Disclaimer: I have nothing to do with Code Geass.
Turn 06: Truth and Choice
Sword of Akasha, C's World
Lelouch and Nunnally had just finished telling their father Charles everything they had found out and how Jinta had been a huge help for them getting reunited.
"I see," Charles said with a neutral expression, "so it really was Jinta Kuromaki."
"You don't seem surprised," Lelouch said as he narrowed his eyes at his father.
"No, when he escaped, I figured he would make the efforts get in contact with you. Still, even I didn't expect that he would aid you in reuniting you with Nunnally."
Lelouch was silent for a moment and then he closed his eyes.
"I see," Lelouch said.
Kamine Island
Anya was trying to be sneaky and attempted to mark on Suzaku's face since he seemed to be in his own world but Suzaku came out of his own trance and looked and saw Anya with a black marker. She quickly put the marker away disappointed.
"You came back to reality too soon," Anya said.
Suzaku was surprise to see Anya and stood up. He turned his head and saw the green haired, golden eyed woman hugging her plushy tight.
"CC," Suzaku muttered in surprise.
"What are doing here? Somehow, I don't think you came here to help Charles," Anya said.
Suzaku was surprise to hear Anya call the Britannian Emperor by his first name.
"Anya, you—"Suzaku spoke.
A gunshot suddenly occurred and this surprised Suzaku, Anya, and CC and they turned to see the red head woman in her red flight suit pointing a gun at Suzaku.
"Kallen," Suzaku muttered with a serious look.
"Put your hands where I can see them," Kallen ordered coldly.
"Kallen, what are you doing?" Suzaku asked.
Kallen simply shot at Suzaku and caused the Japanese knight to flinch.
"Didn't you hear what I said?" Kallen replied darkly, "I said put your hands where I can see them. Don't even think of trying anything," Kallen looked at CC, "CC, what are you doing here?"
"I could ask you same thing Kallen," CC replied.
"Oh my, this is interesting," Anya said with glee.
Kallen looked at Anya with contempt, "So, the Knight of Six is also here."
It was then that Jinta appeared as well.
"You're slow Jinta," Kallen said.
"Whatever, you just went charging after this guy when you saw him like you were ready to kill," Jinta replied.
CC and Anya were surprised to see Jinta make an appearance as well.
"Jinta, I'm surprised to see you here," CC said.
"So am I," Anya added, "it nice to see you again Jinta.
"Hello CC," Jinta greeted and he looked at Anya, "you're Anya Alstreim, the Knight of Six."
Anya smiled, "You haven't changed. Are you planning to see Charles? You know he was quite upset. You should really hear him out. You two used to get along so well "
Jinta was surprised, "You speak as though you know me and Charles personally, in fact, the way you're speaking reminds me of someone."
"Jinta, you really haven't noticed?" CC asked, "Do you really not recognize her with the way she acts?"
"What are you talking about CC?" Jinta asked looking at CC surprised.
"Well," Anya said, "for now, I'm the woman who has beaten you in a knightmare battle and seeing how you performed out there, you got a lot better when you fought Bismarck, last time, you didn't you didn't last 2 minutes against him."
"Wait, how could you possibly know that? No one really knew that except for Charles and Mari—"
Jinta stopped himself as he looked at Anya and Anya was nodding her head and giving Jinta a mischief grin that he recalled only one person with that kind of expression and Jinta was shocked.
"It can't be," Jinta said in shocked, "Are you…Marianne?"
"Finally, you figured it out," Anya said with glee, "nice to see you again Jinta, former knight to Duncan von Britannia, Charles's father."
Jinta was shocked and slapped his hand on his forehead, "Only a few people would know that…then I guess that there's no doubt, it really is you Marianne."
"Marianne?" Kallen asked in shocked, "it can't be?" Kallen looked at Anya, "Are you really Lelouch and Nunnally's mother?"
"Yes, I am," Anya said with a grin, "like I said, right now I'm the mother of Lelouch and Nunnally."
"Marianne, is this the effect of your geass?" Jinta asked.
"Geass?" Kallen and Suzaku asked in unison as they were shocked.
"That's right," Anya said.
"CC, you—"Jinta was going say but was interrupted.
"Okay, hold it, what the hell is going is on?" Kallen asked irritated, "Jinta, you and CC know each other?"
"That's right," CC answered, "Jinta and I have known each other for over 200 years."
This surprised Kallen and Suzaku and Suzaku instantly suspected that Jinta was the same as CC.
"200 years?" Kallen asked shocked, "wait a minute, are you the same as CC?"
Jinta chucked, "Yeah, I'm a Code Bearer as well," The immortal Japanese answered as he showed his code to Kallen and Suzaku.
Kallen lowered her gun, "We never knew."
"Of course you didn't," Jinta said, "well actually, Naoto did."
"My brother knew?" Kallen asked surprised that her late brother was aware about Jinta.
"Yes, I asked him not to tell anyone, especially you and Kaname," Jinta replied and looked at Suzaku, "Suzaku Kururugi, this is the first time we meet. I've heard about you."
Suzaku just looked at Jinta while Kallen was still amazed at what she just learned.
Jinta continued, "Why are you here? Did you come here to help Charles or perhaps…"
The Flagship, Ikaruga
Ohgi was discussing things with Tamaki about what they were they going to do moving forward.
"Right, I'm about to explain the situation to Lady Kaguya and General Commander Xingke," Ohgi said, "I don't know if they'll understand, however, we know there's something we have to do."
"Yeah, I know," Tamaki responded with tears in his eyes, "and that's…we got to make sure that both Zero and Jinta are dead. What about Kallen? Any word from her?"
"No, I've haven't heard anything. I don't understand what she thinking."
"Do you think she went after Zero and Jinta on her own?"
Ohgi's face was showing the expression of unease, "I don't know. I know she still didn't agree with our decision even after presenting her proof."
"I see."
"Not to mention, the way Kallen acted towards Chigusa," Ohgi thought as he was shaking his head, "Kallen, if you still insist of taking the side of that con man…" Ohgi shook his head again.
