A truth, a dare, a respite

When the group returned to Japan, Lelouch was surprised to find a message on his phone. He listened to it…

Nunnally frowned when she saw his face pale.

"Big Brother, is there something wrong?"

Lelouch slowly nodded.

"We've been found."

The whole group paused.

"Who?" Jace finally asked.

"According to the headmaster, it was a woman called Viletta Nu. He believes he's seen her on TV several times alongside Jeremiah Gottwald. He thinks she may be a knight."

"Uh oh…" Chandra winced. "If the government itself is after you, it can't be good."

"No kidding! There's a reason we went along the death-faking." The teen looked at his phone. "He told her he couldn't remember the names of every student at the Academy, so he couldn't say if we were here or not. She asked to see the students' records instead."

"So we must assume she found us." Nunnally looked at her brother.

"Yes, and that the government will knock at our door soon, if they're not already waiting for us." His fist balled. "I won't let them get us. It is out of question. I won't return to the Imperial Family."

"What are your options?" Liliana asked.

Lelouch looked at her.

"Either we disappear again and move to another country altogether, or…" He hesitated. "Or we join the Japanese Resistance and, rather than waiting for the Emperor to perform the Ragnarok Connection, we interfere with his plans earlier by breaking his control over Japan and generating a state of unrest over the Empire."

The boy started thinking. The way his brow creased and his face darkened, Nunnally could tell he was deep in scheming. He made that exact same face when planning a clever and decisive counter in chess… or in sports games.

"This could work." Lelouch finally said. "It could definitely work. The Empire never managed to get a proper hold over Japan thanks to Genbu's merciless resistance. The military infrastructures are targeted daily and the government had to spend more resources than they could afford into maintaining them, which allowed the Resistance to act unnoticed while they were looking away, offering help and support to the suffering population. As a result, the Resistance is popular and the civilians are very supportive. The embers are here, burning strong. And with Clovis out of the picture thanks to me, the government is weaker than ever. All there needs is a spark, and the embers of resistance will become the flames of rebellion." A grin crossed his face. "I got the cleverness, I got the skills, and I got the powers. I already proved myself in Shinjuku and gained the trust of Ohgi's resistance group. If he speaks in my favor among the other groups, they will let me in, and Nunnally's healing will be more than appreciated. They will protect us from the Imperials, and in return, we will lead them into liberating Japan."

Liliana grinned dangerously.

"You dream big, boy. A revolution? Really?"

"The Empire's forcing my hand." Lelouch retorted. "I was fine hiding at Ashford, waiting until the Emperor put his plan in motion. But now, the government is looking for me. Why, I don't know. But the furthest I am from them, the better I feel. Besides…" His eyes gleamed. "The Mirrans will be with me to stop the Ragnarok Connection. If I help Japan get its freedom, its people will be grateful. I am fairly certain they'll help me as well when I call for their help."

The necromancer laughed.

"Clever boy! I knew there was a reason I like you."

Jace nodded slowly.

"This could indeed work. Besides, aside from Ohgi, you already have friends along the Resistance. Genbu, Suzaku, Tohdoh… even Kirihara. The only thing that bothers me is that it feels like Kaladesh all over again."

"You got bad memories of the place?"

"Not particularly, but…"

"We met someone Jace and I had fought several years ago." Liliana explained. "Tezzeret. He had taken control of the local government and even captured Chandra's mother. When he captured Chandra and Nissa, all of us came to the rescue. We were even helped by that big carpet, Ajani. It ended in a rather messy revolution and we collectively kicked Tezzeret's behind. It felt good, and Chandra was reunited with her dear old mom."

Lelouch smiled.

"You'll have to tell me the whole story, one day. I only know bits from Pia and Saheeli, but I'm curious to know what truly happened back then. Fortunately, nowadays, Kaladesh is rather quiet." He turned to Chandra. "Your plane of origins is beautiful."

Chandra smiled.

"I know. I still remember your face the first time you saw Ghirapur. Liliana was looking for a leash before the end of the day because you were wandering everywhere."

The teen nodded. If he enjoyed Tarkir and Zendikar for the adventure, he enjoyed Kaladesh and Ravnica for the vistas.

"Are you sure you want to involve yourself with the Resistance?" Gideon asked, worry in his voice. "You know we will be with you whenever you need us."

"But you can't fight against an entire empire." Lelouch retorted. "Besides, whether I join the Resistance will depend on how the government reacts upon finding me. They leave me alone, I'll go on with my life. They try to take me, I join the Resistance."

