Chapter 2: Saving a Princess

"In this war, not even a single pawn may be spared...because on this chessboard, checkmate is not where the game ends." - A Winter Night's Lazzo trailer.

Area 11 (Japan) - Docks

Within one of the docks on Area 11, we see the large doors were open a bit and showed the inside of what a certain pair were doing when they got back. It took some time to plot the Gawain back to the mainland, being rather tricky but they got it down and were now resting up before making the next big move.

"I'm surprised on how low Britannia's security is now, very lax," Azmodan commented as wiped his hands clean with a white handcloth from fixing some damage on the shoulder of the Knightmare - Gawain.

The Demon & Witch pair come back to Area 11 and under the ranger as much as they can. Now the security was high but also lax at the same time and Britannia soldiers were pretty lazy. Maybe it was because they believed that Zero was dead due to the rumors that the New Knight - Suzaku Kururugi killed him or others think the Black Knights are done for.

Not true on the first one. Suzaku gave Lelouch to the emperor as a reward and becomes a Knight of the Round. Some friend he was but moving on.

This brought an interesting question to mind, where was the princess that started the special zone, and her whereabouts? Her condition after getting shot by a sniper assassin? That is what triggers the Black Rebellion and Zero took the chance of launching an assault on the forces in Area 11.

Azmodan wonders about those questions and had a feeling he would find more when stepping onto the stage very soon. He had talked with his parents, explaining about his sudden disappearance and how he was going to help an old friend, which might take a while but would come for visit and make sure his duties do not fall behind. They have sent the message to others that know their son and were passed around, that he won't be in Hell for most as he was doing some important bussiness trip & new deals forming up, being a great half-truth and lying at the same time.

"Dose the enemy crush the leader or the army? As you said, Azmodan, not all chess games end with a checkmate," CC said as she walks into the warehouse to see her friend working on the Gawain a bit.

"Indeed. In this case, Britannia is starting to beleive that Zero is either captured or dead but would be proven wrong very soon. The Black Knights, a large amount of them are either dead or captured, hopeless & broken but that would change," Azmodan said, having a strong idea what he was going to do next and take the stage as his own very soon.

CC hummed on that, knowing what her old friend was going to do, and couldn't help but shake her head in amusement at knowing what that blue-haired demon can be like. Azmodan loves to take the show and be certain of the attention of the said show while having a proud and caring heart as well. She does wonder what the Prince of Lust would do next as it was his trun to make his move.

"What's your next move?" CC asked.

"Take the stage...I have a few ideas for that," Azmodan replied.

"Like what?" CC said, being interested.

"First, I going to get my costume ready to take the stage, I need good attire for the show after all. Second, I plan on saving Princess Euphemia, as I have a feeling that the emperor is not finished with her and would finish up loose ends. Third, start the show," Azmodan explained, leaving the Gawain and heading to a changing room, this warehouse being a spare Black Knights' supplies shop in case the main one was discovered.

Better safe than sorry, as Lelouch planned for a good number of counter plans. Sadly he didn't plan for Suzaku to betray and basically cast out both him and Nunnally to the emperor. But anyway.

Azmodan wanted to take action as soon as he can and appeared on the stage, showing that the fight was not over and giving those that lost hope restored. He was told by his friend that the pink-haired princess was a lot different and would be a great alley to help, she's a lot more than a pretty face and has the potential to be a great leader & supporter of the politicians. But first, he needs to make some changes.

"You still going to change the color?" CC asked with a smirk, a challenging smirk.

Azmodan couldn't see it but knows the green-haired witch was challenging him on that question.

"Oh, I plan to my dear witch. It's time to get my performance ready and take the stage very soon," Azmodan said with a smirk as he grabbed a spare Zero's uniform and mask, liking the desgin but doesn't scream him, and waved his hands in front of the two items, starting to have a blue/green mist forming up.

The Prince of Lust then started to wrap and change his new attire before his eyes to his liking.

Time Skip

The Tokyo Settlement

Within the administrative capital of Area 11, Tokyo Settlement, we see the Viceroy's Palace, the center of government in this area, located in the middle of the settlement. This area was a target for someone but not the government. Something else or rather someone in a hospital.

We see in the hallways leading to the private quarters that was a hospital area, completely guarded by soldiers completely loyal to the two princesses. They have no idea what danger was happening inside the very room they were guarding or someone walking down the hallways.

Then all of a sudden, blue mist-like fog appeared out of nowhere and started to move down the hallways towards the location of the Third Princess's room. The guards smelled a strong scent of different flowers before feeling this strong sudden sense of sleepiness and started to fall onto the ground hard, out cold, and snoring lightly on the hard floor.

"Heheheh, now, now, now don't let the bedbugs bite," A new voice teased, echoing through the hallways, and sounds of footsteps can be heard, making their way towards the princess's room. The voice was different, modified a bit but also had a different tone to it.

In the hallway, we see a figure walking who was a young man due to his appearance and stepping out of the shadows & into the light to be seen for the first time. He wore a two-piece, elegant, white suit with golden lines around it, multiple V-like golden symbols on it, and a large white cloak with the same golden lines on it and red on the inside. He was also wearing a white helmet with a purple visor in the middle of it, with a golden V-like symbol under the visor.

This was in the fact, the now New Zero, underneath being Azmodan.

Why wear white and not black like the original? Well CC asked the same when she first saw Azmodan stepping out of the dressing room and into his new attire for the first time. His answer was; "Why wear white? Well, my dear witch, that is easy to explain. White symbolize the end and beginning, pure white or rather the zero. And to show my differences from Lelouch's, the original. Also...I like the irony as well."

CC raised an eyebrow at that response and understand that irony. Azmodan was dressed in pure angelic white but yet was a demon in truth. How ironic and something to keep in mind.

