Well... I finally pulled this back out, read it, and figured 'To hell with it'. Whats the worst that can happen, somebody on teh intarwebz decides they don't like it and make a stink. This is my first attempt at any sort of writing at all really and I am open to all 'Constructive' criticism (my GF is giving me earfuls already ;3) and I hope that I can actually improve into a passable writer with some guidance.
So, with that out of the way I better give you a little idea of what my plan is for this fanfic. The basic story will remain the same, I've decided that I might change the whole "Emperor trying to rule the world through some obscure 'God' figure that is never explained" into something different, and these 'changes' will be covered by flashbacks when I finally hammer out my plan for them. The Code is being changed quite a bit as I was never really satisfied with any explanations for it in the series (this is covered in a later chapter) but the basics of it will remain the same. i.e. Code-bearer's are immortal, capable of granting geass' and transferring their code to a contractor of sufficient power.
Lulu lives! I am giving him his fathers code (Boo, snarl and hiss all you want but there isn't really a better way to keep him alive and honestly if hes dead there isn't anything to write about is there?)... for now... There will be a very drastic switch from world-spanning conflicts involving ridiculous amounts of troops to very individual conflicts involving at most several people. Required in my mind because the world is suppose to be settling down and having giant armies is kinda against the new policies in place. Knightmares will see a similar reduction in appearance due to supplies being moved to domestic uses (No freaking 10th generation KMF's tyvm) and many of the existing ones will be reduced to Season 1 standards (5th and 6th generation)+flight. Alright, I think I bored you enough there. Go, read, enjoy and comment please.
I own nothing, all characters/places/objects in this chapter are property of their respective owners.
I.
One little oversight
Chapter 1: The Stage
"Your highness!" A cry tore through a raw throat, followed by a peel of thunder and its harolding flash. The recently comatose figure's upper body shot upright with mechanical speed and his head whipped around looking for the object of his concern. Mud and blood covered the soaked white and blue uniform, caked on his ocean-green hair, over his swollen face, and smeared across the gold and ivory mask over his left eye.
The alley he lay in was swollen with water from the storm overhead, several broken bats and pipes lay nearby. Their wielders were strewn about the alley in various states of physical distress, but all blissfully unconscious and in no fatal danger. His prize was not in sight, much to the grieving knight's sorrow. His lips drew back in a silent snarl of rage that quickly bowed to a much more painful expression as he realized his prince was gone.
"Where have the fiends taken you?" He moaned in a solemn tone "vicious, ravening DOGS!" He cried. " You deny me even the small comfort of placing my lord in his grave do you!" muttering incoherently Jerimiah slowly rose to his feet.
"Bite the very hand that fed, clothed, and saved you. Truely nought but beasts these... 'knights'." Rage and sorrow conflicted visibly across the Margave's face. "You deny a lost servant witness to his master's final resting place. The same master you served alongside me not so long ago!" Bitterly shaking a bruised head Jerimiah's tears were swallowed into the rain pouring down his face.
"I... I have failed your son... Lady Marianne. Can I... can... can I ever... Ever atone? To you, your son. I may have very well doomed your family with my incompetence, my lady. A stupid, worthless knight, I can not even secure the body of my lord. Lost to the TRAITOROUS ANIMALS who he has given food, life, and country to and for." Face peeling into a frightening sneer Jerimiah stalked down the street surging with water, mud, and forever stained with his prince's blood.
The 'Black Knights', traitorous breed they were, had ambushed him as he attempted to sneak his prince's corpse away from the horde of Japanese that would enjoy nothing more then its desecration. Lelouch vi Brittania had built a formidable force to safeguard the world, it was unfortunate that they had no honor for their fallen foes. The cyborg knight had held back against them, unwilling to slay the former servants of his prince, a foolish and un-returned sediment it seemed. They had used metal pipes, bats, knives and rifle butts to finally drive even his 'Storm of Loyalty' into the filthy mud of their prized nation. If not for his enhanced body he likely would have joined his prince in the afterlife.
Tears of shame, rage, and agony blended seamlessly as the battered broken figure screamed his sorrows to the unrelenting, unforgiving sky.
/-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-/
Truly a horrid, filthy sensation. It permeated the air, his clothing, his skin, even his thoughts. "I am disgusting." was frozen into the front of his mind. Stronger now then ever before as his most recent betrayal mingled with his ancient, rash decision, his failure to protect his love, and his indecision of what was right. Creating a force of self-loathing that radiated through the very air around him.