The Gatewatch nodded. They didn't want to involve themselves in the war, but if the Holy Britannian Empire threatened their protégés, they would retaliate. Besides, they had already agreed to help the boy in stopping his father, and none of them liked the Imperial Family.

There was no one waiting for them when they returned to Ashford. This only made the group warier. Brother and sister spent Monday on their guard, waiting for the government to show their nose, and ready to punch it when it showed up. The evening came without any disruption.

To soothe his nerves, Lelouch indulged himself with his favorite pastime: cooking. After noticing no one in the Gatewatch was particularly good at it, he had taken on himself to learn the art, if only so his mentor has something decent in the stomach after spending the whole day dealing with the Ravnican guilds. For working as his part-time assistant, the younger Planeswalker knew very well how tiresome the job was.

There was a reason Jace guzzled coffee by the gallon while in Ravnica. Lelouch barely tolerated the liquid. Too bitter.

He had finished a sweet-smelling pot-au-feu when someone knocked at the door. The teen frowned. The Gatewatch never knocked. They teleported in a room and said hello while the Student Council simply opened the door and announced themselves. Taking his largest kitchen knife, he went to the door, Gintaro by his side. The silver myr had been upgraded with retractile claws and served not just as Sayoko's assistant, but as the house's defense system as well.

The teen hid the knife in his back.

"Who's there?"

"My lord?" A masculine voice answered. "It is I, Jeremiah Gottwald. I am not sure you remember me…"

Lelouch nearly jumped at being called 'My lord'. Rather than opening, he unleashed his mental powers and looked into the man's mind. He knew who Jeremiah was. Everyone in Japan knew the Margrave, now Acting Consul while Clovis was recovering. But, and this was the weirdest part, he could have sworn he knew the name from before.

Jeremiah shivered when he felt the mental presence in his head. Mind Manipulation. Someone able to temper with minds would be able to make Prince Clovis relive his worst memories. It implied the ability to read minds, which was exactly what was happening to him. The man turned to Viletta.

"He possesses powers."

Rather than resisting the intrusion, he opened his mind fully. The teenager was the son of his sworn lady, Empress Marianne. He had nothing to hide to her heir. Lelouch's eyes widened when the memories came.

Before becoming Margrave, Jeremiah was a guard at Aries Villa and a faithful servant of his mother. The death of his lady, followed by the execution of her children, had left him heartbroken… until Clovis, in the torments of his memories, revealed his encounter with Lelouch. The man had instantly put Viletta on the case, though not before telling her to keep it a secret between them. His allegiance was intact. If he couldn't serve the Empress, he could still serve her son. Within the government, he, Viletta and Clovis were the only ones who knew the Imperial Siblings were still alive.

This made Lelouch relax, if only slightly. His mistrust of the government was still strong. He unlocked the door but kept the knife in hand. Jeremiah frowned when he saw it.

"I was told the government was after me." The teen explained. "Can't blame me for being cautious."

"Forgive my incomprehension…" Jeremiah looked confused. "But you are a prince of Britannia. Why would you fear the government?"

"What part of 'used by my own father as a bargaining chip' did you miss?"

"True."

"Trust me." Lelouch went to the kitchen. "After a stunt like that, when someone faked my execution by the Prime Minister, I took my chance, took Nunnally and disappeared. And, as you can see, I'm doing just fine."

Viletta had to agree. The teen seemed perfectly healthy. There was a sweet scent hovering in the air that made her mouth water.

"Did your maid prepare something? It smells good."

"I prepared something." Lelouch corrected. "Pot-au-feu. The day has been long and I wanted to cook something copious. And, before you ask, yes, you can stay for dinner."

"I didn't know you cooked." Jeremiah raised a brow. "This isn't a common hobby among the royal family. Most of your siblings have their own chefs."

The teen made and about-turn and looked the man dead in the eyes.

"Lord Jeremiah, if you want us to be friends, stop referring me as a Britannian prince. I have cut all ties with the Imperial Family, and I'm glad I did. Same goes for Nunna."

Jeremiah meekly nodded. There was something intimidating in the teen's attitude. He didn't know if it was the intense purple eyes, the straight and proud allure or the imperious tone of his voice. In any case, despite having renounced his noble heritage, there were still traces of the teen's heredity in him. And it showed enough to cow people who actually knew who they were dealing with.

There were four covers at the table. Nunnally was sitting in her wheelchair, and a woman in a maid outfit that Viletta recognized as Sayoko was sitting by her side. Lelouch went to retrieve two more covers while a strange silvery automaton the Consul hadn't noticed went to make some room for them. Viletta looked at Nunnally.

"Your maid is eating with you?"

