A/N: Hello everyone, I am back with chapter eight of this story. Here, the events of "Attack Cornelia" will be covered.
Disclaimer: I don't own Code Geass
The scene began with doors opening.
"Announcing, Prince Lelouch vi Britannia. 17th heir to the Britannian Imperial throne." said an emcee.
A brief flash of Charles on the throne was followed by the nine-year-old prince entering the throne room and made his way toward his father.
"Hard to believe that boy conquered the world." said Lloyd.
Jeremiah smiled approvingly at this.
"I heard Empress Marianne was killed inside the Britannian palace." whispered a male nobel.
"There's no way terrorists could have gotten in there." replied another nobel.
"Which means that the real assassins must have been..." began another nobel.
"How dare they!" snapped Cornelia offended.
"Nobility loves to gossip. Especially when it involves the imperial family." noted Lloyd.
"Even after Lady Marianne was killed." said Cornelia seething.
"Beware, my friend. You'll regret it if anyone hears that kind of talk around the palace." noted another nobel.
"And yet the boy remains...even though his mother is dead." mused a nobel.
"It's over. And the Ashford family who stood behind them is finished as well." added another nobel.
Milly tensed up hearing this.
"Are you okay?" asked Nina concerned.
"Just heard reliving bad memories." answered Milly flatly.
"And his sister, the Princess?" asked another nobel.
Many watching were left in shock seeing Nunnally lying on a hospital bed
"We understand she was shot in the leg." answered a nobel.
"Your majesty, are you okay to continue?" asked Zero.
Nunnally took a moment.
"I must." answered the Britannian monarch.
"And she lost her sight." noted a nobel.
"Blindness caused by trauma, isn't it?" asked a nobel.
"How she can't even be married off for political gain." stated a nobel.
"How could someone say that?!" asked Oghi outraged.
"That is common among nobility. Everyone for themselves." answered Milly bitterly.
Villeta watched in stunned silence as she thought of that night in Yokosuza, being cared for by Oghi and stabbing Oghi during the Black Rebellion.
"I was so desperate for that." thought Villetta horrified.
The scene cut back to the throne room.
"Hail, your majesty. My mother the Empress is dead." stated Lelouch.
"Old news, what of it?" asked Charles coldly.
"What the hell?!" asked Tamaki shocked.
"What of it?" asked Lelouch surprised.
"You sought an audience with the Emperor of Britannia just to inform me of that?" asked Charles dismissively.
"What a piece of crap." spat Sugiyama disgusted.
"Just when you couldn't hate him anymore." added Minami.
"Send in the next one. I have no use for these childish games." said Charles.
"Father!" cried Lelouch.
Lelouch ran to the throne as two guards intervened.
"Is that necessary for a nine-year-old?" asked Xianglin.
"Yeah. I doubt he could anything." added Oghi.
"With our family's history, you'd be surprised." muttered Cornelia.
Charles raised his hand and the guards stood down.
"Yes, Your Majesty." said the guards in unison.
"Why didn't you keep mother out of harm's way?!" asked Lelouch hurt.
Guildford noticed Cornelia looked upset.
"Is something wrong?" asked Guilford worried.
"Lelouch just asked a question that has bothered me for years." answered Cornelia.
"You're the Emperor, the greatest man in this nation if not the world." continued Lelouch.
"The apple doesn't fall far from the tree." said Gino.
"It is natural for little boys to idolize their fathers." replied Rakshata.
"You should have protected her and now you don't even visit Nunnally!" cried Lelouch.
"I have no use for that weakling." stated Charles.
This led to a visceral reaction from those watching.
"What an asshole!" cried Tamaki.
Nearby, Kaguya consoled a distraught Tianzi.
"It's okay. He's gone." said Kaguya, hiding her own anger.
"And the High Eunuchs wanted to betray our country to that man." said Xingke repulsed.
Chiba looked at the Britannian contingent.
"There is your great Emperor displaying all his evil in the open!" declared Chiba horrified.
"I really served that." muttered Gino disgusted.
Jeremiah was caught in a mixture of anger and regret.
"You changed Jerry. It's not about the past anymore." noted Anya.
"For both of us." agreed Jeremiah.
"All these years...but, we couldn't have known." said Rivalz shocked.
Nunnally was visibly hurt by her father's words.
"Maybe, we should stop." proposed Zero.
"No!" declared Nunnally emotionally.
Everyone looked at Nunnally who composed herself.
"We owe it to everyone to continue." said Nunnally.
"That weakling." repeated Lelouch hurt.
"That is what it means to be royalty." stated Charles.
Tianzi felt a shiver run down her spine.
"Xingke, will that happen to me?" asked the Empress scared.
"I'll never let it." answered Xingke firmly.
"And will never be the case in Britannia again" vowed Nunnally.
A distraught Lelouch shook for a moment.
"Then I don't want to be your heir. I give up my claim to the throne!" declared Lelouch.
"Then does that mean his reign is illegitimate?" asked Rivalz confused.
"Considering how he seized power, his reign could never be legitimate." answered Tohdoh.
"Yet he is still counted as the 99th Emperor." noted Chiba bitterly.
"Britannia has a long history of coups and usurpers." replied Cecile.
"If we disregarded every Emperor who seized the throne the way Lelouch did, more than half of Britannia's monarchs would discarded." added Lloyd.
"I'm sick of the fight and scheming over who will succeed you, Father! I've had enough!" declared Lelouch.
"You are dead." stated Charles.
"No he isn't." said Tamaki obviously.
"You have always been dead to me, dead from the moment you were born. Who gave you the fine clothes you wear, a comfortable home, the food you eat, and your very life? In short, you are nothing to me because you never existed." ranted Charles.
Nunnally felt like she was going to vomit watching this.
"Yet you dare to speak such foolishness to me?!" asked Charles roaring.
The young Lelouch fell backward in fright as Charles rose to his feet.
"Lelouch, you are dead." stated Charles coldly.
The scene cut to 2017 with Lelouch sitting on the side of his bed looking down.
"Therefore, you are not entitled to any rights. I am sending you and Nunnally to Japan. As Prince and Princess you will serve well as bargaining tools." stated Charles.
A stunned silence overcame everyone watching.
"Your dad was a fucking asshole!" declared Tamaki.
"Watch your language." whispered Oghi, wanting to avoid an incident.
"Well I disagree with the way he said it the undeniable fact is he is right." stated Cornelia.
Zero got close to a clearly distraught Nunnally.
"Are you okay?" asked Zero.
"I knew father abandoned us and he must have felt that way, but hearing him say it..." answered Nunnally.
Nunnally trailed off unable to continue.
Milly walked over and hugged Nunnally.
"It's okay. Let it out." whispered Milly.
Nunnally let tears run down her cheeks being confronted with her father's feelings toward her.
"Thank you. I feel better." said Nunnally.
Nunnally used her hands to wipe away the tears.
"I used to have nightmares about the night my mother was killed and about being abandoned. Lelouch would always comfort me." said Nunnally.
Nunnally snivled a bit.
"Lelouch would sing Beautiful Dreamer because that's what mom sang to us before she was killed." added Nunnally.
Kallen smiled thinking of Naoto while Any scowled at the mention of Marianne.
"But, it wasn't just me. I know Lelouch was hurt to. I think he had nightmares about this as well." concluded Nunnally.
"So the Demon Emperor was human." said Minami surprised.
"I can confirm there were times Lelouch awoke in the night seemingly distraught." added Sayoko.
"This could explain Lelouch's actions." noted Rakshata.
