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I listened to Yumi and gave Ulrich some space for a couple days. In those days, Alex had kept his distance from me, saying hi every now and then and occasionally waving at me. That was it. Also, Jeremy had managed to create a clone of William so no one would get suspicious of his absence. For now at least. I was walking in the hall with Yumi and Aelita when a colorful flyer caught my eye. Written in bold, gold letters was KADIC ACADEMY HALLOWEEN DANCE.
"Huh, so there really is a dance coming up," I mumbled.
"Are you going to go?" Yumi questioned.
"Uh, I'm not sure," I said.
"Why not? With all the attacks lately, we deserve a break, don't you think?" Aelita said.
"I guess, but, I, uh..." I hesistated, while trying to think of an excuse. "I don't have a costume."
"We're going shopping after school," Yumi stated. "And you're coming with us."
I sighed. "I'm not gonna have a choice, am I?"
They smiled and nodded.
Once school ended, as promised, they took me straight to the mall. Aelita was going to be an princess, Yumi was going to be a witch, and as for me... Well, I have know idea. I scanned the aisle, looking for a costume when I found a beautiful half-angel, half-devil costume. It was a knee length dress that was white at the chest, then the rest was red. There was a pair of wings, one red and one white, and horns and a halo as a head piece. I pulled it out and examined it.
"You should get that," a voice said behind me.
Shrieking softly, I jumped and whirled around. To my utter shock, I saw Ulrich standing there.
I blushed and quickly put it back.
"I-I'm just looking," I stammered. "I might not even get anything."
A smile crept on his face. "Is that right?"
Then there was the dreadful awkward silence. (Gay baby born! XD)
"Ulrich, listen, about what happened with Alex-"
"Look, I-"
"No, let me finish!" I snapped slightly, then relaxed. "I didn't kiss him. He kissed me. And I didn't even like it!"
Ulrich stared at me for a moment. "You didn't?"
I shook my head.
"Why not? I thought you liked him."
"I do, but I kinda like someone else, too. And I just need some time to choose."
"Dialla?" I heard Yumi call. "Did you find anything?"
When she saw Ulrich, she smiled. "Oh, am I interrupting?"
"Ah, no, not at all," I said quickly.
She gave us a strange look before Aelita walked up next to her.
"Oh, hi, Ulrich," she said, then looked at me. "Are you all set?"
"Yeah, I'm all set," I said and walked over to them. I stopped once I reached them, turned and waved good bye to Ulrich before leaving with them.
"So, you're going to go?" Aelita questioned me once they paid and we were back at the Acadmey.
I nodded. "What changed your mind?"
I shrugged. "It's like you said, with all the attacks going on, we need a break,"
"That's good," Yumi noted. "It wouldn't be much fun without you."
I smiled. "Well, I am the life of the dance floor."
We all laughed and went back to the academy.
"But, wait, what are you gonna do for a costume?" Aelita asked.
"I wanna buy one later. By myself. I want it to be a surprise," I said.
They looked at me, confused, but I just smiled giddily as I slipped into my room.
During P.E the next day, I told Alex the same thing I told Ulrich. And, like Ulrich, he understood. Later that day, I was able to buy the costume after school and sneak it into my closet without anyone noticing (Ooh, I'm a ninja!). Soon enough, it was Halloween and while Dan went trick-or-treating with his friends, I was with my friends, partying on the dance floor.
"So, you bought it after all," Ulrich greeted me.
I blushed slightly. "Well, uh, yeah. It was pretty cute."
He smiled and Odd glomped me playfully and I nearly gaped at his costume. He was dressed almost exactly like his Lyoko outfit!
"Odd! How did you..."
"My cousin made it for me," he explained; he extended his hands like a cat. "Pretty cool, huh? Meow."
I giggled and we soon met up with the rest of the gang. Yumi and Aelita looked amazing in their costumes and so did they. We complimented each other, laughed and started dancing. After about an hour of non-stop dancing, I was pretty tired so I took a break. I was outside getting some air when loud screams came from the school. I whirled around in shock and Aelita and Jeremy burst from the doors.
They saw me and rushed to me.
"XANA's launched an attack. We have to get to the factory," Jeremy said.
I nodded and we quickly got to the sewers and rode our way to the factory. Jeremy started up the virtualizaton program and we got to the scanners.
"Get ready, girls. You're heading to the mountain sector," he told us.
"Got it," I said, irritated. "So much for a break."
"Virtualization!" Jeremy said.
Aelita and I landed on our feet smoothly and I scanned the area. So far, no monsters in sight.
"The tower is due north, north west. It's pretty far so you better move it," Jeremy told us.
"What's XANA's attack anyway?" I questioned.
"He somehow possessed everyone at the dance, with the exception of all of us, and they are attacking Ulrich, Odd and Yumi,"
"So, I'm on my own."
"Pretty much."
"Sweet! This is gonna be fun."
"Glad you're enjoying yourself. Here come your vehicles."
