Disclaimer: I don't own anything belonging to Code: Geass or Naruto.
Cornelia walked through the hangar of the Viceroy Palace, followed by Lloyd Asplund and two guards as she continued her inspection. It was nothing new to Cornelia as she was aware of Lloyd's reputation and his attempts to get more funding for his inventions or for the chance to make use of them in real combat, including the one he was showing her.
"It's a Seventh Generation Knightmare making its abilities far greater than normal." Lloyd finished his report on the Lancelot as Cornelia stopped and turned to face him.
"I understand that the Lancelot's pilot is an Eleven." Cornelia spoke. "And that it was defeated by the two advanced Knightmares that helped Zero rescue that same Eleven during its debut."
"That's correct. An Honorary Britannian, however-" Lloyd tried to protest the Lancelot's defeat but Cornelia was not interested in hearing it.
"I'm promoting this man from Private to Warrant Officer. That should satisfy him." She said dryly. "I'm trying to win without relying too much on the numbers."
As Cornelia continued her inspection Euphemia was in her office, going over the battle plans Cornelia had drawn up. 'Those who go into battle are the ones that deserve to rule. I understand, Sister, but…'
She could only look down sadly at her desk at what her sister was planning.
The Lancelot was almost completely repaired and ready for its next mission while its pilot had other matters to attend to.
"Sorry you have to sit here and watch me do my homework." Suzaku said, reading his text book.
"Oh don't worry about it. You never attended a regular school before so it can't be avoided." Cecile replied, not minding his papers at all.
"The guys on the Student Council are helping me too but it's still hard."
Suzaku looked up as he heard Cecile giggle. "To be honest with you I've been a little bit worried. It's supposed to be a liberal school but was afraid you were not fitting in."
"Me too, I was expecting that." Suzaku smiled back. "But I happened to run into an old friend there and he smoothed everything out for me."
"Be sure you never take that friend for granted." Cecile advised with a smile. "If your friendship continues it won't have been coincidence it will have been pre-destined."
"Okay." Suzaku answered, sounding surprised at the advice.
"Anyways please try one of these." Cecile gestured to the food.
"Oh okay." Suzaku took a bite, sampling the taste in his mouth and blanching. "Uh, there's jam."
"Yes. I happen to get some lovely blue berries."
"All right everyone!" Lloyd called out dramatically. "Pack it up, pack it up! We're done for the day. Don't do anymore. Hip-hip-hooray!" He then took a dramatic bow with a depressed sigh. "That's all folks!"
"Um…" Suzaku glanced at Cecile who only giggled nervously.
"Go to school. Classes might be over for the day but it's important to meet your friends and have a social life too." She said as she started packing things up.
"Hey Kallen, can I ask you something?" Shirley asked as she and Kallen set up the room for Arthur and Matatabi who was the new mascot.
"Hm? Yeah sure. What is it?" Kallen picked up Matatabi who was in her regular disguise again.
"Kallen, are you hiding something from us?" Shirley stared at the painting.
"Uh?" Kallen looked up as Matatabi meowed.
"If it's something too personal…" Shirley trailed off.
"Uh, no. What are you talking about?" Kallen asked, hugging Matatabi to her chest.
"You can tell me. I promise I won't be shocked or upset." Shirley looked over her shoulder. "But the thing is I happened to see you before."
Kallen held up her pink pouch and sprouted a knife that caused Matatabi to struggle and Arthur to meow in protest about how close the knife was to her, thinking the girl was about to do something stupid. 'Come on you! Think before you react!'
"You're going out with Lulu, aren't you?" Shirley spun around to face Kallen. "Right?"
"Huh? Lulu?" Kallen asked, completely unprepared for what she heard.
"The other day I saw you outside talking to Lulu and then Naruto and Tsunade told me what Rivalz said!" Shirley explained.
"Uh! No, no, no, no! That was all a misunderstanding." Kallen quickly hid her pouch as she stood up.
"A misunderstanding?" Shirley asked confused.
"No wait. It wasn't like that!" Kallen said, realizing that Shirley was a little upset for some reason.
"I don't get it. You were trying so hard to catch the cat before." Shirley said, remembering the cat hunt and how determined Kallen was.
"No that wasn't it. Besides it's not like we kissed or anything." Kallen tried to calm her down but she quickly say it made things a little worse.
"Or anything?!" Shirley gasped. "Then you stopped short of doing it!?"
"Will you quit imagining things?! You don't understand the circumstance one bit!" Kallen yelled, slipping her mask off.
Matatabi in the meantime was enjoying the show going on. 'Oh dear. One little boy and all these kittens out to get him. Reminds me of a certain someone.'
Elsewhere on the campus Naruto suddenly sneezed. "Hm? Where did that come from?"
"The Saitama Ghetto is completely surrounded." Darlton reported as he gazed at the map screen showing their forces. "The Yamato Alliance's headquarters is somewhere in there."
Behind him sat Cornelia on her throne, looking at the map with a bored expression with her Knight, Gilbert G.P. Guilford standing next to her.
"What will be the effect production?" Cornelia asked, weighing possible losses in this operation.
"Primary sector output should fall by 0.2 percent." Darlton assured her.
"So well within expectations. All right." Cornelia turned her attention to the fearful commanders to the side. "All of you participated in the Shinjuku disaster, correct?"
"Y-Yes." The middle commander stuttered he saluted and bowed to Cornelia. "And we're grateful to you, Princess Cornelia, for your mercy on-"
"That's not what I was asking." Cornelia cut him off, disgusted at the three of them as she turned to face the screen. "Do you think the conditions are similar to Shinjuku?"
As she spoke a butterfly watched from the wall, seemingly listening in on the conversation.
All news channels across Japan were interrupted by an emergency broadcast from Cornelia. " Military authorities report that that have surrounded the Saitama Ghetto, a known hiding place for terrorists. Viceroy Cornelia is also in on the scene and entering into that area is restricted. "
"Oh and what has you looking so serious?" C.C. asked from the bed as Lelouch walked into the room with a scowl on his face and turned the television on.
