Chapter 44 Truth & Betrayal (The Key) (Season 2 Finale)
A.N. – This is it! The chapter I've been waiting for! There was a lot of ideas submitted for this one by the submitter, so expect a chapter with A's secrets revealed and everything else as Xana achieves what he's wanted from the start. Let's begin!
Short Summary – After finding out the truth, the fateful day arrives for A and Aelita. But after what A does, will the truth make the Lyoko Warriors trust her again?
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.
WARNING: Slight mention of suicide. Not my views. For story purposes only!
Xana's Point of view
Xana was waiting in sector five, constructing a replica of Aelita's missing fragment that he held from her to tie her to him. Both we're not gonna be free from each other without getting one from the other. Xana needed the keys, and Aelita needed her fragment. But Xana was not concerned about Aelita, it was A.
"A was playing me from the start. She knew about what would happen before it even happened. If her intel is right, then the keys will be mine by tomorrow. But her ability to deliver has yet to be seen. So far, she has deceived, helped, and disobeyed me. She's not mine, and never will be. Tomorrow will test her true ability and loyalty. If she is willing to betray her friends, stopping this event must be important to her," Xana says aloud to himself. He has constructed the fragment. "Now, for her final test."
A's Point of View
A was avoiding all contact with the warriors, even Jeremy, after decoding Franz Hopper's diary. She knew that this would obviously open up all questions and she would tell them when ready, not now. Unfortunately for A, she was in the woods and the group was heading to the factory. They just so happened to see her. "Well, look who it is? Ms. Mysterious and disappearing act" Ulrich comments.
"Do you ever not insult someone when they brush you off? Or are you just to much of a numbskull to see there is a reason why I didn't stick around" A responds.
"That doesn't matter. You have some explaining to do."
"And you have a mission to prepare for, mentally, physically, and emotionally."
"We don't have a mission yet" Odd responds.
"Oh, you will. I know what's in the diary. I know what Xana wants. There is more to this story that you don't know yet."
"Then come with us" Yumi offers.
"No!" A responds harshly. "I'll answer your questions, but not today."
"When then?" Ulrich asks.
"There is a time and a place for everything, but it's not today." A retreats to Lyoko to avoid more confrontation from the warriors.
Aelita's Point of View
The group has just finished watching Franz Hopper's diary. Aelita just started at the screen. For some reason, she couldn't remember her father, but knew what the keys were for.
"The keys to Lyoko. That's what Xana wants to steal from Aelita's memory" Jeremy says.
"But what can Xana do with them?" Ulrich asks.
"Escape from the supercomputer," Aelita responds, like in a trance. "And take over the world."
Aelita then leaves. She was starting to understand why A was avoiding them. To them, it was one mystery solved. But to her and A, it was much more. She was now in the lunchroom as the rest of the group joins her. She was stirring her soup, and she was different then the rest of the days. She was quiet and distant. Even though she was listening to the group and Jeremy explaining that Aelita's fragment she didn't respond till the end.
"Out of the question!" Aelita replied like A earlier and stormed out of the lunchroom. "They just don't understand. If Xana gains the keys, we'll all be in danger! To them, it's just another mission. To me, it's my life, my past…everything!" Tears started coming out of her eyes. She knew that there was only one thing to do.
"Aelita!" Jeremy calls out to her. "Wait! What's the matter?"
"I refuse to set foot on Lyoko ever again."
"Why? What's gotten into you?"
"My father stole my life away. God knows what he also did to A. Because of him, both me and her suffered as lab rats to his crazy experiments, trying to run away from the problems in this world. Me reliving the same day over and over until he decided to put me in with him. And because of him, I'm a just a ghost. My records are all deleted! It's like I never existed."
"And that's behind you now. We'll recover your missing fragment which frees you from Xana, and A will be free too. We can shut down the supercomputer for good."
"What if it goes wrong? Xana has been doing everything to get the keys. What makes you think this time will be any different?"
Jeremy didn't respond as he knew that she was right in every sense. Aelita then continued to save the world herself.
A's Point of View
A entered the supercomputer room before Lyoko was going to shut down. She was going to try and convince Aelita to rethink everything. The door opened to see Aelita ready to pull the plug. "Aelita! Stop! Think about what your doing!" A commands her.
"I'm saving everyone from Xana's wrath!" Aelita responds.
"By killing yourself? Suicide is a cowards way out! You want Xana dead and freedom; you have to fight him head on!"
"You're just like Jeremy. Trying to run my life because of my past. I may be the guardian, but this guardian is choosing to protect everyone. The needs of the many outweigh the need of the few."
"You can still protect everyone by retrieving your code fragment. Once your link to Xana is broken, Xana is no longer a threat."
"He is always a threat. With or without the keys, we're all doomed…" She grips the lever.
"Aelita! Sto-!" She pulls it and everything goes black. A awoke later to find Aelita in Jeremy's arms. She wished she could do the same. "I guess the mission is on then?"
Jeremy nods in response.
All the warriors were gathered in the laboratory, preparing for their ultimate mission. The one to stop Xana for good. "This is the big one guys. We're gonna recover Aelita's missing fragment and free Aelita and A, as well as stop Xana" Jeremy informs them.
