Meanwhile outside of Richmond

1645 hours

"Hold the line!" Mellenia Evergreen shouted as the ground Imperial Knightmares started to falter under the savage rebel onslaught. Missiles, cannon and haldron beams rained down on them even as they struggle to battle the entrenched rebel Knightmares and tanks. Infantrymen with anti-armour rocket-launchers constantly fired upon them every time they passed a forested area near the trenches and walls.

The Knight of Nine twisted her Vincent around to dodge a sword swing from a rebel Ward. Before the rebel can recover, Mellenia slashed her viroblade lance in a broad swing, cutting the enemy Knightmare neatly in half.

As head of the army's vanguard, Mellenia's forces took the heaviest casualties amongst the first three waves. Not that the second wave and the Black Knights didn't suffer little losses. Although the Franco-German Panzer-Hummels managed to be able to withstand much of the rebel cannon fire with little difficulty, they were almost defenceless against close combat, which unfortunately was where Britannian Knightmares were best at. Units of Sutherlands and Gloucesters had been preoccupied to defend the heavy Knightmares that they were unable to perform their own attacks yet despite the heavy fire from the Britannian Armada and the Hummels, the city's Blaze Luminous Shields held on, and in return the city's defenders throw missile, cannon and haldron blasts back at them which the Imperials had no shield against.

"General Torion! We're taking heavy causalities! We can't hold them much longer!" She reported back to the army commander.

"Stand fast! Our best men are in that fort trying to deactivate the shield. Give them more time!"

If this keeps up, there won't be an army left. The Knight of the Round though furiously as she desperately struggled against two rebel Gloucesters. She blocked a sword swing with one blade and lance thrust with another. Using the Vincent's superior strength, she knocked both weapons from their wielders and decapitated both of them with a single swing.

The debris of the destroyed Knightmares fell down on the city's shields and to Mellenia's surprise they fell through the shields and landed on a pair of rebel tanks destroying them in the explosion as well.

"The shield…The shield has been deactivated!" She shouted through all channels. "All units! Now attack the City!" She didn't know if their men succeeded or even if the whole thing was a trap but she wasn't going to let go of this opportunity to lay waste on these treasonous bastards.

Grinning, Mellenia at the head of the entire Imperial Airborne forces charged down firing down on the rebel forces and from the looks of it they seemed to be even more surprised then their enemies and fell prey to the vengeful Imperial forces. To make things more fortunate if not shocking, the city's automatic defences stopped firing at the Imperial army and instead they turned around towards the city and fired on their own forces.

Here and there rebel soldiers and their Knightmares were slaughtered. Imperial Gloucesters and Sutherlands with their lances charged down, skewering Knightmares and crushing infantrymen as they storm the city. Most of the rebels surrendered seeing their mighty defences fallen. Many did however fought back and Mellenia suspected they were the nobles, unwilling to face justice. Whatever the reason was, it was the only thing that kept them from routing or surrendering.

"My lady!" Her guard captain said. "We've received word that our forces have taken the Keep from the inside."

"Took them long enough. Ask them to send a map of the city with the rebel positions."

"Yes, Madam."

Mellenia then turned her fury on the rebel bastards that dared to defy her highness.

Richmond Keep, Virginia

Anduin charged forward firing into the flank of a pinned down rebel squad. The first shots took down three of them, the bullets shredding though their armour and bodies. He lunged at the rest, smashing the rifle butt into one soldier's chest then swung at another's head.

As he struggled against his recent foe from somewhere, Anduin heard the sounds of battle getting louder. Anduin suppressed a grin as he slammed the edge of his rifle butt against the soldier face, spider-webbing his visor. Looks like the whole damned thing actually worked.

Ducking down behind a damaged fountain, Anduin reached for another cartridge. Bullets peppering at the marbled bricks, the blond knight peered at the rebel position.

A dozen or so men in various uniforms weapons drawn, fired at their forces with the aid of the automatic machine guns from the walls and grounds. He grimaced. This was going to trouble.

The heavy weapons fired volleys of 40 Calibre rounds at their positions, peppering the surrounding furniture, props as well as men. One of the sergeants was caught in the streams of lead as he tried to displace.

