Episode 102 - Magic Spark
Episode 102 - Magic Spark
Twenty-Eighth Day in the Month of Bush Clover (June 28) in the Year of the Griffon
Algade — Floor 50
Knightstar heard the bell as the door was opened. It has been a slow day, with no one on the schedule for consultations. She had finished the last consult on the books the day before.
Her books were selling well, in particular the monster guides. The others were commonly bought too, but the item and monster guides were by far the most useful and popular. Quest guides were harder to make and players only came if they could not sort it out themselves. Plus, any one-shot quests were useless. Aincrad had significantly more one-shot quests than open quests.
None of her information team were on assignment. Her full-time team — Matsasumi, Yang, Daichi, and Yatsuhashi — was level grinding to maintain their safety margins. The others — Hakowaru, Failsafe, Scarlatina, Alistair, Monty, Branwen, Taiyang, Weiss, and Blake — knew there were no missions and were off doing their own thing. Soon enough Knightstar would put them to work gathering information for her.
Her store tender entered the upstairs work room. "Sage Knightstar," she said. "You have a package. It is waiting for you on the counter."
A package was new. Knightstar had never gotten a package before, let alone mail. There was an informal package and letter service. The runners made decent col per trip, but didn't make much in the long run. Not a lot of letters were being sent.
Knightstar headed downstairs to the front of the store. The brown box sitting on the counter was a lot bigger than she was expecting. It was quite large. Whoever had delivered it was gone. Her name was on the top, but no information was given about who it was from. There were a few nasty tricks that she could think of, all of which would land her in serious trouble, but she was not aware of anyone with a beef against her.
Knightstar clicked “open” in the menu and the box fell open to reveal a bronze statue. The two horses facing each other were reared up on their hind legs. Balanced on their front legs was a glass orb. The orb had two items inside it: a butterfly and a clump of stars. She was very familiar with both, especially the latter, as she wore it constantly. Knightstar found her hand involuntarily touching the necklace Diemond had made; the recreation of her geode necklace IRL.
Whichever way she turned, the two symbols in the orb always faced her. Knightstar lifted it off its perch and set it on the counter. She spun it as fast as she could. The glass was clearly spinning, but the symbols stayed put, facing her and moving with her, always facing her. Knightstar stopped it from spinning and put it back on its perch.
The horses were very detailed and lifelike. The bronze was clearly cast, likely using the wax mold method, meaning it was a one-of-a-kind piece. Yet the horses or the orb were not the only noteworthy things.
The other part was the base. Inscribed in the base were words she was quite familiar with, but had not heard in a long time. In between the horses, on the flat top, was "Friendship carries on through the ages." Around the base was wrapped: "Things may come and things may go Some go fast and some go slow Few things last, that's all I know, but…”
Knightstar didn't want to, but SAO's design magnified the expression of emotions so that everyone could understand the subtle complexities of human nonverbal communication easier. Common problems were blushing more than normal and crying easier. Her eyes were watering up despite her efforts to hold them back. Her hand was back on her hidden geode necklace.
Knightstar was not able to fight the feelings the words conveyed. She didn't read them as much as she heard them sung in her head. They were lyrics in the Rainbooms' song, "Friendship Through the Ages." Twilight Sparkle started the song and then Fluttershy took over. Those were the words Fluttershy always sang. The last line, the one on top of the pedestal, was echoed throughout the song by the others, but Fluttershy sang it first.
It was a very pointed reminder of who Knightstar truly was. Knightstar didn't sing. Knightstar was stats, numbers, and scientific calculations. Even a bit of an adventurer. She was not a singer.
Twilight Sparkle was though, and the same went for Fluttershy, whose special mark was tastefully paired with hers. The other singers were Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity, Sunset Shimmer, and even Pinkie Pie at times from the drums.
The gift lacked a note, but it was certainly from Fluttershy. None of her other friends would have thought to make the orb with both of their Marks, and none of the others would pair up horses either. They were not exact copies of the now destroyed, by Twilight, Canterlot High School Wondercolt statue, but that didn't matter. They were beautiful horses nonetheless.
Twilight Sparkle had transferred to CHS after the Friendship Games because there she had met a set of wonderful girls who became her best friends. They had taken her where she was at and helped make her a better version of herself. They had saved her from her nightmare, Midnight Sparkle, and helped her become a version of Twilight Sparkle that was confident both inside the classroom and outside with people. A Twilight Sparkle with friends.
