Emperor's Personal Airship
"There was a giant explosion in the Tokyo settlement. It appears that a F.L.E.I.J.A. warhead caused it. Your Majesty, should we remain here at Kamine island?" Monica Krushevsky, the blonde Knight of Twelve asked the Emperor.
"Enough. Let Schneizel handle mundane affairs." Charles said dismissively.
Monica looked at him in surprise but then nodded.
"Yes, your highness..." Monica said, eyes downcast.
...
Tokyo Settlement
Joseph's spirit floated there as he stared at the giant crater that now engulfed the majority of the Tokyo Settlement.
"All those buildings...all those people...gone..." Joseph's spirit thought solemnly.
His mind then went to Ashford and quickly turned towards its direction. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw it wasn't touched.
"Kids...new little sis and friends...you're okay..." He thought with relief.
He thought about how the purple bomb came from the Lancelot, Suzaku's knightmare.
"Would Suzaku really...?"
He didn't want to think it was true, he didn't want to believe it to be true. Sure, he was mad at Lelouch, but he could see the wheels turning in his head, he knew he would never escalate to something like this.
Plus, while he was at a distance. He thought he saw Suzaku standing outside of his cockpit, so it had to be an outside source.
Questions for later, right now he had other priorities.
"I better go check on Lelouch." He said solemnly as he flew towards the Shinkiro.
...
Avalon
Nina's eyes shook as she saw the list of names appeared one after another, never ending.
Her creation did this.
She did this.
"No…how could this have happened…they're all…they're all…" She stuttered frantically as she brought her hands to her head.
...
Tokyo Settlement
Suzaku sat in seat, thinking about everything that had just happened.
"Did I do this?" He couldn't help but ask himself.
He didn't pull the trigger but he still chose to wield the gun.
"Was this always your intention, Schneizel? Were you just looking for any excuse to display this weapon?!" Suzaku thought angrily.
...
"What have they done...?" Kallen asked herself quietly as she looked at the crater with immense grief. "Nunnally..."
...
"The school was outside the blast radius but… This has gone beyond war." Gino said, feeling genuinely terrified by what his country had created.
...
"If they use this weapon again, the Black Knights will be completely wiped out." Tohdoh said solemnly.
...
OSI Surveillance Room
The Student Council and the kids looked at what had happened to the settlement. Eyes wide with shock and fear.
"Dear God..." Shirley said with a whisper, hand covering her mouth.
"It's all gone, that sphere-whatever it was, it destroyed everything..." Rivalz said, feeling really sick to his stomach now.
"All those people...why would they..." Milly found herself asking.
The children could only look in confused-horror at what happened.
Animi was cheering her papa's friends on but now she just wanted to this to be over, she wanted to this to be a bad dream.
"Aunt Shirley...wha...what happened? W-Why are all the buildings gone?" Potestas asked, not understanding.
"Did they get transported somehow?" Umbra asked with scared innocence, her child-like mind wanting to be optimistic.
"It looked like it was evaporated..." Longe said quietly, his brain whirling around with thoughts, trying to figure out what was going on.
"I-It's okay guys. It's all going to be okay." Shirley reassured her nieces and nephews as best as she could.
Kaecus, however, just wanted her Papa back.
She climbed onto the table and started shaking her father.
"Papa! Please wake up Papa!" Kaecus said, terrified.
...
Joseph's spirit phased his way into Lelouch's cockpit.
"Hey little bro...you okay?" Joseph's spirit asked awkwardly.
Lelouch sat there with a slumped position, looking dead on the inside.
"Aw, come on bro. I know it's bad. I mean really bad. Horribly bad. Shockingly-anyway! The point being is that we're still here and Nunne is still safe with Lightning Servant." Joseph's spirit tried to reassure him.
"Rolo." Lelouch said quietly.
"Yes, big brother?" Rolo asked softly through the comms.
"Could you please let me speak with Nunnally." Lelouch asked him blankly.
Joseph's spirit blinked in confusion, wondering why he didn't sound more excited to be asking that.
"Ah, well…" Rolo tried to say, not able to find the words.
"I can't reach Sayoko." Lelouch said, still with a dead tone.
"...Big brother...I'm so sorry. ...We weren't in time. Nunnally was caught in that flash of light." Rolo said sadly.
Joseph tilted his head at that.
"...Wait, what?" Joseph's spirit asked, not understanding.
"I'm not asking you about anything like that now. I just wanna talk to Nunnally. That's all." Lelouch said, a bit more angry.
"But Nunnally...she...she's dead, big brother." Rolo tried to tell him.
"Don't lie to me!" Lelouch said with rage, surprising Joseph's spirit. "Please, Rolo. Could you just for a moment, please…let me speak with Nunnally…" Lelouch said, back to his defeated tone.
"Hold on a minute! What are you guys talking about?! I saw Nunne and Sayoko leave away from the settlement. Why would you think..." Joseph's spirit stop himself as he remembered the ship that looked the same as the one Nunne and Sayoko were on.
"Son of a bitch..."
It wasn't just a duplicate, it was decoy.
The bomb! The decoy! The BOMB destroying the DECOY!
This was all planned!
Planned by that devious, deadly, dashing brother of Joseph's: Schneizel!
"ALRIGHT! THAT'S IT!" Joseph's spirit said, knowing he no longer could keep doing this ghost bullshit anymore.
...
Ikaruga
Ohgi ran through the halls of the ship, looking for Villetta.
"The fugitive is on the portside runway, right?" Ohgi asked in a hurry.
"Wait. We need to reorganize our forces first." Futaba told him over his comms.
"Understood. I'll be back there in a minute." Ohgi told her.
"Ohgi!" Villetta called out to him.
He turned around and saw her peeking out of the room Diethard and Sayoko put her in, having freed herself from her restraints.
"Chigusa." Ohgi said in surprise.
...
OSI Surveillance Room
"Come on, Papa! Wake up!" Kaecus said frantically as she sat on top of Joseph's chest and slapped him in the face repeatedly.
"Kaecus! It's not working!" Potestas told her.
"We have to do something! What if that purple sphere took Papa's ghost away?!" Kaecus said, scared for her father.
"Try slapping harder!" Umbra suggested.
"Maybe we should use a hammer!" Amini also said.
"Waterboarding has been a used technique!" Longe offered.
"Okay! How about we bring it down guys." Rivalz quickly suggested, fearing one of the kids would suggest shooting him next. "Look, we just gotta be patient and wait-"
"LELOUCH!" Joseph said as he jolted back up to a sitting position.
He startled the Hell out of Shirley, Milly, and Rivalz. While the kids were just relieved to see their Papa awake.
"Papa!" The kids shouted with joy as they hugged Joseph together.
"Why do you always do that?!" Rivalz asked angrily as he clutched his chest. Feeling like he just had a heart attack.
"Sorry! Kids okay?!" Joseph quickly asked his kids.
"We're fine, Papa." Potestas assured him.
"We were worried about you." Kaecus told him.
"Yeah, we thought your ghost got sucked into a different dimension!" Umbra said fanatically.
"Nope! Just a big purple bomb!" Joseph reassured them.
"Not exactly better..." Milly sweatdropped.
Joseph then remembered what he had to do. "Wait! Lelouch!" He said in a panic as he took his phone out and dialed Lelouch's number.
It rang and rang, but he didn't pick up. He tried again, still nothing.
"Damn it!" Joseph yelled as he accidentally crushed his phone in frustration. "Whoops..." He said awkwardly, realizing what he had done. "Shirley, phone!" He said quickly as he went over to his new little sister and shook her crazily.
"Joseph! What's going on?!" Shirley asked with concern as she quickly gave her phone to him, seeing the state Joseph was in.
"What's wrong, Papa?" Longe asked as he and his siblings came up to him.
