Viceroy Palace
Joseph opened his eyes and sprung back up to get a look at his surroundings. He remembered yesterday's events that he was in the living room of the viceroy's palace. It was still early morning, 6 or 7am to be exact. He looked outside and saw the sun starting to dawn on the city, he always liked this time of the day, always so beautiful and tranquil.
He then heard a door open and a saw a maid enter the room, she gasped at him. Forgetting the news that the returned prince was here. Joseph brought a finger to his lips.
"Ssssh...early morning." Joseph said quietly to the maid.
"Uh, yes, your highness." The maid nervously said, bowing to him and then scurrying off to the next room.
Joseph never did get why people couldn't act normal around him just because he was a prince. He didn't act any different from anybody else.
Putting the thought off, he decided to open up the window and climb up to the roof. Once he was on the roof, he opened his arms wide and felt the cool breeze run through his body.
"Life doesn't get better than this." Joseph thought blissfully.
After that, he went back inside and decided to tour around the palace, it's been awhile since he had been in one and he knew they were big. He explored the hallways, opened cabinets, entered rooms even if some of the patrons were still sleeping, until he finally came upon a large room.
The ball room.
"Ah yes, the place where predators hide in the shadows and pounce on their prey as mom told me...Also a great area to make some moves!" Joseph thought as a light bulb turned on in his head.
He took off his shoes, grabbed his walkman and pressed the play button, relying on whatever song that played to be the right one in that moment.
Which it was.
One two three hit me
Bop be bop, bop be bop be deed bop
Bop be bop, bop yeah
(Joseph bops his head with the beat)
Bass man, huh, come on up
One two three hit me
Uh, sound good, yeah
Saxophone on the floor, one two three, hit it
(Joseph takes a few steps forward, making small kicks in the air)
Yeah, ow, uh, come on
(Mimics the "ow" in a James Brown type of way)
Horns hit it, uh, yeah
(Euphemia and Cornelia are woken up by the sound. "What the heck?" Cornelia groggily says.)
Hey girl lets rock with Jimmy Early
Got a home in the hills, Mercedes benz
Hot swimming pool, got lots of friends
Got Clothes by the acre, credit to spare
(Joseph struts down the ballroom in a funky manner, Cornelia and Euphemia enter wondering what the commotion is about. They see him dancing, Euphemia grows a wide smile. "Oooh, he still dances!" Euphemia quietly said in an excited tone, not wanting to break her brother's concentration. Cornelia sighs, "I thought he would of grown out of this..." quietly says in an annoyed tone.)
I could wake up tomorrow and find nobody there
But Jimmy want more, Jimmy want more
Jimmy want, Jimmy want, Jimmy want more
(Joseph nut bumps the "Jimmy want" part, making Euphemia giggle and Cornelia pinch her nose.)
Listen
Jimmy want a rib, Jimmy want a steak
(Joseph slides left, then he slides right)
Jimmy want a piece of your chocolate cake
(Joseph then bends down and smacks his bottom, Making Euphemia say "Oh my" in surprise and Cornelia groan in disgust.)
Above all of that Jimmy wants some break
'Cause Jimmy got soul, Jimmy got soul
Jimmy got, Jimmy got, Jimmy got soul
(Joseph does the splits after the last "soul" and then quickly rising back up with ease. Euphemia looks on with amazement, even Cornelia perked up an eyebrow as she also thought it was impressive.)
Sooner or later the time comes around
For a man to be a man and take back his sound
(Joseph continues to lipsync and backwards walks as he swings to the beat)
I got to do something to shake things up
I like Johnny Mathis, but I can't do that stuff
(He spins around to look at Euphemia and Cornelia, surprising them that he knew they were there, and pointing at them as the "but I can't do that stuff" lyric pops up.
