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Chapter Four: Pain and Power
Lelouch and Suzaku returned and found a small group of armed men waiting for them.
"How much are you willing to bet they'll listen to reason?" asked Suzaku.
"Zero," said Lelouch. "Stay here for a while Suzaku. I'm going to have a conversation with these gentlemen."
"You're going to Geass them?" asked Suzaku.
"No," said Lelouch. "Draw their fire."
"Are you…"
"Stay put," Lelouch said forcefully as he opened the cockpit.
Lelouch leapt out of the Knightmare and onto the floor with grace and agility. The fall should have injured a few of his bones but Lelouch didn't have a scratch on him. He saw the frightened soldiers and couldn't help but feel a little like the old demon he made himself out to be.
"Boo," he said.
The terrified sheep fired at Lelouch who drew his purple sword with lighting fast speed and knocked all the bullets away from him. His speed and dexterity was something that made Suzaku drop his jaw. Very soon the soldiers found that their clips were empty and Lelouch let out an animal-like roar which frightened them off completely.
"What the hell was that?" said Suzaku, unable to contain his excitement.
"That was me not wanting to get my clothes bloody," said Lelouch. "Come on, I have a feeling we just gave off a show to some people I would really like to chew out."
Suzaku and Lelouch made it to the meeting room where they were met with more than a few wide eyes. Ohgi, Tohdoh, and the others were sweating a bit. Kallen, Nunnally, and Cornelia however seemed more relieved that Lelouch and Suzaku were back.
"Sorry we're late, Suzaku was just helping me with some things," said Lelouch. "What can I say he's a big softy."
"Softy?" laughed Suzaku.
He pulled Lelouch's head in and under his armpit and began rubbing his knuckles into Lelouch's skull. The two boys laughed and wrestled for a bit before becoming semi-serious again. Kallen and Lelouch's sisters couldn't help but giggle. Lelouch seemed more alive and happier.
"If you're done," yelled Ohgi, "we would like to get down to some important issues."
"Yeah, starting with how you're alive," said Tamaki.
"Which one of us?" asked Lelouch.
"You Lelouch," said Tohdoh. "And please let me personally apologize for any mistreatment the two of you have endured on our behalf."
"Thank you sir," said Suzaku.
"And to answer Tamaki's question, the long and short of it I am immortal due to a confrontation between myself and my father in another dimension known as C's World where Suzaku, C.C, and I met God and I killed both my father and I mother before they stopped the march of time," said Lelouch. "I was unaware of this during Zero Requiem, which was the name of my public assassination at the hands of Zero. If you saw the mark on my shoulder that's my symbol for Code. The mark of my immortality. It's how I survived…everything."
Everyone was more than a little shocked by Lelouch's words. They had an immortal in their midst.
"Unfortunately Bloodbeard is also immortal," said Lelouch. "I don't know if he was before I met him…or if he took it from C.C before he…before he cannibalized her."
Suzaku placed the bloody Cheese-kun doll on the table. Kallen gasped when she saw the proof that her friend, and admitted rival for Lelouch's affections, was now dead. Despite whatever annoyances C.C put up Kallen always considered her a friend and the closest thing to a sister she'd ever have.
Everyone else shuttered at the bloodstained toy. Just how ruthless was Amadeus Bloodbeard? What would it take to stop a man who would devour human beings and could turn into a gigantic beast at will?
"If you want an education on Geass and immortality I suggest you find a teacher," said Lelouch.
"Is that what you did?" asked Xinke.
Lelouch gazed at Xinke with eyes akin to a wolf.
"The way you fought the Infected showed precision and accuracy," said Xinke. "And your physical strength is better than what you showed before. That means you've been trained by someone. Who?"
Lelouch and Xinke locked eyes. Both men were brilliant strategists who held a silent respect for each other. Though Lelouch had a small grudge against the swordsman who captured Kallen and made her into a prisoner. Lelouch made that grudge clear by the show of force in his eyes. Xinke never lost his focus though he had to admit Lelouch's eyes held a kind of a rage and darkness that was enough to at least make him sweat.
