Chapter 32 Wrong Exposure
A.N. – Ok, this one was an episode I got warned about when I started this story. Don't know why and will probably never know. First, I want to say this chapter's plot changes a little, but still holds to the central idea of it. Second, I want to say thank you to my guest reviewer, who I don't know the name of, with the help of writing part of the plot for this story. So, let's begin!
Guest – Glad you liked the additions to the last chapter. 1. In Fight to the Finish, all five are going to be there for sure. 2. I think it's more implied, but I could add something in somewhere. 3. No, only two Lyoko Warriors will it be centered around, but Odd will appear in the end. 4. I not entirely sure how it will flow when he returns, because when he does, he will immediately be with Yumi. 5. Give me a detail and I can make something work. 6. I can use this. 7. No, but I do have a reddit under this pen name if want to talk more privately.
Guest – The original idea was going to be Aelita vs. William where Aelita was under the control of Xana. The idea for this chapter was submitted around July. So that's why I changed it.
Disclaimer – I do not own Code Lyoko, the plot, or the story idea. The plot is owned by the creators, and the idea was submitted by Voltronblues123.
"Are you sure we'll find something useful in our father's house? We've already cut everything that seemed important" Aelita says to Jeremy as they walk past the fence. William is also with them.
"We left everything behind that we thought was useless, and that was our mistake. We did find Franz Hopper's notes thanks to your little Mister Puck" Jeremy states to her.
"If anything, this is probably where I can find out more about my past. Or at least an answer" William adds, still wanting an answer why he was given away.
Aelita chuckles a little. "It's just as I thought, you're really desperate."
"No, it's just that I don't wanna leave anything to chance when it comes to fighting Xana" Jeremy explains to her.
Aelita opens the door. "Well, where do we start?"
"Try the living room. I'll look in the study."
"I'll look in the bedrooms" William says as he heads upstairs.
They all split up, Aelita walks into the living room. Aelita starts to have flashbacks before she was virtualized for the first time.
Jeremy drops a book, tapping his watch.
William finds nothing of interest, not even a birth certificate. It was like he never existed. He heads back to his sister.
Aelita picks up something, raising a brow. "Hey sis, find anything?" William asks her.
"This" she hands him a photo.
He examines the photo. "You look happy. Must have been before you were virtualized." He then notices something else. "What's this?" He picks up a photo of Aelita holding a baby. "That's no doll. Is that-?"
"It's you. You looked so cute when you were young."
"Isn't that the case with all babies. We looked really happy back then."
"Yeah."
"This must've been taken before I was adopted."
"You know, I remembered something of playing with a baby. I just forgot it was you."
"I didn't think you would."
"Yeah, but everything after is a nightmare. I'm starting to think that our dad couldn't protect both of us, so he made it to where one of us is safe."
"Yeah, over 10 years lost. And I believed the lies too."
"You know the truth now, and we're together now. We'll catch up and we'll be up to speed here soon, especially when Xana dies." They hug each other as Jeremy calls out to them.
"Aelita, have you found anything yet?" Jeremy peeks in. "Oh, hi William."
"Yeah…our former lives."
"What is it?"
"Nothing, just two pictures. One of me and our father and one of me and William."
"You and your father? And with William? That's so cool that you found them! Can I see them?" She hands him both photos. "You all look so happy…"
"We were…just wished it could have stayed that way…"
"What's that there behind you father?" Jeremy examines the photo closer. "Bingo! Those formulas, I can read some of them. It's a rough draft of a programming code. We have to blow up this photo!"
"Hang on, it's a one in a billion chance those formulas have something to do with the supercomputer."
"I love challenging probability! Besides, you said yourself that I was desperate right? So, what have we got to lose?"
Jeremy is typing at his computer in his room, pulling up the photo. He enhances it, zooming in closer on the chalkboard. "I was right! It is a program!"
Odd takes a bite out of his mashed potatoes, Yumi and William staring at him. "Odd, you only took two rounds of seconds, are you sick?" Yumi asks him.
"No, I'm okay" Odd responds.
"Is this about that cute blonde over there?" William gestures to her. (I don't know how to spell the girl's name as I can't find it and subtitles don't work on YouTube. So, if someone wants to message me her name, I'll will edit this episode. You don't have to thought. Just optional.)
Odd looks over to her. "Incredible, I can't get her to notice me no matter what I do."
"Maybe grow up a little?" William quips.
"You wanna try wearing today's lunch?!" Odd stands up.
"I'd like to see you try!"
"Cool it, here comes your sister," Yumi states as Aelita arrives. "So, is Jeremy still at the Hermitage?"
"He's in his room, he's not hungry" Aelita tells her.
"Hope that photo comes in handy" William states.
"What photo?" Yumi asks.
