No one's POV
Bell had just awoken and remembered that he had passed out during the way and he quickly got up panicked.
Bell: Sora! Lili! Rin! Welf!
Aiz: Are you alright?
Bell looked to his side and saw Aiz looking at him concerned and he looked surprised.
Aiz: How do you feel?
Bell: Miss Aiz? Wh-what are you doing here?
Aiz: Our Familia is heading back from our expedition, so we stopped here on the 18th floor.
Bell: 18th floor...
Bell then started to panicked.
Bell: Where are my friends?
As he quickly try to got up, his legs gave out and he landed on Aiz's chest and his face got red and back off.
Bell: I'm sorry...
Bell then looked to his sides and saw Rin, Lili, and Welf all sleeping and he looked relieved.
Bell: Rin...Welf...Lili...
Aiz: They'll be fine. Asuna and Riveria and the others healed them. You were badly wounded, too.
Bell: Thank you for saving me. I really mean it, but where is Sora?
Aiz: He had just awoken a minute ago. And he's on his way to meet the commander.
Bell: I see, thank goodness.
Aiz: Can you move?
Bell: Y-Yes.
Aiz: I'm supposed to tell our commander when you and Sora wake up. Come with me.
Bell and Aiz then exited the tent and made their way to Finn's tent and along the way he asked about why there was so much light in the dungeoun and Aiz told him about the crystals above them that the light in the crystal will fade in time and will regain it's light again when the time is right. He then met Sora and Asuna who was also on their way to the tent and Sora looked surprised.
Asuna: Bell, thank goodness your alright.
Sora: Bell, your awake. Are you alright?
Bell: I'm fine, but what about you?
Sora: I'm fine, don't worry about it.
Bell: Are you sure? Because your face is red.
Bell saw a massive hand print on Sora's face and he just rolled his eyes.
Sora: -_- Well...
(Flashback)
Sora had just awoken and saw Asuna and Aiz and they looked worried.
Aiz: Your awake. Are you alright now?
Sora: I'm fine, just a little headache.
Asuna: You idiot!!
Sora then looked at Asuna and he saw that she was glaring at him and he looked terrified.
Sora: O-Okay... I know you'r-
Asuna: YOU STUPID AND RECKLESS IDIOT!!!
Asuna then slapped Sora on the face and he screamed in pain.
Sora: OOOWWW! I'm sorry...
Asuna: I told you not to be reckless. First you were very injured when you fought Ottar. And now you did something reckless again.
Asuna then hugged Sora tightly and multiple tears streaming down her eyes and he just smiled and hugged her back.
Asuna: I was so scared. I don't know what I'll do if you die.
Sora: Sorry for making you worry...
Aiz then smiled at them and Asuna told Sora to follow her and meet the commanders and he nodded.
(Present)
Sora had just finished explaining to Bell and he laugh awkwardly while Asuna glare at Sora.
Sora: -_- And there you have it.
Bell: I see...
Asuna: Is because you were reckless. I was worried sick about you.
Sora: Sorry...
Aiz: That just goes how Asuna deeply care about you Sora.
Sora smiled at Asuna and she looked away and her face was red.
Sora: Yeah, I know...
(Timeskip)
Sora, Bell, Asuna and Aiz went inside another tent and was greeted by Finn, Riveria, and Gareth and Sora explained the situation to them and they all smiled at them.
Gareth: HAHAHA! The two of you made it to the 18th floor on your first trip to the middle floor, huh? You did well escaping the floor boss!
Riveria: Gareth, we're not the only one's here. Watch yourself.
Bell: No, I...
Sora: Don't be so nervous. Finn, Riveria, Gareth, I thank you from the bottom of my heart that you save my Familia member. If I was a little slower, our party wouldn't make it.
Finn: You've been through a lot Sora, and you too, Bell. You and your friends can stay here as our guest.
Bell: Thank you for doing so much for us.
Sora: I'll make sure to pay you back.
Finn: You don't have to. This is nothing compared to what you've done. Consider this that we're paying our debt to you.
Bell looked confused and Sora smiled at them.
Sora : Thank you.
Finn and the others looked at Asuna and Aiz.
