To be frank, at this point I don't really remember my original muse or how I intend to characterise everyone. But then again, since I'm already planning a full revive/rewrite of the plot... it probably won't matter. Though most parts of the earlier plotline would be retained if possible.

And I guess, earlier on... I did have an image of Charles actually being a kind father... as opposed to what really turned out. But hey, in Nunnally manga he was... still kinda loving to Lulu and Nunna, so I might be basing Charles and Marrianne's characters from Nightmare's version... as well as the other versions.

Chapter 2.75: On the other side of the moon

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Lloyd whistled aloud as some technician brought in a very questionable Knightmare into the garage. It struck him because he recognized the model as a Ganymede. But as he remembered, the prototype that was once used by the deceased Empress Marianne was still kept intact at the homeland. So how did this machine came to be here... oh! He recollected seeing this at Milly's school festival, the one that Suzaku used to make the largest pizza dough.

"A-ah, excuse me... may I know how is it that you people acquired this thing?", asked Lloyd as the technicians shrugged to each other.

"We—found this somewhere near the destroyed Sokkai area while looking out for survivors. We had thought it was odd so we took it back. Pity for the girl inside though, we do not know what happened to her. Probably was shocked over something she saw or whatever, she was mumbling some incoherent things to herself when we found her and couldn't respond to anything else. She was taken away to receive treatment, but don't think you'll get anything from her right now based on her current state."

"Oh, I see...", said Lloyd as he continued eyeing the Knightmare. "—can you leave this to me? I'd like to study this machine..."

"Very well...", said one of the techs as the three men left the place.

xxx

His mind had always been as calm as it always had. Today was not an exception. Today should NOT be an exception. Yet, he felt a sudden pull in his heart over something.

No, more to the situation that was happening in Area 11. Ah, should this be a matter of concern to him? After all, a number of his children were involved in this. Two dead; the latter one just recently died. The other two had been trying to regain control of the region. Yes, when he thought about it he has always been thinking about his children. No, he had not been thinking about all four. He was thinking about the other two. Particularly, he was thinking about the oldest of those particular two children.

Lately, he couldn't stop thinking about that child. Regardless of the reports that he received seven years ago, he did not believe the content saying that they have died. A fatherly thought? How long since has he ceased being a true father to all of his children? He had been a ruler before he was a father and he had been so to his children. He did not particularly feel sentimental about it. To him, how his children carry themselves in their lives would determine their worth to him. Death of one or the other would not matter much. It just showed how strong they were, how much they would fight to survive. If any of them fall that just showed to him that they were weak thus death was one of the consequences.

Oh, but how much has he thought of this one particular child?

His eleventh prince and although he never really made it known in the past; the child has always been his most treasured son. The one who was most similar to him, whether in thoughts or actions. Yet no one would have been aware of how much he treasured that child, considering his past cruelty to that child and his younger sister.

Lelouch vi Britannia. His eleventh prince, the seventeenth in line for the succession of the throne.

That child had always been outstandingly bright, comparable to his brothers; and had a mind of his own. He had high hopes for the boy's potential. Granted that he had enough motivation, Lelouch could be a fine successor to him.

A force to be reckoned. That not even Schneizel could compare to the child.

There was a setback though. That child was too kind. That, for a future ruler... was not a very good trait to have. There were all sorts of people in this world, each with its own different manners and policies. In this world where the strong prevail over the weak, kindness would only pose as a weakness. It was because of this that he made a lot of plans for the child to make him learn all about the world; and how the world functioned.

It pained him when that tragedy happened. Nevertheless, he has gone on with his plans for Lelouch. The situation had changed but he would not back away from that. Just a change of words and his words would forever mark the child's heart until the end of time. He always knew that this child of his had looked up to him so much, no matter if it was love or hate that was to be the root of that respect. He would have loved to see how his words could bring change to that child.

It was because of that; that he did not believe those old reports. And he would have seen the child anyway in the world of C, had the child really died. But he didn't.

And now, he wanted to see the result that would rise. To do that though, he had to get all of the information he needed.

"Your Highness?"

He grunted as he turned towards one of his advisors again.

"It seemed that there was a peculiar movement again—"

"Schneizel?", he asked. The man nodded as he smiled in return.

"Very well. Then leave it as it is. Summon V.V. to see me, I have something I needed to discuss with him. And you may excuse yourself..."

"You are not ordering us to observe Lord Schneizel?"

No answer was given to the man as he excused himself before the emperor.

"Shall I look forward to this development?", muttered the Emperor of Britannia to himself as he glanced towards the setting sun.

"Should I... Marianne?"

xxx

"A-ah! I'm so bored..."