They were the reason she had the guts to learn Japanese and come to Japan. They made school fun again and the opportunity of a lifetime was something Twilight had been unable to pass up, but only because her friends were going. Even with getting trapped in SAO, she didn't regret coming to Japan. Not if she was truly honest with herself. Twilight had been having fun being, mostly, on her own and grown up. Twilight Sparkle who had come into this "game" with her friends, had gotten trapped in Aincrad with her friends, and then fought for their survival by their side. And not just their survival, but she had been fighting on the front lines, and even faced a boss. They had intentionally rallied around the horse mascot which bound them together in the real world.
But Fluttershy hadn't just made a horse. She had two made. Two who supported the beautiful orb. One for her, one for her friend. Coming from the outside, never having friends or caring about being a Crystal Prep Shadowbolt, the Wondercolt Horse held a special meaning. Yes, she had destroyed it as Midnight Sparkle, but it was more than just a physical statue. Each of her friends saw that statue as what they looked like as a Canterlot Highschool Wondercolt, and it was that image that Twilight Sparkle had also taken, becoming just like them. They all wore the same horseshoe symbol of the school IRL, just like these two horses were the same. It's why they flipped to the familiar and safe symbol when SAO’s tutorial had changed the rules of the game.
Knightstar took a step back from the counter. Not only were her cheeks now wet, but she was feeling fear. She had left her friends because of the nasty things she had said. Because she ripped into Fluttershy in such a mean manner, intentionally trying to tear her down. Then, she had to get away from it all. That fear was different from what she was currently feeling, and it led her to where she was now; isolated and alone.
The paper hadn't detailed any deaths on the front lines recently, or any in the major guilds, but she still had a deepening phobia that what she had last said to Fluttershy would be the last words she would ever get to say. It wasn't uncommon to have that regret in the normal world, but Aincrad was a floating castle of death. Every day they were reminded of it, especially on the front lines, and Twilight Sparkle didn't want Fluttershy or Doombunny to have those be the last words she had said to her. Or the last thing any of her friends remembered her for.
Knightstar's back hit the door frame. She hadn't even realized that she had taken more than a few steps. Her mind was on one thing, her friends who she had stupidly ran away from. The girls who actually cared and loved her for who she was, and who had seen a darker side to her and helped her through it. Then there were her four new friends. They had said it wasn't over, tried to bring her back, and the Wondercolts were still going strong after all this time. The paper had mentioned how instrumental they were in the last boss raid.
Knightstar stopped thinking. It was always her crutch. When she thought, she stopped acting and often did what she didn't want to do; like convincing herself that the Wondercolts were finished as a guild and to leave.
Her actions meant she was tearing through the streets of Algade, rushing to the teleport plaza in an effort to get to Floor Thirty-Five. She jumped on, calling for the teleport before she was even settled on the plaza.
The world flashed blue and Algade was replaced by the very familiar town of Mishe. She didn't stop as she jumped off the platform and made a beeline to the Headquarters.
Knightstar grabbed the door handle to get into the visitor waiting room, but her hand bounced off invisible glass, denying her hand from its target. A second later, while she was trying to process what had happened and while nursing her hurting hand, a screen popped up. It was telling her that the building was for sale.
Knightstar backpedaled, making sure it was the right building. It was, but it no longer had the tapestries and exterior furnishings of the Wondercolts' Headquarters. It was just a plain, stone building now. It looked exactly like it did when they had first bought it.
Absolute dread was consuming her every thought as she looked at the building. She had no idea if her friends were even in a guild together. She had no idea if the Wondercolts were around. It has been several days since the last boss raid. The paper may have missed the Wondercolts falling apart. She began to panic as the reality of her separation from them set in.
"Are you okay?" A soft voice asked her. It was followed by a squawk of sorts.
Knightstar whipped around and saw Silica. Knightstar was familiar enough with the near legendary description of the beast tamer for her to recognize the dragon tamer named Silica.
"If you are looking for the Wondercolts, they moved," Silica added.
"Where?" Knightstar stuttered. Her mouth was still frozen as her mind and body fought for control.
