A Way Of Thinking.

AN: So, here's another small chapter to clarify some things before really entering the plot.

By the way, since Britannia is destroyed in the other timeline, then the Britannian calendar will not be used there. If we consider that Jesus was born in 55 a.t.b, then the story will take place in 1987 AD.

It's weird.

But then again if the EU and Britannia had been competing each other for more than one century with the help of Sakuradite and Geass then it would probably make sense that Code Geass takes place in 1962 AD.


In the original timeline

December 5th 2043 a.t.b

Forty-four. Today was the 44th birthday of the Demon Emperor, Lelouch vi Britannia.

The World had changed a lot in 44 years.

But not the people's way of thinking.

The World Lelouch, the true Zero, had created didn't seem to resist to the worst of human nature.

The greed, the lack of morals and compassion of the White Knights.

The ignorance of the youth.

The weakness of the new Zero.

The very fact that 'unjust people' had to be neutralized by violence for the Justice to be preserved.

It was bound to happen.

The true Zero was dead, but Infinity was alive.

"Only a Divine Intervention can settle a true World Peace…"


Tokyo, capital of the United States of Japan, 5:30 AM

Kallen Kozuki woke up with the sound of her phone ringtone.

She was now 43 years old, or 42, depending of the perspective. Kallen looked a lot like her mother at this age, except for the hair, obviously. And she had the face of someone who faced a lot of hardships, which was due to the fact that she was a police officer for 20 years. She was supposed to enter the Police force in 2021 but her pregnancy had delayed it. Her first child she had with Gino was named Sonia, and she was now living in Los Angeles. Her 21 years old daughter wanted to join the Black Knights, not like Kallen had anything against it, quite the opposite in fact. Kallen also had a son with Gino, Naoto, who was 15 years old and lived with his mother in Tokyo. However, Kallen and Gino had decided to divorce when Naoto was 2 years old. It had been difficult to keep on having a relationship when the husband was constantly in Los Angeles and the wife was working in Tokyo. When Nunnally had lost her memories, or rather when she had been swapped with another Nunnally from another universe -which made even less sense, but then again Kallen had suffered the same thing- Gino had decided to stay with the Empress in order to protect her. He had done the same with Kallen when it had happened to her and that was how they decided to become a couple. But now, Kallen was living alone with her son Naoto, in an apartment in Tokyo, with this phone that kept on ringing…

"Yes!?" She snapped to her interlocutor.

"Inspector Kozuki?" The man asked. It was Tanaka, one of Kallen's subordinates.

"What happened?" She mumbled in Japanese.

"A couple of drunken students have profaned the Shinjuku memorial as a celebration to the Demon's birthday." Tanaka said.

Kallen chuckled bitterly. Apparently, she was married to Lelouch in another universe. That was stupid, unreal and incredibly odd, but it was the truth.

"And why are you awaking me for this?" Kallen asked coldly. "Let them in custody for a couple of hours."

"Well…" Tanaka began awkwardly. "They are the sons of Britannian diplomats, and their lawyers are…"

Kallen sighed. She hated these kinds of Britannian brats who thought that they were above the law.

"Since my ex-husband is a collaborator to the Empress you figured that it was a good idea to call me." Kallen guessed, interrupting him. "I'm coming. We won't let these brats do as they please in our country."


Los Angeles, capital of the Britannian Empire

Nunnally vi Britannia was now 38 years old, even if the people of this World had celebrated her 40th birthday 6 weeks before. This difference of age was due to the fact that the 100th Britannian Empress somehow belonged to a parallel World where events had happened differently. Her dear brother, Lelouch vi Britannia and 99th Britannian Emperor in this World, had been sent back in time 25 years before, after he had been slain by Zero. Lelouch was known as the Demon Emperor; he had been guilty of many atrocities and, sadly, most of them were true. 22 years before; Lelouch had explained Nunnally everything, or rather the most important parts. He had told Nunnally that one day, he had obtained a certain power that had the ability to control people and, by the way of things, he had been obliged to use it if he wanted to survive and realize his dreams. Nunnally had hated him for a while after hearing the truth, but after a moment -one year approximately- she had been given the strength to forgive him. She had learned also about the existence of a parallel World where she was an Empress after Lelouch, and that he had decided to become the incarnation of evil in order to create a peaceful World after his death. That's when Nunnally had realized that her wish of a gentler World had caused a lot of damage to Lelouch's soul. When she told him that, Lelouch had only smiled and had said:

'You weren't responsible at all; it was only the World and my desire to change it that led me to this path.'

Then, Nunnally had understood that she would one day become this Empress, so Lelouch had given her precious advices. One of them being that she could use Schneizel to give her advices since he was under Lelouch's power.

