Equis Art Online II

As the group sat themselves down, Twilight looked over at Kirito. His once warm face was showing signs of being tired.

"He seems a bit more...on edge." she thought.

"Hey Twi. I think we should probably update you on what's happened in our world."

"Go ahead."

"I almost died."

"Get outta here!" Twilight said, shocked. "What do you mean? Like, were you attacked or something like that?"

"Yeah. Here's what happened..."

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"And that pretty much wraps that up."

Twilight was saddened greatly.

"I should have been there for you..."

"It's fine, Twi. I'm over it. Kikuoka agreed to reimburse my folks for what happened, plus Kanamoto's now in prison. So, everything worked out."

"Okay. Let me tell you about what's happened since you left Equestria..."

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"And THAT'S what's happened."

"So Twi, you time traveled?" Klein asked.

"Yep."

"Again?" Klein added.

"Yep."

"Well, that settles it. I'm done with reality."

Agil laughed out loud.

"It's not funny, Agil." Klein said.

"It kinda is, Klein." Sinon said, chuckling herself.

"Not you too, Sinon?" Klein said miserably.

Kirito sighed as Asuna placed her head on his shoulder.

"Anything new recently, Twi?"

"Just a few dozen letters from Prince Blueblood." Twi said.

"About what?" Silica said. "What could that idiot want with you?"

"He wants..."

"What?" Everyone else asked.

"A date." Twilight said, exasperated.

"WHAT????" Everyone in the group yelled.

"Yeah. For the last TWO WEEKS I've gotten letters from him daily. They're all asking for the same thing. A dinner date in Canterlot."

"Why?" Aries asked flatly.

"Because we're both nobility, and we are on opposing sides."

"Of what?" Leafa asked.

Twilight took a breath. "Ever since what happened at the gala became public, at lot of ponies are hailing you all as heroes. Even a good amount of the nobility. Blueblood leads a group of ponies, all nobles, that claim you were all dangerous and should've been treated as such. They're not very popular, so I think Blueblood is trying to bridge that gap."

"So, it's politically motivated?" Aries asked.

"Yeah."

"Well, I have an idea." Aries asked.

"What?"

"You go on this date. Before you sputter and object, I'll be with you."

"How?" Twilight said.

"Simple."

Aries then pulled up his hood, and chanted a strange spell.

"Ek. Sterra. Vani. Heril."

Aries vanished from sight, leaving a faint outline of himself where he was standing.

"Impressive." Agil said.

"It's called Vanish into Night. High-level llusion spell. Renders caster and party, if wanted, nearly invisible. One drawback. It has a limited duration. It has to be recast, with an increasing MP cost, each time. Mainly used to sneak past monsters in New Aincrad, but I think with this, I can be your invisible guardian." Aries said, reappearing.

"Sweet." Twilight said.

"Also, I picked up a new skill."

Aries drew and threw a knife straight across the room. As he walked to retrieve it, Yui applauded.

"What's up, Yui?"Asuna asked,

"It's one of the hidden skills that was brought to ALO while you were in Underworld, Daddy. Apart from a few new sword skills, a few player skills were added. One of them was Knife throwing."

"Cool." Kirito said.

Aries sheathed his knife and walked back over to Leafa.

"So, Twi, you gonna write that letter to that complete-jerk-of-a-prince?" Sinon asked. "It is rude to not reply to letters regardless."

"Might as well."

As the group walked upstairs, Twilight sat down at her desk.

Dear Prince Blueblood,

I have received your...many letters. Though I know what you are like, and how you acted towards my friend Rarity, I accept your offer, but JUST. THIS. ONCE. And I do have a few conditions, which follow.

I will be bringing a guardian for my own personal protection. He will only intervene if there is a threat, direct, indirect, or any whatsoever, on me.

I expect to not hear ANY of your opinions on my guests, who you know as the Fairies of ALfheim, led by the Black Swordsman, Kirito. (Yes, he and his group are here again, and I am lodging them. They are pretty friendly once you get to know them, though.)

I expect clean and thoughtful conversation from you, and I daresay you expect the same from one who (Through the Titles of Nobility law of 1695) technically outranks you in status.

I await the date from you, and I do expect you to behave yourself, for I will not hesitate to leave if either I feel or my guardian advises it is necessary.

Princess Twilight Sparkle.

Twilight sealed the envelope and placed in in her mailbox.

"This in gonna be a tough one." she said to herself, before she walked upstairs to rejoin her guests.

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