Chapter 17: Island Odyssey
Several hours later, Hikaru slowly opened up one of her eyes, apart from her other eye that is covered in blood, and finds herself at a nearby beach, laying flat on her back on the sand. Before she gets up, the flame knight starts grunting in pain. As she looked at herself, Hikaru just realized that she is still wounded and bleeding after her previous encounter with Suzaku and the Lancelot. The last thing she could remember was when she was shot by Euphy's personal knight when they failed to capture him in Shinkene Island. In addition, Hikaru felt pain in both of her legs as she cannot use them to pick herself up from the ground.
"Ugh!" Hikaru grunted as she clutched her gunshot wound with her left hand. "Where am I? Where is everyone?"
Ignoring some of the pain from her wounds, Hikaru dragged herself up to a big rock nearby using both of her hands to pull herself across the beach, with her legs both incapacitated, and leaned her back against the rock. After taking a few deep breaths, Hikaru sees her magic glove in her right hand before observing the area around her. As the flame knight looked up to the sky, Hikaru sees seagulls chirping and flying from a distance away and waves crashing into some of the rocks behind her, concluding that she is somewhere along the shores of some island.
"I'm still bleeding!" Hikaru muttered to herself as she felt her legs covered in blood. "Where is Fuu when I need her! I have to find a way to treat my injuries before I pass out from blood loss."
Before Hikaru could do anything, she heard someone emerge from the ocean and gasping for air. As Hikaru looked to her right, she spotted Euphy coming out of the ocean waves, with her regal dress and her hair completely soaked. Just as Euphy spotted Hikaru leaning against a huge rock, the Britannian Princess and the Magic Knight of Fire stared at each other in silence, with their eyes widened with shock.
On the other side of the same Island, Suzaku finds himself on top of a ledge several miles above the shores and underneath the shade of a nearby tree. After observing the environment carefully, Suzaku realizes that he somehow ended up on another island.
"I wonder how did I ended up on this island?! For some reason, this island is a lot more different from that of Shinkene!" Suzaku thought to himself before he walked into the sunlight. "There's no other way to contact the others without a communicator. The only thing that's more important is to find another source of drinkable water and shelter."
When Suzaku ventured into the woods, he comes across a huge waterfall out in the open. But before Suzaku could take a drink, he spotted a naked woman trying to take a shower in a distance from the bushes near right where he was standing. As he looked closely at her, Suzaku recognizes her as Kallen Stadfeld.
"Kallen?! It can't be!?" Suzaku gasped before he announces his presence to the unaware red-haired girl. "Excuse me!"
As Kallen turned around to see Suzaku appear from the bushes behind her, she immediately grabbed a nearby black uniform and put it close to her bare chest as she drew out her knife from underneath it. The moment Suzaku sees Kallen's uniform, his eyes widened with shock for he just realized that the Kallen he knew turned out to be one of the terrorists working for Zero.
"A Black Knight uniform?! You mean you were...?!"
"RRRRRAAAAAAARRRRRRGHHH!" Kallen shouted as she charged at Suzaku, arming herself to the teeth with her knife.
However, before Kallen could stab Suzaku with her knife, the Britannian Knight sidestepped away from her attack and grabbed her by the wrist. Before Kallen knew it, she screamed in terror as Suzaku flipped her over to the ground and pinned her down.
"Kallen Stadfeld, I don't believe it..." Suzaku hissed before Kallen answered back.
"DON'T CALL ME BY THAT NAME!" Kallen shouted in anger. "KALLEN KOZUKI IS MY REAL NAME! I'm Japanese! Yes, I'm a Black Knight! Got it?! I'm not going to hide that anymore."
"Well then Kallen, I'm placing you under arrest for conspiracy and rebellion against the Britannian Empire!" Suzaku snarled as he had Kallen put on her clothes before restraining her with her hands tied behind her back.
Back at the scene where Hikaru and Euphy are facing each other, Hikaru felt really anxious about what the 3rd Britannian Princess is about to do to her while wounded and bleeding. Refusing to back down, Hikaru drew out her sword from her magic glove and pointed the blade at Euphy.
"Stay back Euphy, I'm already sitting ducks here and the last thing I need is to get ambushed by another Britannian on sight!" Hikaru glared while holding onto her wounded shoulder blade with her left hand.
"Hikaru, it's okay. What Suzaku did back there, I didn't have anything to do with it. I was just as horrified as you were when they ordered him to do you in, honest!" Euphy replied, trying to placate the Flame Knight.
"You liar! I thought for sure that you and Cornelia are thinking about the same thing!" Hikaru snarled as she struggled to keep her blade up. "Trying to hunt me down after my true identity as a Magic Knight has been exposed and..."
"You've got nothing to worry about. Because, I'm not like my elder sister!" Euphy interrupted calmly, as she dauntlessly approached the wounded knight. "I maybe a Britannian Princess, but I still want to find peace with the Japanese too, just like you."
Before Hikaru could say anything, she felt Euphy's hands touch hers. In an instant, Hikaru blinked once and, to her surprise, she felt some strange aura coming from Euphy's mind, starting from seven years ago. After a few minutes of experiencing some past revelation, Hikaru just realized that Euphy was there too when Cornelia took her parents onboard her G-1 Base.
"No way, you were there too, onboard that Mobile Fortress?!" Hikaru gasped as she dropped her sword on the sand next to her left.
"I was, but I was still too young to do anything back then. This is way before I became Sub-Viceroy of Area 11!" Euphy answered for Hikaru. "I actually of felt bad for you and your parents."
"Why do you even care about that anyway?" Hikaru wheezed while holding onto her wounded shoulder blade. "I'm just another terrorist aiding the Cephirians and the Black Knights on the battlefield."
"Because even then, we're still actually not that much of a difference you and I," Euphy said only to see Hikaru collapse onto her side.
In less than a second, Euphy grabbed Hikaru by the arms and carried her onto her back, ignoring the Eleven's weight. As Euphy stood up on her two legs, Hikaru's sword went back into her magic glove before Euphy proceeded forward.
"Why? Why would you be helping me, despite everything that happened recently?" Hikaru asked upon noticing that she is being carried over Euphy's shoulders.
"When I heard about how you were there defending the New World, you do remind me a lot like Suzaku. They way you both fought to change the world that you cared about, your devotion towards a country that is not of your own, and how you two were able to display your determination when fighting for others," Euphy said as she smiled at Hikaru. "You and Suzaku may have been rivals for a long time but even then, you both still need to get along, since you both are still Japanese citizens."
"What about that knighting ceremony that you placed on Suzaku recently?" Hikaru asked further. "He's likely going to be just as threatening as the other Britannians when engaging the Cephirians out there!"
