Chapter III: Discovery, The Lion Sets Its Sights
School was a bustle today, not that it was filled with classes or anything, but it happens that today is the Annual Ashford Academy School Festival. Students were busy with the preparations for the event. Banners and signs need to be erected, decorations have to be put, and costumes to wear, it literally was highway of activity, and of course the student council would get the bulk of the workload.
That is why scattered throughout the academy are various members of the council, overseeing preparations for the event. And presently on the rooftop, Nunnally was busy with on average, ten phone calls per minute, juggling her timetable for the event. Taking a look at her watch, she became more anxious. It was nearly eleven o'clock, the festival was about to begin. She needed to hurry.
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The third prince sat behind the mahogany desk at his office, flipping through pages of documents, apparently searching for something to occupy himself with. Because oddly enough, there wasn't any work to be done today, no papers to sign, no meetings to attend, not a single one needed his attention.
Noticing an envelope sitting squarely on the table, he picked it up and produced a small letter opener and in a swift move, he delicately cut the letter open. Taking out a small paper, he read it.
"Annual Ashford Academy Festival?" he wondered if his subordinates lettered him this leaflet.
Recalling his conversation the other day, he considered taking a break from work this day, since there wasn't even any work, so it's decided.
"Then Ashford Academy it is"
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Finally, she reached the control room, the 'command centre' and observation post for the entire length of the festival. And to whom the president gave Nunnally the honor of being the lucky person to sit in for nearly a day, overlooking and managing events throughout the school festival. The other council members were not efficient to do this kind of work, in the end it all came down to her.
Taking a seat at the centre of the room, she got a great view of the school. It was not a surprise since the control room was located on a causeway between the school field and the main academy building, thus providing an ideal view for overseeing purposes. Picking up a headset, she fixed it on and typed in several keys on the keyboard to bring the monitors to life. For some reason, she could not help but feel like being a telephone operator. Shaking that out of her thoughts, she resumed her work at hand. It was five minutes till it begins.
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"Hurry, hurry, the festival's about to begin" a blonde beauty ushered a boy forward in a wheelchair.
"I know that" the boy said "But what I don't understand is why I must be the one to make the announcement, you're the president, you should be the one doing it" he placed a finger at the blonde girl's direction, pointing out his statement.
"Now, now Lelouch, don't be such a spoil sport" the girl waved her index finger in front of the boy "It's not a big deal, and as you've mentioned earlier, I'm the president, that means I have absolute authority here and I order you to follow what I say."
"But-,"
"No buts'" the girl finished, effectively leaving no room for arguments.
"Give up Lelouch, when its Milly, whatever she says is law. Just go on and do it" another blonde haired boy stated as a matter of fact.
"That's easy for you to say Alfred, mind if you take my place?"
"I'll pass"
"Even though I could not see you Alfred, I know you're grinning to the core at this."
"Oh, I'm flabbergasted" Alfred made to clench his heart in mock pain "How can you think I would do something like that, when my friend is in a predicament?"
"That's enough time for talking" Milly interjected "Now, move along both of you, we have a festival to start!"
Picking up the microphone, she started the PA system and spoke in an even more cheerful tone "Good morning fellow students of the academy, this is your president speaking. I'll be happy to announce that the School Festival is about to begin, and for this occasion, I've given our ever so wonderful first vice-president, Lelouch Lamperouge, the honors of starting the ceremony."
"Oh Lelouch-," she again called in a notch to happy voice, holding out the microphone in her right hand.
Alfred patted the back of his friend, urging him to move. All the while, trying his best to suppress his overflowing amusement and refraining from grinning broadly like his sister Milly. Who was grinning like the Cheshire Cat.
Sighing, he submissively took it. Guess there was no way out after all.
Milly checked her wristwatch, counting down the seconds.
"3"
Swallowing, he tried to calm himself.
"2"
Bringing his lips closer to the microphone, he opened his mouth.
"1"
And a beautiful albeit silly sounding sound reverberated in the airwaves around campus.
"Meowww--,"
The academy erupted into a unanimous gasp of amusement and amazement at hearing their first vice-president's meowing voice. It was not weird sounding, nor was it funny, only it didn't sounded soft as a cat's did, that's all, but looking at the source of the voice, no one would have expected a soft voice emanating from it anyway.
