Crossover Fan Fiction / Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Sailor Moon Online ❯ As Time Goes By ( Chapter 3 )

I think that I had explained well in the last chapter on why Serena/Usagi is going to remain a solo player through the part of the story that will make up the Aincard arc of the Sword Art Online anime/manga/light novel and I’m going to use elements from all three that I managed to get from manga that I got, anime episodes that I managed to find, and light novels that I managed to read along with information that I got in Wikipedia, everyone. So, I’m sorry beforehand that if there are ‘holes’ in the SAO storyline, folks.

I DO NOT OWN Sailor Moon, Sword Art Online and anything/anyone that comes from these and other stories that end up in this fanfiction! Sailor Moon is owned/licensed by Naoko Takeuchi and its various studios and publishers and Sword Art Online is owned/licensed by ASCII Media Works, A-1 Pictures Inc., and its various directors/publishers including Reki Kawahara and Tomohiko Itô!

Warning: This story contains intense violence, blood, possible gore, death, mild to explicit suggestive themes, including mind-control and brainwashing, mild to explicit bad language, and mature adult themes/situations!

Second Warning: Some to a lot of OOC (Out of Character) actions and mannerisms in this whole story!

Sailor Moon Online

Chapter 3: As Time Goes By

January 2023, Yokohama North General Hospital

Within Yokohama North General Hospital, there is a large machine attached to wall over a hospital bed where Ami, Trista, and Ikuko, all of whom are wearing lab coat/doctoral outfits are facing a doctor that has a small build and is slightly plump. He wears glasses and the hair on his shiny forehead is parted on one side with a ratio of seven to three.

The doctor tells them, “I think you for your help in this, Miss Meiou. You, Miss Mizuno, and Miss Tsukino have done excellently perfectly this test model.”

Trista responds, “It was no problem, Doctor Kurahashi.”

Ikuko says, with a sigh, “I’m glad that the Full-Dive technology is being used for some good for once.”

The doctor, Doctor Kurahashi, responds, “Well, we can’t be sure that it will be useful until we have tested it and made sure that it works excellently. As you know, there are reasons that we have it in a closed and sterile environment.”

Ami says, “We understand, doctor.”

Trista tells the doctor, “How is the patent?”

Doctor Kurahashi responds, “Ready to go. I think that it is excitement of the unknown is the reason why she has agreed to this.”

Ami says, “It is just so horrible.”

Doctor Kurahashi says, “Hopefully, with this, she will have a good life even it isn’t in her own body through I’m not sure it will prolong her life anymore that it can be. With this, she might create a new way of medical treatment and she will be a great hero.”

Ikuko says, with a nod, “She already is, doctor.”

Doctor Kurahashi tells Ikuko, “However, Miss Tsukino, I know that you aren’t just going this from the bottom of your hearts. Don’t get me wrong, you are really glad to help with this and help other people, but the government gave me the information and threatened me with treason if I let it out.”

Ikuko says, with a sigh, “I wish that they didn’t go that far.”

Doctor Kurahashi responds, “Well, I can understand why. Your daughter is a victim, even more so, than the other victims of the SAO incident. I hope that whatever information that you can get out will help find a way to release her and everyone else from this horrible nightmare.”

Ami says, “We hope so too, doctor.”

Doctor Kurahashi says, “Forgive me if this sounds callous, but… how is she doing? I hope that…”

Trista says, with a weak smile, “She’s fine… Fine as she can be.” Ikuko then sheds tears and looked like she was about to cry in which Trista and Ami hold onto her in which Trista says, “Forgive us, doctor. We need to go for the moment.”

Doctor Kurahashi says, “I understand, Miss Meiou.” Ami and Trista escort Ikuko out of the room and into a ‘private quarters’ in the hospital.

Ami tells Ikuko, “Ikuko-san, Serena is still alive and while we can only get a ‘view’ here and there of how she is doing. She is still alive and the death rate has dropped.”

Ikuko says, weakly, “I know, Ami-san. Thank you, but they are still dying every day and I can’t help to fear for her.” Ikuko says, weakly, “It has been over two months and all I can do is see my little prince waste away in her bed.”

Ami says, “We, all, feel the same way. With all of our powers, we can’t help Serena at all. We feel all so helpless.”

Trista says, “But it is why we told you the secret about your daughter.”

Ikuko says, with a nod, “I know, but I’m still shocked to learn that my daughter is some kind of ‘super heroine’.”

Trista says, “And that’s why she will survive, Ikuko-san. She has been through so much and it has made her a strong person. And as long as she knows that we are by her side, she will fight to get home and come back to all of us.”

Ikuko says, with a weak smile, “I know, Trista-san.” Ikuko tries to regain her focus, but tears can’t help to keep flowing down her eyes and cheeks as Ami and Trista comfort Ikuko Tsukino.

Ami thinks in her mind, “Over two months have passed already and all we know is that Serena is still in SAO, alive and well for the moment, and still fighting with the other players to escape and come back to here in the ‘real world’. Hopefully, with the Medicuboid, this version of the Full-Dive technology which might be an extension of the NervGear and possibly a next generation of Full-Dive technology, study its effects will allow us to figure out a way to remove the NervGear safely or at least, disable the microwaves that are activated that fry the user’s brain. All of the NervGears, other than the ones on Serena and the other victims of this, have been removed from circulation and Argus has collapsed from scandal that this has caused in which another company, RECT progress, in which I hear that the boss of its parent company, is the father of one of the victims! Good thing that the NervGears have been brought to us, taskforce members, to study and figure out some way to remove them safely, but Serena’s uncle is that rare one in a million genius. I’m barely getting a handle on it and even Trista is getting stumped despite her vast knowledge or at least, she hasn’t figured out a way to disable the program or the emitters in a way that won’t kill Serena and the others. Serena, please hold on. I don’t know what we would do without you.”

February 2023, Floor 1, Town of Beginnings

Today, we are back in Aincard and on the first floor of Aincard in the starting city of SAO, Town of Beginnings, where we find Usagi inside of Blackiron Palace where she is looking at the Monument of Life.

Usagi sighs and she asks, seemly no one, “How long have you been there Kirito?” Soon after, Kirito comes out into the open and over to Usagi’s side.

Kirito tells Usagi, “You have developed your Search Skill very well, Usagi.”

Usagi responds, “You need to if you are going to survive solo, Kirito.”

Kirito says, with a nod, “I know.” Kirito tells Usagi, “I figured that I find you here.”

Usagi gives a sigh and she yells out, “That idiot! What was he thinking?!”

Kirito responds, “He wasn’t, Usagi.”

Usagi shouts out, irritated tone in her voice, “And they appointed that spiky haired freak as the leader of their group?!”

Kirito says, “I was surprised too by the ‘negative press’ that he got picked to be the leader, but he is a strong player at least at this time, Usagi.”

Usagi says, with a sigh, “Yeah, I can’t argue that. A fucking ass and not a bright player however.”

Kirito responds, “No kidding.”

Usagi says, “We are making process, but…”

Kirito tells Usagi, “Usagi, you can’t keep doing this to yourself.”

Usagi responds, “I helped create this prison of ours, Kirito.”

Kirito replies, “Not of your free will! Sword Art Online was something else in your mind! A wonderful dream for all of us and HE turned it into this ‘jungle’! You are a victim… possibly the greatest victim of us all.”

Usagi says, “While you are telling the truth, I’m not sure that I can believe it, Kirito.”

Kirito says, with a sigh, “Anyway, you said that you saw the new guild that formed recently.”

