I own neither Code Geass nor do I possess the rights to Highschool DxD.
Raziel watched walked through a hallway made up of golden floors and jade pillars without creating a single sound. Well past dawn, the sun pressed warmly against his back, it was just a shame that the decades schemes had been desecrated within seven days with the unprecedented arrival of Lelouch vi Britannia.
As he made his way towards the chambers of his older brother, Archangel Raziel, the Knowledge of God, was busy in his thoughts pondering upon the fate of the seven Heavens as of late.
All his plans for the foreseeable future and his efforts to bring some sort of stability to the Seven Heavens had just been dealt a death blow, for, before absolute might, even decades of schemes and centuries of plans had been rendered worthless…
This unprecedented tribulation that had suddenly struck Heaven had indeed shaken the very core of God's Kingdom down to its very roots, rendering asunder the systems upon which the foundations of its society were based.
Yes, Michael, who had earned the right to sit upon the Throne of God, had his seat usurped by an outsider not even seventeen of age!
Raziel did not know what madness had spawned in the mind of his older brother who had actually chosen to surrender before a boy whose origins yet remained unknown nor did he wish to learn of it.
The authority of Lelouch had emerged victorious, and the foundations of power that Michael's regime had instilled for the last two hundred years in Heaven were now crumbling into dust, and he intended to do exert every means in his power to ensure that they of the High Seraphim Council had a say in defining the contours of the future; and for that, it was necessary for him to ingratiate himself to his older brother, who had remained in seclusion ever since his negotiations with Lelouch had concluded.
Even he had been taken aback, observing from the sidelines as the fierce reverberations created by his older brother's decision had raged all around the seven heavens.
To be fair, perhaps even Michael had not accounted that his opposition would possess acumen of such calibre which perhaps had been his greatest miscalculation.
Lelouch had no doubt proven himself a great tactician and an unparalleled mastermind with both intellect and courage, even though he lacked the might that came with the force of arms. With Gabriel alongside Uriel as his retainers, and the full might of influence they brought behind them, and Lelouch's own martial talents notwithstanding, they would have been an unstoppable force.
There were some things that could not be forgiven, no matter what. And now, all that he had planned had turned to ashes.
As he pondered on these thoughts, Raziel paused, even as the duo of angels escorting him reached a doorway made up of pure ivory and waited to converse with the surrounding guards.
There was considerable activity occurring in the background around him, a constant hustle of noise that seemed odd in this palace which always remained enshrouded in peace and serenity. But then again, he should have expected this, considering the events about to occur.
Power and prestige meant nothing here, for even Seraphs had to wait for turn and permission before they were allowed to enter. After all, this golden palace, majestic and grand beyond measure, was the seat of those who sat upon the Throne of God and ruled over the Seven Heavens with absolute might and authority.
Soon, his glamourous escorts finished conversing with the other guards, and led him in. As he reached inside, he finally beheld the older brother who had refused to comment on the current situation for far too long in his honest opinion surrounded by servants as he helped organize the grand ceremony that was fated to occur today...
Then he looked around and saw that there were two other angles, around the table, their might only lesser than that of the seven seraphs by but a margin, these were trusted subordinates of Michael that had never left their offices for as long as Michael had sat upon the Throne of God, his personal servants who directly reported to him alone.
So, the news of Michael completely surrendering altogether was true, after all. That was something he still could not come around to believing in happening. The supremacy of Michael's absolute authority over the seven heavens ever since he had surpassed Metatron had once been considered eternal, and to think a boy of seventeen had torn it asunder all by himself.
As he entered, Raziel looked at the departing angels who only Michael could command, and both the subordinates gave him a simple nod of acknowledgment as they stood up to vacate the lavishly decorative room that could have turned mighty kings green with envy, leaving him and Michael alone.
As usual, his brother was adorned in formal garb with golden epaulets above a white robe weaved with the finest of silk finely decorated with intricate golden designs. His blond tresses shined as brightly as rivers of gold as they touched his back while his emerald eyes contained within them a solemnity that looked foreign oh his beautiful face
Michael elegantly nodded when he saw him enter, his perpetually sad visage shifting into a pleased expression at the sight of Raziel, with the corners of his mouth faintly tuning up. The Archangel painted a serene picture, his beautiful features set in a way that made even expressions of joy seem hauntingly mournful.
"Greetings, brother." Michael calmly greeted as he entered, politely nodding his head in a welcoming gesture. "I was expecting you, please take a seat," he spoke out, even as Raziel sat down on the golden throne that was set up for him.
"Wine?" Michael asked, to which Raziel nodded in his usual indolent manner, after which he poured out a goblet of fine Enochian wine and passed before as he poured out a glass for himself.
Raziel slowly took the crystal glass that was offered to him, swirling the red ambrosia within as he took his time to properly savour the fragrance of perhaps the finest drink that could be found in the cellars of Heaven.
"I suppose you have many questions," Michael asked, his emerald eyes shining with peerless wisdom even as Raziel slowly nodded once again in response. "Then let us not tarry anymore. Ask away, brother, it is high time we aired all grievances between us and decide where we stand."
They both stared at each other, the cups of wine at their sides long forgotten as the very air in the room suddenly changed, anticipation and trepidation stabbing through their hearts in equal measure before Raziel sighed, and ran a hand through his purple hair.
"Do you really intend to surrender to the demands of Lelouch vi Britannia so easily without protest?" He spoke at long last, unable to bear the blazing heat in his heart any longer that burned with the passion of a thousand dying suns.
Michael paused for a moment, taking a moment to look into his eyes and silently acknowledge the blazing fires within before he finally put down the glass of his wine in his hand and leaned back against his throne.
"Yes, I did. It was a necessary act," his brother replied calmly without even a twitch in his eye. There was no inflection in his tone, no remorse, no guilt, nothing...
Raziel frowned, his brows furrowing imperceptibly for a single movement that Michael noticed despite his all efforts otherwise, even as he shook his head in disappointment.
"Would you still be protesting like this, if I refused to comply and Heaven burned as a consequence of my stubbornness?" the question from his brother cut sharper than celestial steel, and Raziel forcibly lowered his eyes as Michael continued.
"Let's dispense with this act, Raziel. We both know that this façade of indolence and languor that you use to mask your true nature may fool your brother and other angels, but against me who was destined to rule over all angels, it shall always remain worthless." Michael gently smiled, to which Raziel sighed. "It is admirable that you have managed to make the world believe that you are a paragon of sloth and lethargy when you are most assuredly anything as such, but this mask of yours shall only impede our discussion so I recommend you discard it."
After a moment, Raziel finally smiled. Yes, it had taken years, but here, at last, was someone who had seen through him clearly. The second man in all of the creation other than his father to see through his true nature. A pity, that it had to be done under such circumstances.
Instantly, his back straightened and his gaze sharpened, as the air of indolence and languish around him instantly vanished. He calmly took a sip of wine, the grace permeating the air around him signifying a pearl of wisdom that was not lesser than that of Michael.
"What game me away?" Raziel asked blithely as even as he continued to sip on his wine. There was no need for any pretences now.
"Your actions after Lelouch's declaration were your undoing. Heaven believes in your capability as the Archangel of Knowledge and has always held your word in high regard but it has always disregarded you due to your innate passiveness when compared to those like Uriel and Raphael. You have spent your entire life cultivating your mask, so much so, that one had to wonder if such a Seraph who so wantonly indulges in sloth even exists!"
