Do Something, Do It Stupid

by codegeassfan123

Everyone knows about the Britannian Imperial Family, even Lady Marianne's deceased children have their place in history. Yet everyone often forgets about the one prince that left Pendragon 7 and a 1/2 years ago, and that's the Dimwitted Prince, Joseph Du Britannia. Now that he's crossed paths with his brother on a highway in Area 11, there's no telling what adventures might ensue.

40. Hearts and Bananas!

Area 11

Apartment

"Joseph, why are we doing this again?" Kallen asked blankly as she shredded cheese on a grater.

She and Joseph were currently making a pizza for C.C. They been stuck eating miso soup and rice for awhile and she really wanted a change.

"Because cooking fun!" Joseph said delightfully as he rolled the dough.

"But we won't even get any! She'll she just hog it all for herself!" Kallen said, annoyed.

"Then cut slices, give rest!" Joseph offered.

"No sharing, no deal." C.C. said with a bored tone as she entered the kitchen to see where their process was. "And could you be a little faster, I'm getting hungry." She practically ordered.

"If you're so antsy, then why don't you make it?" Kallen asked angrily.

"I find the labor of others more satisfying." C.C. said offhandedly.

"Now you listen here...!" Kallen said, ready to give C.C. a mouthful.

"Ladies, ladies. Please, Zen mode." Joseph said in a chill tone as he moved in between the two. "Stuck here making cabin fever, totally get. But no let moods sour, three friends after all." He told them.

"Friend isn't exactly the word I use when describing her." Kallen said as she stared at C.C. with narrow eyes.

"Same." C.C. said giving her a smirk just to piss her off.

"Not yet. Eventually!" Joseph optimistically, making Kallen sigh and roll her eyes. "Besides, other ways to make fun." He happily offered.

"Like what?" Kallen asked.

Joseph then took a spreader out of a jar of tomato sauce and smack it right on C.C.'s forehead. Kallen gasped in surprise.

"That." Joseph said with a dopey smile.

"Real mature." C.C. said, unamused, as the tomato sauce fell down her head.

For a moment, Kallen didn't say anything. Until she burst out laughing, having to cover her mouth so she wouldn't be too loud.

"It's not an egg on your face but I'll take it!" Kallen said hysterically, now clutching her sides.

C.C., now getting annoyed, went over to a bowl of flour, grabbed a handful, and blew it right into Kallen's face, who ended up coughing from it.

"There, now no one can see those wrinkles of yours." C.C. teased with a devilish smirk.

"Why you little..." Kallen started to say only to meet a spreader with tomato sauce across her cheek. She looked in shock at the grinning Joseph. "Joe! I thought you were on my side!" She complained.

To which he then grabbed the jar of tomato sauce "En garde!" He shouted as he held out the spreader like a sword.

Kallen screamed as she dodged a glob of tomato sauce and quickly grabbed the bowl of flour.

"Alright mister, you want it, you got it!" Kallen said playfully as she threw flour at him.

"Ho-Ho! Skillful! But not enough!" Joseph said dramatically as he continued to stain Kallen with tomato sauce.

"Hey! You're wasting the ingredients!" C.C. said angrily as she stepped in between the two. "The pizza will never get made at this point." She complained.

The two looked at her and then looked at each other. Kallen smirked at Joseph and he smirked back.

Kallen then dumped her bowl of flour on C.C.'s head, Joseph followed up with his jar of tomato sauce.

"Now you a-pizza!" Joseph said with a faux Italian accent.

Kallen then put a handful of cheese on her head. "Bon ap-petite!" She said with an equally bad Italian accent.

C.C. took a deep breath and calmly said: "That's...it..."

She then yanked the jar right out of Joseph's hand and threw a handful of tomato sauce at Kallen, who screamed and laughed. She returned fire with the remaining bag of flour.

"Food fight!" Joseph cheered as he grabbed the shredded cheese and threw it at the girls.

They threw their food at each other for what felt like forever, Joseph and Kallen laughing during all of it. Even C.C. was starting to enjoy herself.

It finally ended when they all slipped and fell on the tomato sauce underneath them. Making Joseph and Kallen laugh even harder.

"I guess we're all pizza now." Kallen joked as she sat up, flour, tomato sauce, and cheese all over her.

Joseph stuck his finger out, swiped his finger on Kallen's cheek and tasted it. "Mmmm. Not bad!" He said happily, making Kallen chuckle.

"You're such a goofball." Kallen teased.

"And proud!" He declared proudly.

Kallen just smiled at him, the lovable moron.

C.C. couldn't help but shake her head in amusement. Even if her pizza was ruined, that was actually fun.

"I suppose I'll take a shower." She said as she got up and headed towards the bathroom.

"Hey, me first!" Kallen challenged as she chased after her.

...

Chinese Federation

Forbidden City

"Lady Xianglin, the guests are fleeing the reception hall just as we predicted, but we have reports that Zero has shown up as well." A Chinese Federation Soldier said.

"Zero? Section three, report your break in status. Master Xingke needs backup at once!" Xianglin ordered. "Could it be…? Is Zero using our plan for his own purposes?" She wondered.

"That's not the only thing, Lady Xianglin..." The soldier said awkwardly.

...

"Joseph, what the Hell?!" Lelouch thought angrily as this was the worse time to intervene.

"What's he doing here?" Xingke muttered in annoyance.

"Joseph..." Nina muttered quietly.

"Move along! No be perverts!" Joseph continued to yell through the megaphone at the running guests. He made his way up to the front.

"Good old Joe." Milly said with a sweat drop.

"Excuse me, but what-" Xingke tried to talk to Joseph, only for him to walk right past, infuriating him even more.

"Joseph, whatever this is-" Zero tried to talk.

"ZERO!" Joseph shouted through the megaphone right in Zero's face, making him back up. "Step away from girl!" He ordered.

He did so just to save his ears. Joseph then crouched down to Tianzi's level with a look of concern.

"A-Ok?" Joseph asked.

"Y-Yes. T-Thank you for asking." Tianzi said, actually feeling a bit better that her "new brother" was here.

"Joseph, I thought you agreed to the plan." Zero said with gritted teeth.

"Am. Just making 'betta', much 'betta'!" Joseph said with a faux Italian accent, getting a giggle out of Tianzi and an unamused look from Xingke.

"Joseph. What is it you're trying to do here?" Schneizel asked, approaching the group.

"Rescue child, big bro. Being used for own gain, not right!" Joseph declared. "Not leave with Britannia because gross marriage. No leave here because gross pedos!" Joseph said, pointing to the High Eunuchs, shocking them.

"How dare you!" The small High Eunuch said.

"We are nothing of the sort!" The High Eunuch with the glasses said angrily.

"Uh huh. And Schnitzel not gay." Joseph said in an un-believing tone.

Schneizel couldn't help but arch an eyebrow up, wondering how his sexuality came into the conversation. While Kanon's cheeks turned red as he coughed into his fist.

"Joseph! If that's how you feel, then why not just give the Empress to me. I'll protect her!" Xingke bargained.

"Love to! But you not enough! Gotta do together, not mano-e-mano! This Risk not Candyland! It ain't octagon, it ain't hexagon, and really not polygon!" Joseph proclaimed determinedly.

"...Do you hear yourself when you talk?" Xingke asked with genuine curiosity.

"Drift in and out." Joseph told him with his dopey smile.

"Enough of this! Guards! Seize him!" The short High Eunuch ordered.

*CRASH*

Before the Guards had a chance to do anything, a knightmare crashed through the ceiling.

"You even had a Knightmare prepared for this?" Xingke said in surprise.

Inside the knightmare was Tohdoh.

"I never thought the Zangetsu's first mission would be the stealing a bride from a wedding." Tohdoh said humorously.

"Tohdoh, get Schneizel." Zero told him.

"Right. I'm on it." Tohdoh said, and as he was about to grab Schneizel, a slash harken came heading right towards him, which he quickly deflected. "He's already here." He stated.

Up in the sky, was the Lancelot.

"Hands off the prince." Suzaku said through the speakers.

"Suzaku!" Tohdoh said as he charged into the Lancelot.

"It can't be. Master Tohdoh?" Suzaku said in surprise.

Back inside the wedding hall, Gino turned towards the Princes.

"Flee while you can, Your Highness." Gino advised

"I guess it can't be helped. Brother." Schneizel said as he put a hand on Odysseus' shoulder.

"Yes, I think we should." Odysseus said warily.

"Schneizel!" Lelouch thought angrily.

"Come on, Nina." Milly said, pulling her friend towards safety.

"But what about Joseph?" Nina said with worry.

"He..." Before Milly could say anymore, she realized something. "He's gone!" Milly said in surprise.

The others noticed this as well, and somebody else was missing as well.

"The Empress is gone too!" The big High Eunuch said.

"Damn it! They must have left while we were distracted!" Zero thought angrily as this day was not going the way he wanted.

"I am going to cut that idiot's head off!" Xingke said angrily as he rushed out of the hall.

"We should let the military handle this. " The big High Eunuch advised, the others agreed

It was then Kallen and Kaguya came running into the hall.

"What the! Where's the Empress?!" Kallen asked.

"Joseph took her." Zero grumbled.

"Ugh! Of course he did." Kallen groaned miserably as she rubbed her head.

Soon enough, Chiba came in with her own knightmare that was holding an aircraft container.

"Zero, should we change tactics?" Chiba asked.

"No. Enter phase 3.

"We're on our way." Chiba complied.

"Kallen, get in the Guren and find Joseph and the Empress." Zero ordered.

"Yes, Zero." Kallen said.

...

"Okay. Can open now!" Joseph her excitedly as he set her down.

Tianzi slowly opened her eyes and they widened in shock by what was in front of her.

It was land, land that was outside the walls of the forbidden city. There were mountains and canyons miles and miles across. It was a beautiful sight to see.

"The outside..." Tianzi said quietly as tears started to build up in her eyes. She then looked down and realized they were standing right on top of the wall of the Forbidden City.

"EEP!" Tianzi squeaked in shock as she backpedaled a bit.

"Oop! Watch step!" Joseph said as he held her in place. "Viola! Outside city!" Joseph said happily as he waved his arm towards the open area.

"But...but how did you..." Tianzi started to ask, as she never actually had the chance to tell him.

"Heard Xingke yelling. Figured do that! Get away from chaos." Joseph explained.

"It's beautiful..." Tianzi said in awe as she continued to look on.

Joseph just smiled and sat down on the edge of the wall and offered her to do the same, which she accepted.

She breathed in the fresh air. "It feels so long since I could truly breath like this. Thank you." Tianzi told him gratefully.

"No prob, bob!" Joseph said with a palm facing forward salute, getting another giggle out of her. "So, guess not be siblings now." He said, a bit disappointed that he couldn't get a new sister.

"I guess not..." Tianzi said, also feeling a bit dejected. But then an idea struck her head. "But you remind me of Xingke in some ways, and he's like a father to me. Maybe, you can be my uncle." She happily suggested.

"Hmmm, 'Uncle Joe'..." Joseph said as he thought about it before breaking out into a huge grin. "Love it! Uncle Joe to rescue!" He cheered as he pulled his arms forwards as if he was flying.

"Yay!" Tianzi cheered as well.

After they calmed down, Joseph decided to get back to the main topic.

"Sorry again for chaos. But desperate times, desperate measures!" Joseph told her.

"But why does Zero want to kidnap me? Are the stories about him being a terrorist true?" Tianzi asked with worry.

Joseph blew raspberries at that. "Marla-key it be! Admiral Zero superhero! Helping those in need, pillar of Justice, whatever deed!" He rhymed with passion, Tianzi looked at him in awe. "Wants Xingke as buddy, but needs you for convincing. Only listen to you, so can help make friendship!" He explained enthusiastically.

While Tianzi could understand that, she was still cautious and was rather curious about something.

"Xingke told me that Zero killed Princess Euphemia. That must have hurt you a lot considering she was your sister." Tianzi said.

Joseph's expression turned to surprise then sullen at that.

"Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to upset you!" Tianzi told him quickly, already regretting saying it. "It's just, what she did was wrong. But what he did must have been wrong to you too! I guess I'm just trying to understand why you yourself follow him with the pain he caused you to endure." She said with confusion.

Joseph looked at her solemnly and a thought came to mind.

...

The Guren flew around the Forbidden City.

"Damn it Joe, of all times, you choose now not to follow the plan." Kallen muttered to herself in annoyance.

A few moments later, she caught something on her monitor. She zoomed in and found who she was looking for.

Joseph du Britannia and Empress Tianzi, apparently playing a clapping game of sorts.

She looked at them stupefied before sighing. "Oh Joe..." She then contacted Lelouch. "Zero, I found them."

"Good. Bring them back to the Ikaruga immediately." Zero told her.

As the Guren was approaching, Joseph and Tianzi continued their clapping game while singing along to a song from Joseph's walkman.

I wanna take you higher

Baby, baby, baby, light my fire

I wanna take you higher

Soon enough, they saw the Guren approaching.

"Oooh. Cherry Dynamite!" Joseph said excitedly as he got up with Tianzi.

"Cherry Dynamite?" Tianzi asked nervously, a bit scared by the flying knightmare.

"Yep! Best bud Kallen inside!" Joseph told her.

The Guren stopped a few feet away and opened its cockpit, revealing an annoyed Kallen.

"Hey, Kal Pal!" Joseph said as he happily waved at her.

"Joe." Kallen said tiredly before turning to Tianzi. "Apologies for the situation, Empress." She said with a small bow of her head to her.

"Oh, it's okay! Uncle Joe was just showing me how clapping can be fun!" Tianzi said excitedly.

"Yeah!" Joseph cheered.

"'Uncle Joe?'" Kallen asked with a quirked eyebrow.

"Mmm-hmm." Joseph hummed smugly with a proud smile.

"Damn it, why does he always have to look so cute!" Kallen groaned internally before shaking her head. "Come on." She said simply as she gestured them to come in.

Joseph then lifted up Tianzi, who made a surprised squeak, before jumping onto the Guren's shoulder and putting her into the cockpit with Kallen.

"Aren't you coming in too, Uncle Joe?" Tianzi asked.

"Nope. Best seat up here!" Joseph said excitedly as he jumped on top of the Guren's head.

Tianzi looked at Kallen in concern.

"It okay, he's...a professional..." Kallen reassured her awkwardly.

...

"They've taken out our strike force, haven't they?" Xingke asked rhetorically.

He, along with Xianglin and other soldiers loyal to him were arrested by the High Eunuchs and were currently being held in an underground prison.

"How did you know that?' The bespectacled High Eunuch asked.

"If I were in their place I'd hang back and stage an ambush at the Shen Chun ravine." Xingke told him.

"And then?" The big High Eunuch asked.

"Then I join up with my main force in Shao Pei." Xingke continued.

"Hmm, Xingke, we're willing to overlook your crimes if you can bring back our empress." The big High Eunuch offered.

"We'll even give you a new weapon." The short High Eunuch added.

Xingke looked at them in surprise and then thought about his Empress.

...

Avalon

"How is Prince Odysseus?" Lloyd asked.

"He seems to have calmed down at last. He's resting." Schneizel told them.

"And Milly and Nina?" Suzaku asked.

"They're in the living room getting situated. They're fine." Kanon reassured him.

"Then, once we replace my float unit, I can go after the empress." Suzaku told them.

"No, we can't go there unless requested by the Chinese Federation." Kanon said.

"I understand, but we're missing our chance." Suzaku insisted.

...