"What do you mean?" asked Kallen confused.
"Growing up in an abusive environment can damage the psyche of a young child leading to separation anxiety, guilt, alienation, insomnia and/or nightmares, and even Post-Truamatic Stress Disorder." explained Lloyd.
"So you think he had PTSD?" asked Sugyiama surprised.
"It's very possible." answered Rakshata.
"It sounds like you're making excuses for him." said Chiba angrily.
"Not at all. However, this could explain why Lelouch chose the path he did." answered Lloyd.
"From what we have seen, Lelouch hasn't fully lost his humanity by this point. If we continue, we might get the answers we seek." said Zero.
The scene then cut showing a view of Tokyo Settlement with bird flying. It then transitioned to Cornelia, who come to see the Lancelot, followed by Lloyd and two guards.
"It's a Seventh generation Knightmare Frame, making its abilities far greater than normal." noted Lloyd.
The two stopped and the princess turned to face the scientist.
"I understand the Lancelot's pilot is an Eleven." said Cornelia.
"More Britannian racism." muttered Chiba.
"We did not want to lend our advanced technology to people who might use it against us." explained Cornelia.
"That wouldn't have been a problem if you didn't invade other countries!" declared Chiba angrily.
"Chiba, calm down." ordered Tohdoh sternly.
Reluctantly, Chuba did so.
"That's correct. An Honorary Britannian." began Lloyd.
"Traitor is more like it!" snapped Tamaki.
"However..." began Lloyd.
"I'm promoting this man from private to Warrant Officer. That should satisfy him." stated Cornelia.
"As you saw, her majesty was willing to promote Suzaku despite the...circumstances." said Guilford.
"I'm trying to win without having to rely too much on the Numbers." stated Cornelia.
"You were saying?" asked Chiba.
Guilford opened his mouth to respond, but Cornelia stopped him.
"You don't have to defend me." said the former princess.
The scene cut to Princess Euphemia in her office. Zero, Cornelia, and Nina felt a too-familiar sorrow.
"Those who risk their lives on the battlefield deserve to rule." thought Euphemia troubled.
"What crap!" spat Tamaki.
"Prime Minister Oghi fought on the battlefield. As did Xingke." noted Gino.
"But, there are plenty of leaders who haven't fought and are still good rulers. Like President Walpole." countered Kaguya.
"I believe Cornelia is inspired by the old saying Might makes Right." noted Lloyd.
"It's time for that saying to be tossed into the dustbin of history." replied Kaguya determined.
"I understand, that theory sister, but still..." began Euphemia troubled.
"I wonder what kind of ruler Euphemia would have made." mused Rakshata curiously.
"She likely would have abolished the Numbers system and attempted to make peace with the newly formed nations." noted Cornelia.
"And Nunnally would pilot a Knightmare." scoffed Tamaki.
"Are you trying to start another war?" asked Kallen exasperated.
The scene then cut to Suzaku doing his homework
"Sorry, you have to sit here and watch me do my homework." said Suzaku apologetically.
"Oh, don't worry about it. You've never attended a regular school before, so it can't be avoided." said Cecile.
It showed the book Suzaku was reading.
"Wait, does that book have the same writing on both pages?" asked Kaguya surprised.
Everyone looked and sure enough, it did.
"Chigusa, were the history books at Ashford like that when you were there?" asked Oghi confused.
"Not that I remember." answered Villetta, equally puzzled.
"Our history books never had that as far as I can remember." noted Rivalz.
"I'll talk to grandpa later." decided Milly.
"The guys on the Student Council are helping me too. But...it's still hard." noted Suzaku.
Cecile chuckled a bit.
"To be perfectly honest with you, I've been a bit worried. It's supposed to be a liberal school, but I was afraid you weren't fitting in well." explained Cecile.
Cecile gave a soft smile toward Zero.
"Miss Cecile, I can never thank you enough for your kindess." thought Suzaku.
"Me too. I was expecting that." revealed Suzaku.
"And he got it." said Oghi.
"But I happened to run into an old friend there and he smoothed things out for me." explained Suzaku happily.
"Yeah, the ass he's gonna take over the world with!" cried Tamaki.
"We still do not know if they are allied yet." noted Jeremiah.
"Oh, you're one to talk! You were probably working with them too!" declared Tamaki.
Jeremiah didn't want to dignify that, but it raised questions for someone else.
"Jeremiah, how long were you loyal to Lelouch?" asked Villetta to herself.
"Be sure you never take that friend for granted. If your friendship continues, you reunion won't have been a coincidence. It will have been pre-destined." said Cecile.
"Well that has a different context now." mused Gino.
"Anyway, please try one of these." said Cecile.
A plate of rice balls sat on a tray.
"Thank you. I will." replied Suzaku.
"The poor boy." sighed Lloyd.
Suzaku took a bite, but something seemed off.
"There's...jam." revealed Suzaku surprised.
"Yes. I just happened to get some lovely blueberries." said Cecile.
"Are you nuts woman?!" asked Tamaki.
"I was attempting to make something unique." explained Cecile.
"How her cooking hasn't killed me yet, I'll never know." groaned Lloyd.
"They almost look like jelly donuts." said Rivalz.
"Nothing beats a jelly-filled donut." replied Gino.
"Alright, everyone. Pack it up, pack it up. Well done today. Don't do anymore. Hip, hip, hurrah!" declared Lloyd.
Lloyd turned.
"That's all folks." added Lloyd.
"What a weirdo." said Tamaki.
"I take that as a compliment." replied Lloyd.
The scene then showed Ashford Academy.
"Go to school. Classes might be over for the day, but it's important to meet your friends and have a social life too." said Cecile.
"As least my cousin has some good influences at the time." thought Kaguya happily.
The scene then cut to the Student Council room where Kallen and Shirley were. Shirley was putting a scrathcing post together for Arthur while Kallen kept the cat distracted.
"What are you doing?" asked Gino curious.
"We had to celebrate Arthur joining us." answered Milly.
"The cat...joined you." said Xianglin confused.
"We adopted him." explained Milly.
"We were going to call him Lelouch the Second, but Nunnally stated his name was Arthur." continued Rivalz.
"Arthur is a girl." revealed Anya.
"How do you know this?" asked Rivalz confused.
"You never noticed her lack of testicles?" asked Anya.
"I assumed she was neutered." answered Milly sheepishly.
"Say, can I ask you something important?" asked Shirley.
"Uh-huh. Sure, what is it?" asked Kallen.
"Kallen, are you hiding something from us? asked Shirley.
Oghi, Tamaki, Sugiyama, and Minami gulped in worried.
"If it's something too personal..." began Shirley.
Kallen held Arthur close.
"No. What are you talking about?" asked Kallen.
"Well this is interesting." muttered Rakshata intrigued.
"You can tell me. I promise I won't be shocked or upset." said Shirley.
Shirley faced away from Kallen.
"Well the thing is, I happened to see you before." revealed Shirley.
Kallen pulled out her pocketbook knife freaking out Arthur.
"What the hell?!" asked Rivalz.
"I thought she knew I was an insurgent." said Kallen embarrassed.
"You weren't really going to shank Shirley, right?" asked Rivalz.
Kallen found herself unable to answer.
"You're going out with Lulu, right?!" asked Shirley jealously.
"You've got to be kidding." stated Sugiyama shocked.
"Lulu." repeated Kallen confused.
"The other day I saw you outside." stated Shirley.
A flashback was shown of Lelouch holding Kallen close so she wouldn't see C.C.
"To be fair, that'd be my first guess too." confessed Minami.
