Chapter 1

He was swimming in darkness. But the darkness was fading. Light was shining through. He tried to swim away from the light. Somehow he knew that by going into the light he would have to wake up. And for once he just wanted to sleep.

But no matter where he ran the light chased. Soon it had overtaken him and when he opened his eyes he found himself in a familiar world. "Why am I here?" He wondered aloud as he gazed about the room.

"Simple. Because I called you here." Came his answer.

Lelouch turned to find himself face to face with… himself. Or a part of himself. A part he had sentenced upon another. "Suzaku?"

"No I'm sorry. This is just the form I've taken to greet you. A form I'm quite in love with I must say." The being dressed in Zero's attire answered.

"Who are you? Why am I here? I should be dead." Lelouch stated glaring at the specter before him.

"And you are. Or at least you have been, it's been ten years since Zero Requiem Lelouch. You've been dead and gone for ten years. And as to who I am. You know the answer. We've met before, although the last time we met I was at your father's mercy and you saved me." Zero stated.

"So the Collective Consciousness has decided to grace me with it's presence?"

"In a manner of speaking. I've actually come in answer to your Geass request of me. To let time continue its march. Your brother Schneizel has broken your Geass over him, and in doing so turned against Suzaku and Nunnally. He plans to rebuild Damocles FLEIJA and by doing so he will "halt time". And so do deal with it, I have decided that the best, or perhaps just the most interesting, way to deal with it as you requested. Is to bring you back and let you try all over again. To return to when you first received your Geass. And see if you can be the first to successfully rewrite history." Zero answered with a chuckle as Lelouch struggled with coming to terms with the Collective's words.

"So you are giving me a second chance at life? What is the catch? What must I do to earn this?" Lelouch demanded. Knowing nothing was for free.

"Nothing. This, as I've stated, is just my way of dealing with someone trying to stop the march of time as you requested of me so eloquently." The Collective answered, Lelouch feeling the smile behind the mask as he thought of all the possibilities.

"Will I remember everything? Or will it be as it was?" Lelouch questioned.

"Do you accept or not Lelouch. Before I answer any questions I want your answer." The collective responded, suddenly serious.

Lelouch thought for a moment. Did he wish to return? To try and fix everything. To do it right. Could he?

"I accept." He answered after a moment. Knowing he couldn't pass up this opportunity, whether he was allowed to remember or not.

With a clap of joy the Collective moved towards Lelouch. "Excellent. To answer your question, yes you will remember everything. But no one else will. But fret not. For not only does bringing you back allow me to fulfill your request. It also allows me to get even with you. I shall allow you three wishes before I send you back. There are limitations to these wishes, but I will only state them for each wish if there are any for that wish. Does that sound fair Demon of Britannia?" it questioned.

"Yes. I dare say it does." Lelouch answered, still trying to comprehend everything that was happening and all that the Collective was telling him.

"Then let us get this going. I'm becoming impatient to see you in action again. For once in centuries life was interesting with you there. Something I wasn't ready for. You've brought so many more emotions into my life. Wonder, amazement, happiness, that giddiness that comes when you get a new toy. As well as fear. For the first time I felt fear when your father attempted to kill me. And though it was hell at the time. Now I look back and am glad it happened. Now I have experienced even more as God. So please. What is your first wish?"

"I know you said that no one else will remember. But is it possible that you grant me the ability to restore their memory?" Lelouch began.

With a chuckle the Collective answered, "I figured this would be your first wish. And I am happy to say that yes. This is possible. Consider your wish granted. You will receive the ability when you awaken on earth, as well as they will have a memory of this conversation. It would get boring to having to keep re-explain how you returned. Do not worry, you will understand how it works when you awaken as well. Now for your second wish?"

"I'd like to end the limitation on my Geass that I may only use it once." Lelouch said with a smirk, knowing that would make a huge difference in how everything happened and occurred.

"Sadly I cannot grant you this wish in its fullest. For no one can have unlimited power Lelouch. Even I have a chain that keeps me grounded. But what I can do, is allow your Geass to be used three times on each individual, as well as you can overwrite old commands if need be. Thus preventing what happened with Euphemia. But that is the most I can do. Do you accept?" The collective questioned, already knowing his answer.

Grimacing at the mention of Euphemia Lelouch looked to the ground for a moment. Mourning her death. "Yes I accept. That will do perfectly. I do not have a third wish. So may I save that for a rainy day?" Lelouch finished his eyes raising to meet the Collective.

"I suppose so. I do not like loose ends, but I do not mind it as much with you. Are you ready to go Lelouch li Britannia?"

"Yes. Let us begin. And thank you." Lelouch finished, closing his eyes to begin.

"Do not thank me yet. For even I do not know what will happen next. Be wary Lelouch. The moment you make a large deviation from the original timeline, everything could change. I do not know what will be a big enough deviation. All I can forsee, is one particular instance that will have a profound effect upon the timeline. When, or what that is I do not know. I have no idea the full effect you will have. But can't say I'm not interested to see. Farewell. Return to the beginning. To the first command of your Geass.

"Understood. Goodbye." Lelouch whispered, even as darkness consumed him and he felt himself falling.

Lelouch opened his eyes to a familiar scene. At his feet lay a bleeding C.C. and in front of him stood the royal guard of Clovis la Britannia, guns pointed at Lelouch preparing to fire. He innately knew he'd already received his Geass from C.C. Now he just had to begin time again.

"Let us not deviate too much from the original script just yet." Lelouch thought, before his laughter soon filled the air. Much to the confusion of the guards and their commander.

"Tell me, why don't you just fire, I'm just a student. Or have you noticed. Have you realized that the only ones who should kill, are those ready to die themselves? Now here me! I order you, in the name of Lelouch vi Britannia! Die!" Lelouch commanded. Watching with satisfaction as their eyes were ringed with red, and with a gleeful shout their guns rose to their own necks.

