Hey guys, here's the first chapter in my new Sword Art Online story. I'm really excited to see how this does and I hope you guys will want to see more for this. Personally, SAO is one of my all-time favorite anime's! It's up there with Fairytale, Naruto, and even Pokémon! Anyways, enough rambling, it's time for the story!

Hey, so this first chapter is basically the same as episode one of the anime. If you have watched the anime and know the story, then this isn't the chapter for you. This chapter is for the benefit of anyone who either hasn't watched the anime (which is a major mistake) or those who would like a refresher of the original story. So, if you know how the first episode goes, then feel free to skip this chapter. The real story begins next time.

November 6, 2022, Kirigaya Household

As Kazuto loaded up his file that he transferred from the beta test, he thought back to all the time he had put into getting as far as he could in the game. He had practically lived in the game, always online, always fighting monsters, always moving on. He had grown to love the game in the beta, and had been the only beta tester to make it all the way to floor 8, but now it was time to experience the real deal. As he finished setting up his character, he looked at his new name. He smiled, knowing it was just a simple mix of letters from his real name.

Kirito.

With one last glance to make sure everything was in order, he saved his character information. He then selected the file and finally dived into the world of Sword Art Online. He smiled as everything went black.

November 6, 2022, Main Plaza, Town of Beginnings, First Floor, Aincrad

As he began to open his eyes, he was met by the sight of a sprawling town. From where he stood he saw numerous gardens, terraces, parks, and shops surrounding the central plaza where he now stood.

He looked down at his hands and then over to a nearby store window, and studied his reflection in the glass. His avatar was a little taller than he was, and his black hair was also longer. His angular face made him look much older than he really was, as he was still only fourteen years old.

As he watched, the area around him began filling with multiple blue flashes, which were then replaced by players as they logged in. As more people began entering the world, Kirito decided to make his leave and go see what was different from the beta test.

About an hour later, Kirito had been through the entire city, and now he was running through the streets towards the western fields, one of the best spots to farm mobs after just starting out.

As he turned into an alley he knew was a shortcut, he heard someone yell, followed by footsteps behind him. He slowed down and turned to see who it was that had hailed him.

In front of him stood a tall, red headed man wearing a red bandana that was barley darker than his hair. The man had his hands on his knees and seemed to be trying to catch his breath, which was ridiculous as running and fighting didn't take any energy in this world.

"Can I help you?" Kirito asked, not quite sure why he had been stopped.

"You seem like you know your way around here. You were in the beta test, right?" the man said, finally managing to stand up.

"Yea, so?" Kirito asked.

"Well, I'm new to these kinds of games and I was wondering if you could give me some pointers on the lower floors?" The man said, looking at Kirito hopefully.

Kirito hesitated. In the beta he had always been a solo player. He preferred to work alone and avoided parties and guilds. "I don't know…" he said.

"Oh come on man! I'm begging ya!" he said, bowing in front of Kirito with his hand together like he was praying. He then stood up and gave Kirito a grin and pointed at himself. "Look my names Klein."

"I'm Kirito." He said. Maybe I can just show him a few things really quick. It couldn't hurt. "Come on, I'll show you some things about fighting." He said and started walking back through the alley, now being followed by Klein.

A few hours later, Kirito and Klein were sitting on an overhang that showed a view of numerous land form that would never be seen in real life. Floating lakes, crystal spires, waterfalls that stretched for miles. All of these became even more awe inspiring in the deep orange light of sunset.

"You know, sometimes I forget that I'm actually in a virtual world. None of this is actually there." Klein said from his seat on the ground.

"Is this your first full dive?" Kirito asked from where he stood a few feet away.

"Yup. I bought all the equipment the day before the release just so I could play Sword Art Online. Stood in line all night with my friends to get one of the 10,000 hard copies." He said, and then turned to Kirito. "But you, my friend, were ten times as lucky getting to play in the beta test!"

"It's not that big a deal." Kirito said. "During the beta test, though, SAO was the only thing on my mind. I was always online and always playing. In this world, a single sword can take you anywhere. To be honest, I feel more alive here than in the real world."

They sat there for a moment, and then Kirito looked at Klein. "So, you want to do some more hunting?"

"Hell yea I do! But," Klein held his stomach. "I gotta get something to eat."

"To bad the food here only satisfies your hunger virtually."

"That's why," Klein said with a confident smirk. "I ordered a pizza for 5:30!"

"Well you sure are prepared."

"Yea and after I get back I was gonna meet up with some friends from another game. If you want, you can come and meet them." Klein proposed.

Kirito hesitated. He preferred playing solo, even though he thought it might be fun to try playing with a group. But he had never been much of a social butterfly, and he didn't feel that it was time for him to switch his style of play.

Klein saw his hesitation. "Hey, it's alright if you say no, it's not a big deal. I can just introduce you some other time."

