"Happily your highness." said a familiar voice.
Lelouch opened his eyes to a familiar sight. His jaw went slack. In front of him the royal guard were smiling menacingly while aiming their guns to their jugulars and fired. Blood flew everywhere some flew towards Lelouch's face and got into his mouth. The taste of it made him want to vomit. He had killed too many people. His hands are already drenched in it, he did not need it in him. Still he was amazed at the fact that he was actually back in time to when he started the first rebellion. He had to correct his mistakes and this time he had to prevent and/ or minimize the casualties in his wake. A thought suddenly came to him. He was not the only one being judged in C's World. The giant planet said that the four of them would be sent back. Does that mean that the other three were sent back as well?
"Thank god that the general subconscious had a good sense of when to send us." another voice said, answering his question. "Do you know how much it hurts to get shot?"
"I have a pretty good idea." He replied amused at the question. "I was stabbed after all."
At this the green haired girl glared at him. He knew what this meant. In his final days she had been his only source of comfort and moral support. She may have tried to persuade him to find a different path but he knew that she understood what the significance was of what he was trying to do. She said that she did want to be with him when he goes through with the requiem and that she would move on after he died.
"That isn't funny you know." She said with a voice full of sorrow.
"Sorry." He replied.
Looking at her he realized on thing that the general subconscious said. C.C's code was used to send them back. He became sad. She did not need him to fulfill her wish to die any longer. She could just leave.
"So what are you planning now?" He asked the witch.
"Hmm, not sure at the moment your plans are the most interesting thing that is here." She replied. "Not to mention I have to fulfill what the stupid general subconscious asked us to do."
"True, I'm happy I do not have to lose you Celeste." He said his voice full of tenderness.
"Well, do I have to deal with another stalker now?" She teased.
"Witch." He responded.
He thought of the things that were about to happen. He checked and saw that his geass has returned to the way it was. He needed it to be at full power to stop his father and mother's plans. Speaking of which since she did not have a code anymore, did C.C still have a connection to Marianne?
"C.C," He said. "Do you still have a connection to my mother now that your code is gone?"
"Wait let me check." She replied.
She started talking to herself. After few awkward minutes of watching her talk and reply to no. Watching her face go from one emotion to another, Lelouch thought it was cute. He would never understand her love of pizza and that monstrosity of a plushy called Cheese-kun. She was showing more humanity than she did the first time they met. That somewhat gave him relief, a sense of achievement, and happiness. They fought, talked, teased, and helped each other for at least three years. Along the lines he started to care for her just like he cared for Nunally. She may not be the only one but he did care for her. He was happy to that she finally opened up even a little bit. Here was a person not burdened by the pain of living for too long but one that wants to live her life to move towards the future. She looked at him and shook her head.
"It seems that my connection to Marianne has not been severed." She said.
"Damn, then we will need countermeasures for her." Lelouch said.
He found out that his mother had a geass back at the Sword of Akasha. Not only that but he learned that she can use it to transfer her consciousness to another body. Lelouch knew how dangerous this can be because of the uses and the unknown conditions of this power. At best it only works with its original body. At worst she could take over C.C right now because she did not have a code. His midget of an uncle would do something about it if his mother moves. His father would also be implicated if she does. Still the possibility is still there and he was not arrogant enough like last time that he would just close the problem. He had committed many atrocities because he disregarded a small factor of a problem. In the first battle of Shinjuku Suzaku wiped the floor with the terrorist because he was too proud of his strategies an did not take the human factor into account. In Saitama the Yamato Alliance died because he let his ego get in the way. The Special Administrative Zone became a massacre because he lost control. Kallen got captured because he disregarded that an opponent can have something up their sleeve. The Black Knights betrayed him because he kept too many secrets and the list goes on. Another problem came up as well. Like the witch implied there was that man. Childish and lethal, that silver haired man was probably Lelouch's bane because of what he can do. In the future, he convinced Shirley to shoot him because of what she did to Viletta. He caused pain to Suzaku by using his murder of his father. He kidnapped Nunally just to get to Lelouch. Above all that he tried to cut C.C into pieces for his demented scheme of keeping her all to himself.