But Lelouch hadn't predicted that Schneizel was dead.

And now, Nunnally was confronted to one of the most important crisis of her reign.

She was presiding another extraordinary session with her government.

"Egypt and Libya have left the United Federation of Nations." It was Claudio Darlton who spoke. He was the Prime Minister of Britannia. "They've decided to join the Arabian League, who once was the Middle Eastern Federation."

Claudio was the adoptive son of Andreas Darlton, a General under Cornelia's rule who had died during the Black Rebellion. It was odd that, in both universes, Claudio had been part of the Black Knights. In this timeline, he had been part of a resistance group led by Cornelia during Lelouch's reign and became a major political figure in Britannia. The center-wing Democrat Party had won the parliamentary elections two years before thanks to a coalition with the left-wing and Claudio became the people's representative in Britannia's governance.

"Besides, Russia, Ukraine and Germany have created an alliance last month." William de Britannia added. The 33 years old Prince was Nunnally's half-brother and one of her diplomatic counselors. "It is highly probable that other European countries will leave the UFN and will reform the European Union."

Nunnally liked William, but he had the tendencies to always say the words that managed to hurt her one way or another.

"If the EU is reformed, then the UFN will stop federating the World." William added.

The Empress sighed. "The United Federation of Nations has been federating the whole World for 22 years, ensuring friendship between the countries, but now it seems that we are going back to the era of superpowers dividing the planet." She declared sternly.

Then, Gino Weinberg spoke. "We must reestablish the trust between the people and the UFN…"

Gino was Nunnally's most trusted counselor: when she had been sent to this World, Gino had understood instantly what was happening and protected her from the potential political enemies who could profit of her weakness. Unfortunately, Gino staying at Nunnally's side hadn't been helping his relationship with Kallen, who wanted to work in Tokyo as a policewoman. Soon after their second child, Naoto had been born they had decided to split up.

"But first…" Gino continued. "We have to solve the crisis in South America."

Oh yes, South America. At first, Zero had decided to turn the former Britannian colonies in South America into Autonomous Republics under the banner of Britannia. It had been a good compromise, because Britannia was too populated to enter the UFN. But the legal system was weaker in the south, especially with the financial crimes. Because of that, a group of people had started to gain power without being bothered by the law enforcement. And when they started to realize that, it was too late. The head of the biggest corporations in the south had the best lawyers and seemed to make profit without having to use obvious illegal means.

"There is also the matter of the BNF." Claudio added. "This party is getting more and more popular."

The BNF was an acronym for Britannian National Front: Its founder, Duke Rudolf Ivanov, was only 22 years old when he created this party. At first, it was nothing but an association that wanted to reduce the taxations imposed to the wealthy Britannian nobles. But as this party gained in popularity, its goal had changed: some people, supporters or detractors of the BNF, were declaring that this party's goal was to restore the old Britannian regime. Nunnally didn't like Ivanov: he was the leader of the BNF but was staying in Bogota as a deputy instead of doing politics in the Mainland. To him, allowing the Black Knights to settle military bases in Britannia was similar to a high treason towards the Britannian Nation. The fact that Britannia didn't have an army anymore sounded like a humiliation to him; at least it was what he declared in his speeches. In 2018, after Lelouch's sacrifice, everyone wanted Britannia to join the UFN and the other Nunnally had been blessed by her subjects in making this choice.

But now, it was different…

"In Colombia, the BNF has the biggest number of representative at the Parliament." Claudio said. "One quarter of the seats is under Ivanov's banner."

Was it because Suzaku and Nunnally were less competent than Lelouch?

"If not more." Gino added sternly. "The BNF is openly allied with Brazil and South Africa, so it's highly probable that the right-wing of Colombia is under his pocket."

Was it because Nunnally was too kind?

"And in the mainland…" Claudio continued. "30 percent of the people are favorable to this party."

No, Nunnally refused to think like this.

The Prime Minister lowered his eyes. "It's approaching the 50 percent among the people born between 2018 and 2025."

Perhaps the mentalities had changed only because of the march of time.

"Ivanov will surely try to make the independence of Colombia pass." William said suddenly, as if what Claudio had just said was bothering him.

Nunnally nodded. "I am sure of it. I have the conviction that Henderson and Ivanov are working together to destabilize Britannia."

In the constitutional regime of Britannia, the executive power was equally divided between the Prime Minister, elected by the people, and the Emperor or rather the Empress. Nunnally had been working with the governments, listening to their propositions and worked together in making the best decisions for Britannia. Such a system worked because Britannia didn't have any army and the decisions of the Empress couldn't be imposed. With Claudio Darlton's government, there were very little divergence of opinions, however, the Brazilian Regime, favorable of a strong Empire and Ivanov's supporters constantly accused Zero of imposing its decisions in the UFN state members by dismantling their armies.

