Thanks for your continued support on this little project of mine. Here is part 2 of my Log Horizon anime fan fiction, A Tale of Log Horizon-The Gunslinger & The Bard. But, before we start, I to talk about comments.

From my last post on this fan fiction, someone submitted a one word comment . . . Cringe. That’s all they said. Okay, but what about it made you cringe: the story, my writing, the characters, what? If you’re going to criticize me, then explain it. It’s like getting a one star book review and saying “hated it” as your only comment. I can take the honest criticism, I just need to know what it is. Leaving one word tells me you really didn’t take the time to read it all the way through. I don’t mean to bash the critics here, but if your going to leave a comment, then do it right!

Sorry about the soapbox rant. Without further ado, here is the next installment of my fan fiction, A Tale of Log Horizon-The Gunslinger & The Bard.

* * *

Part One Recap: In the world of Elder Tales, more than 70,000 Japanese players found themselves trapped inside the world of their favorite MMORPG. In the adventurer’s town of Akiba, the Round Table Conference maintained the peace amongst the guilds calling this city home. In Minami, Plant Hywaden wields power over the entire city with the blessing of the Holy Empire of Westlande. Their quest for control over the Crescent Islands of Yamato sent them to Akiba to field test a drug capable of knocking out adventurers by restricting the flow of magic. Their efforts were thwarted by the arrival of Gideon Hawkmoon, the sorcerer gunslinger from America. It took him more than a year, crossing an ocean, two continents and four servers, to reach Akiba. Gideon travelled all this way to be reunited with his wife from the real world, Henrietta. Their reunion caught everyone in Log Horizon and the Crescent Moon Alliance by surprise as they waited to hear the story behind the romance.

***

The members of Log Horizon and the Crescent Moon Alliance took their gathering off the streets of Akiba and into the Log Horizon guildhall. It’s hard to miss one of the most unique buildings in Akiba due to the giant tree growing through the center of the building and out the top. Log Horizon worked around it and made it their home.

In the main dining/living room, while Chief Nyanta served refreshments, everyone gathered together to listen to the story of how Gideon and Henrietta met. While most of the junior members sat with Serara and Major, the others were more interested in what Gideon had to say.

“Henrietta and I met the same way I met you Naotsugu—through my business dealings,” Gideon explained.

“What kind of business?” Tetora asked.

“The company I worked for developed the leading edge in 3D printing. They decided to expand into Japan and, since my ma’s Japanese and I could speak the language, they picked me for the job.”

“Gideon came to my accounting office looking for a financial partner for their expansion,” Henrietta added. “In his demonstration to my firm, he printed a 3D sculpture of the White Tree. When I saw that, I knew he played Elder Tales.”

“We went out to dinner that night and started talking about our avatars, what raids we’d been on, players we knew, etc. After dinner, we met up in-game and formed a party. After that, I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life on God’s green earth with her,” Gideon continued with a wink at Henrietta. She leaned in and laid her head against his shoulder, happy to hear him say that.

“This went on for a few months while I worked on setting things up,” he concluded. “Then, I got the news that my company wanted me to stay on as the vice president of our Japan operations. That meant I would be staying here. That night, I proposed to Henrietta, and she said yes.”

“That still doesn’t explain how you’re married!” Mariella interjected, still upset at Henrietta keeping this secret from her.

“We’re getting to that Marielle,” Henrietta snapped, “We were about to announce about our engagement when Gideon got called back to the United States to help on a project that had fallen behind. It would be a year before we would be together again, so . . .”

“So, we decided to have an impromptu marriage ceremony and get hitched. I wanted Henrietta to know I was committed to her. I knew someone who could officiate for us, and before I left, we got married.”

“Who did you get to perform the ceremony?” Akatsuki asked. Both Henrietta and Gideon hesitated to answer until Chief Nyanta raised his hand.

“That would be me, nya,” he said, surprising everyone. “I took an online course to earn a certification to perform marriages for a cousin’s wedding, you dig.”

“Chief Nyanta told me about it one time during a break in a raid with the tea party,” Gideon added. “I asked him if he would perform the ceremony for us, and he agreed.”

“So, let me get this straight. Are you telling me that you’ve met Chief Nyanta IRL?” Shiroe asked about the Chief’s actual appearance in real life as everyone waited patiently for the answer.