"Not this time." He whispered in rage and regret.
Now was not the time to think of ways to deal with problems Lelouch thought. Villeta would arrive soon. Viletta Nu or better yet Chigusa Ohgi, this woman caused a lot of trouble in Lelouch's revolution against the Holy Britanian Empire. This bronze skinned, yellow eyed, rank hungry woman caused Shirley to look Lelouch, for Ohgi to keep secrets from him, almost killing Ohgi in the first rebellion, and become the proof that the Black Knights' needed for betrayal. As Lelouch was thinking. Said woman came in with her Knightmare.
"What happened here boy? And why is a Britanian student in a place like this?" snarled Villeta from the Knightmare's intercom. "Are you deaf? Answer me or I'll."
The knightmare started shooting at the wall. 'Better stick to the original timeline for now. It will be bad to have major discrepancies before I have a way to fight them.' Lelouch thought.
"I order you to come out, at once." Lelouch said.
"Who the hell do you think you are to order me?" She retorted.
"My name is Allan Spacer, my father's a duke. This is my friend Celeste." Lelouch replied. "My Id card's in my breast pocket. After you confirm who I am, we'll request for your protection."
"Keep your hands up in the air. I'll take out your ID." She said.
"Now then become my slave." Lelouch said as a bird shaped sigil appears on his left eye.
"Of course, what is your wish my lord." She said with a submissive tone.
"I want you to give me your knightmare." He ordered. "You are to pretend that the terrorist managed to trick you to go down from your knightmare and knocked you out to steal it. You will await further orders from me but do not let anyone find out that your allegiance is to me and not with Britania. I will need a way to contact you securely so give me your personal phone."
"Of course, the code is XG21G2D4." She replied. "My phone number is 555-192-2034."
"Perfect now return to the G-1." He ordered.
"Yes, your majesty." She said and left.
"You let her live that's pretty generous of you considering all the things she's done to you." C.C said. "And why did you give her my real name?"
"Sorry, that was me." He replied. "To me you aren't just C.C anymore."
C.C felt something warm take over her. She leaned over to Lelouch and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"It's ok but you have to take responsibility for opening me up." She said.
They got on to the Sutherland that Viletta left behind. C.C sat on Lelouch's lap with her arms around his neck, her head resting on his shoulder. Lelouch was giving a faint blush. He thought either the witch was doing this naturally or teasing him still had the same effect.
It was a bad day for Kallen Kozuki. Especially today since this was her from two years ago just coming back from the future and has forgotten that she was running away in her Glasgow. She had gotten used to the Guren that this machine in her eyes was too sluggish in response to her controls. To add to her problems is that it was orange boy who was after her before he learned that Lelouch was Zero.
"The west entrance," a voice said. "Use the tracks to move to the west entrance."
She remained quiet. She was not sure whether this was Lelouch from the present or the future. If this was Lelouch from the past no doubt saying his name in this conversation would get her killed in their next meeting. If it was the Lelouch from the future, she would probably kill him for that stupid requiem in their next meeting. In either case she did not know how to feel. On one hand it could be the arrogant prick she first met or it could be the charismatic, boisterous, and kind leader that she fell in love with. It would probably be best not to respond.
"Q-1, if you want to win, you're going to have to trust me." The voice said.
"So it really is you." She said. Realizing who it was, her anger and regret started coming to the surface. "You asshole!"
"My, she's grumpy today." A female voice said teasingly.
C.C why is she with him this time. Wait, I'm not really sure she was there the first time and why am I getting irritated over this? She's always with him. So it's normal right? Kallen thought. As she was getting more and more into this line of thought a slash harken came flying beside the Glasgow bringing her back to earth.
"Close one" She said.
She followed Lelouch's orders and jumped to the tracks knowing what he was planning this time, he did not need to give her further orders. The two Sutherlands followed her. As the train was about to hit her machine, it jumped on it hitting the orange's Sutherland. The other machine tried to jump on the train to follow her but was hit by slash harkens and shooting the first one causing both pilots to eject.
