Chapter 1:
Turn 00: The Truth of Sacrifice
Date: Unknown
Time: Unknown
World of C
Beyond the Gate of Truth
The World of C didn't look quite like the realm Lelouch had remembered it the last time he visited, back when his parents attempted deicide on the collective subconscious. Back when he last saw it, it had an ethereal appearance, with what appeared to be the planet Jupiter floating in an endless black abyss. Now… now it looked like an endless white void… with no discernable floor or ceiling. Yet, Lelouch felt as though he were not floating, but rather standing on solid ground. Looking around, he felt it was best to simply sit on the invisible ground he stood on and contemplate his life.
"After all", he said aloud, "I should've realized I would go to neither heaven or hell… my sins were too great for both of them. God wouldn't have me, and Satan would probably be afraid I'd take over… if there really were a devil to begin with. So… this is Purgatory then."
Suddenly, he leaned back, only to be met with some resistance. His back suddenly felt icy, as though he was lying against a rock or some cold granite surface. Quickly, he stood up and turned around, and realized there was a massive stone tablet floating behind him this whole time. Although it looked like a pillar, Lelouch quickly noticed that there was a seam in the middle of the pillar, giving it the appearance of a set of doors. Stepping back, Lelouch then realized that the tablet… or Gate had a mural on it. On it, it depicted the sigil of Geass, and surrounding it numerous interlocking branches and rings emanating from it.
Lelouch placed a hand on the tablet, as if he was in disbelief that the very thing floating before him was real. Sure enough, he felt the chill of cold stone through his fingers. In a way, it reminded Lelouch of the chill the steel blade that pierced his heart and rendered him paralyzed from the chest down in the last few moments of his life. Looking down, he saw he was still wearing the clothes he wore as the Demon Emperor, the 99th Emperor of the Holy Empire of Britannia. However, although not to his surprise, they were undamaged and unstained… pristine as the day they were made for him.
Keeping his gaze focused on the tablet, Lelouch then spoke quietly, "I… I can't believe it… Nunnally… actually cried… I didn't think she would… I didn't expect her too… after all I had done… she still had tears left for me… my God… what have I done?"
Suddenly, there came an echo, a voice that was informal… and yet somehow familiar…
"Greetings, Young Emperor."
Lelouch quickly turned around and stared… perhaps he was curious, perhaps he was taken aback, perhaps both in fact. Standing before him was what appeared to be a figure roughly his height and built, lanky as a twig, and bald. However, what was most striking about this figure was the distinct lack of defining features. Although to Lelouch the figure looked ambiguously male to him, he was fairly certain that a being living in this realm would have no need for such physical identification and would undoubtedly be sexless and genderless.
Further confounding Lelouch was the fact that, much like the realm he was in, the being had no distinct lines to define any part of his body… making him look like the negative of a silhouette. In fact, the only thing allowing Lelouch to even see this strange being was the dark aura emanating around the figure.
Quickly, Lelouch regained his composure and asked, attempting to recreate his usual flair as he spoke, "So… I presume this is Hell, or some kind of Purgatory, am I right? If so, then to whom do I have the pleasure of meeting here?"
The figure had no mouth to speak of, how could it? After all, it was a blank silhouette with barely visible features, except for the scant few the dark aura behind it allowed to be seen. However, the figure quickly responded to Lelouch's request, and this time the former Emperor had a better grasp at what exactly he was hearing. Although the voice was distorted by many voices coming together, some of which Lelouch felt they might in fact have been people he once knew, the main voice he heard above all… was his own.
"Oh, that question never gets old," the figure began in a somewhat humorous manner, shrugging his shoulders before placing a hand over his heart, "Who am I? One name you people gave me is "The Collective Subconscious", or perhaps you'd prefer "The World", or perhaps "The Universe", or perhaps "God", or perhaps "Truth". I am "All", and I am "One". Therefore, this also means," the figure paused as he slowly began to point his finger at Lelouch, "I am also "you"".
Lelouch simply stared at the being in silence, the time it felt seemed both infinite and but a mere few seconds all at once. However, he finally responded with a laugh… a laugh of pure irony. 'So, this is my true self? My inner-me? Charles was right after all.'