"We found an old photo and Jeremy thinks there's something useful in it. And we also found this." Aelita shows them the photo of her and William.
"Is that you William?" Odd asks and Aelita nods in response. "Look at cute baby William!" Odd jokes.
"You're gonna be the one wearing today's lunch if you don't shut it Odd!" William threatens him.
Suddenly Odd got an idea. "A picture!" Odd's eyes widen. Now why didn't I think of that before? Right, I just have to send her my best photo, the one with my killer smile, and she'll be eating out of my hand!"
"You might be better off if you send a picture of Kiwi. She loves dogs" William tells him.
"And how would you know that?" Yumi asks him.
"I don't. But what girl doesn't love dogs?"
Jeremy is analyzing the formula, burning the CD. His door knocks and Odd opens it. "Einstein, I need your computer."
"Yeah, what for?" Jeremy asks the boy.
"To send an important message," he holds up his flash drive. "I just need to log into my email."
"Okay, I'm finished anyway. I'm gonna go eat. Let me know when you're done here, and don't touch anything else!"
"No problem, you know me." He plugs in his flash drive.
"I do, that's the problem" Jeremy replies before closing the door. Odd giggles at his plan, pulling up a picture.
"If you don't fall head over heels for me after this, then my name is not Odd Della Robbia!" He taps enter.
An email notification pops up on Sissi's computer. She reads it. "Hm, a new message from Odd?! I wonder what that dork wants. Well, let's have a look." She opens up the attachment…to see the two photos of Aelita with her father and William. "Let's see now, two pictures of Mrs. Einstein. Now that's a pretty dumb thing to send…" She stares at the two faces. "Those two faces look familiar though…"
Odd removes the flash drive. "Now that's what I call a job well done. Tonight, I'll be out with the prettiest girl at Kadic, by the name of…" He sees who he sent the message to. "To Sissi Delmas?! What did I just do? How could I have done that? Oh, and I even sent the wrong photograph! Oh, I can't believe I'm such a computer lame-o and Einstein is gonna kill me for this!"
He puts his head on his arms sadly on the desk.
"I cannot believe this!" Mr. Delmas has been given both photos by Sissi. "I had no idea that Franz Hopper had family connections with Aelita Stones or knew William Dunbar."
"And who is this, uh, Franz Hopper guy?" She asks curiously while sitting on his desk.
"A former teacher here at Kadic who disappeared one day without a trace. Suzanne Hertz took his place; you were much too young at the time to have known anything about it."
"Not really. Otherwise, I wouldn't have brought you the pictures."
"Hm…and where did this photo come from?"
"It was in an email that I just got today from Odd Della Robbia."
"Della Robbia? Isn't he Aelita's cousin? So, then he's related to Franz Hopper too…very interesting. I think I better call the three of them in here for an explanation."
"Very good idea. Make them tell the truth and give you a clear explanation. And if they don't, make sure they get a really hard punishment!"
"Mm, shouldn't you be in class now Elizabeth?" He gives her a look and she similes sheepishly, walking off. He stares at the photo again.
"I didn't find anything useful in the photo, just a set-up program to reboot the supercomputer," Jeremy reports as they walk through the courtyard. "Nothing to write about. Although, it could come I handy one day."
"So, I guess the pictures aren't so top secret after all?" Odd asks him, he hasn't told them what happened.
"No, but we'd better keep it a secret. I wouldn't want a picture of Aelita with her father and brother to fall into the wrong hands."
"Uh, you mean Sissi's hands?" The brother and sister turn to him.
"Oh no Odd, you couldn't have!" They both say in unison.
"Yes, I could" he replies quickly.
"Hey," Jim suddenly stands in front of them. "Stones, Dunbar, and Della Robbia. The principal wants to see you in his office on the double! And, uh, while we're at it, Belpois, and Ishiyama, you go with 'em. I'm sure Mr. Delmas has a bunch of questions for you too."
"But, uh, we've got a class right now" Yumi tells him, trying to get out of it.
"You heard me, get going!" He points forward and they reluctantly walk off, groaning.
"You heard the principal young lady! No more fun and games. I've had a whole lot tougher nuts to crack than you! So, last name, first name, occupation!" Jim commands Aelita.
"Umm, Stones, Aelita, uh, um…girl?" Aelita responds.
"Huh, you think I'm an idiot, don't you?!" Jim points at her accusingly.
"Calm down Jim. There's no need for third degree," Mr. Delmas warns him. "I've just got a few questions to ask, that's all."
"S-Sorry sir."
Delmas slides the two pictures onto the desk, both William and Aelita's eyes widening. He clears his throat. "What intrigues me about these photographs are the presence of both Franz Hopper and Aelita Stones, and they seem to be very close too. Same goes with Aelita and William Dunbar, despite the fact that they hadn't met until he became friends with Yumi and her friends. One might say they look close like brother and sister. And so, the obvious question is whether your name is really Aelita Stones. Or that William's parents were close with your parents as friends before you lost them. As well as Franz Hopper."
