A humorous oneshot about Zero getting interviewed in a live broadcast.
Not to be taken too seriously.

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Interview with Zero
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"So," started the man sitting on an expensive leather sofa, "Would you please start by introducing yourself."

Sitting on another sofa, opposite to the blond man who'd just spoken, was a masked figure with dark clothing. His, if it indeed was a man, slender figure was looking rather relaxed, left leg hanging over the right, while leaning backwards on the sofa.

A low, metallic voice arose from within the black mask, "I am...Zero! The leader of the Order of the Black Knights!" With a theatrical gesture, the figure quickly rose up, making a flashy pose towards the camera on his left before continuing, "We are the bane of all those who abuse their power, and at the same time saviors to those without strength to stand up for themselves."

"We..." Rising his gloved hands up in the air he paused for a moment before bringing them down to his sides, shouting, "Are the allies of justice!"

After that, he gave another pose and then sat back down on the sofa. The blond haired reporter seemed strangely fired up by his guests performance and his voice was filled with excitement as he said, "Zero, I thank you for this chance for an interview. And not just me, the whole world is holding their breath right about now."

"No problem, Diethard. It's all part of my ultimate plan, anyhow." The calm, calculated answer further lit up the fire in the reporter's eyes and he was quick to take up the chance, "Now then, let's start with something simple. How about this, who is Zero?"

The masked figure cocked his head and Diethard quickly corrected the question, "Ah, no, not the man behind the mask. Tell about the man known as Zero. Who is he? What is his goal? Why did he appear? Those kinds of things."

Zero thought for a short while, during which Diethard couldn't help fidgeting nervously on his sofa. Then, the mysterious voice spoke up, "Well, I think the question "Who Zero is?" has already been answered, but in case someone missed it, I'll say it again."

Getting up again, Zero gracefully bowed to the camera, and exclaimed, "Zero is...The one who will punish those not fit to hold power. Zero is...the ally of justice!!!" The gloved right hand shot up and Diethard could almost see the grin on the face behind the mask.

Not bothering to sit down, the voice went on, "As to my goal... It is the liberation of Japan! To get back what was taken from the people living here. And, of course, to shove those britannians back to where they came from."

Basking in the spotlight, it almost looked like there was a shining halo over the dark black mask. Diethard, suppressing the urge to start clapping, used his professional reporter skills to keep the show going, "So, what was Zero born from? What have we to thank for this miracle that has been granted to us?"

A silence. The dark figure had frozen in the middle of a pose, not moving an inch.

Realizing he might've found a sensitive subject, Diethard was not about to let his guest off the hook. But before he could use his amazing skills at digging up dirt, Zero came back to motion.

"Born? Heh...he hah ha heheee. Zero was born...when my mother was assassinated."

Even Diethard couldn't help but gasp at the sudden revelation. He had been expecting all kinds of things from this interview, but even he had never thought he'd get something this big.

With a hasty voice, he pegged Zero to continue, "Assassinated? By Britannians?"

Another theatrical gesture from Zero, interpreted as a 'yes' by Diethard.

"So, is it all about revenge to you, then? Has all the talk about being the ally of justice been nothing but justification for a personal vendetta?

Diethard knew that if anything went wrong now, it could utterly destroy everything Zero had worked for, but he couldn't help his reporter's nature.

"Vendetta? No, no, nothing of the sort. It is true I carry a grudge over my mother's death, but that is only because it robbed me of my chances to get a proper, high class life." A shrug indicating it was a matter of the past, "But it matters not anymore. I shall make sure, with my own hands, that no one else will have to suffer through such a traumatic event."

This time, Diethard really did start clapping. He also looked like he was about to cry, and with a touched voice he said, "Ah, the tragic past of our hero revealed! Such a noble soul he is, doing his best to prevent such tragedies from happening ever again! This is truly a man worth of our trust, dear watchers! The one to lead us to the Golden Age!"

Now, Diethard had alson gotten up, madly flailing his hands around, fanatically supporting Zero's ideas with his words, saying things like, "Let us all rally under him and open the doors the new era!" and "Just you wait Britannia! No matter where you go or what you do, the Zero will get you!" and even "I love this man! Come join us in the Order of the Black Knights, for the future lies with them!"

It was around the "I love this man!" that the cameramen realized it might be better to stop recording. Diethard, not noticing the broadcast had already been cut off, continued his passionate rant even to the point where Zero had to tell him to shut up.

Then, without a single warning, Britannian Knightmares broke into the studio.

As if it he had just realized what it meant to make a live interview, Diethard, for the first time in his life, panicked.

Of course, Zero had predicted the whole scenario from the very moment he'd agreed to the live interview and as such, had prepared means of escape in the form of a Karen/MK II combination.

So as soon as the Britannian forces broke into the studio, the red custom made Knightmare dropped through the roof right next to Zero and Diethard, grabbing them both and making a quick, daring escape through the enemy ranks.

For the next few weeks, the live interview was all the Japan talked about even though the government of Area 11, led by Cornelia, did their very best to root out all discussion, or at the very least make Zero look bad. But just like Zero had accurately predicted, his little stunt made his popularity skyrocket.

Soon, the Order of the Black Knights had a real flood of applications coming from both Elevens and Britannians alike.
The support they were receiving also increased, and the Order even gained some new, powerful benefactors.

And, like C.C. later said about the incident, "Popularity's good and all, but where's my pizza?"

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Hmm...Pizza...
When I first thought up this oneshot, it didn't have the Britannian attack in it, but I thought it would only make sense.
Not that anything would've had to make sense anyhow, considering how OOC Lelouch goes. I did try to keep Diethard
in character, though. Mainly because it was more fun that way. I could also have written more details here and there,
but I never planned this to be anything more than a short, humorous little...uh, whatever it is. Oh, yeah, oneshot. Ehheh...