Sailor Moon Fan Fiction / Digimon Fan Fiction / Crossover Fan Fiction ❯ Sailor Moon Online: Gaiden ❯ Spira Stories 3: Dueling Spheres ( Chapter 19 )

Well, we’re back for the next story and in this story, things may seem to be familiar, but you are going to be surprised. Trust me, I know that you are. Personally, I try my best to be partially like Naruto when writing my stories and that’s NOT being predictable. Hopefully, I will succeed in that matter. Now, before we start, I must give thanks and credit to Belletiger and Kanius as well as Kanius’ YuYuGiDigiMoon fanfiction series, especially his The Invasion of the Rajita story, for giving me permission to use the idea of Valkyrie Sailor Soldiers and everything that’s a part of them in my fanfiction. I would like to give thanks and credit to Kanius and his YuYuGiDigiMoon series, including this author’s Dawn of Chaos story, and LazerWulf for giving me permission to use the idea for their version of Sailor Charon, namely the fact that she is Sailor Pluto’s sister among other things. I would also like to give thanks and credit to Matty G91 and this author’s story of Kamen Rider Lunar for giving me permission to use Kamen Rider Lunar, his looks, and everything about him as well as the UNI-SHOCKER organization.

 

Now, with that out of the way, as they say on SAO: Link Start!

 

I DO NOT OWN Sailor Moon, Sword Art Online, Naruto, Accel World, Digimon series, Yu-Gi-Oh R/GX/5Ds/Zexal/Arc-V, Kingdom Hearts, Hyperdimensional Neptunia series, Gundam series, especially Gundam Build Fighters, Dead or Alive, Ninja Gaiden, Mortal Kombat, Akiba's Trip: Undead & Undressed, Maken-Ki, Tenchi Muyo series, Ronin Warriors, Pretty Cure, Queen’s Blade/Gate, Dragonball Z/GT, Star Trek series, Star Wars, Log Horizon, Sonic the Hedgehog, DC universe, Marvel universe, Assassin’s Creed, Senran Kagura, Sekirei, Monster Musume, Karin/Chibi Vampire, 12 Beast, Stargate series, One Piece, Final Fantasy, Rave Master, Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu, Avatar: The Last Airbender/Legend of Korra, Code Lyoko, Transformers, 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, Sword Art Online is owned/licensed by ASCII Media Works, A-1 Pictures Inc., and its various directors/publishers including Reki Kawahara and Tomohiko Itō, Naruto is owned/licensed by Masashi Kishimoto, Yuuto Date, Jump Comics, and Studio Pierrot, Digimon is owned/licensed by Toei Animation and its various directors, including Hiroyuki Kakudo, Yu-Gi-Oh is owned/licensed by Kazuki Takahashi, Toei Animation, and Studio Gallop, Yu-Gi-Oh GX is owned/licensed by Naoyuki Kageyama, Studio Gallop and its various directors, Yu-Gi-Oh 5Ds is owned/licensed by Katsumi Ono and Studio Gallop, 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 Itō!

 

Warning: These stories may and will contain mature level intense violence, blood, 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 these series of stories!

 

Prelude: A castle of stone and metal floating in the sky that consist of one hundred floors. Within this massive structure, there are countless cities, villages, towns, forests, plains, lakes, and whatever you can imagine. There is only one staircase that connects one floor with another and these staircases are located within dangerous mazes filled with monsters. The players with navigate through these floors to the top with nothing than the weapons in their hands. And yes, I said players.

 

This is the world of Aincrad, a floating castle in a virtual sky, and yes, I said VIRTUAL sky. This world and this floating castle world are in a realm made of digital information…the world of Sword Art Online. A world that was supposed to be game, but because a nightmare prison when its creator, Akihiko Kayaba, trapped the ten thousand players within this virtual world and if they die here, they will die in real life. The ten thousand players struggle in this ‘game death’ to reach the top of the floating castle where the final boss and the key to their freedom waits.

 

You may know this story and the stories that come after it, but do you know all of the stories? All of the tales that happened within the floating castle? What about the tales that happened after the floating castle was conquered? There are stories connected to the ‘tale’ of this floating castle, its ‘history’, and its ‘aftermath’, but they weren’t told…until now. These are those stories…

 

Sailor Moon Online: Gaiden

 

Story 19: Spira Stories 3: Dueling Spheres

 

Note: This story takes place in the Hollow Fragment timeline and takes place around during the time of Chapter 17 of World’s Song.

 

July 2025 (Earth time), Spira

 

In the world of Spira, we find ourselves on the board the Celsius, an airship, as alarms are blaring where we find Brother and Buddy at the controls of the ship and talking in Al Bhed, their native language.

 

Rikku then asks, “What’s awesome?”

 

Buddy responds, “We’re getting reports of an ‘awesome sphere’? Looks it is already drawing quite a crowd. The reports are from Kilika Woods.”

 

Shion asks, plainly, “Awesome sphere?”

 

Amara says, “That’s vague as if I ever heard a description.”

 

Yuna says, “I want that sphere.”

 

Rikku says, excitedly, “It is as good as ours! Let’s scramble!”

 

Lita asks, curiously, “You are going after it just like that?”

 

Yolei tells Yuna and Rikku, “You don’t have a clue on what it can be! It could be awesome as that name suggests or it could be a big fat dud!”

 

Rikku says, “Maybe it is and maybe it isn’t. The only way that we are going to know is to get over and get that sphere! So, let’s rock and roll!”

 

Brother yells out, annoyed, “Who is the leader?! I am! I give the orders around here!”

 

Paine says, plainly, “We’re listening.”

 

Brother then leaps up on his seat and he yells out, “Let’s go! Party! Party!” Quite a few members of our heroes and heroines can’t help to sweat drop at this for various reasons.

 

Davis thinks in his mind, “Something tells me that we are in for a major ride!”

 

July 2025 (Earth time), Spira, Kilika Port

 

Right now, our group finds themselves within a large port town made up of various and very sturdy wooden platforms connecting to hut-like houses sitting on what looks like platforms made of masses of coral.

 

Mimi says, amazed, “Oh, wow.”

 

Yuna says, with a smile, “This is Kilika Port.”

 

Keiko says, “It is so pretty.”

 

Asuna says, with a smile, “It is.”

 

Paine says, plainly, “You wouldn’t say that if you were here two years ago.”

 

Mina asks, curiously, “What makes you say that?”

 

Yuna says, with a sigh, “Sin. At the very first stage of my journey, he came here and devastated Kilika.”

 

Plenty of the others became solemn and Amara says, “This shows the strength of the human spirit. If they could rebuilt a devastated town in just two years into this, then it shows that people are stronger than those that you fought thought.”

 

Mina says, excitedly, “Hey, that rhymed!”

 

Amara looks at Mina, annoyed, and Lita tells Mina, annoyed, “Way to ruin a speech, Mina-chan.”

 

Yuna giggles and she tells Amara, “Yes, you are right.”

 

Rikku says, excitedly, “Come on, already! Let’s go already!” Soon enough, the group starts to walk through the walkways of the port town.

 

Ami says, “It is really lovely and peaceful here.”

 

Paine says, “On the surface anyway.”

 

Hinata asks, curiously, “What do you mean?”

 

Kazuto asks, curiously, “Are there any ‘internal troubles’?”

 

Yuna says, with a sigh, “The Youth League helped in the rebuild the town, but lately, they have been getting into fights with New Yevon.”

 

Darien says, “The Youth League and New Yevon are the two ‘organizations’ that are vying for political power in your world.”

 

Paine says, with a nod, “With the truth about Yevon and Sin getting out, the people didn’t take being lied to for one thousand years lightly and Yevon soon collapsed afterwards.”

 

Cody says, plainly, “And the Youth League and New Yevon came in to fill the void.”

