Endgame
Chapter 18: Past mistakes
Jeremy opened his eyes, the world slowly coning into focus. He didn't know what had happened, but he had the feeling that he was okay. He was lying on some kind of flat mattress, clothing lying off to the side. He reached to his side, feeling around until he got his glasses and placed him on his face. He was in a room that, except for the bed, was bare. He walked over and put on his armor, sheath, and belt with shurikens on it. He then thought to himself, 'Well, at least I know XANA didn't kidnap me, because if he did, why would he leave all of my equipment here.' He then moved towards a wall and his body against it so he was looking at it. 'I guess I didn't go. I should be glad to be alive, but I'm not.' Then he thought of Aelita, 'It's about that, isn't it?' he thought, 'I just don't know what she has to say to me. I just hope I can do something about it.'
Just then, he heard a door opening behind him. He quickly turned around, his hand on his scimitar. But, he lowered his hand as he saw Aelita standing in the room as the door closed behind her. "Hello Jeremy." She said. "Hello Aelita." He replied. "How are you feeling?" she asked. "Better." He replied as he walked over to the flat mattress on the floor and sat down on it. Aelita walked over and sat down next to him. "You were nearly gone when we got you here," she began," but OSRO managed to replenished your hit points." "So. That's why this place seems so familiar." Jeremy replied.
"What's wrong?" Aelita asked, noticing his sad expression. "Its nothing." He lied. 'Jeremy," she replied," You can tell me anything. You always told me what was on your mind." "Now, I hate thinking about the past," He said, standing up and leaning against a wall, his head bent to the floor, "it makes me think of the real world." "Jeremy." She said as she got up. "Aelita, I'm sorry." Jeremy said. "For what?" "Its just that," he replied," I tried to bring you back to the real world. I remember you being so happy when you first came to Earth. But then, XANA infected you, forcing you to stay. I tried my hardest to make the vaccine, but it wasn't enough. And here we are, we don't know how to return home, and you'll never return to our world. "Jeremy," Aelita said," I know how much you have worked for getting me to Earth for good. While that would have been nice, I still wouldn't have cared. Because, either here or on Earth, I be glad as long as I had you."
"Thanks Aelita," Jeremy began," but that is not the half of it." "What do you mean?" she asked. "It's just. I can't be accepted back into the group." He said. "You're always a part of the group." "Well I shouldn't be!" he said, punching the wall behind him. "I'm sorry Aelita." He said. "Jeremy, this isn't like you." She said. All right," he began," When I fell to XANA's ways, even though I had amnesia, I just fell stupid being tricked by him. Also, I tried to destroy my friends. But, of all that, I was going to kill you," he then turned to Aelita," I just don't see why I should be forgiven for all that I have done." "Jeremy," she said as she walked over to him," I will forgive you. You see I knew that wasn't you. You were able to break away from XANA and remember who were. You are Jeremy. Nothing will change that. Your friends and myself will always have you with us. If you were to go, I wouldn't see any reason to go to Earth, or even stay here." "Aelita." Jeremy said as he put his arm on her shoulder. They then looked at each other deeply and leaned in closed. Then, they kissed each other, their hands holding each other. Jeremy moved his tongue into her mouth, moving it against the inside of it. She replied back as she moved his hands through his hair. Jeremy moved his hands down over her chest, placing his hand on it as he continued to kiss her. They didn't want this moment to end, no one to stop them, just to be together, holding each other. But then...
They broke away as a huge explosion was heard. "XANA." Jeremy said. "Let's go." Aelita said as the two headed out the door. The entered the main room to find the others and OSRO. "Good, you're here." OSRO said. "What is it?" Jeremy asked. "Those two servants of XANA have assembled an attack force," he began," their planning on destroying the barrier. If they do, XANA can instantly return to his body." He then looked over to the covered platform. "We have to stop them." Yumi said. "You're right," Ulrich said," OSRO, you stay here." "Of course." He replied. "Aelita, Jeremy, Odd. All of you weaken that assault force." "Got it." Odd said. "Me and Yumi will fight Herb and Sissy. All right. Let's go!" With that, the team hurried to the exit as OSRO said," I hope they can stop my brother."
Will XANA get his body back? Can the team hold off the attack force? Find out in Chapter 19!