Episode 2: It Resumes
12th of Matrinalis, Monday
William slicked back his hair before he knocked on the door to the Ishiyama estate. It was traditional Nihonjin design, as it was elevated slightly off the ground and had curved thatched roofs. Takeho Ishiyama answered the door, and he seemed surprised to find an elf at his door. "Good morning, Mr. Ishiyama. Is Yumi here?" William asked.
Takeho thought for a moment, but nodded. "Yes, she's in her room."
"I'm not here for a social call," William sighed. "I'm here on business." He explained.
"I suppose you are employed by the King. Very well," Takeho stepped aside to allow William inside. Before entering, he removed his shoes.
Yumi was inside, practicing her telekinesis. Despite her mastery of most Nihonjin weaponry and hand-to-hand combat, Yumi struggled with her telekinesis. She sat on the opposite side of the room and tried to lift a rag doll dressed as a geisha. When she heard a knock, she dropped the doll and opened the door, this time with her hands. "Hello, William. I didn't expect to see you again so soon." Yumi smiled. "What's up?"
William smiled back. "I'm not here for a social call, like I told your dad. I'm here to ask you something on behalf of Princess Laura."
Yumi's face became stone. "What is it?" She asked.
"Do you know anyone named Jeremie Belpois?" He asked.
She thought for a while. "I remember my dad talking about a Michael Belpois, a tenet in one of our buildings, because his wife died a few years back during one of the orc raids. It was very sad." She mulled that in her head for a moment. "In fact, they may have had a son. But I've never met him if he did." Yumi looked William in the eyes. "Why are you looking for Jeremie Belpois?"
William shrugged. "Princess Laura has gotten it into her head that Capital Lyoko will be attacked and we're all going to die and she thinks Jeremie Belpois has the one book that can decipher her divination." He laughed.
Yumi flinched. "Oh gods, that does not sound good." She said. She motioned for William to move, and she walked past him. "Come on, we'll go get Laura and find the Belpois apartment."
"Laura is in the carriage, just outside." William said, following Yumi. She informed her parents she was leaving, and the two entered Laura's carriage. "Yumi believes she knows where to find Jeremie, Princess."
Laura smiled. "Oh, do you truly know?" She said excitedly. "Where are we headed then?"
"We're headed near the market stalls." She said, and Laura gave instructions to the driver.
Laura knocked politely on the door of the Belpois apartment. Michael answered the door, and when he saw the princess, he bowed. "Your Highness. To what do I owe this honor?" He asked, and she motioned for him to stand, and she entered the apartment. William and Yumi entered behind her.
She looked around and noticed many bookshelves. Michael was obviously devoted to his studies. "Your son borrowed a book from the monastery. I need it to decipher a divination." Laura explained. She saw a painting of the family while the mother was still alive.
"Oh. Are you talking about the enchiridion on the Warrior's last prophecy?" Michael asked. Laura nodded. "Yes, I had him collect that book. He had a nightmare, and it reminded me of the prophecy. He didn't see the connections I did, however." He admitted.
Laura cocked her head to the side. "He saw Lyoko burning?" She asked.
"Yes." Michael said.
"May I speak with him?"
A few minutes later, Jeremie appeared and handed Laura the enchiridion. "I'm not sure what this is all about." He admitted.
Laura opened the enchiridion. "You see, William? The Warrior predicted the same thing that I divined!" She pointed to the prophecy. "Lyoko will be attacked! I don't know when, why or by whom, but we must evacuate!" She declared.
"Laura, if you don't know when the attack will be, then your father will never agree to evacuate!" William argued. He took the book from her. "Look here. He talks about Heroes. Maybe if we find them, they can prevent the attack." He reasoned.
"If Jeremie dreamed about the attack before even you could divine it, Laura, wouldn't it make sense that he is a Hero?" Yumi asked.
Jeremie raised his hands up defensively. "No, I'm not a hero. I can barely lift my sword." Jeremie found that the opportunity to be a hero was exciting to think about however. Hadn't his father suggested something similar? "And how would you know if I was a hero? There is nothing in there that suggests how to find them."
Laura looked around and found a bowl. She poured water into it and waved her wand over it. Her wand was elegantly designed—it burned incense, and was made of steel—and the water became cloudy. She summoned embers, which still burned even while floating on the water. "Show me the Heroes," She bid, and the water spun, and smoke columned up, filling the room.
In a lighter cloud of smoke, full color images began to appear. The first was Jeremie, the second Laura, then Yumi, then a boy with brown hair. "That's Ulrich!" Yumi pointed out. The fifth picture was William, and the sixth was of a blond with pointed hair. "And there's Odd!" The final picture was of a wild elf with pink hair. "I don't recognize her. Do any of you?"
Jeremie nodded. "I bumped into her yesterday on my way home. We didn't talk, but… you don't forget someone like her." He said. Laura looked at him briefly before clearing the room of smoke.
"So we can find six of the Heroes easily." Laura said, and she added, "Mostly because four of them are us, but that isn't important. How do we find the elf?" She asked.
"Perhaps the smoke gave us the Heroes in order. After all, the Outcast is listed last, and the one person no one could recognize came last." Jeremie suggested.