"Wrong," the figure spoke back, "Although your father had a grasp at my true nature, he was at the same time as far from the truth as possible. Yes, there are lies; lies are but a facet of human nature. Lies are what make the truth all that more precious and valuable. Otherwise, how can one truly measure the value of the truth? Humans weren't given free will for no reason after all. However… your father was indeed correct that there was a bond… a connection between all living things. As I said, I am all, and I am one."
"So, if you are the truth that lies beyond all the lies," Lelouch replied, having guessed that much himself, "Why are you here before me… to cast judgment for all I've done up till now?"
"No, I've already done that the moment you arrived, young Emperor," the being replied, eerily gaining a toothy smile as it spoke, "Instead, I'm here to give you insight… the harsh truth of what your actions have caused. Although I have said that lies are necessary to give meaning to Truth, this does not disregard or devalue Truth in of itself. Truth only has meaning when it is willingly given, not forced like your Father had planned. Also… I serve another purpose".
The mouth that appeared on Truth suddenly grinned wide as the doors that were behind Lelouch opened wide. The young man turned, only to be met with a grey eye staring back at him. Behind him, the figure continued speaking, "I am the truth of your despair, the price you must pay for your conceited ways."
Without warning, shadowy arms reached out from beyond the Gate and it's singular eye and grabbed Lelouch by his arms and legs. Lelouch, to Truth's surprise, resigned himself to what he thought was the hell he deserved. To that effect did Truth add, "Not struggling? How strange, you Humans usually put up more of a fight to free yourself from the Truth… in a way… I admire that. Bear witness then, young Emperor, to the world your blood stained hands created!"
With that, Lelouch was pulled in, and the doors sealed shut. As with anyone who had to face the harsh reality that is known as brutal honesty, Lelouch wasn't prepared for the images he saw as he was pulled through the endless void. Knowledge was flowing through his head by the volumes, he felt as though his brain might burst from his skull at any moment. Only now, within the grip of horrific reality, did Lelouch try to free himself from the Truth's grip… but to no avail. Try as he might, he couldn't even close his eyes to the horrors he was forced to bear witness too. Then… just as quickly as it began… it ended.
"How was it?"
Lelouch was on his knees, breathing hard to regain himself, not bothering to look at the figure that asked such a ridiculous question. Sitting down, he gripped his head, trying his best to banish the thoughts that were seared into his very being. Even though the experience ended, flashes… images of the truth… were still replaying in Lelouch's eyes. Shaking, he tried to control his breathing to regain a sense of self, but to little avail. Although he had saw plenty of horror in his two years rebelling against the might of Britannia, nothing had prepared him for the harsh reality that would come from the Zero Requiem. Even though he barely understood everything he saw, he knew enough to understand… he had failed.
However, when he got up, he stared Truth in the face, and with the skill of a chess master buried whatever anxiety he had away as he replied, "Enlightening…"
"Enlightening…" Truth echoed, "Interesting choice of words, Lelouch vi Britannia."
"So… why exactly did you decide to show me the Truth," Lelouch inquired, "Just to hammer in the futility in truly making a gentle world?"
Truth shook his head, "The Truth sucks, doesn't it? You of all people should know… the truth is often harsh… and uncompromising. However, I never condemned you for your ambition, just your finale. Your requiem created a lie… a lie easily unraveled just by looking at your actions up till that point. The people who knew you best will resuscitate your image as a heroic martyr, and from there… well, you saw it for yourself, Lelouch."
Lelouch nodded introspectively and replied, "So… I assume this is the part where we part ways and I'm sent to face my eternal damnation for damning the world to another hell."
"Oh? And I thought you believed Hell wouldn't take you out of fear of your cunning, am I right?" Truth replied tauntingly, "You know, there are plenty of other ways of teaching you a lesson in humility and honesty other than your preconceived notions of heaven and hell. For example, I could just condemn you to face the Truth in your Gate for all eternity."
Lelough winced at the notion, slowly turning his attention back to the gate as if to expect it to open again and with it's black arms drag him in, but Truth continued, "However… for your case, I have a far better idea."
