If you knew exactly what each act and moment in your life would lead to would you repeat these acts or would you go down a different path?


From End to Start

#01

The wind blew softly through the field in the Britannia Palace estate. Soft gold eyes stared at the woman beside her. She was rather pretty, long curled brown hair and piercing indigo eyes. Marianne Ashford, the soon to be wife of the Emperor.

Behind her she could sense two more people watching them. One was the Emperor himself and the other was her nemesis in a sense, V.V. Ignoring the presence behind her, she looked into the distance, where the land met the sky, as another breath of wind crossed the field, she felt a change.

The Emperor and V.V. were now next to them and had demanded the two's attention. She knew what was to come, the talk of Ragnarok.

Silently she got up and faced the two males and waited for what was to come.


It was later that she was asked to give Marianne the Geass. She could have disagreed but she complied, after all what would Marianne's son want anyway? She had decided that it was best to leave the world in the same state and follow the same actions. This time she would rely on Lelouch knowing what to do.


The residents in the Imperial Villa always made remarks of the son of Marianne Ashford, one of the Emperor's many wives. They would say he was smart, intelligent and mature. They would comment on how he seemed to be a very odd child, it was almost as if he was born a genius, he excelled in his studies and was far ahead of other students his age, in fact he would sometimes act more like an adult instead of a child.

It was a fine summer's day when Lelouch vi Britannia finished his afternoon meal and was free to his own devices. He wandered down the vast corridor that rose high and was supported by intricately decorated pillars, even the pale marble floor was a complex design, he noted as his shoes tapped softly across the surface. He was nearing his ninth birthday, still not old enough for his mother—.

"There you are Lelouch, I told you not to wander off, come here, we'll go visit Cornelia and Euphie today," said Marianne, walking over to Lelouch and offering him a hand.

Lelouch took his mother's hand and allowed him to be walked through the corridors until they reached a rather modest garden, modest in comparison to all the other gardens that littered across the structure. It was a simple with two rose bushes and hedges along with a small outdoor set that consisted of two chairs and a table, supposedly for tea.

"Look there they are," said Marianne, pointing at the two girls in the garden, "Go play with them, I have things to attend too, I'll see you later Lelouch darling."

And with that she walked off in the same direction they had come.

Lelouch watched her go and walked slowly over to the two sisters, "Good afternoon Euphie, sister Cornelia," he greeted as he came into their vicinity.

"Ah, Lelouch," exclaimed Euphemia, leaping to her feet, "Me and Cornelia are playing, come play with us."

"Why don't you and your sister play together and I'll watch?" suggested Lelouch, returning the smile Cornelia gave him behind Euphemia.

"Alright," said the girl happily and sat down with her sister again.

Lelouch was sitting with the girls for least quarter of an hour before he heard footsteps, light ones that belonged to—

"Ah, it's Schneizel and Clovis," called out Euphemia.

Lelouch turned and stared at his brothers, his past nemeses walk towards them. Making sure his face was blank of emotion he greeted the two who walked over and spoke.

"We were looking for you Lelouch, how about a showdown of chess?" said Clovis, holding up a portable chessboard, "Us three, you, me and Schneizel ."

"Alright," said Lelouch, after all it was a chance to see if he could now beat Schneizel in chess, but then again as he thought about it, it was considered cheating as he was far older, but then again he had beaten Clovis so many times it wasn't unusual for him to win anymore.


"Checkmate."

"Argh, Lelouch you beat me again," sighed Clovis, staring at the Knight that had checkmated his King.

"Looks like it's you versus me then," said Schneizel.

The picked up the discarded pieces and rearranged them on the board.

"White starts," said Lelouch after each of his pieces had been replaced in their respective staring positions and waited for Schneizel to make his move as his mind flicked through the million of possible scenarios.


It was just as he predicted, Schniezel always held a strong defence and attacked with care and precision. They continued to play, both sides unwilling to give in, even Cornelia and Euphie came over to watch the game.

And yet Schneizel will always play it safe and that would mean using this tactic...

"Check," Schneizel called out.

"It's not my loss yet," said Lelouch softly and moving his king.

Ten minutes later Lelouch was happily strolling down the corridors of the Imperial Villa. Just as he had predicted he had won the match, Schneizel as a child had not changed a bit.