"I still wanted to show Suzaku Britannia's good side from my perspective!" Euphy smiled. "I can still show you the same as well, if you at least give me a chance. After all, I have no intention of abusing my authority as a Britannian Princess in Area 11."
Upon hearing what Euphy just said, Hikaru finally realized that Zazu's theory was correct. It turns out that Euphy is just as kind and caring as Hikaru was when supporting her friends on the battlefield before herself. Now that Hikaru thought about it, she is starting to suspect that Euphy is actually being more friendly than hostile. However, Hikaru still feared that regardless of Euphy's behavior, her actions will still be called into question with her subjects.
"Even if you were able to help me here, it won't change the fact that your fellow Britannians are still going to bring me in as their prisoner as soon as they find us!" Hikaru warned Euphy.
Before Euphy could say anymore to Hikaru, she and the Flame Knight accidentally stumbled into Zero who was standing on top of a rock above them. At the same time, Zero turned around to see Euphy carrying Hikaru across her shoulders, much to his confusion.
After Kallen put her clothes on, she had both of her hands tied behind her back by Suzaku while sitting down in a criss-cross. As soon as Suzaku put her Black Knight uniform over her shoulders, he started making his personal interrogation on the Black Knight Ace. After learn about what Kallen had been through all the way until now, Suzaku started summarizing what the Japanese Black Knight elaborated.
"I see. You don't know how you ended up on this island either!"
"It serves you right."Kallen retorted. "If my fellow Black Knights ever get here, you're the one who's going to get arrested!"
"You mean Zero?!" Suzaku asked, taken back by what Kallen just said.
"You heard me!" Kallen smirked. "And since Hikaru and the Magic Knights are on our side, you won't be getting away that easily!"
"Before he does, there is still something I want to know about Zero. Do you know who Zero really is?!" Suzaku asked, making his interrogation towards the captured Black Knight.
"Why don't you find out yourself then?!" Kallen glared, with Suzaku realizing that she doesn't know Zero's true identity either. "Or maybe ask Hikaru?! She might know, since she was very close to Zero as his personal ally."
"If you don't know who Zero is, then why do you and Hikaru fight by his side then?" Suzaku said sternly.
"Beats me!" Kallen retorted.
Upon seeing Euphy carrying Hikaru on top of her, Zero pulls out his gun, thinking that he may need to have Euphy put Hikaru down before taking her prisoner and treating the Magic Knight of her injuries. As he aimed his gun at the 3rd Britannian Princess, Euphy starts to hear herself out to Zero, announcing the masked figure his true identity in front of Hikaru too.
"Lelouch, its you isn't it?!" Euphy spoke towards Zero, much to Hikaru's shock.
"What the?" Hikaru gasped while still on top of the Princess. "How did she...?"
"I haven't told anyone about you, I swear!" Euphy continued with her speech, calmly and sternly. "Before you shoot me or take Hikaru back from me, please let me see your face."
As Zero put his gun away, he takes off his mask with one hand and pulls his scarf off his mouth. After taking a really good look at Zero/Lelouch, Euphy made a small smile, realizing that her hunch was correct.
"Lelouch! It's so good to see you again!" Euphy said, feeling relieved as tears came out of her eyes.
As Euphy put Hikaru down on the soft sand, Lelouch came down from the rock that he was standing and decided to help Euphy treat Hikaru of her injuries. Lelouch had Hikaru lay on her back with her legs facing Euphy as he held her down by both of her shoulders with his hands.
"Here, Hikaru, you may need this!" Lelouch said as he hand her a small log for Hikaru to clench her teeth on.
As soon as Euphy takes off her gloves, she reaches into Hikaru's wounds to take out the bullets stuck inside the Magic Knight's flesh. During the process, Hikaru started grunting in pain while biting down on her log which prevented her from making any unnecessary screaming. After Euphy took out the bullets with her bare hands, Hikaru aimed her finger at a small pile of logs and shot out a small line of fire at it. As it struck the pile, a small fire appeared before Lelouch and Euphy. Without hesitation, Euphy grabbed a small log that has a burning tip on one end and pampered on Hikaru's wounds, making the bleeding stop temporarily. After Euphy and Lelouch are done treating Hikaru of her injuries, Euphy kindly pulled out a small rag from her dress and soaking it with water from the ocean. Euphy wiped off the blood from Hikaru's skin with her rag while she started breathing normally again.
"Thank you, Euphy." Hikaru said while shuddering in pain. "I never thought you were that kind for a Britannian."
"It's nothing at all, Hikaru!" Euphy smiled, as she patted Hikaru on the head. "Besides, I do want to learn more about Cephiro and Japan the easiest way possible.
Back at Shinkene Island, an investigation team has been dispatched at the place where Euphy's disappearance took place in. Shortly after their failed attempt of capturing Suzaku, the Black knights and the Cephirians fled with their lives as the Britannian Security Force makes their sweep across the area where Euphy was last seen at, both on land and underwater.
As the Cephirians fled back to the NSX, they met up with Ferio's Green Ranger who is carrying Windam over his shoulders, much to Umi's horror. Upon noticing Umi falling under a state of panic after seeing what happened to both Hikaru and Fuu, she couldn't help but break down in tears thinking that she will never see them again. After an unconscious Fuu was taken to the sick bay to be treated of her injuries, with Ferio watching over her, Umi went to the mess hall with Ascot comforting her while Clef and Lantis went to the bridge to help Geo track down Hikaru and Zero.
"Oh Hikaru! Where could see have gone?" Umi cried.
"Umi, please just calm down!" Ascot said, trying to sympathize with the Knight of Water.
"This is just like what happened during our assault upon Cornelia at the docks!" Umi muttered in despair. "I mean, Hikaru just had to disappear twice off the battlefield. Twice, I tell you, TWICE! I just can't let her do anything on her own anymore!"
"Don't worry, Umi!" Ascot said as he embraced the Knight of Water in his arms, with her hugging him back. "We won't give up on them!"
Back at the bridge of the NSX, Clef couldn't help but worry about what happened when that unidentified Knightmare fired upon Hikaru and Lantis several hours earlier. The last thing the Master Mage could remember was when, after he activated another Blue Core Luminous Shield Barrier to ward off the scattering fire coming from above, Hikaru, Kallen, and Euphy suddenly disappeared in a blinding red flash, leaving Lantis completely confused on what just happened. During the confusion, Lt. Colonel Tohdou gave the order to the Black Knights a full retreat back to their submarine while Clef ordered Lantis, Ferio, and the Cephirians to fall back to the NSX, with their Knightmares and the Guren-MKII in tow.
"I wonder why would Hikaru disappear in a flash?" Lantis thought to himself, feeling worried about the Knight of Flame for her disappearance again.
"This doesn't make any sense!" Clef thought. "I wonder if their is some strange supernatural occurrences happening in Area 11. If so, then what was it?"
