"Come Fairies, take me out of this dull world, for I would ride with you upon the wind and dance upon the mountains like a flame!"
- William Butler Yeats

Chapter XLII: All Saints' Eve

Yekaterinburg, State of Yekaterinburg, European Union
October 31, 2025

It had taken them four days – or at least that was how long his father had commanded to hold that part of the line – but the Britannians were now well into Yekaterinburg – the Crucible – proper. The result was more or less what Andrei Zhukov had come to expect as he maneuvered his Baer through the streets, weaving passed the fire of another pair of Sutherlands while simultaneously drawing his heat saber. As he glided in that much closer, one of the Sutherlands countered his approach by launching its slash harkens to try and catch him off guard, but it was no issue for his machine to "skate" around the rocket anchors. From that, it was only a matter of bifurcating the Sutherland across the waist – the cockpit block ejecting just after – and then to follow up with its partner, who was just able to extend its stun tonfa as it too was sliced apart. That time Andrei was unconcerned if the cockpit ejected or not, instead kicking up his "ground effect" jets and speeding further on. There naturally remained more than enough Britannians for him to choose from.

As they had only breached recently, the Britannians remained within the western parts of the city, still some distance away from the Iset River and the eastern segments, and with any luck they would stay there for a good while yet. Unlike most forms of knightmare based warfare, which mostly centered upon blitzkrieg styled rapid advancement, Operation Tiegel – itself having drawn upon "ancient" tank warfare, namely and ironically on Georgy Zhukov's failing at Munich so long ago – was built around grinding and agonizing attrition. Just as it had been throughout their march across the Rodinia, the Britannians were advancing into the city, but at a most unwelcome pace for them, one that was already costing them much blood and iron. It would only cost them more as the days went on, for however long Marrybell could pour her forces into the city, similarly to how Andrei's great grandfather had been forced to send the vast, overwhelming bulk of the Red Army into that one focal point in southern Germany, at the midpoint of Stalin's Great Patriotic War. From that it was only a matter of who would break first, and knowing his father as well as he did, Andrei had little doubt Marrybell would be the one.

In the meantime however, there remained the battle at hand, as well as the objective of keeping the Imperials away from the Iset for as long as possible. Thus as his wingman's Baer moved back in to join his own, Andrei targeted another Britannian formation just ahead, and then directed his subordinate to flank. Once again kicking up their "ground effect" jet engines, the two Baers broke apart and moved into an encirclement, firing their bazookas in tandem as they closed upon the Britannians, who seemingly had failed to notice their approach until the first Sutherland was blown away. A temporary setback for them however, as the others were quick to respond in kind, launching bullets and shells after the two mammoth knightmares, but once more the Baers' superior mobility came into play as Andrei and his fellow "Unsullied" weaved and dodged. More Sutherlands, and then a Gloucester, were blown away as a result.

Through the onslaught however, Andrei's sensors beeped in warning as he was being targeted from above. Sure enough, he looked up to see a Viper gunship swoop down and unleash its missiles after, forcing him to reverse and then dash right to evade. Normally he would have unlimbered his assault rifle to shoot down the missiles straight on, but the gunship pilot had been foolish enough to bring his VTOL close in, the lack of distance ironically allowing Andrei to dodge that much more easily. The Viper then fired its chin machine gun, but by that point Andrei had targeted it in turn and launched his own slash harken into it. The anchor struck the Britannian VTOL from the left, crumpling its drive systems and causing it to enter a crashing spin. It landed into one of the nearby buildings – which were very much empty now thanks to the preceding evacuation – allowing Andrei to focus back on the ground units again.

The last Sutherland soon fell to his wingman's heat saber, allowing the two "Unsullied" units a brief moment of pause before the next assault. Coincidentally did Andrei feel an all too familiar pitter patter against his cockpit. Sure enough, his mono-eye shifting upward to verify, it was indeed beginning to rain now. The local climate moving well into the traditional Far Eastern (Russian) cold, but not quite enough for it to actually snow.

How fitting, Andrei remarked in thought. If anything, the rain only made the bleakness of his surrounding environment that much more apparent. Yekaterinburg, once Sverdlovsk, had been such a beautiful city, only for the war to reach it and turn it into a warzone like so many others before. And though it was not quite so disheveled yet – that would soon come to pass as well though – Andrei couldn't help but wonder. Had his great-grandfather looked upon Munich in a similar light?

Ultimately it was of little consequence as Andrei's sensors lit up in warning again, designating another set of Britannians on approach. Thus signaling his wingmate once more, the two Baers sped down the avenue toward their new lineup of victims. Further explosions sounding against the thunder, while the freezing rain only continued to fall.

Urasoe Castle
Urasoe, Okinawa, Ryukyu Republic

This has to be the most ridiculous thing I have ever worn, Lelouch thought for the third time and counting as he stared at himself long and hard in the mirror. For the life of him he did not know what, much less who, he was looking at now, even if he more than recognized his present ensemble. Everyone in Britannia knew what that outfit was, and what it entailed.

In spite of all that was presently happening further west, the date very much remained October 31. As far removed from the fighting as Ryukyu was – and would hopefully remain to the end – that meant that the traditions of All Hallows' Eve would be observed by the inhabitants, a good portion of which were Catholic to begin with. Children would be out trick or treating across the whole Okinawa, parties would be held great and small, and, of course, everyone would dress up for the occasion. In a strange way, Lelouch was actually appreciative of this, and not simply because it granted him and the rest of the Black Knights a grand evening before Operation Akikaze's debut. Such an evening reminded him so much of Ashford Academy, and the bizarre costume parties Milly liked to put together.

That being said, what he was not appreciative of was his costume. In clear and deliberate spite of his authority as Zero, both Kallen and C.C. had taken it upon themselves to choose his attire for the evening, and from what he saw in the mirror before him, they had very much done so at his expense. The fact that the costume was meant as a mockery from the very beginning – again as every Britannian living and breathing would have been all too aware – helped even less that Lelouch was now wearing it.