Ikaurga

Knightmare Hangar

"Zero, here they come." Ohgi said as he saw the Guren approaching, with Joseph riding on top of its back.

"That went more smoothly than I'd hoped, even with Joseph complicating things. Perhaps I should thank Xingke for setting his own plan in motion. He's a talented strategist." Zero said gratefully.

Even without the Guren's assistance, they were able to bypass the soldiers chasing after them with a trap he set up for them, thankfully he found some of Xingke's men setting their own and with a bit of "persuasion" he was able to make it work through his own hands.

The Guren landed and Joseph jumped off with ease.

"(Sighs happily)Always fun." Joseph said.

"You damn moron! What the Hell were you thinking!? You almost ruined everything!" Tamaki said angrily.

"You could have derailed our plan!" Chiba said.

"What good plan if it farts apples?" Joseph argued.

Chiba and Tamaki stared at him trying to decipher what he said before Tamaki yelled, "...What?!"

"Would you guys calm down! She's here, isn't she?" Kallen told them, not in the mood as she helped Tianzi down.

"Exactly, everyone just relax." Urabe said.

Zero then kneeled down to Tianzi's level and spoke softly. "Your highness. I apologize again for all this suddenness, but-"

"It's okay, Zero." Tianzi said, surprising Zero and the group surrounding them. "I don't understand everything that goes on in the world just yet, but I am the Empress and I want to help my people. I want to do good things like you do, and Uncle Joe said that's what a superhero does." She told him brightly.

Lelouch looked at her in shock, not expecting the conversation to go like this at all. He looked up at Joseph who smiled brightly while Tamaki and Chiba looked at him in disbelief, Kallen gave them a teasing smirk, and Urabe looked on with a smile.

"Well...I'm glad you feel that way, Empress. I hope we can create a true partnership from this." Before Zero could continue, Tianzi had more to say.

"I do have one request though. Li Xingke has been there for me ever since I was a little girl, I ask that he remain by my side." Tianzi said, a bit nervously as she never had to really negotiate before.

"Your Majesty. Is Li Xingke the one you'd really like to be married to?" Kaguya asked, shocking the others.

"Huh? Oh, no. He just made a promise. I told him I wanted to go outside six years ago." Tianzi explained.

"As your fiancé? It was that long ago? He must be destined for yo-" Kaguya cheered before having her lips pinched together by Joseph.

"Ka-guya. Stop being Pedo." Joseph said sternly.

He let go of her lips and she gave him a pout. "You're no fun." Kaguya said with a huff.

"Right now, Xingke is probably in the High Eunuchs' custody for his attempted coup et' tat. When the time comes, we'll rescue him and bring him back to you." Zero told her, she gave him a firm nod. "Joseph, Kaguya, why don't you take her to the living quarters where she can settle down." He suggested as he rose back up.

"Aye-aye!" Joseph saluted with his palming facing forward. "Come little niece, shall teach hopscotch!" He told Tianzi as he offered his hand to her.

"Okay!" Tianzi said excitedly as she took his hand.

They went on their way with Kaguya happily following them from behind.

"By the way, do you prefer Admiral Zero?" Tianzi asked, turning around for a quick moment.

"...Zero's just fine..." Zero said blankly as he could hear snickering from C.C., Kallen, and even Tamaki.

Tianzi nodded and they went on their way.

"Everyone else, don't get too comfortable. The High Eunuchs will be coming eventually with their own forces to take back the Empress.

"Yes Zero!" The Black Knights said in unison, Zero then went on his way with C.C.

"Well that was certainly unexpected." C.C. said blankly as she clutched her Cheese-kun.

"But helpful nonetheless. Perhaps I should just let Joseph do the peace talks from now on." Zero said with a chuckle as they entered the elevator.

"He certainly knows how to snake his way into people's hearts. But are you sure you want leave her with Kaguya too?" C.C. asked.

"I think 'Uncle Joe' will be able to keep a leash on her." Lelouch said with a smirk inside his mask, C.C. smirked back.

They entered the main operating room, Diethard, Ohgi, Rakshata, and Minami were also there.

"Is there news from Horai island?" Zero asked.

"Reinforcements from India have already arrived there." Diethard told him.

"We just have to return and rendezvous with them. How are things with the Empress?" Ohgi asked before they suddenly felt an explosion and an alarm go off.

"An attack? Our forward Knightmare unit is being wiped out!" A bespectacled, brown-haired Black Knight technician named Hinata said.

"Stop! All units come to a halt!" Ohgi ordered.

The knightmares outside did as such.

"Strange… It should have at least an hour before we encountered enemy forces. Unless someone is guessing our moves in advance." Lelouch theorized to himself

Up ahead, they could see the destroyed knightmares and one flying in the air.

"A Knightmare?" A purple-haired Black Knight technician named Ayame asked in confusion.

"Zoom in, hurry!" Minami told them.

They zoomed in and saw it to be a purple knigmare, with red shoulders and grey knee and shoulder pads. In its center was a green cannon of sorts.

The Black Knights looked in shock, even Rakshata was surprised.

"What is it? Why is it equipped with the same flight system we use?" Lelouch wondered.

...

Kallen saw this from the hangar.

"Shit." Kallen thought to herself as she hurried to the Guren.

...

Desert Outskirts

"Knightmare frame Shen Hu. And it's only running at 40% of full output. How could the High Eunuchs have built it?" Xingke wonder to himself from inside the knightmare frame.

"Flight-enabled or not, it's only one unit. Surround it!" Asahina said arrogantly.

"No, hold on!" Chiba tried to warn.

"You underestimate the Shen Hu with your peril." Xingke said casually as he shot out a slash harken and shot it into a knightmare and flung it over him.

He shot another slash harken and threw a knightmare into another.

"How dare you!" Chiba said angrily as she charges her ACMl Zikisan towards him.

"Silence! You people have no say here!" Xingke said as he spun the Shen Hu's harkens into a fast circular motion at rapid speed, forcing her back. "Can you hear me, Zero?" He called out.

...

Ikaruga

"It can't be! Xingke?" Zero said in surprise.

...

Desert Outskirts

"Now, return the Empress. Do it and I spare your lives." Xingke bargained, ready to attack.

...

Ikaruga

"Xingke, listen to me. The Empress wants to help us, she's with Kaguya and Joseph right now." Zero tried to tell him.

"Enough of your lies, Zero! If you won't give me the Empress, I'll take her back!" Xingke said as he started to charge towards the Ikaruga.

...

Desert Outskirts

"XINGKE!" Kallen yelled as she charged her Guren at the Shen Hu.

"A flight-enabled Guren!? Kallen Kozuki!" Xingke realized as he blocked the Guren's dagger attack in the nick of time with the Shen Hu's sword. "Even so the Shen Hu will crush you!" He said determinedly.

...

Ikaruga

"Kallen! Disable his knightmare and capture him. We need him alive." Zero ordered.

"Understood!" Kallen said.

"Damn it. Don't force Kallen to kill you, Xingke!" Lelouch thought stressfully.

...

Knightmare Hangar

"Can we deploy the Zangetsu?" Tohdoh asked, wanting to help Kallen.

"Well we just detached float unit so…" The Black Knight started to say, disappointing Tohdoh.

Urabe couldn't go out there either yet. His ACM was still recharging after holding off the Chinese Federation soldiers on the road earlier.

"Yeah, get him Kallen!" Tamaki cheered as he looked the fight from the rails.

"But it isn't recharged." A Black Knight told him.

"Relax, buddy. She fought off the Knights of the Round before with the Guren just like that." Tamaki reassured him.

...

Desert Outskirts

Back on the battlefield, the Guren's back opened, revealing a bunch of missiles.

"Scatter shot!" Kallen yelled from inside the Guren as she launched the missiles, all of which the Shen Hu dodged effortlessly. "Not bad. But I'm the Black Knight Ace!" She said not deterred at all as she readied her Radiant Wave Surger.

"Show me, Shen Hu. Show me your power!" Xingke said from inside his knightmare as he charged up the cannon in its center.

...

Ikaruga

"Oh no, that's…" Yusk, one of Rakshata's assistant said fearfully.

"You know what it is?" Zero asked.

"He knows. Because our team built it." Rakshata told him.

"What are you saying?" C.C. asked.

"We developed it at the same time as the Guren. But it was too high spec to handle. A one-off kind Knightmare but no pilot could master. Until now." Rakshata explained.

...

Desert Outskirts

"Eat this!" Kallen yelled, launching a blast from the Radiant Wave Surger.

"Try this!" Xingke yelled, launching a blast from the chest cannon.

The blast struck each other, equally powered, creating a massive shockwave.

...

Ikaruga

The shockwave was felt by Joseph, Kaguya, and Tianzi. Who were showing the young Empress the fundamentals of Tic-Tac-Toe.

"What was that?" Kaguya asked in surprise.

"Is everything okay?" Tianzi asked fearfully.

"No worries! Will check!" Joseph told her as he patted her head, making her feel a bit more at ease. "Eat your gophers while gone." He cheered as he left.

Tianzi gave Kaguya a quizzical look at that.

"He likes to use words in his own way..." Kaguya said with a sweat drop.

...

Desert Outskirts

As Kallen was about to strike the finishing blow, her system started to alarm.

"My power supply!" Kallen said in fear.

And instead of her striking the Shen Hu, it instead wrapped the Guren up in cables.

...

Ikaruga

"Kallen!" Ohgi shouted in fear.

...

Knightmare Hangar

"I said that she should have recharged first!" Tamaki yelled, making the others sigh around him.

...

Desert Outskirts

Back on the battlefield, Ashaina and Chiba flew their ACMs towards them.

"The cockpit block's wrapped up. She can't eject!" Asahina said.

"We can cut the cables with the pincer move." Chiba said, ready to do as such.

Only for the Shen Hu to point its sword towards the Guren's cockpit, stopping them in their tracks.

"I didn't choose this course, you did. I have only one objective. To release the Empress. Release her at once!" Xingke ordered from inside his knightmare, only for him to start coughing up blood. "Damn it! Now of all times. Can I fight like this?" Xingke wondered, his odds of success starting to decrease.

Only for a missile to hit Chiba's ACM, thankfully blocked by her shield.

"What?!" Chiba said in confusion.

...

Ikaruga

"Chinese Federation behind us. A huge force!" Hinata told Zero.

...

Desert Outskirts

And indeed it was a huge force.

Knightmares all in rows of each other, firing at the same time. And in the center was a pyramid-like command center that held the High Eunuchs and a restrained Xiaglin inside.

...

High Eunuchs' Command Center

"Anti-aircraft barrage. Cover master Xingke." Xianglin ordered.

...

Desert Outskirts

"Thank you, Xianglin." Xingke said gratefully from inside his knightmare as he flew the Shen Hu towards the command center with the Guren in his grasp.

"No, hold on a minute!" Kallen said fearfully from inside her knightmare. She knew her situation just got incredibly worse.

Asahina and Chiba tried to go after her but the returning fire kept them at bay.

"K-Kallen, no." Asahina said worriedly from inside his knightmare.

...

Ikaruga

Knightmare Hangar

"The Chinese Federation?" Tohdoh said in surprise.

"Kallen!" Urabe said with worry.

...

Back in the command center, the Black Knights looked on worry, wondering what would become of their comrade, especially Lelouch.

"She's their prisoner? NO! Impossible!" Lelouch thought with dread. "Kallen, is your radio working?!" Zero asked hastily.

"Sorry, I failed you." Kallen said sadly through the comms.

"Forget about that! Don't give up. I promise we'll save you. Am I clear? No hasty moves." Zero told her.

...

From inside her knightmare, Kallen nodded determinedly. She knew Lelouch wouldn't let her down.

"Right. I understand! I won't give up!" She said.

Then she thought about Joseph, and she remembered what she said when she fell from the ship trying to get Nunnally:

"I'm falling. Forgive me, Guren…Mother…Naoto…Joe..."

And she knew she would catch flack from Kaguya, C.C., and her mom later.

...

Ikaruga

"But just in case...tell Joseph...tell him that I-" And before Kallen could finish, her radio died.

Rakshata couldn't help cringe, wondering what would become of her Guren!

"Kallen..." Ohgi said with worry.

"Tell me what?" A voice asked.

The Black Knights turned to see that Joseph was standing by the door, looking confused.

...

Avalon

In the living area, Milly and Nina were at this point getting bored waiting. Suddenly they heard a camera click and saw Anya take a picture of them.

"Ah, Knight of the Round?" Nina asked curiously.

...

Ikaruga

As the Chinese Federation continued to fire at them, Joseph was given the bad news.

"CAPTURED?! Gotta get back now!" Joseph told them quickly. "TRIM THE SAILS! SLAP WIND WOOD BRACES! HALT PENANT LINE!" He barked while waving his arms around, determined to get his best bud back.

"Joseph, calm down!" Zero told him sternly.

"But he's right, though! Hurry! Bring the Ikaruga around immediately!" Ohgi ordered.

"I respectfully suggest we withdraw." Diethard said calmly.

"WHAT?!" Joseph said aghast.

"We have to get Kallen back!" Ohgi told him angrily.

"You're saying we just leave her?" Minami asked.

"Mr. Minami, consider our choice. You don't take on them enemy like the Chinese Federation over a single life, no matter who it is. We must preserve our military strength and hold out until we rendezvous with the Indian forces. Zero, it's your decision. You gave special comfort to Captain Kozuki before. If you show her favoritism now, it could put our entire operation that risk. It could ruin us. In the end, Kallen Kozuki is a single combat loss." Diethard stated.

To which Joseph punched him square in the nose, breaking it and sending him flying into a monitor. Making a lot of the Black Knights gasp in shock, Rakshata just raised an eyebrow in surprise.

"Joe!" Ohgi said in shock.

Joseph, with a very peeved look, walked over to the groaning Diethard who was struggling to get up while holding his broken nose. He grabbed him by the neck and lifted him up and looked ready to break him in too. His grip getting tighter and tighter.

"Kallen not combat loss. Best bud. Deserves saving." Joseph said with a dark tone.

That feeling he felt back when he, Kallen, and C.C. were roommates were coming back. It was louder and...scared?

"Joseph, stop!" Minami tried to say.

"Enough! I've made my decision! We're going in now!" Zero declared.

Joseph's mode turned to excitement as he let go of Diethard, who inhale a gallon full of air. "Yay!" Joseph cheered.

Ohgi and C.C. looked at him in relief.

"But why? If we lose we'll be crushed." Diethard said with a hoarse voice.

"If the Indian forces betray us we'll also be crushed." Zero told him.

And it wasn't just to stop Joseph from killing Diethard. Kallen had been by side at his darkest moment, he wasn't going to abandon her now!

"Yes, but-"

"SHUT IT!" Joseph yelled a pointing finger at Diethard, who instantly shut his mouth, knowing he would probably be killed by the moron prince if he continued to object.

"Chiba and Asahina, use a crane wing formation. We'll teach Xingke the difference between strategy and tactics!" Zero told them.

"Right. Yes sir" Ohgi said with a smile.

"Thank you, Zero." Minami complied.

"To the rescue!" Joseph yelled determinedly.

...

Avalon

"We've been told to stand by here and wait for orders." Suzaku told the girls.

"Oh. I see." Milly said. "Say, Suzaku, did you see these?" She asked, confusing him. "Show him those photos, Lady Alstreim." She said to Anya.

"What are they?" Suzaku asked curiously.

"Here." Anya said blankly as she showed him the pictures on her phone.

"Oh, from my welcome home party." Suzaku said.

