Code Geass and its characters belong to Gorō Taniguchi and Ichirō Ōkouchi.
I only own my OC, Kistune AKA Sabrina vi Britannia and her siblings; Juno and Naoto.
Enjoy!
The Daughter of Zero
Chapter 12: On the Other Side
(Alternative Timeline)
Year: 2035
Location: Tokyo, Japan
The moment that Empress Nunnally vi Britannia and the civilians of New Pendragon were destroyed by the F.L.E.I.J.A warhead launched by Thanatos, the entire world had fallen into complete chaos.
Worse chaos than the world had been in under the reigns of Emperor Charles and Lelouch.
The sky had gone grey with barely little sunlight and shade of blue showing while buildings were crumbled or smashed by the attacks from the Keepers of the Order.
From across the devastated city of Tokyo, survivors had gathered in an underground train stations to get shelters from the ruin buildings that were once their home.
As for Peter, Rory, Haruto and Vivian?
They were defending people from marauders and soldiers that belonged to the Keepers of the Order.
C.C stirred a big pot of hot yet delicious stew before pouring some of the concoction into a couple of bowls before Sayoko handed them to the people that were taking shelter inside the underground station.
An old woman gave Sayoko a grateful smile upon being given food.
"Thank you, dear."the old woman thanked gratefully.
Sayoko gives the old woman a small yet comforting smile before handing the other bowls of stew to the other survivors.
Vivian, who was dressed in a beige orange rider suit, walked up to C.C.
"What is it, Vivian?"C.C asked.
"I got news of Lady Kaguya."Vivian informed."She is taking shelter in the station within Hokkaido. She has send us support beside her gratitude."
C.C simply nodded at Vivian's respond.
In a damaged cafe room of the train station, Rory went to visit another familiar member of the Britannian Imperial Family that wasn't in New Pendragon when it was wiped from the face of the Earth.
And that person was Cornelia.
The purple haired woman took a sip from her coffee mug before placing it down on the small table she sat alone.
As if Cornelia wasn't in a foul enough mood already, she was being visited by the last people she had ever wanted to see.
Before her stood Rory while Peter and Haruto were between her.
The former 2nd Princess of Britannia was now in her mid 40s, but had become more cold and distant ever since New Pendragon was destroyed alongside her only living family members.
"I see you made here in one piece."Rory commented.
"Yeah, I had a lot of help."Cornelia retorted.
A sudden amused look appeared on Haruto's face.
"Why such a miserable face, Goddess of Victory?"Haruto sneered."You should be happy at least that the psychopath that you helped kill your whole family and the corrupted igit that caused misery to everyone because he failed in getting into your silly younger sister's bed are officially dead now."
"If you want to pick a fight."Cornelia growled as she stood up from where she sat."I'd be more than happy to offer you a match, Kirihara."
Peter shook his head.
"Ignore him. We're only here to ask you a question."Peter assured firmly."Do you have idea why Empress Nunnally wanted Sabrina back to New Pendragon in the first place?"
Cornelia fell silent at Peter's respond before responded.
"Nunnally has no desire to marry any men at court, so she decided to adopt Sabrina as her successor."Cornelia admitted."There were few arguments with her decisions. But after my younger sister revealed our niece's unfair care, everyone eventually agreed."
Surprised looks appeared on Rory, Peter and Haruto's faces.
"Sabrina the next Empress of Britannia?"Peter murmured.
"No way."Haruto retorted in disbelief.
"Let me guess the ones that were against Empress Nunnally's decision was the spared psychopath and the fake Zero themselves, right?"Rory assumed with a frown."Were you on their side too?"
"I took no side, Rory."Cornelia replied sternly and looked away."I never was part of Sabrina's upbringing."
"So does that officially mean you know realise that Euphemia's demise was actually your own fault since she was your responsibility?"Haruto suggested with a fake smile."You were her fully biological sister?"
Cornelia's frown deepened as she glared at the three teenagers.
"I find it particular strange that you three have actually sided with the very witch, who caused the demise of my whole family because of the despicable power she grants."Cornelia replied bitterly.
"The Power of Geass is neither good or evil."Peter reminded."What simply matters the people who uses it for good will or cause destruction."
