Yes, I know that it has been around a few months since I updated anything on fanfiction, however, things have been tough IRL. Hopefully, this story will be worth the wait. Now, before I start, I must give thanks and credit to Belletiger and Kanius as well as Kanius' YuYuGiDigiMoon fanfiction series, especially his The Invasion of the Rajita story, for giving me permission to use the idea of Valkyrie Sailor Soldiers and everything that's a part of them in my fanfiction. I would like to give thanks and credit to Kanius and his YuYuGiDigiMoon series, including this author's Dawn of Chaos story, and LazerWulf for giving me permission to use the idea for their version of Sailor Charon, namely the fact that she is Sailor Pluto's sister among other things. I would also like to give thanks and credit to Matty G91 and this author's story of Kamen Rider Lunar for giving me permission to use Kamen Rider Lunar, his looks, and everything about him as well as the UNI-SHOCKER organization as well as the idea of Darth Revan Sammy Tsukino and the other alternate versions of said character.

Now, with that out of the way, as they say on SAO: Link Start!

I DO NOT OWN Sailor Moon, Sword Art Online, Naruto, Accel World, Digimon series, Yu-Gi-Oh R/GX/5Ds/Zexal/Arc-V, Kingdom Hearts, Hyperdimensional Neptunia series, Gundam series, especially Gundam Build Fighters, Dead or Alive, Ninja Gaiden, Mortal Kombat, Akiba's Trip: Undead & Undressed, Maken-Ki, Tenchi Muyo series, Ronin Warriors, Pretty Cure, Queen's Blade/Gate, Dragonball Z/GT, Star Trek series, Star Wars, Log Horizon, Sonic the Hedgehog, DC universe, Marvel universe, Assassin's Creed, Senran Kagura, Sekirei, Monster Musume, Karin/Chibi Vampire, 12 Beast, Stargate series, One Piece, Final Fantasy, Rave Master, Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu, Avatar: The Last Airbender/Legend of Korra, Code Lyoko, Transformers, and anything/anyone that comes from these and other stories that end up in this fanfiction! Sailor Moon is owned/licensed by Naoko Takeuchi and its various studios and publishers, Sword Art Online is owned/licensed by ASCII Media Works, A-1 Pictures Inc., and its various directors/publishers including Reki Kawahara and Tomohiko Itō, Naruto is owned/licensed by Masashi Kishimoto, Yuuto Date, Jump Comics, and Studio Pierrot, Digimon is owned/licensed by Toei Animation and its various directors, including Hiroyuki Kakudo, Yu-Gi-Oh is owned/licensed by Kazuki Takahashi, Toei Animation, and Studio Gallop, Yu-Gi-Oh GX is owned/licensed by Naoyuki Kageyama, Studio Gallop and its various directors, Yu-Gi-Oh 5Ds is owned/licensed by Katsumi Ono and Studio Gallop, and Sword Art Online is owned/licensed by ASCII Media Works, A-1 Pictures Inc., and its various directors/publishers including Reki Kawahara and Tomohiko Itō!

Warning: These stories may and will contain mature level intense violence, blood, gore, death, mild to explicit suggestive themes, including mind-control and brainwashing, mild to explicit bad language, and mature adult themes/situations!

Second Warning: Some to a lot of OOC (Out of Character) actions and mannerisms in these series of stories!

Prelude: A castle of stone and metal floating in the sky that consist of one hundred floors. Within this massive structure, there are countless cities, villages, towns, forests, plains, lakes, and whatever you can imagine. There is only one staircase that connects one floor with another, and these staircases are located within dangerous mazes filled with monsters. The players with navigate through these floors to the top with nothing than the weapons in their hands. And yes, I said players.

This is the world of Aincrad, a floating castle in a virtual sky, and yes, I said VIRTUAL sky. This world and this floating castle world are in a realm made of digital information…the world of Sword Art Online. A world that was supposed to be game, but because a nightmare prison when its creator, Akihiko Kayaba, trapped the ten thousand players within this virtual world and if they die here, they will die in real life. The ten thousand players struggle in this 'game death' to reach the top of the floating castle where the final boss and the key to their freedom waits.

You may know this story and the stories that come after it, but do you know all the stories? All the tales that happened within the floating castle? What about the tales that happened after the floating castle was conquered? There are stories connected to the 'tale' of this floating castle, its 'history', and its 'aftermath', but they weren't told…until now. These are those stories…

Sailor Moon Online: Gaiden

Story 54: Moon Bunny On Her Own

January 25, 2024, Juuban District, Tokyo, Shield's apartment

Within an apartment complex in the Juuban District, we come to the apartment home of one Darien Shield's AKA Tuxedo Mask where said reincarnated Earth prince is in the living room of his apartment home with none other than one Serena Tsukino AKA Sailor Moon, the heroine of Tokyo, sitting down with a cup of tea in her hands while looking towards the window.

Darien asks Serena, "How are you doing Serena?"

Serena responds, with a sigh, "I…I'm not sure, Darien-kun. I'm finally glad Asuna and the others are safe and Sugou is now in jail…"

Darien asks, curiously, "It is about ALO, isn't it?"

Serena says, with a sigh, "Yeah…" Serena looks in a direction of the television where it is on a news channel where the words on the screen say: 'Second VR Incident! Illegal Experiments in ALO Exposed!'

Darien tells Serena, "It isn't surprising that would be big news. After SAO, even though it just ended, caused faith in Full-Dive VR technology to suffer a major blow. Even with the introduction of Amusphere, which had tons of safety features, people were still on edge especially with the nightmare that you were trapped in still happening. With the introduction of ALO, things started to 'calm down', but now, with this 'incident', it might be the demise for VRMMO and Full-Dive technology. Despite the 'safety features' of Amusphere, the fact that someone attempted to create 'mind-control technology' based on Full-Dive VR tech will put new fears into people about their minds being 'altered' while using the technology even if the fears are completely unfounded among others."

Serena says, nodding her head in agreement, "Yeah…" Serena puts the cup of tea down on a nearby table and one of her hands clenches into a fist.

Darien says, "I wish that I could say that things will be all right, Meatball Head…"

Serena responds, interrupting, "I know what you are going to say, Darien-kun. While I think that it isn't fair, it is going to be understandable. VRMMO have been used by selfish people to first to put people though a DEADLY nightmare for about two years in which then they were used to conduct illegal and ABSOUTELY immoral experiments on people. When people hear about such things, their faith in such things basically flatlines. People are going to be afraid…and I don't blame them."

Darien says, "Serena…"

Serena says, with a weak smile, "It was a wonderful dream. However, not all dreams were meant to become reality…or at least, STAY reality." Darien gives a solemn expression at Serena in which Serena then asks, curiously, "By the way, what was that stuff that u-Kayaba gave Kazuto?"

Darien says, "Based on what Ami, Trista, and Kazuto are saying, what Kayaba gave him was a program known as 'The Seed', which is proved to be a COMPLETE VR creation program including a downsized version of the operation system of SAO and ALO."

Serena asks, surprised, "Really?"

Darien says, with a nod, "Yes, Serena. All that you need to create a complete VR world is in there and thanks to the downsized version of the Cardinal System, you won't need massive servers to run them like SAO and ALO. You can run it from multiple small servers, making it much easier and cheaper to operate."

Serena asks, curiously, "Why would he create such a thing?"

Darien says, with a plain tone, "That's a good question."

Serena asks Darien, "How is it looking?"

Darien says, "From what Ami is saying, it seems like this 'Seed' doesn't to have anything that could cause a 'situation' like SAO or ALO. It seems to be 'safe'." Serena goes into deep thought about this in which Darien says, "However, we're going to make absolutely sure that this program is absolutely safe."

Serena says, with a nod of her head, "I understand."

Darien tells Serena, "Anyway, Meatball Head, I'm going to head out. Will you be okay?"

Serena replies, with a warm smile, "To be honest, I'm feeling better than I have been for over the past two years, Darien-kun." Darien warmly smiles at Serena as he goes over to her, kisses her on the lips, and after he releases from the kiss, Darien walks over to the door.

Darien says, with a loving smile, "That makes me feel better, Meatball Head. Just take it easy."

Serena responds, with a loving smile of her own, "I'll try, Darien."

Darien tells Serena, giving a wide grin, "Don't try, Meatball Head. Do or do not. There is no try."

