Chapter 5: The Forges of Suffering

Alternate Chapter Title: If Only There Was No Need For Lies

Judicial duels were common in the medieval age to determine the guilt as God would protect the innocent. Over time, judicial duels became more regulated to combat skilled warriors who would falsely accuse others to gain wealth. Emperor Ricardo von Britannia acknowledged that the practice benefited the strong and disenfranchised the weak. Given the recent humiliation by Napoleon and the fall of the French aristocracy, Emperor Ricardo sought to strengthen the nobility and established the War of Honor and honor duels to keep the nobility strong and cull the stagnant.

Where Wars of Honor strengthened the prestige of the noble house, honor duels revolved only around lordship. Honor duels, unlike the judicial duel, did not require a wronged party. Instead, any member of nobility (including knights) could declare a duel as long as they had the patronage of a higher ranked noble than their opponent. Low ranking nobles disproportionately issued and received challenges while a Margrave was untouchable unless they issued their own challenge. Royalty and commoners were excluded from such practice and had to engage in warfare to prove their strength. Swords, guns, and eventually knightmare frames were common weapons among duelists.

-Honor Duels in Britannia

Ashford Labs, Location Classified

Lelouch paced around the room, unable to keep still as thoughts ran through his mind. His father had called him weak. Nunnally had condemned General Katase to death in order to protect her brother. And Suzaku... he didn't know. Ignorance was the worst feeling. It caused his stomach to tighten painfully and constantly taunted him in the back of the mind. There was no way he could know if his best friend was alive or among the nameless dead.

Someone knocked politely on the door, before opening it, and curtsying. "Your highness. I hope you are settling in well. I am Sarah. Is there anything I can get for you?"

The subservience made his skin itch and he yearned, once again, for the simplicity of Japan. They had been respectful, but not subservient. "Thank you for asking. I'm doing—"

Nunnally snapped her book shut and spoke up from the corner of the room. "Lelouch you're bored. Please do something before you wear a hole in the floor."

He cringed in embarrassment although the young woman lifted her hand to cover a smile. "Would you like a tour your highness?"

"That would be wonderful." Nunnally was holding her book rather threateningly. It was best to leave her to her new found enthusiasm for studying.

Sarah smiled and he followed her outside of the room. She clearly worked in the labs judging by her lab coat and assured steps as she led him through the maze of passages and checkpoints. They passed through an airlock with reinforced walls. He could make out a small indentation in the wall, that probably protected a gun turret.

"Lord Ashford takes security very seriously. Most of the lab is automated and the codes change every week."

He watched the security cameras swivel to focus on them as they stepped into a new hallway. "Has anyone ever attempted to break in?"

"A couple years ago your highness. It was before I started working here, but secrecy is our best security. The decoy lab has attempted break-ins every couple of months." She swiped her security card and blocked his view as she entered a pin. The doors slid open to reveal a large open space. "Welcome to the labs and, our newest prototype, the Horus. Maybe? The name hasn't been decided yet."

The Horus was different from the Ganymede, the Glasgow, or even his mother's Lefay. Unlike other knightmares, the cockpit was tall and at a slight angle. He could see a technician clambering out of the top. "It certainly is unique. Do those arms have.. Landspinners?"

Apparently comfortable around the lab, Sarah relaxed. "Yes indeed, good eyes. The idea is to make this knightmare easier to control. We're leaving the joystick shenanigans to Margrave Obserstein. The designs we're licensing them will never be able to complete with this wonder. And because the legs are the most vulnerable, we are giving the Horus more options for mobility."

He had on occasion perused some of Lord Ashford's papers. They were dense and mostly indecipherable, but the genius within them was always clear. Standing in front of an actual prototype, in the security of the lab, Lelouch finally found himself considering the marvel of technology... and the ramifications. The knightmare had already changed everything... And it seemed that Lord Ashford understood something that none of the nobles ever spoke of: the enemy would have their own knightmares.

Walking to a computer, he scanned the designs. "Landspinners require stable ground. Is the Horus going to be more agile?"

She pushed past him and navigated the plans. "We have some ideas. But a lot of problems can be subverted by reducing the weight. Right now, snow and swamps cause big problems because the knightmare will literally sink into the ground and get stuck. Sand and forests aren't the best either."

