August 13th. Special Administrated Zone of Japan. Tokyo. Ashford Academy.
While the entire world was spinning around anything the current Britannian Emperor was doing, the life inside his old school didn't change that much. Right now it was Summer and the academy was empty, save for a few individuals. One of these individuals had no other choice but to hide inside her old school.
Inside the old school building, the sole person was sleeping in one of the basements. The young girl slept with her head on the desk, computer laying inactive before her. Last night she worked until her body couldn't go on anymore and she collapsed, just like the night before that and so on. However, she couldn't afford the time to rest, not when everything was dependent on her success.
Nina Einstein couldn't give up now, not after everything she had done. The creator of the monstrous weapon known as F.L.E.I.J.A., the one that killed millions of lives in one moment, her child.
Despite how much hatred and fear that weapon caused among masses on both sides, Nina herself was spared any mention. No one knew about her or the fact she was the mother of that weapon. Maybe that was for the best because the young scientist was able to hide better without any party trying to either capture her or avenge the dead ones.
Or so she thought.
The girl was blissfully unaware of the fact that the entire academy was surrounded by unseen watchers. One of whom was on their way towards Nina.
The only door to the basement was opened and the light illuminated the small room, forcing Nina to open her eyes with a frown.
"R-Rivalz, is that you?" Only he was visiting her those days, not that Nina wanted any company. The blue-haired boy would always bring her some food because she forgot about basic necessities while researching.
However, the figure that stepped inside the room wasn't that of the infamous academy clown. Instead, it was someone she didn't recognize. One with a playful voice that carried a cold undertone.
"Nope, little Einstein," D.S smirked when Nina's expression instantly turned from a half-sleep state to wide-awake. The poor girl tried to cover her computer with her body, hoping to hide whatever was there.
"W-who are you?! What are you doing here-?! I-"
"You will stay silent and follow me without any questions, little Einstein." D.S walked closer until she was inches away from her face. Nina tried to move away as far as possible but soon her back hit the wall. The black and pink-haired woman loomed over Nina with a satisfied look. "After all, you don't want to make Zero wait any longer right?"
The fear and confusion left Nina when she heard the name of that man, of her old classmate. For an instant, it was replaced with anger that she didn't feel for a long time.
"He-!"
"How cute. Just one word is enough to make you forget your position. The time to pay for your sins has come." The Caretaker of Spacetime took Nina's chin with her hands and smiled lightly. "What are you gonna do? Blow up Tokyo again?"
Nina looked down, unable to hide the shame on her face. D.S let out a short laugh before turning around and walking away.
"Let's go, His Majesty is waiting."
This time Nina did as she was told and silently followed this woman. She knew that sooner or later she would see Zero again, but she didn't expect it to be so soon.
Inside the director's office.
The youngest but already popular reporter Milly Ashford made her way towards her grandfather's office, not paying attention to anyone on her way there. Maybe if she did, Milly would have noticed that the secretary was gone and the entire building was empty. However, her attention was focused on only one thing, the message her grandfather sent her this morning. He said he needed to see her immediately but didn't elaborate further, making his granddaughter worried.
She practically kicked away the doors as she entered his office. With a worried tone, Milly shouted.
"Grandpa-!"
The moment she saw the occupants of the room, Milly froze.
Because inside the office before her grandpa was sitting none other than Lelouch vi Britannia, happily smiling and drinking tea with the older man. Their eyes met, Milly didn't know what to say while Lelouch looked at her with a small smile, but she sensed that he was hiding something.
'Lelouch, but what is he doing here?' Ever since his coronation, the blonde beauty didn't know what to think anymore about her childhood friend.
Everything went too fast and chaotic even for someone like her. After the events of the second battle for Tokyo, her old student council fell apart. Suzaku was declared as an enemy of the state. Nina became a ghost and was hiding inside the academy, unwilling to see Milly. The last time she saw Kallen was during the banquet in China, and that didn't turn out great. Rolo… she didn't know where the awkward boy disappeared but for some reason, she felt like something awful happened to him. Shirley was dead. And then there was Lelouch.
"Oh, Milly! We were just talking about you with Lelouch!" her grandfather Ruben happily said.
"Milly." The girl in question looked at Lelouch. His eyes never left her, gauging her reaction perhaps. "It is nice to see you again."
"Lelouch..."
"Come on, Millificent. Don't just stay there and join us! Lelouch brought some amazing tea with him." Ruben said like there was nothing wrong with having the Emperor sitting next to you.
Milly could only do as she was told and silently sat with them. Even then, Lelouch was still watching her every move. The former council president didn't know what to do or think.
'Did Lelouch come here to see me?... No, why would he? I'm just some reporter.' The idea of Lelouch of all people getting homesick for their academy was laughable.
"How are you doing, Milly?" He asked with a warm tone. Milly looked at him before staring down at her tea.
"I'm fine, Your Majesty. Thank you for asking." She said carefully.
"Milly, it is Lelouch, why are you behaving so uptight?" Her grandfather frowned, seemingly unable to understand what was going on. After all, why was his dear granddaughter behaving so strangely next to Lelouch? They have known each other since they were children. "What is wrong-"
"Ruben," Lelouch called him. "Remember what I said about Charles' actions?" the White Emperor eyed his old friend. "You weren't the only one who was affected."
"...Oh," Ruben said with sudden realisation before clenching his fist with fury. "That son of a whore!"
Milly's eyes went wide, never hearing her grandfather speak like this. "Grandpa-?!"
"Calm down, Milly," Lelouch said calmly before turning to the older man. "Ruben, please leave my dead grandmother out of this. If you want to spit on Charles' memory, you're more than welcome." the young emperor said with a small smirk. "As for the current issue, please leave everything to us. We will handle it."
"We?"
