A/N: Here's Part 2! You might recognize some of the dialogue, and thats's because I spent quite a lot of time rewatching episodes, pausing and repausing, typing it down in case I needed it. Spoilers for the middle/end of R2. Enjoy!
Xing-ke asks her not to tell anyone, and of course, she can't refuse.
She's the only one who feels the anxiety of waiting for the results of his medical exams to be over. She's the only one who feels that stab of fear in her heart whenever she hears the sound of a man coughing. She's the only one who can really, truly worry over him. Mostly, the burden of being the only one to know is suffocating. Miraculously, they manage to keep the knowledge between the two of them; his fits never seem to come when he's in front of the men, leading them as admirably as before, as if by the sheer force of his will he kept them back until they were alone, just the two of them.
More than seeing the coughing and the blood, the sight of him pushing himself, putting on this strong facade, is what really hurts.
"Lord Xing-ke, can't... can't we tell someone else? At least some of our most trusted men? Hong Gu, at least, should–"
He interrupts, not even looking at her. "You know why we can't, Xianglin. If word of my... condition spreads to the men, it could jeopardize everything we've been working for."
"Then sir," she says, her frustration starting to seep out, "If I hadn't been there and seen it myself, you would have kept this from me too? You wouldn't have told me that you were... are...dying?"
He finally turns to her, sees her expression, and rises slowly, standing. She can feel that him stopping just a few steps away right in front of her, but she keeps her gaze resolutely to the side and is still too angry to look at him.
Xing-ke's hand comes up to her chin, and she, incredibly caught off-guard by the motion, can't do much more than just stand there as he tilts her head up so that their eyes meet. "I would have told you everything," he says softly. "Of course I would have."
Her eyes bore into his, wondering, searching. They stay that way for a few moments, his hand still at her jaw and their faces inches apart until finally, she's the one to break away first, clearing her throat. Xing-ke finally withdraws his hand and she feels a slight twinge of something like disappointment.
"I believe you," she finally says, breaking the silence.
But it still doesn't make a difference.
xxxx
Twenty-four years old –
They relocate to Luo Yang, the capital, where corruption runs deepest and where they can keep a closer eye on the Eunuch Generals. It makes her a little melancholy to be leaving Beijing again, but she knows that Xing-ke's decision was the right one. And where he goes, she follows.
Eventually, Xing-ke, having gained quite the reputation, is offered the incredible honour of accompanying the High Eunuch Gao Hai to Area 11 while the Eunuch acts as a consul of the Federation there.
That Area was nothing but unrest the last year, but since the execution of Zero, things seemed to have calmed down. She wishes him a good trip and promises to take good care of the men in his absence, but doesn't think too much of it.
How quickly she's proven wrong. The day Xing-ke arrives at Area 11…
Zero returns. The news is so extreme that everywhere she turns that's all anyone can talk about. Zero has returned. He wasn't executed. He's alive. To escape Britannia, Zero and the Black Knights are being sheltered in the Chinese Consulate. Where Xing-ke is. Britannia can't fire on them without risking an international incident with their country.
Xing-ke's frustration is evident even just from the tone of his voice through the phone. "What is Gao Hai thinking? Why would he shelter those fugitives? This isn't part of our mission."
Her mouth twists into a straight line. "Please be careful, sir."
xxxx
She hears even more disturbing news from the turbulent area. Gao Hai is killed in a conflict with the Black Knights. Killed by Zero.
A Eunuch General, a huge obstacle in their plans, suddenly dead? Suddenly, and conveniently.
Their next conversation, she's hesitant, but she voices her uneasiness. "Sir, about Eunuch General Gao Hai…"
There's a long silence on the other end, before he offers, "He accepted the United State of Japan without consulting the mainland. He declared loyalty foremost to Zero, rather than the Empress. I did what I had to."
Her voice agrees with him even when she wants to shake her head at his hastiness.
"With all due respect, sir, the Black Knights…" Are not trustworthy. Zero is not trustworthy.
"They agreed to make it seem like Gao Hai had died because of them. The Black Knights allowed us to get rid of that parasite of a Eunuch General. We are indebted to them.
"However," he clarifies, knowing her arguments already, "My agreement to aid them is only in return for the Black Knights to be used as a tool to aid our own plans."