"Ah, no no no no. That was all his doing." said Kallen.
"His doing?" asked Shirley shocked.
"No, wait! It wasn't like that." replied Kallen.
"Must we watch this?" asked Chiba annoyed.
"I don't get it. You were trying so hard to catch the cat before." noted Shirley.
"No, that wasn't it. Besides, it's not like we kissed or anything." said Kallen flustered.
"Or anything? Then you stopped short of doing it?" asked Shirley horrified.
"Will you quit imagining things! You don't understand the circumstances one bit!" declared Kallen blushing.
"That's gold!" laughed Tamaki.
"It wasn't gold to me." muttered Kallen.
"It seems like the green-eyed monster got its claws into your friend." noted Lloyd.
"Shirley always had a crush on Lelouch, but she was too shy to say anything." replied Milly.
Milly tensed up remembering everything that happened to her friend.
"Maybe that was for the best. She was dragged too much into things anyway." said Milly somberly.
A screen was shown briefly before cutting back to Ashford.
"What was that?!" asked Tamaki annoyed.
The scene showed the Principal's office where Reuben Ashford sat at his desk while Milly talked to her mother on the phone.
"But an arranged marriage is so... I understand how much you want to re-establish the Ashford name. But mother, it's just that..." said Milly.
"Crummy arranged marriages." huffed Rivalz.
"I can't believe your family would force you to marry someone just to re-establish their name." said Oghi surprised.
"That's not uncommon at all among the nobility." sighed Lloyd.
"But it's wrong!" declared Tianzi.
The young empress still had her aborted marriage to Odyyseus fresh in her mind.
"If it is any consolation, Miss Milly was good at scaring off potential suiters." revealed Sayoko.
"Clovisland helped drive many guys away." sighed Milly happily.
"So, are your parents still trying to push for an arranged marriage after everything that's happened?" asked Rivalz blushing.
"Thankful, reforms by Empress Nunnally had quashed any arranged marriage...at least for now." answered Milly.
"Is that so." muttered Rivalz.
The scene then briefly showed Britannian military on the move.
"What's that about?!" asked Tamaki annoyed.
"Based on the timeline, I believe the conflict at Saitama Ghetto." answered Tohdoh.
The scene returned to Ashford again showing Nina alone and working on a computer.
"Ah, I've divided it!" declared Nina.
Present Nina shuttered knowing exactly where this was going.
The scene showed a G-1 base moving as Rivalz watched. Then the Britannian Army outside Saitama Ghetto.
"The Saitama Ghettos is completely surrounded. The Yamato Alliance's hideout is located somewhere in here. Half the people in this neighborhood are cooperating with them." explained Darlton.
"Geez, I wonder why?" asked Tamaki sarcastically.
"So, if we proceed now..." began Darlton.
"What will be the effect on production?" asked Cornelia.
"Primary sector output should decrease by 0.2%" answered Darlton.
"Good to see you had the most important priorities on your mind." spat Chiba sarcastically.
Guilford opened his mouth, but Cornelia stopped him.
"There's no point in arguing." said the former princess.
"Within expectations, you mean?" asked Cornelia.
The Witch of Britannia turned her attention to three officers.
"All of you here participated in the Shinjuku disaster, is that correct?" asked Cornelia.
"Yes. And we're indebted to your Princess Cornelia for your mercy." answered an officer.
"That's now what I'm asking. Do you think conditions are similar?" asked Cornelia.
The officers were confused.
"To those in Shinjuku." said Cornelia smiling.
"Britannia lost in Shinujuku!" cried Tamaki.
"But, that is exactly what drew Zero out in the first place." noted Xingke.
The scene showed a female reporter on TV before switching to a shot of the Saitama Ghetto.
"Military authorities have announced the Saitama Ghetto, a known hiding place for terrorists. Viceroy Cornelia is also on the scene, and entry to that area is prohibited." said the reporter.
Lelouch's room where C.C. was lying on Lelouch's bed listening to the reporter.
"She acts like she owns the place." grumbled Kallen.
"Why should that matter to you?" asked Milly teasing.
"It doesn't!" answered Kallen flustered.
"Lelouch is pussy whipped!" laughed Tamaki.
"What was she filling out?" asked Kaguya curiously.
"It was a contest to win a stuffed pillow after some Cheese-kun mascot. I tried to win it, but didn't come close." answered Rivalz, a bit embarrassed in hindsight.
"So that's how she got it." muttered Kallen.
Lelouch then entered the room.
"Oh, well? What has you looking so mysterious?" asked C.C.
Sayoko softly chuckled a bit.
"What's so funny?" asked Anya.
"I found miss C.C's clothes and thought Master Lelouch was crossdressing." confessed Sayoko.
"Apparently, Miss Ashford had a crossdressers ball, but we were unable to participate.' revealed Anya.
"Regardless, I vow to protect his secret." said Sayoko.
"There's the loyalty I so admire." replied Jeremiah smiling.
It then cut back to the newsroom.
"It appears a full-scale assault will be launched in two hours." noted the female reporter.
"The scene showed Diethard and a male staffer.
"News if one thing, but why are broadcasting the start time?" asked the staffer confused.
"Because they're trying to provoke Zero." answered Deithard.
"Jeremiah, it seems you might have been correct trying to recruit Deithard." mused Guilford.
"Unfortunately, he proved to be a fool betraying Master Lelouch." huffed Jeremiah bitterly.
The scene then returned to Cornelia.
"Zero is a criminal with a flair for the theatrical. I've recreated the same conditions that existed in Shinjuku in order to draw him out." explained Cornelia.
"A bold strategy, but one without guarantee of success." noted Xingke curious.
"Between him and Kururugi, Lelouch was the brains. No way he'd fall for something so obvious." scoffed Tamaki.
"If he's the over-confident type, I predict he'll come here to try and kill me." concluded Cornelia.
"Viceroy, you'd really risk your own life for this?" asked an officer worried.
"What you fail to understand is that war's a struggle between pride and life." answered Cornelia.
"Interesting philosophy." hummed Gino.
The scene then cut to Lelouch's room where he was preparing.
"You're not falling for the enemy's provocation?" asked C.C. as she lay on her side.
"They went through such trouble to invite me, through." replied Lelouch.
"He's actually going through with it?!" asked Tamaki dumbfounded.
"If there's one thing taking over the world proved, it's Lelouch was a megalomaniac." stated Villetta angrily.
"Big brother, that's not the Lelouch I remember. Was our relationship all fake?" asked Nunnally to herself worried.
"Besides, there's something I'd like to ask Cornelia personally." added Lelouch.
"Likely who killed Lady Marianne." noted Gino.
Anya winced at that name.
"Destroying Britannia, or discovering who murdered your mother, which is more important to you?" asked C.C.
"I wonder if C.C. already knew who it was." thought Zero.
"The two are of equal importance. the royal family members are competing with each other see who will ascend to the throne and beome the next ruler."
Flashbacks of Charles from the start of the episode showed.
"Or rather, they're being forced to fight by that man." said Lelouch.
"What kind of father forces his family to kill each other to succeed him?" asked Oghi disgusted.
"Survival of the fittest was the basic core of Britannia." answered Nunnally.
"And that didn't seem strange?" asked Xianglin.
"It's all we knew." answered Cornelia matter-of-fact.
"But the very thing you hate is what makes Britannia strong. The royal heir who is best fit to become the next ruler of Britannia will be the last one standing." said C.C.
"Exactly. The weak ones lost and are cast aside. Britannia is that kind of nation. That kind of world." said Lelouch bitterly.
