Disclaimer: I own nothing of Code Geass, nor of Guilty Gear, nor to a lesser extent, BlazBlue and Rewrite. I do own this story, and all the inspirations along with it. And of course, the brain where the ideas came from.
The next meeting point this time was an apartment somewhere in the middle of the EU district. A few in the group expressed the discomfort they felt when they were ushered in by the barricade troops in Mobile Units, and Kallen could honestly say she felt that same apprehension.
The apartment was nestled along a row of similar-styled buildings arranged haphazardly along a dingy street, with hawkers and peddlers lining every entrance and corner, crying their wares. Kallen wondered why Zero had chosen this crowded place – they had a very high chance of being discovered should they continue their "lessons" here.
And quite honestly, Kallen didn't think she could handle another round of Tamaki's jeering before she'd blow some extremities off with a burst of concentrated flame.
Each of them filed in through the entrance in singles and pairs, as instructed, and gave their differing reasons to be in the complex to the dour-faced receptionists. Each rented rooms as far away from each other as possible (bankrolled by Zero, no less) and when the clock struck their apportioned date, the hidden Gears went up to the very top floor, where the Command Gear had seemingly bought off every room to keep out outsiders for just this one meeting.
When Tamaki, who'd excitedly gone first to open the door, stepped through the threshold, all of them were instantly assailed by the screeching lullaby in their minds. Were it not for Zero's prior training, all of them might have immediately shifted into their other forms through sheer instinct.
"What the hell, man?"
There stood Zero, as Kallen remembered him back when she'd pursued him across the wastes of the Dead Zone. The black cloak and hood, the short, feathered wings and that tail he hated – to the completely uneducated, he was an oddity, to the rest of the world, there unmistakably stood a Gear.
"I-It's dangerous, Zero!" Ohgi gasped. "You've just revealed your position to the Order! We're all in danger!"
"Did you betray us after all?"
"Calm yourselves," Zero said, raising a hand that was yet humanoid in shape towards them. He gestured to the open space, "Rest assured, I did not come here to trap you. At the same time, understand that no force on earth knows I, the hated Gear, am here in this very instant." He spread his other arm, continuing with his velvet voice, "I know this for I have myself found and entered this building as this." With that, the lullaby crested up into a dizzying pitch, and it was all Kallen could do to staunch the overflowing pressure in her mind.
Zero stood transfigured, rune-ring rotating majestically below his full frame. "Did you really assume the Order was that omniscient? Even the Knights who must protect the sanctity of the world have their own rules to follow – their own foolish, self-imposed restrictions."
"How do you explain them finding out the Gears who went berserk then?"
"A gunshot is unmistakable, its cocking far less so. The first thing all Gears do when they 'break free' is use their immense power to destroy. And that is how they draw the Knights to them like many ravenous flies. But were one a controlled Gear, as you all must be," Zero clapped his hand, and after a flash, he was Alan Spacer once more. "Then they are free to shift into and out of their other sides without fear." The piercing lullaby ended.
Zero nodded to himself in satisfaction after the explanation, though most of them still entertained doubts, their ears straining for the telltale sound of Order horns and sirens. One of them even stalked to the window to check the crowd below, expecting to see at any moment the uniformed legions of white-and-blue marching towards them.
"I'm sure, at some point they will realize their folly," said Zero, walking over to the center of the wide-open space. Kallen saw that the furniture in the room had been moved neatly to the side, with the walls separating the rooms along the hall shattered, their rubble piled to the side. "But for now, we will take advantage of their complacence. Can any of you profess to have your control now? Please advance, we have very little time."
"What's the rush?" Kallen blurted out, as Tamaki confidently stepped up, his chest puffed out. Zero's masked face turned to her, his lips frowning slightly.
"Aside from the Order and the Powers, there is one more organization that we must all treat like a sleeping bear. And it is from them, inevitably, that the impetus of researching ways to trace Gears merely by their presence will be formed."