He sighed. Even though he knew that it wasn't anyone's fault but he could not help being bored the hell out of it. He wished that the world would return to the peaceful times of before. Of the times that he and Lelouch would go around the town, gambling and challenging random nobles out of their money through the game of chess. Despite it was mostly Lelouch's work and him just reaping the rewards at the sidelines.

How he missed those times... it was fun. And not so life-threatening.

Rivalz kicked away the stray rock along his path. Where on earth did that idiot go to? Making him worry like this; making everyone worry about him by disappearing without a trace. He had cropped out a theory earlier, that Zero might be Lelouch as both of them disappeared at the same time but then he changed his mind. But he was not the only one disappearing. Kallen... as well as Nina had also gone missing, and they can't all be Zero at the same time... right?

What the hell was happening to the world? Would their old peaceful life return to normal after all of this was over? With a lot of his friends gone missing and acting differently, he doubted that wish would ever come to reality.

"On the other hand, why is Suzaku not coming back to see us?", thought Rivalz as he sauntered towards the boy's dormitory. He could at least get some reassurance that this current situation wasn't so bad if the guy would appear and tell him so.

xxx

Kallen groaned loudly.

What the hell did C.C. mean... leaving her to be in charge of the Order by herself? That just not making any sense! How could she alone manage the Order and lead the fight? It was too much a responsibility! There would so many things to do and consider... and she did not have that much confidence that she could take command of everyone the way Zero did...

Kallen sighed.

"I already felt like I'm failing Zero..."

The morale in the Order was dropping. There were rumours flying about of Zero's death. And the Britannian army was fighting back with even more force and with Lancelot leading them in the battle as well as aid from Lady Cornelia and Lord Schneizel. And the Order kept losing one battle after another. Even if they do get some victory in between. The Order didn't need her, even if she was the one and only person entrusted by their leader with the designation of Q1. The order needed their leader. They needed Zero to lead them to victory.

The man who could create miracles out of nothing.

xxx

"Zero... I cannot do this alone! Where are you?"

"Giving up Kallen? That's so not sounding like you..."

Kallen gasped as she turned around towards the sound of the voice.

"Lelouch—? How... what are you doing here?", asked Kallen in alarm as Lelouch sat beside her. The lad chuckled.

"You looked like the weight of the world reside on your back, take it easy. Relax... or you'll end up looking like an old lady—", teased Lelouch, totally ignoring her earlier questions. Kallen's face flushed red. He laughed again before suddenly looked away as if in deep thought. Kallen frowned at the sudden change of attitude.

"Lelouch, wha—"

"Don't worry too much. I'm sure that you can manage the Order by yourself. I have faith in you," said Lelouch suddenly as he turned and smiled at her. Kallen blinked.

What? How... don't tell me that Lelouch knew of the fact that I'm part of the Order of the Black Knights? If not, why did he suddenly say this when I happened to be thinking about the Order right now?

Her thoughts were in a mess. Had she been reckless? Had she been careless so much that her identity was exposed easily by him? She thought she had managed to deceive him last time...

"Lelouch, I—"

Kallen suddenly froze as Lelouch suddenly gave her a kiss on her cheeks. She turned towards him as he started to say something. Kallen frowned for she could not hear his voice as everything around her become darker and darker...

xxx

"—llen!"

She felt herself being shaken by someone.

"Kallen... wake up!"

Kallen shook her head as she looked up towards Ohgi. "Wha—?"

Ohgi sighed. "It's about time you woke up. I thought you had been in deep thought or something the way you were sitting upright like that. It took me a while to realize that you were sleeping—"

Kallen frowned.

"I was... asleep? Then just now... was it a dream?"

Ohgi frowned. "Kallen? Is something wrong?", he asked as Kallen immediately shook her head. "—I know it's been hard to you as much to everyone right now. What with Zero going missing... Kallen, do you want to take some rest or something? I'll handle the matter with the Order by myself then..."

"Ah... Ohgi," she gasped, "you don't have to—I can't put it all on you—"

"Don't worry! You take some rest, Kallen... leave it all to us. You've done enough already for the time being. Don't push yourself too much. Don't forget that you have all of us to support you. All of us placed our trust on you and we know that you had the best of intentions for the Order. But you must really rest... we can't have you getting sick now, do we? After all... you're our Ace pilot,"

"I have faith in you..."

Kallen blinked as Lelouch's words in her dream come to mind. Wiping the stray tear that suddenly started to fall, she smiled at Ohgi.

"Yes—"

A sudden explosion distracted her thoughts as everyone was thrown into chaos. Kallen cursed aloud as she ran towards her own Knightmare...