"WORK DAMN YOU!" the masked figure of black, gold, and purple screamed as he tried to drive the jeweled sword in his hands through his chest. A terrifyingly powerful voice grabbing his body at the last minute to grind his will to dust with a simple word "LIVE". The cursed sword that would not touch him, even as it greedily stole life from his best friend, sliding smoothly past his skin. Lelouch's last command keeping Susaku from even tearing the cursed costume he was now a part of.
His falling body slammed hard onto the bathroom floor in a jumble of limbs and tatters of pride. There was no release, no 'saviour' to pull him from his pit of self-hatred and pain. He had seen to that himself. Slaying the demon who had taken control of the world like a toy. The genius terror of every man, woman, and child upon its surface, Lelouch vi Brittania, 99th emperor of Brittania. Susaku's only true friend, his last quavering link to his humanity.
They had always worked well together. Lelouch's brilliance and his own determination and physical prowess. Since they had met years ago, while never on truly good terms, they had been unstoppable. Hating each other, but hating more to lack the other at their back.
Regicide, homicide, throwing everything he loved and held close away had been his path to power. Not that Susaku had ever made it easy for him to do it any other way, fighting to break the future emperor's growing power at every turn. Even selling him for a promotion that had not changed anything in the end. Susaku couldn't stand it, how his own methods had been just as twisted in the end. Lelouch threw everything away for results. He threw everything away for nothing.
"Is this the best we could accomplish?" he wondered aloud, curling into a tiny ball of self-contempt. "Is THIS really all the two of us together could do?" snarling the boy tore the heavy mask from his face, brown hair falling around his face as he stared deep into the glistening surface. The figure he had fought, chased, cursed, and finally become.
"I... didn't want to... I.. I.." unable to finish as tears came, accompanied by wracking sobs and shuddering breaths. The scene replaying over and over endlessly in his mind.
"I meant to miss." he whispered, recalling his final moment of indecision. And the heroism his counterpart showed in making his own demise perfect, precise in every detail of his greatest sacrifice. "'Zero Requiem' has failed already Lelouch." Susaku whispered into the soft purple and black cape, still carrying the aura of its former owner. "The world won't be better without you. Maybe I'm wrong, but this tiny portion of the world that has your friends, your confidants, your truly loyal subjects. This portion will grieve for a figure that endures the world's hatred, forever." sobs continuing unabated into the black and gold that had once cloaked his friend.
"Am 'I' worthy of your world Lelouch? Am 'I' not as horrid and tainted as you? If not worse, a slave to conquerors and the very system that degrades me and my people. Will a mask change what I see, what I feel, what I am? I fear for your fragile world, placed in these fumbling fingers." he finished, staring at the digits in question. World fading as he tried to see what the brilliant, enduring figure of his best friend had seen in him.
/-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-/
Tears blinded the red-head as she pounded down the street. Running from anything and everything. The warrior's mind simply too shocked to handle any input besides sorrow bubbling into a cruel, empty void in her heart. Toned legs and delicate feet powering her forward through the torrential downpour at a blistering, painful pace. Anything to distract her from the pain in her soul.
"It's not FAIR!" she howled, speeding further and further from the vision that distressed her. Rivers of water soaking the soles of her tattered shoes as she thundered on. Running from a memory. The man she fell in love with, the man who conquered the world. Stabbed by his own alter ego. His symbol of hope for the world destroying him in her mind. The reason she had been able to come to love him, taking him from her. Screams wouldn't come, her breath was a sharp knife through her lungs and side.
"Breath in... Breath out... Breath in... Breath out... Breath in." she repeated over and over. Trying to drown the memory in physical pain as the rain drowned the world around her. Aching legs, blistered feet, tearing lungs, bleeding heart. All but pinpricks as the pain of her loss smothered the firey freedom fighter's spirit.
The warm rain poured down her figure, racing off in streams. Feeling like his blood, beautiful, scarlet blood that had powered him, supercharging her heart and the hearts of everyone around him with his words, actions and presence. Blood that had sprayed and seeped from his broken body as he fell to the mindless hordes gleeful cheers.
/-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-/
"YOU BASTARD!" wailed the slightly figure as the sword swung down, closing the final act of the greatest play in history, so stirring the world itself was moved.
"You bastard, you can't... you... you CAN'T LEAVE ME!" swirls of green hair flew about in a maelstrom as the figure collapsed to the ground. Screaming at her fate.