Usagi says, “Yeah, the Knights of the Blood Oath are what they are called.”

Kirito asks, “Is ‘that guy’ a part of it?”

Usagi responds, “He is the founder, Kirito.”

Kirito says, “I see.”

Usagi says, “I caught a glimpse of them during one of my patrols. I also heard that Asuna has joined them.”

Kirito asks, “Really?”

Usagi says, with a nod, “That’s what I heard. Maybe we will find out in the meeting for the next boss raid, Kirito.”

Kirito tells Usagi, “Maybe.”

Usagi says, “Well, they are already getting their props since Asuna has joined them. You have probably heard what they are starting to call her.”

Kirito responds, “Asuna the Flash or Lightning Flash due to her fast rapier skills and movements.”

Usagi says, with a nod, “She has already gained quite the reputation.”

Kirito tells Usagi, “And so have you, Usagi.”

Usagi says, with a sigh, “I know…”

Kirito tells Usagi, “Most players respect you, Usagi. You have shown that you are nothing like that monster that dared to call himself a member of your family and if it wasn’t for you, we would have lost more lives.”

Usagi responds, “Thank you, Kirito. However, my ‘unique skill’ is making it ‘awkward’ for me to be with other players. They respect and a few of them admire me…”

Kirito says, “Especially since you saved their lives, Usagi.”

Usagi says, with a nod, “I know, Kirito, but having this skill that no one else makes it hard. You know how most MMO players can be.”

Kirito says, with a nod, “Yeah, I know.” Kirito tells Usagi, “However, your skill have saved the lives of plenty of players healing them or slowing down the depletion of their health to prevent them from dying long enough to heal them.”

Usagi says, nodding her head, “Yep! And it is a wonderful feeling.” Usagi says, “But I have no idea where I got this skill from Kirito. It just appeared in my skill set. Right there: Medic. It gives me a higher health recovery rate and makes certain types of poison ware off faster and I can transfer these into other players to help heal them and prevent them from dying.”

Kirito says, “No one else has any idea about it either, Usagi. However, they are calling the ‘Valkyrie of Mercy’ or something like that because of that and your constant attempts to save as many other players as possible.”

Usagi says, with a sigh, “Just what I need.”

Kirito says, with a plain tone, “I’m just telling you what I heard, Usagi.

Usagi nods her head in understand and she tells Kirito, “Kirito, about ‘him’…”

Kirito asks, “What is it?”

Usagi responds, “I don’t know. He seems to be a noble guy and a great player. But there is something… something that disturbs me about him… like…”

Kirito replies, “Like he is too good to be true.”

Usagi says, “Yeah, that’s it. However, there is nothing suspicious about him.”

Kirito asks, “However, you want me to be careful around him, right?”

Usagi says, with a nod, “Just keep a close eye on him, Kirito. If you are going to trust anyone from that guild, trust Asuna.”

Kirito responds, “Okay, Usagi.”

Usagi says, “See you later, Kirito.”

As Usagi stats to walk away, Kirito tells Usagi, “You can’t save everyone, Usagi.” Usagi stops in her tracks and Kirito says, “You aren’t a superhero like… like Sailor Moon.” Usagi becomes nervous at that and Kirito says, “Personally, I doubt that even if we had the help of the Sailor Scouts here, we wouldn’t be better off than we are now. There is nearly no magic in SAO. I mean, even Sailor Moon can’t save everyone.”

Usagi thinks in her mind, solemnly, “You don’t know how right you are Kirito.”

Kirito tells Usagi, “Anyway, just be careful. Asuna and I wouldn’t like it if you die on us.”
Usagi responds, with a kind tone, “I know, Kirito. Thank you.” Usagi thinks in her mind, “More than you can ever imagine, Kirito.” Usagi then walks away from the room as Kirito watches her leave in which he then looks at the stone and he looks at Diavel’s name crossed out and telling on how he died.

Kirito says, “Diavel… Usagi is better at fulfilling your wish than I could ever be. She isn’t the strongest player or the fastest player, but in my mind, she is the best player… Better than I could ever be.” Kirito then walks away and prepare to head out to continue the conquest of Aincard.

That same day, Tsukino household

During that same day in February, we find Sammy Tsukino inside of Serena’s empty bedroom and he can’t help to remember all about his elder sister especially the day that this nightmare for he and his family began.

Sammy thinks in his mind, “Damn it, Meatball Head! Why did you have to be first? Why did you go in there all alone?”

Just then Ikuko enters the room and she asks, curiously, “Sammy?”

Sammy doesn’t respond for a moment and his mother can’t see his tears streaming down his cheeks in which he asks, “Why?”

Ikuko asks, surprised, “Huh?”

Sammy responds, “Why her? She was a Meatball Head, but she never did anything bad to anyone. In fact, she is Sailor Moon! She saved our entire planet so many times!” Sammy turns around so that his mother can see his tears and he shouts out, “Why?! She’s a hero! Why does Meatball Head have to suffer in there?!”

Ikuko says, solemnly, “Sammy…”

Sammy yells out, with tears of anger and rage, “Why did he do it?! Why did Uncle Kayaba do this to us? To her?! We believed in him! She believed in him most of all! And now… Now, he betrayed us! He betrayed her! He has her trapped in that ‘death game’ and she could die at any day!”

Ikuko shouts out, “Don’t say that Sammy!”

Sammy shouts out, with tears in his eyes, “Meatball Head loves games, but it doesn’t mean that she is excellent at them!” Sammy says, tears pouring down his cheeks, “Why couldn’t it have been me?! Why her?! She annoys me a lot, but she is my sister! My family! She… She doesn’t deserve this!” Ikuko then knees down and hug her son in whom he cries onto her chest.

Ikuko tells Sammy, solemnly, “I know, Sammy. I don’t understand it either. I don’t get why my brother is doing this.”

Sammy yells out, “I hate him! I hate him! He took Meatball Head… He took my sister away from me! Away from us!” Sammy continues to cry on his mother’s chest and she hugs him in a comforting way, but tears flow down her cheeks as the feelings of pain and betrayal fill her heart as well.

March 2023, Town of Beginnings

Within one of the inns in the Town of Beginnings, a young teen girl of 15-16 years of age wakes up inside of an inn and when she wakes up, we find that she has short fluffy pink with a white hairpin to keep her bangs out of her eyes and she has some freckles just under her eyes which are pink in color.

Just then a female voice says, “You’re awake.” The young teen girl looks to see Usagi looking out the window and she says, with a kind tone, “I’m glad.”

The young teen girl asks, “Who are you?”

Usagi is a bit nervous and she says, “You probably heard about me when I help defeat the first floor boss and you have been hearing about me around Aincard.”

The young teen girl says, “Wait! That cloak… You are HER, aren’t you? The girl that’s niece of the madman that trapped us in here!”

Usagi says, solemnly, “That would be me.”

The young teen girl gasps and she yells out, “The others!”

Usagi responds, solemnly, “I’m sorry. I only got there just to see them…”

The young teen girl says, weakly, “No…” She was about to shed tears, but she did her best to resist them.

Usagi says, solemnly, “I’m sorry.”
The young teen girl shouts out, angrily, “Sorry! You’re sorry! Sorry isn’t good enough! Your fucking uncle trapped us in here! My guild was good people! They never hurt anyone and now…”

Usagi says, weakly, “I know. Sorry isn’t good enough, but it is all that I can give. You were nearly gone and I had to use my Medic skill to transfer my Battle Healing ability to save you.”