"Wow he actually got better at piloting a knightmare." Kallen said in wonder.
"Kallen, what the hell was that radio message earlier." An afro haired man said.
"Ohgi" Kallen said bitterly.
Kaname Ohgi, the leader of the Kozuki resistance after Kallen's brother died in battle. This man unknowing to them all would be the second in command of the soon to be formed Black Knights. He might as well be Kallen's surrogate brother. This however does not excuse the fact that he had betrayed Zero after hearing an incomplete story from the snake of a prince just because his brain was running from his pants. She wondered what Lelouch thought of this.
"What? He contacted you too." She asked.
"Sure did and Yoshi and his group ought to be here soon." Ohgi replied.
"Are you in charge?" Lelouch said over the radio. "I present to you the cargo that train over. They're tools for your victory. If you want to use them to win then follow my orders."
Upon opening the train doors, their jaws dropped to the ground. The cargo was new Sutherlands, fully equipped with their IFF'S removed. Still Kallen wondered where he got that train.
"Woman in the Glasgow" Lelouch said. "Refill your energy filler. Combat strength status?"
"I should be fine." She replied.
Weird he never asked that. Last time he showed emotion was when I was captured. She thought. He seems kinder. What is he playing at?
"Good, stay where you are." Lelouch said. "You'll be running decoy. In ten minutes I'll contact you with new instructions."
"Hey are you certain about this whole thing?" A voice can be heard through the radio. "They all had their IFF's removed. What if this is a trap?"
There can only be one person with that kind of voice. Shinichiro Tamaki. That red haired, tactless, and hot-headed proclaimed himself to Zero's best friend. The man was always loud. He was the most skeptical of Zero until the events after Narita to which he was very loyal to Zero. Even in the Black Knights betrayal he could be seen crying. Probably not agreeing to the actions of the others but did not have a voice in the matter. Maybe he should've been given a proper rank. Lelouch thought. If he had a voice in the matter that whole affair could have been avoided. Then again the heads of each division did not bother to tell Xingke or Lady Kaguya either for that matter. That meant that they were acting in the shadows for that matter. Diethard would probably be another person who would have stopped that given the right information. That would have to wait till later. Now he had to focus on the battle.
"The other side has total advantage in this war. They don't need to set any traps." Ohgi replied. "Alright people let's move get to your assigned points."
"P-1 can move?" Lelouch asked. "It operates basically the same as what you're used to."
"Can't you tell us who you are?" Ohgi said sharply. "At least your name"
"Zero" Lelouch replied with the tone he uses when he acts as Zero. "If Q-1 is on schedule enemy Sutherlands will reach you in twenty- three seconds, shoot them through the walls."
"Ah, he's out of his mind." Tamaki said.
"Everyone double check your weapons." Ohgi ordered.
"What are you serious?" Tamaki retorted.
Kallen arrived at point F-31 and two enemies started making their way towards her. Ohgi and the others were lying in wait.
"Three, two, one fire" Ohgi ordered.
The rebels fired towards the wall destroying two enemies.
"An ID signal can be a double edged sword. Besides if the terrorist follow the order I issued. The task at hand is sure to be completed." Lelouch said smirking while holding up a knight piece slowly as to not to disturb the sleeping beauty lying on his chest. "P-1, P-4, P-7 fire you slash harkens toward three o' clock."
"You heard him." Ohgi shouted. "Do what the boy says."
"Damn what else does he want us to do?" Tamaki asked in a sarcastic voice.
"P-5, are you ready?" Lelouch asked.
"Ugh, quit calling me that." Tamaki replied in an annoyed tone.
The rebels fired their slash harkens destroying an enemy. The Glasgow went to the roof of a building eliminating one of the Sutherlands posting as a sniper.
"R-2 fire anchor. B-7, use your assault rifle. N group you'll continue your advance" Lelouch commanded.
