Chapter 14 Wearing Thin (Laughing Fit & Claustrophobia)
A.N. – Another two-episode chapter. Basically, I don't think laughing fit is enough for one. Episode 17 will have enough. Let's begin!
Short Summary – When the school gets ahold of Nitrous Oxide, Xana decides to have a little fun with it, but how far is too far in the concerns of future Aelita.
Short Summary – After a string of constant failures, Xana and future Aelita decide that the only way to get the keys is to remove the Lyoko Warriors and Xana plans a trap for all of them.
Disclaimer – I do not own Code Lyoko or the story idea. I am just a fan of the show, and the idea was submitted by James Marshall.
Jeremy's Point of View
Jeremy and his friends are all in class as they are seeing their science teacher Ms. Hertz laughing up a storm, which is something she normally doesn't do. She says that she inhaled a small amount of Nitrous Oxide or laughing gas. She takes a sip of water to neutralize the gas, but she does explain that it could be dangerous in large amounts. Jeremy turns around to Odd and Ulrich and they all shrug, anticipating what if this could benefit Xana.
Aelita's Point of View
Aelita was at a crossroads herself. Xana is moving against her, and almost ready to divide her with her friends. She needs their trust for as long as possible. She knows that she might jeopardize it herself one day, but now is not the time. But the one thing that was bugging her was what to do. No attack equals more time for Jeremy to work on Aelita's rematerialization, which in turn equals an early rematerialization which then leads to a deadly future for Earth. Even if Franz were to die with the turning off of the supercomputer, who says someone wouldn't take his place. Aelita decided to scout before Xana decided to move on his own.
She appeared out of the forest and then reconciled with the group. "Hey guys" she says as she approaches.
"Xana again?" Ulrich asks.
"Do you always assume Xana attacks when I appear? Can't I just talk to you guys?"
"What Ulrich means is that whenever Xana attacks you appear" Odd tells her.
Ulrich glances over to Yumi, sulking. "Anything new?" Aelita asks.
"Besides the laughing gas we got and Ms. Hertz using it laugh which she doesn't do, no."
Aelita looks at Yumi as well. "What's with Yumi?"
"Her parents got into an argument and split" Ulrich says.
"They did?!" Aelita started panicking. She changed the timeline drastically already. God knows what was next.
"They're still married. They're just spending sometime apart to figure things out."
Aelita sighed in relief, knowing this was not her doing. They didn't seem like they would separate at all in the future, but then again, she wasn't here at this time. Aelita knew that if anyone were to break through to Yumi, it would be Ulrich. He still has the ability to do that to her in the future, even though they're married. "You should talk to her Ulrich" Aelita pushes him.
"Are you serious? Best to leave her alone."
"She'll talk to you before she talks to us. Trust me."
Ulrich goes but is immediately shot down after one minute. She really doesn't want to be bothered. Yumi mellowed out more in the future.
Aelita researched the laughing gas and found out it's effective in large amounts. She headed back to Lyoko to tell Xana. Xana appears before her as she enters Lyoko.
"I'm still mad about last time, but right now, let's focus on getting the keys. Laughing gas, there's canisters in the science lab."
"Literally die laughing" Xana replies.
"No deaths."
"Can't guarantee that as once someone inhales the gas, it will be out of my control."
Xana disappeared before Aelita had the chance to ask why. She needed to know how to neutralize the gas in case of emergency.
Aelita decided to go watch the Romeo & Juliet play practice as she was probably never going to see it in real life. The play was going as planned when Odd started laughing uncontrollably. Aelita knew Odd was a joker, but this was even too much for him. Sissi walked over to him and poured water on him, and he stopped.
"Odd, what happened?" Aelita asks.
"I don't know. It felt like something was taking control of me. I couldn't stop" Odd explains.
Aelita knew this was the effect of the laughing gas, knowing Xana was on the move. This is what he meant when he had no control once someone inhales the gas. She knows how to neutralize the gas, but now she must decide what to do. Assist Aelita or save the warriors tonight.
Aelita had some money from the future with her. She ran to the local store and stocked up on water. She was going to need it for tonight if she was going to save everyone. Odd will have to go at it alone. She entered the theater, and the play was progressing. Aelita had a bag of water with her, ready to act when needed. She also had something else.
As the play went on, soon the laughing started. Aelita pulled out a gas mask and started moving. This would protect her from Xana getting to her. Sissi pours water on Ulrich and then he takes it and pours it on Yumi. They stopped but go straight back to it. Aelita walks up to him and pours water on them too.
"Ah! Who are you?" Sissi screams at Aelita.
"Someone who's not gonna hurt you, but doesn't care what you think," Aelita responds handing Sissi a bottle of water. "Pour when they start laughing. The gas hates water. We gotta hold out and prevent them from dying." She also hands bottles to Yumi's parents. "Save your daughter. She cares a lot about you two."
As the four of them try to save them as much as possible, the gas gets more aggressive and just doesn't attack the warriors but everyone else. Aelita grunts knowing Xana doesn't want to lose. But as she closes her eyes in defeat, time is reversed.
Aelita was back on Lyoko, just before the attack. This means current Aelita deactivated the tower before any fatalities could happen. She headed back to see the play. The play went on as normal, but the real act came when Jeremy and Odd pulled a bush up to reveal Ulrich and Yumi hiding together. The whole crowd laughed, even Yumi's parents. Aelita smiled knowing that their marriage was saved. Aelita winked at Yumi and Ulrich signaling that they were meant to be.