With all that was going on, he was feeling very uncomfortable.
Flashback: Two days after Naoto's death in Japan (Area 11)
Jinta was walking with his scythe and leaving the resistance cell hideout. Ohgi and Kallen came out.
"Jinta," Ohgi called out.
Jinta stopped, "What?"
"So that's it? You're just going to leave us?"
"I see no reason to stay any further. It's obvious that you guys are not going to change your tactics."
"Jinta," Kallen called out, "they killed Naoto and you want to continue with your stupid garbage that—"
"Your enemy is the system of Britannia, not the people," Jinta interrupted with anger and turned to face them, "how many unarmed civilians were killed in your latest attacks since Naoto died."
"Who the hell cares," Kallen countered, "Britannians are all the same in the end!"
"Kallen, did you forget that you're half Britannian yourself as was Naoto."
"So what? I prefer my Japanese heritage. I denounce my Britannian heritage."
"Really? Your Britannian heritage makes you part of who you are. By condemning it, you're condemning part of yourself and Naoto's as well."
This made Kallen furious and ran up and slapped Jinta in the face. Jinta simply looked back at Kallen and gave her a death glare. Other members of the resistance group came out and saw the event.
"Don't you ever mention Naoto when you're just leaving us," Kallen said in anger.
"Stinking traitor," Tamaki called out, "you call yourself Japanese, more like a two-face coward. So what are going to do, become a disgusting Honorary Britannian, you coward?"
"Tamaki!" Ohgi spoke upset.
Jinta rubbed his cheek where Kallen slapped him and turned his back on them, "I really thought I found a potential group of people, but in the end, you're the same as the other resistance cells in our country. It's because of your choice of actions is why the Britannians still sees us nothing more than…barbaric monkeys. I was sure that Naoto understood."
"Go to hell," Kallen muttered and walk away from him pissed off.
"You better watch your back," Tamaki threatened.
As everyone walked back in their hideout, Ohgi was still the only one left.
"You got something to say to me Kaname?" Jinta asked feeling anger.
"Hmph," Ohgi replied, "Naoto would be disappointed to see you just quitting on us, you and your naïve way of thinking. Britannians are just going think us as nothing but Numbers unless we show them. I hope I never see you again, I can't stand to look at you."
With that, Ohgi walked back to the hideout.
Flashback End
Ohgi walked in the halls in the Ikaruga, on his way talk to Kaguya and Xingke.
Meanwhile, in the hanger, Rakshata was smoking her pipe when Kyoshiro Todoh and Nagisa Chiba came in.
"I assume you're ready to head out." Rakshata said, turning to Todoh and Chiba.
"Yes," Todoh replied.
Rakshata continued to smoke her pipe, "Just when I get my Guren back, it disappears again. Well, at least it was the pilot of my Guren and not some imbecile from Earl of Pudding's team."
"Did Kozuki say anything regarding where she was going?" Chiba asked.
"No, she didn't but would have been nice if she did though."
"I see."
Todoh had his eyes close. It was obvious to him where Kallen Kozuki went and why. He was sure that others reached the same conclusion, "This man, Jinta Kuromaki, who rescued Zero, what kind of man is he? Did Zero him as an ally and didn't tell us?"
Sword of Akasha, C's World
"So," Lelouch began, "since we're here, will you answer us? Why did VV, your brother and our uncle kill Mother and what's your excuse for covering for him? Is it because of the project you've been working on? What is this project you've been working on that you'd be willing to sacrifice your own family to proceed to it?"
Charles simply chuckled, "How ironic Lelouch, here you are with Nunnally seeking the truth, you who made it this far with your deceptions and lies."
"That true," Lelouch admitted with a grin, "I've lied every step of the way and not just regarding with Nunnally and my own identities, I've hidden my true intentions. But that's pragmatism, isn't it? People need to play along with each other. If we didn't, the nations and people; these things called communities wouldn't exist. Everyone uses lies on family, on friends, on society, and everyone wears a different face. But is that really a sin? What is one's true face? Even you wear a mask, that of an emperor."
Nunnally, Jeremiah, and Sayoko were intrigued with the Lelouch was saying.
Lelouch continued, "None of us can make a move now without our respective personas."
Charles turned and the setting in the parallel dimension changed to a library, "You're wrong my son."
This catches Lelouch, Nunnally, Sayoko, and Jeremiah off guard while Charles picks up a book labeled Akasha and he started looking over the pages.
"Am I?" Lelouch asked.
"Yes," Charles replied, "When we realize that lies have no meaning in the endless flow of eternity, those personas will vanished. When we understand each other, conflict will disappear."
"Father?" Nunnally muttered surprised to hear her father say such things Sayoko and Jeremiah were surprised as well, "Did you really just say that if we understand each other conflict will disappear? You of all people?"
"Don't listen to him Nunnally," Lelouch said, "There's no way our father, the man that praises for conflict and enables discrimination is being truthful of what he's saying."
"I am being truthful and it will soon be a reality," Charles countered, earning the serious looks from his two children and their bodyguards and he turned to face them with a smile, "You see this is my Ragnarok Connection. Soon, these masks known as deceit will be discarded by the world revealing the truth."
Entrance of C's World, Kamine Island Cave
Jinta, CC, Kallen, Suzaku, and Anya were simply standing by the entrance.
"C's World?" Suzaku asked.
"In current terminology, it's the collective of conscious." CC answered.
"It's the collective of people's mind with memories," Jinta added.
"The sea of transmigration," CC added, "the great consciousness."
"Some even refer to it as God," Jinta pointed out.
"You can't be serious," Kallen said, finding hard to believe to what CC and Jinta were telling her and Suzaku.
"Was that what I saw when we met in Narita?" Suzaku asked CC.
"There it was mixed with your personal consciousness. I'm merely guessing as I don't know what you saw," CC replied.
"How irresponsible," Suzaku berated.
"Oh, you like having other people looking through your mind, Kururugi?" Jinta asked, raising an eyebrow and annoyed with the Knight of Seven's statement.
Suzaku glared at Jinta with a grunt.
