Turn I: Nevermore.
December 18, 2018 A.T.B
"Japan, a small nation several miles of the coat of Asia in the Pacific ocean, eight years ago it tried to transform from a global power into a superpower, it challenged the mighty Brittannian Empire, it lost the war and it's people lost their country, their rights and even their name, but a Prince called Lelouch, along with his allies fight against that and this foreign invader has become in the eyes of the numbers the savior which they had been waiting for, a year ago they created the establishment of the Special Administrative Zone on Christmas eve, the first step in which the elevens would regain their freedom.
On that same day a great sea battle raged on the ocean, during which Lelouch was victorious and cemented his place both in history and within the empire, there seemed to be much cause for even greater celebration…until the population heard the rest of the news, the 'Iron Prince' was greatly wounded in the fight and he fell in a coma, the Chinese seeing this as a sign from heaven started a second invasion of Kyushu, the Black Knights thrown into chaos from the fall of their mighty leader were unable to respond in time, now in Kyushu Sawasaki reigns, while the rest of Japan is ruled by Euphemia as Governor General along with Nunnally as Vice Governor, the world now stands in between the new age and the old, whatever happens from now on and who will bring the new age is anybody's guess" C.C narrated to herself from a hilltop outside Tokyo
Her memory of what happened a year ago was clear.
(One year ago Governor's palace medical facility)
Lelouch was brought to Tokyo after being rescued by Millie and the others, when he was left alone C.C came to his room.
"Look at you, I remember how when I made the offer for Geass you said that 'Only a human can decide the fate of mankind' and now look what sticking to that rule got you, wounded, in a coma, defeated, this is all you are ever going to achieve as a human…..however…. I will give you that power and save you from your fate." C.C said to him and reached out to make the contract, but suddenly Lelouch caught her hand and C.C just froze in shock, she looked at his face to see if he was awake.
But he was not awake, he was still in a coma, but the way he grabbed her hand it was like he was saying 'no cutting corners' , his grip on her loosened, then his arm fell back down, C.C after this decided to simply wait and see what would happen next, she had lived for centuries after all, to her what was a few years extra?.
(Present day, Kyushu block)
Kallen was doing reconnaissance for the 'Slayers' and as she walk through the streets of Kyushu' capital she could not help but fell disgusted at what she saw.
After Sawasaki successfully invaded he was immediately went to work, every single man who entered the 'Phoenix Fund" was arrested and moved to a labor camp, the Buildings of the Phoenix fund were abandoned right before completion and Kallen could view them rusting.
Sawasaki had turned the island into one giant prison, soldiers patrolled the streets and arrests on those who were declared a 'Traitor to Japan' were common every day.
During this time Lelouch or Zero as he called himself for the people of Kyushu transformed from an idol into a symbol of hope, she witnessed herself that in many secret churches and altars some people prayed for the 'Iron Prince' to be healed and for him to return to free them.
Kallen herself was very shaken up after what happened a year ago and she recalled.
A year ago….
Upon seeing Lelouch flag ship burst into flames she immediately flew over there to see if he was fine.
Lelouch was now floating at the surface of the water, he was no idiot, he knew to prepare for any situation no matter how absurd it may be, so before leaving port, he dressed himself in a special Zero costume, it was insulated against water, it had an inflatable life jacked which activated automatically if he fell in water, and his mask was equipped with a small oxygen supply which would keep him breathing even if his mask's glass was shattered.
"Oh my God there he is!" Shirley shouted spotting his location, once they saw Lelouch ship hit Millie quickly drove the boat they were on to search for their friend if he fell in the water.
"Hang on buddy, we got you!" Rivals said as they pulled an unconscious Lelouch out off the water.
"Dear Lord, look at his left eye!" Millie said as they laid him on the floor.
"He needs a doctor!" the speakers of the Guren said as Kallen hovered above.
"It's that red knightmare!" Nina shouted in sheer terror of what was before.
"Like we'll let you guys take him prisoner! You'll just shoot him for fun!" Rivals shouted and covered his friend's unconscious body.
"He won't be hurt, you have my word Rivals!" Kallen said and she lifted her cockpit top showing her face.
"Kallen!" Shirley said astounded to see her friend was the pilot of the red knightmare.
"So you really are e member of the Slayers!" Millie said to herself since she suspected it.
Just then a barrage of warning shots were fired around Kallen from George, Omar and Suzaku's Lancelots.
"That's close enough Kallen! Back away or we will kill you!" Suzaku replied.