Azmodan or now Zero, was here to save the Third Princess - Euphemia li Britannia from another assassination try due to Emperor Charles taking just actions to eliminate those that dares to charge his rule. He did it once and would do it again. The new Man of Miracles was here to stop it.

Zero walked until he came across the room where Euphemia was resting and recovering from the snipper attack. The area was heavily guarded, no joke about, and mostly due to a certain older sister ordering just high protection in the first place. Who won't do that if their younger siblings were almost killed like that?

Also, our white-suited demon didn't have to worry about the cameras that were on. His mist was not only affecting people but also messing up with the electric and security systems. He then waved his right hand, unlocking the number of locks on the door, and reached for his hidden pocket, grabbing a weapon as he sensed someone else was in the room. And wasn't a friendly visit as he expects.

Zero cracked the door a bit, not to alarm the assassin, who was in front of a member of the OSI - Office of Secret Intelligence. They formed in 2016 for unknown purposes but it seems to do the emperor's dirty work and combat the terrorist group known as Peace Mark. Sounds familiar? It should as the Black Knights and Peace Mark are much more similar than anyone knows.

That faction would be one of Zero's new targets after saving the princess and rebuilding what was lost from what the Black Rebellion brought about.

"Now to finish what I started. All Hai Emperor Charles," The agent said, pulling out his pistol that had a silencer and placing it at the sleeping princess who was unaware of the great danger she was in.

Zero then reached for his choice of weapon, a small knife, and throw it with great speed as soon he opened the door, catching the assassin completely off guard and soon felt a powerful sting on his neck. The agent grasped in pain before coughing and soon fell on his side while trying to pull the knife out of his neck, struggling and would die a slow painful death.

Not wanting to smell the rotten scent of death, Zero waved his hands, summoning a magic circle and transporting the agent's body to a different location for the time being. He then snapped his fingers, summoning green/blue flames to burn the blood off the floor. Best to clean after himself and not get attention to himself, like people believing him to be the one that went to assassinate the princess. Yeah no thank you and moving on.

Zero then heard a groaning noise and someone was waking up from her beauty sleep. He then got a good look at her he would admit, she was indeed a beautiful young princess in the making. She was a young woman with long pink-colored hair that went to her waist and soon had bluish-violet-colored eyes as she started to open them. She wore a blue shirt for her recovery and something else too, which was hard to say as she had a blanket covering her.

"Zero...Lelouch...brother," Euphemia said in a very tired voice and only saw some shadows but the shape of the helmet reminded her deeply of Lelouch - Zero.

This caused Zero to chuckle in amusement and said, "Sadly I'm not Lelouch but I am flattered by that."

Euphemia was pretty shocked by this and soon saw what Zero meant by that. He was dressed completely opposite of what Lelouch wore as Zero. This one wore white as his main theme for his attire and was by her bedside. She then started to become very worried, like where's Lelouch, her brother. The last thing she remembers was giving her speech before feeling this sharp pain in her gut and then hearing someone shouting her name and someone screaming that Zero was the cause of it. She can't remember much after that.

"It's fine. Here, have some water," Zero said, his voice sounding kind as he offered the princess a glass of water which she took and sat up to better position herself.

"Where's Lelouch...my brother?" Euphemia asked, after taking a sip of water.

Zero or underneath the mask, Azmodan frowned and couldn't answer that question. He saw how much Euphemia cared about her brother, despite the fact they are half-siblings but they are full and true in their eyes. That kind of sibling bond reminded him deeply of a certain Twins of Wrath back home. He wasn't sure what the emperor would do with the exiled prince at this time and dare that say out his theories. Some of them won't be good.

"To be honest, Euphemia, I have no idea...," Zero started with his head down in shame for some reason to the princess's surprise.

"I see," Euphemia said, feeling a bit of hopelessness.

"However...I do promise you, Euphemia, to help you find Lelouch," Zero finished, giving the pink-haired princess hope and support as he held her hands with care.

"Really?" Euphiema asked, completely surprised by this.

"Yes, I don't know what happened to Lelouch or Nunnally but I can promise to help you figure out what happened to them," Zero said as they have their hands joined together, inner locking much to Euphemia's surprise, and felt the warmness in his hands.

"I want to join hands, and make both nations a better version of themselves. Make sure the corruption won't spread as it already had. And for one day, I help you reunite your family. Your real and true family hole again, like when you were young," Zero promised much to the princess's great surprise such words spark something within her heart, and blushed a bit at the promise. He had sensed her desire, her true dream to have a real family as she had with Lelouch, Nunnally, and Cornelia before things went bad seven years ago.

This caused Euphemia to remember the younger days when she played with Cornelia, Lelouch, and Nunnaly. How she longs for that, being her desire to unite everyone & reform her lost family.

"I accept your offer, Zero," Euphemia said, taking the offer and would admit that it sound weird for her to say Zero to this person & not her brother.

Zero smiled happily underneath his mask and chuckled before saying, "Wonderful. Are you ready to go? The first step is not usually easy."

"It's not...but I must. Can you please help me?" Euphemia asked as she moved to the side and readied herself to stand on her feet, knowing it would be hard for her since it felt like forever since she walk.

"Of course, my lady," Zero said in pure respect and helped the pink-haired beauty as she stands on her feet.

However and before Zero/Azmodan & Euphemia could leave the room, someone came bursting into the room in such a quick & hard manner that surprised them. This caused the pink-haired beauty to hold onto the white-masked man close to her in comfort and he blinked in surprise. He didn't sense this one coming and had a feeling that this was going to take a while, longer than he thought.

As of now, Azmodan, the new Zero has to face the upcoming and possible wrath of Euphemia's older sister, The Goddess of Victory.