Michael gently smiled at him, and a dull shiver reverberated across Raziel's spine as the mournful emerald eyes of his older brother penetrated the very depths of his soul.
"No man is without flaws, Raziel, and your shortcoming lies in the fact that you tried too hard to create an image of yourself and yet, you moved too vigorously and too suddenly as soon as Lelouch's true nature was revealed. You started holding secret meetings behind the grand stage with influential powerhouses like Azrael, Uriel, and Metatron but you failed to mask your actions. I became certain that your behaviour was but a mask that you use to fool others as soon as I noticed these oddities," Michael chuckled, while Raziel shook his head.
Indeed, Raziel's shortcoming was not concealed inside his plans but instead lay within the haste he had executed them. Though none of that mattered now, he had realized by now that his plans were destined to fail regardless of how he went about it.
"Damn these circumstances," Raziel cursed, even as he looked at his brother before continuing, "The sudden arrival of Lelouch put me in an impossible situation, and in the end, I had to choose between maintaining my charade and risk losing control of the situation, or abandon it and consolidating my gains. Besides, at that moment, none of us were aware of the true nature of our Father's heir, so I assumed that manipulating circumstances to indirectly influence Lelouch and so decided that I could afford to be … indiscreet this one time.
The actions taken by men were directly driven by the circumstances that surrounded them and thus, by manipulating these indeed, even the wisest of kings could be led astray by his ministers.
"History is written by winners after all, and in a few decades, nobody would remember the traces of my influence behind the scenes. That is what I thought anyway," Raziel sighed as he looked at his brother. "I was wrong…"
"You were," Michael nodded gently, even as Raziel sighed once again in turn.
"Why did you choose to influence Lelouch in such a way as soon as he appeared?" Michael asked curiously, to which Raziel remained silent for a while before replying.
"I always knew that there would be those who would see Lelouch rule Heaven just for the sake of his existence alone from the moment his true origins were revealed. This was a fact that could not be challenged and to directly do so would inexorably give birth to internal strife that Heaven cannot afford to bear at the moment." Raziel spoke, "Thus, rather than moving directly, I instead sought to influence him by manipulating the circumstances behind the Heaven he desires to rule. His venerable lineage would mean nothing if someone unseen wished to supplant their ideals through the arms of inconspicuous influence."
Michael said nothing but instead simply stared at him with his gentle emerald eyes that shined with kindness and compassion, kindness that stung a thousand times more than any accusation would.
"At first, I felt that Lelouch was more malleable… more controllable. As long as we could keep him sated, he would serve as a nice symbol for the new dynasty that his followers wish to supplant, even as we could go on ruling from behind the scenes." Raziel explained quietly as Michael nodded, looking at him with pitying eyes. "If only I knew how wrong I really was…"
The emerald eyes of his brother hardened slightly with reproach, a rare occurrence for Michael had ruled with the harshness of a monarch, but his tone was as gentle as he leaned into his golden throne and calmly took a sip of wine.
"Your actions have now been rendered pointless. Lelouch has already challenged my authority through means that ensure my defeat and render your schemes worthless. Which was why I instantly surrendered and offered to discuss terms with him, so that we could settle the entire debacle and set things right before bloodshed tears Heaven apart," Michael stated his intention clearly, while Raziel stared at his brother with a keen gaze.
There was not a shred of doubt in his brother's mind that he would fail. He was certain of his victory. Raziel could admire this sort of confidence, but his heart clenched nonetheless for this was not what he wanted to hear.
"You think just having legitimacy on his side guarantees his victory?" he asked, honestly curious to hear the answer.
"No, but the authority of the system that your Father gifted him with does." was the curt reply. "Heaven has no choice but to submit to his absolute strength, so he will not hesitate to impose upon us his absolute will."
The answer was brutal and searing. More to the point, Raziel could not see even a single hint of arrogance lacing his brother's tone. He truly believed that Lelouch was capable of such deeds.
"You really believe he can prevail against the entirety of Heaven and win! You are not bluffing!" Raziel finally realized as he looked at his brother, and for the first time, a look of horror crossed his face.
"I am not," Michael replied with a calm smile. "Now that you know what he is capable of, do you still believe we can truly afford to engage in an all-out war with him?"
Raziel seriously considered this question. "Name the terms you offered."
If it was as Michael said, then perhaps the path his older brother had chosen to embark upon was indeed the only option left before them.
"The High Seraphim Council would surrender its power and its authority while my regime would be absolutely abolished along with my claim on the Throne of God." Michael spoke words that held the power to shake the seven heavens themselves without blinking an eye, "In return, while we may have to surrender our power and authority, Lelouch vi Britannia would allow the High Seraphim Council to exist as an organization that holds the power to advise the monarch and the authority to draft and edit legislations that may or may not be approved as per the discretion of Lelouch."
"Go on …," Raziel spoke out, even as Michael gestured towards a single piece of parchment laid out on the table.
It seemed inconspicuous at a glance but upon further inspection blazed with a holy aura that almost dazzled Raziel, a Seraph of Heaven. The conceptual weight struck his soul as he gazed at it, bearing down upon him with a weight that could not be denied. A divine ordinance of the heavenly law…
"The new regime that Lelouch would soon establish as an Emperor would be a constitutional monarchy," Michael stated, even as Raziel carefully considered it. "A form of imperial regime in which the monarch, that is Lelouch, would exercise his authority in accordance with a legal constitution that we would soon begin to draft together and would not be alone in decision-making. It would be a system in which the Lelouch would act as the head of state under the constitution, and hold formal authority while the government may legally operate under his name and power."
It was a generous deal, granting an organization like the Seraphim such free reign in a new regime especially when considering that Lelouch held the upper hand in every regard during his negotiations with Michael.
Raziel paused as he thought about the proposed plans. "So, the final power would lie with Lelouch while the Seraphim would continue to operate legally under his name?" the Archangel of Knowledge asked, to which Michael nodded his head.
It did not surprise him that the result was as such, for granting them any more power could give birth to unfavourable circumstances that might challenge the hegemony of his authority, and Lelouch was no fool to do so as far as he could tell.
"Of course, the one to hold all authority and power, in the end, would be Lelouch himself. Our constitutional monarch would ultimately hold formal powers such as dissolving our parliament or giving royal assent to our legislations. However, such powers would generally only be exercised strictly in accordance with either written constitutional principles or unwritten constitutional conventions, rather than any personal political or personal preferences." Michael answered, "The duty of the Seraphim would be to assist his regime both politically as well as martially to the best of their abilities. Our brothers and sisters would be allowed to hold important offices in his new government and possess enough authority to influence and control the government directly as long as our intentions do not clash directly with that of Lelouch's."
"And Lelouch agreed to all this so easily?" Raziel asked incredulously, to which Michael seemed taken aback. Then, he smiled as if he was remembering some jape.
"It might surprise you, through numerous discussions but Lelouch and I have both reached a tactic understanding. In the end, we both desire the completion of the same dream though we prefer using means that might vary greatly, that is, the imposition of Heaven's absolute authority as a hegemon over all creation." Michael said, a thousand different emotions passing through his emerald eyes as he did so. "Despite his views on the imposition of authority and justice, Lelouch is surprisingly amiable and remains reasonable to a remarkable extent if approached with caution."