Realizing their main purpose, the festival, all students immediately began cheering and launched a tirade of celebrations. Fireworks blasted off into the air, firecrackers exploded, glitters fly as joy and festivities ensued en masse. Marking the start of the joyous and long awaited event.
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In a grand limousine cruising along the streets of the upper Tokyo Settlement, Prince Clovis was headed for the Ashford Academy. He could already see it in the distance, then abruptably a strange meowing sound was heard, coming from where other than the Academy. He could hear his driver out front say "What a slack school". In his mind, he was starting to have doubts about his intention to visit it in the first place. A prince visiting a seemingly slack school was not a good publicity to the public.
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Sitting in the control centre, Nunnally slumped deeper into her chair. So far everything was going fine. All the events were going as smooth as butter and she constantly changes the camera view and the data display on the monitor from one to another. Inside this place she would oversee all progress, frequently receiving calls and never ending inquiries and problems that needed her attention.
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Stepping out of his carriage, Clovis ran a hair through his rich blonde hair. He took a view of the Academy's front gate. In order to not cause any disorder by his presence, he now wore normal clothing that could hopefully blind everyone of his identity. Starting towards the entrance, three, similarly dressed bodyguards were on tail. Normally, if he should ever have the need to take a rest and enjoy, he would have not allowed any bodyguards with him to ensure his privacy. But, considering the circumstances and the relentless babbling of his generals and advisors, he made an exception today.
"Welcome to Ashford Academy!" the students at the front gate, who appear to be the welcoming committee, greeted.
"Please come in sir, the festival is an event not to be missed"
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Sighing, Nunnally relaxed into her chair. Hands lazily strolling around the controls, changing the screen displays. Letting out a yawn, she started to feel tired, but all that subsided when something familiar appeared on screen, which caused her to arch her brow in question. Zooming in on the topic of interest, she eyed it tentatively, until-
She gasped, it was her half brother Clovis! Why was he here? In campus? This was troubling news indeed, if either she or Lelouch were found out by Britannia, both would be sent back to the mainland. Back to their fiend of a father!
Rising in alert, she ran outside. Now, she has to find her brother, before either of them gets seen by Clovis. In her haste, she dialed Sayoko, hoping the that her maid is with Lelouch.
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Her cell phone rang, bringing it up to her ear, she answered it.
"Hello"
"Sayoko-san, I'm glad you're here. Are you with brother? Where are you now?" Nunnally spoke on the other line, light panting accompanied her voice.
"Yes, Lady Nunnally. He's with me right now. We are at the food stalls right now. Might I ask, why are you sounding so distressed?"
"Prince Clovis is here"
A gasp ensued, then the maid spoke "What? He's here? In the campus?"
"Yes. Listen, Sayoko, I need you make sure he does not encounter you or my brother, understand?"
"I understand" She closed her phone, placing her attention back on her charge.
"What is it Sayoko-san? Did Nunnally call?"
"Yes Master Lelouch. She informed me that Prince Clovis is on campus."
Despite the nature of the news, Lelouch preserved his calm, though a bit off stricken. "He's here, is he? Then we need to get as far away as we can."
"Yes" she started to push Lelouch away from the vicinity of the area as fast as she could.
Turning a corner, she continued down the road, passing through the huge crowd and stalls selling countless varieties of goods. Coming out of the food stall area, they walked in the general direction of the clubhouse, passing the academic buildings on the way. Rounding a corner, a person bumped into them.
"Oh, silly me. My apologies, kind sir" the oncoming person promptly apologized.
A gasp, then ocean blue eyes meet a figure it had thought never to be seen again. A person he had been so fond of in the past.
"Is there anything wrong sir?" Lelouch inquired to the person.
No response.
"Sir?" he asked again worrying he might have done something to wrong the person.
"Lelouch…. Is that you?" the person finally spoke out after staying soundless in shock.
He gasped, that voice, it was-
"Is it really you? After all these years you're alive?" the person said advancing on Lelouch with a shocked but happy excretion on his face
Lelouch just sat there, stunned. He mustered up his courage to ask the question in his mind.
"Is… that you? Brother Clovis?" he asked warily, fearful of the much dreaded confirmation.
The person flashed a radiant smile at him "Lelouch! It really is you" Clovis all but kneeled beside him and gave a hug.
"We thought you had been killed, Cornelia and Euphemia were devastated." Clovis continued
"To think I only came here today to enjoy myself in some brief respite, and here I am finding my little brother come back from the dead!" Clovis cried happily while holding onto his hands.
