Disclaimer: Code Lyoko is copyrighted by Moonscoop.
This chapter was written by me. It was edited by AeroJester203.
I only own Lila and Mia. Mary is owned by AeroJester203. Kayori Avalon is owned by decode9.
Warning: Please do not skip to the end. Why spoil yourself?
Final Round
Sector Five
POV Mia's
I had suggested to the others that if William was going to be a Lyoko Warrior, we needed to do things right by him, which meant getting his materialization code instead of just scanning him.
Lila was suspicious, but ultimately agreed to it. She decided to stay in the lab with Jeremy, Ulrich, Yumi, Kayori, and Odd after they had William sworn into secrecy. I guarded my father along with Sissi while Aelita used the data interface to look for William's materialization code. We had to deal with Xana Bots and Mantas, but William had quickly gotten used to his gigantic sword and took to fighting with enthusiasm.
His outfit is interesting, and I've always wanted to see it in person. It's a long-sleeved, armor-like bodysuit split with different colors. His left arm is covered with black for the most part, but has grey mixed in. His top half is mixed with light blue and grey on the right side and a black stripe splitting it down the middle. On his right arm, it is mostly grey, except for a little bit over his shoulder. A red belt separates the top from his pants, which are mixed with a light green and dark green color. Over his legs are some silver greaves that go all the way down to his light green shoes. He mentioned the outfit looked "too Galactic Battles," when he first got here.
"Please tell me it's almost uploaded, Aelita," I say and throw another kunai at a Xana Bot. It hits the eye dead center, making it explode.
"Yes, it's uploaded!" Aelita exclaims. The full loading bar blinks on the data interface, showing that the process was complete.
"The tunnel is open!" Jeremy signals. "Get out of there!"
He materializes our vehicles - William using Kayori's Overdrive - and we board them to escape Sector Five. Sissi takes her Overbike with Aelita seated behind her. While my father and I take our respective vehicles. All of us fly them to the tunnel with the remaining Mantas and Xana Bots chasing us. During the ensuing air fight, something happened that didn't in the original timeline.
William is about to be devirtualized by an incoming laser. Running the Overdrive in a loop to dodge, fire appears in his hand before he shoots it out in a ball at the Xana Bot. It hits the machine's weak point and the Xana Bot explodes within the flames. I'm very surprised since I had never heard of this sort of power from my father in the future.
While gripping his sword's red hilt, he holds out his free hand behind him and lets a stream of fire out, propelling the Overdrive to move faster instead of tilting his weight. As we head into the tunnel, the monsters thankfully don't pursue us even though they could.
Afterwards
Back in the scanner room
Aelita, Sissi, and I are materialized first. We wait for William, and his scanner opens with some smoke releasing from it. He's on the floor of the scanner on his knees and he looks up at us as he catches his breath. Coming back from Lyoko is always rough, especially the first few times.
"Well, William, how do you feel about becoming a full-fledged Lyoko Warrior?" Jeremy asks.
As his breathing evens out, he replies, "Fantastic."
"With your fire powers, I think you'll have a good chance at defending yourself from Xana's monsters," I note. "What do you guys think?"
"William did discover them when he needed them the most," Aelita replies.
"Yeah, I think they're really cool," Sissi adds.
Odd jokingly asks over the intercom, "Should I be jealous, Sissi?"
"Ha-ha, funny, Odd," Sissi replies with a fond eye roll. I go over to my father and offer my hand to help him up. He takes it and we start making our way to the open freight elevator.
POV Lila's
Afterwards
Inside the factory
The hangar door opens and all of us walk out with Jeremy staying behind in the lab.
"I'm really hoping Xana doesn't go on the attack tomorrow," Odd says. "I've signed up for the inter-academy skateboard championship, and I'm going to win it too!"
Aelita giggles at that.
Sissi holds his hand as she adds, "And I'll be right there rooting for you, sweetie." Odd smiles as they walk together.
"You're not someone who likes to steal the show either," Yumi says, referring to William's earlier comment when he was sworn into secrecy before he was virtualized for his first mission. I admit I'm not thrilled but at the same time… he does deserve better.
