The morning has just shined upon kadic academy. The sunlight just angled itself directly into Jeremie's window, waking him up abruptly. He whips his eyes and stumbles his arm around in search for his glasses. He slides them on and glances at his clock.
'7:24am November 10th'
Jeremie immediately remembers the date. He jumps out of bed, pulls out his clothes and lays them on his bed. He makes sure everything is folded correctly before leaving his room for the showers.
Jeremie made his shower quick, he didn't want to miss Aelita in her dorm room. He had everything planned out for today. He knew it had to be done perfectly, it was his last chance of saving her. He reenters his room and puts his clothes on. And just before leaving, he grabbed his gift box and left his room.
Upon arriving to Aelita's dorm, was Odd and Ulrich arguing. Jeremie couldn't help but think 'oh no, not again'. Over the past few months it has been this way. They have butted heads constantly, and over petty things. Jeremie was surprised they haven't requested room transfers.
On closer expedition of the situation, Jeremie could hear them silently yelling, and then stop as they realized he was behind them. Jeremie just gives a questionable glare at the two. Ulrich turned his head to Odd, who was keeping to himself.
"Go ahead and ask what I've found."
Ulrich commanded of Jeremie. Jeremie tilts his head slightly toward Odd, as if he were already asking.
"Our little movie maker has made a script of you know what, and you know who as the main lead."
It didn't take Jeremie more than a second to realize what Ulrich had meant. Odd had created a story based off of XANA, Lyoko, and Aelita's life. Jeremie became furious. He dropped his gift box and pushed Odd into the wall by his shirt.
"You what?!"
Jeremie asked in a sharp whisper. Odd wasn't able to get a word in, Jeremie was tearing a new one.
"After all she's been through, you're going to use her tragedy for a screenplay?"
Jeremie has never hurt a fellow man with the exception of someone in XANA's possession, but it would have been easy to change that. Odd pushed Jeremie off and dusted himself off.
"It wasn't like that, Einstein."
He began to explain himself.
"I made it so people could know of everything. But not know at the same time."
Jeremie had enough of Odd's schemes. He was about to hit him, but Aelita walked out of her dorm room to find the boys in an argument. Jeremie looked her dead in the eyes and immediately felt guilt. But it was Aelita who felt the most guilt. She ran off in tears without a word.
Jeremie grabbed the gift box and was about to run after her. But Ulrich pulled him back by the shoulder.
"We should let her have some space."
He said softly. Jeremie nodded, then walked away. He had enough of the drama and tragedy. But only more so did Aelita.
Aelita ran off past a few girls in line for the showers and out the dormitories. She slowed her pace to a fast walk to try and avoid any unwanted attention. As she turns the corner, she bumps into Yumi. Yumi was surprised to see Aelita this early. But as soon as she saw the tears in the pink haired girl's eyes, that shock turned to sorrow.
Yumi hugged Aelita, and Aelita does so in return. Yumi drags her to one of the benches in the courtyard. Aelita has shed more tears than anyone else Yumi had met. Aelita was her friend, sister, and it was tuff to see her like this.
"I can't take it anymore."
Aelita said with her head dug into yumi's shoulder. She sniffed and whipped her eyes.
"It's been a year, and there is nothing left."
She continued.
"Jeremie and Odd got into a fight this morning. Today, out of all days. And it's only getting worse between everyone."
Aelita sat up and looked at Yumi.
"You guys are the only thing I have left, and you all are tearing it apart. I know I can always count on you though, Yumi."
Yumi smiled and wrapped her arm around her.
"Always, princess."
Yumi said trying to crack a smile. She couldn't bear to see her like this. She looked back to 8 months ago, when it got real bad.
"But deep down we still care about each other. I just know it. And if not, you have me. If worst come down, move in with me like in march. My parents love you, and Hiroki is the annoying brother you wish you had."
Aelita smiled and hugged yumi harder.
"Thank you."
Aelita let Yumi go, then stood up.
"But if you don't mind, I'd like to be alone today."
Yumi softly nods her head. Aelita walks off with slight stiffness. Yumi looked back to her and understood what was going through her mind. Her father is gone, no other family left besides the group, but ever since XANA's destruction it has been a broken home when she needed that strength. The day in March was a wake up call for Jeremie and the gang, but they chose to ignore it.
Yumi sat there as Aelita walked away, and off the campus. She didn't have a clue where she was going. All Aelita had in mind was to walk. Far away, away from everything. It has been the roughest year for everyone. And for Aelita, it was the end of the line.
