Chapter Text
“What do you mean, she has to go back there?!”
Alice Zuberg winced as Asuna Yuuki slammed her fists onto the table. The once calm and meditated young woman looked as if she was ready to strangle the man in front of her.
Takeru Higa winced at Asuna’s tone as he sat up straight in his seat. “Okay, I understand how insane it sounds.”
Asuna gave him an annoyed look. “We’re talking about the same place we all fought a war in to get Alice out of there. The same place that aged all of us by years when in real time we were only gone for a couple days. The same place that killed Kirito!” She shrieked, her eyes briefly filling with tears.
Alice placed a gentle hand on Asuna’s shoulder, looking down at the mention of his name. Despite the three months that had passed since they all left Underworld, the wound was still as fresh. For Alice, it was like she would never forget the blinding light that struck Kirito as he fell backward, never to wake again.
And when Vector had destroyed their camp and nothing remained of Alice’s tent save for a wheelchair, it seemed like all hope was gone.
The only good thing that came out of that mess was that Alice could finally be free. Seijirou Kikuoka said they would continue to look for a way to revive Kirito, but it seemed hopeless as now they had to resort to cryofreezing his body in an effort to preserve it.
All that false hope and little promises meant nothing in the face of a desperate family and friends that wanted to see Kirito back. Alice knew by the start of the third month that he wasn’t coming back. She was so sure that he was… dead. Gone, and probably in need of having his body buried.
And yet, here Higa was, desperately trying to convince Alice to go back to Underworld- apparently called Unital Ring now. Asuna, having already lost someone dear to her, seemed more than ready to destroy what little remained of Rath.
“Ms. Yuuki, please calm down. I promise you as insane as that proposition might sound to you, it has merit to it.” Higa began.
Alice looked to Asuna, giving her a serious look. “Let us at least hear them Asuna.” She began, eyes pleading with her to calm down.
Asuna looked at her in surprise, before groaning as she sat down carefully on the couch, her angry aura not once receding.
Higa took a deep breath. “I understand, Ms. Yuuki, Ms. Zuberg, I really do. This project, Underworld… it took a lot from you and I completely understand why you both are incredibly reluctant to even listen to what we have to say, especially after all these months.”
Alice looked at him intently. “Get to the point. Why do you need me to go back there?”
“And why now?” Asuna chimed in.
Higa sighed. “Because we believe that Mr. Kirigaya’s Fluctlight has returned.”
A heavy silence filled the conference room. Neither party had said anything for a brief moment.
And then the pin dropped.
“WHAT?!” The two girls shrieked, standing up, causing a coffee mug to fall off the table and crash into a million pieces on the ground.
Higa, despite rubbing his ears in pain, smiled lightly. “Yes, we believe his Fluctlight has been trying to revive itself this entire time. He officially is online yet again. And not just him either.”
Alice stopped for a brief moment, confused. “What do you mean?”
Higa smiled. “Mr. Kikuoka confirmed that a certain Fluctlight belonging to a complex AI similar to yourself came back online at the same time as Mr. Kirigaya.”
Asuna and Alice’s eyes both widened as they understood who Higa was implying.
“E-Eugeo is back?” Alice began, shocked beyond belief. “The two of them are back!?”
Higa nodded. “We believe so.”
“You believe so, or you know so?” Asuna asked, her face growing serious once more. “We have suffered enough from this project. I want a confirmation that-”
“You need me to find them and get them to remember, don’t you?” Alice interjected, looking serious.
“You are very bright, Alice.” Higa groaned. “It is a lot like reincarnation for Fluctlights. Even though it felt like months for us, it has been centuries in which their souls have been dormant and in healing. They are living new lives with no memories of the past. And the only way we can bring at least Kirigaya back to his body is to make him remember his ‘past’ life, so to speak.”
Asuna nodded slowly. “And you think that Alice, the person that Kirito and Eugeo saw last, will be successful in this?”
Alice pressed a finger to her chin, weighing her options. “…How can I do anything if they don’t even remember me? You said it was like reincarnation. These two might not even have the same names as ‘Kirito’ and ‘Eugeo’!”
“True, but I’m sure you’ll be able to recognize them. And as for the memories, we have a solution to that.” Higa replied. “You need to infiltrate the… Axiom Church where all previous memories are held as a failsafe.”
“Why the hell did you make a failsafe from the inside out? And why can you just give them their memories from here?” Asuna began, frowning yet again.