Serena tells Darien, with a sly smirk, "Are you sure that Lucasfilm aren't listening to you and preparing a copyright suite?" Darien gives a Serena a grin as he opens the door and heads outside of his apartment home where he closes and locks the door behind him, leaving Serena alone in the apartment home. Serena thinks in her mind, with a sigh, "Now, I'm by myself. Luna is out to meet with Artemis though I doubt that it is a 'romantic get-together'. While those two do get together and have Diana, it is going to take a LONG time as far as I can see it. The others are also doing their own thing. Kirito…Kazuto needs to be with Asuna. To be honest, I'm glad to be by myself for a bit. It has been a long road. Since we have stopped Sugou and freed the final survivors of SAO, including Asuna, it is finally over. Sword Art Online has finally come to its end…at least to Kazuto and I. Now, Usagi…the 'White Valkyrie' of Sword Art Online can finally rest." An image of her SAO avatar, Usagi, appears in Serena's mind where Serena thinks in her mind, "Now, I can be Serena Tsukino again. Usagi can rest…" Just then the 'image' in her mind shows herself as Serena Tsukino, Sailor Moon, and Usagi, together, and back-to-back in which Serena looks at Usagi causing her to think, solemnly, "Though it doesn't mean that I can just 'discard' her. She is a part of me as being Sailor Moon and Princess Serenity is a part of me. The 'White Valkyrie of SAO' is a part of who I am, now and forever, but I can at least I can allow that part of me to rest for now." The 'image' fades away from her mind where Serena thinks in her mind, with a sigh, "At least for now. Hopefully, 'Usagi' won't be needed for a LONG time to come." Serena takes another sip of tea and tries to relax, but she looks at the television displaying the news report about what happened with ALO causing her to sigh as she thinks about those 'events' as well as what she learned about what Kayaba gave Kazuto. The mysterious 'Seed', a VR creation program which could allow plenty of people to create their own VRMMO worlds, but with the 'damage' that SAO and ALO had caused in people's confidence in Full-Dive VR technology and VRMMO in general, Serena can't see how the genre could survived, however, another 'image' forms in her mind with Serena looking at her SAO avatar of Usagi, both as 'she' looked in SAO and ALO with a view of both VRMMO worlds. However, Serena shakes out of her thoughts and takes a deep sigh where she changes the channel to watch another program. But then the phone rings and she mutes the television to answer the phone in which she answers, "Hello?"

Just then a familiar male voice calls out from the speaker, "Um, White Valkyrie-san?" Serena gives a gasp at her 'SAO moniker' and immediately recognizes the voice.

Serena asks, shocked, "Schmitt-san?"

The male voice responds, with a nervous tone, "Y-Yes, it's me."

Serena asks, surprised, "Schmitt-san, why are you calling here? Hold on! How did you know to get this number?"

The male voice, an SAO survivor whose went by the name of Schmitt in SAO, responded, a bit nervously, "I'm sorry, White Valkyrie-san! I…I didn't know who else to turn to. I thought about the Black Swordsman, Kirito, and the Lightning Flash, but I realized that they couldn't help like they did 'back then' since this is IRL and not SAO! Then I remembered you and what happened at the last fight! I remembered that you are Sailor Moon!"

Serena grimaces at that memory in which she thinks, nervously, "I remember in which Pyro gave me quite a bit of heck about that."

Schmitt says over the phone, his nervous tone still in his voice, "I need your help, White Valkyrie-san!"

Serena tells Schmitt, "Whoa! Calm down, Schmitt-san! I mean…!"

Schmitt tells Serena, nervously, "Just call me by SAO avatar name for now, White Valkyrie-san!"

Serena tells Schmitt, a bit nervously, "In that case, Schmitt-san, please don't call me by my 'title' anymore. Please call me by my SAO avatar name, Usagi."

Schmitt responds, his tone still showing his nervousness, "O-Okay, White…I mean Usagi-san!"

Serena gives a mental sigh and she asks, "What's wrong, Schmitt-san?"

Schmitt yells out, panic evident in his voice, "H-He's gone insane, Usagi-san! Completely insane!"

Serena tells Schmitt, concerned, "Calm down, Schmitt! Whose insane?"

Schmitt responds, fearfully, "It's Grimlock! Grimlock has gone completely insane!" With the name, Serena remembers the events in SAO about the incident that she, Asuna, and Kazuto AKA Kirito found themselves wrapped up in a murder mystery where two players, Yolko and Caynz, faked their own deaths to solve the murder of the leader of the guild that they were a part of before it disbanded due to the death of said leader, who was known as Griselda. Schmitt was part of the same guild, which was known as Golden Apple, where he completely unknowingly part of the murder of Griselda since he was tricked to put a special crystal that allowed a group of criminal players into the inn room that Griselda was staying at, which normally wouldn't happen, and commit the horrible act. It was revealed that it was Griselda's husband, in SAO and real life, Grimlock, was the one that arranged the murder with the use of the criminal players and attempted to take out Yolko, Caynz, and Schmitt to ensure that the secret of Griselda's murder dies with them, by hiring Laughing Coffin, the infamous 'red' guild, to do it, but the intervention of Kirito, Asuna, and Usagi stopped Grimlock's plans in their tracks where after learning about Grimlock's COMPELTELY UNRESONABLE reasoning for arranging the murder of his wife, Yolko, Caynz, and Schmitt 'escorted' Grimlock away where Kirito, Asuna, and Usagi learned they put him in Black Iron Palace's prison area where he remained until Kayaba's final defeat by Serena's/Usagi's hands over two months ago from this point.

Serena asks Schmitt, a bit nervously, "What is Grimlock doing?"

Schmitt responds, fearfully, "He's kidnapped Yolko and Caynz!"

Serena asks, shocked and concerned, "He did what?"

Schmitt replies, fearful tone in his voice still, "That's right, Usagi-san! Grimlock has kidnapped Yolko and Caynz! I was there! I saw Grimlock kidnapping them with help! I need your help!"

Serena asks, curiously, "Schmitt-san, why didn't you go to the police?"

Schmitt responds, fearfully, "They can't handle actual monsters, Usagi-san! Grimlock has allied himself with the youma, the monsters that you and the other Sailor Scouts fight!"

Serena asks, shocked and surprised, "What?!"

Schmitt replies, fearfully, "It's true, Usagi-san! You have to believe me!"

Serena tells Schmitt, in a concerned tone, "Calm down, Schmitt-san! I believe you! What's the point of kidnapping Yolko and Caynz?"

Schmitt yells out, fearfully, "It's insane! Grimlock is preparing to perform some kind of 'occult ritual' and sacrifice Yolko and Caynz to bring Griselda back to life!"

Serena gasps in shock causing her to say, stunned, "I'm sorry, Schmitt…but are you serious?!"

Schmitt retorts, fearfully, "Right? Do you realize how insane that sounds? Usagi-san, I need your help! Yolko and Caynz need your help! They need Sailor Moon and the Sailor Scouts!"

Immediately, Serena starts to instinctively reach for her communicator, but then something stops her causing her to think, "Why…Why am I stopping? Yolko, Caynz, and Schmitt need my help! It isn't that I don't trust Schmitt-san. I know that he is trustworthy and the way that he is talking…there is no way that this is a trick! So, why am I…?" Serena then thinks in her mind, realizing something, "No…it is because that I don't want to be a burden on the others. Not just for the two years that I have been trapped in SAO, but ever since I became Sailor Moon. I'm always the girl that strikes the final blow, but as we, the Sailor Scouts, grew with every one of the girls joining in, they are the ones that take care of fighting while I strike the final blow in which made me the most famous Sailor Scout. They…Darien-kun…" Just then an image of her SAO avatar, Usagi, appears in her mind causing Serena to think, curiously and a bit concerned, "But I could finally allow 'that part' of me to rest at last just several days ago. Do I…?"

Schmitt's voice booms out from the phone, "Usagi-san?! Usagi-san?! Are you there?!" Schmitt's voice immediately snaps Serena out of her thoughts and she shakes her head.

Serena tells Schmitt, "Sorry, Schmitt-san. I…I had to get something." Serena then says, her voice more determined in its tone, "Don't worry, I'll be right over. I need to tell me where you are."