Laura followed his line of thinking. "That would make you the Wise Man, and you might be able to telepathically give her instructions to meet us at a disclosed location!" She suggested.
Yumi looked up at Jeremie. "Want to give it a go, Jeremie?"
Jeremie sighed. "I could try."
Laura smiled. "There is a ball tonight at the castle. Get her name and tell her to meet us there." She instructed.
He wasn't sure if he could, but he closed his eyes and pictured the elf in his head. He pictured her eyes, peeking just over the enchiridion. Then, he saw Sissi Delmas, a noblewoman with black hair and light blue eyes. He then saw a floor, and a hand with pink markings rise, as if to hold his head, but he felt nothing. He realized that he was seeing through the elf's eyes.
"What's wrong? You look ill." Sissi asked. Her voices sounded echoed, as if he were underwater.
"Ir abelas, mistress. I feel something inside of me…" The elf said. So she did speak Common. Her voice was pleasant, even if it was distorted.
Jeremie took a deep breath. "Listen to me very closely. We know you to be one of the Heroes prophesized by the Warrior. Go to the castle tonight. Tell me your name, and I'll make sure you gain entry." He thought. He hoped that was how he was to communicate with her.
The elf looked up, and Sissi stood with her hands on her hips. "What do you mean something is inside of you? Are you under the influence of blood magic?" She asked.
"No, mistress, it just feels like someone is talking to me." The elf said. Then, she spoke clearly, and Jeremie realized that she was responding. "My name is Aelita Stone-Hopper." She thought, and then she severed the connection. Jeremie opened his eyes.
"Well?" Yumi asked. "Did you find her? Who is she?"
"Her name is Aelita Stone-Hopper. I think she's employed by Sissi Delmas," Jeremie explained.
William looked at nothing in particular. "That poor girl," He said sympathetically.
Laura stood. "Well, I hope I'll see you all tonight at the ball. We have to find a way to prevent Lyoko from burning." She said, and she motioned for William to follow her. Yumi stood and followed them out, waving good-bye to Jeremie as she went.
Ulrich knocked on Odd's door in his home. "Odd? Odd, Yumi invited us to some party at the castle. Apparently Princess Laura wants us there." Ulrich waited for a reply, but heard nothing. "Odd? Odd, I'm coming in." Ulrich opened the door to find Samantha Sanchez, an artist with long blond hair, straightening her skirt.
She looked up and laughed nervously. "Hello, Stern. It was nice seeing you, but I really have to go. My parents are expecting me." Sanchez apologized, and she pushed past him.
Ulrich rolled his eye because Odd had done it again. The half-elf's voice came from the room. "There are days I hate you." He called out. A few moments later, Odd appeared. "We need to establish some ground rules about you coming into my house uninvited."
"You say that every time, and yet there are still no ground rules and I still constantly walk in on you." Ulrich said flippantly.
Odd held up a finger. "I resent that! If I got half as much action as you claim I do, the poor thing would either fall off or be whittled down to about this big!" He held his fingers less than five centimeters apart. Ulrich held up his hands defensively. This was not a conversation he wanted to have. Odd was a playboy, and a 'swinger' on top of that, so he was occasionally brought men and women over to his house. But, Ulrich hadn't started teasing him about it until he walked in on Odd with a dwarf in drag. Odd didn't recommend that.
"Anyway," Ulrich said, "Princess Laura told Yumi that she wants us to attend the ball tonight. Yumi mentioned something about Heroes and a prophecy." He shrugged.
"That explains why you look so fancy." Odd noted. Ulrich had changed into Eastern finery. His vest was yellow, and he and gone through great lengths to make his boots and leather bracers look presentable. "Yeah, let me go get ready." Odd entered his room and came out a few minutes later in a bright purple vest, a white shirt with purple sleeves and tight purple pants. He strapped his bow to his back and attached his quiver to his side.
The two teens met with Yumi outside of the castle. She was in a black-and-red kimono, and she wore a yellow obi. She had painted her face and put her hair up, and her mother had even woven flowers into it. "Gods above, Yumi, you… you look good." Ulrich blushed. Yumi probably blushed too, but it was covered by her face paint.
"Ulrich, that line was butter." Odd mocked. Ulrich glared at him.
"We have to wait for another person," Yumi said, looking up at the clock tower. Then, she waved to someone running towards them from a figure running towards them. "Jeremie, we're over here!" A boy with blond hair and spectacles ran up in a navy blue vest, white shirt, a brown overcoat and navy blue pants. He wore brown boots.
"Sorry I'm late," Jeremie apologized. "Then these are…?" He asked, looking at Ulrich and Odd.
Yumi nodded. "Yes. These are the ones I told you about."
Jeremie offered them his hand. Ulrich shook it, while Odd seized Jeremie's spectacles and looked through them. "Please be careful. I need those to see," Jeremie warned. Odd shrugged and gave them back. "I'll tell you what I can, because I'm not sure what is safe to tell. The two of you, me, Yumi, William Dendar, Princess Laura and Aelita Stone-Hopper are Heroes. Laura believes that we can save Lyoko from burning if we work together, so she's called us all here tonight."