"Yes sir, Aelita Stones is my real name. I'm the daughter of uh…Franz and Anthea Stones" Aelita responds.
"I never knew of an Aelita when I was young. My parents never mentioned an Aelita in my life" William adds.
"And are you really Canadian?" Mr. Delmas asks Aelita.
"Yes I am."
"And are you really an orphan?"
"I am."
"And is Odd Della Robbia really your cousin?"
"Yes sir."
"Hmm…now Mr. Dunbar, how do you explain you and Ms. Stones?"
"I can't, but you can't prove that's me or Aelita in that photo" William responds.
"With your permission Mr. Delmas, on the photo, Aelita looks about 13. And she is a little younger in the other" Jeremy interjects.
"Yes, and what of it?" Mr. Delmas asks.
"Well, you said that Franz Hopper taught here at Kadic about 5 years ago? So, if that really was them, Aelita would be 24 or 20 right now and not 15. And since the baby and William don't have any recognizable features, you can't prove that is William and Aelita. So, that means they are telling the truth about themselves."
"Very interesting. So then, while I'm checking out this identity business, you're all confined to the library for the rest of the day, under Jim's supervision."
"Wonderful," Jim mutters under his breath. Mr. Delmas gives him a slight glare, as he heard that.
In the forest sector on Lyoko, a tower activates.
"I see. So then, the Canadian Consulate has no record of an Aelita Stones in its birth records. Yes, I'll definitely keep you informed, thank you. Goodbye. Bow for Mr. Dunbar."
Electricity activates from an outlet near Mr. Delmas' desk, looming over him. He flinches as he's touched, dropping his pen. He makes his hand into a fist as he's possessed. He opens his eyes to reveal the Xana symbol in them.
Jim looks up from his comic, watching the 5 sitting at the desk. Aelita has her head in the desk, Yumi is playing with a pencil, while Odd is eating. William sits waiting, while Jeremy keeps an eye on Lyoko and the network. Jim goes back to reading.
"Huh?" Jeremy murmurs as the superscan activates. "Oh no. An activated tower!"
"Really Xana?" William whispers in alarm.
The principal walks in.
"Anything wrong, Mr. Delmas?" Jim asks him.
"Uh, Mr. William Dunbar, I'd like to have a word with you alone. Jim, make certain no one leaves this library" the principal says.
He stands up and follows him. Jeremy looks at Delmas suspiciously. He briefly glances to Jeremy, who sees the eye of Xana in his eyes.
"Huh?! William, no!" Jeremy yells as he runs to the exit, but Jim blocks him.
"Where do you think you're going Belpois?" Jim asks.
"It's Delmas, he's been Xanafied. William mustn't go with him Jim!"
"Well, I don't know if I'd go as far as sanctifying him…and by the way, it's not Delmas, it's Mr. Delmas to you!"
William is walking with Delmas on campus much to his confusion as he expected to be taken to the principal's office.
"Uh…sir. Why aren't we going to your office?" William asks.
"I rather we settled this on campus" Delmas responds.
"I think I'd prefer to talk in your office." Delmas stops and turns around, preparing to blast William with electricity. "Uh oh…Xana!"
"Get back to your seats. No one's going anywhere!" Jim tells the four.
"But Jim, William is in danger" Jeremy narrows his eyes.
"So, you wanna play hardball? You wanna get through, you're gonna have to use what I've taught you in my commando camp!" He holds up his hands defensively.
"If you say so."
"Attack!" They all charge tackling him to the ground.
"Hurry, we need to catch up with Delmas and my brother!" Aelita stresses.
"Yeah, tie him up!" Jeremy says next.
Xana Delmas is carrying William over his shoulder. He reaches the factory and presses the button. The elevator closes in front of him.
The four are running in the park. "Just think what'll happen if the return to the past doesn't work. Jim will kill us!" Odd exclaims to Jeremy.
"We've got a bigger problem to deal with first. Compared to that, Jim's a piece of cake" Jeremy responds.
The doors open in front of Xana Delmas, and he steps into the scanner room. He places William in one, walking away.
The four skate down the sewers.
Xana Delmas sits at the computer, starting up the virtualization process for William. The scanner doors close in front of him, and he watches as he's scanned and transferred. He presses the enter button, and he land sin forest sector.
He's still unconscious when she lands on the ground.
Aelita crawls onto the bridge first, the others following. They swing across the ropes, landing in front of the elevator. Aelita presses the button. "Hurry up, hurry up, hurry up!" She urges it to go faster as the elevator arrives. The door opens, and they come face-to-face with Xana Delmas.