"Survival of the fittest is the most basic rle of all." stated C.C.
Lelouch slammed his case shut.
"If that's true, what happens to Nunnally?" asked Lelouch angrily.
A flashback of earlier when Nunnally was getting medical care is shown.
"Should I simply give up on my sister because she's frail? I refuse to accept that." declared Lelouch.
Nunnally couldn't help but smile hearing this.
"I'll wipe out that sort of world myself." vowed Lelouch.
Chiba scoffed under her breath.
Suddenly, C.C. pulled a gun on Lelouch. It then quickly cut to Suzaku happily humming as he walked doen a hallway with a cat toy.
"What the hell?! Go back!" demanded Tamaki.
"Yeah, I gotta know what happens." agreed Gino.
"I don't like that." noted Tianzi worried.
"I don't think she shoots him." said Kallen, trying to help.
The door to the Student Council room opened revealing Kallen.
"Like I've said, there's nothing going on between Lelouch and I!" declared Kallen.
"Lelouch?" asked Suzaku confused.
"Anyway, that's how it is. There's nothing going on." said Kallen flatly, as she left.
A confused Suzaku entered to find a distraught Shirley holding Arthur.
"Um...where is Lelouch?" asked Suzaku.
"I don't know where he is. And I don't give a damn!" declared Shirley.
"What exactly did we miss?" asked Oghi curiously.
"Shirley became really emotional and things got tense." answered Kallen flatly.
"She had bad it for Lelouch." stated Rakshata.
"I think he was the only one who didn't know that." replied Milly.
The scene returned to Lelouch and C.C.
"Finally!" declared Tamaki.
"You can't go, Lelouch. you need to fulfill your part of the bargin, so I won't have you dying before that." explained C.C.
"I can't blame her from keeping Lelouch from walking into an obvious trap." confessed Kaguya.
"Yeah, but it'd still be nice if we knew what this whole contract was." stated Milly concerned.
"So would I." murmured Kallen worried.
"Notice that what you're saying and what you're doing are contradictory." stated Lelouch.
"Oh, I won't kill you. I'm merely going to shoot you in the leg to quiet you down." replied C.C.
"I think getting shot would cause more noise." noted Rivalz.
"I don't believe she can use Geass on him." said Cecile.
"Now I get it. You're unable to use Geass yourself, aren't you?" asked Lelouch.
"Once again you're spot on my dear Cecile." said Lloyd.
"But, why can't she use Geass?" asked Sugiyama.
"Can she not use it on Lelouch or in general?" asked Minami.
"I never saw C.C. use her Geass, but I never really asked her about it either." revealed Kallen.
How do you not ask someone about their supernatural power?!" asked Gino floored.
"She was a pain in the ass!" declared Tamaki loudly.
"What he said." answered Kallen.
"I'm not surprised. I suspected as much. You obviously wouldn't have asked me to do it if you could have used it yourself." said Lelouch.
Lelouch then pulled out a gun.
"I don't think a gun is going to threaten her." noted Oghi confused.
"Not to mention it's a clear violation of school policy." added Milly.
"Do you honestly think you can threaten me with a gun?" asked C.C.
"Yes I do." answered Lelouch confidently.
Lelouch put the gun to his head.
"Do it! Save us all from you crap!" cried Tamaki.
"I'm confused." noted Rivalz.
"C.C. needs Lelouch. She can't let him hurt himself, so he has the leverage." explained Xingke.
"Until I met you, I was dead. An empty corpse living behind a false guise of life, a life in which I did nothing real. Day to day, I merely with through the emotions of living as if I were a zombie. And i always had a feeling I was gradually dying." stated Lelouch.
"So, that's how he really felt." said Milly hurt.
"I guess we didn't mean anything to him afterall." added Rival sadly.
"What about our life together? Did that really mean anything to you?" asked Nunnally to herself.
"If I'm condemned to go back to that, I'd rather..." began Lelouch.
Lelouch began squeezing the trigger.
"Stop it!" declared C.C.
Both put down their guns.
"I see now, it's a life without meaning. And a life like that..." began C.C.
"How interesting." mused Lloyd.
"What do you mean?" asked Gino confused.
"C.C. clears empathizes with Lelouch. It could be she has gone through similar circumstances to his." answered Xingke.
"Kallen, did C.C. ever talk about her past?" asked Kaguya curiously.
"Not really. She didn't like talking about herself much." answered Kallen.
Kallen felt herself getting jealous.
"Lelouch, just what the hell was your relationship with her?" asked Kallen to herself.
Suddenly, the sound of gunfire and the sight of a man being killed demanded everyone's attention.
"Oh my God! Why did you do that?! Even children are here!" cried a man.
Cornelia braced herself for the assault she was about to receive.
"What's going on? We haven't done anything!" declared the man.
"That's exactly why. The people of this ghetto refused to report terrorists. You hide them, cover for them. That's treason against a suzerain state." explained a Britannian soldier.
The soldier opened fire on the crowd.
"This is what the military was doing?" asked Rivalz horrified.
"I didn't sign up to slaughter innocent people." stated Gino.
"If they were sheltering terrorists..." began Guilford.
"Bullshit! You have no right killing innocent people like that!" declared Tamaki angrily.
"For once, I agree with him." said Sugiyama.
"This is the real face of Britannia exposed." added Minami.
"We're done sweeping away those in charge." stated Darlton.
"It's nearly time to set our plan into motion. Shall we begin?" asked Cornelia.
"Right. Attention all forces. Commence eradication of the Saitama Ghetto." ordered Darlton.
Britannian forces began swarming into the ghetto.
"I don't like this." said Tianzi scared.
Tianzi turned her head as Kaguya comforted her.
"It's okay." whispered Kaguya softly.
The scene then showed Knightmare Frames that were held back.
"I don't understand. Why won't Princess Cornelia order us to attack as well?" asked Jeremiah.
"She won't because Orange is here." answered Kewell.
"That's gotta hurt." said Rivalz, almost sympathetic.
"Just be glad that you haven't been disposed of. You're to blame for this. It's due to you that our careers are over." continued Kewell angrily.
"I don't like him." stated Anya.
"I'm afraid Kewell never had the chance to serve his majesty as I did. If he had, he might have turned out differently." replied Jeremiah.
"You're wrong. Zero's the one who did it." stated Jeremiah.
"That again." scoffed Kewell.
"Zero, could that student be working with him?" asked Villetta to herself.
"So, how much did you remember anyway?" asked Gino.
"Only bits and pieces. But, I remembered Lelouch which set me on his trail." answered Villetta.
Villetta remembered what happened at the docks, being shot by Shirley.
"Maybe it's better I hadn't." whispered Villetta faintly.
"Is something wrong?" asked Oghi concerned.
"I'm fine." answered Villetta.
Oghi nodded and turned back to the screen.
"Then again, I'd still be my old self if I hadn't. So I guess it's a mixed blessing." thought Villetta.
A massacre of the Japanese was shown. A mother and daughter were killed by an explosion followed by a group of Japanese executed via a firing squad.
"Suppression of Area 4 complete. 8th and 11th mechanized companies are sweeping through the north and south in a pincer movement." said a Britannian soldier.
Tamaki jumped up and angrily pointed at Cornelia.
"What the fuck is wrong with you?!" asked Tamaki outraged.
"As explained, I was recreating the events of Shinjuku to lure out Zero." answered Cornelia.
"So that allows you to slaughter innocent people?!" asked Chiba furiously.
"I am stating the facts, not making excuses." answered Cornelia.