The pilots complied firing his harkens destroying an attack helicopter, an APC, and a squad of Sutherlands.
"Now then the enemy has five options." Lelouch rationalized. "Their move"
Seeing the movements of the enemy, Lelouch thought the enemy foolish then he remembered that his brother was terrible at strategy.
"Clovis, you're still stupid when it comes to warfare." Lelouch sighed. "Q-1 you know what to do. With this I call check, time to deal with Suzaku."
At the G-1 base, the commanders were giving orders to the troops on the ground while the people on the computers were relaying what was happening in the field as well as transmitting orders. The blonde blue eyed prince was sitting on the throne in the back of the room watches with a confident look on his face. Prince Clovis la Britania wanted this operation to be over already. He had more interesting things to do in his mind. He wanted to them to recapture that immortal. That's the only reason for this 'urban renewal'. The screen showed one enemy on point F-31.
"A feint eh" Prince Clovis said. "How pedestrian"
"Tell Laslow squad to go straight in." said the robust general. "Have Hugin and Valerie strike the rear.
In a few moments the contact to the two were replaced with lost on the screen.
"Sir Hugin and Sir Valerie both lost." One of the commanders said.
"An ambush?" Clovis asked rhetorically, his attention snapping back to the battle.
"Their using the same…" A soldier said before he was cut off from losing his signal.
"The enemies moving towards G-2A." said one of the personnel.
"Send Laslow squad I mean Globay squad." The general ordered.
"This means terrorists have our military weaponry?" Clovis asked in disbelief.
"Sir Kabe has ejected." Intercom personnel said. "His unit's been lost."
"Change our codes they're intercepting our transmission." The general said.
"We already have five times." An officer replied.
"Do it again." The general ordered.
"This failure is unacceptable." Clovis shouted.
"Forgive me." The general squirmed.
The screen suddenly lit up to show a childish man with silver hair in a lab coat. Lloyd Asplund, an earl in the graces of the second Prince Shneizel. His job was to further the research of Britanian technology. This man was highly volatile; however, he is physically incapable. So he posed no danger at the current situation as well as the fact that it was only Britania that gave him funding for his research.
"Good afternoon" said the man.
"What is it we are in the middle of an operation?" The general said sharply.
"We've no time for this right now." Clovis said.
"We just lost Laslow squad." One of the personnel said.
"So do it we'll have to bring up Quincy squad." Clovis ordered.
"My lord that will break the encirclement" the general said.
"Reinforce the breach with some of the units guarding me. All we know for certain is that enemy forces are here." Clovis commanded. "Alright send in Burts and the others too. Concentrate our forces there surround them."
The event that happened next horrified Clovis. His entire force suddenly lost. What just happened? He asked in his thoughts. Weren't they on the center dot? Normally rebels would be wiped out in a few minutes but this. This is like playing against his borther Lelouch again in chess. No matter what he did he would get countered and lose something out of it. This is bad. This was no ordinary commander he was up against. In terms of knowledge there were only two people he could think of. One was the second prince which was now in the EU doing diplomatic talks and the other one was dead. Then who is this?
"He's even better than Tohdoh." He exclaimed in fear. "Lloyd!"
"Yes your highness." Llloyd replied in an amused tone.
"Can it win?" Clovis said. "Will your toy beat them?"
"Hmph, my lord" He said displeased that his creation was called a toy. "Please be so kind as to call it Lancelot."
In the ASEEC unit trailer Suzaku changed to the pilot suit. Through the intercom the personnel can be heard prepping the Z-01 Lancelot.
"Did you read the manual?" A female voice over the com said.
"Pretty much" Suzaku replied.
"Well done, you scored at the top of the class in the simulator." She said.
"Thank you Miss Cecile." He replied.
That was not what he was worried about. Suzaku woke up in the infirmary bay with a wound on his side but much worse with all his future memories and experiences. He needed to find Lelouch fast. If memory serves correct Lelouch would be commanding the rebels on top of a building with Kallen protecting him with a Glasgow unit. If they were indeed sent back to the past then if they act they could undo a lot of things that might happen: the FLEIJA bombing, Shirley's death, the special zone massacre, Euphie's death. Tears suddenly flowed down Suzaku's cheek. If there was a way to save her then even if Suzaku had to make a deal with the devil he'll do it.