Schmitt responds, nervously, "I'm at a place known as the Fruits Parlor Crown, Usagi-san! Do you know it?!"

Serena replies, with a nod, "Of course, Schmitt-san! It is my favorite place and the owner is a friend of mine! Please stay there and if you see Grimlock…stay out of sight! I'll be there as fast as I can!"

Schmitt responds, nervously, "O-Okay, Usagi-san! But please…please hurry!" Soon enough, the call ends and after putting the phone back in place, Serena removes her broach from her subspace pocket.

Serena thinks in her mind, with a mental sigh, "Darien-kun and the others are going to let me have it especially after the 'stunt' that I pulled by sneaking into ALO after learning about Asuna being trapped and attempting to save her by myself. I know that I shouldn't do such a thing, but if this involves something with SAO…I shouldn't think about such things. I know that I should get the others on this, but I…" Serena shakes her head and she thinks in her mind, "I can't think about that right now. Schmitt, Yolko, and Caynz need help now."

"Moon Eternal Power, Make-up!"

Serena's transformation broach opens, revealing the Silver Crystal, and Serena is engulfed by the glow of the Silver Crystal as her clothing is melted away and replaced by a familiar sailor fuku, wings, and accessories form on her. When her 'transformation' is done, Eternal Sailor Moon 'replaces' Serena and Sailor Moon goes to the windows where she opens up before she flies out of the window doors leading to the short porch. After closing the window doors behind her, Sailor Moon takes off into the skies of Juuban district of Tokyo to meet up with Schmitt.

(Elsewhere in Juuban; A short time soon afterwards)

Within Fruits Parlor Crown, someone that looks like Schmitt, wearing an casual outfit that a sportsman would wear, looking quite nervous as he is sitting down at the corner booth within the café, while the owner of the café, Andrew Furuhata, is watching him with a curious expression though Schmitt can't help to wonder if he is suspicious of him which Schmitt doesn't blame him due to the way that he is acting. But then he sees Andrew answering the phone and after half-a-minute, Schmitt sees Andrew's eyes widen and he then nods his head as he puts down the phone, showing that he has close the line. Schmitt can't help to have a mixture of concern and curiosity, but for about a minute or so, nothing seems to happen as Andrew continues to work. But then the door to the employee area opens in which Schmitt can see none other than Serena in the doorway causing Schmitt's eyes to widen as he remembers what happened in SAO, especially at the final battle between her, Kazuto Kirigaya AKA Kirito, and Heathcliff AKA Akihiko Kayaba, which revealed Serena was Sailor Moon though players, other than Kazuto/Kirito, Asuna, and a few others, didn't even know her SAO avatar name, knowing her only as the 'White Valkyrie', 'White Swordswoman', and such, as well as that she was Kayaba's niece. However, due to whatever 'phenomenon' in SAO, her avatar not being her 'real body' or something like that, Serena's typical 'glamour' as Sailor Moon that kept her facial features 'hidden' from even camera and video as well as 'physical sight' didn't work. So, Schmitt immediately recognizes Serena as Sailor Moon though not knowing her real name.

Needless to say, Schmitt watches Serena walk over to the table that he was sitting at causing him to ask, "Is…?"

Serena responds, with a nod, "It's me, Schmitt-san."

Schmitt asks Serena, curiously and in a whisper, "Where are the other Sailor Scouts?"

Serena, mentally, becomes a bit nervous causing her to reply, trying to not to sound as nervous as she is, "They, along with my boyfriend, are out on important business." Serena thinks in her mind, "Which isn't a lie."

Schmitt asks, in a whisper and concerned, "It is only you?"

Serena thinks in her mind, a bit nervously, "I don't blame Schmitt for being concerned. Based on what the girls told me about the Dark Agency, they have reorganized themselves and gained strength to become as great a threat as the original Negaverse as well as other foes. Maybe this wasn't a good idea." Serena tells Schmitt, with a nod, "Yes, it is only me, Schmitt-san."

Schmitt says, with a sigh, "I guess that I can't complain since you are…"

Serena tells Schmitt, interrupting him with a nervous tone and in a whisper, "Schmitt-san! Not here! You may know, but the whole world doesn't need to know!"

Schmitt responds, a bit nervously with realization in his eyes, "Oops! Sorry, Usagi-san!"

Serena tells Schmitt, "Anyway, we need to talk about what you said over the phone."

Schmitt says, nervously, "Believe me, Usagi-san, I know that it is hard to believe…!"

Serena tells Schmitt, interrupting him, "Sorry for interrupting you, Schmitt-san, but it isn't too hard for me to believe these days ever since we got back from SAO. You've seen it in the news. My enemies…the enemies of the Sailor Scouts have become bolder. When I was trapped with you and the other victims of…Kayaba, the youma stopped 'staying in the shadows' and went 'public' in which the girls were BARELY able to hold on during the past two years that we were trapped 'over there'. Even though I'm back, it has been tough going."

Schmitt asks, surprised, "Really?"

Serena tells Schmitt, with a nod, "And they have been doing things that they haven't done before…at least in their previous 'incarnation'."

Schmitt asks, confused, "Previous incarnation?"

Serena replies, with a plain tone, "It is a long story, Schmitt-san. The 'monsters' that we face currently once belonged to the enemies that I and the Scouts faced in the past. In fact, they were the 'minions' of our first enemies."

Schmitt asks, curiously, "Really?"

Serena tells Schmitt, "Schmitt-san, we don't have the time."

Schmitt responds, nervously upon realization, "O-Oh, right! Right!"

Serena tells Schmitt, "You said that Grimlock has kidnapped Yolko and Caynz in the belief that he could use them revive his wife that he had murdered by hiring criminal players?"

Schmitt responds, nodding his head, "Yes, Usagi-san! As I said, he has gone TOTALLY INSANE!"

Serena tells Schmitt, "Please calm down, Schmitt-san. Tell me what happened."

Schmitt replies, with a nod, "Yes…R-Right. Okay, here is what happened. I was taking a walk through the city when I heard Yolko's and Caynz's voices. They were screaming in panic and fear! When I went over to where I heard them, I saw them…!"

Flashback; Somewhere in Tokyo, Japan, sometime ago

In the streets of one district of Tokyo, Schmitt is looking towards an alleyway where he sees a group of youma restraining two people, a male and a female, that look like Yolko and Caynz, in which the two of them are wearing typical causal wear, while nearby is someone that looks like Grimlock, wearing exact same outfit as he did in SAO.

Schmitt yells out, with a shocked tone seeing this, "Yolko! Caynz!"

The two people that look like Yolko and Caynz look towards Schmitt causing the one that looks like Caynz to yell out, "Schmitt?!"

The person that looks like Grimlock says, with a sly smile, "Well, if it isn't Schmitt. How…interesting to see you again."

Schmitt asks, confused, "Grimlock? What the heck are you doing with Yolko and Caynz?!"

Grimlock responds, plainly, "I need them. You see, I had much to think about while I was in prison. And I realized that the 'White Valkyrie' may have had a point about me being wrong about my wife and me. I wished to start over and after I had escaped SAO, I learned about what happened to my wife after she died from her parents…though they didn't know the true nature of her death."

Schmitt says, with a sneer, "That's no surprise."

Grimlock says, "I fell into despair. Then these wonderful 'people' came to me with the offer to revive my wife despite her body now being just dust in an urn."

Schmitt yells out, shocked, "What?!"

Grimlock says, a sinister sly smile on his face, "I didn't believe it at first, but they managed to convince me that it was quite possible. However, to bring my wife back to me, I need a little help."

Schmitt asks, confused, "Help?"

Grimlock says, with a sinister sly smile, "Oh, yes. A little help from Yolko and Caynz here. You see, the two of them showed a deep caring for my wife up to the point where they performed that whole 'act' where they faked their deaths to find the truth about my wife's death. That kind of 'bond' is what I need to revive her. Their 'bond' will bring my wife's soul back from the 'Great Beyond' and their lifeforce will revive my wife's body after it has been restored."

Schmitt, Yolko, and Caynz gasp in shock causing Schmitt to say, flabbergasted, "What?! You…You're insane!"

Grimlock responds, with a wicked sly smile, "I can assure you that I'm quite sane, Schmitt. However, I have no need for you. Since you willing betrayed my wife for money, though you didn't know that she was going to die, you aren't useful and thus, you are a 'loose end' and you know what happens to loose ends."

