Author's Note: So after getting some advice from a fellow creator, I decided to redo this Chapter. This actually as chapter 2 tied into it as well so I think it worked out as the Prologue. Shoutout to AJleefan for the advice to rewrite. Anyways to story!

Prologue: A time before Lyoko.

An Unknown amount of time ago...

As the sun began to rise, a little cottage not too far from the woods was spotted. The house had bright colors and from this house a certain tone was played. It was this tone that attracted a certain boy to the house, as it reminded him of his mother.

The boy had silver hair to contrast with the white snow. He looked no older than around 7 years old and had brown eyes. His clothes were ragged and he looked to have not eaten in days.

When he went to the house and looked through the window he saw a man on the piano with a little girl sitting on his stool. Well that is until they spotted the boy.

"Daddy? Who's that boy over there?" The girl asked.

The boy not wanting to be caught immediately began to run away from the house, not wanting to be caught. Unfortunately for the boy his escape was dashed when he fell off the side of the house and heard a crack in the bones.

"AH!" The boy cried out in pain as he had felt his leg not responding to him anymore. He heard the door open and he saw that the man was coming to punish him.

"No please! Stay away!" The man approached the boy and realized that he boy had broken his leg. He didn't expect that the boy would the look of being absolutely frightened of him.

'This boy is truly terrified of me. I am guessing something must have traumatized this boy.'

"It's okay son, I am not here to hurt you." The man began to lean over to treat the boy's leg,but he saw that there was still doubt in the boy's eyes. "Please let me at least treat the wound, then you are free to do whatever you wish."

While the boy did want to run away… He really couldn't with the leg. So he complied and sat as the man began to treat his leg. They sat in silence for a while until he whispered something inaudible to the man.

"Thank you…"

The man pretended to not hear it but was at least thankfully that the boy spoke. He also saw his little angel come out of the cottage in her pink coat down to him and the boy.

"Okay. All done." He stood up and grabbed his little angel by the shoulder and pulled her in tight. The little girl was grabbing the man's coat.

"Now then, why were you spying on us?" The man wasn't trying to scare the boy off so he used a light yet curious tone.

The boy twiddled his thumbs before answering the question. He wasn't sure that he should answer. But then again, the man did help him after all. Plus he had a little girl with him.

"Because the music reminded me of my mother." He answered with a tone of sadness. This wasn't missed by the man as he wondered where this boy's parents were.

"Where are your parents?" The man asked.

"... They are gone. They died when I was young from a trip for Korea to France. I have been living in an orphanage ever since. Eventually I ran away because all the kids called me a freak for having silver hair." The boy was barely able to speak as the memories of the orphanage came back to him. If not for the small girl now holding his hand then he would have started to cry.

"I am sorry for what happened to you. It must have been an awful experience to lose your parents." The man was proud of his little angel to try and cheer the boy up. He went over to him and held a hand out.

"I am Franz Hopper. Now could you tell me your name?" The man asked.

"Michael… Michael Chang." The hesitated before he grab Hopper's hand.

"I am Aelita. Aelita Schaeffer. Nice to meet you." The little girl had a bright smile on her safe that lifted Michael's mood.

"Franz Hopper, Aelita. Thank you so much."

Years later...

"Hey Dad! Aelita! Dinner is done!" Michael said as he wiped the sweat from his hair. He set the table and set his stir fry along with it.

After that day, Michael ended up staying with Franz hopper's family considering he really had nowhere else to go. In exchange Michael offered to do all the house chores. Such as cooking, laundry, and even mowing the lawn. Although Franz Hopper argued every time that he would do it, Michael would always be early to his tasks and made sure that he would finish before there was any say. Franz eventually gave up.

A new change also happened. His father decided to move and so they were stationed at their new home, The Hermitage. It wasn't the cottage on the mountain, but it was home.

"Thanks Michael. Be right down. I need to check the program." Franz replied to the call. Michael was always curious on what his father was exactly talking about, but he never really asked. Although on occasion he would show him how to work with computers. The two really did bond over computers and coding. Michael even became somewhat of an expert at it.

