It was another beautiful morning in the Britannian capital, Pendragon.

As the soft July sunlight began illuminating the towering skyscrapers and small parks that dotted the city, and both the people and the birds came out to begin their morning routines, the city truly awoke to face this new day head on.

Well, most of the city, at least.

As light began to stream through the trees and into the large corridors of the Aries Villa, located towards the center of the city, the excitement was in the air.

Soft footsteps could be heard, a rapid pitter-patter of small feet on the smooth, wooden floors that made up the interior. Said feet were rapidly approaching the desired destination: Brother Alfie's room.

The feet in question belonged to a beautiful little girl. Her brown hair, nearly reaching her neck, was neatly groomed and held into place with various hot pink ribbons. Several other such ribbons were present along her dress, which was light pink, with some lighter-shade fruffles also being included.

Her violet eyes stared excitedly ahead, mouth fixed in a wide, toothy grin, as the feet only picked up the pace.

"Nunnally, wait up, you're running too fast!," shouted a voice.

Following about twenty feet behind was the second figure. Short, raven black hair flowed as the small and slim body tried its hardest to catch up, but to no avail. This pair of violet eyes only contained weariness.

"Well, you're too slow! Hurry up!"

They both eventually made it to their destination, albeit one much, much later than the other. Bypassing Ashworth, who only looked on in amusement, the girl quickly opened the door. Upon seeing the occupant of the room sound asleep, she did the only thing that seemed right.

"ALFIE," she shouted, as her legs propelled her onto the bed.

The sun had just begun to set in the distance. Not that he could see it very well with all the dizziness in his eyes. Was the world supposed to spin like that?

"C'mon, man, let's see how fast we can get this thing to go! PARTY!"

"Bro, I'm not too sure about this…"

Suddenly, two ghostly figures appeared at his sides. One, his friend, Tommy Peadlty. The other was… Jenny. But, that wasn't-

They were in the car. Tommy, the supposed "designated driver", was clearly drunk out of his mind, swerving all over the road. He was… laughing, right along with him.

"Guys, can we please slow down, this isn't fun anymore!"

"Stop being a pussy back there, were fine!"

"But-"

"But nothing! I got this baby under control, and we're gonna take her to 90!"

No, no no no! He couldn't let it happen again. But he found himself doing nothing.

Closer and closer, there was the curve, no no nononoNONONONO

"ALFIE!"

His eyes rocketed open.

"AHH!"

His heart was pumping, cold sweat all around him. As he looked up, he was blind for a couple of seconds. However, when he could see, he made out the shape of a young girl.

Nunnally.

She was bouncing up and down right on his chest, and watching his face intensely.

"Wake up, wake up, wake up! It's time to go!"

To go?

Oh, yeah, the trip. He almost forgot about it.

It was only a dream, he told himself. That life was long ago. It wouldn't happen again. He must move on.

Taking a few deep breaths (quite difficult with his sister crushing his ribs), he turned his attention to her. "Okay, okay, I get it! I'm coming!" He then countered her attack by rolling out from under her, which caused her to lose her balance and fall onto the bed sheets, and commenced the tickling.

"Alf-AHAHA, STO-AHHAAHAH"

Nunnally had certainly grown up in the last few years. She was still a child, yes, but she was showing early signs of intelligence, and had an empathy and good-humored nature that he could only be jealous over. They got along very well, sharing in playing around with others.

After a good half-minute of revenge-tickling, he decided that she had enough. Getting up from on top of her and letting her go, he couldn't stop a few chuckles from escaping.

"That wasn't funny!" she protested, as she also began to recover. Alfie's response was simply to pat her on the top of her head.

"It's never funny when it happens to ourselves." Her pout didn't really lessen, but he could tell that she understood.

After they both fully untangled and sat down on the bed, he noticed a rather conspicuous absence.

"Where's Brother?" he questioned, still attempting to relax back in bed.

She looked a little guilty and playful at the same time. "He couldn't keep up with me, so I left him behind!"

At that moment, the door opened again. A slightly disheveled Lelouch walked in, with clear sweat rolling down his face. There was the target of their playfulness. Lelouch, looking all fancy in his white royal outfit. They were also close, but not as much as he and Nunnally. He put up with their torment, but he felt it was more for Nunnally than him.

Alfonso turned his attention from Nunnally and studied him.

"You know… you need to exercise more, Brother. Unless that liquid on your face is from a rainstorm, you won't survive the week!"

He was met with a cold gaze, slightly undercut by the wheezing of its owner.

"Well, you need to get dressed properly. Some things are more important than exercise, Brother."