She's worried, nearly lets slip how she's thinking that it might be them being used for Zero's plans, but she doesn't. The last thing she wants to do is underestimate him.
But she does remind him, one last time, to be careful.
xxxx
Xianglin flies over to Area 11 to pick him up, and the two of them waste no time getting back into the private plane. They, as usual, getting right down to business discussing their plans, the Black Knights, Britannia, when -
He coughs, and as has been the case for the past year, the sound sends an automatic jolt of fear into her heart.
"Lord Xing-ke," she exclaims, rising from her seat. "You really are –"
When he draws his hand back she can see the thin stream of blood down the left side of his mouth. He pastes on a determined smile. "Do not worry about it. I just need to hold up for a little longer…"
She wants to tell him not to say things like that, but what right does she have to?
Xing-ke has his own ways of dealing with what's going to happen.
xxxx
A voice buzzes at her ear; gives a relatively quick report. She turns to relay the information to him. "Lord Xing-ke. The issue in Area 11 went successfully."
"I see," he says, the slightest hint of a smile on his face. "Zero plans to step on our stage, perhaps?"
xxxx
The arrangements between the Black Knights and the Chinese Federation have been made and sealed. Zero is granted a territory for the Japanese by the High Eunuchs, the artificial island, Hourai. A semblance of calm settles into their lives again.
She should have known it was only the calm before the storm.
It's announced. News that surpasses Zero's return in relevance to their plans.
A marriage between the Chinese Federation and Brtiannia. More specifically, a marriage of political convenience between Empress Tianzi and Britannia's First Prince, Odysseus eu Britannia.
They're going to sell Empress Tianzi…to Britannia?
xxxx
They hold a progress meeting the same night as the celebration banquet, and she can sense tensions are high. And why wouldn't they, after such a surprising turn of events?
"The Eunuch Generals and the Second Prince Schneizel have a secret pact already," she reports. "Marriage and cession of territory. With that, the Eunuch Generals will gain Britannian nobility."
"Nobility?" Xing-ke's voice is dripping in disbelief and scorn. "They sell their country to gain status?"
Their peers slam fists against tables and cry: "What of the people?", "We must kill the Eunuch Generals!" and, "We need to stop the wedding, even if it means moving up our plans!"
Even now, she has to be the practical one. "If we initiate a coup d'état here, we will no doubt be going to war with Britannia."
The room quiets, indignation and fury temporarily stifled.
When the others leave the room, she stays behind with him as usual, the two of them on the balcony overlooking the Forbidden City. When she sees the look on his face, she thinks it might be the most vulnerable she's ever seen him.
"What should I do, Xianglin?" He turns to her, eyes conflicted, two roads, two futures, two possible outcomes in front of him. He inhales deeply and the exhale comes out shaky and unsure. "Protect the Empress, or the alliance for peace?"
She feels something twist, painful and raw in her chest. "Sir," she says, voice heavy, "You shouldn't ask for my advice in this matter."
His features show a flicker of surprise. "Xianglin, I value your opinion–"
The pain she was feeling moments ago vanishes, replaced by something else that flares hot at his words. "Then," she interrupts, and she's surprised to hear her voice steadier and harsher than what she really feels. "If I told you to abandon the Empress for the sake of our plans, would you?"
The question has undoubtedly caught him off guard and he falls silent, troubled. She sighs then, and places a hand on his shoulder. "Sir… I think your heart has already made up its mind."
She leaves him alone then, walks back to the banquet without another word.
xxxx
The news circles around to their troops by the end of the night.
We move up our plans, is the message from the Commander. The marriage must be stopped.
When she looks back on it, there was never any question of which road he would choose to take.
xxxx
The morning of the wedding, she stands in their main flagship, eyes glued to the broadcast showing all over the nation. The Britannian First Prince, and the much younger Empress Tianzi, symbol of the Chinese Federation, both standing at the altar when-
The doors burst open.
"I question," declares Xing-ke, drawing his sword. He cuts a magnificent figure, flanked by their troops, eyes resolute, the symbol of the revolution, pointing his jian straight ahead. "To the voice of the skies, to the cries of the earth, to the hearts of the people! Where, in this marriage, is the will of the Chinese Federation?"
