Disclaimer: I don't own anything belonging to Code: Geass or Naruto.
Lelouch had set up an escape plan just in case Cornelia tried to attack them after the duel and even though Naruto had won he knew that having an escape plan was a very good idea due to the fact that Cornelia, her knights, Rai, Nonnette, and the Sutherlands that were used as patrol guards at the base were chasing them through the forest. The extraction point was on the other side of the island where the Black Knights submarine was waiting and if they couldn't make it Naruto had come up with a back-up plan.
'If we can't make it Naruto had several Shadow Clones set up a summoning circle that would summon us back to the hangar at the Ashford Factory.' Lelouch remembered how they both drew up a plan to escape the island. 'Still though it's going to be a close call and something's not right. That four legged Knightmare and the one that could fly. They must be custom frames so that would explain why no one's ever seen them but who created them. Just what happened? Are they here to capture Zero or C.C.? Just what did this duel set in motion?'
Lelouch suspected that it had something to do with the Geass Order that was set up by the Emperor to deal with threats covertly and attacking the Black Knights on an island cut off from the rest of the Japan made sense in a way. They could just as easily cover it up and blame the new Knightmares on a rogue faction that wanted the Black Knights and Zero neutralized. Anyone who looks for evidence would be silenced to ensure the incident is completely suppressed.
'If it is the Geass Order they must be getting desperate or maybe… Maybe they wanted to test the full extent of Seizan and Shinryoku if they suspect C.C. is one of the pilots.' Lelouch thought. 'These Knightmares are obviously prototypes and if so do they have some kind special weapons or technology to even the playing field?'
"Hey, Lelouch." Naruto called through the radio, pulling Lelouch back into the real world. "Just to let you know that anyone who does not have a camouflage gadget is being pursued by a lot of Britannians. They might not be good as anything else except cannon fodder but we can't lead them to the extraction point."
"Understood." Lelouch said as he brought up the tactical map of the island. "We'll have to neutralize the pursuing forces and cover our infantry." Lelouch quickly brought up Kallen and Todoh's frequency. "Kallen, Todoh, we need to cover our infantry and give them time to get to the extraction point."
"Understood/Got it." Todoh and Kallen replied.
"Be on the lookout for snipers. Someone tried to take me and Seizan out back there and they will likely try to do it again." Lelouch looked at the enemy signals pursuing them. "Everyone split up and divide the enemy force up, use the trees for cover. I'll monitor with PROVIDENCE and warn you off all enemies. I'll cover the infantry and the Rakshata while the rest of you create a diversion."
"On it." Naruto stopped and spun Seizan around to face the incoming enemies. "I'll make the first move while Kallen and Todoh surprise them."
"What about Shinryoku?" Kallen asked.
"She's fine. From what I see she's having the time of her life." Naruto replied with a small smile. "She'll meet up with us when she has the chance."
"Then we'll have to make sure we get the chance as well." Lelouch nodded.
C.C. honestly could not remember being in a battle that actually got her blood going unless it was when she was sparing with Naruto. She clashed blades with the white Knightmare's katana designed weapon sword, sending sparks flying everywhere.
"It can counter MVS designed weapons." C.C. mused as she withdrew and blocked another slash. "Things just keep on getting interesting. I must really give Naruto an award for livening things up around here." She grinned. "Strapping him to a bed tonight sounds like a good idea."
The two Knightmares slashed, parried, and spun around each other in the air until Shinryoku manoeuvred behind the white angel like Knightmare and moved to stab it. C.C.'s Rinnegan watched as a red light travelled through the Knightmare and shined in its factsphere and the red light engulfed Shinryoku.
'Oh, I see. They've been working on way to combine the power of Geass with Knightmares. V.V.'s been tinkering with stuff like this for years now. Guess the little brat's made some progress.' C.C. thought as white Knightmare spun around, thinking it had her paralyzed and tried to slash her. 'But not good enough.'
Shinryoku whacked the sword away, making it seem like it was whacking away a troublesome fly instead of a sword. The white Knightmare was sent flying back but managed to right itself as it floated away from Shinryoku.
'The Geass obviously mimics Rolo's Geass but I know it's not him. That means they have found a way to cybernetically copy or create Geass.' C.C. thought. 'V.V. must be getting desperate to get me like this and risk Charles intervening. There's no way he won't know what that little freak's up to and if he's showing Britannia's dirty little secret out in the open like this heads will roll.'
The white Knightmare flew at Shinryoku again, the Geass symbol on its factsphere glowing brightly as it swung its sword down which C.C. blocked but brought its talon/feet to kick Shinryoku when the pilot thought C.C. left herself wide open. However C.C. had decided to show off a bit more and a second arm sprouted from both arms, catching the clawed feet before they touched the green Knightmare.
"The Asura Path allows me to create mechanized armor and transform my body, or in this case Shinryoku's body." C.C. said as the hands of the new arms changed into claws resembling the Guren's claw. "And they can allow me to do this!"