Yolko screams out, fearfully, "Schmitt, run! Run!"

Caynz yells out, worriedly, "Run, Schmitt! Get out of here!" Schmitt hesitates for a moment, but one of the youma that are part of the group of youma restraining Yolko and Caynz turns towards him causing Schmitt to yelp in fear.

Grimlock says, with a sinister sly smile, "Goodbye, Schmitt. I would say that it was nice to see you, again, my former friend, but I would by lying." Like a signal, the youma prepares to move and attack Schmitt, however, Schmitt, with fear on his face and realizing what's happening, takes off in which the youma follows soon afterwards where it is seen that Schmitt BARELY gets away.

End Flashback; Return to the Present

Back in the present, Schmitt tells Serena, nervously, "I BARELY got away from that monster."

Serena tells Schmitt, plainly, "It is a miracle that you managed to get away from youma at all, Schmitt-san. I'm just glad that you are alive. These days, the youma are more aggressive and willing to kill people rather than just take their energy."

Schmitt tells Serena, with a nod, "No kidding, Usagi-san. It nearly had me, but it ran off when I was insight of a large crowd."

Serena asks, confused, "Why would that make it run off?" Serena then says, realizing something, "Unless it doesn't want to cause attract any attention…"

Schmitt says, nervously and a bit confused, "Yeah, it seemed that way."

Serena says, with a plain tone, "They didn't want to attract attention since it would attract OUR attention. Or at least, Grimlock didn't want OUR attention until whatever plans that he has is complete or at least, what the youma want him to believe. I doubt that they are making him believe that they could resurrect his wife without being some kind of 'trick'."

Schmitt says, "That's why I feel that he is insane, Usagi-san. Making deals with…demons."

Serena says, with a nod, "Something close."

Schmitt says, in disbelief, "I can't believe that someone would do something so…so crazy! It is just insane!"

Serena says, with a solemn expression and plain tone, "And we didn't think that people would willingly murder each other in a 'death game', which shouldn't have been possible in the first place."

Schmitt says, with a sigh, "Yeah, you have a point."

Serena tells Schmitt, "Any case, I'll do everything that I can to save Yolko and Caynz."

Schmitt tells Serena, "I know that you will, Usagi-san. After all that you have done before 'back there', there is no doubt in my mind. A good number of players…I mean, people owe their lives to you."

Serena thinks in her mind, a bit solemnly, "Yeah, but how about the hundreds that I DIDN'T save, Schmitt-san?" Serena shakes those 'dark thoughts' out of her mind and prepares to continue to talk to Schmitt until a 'certain feeling' that she had gained in SAO comes over her causing the hairs in the back of her neck to stiff in a 'familiar fashion'. Immediately, Serena starts to glance around in which, at the corner of her eye, she manages to see the figure of none other than Grimlock, watching from nearby outside of the Crown, causing her eyes to widen where she thinks in her mind, concerned, "Grimlock-san?!" Serena makes sure that she isn't seeing anything, but quickly, she realizes that it is him causing her to realize that it is indeed him.

Schmitt gets a confused look upon seeing Serena going silent causing him to ask, curiously, "Um, Usagi-san?" She doesn't respond for a second, as her mind is surging on what to do, but some of her 'old SAO instincts' start to kick in where when Schmitt was about to call out to her again, Serena silently motions with her hand not to say anything causing Schmitt to give a look of confused where Serena secretly takes out a notepad and pen from her subspace where she writes: 'Stay calm. HE'S here.' When Schmitt sees those words on the notepad, his eyes widen causing a look of fear to come onto his face in which Schmitt prepares to look for Grimlock, but Schmitt then sees Serena slightly shake her head in which he then sees her write in the notepad again. When he looks at what Serena wrote, Schmitt sees these words: 'Don't look. Don't talk. Please stay calm. Follow me.' When Schmitt looks at Serena, Schmitt nervously nods her head as Serena puts her notepad and pen back in her subspace pocket where she calmly stands up and turns towards the door leading into the employee area where Schmitt, doing his best to remain calm, follows her, doing his best to remain calm and not turn back to look behind him. Serena leads Schmitt into the back where Andrew 'escorts' them inside. Outside of the Fruit Parlor Crown, Grimlock watches the 'scene' of Serena and Schmitt going into the employee room.

Grimlock says, "I don't know who that is with you, Schmitt-san, but all you did was just drag her down with you, my friend." Grimlock then heads down the alleyways to get to the rear the Fruits Parlor Crown in which he waits for a bit.

But then a familiar female voice calls out, plainly, "Hello, Grimlock-san." Grimlock turns to the source of the voice only to find the blade of Sailor Moon's Dark Repulser in front of his face in which it is being held by said Sailor Scout with Schmitt behind her.

Grimlock says, surprised, "You are…"

Sailor Moon says, with a nod, "You got that right, buster. It seems you haven't changed a bit."

Grimlock asks, curiously, "I'm sorry, do I know you, Sailor Moon? I obviously know who you are, but I'm surprised that you know my avatar name. Have we met before?"

Sailor Moon replies, plainly, "We met, Grimlock-san. We met at your wife's 'grave' on Aincrad with Kirito, Asuna, and your former teammates." Immediately, Grimlock's eyes widen, knowing exactly the 'event' that Sailor Moon is talking about.

Grimlock says, a bit of amazement in his voice, "You are…"

Schmitt says, with a confident smirk, "That's right, jerk! Sailor Moon is also one of the heroes of SAO, the one who beat the ass of Kayaba himself: The White Valkyrie!"

Grimlock gives another look of surprise while Sailor Moon thinks, with an exasperated look, "I am never going to get rid of that moniker, am I?"

Sailor Moon tells Grimlock, "It has been a while, Grimlock. I'm sorry to hear that you haven't changed a bit."

Schmitt says, irritated, "More like become worse."

Grimlock's look of surprise turns into one of curiosity causing him to say, "Well, this isn't interesting. It is you. I recognize your voice anywhere. It has been a long story. I must say that it is surprising to learn that the famous superhero of Tokyo is Kayaba's niece."

Sailor Moon says, plainly, "Well, life is full of surprises."

Schmitt yells out, annoyed, "Hey, asshole, you are all alone here and you have her blade to your face! You have nothing to be calm about!"

Grimlock responds, plainly and with a sinister smile, "Actually, I do. She is Sailor Moon and the White Valkyrie, after all."

Schmitt retorts, plainly, "So?"

Grimlock retorts, with a confident sinister smile, "You wouldn't dare kill anyone…even hardened killers like Laughing Coffin despite all of the players that they killed. Even though we are outside of SAO…No, more so since you are BOTH the White Valkyrie and Sailor Moon. A 'noble hero' like yourself won't even think of taking the life of someone like me. And I don't think that you would do that here especially after you tried so hard to save lives and not take them 'over there'." Sailor Moon can't help to mentally flinch from Grimlock's words, knowing that he had a point. However, Schmitt rushes over and grabs Grimlock the collar of his shirt.

Schmitt says, a look of rage forming in his expression, "Yeah, you are right about her. However, with scum like you, I won't hesitate to beat you to an inch of your life unless you tell me where Yolko and Caynz are!"

Sailor Moon gives a surprised look in which Grimlock says, "My, Schmitt. You have gotten a lot more courage than I have seen you last. However, it isn't surprising since you have 'backup' now."

Schmitt yells out, angrily, "You have got some nerve, you asshole!"

Grimlock tells Schmitt, with a sinister smile, "I doubt that you have the nerve to try anything against me, Schmitt. I'm the only one that knows where Yolko and Caynz are and if anything happens to me, then you won't find them."

Schmitt says, anger filling his voice, "You think so? If you won't talk, then we don't have any use for you!"

Grimlock tells Schmitt, plainly and still having a sinister smile, "I doubt that mindlessly looking for them will allow you to find them before my new 'friends' realize something happened to me and do whatever they want with them…which will most likely prove fatal."

Schmitt shouts out, angrily, "Grimlock!"

