I should probably explain right off the bat just how this series is going to go. While the first couple chapters, we'll say about 14 or 15, will be retreading episodes with chunks cut out that aren't important to this story, it will be written in a way that offers a new perspective, new insights and, before long, a divergence path from the original.
My original plan was to do another Time travel fic, before realising the forums are saturated with such a premise, so why not follow the path of Megiddo and change it to tell a new story. Everything's in the past and some characters are going to change with it. Please bear with me for the first few chapters and soon you will be delivered a new route that I hope you won't find too derivative.

The Year is 1876, King Charles Zi Britannia commemorates the 100th anniversary of Britannia's victory over the American renegades. In an empire spanning over a third of the planet, no one is ever safe. It is a time of economic and industrial enlightenment, and to help continue this trend, resources are sought wherever necessary. Those who oppose the grand monarchy are swiftly reminded of those poor unfortunates who rebelled one hundred years earlier. Nowhere is this more blatant, than the colony of Japan. Scourged by invaders, the Japanese put up a brave front, none braver than the Samurai warrior Kyoshiro Todoh who miraculously held the forces at sea for a month. That all changed when the newest innovation of the conquerors arrived on their shores. The Royal Industrial Palladin barged their way through line after line of soldier until the very heart of the country and its surrounding islands were captured. The RIP, or rippers as they were infamously named by the Japanese, were powered by a plentiful substance found in the country known as Carbonite. The accumulation of Carbon, iron and potassium gave the substance the capacity to produce large amounts of energy, instantaneously, over a longer period of time than coal or turf. Utilised by Japan as a daily commodity for work and energy, it became weaponized at the hands of Britannia. Ultimately, the substance that provided the greatest amount of prosperity of life for the Japanese ironically led to their demise.

It is here, in this country of Japan, where a wealthy Lord has just lost an eight of his finances to a youthful schoolboy of eighteen years in a simple game of chess. While outwardly it appears he is appeased by this new found wealth, deep down his hatred for nobility has found an outlet in the form of passive aggressive attacks.

"Check mate, I believe. My good friend, Mr Cardemond shall handle the finances, if you would be so kind, and then we must part. Thank you for a most…appeasing afternoon." Removing himself to the foyer, he dons his scarlet overcoat and black top hat to conceal his identity and school of choice and makes his way to his friends' auto-mobile. A large, noisy and clunky apparatus for transport, it serves his purposes and delivers him from school grounds to his opponents, at the cost of his education as many of his compatriots are loath to remind him.

"Lelouch, I need to tell you, that was incredible!" Rivalz had become his unofficial protégé ever since the duo had met. While he may not say it, Lelouch was glad for his company. For one, he could abandon all formality and speak as colloquially as country farmer. "How you annihilated that man or any lord is beyond anything I've seen!" No doubt he was excited for his cut of the profits; he would not be disappointed.

"Rivalz…I'm beginning to tire of these petty games. I enjoy a lark every once awhile, but I lack the challenge. I can no longer channel any passion to my work. I'm like your device. Crudely formed, off a line of organised assembly, like every other model out there, only serving a single purpose: to exist."

Taken aback by such a melancholic outlook, Rivalz attempted to lighten the mood. "I guess they are all the same, you know. But I hear we can eventually have it any colour in the future."

"Just as long as it's black." Interrupted Lelouch, the two chuckling at the private joke of a single advertisement that had circulated the previous year. His slightly lifted, he tried to acknowledge his friends' words. True they had come from a similar origin and education for many had taken away any individuality, but could his future hold any gateway out of his psychological destitution. 'No' he determined, 'Not for me, not my darling sister, not for anyone, especially for an exiled monarch.' In his youth, he had been prince and his sister a princess to the current king Charles. But the death of his mother by bandits and irate civilians, his sister being rendered disabled and violent disregard that Lelouch had sustained at the hands of his father were what drove him into exile. His title renounced and his protection gone, he was exiled to the other side of the empire as hostage and eventual martyr for the invasion of Japan. Through friends and allies that he and the Vi Britannia line had accumulated over the years, Lelouch had been able to survive. Passing by the war torn regions scattered with the bodies of the dead, through flaming wrecks that had once been home to families and away from pursuing soldiers on both side of the conflict, he was glad that his sisters' sight had been stolen in that accident.