“Because, Ms. Yuuki,” A voice came from the entrance to the room. “As you should well know from last time, we don’t have the ability to suddenly insert memories into conscious and living AI’s. We need someone to go in and help them, just like how you dropped in to help Alice.”
Seijirou Kikuoka walked into the conference room with the grace one would expect from a CEO of a rather sketchy company.
“We are stuck, Alice. And we are so close to saving Kirito. You need to help us, please.” Kikuoka started. “I understand what it means for you. I can assure both you and Ms. Yuuki that no harm will come to you. Because you are already a Fluctlight, this will be safe for you. The minute things get dicey for you, to the point where your life gets close to the zero mark, we will pull you out. We have tested it with other dummy Fluctlight. You will be okay.”
Asuna placed a hand on Alice’s shoulder. “I… It’s your choice Ally. I’m here for you no matter what. And… If we can really save him…”
Alice nodded. “It’s worth it.” Alice turns to the two men. “Alright. Let’s do it. You’re going to need to give me some context on Underworld though. You said… centuries?”
Alice set herself down on the working table slowly, feeling a sense of nostalgia. It was only a couple months ago since she woke up in a synthetic body in a completely new world.
It was strange to think about how much Underworld had apparently changed in the time she was gone. There were engines now, planes, and the Axiom Church had a lot more regulation to it than just a single Pontifex in charge or everything.
Higa said that she will most likely wake up in Kirito Town, which admittedly both she and Asuna laughed at when hearing it for the first time.
Apparently, the town was named after a hero that defeated the evil Pontifex many centuries ago and helped in assuring a new era of peace and prosperity. Alice was impressed that they managed to even get Kirito’s name let alone name a town after him. She could only imagine what Kirito would have said to the whole predicament. Probably become a blushing mess and say how he totally didn’t deserve it.
The world itself was better too. People no longer had to get married just to look at someone in a romantic light. Apparently while more intimate relations with people were still saved for marriage, kissing and hugging was okay. Asuna rolled her eyes at the fact that it took centuries for an AI civilization to get even this far. Suguha, who later joined with Sinon and Klein for the mission in making sure her trip ran smoothly, tried to point out that Quinella (the name send shivers down Alice’s spine) did leave a lasting impression on the world.
It was nice, despite everything, to hear that the world she grew up in learned to move past the restrictive Taboo Index and create a new world that was fairer to its people.
“Are you ready, Ms. Zuberg?” Higa asked from the control room.
Alice raised her head to smile at a worried looking Asuna as she sat next to Sinon and Klein, who also came within their schedules to see her off.
She gave a thumbs up and rested her head on the pillow. I will be able to see them again in no time at all, Alice thought to herself. All I have to do is find Kirito and Eugeo. Then we can be happy again.
She felt her consciousness wane as she looked at Asuna’s smiling and hopeful face one more time.
“I’ll find them…” Alice murmured as she finally blacked out.
The world stayed dark for a considerable amount of time. Alice wondered for a brief moment if Higa messed up the process and she was going to wake up in Asuna’s arms yet again. Wasn’t too bad of a thought if she was being honest with herself.
Alice didn’t get too much time to think about that prospect however, before she suddenly was jolted awake.
She felt a hand gently pushing her to wake up. Alice groaned as she got off the dirt, swaying slightly as she got to her feet.
A young boy with curious brown eyes and fluffy brown hair looked at her, clearly confused. “There are better places to sleep than on the ground you know.” He said as he helped Alice up.
Alice frowned. “I know, kid. I… I must have passed out here.”
The kid looked worried. “Do you remember anything?”
Alice shook her head, hoping she looked confused enough to make the kid buy her amnesiac tale.
“Is there a place that can help with my forgetfulness?” Alice asked hopefully.
The young boy nodded enthusiastically. “Yeah! But it’s one night’s worth of a car ride from here to the Axium Church.
Curses, Higa. You couldn’t get me closer to the church? Alice grimaced at the thought.
“Don’t worry though! I’m sure our local church will be willing to help you. I’m Haru, by the way.” The kid smiled as he began guiding Alice towards the entrance to a town.
“Where are we going?”
Haru turned and smiled as he walked backward playfully. “We’re on our way to Kirito Town!”
Alice smiled lightly to herself. Still hearing that town’s name makes her smile.