"It's a shame I won't get to see you win tomorrow, Odd. I wish you the best of luck," Kayori says. It saddens me that she's leaving tomorrow… sooner than we thought, too. And of all days… I sigh internally.
"Thanks, Kayori. I know all of us will miss you too," Odd says.
We continue back to Kadic across the bridge to the manhole.
"And about not stealing the show, Odd is right, you should always aim for the top," William adds.
Ulrich chuckles, "Why not? That way when you fall back down, you'll crash a lot harder."
I can't help but laugh slightly at that. If there's one thing I love about my friends, it's that they make you laugh even on days when you're upset.
The Next Day
Inside Lila and Aelita's Room
I open the first drawer and take my diary along with its key. I put them on the desk then grab a pen from the drawer. Using the key, I unlock the diary and go to the page where I had last written in it, the day the supercomputer was sabotaged by Michael Riley. I turn to the next page so I can write on a new one.
Dear Diary,
I'm sorry I haven't had time to write in you. Things are happening too fast.
Kayori is leaving today… and William is a full-fledged Lyoko Warrior. The timeline has already changed from the original one. William discovered fire powers, and it seems like Mia is trying to prevent her father's possession by the Scyphozoa. I shouldn't have given that time travel book to her. Then again… maybe she's been planning this since day one? She's a year and a half or so older than me… I can't really blame her.
Does she realize what she's in for if William doesn't get possessed? That someone else might get possessed in his place? Or… does she already know that too and is willing to sacrifice herself for her father's sake?
Ugh… I feel like my head is spinning with too many emotions. One good thing is that Aelita mentioned she and Jeremy have been trying to find Franz Hopper. I only know bits and pieces of the original history, that's true… but with the amount of changes to the timeline, it would be nice to save him. But I'm not hopeful.
Last night… before Kayori and I went to our rooms, we kissed for the first time. It only lasted for a few seconds, but it was… nice. I'm really going to miss her.
Anyway, I should get going. Aelita went ahead to see Jeremy, so I'm going to meet them too before I have to say goodbye to Kayori.
Lila.
I close the diary and then use its key to lock it. I place the items into the drawer and close it before leaving the room for Jeremy's.
Afterwards
Inside Jeremy's room
I knock on the door, letting them know I'm here.
"Come in," Jeremy says, and I open the door before closing it behind me. There seems to be a program running and then a window popping up with a green exclamation point.
"What's all this?" I ask, despite knowing.
"You came here just in time," Jeremy replies. "It seems like it works."
Aelita has her hand on his shoulder, "Really?"
"Yeah," Jeremy replies, looking at her.
"I take it that it's good news, then?" I ask hopefully while I approach.
Jeremy nods, "For sure. Thanks to this program, we should be able to find Franz Hopper on Lyoko."
"That's wonderful news," I smile, a little hopeful that things can change in this timeline.
"Let's go and check it out in the lab right now," Aelita smiles. Jeremy closes the program and gets up from his chair.
"Yes, let's-" I'm about to say but then I get a text on my cell phone. I take my phone and see that it's Kayori.
I open the text and it says, Parents are coming sooner than I thought. Meet me at the administration building?
I sigh.
"What's wrong?" Jeremy asks.
"Kayori's parents are coming sooner than she thought," I relay. "I gotta go." They nod.
"You know where we'll be," Aelita says and then pulls me into a hug. I hug her back.
"Thanks, Aelita," I say and let go of her.
There's a knock on the door. Jeremy raises his eyebrow as he walks over to it. Aelita and I look at the door wondering who it could be.
Reaching his door, Jeremy opens it to reveal Milly and Tamiya, holding their film equipment as usual. I cover my face to avoid being seen.
"What you doing here?" Jeremy asks the reporter duo.
"Gotta go, guys, sorry!" I exclaim as I run out of the room as fast as I can. I really hate cameras. Jeremy, Milly and Tamiya give me room to leave, and I uncover my face once I'm out the door so I can make my way to Kayori.
Inside the gymnasium
POV Sissi's
I'm sitting on a bleacher. Odd's ex is here… Samantha Knight. She has dark skin, long black hair with red highlights and black eyes. She's wearing a gray t shirt and a red skirt along with protective skate gear and a helmet, since she's in the competition too. Some other students are already on the skateboard ramp.
