Throne of Glass
Part Two: To Wage a War
So some 20 people have dropped this story because of the pairing, probably more I can't see. That kinda hurts.
Chapter 34: Breaking Dawn
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HBN Artemis; 2017 ATB
"Princess Cornelia, please tell me what's wrong." The voice of her knight pleaded through the locked door. He was doggedly persistent, as he should be. But now was not the time.
So she continued to stare blankly ahead, pointedly ignoring any and all attempts to bring her from her stupor. How long had it been now? She'd certainly missed a meal or two, unmoving from the very spot she'd been in since her world came to a screeching halt.
She wasn't a great thinker, she acknowledged that. She'd never been one to outsmart her enemies, or think of clever ways to win her battles. And so, the solution to her greatest fear had simply been to tackle it head on, fighting tooth and nail to remain where she was. Fighting for Euphemia, though she knew deep down that true victory was quite likely hopeless. At any time, for any reason, her dear little sister could be taken from her, and she would be unable to stop it. Lelouch-her long lost brother- had dragged that painful truth from deep within her, bringing it to bear its cruel judgement down upon her.
How could she believe in inherit Britannian superiority when she herself inherited nothing? Was she really any better than the numbers she enslaved, forced to live under the thumb of their 'betters?' In the end, there was only one better. And he cared not for anything.
A time unknown to her passed, in which Guilford seemed to respect her isolation. Once again however, she heard a knock. This time though, it was her sister she heard from the other side. "Cornelia, is something wrong?"
She could hear the concern in her sister's voice, and it tugged at her heart. But it still wasn't enough to bring her to move.
"He told you, didn't he?"
Within seconds, the door flew open. Cornelia stared down at the younger princess, Euphy meeting her sister's hostile gaze. Her words were raw, perhaps even heartbroken. "You knew?"
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Government Bureau, Area Eleven; 2017 ATB
"You look absolutely marvelous." Clovis complemented, walking around his younger brother as he looked upon his own image in a mirror. A great deal of time had been spent touching up his appearance for the broadcast to come, at the viceroy's request.
"I don't know if I like the choice of words, but coming from you that's quite a compliment." Lelouch responded. He would relent in this field of work to his brother. It was certainly something the older prince was well practiced in.
Clovis nodded in satisfaction. "Thank you, I appreciate your approval."
Lelouch's gaze turned to the other man who watched from the corner of the room. His lips curved up as he addressed him. "I imagine this isn't what you had in mind when you offered your services, Mr. Reid."
The man shook his head with a smirk of his own. "Not in the slightest. Though I have to say, I am thoroughly intrigued by what you have in store. I'm sick of scandals and parties-no offense your highness." Deithard regarded Clovis. "But I've always wanted to document real history. Something that will be remembered for generations to come."
Lelouch maintained his smile. "Then watch closely, Mr. Reid. You're about to witness history in the making."
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Euphy sat in uneasy silence as her sister across from her stared at her without a word. She wasn't going to give in however, she was intimately familiar with Cornelia's methods. And she was well aware that anger was still mixed in with all the other emotions she must have been contending with.
Finally, the older princess seemed to
relent. "When did he tell you?"
"During our trip to Area Eleven." She answered truthfully. "Though he didn't exactly tell me, the man who attacked the hotel revealed it. He just filled in the gaps."
"And you didn't say anything to me?" Cornelia asked, pain clear in her voice. "You just let me continue to make a fool of myself believing an entirely different truth you knew full well was a lie."
"So you think I would betray his trust, just like that?" She asked. "I'm not a child anymore, Cornelia. It's time I started making my own choices, to find what it is I believe in."
"So do I mean nothing to you, that you would choose him over me?" Cornelia responded.
"I chose him over our father." Euphy corrected, making it clear who she opposed. "The only question now is whose side you will choose."
Anguish was clear on her face. Cornelia had tried so desperately to keep her sister safe, and yet here they were. Euphy had chosen this herself, without a word for her. It truly was as if her entire world was pulled out from under her. She didn't know what to do. She had always been steadfast and decisive, never thinking twice or backing down. The soldier of a princess was never very good at anything more than fighting what was in front of her. And now…
"It's not that simple, not for me." She spoke. "I have duties, and an obligation to thousands of people. I can't just abandon them."
Euphy stared at her for a while, as if waiting for something. "So, then you have no issue with rejecting father's ideals then?"
Cornelia blinked. Was she even really a steadfast believer in Britannia's doctrine? Just what did she believe in? She didn't have an answer, and remained silent.
"They have to see it too. And you can show them. Tell them all that the lies they've grown to believe will ultimately destroy them. Before it's too late." Euphy continued. "You have the power to do that."
It wasn't…it wasn't that easy. If it were then, she wouldn't…
"Your highness?" Entering through the unlocked door, a hesitant Guilford called out to her. Cornelia looked up at him, seeing the concern written on his face.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, but there's something you need to see."
