Avalon
An hour before reaching the coast of Shikine Island
"Prime Minister, I just received word that the Black Knights are attacking military at Shikine Island. Shall we change course?" A Britannian Soldier asked.
"Not at all. If anything, we should provide backup for our fellow soldiers. Let me know when we get close to the island." Schneizel calmly ordered.
"Yes sir!" The Britannian Soldier saluted before going on his way.
It was then Kanon, Schneizel's assistant and confidant, approached him.
"Quite interesting, isn't it, Lord Schneizel? We're soon to be arriving near the same area that your research indicates is where Lady Rebecca's journey ended." Kanon commented.
The research Kanon was referring to was the expedition Rebecca Du Britannia made to find a cure for her dying son, Joseph. Truthfully, Schneizel was quite amazed at the time by his half-brother's sudden revival. He had seen pictures of him in his sickly state and was sure that he wasn't going to make it, and yet imagine his surprise when Rebecca came in bursting through the doors with a lively baby in her hands.
Now for Joseph himself, Schneizel thought he was a nice boy but he doubted he would be contributing to Britannia anytime soon. He was sort of like Odysseus, a kind-natured and simple person. However, Odysseus was the Crown Prince, something Schneizel was able to use to his advantage. Joseph on the other hand, was unlikely to even lead his own royal guard. Yet, the fact that he was still living and breathing even today always peaked Schneizel's interest. It was a question that always itched the back of his brain: Just how did Lady Rebecca do it?
He had a quick thought about medicine but quickly dismissed it. Britannia had some of the top-tier, first world technology in the medical field, but they certainly weren't miracle workers either. Nothing could have brought Joseph back from the brink of death like that.
The first conclusion he came to was Rebecca simply swapped her dead baby for a living one. Dark as that was, it wasn't exactly far-fetched, given Rebecca had a reputation for being a bit unhinged. However, medical records showed that the DNA of the baby was the same before and after Rebecca went on her trip, so that didn't go anywhere.
When he tried to ask Rebecca about it, she always brushed it off with a joke. But he could always see a glint in her eyes that said: "Don't stick your nose in places it doesn't belong." So it was clear he wasn't going to be getting any answers from her. And while he never wished for bad health on any of his family members or the consorts, he did find Rebecca's tragic death a little blessing in disguise as it allowed him to dive into the rabbit hole without any repercussions.
His research showed that she visited many countries with new developments in medicine, hoping it would help her son, one of those countries included India before its occupation by Britannia. She even used a fake name to cover her tracks, going by Nora Robb, two Pseudonyms combined from her favorite author. Her last recorded stop was Shikine Island(Shikine-jima as it was called before Britannia's occupation) where she rented a speed boat and apparently, from what witnesses had said, took off to the island that was just a few miles away. Kamine Island...
"Indeed. Sometimes I like to believe the stars align for moments such as this." Schneizel said with a sly smile.
...
Wind...
That's the first sound that came to Joseph's ears as he started to regain consciousness.
Followed by the smooth noise of crashing waves as the made their way onto shore.
He slowly opened his eyes as he looked at clear blue sky above him.
"...Ugggg...some party..." Joseph said groggily as he rubbed his eyes and sat back up.
He looked at his surrounds, and saw the land was different than what he saw on Shikine Island.
"...Teleported? ...Like Star Trek!" Was the conclusion he came to in excitement.
...
"...Where's the Lancelot?" Suzaku quietly said to himself, before realizing something. "Zero!" He said as he shot straight up in a sitting position, however, he saw he was all alone. And on another island no less.
"It's no use. I can't remember anything. Where am I?" Suzaku said to himself as he stood up and looked at his surroundings.
...
Lelouch, still wearing his mask, was also looking at his surroundings
"Just as I thought. This is another island. The vegetation and climate are the same as Shikine Island. We can't be that far from it. Contacting Ohgi and the others is going to be a chore. Although I suppose I could pass myself off as an ordinary person and ask the Britannian forces to rescue me." Lelouch thought to himself before hearing something from behind him.
He turned around and his eyes widen in surprise. It was Euphemia, her clothes drenched from water. She looked at Zero curiously.
...
Suzaku climbed up the mountain hoping to get a better look at everything.
"There's no way to contact anyone without an in-com. But what's more important right now is to find a source of drinkable water and shelter." Suzaku thought to himself, but then as he approached a waterfall, he noticed a figure in the water. It looked liked... "Kallen? It can't be." He said quietly to himself in surprise, she was nude and seemed to be bathing. "What is she doing here? How did she get here?!" He asked himself. Normally he would look away and wait until she was covered, but he considered this an emergency. "Excuse me!" He called out to her, she turned and looked in surprise.
"Suzaku?" She said, a second later, she realized something. "Oh shit!"
Suzaku looked to towards a rock and saw something very unexpected.
"A Black Knight uniform?!" Suzaku said in shock.
Kallen took that as her chance to grab her pouch knife from under her uniform and charged at Suzaku, using her jacket to cover herself. After all, just because she was on the offense doesn't mean she shouldn't have dignity intact.
Suzaku was in shock as he watched Kallen charge him.
"You mean that you're a–!" He didn't get to finish his sentence as he sudden felt a sense of instinct take him over, like someone else was suddenly controlling his body.
He grabbed Kallen's wrist as she was able to strike him and flipped her over to the ground. He pinned her down to make sure she didn't try anything.
"Kallen! Kallen Stadtfeld!" He said in shock, he had never seen such agility and energy from the sickly girl before. At least, he thought she was sickly. "I don't believe it! You're one of–"
"Don't call me by that name! Kallen Kozuki's my real name! I'm Japanese!" Kallen proclaimed angrily to him.
"You're kidding. Then you really are–" Suzaku asked in shock, only to be interrupted again by Kallen.
"Yes, I'm a Black Knight! Got it? I'm not going to hide that anymore!" Kallen told him with angry determination. Suzaku narrowed his eyes at that.
"Well then, Kallen Kozuki, I'm placing you under arrest for conspiracy and rebellion against Britannia!" Suzaku said in a professional manner.
...
When did Schnitzel get here?" He thought in wonderment at the sudden appearance of his mysterious older brother and his badass ship.
Joseph and Schneizel's relationship was...interesting to say the least.
Joseph always found his older brother to be kind of an enigma, and vice versa. They would sometimes just stare at each other, for Joseph it was curiosity. For Schneizel, it was like he was analyzing him, trying to figure out the missing piece to a puzzle.
He always looked so calculating(super-serious in Joe's words) as well, like trying to map out his moves on a chess board before everyone else, he and Lelouch were a lot alike because of that. Not to say they weren't friendly towards one another, Schneizel always treated him and his mother with respect and Joseph enjoyed the company of his brother as a little kid.
However, as he got older, Rebecca had Schneizel look after him less and less. He wasn't sure why, but his mother always had a sense of caution whenever Schneizel was mentioned or in the same room as them, and it made him feel a bit cautious too.
Deciding to throw that question at the back of his mind for now, Joseph took a deep breath of the air. It was nice and fresh, bit of a saltiness to it but only because he was near the ocean for the moment, it honestly reminded him of Shikine.
And yet...something about this island felt different...something...mystical. However, he decided to push the thought off for now and think about his current situation.
"Did that blast somehow transport us to another island? And are Lelouch, Kallen, and Suzaku okay? Oh crap, is Eup okay!" He thought to himself in realization.
"Eup! Hello! You there!" Joseph called around, no response though. He quickly calmed himself down, as he knew if he was alright, the others would be too.
"Scavenger hunt!" Joseph proclaimed with a finger in the air. He spun to the ensuing forest behind and pressed the play button, he started marching into the forest and bopped his head to the beat in determination to find his family and friends.
"Don't worry guys! Joe is coming to the rescue!" He thought excitedly.
...
Lelouch and Euphemia stared at each other for what seemed like forever.
"Euphie..." Lelouch thought solemnly.
"Lelouch." Euphemia said, shocking Zero. "Lelouch, it's you, isn't it? I haven't told anyone about you, I swear! Please, just let me at least see your face…" Euphemia begged him.
Lelouch stood there for a moment, before sighing in resignation and reached for his mask. Euphemia sucked a breath in, a bit scared of what she'll see. But the mask just revealed her brother, her brother who was now much older and who she missed deeply for the last seven years.
"...Lelouch..." Euphemia said with shaky smile as tears ran down her eyes.
Lelouch just looked at her with a bittersweet smile.
"...hello Euphie..."
...
"I see. And you don't know what happened either. When you came to, you find yourself on this island. Is that right?" Suzaku asked as he used Kallen's headband to tie her hands behind her back. He also let her get changed into her clothes as walking around naked would be very strange and perverted.
"Hmph, So then you're stranded here too, huh? Serves you right. When my people get here, you're the one who'll be a prisoner." Kallen taunted him.