The arms glowed bright red like the Guren's Radiation Surger that caused the legs to bulge and would continued up into the torso had the pilot not ejected the legs in time. The legs exploded as the legless angel like Knightmare flew back, watching as the smoke cleared revealing Shinryoku with six arms, having summoned two more. Black orbs sprouted from the hands of these arms and formed into a spear, a sword, a staff, with the other two retaining their claw shaped forms and the kodachi remaining in the one hand while black orbs formed behind Shinyroku's head, resembling a halo. Shinyroku now resembled a six armed demonic warrior with angel like wings from its back and the black orbs circling behind its head and its ringed eyes seemingly glaring at the white Knightmare, as if it was deciding the white Knightmare's fate like a God.
"Still think you have me?" C.C. asked with a predatory smile on her face. "Or do you realize how much of a rip off your angel is compared to the real thing?"
The white Knightmare answered by turning around and flying away as fast it could, not glancing back or replying to C.C's question.
"….Excellent strategy." C.C. commented as she closed her eyes, looking through Naruto's eyes to see how the battle on the ground was going. 'As usual, Naruto, you just have to try and stir some hornet's nest. Then again it's not like I'm any better.'
She had been waiting for the chance to test her Knightmare's full power but it seemed she got a little carried away. Now her only opponent was running away just when she was summing Shinryoku's full strength, leaving her pilot disappointed.
'Charles will either have V.V. work harder or he'll start working on containing the little rodent to make sure he doesn't do anything stupid again. We might end up dealing with some of Britannia's stronger warriors sooner than we thought but to be honest I was getting sick of holding back anyways. It's about time I see what I can really do.' C.C. thought as she pointed her hands at the fleeing white Knightmare, her weapons morphine in black orbs. "Fire."
The black orbs shot towards the white Knightmare at a speed matching Mach Eight and easily caught up to the white Knightmare. The cockpit ejected as the black orbs disintegrated anything they touched and the white Knightmare exploded a second later.
"This is it. This is what I've gained… and it's all thanks to you…" C.C. whispered with a happy smile. "Naruto."
"I see one of them up ahead!" Darlton stated.
"Take him out!" Cornelia commanded as she pointed her Gloucester's lance forward.
"Sister, please stop!" Euphemia struggled to make Darlton stop. "This isn't like you at all! Please all of you stop!"
Her words were ignored as Cornelia charged forward with her knights firing their rifles but Naruto spun his sword, releasing wave energy and chakra that created a circular barrier that blocked the bullets and spun out of the way of Cornelia's lance and elbowed her Gloucester in the face, knocking her down.
'That right. Cornelia and everyone else are under the effect of a Geass.' Naruto thought. 'Then if so…'
"Kill him!" Guilford shouted but Kallen leapt from behind the trees, kicking Guilford's Gloucester down with the Guren's foot as Naruto placed Seizan's index finger on the head of Cornelia's Gloucester. "Naruto, what are you doing?"
"Release!" Naruto stated, channeling a small bit of chakra through Seizan's finger.
The small bit of chakra was not enough to harm Cornelia or her Gloucester but it instantly dispelled the Geass that had been placed on her. "Wha-What? What's happening?" She suddenly remembered the man in the four legged Knightmare ordering her and the others to attack and then for some reason she obeyed it. "Why did I…"
Then her mind flashed back to her office with her brother sitting in front of her.
" For what reason do you come all the way here, Castor? " Cornelia asked softly.
"Oh, just some personal business." For some reason Castor looked irritated but he waved it off a second later. "I came here to see the Lancelot and see if Schneizal's project can measure up. As you know the Daedalus Division have been working around the clock to compete with the Knightmares produced by the Camelot Division."
"I've heard. I haven't seen anything your division has produced since the private Knightmare factory you own is in Area Eight." Cornelia replied.
"Only because we've been hard at work to make sure that no sensitive information is released. We can't have enemies discovering sensitive information now can we? But there is another reason I'm here. It's about Zero."
"Hm? What about him?" Cornelia raised an eyebrow and narrowed one eye. "I hope you're not looking for an angle to replace me, brother. I'm not in the mood for this and no matter what anyone says in the Royal Court I will let anyone get in my way."
"Oh, nothing like that." Caster's eyes suddenly flashed red with a bird like sigil. "I just want to know anything you know about Zero and to say 'God Bless You' for getting the chance to track down the man who killed our brother and if you follow my advice you'll be able to stop him once and for all."
'Why did I black out? And why did I order them to attack like that?' Cornelia wondered before straightening at the sound of Darlton shouting. 'Darlton… Euphie!'
"Sister, are you all right?" Euphemia asked, realizing that her sister was back to normal. "What happened?"
"I don't know… I honestly don't know." Cornelia whispered.
"DIE!" Darlton shouted as he charged at Naruto but Todoh's Gekka leapt out from behind the trees and clashed with Darlton's Gloucester.
"Euphie!" Cornelia's eyes widened and face paled. 'Euphie's right here in the middle of a battle field and I brought her right into it!' "Everyone pull back!"
