I live! I'm so sorry that it has taken me forever to update somethings happened at work, we had the holidays, which I hope everyone had a great Christmas and New Years, also my new computer is acting up.

Couple of things, I'm not entirely sure how armor works regards to your movements. I took the Skyrim approach, if you're wearing heavy armor, you move slower than in light armor. I do not own any of the characters.

Percy was trying hard not to slam his head on the table. The three of them had been going over plans for 6 days now trying to come up with a plan that they could all agree on.

"What do we know about the boss," Annabeth asked as she looked at her boyfriend and Kirito.

"Annabeth," Percy stated with a sigh as he finally let his head hit the table. The same information, all they had to work with was the same information for days. They had no new information since the two hours ago they last talked about the boss raid.

"No," Annabeth snapped in irritation. She wanted a better plan than putting so many players in the line of fire. "We're going to go over this again."

Sighing, Kirito activated the Mirage Sphere. "We know the boss is here," he pointed to where the boss was hiding in a village.

"We need him out in the open to deal with him," Percy stated as he lifted his head off the table.

"You said that the boss would go after NPCs right?" Annabeth asked as she looked at the two males. "So, if we could lure him out of his hiding spot and into the village, we might have a chance."

"But that would mean that he would be going after the NPCs!" Kirito defended.

"I know it's not ideal, but it is better than having him go after a bunch of players. The more players that we have facing the boss as a distraction, the more likely of someone getting hurt. But if we limit it to only a few of our fastest players and we can get the boss out and into the open, that would mean less players getting hurt. We won't even lose anyone as he takes out the village," Annabeth stated.

"But we can't do that," Kirito continued to argue. "He'll destroy the whole village."

"I know that it's not ideal, but a village of not real people or the lives of real people," Annabeth argued back. "If we sacrifice the village, it would mean that we are not throwing a bunch of players in the line of fire and hoping that they're going to be okay. We can make sure that the casualties are just NPCs and not players."

"But we would still be sacrificing a whole village," Kirito stated.

"Maybe we should come up with a different plan," Percy stated as he tried to keep his best friend and girlfriend from attacking each other.

"Fine, but we only have 2 more days until I meet with Asuna about the plan," Annabeth stated with a sigh. She understood where Kirito was coming from, and she didn't want to sacrifice a whole town to the boss. But, if it was between NPCs and players, she would pick the players over the NPCs. Given time, the NPCs would respawn and be fine.

"Why don't we go get something to eat?" Percy asked. "We could take a break and then come back to coming up with a plan."

"Sure," Kirito huffed as he stood up.

"That sounds like a good plan," Annabeth said as she turned off the Mirage Sphere.

The three headed outside and towards a small café that was three blocks away from Percy's home. They were each silent as they walked to the café. As they reached the café, Percy opened the door and held it open for his girlfriend and friend.

"Good afternoon!" exclaimed an enthusiastic, female, NPC.

"Hi," the three chorused as they sat down at a table. They were handed their menus and started looking over the selections.

As they were looking over their menus, Annabeth received a notification from Asuna.

"What does it say?" Percy asked as he looked over at his girlfriend.

"Asuna's postponing the meeting until the 6th. She said something happened with the Knights of the Bloodoath. Something about her being the second in command means that she has to deal with it," Annabeth stated as she read the message.

"Have you decided on what you want?" the NPC asked as she returned to their table. They quickly picked out what they wanted and told their waitress NPC. She then headed off and left the three alone at their table.

The three sat there in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. Annabeth continued to strategize about the upcoming boss raid. Kirito thought about how many people would just blindly sacrifice the NPCs of the game just to get ahead. Percy was lost in thought about his friends and family outside of the game. It had been almost a year and half since the last time he had saw his friends and family on the outside.

Percy was snapped out of his thoughts as their food was set on the table. "Thanks," he stated as he started eating.

Annabeth was still thinking about their options when their food arrived. She had taken a bite when a thought occurred to her. "Teleport crystals," she stated as she dropped her fork in excitement.

"What about them?" Percy asked as Kirito looked confused.

"Give me the Mirage Sphere," she demanded.

"I didn't bring it. It's back at Percy's," Kirito stated.

"Fine," she stated as she stood up and ran out of the café.

"What just happened?" Kirito asked as he looked at his best friend and the empty spot left by his girlfriend.

"I don't know, but we had better follow her," Percy stated as he stood up and left the correct amount of col on the table to pay for their meals. The duo quickly made their way out of the café. Percy glanced around before he was able to spot Annabeth heading to the warp point. "Come on," he said as he headed in her direction.

"Come on you two," Annabeth shouted as she reached the warp point.

"We're coming," Percy stated with a sigh as the two reached his girlfriend.

"Where are we going?" Kirito asked.

