A Witch, a Pony, and a Game
Chapter 1: Origins of a Fox
Chapter 1: Origins of a Fox
It had been only a week since Sunset had met Hermione, Harriet, and Winter, and she now had a very important question to ask a certain kitsune. From what she had read before in several Japanese mythology books, kitsune were a kind of Yokai, or spirit, that were natural tricksters, yet wise beyond belief. They could wield near flawless illusions, or burn those who threaten them with foxfire, and the number of tails one had signified age and rank, with nine-tailed kitsune being the wisest and oldest among their kind. But, there was one issue alone that made absolutely no sense about Harriet.
If kitsune were normally only found in Japan, how in Tartarus did one come from England?
Determined to get to the bottom of this mystery, Sunset went off to find Winter, hoping the shifter could shed some much-needed light on just how this anomaly came to be. She found Winter sitting on the roof of the inn they were staying at, staring out into the distance, humming a strange tune that chilled Sunset's spine. Sunset climbed up onto the thatched roof of the inn, and carefully made her way to where her friend was. "Hey, Winter. Can I ask you something important?"
"Yeah. What do you need from me?" Came the reply. While Sunset and Winter got along well, it didn't help matters that Winter's attitude sometimes grated on people's nerves. She was very blunt in her speech when being asked questions, yet could give Shakespeare lessons in talking around a topic when she felt playful.
"Do you know Harriet's parents, by any chance?" Sunset asked, cocking her head to one side. Winter smiled warmly, deep in thought.
"I do. They are some of the warmest people I know, loving and kind, and fierce in defending those they love. Lily Amaryllis and James Charlus Potter, best friends of my own parents and of my uncle Sirius Orion Black. I can already tell that they likely known of what has befallen us, and eagerly await the day we escape this prison."
Sunset blinked at that, not entirely sure what to say. "While it is good her family is so loving, I was curious on how a kitsune would be born in England. Aren't they native to Japan alone?"
Winter chuckled. "Harriet's parents are human, before you ask. However, there's a story behind it that isn't the most appropriate, if only for the fact that certain terms were screamed during the whole ordeal that were never meant for polite company. Siri still laughs at the memory, on occasion."
"What happened?"
"Oh, Aunt Lily and Uncle James took a trip to Japan, and James managed to piss off a yokai on accident. Apparently he was drunk and said some things about the yokai's parentage after it flirted with Aunt Lily. The yokai in question cursed them to bear a kitsune as their first-born daughter. Aunt Lily then tore into the poor sap for cursing them, and actually made it cry!" Winter by that point had Sunset roaring with laughter at the story.
Once she had calmed down enough to speak a full sentence, Sunset looked Winter in the eyes and asked "Winter, why did you three trust me so quickly?" Winter, oddly enough, looked poleaxed by the seemingly innocent question. Sunset's mind whirled with potential answers to her own question. But, before she could get really paranoid, Winter began to speak.
"I know it seemed that we trusted you too quickly, right? After all, this is the Death Game, where anyone could stab you in the back and leave you dead, in both mind and body. The simple answer is that we don't fully trust you, but we could tell you don't actually mean us harm. We could sense a sort or nervousness about you, as if you needed to latch onto the first friendly person you met, regardless of who they were."
Sunset looked down in embarrassment at being read so easily by strangers. It was times like this she cursed her equine nature. Her inherent herding instincts, while not so strong as to push her toward attempting romances left and right, made her skittish when alone. It was why, even at her worst, she had kept Snips and Snails around her. "You aren't wrong there. I tend to latch on to po- er, people, fairly quickly. I'm glad I met you three first, though. Anyone else would have just abandoned me... or worse."
Winter paused for a second, her narrowed eyes now shining a brilliant gold. "What were you about to say?" she asked, her voice carrying a haunting echo, as if she were two speaking at once.
"I-I don't know what you mean!" Sunset squeaked, her voice jumping a few octaves higher than normal and her heart beginning to beat rapidly.