"You mean Zero will come to save you?" Suzaku asked.
"Without a doubt." Kallen said without a pause.
"Okay, before he does, tell me one thing. Who is he really?" Suzaku asked.
"Why don't you find out for yourself?" Kallen said with annoyance.
"Oh, I see. You don't know either." Suzaku deduced.
"How did–?" Kallen asked in shock.
"I knew it." He simply said
"You tricked me?!" Kallen asked in outrage.
"Isn't masking one's identity a bigger fraud? I'm curious, why do you follow Zero?" Suzaku asked.
"I don't know. Figure that out for yourself!" Kallen said, not giving him another inch.
...
Shikine Island
Lt. Colonel Fayer and other soldiers were currently scavenging the area the Avalon launched its beams. Hoping to finding Zero, Suzaku, and the two royals.
"Underground probe radar team, move from section D to section F." A soldier said.
"Find her! Whatever it takes, find Princess Euphemia and Prince Joseph!" Fayer commanded strictly. "Why couldn't she behave the way a Sub-Viceroy figurehead is expected to?! It's bad enough we have to deal with that retard brother of hers. What a situation. If Princess Cornelia hears about this…" He angrily said to himself
...
Avalon
Cecile was looking over some data when she heard Lloyd talking to a figure.
"Oh, my! Who would have imagined a floating aircraft carrier! You told me to gather data before practical application, correct?" Lloyd said excitedly.
"Because I'm extremely interested in whatever you create. I needed to see if this could be made real." The figure said intrigued.
She looked and her eyes widen when she saw who the figure was.
"And the Hadron Cannon?" Lloyd asked.
"We wanted to know if the thing worked." The tall, blond-haired, beautiful-craved face man said before looking over at Cecile. "I've been looking forward to meeting you, Ms. Cécile Croomy. I am…"
"Prince Schneizel? Here?" Cecile said in surprise.
Suddenly, a short, bald, fat man came around Schneizel's shoulder in fury.
"You impudent little–! How dare you look down upon the second prince of the empire!" Bartley said angrily.
"G–General Bartley!" Cecile said in shock, before falling off the ladder she was on.
"Nice one." Lloyd commented at her prat fall.
Cecile rubbed her sore bottom before seeing Schneizel reach his hand out to her.
"You're not injured, I hope. Yes, I am Prince Schneizel el Britannia. Please, give me your hand." Schneizel offered with a kind smile.
"Uh, yes…" Cecile said with a nervous blush as she took his hand.
"Gah, she's unworthy." Bartley said, a bit disturbed by Schneizel's kindness.
"General, you're quite the devoted subject, aren't you?" Lloyd teased.
"Primarily because the prince is the one who commuted my sentence and saved me from being chained up deep beneath Temple Tower!" Bartley defended himself, peeved by Lloyd's personality.
"I wish you'd stop thinking of me so formally. You've been a great help to me in this current matter, as you were to my brother Clovis. It is I who am grateful to you." Schneizel said in the same sweet tone as before.
"M–My Lord!" Bartley said in surprise.
"I also heard my younger brother spends some time at ASEEC with the Lancelot's devicer, Suzaku Kururugi. I would like to thank you both for indulging him, I know he can be a handful sometimes." Schneizel said.
"Oh! It's no problem at all, your Majesty. He's a very nice and thoughtful man, he's eaten many meals I've made." Cecile said excitedly.
"And still hasn't died somehow." Lloyd joked, making Cecile glare at him.
"Well, I'm glad you enjoy his company. I look forward to seeing him again myself. Now, my Lady Cécile, if you'll excuse me." Schneizel said, kissing Cecile's knuckle.
"Y–Your Highness!" Cecile said in shock.
"Farewell." Schneizel said, taking his leave.
"You can wait for me at the base, Cécile." Lloyd said, leaving with Schneizel and Bartley.
"Huh? Where are you going?" Cecile asked in surprise.
"Just a little errand. While I'm doing that, I'll use the Avalon to look for Suzaku. It's hard to find devicers like that young man, especially after yesterday's exploits." Lloyd explained.
"Please wait! Were those orders yesterday issued by the prince?!" Cecile asked, thinking about Suzaku and the two royals.
"Silence! You don't want to be in contempt of royalty, do you?!" Bartley said angrily.
"Those orders were mine, Ms. Cécile. I also fired the Hadron. Even in a situation like that, priorities mustn't be forgotten. Besides, if something anomalous happened, we would have still been able to rescue him. That's what I gambled on. He is after all Suzaku Kururugi, ace pilot of the Special Corps and Euphy's knight." Schneizel explained.
"Yes, My Lord! I understand now, and I sorely regret my rudeness. I accept any punishment you decree." Cecile said solemnly.
"Nonsense. It's my fault for not protecting my subordinates. Can you ever forgive me?" Schneizel with a bit of sadness in his tone as he left, leaving Cecile by herself.
...
Kamine Island
"Can I ask how you found out?" Lelouch asked, staring out to the sea.
"Um...well...please don't be mad, but Joseph...inadvertently gave me a clue." Euphemia said awkwardly, using Lelouch's cape to cover herself while waiting for her clothes to dry.
"(Sighs heavily)Of course he did..." Lelouch mutter with a bit of aggravation in his tone.
"Please don't be too mad at him, it really wasn't on purpose!" Euphemia quickly said. "He just compared your fight against father as Luke Skywalker vs Darth Vader, and well, considering who Darth Vader is..." Euphemia tried to adorably explain.
"Yes, I'm aware. He does loves his pop culture references, doesn't he?" Lelouch asked with a chuckle.
"(Giggles)Indeed." Euphemia said said sweetly before going back to serious. "Still, I wasn't convinced until now. I guess this also means Joseph has been aware of your survival for awhile then?" She deduced.
"Yes, I asked him to keep it a secret, I hope you understand." Lelouch said solemnly.
"I suppose it makes sense, given everything that's happened." Euphemia said. "Still, I'm a little upset he got to have you and Nunnally all to himself for quite sometime now." She said with a pout, making Lelouch chuckle. "How is she by the way?"
"She's living with me, but she's still blind and crippled, happy no less. Curious, why didn't you tell about us to Cornelia?" Lelouch asked.
"I didn't because my sister never listens to me. Oh Lelouch, the hatred you must feel for us." Euphemia said sadly.
"I don't hate you, Euphie. I never did, what happened back then was not your fault. Cornelia...I'm mostly annoyed with, but I have no great malice towards her." Lelouch reassured her with a bit of trepidation when it came to Cornelia, relieving Euphemia. "I only want to find out one thing, do you know anything about the circumstance in which my mother was murdered?" Lelouch asked.
"I don't, I'm sorry. My sister's investigated it extensively, though. Cornelia thought a lot about Lady Marianne and really looked up to her." Euphemia told him, he gave a simple 'Hmm.' "May I ask you something now? Are you…Zero? Or…or are you…?" She was was afraid to finish the question.
"I'm Lelouch. Here and now, I'm Lelouch, the brother that you know, Euphy. The brother who still loves you." Lelouch said with a smile as he looked towards her.
"...Oh, Lelouch…" Euphemia said as tears welled up in her eyes, suddenly she heard her stomach growl. "I believe feeling relieved has made me hungry." Euphemia said with an embarrassed blush.
...
"Gotcha!" Suzaku cheered as he caught the fish in his hands from the river.
"Oh wow, you're not bad at that." Kallen said, actually impressed.
"Do you wanna try it too? I'll tell you what, I'll let you loose if you promise to help me find food. Is that a deal?" Suzaku asked.
"Hmph. You're not gonna win me over, so why try? What do you take me for?" Kallen said stubbornly.
"Man, you're stubborn! You're not anything like the way you are at school." Suzaku said with a chuckle, Kallen just pouted. "Anyway, this should be enough." He said as he got out of the river, he was able to capture four fish.
Suddenly, Kallen heard a faint sound coming from inside the forest.
"Do you hear that?" Kallen asked.
Suzaku looked over in the direction Kallen was looking, which was across the river from them. It sounded just like..
"Is that...music?" Suzaku asked, Kallen's eyes widen in surprise.
"No way." Kallen said as she brought herself to her feet.
And out of the woods came Joseph, dancing to his tunes.
Been around the world, don't speak the language
But your booty don't need explaining
All I really need to understand is
Will you talk dirty to me?
Joseph was so into his dancing, he didn't even notice Kallen and Suzaku across the river - who were looking at him flabbergasted.
"JOSEPH?!" Kallen and Suzaku shouted in shock.
Joseph finally turned his head and saw them, he broke out into a wide grin.
"KAL PAL! SUZAKU!" Joseph cheered.
He jumped over the river, landed on his two friends, and brought them into a tight hugs.