“Yes, and before you ask, I can’t tell y’all what Chief Nyanta looks like in the other world. We were both sworn to secrecy.” Henrietta nodded her head, disappointing everyone wanting to know more about the swashbuckler.

“We wanted to hold a big wedding when Gideon finally moved to Japan. I would have told you all about this, but then the Apocalypse happened. He wasn’t active on my friends’ list anymore, so I thought he didn’t cross over like the rest of us. I’m just glad that wasn’t true,” Henrietta concluded, grabbing onto Gideon’s hand.

“And just why can’t any of us see you as active on our friend’s list, Gideon? It’s as if you’re not there!” Naotsugu queried.

“It’s called an illegal entry feedback loop,” Shiroe chimed in as he walked down the stairs holding two documents in his hand. His sudden announcement caught everyone by surprise.

“A what?” Naotsugu asked.

“It’s a defense mechanism in the system when someone tries to enter a server illegally,” Shiroe explained. “Gideon and Major hopped through a fairy ring then crossed four servers to get here. The system didn’t know how to deal with that, so it locked them in a feedback loop. Normally, players would have died by now and been sent back to the cathedral at their point of origin, resetting the system. Leave it to Gideon to beat the odds.”

“You know me, Shiroe, I always bet against the house in cards and life,” Gideon joked.

“So, do you know how to break them out of this loop, Master Shiroe?” Serara asked as fear quivered her voice. “I don’t want Major to go back to America. I’m sure Miss Henrietta doesn’t want Gideon leaving either.”

“Don’t worry, Serara. I think there’s a simple way to fix this.”

“Really? How?” Touya asked.

“By joining a guild,” Shiroe said. “If both of you join a guild here in Yamato, it should break the feedback loop by changing your place of origin from South Angel to Akiba.”

“Yes, but don’t we need our heads-up display to join a guild?” Major questioned.

“In the game, yes, but here, we have other methods of doing that,” Shiroe said as he held up the two documents. With his sub-class as a scribe, Shiroe was proficient at creating documents. “These are basic guild contracts I drew up. Once you sign these, you will essentially be in a guild. Since we have two guild masters here, I think it’s best if you each join a different guild.”

Everyone chatted amongst themselves, but Major spoke up first. “Gideon, I know you’re married to Miss Henrietta, but I need to be in the Crescent Moon Alliance with Serara. I need to be there to protect my little sister and keep her safe. That is, if that’s alright with you, Miss Marielle?”

Marielle could see the desperate need in the big bear’s eyes to be with his little sister, so she couldn’t say no. Besides, the last thing she wanted was that wayward cowboy in her guild. “Of course, Major, we’d be thrilled to have you join the Crescent Moon Alliance.”

Major was excited at the chance of joining the guild, so was Serara, who hugged him again. But then, a wave of guilt came over him. “Gideon, I . . .”

“Don’t you worry none, Major. I ain’t about to separate you and your little sister. I’m still in Akiba with Henrietta. We don’t need to be in the same guild to be together, right darlin’?” Henrietta smiled and nodded her head. “Shiroe, I guess I’m all yours.”

Shiroe finished filling in the contracts before both he and Marielle signed them. Gideon and Major stepped up to the table and signed the contracts as the ink gave off a soft glow with each stroke of the pen. Once it was completed, they looked up at their heads-up display. The two waited patiently until it finally shifted, showing them in Akiba and part of their respective guilds. Even Henrietta checked her friends’ list, and Gideon’s name reappeared in it. Shiroe’s plan worked.

What caught Gideon by surprise was his level. On the day of the Apocalypse, he had been maxed out at level 90, just like most of the top players. Now, his readout showed he was at level 98. “What in tarnation? Level 98?” Gideon exclaimed before he looked over at Major. He stated their journey at level 65, but he was now 81. “Major! You’re at 81? How in the Sam Hill did this happen?”

“Well, think about it?” Shiroe interjected. “You faced a lot of adversity in your travels to get here, from monsters and other players to the deadly crossing itself. I think the system rewarded you for defying all the odds.”

Gideon and Major were ecstatic, realizing their increased levels, but then turned their attention to Doc, standing off to the side by himself. They both realized that they wouldn’t have made it to Akiba without his help. Gideon felt guilty knowing that there was no way to get Doc all the way back to Akutan island.

