A/N: Alright, now this is the actual first chapter. Hopefully you like it. If not, bear with me. The story will get more exciting. Here are some quick warnings:

This story will contain spoilers pertinent to the end of Code Geass R2; if you have not seen the ending and do not wish to be spoiled, hold off on reading until you have seen it.

This story will contain lesbian romance and eventually sex.

This story will contain character deaths of some canon characters.

Disclaimer: I do not own Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion or any of its characters or element. I do own my own Original characters, however.

"Lelouch vi Britannia," the old man gave a short cough before going into his lecture, "the man who would become known as the Demon King. Little is known about this enigmatic figure. Born 2000 a.t.b., child of our great 98th Emperor Charles zi Britannia and his fifth wife, the talented Knightmare test pilot best known as Marianne the Flash, he was named 11th prince and 17th heir to the throne. Thought lost for years after being sent to Japan as an envoy to help in negotiations with Japan prior to the Second Pacific War in 2010 a.t.b., he did not reemerge on the national scene until his sudden announcement to the world that he had slain his own father and stolen his throne. As our 99th Emperor, the Demon King did his best to deceive and mesmerize us with words of justice and equality in an effort to usurp control of the entire world. He was all but successful in his aims, having defeated and captured those who opposed him, but just as he was to silence his adversaries for good, Zero, the great masked hero of the people, made a gallant stand against him, silencing his tyranny for good, thus allowing this peaceful era we now all enjoy."

The old man took a deep breath as he came to a pause in his lecture. He adjusted his thick glasses and looked around his classroom. The students looked fairly attentive. Unlike most of his course material, the last few weeks of class, when they went over the events that had happened just twenty years ago, the events the children's parents still talked about, he had the room's full, undivided attention.

Or so it would be, were it not for one girl. Over the course of her year in his Britannian History class, this girl had shown nothing but apathy and loathing for him and his subject. She'd just glare and sleep and make the occasional snide comment about how he was full of shit. It was absolutely infuriating, but there was nothing he could do. Not only did this particular girl have the highest grade in his class, but there was also that other unfortunate circumstance. She was his country's princess.

"So class, do we have any questions in regards to the Demon King?" the elderly teacher asked, trying his best to avoid the young princess, who seemed to be in more of a mood than usual at this lecture, and turn instead to his more vibrant students. As it was several hands went up. He pointed to a young man, a below average student who rarely had questions to ask, "Yes, Joseph."

"This dude was Empress Nunnally's full Brother, right?" the young man, Joseph, poised his question with a slow nod.

"That is correct. It's hard to believe that such a kind and fair ruler and the demon of our age could have come of the same parentage, but that's how it goes sometimes," the teacher said with a bit of a smirk. He turned to another child with his hand raised, one of his all together average students, "David."

"So, no record exists of what the Demon King did in that time between being sent to Japan and killing his father?" the boy asked, finding this peculiar.

"Very little clear details exist. Evidence seems to indicate that he was in Japan for the duration of that time, attending Britannian schools there while it was still Area 11, but even the Empress hasn't revealed much of that time frame," the old man did his best to answer the question. Wanting a more thought out question he turned to the girl with the second highest grade in his class, who sure enough had her hand raised. "Margaret, your question please."

"Yes, Mr. Holman," the bright eyed girl said standing up. "Considering that Zero was number on enemy or Britannia under Emperor Charles' rule and had done much to defy the Empire, why is it you think the Britannian people were so quick to accept him on his first appearance under Emperor Lelouch's rule?"

The old teacher, Mr. Homan, smirked. Margaret was an exceptional child, the sort of bright, perceptive and engaged youth an aging high school history teacher enjoyed teaching. "Zero gave us hope at our darkest. We finally, in those moments, saw what his followers had seen. He was a fair and just man, an ally of justice. The past didn't matter anymore. Britannia knew that they had found someone they could trust, someone they could follow out of the darkness and into our new peaceful world."

"You trust Zero?!" an apathetic voice spoke out of turn, ending in a brusque laugh. Holman needn't even look to know the source.

"Is there something wrong with that, Princess Ava?" the old man started, finding the confrontational girl with her fair skin, lustrous black hair and impeccable royal features.

"Isn't it kind of stupid to blindly follow some freak in a mask?" the insufferable princess curtly remarked. Holman could feel his temper rising. The rest of the class was sent into a stir.