"Both A-OK!" Joseph said excitedly, happy to be reunited with them. "Burn marks? Missing arm? Body swap?" Joseph asked as he checked over his friends.
"We're okay, Joe. No need to worry." Suzaku said with a chuckle as he sat back up.
"Yeah, we're just peachy." Kallen groaned sarcastically as she brought herself back up with a subtle glare at Suzaku. "How on Earth are you even here?" Kallen asked.
"With Eup when ship blasted!" Joseph exclaimed as he swung his arms wide to emphasize the blast.
"Princess Euphemia was with you? Is she okay!?" Suzaku asked urgently.
"Don't know, not-" Before Joseph could explained further, he noticed the bindings around Kallen's hands behind her back. "Kallen, why tied up?" He asked in a confused manner.
"Ask him." Kallen said as she narrowed her eyes harshly at Suzaku, who rubbed the back of his head awkwardly. Joseph looked at him accusingly.
"She's...under arrest." Suzaku told him awkwardly.
"WHA! Why!?" Joseph asked astounded.
"Joseph, I'm sorry I even have to tell you this, but...Kallen's a Black Knight. " Suzaku said sadly.
Joseph looked at him blankly for a few seconds before finally saying: "So?"
Now it was Suzaku's turn to look confused.
"H-Huh?" Was all Suzaku could think to say.
"Sidekick for Zero? Totally awesome!" Joseph cheered. Making Kallen grin smugly as she saw Suzaku's WTF reaction. "Besides,(points at Kallen)she friend. No arresting friends!" He declared.
"Ba-But she-" Suzaku tried to get a word in but was waved off by Joseph.
"Ah-da-da-da-da! No excuses!" Joseph ordered as he waved his finger in a disappointment-like manner. "Sorry, Kal. (Points thumb at Suzaku)Kids right?" He said with a chuckle as he went behind and began to untie her.
"It's fine, Joseph. Not your fault you're friends with an idealistic blockhead." Kallen muttered as she was actually grateful that he showed up when he did.
For it gave her an opportunity to dash forward, reach for her pouch knife in Suzaku's abandoned clothes and strike at the surprised Knight.
"Kallen!" Joseph shouted, dashing forward as well.
...
"Are you sure that this will work?" Euphemia asked as she held onto Lelouch's cape.
Currently, he was digging a hole in the ground with a stick.
"From the paw prints and droppings, I can tell that wild animals use this path! I plan to set up a trap that dates back to medieval times…!" Lelouch grunted as he struggled with the digging, due to his weak-ish physique.
Euphemia couldn't help but feel bad for how much of a hard time he was having with it.
...
Suzaku stood there in shock as he looked at the blood on his chest.
Kallen eyes went wide with shock as well by what just happened.
Her pouch knife was currently inserted right-through Joseph's left hand as he used it to block the attack on Suzaku. Right now, he was staring at her with a very annoyed look. Suddenly, he pulled his hand away, making him snatch the pouch knife away from Kallen.
"Geez, Kallen! Not cool!" Joseph said in anger and annoyance, he then pulled the knife out of his hand with ease and without even flinching. "Get back when behave." He said said in a strict-parent tone as he waved the pouch in front of her before putting it inside his inner coat pocket with his tapes.
Kallen and Suzaku just stared at him with shock and bewilderment as he just took a stab wound and didn't even acknowledge it. However, Suzaku was the first one to break out of it as he then looked at Kallen with harsh eyes.
"Now look what you done Kallen!" Suzaku said in anger.
"Sorry! I didn't expect him to get in the way!" Kallen said with apologetic anger.
"He got in the way because you were going to attack me!" Suzaku said accusingly.
"Well maybe I was trying to make sure you wouldn't haul us both off to jail because your undying pigheadedness to always look at things black and white!" Kallen said with equal accusation in her tone.
"How dare you! I would never do such a thing! I know you and Zero are probably just manipulating him!" Suzaku said intensely.
As they continued to argued, Joseph just looked at them back and forth. Until he finally had enough as he sighed and suddenly grabbed both Suzaku's and Kallen's ear and pinched them in a very tight manner.
"OW!" Kallen and Suzaku both yelped in pain as they immediately ceased their argument and got down on their knees due to the pain.
"Owowowowowowowow, stop, stop, stop, stop...!" Kallen said in a fast manner as she was reminded how her mother would discipline her whenever she misbehaved as a kid.
"Joe, please, this really hurts!" Suzaku said as he struggled to endure the pain coming from his ear.
"Gonna stop bickering?" Joseph asked like a teacher would to the unruly student.
"He started it!" Kallen argued, before the pinching became even tighter than before. "AH! Okay! Okay! No more!" Kallen said, wanting to make it stop.
"We'll stop! We promise!" Suzaku said with equal misery.
Joseph looked at them both with scrutiny for a moment, before finally letting their ears go. Leaving them groaning in pain and rubbing their sore ears.
"Oooooow. Damn, you pinch hard." Kallen groaned as she got back up, same with Suzaku.
"Old trick on siblings." Joseph said proudly. "Now! Different sides. But still friends. ACT like it!" He demanded with his arms crossed.
"He's the one who arrested me!" Kallen argued again as she pointed at Suzaku, who narrowed his eyes. But as she saw that Joseph was about to go for her ear again, she recanted. Alright, fine..." She said with a huff, before looking down at the bleeding stab wound and sighing in defeat.
"Come on, let me look at that, you big moron." She said tiredly as she grabbed Joseph's hand, wanting to make sure there wasn't any damage. "Does it hurt?" She asked.
"Nah." Joseph simply said with his dopey smile, perplexing Kallen as she actually believed him.
"Superhuman definitely fits this guy to a Tee." Kallen thought in awe.
Seeing how they had no first aid of any kind, Kallen thought it would be best if she just used her headband to bind the wound.
"...Sorry." Kallen said as she actually did feel guilty for hurting him.
"All good. A-OK!" Joseph said with a bright smile and thumbs up, Kallen just rolled her eyes.
"Joseph, can you tell us exactly what you remember?" Suzaku asked as he saw trying to convince Joseph that Kallen should be detained was out of the question.
"Well, first order came for blowing you and Zero up. Thought, 'No way, Jose!' So said 'Fine, get Suzaku self!' then punched jerk soldier!" Joseph explained as he made a swinging motion with his fist, surprising Suzaku and making Kallen smirk, happy to know that a filthy Britannian soldier got what was coming to him.
"Then ran!" Joseph said as he started running in circles around Suzaku and Kallen to show what his actions were at the time. "Running, running, running! Then Eup comes in big robot, badass-like!" He said triumphantly as he continued to run around the befuddled Kallen and Suzaku. "Jump on robot, get there together!" He said as he stopped running and just took a jump to emphasize his actions at the time.
"Got to location. But also galactic ship, like from comics!" He said as he brought out his arms wide to emphasize the size of the ship. "Turns out Schnitzel's! Me, Eup ran down pit, lasers fire off! Puh, puh, puh, puh!" He said as he made fire gestures with his fingers like he was shooting lasers, making Kallen chuckle a bit. "Then red everywhere, then darkness." He said dramatically as he covered his face with his hands. "Then woke up, on island, alone. Started search, tunes while at it." He said.
"And that eventually led you to finding us." Suzaku concluded, making Joseph happily nod his head. "So just like us, you have no idea how you got on this island." He said worriedly, as he was not liking the pattern.
"Who's Schnitzel?" Kallen asked as she was curious by the sudden name mention by Joseph.
"Big brother. Tall, blonde, lean, mysterious, and weird." Joseph told her. He added 'weird' because for some reason whenever he was with Schneizel, he always seemed to overly-compliment people - like to the point it was just lathered on - and it always made Joseph uncomfortable.
"Wait. You mean Prince Schneizel? The Prime Minister of Britannia is here in Japan?!" Suzaku said, surprised.
"I don't know whether to be scared or excited about that." Kallen muttered with equal surprise. She never would have expected the Prime Mister to come to Japan, but it did show just how big of a threat Zero and the Black Knights were now.
"I guess it's something to think about later. Right now though, if you're on this island as well Joe, then that must mean Princess Euphemia and even Zero could be on this island too!" Suzaku calculated.
"Exactly! So now all us together, find rest together!" Joseph cheered.
"What!? No way I'm working with Britannia's White Knight!" Kallen mocked angrily at the end.
"I'm sorry Joseph, while Kallen is our friend, I also don't feel comfortable working with her knowing she's a Black Knight." Suzaku said with equal disagreement.
"Gee whiz! Nobody cares! Same situation, put aside, work together!" Joseph demanded angrily.
"But-" Kallen and Suzaku said at the same time.
"NAAAAAA!" Joseph screamed in a Kramer-like style, startling the two. "No buts, no coconuts!" He said intensely.
They stood there for a moment before sighing in defeat.
"Alright." Suzaku said.
"Whatever." Kallen said.
