A/N: So here it is, the answers to what you've all been asking: what happens next? You'll get your answers, but that doesn't mean you won't have more questions at the end! Enjoy, and as always, don't forget to R&R, or message me if you have a question or request.

Knights of the New Order

"What now indeed," Obi-Wan replied. "We don't have much to work with in regards to restoring the Jedi."

"But fewer still, we would have, if not for Kirigaya," Yoda said. Turning to the two young adults, the aged Jedi Master spoke to say, "Thank you, I do, for saving the younglings."

"But we didn't save them," Kazuto replied with a slight frown. "Yui and Vaxra did."

"But it was you who taught them," Obi-Wan reminded them. "Without your methods, they likely would have been killed like everyone else at the Temple. Master Yoda is right- we are in your debt."

"No," Asuna said with a shake of her head. "You guys took a gamble when you decided to trust and train us. We just returned the favor. But we're glad that we were able to help, even if only a little bit."

"Humility is a great quality in a Jedi," Obi-Wan said as he turned back to Yoda. "Isn't that right, Master?"

"Mmm…" the little green alien rubbed his chin as he pondered. "Correct, you are, Obi-Wan. Take steps, we must."

"What steps?" Kazuto asked, although he already suspected the answer.

"In light of your efforts and dedication to the Jedi Order, Master Yoda and I have decided to grant you both the title of Jedi Knight," Obi-Wan said.

"Earned it, you have," Yoda added sagely.

"Thank you, Master," Kazuto said as he rose from his seat and bowed deeply to the Jedi Grandmaster. "I'm honored that you would do this for Asuna and me." His wife also stood and bowed until Yoda rapped his stick on the floor, indicating that they could rise.

As they took their seats, Senator Organa finally spoke up. "My apologies," he began. "But I would like to know why you called me here. This seems to be Jedi business, and I am clearly not a Jedi."

"Actually, it was my idea to ask you here," Asuna admitted. "The thing is, the Jedi are going to need a representative in the Senate during the aftermath of this whole thing. Nobody will take our word at face value for what happened. We were declared enemies of the Republic by the Chancellor."

"And you want me to represent you?" Organa asked, skeptical. "I'm just one man among thousands of representatives."

"You were nominated to be the Supreme Chancellor at one point, so you're definitely not a nobody," Asuna replied quickly. "Also, I think Padme will be willing to lend her voice to the Jedi's cause once she recovers from delivering the twins. And I'm sure that you have friends in high places, don't you?"

"I do," Organa admitted. "But nonetheless, what you are asking of me is not going to be easy, even if it is possible."

"No one said that any of this was going to be easy," Obi-Wan said a trifle crankily. He had always hated politics. "You have a Senate to hold together, we have an entire culture to rebuild. Both sounds nearly impossible, but we have to at least try."

Organa subsided at that. When the tasks were compared like that, he had to admit that Kenobi had a very valid point. The consequences of a single day's actions were going to take decades to repair. "Very well," he said in resignation. "You shall have my support, as well as anyone else that will join me in the Senate. We will represent the Jedi and do our best to see that no harm comes to you."

"There's one thing that's still bothering me," Kazuto said with a slight frown. "Where should we move our kids? We can't go back to the Temple on Courascant for a long time, if ever. We need somewhere new to go."

"Now that is something I can easily help you with," Organa interjected before any of the others could speak. "My family owns a small moon called Yavin-4. It's a safe place, and there are several prime locations that could house even a temporary Jedi Temple, or a permanent base if that's what you decide to do in the long run."

The others were surprised at the generous offer. "Thank you, the Jedi do," Yoda said as he bowed his head respectfully to the Senator. "Accept your offer, I think we will." The others nodded their agreement.

"You are welcome, Master Yoda," Organa replied. "Now if you will excuse me, I need to contact a few people to make several arrangements." And he stood up to go.

Once he had left, Kazuto decided to broach a new topic. "So…" he began. "I think in the new Order, there are gonna have to be a few changes. Especially concerning relationships."

Yoda and Obi-Wan exchanged glances before the human knight said, "What did you have in mind?"