Those thoughts came to a jarring halt, along with the auto, as they came upon a large accumulation of crowds gathered around the parliamentary building. They exited the vehicle, while Lelouch made his way to a fruit stall erected in the corner. Ascending the ladder, he assisted Rivalz and seated himself comfortably on the canvas, looking out across the great crowd assembled. He spied an open top, white carriage was pulled before the steps of the grand building. Erected after the conquest of the country, it towered over all surrounding structure within two hundred square kilometres as a grey beacon of power and topped by a glittering dial pointed west wards to the capital of the Empire in Pendragon, Britannia. Out stepped a man shimmering with the decadence and lavish threads that only a corrupt prince of the realm could afford. Oh Lelouch could see it. The lace, the silks, the finest cotton, how else could a man hope to acquire such gifts in a poverty ridden country. While the rest of the empire, indeed the world, enjoyed their spoils, Japan and its inhabitants had reached near bankruptcy at the hands of such bureaucrats. And yet they parade themselves in all finery to show up their 'inferiors'. The squalor, the slums, the beggars, the ghettos. No Japanese could ever hope to ascend beyond a whore in the alleys, a pick-pocket scrounging the pockets of passers-by or even…

"Machiavellian's, corrupt and barbaric, this is the image that these vermin who call themselves Japanese portray themselves as. I reach out to you all olive branch for peace, can you all not see how tormented we've become from these vile acts designed to spread terror among the public. Please, I beseech you as a man of peace, give in to your superiors and you shall be rewarded like all our glorious rulers subject." The pompous prince echoed though the crowds.

"Rewarded with steel and gunpowder" Lelouch muttered under his breath. But he had to admit, his half-brother was in fact a grand orator and a fine actor. He held the crowd in the palm of his hand. It never ceased to amaze him how grand speeches could enrapture the masses and push them to fear or to happiness. But yet he observed him still. How he ringed his hands when he clasped them, the nervous twitches and the way his eyes bulged as a messenger brought him no doubt bad news. Growing tired of the masses crowded in the tight pavilion, he turned his attention elsewhere. Thence he saw loitering in the alleys two suspicious fellows seated on a cart carrying a large casket. They attempted to reverse the vehicle, yet it jammed and spluttered loudly. An officer approached the two and attempted to call them down. At that moment, several things happened. The vehicle exploded into life, the guard was struck over the head by some bamboo cane, a large cloud of smoke exploded from their exhaust which in turn shocked and scattered the assembled crowd. The prince was rushed to his carriage and hurried off without a moments delay, seeking to ram through anyone in its way. Lelouch, seated atop the fruit stall saw the motor reverse towards the stall. While Rivalz leaped to safety, Lelouchs' own fight or flight reflex was hindered by the mere concept that both require physical exertion. As the motor crashed, the stall crumbled beneath him. Landing headfirst into a flour sack had dazed him however, and was left sprawled across the cargo held on board…which he now realised was a casket.

Let it not be said the Japanese were cravens nor fools. In face of overwhelming odds, it falls to the nation to band together as a whole in order to repel opposing force. But it was in vain. The war had crippled them, left them broken, they had their pride, but also their inefficiency that lost them the war. What would have been an underground of infiltration and spies, instead disorganised and dishonourable districts out for their own sense of superiority. Some took a more righteous approach, including the likes of the infamous JLF. One of the smaller, yet more noble of organisations was the Kozuki resistance movement. Well regarded for their guerrilla tactics and civilian assistance, they were the first minor resistance to receive a prototype Ripper, which were usually reserved for larger organisations. However, said resistance group was now in a whole world of trouble.

By drawing too much attention to themselves, two members of the KRM were now on the run in a banjaxed motor lorry and carrying a stolen item of great importance to Britannia about to be transported via ship to the mainland. One, who wore service garb of honorary Britannian's and was sweating profusely beneath a brown mop of hair, was driving away from the horseback bobby's armed with cudgels and pistols, the other, a red haired woman in a dark red coat and hood hiding her distinctive hairstyle and eyes, was navigating the tight streets and alleys after incapacitating an officer with her kitana sheath.

"Why in the hell did we even bother with that casket? I bet it was actually carrying somebody. Do yer think Tamaki got it wrong." Growing up as an honorary Brittanian had certain advantages, such as access to certain areas in the settlement without drawing attention, but also meant sharing cramped housing with exiles from all over the world looking for work. One of those Nagata shared with was a cockney, who unfortunately influenced the way he spoke over the course of eight years they were housed together.