Jimmy got soul, Jimmy got soul, Jimmy got S-O-U-L, soul
(Jospeh counts the letters of SOUL on his fingers and then falls backwards to do a back flip. Making Euphemia laugh with joy and Cornelia roll her eyes)
I can't do rock, I can't do roll
(Does a pose with "rock" and "roll")
What I can do, baby, is show my soul
'Cause Jimmy got soul, Jimmy got soul
Jimmy got, Jimmy got, Jimmy got soul
(Joseph puts his hand out to Euphemia as an invitation to join him, which she takes with enthusiasm as she runs down. He grabs her hand, spins her around in a wide circle and then gathering her into a hug, making her laugh again)
When the song ended, Euphemia gives him a round of applause and Joseph bows in thanks.
"You haven't lost your touch at all! I missed your dances." Euphemia said happily.
"Dance machine!" Joseph said as he wiggled his arms.
"Yes, I'm...surprised you still do that..." Cornelia politely said.
"Music stays forever!" Joseph exclaimed.
"Yay!" Euphemia exclaimed agreeing with him.
Cornelia just sighed, but wasn't surprised by her sister.
Out of all his siblings, Joseph always got along the best with Euphemia. She would always join in on his antics, whether it be dancing, pranking, or just plain helping annoy someone, she always did it with optimism and positivity by his side.
Whether it was her way of staying innocent or making Joseph feel like he wasn't alone, Cornelia always ended up being the one reaping what is sown by the two.
"Yes, we have a busy day ahead of us for you." Cornelia said to him.
"Ooh, more dancing!" Joseph asked in anticipation.
"No." Cornelia deadpanned. "The first thing we're doing is taking you to the dentist." Cornelia instructed.
"Why dentist?" Joseph asked curiously. Making Cornelia's eyebrow twitch.
"Tell me Joseph? When is the last time you brushed your teeth?" Cornelia asked in a deadpan tone.
"Yesterday." Joseph answered casually.
"Before that." Cornelia said with annoyance.
"Hmmmm...six months?" Joseph said again with casualness
"Exactly, now please go take a shower and then we'll get going." Cornelia instructed.
"Showered yesterday." Joseph said in an obvious tone.
"GO TAKE A SHOWER!" Cornelia ordered.
"Geesh. Mr. Bossy..." Joseph muttered to Euphemia, making her giggle.
...
On the ride to the Dentist office, Joseph decided to once again entertain himself and his sisters to some tunes. This time coming from a rapper named "M and M", which consisted of a lot of foul languages, a lot slurs that a noble or a royal would dare not utter, and saying them all at a faster speed than most singers. Cornelia was, of course, disgusted that music like this even existed and couldn't understand how Joseph was able to listen to it so passionately. Joseph just pointed at his Walkman and said "Rap God" and continued to lip-sync the words and move his head and arms to the beat. Euphemia, while not her type of music, could understand why others would like it. If you got passed the vulgar language, the lyrics had a deep meaning to them, it was like a new generation of poetry. She just watched Joseph with understanding and amusement.
Once they got to the dentist, he was surprised by the fact that one: he was going to work on the teeth of an actual prince. And two: just how untaken care of Joseph's teeth were.
He had 16 cavities, needed 20 fillings, had to replace three of his back teeth with crowns, all his teeth needed whitening, and was pretty sure that his wisdom teeth were never removed. It was the least to say that the dentist had his work cut out for him, the princesses knew it and paid him well for it. Joseph just said "Thanks doc!" after he took the cotton balls out of his mouth that were preventing his gums from bleeding all over the place, to which he then spit blood into a nearby trashcan, making a kid scream and cry, begging his mom to take him home. Both the princesses issued apologies and made sure to get Joseph out of there before he did any irreversible damage.
...
"Now what?" Joseph asked casually, not realizing he may have traumatized a kid. Cornelia, really refraining herself from smacking Joseph upside the head, just sighed.
"Now, we are going to contact the Emperor to let him know of your survival."
"Eh, won't care." Joseph said matter-of-factly as he waved off the suggestion, surprising Cornelia and Euphemia.
"Don't say that Joseph. I'm sure he'll want to know." Euphemia said, not really sure herself.
"Besides, we're suppose to keep his Majesty updated with all new events here in Area 11." Cornelia said in an instructing tone. Joseph just shrugged.
"If say so."
They went into the Viceroy's office and contacted the Emperor.