Sighing as he ultimately resolved to go through the evening dressed as such, Lelouch could not help but, once more considering the origin of his costume, wonder if it was an even more deliberate mockery toward him than otherwise. It came from Whiteadder, an old comedy series that followed the titular protagonist(s) – Edmund Whiteadder in his various incarnations – throughout the course of Britannian history. Specifically it came from the series' third season, which centered upon the Humiliation of Edinburgh and all the events surrounding.

Lelouch could not help but recall how that particular season played out, to the point of his present adornment. As opposed the princes and lords his ancestors had been, the Edmund Whiteadder of that era had been but a "mere" butler to a certain man; a man with the entirely innocuous name of Richard Wellesley. In a highly ahistorical twist, good Richard would end up dead near the very beginning of the series, having been caught by Horatio Nelson – himself having just returned from his (apparently blind luck driven) victory at the Nile – trying to sneak into (out of) Emma Hamilton's bed chamber. Needless to say his master's passing was most inconvenient for Whiteadder, who by his own admission was making a comfortable living between the "toffs at the top" and the "plebs at the bottom". In order to keep that comfortable life going on for that much longer, the good butler had no choice but to ultimately assume the identity of Richard Wellesley. Quite conveniently when the entire era came to its historical downturn.

The former prince soon found himself inwardly laughing at the things Whiteadder had had to deal with, from the opening stages of the Bonapartic Wars to the Humiliation itself and then the flight across the Atlantic and his eventual and most unwanted coronation as "Emperor Richard V". Among the various poor outcomes of the period, as well as the wide variety of incompetents therein, the one that stood out most was, of course, Empress Elizabeth herself. As with her more prominent ancestor from the previous season, the third Elizabeth was played by Miranda Richardson, who managed to effectively double-down upon the same character. Whereas the first Empress Elizabeth had "merely" been childish and silly, Elizabeth III had been out and out insane – hinted to be a product of inbreeding – to a level of derangement that Lelouch had found outright hilarious at the time, but now most ironic.

As luck would have it, the actual Richard had been wining, dining and sleeping with the Empress early on to steal the Crown out from under her. Thus in order to keep up appearances, Whiteadder had had no choice but to follow in his deceased master's line, once again to much hilarity. Admittedly even more hilarious now that Lelouch was older; he now understood Elizabeth's claim of how Richard's (Whiteadder's) "scepter" had a different shape, and size, from what she remembered.

Ultimately history would play out regardless. Nelson would be defeated at Trafalgar, the French and their allies would land on Britannian shores, the Humiliation would come into fruition and Whiteadder, once more motivated to keep his lavishly comfortable life – as well as to keep his head "firmly" attached to his body – would break Her Imperial Majesty out of her castle and make the long journey to the New World. The season would end upon "Emperor Richard's" coronation, i.e. his condemnation to a long and arduous life of rebuilding the empire from virtual scratch in an undeveloped continent.

And yet, very much adding insult to the injury of his being her chosen successor, Elizabeth would add one final line to her will. In the event of "Richard's" coronation, he was to wear a particular set of Imperial garb. A set that Elizabeth had personally designed for the event.

"Announcing His Imperial Majesty!" C.C. mockingly called out as she entered the room.

"Hah hah," Lelouch growled as he turned to face the witch, who naturally was in her own costume already. It was more or less what he had expected; a black dress – one that strangely held the Black Knight crest upon its chest area – over white and gold thigh-high boots. In turn complimented by the traditional long, pointed hat. "And I suppose that makes you some rendition of Elphaba?"

"I was going more for an Elvira rendition, but I suppose I lack the plastic for that," C.C. responded as she came up, a prominent smile across her lips as she looked upon Lelouch's reflection in the mirror. "Still nothing compared to who you're portraying, Your Majesty."

"Hah hah," Lelouch repeated as he again looked upon the jarring monstrosity that Elizabeth had forced upon the hapless Whiteadder from her death bed, much to every one's barely restrained laughter at said coronation. Appearing as a white, black and gold cross between a smoking jacket, a bathrobe and something Clovis might have worn back in the day, the "Imperial garb" of "Emperor Richard" was garish and overly decorated to the extreme. Gold lines ran across from virtually every angle, while the accompanying cape was much less like what Lelouch traditionally wore as Zero and more like some maddened bishop's mantle. All complimented by an oddly shaped hat that, as with other areas of the ensemble, displayed a tasteless and rather unnerving red eye sigil.

"This has to be the most ridiculous thing I have ever worn," Lelouch repeated as well, this time openly.

"All the more reason to wear it," C.C. let out, her grin ever present. "It is, after all, Halloween."

Sneering that much deeper, Lelouch reached up and brushed his face. "Shouldn't I be in a facemask for this, or at least makeup?" Lelouch questioned. "Not that I wish to appear as Rowan Atkinson, but I don't think the attendants will believe I'm portraying Edmund Whiteadder and Lelouch vi Britannia simultaneously…"

"There's no need for that, because everyone at the party already knows who you are," a following voice announced as its owner – Lelouch's knight and ever present fixture – entered in and revealed herself, smiling at the responding expression upon her liege's face. "Your Majesty."

Far from an irritable response, Lelouch could only look on for a long moment as his eyes wandered up and down Kallen's own costume. And then he managed to bring himself back, just enough to appear somewhat dignified. "That's, ah…" he nearly stammered. "Quite the costume in itself, Kallen."

"You like it?" Kallen ran her hand all too suggestively down her own ensemble. The traditional Bunny Girl suit, only in subdued pink instead of more traditional black. She continued to gleam toward the dumbfounded prince. "I knew you would."

At first Lelouch wanted to question what reason Kallen had chosen that as her costume, though he supposed it, and the severely lacking modesty, were not great issues for her. In some ways it wasn't that far off from her pilot suit. "Was that your idea too?" Lelouch nodded toward an all too specific part of her anatomy.

Kallen grinned that much more toward her prince, who had noticed the Guren activation key placed between. "I want to see how many take notice," she chided rather assuredly. "And if anyone has the balls to say anything."

Again Lelouch found himself dumbfounded, such that C.C. all too casually reached out and closed his mouth from underneath. Which was precisely when the head butler – Iga agent – knocked at the door.

"Master Zero, Majors," the man spoke from the outside. "The limousine has arrived."

