This chapter is likely going to be pretty bad. I can't bring myself to have a consistent interest in writing boring scenes (and as necessary as they are, the contents of this chapter do fall under such a category in my opinion), and you may notice that difference (I write better when I'm interested; who doesn't?) far more in this chapter than you have in the past. All the same, what I am interested in seeing is what you guys think of where the story will be going from here. And to the masses who (like me) thought there was considerably less fighting than what was expected in Code Geass (at least in season one; R2 certainly has it's nice fill), there will be some later on this chapter, though it'll be very little. And of course, first comes the boring drawling, as is to be expected. Even so, we will be seeing little conflict for a while - I'm looking to delve into the more political and Lelouch-centric side of things for a while.
Also, I realize I said at the beginning of last chapter that it would include 8 as well. And to some extent it did, but it was definitely devoid of any hotel hostage situations. There was a reason for that, and yes that (regardless of how different it is) will be here instead. I could have easily lengthened last chapter (the ending wasn't getting any worse ) to include it, but thought better of it as I have decided to make it a more serious event rather than being a situation used to introduce the Order of the Black Knights to the world.
To FraserMage. It isn't so much that he's a better pilot, although I do suppose he was better than he is meant to be in the last chapter, but rather that he wasn't exactly in a situation where his sub-par piloting is noticeable. But you did make a good point, and I'll be careful of that in the future. And while we're on the topic, Lelouch's ineptitude at piloting is something that should have been addressed in Code Geass. And so, I will be addressing this in the future. I can't say what exactly will be achieved, but we'll see when we get to that bridge. Because yes, being a more successful leader (which he naturally would be if he could fight to any degree of success) is in fact more important than an overused physical ineptitude joke.
And to Tpolich, C.C. was always out of sight (I pointed that out to some extent). She was never seen by anyone except Lelouch (one could technically say that someone could have seen her when they were getting ready in the hanger, but with their focus being on Zero the likelihood isn't high - and nonexistent in this instance, dispute if you wish. And everyone else, thank you for your continued feedback. This is the first time I've said it, but I do in fact take a lot of your opinions into account. After all, I'm not perfect. So your opinion on how you want to see things go is welcomed, and I have no qualms over making small changes to my vision if I like an idea.
And lastly, that good 'ole disclaimer. I don't own Code Geass or the vast majority of this story's characters. I recall saying that I wouldn't be repeating this, but saying it every few chapters probably couldn't hurt.
--
Everything was going smoothly, given how rocky a start the rebellion was. Going into battle with a united army of terrorists was a risky move, but it pulled through in the end. And with that success, the conditions for the true beginning of my rebellion had been cleared. Knightmare Frame stocking was not an issue, with a mix of Sutherlands and Gloucesters coming in consistently from Henry. Furthermore, we'd secured an agreement to get aid from the Kyoto House, taking Kaguya Sumeragi into our personal ranks and being blessed with an income of Japanese Knightmare Frames. Burai weren't the most overwhelming Knightmare Frames out there, but the more radical amongst the Black Knights had the option of piloting a Frame from their homeland if they were so vain as to care. So long as their ideals met with my own, I was fine obliging to their vain demands.
But being the organization we were, operating was rather difficult. Maintaining public support among both Japanese and Britannians alike, as was my goal, meant only engaging the enemy if they began the conflict, and Britannia had made no new moves as of yet. It was a stupid proposition to fight with such defense-only ideals, if only for now, but it was also necessary to continue gathering support. And the delay was reasonable, with them having to take care of Clovis' repeated failures and Cornelia's more-than-obvious promotion, but it left me doing little more than counting stock as our supply of Knightmare Frames continued to pile. We had far more than we needed, but at least we had replacements - many replacements, in fact - in case things went downhill and we lost a few Frames here and there... not that my pride would allow that to so easily be the case, of course. The only other issue was that room in the mobile base quickly filled, and within three days of the battle at Saitama I'd been forced to use Geass and Henry's influence to secure two more mobile bases.
