Episode 1 - A New Routine (Part 1)

"Adele, get ready!" said Jace preparing his attack.

"Right!" she replied charging her energy dagger.

In one foul swoop, the young girl shot the dagger directly at Jace, cueing him to use his sword to deflect the blast at the Krabe in front of them, shattering it into pieces.

As they ran to each other, the young boy held his Princess in his arms and said, "I'm so proud of you. You fought so well."

"You were amazing too," she replied.

Suddenly, without warning, a laser shot came out at them and hit Adele in the back, causing her to lose her breath and disappear from Jace's arms.

"Adele! No!" shouted the boy. In that moment, he quickly turned around to see a hornet floating behind him, and was instantly shot with it's laser.

A loud alarm rang next to Jace's head as the sun shone through his bedside window, making the young boy spring awake in a cold sweat.

Breathing heavily, he looked around and let out a sigh of relief saying, "Phew. It was just a dream."

But in all honesty, it really wasn't. Up to now, it had only been a week since he and his new friends had uncovered the dark secret hidden by the families of his friends that is Lyoko and helped the original Lyoko Warriors stop X.A.N.A. With such a powerful force threatening to enslave mankind again, what would this mean for Jace and his personal life? Could he secretly fight this threat and still keep on living his life like a normal teenager?

Before he could dwell on that thought for too long, the boy's mother's voice rang from downstairs, "Time to get up Jace! School is waiting…"

"I know mom," he replied back still coming out of his daze. "Be down in 15."

Stepping into the hot stream of water coming from the shower faucet, Jace placed his arm against the wall and leaned against it contemplating the very idea of X.A.N.A. interfering with his life. From having to adapt to a new school, to now being in a serious relationship with Adele, and on top of that, saving the world when called upon, it would prove a big set of challenges for the still-growing boy.

After drying off and getting dressed for school, Jace's phone vibrated with a message sent from Adele.

"Had a nightmare last night. Saw a krabe shoot you in front of me. Glad it was just a dream. Couldn't bear the thought of losing you. Will see you soon my Prince… X. :)"

Maybe it was the coincidence of them having simliar nightmares, but the ascot-cap wearing teen couldn't help but smile knowing that he and his girlfriend shared such a deep connection with each other.

In that moment, he replied to her message saying, "Had a simliar nightmare. Only a hornet did it to you and then it shot me. Don't worry though, I'd sooner let it take me than you. After all, I made a promise to protect you my Princess. See you soon… X. ;)"

Running down the stairs in a hurry, Jace walked into the kitchen and poured himself some orange juice while his mother placed some freshly-cooked bacon on a plate for the family to eat.

After saying a quick prayer for their meal, Jace and his father began to eat their breakfast while Mrs. Stevens sipped from her morning coffee.

But as he was eating, she noticed a bit of distress in her son's expression and asked, "Are you okay honey? You seem a bit flustered."

"Hmm?" he replied. "Oh, don't worry mom. I'm okay. Just had a nightmare is all."

"Really?" she asked. "What was it about?"

Caught off guard by her curiosity, and with food in his mouth, Jace swallowed his bacon nearly whole and said, "Oh, well, nothing too scary thankfully. Just a monster sneaking up behind me and hitting me with a laser."

Laughing a bit at his son's "imaginative" dream, Jace's father said, "Sounds pretty dangerous. Maybe that's a lesson to watch your back all the time."

Even though he was only joking, Jace realized his father had a point. With how he and his new friends bore the responsibility of fighting against X.A.N.A. with the original Lyoko Warriors, he now had to be careful of what he said that would give away the secret.

After he finished tying his shoes, and grabbed his bag from the kitchen table, Jace hugged his parents goodbye and headed out the door to run to school.

Watching their son run off, Mr. Stevens looked said to his wife and said, "Monsters shooting lasers? What are he and his friends watching to get ideas like those?"

Laughing slightly, she replied, "Well honey, remember, they're only kids. Who knows what kids their age will be into. Let's just be thankful he found such great friends so quickly."

