Author: HyperiorV
" " – Talking
' ' – Thinking
[ ] – SFX, Soundtrack, Camera Positioning, Extra Descriptive Details
( ) – Grammatical Clarification Notes, Extra Details, Author's Asides
Last Updated: 6/2/2019
Aside 0.10 Orange's Orange Orchard
[Code Geass: "Occupied Thinking" looped]
In the green leaves of the brush was a beautiful white orange blossom. I, Jeremiah Gottwald, peered proudly at my earnings as I carefully plucked off a pale orange. In a sense, orange trees were exceptionally loyal. Unlike normal crops, they would serve one for many years. And if fed well, then their fruits of labor would be sweet and savory. Naturally, the ones that my farm produces are of exceptional quality.
I smiled. How ironic. Four years ago, when Jeremiah Gottwald was disgraced from the Britannian Purists, he was horrified with even the possibility of doing such "mundane" work. However, after nearly four years later, I find myself enjoying it greatly. I learned that harvesting the crops seemed to put my mind at ease. Time always just seems to fly by in the wind. Nearly two years had passed since the Zero Requiem, the day that my Lord had returned.
After Nunnally assumed the Britannian throne in Lelouch's stead, she set to immediately right some of his wrongs. With the aid of Prince Schneizel and Zero, plans were immediately drafted for the decolonization of Britannia's "Areas". However, freedom was an idea better executed in mind than in reality,
Lelouch's purging of the nobles and various Britannian officials around the world had led to a massive power gap. Immediately removing the rest of the Britannian officials would have spelled disaster for the Areas. For while the corrupt aristocrats did preside over the areas unfairly, they did in fact, know how to "rule". Some countries had attempted to rid themselves of their invaders as soon as possible. However, the resulting unstable governments had led to many civil disputes. And sometime the odd rebellion or skirmish that shows up on the news. Even now, the Middle East still needs to sort itself out.
But steps have been taken.
To mitigate some of the leadership issues, each Area of Britannia was allowed to elect its own leaders and officials, who would then decide whether they would then gradually phase the Britannian ones. Of course, the newer Areas jumped at the chance to leave. They couldn't free themselves of Britannia any sooner. However many, including Japan, are still transitioning even after two years. For some places, like Areas 1 through 3, leaving their "own" empire was unthinkable. For example, Euro Britannia, who had finally claimed their homeland, had chosen to stick as a subsidiary of the old empire. Today, the remaining leaders of the Areas are now officials of the Grand Britannian Parliament.
I scoffed as I tore a sucker off an orange tree. From what I've heard, the new world's politicians aren't much better than the Britannia Royalty. After all, they're bound by public opinion, not loyalty.
But I suppose it isn't that bad either. After all, there hasn't been a large scale war between countries ever since the Battle of Mt. Fuji and the Second Battle for the Damocles. War isn't that good for getting votes. Especially with the reminder of last dictator of the world looming over them.
Upon Lelouch's death, various news reporters released various images and stories. Showing his cruelty and depravity. Threats and lies against his subordinates. Including me.
They were fabrications and exaggerations, of course. Lies that put the blame sorely on the Demon Emperor's shoulders. In making him and him alone responsible, Lelouch had been able to pardon all those who had followed his orders.
Ironic. I was prepared to die, and be labeled as the loyal left hand of the demon emperor. But instead, I found a small form of redemption. I had started my journey after having failed to protect Lady Marianne, and I had ended it having done the same for Lelouch.
However, something was missing in my heart. That longing too, would also be fulfilled.
Soon after the Zero Requiem I had received an automatic message. Inside laid the deed to an orange farm in Southern France. The plantation house was beautiful, right next to the coastline and cliffsides. Several beaches and a small, rural town were also in relatively good proximity. The property itself had been the site of a battle in the first and second European Continental war. The corpses of the soldiers have settled and now perfectly fertilize the land. Later, during the conflicts between Euro Britannia and the EU, the property had been converted into a secret military base and bunker for the Britannian Office of Secret Intelligence (OSI). And after the Zero Requiem, Lelouch had given the property to me.
I could have sold it off for more than a pretty penny. However, for me, it was the final demonstration of loyalty of Jeremiah Gottwald.
I grin. And my loyalty did not go unrewarded. My lord had the underground bunker secretly filled with a treasure trove. Enough money, supplies, and resources for an extravagant retirement. But instead, I decided to live a life as a simple farmer with Anya.
Anya, at that time, had nowhere to go to. She had known nothing but war and piloting knightmares, having been raised from birth as a soldier. The proud organization known as the Knights of the Round had all but been destroyed by Sir Kururugi in the Lancelot Albion. And Anya herself, had shown no intention of returning. Now that she had regained what she sought to reclaim.
Her memories.
At the Battle of Mount Fuji, I had lifted the curse of geass placed upon her. Returning all that had been lost to her. My lord had later confided in my that his father, the previous emperor Charles zi Britannia, had a geass as well. To manipulate and even remove the precious memories that people treasured.