"I was just trying to take him to a doctor!" Kallen said to them.
"Oh take him to a doctor! And that doctor would just happen to be with the Chinese now would he, like I'd let you take him there! The Chinese hate Lelouch more than any other member of the royal family from what he did to them at Fukuoka, what do you think they do to him after they healed him eh?" Suzaku angrily spat back.
Kallen at this didn't know how to react, and just the she received the retreat order from Todoh and complied.
Present time….
Kallen before returning to her extraction point decided to steal a glance at one particular building which she hated the most…..it was the new Federal Palace.
A few blocks away from the old Brittannian government facility the Chinese Federal Palace stood about 70% complete.
To say it was big was an understatement, it was massive, a massive step pyramid in the middle of the city.
Unlike Brittannia which after conquering a country transferred all of that country's assets into building homes for the workers who would cooperate with the conquerors and building government facility's with bare minimal requirements the Chinese Built and imperial palace in each city, their purpose was nothing like the much smaller, cheaper and more efficient Brittannian Government Palaces and did not have any administrative, political or military purpose.
It's only purpose was to remind the people who was boss, all of Kyushu's wealth was taken from rebuilding the Country with the 'Phoenix Fund' into a senseless building with no purpose, Sawasaki himself authorized his construction and that lunatic imprisoned anyone who opposed them.
Kallen then continued on her way to the extraction point stealing one last glance at the 'Rebuilt Ghetto's' whose construction was stopped right before completion, and the useless Federal Palace which sucked Kyushu dry, at the Chinese soldiers who patrolled the streets day and night, and to the people who were in a hell 100 times more worse than the number system, Kallen could not believe she would ever miss seeing Brittannian rule, and as she walked away her mind confused and disoriented, one thing she was certain off, this was not the Japan she fought for.
(Government Facility Tokyo)
"And with this the paper work for the 12th Special administrative Zone is finished!" Euphie said to Nunnally puffing in exhaustion.
"Over 50 million Japanese now benefit from these Special Zones, also it has increased Japan's annual income by almost 70% in just under a year, by now it's only a matter of time before the number system is abolished!" Nunnally said happily.
At this Euphie looked at the wall in sadness.
"What's the matter Euphie is Suzaku a bad boyfriend…or is he unable to perform up to expectations?" Nunnally asked, blushing greatly at her own question, her time with C.C gave her a great deal of knowledge of boy-girl relationships.
"No…no it's not that, we haven't even gotten that far ye!" Euphie said blushing even greater than Nunnally.
"It's just…..I wish Lelouch was here" Euphie replied saddened.
"I know what you mean!, I Miss big brother as well!" Nunnally said saddened.
Just then Nunnally's phone rang, Euphie's did as well.
"Hello " they both answered in unison.
(Tokyo Park)
Jeremiah and Sayoko were having a sort of winter picnic together, Jeremiah by now had cyber enhancements, since falling from such a high altitude during the naval battle a year ago his bones were all shattered and he was crippled from the waist down, Lloyd however offered him a chance to be healed, namely going through the experimental procedure to become a cyborg they found after Narita along with the Siegfried.
It took 30 seconds for Lloyd to make his offer, and in only took Jeremiah 0.30 seconds to say yes, Lloyd warned him there was a high change it would fail, but he considered it worth the change since it would allow him to be able to move once more and he went through the procedure successfully.
"Can I ask a question of you Jeremiah-san?" Sayoko asked.
"What is it miss Sayoko?" he replied.
"Why don't the Black Knights go and liberate Kyushu?" she asked.
"It's not that simple, with the war against the E.U and China sponsoring them all of our resources are going to the navy so they don't strangle us to death, and although the enemy troops are stationed in the cities since as you can imagine Sawasaki isn't very popular, it would take us at least a day to load them onto ships and het them there, but it would take them about six hours to get to the beaches and cut us to pieces as we tried to land!" Jeremiah replied sadly.
"So is there nothing you could do?" Sayoko asked
"WE could go there and we most probably win, but the Black Knights would be greatly weakened and the E.U would then invade Honshu, and Japan, minus Kyushu is completely rebuilt, an invasion would mean it's destruction and I couldn't bear to see my maters work destroyed…..it's the only thing left of him now" Jeremiah said sadly
Sayoko seeing this hugged him in order to comfort him.
While being hugged and returning the gesture, Jeremiah looked at the other people and saw just how much Japan had changed, the common people realizing they could make good money doing business with them did so, and money has a strange way of bringing people together, relationships between common Brittannian's and Japanese improved greatly, that combined with the country being rebuilt made Japan look like the how it was before the second Pacific war.