The young teen girl asks, “So, it’s true. You have a unique skill that no one else has?”

Usagi says, weakly, “Yeah.” Usagi tells the young teen girl, “The inn room is already paid for, so, you can stay here for the night if you need to.”

Usagi turns to walk away and the young teen girl says, “Wait!” Usagi stops and she asks, “Why did you save me?”

Usagi responds, “Like you said, my uncle trapped us in this ‘death game’. I can’t let any more good people die because of his madness. And in a way, I’m responsible for the creation of Sword Art Online. When I was a little girl, I would visit my uncle a lot and talk about the NervGear, the Full-Dive, and the virtual world in which I gave him ideas for the game in which I gave him the idea for forgo magic and focus mainly on sword skills.”

The young girl asks, shocked, “You gave him that idea?”

Usagi says, “Yeah, it was a spur of the moment idea. As far as I could remember, he was always working on this game and I was an avid gamer myself. One day, he was telling me about the game and off-hand I said that many games have magic spells and such in them, what if you took out of the game? He smiled and he told me that it was a bold idea, but an interesting one. We laughed and giggle playful and he would always call me his ‘little princess’…” Usagi clenches her hand into a fist and she slams into a wall in which a violet pop up ‘window’ that says ‘Immortal Object’ appears for a few seconds and Usagi says, “I just don’t… I don’t understand! This was supposed to be a game! A game!” Usagi shakes her head and she says, “I’m sorry. It has been four months and I’m not even close to understanding why my uncle did this.”

The young teen girl tells Usagi, solemnly, “Well, don’t be and thank you for saving me.” The young teen girl says, solemnly, “And I’m sorry for yelling at you. It isn’t your fault that this is happening. I mean, you are as much as victim of this as we are.”

Usagi says, “I wish that I could say that same.”

The young teen girl says, “Geez, you are! I mean, this guy was your uncle and he trapped you in here! I mean, he could have stopped you from getting the game or at least, let you go! Look, I’m sorry if this hurts, but you have to face reality! He betrayed you! You wanted this game to be a wonderful adventure for everyone and look what he turned into! And he’s trapped you, his niece… his family in this nightmare no better off than the rest of us! You must have trusted him to do no wrong, right? Shows how much he cared about your trust.” Usagi lowers her head and the young teen girl says, “Look…”

Usagi responds, “It’s okay. I understand. You’re right. However, it is just so hard to imagine that he could do such thing. He was so gentle that he couldn’t hurt a fly. He was such a wonderful person. I couldn’t imagine him doing such a thing.”

The young teen girl says, “It isn’t your fault. He fooled you. He fooled your family. He fooled the entire world until it was too late. How could you have known? It isn’t your fault.”

Usagi replies, “Even if it isn’t, it is still my responsibly. A member of my family did this to all of us. I have to complete the game and save as many people as possible as well as find my uncle. I have to find out why he did this and if necessary, I have to stop him.”

The young teen girl says, “No way! You had nothing to do this with! Most players agree that you are a victim like the rest of among anything else! If anything, you are a hero trying to protect us players and helping us to survive this nightmare until we can get rescued or get out of here ourselves!”

Usagi says, with a kind tone, “Thank you.” Usagi says, solemnly, “However, I doubt that they can rescue us. I know my uncle. He is a super genius. I had… have a best friend IRL that’s really smart and I mean, really smart. She get plenty of the basic concepts of the NervGear, but she couldn’t get the whole thing about the NervGear figured out herself. And trust me, my friend is a really smart girl and it takes a level of super genius to stump her. Bad news is that my uncle is that level of genius and then some.”

The young girl says, solemnly, “I see.”

Usagi says, with a nod and solemn tone, “All of the people that died are truly dead. The instant that their avatars were deleted. They were killed instantly back home. Killed… by my own uncle.” Usagi felt really close to crying again as she was many times during this four months, but she shook her head and remembered her friends, her fellow Sailor Scouts, and the man she loved to hold back the tears and the pain that she felt in her heart.

Usagi then starts to leave and the young teen girl asks, “Wait! Can… Can you at least tell me your name?”

Usagi asks, “Why?”

The young teen girl responds, “Why? Why not? I can’t just call you ‘Kayaba’s niece’ can I? Is that a secret too like your face?”

Usagi replies, “Sorry. It is just that while a lot of players believes me to be a friend or at least don’t put any blame on me for what my uncle did, there are still those that have some kind of ‘thing’ against me.”

The young teen girl says, “Well, they are stupid, jerks, or both.”

Usagi replies, “And if those kind of people learn that others know my face or at least my avatar name, I’m afraid that they could be in danger. Remember what happened to Aincard Liberation Squad?”

The young teen girl replies, “Yeah, I heard about it. It was horrible. They were got beaten up at floor twenty-five.”

Usagi says, with a nod, “They left the front lines and merged with MMO Today and calling themselves the Aincard Liberation Force with the former leader of ALS not exactly liking me. I’m hearing that they are growing in numbers and if this jerk is a leader in the force, he will use anything to get his rotten hands on me. I don’t want to put you in any danger.”

The young teen girl tells her, with a smirk, “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.” The young teen girl tells Usagi, “Look, I get what you are saying and plus, while the majority of other players may and will support you, they will feel ‘awkward’ about you being in their guild.”

Usagi says, “I don’t blame them.”

The young teen girl asks, “Do you have any friends?”

Usagi says, solemnly, “Back… there. And I miss them so much. Eight wonderful girlfriends that are sisters to me including that really smart girl that I mentioned… a family… including the squirt of a brother that tested this game and managed to escape since he had a doctor’s appointment… and my own prince…”

The young teen girl asks, curiously, “Really?” Usagi nods her head and the young teen girl says, “Sorry.”

Usagi says, solemnly, “It’s all right. Ever since I met them, I have never been apart from them even a week. But it has been around four months now and I missed them so much.”

The young teen girl says, with a nod, “We all have somebody important that we miss.” The young teen girl says, “Look, I’m just saying that you are going to need friends here and maybe I can be a friend. The name is Lisbeth.”

Usagi responds, with a kind tone, “I’m Usagi. It is nice to meet you.”

The young teen girl, Lisbeth, responds, “Nice to meet you too, Usagi.” Soon after, the two of them shake hands and the start of a good friendship in SAO.

April 8, 2003, Floor 11, Taft

Within a town known as Taft on level 11 of Aincard, we find ourselves within a restaurant where a guild known as the Moonlight Black Cats are toasting to themselves and to Kirito, who is quite nervous about the whole situation.

The young girl of the group, a teen petite girl of 17 to 18 years of age, with shoulder-length black hair named Sachi tells him, “I can’t help to thank you. I was so scared.”

Another of the group, a young man of the same age with short brown hair and brown eyes and goes by the name of Keita, who is the guild leader, asks, “I’m sorry to pry, but at what level are you?”

Kirito responds, nervously, “Um, level twenty?” However, looking his own health bar, it can be seen that Kirito was about double that level.

Keita replies, amazed, “Really? You are at our level and still a solo player? You are amazing, sir.”

Kirito tells Keita, “Keita, I’m not your superior. And being solo, I’m fighting monsters out on the frontier, you know?”

Keita responds, “Oh, yeah, right.” Keita tells Kirito, “I hate to spring this on you since we just met, but we would love to have you in our guild.” Keita tells him, “Our mace welder, Tetsuo, is the only one that we can put out in front right now.” Keita then pats Sachi on the head and he says, “And there is Sachi. I think of switching her to sword and shield, but she says that she can’t handle it. Maybe if you join us, you can teach her a thing or two.”