Finn: Besides, Aiz and Asuna would hold a grudge against me if I let her acquaintance die. Especially Asuna's boyfriend. I needed to save you two in order to survive the night.
Aiz then glared at Finn and Asuna blushed heavily and punch Sora on the face and everyone looked surprised.
Sora: W-Why...
Asuna: H-He IS NOT MY BOYFRIEND!!!
Finn, Riveria and Gareth: Stop lying. You know you love him...
Asuna's face become even more red and she covered her face and Finn spoke up.
Finn: A monster poisoned some of our comrades with a particular nasty venom. Our swiftest member are going to the surface to fetch an antidote. We plan to stay here until the medicine arrives.
(Timeskip)
After explaining the situation to Finn and the rest, Sora and Bell head out and walked back to their tent along with Asuna and Aiz and during the way they bumped into Lefiya.
Lefiya: Thank you for your hard work, Miss Aiz! Miss Asuna!
Asuna: You too, Lefiya!
Lefiya then glared at Sora and Bell.
Lefiya(mutter): I won't forgive you if you do anything weird to them!
Bell and Sora (mutter): Understood!
Lefiya then started to walked away and Sora and Bell heard someone called out to them and it was Tiona and Tione.
Tiona: It's really them! Mr Flash and Mr Argonaut!
Tione: Hey there, Aiz, Asuna.
Aiz: Tiona.
Asuna: Tione.
Tiona: You woke up! I'm so glad, Mr Flash! Mr Argonaut!
Sora: Thanks for the concerned, but...
Bell: Why do you keep calling us, Mr Argonaut and Mr Flash?
Tione: Don't worry about it. It's just what this dummy like to call you.
Tiona: Well aside being called the "Flashing Strike" and We all saw you how you fought that Minotaur! It reminded me of this great old fairy tale! "The Tale of the Flash Hero".
Tiona then hugged Sora's arm and he blushed.
Tiona: You're like my hero!
Tiona started to rub her head on Sora's arm and Asuna was glaring at her.
Tione: If you're in the middle floors, that means you reached level 2, right? And you also rank up to level 7 huh, second in Orario, pretty impresive if you ask me.
Tione then leaned closer to Bell and Sora's face and the two of them started blushing.
Tiona: Their blushing! So cute!
Bell then covered her face and Sora just looked back and they teased them even more.
Tiona: You don't need to hide!
Sora: I'm just scared by the person standing behind you.
Tiona and Tione looked back and saw Asuna glaring at them and Lefiya glaring at Bell and Bell quickly run away saying that he will check on his friend while Aiz, Tiona, and Tione looked terrified.
Tiona and Tione: We're Sorry...
Asuna just pouted and Lefiya approached them.
Lefiya: U-Um! Why do you care so much, about that human ? Did something happen to him? No offense Mister Sora!
Sora: None taken...
Tione: Well, you see...
Tiona: It was amazing! He defeated a Minotaur at level 1!
Tione: By himself too.
Lefiya: Oh, I see... WHATTT!!
Lefiya looked completely shocked at what Bell just achieved and Lefiya then went to Sora and clutched to Sora and buried her face on his chest and the rest looked surprised.
Sora: Lefiya...?
Lefiya: Thank you for saving me, again! And I heard that you even carried me back home. I am forever grateful.
Sora smiled at her and patted her head.
Sora: Sure thing. I'm just glad you are safe.
Lefiya then whispered something.
Lefiya(whisper): But I still won't forgive you if you do anything weird!
Sora(whisper): If I do, you can beat me up until you're satisfy...
(Timeskip)
As it was getting dark, Sora then returned back to his tent and saw Bell.
Bell: It really did get dark.
Both Sora and Bell then heard a voice and saw that Rin and the others had woken up.
Rin: Are we still alive?
Welf: Where are we?
Lili: Master Bell? Master Sora?
Bell and Sora then approached them and smiled.
Bell: Lili! Rin! Welf! Are you okay?
Sora: Looks like you guys finally woke up.
Bell: Do you recognize us?
Rin: How could we not...?
Lili: I could never forget who the two of you are.
Welf: Yeah...If I can hear Lil Lili prattling on, it means I'm fine.