The leader of Seraphs chuckled and continued, "So, now here we stand. My last divine ordinance had been declared, and the coronation of our heavenly emperor and the formal surrender of the High Seraphim shall occur before dawn. Lelouch has agreed to my terms, and we can have peace at last if all goes according to plan."
"And if our brethren refuse? Raphael is not the only Seraph who would rather stand behind your banner, and they could always challenge him to battle, you know?" Raziel spoke out, even as Michael nodded at that point.
In the end, there was no true right and wrong in this world. Even though Michael had given his final consent, there would always be those who would rather see the continuation of the current status quo rather than give Lelouch's regime a chance to exist.
"A fair question," The commander of all Seraphs allowed. "But before they do so, I shall not hesitate to let them know that if they refuse this final ultimatum, Lelouch would simply destroy the Seven Heaven and force them to beg him for terms. More to the point, he will do so without moving a single soldier and ensure that it is the very same Seraphim who destroy our Father's kingdom, not him." the reply was curt, harsh, and unforgiving.
Raziel looked at his brother as if he was mad. Force the Seraphim to destroy the Heaven they had sworn to defend!? What kind of madness was this? Did Michael lose his wits? That was impossible!
"Tell me brother, Lelouch has been in Heaven for nearly seven days now since was saved by my sister, discounting the days within which he had been unconscious, and Heaven has changed more than in these mere seven days than it has done so for the last two centuries. As a direct consequence of his existence alone, for the first time in history, the accord and harmony that binds the angels of God together through the bonds of brotherhood has been threatened, even more so after Lelouch declared his claim to the Throne of God."
Michael paused, a grave look on his face as the gentle creases within his face vanished altogether, while Raziel became pensive. He did not like where this was going.
"But even if he is making arrangements to usurp my regime, he has not made a single move even this giving us the reigns to decide the fate of Heaven. This is a suspiciously long time to remain silent and the choice we were left to contemplate upon was indeed too great to be discarded so callously. Have you never wondered why? What is it that it is keeping Lelouch so busy that he refuses to take action even as Seraphs and Archangels rally behind his banner?" Michael asked, leaning forward.
His regal majesty as the ruler of Heaven blazed forth in a rare display of power as his emerald orbs turned solemn and the mask of gentleness that had always enshrouded this archangel cracked for a single moment.
"I suppose you know the answer?" Raziel asked with a raised brow to which Michael nodded.
"I do, and I suppose in your heart you too know it. You just do not wish to even think about it or acknowledge it, so I will say it out loud. The very loyalty that the Seraphs of Heaven once pledged to our dear Father has now become the very aspect that now divides us." Michael spoke out in a cold voice, "Heaven has been divided between factions that all strive to push forth their own ideals. The tensions between these factions are rising even as we speak and it would not be long before their rage and resentment reach a peak, creating an impasse that grants Lelouch the perfect opportunity to influence these factions with his honeyed words."
Michael sighed, taking a sip of exquisite red wine as he closed his eyes and shook his head, his golden locks wavering softly as he did so.
The events he had predicted were already coming true, as the Seraphim was subtly parting into three distinct factions: those who had pledged themselves to Lelouch, those that stood by Michael and his regime, and those that refused to intervene.
Uriel and Gabriel had both openly pledged loyalty to Lelouch even as the stance of both Azrael and Raphael remained staunch and steadfast. Raziel and Metatron remained neutral on the surface as they both refused to accept the ideals of either side.
For now, this quarrel was confined to the upper echelon of the heavenly hierarchy who were aware of Lelouch's existence but the entire debacle was bound to permeate every corner of the seven heavens, even though it may take several decades to do so, for neither of the two sides held any desire to negotiate, nor were they eager to accept any concessions.
"It takes but a single spark to set aflame the blazing hell of war and Lelouch intends to seize the torch that possesses the potential to desecrate Heaven with the stain of internal strife."
Raziel paled at the implications of his words, and a cold shiver of terror reverberated across his spine as he sought for words to refute Michael but could not find any. It was just as Michael had said, deep down in his heart he too was aware of this eventuality, he just could not bring himself to acknowledge it.
"If we refuse these terms, my dear brother, Lelouch vi Britannia would not hesitate to use his silver tongue to let loose the dogs of war. Then after, all he has to do is sit back and watch as the members of our own Seraphim tear each other to pieces while he wins without losing a single man and avoiding the stain of taint that would have marred his pristine facade of honour otherwise." The smile on his brother's face was ghastly and literally reeked of malice, while Raziel leaned back on his throne knowing now that he was defeated.
"If Lelouch vi Britannia really wanted to bring to Heaven to heel then the authority of the System alone would have proven adequate, but had he chosen to embark upon that path then the very subjects he seeks to rule would have looked upon him as a tyrant." Michael explained with solemn eyes, "In hindsight, Lelouch intends to emerge from the coming events with clean hands, for doing so would allow him to consolidate his divine authority and further establish his legitimacy."
In the end, it could clearly be seen that Lelouch was truly adamant about establishing the stability of his regime by taking all unseen factors into consideration if he was willing to embark upon a route that may take decades to reach its end just for the sake of reputation alone.
"You may not have accounted for it but Metatron too has been moving behind these scenes and his motives could not have been clearer." He closed his eyes, his smile gentle as ever even in face of these harrowing circumstances. "I have reasons to believe our brother has already grasped the true nature of these circumstances and we both know whose side he would choose to lean towards."
Metatron, who was once even considered for the right to command all angels of Heaven, was widely by the world acknowledged as the most exceptional Seraph aside from Michael and the influence he exerted was not a factor that could be disregarded.
"To possess courage is commendable, but knowing when to retreat is also considered a virtue." Michael opened his eyes, "This was why I chose to surrender before the tensions could further escalate and taint the ideals of the lower echelons of heavenly hierarchy."
Raziel closed his eyes, his pale languid expression turning grave even as he pushed his spectacles up the bridge of his nose before taking a sip from his cup of wine.
"We do not really have a choice except to accept, do we not, my brother?"
"No, we do not." Michael smiled thinly as he said so. "This is indeed the democracy of a true tyrant, giving us the right of election while holding a sword to the necks of those we love. A deceptive illusion of choice…"
"Then what options do we have left, elder brother?"
"None, this is checkmate indeed." He sighed, "The coronation of our new emperor has been scheduled, and preparations have already begun. We must swallow our grievances and allow fate to run its course."
Michael shook his head solemnly as his emerald eyes glistened with a thousand emotions untold. "A new era shall begin before the coming dawn as Lelouch vi Britannia inherits the throne of Heaven."
Lelouch stood in front of the mirror, staring at his reflection with a small frown on his face, adorned in formal garb once again in preparation for the grand ceremony that awaited him.
He was draped in a pristine white robe that reached down to his knees, weaved with the finest of silks, and decorated with intricate designs embroidered with gold. On his shoulders were two heavy epaulets, each made of mithril plates as large as his shoulders.
As a former prince of Britannia, Lelouch was well aware of the importance of appearances in noble society, and thus, refrained from complaining even though he found the outfit to be too extravagant, even for his tastes.