"Uh oh." Naruto muttered. 'I've seen that look before.
' You've had that look plenty of times. ' Kurama pointed out with a grin.
'Bite me.'
"It appears that a full scale assault will be launched in two hours." The newswoman continued.
"News is one thing but why are broadcasting the battle so early." An intern quietly asked as they all watched.
"Because they're trying to provoke Zero." Diethard Reid answered, annoyed at the man's naivety.
"Zero is a criminal with a flair for the theatrical. I have recreated the same conditions that existed in Shinjuku, in order to draw him out. If he's the overconfident type, I predict he will come here to try and kill me." Cornelia explained with a confident smile.
"Viceroy that would mean risking your own life!" One of the aids exclaimed.
Cornelia sent a harsh glared towards the man who trembled under her gaze. "What you fail to understand is that war is a struggle between pride and life."
"So, I take it you're going?" C.C. frowned.
"Why would I turn down such a gracious invitation?" Lelouch rhetorically asked.
Naruto scoffed. "You're not seriously falling for it are you?"
"Well they did go through such lengths to get my attention."
"You're not taking this seriously at all. I told you not to treat war like a game." Naruto scowled at Lelouch's ego.
He instantly knew that this was a trap on the fact that Cornelia was not only a soldier but a capable strategist considering how well she eliminated the other resistance cells during the last few days.
"And you two are going to stop me now?" Lelouch frowned as he pulled out his pistol.
"And what do you have aside from a single gun that can stop us? Your Geass won't work on us and we're more than prepared." C.C. rhetorically asked as she pulled a kunai out.
"So let's drop the bullshit and talk like a real council of war." Naruto walked up to Lelouch and stopped in front of him. "You can either try to destroy Britannia or find the man who killed your mother. You can't go onto the battlefield with both objectives in mind."
"The two objectives are equally important. The royal family members are competing against each other for the throne to become the next emperor; or rather they are being forced to fight by that man ."
"But the very thing you hate is what makes Britannia strong, the royal heir who survives and strong is best fit to become the next emperor, the last one left standing." C.C. stood up from the bed.
"Exactly, the weak ones lose and are cast aside. Britannia is that kind of nation, that kind of world." Lelouch narrowed his eyes.
"Survival is the most basic rule of all."
"If that's true then what happens to Nunnally?! Should I cast her aside for being weak?! I refuse to see anyone suffering the way she did!" Lelouch shouted.
"We're not going to let you die without finishing our contract." C.C. said as her yellow eyes morphed, showing her Rinnegan with the Geass symbol around her pupil glowing violet.
"So shut up, sit down and start acting like a tactician. We're not planning to sit by and watch you get yourself killed or let Cornelia set off another massacre but we'll do it the smart way." Naruto showed his Rinnegan, while ignoring Kurama taunting him about being smart was not his forte. "You think just because the group from Shinjuku followed your orders perfectly means the Yamato Alliance will be the same? People who don't know you and have no real trust. There is no reason they won't abandon you when things get tough and from what I saw Cornelia is an actual leader who wants your head on a pike. You can't afford to be overconfident this early."
Lelouch would have brushed their comments aside but he knew one or both of them could overpower him so he relented. "So then, what do you suggest?"
Naruto and C.C. smirked, happy that they got through his thick skull.
A butterfly landed in a tunnel and a second later there was puff of smoke the cleared to reveal Seizan and Shinryoku standing in the tunnel.
'Good work, Chomei.' Naruto mentally complimented as he felt the Nanabi return to his mindscape. 'Thanks for spying on Cornelia for us. Now we can properly counter her.'
' My pleasure, Naruto-sama. ' Chomei answered.
"Now then," Naruto said as he opened the cockpit and allowed Lelouch who dressed as Zero to get out. "You remember what we discussed."
"I have." Lelouch nodded as Naruto and C.C. both made the same hand sign.
" Shadow Clone Jutsu! "
Britannian soldiers cornered a group of Japanese civilians and shot a man in front of the crowd.
"Why are you doing this?! There are children here! These people have done nothing!"
"Exactly you are doing nothing to reveal the terrorists hiding here. You cover for them. That's treason against a suzerain state." The soldier pointed their rifles. "Now you will-"
The sergeant never finished his sentence as he and the other soldiers were all killed as kunai and shuriken flew through air, slicing through their throats and embedding themselves in their heads. The civilians saw cloaked figures wearing animal masks coming out of the shadows.
"People of Saitama, we have been sent by Zero to prevent as many civilian casualties as possible." The 'leader' spoke. "Follow the tunnels to get as far from the battlefield as possible. Do not stop until you are out of the Ghetto."
The people did as they were told, whispering 'thank you' to the cloaked warriors as more moved at high speed through the Ghetto.
"I don't understand. Why won't Princess Cornelia order us to attack?" Jeremiah grunted as the Pureblood stood with their Sutherlands, simply standing guard.
"She won't because Orange here." Kewell sneered. "Thanks to you our careers are over."
"No you're wrong! It was Zero who did that!" Jeremiah protested.
Villetta looked over at Jeremiah and remembered that boy from Shinjuku and her memory loss of how she lost her Sutherland. 'Zero? Could that student be working with him?'
The leaders of the Yamato Alliance watched with grim and fearful looks as Cornelia's forces began decimating the Ghetto.
"Can't we get through the Saiko line?"
"They have armored tanks blocking it."
"We can't even use the side roads either."
"What about the other districts like Akakbani or Jojo? Can they send support?"
"The Britannians have covered all entrances, so they can get one or two people in but that's it."
"Sir, listen to this." A soldier ran in with a radio.
"I am Zero." Everyone at the table gasped. "I assume all of you heard about the Shinjuku incident. Do exactly what I tell you and you will win."
"Please have mercy." A Japanese man begged as a group of soldiers pointed their guns at him, his wife, and his son.
