Chapter 6

Change is never easy, we fight to hold on and we fight to let go- Anonymous

"Umm, I'm not going to pass out again am I?" Aubrey asked nervously as she stepped inside the same scanner as before. The doors slid close almost as soon as she had instantly making her wish she was back outside.

"Everything will go white for a second but once that clears you'll be on Lyoko."

"R-right." The small brunette answered stiffly. She had her hands pinned to her side and was standing as straight as possible trying not to touch the walls of the machine.

Be strong Aubrey, your fine.

"Ready?"

"Y-yeah. Do it Jeremy."

"Okay, here we go. Transfer Aubrey."

The machine began to light up and a black bar moved up and down slowly across her body. It actually wasn't that bad.

Scanner Aubrey."

Never mind. The speed of the bar suddenly picked up, the chamber began to fill with light and a wind from seemingly no where was blowing her bangs up against her face. Aubrey squeaked and quickly closed her eyes to prevent going blind.

"Virtualization"

Aubrey took a deep breath opening her eyes. Around her was an orange sky and below her she could spot weird floating patches of desert. It took a moment to register in her mind that since the desert was below her she was above it and therefore floating.

That is until she wasn't.

A shriek tore out of her throat when she felt herself plummet through the air. Down down and down she fell until her butt made contact with solid ground. Strange though, she didn't feel any pain...

When she looked up the first thing she saw was a pink... elf. At least the pointy hears and face paint made her look like an elf, but the girl seemed really familiar...

"A-Aelita?" She asked hesitantly.

"Aubrey?! Oh wow, it's really you! I thought Jeremy was joking!"

"I wish he was joking." Ulrich's voice said. However when Aubrey turned to look at him she found herself face to face with a yellow samurai that wore a deep scowl on his face. The look made her shrink back. From behind her loud laughter began to fill the air.

"Why are you laughing at- Odd?" The one laughing at her was Odd clad in a purple cat costume that came with ears and a tail. She blinked several times to make sure that she wasn't halucinating.

"Oh my god, Oh my god your ears and tail twitched! Hahahahaha"

"My ears and tail?" As soon as she finished the sentence she felt a tug on an appendage that she didn't even know she had. Ulrich pulled down on the soft ear so that Aubrey could take a look.

It was a white rabbit ear.

"I'm a rabbit?!" She yelped. The brunette began to scan over the rest of her outfit to check for other bunny like qualities.

Aubrey found that she looked sort of like a governess. She wore a long sleeved white shirt that puffed out at the shoulders under a black corset skirt that ruffled to just above her knees. Her legs were covered by white tights and her feet by black Mary Jane shoes. Around the collar of her neck was a black ribbon tied into a bow that hung down loosely. Her brown hair was tied into two low braids and to match the bunny ears a little white rabbit tail popped out of her lower back right where the corset met the skirt.

"Guys, I get that you want to check how Aubrey looks but Yumi's about to go fight Jim and you still have a tower to deactivate!" Jeremy yelled. It sounded like his voice was coming from the sky which Aubrey guessed it was.

"We don't know what Aubrey's weapon is yet!" Aelita yelled back.

"Actually they're right here." Odd answered, pulling something off of Aubrey's back. She instantly felt the weight difference and was surprised to have not noticed it before. Odd smiled as he handed her two sleek black sai, once for each hand. The girl stared at them in awe.

"Whoa." From some reason, they felt natural in her hands, like that's where they were designed to be. For once she actually didn't mind having a weapon.

"I don't mean to seem inpatient but can you please get going?! The tower isn't to far but it's being guarded by two crabs and a block.

"That doesn't seem so bad." Odd scoffed, stepping onto a purple board that Aubrey hadn't even noticed. Odd smirked to himself as he offered Aubrey a hand to get on while ignoring Ulrich's glare. It made more sense that he take Aubrey since she was closer and they were in a hurry. Ulrich said nothing to Aelita as she got on the Overbike, just scooted closer to give her more room.

"Odd, is this safe?" Aubrey asked hesitantly as she stepped on. Odd then got on in front of her so she could wrap her arms around his waist.

"Come on Rabbit, you're currently standing on the safest place in Lyoko. Hold on tight!"

"Whoa!" Aubrey's hold on Odd tightened as they shot up into the desert area was now a blur to their incredible speed. Odd's delight filled laughter rang through the air at the freedom he felt. He did several little turns and tricks just to show Aubrey how 'fun' he was and maybe scare her a little bit. The girl behind him yelped.