Gabriel had arranged for his attire, and he still could not understand how that Seraph had gotten her hands on his measurements.
Lelouch sighed, running a hand through his raven hair as he turned around and headed for the great hall of the palace that had been prepared for him. An eventful day awaited him, though he couldn't truly say that he had been looking forward to it.
His senses tingled as he descended the spiraling staircase that led to the great hall of his palace and his lips twisted into a small frown as he quickly detected the presence of a Seraph with his newfound senses, most likely his escort that had been appointed by the Seraphim.
Reaching the ivory doors at the end of the staircase, Lelouch pushed them open with a hand and entered the great hall with all the grace and the elegance of a king, smiling slightly when he saw Gabriel waiting for him inside, standing beside a painting that would've made human artists green with envy.
Angels were beings of light, loved and adored by providence. Wherever they went, miracles followed. Though those miracles may be small, they were proof of divine intervention to the receiver.
Each angel was inherently meant to be perfect, their actions and behaviour imbibed with a beauty that couldn't be found in mortals, and Gabriel was acknowledged as the most alluring of them all.
Lelouch glanced at her once again, taking in her beautiful features as subtly as possible in a way that was completely uncharacteristic of him.
No, calling her beautiful would be a lie, an affront, for it would put her on the same pedestal as other things that were merely beautiful.
Rich, pink lips that spelled of unknown delights and pleasures. Emerald green eyes that seemed deeper than any sea that a man could get lost in. Smooth luscious blond hair that reached her hips. A face so beautiful, so alluring that it seemed almost ethereal to him. Full succulent, breasts that did not sag in any feasible way. A cheerful glint in her bright green eyes and smooth her arms crossed over her athletic stomach.
Truly, Gabriel was the kind of beauty over which wars were fought. The kind that could make proud warriors kill themselves with simple honeyed words, and destroy kingdoms with a glance of her alluring emerald eyes.
He might even have already been enthralled, had he been the type to be incited by the lesser instinct of men.
"Lelouch…?" Gabriel called out, snapping him out of his thoughts as heat rushed to his cheeks when he realized that he had been caught staring.
He looked down, a pang of guilt stabbing through his heart as he caught himself and realized what he had been doing. Gabriel was not someone who deserved to be leered at, especially by a demon like him.
"It was not my intention to demean your honor, and I apologize for staring at you," Lelouch spoke, looking into her emerald green eyes before lowering his eyes in apology. "I had lost myself for a moment there, but I assure you this will not happen again. I shall restrain myself in the future."
"Huh?" Gabriel tilted her head and looked at him blankly with dull emerald eyes. "What are you talking about?"
Lelouch sweatdropped, instantly concluding that Gabriel hadn't even realized what had happened and that his earnest apology had gone to waste. A thousand-year-old Seraph she might be, but Gabriel was still far too innocent…
"So you were the one assigned to escort me, I take it?" Lelouch smiled, decidedly ignoring what had just transpired, "Before we get to your business, I simply must ask; what is it you did that earned a Seraph like you such a mundane duty?"
"Because of experience I suppose, this would make the third time this month I've played as your escort. Although, I must admit this is the most interesting duty that has been assigned to me in a good, long while."
"I do apologize for the trouble I have caused you." Lelouch bowed with a flourish exaggerated with extravagance, making Gabriel giggle before he straightened. "Since you are here on schedule, can I infer that Michael has finally put his preparation to a conclusion?"
"Um!" Gabriel nodded in enthusiasm, "It took time and effort, but we did deliver what was promised. All the arrangements have already been prepared and the ceremony would be held at the First Holy Palace before all of the Seven Heavens."
"Before the Seven Heavens themselves?" His amethyst eyes widened in surprise. "Michael must have instituted a formidable a blockade of information around Heaven because even I must admit, this is a daring move indeed. I am with angelic traditions and have several questions I would ask pertaining to its nature, but to disregard all pretenses of secrecy altogether…"
Gabriel pouted, her shining emerald eyes turning dull once again. "Huh?
Lelouch sighed, knowing that an explanation was long overdue. He had heard about Gabriel's acumen, or the rather lack of thereof, in matters pertaining to subtler intricacies from Michael but this was his first time witnessing it himself.
"In his prime, your Father did more than any sovereign before him to enrich and expand his Kingdom of Heaven even if it meant encroaching on the interests of other pantheons." Lelouch said, "He created a legend for himself, where some credit him with the power of foresight and omniscience for he never lost a battle except to win the war. All his arguable failures always resulted in greater victory later on…"
"But the world has changed; as we grow, there are fewer pantheons to divide and conquer. Those that remain are strong. The Devils and the Fallen have formed regional blocs that rival ours after and the power of holiness which helped us conquer Europe has been widely scrutinized and no longer offers us a decisive advantage. The age of swift empire building is past. It was at this moment in history, at the zenith of his legacy that he chose to retreat and delegate powers to his children. It is interesting to note that your Father only appeared twice during the Great War; to subdue the Heavenly Dragon Emperors and to seal the Beast of Apocalypse. Have you ever wondered why?"
Silence lulled as Lelouch surveyed the multitude of expressions passing through Gabriel's face as she furrowed her brows in concentration. But even she understood that it made no difference in the end; they each had their own agendas and they each had to push on.
"It is because he wishes to preserve his myth of invincibility?" Facing her with his amethyst eyes, Lelouch smiled. "For two millennia God used His apostles to spread the word. His representatives rise and fall, but the glory of Heaven is never diminished. His detachment from earthly affairs guarantees belief in his omniscience, that all things are according to His plan."
"Sometimes reputation is more of a deterrent than even the strongest of weapons, and the reputation of your father shelters all three Factions. For this reason, it is imperative that information regarding my existence be relegated with utmost caution." Lelouch explained.
"Unn…"
Her cute features were twisted with concentration as she contemplated his words or at least tried to do so, and Lelouch couldn't help but chuckle when he saw the helpless pout that was slowly forming upon her pink lips.
Lelouch poked Gabriel's cheek. "Naïve."
"Am not!"
His heart suddenly felt lighter, and all the tension left his body as he chuckled at her indignant pout.
The smile on his face, however, turned melancholic as he remembered his friends from Ashford and the countless similar exchanges they too had shared together back when the world hadn't been so bleak.
One only realizes the value of what they have when they lose it. While he had always undoubtedly cherished who he loved, he had never comprehended just how much he would miss them when separated with no hopes of return.
"That's right. I never took C.C to a pizzeria, watched fireworks with my friends, or made origami with Nunnally, didn't I?"
He had never been able to make time for his loved ones after he took upon the role of Zero, not as they had deserved. Not in the beginning, and certainly not after his memory had been restored. Even in the end, when it was just him, C.C, and Suzaku working together to bring the grand conclusion to his plan, there hadn't been any time to relax. A wry sigh escaped him as he sighed.
'Well, it is but just another regret to add to my list.'
He would've taken this second chance as a blessing, if not for the fact that it so clearly was a curse. Any sprouting feelings of elation he may have had at another chance to attain the fulfilment of the ideal of a peaceful world were swiftly shattered; ground under the heel of the revelations of what a new life in this world would mean.
The actualization of his wish for his sister; meaningless in a world without her. The fulfilment of his dreams of a peaceful world; senseless without the companions he'd dreamed it for.
