Angel: Forgot to answer this question because I had to work four days straight last week, but it's kind of hard to write for having William not possessed by XANA. This plot point is the basis of some season 4 episodes, after all. A major plot point, in fact. That would be like if the show didn't have Aelita be virtualized onto Earth, and then not have her be the daughter of Franz Hopper. You get what I'm saying? It's one of the major themes in season 4, that I just can't change it. Especially when I'm already writing season 4. I am currently writing The Lake. I do have other stories to continue and plan after this one is done XD
I don't really know what original chapters I would even write here...I mean, I'm already ten episodes into the 4th season, because I have season 3 written and finished at this point in time. I've pretty much got the rest of the series planned out, I just need to write 'em...which I haven't had the time to do lately because of school and work.
Anyway, we are nearing the end of the season, and if I have to upload chapters on a different day, then I'll let you guys know by the time I upload the season finale.
While in Sector Five, Yumi is riding her Overwing, dodging lasers from the Mantas until one of them devirtualizes her ride. She spins around while holding her fans, steadying herself. She throws one of her weapons and misses the Manta. However, both her fans come back around and hit the target. The Manta explodes and sends her flying. Odd comes in and catches her just in time.
"What took you so long? I almost didn't wait."
"Just having a word with Lucy-Anne."
"Lucy-Anne?" She asks in confusion.
"Yeah, you know, Lucy-Anne," He gestures to the Mantas. "I love giving nicknames to the monsters I blow to smithereens. Hey Ames, can we call our first daughter Lucy-Anne?"
If she could, she'd be blushing right now. "N-No! I am not calling any child Lucy-Anne," She stammers, her heart beating hard and fast as she's driving her OverRunner. Odd points his arm at the Manta in front of him.
"Laser Arrow!" He fires once and misses. The Manta hits the Overboard, but doesn't get rid of it. Suddenly, it's attacked from underneath and explodes.
"Guess she wasn't too crazy about her name," Ulrich calls out from the platform next to Aelita. His sword spins around and Odd catches it.
"You oughta take better care of your stuff, Ulrich," He gestures to the weapon.
"Aelita, I'm trying to collect more data on Franz Hopper, but I can't access the subsystems," He explains to her. "Be careful, Flying Mantas coming your way at 10 o'clock!"
Aelita and Ulrich can see them on their left. She gasps as she ducks for cover, Ulrich jumping in front of the girl to take the shot.
"Jeremy, how's everything going? Because around here, things are kinda-" Yumi gets devirtualized before she can even finish her sentence.
"Heating up..." She finishes once she reaches the scanner room.
"Not great. For now, I don't have any data that tells me how to locate Franz Hopper, I'm afraid. You'll have to hold out a little longer."
"Of course we do," Amy rolls her eyes in amusement, dodging lasers back and forth.
"Easy for you to say," Ulrich retorts back as he's jumping around. Aelita continues searching.
"I'm almost there. I'm about ready to access the subsystems."
Odd flies away from two Mantas, one of them separating to go after Amy. She glances behind her to see the monster trailing after her and she scoffs.
"Big mistake."
She holds out her spear and uses that to reflect a laser back onto the Manta's eye.
"Hey, I warned you!" She smirks to where the Manta was.
"How many life points do we have left?" Odd asks curiously.
"Not many. If you get hit by one more Flying Manta, it'll be game over, Odd. Same goes for you, Ulrich. Amy, you have 60 life points left."
"Huh?!" Odd asks in surprise, whipping around to his girlfriend. "Hey, no fair!"
"Maybe if you stop getting hit by naming the Mantas, you would've had as many as me," She replies with a shrug. "Beggars can't be choosers!"
Ulrich spins around his sword, dodging every single laser from the Manta. Odd comes to a stop near him and he jumps on.
"Buckle up, Shirley!" He takes off again, the Mantas hot on their tails. They suddenly turn around as Odd chases after them, firing his Laser Arrows. "Ethel, Yvette, get back here right now!"
"Odd, cut it out with your dumb names," Ulrich tells him as Amy drives next to the two.
"But they're good names for our future children, right?" Odd gives Amy a hopeful look.
"Why are we having this discussion here of all places?" She asks him, raising a brow. Just how much has he thought about their future?
