Aelita walked along behind X.A.N.A in a daze. She hadn't remembered any of that. The others hadn't told her what happened either.

All I seem to be able to do is hurt them.

She shook her head. And now, what was she doing now?

"You have such potential Aelita. Beings like you and I, well, we are superior to say the least. We don't need others. They've surely given up on you anyway. Imagine what we could accomplish! The entire world would bow at our feet! With that much power, we wouldn't need anyone."

"No," Aelita's voice came out quietly and, at first, she hadn't recognized it as her own. "No, you're wrong. My friends would never give up on me." She felt as though it weren't her saying this. It had to be another Aelita, one much farther away. But her voice continued. "I need them as much as they need me. I would NEVER give up on them." Her voice started to rise and this time she was sure it was coming from her own mouth. "Power means nothing to me! I wouldn't trade anything for it. You, X.A.N.A, you may not know what it's like but, but I do."

"What makes you so sure they would want you back even if you did manage to return? How do you know they wouldn't turn their backs on you?" Aelita faltered a little. She kept her eyes fixed on the ground. He grinned at the sight. "You see, they've made you weak! It disgusts me. I on the other hand, could make you stronger my dear," each word dripped off his tongue with sweet venom,"Think of the possibilities!"

"All I'm hearing, is power and greed! I should trust you because you say so? Like I'd believe you wouldn't turn on me faster than your double edged tongue could spit lies. I'll tell you what, the day I give in to you, and turn my back on my friends, ha, well that'd be the day I die." Her hands lit up with their natural pink energy. A good natured smirk played on her lips. "That afternoon in the woods, that was the last time you will ever control me."

"Very well, I'll take you by force, princess."

XxXxXxXxXxX

"Did you guys feel that pulsation?" Yumi asked. Odd and Ulrich exchanged looks. "There, again!"

"We'll follow you," Ulrich assured. Yumi lead the way in a sprint and Ulrich followed close behind. Odd lagged far in the back. When he could no longer see them, he stopped. Something had been calling out to him. He could hear it clear as day calling his name. Odd may have been naive, but he wasn't stupid. He stayed wary and told himself not to get too comfortable, it could be a trap. Odd followed the sound cautiously. A sudden chill ran down his spine and he shivered. It felt as if something was very wrong although he couldn't imagine what considering all the previous events. That's when the vision came to him.

X.A.N.A threw Aelita against the wall. She lay unconcious and he picked her up. He walked to the edge of the platform and looked down at the digital sea below. Useless.

Odd started at the end of the vision. He tried to keep calm but his mind was racing with bad thoughts. The vision had only lasted a few seconds and gave away nothing as far as location. He ran his hands through his hair.

"Odd," that sweet voice called again,"come find me." It sounded like a siren song, but he had no choice. He gave in. He followed the voice helplessly wondering the whole time if maybe Ulrich and Yumi had found Aelita or the tower yet. A familiar, beautiful laugh filled the air. Odd took off in a sprint.

His lungs felt as if they were about to burst but he didn't stop. His legs wanted to give out, but he pushed on. Suddenly, the sounds stopped. It happened so abruptly Odd wanted to cry out in frustration. He stopped running and looked around. He felt as if he had been led deeper into the nothing that was Carthage. It was all in fact a trick to lead him astray from the path, and he fell for it. He'd wanted so badly to believe it wasn't. His actions couldn't have been in vain. But it seemed they were. The siren's song worked and Lyoko would be completely erased. How he doubted so easily.

A pink flash of light from the corner of his eye caught his attention. Before he could react, he found himself thrown across the floor.

"Odd!" And the voice he had followed, the one he'd been longing to hear since it'd dissappeared, rang through the air. "I knew you'd find me!" She ran up to him and got down on her knees. "I am so sorry." She pulled him into a tight embrace. He didn't even care to ask why. Odd relished in the moment. He inhaled, taking in her sweet scent. His arms found their way around her waist. She placed a light kiss on his lips.

