23 Chapter Twenty-Three: Fall from Grace.

As the remnants of the Order of Michael gathered at their base camp, Zero been careful in blending into the other Knightmares. The ones whose pilots he had taken over had not shone given that they were commanded to obey Zero. They'd easily be considered MIA or captured.

His biggest obstacle was the line-up inspection. Or it would have been if it were not for his Geass allowing him to command others from outside his stolen Knightmare. The inspector who came to check in on his supposed damaged cockpit, as well as many of the nearby crew, were under his command. He had the inspector call for a medic, citing that the pilot was severely injured. By the time the medic had gotten to him Lelouch had cast a command on him as well and sneaked through the base with his form covered by a medical blanket. Once he was in the med tent he made quick work to cast commands on the staff and patients there and quickly changed from his suit to the uniform of a foot soldier. He kept the suit of Zero in a bag in case he needed to discard his disguise at any moment.

'I'll get Kallen back and will have the entirety of the Order of Michael under my control,' thought Lelouch, going out among the rest of the soldiers on the base.

"What do you mean that Leila chick is missing?" yelled Tamaki, not heeding the guns being pointed at him.

"I mean Commander Malcal is missing," said Warwick. "She was right behind me alongside that woman C.C. and..."

"Aw crap that explains it," cursed Tamaki. "That damn witch probably has something to do with it."

"Is she going to hurt Leila?" gasped Anna Clement.

Tamaki, alongside Inoue, Sugiyama, and Jeremiah had remained at Castle Weisswolf following the order from Zero to return. Finding out that apparently the commander they had hoped to make an ally was missing was not welcome news.

And this little incident had thus resulted in several of the European soldiers under the command of Oscar Hammel to draw their weapons upon the Black Knights, who drew forth as well.

"Enough of this," said Jeremiah. "C.C's actions are her own, the witch does not follow the command of Zero, whom I'm sure will not be pleased by your treatment of his loyal subordinates."

"Zero is as much a mystery as that witch," said Oscar. "There is very little reason to trust either them or you."

"We just lost several of our comrades defending your sorry asses," said Sugiyama. "Blown to hell by the guy who wanted to kill you all. I say that entitles us to some leeway."

"We don't fully trust C.C ourselves," said Inoue. "But whatever she's done she must have a reason."

"And debating upon it is pointless until his majesty returns, with the Order of Michael now his obedient puppets," said Jeremiah. "Kill us if you wish, my greatest honor would be that I died in the service of my glorious Black King. And my vengeance would be the fury he would reign down upon you for my death."

"Would Zero really hold you in such high regard?" asked Warwick, more curious than anything else.

"I had the honor of fostering his imperial majesty upon the orders of the Queen Mother Marianne," said Jeremiah. "To teach and guard his majesty and groom him into manhood."

"You were a father to him," said Warwick.

"Only the late Emperor Charles may claim that title," said Jeremiah. "But I did have the honor of being called godfather."

"Yeah, so if you kill him, Zero's going to straight up wreck you guys," said Tamaki.

Though this did have an effect on the European soldiers none the less they held tight to their position. Eventually Warwick put up his hands and stood between the two groups.

"Listen, this is getting us nowhere," said Warwick. "Leila and that C.C. woman have history together, something involving this Geass business, so this is probably something we can't really comprehend Hammel. We just have to have faith that Leila will be returned safe and sound. Right now we still have the enemy at our gates. And the Black Knights did shed blood in protecting us from the Order of Michael. You know it's bad fortune to repay sacrifice with bad graces."

Kallen had been stripped of her uniform and placed in a straight jacket and locked in Jean's personal cabin. She had been given medical attention by a private physician, and in truth she was bruised but not broken. She had yet to regain consciousness but that was perfectly acceptable to Jean.

Her injuries were tended to as well. Luckily she had about the same limited injuries as Kallen. It seemed the two of them were evenly matched in almost everything. A fact Jean found personally irritating.

Almost as irritating as the man whom she and Lord Shaing had found sitting comfortably in Shin's command tent. He wore the uniform of an Eden Elite officer, but his sudden appearance was still disconcerting.

