Before I begin, I'd like to say that if I add any scenes or quotes of my own in the episode that isn't in the anime, I will separate it from canon using numbering like this:
(#. This represents the beginning of the custom scene/quote.)
Scene/Quote
(#. This represents the end of the custom scene/quote.)
Followed by the rest of the episode.
.
.
.
The episode begins with text that says, "8 years ago, 2009 a.t.b."
Announcer: "Announcing, Prince Lelouch vi Britannia, 17th heir to the royal Britannian imperial throne!"
A large pair of gates to the Pendragon Imperial Palace swing open, revealing a 9-year-old Lelouch with a displeased expression.
"Finally," Akito sits closer to the edge of his seat. "I really want to learn more about his motivation for fighting, so it seems like we may be about to find out why."
Tohdoh and Xingke nod in agreement, very eager to see more behind the true Lelouch vi Britannia.
While Milly thinks how Lelouch looks cute as a kid, Kallen is surprised to see such a defiant look on his face. Even if he was a child, this was a side of him she never saw.
Lelouch grits his teeth at this memory, one of the most traumatizing things that ever happened to him. But a part of him is grateful that his bastard of a father opened his past-self's eyes to the way the royals were expected to play, and subsequently, he learned how corrupt Britannia really is.
Seeing the young boy on screen, Cornelia, along with the rest of the audience who held something against Lelouch, are all reminded that he was human too, even if some of them still won't acknowledge it.
Then, they all remember that this is the first time they're seeing Lelouch as a child since the first scene in the first episode, the one where he proclaimed to obliterate Britannia someday.
The purplette narrows her eyes. 'If he really did hate Britannia like he said, ignoring the fact that he ended up becoming the Emperor, then maybe it will show us why.'
At the end of the red carpet is Emperor Charles, seated in his throne.
The Prince begins slowly making his way across the red carpet, both noblemen and women alongside a few royal family members surrounding either side of it.
The royals stay silent, but the nobility are unable to keep their gossip quiet as Lelouch silently seethes while listening to their talk.
Nobility: "I heard Empress Marianne was killed inside of the Britannian Palace."
Nobility: "There's no way terrorists could've gotten in there."
Nobility: "Which means that the real assassins must have been..."
Nobility: "Shhh. Beware, my friend. You'll regret it if anyone hears that kind of talk around the Palace."
Nobility: "And yet, the boy remains... even though his mother is dead."
Schneizel gapes. "Unbelievable. I always heard that the nobility and some members of our family gave Lelouch and Nunnally a hard time, but I usually never saw it happen. The only time I did was when Sister Carine would ruthlessly pick on Nunnally, even despite knowing how Lelouch would come running in to defend her. If I had known it would be this bad..."
Nunnally nods. "While his actions are his own doing, his hatred for our nation could've been replaced with trust had you done something, so I won't lie and say that you and our other siblings aren't partially responsible for not helping Lelouch in some way, because you both are."
Their sister winces in guilt. "We weren't there when this happened, Nunnally."
"None of us were." The Empress looks down solemnly, silently blaming herself for her helplessness.
Chiba looks around, confused. "I don't get it. What do you mean that he had it bad?"
Liela gestures to the screen. "Did you not just hear what those nobles were discussing? Some of them were talking about who might have killed his mother, and they were doing it in his presence. Wouldn't you be upset if someone were to do something that insensitive around you if it were one of your dead family members?"
The Japanese Holy Swordswoman looks away, unable to say anything. 'That's true, but...'
Despite the fact that the audience all has their eyes closed in 'respect' for Lelouch as some of them bow while others don't, they have all shown how they don't care about him in the slightest.
When discussing his mother's death, some are stoic as they have no feelings on the matter. Some are able to hide their glee very well. But a few can't help but display their smirks or full-blown grins that the kid's mom is dead.
Tamaki chuckles nervously. "Okay, I know this is supposed to be serious and all, but I can't help but be distracted by how slutty some of these Britannian hierarch women dress. Like, damn! Look at those big titties!" He smiles perversely.
Cornelia sends another glare his way.
But before she can do anything, Gino elbows Tamaki in the ribs and ignores his pained cry and glare. "Despite the fact that I am a Knight of the Round, now that he's brought it up, I do have to kinda agree with him. The expectations Britannian females in Britannian society had placed on them, whether by men or their own gender, was very along the behavior of objectifying them."
Chiba blinks in surprise. "What? You mean to say that Britannian women were treated poorly by their own?"
"Yes. The women, and the children. The girls, many whom were expected to marry at a young age. It's disgusting."
"But isn't it a female's job to serve their betters?" She blurts out in thought of her crush, unintentionally sending a look at the back of Tohdoh's head.
C.C frowns.
Kallen scowls. "With your mentality, us Japanese might as well have rolled over and accepted enslavement."
Nobility: "It's over. And the Ashford family who stood behind them is finished, as well."
Milly narrows her eyes. "Now that I think about it, does anyone know if my grandfather escaped this Geass power that was placed on me? He may have supported Lelouch's side of the royal family, but he did take him in as a refugee when the war began, essentially harboring an enemy, so..."
Sayoko nods. "Don't worry, Milly. Your grandfather made it out fine. I suspect the only reason he was let off the hook is because not only was he a friend of Lelouch's mother, but because they may have threatened to hurt you if Ruben chose to directly support Lelouch's escapades as Zero in the case that he were to recover his memories. Isn't that right, Villetta?"
Ohgi's eyes widen as he turns to his wife, who shrinks a little. "You threatened a student?!"
"Y-Yes, but only because the Emperor ordered the OSI to!"
"... I see." He frowns, realizing how hard a situation it was for most parties involved.
Still, he blatantly ignores the fact that his wife's actions were done all for a title amongst the nobility.
Female Nobility: "And his sister, the Princess?"
Nobility: "We understand she was shot in the legs."
Nobility: "And that she lost her sight."
Nobility: "Blindness caused by trauma though, isn't it?"
Nobility: "No difference. Now she can't even be married off for political gain."
The scene of a five-year-old Nunnally on a hospital bed is shown, her eyes blindfolded, her body bare-chested and hooked up to a few wires monitoring her vitals after having been shot.
Tianzi gasps and holds her mouth. "That's terrible!"
Everyone sends sympathetic looks to Nunnally.
The Empress lowers her head in frustration that they won't do the same for her brother on-screen. She remembers how much he used to dote on her. She remembers how she declared him her enemy, hoping he would surrender immediately, because the big brother she thought she knew would do anything for his little sister and wouldn't be able to bring himself to fight her.
Oh, how self-centered she had been.
Lelouch stops right at the base of the small staircase and fearlessly meets his father's eyes, who is at the top of it in his throne.
Lelouch: "Hail, Your Majesty! My mother, the Empress, is dead."
Charles: "Old news. What of it?" He says boredly.
Everyone's eyes widen, especially Cornelia, who sends a sad look to on-screen Lelouch.
'Now that I think about it, the Princes and Princesses of the Empire almost never saw father unless he summoned us... But why? Why would he say something so cold? Didn't he care about Lady Marianne? I thought she was said to be the only woman he loved!'
Schneizel looks at Cornelia out of the corner of his eye. "I know we're patriots who proudly serve our nation, but... Do you think it's possible we fought the wrong enemy?"
"What?! How could you say that?! Of course we didn't!"
"Really Cornelia? Tell me... How many times did father show you any form of love or affection?"
"I... What does that got to do with anything? Just shut up and focus on the episode."
Schneizel develops a small smirk. 'Fine, but I will continue filling your head with doubt, sister.'
A feeling of immense shame fills Suzaku. How could he fight for a man as uncaring as that, much less sell his best friend out to him?
Lelouch: "What of it?!"
Charles: "You sought an audience with the Emperor of Britannia simply to inform me of THAT? Send the next one in. I have no time for these childish games."
Lelouch: "Father!" He runs up the stairs a few steps.