"That sounds like an excuse to me." noted Oghi angrily.
"You're a damn monster!" declared Tamaki.
Guilford jumped up.
"Now hold it..." began Guilford.
Cornelia stopped her knight.
"This was unexcusable. I won't defend it." stated Cornelia.
An angry Chiba turned to Oghi.
"Prime Minister Oghi, I demanded Cornelia be turned over and charged for her crimes!" demanded Chiba.
"Absolutely not!" snapped Guilford.
"Why are you telling me?" asked Oghi surprised.
"You're the Prime Minister. You can demand that." answered Tohdoh annoyed.
"Um..." began Oghi.
"There is no way we hand her over." stated Guilford.
"I'll have to agree with Guilford." added Gino.
"Then you're still the same lousy Britannians as always!" snapped Tamaki.
"Look..." began Oghi.
"Then we'll cut diplomatic relations!" declared Guilford.
"Let's not get hasty." said Nunnally.
'Prime Minister, do something!" ordered Chiba.
"Um..." began Oghi.
"Are you going to use this to convict her? A DVD that came from nowhere that features a supernatural power and immortals?" asked Gino.
"We can easily find other evidence." stated Sugiyama.
Oghi gulped.
"Chigusa, what do you think?" asked Oghi.
"It's a difficult decision." answered Viletta.
"I thought Oghi was the Prime Minister." muttered Minami.
Watching this, Kaguya shook her head.
"What good is a leader is he can't make up his mind?" asked Kaguya to herself.
Lelouch was dressed as a soldier and watched the killing.
"Always the same. Cornelia replaces Clovis, yet Britannia never changes." thought Lelouch.
"I hate to say this, but I have to agree with him!" declared Tamaki.
"I can assure you that Britannian has changed since the fall of my brother." stated Nunnally.
"Hardly seems that way to me." said Chiba.
A Knightmare suddenly arrived.
"What unit are you from? Your unit name and ID solider." demanded the pilot.
"Private Dario Torres, sir. With Third Reconnaisance Company." answered Lelouch.
"Was that a real person?" asked Milly.
He likely stole the name off a dead soldier and could easily find out about that unit." answered Cornelia disgusted.
"It's not like Identity theft or stolen valor as the worst crimes he did." shrugged Gino.
"It's the principal of the matter. As a soldier, you should understand that." replied Cornelia annoyed.
Lelouch pulled out a CD.
"I obtained this item from one of the terrorists. Could I ask you to please transmit it to headquarters for me, sir?" requested Lelouch.
"A disc, huh? Well, I still need to verify your ID first." answered the pilot, exiting his Knightmare.
"Right, understood." began Lelouch.
Lelouch activated his Geass.
"But, before we do that, I'd like to borrow your Sutherland. So, hand it over." said Lelouch smiling.
Lelouch activated his Geass and used it on the pilot.
"Sure. No problem. Just take good care of it." said the pilot.
"Thanks. I really appreciate it." replied Lelouch, with a menacing smile.
"Another victim of Lelouch." sighed Guilford.
"He was massacring the Japanese. I hope you aren't feeling sympathy for him." said Oghi.
"He was still a victim of Lelouch though." noted Tohdoh.
"Your majesty, shall I find this man and undo Emperor Lelouch's Geass?" asked Jeremiah.
"I do not think that will be necessary given the circumstances." answered Nunnally.
The scene next cuts to the headquarters of the Yamato Alliance
"It's hopeless." said a rebel concerned.
"Can't we break through the Saikyo Line?" asked another rebel.
"They got armor blocking it. We can't use the backroads either." answered another rebel.
"They're trapped like rats." mused Lloyd.
"What was that?" asked Chiba angered.
"Merely making an observation." answered Lloyd nonchalantly.
"Any reinforcements from Akabane or Jujo?" asked the same rebel.
"One man might be able to get through but not a group." answered another rebel.
Milly looked over at the former Black Knights.
"Were you close to the Yamato Alliance?" asked Milly.
"Not really. In all honest, they kinda looked down their nose at us." answered Oghi sheepishly.
"Wait, you terror...rebels weren't working together?" asked Rivalz surprised.
"We tried to, but infighting was a major problem." answered Minami flatly.
"That was a major reason Clovis was able to retain control over Area 11." added Cornelia.
"What did you call it?!" asked Tamaki.
"The name it bore when he was in command. It is Japan now." answered Cornelia.
This answer pacified the hothead.
"Why didn't you get along?" asked Nina.
"They had the backing of Kyoto and we didn't so they acted all high and mighty." answered Tamaki annoyed.
"We had been suppling the Yamato Alliance since 2013." noted Kaguya.
"There was a hierarchy with the JLF at the top. Next, came other groups backed by Kyoto like the Yamato Alliance and the Blood of the Samurai. Finally, there were smaller groups without recognition from Kyoto like us." explained Sugiyama.
Another rebel ran in.
"Izumi!" called the rebel.
"Any words from the Toda or Kawaguchi movements?" asked Izumi.
"Forget that. Listen." said the rebel who ran in.
The rebel turned on a radio.
"This is Zero." said Lelouch.
"Zero?" asked a rebel surprised.
"Zero, you mean?" asked another rebel.
"I'm sure all of you have heard about the Shinjuku Incident. Do what I say and you will be saved." said Zero.
"So, it is natural for commoners to follow people they know nothing about?" asked Cornelia, seemingly let down.
"After he saved Suzaku, he had enough power to make people do what he commanded." answered Tohdoh.
"Still, it's strange to follow someone when you don't know their face. He could even be a prince from the country you're fighting." laughed Gino.
"B-12. Suppression complete." said a pilot.
"F-7. No sign of the enemy." said another pilot.
"D-23, we are 87% complete." reported a third pilot.
"Paladin team, change course to 5-1-6." ordered a commander.
"Yes my Lord, moving to 5-1-6." replied the third pilot.
"Man, why weren't we this organized!" cried Tamaki.
"The military was either destroyed during the invasion or joined the JFL. Many groups, like us, had no experience with this sort of thing." explained Oghi.
"Plus, someone has to be a bigshot and constantly screwed up our plans." added Kallen.
"No response at all. This guy Zero might be a no-show." said the pilot.
"Just another run-of-the-mill terrorist." added another pilot.
Suddenly, both Sutherlands were destroyed by RPG blasts killing both pilots.
Kaguya could help but smirk. that's what they get for underestimating Zero.
"They came! They came, just like Zero said they would!" exclaimed a rebel amazed.
From a distance, Lelouch watched.
"Some brave leader, he's not even fighting!" cried Tamaki.
"Putting your King in the open is a foolhardy move." answered Cornelia.
"What about all that "If doesn't lead, how can he expect his subjects to follow" stuff?" asked Oghi bitterly.
"If you will recall, Lelouch was actively participating in combat throughout our struggle with Britannia." noted Tohdoh.
"He stayed back here and in Shinjuku. Considering how this ended, perhaps Lelouch decided to get more hands-on." mused Rakshata.
"Now the. Shall I drag Cornelia out, or should I make an opening?" asked Lelouch to himself.
Lelouch thought for a moment.
"R-1, R-2, maintain distance. Draw them back to the area where N-2 is. B-7, open fire at 2 o'clock." ordered Lelouch.
A Britannian tank was shown being destroyed.
"P-5's team will commence its barrage." continued Lelouch.
Britannian Knightmare Frames were shown being destroyed.
"Contact lost." said a subordinate.
"Enemy spotted in G-4-7. Kuznetski team engaging. They were ambushed." said a subordinate.