“Doc, Major and I owe you so much for making all this possible,” Gideon said as he walked over to the Inuit medicine man. “I think you’ve repaid that debt of honor.”

“With respect, Gideon, only the Great Spirit can release me from my debt to you and Major,” Doc twitched with a hint of a smile. “I will remain here in Akiba with you, if that is acceptable with you, Master Shiroe.”

 “We would be honored to have you with us in Log Horizon,” Shiroe replied with a bow of respect to the medicine man. Even Henrietta and Serara showed their appreciation with a gentle hug.

“Thank you for getting my husband here safely, Doc,” Henrietta said with a peck on the cheek. “I think I owe you that debt now.”

“Me too!” Serara added. “If it weren’t for you, my brother would still be in America. Thank you so much, Mister Doc, sir.” The ordinarily stoic Doc almost broke down in tears himself from the outpouring of appreciation and acceptance.

At the same time, Major walked up to Nyanta and bowed before speaking. “Chief Nyanta, Serara told me it was you who protected her during her time in Susukino. I can’t thank you enough for rescuing her from the clutches of that monster, Demikas.”

“There’s no need to thank me, my man. It was my duty to protect a damsel in distress. I was more than happy to help the little lady out.”

“Still, my sword and shield are yours if you ever need it!” Major said again with another bow. Serara jumped over and grabbed both of them by the arms.

“Now I have my two favorite men with me—big brother and Mister Cat!” she said as her joy overflowed from her tiny body.

“Well, I think this calls for a celebration,” Chief Nyanta declared. “We should invite the rest of Crescent Moon over to properly introduce them to their newest guild member, meow?”

“That’s a great idea, Chief!” Touya exclaimed.

“Isuzu and I will head over to the guildhall and bring everyone here!” Minori offered.

“Should we invite Soujiro and Nazuna? I’m sure they’d like to know that Gideon’s here in Akiba!” Naotsugu added.

“What? Is that little flannel mouth and Miss Sassy-Britches here too?” Gideon asked, still confusing everyone with his cowboy vernacular.

“Why don’t we hold off on letting them know just yet,” Shiroe advised. “We first need to brief the Round Table Conference on this drug Plant Hwyaden developed.” Everyone agreed with Shiroe, but Gideon gave a little giggle for some unknown reason.

“What’s so funny?” Naotsugu asked.

“Oh, I just had a thought,” he started to say, “Right about now, those two bushwhackers should have returned to the cathedral in Minami. That means they’re telling Indix who cold-cocked them.” Now everyone had a laugh.

“I think they’re about to make another trip to the cathedral,” Shiroe commented.

***

Nothing goes on in Minami without the direct approval of the Ten-Seat Council, the leaders of Plant Hwyaden. Comprised both adventurers and People of the Land from the Holy Empire of Westlande, the Senate assigned these nobles to demonstrate the shared power between them.

However, they all act under the power of Princess Nureha, but the Fox Tail enchanter was merely a pawn. Indix had complete control over Plant Hwyaden. She managed all of the city’s affairs while using Nureha as a puppet. Her lust for power—to conquer and hold dominion over this new world—was her only goal, by any means necessary. She considered herself a step above all other adventurers, especially Shiroe.

Kazuhiko and KR approached the Ten-Seat Council room. Kazuhiko looked the part as an assassin, his face stern, solemn, and filled with rage. The yukata he wore was as simple as his demeanor. KR, on the other hand, was his exact opposite. The summoner walked like he lived his life—happy-go-lucky and carefree. His green hair was pulled back by oversized pair of shades. His clothes were baggy and comfortable.

“Do you know why Indix wanted to see us?” Kazuhiko asked.

“No idea, but I know that two of her field testers returned via the cathedral. That can’t be good news.” Suddenly the door to the Ten-Council chamber burst open as a body smashed through, engulfed in a fireball before its anima dissipated into the air.

The two men waited for the fire to subside before entering the chamber. Indix was standing at a desk with her back to them. On the floor, the body of an adventurer was riddled with silver knives—her weapon of choice. The anima flew off into the air toward the cathedral and another resurrection as he died.

Although she dressed like a maid—her sub-class—Indix was, in fact, a powerful elf sorcerer. Her body shook with rage as she pulled at the tabletop with an iron grip. They could hear her breathing heavily through clenched teeth.