 

Sakura says, with a plain tone, “It sounds like this ‘New Yevon’ is just the same organization with just ‘new’ in its name.”

 

Paine says, “You might have a point. New Yevon was founded from the remnants of Yevon and they seem to be hoarding the sphere founded by sphere hunters like us.”

 

Ken says, “And that’s one point of ‘problems’. Youth League wants radical change and fast while New Yevon’s core policy says ‘one thing at a time’.”

 

Yuna says, with a nod, “Yes, that’s right. And New Yevon’s policy has a great appeal to many especially those fearful of change.”

 

Darien says, “It is understandable. Even though it was one big lie, it has been around for one thousand years and helped the world for a ‘trying time’ that kept on for centuries.”

 

Ken says, with a plain tone, “And when the system broke down, it is chaos even through mass anarchy didn’t happen. However, your world is in an ‘unstable time’.”

 

Yuna says, nodding her head, “Yes, it is.”

 

Rikku tells Yuna, “Now, Yunie, you know why we are here.”

 

Yuna says, with a smile, “I remember Rikku.” The group continues on through the port town until they hear a noise coming from one of the hut-like houses in which Yuna, in her curiosity, races off in which the others follow her to the hut-like house where they see a young man stumble out of the doorway.

 

This young man seems to be in the mid-to-late twenties with short brown hair, half-closed eyes and a square-shaped face. He is tall and muscular, wearing two brown belts adorned with iron buttons on his chest and Yakuza-style bandages around his abdomen. He wears baggy light blue three-quarter length trousers with a green belt, and blue sandals with crisscrossing arm wraps of the same color.

 

The young man yells out into the hut-like house, solemnly, “Dona!”

 

A woman’s voice says, “My, my, my…” The woman’s voice says, “Fine. Have it your way.”

 

The young man says, solemnly, “Dona!”

 

The woman responds, “Go on. Leave.”

 

The young man says, solemnly, “Dona…” He then howls in despair and he races off into the distance.

 

Rikku says, solemnly, “Looks like trouble in paradise.”

 

Davis asks, “You know that big guy?”

 

Yuna says, “His name is Barthello. He is a native of Kilika and we met him, here, in Kilika when I was first came to Kilika during my pilgrimage. He was a guardian to a summoner known as Dona.”

 

Rikku says, “That was the woman’s voice that you just heard.” Rikku says, “Barthello isn’t the brightest tool in the shed, but he is loyal and reliable. He is also Dona’s lover.”

 

Mina says, “Doesn’t look that way anymore.”

 

Kari says, plainly, “Trouble in paradise.” Plenty of the others nod their heads in agreement and our group follows Yuna into the hut-like house where they meet a young woman in the living room.

 

This young woman looks to mid-to-late twenties in age with hazel eyes, dark skin, and black hair tied up in a bun trailing into a ponytail, adorned with a feathery blue-white band. She has a red diamond mark similar to a tilak in the center of her forehead. She wears a revealing outfit consisting of an off-white bra, dark blue thong, black stockings and heels and long off-white skirt split in the back and front fading into gray towards the bottom. Both front and back are cross-laced. She wears dark blue sleeves held by crossed white strings and yellow gloves accented with red crystals, a red rope reminiscent of Japanese ceremonial elements and miko accessories, tied crossways around her shoulders and in a large bow in the back.

 

The young woman says, “Look who we have here.”

 

Yuna replies, “Good to see you, Dona.”

 

Rikku asks, “What’s with Barthello?”

 

The young woman, Dona, responds, “Nothing out of the ordinary. I am with the Youth League and he is with New Yevon.”

 

Lita whispers to the others, “Uh oh.”

 

Yuna says, “You have been together for so long…”

 

Paine says, “To each their own.”

 

Dona says, “Exactly. Butt out.”

 

Amara tells Yuna, “I don’t think that you should go there, Yuna.”

 

Lita says, with a nod, “Yeah, this is their problem to work out.”

 

TK tells Mina, “And you should do the same, Mina-chan.”

 

Mina tells TK, curiously, “Why, Takeru-kun?”

 

TK tells Mina, “You know why, Mina-chan. You are the ‘goddess of love’ after all.”

Mina says, with a smile, “Yes, I know. But I can’t help myself sometimes.”

 

Raye tells Mina, with a plain tone, “Well, you had better help yourself, Mina-chan. We are a LONG way from home right now.” Soon afterwards, the group exits out of Dona’s home and continues to explore the port in which they go on board a ship where they look to see a Youth League base being built. When they get to the far end of the port, they find themselves at a wooden wall with the only opening is a gate with two guards in front of it.

 

One of them says, “Meyvn Nooj’s briefing will begin shortly.”

 

Another one says, “Interested league members should proceed to the woods immediately.” Soon after, the two guards allows our group through the gate.

 

Mimi says, “Well, that was easy.” After they get through the gate, they are in a clearing that’s filled with people including Dona herself.

 

Yuna asks, “These are all sphere hunters?”

 

Paine says, plainly, “I don’t think so.”

 

Rikku says, looking through the crowd, “Look over there.” Rikku points to someone in front of the crowd and she asks, “Who is that?” When the others manage to get a look through the crowd, they get a good look at who Rikku is pointing at.

 

The person looks to be a young man with long brown hair kept in two loops and a ponytail tied with a red band and has blue eyes with blue glasses. He wears red long johns with multiple red and black belts used to keep his prosthetic left arm and left leg on. Over his right shoulder is a purple sleeve with fur at the top. He wears purple boots and carries a silver cane.

 

The crowd in front of the man stand at attention and Paine says, “Nooj.”

 

Yuna asks, “Meyvn of the Youth League, right?”

 

Davis says, “Whoa. It looks like the fiends took a good bite out of him.”

 

Darien says, “It looks like he has seen plenty of combat.”

 

Kazuto says, narrowing his eyes at him, “Yeah.”

 

Raye, Amara, and Suguha also narrow their eyes at him and Serena asks them, “What’s wrong?”

 

Amara says, “There is something off about him.”

 

Darien asks Amara, curiously, “Off?”

 

Raye says, with a nod, “His aura doesn’t seem dangerous. But there is something ‘off’ about it.”

 

Tai asks Raye, “What do you mean by ‘off’?”

 

Raye says, “I’m not sure. His aura doesn’t seem to be dangerous, but there might be something within him…something that even he doesn’t know about.” Plenty of the others can’t help to wonder what Raye means by that.

 

On the meanwhile, the man, Nooj, the leader of the Youth League, says, “Greetings, friends. An important sphere is hidden in Kilika Temple. A sphere documenting the true history of Spira. We are here today to make the contents of that sphere public. Yet, the voice seeking truth goes ignored. My friends, I ask you: Why? Because New Yevon wants to hide the truth! Just like the temples before them! I tell you, now, this has gone long enough. My friends, stand with me, and together, we will bring the truth back to the people!”

 

The crowd cheers and Mina says, “He really knows how to work a crowd.”

 

Kazuto says, “He is quite a speaker.” Kazuto then sees an image of Heathcliff/Kayaba behind Nooj.

 

Nooj then says, “But let’s not overdo it. Our opponents aren’t as young as they used to be.”

 

The crowd gives off snickers and light laughs in which Davis says, “Quite the comedian too.”

 

Ken says, “He is quite good as a leader.”

 

Michelle says, “I agree. He definitely has the qualities of a leader.”

 

Amara whispers to Raye, “He doesn’t seem to be evil.”

 

Raye says to Amara, in a whisper, “I don’t think that his spirit contains any true evil in him. But I sense something…It’s faint, but it might be something that even he is not aware of.”

 

Amara tells Raye, in a whisper, “His wind seems pure, but there is an ‘ill breeze’ in there. However, it is so small that I can’t really tell anything. Let’s just keep an eye on him.” Raye nods her head in agreement with Amara.

