A/N: I have been in supremely poor physical and mental health and life is not going so well. I decided to write a plot bunny. Read, review, enjoy.
Emperor Charles Zi Britannia looked upon his older brother with the kind of malice and disdain that could only come from being personally attacked in the most deeply painful way.
Victor had ruined everything, and yet he dared to glare back up at Charles like the Emperor had been the one to betray him.
Victor was restrained in a prisoner's straight jacket, Bismark Waldstien- his ever loyal Knight of One had the immortal pinned to the cold floor, the right side of his face pressed up against it.
"Charles! What is the meaning of this!?" His big brother snapped. "You're betraying me!?"
But Charles was having none of it, his glare unmatched in its Fury.
"Betraying you?" The Emperor sneered with absolute contempt. "No brother. I am simply paying you back for your own traitorous actions."
"I've done no such thing!" Victor defended fiercely. "Tell me, in what way have I gone against you? I can prove that i-"
"Marianne."
Victor's rebuttal died in his throat at the mention of THAT woman.
"I have no idea wh-"
"SILENCE!" The Emperor commanded with unrestrained fury.
"You killed my wife, you mutilated Nunnally, and you traumatized both her and Lelouch... the only woman and children I truly loved. You betrayed me... and then you LIED to me... YOU LIED TO ME!" He roared.
Victor shrank in on himself, a spark of genuine fear mixed with guilt. How did Charles find out? The plan was perfect, there were no witnesses he made sure of that!
"You were getting too attached! He defended. "Your feelings for her were interfering with our plans, I had to put an end to it!"
"Oh please, it's more than that and we both know it." Charles growled in a low tone. "You were jealous! Jealous of my affection for my wife, for the love I held for my children, you wanted it all to yourself!"
Vincent grit his teeth, struggling against his restraints. "Why now!? Why wait 7 years!? Or did you only just find out!? Who told you!?"
Charles sneered at Victor. "I knew the very next morning. But I couldn't act until I made sure to dismantle your control over the directorate to ensure nobody would try to do something foolish and save you from your punishment. It took me 7 long years to ensure this. Now that I have won, I am going to do what I should have done that very day."
Charles didn't bother looking at his brother any more. 7 years of built up anger and disgust driving him, he leveled his gaze unto Bismark.
"Dispose of him." He ordered. "Throw him into the deepest and darkest dungeon, and throw away the key."
"Charles! What of the plan!?"
"The plan was revoked the very second that lie left your traitorous lips brother. We agreed to create a world without lies, we promised to never lie to eachother. But you, my own brother who swore to me to never lie... you broke your oath."
"That wench! Those no-good crotch goblins, they turned you against me! Those slime should have been erased from existence! "Victor screamed in outrage, spewing insults and vitriol aimed at Marianne, cursing her, cursing her children and everything they represented even as he was dragged away.
Once he had finally been ripped out of the control room for the Sword of Akasha, Marianne materialized next to him with a small smile.
Charles sighed, his shoulders slumping.
"The first stage is complete, now we just need to undo our mistake." Marianne said quietly.
"I don't believe the decision to send them to Japan was a mistake." Charles countered. "But the way in which it happened... that could have gone better." He said dryly.
"You had to trick Victor into thinking you didn't care about them to keep them safe." Marianne pointed out. "It was an unfortunate necessity to ensure their survival."
"I know. But I didn't count on Victor giving an invasion order on my behalf." He grunted. "I was more than ready to negotiate for permission to put a research lab on that island in exchange for a more agreeable sakuradite deal."
That small dirt-speck of an island wasn't worth invading an entire nation over. It was disconnected from the mainland, and of no real military or strategic value. A pile of rocks, sand and trees in the middle of nowhere.
Then Victor jumped the gun, and very nearly succeeded in killing his children.
"Be that as it may, it's in the past. What's done is done."
So it was.
The Emperor sighed.
"Phase 2 begins now, I have a statement to make."
Marianne giggled. "Go get em tiger!" She cheered for him before vanishing, and with his spirit reinvigorated, he left the sword, and made his way to the throne room.
