Alice led Ange and Naomi through the halls of the school. The two Norma tried their best to ignore the stares from the curious students.
"Where are we going?" Naomi asked.
"Well normally the student council makes a big announcement of sorts at the beginning of the year with orientation." Alice explained. "You two are new students that got enrolled after the school year started, so you'll be meeting them for a small greeting before you get your accommodations."
"Accommodations?" Ange asked.
"A dorm room and other necessities." Alice said. "Since you two came in later, you'll probably have to go with one of the further dorms, but that shouldn't be a problem. This place is a lot better than the military."
"I'd hope so." Ange muttered.
"Yo, Alice!"
Walking over to the three were two girls around Alice's age. One had tanned skin and a bow in her hair, while the other was taller with long pale hair.
"Dalque. Lucretia." Alice greeted her friends, fellow members of her squadron. "What are you two doing here?"
"Well, I thought I ought to help welcome our pals to Ashford Academy!" Dalque smiled, putting an arm around Naomi.
"You're still as cheerful as ever." Ange rolled her eyes.
"So you two go here as well?" Naomi asked.
"Yup! Same class as Alice, even!" Dalque said.
"Though I do wonder if we should be in the same class considering your grades." Alice snarked.
"Hey, physical education can carry my marks!" Dalque defended herself.
"I haven't been in school in years, but I do not believe that's how it works." Naomi said.
As they kept talking, Lucretia pulled Ange slightly to the side.
"We heard from Sancia what happened to Miranda and Coco." Lucretia said, frowning. "We're sorry about what happened."
Ange frowned, looking down at the ground as she remembered her fallen squadmates.
"If there's anything you need help with, Alice, Dalque and I will try our best." Lucretia promised.
"...thanks for that." Ange said.
Lucretia nodded, before turning to Dalque, who was still chatting with Naomi. "Dalque, we'll be late for your remedial class if you keep yourself like this."
"Ugh, don't remind me. I hate weekend classes." Dalque sighed. "Anyways, see you two!"
The two girls walked off with waves.
"How is Dalque still in the military again?" Ange asked.
"She is one of the best soldiers around." Alice reminded Ange. "And it turns out that most of what you learn in school barely applies to the military battlefield."
"Shouldn't she at least be passing her classes, though?" Naomi asked.
"Yes, but she barely does. Lucretia and I have to strain ourselves helping her…" Alice sighed.
"Anyways, here we are."
Alice had led them to a door in one of the main building's halls.
"The student council should be waiting for you inside. Just knock and someone'll come." Alice said. "I'll likely see you two later."
"You're not coming with us?" Naomi asked.
"I gotta go make sure Dalque actually stays in class." Alice said. "She once tried climbing out a window and Lucretia couldn't stop her by herself."
"...yeah, go make sure she doesn't do anything stupid." Ange said.
"I do that every day." Alice chuckled, as she walked away to find her friends.
"...it's funny." Naomi commented.
"What is?" Ange asked.
"We've seen Alice, Dalque and Lucretia on the battlefield, fighting against DRAGONs with us, but we've never seen how they act outside of the battlefield." Naomi asked. "I thought maybe they would either put on a fake persona or the other way around, but… they're still the same ones we know."
"I don't really see it as "funny", but you do you, Naomi." Ange said, before she rapped her fingers on the door.
After a few moments, a girl with orange hair opened the door. "Can I help you two?"
"Um, hello." Naomi said. "We're new students and we were told to meet with you?"
"The two new students?" She said before smiling. "We've been expecting you two. Come on in!"
Ange and Naomi entered the room to see the other students inside. A girl with black hair and glasses was working at the computer, while there was a boy with blue hair sitting at the table, looking through a few papers. A tall girl with blonde hair was at the window, on a phone. As Ange and Naomi stepped up, only the boy with blue hair looked up.
"Hey Shirley, who are those two?" He asked the orange haired girl.
"They're the two new students." Shirley said. "Well, as he said, I'm Shirley Fenette. He's Rivalz Cardemonde, the secretary."
"Nice to meet you two!" Rivalz said with a friendly wave. Man, they're knockouts!
"Over there is Nina Einstein." Shirley said, gesturing to the girl at the computer. Nina briefly looked over and gave a nod, before getting back to her work.
Not much of a talker, huh? Ange thought.
"And she's on the phone right now, but that's our student council president, Milly Ashford." Shirley finished.
"Ashford?" Naomi repeated. "Her last name is the same as the school's?"
"I know of them." Ange said. "They were a former noble house of Britannia. They're the ones behind this school, yeah?"
"That would be correct. You've done your research." Shirley said, as Milly finished the call.