"It's really nice to see you, Sam, but aren't you supposed to be living out somewhere near the coast?" Odd asks.
"I am, but I'm also here for the championship," Sam replies with a smile. "I'm only here for the day."
"You know, Sam, Odd and I are going out," I tell her, just to make things clear.
She nods at me, still smiling, "I know. I heard."
"Samantha Knight," Jim calls out.
"I'll be right back, you guys, and then we can talk about your relationship," Sam says. "Would like to know how it started." She takes her skateboard and uses it to go on the ramp.
"It's so weird that we ran into her here," Odd comments.
I purse my lips slightly, "Yeah, it is… Odd, how do you think she found out about our relationship?"
"Not sure," he replies. "Maybe she overheard someone here talking about us."
"Maybe."
Outside the administration building
POV Lila's
I have my phone on silent as I approach the administration building. I meet with Kayori, who has all her things packed in a few suitcases. I walk over to her.
"I just want you to know, I'll be writing the minute we're all officially settled in," Kayori says.
"Thanks. What about texting or calling?"
"I'll try," she replies. "We'll be in different time zones, so it'll be difficult to make a schedule that'll work out for us."
"That's true…" I agree somberly. Kayori looks at me and she gives me a kiss on the lips. I kiss her back, but it only lasts for a few seconds. We pull away and look at each other.
"So, um… I take it this is it, then? For us, as far as our relationship goes?" I ask.
She nods, confirming my answer, "Like I said, we'll be in different time zones… and I'm not sure a long-distance relationship would work out for us. I'm sorry we couldn't figure something better out."
"I understand," I say. We look at each other again and hug. It lasts longer than the kiss did, but then we pull away. We hear the honking of a car and we turn to see a silver SUV pulling up.
"Well, that's my ride. I should have some phone service before we leave for the plane later in the afternoon. So be sure to keep me informed on everything as far as you know what that goes on, okay?" she asks.
"I will. Definitely."
In the woods
POV Mia's
I'm watching my father practicing his PenCak Silat forms.
I smile at him, "Say, um, William. Can I tell you a secret?"
William stops practicing his forms and looks at me, "What is it?"
"See, the thing is, you're-" I start to say but my cell phone rings. I sigh and take it out of my pocket to check the ID. It's Aelita. I answer it and put the phone to my ear.
"Mia, Xana's attacking the core of Lyoko. Bring William, I've already informed the others," Aelita tells me.
"Okay, we're on our way," I say and hang up. I put my cell phone back in its pocket and look at my father. "Xana's attacking the core. Let's go."
"Yes!" William exclaims with an enthusiastic fist pump. He then realizes how that looks and hastily adds, "Oh, uh- I mean, that's terrible, and… didn't you want to tell me a secret?"
I smile at him, "Now's not the time… maybe later. Let's go."
"Right!" William nods, and we take off to the lab.
Dad… this is it. This is the day I'm going to save this version of you, I mentally promise. You will never have to feel the fear of Xana's influence over you ever again. Instead, I will take the memory of that fear and channel it. The timeline is already changing, and I have faith that Lila and these Lyoko Warriors will save me just like they did you.
POV Sissi's
I go outside to stretch my legs after Odd finishes his turn, since sitting on the bleachers for a while isn't exactly comfortable. I soon come back in, and Odd gets off the ramp with his skateboard then sits down with Sam before noticing me. He waves at me and I smile to acknowledge him.
I go over to them, then soon reach them and sit down next to him. Odd says, "This has been really great."
But we both notice that Ulrich is missing from the tournament and glance at each other before Odd turns to Sam.
"Where did Ulrich go, Sam?" he asks her.
"I don't know," Sam replies.
"That's weird," I say. It wasn't like Ulrich to bail on us out of nowhere, "He didn't say anything?"
"No," Sam replies.
Odd and I look at each other again and shrug. I haven't received any calls on my cell phone, and if Ulrich went to the lab, he definitely would have told us. And Aelita knows we're here too. Hopefully Sam is telling the truth.
Inside the lab
POV Mia's
William and I are the only ones with Aelita who's sitting in Jeremy's chair with the headset on.