"Very true," he said. But unknown to them, their son and his new friends carried a secret that meant the difference between having a future with their only child.

The Kadic campus was active and alive as Jace passed through the gates of the Academy; a feeling that seemed rather odd to him considering the events that transpired the week before. Despite that, the new Lyoko Warriors needed to make sure that they kept a low profile with their fellow classmates and teachers, which meant keeping details of X.A.N.A. attacks completely unknown.

As he walked to the center of campus, the boy got an odd feeling that he was being watched, more as a result of being paranoid due to the nightmare he had. Just as he had this thought, he quickly turned around to see Adele preparing to surprise him.

"Whoa! How did you know I was coming up behind you?" she asked caught off guard by his awareness.

Slightly laughing, he replied, "I didn't. But after that nightmare last night, I can't help but look behind me when I'm away from home.

"Though I gotta say," he continued. "I'd much rather it be you trying to surprise me than X.A.N.A."

"Ditto," replied Adele walking over to her beloved. "I still can't believe we both had a simliar nightmare."

"Me either," said Jace. "What scares me, is that either scenario could happen to us."

Looking a little scared, Adele wrapped her arms around Jace and said, "I know. I mean, I know we wont die if we get de-virtualized. But, just the thought of you disappearing scares me."

Noticing her look of worry, Jace held her tightly and looked into her deep blue eyes saying, "Don't worry. The way I see it, when we're fighting together, we're stronger. That means we can look out for each other when we go up against X.A.N.A.

"Not only that," he continued. "But through our connection to God, we can stand up to the challenge."

In that moment, Adele's fears were subsided a bit more. But something still came to her mind that concerned her…

"Still," she said. "Promise me one thing…"

Curious, Jace said, "Name it."

"If we have to go to Lyoko…" she said. "… let's always go together."

In his heart, he knew he didn't have to make a formal promise to her to keep that request. But knowing how much the thought of being on Lyoko and fighting X.A.N.A. scared her, the boy acquiesced to her promise.

"I promise," he said with confidence.

Smiling, Adele said, "Remember, you seal a promise with a kiss…"

She didn't have to tell him twice, as her guardian Prince placed his lips to hers to complete their promise to each other.

"Aww…" said a familiar voice. "How did I know I'd find you two like that this morning?"

Quickly ending their kiss, the two turned around to see Yumiko walking with Oliver and Katie to meet them.

"Boy, you guys got here quick this time," said Adele recalling Yumiko's and Oliver's challenges of getting to school on time.

Proud of himself, Oliver said, "That's what happens when you have a battery-powered clock that your sister can't turn off."

"And who do you have to thank for giving you that clock?" asked Katie rather coy.

"Hmm," he pondered. "Could it be a pretty raven-haired angel whose name starts with a 'K?'"

Smiling, Katie said, "Sienna-haired actually. But you're 75% right."

Oliver frowned at not remembering his girlfriend's own hair color, but for being 75% right, Katie placed a quick peck to his cheek and took his hand in her own.

"Funny enough," said Katie. "Oliver wasn't the only one who decided to use a battery-powered clock. Yumiko did the same thing so Tristan couldn't shut it off."

"When Tristan saw me sitting at the table," said Yumiko. "He just looked at me with shock. I guess he thought I would be rushing down in a hurry."

Remembering that both were always at odds with their siblings, Jace suggested that this was only going to make things worse between each, to which both just simply laughed it off.

As they kept talking, Maya and Kevin came walking over hand in hand, and were soon joined by Carine and Tristan, both of whom couldn't help but slightly glare at their siblings.

Before they headed into class, Maya reminded them of the talk their parents gave them the weekend after the fight with X.A.N.A…

(Flashback)

"Listen to me kids," said Mr. Belpois as the young teens and their families (sans the parents of Jace and Katie). "Now that X.A.N.A. is back and running loose, there are some thing we need to go over with you."

"Like what Dad?" asked Adele curiously.