"Brother?" a diminutive voice said
"Nunnally!" Lelouch choked out
"What's going on brother…" she drawled in a daze, not believing her eyes. Fate had always been so cruel, for at this moment, this very second, at this very place, their half brother Clovis found them both to be completely alive and well.
"Nunnally? You're here? You're alive too?" Clovis said cutting yet another person off, looking hopeful.
A look of shock graced her features "Brother Clovis is that you?" she cautiously asked.
"Yes, I can't believe you're both alive!" the blonde exclaimed ecstatically, giving Nunnally a tight hug.
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Three people stood at the front of the room, who were Clovis, Lelouch and Nunnally. Clovis stepped forward to a huge monitor. It lit to life, and the silhouettes of an imposing stature of a man could be seen.
Both Lelouch and Nunnally weren't in the least bit pleased with the prospect of seeing their father, in fact this was the very situation that they wished to obviate from. But there was no helping it now, the moment Clovis saw them, that was the death stroke. Even if he told his brother of their refusal to return to Britannia, they would be seen as an act of treason, which leads to a grimmer fate than the preset. So, that is how they got into their current predicament.
"What is it Clovis? What do you have that is so important that requires my immediate attention?"
Kneeling down on one knee, he prostrated himself before his liege "Your Majesty, what I have discovered is of utmost importance. Seven years ago, a prince and princess of the Empire was sent to Area 11, at that time Japan. Then, the Second Pacific War erupted, and in the aftermath both the royals were never found."
"You are referring to Prince Lelouch and Princess Nunnally, correct? What of it?" Spoken with such indignation it causes anger to flow in both her and Lelouch's veins. Especially Nunnally.
"Your Majesty" rising from his kneeling position, Clovis lets the news take over his being, joy booming in his voice "It is with great relief that I announce the return of both the eleventh prince and princess."
Clovis motioned for them to come forward, and with great reluctance, they finally complied. Stepping in front of the screen, both Lelouch and Nunnally bowed before their father, Emperor Charles Zi Britannia.
This piece of news did not fail to please the Emperor, who had amusement spreaded across his features, as well as a faintly daft hint of surprise.
"A pleasant news indeed. You've done well Clovis." Taking his gaze away from the Third Prince, he turned to his now revived children and addressed them both "It is certainly a relief to see both of you alive and well. The empire deemed both of you to be lost from this plane forever."
"As you can see, Your Majesty. We are both alive and as well as we could be" Nunnally clarified.
"But I wonder? If both of you had indeed been alive for these past seven years, why not return to the empire earlier?"
It was the question that both Nunnally and Lelouch had most dreaded. Both remained silent, trying to find a reasonable reply to the query, until Lelouch answered out, "Forgive us Your Majesty. Our inability to return to the empire were due to many factors. The most dire some was the ever so persistent presence of Japanese militant resistance and insurgence groups, which is why we were unable to contact the empire, lest we be discovered and hunted down by these groups."
"A plausible answer. But can the verity of each word be guaranteed?" The emperor asked, amusement in his voice.
To this, they simply could not answer. The reason they just gave was nothing more than that of a fabrication of the truth. The real reason for not returning to the Empire, was this man! Neither of them wanted to meet their dastard of a father, and be used as tools again!
"No matter. What is important is that you are both alive" the Emperor seemingly pressed aside his earlier inquirement and continued on.
"I would expect both of you to return to the mainland by this week, am I clear?" The authority in his mandate clearly stated.
"Yes Your Majesty" they said in unison.
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For both Lelouch and Nunnally, they know. That if the lion that is Britannia ever sets its eyes upon them again, they will be trapped again in its powerfully infinite grasp. Two siblings living underneath a veil of secrecy. Two lives in isolation, two souls chained to each other. Now, they are forced out by fate, spotted by the lion. What will become of them once they return to its clutches, once they return to the motherland.
Authors Notes:
Looks like I've chosen the 'getting discovered by Britannia' scenario. Now that they are discovered, it will definitely get more interesting. As for the Geass, it will still be included, whats 'Code Geass' without either of them? But be warned, it will not turn out as expected.
Adressing the last review made by Rollo-kun, a blind person doesn't necessarily becomes unable to open his/her eyes. They can open them, but will see nothing, thus that is why they keep them closed.