And support for the Black Knights amongst civilians was tremendous. It almost felt like we were a military, with us getting the odd group of civilians wanting to enlist into the Black Knights. I'd been strongly opposed to it for many reasons, with their questionable use on the battlefield or for anything else being one of them, but popular vote led to me naming Tamaki the Recruit Trainer of the Black Knights, much to his delight. I suppose he was simply pleased to have a unique job in the Order; he seemed the type to pointlessly care for such things. I placed another terrorist by the name of Ichitaka Chosokabe - who claimed to be a descendant of Motochika Chosokabe - in Tamaki's place in Squad B, which led to a huge feud over rankings. I finally surrendered to their demands and appointed people according to my own assessments, and nobody made any objections. None except for my refusal to appoint someone to the jobs of diplomacy or funds manager. But I couldn't tell them that I had saved those roles for C.C. and Henry, respectively, could I?
Black Knight matters aside, things were reasonably normal at school. I had explained my connections to Clovis to Suzaku and questioned him on why he hadn't been fighting in Saitama, and he revealed that his chain of command left him getting the short end of the stick for being an Eleven. It was tragic, to an extent, but that helped me plan considerably. And though it had been hard, I managed to devise a plan that C.C. dubbed the Anti-Lancelot Plot. Where her sense of originality came from, I dared not ask. But it was fitting, and conditions toward taking care of the Lancelot were quickly being met. All things considered, there was nothing wrong with how things were going as Lelouch or Zero.
Except one, that is. Much like the green haired beauty rumors, now frequent rumors of having seen a beauty with pink hair began spreading like wildfire. She was described to be no older than anyone else at the academy, perhaps younger even, and she seemed to be searching for someone. Some people used this as pointless drabble while others spun it into their latest ghost story. It was a rather innocent occurrence, as widespread as it was, but certain people knew better. Suzaku and I especially, much to my surprise in Suzaku's case, because only one person could fit such a profile in our minds.
Euphemia.
o--o
Ashford Academy's grounds were a bewildering place for the directionless. And for a naive princess who's sense of direction had recently led her to nearly crush poor Suzaku, how much worse could such a place be? Most people would give some kind of a playful answer taking pot shots at her sense of direction. The sad part was, Euphemia, mused, most of those pot shots would be true in at least some sense.
Wandering aimlessly - or rather, with an aim but no direction sense - through the academy's gardens and various other attractions of outstanding beauty, Euphemia decided that to say such pot shots were only somewhat true was a bit of an understatement. That may have been because she had been wandering for the past two hours, or it may have been because she was no longer entirely sure if she was on the academy's grounds. She wasn't quite certain which was the cause for that decision, but the easy answer could have been that both played their part.
All these thoughts, of course, were shot to the deepest recesses of her mind the moment a bell signaling the academy's lunch break reverberated across the field, finally renewing some sense of direction in the disoriented princess. Turning toward the heaven-sent sound, she proceeded enthusiastically toward the academy. The only thoughts that occupied her mind were those of what awaited her when she arrived at the academy. Would Lelouch be surprised? No, if Lelouch was the man she faintly remembered, he'd be expecting her eventual arrival. Never had she surprised him with anything. And this probably wouldn't be the first time she would.
o--o
"Euphemia just... disappeared?"
Cornelia looked at Clovis - who was now her subordinate, she added bitterly - like he had grown an extra head or two. It wasn't unheard of for Euphemia to go wandering, but that wasn't the source of her quickly building panic. Euphemia wandering meant Euphemia had no guide, and no guide meant it could be days before she reached some form of civilization in an absolute worst case scenario. And worse yet, Cornelia did in fact have proof of such a possibility.
"That's right," Clovis confirmed sadly, slouching in his seat. Cornelia groaned and smacked her hands down on the desk in front of her, crumpling the papers that lay spread across it inadvertently. "If it helps, though, I know where she went..."
"Where?" Cornelia asked in a demanding tone, glaring daggers at her younger sibling.
"Ashford Academy."
"Ashford Academy? Isn't that a Britannian academy here in the Tokyo settlement?" Cornelia asked incredulously, thoroughly confused by the remark.
"There's a reason she'd go there," Clovis replied, all the while debating whether or not to inform his sister of the truth. He still had his promise to uphold to Lelouch, but he'd already broken that promise to some extent. Moreover, if he said nothing, Euphemia certainly would later. And all this summed up to one thing: Lelouch would likely be pressured to return to court. And how would Lelouch take that? Would he kindly decline? Would it forge a larger rift between the two? Clovis could only speculate, but it went without saying, he realized grimly, that hiding the truth from Cornelia was pointless. "Lelouch and Nunnally are alive, and are enrolled there," he subsequently added.
