Inspiration: This story was partially inspired by another story. In this case it's A Blast From the Past by Shadow of Midnight. Check it out if you want to see just how the hell this got up off the ground.

This chapter was also Beta-read by Shadow of Midnight.

Phase 2
Revelations

Jeremiah was frustrated, with several people, and took it out on the those being brought into the ballroom by his soldiers. He specifically targeted his glare at Ruben and Milly Ashford as they were two of the people his frustration was really aimed at. Not the other teens. "It's fortunate for you that their highness's asked me to not harm your family." The margrave was pleased to see the blonde tense. Something Villetta seemed to share with him judging by her own smirk. "At the same time their note mentioned it was their decision to remain in hiding all this time. So, as much as I hate it, I can only commend you for it. After all turning them in would have easily allowed you to reclaim your noble titles."

"I've known them since before Lady Marianne was killed, Viceroy. They are dear friends of mine and selling them out wasn't worth losing that." Jeremiah was even more pleased by Milly's response. It showed she had more honor than many people he knew. Choosing friendship, and perhaps love, over power. The leader of the Purist Faction let that fact show with a small, though approving, smile. "That's not to say my parents felt the same way my grandfather and I did. Took some . . . convincing for them unfortunately."

"What I still can't believe is that they were here, under Prince Clovis's very nose, all these years." The margrave had a real look of puzzlement as he spoke.

Even his subordinate, Villetta, shared those thoughts, "What I don't quite understand how he could have never discovered them. If you recognized them so easily then he should have. Did his highness even look?"

Their attention was brought to the orangette as she interrupted. "Just hold on a moment! What on earth is going on? Where is Lulu and Nunna?!"

No one answered Shirley for several moments and, for a time, it looked like no one would. Then Milly spoke, "As I'm sure you have figured out by now their real surname isn't Lamperouge. They are, in fact, Lelouch and Nunnally vi Britannia. As for where they are? They ran." The blonde teen stopped there so that could sink in.

"W-what," Shirley was staring at Milly in shock. Clearly unsure if she heard right as Rivalz and Nina shared her reaction.

"Lelouch was always paranoid about being discovered and so, years ago, he plotted ways to escape such a situation. Neither of them wanted to return to Pendragon. Actually Lelouch would likely sooner kill Nunnally and then commit suicide before returning if possible."

That caught even Jeremiah's attention as he looked at her with alarm mirrored by her friends. "His letter made it clear that he hated Britannia, but to go so far to avoid going home? Why would his highness do such a thing Miss Ashford?"

"Because seven years ago his father tried to take Nunnally away from him." Her gaze sharpened, taking the turquoise-haired man aback, and she continued. "Lelouch has a very strong mind, and I don't just mean intelligent, but even he needed to talk every now and then. He couldn't bear burdening Nunnally with some of them and so I became his confidante. I know him very well and I can safely say that without his sister he feels like his life has no purpose."

Jeremiah was certain he wouldn't like the answer, but he knew he needed to ask. If what she said was true then Milly Ashford was the key to helping him make his decision on his moral dilemma. On if he should betray his country for the sake of following what remains of the vi Britannia line. "What did his Majesty try to do to her?"

"As I'm sure you know Nunnally was crippled and blinded in the attack that killed Empress Marianne. I'm also certain you know the circumstances behind their exile."

"In truth . . . I only know rumors."

Milly nodded as she understood it was likely kept hush hush outside of the imperial courts. "Lelouch gained an audience with the emperor and tried to demand he continue his search for the murderer of their mother." She clinched her fist in anger as she thought about what happened next. "Their father didn't care and even called Nunnally weak due to her recent disabilities. Things she couldn't help."

"There is no way the emperor couldn't be that cruel . . . right?" Deep down Rivalz knew his crush wasn't lying, but he didn't want to believe anyone could do that to their own children.

"You're right Rivalz. He isn't that cruel. Charles zi Britannia is even worse."

Those around her stared in shock that she had even dared utter those words. Even Ruben, equally surprised by his granddaughter, was among them looking at her. "You dare insult his Majesty?!" It was Villetta who managed to speak first.

