Author's Notes: Well, it seems everyone either suspected or figured out that the last chapter was a dream. Congratulations ! I was really looking forward to everyone's reaction. I'm actually really interested in learning at what point (be honest!) each of you, respectively, realized it was dream (or at least suspected it)? I threw in a few legitimate dream signs here and there without disturbing the flow too much just as a hint. I had received a few reviews suggesting an AU and I wanted to experiment how things would work if the point of divergence were Stage 15 without threatening other events I have planned for later. And, of course, once I decided it was a dream, I upped the crazy hamminess exponentially, and, more specifically, Mao's dream, I had to make Mao ridiculously superhuman and hyper-romantic. Doing what I've done also accomplishes several more subtle, psychological objectives, but those won't become apparent until after this chapter. So, anyway, thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed it—it was A LOT of fun to write, just seeing how ridiculously over the top I could make it as things progressed. The important thing to learn is that just because you think I'm going to write something a certain way (or not do something), doesn't mean I will, and I love to throw surprises. However, that would have been the end of my plot which is why, in my infinite wisdom as a fanfic author I had to deny the pleas of the children, haha ;-) Seriously though, I just thought it might be interesting to explore what people's reaction would be if Mao had gotten everything he wanted in Stage 15. Oh, and remember the "words of doom"-they'll come into full expression later. Nice to add a bit of mystique to any work, you know?

Recommended Music: "Oharahetta!" by Kajiura Yuki from the Mai-HIME Original Soundtrack I, followed by "Food Is Still Hot" by Karen-O and the Kids from the Where The Wild Things Are Soundtrack, followed by "World Depression" (Track 18) by Nakagawa Koutarou from the Code Geass R2 Soundtrack, followed by "The Master" from the same, followed by "Flay no Shi" by Toshihiko Sahashi from the Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Original Soundtrack III

Cheering Mao

"Mao? Mao? Are you awake?"

Mao's eyes fluttered open. "C.C.?" he mumbled. It was dark still. But…that wasn't right. "What happened?" he muttered. In front of his face was an enormous wall of concrete—it seemed to stretch on forever. And there were what looked like structures jutting out from its face. But they were so long they shouldn't have been able to extend into the air like that without any support. They should break. He lifted his cheek up slightly. His face seemed to be resting on something smooth and a little bit cold. He ran a hand over it and felt the distinct impression of a horse. A horse!

Mao bolted upright and realized that the huge wall wasn't a wall at all but pavement and the strange structures were theme park rides soaring into the sky. Suddenly, he felt the remote still in his hand and it all became so clear. Mao sighed sadly, tilting his head backwards to gaze into the starry sky, barely being overtaken by morning's light. "It was just a-"

Mao fell silent. He could hear footsteps approaching. There were no accompanying thoughts he could sense, only a steady breath. She stopped right beside the carousel, waiting for him. He could see a fiery glow suddenly appear on her forehead beneath the edges of a hat resting atop her emerald head.

Mao pushed the remote, suddenly illuminating the area with warm pink and purple lights as the melodic tune streamed gently through the area from the speakers onstage just below the video screen projecting a vibrant array of cheerful colors, serenading the spin of the carousel as C.C. came into view—the one he needed now more than ever. She was wearing a simple brown jacket and short white pleated skirt with dark violet leggings. Her eyes widened as the lights and music came on, staring up at an enormous Ferris wheel which began its turn.

"C.C.!" Mao called out enthusiastically as his horse came around, spreading an open arm out to her whilst he gripped the brass pole of the carousel horse with the other.

C.C. looked at the young man in acknowledgment, but her face remained expressionless.

"Why are you so quiet?" Mao asked, a slight concern appearing in his voice. "Your thoughts are the only ones I can't hear, after all. It's so wonderful," he gushed.

"You are still quite childish I see," C.C. replied, her golden eyes now dull and cold. It seemed her experiences apart from him had hardened her as well.

"I'm your knight. I even have the white horse," Mao explained, indicating the carousel. "And a knight has to rescue the princess!" Vaulting from the ride, he landed gracefully to his feet and strode towards her, laughing contentedly. "C.C., you're happy to see me, aren't you?" Mao asked, searching her face intently.