However her men didn't seem to hear her as he clashed with Todoh while Guilford tried to get up but the Guren responded grabbing the arm of Guilford's Gloucester just as Kallen activated the Radient Wave Surger. The arm expanded and exploded but Guilford managed to retain the common sense to eject the arm before it exploded.
"Guilford! Are any of you listening to me?!" Cornelia shouted.
"Hey, Nelly!" Nonnette's Gloucester leapt out and thrust its lance at Naruto who spun Seizan out of the way. "You back with us?"
"Nonnnette, something's wrong. Guilford and Darlton won't listen to me!" Cornelia got her Gloucester back on its feet.
"You've snapped out of it. I thought you guys went crazy." Nonnette as she and Cornelia's Gloucesters wheeled forward. "You just went after Zero the moment that guy in the four legged Knightmare ordered you to."
'I remember him saying 'God Bless You' and then for some reason I went after Zero.' Cornelia thought. 'What happened?'
Rai wheeled forward in the Club. "Lady Enneagram, reinforcements are coming!"
"Cover me as I take Princess Euphemia back to the base!" Cornelia replied.
Lelouch was preoccupied with the presence of the air ship that was slowly gliding over the island, making its way to the battlefield. 'This is getting too crazy. We need more time to make sure everyone makes it to the beach.' "Kallen, Todoh, make your way to the way beach. Seizan and I will cover your retreat."
"But Zero-" Kallen started as Lelouch deactivated the Phantom Coil system and appeared in the middle of the battlefield.
"Don't worry. I have a plan." Lelouch said as he activated the MAS and grabbed a single Gloucester.
"GAH!" Cornelia was about to take off when she and Euphie were rocked by the Gloucester they were in shaking as it was lifted off the ground and pulled towards Zero's Knightmare. "Damn you, Zero!"
"Cornelia, it might surprise you to know that if Princess Euphemia's knight had won I would have honored the terms of the agreement for the duel but in one swift move Britannia proved it is incapable of keeping its word or honor." Lelouch stated as Cornelia's Gloucester floated in front of the Arashikage. "I'm not sure what you were thinking but unless you want to suffer the indignity of becoming our prisoner you'll call of your forces now."
'Which means I have to dispel the Geass effect on those two.' Naruto glanced at the two Gloucesters that Todoh and Kallen were holding off. Seizan made a hand sign and Naruto released a small shockwave of chakra that traveled through the battlefield, touching Guilford and Darlton's Gloucesters and instantly cancelled the Geass effect.
"Huh? Wh-What happened?" Darlton asked, disorientated.
Guilford spotted Cornelia's Gloucester floating in front of Zero's Knightmare. "Princess Cornelia and Euphemia!"
"Don't move." Seizan stood next to the Arashikage with its sword and kunai out. "Don't even think of trying anything. This battle is over."
Guilford and Darlton froze, gritting their teeth as they remained stationary while all Britannian forces present stopped but kept their weapons trained on the Black Knights.
"You have ten seconds to call them off." Lelouch completed his terms. "So what is your answer?"
Cornelia's answer would have been telling Zero to go to Hell but Euphie was with her and she wouldn't dare endanger her little sister. "And I have your word?"
"You do." Lelouch nodded. "There's no need to continue this battle anymore. What started as a duel has erupted into a full on battle that wasn't necessary at all. It's time someone puts an end to this and say stop."
"… Fine." Cornelia relented and Euphemia sighed in relief. "All forces stand down and retreat. I repeat, all forces stand down and retreat."
Nonnette sighed. "Well hopefully things get better after this."
Lelouch deactivated his MAS and watched as Cornelia's Gloucester landed back on its feet as the Britannian forces that had been on their way pulled back. The only ones left on the battle field were Lelouch, Kallen, Todoh, and Naruto with Cornela, her knights, Nonnette and Rai.
Cornelia stared at the black and gold Knightmare standing before her. "Just tell me one thing. Do my brother and sister still live?"
Lelouch was silent for a moment as he thought over Cornelia's words, detecting the small amount of pleading in her voice, knowing that she wanted badly to know if he and Nunnally were still alive. He could lie or deny telling her anything but something kept Lelouch from doing so for some odd reason. "… Yes. They live."
Cornelia and Euphemia's eyes widened at the answer and tears nearly threatened to spill out of both their eyes. Their beloved siblings were still alive, even if they were hearing it from a terrorist they just wanted to believe it was true.
"They are in hiding for they do not wish to be found." Lelouch continued.
"Why? Why would they hide?" Cornelia knew she sounded like she was begging but she didn't care. "They have a family that was heartbroken when they thought they died!"
"A family that was torn apart the day Empress Marianne vi Britannia was gunned down and did nothing as her son and daughter were sent away as hostages to a foreign land. There was nothing to be gained from returning aside from becoming a pawn of the Emperor again with the son possibly forced into the military or forced to marry some gold digging whore and the blinded and crippled daughter possibly married off to some noble." Lelouch retorted. "Tell me, what loving family sentences them to a fate like that?"
Cornelia and Euphemia both flinched from the dark tone in Zero's voice, the condemnation practically coming out of his mouth like saliva.
