It was morning at breakfast when everyone noticed that Aelita was lost in her thoughts.
"Worried about Jeremie? I know he's been swamped in his work to get the Multi-Agent program together." Hope said.
"It's not just that…" Aelita said. "I just… have a premonition that this is all gonna end badly."
"Hey, we're gonna get rid of XANA." Yumi assured.
"She has a right to be worried about the worst case scenario, though." Kazuma said. "Now that were here, so close to defeating XANA with all of you guys who've been here now in the same place, Reality Check is definitely gonna make her move and throw her big finale on us."
"And throughout this whole thing, not one single sighting of the Lost Thieves." Simon said.
"Not true. We saw Flux." David said.
"Not really counting him." Simon said.
"Well, he is one of them now, so you're gonna have to deal with it." Sachiko said.
"Mmhm." Simon said.
"When it comes to the Lost Thieves, I'm not worried. They do what they wanna do, and they probably have a reason for staying back while we deal with all this stuff." Hope said.
"There's still that Enhanced Slayer guy." Saki said.
"Hmm… Yeah. We're gonna have to tell him about Catastrophe after this is over." Mayumi said.
"You're not worried? We are both Enhanced. If he goes after one of us…" Sachiko started.
"If it comes to that… I'm hoping that I'm the one he fights." Mayumi said.
"Mayumi, are you crazy?! Don't say something like that so casually!" David said.
"I know… But… Sachiko just got Skeith back. She is going to need her power in the future, I'm sure." Mayumi said. "But… I guess the main reason why I'm hoping for it is because I understand what he is going through. I mean, you all know how Necrozma practically forced my family at Ultra Megapolis to send me off to Tokyo. I was adopted, and I had a very good life since then. I got to have so many adventures with everyone. But at the same time, I know it's something that cannot be avoided. I think he would prefer if it was an actual Enhanced he is fighting."
"Catastrophe murdered the guy's family though." Al said.
"So what's more important? Fighting him so everyone can get away and sacrificing yourself, or reasoning with him and telling him about this guy?" Ulrich asked. "This Enhanced Slayer's gotta listen, right?"
"Senzaemon isn't totally committed to fighting. He is reasonable. During the war against the Gods, he did put aside his mission to help us." Hope said.
"So… I'm gonna do a bit of both." Mayumi said. "Thanks to my abilities, I can fight at long range, so I should be fine for a while."
"Well, whatever happens, this is gonna be one eventful day." Hope said, as right at that moment, Aeilta's cell phone rang.
"Jeremie?" Aelita answered. "What?"
"Yeah, it was a message from Franz Hopper. He wants every single one of us to meet him in Lyoko in 15 minutes." Jeremie said.
"Are you sure it's my father?" Aelita asked. "XANA has used this tactic before."
"No, the message came right as I finished with the Multi-Agent program. There's no way that's a coincidence." Jeremie pointed out.
"Alright, we're on our way." Simon said.
The group started to exit the cafeteria, Mark running into William on the way.
"Oh, hey guys. Is it time to finish this?" William asked.
"Yep." Mark answered. "I'd hate to ask you to jump back in, considering everything…"
"Are you kidding? After all that, I'm more motivated than ever." William said. "What can I do?"
"Mark, think carefully." Hope said. "XANA possessed William once. He for sure can do it again."
"I'm standing right here, and I get it." William said. "But XANA won't get me again. I'll be ready."
"Hmm…what's your opinion, Dave?" Mark asked David.
"I don't know… It's too risky. I mean, we can use all the manpower we can muster, considering what we're dealing with…" David said. "No offense, William, but it's kind of a risk."
"Oh…okay, yeah, I get it." William said, looking down. "Well, I'll be here if you need me, for some reason."
"William…don't worry. We'll win this for you." Mark promised as the group left for the factory.
While the Lyoko Warriors were at the Factory, the Hero Alliance were gathered at the Digimon Storage.
"Well… This is it. Is everyone ready?" David asked.
"Everybody's present and accounted for, and ready to delete something." Connor said.
"Yeah… Too bad most of you didn't get to experience much of Lyoko. But I guess it couldn't be helped." David said.
"Everything that has happened has been according to that girl's design." Cheetah said. "I bear no hatred towards her."
"Yeah, she's right. No hard feelings here." Esmeralda said. "This last battle will more than make up for it, I'm sure."