The Mantas suddenly join together, a red aura around them. Then they fire a powerful laser, hitting the boys only. They're surrounded in the same red aura.
"Huh?!" Amy questions in confusion as she stares at them.
"What's going on here? Why aren't we devirtualized?" Ulrich looks around as the Mantas separate.
"Laser Arrow!" Odd comes around and destroys the top one while Amy pulls out her spear, stabbing the other with it. They go back to Aelita, Amy landing the OverRunner and jumping out. Aelita notices the boys' state.
"Huh? What's that?"
"Beats me, they shot at us and this is what happened," Ulrich explains to her. She looks over to Amy, who seems normal.
"But why them and not you too?"
"I have no idea," Amy shrugs cluelessly. Suddenly, the boys devirtualize and the sisters stare at each other in confusion.
"You guys okay?" Jeremy asks once the two have returned to the scanner room. "All in one piece, I hope."
"Yeah, I think so," Ulrich steps out, looking at his hands.
"Two great legs, a svelte torso, two little arms, and a good-looking head!" Odd smiles when his scanner opens. "Nope, nothing missing."
Aelita and Amy arrive as they had devirtualized themselves on Lyoko. "Jeremy, what happened out there?" The pink-haired girl asks him.
"I wish I knew. I have to look back over the quantum sequence to track any possible abnormalities in the access data."
"Mind translating that, Einstein?" Yumi crosses her arms as the girls step out of the scanner.
"He has to carry out a full check," Aelita chuckles a little.
"Oh no way, there's no time!" Odd checks his watch. "We've got rehearsal in exactly five minutes!"
"Rehearsal?! Oh no, I completely forgot about it! Chardin is gonna kill us!" Jeremy gasps in realization.
"Booo!" Nicolas shouts from the crowd. In the gym, the same set from Romeo and Juliet is being used. "We want our money back, we want our money back, we want our money back, we want our money back, we want our money back!"
"Poliakoff," Jim interrupts in annoyance as he's standing in front of the boy. "You mind using your head for once? How can you get money back from a show that's totally free?!"
Some students laugh as Nicolas just sits there dumbfounded. "Well, you, uh-"
"We would have to give you back nothing! Which, if you ask me, is too much. Besides, try showing some respect! Theater, don't forget, is sacred!"
They just murmur, staring towards each with some of them smiling in amusement. "Believe me, I know from experience. Years ago, I even wrote a one-act," Jim chuckles at the memory, "Actually, it was more of a one-scene play."
"Oh really?" Herb smirks up at him. "What was it about, Jim?"
"Mmm, I'd rather not talk about it."
Some just laugh at his phrase, Mr. Chardin standing near the entrance. He hears footsteps and glances behind him to see the six students arriving.
"Hmm, there you are. Please everyone, hurry up."
The students sit there patiently as the teacher takes his seat next to the principal. Everyone is here to watch the rehearsal of Cyrano de Bergerac. Yumi is playing Roxane, Ulrich is playing Christian, and Odd is dictating as Cyrano while Amy is playing the Duenna. But she doesn't have a majority of lines, so she's sewing behind the curtain. She's also acting as costume designer for opening night, and since she doesn't have that many lines, it gave her all the more time to sew.
"Well, Mr. Chardin, what made you choose Cyrano de Bergerac for this year's performance?" The man asks curiously. "The elegance of the text, I imagine? Or the tragedy of unrequited love? Or perhaps it appeals to your true but hidden romantic nature."
"Hm...lack of money."
The principal could only gasp, baffled by the unexpected answer. "Since we had no choice, we had to use last year's Romeo and Juliet set and the costumes which are being mended by Ms. Smith. I had to find another play that had a balcony, so Cyrano."
Principal Delmas just hums, looking away. "I see..."
Odd steps up first, followed by Ulrich. He and Jeremy are both holding sticks as Odd bends down in front of the bush. Jeremy taps the stick against the floor a few times before stepping away.
"Roxane!" Ulrich calls out and Yumi steps up to the railing.
"Who calls me?"
"It is I, Christian," Ulrich looks up at her.
"Today your words are hesitant."
"Night has come," Odd speaks up, Amy peeking at him from behind the curtain. "In the dusk, they grope their way to find your ear."
