Author's Note: Here we go! I don't know how much humor will be in these chapters at first, but I'll try to balance out the serious with good funny moments when I can think of them. I am working on Chapter 2 for Cruel Twists of Fate. I'll finish that soon. I had no intention of uploading this so soon, but just so many idea's that won't get out of my head until I start writing this.

Inspiration: This story is the first fanfiction I've written that was inspired by a different one. Late Night Rebellion with Zero by nanoman79. Check it out if you want to see it the story that gave me an idea. Though it does get kind of nuts.

Disclaimer: I do not own Code Geass to any extent. At all.

Turn 01
Happy Days Ahead

"EUPHEMIA ANNOUNCED WHAT!?" Charles zi Britannia turned to glare at Bismark near the top of a long staircase. "HOW DARE SHE-" The 98th Emperor of the Holy Britannian Empire never got to finish his sentence as his sudden turn made him lose balance and fall. What a fall it was as he rolled down the stairs and away from Bismark before he could lift a finger to halt his majesty's tumble. With very undignified grunts as he hit each stair on the way down before finally coming to a rest at the bottom.

Bismark's eyes widened in alarm, "YOUR MAJESTY!" He cried out as he swiftly went to ensure the Emperor was fine, but when he got there Charles zi Britannia was already unconscious. It didn't take long to airlift him to a private hospital where, after a few hours, it became clear the Emperor wasn't waking up. He had fallen into a coma. Much to Schneizel's displeasure the Emperor never made a contingency plan for such an occasion. Clearly believing a situation where he was temporarily unable do his duties as Emperor could never befall him as he bought into his own Social Darwinism. Thus Odysseus, the mediocre first son of Charles zi Britannia, was placed as Acting Emperor.

The Prime Minister may have tried harder to gain the position if not for one fact. He realized that his silver tongue would be needed to try to halt an impending war by their enemies once this news broke. The Holy Britannian Empire was weakened for the first time in years as its Emperor laid comatose and that isn't an opportunity that would likely be missed. If it did resort to war, even if it is on two fronts, they can most certainly defend themselves. The problem will be the wild card. In one way or another The Black Knights must be dealt with and soon.

Zero found himself relieved that the news broke in the evening when he was with his Black Knights. He was quite certain gleeful laughter would be frowned upon for a Britannian student. Especially when the cause is the announcement that the Emperor was in an accident and has fallen into a coma. Even for Zero, while not frowned upon, it was not a normal routine. So he had tried, he really had, to refrain from doing so. He had failed and sufficiently scared his fellow Black Knights.

The announcement had come from Schniezel himself and was broadcast live to Britannia and all of the Area's. Kallen, Ohgi, and the others had been looking at him expectantly after the event only for him to remain silent for several minutes. So long a time that Kallen finally tried to break the awkward silence only for her voice to be drowned out by laughter. His specifically. It wasn't just any normal laugh either as it brought chills down the spines of those present as his maniacal and gleeful laughter filled the room with reckless abandon.

"THE EMPEROR HIMSELF HAS FALLEN PREY TO WEAKNESS! THE MAIN THING HE ABHORS!" Slowly all of The Black Knights backed away with the exception of Kallen who stood her ground on pride alone. It took several minutes before he had fully regained himself. He took a deep breath and looked into the fearful gazes of his co-workers. He coughed awkwardly, "I-I have a bit of a personal beef with the Emperor. So this is quite ironic to me with him falling to something he would most certainly call weakness."

Despite his attempt to clear the air things still felt very uncomfortable. "Zero," Kallen was, again, the first to prove her mettle, "Does that mean you have met the Emperor before? If you have a . . . bit of a personal beef with him?" After that laugh she was convinced the issue was far from a small one, but to single out the Emperor himself and not just Britannia meant something.

He froze for a few moments before turning staring at her, "Before my rebellion is done I will see that man dead. Even if I must choke the life out of him with my own hands." She, and everyone else, shivered as they could feel the intensity of his stare through the mask and the chilling tone in his voice. "I leave you all for tonight. I have someone important to celebrate this news with." He chuckled warmly, the polar opposite to what had just said, and relaxed, "Though she probably wouldn't call it celebrating. She is too kind-hearted for that."

He nodded to his fellow knights of justice before he left the room with a small swish of his cape. "Why do I feel like by joining The Black Knights I unknowingly signed away my soul to the devil himself now?" They couldn't argue against Tamaki's sentiment as they had been feeling the same way admittedly.

In all the years Sayoko Shinozaki had served her charges she had never seen Lelouch so . . . giddy. Happy and content yes, but giddy? Never. She had a fair idea why, but only greeted him as he entered, "Welcome home, Master Lelouch." Normally that would be that, but not only did he greet without his smile faltering he hugged her. Of his own free will! She was frozen in place even as Lelouch ran to his sister.