"Like what, chess? "Proper" dress? Well, that's no excuse!" He got off the bed, with Nunnally simply watching. "We need to get you in shape. In fact… let's start now."

"Start… what?"

"Why, your new training regime, of course!" Reaching over, Alfonso grabbed the cup of water from his bedside. "Well, it's either that, or an actual storm. Take your pick." Cue smile.

And cue slight panic. "You wouldn't!"

That was also undercut by the steps being taken towards the doorway.

And by the cheers of the peanut gallery.

"Get him, Alfie!"

He hatched an idea. "Your right, Brother. I would not." Turning towards his sister, he continued. "In fact, why don't you get him, Sis." He handed her the cup. "After all, Mother Nature is a maiden, is she not?"

She took the cup, smile ever present.

And then she looked to Lelouch.

Hopping off the bed, she studied her target. Who was hiding behind the door at this point.

"Nunnally, we can talk about this…"

"GET HIM, SIS!"

And cue the charge.

"AHHHHH"

As Lelouch ran and Nunnaly chased, Alfonso simply followed them from afar, watching.

Oh, how fun it was to be a child again. He would have to enjoy these moments while they lasted.

She was just playing in her room like the boring guard had said to. Where was Lelouch. Nunnally? Alfonso? She was so bored.

Then came the rapid footsteps outside. What was that?

"AHHHHH! HELP ME, ANYONE! PLEASE!"

"STOP RUNNING AWAY LELOUCH!"

That was them!

She hopped off the bed, old plushies long forgotten. Opening the door, she saw Nunna chasing Lelouch. Why wasn't she invited!?

"Hey, wait up!", she yelled, getting the attention of both participants.

Nunnally noticed her first. "Oh, hi Milly!"

Lelouch seizing his chance, rushed behind her. "Milly, please help me!"

Noticing his panicked look, she turned to Nunna. "What's going on?"

She smiled a little. And so did Nunna.

"Alfie said to splash Lelouch with the water, but he won't stay still!"

Lelouch looked slightly angered and confused. "He didn't say that!"

"Yes, he did!"

"No, he didn't!"

As they bickered, Milly made her choice. It was quite obvious, really. This way, she wouldn't be bored! Thinking this, she then proceeded to throw herself back, tripping up Lelouch and causing him to fall!

"GET HIM, NUNNA!"

"AHHHHH"

"NOOO"

Needless to say, when the guard to Milly's room returned from the restroom, he stumbled upon a soaked Prince Lelouch glaring at Princess Nunnally and his charge, Miss Ashford. Oh, this wouldn't be fun to deal with. He needed a raise.

"Has the final approval been given by the district generals?"

It was still very early, the sun had barely risen. Two figures, traveling by car, were rapidly approaching the beating heart of Pendragon: the Palace.

The first figure, the male who had just spoken, was mostly obscured by a large, grey cloak. Shimmers of red and a little yellow could be seen under it, while tufts of blonde hair dangled out of the top.

The second figure, a female dressed in a grey suit, red sash, and black, yellow, and red hat of a palace guard replied: "Of course it has. Did you expect anything else?"

"Well, sorry for being thorough. Things can not afford to go wrong."

The woman laughed. "Its been months of planning. Do you doubt our foresight and intelligence?"

"Always."

She then looked a little more serious. "Ah, remnants from your past. Best to get rid of that quickly. Doubt just won't do." She chuckled. "Well, at least I'm not in your shoes."

She dare bring that incident up? No, now wasn't the time. The male simply filed his anger away for a later date. This was too important to mess up. "The final meeting is being prepared. I assume your true leader is prepared to meet with me?"

She took on a look of mock shock. "You say I would dare betray my Emperor?"

He deadpanned. "Yes. Money can do that to a person."

Her face signaled her surrender. "Very well, be like that. You are to meet him in ten minutes, and God help you if you are late. Good luck to you."

"Why would I need luck?" His face, at least what could be seen of it, showed genuine confusion. "He can't be that bad."

"I never said bad per say," came the reply. "Simply… abnormal."

After the excitement of the morning (and after Lelouch changed his clothes and Nunnally calmed down), it was time to finish preparations.

Alfonso looked at his wardrobe, which was filled with everything from official royal dress to simple shirts or night pants. His etiquette teacher attempted to disavow him from the latter two but… let's just say he failed. And got a small "talking to" by his mother. He wasn't in public, so he could do what he wanted.

Choosing a mix of white royal uniforms, "commoner" outfits, and silk pajamas, he packed his suitcase. His mother was the one attempting to talk him out of that one, saying they could get all new clothes and supplies on the coast, but he preferred keeping some things… more simple.