Blinking back into the present, Lelouch answered. "Thank you, we're coming out now," Lelouch answered before nodding at the two women, who nodded back in return.

Taking another moment to place his cap on – all the while resisting the urge to sigh – Lelouch somewhat exaggeratingly presented his arms to his two apparent dates, both of him laughing somewhat as they took them. From that, they exited, the butler dutifully opening the doorway – and somehow managing to remain impassive toward all three of them – as they made their way out.

Ryukyu Government Bureau
Naha, Okinawa, Ryukyu Republic

"Forgive me Colonel. I guess I'm still in shock over this," Ohgi said as he regarded the Order of the Black Knights' newest "recruit". "I never thought you, of all people, would end up joining our fair Order."

Jeremiah merely raised his hand up. "No apologies necessary General. I'm still adjusting myself," he said, turning toward Chigusa. "At the risk of sounding bigoted, I never thought Viletta would end up marrying a Japanese man, much less one of the terrorists we pursued into Shinjuku. But I suppose such is a fitting development in this brave new world of ours."

Ohgi couldn't help but laugh at that, raising his glass in acknowledgment to Colonel Gottwald. Indeed it was a brave new world, or at least as far as Ryukyu went. Everything happening outside, including what was going on now to the northwest, spoke of itself.

All in all, the party was off to a grand start, even though the much awaited man, or Demon King, of the hour had yet to arrive. Following in the spirit of the holiday, everyone was garbed in some form of costume, almost all harkening back to some character in Japanese or Britannian media or history. The Ohgis were no different in this regard, with the General dressed in the long overcoat and bolo tied suit that was made popular by Takeo Suzuki, the fictional Prime Minister from Tenkū no Sakuradite, an old TV show from the early 90s. Chigusa, meanwhile, was dressed as a high school PE coach, specifically Jenny Hamilton from Fast Times at Scranton Primary.

Looking over Jeremiah's costume however, Ohgi could only surmise that he was dressed as a Britannian nobleman of some kind, yet was unable to identify which. "If I may ask, who are you portraying?"

Jeremiah didn't mind answering. "Sir Vincent Johnson of Johnson Hall," he said, running a hand over his rather opulent white overcoat, which was worn over a maroon vest, white dress shirt, old styled trousers and black boots. "It's a historical drama that I used to watch back in the Homeland. I don't think it ever made it all the way out here."

"I don't remember it ever playing in Japan either," Chigusa affirmed with a bit of melancholy. Some hack producer probably thought it was too good for the Elevens, she decided. Since it was of no consequence, she turned to Jeremiah's apparent date, who had remained mostly silent from the onset. "And you Major?"

"Takemori Shizune from Beat Blades Shizune," Sayoko replied in understanding. She was essentially dressed as a stereotypical kunoichi, wearing a short black and white kimono with red obi and some added shoulder and facial armor. Her maid hat remained ever present.

Ohgi raised an eyebrow. "I didn't think you were an otaku Sayoko."

Sayoko smirked enigmatically. "I have many interests General," she said, while reaching up to take hold of her apparent date's arm. "Though for the moment one appears to be more prominent over the rest."

Resisting the urge to shake his head at that, Ohgi could only take a swig from his glass. Chigusa stepped in thereafter. "If you don't mind me asking," she regarded Jeremiah. "When did you two…?"

"Since yesterday seemingly," Sayoko answered again. "Colonel Gottwald called me out of the blue and asked if I would like to join him for this evening's festivities."

"Out of the blue is a bit of understatement of course," Jeremiah added on knowingly. "She's been stalking me since I was first brought here."

Sayoko shrugged as the Ohgis glanced back at her. "I had to determine if his loyalty was true," she admitted rather casually, as though it were obvious.

It was clear Jeremiah took no offense however. "As I was unable to otherwise procure a date for this evening, I thought it only proper."

Though still taken back somewhat, the Ohgis both decided that was a good enough explanation, especially when once more they considered all else that was happening. Still, the General was somewhat tempted to ask Sayoko if it had just been her keeping track of their newest member or if there were others from Iga behind her. Knowing that he would not get a straight answer however, he decided to let it go. Besides, chances were there were in fact one or two other shinobi, including Sayoko's brother, presently watching and waiting for Orange to make a wrong move as it was.

At the very least they're getting along well, Ohgi thought, which in itself was an amazing development. After all, it wasn't that long ago that Jeremiah had run Sayoko's master through and left him for dead, which he also ultimately decided not to dwell on.

"At any rate," Ohgi said, then reaching his hand out to his former enemy. "While I remain in my utterly shocked state of mind, I welcome you to the Order of the Black Knights regardless Colonel Gottwald."

"The honor is mine General Ohgi," Jeremiah said, taking his new superior's hand. "I look forward to serving with all of you."

Both Chigusa and Sayoko couldn't help but wear twin approving smiles as the two former adversaries shook hands and came to terms. Theirs was a brave new world indeed.

Epica Okinawa
Naha, Okinawa, Ryukyu Republic

As had become commonplace over the last eight years, the Ryukuans went about the latest rounds of celebration in full force. With memories of the Devastation and the events thereafter, up to and including the still ongoing Great World War, not far away, those survivors far removed from the larger world reveled in the given holiday as though it would be their last – and for several, it just may be. Thus, even more than standard, the greater parts of Naha were teeming with life and activity as partygoers and establishment patrons moved to and from, taking in as much food, drink and music as any of them could possibly into the evening. Naturally the members of Zero Squadron – minus their CO and one other – were no such exception.

Sitting at the far end of the tavern/dance club and enjoying a cool glass of something he couldn't quite identify, Alfred watched with subdued delight as his squadmates went about the evening in their usual full energy. Naturally they were all in costume, as well as in otherwise "colorful" character. Kentaro and Ageha – dressed as Arthur Goodman from The A-Laws and Sochie Heim from Moonlight Butterfly respectively – were at the bar trying to get more drinks and already in full argument, while Susumu, Toshiyuki and the Kobayashi twins – Chiang Wufei from Preventers 5, Orga Itsuka from Iron-Blooded Orphans and Shagia and Olba Frost from After War X – were on the dance floor, cutting it rather effectively with other attendees. And then there were Liliana and Marika – Anemone and Eureka from Seventh Eureka – who were off to the side as well, apparently entertaining several interested men (and at least one woman). Alfred shook his head at the latter, wondering if any of the all too likely victims would be breathing – not to mention anatomically intact – the following morning.

