Viola put on the headgear that came with her brand new "Sleeping Era" massive multiplayer online virtual reality game. She stared through the tinted blue visor, then carefully she laid down on her bed, resting her head on her pillow, took a deep breath and closed her eyes. "Initiate link."
After a brief moment of multicolored tunnel-vision, while the headgear intercepted the signals from Viola's brain, came the pre-game status check. Confirming the link connection of her five senses: Touch, sight, hearing, smell and taste. Viola surely would have panicked at all this, had she not been not been told about it, but also for the fact that she had calibrated the machine the night before.
Now the time had come for Viola to dive in to the virtual game world of Sleeping Era. Logging in and creating her first character was awkward... She knew her body was laying on her bed and yet here Viola was, standing in a room full of various types of weapons and was being prompted to select one. Edward had told her about claw weapons the other day as well as the quickest way to acquiring the skill for them, so she selected the knuckles. Next she was prompted to decide on her in-game appearance. Viola didn't want to change much about her looks, she wanted Edward to be able to recognize her, so all she changed was her the style of her hair and it's color. Viola also changed her eye color, decided on her in-game name and logged in.
βThank you for purchasing Sleeping Era. You will now be logged in to the world of Engilaia.β Stated the woman in her electronic-like voice.
A bright light surrounded her and then Viola, well "Alice" now, was suddenly in the middle of the vast city called Jamalis. She stared in amazement and wonder at how beautiful and real this world looked! To think technology had come so far to be able to make games this detailed! Being so excited and staring in awe of the game world, Alice failed to notice she was standing in the middle of a crowded square. That is until someone bumped in to her, knocking her to the ground.
"Hey!" She yelled after the person. "Watch where you're walking!"Alice yelled up at him.
The blonde boy who had knocked her down was wearing a small sword at his waist, a large bag that went over his shoulder and what Alice thought was a feathered cape. He looked back at her for a mere second with a blank stare, before he turned on his heel and walked away. Alice puffed out her cheeks, clearly that boy was not a friendly person.
"Heeeyy! Alice! You are who I think you are, right? Well, yeah, you should be. You did send your character data along just now." Came a voice from behind Alice.
Alice glared after the boy as he walked away before glancing over her shoulder. "Ed--" She started to say, but stopped to correct herself. "I mean... Cheshire?" He did look a lot like her best friend Edward.
"Correct!β He said with a smile and giving her a thumbs up. βWell, I am kind of surprised, considering that my hair is red and I have cat ears and all... But you seem to be able to recognize me!" He nodded, then squinted at the receding figure of the odd boy who had bumped into her.
"You know him? Well, you probably wouldnβt. What'd he want?" Cheshire asked as Alice pushed herself up to her feet.
"No idea, the jerk just ran right into me and knocked me down." She replied while dusting off her trousers and adjusting the simple blouse she now wore.
Alice then smiled up at Cheshire and giggled. "You look amazing! Like a real human-like Cheshire cat!β She exclaimed while pushing a section of long plum hair, that was now hers, off her shoulder. βWhat about me? What do you think?" She asked before giving a slow spin and ending it by jumping a few times in one spot.
Cheshire laughed nervously and scratched the back of his head. "Uh... Yeah! You look... Great! Yeah... Uh..." He looked away, his face literally glowing a slightly pinkish color.
Alice made a 'mew' like sound as she looked up at Cheshire.
"Oh! Right, I just remembered.β He said startling Alice. βThe guild house is just down the way. We have some stuff for you there. I didn't really bring it because... Um... Yeah... Armor and stuff... Anyways..." He smiled and took her arm.
Cheshire began to lightly tug her down the street, when Alice nearly tripped over her own cloth boots. "Whoa! This is so weird... I mean being able to move my body around in a game." It took a few tries but finally Alice got used to the idea of being able to actually feel her body and muscles workingβ "Cheshire... Are you sure I'm not actually walking around my house with the headgear on? I really don't want to walk in to a wall or something."