"Aelita, I thought-"

"Nevermind that, we have to take down X.A.N.A and find that tower!" She pulled him up quickly. X.A.N.A's dark energy covered the sector. It began to glow red.

Warning! Deletion sequence at 98% completion.

"Aelita! Come out!" He cried. Odd took her hand. They ran in the opposite direction for the meantime. Avoiding X.A.N.A but looking for Yumi and Ulrich.

"Hold on." Aelita stopped Odd. Her hands came together as if she were about to pray. Blocks moved to create a path like staircase. They began their ascent.

When they'd finally made their way to the top, Aelita scanned the area. Odd couldn't take his eyes off Aelita. He was too afraid she might dissapear or run off again. "There!" she said. Odd followed her gaze. Yumi and Ulrich were making their way up on the opposite side. She ran to meet them but was stopped short.

"Thought you could avoid me did you?" A look of horror crossed odd's face. They had been found. Aelita's face couldn't have been more confident. Her hands lit up again. Odd pushed his emotions to the back seat and stood by her side.

"We've got your back Aelita, Odd!" they heard Ulrich shout from the other side.

"Well, now you all can go together!" He lunged towards Aelita who swiped a shield over herself. Odd jumped over her and shot laser arrows at him. Yumi threw her fans which hit him with dead on accuracy. Ulrich leapt into the air and slashed through him with his katana. It seemed as though he'd fallen, but the Lyoko warriors knew better.

"Pitiful." He stood and the ground shook violently. His arms lifted to which chunks of the sector did the same. He hurled them at the warriors who by luck dodged them. He called upon his loyal underlings who rushed to his aid.

The battlefield was an unfair advantage. All the odds were against them. They were greatly outnumbered. X.A.N.A had been far from through. Hordes of monsters surrounded them and he used his dark energy to strengthen them.

"This could all be over if you hand over the girl." They made no move. "Very well." His hands clenched and the once non moving monsters began to close in.

Aelita used as much of her energy as she could to defeat them but they kept coming in endless amounts. Alone, the four were powerless. As the others were distracted, X.A.N.A moved in on Aelita and threw a great amount of dark energy at her. She fell to the ground. He picked up her limp body and threw it at the wall for good measure. She became unconcious. He picked her up for what he thought would be the last time and carried her to the edge of the platform near the digital sea.

"Useless," he muttered. Just as he was about to drop her, Yumi's fan connected with his back. Odd shot laser arrows at him until he let go of her. Ulrich had already been on his way with super sprint and caught her. He brought her back then placed her in Odd's arms.

"She's useless to you now, don't you see warriors, I've won!"

Warning! Deletion sequence at 99% completion.

He gave a dark chuckle at his assumed accomplishment then stopped. They all laid their hands on Aelita's heart. Eyes closed, concentrating. He watched in awe as their strength took the form of pure energy and made its way into her.

She stood. Her head lifted and a determined smile graced her face.

"This ends now." He gasped in horror as Aelita brought her hands up in their usual prayer like stance. Her pink energy consumed the whole sector. The monsters were wiped out immediately. X.A.N.A was swallowed by her energy. She listened to his cry of agony rip through the air like her energy ripped through him. The darkness melted and the power escaped. The sector returned to normal.

The four watched as dazzling light rained down. A tower built itself in the middle of the floor. Aelita wasted no time. She walked in and smiled at the familiar sight. The rings lit up as she stepped on each one. In the center, she hovered to the second platform. A screen appeared and she placed her hand on it. It prompted a password. She typed in one word: Zero.

The data surrounding her in the tower started to fall. She smiled, because she didn't know where the return trip would take them, or if X.A.N.A had been defeated for sure. But she did know where she would be when it happened.

Her safe place was calling.

XxXxXxXxX

A/N: next chapter is the last. I can't believe it. Thanks to everyone who's been with me so far. It's almost over.

Disclaimer: I do not own Code Lyoko, but it is continuing. :)