Overall, while the Zero Squadron hadn't been invited to the state party that the Major and Zero were presently attending – for a highly specific reason that none of their number contested – Alfred felt that the evening was a fitting send off before Operation Akikaze regardless. After that, he could only wonder how many of them would be able to go onto toward Christmas, as well as oncoming 2026.

"My, that's a rather serious expression," Charmelle spoke up, causing Alfred to nearly jump away from his apparently intense thought processes. It took him a moment to register his squadmate, who, like he and Kentaro, was dressed as a character from The A-Laws. In her case, Charmelle was cosplaying as the stern yet attractive Kati Mannequin. "I recall the 'Immortal Courlasour' being a far more lighthearted character than that."

Alfred shrugged at the reference toward his own portrayed character. "Bu, but Colonel! Patrick Courlasour, ace of the A-Laws, can never be 'lighthearted'! What would the ladies say!?" the former Glaston pretended to stammer in a greatly exaggerated whiny voice, earning a fair amount of laughter from Charmelle and a more subdued variety from those in earshot.

"Asshole," Charmelle exclaimed as she slid in the booth to join him, placing her own drink on the table. "I take it you're thinking beyond the party somewhat?"

"You know what they say about old habits," Alfred answered knowingly as he took a sip of his own drink. "I know we're not supposed to ask that question, not even to ourselves, but…"

"Will this be the last one?" Charmelle finished with, her own expression turning serious at the thought.

Alfred raised his glass to her in acknowledgment. "For what it's worth, I've been asking myself that since before Lionheart," he said, taking another, somewhat longer drink. "You?"

"Sometimes," Charmelle admitted. "In fact, the only time in recent memory I didn't ask myself that was…"

"Yes," Alfred agreed, having been the same. September 12, 2017. What should have been as very opposed to what had occurred. "For what it's worth though, I like to think we'll have a few more of these ahead of us."

Charmelle grinned to her fellow Guren pilot. "Well beyond the war I myself believe," she said as she took her own drink.

Alfred laughed a little at that. "Intending to die of old age, Dame Charmelle?"

"With my children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren to mourn me Sir Alfred," Charmelle chided in turn. "It's only a question of whether the world at large acquiesces to that belief."

"That is the question on everything, isn't it?" Alfred responded as he downed the rest of his drink and rose back up. "At any rate, the night is still young, so…" he bowed formally. "May I have this dance milady?"

Laughing that much more at the deliberate formality, Charmelle also rose and threw in her own curtsey. "I would be so honored, Sir Alfred," she resounded, then following her fellow squadmate back to the dance floor.

Adachiya Naha
Naha, Okinawa, Ryukyu Republic

Though somewhat more crowded and far more active than usual, it wasn't hard for Rai to enter the tavern, and it took even less time to find his own date. There, sitting at the corner by herself – in spite of several attempts by other male patrons Rai suspected – was a particular woman. A woman dressed up as Aila Jyrkiäinen from the anime series Plamo Build Fighters, complete with dyed silver hair, though hers was notably shorter than the original character's. Regardless, Rai couldn't help but laugh at the likelihood. "I see we had the same idea."

To that, Benio Akagi looked up and laughed as well. As luck would have it, Rai was presently costumed as the character Reiji from the same series. "I suppose we did Major," Benio responded as Rai moved to join her. Due to the positioning of their booth, they were effectively removed from the noise activity in the main area of the tavern, though that didn't stop a waitress from reaching them.

Once their orders were given, Benio eyed her technical superior's appearance. "How much work did you put into that?" she nodded toward Rai's own dyed red hair, which was so unnatural appearing that it could have been a wig.

"More than I would have liked," Rai admitted, shaking his head at the memory, while somehow reneging from scratching it again. "How in the nine circles of hell do you put up with that stuff?"

"You get used to it," Benio admitted just as the waitress returned with their drinks. "I think of it as for a worthy cause anyway."

"I'm sure," Rai smirked as he took his first drink of awamori. Everyone in the Black Knights, including the inspiration herself, knew why Benio Akagi routinely dyed her otherwise brown hair red.

"Don't mock it," Benio chided back. "Some of us just aren't fortunate enough to have a unique hair color."

"To be honest, I don't see it as any different than having brown or black," Rai responded with a shrug. "Aside from people being able to pick you out of a crowd more, hair is hair."

"I suppose," Benio replied, coolly sipping her own drink in an attempt to conceal her lingering envy. She failed, but Rai ignored it.

After a few moments of relatively comfortable silence between the pair, Benio spoke up again. "I love nights like this," she admitted, visibly enjoying the vivid celebrating before them. "When we can all step back from all the death and destruction and enjoy life as we have it."

"Indeed," Rai agreed, finding the image just as pleasing. "We had too few of these even before the original war…"

"Heh," Benio laughed a little toward that mentioning, causing Rai to look up at her in question.

"What is it?" he asked, curious.

"Nothing…" Benio sighed with some melancholy. "I just remembered that I know next to nothing about you, other than your being half-Britannian and a member of the Sumeragi family."

Rai shrugged nonchalantly. "That's really all there is to know about me. I wasn't even part of the main branch."

"I know, and I can understand. It's…how should I put it?" Benio responded before looking up in thought.

It took only a moment for her to come up with the right explanation. "The Order in its entirety knows who Benio Akagi is," Benio said, inadvertently validating Rai's initial thought. "Where she came from, what she does and why she does nonsensical things like dye her hair."

Rai said nothing to this, and remained silent even as Benio fixed her gaze upon his. The captivation within the young Lieutenant's eyes quite apparent.

"And yet Rai Sumeragi remains so much a mystery," Benio went on to admit. "Even though he's been in the Order for so much longer."

"Indeed," Rai agreed, taking another sip of his awamori, as though to emphasize. "I suppose you want to know more?"