"Gaia." Ohgi said with conviction as Zero nodded appreciatively. He continued as he traced arrays with his hand (in motions that Kallen found so so familiar), "I know you've dealt with them before. If we shall work to undo the world's foundations, we must first deal with their constant presence, their tentacles of influence coiling around in the darkness underneath the pillars. That should be our first move.
"But I'm getting ahead of myself. Before we can safely move as a determined group, you must all at least reach my stage. During this session, I will have you shift into your fullest form, mustering as much of my lessons as possible."
"What?"
"But isn't this too early, yo?"
"They're right Zero," Ohgi said, looking around. Even the headstrong Kallen had looked away uncertainly. "It's too early for us to move into our forms freely. We can't risk being found out at this point."
"Do not worry. As long as you trust in me, you shall all pull through. Now Tamaki, you go. Time is ever impatient. We will stop if it seems that it will become a liability. But you all must muster it soon." At that moment, Kallen had the faint, but sure impression that Zero, no, that guy behind the mask was not being entirely truthful. But about what?
"No matter how vile or corrupted you feel yourselves to be, never forget who you are. Think only of yourselves in that moment."
)()()()()()()()(
Suzaku sat properly, practice sword sheathed on a stand before him and the round, wooden shield next to it. The emptiness of the dimmed training room, no, it was more of a traditional old Japanese dojo that was remarkably wide, filled his senses with the ringing silence. The dummies littering the edges and leaning on walls were like eerie corpses when Suzaku looked away, but when he turned, they became the "Gears" with faces and expressions painted comically, laid out in frozen repose.
Brother Ryoga had had him wait there, encouraging him to meditate for a while as he waited for Lord Brother Tohdoh. He had made no objection, though the fact that no one else was in the room when he entered made him shift uneasily in his mind.
Alright, meditate then.
He cleared his mind of all recent impressions and emotions, of hazy images hanging on like cobwebs that he banished with a wave of a meditative torch. Lelouch, his friends, the Lancelot, his Knighthood – concentrate. It was like trying to cast a long, hard, barely-practiced ars, in a sense. Only Lelouch and the Prez had ever shown themselves to be quite proficient in the art, the former even more so.
He was only ever good in lightning magic, a "stunning" compatibility with the element. Without it, he was just another "ki-wielding" relic, as some Britannians in the Academy had commented before they were summarily silenced by the Shadowfrost Prince. In some sense, they were true. His only claim to fame was his relentless zeal for the extermination of Gears. He was no genius like Lelouch or Nina, or one with powerful connections like Milly.
Ah, I'm thinking of Lelouch again.
Breathe. Breathe.
Clear everything.
Get out, intrusive thoughts.
*Boom!*
Suzaku's eyes flashed open as his hand immediately went down to grasp the hilt of the practice sword. He instantly zeroed in on the source: behind a panel on the wall opposite that had receded upward was a wide, empty space, upon which loomed the signature sable Gekka of Japan's last living sword-saint: Kyoshiro Tohdoh.
In its hand, it held the meter-thick sword that was as long as the Knightmare. It held Suzaku's attention long enough before he could realize it was pointed straight at him as he rose just in time to leap backward.
The Knightmare charged like lightning; the sword slamming down on the spot where he'd sat one second before with the force of a gale and the sound of thunder. The shield that had been left broke into many fine bits as a thin crack appeared on the impact area.
"Sense- er- my Lord Brother!" Suzaku gasped, as the lone Factsphere blinking red on top of its head turned toward him. "What's going on-?"
"You will fight, Brother Knight," Suzaku saw the Landspinner wheels begin to spin on the polished wood when he realized the next attack coming. The Legion-Master's voice was reserved, metallic. "If you want to live."
)()()()()()()()(
"Kallen, come back!" The maelstrom of colors that filled her vision stilled, the pounding headache descending into a dull, rhythmic throb.
She brushed a hand in front of her, groping blindly through the flashes as many unseen hands helped her up. When her vision cleared, it was to see Zero's dark hooded mask peering intently at her mere inches from her own face.