There was one of Gino eating chicken wings, another of Villetta and a student showing off their swimsuits, another of Rivalz giving orders to make the giant pizza.

"You certainly have a lot of photos, Lady Alstreim." Nina said.

"I like to record as many memories as I can, as I don't know when I'll forget again." Anya said as she continued to scroll through the photos, one more embarrassing than the others.

"Huh? Forget?" Nina asked curiously

"Oh, Lelouch." Suzaku said as he saw a photo of Lelouch and a girl with a bag on her head.

It was strange, thoughts about Lelouch would usually make him angry. But now...they seemed more conflicted.

"Huh? Lelouch?" Anya asked curiously.

"If Shirley saw that she'd be really mad." Suzaku said awkwardly. "Oh, that's right. We have to contact Ashford. But I need get permission first." Suzaku told Milly.

As they talked amongst each other, Anya scrolled through her photos and found one she was looking for.

"Is this also Lelouch?" Anya wondered as she looked at the photo of a 10-year old boy with black hair and violet eyes.

...

Desert Outskirts

"Black Knights, prepare for battle! The terrain offers little cover. And there's no geographic advantage." Zero told his troops.

The Black Knights were in their knightmares, when Tohdoh and his Zangetsu leading them.

...

Ikaruga

"Yeah! Screw them assholes! Hard!" Joseph cheered, not noticing the uncomfortable groans from the others.

...

High Eunuchs' Command Center

From inside the command center, the Guren was tied down by cables with Kallen trapped inside. Xingke had gotten his knightmare recharged, took his medicine, and was ready for battle again.

"The enemy forces are improvised one. Their chain of command is all focused on Zero. However their Knightmare Frames give them an advantage." Xingke told the soldiers from inside his knightmare.

...

Ikaruga

"So the Chinese Federation battle plan would be…" Zero continued.

...

"To put the Shen Hu on the front line and break through…" Xingke continued.

...

"Our center!" Zero finished.

...

Desert Outskirts

Xingke launched the Shen Hu out to the battlefield.

"I'll stop the Shen Hu with my Zangetsu!" Tohdoh said determined as he launched his knightmare upward, his sword clashed with Xingke's.

...

Ikaruga

"Go Sensei!" Joseph cheered.

...

Desert Outskirts

"Dragon Cavalry three, our range is superior so keep firing as you advance!" Xingke ordered from inside his knightmare.

...

Ikaruga

"We've blocked Xingke. Akatsuki team, fire!" Zero ordered

...

Desert Outskirts

The knightmares fired from both sides as they advanced upon each other.

"It's true that Xingke's pinned down. but so is Tohdoh. Therefore the battle will be decided by the skill of the warriors!" Hong Gu said from inside his knightmare.

"Hit the enemy force head on and hammer their advanced unit! Ignore their left and right flanks!" Xingke ordered.

"Without Kozuki, we are one move behind in this game." Tohdoh observed from inside his knightmare.

...

Ikaruga

"They've broken into our center." A black haired Black Knight techincian named Minase told them as she observed her screen.

"Where's their main force?" Ohgi asked.

"On a forward line." Minase told them.

"Right. All tasks at hand are cleared. Begin counter attack. Chiba, right one! Asahina, left one! Use attack pattern sigma! Prepare for rearward fire! Focus barrage on main enemy force. Hit the forward units! Once the Shen Fu's power's used up and Xingke's neutralized the battle is ours." Zero ordered as he saw the his troops circle around the Chinese Federation soldiers.

...

Desert Outskirts

"Advance! If we get blocked down here we'll be wiped out!" Xingke told them.

...

Ikaruga

"We're taking Kallen back!" Ohgi said determinedly.

As Joseph looked on, he knew that while it was probably a good idea to let the soldiers do this, he couldn't just stand by and do nothing.

This was his Kal Pal, his best bud, the person who helped him through the darkest chapter of his life, and did so gratefully. She was rock star who had a sweet side to her but wasn't afraid to knock your lights out either.

It was then he thought about a few things.

He thought about how Milly and Rivalz still had their memories changed.

He thought about how Nunnally had to be separated from him and Lelouch.

He thought about Euphemia and how he would never get to see her again.

And that feeling...that feeling...

...

(Flashback)

A nine year old Joseph and his mother were having another one of their movie nights. Tonight it was a romantic comedy about a man who dates a woman who forgets everything the next day.

"So how's the cow?" Lucy asked.

"Same as you. Everyday they have to convince her she's a cow." Henry replied.

Joseph and Rebecca laughed at that.

"Waterboy hilarious!" Joseph said joyfully.

"Yeah. He and Drew Barrymore have great chemistry." Rebecca said.

"Chemistry?" Joseph asked.

"Yeah, it's when two things are able to flow with each other, no matter what." Rebecca happily explained.

"Like love?" He asked as he pointed at the TV.

"Exactly. Like love." She replied sweetly as she patted his head.

"Have great chemistry!" Joseph told her as he hugged his mom.

"Indeed we do." Rebecca said with a laugh as she returned the hug.

And then a thought entered Joseph's head.

"Mom, they love love right?" Joseph asked as he pointed to the tv again.

"That's right honey, they have feelings for each other." Rebecca explained.

"Like you and dad?" He asked curiously.

"Uh...what me and your father have is more of a business deal than a relationship." Rebecca told him awkwardly.

"Oh. Then how know what feelings for love?" Joseph asked with a tilted head.

"Unfortunately, it's kind of a unanswerable question. It's just something that sticks with you when you meet the right person, and it doesn't go away as long as you know them." She explained.

"I ever have feelings?" He asked.

"I know you will, my little Joe. It'll just be awhile til then." Rebecca told him happily as she poked his nose, making him laugh.

(Flashback End)

...

Ikaruga

And with that, Joseph tighten his knuckles and a determined look came across his face.

"I won't lose anybody else!"

...

Desert Outskirts

"Hit them hard!" Tamaki said.

"Prepare for hand-to-hand combat!" Urabe ordered. "Hang in there Kallen." He thought determinedly.

"Draw swords!" A row of Black Knights said as they pulled out swords from their knightmares.

"There's more? You've deployed all your forces to try to finish us, Zero?" Xingke said angrily.

...

High Eunuchs' Command Center

The High Eunuchs and Xianglin watched the battle continued from inside the control room.

"Such wild risks. His whole battle plan hinges on the Shen Hu." The bespectacled High Eunuch said dismissively.

"What a reckless daredevil!" The short High Eunuch said with annoyance.

"No. He's drawing Zero into his net. The true purpose of this formation is…" Xianglin started to tell him.

...

Desert Outskirts

Back on the battlefield, water started to flow out of the bank of the waterway.

...

Ikaruga

"Xingke, your plan was to rip down the bank of the waterway. But I lowered the water levels before the battle." Zero said with a laugh not realizing Joseph had left the room.

...

Desert Outskirts

"You think there isn't enough to trap you. That, Zero, is why you lost." Xingke said with a smirk inside his knightmare.

Suddenly, the Black Knights' knightmares in the water started to sink into the ground.

"Ah, what the Hell?!" Tamaki said fearfully.

"I can't pull out!" Chiba said, trying to pull her knightmare out.

"Damn it!" Urabe said angrily, also having futile attempts to do the same.

...

High Eunuchs' Command Center

"Wait! Isn't this…?" The bespectacled High Eunuch asked.

"Correct. It's all reclaimed irrigation land. Even Zero didn't know about the corruption and shoddy construction, the interior materials that would melt and give way beneath their feet. Xingke led away alone and then drew them back into the position he wanted." Xianglin explained.

...

Desert Outskirts

Back on the battlefield, the Chinese Federation soldiers continued to shoot at the immobile Black Knights.

...

Ikaruga

"He anticipated my moves. He knew I challenge him directly then deploy my forces in this exact formation?" Lelouch thought with shock.

...

Desert Outskirts

"It is the very land of our nation that is giving us this victory. Zero, you've lost!" Xingke said as he readied his cannon to shoot at Ikaruga.

...

Ikaruga

"Xingke!" Zero shouted with fury.

"HEEEEEEEEYYYYYY!" A loud angry voice yelled. It was coming from outside.

Zero gasped.

"Huh?" Ohgi asked in confusion.

...

Desert Outskirts

"What the..." Tamaki asked from inside his knightmare.

"You." Xingke muttered bitterly as he saw where that yell came from.

The other Black Knights looked in his direction and saw who it was too.

Chiba groaned in annoyance.

...

Ikaruga

"Kaguya, what's going on?" Tianzi asked worriedly.

Kaguya had a look of surprise on her face.

"It's..." Kaguya started to say.

...

Desert Outskirts

"Joseph?" Tohdoh said in surprise and confusion.

And indeed it was, Joseph was currently standing on top of the Ikaruga, megaphone in his hand, and staring at the Shen Hu with a very pissed off look on his face.

...

Ikaruga

"Joseph, what are you..." Lelouch frantically wondered.

...

Desert Outskirts

"What the Hell is he doing?" Sugiyama wondered from inside his knightmare.

He got his answer when Joseph put the megaphone to his mouth and yelled: "LET KAL PAL GO!"

Xingke could only grunt in annoyance. "As soon as you give me back the Empress!" He told him through the speakers.

"TIA A-OK! YOU BEING STUBBORN JERK! NOW GIVE BACK BEST BUD!" Joseph yelled furiously.

"Tia? Unbelievable." Xingke thought with annoyance. "It's too late anyway! Your 'Kal Pal' is locked up inside our command center! So the only way this end is with battle!" He told him as he pointed the Shen Hu's hand towards the pyramid command center.

Joseph looked at the command center, then at the soldiers on the ground, then back at Xingke with a determined expression.

"FINE! GET BACK SELF!" Joseph yelled.

...

Ikaruga

The Black Knights inside the control room gasped in shock. Lelouch's eyes widen in shock.

"WHAT?!" Lelouch thought incrediously.

"My, my." Rakshata said with an intrigued smirk.

...

Desert Outskirts

Joseph then proceeded to walk back several feet and threw the megaphone to the side.

"(Scoffs) Right." Xingke said from inside his knightmare, not believing him at all.

"Joseph, what the Hell are you doing?!" Tohdoh asked with shock from inside his knightmare.

"Oh come on! I know he's crazy but he's not that crazy!" Tamaki dismissed from inside his knightmare.

"Isn't he though?" Urabe asked from inside his knightmare. Remembering this was the same guy who thought it was a good idea to attack a teleporting knightmare by himself.

...

Ikaruga

"Zero, you don't think he'll actually..." Ohgi was afraid to finish the question.

"Joseph! If you can hear me, stand down now!" Zero ordered.

...

High Eunuchs' Command Center

"Oh my, what an idiotic man." The short High Eunuch said.

"It'll be quite entertaining to see him splattered all over the ground." The big High Eunuch said devilishly.

The High Eunuch chuckled at that while Xianglin looked on, feeling somewhat sorry for the dimwit.

...

Top of Ikaruga

"JOSEPH! I REPEAT! STAND DOWN! THAT'S AN ORDER!" Zero barked through the speakers.

Joseph didn't listen though, for he found a spot to get into a running position.

Xingke saw this from inside the Shen Hu and blinked in surprise. "He...he can't be serious..." Xingke said, not sure if what he was witnessing was real.

"Joseph, stop!" Tohdoh told him.

"Are you trying to get yourself killed?!" Tamaki asked in angry disbelief

While Chiba was also shocked by what was happening, she couldn't help but hope he would indeed bite a bullet.

Joseph cracked his neck and look towards the command center with determination.

He saw that the Black Knights were stuck inside some sort of muddy water, so he would have to avoid that for the moment. And of course, there was the Chinese Federation soldiers that were shooting at them, as well as Xingke in his big fancy robot.

"Easy, peasy." Joseph thought.

He inhale a breath,

listened to the rhythm of his heartbeat,

exhaled,

and charged.

...

Ikaruga

"JOSEPH! NO!" Zero shouted.

...

Desert Outskirts

"The man's insane!" Xingke said in shock from inside his knightmare.

Joseph picked up speed and jumped off the Ikaruga.

...

Ashford Academy

"Oh, really? You're okay then, madam prez?" 'Lelouch' asked Milly.

"I'm with Suzaku and the others. What's the news saying there?" Milly asked over the phone.

"The TV and radio's just talking about Zero now." 'Lelouch' told her.

"Oh thank god! Madam president is all right." Shirley said with relief. Rolo also smiled at the news.

"Tell her to get back here as soon as she can!" Rivalz yelled.

"And so it seems that Zero, the empire's greatest enemy, and the traitorous Prince Joseph are about to meet their end across the sea in the Chinese Federation." A News Reporter said.

...

Desert Outskirts

Joseph landed on the ground ease and ran like the dickens!

"COMING KAL PAL!" He shouted with passion.

"Joseph! Return to the Ikaruga at once!" Zero ordered.

"BLALALALALALALALA!" Joseph responded with a flickering tongue battle cry.

...

High Eunuchs' Command Center

"Such speed!" Xianglin thought with surprise as she observed the monitor.

"Should we open fire on him, sirs?" A Chinese Federation soldier asked.

"(Sighs)Why not? Might as well put him out of our misery." The big High Eunuch said with a bored tone.

...

Desert Outskirts

A few Chinese Federation soldiers aimed their knightmares at the fast approaching Joseph.

"Joseph, look out!" Urabe shouted through his speakers.

Joseph saw the knightmares and quickly jumped onto air and landed on of the knightmares stuck in the mud. He jumped on one after another, essentially playing leap frog with a barrage of bullets heading his way.

"Hey! Don't make them shoot at us!" Tamaki complained from inside his knightmare.

"SAR-RAY!" Joseph said with a faux Canadian accent.

Instead, he opted to leap frog on the enemy knightmares, causing them to shoot at each other.

...

High Eunuchs' Command Center

"You imbeciles, don't shoot at each other!" The short High Eunuch said furiously.

...

Desert Outskirts

"PFFT!" Joseph blew raspberries at the onslaught of enemy knightmares while sticking hands up by his ears.

"Argh! Damn fool's making a mockery of us!" Hong Gu said angrily as he tried to aim at the moron.

"Use your slash harkens!" Xingke told them.

The enemy knightmares did as such and giant cables flew at Joseph.

"Whoa!" Joseph said as he barely dodged the first one. "Sweet." He said with a crazy smile, his adrenaline kicking in!

He jumped away from the second and spun away from another.

...

Ikaruga

"Kami up above, he's actually doing it..." Ohgi said in awe by what he was seeing.

Lelouch still looked on nervously, fearing for his brother's life.

...

Desert Outskirts

As Joseph continued to dodge the slash harkens, a thought occurred to him.

"Xingke said Kal Pal was inside the pyramid thing, which I'll need to get inside somehow. And I think I have just the thing."

He ran towards an enemy knightmare and jumped into the air, it shot a slash harken at him like he hoped, but instead of dodging it, he grabbed it!

...

High Eunuchs' Command Center

"He caught it?!" The bespectacled High Eunuch said in shock.

"Impossible!" The big High Eunuch shouted.

...

Joseph took the cable into both his hands with a tight grip, he landed on the ground and ran until he felt the cable tug against him.

It was then he firmly planted his feet onto the ground,

focused all his strength into the muscles of his arms,

yelled a mighty roar,

and pulled.

This resulted in the enemy knightmare flying straight into the air, flying miles into the open sky.

...Silence...dead silence...

Everyone, even the Chinese Federation, froze from what they just witnessed, their eyes were wide and their jaws had dropped.

What they've just seen couldn't have happened, could it?