A moment later, my Overboad - the cool purple and black one - and the Overwing appeared. I stepped on it and took off. We flew for a couple meters when Jeremy alerted us that there were Tranatulas and Hornets coming. There were four hornets coming from seven o' clock, and the three Tranatulas were on the ground at twelve o' clock. The trantulas immediately opened fire on us. I spun all around, occasionally using my sword to deflect the beams, then fired my gun at them. I took out one of the Trantulas, but got shot in the back three times by the hornets. I cringed as I fell of my Overboard. Fortunately, Aelita caught me.
"Forty life points left, Dialla, you're being reckless," Jeremy scolded me.
"You wanna switch places?!" I snapped.
A hornets fired at me again from behind. I turned at the right moment and shielded the beam, then threw my sword like a boomerang as opposed to using the actual one. It was very efficient. It sliced two of them then fell to the forest floor. Suddenly, the Overwing got devirtualized by a beam and we fell to the floor. I quickly got to my feet, just in time to shield Aelita from getting hit by a beam.
"Dammit, this is bad," I mumbled. (GASP! Someone has to be a nickel in the swear jar! ^^)
I looked around, thinking of a plan, and shielding us at the same time. I closed my eyes for a moment and when I opened them, I had no pupil, but I had a plan.
"Aelita, can you create a barrier around yourself with the terrain?" I asked.
She nodded.
"Do it."
"Yes, but why?" she asked as she created the barrier.
"I've got an idea. Jeremy, when I give you the signal, can you materialize the Overboard?"
"Yeah, but, what are you planning?" he asked.
"Just do it." I said and escaped from the barrier. I took off and the monsters fired at me. Another hornet appeared and all three of them focused on me while the Trantulas focused on the barrier. I performed all sorts of gymnastic moves as I headed towards the edge.
Jeremy yelled at me as I ran towards the edge of the cliff. I leaped off, sending myself far away from the cliff. I let myself fall for a few seconds before yelling, "Now!" The Overboard appeared beneath me and I landed and took off. The hornets chased me, two were behind me and one was in front. I took the one in front of me out with my gun, then did a U-turn and headed back towards Aelita. I swooped down towards the ground and scooped up my sword, then spun around and sliced one in half, then spun around and did the same to the other one.
At the same time, the barrier had just been destroyed, but with the hornets out of the way, it was easier to focus on the trantulas. I sunk down low, making sure I was in front of Aelita, and shielded their beams. I rushed at the trantulas, then leaped off the Overboard. It continued to fly and it connected with one of the trantulas, causing it to fly off the cliff. But while I was in the air, I pulled out my boomerang and, using it as a knife, I pierced the Eye of XANA on the trantula's head, then leaped back as it exploded.
I landed on both my feet and reattached my boomerang to my shoulder, then looked up at Aelita, who was awestruck.
"That was amazing!" Aelita and Jeremy said in unison.
I smiled sheepishly. "Yeah, well."
"There's the tower," Aelita said and pointed.
I followed her finger and the activated tower was a few yards in front of us.
"Careful guys! It's William!" cried Jeremy.
Sure enough, walking leisurely behind us, was William, dressed in a new black, form-fitting attire with red outlines. The Eye of XANA was marked on his chest, forehead and sword.
"Great, I was getting lonely," I said and faced him. "Aelita head to the tower. I'll handle him."
Aelita ran and I braced myself. William sunk into the ground and rushed for me and ended up behind me. I knew he'd do that, so when he attacked, I was ready. He swung his sword, but I ducked, pivoted and swung mine. We clashed and I moved swiftly to the side, causing him to stumble forward. I kicked him in the side, pulled out my gun and fired. Three green beams struck him and he groaned slightly. He faced me and glared. I returned the look and pulled out my boomerang. I threw it at him and he dodged it, by leaping to the side. Then I fired my gun at his feet and he jumped in the air. I smirked, ran forward and slid, raising my feet in the air. The soles of his feet touched mine, and I threw him into the air, only for him to be hit by my boomerang seconds later. He was reduced into red glowing smoke, which dissipated into the mountain floor. A moment later, the tower was deactivated and my eyes returned to normal.
"Nice work, Dialla. Ulrich says that no one got hurt, so we don't have to return to the past," Jeremy said while he rematerialized us.
"That's good. Now we can get back to the dance!" I cheered.
Aelita and Jeremy smiled and we made our way back to the auditorium (or wherever they have a dance). When we got there, a lot of people had left and a slow song was playing. Jeremy and Aelita wandered off, leaving me alone. I was walking to the punch bowl when a hand grabbed my arm, stopping me.
"Want to dance?" Ulrich asked.
I hesitated, then nodded as he led me over to where Odd was, who was dancing with a blonde girl. Heidi, I think.
Odd flashed him a thumbs-up and I giggled as I wrapped my arms around his neck. His slipped around my waist and we swayed in tune with the song.