"Cool. Now shake hands." Joseph said with his dopey smile.
"Oh come on...", "Is that really necessary?" Kallen and Suzaku asked at the same time.
"SHAKE!" Joseph demanded as he pointed at their hands.
Kallen was grinding her teeth and Suzaku looked uncomfortable before they sighed with exasperation and shook hands, Kallen doing so with a pout.
"Great! Now, commence search!" Joseph cheered as he grabbed both Kallen and Suzaku's hands and started to drag them into the forest.
"Joe, let me put my clothes back on first!" Suzaku said hastily.
...
"Even using… a lever…" Lelouch said tiredly as he struggled with the trap he was making.
"Why don't you let me help you with that?" Euphemia offered kindly.
"Manual…labor isn't…for a…royal princess. Don't worry. My method's perfect." Lelouch said out of breath.
"Well, I suppose. I could go and search for something like fruit." Euphemia said.
"Be careful, Euphy." Lelouch told her.
"Right!" Euphemia said happily.
...
Submarine
"Enemy battleship has passed us." A Black Knight member said through the intercom, ohgi sighed with relief/
"You've gotta be kidding. A battleship that can hover in midair? That's just great!" Tamaki complained.
"We can't remain in this area any longer — the risk is too great. We should pull out of here." Tohdoh said.
"Ohgi, I disagree. We ought to at least stay put and look for Zero." Diethard reasoned.
"He has a point." Ohgi said.
"But we can't send out a search party in this situation. Even though we're able to hide, thanks to Rakshata, there's no guarantee Zero and Kallen are still alive. One wrong step and we threaten the very existence of our organization." Tohdoh explained.
"What do you mean? It's entirely the other way around: this entire organization is built around Zero!" Diethard argued.
"It's not a group without members. The way you speak, you sound like a typical Britannian to me!" Tohdoh countered with scrutiny.
"Interesting you bring up my hierarchy when you're friends with a Britannian prince." Diethard countered back.
"My relationship with Joseph has nothing to do with the situation right now." Tohdoh said angrily.
"Doesn't it, though? I heard that along with Zero and Kallen, him and his sister - the Sub-Viceroy, Princess Euphemia - also went missing. I would think you would jump at the opportunity to find your former student." Diethard said with an arched eyebrow, Tohdoh just grunted as he tighten his fist. "All right then, answer me this. We have followers of almost every ideology under the sun gathered here. Yet how is it that the whole lot of them can cooperate and work together toward the same goal? Because of the results we get? Tell me, who is it that gets us those results?!" He argued further, resulting in Tohdoh's fist slamming down.
"I'll be the first to admit that he does, and I do wish I could do more for Joseph." Tohdoh said solemnly, surprising the Four Holy Swords, especially Chiba. "But are they worth the lives of everyone?" Tohdoh asked, thinking about the greater good.
"They both risked their lives to save yours didn't they? Perhaps Zero and Prince Joseph were wrong in putting their faith in you." Diethard said with his own scrutiny.
"How dare you?!" Tohdoh exclaimed, really starting to get put on the edge.
"Easy, guys…" Ohgi tried to mediate.
"Oh, all right, then I'll tell you. He's very much alive." C.C. said as she entered the room.
"We've no time for your wishful thinking." Tohdoh said, calming himself now.
"The information's true — I simply know it." C.C. said simply.
"Oh, you're an oracle now?! I told you to shut your trap and get some training on a Knightmare, you dumbass!" Tamaki ordered.
"Dumbass? Oh, really? It's been ages since anyone's dared to refer to me in such a rude manner." C.C. said with a bit of annoyance in her voice.
"Like Zero's mistress has any right to get uppity with us!" Tamaki said.
"I said you were wrong. You're a man who only has vulgar ideas." C.C. said with venom in her voice, getting really annoyed with Tamaki.
"You've got a lot of nerve talking to your superior like that!" Tamaki said angrily.
"Look, this whole conversation's got out of hand!" Ohgi finally chimed in, seeing this conversation was heading towards raised fists. "Okay, how about this? We hang in a safe zone, an ocean area just outside of detection range, where we can wait until the end of tomorrow. How does that sound for a time limit?" He suggested.
"...All right." Tohdoh agreed.
"Well, I suppose we have no choice." Diethard agreed as well, and soon the rest of the Black Knights sounded their own approval. C.C. took her leave at that.
"For heaven's sake! I was forced to talk with that boring little man thanks to your silly prank...you sent Kallen and Joseph to the island as well? ...You have very poor taste for being such an imperious observer." C.C. said with mild annoyance to the unseen force.
...
Kamine Island
"Watched bathe, and arrest nude? EW!" Joseph said with disgust.
Currently, the three of them were walking through the woods and seeing if they could find Euphemia and Zero.
"Yeah, you pervert." Kallen agreed with a bit of glare towards Suzaku.
"It's not like I was trying to spy on you! I wanted to make myself known, it would have been more perverted if I hadn't said anything at all!" Suzaku argued quickly, as he didn't want to be judged that way.
"Cover eyes next time. Duh!" Joseph said as if it was obvious as he covered his own eyes with his hand before hitting a tree branch.
"Much help that'll do." Kallen deadpanned.
"Oooh." Joseph said as he examined the tree he hit. Suzaku and Kallen looked at him curiously. He took a piece of tree bark, sniffed it and then touched his tongue with it to get a taste of it. "Perfect!" He exclaimed as he ripped a handful of tree bark and took a huge bite out of it, happily chewing it.
Kallen and Suzaku looked on with weirded out expressions.
"He still eats those?" Kallen whispered to Suzaku, who just shrugged his shoulders in confusion.
"Bwanr Osem?(Want some?)" Joseph asked with a full mouth as he held out the tree bark towards his friends.
"Uh...we're good." Suzaku respectfully declined, as did Kallen who awkwardly shook her head.
Joseph shrugged as it just meant more for him, then he realized something.
"Oop. Gotta pee." Joseph casually said. Kallen raised her eyebrow at that.
"Um, okay. I guess we'll wait here while you..." Kallen started to say before she heard an unzipping sound.
Joseph turned his back to them and started peeing on the tree he ripped the bark from. He breathed a sigh of relief.
"Whoa! Dude, what are you doing!?" Kallen exclaimed as she turned her head away in embarrassment, as did Suzaku, whose face turned red.
"Peeing." Joseph said again with casualness.
"You don't want privacy?" Suzaku asked awkwardly.
"Or save us the embarrassment?" Kallen asked with annoyance.
"Chill guys. Mom says peeing fine around not-public places. Except for making people mad. People who deserve." Joseph explained with a mellow tone. "Besides, all us pee standing up." He proclaimed wholeheartedly.
"Uh, no we don't." Kallen said in a obvious tone.
"...We don't?" Joseph asked as he turned his head over to her in confusion before putting on a thoughtful expression. "Oh yeah! Guys have penis, girls have vagina." Joseph said proudly as if he just remembered and then went back to finishing his bathroom break.
Kallen and Suzaku just looked at him with unease and weariness.
"We're going to die on this island, aren't we?" Kallen thought to herself with a hint of fear.
Then they noticed he was looking at in something in the forest.
"Joe? What is..." Kallen tried to ask before being shushed by Joseph, who zipped up his pants and pointed to what he was staring at. Suzaku and Kallen widen their eyes in surprise.
It was a deer. It was currently eating its way on a plant.
"I guess there's some wildlife around here." Suzaku said.
Then they noticed Joseph put a piece of tree bark in his mouth and got down on all fours.
"Joseph, what are you doing?" Kallen asked curiously and quietly.
He didn't answer as he slowly crawled his way towards the deer. The deer took notice of Joseph, it flinched backwards a bit, but didn't run away. Joseph stopped in his tracks but extended his head towards the deer to offer the tree bark. The deer tilted its head in curiosity before slowly moving towards Joseph, Suzaku and Kallen watched keen interest.
When the deer got close enough, it sniffed the tree bark - waited a moment - before taking it from his mouth and eating it. Joseph raised his hand with the missing pinkie to the deer, who looked at for a moment before licking it, signaling that it trusted him. The deer moved forward and Joseph brushed his head against the deer's side, while also brushing his hand along its neck at the same time.
Kallen and Suzaku watched this interaction with awe.
"Wow..." Kallen said with a small smile.
"Yeah..." Suzaku agreed with his own smile.
Joseph and the deer then parted ways and it went further into the forest while he went back to his friends.
"Joe...that was amazing!" Suzaku said, still in awe.
"Yeah! Where did you learn to do that?" Kallen asked with keen interest.
"Year in forest." Joseph said with a shrug and his dopey smile.
Kallen and Suzaku looked at him with surprise and perplexity.
"Lloyd was right, he is definitely full of surprises." Suzaku thought to himself.
...
