A New Friend

Chapter 7

History Lessons

Disclaimer: Don't own it, won't own it.

"So, to summarize, the wolf that saved our lives, is actually you."

"Yep, twice actually." Michalys said brightly.

"You shouldn't remember that," Odd looked around, "right, I'm right, aren't I?"

"It's true," Jeremy said, "how is it that you remember the snowstorm."

Michalys sighed, settling himself down for a long talk, "Because, I'm not exactly normal."

"Thanks for that," Yumi said, "really, there was no way we could have known that if you hadn't told us."

"After all," Ulrich said, "you just transform into a super wolf, there's nothing abnormal about that, nothing at all."

"Not just a wolf," Michalys said, "I'm a shape shifter; I can become anything, as long as I'm mildly familiar with it."

"Really," Odd said with wide eyes, "how long have you been able to do that."

"Since I was six, this guy in Vegas taught me how."

"You were taught," Yumi questioned, "so can anyone learn?"

"No," Michalys answered, "you have to have the spark, the capacity for change. It's not common, but not unheard of either. I know of over two hundred shifters just in the region."

This led to a shocked silence, which Michalys took as permission to continue speaking, "Aside from the several that learn every year, we all keep in contact, and a death in our community is extremely uncommon. Our lives are long, and most live all over the place, moving whenever it's time for a normal person to die. We seem to age, but never do, I was just at a birthday party in Beijing for a man who turned twenty-five hundred."

The shocked silence only deepened, and Michalys laughed slightly, "For the record, all of you seem to have the same spark."

"What," Odd broke the silence, "you mean we can learn to shape shift too."

"Eventually," Michalys said, "though it's odd to find so many shifters together, and it makes me wonder what's different about you five."

They all exchanged looks, then simultaneously agreed to tell him about lyoko. His secret was out to them, so they might as well tell him theirs.

"There's this supercomputer in the abandoned warehouse Jeremy found…" Aelita began, then continued until the whole story had been told.

Michalys shook his head, "You all have a crazy life."

"Tell me about it." Ulrich said wryly.

"One question though."

"What?" Aelita asked.

"What's the end game," Michalys said flatly, "obvious as it is what you all want, what does XANA want."

"He wants Aelita's memory." Jeremy said slowly.

"Why?" Michalys demanded, "What does he have to gain from it?"

"He would be released from lyoko." Jeremy stated, eyes narrowing.

"Sounds more like a desperate convict than a super villain. Why haven't you just asked him?"

Jeremy's head shot up, "Talk to XANA, just how do you propose we do that?"

"You've got this access to his memory, so why can't you contact him the same way?" Michalys was starting to get very impatient, and it was obvious why.

Jeremy looked at Aelita in shock, never having considered this before.

"It's possible," Aelita said, "and who knows, there might actually be benefits to this."

Michalys rolled his eyes, "I do have my moments, you know, after a few thousand years you manage to pick up the fact that the simple explanation is often the right one."

"How old are you, Michalys?" Aelita asked abruptly.

"I just turned eighty-four hundred and twenty-three," he answered quietly, "but the age is deceptive, I tend to act young."

"So you think you could help us out then?" Odd asked.

Michalys smirked, "I'd say so."

"Well then," Aelita said, "I guess you're in."

"Guess so."

"You ready?"

"Born that way."

"Any other questions?"

"Just one."

"What's that?"

Michalys grinned, "How do you think I'd look on lyoko?"

I've got another up now, so be happy and rejoice louder than anyone else at a crazy rock concert. I'm still rocking them out, so expect another soon.