Cornelia simply huffed in respond, unconvinced by Peter's words.
"C.C already told us she regretted having used Lelouch from the beginning and working with his pathetic excuse of parents that were planning to create a world suited for them only."Peter assured."Now she is making up for her mistakes by trying to help Sabrina and us stop this evil organisation that have the ability to travel back in time and cause chaos in other possible timelines. Not just ours."
"That's sounds like a less convincing move from her."Cornelia commented."Especially, since she is someone who gave up her humanity centuries ago."
"Then what are you going to do?"Rory questioned.
"Nothing."Cornelia replied."My battling days are now over."
"That's no excuse to behave like a coward!"Rory scowled angrily as she grabbed the collar of Cornelia's cloak."Do you have any idea how many people have suffered because of Kururugi and Mr Psychopath's actions? Mainly because you and countless others followed a madman's ideology that even didn't give a damn if anyone died which caused you to fail to keep that naive sister under your leash, who ended up creating an idiotic plan that shockingly end up sealing the fate of the world!"
Cornelia just scoffed at Rory's respond.
"What do you expect me to do?"Cornelia asked."I failed the first time and I couldn't even make it right the second."
SMACK!
The impact of Rory's palm across Cornelia's cheek echoed around the room while both Peter and Haruto looked on in shock, neither of them expected to see that.
"Would you like to know what Sabrina did nearly two years ago after she left New Pendragon?"Rory retorted with a glare."C.C gave her Geass that allows her to travel back in time. And you know what's ironic? She went to another timeline to save not only her father's life. But also the entire Britannian Imperial Family from being killed by the F.L.E.I.J.A. launched from your psycho of an older half-brother. Also Euphemia's demise at the special zone."
Cornelia became surprised and was taken back at Rory's declaration.
"She actually didn't want to since she has no love for you or have the desire to forgive you and the rest of the blood-sucking parasites for all the things you've done. But she still did it to give you all a second chance to make up for your unspeakable actions."Rory stated coldly and began to walk away, but stopped to glance back at Cornelia."So don't keep telling yourself that Lelouch deserved to die with all evil deeds being blamed on him since you were always a cold-blooded exterior that wiped out anyone she felt was opposing Britannia even before Zero's appearance…Cornelia li Britannia."
Their business settled, Rory departed with Peter and Haruto while Cornelia was left with the sting to both her face and her pride.
Neither Peter or Haruto couldn't believe what they just saw.
Someone actually slap and scold the former 2nd Princess of Britannia like a misbehaving child.
"Whoa."Haruto chuckled with an impressed look."You sure scared the hell out of her."
"I just want her to take responsibility for all the damage she's done."Rory admitted simply.
"Spoken like a true best friend."Peter remarked."No wonder you and Sabby get along so well."
Once they were further away from where Cornelia was, Haruto stopped walking to speak to his two best friends.
"Hey, guys. Just what do we do tell Sabrina when she gets back?"Haruto questioned."She is the leader of the Phoenix Knights. But-"
Rory frowned and folded her arms as she leaned against a wall.
"I actually don't know how we can tell Rina that her aunt named her the heir to the throne."Rory said with an unsure look."She has no desire to sit on her family's wretched royal chair for the rest of her life."
"Then I guess it's still the best we tell her when the timing is actually right."Peter suggested and looked at his two companions."You know Cornelia was actually shocked to hear how Schneizel chose to sacrifice the Britannian capital, and along with its inhabitants though she was the type that would sacrifice her own people to gain results. She was also against Schneizel's plan to place Damocles in a position to strike every country in the world. Not only that she was shocked to hear how Schneizel let Lelouch get away all this time for his agenda to go even further so that no obstacles can stand in his way."
"That's actually odd you know, Peter."Haruto scoffed."The Witch of Britannia had previously the lack of empathy for the lives of foreign nations."
A sad look appeared on Rory's face.