 

Yuna says, “Not exactly what I expected.”

 

Asuna asks Yuna, “How so?”

 

Rikku says, “Hey, that’s our sphere! Oh, poopie!” Rikku asks, “So, what now? Call it quits?”

 

Cody says, “From what we heard, the sphere already is ‘owned’ by someone. Namely New Yevon.”

 

Sakura says, “And it looks like that they are about to go at it for the sphere.”

 

Yolei says, nervously, “Should we really get in-between that? I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

 

Paine says, “Well, I don’t know about you, but I would like an ‘awesome sphere’.”

 

Plenty of the others look at Paine in surprise and Yolei asks, annoyed, “Are you serious?”

 

Paine replies, plainly, “Yes, I am.”

 

Yuna says, “Well, since they can’t decide who it belongs to, we should make it our own.”

 

Yolei says, exasperated, “You have got to be kidding me.”

 

Paine tells Yolei, “Don’t want to fight? Just stay out of our way.”

 

Rikku says, excitedly, “Let’s get ourselves a sphere!”

 

Yuna says, with a nod, “Yeah!” Soon after, Yuna, Rikku, and Paine race off leaving the others looking at each other.

 

Mimi asks, “So, what do we do?”

 

Kotone says, “I don’t think that we should let them go alone.”

 

Rika tells Kotone, with a grin, “You just want to get your hands on that sphere. The treasure hunter in you really wants that sphere.”

 

Kotone asks, with a nervous blush, “What makes you say that?”

 

Raye says, seriously, “If we do this, we are going against the two major groups that have power here in this world.”

 

Davis asks, with a smirk, “When has that stopped us before?”

 

TK says, with a nervous smile, “Leave it to you to say that.”

 

Naruto says, with a grin, “Well, Davis has a point. Plus, what kind of friends would we be if we let Yuna, Rikku, and Paine go off on their own? I’m in the mood for adventure, believe it!”

 

Naruto then starts to take off and Sakura says, with a smile, “There he goes again.”

 

Hinata giggles and she thinks in her mind, warmly, “Same old Naruto-kun.” Sakura and Hinata follow after Naruto and the others look at each other.

 

Suguha says, “Here we go.” Soon afterwards, the rest of our heroes and heroines follow up after Yuna, Paine, Rikku, Sakura, Hinata, and Naruto into the wooded area known as the Kilika Woods. Within the woods, there is a group of Youth League members confronting a group of armed guards.

 

One Youth League member says, “Hand over the sphere!”

 

Another Youth League member shouts out, “The temples have controlled Spira’s secrets long enough!”

 

One of the guards, a bearded male, retorts, “Spheres? Secrets? What’s this about?”

 

A third Youth League member says, “Don’t play dumb! We know that you are guarding something!”

 

The male retorts, “Hey! We’re here to guard our families from rabble like you!”

 

The Youth League group give out roars of protest and a fourth one retorts, “What did you say?” This one, a male, stomps forward and a guard aims his weapon at him.

 

The bearded male says, plainly, “I think that it is time that you left.” Some distance away, our group was watching the whole thing.

 

Kazuto says, “This isn’t good.”

 

Darien says, with a nod, “Things are a knife’s edge.”

 

Amara says, nodding her head in agreement, “One ‘spark’ and this could turn into all-out brawl and massacre.”

 

Serena asks, curiously, “Isn’t there anything that we can do?”

 

Tai says, “Might be…”

 

Matt says, with a sigh, “Oh, boy.”

 

Tai says, annoyed, “Thanks a lot.”

 

Sakura says, “It looks like we have a good reason to steal the sphere after all.”

 

Hinata asks Sakura, curiously, “We do?”

 

Sakura says, “If we take the sphere, if it real, it will focus their attention on us and not each other.”

 

Yolei asks, curiously and nervously, “How is that a good thing?”

 

Davis says, with a grin, “We have a quick exit, remember.”

 

Shion says, “We had better prepare to transform just in case.” The other Sailor Scouts in the group can’t help to nod their heads in agreement.

 

Mimi looks over down a side path and she asks, pointing to where she is looking, “What’s happening over there?” Everyone then looks to where Mimi is pointing to see two people talking.

 

As our heroes and heroines overhear, one of them asks, “The Youth League password was ‘Squirter Monkey’, right?”

 

The other person responds, “Wait! Wait! Wait! I thought that the password was ‘Squatter Monkey’…”

 

The group walks away a bit and Tai asks, “Password, huh?”

 

Michelle says, with a smile, “It might be something that we may need to remember.”

 

Hotaru says, nodding her head, “I agree, Michelle-mama.” Soon enough, the group sneaks through the woods trying their best to sneak past guards and crowds of Youth League members, but our heroes and heroines are hard-pressed since the local fiends were making it hard to sneak around in which invited the New Yevon guards and Youth League members to come investigate causing our group to fight them and knock them out. When they reach an intersection, they go to hide in a group of trees.

 

Just then they hear something coming from the trees and Yuna asks, “What’s that?”

 

Darien says, “Sounds like voices.”

 

Keiko asks, “What’s should we do?”

 

Davis says, “I say let’s take a peek.” Davis then starts to sneak over and the others start to sneak over in which they look over through the cover of trees to see a group of New Yevon guards with a bearded one with two regular guards with another guard in front of them.

 

The bearded one, obviously the leader, asks, “What do you mean you forgot the password?” The leader of the guards says, “How many times does this make for you? You’re hopeless.”

 

The single guard says, “Sir! I am hopeless! Sir!”

 

Mina thinks in her mind, nervously, “At least he is honest.”

 

The guard leader says, annoyed, “For the love of…All right, let’s try one more time.” The guard leader then says, “If the number of guards at the checkpoint is odd…the password is Craved Monkey.”

 

The single guard says, “Understood, sir!”

 

The guard leader then asks, annoyed, “Are you still paying attention?” Another guard joins the other two guards and the guard leader says, “If the number of guards at the checkpoint is even…the password is Craven Monkey.” The guard leader says, sternly, “You got it! Forget it, again, and I will feed you to the monkeys!”

 

The group slowly goes back from the trees to avoid detection and Rika says, with a smirk, “It looks like we just learned how to walk straight up to their headquarters.”

 

Amara says, “Maybe, but we had better be prepared.”

 

Hotaru asks Amara, “Prepared, Amara-papa?”

 

Kari says, “Wait! If we change into Scout forms…”

 

Amara says, “We might be mistaken for New Yevon guards…At least, those of us with Valkyrie Sailor Scout forms. All of the guards are wearing armor and wielding weapons.”

 

Lita says, “All of the guards that we have seen are male guards.”

 

Plenty of the females that aren’t of Spira gave ‘curious’ looks and Paine says, “Yevon WASN’T that kind of organization.”

 

Rikku says, “They were rotten to the core, but at least, they weren’t THAT rotten.” Rikku says, pointing to Yuna, “Technically, as a summoner, Yunie was part of Yevon…at least until she learned the truth and continued her journey with us not as a part of Yevon, but representing Spira as a whole.”

 

Paine says, “Yevon weren’t idiots. They allowed men and women as part of their fighting forces.”

 

Rikku says, “Lucil, a friend of ours, was part of the Crusaders, a part of the Yevon fighting forces, and a leader in them.”

 

Yuna says, with a nod, “And New Yevon is no different.”

 

Amara says, with a plain tone, “And there we go.”

 

Mina tells Amara, “Even in Valkyrie Sailor Scout forms, we don’t exactly look like New Yevon guards.”

 

Shion says, “Maybe, but as long as we know the password, it might be all the convincing that they need.”

 

Yolei says, nervously, “We can’t be sure about that.”

 

Naruto says, looking at Yuna, “Maybe, but we have the hero that saved this world from destruction.”

 

Yuna asks, surprised, “Wait! What?”