"...Holy crap..." Was all Urabe could mutter

"...But...but how..." Chiba stuttered with shaking eyes.

"Joseph..." Tohdoh thought in awe of his student.

"DID HE JUST THROW A FRICKING KNIGHTMARE!?" Tamaki yelled in complete shock.

...

Ikaruga

The people inside the control room weren't doing any better. Even Rakshata sat up on the couch from what she just witnessed.

"...Well that just happened..." C.C. said in actual surprise.

"Incredible." Ohgi said quietly.

Diethard looked on with amazement in his eyes and a crazed smile on his face, thinking perhaps he cast off moron a bit too quickly.

Lelouch stared on, too stunned to even speak. "Was this Geass? Where did this power come from? How is he capable of any of this?"

...

Desert Outskirts

"Just what is he?" Xingke asked himself, forgetting about the battle in that moment.

"Darn! Aimed too high!" Joseph complained before shrugging his shoulders and continuing his way to the pyramid.

...

High Eunuchs' Command Center

Xianglin and the High Eunuchs also had their minds broken by what just happened. Then the short High Eunuch got angry.

"Soldiers! New objective! Focus your attention on the prince! Do not let him inside!" He ordered.

...

Desert Outskirts

"Wait! What about the Empress!?" Xingke asked from inside his knightmare.

"If that moron prince gets back their Ace and the Guren, it'll be a lot harder to rescue her, won't it?!" The big High Eunuch asked.

Xingke gritted his teeth in frustration, but knew the High Eunuchs were right. Therefore, he aimed the Shen Hu's cannon at the speeding prince.

"Nothing personal." He said quietly.

"NO!" Tohdoh shouted as he launched the Zangetsu into the air.

"What!" Xingke shouted, and before he had time to react, the Zangetsu deflected the Shen Hu away from Joseph and into the air.

Joseph turned his head to see what happened but kept on running, "Sensei?"

"This battle is far from over! Joseph, I got your back! Go rescue Kallen!" Tohdoh told him quickly as he swung his sword at the Shen Hu, which Xingke blocked.

Joseph smiled widely at that and gave a thumbs up. "Thanks Sensei!" He yelled, only for a row of explosions and bullets come after him. "Yeah, baby! Haha" He cheered excitedly.

Tohdoh sighed tiredly before focusing his attention back on Xingke.

"I was told the prince was once a student of yours, Lord Tohdoh. I'm surprised you would take on a fool like him." Xingke said over the speakers as he shot his slash harkens at him.

"What he lacks in brains, he makes up for in HEART!" Tohdoh shouted proudly as he deflected the harkens and charged again.

...

Ikaruga

That was enough for Lelouch to break out of his stupor and get motivated. He was Zero damn it! He would not let his brother die without a fight!

"Attention Black Knights! Provide Joseph any cover you can! We're not done yet!" Zero told them with passion.

...

Desert Outskirts

"With pleasure!" Urabe shouted from inside his ACM as he activated his wings and few up into the air.

He shot at many enemy knightmares and managed to destroy a few.

"I'm not letting that crazy bastard one up me!" Tamaki said jealously.

He then went on a firing frenzy at the enemy knightmares around him.

"I'm starting to be thankful the dimiwit is on our side." Asahina said with a smirk from inside his knightmare.

...

While that was going on, Joseph was approaching the giant pyramid. He skid to a stop as enemy knightmares came charging towards him.

"Ruh-Roh." Joseph muttered as he ran away from them.

They tried to shoot him bullets and missiles, but he zig-zagged away from them.

He then noticed a hole inside the pyramid.

"Bingo!" Joseph thought with a smirk.

He also saw the dust cloud that was starting to rise due to all the ammunition fired upon him.

It was then a plan hatched inside his head.

He then turned around, stuck his thumb to his nose and wiggled his fingers in mockery to the enemy knightmares chasing him.

"Oh, that little...!" A Chinese Federation soldier said angrily as he pushed full throttle on the controls.

Joseph then ran into the dust cloud, the knightmares hot on his trial.

However it came to a point where the soldiers couldn't see anything.

"Damn it! I lost him!" A Chinese Federation soldier said.

"Turn on your thermal scanners." Another soldier suggested.

Only for his knightmare to receive a hard kick to the head by Joseph, making his monitor glitch out.

"There he is!" A soldier yelled, aiming the knightmare's rifle at him.

Joseph jumped off the knightmare and disappeared into the dust cloud again, making the bullets hit another knightmare instead.

"Hey! Watch where you're shooting!" A soldier complained.

Suddenly, Joseph appeared in a different direction and pushed a knightmare from behind into another.

"What the Hell are you doing?!" The soldier complained as he pushed the knightmare back.

"It wasn't me!" The soldier who was pushed yelled.

Joseph then skipped between the two, giving them a wave before disappearing into the cloud again.

"After him!" A soldier yelled as he started to push his knightmare forward.

"Wait! He's over there!" Another soldier yelled as he saw Joseph dancing from another direction.

"Enough of this! Just shoot all around the area! He can't dodge all these bullets!" Another soldier suggested as their knightmares gathered into a circle and fired at every angle, thinking they get hit him eventually.

What they didn't realize was Joseph was in the middle of their circle, chuckling to himself.

He then jumped high into the air and found himself on the pyramid's wall, his eyes on the giant hole.

...

High Eunuchs' Command Center

Kallen laid against her pilot seat, wondering how long it would be until they took her out and put her in restraints.

She felt like such a fool for not giving the Guren more time to recharge, and now she could very well end up being executed.

She thought about her mom, how this would break her when she found out. Would she go back to refrain? She didn't even want to consider that.

She thought about Lelouch, how his revolution will become much harder now without her by his side and the time to reunite with his sister stretches further apart.

She thought about Shirley, how she finally got to have a friend back from the brainwashed Student Council. They even exchanged contact info in case they wanted to talk, now she wondered if they would ever see each other again.

She thought about her friends in the Black Knights, wondering if they would be able to recover from this after they barely made it through after Naoto's death.

She even thought about C.C., how even though she was an annoying person, she was a good ally to be by your side.

But most of all, she thought about Joseph. The pain in the ass with a walnut for a brain but also with a heart of gold.

That dopey smile of his, his optimistic attitude, his jumbled vocabulary, his peculiar way of making sense out of things.

All that, and she didn't even get to properly say goodbye to him.

"But just in case...tell Joseph...tell him that I..."

Kallen couldn't help but sigh to herself, wondering if she truly missed her chance.

But suddenly, she heard muffled noises coming from outside the Guren.

She got into a fighting position. If she was going to be a prisoner, they were going to have to make her one!

But strangely enough, the muffled noises sounded like...fighting of sorts. Then at one point she could hear gunfire, yelling and even crashing!

"What the Hell's going on out there?" She muttered quietly to herself.

*BAM*

She got her answer from a fist that suddenly punched through her cockpit and barely missed her face, making her jump a bit.

The cockpit was ripped open and her eyes widen in disbelief, it was...

"KAL PAL!" Joseph shouted with relief.

"Joseph?!" Was all Kallen could say before pulled into a bear hug by the dimwit himself.

"Got you back!" He cheered as he swung her back in forth, making her nauseous. He set her down and looked at her seriously. "A-Ok? Hurt? Hungry? Smell my nose!" He said quickly as he pointed at his nose.

"Joe, I'm fine, relax." Kallen told him quickly before looking around and seeing the many Chinese Federation soldiers laying on the floor, some killed, some unconscious, some groaning in pain. "When did you...how did you...what's going on?!" Was all Kallen could think to ask, completely lost on the situation.

"Here to rescue!" Joseph saluted proudly to her.

Kallen looked at him in shock. "You...you personally came to get me...?" She stuttered in disbelief.

"Yep-per-rooni!" Joseph said with his dopey smile.

A small smile and a blush came onto Kallen's face, but then she realized something.

"Wait. How did Zero and the others get here so quickly?" Kallen asked curiously.

"Oh, still fighting outside." Joseph told her.

"...Then how did you guys take over the base?" Kallen asked, really confused.

"Didn't. Only one here." Joseph told her casually

...

...

...

"...WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE HERE?!" Kallen asked flabbergasted and angry.

"Hey! Hold it right there!" A Chinese Federation Soldier yelled as he and a group of others came in and pointed their guns at them.

"Uh..." Was Joseph said before pushing Kallen behind the Guren, leading to a bunch of bullets being fired upon them.

"Shit!" Kallen said, really not liking the situation they got theirselves in.

...

"Sir! We've have a perimeter breach inside the knightmare chamber! It's the prince!" A soldier told the High Eunuchs over the comms, shocking them and Xianglin.

"What?! How?!" The big High Eunuch asked.

"Look over here." Xianglin told them, here attention on the the group of soldiers gathered in a circles.

"Vector Eight! What on Earth are you doing?!" The short High Eunuch asked furiously.

"We're trying to kill the prince, sir! He's somewhere inside this dust cloud!" A soldier told them.

"You idiots! He's already inside!" The bespectacled High Eunuch said.

...

"Come on Kal Pal! Cherry Dynamite! Boom boom!" Joseph told her, pointing to the Guren.

"It needs to be recharged! That's how I was captured in the first place!" Kallen told him quickly.

"...Oooooooooh." Joseph said in realization, making Kallen groan in annoyance. He then put on his thinking cap and got an idea. "Plan B!"

"What the Hell was Plan A?!" Kallen asked in astonishment.

"Sorry Rocky." Joseph said apologetically as he put his foot on the Guren and pushed right into the group of soldiers.

"Damn." Kallen muttered in awe.

"Come on!" Joseph said as he grabbed Kallen's hand.

"Wait, what about-WAH!" Kallen tried to say before being yanked forward by Joseph and being pulled like a rag doll.

He jumped onto a few platforms before making his way up to the hole he came in.

"Alright! Back to big ship!" Joseph said excitedly.

"Joe! Would you slow down?!" Kallen asked frantically, given her feet weren't even touching the ground.

"Oh. Sorry." Joseph said simply as he slowed down so Kallen could run the same speed he could.

But as soon as they made it to the end of the tunnel, a large group of enemy knightmares and soldiers were waiting for them. All cocking their guns and aiming at them.

"FIRE!" A Chinese Federation Soldier yelled.

*CRASH*

Only for a knightmare to come crashing down on them, making a couple of other knightmares to explode, causing a shockwave and sending the soldiers into the air.

Joseph stared in wonderment while Kallen stared completely dumbfounded.

"...Cool." Joseph muttered, impressed.

"...Why did a knightmare fall out of the sky like that?" Kallen asked, not sure what just happened.

"I threw it." Joseph told her casually.

"YOU WHAT?!" Kallen asked, not sure if she heard that right.

"I THREW IT!" Joseph yelled back, thinking she didn't hear him.

Before they could continue, he could see more knightmares heading their way.

"Shit, there's more coming." Kallen said.

"Oh! Got idea!" Joseph said excitedly.

"What now?" Kallen asked with a groan.

She got her answer with Joseph grabbing her arms and throwing her into the sky.

"AHHHHHHH!" Kallen yelled as she spun around in the air.

"Tally-ho!" He yelled as he charged forward.

...

Desert Outskirts

The Black Knights continued to hold off the Chinese Federation as best as they could, but things were starting to grow dire as their shields started to die down. Tohdoh was still holding his own against Xingke.

"Damn it! We need to get out of here!" Tamaki shouted.

"What about Joseph and Kallen? We can't just leave them behind!" Sugiyama said as he fought back against the enemy knightmares.

"For all we know he's been captured or killed!" Chiba said, her knightmare up in the air with the other Holy Swords.

It was then Asahina noticed something.

"Wait, what's that?" Asahina asked curiously.

Urabe got a closer look and saw that...

"It's Kallen!" Urabe said in shock.

The rest saw this too.

"What in the..." Xingke muttered from inside the Shen Hu, completely lost on what was happening.

...

Ikaruga

"She's soaring through the air!" Minami said in shock.

"Joe..." Lelouch thought in annoyance.

...

Desert Outskirts

Joseph wasn't far behind as he ran behind her, as she started to lose altitude, he jumped into the air and grabbed her.

He did a few flips before sliding onto the ground before completely stopping behind a large rock.

Kallen had to take a few, erratic deep breaths by what just happened. She then looked at Joseph, who was smiling widely at her.

"Hi." He said simply.

"DON'T! EVER! DO THAT AGAIN!" Kallen screamed angrily.

Joseph looked at her in confusion. "Not fun?" He asked curiously.

"NO!" Kallen yelled with rage.

"Well...least half there!" Joseph said optimistically as he pointed to the Ikaruga.

"They stayed behind for me?" Kallen thought with surprise, but also feeling grateful.

Unforunately, the only thing stopping them from getting to the Ikaruga was a massive battle between knightmares at the moment.

...

"Any chance we could call the Indian forces?" Tamaki asked from inside his knightmare.

"I doubt they're coming." Chiba grumbled from inside her knightmare.

"Besieged with no reinforcements." Asahina also grumbled from inside his knightmare.

...

"Do you have any other ideas that DON'T involve throwing me!?" Kallen asked in irritation.

"Hmmm..." Joseph hummed to himself in thought, before a thought to his mind. "Oh!"

He reached into one of his inside coat pockets and took out of a banana. He unpeeled the banana, ate half of it, and then chucked it into the roaring battlefield with a "HAH!" and it landed on the ground with its end facing up.

Joseph made a proud chuckle before nudging his head to the confused Kallen and said in a conniving tone,

"Now we wait."

And at that moment, Kallen's eye started to twitch.

"Wha...but...how...why did you...DDDAAARRRGGGHHH!" Kallen screamed through gritted teeth as she pulled her hair in aggravated agitation.

Joseph only looked at her in confusion, wondering what was wrong.

Kallen looked at him intensely as she took deep breaths. "...Do you have your phone?" She asked after calming down.

"Yep." Joseph said with his dopey smile.

"Give it to me." Kallen practically ordered thinking she might just kill Joseph if they got out of this alive.

...

Ashford Academy

Student Council Room

"She said she won't be able to get us any souvenirs unfortunately." 'Lelouch' said after hanging up the phone.

"Jokes at a time like this?" Shirley asked exasperated. "Still, thank Goodness she's okay." She said with relief.

"But there's still..." Rolo started to say worriedly, only for Rivalz to come back in.

"Hey guys, a lot of the students are wondering what's the situation is in the Chinese Federation." Rivalz asked after coming back from the campus.

"We should make an announcement so everyone knows that Milly's okay at least." 'Lelouch' said.

"Good idea, Lelouch. Thanks." Rivalz said.

"You're welcome, Rivalz." 'Lelouch' said with a cheerful smile and thumbs up. Which just confused Rivalz, Rolo and Shirley saw this as well.

"Hey, Lelouch, got a minute?" Rolo asked as he put his hand on 'Lelouch's' shoulder.

"Yeah, we need to talk about that those errands for tomorrow." Shirley implied as she took 'Lelouch's' arm and pulled him out of the room.

Leaving a very confused Rivalz.

...

"Attention all students. This is an emergency update. We have confirmation that Milly, our student council president is all right! She's apparently escaped from the scene of the coup d'etat in the Chinese Federation under the protection of Knight of Seven, Sir Suzaku Kururugi." A female student told the students outside, who cheered happily.

While that was happening, Rolo, Shirley, and 'Lelouch' went into the library.

"Aren't you getting a little carried away with all this?' Rolo asked as he pulled down a book.

