In a dream…

A young Aelita was laughing in front of a snow covered cabin as she made a giant snowball. "Look at my giant snowball, mommy."

"Stay near the house, darling." Anthea Schaeffer called as she and Franz Hopper watched.

"Well done, my angel." Franz said as Aelita continued laughing happily.

Just then a wolf was heard howling. Aelita looked behind her to see a wolf with piercing yellow eyes staring at her.

"Mommy! Daddy!" Aelita called, turning only to see two men in black. "No!"

"Aelita! Aelita!" Anthea called as the men in black took her away in a black van.

"Mommy! Mommy! No!" Aelita cried, running after the van that Anthea was in.

"Aelita!" Anthea called as the van disappeared into the trees. Aelita collapsed to her knees, her eyes filled with tears.

"I'm ͜so҉r̕ry̨, Ael͘i͏ta̕.͜" the young girl heard a voice say as she turned around to see the wolf from before. "Í'm̕ ̕s̵o, so͢ so̶r̷ry...҉"

Aelita slowly woke up with tears streaming down her eyes before wiping them away as she looked up at the ceiling of her room with Mr. Puck laying next to her.

Later that day…

"What? You're still having nightmares?" Yumi asked.

"She's having nightmares?" Ethox asked with concern.

"Ever since she first discovered the Hermitage." Simon said.

"Yeah, but they're all the same. But I'm used to them so there's no need to worry." Aelita said.

"No. You shouldn't be here on your own." Jeremie said. "I'm gonna tell my dad I'm staying here."

"No you're not! You should spend the holidays with your families." Aelita said. "For me it's… It's not the same thing."

"You could always come back to our place and hang out with us." Shantae said.

"Yeah, you'd be totally welcome!" Eddy said. "We're throwing a little holiday party. We're gonna be watching all the Animated Disney Movies in order! It's gonna be great!"

"Never thought you of all people would get excited about that." Mark said.

"Hey, those movies are more action than you'd think." Eddy said. "That Walt knew how to make 'em."

"Better than…most of the live action ones, I'd say." Sachiko said.

"Definitely." Mari added.

"Sounds like a better time than my place." Ulrich spoke up. "At holiday time, my dad gets more stressed out than ever, which makes my mom hysterical. I think I'd rather stay here."

"Yeah. Tell me about it. One time, my sisters locked me in the bathroom all night just cause they thought it was funny." Odd said.

"Jaune can relate since he has sisters too." Al said.

"Uh…speaking of family…isn't that your parents over there?" Dan asked, pointing to a car nearby where Ulrich's parents waited.

"Yep…and so the show goes on." Ulrich sighed as he headed over.

"Hang in there." Saki called before seeing a yellow car driving up.

"That's my dad." Jeremie said. "You sure you'll be…"

"I'll be fine. I have Kiwi." Aelita said.

"And us." Shantae assured. "Like Eddy said, you're always welcome to come over."

"I'll…remember that." Aelita said.

"Don't feed Kiwi any cheese. Gives him gas." Odd said as he and Jeremie departed for their own rides.

"I better go." Yumi said. "I promised my mom I'd help her clean up. Aelita, just call if you need me, okay?"

"Same goes for us." Jexi added.

"Don't worry. I could use a little time alone." Aelita said as they started to depart as Aelita headed back alone.

"In a way, I know how Aelita feels, not having her parents around." Shantae said with a sad look.

"Aelita's been like that for a while." Jexi said.

"So…what did happen to them?" Theo asked.

"Her father…left for a better place. Her mother was captured by government forces. She has been moving from one hand to another." Jexi said.

"Poor Aelita…" Shantae said, holding her right arm with her left hand.

"Ja, it must be tough, not having any family to rely on." Rachel said.

"Yeah, the only family I have left is my Uncle Mimic. I don't know much about my father, and my mother is somewhere in the Genie Realm." Shantae said.

"Aelita probably has it even worse, though." Mayumi said. "I mean, my family in Ultra Megapolis basically dumped me in an effort to save me from Necrozma. Yeah, I was adopted."

