Title: Open Your Eyes

Warnings: MAJOR CHARACTER DEATH! Drama, etc.

Rating: PG-14

A/N: Yeah, you get the gist XD next chapter :3

My eyes opened to reveal that I was in a small room, surrounded by wires, computers, and factory mechanisms. I then realized that I was somewhere inside the factory. I groaned, trying to sit up and rub my aching head, but I quickly noticed that I couldn't move my arms. I lifted my head to look at what was keeping me from lifting them, and I saw that I was heavily strapped to a large chair. What in the…?

Just then, a bright white light came on overhead, indicating that someone was in the room, and something was about to happen. I looked to my left to see Jeremy, Yumi, Odd, Aelita, William, and Luna standing in front of the doorway. Yumi had her hand on the switch, indicating that she was the one who switched it on. Jeremy and Aelita had their arms crossed, Odd was still holding onto his side, and William and Yumi just glared at me.

"What do you want from me?" I asked, looking straight at Jeremy.

"We want you to leave Ulrich alone," he said simply. "He's not your toy. You don't own him."

"But I do, Jeremy. I do. You just don't know that."

Jeremy looked downcast for a split moment, before Aelita whispered something in his ear. I frowned. "Hey! If you're going to say something, say it out loud!" I yelled, straining against my restraints.

Odd and Luna ran over and held my arms and legs down, both glaring at me. Jeremy walked over with Aelita and stood in front of the chair, so I could stare straight ahead.

"Aelita, would you do the honors?" Jeremy asked, looking over at the girl. She nodded, reaching inside her jacket pocket. I rose an eyebrow, confused as to what she was doing.

"XANA, we, the Warriors of Lyoko, command you to leave Ulrich's presence at once!" she said, coming closer to me and placing a hand on my chest.

I laughed. "What are you doing? An exorcism? Like that's gonna work. I'm not a ghost, you idiots."

Then the object that Aelita had in her hand began to glow softly. The object was in the shape of a star. It was thick, and plated with dozens of coatings of metal. I rose an eyebrow again, looking up at her. What is that…? Then it hit me. "NO! YOU'LL NEVER GET ME OUT!" I screamed, my distorted voice echoing.

The Warriors looked at each other with surprised faces. They obviously thought it wouldn't work, but when I just voiced my opinion, they automatically knew that this was what was needed to get me out of Ulrich's body. Aelita smirked and pressed the star harder on my chest. A bright blue and white light erupted from my chest and I screamed. The rest of the Lyoko Warriors, taken aback by what was happening, covered their eyes and stepped back. Aelita had to remain there and hold the star on my chest despite the harsh lighting.

"You honestly think that this is going to take me out?!" I screamed, the light still filling the room.

"I'll do whatever it takes to get Ulrich back! We all would!" Aelita shouted above the sharp screeching noise that was beginning to fill the room along with the light.

"Ahh!" Jeremy shouted, covering his ears.

"There's a flaw in your plan!" I shouted at Aelita, my eyes faltering their color between honey brown and red.

"Oh, yeah? And what's that?" she shouted.

The light got brighter, and the screeching noise got louder. "If you take me, you'll take Ulrich with me!"

Aelita's eyes widened, but then hardened. "You're bluffing!"

I shook my head, beginning to convulse slightly. "No! I'm not lying! You take me down, Ulrich goes with me! Why would I lie to you, of all people?"

She looked taken aback for a moment before replying. "Because you're a computer virus, and would do whatever it takes to make yourself win!" Aelita answered.

"…You may have a point, but this time, I'm not lying!" I said, beginning to laugh evilly. "You can say goodbye to your most cherished Lyoko Warrior!"

The noise got so intense that the Lyoko Warriors in the room screamed while holding their ears.

"YOU'RE LYING!" Aelita shouted, her eyes narrowed.

"I'M NOT THIS TIME! SAY GOODBYE TO ULRICH!"

Then, the noise and light diminished and I left Ulrich's body in the form of a spectre, flying up into the air and back towards the supercomputer.

