Darkness...
For the longest time, that's all what Nunnally could associate with when it came to her sight.
She had gotten used to it, and never held a complaint. However, there were times she missed the colors of a flower or the brightness of the sun, or the face that belonged to her beloved brother Lelouch.
So it came to her surprise and utter shock when she realized that even though she was surrounded by darkness, she was able to her hands and feet, floating around.
"I...can see?" Nunnally asked herself.
Before she could ponder on it more, she suddenly heard a faint sound from the distance. She looked up and saw a figure.
Curious, she moved closer to get a better look at the figure. She didn't recognize him at first, he had short but thick brown-reddish hair along with a beard that while encompassed his face, wasn't very long.
What really got her attention was the coat he was wearing though. The patches, the stitches, she saw them before a long time ago on her Aunt Rebecca, and the other being...
"Joseph?" Nunnally asked. "Huh, he really does look kind of homeless..." She thought to herself.
"Hello! Anybody here?!" Joseph shouted to the abyss, breaking Nunnally out of her thoughts.
"Uh, Joseph, I'm right here." Nunnally said to him as she waved to him, trying to get his attention.
"Hello! Someone!? Olly-Olly-Oxenfree!" Joseph shouted, not even noticing her.
"Joe? Can you hear-" Nunnally didn't get to finish as she suddenly hit some sort of invisible barrier.
"Okay, seriously, this ain't funny guys! Come on!" Joseph shouted to the abyss looking at his surroundings, still not noticing Nunnally.
"Joe, I'm right here!" Nunnally shouted, banging on the barrier, trying to get his attention.
Instead, he just flew further into the abyss, calling out for someone, anyone to answer him.
"JOE!" Nunnally shouted, trying with all her might to get through the barrier, to no avail.
And she woke up shouting for her brother.
...
Ashford Academy - Student Council Meeting Room
"A seizure?" A confused and concerned Milly asked Suzaku as she and the rest of the Council were gathered around for an emergency meeting that Lelouch called.
"Yes, I don't know the exact details. But apparently he started having convulsions that led to him to being unconscious and sustaining a head injury." Suzaku said sadly, knowing that, once again, he wasn't able to do anything for his friend.
"And this was away from the battlefield?" Kallen asked concerned, wondering if her actions at Narita may have caused it.
He may be a Prince of Britannia, but he still helped her mother when she really needed it, she felt grateful for that.
"Yes, Viceroy Cornelia had already gotten him miles away from the battlefield when it happened. As far as I know, there was no explanation as to why it occurred." Suzaku said
"I can't believe he was ballsy enough to go out there in the first place, and to save Shirley's dad no less! (To Shirley)Man, we definitely got lucky on becoming friends with him when we did, huh?!" Rivalz said in awe, still not completely over of how badass Joseph had acted out there.
"He would have tried saving more people than just my father if he have had more time, Rivalz! It's not just because we're friends!" Shirley lashed out at him, surprising the group.
"Uh, r-right. Sorry." Rivalz apologized with shame.
"(Sighs) No, I'm sorry. It's just that...Joseph has done such a kind and courageous act. An act that even knowing that he could have died, he still risked his life to make sure my father lived another day. The other scenario where neither of them would have made it out is something I can't even imagine, Joseph saved me from that heart break, and I can't even properly thank him for it. It's just not fair!" Shirley said with sadness and anger as she wiped sprouting tears from her eyes.
Lelouch and Kallen looked down in shame, knowing it was their fault that Joseph and Shirley's father had such a close brush to death.
"They almost died because of me..." Lelouch and Kallen both thought to themselves shamefully.
What made it worse for them was knowing the fact that Joseph and Shirley's father were the only survivors of that landslide from that town. Over 50 casualties at least, and Lelouch didn't think about the repercussions.
He didn't think about the innocent civilians that were just going about their day, how they weren't expecting their town to be become part of a battlefield, how that his brother's and his Shirley's father's lives could have been taken by his hand, all he cared about in that moment was victory.
And while he may not have suffered too much loss with his revolution, he definitely suffered a loss of moral.
The same went for Kallen.
Back in Narita, she felt pride, excitement, reassurance knowing now that she and her group finally had a fighting chance to defeat Britannia. But knowing what she knows now, she felt like she could hang up her headband right then and there.
How could she go forward knowing that she was the reason that so many innocent lives were lost that day, that one of them could have been her friend's father, a friend who she actually come to like?
And then there was Joseph, his sudden appearance was both baffling and annoying all at the same time. But learning what he did prior to interfering with her battle with Cornelia, she couldn't help but hold some respect for him.
She always thought he was just crazy and stupid, he still is of course, but now she could see that he was truly a selfless person. Not only did he save his mother from the addiction of refrain, he chose to risk his life and save this guy instead of hightailing out of there to save himself, knowing that the man could have slowed him down or cost him a second too late. That was something to admire at the very least.
But now he was in a coma, fighting for his life, and Kallen can't help but feel fear about whether or not he'll make it.
"Is there anyway we can see him?! You're childhood friends with him, Milly! Can't you arrange something?!" Nina spoke up frantically.
"This isn't like old times Nina, my family doesn't have the same kind of pull as they did before." Milly said sadly.
"What about you Suzaku!? You said that you have spoken with Princess Euphemia yourself! Can't you convince her to let us visit?!" Nina asked with panic.