"But my words find no such impediment," Yumi continues, Amy smiling softly at how good they are.
"They find their way at once. Oh small wonder that, forges within my heart they find their home. Methink how large my heart, how small your ear..." Some students are moved by Odd's performance while Jim sheds some tears. Amy touches her heart, feeling his powerful words as if he was speaking to her. "And from their fair heights descending, words fall fast, but mine must mount madam. They need more LASER ARROWS!"
Odd points his arm as if he's about to fire his weapons, everyone staring at him baffled. "What...?" Amy murmurs slowly. Why is Odd calling for his laser arrows, in public?
Jeremy and Aelita have their mouths open in shock.
"Methinks that your last words have learned to climb!"
Odd stares at his hand, puzzled before he tries to act natural. "...With practice such gymnastics grow as hard! In truth, I seem to speak from distant heights!"
"Two Kankerlots dead ahead!" Ulrich suddenly shouts in the same manner as his lines.
"Two! Far above at such a height toward death—oh, okay, I'll get them!" He aims his arm again and Principal Delmas gets onto his feet in the middle of the alarmed crowd.
"Stern, Della Robbia, what are you babbling about?!"
"Please sir, keep it down. Don't you know cutting-edge theater when you see it?" Mr. Chardin asks, the man opening his mouth in shock. "It's a modern approach. Somehow between the bold soprano and a deadly karate match."
"Take that, you old Krab!" Odd jumps into the air, landing on the ground. "Ulrich help me, I'm hit."
"Bravo!" Mr. Chardin cheers.
"Super sprint!" Ulrich leaps and lands in front of Sissi, about to attack her.
"Cut it out!" Yumi stands in front of her. "Your gag is not funny, it's lame!"
"Yumi, what are you doing? You made me miss the Megatank!" Ulrich protests to her.
"I don't think it's a gag..." Amy whispers slowly as she gets off the stage, staring at her boyfriend in concern.
"Odd, what's gotten into you?" Aelita asks him.
"Out of the way, Aelita, I can't see the Krab!"
"This time you've gone too far," The principal's voice comes out of what Odd thinks is a Krab. He's only seeing Lyoko's world and nothing else. "One more word out of you, and it's the disciplinary committee, you hear?"
"You don't need to go that far, please, something's wrong," Amy speaks up.
"She's right, Mr. Delmas. Odd isn't himself," Jeremy adds in.
"Jeremy?" Odd looks up wide-eyed. "Ames? Does XANA have a broken hard disk or what? The Krab sounds a lot like Delmas."
"Odd, watch out, a Blok at four o'clock!" Ulrich is staring right at Jim.
"A Blok? You're the Blokhead, Stern!" Like with Odd, Ulrich is only seeing the world of Lyoko in his mind. They can both see their friends sans Jeremy, but to the rest of the world, they're XANA's monsters. Ulrich charges with a yell, Jim moving around and locking him into a hold. "Someone call an ambulance! Stern and Della Robbia have totally lost it!"
The other students gasp as Ulrich struggles with the gym teacher.
"Jeremy, reload me. Two Tarantulas are getting the better of us!" Odd calls out from inside the ambulance.
"We're stuck in another of XANA's traps!"
"Yumi, do something!"
The others stare in worry as they watch the emergency vehicle drive away. Amy holds up her hand to her face as stray tears are coming from them. She had no idea what that was back there...and why Odd wasn't listening to them.
"Mmm. So this is what happens when you spend hours playing video games and watching cartoons on TV," Principal Delmas murmurs before speaking up to the students. "Rehearsal is over!"
"Ulrich's right, they are stuck in another of XANA's traps," Aelita says to Jeremy.
"Go follow them to the hospital. I'll see if I can figure out what's happening in the meantime."
"Did you give them something to calm them down?" The doctor asks the paramedic, who nods at her. He allows her to go in and she sees the boys laying in their beds. "Now, tell me, are you having some problems at the moment?"
Odd sits up to look at her.
"Are you sleeping well?"
They say nothing as she stares at them. "Nightmares? Restless nights?"
Ulrich finally reacts by narrowing his eyes, seeing a Blok. "Troubles at school? With your parents?"
"Huh?!"