He was being dragged out the door by Cornelia before he could so much as blink.
o--o
The school had long since come into view for the direction-less princess, nearly having been led astray despite the repeated signals she received as to the direction she should go, ranging from another bell at the end of the break to students hastening to return to the school. One would think her sense of direction would be better, seeing as this was try number three at finding her thought-dead siblings, but people with such thoughts in mind clearly hadn't met her.
She now proceeded through the school's courtyard with the school being right in front of her, ignoring the glances she was getting from the students. Some in some perverse form of admiration, others in confusion, and others that seemed to recognize her. None had approached her, much to her luck, which meant they hadn't identified her as their princess. But clearly rumors of her were spreading, if the murmurs clearly about her as people passed by were any indication.
"Should a princess be wandering around the school grounds so freely?" there went the notion of her not having been recognized. She turned slowly toward the origin of those dreadful words, only to be greeted with Lelouch. She reasoned that it could just as easily not be him, seeing as she hadn't seen him in seven years and thus had no idea what he might look like now, but features like his remained reasonably similar no matter how much time passed. Or so she hoped.
"L-lelouch!" she stuttered, trying as best she could to gather her thoughts. She had devised plenty of scenarios as to how this should have gone, but they all seemed to escape her mind the moment she actually caught sight of him. He stared her down in much the same way she did him, taking in the obvious changes seven years had brought. He smiled warmly as he did so, to the point where she either overlooked or completely failed to notice the analyzing eyes of her older half-brother.
"It's been a while, Euphemia," he replied as he finished his perverse thought-free inspection of his half-sibling, locking eyes with her. His stunning violet eyes hadn't changed at all, at least. And that was when she placed him into a bone crushing hug, eliciting numerous gasps of pain from the poor recipient before, after what seemed like an eternity, she drew away. Lelouch chuckled and looked around for a moment, making sure nobody was still around before continuing.
"How is... Cornelia?" he asked hesitantly. Sure, he'd spoken to her recently, but on the battlefield she was as cold hearted as Schneizel was during diplomatic times, and he was an emotionless terrorist. And that boded ill for any hope of discerning how she truly felt, they both knew. Not that Euphemia was anything but blissfully ignorant of what it was Lelouch was doing - or so he direly hoped - of course.
"Cornelia is well. She's pretty stressed out because of this Zero..." realizing she had crossed over the line of what she could and couldn't say to non-military personnel, she gasped and covered her mouth with her hands. "Oops," she said sheepishly, and then they both broke into laughter. Thoughts of the many questions they had to ask of each other were discarded for the moment, both more than content to relish in the peaceful times they spent together in their youth. For being parted from one another for seven years, such a thing was reasonable, they thought.
o--o
"Nunnally!"
"Euphemia Nee-sama!"
Lelouch stood against the wall nearest the door to his room, smiling warmly at the reunion between siblings. It had taken some work, but he managed to get Nunnally to skip school for the afternoon without revealing why. And now they found themselves back home, sharing a long overdue reunion that warmed Lelouch's heart. Which was a rare thing, he admitted sadly. "This is heartwarming," Lelouch turned to see C.C. standing by the open door to his room, watching the same scene unfold.
"I had Schneizel convince Charles to disinherit Nunnally before we were sent here, to save her from the possibility of them wanting her to return. The chance is still there, but legitimacy's sake would make them prioritize me," he explained, although he had the slight feeling C.C. already knew. But how could she? Pushing the thought aside, he continued, "Euphemia could be subject to the same risk if this were discovered," C.C. now glanced over at Lelouch, lips curved ever so slightly into a small smile. Lelouch had replaced his warm smile with a frown as what he'd said lingered in his mind, but C.C. didn't seem to care too much.
"That's not comforting at all," C.C. started quietly, amusement lacing her words. Her presence had gone without notice on Euphemia's part, though Nunnally's superior hearing - a byproduct of her lack of sight - alerted her of C.C.'s arrival, although she was much too indulged in the meeting of her half-sister to take any outward notice of it. "It's been a long time since Nunnally has had comfort like this, right? Even if it risks Euphemia's safety, you were willing if it was for Nunnally, weren't you?"
"I can't help the fact that Nunnally has been being put off to the side more and more lately. The least I could do is this, when Zero is between her and I," Lelouch explained in a hardly audible whisper. All the while the two half-sisters embraced gleefully, chattering on about things Lelouch would have to strain himself to hear amongst all the other things they said, much less understand them.