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"Greetings, to all the citizens of the Holy Britannian Empire. Nobles, commoners, and numbers alike. I am Allen Ashford, heir to the great house and its enterprise." Across all the world, from the homeland to every colony under imperial control, a blonde teenager spoke. Even some foreign stations having picked up on the broadcast.
"Many of you may already know of me, and what my family has accomplished. Despite having fallen from grace, we persevered, reclaiming our position, and scaling heights far beyond. All thanks to our crown achievement: the knightmare frame. For seven years now, I have worked tirelessly to see my ambition through. I have created a weapon that far surpasses anything that has come before it, and honed it to perfection. However, that is not the only thing I have done."
The boy gave a cunning smile, one that set an ominous tone. "I have something I want to do, something that anyone would claim is impossible. Nonetheless, I have striven to reach that dream. You see, seven years ago I wandered this land during the second pacific war. It was hell on earth. Through nothing short of a miracle and sheer tenacity, I survived while everyone around me was slaughtered. It deserves praise, doesn't it? To overcome such odds as a mere child with nothing but the clothes on my back. I truly am a paragon of Britannian virtue. But it really made me wonder…who the hell in their right mind would want to live in a world like that."
Contempt. The words spat with disgust. He looked down, staring at something the world could not yet see. "A world where the strong devour the weak, where our inequalities are used against each other. That is our reality, that we humans are no better than wild beasts. We struggle, compete, plunder, dominate; and in the end…there is nothing left. Nothing but the ashes of a world that consumed itself."
A firm resolve could be felt, as his piercing blue eyes bore straight ahead. "I decided, long ago, that I would not resolve myself to that fate. I would strive to see a world that was free from fighting. Where our differences could be settled through exchange of words, not swords. And so, to that end…" He reached for something off screen, bringing it to bare before the entire world. "I took up the mask of Zero."
He gazed upon the surface of the infamous mask a moment, his reflection staring back. "The Japanese people have lived as less than human for seven years now. They are not the first, nor the last. I've witnessed it with my own eyes. How cruel man can be to his fellows. Numbers below commoners, nobility above them…royalty. As long as we have someone to look down upon, it's easy to forget who looks down on us. How absurd it is to believe one might be better than another for nothing more than where they were born. Unless we all stand on equal footing, we cannot stand together at all. That is the world I want to create, and why I made this mask. But from this day forward: it has served its purpose."
He let go of the helmet, as it fell off screen the clattering of it was the only sound the entire world heard.
"Right here, on this island that once bore the name of Japan, I declare war on this wretched world. To those of you with power: fear me. Those without it, join me. If we do not stand up and seize the future for ourselves, the day of our salvation shall never come! It matters not if you are Japanese, Britannian or anyone else! For we are all human beings!"
He took a deep breath, recomposing himself. "Forty hours from now, a Britannian fleet led by Princess Cornelia will be arriving in the Tokyo settlement. They shall be met with open hostility, should they continue their course. From this day on, this land is no longer a part of the Holy Britannian Empire. If any decide they do not wish to be a part of this new nation, we will not stop you. But by the same token, if anyone wants to stay, you will be welcome with open arms. All men shall be equal here. Our differences will give each other the strength we alone do not possess. The strength needed to overcome this cruel world."
He raised a hand, pointing straight ahead. "Charles zi Britannia. You will fall from your throne, and I will set this world right."
"I will keep my oath."
With that, the broadcast ended. Cornelia bit her lip, her anxiety only growing worse. "Lelouch…"
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Vermillion Forbidden City; 2017 ATB
"I knew it." Xingke muttered. "Even still, I never imagined this is what he had planned all this time." The Britannians and even the Indians would believe he was attempting to aid in the war. No one would suspect he had orchestrated the entire thing. All to buy him time. His words were idealistic, but his actions showed ruthless pragmatism. Maybe he really did believe what he was saying, but to Xingke it was clear Allen Ashford would do whatever was necessary to make his vision a reality. To him, anything was justified if it meant reaching that goal. But despite that, he hid away such morally corrupt actions. He was no fool. Considering the state of the world, it really wouldn't surprise him if Allen really did become a champion of the people overnight. Assuming he proved he wasn't all talk. Xingke however knew that wouldn't be a problem for him at all.
"What are we going to do about this?"
Xianglin asked him.
"I'm not sure. In the least, we need to follow what will soon unfold very closely. One way or another, some big waves are going to come from this."
It remained to be seen whether it would be in his favor or not.
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Pendragon; 2017 ATB
Now that had caught him off guard.
Thinking about it, he really should have come to expect something as grand as that from Allen Ashford. He was no ordinary man, after all. No, Schneizel really never had a chance at controlling him. He was genuine, a true king on the board. How foolish of him it was to ever think of him as anything less.
Allen was fascinating, to say the least. A man of faithful ideal, and merciless action. He was right after all, Britannia did need to be reborn, as did all the world. But their agreements ended there.
