When Kazuto Kirigaya, better known as the Black Swordsman Kirito, ventured back into the virtual world of ALO to rescue Asuna, he knew that it would take everything he had in order to rescue her.

And it did. His battle with the Fairy King Oberon has been finished, and Asuna has been logged out, sent back to the Real World.

However, fate is a fickle thing, and often the best laid plans have unforeseen consequences...especially when you deal with the workings of reality itself…

As Kirito watched Yui rest in his arms, he turned his head towards the setting sun. He breathed a sigh of relief. Finally, at long last, Asuna was back in the real world.

"Yui?" he said. "I'm gonna go visit Asuna now, okay?"

"Okay, daddy!" Yui beamed. "I love you!"

As she closed her eyes and leaned against him, he swiped his hand and opened the system menu, now thoroughly filled with normally non-accessible commands. Tapping the "Logout" option, he was surprised to see a system prompt appear in front of him.

Logout confirmed. Additional actions required by admin HEATHCLIFF.

Kirito sighed, realizing that using Kayaba's ID would bring along some unwanted extras. As he opened the prompt, he looked at the selection box.

LAUNCH PROTOCOL: CLEAR-RIVER?

As Kirito tapped "Yes", the menu faded. Then, the world began to shake and thrash around in Kirito's field of view.

"Daddy, what's going on? Everything's moving!" Yui cried. "Grab on! Something's going to happen!"

As Kazuto took hold of Yui, their vision turned dark as the world of Alfheim faded away.

Back in the real world, time began to slow and then stop completely. Cars stopped moving, people stopped walking. It was as if something had stopped the ever-present clock of time in that world.

As Kazuto blinked and forced his eyes open, he saw Yui laying on top of him, her breathing slow and deep. As he gently moved himself up, he eyed his surroundings. He wasn't atop the World Tree anymore, and he certainly wasn't back in the real world, as he and Yui were in an alleyway between buildings.

"Papa?"

Kazuto looked down and saw Yui stirring, before looking at him with wide eyes.

"Where are we?" Kazuto asked.

"I don't know. I can't sense the System anymore." Yui replied. "There's this weird pounding in my chest, though…"

Kazuto put a hand to her chest, and widened his eyes.

"Yui, that's a heartbeat…" he said. "You can't have one, you're an AI…what's happened to us?"

As Yui looked around, she instinctively hugged Kazuto tighter out of fear.

"What do we do now, Daddy?" she asked.

"We get moving." Kazuto said. "And we need to find Asuna while we're at it."

As the two of them exited the alley, a figure watched them from atop a building. With his cat-like gold eyes, Obi eyed the boy and the young girl with curiosity. He had been waiting for Shirayuki to finish shopping for some medicinal herbs currently required at the Palace, and now…

Well, one moment the alleyway was clear, the next the two of them were there.

Obi leaped down and crossed his arms, beginning to follow them.

Up the hill and inside Wistal Palace, First Prince Izana Wisteria was working on his office balcony when he heard a series of rustling sounds from the garden below. As he scanned the area, his eyes immediately locked onto a figure that was slumped over on a hedge.

Throwing his normal sense of etiquette to the wind, and partially taking after his little brother Second Prince Zen, he leaped over the low balcony and landed with a roll, one hand on his sword.

As he approached the figure, he could see it was a girl of sixteen or seventeen, with long brown hair accompanied by a braid. Izana could see she also wore a dress that seemed a little too...revealing. It was light and thin, and Izana immediately reasoned she wasn't from Clarines.

As Izana gently knelt next to the girl, he could see she was unconscious. Draping his jacket over her, he picked her up without stirring her. Part of Izana wanted to call for help, judging by the fact that she was an intruder, but something made him hesitate.

Setting his mind to a plan of action, he set out for the Court Pharmacy, carrying the girl with him.

As Kazuto and Yui sat down on a fountain, the older boy sighed in exhaustion.

"Still no sign of Asuna." he groaned. "How big is this place, anyway?"

Yui slowly moved closed to him, and they closed their eyes.

"Excuse me, are you two okay?"

Kazuto looked to see a girl of his age wearing a hooded set of clothing approach him, carrying a bag with her.

"Well, I can't say we are." Kazuto said. The girl sat down next to him, and raised an eyebrow.

"Why's that?" she asked.

"Well, Yui and I are lost, completely clueless as to where we are, and we're looking for a close friend of ours, but there's no sign of her." Kazuto said. "So, I don't think we're okay right now."

"I see." the girl said. "Maybe I can help."

"I'd appreciate that." Kazuto said.

"Sure thing. I'm Shirayuki." the girl said, smiling.