Seeing this, two royal guards sprint to the Emperor and protectively hold their spears in front of him, but he holds a hand up to allow Lelouch to continue.
Gino sweatdrops. "Um... I know their job is to keep the Emperor safe and all, but do they really need to use such primitive weapons to guard him? And from a Prince at that, who is also a small child?"
Leila sighs. "Excessive pride in one's country can do more harm than good. Just ask the French and Germans in World War Two, both of whom used horses, especially the former, who refused to even utilize the invention of radios."
"No wonder they lose all the time!" Tamaki jokes, earning a strange look from Kallen. "What?! Was it somethin' I said?"
"That's a stereotype. The French have actually won many conflicts throughout history, especially against Britannia."
Lelouch: "Why didn't you keep mother out of harm's way?! You're the Emperor, the greatest man in this nation, if not the world! You should have protected her, and now you don't even visit Nunnally!"
C.C notices how Charles has his eyes closed. 'He truly believed he was protecting you and Nunnally, even if he didn't really care about either of you since you were just a pawn to him.'
L.L nods begrudgingly. 'So it seems.'
Charles: "I've no use for that weakling."
Lelouch: "... That weakling?" He repeats in disbelief.
"... What?" Cornelia chokes out.
She wasn't there that day, but now, she wishes she was. She's finally beginning to understand how much her two favorite half-siblings suffered, and not just Nunnally, but Lelouch, as well.
Nunnally trembles and clinches a fist, steeling herself to continue watching, but also thinking, 'Is this what you meant, big brother, when you said that we meant nothing to him? That Britannia wanted us dead?'
Suzaku tightens his grip on the handles of Nunnally's wheelchair in anger. Lelouch once said that he loathes his father because he threw them away without a care, but he never understood why he hated the man so much until now.
Deep down, ever since their final meeting in the Thought Elevator where the Sword of Akasha fell, he had been ignoring thinking over the conversation between Charles and Lelouch because it was too smart for the likes of him, but now that he was confronted with the facts, he had to finally acknowledge how much his friend suffered.
He just wish he thought of all this sooner.
Suddenly, Suzaku remembers all the times his own father, Genbu, would show him affection before the war, and he felt like an ungrateful brat for killing him in comparison to Lelouch's predecessor.
Charles: "That is what it means to be royalty."
Lelouch: "Then I don't wanna be your heir. I give up my claim to the throne!"
In the background, the audience gasps in disbelief, thinking the boy to be foolish.
Lelouch: "I'm sick of the fighting and scheming over who will succeed you, father! I've had enough!"
Charles: "You are dead. You have always been dead to me, dead from the moment you were born."
The hookah pipe falls out of Rakshata's mouth in shock. She herself never had a father figure in her life because he simply wasn't there, but this is somehow worse.
"N-No...!" Whimpers escape Cornelia, who gracefully brings a handkerchief up to her eyes to prevent her tears from escaping.
She couldn't allow anyone to see her cry, not over Lelouch, especially after all the hate she spewed towards him, even after his death. It would be too humiliating.
"Princess Cornelia-" Guilford is about to comfort her.
"How could I be so blind? And why am I contradicting myself? This is so frustrating! One moment, I angrily shout and demand answers from a dead brother as to why he killed my sister, but the next, I feel the need to protect him. Why? Why am I like this? I should've helped him long ago!"
"... Motherly instincts," Anya answers. "Even if he was your little brother, you're old enough to be a mom figure to him, too."
Had that answer come from a man or a boy, Cornelia would've gotten angry at them because she would feel that they're poking fun at her age, being 32-years-old now.
However, it made sense. Britannian girls often get pregnant at a rather young age between 13-15, another huge problem that can partially attribute to what Gino said about the objectification of females in their society.
Lelouch, they all realized, didn't get to have a mother figure for long, and he never had a father there for him. Charles was seemingly so close yet so far, distancing himself from all his children but keeping them within reach should he find a use for them.
And right when Lelouch pleaded for some form of love from his father, the man verbally abused him. Even if it's not physical abuse, it's still abuse nonetheless. Every child needs the love of their father just as much as they do their mother, otherwise, they would likely grow up to be very fucked up mentally, if not morally.
Before this, Lelouch was sheltered and cared for, but seemingly overnight, his whole world was turned upside down.
Kallen wipes a couple droplets leaking from her eyes.
"You okay?" Gino whispers.
She nods. "Y-Yeah. I just realized how ungrateful I've been to my own mother. Unlike Lelouch's mom, mine is still alive. She did so much for me, even when I returned her love by practically spitting in her face."
"I think we all have issues with our parents, myself included, but yeah, Lelouch's family is messed up."
Charles: "Who gave you the fine clothes you wear, a comfortable home, the food you eat, and your very life?! All of those, I have given to you! In short, you are nothing to me because you have never existed! Yet you dare to speak such foolishness TO ME?!"
He suddenly stands up, his huge stature and his shouting voice startling Lelouch, who gasps as he falls backwards in fear, thinking he may get hit.
"That bastard!" Jeremiah's knuckles turn white. "How dare he raise his voice towards Master Lelouch! How dare he make Master Lelouch fear for his life!"
Sayoko twiddles with a kunai, wishing the former 98th Emperor were here so she could kill him herself. The invasion of Japan was reason enough, but to see him insult the girl she calls her own daughter and abuse the boy she calls her own son is enough to want to make his death very slow and painful.
Tohdoh and Xingke exchange looks that still seem like their strong leader selves, but in their eyes, they see pain and guilt.
Even if Xingke wasn't there when the Black Knights betrayed Lelouch, they realize that their organization's founder had more reason than anyone to hate the world's most evil tyrant. For him, it was very personal.
Rivalz, despite not remembering the times he spent with the boy he supposedly became great friends with, wishes he could reach out and give him a hug.
Nina whimpers.
"Are you okay, Nina?" Milly takes her hand.
"I... I hated Lelouch, but I finally understand what made him tick. I finally get why he fought for the Ele- Japanese."
And Milly feels the desire to breakdown and cry but doesn't, knowing she needs to be strong on behalf of all members of the Student Council. Just like some of the others, she feels the need to show her gratitude to her guardian for raising her with love and care, her grandfather, Ruben.
The scene cuts out to the present as Charles' voice can be heard while the song All Hail Britannia finishes playing.
Charles: "Lelouch, you are dead, therefore, you are not entitled to any rights. I am sending you and Nunnally to Japan. As Prince and Princess, you will serve well as bargaining tools."
Present-day Lelouch is seen sitting on the edge of his bed next to a sleeping C.C, his head down in emotional turmoil.
(2)
Lelouch: 'I get the feeling that C.C is lonely for some reason, so despite my earlier statements to her about not belonging, she can stay for all I care. It doesn't matter to me so long as she doesn't get caught. Me? I'm the one who doesn't belong. I'm a bastard child consumed by my vengeance. Never did I have a place with the Britannians that pretended to like me nor one among the Japanese, who see all Britannians as potential enemies. Bit by bit, I'm slowly losing myself.
Just how long can I keep this up before I snap?'
(2)
The audience shudders. For the first time, they caught a tiny glimpse of the Demon Emperor.
Cornelia lowers her head. "Dear God..."
Even Lloyd has a frown on his face, and he is literally unable to feel emotions. That speaks volumes for how tragic a character Lelouch was.
As the scene fades out, a few sobs can be heard throughout the theater coming from Nunnally, Cecile, and Kallen.
They're all lost in their own thoughts on what they just saw.
Ohgi closes his eyes. "I don't mean to be disrespectful by bringing this up now, but because Lelouch was used by his father, wouldn't that mould him into thinking it's okay to use others?" He receives disgusted looks from everyone (except Villetta), even Chiba, due to the timing of his comment. "I mean, this whole situation is messed up!"
Villetta stares at the floor, lost in thought. "I can't believe it... I was going to sell an abused child into what is basically slavery. That's what it must mean to be used by his father, but who could've known but those who've studied Emperor Charles' behavior or knew him personally? Still..."