 

Davis says, excitedly, “That’s right! If we mention that we are escorting Yuna to meet with the heads of the temple, they will take us seriously!”

 

Rikku says, excitedly, “Hey, you’re right!”

 

Yuna says, “Hold on! Wait a minute! I didn’t agree to this!”

 

Paine tells Yuna, “You said that you wanted that sphere, didn’t you?”

 

Yuna says, “Well, yes.”

 

Rikku says, with a smile, “Well, you are going to have to put up with your fame a bit longer since I agree with Amara’s plan.”

 

Yuna gives a groan of annoyance and she says, annoyed, “Fine.” A bit later, at the bottom of the stairway to Kilika Temple, the group of four guards is waiting around in which they look to see our heroes and heroines coming up with the members of the Sailor Scouts that have Valkyrie Scout forms in ‘Scout form’.

 

The leader of the guards says, plainly, “Halt!”

 

Sailor Celestial says, “We have been sent from Bevelle to escort High Summoner Yuna to the head of the temple. He is expecting her.” As the Valkyrie Sailor Scouts point to Yuna, the guards gasp in shock and look at her.

 

The leader of the guards regains his composer and he says, “Then you will know the password. I’m sorry. No one passes without the password. No exceptions.”

 

Sailor Star says, hiding the nervousness in her voice, “Craven Monkey.”

 

The leader of the guards says, “Thank you, but it is not the best time for Lady Yuna to meet up with the leader. The temple is being raided.”

 

Sailor Celestial asks, “Maybe we can help?”

 

The leader of the guards says, with a nod, “Most appreciated. Head on up. With all of us, I’m sure that Lady Yuna will be safe. We need to remain down here to make sure no more of those rabble get up there. Thank you.”

 

Sailor Moon says, with a kind smile to hide the nervousness, “No problem.” After the guards let them pass, our group heads up the stairs where they meet a second group of guards in which they pass after giving the password. Afterwards, they reach a third set of guards and they had to give the password twice in a row, but they got pass without any trouble from the guards. Soon after, they head up the stairs to a plateau, half-way up to the temple, where a group of Youth League members, led by Dona, are confronting a group of New Yevon guards led by a priest.

 

The priest says, “Which is why I keep telling you…”

 

Dona says, interrupting with an annoyed tone, “Shut up. Just give us the sphere and we’ll be on our way.”

 

The priest says, “I don’t know what you are talking about.”

 

A pair of Youth League then come down from final set of stairs leading to the temple and one of them shouts out, “Hey! I have the sphere!”

 

Dona says, with a sly smirk, “There you have it.” Just then there is a loud rumbling sound as the ground shakes with each rumbling causing Dona to ask, “What is that?”

 

Kotone says, “I don’t like this.” Just then everyone sees a group of Youth League members running from a massive mechanized golem.

 

Mina says, nervously, “And I’m liking that less.”

 

The priest runs in front of the golem and he says, “I had a little something prepared for the occasion. Nice knowing you!” As the priest runs aside to let the golem cause havoc against the Youth League members with our heroes and heroines down the middle.

 

Yolei says, irritated, “Here we go again!”

 

Sailor Celestial says, “No kidding.” As the battle starts, Rikku switches from her Thief Dressphere into her Black Mage Dressphere while the golem, YSLS-Zero, comes in to attack with its Haymaker attack.

 

Sakura shouts out, strongly, “I don’t think so!” Sakura counters with her chakra enhanced super-strength and when the two attacks hit each other, both Sakura and the golem are sent skidding backwards.

 

Hinata asks Sakura, “Are you okay, Sakura?”

 

Sakura says, with a nod, “Yeah, but that thing packs a good punch.”

 

Naruto says, seriously, “But so do we!” Naruto then starts to form his familiar sphere of chakra.

 

“Rasengan!”

 

Na ruto then slams his familiar sphere of chakra into the waist of the golem causing a strong explosion causing the golem to stumble back in which it shutters a bit with Yuna firing her twin pistols and Paine coming in with an Armor Break to weaken its defenses.

 

“Thundaga!”

 

Ri kku, using her Black Magic Dressphere, unleashing a powerful lightning attack that significant damages the golem since it is a Machina, Spira’s word for machines like the robot golem, which are vulnerable to lightning based attacks. The golem then unleashes a ‘rocket punch’ style attack where it detaches one of its fists that uses little jets to send the fist at its opponents, but Sailor Star uses her Linear Sword Skill to strike the jetting fist and negate the attack.

 

Rika shouts out, excitedly, “Nice one!”

 

Strea says, excitedly, “My turn!” Strea comes in with her massive sword and lands a strong strike into the golem’s waist causing it to stumble backwards.

 

Sailor Celestial says, excitedly, “Great job, Strea!”

 

Sailor Sun says, “Our turn now!” Sailor Sun unleashes a powerful solar energy attack that causes more damage to the machine golem.

 

Rikku yells out, excitedly, “Awesome! Way to go!”

 

Rika shouts out, “Give me a boost!”

 

Strea says, excitedly, “Okay!” Rika runs over to Strea, she spins around, boosts Rika into the air, and Rika brings down her mace right on top of the head of the golem causing it to stumble backwards.

 

Keiko says, excitedly, “That was great, Liz!”

 

Rika says, with a smirk, “You know it!” The machine golem manages to recover and charges in for another close end attack, but it is slowed down by Yuna and her twin pistols with Sailor Celestial swinging in with a Double Circular Sword Skill attack.

 

Sailor Moon says, “Let’s finish it!”

Kazuto says, with a nod, “Got it!” Kazuto and Sailor Moon then perform two successive Starburst Stream attacks causing more than enough damage to finally bring down the golem in which it, literally, falls to pieces.

 

Mina says, with a smirk, “Scrap metal anyone? I hope that they have insurance on that thing.”

 

Amara says, with a smile, “I doubt it, Mina-chan.” Soon afterwards, Kotone goes over to a member of the Youth League, who has collapsed to the ground on his bottom, and she sees a pair of spheres in front of him.

 

Kotone asks, curiously, “Huh? TWO spheres?”

 

Paine overhears Kotone and she asks, “Wait! Two?” Kotone then picks up both spheres and the two spheres glow in unison causing the whole area to shake as a mystic circle of a kind then appears on the field.

 

Yolei yells out, exasperated, “Now what?!” Everyone then yells out as they are engulfed by the light which forces them to cover their eyes.

 

(A short time soon afterwards)

 

A short time after this event, we look to see Kazuto lying down on the ground and he groans as he starts to stir.

 

Just then Asuna’s/Sailor Star’s voice fills his ears, “Kirito-kun! Kirito-kun! Wake up!” Kazuto groans as he slowly wakes up to see Sailor Moon, Sailor Star, Rika, Keiko, and Sailor Orion looking over him.

 

Kazuto asks, weakly, “E-Everyone?” Kazuto shakes his head and groans out as he sits up.

 

Keiko asks, concerned, “Are you okay?”

 

Kazuto responds, with a nod, “Yeah.” Kazuto is helped to his feet by Sailor Moon and Sailor Star before he nearly falls to the ground when Strea runs up and hugs him.

 

Strea says, excitedly, “You are okay!”

 

Kazuto says, with a winch, “C-Can’t breathe…”

 

Kotone says, nervously, “Strea, please let go of Kazuto!”

 

Strea says, with a pout, “Okay…”

 

After Strea releases Kazuto from her bone-crushing hug, Kazuto says, “I’m awake now.”

 

Sailor Jupiter says, with a smirk, “I’ll bet.”

 

Kazuto asks, “What happened?” Kazuto then notices that he is standing on a grassy field and he asks, “Where are we?”

 

Sailor Celestial’s voice booms out, “Take a look big brother.” Kazuto then starts to look around and he is shocked to see that he, the rest of our heroes and heroines in Spira, and our three female Gullwings are standing in the middle of what looks like the second floor of Aincrad!