Milly raised an eyebrow before Lelouch pointed behind her. The blonde reporter turned around only to see another blonde girl standing in the corner, a little impatient. Milly's eyes went wide when she realised who it was.
"Milly, let me introduce to you Leila Malcal, my political advisor. Leila, this is Milly Ashford, the most honest reporter you will find in Japan." Lelouch smiled while the two blondes stared at each other. Leila silently nodded while Milly weekly waved at her.
'Ok, what is the Messiah of Europe doing here?' Milly saw Leila on TV but never imagined meeting her in real life, then again she didn't expect to see Lelouch again either. 'He is planning something, Lelouch wouldn't come all the way here without some motive. And why is grandpa acting so weird around him?'
"Ruben, if you could give us some time alone please." The old man nodded and quietly excused himself. However, he stopped near his granddaughter and whispered.
"Millificent, don't worry. It is Lelouch we're talking about. He cares about you." After that, the older man left them. After he was gone, Milly turned to Lelouch.
"Lelouch, what is going on here? What did you and grandpa talk about?" She asked with a serious tone. Lelouch on the other hand just smiled at her.
"Seeing you so serious is a little unusual, Milly. Makes me almost miss the old you, the one who would put on weird costumes and force everyone to dress up." Lelouch remembered the old times with a feeling of nostalgia. However, the girls in the room gave him a look.
"Lelouch, let's move on to business." Leila reminded him.
"Yeah yeah, I didn't forget." He said and turned to his old friend. "Tell me, Milly, how much do you remember about the Black Rebellion?"
'What? What does a rebellion have anything to do with this?' Milly wondered but decided to answer his question. "Ah, after the students were evacuated we were taken to the mainland. We spent a week there before we were allowed to return back to Tokyo. Why are you asking this, Lelouch?"
Lelouch sighed. "So you don't remember anything?"
"Unsurprising, your father made sure there won't be any leaks," Leila commented, making Milly pause. What did Lelouch's dead father have to do with it?
"I know but the fact he managed to change their memories about her is frustrating. Old bastard destroyed everything they knew about her." Lelouch said with venom.
Milly didn't understand what was going on, but she thought this might be a good opportunity to ask Lelouch about someone.
"Lelouch, where is Rolo?"
The White Emperor froze. His violet eyes stared at her with an expression that Milly never saw on his face. Sorrow.
'What happened to Rolo?'
"Le-" Before Milly could ask any further, there was a knock on the door.
"Sire, we brought him-"
"Let me go, you weirdo!" Milly heard the familiar male voice. She eyed Lelouch with a question in her eyes. What was he doing here?
Lelouch quickly collected his thoughts and glanced at the doors. "Let him in."
With his permission, the door was opened and the OSI agent led the familiar face inside the room before bowing and leaving them. The newcomer angrily looked back at the agent who just left.
"Jerk! I told him to leave me alone, but he-" the blue-haired young man stopped when his eyes glanced towards the European beauty in the room, not noticing or paying any attention to his old friends. "Well hello there, Miss-?"
"Leila Malcal." Lelouch answered, making his old friend turn towards him with wide eyes. "Hello, Rivalz. It's been a while, hasn't it?"
"LELOUCH?!" His old driver and partner in crime from the times of gambling, Rivalz Cardemonde shouted with genuine surprise. "What?! How?! Who?!"
"You know the answer to the last one, Rivalz." Milly sighed, at least the blue-haired fool never changed. She did smile when Rivalz turned to her. "Hi, Rivalz."
"Oh hi, Milly." Rivalz waved at her before his eyes went wide again. "Wait, Milly?! What are you doing here?!"
"She is here for the same reason you're, Rivalz," Lelouch said as he moved from his seat and took the one that was occupied by Ruben. "I invited you two because I wanted to discuss something with you."
"Wait, Lelouch, you're the Emperor!" Rivalz suddenly shouted, realising he forgot something important. "We're talking with the freaking Emperor who is our Lelouch!"
"Is he always like this?" Leila asked, not bothering if she offended the loudmouth.
"Sometimes." Both Milly and Lelouch said in unison before smiling. The blonde reporter was happy to see the same Rivalz. At least he didn't change like everyone else. Their friend/emperor chuckled, seeing those two made him nostalgic for a moment.
"Milly, Rivalz, I came here because I have an urgent matter." This made them pause, looking at him with a worried look.
"Wait, aren't you supposed to be travelling around the mainland?" Milly finally remembered that the White Emperor was planning to give a speech today. After what Nunnally said on TV, Lelouch was flying around the empire, trying to reassure the population. The monarch in question nodded.
"Indeed, his Imperial Majesty Lelouch vi Britannia will give another inspiring speech about nothing in particular. However, simple student Lelouch Lamperouge will just have a normal day and reunite with his school friends." Lelouch pointed at himself. "Today I'm here as a regular student." His friends didn't need to know every detail of his real purpose in Japan.
"But wait, what about your duties?" Milly asked.
Lelouch waved away. "Let's just say I have a good stunt double and she knows how to perform my role."
"Heh, it is so weird talking to you like this, Lelouch." His friend raised an eyebrow before Rivalz quickly added. "I-I mean after everything that happened you know… who could guess our Lelouch would become the Emperor."
"Milly could have," Lelouch commented with a downcast look.
"Wait, what?" Rivalz turned towards his high school crush. "Milly?"
"... I don't know what you are talking about, Lelouch. My family used to be a high ranking nobility, but we were never close to the Royal Family. I never-" Milly felt a headache. She pressed a palm against her head. "Wait-"
"Milly?! What's wrong?" Rivalz looked at her with a worried look while Lelouch silently observed her.
As for the former noble, she remembered something from the past.
'Millificent, let me introduce to you His Royal Highness prince Lelouch and Princess Nunnally vi Britannia.' Her grandfather said with a smile as he introduced the children of Marrianne Lamperouge.
