Prologue:- New place, new life….
Truth and hope in our Fatherland!
And death to every foe!
Our soldiers shall not pause to rest,
We vow our loyalty
"Presenting, the 17th heir to the throne and 11th princess of the realm, Lelouch vi Britannia!" The chief of guard on duty at the throne room announced to the royal court, as he opened the grand doors of the Sanctus Sanctorum of the empire. The nobles and the courtiers turned their gazes to the 10 year old girl as she walked down the aisle with anger and determination in her eyes. Her royal cape fluttered a bit, highlighting a dress code similar to that of her mother. As was their custom, the nobles bowed down in deference to the heiress, but gathered amongst themselves for small talk.
"I heard the empress was murdered in the capitol itself!"
"it`s not even a place for terrorist to enter. It is the supposed to be the most guarded place in the empire."
Lelouch didn`t even deign them with so much as a shift in her features as her eyes locked unto the cause of her miseries. The murmurs continued as she walked down her path.
"Who`s the real culprit then?"
"The very thought of the investigation frighten me."
"Her strength is remarkable, despite of the past recent events"
"but the princess has no one to fall back on, the Ashford`s have been stripped of their titles and banished from the imperial courts."
"Princess Nunnally has also sustained severe damage to her being. Such a shame, she can`t even be married for diplomacy."
Old traditions they will abide
Arise young heroes!
Our past inspires noble deeds
All Hail Britannia!
Lelouch came to a stop in front of her father`s throne, the sovereign monarch of the realm. She didn`t bow before, not now-not today. She directly lifted her gaze and looked straight into his eyes.
"Your majesty, my mother-the empress, has passed away."
"And what about it?" He looked down at her with a bored expression.
"What about it?" her voice didn`t betray her emotions at the moment. A collective gasp was heard as they looked on at the events unfolding before them.
"Did you request an audience with the Emperor just to say that?" he turned to towards the guard standing next to him, the same look of disinterest in his eyes
"Bring in the next case, I don`t have time to play with children."
"Father!"
Raging anger coursed through the little girl`s veins as she ran up the stairs to make her point more clear. Immediately, the guards were about to intercept until they were called off by their lord. Lelouch trembled with the maelstrom raging within her, her eyes never leaving his face
"Why didn`t you protect her? Aren`t you the emperor? Aren`t you the most powerful man of the kingdom? You should have protected her, at least you could have visited Nunnally!"
"I have no use for the weak." A mild irritation was present in his voice.
"The… weak?" was her father ever so cruel before?
His never changed as he continued "That is the nature of the Royal Family."
The nobles looked on at the scene of a naïve child going being helpless against her father. Her eyes were closed as she held back her tears, the trembling worsened. Sigh… what else could be expected from a commoner?
"In that case, I don`t need the right to succeed your throne." the silent whisper came back.
Immortal beacon shows the way
Step forth, seek glory!
Hoist your swords high into the clouds
Hail Britannia!
WHAT? Surely, the princess understood what that meant?
"I have had enough of it! I won`t ever succeed you or get involved in these conflicts!"
"You`re dead." The fury in his tone was more than what anybody had ever heard from the monarch. "You have been dead since the day you were born. Who gave you those clothes to wear? Your home, your food and even, your life?"
Fear took over Lelouch. This couldn`t be happening. Was it really wrong to ask for justice for her mother? Even the commoners were entitled to know the cause and reason behind the death of her loved one.
"I am the one who gave it to you." He roared on "In other words, you have never truly lived."
"And yet, you show me such insolence?" he got up from his throne. The entire gathering withdrew a bit while Lelouch stumbled down the stairs at the sheer coldness of her father`s face as he towered over her.
"Lelouch!" his voice went low, ready to dole out his verdict
Our Emperor stands astride this world
He'll vanquish every foe!
His truth and justice shine so bright
All hail his brilliant light!
"As a dead person, you have no rights." His eyes cold with contempt "You and Nunnally will be sent to Japan. As princesses, you will be good 'bargaining chips'."
Lelouch lowered her head as her fate was dictated by this man. It was true, she had and held no power among them. All she could do was feel fear for the things to come as she was escorted at one last time as the heiress to the realm.
"Can you stand?" the young Suzaku asked as he helped Lelouch up. He had been going to a nearby field to catch up with some friends when he noticed them picking up someone. Well, that was nothing new for them…. wait, is it that strange Britannian princess there?
Motivated by his chivalry, he thrashed her tormentors and proceeded to help her. She was still the same, even now. Eyes filled with hate and anger, a black face whenever someone tried to converse with her and just an overall rude yet somehow gloomy aura round her.
"I don`t need your pity, go back and join up with your friends." She quietly and quickly picked up her scattered groceries in-front of the brunette and made her quiet exit. During that period of silence, he saw all the signs of the toils she faced silently every day.
When he stepped out of his trance, he quickly chased after her. True, she may be rude and from their enemy country but she was still a kid like him. Maybe…. Just
maybe….
He would be able to put a smile on her face, just like how her sister could do it….
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Tohdoh asked the frail girl in front of her.
"I need to be able to defend my sister in the future. Suzaku, however much I appreciate it, will not be able to do so forever. I must be ready for all possibilities!"
The old warriors face upturned a bit at that, she just resembled Suzaku in so many ways.
"Very well, training starts in 3 days. Prepare your schedule as per it."
The grateful girl bowed her head "Arigatou Gozaimasu, Sensei."
"You called for me, Father?" 2nd prince Schnitzel el Britannia bowed before the emperor who had summoned him.
