I know, you thought I had abandoned this, but I haven't. I was just thinking of the right idea and I got it.
So, today's prompt is "Beach" and we're going to join the Lyoko Warriors celebrating their X.A.N.A.-free summer. Hope you all like it!
Note: This takes place after Code Lyoko, in a world where the five plus William have a temporary 'truce' after turning off the Supercomputer.
2: Beach
Odd looked around: smiling kids, people playing beach volley not far away, cute girls sunbathing…yes, this was literally a "Beach Without Danger".
No X.A.N.A., no towers, just us and the world we used to save every day. He thought with a smile, staring at the purple umbrella on top of him. And there's also summer, too. X.A.N.A.-free summer.
It had been Yumi's idea to go to the beach to celebrate their first X.A.N.A.-free holiday and everyone was enjoying it, even Aelita who wasn't very fond of it. They had splashed, sunbathe, played, talked, and now Odd was resting under the shade while William had to go to the airport to meet his parents and the other four retired Lyoko Warriors were still somewhere near the coast.
Odd stood up to get some sun block and watched the the two 'good friends' playing in the water like little kids.
Just Friends Meter: -3% the hybrid thought with a playful smirk, as he squirted the pale yellow cream out. Ah, if the meter could be like that every day, these two will finally convince themselves that the whole friend thing is all a horrible lie.
He then scanned the coast for Jeremy and Aelita and saw them nearby: Jeremy, in blue trunks, was holding Aelita's hand and she was squeezing it so tight it nearly stopped the circulation. The hybrid could hear them from where he was:
"Jeremy, I don't want to go in the water!"
"Aelita, relax, it it's normal water, see?" Jeremy pointed at Yumi and Ulrich. "They're ok"
Poor Aelita. Odd thought. Afraid of the sea.
The pinkette, in fact, had refused to even touch the salty water since she had come to the beach: it reminded her too much of the deadly virtual space where Lyoko stood.
"Now, take a small step in the water…"
Aelita hesitated. "I…I can't"
The genius sighed and let go of her hand for a minute, while pondering on how to help her overcome her fear: if she was afraid of the sea, then how can she go on a boat without trembling? And what if she was afraid of lakes, too? Plus, he wanted to help her: seeing his princess like that was torture.
"Ok, Aelita, listen" he put his hands in her shoulders. "Close your eyes and think about happy things"
"'Happy things'?" the pinkette repeated.
"Yes" Jeremy said. "Us, the Lyoko Warriors…whatever makes you happy; I'll take your hand and you'll follow my steps, but do not open your eyes until I tell you so"
Aelita nodded uncertainly and closed her eyes. My family. My dad, Waldo Schaeffer or Franz Hopper and my mum Anthea Schaeffer. That day at Christmas, that day Daddy moved with me to France, the day I meet Jeremy…he was so cute…
She felt something cold on her feet and then Jeremy told her to open her eyes. She did and found her feet immersed in the salty water.
"Jeremy" she gasped. "I'm alright, I don't feel anything; well, apart from the cold…"
"Now, do you want to go further?" he asked. She shivered at the thought.
"Don't worry, keep thinking about good things and I'll guide you" he reassured her, squeezing her hand.
Aelita nodded and closed her eyes. Jeremy is here with me. Yumi and Ulrich, my best friends. Odd, my fake cousin but also my brother. William, my new friend…
The cold feeling was now up to her thigh. "Ok, now open your eyes" the genius invited her.
Aelita did and saw that she had made it: she was in the water despite her fear and it spread a good feeling inside her.
"I like it" she said. "I want to stay here forever!"
Jeremy put his hands on his hips and smirked. "First, you wouldn't get in the water not even if I gave you fifty euros; now, you don't want to get out. What have you done to Aelita, you being?"
The pinkette laughed and splashed him. "What have you done to my sweet Jeremy?"
He splashed her back. "I'm right here; you're the fake"
"No, you are"
"No, you are"
"No, you are"
Odd just smiled and watched the two couples play in the sea, happy as could be.