"Oh, does it seem that way to you? I'm very sorry, Rolo." 'Lelouch' said apologetically as he put his hands together over his waist, having a more professional posture.

The library shelf against the wall shifted and revealed and elevator, to which they all entered.

"You're acting way too nice to everyone." Rolo lectured.

"But I'm supposed to keep his relationships harmonious. Those were Zero's exact orders." 'Lelouch' explained.

"Well to be fair, Lelouch doesn't really do thumbs up." Shirley awkwardly explained

"And he's very self observed." Rolo added.

"Oh come on, Rolo. He's growing out of that." Shirley told him.

"Yes, I see both your points. Afterall, I'm a woman who serve both Lelouch and Zero." 'Lelouch' said as he put his hand to his face, revealing to to be mask, which was taken off revealing to be Sayoko.

"Don't beat yourself up, Sayoko. You're still doing a great job." Shirley told her kindly.

"Oh, thank you Lady Shirley." Sayoko said gratefully as she took off the wig she was wearing as well.

When they elevator doors opened, they entered the OSI surveillance room.

"Sayoko, Shirley. Zero is in danger right now." Villetta said while looking at a monitor.

"He's in a stalemate with the Chinese Federation, right?" Sayoko asked.

"Yes, and I'm also receiving word that Britannia forces are making their way there too." Villetta explained.

"Britannia forces inside of China?" Rolo asked in surprise.

"Lulu, Kallen, Big Brother...please be safe." Shirley thought with worry.

...

Ikaurga

"Zero, I'm getting a call from outside source! It's Joseph's phone!" Ayame said, surprising Lelouch.

"Answer it." Zero told her.

"Zero! It's me!" They could hear Kallen say through the comms.

A lot of the people looked in relief.

"Kallen! You're okay!" Ohgi said happily.

"Thank goodness." Minami said with relief.

"Glad to hear your voice again, Q1." Lelouch said with a smile under his mask. "What's the situation?" He asked solemnly.

"The situation is that we're in the middle of a fricking war zone and the Star Lord-wannabe here didn't bother to think of a plan!" Kallen said with frustration.

"Plan is banana! All in banana!" Joseph insisted.

The people there all sighed tiredly.

"Should I..." Ohgi started to say.

"Don't ask..." Was Kallen muttered with annoyance.

"Is there anyway you can make it towards the Ikaruga?" Zero asked.

"Not unless you want us to get blown to bits! I need a knightmare!" Kallen yelled.

"What happened to the Guren?" Rakshata asked.

"We had to leave it behind, I'm sorry." Kallen said.

"And I kicked it!" Joseph cheered.

"YOU WHAT?!" Rakshata asked angrily.

"Lecture him later, Rakshata!" Zero told her. "Is there anyone who can get to them?" Zero asked the Black Knights out in the battlefield.

...

Desert Outskirts

"I'm dealing with too many combatants at the moment!" Urabe said from inside his knightmare as he flew around, shielding bullets while also firing his own.

"A little occupied myself!" Chiba exclaimed from inside her knightmare, also dealing with the same situation.

...

Ikaruga

"Damn it! If they can't get out of there, Joseph rescued Kallen for nothing! I can't allow that!" Lelouch thought determinedly.

Tianzi came bursting through the doors with Kaguya chasing after her.

"Empress, wait!" Kaguya called out to her.

"Empress Tianzi?" Zero said in surprise.

"Zero! Let me talk to Xingke! Please!" Tianzi said frantically.

...

Desert Outskirts

Back on the battlefield, Xingke was still holding his own against Tohdoh. But blood started to ooze from his mouth again.

"I have to hold on, for the Empress!" Xingke said to himself inside the Shen Hu and he was about to strike again when...

"Xingke! Stop!" Empress shouted through the speakers.

That caught a lot people's attention.

...

"What the..." Tohdoh started to say.

...

"The Empress?" Hong Gu said in surprise.

...

"Tia?" Joseph asked as he looked towards the Ikaruga in confusion, Kallen as well.

...

"Your majesty?" Xingke spoke through the speakers of the Shen Hu.

...

Ikaurga

"Xingke, please! You have to stop all this fighting!" Tianzi told him determinedly.

"But your highness, Zero and that dimwit prince kidnapped you! They're forcing you-"

"No one's forcing me! I want to help! The people of Chinese Federation, my people, they deserve a chance for peace! Uncle Joe told me that you, me, and Zero can make that happen!" Tianzi insisted.

...

Desert Outskirts

"Tianzi..." Xingke said in shock from inside his knightmare.

"You promised you take me to see the world on the outside, you can't break a pinkie promise!" Tianzi told him. "Please Xingke, help me make our city better!"

...

"Yeah! Go niece!" Joseph said proudly, making Kallen sigh tiredly.

...

Xingke sat in his seat stunned by the Empress' proclamation. He never heard her so determined before, she sounded like the leader she was born to be.

"(Sighs)Well there goes that plan." The big High Eunuch said through the pyramid's speakers.

To which both Xingke and Tohdoh barely dodged a missile thrown at them.

"What the Hell are you doing?!" Xingke asked.

"Did you really think we forgive you after you plotted against us?" The short High Eunuch asked arrogantly.

...

The High Eunuchs' Command Center

Xianglin suddenly found guns aimed at her.

"Bastards. You never really cares about rescuing the Empress, did you?!" Xianglin asked angrily.

"You've become obsolete." The bespectacled High Eunuch said arrogantly.

"Soon we'll have more powerful forces to serve us now." The big High Eunuch said egotistically.

...

Desert Outskirts

"You fools! Bringing the forces of a foreign empire into our territory? Aid from Britannia, from the Avalon? Don't the High Eunuchs know who they are dealing with? Who do they think conquered half of the E.U.? It's Schneizel, the Second Imperial Prince." Xingke said angrily.

"We've already arranged for a new empress to replace Tianzi." The bespectacled High Eunuch said.

"A puppet bride would nicely match Prince Odysseus on their wedding photo." The short High Eunuch said smugly.

...

"You jerks!" Joseph yelled at the pyramid.

"Should have killed those freaks when we had the chance." Kallen said angrily.

...

"You dare to say this!" Xingke said angrily from inside the Shen Hu as he took his attention off Tohdoh and went straight for the pyramid.

Only to be met with heavy firepower.

...

Ikaruga

"Well, it seems that the High Eunuchs are intent on wiping out Xingke along with us." C.C. said blankly.

"Diethard, get our little trick ready." Zero said as he rose from his seat.

"What? You mean here?" Diethard asked in surprise.

"We don't have a choice at this point. The conditions are all met." Zero told him. "Kaguya, you stay here with the Empress." He told the two girls.

"Yes, Zero." Kaguya said with a nod. However, Tianzi looked at Xingke and was very concerned.

"I'll go out in the Akatsuki." C.C. said as she went to leave.

"C.C., in case we lose, have an escape route." Lelouch told her quietly.

"If you come up with a smart trick I won't need one." C.C. said with a smirk.

...

Desert Outskirts

"Remember our air power's limited. Live with honor and strike like steel!" Tohdoh said determinedly from inside his knightmare, now assisting Xingke.

"Roger!" The Black Knights said in union.

...

Meanwhile, Joseph and Kallen were still in their hiding spot.

"Damn it! The Chinese Federation is all over the place! They'll find us eventually." Kallen said frustrated.

"Perfect! Better chance for banana!" Joseph told her optimistically as he looked at the oncoming calvary.

Kallen viciously brought her hands up to Joseph's neck, intending on strangling him. However, she stopped at the last second as she suddenly heard Joseph's phone ring.

She took seething deep breaths before she brought her hands down and saw the phone call was coming from Lelouch's personal cell.

"Lelouch. You better have a plan or I am going to SCALP your brother." Kallen said through gritted teeth, Joseph didn't seem to notice.

"I do, but it's going to take time. I know you're going to hate me for this Kallen, but I need you and Joseph to cause a distraction. Get the Chinese Federation's soldiers to focus solely on you two." Lelouch told her through the phone.

"De-traction?" Joseph asked as he his head perked up with a wide smile.

"Were two small humans with raging knightmares trying to kill each other! How the Hell are we suppose to distract an entire army?!" Kallen asked with angry disbelief.

"Hey bad guys! Come get us!" She heard Joseph yell as she looked up and saw Joseph on top of the rock and smacked his butt at the enemy knightmares.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Kallen yelled with outlandish rage.

And as soon as she said that, an enemy knightmare passing through ran over the banana.

But instead of slipping and falling, the knightmare made the banana fling onto the face of another enemy knightmare.

"What the Hell?!" The Chinese Federation soldier yelled as the banana blocked the monitor's vision.

Which caused him to crash into one of his comrades because he couldn't see.

Causing the knightmare he crashed into to swerve of course into another knightmare.

Causing that knightmare, who was about to shoot Slash Harkens at Chiba, to instead shoot them at one of his comrades next to him.

The slash harken hit the enemy knightmare's hand holding a sword, causing the sword to fly out of its hand.

The sword hit another enemy knightmare, who was firing at Sugiyama, in the head causing it to malfunction and shoot all over the place.

The places it did fire were at other enemy knightmares, one of the bullets hit the thrusters of an enemy knightmare, causing it jet-pack and crash through other enemy knightmares.

And on and on it went. A domino effect of knightmare destruction.

The Black Knights witnessed it all, their faces with nothing but confusion.

"Uh...what just happened?" Sugiyama asked himself inside his knightmare.

...

"YEAH! BANANA BABY!" Joseph cheered from on top of the rock they were hiding behind.

"Kallen? What happened? Is everything okay?" Lelouch asked through the phone.

Kallen couldn't answer, for she felt something break inside her. She stared at all the damage caused to the Chinese Federation.

All caused by a banana peel.

...

High Eunuchs' Command Center

"TEN PERCENT?! How on Earth did we lose 10% of our troops?!" The big High Eunuch asked incrediously.

"We're not entirely sure ourselves, sir." A Chinese Federation said awkwardly over the comms.

Xianglin, though now gagged and held at gunpoint, was also curious how that happened.

"Uh, sirs. You may want to see this." A communication officer said by the monitors.

He pointed to said monitors and on it was Joseph currently dancing in celebration, while Kallen was standing there numbly.

The High Eunuchs were now very angry.

...

Desert Outskirts

"Kallen, talk to me!" Lelouch insisted to the broken Kallen.

The speakers from the pyramid snapped her out of it.

"ATTENTION SOLDIERS! FOCUS ALL YOUR FIRE ON PRINCE JOSEPH! UNDERSTOOD?! KILL THAT DIMWIT AND HIS RED-HEADED FRIEND NOW!" The short High Eunuch ordered viciously.

"I think we just made a distraction." Kallen muttered blankly.

Soon enough, a lot of enemy knightmares were heading towards them.

"Go time!" Joseph said excitedly as he grabbed Kallen's wrist.

"Wait, no!" Kallen tried to say only to be yanked into the air as he started to run high speed, barely missing a barrage of bullets.

...

As that was happening, the firing on the Black Knights actually died down a bit.

"Huh? They stopped firing at us?" Sugiyama asked curiously.

"Looks like they're all focusing on Joseph and Kallen." Asahina said with a raised eyebrow as he observed the speeding Joseph run back and forth from the knightmares while holding Kallen like a rag doll.

"Holy Swords! While they're distracted, get the troops out of that trap and back onto solid ground!" Zero commanded from the comms.

"Yes, Zero!" Tohdoh complied from inside his knightmare.

...

High Eunuchs' Command Center

The High Eunuchs then received a transmission from Zero.

"Ah. So you admit you're outmatched. Well we won't accept your surrender. It's too late now." The big High Eunuch said smugly.

"You insist on fighting? Even though your own Empress will die in the attack?" Zero asked through the screen.

"The Empress is merely a system." The big High Eunuch said.

"There are plenty of others to replace her." The bespectacled High Eunuch said.

"So you can't use her as a bargaining chip." The short High Eunuch said.

"But you use her to gain noble titles in the Britannian court." Zero continued.

"You have sharp ears, don't you?" The big High Eunuch said with a chuckle.

"A cheap price to pay for power." The bespectacled High Eunuch said.

"Cheap! A phony treaty that gives China's land to a foreign nation?" Zero asked incrediously..

"Land is nothing but dirt afterall." The big High Eunuch reasoned.

"Correct. We're Britannian noblemen now. That's what counts." The bespectacled High Eunuch said.

"And what about the common people you sworn to protect?" Zero asked angrily.

"Zero, when you walk down the street, do you worry about stepping on the ants?" The Big High Eunuch asked pridefully..

"You throw away paper that clings to your bothom, don't you? It's the same thing." The short High Eunuch said arrogantly.

"You sell out your country, abandon your Empress, betray your own people, and all for what?" Zero asked.

"An idealist. I never thought you are so naive, Zero." The big High Eunuch said disappointed.

"Indeed, masters and commoners will always breed." The bespectacled High Eunuch said.

"Like insects." The short High Eunuch said with a sneer.

To which they all chuckled very annoyingly.

...

Ikaruga

"Well those two are basically sitting ducks out there." Rakshata observed from the monitor.

"Zero. Isn't there anyway we can get to them?" Ohgi asked with concern.

"Leave them be, Ohgi. Joseph has come too far to let him and Kallen die like this." Zero said with confidence.

But as Tianzi continued to look at the fleeing prince. Her concern grew more and more.

This man was kind to her, he gave his trust and respect to her. She couldn't just stand around anymore.

"Stop it!" Tianzi yelled as she ran out of the control room.

"Your Majesty!" Kaguya yelled as she went after her.

...

Desert Outskirts

"Scum! It can't end like this!" Hong Gu yelled viciously as he evacuated from his knightmare.

Joseph on the other hand...

...

"Mama little baby loves short'nin', short'nin'! Mama little baby loves short'nin' bread! Haha!" Joseph sang excitedly as he moved left to right, and jumped and flipped over debris and missiles.

"YOU ARE THE WORSE PERSON TO BE WITH IN THIS SITUATION!" Kallen yelled angrily as she continued to be a nonconforming passenger on a piggyback ride.

Joseph then heard his phone ring and pulled it from his coat pocket. He saw it was Lelouch's number.

"Hey, little bro!" Joseph greeted happily.

"Joseph! Are you doing okay out there?" Lelouch asked.

"Outstanding!" Joseph cheered.

"NO WE'RE NOT!" Kallen yelled.

"Listen! Kallen's probably going to kill me for this later, but I need you to do something for me!" Lelouch continued.

Kallen could see Joseph contorting his face into curiosity and then a wide smile formed in his face, and it made her blood run cold as she knew that something really stupid was about to happen.

And she would be right. For Joseph suddenly pumped the breaks on his running and then turned back to the knightmares chasing him.

"HEY!" He yelled out to them.

...

High Eunuchs' Command Center

"Soldiers, halt. We would like to see where this is going?" The big High Eunuch said with intrigue.

...

Desert Outskirts

"Joe, what are you doing?" Kallen asked, starting to get scared.

"YOU WANT THIS?!" Joseph asked to the army facing them as he gestured to himself and Kallen.

"Joseph, if there was ever a moment in your life where you stopped and wondered how you ended up in a dangerous situation, please let this be that moment!" Kallen insisted, really getting scared now.

He then grabbed a sword that belonged to a destroyed knightmare, and held it out towards them. "COME GET IT!" He yelled cockily.

Kallen's eyes widen like saucers as she knew exactly what he was going to do.

"No! Nononono!" Kallen begged frantically. "I don't agree with this! LET ME GO NOW!" She continued as she tried pull herself off, only for Joseph to pull her over his shoulder.