“Okay Haru. Why are you so sure that I will be able to be at the church by sunrise?” Alice asked the enthusiastic boy.
Haru smiled. “Because I’m also off there as well, to visit my brother and his friends. I heard that two of his friends recently got married too! They are back from their honeymoon! One of his friends helped me a lot back when I was learning to study history. I want to congratulate him and also visit my brother. Kill two birds with one stone!”
Alice raised an eyebrow. “Aw, that’s so sweet of you. What convenient luck for me.”
Haru nodded. “Yup! You really are lucky Ms… uh…”
Alice couldn’t help but chuckle. “My name is Alice.”
Haru smiled. “Nice to meet you Ms. Alice!”
Once the duo made it to the village, Haru, somehow, managed to convince his parents to let him have Alice come with him on the journey to the Axiom Church. Alice wonders if Higa had anything to do with this stroke of luck.
For now, all Alice had to do was wait until sundown to get to the Axium Church. From there, maybe she can find some familiar faces that will help her find the people she came here to collect.
The morning came as Alice woke up to Haru jostling her in the car they used to steam drive up to the capital.
The car they used was definitely on the older side, what with an engine that was dated back the Industrial Revolution, according to what Asuna had taught her in her lessons about the real world.
Underworld may have advanced in technology, but they still have a lot of work to do. Alice got out of the car with Haru just in time to see a line of planes fly overhead into the capital, supposedly to land. Haru cheered at them and raced through the streets of the capital.
Alice sighed as she followed after him, a strange sense of nostalgia washing over her as she got closer and closer to the redesigned certainly still recognizable Axiom Church. After shining an ID at the guards, and a note saying that Alice was a guest of Haru, the duo walked into the spacious church.
Alice couldn’t deny that she was proud of the people of Underworld. Look at that, normal people walking in and out of the church. Sure, they needed an invitation but still! This was a marked improvement from the last time she was here.
Haru cheered as he ran up to an older man with fluffy chocolate brown hair. Haru jumped into the official’s waiting arms as he placed a kiss to the bearded cheek of the man.
This must be Haru’s brother, Alice thought to herself as she approached the two brothers.
Haru got down from his brother’s arms. “Haku! This is Lady Alice!” Haru cheered. “She woke up in front of Kirito Town and I found her. She doesn’t remember anything. So-”
Haku smiled. “She needs to visit the Library of Memories?”
Haru nodded, as he turned to Alice. “Ms. Alice! This is my big brother, Haku! And- IS THAT?! AAAAAAH!” Haru suddenly screamed and ran past Alice.
Alice stared at Haku for a second confused. Haku however, started to laugh.
Alice turned around to see Haru walk into the arms of a masked man that had newly walked into the church. The man smiled as he hugged the excitable child back.
Haku turned to Alice. “Forgive Haru, Lady Alice. He is always like that.”
Alice smiled as she followed after Haku as he walked towards his younger brother. They got to Haru in time for the masked man to gently put Haru down and go to shake Haku’s hand.
“Nice to see you again, Sir Haku.” The masked man began, smiling.
Haku simply laughed. “Oh please, drop the formalities.” The two men smiled and hugged each other.
Haru came next to Alice, smiling at the two friends’ hug. Alice on the other hand, was slightly curious. The masked man had a sense of familiarity to him that Alice couldn’t describe.
Haku turned to Alice and Haru, gesturing towards the masked man. “Lady Alice, this is the Integrity Pilot Commander Eolyne Herlentz. Eolyne, this is Lady Alice, a young amnesiac woman my brother found at Kirito Town yesterday.”
Alice smiled politely as the commander went to shake her hand, offering her a mirrored smile.
“I’m sure you’ll need help getting to the Library of Memories. My husband can help you with that, and ah! Speak of the devil.”
Alice turned around just in time and all previous thoughts in her head went out the window.
A young man in a wheelchair was coming toward them, beautiful silver eyes shining in the light as his raven black hair was pulled up into a messy ponytail. He held two very familiar looking swords in his lap; one a night sky purple, the other a shimmering ice blue.
Eolyne walked up to the young man in the wheelchair, placing a soft kiss to the crown of the man’s head.
In that single moment, Alice knew why Eolyne seemed so similar. His golden locks, the green eyes of his mask, the blue aesthetic, his husband…
“Lady Alice, meet Axiom Church’s best and most reckless tactician, Kazuto Herlentz.”