I do not own Code Geass in any way; I do, however, own the Machi and that green suit ^-^

CC met Lelouch in their large room. "What do you think you're doing?" She said, her normal cool attitude gone. She marched up to him, her black skirt flaying about her legs.

"What are you talking about?" Lelouch responded calmly. He pulled at his cape and unwrapped it.

"Didn't I tell you not to get close to anyone? Don't you see what you're doing to her?" She spoke with an intensity she didn't know she had.

"Since when are you concerned about someone besides yourself?" Lelouch removed his helmet and glared at her.

CC frowned. It's true; usually she didn't worry about Lelouch's affairs. But why now?

"And what exactly am I doing to her?" Lelouch continued.

"You're going to break her heart." CC whispered.

Lelouch frowned. "Break her heart? I have no intention of doing that."

"Anyone who gets close to you will have their heart broken," CC murmured.

"Why would you say that?"

CC closed her eyes and turned away. She grasped onto her chest. "Because- because," she stammered and walked towards the door.

"CC!" Lelouch yelled. "What's wrong?"

CC looked back at him, with a true sorrow in her eyes. "You've already broken mine," she whispered. She stared at him, then shielded her eyes. She walked out, leaving Lelouch with an unreadable expression on his face.

)()()()()()()()()()()()()()()(

Shirley stood beside her Machi, watching the sun fall over the horizon. The wind whipped at her long hair, and a sort of calm washed over her; the calm before the war. She breathed in deeply and felt her nervousness start to subside.

"Shirley," Ohgi came up behind her.

"Oh, Ohgi, I didn't see you there. What is it?" She tucked a lock of hair behind her ears.

He stood beside her with his hands in his pockets. He was in full Black Knight uniform. "Beautiful, isn't it?"

She smiled and looked back towards the sea. "It is."

"Hard to believe that even with all the hate and war, there is still something as beautiful as a sunset."

She smirked. "I didn't take you as a sunset sort of guy."

He laughed. "Na, I wouldn't think so either. But it's worth fighting for. Maybe one day I can watch the sunset without thinking it might be my last."

Shirley sighed. "Is it scary?"

He looked at her, seeing a bit of Kallen in her expression. "Yeah, it is," he said, being completely honest with her. "But if you have something to fight for, something to protect, then all of your fear goes away."

Shirley looked back toward the ocean, and felt the hair loosen from behind her ear. "Something to fight for," she whispered.

)()()()()()()()()()()()()()()(

"Everyone, this is now or never! If we don't obtain Kallen today, then I'm afraid we won't have another chance." Lelouch stood before the Black Knights. "Remember that tonight we are attacking Brittania directly, so make no exceptions! Fight as hard as you can! Brittania will not show mercy! Do not surrender! Fight for justice, and we will conquer!"

The Knightmares shot up from the boat, and they disappeared into the night.

Shirley flew through the dark sky, feeling a sort of calm envelope her. She remembered long drives with her dad, and smiled. She still hurt from his death, but she knew that his death was not in vain. His death was a step toward a better future.

Suddenly, her radio went off. She clicked it on. "Yeah?"

"Hey Shirley, its Tamaki." Shirley frowned. "What do you want?" She practically hissed.

"Listen, I'm sorry about what happened yesterday. I'm usually not like that." The transmission faded a bit.

Shirley smiled a bit. "It's ok Tamaki." Suddenly, she remembered what Ohgi said before. "Listen, Tamaki. Why are you here?"

"Whaddya mean, why am I hear?" He sounded a bit offended. "I'm here to kick Brittanian ass."

Shirley smiled a bit. "No, is there someone you're fighting for?"

The radio was quiet for a moment. "Yeah, my girlfriend."

Shirley was surprised. "You have a girlfriend?" She thought that from his actions, and the way he flirted with anything female, that he was definitely single.

Tamaki laughed. "You wouldn't think so huh? Yeah I do. She's still in Japan though."

Shirley suddenly felt for him. "What's her name?"

"Haruhi. She's a year younger than me. She wanted to join, but I couldn't bring her into this."

Shirley was silent. "She's the reason you fight."

She could literally feel Tamaki blushing. "Yeah."

That's it then! Shirley thought. The reason that everyone is fighting- even Tamaki- is because they have something to fight for. Whether it's freedom, peace, or love. And what I'm fighting for is… love!

"Hey Shirley, you there?"

She shook her head. "Yeah, I'm here Tamaki."

"I just wanted to say that I would be proud to fight beside you tonight." His voice faded a bit more.

"Thanks Tamaki. That means a lot." The transmission ended. Shirley breathed a sigh of relief. Even though Tamaki did what he did, she was happy he apologized.

