"So this is Legrue." I couldn't believe the sheer amount of mixed fairy races piled up in here. Leafa and Yui had flitted off to find a place to resupply, leaving Kirito and me alone for a few moments.

"So, how do you figure on finding Asuna when we get to the World Tree?" I asked. "I tried sending her a message but the system doesn't have her listed as a member."

He had a frown on his face as he nibbled one of those spicy treats he had. "I'm not sure. I had hoped that she would be able to access basic system commands, but I guess Sugou was too smart for that."

"Would Yui be able to pick up her Player ID?" I asked. "She does have access to quite a few abilities that we don't."

"Maybe if she got close enough," Kirito mused. "But I don't want her doing anything that might alert the system admins. She said this place is based around Cardinal, and Cardinal didn't ctare for her in the SAO days."

I nodded. I couldn't imagine what life in SAO would have been like if Yui hadn't been with us those short months.

"We know she's in the tree," he continued. "So first things first, we need to get to he tree. I'm not sure how long we have left to travel."

"We can be there in about a day," Leafa said as she returned, Yui perched on her shoulder. "Once we leave the Corridor, we can cut across the forests beyond and nothing else on the way hits the altitude cap."

"That's good," I said. "We might be able to find Asuna and save her before anything else goes wrong."

"Speaking of," Leafa said. "I need to log out for a moment. I got a cryptic private message from Recon while we were fighting the Salamanders but he's offline now."

"Go ahead," Kirito said. "I'll see about getting some rooms for the night. I don't know about you, but the speed boost from resting in an inn would be nice."

"I'll say," I nodded. "I'll watch your avatar while you log out. Yui, would you go with your father and make sure he doesn't get into any trouble?"

"Roger that, ma'am!" my diminutive girl saluted me as she went an alighted on Kirito's shoulder.

"So mean," I heard him mutter as he moved off.

"So, Recon," I said, giving Leafa a glance as we sat on a bench. "He didn't strike me as the elusive type."

"No," the blonde Sylph sighed. "He had told me the other day that Sigurd, my party leader, had been acting weird and he wanted to check up on something. Maybe he found out something."

"Well, don't keep the kid waiting," I smiled. "I'll keep an eye out."

She nodded and soon her avatar sagged, eyes closing. I sighed and started skimming through my smithing skills. It wasn't the same as what I had done as SAO, picking an item and hoping the RNG would be on my side. In here, I could pick and choose but there was still a bit of RNG on the stats. The only way I got Kirito's sword to the stats he wanted was to create that huge hunk of steel. My mace wasn't as good, but I wanted those speed and attack buffs.

I flicked through the list, seeing the various stats I could add and wondering just how far I could take the skills if I played this game for real. It might even be enough to help start erasing the scars left by SAO.

Kirito and Yui came back, Yui back in her full sized form and wearing a short cape that swirled around her form.

'Mommy, Mommy! Look at what Daddy got me!"

I smiled as she rushed forward. The joy on her face was intoxicating.

"That looks wonderful, sweetie," I said, brushing a lock of hair from her face. "Did you manage to find an inn while shopping?"

Kirito nodded. "There are two on the far end of the bazaar. Nothing like our cabin, but cozy enough and rather easy on the wallet."

I smiled. "in that case, when Leafa logs back in we should —"

Leafa suddenly surged forward, a frantic look on her face.

"Easy there, whats wrong?" I asked.

"It's Sigurd," she gasped. "He's sold out our leader Sakyua in a bid to be reincarnated as a Salamander!"

"What?" Kirito asked, he voice going dark.

"There was a meeting scheduled to start soon," Leafa explained. "We were making an alliance with the Cait Sith to plan a run on the World Tree. They are going to attack them at the conference!"

"We gotta go!" I said, standing quickly.

"It's no good," Leafa said. "The conference is supposed to start at dawn!"

"We can try." Kirito said, turning and starting down the road at a run, Yui floating along with him. "Do you know where the meeting is taking place?"

"It's along the route, but -"

"Then we might as well try," I said, kicking into a run as well. "I don't like the idea of people being ambushed."

The walls of the city began to draw distant, our booted feet thundering on the stones of the bridge and rock of the tunnel beyond.

"Enemies up ahead!" Yui chimed in from her perch in Kirito's pocket. "Standard spawns!"

Kirito stopped and held out his hands. I smiled and took one in a firm grip.

"Hold on," I said to Leafa.

Rock began to crack and crumble under my husband's boots as he crouched down slightly.

"What do you mean hold AHHHHHHH!"

Kirito sped forward, towing the two of us behind like it was nothing. We sped through the group of monsters, most not even registering to me at the speed we were moving.

"WAHOO!" I heard Yui giggle.

Soon we were all in the open air, the momentum carrying us far enough forward that we had time to sprout our wings.

"What were you trying to do, kill us?" Leafa screamed at Kirito.

"Just saving us time," he replied. "Which way to the meeting?"

Leafa pointed off to one side and we all banked as one, Kirito staying ahead of us. I couldn't see it, but I knew his teeth were clenched in a scowl of determination.