One Last Miracle…. With Love Dear Ones.
The island was quiet and lush almost picturesque…Fields and fields of flowers rolled by the extensive hillside. It was the epitome of peace, joy and happiness. It had all the emotions that a small band of 4 persons were emptied with just a few hours ago. The band consisted of a lady draped in old, tattered but nonetheless royal military attire, a man who had a half mask about his left eye(actually a cyborg), a young boy aged 18 wearing the attire of the world`s savior Zero and a certain young girl in a wheelchair. The members thus Cornelia Li Britannia, Nunnally vi Britannia, Jermiah Gottwald and Suzaku Kururugi. The party was carrying out one last request that the "Demon Emperor" asked to be carried after his Requiem. The wish was to mortally wound him but only so that he could survive for a few hours and to take him to Euphie`s grave before disposing of his body. When Suzaku confronted Lelouch about this he said with a smirk "To make amends with her. Also who doesn`t like to see me writhe in pain and agony in front of dear Euphie whom I killed her like a pathetic, whimpering animal?" He wanted to crush him there itself as Lelouch used the voice which seemed to belong to a psychopath immunized by countless murders that was hated by the whole world but somehow he reigned his anger as he looked in those once pure eyes, his amethyst eyes which only him, his brother in everything except in blood could read spoke of great sorrow and regret for the act but with a slight hope of rectification. Suzaku thought endlessly about it but due to his above average but-not-genius mind he just couldn`t figure it out. In the end he let the matter rest for another time.
After the requiem Lelouch was transported to the island using the Avalon while Suzaku travelled with the Shinkiro to minimize suspicision .While travelling he thought in silence what the look in those saddened but determined amethyst eyes meant. The Island was a remote one around an hour`s worth of flight from the mainland. As soon as the landed on the beach side, Jeremiah and Suzaku carried the fallen emperor`s near dead body on a simple stretcher to an elaborate memorial ground fashioned like the imperial gardens of Aries Villa , walking in brisk strides. Suzaku silently thanked Lloyd and Cecile in his mind for designing life supports the size of a 15'' suitcase so as to somewhat reduce the agony of his dearest friend. 'Lelouch, what could you be up to even when death`s claws are slowly dragging you away' he mused sadly. Even after everything he stilled loved Lelouch as an equal and silently as his "Nii-chan". "Idiot… don`t … slack ...of…now..." Lelouch muttered in pain. Out of his trance, Suzaku quickly fastened his pace and reached a clearing surrounded by Shidarezakura trees and in the middle was the grave of his love 'Euphie…' he sighed in some relief that Lelouch had come to make amends with her. She was buried here so that no one could taint or desecrate his still innocent princess final resting place. The Shidarezakura trees which weren`t there the last time he arrived complemented the burial ground and his lover`s character. Little did he realize that in an agony and grief much more than his own, Lelouch requested Sayako and Jeremiah to redo the grounds of his sister to the current design " It`s the least I can do to repent for what I did to her. Don`t tell Suzaku about it. Let it be a surprise for him." Remembered Jeremiah.
Suzaku stood in awe at the sight of his beloved`s resting place but was rudely brought to reality when Cornelia spoke to Lelouch with venom and hatred evident in her tone. "Alright you serpent, finish of your business here so I can carve your body out and kill you slowly for your evil deeds. Huh... even your dear 'brotherly' knight betrayed you and did the world a favour by nearly killing you." At that Nunnally retorted with equal anger "REFRAIN YOUR TONGUE THIS INSTANT SISTER-". "Nunna…. No… Plea….Suzaku put me on the grave" Lelouch said with his last few ounce of strength. "WHY YOU DEV-" Cornelia roared once again but was halted mid sentence by the glare the loyal knights ESPECIALLY Suzaku gave her. Puzzled yet obediently Suzaku did as he was ordered by his Nii-chan. Lelouch gently caressed the grave stone and what he said with new found strength in a soft voice puzzled the party even more " Euphie, I wronged you in the most unimaginable way. But I regret the most by hurting you and Suzaku by separating you both. I do not ask for forgivness but only permission to carry out what I intend to do now ..." Suzaku was going to say something when Lelouch turned over and let the blood from his chest wound drop on the region roughly about the heart region of the corpse. Then he smeared a few Latin words about the blood pool and rolled over to the ground. "Everyone, look towards the trees as the flower blooms start to fall."With a tearful yet completely confused Suzuku's help he propped up against the gravestone then looked skyward`s and said in the voice which was feared by the world but now respected by his sister and knights "My name is Lelouch vi Britannia, the one and only emperor who conquered the world and ruled it under an iron fist, the original Zero who leveled great empires and despair of the mighty …" then his voiced dropped to a sorry and pleading tone, surprising all "..I request you, collective unconscious one last time, spare the soul of this girl to live once more while taking mine in her place…"then he croaked once more leaning on bewildered Suzaku more for support "please… I have sinned more than her. I have killed millions and destroyed nations. She just ordered some deaths AND that to against HER WILL. It is a fair exchange…please …PLEASEE… Whoever you are I implore you …"he broke down in a hysteric of sadness. Everyone except Cornelia watched in utter grief and pity as to what madness had taken over a once strong individual. Suddenly lifting the former emperor up like a rag