"Huh, he looks like when he's had a fight with his daughter. Go and find William" Odd tells the others.
"Be careful" Aelita replies as they run off. Odd jumps towards the man, who picks him up and throws him across the floor. He looks up to see the four running down the stairs. Xana Delmas goes after them, only to fall onto the floor.
"Two-point conversion!"
He stands up as Odd looks up at him.
The three reach the lab through the ladder and Jeremy rushes over to the computer. "He's virtualized William. He's in the forest sector. I'm sending you two right now."
They all nod and run off.
William finally wakes up, getting onto his feet. "What am I doing on Lyoko? More importantly, why does Xana want me here?"
"William, hang in there. I'm sending reinforcements."
"I can defend myself," William retorts before hearing a familiar sound. He turns around. "Oh, come on! Not this guy again!"
Jeremy sees the monster on his screen. "Huh?! The scyphozoa?!"
"Uh…hey there friend. Long time no see," the scyphozoa tries to grab him. He takes off in a run. "You ain't catching me this time!"
"Hurry up, the scyphozoa is going after William!"
The girls step in the scanners. "Virtualize us" Aelita tells him as the doors close.
"Transfer Yumi. Transfer Aelita. Scanner Yumi. Scanner Aelita. Virtualization." He taps the key and the two arrive in the forest. They see the monster chasing William.
"I always hated this thing. Xana made me do terrible things and used my memory to escape."
"Well, your brother needs saving now" Yumi tells her.
"Right, let's go!"
The two start running until two krabs virtualize in front of them.
"Xana sent us some visitors, but they're not gonna stop us!" Yumi throws her fan missing entirely. Aelita dodges the lasers as she runs under it.
"Energy field!" The krab explodes close to her. "I hate all types of seafood!"
Odd backs away from Xana Delmas, his body flickering. He prepares himself to face against Odd. "Well, all of a sudden, our principals a ninja!" Odd takes a stance, dodging a kick from Xana Delmas. He dodges again, jumping away as the man was going in to punch him.
Odd sees a plank nearby. "Pretty good there Jackie Chan. Let's see how good you are at baseball!"
He takes the plank into hos hands, holding it with a smirk. The possessed principal merely stares at him before slicing it clean off with his hand.
"Whoops, ah…why don't we talk this over, okay?" The principal just growls in response. "I guess that's a no." He throws away the plank, leaping forward. "Bonzai!" He kicks the man to the ground, chuckling to himself.
William tries to defend himself from the scyphozoa. The monster uses its tentacles to knock William's sword away. He starts to run.
"Super smo-!" William says but is caught.
"William! Oh no! That awful monster is implanting data in William's brain! Yumi, Aelita!"
Their ID cards pop up.
"Yes Jeremy?" Yumi asks.
"What's going on? The scyphozoa caught William. He's not too far from you. Why can't you get to him?!"
"Apparently Xana has a specific agenda for him. The krabs won't leave us alone!" Aelita responds.
The krab fires and Aelita uses her energy fields to block it. She then activates her wings and takes flight. The krab tries to hit her. She div bombs it. "Energy field!" The krab explodes and she lands next to Yumi. "I'm starting to like shellfish." The two run off.
Odd steps up to Xana Delmas, who flips onto his feet. The boy stares at him in shock and takes a stance again. "Oh, you know, you oughta be on Dance Fever Mr. Delmas! Well, I hate to fight and run but…"
He whimpers slightly as he runs in the opposite direction. Xana Delmas simply walks to follow him.
William is released from the scyphozoa. "Too late!" Yumi exclaims as the scyphozoa floats away.
Odd grabs a crowbar, looking over his shoulder as he's hiding. "Oh, I don't believe it! That guy's a tough cookie! He's gotta be out there…"
He turns around and runs off as a sheet metal hits the space he was hiding. He runs away from the principal.
"Bro!" Aelita calls out as the two reach William.
"William, are you okay?" Yumi asks trying to touch him.
William knocks Yumi back with a menacing growl, revealing the sign of Xana replacing his pupils. Aelita and Yumi could only back away in horror.
"Bro…?" Aelita asks.
William charges up his sword and launches a sword slash at Yumi. Aelita quickly tackles her out of the way.
"William!" Aelita screams.
"William don't do this! You mustn't obey Xana!" Yumi exclaims to him.
"Shut up…" Xana William tells them.
Two tarantulas suddenly appear and start firing as William walks to the digital sea.
"William!" The girls say in unison.
"Where's he going? He's crazy!" Yumi exclaims.
"Xana used the scyphozoa to brainwash William! He's heading for the digital sea to throw himself in!" Jeremy tells them.
"But why William this time and not me?" Aelita asks.