To her shock, not to mention Nunnally's, he picked her up and held her close. "We're free Nunnally! Until that man wakes up . . . we're free!" Her Master laughed openly and he sounded like the weight of the world had been lifted off his shoulder. "I'm sorry I haven't been around much lately. I love you, Nunnally." Sayoko could heard her Mistress gasp and smiled as she hugged her brother dearly and cried.

"I missed you, big brother. You have been so distant I was afraid you were," a sob slipped from her,"Leaving me.

He held her tighter, "I would never willingly leave you Nunnally. Don't ever think that. If I ever disappear and don't return it will not be my choice." The ninja maid slowly began to leave the siblings alone when Lelouch stopped her. "Stay Sayoko," he smiled brightly as it again reached his eyes. "You are a part of our family. You belong here with us to enjoy this moment."

She whipped around and stared at him stunned, "Master Lelouch . . ."

He shook his head, "Sayoko. You have taken such great care of us. Neither of us want you to call us Master and Mistress anymore. We insist. I've felt this way for a long time myself. There was just never a good moment to say it."

Then Nunnally only smiled wider as she giggled softly, "Aunt Sayoko. I love it!"

The maid trembled as she ran to them and pulled them close. She was so happy she was speaking rapidly in Japanese, but they still caught enough of what she was saying to understand. Sayoko loved them and they loved her too. That was all that mattered.

From just outside the door Milly was listening in. She had worried about them, but it seems her concerns weren't needed. The Student Council President leaned against the door with a smile as she decided she wouldn't interrupt the moment. "I'm happy to see Lelouch like this. He was never the same after Lady Marianne . . ." Milly nodded as she left the family alone.

For the next several days The Black Knights began to notice something different about their leader. He was no longer unsettling like he was the day of the announcement, but his usual air of mystery and intimidation was gone as well. They could only describe it as happy. It was unusual, but the feeling their relaxed leader gave off made their hideout feel less cold. They didn't even go on any missions much to their surprise and instead were told to enjoy their lives for a little while.

The Black Knights weren't the only one in for a surprise. Most of the student body at Ashford Academy became baffled as the ever lazy Lelouch was offering to help without being pushed into it and a smile was never completely off his face. Something, though only three others knew what it was, had happened and he couldn't find any reason to put on an act to hide his happiness. Though one reason he should have thought about was the girls.

Even Kallen had fallen into a hapless mess when he directed a full smile her way. She denied it thoroughly, but no one held it against her. What woman could hope to not be affected by his current mood? As it turns out they were right. Even the green-haired witch was stopped by it. "You've been so happy in the last few days, Lelouch. It's annoying."

He shrugged nonplussed before smiling widely at her, "Don't worry about it. You should be happy he is out of commission for now too. I'll go make you a pizza."

She just stared at him with wide eyes as he left his room, "Shut up, Marianne. It isn't like that. So what if that smile made me-," she shook her head as she laid back down on his bed. "I swear he best not smile at me like that again . . ." She tried hard not to think of what she would do if he did. She didn't succeed much to Marianne's amusement.

Unfortunately all good things must come to an end and while he didn't a stop being happy . . . it wasn't so excessively high. Though it wasn't long after that that something happened that made him very amused. Schneizel, without a way to privately contact with them, had been forced to release a public statement to get Zero's attention. He wished to meet to discuss a matter of import. Unlike the Prime Minister however Lelouch knew how to get in contact with him. The time and meeting place was agreed upon easily enough. With a few stipulations of course.

The Black Knights were sure it was a trap, but Zero seemed to think otherwise. Though despite that he did request, just in case, that he could bring along two of his own body guards for protection and the meeting be in public. It was agreed upon that Cornelia and Euphemia could be there as well since Zero could bring two members of the Black Knights with him. The day had finally arrived and Zero, Kallen, and Ohgi were on their way to the meeting point.

Euphemia giggled as she watched her sister study their surroundings like a hawk. Cornelia wasn't happy with the point behind this meeting as it was, but with it in public AND having Euphie there made her nervous. "Relax Cornelia. I have faith in Zero. He is a bit late true, but you two were the paranoid ones who chose a restaurant on the top floor of the tallest hotel in the Tokyo Settlement."

Cornelia looked at Euphemia with slight disappointment, "I don't understand how you can trust that man so easily. I don't care if he didn't kill you at Kaminejima Island or at the Lake Kawaguchi Incident. He is a terrorist and can't be trusted as far as I can throw him." The Witch of Britannia gave a nasty grin, "Which I bet is pretty far. Zero is a twig. Clearly all brain and no brawn."

Euphie only laughed and nodded, "I can't argue with that. I suppose that is what the red head is for. She has such a temper . . . and strong too." She was going to say something else when she saw movement out of the corner of her eyes. The princess smiled widely as she waved at the leader of the Black Knights.

