When Fates Converge Chapter 4: Rising, a code geass fanfic

Sorry for the trouble. I've re-edited and added the Chapter. It is different ending and storyline to the old one. And thanks for all your support, especially WZA. I couldn't have done it without you guys. Thanks. I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Note: I changed the rating to M because of the violence and mature theme that will soon be seen. It's gonna get kinda gory but then again that is war.

It was his first battle. Lelouch was excited. Not one of those practice sessions. Not one of those chess matches. Not the mock melee tournaments but a real battle. News of the Saxons launching another invasion came to the court a few days after gaining the title of crown price. High King Uther decided that his son should lead the defence to put Lelouch's skills to the test. Lelouch had been honoured to be put in charge of such a large army despite the doubts of the aristocracy who were suspicious of his past as living as a commoner. But he will show those noble-born bastards what a real man can do.

He stood on his white charger, wearing the black and gold armour given by his father completed with a crimson plumed helmet. Behind him were his chosen men, personally picked by himself creating his own staff and bodyguard: Launcelot, Gwaine, Tristran and his former foster brother Kay.

"Are we ready?" Lelouch asked his old friend Launcelot who stood beside him, his white and gold trimmed armour hidden by the ebony cloak of Prince Arthur's royal guard. Other than being one of the better knights of Camelot, the green eyed-brown haired youth was also Lelouch's old friend, adviser and lieutenant.

"Suzaku?" The real Lelouch muttered in surprise seeing how similar Launcelot looked so much like his old enemy and friend.

His armoured companion chuckled. "Now you see that there's more to things than meets the eye..."

Lelouch nodded, noting again how Tristran looked vaguely like Gino Weinberg as well.

Launcelot turned and nodded. "Ready, sire."

"Alright," Lelouch signalled his staff to gather around him."You all know the plan, rally all company commanders. Sound the advance."

The herald nodded and sounded the horn. With the mighty blast, the army advanced forward from their resting positions. The heavy infantry: dismounted men-at-arms in mail armour wielding swords, maces, small study bucklers and Guardsmen with heavy spears, halberds and pike with kite shields marched in the centre while the light infantry: longbow and crossbow archers and levy troops with short swords and wooden shields marched behind them. The cavalry came from the sides wielding heavy lances riding heavily barded horses.

As his forces moved in, Lelouch from his position on high ground saw the first banners of the enemy army approaching.

"Be wary, sire." Launcelot warned. "These Saxons managed to destroy the Roman army at Mercia. We cannot engage them head on like..."

But Lelouch was already riding up. "The Saxons have arrived!" He shouted, drawing his sword out letting the dim light of dusk shine upon it.

"Charge! For Came-lot!" Lowering his visor, Lelouch charged forward.

"...that." Launcelot muttered as the prince charged off. "Damn it! What the hell is he doing?"

Tristran laughed and put a friendly hand on the young French knight's shoulder. "What he was meant to do! Come on!" The Cornish knight galloped his horse after the prince.

Having no choice the rest of Arthur's bodyguard led the knights of his vanguard tried to follow him while the rest of the army struggled to move up the terrible cliff.

The Saxons had already landed about three hundred men on the shore and were forming up when Lelouch caught them first. His first sword swing caught two men in the throat as his horse smashed into the others. They were burly men, dressed in leather and mail armour with metal helmets thick beards and wielded thick swords, large axes, heavy round shields and spears.

The barbarians' front ranks scattered from his initial assault but only for a short while and the warriors started forward at the figure in black and gold figure determined to take him off his horse and tear him apart.

"NO!" Lelouch heard Launcelot's voice and the brown-haired knight skewered a Saxon warrior that tried to reach the prince. His slim sword known as Joyeux pierced through the hard mail and leather armour. The Joyeux then frail out and Launcelot buried the weapon into the head of another. By this time, Gwaine and the others had arrived weapons rising and falling around them.

As Lelouch stabbed his sword into a charging warrior, a flick of metal caught his attention as an axe almost chop his arm off, the Saxon's ugly face was filled with scars and combining with the thick beard and bushy eye brows, he looked more like a bear than a man. He let out a scream that made all the bones in Lelouch's body shook and for a second he thought that the monstrous giant would cut him in two.

Thankfully his training kicked in at the moment and his sword arm twisted around and parried the battle-axe, the blade's smacking the tip of the axe away. Lelouch then slashed down again and again, trying to cut the ugly face. But the brute appeared to be as skilled as a warrior Lelouch had seen and managed to block all his blows. He was strong too and as his sword and axe clashed again, the axe head almost dove into his helm.

However, it was done with more strength than skill thus Lelouch shifted himself on his saddle and twisted his sword free and let the axe fall harmlessly beside him as the prince brought his weapon back and ripped the Saxon's throat open.

Lelouch felt a great deal of satisfaction killing such a powerful enemy no thanks to brute strength but the pleasure of it washed away quickly as the prince saw more and more Saxon ships landing in.

One warrior caught his attention. He was a heavily built man even larger than the one he just fought, wearing more armour than his companions and wore a mask like helmet with a thick long blond beard with medals of bone necklaces. His held a massive double-bladed axe in his hand while a sheathed sword hung on his belt.

The Saxon leader met his gaze, his blue eyes had a startling effect on him and had Lelouch so distracted that he was almost skewered by a Saxon.

"Look alive!" Launcelot shouted, kicking at the warrior before he could spear the prince again.

Gwaine joined them snatching a battle-axe from one warrior and burying it back to its owner.

"We need to move back to the main army," Gwaine warned them.

Nodding, Lelouch shouted back. "Back to the mainland!" Gwaine and Launcelot brought up his rear while Lelouch was led back by Tristran and Kay. One warrior tried to prevent him from escaping throwing a small axe at Lelouch.

Kay got in between and used his shield to knock the weapon away while Tristran took up a fallen spear and threw it at the attacker.

More than once Lelouch thought they'd be surrounded and killed seeing such a large number of enemy arriving more than once but him, Launcelot, Gwaine, Tristran and Kay all managed to get back to the British lines.

A volley of arrows was shot from the Britons taking down any Saxon that was close to them.

"Form shields! Raise spears! Repel them!" His bodyguard and the rest of the Vanguard halted behind the forming infantry. The soldiers locked their large shields together along a massive line, two men deep thick bristling with spears. Against the Saxons who were savage fighters, fighting them in loose formations would be suicidal as their violent fighting prowess and numbers would wash over them like a water tide. But together as a single united force, they could stand against this.

The wave of Saxon warriors charged forward and smashed into the shield wall. Many Saxon warriors impaled themselves on the British spears or rammed into the heavy shields. Some sections collapsed by the sheer weight but most of it held back. Row upon row of warriors in thick furs and armour wielding swords, spears and the infamous Great Saxon Axes clashed against the line. They slashed, smashed, thrust into the wall of steel and men. Here and there, the line started to flicker only to be replaced by another Briton.

"Now! Pull back!" Lelouch shouted and the soldiers from the shield wall fell back into a second line. Each line was three men deep and the rear ranks were slowly pulling back into a new shield wall. It was just in time too as another wave of Saxons came up and clashed into the wall again, managing to pull several men down but most of the line was still held back.

"Volley!" Gwaine shouted, raising his sword high. Chopping it down, the longbowmen let loosed a thousand arrows darkening the sky and with the arrows landing just before the shield wall. Hundreds of Saxons were struck by the bolts.

Lelouch was already organising a third shield wall behind the first two.

"By forming one shield wall after another, I am...I mean Arthur's soaking up the Saxons' charges."

"Yes," The blue cloaked knight replied. "The Saxons are mighty warriors. Excellent shock troops and he's using it against them."

Lelouch smirked. "Good insight. But I'm sure the Saxons aren't that stupid." And he was right.

On the third clash, the Saxons held back for something.

"They're pulling back. You think they had enough?" Kay asked.

"Archers! Loose!" A volley of arrows was sent into the Saxon ranks that knelt and formed a shield wall as well. Several of them were struck down but most of it held back despite the small size of the shields.

"Ready!" The archer captain shouted. "Stretch! Away!"

Another volley was sent and more Saxons were downed. But the shouting still resumed. A third and fourth volley was sent but the Saxons still took the shots giving nothing in return but curses and noise.

"Slaka! Slaka! Slaka!"

Lelouch opened his visor to get a clearer look at the enemy. The Saxons were there just standing about 100 yards away from the shield wall, shouting and banging their weapons.

Another volley came and struck down more warriors.

"What the heck are they doing?" Tristran thought out loud.

"Slaka! Slaka! Slaka!" The Saxons shouted. More volleys followed and killed more warriors.

"They're just standing there..." said Kay.

"Slaka! Slaka! Slaka!"

Then something emerged from the barbarians.

"By the Gods..."

Meanwhile in the United States of Japan

Tokyo Settlement

12th January 2020

Xingke who had arrived three days ago from Britannia, studied the profile of the white haired knight carefully.

He looks too much like him.

The Chinese leader of the Black Knights had like many of the other world leaders been as shock to see Zero merging again on the day of their execution...or rather a suppose execution to assassinate the world's most hated ruler.

Xingke had been a soldier for all his life, severing from the lowest ranks to reach the rank of general and studied military tactics and politics since he was able to read.

And yet despite all his knowledge, he could not truly understand Lelouch Vi Britannia. He appeared to be a demon in human flesh but yet at the same time given results that he could scarcely thought of. A miracle.

That's what they called Zero before. The man of miracles.

Little did people know that the man who was known as the Demon Emperor of the World was also their Saviour.

An irony...a sad one which Xingke regret that must be kept from the people forever.

The few who had known Lelouch's truth and time as Zero made a small private funeral for him back in Japan. A small unmarked grave. Kaguya, Todoh, Nunnally, Kallen Kozuki and Tianzi who had insisted to him to come along had a brief mourning for the saviour. It was also the first time he had seen the harden warrior of Kouzki broke down in crying. He supposed it made sense. She was after all his first follower, fought with him until the end. Perhaps they had been lovers as well?

Xingke did not know and sympathised the young warrior and did not envy the position she faced. No matter how powerful an enemy is, if you were fighting for the one you love it was decision easy to make.

To fight someone you love was completely another.

And now, there was this knight, this...Arthur Peregrine.

A namesake of an ancient revered king, flying into battle in the same tactics as the saviour himself...

It was too much of a coincidence. But right now, Xingke wished he was Lelouch.

For after almost two years of peace, there had been disunities amongst the UFN. Many minor nations were starting to demand more power. Corruption was taking place in the larger ones, including his own beloved China. Old hatreds were rising again.

All made things worse by the Britannian Civil War which had the world's eyes now. Many saw the war in the most powerful nation in the world as a weakness of the UFN and as well the thinking that it could not keep Britannia in line.

Many feared that the mighty Empire would rise up again and come back again. Some were supporting the conflict despite all the attempts of the Black Knights, hoping that Britannia would tear itself apart.

Such thoughts would destroy the young Federation before it could even mature.

The new Zero was a powerful man and had the support of many but that was limited now that the main villain was defeated.

"Something is coming." Xingke muttered to himself in Chinese.

"Lord Xingke, you really must rest." A familiar female voice chided him from behind.

The dark haired Chinese man turned to see Xianglin walked down to him with a tray of medicine.

"I'm fine, Xinglin. Really. Her Majesty's doctors did well their job." He had been dying of his illness and was not expected to live for the next few days after the rejoining of Britannia. As a sign of peace and cooperation, Empress Nunnally had her royal physicians to treat his sickness. He had doubted it work but in the end the operation was successful although he was much weaker than before.

Tianzi had Xinglin to look after him since then. Xingke had watched the young Empress growing up with Nunnally and Kaguya who now became the unifying icon of the new young world of peace.

"But you're still as weak as a kitten." Xianglin pouted her lips as the Chinese swordsmaster stumbled trying to get up.

Xingke shook his head. "I've been in far worse conditions than this."

