Disclaimer: I do not own Code Lyoko. That's why it's a fan fiction. Cover art by Aelita-Ichigo.

Author's Note: This story idea came from gaara king of the sand. As always, any form of reviews are welcome. So without further ado, I hope enjoy the story.

It was a day like any other for Aelita. She'd woken up at dawn, ate breakfast with her papa, and started on her daily homework. By the time she'd finished, her papa had returned from Kadic Academy. She'd begged him before to let her attend the school.

"It's not safe, Aelita," he would tell her. "Besides, it's better this way."

She knew he was right. She knew the men in black were still after them. Every day since they'd kidnapped her mother, her and her papa had to run and hide. So she dropped the matter on most days, got to work, and, when her father came home, went over the day's lesson. Unless it was Sunday, of course. But it was one fateful Sunday that everything fell apart.

Aelita had always enjoyed riding her bike past Kadic, watching the students there enjoy the weekend. She would never be able to experience it, but it made her feel less lonely. Most of the time, at least. That day was different though. She'd been unable to chase her loneliness away that day, even though there had been more students than ever hanging around and playing about Kadic's courtyard. A bright melody set to the tune of "Twinkle, Twinkle" drifted though the air as Aelita got back home and leaned her bike against the wall near the porch.

"Daddy?" She ran inside. He paused in his playing, and the piano grew silent. "I'm going up to my room."

She wanted some time to think. As she sat down next to the fireplace in her room, the soothing melody from downstairs resumed. The only thing missing was Mister Puck. Aelita rested her head in the palm of her hands, eyelids drooping, but not before glancing up at the picture hung above the mantle. Mister Puck's little hidey-hole.

"Now, you must remember where Mister Puck is, Aelita," her papa had instructed after he'd stashed the doll away.

"Never you mind that, Aelita," he'd told her when she'd asked why. "Not yet, anyways. When – if – the time comes, you'll know."

The screech of brakes and bang of car doors jolted Aelita out of her reverie and silenced the piano. Aelita rushed to the window to see two men in black yelling up at her. She stumbled away with a gasp.

"Daddy!" She squeaked as her papa appeared in the doorway. "The men in black are here!"

"I know," he was so calm it stifled her tears. "Do you remember where Mister Puck is?"

"Yes," Aelita latched onto her papa's hand.

He led her downstairs. The men in black were already there, right inside their house.

Terror filled Aelita, but her papa only tightened his grip and led her through the basement and out into the garden. Slamming the door shut, her papa wedged a wooden plank against the handle, jamming it. Her papa's breathing came in pants as he led her through the secret door leading to the sewers. It was then that Aelita saw the fear in her papa's eyes, as he glanced behind him to make sure she was close.

"No, no…" He muttered as they ran through the sewers. "It's not ready yet!"

"What is it daddy?"

"Nothing, my dear," His voice shook, and he didn't hold Aelita in his gaze. "Nothing, nothing at all."

At last they reached a ladder leading to the world above. The bright light blinded Aelita as she climbed, but her papa didn't slow down. Pulling her up onto the bridge, her father guided her through an old, abandoned factory and down into an old, rickety elevator.

"Don't worry, it's not as bad as it looks," her papa told her. They entered the lift and waited in silence as it shuttered down the shaft.

The lift jerked to a halt, its roll-up opening to reveal a vaulted door, glimmering golden in the dim light of the carriage. The next sight Aelita would see was a massive room, the ceiling loomed far above like a cavern. Wires and equipment lay strewn everywhere and only a few monitors were lit. The massive dome in the center of the room was dark.

"But where are we?" She'd broken the silence as her papa slid into a padded chair suspended from the roof by a metal arm.

"In my laboratory," Her papa's voice was grim, sad even. Aelita couldn't understand why. Her papa had always talked about his school lab with such enthusiasm and joy. What was wrong with this one? It was so huge and underground! A bit cold and messy, though.

"Come on," her papa stood up from the console. "We don't have much time."

He led her back to the lift.

"Wait, Aelita." He stopped and got on his knees, taking her in his arms and locking eyes with her.

"Yes, daddy?" She'd never seen her papa like this before.

"I need to know something, Aelita." Her papa breathed deep and sighed. "Do you trust me?"

Aelita shook. From what she wasn't sure. Maybe it was the cold.

"O-of course, daddy!"

Her papa sighed again. it brought Aelita no comfort.

"Good," he led her into the lift. "Come on."

They journeyed even deeper into the earth. The air was even colder. When the door hissed open, Aelita gasped at the sight of a massive golden tower. Aelita's mouth gaped, her eyes bulging.

"I-is that a computer, daddy?"

"Yes, Aelita, yes it is." A hint of pride seeped into her papa's voice. "But it's much more than just a computer. It's the solution to all of our problems. The men in black…Carthage…everything."

