A/N: Hello, everyone! It's time for us to get on to the end of the Valm arc, but this part will likely last several parts the way that things are going. In this chapter, we get to see a jealous Asuna, a bit of reunion chemistry between some of the friends, and how Cordelia is handling all of this. Enjoy! (or don't, I can't really make you guys do anything...)

But please be sure to leave a review! I'm loving hearing from you guys, new and old- keep it up!

Taking the Capital, Part the First

The days spent hiking to the capital were higher in spirits than many of the Shepherds would have expected. Marth, Morgan, and Yuuki were all bright and lively individuals, and they made themselves right at home amongst the rowdy militia. Aiko and Sayuri tended to stick by the people that they knew, but they also were able to interact well with their new comrades.

Robin and Lucina were both very red in the face when they were forced to explain to Chrom the theory of how exactly it was that the Grandmaster's children shared the same hair color as the royal family. This had led to a lot of yelling on Chrom's part, and a lot of running on Robin's- again. Sumia handled it her typical way, punching Chrom and Robin in the face and telling them to make nice, which earned her big points with her grandchildren. They had never seen anyone ever deal with their father in such a manner, at least, not that they could remember.

Sayuri hardly left Kazuto's side because her timidity caused her to clam up and barely speak a word to anyone whenever he wasn't around. In a way, this annoyed Asuna, but they both knew that Sachi's death had nearly killed the Black Swordsman in the past- her resurrection was a miracle beyond anything that he could have ever hoped for, so it was understandable that he might want to make sure that the girl was all right, they knew. Still…

Asuna knew about Silica and Lisbeth's attraction to her husband, and how to deal with them. Sayuri was someone she didn't know very well, and a very special person to Kirito. She didn't doubt his fidelity, but a small part of her couldn't help but be jealous of the joy that lit up his eyes whenever he saw his restored companion.

"What's up, Asuna?" Yuuki asked as she sat next to the chestnut-haired girl. "You look like you've got something on your mind."

"Huh?" Asuna said as she looked up at the dark-haired sword maiden. "Oh, hey, Yuuki. How're you doing?"

"I asked you first," Yuuki grinned.

Asuna sighed and leaned her head back as she said, "Well… I don't really even know…"

"Something to do with the new girl?" Yuuki's red eyes twinkled. Out of all the ALO players, Aiko and Yuuki were the only one' to retain their in-game appearances. "Sayuri, right?"

"Y-yeah…" Asuna admitted guiltily. "I mean, I trust Kazuto and everything, but I can't help but worry about us… She's was the first person in SAO to really get to know him and all, so a part of me just wonders if any of those old feelings will return…"

"What feelings?" a small voice asked. Asuna looked up to see Yui walking up to them, a perplexed look on her face. "Is everything okay, Mama?"

"I think so, Yui…" Asuna sighed. "I'm just not sure."

"Are you worried about Miss Sachi?" Yui persisted. When Asuna only shrugged and stared into the fire she was sitting beside, the little girl continued on to say, "Don't worry about it, Mama. Daddy's just really glad to see his friend again."

"How can you be sure, Yui?" Asuna asked quietly, not looking up.

"Because when Daddy and Miss Sachi were together in SAO, their emotional connection seemed different to yours and Daddy," Yui explained simply. "They were very close, yes, but I don't think that they were ever in love like you and Daddy were."

"What's Yui talking about?" Yuuki asked curiously.

"Back in SAO, she was supposed to be a mental healthcare program, but Akihiko Kayaba prevented her from interacting with the players," Asuna replied. "She had the ability to basically tell what people were thinking while she watched them. She's still pretty perceptive if you hadn't noticed." Asuna smiled slightly as her daughter sat with her and leaned into her chest with her eyes closed.

"Maybe you should get to know Miss Sachi," Yui suggested. "She's a really nice lady, and maybe if you two got to know one another, she might not scare you so much." Asuna said nothing in response again, but she nodded in assent.