"And I've been the one patching you up every single time." Xianglin countered.

Chuckling to himself, Xingke decided to change the subject.

"How goes the news from the top?"

The young woman put the tray on the table and helped her commander and comrade to stand near the window.

"Not really good." She said. "There are many protests about sending the Peacekeeping Mission to Britannia."

"They do realise that their true fear will become a reality if the war should succeed?"

"Yes, but the people think the Britannians should handle it by themselves."

Xingke sighed. There were going to be problems and this time he really hoped that Lelouch had another miracle up his sleeves.

"Commander Xingke," The face of a young woman with dark hair and vivid green eyes appeared.

"Chairman Kaguya," Xingke greeted.

The young girl smiled. "I hope you are recovering well, Commander."

Xingke nodded. "I am well. Thank you. But I take it that you did not call to ask on my health alone."

Kaguya's expression turned sombre as she sighed. "I am afraid so. The UFN council has are making a decision."

The Chinese commander's face turned grave. "On?"

"On the attacks in Britannia. They want a second military expedition ready. They want you to lead it."

"A second?" Xingke was shocked. "There are already more than 100,000 men fighting with the loyalist forces."

"I am aware." Kaguya nodded. "But they fear possible return of the Empire. They want to make sure that nothing like that should happen."

"You mean to take control of the Empire by force?" Xianglin nearly shouted. "Are they mad? That would only encourage the Britannians to side with the rebels!"

"I know. I will do my part to hold the line here but I just want you get ready should that day come."

Xingke nodded. "If they do that, then the new invasion forces would make the old Britannian armies look like rowboats."

Kaguya nodded. She looked downcast. "I wish...Lelouch was still alive."

Xingke said nothing agreeing with her statement. Lelouch had given them a peaceful world but not after two years it seems that human greed and fear is consuming them again.

"Then...what about that Britannian? Peregrine?"

Kaguya shook her head. "Things are not looking to good either. Some people think he's Lelouch himself coming back from the dead. They want him eliminated."

"Zero said he has sworn loyalty to Her Majesty Nunnally. Any attack on him will make an enemy out of the loyalist forces. We need him to protect the Empress."

"I know. But the council wants a Black Knight monitor Arthur Peregrine."

"Who are they sending?" Xianglin asked.

"I think Kouzki would be best."

Kaguya nodded smiling. "Ohgi protests it but I agree Kallen is the best to send. She was...after all the closest to Lelouch."

Back in New Pendragon

"Right," Arthur muttered over his com-link. "K-1. Phase Two, commence."

"Yes, my lord," said Lord Jeremiah's voice.

"Aye, sir," replied Harry Dunford.

With a satisfied grunt, Arthur turned off the communicator.

Operation Shadowhunter was going well...at the moment. One hundred men of the Arfon knights had been sent including operatives Jeremiah and Sayoko. The disk that he had recovered at Richmond contained Geass experiments and weapons in the very installation. If the Knights could capture or destroy it, the result would contribute to the war front that they were fighting.

Despite the details Lelouch had given them before his death of the Geass Directorate, there was little knowledge of their true attention. They were behind the civil war that was for sure. How else did the Britannian military fell into the hands of petty rebellious nobles from the command of strong leaders so quickly? Arthur could very well confirm it, having led some of the operations in putting down uprisings against the back then new Emperor.

The rebels had been viciously crushed. Crushed enough to accept any new changes the new leader has to offer. Crushed enough to never to rebel again. Whoever is leading this new uprising had external support. External and extraordinary support.

While Arthur would like to list the Black Knights on the first list, it was a claim without proof and knew that it had a little biasness in it as well. Lelouch's knight was well aware that he was arrogant but he was also aware of its limits.

There were enemies in the Black Knights that was for certain and it's not just those who might be aligned with the Geass Cult or idiots seeking profit from war but also those who want Britannia to be nothing but a war torn nation. Prejudice and hate was something that still lingered despite Lelouch's sacrifice.

Not to mention those who were suspicious of the Arfon knights especially with him leading it. Arthur had never planned to show his face to public but that battle could not have helped and knew that it was better off than the alternative which was not an option of losing for Arthur himself and Britannia.

Of course it made the battles that were to come much harder with so many enemies but Lelouch had fought with so many enemies and had come out triumphant.

Arthur briefly wondered if Lelouch's Geass command on him was to protect his sister which might have explained how he had heard that voice and the great boast of energy he had temporally gained. While he had no memory of what he did, he was well aware of it and did not regret it. The last time it had happened was during the battle of New England where the Purist Fleet almost destroyed New Pendragon. Perhaps it was the same reason but he did not know why or how.

Anduin and the rest of the Order had joined the Imperial Strike Force in attacking Illinois and thus leaving Arthur alone as the sole Arfon knight in New Pendragon aside from his personal guard of two younger knights: the Scottish Marcus Gordon and the English James "Jack" Nelson. They were newly made knights from the British Isles trying to adapt to the nation that had became the successor in terms of power to the old England based Britannian Empire.

Despite the names, the Commonwealth of Britain and the Holy Empire of Britannia were two different nations despite sharing a part of each other's history. The Commonwealth had stayed neutral during the Global Wars launching an isolationist policy since its sovereignty. It had become part of the France for a time until the true formation of the European Union where it was granted its independence on the leadership of a pro-European government. It was now an elective monarchy led by the descendants of the survivors under different noble houses although the House of Windsor seemed to be the most popular.

The British were not interested in the war that was fought between the super-powers, scornful of their Britannian cousins for who had abandoning them and the Europeans who had conquered them. In addition, they also disliked the Chinese Federation's policies of mistreating the commoners which was a reminder of their various rebellions during medieval Britain. Thus with that they had cut off relations from Britannia changing their name to Britain and its people as Britons or British.

Even with the creation of the United Federation of Nations, the British Commonwealth under King William V still stood isolated from the rest of the world or at least politically.

Arthur had chosen the two British knights not just because they had shown potential but also because as non-Britannian and non-UFN representatives, they would have a better insight of the situation and advise him accordingly.

The brown haired Gordon was calmer and older of the new generation of knights, a deep believer in the Gaelic beliefs said to have Irish blood in him which makes him a little superstitious at times but despite it was an extremely skilled confident fighter. And coming from a family of high background, Gordon was well verse in diplomacy. Marcus was hand-picked by Grand Master Bernard himself to join the knights and had been seen nothing but an assist to the Order.

His companion however was the complete opposite. Jack was likely the best fighter in the entire Order by sheer skill alone and the only problem was that he knew it and his lack of experience often lead him into trouble. Sarcastic, witty and funny, Jack might have been a jester instead of a knight.

Losing his parents at an early age, young Nelson had joined the neighbourhood gangs until he had stumbled upon a private battle between the Knights and the Cultists. Despite the intense battle, Jack had gone in to save a knight and was taken up by the Order. At the age of 14, he had been the youngest knight in history and now 16 he was already part of the best. Being the youngest, he was given to immaturity and impetuousness, frequently meeting even the gravest threats with a flippant remark, often showing a certain underestimation of the true danger of the situation. His bravery was out of the question of course. Spiked hair, deep blue, the boy represented the newest generation of knights...provided he survive long enough.

The two knights joined his side, both wearing identical crimson tunics with black cloaks and sheathed swords.

"Sir Arthur," Gordon began with his distinct Scottish accent. "Earl Lloyd said that your new horse is ready. He said to be careful with it."

Jack shook his head. "I say," The sardonic English knight said. "These blokes are even crazier than the blue-bloods back home. I can't believe the stuff they eat here."

Arthur smirked. "Let me guess, you end up eating some of Cecile's delicious desserts?"

"You got it, mate. The Lady's sweet but her cooking..." The young knight shuddered.

Gordon chuckled. "Let it be a lesson to ya, lad. Never judge a lady by her cover, especially a Britannian. No offense." He added to Arthur.

"None taken. But Cecile is a good woman. Mind her cooking though."

"You could have told me earlier," groaned Jack. "Now she got me into testing some of her homemade pancakes. And I don't know how to say no to her."

"Heh, you hear that milord? You want the little bugger to shut up, use a woman."

"Oi! It'll take more than that to taken down Jack Nelson."

"Hey, don't forget." Gordon reminded him. "Jack be nimble, Jack be quick but don't forget Jack fell off a candle stick."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Arthur shook his head from the ongoing friendly argument and instead thought of when he should join Jeremiah and the others.

His old modified Vincent Mark V had been customised by Lloyd and Cecile into creating a standard Knightmare for the Arfon knights. It had taken a long time for the Order to decide to do it especially with the knowledge that the rebels have started the Energy Wing system, the Vipers and the Siegfrieds. Now that the Geass Cult was in the conflict doesn't help. They would face new weapons on the other side and thus, the Grand Master had decided that the Knights should have a new standard Knightmare.

It was decided to be called...

"So this is the famed Red knight..." A commanding feminine voice barked from behind. Arthur looked into the mirror's reflect to see a tall woman dressed in white and maroon followed by an officer, probably a knight in the uniform of a Royal Guard commander.

Arthur allowed a smirk to return to his face.

"You look more like the devil than I expected."

The Commander in chief was a tall and powerfully built woman with a presence just as powerful. Her long violet hair hung down her shoulders along her white cloak. Her knight, similarly dressed wore a pair of sunglasses that did not hide his concern for his ward.

"And what would the bitch of Britannia want from me?"

"What did you say?" The royal knight snarled stepping forward but his princess held him back with a slender arm.

"I'm just here," She replied calmly despite the insult. "To see for myself what the Knight of the Demon Emperor looks like. It seems that that demonic tend seems to flow down with his followers."

The white-haired Lelouch chuckled. "Really?" He smirked. "That would have flattered me if those words hadn't come out of a whore."

"Insolent bastard!" The Guard Commander shouted. "How dare you even speak to the Princess with such a manner?"

"Oh, dear me," Arthur's face turned with a mock innocence. "I must have made a mistake. I thought this was only the Commander of the Imperial Army. My humble apologies." He bowed.

"Those words I used just now," He started his voice soft. "Could not dare to touch your name." Despite the apology, his eyes showed nothing but contempt.

"No...The one who would use even her own blood deserves something much more."

Cornelia frowned, her eyes narrowed dangerously. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"Oh, your highness," Arthur replied, smoothly. "You know exactly what I mean...I wonder what your famed idol would think of you now..."

For a brief moment, Cornelia thought she saw the Lelouch duplicate's eyes turning violet with his hair, snowy white darkening. The face became feminine and into one so familiar to her.

Seeing her reaction, red knight's lips curved into an evil grin.

"I mean," He continued. "It was not until the lady fell under your care, didn't she die?" Arthur shook his head. "Now I fear Her Majesty's safety with you around...perhaps you should remain underground like the mole you are. Heh, I wonder what Princess Euphemia think of you now."

Cornelia's mouth opened, all her features showing her well known outright anger that had put fear into many hardened soldiers but no sound came out as an object flew out behind her and landed between the princess and her target.

Arthur raised an eyebrow at the object.

"I, Gilbert Guilford, in the honour of Princess Cornelia Li Britannia, challenge you..."

In the Quarters of the Knight of Two

"Kallen..." A voice whispered.

"Go away." Kallen murmured, nuzzling against her pillow.

"Kallen..."

"Oh come on...its Saturday." It's been a while she has gotten a good night sleep.

The voice chuckled. "You haven't changed a bit."

Her bed shifted slightly as someone sat beside her. She felt a gentle hand running through her hair. But she didn't feel like stirring. Bloody paper work...Bloody Suzaku...bloody Arthur...bloody Lelouch

"Baka...Shut up or I'll box your face."

The hand caressed her cheeks.

"Don't go to war, Kallen." The voice muttered.

"I'm a soldier." She replied, sleepily but stubbornly. "I'm doing it for my brother and Lelouch."

"And you've done it well." Kallen felt a gentle finger touching her lips. "But it's now over. You can go back to Japan. Please don't fight anymore."

