Equis Art Online

Aries roared in anger and charged at Heathcliff, ready to impale him. Heathcliff blocked the thrust with his shield and slashed. Aries dodged whilst slashing wildly. Heathcliff blocked or parried all of them. Heathcliff smiled and blocked another thrust.

"Your brother died an honorable death, Aries. You might have known that."

"How should I have known? YOU TRAPPED HIM!" Aries roared, while he slashed like a caged tiger. Heathcliff shrugged and blocked the blow, while he thrust with his sword. Aries dodged, and leaped into the air. Jumping off Heathcliff's shield, he launched into Wind's Edict. He launched the final blow, and there was a blast of dust. Then, the group gasped. Heathcliff had blocked the final blow. Aries's sword was firmly set into the shield. Aries growled and drew his parrying blade. Swinging it right at Heathcliff's neck. Heathcliff dodged and nimbly impaled Aries. Aries screamed in pain and kicked himself off the end of the blade. He growled in pain, and he opened his inventory. He summoned a machete-like sword and charged. Heathcliff raised his shield, anticipating the blow. Aries grinned and performed a backflip, grabbing his longsword out of Heathcliff's shield. Leaping up and over, he slashed with two swords. Heathcliff spun on a dime and blocked the blow. Kirito gasped.

"What's up?" Sinon asked."And what was that move?"

"Holy Sword. The most powerful system skill in SAO. Impenetrable defense, powerrful offense. How'd he get that?" Kirito replied, stunned.

Sinon gasped quietly and turned to watch the fight. Aries continued to gouge, slash, and cut, with all blows being blocked by Heathcliff's defense. Suddenly, Heathcliff bashed his shield into Aries, throwing him to the ground. Before Aries could get up, Heathcliff's blade was at his throat. Aries nodded, conceding defeat.

"You fought well. Almost as well as your brother in his final moments." Heathcliff said, switching back to his Kayaba avatar.

"My brother abandoned us. You don't know SHIT!" Aries roared, while Leafa helped him up.

"I can show you that I do know. System Login. ID Heathcliff." Kayaba replied, and a screen appeared.

LOGIN ACCEPTED>

"Play final moments. Avatar Name-Leonidas"

A video screen appeared. Several SAO players were battling a huge dragon-like boss. Leading them was a player in a blue coat, with messy blonde hair. Aries gasped silently at the sight of his brother's avatar. As the clip progressed, players were dying or being critically wounded. Then, Leonidas spoke.

"Go! I'll hold him off!"

"No man! We all need to survive! Besides, you're our leader!"

"Not anymore. Liedus, you're leader now. Get out of here. I don't care if I die. GO! While the going's good!" Leonidas shrugged and continued to slash at the dragon. As the other players fled with the wounded, Leonidas stood alone. The dragon roared and raised a clawed fist. Leonidas shrugged and spread out his arms, accepting his death. As the fist descended, he spoke again.

"Bro, you made me proud. We'll see each other again. Take care of mom and the family! I believed in you!..."

The rest of his words were silenced by the fist crushing him, ending his avatar and his life. Aries by this time was crying, his face streaked with tears. The blue-green particles came up and out from under the boss's fist. As the clip ended and the screen disappeared, Aries was sobbing.

"Aries.." Leafa said, close to crying herself. Twilight and the rest of the ponies bowed their heads in silence, and so did Kayaba. Aries wiped away his tears and stood up, his face stained with regret and remorse.

"He...really was a hero..." Aries said, collapsing. Leafa sat down and hugged him, while the rest of the group looked on. Kayaba looked to the heavens and smiled.

"I think that this is where it should end. System Command. Bring up the quest status for Eqigard DLC-01."

A screen popped up in front of each player, displaying text.

THE MAIN QUESTLINE HAS BEEN COMPLETED

ITEMS RECEIVED IN DLC-01 WORLDSPACE HAVE BEEN DELETED.

ACCEPT FOR QUEST REWARDS

Kirito and the others did so, and a rewards screen popped up. Accepting the loot, Kirito walked over to Aries, who was helped up by Leafa. Kayaba smiled at them.

"You brought my dying theory to life. I hold you in great regard for that."

All eyes turned to Kayaba, who shrugged.

"My dying wish was to go to other worlds. Other dimensions. To see what was in store. With your help, I succeeded. With the power of Equestrian magic and Human technology, I was able to make this. The DimGear."

He produced a helmet similar to a NervGear rig, and he walked over to Twilight, who accepted it gingerly.

"This will allow you to visit ALfheim Online, and the human real world. When you first log in, you will be given an avatar based on your likeness. I do hope you use it well."

"Thanks."

"Kirito, Asuna, Aries, one last thing. I have a few things for you. For Asuna, an old friend, and some advice."

A item summon appeared in front of Asuna, and a glorious blue rapier floated down. Asuna gasped and took it.

"Wind Fleuret." she said quietly. Kayaba walked over, and whispered a few things in her ear. He stepped back, and Asuna smiled greatly.

"For Kirito, a piece of my good will."

A second Item summon appeared, and a small black armband appeared, inscribed with the image of Elucidiator and Dark Repulser.

"Eludiciator's grasp. This charm boosts your skills by a considerable amount."

"And for Aries, my thanks. Your brother showed me that humans, when trapped, will still reach out. I thank you a great amount. But, there is one more thing you must receive."

Kayaba drew a sword with a brilliant forest-green blade. Shaped like a claymore, it had a brilliant ebony grip. Aries took it, and looke at Kayaba.

"Your brother's blade from Sword Art Online. I do hope you wield it in his memory."

"I will. Bet on it." Aries said, smiling.

"I best get going. This portal shall take you back to Lisbeth's shop. There, I do hope you remember your time here fondly. But do remember, as this is a beta test, there are still more things to come." Kayab said cryptically, and a brilliant blue portal appeared. As the group said their goodbyes, they smiled. Klein, Silica, Lisbeth, and Sinon walked through. Asuna and Kirito walked through together. Then, just Aries and Leafa remained. As they held hands slowly, they walked through. Then, the portal closed. Twilight turned tearfully to Celestia.

"Will they ever be back?"

"I hope so. I think it's time we "Beta-test" that device Heathcliff gave you."

Twilight nodded and walked out, followed by the rest of the alicorns and her friends and brother.. Returning to the room the players had stayed in, she laid down on the sofa and put on the helmet. Her vision faded to black, and she knew no more of Equestria. Then, she woke up. It was snowing, and she could tell that she was in the human's real world. As she walked towards the house she was in, the door opened, and two black-haired humans, one boy and one girl, walked out, they smiled. Twilight did as well.

"Kirito. Leafa." she said, smiling.

"Hey, Twilight. Took you long enough. Everyone else is already inside." Kazuto said, and as they walked in, Suguha slowly shut the door. Twilight sat down, and she immediately felt welcomed. Then, the door opened, and a small girl in a wheelchair rolled in, accompanied by a human in  a green coat, with the hood up. She was around eight years old, with a pale body. She smiled a Twilight.

"Yuuki..." Twilight said silently.

The boy removed the hood, revealing messy blond hair and a kind smile.

"Aries." Twilight said again. As they sat down, the gathering was soon populated by the sounds of laughter, cheering, and talking that resonated into the night. As the moon rose over the house, a faint voice could be heard, as if from on high.

"Thank you...Kayaba..."