"I think Xana's trying to see if he can lure our Franz Hopper using William. If it works Franz comes out. If it fails, William suffers the same fate as Ulrich! Whatever the case, you have to make him stop!"
"Can't you devirtualize my brother yourself Jeremy?"
"No, I can't. Xana is blocking my access to William's virtual avatar so I can't devirtualize him. You'll have to do it."
"What?! Jeremy…you don't mean…"
"You heard me. I'm telling you to devirtualize William."
"No! Jeremy I can't! Don't make me do this! I can't fight William! He's, my brother!"
"Aelita, you have to do it! I know it's hard but if you don't we run the risk of losing your father, William, or both! Do it for him Aelita! He'd rather be devirtualized then serve under Xana!"
Aelita clutches her fists but decides it's the only way to save everyone.
"Alright! I'll do it, but only to save my brother!"
Aelita runs up before forming an orb and taking aim as William has arrived at the edge.
"Energy field!" Aelita fires her orb, but William cuts it in half at the last second. "William, I'm sorry. I don't want to hurt you, but I have no choice." Aelita fuses two energy orbs to make a mega one. "Energy field!" She tosses the large orb, but William easily destroys it, and charges at her. "No way!"
Aelita quickly adjoins her energy fields to block William's sword, but William was stronger than her, pushing her back.
Meanwhile, Yumi is reflecting the lasers from the tarantulas before doing her gymnast-like movements to dodge. She sees Aelita struggling to defend herself from her brother.
William breaks through the energy fields and delivers a kick that sends Aelita back to a tree. Aelita screams in pain as she crashes. William slowly approaches her.
"Aelita, I'm coming!" Yumi exclaims.
Yumi runs to her but is suddenly stopped by Ulrich coming down from the sky. He has a saber drawn and pointed at her.
"Hello Yumi" Ulrich tells her.
"Ulrich!"
Ulrich then quickly roundhouse kicks her that sends Yumi screaming and crashing into the tree.
"Jeremy! Ulrich is here!" Yumi exclaims.
"I know Yumi! You've got to hold off Ulrich and the tarantulas long enough for Aelita to devirtualize William!" Jeremy explains to her.
Aelita gets up and starts to dodge blows from William. William lands a shot on her and she screams and sprawls across the ground.
Yumi gets up clutching her stomach just as Ulrich tosses his saber. Yumi quickly cartwheels out of the way and the tarantulas fire more lasers that she deflects.
"Cease fire! She's mine!" Ulrich declares.
The tarantulas stop and Ulrich charges Yumi who sees William ready to finish his sister. Yumi uses her telekinesis to remove Ulrich's saber from the tree from the one he threw.
"Aelita, catch!" Yumi yells.
Yumi tosses the saber and dodges Ulrich. Aelita sees the saber and catches it to block William's sword. Aelita kicks William away and she gets to her feet.
"So, now you got a weapon" William says.
"Even the playing field" Aelita responds.
"If that's how you want to play, let's duel."
Aelita and William both get in fighting stances with their respective swords and Aelita's saber glows blue. The siblings jump backwards and circle around each other.
At the same time, Yumi is using expert acrobatics and cartwheels toa void Ulrich's slashes. This ends with Yumi landing behind Ulrich and kicking him in the back. He stumbles and the saber is on the ground. Yumi tosses her fan and Ulrich jumps up and lands behind Yumi and kicks her.
"Jeremy! Aelita and I are badly outnumbered and outclassed here! How's Odd doing with Delmas, we could use a little back-up?!" Yumi urges him.
Jeremy looks at the camera. Odd is on the floor as Xana Delmas is about to attack him again. She stands up, backing away. Another metal sheet is thrown, and Odd jumps out of the way.
Aelita is still on the defensive, barely dodging and deflecting William's swings. She quickly jumps far back.
"Aelita, we've got a major problem here!" Jeremy informs her.
"Jeremy, what's going on with Odd!?" Aelita responds.
"Odd is getting walloped by Delmas! You've got to get to the activated tower before it's too late for him!"
"Well, why don't you ask William to let me go then, I'm sure he'd be obliged! And besides, even if I could escape, my brother would just go to the digital sea!"
"Look, I don't know to tell you, either we lose William and Franz Hopper, or we lose Odd! And possibly you too!"
Odd trips, spraining his ankle as he falls onto the ground. The principal grabs the metal sheet again. "This guy's out of his mind!" Xana Delmas raises the sheet metal over his head. "Not getting any better either.
William brings down his sword and Aelita manages to block. It takes all her strength to hold back her brother. The sparks grind as they blade lock. Aelita pushes William off before lunging at him to exchange a couple of blows. William retaliates with a slash that forces Aelita to gracefully jump back. She holds up her saber, breathing heavily as William stood calmly a couple distances from her. William aims a sword slash at her, Aelita quickly rolls away.