"It's not that simple Nina. I'm just a Warrant Officer in the army, and I don't think the Viceroy would like it if an Eleven were to visit her brother." Suzaku said sadly.
"WHY NOT!? Princess Euphemia met us back the Lake Kawaguchi hotel, she knows we're his friends! Please! Even if it's just for five minutes-"
"Nina! Calm down!" Lelouch shouted, surprising the group, he let out a depressed sigh. "Look, I'm scared for Joseph too. But panicking isn't going to help his case, the only thing we can do right now is wait and hope for the best." He told her gently.
Nina looked down in sadness, knowing he was right.
"The least we can do is make a card for him. Let him know we're thinking of him." Surprisingly, it was Kallen who suggested it.
"...That probably wouldn't be a problem." Suzaku said after thinking about it for a moment. "I could make it sure it gets delivered to the Sub-Viceroy the next time-"
"I'll go get paper!" Nina interrupted as she raced out of the meeting room, the group looked on in surprise.
"Well, she's definitely for it." Milly joked. "Good idea Kallen." She said giving her a thumbs up as she followed after Nina.
"It's not a big deal, really." Kallen said quietly as she followed Milly, surprised herself that she suggested it.
"We should get one of those cards that have music attached to them!" Rivalz suggested with enthusiasm.
"But making a card feels much more personal doesn't it?" Suzaku countered.
"Yeah, but he loves music! Maybe a song will wake him up!" Rivalz theorized.
"Ugh! Rivalz!" Shirley chided him for being ridiculous.
"Oh come on! You know Joseph would have suggested that too!" Rivalz came back with.
They then noticed that Lelouch hadn't moved from his spot.
"Hey, you okay Lelouch?" Rivalz asked.
"Um, yeah...just a lot on my mind is all." Lelouch said quietly.
Shirley and Suzaku knew something was up, they looked at each other and nodded.
"Rivalz, how about you go catch up with them. We'll be right there." Shirley suggested.
"Uh, sure." Rivalz said confused but didn't push the subject.
Once he left, Suzaku and Shirley took seats next to Lelouch.
"How's Nunnally doing?" Suzaku asked gently.
"She's taking it real hard. He just got back into our lives and now it feels like she's losing him all over again." Lelouch said sadly.
"And how are you?" Shirley asked with concern.
"I'm pulling through. I mean, I know Joseph, I'm sure he'll be ok. But I feel so damn useless right now, knowing I can't do anything for him." Lelouch said with anger as he gripped his knuckles.
He suddenly felt a hand gently grasp his own.
"Please don't put that mindset on yourself Lelouch, you don't deserve that." Shirley said gently.
"Yeah, it's not like it's your fault." Suzaku said.
"Except that maybe it is." Lelouch thought regretfully.
...
Last Night
Student Council Building
Nunnally cried into Lelouch's shoulder after he told her about the condition of their brother. Shirley had went home as they both agreed that a date night just wasn't appropriate right now given the situation.
"Lelouch...is our family cursed?" Nunnally asked quietly.
Lelouch hissed a breath, given what happened to Aunt Rebecca, his mother, and his sister's condition. He often wondered the same thing.
"I...I don't know, Nunnally." Was the only answer he could think of telling her. "But I do know just how stubborn Joseph can be. And he's not going to let some head injury keep him from bouncing off the walls for too long. I have faith, and so should you, okay?" Lelouch asked her, mellowing her fear.
"...Okay." Nunnally said with a shaky smile as she wiped her tears.
After he put her back to bed, he marched straight to his bedroom where C.C. was lazily lying on his bed.
"Was it you?" Lelouch asked with a glare.
C.C. looked backed at him with a neutral look, not intimidated at all.
"You're going to need to be more specific, boy." C.C. said with a bored tone.
"What you did to Suzaku back at Narita! Is that the reason why Joseph is in a coma?" Lelouch asked angrily.
"What makes you so sure I had something to do with it?" C.C. asked with the same bored tone.
"Well let's see, as far as I'm aware and what I was told; Joseph was perfectly fine when Cornelia took him away from the battlefield but before the retreat was sounded, so the seizure must have occurred somewhere between that time. And considering his strange immunity to Geass, which would normally take you away from the equation, becomes more concerning when you obviously haven't told me all of what this power could do. So the only conclusion I can come up with is what I saw within you at Narita." Lelouch calculated intensely.
"Or maybe he just hit his head a few too many times." C.C. offhandedly.
"Damn it C.C., are you my ally or not!" Lelouch yelled in anger.
Now it was C.C. turn to look at him in accusation.
"The answer to that should be obvious. We have a contract." C.C. said a bit annoyed now.
"Then stop dicking me around and tell me what's going on with my brother!" Lelouch demanded.
They stared at each other for a moment, before C.C. finally sighed.
"Fine. When I sent those mental images to Suzaku, I could feel your brother's presence there as well, as if he was a witness himself. I don't know how or why, but Joseph has a connection to Geass." C.C. explained.
Lelouch looked at her in shock.
"Is...is he immortal like you?" Lelouch asked her quietly.
"I doubt it. He wouldn't still have his scars and his pinkie would have grown back by now if that was the case." C.C. told him.
"Then what could it be?! I thought you were the expert on this stuff! The 'Jedi Master'!" Lelouch mocked at the end.