Cheshire started laughing. "As if you don't do that already. I remember when you used to sleepwalk back when we had sleep overs and stuff. That was funny.β The smile he had disappeared. βUntil you fell down the stairs. What wasn't quite so funny. Sounded like it hurt, a lot actually..." He thought quietly to himself for a moment, still walking.
"It did hurt...β Alice whispered and glanced up at him curiously, she hoped he wasn't still blaming himself, sure she broke her arm when she fell down the stairs butβ
Suddenly he perked up again. "Come to think of it, this is your first time in a virtual reality game, isn't it? You like it so far?"
βYes it is my first time in virtual reality game, I told you that it would be at school yesterday silly!" Alice giggled.
Then he stopped and gestured to a average sized building in front of them. It looked more like a house than a guild hall to Alice, but she was okay with that. Cheshire had said they were a small guild, all of a handful of people really. It was quaint and simple, with its large gray stone walls, two square framed windows, one on each side of the door, and a gabled roof.
"Here it is! The Lucky Cat! Home sweet... Guild house.... Thing... um..." He trailed off, frowning, before giving a small shrug and pushing open the wooden door, with an 'after you' gesture.
Alice giggled again and curtsied to Cheshire. Upon taking a single step inside the guild hall, her jaw fell open. While it wasn't packed full of people, the ones who were there, were enough to make Alice stare. Their characters were all very different, unique... Suddenly Alice felt very self conscious and she turned to look up at Cheshire. "I-I don't know Cheshire... I don't think I--"
"YES!β Someone in the building shouted. βFive hundred Luc! Told you she'd look hot!" The male declared, slamming his hand on the table. He was small, tiny actually, with a short, almost toy-like bow on his back and a cloth hood, that resembled the shape of fox ears, on his head. He had fiery red hair, and was now in the process of clinging to a tall, black haired woman, and trying to take her coin bag.
Cheshire blinked and blushed, slightly embarrassed. "Isley, what the heck...?"
The black haired woman, who was now almost managing to pry Isley off of her, while three others just sat at the table and laughed, looked up. "You're Alice, then? Welco-β She turned her attention to the man who was now trying to fondle her. βISLEY IF YOU DO THAT ONE MORE TIME I WILL CUT YOUR ARMS OFF." The woman didn't give him a chance, she grabbed the small man and brought her knee up in between his legs. He dropped to the ground, and everyone else got quiet.
Cheshire opened his mouth and closed it again, then gave a wry smile. "Well... This is quite... Quite the welcome, isnβt it...?"
Alice had just stood there and stared as the scene had unfolded before her. Then she glanced at the the black haired woman, then at man on the floor and back to the woman, before turning and looking up at Cheshire. "Is he going to be okay?" She whispered as she took Cheshire's hand in hers. "I mean like... Outside of the game is he going to be okay? That has to hurt. I remember when I accidentally kicked the soccer ball and it hit you there..."
Cheshire only blushed and looked the other way. Worried and slightly curious, Alice pulled Cheshire with her as she walked over to Isley and stood over him, looking down at him while biting her lip, trying to determine if he was okay. "Are you dead mister?" She whispered.
Isley groaned. "I think Clara killed me... I'm dying... Help..." He choked.
Clara, the black haired woman, stood up and ignored him. She walked around to the other side of the table they were all seated at and addressed Alice. "Don't mind him. He's a melodramatic little idiot."
Isley sat up immediately. "Hey... That's kinda mean, isn't it?β He looked up at Alice, who stood up straight when he sat up. βHey, Alice, you think that was mean too, right? Right?" He looked at her pleadingly. His eyes were big, watery, and close to that of a puppy's.
"Hey, guys, do we have Alice's stuff around here?" Cheshire sighed.
Isley raised his hand. "You mean the lingerie? I have it in the back."
Cheshire stared at him, suddenly turning red. "Wh-what?!"
Isley cocked his head. "Oh. Right. That stuff. Yeah, we put it in the spare guest room thingy."
