Sword Art Online Episode 17

Captive Queen (囚われの女王) is the seventeenth episode of the Sword Art Online anime adaptation, as well as the third episode in the Fairy Dance Arc. It aired on October 27, 2012

Plot
Kirito swiftly killed another Salamander player and asked Kagemune if he wished to fight, but the latter excused himself, claiming that his magic skill would reach 900 soon, thus he did not want to suffer the death penalty. Kirito asked Leafa if she also wanted to fight, which she declined.

Leafa questioned Kirito whether she should fight or thank him. Kirito teased her by claiming that he viewed himself as a hero who saved the princess and was thus expecting her to embrace him. This declaration angered Yui, prompting her to expose herself to Leafa to state that only Mama (Asuna) and herself could hug Kirito. Leafa came closer and wondered why a Spriggan was in the forest around Sylph territory. Kirito offered an excuse that he got lost, which made Leafa laugh. They introduced themselves to each other, after which Leafa asked what Kirito was doing and wondered if she could buy him a drink as a show of gratitude. Kirito informed her that he was looking for someone to tell him about the World Tree. Leafa offered to give the details, but wanted to fly to a neutral village first, which led Kirito to inquire why they could not fly to Swilvane instead. Leafa explained that it was Sylph territory and thus Kirito would not be able to attack Sylphs, but the Sylphs could attack him. This did not bother Kirito, who still insisted on going. Leafa accepted his request, but warned him that he might not survive.



At that point, Kirito noticed that Leafa did not need an assist controller to fly and remarked about this. In response, Leafa revealed and explained the trick to flying without the controller. As Kirito began to fly really high up after a push, Leafa began to worry and she followed suit along with Yui. The two discovered that he was struggling with stopping, which caused the two to laugh. After a while, Kirito became accustomed to flying and they headed towards Swilvane.



When they reached Swilvane, Leafa directed Kirito to land at the base of the central tower, before they both realized that he lacked the knowledge to land safely. Thus, Kirito slammed into the wall of the tower but was healed by Leafa's healing magic. At that moment, Recon approached them and inquired whether Leafa was safe, but then noticed Kirito and swiftly readied himself for combat. However, Leafa stopped him in time, stating that Kirito had saved her from the Salamanders. The two then introduced each other but Recon still did not trust Kirito, thinking that he might be a spy. Recon informed Leafa that Sigurd and the others had left a seat for her at the usual tavern; however Leafa declined Recon's offer, as she promised to buy Kirito a drink for saving her from the Salamanders, and thus the two departed, leaving Recon behind.



At the restaurant, Kirito wondered if Recon was Leafa's boyfriend, but she quickly rejected the idea, stating that they were only party members and that they were classmates in real life. At that point, Leafa changed the subject, thanking Kirito and granting him more information on the World Tree by informing him that reaching the top of the World Tree was ALfheim Online's Grand Quest, as the reward for completing it was unlimited flight via being reborn as Alfs. However, in order to complete the quest, the player would need to battle powerful NPC guardians defending a dome to reach the top. Leafa considered this to be impossible, but shared her belief that people would not abandon this goal even if it took years. Kirito revealed to Leafa that he needed to reach to the top soon, as he was looking for someone, and thus thanked Leafa for the information. Just when Kirito was about to leave, Leafa stopped him and mentioned that she could guide him to the World Tree. They arranged to meet with each other the next day at 3:00 PM. Leafa logged out after informing Kirito that he could log out in the rooms upstairs.



Suguha (Leafa) awoke in her room, recalling her encounter with Kirito, and began to blush with embarrassment. Back in ALfheim Online, Yui returned to her original form and asked if she could sleep next to Kirito until he logged out, which he permitted. Kirito announced to her that once they saved Asuna, they would buy a house again like their Log House in Sword Art Online (SAO), and promised her that reuniting their "family" would be a reality. Kirito then fell asleep.



At the top of the World Tree, Fairy King Oberon (Sugou Nobuyuki) came to visit the saddened Asuna, whom he called Titania, his bride. Asuna refused to be called by such a weird name and, when he inappropriately touched her face and even tried to remove her top, ordered him to stop. At that point, Oberon decided to reveal that he was experimenting in secret on the alteration of the human memories, emotions, and senses. He was the one who rerouted the three hundred SAO players and Asuna into ALfheim Online, after Kayaba Akihiko had logged them out from SAO. Asuna threatened that she would inform the police the moment she was released. Oberon replied that he could also alter her memory if he wanted to, but claimed that such an option would not be fun. At the end of the conversation, Oberon left, while Asuna viciously stared at him as he entered the combination, which was obscured in her vision, at the locked gate. After he left, Asuna began crying, voicing her wish that Kirito would come and save her.

Location

 * Ancient Forest, Neutral Territory
 * Swilvane, Sylph Territory
 * Kirigaya residence
 * World Tree

Spells

 * An unnamed basic healing spell

Adaptation Notes

 * Adapted from Sword Art Online Light Novel Volume 03 Chapter 2,3

Errors

 * The Words of Power displayed during Leafa's healing chant are written upside down.

Quotes

 * "Personally, I see myself as the hero who just saved the princess. Crying and running into my arms would be a good start" - Kirito
 * "Let's save Asuna and buy a house somewhere again, okay?" - Kirito
 * "It isn't a dream. I'll make it real soon" - Kirito
 * "Save me, Kirito" - Asuna

Navigation
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