"Yes." The girl answered. "Sayoko is a friend as much as our employee. She always eats with us. It's the least we can do to repay her for taking care of our home."

"Viletta." Jeremiah frowned. "Remember what you told me: no racism in this house. Our Lo – Lelouch doesn't like it."

The woman nodded and sat. She wondered who the last cover was for. Lelouch returned with two plates and a set of cutlery, then with the delicious-smelling dinner. Jeremiah nodded at the sight of the leeks, potatoes, carrots, turnips, onions and chuck steaks served in a glass dish with some mustard.

"It isn't five-star but it sure looks tasty! Should we wait for our last guest?"

"Jace will come when his job is over." Lelouch shrugged. "He's somewhat of an arbiter and his job is tedious. Once he got some rest or when he's feeling hungry, he will come. We can start without him."

So, they started eating. The food was as good as it looked. Viletta could barely believe something so rustic could be so tasty. The door opened and a brown-haired man in a white shirt and blue pants stumbled in the room. Lelouch gave him a sympathetic look.

"Rough day?"

"You have no idea." Jace sighed. His eyes fell on the pot-au-feu. "Oh, joy! Something to fill my stomach!"

He fell in his chair, weariness in his eyes. Lelouch served him and frowned when he saw his mentor barely had the strength to lift his arms.

'What happened?'

'The usual… so to say. Do you know how hard it is to keep a demon and a dragon from killing each other?'

The teen winced.

'What did Rakdos do?'

'Some of the collateral from one of his 'parties' trashed one of Niv-Mizzet's labs where he was conducting an important experiment. The dragon nearly went on a rampage and I had to use every single bit of diplomacy up my arsenal to calm him down. It didn't help that Rakdos kept taunting him all along. At a point, I nearly turned my phantasms against the demon.'

'Ouch!'

Lelouch put a hand on Jace's shoulder. The mentalist smiled.

"By the way, who are our guests?"

"The government the principal was warning us about."

Jace's eyes and facial markings flared blue. Jeremiah and Viletta jumped back. Lelouch grinned.

"I thought you were tired."

"Not enough that I can't protect you in a pinch."

The teen chuckled and turned to the two knights.

"Lord Jeremiah, Lady Viletta, meet my caretaker."

Jeremiah shuddered.

"Sir Jace…" He said politely and with an ounce of fear. "I promise you Viletta and I harbor no ill intent toward your charge. We and Prince Clovis are the only ones who know he and his sister are still alive."

Jace frowned deeply. For a moment, he felt the mentalist's mind in his own, confirming his and Viletta's intensions. Satisfied, his face stopped glowing and he returned to his food. Lelouch looked at him.

"Before becoming Margrave, Jeremiah was working under my mother. That's why he went looking for me after Clovis revealed I was still alive. His old allegiance is still intact."

"But who is he truly faithful to?" Jace asked tiredly. "You, or your mother?"

"Lady Marianne is dead." Jeremiah looked down. "My allegiance goes now to her children."

"But what if she survived?"

The man and Viletta turned to Lelouch, disbelief in their eyes. Jace simply chewed his steak. Lelouch had a half-smile.

"What if, just like me, my mother had mental powers? What if she used them to cheat death, by transferring her mind in the body of someone her murderer hadn't noticed?" His eyes gleamed. "What if she was still alive, though in a different body? Would you follow her? Or would you follow me, knowing I cast away my inheritance?"

Jeremiah breathed. The question wasn't an easy one.

"Can I… have time to think about it?"

"Of course."

The pot-au-feu was followed with cheese and fruits. Jace was too tired to planeswalk, so he went for his room in the siblings' house. Jeremiah sat in the sofa, still pondering. Viletta turned to Lelouch.

"This is a hard question you gave him."

"But necessary regardless. What I said is true. The Empress is still alive. Her current host is Anya Alstreim, the Knight of Six."

Jeremiah finally looked at him.

"I don't know. Usually, I would follow your mother, but a part of me ponders. Why, if she's still alive, didn't she make her presence known? Why has she faked her death as well?"

"Most likely to hide from her murderer, V.V." Lelouch sighed. "I looked into your head, Jeremiah Gottwald. You may be a stereotypical Britannian, arrogant, racist to the extreme and highly patriotic, but you have some redeeming traits. Namely, you are loyal, almost to a fault. You are also a man of honor, who strives to do what he believes is right, and toward your brethren, you are fair. If it wasn't for that stupid Britannian mentality, I would have gladly counted you as a friend. As it is, however, I can't."

Jeremiah looked down. Viletta watched them, silent.

Lelouch walked in the middle of the room. His eyes glowed blue.