"Well if you're ready Suzaku." Lloyd said. "Shall we proceed with the initial startup?"
"Initial startup now proceeding from phase twenty, equipping energy filler" Cecile said. "Initiating with devicer setup, rejection response weak, stress response weak, all systems nominal."
"So far it's going per the data." Lloyd said.
Suzaku readied the machine to go full throttle. He really needed to find Lelouch but he needed to take down the rebel machines along the way. If Lelouch did come back though he might just order the capture of the Lancelot or the rebels might be gone already. If Lelouch were to kill his brother again then he would have to go through that farce of a court martial again. If that was the case shouldn't he just wait here until Lelouch gets here? In any case this battle needed to end.
"Lancelot activate ME-boost." He said.
"Lancelot launch!" Cecile said in the com.
The machine blew through the make shift base and into the ghetto.
"Running full throttle right out of the gate" Lloyed said maniacally.
He ran through the streets. It was odd all the Sutherlands that he faced were either running or ejecting at the sight of is white knightmare. The ones that were shooting him ended up ejecting anyway since he would just use Lancelot's hand blades to rip the contacts into pieces. He went straight to the building where Lelouch was last time. He found an empty Sutherland but a boy was standing in front of it as if waiting. Two people were standing behind him. One was green haired, with eyes that bright yellow carrying that teasing grin that always gave Suzaku dread and the creeps. The other female was red haired. She was glaring at his knightmare as if it were her mortal enemy. Suzaku opened his cockpit, stood up so he was in view.
"Well now the Knight of Zero arrives." Lelouch said.
"So you were sent back too." He said. "I'm guessing both of you as well."
The women nodded at his question. This meant that there were four people who had future experiences in the past and that they were going to start another rebellion.
"So, what's the plan?" He asked Lelouch. "Should I desert here and join your cause?"
"No, you are to stay in the military Suzaku." Lelouch answered him. "We need Asplund to continue his work on knightmares for the S.E.I.T.E.N system and Miss Cecile's energy wings. I also need a sleeper agent in there to provide me with information besides Jeremiah. Lastly, I would be sad for making my sister lonely by taking away her boyfriend."
Suzaku fell off the knightmare. What was this guy saying? Was this even the same Lelouch. Wait no, Lelouch was stabbed for the requiem so was there some residual psychological trauma from that. He thought.
"What the hell?" He asked in disbelief. "Where did that come from?"
"Suzaku I know for a fact that the main reason you tried to kill me was because of Euphie." Lelouch answered making Suzaku look away.
"In any case we need to make a plan for the situation later." Lelouch said. "For now, we need to finish this battle."
"You know Lelouch come to think of it." Suzaku said. "If I had shot you back in Shinjuku the first time around it wouldn't be this complicated."
"Life is seldom that simple my friend. " Lelouch replied and gave his friend a smile before leaving. "Why don't you rescue the civilians for now?"
"Ok" Suzaku said.
The three left. Kallen went back to the resistance group while Lelouch and C.C went the G-1 were Prince Clovis was. Suzaku being the only one left went back to his cockpit. When he started the Lancelot again Lloyd's face appeared on the screen.
"Suzaku" Lloyd said. "Oh good your back, what happened?"
"Nothing just helping out a civilian caught under a knightmare arm." He lied.
"I see." Lloyd responded "Well I thought the worst case scenario happened. Right now, just return to base."
"Understood," He replied.
The G-1 base, Lelouch and C.C were walking towards the control room. Having geassed all the guards there was no interruptions. Once in front of the room Lelouch entered y himself and C.C waiting outside to be signaled in. He used his geass on everyone to make them leave except for the general who was to wait outside and wait for further instructions. He pointed his gun to Clovis and told him to call a ceasefire.