The enemy appears to be using Sutherlands captured from our own forces." said a subordinate.
"Exactly the same as Shinjuku.
"It's eerie how similar this is to Shinjuku." muttered Oghi.
"Has there been any sighting of Zero yet?" asked a subordinate.
Cornelia's eyes were briefly shown before cutting back to Lelouch.
"N-2, continue toward the upper right." ordered Lelouch.
A Slash Harken took out a Britannian VTOL Gunship.
"R-4, fire." ordered Lelouch.
A Britannian tank was destroyed by a captured tank.
"N-1, take the man on the left." ordered Lelouch.
A Britannian Sutherland was shown hitting the ground.
"Right, P-3, take out the bridge and close down the path now." ordered Lelouch.
A series of explosions destroyed the bridge taking out a Britannian unit.
"Point 1-7 has fallen. Hally team, contact lost." said a Britannian commander worried.
"Kick their Britannian butts!" cried Tamaki.
Cornelia, Guilford, and Gino didn't appreciate this sentiment.
He didn't use us for this job." noted Mianmi displeased.
"So? If it's Saitama why not use the group that's already there?" asked Tamaki confused.
"Last episode, Lelouch considered ditching us because we were getting to familiar." answered Kallen.
"You might be looking at our posible replacements,." added Sugiyama.
"That jerk! Ditching us like that!" cried Tamaki outraged.
"That's enough. Order all troops to fall back. Further casulaties and damage serve no point." said Cornelia.
"Fall back?" asked a subordinate surprised.
Another subordinate ran in front of Cornelia.
"With all due respect, we can still fight them." said the subordinate.
"We can't fight them like this." replied Cornelia.
"The Might Witch of Britannia running with her tail between her legs!" laughed Tamaki.
"Please don't cause a scene." requested Oghi.
"Oh come on, seeing Cornelia getting her ass kicked is great!" declared Tamaki.
"For once, I have to agree with him. Even though I doubt this will end well for Lelouch." stated Chiba.
"What do you mean?" asked Tamaki confused.
"Cornelia knew Zero had broken into the G-1 base of Prince Clovis and killed him. She wants him to try the same thing here and is likely luring him in." answered Tohdoh.
"Clovis has plenty of talents, but being a military strategist was not one of them. I knew if I played to Zero's ego and let him think he was winning, I could lower his guard and lure him in." explained Cornelia smirking.
"All forces, fall back behind Ghetto perimeter at once. Formation doesn't matter, fall back behind Ghetto perimeter at once." ordered Darlton.
A smug Lelouch was shown in his Sutherland.
"What? No stomach for it?" asked Lelouch.
Watching, Cornelia's smirk got even larger.
"If I blend in with the retreating units, that'd put m right next to Cornelia. Have I cleared the task at hand already?" mused Lelouch.
"And just like that, Lelouch has fallen into the trap." noted Xingke disappointed.
"He underestimated who he was fighting. Lelouch got lucky in Shinjuku, but now he was up against someone who knew what they were doing." noted Cornelia.
The scene suddenly cut back to the Lamperouge residence where C.C. was lying on Lelouch's bed.
"You can't fight your own blood, can you?" asked C.C. amused.
"Is she talking to someone?" asked Rivalz confused.
"I don't see a phone." answered Milly, also confused.
"But regardless, that type of person is dangerous. I wonder which path he'll take." pondered C.C.
C.C. sat dup.
"I understand. Just who do you think I am anyway?" asked C.C. annoyed.
"Oh great, she's freaking crazy!" declared Tamaki.
"Somehow I doubt mental illness is the behind this." noted Rakshaata.
"Then what's your answer?" asked Tamaki.
"Geass of course." answered Rakshata bluntly.
"I knew that!" declared Tamaki embarrassed.
Nearby, Anya tensed up.
"I think I know who she's talking to." whispered Anya bitterly.
C.C. got up and it cut to the Student Council room where Suzaku was playing with Arthur.
"So, Lulu lived here before it became Aea 11? Was he a neighbor?" asked Shirley flatly.
"Uh...what about yourself?" asked Suzaku quickly.
"Myself?" asked Shirley.
"He couldn't give away her dream boy was a former royal." said Lloyd interested.
"I guess we're a lot alike in that respect. Honestly, I didn't like Lulu at the beginning when I first met him. He gave the impression that he was flippant, and the only thing he worked hard at was avoiding work." continued Shirley.
"That doesn't sound like Shirley to me." mused Kallen.
"When were we both freshmen, I happened to come upon a traffic accident." began Shirley.
The scene flashbacked to the accident in question.
"The driver was clearly at fault, but he tried to blame the driver of the other car." noted Shirley.
"Typical Britannian." scoffed Tamaki.
"Like that never hap[pened in Japan." replied Guilford bluntly.
"We're civilized!" spat Tamaki.
"Unfortunately, bad people know no nationality." stated Kaguya.
"Come on, name one bad Japanese person during this.
"Kurugui." statd Chiba.
"Yeah, he was a bastard..." began Tamaki.
"Sawasaki who tried to sell Japan out to the High Eunuchs." said Tohdoh.
"Okay but..." began Tamaki.
"Lieutenant Colonel Kusakabe." said Oghi.
"Fine." huffed Tamaki.
"That hotel ordeal should be very soon." said Milly flatly.
"Princess Euphemia, that's where you stood up for me." though Nina nostalgically.
"Nobody tried to help them. And then..." began Shirley.
The traffic changed and the driver was shown running off.
"Lelouch totally schooled that guy! It was great!" laughed Rivalz.
"I hope that elderly couple wasn't blamed." said Cecile.
"I remember hearing he owned up when the cops found him." revealed Rivalz.
"Ah, Lulu didn't do it so he could boast to his buddies or laugh about it later. He did it with the same bored expression he always wears. That's when I wondered, "What's up with this guy? What goes on in his mind? What does he wanna do?" explained Shirley.
"That's so nice." said Tianzi.
"Don't be fooled, I'm sure he had some selfish reason." replied Chiba.
"Not really. We never saw that guy again and kind of forgot about the whole thing after a bit." replied Rivalz.
"Lelouch proved to be a master manipulator. He had all of us fooled one way or another." stated Oghi angrily.
The flashback ended.
"And in the process of finding out..." began Shirley.
"You fell in love with him." said Suzaku.
"How romantic." cooed Kaguya.
"I swear, the only one who didn't know was Lelouch himself. Sometimes, I wondered if he was asexual." said Milly.
Milly looked over at Kallen with a devious grin.
"Unless..." began Milly.
"Nothing happened between Lelouch and I!" declared Kallen blushing.
"Good." stated Oghi.
"Does that mean you're available?" asked Gino.
"Don't push your luck." answered Kallen annoyed.
"Is that what you think?" asked Shirley blushing.
"It's pretty obvious." answered Rakshata.
"Maybe you're right." admitted Shirley.
"How dreamy it is to be in love." said Milly.
Milly sadly looked up.
"How I wish." began Milly.
"How long were you listening to their conversation?" asked Xianglin.
"I arrived just in time to hear that story and think about what my parents were going to make me miss out on." said Milly.
The scene cut back to Saitama where the Britannian troops were in retreat. Lelouch was in his hijacked Sutherland.
"Cornelia, you're no match. You'll lose." said Lelouch confidently.
It then cut to Cornelia in the G-1 base.
"Zero is no match. I'll win." said Cornelia confidently.
"Huh?" asked a subordinate.
"Of course, that's why they'll call Princess Cornelia the Goddess of Victory." said Darlton.