"Got this, Kal Pal." Joseph said, sure of himself.

...

"The boy's mad!" Hong Gu said as he watched from a distance.

...

High Eunuchs' Command Center

"Aw. Isn't that precious?" The bespectacled High Eunuch said smugly.

"That dimwit may have strength to match a knightmare. But he's a fool to think he can take on a whole army." The short High Eunuch said with laughter.

They were so amused by Joseph's stance they didn't even notice the Ikaruga start to turn around.

...

On Top Of Ikaruga

"Please stop it! You have to stop all this fighting!" Tianzi shouted as she went out on top of the Ikaruga.

...

Back inside the Ikaruga, Kaguya was trying to get pass Black Knights who were holding her back.

"You can't go out there now!" A Black Knight told her.

"I have to. Out of my way, I have to go after the empress!" Kaguya insisted.

...

Desert Outskirts

Back outside, Xingke sees Tianzi up on the Ikaruga.

"Your highness!" Xingke said as he started to fly towards her. Only for his wing to be shot and arm to be shot. "Damn it, I let myself get distracted! Hang on, your majesty!" He thought determinedly.

...

Ikaruga

"All Black Knights have been retrieved and taken to safety." Minase said.

"Bow-mounted hadron scatter cannon, set." Hinata said.

"Gefjun control sync, locked in." Ayame said.

...

Desert Outskirts

"CHAAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGEEEEEEE!" Joseph yelled as he ran towards the Chinese Federation army, sword held high.

"JOSEPH! NO!" Kallen yelled frantically as she pulled his hair and face.

The enemy knightmares didn't notice the Ikaruga's engines start to glow red.

...

High Eunuchs' Command Center

"Soldiers. Don't bother wasting your ammo this time, run them over." The big High Eunuch said with a sneer.

...

Ikaruga

"Targets lined up. Ready to fire." Minase said.

"Right. Aim at both enemy fleets." Ohgi said.

...

Desert Outskirts

"BLALALALALALALA!" Joseph battle-cried.

"SSSSSTTTTTTTOOOOOOOPPPPPPP!" Kallen yelled, life flashing before her eyes.

Joseph then pointed the sword down and stuck it into the ground.

Causing them to catapult over the enemy knightmares. Joseph let out a "WOOOOO!" while Kallen continued to scream.

...

Ikaruga

"Fire!" Ohgi ordered.

...

It was then the the engines blasted out hadron beams at all the enemy knightmares surrounding them. Taking out many of them.

Joseph then landed on top of the Ikaruga on his knees, sliding a bit and spinning around, before coming to a halt next to the bewildered Tianzi.

"Uncle Joe?" Tianzi asked.

"Hey Tia." Joseph said casually.

Kallen was currently limp on Joseph's shoulder as she gave huge gasps every two seconds.

The Shen Hu and Zangetsu approached the three.

"Your highness!" Xingke yelled in relief.

"Joseph." Tohdoh said, more calmly than Xingke.

"Xingke!" Tianzi yelled happily.

"Hey Sensei!" Joseph said as he waved at him, Kallen slowly crawling off Joseph's shoulder.

...

High Eunuchs' Command Center

"He had a weapon like that this whole time?!" The short High Eunuch exclaimed.

"Those beams took out at least 40% of our soldiers!" The communications officer told the High Eunuchs.

"No matter! Our troops still outmatch those of the Black Knights! Aim all weapons upon the Empress!" The big High Eunuch ordered.

...

"We hear and obey!" The Chinese Federation Soldiers said in union as their knightmare all fired upon Tianzi, Joseph, and Kallen.

"Look out!" Tohdoh shouted as he shielded the three of them with the Zangetsu.

"Got ya, Tia!" Joseph said as he pulled Tianzi and Kallen behind him.

"Run away, Tianzi! Go now!" Xingke yelled as he begun to spin his slash harkens to also shield the three from bullets and missiles.

"No, Xingke, it has to be you and I together, it has to be!" Tianzi screamed as tears fell from her eyes.

"Joe! We have to get the Empress inside!" Kallen told him as she stood back up, gently grabbing Tianzi's shoulders.

"Wait for it." Joseph quietly said to her with a sly smirk, catching both Tianzi and Kallen's attention.

"Your words are wasted on me, Your Majesty." Xingke said sadly. "Tohdoh, how much power do you have left." He asked from inside his knightmare.

"Under 10%. This might be the last thing I can do." Tohdoh told him from inside his knightmare.

"Even if I am able to hold off this attack with Tohdoh, the troops still outmatch us and I'm running out of energy. I can't save her afterall. I can't protect her. For six years, everything I've done has been to fulfill my promise to her." Xingke thought defeatedly. "Someone do it. I don't care who! But please, someone save her!" He yelled from inside his knightmare.

...

High Eunuchs' Command Center

"Fire!" The big High Eunuch ordered.

...

And a barrage of bullets and missiles hit them.

But instead of being burned to a crisp, they were stopped by something else.

"Very well. I understand. Wish is granted." Zero said through speakers.

The smoke cleard, revealing a huge flying knightmare with black and gold colors.

"Awesome..." Joseph said in awe.

...

High Eunuchs' Command Center

"Ah, what is that Knightmare?!" The big High Eunuch asked.

"It's not only protecting the empress and the dimwit but Xingke and Tohdoh as well?" The bespectacled asked in surprise.

...

"I ask this of the Chinese Federation and the Britannians. If you wanna keep fighting, are you prepared for the consequences?" Zero asked.

...

Desert Outskirts

"Zero? He's come to the front line himself?" Hong Gu said in surprise

...

"Zero!" Xingke said in shock.

"He's here." Tianzi said in surprise.

"What superheroes do." Joseph said with a thumbs up, making Tianzi smile on relief.

"Playing it close to the chest, aren't you Zero."Tohdoh said with a smirk inside his Zangetsu.

"Apologies, Tohdoh. I needed Joseph to draw enough time to make sure everything was set and matched." Lelouch said from inside his knightmare. "And I tip my hat to you both for the distraction." He said to Joseph and Kallen with smug gratefulness.

"All day's work!" Joseph said with a palm facing forward salute.

"I am so going to kill him for this." Kallen thought angrily at Lelouch before focusing on his knightmare. "That knightmare frame...that's Rakshata's handy work..." Kallen said in quiet awe as she analyzed the knightmare.

...

Ikaruga

"Knightmare frame Shinkiro. Its Absolute Defense Field is the strongest protective shield system in the world." Rakshata said proudly as she observed the monitor.

...

High Eunuchs' Command Center

"Why are you stopping? All units, WIPE THEM OUT!" The big High Eunuch demanded.

...

"So be it! I gave you your chance. Let no one forget that!" Lelouch said from inside the Shinkiro as he typed rapidly on the keypads before him.

The enemy knightmares fired on them again, more intensely than before. But none of them were able to penetrate the Shinkiro's shield.

Once the fire died down, the Shinkiro opened its chest, revealing a diamond like missile.

It launched out of the knightmare, with a purple laser following it a couple of seconds later.

When that laser hit the missile, it released a barrage of multiple lasers, destroying many of the Chinese Federation forces.

"YEAH! GET IT ADMIRAL ZERO!" Joseph cheered as he clapped his hands in excitement.

Lelouch couldn't help but smirk. He wouldn't lie, he actually appreciated Joseph's cheering this time around.

...

Avalon

Schneizel, Kanon, Suzaku, Gino, Anya, Lloyd, Cecile, and Nina were inside the control room together. They would be approaching the battlefield in a few minutes, but they were able to catch video feed of what was going on.

"This could be a slight problem." Anya muttered as she looked at her phone.

"Lloyd, you know what that is?" Cecile asked in quiet surprise.

"Yes, they may have lost this one." Lloyd muttered back.

"Using the Gawain's Druid System to generate that shield! I can't believe it! What kind of scientist worked it out?" Nina asked in impressed shock.

"What are your orders, Prince Schneizel? Should we go out and assist them?" Gino asked.

"We could just hang back and wait them out." Kanon suggested.

"There's something strange about this. Why did Zero choose this time to show up in front." Schneizel asked, confusing the others.

...

"Look around you, Xingke. You're betrayed by your own country men, and the Empress could have been killed because of it. This ego of yours is pathetic. Do you get it now? You need me. You need the Black Knights. Right now, we're the only allies you can rely on." Zero told him sternly.

"I'll never be subordinate to you, Zero." Xingke said angrily from inside his knightmare.

"Subordinate? No. You have the potential to lead your entire nation. You are as good tactician as I am and a strong warrior as Suzaku. One could say that heavens blessed you twice. Your Empress and all the helpless people of the Chinese Federation. They need deliverance. They're crying out for it." Zero told him determinedly as he had the Shinkiro look at the Shen Hu.

"Do you think your Knightmare can turn the tide of this battle?" Xingke asked incrediously as he had the Shen Hu look at the Shinkiro.

"Not at all. The tide of war is determined by strategy not tactics." Lelouch told him from inside his knightmare with a knowing smile.

...

High Eunuchs' Command Center

"Emergency alert. Riot's broken out in Shanghai." A communications officer told the High Eunuchs.

"Street riots?" The big High Eunuch questioned.

"In Shanghai?" The bespectacled High Eunuch asked in disbelief.

"It's not just Shanghai. Shou Xian, Beijing, Burma, Jakarta, Islamabad and there are 14 other areas we're still confirming. People are rising up everywhere." The communications officer continued.

...

And they were, people were rioting all over the streets. Taking out soldiers, throwing molotovs, and fighting for their freedom. All while a recording was playing on the screen of the buildings.

"The Empress is merely a system." The big High Eunuch said.

"There are plenty of others to replace her." The bespectacled High Eunuch said.

...

Avalon

"Rebellions are breaking out simultaneously?" Suzaku asked.

"Yes. They're broadcasting the communication between Zero and High Eunuchs." Cecile told her.

"Communication? So they were conspiring without informing us." Kanon realized.

"Can you run it?" Schneizel asked.

"Yes." Cecile complied.

"And what about the common people you sworn to protect!" Zero asked angrily.

"Zero, when you walk down street, do you worry about stepping on the ants?" The Big High Eunuch asked pridefully.

High Eunuch: Indeed, masters and commoners will always breed. The bespectacled High Eunuch said.

"Like insects. The short High Eunuch said with a sneer.

The audio was juxtaposition-ed with a scared empress, and a dirtied Joseph and Kallen, being shot at by the High Eunuchs' Command Center.

That made Nina anger.

"HOW DARE THEY TRY TO KILL PRINCE JOSEPH?!" Nina screamed viciously, Lloyd wincing at her volume and Cecile and Suzaku looking at her in concern.

...

"Thanks to the Empress, the High Eunuchs are now firmly cast as the villains." Lelouch said from inside his knightmare with a chuckle.

...

Avalon

Suzaku looked at the screen in shock.

"Zero...he planned..." He started to say.

...

"...on their betrayal?" Xingke asked in shock.

...

Avalon

"He couldn't have caused this. It's happening too fast." Kanon said.

"Unless he made use of someone else's plan already in place." Schneizel realized.

...

"Correct. I've stolen other strategy of yours as well. We start a coup and the people rise up." Zero told him.

"In other words, we're not trapped here without reinforcements!" Tohdoh yelled determinedly as he sliced through another enemy knightmare.

...

Ikaruga

"We do have reinforcements. The starving masses of this land are the backup we needed!" Diethard said gleefully, his nose now bandaged.

...

'Then we could take offensive..." Chiba started to say.

"...and strike!" C.C. finished for her.

They charged their knightmares through the desert with their swords and took out multiple enemy knightmares.

"Now's our chance!" Asahina said with passion, also destroying his own group of knightmares.

"Hold strong!" Urabe said as he lead new group of Black Knights, their knightmares out of the mud and more energy equipped.

"Push them back now!" Tamaki cheered.

"Yeah! Eat the horses!" Joseph cheered excitedly. Making Kallen groan and Tianzi look at him in a confused manner.

...

Avalon

"Fools! Deploying their ground forces at this point in the battle." A Britannian soldier said arrogantly.

"If we bomb them from the air, we'll destroy them." Another solder suggested.

"No, we're withdrawing." Schneizel told them.

Making the group look at him in surprise.

"But Prince Schneizel..." Suzaku started to say.

"Nations aren't dirt and they're not systems. They're people. The High Eunuchs have lost the people's support. They're no longer qualified to join us as representatives of the Chinese Federation." Schneizel told them firmly.

"But your highness, what about Prince Joseph?" Nina asked with concern.

"And Zero?" Suzaku added.

"Joseph's safety is no longer a concern, it's clear who the victor will be this time. As for Zero, I suppose I owe him this time for showing me the true faces of the High Eunuchs." Schneizel told them.

"Y-Yes, Your Highness." Suzaku said with a bow. While he was thankful that the Empress didn't have to be bartered off by those disgusting human beings, he was disappointed that he couldn't fight Zero.

And then he thought about what Joseph said to him: "Was worried! But nope! Still inside! Boo-yah!"

"Why did he say that to me?" Suzaku wondered

"What do you think the Emperor would've done, Kanon?" Schneizel asked out of nowhere. Kanon looked at him curiously. "Forget it. I was just musing a bit." Schneizel said offhandedly.

...

High Eunuchs' Command Center

As the Chinese Federation's numbers depleted, Xingke went right for the pyramid and crashed his Shen Hu right into the High Eunuchs' command center.

"So Prince Schneizel has abandoned you. So much for your titles." Xingke said smugly as he exited his Knightmare.

"Don't hurt us. We'll give up our power, whatever you want!" The big High Eunuch begged.

"Still worried about your own skin?!" Xingke asked angrily as he drew his sword.

The last thing the High Eunuchs ever saw was the blade going right for their necks.

...

Unknown

"Where is this place? I thought we were going to meet in the Britannian homeland. And besides, this is my direct order of the Emperor." Bartley said in a scared manner.

He was currently talking to V.V. and Jeremiah, who were standing in front of a large door with the Geass symbol imprinted on it.

"Yes, as requested. In your attempt to recreate C.C.'s power you enhanced Lord Jeremiah. In light of your efforts I felt we should call you in." V.V. told him blankly.

"You see, I need some final adjustments. You're really the only logical choice for this. And in any case you should be pleased, it's great honor for you." Jeremiah told him with a smirk.

Bartley could only whimper and sweat.

Looking around the corner, unseen by them, was two small children listening to the conversation with intrigue. One was a boy with a bowl cut and a girl with pig tails.

"Uncle Jerry's going out to deal with that prince situation, apparently." The boy with bowl cut said curiously.

"Oh! I hope that means we get to see big brother Rolo soon." The girl with the pigtails said joyfully.

...

"Yeah! Victory dance!" Joseph cheered as he took Tianzi's hands and gently swung them back and forth in celebration on top of the Ikaruga. Tianzi couldn't help but laugh in joy.

After retrieving the damaged Guren from the pyramid with Rakshata giving the sorry Joseph a mouthful, they started to travel back to Horai island.

The Black Knights consisting of Kallen, C.C., Tohdoh, Urabe, Ohgi, Kaguya, Tamaki, Chiba, Asahina, Xianglin, Hong Gu, Diethard, and Rakshata all watched them in amusement. Well, Chiba gave a tired sigh, but it wasn't out of malice this time.

Now that the fighting had finally died down, both Zero and Xingke had exited out of their knightmares.

"Your Majesty!" Xingke called out in relief.