Her radio buzzed again. "Yeah?"

"Shirley?" It was Lelouch's voice.

"Lulu, what is it?" She felt her cheeks warm after hearing his voice.

"Please be careful Shirley. I cannot lose you out there." His voice was unmistakably sincere. She felt her heart squeeze a bit at his words.

"Lulu, don't worry. You be careful too." She sighed the words.

"I love you Shirley." His voice rang out clear.

"I love you too." She longed to reach out and hold him. However, the light's of Pendragon soon came over the horizon, and she felt her blood rush through her body. Her stomach bubbled in anticipation, and the thrill of the fight clouded her mind.

"Something to fight for," she reminded herself as they flew closer to the Royal city. CC came into her line of vision, and her fleet flew towards the ground. They stayed in a wooded area, and concealed themselves within the trees. The remaining Knightmares flew overhead and dropped off at their designated points.

Shirley sat quietly, the silence pressing hard on her ears. She looked up into the dark twilight, and closed her eyes at the silence.

"Be cautious Shirley." CC's voice came through Shirley's headset.

"You too."

"Don't worry about me," Her voice was sharp. "I'll be fine. You just remember everything I taught you. Don't show mercy, however. When we fought, you never gave it your all. If you don't fight, you'll be killed."

Shirley gulped. "Thanks, that makes me feel… better." She started to break out into a sweat.

"I'm…" CC's voice was weary. "Sorry. I don't mean to be course. But this is war. You can't be kind in war. Remember that."

Shirley nodded. "Ok."

"They're inside the palace," a Knight's voice came over the radio.

Shirley exhaled. Soon the Brittanian recruits would come, and soon Shirley would have to fight. Her stomach knotted up, and she breathed deeply.

"Something to fight for," she whispered, and felt her stomach loosen a bit. She questioned if she was ready for this. But she had already given up so much for this moment. With a sudden clarity, she realized that there was nowhere else she would rather be. She clenched her fists and stood at the ready.

"Here they come!" Shirley recognized Tamaki's voice. She looked to the left and saw his Knightmare standing beside her. He bowed slightly. She bowed back and unsheathed her sword, looking toward the palace. A group of about forty Brittanian Knightmares came forward.

"Surrender and we won't shoot." A voice rang out.

"Ha!" Tamaki laughed. "Surrender? You wish."

The soldiers responded by raising their guns. "We'll ask once more," the voice said again. "Surrender."

Shirley's fellow Knights raised their own guns. CC unsheathed her sword. "We'll never surrender to you, you filthy Brittanian!" A Knight yelled out.

Shots rang out into the night, and the Knights dispersed through the trees. Shirley was automatically pursued by a Brittanian Knightmare, and she struck without mercy. She dodged back and forth, swinging when there was an opening. CC's words rang through her head. If you don't fight, you'll be killed. Shirley swung wide and brought her sword down hard, slicing the opposing Knightmare's arm off.

"Bitch!" The Brittanian yelled, and swung his remaining arm around to punch. Shirley caught his hand in hers, and without a moment of hesitation, fired her canon. The Knightmare in front of her was destroyed.

The frame dropped, smoke coming from the burning body. Shirley stared in horror. She released the controls of the Machi and brought her shaking hands to her face. She didn't think she'd have it in her to kill someone. "What have I-"

She was suddenly pushed to the ground, with a gun pointed to her face. She swung an arm around and tried to push him off, but he wouldn't move.

"Die terrorist!" The Brittanian yelled, and activated his gun.

"Oh no," Shirley whimpered, but suddenly the Knightmare was thrown off of her. CC skated in front of Shirley and held up her gun.

"Take care of yourself Shirley!" CC yelled. "Don't get distracted!" She sliced sharply, and the Knightmare cut in half.

Shirley skated around and to her horror, realized that while she was down, CC and Shirley had been surrounded by Brittanian Knightmares. She felt her eyes widen, and stood frozen. Her training hadn't prepared her for this. The enemy Knightmares stood with their guns at the ready.

"Are you prepared to surrender?" an unknown voice demanded.

She heard CC chuckle. "You should be asking yourselves that question." She sprang forward and sliced through two Knightmares. The others surrounded her and held her Knightmare's arms tight. Shirley skated forward, but was brought down.

She looked toward CC and watched as an enemy pilot reached forward and tore the roof of her Knightmare. Shirley gasped as CC's exposed green hair blew in the wind. But then she raised her pale face and smiled to the Knightmares. Shirley watched in horror as they swung forward and pushed CC's Knightmare to the ground, causing her to tumble out onto the dirt. Shirley struggled and freed herself from her captor.