"Say Geo, do you have any probable cause that Hikaru and Zero might be somewhere close to Shinkene Island?" Lantis asked the sub-commander.
As Geo was observing the monitor for the islands surrounding Shinkene Island, the screen reveals Kaminejima Island which is several miles away from the first one.
"In my theory, it maybe possible that Hikaru and Zero are in Kaminejima Island!" Geo said as he stated his hypothesis. "We might as well conduct our search there as soon as possible before the Britannians do. Otherwise, we're going to get caught up in another fight with them."
"Hang in there, Hikaru!" Lantis thought to himself as Geo ordered the helmsmen to engage full speed ahead to their next destination.
As Lloyd and Cecil went onboard the Avalon, they were able to successfully secure the Lancelot in its hangar. Prince Schneizel appears before them. Despite his regality, Schneizel doesn't expect himself to be address formally by his subjects too often. When Schneizel appeared from the shadows of inside the Avalon's hangar, he approaches the Special Corps members.
"So Lloyd, did you get any data from the Magic Knight's Knightmares?" Schneizel said out of curiosity. "I do have an extreme interest on how they operate their machines!"
"Well, I did managed to gain some analysis from my laptop about the Knightmares you mentioned!" Cecil said as she appears sitting on top of the stairs behind the Lancelot.
As Cecil went down from the stairs and showed her laptop to Schneizel, he sees three separate screens on the laptop's monitor. The first screen was showing Rayearth launching fire and lighting attacks, the second screen was shooting out torrents of water-based attacks, and the third one was unleashing powerful wind attacks all over the Shinkene Island Base.
"My, my! So this is what made these strange Knights send our forces running in defeat!" Schneizel muttered in fascination.
"They all maybe young women from Area 11, but we did underestimated all three of them on the battlefield!" Lloyd smirked weakly. "That reminds me, did you try to use the Gawain on them again?"
"Yes, but the Gawain still needs some adjustments with the Hadron Cannons mounted on both of its shoulders!" Schneizel acknowledged. "Despite the cannons being its main weapon, it still didn't do enough damage to the Cephirians and the Magic Knights yet. Nevertheless, I do may need your help in finding my sister Euphy, Lloyd."
"Why certainly, your highness!" Lloyd acknowledged before turning his attention towards Cecil. "Cecil, please take care of everything at the base while I'm gone, okay?!"
"Where are you both going?!" Cecil asked, blushing a little after Schneizel smiled at her.
"We are going to use the Avalon to look for Suzaku and Euphy," Lloyd said, answering Cecil's question.
"Wait, about the order to sacrifice Suzaku to destroy the Magic Knights and Zero, where those orders made by the Prince?" Cecil asked sternly.
"Silence!" General Bartley ordered. "You don't want to be contempt with royalty, do you?!"
"My apologizes, Lady Cecil. Those orders we're actually mine!" Schneizel said, admitting his actions recently. "I also gave out the order to fire the Hadron Cannons. Even when cornered in a situation where the enemies surround you, priorities must be remembered. Even if something anomalous occurs, we would still be able to rescue Kururugi after eliminating all other threats; that's what I gambled on. After all, he is Suzaku Kururugi, Knight of Euphy and ace pilot of the Lancelot from the Special Corps. Other than that, I did gamble on tactics to subdue and capture the Magic Knights aiding Cephiro's armies."
"Yes, my lord!" Cecil replied while standing up for attention. "I'll apologize for my rudeness and will accept any punishment you think is fair."
"Don't be ridiculous!" Schneizel calmly said in denial towards Ms. Croomy. "I still bear the responsibility for not protecting my subordinates. So, please forgive me."
After Schneizel finished his speech, he turns arounds before leaving Cecil with the Lancelot. Feeling lost by the 2nd Prince's responses, Cecil gets the feeling that Schneizel went a little too easy on her.
After treating Hikaru of her injuries, she and Euphy disrobed all of their clothes and shoes to dry off, before they both went to take a bath in a nearby lake in the forest, letting the warm water caress their bare skin and all the way up to their bare chests. As for Lelouch, he sits behind a tree and doing his best not to take a peek at either of them. As Hikaru took off her braid, her long ragged hair started flowing behind her back, much to Euphy's delight. The moment Hikaru dipped into the lake, she could feel a bit of stinging pain from her treated injuries for a few seconds before it started soothing. However, the flame knight did not hesitant in letting the water cool off her burns.
As both girls continued to bathe in the lake, Lelouch starts to ask Euphy about her hunch earlier.
"How did you figure it out?!"
"When you ran into me during that hotel jacking..." Euphy replied before Lelouch summarized it all from the previous night before.
"I see. It seems that I said too much impulsively!" Lelouch pondered.
"What did he say to you, Euphy?" Hikaru asked, curiously as she turned towards the Princess.
"Well Hikaru, it's like this..." Euphy replied as she discussed her flashback towards the Knight of Fire.
Flashback:
Back at the hotel at Lake Kawaguchi, after Zero and the Black Knights put down the JLF led by Josui Kusakabe, the masked hero came face to face with Princess Euphemia, who wore civilian clothing while undercover. When the JLF found out about Euphy's true identity, the JLF attempted to turn her over to Josui only to find him commit suicide. Unknown to them however, Zero used his Geass on their commander to do it. After Zero announces Euphy as Sub-Viceroy of Area 11, after Clovis relocated himself to another area, she makes her response to the masked figure in person.
"It's not an appointment I'm happy with, is it?!"
"No, it's because Clovis ditched Area 11 only to venture into another world, leaving you in charge during his absence." Zero acknowledged. "I never did have to chance to deal with him myself at the Shinjuku Getto. He already made a mistake in carrying out the death of a thousand Elevens there!"
"So what you going to do about it, huh?!" Euphy retorted. "Still try to go after him in a strange new world?"
"No, I still have my hands full on other stuff in Area 11!" Zero replied. "Eventually, I'll find him out there. When I do, I may bring him to justice."
"Why would you?!" Euphy asked sternly.
"Because Clovis is an offspring of the Emperor himself!" Zero responded as he pulled out his gun towards Euphy. "Speaking of offspring, you're one of his children aren't you?"
After several more minutes of Euphy explaining her flashback to the Fire Knight, Hikaru couldn't help but realized that Zero, as Lelouch, said too much about Clovis and the Emperor.
"I see. Come to think of it, you actually risk your life for the commoners regardless of their ethnicity?" Hikaru asked Euphy, who is leaning her back against the rocks while bathing in the lake.
"I...well, I have no intention of helping Cornelia carry out her Royal duties her own way," Euphy added in. "I do like the way you are Hikaru. You look really beautiful in that hairstyle."
"N-No I'm not!" Hikaru blushed in embarrassment as she touched a bit of her long hair with her left hand. "I just want to be myself."