She really could be too indulgent in the wealth, sometimes.

As he finished, he looked around once, making entirely sure he was alone. Nobody could see this, least of all Ashworth. Then, he ducked under his bed, opened the loose wooden planks beneath it, and removed the pistol he had taken from one of the guards a few months ago when they dozed off.

Would he need it? Likely not. Would their vacation to the North be filled with fun and good times? He didn't doubt it. Would trouble arise? No, he was only a kid for Christ's sake!

But it still pays to be prepared.

Checking the ammunition quickly, two clips of six rounds, he thanked himself for taking those self-defense classes so long ago. Or else he wouldn't know how a safety worked, wouldn't that be embarrassing?

Finishing up, he placed the gun in his right pant leg, took the suitcase off the bed, looked around one last time, and exited the room.

"Are you finished packing your items, Alfonso?"

He looked to the side. Of course, Ashworth was there. His new personal guard, it had taken a little while to make him call him by his own name, but it eventually worked. One can only resist a nagging child for so long, you know.

"Yeah, I'm ready."

"Perfect, then we must depart immediately, or we shall be late."

Late?

"No, I don't wanna be late! C'mon, let's go!"

And then he started running, leaving Ashworth to have to quickly start and run after him. It was fun messing with the adults.

"Have the necessary preparations been completed?"

The room was dark, lit only with a few candles in the center of the meeting hall. Located underneath the palace, it needed to stay low-key to hide from those were untrusted. A room built for a few dozen to be seated comfortably, only one chair was occupied, with another figure standing to the side.

It was the weirdest figure who had spoken, the one sitting down, but his importance was above the other, so he needed a response

"Yes, my lord. The agents are in position. Only a few of the loyal remain, but they will be of no use to the target when the time comes, that I can assure you."

The other figure, dressed in the grey and red uniform with the markings of a colonel, along with several medals seated on his chest, answered with confidence. "This M-1 of yours will be unaware of your involvement, as will everybody else."

The other figure looked confused. "Oh? Well, naturally. I would expect nothing less." But then, he smiled. "However, if it turns out to go wrong… let's just say I shall have a new toy to play with either way." The creepy, sadistic laughter following said remarks only made the other figure sweat more internally.

"I assure you, my lord, the plan will succeed. He is a child, and every action that a child would take has been accounted for."

At that, the other figure stopped laughing, adopting a slightly more serious look. "Oh, a child? Maybe. But few children could do what that… thing… has. We shall see, yes. And if he happens to break under pressure, then it will no longer matter."

His contact was right. He really was an abnormal person. Child? Thing, even? "What has he done that is so extraordinary, my lord?"

The cold, heartless stare given in return emphasized the message. "If I wanted your tiny brain to know, then I would tell you. Now, go be a loyal little dog and betray your "master"." He motioned for the little stain to leave, and he did.

While still wondering what he had gotten himself into.

After he had left, the remaining figure began chuckling to himself.

"After all, you must be careful who you trust to guard those close to you. Shouldn't you know that, Marianne?"

He had only just arrived at the airport. As far as he knew, he and Ashworth were the last to arrive, especially since the others didn't need to pack any bags.

Exiting the car, he expected to go inside and meet up with the others.

That plan soon burned alive.

"Fonsie!"

The new shout attracted his attention. Only one person used that name. Quickly looking to the left, all he saw was a car that had defiantly just arrived and a glimpse of pink. For the second time in the day, he found himself pinned on the ground.

"Euphie!" He returned the shout, and hugged her back.

Euphemia, another half-sibling. She rivaled Nunnally in cuteness, with her shining pink hair grown out to her waist, sitting atop a cute frilly blue dress and a small, aquamarine bow in her hair. Her eyes were almost the same as his own, with a slight bluish tint. They got along well.

He did really wonder about that hair color, though.

"Ready to go see the ocean?" he asked, once she had let go.

She adopted a more solemn look, made that much worse by how unnatural it looked on her. "Yes, but I want Cornelia to go, too."

Ah, this.

"Euphie, you know she would come if she could. She loves you. But she needs to train if she wants to be a great soldier, and they don't let her out for anything outside of tragedy."

Especially since she asked to be treated like a regular soldier at the academy.

Her sulking didn't really let up. "I know, but…"

"We can have fun together, can't we?"

She looked back up at him, but still seemed a little down. "Yes, I guess…"

He really did forget how children typically thought. Being more ignorant about the large scale and focusing on the small. Time for Plan B.