It thrilled him. What would the world become? Would humanity choose Allen's future?
Or maybe…
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Paris, France; 2017 ATB
It was that boy.
She remembered him, speaking with him a handful of times whenever he would visit her father.
So this is what he did for his own sake.
Leila had become a career officer, spent the last two years working fruitlessly to protect the lives of the men in her division. She wasn't even in charge of W-0, she had to watch another man callously order the deaths of dozens at a time, while her words fell on deaf ears. She was an adviser, and no one even listened to her.
He had just wrested control of an entire nation. They were the same age, of the same privilege. What had she been doing all this time?
He spoke of a better world, one that sounded so beautiful. She wished to see it. Perhaps, she might get the chance to. Maybe she could fight for it too.
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The emperor of Britannia laughed.
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Kawagoe Ghetto, Area Eleven; 2017 ATB
"He's a Britannian!"
"They rebuilt these homes!"
They're the ones who created the knightmare, it's their fault!"
"He gave me a job, I can afford to eat because of him!"
Naoto stood away from a large crowd that had gathered in the streets of the ghettos. The entire nation was in an uproar because of him, and their reaction wasn't so simple.
"They're pretty divided on it, aren't they?" Ohgi commented from beside him as they watched the crowd argue. "A lotta people side with him, because of what he's done for them, but…Not everyone."
"We expected this." Naoto replied. "That's what I've been up to all this time, sorting their opinions. It would be wishful thinking to hope for everyone to accept him right away. He's got a plan for it though."
"Something up his sleeve? What're they gonna do?" His friend asked.
"Just wait. It'll be soon." They were here so he could see for himself how they would respond. "The guy's insane, there's no way he thinks it'll all go over so well."
Naoto sighed. "Then again, nothing like a trial by fire to put him up as a genuine savior. They won't have time to argue before Cornelia arrives. And if he beats her, actually fends off Britannia, how could they refuse?"
Soon enough, projectors set up in advance came to life, displaying an image of the rebellious noble once again. Upon seeing him, the multitude of people fell silent.
"People of Area Eleven, please lend me your ears once more. I have something I wish to tell you."
He had their attention.
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Ashford Tower; 2017 ATB
Before the recently constructed podium stood thousands of men and women, the soldiers that made up the Black Knights' standing army. Their leader, a man who once went by Zero, stood tall before them.
"I know I am not the savior you all wanted. The scars of your persecution run deep, and no amount of reparations can erase them. What I have to help you does not excuse what has been done to harm you. But despite that, you must not let the past drown out the call of the future! A new day is rising, and the moment you have waited to see for so long has finally arrived. Let this nation be a guiding light for all the world, that all may gather together and overcome our differences."
He pounded a fist to his chest, shouting words of sincerity that enraptured all those who listened. "Give unto the dead your hatred, and ask for their hope in return. So that those who come after us need not ask of us our hatred. It is time to put an end to this self destructive cycle, and look toward building a better tomorrow. There are certainly those in this world that will oppose our hopes, and we shall show them no mercy. But do not forget, the ones truly deserving of our wrath are those who have abused their power and oppressed the weak. And they come from all walks of life, not just Britannia. We must face them, and save all our fellow man! No one deserves to be persecuted for who they are."
His arms outstretched, Allen Ashford spoke fervently to the crowd before him. He looked behind him, to where a number of his colleagues stood in support. "There is someone I want to introduce, who has walked alongside me unerring. My fiancé, Lady Kaguya Sumeragi!"
Allen's hand extended to a young Japanese woman dressed in a traditional kimono of immaculate design. She was the very picture of beauty, and radiated with pride to be standing beside him now.
Kaguya took center stage, with Allen right beside her, as she began to speak. "My fellow Japanese, and of course, the many Britannians who make their homes here as well; it brings me indescribable joy to finally see this day come. For years now I've listened with great fascination to my beloved's ambitions, the dreams he had for a brighter future. He has given me hope, and something greater to fight for. And I know he can give the same to all of you. Together, each and every one of us can face any foe, fight any battle, and defeat any evil. This nation of mine, my people, a new dawn is approaching for the land of the rising sun. A land that will henceforth be known as Yoake!"
A shock ran through the assembly at the declaration. Not only of an independent nation, but not a reclamation of what had been stolen. Something different, something new.
"What has been lost shall remain in the past, our new future shall have no part of it. This country will accept all who wish to earnestly join it, and it will fight against all those who use their power unjustly. We will be the first. And I know we shall not be the last. So stand tall, people of Yoake, for our day is today!"
Silence took hold, as many were still processing what they heard. Until finally a voice cried out.
"Long live Ashford! Long live Yoake!"
And in only moments, thousands joined in, with countless more across the nation of Yoake.
On the horizon however, lay warships of the Holy Britannian Empire. The battle for the fate of this new nation was finally at hand.
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