"The most powerful being in the world," said Lelouch. "Now if you will all excuse me I think I need some air."
"Hold on, we still want answers," said Ohgi.
"And we still need a plan against Bloodbeard," said Tohdoh.
"Bloodbeard is unpredictable and possibly unstoppable given his powers," said Lelouch. "The best thing to do is let him make his move."
"He's been moving nonstop," said Chiba.
"Then let him move," said Lelouch.
"He's right, there's very little we can do now other than lick our wounds," said Tohdoh. "Bloodbeard has cut our army down to a stump and the public has lost faith in us."
"What about the reinforcements from the UFN?" asked Kallen.
"I've been trying to get help but the other nations aren't being very cooperative given that well…"
"Given that I'm alive," said Lelouch.
"Yes," Kaguya admitted.
Lelouch went to the door but Tamaki decided to get in the way.
"Hold it right there…"
Tamaki tried to grab Lelouch's shoulder but the prince just grabbed him and threw him onto the table. Lelouch then proceeded out the door. Kallen ran after him and Suzaku got in the way of Gino who had his hand on his sword.
"I wouldn't even think about trying to attack Lelouch," said Suzaku. "He's strong and he knows how to use that sword. We need to be patient with him. When I was talking to him at his place he was so distraught, so…afraid."
"He seemed so upset over what happened because of him that he could hardly talk last night," said Cornelia.
"He's obviously acting," said Ohgi.
Suzaku glared at Ohgi with intense eyes, though not as intense as Lelouch. Suzaku knew Lelouch better than most people and although Lelouch was a great actor and could put on almost any face, Suzaku could tell in his heart that what he saw of Lelouch just a while ago was the real deal. Lelouch was in turmoil and Ohgi's attitude wasn't helping. Neither was the large amount of negativity from the others, especially Gino.
"No, I know what I saw and I saw Lelouch at his weakest," said Suzaku. "He had been hurt, humiliated, and he was truly sorry for everything he's done. So whatever trash you want to say about him just stow it, all of you. Lelouch is my best friend and nothing is going to change that. I will not hurt him again."
Nunnally smiled at Suzaku. She knew how badly the Euphemia incident had hurt their friendship but it seemed that bridge was rebuilding. She also knew she had very little time with her brother but she thought it was best to give him time.
Tohdoh nodded in agreement with his former pupil. He also couldn't help but repeat what Lelouch said about his teacher in his mind.
"The most powerful being in the world," Lelouch had said.
Lelouch had returned to his room and stepped out onto the balcony with Kallen. Lelouch smiled a little bit, leave it to Nunnally who hadn't had the use of her eyes in years to give him a room with a beautiful view of the sunset.
"Lelouch?" Kallen asked.
"Hmm?" he hummed.
"Are you alright?" she asked as she stroked his face.
"I…feel fine when I'm with you," he said.
Lelouch held her close to him and they both stared out into the horizon with Lelouch's chin resting on Kallen's head while she rested in the crook of his neck.
"Everything's happening so fast," said Kallen. "Bloodbeard, Zero…us."
Lelouch sighed sadly and Kallen looked at him puzzled.
"Do you…"
"Don't even finish that sentence Lelouch," Kallen said forcefully. "I am going to marry you. I'm going to marry you and you'll the recognized as the hero you are. They'll stop calling you demon and perhaps…perhaps we could make room in the Britannian palace for a few babies."
Lelouch stiffened up with a jolt.
"What?" Kallen asked in a yell.
"Well…it's just…don't you think you're getting ahead of yourself Kallen?" he asked his fiancée.
"I'm just saying it might happen," Kallen said.
She looked away from Lelouch for a moment but then opened her eyes seductively and then gave an adorable puppy dog pout.