The nobles in Japan didn't like it but thanks to the Prince they were powerless to stop it, he himself felt a little ashamed from being borne a noble.
But his happiness was mixed with sadness, for the people in Kyushu suffered under Sawasaki's Japan, also the Slayers roamed freely in Honshu since the only one now smart enough to catch Kaguya was Prince Schneizell and he was already busy with the war to take care of Kaguya, the Black Knights now one of the most feared army's in the world were on the southern beaches of Honshu defending them from an invasion from Sawasaki that never came.
"It's like time stood still for the Black Knights the minute the Prince fell into his deep coma." Jeremiah lamented in his mind sadly
Just then his cell phone rang, Sayoko's did as well.
"Hello?" they both said into their respective telephones.
(Streets of Munich , E.U)
"I'll only ask you once more, where in the E.U is the Geass order?" Cornelia said to the man she tortured for information.
"It's no longer in the E.U….it's now in a location within the Chinese Federation…." The tortured man said between gasps of pain.
"Where in the Chinese Federation?" Cornelia manically asked with her pistol sword at the man's neck.
"The Mongolian Desert…..I don't know the exact location, only the high ranking member know.." the man weakly replied.
"Danke." Cornelia replied and sliced the man's neck killing him.
She then continued on with her journey.
After hearing that Lelouch was injured she rushed back to his side as soon as the war against the E.U permitted her to do so, after she visited him at the hospital, she went to his room to bring him the picture of Marianne he had on his desk, there she out of curiosity looked at his desk and saw a scribbled sticky note which read 'Remember to be vigilante of Geass' after that she researched it and with the help of data from Lelouch's computer which she cracked with Suzaku's help realized that geass was the power of every tyrant, monster, which and warlock that history said existed.
Cornelia came to the conclusion that Lelouch discovered the existence of Geass and thought he was waging a war against it , since form his computer she found out that the 'Iron Hawk' of the Black Knights was in fact the Symbol of Geass struck by a sword, meaning he decided to destroy that unholy power and he didn't know who to thrust, and she came to the conclusion that it was those who used Geass that struck her brother down, so she went to avenge her little brother.
Her cell phone rang, but she didn't answer it since she was to preoccupied with her quest to even notice it.
(Asia Minor. Cornelia's 8th army)
Darlton had for the past year been leading Cornelia army in her absence, Guilford stayed in Japan in order to help and protect the Princesses Nunnally and Euphemia.
Returning from a victory over the E.U was Suzaku, and Darlton saw the troops which Suzaku past were all saluting him, giving him a wide birth, and cheering his name as he past, some out of fear of his power, but the majority out of respect and admiration for 'The Silver Knights' of Euphemia 'The people's princess' and the comrade of Zero.
"Looks like today went well for us, right Colonel?" Darlton said as both men saluted each other.
"Today went well; the E.U will be quiet for while in this sector." Suzaku replied with a combination of indifference to the outcome and respect for his mentor.
"What happened to Prince Lelouch was not your fault Kururugi!" Darlton said and this caught Suzaku off guard.
"How can I not… I was there…I feel that if I fought a little harder, he wouldn't had been killed…..I replayed the battle a thousand time in my head and know that it's not true, but….but it steals feels like I failed him…."Suzaku said as tears threatened to stream down his eyes.
Unknown to Darlton Suzaku also developed a great hatred for Geass after finding out about it from Lelouch, blaming geass for his friends current situation, he did not hate Lelouch for keeping Geass a secret from him since at West Point there were told to expect certain secrets to be kept from them by their commander, and to even expect something like that.
Darlton in regards to feeling guilty about not being able to do more in regards to the naval battle a year ago understood that, he himself had experienced that many times in his years in the army when he lost friends in battle and he put a comforting hand on Suzaku shoulders.
Just then Suzaku's phone rang and he picked it up.
(Honshu Black knight's military base)
Diethard, Odysseus, George and Omar, Kewell and Viletta were all going through various battle plans for an eventual invasion for Kyushu.
"It's no use, whatever plan we come up with it still leaves the Black Knights too weak to a E.U invasion of Honshu!" Viletta said to the present.
"We just don't have that spark of genius which the Prince possessed!" Diethard replied and a heavy silence fell over the room.
After a few minutes their cell phones rang and they picked them up.
(Tokyo Government Facility , medical ward, Lelouch's room)
Over Lelouch were two nurses Sophie and Meeya were monitoring him.