Intellectually, he knew this was not the case. His Zero Requiem had been played to the last note; he'd heard the celebratory cheers for his death even as the blade slid out of his chest. He'd tumbled down the walkway, smearing blood upon the Britannian flag in one final show of theatrics, and then he'd died, quick and ignobly, taking an entire world's worth of enmity and hatred with him. In his wake, his world — his in more ways than one, now - would be able to rebuild.
Nunnally would have her peace. Suzaku, Kallen, his Black Knights, they would restore Japan to its former glory. They had been deserving, and they had received.
Emotionally, however— and hadn't that forever been his biggest shortcoming— he was struck by a profound sense of isolation.
The emotion wasn't foreign to him; it had been a constant companion throughout most of his life ever since the death of his mother. Nunnally had been his remedy to it ever after, but with the conception of his Zero persona and his rebellion, that had been taken from him as he hid his workings from her, despite it being of his own volition. He'd never been truly alone, of course; he could list a hundred names off the top of his head, friends and enemies, people who, for better or worse, had intertwined their lives with his in inseparable ways.
Then again, he hadn't taken his current situation into account with that description.
In this new world he was nothing; had nothing. No identity, no family, no friends, no purpose. He'd even been stripped of his responsibilities and burdens; the ever-present pressure in the back of his mind had faded entirely. It would have been liberating, but the chains of uncertainty had taken its place.
This particular emotion was unfamiliar to him; few were the moments in which he was paralyzed by doubt, crippled by indecision. His intellect had always been a defining trait, and even now he knew his options, what he had to do to make a life for himself here, but it was his will that was being shaken.
He alone was left to create a new harmony, a new tranquillity, and he couldn't help but feel that he was the least deserving.
"Are you ok?" Lelouch realized that Gabriel was staring at him in concern. "You look… gloomy."
Gabriel's voice snapped him out of his thoughts as he pushed the nostalgic memories away from the forefront of his mind and smiled softly. Warm appreciation rising within him as he witnessed the concern that was shining in the emerald eyes of the Seraph before him.
"I think I'm starting to understand why people tell kids to enjoy their youth while they can. Hmph…So many missed opportunities. So many things I could have done but never did." The Demon Emperor didn't want Gabriel to see him in such a state, so he looked away. "I have always despised those who dwell on the past and cannot move forward, looking down upon those that are clouded by regret but I never once imagined that I too would once be counted amongst them."
"Lelouch…"
"Sorry, I must apologize once again for the moment of weakness." Lelouch was still not looking at her. "I allowed myself to be distracted though I understand the significance of this day."
Gabriel slowly drew closer before carefully placing her soft hand on his shoulder with a small frown on her face, an entirely unprecedented action that even Lelouch had not expected.
Her hands were smaller than his own and he only noticed how warm they were when her heat seeped into him, lightly dusting his cheeks and driving away any cold doubts he had.
"A world that is gentle that is kind to everyone…"
Gabriel mused, a soft smile on her face as she remembered Lelouch speaking about his dream, the resolve in his strong enough to challenge destiny itself.
It was an onerous goal, one that seemed almost impossible at a glance.
The world could not be changed without getting your hands dirty, and Gabriel knew that the road Lelouch had chosen to embark upon was an arduous one indeed. Not everyone would try to comprehend his ideals, nor would everyone accept his principles with open arms. Great enemies would stand against him for every step forward that he would take.
Ancient devils that preyed upon the sufferings of humanity, fell beasts that couldn't die, the fallen who could lay waste to nations with a snap of a finger, omnipotent gods that didn't know the concept of defeat, all of them would strive to deny him his dream.
And yet…
Gabriel couldn't help but believe in him anyways. Like a firefly yearning for light, she couldn't help but be drawn in by his impossible charisma and beliefs.
"Before the High Seraphim Council, I vowed to create a gentle world that would be kind to everyone," Lelouch spoke, as if reading her very thoughts, "I did so because not for the many who do wrong, but for the sake of the few who do right despite how very hard it is to do so for no other reason than it is right."
Though he disliked this entire situation, truly believing that his life should have ended with the just punishment that he had sentenced himself to, deep within, Lelouch acknowledged that he would have accepted this offer even if Nunnally's safety had not been at stake.
Not because he desired to extend his life or wanted the power that came with his newfound position but because he believed in Nunnally and her dream, and wanted to actualize it as he had in his own world.
"Perhaps the fact that this may be the last chance for me to back off and the knowledge that after today my shoulders shall forever remain heavy with burdens of duty had together distracted me." Lelouch softly smiled, "I couldn't help but reminisce about what I am about to leave behind."
"Nostalgia, loneliness, sorrow, and regret. It appears that despite what I may have initially believed, even I am not completely beyond such humane emotions." Lelouch shook his head, pushing away all unnecessary thoughts. "The mere thought of that which shall forever remain beyond my grasp still rattles my heart."
He had been prepared to sacrifice his future for the sake of those who he loved. But now that he had been given another chance, the thought of living without those he loved still made him tremble. Absolute separation without any hope of reunion scared him much more than death ever could.
Nevertheless, this was a burden he was prepared to bear, a necessary sacrifice for the sake of the greater good.
"I wasn't too focused until now. Indeed, I was thinking about my past and was stuck in my memories." Lelouch said, his fists clenching with flickering resolve. "I have allowed myself to be distracted but this wouldn't happen again. This I promise you."
Gabriel's eyes widened for a second before she looked away, shyly scratching her cheek, "Is that so…?"
She remembered the way her heart had been moved by the words of this boy before her, the flames of ambition that had been ignited deep within her after witnessing the impossible resolve that blazed within Lelouch's eyes when he proudly declared his ambition before the entire Seraphim.
At that moment when he had fearlessly faced the council that held the power to shape the fate of Heaven itself, he had looked extraordinary, greater than life itself.
But seeing the mournful look overtaking his usually charismatic disposition today had shocked her very core. His nostalgic gaze today as Lelouch remembered something that had once brought great pain to the young boy before her, had challenged the very faith he had inspired.
The boy before her now seemed… vulnerable, no different from an ordinary man baring his heart after witnessing untold tragedies.
She had assumed that he was the one destined to rule them, an avatar of her beloved Father sent to show them the light of salvation but perhaps…
They were not the only ones that needed salvation.
"You know…" Gabriel stated, her emerald eyes impossibly soft. "The path that you have chosen is a strenuous one indeed. The world itself would stand again you with its formidable armadas and invincible pantheons, and you would have to carve your way through every single one of them."
Lelouch's amethyst eyes widened in surprise as Gabriel's soft hand slowly came to rest upon his own before she brought it closer to her bountiful cleavage that bounced at her movements, radiating the comforting heat of her curvaceous body.
"Yet we would stand alongside you through it all, no matter how arduous the future may be." Gabriel's emerald eyes shined, "You will never face the future alone as long as long as I remain standing."
Her warmth spread through his skin as she squeezed his hand reassuringly, conveying thousand different emotions that simple words never could.
At that moment, Lelouch truly felt grateful for her unbound empathy which was scarcer in this world than the rarest of treasures. Kindness was the purest of virtues, and it was also the rarest of them. Yet…
"Why…?" he simply asked.
He just couldn't understand it...