"It's people, their masks are the collective unconscious," CC continued, "windows that open into their minds and memories and the minds of the people—"
"At any rate," Anya interrupted looking at the entrance, "this is where we'll begin."
"Do you really plan to proceed?" CC asked.
"Of course," Anya replied surprised that CC would even ask, "Charles has been waiting for us after all. This would have been so easy if you had only giving him your code."
"What exactly is this about?" Jinta asked.
Anya ignored Jinta's question and opened the entrance of C's World. When it opened, Marianne's spirit was leaving Anya's body and went into C's World and Suzaku quickly caught Anya's unconscious body.
"CC, make sure you catch up," Marianne said.
"Kallen, you want your chance, follow me," Jinta said.
"Uh, right," Kallen replied.
Jinta touched the entrance with Kallen's hand on his shoulders and they both went through to enter C's World.
"You know Suzaku, you and I are very similar," CC said.
"Similar?" Suzaku asked.
"The way we both wish to die but are unable to."
The Other side of the Entrance of C's World
"Are you serious about this Jinta?" Marianne asked.
"Yes, I am," Jinta answered.
"All right," Marianne shrugged, "your choice," Marianne looked at Kallen next, "Kallen Stadtfeld or do you prefer Kallen Kozuki? Anyway, I see that you want to see my Lelouch that bad."
"I…I just want to ask him something," Kallen replied amazed to be facing the form of Lelouch and Nunnally's mother.
Marianne was grinning and that made Kallen feel very nervous, "You're very much attached to my little boy, aren't you?"
Kallen's face was beet red from blushing, "Ah…I…that is…"
"It's all right," Marianne assured with a smile, "it can't be helped, and my son is quite handsome. Girls can't leave him alone. Even CC can't escape his charm, though she seems to have trouble admitting it."
Kallen twitched her eyebrow at the mention of CC. She couldn't help but to feel irritated.
Sky above Kamine Island
Bismarck and Rolo were battling the rebel forces. They grudgingly decided to work together to fend off the rebel forces. Bismarck was cutting them down one at a time with the Galahad's Excalibur while Rolo was shooting them down and occasionally used his geass. Rolo used the Shinkiro's Diffusion Structure Phase Transition Cannon and wiped out the units that were aiming for him. Bismarck soon was detecting signatures of two flagships and several knightmare frames.
"Huh, Prince Schneizel and the Black Knights?" Bismarck said surprised.
Rolo saw the same signatures and was not happy for what he saw. He was also nervous because he knew that they were trying to shoot him down for rescuing Lelouch. The Flagship, Ikaruga with the Zangetsu, the Shen Hu, a few Akatsukis as well as an Akatsuki Command Model Zikisan and the Avalon were on flying to the battle that was taking place above Kamine Island.
Cockpit of the Zangetsu
"Kozuki, do still believe in Zero that much?" Todoh muttered to himself.
Cockpit of the Akatsuki Command Model Zikisan
"Why Kozuki," Chiba asked in her head, "Don't you see the kind of despicable human being that Zero, no, Lelouch is? Surely, you can see it, right?"
C's World
Lelouch, Nunnally, Jeremiah, and Sayoko had their eyes widen as they saw who appeared before them.
"Ah…what?" Lelouch spoke too shocked.
Nunnally was the same way to point that she thought that her vision was playing tricks on her.
Jeremiah was about ready to faint but kept himself in check, "It can't be…is it really…?"
Marianne stood, in all of her glory, smiled to see her children again and as well as impressed to see one of her old loyal guardsman as well, "Lelouch, Nunnally, you two have grown."
"M-Mother?" Lelouch and Nunnally said in unison.
"Lady…Marianne?" Jeremiah spoke.
"Marianne," Charles started, "I see you've come."
"Is this an illusion?" Lelouch asked irritated turning to Charles, "You'd do this?"
"No, Lelouch," Marianne said, "it really is me however I can only take on my original appearance while I'm present within the system."
"It really is you, Mother?" Nunnally asked in shock.
"Yes Nunnally, of course."
Jeremiah kneeled before Marianne with his head down, "Lady Marianne, I'm overwhelmed to see you again. I admit that I failed you. I've never forgave myself for my incompetence."
"Don't worry Jeremiah," Marianne assured, "you followed orders and served me well. I'm grateful to you for your services. Please raise your head and stand."
Jeremiah did as instructed and then Sayoko walked towards Marianne.
Sayoko bowed to Marianne, "I'm Sayoko Shinozaki it is a pleasure to meet the mother of my charges."
"It's a pleasure to meet you as well Sayoko, thank you so much for looking after my children."
"It was my pleasure."
"Marianne, did you happen to see a certain someone on your way here?" Charles asked.
"Are you referring to Jinta?" Marianne asked.
"Yes."
"Well yes, in fact," Marianne turned and Jinta appeared, "he's right here."
Jinta walked next to Lelouch and Nunnally.
"Hello Charles," Jinta greeted although not in a friendly manner and was ready to use his scythe.
Charles gave Jinta a death glare, "So you've come."
"You finally made it here Jinta," Lelouch greeted.
"Thanks for coming," Nunnally added.
"Yeah," Jinta responded.
Kallen walked in before the rest of the party and Lelouch was stunned.
"Kallen?" Lelouch spoke.
"Lady Kallen?" Sayoko said in surprise as was Jeremiah.
"Kallen, is that you?" Nunnally asked seeing the red head for the first time.
Kallen looked at Nunnally surprised to see the difference, "Nunnally, it really is you," she walked over to Nunnally and kneeled before her, "you've regained your sight."
Nunnally smiled, "Yes, it nice to see you Kallen."
Kallen smiled back, "It's nice to see you too."
Lelouch was stunned, "Kallen, you—"
"Lelouch," Kallen interrupted as she stood up to face her unmasked leader, "I'm sure you never expected to see me here but I needed to see you and confirm something."
Lelouch looked at Jinta, "Jinta, did you bring her here?"
"Sort of," Jinta replied, "she followed me."
"Followed you?"