"You mean you're between the two of you," C.C. corrected, smirking slightly.
"...I guess so."
Lelouch walked over and pried the two siblings apart - which proved nearly too much for his underwhelming physical capabilities. "Euphemia, it's not wise for you to stay much longer, is it? If they found out..."
"...I'd be disinherited. I know. You are still technically political hostages, after all," Euphemia finished, visibly saddened.
"Yes, that's right. The country may now belong to Britannia, but Nunnally and I belong to Japan now," Lelouch had to fight off the laugh that threatened to break free as he spoke of such ironic things. They belonged to Japan, and here he was - the exiled Britannian prince masquerading as the most wanted terrorist against that very same empire, aiding the restoration of the country he technically belonged to still.
Nunnally was the only one not disheartened by this fact, "Sister, let's all get together! Brother Schneizel, Cornelia, brother Clovis..." the list went on and on, listing even the most distant of relatives, such as Castor and Polux. Lelouch continued to listen somewhat intently, while Euphemia had long since given up comprehending all of the joyous prattling. C.C. disappeared back into Lelouch's room. Collapsing onto her bed, she pulled Cheese-kun - whom she'd gotten after no small amount of trouble - close to her, hugging it tightly as she went to sleep.
o--o
I actually dreamed that night. I dreamed of an ideal world, where everything was nothing short of perfect, though it deserved far more praise than that. We were drinking tea in the garden I spent so much time in as a child. All of us: Nunnally, Euphemia, Schneizel, Cornelia, Odysseus and I all sat around a white table, drinking tea and laughing merrily. Polux and Castor were off to the side, laughing amongst one another as they usually did; they typically only confided in themselves and shut the rest of us out. C.C. was there too, smiling in a way I'd never seen as she stood behind me with both hands pressed against my shoulders, watching the group of happy siblings like she couldn't remember such a joyous scene. She probably couldn't, I reminded myself grimly.
Suzaku was off to the side, looking hardly any different than a bodyguard. But if you looked closely, the tell-tale signs of glee that were on all of our faces was on his as well. The student council members - Shirley, Milly and Rivalz - all sat near him, Arthur sitting in Rivalz's lap before bounding over to Suzaku and biting his finger. We all looked over to him in shock as he yelped in pain, but laughing once more reigned just as quickly. In short, it was the perfect paradise.
And then it happened. Cries for help filled the air all around us as Knightmare Frames seemed to descend from the sky. They fired at any and everything they saw, but their target seemed rather particular: our paradise. Questions of why and how this was happening were not foremost in my mind at the time, but rather a complete understanding washed over me as I watched the quickly-turning-apocalyptic scenario. This was some sign for the future, I thought skeptically. And that theory was given more ground as, when I got a closer look, I saw who led them: Zero.
o--o
"Zero!" Lelouch cried out in desperation as he awoke, sitting upright with a jerk and gasping as he held a hand to his head in a vain attempt to stop the profuse sweating that nightmare had brought on. It was just a dream though, wasn't it? Why did it hit him so hard? Try as he might to reason with himself - to tell himself that it was a dream and nothing more and that the dream meant nothing - he always came to the same depressing thought: what if it was a premonition of things to come?
"Zero?" Lelouch turned to face C.C., sitting upright in her bed with Cheese-kun hugged tightly against her and head tilted to the side inquisitively as she stared at him. "Everything alright?" did he just hear her wrong? Lelouch considered slapping himself a couple times to make sure, but thought better of such a childish action to confirm being awake. But had C.C. - the witch who couldn't care less about her partner - really asked if he was... alright? Lelouch was bewildered, to say the least.
"I'm fine," he replied sharply, wiping away newly forming beads of sweat on his brow. C.C. scoffed at his childishness, which earned her another non-threatening glare from Lelouch, bringing the number of glares she'd received into numbers that could no longer be counted on even both hands together. "It was a nightmare. Nothing more."
"The great Zero has nightmares? Of... Zero?" C.C. seemed more amused than concerned now, Lelouch noticed, and that bugged him no less than any of her other half-hearted actions.