 

Kazuto says, shocked, “No way…”

 

Sailor Star tells Kazuto, “I think that the term is ‘yes way’, Kirito-kun.”

 

Sailor Moon says, “It looks like we’re on the second floor of Aincrad.”

 

Kazuto asks, amazed, “But how?”

 

Ken tells Kazuto, “We can’t be sure that it is the same place.”

 

Yolei asks Ken, “How can you be so sure?”

 

Cody asks Yolei, “Are you sure that it looks like Aincrad, Yolei?”

 

Yolei responds, “Yeah, it looks exactly like the second floor of Aincrad.”

 

Sailor Uranus asks, pointing to the distance, “Was that part of SAO?” When everyone looks to where Sailor Uranus is pointing at, everyone sees a group of Ronso battling what looks like a Trembling Ox, a common mob of the second floor of Aincrad/SAO.

 

Rikku asks, curiously, “Are those Ronso?”

 

Yuna says, with a nod, “Yes, they are.”

 

Tai says, “They weren’t part of SAO.”

 

Sailor Mercury asks, “Was there a place like this on Spira?”

 

Yuna says, “No. At least, I don’t think so. If there was, it must have been before Yu Yevon created Sin.”

 

Rikku asks, surprised, “Wait! Are you saying that we could have traveled into the past?”

 

Paine says, plainly, “Impossible.”

 

Sailor Venus retorts, “Like a group of people from another world?” As our group looks at the scene, the ‘danger sense’ of Kazuto, Sailor Celestial, and Sailor Moon goes on ‘high alert’ in which Kazuto whips out his swords and spins around to block a spear strike from a Ronso male attacking with his spear.

 

When the others see this, Rika asks, surprised, “Where did he come from?”

 

Sailor Orion says, looking around, “He isn’t the only one.” Everyone then sees a group of Ronso surrounding them.

 

Yolei says, nervously, “We’re surrounded!”

 

Mimi says, “Maybe we should have brought Palmon and the others after all.”

 

Sora tells Mimi, “You know why we couldn’t. The people of Spira could have mistaken them from fiends, the creatures terrorizing them, and attacked them.” Sora says, looking at the Ronso surrounding them, “But I have to agree that I wish that I would like Biyomon and the others with us right now.”

 

The Ronso facing Kazuto says, “Trinar doesn’t know face.”

 

Kazuto says, “We’re not from around here.”

 

The Ronso says, “Intruders to Aincrad. Intruder from Bevelle or Zanarkand.”

 

Overhearing this, Yuna asks, surprised, “Bevelle? Zanarkand?”

 

The Ronso, Trinar, says, “Trinar kill intruders.”

 

Kazuto says, “We’re not from Bevelle or Zanarkand.”

 

Trinar says, “Trinar doesn’t believe intruders. Intruders lie.” Trinar then attacks Kazuto with his spear with Kazuto blocking with his swords. Just then Trinar attacks Kazuto with Fatal Thrust, a mid-strength Two-Handed Spear Sword Skill combo, and Kazuto thinks in his mind, as he uses his defensive skills to block the attack, “That’s a Sword Skill! A Spear Sword Skill!” On the meanwhile, the others are fighting with the other Ronso, who are wielding various weapons, and plenty of the SAO survivors in the group are surprised that they are using Sword Skills.

 

Rika shouts out, “How in the heck are they using Sword Skills?”

 

Tai says, seriously, “You got us!” Yuna and Sailor Orion use their distance weapons, Yuna’s pistols and Sailor Orion’s arrows, to keep them their attackers at a distance. Just then a group of the Ronso leap back and start to chant a familiar spell.

 

Sailor Celestial says, shocked, “That’s ALO wind spell!” As Sailor Celestial stated, the Ronso unleash blades of mystical wind energy similar to a wind spell from ALO at our heroes and heroines, but Sailor Celestial uses her powers to create a massive twister that not only negates the wind attack, it also knocks the Ronso attacking everyone, minus Kazuto, right off their feet.

 

Sailor Venus says, excitedly, “Awesome! Great job, girlfriend!” Back with Kazuto, he and Trinar are continuing their fight and when Kazuto finds an opening and strikes with Double Circular where he is surprised that his attacks strike a force-field, but Trinar grunts out as he is sent backwards causing Kazuto’s eye to quirk at this.

 

Kazuto thinks in his mind, “That shield seems to protect him from physical harm, he seems to have felt the hit.” Trinar attacks with another Two-Handed Spear Sword Skill, but Kazuto, using his SAO knowledge, manages to counter the attack and he unleashes a barrage of attacks that forces Trinar on the defensive in which the Ronso grunts as Kazuto’s attacks strikes his ‘shield’ until the ‘shield’ surrounding his form shatters from Kazuto using the Duel Wielding Sword Skill known as Starburst Stream causing Trinar to be flung onto the ground, hard, while also forcing him to drop his spear.

 

When Kazuto looms over Trinar, the Ronso says, “End it. Trinar won’t beg for mercy.”

 

Kazuto then sheaths his swords and he says, “No. You’re done and that means that I’m done. I said that I’m not an invader and I don’t kill for no reason. I won our battle and its over.” Trinar gives a look of shock as Kazuto rejoins the others.

 

Sailor Moon says, “I think that we should leave right now.”

 

Tuxedo Mask says, nodding his head, “I believe that Serena is right. It is time to leave.”

 

Rika says, with a nod, “No kidding.” Soon enough, the others then take off leaving the group of Ronso dazed and confused in a literal manner.

 

(Much later on)

 

Inside of a village that looks like Taran Village, the village on the second floor of Aincrad/SAO closest to the labyrinth and in fact, this version of said village in SAO has the same name, our heroes and heroines are inside of an inn room as they discuss about where and possibly WHEN they are.

 

Kazuto says, “Okay, here are the facts: We seem to be still be in Spira, but we also seem to be in the past before Yu Yevon became Sin.”

 

Darien says, “This place seems to be a real-life Aincrad that was a part of Spira at the time before Sin. From what’s known, this place was created by a mixture of technology and magic by someone. This someone brought these people’s ancestors by saying that a great reward is on top of this place for those that can get through all one hundred floors. Their ancestors took years to defeat the ninety-nine guardians of the floors before reaching the top of this Aincrad and the creator, who was the final ‘boss’.”

 

Keiko asks, curiously, “Did they win?”

 

Ami says, with a plain tone, “Yes. And when they defeated the creator of this Aincrad, his gift was…this entire castle. He said that he gifted them with this castle…this new world to do with what they will. After his death, the ancestor of these people were given the secrets to this castle and they decide to make it their new home. They settled most of the floors below the top floor and made it their new home in which, in order to protect the secrets of their new home, they sealed the labyrinths and created new guardians for them in which they made that only those that defeat the guardians and pass through the labyrinths or their descendants to use the teleport gates.”

 

Kazuto says, “They settled into their new home and started a new life in this Aincrad.”

 

Amara says, “However, from what we heard, things aren’t too peaceful.”

 

Darien says, “It seems like both people down on the surface…namely Spira, are becoming hostile to them. They want the ‘ancient secrets’ that this castle contains.”

 

Rikku says, “Namely the Machina technology making it fly and the magics that’s also a part of it.”

 

Yuna says, amazed, “I can’t believe that we had such things in Spira in the past.”

 

Paine says, plainly, “It shows how much history that was lost due to the thousand years of Sin and Yevon.”

 

Mina asks, “So, we’re back in this world’s past and they had a real-life Aincrad?”

 

Raye says, “This can’t be a coincidence.”

 

Kazuto says, “I don’t think so.”

 

Ken says, nodding his head, “I agree.”

 

Rika asks, curiously, “So, what the heck do we do now?”

 

Asuna says, “There may be only one way to get out of here.”

