Author's Note: Yay! We finally get into the good stuff after this I added an image to this story because this is how I think Michael would look. Ironic that he is with a wolf right? But yay! Let me know what you guys think of the character now. Onto the story!

Chapter 4: Tension, Skills, and Programs.

Michael had been quite distant from Aelita over the last few days and Aelita had done the same. They would go as far as to work separately on the program with Jeremie. Although Michael spent the majority of the time on the program. They would only switch if they tagged each other out. While Jeremie did ask, Michael and Aelita told him they weren't fighting but something personal happened. Even during the XANA attacks, they would only have brief communications. And needlessly to say Michael had been getting the job quick.

During one of the missions with a XANA attack, Michael had quickly taken out two mega tanks and 4 blocks in an instant. Jeremie did warn him though he was close to being de-virtualized but he simply walked into the tower without the rest of the group. And Aelita would do the same with Michael.

It wasn't saying that they were mad at each other, rather they needed space. Although both thoughts about the possibility of being human, Michael's pain was a little worse as he was shown he no longer had a family in his new life. So when Jeremie and Michael were working on the program, things got weird.

"So how are things with Aelita?" Jeremie asked.

ERROR! ERROR! ERROR!

"Fine and dandy." Michael simply replied with no emotion in his voice.

"Did you two-" Jeremie didn't even finish his statement that time as more error messages popped up on his screen. With that note, he decided to leave it at that for a while. Although he wanted to make sure that Aelita was okay, he couldn't really do that until the program was actually finished. Thankfully his friends had already thought of ways for Michael and Aelita to attend their academy. Yumi was convincing her parents to have them stay with them, while Odd and Ulrich were getting their papers in order. Needless to say, Jeremie was doing his part by creating the program in the first place. Oh, how he wanted to touch and smell Aelita's hair. How he wanted to go on many adventures with her. How he wanted to-

"It's done," Michael said dragging Jeremie out of his thoughts.

"Huh?" Jeremie said looking at the green plus sign on his screen.

"It's done. The materialization program is completely operational. Let's see here..." While Michael still had conflicting thoughts on earth he was glad he did finish the program. It took them a while, but with three minds it went a lot quicker than he originally thought. However, he was disappointed with the result.

"Alright!" Jeremie yelled loudly as he shifted his communications link to the Yumi telling her that the program was a success. Michael got up from his spot knowing that it was getting late for Jeremie and headed out the tower.

The mountain sector. Michael's second favorite sector next to the forest sector. A lot of open running room and so many fun jumps to make. Not to mention it was great for concentration. Michael quickly concentrated hard and heightened his senses to see that Aelita was currently meditating near another rock formation. Instead of running to tell her what happened, he figured it would be better for Jeremie to tell her the program was a success. So he did the next best thing. Michael began to move rocks with his windblast.

...

Aelita was currently thinking. She seemed to be doing that a lot these days. Ever since the little incident with Michael, Aelita couldn't help but feel distant from him. As if a part of her Lyoko world got a little smaller. She rarely saw him smile anymore and she hated it. Even in the last mission, he displayed truly raw power, however, he risked his own life points to do it. When he used Dragon Draw against some blocks a mega tank was firing in the path he would reappear. Yet he did it without hesitation and took the blow leaving him only 15 life points. He used the remainder of his points and fired off two powerful wind blasts knocking both mega tanks of leaving him with only 5 life points. Had he concentrated the blasts anymore who knows what would have happened?

Michael was always having fun and being ridiculous like Odd in a way. But, he was different. He considered all possibilities and would do anything for his friends, even if it meant his own safety. He was always walking in the front. And Aelita felt so useless. The only thing she could do was make some objects and deactivate towers. She stood up and noticed that she heard some clangs in the background. She decided to investigate as she felt no pulsations.