Not because he had not seen blind loyalty before, his servants Jerimiah and Sayako stood peerless in that record. But because he could not comprehend why Gabriel had sworn her allegiance to a demon like him.
"Why go this far for someone you just met?"
Gabriel blinked his words, somehow perfectly understanding what he meant as she paused for a moment to contemplate her friend's question.
Why was she being so persistent, insisting on staying with him when the High Council could have happily built a grand palace to live in? Why was she comforting him during moments like these? Why had she taken his side rather than her siblings during his trial?
Was it because she felt that she owed him, as the inheritor of her father's throne? Or perhaps it was her generosity that had earned her the moniker 'Archangel of Generosity' influencing her decisions? Maybe because she wanted to help a friend?
She frowned at that last one. Friend...when was...?
"Ah," Gabriel gasped at the realization. She then turned to Lelouch and relayed her findings.
"It's because you're my first friend," she said simply.
...
...
"...Wait really?" Lelouch asked, his amethyst eyes widening, he was her first friend? But what about the other angels? But before he could voice his thoughts, she continued.
"It's not like I don't get along with my brothers. No, I love them and shall forever cherish the bonds we share" Gabriel spoke, a bittersweet loneliness in her voice that left Lelouch stunned, "But they adore me because siblings are supposed to love each other unconditionally, not because I earned their love."
"When angels are born or created, they are usually raised by their parents in the occurrence of natural birth or were taken in by a higher angel to become their student in case of artificial creation. As a Seraph, I was raised and eventually trained by my dear Father himself. For the most part, I would train and study instead of socializing with the other angels due to the expectations placed upon me from birth."
"Then… after the great war, all Seraphs were called upon to serve Heaven and their duties only increased as a result, I never really had the time to truly experience the greater world on my own. The only times I even left the Sixth Heaven was either as a warrior or as a diplomat, so you truly are my first friend." Gabriel eventually repeated.
She supposed she was just doing what she thought friends did, which was help each other.
Lelouch just listened to it all with a small frown on his face, as he saw the loneliness within her emerald eyes, an emotion that was surely reflected in his own amethyst orbs.
Fighting down the emotions that surged forth at her world, Lelouch forced himself to smile. Gabriel deserved better, she deserved a better friend than he could ever hope to be...
Being stared at by Lelouch's unceasing gaze made the Seraph's cheeks gradually turn red as she started shyly fidgeting.
It was embarrassing for her, as this was the first time she had shared these feelings with someone else but at the same time, she could feel their bond deepening as they both shared a vulnerable side that they had hidden from the world with each other.
"Ah!" Gabriel suddenly snapped her fingers as if she had just uncovered some great secret. "That's right! We should get going, others must be waiting for us. It would not be proper for us to be late, especially not today."
Lelouch found himself subconsciously nodding, his eyes fixed on the Seraph in front of him as an unknown emotion that he could neither understand nor comprehend stirred within his chest. This girl…
Smiling helplessly, Lelouch extended his arm towards her like a true prince would, "Let's go, shall we?"
He refused to dwell on the past, and the present was all but lost to him. Thus, he had no choice but to accept the future in front of him.
"In the end, even our elder brother Michael had to bow before Lelouch vi Britannia."
That single statement perfectly summarized the astounding series of events that followed Lelouch's awakening and had shaken the very fate of Heaven for eons to come.
"This is madness," Raphael, the Glory of God and the Archangel of Fortitude, muttered with traces of anger as his wine glass, a prized item made from essence crystal, cracked due to his tight grip, as he vented out.
All the assembled angels of the High Seraphim Council in the chamber just stood rooted in their places, their minds still trying to adjust what they had experienced over the last few days.
As he elegantly twirled the glass of wine in his hand and slowly took a sip, Metatron was not surprised in the least to see the slightly cracked glass in Raphael's hands, who sitting beside him at a half-empty table in one of the grand halls of his palace with a half-eaten platter of food lying in front of him, seemingly forgotten. Raphael had a rather vacant and morose look about him.
"Is everything well, brother?" Metatron asked, feeling an unexpected bout of sympathy for his sibling whose frustrations were painfully apparent. He was one of the very few people in the Seven Heavens who had been acutely aware of the disaster that had befallen them after the Great War and knew how much stress Raphael and his order of angels were in after that event.
"Hmm … oh, Metatron," Raphael shook himself out of his stupor and looked at his brother in surprise. "I am as well as I can be during this situation. How about you? How proceeds the negotiations with our rather unexpected guest?" the muscular angel asked, pausing for a while as he glanced at the broken glass of wine in his hand, before shaking his head.
"None too well, I am afraid," Metatron, the Voice of God replied balefully. The ultimatum of Lelouch vi Britannia had hit them all like a thunderbolt out of the blue as if fate itself had thrown a most vicious tantrum when it had learned of the shining ray of hope that had once ignited the flames of ambition that had initially blazed within their hearts when they had initially learned of Lelouch's true identity.
The entirety of that one boy's absolute authority had been let loose like a pack of wolves upon the seven Heavens, leaving the Seraphim itself helpless with no means of resistance. Even now, some archangels like Raphael refused to accept the reality before them, blinded by the chains of loyalty and faith that their brother had unknowingly cast upon them through his selfless devotion to their Father's ideals.
"It seems, that we are fated to receive bad news upon bad news since we received the declaration that might just witness an upheave of the order of the world before long," Raphael sighed, even as he snapped his fingers and the cracked glass in his hands instantly repaired itself.
"Bad news?" Uriel spoke from his position beside the head of the table, signifying the weight of his authority as one of the strongest archangels of God, "By the grace of our Father, that might not be the case this time. Before anything else, we must have faith in our Father's judgment and trust in his divine ordinance even if it eludes our worldly wisdom."
"Faith and trust…" Raphael spoke quietly with disdain, but everyone who knew him could tell his voice had none of his infamous anger that once struck fear into the heart of his foes during the Great War behind them, if anything he sounded almost resigned. "The meaning of those words seems to have lessened of late for you, my brother. From the indication of the shift in your behaviour that we all have been accosted with since his arrival in Heaven, you seem to have already given up on Michael and the regime he has bled for."
Harsh whispers erupted across the great hall at his words, for each one of them was well acquainted with his growing disapproval that seemed to accompany every decision that Michael had made as of late. Though his hypnotic eyes may seem gentle at the first glance, no one here had forgotten that Uriel was the spearhead of the growing faction that advocated the continuation of the Great War.
Uriel furrowed his brows and all whispers ceased, "Indeed, however, compared to the courtesy that you, showed to the divine ordinance of my Father that we all are duty-bound to obey, I consider my behaviour to be the epitome of loyalty and devotion,"
Raphael flinched as if struck by a tribulation of thunder that made him question the principles that had guided him throughout his life.
"I have always tolerated this foolhardiness of yours but do restrain your tongue, my brother. I shall not allow you to question my honour." Uriel spoke in a cold tone, a hint of steel entering his tone at which Raphael's eyes went wide, "I do not blame you for your misguided faith, but my devotion to our Father shall always take precedence over my loyalty to Michael."
A hint of doubt flashed through his burning eyes, something that no Seraph in the room missed, even as Raphael lowered his blazing eyes.