Benio laughed a little more. "I know you won't tell me," she admitted. "At least, you won't tell me the truth."

Despite that claim, Benio continued to regard him with clear admiration. "That being said, assuming we both survive, and we continue as we are now," she warmly alluded. "I would very much like to know some day."

Forwardly Rai only continued to smile in turn. Underneath however, he really did feel something stir within him, though he did well to keep it restrained. As much as he had come to care for his apparent kouhai in Zero Squadron – much more so than he had originally intended – too many things were dependent on "Rai Sumeragi" being an anomaly.

That said however, Rai dared to entertain the possibility. "You just might," he responded back in his own admission. "If we both survive."

Benio nodded, having one more sip as she took it for its worth. She may not have known anything about the her senpai, her replacement in Zero Squadron and the man she had gravitated toward over the years, but her feelings toward him remained all the same. And as she noted from his response, the interest appeared to be quite mutual.

Thus remaining tucked away in their little corner of the tavern, and Ryukyu proper, the two Black Knights went on to enjoy their shared evening in earnest.

European Charlemagne-class land battleship Friedrich Paulus
State of Perm, European Union

It had been a long time, since the beginning of the war in fact, since General Sergei Zhukov, the "Bear of the Far East" as the Britannians had dubbed him, had felt such weariness. Sitting by in the Paulus' command and control center, the Far Eastern (Russian) General continued to observe Operation Tiegel's progress, four days in since the initial charge. So far, at least from his perspective, it appeared to be going according to his plan. The Britannians had since breached the eastern end of the city – once more after four days of hard fighting – and were being beaten and bloodied as they attempted to move deeper into the city, courtesy of Zhukov's 10th Army and other units that were now acting as the city's defenders. The fighting also continued outside Yekaterinburg as well as offensive European units attempted to breach the Britannian lines in turn, while others fought the Imperials at Koltsovo Airport and elsewhere. Overall, the entire right side of the control center's main monitor was a swathe of dots and lines, each indicating an individual European or Britannian unit or formation going against the other. Naturally those dots and lines were breaking up if not outright vanishing from the screen at each passing moment.

Again the Bear of the Far East felt weariness draw on him over that. Somewhere in that mess was his son, as well as his future daughter-in-law, fighting the good fight to save the Rodinia and all of Europa from the western hordes. Only God knew that Andrei and Louise would survive this battle, and those that would inevitably follow, just as God only knew that the elder Zhukov himself would also survive. For the moment however, the signals indicating the 358th and 470th Panzer Squadrons remained on the board, noticeably taking down any Britannian presence that they came across, so Zhukov supposed there was that. And, of course, there were the Werwolfs, who also remained very much present as well as fighting and decimating that much more. While Zhukov couldn't speak for all of his colleagues, he remained most appreciative of Colonel Malkal's wolves, who, though forwardly tame, were as murderously fierce as their reputation claimed. In some ways Zhukov actually felt bad for the Britannians, as they could not have expected Europe's wolfpack to be supplementing its Baers and Panthers. It was all rather spectacular.

One thing that did bother Zhukov, however, was the same thing that had bothered him from the onset: the lacking presence of the Glinda Knights. Though there had been reports off and on of a Round being present – naturally said claims remained unverified – his opposite number had yet to send her own elites into the field, and that irked Zhukov to know end. There was no way a commander and strategist like Marrybell would not see the vitality of this battle, so why hadn't she sent in her chosen knights? Was she holding them in reserve? If she was, it would have been the first time Zhukov had seen her do it for this long. Or perhaps she was intending on deploying them elsewhere, perhaps against some unseen weakpoint? A possibility but doubtful, as the whole reason Yekaterinburg was being fought over in the first place was because of the sheer impassibility of the Urals. The north spoke for itself, while the south remained firmly in the hands of China, who would not take kindly to Marrybell marching her forces there to reach the west. No, everything dwelled upon Yekaterinburg and Yekaterinburg alone, something Marrybell had long since recognized with Zhukov.

Of course, that did not answer the General's initial question. What was Bloody Marry up to? Ruthless and bloodthirsty she may have been, Marrybell mel Britannia was still one of the best the Empire had to offer, on par if not equal to the likes of Lelouch, perhaps even Schneizel himself. Surely there was a reason why she was only sending her rank and file into the crucible, as opposed to those more likely to wrestle their way into the city, especially with the Urien and the eighth generation knightmares that Crasher Sokkia and her ilk all piloted. So why?

Shaking his head, Zhukov ultimately decided he would likely find out down the line, one way or the other. Operation Tiegel's greatest strength remained its most glaring weakness: its longevity. Even after the passage of four days the fighting not only remained in place, but as heavy and brutal as it had been from the beginning, despite the fact that the Britannians were now actually in the city, if still a long ways off from the Iset. Much more time would pass before the battle firmly turned to his or Marrybell's favor, and all throughout Zhukov would only be able to manage it from his apparent haven in Perm. All the while his son and many others made the ultimate sacrifice therein.

Indeed it had been a long time since General Sergei Zhukov, the Bear of the Far East, had felt such weariness. He could only wonder if it would ever leave him, before or after the war's conclusion.

Ryukyu Government Bureau
Naha, Okinawa, Ryukyu Republic

With much in the way of fanfare, complete with Tohdoh announcing his arrival, a recording of "All Hail Britannia!" playing overhead and the attendees saluting him – though the Britannian ones truly meant it, he suspected – the man of the hour had at last entered the party. If there was one thing that had not changed since Lelouch's days as the Black Prince, it was that he was still not so fond of parties. Leading men and women into battle, fighting the war against his former country, and before that Europe, he did almost naturally, but intermingling with boors and pretending to enjoy every moment of it was something he remained well out of his element toward, even if he did well to appear opposite. Fortunately compared to the Day of the Founding, there were more than enough people he was closer to, or at least had history with, to mingle with, but the tradeoff was that naturally every attendee in the room wanted to meet Zero and/or Prince Lelouch in person. Thus, the Black Prince turned Demon King was even more out of his element than usual, though once again there were some worthwhile breaks in between.

"Truly remarkable," Ohgi claimed as he heard the conclusion of Lelouch's latest story. "I can only imagine how Prime Minister Kururugi and those around him reacted."