"Yes," Kallen spoke, "Your brother, Schneizel gave us information on the identity of who rescued you Lelouch. Imagine my surprise to find that it was the man who left me, Ohgi, and the others two days after my brother died."
"Oh yes, I remember Jinta mentioned that," Lelouch replied.
"Yeah, but I refused to stay," Jinta answered, "for something that you wouldn't tolerate for Lelouch."
Charles was chuckling and that brought the attention to everyone.
"Do you find something funny, Emperor?" Kallen asked with an angry tone.
"Yes I do," Charles answered finding the whole thing amusing, "tell me young lady, did you feel betrayed that Jinta turned his back on you?"
"Yes but—"
Charles laughed, "I see, it was the same with me. Jinta Kuromaki is not very trustworthy isn't he? He betrays Britannia by turning on me. It seems that this man betrays people when he finds that they no longer keep him interested. You should be cautious my children, he may betray you as well if he finds you boring."
"Charles!" Jinta roared glaring at the 98th Emperor.
"Oh, did I hit a nerve?" Charles asked grinning at the fact he got the reaction he wanted.
Lelouch, Nunnally, and Kallen looked at Jinta with concern, Marianne only shook her head at Jinta's reaction, and Sayoko and Jeremiah were also concern and wondered but what the emperor said about Jinta's betrayal.
Jinta calmed himself down and chuckled, "I'm the traitor? Little Charlie, it seems you actually grew up to be a senile old man," he looked at Charles with a death glare, "it was the other way around you fool, it was you who betrayed me when you invaded Japan."
Flashback: August 2010 a.t.b. in Japan
Jinta was on top of a hill and saw the devastation of Britannia's invasion on Japan.
"Charles, you did it again," Jinta said in his head, "No, now you've even invade my homeland. How dare you!"
Jinta then heard footsteps and turned and saw seven men in gray Britannian uniforms pointing guns at him.
"Don't move," One of the armed soldiers ordered.
Jinta glared at them, "Office of Secret Intelligence. What the hell does Charles's personal legion want with me?"
"Jinta Kuromaki," Another officer started, "by orders of our glorious Emperor of Britannia, you are to come with us to Pendragon."
"I'd ask why, but I'm guessing you don't intend to tell me, right?"
"Smart, that's correct. Just what I expected from you, old friend," A voice complemented. The owner of that voice appeared and it was none other than VV.
"Vincent," Jinta muttered.
"Sorry about this Jinta, it just that Charles and I really want to see you again."
"What about—"
"Japan? Oh, it's going to be Area 11 now. You better get use to that and get use to the fact that your people are going to be referred to as Elevens."
Jinta got upset, "What you're doing is not right."
VV looked at Jinta with pity, "Jinta, this is for the sake what we're trying to do. Now are you going come with us quietly or are you just going to make things difficult?"
Jinta gritted his teeth in anger. He was tempted to fight the OSI members and beat VV to a pulp but decided against that. The soldiers had guns and he knew that being shot multiple times would just slow him. It would be hard for him to fight them in the condition he would be in.
"Fine," Jinta answered.
Flashback End
"I was naïve in thinking you wouldn't invade and occupy other countries including Japan," Jinta said, "how idiotic of me."
"Hmph, I would have thought that since you served my father as his loyal knight and had known me and my brother for 50 years, I would have thought that you would understand given the circumstances of what we had to endure."
Jinta looked away with a frown, "I would hate to see the look of my lord and friend's face if he saw the kind of men his sons became to be."
"Jinta…" Lelouch said.
"You wouldn't have gone through the humiliation that you did a year ago if you had joined my cause," Charles said, "hmph, no matter, what's done is done."
Kallen was amazed it hear Jinta's story, "He's known the Britannian emperor for 50 years? I never would have imagined that Jinta was once close to Britannian royalty." Kallen came out of her thoughts, "Just what is this about anyway?"
"Charles," Marianne spoke walking and standing next to her husband, "I think we should tell them, don't you agree?"
Charles looked at Marianne with an agreeable look, "Yes, now then all of you here, Lelouch and Nunnally, I will now answer your previous question, "Charles began as a portrait showed Charles and VV as children, "half a century ago, my elder brother and I existed in a hell on earth. Our families were just rivals competing for the throne, assassinations occurred with regularity, daily betrayals spawned by lies, killing each other off," a portrait showed depicting the body of a woman crushed by a chariot, "my own mother fell victim to it."
"Lady Eliza," Jinta muttered, saddened at the memory of Charles and VV's mother being killed.
"My brother and I were sickened and angered at the world, we therefore swore an oath," Charles continued as he recalled the pact he and his brother made when they standing by a fireplace outside fifty years ago, "to create a world without lies."
"Both CC and I agreed to this as well," Marianne added, "VV however…"
Flashback: 2009 a.t.b. in Aries Villa, Pendragon
Marianne was walking down the stair, meeting with VV, "What did you call me for today? I've cleared everyone out of here. I even had Cornelia withdraw."
VV turned to face his brother's fifth wife, "Sorry to do this, especially without Charles around."
"Is this about the Sword of Akasha?"
"Hm? Oh no, this is only about Charles. Ever since he met you, Charles has been acting like a different man. It seems to me that you and he have come to enjoy learning more about one another. You realize that if this continues, the contract we made will never be fulfilled. I'll be left alone."
"Hm?"
At this point, Marianne was getting suspicious in what VV had in mind.
"From the beginning of time, it's always been the woman whose lead the man astray," VV continued in a diabolical manner.
Marianne instantly knew what VV was planning to do and her eyes widened.
"Lady Marianne," A voice called.
Marianne turned to see two of her servants coming down stairs.
"I told you to stay out of here," Marianne berated.
The former Knight of the Round went upstairs a little. VV pulled out his sub machine gun and shot Marianne and her two servants.
VV pulled out his cell phone, "The job is done."
"…"
"Right, begin the cover up. Maybe we can make Nunnally out to be the witness. It's imperative that this looks like the work of terrorists."
The dying Marianne sees a little girl with pink hair hiding behind a pillar.
"Anya Alstreim, the young girl who arrived a week earlier to be schooled in etiquette," Marianne recalled.