"Ban the ban," Kazuto replied simply. "Asuna and I are able to access the Force through our connection to one another even better than most Jedi, except for maybe the Jedi Council. And according to Yui's account, she was able to use the Force in a way that nobody's seen in a thousand years. Doesn't that say something?"

"But look at what happened with Anakin," Obi-Wan countered. "I'm not saying no, but there are obviously huge risks involved in adopting your methods to the entire Order. What happens if someone in the future turns to the dark side because of their feelings?"

Kazuto gave him a flat look and ignited his black lightsaber, aiming it away from everyone to be safe. When they had all looked at it for a good five seconds, he put it away and said, "I use the dark side in some cases, but I'm not evil. Count Dooku was a great Jedi for a long time, but did that stop him from going Sith? The problem isn't the Force- it's the teachings of absolutes."

"Absolutes?" Obi-Wan repeated.

"The idea that you can only have one or the other," Asuna said in defense of her husband. "Everyone has the capacity to become good or evil in their life. But just because we draw on a different power, it doesn't make us necessarily aligned with its source. Many Jedi in the history of the Order have at some point or another been forced to accept the fact that the dark and light sides are intertwined, and can't be separated."

"Look, we're not saying that we should blur the lines between good and evil here or anything like that," Kazuto continued. "Trust us, we know there's a very definite line between the two. But if we can use another method to improve on the one that already existed, maybe we can keep something like this from ever happening again. I mean, you've been trying the same methods for thousands of years, and this is the second time that the Sith nearly killed all the Jedi. Maybe you should try something different, and trust that it'll work out."

"Changing our teaching methods does not guarantee that the Sith will never return," Obi-Wan countered again.

Kazuto rolled his eyes and was about to answer, but Asuna beat him to it. "Look, masters," she said. "What did the prophecy say about Anakin? That he would bring balance, not dominance. Maybe we should try to follow that path by keeping the light and dark sides of the Force in balance instead of one side trying to knock off the other. That's what always starts the fighting- the belief and desire to prove that one is better than the other."

"My relationship with Asuna has helped to uncover the worst parts of myself and deal with them in a good way," Kazuto said now. "There's a balance there. Yes, I have problems, but I know how to deal with them now."

"Besides," Asuna said, "Are you just going to tell our kids that they have to let go of everything that we've been teaching them? They're the future of the Jedi, and they've already started learning other ways than the ones that you would have taught them."

Obi-Wan and Yoda shared another look. Neither one of them wanted to admit it, but since the Kirigaya's students were the only ones to survive Order Sixty-Six at the Temple, it made for a very strong argument. Finally, Yoda said, "Think on this, I must. Speak to an old friend, I shall."

"There is no need," an echoing voice said.

Each of the Jedi except for Yoda all bolted to their feet in surprise. "Where is that coming from?" Kazuto asked as he looked around the room. There was no one else in the room… Was there?

"Do not be alarmed," the voice said. Again, it was impossible to tell where the voice was coming from. "I am here to help you all." A ghostly figure shimmered into view at the end of the table facing the back wall of the room.

"Made progress, you have," Yoda said with a respectful bow to the figure. Even sitting, the phantom was obviously tall, with massive shoulders and long brown hair. His face was strong, yet kind, and etched with wisdom and sadness in equal measures.

Kazuto looked over at Obi-Wan, who had dropped back into his seat. The older knight gasped out, "Master… Is that really you?"

"It is good to see you, Obi-Wan," the ghost smiled. "I am indeed Qui-Gon Jinn."

"How…?"

"Originally, I had not thought it possible to appear in this form," Qui-Gon replied. "But with balance restored to the Force, I can now speak with those that have a high sensitivity to the Force. Obviously, all of you can see me."

"I'm sorry, who are you?" Asuna was the one to ask the question. The name seemed familiar to her, but…

"Master Obi-Wan's teacher, he was," Yoda reminded the female Jedi. "Fell, he did, doing battle with the Sith Apprentice on Naboo. Since then, worked hard he has, to reach me from the realm of the Force."