"What's wrong? They're quite tasty!" Euphemia said about the fruit in worry as she saw Lelouch look all sulky. "I'm sure you'll be able to make your pitfall trap tomorrow." She encouraged sweetly.
"Y-Yeah..." Lelouch said a bit discouraged.
Euphemia looked sadly at Lelouch for a moment before she thought about something, something that made her start giggling, Lelouch saw this.
"W-What?" Lelouch asked, confused by Euphemia laughing fit.
"I just have to ask Lelouch, why on Earth did you let Joseph dressed like that during your prison break operation?!" Euphemia asked as she started to laugh hysterically. "Seems like something Zero wouldn't do." She said as she continued to laugh, making Lelouch splutter his words.
"You think I would have willingly let him come looking like that if I had known about it beforehand?!" Lelouch asked with exasperation in his tone. "I told him to come dressed up in a way that didn't draw attention to himself, and he completely took it out of context!" He argued. "Said he 'wasn't himself' like he was some method actor!" He said with annoyance.
"Still, no one would expect a clown of all things to break into a prison base." Euphemia said while still laughing.
Lelouch blinked at that until he actually started chuckling himself.
"Yes, it is pretty outrageous, probably caught a lot of the soldiers there off-guard. So in terms of strategy, it was actually a pretty unique disguise. Ha ha! Now I'm starting to wish I could have seen their faces when he arrived!" Lelouch said as he laughed alongside Euphemia. "In all seriousness though, while he makes me want to pull my hair out sometimes, I am glad to have him around again. Life probably would have been a lot more unpleasant if he hadn't come back when he did." Lelouch told her with a grateful smile.
"He's always had that effect on people, with all the energy he has, you can't help but feel the same optimism sometimes." Euphemia agreed happily.
"Indeed." Lelouch simply said as he munched on a fruit that Euphemia gathered.
...
"Ohh, I can't eat another bite! Boy, am I stuffed." Kallen said happily as she rubbed her belly in delight from the fish she just ate.
"(Burps loudly)'Cuse, moi!" Joseph said happily as he sat next to her while he rubbed his own belly in delight, he made sure to put tree bark crumbs on his fish, added to the flavor after all. Kallen then burped even louder, making him laugh. "Better out, than in!" He said with a faux-Scottish accent, making Kallen laugh too.
"So is this a glimpse of what you're really like?" Suzaku asked with a smile.
"Yeah. You wanna make something of it?" Kallen asked with annoyance.
"No, I think it's charming to see you so much livelier than you are at school." Suzaku said nicely.
"Yeah, Kallen badass!" Joseph said proudly as he pointed at her.
"Uh! ...Shut up..." Kallen muttered embarrassingly with a red blush as she playfully punched his arm.
"Oh, you." Joseph chuckled as he playfully punched her arm, though probably harder than he meant too as it left Kallen rubbing it in pain.
"Oooooow..." Kallen muttered with annoyance, Joseph didn't seem to notice though as he messed around with his walkman.
"...Joseph, why do show such support for Zero and the Black Knights?" Suzaku asked solemnly.
Joseph looked at him in confusion, Kallen just sighed at having to deal with his idealism again.
"Cause they awesome! Like real superhero team!" Joseph said with enthusiasm, making Kallen smile proudly.
"But why?! Why do you see them that way?!" Suzaku asked, not understanding Joseph's reasoning.
"Uh...wear costumes, save people, fight bad guys...that stuff?" Joseph said, not sure if that was suppose to be an obvious question or not. Kallen had to hold in her laughter from the look on Suzaku's face.
"You think Britannia are the bad guys?" Suzaku asked, shocked at Joseph's proclamation.
"Definitely not good guys. Love dad, but very Darth Vader." Joseph explained casually. While Kallen agreed with him, she couldn't help but blanch when he mentioned that he actually "loved" the Emperor.
"Look, I admit, the emperor isn't perfect(Kallen scoffed at that as it was the least she would describe him.) But if you were to just work with the system given to you, you can make things better. Euphemia is doing such things!" Suzaku tried to reason.
"Oh please!" Kallen chimed in. "Look, I will admit, Princess Euphemia is actually a decent person. But she's only the Sub-Viceroy, there's only so much she can do! And I doubt her Royal-Anus - Cornelia - is going to be lenient towards the Japanese!" Kallen said angrily. "No offense Joe." She said afterwards.
"No, you right. Corn very stubborn." Joseph said casually.
"At least Zero is getting actual change done! I happen to be the captain of Zero's elite guard. And in fact, I've fought you in my Knightmare." Kallen said in determination.
"Were you that red one?" Suzaku asked.
"Hell yeah! Cherry Dynamite!" Joseph cheered, Kallen couldn't help but grin proudly at that.
"That's right! And even if I lose my life doing it, I'll beat that Knightmare of yours someday!" Kallen said in determination.
"Or you and Eup join Black Knights. Easier solution!" Joseph suggested happily.
"Using Zero's methods offers no future." Suzaku declined immediately.
"And what about your future then?! To just live the life of a conqueror's subjugated lapdog, an honorary Britannian? The name of Genbu Kururugi, the Last Samurai, weeps!
I'm not you! And neither is Joseph for that matter, so stop trying to make us as such! This world is wrong, and I'm trying to change it! If I don't…If I don't, my brother's death will have been for nothing. That's my reason for fighting… and I'll do whatever it takes to win!" Kallen said in determination, tears started to leak when she started to tall about her brother. Joseph put his hand on her shoulder in sympathy and support.
Suzaku gave her solemn look but he looked down at the fire.
"Kallen, Joseph...the truth is…I killed my father...I took his life… with this hand…" Suzaku said quietly.
Kallen looked at him in shock, Joseph just quirked up an eyebrow, he didn't expect Suzaku to come out with it like that. But then he became sad as he saw the dead look in Suzaku's eyes, he could see how much it affected him.
"...I know." Joseph said after a moment. This definitely shock both Suzaku and Kallen.
"You...you know!? How?" Suzaku asked, flabbergasted.
Joseph obviously couldn't tell them the real answer as that was a rabbit hole he couldn't go down just yet. The simpler one would mean possibly getting in trouble, but he didn't care.
"Sensei told me! The one you not help!" Joseph said accusingly.
"So it is true. You really were-" Suzaku started to say before Joseph cut him off.
"Yep-per-rooni! I! Prince Joseph! Am! Clowno-Funzo! What a twist!" Joseph proclaimed as he stood up in triumph.
"Yeah, real big twist." Kallen muttered as she rolled her eyes.
"Joseph! What are you thinking?! If they tie you to the prison escape, you could be jailed! Executed!" Suzaku said astounded.
"Not point! Point is you! Using dead father as excuse!" Joseph said as he sat back down and pointed his finger at Suzaku.
"What...What are you talking about?!" Suzaku asked, shocked and confused.
"(Sighs)Genbu's plan. Do or die for Japan. Not good." Joseph said solemnly, this caught Kallen's attention.
"Wait, you mean a do or die resistance?" Kallen asked, surprised. "That means...all of Japan would have most likely perished that day." Kallen surmised.
"Exactly! I didn't have a choice!" Suzaku reasoned.
"Always have choice. Whether bad or good, always choice. Actions after, also choice." Joseph said solemnly. "Your actions after, should be ashamed of!" He told Suzaku in a strict parent tone.
"What actions!?" Suzaku asked.
"Said you good person! Still are! But trying hard not being one!" Joseph told him angrily. "Because killed dad, think deserve bad things! Be insulted, ridiculed, help bad guys, die even!" He yelled, shocking both Kallen and Suzaku. "If do all that, then make up what happened. But not fair! Not fair to family, friends, and self! Glad Eup's knight now, will help find light side. Gotta meet halfway though. Forgive self, unburden, be happy!" Joseph said frustration, before finally relaxing against the rock behind him. "Because you now. Not good. Stupid. (Yawns) Very stupid." Joseph said tiredly as he closed his eyes.
Kallen was once again in awe of Joseph, every time she thought she had him figured out, here he goes, saying everything how it is in a blunt, unapologetic matter. Kind of inspiring for Kallen.
For Suzaku, he stared at Joseph with wide eyes in shock. Before looking down at the ground angrily.
"Joseph...my father believed that the entire world revolved around him. That's why he was able to justify spilling the blood of so many people during the invasion." Suzaku said calmly.
"Suzaku." Kallen spoke up.
"I did what I had to do to save lives, if I hadn't, billions would have died instead of millions. And I would do it again if I had to." Suzaku continued.
"Suzaku." Kallen spoke up, even louder.
"Maybe I am punishing myself for what I did back then. If I am, then it's what I deserve. I stand by my actions, but also I know it's blood on my hands, and I will make up for it til the day I die. Even it means fighting for the peace I forced Japan-"
"Suzaku! He passed out!" Kallen yelled, gesturing to the snoring Joseph.