"Floor Sixty-One," Silica said with a smile. "I haven't been yet, but Doombunny says their new place is fantastic. I'll visit as soon as they are settled."
Knightstar didn't thank Silica as she rushed back to the plaza. She jumped on and called out the command to take her to Selmburg, the only real town on the whole Floor. The only one with a teleport plaza.
Knightstar had not been to the Sixty-First Floor yet. The sun was starting to slip through the Floors as it set. It reflected off the giant lake that was the bulk of the Floor, and it blinded her as she looked to the west. The city itself was a castle on the largest island. The island was a mountain and the city only claimed the southern half. It was a beautiful, white walled castle of several barrier walls and spires.
The city was expensive to stay in and even more expensive to buy property in. Its clean streets and beautiful square buildings were easy on the eyes. It felt like a mix of modern and medieval. The Front Lines were only a few Floors above it too. As attractive as it was, no guild had their headquarters above Floor Fifty-Six. The DDA had theirs on Fifty-Six, while the KoB was in Granzam on Floor Fifty-Five. Assuming it was in Selmburg, the cost of buying a headquarters of at least the same size as what the Wondercolts had previously owned would be astronomical. As financially suicidal as when they had bought their headquarters when the front line was Floor Thirty-Five. The move didn't make sense.
Selmburg was a medium sized city. It was larger than most cities, but the city was much smaller than Algade or the Town of Beginnings. Still, the chances of finding their HQ just wandering the streets would be difficult. Especially since the city was at different elevations and created or restricted different access to areas.
Some players were around, but not many. The Floor had been easy to clear, but the water meant that only a few of the larger islands had any dungeons. The high living cost meant the clearers did not linger, despite how nice it was and many of them could afford it. The Front Line had cheaper places to stay that offered the Clearers better access to their job.
Knightstar jumped as her shoulder was tapped. "Excuse me?" a male player said. "Are you alright? You don't look good. You look sick."
"I'm fine," Knightstar stuttered. She tried to make sure her hair was secure and her scholar glasses were on straight. "I'm just shocked," Knightstar said, trying to convince him she was fine. "I've not been to Selmburg yet and I was looking for the Wondercolts. They apparently moved here."
He gave her a suspicious look over at the change in her attitude. "Normally I charge players for my info, but you look like you need a handout."
Knightstar nodded, at a loss for words. He was an info broker, but Knightstar couldn't recall his name. Her mind was shot. She just wanted the comfort of her friends.
"They are on this Floor, but not in Selmburg." he pointed out over the water. "That small island, that is apparently their home. I hear that not only did it cost them a huge fortune, it also required a difficult quest to even allow its purchase in the first place. I've not scouted it myself and know of no one who has. They have been quiet about it too. Everything right now is just rumors; really unsubstantiated scraps."
"How do I get there?" Knightstar asked. It was out loud, but direct at herself.
"Go to the dock and rent a sailboat," The player said.
Knightstar dashed off, completely forgetting to thank him. She got to the docks and found an NPC in his small sailboat. It was large enough it could carry two parties comfortably and they would never have to worry about bad weather to compromise the boat. His price wasn't bad, and he didn't ask any questions other than where she wanted to go.
Knightstar paid him and then had to nervously wait as the boat slowly journeyed to the crescent island. She had no control over her left leg shaking in anticipation. Knightstar had no idea what she was going to say or do. The boat ride was giving her time to think, and thinking was bad right now. She was trying to stay out of her head.
She forgot about everything as they neared the island. Each island here was mountainous, and it was blocking her from actually viewing their headquarters. She caught the glimpse of the peak, but the cliffs and her approach angle blocked her view of anything else. There were two sailboats at the wooden dock, but no banners or any pieces of identification. This could be the wrong location. It was a rumor she was being guided by. She did have a few teleport crystals to leave if she needed one.
They docked and Knightstar jumped off the boat, making it rock in her haste. She rushed down the dock to the stone stairs. She bolted up them and then slid to a stop at the top. She had caught glimpses of the building, but it wasn't at all like she expected.
Simply put, it was a castle, and a big one. There were no outside tapestries or any guild identification features.
