Game777 – Yes, the mystery thickens! And Suzaku's way too interesting to kill off.
Findarto – You, uh, you okay? Cos that's the exact same review you had for Chapter 18. And I mean, jeez, Suzaku and Euphemia just met.
Demons – And it will only get crazier, amigo. That's the deliciousness of tragedy!
HE SpecOPS – Like it or not, Lelouch and Suzaku were once best friends. I mean, realistically, if you had to kill your best friend, would you be that cool with it? That's one of Lelouch's biggest flaws (along with his pride, his inability to trust people, his secret-keeping, his inability to consider the negative consequences of his actions, et cetera) – his inability to cast aside his personal problems and life in favor of the "bigger picture". He came to the lab to destroy the Lancelot, and to get answers from Schneizel. He did not go there to kill Suzaku – he would rather have Suzaku join him! Lelouch is willing to break his spirit, sure, but kill him? Hell no. "A target with a familiar face is far worse than an unfamiliar one." I mean, sorry if I've tainted your vision of the show (I really have no idea how a fanfiction can do that, but eh!), but this is my story, and I don't have to answer to the whims of anyone but myself. Requests exist for a reason as it is.
Guikat – Gotcha. I'll keep that in mind for future chapters.
Valla – Never said Suzaku wasn't a hypocrite. Do I sympathize with the kid, do I pity him? Absolutely. I would not want to go through what he did. Does it excuse his horrific actions? Not a whit.
NarutoSparda – Technically, this is both X-Lelouch's and Time Baron's story. It's a character study involving one Lelouch that's never met Nunnally, and involving another Lelouch who's lived for a very, very long time without Nunnally, or C.C., or anyone, for that matter. Provides different perspectives.
Kudos to everyone, once again!
[*****]
PENDRAGON IMPERIAL PALACE
Pawn, C2 to C4… heh. C2.
Time Baron stretched and sank back into his cushy, gaudy chair, waiting for Guinevere de Britannia to make her first move. The Vampire had an irritated yet skittish disposition about her, as if she was waiting for Time Baron to try and do something to her. An assassination, a beating, a verbal whiplashing, a prank. Anything. However, she was far better at hiding her impatience than her annoying little lackey, Carine ne Britannia, who just sort of sat there and groaned, toying with her frou-frou sleeves and enormous earrings.
If your brain was as big as your forehead, then maybe you'd be more pleasant to be around, Carine.
"What pleasure do you get from this game, exactly?" Guinevere asked, her voice edged with annoyance as she picked up a black knight.
Black Knight…
"What does this piece do?" she asked, dangling it in-between her index and middle fingers.
"You can move it forward two squares, and then left or right one square. It's kind of like an L shape," Time Baron explained, gesturing on the board.
They can also go backwards, but she doesn't need to know that. Ignorance is bliss!
She timidly moved her Knight to F6. "Was it Schneizel that taught you how to play?"
Time Baron shrugged, examining the board. "It's been too long to remember," he confessed, and this time he meant it. "Wouldn't be surprised if he did, though."
Knight to C3. "Your move, 'Guin."
Guinevere paused, her eyes darting over the board multiple times, then moved a Pawn to E6.
"This is so boring!" Carine whined, folding her arms and pouting like a petty little kid.
"Chess isn't for the simple-minded," Time Baron sassed, patting Carine's head.
"I guess it's for nerds, then," she said, placing her hands on her hips.
"I love logic like that," Time Baron effused as he moved his Knight to F3. "I don't have any retorts planned, so I'm just gonna resort to name-calling. Always works!"
"What-ever," Carine proclaimed, her cheeks flushed. "Your hair is stupid!"
"Carine," Guinevere warned, rubbing her forehead.
Time Baron placed his index finger on Carine's forehead and traced a circle around it. "I believe I've found the Moon," he exclaimed.
Carine loudly groaned and Guinevere gave a kind of choked chuckle, as if she wanted to laugh but she didn't want to give Time Baron the pleasure of actually laughing.
"It seems like Japan beat a sense of humor into you, Lelouch," Guinevere said, picking up the pawn she had at E6 and moving it forward one space.
"You can move it ahead two spaces, you know," Time Baron advised, seeing an opportunity.
She proceeded to do just so, placing her pawn at E4, giving Time Baron the opportunity to capture it.
"Hey, you tricked me!" Guinevere stressed, folding her arms across her chest.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I just couldn't resist. You ever been outside the homeland, 'Guin?"
"Once, to South Britannia."
South America. "What for?"
"To visit Pollux. He's the Viceroy."
The homosexual, huh? "So that's why he left so early. And here it was because I thought he was intimidated by my presence. Your move."