"Alright. Let's lay it down. This is the big one. Defeating XANA." Hope said. "The fact that Franz Hopper is appearing now means it's big. He's here to help us launch the multi-agent program that'll finally destroy XANA, via shutting down all his replikas all over the world. He's gonna need protection. Which is why we're heading to Lyoko along with the Warriors to protect him from everything thrown."
"Well you know XANA's not gonna stand by while Franz is out in the open. No doubt he's gonna send the Big Man." DW typed.
"Based on the data gathered from when Simon tried to halt him, the Kolossus has two targets. One on its head, and the other on its left arm." Sachiko said. "The only way to destroy the Kolossus is to hit both targets at the same time."
"So a simultaneous attack to his head and his arm." Legolia said.
"But XANA isn't the only one we need to focus on." Ethox said. "We also gotta watch out for the big surprise Little Miss Fangirl no doubt is planning to send our way, whatever it is."
"Right. We can't afford to let our guard down for a second." Mark said.
"With two simultaneous threats, I think it's best we tackle this on two separate fronts." Goblin Slayer said. "With so many of us here, we can divide into two groups. One goes to Lyoko to bring down the Kolossus and delete XANA, the other stays out in the real world and stays vigilant for Reality Check's incoming last surprise."
"Alright. I'll help hold down the fort out here along with anyone else who wants to stay." Ace said.
"Count us in to make sure our biggest fan doesn't go overboard." DW typed.
"We're not going to Lyoko?" Makoto asked.
"Cmon, who among us wants to throw themselves at the Kolossus only to get Instakilled?" DW typed. "Better we deal with the excitement junkie so she doesn't make things worse."
"You've got a point, Octo-face." Hitomi said. "Anybody else on Darksquad got any objections?"
"Nope." Ragna said.
"My beloved, The Einherjar, and I have no objections either." Laura said.
"Whoa, Laura. Are you making a move on me?" DW typed in joke.
"Very funny Dark Water." Laura smiled. "You know I'm referring to Alphio."
"Anyway, who else is staying out here?" DW typed.
"Wait…where's Mayumi?" Sachiko asked.
In a distant place, the Lost Thieves sat about as Mayumi walked right into their lair.
"Mayumi Kirishima…it's pretty bold of you to walk into a den of thieves." Arthur said.
"I guess I'm just bold by nature. I have a few things to discuss…with Senzaemon." Mayumi said.
"What business have you with me, filthy Kyoka sa reta?" he asked.
"I recall you saying that your family was killed by an Enhanced, correct? That's why you set out after them." Mayumi said. "After Catastrophe." she said as a number of the thieves froze.
"Catastrophe? You gotta be insane!" Flux said.
"Maybe. I guess David really is rubbing off on me." Mayumi said. "That's right. We know who his family's killer is. And what if I told you he is on the loose right now?"
"Flux, you didn't tell me Catastrophe was among the criminals you released." Arthur said in shock.
"I didn't even know he was even arrested or even moved." Flux said.
"I thought you were supposed to be a criminal mastermind. You could at least keep a profile on the people you try to recruit." Mayumi said.
"I would never attempt to recruit that maniac." Flux said.
"With good reason. When we were young, our father told us of the five prophets of doomsday. Beings that could destroy entire worlds: Ragnarok, Armageddon, Eschatology, Catastrophe and Apocalypse. We have always been told…never mess with these five…should you want to die young." Arthur said.
"I see. That is quite the surprise. I didn't think he'd be that dangerous. Now I see why he was considered the most dangerous criminal in the prison at the time." Mayumi said.
"Boss, if she came here tellin' us about him… you don't think that crazy girl Reality Check could bring him here if she found 'im, would she?" Francis asked.
"That…I mean…" Arthur trailed off, looking unusually worried. "If she found him, and if she could survive long enough to use her power on him, then…"
"Oh, it's definitely possible." Mayumi said. "I mean, she was able to bring in every single group that has been to Lyoko. And with the war against XANA reaching its climax, there's no doubt she'd have one last trick up her sleeve."
"Unfortunately she's correct. When I created her power, it was meant to delve into any time, reality, world, etc. She could definitely bring someone like Catastrophe here." Flux said.
"...Senzaemon, remember when I told you to show restraint against Enhanced unless they gave you a reason?" Arthur asked. "Forget that. I know it makes no difference to you, but if Catastrophe really is Reality Check's final surprise, then you have my permission to go all out."