"Not exactly, Knight. I was young, but I still remember enough of the imperial courts and what I was taught. It's simple fact that the emperor cares about very little in the world."

Her grandfather sighed and nodded before, for the first time, speaking. "She is right. We were close to Empress Marianne and I met with the emperor personally time to time. He isn't the most caring man and he doesn't hide that. The only thing I never understood was his reaction to Marianne's death."

Jeremiah knew that was something he needed to press, "What do you mean?"

"I mean that, though Charles cared for little, he did care for her. I saw it whenever the emperor thought no one was looking. I suspect there was a reason behind why he did what he did, but we'll likely never know."

Milly nodded, "Despite that he acted as though he wasn't affected. Thanks to that, and calling his sister weak, Lelouch lost his temper. He abdicated his right to the throne and in turn the emperor decided to send him to Japan as a political hostage."

"Him? What about Nunnally, pres?" Shirley managed to ask through her shock.

"I didn't know this until Lelouch told me. As I said earlier, I became his confidante much like he became mine. The emperor saw no use for her and, probably with the intention of teaching Lelouch a lesson, had every intention of marrying her off." She glanced towards her friends as they paled, "Lelouch always adored Nunnally, even before she was crippled, and that connection has only grown stronger over the years. Something you have seen being apart of the Student Council."

The blonde teen scowled as she thought about all Lelouch had told her, "It would have been a number of years before it happened though as it was to be with a wealthy nobleman's six-year old son. As you can imagine Lelouch wouldn't stand for that and ordered several guards from the Aries Villa to retrieve her from the hospital."

Jeremiah's eyes widened as he remembered that, "I knew two of the people involved in that! It was terrible what happened to them afterwards, but I never argued because we were told they were traitors."

"In a way they were, but only because they succeeded. Some died in the attempt while a few more were captured and executed." Milly had a grim look as she continued, "The emperor didn't know that it was Lelouch who was behind it until they were already in Japan. He had Dorothea Ernst, the Knight of Twelve at the time, fruitlessly searching for her when Lelouch sent him a taunting message."

Everyone in the room could already tell that doing that had surely been a poor choice. Though Villetta couldn't help but be impressed. She whistled in amazement, "The prince had some serious balls even when he was ten."

Milly couldn't help it as she began laughing. An example her friends, grandfather, and even Jeremiah followed. "Yes. Yes he did. He can be very ballsy and somehow come out on top in even the worst situation." She was smiling despite what they were talking about, "Which is what happened when his father retaliated by sending a Spec-Ops team after Nunnally. With orders to kill Lelouch."

Her humor remained though it quickly drained out of everyone else as her words registered. Though the siblings trust Ruben they had never told him this and he was just as disturbed as the others. Despite his experience in the Imperial courts he had never heard of the emperor himself targeting one of his children. "His Majesty did w-what?" Jeremiah croaked out in horror.

"The emperor tried to kill Lulu?! Then I would have never . . . met him." Shirley was shaking as the information hit her hard. Crying for Lelouch and Nunnally and for what they had to endure.

A knowing smirk remained on the blue-eyed teen's face because she knew the rest, "Like I said. Lelouch came out on top anyway. He knew his father might try something like that, though he had hoped not, and had a battalion of Japanese soldiers at the ready. His worst fears were realized when they were attacked, but with minimal casualties, thanks to the element of surprise, the Spec-Ops team were killed." Her smirk dropped as she remembered what Lelouch told her happened next.

"As you can imagine it didn't end there unfortunately. That event, believe it or not, was the unofficial trigger for the Second Pacific War. The emperor was angry that Lelouch had been two steps ahead of him. Having temporarily moved to a military base near Tokyo to maximize the chances of the entire team getting killed."

"So his father began preparing for war." The orange-eyed man looked thoroughly disgusted, "I always wondered why the military was already geared up before tensions were raised. I never thought our emperor was so petty and cruel. I also remember that Dorothea was commanding the troops during the war."