"Odd! Omigod slow down! You're going to kill us!"

"Silly Rabbit-"

"I swear if you end with 'trix are for kids!' I'll kill you back in the real world!"

"I was going to say you can't die on Lyoko, you get devirtualized but I like yours better."

"Shut up!"

Suddenly Odd flipped the Overboard over a laser beam and Aubrey almost slipped. Ahead of them the two crabs and block were beginning to attack. Ulrich stood on his vehicle giving Aelita the controls and jumped off, slashing at the block as he did so and destroying it. Aelita parked the Overbike and jumped off, running towards the tower.

"Our turn, laser ar-"

Before Odd could finish his attack he was devirtualized. Aubrey screamed when she found that she was all by herself on the Overboard with no idea how to steer. Taking a guess she put weight on her back foot which resulted in soaring up into the sky.

"Ahhh! Someone help!"

"Aubrey, jump off!" Aelita shrieked as she noticed Aubrey was in a crash course with the tower. Screaming herself, Aubrey pushed down and jumped.

Instead of going up a foot or so before going down like she was supposed to Aubrey's jump sent her soaring up into the air until she was almost level with the top of the tower (which she noted was really weird looking.) She screamed again as she fell back down, landing on top of one of the crabs.

"Aubrey, stab the center of the target thing!" Ulrich yelled, moving to stab his own crab. He hadn't seen Aubrey's large jump, the last he saw she was on the Overboard with Odd, but seeing as she was now on the crab she might as well kill it.

"O-Okay!" The brunette gulped. She could do this, it wasn't like she was actually killing a living creature, this was just a virtual monster. Yeah, just a virtual monster.

Aubrey quickly pulled the two sai off of her back and held them in the air, then jabbed them straight down into the crabs back. The whole thing began to shake and then exploded sending Aubrey crashing back a few feet in front of Ulrich.

"Good job Aubrey, but next time jump off the crab before it explodes. You just lost fifty life points."

"There won't be a 'next time" Ulrich growled, finally clearing the path for Aelita. She shot him an uneasy look as she ran past them to enter the tower.

"U-umm, Ulrich? Are you mad?" Aubrey asked hesitantly as she got up and placed the sai away. He was standing next to her looking at the tower refusing to make eye contact.

"I'm sorry Aubrey but you shouldn't be here. It's too dangerous." Ulrich answered, though he sounded like he was talking to Jeremy more than her.

"It was Yumi's idea, you needed help and Aubrey was there. I'm launching the return to the past program, we can talk about this later."

"We'll definitely talk about this later." Ulrich answered angrily. It was the last thing he said before Lyoko was enveloped in white.

Aubrey was back in science class sitting next to Ulrich. He was in the middle of writing her a note when he suddenly stopped, his pen tearing the paper as it was crumpled in his hand. She gulped.

"Ulrich?"

His posture grew tense at the sound of his name from Aubrey's lips. How? How could Yumi and Jeremy just send her to Lyoko like that and how could Odd and Aelita be so accepting of it? When they were trying to decide on whether or not to send William they talked about it a lot and even held a vote damnit! He turned his head to look out the window no longer in the mood to talk to any of his friends, especially Aubrey. Why the hell would she get in the scanner? Why would she go along with it? Why didn't she say no?

Aubrey didn't try to talk to him again. As soon as the class ended he bolted out without saying anything to anyone. Odd, Jeremy and Aelita all exchanged worried glances as Aubrey deflated. She turned to them with a closed-eye grin on her face.

"I just realized there's an assignment I forgot to do so I'm going to go work on it. I'll see you guys at dinner."

She didn't wait for a response before dashing out of the room.

Ulrich didn't go to dinner which was a real shame since Yumi was able to join them while her parents were out taking Hiroki and some of his friends out for a birthday dinner. While Odd, Aelita and Jeremy tried to act normal Aubrey was pushing her food back and forth across her plate and Yumi was scowling at Ulrich's seat. Suddenly, she stood up and slammed her hands down on the table.

"This is ridiculous even for him. I'm going to find him. Stay here." She shot Aubrey a reassuring smile that said 'cheer up' before stalking out of the room.

"I'm not that hungry anymore." Aubrey said. She pushed her tray towards Odd who happily yanked it towards him and began to eat. "I think I'm just going to return to my room for the night."

"I'll walk with you." Aelita smiled softly as she dumped her tray. Aubrey nodded, secretly glad for the company as the two headed back to the dorms.

"You okay?" Aelita asked softly. She placed an arm on Aubrey's shoulder to emphasize her presence. The young girl smiled back at her.