"Floor 56," Annabeth declared before the three were warped up to floor 56.

"Aaaaaand, what are we doing here?" Percy asked as he looked around.

"I want to check something out," Annabeth stated as she quickly headed off into the direction that boss was in.

"Care to explain what you're thinking wisegirl?" Percy asked as he and Kirito followed.

"That," Annabeth stated as pointed to an open field that was outside of the village that the boss was hiding in. "I noticed that there was a main road that lead right up to the boss's 'home.' If we can lure him out with our fastest players and get him out here, into the field, we would have a chance."

"Okay, I'm following you. But what about the teleport crystals?" Percy asked.

"We have three waves of players. The first wave is will already be set up here and waiting as out fastest players bring the boss to the field. Once we start to lose momentum, the second wave teleports in and takes the first waves place. Now, the first and second wave continue to fight. Once we lose moment again, the third wave teleports in and the first wave teleports out with the fast players. This will give waves two and three room to work. The first wave will then have time to rest, heal themselves, and regroup," Annabeth explained.

"We then can keep this going as many times as needed," Percy stated as he thought over what Annabeth had explained.

"What about the first wave, how do we keep them from being overwhelmed?" Kirito asked as he surveyed the field.

"The first wave will have more players in it than the other two, not to mention our fast players will fight with them," Annabeth stated.

"No, we don't want them to fight yet," Kirito stated.

"Why not?" Annabeth challenged.

"Send them in with the third wave," Kirito stated. "To take on the boss, people are going to need to be in full gear and that makes them slower. The runners have to be light on their feet and that means light armor and no weapons out."

"So, they lead the boss here and then teleport out to regroup with the second and third waves," Annabeth stated as she looked around.

"I think that we have a solid plan," Percy stated happily as he looked at the two.

"I believe we do. If we can keep the boss on the main road and his attention fixed on us, he'll leave the NPCs and the village alone," Annabeth stated with a nod.

"Alright," Kirito stated. He felt relieved that the village and NPCs would be left alone. Now their plan hinged on the fact that they could get fast players to agree.

"So, let's head back to my house," Percy stated as he started to walk to the warp point.

"Hey, I'll meet up with you two tomorrow at the meeting," Kirito stated as he jogged ahead of the couple and warped out.

"Wait it's not tomorrow!" Annabeth shouted.

"Too late, he's gone," Percy sighed as he had a smile on his face.

"So, care to talk about what you were thinking about at the café?" Annabeth asked.

"You noticed?" Percy asked shocked, he thought that Annabeth was too wrapped up in her own thoughts to notice him.

"I noticed, I may have been thinking about battle plans, but I notice when you start thinking about something depressing," Annabeth stated softly.

"I miss everyone back home," Percy whispered. "I know I have you now and I had Kirito with me the whole time, but I had no one from the outside with me. I miss everyone from camp. I miss my mom and Paul. I miss my dad."

"You miss the life or death quests?" Annabeth asked with a smile.

"No, I don't miss the life or death quests that the gods like to send me on," Percy smiled back. "But this game feels like a never-ending quest. I have just as much chance of dying in here as I do on a real quest back home."

"Seaweed brain, we're going to get out of here. We're going to go home and go to New Rome, just like you planned," Annabeth stated as she kissed her boyfriend.

"I know, but it hard to see the end when we're only halfway through the game," Percy sighed.

"Yes, but we're on the back half now. We're past level 50," Annabeth smiled. "Come on, I want to go explore that library you were telling me about on level 38."

3/6

"Lure it to the village, that's how we get the boss," Asuna stated as she slapped her hand down onto the table.

"But we can lure him out of the village and into the open field," Annabeth argued back.

"Yes, and we risk the players safety even more. If we simply lure him into the village, he has a village to go after instead of us," Asuna stated in return.

The back and forth had been going on for about two hours now. All the players had stepped back to let Annabeth and Asuna argue it out. Everyone had started muttering to themselves about which side to take.

"My plan will work!" Annabeth shouted.

"Yes, and how many will die if you're wrong!" Asuna shouted back.

"We lure him to the village," Asuna stated again.

"You can't be serious? The boss will go after the villagers," Kirito stated as he stepped forward.

"Yes, that's the idea," she stated as she glared at him. "While the boss is busy killing NPCs, we can attack it."

"But they're not just objects like trees and rocks. Look they're-" Kirito tried to argue.

Asuna cut him off sharply and stated, "NPCs aren't alive. They are just objects. They can always respawn if they're killed."

"But if we lure it to the field and attack him in waves, we can defeat him," Annabeth argued back.

"But we will have no cover," Asuna stated sharply.

"We won't lose ground and players if we stick to my plan," Annabeth stated.