"I am willing to share one of my secrets with you. If, after witnessing it and deciding to stand with me, you can overcome your nastier traits, I will gladly accept your friendship, if not your allegiance."

The two Britannians looked at the teen. The air shimmered…

And they found themselves in Aries Villa, by a clear night. Jeremiah gasped as he recognized it.

"You know, Charles has changed ever since he met you. It's as if you enjoy learning more and more about each other and less and less about our plan."

"Nothing has changed. The Ragnarok Connection will come true, and we will see it together."

"Really?"

"Really."

…

"You know, ever since the dawn of myth, it has always been the woman, who led the man astray." He sighed. "You two spend so much time together… If this keeps going, the contract we made will never be fulfilled. I'll be left alone."

"V.V., I told you I am in on the plan. I will help you."

"Lady Marianne!"

"What? I told you to stay out!"

"Sorry, Marianne, but not sorry. Go to Hell."

*BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG*

The illusion faded. Both Jeremiah and Viletta panted. Lelouch crossed his arms.

"This is what happened on the night my mother was murdered. The Ragnarok Connection is a plan engineered by the Emperor, my mother and V.V. to destroy the soul of this world, by merging it with the soul of every living human. Doing so would cause the end of the world."

Viletta turned and looked the teen in the eyes.

"Are you saying the Emperor, Lady Marianne and V.V. are planning the end of the world!?"

"That's what I said, yes."

"How did you discover it?" Jeremiah asked blearily.

"By using an aspect of my mental powers." Lelouch explained. "The land remembers. I can use my powers to focus on one place and read its memories, thus seeing everything that occurred on this spot. That's what I did in the Aries Villa."

"And how did you get in?" Viletta looked, surprised. "I remember this place is one of the most secure in Britannia! Can you teleport or something?"

Lelouch smirked.

"You can say that." 'Because, technically, planeswalking counts as teleportation. We just teleport from one world to the other rather than within a world.'

Jeremiah's hand tightened into a fist.

"I understand, now, why you were asking those questions. My lady is alive indeed, but she is planning the end of the world. As much as I want to follow her…" The man shook his head regretfully. "I can't. I just can't, even if it means betraying her. Because she has betrayed the world in the first place." His eyes met Lelouch's. "I transfer my allegiance to you, My Lord. I, Jeremiah Gottwald, will be your humble servant as long as you desire."

Lelouch grinned. Shadow appeared in his hand.

"I don't need a bodyguard. I can defend myself, thank you very much. But I accept your allegiance, Jeremiah. If I ever need your help, I will call for you. Just keep in mind that, as far as people are concerned, I'm dead and have cast away my family."

"It doesn't change a thing to me." The Consul smiled. "My loyalty doesn't go to the Imperial Family. It goes to Lady Marianne and her children. My Lady proved unworthy of it when I learned she plans to destroy the world. It now goes to you."

Lelouch nodded and turned to Viletta. The woman raised her arms.

"I am loyal to Margrave Jeremiah. If he swears allegiance to someone, so do I."

"Thank you."

–v–

However, Lelouch was a teenage high-school student. He had no use for vassals, and was skilled enough to be mostly self-reliant. There was nothing Jeremiah and Viletta could provide that he needed, except the guarantee the government wouldn't go sniffing around Ashford.

When classes started the next day, he was surprised to see two familiar faces. One was a redhead with a gentle face and curvy assets while the other was a curly brunette with green eyes. Lelouch's eyes widened. He had met the pair not a week ago… in Shinjuku. His mind caressed Kallen's, looking for an explanation of the girl's presence. Wasn't she Japanese?

Yes, and she was Britannian as well. A half-bred. Her true name was Kallen Stadtfeld. People took her for a sick, fragile girl who couldn't go to school because she was often ill. She used the cover to be an active member of the Shinjuku Resistance cell. This was why he had never seen her at Ashford before.

In the meantime, their teacher introduced the new, familiar student as Suze Sumeragi, an Honorary Britannian. Lelouch held a chuckle. Suze was his nickname for Suzaku. Suzaku sat next to him and gave him a discreet wink. Lelouch answered with a comforting feeling of warmth.

'Doing fine, I see.' The Planeswalker grinned. 'Welcome in Ashford.'

'Thanks.' Suzaku answered.

Lelouch looked at the board.

'So, Suze Sumeragi? What are you and Kallen doing there?'