“Indix? What is it? What’s wrong?” Kazuhiko inquired. Indix continued to stand there, her breathing becoming more intense and vocal.

“He’s here,” was all she finally said. Kazuhiko and KR looked at each other, even more confused.

“He? He who?” KR wondered.

Indix finally turned around to look at them, her face beet red with anger as she screamed, “Gideon Hawkmoon!”

Kazuhiko and KR recognized the name of the sorcerer gunslinger from America and their on-again/off-again teammate in the Debauchery Tea Party. While Indix raged with utter indignation toward Gideon, Kazuhiko smiled at the thought of him on Yamato, and KR just chuckled.

“Well, well . . . things just got very interesting,” he conferred.

***

The celebration at Log Horizon went well into the night as the rooftop was filled with people from both guilds. Most of the guild members in the Crescent Moon Alliance were middle-to-high school age. Most were rescued from a cutthroat guild called Hamelin that used them for slave labor. Thanks to Shiroe, Marielle, and others, they were rescued from their desperate situation, and most of them joined Crescent Moon.

Everyone was having a ball celebrating the arrival of Gideon, Major, and Doc from America. They divided themselves between learning more about the wayward travelers and their connections to their friends in both guilds.

Some gathered around Major as he told them stories of their travels while Serara sat next to him. He recounted being chased by Russian Cossacks, fending off a horde of gnolls in China, even how Gideon persuaded a Korean princess to get them a boat to cross to Yamato. Hearing it from a Bearclaw, a race not native to the Japan server, added to the fun of his stories.

Doc was also spinning stories, tales, and legends of his native people in Alaska. He told them about Sedna and Kiviuq, how the Inuit were born from the sea, and monsters like the Wendigo. These were brand new stories that enthralled everyone, including the junior members of Log Horizon.

Most of the female members of Crescent Moon were busy listening to Henrietta as they pummeled her with questions, wanting to know more about her mysterious new husband. This was a new side to Henrietta, and the girls were excited to hear about how their romance led to marriage, something they all longed for.

Gideon, however, had his hands full with the Mofur sisters, Lelia and Litka. These two were ancients, originally designed to help younger players in Elder Tales by giving out useless and sometimes annoying side quests. Since they joined up with Shiroe and Log Horizon, the two have been content to have a warm bed to sleep in and plenty of food to eat.

“Yay, giddy up, cowboy!” Litka shouted as she rode on Gideon’s back like a bucking bronco.

“No fair, Litka, it’s my turn!” Lelia shouted at her sister. The two remembered when Gideon visited them in the Underground Empire and reveled at the chance to play “Cowboys and Indians” with him again. Gideon was not thrilled with their antics, as Tetora tried to stop the girl’s harassment. Shiroe and the other senior members of Log Horizon were loving it all the same.

The only one not enjoying the festivities was Marielle. She sat off, by herself, next to the rooftop water tower. Her mind spun wildly in a quandary about everything that had transpired today. She’s known Henrietta for years, and to keep a secret like this from her was out of character. She didn’t trust this Gideon Hawkmoon, even though Naotsugu, Shiroe, and the others vouched for him. It left her puzzled and confused even more.

“Can I buy you a drink?” a voice said, startling Marielle out of her daze. Gideon walked over to her, carrying two glasses in one hand and a bottle in the other. Finally free of the Mofur sisters, the gunslinger thought it was time to make amends with Henrietta’s friend.

“No, thank you,” Marielle replied, soft and meekly, not wanting to argue with him.

“Are you sure? This is the best Kentucky bourbon in Yamato. In fact, I think it’s the only Kentucky bourbon in Yamato,” he said as he poured the amber liquid into the two glasses. “But maybe your right; Henrietta did tell me once that you can’t hold your liquor.”

Hearing him say that incensed Marielle, who grabbed the glass out of Gideon’s hand and gulped it down in one motion. That’s when she realized her mistake, coughing and choking on the tempered alcohol.

“Bourbon is a sipping whiskey, Miss Marielle,” he said, slowly refilling her glass. “It’s meant to be savored.” Gideon put the bottle away and sat across from Marielle. He clinked his glass on hers before taking his first sip. They both just sat there in silence as Marielle stared into her glass.