"Mao, we talked about this before," C.C. replied coldly. "To me, you are just…" she began, her voice faltering as Mao spoke up.

"—That was just a lie," he countered as he strode towards her, stopping a few paces away. This wasn't how it was supposed to go. "You know it! The truth is that you love me, C.C. And this is how I know," he pressed, holding out the headphones she had given to him.

"Thank you, Mao. Mao, Mao…," her voice cooed soothingly on its loop.

C.C.'s body trembled as she listened to the familiar words. "Stop it!" she shouted, raising her voice above that of her digital counterpart. But it was too late—the memory was already resurfacing. And one look at C.C.'s face told Mao she felt it too.

Storm clouds covered the skies above the dark city as a young boy clutched a woman on the side of the street, dozens of much nicer-clothed people ignoring the pair as they walked by.

"SHUT UP!" Mao screamed as he buried his face in the woman's chest, desperately trying to silence the voices assailing his mind. He clutched his head painfully, his teeth grit, barely able to hold his small frame up. He struggled to comprehend why he couldn't shut them out anymore.

"Don't listen to them," C.C. whispered, supporting him with her body as she held him to her, her forehead resting upon his trembling head. "Just listen to my voice. Concentrate."

Mao's eyes opened slowly. "Yes," he whispered, nodding weakly. He tried so hard, but the voices wouldn't stop. It was just too loud—he couldn't stand it. Every person walking by, everyone waiting in every car on the street, every child at every apartment window overhead, every couple in every bed, every drunk in every alley, every prostitute in every brothel, every thug, every cop. Incessantly.

C.C.'s face clouded over with pain as she watched him force his tears away, struggling to try and do as she had said—watched him stare up at her, his face set firmly, pretending like he couldn't hear just to please her. She felt a knot rise in her throat.

"Since my thoughts are the only ones you can't hear and you can only be happy when we're alone together," C.C. began, an idea forming in her mind as she smiled down at him reassuringly, her voice warm and soothing to his ear. "We'll go far away from them all and I'll be with you forever."

"Yes," Mao managed, lifting up his eyes to meet hers, hope returning to his voice.

"I'm always here," she explained, straining him closer. "So you won't have to worry."

And they did. They fled the city and journeyed deep into the remote countryside where even the peasants who tended the fields wouldn't find them. Out where the foliage still grew thick, the animals roamed freely, and the stars shone bright without any competition—and it was so beautifully silent.

And there was only him and her, sleeping together, eating together, laboring and playing together for years upon end. Forever, or so he thought.

C.C. bit deeply into her lip, closing her eyes as the memory faded.

"C.C., you're the only one for me. The only one I want!" Mao pleaded, stepping closer as he held the headphones loosely at his side . "I don't care about Lelouch!" He reached out his arms, a breath away from her shoulders, feeling like he might die if he didn't embrace her right then. His fingers tingled with anticipation. He wanted to hold her again so badly. "If you just come with me…"

"Stop it!" C.C. shouted again, wrenching a pistol out of her waist band, the motion causing her hat to fall to the ground, a gentle wind catching her long hair in its grasp.

Mao shuddered in horror, dropping the headphones as he stared at her in confusion, his heart aching. He shook his head back and forth sadly. This couldn't be happening!

"I should've done this a long time ago," C.C. remarked, gritting her teeth as she aimed the weapon for his heart, her finger hovering over the trigger.

Mao looked at her face in disbelief, the face he had memorized every detail of countless times. The face that he had kissed, the face he saw in his dreams, the face that had inspired countless paintings. How could she do this to him! Did she have any idea how much he had been through just to reach her again? To save her! This wasn't happening at all like he had imagined. His mind raced, wondering if her desire to die was so great that she would really kill him to obtain it. It seemed unthinkable. But, if she did, everything he had suffered for would be lost to him forever. And she would surely die.

C.C.'s hand shook and she swallowed hard, closing her eyes as she increased the pressure.

Mao carefully slid his hand into his coat, retrieving his own pistol. He knew what he had to do. It was just…

Suddenly, C.C.'s finger eased up on the trigger and she shook her head almost imperceptibly. She couldn't do this. Not like this.