"You were about to say something, but quickly corrected yourself and said 'people', as if it isn't natural for you to say it. Tell me what you were about to say."
Sunset sighed, a defeated look crossing her face. 'Well, looks like the cat's out of the bag, though I should never say that around Hermione.' With a deep breath, Sunset began to tell Winter of her past, from her earliest memories to being trapped in the game. "...And that's my life. Though, I guess hearing it isn't odd compared to the things you've seen, huh?"
Winter chuckled warmly at the smirk on Sunset's face. "No, it'll likely be a long time before anything seems strange to me anymore. Personally, I think it has to do with close proximity to Harriet. The bloody fox sticks her nose into all sorts of insanity and trouble, drags practically everyone down the rabbit hole with her, and comes out covered in blood and smelling like shit. I swear that girl will be the reason I become an alcoholic. Shame my mate isn't here, though. At least then, when the blasting curse hits the shit pile, it would've been fun to watch."
"Who's your 'mate', then? I assume it isn't Harriet or Hermione?" Sunset asked.
"Gods, no. Nah, my mate isn't exactly human either, though she can pass for one. There's a girl at our school, Luna Lovegood. She's part Fae, and a complete sweetheart. Just don't ask her a direct question if you value your sanity at all. Confused the hell out of everyone at first, but we've never argued... except over what kind of tea is better, which I still say Earl Grey is." Winter explained, shrugging her shoulders as if to say that's life, y'know.
"Hmmm. I tend to prefer Oriental blends myself, but I don't mind Earl Grey. What kind does Luna prefer?"
"Lemongrass, if you can believe it. Sacrilege, I tell you!"
And somehow, Sunset couldn't help but laugh at her new friend.
Author's Note
I'm sorry in things seem a little... rushed. I'm trying to balance school with this, and... yeah.
Prologue: Arrival in Tokyo and The Black Sun Rises
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A Witch, a Pony, and a Game
Prologue: Arrival in Tokyo and The Black Sun Rises
Prologue: Arrival In Tokyo and The Black Sun Rises
Sunset stepped off of the plane she had taken to Tokyo, Japan, and breathed in. She wasn't sure if it was just her imagination, or her senses were boosted now that she and the others had finally awoken their magic. She pondered this as she walked up to the baggage claim, grabbing her suitcase as it came by. Sunset was here to try out the NerveGear, a new VR headset that could completely immerse all five senses into a game, creating the illusion of stepping into the game. It was all thanks to the contest that she signed up for five months prior. The goal of the contest was to help create a new idea for the next game to be released for the Nerve Gear, and she had won by submitting character designs for several races to be included, such as a race of cat-like people known as the Kait-Sith. She had originally wanted to take the girls with her, but they were all busy with their own plans and obligations. They did, however, wish her good luck, lots of fun, and for her to bring back a souvenir for them.
Or rather, Rainbow asked for the souvenir, while the others rolled with it.
Sunset walked briskly to where she knew RECT, the company responsible for making the NerveGear, was running calibration tests with contest victors, and was excited to take part in the beginning of a New Age in gaming technology. Naturally, when Sunset had revealed that she was a major gamer ever since she stepped through the mirror from Equestria, Rainbow immediately began railing on her for it. At least, until Sunset beat her 30-0 in Super Smash Bros. as Lucario, who was her worst character. Rainbow promptly learned that Sunset wasn't just a gamer, she was the Master Gamer.
Needless to say, an overseas flight just for a game was normal for Sunset, and her friends didn't bat an eye. Well, Princess Twilight did when she had heard, but that was more due to the fact she didn't know how planes worked. Sunset made a brief mental note to teach her about that when she got the chance.
She checked in at the reception desk, where they took her to her room, along the way, she peeked into rooms where people she assumed were other players were staying while here in Japan. She passed by a group of girls who each looked about 14-15, who all seemed to be laughing. She heard one poke another and say "That's what you think, my sweet fox." Looking out of the corner of her eye, she could've sworn she saw the twitching furry tip of a fox's ear, but Sunset told herself that it was just some new cosplay thing.