Aelita traveled across the mountain sector to where the tower and behind the tower, she saw Michael with several boulders around him. The boulders were about 6ft tall and in the epicenter, Michael stood. Currently, he had his Katana in hand and seemed to be training. He stood for a few moments before a vicious cry came from his blade and in an instant came across the rocks. However, only two of the rocks were even had cuts in them. The rest being unharmed or having very little effect.

"Damn! Much quicker and faster! I need some more power in my blade if I want to cut these things down." Michael panting and looking very fatigued. Aelita thought about approaching him but first wanted to check in on Jeremie. So Aelita entered the tower and as the center glowed she noticed that she was getting a call.

"Hello? Jeremie?" Aelita said as she saw all the gang was present. Well except Michael…

"Aelita. Hey, I have some good news for you!"

"Okay! What's the good news then?" Aelita asking curiously.

"Aelita. I don't know how to tell you this, but we're waiting for you guys here!" Jeremie couldn't wait to say that. It was as if a giant weight was lifted.

"Really?!" Aelita couldn't believe it. She would finally be on earth!

"Really!" The entire gang announced.

"The materialization program works?" Aelita exclaimed. She thought it would be weeks and weeks before that the program was finished.

"Yeah, it's all right here!" Jeremie held the disk up. "You wouldn't believe how long it took Michael and me to finish last night! It was really complicated! Michael said that De-fragmenting the inertial matrix wasn't good enough, so he restarted all the code and data-"

"Time out Einstein," Odd said. Jeremie looked annoyed as Ulrich faked a yawn and Aelita looked a little surprised.

"Michael? He did all of that? How long did it take him?" Aelita now wondering exactly how long he had been working.

"Hm… Well, he told me a few days ago that we needed to restart the code and data. He told me he would contact me once he had the initial testing done. He contacted me just last night to check so…"

"A FEW DAYS?" Aelita and Jeremie exclaimed. That couldn't be possible, right?

"Whoa whoa whoa. Explain so we non-geeks would understand." Odd now trying to calm the two down.

"Well Odd, the materialization program is a super complex program. One wrong move and it screws up the entire thing, it could take hours, days, weeks, to solve-"

"Okay! I thought I said we nongeeks would understand!" Odd now yelling.

"Basically, Michael has been working non-stop for these last few days and finished the program all on his own." Oh, how it seemed for quiet before the screams.

"NO WAY!" The rest of the group now yelling. The whole group couldn't believe that Michael spent that long without even rest or a break doing that. They seemed in disbelief as to how he was able to work on it for that long.

"Hmph! Hmph!" Jeremie grunting to get everyone's attention. "Anyways, I first need to run the program in the supercalculateur first. Then, we need Aelita and Michael to get to a tower in the forest sector so that way they can make the jump to our world in one of the scanners."

"I will see you guys later. I am going to tell Michael about the program. See you later my friends." Aelita said with a two hand salute.

"Okay. We will be six for dinner tonight." Jeremie signed off before encountering a wild Jim in the hallway.

Michael was exhausted. He had been working non-stop on the materialization program, and he now was trying to upgrade his Dragon Draw. He had been at this technique for hours and hours it seemed. The best he got was two rocks that were all scratched and the rest barely any damage. But he continued to try… after a short break. He was currently sitting on one of the rocks mediating trying to recover his strength. However, he felt a presence near. But he chose to ignore it. Which was a mistake.

"I know you can sense me, Michael," Aelita said with her arms crossed. Michael sighed and jumped off his rock formation.

"Oh did the gang give you the good news?" Michael trying to sound surprised and happy.

"Don't lie to me!" Aelita shouted and Michael cringed a little. "I know for a fact that you have been working on this program non-stop lately!"

"It's not completely my fault you know. You were the one who decided the tag system. I didn't tag you because I wanted to finish it." Michael trying to have a reasoning voice.

"But why?" Aelita wondered. "Why go through all that effort when you could have easily asked for mine?"