Tohdoh concludes, "We all messed up, at least those who stood against Lelouch and questioned his motives for fighting against Britannia when he had more reason to do so than any of us. In our ignorance, we forget that even the most cruel of man were once human beings. Some were politicians. Others were soldiers... and they were young."
Even Chiba nods in agreement, feeling like shit for wanting to murder a child, one capable of taking over the world and killing so many at the age of 18, but a child nonetheless in comparison to the more battle-hardened veterans such as herself. Could anyone really kill a baby Hitler? Those that thump their chests would instantly brag how they would, but the truth is that no good person could, just as they couldn't willingly go out of their way to target Lelouch specifically.
If one is about to do it, they realize how they're about to become the very thing they swore to destroy, for good cannot exist without evil, even if Lelouch isn't the embodiment of evil because children are usually neither good nor evil, they're just innocent beings that haven't been given the chance to make choices of their own until they finally do so.
If one stares into the abyss, the abyss stares back.
It's a paradox of opposites.
Kill or be killed? In self-defense, sure. Everyone is all for that, for it is a God-given right. The bible said, "thou shalt not kill," but that is only another form of organized religion exercising control over others, yet another form of tyranny, something that wears many faces, just like Lelouch and Charles wore many.
But murder is completely different, an inhumane, monstrous action. It's simply the work of the Devil, especially when it involves kids.
Now of course, none of this means that those that previously opposed Lelouch will suddenly switch sides, but now that they finally see the true man behind the mask of Zero, they can slowly begin shifting their views towards a more neutral standpoint.
Nunnally is the only one left to continue sobbing as everyone that was crying is now in the sniffling stage. Tohdoh's words only made her cry harder. Just how much of the harsh world did her older brother protect her from? She doesn't want to know. It hurt enough to hear those insults come out of her father's mouth.
Then, she remembers how Lelouch went through far worse, so she slowly forces down her emotions and prepares to see what he had to experience.
"Guess we finally got what we wanted know," Akito softly says to Leila, who nods solemnly as she squeezes his hand, their respect for Lelouch growing even more, especially the former noblewoman.
"We sure did," She frowns. "Now, I'm wondering how he's going to come into play in the second disc titled, 'Akito The Exiled.' From it's name, I presume you're the main character, but I'm curious what Lelouch has to do with your story-"
"Our story."
She nods.
Akito sighs. "Guess we'll simply have to be patient and see for ourselves."
"I didn't know him very well, but I think I would've loved to be friends with Lelouch."
Lelouch hears her comment, surprised.
The opening song begins playing, but no one can find it in themselves to sing along because of the heart-wrenching scene they just witnessed.
.
.
.
STAGE 7
Attack Cornelia
The episode begins with Cornelia telling Lloyd that she's promoting the pilot of the Lancelot to Warrant Officer to keep him satisfied, saying how she's trying to win without relying too much on the numbers.
Cecile stiffens, not liking how the Honorary Britannians were used as nothing more than expendable pieces to Cornelia.
.
.
.
Euphemia: 'Those who risk their lives on the battlefield are the ones who deserve to rule. I understand the theory, sister. But still...'
"Other than Euphie being worried for you, there should be no reason for her to oppose you. That ideology is correct. People tend to follow those with military experience over most," Schneizel states.
.
.
.
At the ASEEC...
Suzaku: "Sorry you have to sit here watching me do my homework."
Cecile: "Oh, don't worry about it. You've never attended a regular school before, so it can't be avoided."
"No wonder he was psychotic enough to fight for Britannia," Kallen glares at on-screen Suzaku. "He was trained to be a soldier, even as a child, but he was never given the opportunity to grow as a human being. Not that that is any excuse for every shitty thing he did."
Tohdoh winces, feeling like an even bigger failure of a teacher.
Suzaku: "The guys on the Student Council are helping me, too. But... it's still hard."
Cecile giggles: "To be perfectly honest with you, I've been a little bit worried. It's supposed to be a liberal school, but I was afraid you weren't fitting in well."
Suzaku: "Me too. I was expecting that. But I happened to run into an old friend there and he smoothed everything out for me."
Cecile: "Be sure you never take that friend for granted. If your friendship continues, your reunion won't have been coincidence. It will have been predestined."
Suzaku: "Okay," He replies stupidly, not sure what she means.
A sigh escapes Suzaku. 'And yet, I did exactly that. I don't deserve friendship and love, especially when I end up hurting the people I care about. I'm sorry, Lelouch. I took everything from you.'
Cecile: "Anyway, please try one of these." She offers him some onigiri she made.
Suzaku: "Thank you, I will."
Cecile: "I'd like your opinion of them."
He takes a bite and stops chewing in surprise.
Suzaku: "There's... jam."
Cecile: "Yes. I just happened to get some lovely blueberries."
Everyone gives Cecile a strange look as she innocently tilts her head. "What's wrong?"
Meanwhile, Lloyd is trying not to vomit at the mere memory of the woman's horrible concoctions he has tasted, the few of them.
Lloyd: "Alright, everyone! Pack it up, pack it up! We're done today. Don't do anymore! Hip, hip, hurraaaaay~! That's all folks... haah." He bends over, exhausted.
Rakshata chuckles. "Already tired? You're such a weakling, Earl of Pudding, barely even lifting a finger."
"Oh, quiet, you. It's not like you-"
"I know what you're going to say, but I've pulled far more all-nighters than the number of female suitors looking to marry you that you've denied. I'm starting to think you're asexual."
"Impossible. I hold no sexuality. You know as well as I do that we're both married to our work."
The two engineers share a look before slowing devolving into evil laughter befitting mad scientists.
Nunnally sweatdrops. "I thought they'd be at each other's throats, but it seems they're getting along."
Suzaku: "Ah... Um..."
Cecile: "Go to school. Classes might be over for the day, but it's important to meet your friends and have a social life, too."
"That maggot? A social life? HAHAHAHAHA! Funny." Tamaki laughs.
Gino reluctantly agrees. He rarely ever saw Suzaku talk to others for reasons other than recapturing Zero.
In the Student Council room, Shirley asks if Kallen is hiding something from them, and the redhead pulls out her knife when the orangette isn't looking.
"Kallen, what the hell?!" Gino is horrified. "You were planning on killing her if she knew you were half-Japanese or involved with terrorists?!"
"I'm sorry, alright! I got really defensive!"
When Shirley asks about Kallen's relationship with Lelouch, wondering if she's going out with him, she eventually flusters Kallen.
"Do all girls jump to conclusions?" Tamaki throws his feet up onto the empty chair in front of him, resting his head on his arms.
"Speaking from experience, yes, they do," Schneizel confirms, remembering all the Britannian parties he has attended that he secretly found distasteful due to how much females gossip.
Even Cornelia nods in agreement.
C.C snorts at on-screen Kallen's embarrassment. "You're such a virgin, Kallen."
Kallen glares at her. "And what does that make you?!"
"An experienced woman. After all, I got to lay with the Demon Emperor."
Everyone gasps, and as Tamaki shouts how he knew she was Zero's mistress, Kallen pales. "T-There's no way Lelouch would sleep with you!"
"Oh yeah?" C.C's tone turns mildly teasing as she smirks. "How can you be so sure? After all, you were the one who left him, but I didn't. I was there when he was so stressed with the war and the supposed death of Nunnally, and in times of stress, men have urges that need to be sated."
Kallen frowns. Deep down, she has always felt jealous of how close C.C was to Lelouch and how beautiful she is. "Hmph! Whatever. We'll have to see whether you're lying or not."
A.A mumbles, "But AllHailThe99th isn't good at writing lemons, so you'll have to imagine Lelouch and C.C making love for yourself."
L.L blushes and throws a look his wife's way. 'What the hell are you doing, witch?!'
'Staking my claim so that they know you're all mine.'
.
.
.
Somewhere in a Britannian command unit, a tactical map comes online as friendly units begin popping up, signifying the beginning of some kind of operation.
