Epilogue

I awoke looking at a white tiled ceiling, I looked around me, and noticed that the same, plain white, was all around. I swiped my hand to open the menu, it didn't open. I tried once more, it still never opened. Am I finally out? I placed both hands on my head, to feel a cold metallic surface. The NerveGear. I was back in the real world. I took off my NerveGear, and noticed the hospital gown sitting in a chair next to me. Realizing I wasn't wearing anything, I got up to put on the gown, and noticed just how weak my body really was. Even the simplest movement was getting out of bed, seemed like it took all my energy, however I got up, and donned myself in the gown.

Once I had the gown on, I sat down in the chair next to the bed. I was way too weak to do anything, that's when I heard the door open. "It's true! This one's back as well!" I guess they were talking about the game.

"Excuse me? Are Sarah, and Ashley here?" I asked the nurse.

"Why yes, and they both asked for you too! Here, I'll take you there." She helped me into a wheelchair and wheeled me over to where my friends were waiting. They looked so different, but it really was them. I was so happy I started to cry.

It's been a month since the death game was cleared. We've all been in rehabilitation in order to strengthen muscles that have been neglected for over two years. Today, I could finally be on my feet, but I couldn't run just yet.

"Jace! I can't believe we're walking now! Ashley smiled. "Hey, Sarah! Slow down!" I noticed Sarah trying her best to fast walk towards me. I decided to walk towards her to help.

"Did you hear?" Sarah had asked after giving me a kiss and wrapping her arms around me. "They built a school for the people who were trapped in the game!"

"Yeah! I did hear about that! I honestly can't wait. Not only are we going to school again, but it's with the people we fought with for over two years."

Sarah just smiles. "I can't wait either."

The days rolled to weeks, and it was my first Christmas back in the real world. By this time, I could move my body completely, and was cuddling with my love.

Something changed between all of us. After we were completely recovered, we all became more confident with not only each other, but with other people. Sarah, who would always cling to me whenever in the presence of another person, is now the first to greet and start a conversation. Even Ashley, who was ashamed of being a gamer, was showing off to a couple of guys on how amazing she was. I think, that they had merged with the characters they were for those long two years.

No, they were them all along, but only now are they showing it.

It was January now, the start of the new year. We all started attending classes, and I saw my old friends in a different perspective, yet something was odd. I met Kirito (Kazuto) but he wasn't with Asuna. I had asked him about it, but he just shrugged his shoulders. I walked out of the classroom and saw Ashley with a member of the technology club.

"Anyway..." the boy stammered. "I was wondering if you'd like to go out somewhere?" I just stood and watched. I didn't want to say anything, yet I was afraid that if I moved, she'd notice.

Ashley smiled. "Sure! But in one condition."

She leaned in, inches away from the boy, who began to sweat and gulped. "Y-yes?" The boy responded.

"I don't want anything too expensive or too fancy, and we're playing a game afterwards." She smiles backing up from his face. To see her so forward is surprising. I let out a small chuckle.

"O-of course!" The boy smiled. "So... I'll pick you up at six?"

"Sounds good. Until then!" Ashley waved. The boy waved back and walked away smiling.

"To see you so forward is surprising!" I say leaning up against the wall. "You sure made his day!"

"Th-that's pretty embarrassing you know!" She blushes a bit. "Anyway, as much as I loved Mike, I realized that he wants me to be happy..." looks away, her lip quivering. "So that's what I'm trying to do." She takes a deep breath and calms down. "Anyway, see ya later, James!" She walks away, smiling. "Oh, before I forget, we were all suppose to meet up with Agil tonight at the Dicey Cafe. I can't be there tonight for obvious reasons, so you two better be there!" She winked and ran off.

I smile as I head down the halls. Eventually I make it to the bench outside where Sarah was waiting for me. Being dressed in the school uniform instead of her usual clothing is a nice sight. "Yo." She looks up and I wave.

"Ah! James! Come here." She pats the seat next to me, and I sit down. "So, how was your day?" she leans on my shoulder

"It was good. Actually a bit surprising. Ashley has a date tonight."

"Really?!" She was surprised. To be honest, so was I.

"Really." I nodded. "Also, Agil wants us to meet him over at his bar tonight."

"I see... I wonder what it'll be about. *she closes her eyes and relaxes*

It was later that day, and we only had a few minutes before it was time to meet up with Agil. "Gah! Hurry up! It's not like we're going on a date!" I tap my foot.

"I'm going out in public, so I still need to look good, you know!" A very annoyed Sarah replies.

"Yeah, yeah! Excuses excuses..." I look at my watch, then the door, then my watch again.

"Oh? Are you complaining? Then I guess you can make your own lunch tomorrow!" She laughs.

"NO NO! I'm sorry!" She got me. Her cooking is amazing! "Please, take your time!"

"I thought so!" She walks out and kisses me. "Actually I was ready about five minutes ago. I just wanted to see your reaction!" She laughs again.

"But that went too far! You make the best lunches!" I was practically shouting, yet smiling the whole time.

"Oh! I'm sorry!" She says jokingly. "Tell you what, I'll make it up to you tonight!" She kisses me and winks.

"O-oh!" Blushes realizing her intentions. "Y-yeah. That'll do!" If I recall correctly, Sarah's been even more forward after her 18th birthday, which was a few months after mine.

"Anyway! Let's go!" Sarah links her arm in mine and we walk to the Dicey Cafe. The laughing and talking the whole time. Once we reached the door we walked in, the bells rung and Agil greeted us.

"Where's Alexis?" All of us had a hard time calling us by our real names, so we still call each other by our gamertags. Hence why he's Agil.

"She's busy tonight." I stated.

"It's not like her to miss something like this!" He laughs. "Must be important. Anyway doesn't matter. Alexis has informed me that you two were married in SAO." We both nodded. "Well consider this as a late gift to both of you. Alexis helped with most of the cost."

He handed us to golden rings, along with a game. ALFheim online. "What?! Another Full Dive game?!"

"Yes. This uses the new AmuSphere which is uses less power and has much more safety locks in order to prevent the SAO incident from happening again. And the game is the MMO that was released with it."

"All this for us?" Sarah asked.

"Yes. This was all Alexis' idea. She thought you'd like the ability to fly, and the magic capability."

"Magic!" Sarah's eyes gleam. It's true, she LOVED magic. So she was excited for being able to use it again.

"Anyway, that was all. Alexis has her own too, so ask her if you have any problems. Later!" He waved and we left, practically running home.

So Alexis has one too... I couldn't help but remember what she had said. "We're playing a game afterwards" could she have meant this?

"Ready James?" She hooked herself to the AmuSphere.

"Just a second" I looked up at the ceiling. We're diving in another game, huh? I smile. We couldn't have gotten this far without you man. "Rest in peace, Jace." I said quietly to myself as I hook myself up to the AmuSphere. "Link Start!"