Marianne's geass activates and targets Anya via eye contact.
"My geass power was to cross over into another person's mind."
Shots were fired in the Aries Villa.
"The power that had been dormant for so long activated for the first time as I was dying. I hid inside Anya to save myself from being killed by VV and then I realized, realized that when my consciousness resurfaced, I could communicate mind to mind with CC. When she discovered the truth, CC left the directorship to VV and then disappeared."
Unknown place
Charles and VV were observing the geass users of the directorate.
"I spoke with my brother about it," Charles recalled, "however…"
"I heard," VV said, "what a tragedy, I shall miss Marianne."
Charles was fuming with anger at his elder twin brother and balled right fist with VV not even knowing.
Flashback End
"My brother lied to me," Charles said in anger, "after we had sworn to create a world without deceit."
"Tch, how dare you!" Lelouch responded in anger, "Don't try to pass off blame for everything on the dead."
"You got some nerve," Jinta added with anger as well.
Kallen, Nunnally, Sayoko, and Jeremiah were angry as well.
Lelouch continued in anger, "Nunnally and I…you sent us to Japan as hostages."
"It was necessary!" Charles countered loudly.
"Necessary?" Nunnally responded loudly, "How was it necessary to sent us to a foreign land when all Lelouch wanted was answers."
"That's right," Lelouch added, "just what the hell kind of parent does that?"
Lelouch suddenly recalled something CC told him in a train on their way to Narita.
Flashback: One year ago
"If you have someone you don't want to lose, you should keep them at a distance," CC said to Lelouch.
Flashback End
Lelouch suddenly realized what CC was saying at the time and it shocked him.
Jinta looked over to Lelouch, "Hey Lelouch is something wrong?"
The others looked at him as well. Kallen put her hand on Lelouch's shoulder with a concern look.
"My lord?" Jeremiah said in a concern tone.
"I just realized something CC once said to me," Lelouch answered.
"CC?" Jinta asked.
"Brother?" Nunnally asked with worry as she held her brother's hand.
F.L.E.I.A. Crater, Tokyo Settlement
Milly and her news team were preparing to do another news update.
"Milly," Her producer called, "when the sunrises, I want to get a shot with ground zero in the background."
"Okay gotcha," Milly responded.
"Sorry about this, the relief will be here from Niigata and Nagoya by afternoon so hang tight," A female crewman said.
"I'm okay," Milly assured her.
Milly turned to look below of the crater and was surprised to her old classmate, Nina Einstein there looking over the body bags.
Nina's eyes were sagging from the lack of sleep. She has been angry with herself for not fully calculating the full destruction capability of her creation. With all the dead bodies she has seen as well as more that would pop up, it was something she never accounted for. This was something she didn't want. She wanted revenge against Zero for Euphemia's death and her creation was a way for to avenge her, but the result of her desire cost the lives of millions of innocent civilians. The whole ordeal was eating away her very being.
Bridge of the Avalon
Bismarck was kneeling before Schneizel to give his report.
"Right now, we're suppressing the rebels with the aid of the Black Knights and the Shinkiro," Bismarck reported.
"I see," Schneizel said, "are you certain that whoever is piloting the Shinkiro now is not an ally to Zero?"
"Yes, the pilot of the Shinkiro told me that he was forced to aid Zero," Bismarck knew what Rolo told him was a lie but he let the young assassin think he got one over him, "however…"
"Hm? Is there something else?"
"Prince Schneizel, just how much do you know?"
"Heh, how frightening, what are you referring to?"
Entrance to C's World, Kamine Island Cave
"I used Lelouch," CC started, "I was fully aware of the truth the entire time. In order to bring about my own death; I had to make his survival a priority."
"Any regrets?" Suzaku asked.
"Not really, my sensibilities are quite different as an immortal witch. I abandoned my humanity long ago."
"We aren't all alike, you know."
"Hmm."
"CC, I want you to take me to the other world. Regardless if you think I'm foolish, I can't stand around and do nothing."
"Really? What about Kallen? Did you forget that she wants to kill you? How about Nunnally?"
Suzaku twitched at the mention of Nunnally, "Nunnally…"
"Did you forget that you've been lying to her the whole time? I'm sure by now Nunnally knows the truth. She's probably going to ask you questions. What will say to her?"
"I…that is…"
"Do you plan to make excuses? Try to blame everything on Lelouch. I'm curious, are you going to try to take her precious brother away from her again?"
Suzaku was at a loss of words. He really didn't know how he was going to face Nunnally. He knew that Nunnally was very close to her brother and how heart wrenching it was for her to not be with him. He thought that it would be better if Lelouch didn't have his happiness since he took his own happiness when he killed Euphie but now with CC asking these questions, he wondered what he was going to do. He really didn't think things through about how Nunnally would feel if she learned the truth. Suzaku guessed that in most likely, she would despise him for it. Suzaku gritted his teeth in frustration.
Sword of Akasha, C's World
"That's right Lelouch and Nunnally," Charles stated, "I sent you two to Japan to hide you from my brother's sight which is also why I secretly had your mother's body taken away."
"As long as my body was still intact, there would be a chance that I could return to it," Marianne added.
"Is that what you had planned for?" Nunnally asked.
"Exactly Nunnally," Charles answered, "you and Anya became witnesses; therefore it was necessary to rewrite both your memories to protect everything."
"I see," Jinta responded, "so you used your geass to protect them from Vincent's devious scheme."
"But was it really necessary?" Nunnally asked not happy that she was made blind.
"Even though you were a false witness Nunnally, there presented a real chance that you would be killed," Marianne answered.
"In order to prevent that, truth needed to be made that was foul from proof," Charles added.
"The original plan called for only one immortal code; however as our research to progressed, we concluded that we needed to have an additional code. In other words, without CC, there would be only a fifty percent success rate of our plan."
"When Marianne was unable to convince CC, we were left with only one option," Charles and Marianne looked at their son, "we had to use you Lelouch."
"Use Lelouch?" Kallen asked in shock.
"You've got to be kidding me," Jinta muttered in surprise.