"If Xana's monsters destroy the sphere, Lyoko is gone for good. And without Lyoko, we won't have any way to fight Xana," Aelita explains.
William nods, "I read you loud and clear. So then, what are we waiting for?"
"For the others to get here," Aelita replies.
"They can meet with us later. Besides, between me, you and William, we shouldn't have too much trouble against the Xana Bots," I lie, knowing full well what's about to happen. Aelita seems to be thinking about it.
"And let's not waste time," William adds. "After all, that's the whole reason you recruited me."
"He's right, Aelita," I agree.
"Okay, I'll start the self-virtualization," Aelita says. "We'll be directly virtualized into Sector Five."
William and I smile, while I think, Dad… please don't feel guilty. This is my choice. YOUR second chance.
Afterwards
Sector Five
Arena Room
Aelita, William, and I land perfectly on the floor, the surrounding walls spinning as always. William takes his sword off his back and leans it on his shoulder. Everything starts slowing down.
"Remember, we only have a couple of minutes to trip the key lever," Aelita reminds us.
"Got it," William nods.
The doorway opens and we start running through it.
Inside the manhole tunnel
POV Lila's
After helping Kayori get everything in the car and saying goodbye to her one last time, I'm in the tunnel kicking my foot against the ground to speed along with my scooter. I saw Jeremy just a little while ago up ahead, so I kick the ground faster.
Please Mia… I know you care for your father. I know he's my surrogate uncle. I'm all for him becoming a Lyoko Warrior, but please… be safe. Wait for us. I'm almost there, I think.
POV Mia's
We enter the new room, and it's almost as big as a stage or movie set. It's empty too, so I'm sure the Xana Bots will be joining us soon.
"It's a movie set, wow," William remarks. I smile at that. Like father, like daughter.
"I swear, this place is neat since it changes every time we go here."
Aelita starts looking for the key mechanism and spots it. She points to it, "Over there!"
"I'm on it!" William and I exclaim. We both look at each other and decide to make a race out for it, running towards the mechanism.
"No, wait!" Aelita exclaims.
The floor raises, blocking us from getting the key. We hear several Xana Bots zooming into the room.
"Xana Bots, great!" William exclaims. Using his free hand, he starts charging his fire, gathering it to his hand.
I glance back at Aelita, "We'll deal with them; get to the key, okay?" She nods and I start running forward to fight with William at my side.
"Geronimo!" William exclaims and makes a fireball form in his hand. He fires it off at one of the Xana Bots. I take my pouch out and get a shuriken. I jump in the air and throw it.
Our attacks fly at the small group of machines, but the shuriken misses my target. I land on the floor. The fireball hits a Xana Bot's target eye and then engulfs it to explode in a fiery blaze. I look at Aelita who continues dodging the ascending floor as she makes her way to the key mechanism.
The Xana Bots disperse and William holds his sword up to block any possible laser fire as we get back-to-back. I get my kunai out of my pouch to do the same. The Xana Bots stop zooming around and two of them start charging their lasers. They fire them at us but the two of us use our weapons to block and reflect the lasers back to destroy them.
"Nice tag-teaming," William compliments.
"Thanks," I say. There's only three more Xana Bots remaining.
I see other parts of the floor are starting to descend, returning to normal.
"It's okay, Mia and William! Come over here," Aelita calls.
William turns to her, "Wait, just let us finish them off okay?" He turns back to face the Xana Bots and we start running at them.
Suddenly, I hear the floor behind us starting to ascend. I look at William and tighten my grip on the single kunai still in my hand. With the Xana Bots charging their lasers, I make the call.
Unable to bear the thought of literally stabbing my father in the back, I grab his shoulder with my free hand to turn him around and run the kunai through his stomach. He deserves to have me look him in the eye as I do this.
"Mia- wh-what are… you doi-" he stammers, his voice fading as he devirtualizes while falling to the ground. His weapon vanishes too.
Inside the lab
POV Lila's
Jeremy is sitting on his chair with the headset earpiece on.
"Aelita, what's going on?" he asks. "Why was William devirtualized? And where are the others?"