Lelouch stood in the middle of the auditorium along with all the other classmates. Another day, another state sponsored propaganda broadcast.
He idly wondered what it would be this time since there where only so many ways one could spew the same stupid message of social Darwinism and try to make it sound different each time. But he wasn't really expecting to pay much attention, and while he waited for it to start he mulled over the current situation.
'With the Black Knights now fully realized and backed by Kyoto I can start making bigger plays, especially with the 7th generation Knightmare. I know my Q-1 will-'
He paused in thought, his eyes glancing over to look at Kallen who seemed to be just as interested in the upcoming announcement as he was, probably daydreaming.
But why did he think of her as 'his' Q-1? It felt like oddly personal and possessive wording.
He turned to look back at the screen and mentally shrugged. It was just a mental slip up- but then why was he putting so much focus into such a thing to begin with-?
He ultimately decided to ignore his own internal confusion and continued his original line of thought.
'Capturing Cornelia for interrogation is my top priority but until then it never hurts to look for more recruits. There are still multiple smaller resistance movements acting independently. I should see about folding them into the black knights-'
He was, however, ripped from his train of thought a second time as the announcement came that the broadcast was to begin. Sighing internally, he watched as the stream went live.
Emperor Charles stood in front of the Britannian Union Jack, his body poised to give yet another grandiose speech. He narrowed his eyes almost imperceptibly as Charles began to speak.
"In our mighty Britannia, we acknowledge one simple truth, that the strongest are those who deserve to rule. That only the smartest, the most clever, the most charismatic and the most powerful should lead our glorious Empire!" He began, making Lelouch subconsciously clench his fists.
"Some of us are born with greater intelligence, some swifter afoot, some with great beauty and physical prowess... but the strength that matters most is the strength to persevere, the strength of will!"
Well- this was new.
'What are you playing at, old man?' He thought darkly.
"Yes! It is ultimately the strength of will that prevails! For even in the face of being physically outmatched or mentally outwitted it is ultimately their powerful spirit, their unrepressed determination that allows them to overcome all obstacles, the essence of the indomitable human spirit that only a privileged few possess! To fight on through pain, through hunger, through loss, to be able to fight tooth and nail and let nothing stop you from accomplishing your goals. THAT is what it means to be a Britannian, and that above all else is what's required to lead!" He bellowed confidently, drawing in the masses across the Empire with his powerful voice and charisma.
Lelouch remained pensive, wondering where this was going.
"It is for this reason, that there is only one, single child of mine truly worthy of the throne. One son, who managed to beat the odds, who survived, who thrives! One young man who denies reality and would supplant it with his own! A single prince who by sheer strength of will would do the impossible and lead Britannia into a new golden age!" The Emperor continued, and Lelouch could only be left in confusion.
It was always assumed that Schneizel would be named crown prince, but these traits didn't sound like anything the second prince had done. And the first prince certainly didn't fit that description either.
And what was with all the praise? The Emperor was never one to show favoritism, he hated or ignored everyone equally, this was a complete break from the status quo and it drew Lelouch's attention further.
"For 7 years, one of my sons has been living in self-imposed exile. He willingly gave up the comforts that nobility came with in order to live with the commoners so as to better understand the needs of his people like a true leader should! He cared not for the fine foods and clothes, not for the comfort and luxury that he could revel in but instead decided to forge his own path with naught but rags for clothes and the sweat of his brow!"
'7 years... what? But that's when-' He was cut off as the Emperor continued.
"It is now time for him to return to the fold. And it is decreed this day, I Charles Zi Britannia, 98th Emperor of the realm hereby name my successor!"
He paused, smirking as if he knew the dramatic effect was keeping people on their toes.
"Lelouch Vi Britannia, my one true son, I name you crown prince!"
Lelouch's mouth went dry and his face went pale, his eyes widening as his mental faculties came to a screeching halt. An image of him in his Ashford uniform for picture day last year flashed up on the screen and across every screen of those who watched the broadcast.
And just like that, every single student and teacher turned to look at him.