"Knowing him, most definitely Nagata." Unlike him, she spoke in more clipped sentences, preferring blunt honest truths and fast answers. Wealthy upbringing and high-end education allowed for perfect brittanish, while her earlier life still clung to her original language. Switching to Japanese, the two communicated more succinctly. "If we make our way through Market street, we can reach the bridge to the ghetto faster. The bobby's will try to avoid civilians; we don't have to."

"We can try opening up on them with the Vickers-" but she cut him off before he could complete his train of thought.

"We will not slaughter them needlessly and tempt hitting anyone else. We resist, but we don't murder innocent masses, remember what Ohgi said!" While thankful someone had filled in the role of commander for her, she never sought to put her old friend in a position where he would order expendable casualties. But at the same time, they required a firmer hand than an old schoolmaster could give. "Make left before the bridge, if I can make it to the warehouse I'll be able to provide support with the RIP."

The truck came to a stop, however, when three Rippers approached from the front and left, leaving the only exit to be the right. They turned harshly, smashing off the walls and tearing into the canvas covered back which held their cargo. They never heard the grunting of an unintended passenger rolling around behind them.

Lelouch was in agony. His current physical state notwithstanding, now a bullet had torn into his shoulder leaving bleeding all over the casket. His head was spinning and footing was gone. Glancing behind him he saw three Rippers chasing after him, or rather the vehicle. He had overheard the drivers talking and knew he would be lead even further astray than where he was originally. He worried for how Nunnally would fret about his late arrival home…if he managed to survive that is. 'Perchance, death would be an agreeable alternative to seeing any form of disapproval on his sisters face.'

As he passed through the market street, he saw how innocents were diving to the side to avoid death. 'Such a folly. If the resistance, as they call themselves, wish to make progress then they must stop being so bold as to claim crime is a necessity for change. Such evils are already perpetrated at the hands of the King.' Again he was jarred by the sudden deceleration and stopping of the motor. Peeping through the torn canvas, he saw a figure jump and roll out of the vehicle, before dashing off to the warehouse not too far off. 'We must be at the bridge to the ghetto if I remember perfectly and they have a barricade raised to prevent escape'. He noticed that the figures hood had fallen, revealing him to be a her. 'Curiouser and curiouser, I seem to recall her but know not where.' His head was still top jarred and he grew weaker every minute he continued to bleed.

The three rippers had come to a halt behind the truck with their cannons aimed true. One of their hatches opened, revealing a slim, brown haired man. His face was twisted in an arrogant smirk, prideful at the fact that he had cornered his prey no doubt. One of the rippers set its cannon on the warehouse. "You have caused enough damage and disruptions today you filthy rat."

'Oh how like the Britannian's to be ungracious in victory. Many posters had dispersed around the settlement, detailing the best way to antagonise your 'local jap'. There is one right now, printed in large bold on yellow paper featuring…a dragon caricature…lovely'

"Exit your motor and call out your compatriot or we shall blow you to kingdom come." When they received no reply immediately, the ripper pointed the warehouse shot out an explosive, causing the building to collapse in on itself. Lelouch began to panic as he imagined the poor woman trapped beneath burning rubble and coughing up blood in a piteous desire to stay alive.

A large crash resonated off the narrow alley walls and from the flames came a ripper very much alike in design to their pursuers. How he feared the current models, he dares said it came from his youth as he witnessed one ripper roll over its victim with caterpillar tracks and crushing her and the child she carried in her arms beneath its weight. It was a monstrous machine.

Standing at five meters tall, the dense armour around its torso hid the pilot who entered by a domed top. Grating was situated beneath this dome allowing a narrow, if protected view of the enemy. Two large tracks lay on either side coming to halfway up the torso and made of thick durable rubber. Its front and back between the two tracks held a large battering ram for forward infantry movement and tactical withdrawals. But the most intimidating design feature was its armaments. A small rifle was seated on either side embedded into the battering ram and housed a crudely tipped barbed harpoon. And mounted at its centre was a black large barrelled canon that could be adjusted to aim up or down. Overall, the bronze pallet created a rather demonic apparition that tore apart its enemies without damage. And now the resistance had one in their possession.