"Because I need answers!" That single statement shook the entire mountain region. Aelita simply stared at Michael not knowing what to say. "That program is allowing us to travel back to earth. Which means that somewhere in that program got us here. I thought maybe by looking I could find similarities. But it was too many variables involved with the program. Nevertheless, I was able to complete the program. Before I realized it had been a few days. Honestly, I thought I was only in there for a few hours until I decided to stretch and stand up. The stiffness made it apparent." In truth, Michael was only seeing number and equations through his head when he was visiting the program. He had no memory of it, but it just seemed to work."Come on. I know we need to get to the forest sector."

While Aelita wanted to argue with him, she complied and they both made the jump from inside the tower. They both walked out of the tower into the forest sector.

"Where it all began. Ironic that we came back here." Michael said as he looked around. Aelita said nothing and they continued along the path. As they made their way to the tower an obstacle stopped them.

THUMP! "Seriously? Now of all times?" Michael groaned to himself.

"Oh no…" Aelita said at the tree formation. They quickly spotted the five blocks defending the tower that was now activated. "I am going to contact Jeremie."

"Good plan. The faster we can get them here, the less time that XANA has to plot something. IN the meantime, though, I am going to relieve some much-needed stress." Michael ran off leaving Aelita alone.

Michael sprinted up to the two blocks and pulled a successful dragon draw. He was going towards the other three however, he was stopped when the three blocks shot their ice beams at the ground.

'XANA's monsters are evolving? That must be the answer! Before they were helpless against this. But it doesn't mean I can't do things the old fashion way!' Michael quickly avoided the ice and charged his fist with energy. The blocks began to fire and Michael got hit with one of the lasers and got blown back a little. He decided that range would be better.

"Take this!" Michael charged his fist to almost max and fired a powerful wind blast. Two blocks knocked off into the digital void while the third continued firing. He deflected the lasers coming towards him and finally threw his sword into the last block before exploding.

"And that's that." Michael ran to his sword and picked it up.

"AH!" Aelita yelled and Michael looked over to see the Scyphozoa now trying to attach itself to Aelita.

"Damn!" Michael ran over to Aelita but he knew that he wouldn't be able to cut all the tentacles quick enough. The only thing that would work was the Dragon Draw but he would have to not hit Aelita… "I am going for it!" Michael hand on sword began to imagine all of the rocks when he tried cutting them last time. 'Sharp as my blade! My resolve!' Michael began to spin and right after carefully aiming around Aelita he began his technique.

"Dragon dance!" Michael cried as blade cried and began making cuts 360 degrees over. The rotation of Michael spinning made this technique even more lethal. The Scyphozoa tentacles were cut and began its retreat as Michael grabbed Aelita.

"Aelita! You okay?" Michael now over here carrying her bridal style to the tower. She didn't respond as she was still unconscious. When they got into the tower Michael set her down on the center circle and waited until Jeremie would contact him.

"Hey, sorry guys! We came as fast as we could! How are things on your end?"

"It's not great. I destroyed some of the blocks but Aelita was left alone. The Scyphozoa managed to grab her and I managed to defeat it quickly." Michael could practically hear how stupid he was. He shouldn't have left her at all. Jeremie was about to say something, when Yumi signaled now, wasn't the time.

"They are heading to the scanners. In the meantime try and get Aelita safe to the tower. I am going to start the program for getting you two here safely." Jeremie said as he put in the program.

'I am so stupid. I am supposed to be able to work out things like nobodies business. Then all of a sudden my brain just stops working. I need to pull myself together.' Aelita began to stagger and wake up. 'Right now the best thing I can do is protect her and the tower.'

"What happened?" Aelita said as she began to get up.

"I was a fool and left you behind," Michael said without looking at her. "I am glad that you are okay." He said in a less cold tone. Aelita looked a little shocked before having a smile on her face.

"Bad news! I accidently switched CD drives with Odd's stupid music video! I need to go back to my room!"