Lelouch was reminded of the knights who accompanied their mother. They had complained, numerous times, about the heavy damage that they incurred searching the forest filled with his sakuradite traps. Dense trees lowered visibility, hampered movement, and turned into deadly projectiles when ripped out of the ground due to explosions.

"What about mountains?" he asked.

She shrugged and brushed back her long, brown hair. "The slash-harken helps but there is a big danger of causing a rock slide. We're experimenting with rocks. Still, tanks will remain useful."

He frowned as he considered the weapon. It was just being used for warfare. "What about mining? One person could—"

"A couple million pounds is a bit too expensive of an investment, even for a noble."

"Wouldn't the knightmare be cheaper without all the weapons? Surely there is a way to reduce the costs."

"Yes but there is no market right now. And then you need to convert the production line which would reduce the amount of knightmares available for the war effort. Even Margrave Oberstein, despite his practicality, wouldn't agree to such an effort. And considering he is producing all the knightmares right now, you would have to convince him," said Sarah.

"That's unfortunate," he murmured.

The sakuradite mines in Japan were going to become a lot more profitable after the fighting ceased and millions of starving Japanese would be pressed into labor. The thought sickened him. He looked away from the plans at the Horus. It would be years before it finished development, but it's more agile frame, and from what he glimpsed, new controller scheme, would make it more agile than any of the competition. He knew from his mother, that not all knightmare frames were accounted for. Some foolish knights had left their expensive, broken, knightmares on the battlefield, just waiting for scavengers. It would just take one to fall into the hands of the enemy for the rest of the world to develop its own knightmares.

The Horus would be ready in a few years and help sway the tide in Britannia's favor again. But would it be enough? Surely other countries would develop their own unique frames. And how long would it be before they copied the Horus? Britannia was confident in its own victory. Even Sarah was sure of the knightmare's superiority. The technology would have been better served aiding the civilians, but that wasn't Britannia's goal.

He looked at Sarah and offered his most polite smile. He knew how to act charming. "Do you have a simulator I could use? And perhaps a computer?"

Beaming at what she assumed was his enthusiasm for the subject, Sarah complied. Suzaku would disapprove of such manipulations, but he wasn't there. He was too weak to afford honesty. The faint outline of a plan formed in his mind. Somehow, he would insure that he and his sister were ever used as a pawn again.

Tochigi, Area 11

Tohdoh reclined in his seat, tearing his eyes away from the battle map. He and the remnants of the defeated Japanese army were hiding in the rural areas of Tochigi. Of course, they were no longer the army, but rather an independent military force, soon to be classified as terrorists by the new legal government. With General Katase in the North, fighting with the last of his men to the death, so the Europeans could evacuate the civilians. But what of the people who stayed?

He could not justify sending all the newly enlisted youth under his command on a suicide mission, especially one that would amount to nothing. Hopefully Katase would be able to regroup with him, he could use his elder's assistance, but they couldn't wait. For Suzaku's sake, no for all the young children, he had to make sure this plan would work.

He strode out of the tent and turned to the private guarding his tent. "Call Lieutenant Iki. I need to talk to him."

The young youth replied swiftly, "Sir."

He returned to the tent and a minute later, Major Iki, barely past the age of needing to shave, arrived. He stopped in front of his desk, his heels clicking together and a sharp salute that sent a breeze through his black hair. Everything about him screamed professionalism and eagerness. Yet, when he spoke, he sounded wary. "You called sir?"

"You are the highest ranking officer under my command, but more importantly, you have actual experience. We are going to turn around and march in Tokyo."

The youth stared at him, his eyes widening. "Sir? We are going to make the Britannians pay?"

Tohdoh gestured at the map. "The E4 highway is mostly intact. Britannia will undoubtedly see us coming and prepare accordingly."

"Then we'll die with honor," said Major Iki, his face still as stone.

The government was dismantled. No, such a move would be dishonorable, but he understood the urge of wanting to make Britannia bleed. Britannia was going to bleed until it withered away, but first he had to have patience. "I don't intend to die Major Iki. Japan still needs me, Japan needs all of us. No, look at Narita."

Major Iki frowned as he ran his fingers along the map. "It's mountainous. I know we had some training exercises there."