Mao smiled softly, a feeling of relief washing over him as he took notice. He pulled the trigger of the weapon, aiming for her arm. A shot rang out into the still night and C.C.'s eyes snapped open, horrified for one sickening moment. She searched Mao's body frantically, looking for the wound. But…he didn't appear hurt and, suddenly, she fell to the ground clutching her muscle. She drew her hand away bloody, her gun having fallen away uselessly.

C.C. smiled softly despite it, realizing it wasn't her gun that had gone off after all.

"I knew you would never shoot me," Mao affirmed. "That's because you really do love me, C.C.!" he explained, pointing a gloved finger to his heart and clapping his hands together happily as laughter issued from his throat.

"No! I was just using you—right from the start!" C.C. countered bitterly.

Mao scowled, his laughter ceasing. "How can you say that? You shouldn't tell lies like that—you really shouldn't. Lying is very, very bad. Awful lies!" he scolded, looking down at her piteously as he absorbed her pathetic attempts to push him away. "Don't worry, I understand," he added, trying to comfort her.

Raising the pistol once more, C.C. watched as he pointed the weapon at her, wondering what he would do next. Averting his eyes, almost apologetically, Mao fired off a few more rounds—directing one into her other arm and one into her leg. She grunted from the pain, falling down on her back, unable to move because of the stinging wounds.

"C.C., listen to this! I bought a house in Australia," Mao shared excitedly. "It's a beautiful, quiet, white house. But..."

C.C. stared up at him from her back expectantly, unable to do much else.

"…Well…we need to take a plane to reach Australia and there isn't much room," he explained nervously, walking a few paces away toward the stage. "C.C.," Mao added gently, as if he were concerned about insulting her. "Well…you're just too big to bring onto the plane."

C.C.'s eyes followed the young man as he went beside the soundstage and picked up the chainsaw he had left there. Pulling the choke, the device roared as Mao spun its blade, admiring the smooth sound and shiny edge. "I'll have to make you compact! It'll be quick if I use this," he called out, swinging the device across a nearby sign to test its edge. It clanged to the ground from a clean break in its post—the words "Please hold on to small children," adorning its rusting face.

C.C. stared at the device, at a loss for words, not sure if she wanted to laugh or cringe. "Is this your revenge?" she asked in disbelief. "Are you punishing me?"

"Of course not, no!" Mao replied, deeply hurt by the suggestion. "No, no, no, no, no!" he repeated for emphasis as he strode towards her. "I'm just so grateful to you," he replied, looking down at her, his bright eyes sparkling adoringly.

"SO THIS IS THE PLACE YOU'VE CHOSEN!" a booming voice echoed across the park. It seemed to be emanating from the speakers onstage. And it was a voice Mao recognized all too well. Unfortunately. He grit his teeth as he cast a fierce sideways glare toward the projection; unabashed adoration suddenly replaced with careful rage. The screen was displaying an image of Tokyo Tower.

"AT A PLACE WITHOUT ANYONE ELSE'S THOUGHTS TO INTERFERE. IT'S SO EASY TO FIND YOU," the voice of Lelouch boasted as his face appeared on the screen.

"Lelouch…" Mao muttered angrily.

C.C. turned her head to look as well.

"THE MAXIMUM EFFECTIVE RADIUS OF YOUR GEASS IS 500 METERS," Lelouch continued. "IT CAN'T REACH THIS PLACE, TOKYO TOWER."

Mao couldn't help but laugh. "Indeed, indeed," he concurred. "Even so, what do you intend to do from all the way over there?" he demanded. "Perhaps you intend to remotely control some battery-operated toys here to attack me? Or perhaps use that sharp tongue of yours to convince me to submit?"

Lelouch blinked, followed by a long pause. Mao looked at the image suspiciously. "Why are you being so quiet now?" he asked. "I'll die before I'll let you have C.C.—"

"—MAO, YOU DON'T THINK 'C.C.' IS HER REAL NAME DO YOU?" Lelouch suddenly interrupted.

Mao froze, his eyes widening as he turned his gaze back toward C.C., his mouth slightly agape.

"I KNOW HER REAL NAME," Lelouch declared proudly.

C.C. turned away. Was that embarrassment?

"You…you told him, C.C.?" Mao asked in disbelief, his voice suddenly frail and frantic. "How could you tell it to a person like him? It was a secret."