"Wha...?" she mumbled nonsensically. She shook herself from the grip of the arms, all but one sensation disappearing when Zero answered, "You very nearly lost control. Come sit and rest. We are done with your lesson."
"Oh..." she hung her head, allowing herself to be seated. "I'm...sorry..." she said slowly, her mind racing through the mental muck to remember what had happened.
"There is nothing to apologize for. Everyone learns in different ways." The words sounded gentle and reassuring, but the sting did not feel any less painful. Or was she imagining it?
Tamaki, the brash loudmouth, had surprised them all when he'd shifted flawlessly into his other form with ease, remaining in it without showing the least hint of going out of control. Of course, he said later, as the others also pointed out later, that he didn't dare speak or do anything stupid in case it set himself off, but the fact that they had acquired some form of mastery over their instincts was gratifying.
Kallen, who was last, had expected to feel the same emotion, tinged with a healthy amount of apprehension; it seemed she was the only one among them who was still not assured that Zero – or Lamperouge – was being entirely truthful.
She'd stepped up with some trepidation, and after going through the process that bit at her body like a million angry ants, felt the ungodly pressure slip into her mind. She watched through a small, white tunnel the sight of the room slip and slide out of focus, her only companion Zero's exhortations, the constant pain and headache, and the lullaby-
The lullaby! She did not remember anything past that point, but she did remember the piercing song rip into her mind. Looking up from her daze, she stared with narrowed eyes at Zero who was praising the others' progress.
"A single, small step, but an important one, all the same. I congratulate you on your successful efforts." Kallen noticed the Command Gear had not glanced in her direction.
"But what's the use, anyway?" Tamaki asked, with smirk ever-present. "This whole transformation mastering thing is all well and good, but then what? Are we going to go attack the Order or something?"
"But we can't do that," Ohgi protested. "We're too few, and I don't think we alone can stand against the whole world."
Zero let them speak as he stood listening to them in silence. "But isn't Zero's goal to destroy the world or something like that? Ain't that right, Zero?"
"Yes, that should be our immediate goal," forestalling Ohgi's next, predicted words with a clawed hand, the Gear continued, "But Kaname Ohgi is right. As we are, we have yet the combined power to challenge the whole world. Alone, we are able to destroy the Eleventh Preserve, but I see no positive effects from it that could vastly outweigh the negative."
"'Destroy the Eleventh Preserve'... whoo wow, you got some balls man," Tamaki said with gushing admiration. He went up to elbow Zero in the side, and Kallen did not miss the nearly unmistakable instance of a pained flinch that swept across his expression. She repressed the urge to sigh.
"...There are different ways to go about this. We might attempt to use the underground to recruit more Gears and show them what it takes to retain free-will while transformed, but it will take a long time, and as I said, that is not a luxury we have. We also need resources of our own, Knightmares, glyphs, arms... All of that requires organization."
"Then what are you going to do, Zero?" Kallen asked. It was then that the masked gaze finally met hers.
"We turn to ready sources of the things we need," he said smoothly, dramatically.
"You mean...?"
"Yes." Zero turned to look at Ohgi, who looked back with surprise. "As I said, we must contact Gaia."
)()()()()()()()(
The sounds of impacts and screeches of wheels, and the clashing of ars and arms even filtered out from the normally soundproof training room. The Four Elites stood in uniformed position before the entrance to the room, ordered to bar anyone save an alarm or a Legion-Master from entering.
"And I seriously wanted to reach the high score," complained Brother Weinberg, after Brother Asahina stepped up to decline him entry. "What's the deal, anyway? From the sounds of it, is the Lord Brother practicing some new maneuvers?"
"We honestly cannot say anymore, Brother," apologized another Elite. Weinberg couldn't see what expression lay behind that helm. "But we know it is important to the Lord Master. And that is enough for us."
The boy's movements were filled with desperation. That was unsightly. He swung and ducked, dodged and weaved his way out of the sword's paths through the air. He didn't even raise his own sword to strike.