No arguments were raised, not even by Villetta, as a similar thought had occurred to everyone. After hearing all this the one who was shaken up the most was Nina. Her absolute faith in what the Britannian media, and thus the empire as whole, told her made this hard to believe. Yet Milly was her friend and, despite her usual silly attitude, the student council president could be serious when she had to be. The shy scientist knew that this was one of those times and her friend wasn't one to lie. How could she trust such an empire to not abuse any of her future inventions?

Kallen and Ohgi were waiting in a staff room within the ruins of a school near Ikebukuro. She had a look of consternation on her face as she tried to understand what just happened. "For some reason the military just stormed Ashford Academy. I don't know why yet."

Ohgi's eyes widened suitably in shock. Naoto's little sister had simply called him and said there was an emergency. "Were they after you?" He let out a sigh of relief when she shook her head in disagreement.

"I doubt it. I haven't been there for awhile and there is no way my cover has been blown. If it was they would just go to my house. Not the school." The logic in her words helped him calm down. "I'm not going back after all it seems. I'll let things cool down for a few days first. It's unlikely they would make a connection to my absences, but you never know."

"Ohgi! Kallen!" Both terrorists jumped slightly in surprise before looking towards whoever called out. Kallen blinked as Yoshida came running up, out of breath, and looking concerned. "We have a . . . situation. I don't know if I would call it a problem, but it's weird."

They narrowed their eyes in both curiosity and curiosity. With everything that happened at Shinjuku they were on high alert though, "Tell us on the way." As they began following their friend Ohgi raised an eyebrow and spoke again. "Weird how?"

"You see . . ." Yoshida paused as if trying to put it to words, "One of our squads spotted a black car come out of some ruins near the old Metropolitan Government building. We've got the occupanted detained though after their ride hit a pothole and broke down."

The school teacher-turned rebel frowned, "That does sound strange, but why do I get the feeling that isn't the whole story?"

"The occupants were a Japanese maid along with two Britannian's. A boy and a girl, but the thing is," The Japanese man seemed to hesitate here, but continued after an uncomfortable pause, "The girl is blind and crippled." The fact that Yoshida, judging by his returning awkwardness, still hadn't said everything told Kallen everything she needed to know. This was going to be a really, REALLY strange day.

"The maid well . . . she almost castrated Tamaki with a kunai when he threatened the students. After that, when he tried to threaten her, she disarmed him faster than he could see it."

Kallen and Ohgi just stop and stare at him in disbelief, "Are you saying the maid is a fucking ninja?" The normally fiery red-head didn't think those actually existed anymore and she was half-Japanese!

"Yes. It was actually on the order of the boy that she did nothing more. She seems to have only the highest respect for him oddly enough. Honestly none of us wanted to mess with someone like that and were going to let them go. The only reason we didn't was because the boy asked to see YOU." Yoshida glanced at Kaname which stunned him.

"So the boy somehow knew Ohgi's name? How?!" Then something he said earlier finally hit her, "Wait. You called them students."

The terrorist nodded, "I did. They are wearing Ashford Academy uniforms."

Kallen froze and stared with wide eyes, "Then why am I coming with you?! It will blow my cover!"

"About that . . ."

"Don't tell me he asked for her by name too." Let it never be said that Ohgi doesn't try to be funny. Unfortunately this particular attempt at dry humor didn't pan out in the way he planned.

Yoshida sighed, "No. He didn't." She let out of sigh of relief before noticing the sentiment wasn't shared. "He did ask for us to bring, and I quote, ' the fiery red-head'." Stunned they walked the short distance left in silence. Kallen felt nervous in a way she hadn't before. Past all the questions something told her that this would be a moment she would remember for the rest of her life.

Lelouch could hear them three sets of footsteps coming closer and he sat up straighter. Inoue only confirmed his suspicions when she called out to them! "Good to see you three!" He patiently waited, with Nunnally by his side, for them to get closer.

Kallen warily watched the boy with raven hair as Ohgi went to talk with the others. Against her better judgement she stepped closer and was going to say something, anything really, to him. The lilt of a voice that could only belong to this boy stopped her. "I hadn't expected to meet all of you like this. In fact I had every intention to wear a mask, but circumstances change."