Bell and Sora smiled at them and Sora explained the situation to them and they all looked down.
Welf: I see... Sorry for causing you trouble, Sora.
Lili: I'm sorry, Master Sora. You had to carry all 4 of us to the 18th floor.
Rin: We must've been a huge burden on you!
They all apologize and Sora just smiled at them.
Sora: Don't apologize. If it wasn't for Lili, the thought of going to the 18th floor wouldn't have cross my mind. And if not thanks to Welf, we would have been incinerated by the Hell Hounds. And thanks to Rin for healing our wounds, if not I would have passed out as well. And Bell for helping me fight in the front line. Because all of us were together that we managed to survive.
They all smiled at him.
Welf: You're right...
Rin: All of us together...
Lili: We wouldn't have made it by ourselves.
Aiz and Asuna then came inside telling that the food was ready and they all looked shock, mostly Rin.
Welf: Sword Princess! Berserk Healer!
Lili: Aiz Wallenstein! Asuna Yuuki!
Rin: A-Asuna...?
Asuna smiled at her.
Asuna: Long time no see, Rin...
Rin quickly got up and hugged her tightly and she hugged her back and the rest smiled at them.
(Timeskip)
After they made it, Finn started introducing us to the rest of his Familia and all 5 of them stood up and bowed down and show their respect. And after Finn was done they all started eating.
Aiz: Here.
Aiz then handed Sora and Bell a fruit and Bell looked confused.
Bell: What's these?
Aiz: A fruit from the 18th floor.
Bell: Fruit from the dungeon?
Sora: I won't eat that if I were you...
Bell then went to bite the fruit and complained that it was to sweet.
Lili: Master Bell! If you don't like it, I'll take it.
Lili then opened her mouth and Bell throw the fruit to her and Welf caught it and eat it and Lili looked at him annoyed.
Welf: This is to sweet, yeah.
Lili started kicking Welf and he just ignored her and Sora, Asuna and Rin smiled and continued to talked with one another. Trying to catch up on their journey and after a while Tiona and Tione came to them with Tiona besides Bell and Tione behind him.
Tiona: Mr Flash! Mr Argonaut! Hey, hey, how can I get S rank in our abilities?
Tione: Tell us about it!
They all got between Aiz and Asuna and started begging them to tell and Aiz removed her hair trying to listen quietly along with the rest of the Familia.
Tiona: Come on, tell us!
Sora: Is not about getting S rank to be strong. Is about teamwork and perseverance.
They all looked confused but Sora continued to spoke and point his finger on his head.
Sora: What you got up here doesn't matter as much as what you know in your heart. Being strong comes in many form. Not just in your abilities, but also how you are a person. We all have our own strengths and weaknesses. Some people gain strength through hardship and courage, while others comes from determination.
As Sora continues to tell about how to be strong, his party and the rest of the Loki Familia smiled at him and continued to listen and while they were listening, everyone heard a screamed and Bell, Sora and Rin recognized that voice.
Hestia: Damn it! Nobody told me about that huge thing!
Sora: You've gotta be kidding?
Rin: Am I dreaming...?
Bell: Goddess!
Hestia quickly jumped and hugged them tightly as tears streaming down her eyes and they all smiled at her and she started pinching their cheeks trying to see if it's not an illusion.
Hestia: Are you really?
Bell: Goddess...
Sora: It's really us...
Rin: Sorry, for making you worry...
Lili then pulled Hestia away from them and she looked at Lili annoyed and she saw Asuna and Aiz standing behind Sora and Bell and she looked shocked.
Hestia: Wellenwhatsit?! Asuwhatsit?! Why are the two of you here, too?
???: Sora! You're safe?
They all looked back and saw Ryuu and Sora was surprised to see her.
Sora: R-Ryuu?
Ryuu the then put her finger on her mouth and told him not to spoke to much and they heard another voice calling them and Sora saw it was Asfi and another God.
Hermes: So you're Bell Cranel and Sora Yatagami?
Sora: Asfi?
Asfi: Nice to see you again, "Lightning Flash".
Sora then looked at the God and recognized him.
Sora: You're Lord Hermes?
Hermes: So you know me. I've been looking forward to meeting you. Thank you for saving my Familia members the other day. Nice to meet you.