"The fact of the matter is that they are happy to live a normal life away from Britannia's corruption and have no wish to reveal themselves. Despite their connection to the Britannian Royal Family I have no reason to kill them for they have long since discarded their titles so for their sake I will speak no more of them." Lelouch stated as the Arashikage stepped back. "Despite the fact that Britannia attacked us and went back on their word regarding the rules of the duel I am under no obligation to tell you what happened to them or where they are." Lelouch switched the channel for the Black Knights. "All forces, make your way to the rendezvous point."
"Are you sure, Zero?" Todoh asked. "They could attack us while we try to retreat."
"My systems indicate that the Britannian forces with the exception of the ones present have retreated. They're no match for us in their current state. Kallen, Seizan, and I will stay behind and cover you as you direct them to the rendezvous point." Lelouch stated.
"Understood." Todoh nodded as he sped off his in Gekka.
'Aside from those bastards interfering with duel this day's going pretty well.' Naruto thought in his head. 'I kicked Suzaku's ass again, damaged the Lancelot for a little while, C.C. got to destroy an advanced Knightmare that was no doubt from the Geass Order run by that little shit, V.V. I guess I didn't think that publicly challenging Suzaku to a duel wouldn't attract any of Geass Order. Oh well, Lelouch can't get mad at me for not predicting that.'
' Always make up these fancy plans. Honestly, just outright challenging them was a welcome change we needed to see once in a while. ' Kurama chuckled.
' Still, I wish these unexpected interruptions would just stop when they're getting to the good part! ' Shukaku whined.
' Will you stop it? It's not Naruto's fault he can't predict things like this. ' Matatabi admonished.
'Thanks, Matatabi.' Naruto smiled but then realized what she said. 'Hey!'
' What do you know? He does pay attention. ' Kurama snickered along with the rest of the tailed beasts.
"You guys-" Naruto stopped as he spotted a red light enveloping the area. "Aw, you guys just don't know when to quit."
"Naruto, what's wrong?" Kallen asked.
"You'll see it in a second."
Lelouch's eye glanced to the beeping sound on his console and instantly knew what it was. He quickly raised the Arashikage's arm and activated his IDF system, repelling a bullet aimed for the Arashikage's head.
'Bet you didn't see that coming.' Naruto smirked, seeing the red light envelop Kallen and Lelouch and yet Lelouch was able to move.
" How does a mark block Geass? " Lelouch asked skeptically.
It's not as if he didn't believe Naruto's claims of what his powers were capable of but Lelouch's mind worked to prefer logic to 'magic' despite the fact that he had a power to command anyone he made eye contact with. At the very least he was able to understand his and Kallen's Geass in a logical way while Naruto's remained a mystery.
"It's a seal I made to emit a chakra field around the person the seal is placed on. It negates the effects of Geass due to the fact that Geass effects people mentally, meaning it affects the brain. The second a Geass tries to affect you the seal will emit a pulse that will cancel the Geass before it can even take hold." Naruto explained patiently. "I went through a lot of work to understand the power of Geass and what can be used to counter it. Just so you know if this seal is placed on someone who is under a Geass effect or has been affected, kind of like Lelouch commanding someone with his Geass and that person fulfilling that command, then the person will be freed from the Geass affects and will remember anything they didn't before."
"So if this seal is placed on someone I used my Geass on they'd remember me saying something, a command, a question, anything they didn't remember." Lelouch surmised. "And this will be able to block Geass powers like Rolo and Rai's?"
"Of course it will." Naruto nodded with a big smile. "There's no Geass strong enough to overpower this Cancelling Seal I made. So where do you want it?"
"Hm?" Lelouch and Kallen looked confused.
"I got to draw it on both of you if it's going to work." Naruto explained with a sigh. "Duh. If anyone sees them you can just say it's a tattoo."
Lelouch scowled. Even if he was no longer among Britannian Royalty he still had a disdain for a few things that commoners enjoyed, one of them being tattoos. Basically ink drawn onto the skin in a painful way to show off some form of bravery. Kallen didn't seem to have a problem, seeing as how the seal was drawn in Japanese. She rolled up her sleeve and allowed Naruto to draw the seal on her left shoulder followed by a reluctant Lelouch who only did so to become immune to the effects of Geass.
"You think you can do the same for the others?" Kallen asked.
"Can you convince them?" Naruto asked.
"I'm sure Lelouch and I can show them that it works." Kallen nodded.
"It would have be shown in a way that convinces them that my Geass would be blocked by anyone with a seal. I'd suggest someone volunteers to have the seal drawn on them and I use my Geass as a test." Lelouch put his sleeve down when Naruto was done drawing the seal. "I could pretend to use it on Kallen because she's already immune."
"Or I can convince Ohgi or Tamaki to give it a try." Kallen glanced at Lelouch. "A live demonstration on them would convince everyone for sure."
"You suggest Naruto applies the seal to one of them and I try to use my Geass on them?" Lelouch questioned.
"It's the best way to show there is a way to counter Geass and with everyone watching any doubt they have about you using your Geass to control us will vanish." Kallen explained.