"Worthless Eleven. This is for Prince Clovis!" The soldiers prepared to fire but just before they did a shot rang out and the leader fell over with a hole in his head.
The other soldiers didn't have a chance to find out what happened as they were dead a second later when two black blurs landed behind them and slit their throats before they even knew that they had died.
"Britannian justice at its best." Zero lowered his gun as the Japanese group gazed him with grateful looks. "I am currently evacuating all civilians. Go in that direction to get to safety before the fighting starts."
'And thus begins the second part of the plan.' Lelouch thought. 'I'll give the Yamato Alliance a chance to fight but if things go south like Naruto said I'll fall back to his plan.'
Lelouch used the same uniform he stole to infiltrate Clovis's G1 and managed to trick a guard into coming out. Once that was done he used his Geass to steal the pilot's Sutherland, much like how he did before. Naruto and C.C. had sent Shadow Clones all over the place to rescue civilians and even had one disguised as Zero himself to inspire hope in the people he rescued.
He hopped into the cockpit and turned on the communication systems. "This is Zero. As planned I have captured an enemy Sutherland. Wait for my initial instructions before beginning the attack."
"Hai Zero!"
"Viceroy, we've lost contact with the squads sent to gather civilians." Darlton reported.
"It seems we either underestimated these terrorists or…" Cornelia smirked. "Zero's nearby. Shall we begin?"
Darlton nodded. "Right. Attention all forces, commence eradication of the Saitama Ghetto. All forces, assume Level One Battle stations."
"B12 is complete."
"F7, no sign of the enemy."
"D24 under control."
" P12 move to point 506. "
" Yes my Lord. Changing course to 506. "
" No resistance. Guess this Zero is a no show. "
" Yeah. Nothing here but mangy terrorists. "
The pilots in the two Sutherlands couldn't continue their conversation as two rockets flew out struck them in their factspheres.
Lelouch smirked as he registered the two Sutherlands being destroyed. "Now to drag Cornelia out."
" R1 and R2, draw the enemy to where N7 is, B12 and B7 fire at two o'clock. "
A pair of tanks exploded.
" P5, commence firing. "
Two Britannian Sutherlands were ripped apart by a barrage of bullets.
"We've lost Jester's signal!"
"Unit 5 engaging at point 592."
"Kazinki's unit is retreating under heavy fire."
"It's just like in Shinjuku." An officer whispered.
"It appears that the enemy is using stolen Sutherlands." Cornelia stated calmly. "Any sign of Zero or those two Knightmares yet?"
"Negative."
" N2, attack at three o'clock. "
Britannian infantry were gunned down by enemy fire.
" R4, open fire. "
A VTOL was shot down.
" N1, take the one on the left. "
Another tank was blown apart.
" P3, destroy the bright to cut off their retreat. "
A bridge containing enemy tanks, infantry and Sutherlands exploded, sending the enemy units falling into the river.
"Point R7 is destroyed. All units lost."
"All forces fall back. There is no point in further casualties." Cornelia calmly ordered.
"We're retreating?" One of the officers asked.
"Your majesty, we can still fight."
"We can't fight them like this." Cornelia replied.
" All units withdraw to the Ghetto's entrance. Repeat, withdraw to the Ghetto's entrance. "
"You hear that?" Lelouch asked on a secure channel.
" Yep. Cornelia's got confirmation that we're here now. If she's as skilled as she is rumored to be she most likely studied Shinjuku. I'm no expert planner but I knew all those Sutherlands out for the rebels to steal was fishy. Now she's ordering a retreat and everyone has, except for the Sutherlands that have been stolen. " Naruto answered. " This was way too easy. "
"And you believe that Cornelia planned for that?" Lelouch deduced. "She suspects I've stolen a Sutherland and she believes I'll try to get to her like Clovis."
" My teacher always said to look underneath the underneath and I'm smart enough to know the same trick never works twice, especially against someone who knows how to fight. Hurry and tell the rebel pilots to abandon their Sutherlands or they'll be killed. "
"Let's test that." Lelouch changed the channel.
"I win this round." Cornelia smirked.
"Huh?"
"Of course. This is why Cornelia is called the Goddess of Victory." Darlton smiled as he bowed.
"Shall we go then, Guilford, my knight?" Cornelia glanced at the man standing next to her.
"It will be my pleasure and honor, milady." Guilford answered with respect and admiration.
Lelouch watched as squadrons of Gloucesters charged out of the G-1 base. "Just as Naruto said. She's sending out Gloucester frames. Now to see if what Naruto said was true." He turned on his radio. "This is Zero. N1 will reengage their I.F.F. and operate as Britannian unit."
" Understood. "
"As my decoy." Lelouch smirked.
"We have one Knightmare left transmitting an I.F.F. signal within the city area." Darlton reported.
"Can you contact it?"
"Scramble a rescue team."
"No, destroy it." Cornelia ordered.
"You can't!"
"He might be a captive of the enemy!" The Shinjuku officers protested.
"I ordered all troops to fall back. I have no use for soldiers who won't follow my orders." Cornelia coldly answered.
"You heard the Princess." Darlton said to the two officers.
"Do your duty even if it costs your life. My subordinates follow that code without question."
" What the hell?! Can't you read the IFF?! I'm on your side! "
The man then opened fire as the three Gloucesters charged forward; leaping out of the way and Guilford skewered the Sutherland with his lance.
Lelouch watched as three Gloucesters destroyed N1 without hesitance or mercy.
"No confirmation. So Naruto was right." Lelouch narrowed his eyes. "N2, transmit IFF then fall back to the hospital ruins. R1, R2, open fire on attacking units only."
"They're transmitting another IFF which means it's a trap. Send more Gloucesters and surround them." Darlton ordered.
'Not pursuing?' Lelouch watched the way Gloucesters were moving. "R1, R2, fall back now."
"Gloucesters have arrived at the position. No sign of the enemy."
"He anticipated my move. We may really be dealing with Zero." Cornelia smiled darkly.
