Title: A Princeling Hero

Rating: K/G

Summary: Akihiko discovers the Demon Emperor is his father and confronts what that means.

Author: Aminta Defender


Akihiko grows up in the mountains of Japan, sheltered from the world with his mother and grandmother. Of course he knows of the sparkling cities, and the nations beyond the great shimmering sea. He knows of Britannia and Japan's courageous fight for freedom. He knows of these things, yet he doesn't understand them. His mother is always tight lipped, reticent when speaking of the past.

He knows his mom fought with the Black Knights, but he learns more from his first grade teacher, Onishi-sensei. She's a prim woman with the eyes of a hawk and always wears a bright yellow shirt like the pencils they use. She also fought with the Black Knights in a minor role. When lessons are over, they gather around and listen to her warm voice.

"Did you know my mom?" Akihiko asks one day at recess. His mother told him not to say anything, but he is intensely curious. And Onishi-sensei is amazing, and his mom is even more so. They have to know each other. "She piloted a knightmare."

Onishi-sensei chuckled and ruffled his hair in a rare break of composure. "There were thousands of us, but maybe I heard of her. Do you know what her last name was before she married?"

Dad and mom never married, but he knows better than to say that. "Stadtfeld."

She winces. "I'm sorry... That's a Britannian name. She must've fought against the Black Knights."

"Oh." He doesn't bring up the subject again. Maybe that's why his mom never says anything. She's embarrassed.

He returns home and skims the photo albums for clues. There's nothing, only pictures of his father fleeing from the camera. His mom doesn't talk of him either. He's dead. She either becomes extremely angry or sad when he is mentioned. Akihiko doesn't like that. Only his aunt speaks of her brother. She tells him stories from when he was his age. His dad was very boring, Akihiko decides. Nothing like mom at all. He spent all his time inside.

In third grade, they finally begin to learn about Zero for real, and with this, comes the Demon Emperor. Everyone knows him. He threatened to destroy the world. He was like one of those bad guys in the movies that his mom always promised him weren't real... Except the Demon Emperor was. The ground is soaked in the blood he spilled. He even blew up Mount Fuji—which is honestly extremely cool. On the playground, they play Zero's Rebellion. Everyone wants to be Zero or his loyal red ace. Nobody wants to be the traitorous knight or the Demon Emperor.

For some reason, Akihiko always seems to be chosen as the Demon Emperor. It's aggravating. He's not evil. Besides, the Demon Emperor was super scrawny. Everyone knows that. Akihiko is not. He would've beaten him up before he could hurt anyone. Especially his mom.

Learning about the Demon Emperor in the classroom is different from playground games. There, he is something to be mocked. A foe to vanquish. In the classroom, his cruel eyes pierce into their souls and condemn them as inconsequential bugs. Akihiko hates those eyes so much like his own.

"You should be the Demon Emperor," the other kids begin to declare more often at recess. "Oh, you're angry? Doesn't he look just like him?"

And finally, they flip open the textbook to the page where the Demon Emperor claimed the throne after ruthlessly killing his father. Two boys, born to be monsters, wear a familiar school uniform.

Lelouch vi Britannia is the boy in the photo album... his father. Is Akihiko destined to be a monster as well? How could his mom ever love a man like him? Because she did. She cried over him.

Or maybe she cried because he scared her...

"Did you love, dad?" Akihiko asked at dinner. His heart pounds in anticipation. Parents have to love each other, right? But it's better if she didn't. They're the exception. "Mom? Please?"

"Yes, I did," she whispered.

His hands tighten around the chopsticks. "Did he love you?"

She chuckled weakly. "I like to think he did..."

"And me? Did he love me?"

"He didn't know. If he had..." She sighed. "I don't know. I would like to say things would've been different, but your father... He was never one to be selfish. I do know he would've done anything to give you a better world. In the end, that was the problem."

But he's evil. Did he trick her? This has to be a lie. Yet even his aunt only speaks kindly of him... his aunt—

The weeks pass; they move onto a new subject. The teasing doesn't abate, and Akihiko carries the dark truth in his soul. His father is a monster with his caws deep in his mom, and his foul blood runs in his veins. Does his mom even know the truth? He can't bear the thought of telling her.

"Was my father good?" Akihiko asks when his aunt visits. He clutches a little charm behind his back—Rokuro sold it to him for five cool rocks to ward off demons. He feels stupid for not realizing the truth sooner; she is Empress Nunnally vi Britannia. Does she only come to check he isn't a hellspawn as well? "Did he love Mom?"

Aunt Nuna folds her hands together in her wheelchair and stares at him solemnly. "I told your mom that she couldn't keep this a secret forever. When did you find out?"

"At school," he mumbles. "Dad has his school uniform—"

Her sharp laughter pierces the air and birds take flight. "I couldn't believe it when I saw the footage. My brother... I am sure he thought it was hilarious. All those nobles bowing to a schoolboy..."

"But was he—"

"—good?" She smiled softly and pulled him into a hug. "Akihiko, I never lied to you. My brother was the kindest person I knew. He renounced the throne for my sake. He refused to accept that I deserved less because of my condition. He was also so driven, and it breaks my heart that people only know him for his cruelty. Yes, he could be that too, but never without reason. He loved your mom, and he would've loved you too."

A sob bubbles in his chest, and he bites his cheek to prevent tears from flowing. But why did he turn evil? "I hate Zero! He killed him. Took him from us. Mom never got to say goodbye, and I never even knew him. I hate him!"

"Hush, my little princeling. It's alright. Sometimes I hate Zero too."

"Really?"

Her eyes sparkle with unshed tears. "I miss my brother every day. One day, the world will know the truth, but I can't let his sacrifice be in vain. One day it'll be your responsibility to protect it. When you're ready, I'll tell you everything."

He nods and frowns. "So Mom fought for dad? That's why she always hides when going out... People must hate her too."

"Quite the opposite." Aunt Nuna leans forward conspiratorially. "She's the red ace, a hero."

The blood of an Emperor and a great hero flow through his veins. Heroes never fall to evil. His dad is good then. Maybe he was possessed, and his mom failed to save him. That's why she barely talks of him. Still, Zero should've cured him, not killed him. That's what a true hero would've done.

Akihiko cannot save his dad's life, but he can be a true hero, and spare his name from the continuous slander. One day, he will find a way.