Sword Art Online Episode 12

Yui's Heart (ユイの心) is the twelfth episode of the Sword Art Online anime adaptation. It aired on September 22, 2012.

Plot
On November 1st, the 1st Floor main settlement, «Town of Beginnings»; Kirito and family were having their breakfast at the guestroom of the church where Sasha and the children players reside in. Yui seems to have recovered from her panic attack earlier. Kirito and Asuna learn from Sasha that Yui has not been seen here before amongst Sasha's many walks around the town. While talking with Sasha about her duty of taking care of the kids on the First Floor, they soon receive a visit from Yulier, a female player from the «Aincrad Liberation Force». After Yulier thanks Kirito and Asuna for punishing her fellow «Army» members who were causing trouble, she tells them that she came to ask for their assistance.



Yulier explains that the change in her guild was caused by the action of its former sub-leader: Kibaou, whom was trying to overtake leadership over «The Army» guild away from a player named Thinker. Kibaou was sentenced to be punished after his actions caused the death of Cobert and two more members of the guild, when he ordered his group to go challenge the 74th Floor boss by themselves. Before the judgement was given, Kibaou contacted the Army’s leader to meet face to face unarmed. During the meeting Kibaou tricked Thinker, sending him into a high-level dungeon without any armor, weapon or Teleport Crystal. Once Yulier heard about Kirito and Asuna, Yulier came to ask for their help. Kirito and Asuna have doubts about Yulier's story, as it could be a trap. However after Yui states that Yulier is "telling the truth", Kirito chooses to believe in her story, instead of later regretting not helping her, and they agree to help. Kirito and Asuna hope that Yui would stay behind, however Yui wouldn't accept it and they are forced to take her along as well.



Yulier explains about the recently found dungeon, in which Thinker is, and that there are strong monsters inside. While Asuna takes care of Yui, Kirito enjoys himself killing all the monsters in his way. At the end he shows Asuna the frog meat he got and tells her that he wants her to cook it, but Asuna instead throws it away, the homorous scene making Yulier smile.



They finally arrive before the safe area which Thinker is trapped in and Yulier runs toward it, but Kirito notices an enemy and jumps just in time to save her from being taken down by The Fatal Scythe. Asuna tells Yulier to run to the safe zone with Yui, while Kirito tells Asuna and the rest to retreat with Teleport Crystals while he buys them time. However, Asuna refuses to retreat, wanting to help Kirito and, even with their combined strength, they are easily blown away by just one attack. Due to the intensity of the blow they couldn't stand up, and as The Fatal Scythe is about to finish of Kirito, Yui suddenly stands between the monster and him. The scythe is repelled before even touching Yui and an «Immortal Object» window pops-up above Yui. She then levitates into the air and her clothes change back to the ones she used when they found her in the forest. She then summons a huge sword that defeats The Fatal Scythe in one blow.



Back in the safe area, Yui explains that she's a program taking care of the player mental health, but she was unable to do so because she was blocked by the Cardinal System. She only saw hate, rage and desperation in the players, until she saw Asuna and Kirito, so she decided to meet them. She explains that she's going to be deleted by the Cardinal System for not obeying its orders and says her farewell to Kirito and Asuna.



Kirito takes the keyboard in the GM access found in that safe zone and manages to save Yui's program by transforming it into an in-game object and storing the information in his Nerve Gear's local memory. On the way home, Kirito and Asuna talk about recreating Yui after they escape from SAO.

New Characters

 * Yulier
 * Thinker

Named Monsters

 * Four Eyed Frog
 * The Fatal Scythe

Guilds

 * Aincrad Liberation Force

Inventory

 * Kirito
 * Dark Repulser
 * Elucidator
 * Asuna
 * Lambent Light
 * Yulier
 * Teleport Crystal x 2
 * Thinker
 * Teleport Crystal - given by Yulier

Locations

 * Aincrad Floor 1: Town of Beginnings - church, Black Iron Castle - Hidden Dungeon; Town of Beginnings Teleport Gate plaza
 * Aincrad Floor 22

Adaptation Notes

 * Adapted from Volume 2, Morning Dew Girl


 * In the novel, Asuna herself accessed the shared inventory with Kirito and deleted the Scavenger's meat from the inventory without taking it out, while in the anime, Kirito takes out all of the meat from the inventory and Asuna literally throws it away.
 * The part about Thinker exiling Kibaou and his followers after his rescue was omitted.

Episodio 12