Footsteps echoed along the corridor as the Knight of Seven, Suzaku Kururugi walked, pondering about the events that have happened. After being comforted by the guards, they told him that Zero has been detained and that they would be heading back to the Homeland by morning.
Suzaku thought about all this madness that has occurred and now Zero, or rather Lelouch, was going to face justice by the people who once abandoned him and Nunnally eight years ago which was the reason he became Zero, the reason of what has happened in the past year with the rebellion. Even though a part of him is happy that Lelouch would face the justice that he deserve, the other part is that he felt pity for him, for all that he had done to make the world a gentler place for Nunnally or at least it was until Nunnally was lost in the FLEIJA incident, making Lelouch not have a reason anymore.
But still...
A buzz interrupted Suzaku's thoughts as he looked on his cellphone with no name on it. "Hello,"
"Get your hands off me!" yelled Lelouch as he was being dragged away.
After his "little" talk with Schneziel and Cornelia, Lelouch was taken in by the guards to an unknown room for the time being. The guards threw him in. Before Lelouch can get back up and head towards the door, the guards have already shut and lock the door. Lelouch pounded on the door with his fist and tried to turn the knob with no success. He slammed his palm on the door and slid down in defeat and exhaustion. Once again, he was a prisoner to Britannia, but unlike the last time, he won't be facing his father anymore, much to his delight and triumph, having gotten rid of the man who was supposed to be a father but never really gave a damn about his children or their well-being.
Lelouch didn't tell Schneziel or Cornelia about their father's demise, knowing that it would give them that advantage on him. He'll keep that secret alone to himself for his own enjoyment, something that he succeeded by his own two hands. With a devilish chuckled of satisfaction, Lelouch know he had won the battle against his father who had thought of him dead and useless.
"Who's dead and useless now, Father?" crackled Lelouch as he held himself, rolling on the floor like a crazy person.
After a few more chuckles, Lelouch stop as his triumph joy turned into emptiness. I've finally done it. I defeated the man I once called Father, for the way he treated me and Nunnally and abandoning us in a foreign land which he would later declare war upon, not give a damn if we lived or not and yet...
As Lelouch looked up to the ceiling, he thought about Nunnally. All that he has done, the crime and sins that he had committed was all for her and yet she was not here in this world anymore. The sister he loved above all else was gone. Obliterated right before his very eyes. Even though he wanted to denied it so much, the evidence was right in front of him.
Nunnally, I'm so sorry. I wanted to create a gentler world for you, for you to be happy. And yet I failed you. Thought Lelouch as he wrapped himself up in a ball.
If he was going to meet his maker, at least he might be able to see his beloved little sister again.
Kallen peering at the door, looking back and forth to make sure no one sees her and what she was about to do. While her comrades were in a meeting with Lady Kaguya and Prince Schneziel, she felt it was the perfect time to set her plan in motion to rescue Lelouch. After getting her resolve back, she decide that what she must do even though her act would make her look as a traitor to her friends, she must do what she believe is right.
Heading toward her newly Guren, she was disturbed by a voice behind her. "I was wondering when you were going to come?"
Kallen turned to see CC behind her with her arms crossed, leaning against the Guren with a smile on her face, which would make Kallen annoyed by her cocky smile, but now wasn't the time. They were here to rescue Lelouch.
"I've called Jeremiah and he's willing to help save Lelouch with us." replied Kallen.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" asked CC. "You'll be betraying your friends that you known for years over a man who you've known for a year. Is he really much all that?"
Kallen though on what CC had just said. Yes, she was betraying her friends over a man, let alone a Britannian prince at that matter, but he's not only Japan but the entire world's only hope for peace and salvation and if they lose him, then they lose everything that they all have gain and it would not be for not.
"Yes, he is?" Kallen replies with her body straight, ensuring her decision.
Hm, you've surely have changed, Kallen.
"Let's go! We've haven't got much time."
Inside the Siegfried, Jeremiah Gottwald waited patiently on when to strike. He had gotten a call from Kallen and she told him what had happened while he was searching for Princess Nunnally. How the Black Knight turned on Prince Lelouch and were prepared to gun him down in cold blood but was able to escape with the help of Rolo but was later recaptured and being held.