An owl hooted outside and Tohdoh tensed, then relaxed as the crickets continued to chirp. "We can't win against knightmare, but the land itself can. And without knightmares, we will have the advantage. Our last training exercise was in Narita, we should have no problem hiding from the Britannians.

"You want us to hide! Like cowards." Major Iki clenched his fists before backing down, respectfully.

"No. We will wait. Build up strength. Shield the civilians and recruit our scientists. If we wish to win this war, we need knightmares of our own."

The youth stared at him with wide eyes. "Knightmares. But how sir?"

Major Iki would help. The gleam of madness in his brown eyes was fading as he grasped onto the line of salvation that Tohdoh had thrown him. "The ones I salvaged. It should definitely be enough to level the playing field and I'm sure we can find someone to improve the designs."

"We can still win?" The sound of hope in Major Iki's voice physically pained Tohdoh.

Tohdoh thought of Suzaku and the youths who had joined their ragged teams. He knew they were lying about their age, but he didn't have the heart to tell them no. "With patience there is a chance. Right now… We will condemn the children to death if we act with bloodlust."

"I understand sir. Thank you." Tears shimmered in the Major's eyes. "Keep my younger brother safe, sir, please?"

Iki was a common enough last name, that Tohdoh hadn't linked Private Iki with the Major. Private Iki was a spitfire and compared to the perfect form of Major Iki, unrecognizable. But physically, now that he thought about, they both had the same plump cheeks, prominent nose, and a dark skin tone like those from Okinawa.

"I intend to get all my men out of here alive Major. There is of course a risk, but I'm not putting any of the youth at risk, that includes your brother. He enlisted a few months ago, didn't he? Eighteen?"

Major Iki, for the first time relaxed. "He joined on his birthday. I tried to dissuade him, but… He looks up to me."

Suzaku was just as hard headed when he got an idea in his mind. "Children are like that at times. I'm sure you will be able to protect him Major."

Smiling, he asked, "How can I help?"

Tohdoh already had enough sakuradite, but he needed to get to the Tone River before the Britannians could stop him. They were too small of a force to incite fear... but, maybe, "Do we have any entertainers? Or people who worked in theater?"

"Private Senba was a stagehand before the invasion. I believe he specialized in practical effects."

"I think he will do. Fetch him please." There was a chance for his insane plan to work. Tohdoh could pull off a miracle with a couple hundred fresh recruits. Misdirection, sabotage, and a heavy dose of paranoia. How ironic that a Britannia Prince had taught him how to win. If he ever met Lelouch again, he would thank him.

Near Sapporo, Area 11

Cornelia, now a Lieutenant Colonel after her success in landing troops on the Southern portion of Japan, growled as she stared at the map. The Northern portion of Japan was infuriating. Lord Ashford's squad would be just the first to witness the danger of trees. Knightmares were great in cities and urban situations, but the forest... It was agonizing.

A young knight, Sir Guilford, watched her from the corner of the tent. He was always eager to please and Cornelia, tired of having her strategies not pan out, gestured for him to come over. "What do you think?"

"We could starve them out your highness?"

Cornelia bit her lip and considered the possibility. It would be a prudent solution, but in that time, the Europeans and CHinese would be able to evacuate numerous civilians and military personal. Her father had been explicit, General Katase was either to be captured or killed in battle. She would not disappoint her father, especially after having failed to save her idol.

If only they had actual Navy support. But the Navy was busy getting smashed in Area 10 by the Chinese, who had realized that Indochina was easy to take back with all their military efforts in Japan. It would be embarrassing for Britannia to lose, but nobody had even bothered to parcel out land to the lords yet, so there was no significant harm done. Japan was the better resource. Nevertheless, Lady Marianne had been dispatched and left Cornelia in charge. It was all up to her.

If she wanted to defeat General Katase she would need to out think him. He was, according to her father's intelligence, very proud. The information was pitiful and barely enough for her to work with. Her brother, Schneizel would know what to do, but this was her chance to prove herself to Lady Marianne after her failure to protect her. And maybe Lady Marianne would let her return to the Royal Guard? She had to redeem herself and be the one to bring victory to Britannia. In doing so, she would also show herself as a capable female warrior and finally lay to rest all of the court's doubts because of her sex. She just needed to win this.

"What do you think of General Katase, Sir Guilford?"