Turning back to Truth, Lelouch gave him a puzzled look, his head tilted as if in disbelief that there was something worse then the gate. Truth grinned wider as if knowing exactly what Lelouch was thinking, which in all cases was very likely, and replied, "I could simply send you back to Earth at the exact moment you first gained your Geass. You'd be forced to relive your life from the moment you made your contract with C.C. and see everything unfold again, knowing how it'd all end."
Lelouch suddenly took back his previous thought, thinking to himself, 'N-no way! H-he wouldn't!' However, Lelouch quickly paused for a moment and looked again at Truth, seeing that still present grin on Truth's face. This made him wonder, was God sadistic, or was there something he just wasn't getting. Somehow, Lelouch felt it was the latter of the two, a growing feeling was telling him it was all too obvious. At lightning pace, Lelough thought,
'So… instead of Heaven or Hell, I get sent to the World of C, where God… or Truth… whatever… decides to show me the future. Now… he's talking about sending me back to relive it all! What am I not…"
Lelouch's eyes shot wide as he realized it, which caused Truth's grin to broaden genuinely, which confirmed to the former emperor his suspicions.
"You catch on quick," Truth replied, not waiting for Lelouch to think it himself, "I don't think I need to explain anything more now, do I?"
Lelouch smirked, "And here I thought I was being damned, instead, I get the one gift I'd probably want most of all!" It sounded all too perfect for Lelouch, a chance to set right what once went wrong, to redo the Rebellion all over again without the mistakes of youth causing so much tragedy. That was what made him pause as the doors opened wide before him. Catching his hesitation, Truth spoke,
"Since it seems you doubt my good will, I propose we make a contract then, since you're used to them by now."
Lelouch chuckled at the irony, and replied, "Alright, what are your terms?"
"The Contract is simple: I give you one chance to undo the mistakes you've made that led you to being here. As a tool to help you, your Geass can now revive the lost memories of the original timeline in anyone you command, adding them onto their current set of memories. However, Lelouch, don't mistake this for a second Geass, your ability to Command memories to return is linked to your Geass of Absolute Obedience, meaning-"
"Meaning I can only use it once per person, except for cases where a Geass Canceller is involved, which I guess means would erase memories of the Original Timeline of Events, am I right?"
"Correct, Lelouch," Truth replied, "Also, your companion and accomplice, C.C. will keep her memories of the Original Events that occurred, due to her link with the World of C. Furthermore, Your Geass can only revive memories in a person a year after your death, or if they died before that limit, only up to the point of their own death. This means they don't have a complete knowledge of what occurred after they perished."
Lelouch nodded and replied, "And what are the conditions?"
"You have only one chance, Lelouch. Fail to avert the Zero Requiem, or fail in your goal in creating a better world for everyone in a future built on the Truth, and you will be sent to meet despair for your conceited ways."
"Do I need to give something in return for this gift?", Lelouch replied, genuinely curious now. So far, the deal looked fool proof and wasn't set up to make him fail. In a way, Truth made it easier on Lelouch to fix his past mistakes. Of course, as he should well know by now, Lelouch was certain that there were catches Truth hadn't bothered to bring up.
"You already have, Lelouch," Truth replied, "When you arrived in my domain a year ago-"
"A YEAR?!"
"Yes, time holds no meaning here, it's been a year in your time since you entered the Gate to see the Truth. Now let me explain." Truth looked visibly annoyed at Lelouch's earlier interruption and quickly finished, "When your parents tried to kill me with the Sword of Akasha, you didn't command me to stop them, you merely asked me to do whatever I needed to keep time marching. Asking me… and praying, are one in the same thing Lelouch. You showed faith that I could stop them, and you were right. To be honest, it caught me off guard last time."
"So… what you're telling me is… you owe me".
"Now you get it," Truth replied as he walked over to Lelouch, "So, do we have a deal?"
Lelouch closed his eyes for a moment, as if to think, only for a smirk to appear on his face. Opening his eyes, he replied confidently, "I, Lelouch vi Britannia, accept the terms of your contract!"
"Excellent," Truth exclaimed, "Now, in case you forgot, allow me to refresh your memories… you're about to be shot at by a unit of Britannian soldiers. Good luck, Lelouch vi Britannia."
Lelouch had no time to make a comeback as he felt himself being pulled back into the gate, where a blinding white light enveloped him, and all at once… the Gates once more closed.
