"No!" William's scream echoed throughout the trees as the silver-haired girl's eyes closed and she fell to her knees. Everyone looked towards her as she collapsed into his amethyst colored arms. They all watched as she slowly faded, leaving his arms vacant. Anguish swirled in his eyes and his tail dragged along the grass as he sauntered towards them.
"Odd, it's alright. At least you gave her back her memory." Yumi gave the feline a warm smile and he tried to return it but failed. Odd opened his mouth to reply to the Geisha but was interrupted by the wailing sounds coming from the boy next to them. Their attention was brought to him as William held his head and fell to his knees, his mouth opened and his face painted in pain. They watched as black smoke evaporated from his body and slid off the edges. Ulrich peered over the edge and watched as it disappeared before hitting the waters below. Yumi reached towards the boy as he fell into her arms, fading away just as Lily did moments ago.
"What just happened?" Ulrich asked, looking towards the sky for answers.
"William is no longer under X.A.N.A's control, I'm bringing you all back this is too weird." Jeremie materialized his friends, even William. They waited by the scanners and caught the dark haired boy as he fell from the metal doors.
"Um, Jeremie, where's Lily?" Odd asked, worry clinging to his words as he looked around for her silver hair.
"I don't know, she's no where on Lyoko, the web or Earth." Jeremie continued to type faster and faster, numerous windows appearing before his eyes.
"What's going on?" William still held his head in his hands as he looked up at everyone.
"Welcome back to Earth, William. Do you remember anything?" Yumi was the first to speak to the boy and she knelt beside him.
"I remember everything that happened, all of it."
"Do you know why X.A.N.A released you from his control?"
"I'm not sure it was as if he died or something." Their eyes widened as the words left his mouth. As if he died...died.
"Wait, you don't think?" Yumi looked over her shoulder as they all registered her question.
"No, he can't be gone and neither can she!" Anger bubbled inside Odd's chest as tears threatened his eyes.
"Odd, William was just freed from X.A.N.A and Lily is nowhere to be found. I'm sorry." Ulrich put a hand on his friend's shoulder. The anger cascaded down Odd's cheeks and he balled his hands into fists, his entire body shaking.
"I'm sorry, Odd." Jeremie's voice echoed through the tiny room as he exited the elevator, his head down.
"Wait, Lily is gone?" William jumped to his feet, surprising everyone.
"You know Lily?" Aelita asked.
"Yes, she was created by X.A.N.A and I'm the one who named her."
"Well, our best guess right now is that her and X.A.N.A are gone." Jeremie's words formed a silence that created a sadness that clung to their chests and hearts. They all looked towards the scanners, hoping that a miracle would happen and Lily would appear just as she always did with a giant smile on her pale face. There would be a sparkle in her cardinal eyes and she would jump into Odd's arms. They would all share in her smiles and return to the school for a quick meal.
Aelita remembered how she spent sleepless nights helping Lily deal with the world and school work, laughing at how Lily always fell asleep during classes anyways. Aelita dreaded going back to her room, she feared the sadness that would ache as she gazed at the empty, unkept bed beside her. The closet would still hold dozens of different clothes, including Lily's prom dress. The walls would be decorated with sketches and portraits that Odd drew of her and their friends. Tears streaked down Aelita's cheeks as she wondered how she would ever face that lonely room again.
Yumi's face became red and swollen as she clutched onto Ulrich and cried. She remembered how Lily always had a smile, even when she was upset. Lily was always innocent and trusting of everyone around her. Lily always laughed and enjoyed herself. She always wanted to learn more about the world and it always surprised her. Yumi remembered Lily's face when she put on her prom dress and danced around the room as if compelled by magic. The couple crumbled to the floor, Ulrich holding Yumi in his arms as they both shed tears.
Jeremie walked over to the pinkette and wrapped his arms around her shaking form. His eyes hiding behind his glasses. She could tell they were red and puffy and he sniffled every few seconds. Jeremie wasn't as close to the silverette like everyone else was and that tugged at his emotions the most. He was always to busy on his computer, trying to destroy Lyoko and save Aelita. He found himself to preoccupied to help Lily with her homework and always sent her away to find Aelita or someone else. He never took the time to watch the girl and talk with her about her feelings, he was just to busy staying away from her.
Odd was a complete mess on the inside. On the outside he looked stiff, unmoving and hardly breathing. Tears streaked and dried on his cheeks and his breath hitched in his throat every few seconds. His mind kept racing through all the talks he had with the girl and how he could always make her laugh or blush. He remembered how she smelled of lilacs the night he kissed her cheek when she wanted to leave. He remembered how horrible he felt when he found out about him ruining her first prom. Odd clung to the memory of holding Lily in his arms and rocking with her back and forth while humming, he liked how her hair glowed under the moonlight in the park while they danced. Odd remembered the way her smile created two dimples in her cheeks and made her eyes close half way and tear up from laughter. He noticed how her clothes would be baggy and camouflage her pale figure. He remembered the first time she met Kiwi and how she screamed and hid behind him. Or how Kiwi chased her around the room while the group laughed at her, it was until she started to cry did they finally tell her that the dog was harmless. He didn't know how he would face the school, Lyoko or his life without her beside him.
The small group huddled together for comfort as tears piled on the floor and soaked through their clothing.
"It just can't be. She cannot be gone." Yumi whispered, her voice choking on the words.
"Is there anyway we can get her back, Jeremie?" Aelita asked, not being strong enough to say Lily's name.
"I have no idea and even if there was a slim chance...it-its gone." They all huddled closer together until Odd broke the embrace by getting to his feet and getting on the elevator.
"Odd, where are you going?" Yumi asked, wiping her tears away with the back of her hand.
"I...I just want to be alone right now, I'll see you all tomorrow." Odd pressed the button and went to the top of the factory. The wind whipped his clothes and hair around as he sat on the edge of the metal building, overlooking the vast ocean. The blue waves rocked against the rocks below as foam crawled onto the sand. "Please Lily, you have to come back. I need you." he whispered to himself while bringing his knees towards his chest and resting his head on them. His blonde hair whipped wildly even with all the hair gel he used to keep in place as more tears fell from his eyes.