"Take that, you rotten old Blok!" Odd 'fires' his arrows and she writes this down.
"Rotten old Blok...interesting."
"Let me at it!" Ulrich sits up and she opens her eyes to see him lunging towards her. She moves to the side and he lands on the floor. Then she grabs his arm, pulling it back.
"Sorry young man, but I'm a 10th don in Aikido."
Back in Jeremy's room, he's trying to figure out where it all went wrong. Scanning the boy's DNA, he gasps at what he's found and calls Yumi. Amy waves to Jackson as they step up to the entrance and Yumi answers her mobile.
"Yes Jeremy?"
"Yumi, XANA is definitely behind Odd and Ulrich's madness. There's only one way to make them normal. And that's to get them to a way tower somewhere on Lyoko. Then I can launch a program to get their heads straight."
"You mean we have to spring them from the hospital?" She asks curiously.
"You got it."
She narrows her eyes slightly. She didn't wanna do it, but they had to if they wanted their friends back to normal...
Amy looks to the chauffeur and she gives a thumbs up, waving her thumb. He nods in understanding and presses on the brake.
The girls smile at the receptionist. "Hello, we're here to see Ulrich Stern and Odd Della Robbia," Yumi tells her.
"I'm sorry, but they're both under observation. No visitors allowed," The woman goes back to reading her sumo magazine. The trio look towards each other, wondering just how they were gonna do this now...
"Thanks a lot. Sorry we interrupted you."
"What do we do now?" Aelita asks the older girl, who glances behind them.
"Quiet. Listen."
They glance over their shoulders to see the same doctor that was tending to their friends earlier. "The two young men in room 237 are fighting imaginary enemies they call Bloks, Mega tanks, and XANA."
The other doctor just laughs at how absurd it sounds. "Where do they get such crazy names from? What do you think, Professor Hornet?"
"Typical of today's youth."
"Now we know what room they're in," Yumi smiles at the two.
"We just have to get there without anyone else in the halls..." Amy crosses her arms, frowning towards the ground. The two notice her look and engulf her into a group hug.
"We'll get them back to normal, Amy," Yumi pats her back.
"We always do," Aelita pulls back with a smile. Amy returns the gesture.
"Thanks."
The girls peek around the corner to see a guard in front of room 237. "Leave him to me," Yumi whispers to them. She then walks around with her eyes closed, acting as if she's sleepwalking.
"Oh, excuse me, ma'am," She murmurs and he stares down at her.
"Do you need any help?"
"I-I'm looking for my room. Room, uh, 216," She replies with wide eyes.
"Come with me," He escorts her away, the sisters smiling and high-fiving each other. They sneak into the boys room, where there are restraints on them.
"Aelita, Ames, watch out for the Krabs!" Odd warns them.
"What Krabs?" Aelita asks in confusion.
"The ones blocking us!"
Aelita holds out her hands. "Energy field!"
"Sapphire Arrow!" Amy plays along and the two scream.
"That's one down," Aelita frees Ulrich while Amy helps with Odd.
"Nice job. That Krab just wouldn't let go of me. I think it was love at first bite. But don't worry Ames, you'll always be my favorite!"
Amy smiles weakly at him, still saddened to see him in this state.
"Here you are, room 216," The paramedic opens up the door for Yumi.
"Thank you for showing me the way," She murmurs, closing the door behind her.
"Game of tiddlywinks?"
Yumi gasps at the sudden voice, turning around and seeing an old woman sitting in the bed.
"We've located the activated tower. Follow us."
"Go, we'll cover you," Ulrich offers, Amy shaking her head.
"No, no, you just need to follow us."
"Whoever wins gets to take the other person's medicine! Well, what do you say?" The patient asks Yumi, who blinks in confusion.
"Uh, no thanks. Another time," She curtsies to the woman.
"What is going on around here?! If you didn't come for a game of tiddlywinks, then what are you doing in my room, young lady?!"
"Well, uh..." She couldn't exactly tell this woman that she doesn't know that she was technically breaking into her friends' room...
"You little rascal you! Get out or I'll call the nurse!"
Yumi quickly books it out of there. She definitely won't be telling anyone of this experience...
She comes to a stop as both boys and the sisters are standing in front of her. "Yumi, now that you're here, we can go to the activated tower," Aelita winks at her.