"YOU UNDERSTAND, DON'T YOU?" Lelouch continued to taunt. "C.C. BELONGS TO ME NOW, MAO!" he declared imperiously.

C.C. scowled blandly, watching the ridiculous display. But Mao was falling for Lelouch's ruse completely.

"NO!" Mao shouted angrily, climbing atop the stage. "SHE DOESN'T! SHE DOESN'T! SHE DOESN'T! SHE DOESN'T!" he repeated, shaking his clenched fist at the image. "C.C. and I were together long before you found her!"

"I HAVE CONQUERED ALL OF C.C.," Lelouch countered suggestively, licking his lips for effect. "EVEN THE PARTS YOU KNOW NOTHING OF."

Mao glared at the image, his face contorting into a snarl. The claim was impossible, of course, Mao realized. But his tone was so infuriating.

"ALL OF HER…" Lelouch repeated again. Slowly this time.

How dare he disrespect C.C.! "L-e-l-o-u-c-h…" he seethed, lifting the chainsaw into the air and spinning the blade menacingly. "Come out and face me!" he raged as he rushed toward the projector, bringing the saw down across the screen in a deadly slash.

A deep cut tore across the image, breaking it apart into several flickering glitched pieces. "Lelouch, come here! " Mao again demanded as he continued to swing the chainsaw across the screen in long strikes, a shower of electric sparks bursting into the air. "Let me into your mind, you liar!"

Smoking panels from the enormous device came crashing down to the stage in a mess of broken glass and electricity.

"MAO, YOU HAVE LOST," Lelouch's voice declared proudly, the sound breaking up as the signal failed.

"What are you saying?" Mao demanded, his chest heaving from from the exertion as he finally relaxed the chainsaw. A cloud of smoke has quickly risen up up from the ruined stage, blowing out over the grounds. "It doesn't matter. As long as C.C. and I—"

There he is!

"Secure the perimeter…"

He's got a weapon!

"Come on!"

Loaded and ready…

Damn, this boot

Look at him-so pathetic.

At this hour?

"Standard formation…"

Shields, ready

He has no idea what I have planned for him…

"Safety off."

There he is!

Surround the stage!

Mao whirled around, chainsaw raised. His mind began to race as he suddenly heard a myriad of thoughts echoing in the formerly empty park. "Lelouch? But the distance…and…so many," he muttered nervously, staring out over the grounds in confusion, wincing at the noise.

"Its over!" a voice shouted as leather jackboots pounded across the park, belonging to thirty or so police officers who rushed to the stage bearing riot shields. They were even joined by two white Knightmare Frames pointing their massive rifles in his direction as they took up position on either side of the rise.

"All those voices... It can't be! I was so focused on-" Mao stammered.

A spotlight bore down upon him from above, blinding him as he tried to discern its source. He whirled around and lifted a hand to shield his eyes, hoping to get a clear view. A helicopter hovered overhead, a sniper in position sprawled out the open bay door.

No sudden moves...

"PUT DOWN YOUR WEAPON AND SURRENDER! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!" a voice, apparently the commander, barked through a loud speaker.

The officers pitched directly in front of the stage, raising their shields as they all drew pistols simultaneously, their faces shielded beneath their helmets.

"The police?" Mao muttered. "Who contacted them?" But he quickly realized the only possible culprit.

"REMAIN WHERE YOU ARE! DROP YOUR WEAPON AND RAISE YOUR HANDS!" the voice repeated sternly.

C.C. sat up as a lone officer walked to her and picked up the pistol lying on the ground beside her. Wrenching her up into the air, he began carrying her away slowly. It was Lelouch!

"Lelouch? Why are you here?" C.C. demanded.

But Lelouch merely scowled at her contemptuously.

Stupid, willful woman. Maybe I should've let her have a bit of that chainsaw first. Teach her not to cross me again. I can't believe she pretended like she was betraying me for Mao when all along she was following my original plan. One simple task—kill Mao—and she couldn't even take care of it. Women can be so useless… Still, she performed well as bait. If she hadn't been here to distract him, things could've turned out much differently… Now Nunnally's safety will be assured.

"Impossible!" Mao shouted. "Weren't you at the tower just now?"