"Looks like I'll have to concede that title." thought Kaguya.
Cornelia looked at Guilford.
"Shall we go then, Guilford my knight?" asked Cornelia.
Guilford bowed to the princess.
"It my pleasure to serve and obey you, My Lady." answered Guilford.
"Present day Guilford looked at Cornelia.
"It is still my pleasure to serve and obey you." said Guilford.
"Whipped!" laughed Tamaki.
The scene returned to Lelouch.
"Even with my Geass, the normal security makes it too risky to simply stroll in. I guess I'll have to create an opening as I did with Clovis.
Lelouch's phone began to ring.
"Student Council Room. I thought the cat festival meeting was scheduled for tomorrow." said Lelouch surprised.
"Not something you'd expect to hear in this situation." chucked Rakshata.
The scene returned to the Student Council Room.
"I know Kallen said I had it all wrong, but it seemed like she was getting upset in order to fool me." said Shirley concerned.
Watching this, Kallen couldn't help but feel guilty.
"Which is why in this case, it's best to simply ask him directly. On your behalf, I can ask him how he feels about you." said Suzaku, holding a phone.
"Not exactly the most subtle approach." muttered Villetta.
'Sometimes the direct approach is the right approach." countered Kaguya.
"It might be the best move as Lelouch doesn't recognize her feelings." muttered Tohodoh.
"I think I know how she feels." grumbled Chiba.
"What? You'd really do that?" asked Shirley blushing.
"Just relax. It'll be fine." said Suzaku.
Shirley jumped up, took the phone away, and hung up.
"Are you nuts? No way!" cried Shirley embarrassed.
It returned to Lelouch who saw the call ended.
"Oh whatever." said Lelouch.
"Maybe it's for the best Lelouch never told about this." thought Suzaku.
"Aw come, let me handle this. I'll be discreet." said Suzaku.
Kaguya laughed a bit.
"Sorry, but my cousin was many things...but discreet wasn't one of them." said Kaguya.
The two began a tug of war with the phone that ended with them falling. The fall knocked Arthur off the cat perch.
"Sorry." said Suzaku, as he was on top of Shirley.
Suzaku felt a pain in his hand and it showed Arthur biting him.
"Does that hurt much?" asked Shirley.
"Greatly." answered Suzaku.
"Once again, I like that cat." said Chiba smiling.
"Poor Shirley." said Milly sadly.
"Shirley, I wish you hadn't gotten involved in this." thought Suzaku mournfully.
It cut back to Saitama where the Britannian forces fell back.
"You're desperate, Cornelia, using your Royal Guards in such a manner." thought Lelouch.
Present Corenlia watched smirking.
"This is Zero. N-1 will reengage their IFF signal. Operate as a Britannian unit." ordered Lelouch
"Understood." replied the Yamato member.
"Lelouch is going to the well one too many times, as the saying goes." mused Lloyd.
"What do you mean?" asked Rivalz confused.
"Lelouch is using the same tactics he used in Shinjuku. Not only will the element of surprise be gone, but someone as intelligent and well-trained in battle as Cornelia would easily pick up on it." explained Tohdoh.
"As my decoy." said Lelouch.
"Lelouch, were we really pawns to you?" asked Kallen to herself concerned.
"One Knightmare left transmitting an IFF signal within the city area." reported Darlton.
"Can't you contact it?!" asked a subordinate.
"Scramble the rescue team!" declared another subordinate.
"No. Destroy it. " ordered Cornelia.
"You can't!" declared the first subordinate.
"He might be a captive of the enemy." added the second subordinate.
"I ordered all troops to fall back. I have no use for soldiers who can't follow my orders." explained Cornelia.
"You heard the Princess." added Darlton.
"But!" protested a subordinate.
"Do your duty even if it costs you your life. My subordinates follow that code without question." stated Cornelia.
"What the hell?! you were going to cast one of your own guys away like that?!" asked Tamaki outraged.
"A soldier does as they are told." stated Cornelia.
"Typical Britannian attitude! cast aside those beneath you!" snapped Chiba.
"Actually, I think there's more to it than that." said Xingke.
"Oh, do go on." replied Cornelia intrigued.
"You knew Lelouch was using the same strategy he did in Shinjuku so you saw this was a trap. That's why you had this unit eliminated." said Xingke.
"Very astute of you." said Cornelia impressed.
"Xingke is so smart!" declared Tianzi.
In Saitama, the rebel was waiting when Guilford led the Royal Guard in an attack.
"At your command, your Highness." said Guilford.
"Hey! What are you guys doing?! can't you read the IFF signal?! I'm on your side!" exclaimed the rebel surprised.
The Royal Guard continued their assault.
"Damn it!" cried the rebel.
The rebel opened fire knowing his cover was blown. However, Guilford easily avoided his attack and killed their rebel being joined by the other two members that followed him.
"No confirmation?" asked Lelouch surprised.
Lelouch quickly moved on.
"Well then...N-2, transmit signal then fall back to the hospital ruins. R-1, R-2, hold your position, fire only if attacked." ordered Lelouch.
"They've transmitted another signal which only means one thing. They've set an ambush. Send more Glocusters and surround them." ordered Cornelia.
"Not as easy as battling Clovis, is it?" asked Cornelia proudly.
"They're not following?" asked Lelouch confused.
The realization quickly hit Lelouch.
"No, damn it R-1, R-2, abort the ambush and fall back at once. Abort!" ordered Lelouch.
In the G-1 base, Cornelia watched as the enemy units retreated.
"Gloucesters have arrived at the indicated area. No sign of the enemy." said a subordinate.
"He anticipated my move. It's possible we really are dealing with Zero himself." said Cornelia.
Cornelia looked at the masked man next to Nunnally.
"At least, the original." said Cornelia.
P-2, N-3, circle behind the enemy." ordered Lelouch.
Lelouch got no response.
"What's wrong?" asked Lelouch worried.
It revealed the radio lying abandoned on the ground.
"P-2, N-3!" cried Lelouch.
"Where did they go?" asked Gino confused.
"Probably ran away." answered Anya.
"No self-respecting Japanese would run from this kind of battle!" declared Chiba.
"B-1, B-5, move in!" declared Lelouch.
"Like hell! There's no way we can beat Cornelia's Royal Guards. That's a death sentence. I'm out!" declared Izumi.
Chiba hung her head the display.
"You were saying?" asked Lloyd sarcastically.
Izumi ejected from his Knightmare.
"Hey, what happened to that guy?" asked Milly curiously.
"He was killed after ejecting." answered Guilford.
A number of other Yamato members began surrendering.
"Hey, we surrender." said a rebel.
"We won't resist." added a second rebel.
"Spare us." begged a third rebel.
"What freaking cowards!" cried Tamaki.
"They were being destroyed and it's not like they were trained for war." shrugged Gino.
"They could have at least run off instead of giving up." spat Chiba.
"Kill them." ordered Cornelia.
Cornelia's Royal Guard obeyed and slaughtered the rebels.
"You killed them when they surrendered!" cried Oghi horrified.
"They were the enemy and I was dispatching them." said Cornelia bluntly.
"Such cowardice gets a deserving punishment." said Chiba.
"P-6, P-8, what's happening?" asked Lelouch worried.
Lelouch didn't get a response.
"B-7, circle around and cover N-4." ordered Lelouch, getting more desperate.
"This is B-7 here. I've got a prime target here. I'll take him out first." said the rebel.
"It's a trap." stated Xingke.
"No, hold fire! That's a decoy! B-7, that's an order!" cried Lelouch.