A memory she forgot. Or was forced to forget.
"W-what is this?" Milly whispered to herself. She raised her head and glanced at Lelouch. "Did we-"
However, her question was interrupted by the sound of the doors opening again and followed by new faces. Milly and Rivalz turned towards it and saw another familiar person, followed by someone they didn't see before. A woman with pink and black hair, and-
"Nina?" Rivalz looked pale. Now having an idea why Lelouch might have visited him. He most likely found them hiding Nina! It was Rivalz's duty to look after her while she was hiding from everyone.
"...Nina."
The girl in question stared at Milly with mixed emotions. After the battle, neither of them talked to each other. Milly knew that Nina was hiding at the academy, while Nina knew that Milly was informed about her whereabouts. However, they didn't want to or didn't know how to speak to each other. The last time they had a moment alone was back in China, and neither of them were happy with their talk. Rivalz practically has become a middle man between the two girls.
It wasn't hatred or anything like that, but the two of them didn't know what to say to each other. Milly was afraid to act first, worried she would scare off Nina. Meanwhile, the young scientist didn't know how to solve something like this, social interactions were her weakest area of expertise.
However, it mattered little to the person who brought Nina out of her hole.
"Guess who I found, Lelouch!" D.S. happily said as she showed the girl inside the room. "Amazing work right?"
Her lover gave her a light chuckle. "Don't forget to knock next time, Dianna. We are having a conversation here. Now, if you please give us some privacy."
"Ohh… not even a head pat or quick kiss?" D.S attempted to do what mortals called puppy eyes, but it wasn't enough to manipulate the emperor.
Lelouch's attention was focused on three individuals before him. He paid little mind to D.S right now, she will get anything she wants later. "Not now."
D.S stopped and nodded, quickly stopping her childish play and left the room. The Caretaker of Spacetime left her champion to deal with his old friends. However, student council members weren't completely alone.
"Lelouch, it is time," Leila spoke again, breaking her silence. She didn't want to interfere with their reunion, despite how awkward for some it might have been. Leila understood that Lelouch wanted to spend more time alone, but there was also a matter of grave importance.
Geass.
"As usual you're right, Leila." Lelouch eyed them. "Milly, Rivalz and Nina, I will ask you three to pay close attention to Leila and don't blink."
Rivalz had no issues with it, especially when the messiah of Europe walked before the three of them. Her expression was neutral but Milly noticed that Leila was nervous about something. However, not everyone was willing to cooperate.
"Why should I listen to you?" Nina turned away, not bothered to hide venom in her tone. "After everything you have done."
"Nina?" What got into her? Rivalz wanted to ask her what she meant but Lelouch interrupted them.
"Because otherwise, you won't learn the real reason Zero killed the princess Euphemia," Lelouch said with a cold tone that made the girl freeze.
Nina looked at him with horror and shock.
"You-!"
However, now Nina was looking in Lelouch's direction and it meant that Leila was within her line of sight. Which meant now all three of them could see the symbol of the blue reverse bird in her eyes that flew towards them. Milly and Rivalz froze when they remembered something, someone important.
'How?'
After the Black Rebellion, the students of Ashford academy were taken not to a safe place, but to Pendragon. Once there, they met the former Emperor Charles zi Britannia. However, the old ruler didn't meet them as a show of kindness. No, the former emperor had a nefarious reason in mind. He made them forget about one person, about a small kind girl who loved her brother more than anyone. For the majority of them, it was nothing serious, but for Milly, it was a fate worse than death.
'Everything we did together. Our childhood. All of those moments. That man-'
How they used to play together. How they used to prank and tease Lelouch or fight for his attention. Everything they did together. She, Lelouch and-
'Nunnally, how could I forget all of this?!'
Tears started to fall from her face.
Everything was changed, happy memories replaced with fake ones. Milly never knew about Lelouch and Nunnally real identities, she never knew princess Nunnally. Instead, she only knew Lelouch's little brother, Rolo. All of it was just to trick Lelouch into a trap.
Milly Ashford fell to her knees.
Lelouch didn't think twice when he rushed towards Milly and helped to raise her up.
'I should have prepared them better for this.' He could feel her tear-streaked face pressing against his chest. Milly Ashford was crying and Lelouch couldn't remember the last time it happened. '...Maybe during Shirley's funeral...'
"Lelouch," Leila called him out as he turned towards her. The blonde advisor had an anxious look on her face. More than anyone else in this room, she was afraid of her power not working properly. However, he was always confident in her ability.
"It worked, Leila. It worked." Lelouch quietly said, making the Saviour of Europe sigh with relief. His attention returned to a girl in his arms when he felt how Milly hugged him tighter.
"Lelouch- Everything, everything from our childhood, is that-?"
"It was real, Milly. Every moment we spent together back on the mainland and in Japan was real. You, me and Nunnally."
"Nunnally," Milly whispered, still horrified with how her memories were changed. "How? How could I forget about her?"
"My father brainwashed you and the rest of the academy. He made everyone forget about her and replaced your memories with ones where I had a different sibling."
"Rolo." It was the first thing Rivalz said after being affected by Leila's Geass. He looked pale as if he would vomit any moment. His hands were shaking a little bit, still trying to understand what just happened. "H-he isn't your brother right, Lelouch? I remember now, you had Nunnally as your sister. But what happened to him? We haven't seen him since forever."
Lelouch regarded him silently.
'Rolo, a fake brother who was more family to me than hundreds of siblings or my own parents.' He might have been an assassin and an agent of the Geass Order, but the boy gave up his life for Lelouch multiple times. Something he wouldn't forget, even if Rolo took the life of someone precious to him.
"He is dead." Both Milly and Rivalz froze. Rivalz looked down as tears began to fall.
"Oh, Rolo buddy…"
Lelouch didn't tell them about Shirley. They deserved to know the full truth, but not right now. Not after everything they just experienced.
