Disclaimer: Last time I checked, I didn't own Code Lyoko. That was two seconds ago, so I DON'T OWN ANYTHING!!!! Er, at least, not Code Lyoko.

Trillinka: Yes, you knew it. Yeah, the anguish will be slightly prolonged. Poor characters...

CodeLyoko: Yes, you were right, too. Thank you! Only one problem: my life away from the computer is driving me insane. AKA eighth-grade. I will update as soon as possible. Thanks again!

GrYfFiNdOr4eVeR98: Yeah, Hurricane Ivan must be annoying. Thank you!

CodeLyokoFan4Ever: Alright, alright! I will update as soon as I can!

Raven-GC-Girl: Updated!

Scorpio Serpent: It made your day? My pointless fic I made up at midnight?!? Aww, thanks. (misty eyes) I'm glad that the old X.A.N.A. don't bug you.

Artemis of the Ice: Yes, exactly. Jeremie's being selfish, and Yumi's pissed. Pretty much sums up the emotions here. Thank you! Jeremie will find himself (morningstar slaps hand over mouth) Nrggmmm... I shouldn't give it away. But he will feel guilty! Hey, but who can blame him for wanting to have Aelita with him?

29 reviews! Awww.... Thanks!!!!

Thanks to all of those who put me on their favorites authors' or author alert list: Jeremie-chan, Shadow Dragon99, Ice Kit, CodeLyokoFan4Ever, CodeLyoko, Digital-Dragon-Master844, easterndragon65, princesspie45, Queenofinsanity, Warrior Pixie, Raven-GC-Girl, Trillinka, suki9870, ron stoppable, and ThessalyD. Gollum, morningstar, and I all love you!!!!

To those YW fans out there, you might recognize this part of the plot. It's a series of books. (sees no heads snap up) Ah, I'm stuck with the anime crowd. (scowls)

morningstar: You know you like being friends of a sort with them.

Palantiri: Crap. You're right. Why did you have to be a part of me?!?

morningstar: Because I'm one of your alter egos, remember? Anyways, just shut up and let the readers read, okay?

Palantiri: Okay, okay. Yeesh, no need to have an attitude about it! Alright, on with the fic!!!

Chapter 5: Choice

Yumi stepped into the tower. She had seen Aelita do it many times, yet was baffled how she did it. She saw the deep blue exterior, running with the white data codes, the X.A.N.A. symbol that was the platform. Irresistibly, she was drawn to the center of the figure, standing there, looking up at the upper platform. Surprising, she floated up to it and landed softly and gently. Yumi noticed a small screen and placed her hand on it. Her name came up, verifying that it was her. Startled, she jumped back, to also topple off the platform. She balanced herself and approached the screen cautiously.

She was amazed by the information she could access from it. She could even watch the others in Lyoko. Yumi sighed lightly as they followed her footsteps to the tower. Nervous, she walked to the edge of the symbol. From her vantage point, she could watch Ulrich, Aelita, and Odd enter the tower themselves. Eyes wide, she saw Aelita tell them something, then walk to the center of the bottom platform, rising slowly. Yumi gasped, and flung herself over the side, concentrating on avoiding them. She had no idea what she was doing or where she was going. All she cared about the feel of the falling up into a new tower.

Odd floated to the top platform, too. Aelita and he looked around. Yumi was nowhere in sight. "Hey Aelita, have you seen Yumi?" Odd asked.

"No, she's nowhere around here. I was sure she went into the tower though," Aelita stated, confused.

"YUMI!!!" a cry came out from below. Aelita and Odd jumped back down. "What is it, Ulrich?" Aelita was concerned.

"Yumi, she just fell back past here to somewhere," Ulrich babbled.

"Oh no, she is trying to go to a different tower. We have no clue where to go," Aelita frowned.

"Guys, she's in the polar region. I can see her on my holo-map. Never fear, Jeremie to the rescue! Dress warm!" Jeremie called.

"Great! Thank you, Jeremie! Now, just push off the platform and concentrate on the polar region," Aelita instructed. "Like so." She slid off the sign in a graceful swan-dive pose.

Ulrich looked at Odd. "You next."

"Crap. Why me?" Odd asked the world as he glided off the symbol as well in the instructed position.

Ulrich glanced apprehensively down before pushing off the platform in a swan-dive, focusing on the cold, glacial region. He fell up and landed gently on the new tower's platform. Odd and Aelita were waiting for him. They exited the tower and began sprinting out into the freezing iceland. Jeremie said, "Yumi's about 20 degress north of you."

They ran north for a bit, expecting to see Yumi running from them still. However, she was still and talking to some black mist?!? X.A.N.A.!!!

