Author's Note
Hey guys! So this is the first story my friend has ever written, and so it's a bit fast paced and ruff around the edges, but it's all in good fun so who cares. That being said, any critisism helps (Especissially with exams round the corner) good or bad, hope you enjoyed!
0 Prolouge
"Again? Seriously?" I groaned, sat atop the final boss' lifeless corps. As usual, it only took a measly five blows to bring it to its knees. "At least I got this...." I mumbled, pulling out the breaker blade from my inventory. The stats read 'lvl 999'. It was the best great sword in the entire world, but only level 999 players could use it. "Should sell for a quick buck." Jumping down from the cloaked figures remains, I placed the sword back into my inventory, along with my armour. Never liked wearing it around the place. I was left in a pair of novice armour that I wore underneath my max armour. Wearing it around helped me garner less attention; though, I still get a few comments and questions from the odd merchant.
The brown cloth of the armour went well with my muddy blond hair, even if it was completely unkempt. It swayed down to the bottom of my neck, but I tended to keep it short round the sides to keep my peripherals from being hindered. Over the basic shirt was a level one chest plate that hung over my left shoulder and strapped onto the back. My pants were also a muddy brown, with multiple stains at the bottom from where I had been trudging through mud. My shoes were torn from overuse and were slightly small for me, as I tend to spread an items use to the fullest; even if I could afford ten pairs of level 999 boots without making a dent in my bank. Still though, I liked the clothes all the same.
"Whelp best get going." I always have a thing for this bar on floor one, something about tradition after a big mission always made me celebrate there. my old guild members always made me go there. I've kind of grown attached to their traditions. forming the home page with a swipe of my hand, I opened up the inventory tab before pulling out a teleportation crystal; got hundreds of these from this one event a few years back. "Destination, Floor one, The Fat Cat tavern."
After a brief moment and a flash of light, I found my self in front of the run down tavern. It was a favourite of mine. Stepping inside, I was greeted with the familiar scent of alcohol, food, and cheap perfume. As usual, the place was packed full of low level guilds, attempting to recruit members into their ever-growing legion; whereas you also had the solo players, just wanting to grab a drink.
I waltzed across the tavern over to my regular spot. It was a small booth at the back, that the owners practically reserve for me. The married couple were some of the few people that knew of my true identity; being the highest ranking adventurer in the country. I took a seat and was soon greeted by a waiter, who I asked to grab me an apple cider. He came back shortly afterwards, and I sat in silence for a while, enjoying the atmosphere.
Suddenly, the entrance to the tavern swung open hitting the wall, revealing a group of six obnoxiously loud adventures. they swiftly entered, taking a seat at a round table just to the right of me. The tavern owners seem to be acquainted with the bunch, but I hadn't seem them here before; even though I frequented the bar. Though, I didn't spare them much time or thought, as I went back to drinking in silence.
The group ordered their drinks, not any food as it was late in the evening, and began chatting. I couldn't help but overhear their discussion, as two members of the group were quite, boisterous, if you will.
"Ah understand yer concerns, but Ah'm sure we can get to Crystal Preps level in no time!" One of the adventurers exclaimed. She was clad in similar armour to me, but in orange. It was then that I realised the entire group was equipped with level 1 armour, disregarding their personal touches. The one that spoke had a brown Stetson atop her blond blond hair. She spoke in a southern twang.
"Sure, if we had a seventh member." Another one said. To my surprise, she had multi-coloured hair. Once and a while I'd come across someone with odd coloured hair, but this group was just unreal. She wore cyan armour. "Without a gunslinger for back-up, poor Rarity has to work twice as hard!"
"I get that," Another one began, "but I already asked Spike, and he said he was planning to help out the CMC as a Brawler, and Sunset said she's not cut out for all this." This woman had purple hair with a pink stripe. She had glasses similar to mine, but purple and smaller.
"Well," The rainbow haired one began, placing her hands on the table and standing up. "I'm sure we could persuade some lonely solo player to join the guild! This place is usually bustling with fresh meat."
The woman with the Stetson glared at her. "Remember how that went last time?"
"That wasn't my fault! pinkie was the one that scared him away!" The cyan one huffed, pouting at the blonde girl. "Anyways," The woman began looking around, and I instantly looked away from the group, trying to not make eye contact. "Ah ha!" I heard from my right. I couldn't see her, but my perception stat let me know that she was making her way to my table.
So, a quick note about myself, I'm not exactly, socially inept...… I spend most of my time alone, trying my absolute hardest to reduce interactions with people I don't know. I even dislike conversing with the waiter, which I've known for years now. And don't even get me started with my interactions with women. So needless to say I wasn't exactly prepared for my next 'interaction'.
My peaceful day was disturbed by a loud thud to the right of me. I looked up to find the rainbow haired woman leaning on my table, with her hands placed just next to my glass. "Oi specs!"
"Y-Yeah?" I stammered out, trying to keep my composure.