"Let's go then. We'll lead the way" Odd announces as they all approach the scanner room.
"We're gonna have a talk after this is over" Ulrich tells A.
"You're gonna get one and your answers" A responds, knowing that the truth may be the one thing that restores their trust in her after this mission.
The girls step in first and then guys. They all virtualize to the ice sector and make it to the edge of the sector. The transporter appears and takes them to sector five. The transporter drops them off and Odd looks unusual.
"What's wrong with you, feel like throwing up like usual?" Ulrich asks.
"No, I don't. That's what I can't understand" Odd replies.
"This mission is different from the others, so this doesn't surprise me" A adds.
"Everybody ready? I'm going to enter the coordinates of the room of Aelita's fragment" Jeremy reports.
"Get ready. The wall is about to open" Aelita reports as it opens. They run to the core zone and the countdown starts.
As they approach the core zone Yumi spots the key. "It's over there."
"Out of reach, as usual" Odd adds.
"Let me handle this" A says as she flies. She was obligated top complete this mission. Her future depended on it.
The left and right walls open and four creepers on each side, eight in total, appeared and started firing. Yumi and Ulrich defend both sides. Odd jumps to one. "Hi there creepers. Still as ugly as usual."
A approaches the key as the countdown reaches one minute. As she about to hit a creeper appears. It hits her and her wings deactivate. She grabs onto a beam and pulls herself up and launching a quick energy orb. "Energy field!" She destroys the creeper. She hits the key with only ten seconds to spare. The floor suddenly opens up and a staircase is made.
"Wanna see how low you can go guys?" Odd asks.
"I thought you were gonna lead the way. Go on" Jeremy replies.
They all quickly descend to the bottom. They see a glowing orb on the other side of the room. "Jeremy, there's something over there" Ulrich reports.
"That's it! That's Aelita's missing fragment!"
A looked over at it and took a deep breath. She had to compose herself. "Let's finish this" she says.
As they start to approach it, creepers appear on platforms heading towards them. "Loom out!" Yumi warns. The four of them defend as Aelita runs to the fragment. Odd is the first to fall and Yumi goes soon after. And the room start to collapse after this.
"Better not drag your feet!" A says as they take off in a full sprint.
Just as the three of them fall they all land on a flying manta. "Jeremy it's getting worse" Ulrich comments.
"Oh no. It's getting better" Jeremy comments, knowing Xana isn't in control of these monsters.
"You're crazy! What's going on?"
"It's Franz Hopper who's controlling the mantas!"
The manta drops them off at the fragment. Aelita walks up to it and grabs it. It breaks in front of her, and the trap activates as the rest of the room starts to fall apart. A activates her wings. She grabs Ulrich and Aelita and flies out of the trap range. She lands but doesn't deactivate her wings.
"Jeremy, we survived."
"No you didn't," A quickly responds as she fires an orb at Ulrich. He devirtualizes and A grabs Aelita before flying her back to the platform. "Sorry Aelita, but this has to happen." She turns her around to the Scyphozoa. After it grabs her, A flies away and through a Lyoko door.
As A makes it back to the real world, she looks back to see Xana escaping. A tear forms in her eye, but she couldn't prevent this event from happening if something worse was gonna come from it.
A was at a local pub in Paris. Even though the world was in danger, she decided she needed a few hours to let the others recover with Aelita and to help her recover from her emotional trauma. After about two hours, she walks back to the factory, a little tipsy, but still sober enough to explain everything.
Aelita's Point of View (A Few Hours Ago…)
Aelita wakes up later, completely in shock of what happened. The last thing she remembers is the Scyphozoa stealing all her memory. But the only difference is, she now remembers her past…all of it. She somehow recovered her missing fragment.
Xana's Point of View
It finally happened. Xana obtained the keys to Lyoko. He approached Franz's chamber. "Looks like you failed old man. The keys are now mine."
"I knew this was gonna happen due to my daughter" Franz says.
"Things will turn out differently this time. But I'll give you a sporting chance. The world is my concern, but I'll be back for you. You can leave but be bound to Lyoko."
"I will be rescued."
"I doubt it. Here," Xana hands him the fragment he took from Aelita to bind him to her. "Save your daughter. This fragment, is no use to me anymore." Xana disappears after this.
Aelita's Point of View
Aelita reappears in the scanners with all of her friends surrounding her. They all go to leave the academy, but they see a familiar figure on the bridge, waiting for them.
"Look who it is, the traitor!" Ulrich says with hatred.
"Oh please, there is worse I could've done. This is just a small price to pay" A responds.
"Dooming our world is a small price to pay?!" Yumi responds.
"We all done something we're not proud of, but this takes it to a new low!" Odd adds.
"And what are you gonna do about it? What's done is done!" A responds.
"We may not be able to destroy Xana, but we're still gonna mess you up!" Ulrich says as he, Yumi, and Odd approach her.
She laughs. "You really think you can beat me?"