doll, she hissed at him "Are you done serpent, now face MY WRATH!" she pulled out a knife slightly longer than a dagger and lodged it in the emperor`s abdomen. Screams of anger and rage was heard from the new empress, Zero and former Purist. Just as Jeremiah tackled her, the sky rumbled and the geass and geass inverse sigils where seen in the sky moving towards each the red and blue sigils crossed each other and formed a continuous loop, White light lit up the clearing and spreading a wonderful scent in the area "Wh...What`s happening, Big brother! …Suzaku!" screamed Nunnally in panic. "Hush little one, this is my repentance and your reunion." comforted Lelouch who seemed surprisingly okay as he crawled to one of his only 2 purposes of living. Everyone stared at him wondering what his words had wrought. Cornelia once again broke the silence with a sudden new found fear "Y…you d…devil`s incarnate what have you done to us". "Nothing sister,I am just asking the return of something I snatched from you all. Only now I am paying the price." He answered her with new found warmth in his voice. "Now look towards the cherry blossoms, everyone." As they turned towards the mentioned direction, the cherry blooms started to cascade and a young maiden started to appear near the trees magically as the cascade continued. Lelouch silently moved towards the gravestone so as to not spoil the sacred reunion. Suzaku, Nunnally and Cornelia stared in disbelief as a bright young girl of 18 with an infectious yet innocent smile showing hope and happiness appeared. Her pink hair couldn`t be mistaken anywhere and she wore the same dress the day she died albeit without being blood soaked more features were revealed as they saw a beauty they all thought was lost in this world of hate. As the last petal fell, Euphemia li Britannia stood there simply. Immediately the entire group ran towards her and tackled her into a group bear hug. They cried their hearts out for the return of the fallen sister, princess and lover. Only Jeremiah remained by liege trying to keep a straight face and failing miserably. Lelouch smiled genuinely at the sight of his first love and turned towards his knight "Jerry, I am tired, lay me under one of the trees. I have done all the needful". "yes, my lord" he answered in a shaky and emotion filled tone and carried out his lord`s wish.
The group finally let go of each other as Suzaku was overjoyed. He never thought he would see her again, his hope, his princess and his love .He then proceeded to kiss her and hug her once more, much to a certain sister`s already increasing anger. He then turned towards Lelouch " Hey Lelouch how did yo-" the voice of happiness turned to utter horror as he sprinted towards his now fallen friend. "Lelouch, LELUOCH… just hold on .. nothing will happen to you hey Le-"he paused as Lelouch pulled his head down and whispered in his ears " Sorry ..for.. the pain I caused". Fresh cascade of tears fell down from his face never to stop "Don`t you dare leave us now. NOT NOW. What forgiveness are talking about? Lelouch? Lelouch! Please listen to me NII-CHAN!" Now everyone was at his side pleading Lelouch to accept some help but he just gently stopped them saying "No… Monster…hate..." "SHUT UP! You are no monster, you idiot. Stop saying that. Please, we love you, don`t go.". "Forgive me, Nunna …Suzaku…Eu…"Trailing off, he fell unconsciousdue to extensive blood loss. "Lelouch, NO! Come back!" "Big Brother please, listen to me ."Nunnally sobbed "You promised never to leave me, COME BACKKK!" "Why Lulu, why did you take my fall? Why did you sacrifice yourself?" said Euphemia in shock and grief. Gloom and sadness fell heavily back on the band with 10 times the old weight. Except now there was no hate surrounding them. Just sadness of going to lose their most precious treasure they never knew they had with them all along. It was at that moment Suzaku and Nunnally realized that though they thought their hearts belonged to Euphie, in reality they were lovingly yet longingly ruled by Lelouch, who was their strength and comforter, the one who loved them so much he didn`t mind the hatred put on him even from them. If it meant it was for their happiness it was well worth it. To him the hate of the entire world was offset completely by just the two of them. How could thet be so blind? How could they even have thought to go against him? What wouldn`t they do to get him back right now.
While grieving they heard a sound of someone being around. Suzaku and Jerry went into fight mode ready to destroy anyone who came to harm their fallen Friend and Lord. Suzaku swore he didn`t protect his Nii-chan then, at least he can do it now. Cornelia stood in front of Euphie and Nunna like a mother dragon protecting her young ones. They then noted the change in landscape. The lush island was now a wasteland with corpses of the flora and fauna residing there fallen and littering the scene. The sky darkened and was heralding of some evil to come. The wind was dry and chilly. The group huddled around Lelouch, deep down praying for his recovery and warding off of this ominous evil.
"Is this the welcome I get to collect the Demon Emperor?" came a deep, cold voice devoid of emotion and full of vice. "I should be given an award for fetching and tempting him to do all that he has done." They all turned to the source which was a young man in his twenties wearing a contemporary take of royal clothing in black and purple. He had blond hair which beautifully framed his sharpened features. He was extremely handsome yet his countenance, manner and aura he gave out said that he was the very embodiment of evil. "Who are you? What do you want?" growled Suzaku in a dangerous low voice. "Don`t know me? I am hurt Suzaku Kururugi, by rights you should know me as well as Lelouch" he said in a mock hurt tone while giving an evil grin. "Anyway, for all you here I am THE… AND…ONLY …" he bowed in mock courtesy and dramatics "Lucifer, at your service!"