Aiming its harpoons, they were launched at the closest who had blown up the warehouse. One bounced harmlessly off the casing, but another lodged itself through the grating and impaled the pilot through the forehead. 'Such precision, even under calm circumstances such shots were tricky to pull off. And it is piloted by that woman no doubt…perhaps her will to live may prove to be her emancipation.'

The other rippers pulled away to get away from this new enemy. 'The pilots had never really trained for ripper versus ripper battle, this should be interesting.' The pilot turned her canon to face the bridge and fired off a round. Lelouch turned to see the barricade was eradicated. The truck shot away, leaving the woman pilot to fend off her attackers.

'Ah, so you have come to me my dear prince, come to free me.'

"Who is there!?" he cried in alarm. 'Did that come from the casket?'

Britannia is a country of progress and advancement; those have always been the preaching words of the King. This was becoming a reality for all colonies under the thumb of the empire. In the space of seven years, the technology patents had leaped ahead by a decade. Infrastructure, so far, has expanded from simple dirt roads to tarmac and stone roadways, as well as the innovative sub terrain railway transport. Power supplies had been replaced from coal, gas and oils to the plentiful carbonite, thus allowing the construction and energy generation to reach all new heights of productivity. Perhaps the most helpful of these was the wire transmission radios within households and businesses all across the world.

It's no surprise that the reach and impact of such an advantageous device would attract so many hopefuls who aspired to fame and fortune. But often the savviest and cunning were the ones to reach the top and the ones who aspired for something greater than what is will be the ones to stay. So when Mr Reed had received an incoming telegraph concerning a riot over stolen Britannian military property, rest assured he would put the information to good use.

Activating the recording booth, a cramped, often hot space that could barely house an operator, let alone the equipment necessary for running, so operator and orator would often go hand in hand. "Reed! Is everything running yet!"

"Yes Mr Oswell." Dietard replied drolly. Sir Randall Thomas Oswell was a fat, pompous man too far behind the times to even be considered the company's owner and director. Originating as a telegraph bureau, the radio opened up a whole new world of communications. So when time came to test the new invention, rest assured the Oswell would swoop in and claim what he claimed was rightfully his. He opened the first Radio frequency tower in Tokyo, Japan, expanding into untold riches going straight into his pocket and no room for change among an already 'perfect' method. "Right then, get to it Mr Reed. We don't need Lady Haw-Haw stealing this story from right under our nose."

As soon as he left, Dietard sighed to himself, wiping the sweat from his brow as the generators kicked in, "I really need an assistant, I can't deal with all this narration." He was always a behind the scenes man, directing the transmissions as he saw fit and always constructing the precise script to sooth the masses or appease his superiors. Such talents were wasted in these conditions. Maybe he should take a leaf from Lady Haw-haw and set up shop independently.

"What!" gasping awake, Lelouch found himself in a dimly lit area, sunlight protruding through cracks and crevices covering the walls. Grunting in effort to raise himself, he found his suit drenched with blood. No doubt he had lost a substantial amount of blood. 'If I remember correctly, we had lost control and crashed after the bridge was shot. He must have swerved and fallen into the new underground system, which is no doubt where we are now.

He glanced around and saw the cabin for the driver had been crushed along with its occupant and his brain matter spread all over the glassware. Struggling to move, his muscles screamed for reprieve from this excruciating day. But whispers echoed in the tunnel, tittering and weaving through the darkness. It was the same one as before. He looked to the casket again and realised the lid was cracked and the nails and bolts the container sealed was now leaving the entrance ajar.

Just as he was about to open it fully and explore the coffins contents, a large degree of rubble came falling behind him. In walked a member of the royal guard, coughing and spluttering over the large amount of dust in the air. Covering his mouth with an oddly out of place handkerchief, the rest of his outfit consisted of the traditional royal military garb. All blue with highlights of silver trim and silver boots and gloves. In one hand he carries a gleaming unidirectional torch and over his slung a revolver mechanised musket. As soon as he spotted Lelouch clambering down from the rear of the auto, he dropped his torch, spilling gasoline on the floor which ignited, and took aim with his musket.