Alice's eyes went wide in shock. "You got me what! Did you think I would honestly wear something like that?" She shouted while glaring up at Cheshire. "We are childhood friends, you should know I'm not that type of girl!" Puffing out her cheeks, Alice crossed her arms over her chest and turned her back to Cheshire.
Cheshire sputtered and looked back and forth from Alice to Isley, who was laying contentedly on the floor. "Isley..." He hissed. "What are you talking about?!"
One of the other two guild members, a girl with short brown hair, who wore thinner leather gear and had a set of simple metal knives at her waist smiled. "Isley got some at one of the developer's random events and decided he would give it to you and Alice when she came on.β She shrugged at Cheshire and Alice. βSomething to do with his plan to build a network of tunnels inside the guild hall to spy on people."
Alice peeked over her should are Cheshire, before giving a "Hmph." and going over to Clara. Cheshire opened and closed his mouth, saying nothing, and instead glared at Isley, who looked at his fingernails, whistling.
Curtsying to Clara, Alice gave a child-like smile and held out her hand. "Hello, I'm Alice! Nice to meet you. Can you tell me where the guest room is so I can throw the lingerie at Cheshire and Isley and then tell them to go suck an egg and never speak to me again?"Alice took a moment to turn around, look at Isley and Cheshire, and promptly stick her tongue out at them.
Clara snorted, a grin spreading across her face. βJust go up the stairs, it's the only room up there. The clothes are on the bed. Cheshire got you something or other and put it in the chest too. And if you really want it, the lingerie is in a chest at the back marked 'ISLEY'S SUPER SECRET CHEST'. Nice to meet'cha, kid.β
Alice giggled and thanked Clara, then dashed towards the stairs. Taking two steps at a time she darted in to the room and shut the door quickly behind her. Putting her back against it, she looked around the room and decided it was quite nice: A single bed with a chest sitting at the end of it, while another chest occupied the corner of the room. The walls were bare with the exception of a two small, but empty, shelves by the door. While the only light source in the room, for the time being, was a small and simple window above the bed.
Alice noticed the items laid out on the bed and skipped over to look at them: A black dress and a dark colored cloak. She was curious about what Cheshire could have put in the chest, for her, so Alice shuffled over to it and lifted the lid. Right on top of a bunch of other items was cat ears and a cross necklace. With a childish squeal Alice picked up the ears and cross and sat down on the edge of the bed. Then Alice realized one important thing... She didn't know how to equip these items.
"Pssst! Alice! Open the menu and press equipment!" Whispered a male voice above her, followed by chuckling and scurrying noises. "Oh. Right. Menu opens with putting two fingers at face level and slowly pulling down. Try it. Hehehe." More scurrying and chuckling ensued.
Alice stared up at the ceiling, frightened at first, but then she puffed out her cheeks, angry that someone was a peeping tom. However she did put two fingers in front of her face and slowly pulled them down, and sure enough, there it was! The menu! Alice smiled happily, but then frowned remembering the noises above her.
But then she had an idea, with a mischievous child-like smile and taking a deep breath, Alice screamed as loud as she could. "PERVERT!"
"Oh, come on, you're no fu- AHHHH HELP IT'S GOT ME! NOOOO-" All the noises, banging, and screams in the ceiling ended aruptly with a faint sound of thumping down stairs. Then Cheshire's voice came up from the stairs. "It's okay, we got it!"
Alice's smile returned at that and she went back to looking at the items she held in her hand, as well as the ones that lay beside her. Receiving these items, or gifts, made it seem like it was Christmas! But there was more important things to do then just look at than items. Returning her attention to the open menu, she figured it was time to put on her 'special' items. It took her some time, but finally by using the same technique to open the menu, except over the items, Alice was able to transfer the items from her lap and the bed, in to her inventory. After she had the dress, cloak, ears and necklace equipped, the first thing she wanted to do was find a mirror. The 'lingerie' was now completely forgotten.
Running to the door Alice threw it open and shouted, "Are there mirrors in this game?" She really wanted to see what she looked like now.