While Joseph was still angry at his dad for what he did to Lelouch and Nunnally, he couldn't help but be excited either. The last time he had a conversation with his dad was so many years ago, and it while he did so with the same stern expression he's had for years, it was still nice.
The screen popped up and he saw his dad, and the anger momentarily went away. As he was happy to just see his father again.
"You better have some news of the situation over there Viceroy, otherwise you're wasting my time." Their dad instructed with a strict tone.
"Always business before pleasure, huh dad?" Joseph thought with amusement.
"My troops are getting rid of terrorist cells one by one, your majesty, the only real threat is Zero and we'll no doubt stop him in no time." Cornelia told him a professional manner.
"I love you Corn, but I seriously doubt that." Joseph thought with amusement.
"Hmm...I doubt you would call me to just let me know of that." Charles said in a stern tone.
"Um, yes your highness. We actually have had a reunion recently and-"
Before Cornelia can finish, Joseph rams himself into her so he can finally talk to his dad.
"Dad! Missed ya! How the ruling?!" Joseph asked in an excited tone.
Cornelia, still recovering from the body slam, just muttered "ow..." And Euphemia was looking at him with wide-eyed expressions as she couldn't believe her brother just addressed the emperor in such a manner.
The Emperor, on the other hand, just arched his eyebrow up without changing his stern expression.
"Who on Earth is this buffoon?" Charles asked with a bored tone.
"Uh, I-it's your son, your highness, Joseph Du Britannia." Euphemia decided to chime in, Joseph happily waved at him.
"...Ah yes, the dimwit, I honestly thought you died some time ago." Charles said in a casual tone. Shocking Euphemia and subtlety angering Cornelia.
Joseph on the other hand, wasn't fazed by it at all.
"Nope! Alive! Well!" Joseph said with glee, pumping his muscles like a body builder.
"Hmph. If this is all you have for me Viceroy, I advise if you contact me again, you make it worth my time. Understood?" The Emperor said in a serious manner.
"...understood your highness." Cornelia quietly said, knowing all she could do was bow to him.
"Bye dad. Love you." Joseph said as he waved goodbye.
This made Cornelia do a spit take and Euphemia freeze.
Never had they heard someone use the "L" word towards their father before. Not even his consorts.
Charles on his end just stared with the same stern expression for a second.
Once again, while it was stern, Joseph could see subtle sadness in his eyes again. He couldn't help but wonder why. His father then turned off the communications between them.
Cornelia and Euphemia let out a HUGE breath of relief, and stared at their brother as if he was mad. Which Joseph didn't get as he was doing was just talking to his dad.
"Told ya. Won't care." Joseph said with his dopey smile.
"But...still, to actually call you a dimwit, I mean..." Euphemia stuttered out, while she knew her father wasn't one to be a "parent", she would think he would acknowledge his son more than just "the dimwit".
"Eh, all good, more skull than brain!" Joseph brushed off as he put his arm over Euphemia's shoulders and tapped his head to express his hard head.
Euphemia couldn't help but smile, her big brother, always the optimist.
"I suppose that meeting went as well as I thought it would. Oh well, at least now he's aware." Cornelia said.
...
Pendragon
The Throne Room
After Charles turned off the communicator, he heard snickering coming from the side of him.
"My, my. I honestly thought you were going to shed a tear there for a second, oh mighty emperor."
Coming out of the shadows, the voice belongs to a young teenaged girl with pink hair and red irises around her eyes.
"Oh come off it, Marianne." Charles said in an annoyed tone.
"Sorry, I just never actually heard any of your children actually say the "L" word towards you. I'm your wife and even I've never said it." Marianne chuckled.
"Hmm..." Was all Charles said, not wanting to comment on it.
"Still, I am surprised to see Joseph there. Like you, I thought he died some years ago. But nope, it seems the little moron has somehow survived out there by himself for over seven years like our darling, Lelouch." Marianne thought nostalgically. "Do you think he'll become a problem with our plans?" Marianne asked curiously.
This made the Emperor chuckle.