~CODE LYOKO CODE LYOKO CODE LYOKO CODE LYOKO~

~ODD

I uncovered my ears, opening my eyes, and watching as XANA left Ulrich's body through his ear, flying back towards the supercomputer. I struggled to stand up, still hurting everywhere from when he had shocked the crap out of me and broke one of my ribs. I rubbed the back of my head and stood up fully, looking over at Aelita. She lay slumped on the ground, the star nowhere to be found. Where could it have gone? I wondered, looking around the floor for it, but that didn't matter now. What mattered was making sure Aelita and Ulrich were both okay.

I hurried over to Aelita and kneeled next to her, regretting it in the process, but I pushed that away. "Aelita? Aelita, are you okay?" I placed my hand on her shoulder and pushed her a little. "Aelita, wake up."

Her emerald eyes fluttered open. She groaned a little, sitting up and holding her head. "Oh, what happened?" she asked, looking up at me.

"You got XANA out of Ulrich," I replied, looking around me as the others began to get to their feet. "You did it." I smiled at Aelita. She gasped, laughed, and then hugged me. "I can't believe you did it, Princess."

Jeremy awkwardly cleared his throat. I pulled away from Aelita and got back to my feet. "Sorry, Einstein. Had to give her comfort, you know?" I got closer to his ear. "But she's all yours, don't worry about it," I whispered.

Jeremy blushed and scratched the back of his head. "Uh, yeah. Th-thanks, Odd."

I smiled at him, and looked over at Luna. "So, when did you get here?"

She shrugged. "I've actually been here about a school week. It was getting boring at my old school. Decided to come check out if what you said about this place was true. Turns out it was." She chuckled. "I never expected to be a telekinetic angel cat, though. What's the deal with the costumes?"

I shrugged, laughing. "Don't ask me. I just happened to hop in a scanner one day, and wound up on Lyoko as a purple cat."

"Can we cut the soft moments?" Yumi snapped. "I want to know if what XANA said about Ulrich was true."

We all were silent for a moment before heading over to the chair. I looked down at Ulrich and frowned. Why's there a burn mark on his chest? Better yet, why are his clothes all burned up? I shrugged to myself and looked to Jeremy for an explanation. The others seemed to notice Ulrich's clothes and looked at Jeremy also.

Jeremy, overwhelmed by all the expectant looks, flinched and held up his hands in defense. "Hey, don't look at me! I don't know what really happened any more than you guys do." He scratched his head again. "I really didn't think that would work, actually, but I guess it did."

I nodded, looking over at Yumi. She had a hurt expression on her face, and I realized that she thought something bad happened to Ulrich. I put my hand on her shoulder, making her look at me. She was crying, and my eyes softened. "Yumi, Ulrich's gonna be okay. It worked. He's fine."

Yumi sniffled and wiped a tear. "Yeah, but I just want to know if he's still in his coma. You know, 'cause he hit his head on the ground."

Luna then laughed nervously. "Um…that was kinda initially my fault." We all looked at her and she shrank under our gazes. "Uh…I was, well…running down the hallways trying to look for my key that I lost. Someone had told me it was in the boy's dorms, so I went in there. And then I ran into Ulrich. Luckily, I landed on my butt, but Ulrich…wasn't so lucky."

Yumi's eyes narrowed and then she glowered over Luna. "You're the one who did this to him?!" she snapped.

Luna shrank back more, but then regained herself and got in Yumi's face. "Hey, at least it was an accident, Ms. I'm-gonna-tell-Ulrich-I-hate-him."

Yumi's face fell, and her eyes watered. Her lip quivered, and she pulled an arm over her face to hide it. "I'm sorry," she cried. "I can't do this. I can't be here." She then ran out of the room crying, ignoring everyone else.

I held out my arm. "Yumi, wait!" I lowered it after I knew I couldn't do anything to stop her. All of us looked out after her with sad looks on our faces. Luna looked the most downcast. She lowered her head and backed up to lower herself onto the ground and curl into a ball. I went over and sat next to her, putting her head on my shoulder for her to cry on. "Hey, it's okay, Luna. Don't worry. I'm sure you didn't mean any of it, and she did take it kind of hard…"

Luna just sat and sniffled on my shoulder. I patted her back in comfort, looking up at Jeremy, who was closely observing Ulrich's burnt clothing. "Any updates?"