"Interesting work my boy," said the man, identifying himself as Amadeus Bludbierd. "So far you're the only one in his majesty's operation that is still active. The Cthulhu and the Dagon are down. Although the rogue is not in our custody."

"I didn't exactly anticipate Zero arriving in Europe," said Shin.

"No, but the Emperor did," said Bludbierd. "For some time now he has believed that there is a spy within the Eden Elite or close to it giving information to the enemy. Zero and his allies appearing in Europe proves that."

"So you were gambling with Lord Shaing's life to try and prove a theory?" yelled Jean.

"Life is a trivial thing my dear," said Bludbierd. "Though the Emperor does believe you have great potential. Despite of, or especially because of, your...quirks."

Shin managed to keep a straight face and a light smile which Bludbierd reciprocated. Jean for some reason suddenly felt a ghost of unease creep through her body. It was as if the two were speaking a language reserved only for men like them.

"I'd like to look over the girl you captured," said Bludbierd. "Given the power your lady knight described I can imagine some interesting possibilities for her to be of use to us."

"I already had an idea," said Shin.

"Yes, but your Geass is nothing compared to mine," said Bludbierd. "Besides...she reminds me of someone whom I...met once before."

Shin's smile faltered and he drew up the Imperial Scepter.

"Don't forget Bludbierd, I hold the authority of the Emperor," said Shin.

Bludbierd chuckled and turned back to Shin, his smile wide.

"I've seen Emperor's come and go boy," said Bludbierd. "Even V.V is ultimately inconsequential to me, immortality none withstanding. For his own part, V.V is giving up a great deal of power just to play the role of evil Emperor for the world."

"Role?" asked Shin.

"As my good friend Shakespeare once wrote, 'All the world's a stage and all the men and women are merely players. A man himself plays many roles in life'. The role of Emperor is just one of the many V.V has had to play," said Bludbierd. "The true show will begin sooner than you, or anyone could ever realize."

Back at Castle Weisswolf's medical bay, the wounded among the Black Knights were being treated. The defected Ashura Force having been relocated to a series of cells for safekeeping. As well as the captured and 'Geassed' knights of Michael. The latter had been corralled quickly, for without Zero to command them the command could not go into effect.

Shirley walked down through the cells, pushing a cart of food for the, for lack of a better word, prisoners. She was accompanied by two Black Knights armed in case anyone tried anything to escape or to harm Shirley.

Despite being a Britannian, Shirley had managed to endear herself to many of the Japanese members of the Black Knights. She was very kind and seemed to have a natural skill for medicine, having actually wanted to be a nurse and was already studying for such a path. She had a good bedside manner and when the battle came she managed to keep her cool and worked effectively alongside the professional medics and Sophie Randall when she came to help with their wounded.

And indeed Shirley seemed to have an interesting effect on the Euro Britannian Knight, Ashley Ashura, who stood at attention when he saw Shirley approach.

"Sounds like there was a lot of fun earlier," said Ashley, leaning on the bars, his arms crossed over them. "Glad to see you're alright."

"Back away from the bars," barked one of the Black Knight soldiers.

"It's okay," said Shirley.

Ashley none the less did as he was told, his eyes never leaving Shirley. The soldiers opened the gates of the cell and Shirley pushed the cart in, the guards still at her side and their weapons ready. Shirley handed out trays of food to each member of the Ashura force. She gave the last tray to Ashley and when he took it from her his fingers touched hers by accident. Shirley controlled the mild rush she felt when this happened, not wanting to give the wrong idea of the the guards.

"I noticed you managed to take prisoners," said Ashley. "Given the blank looks they gave I'm guessing Zero had his way with them. Shouldn't they be fighting for you guys now?"

"Sit down and be quiet," said one of the guards.

"I was asking the lady not you," said Ashley. "And judging from her expression I guess I was right. And the fight isn't over isn't it?"

"I said..."

"That's enough," yelled Shirley. "He's not hurting anyone by asking a question and he is still recovering. If you hurt him I will report you for mistreatment."

