor – First Aid – Battle Regeneration – Metal Refining – Blunt Weapon Forging – One Handed Weapon Creation – Two Handed Weapon Creation – Extended Weight Carry

Comments

[SuperSonicHeroes]

Sometimes gathering necessary material can be a pain. Though Sunset’s idea to get help from other players and pay them in return was clever, and Fluttershy really helped her hit the jackpot.

[Mindrop]

10125163
I got a really solid use for the Skill "Reveal" out of it roo.

[Neece]

I ship it
Seriously though this was a nice mix of simple camaraderie (that one hopes could become something more because Cadence gotta be proud) and the reality they might be now the targets of dangerous psychopaths.

On another matter altogether, I was thinking the other day and the girls will likely not gonna have to deal with muscular atrophy and the like due to magic. Not their pendants magic, but some thingamajig cooked up by Princess Twiggles. Equestrian magic items seem to work without any problems in pedestria, and for ponies to already have such items wouldn't be much of a stretch.

Sure, it'd bring the feeling of betrayal from RD's friend when they come out of the game, but that's story potential there.

[Ctmaley]

Is the snake Colorra is actually in SAO or one you made up? Cause I want to see a pic of Colorra

[Admiral Q Ponyform]

Okay they for sure have Pony Pinkie with them

[Mindrop]

10125242
Thank you. That is what I was going for. Not all the tasks are slaying enemies or even dangerous. I have not thought about Equestrian Magic being used to help them survive being in bed so long. Twilight's crown wasn't that powerful. It had the magic, but it was, contorted. Everything that comes over is contorted a bit to fit a different reality.

10125303
Neither. I designed it after the Inland Taipan. I changed it to a tree snake and made it completely black with the females having a rainbow shimmer:
The inland taipan (Oxyuranus microlepidotus), also commonly known as the western taipan, the small-scaled snake or the fierce snake, is a species of extremely venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is endemic to semi-arid regions of central east Australia. Aboriginal Australians living in those regions named the snake Dandarabilla. It was first described by Frederick McCoy in 1879 and then by William John Macleay in 1882, but for the next 90 years, it was a mystery to the scientific community; no further specimens were found, and virtually nothing was added to the knowledge of this species until its rediscovery in 1972.

Based on the median lethal dose value in mice, the venom of the inland taipan is by far the most toxic of any snake – much more so than even that of sea snakes – and it has the most toxic venom of any reptile when tested on human heart cell culture. Unlike most snakes, the inland taipan is a specialist hunter of mammals so its venom is specially adapted to kill warm-blooded species. It is estimated that one bite possesses enough lethality to kill at least 100 fully grown men,[18] and, depending on the nature of the bite, it has the potential to kill someone in as little as 30 to 45 minutes if left untreated. It is an extremely fast and agile snake that can strike instantly with extreme accuracy,[20] often striking multiple times in the same attack, and it envenomates in almost every case.

10125343
I will neither confirm or deny which pinkie is in SAO. I admit, part of me would love to have both of them switching out by trading NeverGear. One pulls it off and then pops it on their head fast enough Pinkieness can cover it and they switch. Probably at night when in game they would be sleeping.

[Admiral Q Ponyform]

10125382
I don't see them pulling that swtich off. BUT Pony Pinkie beign the first to try yes.

[Sylica telca]

A nice calm and easy overall chapter. I like it

[Mindrop]

10125393
It was a nice break to write as well. Next up, flowers!

[Neece]

10125382
You did nail the feeling quite right I'd say.

I wasn't even thinking about the crow, but about the memory stone and the portal themselves. They do work if not exactly like intended at least quite close to it, close enough for measures to be taken. Not to rescue them for the risk, most likely, but at least to alleviate the effects and/or possibly protect them from disconnection. Maybe it's not too effective, maybe not at all, but Princess Twilight'd most certainly try.

[Mindrop]

10125782
It is something for me to mull over.

[link4]

10125382
i was more thinking that its just pony pinkie getting trapped for the whole duration, something going wrong is bound to happen when human and pony pinkie switch places without telling anyone. then one day, they switch, and pony pinks plays a game thinking it would be fun.

[Mindrop]

10125806
I know what you meant. There is just so much fun to be had with Pinkie Pie.

[link4]

10125814
makes sense too, with the moments she confuses herself for pony pinkie....(yay for eldritch horror that feeds off happiness!)

[Mindrop]

10125816
In the first movie, with verified human Pinkie, she explained what was going on in Equestria. I could very well be human Pinkie in SAO. The switching is barely canon, since it was only shown in outtakes, with no voice and only animation.

[Snowkitsune]

10125816
Chaos Goddess Pinkie for the win

[Mindrop]

10125918
Pinkie was a mention! She wasn't even in the episode! Lol

[Snowkitsune]

10126209
lol at least you know what i'm talking about lol

[Mindrop]

10127592
I better. I wrote it! Lol. You guys are going to have a field day when we get to the episode "A Day In The Life Of AFCK."

[Mindrop]

10135628
10135328
I had to pull the episode, it was an old edit and hadn't gotten fixed. I wasn't aware of my mistake until my editor informed me. I have no doubt, that it will get cleared up in a few hours.

And yes, kind of obvious what I am playing with there at the end.

[ScisetShimmerEvan]

The NPC shop did not have any Blue Stones. It was no surprise, but it was a decent place to start. Bladescape was not sure where else to go except to the inn for rest. She was dragging from her time hunting the Dagannoths. The encounter with Laughing Coffin was also a big emotional weight to be carrying.

She sure was lucky she didn't lose to them.

Doombunny huffed. "We heard from Knightstar that you had been jumped by orange players. It didn't take me long to hear who exactly it was who jumped you." Doombunny didn't say Laughing Coffin. She didn't want to disrupt the small-time folks who were just trying to survive in SAO. Floor 22 was quiet and a perfect place to live while waiting SAO's clearing out. "I'm not dumb. I skipped out and tracked you here to provide you back up. You got the hides you needed, now it's on to non-combat items. Colorra and I will be helping you and backing you up. And there is nothing you can do about it."

Looks like she ain't going solo for this one.

The others around were as well. Bladescape handed out sacks and then went to the inn. She would hand out more sacks in the morning if other players decided to make some easy money. The news would pass around soon enough.

Well, that'll definitely save them some time.

Bladescape paid full price for a filled bag. Others brought in sacks only half filled, or even less, their luck being lower than others. Bladescape paid what she thought was a fair amount for their harvest and the players of Coral made some easy money. In the end, Bladescape had 89 bags of Blue Stones.

Score!

[ghostcyclone02]

Both of them had a good laugh. AFCK was convinced that in this virtual world, rocks had a family, they grew up, had babies, and after they died, they were supposed to be harvested like a vegetable. There had been no references even hinting at that, but it wasn't something they could fix, even with logic. Some of AFCK's neural networks were locked into infinite loops of false or illogical thinking patterns, but all of them had to have their own patterns set by the shock of it all and what this game actually meant. Every single player alive had to have their own logical pitfalls they were stuck in because of the nerve gear.

Yeah... Because of the NerveGear.... Right..