"But how? How did we forget everything about Nunnally?" Milly managed to stop her tears, looking at Lelouch's eyes. "What had your father done to us?"
"...Charles had a unique power, think of it as the ability to brainwash people and change their memories. He could make people forget something while replacing old memories with fake ones." This power allowed him to change even Lelouch on several occasions. From making him into a Britannian lap dog in Euro-Britannia to replacing memories of his sister with fake ones. He even changed the biggest trauma Lelouch and Nunnally had experienced or were made to believe they experienced. "This power is called Geass. He used it on me as well, multiple times in fact."
'Bastard made us think we saw how Marianne was gunned down, just so he could sell his lies better. Worthless piece of shit. Not that Marianne was any better.' If Lelouch could make a collection of human consciousness obey his order again, he would wish for his parents to suffer an eternity.
Normally Milly would have a harder time believing something like that, but after everything that happened, she didn't have time for everything the existence of what sounded like magic.
"Geass… just like prince Schneizel." Lelouch turned towards Nina with narrowed eyes.
"So… I see that you weren't under Charles' Geass." Nina turned away while Lelouch's gaze turned cold. He felt how the girl in his arm froze, Milly heard it too. "All this time you had your memories about Nunnally, but never said anything to them. Nina, what did my brother say about Geass to you?"
The green-haired girl looked down."... He showed the evidence of you using this Geass power on Princess Euphemia on that day. To me, the other scientists and the Knights of the Round."
"False Knights of the Round." Leila decided to correct her.
"...Majority stayed with him, while I-"
"While you ran away, hidden from the world after what you have done." Lelouch started with a mocking tone before Nina closed her eyes. "After-"
"Don't-"
"After F.L.E.I.J.A. killed millions in one second."
Nina's head snapped toward him, her fists were clenched as she shouted at him.
"And what right do you have to judge me?! You who killed even more people?! Even those who died from the F.L.E.I.J.A explosion, their blood on your hand as well! Everyone who has died ever since Zero showed up, all of it your-"
SLAP!
Nina fell to the ground, hand on her right cheek that reddened from the sudden hit. Shocked, she looked up and saw that Milly stood over her with an enraged expression, her eyes still wet.
"... All this time you remembered Nunnally. All this time you kept your memories unlike the rest of us. But you didn't even try to tell us about it. You didn't say anything… didn't even try to speak with us." Milly spoke quietly, but it was clear she was hurt. "After what happened on that day, I couldn't even imagine how you felt. After F.L.E.I.J.A… I knew you needed help and I said nothing when you hid here. I always thought that you needed time to calm down after that… but all this time you knew. Back in China, you knew all of this and never told me anything. How could you?!"
Nina was silent, she opened and closed her mouth a few times, trying to say anything. Eventually, she found an excuse. "Prince Schneizel said not to reveal anything, he didn't know the whole truth himself but said that it was for the best-"
"BULLSHIT!" Milly shouted, making Nina wince. "We're your friends! Our memories were changed and the person we all knew was ripped away from our own heads! Only you remembered her… And your excuse is some fucking order?! And for what?"
"... To kill Zero." Nina glared at Lelouch. "To kill the man who took Princess Euphemia from me."
"Adorable," Lelouch smirked. "You have gone to such lengths to avenge Euphemia but failed miserably. All you managed to achieve is the death of what? Twenty-five million people? Thirty million? Not to mention creating the most terrifying weapon in the history of mankind, something that will bring only more death and suffering. I'm sure I have an idea how Euphemia would have reacted to this. Could you guess how, Nina?"
Lelouch taunted her, not because he wanted to hurt Nina, but because he wanted to make her understand the consequences of her actions. Was he innocent? No, Euphemia's death was his mistake, one of many, but it didn't justify Nina's actions. Nothing could justify F.L.E.I.J.A.'s existence.
"You-! You're the one who killed her! What right do you have to mock me about how her highness would have reacted?!"
Rivalz looked confused. "Wait, but Zero killed the princess Euphemia. Not Lelouch."
"Oh, I forgot to mention." Both Milly and Rivalz turned to him. "I'm Zero, or I was until I was betrayed by the Black Knights."
He said it with such ease that he paid little mind to how his friends reacted.
"..."
"..."
"I need a drink." Milly covered her eyes with a palm, trying to process everything. She retired to her seat, Nina looked at her, thinking about what to say next but decided to stay silent. Rivalz meanwhile just blinked before speaking.
"You know what? I'll believe it. Just because it sounds like the least crazy thing today."
Lelouch gave him a small smile. "Fair enough. I know that everything you heard right now does sound crazy, but it is true."
"But why tell us all this?" Milly looked at him with a tired expression. "Nunnally, your father messing with our memories, and now your past identity as Zero. Why did you tell us any of it?"
"I want you to know the truth because you deserve to know after everything that happened. And because I care about you." They were his friends, the only ones Lelouch still had from his old life. Well, two of them were at least.
Nina's glare didn't die down. Her eyes were piercing him. Lelouch couldn't blame her, the desire for vengeance was familiar to him after all. However, what he can do is remind Nina of her current position.
"Nina Einstein, please take a seat so we can speak like adults. Of course, unless you want me to treat you like a criminal for what you did and punish accordingly." Everyone in the room froze. "Say, announce to the world about your identity as the creator of F.L.E.I.J.A. and just toss you into the room of relatives of those who died because of your creation."
Nina looked at him with a horrified expression.
"You-"
"Fully intended to do it and more, unless you're willing to cooperate. Sitting next to us and talking like normal people, instead of glaring at me will be a good start." With clenched teeth, the girl in question did as she was told to. "Thank you."
She didn't say anything, Nina stopped glaring but refused to meet his gaze. Milly and Rivalz glanced at each other, not sure what to say. Lelouch noticed that the atmosphere became awkward and spoke.