"Then," Lelouch started, "what was the point of all this?"
"These tragedies will no longer be needed once the Ragnarok Connection succeeds," Charles said.
"Masks will vanish," Marianne added with joy, "and everyone will be who they're supposed to be."
Jinta, Nunnally, Lelouch, Kallen, Jeremiah, and Sayoko were shocked at the revelation and getting the legist of what this all meant.
"Wait, does that mean…?" Jeremiah tried to ask while shocked of hearing the information.
"Lelouch," Kallen started shocked and turned to Lelouch, "does that mean that…?"
"Yes Kallen," Lelouch responded astonished, "all the battles and bloodshed between Britannia and the Black Knights. This was all to lure CC out in the open. So in other words, I was nothing more but a nuisance from the beginning, just a ruckus in the world." Lelouch put a sad smile.
To Lelouch, it was like a bad joke, a very tasteless bad joke.
"But what about the people who have died in our struggles, how could this be justified…" Kallen trailed off as she losing her ability to say the next things.
Nunnally was at a loss of words and she thought about the people who died in recent battles.
Jinta was shaking his head, "CC, she knew, she must have known about this and yet…damn that woman."
Sayoko had her right hand over her mouth at the revelation. They were able to hear footsteps and Lelouch chuckled.
"So what do you think about this?" Lelouch asked as turned around and saw CC with Suzaku.
Real World
At the Battle of Kamine Island, the Black Knights in their knightmares along with Rolo in the Shinkiro were assisting the Britannian forces to put down the rebellion. Members of the Black Knights were weary of the Shinkiro since in it was the pilot who helped Lelouch escape just as Rolo was weary of the Black Knights since he knows that they wanted to shoot him down. Earlier when the Black Knights arrived and they confronted each other, Bismarck assured the Black Knights that he was on their side. Of course the Black Knights didn't believe him at first until Rolo made up story that Zero used his geass on him and was forced to follow his commands. The Black Knights seemed to willing to work with the Rolo for the moment but was still weary. Rolo, on the other hand, thought that it would be the perfect opportunity to kill them if they give a sign that they would even point at his direction.
Sword of Akasha, C's World
CC and Suzaku made their way to meet with the others. Nunnally wasn't sure about Suzaku at the moment and Kallen threw a death glare at the Knight of Seven.
"Did you already know I was coming?" CC asked Lelouch.
"And that you regained your memories. It was necessary for the plan, wasn't it?" Lelouch responded.
A gunshot was fired at Suzaku and people looked at Kallen as she still had the gun pointed at Suzaku as the barrel emitted smoke from the shot that was just fired.
"Oh sorry, it slipped," Kallen said in a sarcastic manner not really meaning it.
"Miss Stadtfeld, please refrain from shooting in C's World," Marianne berated.
Kallen, however, was not sorry she took the shot, "Whatever." She lowered her gun.
Suzaku however was not backing down. He looked at Nunnally and was surprised that he had her eyes open but Nunnally suddenly looked away from Suzaku. In all sense, he was not surprise by Nunnally's reaction.
"At any rate," Charles called upon to bring the matter back at hand, "it's correct for CC therefore I can't see any reason for you to be here Kururugi."
"If Suzaku tries to take Lelouch away from me again…" Nunnally said in her head and then shook her head.
"Yes," Suzaku responded, "I'm sure you can't. I was already told that you became immortal."
"Father," Nunnally spoke, "I need to know. Why did you do all this? Why go through all this trouble?"
Charles's expression softened, "Why, you ask Nunnally? Because it's the world that you and Euphie both desired, you two wanted a kinder, gentler world."
"I see," Lelouch muttered, "it's obvious."
Jinta's expression softened, "So that's it…but even so…the way that this is going to be…"
"CC, the time has come," Charles began, "since we are all assembled, the Ragnarok Connection can commence. I will grant you your wish to die after everything has been completed."
Charles put up his right palm and his geass symbol started to shine and CC's geass symbol on her forehead resonated.
The ancient ruins all over the world began to activate and gave off the shaking of the very planet. The people in the world were panicking as why the world was shaking. Over on Kamine Island, a huge glow was hovering over the island. The Black Knights were wondering what was going on.
In the cockpit of the Shinkiro
"What's going on?" Rolo asked himself, "What's with all the shaking?"
In the Kamine Island Cave
Anya regained consciousness and was shot up and was looking around.
"What the…?" Anya spoke in surprise, "Where am I?"
Bridge of the Avalon
"All over the world?" Schneizel asked.
"Yes," Kanon answered.
"Bismarck?"
"It must be His Majesty's plan come to fruition," Bismarck said, "if His Majesty succeeds in carrying out his vision, then what's ever left of the world will be yours to govern per his royal decree, although the sense of politics will have change greatly."
Schneizel could only glare at the fact that it may destroy his own plans before they could even begin.
C's World, Sword of Akasha
The atmosphere in C's World shattered to one where the Sword of Akasha was activating.
Marianne was looking up with joy, "Behold, it's finally begun. The Sword of Akasha is slaying god."
CC's code stopped resonating for the moment.
Charles began to walk towards CC, "Now, once our marks of geass become one, the old world will cease and the new world will spring forth."
"Tell me Lelouch," Nunnally started in a low tone, "what was your reason for the fighting you've been doing, for attempting to take control of things?"
"Please don't ask me such things, Nunnally," Lelouch responded in a low tone, "you know it was for your sake."
"Are you still going on with that? Lelouch, what you've been doing became more than just me or has the things you told me in Jinta's dimension been a lie."
Lelouch turned to face his sister, "Nunnally…"
"Lelouch," Kallen said, "if it was just for Nunnally, why go the trouble of trying to protect others?"
"If you intend to go on saying that everything you've done was just for Nunnally, then you're just fooling yourself," Jinta said, "from what you've been up to, you wanted to create a world for not only Nunnally but for those close to you, a world where the strong doesn't oppress the weak."
Lelouch chuckled, "You're right, I've fought to protect everyone and everything important to me."
"If you still desire that result, then there is something that needs to be done here," Nunnally pointed out.