"That's great, daddy!" Aelita hugged her papa. She looked up at his eyes. Her own were happy crescents, but his was hidden behind the sheen of his glasses. She thought she saw a tear trickle down his cheek. "But…what's the matter, daddy?"

He knelt down again, this time as if he had aged many years, and clasped his hands in hers.

"It's not finished, Aelita," his voice broke. "And…and it won't ever be finished unless…"

His head sank. Aelita could see over his glasses now. His eyes were squeezed shut.

"Unless what, daddy?"

"Unless you help me," her papa choked out. "I need your help, Aelita." He swallowed, but it did nothing to chase away the tremor in his voice. "Aelita, if I can complete my work here, we'll be free, and you'll-you'll be safe…forever."

"W-what do you need me to do, daddy?"

Her papa was making her nervous, but she didn't want to show that. She wanted to be strong for her papa like he'd been for her. She wanted to help him.

The silence stretched from moments into seconds until her papa let out a weary sigh, like he had just picked up a backpack that was too heavy.

"Follow me," he whispered, keeping one of her hands in his. He led her behind the massive computer.

The sight greeting Aelita was of a chair, just big enough for her, extended out from within the computer. Through the hole it occupied, Aelita could see the inner workings. She knew a lot about computers, but Aelita was still a little disappointed. There wasn't quite as many flashy lights as she'd hoped there would be.

"I need you to lie down here, Aelita."

Aelita looked up at the sound of his deep voice.

"Why, papa?" Aelita laid down regardless. "Does it need fixing? Are you too big to fit?"

Her papa chuckled. It was a strange chuckle, not right, but Aelita smiled anyways. Maybe her papa was getting back to normal.

"Yes, Aelita, I suppose I am," he sighed. "Now, you must remain absolutely still."

Aelita froze. She didn't want to disappoint her papa. He went over to the other side of the room, retrieving something before coming back to stand next to Aelita.

"Are you sure about this, Aelita?" He squeezed her hand with care. "Do you trust me?"

Aelita pouted. Why was her papa asking these questions? Of course she trusted him! If she could make sure they would be safe forever, she'd do it in a heartbeat.

"Of course, daddy," she almost tilted her head to look at him before remembering to lie still. "Why? Is there something wrong?"

Her papa sighed again. It seemed to echo through the room.

"Oh, Aelita," he shook his head. She heard the ruffling of his hair and clothes "There are so many things that are wrong. But alas, there is little we can do about them now."

Aelita had never heard her papa so unsure of himself, so she squeezed his hand as tight as she could.

"It's okay, daddy," she smiled. "I'll fix your computer. Then we'll be safe. Forever. Just like you said."

Her papa came into view. He closed his eyes for a moment and breathed in deep. When at last he spoke, his voice was at last steady.

"Very well, Aelita. Lie still now, my dear." He fastened Aelita's arms and legs into the chair.

Aelita's eagerness turned to confusion. How was she supposed to fix the computer if her arms were tied up? She never got a chance to ask.

"It's alright, Aelita," her papa tightened the last strap. "When we're finished, I'll take you to a new place, a new world. A world where we will be safe."

He stopped. Another sigh slipped through. Gazing into her eyes, he placed a hand on her cheek.

"I'll see you in a minute, honey," he whispered.

"S-see you in a minute, daddy," Aelita felt butterflies in her stomach. A sharp pain pricked her arm. She tried to move her head but she couldn't. Her head wouldn't move. "Daddy?"

The tears were back in her father's eyes.

"Please forgive me, Aelita," his voice cracked.

"Daddy…," Aelita's voice weakened, and her body grew numb.

A sensation of nothingness spread from her arm. Her vision darkened, and her mind went black.

The next thing she knew she was falling to the ground. Catching herself, Aelita landed feet-first on a mossy rock. She looked around. She was in a forest, but something was off. Where was she? Everything looked…strange.

"Daddy?" Aelita didn't hear the rustle of leaves or the twittering of birds. "Daddy, where are you?"

"Here I am Aelita," her father's voice boomed above her. Gone was the uncertainty and sadness she had heard moments before. Or was it moments before? Aelita wasn't sure anymore.

Turning around, Aelita saw a swarm of lights, dancing around each other like fireflies.

"Daddy!" She cried in relief as the lights surrounded her. Somehow, she knew they were him. "What's going on, daddy?"

As the lights swirled around her, her papa explained to her that they were in a virtual world called Lyoko, that it was still young and growing, and that he couldn't yet take human form. It was then that Aelita heard metallic clinking. She turned to see a cadre of strange brown creatures resembling roaches. The clinking came from their pointed metal legs.

"Daddy? There are some strange looking creatures over there."

The roaches' eyes started to glow, and Aelita wondered if they were friendly. Her father's next words banished all such notions.