“This is not the Marielle I’ve heard so much about,” Gideon observed. “I plumb thought you were a buckin’ bronco, full of life and ready for a hog-killin’ time! Am I such a bad egg, spoilin’ your fun?”

“Yes!” she shouted before settling down and softening her tone. “Well, that is, I don’t know a thing about you except what everyone’s told me. I thought Henrietta was my best friend, and she couldn’t even trust me enough to tell me about you.”

“And that was my fault, Miss Marielle, as I tried to explain to you before,” Gideon continued. “There’s a lot of delicate issues surrounding my family and me.”

“What do you mean?”

“Have you ever heard of the Morikotu family?”

“Morikotu? Do you mean the construction magnate? That Morikotu?”

“Yep, Morikotu Hajime . . . He’s my grandpappy. You see, my ma is his youngest daughter. She met my pa when he was a U.S. Marine stationed in Yokosuka. They fell in love and wanted to get married, but my grandpappy didn’t approve. He didn’t want some gaijin stealing his daughter and getting a foothold in his company. So, they eloped to America. She left her life and her family behind for love.”

Marielle was enthralled with his story, patiently listening as he continued. “When I first arrived in Japan, I made it a point to go and see him. I made an appointment that followed all the proper protocols and honors, but he still refused to see me. He wouldn’t recognize me as his grandson. It was as if I never existed in his eyes.”

Hearing that upset Marielle, and she felt sorry for Gideon, but it didn’t answer her quandary. “But, I still don’t understand why Henrietta couldn’t tell me about you or your relationship?”

“Because Gideon was protecting me,” Henrietta interrupted as she walked over to the two of them. “Morikotu Construction was one of the accounts my firm worked on, in fact, the biggest. Gideon knew that Morikotu might pull his account away from my company for spite if our marriage was made public. So, for the time being, we kept it a secret.”

Henrietta placed her hand on Gideon’s shoulder, and he took her hand and kissed it gently. “That’s why we were going to tell you in-game, before the Apocalypse happened,” Gideon added. “We thought that this way, it could remain a secret, at least for the time being, but that didn’t exactly go to plan either.”

“I realize I should have told you about Gideon, Marielle, but we were so focused on our guild,” Henrietta continued. “The young ones from Hamelin, Shiroe and Log Horizon, the Round Table, and everything else that’s happened. I didn’t want to add to the burden of having you and others worrying about me or my state of mind.”

“But Chief Nyanta knew! You trusted him with your secret!” Marielle argued, jumping up and getting in Henrietta’s face.

“Chief Nyanta knew I was married to Gideon, but he didn’t know the whole story,” Henrietta shot back, staring down at her friend. Marielle quietly backed off and sat back down. “He kept it a secret to protect me. You, on the other hand, have a bad habit of not being able to keep a secret.”

“What are you talking about? I’ve always kept your secrets!”

Henrietta straightened her glasses, stepped back, and crossed her arms before answering Marielle. “Manza Beach, Okinawa!” was all she said, and a chill ran down Marielle’s spine. She remembered how much trouble Henrietta had with her parents when she accidentally spilled that secret. Gideon shook his head, confused as this was one story he had never heard before.

“What happened at Manza Beach?” he asked, but now it was Henrietta’s turn to act embarrassed.

“Nothing, darling, nothing at all. Just a college vacation went awry!” she said before quickly changing the subject. “Marielle, I promise we will sit down and have a long talk about Gideon and me, but right now, your guild needs you to be your usual ‘life of the party’ self. Now go out there and have some fun.”

Marielle thought long and hard before she gulped down the bourbon and handed the empty glass to Henrietta before heading out amongst her guild, laughing and galivanting about as she joined in on the celebration. Henrietta stared at the empty bourbon glass before laying into Gideon.

“You gave her bourbon? Are you crazy?” she shouted.

“What? My pappy always said a little whiskey between friends is the best way to uncork a bronco.” Gideon’s logic did not sway Henrietta, who rushed away to make sure Marielle wasn’t acting out improperly. Gideon just laughed as he took another sip of his drink.

“I don’t get you,” came a voice from above as Akatsuki, perched on the water tower platform overhead, looked down at him.

“And what don’t you get about me, Miss Akatsuki?”

“I understand you, but I just can’t see how you and Henrietta fit together,” she stated. “Your both complete opposites.”

