I think this is going to be the longest chapter Cornelia steps into this one :D

The sunlight above blinded me as I tried to pry my eyes open. The intense pain shot through my body as I opened my eyes and noticed where I was. I could feel the warm blood leaking from my body on my uniform as I tried to sit up. I, of course, hit the ground seconds later as the pain engulfed my body, sending me screaming as I clenched my fists, hitting them against the dirt ground beneath me. As the knightmare had fallen, the vibration sword that had jammed the ejection system as dislodged itself and was now impaled in the ground just metres away from me. The many times I had hit that ejection button had queued up and the ejection system had shot into action, but all too late, as I hit the ground before it had set me free. I was now laying in a pool of growing blood, the knightmare frame landing atop of me, as I am fallen out just metres above the ground. I could feel the broken ribs in my chest grind together as I tasted the blood in my mouth. I felt ill, the pain of throwing up thick upon my senses as I tried to turn over, but the knightmare had me pinned. I felt like screaming out for help, but I was in thick forest, no one would hear me, I just had to face the facts that this was my death bed, and I would wait for death to greet me with a smiling face.

"There he is!"

I opened my blinded eyes as I heard the voice in the distance. So that is what death sounded like. I lifted my head slightly, and wiped the blood from my eyes as I tried to clear my vision to glance around. I saw nothing and my head hit the ground again, only causing me to groan in pain.

"Count Reid! Sir! Can you hear me?"

The voice was so close now, and I could feel the hands that belonged to it. They fumbled over my bloody neck, searching for a pulse I thought was gone. But they found it, for they yelled it over the entire forest, the sound of footfalls approaching at such speed followed. My eyes were closed, but I could hear everything that was going on. The sound of the grinded metal as it was lifted and pushed away from my injured body. Then two hands cupped around either side of my face and I felt my body being shaken. I groaned in such pain as I swore I heard someone say sorry.

"Markus, it is me, Cornelia. Open your eyes; we need to see that you are alright."

Cornelia? I scrunched my eyes tighter together; my upper lip curling over my teeth as I finally opened my eyes, jumping at how close she was. I cried out in pain as my body jumped and closed my eyes again. That was definitely Cornelia, and I knew that I had to get away from her. Prince Schneizel had tried to kill her, and I knew that she'd want revenge on anyone who worked for that side of her family. I lifted my injured hands and pushed her hands away from my face before trying to sit up. My body found its resting place against the knightmare frame that was now beside me, well what was left of it. It's cold, jagged metal cut into my flesh and I felt the warmth of my blood spilling to the ground.

"He's hurt! He's hurt, quickly!"

I wanted to protest that I wasn't hurt, but I couldn't find my voice, and then everything went black. I awoke to a similar blinding light that hovered above me, my eyes opened instantly, my pupils burning as the sudden light that entered. I blinked a few times before I managed to sit up. My head wasn't as heavy as before, and it didn't spin so much that threatened to send me crashing to the ground again. It took a while for me to register what was around me. At first I hadn't recognized the light beeps of a heart monitor that was attached to my chest for numerous cords. Nor did I feel the sting of the needles of drips that entered my skin on my arm and my hand. I did feel the cold sensation near my nose and noticed the breathing tubes placed near my nose, attached to the side of my face with medical tape. I didn't bother removing any of the medical equipment, but propped myself up against the head of the hospital bed, I now knew where I was at least.

"You're awake."

I was shocked that it was Princess Cornelia that sat at my bedside, her knight, Guilford, was no where in sight. I diverted my gaze as I bowed my head slightly, but she only scoffed, gaining my attention instantly.

"You are nobility as well Markus, no need for the formalities."

"... But your highness..."

"Please."

I nodded, as did she. I was curious as to why she was here, and why she had been the one that had saved me from dying in that forest. I knew what happened, but I could see by the nag in her expression that she wanted to explain something. I gave a sigh and allowed her.

"What happened?"

"...The Battle of Mount Fuji. That's what happened." She began, folding her arms over her chest as she spoke, "My brothers are selfish fools, thinking they can just fight like that... they thought it would be useful to use the F.L.E.I.J.A"

I hated those things. It was an invention of death, and I was ashamed that it had been Nina herself that had created it through her grief of mourning for the lost princess who had massacred half of the Japanese race. I had turned my attention else where in the room as Cornelia pondered over her words quickly. I knew what had happened from when I had entered the battle, all the way to where I lost consciousness in the falling Knightmare frame that the Guren had successfully destroyed, just like so many others.

"Markus... Suzaku is dead..."

I froze where I sat, my eyes wide as I stared across at the wall I'd been staring at earlier. Her words repeated in my mind, meaning nothing until I caught a firm grasp of what they meant. I turned to stare at her, my expression locked in a pure mask of shock as I tried to find my voice.

"What?"

That's all that came out, and that meant that she'd repeat herself. I didn't want to hear those words again so I shook my head as she forced herself to speak the three dreaded words.

"...How?"

"... The Guren..."

Of course, I clenched my fists tightly at my sides as I shook my head. So the Guren had continued on to take another life, and the only memory I had left of my friend was him screaming at me to save myself. The look of panic on his face when he had said that was the last face I remembered of him in my mind. My memories were too fuzzy to find and put together that smiling face that I'd seen so many times before. I felt Cornelia place a hand on my arm, taking my hand gently in her own. I didn't want to believe this, but I knew that there was a possibility that his Lancelot had not proven itself that time. I opened my eyes, rage flashing over my green hues as I tore the needles from my arms, oxygen from my face and heart monitor from my chest, pushing myself out of the hospital bed and to my feet. I didn't pause to rid the dizzy spell that threatened me and grabbed my fresh uniform from the foot of the bed, pulling it over my bandaged body before turning to Cornelia.

"I will fight for you. I will no longer fight for that demon, Lelouch."