"Please, even I consider Nunnally more of a threat than him." Charles said with humor.
"He-he, that is true!" Marianne laughed.
...
Viceroy Palace
"So, now what?" Joseph asked curiously about what's next on their schedule.
"Now, I'm going on a mission while you and Euphemia stay here." Cornelia said with her "mom" voice.
"Aaaah, booooring!" Joseph whined. "Jump buildings instead!" He suggested.
"I don't know what that means but you are going to stay here where it's safe with Euphemia so she can keep an eye on you." Cornelia instructed while looking at Euphemia, making sure she agreed with her.
"Um, yes, of course sister. I'll make sure he's kept safe and sound" Euphemia reassured as she wrapped her arms around Joseph's arm.
"Hmm, very well. (Points at him) Behave." Cornelia ordered and the proceeding to walk away.
"Not kid. Grown ass man!" Joseph said, deepening his voice to sound older.
"No you're not!" Cornelia yelled back, making Euphemia giggle at the whole exchange.
After she left, Euphemia looks at him with sympathy.
"Please forgive her, after what happened to Lelouch and Nunnally, she's become really protective." Euphemia said sadly.
Joseph patted her on the head and said, "Understand." Euphemia smiled.
They stared at each other for a moment.
"Sneak out?" Joseph asked cheeky.
"Sneak out." Euphemia agreed with enthusiasm.
...
Euphemia's Room
"We wish not to be disturbed!" Euphemia ordered.
"Or else!" Joseph added on with a fist.
"Uh yes, your highnesses!" The guards yelled.
"A bit too much?" Euphemia asked once they entered.
"Nah. No disturbance." Joseph reassured.
Euphemia nodded with agreement, she then put on a cap to hid her hair and went to her bed to grab some sheets.
"Now, when I did this the first time, I used-" Euphemia didn't get to finish as she heard Joseph push open the windows.
"All right. Bingo-bango-ready to gogo!" Joseph said as he came over to her.
"But I haven't-" Once again, Euphemia didn't get to finish as she was suddenly lifted into a piggy back by Joseph.
"Let's go!" Joseph said with excitement.
"W-wait, Joseph! What are you doooOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Euphemia yelled as Joseph ran out the window and jumped onto a nearby building.
"OH MY GOODNESS!" Euphemia yelled with both excitement and fear, mostly fear.
"WWWWHHHHHOOOOOO!" Joseph yelled with excitement as he jumped from building to building, glad he was able to let his sister on this experience.
...
Tokyo Settlement
After a few more building jumps, Joseph finally landed in an alleyway that was in the center of the Tokyo settlement.
Joseph put down a frazzled Euphemia, who was sucking in deep breaths from hysteria.
"So that's what you meant by...'jump buildings'." Euphemia said quietly, still shellshocked by what just happened.
"Yep! Fun right!" Joseph asked excitedly.
"...Uh yeah...fun. But, how about we walk the rest of the way, okay?" Euphemia nervously suggested, wondering what the hell her brother has been up to all these years.
"Okie-dokie." Joseph simply said as he shrugged and went on their way.
...
Saitama Settlement
"Zero is a criminal with a flair for the theatrics." Cornelia was telling her knights and soldiers. "I've recreated the same conditions in Shinjuku in order to draw him out. If he's the overconfident type, I predict he'll come out here to try and kill me." She Continued.
"Viceroy, you'd really risk your own life like this?" A soldier asked.
"What you fail to understand is that war is a struggle between pride and life." Cornelia lectured.
...
Ashford Academy
"Any word from Zero, Ohgi?" Kallen asked over the phone.
"Nothing yet. I don't get it, it's been a few days since we rescued Suzaku and he hasn't contacted us agin for another mission. What's he waiting for?" Ohgi asked.
"Maybe for the next moment to strike." Kallen suggested.
"Yeah, I suppose. So, how's school going?" Ohgi asked, deciding to change the subject.
Kallen on her end, was thinking about the prince she met. His optimistic attitude, his over-the-top behavior, and his unique taste in music.
"Kallen?" Ohgi repeated.