A round of giggles accompanied Sunset down the hall to a pleasant room where the lady who had guided her smiled and warmly said "Welcome to your home for your stay here, dear. Diagnostics and calibration for SAO will begin shortly. A technician will arrive here to carry out the tests to ensure your physical and mental health won't be an issue inside the game." Sunset thanked her, placed her suitcase on the floor, and unpacked her clothes into the dresser. Soon, a bell rang, and a technician stepped in and asked "Are you ready for testing?" Sunset nodded, and followed the young man out to a lab where she saw four girls hooked up to a few machines that seemed to be scanning brain activity, heart rate, and breathing.
Sunset was surprised to see that one girl seemed to have the ears and tail of a fox as well as snake-like eyes, while another had pale grey skin and vine-like tattoos on her legs, and the third had the ears and tail of a cat. She could practically smell the magic in those three, and vowed to keep an eye on them. As the technician hooked her up to the machines, she watched the kitsune make a joke that made the bushy-haired brunette, although she couldn't quite hear them over the hum of the machinery. After running scans, the technician returned, clapped his hands, and said cheerfully "Alright, all of you are fit for Aincrad. We'll get you all hooked up in a jiffy." As four more technicians came in and helped them equip the NerveGear, Sunset started to practically vibrate with anticipation.
The techs gave the okay, and as one the five girls shouted the activation phrase "Link, start!"
Sunset couldn't believe what she was seeing right now. She was in what looked like a fantasy world town, almost like she was in Whiterun or Solitude from Skyrim, or even Castle Town from Legend of Zelda. She had made an avatar that looked almost like Ryuko from Kill La Kill, except somewhat older looking. She had decided to use a bow, and had built her skill set towards tracking and trapping, as well as ranged combat. She ran out of the town into the field, where she got to work fighting the mobs spawning there. She would build traps around herself, then use her bow to annoy mobs into rushing at her, only to be caught in the snares and pitfalls she created. She had already reached level 10 when, suddenly, she was teleported back into the Town of Beginnings, where the sky began to turn blood red. A figure in red robes floated down, and began speak. "Attention, players. I welcome you to my world. My name is Akihiko Kayaba, and as of this moment, I am in control of this world. I'm sure most of you have already noticed an item missing from your main menus -- the log out button. Let me assure you, this is not a defect in the game." Many players began tittering nervously at that. "I repeat, this is not a defect. This is how "Sword Art Online" was designed to be. You cannot log yourselves out of SAO, and no one from the outside will be able to shut down or remove the "NerveGear" from your head.If anyone attempts to do so, a transmitter inside the NerveGear will discharge a microwave signal into your skull, destroying your brain and ending your life."
Outraged cries broke out among the crowd, their rage powerful and caustic. "To Hell with that! Let's bail!" One man cried, drawing a chorus of agreement.
"Despite my warning, the families and friends of some of the players have attempted removing the NerveGear, an unfortunate decision, to say the least. As a result, the game now has two hundred thirteen less players than when it began. They've been deleted from both Aincrad and the real world." Horrified cries broke out as screens showing images of the real world appeared. "As you can see, international media outlets have round-the-clock coverage of everything, including the deaths. At this point, it's safe to assume the likelihood of a NerveGear being removed is minimal at best. I hope this brings you a little comfort as you try to clear the game. It's important to remember the following: There is no longer any way to revive someone within the game. If your HP drops to zero, your avatar will be deleted from the system... forever, and the NerveGear will simultaneously destroy your brain. There is only one way for a player to escape now -- you must clear the game. Right now, you're gathered on Floor One, the lowest level of Aincrad. If you can get through the dungeon and defeat the boss, you may advance to the next floor. Defeat the boss on Floor 100, and you will clear the game."