"Attention all forces. Cease fire at once." Clovis said. "I Clovis, third prince of Britannia and royal viceroy of Area Eleven, here by command you, all forces are ordered to cease fire at once. You also cease destruction of any buildings or property; all casualties, whether Britannian or Eleven, shall be treated equally and without prejudice. In the name of Clovis la Britannia, you are here by ordered, cease fire at once. I shall allow no further fighting."
The prince finished and the turned off the intercom. Sitting back down to his throne he looked at the assailant pointing a gun at him.
"Are you satisfied?" Clovis asked.
"Very. Well done." Lelouch answered.
"And what shall we do now? Sing a few lively ballads, or perhaps a nice game of chess?" Clovis asked.
"Nostalgic but no, you are terrible at chess." Lelouch replied. "You should have learned this seven years ago."
"Hmm?" Clovis hummed, the conversation starting gain his attention.
"Don't you recall? The two of us used to play chess together as boys. Of course, I would always win." Lelouch said.
"What?" Clovis asked.
"Remember, at the Aries Villa?" Lelouch reminded.
"You, who are you?" Clovis asked.
"It's been a long time, big brother. The eldest son of the late consort Marianne and seventeenth in line to the imperial throne, Lelouch vi Britannia, at your service." Lelouch said.
"Lelouch?! B-But I thought-" Clovis stammered.
"That I was dead? You were wrong. I have returned, Your I've come back to change everything." Lelouch exclaimed. "C.C"
The green haired girl entered the room. Clovis' eyes widened in shock, his test subject was here at the base this whole time and so was Lelouch.
"C.C, I think you have a score to settle with my brother don't you?" Lelouch said. "I leave him to you."
He handed C.C the gun and moved towards the exit. As he was about to leave he heard a gunshot that made him turn around. C.C was giving Clovis a sadistic smile while still having the gun pointed at him. Clovis was on the floor holding rolling in pain.
"Well now Clovis, oh wait it should be Chloe now shouldn't it." She said with a demonic grin on her face. "Shall we start? Don't worry you are going to die but I'm gonna make you suffer first."
Lelouch shivered before he closed the door. Gunshots, howling and screaming can still be heard behind the door. What she was doing to Clovis in there? He did not want to know. Lelouch killed Clovis in the first timeline and he puked afterwards. This was far worse. C.C was going torture his brother before killing him. He pitied Clovis for he knew this was going to be far from merciful. He turned around to talk with the general of Clovis' troops.
"Now Bartley this is what you'll do." He ordered gaining the same demonic smirk that the witch sported while torturing her brother.
At the Lamprouge house, Lelouch and C.C made their way back from the G-1. They rang the doorbell. The person who opened the door was the Lamprouge's personal Sayoko Shinozaki. In the original timeline this person was under the employ of Diethard Reid while posting as a made in the employ of the Ashford. She did not know Lelouch was Zero; therefore, did not know of Nunally's true importance. This time will be different.
"Good evening, Master Lelouch" She said.
"Good evening Sayoko" Lelouch replied. "Is Nunally still awake?"
"Yes sir, she is in her room doing her homework." She replied.
"Good, Sayoko I need to speak to you about something."
They proceeded to the dining room to discuss about Lelouch's plan, who he and Nunally were, and that he knew who Sayoko was. She was shocked at how much detail her employer actually had of her and that he was not judging her for it. This was one of the things she liked about the siblings. Even though they were Britanians, they never once showed any prejudice to her people. She was glad when she was employed to their service. Her primary care Nunally was a kind girl and loves her brother very much. Lelouch on the other hand was an enigma to her. This boy could not be read no matter how she tried. The one thing she knew was that the boy hated Britania to the core having seen the malice in his eyes when he watched one of the announcements of the Britanian Empire. It felt as if this boy was sent to Japan to be reborn in hell, forged from suffering, and hardened by pain. Hearing what he was about to do , she was in awe.
"So, will you help me?" Lelouch asked.
"Yes, my lord" She replied with a determined smile.
"Well then let's make a contract." Lelouch said imitating C.C.