o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Ragnarok Online - Virtual Reality

By: Yuuna Miyako

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Disclaimers: I don't any Ragnarok concept's whatsoever. The plot and characters are solely mine.

Summary: Year 2015. Gravity launches Ragnarok Virtual-taking the classic multiplayer online game to another new dimension. A couple of years passed, millions of people worldwide are hooked in their game sets. But trouble brews when a select few starts disappearing…

Authors Notes: Sorry for the long, long update gaps. Well, I figured I should continue it since I returned playing RO to refresh my memory on the gameplay. With this newly refreshed knowledge and some beforehand plot planning, hopefully writing this story will go smoother. Oh, I dedicate this chapter to my friend Snow who I discovered reads this story. Sorry Snow, but I finally updated just for you!

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Comrade

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Jake Howard's room was actually pretty neat for a guy. In addition, he is an all round athlete. All round athletes tend to leave all their dirty uniform and things around their rooms after a tiring game, but it seems like Jake is an exception. Every time Christine visits, she always made a note to pan across room trying to point out something out of place. In the end, she always failed to do so.

This time around however, when she entered in his room, a virtual reality game set was laid on his bed with some tools lying about. Jake was just a step behind her, taking a deep breath before he cut in front of her to reach over to the set and analyze it for the umpteenth time.

"It's been a long time." Christine whispered to herself, as she found herself staring at the game set in front of her.

"This is it." Jake said, "You already know this, but I have to remind you again. Hacked game sets are very dangerous. Playing too much every day is not healthy. In additional, it is always a personal modification to its user. Which means, today, I need you to go inside the virtual game help me adjust it to 'you'."

Chris simply nodded as anxiousness filled inside of her. It felt like she was going to play the game for the very first time. A month without playing is actually damaging for a player's skill, mostly if its virtual reality. She knew she was already rusty, and she hopes it would not take her long until she regains the tricks and trades as a player. It's been awhile she visited the virtual space, so she expected modifications and upgrades since her last visit. Even though the anxiety was eating her up inside, a sense of excitement brew inside her.

She lied to her parents that she will be tutoring Jake the entire summer for a part time job. She was eternally grateful that they fell for it. She is already buried in debt with Jake's support, though sometimes hesitant, he still agrees to whatever she has in mind.

"I'm curious about the X Mysterie disappearances," He simply stated one day when curiosity overtook her and asked him why he agreed to help her, "That's all. I just never thought an incident will happen in my neighborhood and people I personally know will be affected."

"Earth to Christine Taylor." His voice broke through her deep thoughts, as he picked up the head set and handed it to her, "We cannot waste any time."

She smiled as she carefully took the machine in her hands, "Thank you Howard, I owe you a lot."

He stuck his tongue out, "Of course, now hurry."

Without any hesitation, Chris laid down on his bed and slipped on the headset. At the very same time she opened her eyes, she knew she's in another world.

In a dark cave in the middle of the Lake of Abyss, located near the peaceful town of Hugel, there was a great shadow in the cavern. The sound of wings flapping was almost deafening. Everyone knew that dungeon in Abyss Lake was the home of many dragons of various kinds. Dragon eggs could be found in every corner, even more than ever due to the season of mating for these creatures. However there was a cry of plea among the dragons, a cry of warning due to the pack of intruders that barged in their own home.

A party of fifteen, led by a Rune Knight who was mounted on his faithful steed, started a vicious fight against the hordes of dragons that awaited them in the entrance. It was the time when the King of Prontera usually hires warriors in every country to come and try to decrease the population of the dragons before it led to the catastrophe of Hugel a couple of decades back when dragons became overpopulated and attacked Hugel, destroying it completely.

Kim Yune, is simply Yune the Rune Knight in Virtual RO. It was requested by the king to reduce the dragon population or else they'll start sprawling out the nearby town. This quest, of course does not come free but is laced with rewards and benefits if it is completed. In additional, he needs all the training he needs because he knew inside that he's against something greater, sinister and dangerous.

Anything to find HyeMin.

While the fighting was going on, he heard a very familiar and nostalgic voice on his head, 'Yune? Are you busy?' His eyes widened as he swung his sword a little slower than before. Mental messages that come into players are known as private messages. He tried his hardest to divide his attention to the monster in front of him, a dragon whose sharp fangs was barred in anger and trying to recognize the voice in his head.

'Alistair, is that you?' He questioned himself inside, as he finally realized it was her, the lowly priest he met a year ago. He remembered he bumped into her in the middle of his royal guard examination in the haunted castle of Glast Hleim, when she was being attacked by a handful of aggressive monsters and gave her a hand. Ever since then, they've been close partners and accompanied her when she became a full fledged high priest. Then she disappeared a month ago, and never contacted him ever since.

'You still remember me?'

His voice softened, 'Yeah, of course. I missed you.' He meant it. She was one of the virtual gamers he ever connected deeply with, and knowing his secrets were safe with her.

'Me too, I have to see you. I need to tell you so many things.'

'What a coincidence, so do I.'

Chris's Alistair, stood waiting in front of the gates of the Pronteran castle, the place where she and Yune typically met a month ago before she pulled out a disappearing act. A huge chunk of her anxiety dissolved when she heard Yune's voice once more, it was like a sound of grace and salvation to her. In order to survive in the virtual world, a network is one of the most important things a player needs.