Sachi says, with a pout, “Oh, come on. I’m not that useless. Seriously, you can’t put me up front and expect me to know what to do. I would be terrified.”

Another guild member says, “It’s no big deal. Just hide behind your shield.”

Yet another guild member shouts out, “Ever since I could remember, you were a timid little cat.”

Sachi pouts, the other guild members laugh, and Kieta says, “We always joke around like this. In real life, we always go to the same high school and we were actually part of the computer club. But if you are worried about fitting in with us, then don’t. As far as I’m concerned, you are already part of our group.”

The other members of the guild nod their heads in agreement and Kirito says, “Well, I’m flattered.” Kirito doesn’t say anything for a moment and he says, with a smile, “I’ll do it.” The Moonlight Black Cats are excited and they are glad for Kirito, but for Kirito, what would be a good beginning would end in a horrible tragedy that would scar him in the days ahead.

May 9, 2023, Outer Sailor Scouts’ mansion

Within the mansion home of the Outer Sailor Scouts in Tokyo, the Sailor Scouts and the Tsukino family are assembled together as they look at the latest Full-Dive technology, the Amusphere, which is a helmet that consists of two metal overlapping rings.

Amara asks, “This is it, huh?”

Trista says, with a nod, “This is the Amusphere, which is replacing the NervGear.”

Ami says, “Because of what happened with the NervGear, this Full-Dive ring uses microwave transmitter to a low frequency one and the incorporation of various sensors that continually monitor blood pressure and brain waves. If there is anything abnormal, a safety protocol is activated and the person is logged out. But while there are better safety features, the Amusphere doesn’t block out signals from the body to the extent as the NervGear, however, the ‘experience’ is a lot the same. It also doesn’t hold an internal battery.”

Raye says, “For obvious reasons, Ami-chan.”

Trista says, “However, in all sorts of ways, nothing has changed from the NervGear.”

Mina asks, “Do you think that we can hack into SAO with this baby?”

Ami says, shaking her head, “I don’t think so, Ami-chan. I’m not sure that the programming of SAO will accept ‘diving in’ from a different Full-Dive system other than a NervGear.”

Kenji says, with an angered expression, “Bastard probably programmed it that way in which you can’t enter the game unless you are taking the same risks.”

Amara says, with a nod, “Most likely, Kenji-san.”

Sammy says, “You said that it has a lot of similarities to the NervGear. You can find a way to make it compatible to find a way inside of SAO!”

Ikuko tells Sammy, “Sammy!”

Sammy yells out, “Mom, you are having trouble understanding the NervGear and you knew Uncle Kayaba the best!”
Ikuko says, solemnly, “I thought that I knew your uncle, Sammy.”

Sammy says, solemnly, “I’m sorry, mom.”

Ami tells Sammy, “We are all worried about Serena, but she is doing fine so far.”

Sammy says, “I’m not saying that Meatball Head isn’t a good gamer, but this is like… Like a gamble and we need to get her out before…!!”

Ikuko tells Sammy, pleadingly, “Sammy, please!”

Sammy says, solemnly, “I’m sorry. I don’t want to say it.”

Kenji tells Sammy, “Then try not to.”

Amara says, “However, Sammy is right. Time is of the essence. I don’t want say anything to upset anyone, but all of the victims are in the hospital and they are being introducing nutrients and water to keep them alive by IV tubes. The human body can only stand that kind of treatment for a limited amount of time without suffering complications.”

Ami says, “I know and we have a better understanding of the NervGear that we did half-a-year ago, but I’m afraid that it seems like that there is no way to prevent the NervGear from activating its ‘kill switch’ if there is any attempt to force the NervGear off the victims. Kayaba had planned for practically anything that we could try to remove them. Our best bet is the programming of SAO. If we find the programming that causes the NervGear to deactivate the safeties and use the microwave emitters to fry the brain of the wearers, we might have a way to stop the program from activating.”

Ikuko says, “But the best way to do that is through the servers, however, even though we have access to them because we are working for the government on this nightmare, the serves are locked tight in which we can’t get access to them. Only my brother would know the way to access them and we have no idea where he is.”

Trista says, “Which means the best way to figure out the programming is from the inside.”

Lita says, “And that’s a major problem.”

Amara asks Kenji, “Any luck on your end, sir?”

Kenji says, shaking his head, “Not a lick. Wherever my wife’s bastard brother is hiding, he made sure that no one has any idea to find him, even his own family.” Ikuko looks at Kenji and he tells her, “Please don’t look at me like that, dear. I can never forgive that monster for what he has done. Never!!! He has trapped our princess in that ‘death game’ of his and he already murdered over two to three thousand people already! And every day, I fear to see my lovely girl in the morgue! And most likely, my princess is completely distraught at his betrayal! I trust him! Ikuko trusted him! And my children trusted him most of all!”

Ami asks, “What about Darien?”

Amara says, “The only time that he isn’t with our hime is when he is going after every single clue and led that we could get and he has gone over it with a fine tooth comb.”

Kenji says, “I must admit that Darien-san has proven to be the best thing for my girl.”

Sammy tells Kenji, “You didn’t think so at first, dad.”

Kenji tells Sammy, “I don’t believe in the ‘prince in shining armor’ and the way that he is, as this Tuxedo Mask character, it gets my old samurai blood flowing. He is too much like a ninja.”

Ikuko says, “Really, Kenji? A ninja? A ninja doesn’t dress in a tuxedo.”

Kenji tells Ikuko, “Theatrically, sweetie. A ninja is spying and deception in which ‘grand theatrics’ make a perfect distraction. Based on what Serena’s friends, doesn’t they and their enemies only know when he is there when the roses he uses hit where he throws them.”

Some of the Sailor Scout take note of that and Lita says, “Yeah. Kenji-san is right! We never know Tuxedo Mask is nearby until he decides to reveal himself!”

Raye says, with a plain tone, “That’s because he is like a ninja like Kenji-san, Lita-chan. And a very excellent ninja if both your allies and your enemies don’t know that you are there until you let them know.”

Sammy says, with a grin, “And he uses the speeches and his grand entrances as a distraction to give all of you an opening to attack your enemies. Too bad Meatball Head always seems to waste the opening a lot when she ogles him even after she became his girlfriend.”

There are plenty of nervous sweat drops among the Sailor Scouts and Mina says, “Yep! Serena had a tendency to do that!”

Lita says, nervously, “Well, Sailor Moon is the strongest and the best of us, Sailor Scouts, but it doesn’t mean that she is perfect.”

Kenji says, with a sigh, “Anyway, Darien-san has proven to be the only one for my little moon princess. When she comes home, I’ll try my best to keep my nose out of their affairs.”
Ikuko tells Kenji, with a smile, “Sweetie, don’t make promises that you can’t keep.” Kenji coughs, clears his throat, crosses his arms, and looks pretty embarrassed at his wife saying that about him in which Sammy and Ikuko giggle at his embarrassment.

Ami says, “Anyway, Trista, Ikuko, and I should get back to work. I need to finish up to prepare for the other projects that I have to do.”

Mina tells Ami, “Ami-chan, you are the only one that can handle important work while doing homework at the same time.”

Ami responds, with a sigh, “To be honest, Mina-chan, studying, reading books, and doing my work other than what I’m doing for this situation is the only way that I can calm down and keep me focused. If I did, I would be a nervous wreck.”

The others sigh and Michelle says, “Plenty of us feel the same way.”

Hotaru says, “Michelle-mama, I just feel so helpless.”