They all rush her. Ulrich tries to punch her, but she blocks and sweeps his feet before kicking him away. Odd tries a few swift attacks and she garbs his fist after a few missed punches. She knees him in the stomach and throws him to Ulrich. Yumi tries to go in from behind. She grabs her and flips her over her head and Yumi lands on her back. She picks her up by her collar and throws her over to her fellow two fallen friends. "My martial art background really shows when I'm outnumbered. Useful if your foe outnumbers you ten to one." A refers to if Xana were to return, he would definitely try to outnumber the warriors.
"I knew she was good, but that was insane" Ulrich says, grunting.
"If you all stop acting like idiots, you'll get your explanation you want."
"It better be something good."
"The reason my martial arts background is different is because of the style that is designed about fifteen years from now."
"Fifteen years!?" Odd replies.
"No way you're telling the truth!" Yumi adds.
"I am. My friends and I all got the background in case our worst enemy would return…Xana."
"Xana's still alive in the future?" Jeremy says.
"No, but we feared that with the extensive knowledge that he obtained before we defeated him, he could've come back. So, in preparation for this event we all did something in case of his return. Learned martial arts, developed weapons, helped us defeat him faster."
"Who are you?" Aelita asked.
"I'm you." A replied.
"Me?"
"Yes, only a 21 year older version of you. So, I'm about roughly 34 years old."
"So, you're from the future?" Odd asks.
"Yes. I came back to prevent an event that left a traumatic experience on my life. In order to prevent this event, I came back to this day and defeated Xana before you went after the fake fragment and fell into Xana's trap. Problems arose when I returned to my own time. Only two people survived, me and my father. My father thought he learned enough from creating Xana, he thought he could make something better. Unfortunately, his new experiment went completely haywire and wiped out humanity. I had to come back to make sure things happened a certain way. Like I said, Aelita losing her memory was a small price to pay. If Xana escaping saves billions, then so be it."
"Let me guess, those Lyoko bands-" Jeremy starts.
"Were developed and created by you and me to help us get to Lyoko faster to stop Xana. Only me, Yumi, Ulrich, and Odd have one. If we were on separate corners of the world, we could all appear on Lyoko to stop Xana."
"So, what now?" Odd asks.
"You continue to fight Xana. I don't expect you to trust me, at least not right now. But think about it on break. Hopefully when the new year begins, we can have a fresh start." She starts walking away.
"Where are you going?" Ulrich asks.
"To drink away my troubles and emotional trauma. I think you five have someone who needs you more. We'll see each other again soon."
Aelita and the others were back in Jeremy's room, discussing the recent events of this mission. Aelita was petting Kiwi. "Right, would someone say something funny before I have a heart attack?" Odd says.
"My father sacrificed himself for me, and we don't even know if he's still on Lyoko" Aelita responds.
"Not mention A being your future counterpart" Yumi says.
"Fine, excuse me while I have a heart attack" Odd responds.
"All of your memories of your life on Earth, that was the fragment Xana took from you, to bind you to him! And Franz Hopper managed to give them back to you" Jeremy explains.
"What about A? Ever since Xana's second attack, she was playing us from the start. Gained our trust, infiltrated our group, and turned around and betrayed us. We don't even know if the future she spoke of was real" Ulrich says.
"If it is, it no longer exists" Yumi adds.
"Right now, we got Xana to worry about. Aelita may be free, but so is he. A might be a little sketchy, but right now she may be the best to help us defeat him. We'll fight. Xana may have become more powerful, but I don't think he's invincible! If he attacks, we'll counterattack! We'll find a way to get rid of Xana for good!"
"And we'll do everything to secure A's future for her and us" Odd says.
"And we'll do everything to find your dad Aelita" Yumi adds.
"You're right. The fight has to go on. After all…fighting Xana is my job" Aelita states.
The Lyoko Warriors all start holding hands, forming a circle. Aelita takes Yumi and Jeremy's hand. "No Aelita, it's our job. Whatever comes our way, we'll survive" Jeremy replies with a smile. The Lyoko Warriors have a bond that will never be broken.
A's Point of View
A was fully drunk, but she forgot about what she did to Aelita. There was one thing she had to do before sobering up. She entered Xana's lair in sector five. The area was all dark and uninhabited. She didn't expect Xana to be here. She walked to her father's cell, finding it open. "He's released," A says. "He is now Xana's major threat." A turns around. "I guess our partnership is over too, but my mission still goes on. I know your not a threat daddy, but I can't let you live. Even if the trauma follows me for life, I'll give everyone else a happy life, I promise."
A.N. – And thus ends season 2 with a reveal of part of the truth. Her alliance to Xana will not be revealed until close to the end of season 4 and for a good reason. One I can tell and that is if she were to tell them that, she would more trouble then she needs. She needs to keep the warriors on a need-to-know basis. Just like season 1, I will be taking a two week break to prepare for the shortest season, season 3. That will only take me about roughly two to three months to finish. Only thing that's coming is more trouble, more secrets, and a decision that changes everything. PM me with story ideas! Review with questions or comments! I will respond! As always, till next time! See ya in two weeks! -lyokowarrior97