"Sorry about that." Milly said, turning to meet the two. "Welcome to Ashford Academy you two."
"Well, we're glad to be here." Naomi said with a slight bow. "We were told to meet you for the school's accommodations?"
"Yes, everything has been sorted out for you two. Naomi and Ange, correct?" Milly said. "Rivalz has the information and a map of the campus ready for you two."
"Yeah, just give me a sec…" He started riffling through the papers.
"Oh, and we should let you know now, there's another member-" Shirley started before Milly interrupted her.
"Though with you two attending the academy, this makes you the first Norma students to attend here." Milly said.
"Norma?" Nina had spoken up.
"So you already know, then?" Ange frowned.
"It was on your paperwork when you were enrolled." Milly said. "And considering neither of you two have last names, and your nationalities are from Misurugi, we could figure it out ourselves."
"I've heard of what the Empire of Misurugi does to Norma." Shirley looked down. "It's so awful…"
"Britannians don't discriminate against Norma, so you won't have to worry about facing any sort of prejudice here." Milly promised.
"You aren't Elevens, so I don't think anyone will say anything." Nina said with a small reassuring smile.
That slightly irritated Ange, considering that "Eleven" was a derogatory term to use for Japanese. She heard Britannian soldiers call Suzaku that, with several refusing to even use his real name. All the Norma soldiers however, addressed him much more respectfully with the proper term, though he insists it doesn't matter to him.
"Alright, I got everything here!" Rivalz held up two small stacks of paper and handed them to Ange and Naomi. "On the map I've marked out your shared dorm, and your schedules are already set and with the classrooms also being marked out. Enjoy your time here!"
"Rivalz, this isn't an amusement park." Shirley chuckled.
They're an odd bunch, but not bad people. Ange thought, as she and Naomi thanked them and left.
"Wait a moment, Ange." Milly stepped out into the hall. "May I speak with you?"
Ange raised a brow, before turning back to Naomi. "Go on ahead to our dorm. I'll catch up."
"Alright. See you." Naomi said, walking off.
"What did you want to talk to me about, President?" Ange asked.
"Well, I will admit that I didn't expect that a former princess of Misurugi would be attending the academy." Milly said.
Ange slightly tightened the grip on her paper. "So you know."
"This was something I was also informed of ahead of time." Milly said. "Most of the student body is aware of what happened to princess Angelise, but they don't know who Ange is. And if anyone starts up a few rumors, I'll put an end to them."
"Okay… why go out of your way to do this for me when we just met?" Ange asked, as she folded her papers and slid them into her pockets.
"Well, you remind me of a friend of mine." Milly smiled. "In fact, he wants to meet you."
"A friend?" Ange repeated.
Ange went up the stairs of one of the classroom buildings that led to the roof, at Milly's directions. Apparently the last student council member that Shirley was about to mention was interested in her for some reason. Ange wasn't sure why Milly told her all this, but thought it was worth checking out since she was gonna explore the school anyways.
Better not be some damn pervert like Zola. Ange said. I don't care if I get expelled; the next bastard that pulls something like that is dead.
She eventually reached the roof, stepping out to see the wide top. She saw a lone boy with black hair standing by the railing, back to her.
"You're the one that asked for me?" Ange asked, stepping up to him. "Well, whatever it is, make it quick."
"Do you remember that day?"
"What?"
"Before you turned eight, you were out on a picnic with your sister and two friends." He said. "Someone broke a plate, and it was either your sister or your friend's sister. You argued with the older brother over who's sister was at fault before you punched him in the stomach and nearly knocked him out. You then started apologizing to him for nearly half an hour as he recovered."
"That…" Ange widened her eyes. "The only person that could know that is…!"
The boy turned around and smiled at her. He had violet eyes; ones she recognized.
"It's been a long time, Angelise." Lelouch vi Britannia greeted her.
For a moment, Ange was stunned, before she ran forward and wrapped her arms around Lelouch in a tight hug. Lelouch wasn't too surprised by her reaction, and returned the hug.
"I thought… for so long…" Ange's voice was shaking.
"I know. I'm sorry I worried you." Lelouch apologized. "Besides, we're even after you put me through some worry myself."
"Then you know?" Ange said, as the two broke the hug.
"Word spreads fast, as I'm sure Milly has told you already." Lelouch said. "Admittedly, I did notice that you never used magic before and that others like Momoka were the ones that usually did so around you. I suppose my young mind never fully registered it, and Julio exposing you being a Norma was what let all the pieces click. You have my condolences for your mother."
"Hmm." Ange frowned, hearing her damned brother's name. "After Britannia started its invasion, we lost all info about you. What happened?"
