Mature Content Warning: Perhaps a little foul language

Author's Note: Welcome back for another round of ARS the world turns.... Yes, I am still hopped up on painkillers...

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Chapter 20: Is It Really That Bad?

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The sunlight gently streamed down through the forest canopy while Scott, Rhea, and Ero heatedly discussed the truth of the world. It was a strange and interesting conversation to say the least. One of those great truths was unfolding right that moment.

Scott heaved, he struggled and strained. Trained in the arts of war and sorcery he had faced many opponents in his life. Yet no battle was as difficult as the one that he faced at that moment.

Rhea smiled sweetly at her love then casually tilted her arm to the side. She looked Scott in the eyes and watched his disbelief blossom as her dainty little arm completely overpowered him. The back of his hand touched the top of the fallen tree-trunk then remained there despite his many attempts to move it.

“Rhea is the winner!” declared Ero with a smile. She then added an additional afterthought. “Again.”

“Believe it now, Scott?” The high-elf released his hand then flexed her muscles a bit. It was an adorable sight to say the least.

Scott frowned at her then nodded. “Yeah, you really are a lot stronger than me.”

“I’ve reincarnated a few times. My stats are naturally much higher than yours.” she said.

“Especially your modesty stat.” replied Scott.

She stuck her tongue out at him then tilted her head from side to side. “Mmmneeh!”

He snorted then broke out into a laugh. That was so adorable that he did not know what to say about it.

Ero fluttered down atop the fallen tree then stretched her arms out to the side with her palms facing outward. “Now, now children don’t fight.”

Scott blinked then looked down at her. The little fairy grinned up at him then said, “I’ve always wanted to do that.”

“Your bucket list is pretty long, huh?” he asked her.

Ero giggled then nodded. “Yeah! There are just so many interesting things that I would like to do with you and Rhea.”

Rhea smiled softly then reached down and ran a finger along the tiny girl’s hair. She was a cute little thing when she wanted to be. It was easy to be jealous of her, but hard not to like her.

Ero stopped giggling, but a smile broke to show her true feelings. She closed her eyes and made a soft happy little noise.

Scott reached out and massaged the tiny little fairy’s lower back with his index finger. The girl immediately acted like she was in heaven. “Mmm, such a nice day...”

It was a strange, yet sweet, moment. However, it was destined to end. Rhea sighed loudly then said, “I don’t get it.”

“What?” asked Scott. He continued to pet his little friend and Ero continued to enjoy it.

Rhea looked down at Ero for a moment then sighed. “Why ARS is losing so much popularity of late.”

“It is?” Scott could not understand why ARS would be seen as anything but extremely popular. It was a truly amazing place.

“Yeah, that’s what has the idiots on the board up in arms.” she said.

Scott smiled down at Ero. The little fairy was fighting with him to try and lift one of her legs over his finger. He was not allowing her to do it and she giggled with each attempt. He looked back up to Rhea. “Is it really that bad? How many players are you losing?”

“Every time we so much as deviate by one percentage point from projected income and player retention, they act like the company needs to scrap the world and start over.” Rhea said before she giggled down at Ero. The fairy was trying her best, but she could not ride the pony or whatever it was that she was trying to do with Scott’s finger. He kept moving his hand around to deny her.

“That’s just stupid. What about the people who live here?” said Scott.

Rhea looked at Scott then looked down and sighed. “They keep getting screwed over. I’m sick of it.”

“Isn’t there anything you can do?” asked Scott before rolling his index finger around in order to avoid another attempt by Ero to hitch a ride.

“I already did it.” said Rhea, a smile on her lips.

“You did?” asked Scott.

“Yep, sure did.” She said, before reaching her finger down to tickle Ero on the rib. The fairy started to laugh and squeal, but looked up at Rhea with an expression that seemed quite dangerous.

“Oh? What did you do?” he asked.

“I brought in a ringer... Is that how you say it?” she asked him.

“Yeah, but who’s the ringer?” he asked seriously.

She blinked at him. “Who do you think?”

Scott was not unintelligent, but he had never once in his life been considered to be someone’s ringer. It took him a moment to realize who she meant. “Me? I’m supposed to be your ringer?”

“Yes. You’re my ringer, Scott.” Rhea smiled at him, but continued to tickle Ero with brutal efficiency. The little fairy dropped down onto the log and tried to stop laughing, but she was completely at the mercy of the high elf.

He stared at her for a moment then asked, “What exactly can I do, that you can’t do a lot better?”