"Nothing good! Little bro think little sis dead! But not dead! Actually alive, but not know!" Joseph quickly explained as he smacked the buttons on Shirley's phone like no tomorrow.
"Wait, what?!" Shirley said, utterly confused by what he was talking about.
"Come on, come on! Pick up Jerry!" Joseph said as he paced around the table at a rapid speed. His kids following him from behind.
Thankfully, Jeremiah answered.
"Lady Shirley, I'm sorry, I'm sure you have many questions but-"
"Jerry! It Joseph!" Joseph said, cutting him off.
"Your highness? Why do you have-"
"Not important! Where Lelouch?!" Joseph asked.
"H-He's back in the Ikaruga, Rolo took him-"
"Pick me up! Need see him!" Joseph practically ordered.
"Your highness, he's really in a bad place. I-I don't know-"
"Nunne still alive! Ship decoy!" Joseph yelled, getting to the point.
"W-What?! How do you-"
"PICK ME UP! RIGHT HERE! RIGHT NOW!" Joseph was now ordering, done with this shit.
"Yes, your highness!" Jeremiah quickly complied, not wanting to feel the wrath of the dimwit prince.
Joseph hung up and breathed a sigh of frustration and then looked at his kids, who were very scared by how their father was acting. He then made of sigh of sadness, knowing he scared them.
"So sorry kids. No anger at you, anger at situation." He said softly as he hugged his kids, letting them know they did nothing wrong. "But have to leave. Emergency multiplied ten." He told them gently.
"Then we'll go with you!" Potestas told him.
"No. Staying here with new aunts and uncle." Joseph told them firmly.
"But you just said the situation has gotten worse than before! We can't let you go by yourself!" Animi said with concern.
"Yeah, what if another purple bomb happens!" Longe said with fear.
"Please Papa! We don't want you to die!" Kaecus said, starting to breath heavily again.
Joseph was between a rock and a hard place. Just like before when he left Pendragon almost a year ago.
He knew he had to get to Lelouch and get his mind right. But he didn't want to leave his kids like this either. Everything was still new to them, they were still getting used to this outside world, and it made them cling to him like plastic wrap. He knew it could do terrible things to their psyche if anything were to happen to him right now.
But the battle was over, there was less risk. He needed to see Lelouch, no buts about it.
So he took a deep breath and took his walkman out of his coat pocket.
"What this?" He asked his kids curiously.
The kids looked at each other in a confused fashion before answering.
"It's your walkman, Papa." Potestas said, not understanding.
"It's the greatest invention ever made that plays the other greatest invention ever made. Music!" Umbra added.
"That right. And who belong to before me?" He asked them.
"Our grandma." The kids said in unison.
"Exactly. So very important to me. Right below family and friends." Joseph told them. "So know gonna get back later."
"Papa?" Animi said, not understanding.
Joseph took a tape from inside his coat, put it in the walkman and then placed it in both his hands and presented it to his kids. "Leave with you."
The kids and the Student Council gasped in shock and surprise.
"Papa, you can't be serious!" Potestas said, flabbergasted.
"Yeah dude, that's like your prized possession right there!" Rivalz said in disbelief.
"Yep-per-rooni! Means coming back, no matter what!" Joseph told them with excited determination.
"But..." Kaecus said, not panicking anymore but still unsure.
"Pinkie promise." Joseph told them, no doubt in his tone, as he held up his one and a half fingers.
The children looked at each other, thinking about it for a moment before nodding in agreement.
They then wrapped their own pinkies around Joseph's.
"Please come back, Papa." Kaecus said, still worried.
"Course. No thousand needles!" Joseph told them determinedly as he scooped them up into a big hug.
"Okay, I'll tell him." Shirley said to her phone before turning to Joseph. "Joseph, that was Jeremiah. He's close." She told him.
"Good, meet on rooftop! Call Rolo, see if warn." Joseph said as he went over and hugged her. "Take care, new little sis." He said gratefully before giving her a stern finger. "Watch over kids."
"Nothing will happen to them, big brother." Shirley said firmly.
"We'll make sure of it." Rivalz told him proudly.
"Right on! Get here fam!" Joseph said as he gave them a quick group hug and then charged his way towards the elevator. "Be back soon!" He said quickly.
"Be safe!" They all said together.
...
Cornelia ran on top of the Ikaruga, hoping the aftermath of the battle would be a long enough distraction to get away.
Those hopes were diminished once she heard the cocking of guns.
"That's far enough, Miss Fugitive!" Diethard told her.
"Damn it." Cornelia thought with annoyance as she turned around.
"Cornelia?!" Diethard said with surprise. "I thought it was Villetta who'd escaped." He thought to himself.
"So it's you. Newsman and turncoat." Cornelia said, unsurprised.
"Is Zero behind this? Secretly holding the princess as a captive? Perhaps at the persuasion of Prince Joseph? He should've shown a little more trust in me." Diethard calculated. "Aim for her legs. I wanna take her alive, men." He ordered, remembering how Joseph reacted when he suggested they leave Kallen behind.
"Yes, sir!" The Black Knights complied as they readied to fire.
Something else came along though. Specifically a small ship carrier.
"Attention. We are carrying a Britannian special envoy on a urgent diplomatic mission. We have no hostile intentions." A Britannian Soldier said over the speaker of it ship carrier as it took its landing on top of the Ikaruga.
"Diplomatic mission? Minase, was that craft cleared to land here through official channels?" Diethard asked through the comms only to look in shock with who came out of it.
"Schneizel!" Cornelia said with surprise and relief.
"Impossible! Why would he step right into the midst of his mortal enemies?" Diethard wondered with shock.
...
Zero's Private Quarters
C.C. heard the door open.
"Master, you're back." C.C. said happily as she turned around, only to be surprised to see Rolo carrying her master, who was hanging limply by his side.
"Hang in there, big brother." Rolo told him, struggling to hold him up.
"Nunnally…" Lelouch said numbly, barely a whisper.
Rolo set Lelouch down on the couch and sat next to him.
"Big brother, I'm here for you." Rolo told him gently as he grasped his shoulder. Suddenly, he heard his phone ring. It was coming from Shirley. "What is it, Shirley?" He asked after answering.
Lelouch broke out of his stupor at the mention of Shirley. He slowly turned towards Rolo and saw the locket on his phone.
"Rolo! Is Lelouch there?!" Shirley asked hastily on the phone.
"He's right here. But...I...I'm so sorry Shirley...I tried to..." Rolo tried to say, not sure how to tell him.
"That locket..." Lelouch thought numbly.
"Nonono! You don't understand Rolo!" Shirley said, trying to get to the point.
"THAT LOCKET!" Lelouch thought with rage.
"Nunnally is-" Shirey didn't get to finish though as Lelouch had snatched the phone out of Rolo's hand.
...
Tokyo Settlement
"What the...hello? Hello?!" Shirley asked, seeing if anyone was still there. "Damn it! We got disconnected!" She said with frustration.
"Keep trying!" Milly insisted.
...
Avalon
Nina and Lloyd stood alone, looking at the Lancelot that was damaged by the FLEIJA.
"I didn't understand what this kind of destruction really meant." Nina said numbly.
"You need to make a choice, Nina. Do you abandon science to preserve your heart? Or abandon your heart and sacrifice yourself to science?" Lloyd asked her.
"How can I do either? Did you make such a choice, Professor Lloyd?" Nina asked.
"I didn't have to. I'm a sociopath. I was born with an abandoned heart." Lloyd said bluntly.
"But I'm the one who build the F.L.E.I.J.A. warhead…All those people's lives are gone…I killed them…all of them…oh God! Prince Joseph, what have I done?!" Nina asked herself as she fell to her knees and broke down in tears.
...
Ikaruga
Knightmare Hangar
Kallen swung down the cable of her Guren.
