All Hail Ch 10.
"So what's the plan?" Suzaku asked Lelouch as the two of them stared from the outskirts of Dallas at the early morning darkness.
On the other side of the pitch blackness, just beyond the nearest hill was the Japanese army lead by the Hero of Itsukushima himself, Miracle Todoh and Suzaku's old sensei and hero.
"When I have one I'll tell you." Lelouch replied as his mind went trough a hundred different scenarios a minute.
"So this is an improve gig then? Ok." Suzaku said in a casual manner and the two shared a chuckle.
They were both nervous, but neither worried, whenever the two of them cooperated they always came out on top, come what may for against Lelouch and Suzaku fighting side by side, nothing would stop them.
And with the morning light that what may was the dust ball kicked of by the Japanese knightmare frames.
They were about 30 minutes away.
"Do any of you have a marker on your person?" Lelouch asked the gaggle of reporters that were all crowded to the side of the road and filming them.
One of them, a blonde man with a pony tail went forward and gave him one.
"Thank you, Suzaku go and see if they have any cardboard signs or anything that can be written on with black marker." Lelouch said as he got to work.
"I'm on it." Suzaku said, not bothering to question what he was doing, of the duo Lelouch was the brains and Suzaku was the brawn. So the Japanese boy knew that his old friend just had a crazy idea that would be considered mad if it failed but genius if it succeeded and his part in it was to do the heavy lifting.
As they did so several cars came from the city and parked behind them, from the cars emerged Rivalz, Millie, Jeremiah, Viletta, Shirley, Kallen much to Lelouch' surprise and a lot of Lelouch's fellows from the LSD, the GOP and GDP and more than a few colleagues from college had arrived.
But when Sayoko exited, pushing Nunnally's chair in front of her Lelouch felt his blood freeze.
"What are you doing here! I told you to stay in Pendragon!" Lelouch said to her angrily.
"You said that you'd win here ni-san, so there's no danger of me being here." Nunnally said with a cheeky tone as she moved her wheelchair next to the others.
Lelouch gave out a breath of frustration and rubbed his head, feeling an upcoming headache.
"And you guys?" Lelouch asked the rest.
"Like we'll be letting you have all the fun!" Millie said and the rest of the group giggled.
That struck a chord with Lelouch, he had grown up in the wolf den of the royal family, the viper den of japan and now lived in the lion den of politics, but here were true friends that stuck by him, even now when all seemed lost.
"I….I thank you all. Come on then, we've got tem minutes till show time." Lelouch said and quickly instructed them on what to do.
"Did you come here to see me fall? Cause if you did so then you'll be sorely disappointed." Lelouch whispered to Kallen as the two worked on his plan.
The redhead was silent for a moment before she looked in his direction and said:
"I've always fought for truth and justice. What Japan is doing now…it's not fair." Kallen said, her voice filled with shame that she had to admit this, Lelouch said nothing, merely gave her shoulder a comforting squeeze, one which she covered with her palm for a moment, before both returned to their work.
Shirley noticed this and Millie and Rivalz did to.
It was so typical of them, a rampaging invasion on their doorstep and they were still more concerned about the romantic drama in their little clique.
20 minutes latter as the duo were done with their preparations, they stood backs straight, gaze proud as the armed convoy was nearing them.
They all had former up in a line that was about 100 people deep just as the column stopped ten meters away from them.
After a very, very short while, from a black Gekka knightmare that was escorted by four others, Todoh and his 4 holy sword exited the vehicle.
They made their way to the gathered crowd and stopped about 3 feet away from them.
Todoh eyed those present, some had long wooden sticks on them others what looked like were big shields, to the sides were reporters that were broadcasting this for the whole world to see.
Todoh looked at Suzaku, then at Lelouch and with a voice filled with regret, but laden with steel, he firmly said the following:
"I have been ordered to seize the Dallas industrial facility and it's stockpile of coal, gas and oil." Todoh said, half as an apology, half as a statement. And then waited for Lelouch's answer.
The former prince and current Prime Minister gave out a smile that sent chills down Todoh's spine and almost made his four loyal lieutenants go for their swords, before Lelouch in a dramatic way threw of the purple cape he was wearing to reveal that he was wearing his white under shirt.
On which a big 'peace sign' was drawn.
Immediately afterwards those around him raised the sticks, bats and shields, that were in fact signs not weapons!
'Bread not bullets!'
'Love, peace, brotherhood!'
'Talk to us Genbu!'
'We can all get along!'
They then all joined hands and started singing.
"Where have all the flowers gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the flowers gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the flowers gone?
Girls have picked them every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?
Before he could even reply Nunnally broke away from the ring, moved forward and offered Miracle Todoh, the most dreaded of Japan's wartime enemies a warm smile and a field dandelion.
A hundred cameras went of at that moment, creating the 'Photo that shook the world'
And all of it was now broadcasted live for the whole planet to see.
Where have all the young girls gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the young girls gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the young girls gone?
Taken husbands every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?
There and then Todoh knew that they had gambled and lost.
All he did was take the flower as the column of signing Britannian formed a line that stretched on the highway and the surrounding fields, forming a sort of protective line for their city against his troops.
Todoh turned back to his knightmare, followed by his ever loyal 4 swordsmen.
xxxxxx
All around the world, be it day, night, at work or at home they all tuned to hear and see this incredible story.
The staff of the Japanese embassy in Sydney that would look towards the main entrance would be shocked to see the red hair of former Princess Euphemia di Britannia, who stood on a simple chair and with a guitar in her lap was singing to them!
Where have all the young men gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the young men gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the young men gone?
Gone for soldiers every one
As she did so, Euphemia noticed that a gaggle of children came rushing down the street and surrounded her.
"What are you all doing here, don't you have classes?"
