"Get ready, we're going to Narita tomorrow."

That was the first thing Lelouch said to me when I picked up the phone- no context, just a statement. "You better buy me dinner first." I deadpanned. I could hear him sigh on the other end of the line. "Cornelia's headed there to take out the remnants of the JLF. If we get the Legion there, we can capture her alive and find out who killed my mother."

"Right, right." I said, sitting down. "But tell me, how in the holy hell are we gonna pull something like that off? We're outclassed by the Knightmare Frames the Britannians are using and the JLF is sure to be royally pissed at me, what with the hotel incident and all that." "Don't worry," said Lelouch. "I've got everything under control. Plus, I've arranged for a new Knightmare Frame to be brought to the Legion...some sympathizers are giving us the first all-Japanese Knightmare." "Seriously? I can't help but wonder how you pulled it off." "The name of Fawkes carries a lot of weight, it's just a matter of talking to the right person."

I sighed. "You sure like your cryptic statements and secrecy..." I noted with a weak laugh. The idea that people had so much faith in me that they would build me a weapon once only made for the enemy was staggering. "A little paranoia never killed anyone." replied Lelouch. "I put some software in a Burai that will let me communicate with you and give you tactical advice-"

"Hold it, hold it." I interrupted. "I thought I was gonna be in the Japanese Knightmare." "I think Kallen should be the one to pilot the Guren Mk. II, she's pretty much the ace of the Legion." I paused, thinking that over. "Yeah, I guess you're right."

I spent another hour discussing how to go about with the Narita plan before heading to bed. "Scheming with your friend?" asked C.C. "You're putting yourself in a dangerous position by bringing outside help into your plans." "I know something about him that he doesn't want to be known, so he won't tell the world that I'm Fawkes." I said, getting into my bed- C.C. was sleeping on a mat on the floor, despite protests before. "Besides, I've still got my Geass."

"You shouldn't overuse the Geass." said C.C. I gave C.C. a worried look. "Please don't tell me using the Geass is dangerous." I said, expecting her to do exactly that. She nodded. "The more you use your Geass, the stronger it gets. And if you lack the willpower to control it, it will consume you."

I groaned. "You should have told me this sooner." I complained, rubbing my face. "I didn't exactly have the time to go over the fine details." argued C.C. I sighed. "I'll just have to play it safe..." Grumbling, I rolled over and went to sleep.

When the sun rose the next day, I was already at Narita, coordinating the prep work for Lelouch's plan. Kallen was using the Guren to drill an explosive device down into the mountain, so when the device was triggered it would set off a landslide.

"Hey, Lelouch, you sure this is gonna work?" I asked. "This seems extremely risky." "Just stick to the plan, and everything will be alright." answered Lelouch, his voice crackling through the communications channel he'd set up. I swallowed nervously. "If you say so." I stepped out of my Frame and noticed C.C. sitting on the mountain's side, looking at the snow that dotted the ground. "Alden, have you ever wondered why snow is white?" she asked. I shrugged. "I never really felt like thinking about it, I guess."

I was surprised when she didn't give me a snide, sarcastic remark or off-hand insult. Sbe just kept looking at the snow, contemplative. "Snow is white because it has forgotten what color it's supposed to be..." said C.C.

Suddenly, I could hear jets, the sounds of Knightmares being deployed from the air. Getting back into my Knightmare, I glanced to the radar and my blood grew cold as I saw over 100 enemy units surrounding the mountain that the Legion was on. There were Legionnaires shouting at me, demanding to know what I was thinking. Hell, I wanted to know what I was thinking. "We're gonna make a miracle, Legionnaires." I said, sounding brave despite myself. "Our objective is to capture Cornelia alive. The Guren shall activate electrode 3 and give us the advantage we need."

"Copy that." said Kallen, moving into position. The red Knightmare frame moved into position, activating the device.

There was a deafening silence.

Then there was a deafening rumble.

The ground beside us erupted and fell away, rolling down the mountain and burying enemy units left and right. I watched in amazement as the landslide devastated the opposition. If Lelouch could pull things like this off every battle, this war could be ours in a matter of months. "Move out!" I shouted, putting my Burai into gear. "Find the Princess and capture her! For freedom, for the Legion!"

"YES, SIR!" shouted the Legionnaires.

I navigated my way down the mountain, guarded by two other Legionnaires. There was a sound of a familiar voice, screaming at the top of his lungs: "FAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWKES!"