Grimlock tells Schmitt, with a sinister smile, "Are you angry at me…or angry at yourself for being so weak in all sense of the word back when you betrayed my wife back then? I may have been the one called those murderers, but you were the one that allowed them into her inn room that allowed them to strike her down, so, you have as much responsibility as me. Or is it your current weakness unable to save Yolko and Caynz from me?" A mixture of guilt and fury goes through Schmitt's mind in which Schmitt raises his fist to bash Grimlock straight in the face, but his arm is grabbed by Sailor Moon, who has returned her sword to its scabbard.

When Schmitt looks at Sailor Moon, she says, pleadingly, "Don't, Schmitt! Don't let him egg you! He isn't worth it at all! Caynz and Yolko wouldn't want you to do anything that you will regret in the future! He isn't worth getting your hands bloody! Please don't!" Schmitt looks at Sailor Moon and glances back at Grimlock where, after half-a-minute, he lets go of Grimlock's collar.

Schmitt says, with a sigh and a solemn tone, "You're right. Even someone as crazy as him isn't worth putting blood on my hands."

Grimlock says, still with a sinister smile, "I'm not surprised. In fact, I was counting on it. And that was your last chance, Schmitt-san." Schmitt gives an annoyed and confused look while Sailor Moon gives a confused look until the familiar 'feeling' of danger causes the hairs on her neck to stand on end where she then gasps in shock.

Sailor Moon yells out, worriedly, "Look out!" Sailor Moon grabs Schmitt and yanks him backwards where, shortly afterwards, a youma that has qualities of a velociraptor comes down from above and swipes at where Schmitt was just a few seconds ago. Schmitt gives a nervous look while Sailor Moon asks, surprised, "What the?!"

Grimlock says, with a sinister smile, "Ah, Sailor Moon-san, one of my new friends."

The youma says, with animalistic hiss in her voice, "Oh, this is Raptrian's lucky day."

Sailor Moon asks, a bit annoyed, "Raptrian? Seriously?"

The youma, Raptrian, responds, with the animalistic hiss in her voice, "You are going to pay for making a mockery of me, Moon brat!"

Sailor Moon says, a bit nervously, "Now, they are making youma based off dinosaurs? This is getting ridiculous!" Raptrian lunges at Sailor Moon at incredible speed causing Sailor Moon to gasp with Schmitt to yelp in which Sailor Moon barely blocks Raptrian's claws after she managed to draw her sword just in time. Schmitt yelps in fear causing Sailor Moon to say, "Stay behind me Schmitt-san!"

Grimlock says, with a sinister smile and plain tone, "You should remember that since she is based off a pack hunter after all." Sailor Moon gives a confused look and her 'danger sense' starts to 'run wild' causing her to look around where she sees several 'duplicates' of Raptrian coming down from the rooftops.

Sailor Moon thinks in her mind, flabbergasted, "Oh, you have got to be kidding me!" Immediately, Sailor Moon pushes Raptrian back while keeping Schmitt behind her back pushing Schmitt backwards to get away while looking at the multiple versions of Raptrian, along with the original, with a nervous look on her face. Sailor Moon thinks in her mind, "There are so many of them! Can I defend myself and Schmitt-san at the same time as well as defeat them?"

Grimlock says, with a sinister smile and plain tone, "Anyway, you will not have to worry about Yolko and Caynz, Schmitt. You will meet them again…in the afterlife where my life will return from it."

Schmitt yells out, angrily, "And you'll think that she will appreciate that?!"

Grimlock retorts, still with his sinister smile and plain tone, "Remember, she never knew that I was the one that sent those criminal players to kill her and she won't know about our alliance. All she will know is that 'monsters' kill you, Yolko, and Caynz, as well as the infamous 'White Valkyrie' herself. Anyway, I must be off. I will need to return to where this all began since that's where it will end. Farewell, my 'old friend'." Soon afterwards, Grimlock calmly walks away while Sailor Moon, with Schmitt behind her, faces off against Raptrian and her 'pack' with a real nervous expression on her face for obvious reasons.

Sailor Moon thinks in her mind, nervously, "Oh, man! I really did it now! There are several of them and only one of me! I also have to protect Schmitt-san! They aren't out to take his energy! They are out to kill Schmitt-san! Damn it! I…I should have called the others! This isn't SAO! Now, Schmitt-san's and my life are in mortal danger!" Within Sailor Moon's mind, she finds herself looking towards the nighttime sky with a full moon and then Sailor Moon looks behind her causing her to see that the 'scenery' behind her is like a mirror where her 'reflection' is actually her SAO avatar, Usagi, in which they look at each other where Sailor Moon sees that behind 'Usagi' is none other than Aincrad in the skies above. Sailor Moon flinches from the sight, but she then looks at her 'other self' in which 'Usagi' warmly smiles at Sailor Moon. Back outside of Sailor Moon's 'mindscape', Sailor Moon, while holding onto her Dark Repulser in one hand, uses her free hand, to draw Elucidator into that hand and gets into a familiar stance…for her and for Schmitt.

Schmitt thinks in his mind, surprised, "That stance…"

Sailor Moon tells Schmitt, calmly, "Schmitt-san, please stay behind me, okay? It is going to be all right."

Schmitt says, nodding his head, "Okay."

Raptrian yells out, with an evil smile, "You won't think that it is all right after you are screaming in agony as we carve you into pieces! Kill her!" Raptrian and her 'doppelgangers' give loud animal-like hisses as they prepare to attack.

(Sword Art Online music 'Swordland' starts)

Raptrian and her 'duplicates' charge in and attack Sailor Moon, slashing at her with their claws, but using both swords, Sailor Moon easily defends against the attacks where she dodges and/or blocks the attacks from Raptrian. After half-a-minute, one of Raptrian's 'clones' slashes at Sailor Moon and she manages to dodge where, upon seeing an opening, uses her swords to cut off the arm of the Raptrian's 'duplicate' causing the raptor youma to howl in pain.

The clone screams out, "My arm! My arm!"

Raptrian yells out, angrily, "You will pay for injuring my sister!" Sailor Moon doesn't respond as she prepares for the next attack which comes soon with the injured youma lashing out in anger and fury, but it makes her attacks sloppy where Sailor Moon has a much easier time to block and avoid her attacks. The injured youma's ineffectiveness is also compounded by the loss of her arm by Sailor Moon's sword.

Schmitt thinks in his mind, amazed, "Oh, wow. She…She really is…" Sailor Moon continues to fight against Raptrian and her 'doppelgangers' where despite the odds against her, Sailor Moon manages to hold her own against Raptrian and her 'duplicates' where she blocks and/or dodges their attacks as well as counterattacking at certain moments. Finally, after knocking Raptrian's 'doppelgangers' off their feet with a sweep kick, Sailor Moon manages to strike a blow to her chin of Raptrian with the hilt of her Dark Repulser causing her to get stunned where she impales her in the head with her Elucidator causing her to roar and hiss before Raptrian's form collapses to the ground in a heap where it is oozing out violet 'ooze' causing her 'doppelgangers' to hesitate. However, this proves to be a mistake since Sailor Moon takes full advantage of their hesitation as she attacks Raptrian's 'clones' where cuts off their arms before beheading them with smooth motions as their forms 'plop' into the ground.

(Sword Art Online music 'Swordland' ends)

With the end of their fight, the youma start to dissolve into black 'smoke' and Sailor Moon takes a deep breath as she puts her swords back into their scabbards.

Sailor Moon says, breathing a bit heavily, "Whew!"

Schmitt says, amazed, "You did it! You were…amazing! Just like I remembered you in SAO!"

Sailor Moon flinches from those words in which she tells him, "I'm sorry, Schmitt-san, but could you NOT say that? I…I gives me 'mixed feelings'."

Schmitt says, a look of realization on his face, "Oops, sorry!"

Sailor Moon says, with a sigh, "It's okay."

Just then Schmitt says, a look of panic on his face, "Wait! Grimlock! Shit! He got away! He's going to murder Yolko and Caynz!"

Sailor Moon thinks in her mind, nervously, "Schmitt-san is right. Even thought it didn't too long, it was long enough for him to get away and he won't be easy to track. He may be overconfident, but he isn't stupid. He'll make sure that he can't be tracked. There isn't even a clue…" But then Sailor Moon remembers something that Grimlock said before he left and her eyes widen in realization.

Schmitt says, worriedly, "What do we do? We need to save them! But we don't even know where they are…!"