"First off, don't call me that. Second, just because I lived longer than anybody else with this power, doesn't mean I know everything about it!" C.C. said annoyed.
Lelouch groaned in aggravation, but then realized something.
"His mother..." Lelouch said in realization.
C.C. raised her eyebrow at that.
"You think that 'cure' of hers has something to do with Geass?" C.C. asked.
"It may very well be. Cornelia told me herself that Joseph was on the brink of dying when Rebecca took him away. Still, it doesn't explain his immunity." Lelouch said quietly, trying to figure it all out.
"Well, she's obviously not going to be able to give you any answers on the account that she's dead. As for Joseph, you'll just have to wait and see if he wakes up." C.C. told him.
"When he wakes up." Lelouch insisted.
C.C. shrugged her shoulders.
"If you say so." C.C. said politely.
Lelouch just looked down in frustration.
C.C. could see that this wasn't the only thing on his mind.
"Do you regret it? That your brother and your friend's father was caught up in all this? You were just accusing Kirihara of being too soft. What happened to the path of blood?" C.C. asked him.
"Shut up." Lelouch said quietly.
"But it turns out you're the soft one. Did you think this was all just a game? You've already killed your fair share of people. By hand, or words more often than not." C.C. said matter-of-factly.
"Just shut up." Lelouch said a bit louder.
"All of them left behind a family. All had lovers and friends. Are you really telling me you hadn't grasped that yet? I would have thought you to be better prepared." C.C. started to say with a mocking tone.
"Just shut up! I am prepared! I have been from the moment I killed Clovis!" Lelouch exclaimed in anger.
"Then why this hesitation? One brother and one friend and you go to pieces? So for all your preening and posturing, you're really just a spoiled little boy with a swollen head and a big fat mouth." C.C. said mockingly.
She was pushed down onto the bed and held by shoulders by Lelouch with a furious look on his face.
"You ran way too deep to be turning back now. You've passed the point of no return." C.C. told him bluntly.
He gritted his teeth at her.
"Oni-sama? Is everything okay?" Nunnally called out to him, probably hearing the muffled yelling from her room.
"Uh, yes Nunnally, hold on, I'll be right there." Lelouch told her as he got off C.C.
"You need a reason for living, don't you? You're not going to disappoint me, are you?" C.C. asked him, already knowing his answer
Lelouch just stared at her before going to check on Nunnally.
...
"Do I have what it takes? Can I push forward knowing that the people I care about could get hurt in the process? Damn it!" Lelouch thought to himself.
"We have to remain optimistic right? Don't worry Lelouch, with the technology we have, I'm sure Joseph will be back dancing on the table in no time!" Shirley said cheerfully.
"Yeah. I even look forward to one of his noogies." Suzaku said with optimism.
Lelouch and Shirley couldn't help but chuckle.
"And I didn't get to say it before, but I'm really glad your father is okay Shirley. How's he doing?" Suzaku asked.
"Really good actually. Having a close brush with death can really open a person's eyes apparently as he's been doting on me and mom for the past couple of days, I feel like a 10 year old girl again." Shirley giggled.
"I'm just glad Joseph got him out of there." Suzaku said happily until his demeanor turned more sad and solemn. "Still, there's all those other people in the town who lost their lives to the landslide."
"So many people..." Shirley said sadly.
"And it's all because of Zero and his people, they probably didn't care about the town that was down there. Their methods are just cowardly. He doesn't even get his hands dirty. He stirs people into a frenzy, tips the world into chaos, and then sits back and congratulates himself. It's not going to change a thing. Anything gained through his kind of tactics are just meaningless." Suzaku said with anger.
It was hard for Lelouch to keep his hurt expression hidden, but somewhere deep inside him, he thought he was right.
"Isn't that a little harsh Suzaku? I mean, who's to say that Zero even knew there was a town down there in the first place." Shirley said, which surprised Lelouch.
"Would you be asking that if your father was one of the victims Shirley?" Suzaku asked her.
Now it was Shirley's turn to look shocked and hurt.
"Suzaku!" Lelouch scolded.
Realizing his blunder, Suzaku put his head down in shame.
"Forgive me, Shirley! That was a very insensitive question to ask!" Suzaku said apologetically.
"It's okay, Suzaku. You were just trying to make a point. The truth is, I often thought about that myself, try as I might to not do so. How broken I would have been, how angry I would have been at Zero for his actions, how it all would have conflicted inside of me." Shirley said quietly.
Lelouch and Suzaku look at her in sympathy, though a touch of regret for Lelouch.
"Which is why I choose to be grateful instead. Grateful that he's still here with us, grateful that I still get to wish him a good morning and give him a kiss on the cheek, grateful that even though I only spent five minutes with him so far today, it's five minutes I know I can cherish now. And that's better than being angry, isn't it?" Shirley ending her speech with a genuine, happy smile.
Lelouch and Suzaku look at her surprise but then they smiled, Lelouch especially.
"Hey! Are you guys coming or what?" Rivalz called out to them, poking his head in the room.
"Oh yeah, sorry. Come on guys." Shirley said happily as she got up from her seat.
Lelouch and Suzaku followed after her. For Lelouch, he now had determination, and it would begin with a phone call he would make to Ohgi later on today.
...
