A Sweet Special Event - 1

SPECIAL EVENT

“Hey guys!  Hey guys!  Heeeeey guys!  I’ve got big news!”

“Umm...  Hey Mirielle...What’s up?”  Twin Blade Shugo uttered as he scratched the back of his head sheepishly.  He was used to Mirielle, his rare item loving friend, messaging news concerning special events to Rena and him the second they logged in, but it wasn’t often that she was there to deliver them in person.

“What is it?” Shugo’s sister Rena, the headstrong Heavy Blade, asked.  She was always glad to hear news of special events from Mireille.  Sure, most of Mireille’s rumors ended up leading the group on fruitless wild goose chases... but at least they were fun, fruitless wild goose chases.

“So, what’s it this time?” Shugo asked.  “Are we hunting another special monster in the haunted house at four in the morning?  Because I have a test tomorrow and I don’t think my teacher will excuse me because of MMORPG duties...”

“Yeah, it was cool hanging out all night...  And all morning... but I don’t think we’ll be up for anything like that for a while.”  Rena smiled weakly.  “Especially after how much trouble we got in for that...”

“Well, hmph!” Mireille shrugged her shoulders and quickly looked away.  “Then I guess I shouldn’t tell you about this top-secret extra-special super-duper cherry-on-top secret...  Should I?” Mireille began to grin mischievously

“Top-secret extra-special?”  Rena’s jaw dropped at the prospect of something so hidden, so exclusive.

“Super-duper cherry-on-top?”  Shugo’s jaw also dropped, but for entirely different reasons.

“I can understand if you don’t want to believe me...” Mireille shrugged her shoulders.  “But it’s not my fault if you want to miss out on an epic adventure, or pass up the possibility of super rare items!  This is insider information I have, so it’s nothing to cough at!”

“Well, I think it would be stupid to pass up an opportunity like this!” Rena smiled.  “Top-secret, extra...  Super...  Stuff like this doesn’t come by every day!”

“But Rena, you don’t know what kind of event this could be!”  Shugo pointed out, as protective as ever of his sister.  “Especially if it’s one they don’t want to tell anyone about...  It could be glitched up or something, or we might get the staff involved, or...”

“Sheesh, is your bro always this much of a wet blanket?” Mireille whispered to Rena.

“He’s just being a brother...”  Rena whispered back to Mireille, a tinge of exasperation tinting her voice.

“I’m glad I don’t have a brother, then...” Mireille looked over to Shugo, who was still rattling off reasons why this was a bad idea.  “It sounds like having a second mom, except one that doesn’t like to bathe...”

“More or less...”  Rena quickly and matter-of-factly replied.  Of course, she said this all in jest, as she deeply respected her brother...  She just wouldn’t admit it, unless under drastic circumstances.  Very drastic circumstances.

“Well, I’ve already told Hotaru and Ouka about it...  So, are you guys in?”

“Of course!” Rena smiled.  “It’s been a couple days since we’ve had a chance to get the whole party together, anyway . . .   Is Shugo still ranting over there?”  Mireille glanced in Shugo’s direction.

“Would you be disappointed in him if I said yes?”  Mireille shrugged her shoulders and pointed over to Shugo, who was still going over everything he felt could go wrong.

“And next thing you know some hacker will be running around using your character!  And then...”

“Wait...”  Rena stroked her chin mischievously.  “You said that Ouka was coming along, didn’t you?”  Rena was careful to place extra emphasis on Ouka’s name.

“W...W...Wait!”  Shugo paused.  “Ouka?”

“Oh yes!” Mireille replied, grinning as wildly as Rena.  “Ouka said she was going to be there too!  She just couldn’t let an opportunity like this go by!”

“Maybe...  Maybe I should come along!”  Shugo yelped as he skipped toward Rena and Mireille, his mind changed with the news of Ouka’s accompaniment.  “Just in case something does go wrong!”

“Sure, that would be for the best.”  Rena replied.

“He’s just tagging along ‘cause of Ouka, isn’t he?”  Mireille whispered to Rena as she shiftily eyed Shugo.

“More or less...” Rena whispered back, a bit disappointed in her brother.  “But at least we finally got him to quiet down so-“ Rena looked over to see no sign of Shugo.  “Did he...  Did he run off on his own?”

“Yep.” Mireille nodded her head.

“But he doesn’t even know where we’re goi-“ Rena stopped in mid sentence to sigh bitterly.

“I think we should catch up with him before he gets too far away from us and injures himself.  The monsters in this area are pretty tough, after all.”  Suggested Mireille.

“Probably.” Rena replied, still flustered by her brother.  “But maybe we should let the monsters beat him up just a little bit.”

---

“Are you sure this is the right place?” Rena questioned Mireille.  The group stood in the middle of a large field which was usually inhabited by confused newbies rather than experienced characters who were searching for adventure.

“I’m positive!  My sources never lie!”  Mireille smiled confidently.  

“Well, there’s a first time for everything...  Or should I say a sixth time...” Shugo noted pessimistically as he paced back and forth.