“Well, my Auntie Em once said that peas in a pod come in all shapes and sizes, and I never argued with her while she was cutting me a piece of homemade apple pie,” Gideon cajoled. “But in all honesty, Henrietta and I are more alike than you think. We’re both smart individuals, focused on our work and each other. What more can you ask for in a relationship?”

“True, but that still doesn’t explain her little . . . problem.”

Gideon laughed when Akasuki said that. “You mean her fixation on cute little bugaboos like you?”

“That’s not even funny!” the little ninja yelled.

“But in all seriousness, Miss Akatsuki, Henrietta’s obsession is a kind of defense mechanism for her,” Gideon explained. “Whenever she gets stressed or upset, hugging and loving on something cute and adorable helps her relax. From what I’ve been told, you’ve been her primary cuddle bear since the Apocalypse.”

“Do you have to put it that way?” Akatsuki sighed.

“In any case, I just want to say thank you, little lady. If it wasn’t for you, I don’t know if Henrietta would have made it through this past year. I couldn’t be here for her, but at least you were.” Hearing that made Akatsuki feel better, knowing she was there for her friend. Even though it meant wearing cute dresses and being constantly assaulted by hugs. “Besides, I’m used to Henrietta’s little quirk,” Gideon concluded. “My sister has the same passion, so in a way, I’m kinda immune to it.”

“Your sister?”

“Yeah, you may have heard of her . . . Celeste Hawkmoon, guildmaster of Eagle Mountain!” Eagle Mountain was a guild on the North America server, one of the largest and most influential guilds. While the infamous “Family” controlled New York and the east coast, Eagle Mountain dominated the west coast.

Akatsuki went wide-eyed with wonder and utter disbelief when she heard that name. She jumped on Gideon, grabbing him by the collar while shaking him violently.

“Are you telling me your sister is THE Celeste Hawkmoon? The Arclight Assassin! The Eagle-Eyed Archer! She was the only woman ever to beat a raid boss single-handedly after the rest of her party died. She’s your sister?”

“Uh, yeah, that’s my little sister,” Gideon stammered as he tried to calm the little ninja down. “If you’d like, I can introduce you someday.”

“Introduce me to Celeste Hawkmoon . . .” The thought of meeting her idol in Elder Tales caused Akatsuki to swoon and nearly pass out. Her sudden dilemma caused panic in the others, especially Henrietta, who rushed to catch the falling Akatsuki.

“Oh, my sweet little Akatsuki!” she cried as she caught her. “Gideon, what did you say to her?”

“Nothing, darlin’, I swear. I just told her about my sister, Celeste, and said I would introduce her!” Hearing that name again caused Akatsuki to breathe heavily and flop around in Henrietta’s arms.

“He’s going to introduce me to the Arclight Assassin, oh!”

***

As the night finally came to an end, the party dispersed. The members of the Crescent Moon Alliance headed back toward their home at the guildhall while Log Horizon was left to clean up. Major left with his new guild, as Shouryuu and Hien promised to find him a room in the guildhall. Serara was just giddy to have her big brother sleeping under the same roof with her.

Naotsugu helped Marielle get back to the guildhall as the overconsumption of Gideon’s bourbon and other adult beverages made her a little tipsy. He had his hands full, trying to keep her on her feet until they got to the guildhall. Add to that the fact that Marielle was all over him, hugging and kissing Naotsugu to no end. He blamed Gideon for getting her drunk, something he would definitely get back at him for later on.

Gideon and Henrietta walked together at the rear of the group. She tightly hung onto his arm as they conversed on their walk through Akiba. They really didn’t have time to talk and be together at the celebration, so they enjoyed this quiet time together.

“You got a great guild there, Henrietta darlin’. You and Marielle did real good, rescuin’ those young’uns and taking them in,” Gideon professed.

“Well, we couldn’t leave them in the hands of Hamelin. Besides, Shiroe and the rest of Log Horizon played a big part in that too.”

“My man Shrioe seems to have his hand into everything here. Does that boy even sleep? Chief Nyanta said he left the party to work on some paperwork in his office.”

“Not really. Shiroe always thinks of others before himself,” Henrietta lamented. “I’ve asked Akatsuki to take better care of him, but even she can’t get him to slow down.”

“Akatsuki and Shiroe, really? I always thought he had a thing for Kanami. Well, I guess even someone like Shiroe can find love in Elder Tales.”