"When the attacks started, I hid my true identity, before going to the Ashfords for protection, as they're old friends of my mother." Lelouch explained. "Legally, Lelouch vi Britannia is dead. I go by Lelouch Lamperouge now."
"...you know, I'm not surprised you haven't been found out yet. I mean, how many other teens are named Lelouch are out there?" Ange pointed out, as she leaned against the railing.
Lelouch chuckled. "Never underestimate human ignorance. But I'm not the only one that had a name change, it seems."
"Angelise Ikaruga Misurugi no longer exists." Ange said. "Stick with Ange."
"Very well, Angelise." Lelouch smirked. Ange hit him in the arm and he winced. "Ow… still as tough as I remember."
"Oh, I was holding back." Ange said. "I could have easily thrown a much harder punch. Want me to show you?"
"P-Please don't." Lelouch said. A hint of actual fear was in his voice since he wasn't the best physically, while he knows Ange likely went through a lot of training in the military.
"But still…" Ange smiled. "The two of us, talking together like old times… I never thought I'd see you again."
"Same here." Lelouch leaned next to her. "Look at us, two former royals reunited. It's quite poetic, I'd say."
"So, I need to ask something, what are you going to do with your life now?" Ange asked.
Lelouch raised a brow. "Why the sudden question?"
"With everything that happened to me, I've kept thinking to myself; what am I supposed to do now?" Ange said. "I don't want to spend my life wasting away in the military. Maybe, if I find a way to get back to Misurugi, I can find my father and Sylvia…"
"Ange, that's something extremely risky." Lelouch said. "And besides-"
"I know, but… thinking about them… it keeps me going… the hope…" Ange said quietly. "What about you?"
"It's simple, really." Lelouch said. "I'm going to destroy Britannia."
That caused Ange to slip slightly, before she pushed herself off the railing to look at Lelouch. "What?"
"I harbor no more love for my former country. It's nothing more than a nation full of rats." Lelouch said, tightening the grip on the rail. "One day, I'll find a way to tear Britannia down, to create a world where Nunnally can live in happiness. And now you've given me another reason; to abolish that idiotic stance against Norma, to give you a normal life again."
"Lelouch…" Ange said, touched.
"It might not be the same life you once had, but I promise you this, Ange." Lelouch said, turning to her. "I will reunite you and Sylvia. That I'll make sure of."
"You're still a big thinker… Thank you, Lelouch." Ange smiled. "...then is Nunnally…?"
Lelouch smiled. "Come with me."
Lelouch led Ange back down the stairs and across the campus. They got a few stares, though Ange noticed there were much more eyes on them than usual.
"You've got a lot of fans." Ange noted.
"Sometimes I wonder if it comes with being the vice-president of the student council." Lelouch said. "Though I'm not that foolish to completely believe that."
"So you're the last member they mentioned." Ange realized, remembering Shirley was about to tell her back then. She looked at several more of the people staring, and smirked seeing a few of the jealous girls. "I can already hear the rumors start about us being a couple."
Lelouch chuckled. "Not the first time it's happened. I believe several of the student body have a shipping chart for the student council members."
"Shipping chart?" Ange looked confused. "Shipped to where?"
"...you'll figure it out during your time here." Lelouch said.
Ange then noticed they were walking back to the school's clubhouse, and she raised a brow. "Hold on, why are we here? I already met with the student council."
"Oh, that's because Nunnally and I live here." Lelouch explained.
"Here?" Ange repeated, before remembering Lelouch said he went to the Ashfords for help, and Milly mentioned she knew someone like her. It all made sense now.
They entered the clubhouse and walked down some halls until they reached the part of the building where Lelouch lived. Before he opened the door, he turned to Ange.
"Keep quiet until I tell you." He said. "I'd like to make it a surprise for her."
"That I can do." Ange smiled.
Lelouch opened the door and entered with Ange. "I'm home."
"Master Lelouch." A maid in her mid-twenties stepped up to greet him. "Welcome back."
"Ange, this is Sayoko Shinozaki." Lelouch introduced her. "The Ashfords assigned her to us as a caretaker."
"Greetings." Sayoko bowed to Ange.
"Uh, yeah." Ange said. She's way more of a straightforward maid than Momoka, that's for sure.
"Is Nunnally here?" Lelouch asked.
"She's currently in the other room. She's just about finished her homework." Sayoko informed him. "Shall I fetch her?"
"No, you don't have to do that." Lelouch said. "Come on, Ange. And keep your voice down."