For Chris, she knew Yune and her brother is just enough for her.

She never liked talking to strangers, since she always reminded herself to stay clear from them because they could be anybody. Yune for her was her knight and shining armor. He was literally one, since he saved her from an angry mob while accompanying her brother in Glast Heim. She remembered being separated from her brother and wandering the dark walls alone...

...it was enough to give her shivers down her spine. Panic overruled her that she accidentally teleported away from her brothers side to a unknown place in the map where a group of abysmal knights came her way. Due to fear and shock, her head blanked out stared at the massive dark beings as it charged towards her, preparing to strike her heart with its lance.

Then Yune came.

Since then, she spent less time with her brother and more with her new found friend that seemed to confide in her. Due to his openess, she too started to become open to him and other people in the virtual world.

It was all thanks to Yune.

The nostalgic thoughts brought a soft smile in her face. While she waited for her dear friend, she healed and supported people who asked nicely for her help. Besides, she was a high priest after all.

"Alistair!" A voice as clear as a bell called her from the behind. She was about to heal a wounded thief, but she turned around in response, as she found her knight mounted on tame.

Without hesitation, he jumped out of his steed, an ran towards her, giving her a tackle and a hug at the same time. People around them eyed them suspiciously, while some female figures threw some jealous glances.

"Yune-!" Chris managed to say as she felt her feet lose balance under her due to the weight of his armor. In the matter of seconds, she found herself crashing down in the middle of the busy pronteran streets. She closed her eyes, waiting for the pain that will surge in her body, instead, she felt nothing.

"You're as clumsy as ever." A voice warm voice chuckled under her.

Her eyes quickly opened, as she found herself on top of her armored friend. Realizing their awkward position, her face turned scarlet red. Her eyes met his, as familiarity rushed through her and comforted her. Even though she wanted to stand up, it felt her legs couldn't carry her. The relief she felt due to his presence was just so overwhelming that her emotions just ran wild.

"Y-Yune." Her voice cracked, as she felt tears well in her eyes.

All of a sudden, a surge of tears fell down her cheeks, dropping down his glistening armor. She cannot even explain what she felt. Seeing him, and hearing him just filled her with so much relief that she let go all of the bottled up frustrations and worries that was deep inside her hidden for a full month.

Yune smiled apologetically as he reached up and patted her head as she continued to sob on top of him. Even though he was still suffering from the wounds of his mission earlier, he did not want to stop the woman from crying.

It looks like they have a lot of catching up to do.

Christine/Alistair took a deep breath as she put the cup of hot tea into her lips. It was embarrassing making a huge reunion scene in the capital of Midgard, in front of the king's castle. Yune quickly suggested they could have tea in nearby shop, which was a popular stop for many adventurers coming from different parts of the continent. Prontera, being the Capitol of Rune Midgard and is strategically built in the middle in of the continent made it a citadel to money and power hungry individuals.

"I'm really sorry about that," She whispered once more, "I did not mean to..."

He chuckled, "Did you realize how many times you apologized to me?"

She was relieved that the month gap didn't severe their relationship. He remained the same, just like before. But somehow, she noticed an unusual aura of concentration around him.

She shook her head, "It is not enough...for disappearing and not even able to explain."

"I understand. You must have your reasons. When you disappeared, I thought you were part of it."

"It?"

"The X Mysteries."

Those words caused her to pause and clench her cup tightly than before, even though the heat was burning her hands.

"Actually about that..." her voice trailed, "My brother disappeared."

A silence was formed between them. The atmosphere dropped , even though the sun was high in Midgard.

"A month ago, he did. He and a bunch of his guild mates disappeared from their homes, never to be seen again." Chris tried to explain, breaking the silence, "My parents burned the sets. I know somehow he's alive. But the only place I could find clues is in the virtual space. I have the whole summer to find him, but I have a feeling that it's not enough. It won't be easy either. I don't know who am I against and I'm merely a high priest...a long way to go to before I switch to an arch bishop. I can't do this alone-"

"I'll go with you."

All of a sudden, an explosion erupted along the bricked road they were in. Dust quickly filled their vision and nostrils, forcing everyone around the disruption to quickly cover their mouths due to to the polluted air. Bricks and wooden debris flew from the direction of the explosion, highlighting possibly deadly and dire situation they could be.

In a matter of a few seconds, chaos filled the street. People started screaming and running about. YuNe, by instinct, grabbed Alistair by the arm and shielded her quickly. Other experienced players stood on their place and waited for their vision to clear up, waiting on what is going to happen next.

"Kyrie Eleison." Alistair muttered under her breath, as a bright light surrounded her palms and casted a magical barrier on YuNe.

"Someone broke several dead branches!" A voice yelled in the distance.

"Dead branches in the city?" YuNe asked out loud, "Are they insane?"

"Isn't it illegal?"

YuNe nodded, "It's no doubt a modified branch. Normal branches cannot be broken inside any city whatsoever. It's probably a work of a player killer for all we know. But for now," He let go of her arm as he unsheathed his sword.

"We have work to do."

Alistair nodded as she quickly scanned the area. Several players already headed towards origin of the explosion. She then did not hesitate and immediately cast support spells on YuNe, quickly mounted his dragon. She looked up at him as he smiled and held out a hand.

She was not alone. Not now, not ever.

"Let's go."