"It's alright, you look really pretty either way. If you're too embarrassed to be seen like that, then I promise I won't tell anyone about it," Euphy smiled while she held her arm over Hikaru's shoulder, while sitting right next to her in the lake. "Though, I can't say that I'm jealous. So tell me, are you really fighting for the New World or are you just trying to protect the people that you love?"
"I prefer both of them," Hikaru replied calmly.
As she looked down on herself while feeling Euphy's hands on her shoulders, Hikaru looks at her own reflection, as well as Euphy's reflection simultaneously. While turning to face Euphy while smiling at her, Hikaru is starting to see something different in Euphy's eyes, something to it than what the other Elevens negatively thought of her. After a few seconds of silence, Hikaru's eyes started watering again.
"If only I'm able to protect my parents back then..." Hikaru sniffed, as she let her tears fall down on her face. "Even my brothers couldn't stop thinking about them."
While Lelouch hid behind the tree, he couldn't help but feel sorry for Hikaru too after hearing what she told Euphy.
"I'm able to speak with your parents earlier, Hikaru!" Euphy said while sympathizing the Knight of Fire. "I promise to let them both go so that you and your brothers will see them again."
"But how so?" Hikaru said while tearing up.
"You'll see, but for now just don't worry about it!" Euphy acknowledged. "I don't blame you for trying to get back at the Empire. However, I'm sure that one day, I'll be able to change everything that the Britannians did in Area 11, in my own way. Believe me, it won't be like what happened seven years ago. I can promise you that."
"Are you sure?" Hikaru asked while wiping her tears way from her face.
"Certainly. Just try to be patient as much as possible until when the time comes," Euphy continued.
"Thanks, Euphy!" Hikaru replied as she made a weak smile upon the Britannian Princess. "If you knew Lelouch was Zero, why didn't you mentioned any of this to Cornelia?"
"She never listens to me anyway." Euphy said while looking up to the sky. "No matter. One day she will have to think twice before denying me of any royal decisions I make for the Empire and Area 11. What she did seven years ago was very depressing and even now, nothing has changed yet."
As she lets go of Hikaru of her embrace, she turns her attention towards Lelouch, who is still hiding in the forest.
"So how's Nunnally doing, Lelouch?" Euphy asked, concerning for her youngest half-sister.
"She's still living with me but she's still blind and crippled," Lelouch said, while feeling a bit depressed over Nunnally's condition.
As Lelouch asked about his mother's death towards Euphy, Hikaru gets out of the lake first and disappears into the forest before drying herself up, puts her clothes and her magic glove back on, and ties her hair back up. Feeling a bit better while walking around, Hikaru was able to ignore the minor pain coming from her treated injuries.
"I never thought that Euphy was actually this kind enough to help me survive in a place like this!" Hikaru thought. "I'm getting the feeling that she might be a lot more better than Princess Emeraude to start off with."
When Hikaru makes her way back to the lake that Euphy is bathing at, she hears the Princess feeling relieved that Lelouch is more present now than Zero and that he addresses himself as Euphy's half-brother. Upon listening to this relieving turn of events, Hikaru feel a bit satisfied the way Euphy displays her kindness towards the Knight of Fire and Lelouch.
"So Hikaru," Euphy asked after wiping her tears away out of relief. "When you first came to the New World, what was it like? Why did you accept being a Magic Knight there?"
"I can tell you this: You and Cornelia weren't the only Princesses we were forced to deal with while in battle!" Hikaru responded grimly. "I thought for sure that I can gain that much power to save Princess Emeraude and all of Cephiro. However, it didn't end well because there were still some things that Clef did not tell us yet!"
"Like what?" Euphy asked politely.
"I'll tell you and Cornelia later; only when the time comes!" Hikaru said, not wanting Euphy to push her into it.
Before Euphy could say anymore, she felt her stomach growling.
"It looks like feeling relieved makes me hungry," Euphy said as she slightly blushed to herself, making Hikaru smile a bit.
After Euphy got out of the lake, dried herself, and put her clothes back on, she and Hikaru met up with Lelouch before foraging for some food in the forest. In a few minutes later, Lelouch started digging the ground with a huge log only to find that his efforts were becoming useless. Despite Lelouch's intent of setting a trap for a wandering animal, Hikaru could hear something rustling in the bushes from several feet away.
"Guys, quiet! I hear something deep in the forest!" Hikaru told the two Britannians grimly as she drew out her sword.
As Hikaru went in front of Lelouch and Euphy, who is holding Zero's cape and mask with both of her hands, the Knight of Fire readied herself when posing her blade up to her right side. Before they knew what was going on, a huge wild boar appeared before them, screeching at the three in a hostile manner. Lelouch was about to draw out his handgun only for it to accidentally fall out of his hand. The boar charged straight at Lelouch before he even had the chance to pick up his firearm. However, in a quick flash, Hikaru jumped up high above from where Lelouch is standing at and performed a downward slash with her sword, decapitating the boar's head, from its body. As a result, the wild pig collapsed dead on the ground. When the boar's head landed on the ground, its blood started coming out of its neck and body. At the same time, Hikaru landed on both of her feet and sheathed her sword before turning around to face Euphy and Lelouch.
Lelouch and Euphy couldn't help but stand there completely shocked, with mouths wide open for several minutes, from what Hikaru had done to the wild boar. As they looked at the Fire Knight in surprise, Hikaru smiled before Lelouch makes his statement towards her.
"Dang! How did you do that?" Lelouch asked, with his eyes widened.
"Let's just say its part of my family's Kendo tradition!" Hikaru said, nonchalantly.
"Wow, you're even more amazing than you look!" Euphy smiled as she clapped both of her hands in excitement.
"Oh, its nothing, Euphy!" Hikaru giggled as she scratched the back of her head. "Besides, I faced monsters in the New World more than once. This won't be any different."
After trading compliments towards each other, Euphy and Hikaru couldn't help but feel pity for Lelouch for not putting in any effort in foraging for food.
"Say Lelouch, why don't you let me find fruit for all three of us?" Euphy asked in a calm tone.
"Manual labor isn't meant for a royal princess!" Lelouch replied, denying Euphy's request.
"Don't worry, Lelouch. I'll watch over her!" Hikaru said with determination. "Just watch over that Boar Meat until we get back."
Feeling a bit shocked by what Hikaru said, Lelouch finds this unbelievable that a knight like her would escort a princess that came from an enemy country. Unable to come up with anymore words, Lelouch sees Euphy and Hikaru went on ahead as he sat next to the decapitated boar.
"I wonder what would happen if Hikaru became Euphy's Knight instead of Suzaku?" Lelouch thought.