"Ava… You don't have to--" the impossibly meek and reserved blonde girl next to the princess started with a shake of her head.

"No Astrid, it's important blind fools are occasionally made to question their ignorance," the princess softly replied to her blonde friend.

"Even if you are royalty, Princess, defaming Zero is not something entirely appropriate…" the old man muttered under his breath, fighting every urge to go off on the disrespectful little girl.

"Haven't you ever wanted to know the name and face of the one who seems to dictate what happens in our world?" Ava questioned, a downright evil look in her eyes.

"It's irrelevant. Knowing Zero's identity, whatever it may be, would not change the fact that he is our world's savior from the chaos of war," Mr. Holman started, a bit of a glare visible on his face.

"I find it just laughable that a so called historian is only interested in the pretty lies of this world," Ava spat cruelly, rising from her seat. "Astrid, let's waste no more time here today. I've lost my patience for it."

"Of course, Ava, right away!" the shy blonde said, stumbling a little as she rose to follow the other.

The two girls left the classroom without a further word. Holman couldn't do anything to stop them. As almost the entirety of the royal family was lost with the old capital Pendragon twenty years ago, the girl was just sixth in line to the throne despite being a mere granddaughter to Emperor Charles. Holman wasn't about to defy a girl who could very well be his Empress one day. Instead he turned to the remainder of his class.

"Right... are there any more question?" he asked with a sigh. Hands shot up.

---

Ava could feel her blood boil as she paced out of her so called "history" class. Ava hated lies and the idiots who were content in believing them. Scott Holman was a prime example of the said idiot. She didn't know who Zero was or any of the truth behind his rebellion or the rise of Emperor Lelouch, but she sure as hell didn't believe the crap written in her slanted history book could be taken at anywhere near it's face value.

"Was that really okay, Ava?" Astrid asked in a soft voice as she trailed after.

"Don't people like him make you angry, Astrid?" Ava fumed as she continued to pace down the hall.

"Umm… I guess so… I mean I don't think we can trust Zero either… not until he shows us his face, that is…" Astrid said with her usual uneasy smile and unsure nod. It was uncertain if the girl was telling the truth or simply siding with Ava to appease her; Astrid rarely was capable of speaking her own mind. Still, even if she was sometimes closer to a follower than a friend, having Astrid at her side did a lot to make Ava feel secure.

"Then why do you need to ask if it's okay?" Ava replied, giving a short laugh.

"Y-you're right, I guess… I just sort of feel bad for him... that's all," Astrid said very softly, averting her eyes from the other. Ava shook her head. Her and Astrid had been friends for over ten years now and still the girl acted so insecurely around her. She knew a lot of the blame rested in her aggressive attitude, but she still hoped that someday the beautiful blonde would emerge from her shell.

"Maldini Academy is the most prestigious, expensive private high school in the entire Capital," Ava argued. "If a teacher here is going to have the Fourth Princess of Britannia and the Knight of Twelve in his class shouldn't he at least be expected to be something of an intellectual?"

"Please Ava, you're one thing, but I'm nothing special…" Astrid said blushing slightly and shaking her head.

"I disagree Astrid, it's a beautiful accomplishment for someone your age. You should be prouder of yourself," Ava shook her head. Her dear friend was a bit of an anomaly to her. Soft-spoken and kind, she wasn't the sort of girl one would ever dream to take a soldier's life by choice, especially when you went back and factored her noble family's wealth into the equation. To think that a girl such as her was not only skilled behind the controls of Knightmare but downright unrivaled for her age, only made things more unusual. "You're following directly in your father's footsteps. You'll have his rank someday, I'm sure."

"I don't know Ava… I think it's more instead, I only got where I am today because of my father's name and rank…" the criminally modest girl replied, looking down as she did. "I could never be Knight of One like him."

"Very well Astrid, if that's what you tell yourself…" Ava said with a long sigh.

"I'm sorry…" Astrid muttered quietly, prompting yet another sigh.

"Never mind it," the princess said, evening out the frown that was usual on her face. "We have a meeting today."

"Yeah… but there was still twenty minutes left in class… none of the others will be there yet…" Astrid reminded, looking over at a clock in the hall way.

"There's nothing that says we can't wait for the other's there, Astrid," Ava said, letting the slightest smirk slip.

"Yeah. Okay," Astrid said, smiling widely herself.