"Shut up!" She shouted at the figure beside her bed and went straight back to sleep.

"Stupid Lelouch...bastard...abandoning me...not even letting me sleep..."

Only after a moment Kallen realised what she had said.

"Huh?" She opened her eyes and turned and saw a dark figure walking out of her room.

"Lelouch?" At once she jumped out of bed and followed. She saw the shadow walking away down the corridor.

"Wait!" She called, following, her bare feet slapping on the carpeted floor.

The figure was fast and had already reached down the corridor and turned to a corner.

Kallen followed and found herself at a crossroad where two men from Nunnally's Royal Guard were standing.

"Milady?" The Guardsmen asked, seeing her in her undress state.

"Did you see a man passing her?" Kallen snapped at the unfortunate soldier.

"No one passed here, madam." His companion replied.

"I sa..." Kallen had started when her eye caught a flicker of movement behind. Without waiting for the puzzled guards, she ran straight after it.

Damn it Lelouch what are you trying to play here. She thought as the figure went up the stairs.

Finally Kallen climbed the final step and reached the tower. The wind was extremely strong and she could feel her hair bellowing with it.

The dark figure stood standing at the edge of the tower.

"Lelouch? Is that really you?" She called.

The figure was wearing a black cloak and it bellowed as the figure turned...and vanished into thin air.

Kallen absently touched her lips and knew at once that it was no dream.

"Sir?" Gordon asked. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

"I took the gauntlet, didn't I?" Arthur replied to the younger knight.

"It was more of a glove..." Jack murmured.

"Shut it!" Gordon snapped. He turned to their Britannian companion. "Sir Arthur, what I mean was that, as the Knights of Arfon, we are here to show our support to the Imperial crown in this bloody war and duelling the Princess' personal knight doesn't sound like a good idea."

"I know what we're here for, Lieutenant." The white haired Lelouch replied coldly. "Now is the Knightmare ready or not?"

Shaking his head, the Scottish knight finished all the final adjustments for the Vincent. It was almost identical to the old one without the advance modifications. Arthur wanted a fair fight.

The white haired knight saw Guilford entering the silver and purple Vincent Commander Model and he entered his own.

As the two Knightmares took off in the air, Gordon shook his head again.

"Come on, mate." Jack put a hand on the older man's shoulder. "That four eye geek can't be that tough."

Gordon turned to the Englishman. "You have no idea who he is, don't you?"

"Guilford, I must insist you stop this!" Cornelia tried to change the mind of her knight who was already dressed in his Knightmare pilot suit.

"My lady, he insulted you." The Spearhead of Britannia made the statement as if it had been the worst crime that could have been committed. He continued his stride to the training grounds where they had decided to duel.

Both had agreed to use the same Knightmare and the weapons, a Vincent Commander Model with only the MVSs, Needle Blazers and Slash Harkens as armaments. The first one to disable the opponent's Knightmare wins.

"He did. But don't you dare treat me like one of your women! I am not a hapless woman, I can handle myself well and you well know it."

The tall slim knight turned to regard his princess and gave her a slight smile.

"Of course, I know it, your highness. You are and have always been the greatest princess and one of the finest leaders this country had ever had to me. And I, as your personal knight am the sword you wield, your champion who is chosen to fight in your stead and your honour."

Guilford raised a hand up before Cornelia could protest. Despite his eyes being covered by the sunglasses, the Britannian princess could see that he was struggling with his words.

"And..." He started. "I have to make sure that I am still worthy of it. To defend your honour would be the test to make sure I am the same knight. If not, I would gladly resign it."

Without another word, Guilford had started to climb up the purple and silver Vincent's cockpit.

Cornelia watched her knight disappearing from the closing cockpit, lost for words. She then realised that her knight was trying to make it clear to himself that he was still able to be a capable warrior.

"You are more than worthy of it...Gilbert."

Both knights had mounted their war horses. The Vincents, one purple, one red had stirred slightly as their keys were activated. Their face spheres opened up glowing.

"Begin!"

Both Vincents at once took into the air, drawing their blades at the same time. With their MVSs spinning and locking into the double sword mode, the two 7th Generation Knightmares charged at one another their blades clashing in a shower of sparks. As the two separated, Guilford wheeled back and brought one of the double swords down in such a crashing impact that Arthur was thrown out of balance.

Before he could make a second move, the silver and violet Knightmare came back slashing his sword down again which Arthur was forced to give space to block. Counterattacking, he brought the other end of the blade to slash which was quickly countered by Guilford who also brought his rear blade up.

Taking advantage of the closeness, Arthur then activated his left arm's needle blazer and lunged forward. But Guilford was made of sterner stuff and fly back, firing both his slash harkens. They came in too fast for Arthur to sever them so he brought up his weapon to block them.

The wired projectiles were held back with only a little scratch on his arms but by that time the purple trimmed Vincent had returned with a charging roundhouse kick, striking its red counterpart's head. The blow sent Arthur flying back, dazing him.

Damn! He thought. Lelouch's knight should have been better prepared facing this man.

Arthur pulled himself together and only made it in time to block another blow from Guilford. The red knight swung back with the rear end blade which missed but Arthur continued with a thrust at the purple Vincent which was also avoided.

Withdrawing slightly from him, Guilford returned with a savage swing of his double-lances which sent Arthur staggering back.

"Agrah!"

Cornelia's knight then pushed full power into his float system and charged forward, lance held out pointing so that its tip would spear into the red Vincent.

With a quick flick of his controls, Arthur narrowly avoided the near fatal strike and moved right behind the other Knightmare and strike. However, even at the seemingly blind spot, Guilford managed to block the blow.

With a great display of swordsmanship both pilots, the two Vincents battled in the entire training ground. But slowly and though he loathe to admit it, Arthur was getting hammered by Guilford's powerful blows and it's taking all of his skill just to keep up with him.

Avoiding a counter attack, Arthur withdrew himself. The two knights clashed again, sparks flying with each blow. Guilford was using only one of his blades focusing on quick slashes and fast jabs as if wielding a spear.

Arthur parried one particularly powerful thrust, pulling his Knightmare to the side of his opponent and countered with a vicious swing at the enemy knight's cockpit.

The slash was blocked as he expected and he twisted his Vincent along the lance and lowered his Knightmare to perform an infamous low thrust right blow Guilford's guard. The speed and timing were both exactly like during training.

The only difference from training was that he missed.

"What the..." Then Arthur realised that he had grossly underestimated Cornelia's knight.

"You are truly a mighty opponent, knight. But the skies are mine!"

Guilford was a most dangerous combatant an equal to General Todoh and Xingke of the Black Knights as well as a skilled tactician.

At an early age, Guilford had distinguished himself in the Pax Britannia Conquests serving under the old General Alexandros and Marshal Valac Dalton as a lieutenant in the Emperor's Royal Lancers. Fighting the European Union in Africa, Guilford had personally led the Britannian armoured units against their superior European counterparts and emerging only with victory gaining the name of Spearhead of the Empire.

"Ha! That showed that arrogant bastard to mess with Princess Cornelia!" One of the royal guards said to his companion.

"Lord Guilford would tear that red Vincent apart," said another.

"He's not so though now without an army behind him."

Cornelia said nothing and while her knight had fought for her stead many a times. This time, she felt particularly touched by him. The Witch of Britannia had of course respected Guilford's duty, dedication and bravery. It was out of the question. But for the first time, Cornelia had felt such a thing about a man.

And the Spearhead of the Empire with his needle blazer had struck his float system's wing.

"Damn it!" Arthur shouted as his Knightmare dropped free fall to the ground. Thinking quickly, he tried to turn to look around for something to hold on but saw nothing. Guilford had chosen the ground well. He had particularly forced the duel to be engaged mid air of the centre of the training ground.

But Arthur was not chosen by Lelouch for his fighting prowess or his looks alone! If he was going down, he'll take his opponent down with him!

Without a second thought, Arthur fired his slash harkens. The wired projectiles shot out from the red-silver Knightmare flying not at the walls around him but at the purple Vincent itself.

"What the..." Guilford muttered as his Knightmare got pulled down. He looked down and saw the two slash harkens wrapped around his right leg. The Vincent's float system was not meant to hold two Knightmares and they both dropped from the sky and Guilford was forced to pull all power to his float system.

"A cowardly move." Guilford knew that if it continued both of their Knightmares would go crashing to the ground. Withdrawing his sword, he slashed at the wires that were gripping him. They sliced away as easily as cutting butter.

The crimson Knightmare then suddenly twisted spinning and landed on the ground neatly without harm. It had used its opponent's flight power to brace its landing.

"Ha! You impress me but now I have the air as my advantage."

Like a soaring eagle, Cornelia's knight dove down, blade at the ready to finish off its opponent. The crimson Knightmare released its float system and as the aerial support device to the ground like a knight shedding its cloak and gripped his double swords with both hands in battle stance.

"This duel ends!" The purple and silver Knightmare withdrew its sword to strike.

"First move. Check." Arthur's Vincent suddenly opened up its needle blazer.

"What the hell!" A soldier beside Cornelia exclaimed as the red knight activated its weapon. The energy blast was too far to damage the other Vincent but it managed to blind Guilford.

"Damn!" Guilford tried to steer his way properly to avoid the coming strike from his opponent. The royal knight narrowly missed the slashing blood red blades but the MVSs continued its swing and struck his float system.

But the princess herself could not say anything.

"That move..."

For a brief moment, the red and silver Vincent had turned bulker into a blue and white familiar Knightmare.

Lady Marianne?

As Cornelia struggled with her old memories, her knight was sent crashing to the ground. However, as he did, Guilford pulled his knightmare around so that he would flip back on his feet for a bracing land.

He's good. Arthur thought. A lesser man would have crashed and broken a few limbs especially at that speed. He watched as the other Knightmare also discarded its wrecked float system and rose up from the dusty smoke. The purple Vincent shifted slightly as if shrugging off the dirt on its armour.

Arthur also knew that he was in truth the one in disadvantage in the fight, not Guilford. Both were piloting the same Knightmare and while Lelouch's knight knew that he was a competent fighter his true strength was as a strategist and tactician calling the forces around him to his advantage. But in a straight fight, blade on blade Guilford had far more experience than Arthur in terms of Knightmare or personal combat. He was dealing with one of the finest warriors on the planet.

But now Arthur had analysed Guilford's fight patterns and tactics. He could turn the tables now.

The red and silver Knightmare then raised his MVS double lances up and disconnect the hints into forming two separate blades.

Guilford raised an eyebrow as the other 7th Generation Knightmare brandished its duel swords in a grand display before falling into a fighting stance.

"This fight keeps getting more interesting by the minute." Nodding his Knightmare's head in respect, Guilford brandished his MVS double lances twirling it around overhead and then brought one of the blood red blades at his opponent.

Iowa, Purist Base Delta

The first person to have realised that something was wrong was an observation officer from the Illinoisan 6th Recon. The soldier had woken up early before light from a sore head and a wish to continue sleeping. A solid sot, dependable, he had pulled on his boots and climbed his way to the watch post.

It was an eerie time of day, with the first light. He had taken over the post of the last observation officer who gladly left. He checked the time and conversed with the two other duty officers. He took cup of morning coffee and entered his seat. Sipping the hot drink, the officer noticed something different about the ground on a sector on the left.

"That's strange." He muttered and activated the camera in the area to have a better look. He glanced back on to his map. He swore that there was a listening post in the place. His map and the camera image told him it was no so.

"Hm...Ensign." He called.

"Sir?" The junior officer arrived at his side.

"Wasn't there a listening post in this sector?"

"Not according to the archives, sir."

Something's not right. He double checked it. It gave him the same results.

"Report this to the Captain." He ordered the younger man. But the officer suddenly muttered something.

"What?" He barked.

The ensign pointed at the camera screen. Sighing, the observation officer turned.

Then he died.