One of the Eunuch Generals stands immediately, horrified voice squealing, "Have you lost your mind, Xing-ke?"
"Silence, Zhao Hao!" he yells in reply. "Representing all citizens, we protest this marriage!"
The red-clothed soldiers swarm him and he faces multiple opponents at once, fending them off with a combination of his jian and his rope darts. She only sees him knocking aside three opponents when the broadcast is cut and her screen buzzes with white noise.
This is the catalyst. She gives the order and everything launches into action. Outside, their troops are storming the streets of the capital. She has soldiers holding government officials hostage. However, despite how well other aspects of their coup go, at the centre of it all, as it has always been, is how well things go on Xing-ke's end. With the Empress.
A voice starts to buzz in her ear. "Lady Xianglin, as expected, the guests have all evacuated the hall, but we've received reports that Zero has appeared…"
"Zero?" Again, the uneasiness returns. She tries contacting one of their squads. "Squad 3, report assault status!" Only silence greets her on the other end. "Squad 3, have you given back up to Lord Xing-ke?"
It can't be… she thinks, heart sinking. Our plan has been used for Zero's advantage?
xxxx
There's a thumping at the doors, and they break way to reveal the Eunuch Generals, and a multitude of red palace guards behind them. Guards who hold, handcuffed and beaten, the key members of their coup.
Including Xing-ke.
She holds her hands up, willingly lets herself be bound without a fight, because at this point, there's no use. They're thrown in an emergency underground cell right under the operating room and Xing-ke immediately fills her in on what happened on his end. His voice shakes with rage as he recounts the events. Just as he was on the verge of saving the Empress, Zero appeared and took her hostage. Even prepared Knightmares for his grand escape. Xing-ke had run out of the palace with the full of intention of going after them when he was captured by the Eunuch Generals.
From their cell, they can still hear the Eunuch Generals' voices above through the glass. Voices that rise increasingly in panic as they try to deal with Zero and the Black Knights in order to get the Empress back. From here, it's obvious that Zero's got the upper hand already. It seems Xing-ke's come to the same conclusion. "Your pursuit forces have been routed, right?" he says, eyes focused up at the glass to where the Eunuch Generals are standing.
They look down, looking surprised. "How do you know?"
"The location's the Shengzhong Gorge. If it were me, I would hide units there and ambush the enemy forces."
"And then?"
"Then I would meet with my main forces at Xiaopei."
"Hmm," one of them says, a greedy look flitting across his face. "We can pardon your sins, Xing-ke, only if you can bring Empress Tianzi back." A soldier clad in red shoves his way across their members and hauls Xing-ke up to his feet.
"In that case, I will need my supporting tactical officer, Zhou Xianglin."
The Eunuchs frown slightly, but Xing-ke cuts in before they can protest. "If you want your victory, then I need her."
They give a slight 'hmph', but order another soldier to bring her out of the cell as well. As the two of them return to the main operating room, the Eunuch Generals separate them to discuss something in private with Xing-ke. A minute later, he comes back to talk to her. "The Eunuch Generals are lending me a Knightmare. A monster that no pilot is said to be able to maneuver."
As she meets his eyes, she knows what he's thinking. That piloting something like this could only shorten his lifespan. But she knows that even if she tried holding him back for the sake of his health, he wouldn't listen. Knows better than anyone the lengths Xing-ke will go to for the Empress. So she sets her shoulders and tells him, "Do what you need to, to get the Empress back. I'll back you up."
xxxx
Xianglin stands there among the Eunuchs, arms still bound tightly behind her back, and watches the screen intently. On it appears the unit they had just discussed, an elegant blue Knightmare, completely unlike any of the other series she's known.
The Shen Hu, the Divine Tiger.
The way its slash harkens spin, the yellow wires flashing as they obliterated the foolish enemy Knightmares who underestimated him… they remind her so strongly of Xing-ke, overcoming multiple opponents with a few twists of his rope darts.
She can't help but smile. The Shen Hu is made for him.
"Can you hear me, Zero?" says Xing-ke, voice amplified from within his Knightmare.
Zero's deep voice, also amplified, carries through the battlefield. "Are you… Xing-ke?"
"Zero, I will not let you pass. Return the Empress now. I will not take your life if you do so."