Viceroy Palace
Medical Facility
Euphemia and Cornelia calmly waited inside a doctor's office, with a window between them to show Joseph still sleeping.
Cornelia had taken the liberty to trim his bread to make sure it didn't get too thick. She always tried to get him to shave the whole thing off as she thought it made him look like a southern Area 3 hillbilly, but he firmly put his foot down on the subject matter, saying he thought it was cool. And she knew Euphemia would be mad if she cut it all clean off his face.
A middle-aged doctor finally came in with a medical file about Joseph, yet he had a rather awkward look on his face. The princesses could see this.
"Is everything alright Doctor? Oh God, has Joseph's condition become worse?" Euphemia asked concerned.
"Oh, nonono. Forgive me, your highness, it's not that that. It's...honestly, I'm not sure how I can explain this without it being nonsensical." The doctor said with trepidation and bluntness.
This confused the princesses to no end.
"What do you mean?" Cornelia asked.
The doctor pulled out an MRI scan of Joseph's brain and put it on the wall.
"As you know, you had Prince Joseph come in for a brain scan when he first appeared back at the Viceroy Palace. This is an MRI of his brain, as you can see, half of the sectors of his brain that are lit up are the active anomalies. The other half is-"
"Dead matter, I know Doctor. His condition hasn't changed since he was kid, can you please get to the point." Cornelia told him, getting impatient.
The doctor pulled out another MRI scan.
"This, is the brain scan we did of your brother the other day." The doctor told them, not sure how they were going to react.
He put the MRI on the wall and the sisters gasped in surprise and shock.
"His brain..." Cornelia said in shock.
"It's...healed?" Euphemia asked in equal shock and hesitation.
The MRI showed all sectors of his brain lit up.
"Everything. It's as if it was never damaged in the first place." The doctor said, just as surprise as they were.
"But...how...?" Euphemia asked, still in shock by the revelation.
"Are you sure this isn't some glitch in your machinery?" Cornelia asked, wanting to make sure she wasn't being played for a fool.
"We ran the scan six times on three different machines, your highness. They all came out with the same results." The doctor told her as he showed her copies of the MRI scan.
"I don't understand! How can he be in a coma and suddenly have a normal functioning brain!?" Cornelia asked, trying to wrap her head around this.
"I wish that was the craziest part of my findings, your highness. But that actually brings me to my next subject." The doctor said in an awkward manner.
The princesses eyed him, wondering just what the Hell could be more bizarre than what they just heard.
"When it comes to coma patients, brain activity becomes very low. Basic functions like breathing and sleeping are the only things that remain active." The doctor explained as he took out an iPad and showed a video of brain waves to the princesses, they were dimly lit and barely moving.
"These brain waves are from a coma patient I treated a few years ago. As you can see, very low movement if any." The doctor explained. He swiped to another video with more brain waves, this time more brightly lit and making many movements. "And this is a regularly active brain. Everything functioning as normal." He explained further.
"What does this have to do with Joseph?" Cornelia asked, intrigued where he was going with this.
"This brain activity, is what's going on inside his majesty's mind right now." The doctor finally concluded.
This earned him flabbergasted looks from the princesses.
"W-wait a minute! Are you saying that my brother is both in a coma...and awake at the same time?!" Cornelia asked, not sure what was real anymore.
"Like I said, Viceroy. No matter how I explained it, it wasn't going to make any sense." The doctor said, just as troubled as her.
Euphemia then made the choice to go into the next room where Joseph was, she stared at his sleeping form.
"So...does that mean he can hear us?" Euphemia asked quietly.
"I honestly don't know, your highness. I'm still trying to wrap my head around this myself right now. Nothing in the medical books explains this." The doctor told her.
Cornelia looked at her brother in thought.
"Give us a moment, doctor." Cornelia quietly ordered.
"Of course." The doctor politely said as he bowed and left the room.
Euphemia gently grabbed her brother's hand.
"Are you there, Joe?" Euphemia asked quietly in a hopeful tone.
No response from Joseph, he just laid there peacefully.
"If you can hear me, squeeze my hand...come on Joe...just squeeze." Euphemia said quietly.
She waited in anticipation as she looked at his hand, waiting for movement.
...
The Next Day
Ashford Academy
Classes had ended and Lelouch was making his way out of Ashford.
"Ohgi should be gathering the Black Knights later today, should that newsman's information be accurate, we may have another operation." Lelouch thought to himself.
"Hey, Lulu!" Shirley shouted at him from behind, he turned around and saw her running up to him.
"Oh, Shirley. What's up?" Lelouch greeted her casually.
"I was wondering, I figured that maybe since we canceled our night out because of what happened to Joseph and we could both probably use the distraction, maybe we could...perhaps...reschedule?" Shirley asked awkwardly, red in the face, with a tiny voice at the end.
Lelouch looked at her in surprise, not expecting to hear that today. Shirley saw his look and got scared.
"Ah, I'm sorry Lulu! It's totally not appropriate to ask this right now! Forget I even said anything!" Shirley said frantically, turning away in shame and embarrassment.
But then she felt a hand tug at her wrist.
"Shirley, wait!" Lelouch said to her, stopping her in her tracks as she looked at him in surprise.
"I would love to actually." Lelouch said happily.
Shirley went wide-eyed at this, blushing ferociously.
"R-really?" Shirley asked nervously.