"Whoa," was all Kazuto could say at first. But then he added, "So you're like a ghost… through the Force?"

"Essentially, yes," Qui-Gon nodded. "And you might be interested to know that it was me that summoned you here."

"What?!" Asuna and Kazuto cried at the same time. Even Yoda's ears perked up in surprise as he heard this.

"Master…" Obi-Wan said. "Why did you summon them? How did you get them here?"

"The Force does not just exist in this galaxy, Obi-Wan," his old master replied with a slight smile. "It exists in their world, too. However, its presence is much weaker there, and it was only because Kirito attempted to temporarily warp reality that those of us in communion with the Force were able to influence that event to bring them here."

"You…" Kazuto was no less than shocked. "So my machine was perfect, wasn't it? You interfered with something to make it not only transfer Yui from the virtual world into reality, you altered its function to transfer us here."

Qui-Gon nodded sagely and said, "As I said before, I and the others joined in the Force brought you here. We knew that if we allowed events to run their natural course, things would turn out all right in the end, but at a much greater cost."

"What do you mean?" Asuna asked with a slight frown.

"We predicted that Master Yoda would not have been able to stop the Sith Lord on his own, for a start," Qui-Gon replied. "The Dark Side had grown too much for even him to defeat Sidious on his own. And Obi-Wan would have never been able to bring himself to finish off Darth Vader the way you did, Kirito. The Sith would have been wounded, but they would still be able to make a recovery, and their empire would rule for a long, long time. Not to mention, the Jedi would have been even more endangered had Yui not helped to save her classmates."

"How could you know all of that?" Obi-Wan queried.

"As I said, we predicted things, based on what we knew of you and how the balance of the Force was shifting," the ghost answered. "And we acted as best we could."

"In your debt, we are," Yoda said.

"Master Qui-Gon," Kazuto asked nervously. "Have you met a boy named Vaxra, by any chance? He was a student of ours, and a close friend of Yui's."

To the Kirigaya's surprise, he nodded again. "He was one of the few able to retain his identity easily while in the midst of the Force," Qui-Gon said. "He is a very smart boy and he wanted me to tell you that he wishes you well, if I were to ever meet you."

"Tell him that we love him when you go back," Asuna said as a few tears dripped from her eyes. "And that we miss him already."

"I will," Qui-Gon promised. "Now, are you ready to return?"

"Return?" Kazuto asked. "What do you mean?"

"I can take you back home, now that balance has been restored to the Force," the old Jedi said. "I don't know how much longer this opportunity will last though, so I suggest that you make your decision quickly."

Kazuto and Asuna shared a look that exchanged their thoughts without words. Just a few moments ago, they had been talking about how they wouldhelp the Jedi, as if they would never go home. Now here was their chance to return, and the question was, should they take it?

The answer was obvious. "We're not leaving without Yui," Kirito said firmly. Even though there were things to be done here, there were people back home that needed them, too. They couldn't just leave them behind forever.

"I don't expect you to," Qui-Gon said. "Go on and fetch her, and then I shall take you home." Kazuto looked at Asuna, who nodded and left the room quickly.

Turning back to the Jedi, Kazuto felt it hit home that he was about to leave everyone that he had come to call friend over the last few years. "I guess… this is good-bye," he said, the words tasting bitter.

"There is no loss, there is only remembrance," Yoda replied, though his ears did droop a little. "Always be with you, we shall."

Obi-Wan stood up to face the young man that he had almost come to look upon as a nephew figure and felt the pain of loss once more. "First Anakin, and now you?" he said with a sad smile. "Who is supposed to help us teach the next generation of Jedi?"

"You've got Ahsoka helping you," Kazuto answered in kind. "And I bet that there's more Jedi out there that survived the massacre. You just need to find 'em."

"It would be easier with Asuna and Yui here," Obi-Wan replied. "And you'd be the best fencing teacher in the galaxy."

"That sounds tempting," Kazuto admitted. "But we all have people waiting on us to get home. We have families and friends that have probably been looking for us for years now. I wish we could stay, but… I'm gonna miss you, Obi-Wan."