Suzaku blinked, a moment passed, he blinked again.
"...Huh?" Was all he could he say.
"I guess he finally spent up all his energy. And yet, it's really amazing that somebody with half a brain has a better sense of things than you do!" Kallen hissed.
"I don't know what Zero said to him, but it's obvious he put some sort of influence over him. Same with you." Suzaku deduced.
"Oh my God! Are you listening to yourself!? You want to keep running away from your problems and blaming others, even though your faults hit you like a brick wall!" Kallen exclaimed angrily.
"What about your faults, Kallen? Zero's? Or even Joseph's? Ask yourself, when you gain results the wrong way, what are you left with in the end? Only dark regret and a deep emptiness that have nowhere to go." Suzaku said calmly.
Kallen pondered this before she looked down at the ground.
"Then explain something…What higher purpose did the death of my brother serve? Who gets to sit in judgment? Who decides whether it's right or wrong?" Kallen asked sadly and regretfully.
Seeing how things were starting to get depressing, Kallen and Suzaku decided to just stay quiet for a few minutes. Suzaku actually noticed some spotlights during the silence but before he could say anything, Kallen decided to break the tension. She looked at the sleeping Joseph and sighed.
"Alright, how about this for a question...are Lelouch and Nunnally royalty?" Kallen asked, shocking Suzaku.
"Wha...what do you mean?" Was all Suzaku could think to ask.
"I mean that every time I see Joseph with those two, he treats them like my brother used to treat me, so I know older sibling affection when I see it. I get that their childhood friends but I don't think I've seen friends be that attached before, especially ones that openly call them 'brother' and 'sister' like that. Plus, you and Milly made me suspicious that day we went to the Viceroy Palace and you asked me not to make any mention of them to the Viceroy and Sub-Viceroy. It was a little while later I started doing my own research, research that shows that the late Marianne vi Britannia's children were sent to Japan as political 'negotiators' and 'tragically' died here. Interesting coincidence considering Lelouch and Nunnally stayed with you at the Kururugi Shrine before the invasion as well." Kallen explained. "So please, just tell me the truth. Is Joseph, Lelouch and Nunnally's actual brother?" Kallen asked.
Suzaku looked at her silently before sighing in defeat.
"Kallen, I have no right to ask you this, but please, don't tell anyone." Suzaku basically pleaded, Kallen couldn't help but let go of a breath she didn't realize she was holding in.
"Wow...friends with not one, but three royal siblings. Never thought that would happen in my lifetime." Kallen said in quiet surprise.
"Preaching to the choir." Suzaku couldn't help but chuckle.
"So after all these years, they willingly chose to stay in Japan. I don't understand why they didn't go back to Britannia when they had the chance." Kallen said curiously.
"Kallen...Lelouch hates Britannia." Suzaku said in a very serious manner, surprising Kallen. "The day after in the invasion, Lelouch said these very words I'll never forget: 'I swear, Suzaku, so help me. I will one day obliterate Britannia!'" He told her in a solemn tone.
This definitely shocked Kallen as she remembered her earlier conversations with him.
...
(Flashback)
Tokyo Settlement
"Knowing all that, what does Lelouch Lamperouge think about it at all? What do you wanna do?" Kallen asked with a bit of scrutiny in her voice.
"Nothing." Lelouch said simply.
"You know, you've got a lot of brains but you don't seem to be doing much with them. It's all Shirley talks about, saying how intelligent you are but how you barely ever apply yourself." Kallen said with annoyance.
"That's why I don't do anything. That Eleven we saw back there could tell you. He could lead a better life as long as he bows his head to Britannia." Lelouch said offhandedly.
...
Student Council Building
"Just because people bow their heads, doesn't mean they should suffer for it." Lelouch told her in an understanding tone.
(Flashback End)
...
Kamine Island
"You wonder why I fight for Britannia. Well Lelouch is definitely one of those reasons. I can still see the hatred he has for Britannia and if he decides to do something stupid like join the Black Knights, I have to stop him. To make sure Nunnally isn't left without a brother, and I don't lose my best friend." Suzaku told her with determination.
Kallen looked at him with mild awe, as she couldn't help but respect the loyalty he had towards Lelouch. But it also made her wonder...
"Lelouch, just who are you?"
...
Meanwhile, Euphemia and Lelouch were stargazing. Euphemia was laying down on the sand with Lelouch's cape under her while Lelouch sat on a rock.
"The stars haven't changed, have they? They were the same back then. Long ago, we all used to gaze up at the stars together. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could live like that again? I'd be so happy then. Can't we go back to that?" Euphemia asked with a hopeful tone.
Lelouch thought about those moments too. How him and his siblings, along with his mother, would stare out into the wonders of the galaxy, seeing it's beauty for all it was. He did miss those times, but he knew they were times they could never have again.
"It would be nice to have those times again, Euphie. But we both know that can't be the case anymore." Lelouch said quietly.
Euphemia looked at her brother with sad eyes, but didn't say anything.
"There has to be a way..." Euphemia thought to herself.
...
Kallen and Suzaku eventually went to sleep themselves, though for Kallen, it was more of a show. She opened her eyes and made sure that Suzaku was asleep, she looked over to the snoring Joseph and carefully leaned over to fish for her pocket knife. While she didn't think Joseph was going to use it, she felt better if she had it back on her just in case Suzaku did try to have her arrested later.
As she was about put her hand in his coat pocket, he suddenly shifted his head. Kallen quickly relinquished her hand, afraid he was about to wake up.
Instead, his head just ended up on her shoulder, and he went back to lightly snoring.
"Seriously?" Kallen thought with annoyance.
She was about to push him off when she saw his smile. That same dopey smile of his that never seemed to leave his face.
"Damn it. Why does he have to look so cute?" Kallen asked herself with a sigh.
Deciding there was nothing else she could do, she put her head on top of his and went to sleep.
...
Kallen's eyes flickered opened, she looked down and saw she that Joseph was no longer sleeping on her shoulder and she was instead laying her head on top of his coat, like a pillow. She looked up and saw it was still dawn, Suzaku was in a sitting position, still asleep. She looked around and saw Joseph was standing by the shore, eyes closed and a small smile on his face.
She saw the scars on his arms and she couldn't help but look sympathetically at him. So much pain and agony he had gone through over the years, and he was still able to smile. How?
Curious, she got up, took his coat in her hands and approached Joseph.
"Joe?" Kallen said softly, getting his attention. He looked at her and smiled.
"Morning." Joseph in a rare quiet voice.
"Uh, good morning." Kallen said back with her own smile, though a bit awkward. "Um, thanks for letting me use your coat as a pillow." She said as she handed back his coat.
"No prob, Bob." Joseph said happily, still in a quiet voice as he put his coat back on. Which confused Kallen.
"I don't think I've ever heard you be this quiet before." Kallen commented.
"Well, early morning. Thus, quiet time." Joseph explained.
"I guess that makes sense." Kallen said with a shrug as she looked at the sun rise over the ocean. "Wow, when spending half your day fighting in a rebellion and half of it trying to live a normal life, you can forget how beautiful the sunrise is." Kallen commented with small awe.
"Every morning, me and mom wake up, enjoy sunrise, listen to nature. Still do, very fun, peaceful." Joseph told her.
"You say it like she's still alive." Kallen noticed.
"Is...in way. Carry with me, part of me." Joseph said happily as he caressed his coat that used to be his mother's. "Her memory, mine too. Same with brother(gesturing towards the surprised Kallen), him part of you, always will be." He said quietly. "Truly feel them during earliness, most quiet then. Enjoy it, take no granted." Joseph said as he closed his eyes, took in a deep breath and stretched his arms out a bit to feel the mild breeze swipe past them.
Kallen looked at him with a sense of ease. With the way the sun shined on his face, he looked so at peace, and for that moment, she could see why Nina had so many feelings for him.
For that moment, she unconsciously reached her hand out towards his, wanting to grasp it and feel its warmth.
The warmth of a man, truly at peace with himself.
But no sooner than that, she came to her senses and quickly pulled it back with an embarrassed blush.
Instead, she took Joseph's advice and enjoy the quietness around. She closed her eyes, and took a deep breath in. She could feel the breeze pass by her, the sound of the small waves crashing and the trees rustling.
And for a moment, she could truly her brother with her, part of her.
"Naoto..." Kallen said with a small smile as tears formed in her eyes.
She opened them and saw that Joseph ended his own mediation, he looked at her with a bright smile, a smile much like Nunnally's, who she probably got it from when Kallen thought about it.
"Thank you." Kallen said quietly with a grateful smile.
Before they could say anything else, they heard Suzaku yawn as he also woke up.
"Hey guys. What are you doing?" Suzaku asked curiously.
"Just appreciating the quiet moments." Kallen told him, Joseph nodded. Suzaku looked confused, but he didn't push.