"Halt, you are under arrest for acts of treason against the Holy Britannian Empire!" he shouted. However, Lelouch just rolled his eyes in disdain. "I can tell you are Japanese, good sir, so let me ask you; who is committing the greater treason, the soldier who defends his country or obeys the commands of his oppressors. Whichever you answer, I know the outcome. Just shoot me and put me out of my misery."

"Wait, can that be you, truly Lelouch!" He stepped closer to him and his face was illuminated by the small fire created by his lamp. He had grown taller, stronger and his boyish charm changed into a handsome young man, but those eyes he could never forget. Always gleeful, always the optimist and always watching, like a hawk.

"Suzaku…of all the places to meet it must be here, perhaps it must be fate." He still remembered the last day he had seen his first true friend. 'How long has it been, almost eight years I say. How we became friends, I cannot truly say.' He could never forget the vows they made that day. "I presume this is your idea of one day liberating Japan, by joining the system itself."

"And you Lelouch, this is your method…theft and vandalism." He could have ranted further were it not for the bleeding wound in his shoulder. He raced towards him when Lelouch started swaying slightly. He also took note of the casket he was hanging onto by one hand. "Come now, I need to see to your wound."

"I don't need your damned pity. And I am no vagabond, this is just a series of unfortunate circumstances that I was roped along into." He pushed him away, but sat on the ground grasping at the offending wound. "but please get the casket out, I believe someone to be trapped inside."

Moving with haste, he pulled the casket right out until it lay horizontally across his shoulders and was gently deposited on the ground where he went to work using the musket bayonet to pry open the panel. "I need to keep you awake until help can be found…so tell me, what has become of Nuna." The affectionate pseudonym he had given the sister was not lost on Lelouch how it was used. 'He means to emotionally compromise me; does he truly believe me to be one of these villains.'

Their conversation was cut short with the arrival of further troops of the Royal guards. All weapons were pointed at him and Suazaku, who no doubt looked quite compromising next to the apparently stolen property. "Boy, do you not know your place, remove yourself at once. That is stolen Britannia property and the culprit caught red handed."

"Wait sir, there is your stolen goods as I have found them, but this student is an innocent. A case of wrong place wrong time" it was the truth, but since when have Britannia ever listened to inconvenient truths.

"You defend this felon, how dare you turncoat, how dare you. Any and all traitors are to be put to death." Taking aim, he shot at Lelouch, but he was pushed out of the way and instead Suzaku was struck in his abdominal and crumpled to the ground in unconsciousness. Lelouch recoiled from such a sight and was disheartened by his friends death. 'He would take a bullet for me, but alas it was in vain and I shall still die here.' He looked up to see the soldiers take aim at him as well, all seven barrels pointed at his chest and limbs. 'This is where it ends and I shall never see her again, I shall never get…MY VEGENCE!'

Bullets tore through him and splattered his blood all over the walls. He dropped to his knees and fell to the ground, all strength had left his body and he could only softly cough up more blood. 'So much blood, it gets everywhere, so hard to clean, so important, so much seen. Is this how she felt, my mother, when she was riddled with bullets '. Droplets dripped down the walls, down the side of the auto an into the cracks of the caskets.

The casket burst open in a fury of fire and blood, the fire consumed the entire room and created a protective ring around the bloody body of Lelouch. A figure was suspended in the air, clad in rags and hair billowing wildly around her face. 'Such a lovely face, but such horrific torment, does she mean to drag me in the inferno.'

But she looked down at him in pity and in sadness, so much so he shed a tear from his eye seeing such a beautiful face spoiled by sadness. She closed the distance between them and saw that the guards who once raved about their superiority and power, now found themselves cowering like rats on a burning ship and she sent them such a withering glare. They shivered in spite of the blazing heat. She whispered into his ears.

"Do seek vengeance, seek justice, seek power? These I shall give you, if you would be mine. The pact we shall make is marked on blood and is as old as the first man. Are you prepared for this new life I give, one of loneliness, anger and violence?"

"THIS PACT I DO SOLEMNLY ACCEPT"

And as she threw her head back, he caught a glimpse of gleaming light catching the sharp teeth protruding from her mouth, before she bit down hard into his neck. A searing pain, hot, hotter than the fires around him hotter than the fires of hell spread through his body. He felt reinvigorated, revived and most of all…he felt powerful. The blood that once stained the walls retracted their path and slithered down to him. He saw so many things: his ancestors all burning and rampaging across the globe, his father's hands dripping in blood and gloating over his victories, a witch, a dragon, a wolf, madmen cackling about their creations and electricity filling the air to boil his enemies skin alive.