...Hmph. I never truly liked the 98th Emperor of Britannia. After his swift acquisition of the throne, he rarely took any actions himself outside of his necessary obligations as Emperor. And then upon my beloved Lady Marianne's death, he did not mourn. Instead, he sent her children to Japan as hostages. I don't know what Lady Marianne saw in him. Certainly not true love. She was too frivolous to be bound by any man. I suppose she was like the wind in that way. So what drew Marianne to him and not some like the skilled Bismarck, the loyal Jeremiah Gottwald, or any one of her countless suitors? Freedom? Power? A shared goal? Who knows? Sadly, her reasons died with her.
...Soon after her death, I quit my job as a royal guard and formed the Britannian Purists in Area 11. In part to restore some of my lost pride of having failed to defend Marianne. But also in hopes of finding Lelouch and Nunnally. I did eventually, meet Lelouch, but not in the manner I expected or would have preferred. He had forgotten his mother's most loyal attendant. Instead of seeking me out, he named me a traitor of Britannia under the title of "Orange". I had lost all that I had achieved. My rank. My honor. And nearly my life.
And so, we found ourselves as bitter rivals. It was only after I had become a cyborg and granted a geass canceller that I discovered my greatest enemy was my true master. It was on that day, that Jeremiah Gottwald embraced his role as "Orange". In order to get revenge for Lady Marianne. In order show my loyalty. To sate the guilt that plagued my nightmares. And indeed, as a loyal subject to LL to this day, I have been fulfilled ever since.
A cool breeze of sea wind blew past. It was windy on that day too, when Lelouch and CC had returned….
"It's rather windy today." I had told Anya
"…Could be a storm." Anya had replied, emotionlessly like normal.
A gust of wind had bellowed from the distance. The trees had shook to one side, before settling down.
We had managed to fill the horse drawn cart when suddenly, the orange groves around us vanished, seemingly replaced by flamingos, of all things! The skies cleared and began to lighten as the ground transformed into a clear layer of water. In the distance, the mountains clearly in view. Anya had widened her eyes in surprise. "...Where is this?"
At that time, I had been furious, angry, and even a bit scared. Had the Agents of the Geass Order returned to seek revenge? If they had, there would be a very real possibility that Lelouch's peace might be disturbed.
However, as I activated my Geass Canceler and the illusion disappeared we found ourselves facing CC and my Lord, Lelouch. His hair had turned ghostly white, but it was undoubtedly him.
I shouldn't have been surprised. He was "The Man of Miracles", after all. But I was. It took a simple "I'm home" to bring me to tears. Anya had also been overcome with emotion and began to cry as well. It had been the first time I saw her react so visibly emotional to anything. Of course, two years later, and such a thing is commonplace. I look at her now. She looks back at me with curiosity and then annoyance. She's grown and matured over these last two years.
[Code Geass: "Cheese"]
"Jerry, stop daydreaming!" Anya snapped loudly.
"Of course! I apologize..." I put a hand behind my head. I suppose I really do get caught up in the past when I'm tending to the orange grove.
At the edge of my vision, I spot CC. She walks towards the mechanized cart and pours out the harvest from her basket.
"All right. This should be enough." She walked away from the cart and had a silent glaring contest with Anya as she passed her. "Anya, could you please send the cart back to the barn now?" she asked in mock sweetness.
I sigh. Sometimes I wish those two would make up. While they continued with their silent glaring contest, I head to the front of the cart. "...No need to be so worked up." I'm the closest to the cart. I pull the lever.
The engine exploded into action. The motorized cart flew off the rails with a screech and crashed violently into several of my precious orange trees. Oranges went flying everywhere landing on both Anya and myself. Only a laughing CC, who had luckily maintained a respectable distance, had been spared.
Anya's shocked face quickly turned to red fury as I turned to face her. I feel a cold sweat fall over my face and put my hand behind my head. Whoops…
"JEEEEEEEERRRY!"
Author's Epilogue and Reflective Analysis
Just a short little story. No "real" symbolism or meaning, just a bit of world building and setup for future Acts. That's why they are called Asides after all. I might expand this later on. I haven't finished Act 1 yet since I'm having trouble writing it and also decided to place "the Act 1" before what I've written (Act 2). After I publish it, I'll replace this aside with it. I like to do a lot of retcons and editing, so if you have any suggestions, let them be known by leaving a comment. In fact, I'll update this Aside later too. Also, I think I'm going to be writing out shorter chapters bv splitting them up so I can get them published sooner.
For this chapter, I had to research basic orange cultivation. Plow the Land, Fertilize, blah blah blah. I learned a new few things. It's suggested that you pull out the suckers (branches) off after harvest. The best time to harvest the oranges when they show a paleness and oranges trees have very nice white flowers. That plays pretty nicely into Lelouch's "white" motif.
Lelouch's choice to stay at the farm reflects Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus, a Roman statesman who gained fame for his selfless devotion to the republic in times of crisis and then for giving up the reins of power/the dictatorship when the crisis was over by becoming a farmer. Twice.
The "winds" in Jeremiah's recollection were either from the Menorah and/or being used by it as a method to avoid detection.
The Vision of Flamingos is from the first PV of R3.
The motorized cart mishap was not Jeremiah's fault. But as you'll find out in the next two subacts, the engine used was a top-grade military engine from a knightmare.