"Kallen!" Minami said with relief as he and Sugiyama ran towards her.
"Thank goodness. You're back in one piece." Sugiyama said with relief as well.
"Sorry to worry you. I'm okay. Where's Zero?" Kallen asked with concern.
"I heard he is in his quarters." Minami said.
"There's a rumor that he was wounded." Sugiyama told her.
"I guess that's one way to put it..." Kallen thought sadly.
Suddenly, they saw the Siegfried come back to the knightmare hangar at top speed. With a certain prince standing on top, hanging onto one of the spikes.
"The Siegfried?" Minami said in surprise.
And without the knightmare even landing, Joseph jumped into the air and landed into the Knightmare hangar.
"Thanks Jerry! Keep looking!" Joseph waved goodbye as he ran.
"Joe?!" Kallen said in surprise, wondering why he wasn't back at the Academy.
"I won't let you down, your highness!" Jeremiah said determinedly as the Siegfried left as quickly as it came.
"Kal Pal! Come on!" Joseph said quickly as he charged towards Kallen.
"Wait! Joe, what's going-DAH!" Kallen tried to ask, only to get her arm yanked by Joseph pulled in his direction..
"No time!" Joseph said as he ran towards the elevator.
"Joe!" Kallen said frantically as flung around in the air like a rag doll.
Minami and Sugiyama looked on, bewildered.
"...Well that was random..." Sugiyama said casually.
"I wonder what's up with him?" Minami wondered.
...
Tokyo Settlement
"Lady Nunnally, I hope you and Lady Sayoko are well." Jeremiah said with concern. But he couldn't help but be relieved that they were still alive.
It was then he noticed something in center of the crater. His robotic eye zoomed in and saw it was Suzaku.
...
Ikaruga
Schneizel, Cornelia, and Kanon sat next to each other as they waited for The Black Knights.
"That's all. Everything I saw and heard at the Order." Cornelia told Schneizel.
"Thank you, Cornelia. With this information I can…" Before Schneizel could finish, they saw Diethard, Tamaki, Tohdoh, and Chiba entered the room.
"Sorry to keep you waiting." Diethard apologized.
"Yeah, sorry. We've had our hands full with that ten million dead people you slaughtered." Tamaki pointed out.
"Tamaki, we discussed this already. You can't be here for this." Diethard told him.
"Why not? I'm the Black Knight's Interior Custodian Minister. So I can sit in for my bud Ohgi and fill him in later." Tamaki told him in annoyance.
"You're the only one who has that impression." Diethard said, unamused.
"No. Please. I'd like for him to join this as well." Schneizel offered kindly.
"Huh?" Diethard asked in surprise.
"Shinichiro Tamaki. One of Zero's oldest comrades. You're the brave veteran of many historic battles." Schneizel complimented with that sliver tongue of his.
"You all know about me, huh?" Tamaki grinned proudly as he sat down across from the three Britannian Royals.
...
Joseph and Kallen went up the elevator, he hopped on his feet up and down impatiently.
"Joe! Can you please tell me what's going on?!" Kallen asked, very confused.
"Explain with little bro, very important!" Joseph told her quickly.
The elevator door opened, they quickly rushed into Lelouch's private quarters.
"Lelouch?" Kallen asked with worry.
"Little bros?" Joseph asked quickly as entered the room.
He saw C.C. standing by the corner, afraid to approach Lelouch. Who currently had a look of loath and rage in his eyes.
"Lelouch, are you okay?" Kallen asked.
"Yeah! Where new little bro?" Joseph asked.
"That boy is not our brother. I sent him off before he could do anymore damage. I should have left him to die back at the Chinese Consulate!" Lelouch said bitterly.
"Whoa! Okay bro, I know upset but-" Joseph tried to argue.
"Upset? I am not upset! I AM LIVID! Nunnally's gone! My sister is DEAD! All because I thought trusting Suzaku would work! But he still betrayed me!" Lelouch yelled.
"Hold on Lelouch! We don't know that, he stopped attacking!" Kallen tried to reason.
"Probably just to buy himself enough time to activate that weapon of his! Taking out almost all the settlement, Sayoko, and my dear sister!" Lelouch said heatedly.
"But's Nunne's-" Joseph tried to say again.
"And it's all because of you, Joseph!" Lelouch said with a dark tone as he narrowed his eyes at his older brother.
That made Joseph flinch a bit.
"Now wait a minute!" Kallen said, starting to get angry.
"Lelouch, please, j-just listen. Nunne just..." Joseph tried to reason.
"NO! I am done." Lelouch said with finality. "Ever since you came back into my life, you have been nothing but trouble and a useless burden. You're reckless, immature, and you don't think about the consequences of your actions, at all! Not when you abandoned us over eight years ago, not when you came to Ashford, and not when you decided to take in five kids! God knows how screwed up they're going to be once they get older!" He continued to rant.
"Lelouch, you need to stop!" Kallen warned, ready to get violent with him.
"For one moment, I thought: 'Hey, maybe Joseph has a point. Maybe I'll give my former friend one more chance. What's the worse that can happen?!'" Lelouch asked mockingly. "But no. It didn't work. It only made things worse. You have done nothing but make things worse. What a fool I was to ever think you could be right about anything. But hey, I guess that's what I get for listening to the word of the Dimwitted Prince! Or should I say Retard?
Because that's what you are!
A STUPID RETARD, WHOSE MOTHER SHOULD HAVE LET DIE INSIDE HER WOMB!"
C.C.'s eyes widen at that.
Kallen's mouth dropped at that.
Lelouch took deep breaths after that loaded rant.
And Joseph?
Joseph had heard many insults in his life.
Plenty directed at him.
Plenty with terms like idiot, moron, annoying, waste of space, even retard. Some said from his own family members, but only the ones he barely knew.
Did it ever bother him? Nope. After all, he liked himself for who he was. And that was enough.
But hearing it from Lelouch?
His little brother who he got to hold in his arms, change his diapers, watch grow up?
Joseph wasn't going to lie...
...it stung...
...it actually really stung.
His eyes and mouth shook but his body remained frozen as he processed everything Lelouch had just said to him.
He wasn't sure what to do, what to say. He wanted to tell Lelouch that Nunne was still alive, but for some reason those words wouldn't form.
He found that his mouth could only mutter one simple sentence:
"I...I-I'm sorry...I'm so sorry Lelouch..." He said as tears started to sprout from his eyes.
That seemed to break Lelouch out of his angry stupor, realizing what he just said.
"J...Joseph I..." Lelouch tried to say.
But it was too late, Joseph had already turned around in a calm manner and left for the elevator.
A chill passed through the room.
*WHAM!*
Once the door closed, Lelouch received a hard punch to the face from Kallen. Landing him on the table, almost breaking it. C.C. yelped in fright at that hid behind the library shelf.
Lelouch looked up in shock and saw the rage, tear-filled eyes of Kallen looking down at him.
"You...you arrogant, self-centered PIECE OF SHIT!" Kallen screamed with fury as she grabbed Lelouch's collar and hit him a couple more times in the face. "He's immature?! He's reckless?! Where the Hell do you get off?! Was it not reckless of you to abandoned the Black Rebellion to rescue Nunnally?! Was it not immature of you to almost abandon us when we couldn't get Nunnally?! YOU'RE TELLING ME YOU OF ALL PEOPLE NEVER MADE MISTAKES?!" She screamed with all her might.
Lelouch wouldn't lie, it was actually scary.
"You want to know something? When Joseph was in hiding with us, his first and only concern was to help you. To get back your memories and make sure you got to reunite with your sister. Was he angry about what happened to Euphemia? Yes, but he didn't put all the blame on you! He never wished death on you! No matter how much he suffers, he would never say those things to anyone! Especially you!" Kallen lectured in a stern manner. "When I came up here, I was going to give you a shoulder to cry on because of Nunnally. Because the Lelouch I know is a caring person, the Lelouch I know puts all the weight on his shoulders, the Lelouch I know is a good person." She continued.