"I apologize, brother. It was not my intention to demean your honour." Raphael quietly spoke, even as Uriel nodded and turned towards the endless horizons of the First Heaven that were filled with countless angels.
Candles from the Great Cathedral of the Sixth Heaven lined the streets, set in lines in front of lesser mansions before the Grand Imperial Palace of the First Heaven. The angels had mourned for their Father for near eons after his passing, and the dull gloom of sorrow still permeated the skies of the First Heaven. He had been a true Father to his children, and the many protections he'd granted them were unheard of in both breadth and depth.
Trained in deadly martial virtue and possessing peerless discipline, the Holy Armada of the Seven Heavens served as magnificent parade props in their silver cloaks and gleaming gold armour.
The past three days had been an exercise in longsuffering as Uriel helped his subordinate Ariel teach these angels, who were well versed with the dance of death, how to march in elegant formation and their officers the proper commands for a graceful procession. It had all been worth it to see them march behind Lelouch in their perfect squares, sorted by companies of a thousand.
The parade took place on Sunday and the Heavens had been weeping tears of rain constantly over the previous weeks, and even the First Holy Palace at the First Heaven was drizzled upon for days on end. But on that Saturday the weather lifted just before dawn, as if providence sweetened the air just for the arrival of Heaven's favourite son.
Azrael sighed, glancing out towards the immeasurable crowd that had been gathered here from the balcony of the rotunda that had been prepared for them in the First Heaven as his eyes flickered with a thousand different untold emotions.
"It is a grand sight, my dear brother, is it not?" Uriel asked, offering Azrael a slight smile as he looked towards him.
The moment had arrived. The morning began with the choir of thousand bells from the city's chapels and cathedrals as the archangel of the First Holy Palace proclaimed a day of celebration and prayer.
The first Heaven's sidewalks teemed with devotes, kept back by tens of thousands of armed angels, many summoned from the outlying areas of this vast realm. The ceremony had begun and finally came the moment that all had been waiting for.
A gap appeared in the procession as the grand hymn of prayer from the preceding formations faded ahead. The crowd's tension was palpable. Children sat on their fathers' shoulders and people leaned out of their windows. The Exalted Holy Regiment of the First Seraphim had arrived.
It was said that when forming his regiment, God himself chose peerless geniuses renounced for their humble origins and loyal spirit who held the potential to surpass archangels themselves. Indeed, there was something sharp and defiant about the marching regiment which embodied and enforced the noble principles of God.
Their golden heels landed upon the pavement in formidable unison as they marched down the canyon of ecstatic crowds and on towards the palace where honours would be presented. They marched so smartly and were all so handsome, each with the insignia of Heaven worn proudly upon their chest.
At the end of the column came the young Emperor, and the volume inside the endless first realm swelled such that it felt to shake the skyscrapers. Lelouch stood in an open gold palanquin, smiling and waving with a purple and platinum-embroidered mantle flowing from his shoulders. The parade was his triumph, and all that distinguished the glowing youth from the Divine Praetors of old was the absence of an attending slave to whisper reminders of his mortality.
The procession entered through the Holy Gates of Heaven as soon as Lelouch appeared atop his majestic gold palanquin that morning. A cloak of dazzling platinum lace was draped across his shoulders along with mithril epaulets that gleamed under bright sunlight, the pristine white of purity instead of traditional gold that signified holiness.
A shower of scented petals fell wherever they went, almost masking the constant fragrance of candles and rosemary and holy incense.
One could not go ten paces without spotting the holy banners of Heaven flying from the roofs of exalted mansions or outside stained-glass windows. Fair angelic maidens born high and low giggled alongside the young and old alike that lined the streets, while archangels shouted praises and prayers both, as they passed.
"If I might be so bold, Azrael, might you consent to speak with Lelouch again? Under more pleasant circumstances this time I assure you," Uriel said, his eyes shining with triumph as he smiled cordially at his brother. "The harrowing circumstances through which he first appeared before us were disgraceful calls for a proper introduction this one time."
It was only appropriate to settle the grievances between the Seraphim and the Throne of God, now that the die had been cast. To do otherwise would be counterproductive considering the circumstances.
"Lelouch is not so bad once you learn to ignore his thorns of arrogance," Metatron added, keeping one ear open apparently. The support was a welcome surprise.
Azrael accepted with a nod, but with muted enthusiasm. His anger at Lelouch had soothed some with time, but the slate was not cleared. There would be plenty of time to work on that. If Uriel had to lock his brother up in Sixth Heaven until they were cordial with each other, then so be it.
"I suppose I could find it in my heart to spare a few minutes," Azrael said, a little more fire in his eyes betraying him. He did admirably hiding it, but the Seraph was many years his junior in this and in age. "He does have our Father ordinance behind him which grants him the right to sit on the Throne of God."
Azrael had not protested as vehemently as Raphael, but his support for Michael was apparent to all who were a part of the great game. His contemplative hush as he looked down upon the First Heaven betrayed more of his emotions than he cared to admit.
"You spoke with Lelouch, did you not, my brother?" Azrael finally asked, turning towards Metatron.
Metatron nodded. "Briefly when I escorted our older brother Michael to the negotiations, my brother."
Raziel and Metatron were the only three Seraphs who had been allowed to bear witness to the negotiations with Lelouch, and even then, they merely played the role of an exalted escort as was appropriate.
"You have never made your thoughts unclear when prompted, so I shall ask you this directly. What do you think of him?"
"Charismatic and clever," Metatron said immediately, without a single pause. "That makes him dangerous, more than we can imagine."
The absolute surety in his brother's tone was surprising and surprised murmurs broke out, even as Azrael tipped his head. "Explain."
"It is in his eyes. Constantly seeking, swaying here and there. He takes in everything around him, and asks plenty of questions, the right ones." Metatron paused, this time making sure to regard his answer with care. "He hides it well, but I have seen resolution in my life, and I saw it in him that day. His desire is no dragon fire to burn bright and die quick, but a cold winter. It may be months or years before he lets it go if he ever does."
Metatron's answer though not what he wanted to hear, was indeed what he had expected. But then again, by now the life he lived had turned so uncertain that he could least predict the very uncertainty that would be their woe.
"It was always apparent that Lelouch has always been smart, perhaps too much for his own good at times," Azrael said. "Do you think he is blind to his ideals?" Will he make a mistake that ruins him?
"Respectfully, you already know the answer to that, brother and I suppose you have seen it too, Uriel," Metatron said, nodding towards his other brother. "He will succeed. You must have faith in him."
Whether one risks something or does not risk anything, there is a risk for him to take from dawn to dusk. It is noteworthy then that it is highly riskier to risk nothing when the life men live is always at the mercy of uncertain risks of life. There were times when one had no option but to surrender to the whims of fate.
"I am but a servant and it is my prerogative to worry," Azrael replied, acknowledging the meaning behind Metatron's words then fell into a contemplative silence. "The word of an Emperor is the law, even more so when it concerns himself. He has declared his intentions before the Seraphim and I shall not hesitate to devote my loyalty to his ideals the day he makes good on them."
This, indeed, was the crux of the entire debacle.
As he was now, Lelouch did have the just right to impose his principles upon Heaven, but he stood before them all without any merit to support the foundation of his actions. With the greater legitimacy behind him and their dear Father's authority within his hands, no Seraph would have dared question his regime had the circumstances been otherwise.