"Tch. Why is she so happy to see us," Kallen shook her head and pursed her lips.

Ohgi just shrugged and though she wasn't expecting an answer Zero gave her one. "That is how Princess Euphemia is. One of two Britannian Princesses who really are as kind as they appear. Strange I know, but even a man like Charles zi Britannia can spawn gentle souls. Perhaps to make up for his own lack of such qualities." Kallen gaped at him as he so nonchalantly insulted the Emperor of Britannia in front of THREE of his children.

Though they were unable to catch everything they heard the last half of it. In spite of his, admittedly half-hearted, attempts Schneizel couldn't quite stop the slight lift of his lips. "So you're Zero. You have quite some gall insulting our father in front of us." Cornelia was frowning again, it seemed to be a permanent expression now, as she stared at the man who killed her brother and yet was unable to do anything about it for now.

A light chuckle echoed from in the mask, "Don't act as if it isn't true. That man has what . . . one gentle bone in his body? At most. No point in denying a simple truth that everyone knows."

The Prime Minister, much to the astonishment of his sisters, laughed. "I suppose you are right. Not treason to admit something he himself has not bothered to hide." He shook his head, "Should it be presumptuous of me to assume a man of your intellect already knows why I'm here?"

Several moments passed before the masked man answered, "No. No it wouldn't be. Would it be presumptuous of ME to assume you already have a copy written up for me to look over for our negotiations?"

Their companions, both the Princesses and the Black Knights, were gobsmacked. Staring at them both as the two men seemed to be able to know what the other was thinking. The Princesses knew about the treaty, but even Euphie was stunned that Zero somehow knew. Kallen and Ohgi were just completely out of the loop and hoped someone would tell them the details soon. Schneizel stared into the mask, "I think we might have to have a chess match some day, Zero." He smiled confidently, "I think it would be perhaps the most challenging match I've had in a long time."

Cornelia pinched the bridge of her nose in exhaustion as it sank in that her brother just offered to play chess with a terrorist. An admittedly brilliant terrorist, but a terrorist nonetheless. Kallen's temper acted up as she was tired of being out of the loop, "Who cares about chess!? What is this meeting for?"

Schneizel had a visible smirk on his face as Zero calmly let the cat out of the bag so to speak. "To discuss a treaty with Britannia of course. I thought it was obvious."

Ohgi froze as he stared at his leader even as Kallen grew more livid. "A TREATY! WITH FUCKING BRITANNIA?! YOU CAN'T POSSIBLY BE-"

Lelouch cut in before she could get too riled up, "It's our only real option Q-1. After all we only have two choices isn't that correct Prime Minister? Discuss and sign a treaty or be obliterated? By your airship I imagine too."

The red head stilled mid-rant as Ohgi outright paled and croaked out, "W-what?"

"It's rather simple. Charles zi Britannia is currently in a coma and with Odysseus at the helm as Acting Emperor until he wakes up the Empire as a whole will seem weakened. Both the E.U. and Chinese Federation aren't likely to sit back and do nothing when this is the first time in the long reign of the 98th Emperor of the Holy Britannian Empire that this has happened."

"H-how could you possibly . . ." Cornelia looked at him with wide-eyes, "It's like listening to another Schneizel!"

A nod of agreement from the still shocked Euphemia and the impressed smirk on the Prime Minister's face told Lelouch to continue. "With that said if Prince Schneizel doesn't succeed keeping tensions from rising too far then it is likely Britannia will be facing a war on two fronts. Which wouldn't be so bad, but it could go on for a while. Cornelia will likely leave Area 11 for Euphemia to go help and before long most of the soldiers from here, depending on how long the war takes place, will need to go help as well."

His brother continued for him, "Indeed. What we have to worry about at that point is the unknown. You. I imagine The Black Knights would take that opportunity to conquer Japan with little resistance. We would not have the ability to send troops for reinforcements if you timed it right. That would give you free time to raise as large of an army as you could manage from Japan. The man of miracles would then appear at the most opportune time with his army to take Pendragon and kill the Emperor. You would likely succeed. Though I'm not sure if Zero would take the throne for himself or not."

All sound seemed to die down around them as the two geniuses stared each other down and their companions realized how out of their league they might be here. Kallen weakly tried to point out, "I know our leader hates the Emperor," she shivered as she remembered his unsettling laughter. "But would he really go so far to take down Pendragon and the whole of the Empire for that hatred alone?"

Euphemia looked at her loved half-brother hoping to get some answers despite his face being behind a mask. "Would you do that, Zero?"

An uncomfortable silence went on for nearly a minute before the man answered, "The Prime Minister is correct. I would probably do almost precisely as he predicts. As for sitting on the throne? Not at all. I have too much blood on my hands for that." He chuckled darkly causing a cold shiver to race along their spines. "I would probably put Princess Euphemia on it."