"Attention all Yamato members, abandon your Sutherlands and retreat." Lelouch said through the radio.
" What? "
" We can win! "
" Like hell! There is no way we can beat Cornelia's Royal Guard. That's a death sentence. I'm out! " The pilot pushed the eject switch in his cockpit.
"Cornelia's sending her Royal Guardsmen to finish us off, meaning she's taking us more seriously. Now she'll learn the power of my knights." Lelouch said confidently, falling back on his backup plan.
" Hey! We surrender! We won't resist! Spare us! "
Cornelia narrowed her eyes. "Kill them."
Lelouch narrowed his eyes in anger at how a few rebels ignored him like that, especially since he went through all the trouble to help them beat Cornelia.
'They've turned their backs on me all because they've scored just a few lucky shots!' Lelouch growled. 'Naruto was right again!'
He acknowledged that Naruto was good at strategy as a war advisor but he hated the fact that his original plan was falling apart.
"Another unit destroyed Princess." Darlton reported as several rebel Sutherlands were already destroyed.
"They're falling for it so easily. Maybe we're not dealing with Zero." Cornelia frowned since the enemy was suddenly so easy to defeat.
They seemed to be doing so well and then suddenly it was hardly worth the effort at all. Did Zero suddenly give up and abandon the fight?
Lelouch had to admit, if Naruto and C.C. had not forced him to stay and formulate a back-up plan(though they considered it the real plan) he would have been caught off guard. Gloucester Frames were superior to Sutherland Frames and they were most likely handpicked by Cornelia herself.
"Shinryoku, you ready?" Lelouch asked.
" Finally. I've been getting bored. I see the Yamato Alliance refused your orders and abandoned you. "
Lelouch frowned as he watched them either try to flee, surrender, or futilely keep on fighting, only to be killed with no mercy. "Yes. It seems Seizan was right. If I had joined with the rest of the forces I would be next to Cornelia but without the rebels to create an opening I'd be trapped."
" You see? There is a reason you keep us around. " C.C. teased.
Lelouch would have responded if his cell phone didn't start ringing. "Hm? I thought the party for the cat was tomorrow."
When he answered he was greeted with the sound of an unexpected voice. " Hey Lelouch? "
"Suzaku?"
" We were discussing your relationships here and I need to ask do you like- "
" NO! " Lelouch heard Shirley cry out and then the call ended.
Lelouch didn't know what was going on but he turned off the phone. He was too busy to be bothered like this.
"Time to start Phase Two."
C.C. had been waiting patiently from her way point ever since she had split from Naruto and Lelouch. She had to applaud Naruto for even though he did not have Lelouch's intellect Naruto was capable of coming up with cunning plans on the fly during battle and his ability to come up with plans in the thick of battle and could even come up with back-up plans to such a degree that not even Lelouch could predict and have time to counter even without his powers. They had both realized Cornelia was setting a trap and they knew Lelouch would blunder right into it because the only thing matching his intellect was his ego. Naruto had even taken the precaution of sending Chomei to spy on Cornelia when he found out that Cornelia was looking for Zero and find out what she was up to, allowing him to come with a counter plan that even Lelouch wouldn't argue against.
'Not that Lelouch would admit that our plan was better. He doesn't like having to share plans or listen to someone else do the strategizing. His attitude is why his Geass allows him to make people obey his commands no matter what. Like mother, like son.' C.C. thought with a nostalgic smirk.
" Shinryoku, three Gloucesters are approaching your position. " Lelouch informed her through the radio.
"Finally." C.C. said, eager to get started,
She spotted the three Gloucesters and was momentarily stunned by the arrogance of the pilots. They had nothing but golden lances for combat and they weren't even moving through the ghetto like soldiers. More like they were moving down the streets like they were part of a parade.
'Typical Britannian arrogance.' C.C. thought with an eager smirk.
Time to have some fun.
"Has anything appeared on radar?" Guilford asked, becoming impatient.
Cornelia had given the order to destroy any Sutherlands transmitting an I.F.F. signal inside the Ghetto, considering them to be rebels that stole the Sutherlands and he had done just that but for some reason it was all too easy. Cornelia predicted Zero would order the terrorists to set up traps and ambushes but they had all been randomly attacking with no sense of planning or coordination. It either meant Zero never showed up or something else was going on.
" Nothing yet sir. "
" Maybe Zero ran for it when he saw us coming. " The other pilot suggested but changed his mind. " Sir, unidentified Knightmare approaching from… Above us! "
That was all the warning they had before a dark green and black Knightmare landed in between them, having jumped off the building they had been passing and slashed its violet fans down on the rear Gloucester of the group, forcing the pilot to eject before he consumed by the explosion. C.C. smirked as she spun around and launched all blades from her Harken Fans at the next Knightmare that pierced its body and caused it to explode from critical damage as the blades retracted.
"Damn you!" The third Gloucester charged forward with its golden lance pointed at Shinryoku's chest. "For Cornelia!"
However C.C. was not afraid. She waited until the very last second before jumping and spinning over the lance, activating her Wave Surger and sliced her Harken fans that glowed bright red from the activation of the radiation surge through the Gloucester's weapon, arm and then through the head, setting off sparks of electricity through the frame that forced the pilot to eject as the Gloucester exploded.
"Three down." C.C. spoke in satisfaction.
" Good work. Several more of Cornelia's knights are on the way. "
"Now it's Naruto's turn."
"Your Highness, we've just received reports of a dark green Knightmare taking three Gloucesters."
Cornelia narrowed her eyes. "A dark green Knightmare. It must be one of the two advanced Knightmares that helped Zero rescue Warrant Officer Kururugi. So, Zero's decided to take this seriously if he's brought out his ace pilots. Guilford, make sure you capture or kill the pilot. We can't have Zero keeping two advanced Knightmares but be on the lookout for the other one. We have intelligence that claims it can move underground somehow."
" Yes, your majesty ."