"Besides wouldn't you like to have a few baby geniuses with me?" she asked.
Lelouch let out a chuckle but thought seriously. There were so many times when he would dream of a life with the woman standing before him. He dreamed of living near the sea with a house on a cliff overlooking the ocean. He dreamed of him and Kallen sitting together with their feet in the sand and watching their children play in the water. In his dreams he had three children named for three of the people he felt he wronged the most of the departed. A boy named Rollo and two girls named Euphie and Shirley respectively.
"I'd love to," said Lelouch. "But…I think we shouldn't get ahead of ourselves. I mean we're barely out of our teens and the whole world is staring at hell on Earth. Yet all I want is to marry you as soon as possible. To hold you close and never let go and to protect you with every ounce of my strength."
Kallen had always been one of the strongest women Lelouch had ever met. But the sheer romantic notions he voiced made her melt in his arms like a girl in love, which in all respects she was. She brought Lelouch's lips to hers in a forceful kiss that lasted until the final rays of sunlight were under the horizon. But as the lovers shared a kiss of great passion a lone wanderer walked the streets looking to feed his own passions.
Bloodbeard walked the streets of Tokyo whistling a happy little tune. The streets were surprisingly empty. Ever since his show with Lelouch people had been running scared. Bloodbeard chuckled at how his little fun had terrified the whole world into paranoia. Even now they were going at each other's throats. If he continued on this path he knew they would destroy themselves and there would be nothing Lelouch could do to stop it. The fire was ignited and now all he had to do was feed it. He made his way to the Black Knight headquarters in full costume and immediately slaughtered the guards like they were nothing. He took a look at the computers and the security cameras and found his persons of interest all gathered in one room and all arguing over his favorite person. He debated over whether or not to go in and kill them now or wait later and ultimately decided it would be more fun to wait. He continued his search into the computers and began looking for what he wanted. After all the Black Knights were the guardians of the world, so it would be logical for them to act as big brother to every person of interest. Politicians, presidents, prime ministers and the like. But what Bloodbeard wanted had more power than any elected official.
"Well this is disappointing," said Bloodbeard.
Someone tried to attack Bloodbeard from the shadows but Bloodbeard caught the person by the throat.
"This is truly disappointing wouldn't you say Mr. Gottwald?" Bloodbeard chuckled as he brought his attacker's face into the light, revealing the face of Jeremiah Gottwald.
"The dog comes to the master's foot," said Bloodbeard as he held Jeremiah by the neck.
"How dare you attack his majesty Lelouch?" growled Jeremiah.
"You saw my little party? Don't worry his royal highness is in good…physical health. As for his psychological health that is shot big time thanks to me," laughed Bloodbeard. "You should have seen him helpless and squealing as I tore this out of his body."
He pulled the rib bone from around his neck and hung it in front of Jeremiah's face.
"Cockroach," Jeremiah growled.
"Actually I'm part scorpion, but really I can turn into all kinds of little nasties," said Bloodbeard. "Or should I say big nasties?"
Bloodbeard reached into Jeremiah's coat and pulled out a gun from the holster at his side and turned it behind his back where he fired three bullets that deflected three shuriken knives that were flying at him and fired a fourth which knocked down his would be assassin.
"Sayoko," Jeremiah called as a beautiful Japanese woman fell to the floor in agony.
Bloodbeard threw Jeremiah at Sayoko to add to both their pain. Once he recovered Jeremiah held Sayoko in his arms and picked her up bridal style. He took a good long angry look at the man who shot his dearest and saw the demonic glee in Bloodbeard's eyes.
"What kind of monster is this Bloodbeard?" Jeremiah thought.
"If you're asking yourself what I am I can sum it up in four words," said Bloodbeard. "Person of Mass Destruction. Or in two words: Lelouch's Bane."