"Why would you be planning to meet us at all?" The teen had their attention now as Ohgi spoke with narrowed eyes. Silence fell over the group when the young girl spoke.

"Lelouch." The crippled girl reached out and squeezed his hand, "This is the point of no return. If you have any doubts, any at all, then now is the time. I will support you in whatever you decide."

"I know Nunnally." He turned his head and for the first time Kallen was able to see his face. Smiling, "You are well aware that this was a long time coming. I made a vow and I will see it through. The emperor will pay, our mother will be avenged, and Britannia will crumble."

None of the terrorists knew how to respond to that proclamation as the boy, Lelouch, squeezed Nunnally's hand lightly before standing. He turned to face them with a much more serious expression. Something about his voice seemed familiar, but the place she connected it to made her unsure. Marching up to him, "So tell me. Were you the voice on the radio in Shinjuku?" The look of legitimate surprise on his face told Kallen what she wanted to know.

"I'm impressed, Q-1." Lelouch theatrically bowed, "I am Lelouch Lamprouge and I was indeed the one who lead you to victory in Shinjuku just yesterday."

"You're a stinkin' Britannian! Why would you help us?!" Tamaki jeered with a scowl, "I bet you were just trying to save your own life!"

Sharp violet met with brown in a cold glare, "Perhaps I was trying to save my own life, but I do have more reasons than that." The abrasive man might have said something more had Sayoko not send him a glance of her own as she brandished her kunai. After a very noticeable gulp he went silent.

Kallen whistled, "We need to keep you around. I mean you managed shut Tamaki up."

"I'm still here you know!" Much to his chagrin they continued to ignore him.

Lelouch smirked, "Is he always like this?"

"You have no idea," Ohgi sighed.

"OI!" His anger was steadily rising as they all started laughing at him. Even the crippled girl was giggling. "Screw you guys!"

Lelouch only lightly chuckled, but waited patiently for the others to quiet down. He was fortunate in that it didn't really take very long. "Now as I said. I had more reasons to help other than saving my life. Such as the ones you heard while I was talking to my sister. Though I am aware that to all of you the idea of Britannia itself crumbling sounds impossible. That however is my desire. The obliteration of the Empire."

They were all stunned by the conviction he held. "There's no way that's possible! Why would you get in contact with us for this anyway? Why not the EU or the Chinese Federation? Or even the JLF!?" Inoue didn't understand why this boy was suggesting all these things. Even if he was telling the truth she was well aware that the group was small time.

The raven-locked prince could see the others agreeing with her and sighed audibly. "You are correct. For such a task those places could allow for more moving room. I didn't want to admit this, but I had no intentions of starting my rebellion now until I got caught up in Shinjuku. I actually planned on graduating Ashford and then begin amassing the funds and equipment needed for it for over the next decade or two."

"Wait! Are you two the reason why the academy was raided by the military?" Kallen had only just now made the likely connection as her eyes widened. The pilot's suspicions were confirmed when all three of the detainee's reacted to her question. At the same time this caused Lelouch to look at her more closely. Noticing this she felt weirdly uncomfortable as he did so.

"I see. I thought I recognized you in that truck on the way to Shinjuku. At the time I couldn't place you, but that is because you aren't at school often Ms. Stadtfelt."

Her eyes widened and she growled at him, "The truck?!"

Lelouch chuckled, "Yes. The truck you and your friend crashed yesterday. It is lucky for you that you did because I happened to be heading back to school from gambling on a chess match."

"You are going to stop those aren't you," Nunnally looked at him concerned.

He sighed and nodded, "I will Nunnally. Unless we get desperate need of money. After all you know there are very few people who can best me in chess. As for the truck . . . I happened to get caught inside it when I tried to help. That is how I came to find myself in Shinjuku and able to help."

"I believe we have gotten off topic, Master Lelouch." Sayoko looked towards him with a teasing smile.

Kallen, enraged that the Japanese maid was calling him Master, nearly saw red. A sentiment shared with her friends, "MASTER?!"