The alarm sirens rang throughout the base as explosions rang across the entire land. Barracks, hangers, garages, weapons stockades were now a smothering ruins or at least going to become one. Men and machines scrambled out trying to stop the fire and damage.

The commander had just gotten to the war room when the attacks had started.

"Sir, we're under attack! Outpost Five, Six and Nine have all overwhelmed."

"Identify them!"

"They match the forces from the Iowa. Loyalists to Lord James."

"Those bloody peasants?" The commander snorted. "How the hell did they find us here?"

"It doesn't matter." A tall figure dressed in a gold laced white coat entered. "Make sure no one else here leaves alive. This operation's secrecy must be kept."

The commander nodded and started barking orders through the radio. Margrave Theodore Wilde was formerly part of Emperor Charles' black-ops unit guarding the Geass Research Program under General Bartley. A contingent of the unit was sent to observe the back the prince-turn traitor Lelouch and failed to contact again.

Wilde however was not allowing something like that to happen again.

"Contact Lambert. Tell him to send his troops to purge all major cities in the area. We'll trap these fools."

The loyalists were mainly made up of tanks, armoured vehicles and infantry and a few Knightmares most of them old Glasglows, Sutherlands and Gloucesters all antiques compared to the forces they had here. They had air cover however, the old F-49 Vampires and VTOL gunships.

The Purist forces were more trained and better armed. Their Vincent Wards and Gareths were more than a match for the fools.

Guilford gritted his teeth as he was force to give ground blocking the repeating strikes from his opponent. With duel swords, Peregrine's strikes had become much faster becoming an equal match to Cornelia's knight's superior skill and experience. As he parried a slash, Guilford brought out his needle blazer and lunged forward.

The red and silver Vincent just banked to the left and instead swung a slash which the royal knight barely blocked. Peregrine continued his attack bringing his other sword into the play, raining blow after blow on the veteran knight. Sparks flew as the crimson blades struck again and again.

After he had knocked the red knight off the air, Peregrine's fighting style had changed drastically. He was able to predict Guilford's moves; sword thrusts, parries, and blows...everything!

While stuck in his thoughts, Cornelia's knight had barely managed to avoid being decapitated. A lightning fast slash had taken a chunk of his Vincent's shoulder. One of his slash harkens had been damaged by a well placed kick.

As the vibroblades collided for another time, Guilford brought the rear blade to pull in a broad swing. The MVS blades cut through the front piece of the red Vincent's chest plate, leaving a small opening.

"Grah!" Arthur gritted his teeth as he pulled back. The blow was unexpected. He had to be more careful.

Guilford continued his attack, launching a combination of slashes and thrusts which Arthur barely managed to block or parry. The advantage of the double lances was that their blows were far stronger than its duel blade form.

"For Cornelia!" Guilford roared and brought one blade down in a fierce vertical slash. The red knight crossed his duel blades to block it but not in time the ruby red blades to cut a small scratch on his facesphere.

With his crimson opponent staggering back, Guilford pushed forward hammering down with his stronger blows. The other Vincent twisted one of his swords into a reverse grip and raised his other sword to block one particularly powerful slash from Guilford.

In a swift move, Arthur twisted himself and thrust the second blade at purple Knightmare. Unfortunately, Guilford parried the stab and continued to block Arthur's set of continuing slashes.

To Arthur's surprise, Cornelia's knight was able to hold off all his attacks and suddenly span his double lances warding off all his attacks. The red knight had to retreat a step to avoid getting cut by the maelstrom of MVSs blades.

"Now you see the power of a true knight of Britannia!" The purple and silver Vincent's green eyes suddenly glow as if responding its pilot. Spinning the double lances, Guilford charged forward.

Seeing he had little choice, Arthur increased his power as well and move to meet him. The violet Vincent swung first and narrowly missed its red counterpart as Peregrine leapt forward spinning akin to Suzaku's famed spinning kick. Only however, Arthur swung down his swords.

Unfortunately for Arthur, Guilford had spun his double lances at the same time and the spinning blades had blocked almost all his slashes.

"Damn!" Arthur cursed. The Spearhead of the Empire had proven to be a much more powerful opponent. Not willing to let it up, Arthur wheeled back as soon as he landed and threw one of his MVS swords at the unprotected Vincent.

With an astonishing speed, Guilford turned back charging at him, knocked the flying sword away at the same time. The loss MVS blade buried itself on the ground on the side and Arthur brought his needle blazer up. Guilford's crimson blades had swung first. The MVSs severed the red Vincent's left free arm. As sparks flew from the severed arm, Guilford turned with a spinning kick which hit Arthur square in the chest.

If it hadn't been enough, the purple Knightmare fired both his slash harkens at Arthur's already damaged chest plate.

"Agrah!" It took everything Arthur had, activating his emergency power to land himself without crashing.

"It's over." Cornelia muttered, watching the ruined red and silver Knightmare. Its chestplate had an opening revealing the sakuradite cube in the Yggdrasil Drive.

"He didn't stand a chance." A soldier muttered.

Guilford lowered his weapon.

"You have fought well but the fight is mine. This is what you will get for insulting Her Highness. It is over."

"Indeed it is." Arthur muttered.

"Please don't fight anymore..." The voice was still ringing in Kallen's head.

The Knight of Two and Black Knight ace lay down on her bed, staring at the ceiling thinking of what everyone else had told her a dream.

"Milady," The Guard officer had said. "We have checked the security cameras twice. There was no one in your room or anyone passing by."

"But...I swear I heard someone..."

"Come on, Kallen." Mellenia had said half dressed. "It was probably one of your nightmares."

"She's right." Gino added. "You've been working yourself too much."

And Kallen had taken their word and returned to bed, hoping that the mysterious figure might return. It had been a lost hope and after waiting for an hour or so, she just stood flat on the bed.

"Kallen...You have to live..." It was the same voice. There was no doubt of it. Lelouch still had to be alive. Then she wondered about this Arthur Peregrine.

"Bloody traitor..." She heard him muttered.

A jab of pain struck Kallen. Why would Lelouch say that to her...What did she do? She had always stood loyal to him against all odds.

Does Lelouch really hate her? Is that why he chose CC over her? Was that why he had constantly refused to trust her?

As doubts filled her head, Kallen decided to find something to distract her before her heart ache returns.

Dressed in her hated Knight of the Round uniform, Kallen went out to the shooting range. Perhaps she could vent out some by shooting at an imaginary Lelouch.

As Kallen was about to enter the range, she spotted from the corner of her eye, two men walking bearing the Arfon golden dragon on their cloaks.

"Sir Arthur is still duelling Guilford." Said the younger knight of the two. He was only a few years younger than her.

"This is an emergency." The second, a middle-age looking knight told his companion. He had a strange accent which sounded familiar to Kallen. "If that unit must not reach the task force."

"An emergency? A Task Force?" Kallen thought as she followed them and stood in awe as she saw a crimson and a purple Vincents clashing in the training arena.

The red and silver Knightmare rose up again and charged forward.

"He still wants more." Cornelia mused. "Take him down, Guilford."

"Yes, Your Highness!" The royal knight readied its weapon and stood its ground.

The battered and damaged Vincent staggered as it came.

"The fool." Cornelia smirked. "He's running out of power and is still trying to attack. I guess he must be trying to save his pride."

She realised that the warrior was desperate as Peregrine then suddenly threw his sword at her knight. Guilford knocked it aside as well with ease and fired his slash harkens. Surprisingly Arthur avoided the projectiles and readied its needle blazer. It looked like a suicide attempt.

"You're brave till the end!" Guilford lurched forward, moving behind the other Knightmare and swung his sword to finally end the duel. To his surprise, the red knight suddenly bent low down as he came passing. The swing that was aimed for the torso instead fell on the neck, neatly beheading the other Vincent.

What happened next startled everyone. Somehow in that blur of moment, a Knightmare fell but it was the purple and silver one. In its slashing stance, the upper body of Guilford's Vincent fell to the ground face down.

"What the..." Cornelia started forward.

"Huh? What happened?"

As the smoke cleared from the fighting, a ruined Knightmare stood kneeling. The red and silver Knightmare's head was gone, the body battered and completely ruined, its Yggdrasil Drive was visible, left arm lobbed off. In its right hand was an MVS sword.

The spectators were utterly confused as to what had happened. Cornelia's first thought was Geass but it had been wrong. Her brother's power was to control people and was in no use in combat. There was something else.

As all the smoke finally cleared away, the Britannian Commander in Chief saw why. There was a fallen MVS sword was gone and there was a black burnt line dragged away. The red knight had sacrificed his head to get Guilford's final blow and quickly had grabbed the fallen MVS and used it to finish off his opponent.

"But...how did he do it so fast?" Cornelia thought out loud. "Unless..." Then she realised it. The red knight had deliberately lost his arm and the float system in the beginning and instead focused all his Knightmare's energy into his backup system.

He was not fighting Guilford with his full strength in the first place, allowing the older knight to take him piece by piece. Cornelia's knight was a good tactician as well as a fighter so Peregrine had to make sure he was winning so that he would be blind to the final blow.

It was a great strategy. Arthur Peregrine was a gifted strategist. Cornelia had to admit it despite her loathing for her brother and his knight who looked all too similar to Lelouch to be a simple matter of coincidence. It was something what Lady Marianne would have done. Only an incredibly skilled knight could have done it.

Then it hit her. Lady Marianne? Cornelia watched the white haired version of Lelouch walked out of his battered Knightmare now talking to his two knights who were cheering him.

A gifted strategist...and an incredibly skilled knight.

"Lelouch! What are you doing here when you should be having your fencing lessons?" A younger Cornelia had shouted at the young raven haired prince who was playing chess with a justicar of the royal guard.

"Oh come on, Cornelia." The young boy moaned. "Why do I need to go for that when I can lead others to fight in my stead?"

Cornelia had sighed. "I know you're a gifted strategist. But you will need your own strength if you're going to stand up on the battlefield with your knights. I can see you'll be become a great general and a skilled knight..."

Cornelia shook her head of the upsetting memory and instead walked down to a shock faced Guilford who was helped out of his Knightmare. He was injured but it looked more emotionally rather than physically.

"Forgive me, Your Highness." The knight apologised. "I failed you..."

"No, Guilford." Cornelia started but Guilford continued.

"I'm not fit to be under your service."

"Guilford..."

"I could not even defend your name."

"Guilford...Gilbert..." Her tone had become lower.

"I must request...to resign..."

Before he could continue, Cornelia threw her arms around Guilford.

"Mi...lady...?" Guilford stammered and glance at the soldiers who replied with blank faces.

"Shut up, Gilbert. You did well."

"Wow, I can't believe you actually beat him." Jack was saying as Arthur walked with his personal guard.

"Regardless of the outcome," Gordon chided. "We have indirectly made an enemy in the royalist forces. That may prove to be a problem later."

"So what news from the front?" Arthur asked, ignoring the two.

"Zero has started the attack already. The royalist forces are engaging the rebels as we speak. Graham said that the Purists are using the local population as human shields to prevent any bombardments."

"Cowardly bastards." Jack muttered. "They must be getting desperate."

Gordon shook his head. "That's not all. It also seems our old friend from the north is also joining them."

Arthur raised an eyebrow. "Oxbridge?"

"Aye, he's got at least forty plus warships with him but Lord Bernard said that some of them are pulling out from the main forces."

"And I wonder where they'd be going..." Arthur murmured to himself. "What about Jeremiah and Captain Dunford's strike team?"

"They've hooked up the forces still loyal to the late Lord Lambert and have started with Phase Two."

Arthur nodded. "That splintered fleet may cause some trouble. Ready the Knightmares. We're heading off."

"But Sir Arthur," Gordon protested. "How are we going to stop them with only the three of us?"

"I hate to admit it but he's right." Jack said. "I mean, mate, I'm not scared of anything but facing a bunch of warships with only a three of us is definitely not my idea of bravery. Plus I don't think we can make it in time with a handful of Knightmares. Not with their power alone."