"...But I don't see him." She said blankly as she rose back up. "Wallow in your own self-pity for all I care."
She left the room, leaving Lelouch in his beaten state.
Lelouch laid there for awhile, drinking in what Kallen said to him.
All he could do was sigh as he got back up and sat on the couch.
"This is what I deserve..."
...
Tokyo Settlement
Suzaku and Jeremiah stood inside the crater next to each other. A solemn mood between them.
"You rescued me a long time ago, didn't you? Very gracious. I came here to thank you for that honorable act. Master Lelouch and His Majesty, Prince Joseph believed there to be good in you and got to witness it firsthand once. Indeed. You and I share a rather odd connection, don't you think? I suppose it's fate that we became enemies in the end. I'll take my leave now, sir. I must search for Lady Nunnally and Sayoko." Jeremiah told him before departing.
Suzaku stood there in silence, fists tightening.
"Nunnally's dead...she's gone...and it's all my..." Suzaku said wistfully.
...
Ikaruga
"I need to know. Did you use your Geass power on Euphie? Be honest." Suzaku asked with a strict tone.
"...Yes." Lelouch said with a blank voice.
"You caused her to massacre the Japanese?" Suzaku asked.
"I ordered her to do it." Lelouch continued blankly.
The Black Knight sat frozen in their chairs, except Diethard, Ohgi, and Villetta(who both came in a few minutes later) who stood, after hearing the confession from their leader, who they just found out was not just a Britannian Prince, but had a power known as Geass. Said Geass that was used on Euphemia and caused a massacre.
Chiba stared on with wide eyes, Tohdoh tightened his fists in frustration and anger, Tamaki's mind tried to rationalize what he just heard, and Diethard was trying to come up with an excuse, which was not coming up.
"Then…that whole blood bath was…" Chiba said slowly, mind trying to comprehend everything.
"Euphie was just a girl. Zero was in control." Cornelia said wistfully
"So Zero slaughtered our people for his own ambitions?" Tohdoh asked angrily.
"That recording is fake!" Tamaki denied with rage.
"These are people in incidents that we suspect he manipulated with his Geass." Kanon said as he came over to them with files.
Tohdoh took them and was surprised to see what was inside.
"Kusakabe…even Major General Katase!" Tohdoh exclaimed.
There was also photos of Euphemia, Villetta, Jeremiah, Guilford, Gao Hai, Clovis, Darlton, and Suzaku in there. They even put the tailor and the employee of the phone shop in there!
"I can't believe it.
"Clovis." Diethard said quietly.
"He used it on me, too." Villetta added.
"That explains why Gao Hai changed." Ohgi said.
"And that explains why Jeremiah and the others became traitors." Chiba concluded.
"His Geass might be controlling me even now. There's no way to be certain about that. When you think about it, it's a terrifying prospect." Schneizel told them.
That shocked the Black Knights.
"You mean…?" Chiba asked slowly.
"We could be…?" Tamaki stuttered.
"There's one more thing. We notified Zero about the F.L.E.I.J.A. warhead before the battle. We wanted to avoid using it. It's still in the Lancelot's communications record. However…" Kanon told them sadly.
"He never told us anything about that." Tohdoh said quietly.
"I wanted to put my trust in Zero. I wanted to believe in him. But we mean nothing to him. We're just pawns." Ohgi said ruefully. Villetta looked at him sympathetically.
"Treating us like chumps. Damn! It can't be true!" Tamaki said angrily as he screamed to the ceiling.
"Everyone. Zero is my brother. Will you please hand him over to me for justice?" Schneizel asked.
"On one condition." Ohgi said.
"Ohgi!" Tamaki said with shock.
"You think you're in a position to bargain over this?" Cornelia asked angrily.
"Wait, let's hear it." Schneizel said with curiosity.
"Our Japan. Return it." Ohgi said, surprising them. "We're betraying our leader. So at least we deserve to regain Japan. Otherwise I could never forgive myself." He told them.
Schneizel thought about this, until Tamaki spoke up.
"Wait a minute! Something's not right!" Tamaki said, realizing something as he looked at the pictures. "Joseph's not in these files at all! What's up with that?!" He asked angrily.
Tohdoh head rose up from that, realizing he didn't even notice that either.
"We don't have any evidence to say he was." Schneizel told him.
"But he could be! We gotta help our buddy out!" Tamaki told the others.
"Geass doesn't affect him." Villetta said, shocking everyone, including Ohgi.
"Villetta?" Ohgi asked.
"I've seen it for myself. I don't know how, but Joseph is immune to Geass." Villetta explained.
Both the Black Knights and the royal siblings took in this information. It was bad enough learning why him and Zero were so close in the first place, now this?!
"Makes sense, considering he never really listened to what Zero had to say before." Diethard said.
"So that dimwit prince followed Zero willingly!" Chiba said with rage, knowing they never should have trusted him in the first place.
"You need to watch your mouth!" Cornelia said viciously as she stood up from her seat, ready to beat Chiba with just one arm.
"Now hold on." Tohdoh intervened. "We don't know the circumstances between the two. For all we know, Joseph doesn't even know what Geass is." He reasoned.
"...He knows." Cornelia said quietly.
This time, Schneizel and Kanon looked at her in surprise.
"When I was captured by Lelouch. Joseph tried to convince me to forgive him for what he did to Euphie, claiming it was just an 'accident'!" Cornelia explained, still angry that Joseph would try to use a cheap excuse like that.
Schneizel and Kanon looked at each other with statement, knowing what she said was true.
"So this whole time...he knew..." Ohgi said quietly with tight fists.
"And did nothing to stop him..." Chiba said angrily.
"(Sighs) I see...then I suppose we have no choice but to kill Joseph." Schneizel said out of the blue.
Now that definitely shocked everyone, except Kanon, as they gasped at that statement.
"WHAT?!" Cornelia exclaimed with fury.
"Whoa! Whoa! Hold on a minute! We were talking about Zero! Where does killing my second best bud come into all that!?" Tamaki asked angrily.
"Your 'second best bud'?" Cornelia deadpanned, annoyed with Tamaki.
"Taking care of Zero is one thing. But if Joseph were to learn of it, who knows what kind of destruction that might lay after him. And I think we all know what he's physically capable of." Schneizel explained.
The Black Knights thought about this. They knew Schneizel wasn't wrong, as they could see just how close Joseph was to Zero. There's no telling what might happen, and they learned not to underestimate him.
"No." Tohdoh said simply. "I refuse that option."
This surprised the others.
"Colonel..." Chiba said, trying to reason with him.
"No Chiba. Joseph has participated in many victories for the Black Knights before, including saving my life more than once. While I am disturbed by the fact he kept such secrets from us, I can understand his reasonings." Tohdoh told her strictly, remembering his past with Suzaku and how Joseph begged him to forgive Euphemia.
Tamaki was quick to agree.
"Yeah! You're not going to tell me he's just as bad as his brother or whatever! He's one of the best people I know! Even if he isn't under this Geass power, Zero could just be tricking him! Besides, he's not even here! Him and his new kids-"
"Tamaki!" Tohdoh scolded quickly.
"Ah shit." Tamaki muttered as he smacked his head, realizing his blunder.
"New kids?" Schneizel asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes. Apparently, Joseph took it upon himself to adopt five orphans out of the blue." Cornelia said. "And I while I prefer he never had done so, those kids have now latched onto him as he has them. I don't approve of this Schneizel, killing Joseph is not an option, and if he left, then he shouldn't be a concern." She lectured.