"Energy field!" Aelita says.
She fires a pink orb, but William cuts it apart. Aelita fires a couple more that William deflects until the third one dislodges his sword from his hand. Aelita launches another orb, but William disappears into the ground via his super smoke. He emerges back-to-back with Aelita, delivering a kick in the back that sends her skidding across the ground.
William summons his sword via a cloud of silver smoke, and he charges at Aelita to crush her. Aelita manages to dodge in time before running forth to thrust her saber only for William to catch her wrist. He holds her up and sends Aelita screaming with a kick to the stomach. She smashes into another tree, dropping down and groaning in exhaustion.
"Jeremy! It's a nightmare! I don't think Yumi, and I can't hold out much longer. Ulrich and William are just too strong for us under Xana's control!"
"Stay strong Aelita! I'll find a way!"
The girls were taking a ruthless pounding from Xana's henchmen. Yumi was cartwheeling backwards as she dodged more of Ulrich's sword strikes and rapid lasers from the tarantulas after Ulrich ordered them to fire. Yumi tosses her fan and Ulrich moves his head. As a result, one of the tarantulas are destroyed. Ulrich speeds forward to slice Yumi, but she quickly dodges with a twirl before pointing her fan right at Ulrich's forehead. He grins, slapping her wrist away and sending her stumbling back with a kick. She flips back before tossing another fan only for Ulrich to deflect it. The fan ends up slicing her wrist and she quickly shakes off the electricity.
"Super sprint!" Ulrich says.
Ulrich speeds on and slashes, Yumi ducks and launches a spin kick but to her shock, Ulrich grabs her ankle with a grin. He tosses her in the direction of the tarantula, sending her screaming. She screams more when a laser shot is landed in her stomach, making her hit the ground. As for Aelita, she gets up and barely holds out her hand to form a pink orb.
"Energy field!" Aelita says.
Aelita fires the orb, but William absorbs it into his sword, and it becomes pink much to Aelita's horror as he reels it back. he swings and releases a beam of pink energy that smashes through the tree. Aelita screams as she flies across the sector. She pants and groans as she struggles to stand just as William attacks her again. He unleashes a merciless barrage of strikes that Aelita is barely blocking, the force of his attacks making her stumble.
"I don't believe it," Jeremy holds his head. "If only I could erase everything and start over…but, why not? I can do that!" He puts the disc in the supercomputer.
"Yumi! Aelita! Get ready! I'm going to reboot the supercomputer with my new program!" Jeremy tells them.
"Huh?! But couldn't that bug up the whole system?" Yumi asks.
"Yeah, maybe. But it just might give us the kind of electroshock we need to free William from the scyphozoa's control. And if we're really lucky, it might just temporarily free Ulrich from Xana's control."
"Really?! Ulrich will be freed?!"
"Like I said, just temporarily."
"But Jeremy, if it can work permanently for William, why not Ulrich?"
"The electroshock from rebooting the supercomputer will disable the virus inside Ulrich's virtual structure, but it won't free him form the digital sea. I have to find the codes to break his link to the network and disable the virus permanently. This should though allow him to help us."
"You sure you know what you're doing!?"
"Well, we don't have much of a choice, do we?"
"Do what you can Jeremy. We'll buy you more time to use the program" Aelita states.
Aelita groans as she struggles to get up and William approaches. He attacks again and Aelita manages to block. She struggles to hold her ground but manages to push her brother off. Aelita brings up her sword but freezes in shock, emotionally torn as she looks in William's eyes. She would be crying if she could.
"No…I can't do it. Not my own brother" Aelita stops herself from attacking.
William grins and swings his sword. Aelita blocks but the force of the swing sends the saber through the air. William then delivers a spin kick that sends Aelita screaming. She falls off and grabs a ledge, barely hanging on. William looms above her with an evil grin before placing his foot on Aelita's fingers, causing her to scream in pain.
"Aelita!" Yumi cries. She runs over to save her.
"Super sprint!" Ulrich runs around, grabbing his second saber and then kicks Yumi into a tree. The tarantula starts to fire, and she takes cover.
"Jeremy, hurry!"
"I'm almost there!" Jeremy replies.
Ulrich attacks Yumi and she makes a run for it.
William continues to put pressure on Aelita's fingers. "If I can't go. I'll sacrifice you instead" William tells her.
"William, please! Don't do this!" Aelita tells him.
He stops then picks her up and tosses her to the floor. He steps on her and prepares to finish her. "You're right. If your gone, I'll get two victories. No more Franz and no more Odd."
"Please remember! You're a Lyoko Warrior! You swore to it!"
"You swear not to give away our secret?" Yumi questions him.
"I swear it" William responds.
"Good answer, William" Jeremy says form the control room.