Lelouch rose from his bed, proceeding to gather his school uniform and other clothing before making toward the bathroom, slamming the door behind him. Unconcerned with her partner's anger C.C. followed, seating herself atop the counter and swinging her legs absent-mindedly as she tuned out the many curses and enraged cries Lelouch let out. "Do you mind?" were the first fully coherent words out of his mouth, however.
"Not at all," C.C. replied with a smirk, relishing in her own form of payback. "Continue," she urged, not in the least off-put by walking the path of the pervert. After all, such a path could only be walked by a person with such intent, right? And seeing his likely unimpressive body wasn't her goal in the least, she reasoned definitively. That meant that what she was doing was, well... walking the path of the pervert, without being a pervert, she decided. Pity few people saw the logic in such wisdom. And Lelouch was no different.
And so he gaped at her disbelievingly, as if urging her to break out into a fit of laughter and declare that she was kidding - as uncharacteristic as that would be. But all he was regarded with was a stoic expression that showed no signs of playful intent. At least, no jokingly playful intent. Realization thus coming into full focus, Lelouch - half naked as he was - resumed his torent of curses while grabbing her by the waist and pushing her out of the room. "Out, out, out," he urged, pushing harder still when she childishly placed her hands on either side of the door's frame and held fast, and despite Lelouch's best efforts she would not be moved. "What do you want?" he asked impatiently.
"I'm intrigued," the witch remarked dryly.
"Intrigued?"
"You're embarrassed to let me see you. I didn't think you even saw me as a woman."
"It's obvious you're a woman, witch."
"There's a difference between being a woman and being seen as one, boy."
"Whatever," giving up to the unending game of logic between the two, Lelouch turned to resume undressing, no longer concerned with her presence. Chuckling to herself, C.C. bound over to her bed and leaped into it, much to Lelouch's annoyance. Not anything he wasn't used to, naturally, as he looked out the bathroom door to the witch laying sprawled across her bed, a small smile on her face as she hugged Cheese-kun to herself once more. Smiling ever so slightly at the sight, Lelouch tried for the third time to get through the morning routine C.C. often disrupted.
o--o
Cornelia sat in her office once more, fuming with unexpressed rage at her cowering sibling. Not only had Euphemia seen the siblings so many hated Area 11 for supposedly taking from them while she had not, but she'd been subjected to that... unsightly fanaticism! "It's Her Highness Cornelia-sama!" boy and girl alike cried in delight. Bah! Why did she have to be subjected to such things? It was at times like those, she mused, that she envied the lives of the normal generals of the empire. They indulged in the same things she did, but they didn't have to hear such things! She had no use for the throne either, really, so what use had she for the name Cornelia Li Britannia? It was overrated, she thought.
"Sister..." Euphemia started pleadingly, eyes brimming with unshed tears as of yet. Her eyes stung ever so slightly from holding back said tears, and it was becoming harder and harder to do so. Even as Cornelia's closest sibling, to some extent she feared her sister's wrath no less than anyone else did. "I'm sorry! But Clovis told me where they were, and I had to see them again...!"
"It's alright, Euphemia. I understand," Cornelia replied quickly, despite her inner anger.
"But... Nunnally said we should all get together! Schneizel, Clovis, Odysseus, Castor and Polux too! Just like old times, right sister?"
Cornelia was a little taken aback by this. Wouldn't Lelouch - if he were still the same protective brother she remembered - be opposed to allowing Nunnally to be pressured with returning to Britannia? And what of himself? He clearly had no intentions of returning, else he would have revealed himself long before. Which meant, there was something they didn't know. And regardless of what it was, she was determined to find out what it was. And so she smiled slightly, speaking slowly, "Let's do that."
o--o
"So, what do you have planned for the get-together, Zero?" Henry asked, clearly amused by the prospect. "I assume you have no intention of going simply out of the kindness of your heart. Or not for that reason alone, anyway. You've been in secret too long to reveal yourself for no reason," Lelouch chuckled and looked up from his latest report at the screen in front of him, amused by his comrade's inquisitiveness.
"Of course not. Karen still suspects me, so this will double as a good method to get her off of me."
"By revealing yourself to the press as Lelouch Vi Britannia? She wouldn't pursue you, knowing your royalty."
"No, I'm not going public. I refuse to be known by Charles' name," Lelouch shot back sharply, somewhat insulted.
"Calm down," C.C. soothed quietly from the darkness, out of Henry's view and out of his range of hearing. "You can't lose control of your emotions so easily. You said yourself; they're a burden as a leader."