"Unless you have an airship of your own," A female voice declared. The three knights turned to see the Knight of Two.

Arthur scowled at seeing Kallen but she did her best not to pay attention to it.

"What do you want?" He said sharply.

"You need a ship. I can get you one." She stated woodenly.

"You didn't answer my question, woman." The white haired Lelouch said so coldly that made Kallen faltered slightly.

"I...I just want to help." Kallen said softly, unable to look at the cold expression of Lelouch's face.

"Sir," Gordon said. "We don't much time. We're going to need all the help we can get."

Arthur paused to glare at the Scotsman then turned back to Kallen. He observed her, his cold blue eyes stared at her face as if trying to read through her mind. Finally, he relented.

"Fine."

Kallen, despite herself brightened slightly. "Meet me in the hanger in half an hour."

As the former Black knight left, Jack grinned at Arthur.

"I think that bird interest in a certain peregrine, mate."

"I don't have time for this." Arthur said, already turning away. "Get your Knightmares on board."

"Attack! For Lambert! For the Empress!"

Harry watched as the loyalists attacked the rebel units guarding the base. It was a terrible sight to see. He had in truth as Captain Henry Dunford served in the military fighting on many fronts and saw the same sight again as the neo-Darwinist forces slaughtered their brave but outmatched opponents. While the rebel forces were mainly used to using the older generation Knightmares, the machines here were all Vincent Wards and Gareths and were easily outperforming the old machines of the loyalists who Harry had urged to rise up against.

A trio of Vincent Wards flew pass an entire company of Gloucesters tearing them apart with each passing. One of them broke formation and flew in among them wielding its MVS blades. The Gloucesters drew their signature lances and charged at the violet Knightmare.

Despite their bravery, they were simply no match for the Ward's superior speed and strength. The 7th Generation Knightmare simply dodged all the lance thrusts and slash harkens, cutting through the violet metal with crimson Master Vibration Sword.

In another area, a large group of soldiers and ground armour fired continuously at a Gareth where the raining bullets and shells made no dent in its thick body. The Gareth simply just blasted the entire group to dust with a single shot of its Hadron cannon.

Damn! This battle must end fast! Harry thought. He waved at the militia and paramilitary troops who were trying to enter the base under cover of the fighting.

One of the grey and gold massive Knightmare leapt out from the hanger and opened one of its cannons to devastate the attackers.

"Oh shit."

The beam was already forming when the Gareth's head suddenly exploded.

On the screen, a very familiar crimson and silver Vincent appeared hovering mid-air its rifle's grenade launcher was still smoking from its recent shot.

"All units move in! We'll keep them busy! Storm that base!" A mechanical voice called out in all channels.

"Sir Arthur?" Harry asked in question. Where did the red knight come from?

"Task Force, proceed with Phase Two." Just as it said it, the Vincent Mark V rose up in the air and pulled out its Gejun disturber cannon and fired out a shot of green beam. The emerald beam lanced towards a squadron of Vincent Wards who lost all power. Some came crashing down but others tried to glide along the air with their wings.

The rebels took advantage of their demise and their VTOL gunships unleashed out a barrage of missiles taking down the falling Knightmares in a forest of explosions.

The red and silver Knightmare then turned in amongst the enemy lines firing round after round of its grenade launcher at various targets then threw a chaos mine at a barrack.

Harry opened his radio. "Now everyone move in!"

Breach at Sector 364!

Internal hatches blew open in a welter of flame and flying metal. Machine gun rounds ripped out of the smoke choking the hallway, and cut down the base's inhabitants as they tried to flee.

Loyalist soldiers in their old military uniforms stormed in guns blazing, shooting down anything in their way.

"For Lord James! Death to Robert!" The soldiers cried brandishing their weapons. They strode into the hall ways.

"All shock troops move assume defensive positions!" An electronic voice shouted.

Rows of men in grey armour entered the hallway wielding ballistic shields and assault rifles from the hall ways. They formed up quickly with practiced ease, the large rectangular shields lined up in a solid wall of men and weapons.

The officer drew his pistol behind the shield wall.

"Open fire! Leave no survivors!"

The line of AR-28 rifles roared, sending volleys of supersonic rounds down the hallway, peppering the attackers' ranks greatly. Men danced in the gunfire, their bodies riddled with bullets. They fought systematically. One in every two men would fire in bursts and while they reloaded the man next to him would fire. While at this, another row of riflemen would pressure them with their own volleys.

The loyalists returned fired leaving dents and sparks on the shields but otherwise doing little damage to the rebel s.

A grenade was tossed from the shield wall and devastated the coverless loyalist soldiers, sending men flying. Desperate, the loyalists move into the nearest cover either dead bodies or the edges of the door but not before so many were killed.

"Someone throw a pineapple up there...ahgrah!" A loyalist soldier shouted but his head exploded from a round in his brain.

"See?" The rebel officer scoffed. "These bastards bleed like the sheep they are!"

"And so do you." A voice said from behind. The officer turned and saw a flying blade spinning towards him and watched it buried on his forehead.

"Sir?" A soldier dared to turn around to see his fallen superior only to die as well. His companion from the side fell as well.

No one noticed their deaths over the heavy gun fire until it was too late. A figure crashed into them from behind, breaking the shield wall and disrupting the deadly systematic firing.

Several of the soldiers turned to aim their guns the newcomer but he was already amongst them. A heavy punch cracked a soldier's helmet and visor. He wheeled and broke the neck of another. Using his fist, the man parried the pointing rifle of the soldier in front of him and twisted behind the unfortunate soldier, using the warrior's own weapon against his fellows who had no time to bring their shields around.

As the entire right section collapsed, a bloodied golden blade appeared from the hapless soldier's chest. Pulling the weapon out, the figure wheeled and beheaded the last soldier from his section.

The head rolled down, blood followed it like paint and stopped in front of a second line of shieldmen who had formed during the fighting. The rebel defenders pointed their weapons at the man who devastated their first line.

"Fire!" The rifles roared again striking the figure but other than staggering from the bullets shot, the man just stood there unharmed even after being hit by over a hundred rounds.

He wore a now battered white and purple cloak with a violet vest with a sword blade jutting out of his right arm. On his face he wore an orange metallic renaissance styled mask.

And there was not a single dent on his body.

The man grinned at the shocked soldiers.

"Know now that you were just been by...the Orange..."

%%%

On Board the King's Daughter en-route to Illinois

Kallen had seen the knight with the snowy white hair and the face of her friend, enemy and lover leaning against the wall earlier. It was him, she had not dreamt it; there standing like he hadn't even experienced a thing was the student Lelouch Lampourage, the first Zero, the 99th Emperor of Britannia. She couldn't move for a few moments as she just tried to figure out how he was alive. Or rather if it was truly him?

It certainly looks like it. Other than the hair and the eye colour, he resembles Lelouch completely. He was also like Lelouch a master tactician and a good general.

On the other hand, Arthur's skills in other matters suppressed Lelouch in a long range. He was a master fighter and an ace of a pilot on his own right. The very image of a knight of Britannia. And his personality doesn't seem to be like that of Lelouch either or was it because Kallen had not interacted with him?

If that was the case, then Kallen was going to find out.

"Lelouch...are you really trying to hide?"

It was confusing. So confusing that Kallen was having a headache just by thinking of it.

Kallen had requested an Imperial Guard unit to send them to Iowa on board a Caelaron-class cruiser. The Guard officers were confused but her status as a Knight of the Rounds and a personal friend of the Empress put aside any questions. She did not however, bring her Zero Squadron with them.

Kallen wanted to make their conversation as private as possible.

There was something about the way that makes the Arfon Knights different from the typical knights of Britannia. Kallen had watched the video images of them attacking the rebel forces and had been amazed by their skill and fighting prowess.

The Arfons had however by their actions caught the intentions of the Black Knight Command and Kallen knew that could be trouble. They had ordered her to keep an eye on him...in other words spy on the knight.

Kallen decided that she will see the knight and walked down to his quarters. She had worn her new Black Knight uniform, a black tunic with her short customised shorts with knee long boots.

Perhaps she thought, if she had worn a Black Knight uniform instead of the Britannian one, Arthur or rather Lelouch would recognise her. It was a childish hope but how could Kallen not help it?

After all, it was the man she loved that was concerned. Kallen would give up everything for it.

On the way, she bumped into the two Arfon knights.

"You must be Lady Kozuki." The foremost of the knights stated.

"Wow. She's prettier than on Television, Gordon." The younger one exclaimed.

"Quiet, Nelson." Gordon hissed. "Forgive him, he's just a lad."

"It's fine." Kallen replied before anything else could happen. "I would like to talk to your commander."

"He is in his quarters." Gordon replied.

Nelson smirked. "He's been brooding in there since we started this trip. Britannians..." He muttered with disgust. Nelson looked sharply at Kallen and quickly waved his hands in apology.

"No offence." He replied with a weak grin.

"None taken." Kallen replied. "I am half Japanese so I understand what you mean."

"Is that so?" The older knight asked.

"Yes...eh...wait...so you're not Britannians?" Kallen looked at them in surprise.

"Nope." Nelson answered. "We're not those stinking coffee drinking popinjays. We're British. Not Britannian. Same Brit but ends with a..."

Gordon interrupted him before the younger man could any further. "What he is trying to say, milady is that we are not from the Empire but from the Isles."

"Oh. I see. Uh...may I see him now?"

Gordon stepped aside as Kallen walked off.

"I wonder what they're going to do..." Kallen heard Nelson speaking to Gordon.

"Don't let your imagination go wild, come on. We have work to do."

Kallen stood in front of the door, hesitating for a second.

Taking a deep breath, she knocked the door. There was no answer.

"Hello. Lelou...Sir Arthur?"

Again there was nothing.

Kallen, what's wrong with you...She chided herself. It's been more than two years now and you've wanted this so badly!

Against her better judgement, Kallen tried the door and to her surprise, it was open. As it slid into the wall, the young woman pushed herself into entering the room.

The room was dark almost completely enveloped in shadow if it weren't for the lights from the laptop on the table and a small night lamp on the table. Kallen suppressed the discomfort growing in her. The darkness reminded her of the encounter with those Geass assassins at New Pendragon. It was almost like entering that nightmare again.

But she told herself. This was Lelouch...or rather someone who look like Lelouch...and had saved her life. There was little to fear...she hoped.

"Sir Arthur?" She called again. But she couldn't find anyone in the room and there was no response either.

Maybe he's not in? Kallen thought and was about to go out when her deep blue eyes caught a flicker of light near the table. It was a small violet box gold trimmed. On the cover was a seal: a blood red eye with gold trimmed.

Lelouch's seal.

Curiosity and passion got the better of her and Kallen walked towards the table...and stopped as the door closed behind her. The panel on the wall glowed red indicating it was locked.

Kallen suddenly felt a presence near her and she turned to look into the face of a pair of violet orbs.

"Hello, Kallen. Hello, my little traitor..."

Massive heavily armoured figures in heavy furs marched up. Breastplates and greaves and bracers linked together by thick chains to cover most of the giant's flesh. They wielded thick swords, heavy battle axes and warhammers that made the British pole arms look like a bundle of sticks.

With a terrifying roar they charged forward, stabbing and slashing at anything in their path. They used their clubs to knock aside the flights of arrows and volleys of spears, and then crashed into the guardsmen and men-at-arms.

With their colossal strength, they battered the Britons, sending men flying back and destroying whole units at a time. The Saxons began to reform around these massive figures, and more warriors poured in behind them, filling their ranks back out and quickly shifting the numbers back in their favor.

Gwaine muttered. "Berserkers...I thought they were only a myth."

"Change tactics!" Lelouch shouted at the nearest herald, knowing the man would relay the orders with his horn.