The ninja nodded, "I have been their caretaker since the Ashford family put them in my care after the invasion. The master and mistress treat me like family, but I am honor-bound to refer to them as such. I could serve no one greater than them." Her words stopped Kallen short of going over there and beating Lelouch to a pulp. Instead she, and the others, were staring in shock.

"Now back to the military situation. It is as you guessed Kallen. We were in hiding there for the last seven years as I bid my time, but somehow Jeremiah Gottwold found us. So we escaped through a secret tunnel. That is why we were coming out of this building. The tunnel lead out here."

"You mean . . . there is a shortcut to the school through here?!" The fiery red head started.

"Yeah, but it leads directly to our old rooms. It would be strange for you to come out of there." He could see how visibly deflated she looked, but didn't know what he could do about it. "I've now told all of you my goal and you have witnessed what I can do with my tactical skills. Would you be willing to let me lead you? To drive Britannia out of Japan and beyond?"

The raven-haired prince wasn't too surprised by the reactions his request got. Nonetheless he was relieved that it was only Tamaki who had exploded. Once again thanks to Sayoko he quickly calmed down before shuffling out of the building as he muttered to himself. Inoue and Yoshida were both clearly unsure, but seemed to recognize the opportunity he represented. Even if they didn't like it.

Kallen wasn't sure herself, but the more this boy talked the more she realized his voice sounded a lot like the one on the radio. A fact that made her almost confident in him despite her uncertainty. A voice cut through the silence, "Were you the one to stop the troops yesterday? We were only moments away from being killed in the warehouse we fled to."

Lelouch's eyes flashed, "Yes. That was something I hadn't gotten to. All of you don't really have much of a choice BUT to hand me leadership."

"Why?" Kallen's blue eyes studied him, but interestingly it wasn't him who answered. It was his admittedly adorable little sister.

The blind girl carefully turned her wheelchair around, "Because my big brother killed Prince Clovis after forcing him to stop the fighting at gunpoint." Of all the things that they expected to be said that was the furthest from them. The conversation screeched to a halt again for what had to be the third time.

"W-what?"

Nodding Lelouch answered, "Yes. I snuck aboard the G-1 and killed the viceroy. The truth of the matter is whoever replaces him is going to start seeking to destroy these kinds of groups. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if they chose the Witch of Britannia herself. The war against the MEF is nearly over from what I know and no one is better at smacking terrorist groups down."

Noting that none of them even tried to speak he continued, "Good to see you understand the gravity of the situation. I would like to say that I want to talk to Kallen and Ohgi alone for a minute. I suspect the rest of you, including Tamaki, will be told before long."

Almost absentmindedly Yoshida and Inoue just walked outside to join their angry friend. While at the same time he pulled the other two out of their reverie by mentioning them by name. "What did you want to talk to us about?" Ohgi was taking this seriously now with the reality now setting in.

"Why we were in hiding. I would happily keep it secret, but the news of who we are will spread quickly." Lelouch gently grasped his sister's hand and she squeezed to give him confidence. "Our mother was murdered by someone high up in nobility seven years ago, but it was blamed on terrorists. In the same attack Nunnally lost her sight and ability to walk and shortly after our father sent us to Japan as political tools."

Both Kallen and Ohgi felt like that story was familiar, but they couldn't place it at first. Knowing this Lelouch went silent so they could think through what his words meant. It was the ex-school teacher who finally said something. "That's impossible. That mirrors what happened to-"

"The vi Britannia siblings?" He chuckled lightly, "Exactly. We are Prince Lelouch and Princess Nunnally of the Britannian Imperial family. The siblings who were thrown away to die in the invasion, but refused to." Once more they were stunned as he began to smirk. "I ask you, the Shinjuku Resistance, to form the beginning of an army that will bring ruin to my father's. I do not desire the throne. All I desire is to create the gentle world my little sister deserves and wishes for. Will you join me as Zero? Will you become my Black Knights?"

Kallen and Ohgi were silent for an entire minute before Ohgi answered, "I'll consider it. I'll make my decision tomorrow."

"Same here." Kallen said beore she and Ohgi left.