It was Jeremiah, and he sounded enraged beyond all reason. "FAWKES, YOU'RE AS GOOD AS DEAD! THIS IS FOR RUINING MY REPUTATION!" His Sutherland charged, taking out both of my guards in one go before rounding onto me. I probably would have died if not for Kallen intervening, the Guren somersaulting onto his Frame and grabbing it with its claw. As if that wasn't crazy impressive, the claw began glowing red, as if burning with some awesome power, and fried the Frame, forcing Jeremiah to eject. "Impressive." I said. "The JLF's forces are here." announced Kallen. "Perfect." I said, unable to stop myself from smirking, This felt like a walk in the park. Was this the best that Britannia could do?

"Cornelia's been spotted!" shouted a Legionnaire as Kallen and I drove further into the fray. "Let's finish this. All Legionnaires, advance on Cornelia!"

When we found Cornelia's Gloucester, we were in for a shock- the white Knightmare was with her.

"Fuck." I mumbled. "This is gonna end in disaster..."

"Wasn't expecting the Lancelot to be involved." said Lelouch, solving the mystery of the white Frame's name for me. "Doesn't matter, though- the Guren will be enough to neutralize it."

"Guren, you take on the white Knightmare 'Lancelot'. I'll stay here." I said. I turned my attention to Cornelia. "Shame you managed to cross us when we had an ace up our sleeve. Now you'll have to admit defeat."

"Only when hell freezes over will I surrender to a mangy dog like you." answered Cornelia. I laughed. "Haven't you heard? Hell's pretty damn cold this time of year." I aimed my Frame's rifle and managed to get a lucky shot in, taking out the left arm on Cornelia's Frame. She snarled, throwing aside the signature Gloucester spear.

"Fawkes, you charlatan, you'll pay for your crimes against the Empire!" "MY crimes?!" I scoffed. "What about the cruelties your beloved Empire has committed against the Japanese? It is the Empire that must pay!"

I could hear Kallen reporting in damage- the Guren's right arm was totaled. I snarled. "Fall back!" I commanded. "We can't advance."

I turned and drove away, but the Lancelot, done with Kallen, was now chasing me. I took potshots at the Frame as I retreated, only to have my Frame's arms and legs ripped off by Slash Harkens. When all the limbs were gone, I ejected and made a break for it. However, the Lancelot cut me off.

It lowered its gun on me, and my whole body went cold. This was it. This was the end-

"Stop now!" shouted C.C. "Don't even think about hurting him!"

C.C. walked up to the Knightmare Frame, putting a hand on it. "What the hell are you doing?" I shouted. "You'll get yourself killed!"

"I can't have you dying on me now." said C.C. "It'll be indirect contact, but it's worth a try." I officially had no idea what she was talking about. There was a faint flicker of light. "Leave." said C.C. "You have time to get out of here."

"And you?" I inquired.

"I can't leave yet." she answered. "You go first." "Not going to happen." I insisted, walking up to her. I touched her shoulder and everything went white. My head swam as flickering images-

a wasteland

a lake, a girl with green hair, the scar of the Geass etched into her stomach,

a church, throwing rocks, angry mob-

"Stop it! These are my thoughts!"

"I had to do it!"

A Japanese man, stern face.

Another wasteland, a world of white, a blazing sun, a clock that never moved, skulls in the smoke-

There was a scream and the Lancelot went berserk, firing wildly. "C'mon, we gotta get outta here!"

I reached for C.C's hand only to watch a piece of shrapnel lodge itself into her chest. I was horrified as I picked her up by instinct, taking her into a cave. I looked away as I tended to the wounds- and realized she was still alive. There was no way she could have survived that.

"Who are you?" I asked, my voice in a whisper.

And at that same level of quiet whisper she said a name. "You finally called me by my real name..."

"Wake up." I said, nudging her. Her eyes snapped open and she covered herself up. "You didn't need to do this." said C.C. sternly. "Apparently." I deadpanned. "How you survive a bullet between the eyes and shrapnel in the chest is beyond me."

"It's not a pleasant process." said C.C. I winced in a moment of sympathy. The thought of feeling what should have been a fatal wound was pretty wretched.

There was the sound of an approaching Knightmare, and I immediately tensed up. Luckily, it was only Kallen. "Who's this?" she asked, giving C.C a suspicious look. "A friend." I answered. I headed for the Guren, beckoning C.C to follow when I stopped in my tracks. "C.C, you asked me if I ever wondered why snow is white. The way I see it, is that snow comes at the end of the old year and the beginning of the new year, and it turns the world into a massive white canvas. White snow symbolizes a new beginning, and that's beautiful in its own right."