"Small shield units! Pull back to the cliffs and regroup!" The soldier nodded and raised his horn, blowing a short burst and then another. At the sound the unit leaders began shouting orders of their own, gathering their soldiers and retreating while keeping the Saxons at bay. They tried overrunning them but the Britons were clumped too close together and kept their weapons up, jabbing at any Saxon that came too close. Each unit had its shields linked as well, forming a small shield wall all around. The Saxons overwhelmed several units by sheer numbers, crashing into the warriors again and again until they faltered, but most of the British soldiers were able to pull back successfully.

Lelouch rode along the ranks at the base of the hills, organizing them. He set up another shield wall there, and as each unit retreated to it the wall opened to allow them in, then closed behind them. Those soldiers then reinforced the wall themselves and helped bring other units through safely. Lelouch tasked the archers with keeping the Saxons away from the wall as much as possible, harassing any man that came too close to pulling down a defender. They were taking a heavy toll upon the Saxons, but they was still beaching ships and adding more to the battle with every minute.

"We cannot hold them for long!" Launcelot shouted to Lelouch. "We need to do something to keep them from reaching the hills! If they do get past us they'll advance straight north to London!"

"We need more time!"

The brown haired knight smiled. "Leave it to me!"

Riding forward, Launcelot jumped over the shield wall and threw himself into the mist of the fighting.

Lelouch shouted a protest but it was too late.

Launcelot slammed his shield onto a berserker's head and threw himself on another warrior, stabbing the man as he fell.

The knight stood up quickly and brandished his sword and dove in to meet with the next wave of warriors.

Launcelot's first swing caught the throats of two warriors, the sword blade ripping them open. He grabbed the wrist of one man and threw in a kick into the Saxon's chest. The Joyeux bit into the flesh of another warrior.

A Saxon swung his sword at the knight narrowly missing him but on the second swing Launcelot grabbed the man's wrist then brought his own sword to slice through the man's guts, taking the fallen warrior's weapon in his left hand.

Three more Saxons lunged forward with spears. Launcelot deflected their attacks with his duel blades, parrying deflecting blow after blow and launched counter-attacks of his own. A head fell as Joyeux cut through a neck. The French sword then pierced through one heart while its Saxon counterpart buried itself on the skull of another.

Launcelot then let go of Joyeux to wrestle with an axeman. The man was much stronger than the young French knight so Launcelot kicked the man's balls and threw a mailed fist into the Saxon's nose.

The axe was now the knight's and he used it to behead one Saxon.

"He's fast." The real Lelouch noted. "Just like Suzaku…" In the time it took a man to strike a blow, Launcelot gave two. He fought them, using the axe in short brutal strokes. The first smashed a knee guard protecting one, gutted a spearman and the third fell the first wounded warrior.

Tristran joined his fellow knight riding down several warriors attempting to surround the young Frenchman. He shouted a war cry in his native Cornish tongue and slashed his sword down splitting a skull open.

While the Saxons were distracted by the mounted knight, Launcelot took the advantage to barrel deeper into the Saxons lines. He hacked, slashed and gutted his way through the endless tide of Saxon warriors. Whenever the Saxons swung their weapons, the young French knight would dance his way out, jumping and dodging away.

"Slaka!" A Saxon lunged forward with a long spear at Tristran's horse while the knight was trading blows with a berserker.

The young French knight lunged forward taking the man's spear and pulled. The Saxon was running so fast that he could not control his speed and Launcelot sent him running into his fellows.

A war hammer came down on Launcelot's head but his gauntlet hand gripped the shaft and brought the weapon back down on the owner's skull.

A spear jabbed at him but he was too quick and avoided the stab. He cut the spear in half with his axe and took the broken shaft and thrust it back into the chest of the Saxon.

By now Kay and Gwaine had joined into the fray.

Lelouch watched his friends cut a space between the Saxons and thus he regrouped his men, shoring up the shield wall, and also sent the levy units forward with brush and tinder. They laid fires in the Saxon's path, creating a raging blaze that stopped the Saxons from advancing to the west. That reduced the risk of their surrounding the Britons and made them easier to contain and block.

Nor were the Saxons slow to notice. Several of the men stepped forward, trying to put out the fire, but British archers shot them down before they could reach the flames. One fell into the fire instead, and screamed as it consumed him. That made the others shrink back again.

The berserkers were a problem, however. One lumbered through the flames, burning himself but otherwise not slowing down. Lelouch directed a full unit against it but the warrior downed many soldiers, splitting some in two halves before the warrior finally fell.

Lelouch gritted his teeth.

"Now, ballistae!" Massive bolts of wood and iron flew behind army lines and prowled their way through the Saxon ranks. The berserkers were huge powerfully built men with drunken minds wearing heavy plate armour but not even that could stand the might of a siege weapon.

The front two ranks of the berserkers fell as a line of ballistae bolts flew and struck their lines. Some were pierced right into more than one. Others were knocked back off their feet.

Lelouch hoped it would be enough. The other berserkers hesitated, even their drugged minds able to comprehend the danger, and that gave his men time to target them with arrows and spears. The shield wall still held but the Saxons was massing again, and before long it would be able to simply roll over the defenders, its losses barely diminishing its bulk.

In the mist, something caught Lelouch's eyes and he shouted a warning.

A berserker roared as it made its way towards Launcelot. The Saxon swung his massive war hammer which would have crushed the French knight like an insect. He jumped out of the way and watched helplessly as a British soldier with a spear and shield was sent flying by a hammer blow.

The berserker then turned his attention back to the knight, waving his weapon in slow arcs.

Launcelot drew his dagger and hurled it. The blade buried on the Saxon's shoulder but the giant did not react to it instead brought down his hammer again which Launcelot barely dodged. He buried his axe blade into the warrior's thigh.

The Saxon roared with rage and kicked Launcelot like a foot ball sending the emerald eyed knight flying. The man's spike boot would have killed him if the knight wasn't armoured and even then the breastplate was dented by the blow.

"Suzaku!" The real Lelouch absently shouted.

"Launcelot!" Tristran shouted as he, Gwaine and Kay struggled against a fresh wave of Saxon warriors.

The berserker marched towards him and pulled him up by the breastplate collar. Defiant to the end, Launcelot head-butted the giant with his heavy helm. The Saxon had also worn a masked helm but the blow was unexpected had distracted him if only a moment, the French knight reached for a fallen spear and thrust it through the slit of the Saxon's armour.

The Saxon roared in pain and threw a heavy fist into the young knight's chest that sent him staggering back.

But before he knew it, a black and red figure appeared behind the berserker and a sword beheaded the massive warrior.

As the warrior fell, a familiar looking knight in jet-black armour appeared on a crimson barded horse.

Launcelot looked up. "Arthur?"

"You're an idiot for running off like that." Lelouch replied.

"I wonder what Suzaku would say if he sees this," The real Lelouch muttered in amusement.

"Ready the cavalry!" Lelouch shouted to his royal guard.

Charge? Into that? Launcelot stared at his prince for an instant then shrugged. Their defences could not hold out forever. The knight gladly took a sword from a man at arms and whistled his horse.

Lelouch signalled the herald, who blew a might blast. Then those knights on horseback were forming up, and Launcelot swung in with them, placing himself just behind Lelouch, who rode at their head. The shield wall parted for them.

"You don't seem surprised..." The knight said to Lelouch who just nodded.

They crashed into the Saxons' front ranks, carving a path back through the Saxons with lances and swords.

They struck the first wave of berserkers first. Not even the berserkers could stand up to the power of a charging war horse. The British horsemen were outnumbered but they were mounted and were armed with heavy lances and mowed through the armoured warriors.

One berserker was tossed into the air despite his size, the broken lance tip stuck on his dented breastplate. Lelouch slashed and took the top off a skull. He turned left and thrust his sword into the exposed neck of a distracted berserker.

Some tried to flee but many stand and fought losing themselves into their bloodlust. A rider was knocked off his mount when a berserker swung a heavy club. A horse screamed as a spear struck deep into its chest. The rider fell down only to be torn apart by the savage warriors.

By this time, many of the cavalrymen had lost their lances and unsheathed their swords and dove into the melee with maniacal savagery. It was hacking work, brutal work, screaming and fast work and many berserkers died.

Lelouch grinned. He did not have many knights. The royal court was not willing to lend him a contingent of the veteran elite warriors and so he'll have to show those noble bastards what commoners could do.

And it'd be a pleasure.

"It seems nothing much had changed..." Lelouch muttered. "History repeats itself after everything."

After a minute Lelouch signalled and they wheeled about, the archers providing cover as they swung clear. Then they struck again this time into the Saxon infantry. The warriors were surprised by the fact that their giants were defeated and the charge hit them hard.

Swords slash and bit.

"Die, bastard!" A cavalryman shouted as he stabbed a warrior grabbing his rein then kicked the man's face and stabbed him again.

Lelouch himself was lost in his own blood lust. All the pain, the discrimination by the nobles, all the hardship he had to put through filled his mind and it was time for vengeance. He screamed as he buried a blade into the face of a Saxon and then trampled over another with his horse.

They were readying for a third charge when a drum beat from somewhere within the Saxons—and the Saxons were running back to their boats.

"We did it!" Gwaine shouted. "They're retreating back to their ships!"

Lelouch heard it and turned to see the warriors retreating back to their boats pursued by the vengeful British cavalry. He saw the Saxon leader again. He was covered in blood and Lelouch thought he nodded to him in respect before boarding his ship.

Lelouch sighed in relief and fell to the ground from his horse in exhaustion.

"Prince Arthur!" He heard the men shout but Lelouch did not care as he laid on the dirty ground. He had won his first battle.

Meanwhile at Kentucky

"Missiles! Evade!"

"Left wing advance!"

"For the Empress!"

"All hail Britannia!"

"Die, traitors!"

The battle raged between the Imperial and rebel forces dove in savagery and brutality that Britannians were known for as knights fought and kill knights. Wreckages of Knightmares rained down the ground as explosions littered the air.

"Lord Oxbridge, we have broken the Imperial left." A purist officer said.

"Very good, keep up with the attack. We must destroy this force before the loyalists can arrive."

It had been a good plan. Oxbridge knew that the Imperial forces were trying to meet up with the loyalist troops in Kentucky and thus he quickly launched an attack to decimate the Imperial strike force while they were divided.

He watched as an Imperial Logres cruiser dropped burning while a hundred missiles and cannon shells rained on the ship. Around him other ships fell as the rebel forces overwhelmed through the Imperial fleet.

His household Vincent Wards and their Vincent Commanders spearheaded the attack led by his old friend Colonel Nathan Knolles. The elite of the Purist were his men who the bearded noble had prepared for so long. Among them, two of his heavily modified Logres cruisers advance along with the Knightmares, supporting heavy blasts of Hadron beams. The giant Hadron cannon that was used at New England had been mass-produced into a smaller version to all Purist fleets giving them the extra fire power.

On the right, a barrage of missiles downed a Caelaron as the green and gold air ship burnt in great fire.

A group of rebel Caelarons started forward firing missiles and Hadron blasts as they go while squadrons of Gloucesters and Vincent Wards flew ahead like a swarm of bees eager to destroy their enemy.

General Alexandros' ship, the Lionheart stood in defiant against the tide on the flank despite rapidly losing its escort ships.

"My lord General! We've lost the Loren and the Brian has taken severe hits."

Another officer called. "Sir, the Great Swan going down!"

"Everyone pull yourself together!" Alexandros bellowed, slamming a fist on his chair. "Tell the Red and Green squadrons to provide cover for the flanks. The rest of the squads engage those Caelarons! Where are the Wolfblades? I want them to cover this line!"

"General! Enemy ships are targeting the Lionheart!"

The veteran warrior shouted. "Evade!"

Streams of Hadron beams passed just shy of the Logres-class ship. The surrounding units were not so lucky. A blast took down a Caelaron that was on the verge of destruction ending the unfortunate ship.

Another torrent of crimson energy lanced towards the ship.