Jeremy snapped to attention, looking at me. "What?" He pushed his glasses back up on his nose and sniffed. "Oh, sorry. I was just looking at the burn marks. The one in the middle is star-shaped, like…" He paused, deep in thought. He began tapping his chin. "Hmm…"

William came up to Ulrich and looked at his clothes. "I think we should take off his shirt."

Jeremy and I looked at him with weirded-out expressions. He held up his hand. "Okay, I know it was a little weird in this given situation. But seriously. We don't want him to get more burnt, now do we?"

Jeremy shook his head and looked at Aelita for confirmation before taking to getting Ulrich's shirt off. She nodded and went to sit down next to me. Jeremy and William then began ripping Ulrich's shirt off. He strained with the last part, which was where the star had been. William grabbed the shirt tendril and yanked on it, ripping the rest of it off. Then, they both gasped.

"Amazing!" Jeremy breathed, picking up his hand and leaning in to touch whatever he thought was amazing. William smacked his hand away. "Ow!" he yelled, rubbing his hand.

"Don't touch it," he said, looking back at it. "It looks like it hurts."

I looked over at Luna. She nodded, silently saying I could get up and look. I stood up on wobbly legs and walked over to the chair. I gasped as soon as I reached Ulrich. Right in the center of his chest, where Aelita had placed the star to get XANA out, was the star. It was etched and burnt right onto his skin like a tattoo. It was silver and had a black swirls all around it, like a tornado-but a faint one. I reached out my hand to touch it as well, but then, William too, smacked my hand away.

"Ow…" I sighed, glaring at him, but then turning my attention to Ulrich.

"Did you not understand me when I said 'don't touch it'?" he muttered, looking closer at the strange burn.

"So, does this mean that it's one with him now, or something?" I asked, looking at Jeremy.

Jeremy nodded. "Yes, but…" He then rose his hand to check Ulrich for a pulse. He paused for a moment to feel for a heartbeat, and then turned to us with a saddened look.

"You guys… Ulrich's…dead."

~CODE LYOKO CODE LYOKO CODE LYOKO CODE LYOKO~

~ULRICH

Open your eyes, Ulrich. Open your eyes…

My eyes slowly opened to reveal I was in a bright tunnel, but there was an even brighter light at the end. I frowned. Where am I? I stood up, and realized that all my pain was gone, and I couldn't feel anything at all. Am I dreaming? I asked myself as I began to pinch my skin. I couldn't feel it. Nothing happened.

I looked up to see a mystical figure floating towards me. It was wearing a long, thin white dress, and its skin was almost transparent. I then realized that it was a woman, and she was here to see me-or at least, that's what it seemed like. As soon as she made her way over to me, she placed her hand on my shoulder. It stood out from the rest of me, radiating some sort of white aura around it.

"Ulrich," she said, her eyes calming and assuring deep pools of blue. "Are you awake?"

I nodded slowly. "Yes, but… Where am I? And…who are you?"

She smiled and took her hand from my shoulder. She began to float away. "You must come with me now, Ulrich. We must go."

"Go where?" I asked, frowning. "You never answered me. Who are you?"

"I am your grandmother."

I gasped. "But you're too young to be my grandmother!" I said.

She laughed. "I simply took form of what I loved most, and that is beauty, elegance, and youth. Now come on. We have to go."

I took a step forward. "Where? Where are we going?"

She began floating farther away. "You'll see once you get there, Ulrich. Come on, don't leave us waiting." She faded away into the bright light at the very end of the tunnel, leaving an almost mystical and wondrous mist where she disappeared.