"So, what's your master plan?" Henry asked, curious. He hated being unaware of what Lelouch planned, but his curiosity overcame his annoyance of coming second in this instance. "It had better be nice and flashy. I wouldn't expect less of Zero."
"Your report details the fact that those I judged unworthy have banded together, correct? As per my previous prediction?"
"That's right."
"Secretly provide them with a small supply of Knightmare Frames."
"Say what? ...Ah, they'll grow bold and try to prove themselves by attacking Britannia. At which point, the Order of the Black Knights will arrive and save the day, delivering their ultimatum to the world over while looking like the heroes, correct?"
"Exactly," Lelouch confirmed, smirking. "Anyway, back to the report. What is this of a prototype Lancelot being built from it's spare parts?"
"Just that. They're calling it the Z-01 Lancelot Club. Virtually the same in most aspects, it supports a MVS lance-like weapon rather than a sword along with a new color scheme. Otherwise, it is no different than the original," Henry explained.
"See if your supporters can't get the schematics for that. If we could acquire the schematics and the resources, such technology could put our Frame development capabilities nearly on par with Britannia, could it not?" Lelouch grinned widely, already wracking his mind over the possibilities of carrying out his rebellion with such firepower.
"You know nothing of building Knightmare Frames, however. What do you have planned to remedy that?"
"Diethard has already contacted the person that headed the development of the Guren Type-02, and she has agreed to join and assist the Black Knights," Lelouch responded, still reading over the report. Mostly things regarding changes to the JBU's numbers and new spec changes Henry could make to existing Frames in Lelouch's possession; nothing worth more than a passing glance, really. All the same, these small details kept Lelouch constantly shifting plans here and there accordingly.
o--o
"Haruma, Sir, you're certain we can trust the person who sent us these Frames?"
"Yeah, what if he's in league with Britannia or something? We could be walking right into their trap!"
"Worse, what if he's in league with Zero? This could all be predicted by Zero, and he could be waiting for us to act at this very moment!"
Haruma Chibasaki, the appointed leader of this - dare he say - terrorist group, sighed heavily. There was so little unity amongst them that it could hardly even be called a terrorist group. Each and every occupant of the large Yasukuni Shrine had only one thing in common - nationality aside, of course - and that was the desire to prove themselves to both the people of Japan and to Zero. No, they wouldn't work with Zero no matter what happened. Not at this point, after having been made fools of by him. But they refused to sit by and allow him to judge them as people unworthy of his notice. Haruma felt his blood boiling as he recalled that.
"Shut up! Everyone, get your Burais ready. We're taking Britannia down a peg, and we're doing it today! For Japan!" cheers replaced skeptical remarks as all hastened to prepare for passing their own judgment, and each and every Burai was ready and deployed into the underground within a short three minutes. Haruma himself lead the pack, determined to show Zero just what the radicals of Japanese terrorism was capable of.
o--o
Clovis sat at a far off table in the large ballroom-like room that had been prepared at the Viceroy's Palace, watching the rest of his siblings with a small smile on his face. It was hard to manage even that much, sadly, but such was the turmoil he still felt within him. Could he really believe in their father anymore? Was Lelouch - no, Zero, because Zero was not the Lelouch he knew - right? Was Charles Di Britannia as horrible a person as he had suggested? But even so, what made being a treasonous supporter of the Black Knights any better an option for Clovis? Sure, the possibility of changing the world was there, but at what cost?
"Brother Clovis... brother?" Euphemia waved a hand in front of her brother's face, searching for any response. Clovis broke from his musings and smiled up at her, shaking his head at her unasked question. Euphemia nodded and skipped away, humming happily - far happier than she'd been of late, Clovis realized. She returned a moment later, holding a drink for the both of them. Clovis muttered a distracted thanks and took his, taking back the entire contents of his glass in one sip. Euphemia looked at him curiously, raising an eyebrow. "Are you sure you're alright, brother?"
"I'm fine."
"You're sure? If it's about Lelouch or Nunnally, it's --"
"Your Highness Clovis, Your Highness Euphemia," a servant greeted, bowing as she approached. "His Highness Lelouch and Lady Nunnally have arrived."