William was now battling Xana in his mind.
William pulled Aelita aside. "Hey sis, I also got this from my parents, and I think you should have it." He hands Aelita the photo.
"But what about you?"
"I can always make copies."
"Thank you! It's wonderful!" Aelita says, hugging him and nearly crying. William closes his eyes, smiling, and returns the hug.
He pounds the ground in frustration.
"Like I said, you will ALWAYS have people who care for you sis."
William begins to walk away, when Aelita quickly grabs his arm, spins him around and kisses him.
"What was that for?" William asks surprised.
"Just an extra thank you" Aelita replies.
He grips his head as he tries to win back control.
Aelita slowly approaches William while clutching her stomach but with a gentle look of compassion and kindness when he gets on his knees, banging the ground still frustration.
"William. William, listen, it's me, your sister. You are stronger than Xana, we all are. After all that Xana did with me, to me, made me do, I never gave up. Your mind is stronger than his will. Fight back! You're more than just a Lyoko Warrior. You're my dear brother. I know you're in there. I love you baby brother. Always."
"Aelita? Sis?" William asks with a normal voice.
"Here we go" Jeremy murmurs to himself. He taps the key, and the computer turns off for a brief few seconds. Then the screen returns, and when it reboots, the screen starts flickering.
On Lyoko, Xana regains control of William. He knocks down Aelita. Ulrich kicks Yumi and she is pinned down, along with Aelita. The ground shakes, both the boys look, but then continue with their attack.
Suddenly a blue wall comes in freezing everything and stops the assault. Another one comes in and unfreezes them.
Both Ulrich and William close their eyes and collapse. The tarantula stands confused, Aelita gets on her knees, approaching the fallen William as he starts to wake up.
"William…is it you?" Aelita asks.
"Aelita…sis…what happened?" William responds.
Aelita hugs William in pure joy as Xana no longer is in him. They both stand up. William starts to remember some things of their fight.
"I'm sorry. Xana controlled man and I couldn't stop" William apologizes to Aelita.
"I know that feeling all too well. I forgive you. Just glad to have you back" Aelita replies.
Yumi picks up Ulrich's head and tries to wake him. Ulrich's eyes open and he sees Yumi as his vison returns. He's still dresses like he was possessed as his bond to Xana wasn't broken yet. But his voice is normal.
"Y-Yumi. What's going on?" Ulrich asks as he looks at his Xanafied outfit. "Black is not my color."
Yumi joyfully hugs him which he returns.
"I'm happy to see you again" Yumi says, crying if she could.
"I'm sorry, for everything. I'm guessing you guys are still looking for the keys to my freedom."
"Sadly, yes."
"Welcome back man" William says to Ulrich.
"Glad to see you back handsome."
"Xana can't hold me down. But now I got a score to settle."
"Jeremy, it worked! William and Ulrich are back to their old selves!" Aelita tells him.
"You pulled us out of a situation Einstein. We all owe you one."
"Glad to hear you back to your old self William. And Ulrich, what about you? How do you fell?" Jeremy asks.
"I feel like my old self! But…at the same time it feels like the time after Xana stole my avatar and infected me. I still feel him" Ulrich says, feeling like he did after Xana planted the virus inside of him.
"The reboot program was able to disable the virus temporarily, but you're not truly free and are still connected to the digital sea. We still need more data before I can create a program to disable the virus and free you from the digital sea."
"Where's Odd?" Ulrich asks.
"Odd struggles to get up, but he can't because of his ankle. Xana Delmas raises a plank over him, and he screams. Thankfully, he moves out of the way, just in time.
"He's playing with Delmas" Jeremy tells him.
Aelita drops down groaning in pain.
"Sis?" William asks.
Aelita is on her knees clutching her stomach, groaning in pain and exhaustion. She looks like she could fall asleep at any moment. Ulrich and Yumi bend down to her in concern.
"You okay princess?" Ulrich asks.
"Aelita, what's wrong?" Yumi asks next.
"I…I don't know. My body hurts so much. I feel so weak, it's like I'm burning" Aelita responds.
"It was my program. The reboot caused a couple of bugs to your virtual avatars. You've lost almost all your lifepoints Aelita, and it's taken a heavy toll on your body" Jeremy informs them.
Aelita groans again.
"So…tired. I don't think I can move."
"Aelita, I'm sorry. This was all my fault!" William blames himself.
"No, it wasn't. Xana took control of you. It wasn't your fault, William."
"You guys have got to get Aelita to the tower. She can regenerate herself there and deactivate it" Jeremy tells them.
At that moment, the tarantula starts to fire and Ulrich and Yumi defend Aelita.
"Your program certainly hasn't put the tarantula in a better mood" Yumi says.
"William, get Aelita to the tower! We'll keep this guy occupied" Ulrich tells him.