Jeremiah growled in fury until he heard Sayoko's gasp of pain. His love for her told him to save her and his loyalty to Lelouch told him to pull out Bloodbeard's spine and strangle him with his own guts. Love and Loyalty, the two things that defined Jeremiah Gottwald the most. Bloodbeard cocked his gun and took aim but just as Jeremiah tensed up to face the inevitable with his dearest the psychopath began to shiver. A gust of wind seemed to come out of nowhere and it shook Jeremiah's senses everywhere and literally blew Bloodbeard away. It blew him with such force that it broke down the door and threw him up into the air until he became impaled on a flagpole. The madman was coughing up blood and had his broken arms crossed over the top half of his body in annoyance.
"If…I d…didn't lose my…sense of pain…I'd be howling by now," Bloodbeard gurgled.
Lelouch entered the interrogation room where Bloodbeard sat bound in restraints. Lelouch and the others knew that they would not hold him but Lelouch guessed it was just their way of trying to cope with the thing they could not cope with. Trying to get some stigma of control over the uncontrollable.
Bloodbeard giggled in delight as he saw the solid poker face Lelouch held.
"What? No smug grin? No triumphant laugh? I'm almost insulted but then again if you weren't a hard nut to crack what would be the point of my game?" Bloodbeard laughed.
"You were caught hacking into our systems? What were you looking for?" asked Lelouch.
"Did you say 'our' systems? Why Lamperouge these are the people who spurned you? Who betrayed you? You honestly think you're part of their fold?" said Bloodbeard. "No these people are sheep who turned against you their Sheppard. You're not one of them. Not Japanese, not Britannian, not a knight, and most definitely not a human being."
"Answer my question you monster," Lelouch roared.
"Who, what, where, and why, all the old questions. What is life without its mysteries Lamperouge? It's boring and I for one refuse to be bored and I know you do too," said Bloodbeard.
"Don't pretend to know a thing about me," said Lelouch.
"I know more about you than you do about yourself," said Bloodbeard. "C.C shared a lot with me."
"Don't you dare say her name," Lelouch spat.
"What angers you more Lamperouge? That I killed her or that you were too weak to save her?" Bloodbeard chuckled.
Lelouch grabbed Bloodbeard by the head and slammed it against the desk.
"Sorry pal," said Bloodbeard. "But I don't feel pain."
"Really? Let me just test that theory," said Lelouch.
Lelouch grabbed Bloodbeard's skull with his left hand and with his right hand punched in Bloodbeard's jaw. He heard Bloodbeard's jawless chuckling sound without any sign of pain. Lelouch threw him against the glass leaving a large crack. Bloodbeard stood up with ease and his laughing became more powerful as the bones in his jaw set themselves automatically.
"Didn't feel a thing," said Bloodbeard. "What now loser?"
Lelouch struck out with both his fists and then grabbed Bloodbeard by the throat and threw him but then grabbed him by the back of his shirt and lifted him over his head. Lelouch then brought his foe's body down on his knee and heard a loud snap. Lelouch threw him down on the ground and began kicking his wounded back but Bloodbeard kept laughing insanely as Lelouch only continued to beat him down savagely. Lelouch knelt down and grabbed Bloodbeard's right leg and bent it the wrong way.
"It tickles," Bloodbeard laughed as Lelouch gave the other leg the same treatment.
Bloodbeard laughed harder than ever.
"Aren't there questions you wanted to ask me?" laughed Bloodbeard. "Well I have some questions for you too. Did you come in here because you wanted to find information to stop me or because you just wanted to hurt me?"
Lelouch stopped for a minute.
"I bet that's why the sword doesn't work for you," said Bloodbeard. "Admit it Lamperouge while you preach about justice and freedom in your heart the only thing you want is to see those you hate in pain. You want to taste their blood in your mouth and to feel how good it is to let loose the beast inside of you. The deep hungry thing that created Zero. The deep hungry thing that you know you are. You know you're a demon Lamperouge. But I'm the Demon of course."