"Well anyway, I saw some searchlights coming from afar last night. I think we should go in that direction and see if it's a rescue party." Suzaku said, pointing in the direction he saw the lights.
"Onward and forward!" Joseph proclaimed as he marched in said direction and began singing a song from a cartoon.
Steppin' on the beach!
Doo-doo-doo-doo!
Steppin' on the beach!
Da-leh-doo-doo!
Steppin' on the beach!
Doo-doo-doo-doo!
Steppin' on the beach!
Da-leh-doo-doo!
This made Kallen shake her head in amusement.
...
Lelouch and Euphemia began their own journey up the hill of the island.
"It must be a search party. Once we learn who it is, we'll know how to deal with them." Lelouch told her.
"Deal with them?" Euphemia said quietly, sad knowing their reunion was going to end soon.
...
"A Thought Elevator, you say? I'm afraid archeology isn't my strong suit, especially this paranormal stuff." Lloyd told Schneizel offhandedly.
"Why you, Show some respect!" Bartley said angrily.
"As I was saying, this is way outside of my field. I wish you could've asked Cécile about this instead." Lloyd continued, ignoring Bartley.
"Please don't complain so much. My father is infatuated with this as well. Isn't that right, Bartley?" Schneizel said.
"Yes. We've found artifacts similar to these in a number of places around the world. Except for this one that I discovered, all the other sites are directly under imperial control. This is mere speculation on my part, but I think the real reason we're invading other countries is to obtain these objects." Bartley explained.
"Hmm...and it seems Lady Rebecca discovered it long before Father did. Just what secrets lie beyond her grave?" Schneizel thought to himself.
"And so, in order to analyze this ancient occult data, you're going to use the Gawain's Druid System, untuned prototype that it is?" Lloyd asked.
"That's why we called you in." Schneizel told him.
"AH-HAH!" Lloyd exclaimed cheerfully.
...
"You sure it was in this direction?" Kallen asked as the three of them by their way up the hill?
"Positive. It could very well be the Britannian military." Suzaku said.
"If it is, what becomes of me?" Kallen asked suspiciously, wondering if they were soon to be enemies again.
"No worry Kal Pal, got back!" Joseph said reassuringly. Kallen looked in surprise but gave a small smile of gratitude.
"I don't think it'll be that simple, Joe." Suzaku lectured.
"(Points at himself)Prince, Suzaku. Make simple." Joseph proclaimed as he snapped his fingers in snarky flair, making Kallen snicker. "Go up ahead. See what party." He told them as he ran his way up to the top of the hill, leaving Kallen and Suzaku by themselves.
"And if it's my people at the top of that hill?" Kallen asked with narrowed eyes.
"Then I guess we'll see what happens." Suzaku said simply.
...
"I think it was around here." Lelouch said.
"Lelouch, if it is a search party, then will our time be over here?" Euphemia asked sadly.
Yes, I'm afraid so. But don't worry, I'm sure circumstances will have us meeting again." Lelouch reassured, then he chuckled. "I'm such an undependable knight — I couldn't even capture you any food." He joked, making Euphemia giggle. "And besides, that's a job reserved for a real knight — your knight, Suzaku Kururugi." He said.
"I do hope he's alright, same with Joseph. He was with me when the Avalon fired." Euphemia said with concern.
"Don't worry about Joe. Knowing him, he'll probably come popping through those trees." Lelouch said.
All of sudden, Joseph comes popping out of trees in quick motion.
"Eup!" Joseph shouted in excitement.
"Joe!" Euphemia shouted in relief.
They ran and gave each other a big hug. Lelouch just stood there in disbelief that he actually got that right.
"Lelouch! A-Ok too!" Joseph exclaimed as he noticed Lelouch and quickly gathered him into a bear hug.
"I'm glad you're okay too, Joe." Lelouch said with a tight breath, Joseph then noticed something.
"Wait. Superhero costume on, but no mask, and Eup with you." Joseph said curiously as he looked back and forth between Lelouch and Euphemia, who both wondered when he was going to make the pieces come together, until it finally clicked in his mind. "Told Eup!" Joseph said excitedly as he shook Lelouch back and forth.
"J-Joe! C-Calm d-done!" Lelouch told him so he wouldn't get sick from all the shaking.
"Sorry." Joseph said simply but excited as he put down Lelouch.
"She actually figured it out on her own, didn't have to tell her." Lelouch told him.
"Smarty-pants sis!" Joseph commended Euphemia while pointing his fingers at her.
"Thank you!" Euphemia said gratefully until her face turned sour. "Although, I had to do it all by myself. Thanks for not telling me Lelouch and Nunnally were alive!" She said sarcastically.
"You're welcome!" Joseph said, taking it as genuine, which made Euphemia sigh in annoyance.
Joseph didn't noticed though as he just gathered his siblings into a hug.
"Siblings reunited!" Joseph said happily, and Lelouch and Euphemia couldn't help but feel the same. "Wait! Suzaku and Kallen coming! Quick, mask!" Joseph said in worry as he took the mask off of Lelouch's belt, surprising the two siblings.
"Wait, Kallen's-" Lelouch didn't get to finish his question as Joseph slammed his mask onto his head. "Ow..." Lelouch muttered painfully.
"Suzaku's with you?!" Euphemia said with relief, they soon heard and saw Kallen and Suzaku come up the hill, who looked at them in surprise.
"Princess!" Suzaku said in surprise.
"Zero!" Kallen also said in surprise.
They made their way over to them, to which Suzaku was met with a hug by Euphemia.
"Suzaku! I'm so glad you're okay!" Euphemia said with relief, tears growing in her eyes.
"You as well, your highness." Suzaku said gratefully as he returned the hug.
"Are you alright, Q1?" Zero asked with concern.
"Just fine, Zero. Thank you for finding me." Kallen said gratefully.
"Kallen? Kallen Stadtfeld?" Euphemia said in surprise as she noticed Kallen.
"Uh...hi, Euphie..." Kallen said awkwardly as she waved at her politely. Euphemia took notice of her pilot suit and the jacket she was wearing.
"I see, you're a Black Knight." Euphemia said with sadness.
"Zero's sidekick!" Joseph said excitedly, making Kallen sigh.
"Sorry for the deception, Princess. But as long as the Japanese are oppressed, it's something I must do." Kallen told her, hoping there was no hard feelings.
"I actually understand. I just think it's sad we always have to be fighting like this." Euphemia tells her.
"As I was trying to tell Kallen last night, it doesn't have to be that way. That is, if it wasn't for Zero." Suzaku said as he narrowed his eyes at Zero.
"You're saying it like I'm responsible for her choices, Kururugi. I gave her the opportunity to leave the Black Knights, it was her decision to stay." Zero said to him.
"It's true, and I would make the same choice again." Kallen said in determination.
"Oop! Almost forgot." Joseph said in realization before the conversation could continue. He took out Kallen's pouch knife from his inside coat pocket. "Here." He said as threw it to her, which she caught with ease.
"Thanks." Kallen said simply.
"Look-" Before Zero could say anymore, a bright red light shined underneath them, causing Lelouch's geass to flare up, Suzaku to freeze, and Joseph to clutch his head.
"AH!" Joseph shouted in pain as the surge of electricity came back to his head and bounced around like a ricocheting bullet! He collapsed to his knees and gridded his teeth together.
"Joseph!" Eupehmia said in worry as she rushed over to Joseph's side. "What's wrong?!" She asked fearfully.
He couldn't answer as he saw the visions again from before:
The nun praying,
The planet colliding,
Rows of children with the geass symbol on their heads.
However, he saw something new this time. It was a child, looked to be around 12 years old, he had blonde hair that reached all the way down to his feet and he had a smile on his face. A smile that made Joseph feel very unsettled.
Then he heard something this time. It sounded like crying...crying from a woman...
Suddenly, his vision started to go black, like back in Narita, and he could only think of one thing.
"No! Not again!" Joseph thought with determination, and the ground beneath them shook and collapsed.
...
Schneizel, Lloyd, Bartley, and the rest of the Britannian soldiers looked and saw the ceiling collapse above them.
"Oh, not good…" Lloyd said with unease.
"My Lord, please save yourself!" Bartley said, trying to get Schneizel away from the danger.
The ceiling landed to crown and revealed Zero, Kallen, Suzaku, Euphemia, and Joseph.
"Maj. Kururugi! And is that Zero!?" Lloyd said in surprise.
The soldiers aim their guns at them.
"Don't you, you fools! Princess Euphemia and Prince Joseph are with them! Capture them! Capture them!" Bartley ordered.
Kallen noticed the Gawain in the distance.
"Look, Zero, that's a Knightmare over there!" Kallen said as she pointed.
"Perfect! We'll use that! Let's go!" Zero told her as he made his way to it.