"It might have been one of the Xana Bots," Aelita replies, and we hear one of the scanners opening below.
"They're not in the computer lab?"
"No, they're not," I answer.
"Lila, Jeremy," Mia suddenly speaks up from the monitor. "Tell William I'm sorry for devirtualizing him, okay?"
"Mia, you did that? But why?" Jeremy asks incredulously.
"To save my father. The Scyphozoa has just arrived," Mia informs.
Jeremy and I look at each other. He seems mostly surprised, but I have a feeling this was her plan all along. We look back at the screens.
"Mia-" I start to say but she interrupts.
"Don't be sorry. My plan. And my privilege."
"Aelita, you have to get to Mia!" I urge. "Try and stop her!"
"Hurry! You have to go around the outside!" Jeremy exclaims.
The freight elevator's doors open revealing William. He seems tired out and walks into the lab.
"That was rough… why did she do that?" he asks.
I look at him and answer directly, "To save you." His eyes widen.
"To save… me?" he asks.
POV Aelita's
Following Jeremy's directions, I went out of the room and made my way through the corridor, following the path and passing another entrance.
"Take the next hallway on your left, no, the one right behind you!"
I run back to the entrance I just passed and enter it. I keep running and exit entering a new room just before the room where Mia is.
"Faster, before the Scyphozoa goes after Mia!" Jeremy exclaims. "Take the corridor on your right. Go on."
I see the path turning right and take it, continuing towards Mia.
POV Lila's
"I still don't get it, why save me?" William asks.
I sigh in response. I'll have to tell him later.
"Mia, use your whip and paralyze the Scyphozoa," Jeremy urges. "Then get out of there! Hurry up! Mia, do you hear me?"
William and I look at Mia's profile pic with concern.
"I'm not afraid of it, Jeremy. Not by a long shot," Mia replies.
"Mia, whatever the Scyphozoa wants from you, it can't be good," Jeremy says. "I could launch a materialization… but the process is too slow. It won't save you in time."
"It's okay. I know the risks that I'm taking. Besides, the Scyphozoa hasn't even moved a-" she starts to say but then gasps.
"Aelita, take the next hallway on your left. It's not that much further," Jeremy instructs. "Mia, get out of there right now! Mia, do you read me?"
POV Mia's
I pick up my whip that the Scyphozoa slapped out of my hands. Except it's playing right into mine. I grip the whip.
"It's time you get what's coming to you, you stupid Scyph-" I start to taunt, but then it's tentacles grab me.
They lift me in the air and two of them touch my forehead. My eyelids start going down. Dad… I did it. I saved you… and I love you. Always…
Take care of my father, Lila.
POV Lila's
I look at the window showing Mia's possession via the Scyphozoa.
"I don't believe it, the Scyphozoa is taking Mia!" Jeremy exclaims.
"I've got to go back!" William exclaims, turning to move back towards the elevator. "I'll get her!"
I pin him with a look and say, "You can't and you won't."
"Aelita, Xana's taken control of Mia through the Scyphozoa!" Jeremy informs.
"I'm almost there!" Aelita exclaims.
POV Aelita's
I reach the room's entrance to find the Scyphozoa leaving. I see Mia is on the floor on her hands and knees, panting heavily. Am I… too late? Her whip is on the floor and she grabs it before getting up. I walk over to her slowly.
"Mia? Are you okay?" I ask. I hold my hand out to her in an attempt to place it on her shoulder.
Mia growls and then turns to me. Her eyes showing the Xana symbol in them. I start backing up and then holding one hand downwards to summon an energy field. If she's under Xana's control, then I need to defend myself so I can get to the core.
Putting her whip in its holster, Mia takes two kunai out of her pouch. I summon another energy field in my other hand and throw the first one at her. She uses the kunai to deflect it, and I try to hit her with the second one while she's distracted. My plan fails as she easily deflects the other with her second kunai.
Mia then pulls the two blades back and each kunai is charged with energy. She slashes the charged kunai in a criss-cross position, sending blades of energy speeding towards me. The energy attacks catch me off guard and I don't have time to react. I yelp as I'm hit by them and knocked off my feet as I devirtualize.