Sora: Nice to meet you too. And thank you for coming.
Hermes: Don't worry. I'm just repaying a debt and for my dear friend Hestia. And if you're going to thank someone, thank these children, not me. It's thanks to them that we made it here.
Sora and his party looked and saw the Takemikazuchi Familia members and Rin, Welf, and Lili glared at them.
Welf: Hey, Sora...
Sora: Yeah...
Sora(mind): They're the party that pass parade us...
(Timeskip)
Currently, Sora and his party along with Hestia and the rest of the Takemikazuchi Familia was at their tent and Mikoto was bowing her head.
Mikoto: I'm so sorry!
Bell: No, please don't...
Lili: No matter how much you apologize, it won't be easy to forgive you.
Rin: We almost die because of your actions.
Welf: Yeah. We can't just let it go.
Chigusa: I'm really sorry.
Mikoto: You're right to be angry. If you need to take it out on me-
Ouka: Blame me, if you've got to blame somebody. It was my order. And I still think it was the right thing to do.
Welf and Lili glared at him and Sora and Rin just sighed while Bell looked at them worried.
Welf: I'm amazed you can say that right in front of us, big guy.
Ouka and Welf continued to glared at one another and the others watched them worried until Sora spoke up.
Sora: No, he's right.
They all looked at Sora shocked.
Sora: Welf, Lili... if your lives were on the line you have to make a quick decision. If I was in their position, I think I would have done the same thing.
Bell: Right, the party members health takes top priority, you have to make a split decision and given the party member would have protest against it.
Welf and Lili looked down and Rin and Hestia smiled at them.
Lili: If you say so, Master Bell, Master Sora.
Welf: I'll get over this. But I'm never going to be okay with it.
Ouka: Right. That's as it should be.
Hermes then came in and smiled at them.
Hermes: Looks like your done. Okay, let's talk about what comes next. Asfi.
Asfi: First, as for our return to the surface, we'll leave after the Loki Familia defeats Goliath. It's going to be at least two days before they move.
Hermes: In other words, you've all got a day off. Why not take a break and rest tomorrow?
They all nodded and Sora spoke up.
Sora: I might not be with you guys when we get back.
They all looked at Sora confused.
Sora: This current situation, I bet that Finn would asked me to come helped them defeating Goliath. But after I'm done, I should be able to return and picked you guys up.
They all nodded at him and they all went their separate ways. Sora then went to a cliff and watched the night sky and suddenly Asuna came and sat right next to him.
Asuna: What's wrong?
Sora: Asuna... I just couldn't sleep. What are you doing here?
Asuna: I just wanted to have some alone time with you. It's been awhile since the two of us watch the night sky like this. When will you leave?
Sora: After...you finish the Goliath. But knowing Finn, he'll probably asked me to join as well.
Asuna: why don't we check the town tomorrow ?
Sora smiled at her.
Sora: I love too. Oh, that reminds me, I've been wanting to give you this...
Sora then went towards his pocket and handed her a ring and she looked surprised.
Asuna: Sora...?
Sora: Remember those promise we made a long time ago? About being by each other side at all times?
Asuna: Yeah, I remember. This time, make sure you put it on my finger. So that we can continued promise.
Sora smiled happily and put the ring on her ring finger and hold her hand and she closed her eyes and Sora leaned in and went to kiss her...
Hestia: You two seems to be having fun...
Sora and Asuna quickly moved away and they looked behind and saw Bell, Aiz, and Rin and saw Hestia glaring at them.
Rin: Goddess. You ruin their moment!
Hestia: From what I just saw is that the two of you were leaning on with each other! You're not thinking of stealing my Sora away from me now, do you?
Sora and Asuna looked away embarrassed.
Asuna: No, of course not...
Sora and Asuna(mind): Thank Goodness! They didn't see...
Hestia: Anyway, you two want to come with us tomorrow?
Sora and Asuna looked confused and Bell spoke up.
Bell: We are all going to the town tomorrow.
Sora: Sure...we'll go...with you...
They all got up and went towards their respective tent and during the way, both Sora and Asuna hold hands with each other without no one noticing and they smiled.