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.

"Begin recording. Lock surface algorithms to access code FJ-0025, using the Sign of the Chameleon – "Impressions on Sakuradite – The Mystique from the East".

My coherent thoughts are something that escapes me yet. They are scattered amongst the wastelands of my mind, willingly made so since my self-imposed exile. I dare not gather the fragments together, but I will not hesitate to pick at them as a scavenger does in the outside Zones.

My history has had many opportunities of 'splintering'. I suppose... it is also the fate of our race. I remember these were pontificated to me by an infuriating man, long ago.

Long ago... yes, long before my time, humanity was splintered when the Northerners were driven back from the Lupine Hills in a grand alliance of the East. They who were defeated fled West over the seas of Atlantis, never again to see the rest of the world for a long time. The embers of their defeat would smoulder... until, a millennium later, blaze into what is now the 'greatest nation on Earth'. Say what you will about Britannia, but they owe as much to their defeats as to their victories. To bring down the dragon once...is to invite its searing flames on you when your back is turned.

The country itself was not immune to self-splintering, in many decadent cycles of strife that pitted brother against sister, free man against slave. The only thing that has never faltered are the Empire's iron will, and the 'light' of the Imperial Throne.

I am digressing. Those times are history, only fit for the musty books hermetically sealed away. This was something I experienced myself, with my own two eyes.

Humanity was once more splintered, many wars later, when the hellish, otherworldly might of the Black Beast erupted onto the world's surface with the glee of a newborn child. So much destruction in its wake...and the faces...the hearts awash in despair...oh, I could remember the faces – always so vivid in my mind.

Perhaps I shall talk of 'that' time later.

Another great splintering was his so-called 'Crusade'. that cynical war between humanity and the living weapons known as Gears. It came to a close with humanity's victory, but cost so much, maybe as much as, or greater than that of the Beast. See, at least the Beast was every human's enemy, the World's Enemy. Everyone knew, and focused on that great threat, pouring all their powers into destroying it. The Gears, on the other hand, were many, and they adopted the skin of humanity so well that it was as if the species had divided unto itself. One couldn't spend a day in the city without wondering if the face looking out at me from the corner was one of Justice's spies, or just another person scared out of his life from all the constant death. Gears were a rapidly multiplying and more powerful race than the humans could ever be, even with their newborn use of magics such as 'Ars Magus'.

Gear supremacy was itself shattered when their leader, Justice, was defeated. In the wake of his death, all of the remnant Gears that weren't destroyed became dormant, doll-like things, with human faces and human behaviors, however stilted.

I think they were right, those men and women who preceded the Guardians, when they urged for a complete destruction of the problematic Gears. Their fears were justified: for who knew how long this dormancy would last? A hundred, three hundred years? And at least if they went with the extermination, the horrific abuse they would heap on these creatures would have never happened, would have never... corrupted humanity so much in their misuse of the Gear's powers.

'But they don't have minds of their own, not anymore', came back the excuse, and a thrill runs through me everytime such garbage is spouted. Leave it to greed to entice humanity's basic survival instincts away...

I know- I think, more than anyone in this world- that their states are but a mere temporary thing. The slumbering beasts who live in the midst of the households getting the children tea, the ones digging in the vast tunnels beneath the earth for sakuradite, or the guinea pigs in many a scientific pursuit – there will definitely come a time when they will wake up to the soot in their eyes and realize themselves. And then...and then, the Reckoning.

It appears, then, that this time is coming sooner than I thought. I estimated it would take a thousand years. Now, it's taken but three hundred.

Lelouch Lamperouge is, by my observation, a fairly unassuming human. True, he has the boyish charm that made many an admirer in his school swoon, the grace and magical prowess to back up that pretty face, and a mouth that would make 'him' proud. But in all respects, the world, and even he himself, thinks he is human.

Hah! I showed him the truth. The truth he so wanted to escape. I urged him to embrace it, to take the power as his own, or I would destroy him. And he did, and with his awakening, I tremble in anticipation, and fear, at the Apocalypse that is to come.

For Lelouch is not just any Gear. Despite 'his' theories, the Command Gene did not pass to a female. This time, a male of our species has inherited it, and with it, he may be the Reckoning's harbinger.

The 'cursed geas', this power that he holds as a Gear, enables him to control and awaken all other Gears in the world, no matter their state or power. It has literally no limits, no weaknesses. It is the power of an unholy king, fit for they who would remake the world in their own image. Give Lelouch a year, and the whole world would become his own personal pizza plate. Give him any amount of time forcing Gears into service in his army, and nothing, not even the mighty Sacred Order, can stop him.

But strangely enough... he hasn't. He says he has plans. He has executed some. His assault on Area Eleven and subsequent flooding of the Viceroy's Palace – that was a master stroke and display of magical might that would make Justice proud. I can still see the Backyard scar up there in the clouds... He used those Gears as they were puppets dancing along with the strings in his murderous fingers.

But he set them free.

What goes on in that infantile mind of his? He then expends himself foolishly into an endeavor of illusion, which to everyone seems to be the Gear parading around its superior powers for the world to see, but to me looks like he was just there to save his...his...lover in the Order!

As far as I can tell, that boy has many lovers – or at least, humans he feels like risking his life for.

He continues to masquerade as a human. I watch him trade smiles and good banter with his friends at his school. All the while seemingly blind to the enormous, I would even say, monstrous potential he wields inside him. Why does he need to bind Gaia to himself, that wretched organization, when, but with a gesture, he would make all the Gears in Area Eleven revolt? He would secure Area Eleven just as easily as he secured Gaia's aid. Lelouch, do you even know what Gaia is? Gaia existed even before my time, before magic was public, before the first EU explorers sighted the majesty of the Britannian Amazon on their spyglasses. I know, in my heart, that they have devoured Gears beneath their belly, do not be dense and ensnare yourself in the wiles of that sinister beast! You now have the power – use it!

*sigh*

I suppose...I suppose I am getting out of touch with myself. I'm not usually prone to anger like this... I see... many splinters within that boy... He is a broken mirror. A precious diamond with many facets. I will continue to watch, and observe as my heart dictates. I shall guide, if need be. I feel really strongly about the Little Gear, strangely enough.

*ring*

This had better be important. Yes. ... Yes. ... What about your lackeys?... I mean your other lackeys, your 'family'. You said you had an important meeting with them, with your girl regarding the Guren. ... Didn't you say you had a plan, little Gear? You said your half-sister has ... More can be said about yourself, $%% ... If you didn't understand that, then you're obviously still in human form ... Goodbye.

Amazing.

A piece of information lands in his lap, a crucial piece to a plan that could be developed to neutralize it, and he goes on planning 'his' celebration. Oh, joy. The Princess Cornelia's plan involves something about our kind, something that is laughably uninformed... I wanted to tell Lelouch this, but... something tells me it would serve the world better if he went in blind. Perhaps that will begin the spark of the Reckoning...

Things are moving quite rapidly. A very young man is Knighted as a Guardian, the youngest, from what I've heard. Britannia, the giant, is mobilizing, and the other two Powers are not far behind. Regardless of what I think about him, 'Zero' has made the world turn. I hear whispers that an Order Inquisition has arrived...and Lelouch tells me that his next plan will be aided by members of Gaia. A clash? Maybe something to look forward to.

'Justice Week'. How very amusing. Perhaps I should go and visit..."

Thanks for reading!

Merlin Out