After a few hours of finding berries, Euphy was able to gather them and place them on top of a leaf while Hikaru was able to stand guard, incase anymore wild predators started stalking them. When they went back to where Lelouch is, Hikaru was able to drag the dead boar by its legs all the way to the shore. As Hikaru set the boar down on the sand, Lelouch was able to gather some firewood, allowing the Flame Knight to setup a fire with her magic before cutting the boar meat into several slices. For Euphy, she set up a fire stand out of three sturdy brances before Hikaru impaled boar meat with them and hung it over the fire to roast it.
After several minutes of roasting the boar meat, the two Britannians and the Eleven were able to eat some of the boar meat and fruit together while the sun sets from a distance behind Lelouch.
As for Suzaku and Kallen, the Honorary Britannian disrobed his clothes before he went on a fishing expedition, leaving Kallen tied up, catching salmon with his bare hands. Although she was impressed the way Suzaku was able to catch the fish without a fishing pole, Kallen has no intention of helping out. After catching several fish and roasting them on a small fire, Suzaku was able to eat a few of them on a skewer while Kallen ate them only with her mouth until she feels stuffed. As Kallen leans back behind a log, Suzaku starts his personal negotiation with the Black Knight Ace, despite her stubbornness.
"Kallen, please leave the Black Knights!"
"What, did you just say?!" Kallen said, feeling a bit offended towards Suzaku.
"It's not too late if you stop what you're doing!" Suzaku continued. "I heard that a captured terrorist never winds up with a happy ending!"
"I thought you weren't so bad when Hikaru, Umi, Fuu, and I met you at Ashford Academy, all addressed as Japanese transfer students, with exceptional admissions!" Kallen retorted. "But when we found out about your true colors, you just had to make things very difficult for all of us. Whatever you're offering, I won't accept it! I'm the captain of Zero's Elite Guard and those three Japanese women happened to unify all four countries under their allied banner in the New World. You probably didn't notice about that red Knightmare apart from Rayearth that I..."
"You were in that red-orange Knightmare?!" Suzaku exclaimed
"You heard me! I was piloting the Guren MK-II way back then!" Kallen sneered. "And even if I can't beat you in Knightmare combat, at least I'll have someone to back me up!"
"You don't mean Lady Hikaru do you?!" Suzaku asked, feeling concerned over his childhood friend.
"Yeah that's right!" Kallen smirked. "When I tested her combat abilities with my Knightmare, she almost freaked me out after she threw all sorts of strange, devastating powers at me and disabled most of my weapon systems in less than 5 minutes. You should've seen it!"
"Well, she and I grew up together seven years ago," Suzaku explained, making Kallen gasp. "Ever since Lord Kirihara brought her and her brothers in the Kururugi Residence as their temporary sanctuary, I was suspecting that Hikaru may be just as strongly determined as I am to help change the world from the inside. However, just when I entered the Britannian Army, Hikaru disappeared. The last time I ever heard from Hikaru was when she took a tour around Tokyo Tower, along with her new friends Umi and Fuu. I don't know what happened to them after that big, bright flash engulfed them, but after they reappeared, they've completely changed as if they don't fear Britannia anymore, despite being bullied at Ashford several times before they made friends with its Student Council. I don't know what happened to Hikaru back then but now that the events surrounding her start to unfold just recently and that she and the Magic Knights joined forces with Zero and the inhabitants of the New World, I'm afraid their future with him will soon be their downfall!"
"Why?" Kallen said, glaring at Suzaku. "Hikaru told me that they all wanted to fight for Japan and for the New World; that's the kind of future they're trying to go for after coming such a long way. Well, about your future then?! To live the rest of your foolish life as a subjugated lapdog, an Honorary Britannian, or as the Knight of Britannia's 3rd Princess?! You really are a disgrace to the Kururugi lineage! In fact, the last of Genbu Kururugi's line weeps in failure to protect Japan from Britannia! I'm nothing like you either! The world around Area 11 is wrong and I'm trying to change it with the help of the Magic Knights and their followers! If I don't do this, my brother's death will be in vain; that's my reason for fighting. The Magic Knights all fight for the people they love and will do anything to protect them from certain death! You pretty much betrayed Hikaru even before she knew what was ever become of your backstory!"
"The truth is Kallen, my father never committed suicide!" Suzaku spoke in a grim tone. "I took his life with my own two hands!"
"Then what are you really fighting for, if not Japan or your family?!" Kallen sneered in anger. "Did you really think siding with the enemy is even worth it? What about your friends? You dare threaten to sell out Hikaru and her friends after they're all defeated by the Empire? Does your overall betrayal knows no bounds?!"
After discarding all of the waste and eaten food, Euphy lies on her back on top of Zero's cape while looking up at the stars in the night sky. As for Lelouch, he sits on top of a nearby rock while Hikaru lays on her back to her right side next to Euphy.
"It's been a very long time when we all gazed up at the stars many years ago!" Euphy muttered, referring to both Nunnally and Lelouch.
"Well, I wish I could go back to living a happy life with my parents without any invasion occurring back in our homeland!" Hikaru thought to herself as she turned towards the night sky. "The night is just so beautiful."
"You really think so?" Euphy asked Hikaru while turning to face the Knight of Fire.
"Yeah! I wish our world will be just as peaceful as the night. What do you think you would do if Britannia hadn't invaded Japan?" Hikaru acknowledged before asking Euphy further.
"I don't know for sure." Euphy said in a soft-spoken tone. "However, I do wish we could all share the entire world without any conflict. Ever since our mother, Lady Marianne, passed away, I couldn't help think about what has ever become of Lelouch and Nunnaly after they were both exiled to Japan."
"Well now that you mentioned it, three years ago, me and my friends have all fought for Cephiro so that everyone can live happily and share the world with all the countries during their days of peace." Hikaru said as she smiled while staring up to the night sky. "When I've been given the opportunity to change the world whatever I wanted it to be, I gave everyone in Cephiro their wish to rebuild everything. Therefore, I let the fate of Cephiro to be determined by the people that love the country they lived in, as well as unifying the other three counties to aid each side-by-side as equals."
"That's really wonderful. How are you able to do it?" Euphy asked, feeling thrilled by Hikaru's success three years ago.
"I was once the Pillar of Cephiro. It's defined as a powerful leader that helps keep Cephiro stable and protected it with the strength of his or her willpower." Hikaru explained to Euphy. "However, before I was able to make my decision, the pillar system denies its user to fall in love with anyone but the land itself. Most of the leaders from the neighboring countries didn't know about this until we met them in person. Now that I got rid of the Pillar System, that rule doesn't affect me anymore. Because of this, I'm able to be with the man I love: Lantis the Magic Swordsman."
"Lantis, huh?!" Euphy said as she smiled at Hikaru.
"So, no matter where I go, I'll always be in his heart, until the end of time!" Hikaru concluded before she was met by a hug from Euphy. "Because I fell in love with him!"