"30 degrees port!" Alexandros shouted. "Pull us out of range!"

The Hadron beam was too quick and it struck the right wing of the Lionheart.

"General, our wing is hit."

Alexandros was about to comment the officer when another officer shouted.

"Knightmares! Gareths! They're heading towards us!"

On the screen, a dozen massive grey and gold Knightmares accelerated towards the crippled ship .

"Take them down!"

The Lionheart's gunnery crews suddenly came to life as lead and missiles rain down from the ship. Some of the rebels were struck down quickly. One Gareth's arm exploded as a missile struck it. Another was torn apart in a stream of sabot rounds.

While many of the Gareths were forced to pull out, one of the grey and gold Knightmare managed to survive the barrage and flew straight to the command bridge of the Logres.

"Stop him!" The ship captain shouted.

A volley of missiles were fired out from a turret but the Gareth fired its own missiles to cancel the attack and proceeded its way to the bridge and aimed its Hadron cannon.

The bridge stared at the Knightmare as the cannon prepared to fire.

"Emily..." Harold Alexandros muttered.

However, before they knew it a large blue spike flew in and struck the machine full in the chest. As the Gareth staggered back, a blue and white form shot down pass the grey and gold machine and tore it in half.

"You boys alright?" A voice came and the video screen showed a grinning blond young man.

"Nice time to drop by, lad." Alexandros laughed. "What took you so long?"

"I was in the neighbourhood," Gino said. "And I thought I'd drop by. Now how can the Knight of Three be of any service?"

Alexandros quickly analysed the situation. "We need to break through that line or the bastards will flank us. Hold them off until reinforcements arrive."

Gino nodded. "How long do you need?"

"Just ten minutes."

"I'll give you fifteen!" With that Gino Weinberg drove his machine into Knightmare mode.

The blue and white figure transformed, shooting out arms and legs and a gold horn on the fore head with crimson eyes. The Knightmare resembled to the Tristan in shape, size, function and colour. There was more armour now on the chest as well as the arms with gold trim along the white body. There were twin crimson wings, now larger and longer. The first pair was slightly smaller than the second to help its aerial performance.

It had a new faceplate as well; this one akin to a samurai mask with glowing red eyes and blue in colour.

"Let's see you can handle the Lamorak!"

The Knight of Three zoomed passed a squadron of Gloucesters who were firing rifles, cannon and slash harkens at him. The heavy barrage would have overwhelmed a normal pilot but Gino was a Knight of the Round, one of the finest pilots the world had ever seen and he avoided them all with practice ease.

He stretched out his arms and launched his two over-sized slash harkens. The dark blue rocket projectiles flew out and manoeuvred through the missiles and debris as if they had intelligence of their own. They smashed through half a dozen Knightmares in a few seconds, striking the ones on the flanks.

The Gloucesters in the centre trained their weapons on the Lamorak delivered a barrage of sabot rounds, missiles and cannon fire.

"Heh, amateurs!" Gino barked and easily avoided the attack. At the same time, he twisted his joystick and the slash harkens swept across each other striking the Gloucesters between them. Seven of the purple machines were struck and knocked off the skies.

As the slash harkens started retracted to the Lamorak's arms, the foremost of the Gloucesters raised their lances and charged forward hoping to take the Knight with a lucky thrust.

Gino grinned as their attempt and calmly allowed his slash harkens to return and upon their return, the Lamorak slammed its arms together merging the arm mounted harkens together. A bust of blue and white energy shot out and blasted into the charging Gloucesters.

The electromagnetic rail cannon ploughed its way through the massed purple machines like a blade through flesh and ended with a massed explosion.

Even after that several Gloucesters appeared from the smoke, their lances thirsty for blood.

"Want some more?" Gino taunted. The Lamorak then dodge one of the lance thrusts and its hands reached behind over his shoulders. The first pair of wings turned and folded about turning akin to the scabbards akin to the Lancelot series.

Two golden hints appeared and the wings turned purple and glowed becoming MVS weapons. The wings had become swords.

With his new weapons, the Knight of Three sliced the charging Gloucester in half, parrying a second thrust before decapitating it.

He blocked a swing from another Gloucester and sliced its hand off. Gino then brought one arm up and fired his oversized slash harken at point blank range.

The attack knocked the purple Knightmare off the air where it struck its coming companion as well.

"This is the Prince of Wales! The enemy has breached the first line! I repeat, the enemy has breached the first line. Our centre is exposed I repeat. Our centre is exposed!"

"What the hell?" Gino muttered as he cut down another Gloucesters. "How did they do that? I was there just a few minutes ago!"

"Gino, lad! This is Alexandros! Pull out and support the centre!"

"But they'll flank us if I do that!"

"Aye! But the centre is more important...what the..."

"General?" Gino asked and turned to see a black and gold flashed across the sky.

"It's Zero!" A voice cried out. "It's Lord Zero!"

Before he could comprehend anything else, explosions had started to littered across the centre as the black and gold light had struck them.

The rebels clearly did not expect Zero to personally show up and they paused in confusion and fear. Gino grinned and took advantage of the situation, changing into fortress mode and firing his rail gun.

Another new feature of the Lamorak was that it did not need to fire out its slash harkens to fire out its rail gun. Of course, he had done it a lot as if it was the Tristan out of old habit and because it looks much cooler.

As he ploughed his way through the rebel ranks, more Knightmares were appearing on his side. They were black and gold Vincents, Britannian knights part of Zero's personal guard. They drew out their new upgrade purple MVS blades and entered the fray by his side.

Now, the rebels had realised that they were in trouble and started to fall back. From his position he finally got a look at Zero in the centre of the line.

Dozens of Knightmare attacked him, all wanting the glory of killing the protector of the world they want to destroy. Gloucesters, Vincents, Vincent Wards, Sutherlands, even Portman II swarmed the black and gold figure.

Then suddenly the Knightmare's crimson eyes lit up, the light flew up firing green beams down on the cloud descending on it. Explosions littered the trail of Zero. Then the light turned back and charge through the swarm of Knightmares like a sword.

It turned about suddenly and a crimson beam of a Hadron cannon fired from it destroying the trail of Knightmares in a single blast. The beam continued to drag down and sliced through a rebel warship like a giant blade destroying at once.

But Zero was not done yet, then a second blast fired and this time it went straight into the leading Logres ship striking the bridge.

Gino let out a low whistle as the ship fell burning from the skies. Now that was some amazing Knightmare skills.

His smile faded away as soon as Zero's Knightmare appeared from the smoke.

It wasn't Zero himself of course. Rather it was what the Knightmare reminded him of.

The black and gold machine had gold energy wings wielding two long barrelled VARIS rifles appeared. It was almost identical to another Knightmare that haunt Gino's mind.

The Lancelot Rei...Zero's personal Knightmare.

"Suzaku..." For not for the first time, Gino mourned his old friend. Suzaku was not a real bad guy at heart. He was a little cuckoo compare to many people and seeing what he had gone through in his life the Knight of Three could not blame him and he had always...always tried to be supportive of the Japanese knight and defend him from those stereotype racist bastards that plagued the ranks.

It was surely that damn Lelouch's fault. Yes, he had twisted the Japanese knight's already damaged mind. And for that Gino would never forgive the demonic bastard even if he was already dead.

"I wish you could see this world Zero created, buddy." Gino muttered. "Heh, I still can't believe that the man we've been so crazy to take down had been the same guy who saved us all. Haha, I can soo see your face. We wouldn't have needed to fight then."

The blond Knight of Three watched sadly at the Lancelot unit as turned the battle around single handedly.

Kallen watched in surprise as a tall lean cloaked figure appeared in front of her, his eyes glowing crimson.

"Kallen...how could you do this to me?" Lelouch said, his words bitter and poisoned.

"I didn't mean to! What you were doing...you were..." Kallen protested.

"I had thought that among all, I could trust you. It seems I was wrong. CC was right. There was no one else I could trust..." Lelouch all but spat the words.

Kallen felt her chest being torn apart. "No! You can trust me! I told you if I would follow you to..."

"Hell?" Lelouch scoffed. "Then I will see you in hell." He drew out his pistol. Not at her but at himself.

"Lelouch...what are you..."

"Good bye, Kallen."

"NO!" Kallen shouted as the bullet pierce through his head. She gasped in horror as Lelouch remained standing blood pouring down his head.

"So what do you want?" He asked. As he did, his hair was lightening turning grey then white while his eyes from Geass glowing crimson back to purple...then into sky blue.

"I won't ask again." The white haired Lelouch asked. "What do you want?"

Kallen stood facing the man who had once admired, the man who had saved her life, the man who had given his life for hers...the man she fell in love with.

"I..." She started. "I wanted to ask you something." Before Kallen knew it, she found a sword blade just inches from her neck. She knew that the blade would pierce through her unguarded flesh if she tried anything foolish.

The white haired Lelouch's eyes narrowed. "And what kind of question do the Black Knights ask of me?"

"It's not for the Black Knights!" Kallen almost started forward and ended up getting skewered on the sharp sword tip. Instead she fidgeted with the corner of her tunic.

The red knight lowered his sword and turned away.

"Then leave."

Kallen was surprised by his reaction. Had he just told her off?

"You said you served Lelouch." Kallen said rather sharply.

Arthur paused. He stood there in silent. Kallen thought she saw his hand shifting slightly.

"So you've come to finish the job?" She heard a familiar click sound and knew what he was trying to do.

"No." Kallen raised both hands to show that she was unarmed. "I...just want to talk...I wanted to speak to you." Lelouch...please...tell me...

The white haired Lelouch stood unmoving then she heard a second click and Arthur turned to his bed and sat on it.

He did not look at her but did not say anything either. Encouraged that he was willing to listen, Kallen dared to open her mouth again.

"What was he like?" She asked. "As the Emperor I mean..." Kallen knew Lelouch was known as the monstrous dictator but she wanted to hear it from someone who was close to him...or if it was him. Whatever the case, she wanted to hear the words from the mouth of the man who might be him.

"You people call him the Demon King of Britannia." Arthur stated rather accusingly at her. "You people say he was the most blood thirsty warlord in history and a power hungry monster that put even the bastard Charles Zi Britannia in shame." He had literally spat all the words and Kallen unconsciously stepped back, wondering if he was going to attack her.

"But Lelouch hated his father as well...It might still be him..."

"That was what he is." Arthur suddenly ended it.

Kallen's eyes widened, suddenly angered. She had gone through all the trouble so that she was going to hear at least something good about Lelouch and here was the knight who sworn to protect Nunnally in the place of Britannia telling her that he was a demon.

"Then why do you serve him? Why did you tell Nunna...I mean her Majesty that you served Lelouch? Why did you say that you will fulfil his last wish!"

Arthur scoffed. "That is none of your concern. I don't expect people like you to understand."

So only people like you and her? And Kallen suddenly saw the green haired witch smirking at her. Anger filled her chest and she was glad the doors were close as Kallen's mouth shout out in outrage.

"I DO UNDERSTAND!" Kallen screamed, stomping her foot hard. "I watched from the side lines as he squirmed from the decisions he was forced to make. The pain he had endured when he thought he lost his only sister. The fact that he had no choice but to go through the path of blood that only harmed everyone he loved." Kallen could feel the tears in her eyes flowing down absently but she did not care. "He was all alone in that path of destruction and he still faced it for the sake of everyone...I watched so haplessly. I was his bodyguard. I was the leader of his Elite Guard..."

Arthur stood up and walked to his desk, ignoring her. "So you say..." Although his tone said that he did not believe her one bit. "But in truth...You were Zero's bodyguard. Just because they're both geniuses doesn't mean they're the same person. Please, don't get that mixed up. Why don't you just..."

"GOD DAMN IT, LISTEN TO ME!" Kallen had lunged forward and grabbed Lelouch by his collar.