"Run, Aelita! Run!"

Pulses of light burst out of the roaches' eyes and zoomed past Aelita, sizzling through the air.

With a squawk, Aelita ran. She ran and ran until she tumbled head over heels into a massive, white tower. She'd resisted the urge to cry as she sat down in the center of the tower, the platform beneath her lighting up and providing her with a soft glow, so much like her papa's. It was then that her papa spoke to her again.

"Aelita, I must make contact with Xana and persuade…it that we can live in peace."

"Who is Xana?" Aelita gazed wide-eyed up and around to the glowing orbs.

"A multi-agent computer program I...created. It has achieved autonomy, and it's trying to destroy us now."

"But why, daddy?"

She received no answer. He left as he had come, warning her to stay within the tower no matter what.

The hours dragged on, and eventually she could wait no longer. She rushed out of the tower, fear and curiosity consuming her, only to behold a terrifying sight. Her beloved father was surrounded by giant wasps. From their stingers came bursts of light no different from the eye blasts of the roaches.

"Daddy!" She stretched out a hand as her father was struck.

"No, Aelita!" The glowing orbs brightened in her direction. "Get back to safety in the tower! You possess the Keys to Lyoko, Aelita. Xana must never get its hands on them, do you understand?"

Over and over he was struck, but his voice never wavered. Aelita could only watch in despair.

"It's over, Aelita." The second to last of her father's orbs extinguished. "Xana is too powerful. It's as I feared. It's become a threat to all mankind. I must shut down the supercomputer!"

Aelita stumbled back into the tower. Her father followed, reduced now to a single glowing orb, flickering and fading. Aelita's thoughts raced about here and there.

"But...does that mean we'll die?"

Had her work, whatever it'd been, been for nothing?

"No," her father's voice sent relief coursing through Aelita. But that relief was quenched by his next words. "But you mustn't forget me, ever. Never forget, Aelita."

"Daddy!" Aelita's eyes shot open and her head whirled about in a frenzy as her papa faded away.

"I am so sorry," her papa's voice grew quieter and quieter. "I am so sorry, Aelita. So very, very sorry…"

"DADDY!" Aelita screamed, tears welling in her eyes.

Aelita shot up in her bed, the covers tumbled off her into a pile on the floor as her chest heaved. For a moment, she didn't know where she was. Then she remembered.

It was just a dream, the pinkette rested her head in her hands. Just a dream. You're fine. You're in your room. Jeremy's on the floor below. You're fine…

With a deep breath, Aelita lifted her head. Whatever her dream had been was fading from her mind. Only one thing remained. A face. It was one she had seen so many times in her dreams and visions, but as of yesterday it had gained so much more meaning.

"Daddy?" She whispered. "Are you really my daddy?"

A knock at the door caused her to jolt upright.

"Come in!"

The door opened to reveal Jeremy standing in the doorway with a shy grin, and Aelita couldn't fight away her own.

"Hey, Aelita," Jeremy rubbed the back of his neck. "I hope I'm not disturbing you."

"No, not at all, Jeremy," Aelita's grin widened. She didn't need to worry Jeremy about her dream. He already had so many things to worry about as it was. "Did you need something?"

"Oh, no, not really," Jeremy dropped his hand to his side. "I just wanted to let you know that I've made some huge progress with Franz Hopper's diaries! I've already called the others and told them to meet us at the factory. What do you say, Aelita? Want to learn about your fa-,er, Franz Hopper?"

Aelita kept her smile, but butterflies started fluttering about in her stomach.

"That sounds wonderful, Jeremy," the pinkette stretched out her arms and yawned. "I'll get ready and meet you at the factory, okay?"

"Sounds like a plan," Jeremy began to shut the door but paused and turned back, "You, uh, you sure you don't want someone to go with you? You know…for company?"

"Don't worry about me, Jeremy," Aelita gazed at him with soft eyes. "I'll be fine. I just need some…time to myself."

"Okay, Aelita," he nodded. "See you there, then."

"See you there," Aelita waved as Jeremy left.

As the door shut, Aelita sighed. She was lucky to have such great friends. She was luckier to have a friend like Jeremy. Did she really need to know more about her past?

No, don't think like that, Aelita shook her head. This isn't just about you. If there's anything in those diaries that can help us defeat Xana then there's no question.

Aelita shoved herself out of bed and headed to the cafeteria for a quick bite to eat. After that…after that she would head to the factory. She'd finally learn what she was. Who she was.

At that moment, there was no thought more exhilarating. And no thought more terrifying.

Post Story Author's Note: I hope you enjoyed the story. As I said, reviews of any kind are welcome, and I hope you'll stick around for the next chapter.

Anyways, I hope you enjoyed. A Merry Christmas to you and a Happy New Year!