"I'm so happy for you Hikaru," Euphy said, praising Hikaru of her past heroism. "I wish I could have the confidence to do what you could in Area 11. I can't imagine how many amazing things you have done for the people you cared about."
"It's nothing, Euphy!" Hikaru said as she started blushing from Euphy's embrace. "After all, Cephiro did their best to help rebuild Autozam, Chizeta, and Fahren too."
"What do you think Lelouch, don't you wish we Britannians and Japanese could live peacefully under the same bright sky, like Cephiro and the neighboring countries did?!" Euphy asked the former Britannian Prince.
"From what Hikaru said about her adventures in the New World three years ago, I guess so, yeah!" Lelouch replied in a calm tone. "I wish we could rebuild our world peacefully without any conflict."
After hearing what Lelouch said, Euphy and Hikaru both fell asleep as they embraced each other in their arms. Lelouch couldn't help but realize that Euphy finds Hikaru's determination way beyond impressed. Though, they still have a long way to go before Britannia can stand down from their invasion in Cephiro as well as their governing over Area 11. He still isn't sure on how Japan and Cephiro will make peace with the Britannians. Who knows?
As the sun rises in the next morning, Lelouch was the first to wake up after sleeping on top of a rock that he was sitting on hours earlier. After taking a stroll around the beach and back, he sees both Euphy and Hikaru wake up with a morning yawn. The moment they both look at Lelouch, he smiled at them thinking that his sister and Hikaru are actually friends now.
"I think I understand why you intervene earlier when I almost face Cornelia in Cephiro," Hikaru said, remembering her last encounter with the Witch of Britannia. "You just wanted everyone to get along since you've already seen enough violence, do you? I bet its because you just want to see what its like living in Cephiro without taking it by force."
"Well, I know Cornelia and Clovis may have shown their ruthlessness on the battlefield, but they're both just doing their duties to carry out our father's will!" Euphy summarized. "After all, they're still part of my family. Not that it matters, I hope someday they'll both come to their senses. It would also be an honor for me to call you my friend."
"I don't see why not?" Hikaru answered cheerfully. "Anyway, what does your father really after when he had the Empire take over Japan?"
"I can't say for sure Hikaru," Euphy replied in a grim tone.
"Maybe someday we'll negotiate with the Emperor of Britannia himself!" Hikaru said with determination as she looked up to the sky.
"I hope so." Euphy acknowledged before changing her subject. "Anyway, how's Clovis doing?"
"He's still in our custody onboard the NSX!" Hikaru replied in a serious tone.
"Can I see him again after we sign in Cephiro's peace treaty?" Euphy asked, showing concern for her brother.
"Only if no one gets in the way again!" Hikaru said as she glared at Lelouch. "Because someone just had to do a sneak attack without warning, making Suzaku fire upon me and my friends yesterday!"
"Sorry about that, Hikaru!" Lelouch apologized as he scratched the back of his head out of embarrassment. "Since the Black Knights are still allies of Cephiro, I should've known that our actions would affect Cephiro's campaign here in Area 11!"
"Well as soon as we get off this island, you've got some explaining to do in front of Clef's face!" Hikaru snorted.
"Anyway, let's go up hill!" Euphy suggested Lelouch and Hikaru. "Hopefully, we'll find a way to contact a search and rescue team from a distance away."
After they're done talking, Hikaru walked up ahead towards the forest with Lelouch and Euphy following her from behind.
Somewhere in Kaminejima Island, the Avalon landed in an open area surrounded by a couple of trees as several Sutherlands are being deployed after disembarking. In front of the Avalon is a cave seen in a rocky corner. When Schneizel, Lloyd, and General Bartley disembarked the Avalon, they setup their equipment inside the cave, attaching it with cables coming from the battleship and from the Gawain Knightmare.
The Gawain is revealed to be a black and gold experimental 7th Generation Knightmare Frame that is armed with 10 finger-like Slash Harkens and two shoulder mounted Hadron Cannons. It also happens to be the very same knightmare that opened fire upon the Cephirians before rescuing Cornelia and her remaining followers, as well as the one that tried to shot down Zero along with Suzaku, Hikaru, and the Lancelot. However, despite the Hadron Cannons to be its main weapon, the Gawain is still unable to deliver enough damage to its targets due to its incompletion. It's also equipped with a permanent float system, in which allows the Gawain to fly into the sky at will. It's weakness was the Gawain's lack of mobility when fighting against ofter faster Knightmares.
As the three Britannians went inside the cave, accompanied by a group of Britannian Marines, Sutherlands, and Engineers, they approach an archaeological site before them. At the site, there is a huge white door bearing the symbol of Geass, with 4 orange shadings in all four directions touching it. It is also considered to be a Thought Elevator. In front of the door, there is a gold medium-sized Pyramid that has an inscription written in front of it, with a Geass symbol shown in the middle of the writings and below its pointed top.
"A Thought Elevator, eh?!" Lloyd muttered to himself. "I must say, archaeology and paranormal stuff isn't my interest!"
"Why you?!" Bartley snarled. "Show some respect to the Prince!"
"This is way beyond my speculations!" Lloyd continued. "If only we could ask Ms. Cecil about this place..."
"You complain too much, Lloyd!" Prince Schneizel retorted before explaining his father's campaign in the Empire. "My father was interested in the Thought Elevator as well! Isn't that right, General Bartley?!"
"Yes, we were able to find artifacts similar to these from all over the world." Bartley explained in a summarized tone, before referring to the Thought Elevator. "Except for this one! I believe that the real reason why we have invaded all of the countries is to secure and obtain all of these artifacts!"
"So to analyze this ancient, occult data you're going to use the Gawain's Druid System?" Lloyd asked, trying to get straight to the point.
"Absolutely! We called you in to do this!" Schneizel answered in agreement towards the Earl of Pudding.
Somewhere in the forest above the archaeological site, Lelouch and Euphy make their way up the trail, with Hikaru leading the way. Just when they find themselves nearby an open ground area, Hikaru surveys it from both left and right before confirming their rendezvous to Lelouch.
"Are you sure this is where we'll be able to make contact with our people, Lelouch?"
"I'm positive!" Lelouch replied. "Though once we leave this island, we'll have to part ways with Euphy from here on out!"
"Are you sure?" Euphy asked Lelouch and Hikaru.
"We maybe friends for a short time, but unless both of our sides come to an agreement, our friendship will not save us from any further conflicts!" Hikaru clarified in a summarized tone.
"It's alright, Hikaru!" Euphy replied in a calm, happy tone. "I won't tell Cornelia about this! You have my word!"
"Too bad I'm not a dependable knight like Hikaru is!" Lelouch said, feeling a bit ashamed of his recent failure from yesterday. "The way Hikaru killed that boar back in the forest was way too impressive for me to comprehend."