As he continued his aimless path down the empty corridor his feet had somehow lead him to the Knightmare Frame hangar. As he walked inside the conveniently unlocked door, he saw his mother's Knightmare, Ganymede. It was unlike the ones he was so used to in his future life. It was bulky and almost looked unmoveable compared to Lancelot, Gawain or Guren. If only he could get the future's technology now. But that wasn't possible and even with the knowledge, Lelouch wasn't into science and he didn't know enough... but perhaps there was someone else...

Sighing he took one last glance at the old, now new, Ganymede before leaving the room. There was a great weight on his shoulders. Every moment of his life he was planning, what to do, when to do it and how. In just under a year's time his mother would be assassinated by V.V. and he was still no closer in figuring out the works of the Geass' organisation at this time. He would have to make sure that his mother died this time properly. Even if Nunally fell blind and was paralysed...

Speaking of that where was his sister anyway, he hadn't seen her in quite some time. Even though there was only a three year difference between them it felt far larger. Perhaps the reason lay behind the fact the Lelouch mentally was nearing his thirties and Nunally was only seven.

Lelouch continued walking down the corridors, this time however to his room. He had some thinking to do. His days of boredom and peace were numbered, soon he and Nunally would be sent to Japan, or Area 11 as it would be known in the future. Then would he meet everyone he met before? All he knew was that he had to find C.C., that was the only essential person, but not being able to meet everyone else would be a loss. He guessed he would meet Milly at the very least though, being part of the Ashford family and all.

Opening his door and closing it behind him he sat down at his desk and thought.

Technology was such an essential part of the future battles to come. The FLEIJA warhead, Gefion disturber, Sakuradite, Damocles and all the Knightmare frames. Some had to be recreated, others never to be created. The three people most involved in these were Rakshata, Lloyd and Nina. If he could have all of them under his control again, there was one problem solved.

But the problems came one after the other. Like what would happen in the future, what would be of everything he created? And where was C.C.?

But just a little bit of rest for now would do.


The days had gone and come and the day drew closer and closer. Marianne's death.


C.C. never met Lelouch the first time around, she had left the Brittanian Palace to travel the world and it was around that time she had found Mao. But this time round she would not do the same, in fact she was still currently residing in the Palace. She hadn't seen Marianne for quite some time and it was only a few hours ago she received a letter that told her that the royal residents of the Imperial Villa were going to stay over for some time.

She wasn't sure how to feel about this. After opting to stay instead of leave she had learnt many more things, like the fact that Marianne didn't always live in the Palace. C.C. had mixed feelings about the visit, for one she would meet Lelouch, and she wasn't sure how he was going to react. Should she give him the Geass now then? Or later like the first time around? But they didn't meet until that time. In fact as C.C. thought about it, they would have never met if Clovis never got his hands on her, and that would mean Shinjuku would never happen, so would that mean that Lelouch would never meet the terrorists?

Questions ran through her mind about the visit and before she realised a week had passed and Marianne, Lelouch and Nunally (the rest, Euphemia, Cornelia, Schneizel and Clovis visited the Imperial Villa, but never lived there) graced the doorstep of the grand Palace.

C.C. naturally wasn't there to greet them, if Marianne wanted to see her she would find her, and she still was unsure of Lelouch. The demon emperor was now a young boy.

So it was later in the evening when most people had retired to their rooms that there was a soft knock on her door. Curious she got up and listened intently for any sounds, when none were given away she asked, "Who is it?"

"A thought of the future," answered the person on the other side enigmatically.

The first person that C.C. thought of with those words was Lelouch, yet this was a younger Lelouch, on she was unfamiliar with. Left with a choice to open the door or remain silent, she opted for he former. As she opened the door, a young boy that just surpassed the height of her waist walked in and waited for the door to be closed behind him.

Even in his youth C.C. with no doubt recognised it as Lelouch. The eyes were still the same ones as the ones that looked at her the day before his death. Ones that had seen too much and no longer opened themselves to the outside world. Just as those thoughts went through C.C.'s mind, a barrier seemed to decapitate.

"Lelouch..."

"C.C., there are things that need clarification," said Lelouch, his voice high and feminine.

C.C. cover her mouth as a giggle dropped out, this little Lelouch was adorable cute, "What is it?"

"I—"

But before he could even say another word there was a knock on the door.

"Yes?" asked C.C., it seemed that she was getting quite a few visits that day.

"It's me, Marianne."

"Oh," and before C.C. could react the door was opened and Marianne had clear view of her son and C.C.