Sailor Moon then responds, interrupting, "Actually, we do." Schmitt looks at Sailor Moon in surprise causing her to say, "Remember what Grimlock said, Schmitt-san? He said that he was 'going back to where this all began'."

Schmitt asks, confused, "What the heck does that even mean?"

Sailor Moon asks Schmitt, "How did this all begin in the first place?"

After several seconds of pondering Sailor Moon's words, Schmitt then gives a look of realization on his face and he says, "SAO!" Schmitt then says, "Hold on! SAO is gone! There is no Aincrad anymore to go back to!"

Sailor Moon says, "But the servers are still around…at former Argus headquarters!"

Schmitt says, "That must be where Yolko and Caynz are! We have to save them!" Schmitt starts to leave, but Sailor Moon stops him.

Sailor Moon tells Schmitt, "No, Schmitt-san! You need to stay here!"

Schmitt tells Sailor Moon, "But I…!"

Sailor Moon responds, interrupting, "This isn't SAO! You'll just put yourself in danger and you know it!" Schmitt flinches, knowing that Sailor Moon is right, where Sailor Moon says, "I'm sorry, Schmitt-san, but you need to leave this to me! You need to trust me!" Sailor Moon takes out her communicator and puts it into Schmitt's hands causing him to get confused where Sailor Moon says, "However, I won't take a chance on Yolko's and Caynz's lives. I need you to contact the others and get them over there! I made a mistake in not bringing them here! I can't afford to compound that mistake especially not with Yolko's and Caynz's lives! To help them believe you, I'll give you a piece of information that only we would know about! Please, you have to trust me!"

Schmitt replies, with a nod of his head, "I do trust you." Sailor Moon gives a nod of her head and after giving him the piece of information that allow the other Sailor Scouts believe that Schmitt is calling them on behalf of Sailor Moon. Soon afterwards, Sailor Moon takes off into the distance to get the former Argus headquarters building that contains the SAO servers.

January 25, 2024, Tokyo, Former Argus headquarters

Later that day, we find ourselves at former Argus headquarters where we find Sailor Moon flying down and landing onto the roof in which she gets a 'familiar sensation' down her neck.

Sailor Moon thinks in her mind, "They…They're here. I can feel it." Sailor Moon then starts to head towards a door on the roof that leads into the building itself, but Sailor Moon's 'danger sense' warned her and she rolls away as a strike from behind nearly decapitated her. Sailor Moon draws her swords and turns to see a youma that looks like a female version of Edward Scissorhands causing Sailor Moon to become a bit nervous.

The 'Edward Scissorhands youma' says, with a hiss, "Cut for your haircut."

Sailor Moon responds, nervously, "Sorry, but I've always got my hair groomed."

The youma replies, with a sinister smile, "Don't worry, I will take only a bit off the top…like YOUR HEAD!" With a screech, the youma attacks Sailor Moon, intending to behead her, in which Sailor Moon manages to block and/or dodge its attacks. The youma's attacks aren't focused and quite random causing Sailor Moon some trouble, but because they aren't focused, Sailor Moon is able to stay close to a step ahead of her attacker and at one point, Sailor Moon manages to cut off one of the youma's arms causing it to screech in pain as it arm falls down to the ground. The youma, enraged, lashes out, however, the sloppy attack allows Sailor Moon to easily cut off her other arm and behead in quick fashion. The remains of the youma fall to the ground before they start to 'dissolve' into nothingness soon afterwards.

Sailor Moon says, lowly, "So much for sneaking around…" Sailor Moon runs over to the door on the roof that leads to the stairway down into the building, sees a lock on it, and uses her sword to break the lock where allows her to kick open the door where she runs inside to start her rescue of Yolko and Caynz.

(A short time later; Elsewhere within the building)

Within another part of the former Argus headquarters building, we find ourselves within the room that contains the former SAO servers, which are now no longer running since Asuna and the other 300 SAO survivors that were trapped in ALO were recently freed, where we find some kind of alter containing an urn used contain the ashes of those were cremated on top of said alter, while Grimlock and a youma dressed in a 'perverted' version of a miko outfit looking at it.

Grimlock says, an obsessive grin in his expression, "Soon, my love…"

The 'miko youma' says, with a nod, "Yes, human. Your beloved will soon be back in the living."

Grimlock says, with a sinister smile while looking up, "And all we need is a bit of help from you, my 'friends'." As we look where Grimlock is looking, we find Yolko and Caynz 'cocooned' in some kind of pod made of a thick material that seems similar to spider silk and hanging up from the ceiling.

Yolko says, fearfully, "You can't do this!"

Grimlock says, his sinister smile framing his expression, "Oh, Yolko-san, I thought that you would be happy to help revive my wife."

Caynz shouts out, angrily, "Griselda would never want this! She will never forgive you, Grimlock!"

Grimlock responds, with a wicked smile on his face, "She never knew that it was me that sent those players that killed her and she will never know about what happens. I'll make sure of that."

Yolko shouts out, "This is…just wrong!"

Grimlock retorts, "That's just your opinion, Yolko. I'm just correcting a mistake that I made so long ago." Soon enough, the miko youma takes out what looks like spell tag similar to what Raye/Sailor Mars uses her, but it is 'inverted' with the 'body' of the tag being black with the wording being colored white. The youma then throws the spell tag onto the urn causing to the shatter where the ashes within the urn spread before they start to take shape where they take the shape of a female human causing the eyes of the three humans within to widen at what they are seeing.

Caynz says, shocked, "No way!" The ashes then take the familiar form of Grimlock's wife in SAO and real-life before Grimlock had her killed: Griselda.

Yolko asks, flabbergasted, "G-Griselda?" Griselda's form is covered by a blanket where she lies on the alter with her eyes closed.

Caynz says, stunned, "Impossible!"

The miko youma says, with an evil smile, "You, humans, are so limited by what you believe is possible."

Grimlock says, looking at Griselda, "My love…"

Caynz shouts out, angrily, "If you truly loved her, then you would have accepted her love of trying to complete the game for you, bastard! If you truly loved her, she would be alive right now! The 'White Valkyrie' was right about you! You didn't love her! You just loved your own version of her! You NEVER loved her!"

Grimlock looks up at Caynz, who had an angry and defiant glare, Grimlock's eyes darken, causing Yolko to get nervous, in which Grimlock tells Caynz, plainly, "I believe that this is where we part ways, my 'old friend'." Grimlock looks at the miko youma, who gives an evil smile, as she starts to chant out something causing the cocoons to glow in which Yolko and Caynz groan out in pain as something, an energy of some kind, starts to slowly come out of the cocoon like smoke causing Grimlock to say, "I will make sure that my wife knows your full devotion to her while keeping 'certain details' out."

Yolko groans out, "N-N-No…!"

Caynz groans out, "Y-You won't…get away…with this…"

Grimlock responds, "Do you know how old that rephase is, Caynz? Maybe I should ask who is going to stop me."

Just then a familiar female voice yells out, "Take a wild guess!" Grimlock and the miko youma give looks of surprise as a familiar 'golden energy disk' appears in the air, cutting Yolko and Caynz down from the ceiling where their 'cocoons' crash down to the ground with a 'splat', and Grimlock and miko youma look towards the source to see Sailor Moon at the entrance from the room.

The youma yells out, shocked, "Sailor Moon!"

Sailor Moon says, plainly, "If murdering your own wife wasn't bad enough, you desecrate her final rest as well as her body. I couldn't think that you could go any lower, Grimlock."

Seeing Sailor Moon, Yolko says, amazed, "Sailor Moon…"

Grimlock says, seeing Sailor Moon, "It seems like I underestimated you and your abilities in this world, Moon-san. However, while you are the 'White Valkyrie', this isn't SAO."

Yolko and Caynz give looks of surprise causing Caynz to ask, surprised, "White Valkyrie?"

Sailor Moon tells Yolko and Caynz, "It is nice to see you and Yolko-san, again, Caynz-san. I wish that it was under better circumstances." Yolko and Caynz look at Sailor Moon causing an image of her SAO avatar, Usagi, her face/head cloaked by her classic white hooded cloak, appears in their 'mind's eye' causing them to gasp in shock and surprise.

The miko youma says, with a sneer, "If it isn't the little moon princess, huh? You think that you are such a big shot since you have gained a little skill and some big blades, huh? Does your little girlfriends and your boyfriend know that you are swinging a dangerous weapon around? You should know better!"