"She's right," said the other Black Knight. "These guys can't do anything and they're technically not prisoners. And even if they know what's happened they can't do anything about it."

The other guard merely grunted and left the cell. Shirley and the other guard stayed and Shirley looked back as Ashley.

"The Order of Michael was fought back and they've suffered heavy losses," said Shirley. "However they...they were able to kill a considerable number of our people and the Valhalla has been ordered to pick up the W-0 pilots. One of our own has been captured and Zero has gone undercover in the enemy base. We're currently awaiting ford from either Zero or the Valhalla. So for right now everyone is on standby."

Ashley listened eagerly and smiled, making Shirley slightly uncomfortable.

"You know, if you had someone who knew all the security details of the Order of Michael and could get some people inside the base to help Zero in case something went wrong with him then you wouldn't be left to wait," said Ashley.

"You're offering?" asked Shirley.

"Not without asking for something in return," said Ashley.

"I'm sure Zero would..."

"Not form Zero...you," said Ashley. "I'll lead a few of your best into the Order's base camp, getting past their security, and reuniting with Zero...if you give me as kiss."

Shirley gasped and slapped Ashley hard across the face.

Leila could barely comprehend the strange world she found herself in. One minute ago she had been in Castle Weisswolf, watching the battle between the Black Knights and the Knights of Michael when this strange woman who bore a resemblance to the green haired witch.

The witch herself was in the same world Leila had found herself in, looking none to pleased.

"I didn't figure you would choose to interfere," said C.C. "You've often held such a disdain for humans in the past."

"I have, but recall I am not all that is among the Collective," said the woman.

"Excuse me, but where are we?" asked Leila, speaking up.

The three women were in a world that appeared bluer than blue, the ground before them a vast landscape mirror reflecting them and the blue of the rest of this strange world.

"We are in but an aspect of what can be called C's World," said C.C. "This figure before us isn't a person. It's a manifestation of this aspect. Called many names, Dimensional Supervisor or Caretaker of Spacetime."

"Both suit me fine," said the Dimensional Supervisor. "Though C.C, I must say I find your tone disrespectful. As a member of the Geass Order you should know to respect me, to worship me, to love me."

"Consider us as having a lover's tiff," said C.C. "Now why are you interfering now? You've never held humanity in high regard. If legend is true you possibly even had a hand in the fall of the original Geass Civilization."

"It's true I've often considered humans to be a destructive and harmful pest," said the Supervisor. "That the gift of Geass was one humans should never have been given. But as you said, I am but one aspect."

"So in truth you're just as much a servant as you believe I should be to you," said C.C with a clever little smirk.

The Supervisor merely glared at the Witch. Leila suddenly felt uncomfortable with her position between the two women.

"Onto the point of why I am here," said the Supervisor. "It has to do with Shin Hyuga Shaing and his corrupted Geass."

"I figured," said C.C. "He didn't get it from an immortal did he?"

"No," said the Supervisor. "A rogue aspect of the Collective bestowed a corrupted Geass to that unstable boy. The power of the False King."

"No match for the true power," said C.C. "Lelouch will be able to take care of him."

"Don't be so sure," said the Supervisor. "Shin Hyuga Shaing's fate is not to die at the hands of Lelouch. The sad fate of your world is that blood must kill blood when dueling with the powers of Geass."

Leila could only watch, not sure what to make of the strange conversation she bore witness to. Then the ethereal looking woman looked in her direction and the Witch following suite.

"You are also of an interest to me," said the Supervisor.

"Me?" asked Leila.

"Her Geass, there was something unusual when I made the contract with her," said C.C. "Your work no doubt."

"A rare and powerful gift, one that perhaps you may be able to wield wisely," said the Supervisor.

"Power? What kind of power?" asked C.C.

She recalled the time she spent with the gypsy grannies. The Great Granny had said that she had been bestowed the power to 'save him' but Leila didn't know what that meant.

"Akito...Hyuga," said the Supervisor, "is dead."

