Changing Tides

I do not own Code Geass or any of the canon characters...but I do own Alessa and her family.

She felt trapped. The poor girl had no other way to explain the uttermost feelings of emptiness that filled her small form. Looking around the room, at the other nobles who laughed and drank expensive liquor, her eyes burned with unshed tears. Was this her life forever? Was she cursed to a life of riches and false perfections?

She numbly felt her fingers twitch in the flamboyant fabric of her dress as her mind whirled. Her head began to throb and she felt her cheeks darken in anxiety. She knew what was about to happen, and her mother would not be pleased with her if she feinted again.

'A few deep breaths.' she told herself. "Alessa!"

The girl looked up into the bright pink eyes of her mother. The woman, Margaret Collinstared, was Alessa's mother and the Madam of the Collinstared family; a wealthy family of Britannia. Margaret was a woman of appearance and style; as well as a family close the Britannian royal family would be in this day.

"Are you paying attention?" Margaret asked. Alessa only nodded. Her mother gave her a curt nod, and began to chat with a guest nearby.

Alessa slowed her breathing and the nausea faded away. With a sigh, the girl looked and listened like a fly on the wall. The guests were either talking about the recent tragedy of Shinjuku Ghetto or the horrible murder of Prince Clovis. Both pieces of news depressed the girl, but she had rarely harbored a thought to either. Forbearing in her mind was her abrupt move to the Britannian colony of Area Eleven. Alessa had thought with the move, she would gain freedom from her duties to her family, but with her older sister's decline in health, her dreams were nipped in the bud.

And even worse was the threat of the new terrorist group lead by a figure named Zero. The man had every one in a panic, and nobles were left to calm the masses; the citizens that mattered for the most part. This very party Alessa was attending was an event to soothe the rich and influential of western Area Eleven. Alessa was staring at a lovely couple matching in lavender when her mother's laughter broke her thoughts.

"Yes, with Kilandria getting worse and this horrible timing of events, I don't know what my husband was thinking of moving us here." Margaret commented casually. Even with her stressed appearance, Lady Collinstared was beautiful with a honey-gold bun and a crimson and velvet dress framing her decent figure.

She even moved with natural grace as she brought a glass of wine to her lips to take a tiny sip. Alessa attempted to mimic her mother's flawless movements, only to fail.

She knew she would never be perfect like her mother or like her sister was before getting sick. Alessa left the dining hall of her home, and maneuvered down corridors and hallways, before stopping to a room that seemed to be hidden from the rest of the manor.

Alessa swallowed a lump in her throat, and knocked on the door. After hearing a faint 'Come in', Alessa entered.

Lying on a disheveled and piled bed, was the girl's sister and family heir; Kilandria Collinstared. Kilandria had Margaret's honey colored hair and pink colored eyes, but her skin was splotched grey by years of sickness, and her once radiant beauty was aged away. Alessa moved by her sister's bed, and took her fragile hand in her own.

"Kiwi? Can you hear me?" Alessa asked. The sick woman nodded and Alessa smiled. "You're really missing out K-Kiwi." she stuttered.

The other girl made a rasping sound, which meant she probably was laughing.

"You...know h-how...I...hated th-...those...parties." Kiwi gasped with a small smile. Alessa smiled and tried to ignore a tear running down her cheek.

'Not now...not in front of her.' she screamed mentally. The younger girl swallowed hard.

"I don't know Kiwi, you always shown in the spotlight. I'm...not as good at it as you were- I mean are." She flinched at her use of past tense.

Kilandria made the rasping sound again. "You sound...as if...I'm...dead al-al-already."

Alessa frowned and let her rust colored hair cover her eyes. "Don't say that. Don't even joke like that Kiwi." The sickly woman frowned at her sister's words, not liking the serious and abrupt attitude. "Relax Al...and stop...covering...your eyes."

Alessa peaked from behind her hair like a child holding on to a mother's skirt, and finally obeyed her sister's command to reveal her light blue eyes. Kilandria smiled and let out a weak breath. "You...have fa-father's eyes...so you...shouldn't...hide...them." With each word, Kiwi's breathing became deeper until she finally closed her eyes.

"Kiwi?" Alessa asked quietly. Her sister didn't respond, but her even breathing was the sign she was still alive. Finally the tears Alessa had tried to hold back for so long were allowed to escape. They flowed and ran, and the small girl didn't even try to contain all of the feelings she was experiencing at the moment.

Alessa didn't even register the fighting that was happening just outside the door of the room. She wiped her puffy eyes and sniffled, hoping she didn't wake up Kilandria when a butler slid by where she was bent at the bedside.

"H-huh?" she asked dumbly looking at the butler she didn't recognize until a strong voice commanded her attention.

"Tell me, which one of you is Kilandria Collinstared?" asked the figure. Alessa assumed from the tone of the voice it was a male, but she wasn't certain due to the person being covered in a suite and cape along with a mask.

Her blue eyes widened and she threw her small form over her sister. "No! Don't come near her!" she screamed.

The man grunted. "I guess that's my answer." He took sauntering steps toward Alessa, and then pushed her to the floor. "This is the heir to the Collinstared family?" he asked looking at Kiwi's frail form. Alessa pushed herself into a sitting position, and looked at the man in fear. "Leave her alone! She's sick and needs her sleep, so I demand you leave at once!" The young girl was demanding, but her voice was shaky, making her authority nonexistent.

"You're very loud for such a small girl. Under who's authority do you have to command me?" the figure asked turning toward her. From the light coming from the hallway, Alessa could see the unique design of the figure's helmet. 'Could it be?' she thought. Taking a noisy gulp, the girl pushed herself from the floor. "I'll tell you, but only if you tell me your name." She could feel the smirk coming from the blue plate of the man's mask. "And why should I?" he asked arrogantly. "Because you barge into my sickly sister's room and make so much noise! She's feeble-" Alessa was in full rant mode when the man interrupted her. "Sister?"

Alessa's mouth clamped shut and her face heated at her own stupidity. "So you're the other Collinstared child. Alessa was it?" She didn't answer. Alessa could feel the man's covered eyes staring at her. "Will you...please leave her alone? She sick and if she...if she..." Alessa attempted a plea. The figure turned his head slightly to glance at Kilandria. "Nunnally..." he whispered. "Huh?" Alessa asked. He turned back to the whimpering girl harshly.

"I am Zero, and if you truly care for your sister's life, you will come with me." He voice held no room for arguments. Slowly Alessa looked at her sister before nodding lifelessly.

The man who called himself Zero watched as the girl moved toward the sleeping figure and kissed it's forehead. "See you later Kiwi. Don't worry, I'll be back." The blonde girl made no reply.

Alessa sniffled as Zero pushed her towards the door.

Ok, I know Alessa seems a little Mary Sue, but I didn't want to make her awesome and cool just yet. And I've read a lot of Code Geass fics that have a cool OC form the get go, and I'm a nonconformist so...yeah.

So review and tell what you think so far, or tell me some suggestions for the next chapter.

Till the next update and full of love,

Shadow