"Are you in a guild by any chance?" she cocked an eyebrow, leaning in uncomfortably close to my face.
"U-Um, No..." I managed to squeak out, slowly shuffling around the table. She responded by taking a seat where I once was; she was yet to break eye contact with me.
"That's great! Mind tellin' me your class?" She leaned in further, my face now only a few inches from hers.
"G-G-Gunslinger, ma'am." I felt sweat pouring down my face as I began trying to look at anything but her.
"That's even better!!" I don't remember much after that, as I was too busy having an inwards panic attack, but I suddenly found my self at the table she had come from. "Found a new member everyone!!" The rainbow haired one exclaimed, seating me down at a chair with her hands on my shoulders. I'm pretty sure my eyes were nothing but a swirling pattern at this point.
"Rainbow dash! what did ah say about forcing yer ideas onto random people!" The one in orange shouted somewhat violently.
"What do you mean AJ? this guy agreed, didn't you specs?" The woman shook my shoulders a bit, trying to get an answer out of me. All I could muster was a curt nod.
"Do ya even know his name?" 'AJ' asked, still evidently miffed.
"Of course I do! I'm not that rude. It's um...….." The one they called Rainbow Dash leaned down into my ear and spoke in a quieter tone. "Dude, what was your name again?"
"See! You didn't even ask him!" AJ chastised. She got up from her seat and shewed Rainbow off like a cat before pulling up a chair next to me. "Hey there sugarcube, sorry about this." I turned to the woman with the Stetson. She had large emerald eyes, and a welcoming demeanour; unlike the one in cyan.
"It's no problem..." I assured, trying to look away from her.
"So um...." I saw her look down from the corner of my eye, and she began to speak in a more downtrodden tone. "We could actually use a new member, but uhh, I understand if RD over there scared you off." She gestured behind me with her head, and I assumed Rainbow was there. By this point my mind was on autopilot. I could barely process her words, as I was too busy reeling from the fact that I was sitting at a table with six cute girls. A man's dream! And so...…..
"I'll join!" I suddenly blurted out, still sweating buckets. This was more social interaction than I usually get in a month!
"Really?!" I heard from my right. I looked across the table to see a woman with poofy purple hair. She wore an extensive amount of makeup, and purple level one armour, matching her hair. "Oh that is wonderful Darling! Glad to have you on board!" She reached over the table and grabbed my hand before vigorously shaking it. "My name is Rarity! It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Likewise." I simply stated.
"Are ya sure about this? Ya don't have to if you don't wanna." AJ said. I told her it was fine, and lied about being a low level solo player. Boy how that fucked me over later on. "Well, if you're sure. Anyways, Ah'm Applejack! Proud member of the apple family, who produce the cider you were just drinkin'!" She pointed to the table I was sat at, before gesturing to the woman behind me. "That there is Rainbow Dash." She then pointed to another woman. She was in yellow, and had long pink hair covering one of her eyes. The moment we made eye contact, she hid behind her bangs and looked away; guess she's the shy type. "That's Fluttershy. And that's Twilight." She then gestured next to Rarity. Sat there was the woman with glasses. She gave me a smile, a small wave, and said hello. "And then there's-"
Applejack was cut off from a gasp towards the back of the tavern. We all looked to see a woman in pink novice armour. She had large pink poofy hair with a large darker pink bow.
She began making her way towards us with excitement evident on her face. Once she made it to the table, she practically barged past Rainbow Dash and got in my face before speaking. "HeythereyouthinkingofjoiningtheguildMynamesPinkiePie!I'mthegroupsberserkerbutIneverlikedthatnamebecauseitmakesmesoundlikesomesortofcrazylunaticbutimnot.Imactually-"
Who I think was called Pinkie was cut off by a well placed hand over her mouth from AJ. "Slow down there Pinkie, I think the guys a quiet one." From the corner of my eye, I saw the pink haired one look up for a moment after hearing the statement, but she soon went back to hiding behind her bangs.
Pinkie stepped away from me, releasing AJ's hand from her mouth. “So you joining the group? Huh huh?” Not wanting to disappoint her, seeming as happy she looked, I rapidly nodded. “Yippee!! Weredoingaquesttommorowmorningbetherebysevenbye!!!!” She finished her onslaught of words by throwing down a smoke bomb. I began to cough from the gas, and as it faded away the girl was no more.
“What the…” I shook my head, deciding not to dwell on it too much, before AJ began speaking again. “Well umm, sorry to cut it short like this but the girls and I have to leave shortly. Think about whether you're interested in joining or not overnight. And yes, we have a quest tomorrow morning at seven.”
“R-Right.”
“Well, guess I’ll see ya! Sorry again for RD’s behaviour sugarcube, I hope you’ll come to enjoy the guild.” I gave her a curt nod before the group teleported out of the tavern, leaving me to question what the fuck just happened and why I agreed to join them.
“Bitches didn’t even ask my name….”