In St. Petersburg, Rivalz had been placed in a tank similar to the one that he had been in when Lovecrest was originally experimenting on him on the island. Filled with a recreation of the nano-solution that Lovecrest had created, the damage to Rivalz's body was being handled by the nanites already in his body and the new ones developed by the solution.

Although she found him repugnant, Cecile had to admit Lovecrest was brilliant.

"Can you give me an idea of when he should be on his feet again?" asked Cornelia.

Cecile looked over he shoulder at the Princess, still standing in a position of strength but showing concern over Rivalz's condition. Guilford and Dalton stood by her side as always, both with their own expression trying to hide their concern.

Cecile gave a soft smile in hopes to calm the three of them.

"He's fine," said Cecile. "The nanites are doing wondrous work and at the rate their going he could be out in less than a week. Right now he just needs to stay in the tank and rest."

"Is he sleeping?" asked Guilford.

"Honestly it's hard to tell," said Cecile.

Looking at Rivalz's face one could easily guess that he was asleep. His left eye was closed and his face was relaxed. However given his cybernetic nature it was difficult to tell how his bodily functions had changed.

"His mind is active," said Cecile. "And as far as I can tell so are his interface capabilities. It's possible he's connecting to the machines here in the lab. He could actually be on the internet."

"Web surfing in his sleep," said Dalton, chuckling at the notion. "Kids these days."

"Can you even be sure that's what he's doing?" asked Guilford.

"I doesn't matter," said Cornelia. "His body is being tended to and he's alive. Let him dream or...whatever it is he's doing. He's well earned a rest."

Cecile nodded and turned back to the tank as Cornelia and her knights left.

"You rest up Rivalz," said Cecile, placing her hand to the glass. "We'd all hate to loose our prince of virtue."

Unknown to Cecile, Kujo Gallhorn had stood at the side of the lab's entrance, hearing everything.

The pain let Kallen know she was still alive. Her vision was still blurry so she couldn't entirely tell where she was. She tried to move, but in addition to her injuries she came to understand that she was in a straitjacket. Her vision had cleared and Kallen could see that she was indeed bound in a straitjacket. She had also been stripped of her pilot suit, leaving her only wearing only the straitjacket. Her ankles were also bound tightly by leather cords

"Damn it," Kallen cursed, straining herself to a seated position.

Kallen looked around at her surroundings and she appeared to be an a furbished cabin instead of a prison cell. She felt her heart flutter in fear at the implications of that, especially given her state of dress.

As if on some horrible cue the door opened and a redheaded woman in a bandages and a knight's uniform walked in. The way she glared at Kallen told the Japanese ace all she needed to know. This was the same woman she had fought. The one who had captured her.

The woman then moved and allowed another man to walk in. He wore dark uniform bearing the emblem of the Eden Elite. He appeared to be in his early 20s with buzz cut blonde hair. But what Kallen found most alerting were the symbols of Geass in his eyes and on his neck.

"Thank you Jean you may go," said the man. "Sorry to essentially kick you out of your cabin. But I'm sure Shin can be persuaded."

Jean glared at the man and then at Kallen before leaving and closing the door behind her. The man then walked up and took a seat on the bed across from Kallen's position on the floor. He crossed his legs and placed his fingers to his chin. The haunting glow of his Geass filled eyes sent shivers down Kallen's spine. There was something more than just the power behind those eyes.

"I think I met a relative of yours," said Bludbierd. "It was a while back. I was in Area 11 on vacation and then suddenly this bomb goes off. Well I could never really ignore chaos. My lifelong goals include decimating human society to a point where they would never bring themselves out the pit of violence and fear I put them in. And there was a nice, lovely explosion. Oh, forgive me, I failed to introduce myself. I am Amadeus Bludbierd."

Kallen only glared at the man in front of her, not impressed. Bludbierd only seemed to hum and continued his story.

"Anyway, as I walk though the rubble and the fire and the screaming people fleeing in terror," Bludbierd continued, "I find this guy in the rubble. From his features he looks like he might actually be half-11."

Kallen froze, recalling the 'death' of her brother. Bludbierd smiled at this.