Sailor Moon retorts, a bit annoyed, "Are you done?"

The miko youma says, with a sinister smirk, "No, but you are!" Just then multiple 'explosions' come from the floor, resulting in multiple holes, and then dozens of humanoid skeleton monsters, like the ones that Sailor Moon saw in SAO, come out said holes causing the miko youma to taunt, seeing Sailor Moon's surprise, "Scared yet?"

Sailor Moon's surprised expression then turns into a deadpan one causing her to ask, bluntly, "Really? Seriously?" Now, it is the miko youma to give a look of surprise at Sailor Moon's unimpressed, borderline irritated, expression on her face.

Grimlock says, with a plain tone, "There were plenty of these types of foes in SAO. When you fight enough of them, they become quite 'mundane' so to speak."

The youma yells out, annoyed, "Let's see if her majesty thinks this is 'mundane'! Kill her!" The skeleton monsters screech as the tips of their 'fingers' extend outward until they are thick several foot long blades causing Sailor Moon to become a bit nervous upon seeing that.

Sailor Moon says, nervously, "That's new." Sailor Moon quickly draws her swords and soon enough, the skeleton monsters charge in to attack her.

(Sword Art Online music 'Swordland' starts)

Quickly, Sailor Moon uses her swords to block the blades of the monsters' attack while also dodging others at the same time when she can't use her swords to block them. However, soon enough, Sailor Moon starts to cut down her opponents one after another where the monsters start to 'dissolve' into black 'smoke' when they are cut down.

Sailor Moon thinks in her mind, "These monsters are weaker and easier to fight the ones in SAO!" However, while the skeleton monsters aren't any problem, at least individually, for Sailor Moon, there are A LOT of them and Sailor Moon then notices that more of them are coming out of the 'holes' that the original batch of monster burst out of. Sailor Moon says, annoyed, "Heck no! Not the old 'monster spam' trick! That's not fair in VRMMOs and it isn't fair here!"

The miko youma responds, with an evil smile, "Life isn't fair, moon brat!" Sailor Moon gives an annoyed expression as she continues to cut down one skeleton monster after another, but with every one that she strikes down, more than one more monster takes its place. On the meanwhile, the youma and Grimlock calmly walk over still trapped Yolko and Caynz, who are struggling to get out of the 'cocoons' that they are trapped in.

Grimlock says, "I guess that I shouldn't have underestimated her. It is most likely that Schmitt is just fine." Yolko and Caynz give a look of surprise, but their looks of surprise turn into looks of pain as miko youma starts to chant causing the 'cocoons' to glow as they start to extract Yolko's and Caynz's life-energy once more in which Sailor Moon's eyes widen as, while she is fending off the skeleton monsters, can see what's happening to Yolko and Caynz.

Sailor Moon says, greatly concerned, "No!" Sailor Moon tries to get to Grimlock, Yolko, Caynz, and the youma, however, the skeleton monsters are preventing her from reaching them. While Sailor Moon easily takes care of the skeleton monsters, individually, the sheer numbers of monsters that keeps constantly 'replenishing' keeps Sailor Moon at bay. As Sailor Moon continues to try to break through the hordes of monsters sent against her and not succeeding due to the sheer numbers, she can see that 'mist' coming out of Yolko's and Caynz's trapped forms in which Sailor Moon knows that it is their life-force. Sailor Moon thinks in her mind, "There are too many of them! Every one of them that I take down, it seems more than double take their place! Yolko and Caynz don't have the time! They are going to be turned to dust if I don't act soon!"

Grimlock says, with a wicked smile, "Soon, my love…soon…" The miko youma glances at Grimlock and gives a sly sinister smirk on her lips as she continues to chant causing the 'energy' from Yolko and Caynz as Sailor Moon struggles to get over to the youma and Grimlock to stop the youma and save Yolko and Caynz, but the sheer numbers of enemies, despite them being weak compared to Sailor Moon, makes her unable to gain any headway.

Sailor Moon thinks in her mind, worriedly, "What am I going to do? Yolko and Caynz are going to die and Griselda's body is going to be used in whatever sick plans that this youma has. I can't let that happen, but there are just too many of these overgrown bag of bones! I can take care of them easily, but that rotten youma is using a damn cheat for an 'infinite spawn'! I need to do something now!" Sailor Moon's mind races through ideas and she then gets an idea causing her to think, "I've got a crazy idea, but right now, Yolko and Caynz don't have the time! I need to make my move now!" Sailor Moon then leaps backwards a bit and starts to spin her Dark Repulser in one of her hands in which she then throws it into the air in a certain manner where it spins around past the miko youma.

The miko youma shouts out, in a taunting tone, "Where were you aiming that, Moon wench?!" The miko youma mentally laugh as she continues her chant while Sailor Moon, now only armed with one of her swords, continues to fend off the skeletons as her Dark Repulser spins around and heads towards miko youma, but when Sailor Moon's spinning sword is about to hit the miko youma, it slams into a force-field causing it to violet get flung to the ground.

Sailor Moon says, shocked, "No way!"

The youma laughs and retorts, with a sly smirk, "I am no fool, Moon brat! Nice try, Sailor wench, but you failed!" However, then out of nowhere, a 'surge' of wind slams into the miko youma causing her to get knocked to the ground causing Grimlock to look in surprise.

Grimlock asks, shocked, "What?" Soon after, a 'blur' zips into the room and nearly instantly, this 'blur' takes down the skeleton monsters before multiple 'bursts' of energy slam into the holes where the skeleton monsters were 'spawning' from, destroying them causing both Sailor Moon and Grimlock to become very confused while the Yolko and Caynz breath a sigh of relief as, due to the loss of concentration of the miko youma, the drain on their life-energy is stopped.

Sailor Moon thinks in her mind, shocked, "What…?" However, she immediately realizes that this battle isn't over and now, there is an 'opening' for her. Without hesitation, Sailor Moon, her Elucidator in her hands, charges in as the miko youma struggles back to her feet.

The youma asks, irritated, "Who…?!" However, the youma doesn't get to finish as she hears footsteps rushing towards and turns in time only to see Sailor Moon ram her sword though her causing the youma to scream out in pain and agony as Sailor Moon then bisects her in half where, before the two halves of the youma hit the ground, dissolve into nothingness as black 'smoke'.

(Sword Art Online music 'Swordland' ends)

With the end of the miko youma, the 'cocoons' entrapping Yolko and Caynz dissolve, freeing them, and then Griselda's form 'turns back' into dust, much to the shock and horror of Grimlock.

Grimlock yells out, horrified, "No! No! NO!" Grimlock starts to walk to the remains, but he is stopped by Sailor Moon's sword causing him to yell out, in a furious expression not seen in his expression before, "Do you know what you have done?!"

Sailor Moon says, "Yes, I have. I let Griselda rest in peace. And before you start yelling out, I'll repeat what I said to you on Aincrad…in SAO…you NEVER loved Griselda! You only loved YOUR VERSION of her! If you truly loved her, you would have let her rest in peace after you had her murdered! I'm glad that I stopped you so Griselda would never be a slave to a selfish ass like you!" Grimlock screams out in anger and in a blind rage, he lashes out with a punch, but Sailor Moon easily dodges his attack and hits Grimlock in the neck, gently, though NOT TOO gently, with the pommel of her sword causing him to collapse into a heap on the floor and into unconsciousness. On the meanwhile, Yolko and Caynz, after recovering from their 'experience', help each other to their feet and turn towards Sailor Moon, who turns herself to look at Yolko and Caynz.

Yolko asks, a bit nervously, "A-Are you really the 'White Valkyrie' that we met in SAO, Sailor Moon-dono?"

Sailor Moon says, with a sigh and a nod, "Yes, it's me, Yolko-san. Last time we saw each other was when we were at Griselda's grave where we exposed the truth of Grisdela's death."

Yolko and Caynz gasp in shock causing Caynz to say, amazed, "It is you! Oh…wow." Caynz says, amazed, "No wonder you did what you did. You are a superhero."

Sailor Moon gives a sigh where she says, "I'm no hero, Caynz-san." Yolko and Caynz gives look of surprise as Sailor Moon goes over to retrieve her Dark Repulser and after she puts her swords back in their scabbards, she then says, solemnly while pointing to the 'alter', "The remains of a real hero remain on there."

