Chapter One - Brave First Steps

Forrest Area - 20km from Vale

It was quite, there was nobody around. Nobody to see the lone bolt of lightning that stuck in the clearing for a solid minute. Nobody to hear the noise as it cracks an crackles through the area. Most importantly there was nobody to see the four bodies that it left behind, stunned on the floor of the clearing.

Kirigaya Suguha, also known as Leafa of the Sylphs, was confused this was not helped by the feeling of disorientation from she had just experienced. Looking around she started to collect herself by thinking out loud. "What the, no, where am I? Did Kazuto try to make a new game? Why am I in my ALO avatar?" Looking down to find herself in her green and white dress, brown corset, and sturdy boots. She also found her sword the Wind Fleuret at her waist

"Leafa! Are you alright?"

Shocked out of her reverence, she turned around to see three figures behind her. The first two she recognized easily and the third she felt she should know but couldn't quite place them. Kazuto was there dressed as he usually was in game, all in black, of course. It was comforting to see him in his black long coat, shirt, and trousers. He also had an armour plate over his heart, and his swords strapped to his back, the black hilt of Elucidator and the pale blue of Dark Repulser, peaking over his shoulders.

Asuna stood to his right dressed in an unfamiliar white dress with a red skirt and accents, she also wore white and red boots that went up to her thighs. At her waist sat her rapier Lambent Light poised and deadly, ready for any threat they might face.

The final figure stood between Asuna and Kazuto, looking as if she had always belonged between the two. The young girl, and she was young, looking no older than 10, was dressed in a simple white dress with a thick pink sweater over the top. Over her shoulder was a short staff that could double as a cudgel or mace. "Yui-chan?" Questioned Suguha.

"It's me, aunt Sugu."

"Sugu? What's going on how did you get here?" Asked Kirito.

"I came in from school and came to tell you about the freaky storm that's came out of nowhere outside. It's weird, no clouds, just lightning and an aurora clear across the sky. The lightning was really near the house to, any way I'll just log ... out, hey where's my menu gone!" Cried Suguha.

"We've noticed that to, we were relaxing with Yui on a private server when the world went white and we couldn't access our menus either" said Kazuto, "this is weird thought, have you noticed, everything seems too real. We were connected with our NerveGears and we know what the world's graphics should be like, everything here seems too detailed."

SNAP. They all turn to see Asuna break off a small branch from one of the trees. "That. Shouldn't be possible trees are usually immortal objects. By this isn't even breaking down." She states.

"Mummy, Daddy, I think I can feel my hands," poking her self over her arms, "it's not just data." Turning quickly she pulled her parents into a swift embrace. "This... this is real, I'm really here, and hugging you, and, and it's real." She whispers the gravity of it sinking in to her.

So distracted by this turn of events only Suguha heard the low growling sound as the Beowulf entered the quiet clearing. Turning to the noise Suguha drew her blade and called out. "Stay back! Stop or I will kill you!" The Grimm paused for a second before lundging at the un-prepared trio. As the beast leaped, so did Suguha piercing the monster with a straight thrust.

As the remains dissolved into black particles, she asked aloud "what was that, some kind of mob?"

"I don't know but I no longer feel comfortable just standing here, I programmed our bodies to be a merger between our SAO and ALO, avatars. We should still be able to fly, I'll go up and see if there's anything nearby." With that Sugu noticed that indeed all threes ears were the pointed ears of Fay and Kazuto sprouted a pair of black shimmering wings and shot into the sky.

High above Kirito could see a great city not too far off. It reminded him somewhat of some of Aincrads larger towns mixed with the skyways of Arrun. Landing he told the others what he had seen, Asuna ever practical recommended walking so as not to draw attention to themselves. With that our heroes took their first steps into this new world in hopes of reaching shelter and safety before nightfall.

Author note

Chapter one done
Next chapter will probably cover the events ofepisode one. Read and reviews, but please be kind.