"He was just barely clinging to life," said Bludbierd. "The opportunistic guy I am I thought this fella might be interesting. So I reached down and pulled him from that wreckage. His body was wrecked, his flesh burned, but I could fix that. With the great power I have I brought out within him qualities I saw in him that made him fit for a wondrous power."

Kallen shook her head, not believing what she was hearing. There was no way this was true.

"You see, I possess, among my various gifts, a very interesting Geass," said Bludbierd. "Some call it power of the Devil, Absolute Corruption. But to me I consider it Absolute Liberation. Inside of us all there are qualities that we repress, that we bind in chains. We preach we want freedom for all but yet we do not free ourselves. I liberate their true selves. A woman who loved a man with all her heart, her children just as much, loses the husband and one of her children, and buries the grief. She chains it up and throws it down. I come in and bring out that grief and she come to realize life is not worth living if she can be separated from her children and husband and goes out to kill them and herself, because life is too terrible. A freedom fighter, a charismatic leader, tormented by a dual nature that makes him something of an odd fit in our society. He wants to save his nation, his people, or his chosen people. He has the belief he can help them and that no matter what their oppressors hit them with they can survive. That the wounds they'd suffer would be the marks of their loyalty to the nation. He has a bit of an ego but he keeps it in check. Here I come, and boy that guy. I fixed him up and even read to him from a bit of old Arthurian folklore. Once he was strong he broke free from me, like a mad beast."

Kallen cried out in fury, hearing the truth of what happened to her brother. On instinct she activated her Geass and within seconds Bludbierd was covered in flames. However he merely chuckled as the flames ate at his clothing and flesh. Blood trickled down his nose as he focused his eyes, blazing with empowered Geass, on Kallen's screaming form.

Lelouch had made his way slowly along the camp. Casting commands to as many soldiers as he came across. He had used it a few times to ask where a new prisoner might be kept but got nothing. Regardless he continued to search through the camp for any sign of Kallen. As he walked around, the night setting in, he noticed Shin walking out of the base. He passed through a security gate in between the high wall of the compound.

Lelouch looked around to check for any wayward knights, and pushed his power's psychokinetic abilities to leap over the wall of the compound. Once he landed he rolled into the bushes, finding the immediate cover in case Shin heard him.

From what he observed the Grand Master of the Order that now housed numerous slaves under Lelouch's thrall, was in a world of his own. Lelouch followed close behind, recalling the stealth lessons Sayoko had given him.

'What are you up to Shaing?' thought Lelouch.

Eventually Shin stopped at a small creek and to Lelouch's surprise he began speaking to himself. He called out for his predecessor Michele Manfredi and someone else he had called mother.

Lelouch wondered if Shin was really delusional or if this was some effect of his Geass. To see the ones he had killed with his power. Lelouch briefly wondered if he himself had a similar side effect. However he pushed that thought out of his mind when he saw Shin draw his sword. He brought it to his throat as if he were going to take his own life. Lelouch smirked, believing that this was an easy victory for him. But running through the woods was a red and white blur. A woman in knightly garb tore the sword from Shin's hand. She pleaded with him about not taking his life, her voice betraying her true feelings.

The woman, a redhead much like Kallen, had feelings for Shin. That much Lelouch could tell in the tone of her voice and the tears in her eyes. He had seen her when he spotted Kallen's capture.

Although he had not gotten the swift victory with Shin killing himself, Lelouch was still smiling. He could order Shin to kill himself and force the information of Kallen's location out of Jean.

But before Lelouch could pounce out and cast his commands, the sounds of explosions came from the camp. All three had turned back to see a massive fire had broken out.

"Kallen," whispered Lelouch.

Marianne's return to St. Petersburg was met with great rejoicing from her little doves. She had to hold tight to Bismark's cloak around her body when Tianzi ran up to hug her. Of course her step-daughters were welcomed to embrace her, as was Kaguya, and of course sweet Nunnally.