" C.C., they're coming for you. "
"I see them." C.C. spotted three more Gloucesters coming towards her, moving at high speed towards her.
Guilford spotted the green Knightmare as it turned around and sped off. "Don't let it get away! All forces, the green Knightmare that works with Zero is moving to the center of the ghetto, move to intercept!"
Shinryoku sped through the Ghetto on its landspinners with Guilford pursuing her. C.C. spotted Gloucester came out of a corner and charged at her with its spear aimed forward.
"For Cornelia!" The pilot shouted.
"Hmph!" C.C. smirked.
Just as the spear came within striking distance Shinryoku jumped up, landing on the Gloucester's shoulder and leapt off, landing on the ground and quickly continued its run.
"It's fast." Guilford muttered. "And its reflexes are even faster than our Gloucesters. All forces converge on the enemy coordinates. Surround it before it escapes!"
Two more Gloucesters who had been with the one C.C. had just defeated quickly aimed their gatling guns and fired.
"Is that it?" C.C. asked as her Rinnegan flashed.
Shinryoku and held its fans in front of its body. To the shock of the two pilots, the bullets seemingly bounced off an invisible shield forming around the green Knightmare.
"What the-" The pilots gasped.
"Wave Surger activated . " C.C., using the radiant wave surger to block the bullets, smirked as she thrust forward and slashed Shinrokyu's fan through the two Gloucesters easily, the combination of chakra and radiant wave energy cutting and burning through the frames like a hot knife through butter.
Both pilots ejected in time as their frames exploded.
'Naruto said that to rely on strangers, even if in a life or death situation is dangerous as they have no reason to trust me. And he was right, they went against my orders and recklessly charged forward all because they managed to take out a few enemies. Now all I have left is him and C.C. and luckily they both recognize the need for strategy even without my instructions. That's where he comes in.' Lelouch thought with a calculate look as Cornelia's forces were moving to cut Shinrokyu off. 'One of Zero's personal knights is a tempting target that she won't want to pass up.'
Lelouch had to chuckle. "Theatricality and deception, powerful agents against any opponent no matter how skilled they might be as Naruto claimed. They focus on the obvious threat and remain blind to the hidden one."
C.C. watched as she made it out into a clearing with Gloucesters, all armed with golden lances with capes attached to their backs coming out and surrounding her. "All you boys chasing me. What a way to make a girl feel special."
"You are surrounded. Surrender now and you will be treated with mercy." Guilford stated.
"As tempting as that sounds, having enjoyed Britannian hospitality before I will have to decline. Of course, you can always surrender." C.C. calmly replied.
"You cannot hope to take us all on, no matter how skilled you are or how advanced your Knightmare is. There is too many of us and even if your partner is hiding underground we will know where he is the second he attacks from under the ground." Guilford had already told his men to beware of any shifts in the ground, remembering how blue Knightmare could somehow attack from underground.
"Oh yeah. We both know that the same trick never works twice." C.C. agreed as she smiled. "That's why we worked out some new ones."
A pair of black and blue hands sprouted from the ground and grabbed Shinrokyu's legs, pulling it down into the ground.
"What the-" Guilford was cut off as the ground cracked open underneath him and his men. "MOVE! IT"S A TRAP!"
The pilots hurried to eject the ground cracked open and the Knightmares fell into what looked like a large open chamber below. Guilford jumped up into the air and launched his Slash Harken towards to the nearest building to grapple up to and avoid falling in with the rest of the Knightmares.
" Guilford, what's happening?! " Cornelia shouted through the radio.
"The ground beneath us, it collapsed!" Guilford answered as he looked at the giant hole.
Both Shinryoku and Seizan stood in the field littered with wrecked and abandoned Knightmares with their pilots smirking in victory. The supports that kept the ground up were destroyed with just a few well placed explosives as Naruto pulled C.C. down and distracted them long enough to be caught completely by surprise.
"Cornelia may be a better tactician than Lelouch thought. However like Lelouch she has her share of arrogance. Twice the pride…" C.C. said with a satisfied grin.
"Double the fall." Naruto finished with a foxy smirk.
"Damn you!" Guilford shouted, angry that most of the Royal Guard had been taken out.
"Oh, one of them is still around?" C.C. asked, slightly surprised.
"Not for long." Naruto remarked.
Seizan leapt up and out of the hole, surprising Guilford as how high the Knightmare could jump and landed back on the pavement and then jumped after Guilford.
"You wish to challenge me yourself? Very well!" Guilford's landspinners propelled him towards the blue Knightmare as it pulled out a pair of violet kodachi.
Guilford immediately went for the killing blow but the blue Knightmare moved to the side and slashed both kodachi at Guilford who blocked with his lance. Both Knightmares struggled to push each other back with their landspinners letting loud screeching like sounds. Naruto pulled his kodachi back and spun out of the way as Guilford slashed his lance at where Seizan had been. Guilford fired his Slash Harkens which Naruto avoided and charged forward.
Guilford aimed his lance at Naruto's chest as he charged forward but Naruto had been counting on it. Just as the lance came forward Naruto launched his MVS daggers that passed Guilford under his arms where they dug into a building behind him. Naruto pushed the landspinners to the max as the cables pulled him forward and he leapt into the air, jumping over the lance and head butting Guilford, knocking him down as Naruto sailed over him and landed on top of a small building and turned to look down at Guilford's Gloucester as it managed to stand back up.
'This pilot, he's good.' Guilford grunted as he struggled to block the two swords.
'Not bad.' Naruto thought. 'These Royal Guards are obviously more skilled than average pilots.'
"What happened?!" Cornelia bellowed as she stood up and saw that her entire Royal Guard except for Guilford had somehow been lost.
"The ground beneath Sir Guilford and his men suddenly collapsed. They all managed to eject before they fell in." Darlton answered, shocked that almost all members of the Honor Guard had been defeated and it the enemy made it look so easy. "They must have planted explosives in underground tunnels to knock structural support!"
