It was the next morning. Lelouch didn't see Suzaku again yesterday, but he was sure that his friend was fine. He, Rolo, and Nunnally were told to meet in the throne room first thing in the morning.

Lelouch was already awake and went to get Rolo and Nunnally from their rooms. As he walked the halls he got a strange feeling. He didn't know what it was, but it was just. . .weird. Lelouch got to Rolo's room and found that he was ready.

Rolo was sitting on his bed loading arrows into a quiver.

"Good morning Rolo."

"Morning Brother."

"Are you ready to go?"

"Yes. But Brother."

"What is it?", Lelouch asked.

"Do you feel something?"

"I do."

"Do you think Nunnally feels it as well?", Rolo asked.

"Maybe. Let's go."

Rolo followed Lelouch to their sister's room. Lelouch knocked on the door.

"Come in", Nunnally called.

The brothers walked in and saw that Nunnally was brushing her hair in front of her mirror.

"Good morning."

"Nunnally, are you feeling weird?", Rolo asked.

"Huh? Now that you mention it, I sort of do. Do you think it has to do with C.C.?"

"That could be it. Where could that witch be? Probably playing around somewhere."

- - -

"Llyod what do you think this is?", Cecile said glancing at C.C.'s forehead.

Lloyd looked up from the testubes filled with various fluids from C.C.'s body. Of them were marked 'blood' and 'stomach acid'.

"Hmm, a tattoo maybe?"

"The forehead is a peculiar place to put it."

"Let's find out shall we."

Lloyd brushed back C.C.'s bangs. He traced the mark with his gloved finger. Unseen by him, C.C.'s lips wavered. He picked up a magnifying glass.

"It doesn't seem like a tattoo. I think this mark is actually part of her skin."

He picked up a scapel, intending to peel some of the skin of her forehead off. Lloyd punctured the skin where the mark was and immediately C.C. let out a scream. The symbol glowed, blinding Cecile and Lloyd.

- - -

"Brother, what if she's in trouble?", Rolo asked.

"I'm sure she's fi-agnh!", Lelouch held his left eye and leaned on the wall for support.

"What's wrong-agh!", Rolo brought his hand to his right eye and fell to the ground.

"Lelouch! Rolo! Agh!", Nunnally held her left eye and grasped the handle on her brush.

- - -

The light died down and C.C. fell back into unconciousness. Lloyd approached her.

"What a reaction!"

"I'll say", Cecile agreed.

"Let's do it agai-ack!"

"Let's not", Cecile said holding Lloyd by the collar.

- - -

"B-brother, what was that?", Nunnally asked lifting her head.

"I don't know. But now finding C.C. is our highest priority. She's probably in more danger than I thought", Lelouch said.

He looked down and saw that Rolo was still on the floor. He knelt down to him and grabbed his shoulders.

"Rolo! Rolo! Are you okay?"

The younger brother lifted his head and rested it on Lelouch's shoulder. "I'm fine. Just a little tired."

There was a knock on the door. "Are your Highnesses in there? It's time."

"Yes. We'll be out in a minute", Lelouch replied.

He helped Rolo to his feet, who seemed to be back to normal.

They left the room and were escorted by a guard. Lelouch whispered to Rolo, "Are you sure you're fine?"

"I'm sure brother."

- - -

Suzaku peeked his head through his door. He looked around.

"Okay, the coast is clear."

He started to sneak around. He knew Lelouch, Nunnally, and Rolo had something to do today.

"Just have to find my way to the throne room."

Suzaku felt a hand tap his shoulder.

"Agh!"

"Suzaku?"

He recognized that voice.

"Oh, good morning Euphie."

"Good morning! Is something wrong?"

"No, nothing at all."

She smiled. "Well then, shall we watch my brothers and sister. I wasn't told the details, but I'm sure they'll be great!"

"Sure."

- - -

"Presenting his Royal Highness, Emperor Charles zi Britannia!"

Fanfare announced the Emperor as he walked in and took his seat on the throne. From the throne extended an aisle. On one side were the regular nobles; dukes, earls and such. And on the other side stood the Emperor's children and their mothers.

"Bring in the first born", Charles ordered.

"Presenting his Royal Highness, 11th Prince, Prince Lelouch vi Britannia."

Standing tall and proud, Lelouch entered. He knew how to act around royalty: arrogant. It wasn't as if he didn't have a reason. Lelouch knew he was smarter than most of his siblings. And he also had a hidden ace, his Geass.

And if that wasn't enough, he had the two most loyal siblings. And they also had the mysterious power.

'And extra points for having variations.'

Charles acknowledged Lelouch. "What was you assignment?"

"To reorganize the ranks among your special core within the imperial scientists."

"And?"

"Not much needed to be changed. I delegated more power to Rakshata Chawla. Demoted a few people, for their incompetence. And promoted Claudio Darlton to Rakshata's second in command."

"Why was he so special?", Charles asked.

"To simply put it, he's smarter than he looks. That is all."

"Very well then. Lelouch vi Britannia, 11th Prince. For your achievements I bestow upon you 17th in line for the throne. You are dissmissed."

Lelouch bowed and walked over to where his mother stood. She smiled at him warmly.

"Bring the next one", Charles ordered.

"Presenting his Royal Highness, 13th Prince, Prince Rolo vi Britannia."

Rolo entered with an indifferent look on his face. He carried his bow in his left hand, and a quiver-full of arrows on his back.

"And what are you here for?", Charles asked.

"To show my expertise in archery."

A guard set down a target in front of Rolo.

"Very well, call it. You have one shot."

Rolo looked around for a moment. He turned toward a noblewoman.

He put on that irresistable innocent face. "May I have your assisstance?"

The woman looked shocked for a moment before stepping forward.

"I need you to remove one of your earrings and hold it up for me."

She did has he said. "Like this?" She held the hoop earring by the edges. It was almost the right size for a ring.

"Perfect." Rolo pulled an arrow from the quiver and made sure it was the right size.

'Target point arrowhead, feather fletching.'

He set the arrow in the bow and aimed. Taking only a few seconds, Rolo released it and the arrow shot through the air. It went through the small hoop and straight into center target. The noblewoman stood there in shock.

When the arrow went through her earring she shut her eyes. When she opened them, the arrow had hit its target.

The Emperor took it all in for a moment before saying this,"How skilled do you think you are?"

"I'm better than my teacher. My brother trusts me with his life."

"Is that so? Lelouch!"

"Yes, you Majesty?", Lelouch replied as he stepped forward.

"I have one more task for you Rolo", Charles said. He muttered something to a guard who left the room.

The guard returned with an apple and approached Lelouch. He whispered something to the prince and left him with the apple.

"Rolo", Charles adressed. "I want you to shoot the apple, without harming Lelouch."

Rolo was prepared, except for where Lelouch put the apple, into his mouth.

'If I pull back and release too softly the arrow won't soar properly and will fall short. But, if I do it too hard then. . .'

And yet all through this Lelouch's face was calm.

- - - - - - -

Up next: Rolo tries to figure out a way to not kill Lelouch, Nunnally's presentation and. . .whatever else I think about. Sry, no kiss. I'm not even gonna tease you it might not happen next chapter. But it WILL happen.