"Xingke!" Tianzi cried out happily as she let go of Joseph and ran over to him and gave him a big hug.

"Thank goodness..." Xingke said quietly as he held her tight.

"Joseph, Kallen. Glad to see you both..." Zero started to say as he got a good look at both of them.

They were covered with dirt, mud, bruises, and soot. Both their hair was a mess and their clothes were tattered and torn. Joseph had burn marks on the palm of his hands from catching the slash harkens yet somehow his coat barely took any damage.

"...alive." Zero finished.

"Yes, thank you Zero." Kallen said politely, before turning to Joseph. "And Joe?" She said with an overly sweet smile and tone.

"Yeah, Kal Pal?" Joseph asked happily.

*WHAM*

Only to receive a hard punch to the face, which he only gave a confused reaction to.

"OW!" Kallen cried as she held her damaged fist in her hand. "I'm starting to think his face is made out of steel!" She thought bitterly.

"A-Ok, Kal Pal?" Joseph asked in concern.

"NO! I AM NOT 'A-OK'!" Kallen shouted with fury. "WHAT ON EARTH WERE YOU THINKING?! COMING INTO THE BATTLEFIELD LIKE THAT WITH NO PLAN OR PROTECTION AT ALL!" She continued to yell as the people there felt like they needed to take a step back in fear.

"You could have gotten us killed! You almost did get us killed! SEVERAL TIMES! Of all the stupid things you have done, THIS is definitely the stupidest!" She continued before taking a deep breath and calming down a bit.

"And what if you had failed? What if you had gotten shot before you even made it down there? Not only would I still be captured but I would have lived with the fact that you died for nothing. So just tell me, Joseph. Tell me why you would do such an idiotic thing?! And don't you dare say 'Do something, do it stupid.' I want a real answer! Why?!" Kallen asked like a stern parent who was ready to spank her unruly child.

The whole time, Joseph looked at her with a confused look, surprised he had to even tell her.

"Well duh. I love you."

And like that, everybody froze.

Kaguya gave a happy gasp,

Xianglin and Tohdoh's eyebrows lifted in surprise,

Tamaki gave out a "HUH?!",

Ohgi and Asahina's eyes widen in disbelief,

Urabe and Hong Gu couldn't help but do a double take,

Chiba muttered a incredulous "What?",

Diethard raised an eyebrow, confused by the whole thing,

Rakshata gave an amused "Oh my.",

Xingke and Lelouch(under his mask) both blinked in surprise,

Tianzi smiled at them,

and C.C. was admittedly stunned by the proclamation.

Kallen, however, had eyes as big as saucers, her pupils had shrunk down to pins, her cheeks were blazing red, and her jaw had dropped like a brick.

For a moment, everyone stayed silent. Wondering if they all actually heard that come out of Joseph's mouth.

Kallen was the first to break out of her stupor.

"Uh...w...um...what?" Kallen stuttered, her face really red with no signs of disappearing.

To which Joseph smiled at her, and brought her into a gentle hug.

"On most important people list, best bud! Never leave behind!" Joseph told her happily.

Kallen stood there stunned, not sure what to say to that.

"So...does...does he mean that..." Kallen asked herself.

"So, tell what?" Joseph asked curiously.

"Uh, w-what?" Kallen stuttered, not sure what he meant.

"Before captured, said 'Tell Joseph-kkkurrzzz'" Joseph said, imitating a radio scratching. "Tell what?" He asked with his dopey smile.

"Uh...well...I...um...I wanted to say..." Kallen struggled to day, not even sure how to get the words out.

"Miss Kallen, you're bleeding!" Tianzi said with concern as she pointed to her bleeding leg.

Joseph gasped as he went in to expect it. "Oh no!" He said with concern.

"I must have gotten hit by a bullet or something during all the chaos." Kallen said as she examined her leg, and then started to groan in pain. "And now that the adrenaline's wearing off. I'm starting to feel it." She said with gritted teeth.

"To hospital!" Joseph proclaimed as he lifted Kallen into a bridal carry.

"Hey! Wh-What are you doing?!" Kallen asked, shocked by the sudden action.

"No weight on leg. Better healing." Joseph told her with a smile.

Kallen blushed again and looked away. "You could just help me walk to the medical center..." Kallen muttered embarrassingly.

"Want to carry." Joseph told her with his dopey smile.

Kaguya and Tianzi "awww"-ed while Tohdoh shook his head in amusement.

Kallen saw C.C. looking at her with a cheeky grin and half-opened eyes. She groaned in embarrassment.

"That boy is full of surprises..." Xingke said with a raised eyebrow.

"You have no idea..." Zero said with an amused smirk inside his mask.

...

Ikaruga

Medical Center

After gently putting Kallen down on one of the hospital beds, he turned his attention to an attending nurse.

"Nurse! Give first class service!" Joseph demanded as he pointed to Kallen, making her rub her eyes tiredly.

"Uh, we'll do our best for her." The nurse said awkwardly. "We should take care of your hands while your here." She advised when she noticed his hands.

"Ah ah ah. Kallen first." Joseph instructed with a wagging finger.

"You really didn't have to do that." Kallen said wearily.

"What world be, if not fancy?" Joseph questioned in a serious tone.

This time, that actually got a chuckle from Kallen. "You're such a goofball." She said in amusement as the nurse started to tend to her leg.

"And proud!" Joseph declared proudly.

Kallen looked at him for a moment before sighing. "Listen Joe, even though I hate how you went at it. I do appreciate you coming to save me like that. You're...you really are awesome." Kallen said gratefully, still not able to find the courage to say those three words like he did.

Joseph gave her a smile, not his regular dopey smile, but a gentle, kind one.

Before she realized it, he bent down and kissed her on the cheek.

"Anytime, Kal Pal." Joseph said to her kindly.

Once again, Kallen's eyes widen and her cheeks went red.

"Oop! Fever coming! Better rest up!" Joseph told her before heading out the room. "Back later!" He told her joyfully as he waved goodbye as he left out the door.

And by the door was a smirking, green-haired witch.

"Not. A. Word." Kallen warned her, her blush still not leaving.

"Mmm-hmm." C.C. hummed as she went on her way.

With that, Kallen groaned miserably into her hands and let herself plop onto the bed. She put her hands down and looked at the ceiling above her with an exhausted look on her face.

"Why did I have to fall in love with a moron?" Kallen asked herself tiredly.

...

Back on top of the Ikaruga, Xingke and Tianzi interlock their pinkies, remembering their promise.

"Is this all right for you?" Xingke asked.

"Well, I was finally able to leave the Forbidden City. And now…I mean…this doesn't mean it's…beyond…it's just…" Tianzi stuttered, wondering if this was where they would part ways.

Xingke saw this and brought his thumb up to hers.

"I shall protect you in the future as well. Until the very end of time." Xingke said with a bow of his head.

"...It's so strange. I'm so happy…I'm so happy and yet…" Tianzi said as tears of joy fell from her eyes.

The Black Knights looked on at the surrogate father and daughter happily. Lelouch had a bittersweet smile underneath his mask, remembering the times with his mother.

Suddenly, Joseph moved past the group and lifted Tianzi into a hug, who gave a surprised "Eep!"

"Yeah, Tia! Finally outside!" Joseph cheered.

"Thanks to you, Uncle Joe!" Tianzi said joyfully as she returned the hug.

Xingke gave a sigh of defeat. "Guess this is something I have to get used to..." He thought complicit.

"It's so beautiful out here." Tianzi said as she observed the outside air after Joseph put her down.

"Fresh air, blue sky, tree bark for eating." He listed happily to her.

"I can eat tree bark?" Tianzi questioned with curious happiness.

"No." Xingke, Xianglin, and Hong Gu said in a calm but firm matter at the same time,surprising Tianzi.

"Prince Joseph. I suppose I owe you an apology for taking Kozuki like that. It's clear you care a lot about her and you even made Tianzi feel safe and secure." Xingke said politely with a small bow.

"All good. Besides, always forgive family!" Joseph said happily, making Xingke lift back up.

"...Excuse me?" Xingke asked blankly.

"You Tia's father, me her uncle. Thus, brothers!" Joseph said excitedly as he opened his arms wide for a hug.

"Yay!" Tianzi said happily as she clapped her hands.

"...It doesn't work like that." Xingke deadpanned.

"Except it does." Joseph said in his happy tone.

"I don't think so." Xingke continued.

"I know so." Joseph continued as he approached Xingke for a hug.

"No." Xingke said, starting to back away from the dimwit.

"Yep!" Joseph said, still following after him.

"I don't want this!" Xingke insisted, starting to quicken his pace.

"Getting it!" Joseph insisted, also quickening his pace.

"Keep away from me!" Xingke said angrily as he was now running away.

"Hug me brotha'!" Joseph shouted with glee as he chased Xingke.

A lot of the Black Knights laughed while Chiba looked on sympathetically.

"I feel your pain, Xingke." Chiba said quietly.

"Zero, we need to let the world know that the Empress' betrothal to the Britannian prince is off." Diethard said quietly.

"Of course." Zero said.

"And the best way to do that is to have her marry someone from our side, a member of Japanese family would be perfect." Diethard told him. Tianzi heard this and looked over at Zero in concern, wondering what he would say. "If you'd like I can draw up a list of suitable candidates." He continued.

Before could Lelouch could say anything, Kaguya quickly stepped in.

"But you mustn't!" Kaguya said.

"Lady Kaguya, this is a political maneuver, it isn't personal." Diethard told her.

"You're wrong, it is personal! It's a simple question of love!" Kaguya insisted determinedly.

"She has a point." C.C. said.

"We're at war. Lives are its stake." Diethard insisted.

"Hey, you're pushin' it, buddy." Chiba said, not liking where the conversation was going.

"Buddy? I am a staff officer!" Diethard said offended.

"A staff officer who clearly has no respect for morals." Urabe hissed.

"Enough!" Zero shouted, ceasing the arguments. He walked over to Tianzi and Joseph, who was currently holding the struggling Xingke in a tight grip. "Your Majesty, your future belongs to you! You decide your own fate!" He proclaimed passionately.

Tianzi smiled in relief, Xingke looked in surprise while Joseph was just confused by what was going on.

"Zero…" Xingke said quietly after Joseph put him down.

"Oh, I knew you'd understand!" Kaguya said happily.

"But we need to establish a position of power." Diethard insisted.

"The human heart is a source of all our power. That's why the people rose up against the High Eunuchs and why the Black Knight fight like Titans." Zero said determinedly. "It's why Joseph was able to save Kallen from the Chinese Federation!" He continued as he waved his hand to the surprised Joseph. "It was as Tohdoh said, what he lacks in brains he makes up for with the power of his heart! And we must do the same!" He said with passion like the leader he was.

The Black Knights looked at him awe, Kaguya looked at him dreamily.

"Yeah, you got that right." Ohgi agreed wholeheartedly.

"Power of the heart, is that it?" Diethard asked himself, not sure what to make of it.

He looked at Joseph with a curious eye, and a thought came to his head.

"Speaking of saving Kallen, what you did back there was so badass!" Tamaki said as he approached Joseph with a giddy smile. "Totally insane and stupid, but completely badass!" He said excitedly.

"Oh, it nothing!" Joseph said as he waved offhandedly.

"Nothing? You threw a knightmare into the air! With your bare hands!" Asahina said in awe as he also approached Joseph.

"Do I have to remind you all that we almost lost our lives because he made us stay behind?" Chiba asked, a bit peeved.

"Hey! We all wanted to stay behind to get back Kallen!" Tamaki said angrily before turning back to Joseph with a smile. "Besides, with my second best bud on our side, Britannia doesn't stand a chance!" He said excitedly as he patted Joseph on the back.

"Awww. Thanks, second best bud!" Joseph said happily as he patted Tamaki on the back. Probably a little harder then he meant to as it sent Tamaki to the ground.

"Tell us Joseph, where on Earth does all that strength come from?" Urabe asked with intrigue.

"Hmmmm..." Joseph hummed as he thought about it. "Don't know. Exercise, meditate, tree bark." He listed randomly.

"Aw come on, man! Don't hold back on us now!" Tamaki whined after he lifted himself back up.

While they questioned Joseph, Tohdoh looked at his former student with a smirk, a proud look in his eyes.

Urabe looked back at C.C. with a curious eye. "I wonder..."

"But in all seriousness, Joseph. We thank you for saving Kallen, who knows what could have happened if she remained captured." Ohgi said in a thankful tone.

"No second thought! Kal Pal best bud after all!" Joseph said with glee.

"Is that all she is?" Kaguya asked with a creepy smile, which just confused Joseph.

While they were talking, Xingke approached Zero.

"Zero, I'm starting to see what kind of man it is behind that mask." Xingke said with a smirk, holding his hand out for Zero to shake, which he gladly accepted.

"The path ahead of us is arduous." Zero said as he shook Xingke's hand.

"That's precisely why tomorrow belongs to us alone." Xingke said. "But I must ask, did you know that Joseph would go out of his way to rescue Kozuki like that?" Xingke asked curiously as they let go.

"Honestly, no. But you can never be too prepared." Zero said with a smirk that Xingke could tell was underneath his mask.

It was then Tianzi approached them.

"Zero. Thank you for giving me this road towards the future. I look forward to working with you." Tianzi said in a respected manner like the Empress she was, along with a curtsy.

"The feeling is mutual, young Empress. My only hope is to strive towards peace and justice." Zero said respectfully as he gave his own curtsy to her.

"I know. Uncle Joe said that's what superheroes do, but sometimes they need help, even if they forget to ask." Tianzi told him with a smile and a wink.

Zero and Xingke looked at her in confusion, not sure what to make of that.

"Um...indeed." Was all Zero could think to say.

Tianzi could only giggle as she remembered the super secret Joseph told her.

...

(Flashback)

"I guess I'm just trying to understand why you yourself follow him with the pain he caused you to endure." Tianzi said with confusion.

Joseph was not sure what to say. He knew she wanted to help, but not for the wrong reasons. And honestly, there was only so many times he could dodge the question, especially when it came to matters like this.

"This is bigger than keeping an identity secret Joe, this is about making sure your little brother has enough support around him. If Urabe is willing to still be by Lelouch's side, so can she. Besides, he figured she was old enough to keep a secret, kids her age were good at that." Joseph thought to himself.

So with that, he put on his super-serious face.

"Tia. Gonna tell something. But no tell anyone else, for this secret." Joseph said with a super-serious voice, surprising Tianzi.

"Not even Xingke?" Tianzi asked.

"Mmm-mmm. This secret, BIG secret. Secret of ALL secrets! Worth not one...but TWO pinkie promises!" Joseph told her as he held out his one and a half pinkies.

That definitely shocked Tianzi, as she knew just how important a pinkie promise was between her and Xingke. If she had to commit to two pinkie promises, it must have been important!

She put on a determined face and interlocked her pinkies with his.

"I promise not to tell a soul!" Tianzi said.

"Alright! Admiral Zero..." Joseph started to say before looking around to make sure no one else was listening. He then crouched down and whispered in her ear. "...My little brother."

"(Gasps)Really?!" Tianzi said in total shock.

"Lelouch vi Britannia aka Admiral Zero." Joseph said dramatically.

"But...why? Is it the same reasons you fight against your family?" Tianzi wondered.

"Lelouch...more personal." Joseph started to explain. "His mom, aunt Mary, killed by cold blood. Dad did nothing about! Instead, ship him and Nunne to Japan for backtalk!" He said angrily.

"He did that to his own children?!" Tianzi asked, aghast.