Amara says, “For the moment, Firefly, but Luna was right to say that we can’t fight in the ways that we’re used to. This time, we need to ‘fight’ in a different manner and we need to believe in our princess.” Hotaru nods her head, but for all of the Sailor Scouts, it is hard for all of them since their princess has been trapped in SAO for over half-a-year and they don’t if or when they can get her home.

May 16, 2023, Floor 28, Wolf Plains

Right now, we are on the twenty-eighth floor of Aincard in an area known as Wolf Plains due to the large amount of wolf-like monsters in the area where we find Kirito walking through Wolf Plains where he just met Klein, the person that befriend him on the first day of SAO and when this ordeal began, in which Kirito just passed him by since he felt guilty about leaving him alone to fend for himself with his friends while he used his knowledge as a former beta tester to advance in the game. The ‘forsaken friendship’ was one of the major ‘things’ that he felt guilty about since the start of this ‘death game’.

Kirito asks, seemly to no one, “How long are you going to remain there Usagi?”

Out of the shadows, Usagi leaps out and she says, with a pout, “Oh, man! How do you do it Kirito? I thought that I developed my Hiding Skill well!” Usagi thinks in her mind, “Guess Raye-chan was right about me and stealth not going well together. If she was here, she would be gloating in my face.”

Kirito tells Usagi, with a light smile, “You did. I just have a good Search skill.”

Usagi says, “Same here. A girl like me needs it since I’m stuck going solo. Hey, I see that you have joined a guild.”

Kirito says, a bit nervously, “Yeah, you can say that.”

Usagi asks, curiously and concerned, “What do you mean?”

Kirito tells Usagi, “Anyway, are you here to do some leveling?”

Usagi responds, “Kind of. I’m actually here on favor with one of my friends.”

Kirito asks, curiously, “You actually have someone else friended other than Asuna and me?”

Usagi replies, a bit nervously, “Yeah, I did.”

Kirito says, with a smile, “Surprising that ‘Valkyrie of Mercy’ makes another friend other than the ‘famous friends’.”

Usagi responds, annoyed, “Would you cut that out?” Usagi says, with a sigh, “I don’t like shutting people out. It is making friends that has gotten me my best girlfriends. It is just… you know. And it is getting worse with you know what.”

Kirito says, with a nod, “Yeah, you have become a real pain in the ass for the orange guilds, Usagi. I can understand why you are doing this. However, something tells me that you aren’t the type of leap into the fight.”

Usagi thinks in her mind, “You have no idea, Kirito.” Usagi says, “I don’t like to fight and I don’t want to fight if I don’t have to, but I can’t just stand around and let these wrongs continue. These are poor innocent and good people caught up in my uncle’s madness and they don’t to suffer any more than that they have. All of us are trying to survive in this nightmare and yet, these players just causing mayhem and problems to other players which is damaging our abilities to survive much less get out. I don’t get it! They know what will happen if anyone loses their life here.”

Kirito tells Usagi, with an angered glare in his eyes, “I think that the people that are the villains in here are the truly sick people in real life, Usagi. It is exactly what you said: This isn’t a game. Well, not any ordinary game. This is a life or death struggle for all of us and we know that all prayers can’t help in the advancement for all sorts of reasons. I mean that there are those that remain in the Town of Beginnings and you can’t blame them. This was supposed to be a game, not a struggle for survival and escape. And yet, these… sickos plague other players in which I believe that they are truly sick people. Sorry for being an ass, but I’m glad that you are giving them a taste of dirt when you make their plans go awry.”

Usagi tells Kirito, nervously, “Well, I’m not that good, Kirito, but I do what I can.” Usagi tells Kirito, “Anyway, Kirito, come on! You have got to tell me about this guild that you have joined!”

Kirito tells Usagi, a bit nervously, “Usagi…”

Usagi responds, with a pout, “Come on, Kirito! I’m your friend! Can’t you give a girl a little slack? Please!”

Kirito thinks, with a sigh, “I’m so going to regret this.” Kirito nods his head and Usagi gives one of her classic excited ‘hurrahs’ as Kirito and Usagi discuss about the Moonlight Black Cats in which while Usagi is glad that Kirito trying to bond with other players, she can’t help to be concerned about something.

Usagi tells Kirito, “Kirito, I understand why you aren’t telling about yourself, but I’m concerned about it. I know that you want to help them grow and become an elite clearer group. They sound like that they have the ‘right stuff’ and you helping them is wonderful, but I’m afraid that something bad will happen.”
Kirito tells Usagi, “Don’t worry, I’ve got it.”

Usagi tells Kirito, “I know that you are an incredible player even as a former beta tester, but you aren’t some kind of ‘game master’, Kirito. If they continue to believe that you are their level, they may get overconfident and get into a situation that’s too much for them level wise. And I’m afraid that with all of your skills and ability, you won’t be able to save them.”

Kirito tells Usagi, “I swore to protect them, Usagi. I won’t let anything happen to them.”

Usagi tells Kirito, “I know that Kirito. I just feel that you need to be truthful with them to really bond with them as a guild and to make sure that you and they don’t get hurt, Kirito.”

Kirito tells Usagi, “Don’t worry, Usagi, everything will be fine.”

Usagi says, nervously, “Okay, I trust you, Kirito.” Kirito smiles at Usagi and Usagi smiles under her hood in which she walks off to continue her ‘errand’ for the time being, but she has a bad feeling that her words are going to prophetic, however, she trusts Kirito’s judgment which may be a mistake that will haunt them both.

June 7, 2023, Juuban Hospital Ward

Within one of the hospital in Tokyo, our Lunarian feline advisor, Luna, is sitting on the windowsill looking at Serena’s motionless form with her head still connected/covered by the NervGear with her long blond hair flowing out of it, her body mainly covered in a hospital gown, motioning wires to motion her vitals, IV wires to introduce water and nutrients to keep her body alive, and her eyes closed as if in a deep sleep or coma.

Luna thinks in her mind, “Serena… It has been seven months already. Seven long months. Even through her powers and the Silver Crystal are slowly the ‘decay’, I can see her wasting away before my very eyes and there is nothing that I can do to help her. I’m supposed to be her advisor and guardian and I’m so… so helpless! The others have been working hard to figure out the NervGear, but even with knowledge of the Medicuboid, a medical Full-Dive based on the NervGear, and the Amusphere, basically a NervGear with better security to make sure that this horror never happens again, it looks like more and more that we can’t do anything to disable the NervGear without triggering the ‘trap’ put into it by Kayaba. Our best bet is to disable the programming that activates the process of the NervGear destroying the brain of its user, but we would need to get inside of Sword Art Online, however, it seems impossible without a NervGear which is too dangerous! And right now, the NervGears are being destroyed one after another to make sure of that with the only few allowed are the ones being studied to figure a way to reserve this mess! This is just a nightmare! My worst fears come true! Our princess is trapped and there is nothing that we can do for her even when she is right here in front of us!” Just then the door opens and Luna looks to see Darien come inside.

Darien closes the door, locks the door, and he says, looking at his beloved solemnly, “Sere’…”

Luna goes up to Darien and she asks Darien, “Anything?”

Darien picks Luna up and he responds, shaking his head, “Nothing, Luna. We keep running into dead ends, but the others are still trying while trying to get on with their lives.”

Luna says, solemnly, “Serena would want it that way.” Darien nods his head solemnly as he puts Luna down on the table and takes one of Serena’s hands into his own.

Darien says, with tears in his eyes, “Meatball Head, I’m here. We’ll find a way, I promise.”