"Oh right, yeah. Sure, well, let's get going then," She leans in towards Amy. "How did you manage to get them out?"
"I promised Odd that I'd kiss him once we got out, and Aelita just convinced Ulrich to go," She whispers back.
Jeremy is in his room, scratching the back of his head as he types away. "Okay, I sure hope that this is gonna work..." He presses enter.
The five walk down the halls past the doctors, hoping that no one would notice...but the female doctor does.
"Huh?!" She drops her drink and it spills all over the floor. "Where do you think you're going?!"
"The Blok's caught up with us!" Odd aims his arm, Aelita pulling him away.
"No time!"
They take off into a run, Amy leading the way. "Our ride is waiting for us outside!"
The female doctor chases after them as they run past the receptionist. "Out of my way!" The doctor runs past her, trying to speed up to them. Aelita cringes and Amy sees the doors up ahead. She whistles with her fingers and Jackson sits up in alert as they shuffle into the backseats, slamming on the pedals. The doors close in front of the doctor and by the time they open, she can see the limo getting away. She pulls out her phone.
"Hello, is this police headquarters?"
"Oh no, that's all we needed," Jeremy complains as he's looking at the Core of Lyoko. Unfortunately, XANA's monsters are attacking it... "The Core is being attacked. Come on, will you pick up?!"
Yumi's phone rings and she answers it. "Yes Jeremy? ...Okay, we're on our way." She hangs up, looking across to Amy, Odd, and Ulrich as Aelita is seated next to her. "XANA is attacking the Core of Lyoko."
"I hope they get here in time," Jeremy murmurs in worry.
"Just a little further, the tower's not far now," Aelita tells the boys, but then they hear the police sirens. Looking out the back window, the five see police cars heading right towards them. Yumi looks around and doesn't see a way to get them off their trail.
"Kids, buckle your seatbelts," Jackson orders them.
"Huh? Seatbelts?" Odd asks in confusion.
"Just do what he says," Amy tells them and they do so. Jackson swerves right sharply, but Ulrich takes off his seatbelt.
"Go ahead, I'll take care of the megatank," He opens up the door and jumps right out.
"Ulrich, no!" Yumi cries out, Jackson's mouth open in shock. He runs up to the police car, right in the middle of the street.
"Huh? What is this crazy kid trying to do?!" The driver exclaims in surprise. Ulrich jumps up, preparing to kick. The car swerves out of the way so as not to hit Ulrich. It skids to a stop in front of a car. Ulrich glances behind him as TV appears from his van.
"Well, tell us what it feels like to be part of the evening news!"
The two just stare at them.
"That should take care of them," Ulrich smiles, turning to the open-mouthed four.
"I-what-that doesn't even...come on," Amy stammers, shaking her head and he runs back to the limo.
Jeremy has made it to the lab, typing as alarms are still going off. In the Core of Lyoko, three Mantas are hitting the sphere...and the first shield breaks.
"Where can they be?" Jeremy murmurs and the doors open, revealing all of them. "Huh, there you are. It's about time. Only one more shield left protecting the Core of Lyoko."
Yumi presses the button and they descend down to the scanner room with Jeremy. "Jeremy, would you mind sending me the Overboard?" Odd looks up at the ceiling. "Cuz I'm getting tired of running around!"
"Any idea how we can get them into the scanners?" Aelita asks in worry.
"Leave it to me, Aelita," Jeremy smirks as they arrive in the room. The scanners open, the boys stepping up to them. "Okay guys, you made it there. Now head for that way tower."
"Right," Ulrich steps in, Odd doing the same thing. They're both confused as the scanners close around them.
"Nice one Jeremy," Aelita smiles lightly as Jeremy goes back into the elevator. Amy gives him a thumbs up as the elevator doors close.
Jeremy puts on his headset. "Transfer Odd. Transfer Ulrich." Yumi gets into the last scanner. "Transfer Yumi. Scanner Odd. Scanner Ulrich. Scanner Yumi. Virtualization," All three are sent to the ice sector, all three landing safely. However...the boys just look up ahead.
"Oh wow, it's empty out here. Not a kid in sight," Instead of Lyoko, the boys are thinking that it's the halls of Kadic Academy.