"And just after we promoted you to Jedi Knights." The older human sighed as he made a weak stab at humor. Then he embraced Kazuto firmly, and the Black Swordsman returned the favor. When they parted, Kazuto unclipped his lightsabers from his belt.

"Here," he said as he handed them to Obi-Wan. "We probably can't take these with us, and I'd rather you hang on to them, or give them to any new Jedi that you recruit."

"Very well," Obi-Wan nodded as he accepted the hilts of Kirito's swords. "I promise that I will take care of them until someone capable of using them properly can be found to use them."

"I appreciate that," Kazuto said with a smile. Just then, Asuna came back in, followed by Yui, Ahsoka, and the rest of the class. He grabbed Yui up in hug as he said to the class, "I guess Asuna already told you, huh?"

"Yes," Skai'li replied. "Do you really have to leave, Master Kirito? Will we never see you again?"

"Remember what the Jedi are taught?" Asuna said with a sad smile on her face. "Rejoice when those you care for are gone, because they have become a part of the Force. We'll always be there when you need us most, okay?"

"Yes, Master," the youngling said, tears beginning to fall, and her chin quivering. Asuna knelt down and hugged the girl, followed by Yui and Kazuto. Soon, the whole class was gathered in a large embrace.

Almost unconsciously, they reached out to the Force together, one last time. And in the moment that they did, each one swore that they could feel Vaxra's presence in the group hug. Then they separated, and the feeling was gone. Nonetheless, every one of the younglings now had a smile on their faces, as did the Kirigaya's.

"Tell Padme we're sorry that we couldn't stick around to be the doting aunt and uncle," Asuna said as she embraced Ahsoka. "And take care of our kids for us, okay?"

"You know I will," Ahsoka replied with a snarky grin. "I'll make them into some of the best Jedi in the history of Jedi."

Yui and Asuna placed the lightsabers that they carried on the table, next to Kirito's where Obi-Wan had put them. "Good-bye, Masters," Yui said as she waved at Yoda and Obi-Wan.

"Good-bye, Yui," Yoda said. "Miss you, we will."

"Do well in your world, Yui," Obi-Wan said as he waved slightly in return. "I'm very proud of you."

Sensing that the gathering had said its final good-byes, Qui-Gon rose from the chair he had sat in and made a slight gesture with his hand as he faced the wall. A shimmering gate that almost appeared to be made out of water appeared that covered the entire white wall. "You will enter your world exactly where you left it," he said. "Go now, and may the Force be with you."

Asuna was the first to step through the gate, smiling at her class as she walked out. Yui followed her, waving to everyone one last time as she left the galaxy. Only Kazuto hesitated before he stepped through.

Turning around, he looked at Yoda and Obi-Wan to ask, "Will you guys be alright? I know we wanted to help you rebuild and all, but-"

"Worry not, Kirito," Yoda said with a slow shake of his head. "Honor your wishes and your memory, we will."

"You've done a great deal for us, Kirito," Obi-Wan added. "We'll never forget you, nor will any Jedi. Good luck, and good-bye."

Kazuto looked at his students one last time. "May the Force be with you, Knights of the New Order," he said with a proud smile. Then he stepped through the pathway that would lead him home. As soon as he did, he closed his eyes and felt the Force envelop him, carrying him to the place he wanted to be.

"Farewell, Master," he heard Vaxra say.

"See you around, Kirito," Anakin laughed.

Before you all start panicking and/or crying, no, this is not the end. I still have two more chapter to go, and then the story will be over.

In the meantime, I have a poll running on my profile where you guys get to vote on what crossover I do next! Currently in the lead is Fairy Tail and the Inheritance Cycle! If you want to make sure that it stays that way, or changes to a different category, I suggest you go to my profile cast your vote!

Also,I am proud to announce that my very own novel is now available in both paperback and e-book formats! Again, check out my profile for details. And for those of you that already bought a copy, you might be interested to know that enough copies were sold for amazon to briefly go out of stock, which both surprised and wowed me! Thank you so much!

I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and I'll see you all next time!