"Lelouch what are you doing here?" asked Marianne, rather confused.

"I found him wandering through the corridors and I brought him back here as he had seemed to have lost his way back to his quarters, is he your son?" fibbed C.C.

"Yes, thank you C.C., well I'll come back after I put him back to bed," said Marianne guiding Lelouch by the shoulder and walking him out of the room.

As the pair left the room, Lelouch turned and paused to look at C.C. Her gold eyes stared blankly at him, before showing the slightest emotion that left her eyes almost as instantaneously as it came.

"Come along now Lelouch," said Marianne pushing her son a little firmer, "You'll have plenty time to talk to C.C. later, but now it's your bedtime."

With one more firm push Lelouch allowed himself to be steered to his room.


The days of their visit continued. Nunally still had her sight and Marianne was still alive and V.V. was nowhere to be seen. Lelouch didn't yet have the chance to talk to C.C., however today Marianne was going into town with a couple of her friends, which was perfectly fine with Lelouch.

And so with his mother gone Lelouch ventured down the hallway to where he now knew where C.C. would be. Knocking softly he waited for a reply, and when the door slowly opened C.C. stood in front of him and with a silent gesture she motion him in.

There are so many questions that need answers, there are so many matters that haven't been touched upon, I need to know—

"What do you need?" C.C.'s voice broke out into his thoughts.

Lelouch remained silent, and in a very magnanimous way he walked over and sat down on the only chair in the room.

"Before we got interrupted," he replied after he had seated himself comfortably on the chair.

"Oh? Then I'd ask the same," said C.C., sitting down on the edge of the bed facing Lelouch.

"How many more days to Marianne's death?"

"The night when Schneizel and Cornelia are within these palace walls and the night when Anya leaves her room and bears witness to Marianne's death," half- answered C.C., "At least that was what happened last time, however last time V.V. stayed with his brother and I had left to travel the world. This time I stayed and V.V. is currently at the Geass Organisation. If he plots to kill Marianne this time, it won't be anytime soon."

"She needs to go," said Lelouch.

"I know, and there are countless ways."

"Then you're saying that Ragnarok will still occur?"

"Yes and no," began C.C. "If Marianne is gone for good it will only be Charles and V.V. No events have changed except for me staying and Mao will never be what he was to become."

"Then Japan is still our destination?"

"No doubt and that—"

"That means Marianne is our primary target and the—"

"The best way to kill her is by—"

"By using the Geass you—"

"I will give you."


"You do understand that if you use your Geass too much the same will happen as last time," said C.C.

"Of course."

"Then I'll get those contacts for you again."


It was like the way he remembered, something reverberating through his body, memories of the Geass flashing by, until he finally felt something settle in place.

"Will my Geass still be the same?" asked Lelouch.

"Of course, the Geass for each person is unique, if you're so worried try it yourself, however don't use it too much, until we meet again, after all we don't want the same scenario to happen again now do we?"

Lelouch merely stared.

Suddenly breaking through the silence a bell somewhere chimed twelve.

"Nunally is expecting me," announced Lelouch.

"I see, Marianne is going out again tomorrow, we should continue this talk," said C.C., getting up and for the first time Lelouch realised how young he was. Once upon a time when he first met C.C. she was shorter than him, but now she was by quite a lot taller than him.

Lelouch gave a non-committable grunt and walked out and went to find Nunally.

"Now that wasn't too bad now was it?" said C.C. out loud to herself.


The very next day Lelouch was venturing through the castle back into C.C.'s domain.

"Is Marianne gone already?" asked C.C. as Lelouch walked in.

"She's never the type to be late. What happens from here on out?" asked Lelouch.

"Anyway you like it, it's the world you want to create, I am merely your ally," answered C.C., "But if you want advice then I have too much."

"Alright then you know what my short term goal is, get rid of Marianne, V.V. and the Emperor as soon as possible to prevent Ragnarok."

"Marianne yes, in only a matter of days, however as I said because I stayed V.V. won't be your mother's murderer. V.V. on the other hand will be troublesome, the one that kills him must be willing to accept his code and finally Charles? Whenever you feel like he is no longer fit to rule," said C.C., "Of course Marianne is our primary goal."

"And I will be the one to kill her?"

"No, not yet, but you do have to cast the Geass over her to prevent her from using her own," explained C.C.

And that left...