Clearing his throat, her father began by explaining that X.A.N.A. has the ability to manipulate objects, people, and even phenomena like weather. Because of that, he could attack literally anywhere, at any time.

"I can't stress this enough," he continued. "You kids need to stay alert and always watch what's happening around you."

"Not only that," interjected Mrs. Belpois. "You need to also keep in touch with each other as much as possible. If anything happens that's out of the ordinary, keep each other within reach by text or call."

Of course, them being teenagers, that wouldn't be too big of a challenge for them. But that didn't mean that they were not aware of the seriousness of what they were asking them.

"Also," said Mr. Stern. "Since you're going to be fighting a lot while you're on Lyoko, it wouldn't hurt to get you kids trained in some basic martial arts so you can fight better."

Surprised by his suggestion, the kids darted their heads at the direction of the Stern father.

"Are you serious dad?" asked Yumiko. Tristan appeared just as concerned, seeing as Kevin was the only one in their generation that knew martial arts through both their father and mother.

"You're father's right kids," affirmed Mrs. Stern. "You were lucky to hold your own on Lyoko like you did. But it's important that you each know how to fight, as well as out-run X.A.N.A. so that you don't get caught off-guard."

And a sobering thought it was, as the kids knew they were lucky indeed. With that thought in mind, the kids agreed to the idea of learning martial arts on a weekend basis with the Stern parents.

"Now kids," said Mr. Della Robbia remembering something else important. "I know I'm not the best one to hear this advice from, but just because X.A.N.A.'s is attacking and we're in this together, doesn't mean you can't just ignore your studies."

Shocked, the kids and even his fellow Lyoko Warriors turned their attention to the father of two.

"Odd, I'm shocked," said Mrs. Belpois.

"Yeah," added Mr. Stern. "After all, you more than anyone didn't treat school that importantly growing up."

Shrugging his shoulder, Mr. Della Robbia hesitantly said, "Well… yeah, I know. But still, thinking about how some of us struggled, I just don't want them to have the same attitude."

While it was shocking to hear him say something so far and away from his younger years, the former Lyoko Warriors knew he was 100% right, and reaffirmed to the kids that their schoolwork was to be taken just as seriously as the fight against X.A.N.A.

"One more thing kids, particularly Jace and Katie," said Mr. Belpois returning to his stern tone. "Should an attack occur when you're at home, under no circumstances are you to mention the existence of Lyoko or X.A.N.A., or your involvement in fighting him.

"I know it's tough," he continued. "And while we do have the ability to return to the past, it's important that this fight remains secret at all times. Eventually, when the fight is over, we'll find a way to let your parents know of everything. But I beg of you to please keep this secret."

Both felt slightly hesitant at first, specifically Jace with how much trust his parents put upon him in being honest. But after a few seconds of silence, both kids held their heads high and made the pact.

"Good," replied Mr. Belpois.

Looking at the worry on their faces, Mrs. Belpois said, "I know you kids weren't expecting to have all of this happen in your lives. We didn't know ourselves what we were doing at your age either.

"But know this," she continued. "We care about you. And it's because of that, that us fighting X.A.N.A. together will ultimately lead to a permanent end for him."

(End Flashback)

"Do you think we can really do this guys?" asked Carine. "I mean, dealing with school was hard enough. But now…"

"Now," continued Oliver. "This is even bigger."

Feeling just as uncertain, Jace and Adele contemplated the fear of X.A.N.A. taking over the world and wiping them both out like in their nightmare.

"It'll be okay guys," said Maya. "I know that was a lot to take in. But remember, we're in this together."

"She's right," affirmed Kevin. "As long as we have each others' backs, and we protect each other, whether on Lyoko or here at home, we can take on X.A.N.A. After all, we're being led by the ones who took him out in the first place."

Remembering that key detail, the gang came together and, after a prayer led by Kevin and Jace restored their sense of hope for the future, as each departed for their respective classes. Indeed, it was the beginning of a whole new routine…