"What's wrong, Brother Kururugi?" he asked, settling back into a neutral stance. The boy was panting, the additional weight of the armor aggravating his stamina.
"Why are you doing this, Lord Brother?"
"Did I not tell you? It is a fight. You shall use all arts and ars available to you. Raise your sword, Kururugi!" He charged; this time the boy leapt forward, spinning once in midair to plant a kick against the sword. Anticipating, Tohdoh relaxed the two-handed grip and punched the boy square in the gut with his free hand.
"And what was the purpose of that, Brother? Disarming?" He held the sheathed Susanooh horizontally against him, regarding the image of the injured boy on his display. "As a Nox Nyctores, this beast will not willingly leave the hand of its binder. But it was a good, commendable attempt. You have learned something."
"My Lord Brother, I may be remiss in saying," the boy said between pained gasps, "But isn't this a one-sided affair? I can't match the speed and movements of a Knightmare with this body alone."
"And why is that?"
"Because a Knightmare is superior in every way. It augments the user's body – no, it's an entirely different body by itself. Humans, ordinary humans can't match it in single battle."
"Is that as much of a difference then, from a battle between a human and a Gear?" Suzaku started, surprised as Susanooh swung twice in the place where he'd been. When the boy recovered from his sideward roll, he gasped, "No, Lord Brother. A Gear is biologically intended to be far more powerful than any human!"
"Then a battle between a Gear and a human would result in the human's death?"
"...Yes."
"Then answer me this." Susanooh flashed as it was brandished at the boy again. "What could have possessed your mind to hurl yourself at Zero with sheer recklessness? That is not the way of the Knight! That is not how we Guardians must act!" A swing, and a backflip, and then the Gekka dove into a low stance to sweep the massive sword across the ground.
Lightning flashed across the length of the blade. The boy took a deep breath as he held the sword before him, muscles poised and coiled. "For the sake of justice."
"If you think your act was justice, then you have had a grave understanding of its true meaning." With a mechanical hiss, flaps along the armor of the machine opened up, expelling a slight burst of concentrated seithr. "To be a Guardian means adopting an entirely different form of justice. It is sad to acknowledge that you were not able to learn that during the proper initiation period of your Knighthood. This will have to do. Be ready, Brother Kururugi!
"It may be old-fashioned of me to ask this, but put all your convictions inside your blade! If yours does not falter, then you are in the right." Even in such an obvious disadvantage, Suzaku settled into his formal high stance with determination. There was no hint of a brazen confidence, or slack-jawed fear. Tohdoh only saw the hateful face of a man lost to his own illusions.
The single stray spark arcing across the boy's blade was the signal.
)()()()()()()()(
"But...to contact Gaia now..." Kallen shared Ohgi's sentiment. The last time they had spoken to members of the organization, Gears (though not from their group) had massacred them. It was certainly not the way to please.
"I believe they are the ones most...sympathetic to renegade causes," Zero said carefully. "I will not hide that we will only use the power they can give until they are no longer of use to us. And as of this moment, they are, out of all the groups in this world the ones most likely to give aid."
"But we can't trust those guys," Kallen protested. What was Zero thinking? "You should know they only care about studying or using us Gears for their own slimy ends! The last Gaia contract wanted to take us away! You should've heard what they were saying about equality!"
"I am aware," replied Zero in the same delicate manner. "I was there, after all." The Gear seemed to fall into a pensive silence. "Which is why our conditions for helping will not include that loathsome clause. We will offer them something far more valuable than all the Gears in the world."
"And what's that?"
Zero's voice seemed to smile as he turned to reply to Kallen: "Myself, of course."
)()()()()()()()(
It was like looking into a vast pool of untapped potential. Suzaku Kururugi was skilled, determined, and wilful. No part of his movements were wasted, no action was done without sheer, controlled bursts of brute intent. The boy lacked tactics and immediate foresight, but those were eclipsed by his complete mastery over his body, pushing its capabilities to exceeding heights.