"I'm running this operation," Asuna stated as she put her foot down. "I'm still second in command of the Knights of the Bloodoath."

"Then why ask for my opinion?" Annabeth challenged.

"Fine, we'll reconvene in three days' time and vote on which plan," Asuna stated in defeat. "The day we meet, we will be putting one of these plans into action. Everyone is dismissed."

Kirito let out a huff as he turned to leave with Percy and Annabeth. "Hey, I'll catch up with you two later okay."

"Sure, we'll see you in town," Percy stated as he looped his arm with Annabeth's.

"I can't believe she did that," Annabeth stated in an irritated huff. "Why ask for someone's opinion and then not even consider it."

"She's threatened by your beauty and battle strategy," Percy stated with a completely straight face.

"You're so funny," Annabeth stated with an eye roll as she stated to smile.

Percy smiled back, "I thought I was hilarious."

"Come on Seaweed brain, let's go look at the town," Annabeth stated as she started to drag Percy away. "So, what was that between Asuna and Kirito?" she asked as they walked down the path and into the town.

"I don't know. I mean she was part of Kirito and I's first party during the first boss raid. She became stronger and now the two of them clash whenever they're both at the same boss meetings," Percy stated with a shrug.

"Come on, let's go get something to eat," Annabeth stated as she dragged Percy into a restaurant.

3/10

"Lady Athena's plan wins the vote," Asuna stated sharply as she looked over the results of the vote. It had been a tight vote. But evidently more players viewed NPCs the way Kirito did.

Annabeth stepped up to address the crowd of players. "I need 10 of the fastest players if this is going to work."

The players looked around at each other. No that it was time to execute the plan, many became nervous.

"This will work," Annabeth stated with confidence. "The first wave will have 50 players in the first wave. Second wave will have 40 players in it. Finally, the third wave will have the ones that lured the boss out in that group for a total of 40 players. The runners will regroup and re-quip themselves for battle. Each group needs a good mix of the different types of players. We will not be sending in all our tank players in one group."

It was 30 minutes later when everyone divided up and ready to go.

"Remember, you have people around you. Fight together and protect each other," Annabeth stated as she led the group out of the cave and towards the open field. "Asuna and I will be directing from here for the first round of rotating in and out. I will then be joining wave one and she will be with wave two on the second time they switch in. First wave, to your spots with second wave ready to enter. Runners, get to the village and wait for my signal."

Percy gave Annabeth a quick kiss before he and Kirito got into their positions in the first wave.

"Are you sure about this?" Asuna questioned again.

"Yes, this will work," Annabeth stated again to Asuna. "Players ready?"

The players let out a cheer as they prepared for the battle.

Annabeth opened her menu and scrolled down to find the flare that she had bought for this. She equipped it and fired it off. As the flare shot in the air, Annabeth heard the roar from the boss. The runners had engaged the boss. From her position she could see the village, the battlefield, and where the players were waiting and ready to go.

Another roar shifted Annabeth's attention back to the village. She looked up and saw the runners coming but not the boss. No, the boss was in town and he was attacking the village.

"Shit!" Asuna yelled as she faced Annabeth.

"Everyone to the village and hold on the outskirts," Annabeth ordered.

"This is why we should have planned the attack in the village. Now, we're scrambling for a new plan," Asuna stated, the venom dripping from her words.

"Shut it," Annabeth yelled as she ran to catch up with her boyfriend.

"Schist," Percy cursed as he chased after his best friend. "Kirito, wait!" Percy was able to snag a hold of Kirito's gear before the younger player could rush into the village.

"He's destroying the village!" Kirito said desperately.

"I know, but Annabeth will have a plan," Percy stated as he kept a grip on the frantic player.

"First and second wave, prepare to attack! We have to defeat him fast to minimize the damage," Annabeth stated. "Third wave, you're still on back up if we need to switch players out."

Players nodded their heads in understanding as they rushed to their do their jobs. The first and second wave of players rushed into to take the boss head on.

"If we had started in the village none of this would be happening," Asuna muttered as she watched the players engage the boss.

"You have a lot to learn about leading if this is going to be your attitude if a plan doesn't go according to plan," Annabeth snapped. "Yes, you were out voted. Yes, things would have went more smoothly and we would have been in place for him to attack the village. But a part of leading is rolling with what happens. We planned to take him on out in the field, but part of me knew that there was a chance our plan could fall apart. That is why you don't see any NPCs out. Percy and I were able to get them out of the surrounding building that the boss had the highest chance of destroying.

"So, this may have been your show, but you aren't the only player capable of leading. Get that through your head now, you aren't the only player here. Take advantage of other players and think for one second that they might know more than you," Annabeth yelled at the younger player. "Those that are injured, teleport out! Wave three, teleport in!"