She snapped out of it, realizing she hasn't said anything for a few moments.
"Uh, you know, same old, same old." Kallen reasoned.
"Oh, alright. Well I'll keep you updated. Talk soon." Ohgi said.
"Yeah, talk soon." Kallen said hanging up her phone. Wondering if she made the right decision.
...
Tokyo Settlement
"Wonder how Corn is?" Joseph asked as he licked some ice cream Euphemia bought for them.
"I'm sure she's cleaning up the terrorist cells like she said she would. If anything, she's probably trying to draw out Zero" Euphemia commented, licking her own cone.
"Hmmm." Was all Joseph said.
While he knew his brother was a superhero now, he knew Corn was a military leader from all the medal she gotten, as well as the name he heard people called her, that being the Goddess of Victory. If dad was Darth Vader, she was Rattlesnake Jake.
"What do you think?" Euphemia asked.
"Of what?" Joseph asked back.
"Zero, what's your opinion on him?" Euphemia asked curiously.
Joseph was about to answer when he suddenly got hit in the head with a beer bottle. Unfazed by it of course.
"Get off our streets you bum!" A passerby in a car, who threw the bottle yelled.
"Hey! What's the matter with you!?" Euphemia yelled back, running after them until Joseph caught her.
"Whoa. Easy sis." Joseph nonchalantly said.
"But he had no reason to that! You shouldn't have to take it." Euphemia argued.
"Comes. Then goes. That is all." Joseph said waving his hand from side to the other in a philosophical sense.
Euphemia could only sigh.
"Come on, let's at least make sure you're not bleeding." Euphemia said as she took him over to sit down on some stairs and looked at his head, she saw some glass stuck in his hair.
"Sometimes I wish I had your philosophy on life Joseph. It would certainly make things a lot easier." Euphemia commented picking out the glass.
"Never too late." Joseph suggested. Euphemia smirked.
"Unlike you, me and my sister have actual responsibilities here in Japan. You have had that luxury of not having to do anything for over seven years." Euphemia explained.
"Hippie for life!" Joseph cheered, making Euphemia giggle but then her demeanor changed.
"Still, you are treated cruelly even after all these years, just for who you are. It's not fair." Euphemia said sadly.
"Such is life, little one." Joseph said like an old sage with a smile.
"...She would be really proud of you, knowing that her son has flourished in this world in his own way." Euphemia said sweetly.
"Damn right!" Joseph agreed enthusiastically as he stood back up with a jump, surprising Euphemia.
He then noticed a cart selling musical instruments. Including a ukulele.
Another lightbulb went off inside his head.
He grabbed Euphemia's hand and yanked her over to the cart.
"Ukulele please!" Joseph ordered brightly.
The salesman, while a bit flustered by Joseph's sudden appearance, did so.
Euphemia, even though confused by her brother's action, paid the man for the purchase.
...
Saitama Settlement
"I don't understand. Why won't Princess Cornelia order us to attack as well?" Jeremiah asked from Villeta's side.
"She won't because Orange is here. Just be thankful that you haven't been disposed of. You're to blame for this. It's due to you that our careers are over." Kewell insulted. Villetta thought he had some nerve considering he almost took both their lives.
"You're wrong. Zero's the one who did it." Jeremiah angrily said.
"That again, humph." Kewell dismissed.
While Villetta was sympathetic towards Jeremiah's dilemma, a thought kept coursing through her head. While it was still blurring, she could still make out a student and what appeared to be a homeless person back in Shinjuku.
"Zero. Could that student and bum be working with him?"
...
Tokyo Settlement
Joseph took the ukulele in his arms, started strumming his fingers to find a tune until he finally settled on a beat.
Which was the end credits theme music Spongebob Squarepants, their favorite show growing up.
He started swinging his legs to the beat, he looked at Euphemia with a smile and started singing lyrics to the beat.
Me and Eup hanging out...
(beat)
Jump buildings like mounts...
(This made Euphemia giggle as she caught on to what he was doing, and started to slowly dance to the tune. The people around them were starting to stare, but they didn't care.)
Corn were to learn it...