Hearing such atrocity made Jeremiah's blood boiled like a raging lava on how the Black Knights turn on his prince and was preparing to kill him. If only he was there, he would have cut down those vermin in a flash for trying to harm his prince.
I'll not fail you this time, your Majesty. I will rescue you, even if it cost me my life.
Two guards were standing in place when two round balls rolled in front of them. They looked at it in confused until it started blinking rapidly, then exploded, shaking the hall. Other guards heard the commotion and headed towards it.
Kallen ran as the close was clear, heading towards were Lelouch was. She opened door to door until she came across one. As the door open, she saw a figure laying on the floor, curled up in a ball. It was Lelouch. Kallen ran over to him, shaking him. "Lelouch, Lelouch! Wake up! It's me, Kallen!"
Lelouch moaned for a moment then open his eyes to see Kallen looking down at him. "Kallen! What are you doing here?" said a groggy Lelouch.
"I'm here to saving you. Jeremiah and CC are waiting for us. We have to go."
"No, you shouldn't be here. You should get out of here."
"I'm not leaving without you."
"Kallen, you don't understand. I have nothing to fight for anymore."
"But I do! And I'm fighting for you, whether you like it or not." Kallen argued back. "Now come on."
Kallen grabbed hold of Lelouch as they both headed out of the room and down the hall. Lelouch looked at Kallen, wondering why she would rescue him, risk everything for him. Why?
As they were about to reach their destination, a gunshot missing their heads by inches. They both turned to see Suzaku Kururugi behind them.
"I'm not going to ask what you two are planning on doing, but…"
Kallen grunt her teeth against each other as she looked at the man she sees as a traitor to the Japanese.
"Kallen, go to CC and wait for me there."
"But..?"
"I'll be there in a few minutes. I must have a few words with Suzaku."
Kallen looked at Lelouch, then Suzaku, then Lelouch again, trying to understand on what Lelouch was planning on doing.
"Go, I got this." Lelouch said in a low voice.
Kallen looked at Lelouch one more time before heading to where CC is.
Lelouch and Suzaku stared at each other in intensive glare.
In the Ikaruga
The meeting between the senior Black Knight and Prince Schneziel was going underway on how the situation with Japan should be handle now that Zero has been capture and held under guard.
Lady Kaguya, Empress Tianzi and Xinge-ke was informed about the truth of Zero. About on how he was a former Britannian prince with a power to control people against their will and how he's been using them as pawns for his own entertainment. The news hit them hard but not as hard as it was for Lady Kaguya as the man she loved and called her 'husband' was nothing all but lies from the beginning. It broke her heart but she was willing to continue for the sake of the world.
Suddenly, a guard came in and whispered in Schneziel's ear. "Really?!"
"Yes, your highness." replied the guard.
"I see."
"Uh, Prince Schneziel?!" Ohgi said
"Forgive me, but it seems that my brother has escape from his room." replied Schneziel. "I'm sorry, but I guess we have to postpone this meeting until further notice."
"Yes, of course."
A Black Knight member enter the room and whispered into Ohgi's ears.
"What?!"
A few minute later, Kallen could see a figure coming toward them. It was Lelouch as he appeared with Suzaku right behind him. Kallen was in shock on what Lelouch was doing.
"Lelouch, what's going on? Why is Suzaku with you?"
"Get inside the Guren. I'll explain everything later."
Kallen didn't understand what Lelouch was doing but she was determined to ask him the moment they were cleared out of sight.
Lelouch, Kallen and CC got into the Guren while Suzaku got into the Lancelot. The four headed off into the night.
One month later…
Pendragon Imperial Palace
Pendragon, Holy Britannian Empire
"It has been one month since the destruction caused by the F.L.E.I.A. warhead. Today, his majesty, Emperor Charles, will make an important announcement to the entire nation. We will be bringing you live international coverage of this from Pendragon Imperial Palace even though his majesty has not made any public appearances in the past month."
Inside the Imperial court, members of the royal family and nobles were waiting on their emperor. It has been over a month since they last seen or heard of him and now he was going to make a reappearance, much to the relief the court.