 

Kazuto says, nodding his head, “I agree, Asuna.”

 

Serena asks, curiously, “You mean…the labyrinth?”

 

Kazuto says, nodding his head in agreement, “I do, Serena. If this is working like SAO, the key to getting out of this time and returning to the time that Yuna, Rikku, and Paine comes from in this world is to head into the labyrinth. I think that all we need to do is get to the ‘boss room’ and that’s the ‘key’ to opening the ‘gateway’ back.”

 

Yuna asks Kazuto, “Are you sure?”

 

Kazuto says, with a sigh, “I can’t be absolutely sure. This is just my ‘feeling’.”

 

Tai says, “Well, right now, we don’t have much to go on, bud.”

 

Matt says, with a nod, “I have to agree. It may be our only option right now.”

 

Yolei says, nervously, “I don’t know.”

 

TK tells Yolei, “We know what you are feeling, Yolei. I feel the same, but our options are limited now.” Ken gives Yolei a consoling hug and Yolei gives a warm loving smile at Ken.

 

Darien says, “However, we shouldn’t go rushing in.”

 

Kazuto says, with a nod, “Agreed. We should take a rest. It seems like the ‘rules of SAO’ seem to apply here in their own way and while you can fight in town, you don’t suffer any real damage here. You can’t hurt someone much less kill someone.”

 

Asuna says, “However, we should still be careful. Red players and guilds found way to kill players even in towns by finding ways around the rules.”

 

Amara says, “I don’t think that we need to worry about that.”

 

Tai says, with a nod, “True, but let’s be careful anyway.” The others can’t help to nod their heads in agreement and decide to rest up to plan for the later expedition into this Aincrad’s labyrinth.

 

(Much later)

 

Right now, our group is exploring an exact duplicate of second floor labyrinth on this alternate version of Aincrad seemly in Spira’s past where we find Yuna using her pistols against a Lesser Taurus Striker and the minotaur monster roars out as it collapses to the ground in which it ‘shatters’ into hundreds of ‘bubbles’ of some kind.

 

Rikku says, with a grin, “That take you overgrown piece of beef!”

 

Yolei asks, curiously, “Do you have even cows?”

 

Kotone says, “It is disturbing on how similar this place is to SAO.”

 

TK says, with a nod, “We know how you feel, Kotone.”

 

Sailor Uranus says, “When these monsters ‘dispel’, I sense release of a lot of spirit energy.”

 

Sailor Jupiter asks, “Really?”

 

Sailor Mars says, with a nod, “Yeah. It seems to get absorbed into this place.”

 

Sailor Saturn asks, “Is it like what happens to fiends?”

 

Sailor Celestial says, “It feels kind of similar, but different.”

 

Sailor Moon asks, curiously, “Different?”

 

Kazuto says, “It could be this place’s version of ‘respawns’ like in games.”

 

Tai says, “Well, let’s not be here when they come back.”

 

Sailor Star says, “Agreed.”

 

Rika tells Sailor Star, with a smirk, “I thought you were used to such things, Asuna.”

 

Sailor Star gives a glare at Rika and Paine says, “Hopefully, we can find a way back.”

 

Davis says, with a nod, “No joke.”

 

Sailor Venus says, “It is a real pain that we can’t fly.”

 

Sailor Uranus says, “That isn’t surprising to me. There was no flying in SAO and in ALO, you couldn’t fly in dungeons.”

Sailor Mercury says, with a nod of her head, “That does make logical sense.”

 

Sailor Venus says, annoyed tone in her voice, “It is still a real pain.” Soon enough, our heroes and heroines arrive at a door that’s familiar to all those that survived SAO.

 

Rikku says, nervously, “Creepy.”

 

Keiko says, with a nod, “It is.”

 

Yuna asks, “Is this…?”

 

Kazuto says, with a nod, “This is where the boss monster for this floor of Aincrad resides.”

 

Sailor Star nods her head in agreement and Tuxedo Mask asks, “If this Aincrad is similar to the one in SAO, then the boss could be similar to the one that all of you that survived SAO faced. Can you tell us about it?”

 

Sailor Moon says, “There actually three bosses. Two sub-bosses and one main boss. The sub-bosses are known as Colonel Nato and General Baran, who was the original floor boss of the beta.”

 

Sailor Star says, “The true floor boss is known as Asterius the Taurus King and it was a massive boss in which he had an electrical breath attack that can stun you if it hits.”

 

Kazuto says, “That’s back in SAO. Here, you might suffer a good amount of electric shock.”

 

Tuxedo Mask says, “If their attacks are like the versions that you faced, they might have similar effects.”

 

Sailor Moon says, concerned, “Let’s be careful, everyone.” Plenty of the others nod their heads in agreement and they enter into the chamber where it seems to be empty, but then they hear loud stomping and the ground starts to shake in which they look to see Colonel Nato and General Baran stomp out into the open.

 

Sailor Celestial asks, “Does this look familiar?”

 

Kazuto says, with a nod, “Very, Sugu.”

 

Rikku asks, “I see only two overgrown bulls. Where is the third?”

 

Sailor Moon says, “Back in SAO, Asterius didn’t come out until General Baran was only his last legs.”

 

Sailor Orion says, “Sounds like the classic situation of your subordinates unable to defeat your enemy, you need to do it yourself.”

 

Sailor Star says, “Even if we know what’s coming, we need to be careful.”

 

Kazuto says, “There could be any number of differences between this situation and what Asuna, Serena, and I experienced. We weren’t prepared for the unexpected last time and we nearly died.”

 

Sailor Moon says, with a nod, “Yes. We need to be careful.”

 

Naruto says, with a confident smile, “Don’t worry, I got this! Believe it!” Afterwards, our heroes and heroines go into battle against these versions of the sub-bosses of the second floor of Aincrad in which they seem to have similar moves to the ones that Sailor Moon, Sailor Star, and Kazuto faced back in SAO, but Naruto, Sailor Orion, and Yuna proved to be the most helpful with Naruto using his Shadow Clone Jutsu to produce massive amounts of Shadow Clones to confuse the two minotaur boss monsters with Sailor Orion using her arrows with Yuna using her guns for distance attacks with Sailor Orion getting accurate shots that disorient Colonel Nato and General Baran. However, when General Baran seem to be waning in strength, just like before in SAO, a group of monoliths appears and out of a ‘portal’, Asterius the Taurus King appears in his glory over everyone.

 

Rikku shouts out, flabbergasted, “Whoa! He’s huge!”

 

Paine says, plainly, “I think that ‘huge’ is an understatement, Rikku.”

 

Yuna asks, nervously, “How are we supposed to fight that?”

 

Kazuto says, seriously, “It’s crown! If you hit it in the crowd, it will stagger and be unable to use its major attacks mainly! However, it may be able to unleash its electric breath attack! Watch out for it!”

 

Sailor Orion says, with a nod, “Understood.”

 

Sailor Celestial says, “The rest of you should support! I’ll take care of these overgrown cows!”

 

Sailor Moon says, concerned, “What? Hold on!”

 

Sailor Celestial says, with a sly grin, “Don’t worry, sis! I got this!” Sailor Celestial then uses her twin swords to block an attack from Colonel Nato before pushing him and leaping high into the air to bring a powerful slice that cuts the sub-boss monster in two causing the minotaur to roar out before ‘dissolving’ into hundreds of spirit bubbles. Sailor Celestial then attacks General Baran and leaps over the paralyzing shockwave that he creates when he slams his hammer onto floor in which she comes in with two powerful kendo style sword slashes causing General Baran to suffer the same fate as Colonel Nato.

 

Keiko says, amazed, “Wow.”