"Guess they're all in the lunchroom," Ulrich shrugs lightly.
"Uh, yeah," Yumi stares at them in confusion. Jeremy then starts up the process for the sisters.
"Your turn, girls." They step in at the same time. "Transfer Aelita. Transfer Amy. Scanner Aelita. Scanner Amy. Virtualization."
The two appear behind Yumi, who watches them land.
"This is getting worse and worse!" Yumi walks up to them. "Now they think they're at the academy. Listen Aelita, you lead them to the way tower. Amy and I will head for the Core of Lyoko."
"Got it," Aelita nods at her, running up to the boys. "Let's go to the, um...lunchroom!"
"I'm starving! I'll save you the last piece of my desserts, Ames!"
The fairy smiles weakly before holding out her hand to Yumi. She takes it and Amy flies up into the air.
"Welcoming committee straight ahead," Jeremy warns them. "Be careful, Aelita."
She comes to a stop as she's face-to-face with a Tarantula and two Kankerlots. She backs away a bit, but the boys just walk past her like everything was normal.
"I don't believe it!" She replies in dismay. The Tarantula gets ready to fire, and they think that it's Sissi, Herb, and Nicolas...which is probably rightfully so.
"Sissi, in a bad mood? You break the scale this morning?" Odd jokes and Aelita gives a look of worry.
"No!"
She uses her creativity to create an ice wall. The monsters immediately fire, trying to break it. She beams in relief as she sees the boys bump into the wall.
Ulrich reaches out and touches it, an invisible wall blocking them from 'Sissi.' "What's this?"
"They put Sissi and her pals in the display case or what?" Odd asks as they feel the wall. Aelita runs up to them as the wall is starting to break, and once it does, she jumps and knocks both of them to the ground.
"Jeremy, we're here, at the edge of the sector," Yumi speaks up. "Can you send us a taxi?"
"You bet, a big white stretch limo is on the way," Jeremy smiles in amusement.
"Hey, Jackson's limo is perfectly fine," Amy jokes back.
He types in the password Scipio and presses enter, the transporter arriving in front of the geisha and fairy. It spins around and engulfs them inside, heading towards the other side of the ice sector.
The boys stay down as lasers are being fired at them. "Oh, who's the dork that pushed me into Sissi's arms?" Ulrich asks in annoyance.
"Energy field!" Aelita fires her weapon, getting rid of one Kankerlot.
Meanwhile, Amy and Yumi reach Sector Five, data walls activating and the system getting online. "Holosphere system connected."
The transporter spins around until releasing the two and they stand back-to-back. Amy's wings have disappeared, as per usual in Sector Five. "Jeremy, we're in the Core Zone."
"Okay girls, great. The countdown started. You've both got less than one minute to activate the key."
"Okay," They say in unison, Yumi taking the lead since she's facing the door. Amy turns around and runs after her. The two reach the wall and it opens up for stairs. The two girls immediately take off into a run, hoping that they're not too late.
Aelita holds out her hand, preparing another pink orb. "Energy field." She throws it at the other Kankerlot and destroys it.
"Energy field?" Odd asks in confusion. "You think we're on Lyoko or something?" And the irony is that they are. While using energy fields to dodge from the Tarantula, Aelita gets hit in the leg. The monster walks up to them on two legs, with Ulrich getting hit in the arm.
"Something just stung me!"
The Tarantula gets back on four feet.
"Better hurry up, girls," Jeremy speaks to Yumi and Amy. "You've only got ten seconds left. 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3," Luckily, they've already found the key next to the closed door and Amy pushes it. "2, 1, zero!"
The door thankfully opens. "Nice job, girls! Now head for the Celestial Dome."
"We're on our way!" Yumi runs through the open door, Amy keeping up next to her.
"You can count on us, Jeremy!"
"I'm programming your vehicles."
"...Hey Yumi. Do you think it's weird that Odd seems to be thinking about our life together?" Amy asks slowly, biting her lip.
"I think it's cute," She chuckles a little, "But if it makes you uncomfortable, you could just tell him. It's Odd."
Amy giggles a bit, seeming to agree.
Aelita deflects more lasers from the Tarantula, pressing a hand to her forehead. She uses her creativity to make a hole underneath the monster. This causes it to fall through the hole and into the Digital Sea.