"Yeah. Like you said, a distraction is good right now. Plus, I would like to make up for the fact I was late for our first supposed-get together." Lelouch told her warmly.
"Well to be fair, we were both late." Shirley chuckled, as did Lelouch.
"Anyway, I'm free tomorrow. We can find a place then." Lelouch told her.
"Great! I'll see you then!" Shirley said excitedly.
"You too." Lelouch told her happily.
Lelouch went on his way again when he remembered something.
"Oh Shirley, one more thing." Lelouch said to her.
"Hmmm? Yes, Lulu?" Shirley asked curiously.
"Thank you. For what you said, about being grateful. It really helped actually." Lelouch said with gratitude.
Shirley looked at him with surprise but then put on a smile and blushed.
"Of course, Lulu. Glad I could help." Shirley said kindly.
After that, they both went their separate ways. Once Lelouch was out of sight, Shirley couldn't help but do a celebration dance she learned from Joseph awhile back.
"Yes! A real, official date with Lulu! Of course, he never said it was date. But that's okay, I'll make it one!" Shirley thought to herself with confidence.
Not knowing that a silver-haired man with headphones and a visor on was following her from a distance.
...
Ashford Academy
Kallen's Room
Kallen stared at her with laptop that had photos of her family and friends on it. She was particularly looking at one that had her friends from the student council and a certain prince doing a tango dance with Kallen, a bit by force on his part as she remembered that he suddenly grabbed her out of nowhere and brought her out to the dance floor. He had his tongue sticking out to the camera and Kallen had an embarrassed blush on her face. Kallen stared at it conflicted.
"Are you alright dear?" Naomi, called out to her.
"Uh, yeah. Sorry, Kaa-san, I was just thinking is all." Kallen said quietly.
"Thinking about Joseph?" Naomi asked concerned.
"Well...not just him, Shirley's father as well. I mean, they were both so close to dying with all those other people from that town." Kallen said quietly.
"I know honey, it's a scary thought. But, at least they're both okay. And I'm sure Joseph will come out of that coma eventually." Naomi told her with a gentle smile.
"Thanks Kaa-san." Kallen told her with a fake smile, still feeling conflicted.
"You know, you being so concerned with Joseph only proves-"
"Mother..." Kallen said in an aggravated tone.
...
ASEEC Base
"I have some news, Suzaku. We've just got word from Cornelia's Royal Guard. We're on deck for the next operation." Lloyd told him.
Suzaku looked at him in surprise.
"Are they acknowledging your skill or do they need another decoy?" Lloyd asked nonchalantly.
"Oh Lloyd, care for another lesson in proper social etiquette? You look like you have some time to kill." Cecile asked him kindly as she brought in some tea.
"Oh, I'll have to take a pass on that." Lloyd said offhandedly.
Before he could continue, they saw a certain sub-viceroy come into the base.
"Princess Euphemia!" Suzaku and Cecile said as they saluted and curtsied to her.
"Hello there, Sub-Viceroy. I didn't expect to see you here today." Lloyd greeted casually.
"The Viceroy insisted I take some time away from the medical facility to clear my head. I still have my duties after all." Euphemia said in a professional manner.
"How is Prince Joseph, your highness?" Cecile asked gently.
"Still the same, though we're being hopeful." Euphemia told them reassuringly.
"Indeed, I have a feeling this isn't the first time he hit his head so I'm sure he'll make a quick recovery." Lloyd said cheerfully. To which Cecile slapped him in the back of the head and started to reprimand him for his behavior.
"Uh, sorry about him. He's like that all the time." Suzaku said apologetically.
"It's okay, to be honest, Joseph has taken his fair share of hits to the head." Euphemia admitted awkwardly with a chuckle.
Suzaku chuckled as he remembered half of those hits were probably by him during their training days. Then he remembered something.
"Oh. Before I forget, I wanted to give you this." Suzaku said as he took something out of his coat pocket.
He handed it to Euphemia and she could see it was a handmade card. It said "Get Well Soon, Joe!" on the front.
"Joseph's friends from the student council at Ashford Academy were worried about him, so we all made a card for him. Hope that's okay." Suzaku told her gently.
Euphemia examined the card and the notes that were written inside, wishing him well, hoping to see him soon, and to "Eat That Horse!" Tears couldn't help but sprout from her eyes.
"Ah-forgive me, your highness. It wasn't my intention to upset you." Suzaku said, bowing his head in shame.
"No, no. It's not that, I'm...I'm grateful." Euphemia said happily as she wiped her tears.
Suzaku looked up at her in surprise.
"When we were growing up in Pendragon, Joseph didn't have a lot of friends, besides me and a few of his siblings. Nobody wanted to be near the 'dimwit' I guess, not that he cared. But I'm grateful knowing he's made so many at your school, people who accept him for who he is, you being one of them." Euphemia said gratefully.
Suzaku smiled at that.
"Of course, your highness." Suzaku said with gratitude.
"Please, Suzaku, call me Euphie." Euphemia insisted, which surprised Suzaku. "By the way, do any of them want to perhaps visit Joseph?" She asked.
"Um, well we assumed it wouldn't be possible-"
"Nonsense! I'm sure Joseph would love the company. Bring them up tomorrow." Euphemia insisted happily.
This shocked Suzaku but then he smiled.
"Thank you, your hi-I mean, Euphie." Suzaku said happily, causing Euphie to blush.