Lelouch maintained a calm look on his face but Naruto could tell he was impressed by Kallen's idea, showing her intellect and surprising him with a good plan. "All right, it's done in a way to help assure everyone there are ways to counter Geass, especially since there is a secret order of people with Geass that answer only to the Emperor. If this seal works it'll cripple this Geass Order as a threat to the Black Knights."
"And keep them in the dark about our abilities since they think only a Code-Bearer is immune to the effects of Geass." Naruto pointed out with a nod.
'Will this erase any doubts, Lelouch?' Naruto thought as he watched the Arashikage's EMS cannons activate as Lelouch pointed them in the direction of where the bullet had come from, his PROVIDENCE scanners locating the attack and activated the EMS systems, switching to Sub-Zero mode. 'Both him and Kallen were enveloped by the Geass but they can still move meaning it was a complete success. I'd love to see the look on the face of the guy who did that when he realizes his Geass is next to useless now against us.'
' Of course it was a success. Compared to the strongest form of Genjutsu so far Geass is child's play once countered appropriately. ' Kurama huffed.
' Thus the Geass Order's power against the Black Knights has been crippled in a way that it will likely never recover from. ' Matatabi offered.
The cannons released a pair of miniature tornados composed of ice cold wind that froze anything it touched, forcing the Sutherland that had fired the bullet with a sniper rifle to wheel back as its pilot struggled to get out of the way of the attack.
"What's wrong, Lelouch?" Kallen asked as the Geass wore off. "Who fired that shot?"
"Possibly the same person who attacked us earlier." Lelouch replied.
"What was that?" Cornelia demanded, her and Euphemia having been under the Geass and came to see a frozen forest and a trail of snow leading from the Arashikage. "What's the meaning of all this?"
"ZERO!" Suzaku's voice shouted through the radio.
Lelouch's system beeped rapidly again as the four legged Knightmare leapt out of the woods and on its back was the Lancelot.
"Suzaku!" Euphemia cried out.
The Lancelot's knee was still damaged but it was riding on the four legged Knightmare's back like a horseman and fired a slash harken at the Arashikage. Lelouch activated the IDF in the Arashikage's left hand, blocking the harken and sent it flying back but the Lancelot rolled off the four legged Knightmare as it leapt to attack Seizan.
"What is happening?!" Cornelia was getting tired of these unexplained events that have been happening ever since she arrived on the island.
"Your Highness, you must leave now! Prince Schneizel intends to attack Zero from the air!" Suzaku said through the Lancelot's speakers.
"WHAT?!" Cornelia shouted.
"It's just something new every second." Naruto mumbled as Seizan dodged the four legged Knightmare's hammer. "And I'm really getting sick of it!"
Suzaku fired a slash harken that flew past the Arashikage and embedded itself in a tree. The Lancelot was propelled forward as Lelouch's scanners beeped urgently, recognizing Suzaku's attack. Lelouch raised the Arashikage's hands to block as the Lancelot slammed into his Knightmare and knocked them down.
"What the hell are you doing, you fool?!" Lelouch shouted.
"I'm stopping you here and now, Zero!" Suzaku answered. "Princess Cornelia, you must get Princess Euphemia out of here!"
"What about you, Suzaku?!" Euphemia cried out as Cornelia pulled her Gloucester back.
"I'll keep Zero down so Prince Schneizel attacks from above." Suzaku answered.
"WHAT?! NO! SUZAKU, YOU CAN'T DO THAT! FALL BACK!" Euphemia cried out.
"I'm sorry, Princess but I was ordered to by Prince Schneizel." Suzaku closed his eyes.
"SUZAKU THIS IS NOT WHAT I WANT! WE AGREED TO STOP THE FIGHTING HERE! STAND DOWN AND FALL BACK!"
"I'm sorry, Your Highness but I can't. I must stop Zero." Suzaku weakly answered as the giant airship came into view.
"SUZAKU KURURUGI, YOU ARE MY KNIGHT AND YOU WILL DO AS I SAY!" Euphemia shouted as tears threatened to spill from her eyes.
Cornelia saw the tears and glared angrily at the Lancelot, imagining its pilot bursting into flames for making her sister cry.
"Zero, hang on!" Kallen shouted as she wheeled forward.
"YOU FOOL!" Lelouch shouted he tried to activate his MAS system but Suzaku slammed the Lancelot's arms down on the Arashikage's arms, pinning them.
"You're not getting away, Zero! Your murdering spree ends here and now!" Suzaku stated, while holding an MVS sword at the Arashikage's cockpit.
Kallen stopped when she saw the Lancelot pointing a sword at Lelouch's cockpit. "Damn you!"
"You're not changing anything here, Zero! You're just causing mayhem and destruction for no reason!" Suzaku stated.
"And you're believing anything will change with this!?" Lelouch snarled as the console in front of him started beeping more rapidly as an energy signature from the air ship was detected. "Getting yourself killed in a so-called blaze of glory?!"
"Better than breaking the rules!" Suzaku retorted.