The young knight adjusted his glasses, letting Cornelia see his blue eyes. "He wants to make Britannia bleed your highness?"

"Please, just sir. I'm your commanding officer right now."

He nodded and Cornelia felt a shoot of pleasure as he complied. "Understood sir."

"What would he choose? Killing Britannians or saving the citizens?" She sat down and looked at the map. "I believe we have some party supplies. See if there is any purple paint available."

The knight turned to walk out, before pausing in horror. "You mean to use yourself as bait your highness? Please let me be your decoy. It isn't safe out there."

"I don't need anyone's protecting Sir Guilford. I won't be alone on the battlefield. If General Katase is able to out maneuver our entire forces to kill me, I will be at fault."

"Your highness, it doesn't matter how good you are if your own men don't respect you. I know you are a skilled commander, but many of them just see a princess playing dress up." He looked away, his face turning bright red. "Sir."

Real loyalty was hard to find. It was even harder to find people who would speak the truth when it could harm them. She found herself reconsidering the young knight. He was her age wasn't he? "How are you piloting scores?"

Sir Guilford turned bright red again. "High sir. I was able to pass the beta simulations."

Her eyebrows drew together. That was good. Very good. The majority of knights struggled with the gamma simulations. There were better, but he would work well to cover her back. Unless this was all a false ploy to gain her attention and sell her out. That was always a possibility. "You will join me. I haven't heard of the Guilford family."

It was rather adorable how easily he blushed. "My father is a small Baron. We don't have a lot of money."

That could mean many things, but she wanted to trust him. Still, she should have someone accompany her who she knew could be trusted. "Fetch Lord Gottwald please."

Ashford Labs, Location Classified

Lelouch smiled as he stepped out of the simulator. He knew he wasn't a very good pilot, partially due to his age, but mostly because he didn't have a natural aptitude for it. But he wasn't the worst and that was what mattered. His lack of skill did mean that two of his five plans needed to be either reworked or discarded. But decent skill meant that the other three plans were possible.

Nunnally walked up to him, no longer using the cane to navigate the compound. "Are you finally going to tell me Lelouch?"

"Sorry Nunnally. Someone might overhear?"

"The robots you mean. Please... It's agonizing waiting and knowing you have a plan."

He leaned against the wall, enjoying the lack of oversight. The labs were definitely preferable to the Royal Palace, or really anywhere in Pendragon, where there was never any privacy. "I haven't fleshed them out yet Nunnally. I'm considering my options and it also depends on what you want."

Smiling, Nunnally drew out a small piece of paper, covered in braille. "I'm making a list of schools. It's really hard to find ones accepting blind students, but I'm going to school. I know I can have tutors, but I'm never going to meet people who can be my allies if they are all filtered past mother first. They will be her allies."

Nunnally had grown up. He missed that piece of innocence, but there was no way to get it back. If she wanted to attend school, he would make it happen. There was just one problem. "You can't go as Nunnally vi Britannia."

She did a little excited hop and beamed. Her smile was dangerous. "Already knew that! I'm going to be Nunnally Lamperouge brother. I already wrote my entire backstory. Read it."

And the fact that she was seven became, once again, apparent. Shaking his head fondly he ran his finger along the paper. "Nunnally... You're not going to get away with making father a spy who tragically disappeared in a hurricane. And are you sure you want to be a commoner?"

"There's a high chance I'll be recognized if I'm not. Besides, if I'm leading a double life, I am not going to be someone's dress up doll in both."

He didn't understand completely, but Nunnally was still bitter about being given new clothes. She constantly complained that they felt and smelled wrong. But even if he couldn't relate, he would respect her wishes. A commoner definitely had more freedom in how they dressed. Of course she couldn't live anywhere near as opulently, but Japan had mostly cured them of their lavish tastes. Mostly.

"I'll see if I can find a school that accepts commoners in Britannia. Lets leave foreign schools as a last result. Their destruction is, after all, inevitable. And Lord Ashford's granddaughter is arriving tomorrow morning. Maybe recruit her."

"Thank you brother."

Was it wrong to manipulate his host? Lord Ashford seemed genuinely nice although him profiting off the war, left a bitter taste in Lelouch's mouth. Nunnally would need someone to protect her, and maybe the granddaughter would fill that role. Should he join Nunnally? No. A schoolboy would not suit him; he would be bored out of his mind. It hurt to think that he would be separated from her, but she wanted this.