“Be human.” she said without missing a beat.

Scott was unable to see how that would help him. He told that to Rhea and she continued her explanation.

“Simple, we need to get players to enjoy the world again. While the Apocalypse Storyline is popular, it won’t bring people back to this world unless something new and interesting happens.”

“So, what... I’m new and interesting?”

Rhea grinned at him. “Yes, to me. However, you would also be interesting to the rest of the divine city.”

“Why?”

“We love humans and their pop-culture. You’re the only one from your Earth in the current era who’s been brought into ARS.

“Oh, so I’m the only one from my world here after all? I had wondered about that.” said Scott. He had a lot of questions regarding his status in this world, specifically, and that included the existence of others who might have come here from Earth.

“There have been other temporary adventurers who were summoned to solve a serious quest and were sent home. It is always good for public relations and marketing when we do one of those transported mortals campaigns.” replied Rhea.

Scott laughed a little at that. It actually sounded like a reasonable premise for a random manga or light novel. The gods are bored, let’s summon humans with attitude to save the world. “So, why not just tell the other gods that I’m human.”

“Well, that would be ideal and eventually it will come out. However, there would be problems and questions if it happened too early.” said Rhea. She poked Ero in the tummy and the little fairy girl curled around her finger in the hopes of making the much larger girl stop.

“Such as?” asked Scott.

“Well, for one we would have to start showing who you are and where you are as part of a public relations campaign. The board would insist, and we would not be able to deny them.”

“This is a problem?”

“Only if you want to have a peaceful life of training and adventuring. If we let it slip that there is a legitimate Earth

Human in the world and he is not attached to a closed quest-line... well...” said Rhea.

“Well?” Scott was not sure what the problem would be. Were his people really that big of a deal? Rhea had mentioned that the gods loved Earth Humans, but she had not really gone into a lot of details about that sort of thing.

“You would definitely garner a lot of attention, but not necessarily in a good way.” she said hesitantly.

“Rhea, can you just tell me what you’re worried about?” asked Scott.

“Right, well... It, there’s a lot to discuss. Where should I start?” she asked seriously.

Scott took a breath. He had a lot of questions. “Well, first, can you tell me a little more about the way your family and that board relate to each other? I mean, they sound like a weird cross between business men and some sort of government council.”

She nodded to him. “OK! I can explain that.”

The high elf tapped her chin for a moment then said, “It sounds that way because that’s pretty much how it is. Do you remember that I referred to my family as a gaming empire?”

Scott nodded to her. “Yeah...”

“Well, that is literal in my city. Game companies are the most powerful and influential groups. We exist like kingdoms or empires and rule our area of the city completely. The number of gods who play our games determines the influence that we have.”

Scott accepted that at face value. It was weird, but it made sense if he considered the way Rhea and the other gods acted at times.

“Since we are a company, as well as an empire, we need to act like one for the sake of authenticity. So, we have stock and all manner of people who work for us who do nothing but handle the business end. The board heads up that group.”

“I see, so your family handles what, ARS itself? The board handles the business?” asked Scott.

“Right! See, my family used our powers to build this world and to create the races upon it. While he handled concept design, programming, and customer support. The board handles marketing and other things for the most part.”

“For the most part?”

“Yeah, I mean they obviously get to make input and suggestions for the world because they have to effectively market it.

My family has to agree to public appearances similar to heads of state from your world as part of that marketing as well.” said Rhea.

“OK, makes sense... But how does the board have the right to wreck this place?” asked Scott.

Rhea sighed. “Well, they don’t have that right indiscriminately. They have to have a list of grievances long enough to convince an arbiter that they are in the right and a reboot is best for the world and its profit margins.”

“Do they have such a list?”

“Yes, but it is not quite long enough. Even if it was it would take a few years of arbitration to state a ruling. The arbiters at least understand that the people on worlds such as ARS are real and have a right to exist. So, the decision takes time.” she said.

Scott shook his head. “Damn... Destroy civilizations just like that...”

Rhea reached out and took his hand. “You can stop it, though.”

“How, Rhea? I’m just a man.” The gods causing this issue existed outside the world of ARS. He had no power to cause them any sort of harm.

“You’re my champion, and ... much more than that. There is a way for you to win this and to get the board to back down.” said Rhea.

Scott chose not to ask her how he would do that once more. He waited for her answer.

“The Lords of Destruction are a group of extremely powerful ARS gods. They have power equivalent to a divine-tier avatar in this world. However, they are still natives to this world and there is a way to defeat them finally.”