"Roger that!" William runs over to his sister and holds her shoulder as she clutches her stomach. "Can you stand?"
"I don't think I can. I can barely even keep my eyes open" Aelita tells him.
"Then I'll carry you."
William picks up Aelita in a bridal manner just as the Overbike appears.
"I think this will help" Jeremy says.
"Thanks Einstein" William replies.
He rushes over and puts Aelita on carefully. She holds on to William as he rides to the tower. Another tarantula arrives.
"Teamwork, ready?" Ulrich asks Yumi.
"Ready!" Yumi replies.
"Triangulate!" Ulrich surrounds the tarantula and Yumi jumps up and throws her fan destroying the first.
The second one fires, and she blocks as the now three Ulrich's dash past her. They all strike it and it explodes.
"Fusion!" Ulrich suddenly collapses.
"What's happening?" Yumi asks with concern.
"Xana…he's coming back…devirtualize me…quick!"
Yumi hugs and kisses him goodbye. "I love you. We'll free you. I promise."
"I know…"
Yumi throws her fans devirtualizing Ulrich. Suddenly Yumi is too from a secret third tarantula.
Aelita and William arrive at the tower, as well as something else.
"The scyphozoa" Aelita says.
"This guy never quits. Sis, stay back. I'll handle this" William tells her. William slowly approaches and draws his sword.
"William, be very carefully. If the scyphozoa takes control of you again then it's all over" Jeremy informs him.
"Don't worry Einstein. This time I'm ready." When William gets close to the scyphozoa, it sends out its tentacles. "No way! Not this time! Super smoke!" William goes behind the monster, reforms, jumps in the air and striking the scyphozoa, sliding down while slicing it in half. The body then explodes, and the tentacles disappear. "Victory!"
Aelita praises him but collapses until William catches her. At that moment, the third tarantula appears. William blocks the lasers as Aelita slowly enters the tower.
"Okay Jean-Pierre," Odd looks up at the man. "You win, I give up. Why don't you just give me detention on Saturday instead of…?"
Aelita reaches the top.
"What if I do your dishes for you and all the cleaning up?" Odd offers, but he raises the beam.
Aelita signs in.
Aelita
Code
Lyoko
The principal falls in front of Odd. "Oh, you disappoint me, you know Mr. Delmas. I thought you were stronger than that."
"Tower deactivated" Aelita declares as the screens fall.
Jeremy sighs in relief as he presses the button. "Return to the past now."
Time is rest and Jeremy is talking with the group in the hallway.
"It's like I said. Xana wanted to know if Hopper would rescue William. If not, he would have another pawn like Ulrich," Jeremy answers. "Either way, he never got an answer."
"Yeah, and another thing, Delmas couldn't possibly know me," Aelita tells them. "My father may have been a teacher here, but I studied at home, so I never attended Kadic."
"I still don't understand why Xana targeted me today. I know throwing me in the digital sea could get out old man to come out of hiding, but he usually goes after Aelita for that" William says.
"He's right Jeremy. Xana hasn't tried to throw William in the digital sea ever since finding out he was my brother. Why now?"
"Xana had a plan. But since it didn't play out the way he wanted; we'll never know what it is" Jeremy responds.
"So, no chance of finding any trace of Aelita Hopper," Yumi asks. "Or William Hopper."
"No, none. Especially since our real names aren't Hopper!" Aelita reveals. "Schaffer is our real name! When we moved to the Hermitage, my father wanted to make a brand-new start. Franz was his middle name; Hopper was our mother's maiden name!"
"Aelita Schaffer? That is really incredible. Then William, does that mean your real name is also…"
"Yeah. She said 'our'. I did find a record of it online. I just wanted an original birth certificate. Also, my adoptable parents changed so I wouldn't know" William replies.
"William and Aelita Schaeffer. That's amazing" Yumi says.
"You knew this Einstein?" Odd asks Jeremy.
"Yeah, but it makes no difference, because as far as everyone's concerned, William and Aelita's names are now and forever William Dunbar and Aelita Stones."
The bell rings, and William and Aelita stay while the rest leave.
"Uh, listen Aelita, I' really am sorry about what I almost did on Lyoko" William says.
"Oh, forget about it. Xana will get what's coming to him eventually" Aelita replies.
They hug looking at the pictures.
"We'll find him…" William starts.
"Together…" Aelita finishes.
A.N. – Well, this has and probably will be the longest chapter ever written for any of my stories. I hope you enjoyed this super long chapter! Also, thanks to my guest reviewer who suggested all this bonus stuff for me to write. It definitely added more excitement to this chapter. PM me with story ideas if you have any! Don't forget to review with questions or comments! I will respond! Stay safe and healthy out there! As always, till next time! See ya! -lyokowarrior97