Hastily, she moved a pawn to C5. "No, he was just visiting to hear the news."
Interesting. Pollux is as dumb as a rock – if I could get some forces inside South Britannia and overthrow Pollux, then that would leave an avenue open. I could deliver supplies to either my twin or the Mancini woman in the European Union, via Ecuador or Venezuela, depending on the location. Speaking of which, I need to give some updates to Viola.
"What's with the look?" Carine questioned, looking at Time Baron.
He refocused his eyes on her forehead. "Just planning," Time Baron said, moving his E2 pawn to E3.
"…What are you planning exactly?" Guinevere asked, steepling her fingers.
The greatest sting in the history of the world. "Just plotting out my next couple of moves. Why? Do you think I have… ulterior motives?"
"It was kind of odd how you just sort of appeared now… with a good deal of your brothers and sisters away at war."
Carine sort of shrunk back into her chair, realizing the tension.
You're smarter than you look, Vampire. But you couldn't even begin to understand why I'm here. "Didn't want to ask Clovis for help. It would have been too embarrassing."
Another skeptical look crossed her face. "So you went to Schneizel, all the way over in Russia?"
I could blow your world away, Guinevere. I should just tell her now, wipe that look off her face. If I told you everything I know, about the timelines, about my immortality, about Kaguya, about Geass, about the fact that the world I came from, the Prime Timeline, is fucking dead, washed away in an enormous storm of fire because of a stupid, hasty decision I made… I could destroy you. You wouldn't sleep right ever again. You'd feel disconnected from other people for the rest of your mortal life, and probably even beyond that. And all I have to do is start talking, and I can shut you down. Quick.
But Time Baron had a little bit of mercy left in him, and he just shrugged. "I like Schneizel. Plus, no chance of terrorists in Russia… at least, I think."
"That's a fair point, but… I have to warn you, Lelouch. If you're planning something—"
More in-fighting. Great.
Guinevere's diatribe was thankfully interrupted by the sound of a door creaking open. Time Baron rose and turned around to see who it was, and he was honestly surprised to find himself staring at the petite form of Anya Alstreim. Cotton-candy hair, revealing clothes, the lines around her mouth welded into an almost permanent frown. She cast an uninterested gaze across the room and then focused on Time Baron, and the light in her eyes almost made him stumble backwards.
That's weird. She doesn't look as… brain-dead as her Prime Timeline counterpart. Is Mother inside of her? Ugh, that sounded wrong.
"Prince Lelouch?" Anya questioned, her voice as timid and unintimidating as ever.
When I say the word, F.L.E.I.J.A., what comes to mind? "One and only. What's up?"
"The Emperor will see you now."
Time Baron's insides dropped. Luckily, he saved face and gave a careless shrug. "How rude of him to interrupt my game of chess. But sure thing. I guess I'll go talk to the old man. So long, sisters!"
No chance in hell you're getting the throne, Guinevere. And especially not you, Carine, you loli bitch.
He left Tweedledee and Tweedledum alone in the lounge while Anya guided him outside, towards the Royal Court. It had started to lightly snow, and Time Baron let himself catch a few snowflakes.
"Do you know why snow is white, Anya?" Time Baron questioned, the mental image of lime green hair flying through his head.
"It's made up of ice crystals that reflect all the spectrums of light."
"…Yeah, sure, good enough. I was trying to be metaphorical and shit."
Anya nodded, probably making a mental note that this Lelouch person isn't above wasting someone's time.
"How come you're with me instead of Gino? For the record, why are the Knights of the Round here?"
"Temporary shore leave. We're being asked to take care of various conflicts within the vicinity of the Homeland. For now, however, we're simply acting as guards until Emperor Charles asks us to converge. From thence, we'll be shipped out."
Civil conflicts? Interesting. I'll need to remember that. "So, is Gino with another Prince or something?"
"Yes, he's currently watching over Odysseus."
"That must be riveting."
Anya hesitantly nodded. They arrived at the threshold of the Royal Court. Time Baron really didn't want to deal with the Emperor, but he knew that he had too. Still, he wasn't above stalling for time.
Maybe I should test her. "Hey, Anya?"
She glanced up at him.
"Do you remember me? You know, from years ago? Aries Villa? You were a servant-in-training for my Mom."
"Yes, I remember," she proclaimed. "It has been a long while." Time Baron thought he detected a hint of sentimentality, but he cast it aside, because he was royally confused.
What the hell? Is Marianne actually dead in this world? If she was inside Anya like she was in the Prime Timeline, then Marianne would have erased her memories…
"What happened after I, uh, left? You know, after my Mom died?" Time Baron baited once more.