Lelouch stepped out of the limousine that had been provided for them, making his way to the back to lower Nunnally's wheelchair out and then to the side to lift Nunnally into it. The younger Lamperouge sibling prattled on about how great the reunion would be, and Lelouch listened intently and responded with sweet words in kind. He had his cell phone in the breast pocket of his suit, and had provided C.C. with a second cell phone and his number, with instructions to call at intervals. Having her masquerade as Zero allowed him this freedom, and he intended to make this night all about him and his siblings. Even if there were a few 'planned distractions'.
"Lelouch! Nunnally!" Lelouch perked up, catching sight of a man walking swiftly toward them. He was dressed quite regally, considering the lack of formality that was supposed to be present, and the stubble on his chin had been properly tended to in order to make it look as refined as the rest of his appearance. Such was the preference of appearance that the first prince, Odysseus U Britannia, took regardless of his surroundings. Lelouch had never particularly liked his eldest sibling, primarily due to the fact that he was indecisive and nothing short of a coward by comparison to his more notable siblings - such as Cornelia and Schneizel - but he was more than willing to put on an air of kindness for reunion's sake... for now.
"Odysseus Nii-sama!" Nunnally greeted gleefully, and Lelouch just nodded his greeting to his elder brother. Odysseus was taken aback by the lack of enthusiasm on the young prince's part, and failed to register in his mind that Lelouch was really no different in his childhood. All the same he nodded to the younger prince, turning on his heel and falling into step with Lelouch. He snuck glances over at Lelouch and Nunnally every now and then, unable to fully come to terms with just how much they'd changed in their long absence, but he never let anyone else notice his glances.
"Where's Guinevere, Odysseus?" Lelouch asked suddenly, glancing up at his brother. "Still living in the luxuries of the royal palace, carefree of what happens beyond it, I assume?" there was a hint of mocking intent lacing Lelouch's words, but Odysseus failed to notice it. Lelouch chuckled and scratched at the back of his head sheepishly, feigning some childish innocence that Odysseus was quickly falling prey to.
"Yes, she's back in Britannia. But shouldn't you be more respectful to your siblings, Lelouch?" Lelouch turned his head toward the approaching figure of Cornelia, Clovis and Euphemia on either side of her. Lelouch couldn't help the skeptical look that crossed his face. "What? Expecting a more heartfelt moment from me, Lelouch? You should know better," Euphemia and Lelouch both chuckled at that, while Nunnally seemed slightly dejected.
"You're... not happy to see us, Cornelia?" Nunnally asked carefully, and were it not for the closed eyes one could expect to see tears beginning to form.
"Of course I am," Cornelia soothed, smiling warmly as she dropped to her knees, eyes level with Nunnally's own. "I can't begin to express how happy I am to know you two didn't die during the Second Pacific War, Nunnally. Really," she leaned in, planting a small kiss on Nunnally's cheek before standing up. Lelouch stepped away from Nunnally's wheelchair and was pulled into a small hug by Cornelia, "You too, Lelouch."
Lelouch smiled warmly in kind, "And I you, Cornelia. Now, may we proceed inside?" Cornelia nodded, and the group of siblings made for the ballroom. Lelouch took a seat off to the side next to Clovis, leaving Nunnally near the center where she was assaulted by near endless torrents of people - servants, Knights, and siblings alike - demanding to know what had happened the past seven years. "Where's Schneizel?" Lelouch asked, turning his head to face Clovis.
"He couldn't make it. Told us to send his regards and that he'd come and meet with his siblings when he could," Clovis replied, dejected by the very words he spoke.
"That's like him, I suppose. He always has been pursuing the throne, so it's to be expected," Lelouch replied, chuckling. "And what of you? How is being second to Cornelia?"
"How did you..."
"Clovis," Lelouch now turned to face him fully, face emotionless. "I wanted you to see what our father is like, by defeating you at Saitama. Now tell me, can you honestly believe in Britannia still?"
"Lelouch..."
"Lelouch!" both brothers turned to see Euphemia skipping over. She placed both hands around one of Lelouch's, pulling him to his feet and pulling him away from his corner of solitude. "Come on! Be social! This get-together is for you and Nunnally!" Lelouch chuckled at her childish naivete and nodded, allowing himself to be pulled into the throng of people that awaited.