Lelouch froze, what Bloodbeard was saying struck him worst than a sword.
"You're as easy to read as a book," said Bloodbeard. "Zero's attitude, his dress, and his demeanor all had the tell tale signs of nobility, education, and confidence that only comes from being of the most well bred. Then again there are the other signs. Anger, rage, trauma, and a certain passion that only the greatest of psychopaths can give off."
"I'm not a psychopath," yelled Lelouch.
"Who are you trying to prove that to? Me? Nunnally, Suzaku, or Kallen? Or perhaps yourself?" said Bloodbeard.
Lelouch growled in fury.
"Why so angry? Are you mad at me for killing C.C and ruining your perfect world? Are you mad at the Black Knights for betraying you and causing you to be torn away from your sweetheart? Are you mad at your family for ruining your life? Or are you mad at yourself for always failing in everything you do? You failed your mother?"
That struck a chord with Lelouch.
"My mother?" chocked Lelouch.
"You weren't able to protect her because you were small and weak," said Bloodbeard. "You knew that was what really bothered you. It was never your father's apathy or your banishment. It was your own weak childish body. You wanted to be strong and powerful so you would have been able to protect her. To keep some part of your family together."
"Stop it," Lelouch yelled, throwing a punch.
"You failed your little sister Nunnally," said Bloodbeard. "She looked up to you. You were her hero and how did you repay her for that affection? You lead a revolt and killed in her name. How cruel to do to your little sister. To take such a soft, innocent, and sweet little thing and use her as your excuse for wholesale slaughter. And they say I'm crazy."
"Shut up," Lelouch yelled, punching Bloodbeard again only the strength in his arm had given way.
"You failed Euphemia," said Bloodbeard. "You couldn't control your power and now she's worm food with her name in the mud and her blood on your hands."
"Stop," Lelouch cried throwing another weak punch. "Please."
"You failed Shirley," laughed Bloodbeard. "She loved you and you lead her to destruction. Oh how so much like Ophelia she was as she lay in her own blood with your wanting eyes crying out for her to live. What a great and hilarious scene for you to be in. Marinating in the great failure of letting your first love die. Oh you tried to keep her safe by making her forget about you but alas the heart wants what the heart wants, even that which though she wants a miserable failure with a loose cannon little brother who died for the older brother who hated his guts. I find it all hilarious."
"Stop," Lelouch cried, tears flowing in his eyes and his last punch being no stronger than a light slap.
"You failed your best friend," laughed Bloodbeard breaking his restraints. "You ruined his life and killed his beloved. But who wouldn't be upset she was one hell of a looker."
"Shut up," Lelouch cried as Bloodbeard stood hovering over him.
Bloodbeard heard footsteps coming towards the door to the room. He quickly broke a chair and placed a leg in the handle and then turned back to Lelouch.
"You failed Kallen," said Bloodbeard. "You failed C.C and you will fail to stop me as I set out to remake the world where humankind is where they belong. Under my very large boots."
He grabbed Lelouch's head and smashed his knee into his nose.
"If you truly had what it takes to wield that sword you might pose a threat," said Bloodbeard. "But you don't have the glory required to be the almighty Dragonslayer. You don't have the goodness required and you don't nearly have the evil to be my equal. You know nothing about good or evil. Evil cannot be destroyed. Only enraged and I am evil's revenge for your idiotic attempt to rid the world of the darkness."
Bloodbeard's mouth began to enlarge and his teeth became even more grotesque. His right arm morphed, not into the claw hand from before but into an octopus-like tendril. He wrapped his cold limb around Lelouch's neck and promptly broke the shocked prince's neck. Bloodbeard knew that he would survive…physically. But mentally…not so much.
The one way window broke and Suzaku charged at the monstrous Bloodbeard. He drew his sword and cut off the tendril that held Lelouch and then cut off Bloodbeard's head with a single rage-fueled chop. Suzaku became horrified to see that Bloodbeard's body did not even tremble once his head was removed. Instead it merely knelt down and picked his head up by the hair and reattached it. The bones and flesh reset themselves and Bloodbeard's face reverted to human form.