"Take cover!" Anduin snapped. His eye brows burrowed as he shifted himself from his cover to get a better shot at the automatic defences as well as the live targets. A grenade might help but with those guns firing not even a fly could survive in the open. He wished desperately for a mini-howitzer to fire at the bastards.

Then suddenly the automatic cannons stopped...just stopped firing, catching everyone in the room, even the rebels themselves by surprise.

Not about to let go of this chance, Anduin immediately reached for a grenade and tossed it to the rebels. It ended with a satisfying bang and the screams of the rebel soldiers raining debris and what was left of them around.

"Commander Landers," An Imperial soldier reported. "This entire floor is secured."

"Good job, Lieutenant. Now, take your men and start clearing out the other areas here. Sent a message to the General that we're in control of the Keep."

"Yes, my lord." The officer saluted and turned, already speaking through his comlink.

"Everyone else," He turned to the rest of the men. "We'll clear this compound and meet up at the entrance."

"P6, throw a grenade at the Entrance B. K2, P8, fire twenty degrees to your right."

"R2, pull back."

Arthur turned to the various video screens of the entire Keep. He scanned through each situation of his men and the rebel units giving different orders as they struggled through the chaotic battlefield.

Now that the Imperial army had managed to get in, the rebels were trapped between them and Arthur's own forces."

"Harry, execute Formation Alpha. Sterling, fire 30 degrees to your right. B1, destroy the third pillar to your right. Once you're done, everyone move to Sector 5."

Only when the entire battlefield in their position was cleared of enemy troops, Arthur finally paused to take a deep breath. It was finally over. He was exhausted and he idly drew the sword buried in the chest of the dead nobleman.

As he did, Arthur unintentionally took a glance at one monitor screen. From his thick, glossy black hair which was plastered to his head with blood and sweat, he saw a young man in late teenage staring back at him with deep arresting violet eyes, with arched brows giving him a rather mordant look. He was of slim, almost lanky built. However it wasn't the hair nor the eyes that so unsettled others.

It was his face.

Not that he was unhandsome. On the contrary, his face was an image which every girl would dream as their future husband, with a strong clean jaw and angular features, it was almost like as if it was carved by angels.

No. It was more of because who he looked like. One he had sworn his loyalty to so long ago. One who had saved his life. One who deserved a much better fate than he had gotten.

The sound of explosions, gunfire, transmissions filled the room through the microphones in the awkward silence. They spoke of many things: reports, warnings, damages, and death…mostly death. Frowning, the raven-haired knight turned away unable to look at the face any longer.

"It was I who should have taken that sword." He muttered.

Arthur raised his sword in attempt to wipe the remaining blood on the blade…and suddenly turned the blade around, thrusting it into the shadows behind him, violet eyes narrowing dangerously.

The crimson keen edge came within an inch of a figure unseen in those shadows until now. But it was not an enemy but a very familiar face that greeted him.

"Bloody hell, Arthur. It's me." Anduin exclaimed, surprised by his reaction.

With a deep sigh, Arthur lowered his weapon. "Don't startle me like that." He said the words slowly. "Or you'll end up with a cold steel in your gut."

Anduin gave a short glance at the dead corpse near leaning against the wall and smirked. "Yeah, I can see that." He commented warily. "Anyway, we've taken the Keep. Most of the rebels have either been killed or captured."

"That's good. Our forces have pulled back and the Imperial army now has the situation in hand."

"So have we got what we came here to get?" Anduin asked, inspecting his assault rifle

"Yes. It's all here." He pulled out a small silvery device from his pouch. "Inform the Grand Master that we're done." With that the raven-haired knight lifted his sword, put the point in the scabbard hanging on his left hip and drove it home.

"You're wounded." Anduin said quietly causing Arthur to look up again. His friend pointed to his temple and the knight reached a gloved hand over it and felt a tinkle of warm blood flowing down from his temple. Strangely he did not feel any pain until he touched the wound.

"It's nothing." Arthur declared. "Have Harry take the lead in speaking on our involvement to the Imperial commanders. We are just part of Benford's Household Guard fighting for our Queen are we not? Now give me your helmet."

"Of course." Anduin nodded understanding the reason why he always wear it and handed him the headgear. He'll confront him with this later. Right now, Arthur looked more like a demon than a man.

