Summary: Instead of Alice stumbling into the Dark Territory. Kirito is the one who fell face first into the Territory. How will this minor element bring forth major changes? AU.

A/N Stumbled into this idea while reading a post on reddit. Thank you so much to the user who posted this idea credits to them. I don't own SAO. English isn't my native language so I apologise for any grammatical and spelling errors. Also I haven't read the light novels and only have the knowledge from the anime so I apologise for any mistakes made on my part.

Prologue

Kirito knew there was something wrong, he definitely knew something was up here. The moment he saw the otherworldly landscape, the Dark Territory. His stomach churned in anxiety. Whenever he has this feeling in his gut, something bad definitely happens.

Eugeo,Alice and Kirito were making their way through caves of the End Mountain to get a look at the Blue Rose Sword they had tried to carry the sword back with them but it was difficult and heavy and impossible to carry.The three of them decided to head back to Reluid because they felt that it was getting dark but things had terribly gone downhill from there. They were lost in the Labyrinth. Eugeo,Kirito and Alice made their way towards the Cave eventually reaching the border of the cave that lead to theDark Territory.

Two Knights are fighting on the ravines'.Their strikes quick and sharp. Metal grinding against Metal. Alice recognises one of them as an Integrity Knight .Suddenly the sword strikes of the blue man clad in armour are very slow the dark night on the loosing end of the battle. The sword strikes become one sided.

The children witness the Dark Knight getting stabbed, the swordsman clutching his chest as he gurgles and falls down, blood slowly covering the ravines. The integrity knight sheathed his sword and didn't even bother to look back. As if there was pile of durt in feet. Not bothering to offer the dead prayers.

Eugeo, Kirito and Alice look horrified bile rising up their throats. The three of them look at each other with wide frightened eyes. Eugeo's heart beats rapidly; he didn't know what to do. How he could help . Alice desperately wants to help the profusely bleeding knight, her eyes scared but determined to help the knight. Eugeo's looks at Kirito whose eyes are glassy and unfocused as if lost in a sea of memories. He didn't know what triggered black haired child's reaction. Eugeo could not move he couldn't stop Alice from running and crossing the border. He shouts.Kirito's sees Alice moving he knows entering the Dark territory is against the Taboo Index. His previously glassy eyes have regained their focus. He thinks. Instincts honing as he is able to run after Alice and pull her arm.

Alice didn't know when she starts running, didn't know when she was pulled back by Kirito, didn't recognise the shout by Eugeo and didn't recognise Kirito on the ground, tripped his hand touching beyond the border touching the Dark Territory.

Alice sees Kirito on the ground and sees his hand sticking out of the border. She didn't notice Eugeo beside her. His face perplexed and scared. All Alice could register was she was going to violate the Taboo Index and Kirito's sacrifice. She didn't know what would happen to Kirito, she couldn't imagine to say least. Death? Eugeo knelt down beside Kirito a hand for him to grab. Kirito took it and dusted off his clothes.

"Kirito are you okay?" Eugeo asked concern evident in his voice.

"Yea I'm fine" Kirito said.

A portal appears on the top of their heads a white head sticking out and muttering a code. The portal then closes. None of them ever noticed the presence of the creepy eyed head.

Alice's voice is barely a frequency. "Kirito why did you do this? Why did do it? Why? Even though you knew I was about to violate the Taboo Index?Why?" She didn't know when she starts crying didn't register Eugeo and Kirito hugging her and whispering soft soothing words. They rubbed circles in her back as a way to comfort her.

"What's a rule when you want to rescue the dead? Your human Alice you have the courage and empathy to help someone who is about to die. That is something that is beyond the taboo Index. To help someone during desperate times is not a crime at all. It is humanity. Your kind Alice very kind" Kirito said gently, trying to comfort her from crying.

"Yea Alice. You tried doing something that I couldn't manage to do. I was standing there frozen while you ran to help the knight. You didn't think about disobeying the index and chose to do something that is right. I was being a coward standing there shocked and scared of shit of disobeying those rules while you displayed the confidence and courage to not think of yourself and help the needy." Eugeo said. He curled his fists in anger, Eugeo looked away ashamed of himself. He didn't know why he froze he it was as if fear gripped him and paralysed him. Sure after seeing a dead body that is the expected reaction but Eugeo didn't know why he didn't run after Alice maybe it was because he didn't want to break the rules. That thought made him pause. His stomach churned in disgust. The revelation made bile rise up his throat that he was petrified of disobeying the rules beyond the lives of his friends.

Kirito seeing Eugeo distracted and facial expression in that of disgust put a hand on his friend's shoulder. Trying to calm him down. "Eugeo that is an mostly expected reaction and is natural but that's okay." He winced at his wording." Fear is something that has a grip on all humans. You,me Alice everyone, the important part is to overcome it." He learnt that lesson the hard way "I know you're thinking about why you couldn't chase Alice but it was a reaction. You did the majority of the work by alerting me and waking me up. If you hadn't then maybe we don't know what would have happened"

Alice was shocked to say the least she didn't know her boys could be capable of such insight and philosophical thoughts. She is very grateful to have them in lives. But Kirito's sacrifice lingered on the back of her mind. She was definitely indebt to Kirito. For now she wanted to focus on the present and think of the consequences of her actions later. That thought made her wince but she tried to mask it away. She hugged the both of them Kirito.and Eugeo which thinned the ice somewhat. She grinned a mega watt grin that melted all the gloom away. Kirito and Eugeo looked at her with smiling features. The gloom officially melted away

"I didn't know you were capable of such thoughts Kirito" Eugeo said nughing his friend by the side. "It is as if you have lived this experience before." Eugeo said looking curious he didn't know how right he was. Kirito's eyes turned glassy for a second but he soothed his features quickly. From there the two of them started to banter. Alice looked fondly at both of them.

The three of them quickly send their prayers and walked back. Each of them had learnt an important lesson today.

XX

So here's the prologue. I know it's very short and I apologise for it. I can't wait to write what happens next. Reviews, suggestions, criticisms and corrections. Have a great day or night! 3

Stay safe and healthy!