"Aelita!... Aelita?" Michael was slightly confused at the fact that Aelita hadn't replied to him yet.

'Odd… I wonder what's keeping her.' Michael threw off his cooking apron and went upstairs. He walked towards Aelita's bedroom and looked in.

"Hey Aelita…" Unfortunately he wasn't able to finish his statement as Aelita was fast asleep on her bed with her Mister Puck deeply tucked with her.

'Well I can't exactly wake up something that precious now can I?' Michael carefully tip toed across the floorboard and approached the little pink haired figure. He carefully grabbed her covers and put them over her.

'It's odd to think that she is almost 12 years old. And it's almost hard to believe I have been here for five years.' Michael thought as he finished putting the covers over her. He saw Aelita squirm a little, but now with a big smile on her face as she felt the warmth of the covers.

Michael exited the room satisfied with the work he had done. He went back downstairs to where his dad was already eating.

"Is she asleep?" His father asked.

"Yeah. How did you guess?" Michael taking Aelita's plate and covering it before placing it in fridge.

"Because ever since you started cooking, she had never missed a meal." His father said semi seriously and jokingly. Truth be told Franz Hopper wasn't the greatest of chefs. So when Michael took over cooking he was grateful.

"Haha. Please, I just do what I can. After all you two saved me. It's the least I can do." Michael also now sat at the table eating his food across from his father.

The two sat talking about various things. Such as school, how their days went, and what future plans were. But then, unexpectedly Michael apparently dropped a hammer down on the conversation.

"How is that virtual world coming along?" Michael asked while his father dropped the spoon.

"Michael? How do you know about that?" His father now on somewhat serious but also curious.

"Oh… I am sorry… Was I not suppose to know?" Michael was genuinely shocked that his father didn't know he knew. "When you were showing me the program the other day, the file next to it said Lyoko. And based on the coding it looked almost like a video game. I am sorry that you didn't know…"

His father on the other hand was impressed that despite Lyoko being revealed to a 12 year old, he was able to decipher it that quickly. After all that was seriously intensive code that was running down the screen.

'I guess five years of coding with me has taught him well.' Franz thought to himself.

Eventually a point of silence was made and Michael began to clean the table.

"Michael." His father now with a somewhat serious voice.

"Yeah dad? What's up?" Michael unaware of the seriousness behind his father's voice as he began doing the dishes.

"Would you protect Aelita no matter what the cost?" Michael was shocked to hear his father say that but he continued washing the plates under the hot water.

"Honestly after these five years, yeah. She is so precious and innocent that I can't help but feel happy around her. I would protect her even if it meant giving my own life. She is that special." Michael wasn't sure why his father asked that question but after his father saved him, he wasn't going to poke his nose around.

"That's all I wanted to know." His father having a smile on his face retired to his office.

The next day...

Michael had just finished his training with his mentor Ippo. Ippo was a stickler for early practice so Michael had to wake up around 6am every morning and trained for two hours almost everyday. He was aiming to be a great boxer and his mentor happened to be one of the best. The training was harsh but he had gained a lot of muscle ever since he started training at the age of 10.

He arrived home to no one being around. At first he had wondered if his father and Aelita had went into town, but he hadn't heard anything from them. He began to worry but, first went ahead and showered. After getting out of the shower he discovered that a note had been left in his bedroom.

Aelita and I needed to pick up a few things. Be back in half an hour-Franz.

Michael was relieved to see that nothing bad had happened. Especially after that one time with the men in black. He was about to go outside when he saw another note.

Thank for you for yesterday. You better make that stir fry again for my birthday!- Aelita.

Michael chuckled at the note before heading out to practice his boxing form. He was currently working on his jabs and straights. He unfortunately like most days, had suffered the wrath of his teacher's killer move: The Dempsey roll. And he needed to improve on being able to counter it. After a while he finished up and began to meditate. While he took up boxing as a main sport, he did a little side kung fu. As his father taught him before the trip to France. And meditating was something that he always did.