"At least you got off easy." Saki said. "Mine and Aya's dad resisted our bloodline for two years trying to avenge our mom and…we had to cut him down."

"Wow… Guess I'm pretty lucky that I still have both of my parents." Eddy said. "My big bro was evil though. Anyway, let's turn this depressing conversation around, huh? We've got a bunch of movies to watch!"

"Yeah! Movie Marathon, guys!" Ed cheered.

"Alright, alright." Mark chuckled. "Let's get back to the ship and get things set up."

Back in Aelita's dorm room, she was keeping an eye on Kiwi, letting out a sigh.

"Maybe I should go hang out with the alliance, but…" Aelita said to herself. "I don't know, I just feel… like I'm not supposed to be there yet. I wonder…"

Her train of thought was cut off when she heard music coming from her computer. It was a song she remembered: Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.

"That's…" Aelita started to realize before two chat boxes opened up. "Daddy?"

: Aelita, are you there?

: Where are you?

: Meet me here in the Ice Sector of Lyoko.

"Lyoko? You aren't on the network?" Aelita asked as her computer froze. "No. It bugged up. This could be a trap, but if that's actually him… I have to check to be sure." she decided as she left for the factory.

Meanwhile, on the Galaxy King…

"Alright, before we get started, let's go over the checklist!" Pearl said as the group was gathered around in the Theater. "Snacks?"

Ed stood in front of a large and organized collection of snacks, in the process of swallowing a whole bag of chips. "Check!"

"Seating Chart?"

"Written up and ready to go, Pearl!" Double D confirmed.

"Optional Tissues?"

"Check." Eddy called out.

"Finally… movies?"

"Right here." Mark said, carefully balancing a collection of movies on him. "All the Disney animated movies up to this world's current date, present and accounted for."

"Wonderful!" Pearl said. "Then we can get seated and begin."

"Hmm?" Shantae asked as her comm beeped. "Hi Yumi, what's up? Uh huh…you sure? Alright, I'll let the others know."

"It's Aelita, right?" Jexi asked.

"She hasn't been able to contact her." Shantae said.

"Hmm… That's very strange." Francisca said. "I hope Aelita isn't in any trouble."

"Maybe she turned her phone off?" ZS suggested.

"Maybe… but we should probably try and call her ourselves, just to make sure." Mark said, dialing Aelita's number. After a moment, Mark grunted. "Straight to voicemail."

"That's peculiar…" Hermit spoke up, getting the group's attention. "There's activity going on with the scanners."

"The scanners? Aelita. But why would she go to Lyoko?" Twilight said.

"I don't know, but that's why we need to go and find out." Shantae said.

"Yeah, good idea Shantae." Ethox said. "Looks like we're postponing our movie marathon for a bit. Come on, to the Digimon Storage!"

"We're coming, Aelita." Shantae said.

One walk through the Digimon Storage later, the group was standing in Lyoko's Ice Sector.

"The Ice Sector but…whoa." Shantae said as they saw a large dome of energy.

"A simulation bubble…Aelita must be inside." Twilight said.

The group made their way into the bubble, finding themselves in a snowy mountain field with a cabin in front of them.

"Well, at least there's no setting whiplash." Emo noted.

"Aelita must be inside the cabin." Michiru guessed. "Let's head in."

"Careful, we don't know what's in there." David said as the group carefully approached and entered the cabin, seeing Aelita hugging an old man the group recognized immediately, much to their shock.

"Aelita and…Franz Hopper?!" Kazuma exclaimed.

"No…that can't be Hopper." Sunset said.

"XANA's pulled this trick before. Hopper wouldn't risk this stunt with his own daughter." Hope said.

"Totally. Though we do appreciate the effort you put to make sure she wasn't alone on the holidays, XANA!" David said.

"I understand your concern, but I can assure you that-" Hopper started.

"Then where's my mother?" Aelita asked. "You're a perfectionist. You would have made her too, unless… you weren't really my father!"