"YOU! You were SOOOOoooo close!" snarling, beautiful, ageless features twisted in sadistic rage. "Why! Why, why, why, why! I was ALMOST FREE!" sobs shook the immortal as she slammed delicate, fragile hands against unyielding concrete. Ignoring snaps and sharp shots of pain as fingers broke like pencils and blood flecked the floor of the second story building.
"You are 'NOT' going to make me start over Lulu... or your soul will regret it, I promise!" she hissed, eyes narrowed and piercing. Gears churning as she debated how to release herself now that the most promising piece in a very, very long time was removed from the board. Suddenly a 'Cheshire' grin spread across sweet features. Amber eyes and pale skin lighting up with unholy joy.
"Good Boy. I'm so glad you understand." giggling the witch enjoyed the spider trickling of information she received from the world of C as her contract failed to dissipate. Grin locked in place the immortal stalked off to secure her... 'Insurance'.
/-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-/
Hell sucked. Sure it was dark, smelled like tar and wet dog, and was cold to boot. The slab he lay on was particularly chilly, some type of metal that made him pointedly uncomfortable. Of course a shroud of some sort was tossed over his whole body, obscuring the pitch black even further. And the pain..." Mustn't underestimate the pain." he stumbled mentally as another sharp wave shot through his body from his throat and chest. Everything hurt, deep, searing pain creeped along every nerve as he lay, immobile yet trembling. Made him feel like a light-bulb, his body glowing from the inside with the pain in his head.
Whimpers and whispered cries from the pain would occasionally tear themselves from the dead man's incredible mental discipline. Depressing mostly because he knew that his tormentors would hear them and take delight in his pain. The sharp waves of pain originating from his neck and chest would sap any strength he managed to horde away in the brief intervals between them and left him drained and incapable of even trying to analyse his situation more clearly.
All in all though. The demon prince was not impressed. As the man who had taken the world hostage and played people to his whims he had been expecting... More. Rather disappointed, until a fresh wave of pain paralysed his thoughts again.
"Stuck in a metal box in the dark is kinda... Lame" he thought as the newest wave of pain drained away into him. "But I didn't really have expectations anyway, stupid pride should go away for a bit" he continued, trying to cram his royal inheritance into its bottle in his mind.
"This is plenty bad enough to be my eternal prison." he tried to convince himself. "I've killed my father, my mother, my brothers and sisters. Sentenced friend and foe alike to death in trial and on the field of war. I used people as pawns and pieces to exert my will on the world. Hell, I even forced 'God' to my way of thinking. I threw away my sister, the reason I started my war. I let my only true brother die for me. I tried to execute my 'Black Knights' and have instead given them their final baptism." Memories raced through the black prince's mind, lessening the pain as he remembered his struggles and happiness as he molded the world into something new.
Reviewing he tried to come up with any major flaws in his plan. With the Black Knights policing the world under Tohdo and Susaku (with Shniezel's assistance, not quite as good as Lelouch himself but a close second) keeping the UFN on the right path to mediating disputes without war. Any who knew the truth about his righteous plan would never speak a word, and even if someone did figure it out and begin preaching the world would simply write them off as crazy. No problems that he could foresee at this point.
Indeed his grandiose, Shakespearean play had ended perfectly. Dramatic, heroic, and tragic enough to jerk tears from any who saw it. And he had been the star, the perfect actor, a man of lies, the world merely a stage for him to grace. Chuckles slowly began weaving between his outbursts of pain. He had made mistakes, but nothing could have turned out better.
Clamping down on his regrets he began shoving them into a tiny box in his mind. Thoughts of Kallen, Susaku, Rolo, Shirley, Nina, Euphimia, Rivalz, Milly, His 'Black Knights', and CC. But he couldn't finish. Couldn't bring him to force himself to put away his thoughts of her. Instead he pulled them around his mind like a warm, tender jacket. Warding away his loss of everything with memories of happiness. Laughing, crying and celebrating together. Thoughts of her kindness and the sweet tender twinkle of her laughter. Indeed, he simply could not forget his sister.
Warded from the cold of his death, pain and loss from her memory the black prince drifted into a fitful sleep. Only to be pulled from it far too soon by blazing light.
I.
Ok... I did mention I was a new author so please be kinda gentle with me for right now. I'm not 100% pleased with my own writing but it won't get better without some input. I have several chapters fairly finished right now and I will be putting them up shortly as long as no-one starts crying "BURN THE WITCH" or anything. Realized this chapter is pretty short, the first couple probably will be until I get a little more comfortable with my characters (and if you all would still like to see where its all going).