Unfortunately for Michael, he didn't realize how much time had passed and as a result got a giant snowball thrown at him.

"Hey! What happened to welcome back huh?" Michael shouted as he saw his attacker.

"Well, let's just say that this time the wolf has become the prey." Aelita shouted as Franz simply smiled at the two's antics. That was something new as well. Michael's new boxer name had been wolf. Mainly because of his silver hair and his ability to always find the right time to strike.

"Why you! Come here Princess!" Michael began chasing Aelita across the entire lot snowball in hand.

Over the past years Franz noticed that Michael made Aelita very happy. Not to say that he didn't do his best, but it was always reassuring to have Michael there for her. Even through the dark times. While Franz would love to stay and watch he went inside to the grand piano.

Eventually all the fun and games had ended and Aelita went into the house running. She heard her father playing twinkle twinkle little star.

"Daddy, I am going up to my room." Aelita told her father who simply nodded.

Michael walked in after all the antics had finished and saw his father for once not on the computer.

"I am going to shower up and finish some stuff up." Again his father simply nodded.

Later in the day and dinner had come. And Michael was already hard at work preparing some France steak and fries for the family. His father was still playing his favorite song and it worried Michael to a degree.

'He only plays this song when he is worried or stuck on a problem. He can't be stuck, after all he told me that the program was finished. So what could it be?' Michael then set the table.

"Dinner is ready!" Michael to the house. Immediately you can hear Aelita running down the stairs and almost crashing into the table.

"I didn't want to miss this!" Aelita exclaimed as she began to eat her food. Michael smiled at Aelita's excitement for food. It was one of the various reasons he loved cooking.

Michael waited for a few minutes and went to see what his dad was doing. He saw that he was still at the grand piano still playing the same song.

"Dad? Dinner is all set." While his father looked up Michael saw something that he hadn't seen since the first run in with the men in black.

"Of course. Can you bring it to me? I would be better here." Franz then returned to his piano.

"Sure thing dad." Michael went ahead and went back to the kitchen. Aelita was already digging into her food as Michael went to bring out his dad's dinner.

"What's wrong with dad?" Aelita asked curious while Michael sat down to eat his food.

"Don't worry about it Aelita. It's just work. The job and everything is stressing him out." While Michael knew it was something else he knew it was best for Aelita not to know right now.

"How is school going Aelita?" Michael trying to divert the subject.

"It's going well! I am really enjoying classes there. The people are really interesting." Aelita said way too quickly.

"Hmm… Now I wonder. Does my little strawberry head have a crush?" Michael smirked a little as he saw Aelita blush.

"No way! What makes me your little strawberry head anyways? We are the same age!" Aelita now pouting and raising her fork to Michael's head.

"Okay okay. Let's leave it at that huh? I got morning practice so I am going to go ahead and turn it in." Michael picked up his tray and threw it in the sink.

"Good night Wolf!"

"Night Strawberry head."

In Michael's dream space…

"Michael, did you have fun today?" A female figure asked.

"Yeah! It was a lot of fun! I want to come back soon! Right dad?" A smaller Michael asked the other figure next to the female.

"Yeah maybe next time son. Let's go we are going to be late."

"Alright!"

The family walked down the streets of Paris passing several shops along the way. They even stopped and took a picture near the Eiffel Tower on the way to their destination. As they finished their photography and continued they reached a crosswalk.

"Mommy! Can't we go? I want to hurry and see one more stop!" Michael cried out.

"Sorry Michael." The mother kneeled down and flick him on the forehead. "Maybe next time."

HONK! HONK!

"WATCH OUT!" A man screamed at the top of his lungs as a truck came into view of the family.

Back outside the dream

"NO! Ah! Ha… Ha…." Michael screamed and panted as he looked around and saw that he was in bed. Realizing it was a nightmare, he slowed his breathing down. He was going to stand up when he felt something wet on the bed. He looked and saw that his own figure was outlined on the sheets.