“Well, at least wait for Ouka and Hotaru, oh Shugo of little faith!”  Mireille grimly glared at Shugo.

“You never complain this much before about any of Mireille’s news, Shugo!  What’s so different this time?”  Rena yelled.

“I never realized how pointless they’ve all been until now.”  Shugo snapped back.  “Or how dangerous, for that matter...” He added, crossing his arms along his chest.  “Remember what happened last Monday?  That hydra nearly ate us all for a light snack!”

“Yeah, until Ouka beat it in three hits.” Rena pointed out, causing Shugo to pout spitefully in defeat.  “Anyway, you need to relax and quit worrying about these things.  It’s just a game, after all.  Chill out and quit taking it so seriously!”

“Just a game?”  Shugo yelled.  “Remember what happened with CC Corp?  We nearly got deleted twenty times over!”

“Um...  Guys!”  Mireille shook her arms.

“And it turned out just fine.”  Rena replied as she crossed her arms stubbornly.  “Besides, it was a once in a life time adventure.  The experience was definitely worth the danger.”

“Hey, guys!”  Mireille began to jump up and down while still waving her arms wildly.

“I’m just...  Just looking out for your best interest!”  Shugo stuttered.

“Did you ever consider for one second that maybe, um...  I’m old enough to look out for my own best interests?”

“Fine.  Next time you get in trouble, see if I come running after you!”  Shugo barked as he turned away from Rena.

“Good!” Rena growled as she turned her back to her brother.

“Guys, we have some guests...” Mireille yelped as she thrashed her arms around.

“Did we...  Did we come at a bad time?”

“Hm, online drama...  Never a good thing.” Another added.  Shugo and Rena slowly spun around as the blood drained from their bodies, leaving them as paler than low level skeleton monsters.

“Hi...  Hotaru...”  Rena jittered.

“Hey...  Ouka...”  Shugo’s face lit up.

“It’s a sibling squabble.”  Mireille whispered to Ouka and Hotaru.

“Quite an epic one.”  Ouka nodded.

“I hope everything is all right...” Hotaru voiced her concern.

“It’s... nothing big.”  Rena said sternly in an effort to regain her composure.  “Someone is just a bit too stubborn to walk in someone else’s shoes.”

“Yeah, she’s being as thick-skulled as ever.”  Shugo motioned to Rena.

“Me?”  The two snarled at each other.  “You’re the stubborn one!”

“Wow, I’ve never seen a fight like this, and I’ve clashed with some of the toughest monsters around!” Ouka said, grinning.

“I hope they make up quickly...”  Hotaru frowned as she looked to the ground.

“Yeah...”  Mireille stared at the hopeless duo, before turning to Hotaru and Ouka.  “So, anyway, I’m expecting big things from this event!”

“Oh, me too!” Ouka cracked her knuckles.  “That last one was a really good fight!”

“I didn’t know you could tie a hydra’s necks around like that, Ouka...” Mireille shuddered as the wolf girl grinned voraciously.

“I’m just glad we got this really nice trinket for Grunty!” Hotaru smiled brightly as she held the critter up, which was now wearing a vibrantly violet bow.

“Yeah, that Lightning Hydra Spear I got was awesome, too!” Mireille’s eyes lit up.  “I mean, I can’t use it and all, but it still looks really, really cool!”

“They said that the portal would open up at 4:32, yes?”  Hotaru asked.

“Yep.  And it’s coming up in just a couple seconds.”

“Wonderful!”  Hotaru smiled, before looking back to Shugo and Rena.

“They’re still going at it, aren’t they?” Mireille asked.

“Like cats and dogs...”  Ouka chuckled.

“Well, hopefully this event will set them strai-“ Mireille was interrupted when a portal materialized nearby, nearly knocking the group to the ground. The shock even managed to break up Shugo and Rena’s quarrel.  “Yes, here we go!” Mireille shouted as she charged into the portal without hesitation.  “The password is ‘sweets!’” She yelled before she disappeared into the portal.

“Here goes nothing!” Ouka yelled as she jumped through to the event.

“I’m coming on in!” Hotaru skipped into the portal, failing to notice that someone didn’t follow her through

“Well, I might as well come too...”  Shugo shrugged his shoulders as he walked to the portal.

“Oh, no you don’t!  I don’t want you killing all of the fun by being a worry wart!”  Rena rushed ahead of Shugo, causing him to stumble.  He could only watch as his sister faded out through the portal.

“Wait, Rena!” Shugo called out as he jumped forward.  Unfortunately for him, the portal phased out as he lept for it, sending him face first into the dirt.

---

“Wow!”  Mireille shook with anticipation.  “This place looks amazing!”

“How cute!” Hotaru looked around.

“I have to admit, this is pretty creative.”  Ouka smiled as she scoped the area.

“And it smells awesome too!”  Rena jumped forward.  “But...  What is it called?”

“Hmm...”  Mireille checked her map.  “Let’s see...  Ah, it does have a name!  It’s Gretel’s Secret Cottage...”