Asuna was at a loss for words as she stared at the blonde before her. In her anger, she hadn't even noticed the lack of NPCs running around. She had been furious that her plan had been out voted and it would have been the better plan. She took a hard look at Annabeth as the battle raged on and she barked out orders. Annabeth looked completely at home giving orders, dictating how the battle was supposed to be fought.

Annabeth watched as Percy and Kirito fought well with one another. Each of their fighting styles complimented each other in only fighting for a while would accomplish. It really hit her in that moment just how long they had been stuck in the game. Her and Percy fought together in perfect harmony because of the battles and years they had spent together. But Percy and Kirito were starting to fight the same way due to having to survive Sword Art Online.

As the third wave teleported in and those injured teleported out, Annabeth assessed the battle. They would not need another rotation. The boss had been so busy with dealing with the village, he hadn't been prepared for the onslaught of players attacking him.

Annabeth watched as a lancer from the Holy Dragon Alliance won the last attack bonus. She let a smile creep over her face as she looked at the players cheer. A few players had been hurt, but none of them killed. There was damage done to a few of the homes that surrounded the battle, but no NPCs had been destroyed.

"You did good!" Annabeth called as she made her way to where Kirito and Percy were talking with another player.

Percy offered her a small as Kirito just nodded.

"I'm sorry that our plan to get him into the field didn't work," Annabeth stated.

Sighing, Kirito stated, "It was a hope that we could have spared the village."

"Yea, but none of the NPCs were destroyed," Percy pointed out.

"True," Kirito conceded.

"You guys want to go celebrate?" Agil asked the three players.

"Sure!" Percy exclaimed before Annabeth or Kirito could refuse.

"Good cause I know a great tavern on floor 42!" Agil stated as he led the way towards the warp point.

They quickly arrived at the tavern that Agil had been talking about. Agil got them all drinks and they found themselves a quiet corner to talk.

"So, Lady Athena," Agil started before Annabeth interrupted.

"Please, it's Annabeth," she stated.

"Fine, Annabeth, how do you know Percy?" Agil asked as he took a drink of his mead that he bought.

"Percy and I have known each other since we were 12. We're dating in IRL," Annabeth stated as she took a sip of her own mead.

"Really! How come we're just now meeting you?" Agil pressed for more answers.

Annabeth was glad she and Percy had come up with story to tell. She knew people would question why she had suddenly appeared. "I knew that Percy had gotten SAO, but he didn't know that I had gotten it to surprise him. In all the confusion of the launch, I lost track of Percy. I hadn't been able to find since about 2 weeks ago."

"I see, Aincrad is a big place," Agil stated. He knew that there was more going on to what the couple was saying, but he wasn't going to push.

Agil wasn't the only one who noticed holes in the story. Kirito remembered Percy telling him that his girlfriend didn't want him to play and she was against video games. So, it didn't make sense if she was so against, why would she be planning on surprising him in the game. But like Agil, Kirito kept his mouth closed. He resolved to ask them later, for now he was going to enjoy another victory with his friends.

A couple hours later as the trio stumbled out of the tavern, Percy stated, "You know, we should reform the party!"

"What?" Kirito asked as he supported his tired friend. In the almost year and half he had known Percy, Kirito learned that when Percy became tired, he became loopy.

"I'm serious!" Percy shouted rather loudly. "We would make an awesome team! Just the three of us!"

"Come on Seaweed brain," Annabeth stated as she guided her boyfriend to the warp point to go to level 50.

"I think we would become unstoppable!" Percy stated happily.

"I'm sure we would, but for now, let's get some sleep," Annabeth stated as they walked into Percy's home.

The two basically dumped Percy on his bed before closing the door to the room.

"You crashing here for the night?" Annabeth asked as she sat on the couch. She wasn't all that tired yet.

"Yes, and I have a question," Kirito stated as he sat on the couch as well.

"You wanted to know why we lied about when I showed up, don't you?" Annabeth asked with a sigh.

"Yes, how?" Kirito asked

"I saw your face as I told my story. I saw you connect the dots. The truth is, I didn't join the game until a couple of months in," Annabeth stated.

"How? I thought that Kayaba locked the game, not allowing anyone inside?" Kirito asked.

"He did, but we have a very smart friend that was able to reactivate a helmet and get me inside," Annabeth said with a small smile.

"Why-you came because of him," Kirito stated as he looked at Percy's room.

"I couldn't leave him in here, I had to do something and it was killing me to stay out and just hope that he would come back to me," Annabeth said as a tear rolled down her cheek.

"I understand, Percy told me in the beginning that he would do everything in his power to get back to you. Now that you're here, he's going to fight harder to get you both out," Kirito stated.

"I know, I just hope that he doesn't get himself killed along the way as he tries his hardest." Annabeth stated as she continued to stare at the door.