'Whoa. That's a lot of sweat… I guess I need to throw that in laundry later.' Michael thought to himself. He looked over at the clock to see that it was 3am. He gathered his sheets and changed out his clothes as they were soaked as well. He went to the laundry room and threw everything in.

'I should run that before I leave later today.' He left the sheets, grabbing a towel, and went to the kitchen. He grabbed a glass of water and sat on the couch.

'These memories… I will never get forgot them. Even after five years, they still feel like yesterday. I hope that they are at least resting peacefully.'

"CREEK! EP!"

"I know you are there Aelita." Michael called without looking away from his spot. Aelita sighed and quickly relieved herself to the silver haired boy.

"It was that bad huh? I am so pathetic. Michael wasn't particularly happy that he woke Aelita up again due to these nightmares. Michael's routine with nightmares was pretty regular. Wake up in a cold sweat, throw on some new clothes, and get a glass of water. And every time he had them a certain pink haired figure would always know.

"You were screaming pretty loudly. Was it that bad?" Aelita now sitting on the couch concerned for him.

"Yeah. This was one was about the time I lost my parents. Probably one of the worst ones that I could ever have." Although Michael wasn't open with most, Aelita was one of the people he trusted the most.

"You know it's not your fault right? There was nothing you could-"

"I know!" Michael screamed out in a strained voice. "I know I couldn't have done anything. But, it still hurts to know that I couldn't have done anything." He paused before taking a deep breath. "Sorry. I have been just stressed out lately."

"I know you didn't mean it. I am just worried is all." Aelita knowing how Michael gets about his parents.

"Thanks Aelita. Go get some sleep. I will be here if you don't mind." While Michael relaxed and began to try and drift again he didn't feel the weight of the couch change. "Aelita-"

"I just don't want to be awaken again to you screaming again. I will stay here." Aelita wasn't budging and if there is one thing Michael couldn't beat her in, it's stubbornness

"Alright then. Good night then."

Later that morning…

Michael had woken up at the time he would need to go out running and got up from the couch. Aelita was still fast asleep and drooling a little from her mouth.

'If anyone ever found out she did that… Man they would pay to see that.'

"Aelita. Time for school." Michael whispered to her. Aelita rubbed her eyes and looked at the clock that read 6:30.

"Okay…" Aelita began to get up when she noticed the drool around her mouth and her face went as red as a tomato. "Did you…"

"Bye Drool Face!" Michael shut the door and swear he could hear Aelita yelling at him in the background.

In the afternoon Michael sat around practicing his swordsmanship. About a year ago, he was given an opportunity to participate in a boxing competition and Ippo told him that he should go for it. After winning the whole thing instead of being awarded points to the rankings he was given a Katana as a prize. So since he had nothing to do, he decided to learn how to use it. And he had gotten very good at it. He was in the backyard and heard the sound of someone's bike heading to the front of the house.

Michael set the sword aside and came into the house. He saw that Aelita came running in and could only smile on how happy she was. What didn't make him happy though was that his father again had been playing twinkle twinkle star on the piano.

"Daddy, I am going up to my room." His father acknowledged her and she left to go up to the room.

"Hey, I will make snacks later." Aelita nodded as she ran upstairs and Michael returned to his sword.

An hour later Michael just finished practice and went inside to prep some sandwiches. He was about to call to his family when he heard a car on the driveway screech.

'No! It couldn't be…'

"Alright come out of there!" A man shouted. Michael dropped his plate and immediately went to his father who simply acknowledged what was happening. The men in black had arrived.

"Daddy! Michael!" Aelita cried out. They both went up to Aelita's room to where she had already seen them.

"The men in black are here." Aelita said in a worried tone.

"We know." Was all Michael could really say.

"Do you remember where Mister Puck is?" Their father asked.

"Yes." Aelita went and grabbed him as their father lead them both downstairs.