"Ah shit. Here go again..." Tamaki sneers.
.
.
.
Milly is shown in the Ashford Principal's office, using her grandfather's desk phone to talk to her mother.
Milly: "But an arranged marriage is so... I understand how much you want to reestablish the Ashford family. But mother, it's just that..."
The Ashford students frown, not realizing how troubling Milly's personal issues were, especially Rivalz, who feels bad about being so concerned about showing how envious he was to Lloyd for being engaged to Milly at one point and not trying to support his crush instead.
Elsewhere in Japan, the air is filled with the loud sound of numerous engines. Britannian vehicles are crossing bridges, including tanks and knightmares, and helicopters are flying over. It's obvious that something massive is about to happen under Cornelia's command.
Back at Ashford, Nina is shown furiously fapping- err, typing on her laptop in a classroom at school, all alone.
Nina: "Ah (gasp)! I've divided it!" She says, referring to an atom she managed to split in a simulation that the viewers can't see.
"Huh? What was so interesting about seein' you do yer homework?" Tamaki quirks an eyebrow.
Nina squirms. "I-I figured out how to split uranium and plutonium atoms into smaller halves of themselves. This is when my research for FLEIJA really began taking off. If only I'd known..."
.
.
.
Nearby, Rivalz is on his bike, watching as Cornelia's mobile HQ slowly drives over a highway bridge, silently wondering what's happening.
Britannian armor and soldiers are shown to have cut off the Saitama ghetto, now holding position just outside what will soon turn into another Shinjuku.
Darlton: "The Saitama Ghetto is now completely surrounded. The Yamato Alliance's hideout is located somewhere in here. Half the people in this neighborhood are cooperating with them. So if we proceed now..."
Cornelia: "What will be the effect on production?"
Darlton: "Primary sector output should decrease by 0.2%," He replies, referring to the Sakuradite resources they stole from Japan.
Cornelia: "Within expectations, you mean. All right."
"FUCK YOU, DARLTON!" Kallen screams, earning hostile looks from Cornelia and Guilford, so she returns the favor. "You as well, Cornelia! You painted every person in Saitama as a potential terrorist! You are just as much to blame as him!"
The Witch of Britannia opens her mouth, trying to come up with someway to defend herself, only to realize that whatever she said would further infuriate the redhead and her idiot Japanese friend next to her, who is also glaring at her, and that arguing with them is too tiring, so she keeps quiet.
Cornelia: "All of you here participated in the Shinjuku disaster, is that correct?"
Royal Guard: "Yes, and we're indebted to you, Princess Cornelia, for your mercy."
Cornelia: "That's NOT what I'm asking. Do you think the conditions are similar?"
Royal Guard: "Huh?"
Cornelia: "To those in Shinjuku." She smirks.
L.L frowns. 'I see. She was planning on baiting me in from the very beginning of this attack.'
Female News Reporter: "Military authorities report that they have surrounded the Saitama Ghetto, a known hiding place for terrorists. Viceroy Cornelia is also on the scene, and entry to that area is restricted," She informs over TV.
.
.
.
Back in Lelouch's bedroom, C.C lays on her stomach, humming to herself, and is playing some kind of Pizza Hutt lottery game that has the words, "CHEESE-kun holding pillow".
Lelouch sighs. 'So that's how you got that ridiculous plushy. You won it.'
'It's not a plushy, it's a holding pillow, as it says.'
'Same thing! Regardless, I sometimes feel that you love that thing more than me.'
'What am I, your mother?' She frowns as she realizes that Lelouch doesn't even remember the last time Marianne told him she loved him, if her affection for her son was even real to begin with. 'I'm sorry. I'll let you hold me much more than I hold Cheese-kun, although Cheese-kun is still too important for me to abandon, so he gets to snuggle with us in bed.'
'Deal.'
'... I'm totally going to make you wear his fedora.'
"Hey, C.C?" Cecile interrupts their silent conversation. "Is it alright if we talk about you, even if we're not necessarily addressing you directly? Some of us would like to theorize about you."
She shrugs and brings a slice of pizza up to her chomper. "Sure, go ahead. Not like I care. You've been doing that already."
Leila wanted to ask the same same thing, but was reluctant until someone else brought it up, so she starts. "First of all, what is Cheese-kun?"
"It's this thing." Kallen shows her a picture she took of C.C and the plushy.
"I see. In that case, maybe C.C didn't-"
"have a proper childhood?" Lloyd finishes her thought.
"Exactly," Leila and Cecile say at the same time. "Most kids hug some kind of teddy bear or toy that is dear to them, but despite looking 16 or 17, C.C is clearly a grown woman."
Gino scratches his head. "Hang on, I know she isn't exactly normal, but don't most females, regardless of age, like stuffed animals?"
Leila nods. "Correct, Sir Weingberg. It's just that C.C's carefree behavior is akin to that of a person that didn't exactly have a good upbringing, to say the least. We're seeing her act childish, in a certain sense. Normally, we wouldn't point this behavior out in women, but it's because it's her that we have to."
"What ya mean?" Tamaki says.
"The immortality theory. Need I bring up that picture we saw of her a hundred years prior in episode 3?"
Lelouch walks into the bedroom, a scowl on his face.
C.C: "Oh? Well, what has you looking so serious?"
.
.
.
Female News Reporter: "It appears that a full-scale assault will be launched in two hours. Consequently, power will be shut off..."
Behind the camera, Diethard is watching the reporter talk in boredom.
News Company Employee: "News is one thing, but why are we broadcasting the start time?"
Diethard: "Because they are trying to provoke Zero."
Tianzi clinches her fists. "If there's going to be another massacre like I think there will be, then provoking Zero is not worth the lives of all those innocent people, Princess Cornelia."
"Don't lecture me, child!" Cornelia scowls, something she's been doing a lot of lately. "What would a kid like you know about war, anyway?"
"I know enough!" The Loli Empress sends a pout and a glare at the Witch of Britannia.
Nunnally clears her throat. "Sister, perhaps it would be for the best that you don't provoke the wrath of a foreign monarch."
The purplette sighs. "Fine. My apologies, Empress." She gives a brief, half-hearted bow.
Everyone stares at her, surprised that she can be diplomatic, even if it's only basic human decency she practiced just now.
.
.
.
Cornelia: "Zero is a criminal with a flair for theatrical. I've recreated the same conditions that existed in Shinjuku in order to draw him out. If he's the over-confident type, I predict he'll come here to try to kill me."
Royal Guard: "Viceroy! You'd really risk your own life like this?"
Cornelia: "What you fail to understand is war is a struggle between pride and life."
Tamaki shakes his head. "Not for me. War was a struggle for Shinichirou Tamaki in his quest to free Japan and get laid!"
Kallen smacks the back of his head. "Will you stop being a pervert for once?! Find yourself a girlfriend if you're so serious about it!"
"Hey! I'll have you know that Futaba has feelings for me! I just know it, so I'll probably ask her out! Damn brat... You're just as oblivious as your brother was."
"Naoto? Oblivious?" Kallen tilts her head.
"Heh. Yeah! The guy had his own unwanted harem. Inoue was definitely one of his secret admirers."
The redhead blinks before she lets out a sigh. "I'd appreciate it if you'd drop the topic of my dead older brother's sex life. And don't let Sugiyama hear that Inoue thought of Naoto that way. She may be dead, but I don't think he could take it knowing his crush never noticed him."
.
.
.
Lelouch is seen packing his briefcase that contains Zero's mask with the same Britannian soldier's armor that he stole when he snuck into Clovis' HQ to kill him.
C.C: "You're not falling for the enemy's provocation?" She asks as she lays on her side, watching him.
Lelouch: "They went to such trouble to invite me, though. Besides, there's something I'd like to ask Cornelia personally."
C.C: "Destroying Britannia or discovering who murdered your mother. Which is more important to you?"
Lelouch: "The two are of equal importance. The royal family members are competing with each other to see who will ascend the throne and become the next ruler. Or rather, they're being forced to fight... by that man!" He thinks back to his last meeting with Charles with loathing.