Jeremie and Ulrich left to go to lunch. Odd was left to think about his actions. He knew how XANA tore into Aelita's soul, and he used that for entertainment. When he wrote the screenplay, it was strictly for revealing the truth without anyone knowing so. But after analyzing it further, he could see where Jeremie was right. People would pay, and the money would roll on in. Making Odd rich.
He brought the screenplay out into the woods, far enough from kadic where no one could see him. He had light a small fire and tossed the screenplay into it. He sat there and watched it burn. The fire cracked and popped as the paper was incinerated. He took a deep breath in and smelled the guilt fade away as he slowly exhaled.
He sat there using his knees as arm rests. He became quickly bored watching the fire. It was quiet, only the fire and distant tweeting birds were heard. But then, he heard footsteps aproaching. He stood up and turned around, Aelita was walking by. She didn't realize he was there, nor the fire. Odd stompped out the fire and followed.
He soon followed her to the hermitage. He stopped and watched her. She stood at the front gate and examined the building. Rotting, rickety, and mother nature nearly retaken the land. It reflected Aelita's mind fairly well. What was left of the old life was being overshadowed by a force of change. At least she had the hermitage.
Odd waited a few moments after she entered the house to follow. He reopened the door and took a good look around. It looks the same as when they left it over a year ago. But who knows how many times something has been in there since then? He can hear Aelita Wheeling from upstairs. He creeps up the stairs to try and not scare her.
He arrives at the door of her old room. He peeks in and sees her laying there on the raggedy pillow. He knocks softly on the door and enters.
"Go away, Odd.. Just go."
Odd Denied her and approaches. He sits on the bed and lays there with her, holding her in his arms. She fought it for a moment, but let's him hold her. She was too sad to force him to leave.
"Aelita, I was the reason of the argument this morning. But it's over now. I resolved it with Einstein."
Aelita sniffs and lays her head on Odd. He wraps his arm around Aelita and she lets the tears roll. The past year has been the hardest on all of them, mostly for Aelita. But for one moment, she felt the slightest comfort. Something she hasn't felt in a long time.
After a few minutes, they began to hear crashing and slamming. Odd got up and crept to the doorway and took a peek. It came from downstairs. He sneaked to the steps and looked down. A man in suit and tie rummaging around. He want back to Aelita and reported his findings.
"I'm calling Jeremie."
She whipped out her phone and dialed Einstein's number.
"Aelita?"
Jeremie answered as he ate breakfest with Ulrich and yumi.
"Jeremie, there's someone here!"
She whispered loudly in a panic.
"Woah, Aelita. Where are you?"
"I'm in th- ODD!"
The call dropped. Odd was thrown across Aelita's old room. Then the Spector picked up Aelita, crushing her phone. Odd ran up and attempted to put the Spector in a choke hold.
"Get your damn hands off of her!"
The Spector dropped Aelita, letting her head hit the side of her dresser, knocking her out instantly. Then grabbed Odd's arms, becoming staticy and transparent. Odd went through the specter and fell to the ground. He got up and threw some punches, but every hit went through the transparent Spector. It reappeared and shot a bolt of lightning at Odd. Sending him back and nearly through the window, leaving many cracks in the glass.
The Spector picked up Aelita again and walked out the hermatage. Leaving Odd on the ground in the bedroom.
"Aelita and Odd are in trouble."
Jeremie announced.
"What? Do you mean?"
Ulrich asked in disbelief.
"Only one way to find out."
Said Yumi, picking up her tray.
"She couldn't tell me where she was. But I have an idea, to the hermitage."
Jeremie ordered.
Jeremie and crew arrived to the hermitage to find the scene much more trashed than previously left. The three searched the house for signs of either Odd or Aelita's presence. Flipping chairs back upright and tables on it's legs. It was like that before, but they just never knew. It's been over a year since anyone besides Aelita has been in there.
"Guys, up here!"
Yumi shouted from up the stairs. Ulrich and Jeremie ran up to see Yumi's discovery. Aelita's phone smashed all over the ground. Odd's as well. Yumi sheads a bit of a tear at the thought of XANA's return. Jeremie slowly began to back up, then ran out Aelita's old bedroom door.
"Factory!"
He shouted as he ran down the stairs. Ulrich and Yumi quickly followed.
Upon arrival to the factory, the three found Odd lying on the ground in front of the elevator. Blood was seeping out of his nose and cuts on his face and arms. Bruises on his chest, even a broken leg. Ulrich was horrified to find his friend as broken as he was.
"Hey buddy."
Ulrich said softly holding back the pain in his voice as he rolled Odd over on his back. Odd couldn't get much words out of him.
"XANA..."
He whispered in agony.
"Yeah, we know. C'mon Jeremie, help me lift. He'll be safer on Lyoko."