POV Sissi's
Odd has gotten to the finals and I can't be happier for him. Something isn't right though. I've had this nagging feeling that something is wrong.
His cell phone rings and he takes it out of his pocket. He looks at the ID and answers it, putting it to his ear. There's a short pause.
"Why should Sissi and I be in the lab? I'm in the finals," Odd informs. "…Tell us what?"
I knew it! I realize, looking at Sam still on the ramp. She was lying. Why lie, though?
Sam skateboards up the ramp with Jim watching from the top. She passes him into the air to pull some tricks and then goes back down the ramp. He claps and a few of the other students cheer along. She stops her skateboard and gets off the ramp as Odd puts his phone away and looks at me. I nod, and we get up from the bleachers.
"I'd like to see you top that," Sam taunts, holding her skateboard.
Odd looks at her seriously, "Sam, why didn't you give Ulrich's message to Sissi or me? It was really important."
Sam starts walking towards us with a raised eyebrow, "Important? I'm sorry, I just really wanted you and Sissi to stay. I'm happy that from what I heard, you found someone special and I wanted to show you we can still stay friends without her having to be jealous."
"First off, I might have been the jealous type in the past, but you aren't the only friend who Odd has that's a girl," I reply with a glare. "You could have at least told me."
"I said I'm sorry, okay?" she retorts defensively. Then she looks between the two of us, "But if you want me to really be honest… I'm not sure if I believe what I heard. You're really dating her Odd?"
"I am, Sam," Odd replies.
"Then prove it," Sam says, crossing her arms.
We don't have time for this! I turn Odd towards me and before I know it, I lean down slightly and pull him into a kiss. He's surprised, but closes his eyes to return it. Some of the students start murmuring amongst themselves and Sam is stunned.
After we stop, Odd appears dazed for maybe half a second before his eyes clear and he turns to leave while gesturing for me to follow, "Let's go, Sissi."
I nod and take his hand as he grabs his skateboard and we start running to leave the gymnasium before Jim has a chance to call Odd for his turn.
Afterwards
Inside the factory
POV Lila's
I left William, Jeremy and Aelita inside the lab, deciding to wait for the others to show up. The freight elevator is already open. Finally, I see Yumi, Ulrich, Odd, and Sissi entering the factory. I wave for them to come to the elevator, and we all gather inside.
The door closes and we begin to descend directly to the scanner room.
"Jeremy, we're here, Jeremy," Yumi informs, knowing that Jeremy will be able to hear through the intercom.
"Get ready to virtualize us," I say.
"I will! Get to the scanner room. I'll explain everything to the others on the way," Jeremy says.
"Right," I nod. As we descend lower, I think, Mia… I still can't believe you're gone.
Afterwards
Sector Five
Sissi and I are the last ones to be virtualized, landing between the others. The walls are coming to a halt. They stop as everything aligns, and the doorway opens.
"Let's go!" Sissi exclaims. Nodding we run through the doorway. I can only hope we aren't too late to save the core.
Elevator area
We've reached the elevator area and we hear it coming.
"We've just lost the first shield layer," Jeremy informs. We jump and land on the platform. It brings us all the way to the entrance of the bridge. The elevator connects itself and then the door opens. We start running.
Chamber Core of Lyoko
All of us start leaping up the stairs and we soon enter the core chamber of Lyoko.
We look up to see Mia leading a large group of Xana Bots attacking the core.
"Fire!" Mia orders. More lasers than I can count are fired at the second shield layer and it visibly shudders under the force.
"Lady Luck!" Sissi exclaims. Her bracer's slots start spinning and soon slow down before coming to a halt. Two symbols are shown. On her first slot is the joker symbol which she grumbles at, since it means she can't use her spades. On the fourth slot however, a diamond symbol is finally revealed. She looks curiously at it.
"Mia!" I exclaim. Mia looks down at us, her eyes pulsing with the Xana symbol. Mia lashes her whip all the way down at us. It strikes across from us with such force that it cracks the floor. She lands on the floor and it crumbles further beneath her. She starts walking towards us.
"She doesn't look very happy to see us," Odd jokes.
"Yup," Ulrich comments. "Like me when I saw my father."