He remained frozen for a few split seconds, until suddenly running full-sprint out of the auditorium. The echoes of seemingly every girl in the school screeching with elation and joy followed as they chased him out.
It was only after expertly ducking and weaving through the corridors he knew like the back or his hand that he safely arrived at the student council chambers and ran up to his room, slamming the door shut and locking it before his hands came up to clench the sides of his head.
'No... no! What is this!? How long as he known for!? What game was he playing!? This can't be real-!'
He was interrupted by the ringing of his phone. Checking the caller ID, he saw that it was Kallen trying to contact Zero.
He couldn't ignore this.
Steadying his voice and making sure the filter was in place, he answered.
"Yes Q-1?"
"Master Zero! You saw the broadcast right!?"
"Yes, I was watching it." He answered with as steady as voice he could muster.
"He's one of my classmates! I'm in the student council with him, if I can get him alone I might be able to eliminate him before-"
"No." He said firmly, cutting her off.
"But I-"
"Q-1, I have good reasons for you to not try to assassinate him. Please trust me." He pleaded, earning him a pause from her for a moment.
"Yes master Zero, I understand."
"Good, I'll explain everything at our next meeting but for now I want you to lay low and keep acting as you have been. This recent event has thrown many of my plans into turmoil and I need time to prepare an effective response. I may be unavailable to contact but let the rest of the Black Knights know that I haven't abandoned them, I just need time."
"Yes master Zero!"
"Goodbye." He said before hanging up, and sighing.
This... this wasn't good, everything he had been working for was in jeopardy! ... Or was it?
He had always brushed aside the idea of changing Britannia, it needed to be destroyed, it needed to be uprooted so thoroughly and so utterly dismantled that trying to influence it from within was nigh impossible.
Unless he was Emperor.
That position, that title of ultimate authority would for all intents and purposes allow him to do whatever he wanted, whatever was required. Social and economic reform, a change of direction, of culture could upend the world order... but was he willing to do this? He had planned everything around Zero and now there was a whole new opportunity for him. He had begun his journey by marching down the path of blood, and now after everything there was a fork in the road... he could either stay the course or- He grit his teeth, his own pride wrestling with the cold logic that had never failed him before. He wanted to beat Britannia with his own means, but now a safer and more effective solution had presented itself. If he stayed as Zero, then he risked everything. If he went along with becoming the Emperor then a whole new list of problems would present themselves.
Meanwhile, the rest of the student council had been ushered into their clubhouse by Milly, who seemed distraught in her own way, awkwardly pacing the room with a serious look on her face. And all the others had a mix of emotions to boot, ranging from elation and admiration to melancholy and a feeling of distrust, Kallen had been found and yanked in shortly after her call with Zero, and she was tense, anxious.
A member of royalty was just up the stairs, she had her knife, she could end him-
But Zero bayed her not to... and it wasn't like she hated Lelouch, the boy was arrogant sure but he never hurt anybody or went out of his way to lord himself over someone. He kept to himself, watching people, observing.
And then there was Nunnally- if he was Lelouch Vi Britannia, then she must have been Nunnally Vi Britannia, and Nunnally was... so pure, so innocent and kind. Kallen couldn't bring herself to think poorly of the blind and crippled little girl.
The Japanese freedom fighter within her wanted justice for her country, but Kallen Stadtfeld the Schoolgirl cared about her friends... even Lelouch.
So she was torn between 2 distinct ideologies, both wrestling for control.
She scanned the room, her eyes flicking between the other Student Council members. Suzaku didn't seem surprised- and neither did Milly so they must have known... but Rivals and Shirley both looked utterly betrayed. Only Nina seemed neutral on the subject, thinking to herself as she tapped away at the keyboard for her computer.
"I don't get it!" Shirley finally snapped, unable to take it anymore. "We're his friends! Why didn't he tell us!"
"He couldn't." Milly defended Lelouch since he was not here to do so himself. "He had to keep it a secret, only myself and my grandfather knew the truth, we were sworn to secrecy. In order for things to work out he needed to present himself as a commoner."