Luna tells Darien, “The others told me that it is struggle for you.”

Darien says, with a nod, “It is. It is a miracle that I can keep going, but only the thought of what my Serena would think if I just lose myself. When she kept calling me a lot, it was annoying yet wonderful to know of her love and devotion to me, but now, not hearing her voice for even a day… I feel…”

Luna says, with a nod, “We all do. Not seeing her happy face… not feeling the warmth of her heart… It is just… unbearable.” Darien nods his head solemnly and he puts his head on Serena’s motionless hand and tears drip down his eyes knowing his beloved is right in front of him yet so far away.

June 22, 2023, Floor 30 of Aincard

Within the center of the town in Floor 30, Usagi is with Asuna, wearing mainly white and red uniform with crosses on it.

Asuna tells Usagi, “Thank you, Usagi. If it wasn’t for you…”

Usagi responds, “Think nothing of it, Asuna.” Just then a small letter icon appears in front of her and she says, “Oh, I have to take this.”

Asuna asks, “Who is messaging you?”

Usagi says, with a smile, “Probably one of our mutual friends, Asuna.” Usagi then pushes the icon and when she reads a message that appears in front of her eyes in which her eyes widen causing her to gasp.

Asuna asks, concerned, “Usagi?”

Usagi says, her voice full of great concern and panic, “I’m sorry, Asuna! I need to go now!” Usagi then gets onto the teleport pad and she yells out, “Teleport: Ronbaru!”

Asuna shouts out, “Usagi!” However, Usagi vanishes in a bright glow of blue in which Asuna can’t help to get concerned and she wants to follow her immediately, but she had duties with the guild that she had to perform in which she can’t help to look back as goes to rejoin her guild members, however, she doesn’t know that tragedy is befalling someone else that she met around the early days of the game.

June 23, 2023, Floor 11, Taft

In a tree in front of an inn, Kirito is just staring at a nearby tree when Usagi walks up to him.

Usagi says, concerned, “Kirito…”

Kirito says, without looking at Usagi, “You were right, Usagi. I know that you aren’t here to say ‘I told you so’, but I deserve such a slap in the face.”

Usagi says, shocked, “Kirito…”

Kirito says, his voice getting louder, “Don’t, Usagi! I was a selfish bastard and a fool! You were trying to warn me as a friend and I stupidly threw your good warning to the wayside! And now… Keita… Sachi… all of them are dead! Dead because of me!” Kirito pounds the tree in which the violet window ‘Immortal Object’ appears and Kirito says, with tears in his eyes, “A lying worthless beater that couldn’t say his own people.”

Usagi yells out, “Kirito, you did everything that you could! You fought with everything that you had!”

Kirito responds, “I did everything, but the smart thing and listened to you. They could have been a great guild… an awesome guild… and I… I destroyed them…!!” With tears in his eyes, Kirito runs off into the distance.

Usagi shouts out, concerned, “Kirito…!!” Usagi tries to race off after him, but when he is out of sight, Usagi stops in her tracks knowing that he probably used a teleport crystal to get away from her. Usagi says, solemnly, “Oh, Kirito…” Under her hood, Usagi sheds tears from her blue eyes and she puts her hand over her heart in which Usagi, being herself, can’t help to feel guilty in the fact that she feels that she should have done more to help by warning Kirito more or something.

June 30, 2023, Floor 22, Coral Village

It is a week after Usagi’s meeting with Kirito at Taft and right now, on floor 22 of Aincard, Usagi teleports into the center of the town on the floor, Coral Village. Usagi walks off the teleport gate in the center of the village and looks around in which she sighs. After the meeting in the aftermath of the death of Kirito’s guild, the Moonlit Black Cats, Usagi couldn’t find any sign of Kirito even by asking Argo, the famous/infamous information broker of SAO, in which she has a good friendship with. Right now, she is here because two of her few friends in SAO have called her here.

Just then a familiar female voice shouts out, “Hey, Usagi!” Usagi then looks to see Asuna, in her Knights of the Blood uniform, and Lisbeth, wearing a dark red top with puffed sleeves and a flared skirt of the same color as well as a pure white apron over that and a red ribbon atop her chest, going over to them.

When they stop, Usagi says, “Hi, Liz. Asuna.”

Asuna says, with a smile, “It’s good to see you, Usagi.”

Usagi says, “Come on, it only has been a week.” Usagi asks, “Now, why did you call me here?”

Lisbeth responds, “Oh, geez! Don’t tell me that you forgot! You told us yourself, remember? It’s your birthday today!”

Usagi asks, “It is?” Usagi then goes through the clock on her player menu and she sees that it is her birthday in which she says, nervously, “Wow. It’s my birthday already? I didn’t realize.”

Lisbeth says, with a grin, “Time does fly, huh? Anyway, let’s go!” Usagi, Asuna, and Lisbeth head off to an area this floor overlooking the lake that rarely sees monsters.

Usagi says, “It’s so pretty.”

Asuna says, with a nod, “It is.”

Usagi asks Asuna, “What are you doing here, Asuna? I never thought that I would see you take a break from conquering the castle. Why are you here?”

Asuna responds, “The commander ordered me to take a break. Says that he wants his guild in tip top shape for the bosses and floors ahead and he doesn’t want to see his subordinates get killed just because of fatigue.”

Usagi asks, surprised, “Really?” Usagi asks, drolly, “Don’t tell me that you were overdoing it again, Asuna?”

Asuna gives an annoyed look and Lisbeth says, with a teasing tone, “That’s our ‘lightning flash’ for you, Usagi!”

Asuna says, annoyed, “Liz!”

Lisbeth says, going through her player menu, “Anyway, I have something special for you, Usagi.” Just then a sword with a pearly white blade, a silver handle, and golden crescent moon on the hilt appears in her hands in which she winches at holding it.

Asuna says, amazed, “It’s beautiful, Liz!”

Usagi asks, amazed, “Whoa! Did you make that?”

Lisbeth says, with a grin, “Yep! I’m even surprised that I did it, but it was thanks to that strange rare ore that you got me!”

Usagi asks, “The Lunar Iron?”

Lisbeth says, with a nod, “Yep! And this is the result! This is Escalon, Usagi! From me to you! Consider it a birthday present!” Lisbeth hands the sword to Usagi and she yelps as she takes it.

Usagi says, “A bit heavy.”

Lisbeth says, “It is one of a kind and I doubt that you can use it yet. You are going to need up your stats a bit more before you can use it.”

Usagi tells Lisbeth, with a warm smile, “Thank you, Liz. I’ll make sure to treasure it.” Usagi then opens up her player menu and puts it in her player storage in which she then lowers her hood and exposing her face and head for Asuna and Lisbeth in which her blond pigtails flow out and down the sides of her face in which we can see that she has deep, full, and pink colored lips.

Asuna asks, surprised, “Usagi?”

Usagi responds, with a giggle and her kind smile, “That’s me! Is it so underwhelming?”

Lisbeth responds, with a whistle, “Not really!” Lisbeth says, with a grin, “No wonder you hide your face! If anyone saw you, men would be lining up at your door, if you had a house, and you would have to worry about marriage proposals every other day!”

Usagi says, with a kind smile, “I doubt that Liz.”

Lisbeth says, “Anyway, happy birthday, Usagi.”

Usagi responds, “Thank you, Liz. Anyway, you, two, have got to tell me your birthdays since we’ve got celebrate them too.”

Asuna says, with a sigh and smile, “I’m sorry, Usagi, but I think that’s wishful thinking.”