POV William's
"If we lose Lyoko, then I lose my father as well," Aelita frets.
"That's right…" Jeremy trails off. Suddenly a window with what I think is one of their programs pops up.
"What's that?" I ask.
Aelita seems shocked, "It's - isn't that the program I started a while ago?"
"Yes, unbelievable! It really works! We've found Franz Hopper!" Jeremy exclaims.
"Who's Franz Hopper?" I ask.
"Like I said, he's my father. It's a long story," Aelita answers quickly. "Jeremy, run the rematerialization program. Hurry."
"Right," Jeremy says and starts typing.
POV Lila's
Mia holsters her whip and takes two kunai out from her pouch.
"I'm dealing with her. You guys, go," I urge.
"But, Lila-" Sissi starts to object but I interrupt her.
"Go! I got her!" I exclaim, taking my hunter's knife out. They nod and start leaping up the stairs.
Mia grips her kunai as I start circling to the right of the entrance and Mia begins to do the same in the opposite direction. We eventually leap forward and our weapons clash when we attack each other. Luckily, since my knife is bigger, she needs both her weapons to block it and can't sneak a stab through.
We pull back from each other and she charges her kunai with energy. She swipes the blades in a cross and sends an X-shaped energy slash my way from nearly point-blank range. With no time to react I take the hit, losing my weapon in the process as I devirtualize in a cloud of pixels.
POV Sissi's
Odd, Yumi, Ulrich, and I continue leaping up the stairs. Ulrich is using his Super Sprint and we see Yumi's fan is thrown at one of the Xana Bots. It slashes through the eye, making it explode, and then returns to her. Suddenly Mia appears in front of us from above with black smoke. She easily takes out Odd by plunging two kunai into him and he falls on the ground before us while devirtualizing.
"Odd!" Ulrich and I exclaim.
Ulrich and I get ready to face Mia. She smirks and disappears.
"Diamond!" I shout. A yellow rhombus projects itself in front of us like a shield. Ulrich has his katana blade unsheathed and tries to guard me, but it's too late. Mia reappears between us and she plunges one of her kunai into Ulrich and the other into me. We fall to the ground and devirtualize. My last sight is Mia's smirk and my barrier disappearing before my eyes. After all this time not knowing what my fourth symbol was… only to barely even use it.
Inside the scanner rroom
POV Lila's
The scanners' doors open revealing Ulrich and Sissi, Yumi coming out of the last one a mere moment later. All of us are now together in the scanner room, meaning there's nobody left to defend the core of Lyoko…
Odd has his hand on his head, probably thinking about if he could only have reacted faster as Sissi tries to comfort him. I'm more than familiar with that feeling of failure.
If only there was a way to prevent all of this. Still, I know better than to use my time machine though. I won't let future Aelita's and Mia's sacrifice be in vain just so I can go back and change things in this current timeline, creating yet another split timeline. I just won't do it.
POV William's
We watch the window that's opened that shows all the monsters and Mia surrounding the core. All the shield layers are now lost.
"They're going to destroy the sphere!" Aelita exclaims.
"Not good!" I exclaim. "Tell me that program of yours is almost done?"
"Almost there!" Jeremy replies.
Inside the lab
POV Lila's
The freight elevator's doors open. The holosphere display shows the Celestial Dome and the tunnels.
"It can't be," Aelita says as she watches the screen with Jeremy and William.
We start running to the three of them and gather around the monitor as well. There's a window displaying Sector Five, but it keeps blinking in and out. The window then disappears completely and the holosphere display turns off. All the other windows that were running are gone too.
"I couldn't rematerialize Franz Hopper," Jeremy says somberly. "I didn't have enough time."
"We've lost everything," Aelita laments.
"Mia as well," Jeremy tells us.
It's all my fault… I should have done something to save her, I think.
Afterwards
Inside the Hermitage's living room
Yumi is sitting on the arm of an old chair. Odd, Sissi, and Ulrich are sitting on the couch with William leaning against the right arm of that same furniture. Aelita is looking at an old photo of her father. I'm discreetly looking at my shoes… I was so young when I first came here. Too much has changed.
"We have no other way to fight Xana now," Jeremy says. "The entire world is in danger."