Although Nunnally's first use of such a powerful Geass had left her unsurprisingly drained. It took all Nunnally had to put her arms around her mother. After that Rai carried Nunnally to rest in the guest palace provided by Duke Velaines. As the silver haired knight carried off Nunnally in his arms, an image from a classic fairy tail, Marianne couldn't help but smile.

'It looks like Lelouch might not be the only one giving me grandchildren,' thought Marianne.

"Your majesty," said Velaines, gaining her attention.

"Yes, Duke Velaines?" said Marianne.

"I am pleased to know you are well," said Velaines. "It is nothing short of a miracle the city has survived through the night. Were it not for the efforts of the Blue Unicorn we'd all be dead."

"Yes, I'm very proud of the dear boy," said Marianne. "And it appears he's had quite the effect on your citizens."

Indeed, the streets of St. Petersburg were filled with cheering citizens holding up banners bearing the emblem of the Blue Unicorn. Images of him tattered after his battle with the Dagon, giving a smile and a thumbs up.

"Yes, they call him the Hero of St. Petersburg. It is true of course but they are eager for an official statement and I know too little of the young man to speak for him. I am told he works under an alias, Prince...Virtue I believe," said the Grand Duke.

"Actually your highness it was just supposed to be Prince," said Guilford. "It's really something of personal joke inside the Atlas Fleet."

"Although...I must say it does sound much more...theatrical," said Marianne. "For now let it run in people's minds and I'm willing to bet dear Rivalz will come to like it. For right now stress to the people that the Hero of St. Petersburg is alive and on the road to recovery. I have a specialist in such matters that will be coming shortly I'm sure. For now, I believe Duke Velaines, there is no longer a choice about what to do in regards to the question of Euro Britannia's independence."

"Yes, I am afraid your warning has come to pass Empress," said Velaines. "Emperor...no, the Usurper has made his feelings in regards to the people of Euro Britannia obvious. If we are to survive, we must cut off from the Holy Britannian Empire."

The news of Akito's death had Leila responding appropriately. The fear she held when he bestowed his braid to her had come true. And she was powerless to do anything about it.

"You can still save him," said the Supervisor.

From her spot on the mirrored ground she had fallen on, Leila looked up with teary eyes.

"Your power, it comes from my aspect, my authority," said the Supervisor. "With it, you may hold the power of Spacetime."

"The Collective would actually allow such a Geass?" asked C.C.

"Given the threats we face we are willing to take certain gambles," said the Supervisor.

This silenced C.C. who merely looked back down at Leila. Leila then looked over to the Dimensional Supervisor, who cupped Leila's chin and drew her to her feet.

"This power, shall allow you to save those you care for," said the Supervisor. "To fold space and time in their hour of need and pull them to you and to safety."

The Supervisor tapped her thumb to Leila's forehead, and a blue symbol of Geass appeared in her left eye. C.C. raised her eyebrow in curiosity, blue colored Geass abilities were very rare, even among the oldest and most powerful of the Geass Order.

For Leila herself her mind was elsewhere, spanning distance and time to when both Akito and Lovecrest faced each other with their powers ramming against each other.

The psychic disruption this duel was causing trauma to the bomb attached to Akito's Knightmare. The world before her appeared colorless, save for Akito. Leila saw the trembling bomb and motioned toward Akito.

"Akito," she called out.

Akito, suddenly realizing the change in the world turned and saw Leila.

"Leila," he whispered, not sure if he could believe what he was seeing.

She was floating slightly above him, her hair billowing out like an angel's wings as she reached out with her hand.

"Akito, please we have to leave," she cried out. "The bomb is going to explode."

The fury of his brother's command was fading from Akito's mind the more he looked to Leila, the feeling she brought up in him countering Shin's command. Sense was coming to him again and Akito took Leila's hand.

When he did, the two of them and the witch, found themselves back at Castle Weisswolf.

Lelouch ran out, pushing his psychokinetic properties of his Geass to enhance his speed, and leaped into the burning base. He had discarded his disguise and leaped into the fire dressed in the garb of Zero as the suit offered extra protection from the flames and the smoke.