C.C: "But the very thing you hate is the same thing that makes Britannia strong. The royal heir who is best fit to become the next ruler of Britannia is the last one left standing."
Lelouch: "Exactly. The weak ones lose and they're cast aside. Britannia is that kind of nation, that kind of world."
"Were you trying to look after big brother?" Nunnally asks C.C. "You didn't really seem to care about anything."
"I was. Even if I didn't care about him at the time, his safety was always my priority."
"So earlier, when you said you took my brother's virginity, why did you do it?"
"... As I said, I wanted to help him," She hesitates with her words, not wanting to give away any big clues, thinking it may be a bad idea for them to link L.L to Lelouch, the only person she cared about that they're aware of. After all, there's a difference between having sex and making love, and she didn't specify which act she performed with Lelouch.
Nunnally senses her hesitation, so she drops it for now, knowing the truth will come out.
C.C: "Survival of the fittest is the most basic rule of all."
Lelouch: "If that's true, then what happens to Nunnally?" He slams his briefcase shut. "Should I simply give up on my sister because she's frail? I refuse to accept that! I'll wipe out that sort of world myself."
Standing up, Lelouch is about to leave when C.C pulls a gun on him, much to his shock.
The audience tenses, even those that hold some grudge against him.
"Pizza Girl, what the hell do you think you're-!" Kallen shouts.
She's cut off by C.C. "Just watch."
.
.
.
Suzaku walks into the Student Council meeting room right as Kallen shouts at Shirley how there is nothing between her and Lelouch and leaves, making Suzaku curious.
"It was so fun teasing her about her feelings for Lelouch," Milly smiles reminiscently.
"I don't care about this teenage drama! Just go back to the part with brother!" Cornelia furrows her eyebrows.
Right as she says that, the scene reverts to C.C holding Lelouch at gunpoint.
C.C: "You can't go, Lelouch. You need to fulfill your part of our bargain, so I won't have you dying before that."
Lelouch: "Notice that what you're saying and what you're doing are contradictory."
C.C: "Oh I won't kill you. I'm merely going to shoot you in the leg to quiet you down."
"I dunno 'bout that. People can be pretty loud when they get shot in non-vital parts," Xingke shudders as he remembers the screams of those under his command as well as his enemies that were alive long enough to voice their pain.
"You do realize he could die if you shot him in the leg, right?" Cornelia growls.
C.C shrugs. "Meh. Not if I shoot him below the knee and treat his wound."
"Couldn't he just use his Geass on you?" Villetta points out.
Chiba nods in agreement.
Lelouch: "Now I get it. You are unable to use Geass yourself, aren't you?"
C.C: (soft gasp)
Lelouch: "I'm not surprised. I suspected as much."
"I was thinking the same thing as you, Chigusa, but... Nevermind," Ohgi admits.
Lloyd crosses one leg over the other, an art only Lelouch looks cool doing. "Oh? How fascinating. The giver of his Geass, or his contractor I should say, is immune to his power. But is that just His Majesty's?"
C.C shakes her head. "No. People like me cannot be affected by all Geass so long as certain conditions are met."
She thinks back to when Lelouch used his Geass to order Charles to die, only to be surprised when he came back to life. That time, Charles' Code was inactive since he didn't die for the first time.
"People like you? So there are more?" Tohdoh asks.
"Wasn't that obvious? I already told you how L.L over here is just another Geass user since there are more than one of them."
"She's right," Cornelia is beginning to believe. "In the time I went missing, I encountered a strange little boy that struck me as creepy with the way he analyzed me as someone who is far smarter for his age. I killed him, but he came back."
Lelouch is honestly not surprised that Cornelia encountered V.V, having seen her himself in the Geass Order base.
Lelouch: "You obviously wouldn't have asked me to do it if you could've done it yourself."
Rakshata notes, "Meaning C.C needs someone with a Geass to fulfill whatever her wish is."
He fishes into his school cardigan and pulls out a pistol, aiming it at her.
"What is this, an old western cowboy standoff?" Rivalz blinks.
Jeremiah scoffs. "Those films hold nothing to the dangers of real life."
The greenette simply quirks an eyebrow, as if thinking he's no threat.
C.C: "Do you honestly think you can threaten me with a gun?"
Lelouch: "Yes, I do." He says arrogantly.
Then, he raises his pistol and puts it to the side of his own head, a motion that is replayed two more times, the sound of metal meeting flesh echoing.
While everyone else is confused, Gino simply chuckles. "Why did they need to replay that?"
"What is he doing? Is he insane?" Chiba and Cornelia chorus.
Seeing this, C.C lets out a small "huh" noise that sounds confused and a bit panicked.
Lelouch: "Until I met you, I was dead, an impotent corpse existing behind a false guise of life, a life in which I did nothing real. Day to day, I merely went through the emotions of living as if I were a zombie, and I always had the feeling that I was gradually dying. If I'm condemned to go back to that," he begins applying pressure to the trigger, "then I'd rather-"
C.C: "Stop it!" She raises her voice, her tone coming out as if she were scolding a child to try to hide her desperation of keeping him alive, lowering her gun.
Lelouch brings his gunslinging arm down, as well.
C.C: "I see now. It's life without meaning. And a life like that..."
Kallen looks down in shame. 'Why did I leave you, Lelouch? And C.C... It bugs me that she knows you way better than me.'
.
.
.
Right as C.C finishes talking, the scene suddenly cuts to the beginning of the massacre in the Saitama ghetto as a soldier opens fire on a middle-aged unarmed Japanese man, killing him.
A crowd of civilians are watching in horror.
Male Civilian: "Oh my God! Why the hell did you do that?! Even children are here! What's going on?! We haven't done anything!"
Soldier: "That's exactly why! The people of this ghetto refused to report the terrorists! You hide them, cover for them! That's treason against a suzerain state!"
The squad of soldiers all open fire on the onlookers.
"MOTHERFUCKER!" Tamaki screams at Cornelia, trying to lunge towards her, only to be held back by Gino and Kallen.
Kallen urges, "Calm down, Tamaki! I'm just as angry as you, but fighting now won't change anything!"
"She's right, dude. Chill out!"
Pissed off but knowing they're right, he sits down.
Darlton: "We're done sweeping away those in charge," He announces to his liege as she sits on her chair, overlooking the operation.
"By that, he means murdering most of the unarmed men in Saitama," Sayoko clarifies, sending a vicious look Cornelia's way.
Cornelia: "It's nearly time to set our plan in motion. So shall we begin?"
Darlton: "Right!" His voice announces over a loudspeaker as well as radios, "Attention all forces, commence eradication of the Saitama Ghetto! All forces, assume No. 1 battle stations!"
Knightmares begin launching out of Cornelia's mobile HQ, and soldiers begin running into the poorly-maintained and unsafe Japanese territory, tanks following them and helicopters pouring in.
Right behind Cornelia's mobile HQ is a line of Sutherlands belonging to the Puritans, and among them is one disgraced Jeremiah Gottwald, all of them standing out in the open on their cockpits.
Jeremiah: "I don't understand. Why won't Princess Cornelia order us to attack as well?!"
Kewell: "She won't because Orange is here." Jeremiah glares at him. "Just be thankful that you haven't been disposed of. You're to blame for this. It's due to you that our careers are over!"
Jeremiah: "You're wrong! Zero's the one who did it!"
Kewell: "That again. Humph."
Villetta: 'Zero. Could that student be working with him?'
Commander: "Suppression of area 4 complete. 8th and 11th mechanized infantry companies are sweeping north and south in a pincer movement."
"What does that mean?" Tianzi asks.
Xingke answers, "A pincer movement is where a part of an army splits into two and advances in two different directions to completely surround their target, making it difficult or impossible for the target to escape and/or resupply. See that tactical map they're showing? The radio mentioned two companies of knightmares around that circle that represents Saitama, meaning each company has been split up and placed on opposite sides so that they can charge in and meet up in the middle. One company is in the northwest and southwest, which will work together to create a pincer movement, and the other company is doing the same on the other side."
