A/N: The last part of the previous chapter and the beginning of this chapter is dedicated to my friends and any reviewers or readers in the real life European Union. I know that Europe was divided and at war for a good amount of history, so that's why I decided to show the concert, at least when you read it and imagine it, perhaps you can imagine the real EU finally united as well.

-Xascul

Turn 4

The Euro Union had been established and a concert was organized to demonstrate the newly reformed country's national anthem. However, it is not without its heroes and leaders which helped made this possible. Maximus McGreevy walked outside the concert hall into the cool, night air. He, like many other people who attended the EU's Concert of Declaration of Restoration and Independence, was very moved by the music and themes. He had a tear in his eye as he walked out and tried to regain his composure.

Unity in Diversity huh? That was what was going on in his mind now. While he was still in school, he would read about his country's rich history of various nations and leaders fighting for dominance.

Since the days of Emperor Caesar Augustus of the Roman Empire, countless times have people tried to unite Europe. Trajan, Charlemagne, and Charles V all failed to do so.

Napoleon had came close, but failed in the end as he was beaten at the Battle of Waterloo by the combined forces of Scotland, Prussia and Russia. But in 1957 a.t.b., a treaty was signed by 15 members at Rome and agreed on creating a joint economic and political union. The Treaty of Rome would be revisited again for the reunion of Europe after almost 60 years.

That was the Union's new motto. Again it was in sharp contrast to the Britannian Empire's values across the Atlantic Ocean.

Maximus was a 22-year-old veteran pilot and was known for his many accomplishments in Europe's drive for independence. He stood just under six feet, had medium build and jet black hair. For tonight, he had combed his otherwise messy hair neatly and donned a black tux complete with a crimson vest and tie and white dress shirt.

He walked down the stone steps of the concert hall and was about to call a cab when he heard a voice call his name.

"Ah, Mr. McGreevy! May I have a minute of your time?" said a female voice.

Maximus turned around and looked at the person in question. He gasped and was almost speechless at who the woman was. It was Morgana Dukalia, the President of the EU. She looked to be in her early thirties, had auburn hair in large curls that framed her delicate, smooth face. Her skin was slightly tanned and she stood a several inches shorter than Maximus. She had been elected only three years ago by a popular vote and was already working tirelessly like the other heads of state to build a strong and stable country.

"Madam President! How do you do this lovely evening?" He said smoothly as he took her hand and kissed it and bowed slightly causing the female head of state to blush slightly.

"I am doing well thank you, I was wondering if you were going to continue your service in the army? You are a great pilot and considered a national hero." She asked cordially.

Maximus smiled and said, "I would like to continue if only part time. I have a girlfriend now and wish to spend more time with her. But shall the Euro Union require my service, you need only to call."

His piloting skills was rumored to be among the best of the EU and he himself was also seen as a superhero and idol to the children. Sometimes, he would be walking about minding his business and a few kids might shout out his name and the next second, swarmed by a group of kids, though he didn't mind at all. His Knightmare is the Crimson Flare, thus earning him the nickname, 'Crimson Knight' or 'Crimson' for its distinctive deep red color that would have made any vampire drool. He didn't really mind, as it was his favorite color since he was 15.

It is true that he had become a symbol of justice and hope for the people of the EU in the past few years. But now he wanted to take it a little more easy and spend time with his girlfriend.

"I am glad to hear that, may I give you a lift at least?" President Morgana offered.

Crimson blushed a bit out of embarrassment but shook his head and said, "No thank you, I would not want to inconvenience you." and politely declined.

The president nodded and after a quick good night, Crimson decided to take a quick stroll to the plaza across the street for some quiet time to himself.

He was busy thinking about Ana as he walked across the fluorescent-lit plaza complete with a Roman-style fountain and colored lights and suddenly, he walked into something relatively solid. A split second later, he realized that he had accidentally bumped into someone.

Maximus looked up and noticed that he had bumped into a green-haired girl.