"Yes, to do that requires me to reject something."
"And that would be…"
Lelouch stood in the path between CC and his father, "That I…"
"Hmm?" Charles was surprised.
"I reject you," Lelouch elaborated, "and I reject everything you believe."
Charles didn't think this would happen and then Nunnally also got in the path between Charles and CC.
Lelouch continued, "Why do people lie? It isn't only because they struggle against each other; it's also because there's something that they're seeking," Lelouch said as he surprised CC, "You now want a world without change, how stagnant. You can hardly call it life, the same as a world of memories, just a world that's closed and completed, that a place I wouldn't want to live in."
"But Lelouch," Marianne spoke, "are saying you're rejecting me as well?"
"Mother," Nunnally spoke, "is your desire the same as Father's?"
"It would be so good to rejoin all the people whom we've been separated. You can even be reunited to those who have died, even Euphemia."
Suzaku tensed when Marianne mention the princess he loved. Nunnally and Jeremiah tensed up as well and Sayoko and Kallen raised their eyebrows and Lelouch as well as Jinta simply sighed.
"So that's how it is," Jinta spoke, "You two truly believe in your hearts that what you're doing would benefit the world and the people, however forcing your good intentions on others is the same as performing an evil act."
"In time Jinta, the people will come to accept it," Charles said.
"That time will never come!" Lelouch countered, "Only one thing is undeniably certain, my sister and I now understand that what you did to us may have been done out good intention as you said that you were protecting us from VV, but the hard fact remains that you abandoned us in a foreign land."
"But we did that to protect you two," Marianne defended.
"Then why the hell was it necessary to wage war on Japan?" Jinta countered.
Marianne found herself unable to answer.
"It's because their plan was really their only concern," Nunnally said with bitterness in her voice.
"Master Lelouch, Lady Nunnally…" Sayoko muttered concerned for her charges.
"The plan was such a priority for you both that it didn't matter to either of you if Nunnally and I were alive or dead," Lelouch spoke with anger and bitterness, "that's why you abandoned us, all you have left are self-serving excuses."
"Lelouch, you're wrong," Marianne countered.
"You just told us that the dead will rejoin the living, you don't give a damn about the future," Lelouch countered back.
"The future is the Ragnarok Connection," Charles said calmly, "Nunnally, once it's finally done, the gentler existence that you've spoke of will—"
"Stop it, the world you're speaking of will be kinder and gentler only to you, the world that Nunnally desires is one in which kindness is extended to everyone, even strangers."
"Big Brother," Nunnally muttered looking her brother with tears streaming from her eyes.
"Lelouch," Kallen muttered with a smile, "you really are…"
"He may be right," Suzaku said in his head with a frown, "in the end, Euphie never revealed Lelouch's identity as Zero to anyone, not even to me. Shirley didn't either, that's why I…"
"Let's say that's true, what about it? There's nothing to be done about it, the Ragnarok Connection has already begun," Charles said with confidence with Marianne confident as well.
"You think so? Have you forgotten that I am Zero, the man that works miracles?" Lelouch countered taking of his left contact lens revealing his geass.
"Your geass power will have no effect on me and there's only one person you could use it on but that would be pointless."
"No, there's someone else here, isn't there?"
Charles suddenly realized that Lelouch was right because the one in question was right behind him and Marianne.
Lelouch continued, "That's right, C's World is the will of mankind itself and not all men are equal remember those words, they're your own and because of that, I'm sure you now realize that my power will work."
"You're a fool Lelouch!" Charles responded loudly glaring at his eleventh born son, "God cannot be defeated by the power of the king."
"I don't intend to defeat God, this is a request. Yes, I'm sure I know who I really am," Lelouch looked up, "God, collective unconscious!" The planet started to glow, "Please don't stop the march of time!"
Marianne tried to stop her son, "Lelouch, you ungrateful child!"
Marianne however was stopped by Kallen, Sayoko, and Jinta with their weapons.
"That enough Marianne," Jinta berated, "no one would have wanted, no one, not even Euphemia."
Marianne looked at Suzaku, "Suzaku Kururugi, surely you can understand. I helped you so that you can talk to Euphie again."
"Meaning you were going force me to, right?" Suzaku countered, "Jinta's right, I know that Euphie would not want this."
Suzaku readied his sword, surprising Marianne and then she looked at Jeremiah.
"Jeremiah Gottwald, if you still consider yourself loyal to me then stop them," Marianne demanded, "we're trying to create a world for all yet they don't understand, not even my own children."
"Jeremiah," Lelouch muttered looking back at the blue haired knight.
Nunnally, Sayoko, Jinta, and Kallen were looking back at Jeremiah as well, wondering what he will do.
Jeremiah closed his eyes and drew his blades. Jinta did not like what he saw and walk towards Jeremiah with his scythe.
"Jeremiah," Jinta started, "do you intend to stop Lelouch from halting this selfish plan?"
Jeremiah said nothing and Marianne was pleased.
"Yes, that's it Jeremiah, remember who you've pledged your loyalty to back at the Aries Villa," Marianne said with glee.
Lelouch sighed and had a serious look, "Jeremiah, you told me that your loyalty is to my mother and it's for my mother's sake you chose to serve me. But you've seen the kind of person my mother really is. Everything we thought we knew about her has been lie."
"Don't listen to him; he just doesn't understand that we had to do those things to protect them," Marianne said.
"Lady Marianne," Jeremiah spoke, "even after all that I've heard; it doesn't change the fact that I still admire and hold respect for you."
"And I appreciate that very much Jeremiah." Marianne responded happily.
"However, that doesn't mean that I agree with what you and His Majesty are trying to do."
"W-What?" Marianne spoke surprised.
"Lady Marianne, what you're trying to do is take away people's free will to think for themselves. You want to everything just to stop and destroy people's chance to discover new things, to stop growth and prevent new generations to be born and to live the past forever. That is a world I cannot allow to exist. It's like His Highness said, this new world wouldn't benefit anyone but you."
Lelouch smiled at Jeremiah's response. Jinta, Nunnally, and Sayoko smiled as well. Kallen felt relieved because she thought that she would have to fight Jeremiah since she heard he was hard to kill.