---

Richter Novak wore a content smirk on his face as he made his way through the school halls, his business prep class having just released with the final bell. He made his way through the crowd of students effortlessly, a cold frown engrained on his face as he ignored the affectionate stares of the female student body and the jealous ones of the male. He couldn't help it if he was popular, after all he had everything.

His father was president CEO of one of the most successful corporations the world over. He himself was Student Council President and Senior Class Valedictorian at the most prestigious private academy within the Capital City of Vortigern. He was a bankable success, bound to do something with his life, make something of himself. If knowing that made him a little full of himself, then so be it.

Richter made it to the Student Council meeting room almost prompter than most of his fellows made it out of their respective classes' doorways. He was always prompt, never one to make others wait. Walking inside the large meeting hall, he was surprised to find it was not empty today. Two council members were already inside. His scowl deepened.

"You're early today, Princess. Unusual considering your class is on the opposite side of the building," the young man said in a cold, deep voice with a similar accompanying stare.

"it's less unusual when you consider me and Astrid have been sitting here at least 15 minutes now, Richter" the princess said in a lightly deriding voice. Richter girt his teeth.

This woman, Ava being her name, had a lot of nerve. She was a year younger than him but treated him like any other fool. She accepted no other name but "princess" from him and unlike the other council members never used his title in addressing him. He should have found everything about this woman insufferable, but he didn't. Ava was the only student this school had that he had any semblance of respect for. She was the only one he could view as an equal.

"Is it anything appropriate for the future Student Council president to be skipping class, Princess," Richter said disdainfully.

"I'm not a busybody like you, Richter. If I feel someone is wasting my time, I have trouble putting up with it," Ava replied pointedly, apathy in her voice. Richter almost felt like laughing at the response.

"Say what you may, it still doesn't reflect well on our academy," the Council President said, finally taking his seat at the head of the table.

"And you don't even know half of it, President. That… princess… actually told Mr. Holman off before storming out of class!" a grating voice reached Richter's ears from behind. He was soon greeted by the bane of his existence.

"You don't say, Margaret…" Richter responded in a completely bored fashion, not even looking at the girl. "Please take your seat."

"But, President, aren't you going to listen to me. She needs to be punished somehow," the truly annoying girl stammered in front of him.

If nothing else did, the thought that he would be rid of this girl made Richter glad he was graduating in a few weeks. Margaret Enneagram, bastard child of an unmarried Knight of the Rounds; it was a wonder high society hadn't ostracized her entirely. Everything about the girl was tedious.

As Ava's long-standing, self-appointed rival, she took to pursuing everything the princess did. She succeeded at most of it, but never on the same caliber as Ava. In test scores, school fencing competitions, the election of the Council president for the next year, and in the number of young men who asked her out daily, she always was a distant second place. Her pretentious, haughty and loud nature coupled with her obvious crush on him was what really made being around the girl truly unbearable for Richter.

"Even if there were times that senile old fool hit my lat nerve last year, it is a little bold to become openly confrontational with a teacher, Princess. Perhaps you should refrain from such behavior next year," Richter said in an even, advisory tone, not in the least bit scolding.

"I can't make any promises, I'm afraid. That entirely depends on what these so called 'teachers' try to shove down my throat, Richter," Ava snidely responded, giving an offhand smirk.

"You. The teachers here are some of the most knowledgeable in Britannia. To think you feel you can question them just because you're a princess..." Margaret scoffed, shooting Ava a stern glare.

"They're not all bad I suppose. Its a weighted scale," Ava gave a quick laugh. "There's Holman and the other blind morons, a few who are perfectly competent, and then there's Dr. Wilde."

"Wilde really has you that impressed, princess?" Richter asked, looking at the girl.

"The man's a genius. That someone like him is stuck teaching physics to ungrateful high school students is a travesty of the nation," the princess commented dryly.

"It's all he can do. Most the experimental research jobs vanished over night when the war stopped. I mean even Ms. Einstein is working as a professor down at the University these days," Margaret said.

"Speaking of which, I wonder where our last member is," Richter said, looking up at the clock. It was three minutes passed the time their meeting was set to begin.

"That girl defines carefree. She's only a member here because her parents wanted it so badly," Ava said in a bored voice.

"Don't say that Princess, just say instead that you enjoy having me on your team!" a cheerful voice said from behind the opening door. In walked the last member of the Student Council, Miya Ashford.