“Has no one ever beaten them before?” asked Scott.

Rhea winced. “Well, no. There are several restrictions and quests that you have to undertake to overcome them. Plus one other thing...”

“Yes?” he asked.

Rhea’s face slowly darkened then turned bright red. “T-the champion has to be a player, and...”

“And...” Scott prodded her gently with his words.

“The champion has to be able to produce an heir with the goddess of love...” she said timidly.

Scott nodded at her. It took a moment for her meaning to become apparent. “Wait, you mean...?”

“Yes, that is the true purpose of the champion of Origin. The person with that position must become worthy of marrying the heir to the empire...”

“In order to stop the board I have to...” said Scott. He was certain that his brain had just made a sincere attempt at performing a backflip inside his skull.

“You would have to triumph over many deadly, perm-death challenges, become the undisputed hero of the world, receive the blessing of my family, and then ascend to true divinity... and.. Uhm... get me p-pregnant.” She practically choked on the last word due to nervousness. It was difficult to speak of such a thing.

“Is that all...?” asked Scott playfully. His mouth was playful but his brain was doing cartwheels.

“Well, that and then you would have to still have to defeat the Lords of Destruction.” she said with a nervous smile.

Scott was not sure what to say, what to ask. He had just learned a lot about the nature of the world of ARS and Rhea’s true reality. In the end, he simply asked, “So, how do we get started?”

The high elf started to tell him her thoughts on that matter, but she was interrupted by an ear-splitting wail. “Sister!”

The trio, including Ero who finally stopped hunkering down around Rhea’s finger in order to fend off any tickle-related activities, turned in time to see a red-haired blur streak over and launch itself toward Rhea.

The high elf who had easily defeated Scott in arm-wrestling had no chance compared to the overpowered bundle that bowled her over. “Rhea!” cried the blur in a half-sob.

“Sharde, what is it...What’s wrong?” asked Rhea. She ran her hand down her crying sister’s ponytail.

“H-he’s dead!” wailed the girl.

“Who’s dead?” asked Rhea.

“Fat Scott!” cried Sharde.

Scott mouthed the words, “Fat Scott” to Rhea and she shook her head at him. It was not the time to discuss that.

Ero, however, did not get to participate in that silent conversation. “Who’s Fat Scott?”

Sharde blubbered a little then cried out, “My F-fiancé-ey...”

“Fiancé?” asked Scott loudly. When the heck did that happen?

“Yeah... It was a whirlwind romance.” said Sharde between sniffles.

“Oh Sharde, how did it happen?” asked Rhea gently.

Sharde pulled back then looked at Rhea with an anguished expression. “I let him touch my boobs and he had a heart attack.”

The red-haired girl’s expression turned sour when Rhea made a snickering sound then tried to cover it up. “Hey, I loved him you know.” said Sharde.

“Yeah, I know...” said Rhea softly. She brushed her sister’s hair once more and the ninja girl sniffled a little then snuggled in close. She’d had a traumatic experience.

Sharde pulled out a tissue from her inventory then dabbed at her eyes before she blew her nose loudly. “It was a lovely funeral.”

Rhea made a face. Her sister had blown her nose a little too close to her for her comfort.

Scott opened his mouth to say something, but Rhea shook her head again. He kept quiet for a moment and the girls spoke softly with each other.

“The worst part is that I’ve been sentenced to community service.” said Sharde.

“Really? That’s terrible. When’s the trial?” asked Rhea.

“Next week. I start work at my temp job tomorrow.”

Scott could not be quiet any longer. “Your trial is not till next week, but you’ve already been sentenced?”

Sharde glanced over at him then her eyes widened. She began to cry then loudly called out, “Oh, you look just like him except he was fat!”

She clutched at Rhea again then started to bawl like a baby. Rhea looked at Scott reproachfully.

“Uh, I think we’ll leave you two ladies alone for a while.” said Scott.

Rhea smiled thankfully at him and Sharde blubbered a little. The sorcerer and his fairy friend left to give them time to speak as sisters.

Sharde blew her nose again then sighed. “No sympathy kisses from him, huh?”

“No, he’s my boyfriend remember?” said Rhea with a smile. That was one of the many things that Sharde had asked Rhea about during the whispered portion of their conversation.

“I know... I know. I just wish I could find a boyfriend of my own. One without a heart condition.” replied the ninja girl before she stopped crying altogether then sighed.

Rhea hugged her sister tight then shook her head. “What kind of community service did they stick you with?”