And then he awoke, his eyes swirling with energy until they settled on the shape of an eagle in flight. It was exhilarating. As soon as the fire started it stopped and Lelouch rose to his feet to face these snivelling cowards. "You deliver harsh judgement and you stand tall in the face of the world because you are Britannian. But see here, your enemy stands before you and yet you cower. Show me this dominion you claim to possess or have suddenly realized this world is now finally balance. Kill or be killed, a rule that everyone has right to. So I, Lelouch Vi Britannia, command of you, all of you…DIE!" They all widened their eyes in realization and went slack as the power overtook them. And soon all were giggling in unconcealed glee.

"We happily comply the commands of our monarch. Take aim!" the muskets and pistols they carried were placed in their mouths and cocked to blow their haeds clean off.

"Wait…instead, I have a better idea." And for the first time in as long as he could remember, since his sisters last birthday in Aries Villa, since Suzaku helped him stand after being beaten down, since he made his declaration to destroy Britannia before Suzaku, he had a true smile.

Faced against two rippers, one would assume the odds were in the enemies favour. But not when Kallen Kozuki was manning one of these metal monstrosities. As one moved in for attack to the left, the other would attack from the right, but knowing this made it easier to pick them off. Used to the petty actions of Brits, Kallen had reinforced her protective casing with an added inch of iron plating. She turned to the more skilled ripper and launched at its main cannon with her harpoons, as it dodged she quickly shifted 180 degrees to blow the other enemy open with her main cannon as it had fired both its harpoons. However, as soon as she fired, the first enemy came swooping around and blew off her main cannon. 'A fool's mistake, baka, baka, baka, distract, distract, distance and then you open fire' she had drilled that routine into her head every session she practised. Realising her mistake, she disengaged and moved to a safer location. It dawned on her that two on one with no main weapon were bad odds and deftly retreated to meet with the rest of her party.

Of all the things she hated of Britannia, its technology wasn't one of those reasons. Its industrial revolution, wide spanning economic resources and access to large amounts of energy (Courtesy of Japan she liked to remind herself) had produced technology normally ten or twenty years ahead of what they previously held. One such advancement was assisting her even now. The electrical transmitter had come to fruition recently and was relatively new, yet it had saved time and lives of so many soldiers, both Britannian or Japanese. Here Morse coded message came through.

-... .- - - .- .-.. .. - -. ... / .- .-. .-. .. ...- .. -. -. .-.-.- / .-. . - ..- .-. -. / - - / -... .- ... . .-.-.-

(Battalions arriving. Return to base)

As she powered on wards, she realised by the vibrations and loud noise behind her, she was being pursued and would need to take evasive action to avoid bringing these enemies back to base. It was only when she arrived in the Shinjuku ghetto district that she realised the extent of the 'battalions' present.

"It's an entire army" she panicked, "Whatever was in that casket was not worth all this carnage."

Wooden buildings had been set ablaze and heir close proximity meant the fire was spreading quickly from household to household. Buildings had collapse or were being blown apart by cannon fore and explosives. Corpses of beggars and young street urchins littered the street. Groups of twelve were marching down each alley way. As they came to a group of 'unsavoury' characters, the six in front got on one knee, the six behind stayed standing. They took aim, fired and moved on to the next street to repeat the process yet again.

'Those bastards will pay for every drop they have spilled; I will make them bleed myself.' But first she had to evade these two following her. She turned to fire on of her harpoons and noticed one had disappeared and only one was left. She took a shot at the machine just as they turned the corner and as she planned it evaded wildly and drove into the collapsed remains causing the roof to collapse in on top of it. 'An older model like mine can survive only a certain amount of bombardment, but most of that strength is around the engine and cockpit, not the dome.' She felt the relief of no longer being chased for only a second as two newer models came crashing through the wall of another building. Cursing her bad luck, she took off towards the perimeter. Her enemies constant barrage meant she had to evade in order to save her already compromised ripper.

Her fuel was nearly depleted, the gauge reading empty and on her last legs she hoped for a miracle.

..-. - .-.. .-.. - .- / - -.- / .-.. . .- -..

(Follow my lead)