"That way, hurry up," She gestures forward.
"No, the lunchroom is that way," Odd points in the other direction and she groans in frustration.
"Listen to me, both of you! You're gonna do exactly as I say and no questions! You got that?"
Odd rubs his neck awkwardly as Ulrich shrugs. "Okay..."
"Okay," Odd agrees, both of them not wanting to irk her even more.
Amy and Yumi fly up to the entrance that'll lead them to the Core of Lyoko. "Jeremy, we're in the dome." They pass through the doors.
Aelita and the boys have finally reached the way tower. "Now get in there! That's an order!" Aelita shouts at them. She'll apologize to them later, but she really needed their help if they were going to save Lyoko.
"Ma'am yes ma'am!" They both salute to her.
"Let's hope this works..." Jeremy says uncertainly as he gets the program ready.
Yumi jumps off her Overboard to press the key. Stairs appear next to Amy and she jumps off her OverRunner, jumping up the stairs with her friend. They take a look upwards, seeing the three Mantas relentlessly firing at the Heart of Lyoko. The second shield is still up, but most likely not for long.
"Let's see if this program is operational..." Jeremy starts it up and the boys glow red, just like they did when the Mantas hit them with the beam. Suddenly, they glow green and then the glow disappears from the both of them.
"How do you guys feel?" Aelita questions, Ulrich blinking.
"Fine, but what are we doing inside a way tower?"
"I don't get it. Shouldn't we be in the lunchroom?" Odd looks around the tower.
"I'll explain later," Aelita looks up. "Jeremy, it worked."
"Yeah, but the core is still in danger..."
Two Mantas can sense the girls' presence and fly towards them. Yumi continues jumping, Amy hot on her trail. She stops at a platform and pulls out her weapons, blocking the projectiles from the monsters. Amy backflips off the platform, landing on a Manta. Yumi throws her fans, but the lasers cause them to fly right back to her. One of the lasers hits her leg, and she dangles from the edge.
"Yumi!" Amy cries out, jumping onto the other Manta, but the first one hits her in the shoulder. She loses her balance and falls, hanging onto the platform opposite of Yumi.
"Jeremy, looks like we're gonna need some help."
"It's on the way. By now, Ulrich and Odd should be close to Sector Five, girls."
"I hope so..." Amy murmurs as she tries to lift herself up.
The transporter arrives again, taking in Aelita, Odd, and Ulrich. It takes them to Sector Five, the entrance activating again. Odd is crouched down between Ulrich and Aelita.
"Hurry up. Amy and Yumi need your help."
They dash up to the wall and it opens up to the stairs again. They step down the stairs as fast as they can. "Yumi, Amy, the last protective shield is about ready to go!"
"We're doing all we can!" Yumi throws one fan, defeating one Manta. The other manages to hit her again, affecting her vision for a second. So much that she misses her fan when it flies above her head. She tosses the other, but the Manta swerves past it. As she's jumping, she's hit one more time and devirtualized.
"Yumi!" Amy turns around from the third Manta, narrowly ducking as it starts firing at her. Luckily, the others have arrived in the room. Just as the second shield is about to go, one of the Mantas is destroyed. Amy looks towards Odd.
"Yahoo!" He cheers, causing her to smile. The second shield explodes near her, causing her to turn around with her mouth wide open.
"Oh no!"
"Be careful...all the core shields are gone," Jeremy warns them, "If it takes one hit, just one, Lyoko is gone for good. And you guys along with it!"
"Oh great," Ulrich deadpans at this news. The Manta turns to him, but doesn't attempt to attack as it fires for the orb.
"No!" Aelita cries out, leaping off the platform she was standing on. The Manta fires just as she does. They both take each other out with one hit. The boys stand next to Amy, who grins at them in relief.
"Yeah!"
"Nice work, guys. Time to bring you back in."
Yumi steps up to Ulrich as he's sitting in the scanner. Amy and Aelita stare at Odd, all three of them anxious.
"Well?" Yumi asks expectantly.
"Well what? Laser arrow!" Odd points his arm, shocking the girls. After all they've been through trying to help them, it still appeared? Then Odd smiles at them. "Ah, just kidding, ladies!"