"Only one person has the weapon that can kill me and he doesn't even know how to use it," laughed Bloodbeard. "And he is currently a quivering pile of broken shit."
"You monster," growled Suzaku. "How could you do that to Lelouch?"
"Because Lelouch is my archenemy," said Bloodbeard. "I'm a dragon and he's supposed to be the Dragonslayer. Now if you'll excuse me I have a world to destroy."
Bloodbeard's body began to shrink and change until out of his clothes flew a very deformed mosquito that flew past a swinging Suzaku and into an air vent.
Lelouch smelled spring and mountains. He opened his eyes and saw that he was on a beautiful mountaintop. He had suffered nightmares of pain and suffering for so many nights and it always took place in the same desert that he had suffered in at the hands of Bloodbeard. But here he was on a mountain with a green valley and a golden town below him.
"Where am I?" he said.
He looked at his dress and saw that he was only dressed in the torn short pants he had worn when he was crucified.
"You are in a place of peace," said an elderly voice.
Lelouch looked behind him and saw an elderly but muscular man meditating behind him on a tree stump. Lelouch wasn't frightened by this stranger but rather he felt comforted. For some unknown reason Lelouch happily ran to the old man and put his arms around the old man who gave a jolly chuckle and patted Lelouch's back.
"Welcome back my boy," the old man said kindly.
His voice was strong almost like a father's voice. A father was something Lelouch never had.
"This is strange to ask but…who are you?" Lelouch asked.
"You know," the old man chuckled. "I'm the wizard."
"The wizard?" Lelouch asked as he got on his knees.
"You have been very distraught Lelouch," said the old man. "Why?"
Lelouch sunk his head down in despair.
"I've failed," said Lelouch.
"Failed?" asked the old man.
"Bloodbeard is right. I have failed everyone I love," Lelouch cried.
"You feel grief for your failures?" said the old man in some confusion.
Lelouch nodded in sorrow.
"My past is all sorrow," said Lelouch.
"Your past was misery," said the old man. "Do you know the meaning misery Lelouch?"
Lelouch shook his head.
"Misery is a part of life as is joy," said the old man. "As human beings we are able to experience such incredible things in our lifetimes. We experience tears and laughter. We experience pain and pleasure. We experience failure and success. We experience these things because they are what give us the full feel of what it means to be alive. To be alive means to live and to live means to reach some far distant goal that we cannot begin to understand. You despair over your past and your failures when you miss what they mean. From failure you learn and thus can succeed in the future. The only way to truly never fail is to never try in the first place."
"But…but I'm against a force so evil and so powerful that if I fail I might lose everything," said Lelouch.
"But if you do not try you will lose everything anyway," said the old man. "The evil you face is great indeed. Once I believe you believed in using evil to fight an even greater evil. But now what do you believe?"
"I believe I was wrong," Lelouch said mournfully. "I got so caught up in my hatred, my arrogance, and my greed that I couldn't really stand for what I meant to stand for as Zero."
"But now you are no longer Zero, a creation you built out of vengeance and misguided justice," said the old man.
"Then what am I?" asked Lelouch.
"You are the Dragonslayer," said the old man. "And you have power you haven't even tapped into yet. Power that is ancient and fey and in the right hands can become the tool you can use to build the world you wanted."
"Dragonslayer? Power? I don't understand," said Lelouch.
"You will in time," said the old man. "But understand that you will be facing difficult times ahead. What Bloodbeard seeks is to destroy all that is light and good. I'm sorry but that's all I can tell you right now. Though one little bit that could help you achieve glory would be the name of your sword."
"My sword has a name?" asked Lelouch.
"Caledflwch," said the old man.
"What?" asked Lelouch comically.
"Goodbye," said the old man.