"You sure you will be fine? I don't want to leave you alone but..."

She hugged him. "You're being silly. Of course I'll miss you. We need each other. But I'm going to be your ears and you're going to be sword, although you'll definitely need to get fitter for that. And then we'll be unstoppable. I will write every day of course and you are going to do the same. And record messages. I'll make new friends, good friends, and they will help me take pictures so you can know who they are."

He chuckled and hugged her back, tears forming in the corner of his eyes. "I'm sorry Nunnally. I just feel like I failed you. I should have done more."

"Clovis was sort of right you know. You cannot do everything. I need to stand on my own feet and that means facing the truth. You'll always protect me, but I'm going to protect you too. You will lie to protect me from the truth and I'm going to walk my own path to protect you. I will help you. I am not your burden."

A single tear escaped his eyes and he chuckled. She had gotten so wise. He had wanted to protect her innocence, but the invasion of Japan stripped that decision from her. Perhaps if it had been earlier, she would not have been so perceptive, but Nunnally was his sister and she refused to be broken. "I love you Nunnally. Never change."

Grunehre Mansion, Homeland

Arthur Greenford sat alone in his office lined with various expensive books, many of which he wrote himself. A warm crackling fire tended to by an unspeakable, crackled behind him. Usually, he would be relaxed in his private study, instead he glared at the large video screen on the wall and the smiling Margrave Oberstein. That man was a weasel, a brilliant one, but still a weasel. Arthur could never fathom what Oberstein wanted even after all these years. To think they once were friends.

"What the hell were you thinking in supporting Ashford? And then making it a knightmare duel? You could have just acted his as his champion if you really needed him alive. Then there would have been a chance that he remained an earl. Instead, that honorless and pathetic excuse for a noble will become a margrave."

Oberstein had the audacity to shrug. "You were foolish in supporting Sir Siebenberg. A baron challenging an earl, that was always going to make waves of the unfortunate kinds. And you don't have to worry. I've heard through the grapevine that Princess Guinevere is pushing for him to receive Tokyo."

His gut reaction was too claim that was exactly why he should worry. Then he considered the numerous military reports covering his desk detailing rising terrorism within Area Two and Seven. It was pathetic that such lesser beings sought to oppose the might of the Empire. Numbers were such pests, but even a lowly nuisance could multiply to extremes. Ashford was weak and a pacifist. He didn't have the strength of character needed to exterminate pests before they could become a problem.

"Tokyo avoided most of the bombing didn't it?"

Oberstein leaned back with a small pleasant smile. "Indeed. Tokyo currently houses the largest concentrated group of numbers. It seems Princess Guinevere still harbors a grudge against Lord Ashford. Perhaps due to his historical neutrality or for his role in introducing Marianne to the Emperor."

That commoner wench did not deserve the title of royalty. She had already gained knighthood because of Lord Ashford, it was unbecoming for a girl to strive for an even greater position. Arthur would think the Emperor weak for his infatuation with a commoner, but the man was terrifyingly ruthless in all other matters.

"And what is it you gain Lord Oberstein by setting a precedent of allowing knightmares in duels of honor?"

Oberstein remained impassive. "Accelerating the inevitable. From my understanding Lord Ashford understood that as well, although leaving the knight alive means that the game is a little more difficult."

What was inevitable? A measly knight had no chance to win against a powerful noble. The weasel was trying to distract him.

"And why do you need Lord Ashford alive for that?"

Oberstein laughed and shook his head. "You did bribe Siebenberg to kill him! How short sighted of the Purist Party. Such a blunder is quite unlike Margrave Gottwald."

His eye twitched. One day he would crush Oberstein for his continued insults. "Margrave Gottwald refused. Apparently his son is still loyal to the wench, even though she dismissed him. And don't pretend you never sent an assassin after him yourself. And then didn't you lose another one trying to break into his labs three years ago?"

Oberstein frowned briefly and Arthur allowed himself to gloat; it seemed he wasn't supposed to know that. It was rare to have something to hold over Oberstein's head. "I have absolutely no idea what I'm talking about."