"Very funny," The three deadpan at the same time.
"Right. Well, it's a good thing that while some people are clowning around, others keep working. Okay, return to the past now."
He activates the return trip, mostly so that no one at the hospital would arrest them for letting two patients escape. It's play rehearsal when they return.
"Me thinks that your last words have learned to climb!" Yumi starts off.
"With practice such gymnastics grow as hard," Odd speaks from in front of the bush. Amy looks at the finished costume, smiling proudly at her work.
"In truth, I seem to speak from distant heights!"
"True, for a fall at such a height toward death if a hard word from you fell upon my heart."
"Stop, stop, stop stop," It's not Odd who interrupts the play this time, but Mr. Chardin. Amy steps out from behind the curtain, just as confused as her friends. "It's not bad, but you're not there. Not just yet. What we're missing is a bit more, uh..."
"More passion?" Ulrich asks curiously.
"No no, some..."
"Some popcorn?" Jim chimes in next to him.
"No."
"Some more funding?" Principal Delmas asks next.
"That would be good, but, uh-"
"A touch of insanity?" Odd questions, hands on his hips.
"Exactly, yes! That's it!"
They just laugh at the irony.
"You guys were great up there," Amy says to Odd as he's walking her back to her dorm. "I just hope it's enough to get the crowd past the fact that we're using the same sets and costumes."
"You kidding? With all the changes Chardin made to the script, they'll be asking us for an encore!" Odd jokes and she lets out a small laugh. Then she bites her lip nervously, leaning against her door. The girl twiddles her thumbs together, taking a small deep breath.
"Odd?"
"Yes, my little Ames?"
She shakes her head in amusement. He was making this less awkward...slightly. "Um...I wanted to talk to you about where our relationship is going. What I'm trying to ask really is...do you see us together in the next ten years?"
"Oh, no question!" He smiles at her, causing the girl to blink.
"Huh?"
"Well, I always pictured us being together when I realized I liked you," He rubs his chin in thought, his hand resting right next to her head on the door. "And now that we've been together for a while...I can't imagine myself with anyone else but you."
She can feel her cheeks heating up as she smiles softly. "Why are you asking? Were you having doubts?"
"No!" Amy shakes her head rapidly. "Not exactly, I just...never thought that far ahead in terms of...us. I guess with all the XANA attacks, it never crossed my mind," She shrugs sheepishly.
"If-" He shakes his head at her, "When we defeat XANA, you'll have all the time in the world to think about it."
"I'm sure I will. There'll be lots of things to think about."
"You mean like the names of our children?" Odd gives her a teasing smile. "Lucy-Anne still good?"
"How about we go with Lucian for now and then we'll go back to the topic when we're older?" She smirks in amusement, crossing her arms.
"Deal," He chuckles, leaning in and pecking her lips. They stare at each other in the eye, happy with their decision. He rubs her chin with his thumb, kissing her fully. The girl smiles, hugging his neck and returning the gesture. Nothing could ruin this moment...
Except when Aelita suddenly opens the door, causing them to tumble onto the floor. "Aelita!" Odd pouts up at her. "We were having a moment here!"
"Sorry to interrupt, Romeo and Juliet, but Jim is about to do a nightly inspection," Aelita points to the time on her phone. He scrambles off Amy and she stands up, both of them not really wanting to say goodbye.
"I'll see you tomorrow morning. You know the deal, right?"
"Yes, Odd," She rolls her eyes in amusement. "I let you have half my breakfast, and in turn, you give me your desserts for dinner."
Aelita stares at them in surprise. This was new to her; since when did Odd give Amy ALL her desserts?
"Goodnight," Odd pecks her lips again and she waves at him, closing the door.
"Uh, when did that start happening?" Aelita asks teasingly, hands on her hips.
"Since last week," Amy shrugs at her. "I think we'll all be okay as long as he doesn't starve like he did that one time during nutrition week."
They both giggle at the name and Aelita crosses her arms. "So, Lucian, huh?"
Her eyes widen and then the brunette grabs a pillow, lightly hitting Aelita with it. "That's it! I'm gonna get you for eavesdropping!"
"Amy and Odd, together forever!" Aelita lightly sings as Amy chases her, both of them laughing.