Suddenly, Suzaku felt an arm wrap around him.
"Well then, now that's out of the way, I believe we were talking about your mission." Lloyd chimed in.
...
Black Knights Base
"Wait a second, Zero. I realize this is a request from Kyoto. I think we can definitely handle it. And I'm pretty sure that Japan Liberation Front would rather join with us than flee to foreign soil in all." Ohgi tried to reason with Zero
"You are the one who brought us this information. Diethard, wasn't it?" Zero asked their new guest, who was currently having guns pointed at him in case he tried anything.
"That's right. It is an honor that you'd meet me like this, Zero." Diethard said stoically
"So, princess Cornelia's going to deploy the Royal Marines on General Katase at the Japan Liberation Front, is that correct?" Zero asked.
"Yes. The network was already poised to broadcast a special report on it."
"Lieutenant General Tohdoh will never make it Katase in time. Which means that Japan Liberation Front has no military strength right now. Their only chance of escape is the liquid Sakuradite they're carrying." Zero said.
Which is why we should help General Katase escape instead of going after Cornelia." Ohgi argued.
"Ohgi, who are we?" Zero asked him in a determined manner.
"We...we are the Black Knights, Zero." Ohgi said surprised.
"Then we have but one task. We will destroy Cornelia's troops. And in doing so, rescue the remnants of the JLF. Tonight, we gain the rest of what was left behind at Narita." Zero said with determination.
"What are the chances?" Ohgi asked seriously.
"Need you ask?" Zero asked matter-of-factly.
"Understood." Ohgi said with a smile.
"Begin preparations. You all have your orders to carry out." Zero ordered
"Uh… Zero." Kallen called out to get his attention.
"I have something to attend to. Whatever it is, save it for later." Zero told her.
Kallen looked at him conflicted.
...
Britannia Army Base
"Just so you know, the viceroy has reservations about using the numbers. But 'use every able body', I always say, even if it's the son of the former prime minister." Darlton told Suzaku professionally. The title made Suzaku uncomfortable, but he kept his composure. "Our target is Katase. Take him out and the Japan Liberation Front is finished. We are sending in a Royal Marines. Your job will be to provide supporting fire from the shore until the marines have Katase. As well as annihilating any stragglers left over." Darlton explained further.
"Uh… I'm to annihilate them, sir?" Suzaku asked surprised.
"Nobody but the target is to survive. Is that clear?" Darlton told him.
"Uh…" Suzaku stuttered, not sure how to answer the General.
"Warrant Officer Kururugi, show your loyalty to the crown. This is your chance to get ahead in the world, soldier." Darlton told him as he walked away.
"Understood, my Lord." Suzaku said conflicted.
"Onward, Christian soldiers? Conflicting morals, right?" Lloyd asked in a knowing tone, which aggravated Suzaku to no end.
...
Later that night
Warehouse
Kallen couldn't wait any longer, she had to talk to Zero. But when she opened the doors, she wasn't expecting to find a half-naked Zero with his mask off. She couldn't see his face though as it was covered with a towel and shrouded in darkness.
"Who's there?" Zero demanded.
"I-I'm sorry, I'll go." Kallen said in embarrassment, pink flushing her cheeks. She turned to leave.
"Second thoughts?" Zero asked her, stopping Kallen in her tracks. She stood there in silence for a few moments.
"I thought that the goal was justice. The only reason I've fought until now is because I thought it was the right thing to do. So I could live with the killing, but now…Tell me. Is this real? Is what we are all doing here really going to change the world for the better?" Kallen asked him, practically begging for an answer.
"Yes, it will, or rather it must change the world. Will there be sacrifices? Not only just soldiers but the innocent as well." Zero told her. Kallen grunted at that, wishing that last part wasn't his answer. "And yet, because of all these things, we have no choice but to continue on. No matter the cost, even if people see us as cowards, we have to prevail. If that means more blood will be shed, so be it. We've spilled so much to get here. I can't let it be in vain." Kallen looked down, taking in his words. "But I won't force you, Kallen. If you wish to turn back, now is the time." He told her at the end.
Kallen thought about it, about all she's done for her people, how much change has happened because of the Black Knights. She even thought about what Joseph said to her when they first met.
"Listen Kallen. Sidekick now. Sidekick important to Superhero. Zero equals Superhero. Therefore! Zero's sidekick. Must not let down. Must be there beckon call! The flaps in the night! Garfunkel to Simon! The Doo to Scooby!" Joseph exclaimed as he shaked her head back in forth before bringing her in close to his eyes.
"Don't. Screw. Up." Joseph said in quiet intensity.
Kallen smiled, having made up her mind.
"I've made my choice. I'll follow you to the very end." Kallen told him with determination.
"Thank you, Kallen." Zero said to her gently. Which definitely cheered her up. "One more thing Kallen." He said to her.
"Uh, yes Zero?" Kallen asked in confusion.
"You mentioned you had friends at the school you attended. Do you truly care for them?" Zero asked her.
This surprised Kallen, but she answered truthfully.
"Y-yes Zero, I really do." Kallen said honestly.
"Then be grateful for that. Few people have what you have Kallen, you must always cherish it." Zero told her in a wise manner.
"...I will, thank you Zero." Kallen said happily.
...
