Chapter 21: Tag Team Training: Matthew & Mariah

Lyoko-Forest Sector

Once again, the training had begun. The young pairs of warriors took off in the directions of their towers in their new Lyoko Vehicles. In the Forest Sector, Matthew and Mariah sped down the narrow paths in Matthew's OverRacer. Matthew was having a great time racing through the virtual woods, but Mariah was a little nervous with how fast he was going.

Mariah: Oooh...please be careful will ya Matt? One wrong move and we'll fall into the Digital Sea!

Matthew: Ah quit your worrying Mariah. Besides, if that does happen, I can still activate flight mode and it'll get us out of that mess. Or would you rather have me fly this car and risk hitting a tree and then falling into the Digital Sea, hmm?

This shut Mariah right up as he gave her a sly smirk.

Mariah: On second thought, you're doing great. Keep it up...

Matthew: Heh heh, that's more like it. Where to Mrs. Belpois?

Aelita: Keep following the path that you're currently on and when you see the paths divide in front of you, take the the path on the left and then go right. From there you continue going straight until you see a hallow tree tunnel. Go through that then go right. From there keep going straight until you two see your tower.

Mariah: We're on it ma'am!

Matthew pressed the throttle pedal down further and raced away through the forest. Meanwhile over at Kadic, Jeremy was grading his Computer Science student's tests on his laptop. Some of the tests he was quite pleased with because of the effort that was put into them, but the rest of the tests weren't so great and this made him frustrated, but he tried not to dwell on it too much. He just simply continued grading the exams. He was about halfway through grading all of them when he suddenly remembered something.

Jeremy: Oops. I forgot to tell Aelita that I programmed a new item for Matthew. I better call her and tell her quick.

He got out his cell phone and dialed her number. Meanwhile over at the factory...

*RING RING RING*

Aeltia: Hello?

Jeremy: Aelita, it's Jeremy.

Aelita: Oh hello Jeremy. How are things?

Jeremy: Could be better. Most of my students failed their test that I gave them today.

Aelita: Uh oh, that's not good. Did Matthew at least pass his?

Jeremy: Yes he did. Thank goodness for that. By the way, is Maya okay?

Aelita: She's fine. She should have gotten off her bus by now. She said that she would be okay by herself until you got home and she said that she would do her homework while she's at home.

Jeremy: Ok, that's good to hear. Anyway, speaking of Matthew, I forgot to mention something in that note I left you this morning.

Aelita: Oh? And what would that be?

Jeremy: I programmed a new item for Matthew.

Aelita: What kind of new item?

Jeremy: Here's what it is. Now listen closely.

Over on Lyoko, Matthew and Mariah reached the divided paths.

Matthew: Hang on Mariah! Sharp turn coming up!

Mariah hung on tight to Matthew's seat as he quickly turned left and continued on his way. A few seconds later, he made a right turn.

Matthew: You holding up okay back there?

Mariah: Oh yeah, I'm fine!

Matthew: Good to know! Here comes the tree tunnel!

Mariah looked ahead and indeed saw the hallow tree tunnel that Aelita told them to go through.

Mariah: Did she say go right after we go through this?

Matthew: Yeah she did. So hang on!

Matthew raced through the tunnel and popped out the other side a few seconds later. He then quickly made a right hand turn and continued going straight for the rest of the journey, while back at the factory...

Aelita: Uh huh...uh huh...okay Jeremy I'll tell him. I love you too. Bye.

Aelita hung up her phone and turned her attention back to the computer screen.

Aelita: Matthew, Mariah, do you read me?

Matthew: Loud and clear Mrs. Belpois! We're almost at the tower.

Aelita: That's good to hear because I got something for you Matthew.

Matthew: Yes yes I know we got monsters coming up. What do you expect?

Aelita: That's not what I mean.

Matthew: Oh? Then what is it?

Aelita: I just got off the phone with Mr. Belpois. He said that he has programmed a new item for you.

Matthew: Uhh...a new item?

Aelita: Yes, and since you two are coming up to your tower, it would be a good time to explain it.

Matthew: Well we're almost at our tower, so go ahead.

Aelita: Ok, first let me program it onto your head.

Matthew: Alright...wait my head?!

Aelita quickly tapped the keys on the keyboard and pressed ENTER. A few seconds later, a pair of goggles were virtualized on Matthew's head.

Matthew: What are these?

Aelita: They are your new Analyzing Goggles.

Matthew: What do they do?

Aelita: They have many different purposes. They can be used to analyze a monsters life points, attack methods, and name. It also has a night vision mode to help you navigate through a dark area. They are also binoculars that can help you zoom in on your enemies from afar.

Matthew: Dude that's so cool! Tell Mr. Belpois he's awesome!