"Oh it was quite a scandal," Lelouch continued with his projected smile and charm to his captivated audience. "For an exile who was several years from coming of age to beat one of the JGSDF's best commanders, and so soundly as well."

"That he did, much to my detriment at the time," Kondo, who was dressed like the similarly named character from the Kintama manga series, confirmed while rubbing his head in mock embarrassment. "If it weren't for the fact the Prime Minister had already been aware that His Highness was a prodigal chess player, I would have probably been drummed out then and there."

"You just may have General," Kaguya, herself dressed as the pink-haired heroine from the Seed Wars anime, rejoined. "My late uncle was not a particularly lenient man."

"No need to understate the obvious Madam Prime Minister," Kondo responded, as though he had to remember Genbu Kururugi and the "warm, open" character he evoked. How poor Suzaku survived in that house before Lelouch and his sister came along was anyone's guess. "In any case, it was a good game regardless. His Highness was probably the first in a long, long time to challenge me to such degree. Even the Imperial Army felt simpler to contend with at Kyoto."

"You're too kind General," Lelouch spoke back, now remembering his own story more warmly. It had been quite the scandal as he had said; the exiled Britannian prince not only challenging a General to a chess game in the middle of a state function, but beating said General in the game with much of the Kururugi cabinet and JSDF command staff witnessing. "Though I imagine had we met in the actual field our battle would have been far less one sided."

"Indeed, thank Kami on high for that Your Highness," the Ogre of Kyoto laughed as he took a drink, doing well not to shiver at the thought of having to fight one as Lelouch back then. Somehow Kondo had a feeling that the city he had defended would have fallen well before Prime Minister Kururugi's untimely end.

"Yes, thank Kami," Tohdoh, who was adorned as Domon Kasshu from the old Sekiha Tenkyouken TV series – with Chiba naturally beside him as love interest Rain Mikamura – repeated and actually did shiver, feeling much similarly to how Itsukushima would have turned out in the same scenario. Of course, he had already assumed that battle to be lost then, and, as Chiba emphasized by holding to his arm, he was still living with the consequences of that assumption. He chose not to dwell on them in the present setting.

Taking a sip of his Britannian wine – which he suspected had been appropriate by and from China – Lelouch went on. "After that, I was something of a celebrity. Quite a few people, many of whom were government as well as military, visited the Kururugi household to challenge me. It lasted all the way into the war in fact."

"Anyone give you a particular run for your money, Your Highness?" General Jackson, who in his Confederate Army uniform appeared as a near reincarnation of his famous ancestor, inquired. Generals Longstreet and Stuart, themselves costumed as Joshua Steed and Emilia Peel from The Revengers, another old (Britannian) TV series, also noticeably looked on with clear interest, as did Jeremiah and Sayoko. Not that the rest of Lelouch's audience were in any way uninterested themselves of course.

Again Lelouch took a sip before answering. "Just one," Lelouch responded, then nodding to Kaguya. He almost savored the wave of unexpectedness over that.

The Prime Minister merely shrugged. "Chess isn't much different from shogi," she admitted, inadvertently reminding the gathered that she herself had been a champion player at that particular game. "And even then, I still never beat him."

"To be fair, you cornered me off and on throughout our games Kaguya. And I had to really fight my way out each and every time," Lelouch complimented, then smiling almost evilly. "Perhaps you should be leading the good fight in my place."

Kaguya shook her head. "My apologies Lelouch, but killing people in elaborate ways is strictly the husband's work. The wife is supposed to make a better home."

That earned a laugh from the gathered, who all recalled a younger Kaguya Sumeragi bragging openly about her "husband" to be. Kaguya then nodded toward Kallen, who had yet to leave her liege's side since arrival. "No offense Major."

"None taken Madam Prime Minister," Kallen responded back, knowing that there was no challenge to her claim there. She then smiled rather slyly as she looked toward her prince. "And Kami help you if you ever try to leave me behind to 'make a better home', Your Highness."

That earned even more laughter as Lelouch studiously downed the rest of his wineglass.

C.C. had to admit it was all rather enjoyable to watch, not unlike the days of Ashford Academy in fact. Sitting at a nearby bar counter and having ordered a Brandy Alexander from the barkeep – himself an Iga agent alongside the rest of the wait and kitchen staff – the immortal "witch" continued to sit by as her partners-in-crime stood at the virtual center of the room, with Lelouch holding court with those gathered around him while Kallen remained by his side, entering in when it was warranted on her part. Those who were not conversing with the de facto Imperial couple were obviously listening in as the exiled prince regaled them all of stories from long ago, as did Kallen, once more, whenever the crowd shifted their interest to the Red Dragoness. Both appearing as natural as they were full of life and vigor, the discomforts that either had displayed at the onset all but entirely forgotten.

Eventually the bartender returned with her drink, which C.C. took and sipped appreciatively as she continued to watch, letting out an airy sigh at the end. In many ways she could not help but once again feel that, somehow and some way, she was observing the future Emperor and Empress of the reformed Britannia that would grace Lelouch's ideal world. Though Lelouch had repeatedly claimed to have no interest in the Crown, going as far back as when he proclaimed his forfeiting it before his father fifteen years ago, what C.C. continued to see before her contrasted such an image entirely. For all of his faults and flaws, Lelouch vi Britannia could be bright and charismatic when needed, while also holding the corresponding will and authority that came with his lineage, just as Kallen, for all of her disdain toward her own noble birth, also understood how to conduct herself with grace, dignity and unyielding strength. Not unlike Charles and Marianne before them, though C.C. would not dare make such a comparison to the pair openly.

Sighing once more, she soon turned away to let the pair continue to work the room, all the while enjoying her own little corner of peace alongside her drink. For all the joy and exuberance she felt in the present, as the survivors of the Devastation celebrated the life and prosperity they yet retained, she still could not help but feel her own brand of melancholy. Namely in regard to what she had revisited Kamine over not too long ago, as well as the knowledge that, in spite of the sheer obvious, it appeared neither one of her contracts would be completed in the immediate future. That she would remain where she was, despite…

"Sitting alone Major Cathcart?" a newcomer spoke up, snapping C.C. away from her thoughts.