True, the Legion-Master was holding back, and Susanooh's haunting voice was sewed shut inside the sheath, but he could not land a single decisive strike on the boy as he flew through land and air like a graceful swan.
"Use your magic, boy!"
Instantly, jagged sparks of solidified lightning flew at him; the magically resistant armor could take them all, but the Gekka made an effort to dodge them nonetheless. Suzaku did not hesitate to capitalize on the attack, sending a few more blasts Tohdoh's way as he lunged in.
There was a clash of swords, and it was clear that the tiny practice sword was no match. A loud, forceful thrust was immediately followed into a downward smash, sending stray splinters of wood into the air as Suzaku jumped back, bringing his bent practice sword with him.
The Gekka stayed where it was, sword poised and ready. The tense air settled into a silent stand-off as the two fighters faced each other. He uttered a challenge: "What's wrong? Is your sword that brittle? Attack or forfeit."
Sparks of blue, jagged lightning immediately swarmed up from the floor to surround the boy. There was a great drawing of seithr, and Tohdoh was less than impressed that Suzaku was very inefficient when it came to ars. Then the boy started running.
The Factsphere tracked the boy's movements as he shot through the floor and headed straight for one of the walls. Preserving momentum, he dashed up the wall, only pausing when his feet touched the ceiling to send a burst of concentrated blue lightning along it towards him.
The Gekka didn't need to use its Landspinners to adjust, but the boy was still going, his entire body a literal furnace of seithr as he ran on the ceiling, stopping and unleashing another burst quickly. The interval between the attacks became progressively shorter, forcing Tohdoh to have to adjust as colliding streams literally burst apart above and below him in a shower of sparks.
This was a fool attack. The lightning was slow and predictable in its path, and even if it did hit, it was inefficient in composition to be only a threat against civilians. To ars practicioners, it was a tickle. As the blue glow filled the training room, the Legion-Master decided that enough was enough, and set to dispelling-
-There?- Instantly he felt a surge of power come near, and the anticipatory shiver that ran through him every time danger neared alerted him to the boy, who had gone back to the ground and was charging at him while hiding inside one of his own lightning attacks. So that was it.
Tohdoh praised the boy mentally for his ingenuity, even if any Knight worth his salt would be able to see through the tactic with relative ease. In the split-second before impact, a small, white seal with red, glowing runes on its surface appeared in front of Tohdoh's hand that came up to block.
The impact made the world inside the Knightmare shake, but the relentless Knight rode through the waves with practiced ease as he brought Susanooh in the grip of his other hand to strike.
Whack! The impact was cushioned by the armor, by the sheath, but there was no mistaking the distinct crack of bone as the boy's body was hurled like a speeding, electrified comet into the far wall, where he collided into it with a crunch.
Tohdoh stilled the rampaging lightning in the room with a dispel, and in a flash of white light, he appeared in front of his Knightmare, having disengaged from it. He went to the boy.
"Your attacks were spirited, your will unquenchable. You displayed a wide array of combat tactics. But it was not enough.
"The way to victory there, Kururugi," he said. "Was by acknowledging the gap in ability and staying your sword. You would have done better to heed the warning in my words then and resisted the urge to attack."
"I'm sorry, Lord Brother." Blood streamed from the boy's head, but he didn't utter a single moan or complaint as he stumbled from the crater on the wall.
"Answer me, Kururugi. Who are we?"
"The Guardians."
"And what is our vow?"
"To be the shield in the darkest hour."
"Exactly. We are Guardians, not soldiers. To be a Knight means dedicating ourselves to protecting our means to protect first and foremost, then to protecting our charges. We protect, Kururugi. We are ever on the defensive. We do not charge recklessly into battle, fulfilling some ideal or another. Your style of attack is for killers and Gears, not Guardians."
"But, I serve justice-" protested Kururugi.