"Kazuto Kirigaya, that's Yui." Kazuto said. "She's my adopted daughter, before you ask."

"Interesting." Shirayuki said. "Well, I'm not one to judge about parenting, anyway."

"Thanks." Kazuto said.

"Who are you looking for, by the way?" Shirayuki asked.

"Her name's Asuna." Kazuto said. "My age, long brown hair and brown eyes, she'll probably be wearing white. It's a long story as to how I know her, but I can explain once I find her."

Shirayuki nodded.

"Well, you're not alone." she said. "Obi, how long were you watching us?"

Kazuto and Yui saw another boy of about seventeen approach, wearing attire similar to a rogue, leathers and all. His gold, cat-like eyes were fixed on Kazuto and Yui.

"A while." he said. "I've been following them for a bit."

"Of course." Shirayuki said. "So, what now?"

"Well, if we head to the Palace, maybe Master could help." Obi said.

"Right!" Shirayuki said. "Come on, let's go!"

As Kazuto and Yui followed Shirayuki and Obi up the hill, Kazuto asked who Obi was referring to.

"Well, I call him Master since I work for him." Obi said. "Technically, he's…"

"Hey, Shirayuki!"

As the four of them approached a gate manned by two guards, they all saw another boy with white hair leap over the fence. Kazuto saw the guards stiffen and bow instantly at the sight of him.

"Hey, Zen." Shirayuki said. "Glad you caught up with me."

"I did need some exercise." Zen said. "Who are your friends?"

Shirayuki introduced Kazuto and Yui, and explained their situation to Zen, who nodded.

"Well, I think I could get a few patrols out there to search, but it might take a while." Zen said.

"What do you mean by that?" Kazuto asked. "Are you in charge around here, or something?"

"Yes, I am." Zen said. "Zen Wisteria, Second Prince of Clarines. At your service."

Kazuto flinched and looked away.

"Sorry." he murmured.

"Hey, it's fine." Zen said. "Anyway, how exactly…"

"Your Highness."

The group turned to see Lord Haruka approach and bow to Prince Zen.

"What is it, Lord Haruka?" Zen asked.

"First Prince Izana needs you at the Pharmacy." he said. "He found an unconscious girl in the Gardens."

Kazuto and Yui's heart soared as Zen spoke.

"Alright, we're coming." Zen said. "Kazuto, Yui, follow me. They're looking for a friend of theirs, Lord Haruka. I thought I would help."

"Yes, Highness." Haruka replied as he followed the group through Wistal Palace to the Pharmacy, Kazuto and Yui staying close together.

As they arrived, Zen and Shirayuki spoke with Chief Pharmacist Garack Gazelt, a blonde-haired woman with purple eyes and a man who Kazuto reasoned was First Prince Izana.

"Is she stable?" Izana asked.

"For the moment, yes, but she's still asleep." Garrack said. "I still wonder how she managed to get inside."

"So do I." Izana said. "Let's go see her, see if she's awake."

"Right." Zen said as Kiki and Mitsuhide came in. "Let's go."

As Kazuto and Yui, followed by everyone else, were led to a treatment room, Garack opened the door.

And the hearts of both Kazuto and Yui soared.

"Asuna." Kazuto murmured, feeling immense relief at seeing her again. She still wore her dress from ALO, only her ears were normal once again. Now that he mentioned it, Kazuto saw he still wore his black trench coat, only his swords were missing. As they approached, Yui called out.

"Mommy!"

And at that moment, Asuna stirred at Yui's voice. She slowly stood up and opened her eyes, which immediately filled with tears of joy.

"Mommy!'' Yui cried again, leaping into Asuna's waiting arms.

"Yui!" Asuna replied, bringing her close. "Yui…"

As the group from Clarines watched, Kazuto came forward and took Asuna's hand. Her eyes softened at the sight of him, and she smiled.

"Kirito." she said with joy clear in her voice.

"Asuna." he replied, bringing Yui and Asuna close to him. "I'm sorry."

"What are you sorry about?" Asuna asked. "We're alive and well."

"But I couldn't get you home." he replied.

"Stop that." she said, brushing his cheek. "Alive and well, Kirito. That's what matters to me."

"Right." Kazuto said as the two of them leaned against him. "I think we have some explaining to do, though."

"You certainly do." Izana said. "I want to know who you are, where you come from, and how you know each other."

Kazuto nodded, and began to speak.

"You might want to sit down, this might take a while…"

"We have plenty of time." Izana said as everyone took seats in various positions. "So, begin when you are ready."

As Asuna and Kazuto stood up, Kazuto began.

"it began about two years ago, in another world known as Aincrad…"