"Lelouch, please!" Hikaru blushed as she smiled and scratched the back of her head out of embarrassment. "I was just trying help out! After all, even a true knight needs food for energy."
"Anyway, Suzaku Kururugi is meant to do a job like Hikaru did!" Lelouch continued.
"Speaking of which, Hikaru if you were born a Britannian, would you accept me as my knight too or will you go down a similar path just like what you did in the New World?" Euphy asked the Fire Knight.
"Well, I can't say for sure what future will hold for me," Hikaru said, feeling a bit anxious while holding out her pendant with her right hand. "However, when I first met Lantis during my second visit in Cephiro, I thought for sure that I'm fighting for myself. But I knew better than to make a statement like that."
"Was that pendant from..." Euphy asked, upon noticing Hikaru's accessory hanging around her neck, before continuing her statement.
"Lantis gave that to me, saying it was from his mother! My heart couldn't stop loving him, despite what happened to his brother. But he never blamed me for what happened to Zagato. Ever since on that day I rescued him from my alter ego, I know now that it is Lantis who I am fighting for! Therefore, as a long as I have people like him that I'm willing to protect, I'll find a good future that I would live for, until the end of time." Hikaru said as she looked at her pendant and then up to the sky, with tears of happiness coming down from her eyes.
After Hikaru wiped away her tears with her left arm and puts her pendant away, she turned around to face Euphy and Lelouch.
"You're the most interesting Knight I've ever met!" Euphy said, praising Hikaru of her backstory.
"Speaking of Knights, why did you choose an Honorary Britannian as your Knight?" Lelouch asked Euphy, referring to Suzaku Kururugi.
Before Euphy could say anymore, the three started hearing a rustling coming from across the open ground area. In an instant, Lelouch put on his cape and Zero mask before hiding Euphy behind the bushes. As for Hikaru, she hid in an another bush adjacent from the two Britannians before drawing out her sword and charged up her magic glove. The moment Zero (Lelouch) looks up towards the open area, he spots Suzaku coming out of the forest with Kallen Kozuki walking behind him with her hands tied behind her back.
"Suzaku and Kallen?!" Hikaru gasped.
"What are those two doing her?" Zero muttered in shock.
Suddenly, Euphy came out of the bush to announce her presence towards Suzaku Kururugi!"
"Suzaku, over here!" Euphy shouted in relief.
"Princess Euphemia?" Suzaku replied in shock as he and Kallen sees Euphy appear from other side.
Before Suzaku got any closer, Hikaru appeared from Euphy's left and holds her with an arm lock, putting her sword up to her neck. At the same time, Zero popped out and drew his hand gun as he aimed it towards Suzaku.
"Don't move! This girl is our prisoner!" Zero ordered, referring to Euphy while Hikaru keeps her grip tight on the princess.
"Zero! Hikaru!" Kallen muttered in surprise.
Unknown to Suzaku, Zero and Hikaru are both just making an act towards both Euphy and him just to make their escape from the island.
"Just play along for now Euphy and I'll let you go!" Hikaru whispered in the Princess' ear before turning her attention towards Suzaku.
"I'll take back my subordinate you have there!" Zero announced, making his bargain to Suzaku. "We'll exchange prisoners!"
"Hikaru! I thought I left you for dead!" Suzaku snarled as he tried to approach the Fire Knight.
"Stay back, Suzaku!" Hikaru growled, while still maintaining her grip on Euphy and pointing her sword at Euphy's Knight.
"You really think you'd find Hikaru's actions are cowardly?!" Zero retorted. "Eliminating terrorists no matter the sacrifice! Do you intend to follow this rule and let your mistress die?"
Upon noticing that Kallen is finally free from her bounds, Zero and Hikaru keep Suzaku distracted before the Black Knight Ace prepares to strike from behind.
"Let's face it, your integrity will shatter in no time flat!" Hikaru smirked.
As Kallen grabbed Suzaku from behind, Euphy started shouting at the Black Knight Ace.
"LEAVE HIM ALONE!"
"Shut up, you royal puppet!" Kallen snarled as she held Suzaku by both of his arms. "You're useless! You can't even think about yourself or do anything here!"
"HOW DARE YOU?!" Euphy snapped. "YOU CAN'T SCARE ME AND I WOULDN'T CARE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS TO ME! Suzaku, I command you to fight!"
"WITH PLEASURE!" Suzaku replied as he jumped backwards, making Kallen slam on her back before flipping over behind her.
As Suzaku jumped up forward to where Hikaru and Euphy are at, he makes a spinning round-house kick in mid-air. In a fast reaction, Hikaru lets go of Euphy and block Suzaku's kick with her sword, protecting her face and her left shoulder. The moment Suzaku landed on both of his feet in front of her, Hikaru swung back at him with her sword. However, he jumped backwards and away from the Magic Knight while Zero ran towards next to Kallen before putting his gun away. Just as Suzaku ran up to Euphy, Hikaru went up in front of Zero and Kallen while maintaining her grip on her sword.
"YOU HARD-HEADED FOOL!" Zero shouted.
Before anyone could make any more moves against each other, a large red-glowing Geass Symbol appears on the ground below their feet. As the ground started rumbling, all five people could feel the floor descending into the cavern below them.
Back inside the cavern, several rocks started crumbling from above as a Sutherland started backing away from the Thought Elevator. Just as soon as the ceiling collapsed in front of Schneizel, Bartley, and Lloyd, they see Euphy and Suzaku appear before them, along with Zero, Kallen, and Hikaru.
"Major Kururugi?!" Lloyd gasped as he held his right arm up to his face to avoid having dust in his eyes. "And is that...?!"
As Zero, Kallen, and Hikaru turned around, they see the three Britannians appear from behind along with a squad of Britannian soldiers, all armed to the teeth. But before the Marines could aim and fire at the Black Knights and Hikaru, Bartley ordered them otherwise.
"Don't shoot you fools! Princess Euphemia is with them! Capture those three!"
"Hey Zero, there is a Knightmare over there!" Hikaru exclaimed as she helped untie Kallen from her bounds.
"Perfect! We'll use that as our getaway vehicle!" Zero acknowledged as he hijacked the Gawain, which was stationed next to the elevator.
When several Marines ran up to the platform, Kallen activated a flashing device, blinding their vision temporarily. While incapacitated, Kallen knocked away several Marines physically while Hikaru unleashed her magic at them.
"Flame Arrow!"
As Hikaru's magic struck at the ground a few inches in front of the Marines, it made a small explosion and sent a few of them flying off the platform. Another Marine climbed up the platform on Hikaru's right and drew out his combat knife before he charged at Hikaru. Unfortunately, just when the Marine thrusted his knife towards the Flame Knight, she spun around and dodged the knife. As soon as Hikaru was behind the Marine, she delivered a downward cut, slashing across his back from the back of his right shoulder down to the back of his lower left abdomen. As a result, the Marine collapsed on his stomach with blood coming out from his back.