"Zero… he predicted this! He knew I would think he was masquerading as one of us and set this up!" Cornelia growled.
She had thought Zero was just another terrorist to be caught or killed but he had proven to be a keen strategist. He must have set explosives underneath the Ghetto and had his ace pilot lure Guilford and his men to a single location. She couldn't believe she had been outmaneuvered and tricked so easily like this and to make it worse she had walked right into it without a second thought.
"Princess, we're picking up an incoming radio call from in the Ghetto."
"Where's it coming from?" Cornelia frowned.
"Unknown."
"Put it on."
The officer nodded and opened the channel. " Princess Cornelia Li Britannia, I hope I'm not catching you at a bad time. "
"Zero." Cornelia gritted her teeth. "So you finally reveal yourself, coward."
" Coward? That's a little uncalled for, considering your own cowardice actions? "
"How dare you insult Princess Cornelia?!" Darlton shouted angrily, red in the face along with most of the bridge crew.
" What else would I call the actions of a woman who ordered defenseless civilians, including entire families and children to be gunned down just to draw me out? You call yourself a warrior but you resort to the same despicable actions that earned Viceroy Clovis a bullet to his head. "
Cornelia growled. "And do you plan to do the same to me?"
" I would if the situation calls for it but I'll settle for humiliating you and your Royal Guard. I have something to show you. "
"We're receiving a video link."
The screen showed Guilford's Gloucester fighting against a blue advanced Knightmare, the other Knightmare that appeared when Zero rescued Kururugi.
" Watch as my Knight takes down yours. " Zero finished ominously as he cut the connection.
'Looks like my Shadow Clone's got Cornelia's attention.' Naruto thought. 'Then it's time to end this.'
He channeled wind charka through his MVS kodachi as it slashed with Guildford's golden lance again, but this time it sliced through Guilford's lance.
"What?!" Guilford gasped as both blades sliced off his arms and stabbed through his Frame.
"I'd eject if I were you." Naruto remarked through the radio as chakra and radiant waves pulsed through the Gloucester, slowly overloading it from the inside. "Unless you want to go up in blaze of glory."
" Guilford, eject! " Cornelia shouted through the radio.
Guilford slammed down on the eject switch and his cockpit blasted its way out of the frame as it exploded.
" Tell me, Cornelia, " Zero said through the radio, everyone hearing him speak. " Are you still sure you can win? "
"Get my Gloucester ready!" Cornelia turned to the door. "Zero has made a fool out of me and I will not let him get away with this!"
"I shall accompany you." Darlton moved to follow her.
"Zero's been sighted!"
They all turned around to see Zero, standing on top of a ruined building where he could see everything.
"So, he did have that type of personality." Cornelia smirked darkly.
"Capture him! Platoons three and five mount up!" Darlton shouted.
"Image detected. Target confirmed. All forces move out!"
Britannian infantry and Knightmares moved towards Zero but he spread his arms out, his cape fluttering like wings as he leapt backwards off the building. The building obscured him as he fell down into a manhole. Once he landed in the sewers he pulled out a detonator and pressed the button before vanishing in a puff of smoke.
"What are the possibilities it's a trap?" Cornelia asked.
"It is highly possible. We don't know much about his character, other than that he's as dramatic as you believed, Viceroy." Darlton answered.
"Then there is no point going after him then." Cornelia scowled, angered that Zero had managed to outwit her.
"No, if he intentionally revealed himself to us he will most certainly have an escape route planned." Darlton answered.
"So self preservation trumps all, huh? Damn. We've lost over a dozen pilots ever if we destroyed the Yamato Alliance. But since Zero is gone there is little point in continuing the purge. Do a final sweep to ensure we got them all. Don't bother with civilian survivors." Cornelia ordered.
"Your highness, we're registering thermal detonations!"
Everyone watched as explosions rang through the ghetto, buildings collapsed and toppled over, ground cracked open and collapsed into underground tunnels, swallowing tanks, infantry, and Knightmares that couldn't move fast enough. An unstable building lost its standing and fell towards the G-1 Mobile Base.
"PRINCESS CORNELIA!" Jeremiah shouted as he and the Pure Bloods moved to try and help or rescue Cornelia.
However they were quickly cut off by collapsing buildings fell down in front of them, almost crushing them.
"DAMN!" Jeremiah swore. "We can't get anywhere like this! There must be explosives set all over the Ghetto!"
"But how? There's no way Zero or the terrorists could have known Cornelia's plan." Villetta wondered as she pulled her Sutherland back.
"ALL KNIGHTMARES TAKE EVASIVE ACTION AND MOVE THE G-1!" Cornelia shouted.
The G-1 managed to move out of the way as the building hit the ground but it created a powerful seismic quake that caused pilots to eject from their Knightmares and shook the G-1 base badly enough that everyone was knocked off their feet and computers to short circuit as the impact damaged instruments all over the bridge and left cracks running down the windows but none of them broke. The bridge crew groaned when the shaking finally ended and if they looked out the window they would have seen the entire ghetto completely destroyed and their forces along with it.
Darlton ran over to help Cornelia stand. "Are you all right, milady?"
"I am fine…" Cornelia gritted her teeth as she looked at the devastated battle field. "Zero, you'll pay for this."
Zero had not only defeated her forces he outwitted her, humiliated her on the battlefield by pretending to fall for her plans but instead was waiting for her to fall into his trap.
"She's vulnerable now! Seizan, Shinryoku, move in and capture her!" Lelouch said, seeing Cornelia's forces in disarray.
The ghetto was already unstable due to the poor condition it's been kept in and with all of the explosives they had set all over the place it was easy to cause buildings to collapse, roads to crack open up and swallow up enemy infantry and units that were not quick enough to move and sew chaos amongst the enemy ranks.
" We see it. " Naruto replied.
The G-1 bridge was littered with shouting, crackling radios, and cries for help as Cornelia managed to sit back on her throne. Her hands were shaking with shock and rage at how easily she had been outmaneuvered and outwitted by a simple terrorist.