Looking up once again, she now found Orpheus Zevon, now apparently dressed as the character Lyre from the titular TV series, having come to sit beside her. She naturally frowned at the terrorist's slightly unwanted presence. "The proper question would have been 'may I join you, Major?'"

Ignoring the jab, Orpheus signaled the barkeep over again. "One Black Velvet please," he ordered, earning a nod from the keep before continuing his conversation with the "witch". "If I had asked that question, you probably would have told me you wished to be alone. And if I had pressed the issue, you would have told me to go do something anatomically improper with myself."

"Quite possibly," C.C. admitted, allowing for the barkeep to return with her apparent drinking partner's beverage before going on. "How long do you plan on staying with us anyway?"

"If you mean how long I intend to stay in Ryukyu, just until Akikaze takes effect," Orpheus answered, taking a swig from his stout and wine cocktail before adding on. "If you mean how long I intend to fight alongside you, then all the way up to when we take the fight straight to V.V., or whoever he is again, if not Britannia itself."

"Ah yes," C.C. remembered. Now that Charles had all the Codes that the Eildons had acquired on his person, she supposed the Grandmaster had since shifted back to his original name. "Any ideas who he really is?"

The former terrorist shrugged. "Your guess is as good as mine," he admitted. "I don't think even the other Masters knew his original identity back in the day, much less what Geass he had been gifted with."

From behind his visor, Orpheus visibly frowned. "He is, however, quite ancient," he continued. "But just how far back he goes is anyone's guess."

"I see," C.C. mused, considering. She herself had wondered off and on at her enemy's true identity, though she never had the means, much less the starting point, to figure it out herself. The only thing that she knew for sure was exactly as Orpheus had just stated: V.V., whoever he was now, was ancient. Having in existed long before she had come into the world.

Eventually C.C. drank down the rest of her own drink. "I suppose it doesn't really matter," she admitted, signaling the barkeep for a second. "In the end he'll be destroyed with the rest of them."

Orpheus couldn't help but grin at this. "You really believe in them," he spoke knowingly, not having to gesture toward Lelouch and Kallen in the background. "Don't you?"

To that, C.C. smiled in assurance. "More than anything else in this world, my dear Lyre," she spoke as the barkeep came back to her with another Alexander, which she then raised to toast with her drinking partner's Black Velvet. "More than anything else."

Volgograd, State of Volgograd, European Union

"These are but the results of the latest simulations Herr Oberst," Doctor Edwin Diebner proclaimed proudly as his superior gazed over the datapad with inquisition. "Though there is still some fine tuning to make yet, it can be assured that we are precisely on schedule."

Stormtrooper Colonel Josef Peiper nodded in satisfaction as he looked over the report for the second time. Indeed if the numbers really did match up to what his eyes were telling him, then the time was quite imminent. "Das ist gut Herr Doktor," Peiper proclaimed as he returned the pad. "And it will be at one hundred percent operational readiness?"

"Very much so Herr Oberst," Diebner again confirmed. "Herr Präsident need only give the order."

"Indeed," Peiper smiled in his own anticipation as he looked over the image of his terminal. Where, standing tall among the myriad buildings that made up the city of Volgograd, Edelweiss proudly stood. Dormant, but only days if not hours away from awakening. "How much 'fine tuning' still needs to be done?"

The scientist with the odd glasses shrugged. "Nothing overly vital. Just some minor adjustments to two or three parts of the whole," Diebner admitted. "In all likeliness we could probably fire it now if called upon."

"Indeed," Peiper repeated, this time somewhat solemnly. He brought up another window on his terminal, which displayed the still ongoing Battle of Yekaterinburg in tactical form. "It would certainly win the war for us here and now, ja Herr Doktor?"

"Very much so," Diebner nodded excitedly. "Once Edelweiss fires, the whole world will be open for us, should we feel the need."

Peiper again nodded, understanding the feeling. As innocuous, if rather ominous and imposing, as it might have appeared on his monitor screen, there really was no other weapon like what he beheld therein. Nikola Tesla's magnum opus, brought to fruition so long after his passing. The Britannians will never know what truly hit them until it was too late, nor would the Chinese should Europa choose to fight them as well. And Zero's upstarts? It was only a matter of time before they were found, at which point they would be laid to waste as well.

Alas Peiper knew, it was not yet time. Not until the order was given to him from the one true master of Europa, who himself had to be wrought with anticipation back in Berlin. Only then would Edelweiss be unleashed upon the world, never to be rechained.

"Take care to make your final adjustments then," Peiper at last spoke to the scientist, then allowing a wry smile. "The order can be given at any time."

Understanding the indirect message, Diebner took his cue and made his departure. Indeed, Peiper remarked to himself as he looked back toward the tacscreen of Yekaterinburg, the order could be given at any time. Though the Colonel had a distinct feeling that it would be much, much sooner than otherwise.

Ryukyu Government Bureau
Naha, Okinawa, Ryukyu Republic

Biting back a sigh as he took to the stage before his ever anticipating audience, Lelouch could not help but feel déjà vu toward after his then-unwanted liberation and before the attack on Pearl Harbor, when he had spoken before the gathered and waiting Order of the Black Knights from Ginowan. This time however, while there were many Black Knights present in the audience, up to and including his Knight of Zero at the front, who stood by with the rest, there was now others present, namely Kaguya and those Ryukyuan officials that were "in the know" of Zero's true identity, and thus had warranted an invitation to the present event. And of course, as opposed to the virtual sea of black and silver uniforms that Lelouch had seen that previous night, the gathered were now dressed in far less military and far more individualized attire, all of it harkening back to some form of art or point in history from the past age, since resurrected in the traditions of All Hallows' Eve. Some of the latter less conservative – Kallen once again standing out in this area – than others.