"What are you reading Meeya?" Sophie asked curious
"It's a scary poem written by Edgar Allen Poe, just listen!" Meeya replied and she started reciting
Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
In his mind Lelouch was literally adrift at sea, lost in the place between life and death.
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
`'Tis some visitor,' I muttered, `tapping at my chamber door -
Only this, and nothing more.'
A great shadow came over Lelouch and the human now caught in this strange realm
Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December,
And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
Eagerly I wished the morrow; - vainly I had sought to borrow
From my books surcease of sorrow - sorrow for the lost Lenore -
For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels named Lenore -
Nameless here for evermore.
Before Lelouch a voice came "So this is what became of you human, and I was watching your adventures with such great interest."
And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
Thrilled me - filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating
`'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door -
Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door; -
This it is, and nothing more,'
Lelouch then turned his head to see who it was
Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,
`Sir,' said I, `or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;
But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,
And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,
That I scarce was sure I heard you' - here I opened wide the door; -
Darkness there, and nothing more.
But when he did so nothing was there.
"I've been caught in limbo for so long I've started losing my mind!" Lelouch said to himself with a chuckle at hi apparent loss of sanity
Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before;
But the silence was unbroken, and the darkness gave no token,
And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, `Lenore!'
This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, `Lenore!'
Merely this and nothing more.
"I am afraid that this is not the realm of my sister Delirium, but you were close enough!" the voice now came from the opposite direction were Lelouch was looking at
Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,
Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before.
`Surely,' said I, `surely that is something at my window lattice;
Let me see then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore -
Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore; -
'Tis the wind and nothing more!'
Lelouch then turned his head to where the voice came a second time and finally saw his visitor.
Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,
In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days of yore.
Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;
But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door -
Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door -
Perched, and sat, and nothing more.
What he saw was a very pale man dressed in what seemed to be a black roman toga, on his shoulder a raven sat perched
Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore,
`Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,' I said, `art sure no craven.
Ghastly grim and ancient raven wandering from the nightly shore -
Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!'
Quote the raven, `Nevermore.'
For a while Lelouch just sat there and marveled at the sight of his guests before finally speakin.
Much I marveled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly,
Though its answer little meaning - little relevancy bore;
For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being
Ever yet was blessed with seeing bird above his chamber door -
Bird or beast above the sculptured bust above his chamber door,
With such name as `Nevermore.'
"If I knew Death was coming for me I would have prepared some snacks to welcome you" Lelouch said to him with a smile.
But the raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only,
That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.
Nothing further then he uttered - not a feather then he fluttered -
Till I scarcely more than muttered `Other friends have flown before -
On the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes have flown before.'
Then the bird said, `Nevermore.'
"Death is my other sister, and you are not dead mortal, you are in my realm, The Dreaming" he replied
Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,
`Doubtless,' said I, `what it utters is its only stock and store,
Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful disaster
Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore -
Till the dirges of his hope that melancholy burden bore
Of "Never-nevermore."'
"The Dreaming?" Lelouch asked curious.
"The place where all dreams come from, and I am it's master, I've been patient with you for long enough mortal and would kindly ask you to leave this realm and return to your own" he responded
But the raven still beguiling all my sad soul into smiling,
Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird and bust and door;
Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking
Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore -
What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt, and ominous bird of yore
Meant in croaking `Nevermore.'
"What are you talking about, I am in a coma, you can't just wake up from a coma whenever you like!...Can you?" Lelouch replied curious and slightly angry.
This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing
To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom's core;
This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining
On the cushion's velvet lining that the lamp-light gloated o'er,
But whose velvet violet lining with the lamp-light gloating o'er,
She shall press, ah, nevermore!
"A coma is a name given to something simple to understand, but humans refuse to comprehend on the basis that it cannot be as simple as that, you see sometimes when a human is injured or under great stress he lies in the realm where they're dreams come from, and you humans not wanting to return to your responsibilities remain here in my realm…good for nothing cowards!" he replied and Lelouch got angry at him
Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer
Swung by Seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor.
`Wretch,' I cried, `thy God hath lent thee - by these angels he has sent thee
Respite - respite and nepenthe from thy memories of Lenore!
Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe, and forget this lost Lenore!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'
"What! You dare call me a coward, I've face destruction countless times, I've triumphed many times where others would have failed, my situation is proof of that, and you're just saying I am here because I am afraid to return, well I am not, and I dare you to call me a coward again!" Lelouch spat back
is there balm in Gilead? - tell me - tell me, I implore!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'
`Prophet!' said I, `thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil! -
Whether tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore,
Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted -
On this home by horror haunted - tell me truly, I implore -
Is there -
"I have always admired you're fighting spirit, but you yourself must know that somewhere deep down inside that you are afraid of going back there and dying, that is the reason why you hesitate to go back, and if that is not true, then fell free to attack me for my insolence." The being replied with a smile.
Lelouch then felt anger boiling in him, he felt like a volcano ready to blow…..but he then simmered down in defeat knowing that he had lost.
"You're right, I am afraid of going back there and dying….I really am a pathetic coward!" Lelouch said sickened at his of yellowness.
`Prophet!' said I, `thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil!
By that Heaven that bends above us - by that God we both adore -
Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn,
It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels named Lenore -
Clasp a rare and radiant maiden, whom the angels named Lenore?'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'
"And is dying a bad thing? Can you avoid death? The answer is no, the time of your death is established in tandem with the time of your birth, you can climb the tallest mountain, cross the widest sea and hide in the deepest regions of the universe, but death will find you, I should know, my sister is very thorough with her work!" he replied to Lelouch.
Lelouch was taken aback by this and he realized that he was right, he had to be right, the being after all was something much more powerful and older and wiser than him.
"So what now? You tell me I should get my lazy ass of the couch and get back to work and then leave to view as I play around in the realm of mere mortals?" Lelouch said an angry tone in his voice.
"Yes, that's pretty much it!" he replied unfazed.
This took Lelouch aback, and he laughed whole heartily and the bland answer.
"You know you shouldn't be so forward and friendly with lesser beings!" Lelouch replied to him happily.
"Well people say I am kinder and different than my predecessor!" he replied cheerfully.
"Well I think I should get out of here then, of by the way will we ever meet again?" Lelouch asked as he felt himself leaving this strange realm.
"Perhaps..Perhaps not….you can continue to dream about it." he replied with a chuckle an irony of which Lelouch did not fail to comprehend and return the laugh and he faded away from the Dreaming.
`Be that word our sign of parting, bird or fiend!' I shrieked upstarting -
`Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore!
Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!
Leave my loneliness unbroken! - quit the bust above my door!
Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'
"Hey Daniel what was that nonsense about people being able to leave a coma whenever they want? You can't leave a coma like that, it's determined from the start when you fall into it and when you leave it, you should know since you're the boss around here!" Mathew the raven said to him
"Of course I know that Mathew! But I had to lie to him, I had to make him believe he can control his own fate, that gives humans hope; I had to give him hope, since all humans need hope for their dreams to come true." Daniel replied as he watched Lelouch return to the land of the living, and despite his status as one of the Endless was excited to continue to view his exploits.
And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming,
And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted - nevermore!
"That poem wasn't scary at all; it was just an emo guy on crack blaming an innocent bird for his own life!" Sophie replied.
"Well that's your opinion, but I think it's a good poem!" Sophie replied.
"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder after all." Lelouch calmly responded with his eyes open which caused both nurses to jump up in shock upon seeing him.
"Your…..your highness!" Sophie said in astoundment as Lelouch got to his feet without trouble, like his coma had just been an afternoon nap.
"Do any of you have a phone?" he asked calmly.
Both nurses after a moment of motionless one of them said:
"A phones?"
"Yes! I'd like to make some calls!" Lelouch replied
Meeya then gave him his phone, he activated the conference option and dialed every one he had a number with, and all responded with the exception of Cornelia.
"My Lord, you have awakened!" Jeremiah said over the phone with tears streaming down his eyes.
"Sorry it took me so long.
I was caught in the land of Preludes and Nocturnes.
Past The Doll's Housewhere
The Dream Country has its Season of Mists.
There A Game of You is played.
And after many Fables and Reflectionsof
Our Brief Lives and the World's End
The Kindly Onescame and
The Wakecame to me and
The Endless Nights finally ended for me." Lelouch said to them.
"Lelouch are you OK?" Suzaku said wondering just what kind of medication they gave him at the hospital.
"I'm fine! I'm just messing with you guys!" Lelouch said and he heard a collective breath of relief from the others on the phone.
"Now listen I want all of you go gather at the Government center by Tomorrow evening, w have work to do!" Lelouch ordered them.
"What kind of work?" Diethard asked barely containing his excitement.
"We put our house in order mister Reed; we put our house in order!" Lelouch replied and he hanged up the phone.
Author's note:
Read and review let me know if I should continue.