"SUZAKU STOP THIS NOW! THIS IS NOT WHAT I WANT!" Euphemia cried out.
"I'm sorry… Euphie." Suzaku whispered.
"That's it…" Naruto, who had been listening while fighting off the four legged Knightmare, whispered. "I've had all I can stand and I can't stand no more!"
Naruto had Seizan spread its arms out, releasing chakra chains that he had learned to make exactly like his mother and wrapped around the four legged Knightmare. The chains tightened around the Knightmare's limbs to the point that the arms and legs snapped and broke under the chains while Seizan pulled the limbless Knightmare towards him and spun around, lifting it into the air and tossed it away. The Knightmare vanished into the distance while Naruto turned to the Lancelot that was still pinning the Arashikage down.
"That idiot's really getting on my nerves!" Naruto grumbled as he threw his MVS kunai that hit the ground in front of them.
Suddenly Seizan vanished and reappeared in front of them and kicked the Lancelot in the face, knocking it off the Arashikage.
"I'm getting a little tired of that guy getting in the way." Naruto muttered as he had Seizan pick up the MVS kunai.
"We have to move now! It's about to fire-"
Lelouch was unable to finish his sentence as streams of red light rained down from the Britannian airship and fell upon the battlefield. In addition to the beams of light burning through anything they touched the airship fired artillery rounds down on the battlefield to ensure nothing escaped alive.
"SUZAKU!" Euphemia shouted as Cornelia piloted her Gloucester away from the battle.
The light of the explosion engulfed their Gloucester, blinding them to anything that happened next.
C.C. watched as the Britannian airship turned the entire battlefield into a smoking, scorched clearing with multiple craters created from the artillery shells.
" Shinryoku-san, we can't get into contact with Zero, Kallen, or Seizan-san! Can you see what's happening?! " Todoh's voice asked over the radio.
"A Britannian airship bombarded the field in an attempt to kill Zero." C.C. answered calmly.
" Are they all right? "
"They're fine. They used the smoke to sneak away when the Britannians weren't looking." C.C. said with a small smile. "As if a bombardment would be enough to kill them."
" Do you know where they are? "
"As of this moment they're off the island and we can't afford to follow them. Don't worry though, Zero set up a secondary rendezvous point in case we were separated. Return to the sub and wait for me off the coast. We'll discuss our next strategy when I arrive."
" Understood. "
C.C. sighed with an amused smile. "Always pulling off these stunts at the last second, are you Naruto? You're lucky I like the kind of fun you bring."
"Your Highness, they found Princess Cornelia's Gloucester abandoned several miles from the blast site. For reasons we have yet to understand the cockpit was ejected."
"I see…" A tall blond haired man dressed in white noble clothing replied as he stood up. "And our losses?"
"We have yet to fully count them Your Highness."
"I see." Prince Schneizel closed his eyes. "Continue searching for the jettisoned cockpit. Both Princess and Princess Euphemia must be found. Contact the base and tell them I will be arriving shortly. I want to see the extent of the damage to the Lancelot and the full report."
"Yes Your Highness."
" What the hell happened out there?! Four Geass users out there, two unique and highly advanced Knightmares with one Geass that can stop one's perception of time, with our special Geass transmitters working perfectly and WE STILL FAILED?! Why didn't your Geass paralyze Zero and the red Knightmare?! "
"Unknown, sir." Rolo answered calmly through the phone.
" This duel presented us with the chance to eliminate Zero and recapture C.C. and it failed! C.C.'s Knightmare showed powers than anything we've seen before that destroyed the Aquila and that blue Knightmare crippled the Equus! "
"Zero and the blue Knightmare have been neutralized now. C.C. will be easier to track now." Rolo pointed.
" Fool! We do not know their true capabilities! There are no bodies or destroyed Knightmares to confirm their deaths! Until we find evidence then they are considered still alive and still a threat! Remain at the base and concentrate on finding them! "
"Understood." Rolo replied before hanging up. 'He's angry. I've never heard him angry before. Perhaps I could contact the Director and inform him of my superior possibly being compromised.'
Rakshata was running calculations on her computer, going over the data from the battle when a window opened up, showing Sayoko with her Rinnegan active. "I take it the Knightmares are back in the hangar."
" Yes Rakshata-san. The Arashikage, the Guren, and Seizan are all back in the hangar. " Sayoko nodded.
"So the reverse summoning jutsu worked." Rakshata surmised with a smirk. "A perfect way to rescue my children from destruction on the battlefield."
" However the cockpits of the Arashikage and the Guren have ejected while Naruto-san was not in Seizan. From what I saw something forced the Arashikage and Guren's cockpits to eject and Naruto-san followed after Master Lelouch and Kallen-san. " Sayoko surmised.
"And from what I saw the island they landed on I surmise the Arashikage and Guren's ejection system were somehow triggered by the attack from the airship. And of course, Naruto being the knucklehead that he is abandoned my child to be summoned back to the factory to follow them." Rakshata remarked amusedly.
" It seems so. " Sayoko nodded with a small smile.