Back in the battlefield, while the massacre is not as brutal to see as the Shinjuku ghetto for the audience because this is the second one they're seeing, it's still hard to watch.
Mothers try in vain to protect their children, husbands their wives, and fathers their families.
Nearby on a destroyed section of a building, Lelouch overlooks parts of the massacre, now wearing the stolen Britannian soldier's armor.
Lelouch: 'Always the same. Cornelia replaces Clovis, yet Britannia never changes.'
"Reflect, Cornelia," Schneizel chastises. "Reflect on your actions. Sure, it wasn't exactly your fault that Lelouch saw all of us as his enemies, but you did nothing to help your image. A brilliant leader you may be, but you were a terrible politician. A good leader should be willing to negotiate."
She sighs. "Diplomacy wasn't exactly my strong suit."
"Which is why you left a terrible impression on Lelouch. The Area 11 you were trying to create was, in his mind, one that Nunnally couldn't survive in just because she's different."
"But she's-"
"Even if you found out she's alive, do you really think Lelouch would've given her up without a fight and just played along, came back home, and pretended like nothing happened? We saw father's cruelty at the beginning of this episode. He himself admitted how Lelouch and Nunnally were nothing but bargaining tools, something he didn't actually mean because he ended up invading Japan anyway, not caring if Lelouch and Nunnally could've gotten killed. They weren't even bargaining tools because they meant nothing to him."
They continued watching in silence as Cornelia stresses over his words silently. She finally realizes why Lelouch had such severe trust issues.
'What could I have done? Could I have helped you, brother? Would you have even accepted my help?'
A slash harken latches onto the wall Lelouch is on as a Sutherland jumps up and lands next to him, and he talks his way into getting the pilot to come out so he can use his Geass on him and steal his knightmare.
Lelouch: "Thank you, I really appreciate it," He says in a dark, sarcastic tone.
.
.
.
Somewhere in the underground of Saitama, the Yamato Alliance is discussing what they should do when they are suddenly radioed by an unknown.
Zero: "This... is Zero." The Yamato members gasp. "I assume all of you have heard about the Shinjuku incident. Do what I say, and you will be saved."
Schneizel blinks before turning to Ohgi. "Prime Minister, when he approached you again to recruit you, how did he do it?"
"Well, he used his charisma. I'm not sure why he's coming off as arrogant here, saying they'll be saved if they do his bidding, which may be true, but it's the way he words it that rubs people the wrong way."
Chiba agrees. "Yeah. I wouldn't be surprised if they told him to piss off."
Lelouch sighs. 'Funny enough, the Yamato did exactly that. I would laugh at my own misfortune, but that was one of the first times I got a real taste of power, something I longed for, so that whole experience only left me agitated.'
One by one, Britannian units radio in how they've completed their suppression. A radio operator orders a duo of knightmares to change course to a certain direction, but little did they know that that is exactly what Lelouch predicted they would do.
The two pilots comment how Zero hasn't shown up and he's just another run of the mill terrorist when a pair of rockets destroy their knightmares and kill them, fired by Yamato members who were lying in wait.
Yamato member: "They came! They really came!"
Yamato member: "Just like Zero said they would!"
On a rooftop several blocks away, the Factsphere Sensor of Lelouch's Sutherland shows him watching the explosion.
Lelouch: "Now then, shall I drag Cornelia out or should I make an opening?"
A smirk plasters onto Schneizel's face, excited to see his brother apply chess to a real battle again. "Judging by how Cornelia is still here as well as Guilford, and that Darlton dies much later, my guess is Lelouch made the wrong choice."
"And what would that be?" Tohdoh inquires.
"Making an opening."
"But wouldn't a full-frontal assault be... Ah, I see. It didn't have to be an all-out attack."
"Guerilla warfare," Xingke nods.
Schneizel felt even more amused by something they don't know, and that's that he knows how past-Lelouch will mistake Cornelia's intellect for Clovis' in this battle.
The tactical map can be seen in the stolen Sutherland, showing that Cornelia's HQ is to the north of Saitama and that Lelouch is near the center of the ghetto. From his current position are an equal number of vehicles to his northwest/west and northeast/east, about a dozen or so each, most to the north.
Then, he begins relaying more orders to the Yamato, resulting in the loss of a Britannian tank and a couple knightmares in rapid succession.
Operator: "The enemy appears to be using Sutherlands captured from our own forces."
Royal Guard: "Exactly the same as Shinjuku."
Royal Guard: "Has there ever been any sign of Zero yet?"
Cornelia pays close attention to the communication between the officers around her, her eyes a calm storm of predictions.
"How are you not worried?" Rivalz is amazed. "I mean, he did some amazing stuff in Shinjuku as a commander."
"If you panic, then you are much more likely to lose."
By now, Lelouch has gone full-Zero mode, resulting in the loss of more Britannian troops in a tank, a helicopter, another Sutherland, and another dozen vehicles on a bridge he blew up and collapsed into the ocean.
Cornelia: "That's enough. Order all troops to fall back. Further damage and casualties serve no point."
Royal Guard: "Fall back?"
Royal Guard: "With all due respect, we can still fight them!"
Cornelia: "We can't fight them like this."
Xingke nods in respect. "You're much calmer than Clovis."
Cornelia snorts. "Clovis let others do all the hard work and rarely conveyed orders of his own other than a general objective. He was never any match for Lelouch. He couldn't even beat me in a game of chess."
Darlton: "All forces, fall back behind Ghetto perimeter at once! Formation doesn't matter. Fall back behind Ghetto perimeter at once!"
Lelouch: 'What? No stomach for it? If I blend in with the retreating units, that'd put me right next to Cornelia. Have I cleared the task at hand already?'
The Goddess of Victory lets out an insulted but victorious chuckle. "He got way ahead of himself. I can't wait to see the look on his face when this all plays out."
.
.
.
C.C: "Heh heh. You can't fight your own blood, can you? But regardless, that type of person is dangerous. I wonder which path he'll take? I understand. Just who do you think I am, anyway?"
"Were you talking to yourself? If you went crazy, perhaps the Demon Emperor went off the deep end because of you messing with his sanity?" Chiba remarks.
C.C shrugs. "I have my reasons, but I don't care much to explain them right now. Once the truth unfolds, I may choose to elaborate on your questions."
Cecile mutters, "Schizophrenia, maybe? But these discs are able to show us things others can see that we can't, so if that's not it, then what?"
Nina is the only one who cares to remember that C.C is able to speak telepathically, as it was shown in episode 1. 'The question is who is she speaking to?'
.
.
.
Suzaku and Shirley are alone together, talking about Lelouch.
Shirley: "So, Lulu lived here before this became Area 11, huh? Was he a neighbor?"
Suzaku: "Uh... What about yourself?"
Nunnally notes how that's one of the few times Suzaku did a small act of kindness for Lelouch by diverting the conversation away so that no one finds out about Lelouch's bloodline. "I appreciate Suzaku's efforts here, but it does little good when he constantly refused to join Zero, as I'm sure Lelouch sought him out more than just that one time he rescued him from execution."
Shirley explains to Suzaku how she fell in love with Lelouch, all while Milly eavesdrops outside the room, jealous of Shirley due to her own arranged marriage.
Cornelia quirks an eyebrow. "Great. More of Lelouch's love life. Now can we get back to the action already?"
Tohdoh looks down in shame when he hears how Shirley fell in love, as does Villetta, who thought he used his Geass on the girl. The General can't help but think how Lelouch had more integrity than anyone in the theater and most in the room, for he did good things when no one was looking, or at least he performed such deeds while not caring what others think.
.
.
.
Lelouch: 'Cornelia, you're no match, you'll lose.'
He pulls his Sutherland into a massive line of Britannian Sutherlands retreating.
Cornelia: "Zero is no match, I'll win."