"Us? Heroes?" Odd laughed. "I'm pretty sure my dog Kiwi in chainmail is more heroic than you. No offense, Jeremie." He apologized though giggles.
Jeremie laughed in spite of himself. "None taken," He admitted.
Ulrich looked up. "How do you know that we're Heroes?" He asked.
Yumi tried to explain. "Laura did something to a bowl of water, and she asked it to show us the Heroes. Smoke plumed up and filled the room, and we saw pictures of us, and the elf Jeremie mentioned. Besides, Jeremie was able to make a psychic connection with the elf, and with me, to inform me that he was on his way." Her face twisted in confusion. "Still, we don't know when the attack will happen. Laura wants us to be prepared regardless."
The four teens entered the castle, and the guard checked their names on the list. They mingled for a bit, not wanting to look suspicious. Jeremie looked around for Laura and William, but found no trace of them. Then he saw Aelita, and he felt his breath leave his body.
She wore a long pink dress with archaic elven designs, and over the dress was a light blue transparent overskirt. Her shoulders were exposed, and she wore transparent magenta gloves. She looked around, clearly trying to locate someone. Jeremie jumped a little when he realized that she was looking for him. He walked over to her, and she spotted him. They met halfway. "Andaran atish'an, stranger. You don't look like someone who belongs in this crowd, if you don't mind me saying so." The wild elf said, smiling.
Jeremie laughed. "Neither do you," He pointed out. She shrugged. "You are Aelita Stone-Hopper, correct? I believe we've spoken before. My name is Jeremie Belpois."
Aelita's eyes lit up. "Oh! Are you the one who told me to meet you here?" She asked.
"Yes, that was me." Jeremie nodded. He motioned to the back wall. "Perhaps we should move to someplace more private? I have some people I'd like you to meet." She seemed hesitant, and he looked around. He saw Yumi, and closed his eyes. "Can you come and set her at ease?" He asked telepathically. She looked around and located them, and walked over.
Yumi offered Aelita her hand. "Hi, my name is Yumi. Jeremie asked me to reassure you that he isn't going to hurt you." Aelita seemed confused, and she added, "Don't worry; we'll explain everything once Princess Laura and William are here."
They walked over to the back wall, and were soon joined by Ulrich and Odd. "So, this is Aelita Stone-Hopper, eh?" Odd said, leaning against the wall. "I have to admit, you are a real cutie. The gods have taste." He flirted. Jeremie rolled his eyes in annoyance, and Ulrich picked up the half-elf and moved him away from Aelita.
"I think you've had enough for today, Della-Robbia," Ulrich said flatly.
Odd looked off into the distance. "Cut me off of my fun, will you? I'll remember this."
Aelita took a few steps away from the wall, and she faced the four teens that surrounded her. "Will someone please tell me what is going on?" She asked. "Who are all of you? How can you communicate with me inside of my head? Why did you invite me to this party?"
They looked at each other. "We're Heroes that have been chosen to protect Lyoko. And you are one of us, Aelita. Princess Laura believes that we are to protect Capital Lyoko from an upcoming attack." Jeremie explained.
"We all just found out about this." Ulrich admitted. "But we've been called to duty, and we are to respond." He put a hand on Aelita's shoulder.
Aelita didn't seem too pleased about the idea of protecting humans, but she looked the others in the eyes, and her expression softened. A fanfare sounded, and Princess Laura entered with William just behind her. Laura wore a black ball gown with sky blue layers. William was in simple black leather armor, with white accents. She waited patiently as she was announced, and then located the rest of the group. She ran over to them. "So you found the elf, did you?" She asked Jeremie.
"I'm right here," Aelita pointed out. Laura waved her off.
"Good. Then we can begin discussing our plans to defend the city." Laura said.
Capital Lyoko sat near where the river met the sea. The castle sat in front of the ocean, and since Lyoko either owned land over the sea or was on friendly terms with coastal countries, this was an ideal location for defense. Xana looked over the city and studied it. "If we acquire ships, we can attack from the ocean, destroying the King and crippling their military defenses." She mused, "Though I do not think that the King would see us as non-hostiles." Xana relaxed in her sedan chair, and then she ordered the slaves to put her down. She exited the chamber, and approached Overseer Sinae, the elderly drow slave master. "Prepare the catapults."
"Yes, Matron Mother." Sinae complied and lit the boulders for the catapults on fire. "Launch!" Sinae ordered, and the army fired the catapults.
A huge crash could be heard from the gate. The ground trembled, and the group looked up at each other. "What was that?" Yumi asked, struggling to stay standing in her impractical shoes.
"Oh, gods," Jeremie muttered. He shook his head. "The drow are attacking!" He declared.
"Right now?" Laura asked. "But we aren't ready!"
Ulrich tried to gain his balance despite his vertigo. "We'll have to make ready!"
Jeremie agreed. "Laura, William, the two of you should prepare here. The rest of us will evacuate as many people as we can to the ships!"
As Laura and William ran from the room, the others headed back out to the city, evacuating their respective parts of town. Odd, as he left, muttered, "It is official. Monday can suck my balls."