When Aiko and Yuuki took the pills that Tiki had given Kazuto, they were given their Imp wings again, and they immediately took great pleasure in being able to fly again. Sayuri was given the blue wings of an Undine, much like Asuna had chosen in ALO, even though she now had white wings of an Alf. Seeing the others take to the sky so easily made her feel a bit more nervous than usual, and not even Kazuto could get her to try flying, even though she excelled at wind and healing magic with the help of Lissa and Ricken's tutoring.

"I… I think I'll stick to fighting from the back," she said when Kazuto tried to argue that she would be able to fight a lot better from the air, right above the enemy. "I'd probably just get in the way again… Maybe I should just stick to healing, actually…"

"Nu-uh," Asuna said as she walked up to the younger girl, who instinctively tried to cower from the strong and commanding presence that the Lightning Flash exerted. Asuna grabbed her by the hand, winked at Kazuto so that Sayuri couldn't see and pulled her to the outskirts of the camp. "If you're gonna be hanging out with us, you need to be able to hold your own, girl."

"B-but…" Sayuri protested weakly.

"No buts!" Asuna grinned a trifle maliciously. "If you're gonna be hangin' around Kirito, you'd better be able to keep up, because he can't spend all of his time worrying about you on the battlefield, okay?" With that, she shot up into the sky, holding Sayuri by the hand.

"W-Wait!" Sayuri gasped. "I-I can't fly! I don't know how!"

"Let's hope you're a quick learner, then!" Asuna grinned down at her. "Don't worry, I'll catch you if I need to- just try to flex your shoulder blades to spread your wings! Gliding is pretty easy, you just gotta keep your wings open!"

"Wait, wha-?!" Sayuri gasped. "No, don't-!" Asuna dropped the girl and immediately shot down after her. She grinned at Sayuri's panic-stricken face as she plummeted towards the earth, stiff as a statue.

"Flex, Sachi!" Asuna shouted. "Or do you want to make Kirito come to your rescue every time?!" The words were meant to anger the other girl into action, but instead, Asuna saw a different emotion cross the other girl's face. It wasn't hurt, sadness, anger or even annoyance that twisted Sayuri's face now. It was stark terror.

Her blue wings shot open, and Asuna mimicked the moment, catching the air beneath her wings and turning her freefall into a gentle descent. The two girls looked at one another across the space that separated them, one terrified, and the other curious. "What are you so afraid of, Sachi?" Asuna asked bluntly.

"Death," she almost whispered.

"Kirito won't let that happen again," Asuna replied.

"Not my death," Sayuri replied, her body still rigid with fear, her face as white as a sheet. "Kirito's. Naga told me just how much my death had caused him to suffer, which is one of the reasons I chose to come here. But now that I've seen how much my death hurt him myself, I'm terrified that if he dies, I wouldn't be able to handle it… I don't have anyone like you to help me live through something like that."

Her response, surprised Asuna so much, she couldn't come up with an answer for some time. Then, just before they touched the ground, Asuna said, "Well, this time around, Kirito has me to protect him. So don't worry- I'll keep him safe for you. But…"

"But what?" Sayuri asked.

"I can't do it all by myself," Asuna admitted. "I wouldn't have made it this far without Yui and my friends to help me protect Kirito. And since Klein… isn't here anymore… We need somebody to take up the slack. Think you're up for the job?"

"N-Not yet…" Sayuri said timidly. "But… If I can help keep Kirito safe, then I'll do my best- just like he tried so hard for me, even after I was gone." The two girls landed gently on the ground and shook hands, an understanding finally passing between them.

Yui was right, Asuna smiled to herself. Go figure. "Okay, let's try flying again. You up for it, Sachi?"

"No, but I'll try anyway," Sayuri said with a trembling smile.

"Okay, you two," Chrom said as he looked at the map of the capital city. "Give me something here."

"Right away, your highness," Kazuto said with a trace of mockery. "Let's start with the basics- there's going to be two parts to this whole operation. We'll need to breach the city itself before we make our way to the castle where Walhart is hiding in. Once we're in, we'll mostly leave the fighting to the Ylissean-Feroxi League. Our main target will be the castle, obviously."

"Kazuto is going to be handling the planning on taking the city itself," Robin said when the Black Swordsman paused to take a breath. "I'll be coordinating the siege on the castle."