"Yep! And waged war knowing they there!" Joseph continued. "But care? Nope! Just threw away! Like gum!" He said bitterly.

"So...this is his revenge?" Tianzi asked.

"...Think at first." Joseph said after giving it some thought. "But realized bigger than him. People he care about in this too. Sees others suffer, not like one bit. So doing something about it! Why he superhero! Peace and Justice!" He proclaimed as he jumped onto his feet and puffed his chest out.

Tianzi would have giggled if it wasn't for a lingering question.

"And Princess Euphemia?" She asked, afraid to hurt his feelings again.

Joseph looked down solemnly and sighed as he sat back down.

"Tia...believe superpowers real?" He asked.

He then told her about the power of Geass.

How Lelouch acquired it and used it to become Zero,

how there are others who have their own abilities, including his father,

and how it was accidentally used on Euphemia that horrible day.

Tianzi stared at Joseph, listening in awe to this phenomenal story.

It sounded impossible, it should be impossible, but she believed him. She wasn't sure why, but her heart was telling her that he was telling the truth.

And honestly, it explained a lot. The miracles Zero was able to perform, Princess Euphemia's behavior.

"So...he killed her...to protect her..." Tianzi said, finally understanding.

"Last thing wanted to do." He began with a quiet voice. "Ruined him, killed him. Thought deserved suffering for it." He said sadly as he looked down at his lap.

Tianzi looked at him sympathetically and hugged his side, which he returned. She couldn't even imagine holding on to that kind of burden, no wonder Zero always seemed so serious.

"Doing better. Seeing light. But uphill battle. That why needs friends! All help can get!" Joseph told her determinedly. "But forget asking sometimes, so doing for. After all, am big brother." He said with his dopey smile.

Tianzi couldn't help but respect and admire his diligence to help his brother through such an ordeal. She could see he meant every word coming out of his mouth, and it was good enough for her.

"I think I understand..." Tianzi said as she thought about her words. "Uncle Joe, I would be happy to support your brother in anyway I can, whether it be to help with his rebellion or just in friendship. You can count on me!" She determinedly as she held out her hand for him to shake.

"Alright!" Joseph said with a faux deep voice as he took Tianzi's hand and shook it, she couldn't help but giggle.

"Now, while waiting, teach you clapping game!" Joseph told her excitedly.

"Clapping game?" Tianzi questioned with a raised eyebrow.

(Flashback End)

...

Ashford Academy

"YOU DID WHAT?!" Shirley asked in angry disbelief.

Her, and Sayoko(back wearing her Lelouch disguise) were riding together in the elevator, Rolo stayed behind to keep an eye on surveillance and Villetta. Sayoko winced at the volume of her voice.

"It was the best plan I could think of at the time." Lelouch said wearily over the phone.

"You needed the Chinese Federation's support and you thought your best plan was to kidnap their Empress? What were you thinking?!" Shirley asked sternly.

"I had to show Xingke that he needed the Black Knights as an ally. Getting Empress Tianzi to be our ally first was the way to do it." Lelouch tried to explain.

"You're very lucky Joseph was there! The situation could have been a lot worse than it was!" Shirley said angrily before calming herself down. "And Kallen's okay?" She asked.

"Her leg needs to be in a cast, but she'll be fine." Lelouch reassured her.

"Good. But that doesn't mean you're out of the woods yet, mister! We'll be having a talk about this when you get back!" Shirley said like a strict parent.

"(Sighs) Yes ma'am." Lelouch said weakly.

"Come back soon. Be safe." Shirley said sweetly before hanging up on him.

"Master Lelouch is in trouble, isn't he?" Sayoko(with Lelouch's voice) asked in a concerned manner.

"Yep-per-rooni." Shirley said with a teasing smile, making Sayoko chuckle.

"I see you adapted some of Joseph's vocabulary." Sayoko stated with a smile.

"I can't help it, it's so cute." Shirley said with a giggle.

...

Back in the library, Rivalz had some books in his hands.

"Lelouch has been acting really strange lately. One minute he's his usual self, the next he's weirdly nice. Like a completely different per-" Rivalz didn't get to finish that thought as he suddenly saw 'Lelouch' and Shirley walk out into the open. "Lelouch? Shirley?" He asked in surprise.

"Huh?" Shirley said, startled. "O-Oh! Uh, Rivalz." Shirley said nervously.

"Hi, you need something?" 'Lelouch' asked.

"Milly called, she asked me to bring back this gardening books." Rivalz told them.

"Ah, of course." 'Lelouch' said, trying to stall.

"What were you guys doing?" Rivalz asked curiously.

"Us? Um...nothing!" Shirley said, suddenly all perky.

"This isn't good. If he sees the panel before it closes..." Sayoko started to think.

"...He'll know about the underground control center." Shirley thought in a panic.

"What's going here? Are you guys hiding something?" Rivalz asked suspiciously.

"Shirley!" 'Lelouch' said quickly as he took Shirley into his arms.

"Lel-" Shirley didn't get to finish as she suddenly kissed on the lips by 'Lelouch'.

"HUH?!" Rivalz shouted in surprise as both his jaw and the books he was carrying dropped to the floor.

After a few moments, they released from their kiss. Shirley stood there, stunned beyond relief in 'Lelouch's arms.

"Du...Dude! What the!" Rivalz asked in complete shock by what he was seeing.

"Good news, Rivalz! Shirley and I are officially dating!" 'Lelouch' cheered happily.

...

Ikaruga

"Sounds like someone is in big trouble." C.C. teased as she and Lelouch walked into his personal quarters.

"Shut it." Lelouch said unamused, taking off his mask. "But I suppose I have it coming. It was a plan I didn't like taking, even it was necessary." He said defeatedly.

"You really didn't have any idea Joseph was going to do that?" C.C. asked curiously as she sat down on the couch.

"None. I doubt even Schneizel could predict his behavior." Lelouch said before chuckling. "An interesting chess match it would be between them." He said with nostalgia.

"And what of the Chinese Federation?" C.C. asked as she started to take off her boots.

"There will still be some opposing fractions there. But they'll be no match for Xingke and Tohdoh now that the people are on our side." Lelouch said as he took off his cape. "Besides you wanna see it, too, don't you. The power of the human heart." He said with a genuine smile.

"You really meant it, too. The little devil grows up, huh?" C.C. teased as she now had her uniform off and was just wearing her usual white tank top and shorts. She laid down on the couch, clutching her cheese-kun.

"And you're still a witch." Lelouch teased back as he took out a hanger to put his cape on. "And in any case, this gets us back on track so we can hit them at the deepest level." He added.

"Their religious order?" C.C. asked.

"Hmm, the ones that are trying to create warriors with the Geass power. If we can stop the order then I can gain the upper hand against the Emperor." Lelouch told her.

"However the very existence of the order has been concealed from the human world. They change locations when a new leader is named so it's almost impossible to track them." C.C. told him.

"But you are certain they're based in the Chinese Federation right now. Somewhere within reach?" Lelouch asked.

"Yes, according to V.V., the one who replaced me as their leader. But this is a vast country. Even your new little brother doesn't know where their base is, right? So how are you going to find it?" C.C. asked.

"That's one of the perks of having the Chinese Federation as an ally now. The flow of goods, power supplies, communications. The order must leave traces of its existence." Lelouch explained.

"You're using the power of the whole nation to find them?" C.C. asked curiously.

"The sooner we find them, the better. As you said it's a vast country." Lelouch explained. "You're to remain here, C.C. If you find any clues on the order, contact me."

"Yes, I understand." C.C. complied.

"And try not to tease Kallen too much about Joseph." Lelouch with a smile.

"No promises." C.C. said with a smirk.

...

Aquarium

Shirley, Rolo, and Sayoko(disguised as Lelouch again) were waiting by a giant pool below them. The aquarium they were at was currently closed.

"This place, are you sure it's safe?" Sayoko asked with Lelouch's voice.

"It's an O.S.I. facility. Just consider that it may as well belong to you, me and Shirley." Rolo explained as he gestured to the pouting Shirley with her arms crossed.

Sayoko could see this and shifted awkwardly. "Lady Shirley, I-"

"Nope." Shirley said, shutting her down without a second thought.

"Okay..." Sayoko said meekly, looking down in shame.

Rolo looked at the two in confusion.

"I don't get it. I thought Lelouch and Shirley already liked each other." Rolo wondered to himself.

Soon enough, they could see something rising from the water. Rolo and Shirley both grew excited, glad to see them back.

The Shinkiro rose above the water and opened its hatch. Revealing Lelouch and Joseph, who was currently crouching on top of him.

"Welcome home!" Rolo said cheerfully.

"Lelouch! Big brother!" Shirley said happily.

"New little bro and sis!" Joseph shouted with joy and jumped up to them and tackled them into a big hug. "Missed so much!" He said with glee as he rolled all around the ground with them, Shirley couldn't help but laugh wholeheartedly while Rolo just smiled as they hugged him back.

Sayoko couldn't help but chuckle at the happy trio.

"It's good to see to you again, Joseph." Sayoko said with a formal bow.

"Samesy, Lightning Servant!" Joseph said as he got back up and gave Sayoko a big hug. "Or perhaps, Lelouch T-1000!" He proclaimed as dramatically after he let her go.

"(Chuckles)Unfortunately, it doesn't ring as well as 'Lightning Servant'." Sayoko said as she took off the mask and wig.

"Ooooooh." Joseph said with awe as he took the mask and wig with curiosity.

"It's good to see you all." Lelouch said happily as he climbed up the ladder.

"Lulu." Shirley said with relief as she brought Lelouch into a gentle hug. "I'm glad you're back." She said quietly.

"I told you I would be." Lelouch said sweetly as he returned the hug.

They separate and Shirley looks like she's about to caress, only to suddenly grab his ear and pinch it hard.

"Aaah! Shirley!" Lelouch whined from the pain.

"Lelouch!" Rolo said in concern, about to activate his Geass to help.

But Joseph put his hand on his shoulder and shook his head, mouthing: "Needs this."

"What are we NOT going to do from now on?" Shirley asked sternly.

"Kidnap people." Lelouch said quickly.

"Especially when?" Shirley continued.

"When we're trying to help them!" Lelouch said in pain.

"Good. I'm glad you understand." Shirley said as she let go of his ear, all chipper again.

"Owww..." Lelouch groaned as he rubbed his hurt ear.

"Are you okay, big brother." Rolo asked as he approached Lelouch.

"I'm fine, just learning my lesson." Lelouch reassured him, and then ruffling his hair. "It's good to see you again, little brother." He said warmly, Rolo smiled at that.

"Attention all!" Joseph shouted, catching everyone's attention. Except it wasn't his voice, it was Lelouch's. For he took the mask and wig that Sayoko was wearing and put it on himself. "I, Lelouch vi Britannia! Smartest man in universe! Person say otherwise is stupid!" He proclaimed proudly in Lelouch's voice as he put his hands to his hips.

Shirley had to cover her mouth from giggling too much, Sayoko gave a harmless chuckle, and Rolo shook his head in amusement.

"Hahaha. Real funny." Lelouch deadpanned with an eye roll. "Sayoko, did anything change while I was away on this mission?" He asked.

"Nothing of immediate concern. I noted all the detail in the designated file." Sayoko told him.

"Yes, nothing of immediate concern at all." Shirley said with a bit of edge to her voice that everyone noticed.

Sayoko in return, but her head back down in shame.

"Did something happen?" Lelouch asked in concern.

"Nothing that can't be explained later, come on!" Shirley said quickly as she yanked Lelouch towards the exit.

"Muscle? HA! Who need muscle when have brain! Spoon, command thee to lift!" Joseph continued to imitate.

That definitely got a huge laugh out of Shirley, even Rolo chuckled.

"Alright! Enough!" Lelouch said in annoyance.

"It's good to have you back, big brother." Shirley said as she looped an arm around Joseph's shoulder.

"No where better!" Joseph agreed as he did the same.

As they bonded, Lelouch and Rolo trailed behind.

"So you two will be staying here for quite while now. Isn't that right, Lelouch?" Rolo asked excitedly.

"Yes, I have to develop some effective counter measures for the Knights of the Round. The Lancelot's bad enough. And we certainly don't need the Tristan and the Mordred getting in our way again." Lelouch explained.

"It would be a pleasure to back you up in my Vincent." Rolo offered.

"Rolo, I told you not to behave like that." Lelouch said tiredly.

"Oh right, sorry." Rolo said sadly.

"It's alright, you're still getting used to it." Lelouch said encouragingly.

...

Ashford Academy

Shirley and Lelouch walked together through the halls of the school.

"I know you need to maintain your role as a leader, Lelouch. But do please try to relax while you're here." Shirley said out of concern.

"But Shirley..." Lelouch tried to say.

"You're going to run yourself ragged if you keep on like you always do." Shirley said sternly. "Remember, the school is a safe haven again. There's nothing to worry about here." She reminded him encouragingly. "So please, have some fun." She said with a hopeful look.

Lelouch looked at her, and was reminded why he was so grateful to her being in his life.

"You're right. I'll try to remember that." Lelouch said with an optimistic smile, which she gave in return.

Lelouch then started to notice the looks students were giving the two, some were whispering among each other.

"Um, why is everyone looking at us?" Lelouch asked in confusion.

"Uhhh...about that..." Shirley said awkwardly, wondering how she would explain it.

Suddenly they heard a camera click. They turned and saw someone they were not expecting.

"Morning Lelouch Lamperouge, Shirley Fenette." Anya said blankly, swearing a school uniform.

"Lady Anya Alstreim!?" Shirley said in shock.

"Hey, we've been waiting for you two!" Gino greeted, also in a school uniform.

"Sir Gino Weinberg?" Lelouch said in surprise.

"You're the vice president, right? This is an honor." Gino said politely.

"Don't be so formal." Rivalz advised as he came out of a room with Milly.

"Oh, right." Gino sweat dropped. "Anyway, we've both just enrolled here in Ashford. And while we're here we insist that our social status be ignored." He told them.

"They said they wanted the experience of being ordinary student." Milly told them.

"So I'm teaching them how to talk normal." Rivalz said.

"I am really looking forward to this...old man." Gino tried to say in a "cool" way while putting his hand on Lelouch's shoulder.

"...Right…" Lelouch said quizzically with a raised eyebrow.

"Madam President! Why didn't you tell me Knights of the Round would be coming?!" Shirley asked, annoyed that she wasn't able to tell Lelouch about this beforehand.

"Well why didn't you tell me that you and Lelouch were finally boyfriend and girlfriend?" Milly asked with a Cheshire grin.

Lelouch looked over at Milly with wide eyes. "...WHAT?!"

Shirley could only groan miserably as she put her red face into her hands.

And Anya took a photo.

To Be Continued...

...

PHEW!(Swipes sweat from forehead)

That was LONG chapter! I honestly didn't expect it to be so when I started writing it.

But there you have it! Kallen has been saved from Britannia's clutches, Tianzi knows that Lelouch is Zero and of Geass, and everyone at Ashford now knows that Lelouch and Shirley are a couple(again)...sort of.

As for Joseph telling Kallen he loves her, does he mean love like a family member or LOVE LOVE? ...I guess we'll have to find out!

I have a difficult time describing action, so I apologize if the action scenes are a bit clunky. Some of it I had planned beforehand(like the banana peel), some I thought of on the spot, some I ended up not using, and some I mixed in with canon.

Anyway, next chapter should be a lot more quieter with a lot more fluff.

Hope you enjoyed reading this one, comment and tell me what you think!

'Til next time!