Everyone looks towards the table that contains Griselda's ashes causing Yolko to say, solemnly, "Griselda…"

Sailor Moon says, "Let's gather her remains and put her to rest finally." Yolko and Caynz can't help to nod in agreement as they prepare to gather Griselda's ashes to put it back in the urn to return them to her grave.

(A good time afterwards; outside of the former Argus headquarters building)

Just outside of the former Argus headquarters building, we find Tuxedo Mask leaping down from nearby buildings to land in front of the main door while the Moon Kingdom Sailor Scouts come down from the skies to land all around Tuxedo Mask.

Sailor Mars yells out, annoyed, "Damn it! That Meatball Head better not have gotten herself killed! At least before I kicked her ass for this stunt!"

Sailor Venus says, nervously, "Yeah, if you say so, Mars."

Just then Sailor Saturn says, pointing ahead of her, "Look!" Everyone looks to see Sailor Moon emerge out of the front door with Yolko and Caynz following her in which Sailor Moon is dragging the unconscious form of Grimlock while Yolko had the urn containing Griselda's ashes inside with a solemn look on her face.

Sailor Jupiter says, "Sailor Moon!"

Sailor Moon says, plainly, "Hey, everyone."

Sailor Mars tells Sailor Moon, annoyed tone in her voice, "Don't 'hey, everyone' us, Sailor Moon! You have got some nerve with this latest stunt of yours!"

Sailor Moon says, with a winch and nervous tone, "Sorry."

Sailor Mars says, shaking her head, "Sometimes I wonder about you."

Sailor Saturn asks, looking at Grimlock, "Who is that?"

Yolko and Caynz flinch as they look at Grimlock's unconscious form where Sailor Moon says, with a sigh, "Just a broken man." Tuxedo Mask and the other Sailor Scouts give a look of surprise.

Sailor Jupiter asks, pointing to the urn, "Is that…?"

Sailor Moon responds, plainly, "The remains of a true hero of Sword Art Online." There are looks of surprise from everyone else, especially Yolko and Caynz, but Yolko can't help to mutter a silent 'thank you' to Sailor Moon in which Sailor Moon says, "Let's finally allow her to rest…" Sailor Moon says, looking down at unconscious form of Grimlock, "And keep him from hurting anyone else ever again." Soon enough, everyone starts to hear sirens in which they look to see a group of police cars pulling up with a group of police officers as well as Schmitt coming out to meet with them all.

January 27, 2024, Tokorozawa

Within a certain hospital in Tokorozawa, we find ourselves within a certain hospital room for long-term patients where Asuna Yuuki, an SAO survivor that was recently freed from ALO along with three hundred other SAO survivors that were entrapped in SAO for around two to three months AFTER the end of Sword Art Online, Kazuto Kirigaya, a fellow SAO survivor, Asuna's 'soulmate', and one of Serena's best friends while trapped in SAO along with Asuna, are together with Serena where Asuna is lying in her hospital bed with Serena and Kazuto by her side while Darien is standing near the door to the hospital room as Serena explained about what happened a few days ago.

Asuna asks, weakly, "Are Yolko and Caynz okay?"

Asuna flinches causing Kazuto to say, "Easy, Asuna."

Asuna replies, with a smile, "I'm okay, Kirito-kun…I…"

Kazuto tells Asuna, with a smile, "Easy, Asuna. It is okay."

Serena says, with a smile, "Trust me, I know what you are going through. It took me a while to start going by my name here. You've got it easier since you used your real name for your avatar name." Asuna gives a sly smile on her lips and irritated look in her eyes.

Kazuto tells Serena, with a plain tone, "You know that you really worried your friends and boyfriend with your actions, Serena."

Serena tells Kazuto, with a glare, "I don't want to hear it from you, Kazuto."

Kazuto says, with a nervous tone and rub of his scalp, "Yeah, you have a point."

Asuna says, "I'm just glad that Yolko, Caynz, and Schmitt are okay." Asuna asks, curiously, "What about Grimlock?"

Serena replies, plainly, "He is going to be charged with kidnapping, assault, and attempted murder. His mistake was keeping the security system at the former Argus headquarters on."

Kazuto asks, a bit surprised, "He did?"

Darien says, "We also believe that the youma were the ones that did that. They plan to use Griselda for their own plans where Grimlock will be blamed for what happened, but it doesn't make sense since they appear on the footage as well. However, we won't know the exact nature of their plans."

Kazuto says, "Well, I don't think that we want to know."

Serena says, nodding her head, "Yeah…"

Asuna asks Serena, "U-Usagi-chan, are you going to be, okay?"

Serena says, with a sigh and light smile, "Yeah…but I thought that I would be allowing 'Usagi' to finally rest with SAO finally over."

Darien looks at Serena with concern in which Kazuto tells Serena, "It doesn't mean that you can't be Serena and still use your strength as Usagi WITHOUT bringing those 'bad memories' out."

Serena says, with a smile, "I wish that I can be so sure of myself."

Kazuto thinks in his mind, "I feel the same, Serena."

Serena says, with a curious tone, "There is still something bugging me."

Kazuto asks, curiously, "What's up?"

Serena says, "Who or what helped me in that battle?"

Asuna, Kazuto, and Darien give curious look in which Asuna says, "Oh, you mentioned that a 'blur' took out the rest of the skeleton monsters and destroyed the 'holes' that they were spawning from, giving you the opening to take out the youma."

Serena replies, with a nod, "Yeah, I couldn't see what or who it was. Even with our copy of the security footage, Ami-chan couldn't analyze it at all."

Darien says, nodding his head in agreement, "Yes, it is strange…and curious."

Kazuto asks, "Who do you think helped you back there?"

Serena replies, with a curious shrug, "I wish that I knew." However, unknown to any of them, outside of Asuna's hospital room, looking down from a nearby rooftop, we see something looking towards the window of Asuna's hospital window.

This person looks to be a Sailor Senshi with long blond hair tied in a waist long ponytail with a crown of small white feathers in the forward portion of her scalp, her eye color dark-grey nearly black, there is a rainbow colored Milky Way with a golden crescent moon sigil on her forehead, deep, full, and lovely shimmering pink lips, rainbow milky way galaxy-shaped earrings attached to her ears, a white cloth choker with a golden crescent moon sigil in the center, her sailor collar is green, she has a white colored bodysuit with a pearly white heart-shaped broach with a rainbow colored jewel shaped like the Milky Way galaxy and four rainbow wings attached to the broach in the chest area of her bodysuit, she has circular and fluffy shoulder pads that are green in color, her gloves are different from the other Sailor Scouts' gloves in which they are fingerless with green bands, she has a skirt that's green, silver, and rainbow colored, her boots are similar to Eternal Sailor Moon's high-heeled boots, but they have green bands with rainbow jewels in the shape of the Milky Way galaxy, and she has four rainbow colored large feathered wings. Attached to the right side of her skirt, there is a kitana inside of a sheath.

The Sailor Senshi is looking down towards the window of Asuna and she takes a deep breath where she takes off into the skies without a word in which Kazuto and Serena can't help 'feel' something causing them to gain curious looks.

When Asuna sees this, she asks Serena and Kazuto, "Is something wrong?" Darien looks at Serena and Kazuto when Asuna asks that question causing Serena to shrug.

Serena says, curiously, "I…I'm not sure." Serena then shrugs causing her to say, "I guess nerves."

Asuna says, "Well, I'm not surprised given what you have been through."

Kazuto thinks in his mind, "I'm not sure, Asuna." However, for the moment, Kazuto decides not to say anything for various reasons in which they continue on their discussion as Darien watches on.

Darien thinks in his mind, "You aren't alone, Meatball Head. Hopefully, in time, you will really know that." As Darien watches the three of them, he can't help to wonder what will the future hold for them in which the 'scars' of SAO will truly fade away…

The End of the story

Whew! I'm sorry that this took SO LONG to complete, but like I have said before, it has been a hard few months for me. IRL has been REALLY HARD for me and I've been having a hard few months to say the least. It has been hard to type and I'm not sure if I can write much longer. I'll keep trying, but it is hard. Anyway, read and review and please no flames, okay? Later and best wishes, Crossover Fans!