Jeremie helped carry Odd into the elevator. They hit the button and the service elevator closed. The wait began to feel like hours. Yumi attempted to avoid eye contact with Odd. She couldn't look at what XANA had done to him. Ulrich kept Odd standing.
"As soon as the door opens, there won't be much time. Yumi, take Odd into the scanner. I'll deal with XANA. Jeremie, do your thing."
Just as he said it, the door opened. Ulrich rushed the Spector and tackled it out of the chair. Yumi, Odd, and Jeremie exit the elevator. Ulrich grabbed the Spector and tossed it into the elevator. He entered with it and closed the door. Without hesitating, Yumi aided Odd down the ladder to the scanners. Jeremie put on the headset and repositioned the chair.
"Aelita?"
"Jeremie?"
Jeremie exhailed with great relief.
"Hang on Aelita. Help is on the way. Transfer Yumi, transfer Odd,
scanner Yumi, scanner Odd, virtualization!"
Odd and Yumi materialized in the mountain sector of Lyoko. They appeared in air and landed on their feet. Odd took a step back and looked at himself. Fully healed in his Lyoko attire.
"Yes,"
He shouted.
"Big cat is back, baby!"
He said throwing punches in air.
"Odd, we don't have time. Aelita is in trouble. Now the vehicle files are corrupted so you'll have to go on foot."
Said Jeremie pulling up windows on the computer screen, checking for other files.
"We're on it."
Said Yumi as the two ran to aid Aelita.
The Spector tossed Ulrich out of the elevator as the door opened to the front of the factory. He slowly got up on his feet and readied himself. The Spector lunged at Ulrich, missing by inches. He grabbed a rusty pole and swung at the Spector's head. It went right through it.
"Oh, right.."
He said in sarcastic fright. The Spector shot lightning at Ulrich, sending him into one of the metal support beams. He became weak after that shot. He lost his breath and his vision blurred. The Spector crept closer. He tried to get up but the Spector grabbed him by the throat and began to choke him.
He struggled to get free. Then Spector began to smile as Ulrich lost his strength. He let go the moment Ulrich's arms fell.
"Banzai!"
Shouted Odd as he leaped into the air firing arrows into the krab. Odd fell through the krab as it dematerialized. Aelita had her back toward the digital sea with three hornets attempting to push her in. She fired some energy balls but missed. Yumi saw her friend at the far end of the platform and threw one of her fans.
The fan cut through each hornet with the single throw, they dematerialized quickly. Aelita stepped away from the edge and ran to Yumi. They hugged the moment they got met up. Odd used his shield to block the megatank's relentless blast.
"Uh, anytime ladies."
Said Odd as he was pushed into Yumi by the cannon. The ladies flanked the mega tank and hammered it with energy balls and fan tosses. It was devirtualized right after.
"This was too easy."
Said Aelita.
"That's what scares me."
Yumi responded.
"Well you might want to hurry."
Said Jeremie looking back at the elevator.
"Something is comming and I have no clue what."
Aelita ran into the tower, floating up to the top. She placed her hand on the translucent panel, then a pain ran up her hand, the tower insode turned red, and pain was shot into her mind. Images rushed into her head. Of red skies and burning cities. Of people lying on the ground. Children wandering alone in bullet ridden streets. It was of a war. Of death, fear, and so much sorrow.
She pulled her hand away and the tower went back to it's normal black and blue color inside. She hesitated for a moment. Frightened of what she saw.
"Any moment now, Aelita!"
Jeremie shouted as the spector appeared in the lab. She typed the code sequence in and the spector disappeared. Everyone sighed in relief. It was over, for now.
Ulrich crawled out of the elevator, battered as bad as Odd. Jeremie looked at his friend and looked at his keyboard.
"Return to the past, now."
(Rewind to 8am)
Jeremie walks to Aelita's dorm room alone. He spots Odd standing at the door about to knock. Jeremie taps him on the shoulder.
"Can I have a moment?"
Odd and Jeremie walks to the side. Jeremie pulls out his gift box.
"What is that?"
"A gift. From you to Aelita."
Jeremie hands it to Odd. He doesn't know what to say.
"Don't worry about it. It'd be better if it came from you."
Einstein walked away, leaving Odd alone in front of the door. He knocks three times. She appears from the doorway dressed for the day. She let's him in. He sits on her bed and she does the same.
"I uh, I have something for you."
Odd hands Aelita the gift box. She looks at the box and slowly unwraps it. Her eyes widen and smile at the sight. She hugs Odd tightly. He peeks over her to see the framed photograph in the box.
"Thank you..."