"Buy us some time for Area 11. Prolong the talks with Genbu a bit longer." He said just looking up from the document he was reading
"Yes, your majesty."
"Lelouch! See what I bought for you." The energetic brunette burst in with a carrying a box in his hands. Said girl had just changed back into her dress after training and didn`t even look up from the cooking she was doing.
"Come on! You don`t have to be so cold towards me." He huffed at her lack of response.
"Let me see, last month you got me a can of worms, later it graduated into one of caterpillars, I will let that slide for the butterflies. The cherry being a toad in my favorite dress. Now pray tell, why I should look forward for what you have now?" she send in a half condescending tone.
"Onee-sama, you shouldn`t be like that!" Nunnally chided her from the living room.
"Yeah, why don`t you treat me like how you do to Nunnally?"
She turned around and flicked him on his head "Because she is an angel, not a brute like you. Now what did you want?"
"Ouch! Thanks for that" he rubbed his head "Actually, I got some extra special rice balls with me. I thought…. Since you guys prefer to eat bread, you could it your stew with this!" his face was beet red as he handed Lelouch the bento box.
The girl graciously took his gift and kissed him on his cheek. The brunette went even redder in embarrassment and shock. His reaction was so priceless that the girls couldn`t help but laugh.
"What….What`s so funny?" he managed to stutter.
And this is how the rest of the day passed. In laughter, exploration, minor celebration and infinite joy.
Lelouch revealed the prize that she won in the shooting stall at the festival she and Suzaku were attending.
A pair of rings.
"Geez, couldn`t you get a goldfish or something?" the boy grumbled for which he got a fierce glare.
"It`s not for a barbarian. I am giving them to Nunnally. They will go so well along with her dresses!"
Suzaku sighed loudly at that as they made their way up the shrine. After much convincing, he had forced the 'anti-social' girl out of her cocoon. Even his great persistence were at a loss for him, until Nunnally spoke to her sister….
Seeing her fall behind, Suzaku grabbed her hand and lead her through the crowd. All his efforts were worth it, for he got to see that brilliant smile that was imprinted within his young being…
"How have the talks been my son?" The emperor had a certain gleam in his eyes as he used the cutlery to cut the meat. Dinners were a special occasion with the emperor among the royal family and a privilege. Schnitzel however, knew better than that. It was a formal version of 'take aside to talk too' to deliberate the actions of a person or a major decision which would affect said person. He took a sip of the wine to cleanse his palate, waiting for the things to come.
"I`m afraid the situation is like walking on thin ice. PM Genbu Kururugi is adamant on his demands and asks for an autonomous position within the empire. Plus, comp-"
The young man stopped the minute his father signaled him to. Patiently, he waited for him to wipe his mouth and down his drink.
"Send the 1st, 2nd and 3rd regiments along with the 4th special infantry troops."
Never will he be overthrown
Like mountains and sea
His bloodline immortal and pure
All Hail Britannia!
The ever cooled 2nd prince was shocked at the implications. "But, 2 members of the royal-"
He lifted his gaze and had a sinister smile on his face "You have done well, my son. I wish to 'hasten' the acquisition as soon as possible." He shifted his gaze back to his half eaten meal
"As for them, will or will they not be able to survive?"
Disregarding his king`s musings, Schnitzel just bowed his head a tad bit in deference to his father "as you wish. I will inform the army to stand at the ready for your orders, father."
The meal continued in silence for the rest of the evening.
The next day, Japan was invaded by the Holy Britannian Empire on accounts of mutiny and destabilization among its people. The fact that the prime minister, Genbu Kururugi and was dead due to uncertain circumstances and the Sakuradite business was being 'illegally' mined actually helped Britannia garner international support to their cause.
It was also the knightmare frames were used beyond the empire`s borders. These automated warbots ran havoc through the front line of the Japanese army and crippled their very backbone. It was the case of skill being overpowered by brute force. The only 'loss' was the battle of Itsukushima, were they were tactically defeated.
The conquest was over in less than a month and Japan was herded into the empire`s flock as Area 11, in honour of the 11th princess and daughter of the beloved empress Marianne who was casualty in the war.
"Are you sure you don`t want to come with us Suzaku?" Lelouch asked her friend as they were about to part ways. They had managed to survive in the wild for about a whole month. The challenges faced by them were something no 10 year old should ever face. In all of this, Rueben Ashford bumped into the former princess in one of their hideouts and arranged a place for her little band to stay.
"I am Lulu, it is for your own good." The brunette said solemnly.
The look that he gave her meant there was no turning back. Understanding this, Lelouch took out the ring from her finger strung it on the only ornament she had and handed it over to him.
"I`m sure, in the future our paths will cross again. Until then, I want you to keep this and return it to me in one piece. Promise me that!"
Suzaku smiled a bit at that. Even in this hopeless and sad situation, Lelouch`s words set into him like an order. As bossy as aware. The intentions behind the words however, touched him even more.
"On my part…" Her eyes were filled suddenly with pure loathing and anger. I was so intense and evil, it made Suzaku stumble back onto the ground in fear as she turned her back at him to face the Britannian flag fluttering in the middle of a rice field of blood.
"…. I promise to bring Britannia on its knees and destroy it!"
"Now my child, what is your move?"
So let his wisdom guide our way
Go forth and seek glory
Hoist your swords high into the clouds
Hail Britannia!
Hey there guys, this will be my 2nd major work. It couldn`t have come to fruition if it weren`t for the request from Shiranai Atsune. Thanks once again to him and the support he has given me for this venture. Please look after me in these times and support my other stories at well.
As I always say,
Read, enjoy and review.