Lisbeth tells Asuna, with a pout, “Oh, geez! You are such a buzz kill, Asuna!”

Asuna tells Lisbeth, “Sorry, Liz.” Asuna says, with a sigh, “Things are going to get tougher and most likely, I’m going to be more busy with the guild than ever. It already has been over seven months. Seven months of our lives lost.” Asuna looks up and she says, “He took everything away from us. Our friends… our family… everything that we loved all for his sick game.”

Usagi says, with a solemn tone, “Yeah.”

Asuna says, “And he hurt you most of all, Usagi. I can never forgive him for that. You believed in him, loved him, and trusted in him. And he destroyed the grand dream that you had for this place for all of us. He turned into a prison and put a knife under our necks. Out of all of us, you are the greatest victim of all of us. And you are also a great hero and inspiration to us all, Usagi.”

Usagi says, “I’m not doing anything that great.”

Lisbeth says, with a teasing tone, “Oh, the legendary ‘Valkyrie of Mercy’ being so humble? I didn’t know that you weren’t into signing autographs.”

Usagi says, annoyed, “Geez, Liz!”

Lisbeth says, with a smile, “Sorry! Just kidding! Just kidding!”

Asuna says, getting to her feet, “Anyway, I should head back. We’re going to need to get to the next floor soon.”

Lisbeth says, with a smirk, “Don’t work so hard that Usagi has to save your butt, again.”

Asuna says, “I won’t.” Asuna then slowly takes and waves goodbye as Usagi and Lisbeth wave back.

When Asuna is gone, Lisbeth says, with a sigh, “It always dungeon this and conquest that with her.”

Usagi tells Lisbeth, “You can’t really blame her for the way that she is.”

Lisbeth says, with a nod, “I know.” Lisbeth asks, “Anyway, what’s with the big reveal?”

Usagi says, “You are my friends, so, you deserve the right to know and I know that you won’t be taken down so easily.”

Lisbeth says, with a smirk, “Got that right, girlfriend.” Lisbeth and Usagi enjoy the view, but she can’t help to wonder what Kirito is doing and what her friends and family are doing back in the ‘real world’.

June 30, 2023, Juuban Hospital Ward

Inside of Serena’s hospital room, we find Serena’s family, friends and fellow Sailor Scouts, and Darien assembled together around her bed and motionless form as they put birthday cards, sets of flowers in vases, and Darien puts their special star locket in her hand in which he opens it to play the music that it plays.

Hotaru says, “It’s so beautiful.”

Trista says, “It is, Firefly-chan.”

Raye says, weakly, “Happy birthday, Meatball Head.”

Ami says, with a weak smile, “Happy birthday, Serena.”

Lita says, “Happy birthday, Serena. Don’t worry, we’ll find a way home for you soon.”

Darien says, with a weak smile, “Happy birthday, my princess. I’ll wait to the end of time for you.” Darien kisses her hand gently and the assembled group of Serena’s beloved prince, her friends and guardians, and Earth family shed tears from their eyes as they look at Serena’s motionless form while unknown to most of them, the familiar spirit of Serena’s mother in her past life as Princess Serenity also appears in which tears come from her ethereal eyes and she disappears as quickly as she came in which only Raye, Amara, and Trista knew that she was ever there.

November 2023, Floor 35, Aincard

In the town of Mishe, the center town on floor thirty-five of Aincard, there is a nimble-looking player who has brown eyes and curly auburn hair. She wears full-body cloth and leather armor, a hooded cloak, and also has whiskers on her face. She is walking around when she has a bad feeling, but when she looks around, there is no one around and she just sigh, but she is then grabbed by the collar and dragged into an alleyway in which she yelps, however, there is a fingerless gloved hand on her mouth and this female player looks to see Usagi in front of her. Usagi removes her hood to show her face and the female player sighs in relief.

The female player tells Usagi, “Usagi-chan, what’s the big idea? And what is the big idea? This is so not like you.”

Usagi responds, “Sorry, Argo-chan, but I can’t have anyone hearing.” Usagi tells the player, “Argo, I need to know the information that you just gave Kirito.”

The female player, Argo, replies, “Well, you see…”

Usagi replies, pleadingly, “Damn it, Argo! Don’t do this to me! You know what Kirito is doing to himself out there! Please! If he paid you not to tell anything, I pay you double! No, triple of what he paid you!” Seeing the look in Usagi’s eyes, Argo sighs.

Argo tells Usagi, “All right, Usagi, you got it. But you don’t have to pay anything.”

Usagi tells Argo, with a smile, “Thank you, Argo, but you are giving information brokers a bad name.”

Argo responds, “I still have my debt to pay and plus, what kind of information broker would I be just giving you hogwash instead of the facts? When customers pay for information, they get exactly what they paid for.”

Usagi says, with a smile, “Same old Argo.”

Argo tells Usagi, with a sigh, “Anyway, there is a rumor that on this floor, there is going to be a special event where there is a special boss that gives out rare loot. And in that loot, it is rumored that there is a revival item.”

Usagi yells out, “What?!”

Argo tells Usagi, “That’s what I heard. However, this event will only happen on Christmas Day, about a month from now. So, if you want to tackle that event, you are going to have to start leveling up and that’s what Kirito is probably doing.”

Usagi says, “To solo the event.”

Argo says, with a nod, “We know so, Usagi.”

Usagi tells Argo, with a warm smile, “Thank you, Argo.” Usagi gives Argo some Cor coins and she says, “A gift from me to you. Thank you and good luck.” She puts her hood back over her head to cover it and she races off into the distance.

Argo says, with a warm smile, “Good luck to you, too, Usagi.” Argo then walks off into the distance to continue his work on gathering information that the other players could and would want in the future.

Late November 2023, Crown Arcade

Inside of the Crown Arcade, Luna, Artemis, and the Sailor Scouts are inside of the futuristic and high-tech command center under the Crown Arcade as Andrew comes into the room.

Andrew says, “Okay, the Arcade is closed for the moment.”

Artemis says, “Thank you, Andrew.”

Andrew says, “Serena is like a member of my family. I was shocked to find out that she is Sailor Moon and you are the Sailor Scouts in which you had this command center hidden in my family arcade, but I always felt that Serena and you, girls, were special.”

Mina says, with a smile, “Thanks, Andrew.”

Lita says, with a sigh, “Over a year now and we are nowhere closer.”

Luna says, “There might be a chance.” Luna then slides a game with a picture of two fairy-like humanoids flying together and the name ‘ALfheim Online’.

Andrew asks, “Hey, isn’t that new VRMMO for the Amusphere?”

Trista says, with a nod, “That’s correct. It is made by RECT Progress, a division of RECT industries, in which ironically, the head of the company is the father of one of the victims of SAO.”

Amara asks, surprised, “Really?”

Ami says, with a nod, “That’s right. A young sixteen year old girl named Asuna Yuuki. In fact, it was her older brother that brought the NervGear and the game due to family connections, but he had important business in which his younger sister, Asuna-san, asked to play the game for the day.”

Lita says, “Poor girl. Didn’t know that she was heading into a nightmare and prison.”

Luna says, “Anyway, this company co-produced the new Amusphere and they have produced this new VRMMO game. This game means ‘Land of Fairies’.”

Michelle says, with a smile, “Sounds like a cute game.”

Luna says, shaking her head, “Not as much as you think. It is a hard-core game. Basically, it isn’t level based at all. It is skilled based. Your health bar barely changes throughout the game and you have to work constantly to perfect the many skills in the game in which PK is allowed.”