"Ah, I'm sorry! I wasn't looking where I was going, are you alright miss?" Maximus said, and held out a hand to help the girl up.

The girl looked up at him once, ignored his hand and picked herself up. Then she said with a slight haughty tone, "I thank you for your concern, now I must be leaving. Good night." And before Maximus could say another word, she had spun around and was already ten feet away.

Huh? I wonder what that was all about? Oh well, off to see Ana!

Maximus thought as he signaled for a taxi to take him back to his place in the city.

Tokyo, United States of Japan

"Whoa, would you look at that chick over there!" said a man with black trench coat.

"Damn man! You're right! She is racked!" said another man with a beret.

"Ugh." Kallen said under her breath as she walked around the casino in her bunny suit.

Yep, another one of Kallen's jobs was a bunny mascot for a casino in downtown Tokyo. She did it before as undercover work for the Black Knights and was more than a bit appalled by the stares she got. As she still was the 'right hand girl' of Zero, she still had to do covert operations like this and eavesdrop on unsuspecting people to get the latest information in the criminal underworld and what better place to do that than a fancy casino. And hey, the pay was really good and Kallen did want to be more independent of her Britannian step-mother. Her birth mother was still in the hospital recovering from overdosing on refrain, so the money she made was for a good cause.

Jeeze, I take back what I said about Britannians, they're the same as Japanese in this place, especially if you're a guy.

It was a little difficult to maintain a smile while thinking ill of the people around her. Heh, she wondered if this what Lelouch felt all the time when he was Zero. Then again, whoever this new Zero was must have a similar feeling. Nevermind, Zero still had it easier precisely because he had a mask on, and therefore did not have to worry about his facial expressions.

Oops, a customer wants to play some Blackjack.

"Hi! Welcome to the Lucky Hand Casino where everyone is a winner! Would you like to try your luck at Blackjack?" Said Kallen to a Japanese male Blackjack would-be player with a fake, but believable smile.

"Hey sure! I don't mind playing poker if you're the dealer!" the man said.

Hmph, figures.

"Hey, can you deal me in as well? I haven't tried Blackjack before!" said a female voice behind her.

"Oh c'mon Milly, why don't we stop for now while we're ahead?" said a male voice.

Oh no, I know those two voices anywhere, can it be.......?

Unfortunately for her it was exactly whom she thought they were. She turned around to face two people her age, Milly Ashford and Rivalz Cardemonde.

"Oh, hello! And yes of course you may join!" Kallen said to the two of them.

The two of them got behind the Blackjack table and laid some chips down.

"What are you lovely couple doing here tonight?" Kallen asked her friends as if she didn't know them.

Rivalz blushed at this comment, "Ah! But....we're not........"

Milly cut him off, "Oh, just having a bit of fun like everyone else, my friend here invited me since he's finished with exams for now."

"I see, well shall we get started then?" Kallen said as she started shuffling a deck of cards.

"By the way miss, do I know you? You seem familiar?" Milly said to Kallen with a quizzical look.

Kallen was not phased by this and started dealing the cards out to the three people. "No I don't think we have, you must be mistaken. Hit or stay?" She said to Milly as she finished dealing the cards.

"I think I'll stay for now." the blonde said.

"You sir?" Kallen addressed Rivalz.

Rivalz looked at his cards, a down card of a seven of clubs and a face up five of spades. "Hit."

A four of hearts.

"Uh.....hit."

Another four, this time, four of spades.

"I'll stay." Rivalz said.

She turned to the man with an earing on his left ear. "Hit."

Kallen dealt him his card. An eight of clubs.

"I'll stay." He said.

Kallen then turned to her own cards. She already had sixteen points. She dealt a card for herself, she got a nine of spades. Bust for her.

"Seems you guys got lucky this time." She said with a slightly hurtful tone that was obviously faked as she paid the three players their chips.

Kallen changed her mind about the two of them coming here. She actually felt more comfortable around them and they seem to be holding back the third guy who was taking a few snide glances at Kallen's well.....you know what I mean.