Viletta walked around the peers, with a file of Lelouch Lamperouge on her person.
"Damn it, Diethard told me to meet him here. He said he had more information about the boy." Villetta said angrily to herself. "While that moronic prince may be untouchable, I can certain dig my fingers into whatever this boy is doing with the Black Knights. Maybe even finding out who Zero is." She schemed to herself.
She then heard a ship sounding off as it was approaching the docks.
This surprised Villetta.
"Is that the JLF? I heard there was an operation concerning them tonight. But why would..." She thought to herself.
Suddenly she felt a rumbling, the next thing she knew, the a purple-pinkish energy came from below the ship and exploded, sending shockwaves all around and knocking Villetta off her feet.
"What the Hell? Did they just blow up their own sakuradite?" Villetta asked herself, astounded.
...
Zero put away the trigger he used to activate the liquid sakuradite.
"Just what you'd expect of the JLF, choosing to take the Britannians out with them." Zero said in a dull manner, as if expecting it.
"Suicide? But they never mentioned-" Ohgi tried to reason before being interrupted by Lelouch.
"We're going to rush Cornelia's position head-on! Forget about everything else. All that matters is achieving our goal. If you want to avenge the JLF, then capture Cornelia. And show them our strength and determination." Zero ordered
"Right!" Kallen said from inside her Guren that was currently on its way, along with a few other knightmares, to the docks inside a cruiser.
...
"This is like Narita all over again." Ohgi said in shock.
While that was happening, Diethard notice something out of the corner of his eye. It happened to be a former Purist looking onto the battle.
"I see she made it. Perfect timing." Diethard thought to himself.
"It's outstanding!" Diethard said before going down the ladder.
"Hey, get back here!" Ohgi yelled after him.
"The JLF was just a bait. Their command is wide open now. One of the oldest tricks in the book!" Diethard thought to himself in excitement.
"Where are you going? Hey!" Ohgi called after him, firing off a few bullets, none of them hitting Diethard.
"It makes perfect sense! He want to cripple his enemy's defenses using the Liberation Front as a living trap! He's excellent materia, this Zero! He's chaos incarnate! More, show me more of your genius! Let your ego engulf the world! Hahahaha! HAHAHAHA!" Diethard thought to himself in crazy enthusiasm.
...
The crusier crashes onto the docks, taking out a few knightmares with them. Zero, Kallen, and a couple of other knightmares popped out, starting to battle the Britannians.
"2-0-4 signal lost!"
"Erickson, form up with 3-0-8! Provide support!"
"All unit, Status report!"
"I repeat, What is your status!?" Soldiers all said to each other.
"Why would the General kill himself? It doesn't make any sense." Suzaku thought to himself as the battle raged on.
"Mount up now! And form a defensive of line, on the double!" Darlton ordered as he mounted his own knightmare.
"How did they know we were here!? Cornelia asked angrily.
"Knock their Knightmares into the sea before the pilots can mount! Guren Mk-II, you're with me!" Zero ordered.
"Yes sir!" Kallen complied as she took out more knightmares.
"Your highness, we can handle this." Guilford tried to reason as Cornelia mounted her knightmare.
"Quiet! How many times you think I'll allow them to mock me!?" Cornelia scolded him.
A second later, Zero's knightmare came in full speed, ramming into her.
"I haven't even powered on!" Cornelia complained. She was able to shoot a cable into the left arm of Zero's knightmare, ripping it off. "Do you think you can best me in Knightmare combat!?" She exclaimed trying to shoot her rifle, only for another cable to knock it out of the knightmare's hand. The cable belonged to the Guren.
"Cherry Dynamite!?" Cornelia asked in surprise as the cable wrapped around her knightmare.
"I'll smash your hatch and drag you out, Cornelia!" Lelouch said inside his knightmare in determination.
He was about to shoot when the Lancelot came out from above them. It set its eyes on Zero.
"Zero, your methods are not going to change anything. You focused on goals, and don't understand the pain of others." Suzaku said in anger as he fought Zero, gaining the upper hand.
"Zero!" Kallen shouted, wanting to provide cover but was stopped by Cornelia.
"This is payback for Narita!" Cornelia shouted in determination.
"Damn it! You again, Suzaku!?" Lelouch exclaimed in anger.
A punch was thrown.
"These are people's lives you're playing with. You're nothing but a murderer!" Suzaku said anger
Another punch was thrown.
"Why?! Why does it have to be you of all people that keeps getting in my way?!" Lelouch exclaimed in anger.
Punch after punch after punch.
"Why do you keep spilling people's blood without meaning?"
"If it wasn't for YOU!"
"Because of YOU!"
Lelouch's knightmare was barely standing now, he had no choice but to retreat. He used his cable and pulled his knightmare away from the battlefield, but not before Suzaku shot his own cable at the knightmare, dismantling it. Lelouch ejected, his pod skidded across the ground knocking him around inside the cockpit. When he finally stopped, he was unconscious.
"Zero, this is the end result." Suzaku said to himself.
"Lancelot, behind you!" Cornelia called to him on the open channel.
He turned and saw the Guren charging after him with the Radiation Wave Unit active, which Suzaku was able to shield himself from.
"Get the hell away from him!" Kallen exclaimed, making sure Suzaku didn't lay a finger on Zero.
...
As the battle raged on between the Lancelot and the Guren, Villetta came out of her hiding spot and approached the unconscious Zero.