"You're a hypocrite. You always wanted him dead. So why does he suddenly need to be alive? If you dodge the question one more time, I'll lend my support to Margrave Goldbaum."

"You hate that idiot as much as I do, Lord Greenford." Oberstein rolled his eyes and paused, waiting just long enough for Arthur to start gnashing his teeth in irritation, before continuing. "No need to get so feisty. I underestimated Lord Ashford's mind. Without him, it will take years to reverse engineer the knightmare and make any significant progress. The extra work will slow down his utter ridiculous research speed and give me the opportunity to expand my production facilities to deal with demand. It's simple business."

Arthur leaned forward. "And when Lord Ashford fails in Tokyo?"

Oberstein smiled like a cat that just swallowed the canary. "Then his ally swoops in and rescues him once again to offer him a generous position in my own labs. Only this time, stripped of his title, he will be completely beholden to me. And with that, all of his genius will be at my disposal. A very profitable business for me."

It was an ingenious plan that would benefit Arthur, if that was the truth. "Perhaps I would believe you, if you joined the Purist Party. The commoners have become increasingly ambitious lately. And with our backing, Margrave Goldbaum would cease to be a problem."

Oberstein looked thoughtful. "Perhaps I was a bit hasty to turn down your invitation all those years ago Lord Gottwald." He leaned forward and the slight twitch of the corners of his mouth, told Arthur that Oberstein was pleased. "I'm not convinced that your members are committed to the cause. I appreciate the commitment and only do things if I intend to follow through. Would you be willing to accept that?"

His offer tasted like ashes in his mouth. Was he willing to let Oberstein come in and commandeer his cause? If he did, the Purist Party would rise to prominence, but he would inevitably lose power. Power was the only way to survive and Oberstein collected it constantly. "Maybe we will convince you Lord Oberstein. With the expansion of the Empire, we finally have the ability to act."

"Perhaps," he said. "I understand that I may have upset you with my actions. I'll provide monetary support to your party and if you can find me a genius who understands the knightmare frame, I will publicly join your party. Farewell Lord Greenford."

The call ended and Arthur stood up to pour himself a glass of wine. Their relationship used to be simple when they had played together as young boys. That friendship had evaporated when Oberstein's elder brother died and he was suddenly thrust into the war. The Emblem of Blood had scarred every noble family. Arthur's family had not died in vain. He wouldn't allow the commoners to spit on their sacrifice. He thought Oberstein was similar, but who knew what thoughts scurried in his head.

The only thing Arthur knew with certainty was the Obserstein still mourned his brother: Rudolf Oberstein who was shot by the men under his command. Arthur glanced at his mantle and shifted the vase, to reveal the small jade picture frame. His mother, obsessed with photography, had taken the black and white photo when they had been playing. Carved in the stone were three simple names: Arthur, Frederick, and Rudolf.

In the photo, Rudolf leaned against the tree, laughing his head off, as Arthur and his best friend, Frederick, tried to rid themselves of the numerous frogs that Rudolf had dumped on them. The two of them had been so angry at him, but now, looking back, Arthur wished they had said goodbye. It was the last photo of Rudolf.

They news of the soldier's mutiny, arrived two weeks later, shattering their childhood. The dishonor of such an act spurred Arthur to renounce his loyalty to Emperor Brandon vi Britannia and join Oberstein in avenging his brother. They had succeeded in wiping out the cowards, but Oberstein... He was never the same afterwards.

Worldbuilding Thoughts:

-The wiki says Empress Elizabeth nominated Sir Ricardo von Britannia as her successor. This means that either he was a knight (and didn't own land) or was a baronet. I'm headcanoning this as him being her Knight of Honor.
-I redid the area numbers because it didn't make much sense. We still end up with the same territory belonging to Britannia (mostly, since the map itself is inconsistent), but the order it was acquired is a bit different. Before I redid the numbers from scratch, I was trying to rationalize how Canada could be Area 2. I somewhat managed so Canada is part of Area 2.
-What is up with Australia? Britannia conquered New Zealand... but completely ignored Australia? Why?

Author's Note:
Thank you x1tears1X on FFN for your help with this chapter. If anyone else wants to beta, just ask? :)

Also doing some ninja edits sometime between now and the end of the weekend, so my apologies if this makes the fic look like it updated.