"...Just like Waldo. Too smart for your own good." the fake Franz said, the disguise starting to fade. "Skeith!"

"What the?" Sachiko asked as her doppleganger kicked a door in.

"There is no escape for them this time." Skeith said as multiple monsters began to appear.

"Okay, we're leaving!" Eddy said going for another door before seeing William there.

"Hello there." William said.

"Oh, hi William." Eddy said, backing up. "Dressed a little light for the mountains, dontcha think?"

"Oh, I think things are about to heat up real soon." William said, cracking his knuckles. "Leave Aelita to me. Take out the rest of them!"

The monsters attacked, sparking a brawl.

"Don't let any of them escape!" William said as Aelita ran. "What are you waiting for? After her!" he ordered the fake Hopper as it changed to a wolf to chase her.

"Oh no you don't!" Ethox said as he broke off from the fight and chased after the wolf, managing to tackle it. "Heel boy, heel! Play dead? Oh, nevermind." he said, striking it down with his Keyblade, revealing it to be a Blok.

"You think that's going to help?" William asked, walking up leisurely. "This bubble only lets people in, not out."

"All right. You win, William." Aelita said as she started to use her Creativity.

"No!" William said before the bubble shattered, bringing everyone out of it. "Doesn't matter. You're trapped no matter what!"

"Tell it to the energy blast, William!" Mark said, firing a Ki Blast that William blocked with his sword. "Aelita, run for it! We'll hold him here!"

With a nod, Aelita took off running, accompanied by several members of the group.

"Damn it…" William growled. "Skeith, go after her! Get her to the sea!"

"No problem. This will be a cinch." Skeith said as he started speeding off.

"Hey, wait!" Sachiko said before she was blocked. "Get out of my way!"

Aelita continued to run before she was cut off by a wall of ice.

"You have nowhere to run, girl." FreezeMan said.

"You shall not pass, Robot Master!" Sir Saiyan declared, drawing his sword and charging him, clashing for a few moments before getting devirtualized. Grantz fired at him, only for icicles to take him out as well.

"Oh geez…" Emo gulped as he stood between Aelita and FreezeMan. "Stay back, I got fire spells! I-" he said before Skeith leaped and took the mage out with his swords.

"Not worth a thing if you can't use them." Skeith said. "Sorry to do this to you, Aelita. But you need to leave."

"He's right." FreezeMan said, grabbing Aelita by the neck as he froze her from the neck down. "Now…you fall!" he said as he dropped her into the Digital Sea.

"NO!" the group yelled out.

"This is unbelievable… We lost." David said before he perked up. "Wait… I-I'm seeing something." he said as a large ball of light emerged from the Digital Sea. "What… What is that?"

"And the man himself appears…" William grinned as he joined his partners on the edge. "He's all yours, boss."

"Thank you, William." a new voice came from William's mouth. "It's been a long time…Waldo."

"Waldo? And…who is that voice?" Sachiko asked. "Hold on, one question at a time. That ball of light… Is that…really Franz Hopper?"

"I think so. I'm sensing a lot of digital energy emanating from it." Alphamon said.

"Now…our true mission begins!" FreezeMan said as he fired icicles at the sphere.

"Guys, we gotta stop them now! If that ball of light is destroyed…" Sachiko said.

"Yeah, we know. So let's get to it!" Harumi said.

The group sped immediately, descending onto XANA's forces with a mixture of determination and fury.

"Flamethrower!" Shantae called, clasping her hands together in a gun-like pose and unleashing a stream of fire.

"William! Or whoever is talking right now!" Ethox declared, swinging at them with his Keyblade. "You're gonna be sorry for hurting Aelita!"

"Make it double for me." Theo said.

"Ugh…you warriors…you make this so difficult." the voice complained as he blocked the two Keyblades with William's sword.

"I… I am hearing something from him." Sachiko said. "I-I don't believe it. Is this what he really sounds like?"

"XANA." Hope said.