'My father's advice.' Suzaku frowned. 'He congratulated Ohgi for the success of the operation and sent some of his men to help us relocate in Saitama. Then he suggested Kallen and I go to Ashford while things calm down. I warned him of Subaru's betrayal.' A hint of regret washed over his mind. 'He was the victim of an "unfortunate accident". Tires blew up and sent his car over a cliff. Kaguya took over as head of the Sumeragi family and faked papers to give me a new identity. Officially, Suzaku Kururugi went missing during the Shinjuku Incident. I am Suze Sumeragi, a distant relative of Kaguya that she took under her wing.'

Lelouch nodded appreciatively.

'I remember Kaguya. She may be young, but she's as clever as an adult.'

'Indeed!'

No one was aware of the pair's mental conversation. Suzaku glanced at Lelouch.

'How are things on your side? What about the green-haired girl?'

Lelouch hesitated before answering.

'It turns out she is a five-centuries-old immortal Clovis was experimenting on. Why, we don't know. But she agreed to help us for a project my family and I have been working on for awhile, so she's living with us right now. Her real name is Claire, but she goes by C.C.'

'Alright.'

The teenager then brushed Kallen's mind, sending her a picture of a spot on the school's rooftop, as well as a desire to see it. It was so subtle the girl didn't notice the implantation. At the end of the classes, Lelouch and Suzaku headed to the rooftop. Kallen followed no long after. She found the two waiting for her. It didn't take her long to recognize the purple-eyed teen.

"You're the boy who helped us in Shinjuku."

"And you're the girl in the Glasgow." Lelouch smiled. "You're skilled, you know? Even without my tactical genius, you are a force to be reckoned with. Makes me wonder how you would fare in a Sutherland, or a frame like the Lancelot."

Kallen found herself blushing.

"Thanks. I'm doing my best. So…" She looked around. "When you're not busy playing the Brittanian Army for chumps, you're just an ordinary high school student. With powers, alright, but still a high school student."

"Same goes for you when you're not busy trying to liberate your country."

"Touché." Suzaku chuckled.

Kallen had to agree. She joined the two boys.

"Aside from you and your sister, no one knows what happened in Shinjuku and that Suzaku and I are involved in the rebellion. You know, it feels good to know we got allies in the place. Makes me feel safer."

Lelouch looked away.

"As I said, Nunna and I have our reasons not to like Brittania. We will keep your secret and we will help you is your cover's blown up. Though, personally, I wish to avoid crossing the path of the army if I can. The less the Government hears about me, the better."

Kallen nodded.

"You said you were among the Brittanians who opposed the regime. Good to know not all Brittanians are racist bastards."

"A shame our kind is so rare…" Lelouch stretched. "So, Resistance business aside, how's school doing so far?"

"Good." Suzaku smiled. "People give me the stink-eye left and right because I'm an 'honorary Brittanian', but they're keeping quiet. I think it has something to do with being seen in your company."

"And, compared to being a resistant, being a student is a walk in the park." Kallen grinned. "It feels good to be able to breathe a little."

"Yeah…"

The three remained on the roof, enjoying the quiet and watching the students below. After the hectic events of last week, the peaceful moment was welcome.

'In the end, my homeworld also has its charms.' Lelouch thought with a smile.

And here is next chapter. I am not going to apologize for the delay but let's just say Kaladesh and Amonkhet gave me a bit of trouble regarding canon, so here's how it goes: Kaladesh happened but not Amonkhet. Liliana did kill Razaketh, but how is something I'll let you decide (Amonkhet wasn't published when I wrote the chapter Liliana mentions killing him, so Magic canon and story canon are at odds). Anyway, new chapter's there at last. Don't worry, Lelouch goes into Revolution if not next chapter at least the one after.

Now, for the reviews...

- Shadow of a Memory: it will become difficult once Cornelia steps in. She knows warfare. Lelouch doesn't really do, but he is a fast learner with mental powers and a Darksteel sword, which can cut through anything. And besides, this story is less about karma having it out for Lelouch and more about Lelouch struggling with his mess of a family - with all the scheming, warmongering and overall madness it implies. Before V.V. stops playing everyone like puppets, they need to cut their strings...

- AsuravartintheCreatorDestroyer: well, for starter, Jeremiah and Viletta know about Marianne and have sided with Lelouch as a sort-of Knight and Lord Relationship, even though Lelouch doesn't need it - or want it. Also, Suzaku is with the rebellion this time (and will be the one with a Geass)

- GREAT CELESTIAL-DRAGON: oh, the fights will be as awesome as you could wish (Knightmare frames vs. a DRAGON - Cornelia: Cheater !)

- OBSERVER01: it will be as follows: What the... Well, it doesn't matter. I don't want anything from you and I'll FIGHT for that. And leave my little sister !

See you soon ! (And I mean: I hope next chapter won't take me half a year !)