"I'm fine. I've been thinking and maybe this is a good thing."

Aelita stopped walking. "Ulrich avoiding us is a good thing?"

"Yeah, maybe." Aubrey answered monotone while staring at the wall. "Even for friends, don't you think our relationship was moving a bit fast? I mean, look at me! I don't see him for several hours and suddenly it's like it's the end of the world! Maybe distance is a good thing."

"Aubrey..."

Aubrey smiled back at her the same way she had back in the science room. "Besides, I got you back right? I shouldn't be focusing all my attention on one guy when I've made so many other wonderful friends." She linked her arm through Aelita's and smiled genuinely at her causing her heart to melt. There were so many things that she wanted to say. She wanted to tell Aubrey she was being ridiculous and not to give up on Ulrich, that their relationship would be stronger than ever as soon as Ulrich bounced back from this anger. She wanted to say that they would only grow closer and that she felt the same way with Jeremy which wasn't a bad thing.

She didn't.

"Goodnight Aelita, I'll see you in the morning!" With one last smile Aubrey slipped into her room.

Her bangs covered her face as she slid down the door and let the tears finally fell down her face. The girl's sobs were muffled by the hands that she placed over her mouth.

God, she was so stupid. All she wanted to do was help her friends and repay them for saving her from X.A.N.A but all she did was kill a crab and make Ulrich hate her. That's right, he probably hated her now. This was all her fault. He didn't want her to go to Lyoko, it was dangerous, but she did it anyway. It was always her and her stupidness that made people she cared about leave her wasn't it! Another sob wracked her body and the girl slammed her head back against the door to punish herself. It made her dizzy and it hurt but that was good. That was what she deserved.

She didn't do any homework, she didn't change clothes or even get in bed. Aubrey just sat at the door and cried her sorrows away.

She should have known it was too good to be true.

He should have known it was too good to be true.

Why? Why couldn't he have just one friend who was X.A.N.A free? Aubrey was supposed to be his breath of fresh air but now she'd been dragged into his current. Even if she was never going to go back to Lyoko again she had already been. She was going to be a target now and if she could fight then there was really no point in telling her not to.

His fist slammed into the bleachers. He never wanted this. He didn't want Aubrey to go to Lyoko and he certainly didn't want her to fight their battle.

Any chance was gone now. It was to late.

"ULRICH!" An angry voice screamed. His head snapped to the doorway where Yumi was standing puffing and out of breath. The teen scoffed and focused his attention back on the ceiling listening to Yumi's steps get closer and closer to him.

Her hand gripped his shirt and yanked him up to look at her. She was furious.

"What the hell is your problem?"

"What the hell is my problem? What the hell is yours?" He snapped back. Yumi yanked him closer.

"Look, I get you're upset that Aubrey went to Lyoko, I am too but-"

Ulrich laughed. "Oh, your upset? Really, because it was YOUR IDEA IN THE FIRST PLACE!"

"I WASN'T DONE!" Yumi yelled back letting him drop back onto the bleachers. "You think I wanted her to go? No, of course I didn't, but she was there Ulrich and she knew. She knew about X.A.N.A, she'd been attacked and she was willing to go and fight."

"We've been in far worse situations and made it out fine."

"Those were close calls Ulrich and I'm sick of them! How many times do we almost have to die or the school almost burn down before it actually happens huh?! Since you never bothered to ask Jim was choking me when the return to the past was launched. I bet if Aubrey hadn't been there I would have died! Whether she meant to or not Aubrey saved my life Ulrich and I can't thank her enough for it, but you know how your thanking her? You're ignoring her. You didn't see the hurt look on her face when you walked out of that room and left her standing there or when she was expecting to see you in the cafeteria and I walked in. I bet she's alone in her room right now because for whatever reason she's let you into her world and something bad has happened there that you're making worse. Hell even I didn't let you in that fast and this is the precise reason. When you're angry you're a real ass, you know that?"

Ulrich's mouth felt dry. He- What- wow. He was even more of an idiot then he thought. Here he was sulking because he was upset, but what about Aubrey? She must have been terrified on Lyoko, he was the first time, and then he just walked away. Not again. He wouldn't walk away again.

"I'm sorry Yumi and you're right. I'm sorry."

"I'm not the one you need to apologize to." She answered as she helped him up with a smile. The japanese girl pushed him towards the door.

"Go."

That was all he needed to here.

Yumi stared at him as he ran out of the room. Once the door closed she let her eyes fall shut. This was it. She was finally letting him go, and to the most capable hands she would ever find.