"Right!" Kallen said and was about to move when she saw Joseph still on his knees, still rubbing his head and groaning in pain.
"Joseph? Are you okay?" Euphemia asked him.
"Ah...brain freeze." Joseph muttered as he clumsily got back to his feet.
Kallen was concerned and wanted to help but could also see the Britannian soldiers coming their way, she shined a light in one of their eyes, blinding him and able to punch him out of the way and fight the others. She was eventually able to disarm one and grab their gun.
Zero made his way into the cockpit of the knightmare. Euphemia and Joseph noticed that Suzaku was just standing there with a shocked look on his face.
"Suzaku! Suzaku, what is it?! What's wrong?!" Euphemia asked with concern as she shook Suzaku's shoulder.
"This is good! Not only unmanned, but activated too!" Zero said as he turned on the Gawain.
Kallen shot at the soldiers, but made sure not to hit Euphemia, Joseph and Suzaku.
"Form a wall in front of the Royal Siblings! Hurry!" A soldier commanded.
"What kind of Knightmare is this…?" Lelouch asked himself as he saw the specs of the Gawain "It's my lucky day!" He smirked to himself, but then he noticed a certain figure on the screen, it was..."Schneizel!"
"So that's him? That's Zero?" Schneizel asked himself with an analyzing eye.
"Ah! The Gawain!" Lloyd shrieked as he saw the knightmare being activated.
Kallen jumped onto the shoulder of the Gawain.
"Stop that woman now! Get the machine back! We can't allow it to fall into Zero's hands!" Bartley ordered.
"Schneizel, next time!" Lelouch said to himself as he moved the Gawain for forward.
"Sutherlands are blocking our exit!" Kallen warned as she saw the sutherlands outside of the cave, aiming their guns at them.
"Hang on tight! I'm going through them!" Zero told her.
"Huh?!" Kallen said with a double take.
Lelouch aimed the cannons at the Sutherlands.
"Disappear." He said simply as he pushed the trigger.
Except the cannons fired all over the place and almost hit Kallen as well.
"Damn! The weapons are incomplete!" Lelouch said with frustration as he took off his mask.
Joseph looked on in concern, he turned to the still frozen Suzaku.
"Wake up!" Joseph shouted as he slapped him in the face.
"Huh? What?" Suzaku said, finally snapping out of it.
"Head in game!" Joseph said as he poked Suzaku's head and then ran towards the Gawain to help in some way.
"Joseph, wait!" Euphemia shouted to him.
The Gawain made its way out of the cave
"Zero! Reinforcements!" Kallen warned as she saw sutherlands come.
"Don't be worried yet! Another system is operational." Lelouch told her with confidence.
He pulled a switch and the Gawain suddenly lifted in the air, above the sutherlands. Joseph came out in time to watch with amazement.
"We're flying?! This Knightmare can fly!" Kallen said with her own amazement.
Lelouch laughed with pride as he found himself very lucky to acquire a knightmare like this. The Gawain zoomed away while Joseph jumped high in the air to catch it speeding away.
"Awesome! Bye Zero, bye Q1!" He shouted with excitement.
"The Gawain! Our beautiful prize Gawain!" Bartley said bitterly.
"Well, it was only a test model." Schneizel reassured. "Aside from that, I'm thankful you're all all right." Schneizel said to his siblings and Suzaku.
Euphemia smiled brightly as she ran over to Schneizel.
"Oh, Schneizel, I missed you!" Euphemia happily.
"Dear Euphy, I'm sorry it took us so long." Schneizel said kindly.
"No, it's all right." Euphemia said reassuringly.
"Big bro!" Joseph said in surprise as he ran up to Schneizel.
"Joseph, it's been so long. You've really grown after all these years." Schneizel said happily.
"Yep! Manly-man now!" Joseph said with a deep voice as he flexed his muscles, making Schneizel and Euphemia chuckle.
"Indeed." Schneizel said simply.
"See flying robot?! It awesome!" Joseph said as he bounced around in excitement.
"I did, it's actually the first in the next line of knightmares. Soon all of them will be able to fly." Schneizel explained with a smile.
"Call next!" Joseph shouted as he raised his hand in the air.
But then he heard something, it was faint but he could hear it coming from the cave, the surge of electricity came back in a small trinket. The soldiers wanted Suzaku for something but he wasn't really paying attention to that, all he could focus on was the noise coming from inside the cave.
As he got closer, it sounded like...crying...the same crying he heard earlier.
And It sounded like it was coming from the wall, the wall that had the Geass symbol C.C. told him about.
The crying got louder and louder as he made his way up the steps, it sounded so familiar to him. In fact, something about the entire cave seemed familiar to him, he didn't know why though. And this crying, it's like it was calling out to him.
As he reached his hand towards the door, he felt a vibration in his head, a vibration he felt before but didn't know where or why. He started to recognize the crying, it sounded just like-
"Joe?" Euphemia said to him as she grasped his shoulder, breaking his focus. He looked at her and saw concern in her face. "Is everything okay?" She asked.
He looked back, the crying stopped, as did the vibration.
"Uh...yeah...just deja-vu." Joseph said, not entirely sure himself. He then noticed the soldiers surrounding Suzaku. "What I miss?" He asked confused.
...
Ocean
"I've contacted Ohgi! We'll rendezvous with them out at sea." Zero said.
"Yes Zero. ...One other thing. The Guren Mk-II?" Kallen asked.
"It was recovered. You may thank Asahina and Chiba for that." Zero told her.
"Yes, sir." Kallen said quietly, for she had other things on her mind. "What Suzaku said...about Lelouch telling him he would obliterate Britannia...could he be...?" She thought to herself with conflicting feelings.
Lelouch didn't seem to notice though as he had other things on his mind.
"Suzaku, forgive me. I never intended to use the power on you, but…" Lelouch thought to himself in sorrow.
...
(Flashback)
Shikine Island
"LIVE!" Lelouch commanded with his Geass.
Red rims appeared around Suzaku's eyes and his face became determined. At that, Lelouch powered down the Gefjun Disturber and the Lancelot went on its way.
(Flashback End)
...
Avalon
Joseph, Suzaku, Euphemia, Lloyd, Cecile and Fayer listened to the audio recording that came from the Lancelot.
"Maj. Kururugi, follow your orders!" Fayer exclaimed.
"Shut up! Who cares about them?! I HAVE TO LIVE!" Suzaku shouted angrily.
"I have no idea how you got out of the Lancelot, but you blew a golden opportunity to put an end to Zero in order to save your own life according to this." Fayer accused angrily. "Are you going to protest this evidence?" He asked.
"Was that…really me?" Suzaku asked in silent shock.
"This is nothing less than an insubordination!" Fayer said angrily.
Joseph looked on with a thoughtful look.
"I see, Lelouch must have used his Geass on him. Well, at least it was to save him. A-Ok by me!" Joseph concluded in his mind.
"Still, that crying I heard back in the cave...it sounded...just like mom..."
...
G1
"Kururugi did that?!" Cornelia asked in shock.
"Yes. The details are unknown." A Britannia Soldier told her.
"Dammit, just when I thought we had nailed the lid on Ishikawa…" Cornelia said bitterly.
"Your Highness!" Guilford shouted, coming in with hurry.
"What now, Guilford?" Cornelia asked, wondering how this day would get worse.
"The enemy has destroyed the Great Kamon Bridge in Kyushu block!" Guilford told her.
"What?!" Cornelia said in shock.
"They also cut off vehicle access at four other points, and large numbers of assault landing craft are moving into the Genkai Sea!" Guilford continued.
"The Chinese Federation?! But have they made a declaration of war?" Cornelia asked.
"No, Highness! The craft are bearing the flag of Japan!" Guilford concluded.
...
Unknown
The blonde long-haired child gritted his teeth in anger.
"Damn it. That half-brain dead retard has a stronger mind than I thought. Or did it perhaps somehow grow a defense to the mental attacks? Either way, there are other methods to dispose of him." The blonde-haired child said as an evil grin settled on his face.
To Be Continued...
Okay, first off, HUGE APOLOGY for taking so long to get this out! I had most of it written but then I got stumped during the campfire scene between Suzaku, Kallen, and Joseph and was only able to finally figure it out just recently. From now on, I'm not going to say when I'll release chapters as that feels like I'm breaking a promise to you guys when I go pass the deadline I set up for myself, I'll just do my best to come out with them as soon as I can each time.
I also wanted to show what an unpredictable mixed-bag Joseph's IQ was. Sometimes he can be very absentminded, and sometimes he has his head on straight.
Moving on, looks like Kallen has caught on to the Lelouch and Nunnally's real past! Will she figure out Zero's identity as well? Is she finally falling for Joseph?
We also seem to get more interesting details about Joseph's mysterious past and how it's all tangled up with Geass. Will Schneizel put the pieces together?
Stay tune and find out!
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