Are you an idiot? All of that was just a recording, Lelouch's thoughts echoed in Mao's mind as he turned to smirk at him.

"But…you talked to me!" Mao countered.

The way you think is too simplistic. Your ability to read minds is such a waste.

"You predicted how I would respond?" Mao asked in disbelief. "Don't fuck with me, insolent brat!" he spat contemptuously, shaking his head. "If the police take me in, I'll be released in no time at all!"

What is he saying?

Is he on something?

Who's he talking to?

He's crazy!

There's something wrong with him.

Talking to himself like that…

Must be a Refrain addict…

What the hell?

He is seriously disturbing my calm...

"Shut up!" Mao shouted out to the crowd, clutching his head painfully. "Stop saying those things about me!"

A smug grin spread across Lelouch's face as he watched him with silent satisfaction.

C.C. told me you can't turn off your Geass. But the effective range depends on how hard you concentrate.

"You made use of the monitor to distract me," Mao muttered, thinking quickly. Anything to keep the conversation going. He could see where this was headed. And if he didn't think of something fast, it wouldn't be pretty.

Consider it revenge for using Shirley to try and kill me the other day. Of course, since you know my real thoughts, it makes more sense to simply understand that your mere existence is a threat to my designs. I can't afford to let pieces like that remain in play for long you see…

"Even so, I still have a way to defeat you," Mao warned. "I'll destroy you!"

The moment you try is the moment you die

Apparently satisfied, Lelouch began his retreat, pulling C.C. away with him.

C.C. looked up at Lelouch's smirk and back at the stance of the officers with their weapons drawn. Her eyes widened as realization dawned in her face, a sickening fear coming over her. It was all so clear. "Lelouch, please wait," she pleaded suddenly, her voice urgent. "If you just let me-I can to talk to him… Please."

You're obsession with C.C. was the perfect distraction. I'm taking her from you forever, Mao.

Mao stared past the crouched officers toward C.C.'s white face as it was dragged away, realizing it too. He suddenly felt afraid, desperate. Taking a quick breath, he closed his eyes and when they reopened, they had the distinct appearance of blood—the Geass sigil within was burning so brightly, coloring the tears beginning to form. "You think I'll die?" Mao shouted defiantly. "Police, listen carefully to this!" he pressed, pointing his arm toward Lelouch's fleeing form. "That man over there is the terrorist—"

But it was too late. "FIRE!" the commander barked as the officers emptied their magazines into Mao's stunned form, the din of gunfire ringing out over the park.

Mao grunted as he felt the hot metal shred into his body, the barrage knocking him around the stage, eruptions of blood bursting through his back and splattering against the wrecked screen at an agonizing pace. His eyes fell across the park in a long, sweeping gaze as time seemed to slow. Mao could see the vacant stare of the police commander, his glassy eyes perfectly complimenting his mechanical posture. He could see the unabashed smirk on Lelouch's face as he regarded his execution with relish. He could see the rays of the dawn streaking through the trees surrounding the park. Would he ever see those rays again? But most of all he could see C.C.'s face as she craned her neck toward him. Were those tears in her eyes? Finally, he fell backward onto the stage, his legs giving out on him. He stared up at the last vestiges of the twilight sky, flat on his back, his arms extended out from his sides as a lukewarm river of blood flowed down the rim of the stage and out into the grounds below, in between the boots of the officers. He fought to try and lift his neck, desperate to regain look his beloved in the eye one last time. Why? Why wouldn't she save him? Why couldn't he save her?

"MAO!" C.C. screamed, straining her neck toward him, her eyes wide with horror.

I've won, Mao. Now you know the punishment reserved for those who challenge me. If only you would have known of the others who tried to oppose me—of the fates they met, you might have been wiser in your choice of enemies. This world belongs to Zero and I am its future!

"…Zer…o," Mao breathed, his head collapsing to the floor as he was engulfed by smoke. His lungs began to tighten and each breath felt like a knife twisting in his heaving chest. Blood now soaked his clothes and he felt his vision blur. There was too much pain. He couldn't breathe, he couldn't think. Darkness overtook him.

Nothing was an odd sensation.

Endsong: "It's Only the Fairytale" by Alissa Sears (Miyamura Yuuko)