"What do you mean? I've got this bastard right in my sights!" exclaimed the rebel enthusiastically.
"Fall back! They'll strike from above! B-7, fall back!" ordered Lelouch.
A Royal Guard attacked from above killing the rebel.
"This is why my subordinates follow orders." stated Cornelia bluntly.
"Idiot!" snapped Lelouch.
Lelouch gotonto his comminucator.
"B-8, this is Zero. I want a status report now." said Lelouch.
"Screw your status report!" snapped the rebel.
The communication suddenly ended as the rebel was killed.
"B-8! Damn! Anyone who's left, report in from the P Group now!" declared Zero.
Suddenly, a chime was heard.
"Mission complete. All forces assume formation Number 4." said a female voice.
"Beat that easily. But that's not how the game is supposed to go." said Lelouch shaken.
"War is not a game, little brother." stated Cornelia.
"Man, he got humiliated." noted Gino surprised.
"I hate to say it, but seeing Lelouch be so humbled is satisfying." stated Chiba.
"That didn't work out the way it did in Shinjuku, Zero. So, are you still masquerading as one of us? We'll discover who you are shortly." said Cornelia.
"This...This is what real organization can do." said Lelouch to himself.
"Attention, all Knightmare pilots. Open your hatches and reveal your faces." ordered Cornelia.
"Cornelia!" cried Lelouch, angered and beaten.
"Trapped like a rat. How will he get out of this." said Lloyd amused.
"I repeat, all pilots open your hatches and show me your faces." said Cornelia.
"What do I?" asked Lelouch, 'If she gets me in a lineup without my mask..."
Britannian pilots began exiting their hatches.
"Without my mask, my identity will be exposed. That musn't happen." continued Lelouch.
More pilots began leaving their hatches.
"Can't he use his Geass?" asked Rivalz.
"Use my Geass? No, impossible. It won't work unless I look directly at them." noted Lelouch.
"I guess I forgot about that." said Rivalz.
"The enemy is protected within Knightmares. That leaves the infantry and other pilots. Forget it, there's too many of them." said Lelouch anxiously.
Everyone watching couldn't help but feel the intensity of the situation.
"How do I turn this around? Would that work? Show them I'm Zero then use the power?" asked Lelouch to himself.
"The Royal Guard and Princess Corenlia are in their Knightmare Frames so they wouldn't be affected." noted Tohdoh.
"But then the Knightmares." noted Lelouch.
Jeremiah could only wish he had helped Lelouch.
"Maybe I can start shooting and break out of here? Impossible, against Cornelia's Royal Guard that would be suicide." said Lelouch.
"Open your hatch. It's your turn." ordered Guilford.
"I believe this would be checkmate." noted Rakshata casually.
"What wrong? Hurry up and open your hatch." demanded Guilford.
"Well, my hatch was damaged earlier in battle." lied Lelouch.
"I see. Then we'll open it for you." said Guilford.
Lelouch could be heard making a worried gasp.
"Turn around. Well, come on!" ordered Guilford.
"Yes, understood. At once, Sir." said Lelouch.
"Lelouch actually surrendered." whispered Kallen horrified.
"Zero's been sighted!" cried a soldier.
Everyone's attention was drawn to "Zero" on the ruins of a building.
"Aha, I was right! Zero has a flare for the dramatics." said Cornelia vindicated.
"No way!" cried Leluch.
"If Lelouch is Zero, then who's that?" asked Tamaki confused.
"C.c. She was the only one who knew Lelouch was Zero at the time." answered Oghi.
"He got lucky." huffed Chiba.
"Or the many or miracles had one himself." said Kaguya smiling.
"Capture him!" ordered Guilford.
The Britannian soldiers jumped into action.
"I'll just have to play along." conceded Lelouch.
Britannian soldiers fired on "Zero" who fell backward off the building.
"How the hell did she do that?!" asked Rvialz surprised.
"Maybe she set up something to land on." proposed Milly.
"I think C.C. banked on her immortality." replied Kallen.
"Your Highness, how do you want us to proceed?" asked Guilford.
"Any likelihood it's a trap?" asked Cornelia.
"There's always that possibility. Especially since we don't know anything about this person, aside from the fact he's as prideful as you anticpated. Viceroy." answered Darlton.
"Then's there no point in chasing him.' stated Cornelia.
Lelouch was shown to have fled his Knightmare.
"Correct. If he intentionally revealed himself directly to his enemies, he must already have an escape route already in place." stated Darlton.
Lelouch was shown running through the sewers.
"So, self-preservation trumps all?" asked Cornelia.
"My Lady, I am sorry for allowing Lelouch to escape through my clutches." said Guilford regretfully.
"It's not your fault and I feel the same way." replied Cornelia.
The former Second Princess balled her fists.
"I could have saved Euphemia right there." said Cornelia bitterly.
"That's how Cornelia is. She's nothing at all like Clovis." thought Lelouch.
Lelouch suddenly ran into Zero.
"Lelouch, this is Zero. Zero, this is Lelouch. Or...have you two met?" asked Gino jokingly.
"Why did you rescue me?" asked Lelouch.
"I told you already." answered C.C.
C.C. removed the Zero mask.
"I can't have you dying on me." concluded the immortal.
"I wouldn't have lost if the conditions were equal." stated Lelouch.
"What a childish response." snickered Rakshata.
"You sore loser." said C.C.
The immortal turned around and began to toss the helmet up and down.
"If you're really that good, you should be able to set up conditions the way you want." explained C.C.
Tohdoh nodded in agreement.
"That's what I'll do then, I'll set them up." said Lelouch.
C.C. stopped and turned back around.'
"I'll raise an army that can't lose to Britannia. A people, a nation!" declared Lelouch.
And we know what happened from there." stated Lloyd.
"It's clear to say Lelouch truly didn't care about us." huffed Chiba.
"And any psychological trauma he suffered does not excuse his actions." added Tohdoh.
"I must agree. Nunnally suffered even worse and she was never the monster Lelouch was." agreed Cornelia.
Nunnally winced at this.
"However, it is clear that Emperor Charles was not much better and I will not justify his actions." added Cornelia.
"Speaking of, your actions were reprehensible." said Chiba.
"I made many regrets." said Cornelia.
"If putting her on trial isn't going to happen..." began Chiba.
Chiba shot daggers at Cornelia.
"Then we absolutely demand reparations." concluded Chiba.
"Out of the question." said Cornelia.
"If we pay reparations to Japan we would have to pay to every country we occupied and that would bankrupt us." explained Guilford.
"Too freaking bad!" declared Tamaki.
"Maybe we should focus." proposed Nunnally.
"Of course, the Britannian tries to change the subject." spat Minami.
"I guess she isn't different from her brother." added Sugiyama.
Nunnally tensed up.
"How dare you?!" asked Cornelia angrily.
Kaguya clapped her hands.
"Let's continue." said Kaguya.
A/N: That's where we end things here. Both Milly scaring away her dates and Sayoko thinking Lelouch was a crossdresser come from the Sayoko's Diary series. Also, researching this led me to discover the official Code Geass Twitter revealed Arthur is female. The part about Nunnally having nightmares and Lelouch comforting her with Beautiful Dreamer is from my previous fanfic Nightmatres which is again almost a decade old.
Also, is Lancelot and Guren canon? I've heard some say yes, but I'd like confirmation. My strategy going forward is to take a week-long break in the midst of chapters and after chapters to rest. Though, I will need longer breaks every now and again to avoid burnout. Next time, the events of "The Black Knights" are covered. Please review.