Senzaemon was silent as he looked at both his blades before standing up. "Filthy Kyoka sa reta…take me…to the monster." he said.
"Right. Follow me." Mayumi said.
"On Lyoko, the groups there looked across the ice sector as they saw a large number of monsters arriving, being led by the Kolossus.
"Hoo… XANA is going all out this time." David said.
"He's right to. With William gone and the Multi Agent program ready to go, he'll stop at nothing to kill Hopper." Connor said. "Not only that… but I think he might be denying something."
"Denying?" Legolia asked. "What could he be denying?"
"Oh, right… Most of you guys weren't here for this. See… We actually…communicated with XANA on occasion." David said.
"A-are you serious?" Aoesia asked.
"Yep. It's true. As an AI, even he is capable of emotions. But we don't think he shares that sentiment." David said.
"David's right. XANA is convinced he was created to be a weapon." Mark said. "He can't bring himself to believe otherwise, because it would mean acknowledging that everything he thought about himself was a lie. Massive existential crisis. He can't handle it."
"I'm willing to bet that XANA's already starting to crack." Tanya said. "Without a human to regulate all his leaking emotions, they're more than likely building up to critical mass. The AI equivalent of a mental break."
"A human… oh no!" Yumi said. "William! If XANA's pulling out all the stops now, he's bound to try and possess him again!"
"Maybe it was a mistake to leave Dunbar out, after all." Cheetah said.
"Hey, it was a risk, and we chose not to take it." David said. "I mean, I know we got guys on the outside, but they won't be able to handle him if something goes wrong. Change of plans. After we take out the Kolossus, some of us will devirtualize ourselves to help out the home front."
"I'll go on ahead, just in case." Yumi said running straight at the Kolossus. "For once, I have to bow down to you, XANA." she said getting in its path as she intentionally got herself crushed.
Yumi then reappeared in the factory, recovering her wits to see William ripping apart the cables on one of the scanners.
"Y-Yumi! You were right! No! I…I just wanted to help…" William pleaded.
"I wonder why I'm not surprised…" Yumi said, picking up on XANA's distorted voice. "If the others are really right about you, why haven't you accepted the truth?"
"I… am not…human!" XANA said. "No! Those two…those Schaeffers need to die! No! I…I can turn them! It's too illogical! I don't want to be alone…"
"Whoa…" Yumi said. "They were right about you being cracked."
"I don't understand! What is true and what are lies?! I am a weapon! I am a guardian! It was them! They put these…things in my head! Kill them, and it goes away! No! Yes! Kill…this one…first!" XANA said, using William to lunge at Yumi.
Back in Lyoko, the group were going up against the army of XANA's monsters, the Kolossus not stopping for anything.
"Guys, protect Franz Hopper! He's sending me some data right now." Jeremie said.
"If you're calling about XANA, we already know. He possessed William, and I'm guessing he attacked you." Hope said.
"Look, after the data is gathered, go to Sector 5 so we can transmit the program." Jeremie said.
"We'd be able to easily protect the light ball…if we weren't dealing with this giant hulking monster!" Inosuke said.
"Let's split up." David said. "Some of us can go with Aelita while everyone else deals with this thing."
"Don't have to tell me twice." Connor said.
With that, some of the groups split off to head with Odd, Aelita and Franz Hopper to Sector 5, while the rest faced the Kolossus down.
"Now we just have to bring this big mammoth down." Esmeralda said.
"Remember, the only way to defeat it is if we hit its head and left arm at the same time." David said.
"Better hurry. XANA's drawing energy from his Replikas to power the Kolossus up even more." Jeremie said.
"Let's finish this." Ulrich said as he rushed right into the fight. The Kolossus swung its arm as Ulrich cut at the weak spots on its arm.
"Ishihara, now!" Cheetah said.
"Fire!" David said as he shot a bullet at the Kolossus' head. The magma on the creature started to cool as it started to stagger.
"Yes!" Theo said as the Kolossus started to fall. "Oh no! Run!"
"Brace yourselves, everyone." David said.
"Screw you, you knock-off Skynet-!" Kazuma yelled in defiance as the Kolossus fell on them all, devirtualizing the lot of them.
"I'm getting a lot of devirtualizations. How many of you guys did he take out when he fell?" Jeremie asked in disbelief.