'I underestimated you, Zero. I thought you were a mere terrorist but you knew that and you used it against me. That will not happen again.' Cornelia thought darkly.
"We need to retreat. We should pull back!"
"No! We will be sitting ducks if we do that. The G-1 is too big to maneuver."
"Viceroy-" The man was cut off as the bridge shook and the sound of an explosion boomed outside the G-1.
"What was that?!" Cornelia stood up, seeing the explosion so close.
There was another explosion that shook the G-1 and caused sparks to fly out of the broken consoles across the bridge.
"Contact the standby aircraft and tell them to launch! I want this ghetto removed from my sight!" Cornelia shouted, gripping her chair tightly to not fall off and out of fury.
"You heard her Highness! Initiate air-" Darlton was cut off as two large dark figures landed in front of the G-1.
Cornelia recognized them immediately. "Those are-"
The two advanced Knightmares that had been with Zero when he rescued Suzaku Kururugi from the Pure Bloods staring down at her with what looked to be ringed eyes.
" Can you hear us, Princess Cornelia? " A male voice came from the blue Knightmare. " Those explosions you heard were us destroying the turrets of your base, leaving you defenseless with no reinforcements from your army coming to save you. "
"So this was Zero's plan." Cornelia muttered, realizing what had happened.
Zero predicted she would send her forces after one of his ace Knightmares so he set up the explosives all over the ghetto and waited for the right time to detonate and scatter her forces, leaving her wide open.
" You have two choices now: you can fight and we will destroy the base with you and your subordinates in it or you surrender now and consider yourself a prisoner. " The pilot of the blue Knightmare continued as it reached out with one hand and easily broke the front glass of the bridge.
Everyone covered their eyes as glass shards flew everywhere and when they opened them they saw the Knightmare's hand extended out, as if to take a hand despite its large size.
" This is one a time offer and it expires in ten seconds. "
"Damn you." Cornelia gritted her teeth.
Is this it? Does she sacrifice herself and her subordinates for the sake of her pride? Or does she surrender and save everyone who has survived?
She moved to open her mouth and say-
"PRINCESS CORNELIA!"
The two Knightmares jumped back as bullets sailed through the air where they had been but missing the G-1 to avoid friendly fire and causing all the breath from Cornelia's lungs to fly out of her mouth. A single Sutherland wheeled forward, shooting at the two Knightmares.
" Where are you, Zero?! Show yourself you coward !" Jeremiah shouted as he continued firing.
"That was unexpected." Naruto commented as he dodged the bullets and spotted new icons on his tactical map. "And there's an air strike on the way."
"And we were so close." C.C. sighed, not angry at being interrupted but she was disappointed all the same as who likes being interrupted when they were so close to victory?
They could take out Jeremiah and his forces right now and finish off Cornelia but they'd be open to the airships already dropping bombs on the Ghetto and would have to move fast or show off more of their abilities to survive. The best option for now was to retreat.
" Consider yourself lucky, Cornelia as if it wasn't for these guys saving you things would have been very different. " Naruto called out through Seizan's speakers as the two Knightmares retreated back into the Ghetto.
" Come back here !" Jeremiah shouted as he chased after them.
Seizan and Shinryoku quickly wheeled back and moved behind a knocked over building.
Jeremiah wheeled around the corner to pursue them but when he did he saw they were gone. "What?! Where did they go? How could they move that fast?"
" Lord Jeremiah !" Villetta along with the rest of the Purist Faction came onto the scene. " Are you all right? "
"I'm fine. We must protect the princess. Spread out and form a perimeter around the G-1." Jeremiah quickly ordered.
He wanted to pursue the two advanced Knightmares that worked with Zero but Princess Cornelia's safety came before all else. Jeremiah Gottwald would be damned if he let someone else from royalty die on his watch.
Cornelia fell back on her chair causing Darlton to run up to her. "Princess Cornelia, are you all right?"
"I'm fine." Cornelia said, taking a deep breath. "Call back all our surviving forces and send out search parties for anyone who has ejected."
"At once your Majesty." Darlton bowed his head.
'That was too close… I kept the Pure Bloods at the back to keep them out of the way but if not for them I would either be dead or a prisoner right now.' Cornelia thought over her defeat. 'Zero didn't think Jeremiah would be here to save me at the last second and that was the only reason I'm still here.'
Defeat.
For the first time in her military career she had suffered a true defeat with only a hint of luck that saved her this day. From this day forward, Cornelia vowed she would not underestimate Zero again and she would make him pay for this humiliation.
She swore on her title as Princess of Britannia.
Lelouch tossed the helmet of his stolen uniform as he walked through the sewers, waiting for his two companions. He had taken the chance brought by the diversion that Naruto had set up to escape his Sutherland while no one was looking. He should be happy that he won today but truthfully he annoyed how his original plan failed all because the Yamato Alliance lacked strategy and common sense to do anything right along with the fact that his two knights hadn't managed to capture Cornelia.
"Well, you seem happy."
Lelouch spotted Naruto and C.C. coming out of the shadows, wearing their ANBU armor, cloaks with the hoods down, and the animal masks removed to show their faces. C.C. had a calm look while Naruto had a slight scowl on his face.
"You were right about the Yamato Alliance. They abandoned me as soon as one or two died and refused to retreat with the rest of the civilians when I told them to." Lelouch said with a frown, annoyed that his original plan(in his mind) did not work.
"I did say it's a bad idea to play with strangers." C.C. shook her head. "Your pride will be the end of you one day."
"I would have found a way to capture her if I had the time." Lelouch argued stubbornly. "And you two failed to capture Cornelia."
"This is why I told you to not treat war like a game. Acting like a simple tactician is not going to be enough, especially with the kind of odds you face. No one can predict the outcome of a battle even when you plan for all the expected outcomes." Naruto leaned against the wall and folded his arms. "You can't give orders and expect them to follow you, not unless you intend to rely on only your Geass. You need to control not just one side but the entire battlefield, deciding when and where the battle takes place. You need subordinates you can trust to follow you and more importantly you need to know what they can do and for them to trust you."