"I can understand that this reunion didn't go the way you expected."
Milly shook her head. "After you came to power I didn't expect to see you again, but I guess that's because of our memories as well."
"I always knew that you would come back, Lelouch," Rivalz said sincerely. "I mean, I knew that you'd want to return to Japan at least to take back your stuff."
"Rivalz, I'm the Emperor, I can get anything I want-"
"No, I mean your albums and photos." Lelouch froze when Rivalz reminded him of them. "After your coronation - which was insane by the way- no one touched your room or Rolo's… your things are still there."
Lelouch paused. After killing his parents, he left Japan and didn't return here until now. He sent OSI agents to monitor Ashford Academy in case something will happen and if Nina decided to hide there. However, he never bothered to take back his belongings or Rolo's stuff. The only valuables there were photos of their time in the academy. Sadly, Lelouch knew there was nothing with Nunnally. After Charles changed his memory, everything from his past life was destroyed.
'But there are memories I created with Rolo and the others.' Lelouch forgot about those small things. Rolo was dead and there was nothing left after him except those memories.
"... And my belongings are still there?"
Rivalz nodded. "Yup made sure no one would touch them."
Lelouch smiled, impressed and surprised Rivalz of all people was this thoughtful. "Thank you, Rivalz."
"No problem buddy. But…" Rivalz looked troubled, not sure if he should bring this up. "If you were Zero, that means you and your Black Knights attacked the academy and took everyone hostage during Black Rebellion, right?"
"... Oh." Lelouch did that, didn't he? He also used them as bait against Suzaku, even if it was a bluff. "Sorry?"
'How am I supposed to apologize to them? Never had this talk with my hostages… wait, there was Tianzi, but I barely spoke with her. It was Kaguya who spent time with the little empress.' Lelouch winced, remembering that night. Milly chuckled when she saw the troubled expression on his face.
"Oh wow, did our Rivalz manage to make the mighty White Emperor wince?" Milly smirked when Lelouch glared at her.
"You are unnaturally carefree about the fact I used you as bait." Milly waved that thought away.
"After everything I learned and remembered today I don't care too much about your bluffing." Milly smiled. "I know that you wouldn't harm us of your own volition. Now that I have my memories back I can say that I know you very well, Lulu."
Lelouch froze when she said his old nickname, something that made Milly laugh. Rivalz grinned at the familiar reaction, while Leila raised an eyebrow.
'Not that name again!'
"Lulu?" She wanted to give them some privacy, but couldn't help but smile at this nickname. "That sounds cute."
"Right? I came up with it when we were kids. I remember how Lelouch tried to make us stop but gave up after everyone started to use it. Our Lulu was such a cute child, an easy target for teasing." Milly happily said. "When we grew up, I didn't stop using it, but now I had more opportunities to tease and embarrass Lulu."
The familiar playful fire returned to Milly's eyes, the same one Milly had whenever she decided to have a weird festival.
Lelouch looked at her with horror, remembering that there was always a fate worse than death.
'Oh, crap.'
"We had some many fun festivals with Lelouch dressed in anything we will find. He was a catboy, wore a dress and everything."
"Oh my." Leila covered her mouth, her cheeks were a little red from imagining Lelouch in such clothes. But at the same time, she wanted to see it. "Do you have photos or videos?"
Lelouch gave his advisor a horrified look while Milly enthusiastically nodded. "Of course! I will show you-"
"Let's change the topic, please." Lelouch quickly intervened before it was too late. However, the look on Leila's face made it obvious she wasn't done with this matter. She glanced at Milly as she nodded before winking at Lelouch who wanted to groan. 'I will order OSI to find every damn photo and get rid of it. No one will ever know about them.'
Rivalz's grin disappeared as he suddenly remembered something.
"Hold up, if you're Zero, how did you become the Emperor of Britannia? Aren't Zero and the Black Knights against Britannia?"
Lelouch sighed. "This is complicated ...well yes, but actually no. The core members of the Order of Black Knights didn't know my real identity and secrets until Schneizel revealed everything to them."
Rivalz blinked. "And what? It was enough to betray you?"
"Without getting into small details, yes. They did."
"Because a guy who was their enemy said some stuff about you that might have been fabricated, they betrayed you?" Rivalz continued.
"Well, the Black Knights had some evidence. They had a witness in the form of a former OSI agent-"
"So the Black Knights betrayed their leader because they believed the enemy leader and Britannian spy." Rivalz stared at Lelouch, even Milly and Nina were giving him a questioning look. "Lelouch buddy, you need to have better hiring requirements for your employees."
Even Leila was nodding at this statement.
Lelouch wanted to say anything. He didn't want to admit that Rivalz was absolutely right. Not because he wanted to try and defend the intelligence of his former followers, but mainly because it made their betrayal sound even more idiotic.
'Then again I can't say I had the most qualified people with someone like Ohgi being General Secretary.'
Lelouch hoped that maybe his current followers were brighter than the Black Knights. Maybe they were less sane, but they were certainly more trustworthy.
'Milly embarrassing me in front of Leila, Rivalz pointing out obvious plot holes in the logic of the organization I created. What about you Nina?' Lelouch thought as he eyed the silent girl in glasses. "Nina, don't you want to speak with your friends?"
"You are not my friend, not after everything you have done." Nina tried to hide the anger in her voice. Leila narrowed her eyes but Lelouch nodded.
"Fair enough, I killed your idol and am partially responsible for you choosing this path in life, I will admit it. If it weren't for me, Euphemia would have lived a little longer. Of course, before someone from Britannia would have come and killed her anyway."
Nina looked at him with a puzzled look. "What?"