While she held no sympathy for Lelouch anymore, she still thought of Joseph as a naive innocent in all of this. And while she made plenty of children into orphans before, not that she was proud of it, she refused to put his kids in that category.
Schneizel stared at her for a moment before sighing.
"Very well. I suppose it's a matter that can be postpone for now." Schneizel said neutrally. "As for Japan, once Lelouch is properly extinguished, I should be able to pull some strings." He continued.
Cornelia sputtered at that outrageous statement but Schneizel shushed her.
"Alright then, then I suppose we should prepare." Ohgi said as turned to make his leave. Others following behind him.
"I can't believe this is actually happening..." Tamaki said sadly.
When the Black Knights left, Cornelia turned to Schneizel angrily.
"What the Hell are you doing agreeing to their terms?! We shouldn't even be willing to negotiate with these Elevens! Besides, you don't have that kind of pull!" Cornelia said angrily.
"Not yet..." Schneizel thought with cold calculation. "They don't know that. I find the carrot versus the stick a very useful tool." He explained.
"Even so...and when exactly were you going to tell me about your plans for Joseph?" Cornelia asked with annoyance.
"I know you have a soft spot for him, Cornelia. But it doesn't change the fact that he consciously has aided Lelouch in his rebellion. That is a crime that cannot simply be forgotten." Schneizel told her calmly. "And who's to say he won't come back? Joseph has been known to be a master of impromptu appearances." He told her.
"...I just don't think killing him is necessary." Cornelia told him firmly.
"Hmm...then might I offer a different suggestion?" Schneizel asked.
...
Just Outside the Tokyo Settlement
Sayoko was waiting for word back from Lelouch. Thankfully both her and Nunnally were outside of the zone the purple sphere enraptured. But she was worried about the aftermath.
Was Master Lelouch okay? Was Jeremiah?
She looked towards Nunnally and she had a conflicted look on her face, having her head down.
"Lady Nunnally, is everything alright?" Sayoko asked as she kneeled next to her, taking her hand.
Nunnally stayed quiet for a moment before finally pulling her head up and firmly gripping Sayoko's hand.
And asked a question with no hesitation in her voice.
"Sayoko. Tell me the truth. Is Lelouch Zero?"
...
Ikaruga
Kallen walked through the halls of the Ikaruga, looking for Joseph.
"Joe?! Joe, where are you?!" Kallen called out, wanting to find him as soon as she could.
Suddenly she heard sniffling coming from a closet, she recognize it anywhere.
She gently knocked on the door and spoke with a soft voice. "Joe? Is that you?"
"...no..." Joseph said quietly, sounding like he just went through a crying fit.
Kallen just sighed and slowly opened the door. She found Joseph sitting on the floor, clutching his mom's photo to his chest and his eyes were red with tears.
She sat next to him and gently pulled his head onto her shoulder.
"I know he's upset about Nunnally, but he took it way too far. He's the idiot." Kallen told him.
"Right though..." Joseph said quietly.
"What?!" Kallen asked, looking at him with shock.
"Things that happened...saving Lelouch and Shirley, saving you, saving kids...all just luck. Always reckless, no think of aftermath. But how long? How long until things go kaput. How long before true screw-up?" Joseph asked softly as he looked at his mom's photo. "Mom said 'If think right, do it.' But what if wrong? What if every choice made been wrong? Choice to leave Pendragon, Aunt Mary killed. Choice to go to Fukuoka Base, land in coma, sister killed, and Lelouch memories wiped. What next? You hurt? Kids hurt? Killed?! My kids dead?!" He asked with a scared tone. "...No...refuse...refuse to be problem. My kids deserve better. Let someone better raise. Get away from fighting. Because little bro right. I am useless..." Joseph finished with a defeated tone
They sat there for a few moments before Joseph notice something on his head. It was a karate chop by Kallen, which he himself did not feel, but she certainly did. However, that didn't stop her from glaring at him.
"Kal Pal?" Joseph asked in confusion.
Instead of answering, she slapped him across the face. Once again, it didn't cause him any pain, only more confusion. But it didn't stop Kallen from continuing to hit him repeatedly in rage.
"Kallen, stop!" Joseph told her as he grabbed her wrists, not wanting her to hurt herself.
"No!" Kallen said angrily as she pushed him away. "You know what, you are a pain in the ass! You are reckless, you're also annoying, and the stupidest person I've ever met in my life!" She ranted.
"Exactly!" Joseph agreed.
"But not useless!" Kallen shouted with fury. "And you know what else? You're NOT sadistic! You're not selfish! You're not a coward! You're not a complete asshole like most of your family! All the faults you have, your merits make up ten times folds!" She told him viciously.
"But-"
"But nothing! I'm not going to sit here and let you think that everything you've done has made things worse!" She said stubbornly. "If it hadn't been for you, my mother would have ended up in jail, I would have been executed for rebelling against Britannia, and those kids wouldn't have the happiness you've given them!" She continued determinedly. "Sure, a lot of it is luck. But sometimes that's all you need. Sometimes all it is takes is luck and faith, something that you always rely on. It's why I have so many feelings for you." She told him sincerely.
"Feelings?" Joseph asked as his eyebrow cocked up in confusion.
Kallen look down, feeling conflicted, until she took a deep breath and looked at him straight in the eye.
"You talk like luck is a bad thing. But it's luck that let you reunite with Lelouch and Nunnally. It's luck that Lelouch crossed paths with C.C., giving him his Geass. And it's luck that I got to meet you, the person I fell in love with." She said, no longer afraid.
Joseph's eyes widen in surprise, not expecting that at all.
"...Love?" Joseph asked, not sure if he heard her right.
"Joseph...since the time I've known you, I've tried to hide my feelings, even straight up deny them. But every time I do, those feelings just continue to blossom." Kallen told him softly as she gently brought her hand to his cheek. "I love you Joseph Du Britannia. I love your free-spirit, I love your optimistic attitude, I love how you always find the most random opportunity to start dancing, and how you forget the most obvious thing and then remember seconds later like it's some grand achievement, and I love that you always find a way to make people smile. You are the good luck charm that people need in life and deserve, I'm so thankful that you're in mine, and I know those kids and Lelouch feel the same way." She finished with a tearful smile.
Joseph looked at her in shock, not sure how to react.
When Nina professed her love for him, he could tell it was just crazy misguidance, not real love. But Kallen, the way she talked about him, the tone in her voice, the look in her eyes, it was real. Those words came from the heart and she laid them bare for him.
But did Joseph feel the same? He knew he loved Kallen, but did he love her in that way? He thought about what his mother told him all those years ago about how such feelings always stick with you when you find the person you love and they never go away.
He remembered when Kallen was kidnapped by Xingke and how he felt at the notion of anything happening to her.
He wasn't sure what that feeling was before, but now...?
"...Kal Pal..." Joseph started to say.
"You don't have to feel the same way about me, I'm fine with that. But you need to know just how important you are to the people around you, especially me." Kallen said gently. "So please, don't give up, not now. Okay?" She asked wearily, hoping her words got through to him.
Joseph stared at her in a way he never saw her before. So raw, yet graceful. So intense, but so vulnerable.
It was beautiful, she was beautiful.
And it filled Joseph's heart with new found hope as he gave her a caring smile and wrapped her into a hug, surprising Kallen. Not one of his regular bear hugs, but a firm yet warm one. One that said "Thank you."
"Okie-Dokie." Joseph told her happily, making Kallen chuckle.
"You moron..." Kallen said with relief and joy, returning his hug in strive.
After they let go, Joseph looked at her in a curious look.
"So...always these feelings?" Joseph asked, making Kallen blush.
"Well...not at the start, it took me awhile to finally realize them and even longer to finally accept them." Kallen said awkwardly.
"Man, love complicated. Like lasagna." Joseph said quizzically.
"Tell me about it." Kallen said, amused by Joseph's comment.