 

Rika whistles and she says, with a grin, “We can really see the true swordsman…Or in this case, ‘swordswoman’ in the family.” Kazuto gives an annoyed look at Rika causing her to smirk teasingly as the battle continues on with Asterius with Sailor Orion using her bow and arrows in which she strikes the crowd of the boss monster, again and again, causing to stumble and roar out in pain and anger as it is hit over and over.

 

Sailor Star tells Sailor Orion, “Wow, Sinonon, you are really good.”

 

Sailor Orion says, plainly, “It’s nothing.” Our group continues to battle against Asterius with Sailor Orion using her arrows to strike Asterius right in the weak point, its crown, causing it to be limited in its attacks, but Asterius managed to prepare his electric breath attack.

 

Kazuto shouts out, “Look out! Here comes his breath attack!” Immediately, everyone starts to scatter away from Asterius’ ‘line of fire’, but Keiko trips and falls when Asterius unleashes its attack.

 

Sailor Star says, worriedly, “Silica-chan!”

 

Kotone says, worriedly, “Watch out!” But then Sailor Celestial and Sailor Saturn make their appearances in front of Keiko and they unleash a combined Reflect in which it manages to barely bounce back in which the ‘backlash’ knocks Sailor Celestial and Sailor Saturn down to the ground on their bottoms, however, Asterius howls out as he is hit by his own reflected attack and his body sparks with electric energy.

 

Sailor Neptune goes over to Sailor Saturn and she asks, concerned, “Are you and Celestial okay, Firefly?”

 

Sailor Saturn says, with a smile, “We’re okay, Neptune-mama.”

 

Sailor Celestial asks Keiko, “Are you okay Keiko?”

 

Keiko says, with a smile, “Yes, I am! Thank you!”

 

Paine says, seriously, “It’s paralyzed!”

 

Sailor Orion says, plainly, “Time to end this.” Sailor Orion then puts another arrow in her bow, but it gathers a lot of ‘golden energy’ into arrow and Sailor Orion fires it where it strikes the face of Asterius causing it to howl as he collapses backwards before shattering into hundreds upon hundreds of ‘spirit bubbles’.

 

Sailor Venus says, excitedly, “Great shot!”

 

Rikku says, excitedly, “Bingo! We won!”

 

Kotone then says, pointing to something, “Over there!” Everyone looks to where Kotone is pointing at and they see a familiar pair of sphere.

 

Yuna asks, amazed, “Are those…?”

 

Paine says, with a nod, “It has got to be.”

 

Sailor Jupiter says, excitedly, “Awesome! We did it!”

 

Sailor Orion says, plainly, “It would seem so.”

 

Sailor Uranus says, nodding her head in agreement, “Yes.” The group then starts to move forward towards the sphere until Kazuto’s, Sailor Moon’s, and Sailor Celestial’s ‘danger sense’ goes wild and they stop in their tracks.

 

Sailor Moon says, concerned, “Wait!”

 

Tuxedo Mask asks, “What is it?”

 

Kazuto says, “We aren’t alone in here.”

 

Sailor Star asks, curiously, “Are you sure, Kirito-kun?” Just then they hear footsteps echo throughout the room and everyone looks around until Sailor Celestial looks in one direction.

 

Naruto asks, “What’s up?” Soon enough, everyone else looks in that direction and plenty of the Sailor Scouts are shocked to see an exact duplicates of Sailor Moon and Sailor Celestial come out of the shadows.

 

Davis yells out, shocked, “Whoa!”

 

Keiko asks, stunned, “Why are there TWO of Serena and Suguha?!”

 

Sailor Saturn asks, confused, “What’s going on?”

 

Kotone says, confused, “I…I don’t know!”

 

Tuxedo Mask says, “It must be a technology or magic!” The ‘duplicates’ of Sailor Moon and Sailor Celestial draw their swords and they charge the real Sailor Moon and Sailor Celestial, who quickly get out their swords where they defend themselves from the attacks of their ‘doppelgangers’.

 

Kazuto says, worriedly, “Sugu!”

 

Sailor Celestial says, “Wait, big brother! We don’t anything about these ‘doppelgangers’.”

 

Sailor Moon says, “Celestial is right! Let us fight them and you can figure out their strengths and weaknesses!”

 

Tuxedo Mask says, concerned, “Wait!” However, it is too late as Sailor Moon and Sailor Celestial fight their ‘doppelgangers’ intensely and they quickly find out that their ‘duplicates’ are fighting them on an even scale as well as their exact fighting styles!

 

Sailor Jupiter asks, “Is it me or do they look they are fighting mirror versions of themselves?”

 

Kazuto says, “You aren’t, Lita. Asuna and I know Serena’s fighting style from SAO and she hasn’t changed since we escaped there.”

 

Sailor Star says, with a nod, “Yes. Ever since we got out of SAO, her sword fighting style in SAO has transferred to her fighting style as Sailor Moon.”

 

Sailor Uranus says, with a nod, “I agree. Kitten’s combat style as Sailor Moon has radically changed since she got back.”

 

Sailor Venus asks, curiously, “Has Serena had a ‘fighting style’ before SAO?”

 

Sailor Mars asks, plainly, “Do we really need to ask that?”

 

Sailor Moon yells out, annoyed, “I’m right here, you know! You aren’t helping!” Sailor Moon glances at the others, annoyed, in which, she barely dodges a swipe from her ‘doppelganger’.

 

Sailor Celestial says, amazed, “It is like fighting a mirror!” Just then Sailor Celestial yelps as she blocks a flame attack from her ‘duplicate’ and she says, stunned, “Okay, really like a mirror!”

 

Sailor Moon blocks a Double Circular attack from her ‘duplicate’ and she says, “No kidding!”

 

Paine says, with a plain tone, “They are fighting ‘mirror images’ of themselves.”

 

Yuna asks, confused, “But how is that possible?”

 

Rikku responds, confused, “Don’t look at me!”

 

Tuxedo Mask then gains an idea and he yells out, “Meatball Head, use the ‘old switchoo’ trick!”

 

Kazuto realizes what Tuxedo Mask means immediately and he yells out, “Do it!”

 

Quickly, Sailor Moon and Sailor Celestial figure out what Tuxedo Mask and Kazuto meant and Sailor Moon says, “Celestial, switch!” Sailor Moon and Sailor Celestial get back-to-back and when their ‘duplicates’ get close, the real Sailor Moon and Sailor Celestial switch opponents with Sailor Moon attacking Sailor Celestial’s ‘doppelganger’ and Sailor Celestial battling against Sailor Moon’s ‘doppelganger’ which quickly proves the key with Sailor Moon and Sailor Celestial overwhelming their opponents due to them fighting someone that isn’t a ‘mirror image’ of themselves. With her kendo style of Duel Wielding, Sailor Celestial slashes through Sailor Moon’s ‘duplicate’ with Sailor Moon impaling Sailor Celestial’s ‘doppelganger’ causing them to vanish into hundreds upon hundreds of ‘spirit bubbles’.

 

Rika shouts out, excitedly, “Way to go!”

 

Sailor Venus says, excitedly, “Classic! If you are facing a doppelganger of yourself, if you have a friend that has the same problem, switch ‘dance partners’! It always works in the anime and manga!”

 

Sailor Jupiter says, “This isn’t an anime or manga, Mina-chan.”

 

Hinata asks, “So, what should we do now?”

 

Naruto says, running over to the spheres, “That’s simple, Hinata-chan! We get these babies and go home!”

 

Tai yells out, “Hey! Hold on!”

 

Ken says, “We don’t know what it would do!” However, Naruto snatches the spheres and, in that instant, our group yell out as they are engulfed by a bright light.

 

July 2025 (Earth time), Spira, Celsius

 

Back aboard the Celsius, Brother, Buddy, and Shinra were on the bridge as Shinra is typing on his computer screens.

 

Buddy asks Shinra, “Anything?”

 

Shinra responds, “Nothing on the monitors so far.”