"Well, I guess there's nothing left but to let the little fox have his fun. C.C. has taken over as commander of the Black Knights until Zero has been found." Rakshata leaned back on her couch. "I almost wonder what Naruto is thinking over there."
That boy just made things around here so interesting.
The sound of segulls stirred Suzaku was his dreamless slumber as he opened his eyes to see the blue sky with seagulls flying above him. "Huh…" Suzaku slowly sat up. "Where's the Lancelot?"
He looked around and saw that he was on a beach that looked unfamiliar.
"Zero!" Suzaku suddenly remembered that he was engaged in battle with the Black Knights and then… "It's no use. I can't remember anything."
On another part of the island Lelouch came to and looked around the beach he had found himself on. "Where am I?" He walked up to the edge of a cliff to get a better view of the island while not knowing Suzaku was doing the same thing.
"Just as I thought, this is another island." Suzaku muttered.
'The vegetation and climate are the same as Shikine Island. I can't be that far from it.' Lelouch calculated in his head.
"There's no way to contact anyone with an comm.. What's more important right now is to find a source of drinkable water and shelter." Suzaku continued as he walked in the direction of a water fall.
"The good thing is that I came prepared for a situation like this." Lelouch said as he pulled out a tri-kunai Naruto had given him.
He threw it on the ground and a second later Naruto appeared in front of him. "It's about time you came to, Lelouch. I was a little worried you hit your head or something."
"Naruto, you remember what happened?" Lelouch questioned.
"That airship launched an attack on you guys when Suzaku had you pinned and almost had you guys before the seals I placed on the Arashikage and the Guren kicked in. The problem was that the cockpits ejected just as the reverse-summoning jutsu kicked in, possibly because of the explosion. It's a good thing I gave you and Kallen those kunai." Naruto said as he took his mask off. "C.C.'s back with the Black Knights and has taken command until we get back and the good news is that no one was killed and our Knightmares are back in the Ashford Factory."
"I see, that is good news. Have you heard from Kallen yet?" Lelouch asked as he took his mask off. "We could all pose as simple lost Britannians in case a military patrol comes by. I can use my Geass to help us pass off without arousing suspicion."
"Nothing yet but I sense she's on this island along the three more who must be stranded like us. One of them is close by," Naruto answered.
"I see." Lelouch pulled out his hand gun. "Just in case they're an enemy."
"Put that away." Naruto sighed. "There's no need for that. We don't have time for killing each other, Lelouch. Not if we want to get off this island."
"What do you suggest? We can't remain idle for long." Lelouch retorted.
"Just try and act nice." Naruto said as he looked down at the beach.
Lelouch followed Naruto's gaze and his eyes widened when he saw someone watching them looking wet and very surprised.
"Hi Princess Euphemia!" Naruto said with a chuckle and a wave. "Come to these parts often?"
Cornelia grumbled as she was brought back to the conscious world by a splitting headache that irritated her as she sat up. "Wh-What happen-" She opened her eyes as the memories of the events before she lost consciousness caught up with her. "Zero… Euphie!" She stood up and looked around frantically. "Euphie! Euphie!"
She had been unconscious under a tree and she when she looked around she saw a beach in front of her which explained the sand falling out of her hair, her skin on her back slightly sour possibly because of the heat but aside from that and the dirt on her uniform she was fine. However these little problems were nothing compared to the current situation she was in.
The situation where she was seemingly marooned on an island that she had somehow landed on and her sister was missing.
"How did I end up here?" Cornelia narrowed her eyes as she looked around. "This isn't Shikine Island but the climate is similar. The explosion… I must have somehow set off the ejection system, possibly because Euphie and I were too close to the explosion."
The cockpit must have been sent flying far off course by the explosion and that was how she ended up here but that didn't explain why Euphie wasn't with her.
"Without a comm.. I can't contact the base for pickup or to mount a search for Euphie. I could set up a fire and use smoke as a signal to anyone that might pass by." Cornelia quietly mused.
As a soldier Cornelia had trained herself to be self sufficient, even for the chance that she might end up stranded in the wild with no chance of calling for help. So while she had no fear for herself her little sister was a different story.
"I need to find Euphie and fast. There's no telling what dangerous wild life might exist on this island." Cornelia mumbled.
With a purpose in her mind the second born Princess of Britannia set off to explore this strange island and find her sister.
Suzaku stopped in front of the water fall, seeing someone bathing themselves under the falling water. "Huh?" And it wasn't just some random girl, he knew that person by their distinctive red hair. "Kallen? Could it be?" He stepped out of the woods. "Excuse me!"
Kallen spun around and saw Suzaku standing there, freezing in shock. "Suzaku."
Suddenly realizing that Suzaku was watching her and that she wasn't wearing any clothes Kallen rushed towards her discard clothes, grabbing the kunai Naruto had given her while holding her jacket in front of her.
"A Black Knight uniform?!" Suzaku realized. "You mean that you're a-"
Kallen lunged forward with a shout.
"I don't believe it! It's really you?" Suzaku spotted the kunai in Kallen's wrist and quickly reacted.