Lelouch scowled. "Very well. That was what I will do then. I'll raise an army that can't lose to Britannia, a People, a Nation!" He tossed his military uniform aside as he changed into his Zero outfit. "I take it that you managed to evacuate all the civilians."
"Almost all of them. The perks of a having a dozen Shadow Clones." Naruto smirked. "And they all wish to thank Zero."
"I see." Lelouch put the mask on. "I guess I cannot disappoint them."
He followed Naruto and C.C. through the tunnel and into a subway where all the civilian survivors were waiting.
"Look, its Zero!"
"Zero saved us!"
"Is it really him?"
"My dear Japanese, have no fear for I Zero have come to lead you all to safety!" Lelouch declared in a loud voice. "My personal Knights have secured a safe way out of the Ghetto and have located several suitable hideouts in Shinjuku with plenty of food, medicine and beds for your old, injured, and young to rest."
This worked better for him since he would gain more support from the Japanese for saving such a large number of them today.
Flashback
"Cornelia's repeating what happened in Shinjuku to draw out Zero. That means she hopes to catch you in a trap." Naruto stated, sitting at a table with Lelouch and C.C. as they discussed the plan. "I've seen this before. Study the enemy's tactics and then repeat it, take advantage of any ego the enemy's got and trap them."
"And you believe that's what Cornelia's doing? She thinks I'll steal a Sutherland for myself and the rebels to give them a fighting chance." Lelouch stated, figuring what Naruto was trying to say.
"She'll even leave herself open as bait, sweetening the pot." Naruto answered. "Everyone knows the same plan won't work, especially in a trap this obvious."
"So what do you suggest?" Lelouch asked, wondering what plan Naruto had come up with.
"Make her think she's caught Zero in the trap then spring a trap on her." Naruto grinned, looking more and more like a fox.
End Flashback
'Making Cornelia think Zero had stolen a Sutherland for himself and several for the rebels like in Shinjuku, then when Cornelia called out her Royal Guard to attack any Sutherlands that didn't retreat from the Ghetto as she ordered, considering them rebels without confirmation, and then baiting her forces with one of Zero's Aces to lure them all into a trap which takes them all out of the battle in one quick move. Then to cover Zero's apparent retreat all the bombs Naruto and C.C.'s Shadow Clones placed around the Ghetto detonate, throwing Cornelia into disarray and leaving her wide open. It would have been more satisfying to capture Cornelia herself but at least this was not a total loss.' Lelouch thought as he remembered the plan. 'Of course I should have expected Cornelia to have an air strike ready or that Jeremiah and the Pure Bloods would move as soon as Cornelia was disorganized. They might have been disgraced but they were not down.'
Naruto surprised him this time as the blond easily came up with a counter plan in such a short amount of time. Now Zero was a hero to the people and Viceroy Cornelia, the Witch of Britannia and the Goddess of Victory was defeated and humiliated in her first battle against Zero.
"And just like that, Zero survives his first real battle." Rakshata remarked with a grin as she twirled her smoke pipe, having watched the battle through her shared vision with Naruto and C.C. "And you made a show out of taking down Princess Cornelia li Britannia's Royal Guard while you were at it."
" Yep. Of course, if little Zero didn't have us around he would have lost. His inexperience in battle causes him to treat it like chess, believing everyone would follow him if he gave them a few big toys. " Naruto answered from Rakshata's laptop.
"Little boys playing such big toys." Rakshata chuckled. "And they abandon ship at the very moment of trouble, like rats."
" Of course, now Lelouch will start building up an army. He'll probably start with those terrorists he helped in Shinjuku but he'll need resources. " C.C. brought up.
"Why not use the Ashford family? They used to design and build Knightmares before they were stripped of their nobility. It wouldn't be surprising if they kept some kind of warehouse to store their old equipment." Rakshata offered with a smirk. "Perhaps you could convince them to hand over the Ganymede. The Knightmare piloted by a Knight of the Round would be very interesting to look at."
" Zero does the recruiting… " Naruto started.
" And we find the material to give them everything they need. " C.C. finished.
"Of course, I'm tempted to add my own in on this." Rakshata said, smirking as she inhaled from her pipe. "I've already drawn up plans for countering Lloyd's new toy."
" For us? I thought we were more than a match for it. " Naruto commented.
"For you, yes. But I wouldn't have my reputation if I designed the best Knightmares only for you two." Rakshata answered. "In fact… That red haired girl, you told me she'd be an excellent pilot if she had a real Knightmare."
" Does this mean…" Naruto asked with a small smirk.
"Yep. I've already designed the perfect one for her and it's being shipped to Japan through the Six Houses of Kyoto." Rakshata chuckled.
" They must be testing the waters, seeing if Zero is as big as he claims. " C.C. commented. " They'll offer more support if we can prove to beat Britannia back. "
" Knowing Lelouch he won't wait long for that. Hopefully this present you have for us makes it here soon, Rakshata-chan. " Naruto said.
"It's not my fault. You haven't taught me that summoning move you did yet." Rakshata pouted. "I really need to learn that move. I've been too busy studying up on Tsunade Senju's notes and learning how to use Iyro jutsu."
" Really? You've been reading Baa-chan's scrolls? " Naruto asked.
"Yep. In addition to being the best Knightmare designer in the world, I Rakshata Chawla will take Tsunade Senju's title of greatest Iryo-nin in this world." Rakshata declared with a confident smile.
" Well, good luck with that Rakshata-chan. Just don't pick up Granny Tsunade's habit of drinking. " Naruto chuckled.
"No problem. I got this." Rakshata took another breath from her pipe and exhaled smoke from her mouth. "Drinking only stops my beautiful mind from designing more beautiful children."
" We'll hold you to that. " C.C. said as she cut the connection.