The year is 2008, at Kadic Academy; a graduation ceremony was taking place, as the other graduates received their diplomas, the principal had called two other names to the stage. "Odd Della Robbia and Ulrich Stern. Please come forward." As he finished, a brown-haired and a blonde and purple haired kid whose hair was styled up in a spike came forward and received their diplomas. Odd had graduated with a 2.7 which was just barely enough to get into his university of choice. Ulrich on the other hand graduated with a 3.4. Ever since they shut down the supercomputer, Ulrich had been working much harder on his class work; he was even inducted into the school's honor roll. In the first row they noticed their friends, who had graduated the year before applauding them. (A/N: Jeremy and Aelita are like super smart so of course there going to have had skipped a grade).

"Here's to half our school career defending the world from XANA." Odd said as he lifted his glass of congratulatory wine.

"And here's to actually doing work for the second half." Ulrich said "So, where are you guy's going for college?"

"Oh, Aelita and I got accepted into the Pierre and Marie Curie University in Paris." Jeremy said as he drank the rest of his wine. "What about you, Ulrich? Aren't you going to the same university as Yumi and William?"

"Of course." Odd said "Everyone knows Ulrich would boost his grades up if it meant he could spend more of his school time with his beloved Yumi."

"Shut up, Odd." Ulrich said. However, he was right; Ulrich did want to spend college with the girl he had been dating ever since they destroyed XANA and shut the supercomputer down. "I can't wait to see you, Yumes." He whispered to her.

"Neither can I, Ulrich." She whispered back as they kissed

"You won't be seeing anyone for quite a while, I'm afraid." Said a voice behind them. Ulrich turned around and immediately recognized the figure standing behind him.

"Dad?" Ulrich said "This wouldn't have anything to do with my "good for nothing" friends, wouldn't it?"

"No son," His father said "It's not what I want; it's what your country wants."

"What do you mean?" He handed him a letter; it had the seal of the French government.

"You've been drafted into the army."

"What?" Ulrich shouted, he couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"Ulrich, what's wrong?" Yumi asked

"I got drafted."

"I don't believe it."

"I'm sorry, Yumi. I guess I won't be seeing you in college for a while or after all."

"All right!" Odd shouted

"'All right'?" Ulrich asked

"Yeah, I got drafted, too." Odd said

The next day, a bus came to pick up Odd and Ulrich. Ulrich and Yumi shared a tearful embrace before getting on.

"Promise me one thing, Yumi." Ulrich said "Promise me that no matter what happens you'll never leave me."

"Okay Ulrich, I promise" Yumi said

"I love you, Yumes." He said

"I love you too, Ulrich." She said as they both kissed for what they were afraid would be the last time. Ulrich then hopped on the bus. As it took off, Yumi stayed on the exact same spot until she was sure she couldn't see it anymore.

Odd and Ulrich finally arrived at the boot camp, heads shaven, and dressed in army fatigue. There they got in formation with the other members of their squadron. Just then, a highly decorated soldier came up in front of them.

"A-ten-hut!" he shouted as they stood in single file "I am Lieutenant Calvin, you're commanding officer! While you are here you will address me as "Sir" or "Lieutenant". Do I make myself clear?" He said in Ulrich's face.

"Yes, sir." Ulrich said quietly

"Do I make myself clear!" Lieutenant Calvin shouted

"You've made yourself clear, Sir!" Ulrich shouted in military style

"While you are here, I promise you that these next three weeks will be the most grueling weeks of your life, then after that you will go out into the battle field where I promise you, it will get more grueling! Do I make myself clear?"

"Sir, yes Sir!" The entire squadron, minus Odd, said in unison.

"You there!" he shouted pointing to Odd

"Me?" Odd said

"Drop down and give me 50!"

When he finished, they immediately ran off to begin their training. One thing Lieutenant Calvin noticed was two of his privates, Ulrich and Odd, they acted as though they had already been at war with another enemy; they exceeded the rest of the squadron by so much. When their training was finished, Lieutenant Calvin called them over.

"STERN, DELLA ROBBIA! FRONT AND CENTER!"