(Claustrophobia)
Xana and Aelita are both lost. Aelita does a good job planning the attacks, and Xana tries to put up as much of a resistance as possible, but it isn't enough. No matter the circumstances, the Lyoko Warriors always manage to pull through in the end. Not that Aelita didn't like them winning, but this was moving all too fast for her liking. She needed time to delay them or find a way to stop Aelita from being free so they could steal the keys whenever. She went to discuss the situation.
"Before we move on the offensive, we need a thought-out plan" Aelita says.
"Regardless of the plan, they will figure out a way. They always do" Xana responds.
"If we eliminate them from the situation, then we can have enough time to move on this."
"You said no murder."
"Eliminate doesn't always need to resort to murder. We just have to keep them from reaching the factory. Trap them in a confined place."
"I got an idea, but I need time to prepare."
"Where are you trapping them?"
"Cafeteria."
"I'll get them there. Just be ready by tomorrow."
Aelita exited Lyoko to prepare the next attack.
Aelita walks out and sees everyone except Jeremy and Yumi playing soccer. Yumi had just left a little while ago. She sees how well Ulrich is doing. It was no surprise; he was good back in the day and was just as good in the future. She wondered where Jeremy was though. The only two places would be his bedroom or the laboratory. She then sees a new kid pop up.
"New student huh? Then again when I arrived everyone was new."
The new guy plays a game and just barely beats Ulrich 9-10. Aelita was surprised that someone could actually rival Ulrich in soccer. But this wasn't the competitive game that Ulrich usually plays. This was just a friendly match. They all head off to dinner, but the trap would happen tomorrow.
The next day, everyone is at the cafeteria, and it looks like Aelita would be successful in her trap. She looks and sees the outlets sparking. Xana was nearly ready to move, and he had to do it before lunch ended. Yumi and Jeremy get up and leave. Aelita doesn't notice this as she is waiting for the trap to begin. She didn't like playing the villain, but she had to for this attack. The outlets suddenly explode, startling everybody, even Aelita. She once again looks through the window but sees Jeremy and Yumi missing.
"Great, those two are out. Aelita now has help" Aelita murmurs and now has a decision.
More short circuits started happening and when Odd starts to leave he gets a strong electrical shock. Ulrich pushes him out of the way and Odd falls unconscious. They were all trapped in an electrical cage with no way of escape. Since no escape was possible, Aelita didn't feel needed on Earth anymore. She wanted to assist the Lyoko Warriors but didn't want to this time. She was at a crossroads yet again. She decided to head to the factory to assist if needed.
Aelita was in the lab, waiting on the two. "Already here?" Jeremy asks.
"Just for backup. I'm not going in" Aelita informs them.
"Why not?" Yumi questions.
"Because you can manage it yourself." Aelita knows that Yumi can defend herself pretty well and that her help would not be needed.
"I can't understand what Xana's doing. Nothing unusual in the city, so this electrical discharge is very strange" Jeremy notices as he's talking to Ulrich on the phone. He pauses. "Wait, that's it. He wanted us!" He pauses for a short time. "Yumi and I left before dessert and that's when Xana would have trapped us, leaving Aelita defenseless on Lyoko."
'He was a little too late. Our perfect plan gets shattered by an unexpected occurrence' Aelita thinks, knowing this attack was a bust. Aelita would need to read Jeremy's diary in order to plan these things better.
As the battle continued, Xana sent a few krabs to try to get rid of Yumi, but things were not any better at the cafeteria. "A, stay connected with Ulrich. I got to watch the situation on Lyoko and prepare the return in time" Jeremy tells her.
"Ulrich, this A. What's going on?"
"Bad things. No one can get access without getting shocked and it looks like Xana's trying to cause a cave in" Ulrich reports.
"That's not Xana. The large amount of electrical energy that was stored affected the roof. The electrical field that stops roof access is what's causing the cave in. You got to holdout as long as possible."
"Any ideas?"
Stack whatever you can find in the center of the ceiling. It should give some structural integrity to survive but it won't last forever. So, you and anyone better take shelter under the table. If the roof is to collapse, that may save you when building falls."
"Okay, we'll get to work."
They hung up and turned the situation back on Lyoko. Current Aelita was about to enter the tower.
Ulrich's Point of View
Ulrich and everyone built a tower of tables and chairs. They were all under one table as the ceiling makes all weird noises. A was right. It won't last forever. All he can hope for is that Aelita can deactivate the tower.
"Think she can do it?" Odd asks.
"Hope so. I trust A's intelligence, but if she's wrong, we won't live to see yesterday" Ulrich answers.
"Yeah, the return to the past won't bring us back."
Aelita's Point of View
Aelita was watching as her current self just deactivated the tower. "Hurry and lunch a return!" Aelita urges Jeremy.
"Okay, okay! Return to the past now!" Jeremy says as the return is launched.
Time is reversed to the day before. Aelita this time was watching the game from the bleachers with Yumi. The same situation happens as before, Ulrich being the superstar soccer player he was.
"Okay guys. I gotta head home" Yumi announces.
"If you want, I'll walk you back" Ulrich offers.
"No, I'll do it" Theo interrupts and steals Ulrich's thunder.
"Don't worry. She ain't gone for good" Aelita reassures Ulrich.
She was glad it wasn't William. Knowing him, he would have tried to kiss her on the walk back. Aelita knows what will happen in the future, so she has no concern that no matter what, Ulrich and Yumi will never split up.
A.N. – The episode title revolves around the problems that Xana and Aelita are having. Ideas are wearing thin as Aelita's materialization grows closer. Next time, it will be one episode with shifting points of view. Don't forget about it. PM me with story ideas if you have any! Don't forget to review with questions or comments! I will respond! Stay safe and healthy out there! As always, till next time! See ya! -lyokowarrior97