"Both of you got quite cocky, eh?" Lloyd grins.
"No, that's just Lelouch. He's the one that got overconfident."
Royal Guard: "Huh?"
Darlton: "Of course. That's why they call Princess Cornelia the Goddess of Victory."
Cornelia: "Shall we go then, Guilford, my knight?"
Guilford: "It is my pleasure to serve and obey you, my Lady." He bows.
The knightmares arrive back at base, parked in a messy array outside the HQ.
Lelouch: 'Humph. Even with my Geass, the normal security makes it too risky for me to simply stroll in. I guess I'll have to create an opening as I did with Clovis.'
He receives a phone call.
Lelouch: "Hmm? Student Council room?" He sees the caller ID. "I thought the Cat Festival meeting was scheduled for tomorrow?"
"Cat festival?" Ohgi says.
"Indeed, meow!" Milly responds playfully. "Why? What's with the long face?"
"I'm a bit annoyed that Lelouch is taking phone calls that could've gotten him and those under his command killed."
Schneizel lets out a hearty laugh. "Real funny, Prime Minister. Lelouch was the best there ever was at multitasking."
Zero silently agrees.
.
.
.
Shirley: "I know Kallen said I had it all wrong, but it seemed like she was getting upset in order to fool me."
Suzaku: "Which is why in this case, it's best to simply ask him directly. On your behalf, I can ask him how he feels about you." He's holding a landline that is calling Lelouch's phone.
Shirley blushes, steals the phone out of his hand, and slams it shut, ending the call, much to Lelouch's confusion.
The Student Council laughs as Milly says, "We said it before, but Shirley's comedic timing is perfect."
Nunnally laughs nervously. "Yeah, but the last time she tried to call Lelouch in a funny moment, she blew his and C.C's cover in Shinjuku to the Royal Guard."
Tamaki curses Suzaku, "Asshole. She clearly said she doesn't want your help!"
Suzaku continues insisting that he should help Shirley as they play tug of war with the landline, only to trip as he lands on top of her, knocking Arthur off his cat-post as the upset kitty bites him while Shirley blushes underneath him.
"See what happens when you insist on forcing others to accept your help? The situation gets worse," Xingke teaches Tianzi, who nods.
"Tch!" Kallen clicks her tongue. "What a prick! He has no idea how to behave properly around a maiden like her! Even Tamaki has a better idea how to respect the privacy of girls."
"I agree- hey! What do you mean even me?! You make me sound like a brute!"
"Oh, you are a brute, but at least you're not a two-faced nosy douchebag who just has to always flex how much of a supposed good person they are like Suzaku. The more people like him behave like that, the less believable they are."
.
.
.
A lone purple Gloucester followed by other Gloucesters charges down the rubble-filled streets of Saitama through a line of Sutherlands on both sides of the path.
Lelouch: 'You're desperate, Cornelia, using your Royal Guard in such a manner.'
Zero: "This is Zero. N-1 will reengage their IFF signal. Operate as a Britannian unit."
N-1: "Understood."
Lelouch: '... as my decoy.'
"... Just like that, he gave away his entire plan to Cornelia," Tohdoh is unimpressed by Lelouch's arrogance.
The blue IFF pops onto the tactical map.
Darlton: "One Knightmare left transmitting an IFF signal within the city area."
Royal Guard: "Can't you contact it?"
Royal Guard: "Scramble the rescue team!
Cornelia: "No, destroy it."
Subordinate: "You can't!"
Subordinate: "He might be a captive of the enemy!"
Cornelia: "I ordered all troops to fall back. I have no use for soldiers who can't follow my orders."
"Why didn't she tell her subordinates about Zero's plan if she figured him out?" Tianzi is confused.
Kaguya replies, "Because sometimes, that could lead to an information leak through the radio or other means."
Darlton: "You heard the Princess!"
Royal Guard: "But-!"
Cornelia: "Do your duty even if it costs your life. My subordinates follow that code without question."
Guilford: "At your command, your Highness." He is revealed to be the one in the Gloucester, as Cornelia is still in the HQ.
He charges towards the terrorist knightmare, his lance poised to strike.
N-1: "Hey! What're you guys doing?! Can't you read the IFF signal?! I'm on your side!"
The terrorist opens fire, only for Guilford to summersault over him, dodging all the bullets, and stab clean through the Sutherland's cockpit followed by two more impaling lances from other Britannian knightmares, killing the terrorist.
Lelouch: "No confirmation? Well then... N-2, transmit signal then fall back to the hospital ruins. R-1, R-2, hold your positions, fire only if attacked."
Cornelia: "They've transmitted another signal which means one thing. They've set an ambush! Send in more Gloucesters and surround them!"
Lelouch: "They're not following? ... No, dammit! R-1, R-2, abort the ambush and fall back at once. Abort!" His eyes tremble with a hint of panic.
The Gloucesters arrive at the position of the new IFF's and their last position, only to discover the terrorists are nowhere to be found.
Cornelia: "He anticipated my move. It's possible we really are dealing with Zero himself."
"Why do I feel like the tide of battle is about to turn?" Tamaki is nervous for Lelouch.
Akito sends him an exasperated look. "Because this isn't even a battle. Zero had no chance to fight back like he did in Shinjuku. Sure, he scored a few hits, both those are easily replaceable for Britannia. He didn't realize he was dealing with a whole new enemy commander until it was too late."
"Huh? What you mean? He knew the enemy was Cornelia."
"Just watch."
Lelouch: "P-2, N-3, circle around behind the enemy. What's wrong? Come in! P-2, N-3! Damn it!"
The terrorist radio belonging to P-2 and N-3 is shown to be abandoned.
"... He already lost? This is just... a nightmare for a commander!" Leila is astounded at how quick some of the terrorists are already giving up by running away, being used to having nothing but loyal subordinates around her.
Tamaki sputters. "But... He's Zero! He always finds a way, no matter the odds!"
Jeremiah shakes his head. "Sometimes, the odds are too stacked against him. He has limited resources."
Anya adds, "Keep in mind that the Yamato Alliance was not the same people as the Black Knights."
Zero: "B-1, B-5, move in!"
B-1: "Like hell! There's no way we can beat Cornelia's Royal Guards. That's a death sentence. I'm out!" He ejects.
"Fuckin' pussy!" Tamaki is losing his shit.
Then, some of the terrorists jump out of their knightmares and hold their hands up as they reveal themselves to the Gloucesters.
Yamato member: "Hey, we surrender!"
Yamato member: "We won't resist!"
Yamato member: "Spare us!"
Cornelia: "Kill them."
A Gloucester opens fire and murders at least half a dozen terrorists or more.
Kallen and Tamaki's hair cover their eyes, an aura of hatred towards Cornelia spewing from them.
Gino, who is seated between them, sweatdrops. "... It's not that much of a surprise to see war-crimes done against terrorists and resistance movements, right?"
Kallen sighs. "... You know what, Tamaki? Let's prove we're better than Cornelia by not instigating a fight. The war is over, but as we watch this, let her be the one that gets upset at what we do to her soldiers-"
"and her sister! My man Zero shot the bitch! HAHAHAHAHA!"
Cornelia's scowl return, but she tries to keep her cool since she knows what Nunnally wants is peace and that Euphemia would want her to move on.
Lelouch: "P-6, P-8, what's happening? Aargh (growl)! B-7, circle around and cover N-4."
B-7: "This is B-7. I've got a prime target here. I'll take him out first!"
The terrorist is on a rooftop behind a Gloucester that is standing still. He's about to use his anti-knightmare sniper rifle.
Sayoko holds the bridge of her forehead. "How does that idiot not sense something off about that unmoving Gloucester? Oh, I feel a small portion of Master Lelouch's stress."
Lelouch: "No, hold fire! That's a decoy! B-7, that's an order!"
B-7: "What d'you mean? I've got this bastard right in my sights!"
Lelouch: "Fall back! They'll strike from above! B-7, fall back!"