"Zero..." She couldn't help but smirk and then laugh in joy. "Finally, now that I have him here, I can finally gain back my honor. But first, let's see who's under that mask." She said to herself, reaching for Zero's helmet.
Only to hear a gun cock from behind her.
She stood up and was shocked to see a determined Diethard pointing a gun at her.
"I'm guessing you brought those documents I sent you?" Diethard asked.
"Who do you think you're pointing that at?!" Villetta asked angrily.
"Well, I certainly can't let you bring Zero in, he's too good of a story to put down now." Diethard said with a bit of a more demented look in his eyes.
Villetta gritted her teeth in anger.
"You useless media mogul! You call yourself a Britannian!?" Villetta exclaimed with anger as she charged after him, only for her to meet a bullet.
She dropped to ground, with the file on Lelouch coming out of her person. Diethard picked it up and looked at it in thought for a moment.
"No reason to ruin the mystery." Diethard to himself as he took out a lighter and burned the file.
...
The Next Day
The Student Council Room
The council members, including Nunnally and Naomi were gathered around as Suzaku delivered them good news.
"Really?! Princess Euphemia is going to let us see Prince Joseph!?" Nina asked in shock, but also joy.
The council was happy to hear this, and Naomi put a comforting hand on Nunnally's shoulder, which she gripped happily.
"Yeah. She thinks it would be good for him to be surrounded by friends again." Suzaku told her happily.
"And maybe if you give Joseph a true love's kiss, he'll wake up!" Milly teased.
"Madam President!" Nina exclaimed, red in the face.
"True's love kiss?" Kallen asked.
"Yep! Ever since he stood up for us at the hotel-jacking, Nina has practically been dying to get into his pants!" Milly exclaimed.
"AH!" Nina exclaimed as she buried her face into her shirt, making Milly laugh.
Kallen didn't know why, but she couldn't help but feel a tinge of jealously arouse up in her at that proclamation. She saw her mother looking at her with a knowing smirk and rolled her eyes at her.
"Hey, maybe I can get a date with Princess Euphemia and eventually marry into royalty." Rivalz said excitedly.
"I'm sure that you will never meet her with such impure motives." Nunnally told him gently.
"Impure? That's a little harsh, isn't it, Nunnally? You're on my side, aren't you, Madam Pres-" Rivalz didn't get to finish as the magazine that Milly was holding was shoved into his mouth.
"Don't kiss up to me. Nunnally saw right through you, and so do I." Milly said annoyed.
"Didn't you just claim that Nina wanted to get into Joseph's pants?" Suzaku asked, astounded by her contradiction. Also making Nina sink deeper into her shirt.
"I'm a lady, we're allowed to gossip like that. Besides, I'm sure Princess Cornelia would shoot you dead before you could even say a 'hello' to her. Right Lelouch?...Lelouch?" Milly called out Lelouch, who was off in his own world.
"Talk about a close one last night. Still, whose blood was that? C.C. maybe? But why wouldn't she say anything? Whoever it was, it was person that obviously attempted to either kill me or capture me..." He thought to himself.
"Hello! Earth to Lelouch!" Rivalz called out.
"Uh, sorry. What?" Lelouch asked, oblivious to the conversation they were having.
"You okay, Lelouch?" Suzaku asked concern.
"Big brother?" Nunnally asked, also concerned.
Yeah, I just didn't get enough sleep last night is all." Lelouch told them.
"You know, this might be a sign to start getting regular hours of sleep. After all, you should start taking school more seriously." Suzaku told him.
"Right, Mr. Honor Student." Lelouch teased, making the others laugh. But then his looks turned solemn.
"Suzaku...what am I suppose to do with you?" Lelouch thought to himself sadly.
"Big brother, do you think it's possible you and I could see Joseph as well?" Nunnally asked in a hopeful tone.
Lelouch, Suzaku, and Milly looked at her in surprise.
Lelouch wasn't sure how to answer, he knew just how much Nunnally missed him and he wanted to see Joseph just as much as her. But he didn't want to risk their safety with this exposure.
Before he could answer her, he heard his cellphone ring.
"Uh, one second, Nunnally." Lelouch told her.
"By the way, have any of seen Shirley today?" Rivalz asked.
"No, I tried texting her, but she hasn't responded." Milly said.
Lelouch looked at the caller ID and saw it was Shirley calling him.
"Oh, this is her right now." Lelouch told them, he answered the phone. "Shirley?"
"Hello, is this Shirley's precious Lulu that I have been hearing so much about?" A voice asked him.
A voice that did not belong to Shirley...
To Be Continued...
So pretty cut and dry canon right there, except this time its Diethard that shoots Villetta like in the films and Shirley isn't traumatized like before. As for the revelation with Joseph being in a coma and awake at the same time, along with his brain being healed will be explained later on. And yes, Mao is a factor to the story like before, but without revealing too much, the situation is going to end up different than like in Canon. Because if I'm going to be honest, I HATED the Mao arc from the show. It felt like completely unnecessary filler episodes as just as a means to erase Shirley's memories and explain how Geass works, I personally think they could have done all that without having to create a character who they're just going to kill off three episodes later. So suffice to say, like the tv show, this arc won't last long, but I can at least try to make it mean something. Tune in next time, comment and tell me what you think!