“We all need someone to love . . . Shiroe and Akatsuki, Naotsugu and Marielle, you and me!”

The two continued their walk as Henrietta leaned her head against Gideon’s shoulder. Feeling the strength and warmth of his body was all she needed, but as usual, her mind was on her work and plans for tomorrow.

“So, I have some work to catch up on tomorrow morning, but I thought we could spend the afternoon together. We could have lunch, and I’ll take you on a tour of Akiba, introducing you to everyone. I could meet you at Log Horizon around noon if that’s okay?”

Gideon was used to her complicated planning, but one thing stuck out to him. “Are you kicking me to the curb already, darlin’?”

“What do you mean?” she wondered. “Where were you planning on sleeping tonight?”

“Well, with you. We are hitched, so I thought we’d be spending tonight, and every night, together.”

“Yes, but I can’t have you staying with me at the guildhall,” Henrietta mumbled. “I mean, I don’t want to give the wrong impression, especially to our junior members.”

“Henrietta, I’m sure they all have maws and paws who sleep in the same room together,” Gideon assured her. “They know we’re married, so it’s not going to damage their little minds.”

Henrietta paused, still not sure of things. Besides, she really didn’t want to let him go. Gideon could see how conflicted she was and offered a compromise. This was all new for everyone, but Gideon did make sense.

“Look, darlin’, I’m not talking about raising the roof like we did on our wedding night,” he said, reminding her of that night as she turned red with embarrassment. “But just to be able to sleep next to you and wake up to see your beautiful face in the morning will be enough for me. We can start planning for our family when the time comes.”

His declaration caught Henrietta off guard. They discussed having a family in the real world, but she wasn’t sure about starting one here.

“A family? Gideon, I don’t know if we should even consider that while we’re here,” Henrietta exclaimed. “Between the dangers of the Geniuses, Plant Hwyaden plots and plans, monsters, and raids, I mean, is this even the right environment to raise a child in?”

 “Whoa, slow down, darlin’. . . I think you’re putting the cart before the horse. Now, any world you bring a little one into will have dangers, whether it’s the real world or this one. All that matters is that they have a home and a family that loves them.

“Now, I’m not saying we should start makin’ babies right now,” he continued as Henrietta turned slightly red again. “But we’re together now, Henrietta, and I want us to be a family, not just within our guilds, but you and me . . . together.”

 With that, Gideon surprised Henrietta when he dropped to one knee, reached into his coat, and pulled out a ring. It was a gold ring with a large pear-shaped diamond surrounded by honey-colored gemstones. Henrietta started to cry again as he put the ring on her finger.

“I said it before, and I’ll say it again,” Gideon said as he got to his feet. “I love you, Henrietta, and I want to spend the rest of my life loving you!”

Henrietta just stared at the ring in awe. It looked just the actual engagement ring he gave her the night he proposed. She felt like she was reliving that moment all over again. “It’s so beautiful,” she said. “But, how? How did you do this?”

“I have a friend in the Eagle Mountain guild, King. You know, the bard who dresses and sings like Elvis Presley,” Gideon explained. “Anyway, King has the jeweler sub-class. I asked him to make an exact duplicate of your engagement ring for in the game. But, just like everything in Vegas, he always makes things bigger.”

Henrietta continued to admire her ring, but then she noticed something out of the corner of her eye. The rest of the Crescent Moon Alliance was standing there, watching the two of them. Most of the young men were winking or giving a thumbs up to Gideon while the women were all smiles, crying tears of joy for Henrietta.

Henrietta threw caution to the wind and gave Gideon a big kiss in front of everybody. When she finally let him go, Henrietta looked him in the eyes. “I love you too, Gideon, and as long as we’re together, we’ll be a family . . . me, you, and whoever else may come along.”

Gideon stayed back while Henrietta walked over to show off her ring as they all swooned around her to get a glimpse of it. Naotsugu, still carrying Marielle, went back to talk to his friend. “Nice one, hoss!” he said as the two exchanged a fist bump.

“Yeah, woo-hoo!” Marielle crowed in her drunken stupor until she fell asleep in Naotsugu’s arms.

# # #

Stay tuned for Part 3 of A Tale of Log Horizon-The Gunslinger in Akiba. In the meantime, check out my new fan fiction page where I’ll be posting links to the whole story.