B-7: "Aargh...!" He screams in fear when he realizes Zero was right as a Gloucester lunges towards him from behind and above and stabs him with its lance, his radio cutting off as his IFF disappears, replaced by the words 'LOST'.
"He was an even bigger moron than Tamaki..." Kallen is amazed at such a feat.
"You know, Naoto wouldn't be proud that his little sister is bullying his friend," Tamaki pouts.
Lelouch: "Idiot... B-8, this is Zero. I want a status report now."
B-8: "Screw your status report! Aargh...!" He also is sent to the afterlife, his radio crackling dead.
Lelouch: "B-8! Damn... Anyone who's left, report in from the P-group now."
Kallen frowns. "I've never seen Zero lose so spectacularly."
The song All Hail Britannia begins playing.
Female Operator: "Mission complete. All forces, take formation No. 4." She announces over the loudspeaker.
Lelouch: "Beaten us easily... But that's not how the game is supposed to go!" He growls.
"And how was it supposed to go, brother? Did you want me to hand you a victory like Clovis did? You only beat him because he was an incompetent leader surrounded by more incompetent officers."
Cornelia: "This didn't work out the way it did in Shinjuku, Zero. So, are you still masquerading as one of us? We'll discover who you are shortly."
Lelouch: 'This... This is what real organization can do.'
"It looks like he's thinking of Kouzuki's group," Leila says, knowing how some referred to the group as Ohgi's when in reality, it was Naoto's work.
Nunnally nods. "If there ever were people that big brother couldn't work with, such as the Yamato Alliance, then things fall apart quickly for one side or the other. But that didn't happen with Kallen's people, even if he was only wearing a mask because he was afraid they wouldn't ever accept him as their leader, seeing him as a kid, a Britannian, and a Prince of the enemy."
Cornelia: "Attention all Knightmare pilots! Open your hatches and reveal your faces!" She commands over the radio.
Lelouch: "Ah (gasp)! CORNELIA!"
The purplette smirks. "Even when being in such a rebellious phase, and quite literally, Lelouch, despite his maturity, was quick to anger and temper tantrums when he lost so humiliatingly."
Cornelia: "Ha! I repeat, all pilots, open your hatches and show me your faces!"
"He is in big trouble now. I wonder how he gets out of this one?" Akito voices everyone's thoughts.
Kallen grits her teeth. "Dammit! I should've been there to help him!"
"Without the Guren, you would die," Rakshata reminds her. "And even with it, there may be too many for just one knightmare to deal with."
"I know, but still!"
Lelouch: 'What do I do? If she gets me in a line-up... Without my mask, my identity will be exposed. That mustn't happen. Use my Geass? No, impossible. It won't work unless I look directly at them. The enemy is protected within knightmares. That leaves the infantry and the other pilots. Uh uh, forget it, there are too many of them. How do I turn this around? No, would that work? Show them I'm Zero then use the power? But then the knightmares. Maybe I can start shooting and break out of here? Impossible, against Cornelia's Royal Guard, that would be suicide!'
Before he knows it, Guilford's Gloucester has stopped in front of him.
Guilford: "Open your hatch, it's your turn. What's wrong? Hurry up and open your hatch!"
Lelouch: "Well, my hatch was damaged earlier in battle." He lies, hoping the knight buys it.
Guilford: "I see. Then we'll open it for you. Turn around. Well, come on!"
Lelouch: "... Yes, understood. At once, sir." He replies weakly, hating the taste of defeat, hanging his head.
Soldier: "Zero's been sighted!"
Lelouch is shocked, looking up to see if he heard right.
Sure enough, the infantrymen point their rifles at what clearly looks like Zero at first glance, standing at the roof of a destroyed structure.
"... WHAT?!" The Student Council shouts.
Meanwhile, the orange farm residents send grateful looks to a certain witch.
'Thank you for saving me. It was the second of many.'
'Sure was. I suppose you owe me more than what our contract entails.'
'Don't get greedy, witch.'
Cornelia: "Aha! I was right, Zero has a flair for the dramatic."
Lelouch: "No way!"
Guilford begins relaying orders to capture Zero.
Lelouch: "I'll just have to play along," He says bitterly.
The troops open fire, but all their shots miss, all while 'Zero' falls backwards and off the building.
"I didn't know Britannia hires Stormtroopers," Rivalz laughs.
Guilford: "Your Highness, how do you want us to proceed now?"
Cornelia: "Hmm. Any likelihood it's a trap?"
Darlton: "There's always that possibility, especially since we don't know anything about this person aside from the fact that he seems as prideful as you anticipated, Viceroy."
Cornelia: "Then there's no point in chasing him."
Darlton: "Correct. If he intentionally revealed himself directly to his enemy, he must already have an escape route already in place."
Cornelia: "So self-preservation trumps all?"
In the chaos created by 'Zero', Lelouch slips away and manages to escape through the sewers, sprinting for his life.
Lelouch: 'That's how Cornelia is. She's nothing at all like Clovis.'
He stops running when he crosses paths with 'Zero', already knowing who it is under the mask that saved him.
Lelouch: "... Why did you rescue me?"
?: "I told you already," A familiar feminine voice replies as she remove the Zero mask,
C.C: "I can't have you dying."
"... So... Immortality?" Lloyd begins changing his mind about the healing power idea, because there is no way she would have taken the risk she did without being unable to die.
"Immortality," Rakshata agrees.
Cornelia looks at the Witch. 'Why did she protect Lelouch?'
"... More importantly, how did her hair fall so perfectly? How did she fit it in the mask in the first place?" Milly points out.
Lelouch: "I wouldn't have lost if the conditions were equal!"
C.C: "You sore loser." She tosses the mask up and down. "If you're really that good, you should be able to set up conditions the way you want."
'You know another thing I love about you, C.C, is that you're able to tell me what I need to hear without any softening your words.'
'I'm starting to wonder if you're a masochist.'
'Hmph! How ridiculous.'
Lelouch: "That's what I'll do then, I'll set them up." She stops throwing the mask and turns around to face him. "I'll raise an army that can't lose to Britannia! A people! A nation!"
The Black Knights hear his words, dumbfounded. Whoever it was earlier that said that he's even more charismatic than Charles zi Britannia was right, and Lelouch's declaration here turned out to almost be true. Really, the only defeat they suffered was the First Battle of Tokyo Settlement, and they don't even know why they lost other than that Zero disappeared when they needed him.
Next Episode Preview
Lelouch: 'Where and how can I find troops? Who will serve in my army? If only I could ask Suzaku to join me... No, that ship has sailed; he's a Britannian soldier now. Even if he doesn't enter into the fray, he's still my enemy. Well then, I'll just have to choose.'
-End of Episode 7-
"I will just have to choose? So the Black Knights weren't what he hoped for? We weren't his first choice?" Ohgi crosses his arms.
"No, you nitwit." Cornelia answers, not caring that she's being rude to another country's leader. "He's saying that he had to go with what he was given. Put yourself in his shoes. He had to hide his face from people that hate all Britannians, he had limited resources, meaning he had to rely on guerilla tactics in the beginning, and he was planning on rebelling against the most technologically-advanced nation in the world, meaning he knew he needs the faction he rules over to become a fully-organized resistance. At this point in time, Lelouch knew the only group that fits such a criteria is yours because you already worked with him twice before, once in Shinjuku, and another time to rescue Kururugi."
"I get all that. It's just the way he said it."
Leila sighs. "Prime Minister, Lelouch knew that if he didn't take action soon, your group would do something without his guidance eventually, something that would get all of you killed. That's why he said that he would just have to choose. It's really not that hard to figure out. Stop being so offended over every little thing he does."
"I don't get offended over everything!"
Akito looks at him like he's crazy. "It sure seems like you do."
A.A claps her hands. "Yes, yes, children. That's enough R1 for the day. Now go to your rooms!"
"Yes, mommy~!" Gino jokes, earning a look of disgust from Villetta and an eyeroll from Kallen as Rivalz and Tamaki laugh.
To Be Continued