When Zero went inside the Gawain's cockpit, Suzaku stood there under a state of shock, unable to say anything, much to Euphy's concern.
"This is good. Not only in command, but in full activation too." Zero muttered as he detached the cables coming from outside the Gawain.
After Hikaru took down several more Marines with her sword and magic, Kallen uses an assault rifle that she took from one of the downed Marines and gave out suppressing fire to keep the Britannians at bay.
"Hikaru, it's time to go!" Kallen shouted as she opened fire at the encroaching Marines.
As Hikaru turned to face Kallen, the two women mounted on top of the Gawain's shoulders before it started moving away from the Thought Elevator. The moment Zero powered up the Gawain and closed the cockpit, he couldn't help but notice how lucky he is to obtain such an interesting Knightmare. Unfortunately, he spotted someone very familiar in front of him from the main interface, someone he didn't expect to see again on this island.
"Schneizel?!"
"So, that red-haired lady knight must be the one that Cornelia and Euphy was talking about recently!" Schneizel thought as he noticed the Magic Knight of Fire was accompanying Zero and Kallen. "Then, that masked figure must be Zero!"
"No! Not the Gawain!" Lloyd exclaimed, freaking out that his experimental Knightmare is getting taken away by the enemy.
"STOP THEM NOW! GET THAT MACHINE BACK, WE CAN'T LET IT FALL INTO ZERO'S HANDS!" Bartley barked furiously.
"I'll deal with you next time, Schneizel!" Zero muttered as he grabbed the steering handles.
The moment the Gawain headed towards the exit of the cave, Kallen and Hikaru spotted several enemy Sutherlands and Marines appear from the outside, preparing to fire at them.
"Zero! The Sutherlands are blocking our exit!"
"HANG ON TIGHT, I'M GOING THROUGH THEM!" Zero replied in a metallic voice as he activated the Hadron Cannons. "Disappear!"
The moment Zero squeezed the trigger, the Hadron Cannons fired but only a futile burst of dark-red energy blew up several pillars, unable to do some damage to the enemies outside of the cave.
"Damn, the weapons are incomplete!" Zero grunted in frustration as he took off his mask while inside the Gawain's cockpit.
"METEOR VOLLEY!" Hikaru roared as she summoned a barrage of meteors at the Sutherlands and Marines.
Upon impact, the meteors exploded in a massive conflagration and sending most of its targets aflame! Those who weren't struck by Hikaru's Meteor spell fled with their lives, scared by the explosion's devastating effects.
When the Gawain went out of the cave, Zero and his comrades ran into another squad of Sutherlands! Undaunted by the presence of enemy reinforcements, Zero noticed that the Gawain has another trick up its sleeve.
"It seems that another system is operational!"
As Zero pulled the switch backwards, a pair of green energy wings unfolds on the Gawain's back. Much to Kallen's surprise, the Gawain started lifting itself off the ground. Before they knew it, the Gawain ascended into the sky.
"No way! We're flying?! This Knightmare can fly!" Kallen gasped as she and Hikaru noticed that the ground is getting smaller down below their feet.
"I know right?!" Hikaru grinned in amusement while holding onto the Gawain's left Hadron Cannon.
Zero started laughing out of delight after learning of the Gawain's capabilities other than it's temporary lack of firepower. After the Gawain, Hikaru, and Kallen disappeared into the clear blue sky, General Bartley came out of the cave. In an instant, Bartley wallowed in pity that he and his men were not able to save the huge Knightmare from getting stolen.
"The Gawain, our beautiful prized Gawain!"
"It's just a test model anyway!" Schneizel pondered in a calm tone before turning to face Euphy and Suzaku. "Not that it matters, I'm grateful that you're both safe!"
"Oh, Schneizel, I never thought you'd come and rescue us!" Euphy smiled out of relief as she approached her elder brother.
"Sorry it took so long my dear!" The 2nd Britannian Prince said, apologizing to the 3rd Britannian Princess.
"You're highness, shall we keep to the schedule?" The Britannian officer asked Prince Schneizel.
"Sure thing!" Schneizel acknowledged.
As the officer and two marines approached the Honorary Britannian, the officer starts making an accusation towards Suzaku.
"Major Suzaku Kururugi, you're under arrest for violating military regulations!" The Officer announced sternly, much to Euphy's confusion.
"What do you mean 'under arrest?!' Suzaku is my personal knight!" Euphy shouted in denial. "You can't just..."
Before Euphy could say anymore or approach the officer, Schneizel held on her right shoulder, making her stop.
"We'll deal with Suzaku's case later, Euphy!" The 2nd Prince said as he ordered the sub-viceroy to stand down. "For now, just let them be!"
As the Gawain was still taking flight above the ocean, Hikaru summoned and went inside her Rune God while in mid-air. The moment Hikaru takes control of her Rune God Knightmare once again, she activates her communicator to contact Geo Metro and the NSX. After contacting the sub-commander, Hikaru has been given coordinates to rendezvous with her comrades.
"Alright Zero, this is where I'll leave you and Kallen!" Hikaru announced to the Black Knight commaders. "We'll meet up with each other later! I have to get back to the NSX!"
"Good luck, Hikaru!" Kallen acknowledged as she sees Rayearth head towards the east before disappearing at a distance.
After Zero notified Kallen that her Guren was recovered by Asahina and Sheeva, he remembered that he ended up using his Geass on Suzaku, unknown to everyone around him.
Flashback, before Hikaru, Suzaku, Zero, Euphy, and Kallen got stranded on Kaminejima Island:
As Zero's Geass told Suzaku to live, the Honorary Britannian closed the humpback cockpit and steered the Lancelot away from the Gawain's scattering fire, taking Zero with him, as he fired a Slash Harken at an unknown target offscreen.
For Clef, as he activated his Barrier Shield with the Archwizard's staff, he used its landspinners to move backwards and up the ditch. For Lantis and the Black Crusader, he grabs an unconscious Hikaru with the Knightmare's left hand only for the Flame Knight to disappear in a red-flash, leaving the Magic Swordsman confused and worried for her safety. While Clef's Barrier is still holding up, Lantis used the Crusader's slash harkens to hoist himself out of the ditch and retreated along with Clef's Knightmare.
"Man, that was such an adventure I had back there!" Hikaru muttered to herself while inside her Rune God. "Though, Umi is going to kill me if she ever finds out what happened to me on that island!"
In just several minutes later, Hikaru and Rayearth spot the NSX in a distance above the ocean, much to the Fire Knight's relief. Wasting no time, Hikaru proceeded to board the NSX before being done with it.