"Yeah teach, but their no fun without you so we skipped school!" One of the little boys said, ironically it was a Japanese exchange student who gave was know to be adorable maker, but was always very sweet to his teacher Euphy.
"Can't stand the quiet, can you Onizuka?" Euphy asked as she continued to sing as the children accompanied her.
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?
xxxx
"This is Diehard Reid, reporting live from just outside the city of Dallas, where his excellency the PM along with most of his cabinet, his party members and friends have formed a small half circle around the main entrance to the city, stopping the advancing Japanese column-"
The sound of car horn honking cut Diethard off as hundred of cars arrived from the city of Dallas and from them their passengers exited and went to join the great wall of bodies that stood to protect their city,
The first to arrive were former soldiers, officers and knightmare pilots, without hesitation and with clockwork efficiency they all joined the line and hand in hand with each, other extended it and joined in the song.
As from behind them thousands of cars came carrying workers, bartenders, doctors, lawyers, rich, poor, young, old, but all of them flocked to join in defending their city.
Where have all the soldiers gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the soldiers gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the soldiers gone?
Gone to graveyards every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?
"As you can see the line is now extending all city and facilities, looks like pretty soon it will envelope both. Wait, hold on ladies and gentleman, I am getting reports of massive traffic increase from Los Angeles all the way to Philadelphia and Miami. Also reports from the airports note a massive increase in flights to Dallas, looks like people are coming to join the human chain! And now we go live to Pendragon's main square" Deithard reported as the image cut of to show how people in the thousands were not gathering outside the Japanese embassy there, showing the same peace signs as the ones in Dallas and joining in song.
Over the next few hours, similar gathering would appear in every major city in the Republic and all across the world, the Diaspora of Britannia's all gathered in squares and those that could outside the nearest embassy of Japan, China and the EU and sang!
Todoh could only stare in shame along with his 4 swords and his soldiers, who all knew that with the world's eyes on them, there was no victory here if they tried to move pass the human chain that now surrounded the city.
But bad news rarely comes in singles.
For Todoh could see the vice-commander of this column, Kusakabe make his way towards where Lelouch stood.
"You will step aside now!" Kusakabe spat in Lelouch's face as behind him his staff looked at each other with nervousness and apprehension inside them.
Where have all the graveyards gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the graveyards gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the graveyards gone?
Covered with flowers every one
When will we ever learn?
When will we ever learn?
Was Lelouch's reply, he only continued to smile that devilish smile of his and continue to sign along with the rest.
But that was not enough or Kusakabe, he angrily unsheathed his Katana and drew his pistol.
Jeremiah quickly moved between Lelouch and the mad colonel.
Suzaku did a kick that sent the gun flying and Kallen gave him a kick to the chest that send him flying back into his staff, but before he hit them, Kusakabe threw his sword at Lelouch, Jeremiah deflected it with his hands, but that made the sword bounce up, fly behind him and he didn't have enough time to turn and grab it before.
AAAAAAAAAAAA
A great scream echoed from behind his back
Lelouch had his head in his hands as blood trickled down his forehead, the sword had struck him above his left eye.
The cut did not piece the bone, but it did reach him.
Lelouch stood up, dismissed Jeremiah, Suzaku, Kallen and even Nunnally from his side as he walked up to Kusakabe, head bleeding, blood dripping on his white shirt, peace sign stained with it and so the Black Prince moved in for the killing blow.
Silence fell as the whole world held it's breath for what was to come
Where have all the flowers gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the flowers gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the flowers gone?
Girls have picked them every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?
He simply started repeated the song.
And the rest of the human chain did as well.
At that Kusakabe moved to attack him once more, but then he was subdued by his very own, staff, his own lackeys, bootlickers and dogsboy rebelled against him and tackled him.
Satisfied at that, Lelouch slowly did a few back steps until he was now once more in the chain and this time let himself be given first aide, all the while he continued to sign and hold hands.
Where have all the young girls gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the young girls gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the young girls gone?
Taken husbands every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?
xxxxxxxx.
The next day more and more people joined the chain, turning it into an almost million strong impassable barrier.
Where have all the young men gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the young men gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the young men gone?
Gone for soldiers every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?
xxxxxxx
"I will not give the order to run over defenseless women and children, the chain is full of them and no way in hell will they withdraw, not after what happened!" Todoh shouted into the receiver from his command post.
"Then go around them!" Genbu said from the other end.
"There is no around!"
"Listen to me Todoh, you will get me those resources or you're finished!" Genbu angrily ordered.
"Then I'm finished! I'll write up my resignation from the army now then. And if you want the resource so much then come here and get them yourself instead of ordering others to do things that you yourself wouldn't dare!" Todoh said and slammed the phone down.
Where have all the soldiers gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the soldiers gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the soldiers gone?
Gone to graveyards every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?
xxxxxxxxxx
In his presidential office Dalton did not bother to stop the tears from flowing, what he was witnessing was nothing short of a miracle.
He opened his desk and pulled out a on old report file. In it was the total number of deaths that Britannia suffered during the war.
50 million citizens and 100 million former numbers.
"Can you here that lads? it means that it wasn't in vain, there is hope for us all!" Dalton said he buzzed his secretary to tell her to cancel all appointment for the day, he would go and see his sons off before they too would go to join the 'Defense of Dallas'.
Where have all the graveyards gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the graveyards gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the graveyards gone?
Covered with flowers every one
When will we ever learn?
When will we ever learn?
After the first week of this stalemate an announcement was made across all forms of media.
There would be a conference to resolve this crisis and to discuss the Treaty of Casablanca.
It would be held at the base of Mount Fuji, near Kyoto.
For better and worse, Lelouch would now return to Japan.
xxxxx
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