A word from the Author: Hey everyone! Alabastor89 here with my first attempt at a story on the fanfic webite, so to let you know, I openly accept criticism (or if I deserve it, compliments!).

I revised this chapter, by revised I mean I fixed a lot of grammar problems, fixed the format, and added some text to the story as well.

Disclaimer: I do not own Code Geass or any characters related to it.


Code Geass: Before it all Began

Chapter 1: Prologue

Many centuries ago…….in one of the more peaceful eastern crannies of France, sat a village by the name of Serovilla, there was a boy by the name of Callen Kurtz. The boy was claimed to have a unique gift by the villagers, due to his early skill and prowess with the blade, the villagers believed he was meant to be the future king of France. The boy was so naturally refined in the arts of swordsmanship that he bested their best warrior at the young age of just 12 years old, he had a fiery desire to better himself in both body and mind. So the tale began………

"Are we going to the city today Papa?" I asked my father remembering his promise from the day before.

"No, not today I've had a change of plans" was my father's response in a brisk tone.

"Now run along, I haven't the time for you today, but I promise, we will go tomorrow Callen."

Disappointment flooded through me, and I wouldn't have been surprised if he noticed it, I never was very good at suppressing my emotions.

My father had promised me every day for the past week, that tomorrow, he would take me to his job in the city and show me his work. He has made the promise to me for two weeks straight and left it unfulfilled since the first day I asked. Sure enough, he noticed my distress and placed his burly hand in my sweat matted hair and spoke to me in a reassuring tone.

"Don't worry son, I will take you to the city to see my profession when the time comes, until then you must stay here in the village and await my return."

I began to wonder what had him so busy that he could not take me to see his work. I didn't see the trouble in bringing me along if I wasn't a hindrance, but instead of prying I simply replied "Yes Papa" and sprinted off into the shallow neck of the woods to find my favorite stick, that I had whittled into the shape of a sword.

I had to use this wooden sword the primary amount of time, as my mother would not let me meddle with my iron one unless under the watch of my teacher Author. Author was a fit man, not very athletic, but fit. He was a close friend of my father, which is why he agreed to train me. From what I've heard, I have a lot of talent but I think they are just trying to be considerate.

Hmm, now where did I leave it?

I pondered the location as I reached the forests edge.

"Oh that's right, I left it just a little ways in, under a fig tree inside some brush!"

I enjoyed climbing around that specific tree and stored all of my prized possessions there. Don't ask me why I chose this certain tree, it was just easier to remember since it was near a small clearing. I left most of my things here because I wasn't taking any chances to allow my mother to snatch away the things to thought 'improper' for me to play with.

I began to recall the time when I was harshly scolded for practicing my swordplay with the little girl whom lives in the shack next to us. Although, they normally had no problem with him playing with toy swords so he could only wonder what the problem was then. She was my best friend; I recalled my mother and father yelling at me under their breath every time I went near my friend in front of them.

"Ah, Cera" I muttered to myself as I recalled memories of my friend as I walked. She was very unusual and I have never seen anyone like her in my fifteen years of life. She had a bright, emerald colored hair and her eyes; oh her eyes easily drew me into a trance every time I looked into them. I could stare into those beautiful amber eyes for days if I was able to. Even though she was five years younger than me, at ten years old I still found her horribly attractive. Although she really didn't understand those feelings from me, her best friend, or if she does she doesn't show it.

I snapped myself out of my thinking when I reached the tree in question. Then I quickly checked the brush next to it and rummaged through my items which were held in a very long, but not high off the ground, wooden crate. After about three minutes of rummaging, I noticed that my replacement sword was not there.

Huh? That's weird…I know I left it right here…

My thoughts were interrupted as I heard something to my right shuffling in the bushes. As I turned my attention toward the source of the noise I leapt in fright as a small figure pounced me with surprising force, slamming me to the ground.

I felt a jab of pain as my elbows slammed upon the ground. I began to panic and squirm and was just about to retaliate with force when suddenly all rational thought was forced from my mind and I fell into a familiar trance, as my aqua colored eyes met amber.

I don't know how long I sat there, it felt like an eternity when in reality it was probably only a few seconds before the smiling girl shouted directly into my face.

"Ha-ha, gotcha Callen!"

Then she clambered off me stood up triumphantly smiling as she pointed a very familiar wooden sword at me, holding it with both hands.

"Ouch! Not funny Cera! That hurt!" I whined as I stood up, smacking the wooden sword she had placed at my throat away, taking in the sight of my best friend.

She wore tattered old clothes that were ripped in some places, the same she had been wearing for….ever since I could remember, and yet she still looked entrancingly cute, to say the least.

She lived in the shack next to my house with Mr. Glint, her 'Master' so she calls him. She told me that she has to do whatever he says, whenever he says it or she gets severe punishment. Although I'd seen her abused by him for what seemed like no reason at all.

"Oh I'm sorry, you scraped your elbows, wanna go tell your mom?" She eyed me, eyebrows raised, with a mocking pouty face on.

"N-no!" I struggled under her intimidating gaze. Even thought she was only ten years old, the slim girl was a formidable wrestling opponent because she was so used to absorbing pain, and unfortunately she learned how to dish it out as well.

"Hey that sword is mine! Fork it over." I retorted as I reached out, snatching the wooden sword from Cera's hands as I stood again.

I had just started to survey the damage on my elbows when I noticed her reaction to the absence of her newly found weapon. I knew somewhere in the back of my mind that I had already lost.

For now she dropped her taunting pouty look and replaced it with a real one.