 

Brother yells out, “Not good enough! Yuna! Where is Yuna?!” Brother then starts to say stuff in his native Al Bhed tongue.

 

Buddy says, “Easy there, bro. You are going to pop a blood vessel.”

 

Shinra says, “This is really interesting. Their signals were at the area of Kilika Temple and then they mysterious ‘vanished’. Very interesting.”

 

Brother shouts out, annoyed, “Interesting?! Interesting?!”

 

Buddy says, “Easy there. Knowing them, they will ‘pop back’ right in front of us.” As if on cue, there is a bright flash of light that forces all three Al Bhed to cover their eyes and when the light fades away, they look to see our group right in front of them.

 

The group looks around and Yuna says, amazed, “We…We’re back on the Celsius!”

 

Sakura tells Naruto, annoyed, “Watch it next time, Naruto!”

 

Brother shouts out, excitedly, “Yuna!” Brother leaps out of his seat and runs to hug Yuna, but Rikku and Paine trip him up causing him to crash onto the floor on his face.

 

Buddy asks, “Mind telling what happened?”

 

Rikku says, “It is a LONG story.”

 

Davis says, “A REALLY LONG story.” As the group tell their story to the rest of the Gullwings, Naruto hands over the spheres to Shinra in which the young Al Bhed starts to analyze the spheres.

 

When they were done, Buddy says, amazed, “Wow. I have to say that you were on quite an adventure.”

 

Rikku says, plainly, “No kidding.”

 

Brother asks, confused, “How can you been have transported to the distant past?”

 

Buddy says, “You got me.”

 

Paine says, “It shouldn’t be possible.”

 

Yolei says, “Trust us, Paine. We went through a lot that should have been ‘impossible’, but it happened.”

 

Buddy asks, “But did you really travel to the ancient past?”

 

Paine says, “Well, that place, Aincrad, had Ronso and it mentioned Bevelle and Zanarkand.”

 

Shinra says, “It is not outside the realm of possibility that a massive floating castle ‘world’ floated above Spira back in the day. Remember, the few airships that are in Spira right now, including ours, are actually ancient Machina. If they could create machines such as this, it isn’t unreasonable to believe that they didn’t create a whole ‘world’ that can fly through the air.”

 

Buddy says, with a nod, “I have to say that Shinra has a point. Remember, thanks to what Yu Yevon did as Sin along with Yevon, much history has been lost, so, maybe we had an Aincrad of our own.”

 

Davis says, “Well, you don’t have one, right now.”

 

Ken says, “It is most likely that Aincrad crashed during the war. Remember, they said that there were troubles with both Bevelle and Zanarkand and that Aincrad was constructed with advanced technology and powerful magics.”

 

Trista says, with a nod, “That’s a logical theory, Ken.”

 

Kazuto says, nodding his head, “I have to agree. Most likely, both of those ‘places’ wanted to get their hands on the technology, magics, or, most likely, both.”

 

Yuna asks, “For what purpose?”

 

Kazuto says, “You mentioned that there was a great war between Bevelle and Zanarkand which was the reason why Yu Yevon became that ‘Sin’ creature, right? What we experienced could have happened during or, maybe more likely, before the war between Bevelle and Zanarkand. If it was before that war, it could have been at the time when tensions were really high between the two ‘powers’ and they wanted an edge.”

 

Paine says, with a nod of understanding, “And most likely, it ended up that our Aincrad ended up destroyed and its remains are most likely in the oceans of Spira.”

 

Shinra says, with a nod, “That’s highly likely.”

 

Mimi says, “That’s actually pretty sad.”

 

Kotone asks, curiously, “But who built this Aincrad? And why? Why does it looks like the Aincrad that we know?”

 

Rikku says, “If all that was real, it could have been a coincidence.”

 

Amara says, “A real-life version of a place that was the setting for a ‘death game’? I seriously don’t think so.”

 

Darien says, with a nod, “I agree.”

 

Kazuto says, nodding his head in agreement, “Same here.”

 

Serena gives a yawn and she says, “Maybe we can continue tomorrow.”

 

Asuna says, with a smile, “Yes, I believe all of us are exhausted.”

 

Naruto says, with a nod, “No joke. What an adventure.”

 

Hinata says, with a smile and nod of her head, “I agree, Naruto-kun. Let’s take the rest of the day off.”

 

Tai says, with a nod, “No joke. I think that we are in need of a rest.”

 

Strea says, excitedly, “Okay, I get to sleep with Kirito!”

 

Kazuto gives a yelp of nervousness and Asuna tells Strea, annoyed, “No, you may not young lady!” Strea gives a pout and a few of Kazuto’s other female friends blush for obvious reasons.

 

(Later on)

 

Within the cabin area of the Celsius, our group from Earth are assembled within the cabin where we find Kazuto and Serena is looking down on one of the beds where they find Naruto sleeping with Sakura, Hinata, and Suguha snuggling up to him.

 

Serena asks Kazuto, a bit nervously, “And Suguha sleepwalked to Naruto?”

 

Kazuto says, with a nervous tone and nod of his head, “Yep.”

 

Rika comes over and she says, slyly, “It looks like someone is worried that someone else might become his sister’s new ‘big brother’.”

 

Kazuto asks, with a blush in his cheeks, “What?”

 

Rika says, with a sly grin, “Don’t blame her. In our world, he’s famous and not to mention that he has developed quite nicely especially thanks to that ‘super-soldier’ stuff turning him into quite a hunk. Hey, you aren’t bad, but you still have a ways to go.”

 

Kazuto says, annoyed, “Thanks a lot.”

 

Rika says, with a smile, “It isn’t surprising. You did kind of spend two years in a virtual world where you haven’t been using your body and you had to build up your body again.” Rika tells Serena, “We should know.”

 

Serena says, annoyed, “Don’t remind me.”

 

Rika tells Kazuto, with a sly grin, “But it isn’t surprising that she would want to get close to Naruto. I mean, the two of you are so similar.”

 

Kazuto asks Rika, curiously, “Really?”

 

Rika asks Kazuto, with a curious quirk in her eyebrow and a smirk, “Really? Have you read the manga or seen the anime?”

 

Serena says, changing subjects, “Anyway, there are still so many mysteries in this place.”

 

Kazuto says, with a nod, “Agreed.”

 

Rika asks, curiously, “Are you sure that it isn’t just a coincidence?”

 

Kazuto says, “I really don’t think so.” Kazuto looks at Serena and he says, “As much as some of us want it to be, I doubt that this is any coincidence. This Aincrad and SAO have a connection.”

 

Serena gives a solemn look and Darien says, “We will figure this out.”

 

Serena says, with a warm smile, “I know that we will.”

 

(On the meanwhile; on the bridge)

 

On the bridge of the Celsius, Paine is with Shinra as they are looking at a viewscreen.

 

Paine asks Shinra, “Is this what was contained on the sphere?”

 

Shinra says, “Yes.” As we look at the screen that Paine and Shinra are looking at, it is a video clip that seems to show a place that looks exactly like the Town of Beginnings in Aincrad/SAO where there are three groups of people, one group dressed like the Knights of the Blood Oath guild of SAO, another group dressed similar to the Aincrad Liberation Army, and a third group that looks like soldiers/warriors/guards belong to Yevon/New Yevon.

 

Paine asks, “What could this mean?”

 

Shinra says, “That’s a good question.” As Yuna and Rikku come over to see what they are looking at, Paine and Shinra glance at the other sphere and can’t help to wonder what they will see in that one.

 

The End…for now

 

And there we are go. Oh, did you think that this next ‘Spira Stories’ was just going to be another retelling of FFX-2 with our heroes and heroines in it?! Wrong! Something tells me that you didn’t expect this twist coming. What’s the story behind Spira’s Aincrad? Well, you are just going to have to read and find out, everyone! Please read and review and no flames! Later and best wishes, Crossover Fans!