The men in black however were already through the front door and stared at Franz Hopper as Michael and Aelita followed their father.

'Shoot!' Michael thought.

"Ah!" Aelita shouted.

"This way!" Franz grabbed both Aelita and Michael's hands and lead them down to the basement. They were running like the wind as they heard the men in black closing in behind them. They opened the door to the backyard and shut the door behind them.

Michael saw a piece of wood and shoved it against the door as the three went through the secret underground tunnel. He heard the door break open but not the secret tunnel door. That meant they were safe, for now.

The family had reached a strange lab room. Aelita and Michael began to look around lab as their father began to type something on the computer.

"But where are we?" Aelita asked with curiosity.

"My laboratory." Franz answered not looking away from his computer.

"You mean…" But Michael wasn't able to finish his statement as his father grabbed both of their hands.

"Come on." Franz pulled them both to the elevator.

"Where?" Aelita asked. Michael seemed to start to piece things together as their father answered the question.

"To a world where we will all be safe, forever." Franz simply answered.

'He can't mean...' Michael looked at his father who only shook his head to confirm his suspicions.

They went down to the scanner room and the family went into the scanners.

"See you two in a minute." Franz said to both.

"See you in a minute daddy. Michael."Aelita said to both of her family members.

"Yeah see you guys in a minute." Michael looked towards his father who only seemed to mouth one thing.

"Protect her no matter what." The scanners closed and began the virtualization process.

A new beginning. That's what Michael thought when he was first on the virtual plane in Lyoko. But as things came to be he discovered that it really was a new beginning. He along with Aelita had been transferred onto the virtual world known as Lyoko.

While Aelita had a pink outfit along with her hair Michael was a little different. He had a symbol crest for a wolf on his chest and a single Katana blade for combat. He kept his silver hair and had a sliver outfit to match. He also noticed that as he was getting used to this new world his fists would occasionally glow.

'So this is the world that you were developing all these years dad?' Michael thought as he wondered where his dad was.

"Daddy? Where are you?" Aelita asked outloud.

"I am right here you two." Franz answering his daughter's call. Franz came down in several spheres and descended for the two to see.

"I can't be in physical form like you two just yet. I still have much work to do on world needs to develop more." Franz explained to his children.

"Hold on a second." Michael now looking towards the spheres that was his father. "This world… Lyoko… How can it develop more than it already has? According the program-" Michael was interrupted as he heard a strange noise approaching them.

"Daddy there are some strange creatures over there." Aelita said as they began to charge their lasers.

"Run Aelita! Michael! Run!" Franz exclaimed to his children.

Michael and Aelita began to run away from the creatures as their lasers began flying towards them. Michael had a brief memory pop up as he saw Aelita get hit with one of the lasers.

'Protect her no matter what.'

"Aelita! Get to that tower over there! I will try and stall for you!" Michael quickly unsheathed his Katana and looked towards the creatures that were approaching.

"But what about you?!" Aelita asked very worried.

"Don't worry go!" Aelita while very doubtful left Michael and continued on route to the tower.

"I will not allow you to pass!"

As the creatures began firing Michael did the best he could to deflect the oncoming shots that might hit Aelita. Eventually they stopped trying to hit Aelita and focused on hitting Michael.

"Dang! That's a lot of lasers!" Michael cried out as Franz Hopper could only watch as his daughter was now waiting outside the tower for her brother.

"Michael! Deflect the lasers towards them!" Franz said to his son.

"What do you think I am trying to do?" Michael eventually deflect a laser to one of the creatures causing it to explode. As Michael continued to try and deflect lasers one managed to knock him back a few feet. He landed flat on the ground and cried out in pain.

"AH!" Franz although you couldn't see was worried while there was an audible cry from Aelita. "DANG IT!" Michael pounded the ground as hard as he could and he saw that the ground shook a little as he noticed his fists were glowing.