Meanwhile back in New Pendragon

"Your Highness, are you sure that you want to meet with them now?" Zero asked the Britannian Empress.

"Of course. From all this stress, I would like to see them while they're still here."

"But your highness…" The masked knight trailed off and glanced at Kallen for help who just shook her head.

"I know. They have no memory of me. Am I not correct?" The young Empress looked up at them. Both Zero and Kallen looked at each other in surprise.

"I suspected as much," Nunnally continued, moving down the corridor in her hover chair. "When I learnt big brother's memory was rewritten by Father I knew that everyone else's memories in Ashford would be rewritten as well.

"But I still would like to see familiar faces again. Both Rivalz and Milly have done a lot for us. Milly's family have done a lot for us when we were young."

"I heard the Ashford Foundation is now one of the largest supporters to the crown outside of Britannia." Kallen asked.

"Yes." Zero nodded. "They contributed the largest sum in rebuilding New Pendragon."

"Oh yes. How is Nina?" Nunnally said suddenly.

"She's doing well." Suzaku replied. "Lloyd has taken her under her wing at the Camelot. They're working on new counter measures against this rebel attack."

The trio entered a large decorated room where their two expected guests were waiting across a table. They rose from their seats at once and bowed. Zero nodded to them and went back outside to give them their privacy.

"Please, rise. I feel rather uncomfortable at this."

"We are honoured, Your Highness." Milly Ashford said coolly while Rivalz who could still hardly believe that they were meeting the monarch who brought peace back just nodded.

"I know this is a sudden request but I would like to know my…my brother's friends when he was back at school."

They seemed to be surprised first but then nodded understandingly.

"Tell me how was he like. And please, right here and now. I'm just Nunnally." Nunnally asked them and they explained about how Lelouch was back then to her with Rivalz in the lead. As Rivalz was explaining about one event, Milly took the chance to talk to Kallen.

"It is good to see you again, Kallen." The Knight of Two smiled at her older companion.

"You too Milly. How have you been doing?" She asked the former Student Council President.

"I'm doing great." She said, cheerfully. "After I went for that broadcast in Africa, I decided that I wanted to see the world and...well...look for the truth." She said the last part quietly and trailed off.

"I see." Kallen nodded understandingly. Of course Milly would be suspicious of Lelouch's death. Part of her wanted to tell Milly the truth, but she thought better of it. Kallen could still not risk it. Perhaps it would be better if Milly would find out the truth by herself.

"How about yourself Kallen? How do you find the Homelands compared to Japan?"

Kallen shrugged. "It's a bit cold for my taste. And the formality they use is driving me nuts. But the clothing is far worst. For ball I have to wear this. For the meeting, I have to wear that. For the battle I have to wear this...Ugrah...it's just so frustrating." She went on ranting not with a little bit of frustration. Milly laughed more amused by the way her companion was talking than the words.

"You know it is far more refreshing to see the real you. I always wonder why you choose a persona completely opposite of your real self."

Kallen chuckled. "Sometimes I wonder that myself. There were a lot of things I wanted to do but couldn't because of that cover." She sighed causing Milly to laugh more.

They talked about a lot of things. Rivalz and Milly though with some coaxing had finally felt comfortable with the Empress's presence. They were telling her about what school was like, not knowing that Nunnally knew everything about Ashford.

They spent the rest of the time talking about her travels, the situation of the world and what was happening in Japan. Kallen learnt that Rivalz now is working at Tamaki's bistro. Apparently they hit off when they met during Ohgi's Wedding. It was a great memory, it was the first time everyone she knew who had been serving on the front fighting grim bloody battles all happy enjoying themselves. Todoh had finally noticed Chiba's feelings for him or at least that's what she thought seeing the harden samurai blushing suddenly when he saw his fellow Holy Swords member in the traditional Japanese attire. It was also the first time she got to know Princess Cornelia where she had gotten close. There were games devised by none other than Milly Ashford and Kallen could remember the faces of the veteran military commanders when they were forced to put up with the former Student Council President. Even Tianzi came along with Hong Gu and Zhou Xianglin. Xingke couldn't make it since he was sent to Britannia for a treatment for his diseases at that time and Nunnally was still discussing with the Imperial Senate on political changes. Yet despite their absence, it was time where everyone could forget old grudges and move on with their lives…Just like what Lelouch had planned.