(beat)
She blow gasket
(Euphemia decided to chime in her own lyrics)
Our little secret...
(beat)
So be shushed about it...
(Makes a shushing gesture, then they both sing at the same time)
Shush, shush, shush, our little secret...
If they ask, say we eat peanuts...
(They then make their merry way back to the viceroy palace.)
Brother, sister hanging out, what be better than that?
...
Sewers
Lelouch stopped for a moment to catch his breath.
"That's how Cornelia is. She's nothing at all like Clovis. Ah!" He sees a figure approaching him in his Zero costume. "Why did you rescue me?" He demanded.
The figure took of the mask, revealing to be C.C.
"I told you already. I can't have you dying." C.C. replied nonchalantly.
"I wouldn't have lost if the conditions were equal." Lelouch said angrily.
"You sore loser. If you're really that good, you should be able to set up conditions the way you want." C.C. came back with. Making Lelouch narrow his eyes at her.
"That's what I'll do then, I'll set them up. I'll raise an army that can't lose to Britannia. A people, a nation!" Lelouch said with a voice a leader should have.
"Perhaps Joseph is right. If I want trust, I need to start giving some trust...I'm actually considering his advice, dear God, I am falling short of myself" Lelouch thought in his head.
...
Viceroy Palace
Joseph sneezed.
"Bless you." Euphemia said as she scooped another ball of ice cream into her bowl.
"Person talking at me." Joseph said as he swiped his nose with his sleeve.
"Oh yes, I believe that's an old Japanese belief." Euphemia happily commented.
"Yep-per-rooni." Joseph said with his dopey smile, making Euphemia giggle.
"And what are you two doing?" Cornelia asked walking into the kitchen.
"Sister you're back!" Euphemia gleefully said as she went over to Cornelia and pulled her into a hug.
"Here!" Joseph said as he pushed a bowl of ice cream into hands.
"Ice cream?" Cornelia asked confused.
"Yep. Joseph thought it be nice to have some together." Euphemia explained as Joseph sprayed whip cream onto her ice cream and then Cornelia's and then his.
"Sprinkles?" Joseph asked, shaking the container.
"Yes please." Euphemia said politely. He gestured to Cornelia.
"No thanks." Cornelia simply said with a small smile, not minding a sweet here and there.
"So, how was your mission? Are you any closer to getting Zero?" Euphemia asked.
"He made an appearance-" Cornelia was about to explain when Joseph came inches to her face in seconds.
"Oooh! Zero there?! Was it cool!?" Joseph asked excited.
"...I didn't take into factor whether it was 'cool' or not. He was there for moment and gone the next." Cornelia explained.
"Like Batman." Joseph said in awe, and then moving his coat over his body like a cape. Making Euphemia giggle and Cornelia sigh.
"Uh...yes. But enough about military. How was your day? Did you behave yourself? And Euphie, did you make sure he stayed out of trouble?" Cornelia asked suspiciously
Joseph and Euphemia looked at each other and smiled.
"Yep. It was a nice day." Euphemia said with positivity.
"All bright in sunlight!" Joseph rhymed happily.
"Mmm-hmm." Cornelia muttered, not entirely convinced.
"Very well. How about we enjoy our ice cream in the living room and you two can tell me more about it." Cornelia suggested with a cunning smile.
"Ok, Cornbread." Joseph agreed.
Euphemia had to cover her mouth from spewing out her ice cream from laughing. That was definitely a new nickname for her sister.
Cornelia on the other hand just sputter her words from being given a food name.
Joseph on the other hand was just happy, today was another great day.
It could only get better after this.
...
This time I took this chapter to be more of a filler and to establish Joseph and Euphemia's relationship with each other, yeah the singing is silly but it's suppose to be, they're having a fun time together as brother and sister. The Saitama incident will be addressed in the next chapter and we will be seeing more canon in upcoming chapters as I wanted to finally get back to it. As for Joseph and the Charles, while he is mad at his dad, he doesn't hate him and more of their relationship will be expanded upon in later chapters. Anyway, hope you enjoy and comment.