Rather, it was the rapt attention, as well as the focus and exuberance in the eyes of the gathered, that Lelouch felt déjà vu toward. He had seen upon his return as Zero, and he was seeing it again, even in the guise of Edmund Whiteadder. These men and women did not simply hold faith or belief in him; they knew that, through him and him alone, the war was effectively won. The Black Knights had all but shone with that knowledge and assurance at Ginowan, while those before him now outright gleamed with it. Such that whatever he would say to them now – again just like back then – was but a mere formality. A speech that, rather than intended to rally those who heard it, was meant for an entirely different purpose. To mark the end of an old phase of the war, and the beginning of a new.

"It has been eight months and seven days since Operation Tenchu and the Day of the Founding," Lelouch began evenly. "As well as eight months and six days since my memories were restored to me, and I became Zero once again."

That was only partly true, he and select others were aware. However, there was no need for the rest to know of Lelouch's initial apprehension toward his return, and so the Demon King continued.

"At the time, the Great World War was in a grand stalemate. An impasse between the last two powers of the world, in which the fighting continued, yet the war refused to end," Lelouch proclaimed, memories of the last five years in North Africa returning to him. "Europe continued to mounts its hardened yet increasingly fragmented defense, while Britannia, despite its initiative, continued to lapse throughout the same span. The battles waged from the deserts of North Africa to the tundra of the Far East, yet in spite of a steady Imperial advance, the war did not once come close to conclusion, not even in victory for the Empire.

The former prince openly sighed toward that, remembering the frustration he had felt then, and now. "Much in the way of blood and treasure had been spent these last five years, and yet the world at large has remained set. Deadlocked in its own destruction, the multitudes trapped within."

That earned more than one expression of solemnity from the audience, much of which remembered the Devastation that seemingly stemmed all that was happening now. Lelouch took his own solace in that, but only for a very brief moment.

"And now, eight months and seven days have come and gone," Lelouch went on, the energy now building back into his voice. "And with that passage in time, this once unchanging world has at last shifted. It providence brought on by you," he extended his hand toward his audience. "The once sheltered but broken remnant of a proud nation."

He inwardly grinned as he saw said audience beam with newfound pride. A well deserved pride in his opinion, for all that they had indeed accomplished.

"The once indomitable fortress of Pearl Harbor now lies in ruin. The once betrayed and condemned nation of China now resurrected, the traitors and tyrants therein cast out and replaced with a rightful, just leader. The once indefatigable Imperial forces now cower in the Middle East, while proud and boisterous Europe can only watch on with hesitation as we do unto Britannia what they, for all of their own might, have failed toward. All the while the Emperor and his cronies look on in their own weariness, safe in their beloved Homeland, but only momentarily out of reach."

Lelouch grinned that much more from within as his audience beamed even further. "We have done, in eight months and seven days, what could not have been done in over four years by the 'great' powers of this world," he declared. "We have done, and will continue to do, the impossible."

Cheering soon erupted from the audience over that. Lelouch allowed it to go on for a moment, before raising his hand to bring it back down again. "But do not be presumptuous. This war is far from over," he said, as though he had to remind them. "At present, my sister Marrybell contends with Zhukov in Yekaterinburg, determined to march her forces past the Urals and into the west proper. Not far from that position, my brother Cesare lords over the Middle East with a faux iron fist, retaining his grip in spite of the faltering tide. All the while in North Africa, my brother Raymond continues to hold out as well, even as the Desert Lion closes upon him from the east."

The former prince watched as the gathered took it all in. "All the while, within the background, far more shadowy forces continue unchecked," he said, unsure of how many were aware of the former V.V. and his Eildons, and so played it safe. "Moving within the darkness unseen, gradually working toward their own ends."

Those who were aware nodded to him in concurrence, and so Lelouch moved along. "The world has changed, and with it this Great World War has shifted, but our work is not yet complete," again as though he had to remind them. "Only when we stand upon the steps of the Imperial Palace, accepting Britannia's formal surrender on behalf of the His Imperial Majesty himself, can we lay ourselves to rest. Only then can peace, our new Eden, be truly gained."

He then gestured with his left arm outward, causing the monitor behind him to light up. Displaying a tacmap of Operation Akikaze in all of its glory.

"In three days' time, we will take that next step," he declared in his own exuberance. "When the Black Knights enter the Far East and end Bloody Marry's holocaust once and for all!"

More cheering, which again died down as Lelouch raised his hand. "Through her fall shall one front of the war be ended, and the near entirety of a continent pacified. Marrybell will attempt to stand firm just as Zhukov will attempt to interfere, but such matters not. In the end, all that stand before us will be destroyed or left wanting! In the end, we shall stand ever victorious against adversity, against evil!"

In his exhileration, Lelouch at last called out. "In the end, we, and we alone, shall March Ever Onward…" he raised his fist in the manner of his father. "To Tomorrow!"

From that, the cheering became rancorous, such that it seemingly threatened to overtake the whole of the building and Naha proper. Once again they knew, beyond all doubt, that the war was all but over. That victory, both in the avenging of Japan and the birth of the paradise to come, was close at hand. They need only continue to march and fight, as they all had for eight months and six days.

Yes, as Lelouch stood there, smiling in dominance over the scene, it truly was as he had intended. Upon that Halloween night, one phase of the war ended as another began. One that would see his enemies brought closer to submission, and his envisioned world brought closer to form. All emphasized by the still projected tactical display of Akikaze behind him.

Imperial Army Headquarters Krasnoyarsk
Krasnoyarsk, Krasnoyarsk, Britannian Empire

After some careful effort, Marrybell mel Britannia had slipped out of the bed that she shared with her chosen knight – who she suspected could sleep through an earthquake – and was now seated before the end table across the room. Still naked from the previous evening but otherwise unbothered by the relative cold, the princess and general's attention lay firmly on the chessboard upon that table, all of it arranged by the simulation that had been running through her mind since the beginning. Several pieces, both white and black, lay removed from the board, while others were arranged in patterns of attack and defense, all of it culminating back to Marrybell's intended conclusion. The checkmate that she had also foreseen since the beginning, and would soon bring into form.

Soon picking up the Black King, Marrybell observed it carefully for a brief moment, right before placing it in its intended space.

"Check," she declared, having arranged it so that the King, supplemented by the Black Queen as well as one Black Knight, one Black Bishop and Black Rook apiece, now effectively boxed in the White King and its own entourage. Not checkmate, but close. So close…