Fanfiction - Sword Art Online

      Usually, fan fiction isn't really my thing; honestly, because most fan fictions are just what some fans' dirty minds make the main character do to them.  There's almost never any truly original characters with well-built storylines and pasts; this kills me the most when the fan fiction is for a show in which thousands of other people play a part in it, such as a show in which there is an army or a large group of people with powers, or whatever.  Instead of creating a new character in this world and how he/she has her own adventures or helps with the main storyline, fans seem to only focus on the main character and either porn-ifying them or Dragon Ball Z-ing them (making them face a harder obstacle, then giving them this whole "new power" or "super upgraded item" that makes them cooler and beat the boss/obstacle).  And I get that: some of my favorite shows have pulled that once or twice; however, that's just it- it was once or twice.  Once you start to do stuff like that more than once, it loses it's ability to incite a reaction in an audience.  SO.... changing direction from this wonderful rant that I have gone on, I tend to not do fan fictions because of their bad reputation and I often feel like I'm taking my success from another author.  However, the anime Sword Art Online has created such an amazing world and situation that I can't help but create a fan fiction to add to it.  Hopefully I won't judge myself too much for this and hopefully you all won't judge me too much for it either.

     "In. Out."
     Pulse rate decreasing.
     "Are you gonna shoot or what?  It's just a dummy."
     My grip on the bow tightens involuntarily and I grit my teeth.
     "Dude, leave him alone; it's his first time in almost a year."
     In...  Out...
     "So what? I hadn't played a VRMMO in almost a year before I started ALO."
     In. Out.
     "He was a player in... you know what: never mind"
     In....
     My pulse increases slightly as I inhale, but I ignore it, just as I ignore the beads of sweat accumulating on my brow.
     Out...
     My fingers release the string holding back the arrow.  Like a rocket, it speeds toward its target, hitting it straight in the head.  For a moment everything is still and then the dummy explodes in a shower of glittering polygons.

 

+++

 

     "So.... what do you think?"

     I sighed and leaned back in the chair, reaching for my drink.  For a second I wondered if the in game alcohol would affect my aim.  Thinking back to the last VRMMO that I played and the amount of gold that I spent on alcohol, I shook my head and downed the glass.  "It's... familiar... but different."

     Jinx chuckled and flagged the NPC waitress.  "I know; it took me a while to get used to flying... and logging off."

     I shuddered, thinking back to when I first logged into ALfheim Online.  I had spent almost an hour screaming and crying while Gerg and Jinx tried to calm me down and show me that this time I could log off.  "Yeah," I muttered.

     "You know," Jinx said, buying two more glasses of dwarf-man-ale or something.  "I thought you would pick to be a Pooka.  You know, cause you're so musical and artsy."

     I shrugged and looked down at my black beginners clothes.  "I dunno, I just picked it on whim.  You're right; the bow and arrow physics are really good for this game."

     Smiling, the Pooka slid the glass across the table to me.  "I told you that this new patch was epic.  You were such a great projectile user in SAO, I figured that bow and arrows would appeal to you.  Honestly, I think this is good for you.  Playing a game in which death doesn't mean the final end for you should be good for you."

     I nodded in agreement and sipped the drink, feeling the virtually simulated slight burn of alcohol in my throat.  It had been almost a year since Gerg, Jinx, and I were stuck in that death game, almost a year since I last killed someone.  I had specialized in the "weapon throw" system that SAO had, continuously crafting better and better throwing weapons in addition to honing my skills in actual combat.  Actual combat.... like actual death....

     Gritting my teeth, I shook my head to try and dislodge the words from my head.  Jinx smiled understandably and shifted the sheath that was slung across his back.

     "I still think that you should have taken that guy's offer to buy your avatar," he said, looking at me with questioning eyes.  "They say that that specific avatar is the most rare avatar out there."

     "I could use 150 bucks," I said, shrugging my shoulders, aware of the bow strung across my back.  "But, I like it."

     "I guess I can't judge; if I got an avatar whose hair covered these ears, I would keep it too," Jinx remarked, feeling the points of his ears and groaning.  "Plus, I think the white hair suits you"

     "However, it does stick out," he continued, glaring at two Imp girls who had been staring at me.  With a indigent grunt, the two turned away from the show that I apparently was putting on.

     "Yeah," I said, looking down.  I couldn't bring myself to tell Jinx what was the real reason why I received this avatar.  My thoughts drifted back in time to when I first logged into ALO this morning.
     I stood in a black circular room with a series of light blue squares decorating the walls with a floating holo keyboard in front of me.  After filling out my name and other information, the world around me grew brighter quickly, until everything around me was white, similar to transporting in SAO.  However, this time everything stayed white and a male voice said, "Congratulations player.  In honor of achieving the highest player kills in SAO, you are awarded an exclusive avatar."

     The only reason I had this avatar is because I was a murderer