""Didn't somebody say that the emperor was missing?" the fifth princess Carine le Britannia asked.
"Bismarck was the one who reported that and now he's gone," the first princess Guinevere su Britannia responded.
"As for Schneizel and the others, where are they?" Odysseus eu Britannia asked concerned, wondering where was his younger brother and sister might be.
"Don't know there's been no word from Cambodia yet." replied Guinevere, knowing where her younger siblings are but haven't heard anything else.
A palace guardsmen stands in full attention, "Presenting his imperial majesty!" he announced
The people in the throne room went silent when the announcement is made, waiting for their emperor to appear. Footsteps echoed the room as the figure made its way to the throne.
"Huh?" Karine spoke in surprise as the others were surprised as well.
"But that's not…" Guinevere muttered.
"Where's his majesty?" Carine asked.
The figure sat down on the throne.
"What the hell?" Milly spoke in shock.
"Whaaaa!" Rivalz blurted in shock he and some of his classmates were watching on Rivalz's mini television, "It can't be!"
The core members of the Black Knights and Viletta were shock to see the person they knew was sitting on the throne.
"Impossible!"
The young man crossed his legs and began to speak with a smile, "Greetings, I am Lelouch vi Britannia of the royal family, 99th emperor of the realm."
Four Knights of the Round; Bismarck, Monica, Gino, and Nonette were shock at what they were seeing on the television.
"Good lord!" Bismarck blurted in shock.
"How could this be?" Gino muttered in shock.
The royal siblings were in shock at the revelation of their long-lost dead brother whom they have not seen in over eight years.
"I-It's really you?" Carine asked surprised.
"You're alive?" Guinevere asked surprised.
"Yes sister I am," Lelouch answered looking over at his two half-sisters, "I've returned from the depths of hell intact."
Odysseus walks over with a smile on his face, "Lelouch, how good to see you. When Nunnally was located, I figured you would be found alive too, but now, aren't you carrying this joke a bit too far? That's the throne of our father-"
Lelouch interrupts him, "Charles zi Britannia, the 98th emperor, no longer lives and I'm the one who took his life," this causes gasps in the throne room, "therefore, that makes me the next emperor."
"What are you saying?" Carine asked in anger, "Are you nuts?"
Guinevere turns her attention to the palace guards, "Guards, take that fool and execute him! He's guilty of murdering our emperor!"
The palace guards run with spears pointed at Lelouch. Just as they about to take him down, Suzaku jumps from the ceiling, dismembering the spears of two guards and knocking them. Four more came at them when Kallen side-kick them to the ground.
"Kallen, why are you…?" asked Ohgi in shock and utter disbelief.
"May I introduce on my right, Suzaku Kururugi my knight! A knight of the realm above all others! I granted him a title "Knight of Zero"!" exclaimed Lelouch. "And on my left, Kallen Stadtfeld or should I say Kallen va Britannia, my wife! 99th Empress of the Holy Britannian Empire!"
"Kallen, you're…" said a shock Ohgi.
"Lelouch, Sir Kururugi, and Lady Stadtfeld, this just won't do, pulling a bad stunt like this on an international broadcast…"
Lelouch getting tired of his brother's ranting "Do you think so? Then let me make this easy for you all to understand... "Lelouch removed his two purple contacts, showing his true eyes with a bird symbol, activates his Geass on everyone in the throne room. "Acknowledge me as Emperor!
"Lelouch, I insist that you stop joking around like that... [" Before Odysseus could finish his sentence, Lelouch's geass has complete envelop him and those in the court. "We hear and obey Your Majesty!"
Carine and Guinevere, under the power of Geass, with their right hands across the chest, cheered for their new Emperor. "All Hail Emperor Lelouch!"
The rest of the royal family and the imperial court cheered as well. "ALL HAIL LELOUCH! ALL HAIL LELOUCH! ALL HAIL LELOUCH! ALL HAIL LELOUCH! ALL HAIL LELOUCH! ALL HAIL LELOUCH! ALL HAIL LELOUCH!"
And now it all begins… thought Lelouch as his plan will soon come into fulfillment.