"What is it, Sir!" they shouted in unison

"You two are amazing! I've never seen soldiers like you. How is it that you are so well trained?"

"That depends" Odd said "Do you know Jim Morales?"

"Of course." Lieutenant Calvin said "My full name is Calvin Morales."

"So you are related to Jim." Ulrich said

"Well, I'd rather not talk about it." Lieutenant Calvin said

"Now come with me."

"Where are we going?" Odd asked

"Afghanistan." Calvin said "That's where the real battle is."

"What?" Ulrich said "I'm not giving my life fighting in Afghanistan!"

"Too bad." Calvin said "It's already been arranged."

Within the net few days, Ulrich and Odd were officially fighting in enemy territory in Afghanistan. Before their next day in battle, Ulrich was writing Yumi a letter.

Dear Yumi,

How are you doing in college? As for me and Odd, we are doing just fine. We got shipped to Afghanistan because of our exceptionally good fighting skills; I guess I got Lyoko to thank for that. We have been fighting for 4 days and yet I still see no progress, if you ask me; I think this war is rather pointless. Who are we really fighting? And what will our victory have gained? Those 2,000 some people in New York will still be dead. But this isn't about my opinions; this is about me telling you how my life in the battlefield is doing. I love you so much and I miss you every day.

Warm Regards,

Ulrich.

Ulrich then set down his stationary, sent his letter, and headed of to the battlefield. Ulrich, Odd, and Calvin were doing a superb job holding off the enemy. They were about to capture one of their major bases. However, Odd noticed a grenade flying towards Ulrich and Calvin. He immediately ran up to them.

"Della Robbia, what are you doing?" Calvin said "Get back into position!"

Odd ignored him, as he took his helmet off and caught the grenade in it; he then placed his body over his helmet to shield the blast.

"Odd, what are you doing?" Ulrich shouted

"Don't worry about me, save yourselves!"

"But Odd…"

"No 'buts' now g…" he said as he was interrupted by the grenade going off in his helmet which blasted him 20 feet.

"Odd! NOOOO!" Ulrich said as he ran to his friend.

"Stern, get back here, I order you… auuugh!" He said as another grenade blew at his feet.

"Grab my hand, Lieutenant!" Ulrich said with Odd on his soldiers.

"No, it's too late for me."

"I'm not leaving you behind, now grab my hand!" Calvin did just that, and Ulrich ran back to his base carrying both an unconscious Odd and an immobile Calvin. Back in the infirmary, the doctor came back with news about Odd

"Mr. Stern?" the doctor spoke "I have some news about you're friends condition."

"Is he going to be okay?" Ulrich said

"The odds of him surviving as of now are very slim."

"Don't say that. Please don't say that."

"I'm sorry; I wish I had better news. We'll do everything we can, right now; you just try and get some sleep."

Ulrich immediately walked away, crying softly with each step. Calvin, who had his leg amputated due to the blast, was hobbling right behind him. For three days, Ulrich was distraught over his friend's imminent death, if only there was anything he could have done. Calvin tried his best to comfort him, but to no avail. However, the very next day the doctor came bursting into Ulrich's room.

"Ulrich Stern?" the doctor asked

"Yes?"

"It's about Odd, he's recovering."

"What? Are you serious?"

"Yes, he wants to see you right now!"

"Alright, I'm coming." Ulrich said as he ran to the infirmary. In one of the beds, he had noticed Odd, heavily bandaged and bleeding.

"Ulrich, is that you?"

"Odd? Oh thank God you're alive!"

"Yeah, why did you save me?"

"I wasn't going to leave you behind just like that." Ulrich said "You're my partner and more importantly you're my friend."

"Hey." Calvin said "I hate to break up the reunion, but I just got a letter from the French Parliament."

"What does it say?" Ulrich asked

"You've both been selected to receive the Légion d'honneur." (A/N: France's equivalent to the Medal of Honor)

Yeah, sorry these 2 chapters had to be flashback stories. I'm kind of on a creative slump. I mean, I have the ideas planned out, but I don't know what order to put them or how to tell them without making the story too confusing. And next week, I'll be at Colorado visiting family, so don't expect updates as often until mid-July. Thank you for your time.