I frowned. Is…is this what I think it is? Am I…dead? I then looked behind me. This part of the tunnel was way darker compared to the one in front of me. I looked to the left and saw a dimmer tunnel, more in between the two dark and light tunnel ends. This way must be Heaven… I thought, looking towards the bright light. And… I looked at the dark end. This must be Hell. My eyes turned towards the dim tunnel, and I rose an eyebrow. Well, then, what's this one? Could it be…back to Earth? I hurried towards it, but I soon noticed that there was a gate that was heavily locked guarding it.

I wonder if I can… I reached in my pocket and found what I was looking for. Yes!

~CODE LYOKO CODE LYOKO CODE LYOKO CODE LYOKO~

~ODD

"What do you mean he's dead?!" I shouted, slamming my fists on the chair.

"Odd, calm down," Jeremy tried. I pushed him away, tears running down my face.

"No!" I yelled. "He can't be dead! He can't be! It's not possible! XANA can't do that!"

Jeremy put a hand on my shoulder. "Odd, XANA told us if we took him out, we'd kill Ulrich."

Aelita sniffled in the corner next to Luna, who was crying too much for her own liking. "I can't believe he was actually telling the truth…" she murmured, wiping some tears onto her jacket sleeve.

I wiped a tear on my sleeve as well, looking back at Ulrich. Besides from the burnt clothes, and the star tattoo-like thing on his chest, he looked peaceful, like he was just sleeping. But I knew he wasn't just sleeping. I agreed with Jeremy. Ulrich was dead.

"What're we gonna tell Yumi?" Jeremy asked quietly. William's eyes averted away from the group and he looked at the ground silently.

There was an awkward silence, and then William broke it. "Nothing."

"What?" Jeremy asked.

"We tell her nothing," William said, glancing back up. "She'd be too devastated, and I don't want to risk losing a good fighting adversary for Lyoko, when we already lost one."

I sighed, silently agreeing with him. What are we gonna do without you, buddy? I thought, a single tear flowing down my cheek.

~CODE LYOKO CODE LYOKO CODE LYOKO CODE LYOKO~

~ULRICH

I skillfully picked at the lock on the gate, hoping for one, that the lock-picking tool wouldn't break, and two, that I could get through. I didn't want to die now, not when my friends needed me the most. XANA was at his peak, and they needed all the help they could get.

Come on, almost there. Almost…there…! I stuck my tongue out to the side as I worked vigorously on the lock. Then, I heard a satisfying click as the lock opened. Yes! I threw the lock-picking tool to the side, yanking off the large lock, and throwing open the large gate door.

Just then, a large horn blared as soon as I opened the door, sounding as some sort of alarm. I began to panic, and ran as fast as I could out of the cloudy tunnel, hoping to get as much distance as I could between the tunnel and myself…

I gasped as a current began pulling me back through the gate, and I struggled to hang on and get back to my friends. No! I'm not giving up! I pulled against the current, taking one straining step at a time. As soon as I took about five steps, the current snapped, and I was sent flying back to Earth…

I took in a large, gasping breath as I opened my eyes. I looked around me and realized that I was in a closed space. I began to panic. Where am I now? What the hell?! My heart thudded against my chest and I listened for any sort of noise.

"…Ulrich Stern was an exceptional young man…" a man's voice boomed. I then realized that it was Jim, and he was talking through a microphone. "He did have his flaws sometimes, but nonetheless, he was one of the most valued students at Kadic."

What the…? Am I at my own funeral?!

I listened as Jim continued. "I tried desperately to find out what his group was up to, but…well, I'd rather not talk about it."

Okay, that's it. I raised both of my arms and began pounding on the casket ceiling. "Hey! Let me out!" I shouted.

As soon as I shouted, everyone outside began panicking.

~CODE LYOKO CODE LYOKO CODE LYOKO CODE LYOKO~

~ODD

My head hung low as we bowed our heads in prayer for Ulrich. I never thought that this day would come, I thought to myself. I never thought that XANA would succeed in killing one of us…let alone my very best friend… The prayer was soon finished, and I lifted my head.

"Now, would anyone like to say some things about Ulrich Stern before we close with another prayer?" the pastor asked.