"Okay, Jeremie but hurry man!" Michael replied. The two were sitting around waiting for the others and the silence was apparent. It was quiet for a while before Aelita began to say something.

"Michael… I-"

"Hey, you two!" Odd said in a dramatic fashion. Michael simply stood up and looked at Aelita with a knowing look.

"What took you guys so long? And Odd, please don't make a CD video next to the materialization program next time okay?"

"HEY! It was a good video okay! Break break breakdance…" Odd began singing to himself.

"On another note, Jeremie said you actually finished the program all on your own. How did that happen?" Yumi now ignoring Odd's singing. If that's what you call it.

"Honestly, I have no idea. The numbers just came to me and before I knew it I had finished it. I hadn't even noticed it had been three days until after I knew it worked." Michael looked at the group without flinching.

"You are insane man." Ulrich now shaking his head.

"Hey, I take offense. If I am insane then what is the definition of Odd?" That got everyone in the group laughing except for Odd.
"But you have to admit that you have been acting a little crazy lately. Even you Aelita." Odd now having a somewhat serious voice. Michael and Aelita cringed a little, while Ulrich and Yumi agreed.

"During that last mission, Michael insisted on going alone. And Aelita didn't help by saying let him do what he wants." Yumi now recalling that mission.

"Is there something you want to tell us?" Ulrich now having his arms across his chest.

"Ha…" Michael sighed out. "I promise that we will explain everything once we are on earth. Not to change the subject, but Jeremie has been gone for almost 45 minutes now."

"Don't be such a worry wort! I am sure that Einstein is fine!"

THUMP! Michael gripped his chest. "I beg to differ. We got company." Michael now looking at the entrance of the tower. All of a sudden the tower began to shake. "Aelita stay in-"

"NO! I am coming with you guys." Aelita looked very hurt and while Michael would want to disagree, he wouldn't argue now.

"Come on then." Aelita nodded and the group saw that there were three Mega Tanks trying to attack the tower.

"Of course!" Michael hit his head. "Guys! We need to protect the tower no matter what! If the tower is destroyed, then it's goodbye for our ticket to earth!"

The group looked in shock before then looking back at the three Mega tanks. One was facing the tower straight one while the other two could hit it from its sides. The one in the middle fired straight as the group dodged and saw the tower get hit by the blast.

"Okay… So how are we supposed to protect this thing?" Ulrich now wondering what exactly they were going to do.

"I have an idea. Michael and Odd can deal with one, while Ulrich and Yumi deal with another one. Leave the last one to me." Aelita pointed out.

"Aelita! That's just too crazy! You can't-" Yumi was interrupted by Michael who held a hand up. He knew that this would come eventually. So he wanted to check how ready she was. Michael towered over her and asked in a voice that showed no sign of pity.

"How long?" Michael now looking Aelita in the eyes for the first time since their little fight. "How long can you give us?"

"Three barriers. That's the most I have been able to produce." Aelita grinned. Just like Michael had been trying to upgrade his dragon draw, Aelita spent a lot of time on her creativity. Through a lot of thinking and long sessions, she was able to find that she could now produce three tall red barriers.

"That's more than enough. I agree with Aelita. These tanks are hard to deal with and I would rather save my wind blasts." Michael looked around and they had their mouths open. Well… Almost everyone.

"Early bird catches the worm! Geronimo!" Odd now sprinting to the Mega tank down the middle. Michael followed Katana in hand and Aelita sprinted to the one on their left.

"You are all crazy… Come on Ulrich!" Yumi sprinted to the right with a smile on her face while Ulrich followed her suit.

With the battle in the middle, Odd and Michael were able to surround and immobilize the Mega tanks. Each time it would open its shell to fire, Michael would charge a windblast in his hand. Because the Mega Tank learned what it was it would revert back to its shell and Michael would dispel the energy. Although Michael would lose some points, it made up for it in terms of the time they were able to buy.