This girl, much like Margaret, came form a background where most would be surprised she was allowed a seat at the Student Council of a prominent Britannian school. She was Japanese by birth, an orphan adopted by the unlikely couple of a famed journalist and a world famous physicist, both of whom happened to be female. Richter didn't judge the girl for that or anything else. Miya was a spirited, beautiful girl, who was fun to be around, but altogether too lacking in clear ambition to be of any interest to Richter.

"So, I miss anything?" Miya asked cheerfully as she meandered over to her vacant seat.

"No, we were yet to begin," Richter informed in a dry voice, looking at the other.

"Oh, that's rare, usually you start right on point, Pres," Miya said with a cheerful smile. "Something happen?"

"Our little princess here was receiving a scolding for being horribly rude to Mr. Holman today," Margaret informed in her usual proud voice, offering a sideways glare at Ava. Richter felt like telling the girl she was delusional.

"Oh that's nothing new. I don't remember not sleeping through that old stiff's class last year. He'd have to be used to it by now," Miya said with a pleasant laugh.

"Ava didn't just sleep in class this time, she insulted Holman and called the content of his lecture into question," Margaret said, accusatorially.

"Judging from the time of year, I'd take it you were going over The Black Rebellion, The Demon King, the Rise of Empress Nunnally, something in those lines," Richter guessed. "It's only natural that the old men push their bias past the breaking point when they start teaching form their memory rather than from a book."

"Do you have to take her side, President?" Margaret scoffed, turning away in disgust.

"What do you expect? Of course one smug and superior grump is going to take the side of the other," Miya said in a joking tone. "It's almost like they're perfect for each other."

"It's not a question of sides, rather one of understanding, Margaret," Richter tried his best to ignore the spirited girl's comments and how they might have broken his cold composure. He received countless confessions daily but there was only one he'd think to accept.

"What did you think Astrid? Was what Ava said to old Holman really all that bad?" Miya asked, turning to the Student Council member whose existence Richter all too often forgot.

Now Astrid Weinberg had the highest pedigree of any one there save the Princess. She was the true born daughter of a celebrated noble family, daughter of the Knight of One, Knight of Twelve herself. Despite this, the girl was boring. She rarely spoke, and when she did it was just to agree with Ava, whom she followed around like some sort of lost dog. She was nothing more than a mindless follower who seldom used her own brain. It was laughable that someone like that girl was a Round, sure proof that the age when Knights were needed was long gone.

"I-I think… I think what Ava said was right… s-she might have been a little rude, b-but I don't think she was wrong…" Astrid answered in a shy, stutter filled manner that drained her character of any intelligence. The answer surprised no one. It actually angered Richter to the point where he had had enough of the mindless banter.

"Right, now moving along. We have a meeting in case you all have forgotten," he spoke harshly. Everyone looked up.

---

Ava wore a frown on her face as she exited the Student Council room and headed for the school exit. It was another tedious meeting, in another tedious day, in a tedious life. As she considered the tedium of it all, she sighed. Lelouch vi Britannia was just a year older than her when he had conquered the world. As bright as she was, as talented, as respected, she knew she didn't have the power to do something so grand. She wanted that power. There was a lot about the peaceful, crumbling world around her she did not like.

"So… umm… I think that was a fun meeting," Astrid muttered in a near muted voice from behind the princess.

"What exactly was fun about it, Astrid?" Ava replied bitterly.

"Ava… you can't be so… Next year you're going to be president you know…" Astrid said very sheepishly.

"President of the Student Council," Ava laughed at the title. "It's but a joke that the pinnacle of power I can attain at this point. Lelouch had the entire world under his thumb at 18, and all I'll have managed is a single high school."

"Yeah… I guess that's true... but…" the shy girl struggled like usual to articulate herself, "But isn't it still... nice… to see everyone…."

"I don't particularly care for those people over any others," Ava coldly stated. "Miya and Margaret both lack any semblance of maturity."

"And w-what about Richter…?" Astrid asked somewhat uneasily.

"He's intelligent, has ambition and the drive needed to fulfill it," Ava said deliberately. "But he is notably ahead of himself. Just because his father runs Pizza Hut, he thinks he's entitled to the world."

"Yeah… but what about what Miya said… about you and him…?" Astrid asked looking at the floor.