"The Order's justice is the world's justice," interrupted Tohdoh with a growl. "If you are a Knight of the Order, your charges are your justice. Defend them until and beyond death. The safety of the people must be assured before the extermination of the threat. Had you been a Knight, you should not have pursued Zero, and would be punished if you had. Why do you think you had to accept the shield upon your initiation?"
The boy still didn't look convinced, staring sullenly at the floor. Tohdoh glanced around at the mess that was left from the battle. "You have will, Kururugi, much like your father. You have skill, you have strength. The blood of the Japanese runs strong in you. But if you will not seek the path of the defender, then you are not fit to be a Knight. Am I understood?"
The two, teacher and student, locked gazes. "Yes... sensei."
)()()()()()()()(
Plans were made, and the rest of the group watched uneasily as Zero arranged for Ohgi to contact Gaia as quickly as possible, bearing with him one word: "Zero."
Kallen had her reservations, and she was thankful that Zero's imperious words stopped her before she exited out the apartment door. "Kallen. A moment please."
She shut the door before her and turned back, crossing her arms in a silent challenge. Alan Spacer stood before her now, looking very much like a teen lacking in confidence.
"What are you planning, Zero? You know what Gaia would do if they got their hands on you. Are you planning something again? I told the others I'd trust you, but not to the extent of being stupid enough to walk right into those roobs' schemes-"
"We shall not talk of my decision, Kallen Kouzuki. If you had something to object, you should have brought it up when the entire group was still here." Alan Spacer breathed a sigh as he walked off a few steps to the side. "I just wanted to give you words of caution."
"Against what?"
"Eventually you will learn to control your power-"
"Don't keep reminding me of my failure," said the redhead peevishly.
"I have no issue with your ability. Please believe me on that. As I said, eventually you will begin to master your power. But at the same time, issues with your other identity – if you have one – will arise." Kallen couldn't believe this. He of all people was going to lecture her about keeping identities secret? "You must keep your identity secret for as long as possible, using any means necessary. If everyone finds out, that triggers an endgame scenario that I have no wish to implement at so early a time. So please-"
"Why the hell are you so concerned?"
"-I cannot be there with you all the time. We- our masks – all have responsibilities to hold," continued Zero as if she had not interrupted. "But as much as possible, we must refrain from giving in to the temptation to appear not as we seem. Any of your powers must be withheld for as long as you can, until death is the only other alternative if you do otherwise. Yes, that includes appearing to be weak and ineffective to others, or doing other 'foolish' things."
"Is that why you took the fall for the council?" she probed in a spurt of cunning. The Gear made no reaction, standing still and away like a frozen statue. Zero made an imperceptible sound before concluding gently, "We all cannot afford to lose an important piece like you, young flame. Even if it means I must disable you myself to keep you from revealing yourself."
This guy would dare- wait. "Is your concern coming from the Gear named Zero, or your other self?"
Zero chuckled, unclasping the hands from behind him and twisting to face her. "As a fellow concerned Gear. No more, no less," he drawled.
Again, Kallen had the distinctive feeling, as she walked silently through the rowdy evening crowds of the Union district, that Zero had not been entirely truthful. The last image of him, like a solitary dark owl silhouetted against the window, seemed to be holding many unpleasant things inside.
)()()()()()()()(
The aftermath of the contact from one of their former Gear agents had riled up the eyes and ears of Gaia as the information surged like wildfire through their network.
The lone word that had been uttered sent many of the minds making up Gaia into a frenzy. No less affected, was one Holy Woman, who instantly shrieked behind the oracular veil when the news was relayed to her.
"Lord Zero comes?" she cried jubilantly. "Oh, what a wonderful, glorious day for Gaia! Come everyone, we must celebrate!"
"Yes, Exalted One!"
)()()()()()()()(
Night had cast its dark shadow on the Preserve. Lelouch's gaze swept endlessly over the view through the darkened windows. The room had long gone dim and silent, and the youth seemed a night-creature standing solemn and solitary.
"It seems I'm late."
"Witch."
"That is a droll derogatory term. Then again, you are an unskilled, virgin baby Gear, so I can't complain that much."
