Equis Art Online II

As Syrt threw his punch, Kirito flew up into the air, and slash twice with his swords. The slashes cut a small amount of HP off the King's Health Bars. Klein rushed up from behind and cut a heavy gash on the King's back. The King spun and punched Klein, sending him hurtling into a pillar.

"Asuna!" Kirito yelled, and she chanted a healing Spell. As the green particles covered him, he sighed and stood back up. Aries took this moment to charge, and as he attempted Wind's Edict, the King grabbed his leg and threw him hard, sending him into a massive pile of treasure and gold that was one of several that dotted the room. Aries watched as his parrying blade, Avenger, dropped to zero durability, causing it to be destroyed. He gasped in shock and sadness as he was thrown into the pile, sending gold everywhere.

"Aries!" Leafa cried.

Aries groaned and tried to stand up, only to have red electricity crackle over him, and a message appeared.

The Black Arts incapacitate you! 3:00

As the timer began to count down, he called out.

"I'm out for three minutes! Stall him!"

"Got it!" Leafa cried, charging. Triggering a sword skill, she slashed several times up Syrt's leg, causing him to roar. The HP bars dropped by a good amount, though he still had six remaining.

"Damn!" Klein swore, flying over next to Kirito.

"I know. How are we supposed to beat this guy?"

The King roared and spread his hands out, and two black and white balls of energy appeared, and he prepared to smash them together. Yui then cried out.

"DOXOLGY ATTACK IN THREE!"

"TWO!"

"ONE!"

"ZERO!"

The King slammed his hands together, causing a black shockwave to blast towards the group. It hit hard, and as the group was thrown backwards, they toppled and fell to the ground. Each player checked their health bars. Each was at an even 50% .

"We take another one of those, and we're screwed." Sinon said, drinking a health potion.

"Yeah." Kirito said, then Alice rushed forward, drawing her sword. She leaped into the air, thrusting several times at the King's forehead. He groaned as he was sent to the ground. She growled in anticipation as the King stood back up.

"I'll cover you! Get your HP back up!" she yelled, taking the liberty of slashing more at the boss. Kirito nodded and motioned to the group. As health potions were drunk and HP was restored, Alice continued to play cat-and-mouse with Syrt, whose HP bars were decreasing at a slow but steady rate. Soon, he roared again and leaped backward to throw a second flurry of punches. As Kirito and the group, now fully healed, charged again at Syrt, suddenly, Aries burst out of the gold pile, clutching a shield made from some kind of bone. As The King threw a punch straight at Aries, he raised the shield, and a fiery vortex appeared, and the punch was deflected. Aries motioned to Leafa, and the two of them led the charge. As they attacked Syrt, now on one knee, with two HP bars remaining, he suddenly roared and leaped back, and spread his arms out. Yui then cried out from her perch on Asuna's shoulder.

"Obliteration attack coming up! If this one lands, we all die!" She cried, and Kirito charged, his swords held high. Then, a blur sped past him. Alice leaped up into the face of the purple-black orb and thrusted deep with her Blue Rose Longsword. The thrust punctured the orb of energy, causing a tremendous explosion, throwing Alice down with a sickening crunch. As Syrt collapsed, he groaned and fell to his knees, his last vestige of health depleted.

"So...you defeated me...the King of the Flame Giants...be proud, fairy warriors. Be proud of your victory..." he said, before he disintegrated. As the red clouds that coated the skies of Muspelheim began to turn white and disappear, Kirito sighed and rushed over to Alice, who was standing up shakily.

"You okay?" Kirito asked, and Alice nodded. As the group checked the loot they had received, Kirito looked around to see kicking the ground.

"What's up?" Kirito asked, and Aries sighed.

"My parrying blade broke. The one I've had since I first started in ALO. It's gone." Aries said.

"Then allow me to compensate you."

Aries turned to Vilja, who was holding a small blue-red ball of flame. She took Aries's shield, and threw it to the ground, and she set it on fire. Aries gasped, but Vilja held up her hand. As the flames extinguished, they gasped. The shield had been transformed. Instead of a dull blackish brown, it was tan and silver, with a large skull, similar to that of a dragon's, in the middle. Three red feathers adorned the skull, and it had a small ring of smoldering flames covering the edge of the shield. Vilja picked it up, and offered it to Aries.

"What is that?" Aries asked.

"The Ashbane Crest." Vilja said. "Father once slew a flame dragon, or wyrm, that was threatening the castle, and he claimed one of its scales and its bones. From it, he forged this shield. It belongs to you now."

Aries checked the shield, and equipped it. As the group smiled, Vilja cleared her throat.