"I believe I told you many times, Astrid, but I have no interest in romance, no matter who it is who says he loves me," Ava said wit ha frown. It was frustrating turning so many men down a day. "Richter Novak would be no exception. In fact, I'd say being around that man for more than an hour a day would be downright grating on the nerves."

"Okay… I see…" Astrid said, giving a faint nod as the two finally reached the school exits and walked outside. Ava quickly spotted the jet black limousine with the skinny, balding man in a suit in front of it that she was used to seeing.

"Anyway, Astrid, I see Padriac down there." Ava said motioning toward the car. "I suppose I'll see you tomorrow."

"Yes! Of course! See you tomorrow, Ava…" Astrid said with a smile, waving as the princess made her way to the car.

"Good day, my lady. How was school today?" Ava's immaculate servant, Padriac Princeton, greeted her with a nod as he opened the car door for her.

"The same as it ever is, Padriac, tedious," Ava replied as she sat down in the limousine, the door closed behind her. Padriac found his way to the driver's seat.

"I'm sorry to hear that, my lady. Perhaps your senior year will be more to your liking," the servant said as he started the car and began to drive.

"It's a sign that our society is in a decline that a princess even is allowed to attend a normal high school," Ava bitterly remarked, looking out the dark tinted windows of the limousine.

"I'm sure your father would hire you a private tutor if you were to speak with him about it, my lady" Padriac replied in his typical formal way.

"I didn't say anything about me preferring one thing to another, Padriac, just what it signifies," Ava clarified with a sigh.

"I apologize, princess," the servant said evenly.

"There's no need for that," Ava shook her head.

"Of course." Padriac continued to drive in the direction of the manor where Ava lived, which happened to be a fair distance from the school as it was on the very outskirts of town. Moments passed in silence until the car ran into some traffic passing through an industrial sector. Ava was surprised at the display outside her window. Several Knightmare frames were being unloaded from a large truck into the scrapyard.

"What is this about?" Ava started in surprise, staring out of her window.

"I'd think it only logical, my lady. With the economy as it is now, the government's going to seek out any means it can to sustain itself. What's the use in Knightmare Frames when there's no war?" Padriac responded, looking out at the display himself.

"But those are Vincents… no Vincent Wards…!" Ava exclaimed as she recognized the models populating the scrapyard. There were about twenty of them. "Have we really fallen so far that even the top line models are being scraped for raw materials?"

"You know how it is, princess. Territories are seceding from us daily. In terms of land, money, and power the Holy Empire of Britannia is now a clear third behind the EU and even the Chinese Federation these days," Padriac said in a dry tone, as the traffic began to move again.

"I don't understand how Empress Nunnally can be so soft, let things become so stagnant. I wouldn't, that's for sure," Ava scoffed moodily. "it makes me wonder how the world would be different had that masked loon not shown up and stabbed Emperor Lelouch in the heart."

"Even if you are a princess, my lady. It is generally considered treasonous to defile the name of Lord Zero," the servant advised in a cautious voice.

"Are you telling me what I can and cannot say, Padriac?!" Ava said in a threatening voice.

"Of course not, my lady," the servant replied. Silence filled the car for the rest of the drive.

Ava wore an exhausted expression as Padriac opened the car door to allow her exit. She stepped out and let the man guide her to her front door. He opened that for her as well. She stepped inside.

"Good evening, my lady. How was school today?" Anne Levine, the head maid, greeted her mistress with a smile.

"As usual, Anne," Ava replied in a bored voice.

"I see," the maid replied. "Will you be joining your father for dinner this evening?"

"No. I'm already depressed... and don't feel particularly hungry either," Ava responded with a sad frown.

"I see. You want anything brought up to your room then?" Anne asked in a soft voice.

"No, I don't need it," Ava said with a sigh.

"Understood," the maid said with a nod as her mistress began to walk in the direction of the large staircase leading up to the second floor. Remembering something, Anne called out to her, "Wait, princess, there something else I forgot to mention."

"Yes, Anne?" Ava stopped and stepped back toward the maid.

"Something arrived in the mail today which I'd like you to see," Anne said, stepping toward a small table by the door. She picked up a long cardboard box.

"What is it?" Ava asked, looking at the box with curiosity.

The maid opened it, pulling out a beautiful ornamental sword. She handed it to Ava.

"My… what a fine blade… it's downright immaculate…" Ava said as she admired the sword. She looked back up at the amid, confused, "who sent this?"