He grabbed her wrist and threw her over his shoulder, hearing shouter as she landed on her back in shallow water.
Suzaku quickly moved and pinned before she could get back up. "Kallen, Kallen Stadtfeld, I don't believe it. You're one of-"
"Don't call me by that name!" Kallen growled. "Kallen Kozuki's my real name, I'm Japanese!"
Suzaku gasped. "You're kidding? You really are-"
"Yes. I'm a Black Knight got it? I'm not going to deny that anymore!" Kallen answered with a glare.
Suzaku returned the red haired girl's glare with a glare of his own. "Well then Kallen Kozuki, I'm placing you under arrest for conspiracy and rebellion against Britannia."
Lelouch was caught off guard by the fact that Euphemia was looking at him without his mask covering his face. "You knew she was there?!"
"Not at first. She's actually really good at hiding when she wants to." Naruto shrugged. "That's pretty impressive."
'Damn it, Naruto-' Lelouch shouted in his head.
"Lelouch…" Euphemia spoke up. "Lelouch, it's you isn't it? I haven't told anyone about it, I swear." Lelouch looked down at Euphemia as she smiled with tears in her eyes. "Lelouch…"
"Big sappy reunions…" Naruto wiped his right eye. "I always tear up at these things."
A few minutes later Euphie's dress was laid out to dry while Lelouch gave her his cape to hide her modesty.
"When did you figure it out?" Lelouch asked as he sat against a rock so he wouldn't stare at her.
"Back during the hotel jacking." Euphemia answered.
"I see… At that time I said too much without thinking." Lelouch mused with a small smile on his face.
"Still, I wasn't convinced until now." Euphemia continued.
"I see… I'm naive as well. Even so, why didn't you discuss it with Cornelia?" Lelouch questioned.
"I didn't because my sister never listens to me. Besides that, I think things are depressing enough as they are." Euphemia replied.
"Really? Considering how things went I'm just glad that it wasn't a massacre out there." Naruto was sitting away from them, looking at the ocean.
Euphemia glanced at Naruto before looking back down at the ground. "Nunnally, how is she?"
"She's living with me." Lelouch answered with a small smile. "But I'm please to say she's no longer blind and crippled."
"Really?" Euphemia glanced over her shoulder. "She's all better?"
"And quite happy about it." Lelouch continued happily. "It reminds me of when she was little, always running through the gardens of our mother's villa. It takes everything I have just to keep up with her."
"And you still fall behind." Naruto snickered.
Euphemia suddenly seemed sad despite hearing the happy news of her favorite half sister's recovery. "The hatred you must feel for us…"
"I only want to find out one thing. Do you know anything about the circumstance in which my mother was murdered?" Lelouch said, trying to change the subject.
"I'm sorry." Euphemia looked down before looking back up at the sky. "It seems my sister investigated it extensively though. Cornelia thought a lot of Lady Marianne and really looked up to her. May I ask you something now? Both of you?"
"Hm?" Naruto looked over his shoulder.
"Are you Zero or… And you," Euphemia looked at Naruto. "Are you Zero's Knight, Seizan?"
"Not right now I am. The mask is off, remember?" Naruto turned and grinned. "Not that I don't enjoy showing this pretty little face around. My real name is Naruto Uzumaki."
"Naruto Uzumaki…" Euphemia softly repeated before looking at Lelouch.
"I'm Lelouch." Lelouch answered. "Yeah, right here and now I'm Lelouch, the brother you know, Euphie."
Euphemia turned away as tears started to fall down her eyes again. "Oh, Lelouch…" Her stomach suddenly growled making her yelp. "I believe all this relief has suddenly made me hungry."
"Well then, we better go get some food." Lelouch said as he stood up. "Naruto, you coming?"
"Maybe in a while but I have something to check up on. Euphemia, your sister was with you in that cockpit, right?" Naruto stood up and stretched his limbs.
"Uh… yes." Euphemia nodded.
"Then it's likely the lone presence I sense on this island is her. I think Suzaku's with one of us, Kallen and since I can sense both of them I can tell they haven't killed each other yet." Naruto explained with a small smile. "Can't have a happy reunion without all the family now can we?"
"Naruto, you can't let Cornelia know about us." Lelouch stated.
"Yeah, yeah." Naruto dismissed Lelouch with a wave. "I won't give anything away but we can't leave her out there all alone. If something happens to her then this whole happy vibe I'm getting from everyone will be soured. I might as well check on Kallen and Suzaku while I'm at it too." Naruto said before waving at Lelouch and Euphemia. "See ya later, treat her well, Lelouch!"
With that said he was gone in a puff of smoke.
"Lelouch, is your friend all right?" Euphemia asked after a moment of silence.
"Don't worry about him. He's just a knucklehead." Lelouch said dismissively. "A nice knucklehead like Suzaku and someone you can trust."
"… I think so too." Euphemia said with a small smile. "He's a kind soul, kind of like you, Lelouch."
Lelouch glanced at Euphemia in surprise at what she said despite the fact that he was Zero before nodding in agreement. "Yes, he is."