"You know what, guys? I actually kind of feel sorry for Sabrina."Rory admitted."I mean my mother lost both her parents, who were actually good people and would've likely been loving grandparents to me. And yet, she ended up having a happy life with my father. Even though he actually had a traumatising childhood due to the Geass command that Uncle Shin gave him. Sabrina though had to be born to a ruling class family that actually know how to hurt one another in various different ways than showing love and care to each other. And other people say their families have issues…"
"But isn't that why Sabrina has got us and my relatives, Rory?"Peter complemented."Sure blood makes you related, but loyalty is really the thing that makes you family."
"For once I agree with you, Peter."Haruto admitted.
Rory simply gives her two friends a rather fragile smile.
"I'm going to check on the survivors."Rory declared."See you guys later."
Rory headed off, leaving Peter and Haruto by themselves in the stairway.
"So, Peter?"Haruto spoke up, earning Peter's attention."How about it?"
Peter frowned."How about what, Haruto?"
"Do you still love Sabrina even if she ends up becoming the next Empress of Britannia?"Haruto questioned.
A light blush appeared on Peter's face before he looked away in embarrassment.
"I don't know what you're talking about, Kirihara."Peter retorted.
Haruto simply chuckled at Peter's reply.
"No point trying to hide it anymore."Haruto declared."I'm in love with Sabrina too."
"So Sabrina captured your heart too?"Peter questioned.
"Why wouldn't she?"Haruto said with a smirk."She's violent and has a serious temper. But she also loves to laugh and always says what's on her mind. She's the most amazing girl I ever met."
A small glare appeared on Peter's face.
"Sure."Peter said bitterly."Just because you love Sabrina too that doesn't mean you'll end up wining her heart in return and the end of this hell of a battle that we're in."
Haruto raised an eyebrow at the declaration from Peter.
"Is that a challenge, Cavendish?"Haruto assumed.
"Since we're both in love with the same girl?"Peter asked smugly."Then, yes."
Haruto smirked back at Peter.
"Alright. Then here's the deal, rich boy."Haruto informed firmly."Whoever ends up finding more clues to defeat the the Keepers of the Order including their leader, will be the one that gets to go on a date with Sabrina. But also becomes her knight and…the love of her life."
"Fine."Peter agreed with a determined look and offered his hand out."And who ever loses, will need to take their romantic interest somewhere else. Deal?"
"Deal."Haruto replied."Don't expect this to become easy for you."
"I say the same thing to you."Peter answered."Especially, if we might end up meeting the true Zero."
Haruto and Peter shook hands with each other, agreeing with the deal they set between them.
May the best man win Sabrina's heart.
Rory made her way to the side of the station where Vivian was and saw the youngest member of the Phoenix Knights put a bandage around a man's injured arm after being rescued by her.
After getting thanked by the man, Vivian brought her attention on Rory.
"What's up, Rory?"Vivian asked.
"Vivian, can I talk with you?"Rory requested."Alone?"
Vivian nodded at her friend and the two of them went to a ruined mall area to speak privately.
"Miss Senior is to be the next Empress?"Vivian asked in awe.
"That's right. But it is actually a worry to me."Rory stated."If Sabrina becomes Britannia's next ruler, this may cause damage to the plans that the five of us promised to do together."
"But Empress Nunnally was still pretty. Even though she was only 30 years old."Vivian declared."She was quite still young enough to marry and have children of her own."
Rory shook her head.
"Every men that loved Empress Nunnally was only because of her royal status and not for herself."Rory retorted."I doubt there will ever be a man that will love a woman regardless if she is from such a high rank."
"Though, if Sabrina becomes the 101st Empress of Britannia that doesn't mean her friendship with us will change."Vivian remarked with a confident smile.
"But I just can't help but feel a bit scared of her life in doing such a role filled with complete yet stressful responsibilities."Rory said with a hint of worry."I don't want things between all of us to change."
"Well, whatever happens we just have to promise to be true friends and stick with each other to the very end like Gruncle Will, Peter's grandfather said."Vivian insisted brightly."No fight more important than friendship."
A small yet happy smile appeared on Rory's face, no longer feeling worried.
"You're right, Vivian."Rory answered."Thanks."
Two boys are going to try their best to win Sabrina's heart and not only save the world. No doubt Lelouch will become unhappy if he heard this. (Chuckles mischievously)
Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter and see you all next time!