Aelita giggled a bit.

Aelita: I'll be sure to tell him that. Oh look at that, you're at your tower.

Matthew and Mariah looked ahead and saw their green glowing tower standing in front of them. They could also see 4 Tarantulas and 4 Krabs guarding the tower also glowing green.

Matthew: You ready for a little battle Mariah?

Mariah took out her laser cannons from their holsters.

Mariah: Oh I'm ready alright.

Matthew: Ok now listen. I'm going to drop you off here. You're going to attack them from the ground while I give you a little air support, okay?

Mariah: Good thinking Matt. That'll work wonders.

So Matthew stopped the OverRacer a little ways away from the tower and Mariah got out.

Matthew: Good luck and be careful. Mrs. Belpois might be controlling them, but don't expect her to play fair.

Aelita: HEY! I HEARD THAT!

Matthew: I'm kidding ma'am! Anyway, get going and I'll cover you from up here.

Matthew then activated flight mode and his OverRacer took over into the sky while Mariah sprinted her way towards the tower, laser cannons ready.

Mariah: Hey there my monster friends! Care to play?

The monster looked over towards Mariah. The Tarantulas prepared to fire when...

Matthew: BANZAI!

Matthew came flying in firing his OverRacer's laser cannons at the monsters. The monsters didn't see him coming at all as Matthew already destroyed 2 Tarantulas. However, 2 more Tarantulas as well as all 4 Krabs began to retaliate. The Tarantulas began firing their powerful lasers at Matthew who just flew around the tower in order to miss them. As for Mariah, she jumped up in the air and aimed her cannons at one of the Krabs. At the moment, she fired a few rounds in the Krab's eye and destroyed it successfully, leaving only 3 Krabs. They soon began to fire back at her, but Mariah was able to dodge their attacks. Thinking quickly, she slid down on her knees underneath another Krab and fired her laser cannons from under it, thus destroying the second of the 4 Krabs. However, when she got back on her feet, the last 2 Krabs fired and hit her in the stomach and chest area. She lost 40 lifepoints but wasn't ready to back down.

Mariah: Ah go back to the ocean you creepy crustaceans!

Mariah aimed her laser cannons at the last two Krabs. They fired multiple shots her but she was able to miss them as she jumped up in the air once again. Things seemed to go in slow motion as she aimed her guns at the eyes and fired multiple rounds in them, destroying the last 2 Krabs. Up in the air, Matthew set his sights on one of the two remaining Tarantulas. It kept firing its laser at him but wasn't able to hit him. Matthew used this as an opportunity and he fired his lasers straight into the XANA eye of the Tarantula and destroying it. However, the last Tarantula fired at his OverRacer and with one hit, it was devirtualized. Matthew fell to the ground and skidded to a stop now having 30 fewer lifepoints. But Matthew readied his War-hammer and the last Tarantula prepared to fire.

Matthew: You know, I've always hated giant spiders and I've always wanted them dead. You my friend are no exception.

Matthew focused his energy on his hammer and it began to glow white.

Matthew: Mariah, I suggest you get out of the way and hide. Things are about to get heavy!

Mariah took off away from the scene and hid behind one of the many virtual trees in the area. Matthew then sprinted his way over towards the Tarantula as the beast fired multiple shots at him. But Matthew just dodged them all and jumped high into the air.

Matthew: SHOCKWAVE!

Matthew swung his hammer hard onto the ground and a massive shockwave spread out all around, knocking the green glowing Tarantula into the Digital Sea. Mariah emerged from her hiding spot a moment later.

Mariah: Now that was cool!

Matthew: Thanks. We did it Mrs. Belpois!

Aelita: Good work you two!

Suddenly, the computer began to pick up activity. Aelita looked and saw 4 more monsters coming at the duo.

Aelita: Look out, more monsters are coming!

Matthew and Mariah prepared themselves for another fight, until they heard a familiar mechanical roar.

Matthew: Oh no...

Mariah: Not them again!

It was them. The two young warriors looked behind them and saw 2 of XANA's new Tigers. But they also saw something else that looked even more terrifying. The young warriors backed away slowly as they tried to figure out what the other 2 monsters were.

Mariah: What the heck are those?!

Matthew: I don't know, but I'm not gonna enjoy this...

Oooooooooooooh...them cliffhangers though! Sorry about that. I just wanted to make something that will keep you on the edge of seats. I hope it worked! Anyway, I want to give another big thank you to my buddy pokemonking0924 for giving me the idea of Matthew's goggles. Man you've just been on a roll with these ideas. The rest of you guys need to start catching up HA HA XD! But I digress...anyway hope you all enjoyed and stayed tuned to find out how Gary and Natalie's training goes. Once again, FakeACU83 OUT!