"Yea… thanks."

"Alright, well I better go get my pizza."

"Alright, see ya." Kirito said and turned to go, only to be stopped by Kleins confused mumbling.

"Is something wrong?"

"Where's the log out button?" Klein asked, embarrassed

"It's at the bottom of the main menu." Kirito said, opening his own menu and going to where the log out option was

"It's there but it's not working."

"Huh…"

They went on a little longer trying to figure out a way to leave the game, when suddenly the air filled with the sound of bells.

"What is that?" Klein asked as they were enveloped in blue light. Suddenly, they were back in the main plaza in the Town of Beginnings.

"Someone forced a teleport?"

As they watched, more blue lights filled the plaza, until finally all 10,000 players were crammed into the space.

"What the hell?"

"What are we doing here?"

"It's probably just some kind of tutorial."

"Hey, up there!"

Everyone looked up to see a flashing red 'WARNING' symbol floating in the sky above the plaza. As they watched, the symbol began to multiply until they had created a giant red dome above the crowd.

As they continued to watch, a red liquid, which quite resembled blood, began seeping from the edges of some of the symbols. The liquid condensed into a giant red blob that hovered above the crowd before transforming into an enormous man wearing a red cloak that hid his entire body except for his gloved hands.

"Welcome, to Sword Art Online. I am Kayaba Akihiko, Head Programmer, and I now control this world."

"As many of you have probably noticed already, there is no longer a log out feature in the game. This is not a mistake, but a major feature to Sword Art Online."

A few surprised gasped left the crowd, followed by nervous chattering, which was stopped by a wave of Kayaba's hand.

"It is no longer possible to leave the game. And if anyone in the real world attempts to remove the Nerve Gear from you, the microwave transmitters in the equipment with short circuit and destroy your brain. Unfortunately, this has become the cause of the deaths of 213 players so far, so the chances of this happening are now very slim."

"The only way to leave the game is to fight your way through all one hundred floors of Castle Aincrad and beat Sword Art Online." Everyone looked around nervously. This man was asking them to beat an MMO, which had never been done before.

"Also, you should know that if your health drops below 0 in Aincrad, the Nerve Gear will simultaneously destroy your brain."

"And finally, I have a gift for all of you. If you would all open your inventories."

As Kirito entered his inventory, he immediately noticed an item that hadn't been there before. "A mirror?" he said, taking it out of his inventory. As he looked at it, he saw everyone in the crowd suddenly surrounded by blue light.

Suddenly, the mirror disappeared and he was surrounded by a different crowd.

"Kirito?" He turned to find a tall, lanky red headed man with a scruffy beard and a red bandana wrapped around his forehead…

"Klein?"

He looked down at the reflection of himself in the fountain in the center of the plaza. His jet black hair was shorter now, and he wasn't as tall with a less muscular face. Overall he looked like a younger version of his avatar. Except…

All around him, he heard sounds of surprise.

"Why do I look like me?"

"This is my face!"

"You're not a girl!"

"And you're not seventeen!"

"This is the end of the tutorial. I wish you all luck." And with that, he began to smoke and then exploded into pixels. The moment he disappeared, the symbols that had previously covered the sky vanished all at once.

Not a single person in the square made any noise. They all stood in place, trying to grasp what had happened. And then the panic started.

Kirito grabbed Klein by the arm and dragged him out of the square. He didn't stop until they had finally made it to an alley near the western gate.

"Klein, I'm heading to the next town. I want you to come with me. I know all the safe routes and short cuts, so I can get there even if I'm level one."

"… well, the thing is, I stood in line all night with my friends to buy this game. It just wouldn't be right to leave them. In fact, they're probably still back at plaza!"

"Oh…" If it was just Klein, then we could make it. But having to watch one or two more people… I just don't know if I could get us all there safely.

"Hey, it's okay. You go on ahead, we'll be fine. I was a guild leader in the last game I played so I can take care of myself."

"Right… well I guess I'll be seeing you then. Message me if you have any questions." He said, turning away.

"Will do! Try not to die, okay?" Klein said. "And Kirito?" Klein seemed to hesitate, like he wanted to change Kirito's mind about leaving. "I think that you look much better than your avatar."

Kirito smiled at his friend. "And that scruffy face suites you ten times better!"

And with that, Kirito ran off towards the west gate.

Alright guys, I'm gonna end it here. I did leave some things out simply because I wanted to get this chapter out of the way, but I believe I touched all the major events and conversations. Anyways, if you haven't already, I recommend that you watch the anime. It's so good, I watched it three times! Anyways, thanks for reading and please leave me a review or pm telling me what your hopes for this story will be and any ideas you guys may have for this new series. I will try to get the next chapter out as fast as I can, but until then, take it easy guys. Peace!