"No!" CC yelled, and held her arms out. Shirley stopped in confusion.

The rest seemed to move in slow motion.

CC turned back toward the Knightmares, and smiled softly. Her mouth moved, but Shirley couldn't hear what she said. A Brittanian soldier lifted his gun and without hesitation, shot CC in the abdomen.

"No!" Shirley screamed, and shut down her Machi. She jumped out and ran toward CC. The closer she got, the more horrible the picture became. Blood poured out of CC's abdomen, giving Shirley a strong sense of déjà vu. She fell to CC's side, forgetting about the Brittanians around her, and pressed her hands on her abdomen.

"Don't die," she whispered, tears streaming down her face. She pushed harder, causing blood to coat her hands and arms. It soaked into her pants.

"Girl!" A voice yelled out; the same as before. He seemed unfazed by the events before him. "Do you surrender?"

Shirley turned to them; she stopped crying immediately. "How dare you shoot her? You said that if we surrendered, you wouldn't shoot!"

"She was a threat. Do you surrender?" He repeated again.

Shirley gathered herself, and remembered the sunset, and Lelouch's face. I have something to fight for. "No; I'll never surrender!"

Suddenly, CC's arm shot out, and she grabbed hold of Shirley's hand. Before she could grasp the fact that CC was alive, she was thrust into an unknown realm. Cords bound her in place, and lights of all colors spun through her.

"What is this?" She thought, and her thoughts projected as words.

"You don't want it to end here, do you?" CC's sleepy voice wrapped around her. "You have a reason for living."

Shirley fell farther and farther into the lights. "This is impossible." She whispered.

"If I grant you power, will you go on? I propose a deal; in exchange for this power, you must agree to make my one wish come true. Accept this contract and you accept its conditions." Images darted back and forth before Shirley, showing her things she had never imagined. A strange symbol made its appearance on the faces of the unknown. She felt herself fading, and clung to CC's words like a lifeline.

"While living in the world of humans, you will live unlike any other. A different providence, a different time, a different life. The power of the King will condemn you to a life of solitude. Are you prepared for this?"

Shirley once again saw the sunset, her mother, her father, the student council, Ashford, the Black Knights. She saw Lelouch; her memories brought back all of her moments with Lelouch. She remembered when she first met him, falling in love with him, holding him close as he erased her memories, rescuing her from falling to her death when she regained them. She remembered the life drain out of her as she lay dying. She remembered her confession of love to him. She remembered being brought back. She remembered last night.

She made up her mind quickly, seeing the truth clearer than she had ever seen it before. She spoke without hesitation. Her voice rang out true, truer than it had in a long time.

"Yes! I am prepared! I accept this power!" She quickly felt something overtake her body, and was thrust back into the real world. She once again stared down at CC's unconscious body.

"Will you surrender?" The voice called out again. Shirley stood up slowly, her hair framing her face. She stood calmly before the enemy Knights.

"You have asked my comrades that question many times," she said slowly. "And we all have clearly told you we won't." She looked up at him, her bangs hiding her eyes. "I will not surrender."

The Knightmare's raised their guns. Suddenly, a gust of wind blew through the woods, raising Shirley's bangs above her eyes, and plastering them to her head. Her left eye glowed a bright red.

"What the," a soldier mumbled, sounding weary.

"What's wrong?" Shirley asked, feeling a power gathering within her. "Are you going to shoot me?" Her long fiery hair whipped around her, causing her to look like a human flame. In that moment, Shirley looked more menacing and horrifying than she ever had in her life.

Shot's rang out around her, and Shirley activated unknown power resonating in her left eye. A brilliant bright red light surrounded her and CC, and the balls of light coming toward them stopped in their tracks. Shirley lifted her hand as if on impulse, and pushed, causing the lights to spin back and strike the Knightmares. They exploded around her, and fell to the ground. Smoke rose from the Knightmares, and she caught the unmistakable smell of burning flesh.

Shirley looked back toward CC and bent down. She noticed that the blood has stopped, and checked her pulse. She was alive, but unconscious. She smoothed unnatural green hair back and saw the symbol from before on CC's forehead. With a blank face, she deftly picked up the Witch, and carried her towards the Machi. She set her where they could both fit, and settled herself in. Before she closed the top, however, the new demon looked around her. She took in all the destroyed Knightmares and dead bodies.

This power that I have she thought, it's mine.

She looked back towards the incinerated bodies-

-and smiled.

Yep so there it is! I know this is unexpected, but I've been planning this since the beginning. And yeah, I used sort of the same dialogue.

It's all going to make sense in the end; don't worry.

Reviews are appreciated ^-^

Until next time!

-Jazz