"The package wasn't marked in any way," the maid responded, looking a bit scared.

"Thats unusual. So we don't know who sent it or why…" Ava said as she further examined the shimmering blade. It wasn't the kind of sword you just randomly throw in someone's mailbox without reason; it's hilt was golden and encrusted with a large jewel. Just under the hilt there was what appeared to be some engraving, Ava looked at it, trying to make sense of it, "What is this…"

"Brighton Ellesmere, the original owner of this house," Anne said.

Ava gave a slight gasp, "Of corse! I recognize it now, this is his insignia."

"Yes," the maid nodded.

"You don't think this is the missing centerpiece from the basement library?!" Ava asked, excitement in her face.

"That is what we came to believe upon researching the object," Anne nodded again.

"Does father know about it?" Ava asked.

"I didn't have the opportunity to tell him, nor was I sure I should bother," the maid responded somberly.

"I see… I'll find a way to tell him myself tomorrow," Ava said firmly. "You wouldn't mind if I brought this to it's place in the basement myself, would you Anne?"

"Of course not, my lady. Help yourself. I figured you'd want to," the maid shook her head.

"Right, well I think I'll head down there now," Ava said, smiling as she held the sword.

The princess made hew way swiftly down the spiral staircase which lead to the grand library in the basement. The manor where Ava lived was very old. Brighton Ellesmere, the original owner, had it built for him over 200 years into the past, when Britannia was just reaching it's stride on the mainland. After Elesmere's death the house was left abandoned for over a hundred years until someone saw to revive it. Then, many years later, after Pendragon was taken by F.L.E.I.J.A., Ava's mother stumbled upon the house and, it unoccupied at the time, saw to purchase it.

The house had a mysterious reputation due to its founder. Brighton Ellesmere's name was one found commonplace in the world of the occult. A rumored magician, he was known to keep the company of witches. Through some influence, maybe it actually was magic, he managed to find himself Baron of a large chunk of territory surrounding what would later become the city of Vortigern, until the people he ruled over revolted and saw him burned alive.

Ava smiled as she looked around the musty old library that once belonged to the reputed wizard. She quickly found what she was looking for, the large statue of Ellesmere at the center of the room, his hands in front of him held together, resting unnaturally on nothing but air. Ava moved up to the statue and continued to smile as she slipped the ornamental sword under the statue's hands. It fit perfectly. She took a step back and stared at it in admiration. It just looked right.

Ava spent a lot of her time down in this library. It was dusty and humid, and the air smelt of mold, but it was a place where Ava could achieve solitude, and lose herself in the aged, decaying books. She knew the library well, it was one of the few places where she found amusement. That's why she was thrilled to have the sword returned to its proper place. But because she knew the library so well, she also had to retrieve the sword from that place almost immediately.

She had always found something in the library strange. There was a small stretch of wall at the left corner of the room that held no statue, ornament or book case. In this wall, was a very small, unnatural opening. Ava had tried sticking things into this wall before, thinking that perhaps it may do something, but nothing had ever got any reaction. She honestly didn't expect anything to occur in placing the sword into the long, narrow opening either, she was just being curious.

So when a loud click sounded as the sword found it's way all the way into the wall, Ava almost jumped in surprise. Slowly the wall pushed itself in, then it hinged back, revealing itself as a door. She was shaking with anticipation as she stepped into the newly revealed hallway. She followed that hallway to another door, this one the simpler wooden fashion. Her heart was racing as she twisted the ornamental golden nob.

The room she entered was an incredible sight. It was small but filled with many amazing things. There were books older than the ones in the library yet better preserved; shimmering gold artifacts, the like of which the house was said to be filled before it was looted after Ellesmere's death; and strange instruments and contraptions, one of which held a decayed human skeleton. Ava knew at once what she had stumbled on, the secret laboratory of the Wizard Baron Brighton Ellesmere.

One object caught her attention more than any other though. At the very center of the room was a heavily decorated, human-sized box. Something about it called to her. She wanted to open it. She stepped slowly toward it and did just that. What she found inside shocked her.

Lying there inside the box as if it were her coffin, was a girl. Her eyes were closed and she wasn't moving, but something told Ava she was alive. She didn't understand how this was possible. It was unnatural. It frightened her. It also left her curious .She touched the girl's neck, trying to confirm she was indeed alive. She was warm. She opened her eyes. Ava took several steps back and retrieved a rust covered dagger from a nearby desk, she watched as the girl slowly sat up and looked around the room before focusing on her.