The castle had proper machicolations and crenellations on the walls and the walls blocked from sight whatever the guild was doing. No one could spy on them. The batteries on the walls were a late addition to fortresses when artillery became a key piece of the defensive structure, but the rest of the castle matched the late medieval period very well. Even the tower that rose above the central palace, alongside the mountain peak, was architecturally a match, and they appeared to have a garden on a smaller island, off the rear of the castle. It must have cost them everything to buy it; maybe even requiring a loan.
Knightstar crossed the beautiful lawn to the gatehouse and entered. It was the first assurance she had found them because, although it was sparsely furnished, they were reusing the furniture from their old headquarters. The gatehouse was much larger than their old foyer, making the furniture out of place. But it was Wondercolt furniture.
Knightstar tapped on the inside door, bringing up the menu. She notified them that someone was in the gatehouse, waiting for an audience.
She was waiting for a while and began to consider that they were not home. It was still early evening, not quite dinner. Most likely they were out, and if they were in a dungeon, they would not have gotten the message.
Those thoughts were dispelled as the door opened. A young woman, slightly older than her, was in the doorway. She was dressed in a blue cooking outfit. A yellow horse head was embroidered on it.
"May I help you?" she asked, giving a slight bow in respect.
"I'm looking for the Wondercolts," Knightstar stated. She paused, unsure what to say next. Her name was also a safe bet. "My name is Knightstar."
A smile flashed on her lips. "Miss Knightstar. Of course! I am Jade. Please, follow me."
Knightstar followed Jade into the castle. She was shocked by what she saw and wanted to examine it further, but she was not here for architecture. She was here for her friends. From the lower ward they passed under an internal gatehouse and into the middle ward. Jade did not give the other buildings a second glance as she led her, but Knightstar noticed them and the small teleport plaza off to her right. Knightstar figured out their destination rather quickly. The big building on the far side clearly was some sort of arena and Jade was making a beeline for it.
Inside proved her guess correct, it was a canvas covered arena with plenty of seating. The stands had a good number of players in them, watching what was happening. The ground had been painted with several different lines and colors for games, but currently it was being used as a mini football pitch. They were playing four on four. Knightstar didn't immediately recognize any of the players, but they were in customized uniforms for their respective teams.
The first person Twilight recognized was Rainbow Dash, who currently had the ball. She slipped it past the midfielder and then past their defender. She was all set to kick the ball, and most likely score, except in her awareness of the playing field, she saw Knightstar. Her toe was all that caught the ball and it shot off, completely missing the goal and going out of bounds. All Thunderborne did was stop and stare with a slightly open mouth at Knightstar. The rest of the players froze too, first looking at Thunderborne, then at Knightstar.
KNIGHTSTAR: Level 74 — One-Handed Sword — Shield — Light Metal Armor — Equipment Appraisal — First Aid — Battle Regeneration — Acrobatics — Extended Weight Carry — Armor Pierce — Search
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Glad to see she's still somewhat on the curve. Can't wait for the reunion.
A wonderful chapter! Hehe Knightstar on basically Autopilot looking for her friends, and now once she catches up with her friends will have a brand new castle to explore lol And new people to meet
Asuna bought a place for herself on that floor too, cost her four million col.
Awkward...
My favorite chapter from the previous iteration.
Welcome back.
And so the lost litttle pony found her way home.
The lost pony has returned! Let us see if she can get past herself enough to make it full time.
At long last, welcome home Knightstar. You were missed.
Seeing her thoughts and anxiety this chapter, to the point she started referring to herself and her friends as their real names instead of their game names, was actually pretty touching.
12095925
Actually, the KoB bought it all for her. The advantage of being in a guild, and a bigger one, is that more players are pitching in from taxes, allowing you to rapidly snowball a larger stockpile to work with. While ten is not a lot, they had plenty of Col. Normally, they would have been forced to pay much higher for what they got, well outside their means, but as the group that cleared it, they got a discount.
12096094
I did my best to get into her head more, the show, not tell.
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12096082
Technically, she is SciTwi, so never a pony. lol. And Spring Breakdown never happened, they ended up in SAO, so she hasn't even jumped over to experience it.
12096175
Oh...
12096180
She can "Pony Up" like the rest of the EQGs so it still fitts.
12096226
Touché!
Even running a store Knightstar is running ten levels higher than the top players in the raids. Yikes
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Yes, they were all at the top levels of the curve.