"Xing-ke!" screams another voice, this time female, and with a flash of red, the Ace of the Black Knights leaps onto the scene.
It's a devastating fight. The Shen Hu and the Guren Kashoushiki clash, blue against red, and there's no slow calculating of each other's strength. The two of them throw themselves into battle with vigour, holding nothing back, strengths equal. Eventually one of the Shen Hu's wires wraps around the Guren's leg.
"I have you. The fight has been decided!"
There's laughter in Kallen Kozuki's voice as she replies. "Right, in the form of your defeat!" The left hand of the Guren grabs hold of the wire that has trapped it. "You can't get away anymore… Now, I'll strike this in your face!" And on the other side, that infamous right hand crackles with energy.
"I see, then that leaves me with no choice," says Xing-ke, voice low and determined. "I have no choice but to kill you."
The Guren charges forward, right arm extended. "Let's see you try it!"
Just as she is about to fire her long-range Radiant Wave Surger, the Guren stumbles. Xing-ke takes advantage of the Guren's helplessness and in but a moment he has captured it, cockpit wrapped up, trapped in the Shen Hu's wires. Xing-ke holds the short sword pointed at the cockpit of the Knightmare, essentially taking the Black Knight's ace as a hostage.
"I didn't want to have to do this, but I have an objective. The Empress. Return the –." He stops mid-speech, voice choking, and of course, she recognizes that sound and knows the cause of it. The enemy Knightmares twitch, ready to take advantage of Xing-ke's momentary weakness and no, what's she doing, watching, didn't she say she'd always back him up?
"Now!" She gives the order and within seconds she has the rest of their army firing at the Black Knights. The enemy scatters, their attention now off of the struggling Xing-ke and diverted to their main forces behind him. "Anti-air fire, continue! Give Lord Xing-ke support!"
The Shen Hu retreats slowly. A line of communication opens and a familiar voice comes through, slightly muffled in static. "Xianglin, right? You saved me there."
After he puts the captive Guren and its pilot to the hands of Britannia, Shen Hu launches out again, and she can already see his plan. The enemy force is a hastily-gathered army. They have no choice but to concentrate the order of command around Zero. However, their Knightmare Frames are superior to theirs, spec-wise. That left only one option for their forces. Put Shen Hu at the front and break through the centre.
And they do.
Xing-ke expertly maneuvers the Black Knights straight into their trap and the canal water come in and the enemy's Knightmares sink into the cheap irrigated land. Xing-ke, gaining the upper hand on the battlefield against a man like Zero.
"The bearer of our victory is our country's land itself. Zero, you've lost!" The powerful cannon mounted onto the torso of the Shen Hu opens for the third time that day, aimed straight to the Ikaruga, but Tohdoh comes flying in on his Akatsuki, takes Xing-ke off-guard and the cannon fires off-target, sparing Zero.
"To be expected of Tohdoh of miracles," says Xing-ke. "But, the main enemy forces have stopped here! All units, advance!"
"Chen, zun zhi!" she replies. I, your subordinate, shall follow your command.
As she watches their troops fly into battle again, led by Xing-ke piloting the Shen Hu, she feels that familiar stab of fear. The Shen Hu, a Knightmare that was kept in storage because piloting it was too physically demanding. And here he is, a dying man, wielding it expertly on an incredibly tense battlefield, where they have everything on the line. This much strain on his body...
Intelligence on par with Zero, and military prowess on the same level as a Knight of Rounds. The heavens gave him both gifts.
They only did not give him time…
xxxx
The Black Knights start to retreat. Xing-ke and his troops chase after, and find the place the enemy has chosen to crawl and hide into.
Tianzi Bashiba Ling. The tomb of the Eighty-Eight Emperors. There's a little hesitation. Do they really want to lay siege to the place where their Emperors sleep forever? The Black Knights hole up inside, heavy Hadron cannons pointed out from the only entrance. Despite this, their forces press forward –
Bang. Where a section of their troops stood is now just a smoking, blackened crater. The tomb ahead where the Black Knights lay was completely still. No sign of an attack. Then from where…?
The answer quickly became apparent. Behind them, the High Eunuchs' forces which had been working with them up to this point, fire against Xing-ke and the rest of their rebel troops.