Clovis raised an eyebrow and chuckled before getting up and joining them. Nunnally was now engaged in some non-sensible talk with Villeta and Euphemia, who had since abandoned Lelouch, prattling on about life in Area 11 and the like. Most people seemed slightly off put by her calling the Elevens Japanese, but all knew better than to reprimand her for it. Lelouch watched the same scene unfold, waiting for the most opportune moment to casually disappear. When that chance arose, he grabbed Clovis' arm and tugged him along as well.
"Have the guards on duty at the ready," Lelouch said suddenly, as soon as they were out of the ballroom and safe of any wandering pairs of ears.
"What do you have planned, Lelouch?" Clovis asked bitterly.
"A terrorist group aiming to prove themselves to Zero is going to be attacking this place to prove their worth."
"...What?"
"Yes. The Black Knights are at the ready to protect the palace, but there's no guarantee they'll be fast enough. That's why we need to --" he was cut off by a loud crash followed by a mix of screeching landspinners and screaming guests, and both brothers rushed to inspect. As Lelouch had foretold, a Sutherland had broken into the palace, with many more outside. People were crying out in disbelief at seeing their own Frames used for such things, but Lelouch ignored it all as he took out his cell phone and raced through speed dial. "Order of the Black Knights, intervene."
o--o
C.C. received the order from within Lelouch's custom Gloucester with a grin on her face. Turning on her communications system and pressing play on the recorder Lelouch had provided her with, Zero's voice played from within, "Order of the Black Knights, charge!" it was straight and to the point, and C.C. chuckled to herself for a moment. Primarily due to the fact that Lelouch had no inspirational speech for attacking people of their own nationality, but after a moment's thought she realized that she didn't either.
Sutherlands, Gloucesters and Burais began pouring out of each of the mobile bases, carefully hidden in a hidden lair formed within Mount Kumotori, proceeding along quickly toward the Viceroy Palace. By Lelouch's estimation, there would be only two or three squadrons of Britannian Knightmare Frames on the site when they arrived, and strict orders were to ensure that the glory went to the Black Knights.
It only took twenty minutes before the quickly escalating conflict between Britannia and the terrorist group came into view. C.C. once again hit play on the recorder, allowing Zero's voice to erupt from it once more, "Karen, proceed into the palace and save the prisoners! Squad A is to ensure that the main exits are secured, and everyone else is to aid Britannia in wiping out the terrorists!"
Despite the inner turmoil that came with such an order, everyone hastened to obey. Ogi led his squad off course, giving orders here and there and dividing his squad to secure the two untouched exits as well as the one that had been made by the terrorists. Karen meanwhile made her way in, ignoring the cries pilots made about killing the prisoners, and forced them to eject before they could make good on their claims. As the last one was finished off, with her suffering some structural damage due to her blocking the subsequent explosion from reaching the prisoners, she reached one of the Guren Nishiki's hands out to take the hostages. And then she saw him, standing amongst the hostages and most certainly not in the Gloucester that was currently cleaving into an opposing Sutherland with it's MVS sword. "Lelouch..."
Lelouch smirked as he stepped onto the hand Karen had outstretched, making sure Nunnally was safely on as well. With him were Euphemia, Clovis and Jeremiah, the rest having opted to use other exits. The hand's grip on them tightened as Karen pulled back, following the route C.C. had provided her with on behalf of Lelouch to deliver the people to safety at Ashford Academy. C.C., meanwhile, was deadlocked with two Sutherlands, proving her superiority over the real Zero as she easily outmaneuvered both of them and left both terrorists ejecting. The situation was going completely as Lelouch anticipated, with the superior pilots and Frames at the Black Knights' disposal allowing them to all but decimate the terrorists. When all was said and done - which was only a short five minutes later - not one Frame had been lost.
--
And that's where we leave things off for now. The hostage situation was considerably different. But really, what hasn't been so far? More importantly, however, is the fact that I feel things are progressing rather quickly. As such, we probably won't see much happening for a while. Next chapter will be introducing Mao, I think, along with a character I've been interested in bringing into the picture for some time. I won't say who, but I did hint at who it is ever so briefly in this chapter. If you want to guess, be my guest.
Also, my apologies on the poor writing. I know I pointed out the possibility of it at the beginning, but I truly am disgusted with how the writing was. Particularly the battle and the reunion party, but in my defense I didn't intend to put much detail into the latter of the two anyway. All the same, I hope you accept my apology and believe me when I say I plan to fix this problem as we go.