"But, but I found it that's not fair. I found it" She said as tears began to rim her eyes.

"Yea well I made it, and all you did was find my stash and snatch it."

She slumped down onto the ground and began to cry, instantly making me feel bad for hurting my best friend's feelings, which trigged my desire to repent.

"Oh alright but only for today, don't forget to put it back so my mom doesn't get it."

"That's not working this time Callen! You better come up with something better than that!" she responded as she began to wail again.

"Okay! Okay! How about this, you can use anything I have in here anytime you want as long as you return it before you leave."

"Yay!" She cheered as she began to swing it around, her fake water works drying up instantly.

"Too easy Callen" she muttered swinging the sword around.

After a few minutes of watching her, falling into my trance again, she spoke again.

"You know Callie, your not as tough as the grown-ups say you are, you're just a big softie."

"Yea.....well….yea…."

Only for you Cera. I thought to myself, knowing that even five years younger than me, Cera always won their arguments one way of another.

Just then I heard a booming voice from the village, so loud that it was almost crystal clear from all the way here, across a decently large field.

"CERA GET IN HERE RIGHT NOW, WHERE ARE YOU!"

I then recognized the voice, and grimaced in anger. Although I rarely heard that voice, I despised it and the person who owned it, it was Mr. Glint.

Cera's immediate reaction was to drop to the ground, curl up in a ball and shield herself, although she wasn't even near him at all.

Poor Cera. I thought to myself as I watched her reaction. He hits her for no reason at all and yet no one seems to care except me.

I remember a just a few days ago when I was going to sneak over to give Cera food through her window, which is now a daily chore since she says she doesn't get any from him. She was trying to give him his drink of hot flavored water he asked for and he suddenly slapped her to the floor, which caused her to fall and spill the boiling water upon herself.

Afterwards he promptly used this as a reason to further his abuse and kicked the poor girl in her stomach so hard that blood was dripping from her mouth after the blow.

I spent almost that whole night tending to her wounds after I had finally got her to sneak out when he was asleep.

Although I wanted to comfort her in some way, the stronger part of me just wanted to get away from her at this point. I truly didn't know why, normally I loved this chances to touch the person I liked so much, but this was different. My brain kept sending myself confused signals as to what to do. Then it finally snapped and I took a step back, and desperately flung my head around, searching for an excuse to get away when my ears found it for me.

"Callen Kurtz for the third time its time to come in for supper!"

I immediately recognized my mother's voice and stepped further away from Cera, afraid to be spotted near her in front of my mothers presence from the last time experience.

-FLASHBACK-

I was idly swinging around my favorite pastime in the world, as usual when I felt a tap on my back.

I instantly whirled around in reaction to see what had touched me, battle ready. Then my eyes softened as they were blessed with the sight of the girl I liked so much.

"Hey Callie!" said Cera directly in front of my face, but not losing any bit of her excited happy shouting voice.

"Uh, hey Cera, do you....wanna play with swords? I have an extra one...."

"Sure, but I don't think you can win." she said in a challenging voice.

We started to cross blades innocently, then after a few minutes it became a full on competition as wood sung and clashed through the air.

She had gotten much better as I had tutored her for several months in swordplay. Unfortunately not good enough as I disarmed her in a large offensive combination of dancing blows.

"Best two out of three?" was the only response I got as she headed over and picked up her sword again.

"Sure but you know it will be the same outcome."

"Hah! You wish!"

We had just begun round two as I heard the door clamor open from behind me.

I heard a gasp from my mother, and I knew from the sound of it, that I was in trouble.

"CALLEN STEWARDICE KURTZ! Just WHAT do you think you are doing? Get in the house right now!"

"Yes Mother, cya Cera" was my only bidding goodbye as I left her standing there, slightly disappointed.

"Callen I never want to see you near that girl again you understand me?" said my mother in a harsh but hushed tone.

"But why Mom?" She's really nice and she is the closest to my age in the whole village!" I whined.

"Because Callen, she's a slave girl, she shouldn't be hanging around any of the children in this village."

I pondered this and yet I came up with absolutely no reason in any rule book that said being a slave girl meant you couldn't hang around with other children, and even though she was a slave girl, does it even matter? I liked her, simple as that.

Although I replied with a sigh.

"Alright Mother, you'll never see me near Cera again"

Little did she know that my mind slyly thought up a scheme by playing around with her words.

I could still play with Cera, she just couldn't SEE me playing with Cera.

This brought a grin to my face as I headed back to my room, to sneak out the window, and meet back up with my best friend.

-END FLASHBACK-

"I'm sorry Cera, I've got to go and eat, I'll save you some like I always do, promise!" I stated as I started to walk away.

"But-" she tried to speak to me, fear filling her voice as Mr. Glint called to her again.

He was angrier than ever, ensuring punishment for not immediately responding to his command.

"Sorry Cera! Bye!"

Then I ran......ran as fast as I could, leaving that beautiful emerald hair and those entrancing amber eyes behind me to their fate.

Alright so there's the first chapter! Sorry I know it was very short, but hey it's my first story ever, I'll try to make the next chapter longer than this one. Although I feel a little more obligated to putting more detail into the characters backgrounds and history so you can get to know them better. So let me know what you think!

PLEASE REVIEW! I'll answer any questions as well!

I stress this because your reviews will fuel my fire to get on working on the next chapter as soon as I can! I can only get better with criticism so it is welcomed and appreciated! Maybe a little softness and gimme some compliments too :(

~Alabastor89