I have to lie low. This place is unfamiliar to me. I wish they were here to help me. But they are just figments of my imagination, wisps of a dream. They can't be real. Can They…?

(A week later)

Ulrich, Odd, Yumi, Aelita and Jeremy were sitting in the front row of the assembly. Anya was a few seats down, all alone. She had finally ditched her crowd of admirers, and was staring straight ahead, ignoring the gang. Mr. Delmas walked onto the stage.

"I am pleased to announce the addition of a new class to Kadic Academy," he announced over the microphone. "Starting today, we will be introducing a fencing class here at Kadic." Cheers erupted from all around, much of which were coming from Ulrich and William. Every since the shut-down of Lyoko, they had been missing their swords. "Now, has any of you had any experience in the area of swords? Come on up, now , don't be shy."

Ulrich and William walked up onto the stage. William spoke into the microphone first. "I've had some experience fighting with a broadsword," he admitted, looking a little embarrassed to be up there. He passed the microphone to Ulrich.

"I've fought with a rapier, and two rapiers before," stated Ulrich, stammering a bit. He passed it to the third and last person, who had been standing on the sidelines, unnoticed to anyone.

The last person was Anya. "I-have-fought-with-man-y-dif-er-ent-kinds-of-swords-since-I-was-three," she stated slowly, carefully pronouncing each unfamiliar word as it fell upon her tongue. Whispers broke among the crowd.

"Well now, it seems our new student is learning French quite well. How are you picking this up so quickly?" Mr. Delmas asked Anya, asking the question that was on everyone's mind.

"Yu-mi-has-been-teach-ing-me." She answered, pointing at Yumi.

"Well, thank you Miss Ishiyama. Anyway, anyone who wishes to join our new fencing class, please follow Jim. You are dismissed."

As the gang followed Jim out to the soccer field, Odd turned to Yumi. "So, has Anya said anything about me?" he asked, grinning.

"No." Yumi shook her head. "I've talked to her about all the others, but every time I mention you, she shuts up and won't talk to me until I change the subject." Odd's eyes roved over to where Anya was walking. He caught her glancing at him, but she looked away, a sad look on her face.

"Oh, darn it all!" he exclaimed. He walked over to where Anya was, and grabbed her arm. "Anya look, I'm sorry. I thought it was funny you bowed to Einstein, and I didn't try to offend you. I'm sorry. Will you please forgive me?" Odd looked at her with pleading eyes.

Anya finally looked at him. "I-will-for-give-you," she said slowly. A confused expression crossed her face. "But-when-did-I-bow-to-Ein-stein? Ein-stein-is-dead, how-could-I-bow-to-him?"

Odd felt like laughing at the look on Anya's face, but decided against it, remembering the last incident. "Jeremy is Einstein," he explained.

Anya's confused look deepened. "How-is-Jer-e-my-Ein-stein? It-does-not-make-an-y-sense."

Now it was Odd's turn to grow a look, though his was exasperated. "Yumi! I kinda need you over here!"

Yumi sighed and walked over to them.

(This is after they've arrived at the soccer field)

"Alright, let's pair off," announced Jim. "Dunbar and River, over there. Stern and Della-Robbia, you're right here. And Ishiyama and Stones, you're over there. Grab a sword and start fighting!" Jim blew his whistle. Everyone but Anya ran over to a pile of swords and picked one out. Anya, however, took out a sword in a sheath from her backpack, and got prepared to battle.

Jim walked around, observing everyone. "Everyone stop!" he yelled, waving his arms around. "You have to watch this!" He turned to William and Anya, who were standing right next to him, swords in hand. "Dunbar and River, keep on fighting." They nodded and fell into ready positions, Anya shifting her weight from one foot to the other.

William started by swinging the broadsword at Anya's head. She quickly blocked it, spinning her sword in a wide arc above her head before it came to stop the blow. It made a nick in the broadsword, and impressive feat, as even Ulrich had not been able to dent it, and William stared at it incredulously, forgetting for a moment he was in the middle of a battle. Anya quickly took advantage of that fact, and lunged forward, swiping at William's torso. William leapt to the side, the tip barely missing his ribs, and swung the broadsword low, at Anya's feet. Anya jumped straight into the air, landed on the end of the sword for just a second, then bunched her legs and catapulted herself over William. She land gracefully on all fours, sword still in hand, and pointed the end of it at William's neck.

"落下 御主人 刀," ordered Anya, narrowing her eyes.

"She says to drop your sword," translated Yumi. "And I think you better do it."

William nodded and dropped his sword. Anya pulled her sword away from his neck and slid it into a simple brown sheath by her side.

"That-was-a-good-fight," she complimented William, shaking his hand. "I-do-not-get-man-y-of-those." William only nodded, staring at Anya in awe.

"That was amazing!" announced Jim, grabbing both of their shoulders. "We're going to start a fencing team, with me as your trainer. We'll blow everyone away if you fight like that. What'd you say, River, Dunbar?" He smiled toothily at both of them.

William nodded. "I've been kind of missing sword-fighting, so you got me in. I bet Ulrich'll want to join, too. Am I right?" Ulrich just nodded.

"Alright, Dunbar! Now what about you, River? I bet you won't say no! You were the best I'd ever seen since my days as a fencing coach!"

"You were a fencing coach, Jim?" asked Odd, waiting for the classic answer.

"I'd rather not talk about it…" Everyone laughed.

Anya, a confuse look on her face, seemed as if she were about to ask something, but decided against it and let her impassive look creep over her face again. She turned to Jim. "I-will-not."

"You won't join?" asked Jim incredulously. "But why?"

Anya narrowed her eyes, trying to find the right words in French. "I-fight-for-sur-viv-al." she explained, speaking slowly. "Not-for…fun. I-came-to-prac-tice-not-to-play-like-sill-y-kids. Swords-are-dang-er-ous-weap-ons, and-do-not-ev-er-for-get-that." With those parting words, Anya grabbed her sky blue bag, with her sword strapped to her side, and walked off, heading for the dormitories.

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I do not understand these humans. They are so different from the ones I used to know. I wish I could return to my former life, the one before the life I had before this one, but that is all distant memories mixed with dreams. Which is reality and which is not? That is the only question…