"It's impossible to even imagine it," Ulrich comments.
"And Mia, do you think she…" Yumi trails off.
Odd puts his hands on his cheeks as he shakes his head, "This is horrible." Sissi puts her hand on his back, trying to give him comfort.
"I was really hoping I'd see my father again," Aelita says.
Jeremy looks down, "I'm sorry, I did everything I could."
"I know you did Jeremy," Aelita tells him as she places the frame of the photo back onto the table.
Jeremy's laptop suddenly starts beeping, drawing all of our attention. He opens it and starts typing before blinking in surprise.
"Hey, what the… This is incredible!" he exclaims.
"What's going on? Come on, tell us," Sissi requests.
"I've just received a coded message. A message directly from the internet. And it's signed by…" Jeremy trails off.
"Who? Tell us Jeremy," Aelita says.
He looks up from the screen and seems to be surprised himself as he answers, "Franz Hopper."
"Huh?" William and Odd asks, the rest of us besides myself are surprised. I get up and the others look at me.
"Guys, there's something I have to tell you. I don't think it's fair to all of you – especially you, Aelita – that I keep secrets from you," I say and go to my shoes. Jeremy turns to look at me as I grab the shoes and hold them up.
"Okay… Please understand I've found some things out recently myself, but I'll start from the beginning. These shoes? They're mine okay?"
"Okay… So what's the big deal?" William asks in confusion.
We look at him, realizing that he doesn't know I'm from the future. I put the shoes down.
"Anyone want to tell him?" Aelita asks.
"I'll do it," Odd answers, letting go of his face to drape his hands over his lap as he looks at William.
"She's from the future and the necklace she's wearing is actually a time machine. Lila came from a bad future where Xana's won."
William's eyes widen. He looks at the others since they've been through this before and sees that everyone is serious. He looks back at me.
"Okay… so I'm pretty sure you all aren't crazy," he grants. "What does this have to do with the secrets you're keeping?"
"There's one to start off… that I've been so hesitant on revealing," I say. "But I think if I use this secret to begin telling you the things I've found out recently… it might make it easier."
"So, what is it Lila?" Jeremy asks.
"You can tell us," Yumi adds. "You should know this by now."
"Right um… So you guys know how I've told you before I don't know who my own mom is?"
They nod.
"I take it you do know who she is?" Ulrich asks.
I nod.
"Okay, so who is she?" Odd asks.
"Yeah come on," Sissi urges. "Tell us, Lila."
"Right… So, my mother… She's… in this room…" I haltingly confess. Everyone's eyes widen, especially Aelita's. She seems to be shocked most of all.
"Okay, so… which one of us is your mom?" Yumi asks.
I look at the floor, and then let my eyes lead their gazes to Aelita. The others and Jeremy gape slightly at Aelita in surprise while her eyes widen yet again.
TO BE CONTINUED
IN:
Changing Destiny: Lila's Journey!
Season 4: The Final Season
Release date: February 14th, 2020.
Author's Note: Season 3 is finally complete! How will the lyoko warriors handle the truth? And how will William adapt as a lyoko warrior in season 4? Find out soon!
Season 4 is going to be split into two parts. The first part will contain the chapters of the season 4 prologue and end on Lost at Sea. Part 2 will pick up with Lab Rat and end on the series finale of Changing Destiny: Lila's Journey! Please note: The fanfiction will still remain as a whole.
Kayori Avalon will have another appearance in the season 4 prologue. After that, we won't hear from or see Kayori for a while. Thank you to decode9 for letting me use Kayori in this fanfiction.
For any new readers (and current ones) please note: There will be no new OCs that I will allow into this fanfiction. I have enough characters as it is for season 4 now that William was saved. I have also pre written the entirety of season 4 and I cannot, nor will not change the chapters I have written. There is a lot in store for season 4 and I mean a lot. It is going to focus more on Lila (and of course) the other main characters of the show.
With that said I'll see you all on Valentine's Day. As a special thank you to you, the readers, there will be TWO chapters uploaded that day to kick season 4 off!
Please share me your thoughts. Were you expecting any of this? If not, was there something that caught you completely off guard? Let me know in a review!
LyokoWarrior1994