Ami says, “Yes, I know. We were allowed to see the development of this game and make sure that there isn’t a ‘second SAO incident’ in the making.”

Luna says, “Well, here is the kicker. From what data that we could gather, Alfheim Online or ALO for short is actually similar to Sword Art Online.”

There are gasps and Raye asks, “Are you sure, Luna?”

Luna says, pushing buttons on the keyboard, “Take a look.” A holographic screen comes up and Ami and Trista read the screen.

Ami says, amazed, “Luna is right!” When everyone looks at Ami, she says, taking out her portable computer, “Based on what information that we know about Sword Art Online, the engine, graphics format, and program are very much the same!”
There are more gasps and Mina asks, “How can that be possible?”

Amara says, with a plain tone, “Argus folded thanks to this stunt by Kayaba and I heard that RECT has taken over the SAO servers from them.”

Trista says, with a nod, “That’s right, Michelle.”

Raye says, her eyes narrowing, “So, they basically copied SAO into a brand new game? That’s original. And it also makes me suspicious too.”

Artemis says, “However, this could be the chance that we have been waiting for.”

Mina asks, “What do you mean Artemis?”

Ami says, “Oh, I get it! If we figure out the programming of this game, we have a good idea of the programming of Sword Art Online and we can figure out what are the programming codes that make the NervGears kill the wearers!”

Luna says, with a nod, “Exactly. The NervGear can’t kill its wearer if it doesn’t get the command to do it.”

Artemis says, “However, I doubt that RECT will allow you to examine the game because of that theory. The only way that we are going to get our hands on figuring out that programming is from the inside of the game itself.”

There are shocked looks and Mina asks, “Wait! Are you saying that we have to play Alfheim Online?”

Luna says, with a nod, “Exactly. There is an ‘enemy’ that we haven’t faced before and like I said close to a year ago, we need to ‘fight’ in another way. In order to beat this game, we need to learn everything that we can about this game. I can’t believe that I’m saying this, but you, girls, need to start playing this game immediately.”

Raye says, “Well, it isn’t going to be easy, Luna. The GM is going to be hard pressed if they find out about us hacking their game from the inside in order to learn its code and such.”

Artemis says, “We know, Raye. But so far, working it from just the NervGear and its mechanics is getting us nowhere. While we have a better understanding of it than we did a year ago, it seems like Kayaba has prepared for any attempt that we could have to remove it without killing the wearer.”

Trista says, with a nod, “Artemis is right. We need to learn about the programming of SAO and ALO seems to be the best place.”

Amara says, “If we are going to do this, we are going to need to buy Amuspheres for all of us and have a place to set up where we can log in without anyone disturbing us and where we can be observed just in case among other things.”

Andrew says, with a smile, “I have a spare room in the arcade that you can set up in.”
Lita says, with a smile, “Thanks, Andrew.”

Andrew says, with a nod, “It is the least that I can do to help. I want Serena back alive as much as you do.”

Mina says, with a smile, “This would be so awesome if it wasn’t a case of life and death.”

Lita says, with a nod, “Yeah, I know.” As the other Sailor Scout were discussing their plans to go onto Alfheim Online on a mission to figure out the programming of SAO in order to figure out a way to disable the programming that caused the NervGear to kill its user, Raye and Amara can’t help to get a bad feeling about this new game since it was based on SAO for one thing.

December 25, 2023, Floor 35, Forest of Wandering

Within the place on floor 35 of Aincard known as the Forest of Wandering, Kirito arrives at a big fur tree after leaving behind Klein and his guild, Fuurinkazan, an elite clearer guild made up of his real life friends that got trapped in SAO with Klein, to face off against the Holy Dragon Alliance, another clearer guild known to do anything for a rare item. Just then a bell tolls and then a massive monster that looks like a ridiculous and ugly version of Santa Claus with a pale blue face with yellow-white hair. It has red eyes that look two different ways, and has a spiky mustache and beard. Its name is Nicholas The Renegade, the event boss that said to carry the ‘revival item’.

As Kirito prepares to face off against him, he hears a familiar female voice, “Kirito!”

Kirito thinks in his mind, “Not her! Why now?” Kirito looks to see Usagi appear by his right side and he yells out, “What are you doing here Usagi?”

Usagi responds, “Why do you think that I’m here Kirito? You are one of my few friends here in SAO! Haven’t you thought of anything of my feelings if you just died on me? My family and I already have enough blood on our hands thanks to my uncle! I’m not going to let one of the few friends that I have die on me right here!” Usagi then removes her hood to show her head and face to Kirito much to his shock.

Kirito asks, stunned, “Usagi?”

Usagi says, with a nod, “That’s right, Kirito. I’m showing you my face. The face of Kayaba’s niece that he betrayed. It is because I know that you are strong and you are my friend.” Usagi takes out Escalon, the sword made by Lisbeth by the mysterious special ore that Usagi gave her, and she says, “No matter what happens, you are getting the revival item. If it does exist and it does bring back your friend, at least I did that much.”

Kirito thinks in his mind, “Usagi…” Kirito draws his sword and he says, “All right.” Kirito and Usagi nod their head and look at Nicholas The Renegade, with four health bars, and they roar as they charge him and prepare to battle him together to beat him. After a hard fight, both Kirito and Usagi are breathing heavily and their health bars are in the yellow, maybe close to the red area, as Nicholas collapses to the ground and shatters to data polygons.

Usagi thinks in her mind, “It’s official. My uncle is a complete nut. How can you make a monster that insults Santa Claus? Only a real jackass would do that!” They search through the items that they won and Kirito found what he was looking for: The Divine Stone of Returning Soul, the revival item. But when he materialized it and looked at the item description, his eyes widen and his face becomes solemn. Usagi asks, concerned, “What is it? Kirito?”

Kirito says, displaying the so-called revival item in his hands, “Look, Usagi.”

When Usagi reads the item description, she yells out, in disbelief, “Ten seconds?!”

Kirito says, plainly, “The time between your ‘death’ and the time that it takes for the NervGear to fry your brain.” Kirito says, plainly, “Worthless.”

Usagi says, weakly, “Kirito…”

Kirito tells Usagi, “Take it.”

Usagi tells Kirito, shaking her head, “No, you keep it, Kirito. I know that you will do good with it.”

Kirito says, solemnly, “Like I have been doing any good so far.”

Usagi says, solemnly, “Kirito…” Kirito then walks away while Usagi puts her hood back while Kirito gives Klein the item and Klein is also shocked to find out what the ‘revival item’ was really about. On the meanwhile, Usagi walks along, takes a deep breath, and then rushes off to get back to town and back to the front lines to continue her work on getting to top of Aincard, finding her uncle, and if finding out that he is doing this of his own free will, which Usagi feels more and more that he is, to stop him once and for all as well as free everyone from this nightmare.

And that’s the end of the chapter, everyone! I know that I’m going through a whole year and more of the SAO timeline in multiple time skips throughout this chapter, but the anime, manga, and light novel does much of the same thing and I needed just enough to show Usagi’s/Serena’s life in SAO/Aincard as well as what’s happening with the Sailor Scouts, Serena’s Earth family, and more in which I believe that I did a good job. In the upcoming few chapters, you can expect those time skips to become less in terms of periods of time, everyone! And while much of this chapter is focused on Usagi/Serena and the Sailor Scouts and Serena’s Earth family in the real world, Kirito, Usagi, and Asuna are going to be ‘together’ more in the upcoming chapters. Later and best wishes, everyone!