"We cannot forgive those who have rebelled against us," one of the Eunuchs says, fat cheeks rolling up into a disgusting smile. Their bodyguards scattered around the room, so far fairly inactive, turn and point their guns at her.
Xianglin doesn't even flinch. Gritting her teeth, she bites out, "Now's not the time for that. Besides, aren't we trying to get the Empress back?"
"It's fine up to this point. We have very impressive reinforcements coming in."
"Do you even understand what you're doing? How could you even think of asking for foreign aid? And especially from…"
"Quiet," they say, and when she disregards that and makes to continue speaking, one of the soldiers brings his knee up to her stomach and bound, she can't do anything but collapse, wind knocked thoroughly out of her. She doesn't even have the strength to resist as they begin to gag her.
So they turn the country against Xing-ke's forces and ask for Britannia's aid, ask for help from the man who has captured half of the E.U., Schneizel el Britannia. So now do they not only have the Black Knights ahead, but it isn't long before the see the three eight-generation Knightmares of the Knight of Rounds fly in and join the fray.
Xianglin believed that, at least, in the Tianzi Bashiba Ling, the Empress would be safe. That what prevented their troops from defeating the Black Knights earlier could also keep the Empress safe now. That the High Eunuchs were incapable of doing anything rash.
She underestimated them.
The Chinese Federation troops bombard the tomb with the Empress still inside. Ready to bury her there with the Black Knights. Effectively abandoning her.
xxxx
"Those damn Eunuchs…" yells Xing-ke. "They plan to stain the Tianzi Bashiba Ling with their greed, too? All units, hold your fire! The Empress is in there!"
"You just don't understand, eh?" The tone of their voices sends a shiver down her spine. "Xing-ke, that's where all the Tianzis in our history sleep forever."
"In other words, a grave. We shall bury the current Tianzi. We have already prepared a new Tianzi. A puppet that would be easier to attach to the Prince Odysseus."
"How dare you all insult the –" The Shen Hu turns to charge to the flagship where the traitorous High Eunuchs lie, but the Knight of Three attacks him before he can. As the battle between Britannia, the High Eunuch's forces, Xing-ke's forces and the Black Knights rages on before them, the monitor gives a quick flicker before a familiar mask fills the screen. Zero.
Zero?
The High Eunuchs make identical triumphant smiles. "You, personally admitting defeat?"
"You have no intentions of ceasing fire no matter what?" says Zero. "At this rate, Tianzi will die."
"The Tianzi is just a system. Replacements are abundant."
Zero's voice is angrier than she would have expected. "What of the citizens that remain?"
"Zero, when you walk, do you try to avoid stepping on ants on the ground? There are plenty of leaders and people, like the number of bugs in the world!" They all burst into disgusting laughter that makes her clench her fists so tightly her nails break the skin of her palms and start to bleed.
In that moment, the innocent Empress runs out of the top of the Black Knights' flagship, headfirst into the danger, screaming that they should stop fighting.
Zhao Hao smiles with the satisfaction of one who sees all conditions of their plans cleared. "Now, shoot Tianzi!"
Sha wu she! cry the rest of the soldiers. Kill without mercy.
Xing-ke, of course, rushes in to protect her, save her. As if he would do anything else. He gets there just in time. The Shen Hu's shields go up, and the impact of the combined firepower slamming into the single unit is deafening.
"Run away, Empress! You finally got to the outside world, but you haven't seen anything yet. I will hold my shields here."
"But you need to be with me, Xing-ke!" cries the Empress tearfully. "I want you to… I want you to…"
In her mind's eye, Xianglin can almost see the surprise, then the half-smile on his face. "Such words are too honourable for me. However –"
The Shen Hu ontinues taking brutal hits to protect the Empress and she can't do anything but watch as pieces fly off the once-magnificent Knightmare. You foolish, foolish man. She screams against her gag, hating the Eunuchs, hating Britannia, hating her helplessness, but above all…
Hating the Empress. Hating that innocent girl who will never understand what he's done, exactly what he's sacrificed, to save her, to protect her.
He'll die.
The Eunuchs give the order to keep firing. Shen Hu, in its current state, will succumb.
Xing-ke's voice is the most desperate she's ever heard. "Someone! Anyone, please save her!"