She did not directly confirm the story the Emperor provided with the statement, nor deny it, not until Lelouch was able to say anything whenever he decided to grace them with with his presence.
"I knew him, before the war." Suzaku decided to intervene and back up Milly. "We didn't get along at first but that was mostly my fault, I would instigate arguments with him all the time because I thought he saw himself as some sort of high and mighty god. I only realized later that I misjudged him. All he wanted to do was help Nunnally and protect her, like the perfect big brother, and I was so caught up in my own personal biases that it took longer than I like to admit to realize he was nothing like what I painted him out to be." The Japanese youth smiled.
Kallen absorbed that information, and remained quiet, mulling over the details as she sat in silence.
Shirley however didn't seem satisfied, nor did Rivalz.
"I don't think he had a choice." Nina spoke up, turning to look at them from her computer. "I mean the Emperor said he was sent here to live in secrecy, he wasn't allowed to tell anyone, not even us."
"But we're best friends!" Rivlz cried out.
"We are." Lelouch interjected as he made his way down the stairs. "That is the honest truth, and I apologize for keeping it a secret from you all."
His feet carried him over to the table where they all sat, and he glanced at Milly.
"I didn't confirm or deny anything." Milly said, giving him a nod. If she gave a solid answer to the others it would have entraped him into a specific narrative.
He nodded, taking a deep breath.
"So- the truth then."
Needless to say, everyone waited with baited breath.
Lelouch swallowed a lump in his throat. Even 7 years later this was an emotionally charged subject for him, still wrought with pain, and anguish.
Its why he always wore black, after all. He had never stopped mourning.
"My mother, Empress Marianne, the Former Knight of Six, also known as Marianne the Flash, was murdered in cold blood right in front of me." He began, even as he tried to maintain composure, seething rage and unmatched sorrow slipped in. "Nunnally was caught in the crossfire. She was blinded, crippled, and barely survived."
Every member of the Student Council- aside Milly and Suzaku were shocked. They had never heard this story before.
Kallen winced, she had to listen to her own brother die, she couldn't imagine having to actually watch it happen...
"After this happened." He continued. "I confronted my father, I begged him to bring justice to my mother's murderer. He was the greatest man in the world- or so I foolishly thought in my young age. Surely it was within his power to do so? But he brushed it aside... he called Nunnally weak, and useless. I realized then, what the world, what Britannia was truly like and I hated it." He emphasized by speaking in a low tone, and took a moment to collect himself. "I lashed out at him, told him that I was sick of it, of the plots, the schemes, the backstabbing, the betrayals. I was sick of it all, and I told him directly to his face that I didn't want to be his puppet. I gave up my claim to the throne."
Everyone, Kallen especially was left in awe.
"You- you gave up your inheritance? But why?" Kallen tried hard to keep up he sickly persona. "And if you did how did he just name you Crown Prince?"
"Because I never wanted it. I only want to live my life with the people I care about. I got to live with my sister, and make friends with you all." He couldn't include the fact that he was currently Zero so he left that bit out obviously, putting more emphasis on his desire for peace and not the means by which he would make it happen. "But unfortunately, losing your inheritance isn't something anyone can do on their own, the reigning Emperor must confirm it to make it official, and he apparently never did, meaning that even if I don't want it, my claim remains valid." He mused.
He shook his head. "After that, he said i was dead to him... dead from the moment I was born, and sent both of us to Japan as political hostages... then he invaded the country with us still in it." His gaze turned outwardly malevolent.
"I watched the Kururugi shrine get bombed, and I walked through the killing fields, through mass graves carrying Nunnally on my back..."
His wrathful appearance took a more haunted look as unwelcome memories of latent PTSD threatened to overwhelm him, but he powered through it, taking a deep breath.
"And that's how I ended up here."
Kallen was left speechless. He had given up- or at least tried to give up a chance at limitless power, and he experienced the invasion of Japan not as a conqueror but as a refugee.
He had- perhaps, earned some sympathy from her. She now saw him in a different light, and was glad that Zero ordered her to stay her hand. He didn't deserve to die-
Well... she hoped not at least, he was still the crown prince, he was going to be emperor, and if that was the case...