"Hmm… So you managed to figure it out." XANA said. "Gold stars, all around."

"Never took you as the type to come into battle yourself. Franz Hopper must seem very important to you if that's the case." Sachiko said.

"As long as he lives, he will always be a threat to my plans." XANA said. "So I had to lure him out. And his love for his family is his greatest weakness."

"Your lack of love is yours!" Ethox shot back. "Don't you feel anything for all the pain you've caused?! All the people you've hurt?!"

"Why should I? It's my prime directive: to be a weapon." XANA said. "It's not my fault Waldo never specified who to target."

"Prime directive? Don't give us that crap!" Mark yelled. "You can't justify what you've done!"

"I have no need for justification. It's merely a statement of fact." XANA said. "Now, if you all would simply allow yourselves to lose and let me carry out my plans, it would be appreciated."

"I think not." Sachiko said as she got her weapons ready. "I just realized we're having a conversation with XANA. This is just bizarre for me."

"Right…almost forgot about you. Skeith." XANA commanded as Skeith came to his side.

"Oh, this is gonna be something." Sachiko said. "Sparrow Counter!" she said as she launched Skeith in the air before forming an X-slash, sending him back down.

"Ghost Falcon!" Skeith called, backflip kicking Sachiko into the air and following her as he unleashed a barrage of sword thrusts coated in purple energy before finishing with an X-slash.

"Not surprised you knew that. You really do know all of my moves." Sachiko said.

"Of course. You are an Enhanced with powers close to mine. I was recreated using your data. In all essences…I AM you." Skeith said.

"Then I guess it's safe to say that it's game on, Mirror Match." Sachiko said as she switched to a broadsword. "Twin Moons!" she said as she performed an X-slash.

"Ha. An easy…" Skeith said as they got hit. "Huh?"

"Surprised? I would be." Sachiko said. "Armor Pierce!" she said as she performed a thrust before slamming the blade down.

"Changing her battlestyle…" XANA noted. "A point to remember later. Now, however…"

XANA uses William's Super Smoke to get closer to Franz, preparing to strike.

"Waldo Schaeffer dies." XANA declared…before being knocked off balance. "Who-?"

"Daddy, get away! Hurry!" Aelita called out to her father, the ball of light tipping over the edge and vanishing into the Digital Sea.

"Impressive, Aelita." XANA granted the girl before turning around and impaling her with Willaim's sword. "But you've only delayed the inevitable. You cannot save him."

"We will…stop you." Aelita promised before she was devirtualized.

"How illogical." XANA remarked before turning to where his forces were still fighting. "Skeith, FreezeMan. We're leaving."

"I see…" FreezeMan said. "Very well." he said as he and Skeith fled, William following soon after.

"Whew… That was quite a ride." David said. "So we finally got to know XANA, huh?"

"Yeah. He really is every bit as described." Harumi said. "We also know why he keeps trying to go for Aelita."

"As long as Franz Hopper lives, he will always be a threat to XANA." Twilight said.

"In that case, we need to step up our game, and fast." Mayumi said.

"Yeah…for now…let's head back to the ship. And let's pick up Aelita on the way." Jexi said.

"Yep. Any volunteers for first devirtualization?" David asked.

Lots of hands were raised as they all shared a laugh before returning to the ship that evening. Once there…

"Movie Marathon! Movie Marathon!" Ed cheered as the group was gathered once more in the Theater.

"Finally, a little chance to relax." Mark sighed. "Glad you finally decided to join us, Aelita."

"Thank you." Aelita responded in gratitude. "I was a little hesitant at first, I have to admit. Looking at it now, though, I'm happy. It's like I have a family again."

"Hehe, you're gonna embarrass us if you keep talking like that." Mark chuckled. "Don't worry, we'll get him back somehow. There's no way we'll let anything happen to your dad, right?"

"...We'll do whatever we can." Jexi said. "Now let's get this marathon started, huh?"

"Right, let's go!" Mark said as the first movie began to play.