"Speaking of. Back to Lelouch!" Joseph yelled as he suddenly stood up, back in business, surprising Kallen. "Gotta tell Nunne alive!" He said determinedly.
"Wait! Nunnally's alive?!" Kallen asked in shock. "That's why you...Argh! Lelouch, that idiot!" She said, angry and annoyed that Lelouch couldn't just let Joseph get two words in.
"A-Ok, Kal Pal. Like said, very emotional. Try again, but more firm!" Joseph told her.
"Agreed. Come on, we can get back to his private quarters quicker if we cut through Warehouse 4." Kallen told him determinedly.
"Great! Come on, possible girlfriend!" Joseph said excitedly.
"Wait, wha-" Kallen didn't get to finish being shocked and confused as she was suddenly taken out of the closet and pulled like a rag doll again.
...
Zero's Private Quarters
Lelouch sat there quietly on the couch, wallowing in his self pity as Kallen said he should.
His phone rang multiple times but he didn't have the willpower to answer to look at it or even see who's calling.
"Why did I say those things? What the Hell is wrong with me?" Lelouch thought with angiush.
Lelouch brought his hands to his face, pulling some of his hair.
"Suzaku was right...I'm a selfish bastard..."
"Master, please take off your clothes." C.C. said softly.
Lelouch looked up at her in confusion.
"What?" Lelouch asked, not understanding.
"Are you hurting somewhere? If it's someplace you can't reach, I can help." C.C. told him as she held up a box of bandage
Lelouch could only look at her sadly as he quietly said, "It's not that kind of hurt Cecina."
"Oh, is it the kind of hurt on the inside?" C.C. asked.
"Yes. And I caused even worst hurt to those around me. That's all I do..." Lelouch said defeatedly.
"That's not true, Master. You've never hurt me." C.C. told him.
"Give it time..." Lelouch said quietly.
"...I've learned being hurt on the inside can make a person do horrible things, like you did with Joseph and Rolo. But they usually didn't mean to, and I know you didn't either. If you say sorry to them, I'm sure they'll forgive you." C.C. said with a hopeful tone.
Lelouch gave her a weak smile, but he still wasn't sure.
Once again, his phone rung. Due to C.C., he actually found some strength to look at it this time. It was Diethard.
"What is it, Diethard?" Lelouch asked quietly as he answered the phone.
"Zero, a development has been made in the Tokyo Settlement. You're needed in Warehouse 4." Diethard told him in a professional tone.
Lelouch's eyes rose in surprise.
"Development? Could it be...?"
"I'll be right there." Lelouch told him before hanging up. "I have to go now. But thank you, Cecina." He said as he rose from his seat, giving her a small smile.
She nodded gratefully, watching him leave before going back to her dusting.
...
Warehouse 4
"I think I might give him another pounding just in case." Kallen said as she held her fist up, trying to distract herself from being called Joseph's "possible girlfriend" earlier.
"Now Kal Pal, remember, he grieving." Joseph lectured.
"Yeah, which he wouldn't be doing if he had just let you explain!" Kallen argued.
"Potato, schmato." Joseph brushed off, making Kallen sigh.
But then they both noticed Lelouch, his Zero mask back on, exited the elevator.
"Hey Le-I mean, Admiral Zero!" Joseph waved.
"Joseph? Kallen?" Zero asked in surprise.
"Don't speak. Just listen." Kallen said firmly.
"Hear words! Nunne is-"
Before Joseph could say anything, bright lights suddenly came on, blinding Zero, Joseph, and Kallen.
It was then they saw a couple of Sutherlands aiming their guns at them, along with Diethard holding a camera up on his shoulders.
But the real shock of all of it was the Black Knights, specifically Ohgi, Tohdoh, Chiba, Tamaki, Sugiyama, and Minami, pointing their guns at them.
"...huh...?" Joseph's mind tried to process.
What he was seeing right now couldn't be correct.
There's no way Admiral Zero, Kallen, and himself were being held gunpoint by their own comrades!
...Right?
"Joe?! Ah damn it, you're back?!" Tamaki said, really hoping not to confront him like this.
"Surrender Zero!" Tohdoh told him coldly.
"How dare you try to run a con game on us!" Chiba said viciously.
"We know everything about your Geass power." Ohgi told him sternly.
"...WHAT?!" Joseph's mind was not understanding.
"What the Hell?!" Kallen asked with shock.
"Zero, the renowned hero died in battle before he could triumph. But his gallant life and daring deeds will continue to live on in myth and legend." Diethard said with a defeated tone as he angled his camera directly at Zero.
"Is that the script you've written for me, Diethard?!" Zero asked bitterly.
"Actually, I wanted to film your brilliant campaign and glorious victory over Britannia. But I'm afraid that show's been permanently cancelled..." Diethard said disappointedly.
"This cannot be happening! This cannot be what I think it is!" Joseph's mind tried to deny, firing on all cylinders.
"What do I do? Knightmares are beyond my reach but Ohgi and others are defenseless. If I can use my Geass secretly…" Lelouch's mind tried to calculate.
"Everybody trusted you, Zero!" Minami said angrily.
"Inoue and Yoshida sacrifice their lives for you!" Sugiyama said heartbroken.
"Wait a minute! What are you guys doing?! This is all one-sided! Look at how far we've come because of Zero! At least let him defend himself!" Kallen said quickly as she came in front of Lelouch to shield him.
"You're in the way, Kallen!" Tamaki told her.
"Do you wanna die with Zero?!" Sugiyama asked angrily.
"Don't tell me he used his Geass on you, too!" Minami said with fear.
"Alright! That's it!" Joseph's mind had enough of this.
"WAIT!" He screamed, capturing everyone's attention. "Okay! Hold up people! Let's time the out!" He said quickly as he made a "time-out" gesture with his hands. "Let's all chiiiiilllllll...deep breaths, huh?" Joseph said with a relaxed tone.
He looked around and saw that no one was "chilling". In fact, they were all still very tense and still not lowering their weapons.
"...Alright look, all edgy because big loss! Big purple bomb scary, scared me, scared kids. Natural feelings!" Joseph said quickly. "But come oooooonnnn. Taking out on leader? Not healthy!" He said as he wrapped his arm around Zero's shoulder, trying to be play it cool. "If not know any better, say you betraying Admiral Zero! That foo-hardy though becuase Zero good guy! And using excuse called Geass? Pssh! What be Geass? ...Why be Geass, hmm?" He asked in a philosophical tone, hoping to trip them up. "Either way! Just relax and-"
"Joseph...that's enough. We told them everything. Including what happened to Euphemia." A voice said to him in a calm manner.
A voice that belonged to Schneizel as he, Cornelia, and Kanon walked out of the shadows from the railing, looking down at them.
Joseph sucked in a breath, trying not to break his calm stupor.
"Uh...GUYS LOOK! ENEMY HERE! QUICK, CAPTURE!" Joseph said with haste as he rapidly pointed his fingers at the three of them.
The Black Knights still did not budge.
"Joseph...you can stop covering for your brother..." Tohdoh told him gently.
"This is not going well..." Joseph thought with dread. "Brother? Haha! Sensei, need eyes checked! Me and Admiral Zero? Look nothing alike!" Joseph insisted as he gestured Zero and himself.
"Joe..." Kallen said with quiet fear, knowing that his argument wasn't working.
"It mistake! Silly rumor is all! Big prank by big bro! Telling you, got it alllll-"
"I need to know. Did you use your Geass power on Euphie? Be honest."
"...Yes."
"You caused her to massacre the Japanese?"
"I ordered her to do it."
Joseph's eyes widened at that, seeing the recorder that Suzaku used back at the shrine.
Kallen froze at hearing their voices. "He recorded you?" Kallen asked, stunned, as she looked over at Zero, who still hadn't said anything.