"Whats your plan for Area-11?" She spoke out, unable to contain her curiosity as the others remained silent. "I mean... if you're going to be emperor you can do whatever you want."
Lelouch nodded, he hadn't even thought about it before but... this was honestly one of the best things that could have happened. He was ironically being given the opportunity to do exactly what Suzaku said he wanted to do. Change from within... except this was real, not a fantasy like what Suzaku envisioned.
It was a good question, and he pondered for a moment before answering.
"I ask that you don't leak this."
"Hey man, my lips are sealed." Rivalz offered.
Lelouch nodded, and the sentiment seemed to resonate through the room.
Kallen braced herself.
"I plan to abolish the area-number system." He announced.
Kallen nearly did a spit-take, while Suzaku and Milly grinned ear to ear and the rest of them looked on in bewilderment.
"R-really?" Kallen could hardly keep herself from stammering as her heart fluttered with hope.
"Of course. It is an un-just system that needlessly causes pain and suffering for the many to benefit the few. If my plans are fully realized then Britannia's areas will become locally administrated principalities. Local governance will be given to electorates decided by votes made by the population native to the former area. I would have every Area stripped of the shackles that bind them and re-christen them with their true names. Area-11 will become Japan once more, i will uproot the corruption infesting the administration, crack down on the mafia who peddle refrain to the poor and destitute, rebuild the ghettos, and acknowledge all people's as Britannian citizens with full rights."
Everything that Lelouch said was a hammer blow, Kallen could hardly take it, she could feel her heart ready to beat out of her chest.
This wasn't a fully independent Japan- but by god it was close enough! Relief flooded her system, now truly happy that Zero didn't want Lelouch dead.
She saw her aloof classmate in a new light, what was once nothing but apathy and dismissal turned to admiration.
"I plan to put Japan back on the fast-track to not just return them to their pre-war state but to elevate them above what they once were. They will have access to Britannian schooling and industry to rebuild their homes, re-integrate into society and live happy lives again. Every man, woman and child in this world deserves the opportunity for a better life, and I will make sure they get it. And to be honest it will be a far better place with home grown Japanese-Britnnians who actually live here being in power, not some snob from the mainland."
Nina frowned, conflicted, she was a patriot, she believed in the rule of law and the power of royalty- but Lelouch was talking about upending Britannian national policy that had been in place since before any of them were born...
Kallen, already trembling with excitement, pressed further. "Why don't you want someone from the homeland acting as an interim governor?"
"Because they're all dictators, disconnected from reality, living in their own gold-embroidered bubbles of wealth and affluence without understanding the needs of the people they are supposed to care for. They are largely incompetent, sloppy, senile and corrupt, they grow fat off the spoils of others and spend taxpayers money on frivolous ego-trips. They are never good stewards of the economy, they are brash, lazy, consumed by their own sense of self-importance and they fuck. Everything. Up." He finished firmly. "Just look at Clovisland."
Kallen was treacherously starting to like what she was hearing even more at this point. It was like a dream come true, and yet this was no dream, it was real... Lelouch was making her dream- Naoto's dream a reality, at least to some extent... a Japan free or it's shackles with its people treated as equals.
She smiled, she smiled brighter and more widely than she could ever remember since the invasion, this was... everything she could have hoped for.
She felt it, a seed blossomed within her heart that would only continue to grow.
It was a familiar feeling to her, one she had only felt for one other, as color drained from her face.
She realized now how enamored she had become, the growing feeling of elation was now matched with internal friction as she came to a very sobering realization.
The growing feelings she had for Zero, the ones she had come to reconcile with herself for their leader, were now the exact same feelings she had for Lelouch.
And just like that, Kallen was ripped in half between 2 growing loves.
How could she possibly chose!?
Zero should have felt like the obvious choice, he was charismatic, and brave, and confident and powerful. He built the black knights into a real fighting force. They stopped the refrain crisis, saved the student council, and killed Clovis.
But now here was Lelouch, a handsome young man who was now wearing his heart on his sleeve swearing to make the world a better place for everyone, who stood against everything he should have stood for and was ready to fight to see the same dream Naoto had come true, to make a better life for the people he cared about.