"Wait a minute… Could it be?" Michael spoke out loud as he realized what had just happened. He unsheathed his Katana and quickly got in his boxing stance. He took a swing at the air and saw that the punch cut through the air and punched the creature straight on the weird symbol on it's face. The other creatures were knocked off the edge and a big flash of light came from below.

"I knew it! That program was designed to take our own memories and preferences into account! AGH!" Michael took a knee as he noticed that it took a lot out of him.

'It looks like for those kind of punches it takes some of my life force with it.' Michael saved the thought for later as walked over to the tower and tripped up before Aelita caught him.

"Are you alright?" Aelita asked concerned for Michael's safety.

"Yeah. Let's just get into the tower." The two entered the tower as Franz himself was entering the tower.

The two made their way to the center of the XANA symbol, and Michael rested on the ground while Aelita was sitting in the center of the circle.

"Aelita, Michael." Franz called to his children. Both looked around for their father before the spheres came from above below to them.

"Daddy. Is Michael going to be okay?" They both looked towards Michael who was extremely tired from their last encounter.

"Yes I believe so. Aelita I need to make contact with XANA. I need to persuade him that we can live peacefully here." Franz explained as Michael began to worry.

"Who is XANA?" Aelita wondered.

"He is a multi agent computer program I created. He achieved self awareness and autonomy and is trying to eliminate us from this world."

"What?!" Michael now sitting up from this most recent development. "Dad! How could a program gain the ability of self awareness? Not to mention… Reasoning with a program like that is impossible!"

'Michael knew about this?' Aelita thought as Franz was beginning to fade away. Michael sighed as he knew that his father had already left to go reason with the program. All he could do was wait. Well at least that's what he thought until a certain strawberry top came over to him.

"Michael. What was Daddy talking about?" Aelita came over to Michael and was right in his face.

'Crap… Thanks Dad for leaving me for the explanation.' At first Michael was silent and then eventually gave in. "Dad… Was working on this program. And while I didn't see too much of it I saw this world. It's called Lyoko and for now it's where we are most safe."

Aelita worryingly sat back down and saw that her brother then tried to stand up and walk over. He struggled but made it and embraced Aelita in a hug.

"Don't worry. No matter what I will always protect you." The silver haired figure spoke as Aelita felt more at ease and the two embraced each other for a few moments.

As time passed Michael and Aelita began to worry about their father. Michael however heard a faint noise outside the tower but quickly ignored it to not draw Aelita's attention.

'Dad wouldn't want us to risk ourselves right now.' Unfortunately Aelita heard and began to run out of the tower.

"Daddy! I am coming Daddy!" Aelita was close to exiting the tower but Michael grabbed her hand.

"Aelita wait!" But his pleas weren't answered as Aelita forcefully made her way out the tower and Michael followed her suit.

A new set of monsters that had wings were now flying and began attacking the sphere that was their father.

"Daddy!"

"Franz!"

"No you two! It's not safe out here! Get back in the tower!" Franz shocked to see his children out the tower.

"Stop screwing with me! Hold on Old man!" Michael quickly drawn power to his fist and punched the air destroying two of the seven creatures. But that resulted in the creatures firing three direct lasers into his chest and knocking onto the ground.

"Michael!" Both Aelita and Franz cried out. Michael was feeling pretty week and barely had the energy to stand up. The creatures then refocused on their father.

"You both possess the keys to Lyoko! XANA must never get his hands on them. Do you understand?" Both Aelita and Michael slightly nodded in acknowledgement. "It's over. XANA is too powerful. He has become a threat to all of mankind. I have to shut down the supercomputer."

Aelita carried Michael supporting him into the tower and again both were at the center.

"But… Does that mean we will die?" Aelita asking her father.

"No. But you two must never forget me! EVER!" Their father being very expressive on that part.

And that was the last they ever heard of their father's voice.

Author's Note: Alright first chapter officially finished! And I think i am going to keep it like that... Hopefully haha. Hope you guys enjoyed. A review is greatly appreciated and till next time!