Cheshire, who was standing at the base of the stairs talking with Clara, turned away immediately and covered his face. "I didn't see anything I swear!"
Clara sighed, pushing Cheshire back a few steps and started up the stairs. "She's dressed, there's nothing to see, you idiot. Here..." Clara opened her menu and took out a mirror from her inventory, handing it to Alice. "You should get one. They're useful in the field if you're hiding, too."
Alice carefully took the mirror from Clara. "Ooh. Where can I get one?" She asked as she lifted the mirror to see herself, but before Clara could answer, Alice let out a squeal of delight. "I have cat ears! Oh my god they are so cute!" She lifted and hand and felt the furry ear. "Oh and it's so soft! This is so awe--"
Alice stopped in mid sentence when she felt a swish of something by her leg. Looking down and behind her she saw a cat tail. Moving the hand from her newly acquired cat ears, she gently touched the tail and traced her hand along it, to find it was connected to her. Alice's eyes went wide. "Cheshire!" She cried handing the mirror back to Clara and running down the stairs. Alice threw herself against Cheshire and wrapped her arms around him. "I'm a cat girl! I'm like a real cat girl! Ears and tail! Now all I need are claws!"
"My god, you've got to be kidding me. You're recruiting idiots now, too, Mr. Cheshire...?" Said a voice from the other side of the room.
Alice looked over her shoulder to see a young looking blonde boy who was sitting at the table with some glittering items spread out before him. "Where did you even pick her up? She doesn't even have a weapon equipped. Or an item At least, for that matter."
Alice recognized his feather-like cape, she narrowed her eyes and Cheshire grimaced. "Uh... Alice. This is Kacha. He's a veteran player that does quests with us sometimes if we need more people... Kacha, this is Alice, my friend."
"You..." Alice hissed, letting go of Cheshire and taking a few steps towards the blonde boy. "I demand you apologize to me! You... You jerk!" She shouted while pointing her finger at him.
The boy, Kacha, snorted and picked up a large fang that lay on the table. "Now where've I heard that before...? Look, I don't have time to remember every person who has a problem with me." He stood up and looked at Cheshire. "Okay, we've got thirty minutes to spare, so if you really want to take her along, be my guest. Just get her a weapon and teach her the basics, okay?"
Alice puffed out her cheeks and balled her fists at her side. She knew she not only looked childish, but was acting very much the part of a child as well. It was who she was here, her real persona. "I am not going anywhere until he apologizes for knocking me to the ground in the square earlier! As for a weapon, I selected knuckles and I will put them on when we go out of town!"
Walking right up to Kacha, Alice poked him in the center of his chest. "I'll have you know I've had some martial arts training in the real world, and I'm taking lessons in kickboxing. I don't need your help."
Kacha's face flashed into a look as though she had hit him, but it disappeared just as quickly. "Here. While you're at it have her do something about her attitude. That's a good way for her to get killed if she does it to the wrong person."
Alice watched as Kacha promptly turned on his heel and stalked outside.
Cheshire put his hand on Alice's shoulder. "He's not quite as bad as he seems..."
Isley, from a place on the floor in the corner, piped up. "Yeah he is. Trust me on that one. He is."
The other three nodded in agreement.
Alice looked up at Cheshire over her shoulder. "He's a jerk. I don't like jerks. You should know that from school."
Opening her menu, Alice went to her inventory and equipped the starting knuckles she received when she created her character. Making sure she had a good grip on them she whipped around and lightly punched Cheshire in the stomach. With a childish grin, she looked up at him through her lashes. "You ready my Cheshire Cat?"
Cheshire scratched his head. "Uhhh... Starting knuckles are... Um... What are we hunting again today...?" He looked at the other three around the room.
"Big, scary things." They all said in unison, as if it had been rehearsed.
"Thought so... Um, Alice, maybe we should go get you claws or something? Something a bit... Better, maybe?"
Alice blinked up at Cheshire. "I can haz claws nao?" Alice definitely had her work cut out for her... Her adventure in Engilaia had only just begun...