Uriel opened his mouth to retort, but was beaten to it by the sheer eruption of noise that resonated across the Seven Heavens as millions of angels cheered and shouted and screamed at the same time.
The first time Lelouch arrived at Heaven, he'd been greeted by anger and judgment as seraphs of God and angels of heaven impeded him at every gate. The second time Lelouch set foot into the Sixth Heaven, after the revelation of his divine origin, he'd been greeted by reverent cheers alongside scathing criticism, as seraphs of God marched behind him and the archangels of Michael ushered him through golden doors with great reluctance.
This third time, he'd been greeted by a riot of clapping hands and the seven ringing bells of the First Holy Palace of the lowermost Heaven amongst the seven.
Behind Lelouch followed Archangels Michael and Gabriel, though neither angel had directly intervened with recent events that had created contention that almost divided the Seraphim. Still, Uriel could not begrudge them a share in the honour of his Lord. They had kept faith in his authority and such absolute victory could not have been won without their commitment.
The noise nearly drowned out the screams that Azrael could hear coming from within, and his mind's incessant, treacherous whispering: "What if…"
"Calm your heart, brother. We have no choice but to continue moving forward for our brother Michael has already declared his last ordinance and there is nothing we can do to change it." Metatron turned towards him, miraculously knowing the treacherous whispers of his pounding heart, "Lelouch vi Britannia had declared his intentions before us all, and now it falls upon us to discharge our duty as Seraphs of Heaven in his defence."
"To create a gentle world that is kind to everyone."
A golden gleam blazed across the great hall of their belvedere at that moment as Raziel softly spoke those words, yet his words reverberated through the hall, carrying within it an intensity whose weight could destroy the entire world and create it anew."
Everyone looked towards their spectacled brother who had teleported into the great hall with blazing intent. Like them all, he too was wearing formal golden robes majestic enough for a king's banquet along with shining armour that was seldom seen upon him.
He smiled lazily at them upon noticing all the gazes that were sent his way as he slowly ran a hand through his purple hair, his eyes glimmering with unbound intelligent and infinite wisdom that even gods couldn't contend with.
"I have seen to it myself that all the appropriate preparations have been made, and the time to change destiny itself is now upon us." Raziel's gaze swept across the hall, "Lelouch vi Britannia shall soon begin the ceremony as he kneels before the Seven Heaven with Gabriel and Michael."
He smiled thinly, and the Seraphs shivered as his piercing eyes bore into the very depths of his soul.
"Prepare yourselves, my brothers, for the coronation of Heaven's Emperor shall soon commence."
Lelouch materialized atop of a raised dais set in an open ground that stretched far for miles.
However, he saw something as soon as he appeared, something magnificent and terrifying at the same time. Millions of angels surrounded him, all standing in ranks and formations, from lowly principalities with no more than two pairs of wings to mighty cherubs that could pulverize mountains. From great generals to common soldiers, the entire armada of Heaven was assembled before him.
He felt Michael and Gabriel kneeling beside him as they teleported beside the other Seraphs that were already present, but he paid them no mind. Instead, his cold amethyst eyes sought the people, his subjects. The reaction of people around the world was of joy. He saw hope in their eyes.
"Attention, angels of the Heaven!"
His striking figure emanated pure charisma and authority, with his impossibly beautiful face and the seven Seraphs kneeling beside him while his voice was strong, and reverberated across the Heavens like a clap of thunder
"Hear my proclamation."
His unforgettable visage filled with unshakable faith inspired respect from the Seraphs that surrounded him and as for the others, they watched, open-mouthed with awe as stood before them, his mere presence serving to affirm among those gathered on his behalf that they had chosen the right side, the right cause and, above all, the right man.
"I am Lelouch vi Britannia, as of now the Emperor of the Seven Holy Heavens and your only ruler."
He spread his arms before the people of Heaven who watched him with awe and reverence. Many had stood before them with bold claims and mighty authorities and yet the host of Heaven had only bowed before the splendour of God, only the grand visage of their lord had ever enthralled them… except for him.
"Our Lord has entrusted the Throne of Heaven upon me and even the High Seraphim Council has surrendered before my authority. As a result of this, I am now in control of both the Seven Heavens and the Grand System."
And the angels listened, their eyes wide in awe of his magnificence as he announced his position without preamble.
"Every ruler from the dawn of history has carried upon their shoulders the burden of steadfast duty." Lelouch paused, "Every king vows to give themselves for the sake of their nation, for their people."
"In the name of their honor, they are charged to be brave. For the sake of the faith entrusted upon them, they are charged to be wise and just. In the name of their subjects, they are charged to defend the young and innocent. For the dreams that they carry, they are charged to be discerning in thought and deed. In the name of the trust that empowers them, they are charged to hold true to their vows."
"A lot of promises and yet what's the point of it if no one can keep all of them?"
Confused murmurs spread as the emperor spread his arms wide.
"There are no perfect Kings," he said. "If kingship was about doing no wrong, we'd have no rulers left to speak of. All beings err eventually."
"Kingship," Lelouch continued, "is striving towards an ideal. Kingship is about justice and rightness, about striving to be more. About striving to be better. We might never be perfect, but there is value in the journey towards perfection, in the struggle to do good in an imperfect world."
"Under my rule, Heaven will never stop moving forward, it shall never stagnate. I will create a gentle world, one where even the weak and crippled can find justice. I will never rest until I actualize the great dreams of our Lord."
"I will hold to my vows, this I can proudly declare," Lelouch announced with a flourish.
"I appeared before you as a man and now I shall rise as a King. Yes, from this day, from this moment forward the Sevens Heavens belongs to me." He proudly declared, "Lelouch vi Britannia commands you! Obey me, subjects!"
The people froze, knowing what was coming next. Only one had claimed it in the past and no one was ever able to achieve it again...But he did it.
"All hail Lelouch!" screamed an angel.
"All hail Lelouch!" screamed an exalt.
"All hail Lelouch!" screamed the Seraphs.
"All hail Lelouch!"
"All hail Lelouch!"
The Seven Heavens stood frozen, enthralled, amazed, and terrified before his absolute authority, his absolute power.
Thanks for reading…
I could have written another chapter and extended the prologue, but I did not which to bore my readers with needless political intrigue so I skipped it altogether and moved directly to the ascension of Lelouch.
The part about the omniscience of God is from Lelouch of Britannia. It was an interesting conversation so I tried to recreate something similar, still don't know how much of my conversation matches the one from that fanfic.
This chapter offers three perspectives; Lelouch's own which seems deceptively innocent, those of his opponents who are rendered helpless, and that of the bystanders who are left confused trying to comprehend his schemes.
In a way, this represents the different masks that Lelouch uses to face separate people and situations.
In this story, I plan to show three facets of our protagonist: Lelouch Lamperouge the kind friend, Lelouch vi Britannia the Heavenly Emperor, and Lelouch as the Demon Emperor.
Someone told me that I talk too much in my AN's so I will stop now. But I want to once again apologize for the drop in quality due to the absence of both my co-author and my beta-readers. inform the readers that my co-author has not returned so there might be some unprecedented delays.
This is it then, the end of the prologue, and we will at last move on from Heaven to the greater world of the DxD. As one might say, the kid's gloves are finally coming off…