A fresh barrage of missiles launch towards Xing-ke and the Empress. Finally, she closes her eyes.
"Very well," echoes a deep voice. "That wish has been heard."
The voice rings familiar. It's Zero's voice.
Her eyes fly open. What?
The missiles land and the whole of the Black Knights' flagship is covered in an explosion.
xxxx
Eventually the dust settles. The Shen Hu is intact, (she feels such an immense wave of relief it's almost nauseating) and on the screen, magnified, is the Empress, alive. But all attention is drawn to what's in front of them. A new Knightmare, with a completely unique design, armoured black and gold.
The Eunuchs screech in disbelief. "What is that Knightmare?"
"It not only protected the Empress, but Xing-ke as well?"
"I ask you all, gentlemen of the Chinese Federation and Britannia," says Zero. "Do you still wish to fight me? Fight Zero?"
"Zero?" exclaims the Knight of Seven, Kururugi Suzaku. "On the front lines in person?"
Why?
"What are you all doing?" scream the Eunuch Generals. "All units fire at once and take him down!"
"I see. That is the answer of the Eunuch Generals, I take it?" More firepower rains down to Xing-ke and Zero's direction, but, as she expected, they bounce off of this formidable Knightmare's shields. Then it launches an extremely powerful cannon, wiping out entire sections of the Eunuch Generals' forces.
"Quite pathetic, Xing-ke," says Zero. "Not only are you betrayed by your countrymen, but you can't even save one woman. But now you know. I am the only one you can join forces with."
"That doesn't mean that I will become your subordinate," replies Xing-ke.
"Of course not," says Zero, and his voice sounds amused by the thought. "You have the ability to lead a country. His voice switches to those deep tones suited for his majestic proclamations of justice. "I need to save Tianzi, you, and all the weak citizens of the Chinese Federation!"
"You think you can change the course of the battle with just that Knightmare of yours?"
"No," again, that slightly arrogant tone. "The tides of battle can only be influenced not by real-time tactics, but with strategy!"
A man comes running in. Urgent report for the High Eunuchs. A revolt is taking place, right now, in Shanghai. And not only that. There are fourteen other places where citizens have simultaneously revolted. Her eyes are extremely wide, almost bulging The answer becomes clear. The Eunuchs' dialogue with Zero, about how they only saw the Empress as a pawn, how they truly thought of the citizens… With clever use of the media, Zero leaked their speech to the public, and now they pay the consequences.
Her hands are still bleeding but the pain is completely dulled by her satisfaction at watching the Eunuchs panic as their country turns against them. Even the foreign aid has abandoned them, the Avalon and the Knight of Rounds retreating, claiming that having lost the support of their country, the Eunuch Generals are unable to ask help from Britannia as representatives of the Chinese Federation.
There's a huge crash above and the ceiling breaks open, debris and dust falling in every direction. She braces herself, still tied down, and watches the Shen Hu fly in. The cockpit of the Shen Hu opens, with Xing-ke standing there, looking down to the Eunuchs completely powerless below.
"It appears even Schneizel has given up on you, Eunuch Generals."
There's pure panic on their faces. "Wait, we'll back down, so –"
"Protecting yourselves to the very end?" He leaps from the Shen Hu, brandishing his jian. She looks away, only sees how the floor is quickly stained in blood from the corner of her eye. There's the sound of a few thumps, and with her mind's eye she sees the corpses of the Eunuch Generals collapsing.
When she looks forward again, the first thing she sees is Xing-ke's face, hovering over her. He carefully reaches over to release her from her bonds. Finally, she feels his touch graze her cheek as he undoes her gag.
"Are you alright, Xianglin?" he asks. His fingertips linger on the red marks where the gag had dug deep.
"Yes, I'm fin –" she says distractedly, but when she focuses on his face, even in the darkness she can see the toll this day has taken on him, see the slack in his usual firm posture. As she always has (and always will), they walk forward together, she supporting him.
xxxx
After, they assemble on top of the Black Knight's vessel, the members of their coup on one side and the members of the Black Knights on the other. And in the middle, wedding dress ragged and dirty, the Empress stands, with Xing-ke kneeling before her. The two of them link pinkies, and she's brought back to a lazy afternoon in a tea shop and a handsome young man telling her the story of how he made a promise with an Empress.