Sharde sighed. “Alpha Phase World building...”

“Eww, that’s a total pain, or is it fun? Did you get a good world?”

“I dunno. The briefing told me that it’s some recently purchased Earth or other. I only have to put in twenty hours a week.”

“That’s not too bad. What happened to Fat Scott?”

Sharde shrugged. “The arbiter told me that my presence there was erased and his heart attack, at that time, never happened in the new timeline.”

“See, that’s not too bad. At least Fat Scott can live the rest of his life.” said Rhea.

“I can’t ever see him again or go within five hundred light years and twenty-six realities from that Earth for at least five years, though.” said Sharde.

“Oh... I see.”

“Yeah. I felt so sad that I even wrote a song and put it up on the Origin Entertainment collectibles site.”

“Really? A song?” asked Rhea. Sharde sang beautifully, but rarely did so. This was news.

“I wanted to make a tribute to our short, but passionate love.” replied the pony-tailed ninja.

“What did you call it?” asked Rhea.

“The Ballad of Fat Scott.” said Sharde before sniffling once more.

Rhea made a snickering noise once more and Sharde pouted at her. The red-head said, “S’not funny... I need to figure out how to have a relationship with someone normal.”

“Normal?”

“Yeah, someone nice.” said Sharde.

“Like who?” asked Rhea carefully.

Sharde looked at her sister then sniffled sadly. She pouted at her cutely then widened her eyes and batted her eyelashes.

“Absolutely not. He’s mine. We’re going to start a family soon.”

“Rhea, are you pregnant!” asked Sharde excitedly.

“No, he hasn’t figured out how to do that with me yet.” said Rhea.

“I’m sure he has an idea.” replied the ninja girl while unleashing a suggestive wink.

Rhea giggled at her sister’s antics. “He has lots of ideas, but you know how some of those go.”

Sharde laughed at her. “He should have a few bad ideas about me.”

Rhea kissed her on the cheek. “I can’t say that loving you would be a bad idea, you’re a wonderful person, Sharde. But I’d have to kill him at least three times for every idea that he had. Let’s not get started on what would happen if he acted on them.”

“Sounds fair! Let me go find him.” She turned and started to move away, but Rhea snatched her head back by her ponytail.

“Ow! No fair with the hair, Rhea!” cried Sharde.

“Nope, no Scott for you.”

“But my Scott died tragically... Let me borrow yours for a few days.” said Sharde.

“To paraphrase my Scott, Hell no.” said the blue haired elf.

“That’s not fair... I want a Scott, too.” Sharde pouted cutely at her sister.

“Is my Scott really the one you secretly dream of, though?” asked Rhea.

“I dunno, maybe. I do want to spend time with him and get to know him for real, but he’s not into harems and well... I don’t want to hurt you, even if I’d like it if he’d hurt me a little.”

“Hurt you a little?” Rhea’s eyes widened in surprise.

Sharde blushed at her sister. “What...? I’m a ninja... I like dark attribute things.”

Rhea giggled at her sister. “You want a Tall, dark, and fat Scott?”

“Yes! Of course!” replied Sharde without hesitation. However, she changed her mind a moment later.

Sharde placed a finger to her chin the bit her lower lip. She acquired a thoughtful expression then made her true heart know. “Maybe he’s dark and mysterious sort of Scott. He might have a tragic past, but only be a little fat. You know, like a cute little Scott teddy bear that I can poke and cuddle. Oh, and hopefully he likes harems and games.”

“So, basically harem batman?” asked Rhea.

“Haremman.” said Sharde with a sage nod.

“Would he have a harem-mobile and haremarangs?”

“Yes, and harem anti-shark spray.” said Sharde. The girls shared a giggle over that one.

“What is it with you and harems anyway? You never used to be into them that much.” said Rhea.

Sharde smiled at her sister. “I don’t know. They just appeal to me. There’s this one guy and a whole bunch of girls who want the one guy. Sometimes he’s a whiny little thing, which I don’t like. Other times he’s all kickass and grr, and sexy.”

“So, you want the grr sexy, harem guy?” asked Rhea with a smile.

“Yeah! That guy is usually surrounded by girls who can kick ass, too, even if he doesn’t want to be. They tend to travel around and keep doing the ass kicking and occasional cuddling.” said Sharde.

Rhea watched her sister’s eyes light up as she went into detail about the joys of being part of a harem. It was quite comical and nice to see. Sharde had been a bit introverted in recent years. The fact that the ninja girl had become so animated really set her sister’s heart at ease.