Ange nodded as she followed him. As they stopped outside of the doorway, she was a bit nervous. It's been several years after all. What if Nunnally didn't remember her?
"Nunnally, I'm back." Lelouch called.
"Oh, welcome home, Big Brother!"
"I've got a surprise for you." Lelouch said.
"A surprise? What is it?"
Lelouch looked at Ange and nodded at her. The girl took a deep breath, before stepping into the room. There, sitting at the desk was Nunnally vi Britannia. Ange had to put a hand over her mouth to keep herself from making a noise. Seeing Nunnally grown up, yet still with her eyes closed and now confined to a wheelchair… it tore at her. Her own sister had it bad enough after that horseback accident, but she couldn't imagine if Sylvia had lost her sense of sight as well.
Steeling herself, she went up to Nunnally, before kneeling down and gently grasping her hand. Nunnally gasped at the sudden touch, before Ange slid a finger across the side of Nunnally's hand.
"This is…" Nunnally recognized the familiar motion.
"The secret code that you, Sylvia and I used whenever we wanted to have some private girl talk." Ange smiled. "So you do remember it, Nunnally."
"Angelise…! You're okay…!" Nunnally had begun to cry in joy.
"You've grown into a beautiful young woman, Nunnally." Ange said.
Nunnally reached out and wrapped her arms around Ange, pulling her into a hug. That was the last thing Ange needed for her to let her own tears fall, as she gently returned the hug. Lelouch smiled, seeing the two reunite.
"I'm so happy… you're here…!" Nunnally cried into Ange's shoulder.
"Yeah… same here…" Ange tried to keep her voice steady. "Thank you for surviving, Nunnally…"
The two eventually calmed down. Lelouch had given them some space as he explained Ange's situation to Sayoko.
"So you'll be a new student here?" Nunnally asked.
"Starting tomorrow." Ange said with a nod. "I might have to go back to the military for emergencies every now and then, but I'll be staying at the school."
"That's great to hear, Angelise." Nunnally smiled. "I think you'll really like it here. The student council are all really nice."
"Oh, and it's Ange." Ange corrected her. "That's the name I have now. And besides, some people might pick up on who you and Lelouch really are if you use my old name."
"Really? That's a shame… your old name was lovely…" Nunnally said.
"I know, but it's a life I can't go back to… something you and Lelouch know all too well." Ange said softly.
"But… can we do things like picnics and teatime, like we used to?" Nunnally asked.
"Of course." Ange smiled. "It'll be just like old times. That's a promise."
"Well that's good to hear." Lelouch said, walking back into the room. "Then if you need help moving your stuff into your new dorm, I can lend a hand."
"..." Ange turned to Nunnally. "Ange, can your brother lift anything over 50 pounds yet?"
"No. Not at all."
"Then I should do my own moving." Ange teased.
"Come now, you surely don't own anything that heavy?" Lelouch inquired.
"Well I have a few big boxes-"
"Um, Ange?"
Standing in the doorway was Naomi.
"This young woman said she was looking for Miss Ange, so I let her in." Sayoko explained to Lelouch.
"She a friend of yours?" Lelouch asked Ange, as she helped wheel Nunnally in.
"She is." Ange said, stepping up to Naomi. "Lelouch, Nunnally, this is Naomi. She was on the same squad as me. Naomi, these two are Lelouch and Nunnally, old friends of mine."
"A pleasure to meet you." Lelouch said.
"Any friend of Ange is a friend of ours." Nunnally said with a smile.
Poor girl… Naomi briefly thought, before looking at Ange. "Sorry to bother you while you're in the middle of catching up, but this is about our dorm situation."
"Huh? Is something wrong?" Ange asked.
"Um… it's closer than we thought, and the "dorm" isn't actually a dorm." Naomi said. "Look at the map we got."
"What do you mean?" Ange pulled out the map Rivalz had given her.
It was then that she saw the red marker had circled the building that they were currently in. She saw a few numbers written out that labeled the room number.
And that the room was the one right next to the very room they were in. Only a short walk down the hall.
"Looks like this makes us neighbors." Lelouch chuckled. Milly, you did this on purpose, didn't you? Nothing gets past you, does it?
"Oh, that's wonderful!" Nunnally said. "Isn't it, Ange?"
"Yeah… Yeah, it is." Ange said, smiling.
Naomi was surprised by Ange's expression.
Never once since she met her, did the girl make such a genuine smile of happiness.
For the first time since she was outed as a Norma, Ange was happy.
A/N: Most of this chapter is just setup, as well as establishing a few things with how the world is set up. Nothing too big, but we do have some cute moments before we start Code Geass proper.
Feel free to leave a review. See you all next time.