"A girl…" the mysterious girl in the box started as she stared at Ava, disappointment in her eyes.

"Who are you?!" Ava shouted pointing the rusty knife at the strange girl.

"Me? I'm called D.D.. I'm a witch," the strange girl said with a very healthy yawn. She stood up slowly and stepped out of the box. Ava studied her. She had very long blonde hair that went down almost to her knees. She was dressed in a loose long whited robe that did not conceal the fact that she had a rather large chest. She had deep blue eyes and soft pale skin. All in all it combined to give her the image of some unreal, ideal beauty.

"A witch…?" Ava questioned disbelief. Witches couldn't exist. Then again what other explanation was there? This girl had been sleeping undisturbed in a box for about 200 years.

"I can't believe that Britghton… to stick me with a female master… the nerve of him…" the strange girl said, looking fairly agitated. "Girl's are so boring…"

"Please… explain all this to me… what are you doing down here? What makes you a witch?" Ava asked tentatively, still in a panicked state.

"Did Brighton really tell you nothing? Honestly that man…" D.D. grumbled, looking around the laboratory again.

"B-Brighton Ellesmere has been dead for 200 years now," Ava started, a little hesitant from fear as to what the so called witch may do to her. "He was burned alive along with all his servants, friends and family. His house was left abandoned for years until it was decided to refurbish it. My mother bought it nineteen years ago. My father and I live here now."

"T-two-hundred years ago…!" D.D. was the one who now looked shocked. "You can't be serious…"

"I'm afraid I am. Whatever promise he made to you, he was unable to keep in the end," Ava started, her nerves still in a mess.

"I told him to make a place where I can sleep with his Geass, to think it could have worked for 200 years…" the witch said deliberately. "I have this feeling I'm going to have to spend a lot of time researching this era to get caught up to having you as my master."

"Why am I your master?" Ava asked.

"Well you are the one who found me and freed me from Brighton's special box here. I loathe the though of having a contract with a girl, but it just wouldn't be fair to refuse you the power because of that," D.D. said, issuing a long sigh.

"Please explain all of this to me! I understand none of it!" Ava demanded.

"Grrr... Do you have to make this so difficult…" D.D. complained. "Witches are immortal beings who have on their bodies codes which enable them to make contracts with humans. The contract entitles the human to the power of Geass in exchange for the human eventually granting the witch's wish."

"What is this wish?" Ava asked immediately. She knew how to analyze contracts, start with the catch.

"I don't know. That part never really interests me. I mostly just make contracts for fun. I honestly don't know what sort of wish I'll make of a female master… I cant use my usual one…" D.D. said, looking agitated again.

"And what is this power? Geass, you called it," Ava approached the other part of the contract.

"It's the Power of the King. It could get you everything you want but leave you in solitude," the witch replied as if she was reciting from something.

"Alright, and what does this power do?" Ava asked, interested.

"It depends on the person," D.D. replied. "The last contract I made was with Brighton Ellesmere, who manifested an acute inhuman intelligence. The first contract I made was with a man who called himself, Hjalmar the Brutal. His Geass allowed him to make the brain of whomever he looked into the eyes of instantly explode. There were many, many contracts between the two and each of them was different."

"I see…" Ava said in a deliberate fashion. She didn't give it much thought. She had always wanted power. Signing a contract with a witch was a small price to pay for something that could maybe grant her what she so desired. "I shall accept the terms of the contract."

"Eager for power, are you girl?" D.D. gave a short laugh as she took several steps toward Ava and extended her hand. "Tell me, what is your name?"

"I am Fourth Princess of the Holy Britannian Empire, Ava li Britannia!" Ava announced proudly, taking eager step toward the witch and grabbing her hand.

Ava's brain began to swirl rapidly as memory after memory replayed itself for her. It was like her whole life was being shown to her again. it was dizzying. The face of everyone she had ever known was clear to her for once. She could see Padriac, Anne and the other servants; Miya, Richter, Margaret, and the other students she knew; Holman, Wilde, other teachers, other adults, even some whose names she no longer knew; the other members of the royal family, her aunt Arienette and her children, the Empress, the Prime Minister; her father; her mother; Astrid; she could see them all.

Before Ava knew it, the visions had proven too much for her empty stomach and she fell to the ground, growing instantly weary.