The cabins, Knightmares, and the knights themselves were all aflame. Men were crying out in pain and agony as their clothes and skin were burning. Zero ran through the burning compound, knocking away burning enemy knights, even those he might have turned into his obedient slaves. Kallen was no doubt at the center of this and he needed to find her quickly before the situation got any worse.

"Kallen," he cried out, hoping she could hear him.

He was about to call again when he felt something tackle him to the ground from behind. Zero then felt a great deal of heat come from his back, realizing that his cape had caught fire. He forced whatever held him down off his back and turned to face his new foe. Only to have a great shock run through his chest as he saw Kallen , crouched like a feral animal and dressed as such, snarling at him like a beast.

Flashes of his original clash with Naoto Kozuki passed through his mind and the outcome of that battle.

Before Zero could fully comprehend what was going on Kallen pounced on him yet again. However this time Zero was quicker to respond, quickly grabbing hold of Kallen, tightening his arms around her nude body. He then quickly ran out of the burning compound, leaving the remnants of the Order of Michael to burn. As he ran Kallen's Geass, driven by her feral mind had set the forest they felt to ablaze. She also set Zero's uniform on fire, the flames licking at his armor and his mask, wearing down his defenses as much as her wild struggles.

Eventually Zero had come to a small waterfall and pond. With one movement he threw Kallen into the water, hoping to at least have a means to counteract her abilities.

"Kallen, please you have to stop this," Zero cried out.

Kallen merely growled, her Geass shining in her wild eye, and an even greater blaze overtook Zero. Lelouch pushed his psychokinetic defenses to their limits as his suit's were being warn down by the intense heat. The brilliant gold and purple of his uniform becoming blackened by the flames.

Although there was an obvious solution to this horrible situation, ending the life of the person casting the Geass, Lelouch refused to take it. He had to find a way to break what had happened to Kallen.

"Kallen," he roared, the damage to the mask affecting the voice modulator. "You have to stop this please. This isn't who you are."

Kallen merely ran out but Zero dodged, diving into the water, putting out the flames. He then stood again in the water, only for Kallen to charge out again. She lunged with her nails as if they were claws, Zero caught her hands and used her momentum to toss her into the water. He then placed himself over her body, Kallen's wild face directly under the blacked mask of Zero.

"Kallen, it's me," he said. "It's Lelouch."

Lelouch had already once commanded Kallen, trying to get answers about her terrorist activities not long after he originally got his powers, but now he had to try if he could do it again. He pushed his ability to command, hoping he could bring back the Kallen he knew. The Kallen that he...loved.

"Please," he begged. "Kallen, this isn't you, you're not some wild animal. You are Kallen Kozuki, Amaterasu, the Red Queen. You want to liberate Japan and restore your mother's mind and freedom. It's me, Lelouch, you and I...we're going to be a family."

Kallen, although still acting like a wild animal, seemed to hold when she could hear Lelouch's voice. Lelouch sighed, glad to know he was at least having some effect on Kallen.

"You asked me, did I mean it when I proposed to you, did that night we had mean anything? It did Kallen...and I do," he said. "You're very much like me Kallen. Your family was torn apart by V.V's reign, you wore a mask to survive in his world, but you never gave into him. You fought and the passion with which you fought was beautiful to me. I don't know if I told you this, but when I first got my Geass, I had a dream. I think maybe it was some kind of vision. In that vision I saw you as well as V.V. I saw the man I hated and, though I didn't know it then, the woman I'd love. I...I love you Kallen."

Kallen's breathing seemed to calm with this and her eyes merely looked blank. Lelouch still saw the red ring of light around Kallen's irises and knew he still wasn't done. He was making progress but he had to finish if he was going to save her.

"Kallen, ever since my father died, forced to hide from my uncle, I never allowed myself to interact with people in the same way I can with you," said Lelouch. "I put a mask on, the mask of Lelouch Lamperouge. But when I met you, when I was alone with you, I could take off the mask. Although many of my emotions were still hidden, they were there, growing over time. By the time we faced your brother Naoto, I had come to care about your happiness. I want you to be happy. To be happy...with me, because I feel happy with you. If I am to be a king, for whatever glory and misery that would cause me, I feel with you, as my queen, I would be sure to find happiness in my life. And I would do anything and everything to ensure your life is filled with happiness too, until you can no longer remember what you have suffered."