Kayaba then raised a hand. "Last but not least, I've placed a little present in the item storage of every player. Please have a look." Sunset looked in her inventory to see a mirror, one that she noted looked vaguely like the one Princess Celestia had shown her long ago. She took the item out and used it, and gasped as her avatar faded to show how she truly looked. As she looked around, she noted that that everyone had used the mirrors, and that she was standing by the girls she had met in the lab. Around them, some players were getting nasty shocks.
"Wait, you aren't a girl?!"
"You said you were seventeen!"
"Why would you lie about that?!"
"Right now, you are probably wondering why." Kayaba spoke, drawing their gazes back to him. "Why would Akihiko Kayaba, developer of Sword Art Online and NerveGear, do this? Ultimately, my goal was a simple one. The reason I created Sword Art Online was to control the fate of a world of my design.As you can see, I have achieved my goal. This marks the end of the tutorial and the official launch of Sword Art Online. Players, I wish you the best of luck." With that, Kayaba faded, and the sky returned to normal.
Sunset heard a low, threatening growl next to her, startling her. She turned to see the kitsune from the lab, fangs bared and ears pinned back, her eyes shining like blazing emeralds. The fox-eared girl shouted a curse that sounded like Latin, but Sunset didn't know for sure. The girl turned towards her and sighed "So, we seem to be stuck here. Can you believe that?"
Sunset shook her head and replied "No. I was only supposed to play for a day or two, then head back to Canterlot."
"Canterlot? Where's that? And what's your name?" The bushy-haired neko asked, cocking her head to one side.
"Sunset Shimmer. Canterlot is a city in Canada, right near Lake Eerie. Who might you three be, then?"
The kitsune replied "My name is Harriet Potter. The cat is my wife, Hermione Granger. Next to her is our friend Winter Black, who's a cross between a Hylian and a Twili. Namely, Link and Midna."
Sunset blinked, confused at what she heard. Then she thought about it a little more, and it made sense. After all, Equestria existed, and that's a whole separate world. Hyrule and the Twilight Realm existing wasn't really a stretch, to be honest. "Hey, Sunset. Do you wanna travel with us? It'd be safer than travelling alone would." Winter asked, cocking her head to one side. If Sunset had to totally honest, Winter's eyes creeped her out a little bit, what with the glowing yellow irises and black sclera. The raven hair with emerald and purple highlights did, however, lessen the urge to flinch away though.
"Hey, we should form a guild!" Harriet suggested, drawing the attention of the others. Winter gave a go on gesture, and Harriet continued "Well, think of it like this. Parties don't really last beyond a single dungeon, so why not a guild? We could even recruit other players!" The others considered this carefully. On one hand, it was a good idea. If they managed to gather enough strong players together, they could do much more, and prove helpful in fighting against the bosses in the floors ahead. On the other, they had no idea on how to gather enough players to become a strong guild.
"Sounds like a solid plan to me. What should we call ourselves, then?" Sunset asked. Hermione hummed, oh-so obviously thinking of a name for their guild, a name that would be someday cheered for bringing the fight to Kayaba himself.
"How about... the Black Sun Organization?" Hermione asked, ears twitching. The other girls looked to each other and, seeing the confirmation within the eyes of their friends, nodded.
"How'd you come up with that name, Hermione?" Harriet asked, tilting her head to one side cutely. A small part of Sunset was struggling not to embrace her inner filly and pet the fox girl's ears and tail.
"Simple. I figured a good basis for the name would be the Celtic knot tattoos that the three of us have on our left ankles. They're black suns, so it just made sense to go from there. Hence, the Black Sun Organization." Hermione answered, looking at least a little sheepish. Harriet nodded sagely, as if this was the key to understanding the entire universe.
Winter cleared her throat, catching the attention of the others. "Well, if that's settled then, let's get to work."
Author's Note
Alright, I've changed a few things that I realized didn't work in the story, like Harriet's name and re-writing Winter's introduction. I realized it didn't quite fit. I also changed the reasoning behind Sunset going to RECT instead of wandering about Tokyo.
And no, Winter and Sunset won't become a couple. Winter already has someone who will be revealed later on when I can fit the character in without breaking the universe.