The game continued on for what seemed like hours. After several dozen rounds of Blackjack, and a few short tempers, one of Kallen's co-workers came and relieved her of her duties.

Kallen breathed a sigh of relieve when it came time for her break.

"Aww man........just when I was feeling an upturn of my luck! Oh well, I think I know of another way I can still get lucky tonight....." The man with the earing was looking at Kallen again with that hungry stare.

Kallen was flabbergasted at best, and Milly, ever the person to spot trouble, decided to step in.

"Hey big guy? I know of some ladies who might want to get to know you downstairs at the slot machines, I should know, you seem their type," the blonde said to the man who looked skeptical but was convinced nonetheless.

"Um, excuse me ma'am but can you show us to the lost and found? We seemed to have lost something." Milly said to Kallen.

"Of course, this way please." The red head led the the two away from the game tables.

She, Milly and Rivalz walked to the lost and found room, which as Milly had predicted was empty.

"Nice one there Milly, I owe you one." Kallen said to the blonde.

"Heh, no problem Kallen, I haven't seen you for a while now, I've seen you've done some growing in the right places!" Milly teased Kallen in her rather revealing outfit.

Rivalz and Milly laughed while Kallen instinctively covered her chest with arms and turned her back to them to hide her blush even though both of them probably knew she was blushing already.

"Heh, still a pervert I see Milly," Rivalz sighed.

Kallen turned around and couldn't help but smile. Yes she hadn't had fun like that for a while, and that was only when she was around her old friends.

"Sorry about that, I didn't know you two were going out together!"

"Well........I guess you can say that about us........" Milly said.

"We're just having some fun now since I'm done with exams. And Milly also doesn't have work today."

The three of them chatted for several minutes about what they have been doing in the past few years and how the others are doing. Sadly, their reunion couldn't last and Milly and Rivalz had to get going. It was already late and they still had to cash in their winnings for the night.

"I'll see you guys around!" Kallen waved them out.

Milly and Rivalz waved Kallen good bye and walked over to the cashier. Despite Rivalz's earlier protests about Milly stopping while they were ahead, the two of them had earned a respectable amount. Now whether or not they will be doing this again anytime soon is doubtful.

Milly turned around and walked to a storage room to pick up some more chips for the casino when she heard a voice call out to her from behind the boxes. She decided to investigate and in the shadows she saw the unmistakable glint of a dark blue face shield.

"Zero! What are you doing here?!" Kallen screamed the name, but remembered to whisper the last few words.

"Relax, I only came here to get some information." Zero said while he approached a few paces closer to her. She could tell his voice was a little different and a little deeper than before.

There was silence for a few minutes as Kallen tried to think of something to say. "Um..... may I ask you a question?"

"Yes?"

"Are you......who I think you are under that mask? There are only a handful of people who could have killed Lelouch like that." Kallen finally asked. This was the question she was dying to ask him. She hadn't seen Zero for a while as he had to protect Nunnally now as well. The second in command was former Prince Schneizel and it was a bit odd working with him. Then again, Lelouch was a former prince as well.

"You want me to take off my mask and show you my face? I thought it didn't matter who Zero was underneath."

"Yes, but........"

Zero held up a hand to silence Kallen and she did so. "It's alright."

Zero reached up slowly and pulled off his mask.

"Suzaku! But......but.....!"Kallen screamed out.

"Shh, keep your voice down!" Suzaku reminded her. Five years later and Suzaku features had grown more intense. His skin looked paler than usual probably from lack of sunlight, and his once short, curly hair had grown down past his ears.

"I thought you had died!"

"Of course not, but I am dead to the world now. I wanted to tell you something else though. There have been rumors spreading that Britannia has a new leader. We don't have much information on him yet, but I wanted to warn you to keep an eye on the news and on Britannia." And with that, Suzaku replaced the mask over his face disappearing behind the blue and black face plate once again.

Kallen nodded with the same determination that she had when Lelouch was Zero. "Right!" And in one swift move, Zero disappeared in the shadows.