Lelouch turned around and was treated to a heart-stopping instant before he said angrily, "C.C- What...?"
The witch's body was upside down, feet planted on the ceiling, her unbound green hair like a grassy curtain of leaves. Lelouch saw a strange, red mark on her forehead, and the serene, superior expression on the girl's face. In the darkness, it seemed that she was floating on nothing.
"You prefer flamboyant entrances, so I figure'd it'd make sense to imitate you." She flipped downward to land gracefully on the floor without a sound.
"I'm not sure I'm flattered. So you saw and heard everything?"
"From the very start. Amateur teaching, but at your pace, they might just reach your level in a month. Though their personalities leave more to be desired. And that girl - I know she still has reservations about you. Are you sure you're going to just let that stray 'condition' be?" she asked, turning around and walking to a far window.
"It's unfortunate that it didn't work, but I've seen no opportunities to convince her otherwise. I shall be currently banking on the hope that she maintains her silence." Lelouch rubbed his forehead wearily.
"Wouldn't it be easier to arrange for a more permanent silence?"
"I can't do that. Not until it would seriously threaten my plans."
"You talk of plans as if you had one. You had a plan for her and failed quite spectacularly." C.C laughed throatily. "Well, it will be amusing to see the myriad ways your plans can lead. At the very least, the way you fumble about is heartwarming to watch." Lelouch resisted the urge to shout and instead continued along the train of his thought.
"My main concern right now, is Gaia." C.C fell into thought, lips pursed. "I would have dispensed with interrogating Kaname for his knowledge if you'd just told me what you knew witch."
"I told you, baby Gear," she placed her palms on the glass surface. "I only know of Gaia from what I've read as any human whenever I wake up. I have never been a member, nor was involved with any of them in the past."
"Are you lying?"
"If I was, you wouldn't know that." They glanced at each other. "...A truthful thing I can say is that Gaia, though a worldwide group, had its earliest roots in Britannia."
"Should I believe that?" asked Lelouch skeptically.
"No, you shouldn't," she replied shortly. "It's a fairy tale. It's a fantasy for your young mind. And it goes: Gaia was born of noble seeds, on the fertile minds of the past youth. But not everything endures. Gaia's purpose, I believe has been corrupted in the long decades. Even if I were to tell you the truth, it would not help you in communing with the corrupted denizens that infest the 'idealistic' organization. You, and your 'family', are well and truly alone in this endeavor."
"I think they are yet unprepared for the return of another 'Command Gear'. In your words: 'we shall see' – what they have prepared for my coming."
"Pray that thought will not be your last, baby Gear. The dark is merciless to those who hold light in their hearts." And the two of them departed from that place.
Edit: A reader messaged me, sharing the same inquiry as a friend of mine who reads and helped form the crossover foundation of this story, about themes. Well, you can just look up battle themes for Code Geass or the crossovers; the latter's metal themes fit quite nicely. I mean, I don't really care about themes personally in a fanfiction, and I think it's kind of pompous to fit in themes from other shows to make a scene "sound better."
However, there are some that I think would fit future scenes and so I've listed to give a preview of sorts for the sake of my friend and you, reader:
All Hail Britannia! (CG) - must never forget the essential Britannian theme
Siegfried (CG) - Zero vs. C.C.
The Master (CG) - ZERO scenes when Zero announces things to the world
Stories (CG) - non-tense scene or scenes with introspection
Alexandrite (BB) - Student council in-fight (not serious)
X-Matic (BB) - Student council in-fight (serious)
Keep the Flag Flying (GG) - Order battles
The Mask Does not Laugh (GG) - "The Black Knights" battles or Zero's campaigns
Communication (GG) - Kallen vs. Suzaku
Toxoplasma (Rwr) - Gaia battles
Kuroboshibyō (Rwr) - Gaia scenes
Shear (Rwr) - Order (Suzaku) break-through "against all odds" scenes
Thanks for reading!
Merlin Out.