Schneizel raised an eyebrow as he hadn't expected that, "Why? To keep the nation weak?"

"You WOULD assume her rule would do such a thing, wouldn't you? I despise Charles zi Britannia and the Empire yes, but if you take away the root of the problem . . . Long ago I promised to obliterate Britannia after it wronged my friends, family, and myself." Euphie flinched slightly at his serious tone, "Though recently I've come to realize my hatred is more focused on the Emperor and his Social Darwinism than the entire country. Rightfully so. By putting Euphemia on the throne I would still keep my promise to myself, but it is the Britannia of the present that I would be destroying. Not Britannia as a whole."

Zero shook his head as he pushed ahead, "A woman as kind and loving as Princess Euphemia could only help push the empire in the proper direction. Lead to happiness for all its citizens. She could help lead the world away from the past and present. Where we continually repeat the same cycle of hatred over and over again. She can lead us into the future. A world of warmth, kindness, and love. Where people are just people. No matter your nationality. A world that everyone, deep in their heart, want."

Now everyone was looking at Zero like he had grown an extra head as Euphie stepped towards him. She smiled and pulled the man into a hug. "I knew you were a good person. You are doing this for real peace aren't you," he stiffened before giving in and hugging her back. Cornelia shifted from speechless to almost frothing at the mouth almost immediately, but, after Kallen was forced to hold her off, things finally settled down.

"Is that really your goal, Zero?" Kallen was looking at him in awe, and something else he couldn't decipher, as she waited for his answer.

Despite his mask they could feel honesty in the man's words as he spoke, "For the most part . . . yes. I won't deny my thirst for revenge, but in the end? All of this is for the sake of such a world." He hesitated, unsure if he should chance mentioning her, before continuing, "I will achieve this world for someone precious to me. Nothing would make me happier than giving her the world she wishes for. Even if I must give my life for it."

Silence, as it has several times in the last few minutes, swallowed their words in a stunned silence as the man of miracles shed light on some of his motivations. They let the information sink in before Schneizel finally spoke, "I think in that case it is time to start discussing our terms, Zero." He nodded as he pulled out a thick packet of papers. "Though it seems a few things I included are already out of the question . . ."

The meeting didn't last as long as it could have as Schneizel seemed to have actually tried to be fair with the treaty. There was still two points was in the contract that Zero hadn't brought up, but the Prime Minister could tell he was about to. "This is almost entirely too good to be true, for both you and us, however there is two final things to work out. One of them has already been solved as we have agreed to act as a police force to help you keep the peace should Area 11 need the extra man power while this war is fought. So the point of disbanding the Black Knights is out of the question nor helpful for that decision. I would also like to know if there is any way to convince you to not force me to reveal my face?"

Kallen and Ohgi's blanched even as Cornelia grinned victoriously, "I think not, Zero! Even if I can't kill you for murdering Clovis once this is signed I will find out who you are!"

He nodded, "I had a feeling. I think I might have something in mind, but if I do sign this and I can't convince you to get rid of that statement . . . it will affect more than me as you know. Will you mind if we meet here at the same time and same place tomorrow?"

"Do you not think we can keep your face a secret, Zero?" Schneizel raised an eyebrow at the man in curiosity.

"It's not that, Prime Minister. We both know it would be incredibly easy for an image, even if it was blurry, to somehow fall into the public eye. To be frank I would prefer tell those closest to me first. Just in case." A nod of agreement told Lelouch all he needed know before he stood up.

Euphemia quickly spoke up before he left, "What are you thinking you might be able to offer up to convince us to strike that condition?"

The masked man stood and pushed in his chair before answering, "That information is something I will also need to discuss with someone else first. Before I can reveal it. If she thinks it would be a better alternative than revealing my face then I will mention it tomorrow." Kallen, Ohgi, and he were walking away, but Zero paused before leaving through the door. "What I can tell you at the moment is that it is intel of something I believe you would find very important." He laughed tauntingly as the doors closed behind them.

Cornelia narrowed her eyes, "What kind of information . . ."

Lelouch stared at his reflection as he stood in his Zero costume. He had been discussing everything that had occurred with the Black Knights for some time. Though he ensured they understood not to spread the word until the treaty is signed the next day. He did have a private talk with Diethard however and the man brought an interesting idea to his attention. Lelouch would consider it tonight and tomorrow before the meeting.

"It's time for me to go home, but this time I will not be taking this costume off. I hope Nunnally can forgive me." He nodded resolutely before leaving the base and heading for Ashford Academy even as he reached for his phone. "I do need to warn Sayoko to not attack me though."

Author's Note 2: I think there will only be one more chapter before the talk show stuff starts. I hope you all enjoyed this as I know I did. Not an extreme amount of humor, but it was enough. This is only setting up the rest of the story after all. As will the next chapter I suppose.