"It's over Joseph. Just stop." Cornelia said blankly.
Joseph felt his tongue getting dry. This day was somehow getting worse than before.
"...L-Look...it-it not what think..." Joseph stuttered, finding himself in a corner for the first time ever.
"Not what we think!? You're telling us that wasn't just Zero, our leader, confessing to causing the SAZ Massacre?!" Ohgi asked, voice filled with rage.
"Something that you knew about this WHOLE time?! Knowing what he did! What he made your sister do! And you still stuck by his side?!" Chiba asked, ready to shoot him right then and there.
"'Cause it accident! Didn't mean to!" Joseph told them quickly.
"That's right! He was going to work with Euphemia! His Geass just went off without him realizing it!" Kallen argued.
"It true! Saw with own eyes!" Joseph added quickly as he pointed at his eyes.
"Joe!" Kallen scolded with gritted teeth.
"Do we look like idiots, Joseph?! We all know you were in a coma when that happened!" Minami said angrily.
"Yeah, that's a pretty lame excuse! Even if it is Zero just tricking you!" Tamaki added.
Ohgi, however, looked at Kallen with hurt-filled eyes.
"Kallen...you knew?" He asked, feeling betrayal.
Kallen could only respond by looking away in shame.
"...So Lelouch used his Geass on you as well..." Ohgi concluded.
"What?! No! That's not it at all!" Kallen said in disbelief.
"It's either that or you're a traitor like he is! And I really want it to be the former right now!" Ohgi said angrily.
Joseph had to think quickly, something that could convince them. It was then he remembered something.
"Proof on recorder! Training buddy record whole convo! Play rest Schnitzel!" Joseph told his older brother.
Schneizel looked at him blankly, putting away the recorder. "Sorry Joseph. That was all there was." He told him.
"What! That lie! Play rest right now!" Joseph demanded, moving towards him.
That is until the Sutherlands aimed their guns at him. Clearly he was already on thin ice like Lelouch. He looked back at his friends and they still weren't convinced, flabbergasting Joseph.
"...What the fuck guys! Gonna believe him?! Schnitzel?! Eats pizza with knife and fork!" Joseph exclaimed.
"...Dude, you really do that?" Tamaki couldn't help but ask.
Schneizel rolled his eyes at that, seeing it as irrelevant.
"Come on! No take his word! Take ours! Comrades! Friends! Right Ohgi?!" Joseph asked.
Ohgi didn't say anything.
"...Tom-Tom! Second best bud!" Joseph encouraged, raising his fist up for a bump.
Tamaki just looked away, feeling conflicted.
"...Sensei! Come on...please!" Joseph practically begged.
Tohdoh sighed and closed his eyes, really wishing he didn't have to do this.
"I'm sorry Joseph. I wish you hadn't gotten involved in any of this. We don't want to hurt you but the fact of the matter is Zero needs to be stopped, before he causes any more damage." Tohdoh told him solemnly.
They were running out of options, so Joseph turned back to Lelouch.
"Little bro! Talk to them! Explain the sitch! It all misuderstanding!" Joseph told him.
"Please Lelouch, just say something!" Kallen also encouraged.
Lelouch himself just stood there. Thinking about everything that had happened in the past couple of days.
The Emperor returning, Suzaku's betrayal, Nunnally's death, and now his own group selling him out.
It was all too much.
He was done.
But he wasn't going to let Joseph and Kallen suffer for it. Not after everything he did.
"Lelouch!" Kallen insisted.
All of sudden, Lelouch started to laugh. It was small at first, and then it became full-blown maniacal.
"Fools. You finally figured it out." Lelouch whispered mockingly. It was then he ripped his mask off, showing a huge smile on his face. "I've been using you all! That's right. You're all just pawns in my game!" Lelouch said with glee.
Joseph and Kallen looked at Lelouch in shock. As did the Black Knights.
"Little bro?" Joseph asked, not understanding.
"Lelouch, no..." Kallen said, stunned.
"Zero, so you really are…" Ohgi said sadly.
"Zero!" Tamaki said, heartbroken.
Schneizel and Kanon looked at him stoically while Cornelia was just angry and sad at the same time.
"Kallen, Joseph. You were my most useful pieces. Much like a well played knight and his jester." Lelouch told them in an uncaring tone. "This whole world was the board for the game. And all for my entertainment." He continued.
They looked at him in shock.
Kallen didn't want to believe it, after everything they been through together, she shouldn't believe it. But man, Lelouch was definitely making himself out to be the bastard they wanted him to be. She wasn't sure whether to walk away or not.
But as for Joseph. He looked at his brother and could see in his eyes what he was doing.
He was trying to protect them, let himself pay for these consequences.
And honestly, it made Joseph angry. Really angry.
He was the older brother, NOT Lelouch!
Why was it him coming to his rescue!
Lelouch was the one needed rescuing, not Joseph!
Where the hell does he get off?!
"RAH!" Joseph yelled with fury as he punched Lelouch in the face, knocking him to the ground. Shocking everyone there.
"J-Joseph?!" Kallen asked, wondering why he just did that.
"YOU STUPID IDIOT! WHAT WRONG WITH YOU! WHY DO THIS! WHY ALWAYS GO VILLAIN ROUTE! STOP SELF-HATING! STOP PUTTING ALL WEIGHT ON SHOULDERS! DON'T DESERVE! YOU! NOT! VILLAIN!" Joseph yelled viciously.
Lelouch sat there, stunned. Not expecting this at all. "Joe..."
"AND YOU!" Joseph screamed as he turned and pointed his finger at the Black Knights, shocking them. "LITTLE BRO GAVE ALL THIS! BIG ROBOTS! BIG SHIP! BIG VICTORIES! AND THIS HOW REPAY?! WILLINGLY BECOMING VILLAINS?! WHAT WRONG WITH YOU?! ALL BE ASHAMED OF SELVES!" He continued to rant.
That managed to make some of the Black Knights look down in shame, and some feeling conflicted. Specifically Tamaki and Tohdoh.
"JOSEPH! ENOUGH ALREADY!" Cornelia yelled with fury as she came up and slammed her hand down on the railing. "This rebellious nature of yours was bad enough before Euphemia was killed! But now it's completely out of control and I don't understand it! Why do you keep doing this! Why, after everything's he done, after all the pain and suffering he's caused us, WHY DO YOU KEEP INSISTING ON PROTECTING HIM?!" She yelled, demanding an answer.
"WHY NOT I?! HE MY LITTLE BROTHER!" Joseph told her with finality.
A lot of people froze at that. Lelouch flinched at that statement, as did Cornelia.
"...He...after everything I said...he still..." Lelouch thought slowly as he brought himself back up.
"Job to protect! Not us, who?!" Joseph asked his sister.
Cornelia blinked at that, not sure how to respond.
"So many bumpy roads, so much heartbreak this guy. Still recovering." Joseph said weakly as he gestured to Lelouch. "And now made worse." He said bitterly. "Wanna be idiots, villains, idiot villains?! Fine! But if take him! Taking me too!" He said as he stood in front of Lelouch and spread his arm wide to shield him, shocking everyone there.
"Joseph, what are you doing!" Lelouch whispered aggressively.
"Said so self, little bro. Being reckless" Joseph said with pride.
Tamaki's hands shook, not sure what to do. Until finally...
"Doh! I can't do it!" Tamaki said as he put down his gun in frustration. Surprising the people there.
"Wha-Tamaki!?" Ohgi said in shock.
"He's my second best bud, man! I'm the uncle to his five kids! I'd never be able to forgive myself!" Tamaki argued.
Tohdoh thought about it and then also lowered his gun.
"I refuse as well." Tohdoh said solemnly.
"Colonel!?" Chiba said, flabbergasted.