Two days had passed since Lelouch last spoke to C.C., and it was that night he chose to cast the Geass over his mother.

"Mother," began Lelouch as Marianne gave him her full focus, "I must ask that you never use your Geass again under any circumstance, especially close to the time of your death."

His eyes returned to normal and Marianne asked, "What is it darling?"

"Mhm, nothing, just goodnight and I love you," said Lelouch sweetly, he never had the best acting skills when it came to human interaction.

"Goodnight to you too Lelouch," said Marianne leaving a kiss on his forehead.


That night when Lelouch went to sleep, he never heard the gunshots fired, nor Nunally being dragged out of bed, nor anything else. That night was the first night in a long time since Lelouch slept peacefully without the worry of what was to come tomorrow.

Yet when he awoke the next day, he almost immediately knew what had happened, the air itself seemed stale, even though the events only happened the night prior, however he had an act to maintain, so he silently let the maid help him dress. It was when she left he heard a scream, rushing out, in curiosity there he saw in all her former glory his mother lying on the steps with Nunally clutched onto her with wide eyes. If Lelouch had a choice he would prefer that this never happened, however he knew that sacrifices had to be made and if Nunally wasn't paralysed and blinded then they would never head to Japan.

It was then when he saw Nunally shaking in fear in the arms of the dead Marianne he realised that the love he had for Nunally was the familial love he wanted that he never received. In fact he had realised it ages ago, even before the initiation of the Zero Requiem. He loved Nunally, that was true, but all he had tried to achieve before for her it was ridiculous. Killing people, forming the Order of the Black Knights and whatever else he had done in his former life, creating a world for Nunally was all an excuse to exercise the power he had, foolish and childish. But this time around he had grown up and this time he knew he wouldn't make the same mistakes.

No this time I will create a world for Nunally and a world for everyone to live without prejudice and the cruel reign of Britannia.

The others around him presumed his silence and blank eyes stared for shock and grief and Lelouch realised he had be standing for too long, but he couldn't move a muscle, his mind however was frantic, but his body refused to move and then—

"What is the matter?" asked a feminine voice blandly.

"Marianne has been murdered," another voice came.

And Lelouch snapped out of it before looking up at the two owners of the voices, one was C.C. and the other was none other than the Emperor himself.

"Marianne!" shouted C.C. running to the dead woman's side, "No..."

Lelouch looked up and met his father's eyes, the same cold ones he remembered since the events of Ragnarok. This was the man he was going to destroy, and it didn't matter if it was his–

"Father," said Lelouch.

"What is it?"

"Mother is dead."

"And?" asked Charles Vi Britannia coldly.

For once in a long time Lelouch was lost for words because that was it, she was dead.


Nunally was admitted into the best hospital in Britannia, however nothing changed, she was still paralysed and the Emperor had still inflicted her with the Geass. Lelouch barely saw of her and as the death of Marianne travelled through the grapevine, he renounced his title and the siblings were set sail for Japan. However their departure to Japan was put off, unlike last time V.V. was the known murder, this time however it remained a perfect mystery. Nonetheless eventually Lelouch and Nunally were sent to Japan, Britannia had still not liberated it then.

Japan was different to what Nunally had ever seen with her own two eyes. It was far more natural and unlike Britannia it had a fragile beauty to it. They were sent as political immigrants and they were elected to be under the current prime minister's care, Genbu Kururugi and that was when Lelouch met Suzaku again.

It felt like a lifetime since he had last seen Suzaku and it probably was.

Lelouch and Nunally set into life at the Kururuji Shrine and forged a strong friendship with Suzaku, however as much as Lelouch tried to see his best friend in the younger Suzaku, he only ever saw half. The Suzaku he knew was far more mature and gentle. But he couldn't say that this Suzaku was bad either, his eyes shone of innocence, ones that hadn't witnessed death and war and if Lelouch could control the world exactly the way he wanted it would never happen, but alas fate was strong and some things were destined to happen.

Their time at the Kururugi Shrine continued in peace until the fateful day came. As Lelouch ran after Suzaku who began to scale the cliff, he easily followed. Lelouch had taken a simple invitation to train with Suzaku under Todou. He knew that his greatest weakness was strength and this time, he would make sure it wasn't. So unlike the last time in the now forgotten path, Lelouch didn't struggle to climb the cliff, but easily did.

And the war began.


Revised 22 Jan 2012