"I believe we have come to a parting of the ways. Return to Alfheim and rejoice in your victory. The flame giants there should be departing. Muspelheim is now open to you." Vilja said, walking away. As the group bumped fists and shared high-fives, they teleported back to the surface.

=====================

One hour later

=====================

Back at the cabin on Floor 22 of New Aincrad, the group, along with Eugene, Sakuya, Alicia Rue, Recon, and the Sleeping Knights, with a recently arrived Shouzou (he had logged out before the raid) were having a fun time telling stories and swapping loot. Asuna and Kirito were on the sofa with Yuuki and Alice. As the others conversed, Asuna checked the time.

"It's getting late, Asuna." Shozou said. "We should head home."

"Okay, dad." Asuna said.

"I'll call you later, Asuna. Okay?" Kirito asked.

"Sure."

As the two of them logged out, Kirito sighed.

===================================

Asuna woke up blinking to her bedroom. As she changed into a t-shirt and some shorts, she began to walk downstairs. When she entered the dining room, she was surprised to see her mom, Kyouko, already sitting down.

"Hey, mom." Asuna said.

"Evening. Asuna? May I ask you a question?" Kyouko said, and Asuna gulped.

"Yeah. What is it?"

"It's your grades. I have a question about them."

Asuna gulped again. Suddenly, her mom smiled, and began to chuckle slightly.

"Sorry, the tension is killing me." she said, smiling.

"Mom?" Is something the matter?" Asuna said.

"Well, when we made that promise of yours, I decided to check your grades, since I haven't had the time to do that in a while, and I was fairly surprised at the results. Your grades have gone up by at least five percent in every category." Kyouko said. "And I noticed that you have been playing that...game of yours quite frequently, so I thought you could have..."

"Mom, I didn't cheat on anything." Asuna said. "But...You know how I've been rushing upstairs after dinner?"

"Yes?" Kyouko said, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, ever since we talked that night, I sort of felt I wasn't holding up to my end of the deal...so I asked my teachers if I could work on anything extra to bring my grades up. So, my teachers sent me a few things via email, and I've been doing them in ALO in my spare time, and when I have time, I've been doing them here as well. I got seven total, and I've been working on one a day for a week. I just barely finished by the deadline I set for myself last night." Asuna said, sighing.

Kyouko smiled slightly, and walked over, and she stood next to Asuna's chair.

"Asuna...I'm impressed."

Asuna gasped slightly.

"I've never seen so much initiative out of you before. Doing all that in secret, with all that hard work...I'm proud. Very proud. I would've helped you, had you been willing to ask." Kyouko said.

"You've been so busy lately, I didn't want to bother you." Asuna admitted.

"Either way, I'm very proud of you." Kyouko said.

"Thanks, mom." Asuna said.

"One more thing." Kyouko said.

"What?"

"Dinner. Six. Will he be there?" Kyouko asked. Asuna nodded, realizing what she was saying.

"I'll call."

"Fine."

As the two of them sat down, Asuna suddenly giggled, then she began to laugh, which made Kyouko smile, then chuckle as well. As they sat down and laughed, Shouzou watched from the doorway. He smiled, and sighed, and he shut the door gently.

"I'm not gonna ruin the moment." he said, and he turned back to the stove.

=============================================================

"Hey, Kirito!"

"Hey, Asuna, what's up?'

"My mom's taking us out to dinner on Friday at six, and she wants you with us. She.well..."

"Well..what?"

"Want's to get to know you." Asuna said.

"Well, I'm free pretty much the whole day, so I could pop over around five or so."

"Great. See you soon."

"Love you. Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

==================================================================

Three days later

=================================================================

Asuna spun around, her dress spinning with her. It was cream colored, with a small brooch  and a ivory chemise, with a medium skirt. She smiled, tucked her phone into her pocket, and walked downstairs. Shouzou and Kyouko, who were both wearing suits, were sitting in the family room. Asuna walked in, and sat down.

"You look great, Asuna." Shouzou said, and Asuna blushed.

"I have to look nice. Besides, this dress kinda brings back memories." Asuna said.

"Of Sword Art Online?" Shouzou asked.

"Yeah."

Then, they heard a car drive up, and they heard three knocks on the door. Asuna opened it to reveal Kazuto, in a suit.

"I didn't know you had a suit." Asuna said.

"I have to impress." Kirito said, kissing Asuna's hand, which made her blush. As they walked in, he and Shouzou shook hands.

"Good to see you again, Kazuto."

"Hey, Mr. Yuuki."

"You're being a bit formal." he said.

"Just trying to be fancy, you know? It's not exactly one of my best strengths." Kazuto said.

"Well, you do look dashing. It's almost time. We should get going." Shozou said, and as they entered the car, the moon rose into the sky.