Both men stood for everything she believed in, they both had the power to change it. Zero through rebellion and revolution, and Lelouch through peaceful reforms...
It was an impossible situation to suddenly be put into and she was now wrestling with herself...
Lelouch however seemed to grow more confident as he spoke, the more details he went over the more passionate he became. The way he spoke with such charisma and power left everyone in the room enthralled not unlike the way Zero managed to capture Kallen's imagination so many times before.
But Kallen wasn't the only one enraptured. Shirley looked at Lelouch with a whole new light, context for all the little things that made her fall in love with him now provided, he was more than just a dreamy schoolboy who wanted to fly under the radar, he was the crown prince, a benevolent, kind and just ruler with the potential to make the world a better place.
He was perfect.
Shirley bit her lip, she wanted to say it now, before it was too late- but before she could, Suzaku leapt up from his seat to hug Lelouch so tightly his back cracked audibly.
"Thank you..." Suzaku began to cry. "Thank you so much!"
"Yeah yeah-!" Lelouch choked out. "Let me down before you break me in half you exercise nut!"
Suzaku let Lelouch go and laughed, but he was still too happy to be nothing other than visibly excited.
Milly smiled too, a devious grin appearing on her face.
"You know what this means~"
Lelouch blanched.
'Oh no...'
"Time for another school festival! This year's theme will be kiss the king!"
Lelouch looked appalled... as did Kallen and Shirley.
"Suzaku, as crown prince I order you to escort me off campus before the she-devil has her way with me." He commanded.
Suzaku, amused and fully ready to get into the role, smiled and nodded. "Right away your highness!"
Before anyone could object, Suzaku brazenly picked Lelouch up- who was not expecting this to happen and threw the crown prince over his shoulder before sprinting out of the room.
Milly smirked. "Oho~ so that's how it's gonna be..." She giggled before running up into the office and grabbing the mic for the intercom system.
In the corridors of Ashford, Suzaku was having the time of his life sprinting around the Academy, laughing his ass off as students around campus cheered for their new Crown Prince.
"Suzaku what is the meaning of this!?"
"Just following orders my lord!"
"I told you to escort me off campus not to carry me around like a sack of potatoes!"
"This is just the fastest way! You're too slow!" Suzaku replied in jest, and Lelouch was honestly caught between annoyance and amusement, his lips turning up into a grin...
This reminded him of better days, before the invasion when it was just him and Suzaku. A bittersweet euphoria overpowered him at that moment as he couldn't help but chuckle.
Then, Milly's voice came over the intercom.
"Attention entire student body, this is your overlord speaking~!"
Suzaku paused mid-step, and Lelouch would blink, the crowd around them listening in on what Milly had to say.
"Our beloved prince is trying to get out of his duties for a festival being thrown in his honor so now I must command you my minions! Bring Lelouch and Suzaku to me, to me, TO ME!" She cackled. "The students who bring in our beloved prince will get a kiss from any student council member of their choice! And a 50% raise for the budgets of their clubs!"
Suzaku's face drained of color as the eyes of every student in view locked their eyes on them, the girls swooning over the possibility of kissing Lelouch and the boys thinking about the ladies on the student council.
"Suzaku..." Lelouch said slowly
Everyone stood still, it was like a Mexican standoff... until suddenly every student rushed towards them and Suzaku jumped up into the air, running across the shoulders of the students through the air until landing in a clear spot and then running out of the door and into the courtyard...
Only to be met with the equestrian club.
"I think I made a wrong turn-" Suzaku quipped.
"Oh did you really now?" Lelouch asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Hush, no backseat drivers." Suzaku shot back in jest before proceeding to race against mustangs.
'You cheeky motherfucker.'
A/N: Casual reminder that I'm trash and so is my writing, if you don't like this that's fine, just move on, if you did like it I'm glad.
Secondary note: This plot bunny was inspired by COMMISSION: The God King by Bolmung LK, one of my personal favorite stories even if it was abandoned a decade ago