"Yes! Your majesty!" They joyfully shouted, pulling the trigger. Thus ending their life, as blood splattered the surrounding area, bits of it splashing upon Lelouch himself.

"Well things are going the same way as before it seems. Now where are you Villeta?" Lelouch questioned aloud, even as Villeta flew through a hole in the wall to find bodies lying about and one small insignificant boy standing amidst it.

"What happened here? Why is there a Britannian student here?" Villeta demanded.

"I'm just a student. My name is Alan Spacer. My father is a Duke, and my I.D. card is in my breast pocket." Lelouch spoke the lie easily. Remembering exactly what he'd said before.

Soon enough Lelouch had taken over the Knightmare, loading C.C. into the back as he took over the controls.

He was soon commanding Kallen, using her just like last time, but with a much better idea in mind. He watching in anticipation as she raced down the train tracks towards the train. Jumping smoothly atop it as it neared her.

For his first minor deviation he first shot and destroyed the Knightmare frame Jeremiah, then quickly shot Jeremiah, but before he could eject away Lelouch jumped out of the building, catching Jeremiah's eject pod before it could get away. "Wait here for the other's. I've already called them. Inside this train is a gift from me to you. They will help you win, as long as you follow me. Prepare for my next communication." Lelouch commanded turning to Kallen as he left quickly carrying Jeremiah's pod as he did so.

He arrived at the same building he'd used the first time through. Setting down pod, but keeping it closed with his hands so that Jeremiah couldn't escape prematurely.

It was as he was preparing to open the pod that he felt a light hand upon his chest. "Why did you grab my body? Did you know I was not dead?" C.C. proclaimed from the back seat, her gaze penetrating deep into Lelouch's soul. Intense as she searched for the truth in his eyes.

"You tell me C.C. What do you, remember?" And even as he said it he watched as she suddenly tensed, reliving all the memories of a past that never occurred, and was now an uncertain future.

He knew it was over the moment he saw tears in her eyes as she leaned forward to hug Lelouch. "My warlock. It is good to have you back. Let us not squander this chance. You owe my." She said with a smile as they looked into each other's eyes.

But the moment of joy was not to last as they began hearing banging and shouting coming from the pod in Lelouch's Knightmare's grasp. "Let me awaken our friend here. Then we have a battle to begin winning." Lelouch said with a smile as he set the pod down allowing it to open as he himself exited the Knightmare.

"Who are you that you turn on your own kind!" Came Jeremiah's shout of indignation as he exited his pod, gun drawn and pointed at Lelouch who had his hands raised as he looked upon his favored knight with a smirk upon his face.

"I'm hurt you don't recognize me Jeremiah. Do you not remember?" Lelouch questioned, unlocking Jeremiah's memories.

"My lord!" Jeremiah shouted as he quickly bowed at his lord's feet.

"Jeremiah, do you still pledge yourself to me, even here in this new timeline where we may re-write it as we see fit? Do you pledge yourself to me?" Lelouch commanded, looking down with a smile at the kneeling man.

"Yes! Your majesty!" Jeremiah shouted.

"Then I hereby anoint you as my Knight. As the personal knight of Lelouch vi Britannia. Rise and prepare yourself for battle." Lelouch commanded.

"Thank you my lord. And if I may say. It's good to have you back." Jeremiah spoke rising with tears glistening as he faced his lord.

"Yes Orange. It is indeed good to be back. Now. C.C. could you join us please. I have a favor to ask of you." Lelouch demanded as the witch leapt down from the Knightmare, nodding in recognition to the new knight of Lelouch.

"How can I help?" C.C. questioned.

"Since I'm not fully positive on how this will play out. I'm worried I won't have the chance to wipe out the Geass Cult. And besides you can never have enough Aces. So I ask that you grant Jeremiah with a Geass. If you would?" Lelouch said turning to look at C.C. as she and Jeremiah exchanged looks at Lelouch's question.

"I suppose so. I can see the wisdom in this. Do you accept Orange?" C.C. said turning to Jeremiah who nodded with confidence as he stepped forward to allow C.C. to grab his hand. "Then accept this contract and take hold of Geass." C.C. Commanded, her mark of Geass showing atop her forehead.

Lelouch watched in interest as the exchange began, trying to see if he could learn anything from it. But to him, it just looked like they were holding hands. Nothing extraordinary.

"It is done. Can you sense what it is Jeremiah?" C.C. Stated after letting go of Jeremiah's hand.

"I do not know if this is the meddling of the Collective or not. But it just so happens that my Geass is to block and erase the effects of other's Geass. As well as I believe I'm immune to all Geass. Try your hand my Lord. Let us test if I am right." Jeremiah said with a chuckle as he turned to look into Lelouch's eyes.

"Lelouch vi Britannia commands you, jump up and down." Lelouch commanded as his eyes lit up. But Jeremiah just continued to meet his gaze unflinchingly. "This will indeed be useful Orange. Now for the next part of my plan. I do not wish to deviate from the original timeline too much yet. So if you would, begin your trek back to Clovis. Take your time along the way. Allowing for me to get to him myself after Suzaku begins destroying my forces. As soon as you can get yourself a phone so I can contact you at any time. Once you have a phone, call me. Here is my number. I'll contact you soon after with instructions as to our plan."

"Yes! Your majesty. I shall await your call. Farewell Lelouch. And you witch." Jeremiah said with a smirk, disappearing from sight as he began the trek back to Clovis.

"Now my witch. Let us win a battle, then kill a prince." Lelouch said with a devilish grin as he began climbing into his Sutherland, extending a hand towards C.C.

"Yes. Let us my warlock." C.C. said with a smile as she took his hand, eager to begin again.