"I KNOW THE TRUTH!" Kallen all but shouted in Lelouch's face. "I KNOW IT! STOP LYING TO ME! I KNOW THAT YOU GOT YOURSELF KILLED FOR YOUR PLAN OF WORLD PEACE! WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME YOU BASTARD?"

Arthur looked at her surprised by the outburst. Only then Kallen realised what she was doing and released him.

"I'm sorry." She muttered, backing away.

Arthur said nothing, staring at her curiously.

Maybe it is not him... Kallen thought, embarrassed by the thought that she might have reacted in such a way to someone who was not Lelouch.

The white haired Lelouch grunted in what might have been a nod. He turned his attention to adjust his crumpled crimson uniform.

"I...I knew Lelouch was Zero." Kallen said to him, her eyes downcast. "I knew it. I was loyal to him...No...I am still loyal to him. I too want his death to be justified. I want to..."

Then suddenly there was an alarm.

"Trouble?" Arthur muttered as he darted out of the room with Kallen in tail.

"Why does this always happen to me...?"Kallen muttered.

They quickly got to the bridge.

The Imperial lieutenant turned to watch them.

"My lady, we have enemy Knightmares incoming."

Arthur frowned. "Already?" He stepped up to take a closer look at the IFF screen.

There was a large blue dot coming towards them surrounded by a number of smaller ones.

"They're here?" Kallen asked.

Arthur didn't answer instead he went to the console and started pressing some buttons. He zoomed into the map as if trying to understand it.

"Local rebels." He muttered. The red knight then pressed his com-link. "Glory seekers. Thirsty for blood." He smirked. "They want blood. They'll get it. Nelson, Gordon. Get to your Knightmares."

He turned to the Lieutenant. "Once they've deployed, take this ship to the Kentucky-Iowa border as soon as possible." The officer stared nervously not daring to protest against the man who looked like the dead Emperor and looked uncertainly at Kallen first. The Knight of Two seeing little choice but to trust the man, nodded to the Lieutenant.

As the officer turned to speak, Kallen noticed that he didn't say anything to her. He had given almost everyone else an order. Does he think that she's not needed here? Fuming the half-Japanese woman stepped up behind him.

"Ahem." She coughed.

"Are you doing anything?" He asked, without turning to her.

"I'm going too." She snapped. "Don't stop me." Her eyes daring him to protest. Instead he just shrugged.

"You're a Knight of the Round. I have no authority over you."

Kallen glared at him as Arthur/Lelouch studied the IFF screen.

"Twenty Gloucesters and Twelve Vincent Wards led by three Vincents." Arthur summed up. "It shouldn't be a problem for you would it?" He said it with barely concealed contempt.

"Watch me." Kallen snarled and stormed off the bridge.

"Ha!" Jeremiah cried out as he avoided the rifle butt of a rebel soldier and stepped up and sliced his neck open with a single slash. Stepping back, the cyborg smashed his elbow into another breaking his ribs then wheeled a front kick to break the spine of one more.

Bullets pinged and flashed off his metallic chest plate and mask which thanks to Cecile had been upgraded into covering his entire face. The rebel soldiers fired relentlessly in full automatic forcing to step back.

"Take him down!" The captain shrieked through his mask, his voice sounding more like a sci-fi alien than a man.

Jeremiah grinned, taking pleasure in the man's fear and strode forward in the storm of bullets, never breaking his stride.

"Charge!" The surviving soldiers with activated their retractable bayonets and lunged at him.

Jeremiah shrugged his shoulders with a laugh at the charging men with their blades glittering in the hall lights.

"Is that all?" He asked calmly, his orange mask giving him an image of a demonic jester. "If you want blades, then it shall be an honour." Jeremiah gave the armoured snarling soldiers a mocking bow. The zealous knight then lashed out his left hand which shot out a second golden blade.

Crossing the blades together, Jeremiah muttered quiet. "For Master Lelouch...ALL HAIL LELOUCH!"

He dove in to meet their charge, his arms spread out like wings. The master fighter leapt up spinning avoiding the thrusts of the first soldiers who speed right pass him. One swing of his blade beheaded a surprised soldier. Jeremiah easily parried a wild thrust and slid the man's throat with his left blade.

Jeremiah then bent low and thrust his right blade into an armoured chest. Wheeling back, the cyborg then parried a bayonet thrust on the back and took the top off a skull. Dancing back, he split the chest of another soldier.

A bayonet thrust at Jeremiah's back but it never met his target as he tripped the unfortunate rebel out. The man was sent stumbling forward and accidently stabbed his bayonet into the chest of charging soldier.

Horrified, the soldier released his weapon and turned to have his head sliced in half.

Jeremiah danced his way through the rebels, gracefully slaughtering the men who tried to ruin his lordship's dream. His robotic upgrades plus his own impressive skills had made him the most deadly hand to hand combatant in mankind yet.

As he eviscerated another attacker, two large sergeants lunged forward to defend their commander.

"Come and test me!" Jeremiah said as he brought one golden blade down. The sergeant raised his carbine to block it and the weapon snapped in half as it contacted the blade. The swing continued and cut through the sergeant's brains.

The second sergeant seeing his weapon useless threw the firearm at the cyborg. Jeremiah caught the rifle in one hand and tossed it aside, bouncing off the far wall, broken in two.

The soldier took the time to draw out two combat daggers. Brandishing them in a display of a great knife fighter, the sergeant readied in a fighting stance. Then with a feral snarl, he lunged forward.

Jeremiah smirked and slashed.

One of the sergeant's blades slashed down...only that the arm suddenly fell out in mid air blood trailing from it. Jeremiah swung about and sliced off the other arm.

The soldier fell to his knees in shock watching his hacked limbs. Giving the man mercy, Jeremiah waved one arm, beheading the poor soldier.

A bullet grazed off his mask as the section captain struggled to resist. After emptying his entire clip on Jeremiah's mask without a dent, the officer made his last stand drawing his sabre and slashed to meet the cyborg's golden blade.

The blades met and the sabre scattered like glass. Jeremiah withdrew his blades to interrogate the man, smacking the broken sword away from him. The captain refused to give up and threw in a gauntlet fist at Jeremiah's face which left him with broken knuckles.

Grabbing the rebel officer by the neck, Jeremiah held him against the wall.

"Where is it?" Jeremiah asked.

The soldier shook his head violently. Orange tightened his grip.

"I won't say it again."

The officer opened his mouth to speak when he suddenly screamed in agony as his eyes suddenly flared red. Before he knew it, the man was dead.

Jeremiah just smirked dropping the corpse. The Cultist had made sure that none of these men would ever revealed information.

"Lord Jeremiah!" Dunford and a squad of Arfons arrived around him in Britannian armour, their distinctive red shoulder plates not glowing at all to the lights around them.

"Everything according to plan?"

"All squads have infiltrated the base." Dunford said, half panting. "We've taken both the eastern and western wings."

Jeremiah nodded. "Alright then, we'll head down to their research facilities. Bring more men here."

"Aye." Dunford started giving orders through his radio while Jeremiah and the rest headed down the elevator. They met resistance in the form of auto-turrets and shock troops but otherwise proved to be minor threats.

As Jeremiah cut down the last soldier, he felt a strange presence from a door. A very familiar presence. A presence he had not felt for a long time.

They're here.

"Dunford, gather the remaining squads and put them in Point B and E."

"I'm sorry?" The captain questioned.

"Do it. There's something behind here."

As Dunford gave the orders, the dark skinned man pulled himself beside Jeremiah.

"Geass?" He whispered. Jeremiah nodded and drew out his blade.

"You," He pointed at one trooper. "Set a charge."

They took positions as the warrior pressed a charge and let it blast the door open.

They quickly stormed into the door and watched aghast at the sight that filled them.

The entire room was dark, illuminated only by the lights from the computers and the glows of the liquid tanks.

"My god. What the hell is going on here?" One of the soldiers muttered.

Neither Jeremiah or Dunford answered. They entered the facility silently, wary to awaken anything inside.

"This place looks exactly like the Geass Directorate back in China." Jeremiah muttered to the Arfon knight. Memories of the experiments and the brain washing programs entered the mind of the zealous warrior.

"Why am I not surprised..." Dunford muttered. "I've seen my share of Geass in this life and the abuse of it by them. The Order has been fighting against them for so long but your master managed to crush them in a little more than a day."

"Of course." Jeremiah replied with not a little pride. "He is Lelouch after all. I for one believe it in my bones that he's King Arthur resurrected."

"We shall see." Dunford said, cocking his rifle doubt filling his voice.

Jeremiah snorted.

He knew that Harry Dunford, or whatever his real name was, was a lot older than he appeared to be. Rumours say he was a direct decedent of the original Knights of the Round Table.

And because of that Jeremiah did not find offence from him for doubting Lelouch.

The Order of Arfon had been a very mysterious and enigmatic group. And from what he had learnt, they were heavily connected to the Arthurian legend. While the Britannian Empire had often given namesakes to the old myth, they were little more than honouring the ancient king and his legendary knights.

The Arfons however, seemed to be more connected to it than it seems. When the Grand Master had approached Jeremiah, Anya and Sayoko at their farm back in Japan, they were little more than surprised to hear of it and that Lelouch was part of the ancient prophecy.

Jeremiah had been honoured to serve them. There was no greater honour for a Britannian knight to give his services in the name of Pendragon. To him Lelouch was King Arthur himself and his sacrifice was the proof of it!

And thus, he, Sayoko and Anya had joined as agents of the Arfon order. Anya was now currently serving Her Majesty as a Knight of the Round as the Order had made it clear to protect the young Empress. It was an easy to hide the fact from the more radical Imperials especially due to Anya's quiet nature.

As they made their way through, one of the Arfons called from his com-link in attempt to not alert anyone in the room.

"Sir, over here."

Jeremiah and Dunford followed the man and watched as the small group faced a dark figure.

Dunford pressed his com-link. "Surround him."

The knights had spread out, aiming their weapons at the unknown figure.

The figure was blissfully unaware of the six armed men and a cyborg, so focused he was on a control panel. As he passed a glowing tank, his garments revealed to be that of a white long lab-coat which meant the man was a researcher.

Jeremiah nodded to the foremost of the knight who hurled his rifle to the back and silently lunged forward and buried a knife into the back of the man's skull and twisted.

The researcher did not cry out but let out a short sigh and fell to the ground. The cyborg made his way to the control panel and raised his visor mask to take a good look at it.

"This is the place." Jeremiah declared. "Plant them now."

The Arfons spread out the facility, taking out explosives and putting them at different locations silently. There were still several researchers inside and were quickly taken care of.

It was done so easily that Jeremiah was starting to get suspicious. Dunford shared it as well giving him a glance.

The last of the soldiers arrived to join them.

"Sir, everything is ready. We can..."

He was cut off as a spinning blade pierced through his helmet and skull.

Jeremiah lowered his visor down up and drew his sword.

Then the shadows fell upon them.

"Did you hear that?" The sergeant of one of the infiltrating squads asked.

"Hear what, Sergeant?"

"That..." The loyalist non-commissioned officer listened carefully, gripping his carbine harder.

He slowly walked down the corridor and turned his weapon there.

There was nothing.

Thinking that his mind was playing tricks, the soldier turned and watched in alarm as he faced a new figure behind his men.

The rifles all turned to the newcomer. He was a young man with cyan coloured hair, dressed in a white uniform with a silver cloak and had worn some gold armour. His eyes were strangely gold.

"Have you lost your way boys?" The man called cheerfully. "Perhaps I can help you..." His left eye suddenly turned crimson with a strange bird like symbol in the pupil.

"If you obey my commands..."

The soldiers raised their weapons high and stomp their foot.

"YES, MILORD!" They roared.

As the soldiers froze in their position, the cyan haired man turned around.

"Ah, Castor my brother, you called?" The man suddenly said. "Ah, good. Let the attack begin!"

Cliff Hanger! Sorry, it was just getting too long. So how was it? Please review so I can improve it. Next chapter: the Face of a Lover.