They weren't only against the UFN's policies; they were also against the very constitution of Britannia, and against democracy itself.

William narrowed his eyes. "And if he succeeds, what will your directives be?"

"If the people of Colombia decide to become independent from the crown, then I won't interfere to their decision by any means." The 100th Empress declared. "However, I am also skeptical to the idea of letting Rudolf Ivanov rule this country."

There was a moment of silence where the Ministers of Britannia digested their Empress' declaration.

"Exactly!" Gino exclaimed. "We can't let Ivanov do as he pleases."

The Minister of Internal Affairs faked a cough so the attention would be turned to him.

"Do you have anything to say, Lord Bornstein?" Nunnally asked sternly. Bornstein was an old aristocrat who always seemed to be at the wrong place in this centrist government.

"But if Colombia falls into the hands of the BNF." Bornstein spoke with a calm tone. "Your subjects will start to question your ruling methods. Perhaps it would be time to either make concessions or even to abdicate."

The word was dropped. Abdicating. These aristocrats, even the most liberal ones, surely wanted a ruler who could give them more privileges than they already had.

Nunnally was sure now; it was the aristocracy's greed that created this ideological clash between the Britannians.

"But who will be suited to take the succession?" Gino Weinberg asked aloud, eyeing Bornstein suspiciously. The very thing he wanted was to draw out those in favor of Nunnally's abdication. He was loyal to Empress Nunnally, contrary to the Ministers who were supposed to obey the 'people's will'. In fact, they were only loyal to their own interests, but no one would ever admit that publicly. At least Claudio was different; he had some honor like Gino who both had been formed as Knights by their parents.

"Her Highness Cornelia is suited for the throne." Claudio proposed.

Nunnally shook her head. "My sister has retired from the affairs 25 years ago. She is on her retirement home and has renounced to the throne. Cornelia won't come back."

"What about her son, Prince Edward?" The Minister of Economics proposed.

"His Highness Edward li Britannia is only 16 years old." Claudio Darlton stated. "If Her Majesty cannot solve this crisis, it is hardly probable that he would be seen as a symbol of unity."

There were very few remaining pretenders to the throne. Guilford and Cornelia had a son named Edward, who became the 3rd in line for the throne. He was disciplined and loyal, like his father Guilford, but he lacked experience like his mother had to be an efficient ruler. Nunnally didn't have any children at 40, so the vi Britannia line would probably stop ruling the Empire. The most suited candidate was …

William de Britannia stared at his half-sister with a comforting look. "I don't want you to abdicate." He said calmly. "But…"

This 'but' was saying so much more…

"If such a tragedy happens…" William continued. "I will take my responsibilities."

Nunnally looked at him. It wasn't much surprising that William wanted to take the throne, but…

He was Ivanov's distant cousin. Perhaps…

'When you'll be there, on the throne of Britannia … Do not trust anyone.'

'No!' She thought with determination. 'It was the mistrust of other people that led my brother to wage war. And if I think like this, if I start to stop giving any credit to trust, then I'll make the same mistakes as Lelouch.'

William was only a child when Lelouch was on the throne; he couldn't possibly side with them.

Perhaps William would make a couple of concessions if he ascended to the throne, but that would be all.

"I don't doubt it, William." She replied calmly.

Then Nunnally vi Britannia stood up.

Science had given her new knees and an artificial neural system on the legs. She was the symbol of the weak becoming strong by something else than struggle.

"I will not let people who hold no respect for democracy lead my actions." Nunnally declared. "I will organize a meeting with the Prime Minister of Japan, Kaguya Sumeragi and Empress Tianzi, Jiang Lihua, to discuss about the future of the United Federation of Nations. Our country mustn't leave this alliance by any means."

'I wonder if you are fine, big brother.' Nunnally thought after making her speech to the Britannian Ministers. 'And you too, Kallen. I wonder how many nieces and nephews I have…'

She wasn't holding it against Lelouch to have sent her there; in fact it was what she had wished in the first place, to work in order to make this World a better place. Even if there was complications or if Lelouch was far away, Nunnally kept on moving forward.


AN: So, I'm currently working right now so the chapters might take longer to arrive, but in the meantime I have more time to think at the plot.

Next time Bianca will enter the game, I promise ;)

By the way, is Lelouch's daughter supposed to be a Mary Sue ? Because she could become one if I don't pay attention lol

Until next time :D