I stood up, along with Yumi, William, Aelita, Jeremy, Luna, Ulrich's parents, and Jim. The pastor looked overwhelmed, his eyes bugged out. He rose a finger and pointed at Yumi first. "Okay, you may go first, young lady."

Yumi began to walk up there as the rest of us sat down. The pastor stepped aside and Yumi began her speech. "Ulrich was…the most sensible and best friend I've ever had," she said, her eyes watering up. "He was one of the best friends anyone could have, really. When I first met him, he was my very first friend. He and I had some good adventures together, and for that, I'm sincerely glad. Sure, he had his flaws sometimes, but... Even though he's gone, I know that he still lives on in all of us. Nothing can separate that kid from his friends and family." Some people in the audience chuckled a little. She chuckled as well, but continued. "And…I somehow wish that I could've done something to…keep him from dying…but… Well, we all know that nothing could've been done."

I listened to her speech, listened to her lies… But it was all for a good cause, and everyone who knew about XANA knew that. Yumi finished her speech, finally caving in to her tears, and the pastor called me up next. I walked up to the stand and faced the group in the church. My heart beat faster as I looked at them. I took a deep breath and started. "Ulrich was my best friend. I didn't really have any friends growing up because of my weirdness..." The audience chuckled a bit. "As soon as I knew I had a roommate, I thought that he and I were going to be the best of buddies. Well, we were, and we had the greatest friendship of all. Now, I know that he's gone, and like Yumi said, he will live within us all. He was…" I sniffled, a tear shining down my face as I looked at my friends. "He was…the greatest friend to all of us. Even if he was failing his classes, or failing at telling someone how he felt… He was still the best of us all."

I then began to dig deeper into my feelings. "We all know that Ulrich was the strong and silent type, but deep down, he was just as loud-mouthed as all of us. He voiced his opinion, even if he knew it wouldn't work or…knew it wouldn't be sensible. He just was there for all of us, and we were there for him. Even if he couldn't voice his emotions as well as some of us, he still had emotions! Don't think he didn't, because he did. He was the most sensible person I knew, and…the best friend that I never had." I stopped then, breaking down and crying. The pastor came over and led me off the stage and back to my seat. I cried and cried while Jeremy, Luna, William, Aelita, and his parents all voiced their opinions. I didn't think I could cry any more than I already had, but it seemed that I had my effect on everyone, as they had all broken down and cried as well.

Then, it was Jim's turn. He got up to the pedestal and took a breath. "I was proud to be Ulrich's gym teacher, football coach…and to just be there for him. He was one of the best football players I have ever taught, and I don't think even the most professional one could replace that kid. Ulrich Stern was an exceptional young man… He did have his flaws sometimes like Ms. Ishiyama said, but nonetheless, he was one of the most valued students at Kadic. I tried desperately to find out what his group was up to, but…well, I'd rather not talk about it."

Just then, we all froze up as a pounding noise was heard. I stared straight at the casket, noticing that the top was moving, the flowers on top weighing it down, so it couldn't open. "Hey!" a muffled voice shouted. "Let me out!"

He's alive?! I thought, smiling widely. But, just as Ulrich shouted and began pounding on the casket, everyone that knew Ulrich began freaking out and getting up to leave.

"ZOMBIE!" one lady shouted, pointing at the casket.

I stood up and turned around to everyone. "Everyone, stop!" my voice boomed. Everyone turned around to look at me, freezing in their positions. I turned back around and walked over to the casket. The pounding continued and continued, and as I drew closer to his casket, everyone seemed to be standing behind me, breathing down my neck.

I reached out a shaky hand and began to take all the flowers off the top of the casket. The rest of my gang, seeing what I was doing, hopped up onto the stage and began taking them off as well. Soon, all the flowers and photos of Ulrich were down and off of his casket.

The top swung up by a large amount of force, and Ulrich's head popped out. He held his chest, his eyes wide, breathing heavily. He turned his head to all of us and smirked.

"Uh...hi?"

A/N: Well, cliffy until tomorrow huh XD Anyways, I'll keep working on these tomorrow, since I have weekends off from work now :) until tomorrow!

Review? :D