"The Emperor re-arranged me, sent me off to join the Knights of the Round. I have been training as a member there for five years."
"Do you have a camera-phone on you, per chance?"
"I have a regular phone, and it can record videos."
"Do you have a blog? For pictures and stuff?"
"No. Why would I do that?"
Oh, shit. This is different.
"I will be waiting for you out here," Anya said. "The Emperor asked to converse with you alone."
Either she's really, truly dead, or she used her Geass to get inside someone else's mind. If it's the first choice, then who actually killed her? Is it still V.V.?" If it's the second choice… then whose mind is she inhabiting?
"Prince Lelouch?"
Time Baron snapped out of his reverie.
"Uh, yeah, see ya," Time Baron muttered, walking into the Royal Court.
The Royal Court looked and felt a whole lot emptier without his half-brothers and half-sisters all assembled there – the only other person in the room was the big man himself. Emperor Charles zi Britannia. From where Time Baron was standing, the Emperor looked almost exactly the same as his Prime Timeline counterpart, a big, stocky man with enormous gray curls, beady eyes, and a pompous, blue Britannian uniform with the Britannian seal emblazoned over the chest. Time Baron could practically feel the negative energy radiating off the man.
They stood like that for a while, glaring at one another.
"Hey, Dad," Time Baron snarked, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "I like these new clothes, by the way. Very comfortable, elegant. Kind of like everything else in Pendragon."
Charles remained silent, as imperious as ever.
"It's a lot better than Japan… or, should I say, Area 11? Japan used to be kind of cool, but then the whole invasion thing happened. And then Area 11 became a mock-Homeland… just with more terrorism, drugs, crime, et cetera ad nauseum."
Continued silence. Time Baron's voice was echoing slightly.
"Ah, c'mon. It's been seven years at least. Don't you have anything to say to your son?"
Time Baron walked closer, Charles' features becoming more apparent with each step.
I still have his eyes. Violet.
Time Baron stopped at the foot of the tiny stairway leading up to the throne, unconsciously clenching his fists.
"How's this?"
Charles pointed a single finger towards the ground.
"My eyes are up here, Your Majesty."
He continued to glare at Time Baron, which made him feel very, very uncomfortable.
"You lose your voice? You want a lozenge?"
Charles said nothing, drumming his fingers against the armrest. Deciding to bite the bullet, Time Baron did as the Emperor asked and got on one knee, swearing under his breath as he did so.
"Why did you come back?" Charles asked, his naturally-powerful voice booming throughout the court.
This place has excellent acoustics. "I couldn't stay away from home for too long, now could I?"
"I gave you express orders to stay in Area 11 because of your flippancy. How presumptuous of you to assume that seven years' time would have been enough for you to have regained my goodwill."
Time Baron felt his Geass lurking in the back of his head, and he wanted to use it so, so badly.
I've been through at least twenty-five timelines, and in each and every one of them, you're still the same precocious, egotistical, contemptible motherfucker I've always known you to be. I've conquered you more times than I can fucking count. You're nothing to me, and you never have been anything to me. You aren't worthy of being called my Father.
"I could send you right back into Area 11 at this very moment, if I so pleased," the Emperor continued.
But you won't. You're just like me – you'll never pass up the opportunity to humiliate someone right in front of their face.
"I want to formally apologize, Your Majesty," Time Baron completely lied, drawing an arm across his knee. "My outburst towards you was unwarranted and irreverent, and it was done in the heat of the moment."
Charles huffed.
"And, for the time being at least, I'd like to formally request permission to regain residence here at the Imperial Palace," Time Baron continued, sealing the deal.
"You haven't earned the right to request anything," Charles noted.
Time Baron had nothing to say after that.
Could always Geass you, you fat fuck.
"How did you survive the bombardment of Japan?" Charles asked, with a tone that implied he actually didn't care about the how.
"Sorry to say, Your Majesty, but it'll take more than just the Britannian military to bring me down."
Charles rose from his throne, dwarfing Time Baron. He gazed upon Time Baron, his expression betraying nothing, but the way he was staring at Time Baron was… odd, as if he noticed something was off. After an eternity of silence, Charles spoke again.
"Lelouch vi Britannia, for the time being, you will remain here in Pendragon. You may choose your area of residence and a knight, but that is all you will be allowed to request. Once you have proven yourself, once you have earned my respect, only then will you be entitled to anything. This is as far as my goodwill will go. If you truly are different from the weakling you were years ago, then you will have nothing to fear."
And thus ended the first of what the Baron assumed would be many, many confrontations.
Time Baron smirked, trying to quell the hate burning in his head. "Much obliged, Your Majesty."