Ok, time to finally update. I'd like to thank all my fans for being patient, and I promise you you won't be disappointed. The next story, set in Season 3, is all about Aelita and her first experience of...

Mother's Day pt.1

Aelita woke up, the sky outside still gray with pre-dawn light.
It was the start of the new year, and their final year at Kadic.
Everything seemed to be changing so much.
A new school after this year.
A new teacher arriving this year.
And Yumi...
Sighing she climbed out of bed and got ready for school.

"Hey guys!" Odd grinned, running up to their usual spot at the vending machine.
"The new teacher that's replacing Mrs. Hertz? I heard he's in Principal Delmas's office right now. Supposedly he's really strict and stuff, a real ogre!"
"I still can't believe that Mrs. Hertz left" Jeremie said, "I thought she'd stay here at least for another few years before retiring"
"Maybe she didn't have anything left to teach you" Odd grinned
"Ha ha Odd" Jeremie said sarcastically.
"Say, where's Ulrich?" Aelita asked, scanning the yard.
Odd seemed to deflate. "He's still in his room. After what happened with Yumi, well, he's just not taken it so well. I mean, it's not all that bad, but still..."
"We just need to give him some time" Jeremie said.
"And speaking of time" he said as the bell rang, "Time for us to go and meet the new teacher. And for once Odd, I hope you're wrong"

In the Science room everyone one was talking about the new teacher.
The colour of his hair, his height, how old he was, these were the questions flying to and fro between the kids. Except for Odd, Jeremie and Aelita, who were too busy staring and worrying at Ulrich sitting on his own, a sad look on his face.
"Ahem" Principal Delmas cleared his throat, standing in the doorway.
Like a thunderclap silence descended on the classroom, everyone quickly taking their seats, the suspense clear on all their faces, especially the ones craning to get the first look.
"Good Morning students" Mr Delmas said, walking up to the teacher's desk.
"Good Morning Principal Delmas" the kids choired.
"Now, as I'm certain you all know, today we welcome the teacher that will be taking Mrs Hertz's place in her absence. So, please give a warm welcome to our new facility member, Ms. Alexis Fauxe"
To the stunned surprise of everyone, in walked a tall, lean, trim figure, green eyes sparkling on her soft, heart shaped face ringed by long, slightly pink hair.
"Good morning kids, I'm Ms. Fauxe. Pleasure to meet you all"

"So, what did you think of the new teacher?" Jeremie asked as the gang sat outside during lunch. "Well, she didn't give us any homework, so she's OK in my books" Odd said. "What do you think Aelita?"
"Hm? What?" Aelita asked, deep in thought.
"What'd you think of the new teacher?" Odd asked.
"I think she was quite nice. But..."
"But what?"
"I, I don't know" Aelita said, staring into space. "There was just something... familiar about her"

"Ok guys, I'm off to the showers" Odd said, jumping up from Jeremie's bed.
"See you during dinner!"
"Odd"
"Yes Aelita?" Odd said, stopping in the half opened doorway.
"If you can, try and get Ulrich to come down too"
"I'll try Aelita, but with the way he's been lately, don't be too surprised if it's just lonesome ol' me" Odd said, before closing the door.
"You know, I'm really worried about Ulrich. How long do you think he's going to be like this?" Aelita asked Jeremie.
"I don't know Aelita" Jeremie said, busy on his computer, "But if he doesn't snap out of it soon, we'll have to do something"
"If only Yumi was still here" Aelita said sadly.
She sighed and stood up before heading towards the door.
"Hey Jeremie, I'm going to town for a while. Want me to bring you anything back?"
"Nah, I'm ok. Be back soon"
"Don't worry, I will" she smiled.

As Aelita walked down the hallway towards the doors she found her thoughts being dragged back to Ms. Fauxe. The more she thought about it, the more she felt like she knew her, like there was something connecting them...
A sudden crash snapped her out of her thoughts.
"Oh great..." someone sighed behind her.
Aelita turned around and saw Ms. Fauxe struggling with a large box filled with files and books, some of which where lying on the ground.
"Hi Ms. Fauxe, need some help?" she smiled, bending down to pick up the fallen paperwork.
"Aelita, your a lifesaver!" Ms. Fauxe smiled, maneuvering the box until she got a better grip on it. "Would you mind helping me carrying all this stuff to my car?"
"Sure, no problem" Aelita said.
Together they walked out into the sunset-lit schoolyard until they reached some parked cars. "Here we go" Ms. Fauxe said, pulling out a set of carkeys with an alarm box attached to it. She pressed the button, the car's lights flashed and the locks unlocked with a clack.
"Thanks Aelita, just dump it in the back" she said, dropping the box with a thump into the back of the car.
"Have a good night Miss!" Aelita said, and started to walk away.
As she got closer to the gate she glanced over her shoulder and saw Ms. Fauxe struggling with the keys. She looked tired, bedraggled.
She tried again to get the keys in, and sighed in exasperation as the key refused to enter. "Uh, Ms. Fauxe?"
She turned and saw Aelita standing next to her, smiling sheepishly.
"Need some more help?"

"I can't thank you enough Aelita" Ms. Fauxe said as she opened the door to her house, kicking it open as both her hands struggled to carry the box.
"I just moved in here, and certainly wasn't expecting Mrs. Hertz to have so much information and lessons to go through"
Aelita half-listened, staring instead at the interior of her teacher's house.
The walls were a soft blue-green colour, on the walls were some mixed paintings: coal drawings, brushstrokes, landscapes. The furniture in the living room a dark chestnut brown with an matching table set before them.
An curiously enough, a small toy fairy with soft white butterfly wings was sitting on one of the chairs. And it looked a lot like...
"And for your hard work... TA-DA!"
"Oh, thanks Miss" Aelita said, taking the glass of juice from her.
"Please, call me Alexis. Come take a seat" she smiled, moving towards the living room.
"So Aelita, what do you think of my house?" she asked, sitting down next to the fairy.
"It's very nice. But that doll.."
"Oh, you mean Fèe here? I've had her since I was a little girl. Here" Alexis said, and offered Aelita the doll.
Aelita held the soft, light doll in her hands, and again felt a sensation like deja vu.
"I've got just like this. Well, it's actually more like a elf, and he's called Mr Puck"
"Cute name. Doesn't it mean 'Goblin'?"
"That's right" Aelita smiled, "How'd you know?"
"I used to study languages in University. Before that I grew up here, and even went to school at Kadic. Before that though I used to live with my parents in the mountains"
"That's so spooky. I used to live in the mountains too" Aelita said, wide eyed.
For a few hours they sat and talked, eating dinner they made together before Aelita suddenly realised what time it was.
"Oh no! I've got to get back to Kadic, otherwise Jeremie'll be so worried!"
"If you want you could stay here for the night" Alexis said.
"Thanks, but I'd better get back" Aelita said, standing up.
"At least let me take you back" Alexis said, grabbing her keys.
As they left Aelita felt a warm glow in her chest, a deep feeling of happiness.
And at Alexis's house, a dark shadow surged out of the wall socket, encircled the fairy doll before disappearing back the way it came.