'Good luck Aubrey, he's all yours.'

Aubrey felt numb. It was about 10:00pm. At least she'd changed into her pajamas and dragged herself to bed. The tears had stopped a while ago leaving her to just stare at the wall with a blank expression on her face and will the pain to go away.

This was stupid, emotions were stupid, she was stupid.

Oh, and someone was heavily pounding on her door.

"Come in, the doors unlocked!" She called with a cheery voice. She sat up to greet whoever was coming into her room only to get knocked back down again by a body and arms wrapping around her shoulders.

"Aubrey! I'm sorry, I was being an idiot and-"

"Ulrich?" She interrupted. Ulrich sat both of them back up again and smiled softly at her. Heat rushed to her cheeks and her heart beat increased dramatically. "Wh-what are you doing here?"

"I came to apologize. I'm sorry Aubrey, I shouldn't have run away like I did."

"It's not your fault, it's mine. You were just trying to keep me safe and I went to Lyoko anyway. It was stupid, so I'm sorry."

"Don't be. If I hadn't acted like an ass-"

"We'll if I hadn't been so dumb-"

"You weren't dumb!"

"Yes I was! And you weren't an ass!"

"Let's just both apologize then, okay?"

"Okay."

Ulrich and Aubrey smiled at each other.

"I'm sorry."

Aubrey grinned. She leaned into Ulrich letting him hug her tighter as she wiped the tears off of her face. They were both idiots.

"Did you eat anything?" Aubrey asked, breaking the silence. Ulrich released her a bit to give her an odd look.

"We just ended our fight or whatever this was and your asking if I'm hungry?"

"You weren't at dinner."

Ulrich's stomach growled causing Aubrey to burst out laughing as he blushed. His cheeks tinted even more when he realized he was still holding her so he quickly let go and sat next to her, ducking his face. The bed shuffled as Aubrey got up and opened a drawer.

"Here, it's not much but I always have a package so..."

Ulrich's eyes widened when a bag of sour patch kids was placed on his lap. He looked over at Aubrey who was blushing and staring at anything but him.

"Thanks. I love sour patch kids."

"Is it 'cause your so sour all the time?" She asked as he placed an orange one in her mouth. Glaring playfully he pulled a red one out of the bag and chucked it at her face. It smacked into the tip of her nose before falling on her lap but Aubrey just laughed and popped it in her mouth.

"No, can't you tell it's because I'm just the sweetest?"

"Sure." Aubrey snorted. "Whatever floats your boat."

"Smooth sailing then."

The two looked at each other and burst out into laughter. This was what was so great about their relationship, it just same so naturally. They never had to worry about offending each other and could literally waist hours just talking. If Ulrich ever ended up in detention then Aubrey would probably be right there with him laughing about it.

She was a true best friend.

Breakfast the next day was normal. To anyone walking past the Lyoko warrior's table they never would have guessed that they had been fighting the day before. Aelita and Jeremy were talking technical stuff, Odd was scarfing down his third helping and when he wasn't looking Aubrey had taken his croissant and split it with Ulrich.

"So guys, I was thinking-" Jeremy began. Every one turned to look at him. "-If you want Aubrey could just be a back up of sorts on Lyoko. We won't send her unless it's absolutely necessary."

"Nah." Ulrich stated, taking another bite of Odd's stolen croissant. "Let her on the front lines. We've got her so why not let her fight? Well, as long as that's okay with her."

"It is." Aubrey reassured. "It totally is."

"Alright!" Odd yelled excitedly, complete forgetting the fact that some of the other students were trying to enjoy a peaceful breakfast. "Welcome to the team Rabbit!"

"I'm not a Rabbit Odd!" She yelled back. She knew it would be hard being a Lyoko warrior and she knew that she would probably get hurt, but if she could protect her friends and fight by their side then nothing else mattered.

"Hey, where did my croissant go?!"

Ulrich and Aubrey laughed.

Absolutely nothing.

A/N: Hey guys! Sorry I didn't update for a while, I came to a sort of road block but here I am with an all new chapter! I'm sorry that there wasn't plot on Lyoko, but like I said by the time Aubrey was transported the adventure there was almost over anyways so there wasn't much to write. To everyone who reviewed thank you and to anyone just reading this story I hope you like it! Just a few questions, what do you think of Aubrey? Is she a mary sue? Is her and Ulrich's relationship moving to fast? Do you like her Lyoko form? Is anyone to OOC? Please let me know in reviews!