"Jeremiah, are you betraying me?" Marianne asked as she was irate.
"My prince, do what you have to do, I won't let either of them stand in your way!" Jeremiah said.
"Jeremiah!" Marianne became furious and in a fit of rage charged at her former guard when the cyborg pointed his blades at his former master and she instantly stopped still fuming.
"Now then, back to the matter at hand," Lelouch said giving his full attention to God.
"You can't do this boy!" Charles roared trying to reason with Lelouch, "Not against God or all of humanity itself."
"Regardless, what I want is tomorrow!" Lelouch countered and his geass evolved to the sigil that now appeared on his right eye.
On the planet in C's World had the geass sigil appear and the pillars were shattering.
Marianne looked back and was shocked, "It can't be."
The thought elevator was being destroyed. The hard work that Charles, VV, and Marianne had done for years was being destroyed before their very eyes.
"The thought elevator is falling," Charles said in complete shock, "the dream that I and my brother and Marianne all shared."
"Charles, just stop already," CC said in a sad tone as she sat on the floor holding her knees, "it was presumptuous of us to even attempt this."
Charles turned to face CC while showing his code on his right palm, "CC, we still bear the marks of geass no matter what occurs we—"
Charles cut himself off when he looked down and saw that his body was disintegrating.
"This isn't a falsehood Father," Lelouch pointed out, "it's reality's response."
"Darling, you—," Marianne ran to her husband until she saw that she was disintegrating as well.
Charles was shocked at what was happening, "No, it's not possible, I'm supposed to be immortal. We're being absorbed, consumed by C's World!"
Marianne turned around to look at CC, "But what about CC, why isn't she disappearing as well? You supported this plan as much as we did."
"Sorry," CC spoke, "But I finally realized, the love you have is only for yourselves."
"No, that's not true at all; we love our children very much."
"Do you any idea of the meaning behind Nunnally's beautiful smile?" Lelouch interjected.
"The meaning?"
"Lelouch," Nunnally muttered.
"Why don't you understand?" Lelouch asked as Nunnally held her brother's hand, "Nunnally is here, crippled and until recently, she was blind. But she doesn't let them make her feel down. She knows…she knows that there are things that she could never do on her own. So her smile…is her way of showing gratitude."
"Well said," Jinta muttered nodding his head and smile.
"You're laboring under delusion—" Charles tried to point out.
"I will not let you call that a lie!" Lelouch cut him off, "Over my dead body and certainly not in front of her. You two refused to face reality, content to watch us from afar, don't make me laugh. There is only one truth here, you, our parents, you abandoned us!"
Marianne was taken back with what Lelouch was saying. Charles, on the other hand, was full of anger.
"You clever little fool!" Charles screamed as he charged at Lelouch holding out his right hand with the intent to grab his son's neck. Jinta saw this and dropped his scythe and ran towards Charles and he stopped Charles in his tracks by holding the emperor's right arm.
"Jinta," Lelouch said in surprise as so was the others.
"Damn you Jinta, release me. Unhand me you fool!" Charles demanded in rage.
Jinta took this moment to free his own right hand, made it into a fist, and punched Charles right in the jaw and Charles flew back. Charles rubbed his jaw where Jinta punched him.
"That's enough Charles," Jinta said glaring at him and Marianne, "you have lost."
Charles returned the glare, "You are all fools, each and every one of you. Can't you see that if you refuse what we offer, you will inherit his world, Schneizel's world. Good and evil intentions are on both sides of the same card. Do not judge us. Even with that, do you still—?"
"It doesn't matter," Nunnally interrupted, "even if it is true, we will always reject the world you've envision."
"It's laughable that you would want to create a world without lies but the fact is that you have been lying to world and those around you from the beginning," Jinta said.
Charles and Marianne could only be bitter about what was happening.
"Don't find this disgraceful, Marianne?" Charles asked his fifth wife, "Look at us, beaten by our own children."
"Yes Charles," Marianne agreed, "it is quite disgraceful."
"Lady Marianne," Jeremiah called out.
"Don't Jeremiah," Marianne countered, "don't make me angrier than I already am."
Jeremiah decided to stay quiet.
Nunnally moved forward to her parents, "Mother, Father, was there no other way?"
"You're wasting your breath with such a question," Charles responded, "it's clear that you've made your foolish choice so you'll live with the choices you've made. Good luck with that."
"All the planning," Jinta spoke, "all that you've done for this plan. You went as far as using your own son as bait to try to bring CC back in the fold. How disgraceful."
"You have no right to judge Jinta. You swore your loyalty to me and my brother years ago as a way to show respect to my father, but then you still—"
"Say what you want, it doesn't matter to me. By the way, there is one other thing I want to ask you and that's—" Jinta stopped himself.
"Hmm? What is it?" Charles asked.
"You know what, it never mind, it doesn't matter anymore."
Charles and Marianne gave Jinta a weird look.
"Hmph, Lelouch," Charles called out.
"What?" Lelouch responded in a disrespectful manner.
"You say you want the future, but the future is that of hate and fighting that will always continue. There will never be true peace. It is done by the nature of the people. Schneizel's plan involves keeping the world still. He intends to 'educate' the world."
"What do you mean by that?"
Charles grinned, "Hmph, that's all I'm going to tell you. The world is your problem now. You won't be getting help from us."
"Good luck to you all, although I'm sure you're going to need more than luck," Marianne added, "in fact, with what will happen afterwards, you'll be lucky if you can endure what lies ahead."
With that, Charles and Marianne completely disintegrated, consumed by C's World into nothingness.
The Avalon
Bismarck felt a feeling and it was feeling of what happened to the emperor and his plan.
"Oh…it can't be…" Bismarck muttered.
"Can I assume that…?" Schneizel muttered.
"Yes, His Majesty must have…" Bismarck felt sadness over what happened to the 98th emperor of Britannia.
That's it for this chapter. Next chapter: The aftermath of preventing the Ragnarok Connection and a surprised encounter by Rolo and members of the Black Knights.