Kallen couldn't help but feel something for Suzaku. Sure she and him had their differences but they both had shared a similar identity crisis.

Dallas, Holy Britannian Empire

Britannia was too large and too powerful to be destroyed in one blow, but it's power and hegemony has waned nonetheless.

For the first time since the ascension of Duke Ricardo von Britannia in 1813 a.t.b., the throne was left up for grabs. The only viable candidate for the throne would be Nunnally, but she had already declined preferring to mediate rather than rule.

The Imperial Provisional Council had desperately tried to find a candidate suitable to take the throne. A good portion of the council favored a candidate that would appeal to the old guard, and be a relatively weak figurehead.

If the council did not find a new leader soon, the Empire would be engulfed in regional violence that could escalate into an all out civil war, one that Britannia could not afford at this point.

The council was made up of various high-ranking military officers and nobles from all over the mainland. One would think they would be fighting amongst themselves for the throne, but that was not so. If they fight amongst themselves now, that would only show their own weakness and be an invitation of other powers to attack them.

During the discussions between the nobles, one person sat silent and pondered. This person was an Earl of Britannia, Alexander Tristanamos.

After several hours of bickering and debate over who would succeed the throne, Alexander Tristanamos raised his hand, "May I make a suggestion?"

Judging by his appearance, one would never guess that he was an Earl of the Britannian Empire. He was pretty well off due to his status as the son of the Tristanamos family, a powerful household in the mainland responsible for financing the research and development of many prototype Knightmare and mecha frames including the Tristan and Mordred.

He was tall, elegant and a bit of a ladies man and always had a smile on the surface. Though still 17 and in high school, he busied himself with the affairs of state, if one day he was going to be the head of his household. Lately his father, Duke Tristanamos, has been sick and Alexander volunteered to represent him in his stead.

"It seems to me that the only viable solution would be to find a suitable candidate that is willing take the reins of power, know what he is doing, but at the same time, be vulnerable enough so that we can still control him correct?

Their was a murmur of consensus and several heads nodding.

"Well, I think I might know someone that can take up the position. Why don't you let me interview this person and see how that works?"

Again there was chatting amongst the council.

One noble, dressed in red robes stood up to address Alexander. "May we ask who this person is? And would be qualified?"

"Yes he is. He is a good friend of mine at school and has expressed interest in taking the throne. He is intelligent and capable and I think he is still young enough so that the council and control him from the shadows."

"Well I suppose that could work, at this point we have to move fast. The southern provinces have been threatening more and more to secede from the Empire, I think this choice is the best we have for now." The noble said to Alexander.

"Very well, when I get back to school, I'll speak on this with him." And with that, the council was adjourned and everyone left.

Alexander now thought about his friend whom he was going to suggest to be the next emperor. His name was Xascul Luminaris, a rather ambitious student studying with Alex abroad at Ashford Academy. For now, they were on their winter break and Xascul was currently on vacation with his family.

The young Earl thought about his characteristics. He was very diligent with his work at school, and was his class's representative for the Student Council. When the two ate lunch together, he remembered Xascul saying once what he would do if he was the country's leader. He said he admired Emperor Charles, for his values, but not his methods. Although this was more of an inside joke between the two, it still gave insight to Alex for a candidate. He thought he would hear more people vying for the throne, but after what Lelouch did, he could understand why no one wanted the job anymore.

Nevertheless, he had to admit that Xascul was a capable leader, and exercised compassion and reason when he had to, and showed good judgment in decision making. Heh, if he was right about Xascul being a capable emperor, he would eat his hat.

In reality though, he didn't wish to see Xascul becoming a puppet of the council. It would tear him up piece by piece.

Oh well, he still had three days left of winter break and he wasn't going to let it go to waste!

Please read and review!

A/N: Yes I know, that I am writing myself as the next leader of Britannia, but I have yet to try writing myself as the bad guy! Booyah! Please don't get the wrong idea. There is still more to much more to come!