"Contract must have been too much for her… never known one to pass out immediately afterward…" D.D. said. Ava could barely discern the words.

"A princess, she said… Perhaps this really will be interesting... after all…" the witch muttered finally before Ava lost herself to sleep.

---

Astrid Weinberg wore a smile as she waited in front of Maldini Private Academy. She waited like this every day. The Weinberg manor was in walking distance from the Academy (not that a noble's daughter was actually allowed to walk), and Ava's home was on the very outskirts of the city, but still she'd wait. She treasured those first few moments with Ava each day before classes started.

Eventually that familiar black limousine pulled up in front of her, leading to all the familiar nervousness. The car's engine shut off and the front door opened. The servant Padriac emerged and walked around the car to the furthest back passenger door, Astrid smiling at him as he did. He opened the door and slid it open. Ava emerged slowly.

Astrid never got over seeing Ava for the first time each day. Her beauty was so captivating. Her seamlessly straight, lustrous and flowing, jet black hair; her pristine, milky white skin; and her tall, well curved figure all blent together to create true perfection. Her immaculate, black school uniform with it's cute, matching skirt and blouse only highlighted that incredible beauty.

"Good morning, Ava," Astrid said with a kind smile.

"Astrid," Ava said, nodding to the girl, as her eyes came to a steady stare upon her. "How are you?"

"Nervous and excited," Astrid replied readily.

"What?! There a test today I forgot about … or something?" Ava asked, staring at the girl peculiarly. Astrid's heart jumped. She had just said that aloud. Why?

"No... it's nothing like that…" responded the blonde girl, now a little scared.

"I see, then what? Some boy you like ask you out finally?" Ava seemed genuinely concerned now.

"That's impossible. I have no interest in boys," Astrid said plainly.

"You… don't? But I always knew you to be interested in romance?" Ava said, staring at the girl oddly. Astrid was terrified; why was she saying all this? She couldn't help it. Something in Ava's gaze was compelling her, making it impossible to withhold anything no matter how small.

"I am very interested in romance," Astrid said in an even tone, not blinking, just staring ahead at Ava. She looked into Ava's eyes; something was off about them. The corners of her pupils had become pointed and triangular somehow.

"Your confusing me Astrid. Why are you acting like this? You're just not being yourself..." Ava said staring harder at the girl.

"I honestly don't know. It's just that when you stare at me, for some reason, I find I can do nothing but say the honest truth," Astrid explained as calmly as before.

"Well, your truth has me confused, Astrid. If you have no interest in boys, then who is it you have an interest in romance with?" Ava expressed her confusion, she still stared at her dear friend.

"You," Astrid replied, tears beginning to fill her eyes even though she was still being mesmerized into the words. "I love you Ava, and I always have."

Ava blinked several times in succession. "A-Astrid… you… I didn't…I-I." At a loss for words, the usually confident princess averted her eyes from the girl allowing them to fall on the floor.

Astrid found then that she was no longer under the horrible spell. She also recognized that what she had just said was very real. She had just casually revealed her most guarded secret, the thing she was never to reveal. She took several steps back as she went into an uncontrollable panic. Tears poured from her eyes.

"I-I'm… I'm… I-I'm sorry…" she stuttered before breaking into a full speed run as far from her beloved friend as possible.

As she ran the tears continued to flow. She was broken. Everything was broken. Ava was sure to hate her now. She had just thrown away the happiness of her life. The truth had cost her everything.

A/N: End chapter 1. A pretty long opening chapter. I think it did a fair job of establishing a portion of the cast. Hopefully you like the characters so far. If not, there are many more to be introduced over the course of this thing. The high school setting won't be a big factor for very long, if you're worried about that; I just wanted to start there to create a not so vague parallel to Lelouch's story initially. So I guess I'll just let you guys tell me what you thought. I think this is a solid introduction.

The poll tells me 23 of you have a sustained interest in the fic (rated their interest 3 or above). Hopefully all of you are still interested now. (new poll will come with next chapter of my Bleach story).

Items to be added to the info page with the next update:

Scott Holman

Margaret Enneagram

Princess Ava li Britannia

Astrid Weinberg

Richter Novak

Miya Ashford

Padriac Princeton

Anne Levine

Baron Brighton Ellesmere

D.D.

Hjalmar the Brutal

Vortigern, the New Capital

Maldini Private Academy