Xing-ke smiles and the hand that is linked with hers shifts so that their thumbs touch together as well. Their pledge of eternal peace is brought to full circle. "I will continue to protect you. Forever…"
She knows what Xing-ke must be feeling. Their country has overturned its corrupt leaders, they have cemented a powerful ally and of course, most of all, his cherished Empress is safe and sound. Xing-ke's happy.
So she watches on and tries to feel the same way.
xxxx
Twenty-five years old -
Forty-seven countries, (including the former Chinese Federation, now the United States of China) rally under the banner of the new United Federation of Nations. A new world power is born, one to rival Britannia. The Order of the Black Knights becomes the supranational military force of the UFN.
The CEO of this new and improved Black Knights is Zero, of course. The position of General Commander goes to Xing-ke, and to her surprise, she's appointed a position as well. Chief of Staff of the Black Knights.
He takes time out of their busy schedules to come congratulate her. She accepts his congratulations, but feels compelled to clarify one thing.
"Even if I am formally serving Zero now," she says, meeting his eyes. "My loyalty will always be, first and foremost, to you, Lord Xing-ke."
Xing-ke smiles at her serious expression. "I know that, Xianglin."
xxxx
The first action of the UFN is declaration is war against Britannia to liberate Area 11. In anticipation, the Knights of the Round and the bulk of Britannia's military are transferred to Japan.
The decisive battle at the Tokyo settlement ends in their loss again. The new FLEIJA warhead developed by Britannia obliterates the settlement and kills over a million people. The Black Knights have pronounced their CEO, Zero, dead. Apparently, he suffered wounds during the battle in the Tokyo Settlement and while he received treatment inside his flagship, Ikaruga, he took his last breath early this morning.
Zero is dead. Somehow the news doesn't sink in. It doesn't seem possible? Zero? The man who created miracles?
Zero, the man who died despite his genius and brilliance. And of course, this news another genius of equal brilliance, winding down a similar path.
xxxx
Emperor Charles zi Britannia is pronounced dead, and in a live ceremony, a young man named Lelouch vi Britannia comes, sits on the empty throne, and pronounces himself the new Emperor.
Following Lelouch's ascension to the throne, the Area and Numbers system is abolished and full citizenship is granted to all former Numbers. The Black Knights are confused as to what to do now that their enemy is suddenly doing good things.
The air is always tense around the core members of the Black Knights when they talk about the new Emperor. She has the sneaking suspicion she's been kept in the dark, and when she confronts Xing-ke about it, he caves in fairly easily, confiding in her the big secret.
The 99th Emperor, Lelouch vi Britannia, is really Zero. Then, if that isn't shocking enough, he possesses some sort of power called Geass that allowed him bend people's minds and will. They say that that power was the source of all his miracles. She just listens with her forehead creased, trying to suspend her disbelief. But this is Xing-ke, and she knows him, and he wouldn't even suggest something so utterly ridiculous unless it were actually true.
Emperor Lelouch announces his intention to join the UFN and everyone can see it. By Britannia joining the UFN, its large population would give it majority vote in the UFN, effectively giving Lelouch control of the organization. And so he reveals his true nature; he isn't looking for trust. He's aiming for dictatorship.
The UFN uselessly tries to get him to limit his votes. In response, the Lancelot bursts through the ceiling and he takes the world leaders hostage. Including the Tianzi.
They decide to back Prince Schneizel and the Knights of Round against Lelouch. One final, decisive battle.
She sees Xing-ke's determined expression (the Empress is in danger, the Empress must be saved) and it gives her a little courage.
xxxx
The decisive battle in Area 11 ends in their loss.
The Emperor of Britannia, Lelouch, having taken hold of the fortress Damocles and the FLEIJA warheads, seizes control of the world. For the next two months, the world suffers under his dictator rule.
Somehow, she escapes, but Xingke and the Empress, along with the core members of the Black Knights, are captured and slated for public execution.
Xianglin remembers how once, she witnessed and Xing-ke struggled between two paths. But there's no mistaking which one she has to take.
She prepares a ticket to Area 11.
A/N: Part 2 is over! I hoped you enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it, and as always, all reviews and feedback are appreciated and in fact make my day. So please, don't hesitate to let me know how you feel.
- gardeniia