"Hmm? Don't tell me you thought her plan would have worked without anyone from our ideal homeland ruining everything? Euphemia's plan would have been sabotaged by the nobility or the Royal Family just because it was inconvenient for them to have something like a Special Zone. Or did you think that without Zero, your dear princess would have no enemies? Please, I can see dozens of scenarios where Euphie would have been killed." Lelouch said in a carefree tone, knowing what effect his words would have on Nina. "In other words, her plan was doomed to fail."
"Lies! You're wrong! Princess Euphemia- she- I would have helped her!" Nina stood up and slammed her hands against the table. Leila was about to pull out her gun when Lelouch raised his hand to stop her.
"Nina-" Milly tried to interject but Lelouch beat her to the punch.
"Oh, really? Please, tell me how you would have done this? Perhaps you would have used F.L.E.I.J.A. against anyone who disagreed with Euphemia? Blow up city after city, until there was nothing left to harm your precious princess. You do know how Euphemia would have reacted to this, right?" Lelouch laughed as Nina began to tremble at the thought, and when he rose up from his seat, the smaller girl shrank back as he leant forward. "How disgusted and horrified she would have been?"
"S-stop it-"
"Euphemia would have called you a monster and would never look at you with those kind-"
"Stop!" Nina said as she fell on her knees and covered her ears. "Don't say it-"
"You know it is true. Euphemia was a naive but kind girl, she would never approve of something like F.L.E.I.J.A. You created a weapon that killed millions and can kill even more." Lelouch raised his hand to stop Milly when she tried to reach out to Nina. "You have created the most terrifying weapon of this century, Nina. Tell me, what are you going to do about it?"
He already knew the answer, but wanted to hear it from Nina.
"...I-I'm trying to atone for it… I know that F.L.E.I.J.A. was a mistake and I want to make sure what happened in Tokyo won't be repeated ever. I'm working on something, something that can render any F.L.E.I.J.A. useless."
"Yes, I know about it." Nina blinked when Lelouch said it. "I had my people monitor your every move even before I took the throne."
"What? But I was hiding-"
"Please, Nina. Any secret service would have found you by now if I didn't order OSI to hide your presence. The only reason neither the Black Knights, Schneizel, or the EU were able to find you is that I wanted you safe." Lelouch enjoyed the shocked look she gave him. "Unlike you, I'm willing to look past old grudges. Not always I will admit that, but this time I was able to forget about a crime against the world itself because I knew that you will try to create something to combat F.L.E.I.J.A."
"Nina, is that true?" Milly wasn't going to forget past revelations, but she also understood how much Nina suffered because of her creation. "All this time you were working to-"
"To make sure F.L.E.I.J.A won't be used ever again, yes." Nina looked down, shame and memories of that horrific night returning to her. "I couldn't forget that night, what I had seen. The explosion and number of casualties… I couldn't sleep since then, so I worked until my body… all this time I was trying to create a device that would make any warhead useless."
"And you succeeded," Lelouch said as he returned to his seat. "My agents were monitoring your activity, reporting anything you found and handing over your research to my scientists. They assured me that you were able to come up with a design for the countermeasure to F.L.E.I.J.A."
Nina shook her head. "Yes, but it is only theory, I don't actually know how it will perform in practice. Besides, I didn't have anything to build it with."
"Then it is a good thing I have come with a team of scientists ready to test your idea."
Nina looked at him dumbly.
"What."
"You heard me. I need a tool to combat F.L.E.I.J.A. Schneizel surely will build dozens of warheads and I need a working countermeasure to it. The one you will build."
Lelouch thought about securing Nina and moving her to the mainland even before the war with the EU, but after reading the reports on her research he decided against it. She was working day and night, driven by her desire for redemption alone. Forcing her to work under him at that time would have been counterproductive. Nina hated Zero and it could have affected her at that time. But now-
"Right now you can't deny me. You need better equipment and access to my resources to build this device of yours. I need it and I want you to build it, the perfect combination in my eyes." Lelouch smiled while she narrowed her eyes.
"Working with Zero, a murderer who killed my princess-"
"You don't have a choice, Nina. I can force you to work with me, whether you like it or not. But you're a smart girl, you know it is your only chance to do the right thing." He leaned in closer and whispered into her ear. "Besides, don't you want to know the reason I killed your precious princess?"
Nina's eyes went wide. "You-!"
"I prepared everything, you will find anything you need outside," Lelouch smirked as he stood up. The emperor decided to make a joke to lighten up the mood "I offer a three-month vacation, health insurance and personal parking space, you might even get an annual bonus. Sounds like a good plan, doesn't it?"
"-Personal parking space..." Rivalz mused with dreamy eyes.
"...I don't have a choice anyway."
"That's right. I will make sure you will work even if your body will start rotting." Lelouch said happily. "Japanese work culture has a term for death from overwork, perhaps you will experience this as well."
Nina said nothing as she stood up and walked towards the door. "I'm only doing it because-"
"Because you want to protect people from your mistake, Nina. I understand it." Lelouch said with a sympathetic tone. "You will do it. We will do it. I promise."
She said nothing before glancing at Milly and Rivalz one last time. The blue-haired boy waved at her awkwardly, hoping she would be fine and there was nothing to worry about. The blonde reporter merely gave her a side glance, having nothing more to say to her.
Nina bit her lip, maybe hoping to hear something from them. But at the same time, she understood that after everything that happened today neither of them knew how to treat her now. She couldn't blame them, and even if she wanted to despise Zero, Lelouch was right about F.L.E.I.J.A.
"... I will start working immediately." Lelouch simply nodded as she left the room.
"You're sure she will manage it?" Leila decided to ask.
"She is a genius who changed the warfare simply because she wanted to avenge an important person to her. She will do it." Lelouch turned to his old friends. "As for you two, I'm sorry that you had to go through all of it because of me."