"Pardon me, your highness we have received a military report..." An officer announced.

"I'll go first, Your Highness," Kallen offered when she saw some hesitation in Nunnally's eyes. She of course wanted to spend sometime with her old friends even if they don't remember her. Besides Nunnally had never seen them before either so this was probably a good time to be re-acquainted. "And handle things until you're done. After all, it is not an emergency." The Empress first seemed to object but then nodded.

"Thank you, Kallen." She said.

"I'll see you guys later, ok?"

"Sure Kallen. Take care of yourself." Milly smiled.

"And don't do anything crazy like you did in school!" Rivalz added causing Kallen to smirk as she left.

The Britannian officer led her to the War Room which was crowded with officers in various uniforms including the Black knights. When Britannia entered the UFN, its military was so large that only a few were able to be fully subjected into the Black Knight Military. Unfortunately, most of the military was taken in by the Purist forces by unknown means. The only proper military left under Imperial Britannia was the Household forces. While in the course of the war the Imperial ranks swelled again, it was still by far outnumbered by the much more experienced Britannian Army.

Because of this, the UFN agreed to send a military expedition to New Britannia as well as to keep the Imperial Guard as the only non-Black Knight military in the world. The Euro Universe itself still existed though only in name. Many of its nations joined the UFN but several powerful nations still remained independent either because they cut of all connections from the world or were involved in civil wars such as Burma.

Kallen found Zero talking to a high-ranking Britannian officer in a similar maroon uniform she saw in Cornelia's Royal Guard.

Nodding her thanks to her escort, the Knight of Two made her way through the soldiers to Zero. The masked knight saw her coming and moved to meet her.

"Kallen. I'm glad you're here. We found him."

"Who?"

"Our Red Knight."

Kallen's eyes lit up at the mention of the name. "Where?"

"In Richmond. And we were right, he's an Irregular."

"No wonder we couldn't trace it." Kallen said out loud. "It was never part of the Britannian military."

Zero nodded. "Apparently, this knight serves a former noble from the west. He and some Irregulars helped take the stronghold."

"And they couldn't have done it in a better time," A smooth female voice said. Kallen turned to see a slim young woman with brown hair walking to them. Under her purple cloak, she wore her Knight of the Round uniform.

"That stronghold took out almost a quarter of our troops in the early campaign." Mellenia Evergreen, Knight of Nine said. She gave a smile to Kallen who returned the gesture. Since the beginning of the war months ago, Kallen had gotten close with some of the Round members. First was Anya whom she had already known and other was Mellenia.

It wasn't a good start with Mellenia as with most the old Britannian knights initially had little respect for her. Their first meeting turned from exchanging insults into a brawl until it was broken up by the other knights. Later, they attempted to finish what they had started in a more formal duel: at the point of a sword. The duel did not come out as expected when they engaged close quarters, where Kallen's skills in Judo and wrestling finally won through. But in the end, both won each other's respect and they became fast friends. Suzaku once said that his and Lelouch's first meeting was similar before they became friends as well.

Evergreen was once the Knight of Eleven who was off fighting the E.U. with Nonette Enneagram. Neither of them participated in the rebellion and had laid down a low profile not wanting to be involved in the battle between Lelouch and Schneizel.

"We just managed to take the city just in time. The reinforcements from New York were already half way through during that time. We would have been trapped between the relief forces and the defenders."

"Then you've met him?" Zero asked.

"I saw him but was only able to talk to his second in command. He was wounded in battle. He personally led a storming party into the Keep and killed the rebel commander. He was in a rather bloody mess when I saw him."

"What is his name?" Kallen asked urgently. She had no idea why she was feeling like this but it was probably because she felt like she owe him her life and many others. After all, he did save just about over five million people including the Empress of Britannia.

"One Arthur Peregrine."

Ok, this isn't one of my best endings so if it sucks I apologise. Well some of you probably noticed now that I had been deliberately avoid describing Arthur's appearance. Well now you know why! I think I have a problem in describing normal conversations and I could use some good advise so please add it along with your review if you can. Read & Review!