On the right-hand side, Ulrich and Yumi sort of had the same strategy. The Mega tank would try for a blast and Yumi would try to throw her fans at the tank before it hid again. Then when it tried to roll around, Ulrich used a triangulate to keep it in place for a few seconds before it blasted a clone. The remaining two tried to keep their distance.

The left-hand side wasn't differing too much from the other sides. Try as it might, the Mega tank couldn't break through the barrier that Aelita was able to produce. The tank kept firing and the wall was beginning to weaken, however, Aelita used her song yet again to make the second barrier behind the first. When the tank got through the first, the second barrier was completely fresh.

"Everyone! How is it going?" Jeremie asked on the mic.

"Well, it's about time! What happened to you?" Michael yelled as the Mega tank was charging again. "Dragon dance!" Michael began spinning and sword glowed. Before he could hit the tank went back in its shell. But it didn't fire again and that's all that mattered. The several scratches were made on the tank, but it was still kicking. The group looked exhausted, though. Michael had the most life points at 40, but the other three had around 20. Aelita still had 100, but it wasn't going well as the second barrier was destroyed.

"It's a long story. But I got the program now! I am launching it." Jeremie put the Cd in and it began running.

Eventually, the middle tank and the right mega tanks were destroyed. But the third barrier was shattering as Aelita didn't look like she had enough energy to hold the third one. When the Mega tank fired the barrier was shattered and Aelita was in the line of fire. The tank charged began to charge a blast.

"Laser arrows!"

"YAH!"

"GO!"

The three warriors fired arrows, fans, and a windblast to completely obliterate the remaining Mega tank.

"What were you thinking idiot!?" Michael put a fist onto Aelita head and it was so hard that there would have been a red spot where Michael hit her. "You exhausted yourself to the absolute limit there. If I didn't know any better I would say that you couldn't do three barriers until just now!"

"Hm… That sound familiar to me, though." Aelita had a little devilish tone to her voice. She smirked a little as the other group realized what she was trying to do.

"Yeah man… I could have sworn-"

"That someone here-"

"Did something like that not too long ago." Odd finished the statement and Michael looked confused.

"What are you talking about? Who has… Oh…" Michael now realizing what he said and what they were implying. They were all laughing as Michael knew that he had been a fool. "Alright… I am sorry for what I did for these last few weeks." Michael bowed to them in defeat.

"As funny as this is, the program is ready for you two." Jeremie now chiming in. "Aelita, Michael, step into the middle circle and I will bring you in."

"See you on the other side," Aelita said before going into the tower.

"I can't believe that I am going to earth." Michael's hands were trembling. In truth, Michael was scared of going to earth. What would he find? What did those memories mean? Who… Who was Michael?

"It's your turn, Michael." Jeremie now piercing his thoughts. Three arms pushed him closer to the tower and he looked to see that his friends were standing right there.

"Thanks you guys." Michael got a thumbs up from Odd as the other two waved their hands. Michael stepped onto the middle. 'That's right. No matter who I am. Right now, I am Michael, part of the Lyoko gang to stop XANA."

"Code: Earth." Michael began to see all of the flashes before him before he felt nothing. He felt that he was in a space with nothingness.

"Well done Michael." A voice echoed through space. A bright light shined in the darkness.

"! That voice!" Michael's eyes were shut and he couldn't open them.

"Go. Go to earth." And Michael disappeared from the space. "Go, y son. Protect Aelita."

The feeling went away from nothingness as he felt a hard cold surface on the ground. And then it became very bright, as the scanner began to open Michael opened his eyes to the group saw a silver-haired figure and with a very toned body similar to the one on Lyoko. Michael looked to see Jeremie, Yumi, Ulrich, and Odd. He then looked around and saw Aelita recovering from the jump to earth.

"We made it." Aelita having support from Yumi.

"Yeah. Earth." Michael began to stand with Ulrich. The two fist-bumped and began to celebrate.