'Being Geassed, having their lives put in danger and having their circle of friends destroyed. They suffered because they are close to me.' Suzaku's words about how it would have been better if he never existed rung in his head
Milly and Rivalz exchanged a look before the former council president spoke.
"You're overthinking this, Lelouch. Who is to say everything would have been fine if you didn't do anything?"
Rivalz quickly nodded. "Yeah buddy, your dad would still be an asshole and might've done something worse. Besides, right now everything is fine, even if not everyone is around..."
"...Do you remember when we launched fireworks that one night?" Lelouch never forgot that night. It happened after the emperor got back his memories. The student council wasn't full anymore, but he cherished the moment he had with them. "I would like to repeat that."
"Do you want to do it right now?" Rivalz wondered. "I'm sure we have a few fireworks left if you want."
"Hmm, maybe not at this moment, but later. When our group is bigger." Milly gave him a concerned look.
"Lelouch, about Nunn-"
"Let's not mention my work right now. I will return to it after our little reunion so I would like to spend more time with you two." Lelouch needed some escape from the burdens of his current role and needed some time with people who still thought of him as a friend. "Tell me about your life and what happened while I was away."
He glanced at Leila. "If my adorable advisor so wishes, she can spare herself from this meeting. Leila, you could take some time for yourself while we have a moment."
"Thanks, but I would prefer to stay and hear more stories about your academy life." A cheeky grin appeared on her face. "Plus, I'm sure other girls would like to see some of those photos Lady Ashford spoke about."
"Girls? Lelouch is there something you aren't telling us?" Milly's old Cheshire smile returned to her face. "Don't tell me the rumours are true about White Emperor's unofficial harem-"
"Let's change the topic from my love life." Lelouch needed to quickly change the subject again before Milly got too much information. She was both Milly and now part of the media culture, the scariest combo for any leader with a secret. "As I said, I want to hear more about your life. Anything interesting happened lately?"
Rivalz 'eyes sparkled. "Oh, I can start! Remember my old moped, well I sold it and got a new-"
Nunnally opened her eyes and looked around, bearing witness to a verdant field of greenery and the shine of the sun above her head. Stranger still however, there were dozens of Knightmares standing before her, empty but nonetheless waiting for their time to fight. Despite the war machines ruining the picture of a peaceful landscape, she was more focused on another matter. The fact that she could see right now.
The fact that the crippled princess was able to open her eyes could mean only one thing. She was asleep and this was just a dream.
'After all, my dreams are the only place where I can see or-' Nunnally took a few steps. '-walk without assistance.'
Regardless if it was her dream or not, Nunnally could use some time alone with her thoughts. She started to walk and wondered what she must do in the real world after this dream ends. She walked next to the Knightmares, wondering why they were so detailed. She hadn't seen real Knightmares in years, so how could her dream have them in such detail?
"Don't those machines belong to Lelouch?" Nunnally asked no one as she slowly touched one of them. Sadly, she felt nothing once her flesh made contact with the metal. "For quite the realistic dream it feels kind of empty."
"Because it isn't your dream, little princess." A sudden voice spoke up, making Nunnally spin around in surprise as she stared at a new face.
She was... beautiful. Her skin was as pale as what she remembered moonlight to be like, and her eyes! They were a vibrant violet so pure she found she couldn't pull away from them. Her hair was just as alien to her as everything else about her, black as midnight strands with purple tips at the ends. And yet, as invitingly friendly that she came across as-
"What- who are you?" If this was a dream then why was someone actually talking to her? This sort of thing had never happened!
"Oh, my name is Diana, but my friends call me D.S." The pink and black-haired Caretaker of Spacetime spoke as she approached Nunnally and circled around her with a curious expression. "Do you want to be my friend?"
"Ahh… umm… hello Lady Diana. I'm sorry but what do you mean this isn't my dream?" Nunnally felt weird around this woman, she didn't give her the sense of danger but at the same time she felt strange. As if she was an outsider.
"Oh, because this is C's world, a place of many things. For example, this is where your brother killed your parents and saved the world from a meaningless existence."
"What-" Nunnally froze. "What?! Do you know my brother? And what do you mean about my parents?"
"Oh, I know your brother alright." A perverted smile formed on the woman's face. "In fact, I know every inch of his body by this point."
Nunnally didn't like the way she phrased that. It sounded kind of indecent.
"As for your parents, that's a long story. Perhaps you want to hear it?"
"Wait, why should I listen to you?" Nunnally wanted to step away but was stopped when her back was pressed against a Knightmare's leg. D.S noticed that she didn't flinch.
"Can't feel it eh? Well, I didn't expect you to show up here. The plan was just to find your location."
Nunnally looked at her with a questioning look. "What?"
"Well, you see I'm the head of the empire's intelligence network and I wanted to find you after your little chat with Lelouch. So I decided to use Geass to find your location." That X woman was supposed to place a small beacon somewhere near Nunnally. Later either D.S. or C.C. should have been able to sense her presence with the help of C's World. But somehow, the little princess appeared here, even if she was in spiritual form. "I can say more if you want. I don't mind sharing some secrets with the little sister of Lelouch."
"And why should I listen to you?" Nunnally needed to be wary of this person. She was on the enemy's side, on Lelouch's side.
"If you don't want to, you don't need to." D.S happily said, a finger to her mouth in a shushing motion. "Anything I will say might be a lie. You don't have to believe anything that will come out of my mouth. You will wake up and forget about this place… or you can have a conversation with me and maybe learn more about your dear older brother and why Lelouch is doing what he considers the right thing."
Nunnally didn't move or say anything. This might be useful, to both learn more about the side of her brother she never knew and get useful information out of this weird woman.
"Also," D.S started to walk away as she gave her a side glance. "I will give you information about how you can start walking and have your vision back in real life."
What?
"Impossible." Nunnally whispered but D.S heard her. "I-I can't walk or see after that night when mother-" A finger stopped her lips from moving as the woman was in front of her suddenly.