Rushing towards her, he began rapidly tickling and poking her in the sides, causing them both to fall to the ground laughing.

"Hey, stop that!" she managed to get out between laughs.

He stopped. Getting up, he brushed off his clothes quickly, while Euphie remained on the ground for a moment. Then, he repeated the question. "So ya ready to have some fun?"

She responded as she was getting up, with her response being more enthusiastic this time. "Yeah!"

He patted himself on the back internally. Now, all that was needed were the rest of the group. "Ok then. Now, let's go get the others."

They then departed together, walking towards the entrance to the airport and ever closer to the New England coast.

The meeting took place in the early morning, but the sunlight was not present. The guard's briefing room, located below the Villa in order to keep it protected from attack, allowed none of it in through its thick, steel reinforced concrete walls.

Thirty-three men stood towards the center of the room, squeezed in together looking towards the front as they received their briefings. Captain Archer Reynolds, looking stern as ever, stood in front of a projector, with the beaches of New England that the royal children would be visiting being depicted.

He was an imposing figure, with a rectangular, thin face. His age of fifty-eight was clearly showing, but his eyes only showed ferocity and sternness. Achieving one of the higher non-noble rank in the military usually did that to a person.

The briefing was just finishing up, and all the men had their assignments. It would be a textbook operation, thought the veteran guards. Even with most of the other core guards being off on exchange.

Then, the unexpected happened. Captain Reynolds looked up from the presentation and, with disdain ever-present in his eyes, did his best to glare certain individuals to death.

"Taylor, Larson, Greene, Forrest, and Willards. Exit this room immediately and get your asses topside. Reinforce Delta squad at the airport and stay there. There are to be no interruptions, you hear me?"

What?

Why were the only remaining original guards being sent away? Shouldn't everybody get the same briefing, like every other time?

Greene tried objecting. "But, my lord, protocol-"

Reynolds looked absolutely pissed now. "You can take your protocol and fuck it, Greene. Unless you want to spend the rest of your career shoveling shit in Georgia, get your ass moving! Do you understand, chicken shit!"

"Yes, my lord!"

Quickly shouting off the go-to command for when you piss off an officer, Greene and the others quickly rushed out of the room, leaving the area entirely and heading to the awaiting plane a few miles away.

Immediately after, Greene reached for and turned on his radio, ignoring the others in the room for the moment. "R-1, Plan A-3 is a go."

The door opened. In walked a new figure. Dressed in grey and yellow, with special designations on the shoulders signaling his rank as the leader of Pendragon's guard force, he was an imposing figure known to all in the room. Tall, blonde, and confident, with a little stubble and piercing blue eyes.

"Here are your men, Colonel Rathers," stated the Captain.

Colonel Aaron Rathers surveyed the men. These were what he was given to carry out the mission?

All of them looked normal. But the fire in their eyes was anything but, even for new recruits it would be overkill. Why did they need such men for a small operation? Except for that intimidating figure earlier, everything was supposed to be easy.

He was just a normal soldier-turned-spy for Britannia in the military until... that. After that, just a normal guard who eventually got promoted to the head of guards in the Pendragon area, excluding the Emperor's personal one, for his distinguished service and "high" loyalty. Quite grand for a non-noble, but he had wanted more.

He was approached earlier in the year by members of the Emperor's guard about his "easy" mission, and was offered the title of Baron. Not high on the list, but a start. He wanted so desperately to ask why this was being done, why a kid mattered at all to the one he now served. He also wanted to know the identity of his new superior. All he knew was that he was close to the palace, which is the only reason he accepted the job. He didn't like to go in blind.

But, still, he was paid and bribed to not ask questions, and so be it. It didn't seem nearly as risky as the eve had been decades ago, and he had read up on the child. Not much there. He wouldn't risk this opportunity.

Turning to them, he began his address.

"Men, you all know the true reason for why you are here, and what you must do. Your backgrounds in the "guard exchange" are also not being questioned. However, your leader has stressed to you the importance of secrecy." His face turned more serious.

"Only address those you know to be in on the plan. Keep your eyes out for surprises. Abandon your part of the plan if confronted by superiors, but inform the others immediately."

"And, for the emperor's sake, don't take your eyes off the target."

Even under these circumstances, he would hold by the same rules of secrecy that he had always done when he was a spy. Nothing less would suffice.

"Do you all understand?"

A chorus of "Yes, my lord!" was all the response he needed.

Time to finish this. "All hail Britannia"

They all shouted back "All hail Britannia!"

And all hail his new noble rank, when he pulled this off.