"How bad are we looking?" Chrom asked.

"They outnumber us three to one, easily," Kazuto reported. "They have the home advantage, and the walls to hide behind. However, morale may be wavering with Yen'fay's death, which works in our favor."

"Yes, but… Our best rider is still…" Robin hesitated, still unsure of how to bring up the subject of Cordelia.

"How is she?" Chrom asked bluntly.

"Terrible," Robin replied flatly. "She barely eats, I never see her outside of her tent except to pack and set it up, but I don't think she sleeps, she basically handed off her pegasus to Sumia to look after, and she doesn't talk to anybody. She's… like a Risen, almost."

"That bad?" Chrom gasped.

"If not, worse," Kazuto muttered.

"Maybe I should talk to her," Chrom went to suggest, but Robin and Kazuto both had other ideas.

"No!" they shouted together, startling their prince. "I mean, it wouldn't really be… seemly," Robin said weakly.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You're a married man, and the ruler, no less," Kazuto answered this time. "I mean, people might start talking if you went and… uh… talked to her all alone."

"Especially when she's upset," Robin added helpfully.

"I'm her commanding officer, so it's only natural that I check on her well-being," Chrom said, still missing the point. "Why should that be a problem?"

"Chrom, it might be natural to you, but not to most other people," Robin groaned. "Look, just… trust me, okay? I'll get Sumia to talk to her, or if need be, I'll have Sully scare her back into shape, alright?"

Chrom thought about it, then shrugged. "You know best, Robin," he said at last. "I'll leave it to you. But for now, perhaps we should discuss where to place our newest recruits in combat?"

"Sure," Kazuto nodded. "I'd already been thinking about that, actually."

"What did you have in mind?"

"Robin, are Morgan and Marth allowed to fight like the other future children?" Kazuto asked as he looked at his friend in the eye.

Robin nodded once in response. "I don't like it, but yes, I will permit them to fight," he said. "I'm starting to understand what went through your head all those months ago."

"Sucks, huh?" Kazuto grinned wryly.

"Gentlemen?" Chrom said impatiently. "The plan?"

"Right, sorry," Kazuto said as he got out some of the wooden pieces that they used to represent Ylissean units. "I'm thinking…"

"Next time, I only want Robin to be in charge of the thinking," Chrom said uncomfortably as he looked at the looming wall surrounding the capital. "I like his plans better."

"We'll be fine, dear," Sumia grinned. "Robin trusts Kirito. And you of all people know how to trust others."

"I know," the blue-haired man sighed. Then he straightened, drew his sword and raised it high. "Shepherds!" he cried. "Charge! For Ylisse!"

"For Ylisse!" they echoed.

"For Emmeryn!" he shouted.

"For Emmeryn!" the cried louder.

"And for Klein!" Kirito shouted from above, flanked by all of the fairies.

"For Klein!" This time, Cordelia's voice was clearly heard above the rest as she brandished her spear high over her head, eager to sheathe it in the body of the monster that had killed their friend.

Kirito: Man, Asuna really had it out for Sachi! I had no idea she could be that jealous!

Mataras: Take it from someone who just got engaged- when girls tell you that it's okay that you hang out with old friends that are girls, it usually isn't, unless they're friends with them, too. In any case, this chapter, I wanted to focus a little more on the social circles of the old SAO gang and how someone coming back from the dead might affect their relationships with one another- don't worry, Kirito will remain loyal as always. And next chapter, I'll be sure to show the conversation that Cordelia has with Sumia and Sully- I look forward to that.

Robin: Oh, so you're back.

Mataras: Yeah, no thanks to you. My ribs and legs are still recovering... Cordelia was not gentle with her spear.

Robin: Rule twenty-eight of my personal tactics; if you can divert an attacking force from yourself to another target, do it.

Mataras: Coward.

Robin: I'm a man that makes sure his priorities are straight, thank you very much.

Kirito: This could go on for a while... So I'll just close things off by saying congratulations to Mataras on his engagement, and wish you all a good day! Next time- Taking the Capital, Part Two.

Mataras: That's "Part the Second"!

Kirito: Same thing!