"Fabricated lies placed in your head by Charles' Geass. There are many things you don't know. About the real reason your brother killed Charles and Marianne. Why Lelouch is trying to expand his empire, why he killed Euphemia and many other things you can learn from me." She smiled a cheshire grin then, but somehow it did not feel malignant. "If you wish, of course."
"How do you know all of this?" Who was this woman and where did she get this information?
For a moment D.S. stopped, her stance changed, becoming more robotic as she spoke with a voice that carried hundreds more.
"Because the collection of human consciousness always sees those who try to change human nature, those who try to challenge nature and those who think of themselves to be above God. Nunnally vi Britannia, your parents thought of themselves to be above the world order, above collective human consciousness and were punished by their own son."
'What-how? What is going on?' The only answer Nunnally could come up with was Geass, the unknown to her power that somehow gave Lelouch a chance to challenge their father and homeland.
The little princess was frightened by the sudden change in her attitude, her very voice shaking her to the core. The moment passed quickly though as D.S. returned to her normal state. She smiled as if nothing happened.
"Heh, love seeing the expression of shock on newcomers." D.S chuckled. "If you want to learn then join me and we'll have some girl talk as they call it. Am I using that term right?"
"... What about Lelouch?" Nunnally was willing to hear out this D.S, but only to learn more about Geass. Will her brother hear about it? Could she talk with him like this too? If so… Nunnally didn't know if she wanted to speak with her brother or not. Part of her thought it might be dangerous, but another part wanted to see Lelouch with her own eyes and speak with him, even if they were enemies.
"Lelouch? He won't be able to speak with you as well as I can. I can act as a messenger between the two of you if you want. As for knowing about this, I will report this conversation to him later." So Nunnally needed to be careful and not reveal anything about their location to D.S. "But I know him very well. Your brother won't be against us talking, believe me."
"How can you know so much about him? Lelouch never told me anything about someone like you." Although, her brother didn't tell her about many things…
"Oh, I was watching your brother and his adventure for a long time. Stuff like the Black Rebellion, his time as Zero, how he killed his siblings, even when he was sleeping or taking a bath. Your brother is such an interesting man. Always had my eyes on him."
Nunnally looked at her not with shock but with a little suspicion. Some of this sounds like a crime to her.
"Are you his stalker?"
D.S actually paused and thought about it for a good minute before clapping her hands with a beaming smile upon realisation.
"I'm actually his stalker! By mortal's standards, I fit the description. How interesting!"
Nunnally gave her a blank stare.
'Is this woman serious?' She was now wondering if all of Lelouch. However, maybe this conversation will be better than just dreaming about reliving childhood tales.
Ashford Academy.
Lelouch walked around his old room, checking if everything was still there. As Rivalz said, all of his belongings remained there, all untouched. This place didn't mean too much to him, but it was nice to visit his old room simply because he could remember the time he spent with Rolo or Nunnally. A time when his little siblings weren't his enemies, or in the case of Rolo when he didn't know about his role as an assassin.
"I suppose I can stay in this room while I'm staying in Japan," After all, it was his room. Besides, Lelouch was there unofficially and couldn't reveal himself to the masses yet. Therefore he couldn't stay in the government palace. It would draw attention. Ashford Academy would be his base of operation. "Just like old times."
It was nostalgic, being back at the academy and planning out how to take down a powerful international entity. Even if this time it meant fighting his own Black Knights. How ironic.
"Enjoying the moment, Lelouch?" The man in question turned towards the door and found his dear witch standing there. C.C was in school uniform, the same one she used to wear. Of course, Lelouch took C.C with him back to Japan. It was the place where they met for the first time. Not to mention he will require her help in dealing with the Black Knights. She was absent during his talk with his old friends. D.S. stayed behind while Lelouch ordered C.C. to check the Thought Elevator on Kamine island.
"How many plans and schemes have I come up with here? Many sleepless nights plotting against Britannia. And now?"
"And now you own it. Rejoice, boy, you have achieved your goals, albeit in a different manner."
Lelouch nodded. "Maybe… but now isn't the time to remember the old times, we have a job to do. Still, I won't deny it is pleasing to be here again."
"Hope you didn't forget our old rules. Boys are sleeping on the floor, ladies on the bed." C.C said before walking toward his old bed and lying there. "Also, order someone to bring me pizza."
Lelouch clicked his tongue in annoyance. He forgot about this part. The green-haired girl used to waste his money on pizza. Even after he had become the emperor, C.C didn't stop wasting his money for her favourite snack. The difference now was she was wasting the national budget of his empire.
'Seems someone wants to remember old times as well.' Lelouch sighed in defeat before thinking about calling OSI and ordering them to take the role of errand boys.
His thoughts were interrupted by a vibration in his pocket. Lelouch pulled out his phone and eyed the caller.
Q2.
"Cinder?" Did she want to have a quick chat or discuss their strategy again? Lelouch wondered while answering it. "My dear White Queen. How are you do-"
How he was interrupted by the voice of his lover and Cinder didn't sound happy at all.
"Lelouch, Pendragon was attacked."
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Hope you enjoyed the new chapter :3!
I will start with the fact that I don't know what exactly Milly and Rivalz remember in the second season. So, I was writing from the perspective that Milly's memories about Nunnally and Lelouch's past as Royalty was erased. Maybe someone can correct me if I missed some info about it. Nina finally appeared, hope I wrote her moments within character. Also, I had a fun idea about fanfic where Lelouch either as Zero or as a regular student comforted her instead of Euphemia, and how it will affect the future. Just a fun idea for anyone who is interested in Nina being obsessed over Lelouch...yes, I'm desperate for CG yandere fanfics (guess Kallen will take this role in this fanfic, who knows :3)
Editor: Kingpin Lunamaria.