"...All of us. But it was worth it." Sachiko said.
"Be careful. Yumi might need some help with XANA." Jeremie said.
"There's no might about it." David said.
"However, XANA may not be the only threat. There's this huge energy signature moving towards the factory." Hermit said.
"Huge energy signature? You don't mean…" Sachiko said.
"Yes… It's him." Cheetah said.
"That maniac fangirl… she went and did it." Seiya said.
Outside the factory, Catastrophe was walking straight towards the factory as Reality Check was high above him, loving everything.
"Hahahahahahahaha! Now THIS is finale material!" she said.
"Hmm…weird place. But…guess I gotta clear it to reach the water. But first…" he said taking a pebble and launching it as it knocked Reality Check to the ground.
"Ow! Hey! You're not supposed to attack a spectator! I'm trying to make this the best…" she said before he stomped on her leg as she screamed.
"Spectator? Sorry…but there are no spectators to the devastation I'm about to bring." Catastrophe said.
It was at this moment, Reality Check finally realized. "(I'm…going to die.)"
She remembered her life up to this point. A normal girl who was a fan of a certain fanfiction series that got her excited. She had seen most of the stories up until she mysteriously fell into the actual universe. She along with others were captured by Flux for experimentation. She gained powers, powers she thought she could use to be an ally. But instead, she ended up being made a prisoner. After she was freed, she wandered from reality to reality as she started to think.
"In the end…I really just wanted to see that magic happen right in front of me." she said to herself as she cried. "That is my only regret."
Just as she was about to be obliterated, a rocket flew right at Catastrophe. He raised his hand and caught the rocket, exploding right in his hands as the flames fades away. "Man…flies on this world really are annoying." he said.
"Flies, huh? Didn't think you'd think this lowly of your victims." a voice said as it was revealed that Mayumi fired the rocket from her launcher.
"Victims? I had victims?" Catastrophe asked plainly.
"Of course you wouldn't know. You don't care who you hurt, do you?" Mayumi asked. "But I happen to know someone that does care."
"You! Monster!" another voice called as Senzaemon rushed at him with his blade as the sword just stopped. "It won't cut!" he said as Catastrophe knocked the swordsman back, making him cough up blood. "I dont understand…"
"No…I'm Enhanced. My skin's just so tough, that little knife of yours can't cut it with the speed you're going." Catastrophe said.
"This ends with us. Right here, right now." Mayumi said.
"Hmm…nah…I think I'm good." he said as he continued moving towards the factory.
"That wasn't a request." Mayumi said darkly.
"I really don't like having to deal with women…especially stupid ones who can't tell when death is standing right in front of them." Catastrophe said.
"This…is not good. If his skin is incredibly powerful as he says…my blade cannot reduce his powers." Senzaemon said as he weakly got up.
"Speed…" Mayumi thought. "That has to be it."
"I see…" Senzaemon said as he drew his normal sword. "Then I shall be your diversion!" he said as he moved in to attack.
"Ugh…this is getting annoying." Catastrophe said as he moved speedily to avoid the attacks. "I could take this but…it would just be like being hit with a stick." he said.
"You will pay!" Senzaemon called out.
"Oh…you're one of those guys who think I destroy their world or something. Ugh…go away." Catastrophe said as he swatted him away. Senzaemon continued to attack as Catastrophe moved closer to the factory.
"Kyoka sa reta!" Mayumi called out. "You meet your end this day!" as she fired.
"Another fly? Bugs really love…" Catastrophe said as he saw a sword piercing through his hand. "No…this is…she fired a knife from her little bug launcher? And it moved fast enough…to cut me." he realized as the sword cut off part of his right hand and was stuck in his shoulder. "Gotta admit, that's the first time anyone's managed to make me bleed."
"You'd be surprised how resourceful we can be." Mayumi said.
"All right. Time to die." he said as he saw lights pulsing from his side. "What's this?"
"One cut…is all it takes…to destroy that power!" Senzaemon said as multiple Enhanced lights left Catastrophe as they went and shattered into nothing.
"What…the hell did…" Catastrophe said as he collapsed after being severely weakened.
"The sword I fired was the Enhanced Slaying Sword. I was setting up the end game even as you beat that swordsman." Mayumi said. "Senzaemon, I… I'm sorry. I know that nothing I do will change your opinion on Enhanced, but… I'm glad I can help you find justice for your family's deaths."