Aelita yelled angrily, charging with her glowing blue staff. An invisible forcefield tossed her back with no effort.

"What's wrong, Aelita?" Odd rushed up to her.

"Nnnnggg... X.A.N.A. created a forcefield. I can't get in! It's like a Guardian," Aelita explained.

"Uh, physical force won't work. Can you create a mental ram of sorts?" Ulrich asked hopefully.

"I'll try. I can only hope it works," she sighed as she shaped her determination, emotions, and willpower into a battering ram and started banging it against the invisible shield. Persistently, she smashed into it over and over again, finally able to break it down. The black smoke, X.A.N.A., seemed to collapse for a second before straightening as best as a gas can.

Ulrich hurried to Yumi's side. "Are you alright? What was X.A.N.A. talking about? Don't listen to that filth of a computer virus. It's a liar..." he babbled.

Yumi slapped him upside the head, almost effectively shutting him up. "HEY!! What was that for?!?!?" Yumi raised a hand threateningly. Ulrich froze.

"X.A.N.A. was explaining. He wants me to become to part of his army. I haven't chosen yet," Yumi said calmly.

"No Yumi! Don't do it! Remember all the trouble X.A.N.A. caused?" Aelita pleaded.

"He was lonely," Yumi stated clearly.

"What about all the monsters he sent after us?" Odd inquired.

"Just testing us. He wanted to see our talent. He chose me since Ulrich was no longer an option," Yumi retorted serenely.

"Hey, what about me?!?" Odd asked indignantly.

"You are too bellicose," she clarified and smiled.

"What about us? Your friends and family?" Ulrich appealed.

"What about them?" Yumi seemed cold and uncaring, but inside, she was writhing in indecision.

"You're just going to forget us? Just never let your parents know?" Ulrich knew he was lying; her parents knew of Lyoko.

"You lie. To explain my death, you probably lied to most everyone, but my parents. You would have thought it honorable," Yumi smirked.

"Crap," he swore.

Aelita looked sorrowful but knew it was time to take it further. "What about Earth? The colorful and beautiful sights, the delicious yet something disgusting smells, the delectable tastes of food, the flowing, grace of music of hearing, or the assorted sensations of touch? Will you ever hear music again in such clarity? Will you taste the fluff of mashed potatoes and revel in the homey-ness of it? Can you smell a flower in all of its sweet scent and aroma? Can you feel the silkiness of satin cloth? Will you see the vivid, bright colors of a sunset? Can you get that in Lyoko?"

Yumi was torn. She loved her world, but couldn't bear to help the people that had betrayed and abandoned her? Aelita, Odd, and Ulrich looked expectant and worried. X.A.N.A. was twisting in fear. On Earth, Yumi was sure that Jeremie was close to tearing his hair out.

"I can't choose."

"WHAT?!?!?" was the general consensus.

"I love Earth, but I can't leave," Yumi's eyes began to burn with unshed tears.

"It's true," X.A.N.A. smirked, as best as possible, being smoke.

"You could be our Aelita!" Odd suggested.

"But that's the problem. I don't want to stay virtual," Yumi cried, her virtual tears falling and splashing on the ice. "But since I can't go back, I might as well make the best of it."

"You have to choose. To go with me or the Bright Powers," X.A.N.A. mentally imprinted a frown. (Ha! See the YW connection!)

"I can't! Don't you get it!" Yumi shouted, backing away from them. "I can't do either!" Placing her index and middle fingers on her temples, she pulled icebergs from their original spots, creating a barrier of ice around her and her surroundings, which they saw included a tunnel. She dove into it as Aelita, Ulrich, Odd, and X.A.N.A. beat at her wall.

Yumi began sliding and skating down the slippery tunnel, hoping to see the end soon. Her ice wall wasn't going to hold for long.

They blasted at the ice, mentally and physically, but it was putting up a good fight. X.A.N.A., Aelita, Odd, and Ulrich nodded at each other and began to count down. On zero, they struck. Sword, laser arrows, claws, staff, and mental battering rams beat again the wall. It collapsed.

Aelita looked at Ulrich who nodded and raced down the tunnel with X.A.N.A. at his heels, looking for the Japanese girl. Upon reaching the end of the tunnel, he and X.A.N.A. saw a horrible sight. Yumi was diving head-first into the cold water that was the digital void.

"YUMI!!!! NO!!!!" he screamed as she disappeared from view.

Muhahahaha! My first real cliffie! (ducks tomatoes) I know I suck. I promise to update soon, though. You give me too many reviews for me to ignore them. There are two more chapters, and yes, in the next chapter, there will be action. Never fear, although my battle scenes suck, there will be some.