"I already lost one pupil, Chiba. I won't lose another. Especially by my own hands." Tohdoh said with finality.
"Sensei...Tom-Tom..." Joseph said with relief as he looked at them.
Kallen watched in surprise but then gave a look of determination as she found the courage to come up next to Joseph and also shield Lelouch. She knew it wouldn't be enough though as the rest of the Black Knights, as well as the Sutherlands still had their guns trained on them.
"Wha...Kallen?!" Lelouch said with shock.
"Kal Pal?" Joseph said in surprise.
"No way I was going to let you do this by yourself." Kallen whispered to him. "That goes for me too! Zero's given us everything! And I'll be damned if I let you guys take it away all because you choose to be bigger morons than even Joseph!" She told the Black Knights passionately.
"Yeah!" Joseph agreed, not even offended.
"Kallen, no!" Ohgi said with fear, not wanting this to happen.
And it actually made Minami and Sugiyama lower their weapons a bit as well.
"Guys, stop! You need to live! I'm not worth it!" Lelouch tried to stop it.
"You are Lelouch. You are and so much more." Kallen told him, not a hint of doubt in her voice.
"Abso-toda-lutely." Joseph said quietly as he turned his head towards Lelouch with a sad smile on his face. "Will always protect. No matter what." He told his little brother, not a hint of deceit in his tone.
And the moment they would fire, he was going to grab Lelouch and Kallen and toss them out of the way. At least that way they would have a fighting chance.
Lelouch looked at him with shock and dismay.
"...Big brother..." Lelouch said quietly, tears sprouting from his eyes.
But suddenly...
Joseph felt something pierce his neck.
He blinked, as it felt like an itch or a mosquito bite.
He brought his hand up to his neck and felt something there.
He grabbed it and pulled it out.
He looked at it, and saw it was a dart of some sorts.
It appeared some sort of fluid was coming out of it.
Whatever it was, it was making Joseph feel dizzy, it blurred his vision, and he was having trouble standing up.
Joseph looked in the direction the shot came from and saw it was Cornelia who shot him. The weapon she had in her hand made Joseph come to one conclusion.
"Sleep dart..." He barely managed to whisper as he fell to the ground, muscles becoming heavy.
"Joe!" Kallen yelled as she quickly came to his side.
"Joseph!" Lelouch said in shock.
"What the Hell!" Tamaki said, wondering what just happened.
"Now fire." Schneizel ordered, snapping his fingers.
"WAIT!" Kallen tried to say.
But it was too late as the Sutherlands fired at Lelouch.
Only for the ceiling to collapse and the Shinkiro to come crashing in.
The shockwave caused Kallen to fall to the ground and hit her head, knocking her out.
"Kallen!" Lelouch said with concern.
"Kal Pal..." Joseph could barely say in his dazed state.
"Big brother, are you alright?!" The voice from the Shinkiro asked with concern.
"Rolo!?" Lelouch asked in surprise.
"Never mind! Open fire! Hit the Shinkiro!" Cornelia ordered.
And in that, time seemed to slow down for Lelouch.
In this chaos, he knew Rolo would get him out of here.
What was the point? After everything that happened, he knew he didn't deserve it, nor did he want it.
But what about Joseph? What about Kallen?
He had kids now. She had a mother and friends to go back to. Would they believe they were under Geass? They're already traitors, who to say they won't be executed.
That can't happen...
...Lelouch WOULD NOT let that happen!
And before the Shinkiro could grab him, he jumped away from it and got near Joseph and Kallen.
"Wha-Lelouch!" Rolo said in shock by Lelouch's sudden action.
Thankfully, he moved in time to shield the three of them from the fury of bullets.
"Rolo! Get Joseph and Kallen out of here!" Lelouch told him.
"Lelouch...?" Joseph tried to say, feeling himself lose more consciousness.
"But big brother, I have to protect you!" Rolo told him.
"You're right, and that's Joseph! You've done enough for me!" Lelouch said strongly and then quickly pulled the emergency override switch to open Rolo hatch. Knowing what Rolo was about to do.
"Lelouch no!" Rolo said as he almost activated his Geass.
But it was a millisecond too late as Lelouch quickly covered Rolo's right eye and took off his contact lens.
"I love you Rolo. Now get Joseph and Kallen to safety." Lelouch ordered with a sad smile as his Geass shined into Rolo's eye.
"Lelouch...n-no..." Joseph tried to beg.
"N-No! I...I...yes, big brother..." Rolo said as a tear ran down his red-rimmed eye.
Lelouch released his hand and Rolo activated his Geass.
...
Zero's Private Quarters
As C.C. dusted the book shelves, she something odd happen. She wasn't sure what it was, but she had a feeling it had to do with Lelouch.
"My master..." C.C. said, feeling confused.
...
Medical Bay
Urabe sat up from his hospital bed, having heard the all the ruckus.
"What the Hell is going on?" Urabe wondered quietly.
...
Warehouse 4
"Stop..." Joseph muttered, tried with all his might to lift any part of his body. His hand barely moved an inch as Rolo scooped him and the unconscious Kallen into the Shinkiro's hands.
He then sliced off the Sutherlands arms to stop the shooting, and broke through the ceiling again.
"LLLLEEEEEEELLLLLLOOOOUUUUCCCCCCHHHHHHH!" Joseph's mind screamed as he was taken further and further away from the Ikaruga.
Back inside, the Geass wore off and the Black Knights and Britannian soldiers looked in surprise.
"They're gone. The Shinkiro…" Ohgi said in shock.
"Look! Zero's still here!" A Britannian soldier said quickly he and many others aimed their guns at Lelouch.
Lelouch, however, just stood there in silence, a sad but calm smile on his face as he looked up at the blue sky.
"Goodbye..."
...
OSI Surveillance Room
Shirley, Rivalz, and the kids waited anxiously, wondering what was going on. Milly's bosses wanted her to go out and report the events concerning the settlement.
Kaecus held her father's walkman tightly in her hand.
"Papa...please be okay..."
She pressed the play button and the soft, melancholic tone of guitar strings played.
Every song
Every dream filled with Hell from beyond
As I'm sinkin', I relive the story
...
"Rolo...stop..." Joseph muttered, losing more of his strength every second.
He could see the red sphere coming from the Shinkiro, time-pausing the people around him to escape.
Joseph knew it was damaging his heart too much!
Rolo from inside the Shinkiro was just determined to get his brother and Kallen to safety.
"Big brother wanted me to get them to safety. So that's what I'll do, no matter the cost!" Rolo thought determinedly. "I won't let them kill you. I swear it!" He yelled.
"Stop...go...bac..." Joseph tried to say, but he found his mouth no longer wanted to work.
His muscles relaxed.
And before his vision went out, he saw an explosion come from the Shinkiro's back.
Then it was darkness...
To Be Continued...
And thus, the canon has been disrupted!(Kudos to those who get the reference ^_^)
So those who's pointed out that Joseph wouldn't have stayed behind at Ashford after seeing his brother take a dark turn again. I wanted Joseph to have the knowledge that Nunnally was alive and the only way I could do that was to have his ghost form roam around the battlefield, and that would require him to stay at the Academy. I thought him staying for his kids provided good reason for him to stay, as his kids are very important to him, and now that the danger was over, I felt they would be more inclined to let him go.
Maybe I could have written it differently, maybe I should have written it differently. But I can't change things now.
HOWEVER! We finally gotten to the point where things really start to shake up!
Lelouch is still betrayed but he's not the one being rescued this time! What lies next? You'll have to wait and see.
I originally wasn't going to have Kallen finally express her feelings towards Joseph, but I felt like he needed something to truly get him out of the funk Lelouch put him in. It'll be interesting to see where this takes their relationship later.
For now, I hope you enjoyed this chapter, as things are getting good!
Until next time, comment and tell me what you think!