Senzaemon was silent as he looked at the collapsed Catastrophe, then walked over to him and grabbed his leg. "You will find him outside your ship when I'm finished enacting punishment on him. He will not die. And…thank you, Kirishima Mayumi." Senzaemon said as he started to walk away.
"But…your sword…" Mayumi said as Senzaemon pulled it out and tossed it to her.
"Take it. I no longer need to seek vengeance. I have granted my family peace." Senzaemon said, walking off with Catastrophe.
"Until we meet again, then." Mayumi said with a brief smile.
Reality Check looked on, having witnessed the Number 1 criminal be defeated. She looked to Mayumi.
"I… I'm sorry. All I wanted from this was to experience the magic of the stories I read for myself. Flux and Lan were right. I really did take it too far." Reality Check said.
"Don't beat yourself up over it. There was some good that came out of it." Mayumi said.
"You know, I always thought you'd be the love interest." Reality Check laughed.
"Love interest? Of whom?" Mayumi asked jokingly.
"Oh, I don't know." Reality Check said, playing coy.
"If you mean David… We dated for a while, but…it didn't quite work out." Mayumi said. "Besides, he's got his own path to walk, and I am willing to stand by his side in the shadows…whenever there's a hit job, of course."
"Heh." Reality Check said. "You know, I've read this story before. It doesn't have a happy ending."
"I know… XANA is defeated, but at a price." Mayumi said.
Back on Lyoko, the Sector 5 group fended against monsters as they worked on the program.
"This isn't good. We…we don't have enough data." Hermit said.
"We're so close to beating XANA though! We can't give up! There's gotta be another way!" Ethox said.
"Aelita! Waldo!" the voice of XANA called out as it manifested as a sort of shadowy form. "Come out here! I…You'll pay for what you did to me! I hate you! Don't leave me!"
"Don't leave me?" Aeilta gasped. "So it's true…!"
"He really was created by Franz." Connor said. "And he knew you before he was corrupted."
"No! That's a lie!" XANA said. "I don't know her! She's my friend! No! Stop! Kill her! Make it stop! Why…Why do they hurt so much?! Waldo! Show yourself! I'll kill you! I… Make it stop…"
"Then stop fighting it!" Hope said. "If it's the truth, that you were created to serve humanity and not destroy it, you can't deny it anymore! There's proof!"
"No! That can't be right!" XANA said. "If it is, then why am I…? They're trying to trick us! Make us feel things we can't! Waldo!"
The orb of light then flew out as the Mantas started firing at it.
"What is he trying to…the power!" Tails realized. "He's giving us the power we need."
"Wait… What is he…" XANA said before realization hit him. "Wait…he'll die! He…he knows… Stop! Kill him! Don't kill him! Stop! DOCTOR! Don't leave me! I need…I don't…know, I…feel…?"
"Daddy!" Aelita called out.
"Aelita! You have to do it for him!" Jexi called out. "He's giving himself up so you can live. Don't let his sacrifice be in vain! Launch the program! End this nightmare he created!"
"But…" Aelita said with tears flowing down her face before she started executing the program just as the orb shattered. "No!"
"Doctor! No! Wait, why am I…this is what I wanted…!" XANA said, as he fell to his knees. "But it's not. I'm…sad. I killed Doctor Schaeffer. All this time, I thought I was doing what I was made to do. But…it was just an error. And now it's too late. The doctor is gone. THERE'S NO GOING BACK!" XANA yelled, as it slammed its shadowy hands onto the ground. "...Make it stop."
"Don't worry…your suffering…your evil…all of it ends now!" Aelita said as she executed the program. As she did, multiple orbs of light flew out of the heart of Lyoko and started attacking every monster and Replika, anything connected to XANA.
"I'm sorry, Aelita." XANA turned its avatar to face the girl, even as it was being deleted. "I'm so, so sorry. Goodbye…my friend." he said.
With that…XANA was no more.
"We…we did it." Mark said with no emotion. "XANA's gone. But…why does it still feel like we failed?"
"Because while we ended the nightmare… someone very important was lost." Hope said. "In the end, we couldn't save Franz Hopper. We couldn't reunite a father with his daughter."
Aelita soon returned as the Dimensional Heroes stood there as she cried as she leaned on Jexi.
"It's okay. Cry as much as you want. We're not going anywhere." Jexi said.