Kallen's eyes were fixed on Zero's mask, which was beginning to crumble from the damage. The red rings in her eyes began to flicker as her mind began to come back to her.

"Kallen...my Queen...I love you," said Lelouch. "And I want to spend my life with you. To make this world a better place for you to live in along with our mothers, Nunnally, and all our friends. I refuse to lose you to whatever damned demon my Uncle unleashes. I'm not issuing you a command as Zero of the Black Knights, or the Black King foretold by the Geass Order, but as the man who loves you and wants to safe. Please, come back to me, please."

Kallen's eyes began to fill with tears and the red rings vanished from her eyes, her Geass was still present but no new flames burst forth.

"Lelouch...I..."

Kallen lost consciousness and went limp. Lelouch felt a surge of panic run though his heart. He quickly checked for her pulse and calmed when he found it. The strain of her extensive use of Geass had just taken its tole on her. He pushed some loose strands of red hair from Kallen's face, noting how peaceful she looked now.

But as he did, in a reflection next to Kallen's head, he saw Shin lunging down with his sword. Lelouch quickly turned and covered Kallen, allowing the sword to strike into his right shoulder.

His theory about taxing the psychokinetic field created by his Geass was being proven correct. His defenses were weakening, as was he. But using whatever strength he still had he would keep Kallen safe and defeat this pawn of his uncle, even if it cost him his life.

While the sword was lodged in his shoulder Lelouch used his free hands to break the blade. He then struck out Shin's face with a quick flurry of punches, forcing him away from Kallen. But before he could press on Jean Rowe shot Lelouch thrice in the chest, halting him.

The damaged suit offered some protection, but blood still poured none the less. The overtaxing of his Geass was truly beginning to get to him and Lelouch could no longer stand to his feet.

Shin looked down at Zero with a demonic smirk on his face. Drawing forth the Imperial Scepter, he slashed down with the spear tip of the scepter over the left side of Zero's mask, shattering it and cutting deep into Lelouch's face. Lelouch's eye, the one that held his Geass, was perhaps the most grievous of this wound.

His wounds, and the over-taxation of his Geass finally taking hold, left Lelouch powerless. Falling back into the water, his limbs sprawled open, and blood from his wound turning the pond's blue to red.

Shin smiled once more, holding the spearheaded scepter downward.

"Goodnight, sweet prince," he said, readying for a killing blow on Zero.

But from the forest a white blur ran out and leaped up into the air when it got to the edge of the bond. The figure spun around in the air and before Shin could bring the scepter down on Lelouch. Shin was then forced down in the bond with a gun placed in his stomach and a hand at his throat.

Shin looked up and saw a young Japanese man with green eyes, filled with fury, looking down at him. Jean was about to shoot at the interloper when five Japanese Knightmares rolled in with their weapons pointed at her, leaving her with no choice but to lower her weapon and surrender.

Shin tried to use his Geass but Suzaku struck him unconscious with one blow.

Above them the Nirvana flew onward towards Castle Weisswolf. And with this, the New Reign of Terror came to an end.

From his throne in Britannia V.V. gripped the sides of his throne. Two Ancients were lost, the rogue was lost to him, and he had effectively halved his Empire. Those meant very little to him in the long run. Of course a greater issue of fury was how Bludbierd had failed to deliver Marianne to him when he had her in his custody.

Of course Bludbierd held no loyalty to V.V., and he knew that. He was only loyal to the chaos he could cause. And if anything V.V trusted him to recoup several of the losses of this incident so that they could come back for later.

Shin, Lovecrest, and much more were still of great use. The labs were almost up and running. And if anything the arrival of Marianne and her meddlesome children had proved that there was indeed a spy in his own ranks as he long suspected.

"Gather your fallen, lick your wounds," said V.V. "This is Act One. The game, my dear nephew is far, far from over."