Euphemia stumbled out of the cockpit, the already hot air enveloping her body lustfully. The flames died away from her vision, her own relief racing toward her so very easily. She pressed her hand against the Knightmare's rotting surface, as she heaved, the cruses barely starting to leave her system. Smoke surrounded her eyes, as her lungs shoved out the carbon monoxide her blood just tried taking in. Flesh wounds decorated her legs, the crimson contrasting greatly to her blanched skin, though somehow, her tattered dress managed to hide the exquisite ash. She gripped her forehead tightly, as she looked toward the skies, the fast movements hidden behind a veil of clouds. She could feel the damaged barrier closing up again, allowing no further reinforcements to come through.

She got in.

She turned around, surveying the twisted forests. Withered embers decimated leaves, and mushrooms were seared off the branches. Everything, roots, branches, trunks, acorns, seedlings, blossoms of every shape and size; they were all burned, replaced by a grayish black dust, a pathetic thing she could kick around. Somewhere along the dirt path, she caught sight of the very sorrowful remnants of cremated bodies and half eaten pets, all of whom skeletal frames protruded. Tiny bits of organ coated the vicinity, leaving nothing more than makeshift coffins for both humanity and nature to sleep in. The tenebrous night did little to cover their pathetic states, and though a slight frown smeared her lips, she managed to tear her eyes away from the ruins. The devastation wasn't new anymore.

She twisted her her torso, and tried catching sight of the Courts. The magic was putrid enough that Euphemia could sense Arthur pouring his will out from the barriers. His agony, his pain, his suffering, concepts she neither wanted to nor was able to understand, echoed from across the realms. His emotional pleas shook her very core, his howls sending vibrations down her weary bones. Yes, that was it. If she followed the pain, she'd find the king.

She closed her eyes. Her senses were being deluded here. If she exuded anymore power, Arthur would know someone snuck across. But she still had that far reaching, from the Courts to that reality floating somewhere between despair and mercy, and in it, she could feel a growing warmth resurfacing from the background.

It was that person again, the one fairy she left alone. The atmosphere seemed more and more familiar by the minute, yet at the same time, a different air took up with it. A deep, dark miasma corrupted that innocence, but other than that the soul remained untainted. Defenseless, helpless, doing little to stop the dreamlike illusions surrounding those crude, sickening gazes, that tiny presence was swept away in the aftermath of a crimson predicament, one Euphemia knew all too well.

She smirked, as she away her frustrations then. Suzaku was fighting the reinforcements, as was Ella. Nunnally was directing from behind, but her usually calm demeanor was flurried, panicked. It was only a few minutes later did her little sister settle down, and once again, assume her commanding air. Euphemia heard the betrayed cries and crisp, haughty insults of race and tradition, along with traitorous remarks and poisonous decadence. It wasn't long before her connection ceased altogether, her presence forcefully dragged away from Suzaku's mind.

So that was it. He was using the Britannians.

She clenched her fists. She stood there for a moment, before starting toward the magic, rage burning within her eyes.

Nunnally scanned the screen profusely, her fingers surrounding the shadows nearby. Brown strands fell over her eyes as she did so, light amethyst orbs analyzing every bit of the map. One by one, she saw the Narita forces attacking their own, Britannian slaughtering Britannian, and all the while the Black Knights fended off the surprise ambush. She gritted her teeth, her fingers tightly clutching the controls. "Lady Kaguya!"

"N-Nunna!" the chairwoman stammered, the plethora of confused cries sounding behind her. "W-what's-?"

"I'll explain later," she reassured sarcastically. "Right now, send troops to Perth. I'll order my guards to back you up there."

"W-wait! What about Darwin's ports?!" she screamed. "Our forces are already devoted to evacuating the refugees. If we move them now-!"

Nunnally flickered her eyes down at the screens. This was bad; she was going to have to send Jeanette and Rose down there to help Kaguya. As for Tianzi, she'd have to send another six, and that that'd only leave so much to back Tokyo's recapture. The Zero Squad was nearing Vermillion, and Kallen was supposed to be stationed at Tokyo Tower. Narita must be secured then, else the checkpoints would already be a death sentence. If they were going to have any chance, she had to send the royal guard to back them up.

But that'd leave her completely defenseless…

Her personal Knightmare hovered near the Fuji Mountains. Her dark lavender gaze stared down at the mess, the entrance to the mines sealed off by the rubble and trees alike. That's right; Oghi contacted her just hours before, telling her that Zero ordered the attack. Multiple factions are coming here to secure the Sakuridite supplies, so for the time being, she maintained control of the supplies. That must mean Suzaku was with Ella right now, trying to eliminate the rouge soldiers.

Nunnally bit the inside of her cheek. One of the maids told her about something like this, Veronica she believed. The strategy centered around emotional vulnerability; the more confused someone was, the easier it was to possess them. And, psychologically speaking, farther away they were, the less likely they'd break control. That aspect was like geass in that respect, except the damage seemed so surreal she couldn't help but wonder if her brother's power could've been just as powerful.

She highly doubted it.

"Ella," Nunnally ordered. "Ella!"

Still no response.

The Empress sat back. Arthur used that trick on her sister the last time. What that man was trying to accomplish, she couldn't tell. Aside from the irritated rage she felt from Arthur's callous cruelty, she couldn't understand what he wanted from her, what he wanted from Lelouch. Was it pride? Maybe selfishness? Did he want to recreate the world in his own image? Did he want to destroy it? What of morals? How did he feel about them?

She scrutinized the screen. No matter what she did, she couldn't get in touch with Kallen even though the Guren was still there, waiting at the tower. But then again, no enemy could've possibly founded her, since she was so far from the battlefield. What's more, the signals should've kept her hidden, and even if she did encounter a few Knightmares, her skill alone would've been enough to destroy them.

"General Todoh."

No answer.

She clenched her fists. The Black Knights were holding their own against the Britannians, but little by little, they were losing ground. "Veronica!" she screamed.

"Y-yes!" the maid squeaked.

"Fire anchor! Remain in position for five seconds, then move to the left flank!" she shouted. Hastily, the tiny dot squirmed over the board, doing whatever it could to obey her order. Nunnally watched carefully as the Britannians fell, reduced to mere ashes upon the already ruined battlefield. She took a deep breath. "Mary, assist Oghi! Go to point 407, then smash through the enemy forces!"

"R-right! Wait, what about-?!"

"You all agreed to it!" she pressed. "If they resist, destroy them!"

"M-milady!" the fairy stated, before shutting down.

"Rosette, assist in securing the Sakuridite supplies. After that, assume Harvest formation. Analyze enemy attack patterns, then secure anyone left, enemy or ally. Jeanette, Rose, go to Darwin's ports and back up UFN soldiers. I've already sent you the projected routes, understood?"

"Yes," they both piped.

"Sarah, you stay with me. I want you to go to where Kozuki is and ensure her safety. The rest of you, go to the Chinese Federation and fight off the invasions. Schniezel, deploy the royal guard and assist Kaguya in Australia. Any remaining forces must be sent to the EU."

And with that, they all vanished from her sight, leaving Nunnally behind, engulfed in scarlet hellfire. She stared down at the screen once again. Suzaku was leading the troops out of Narita, all the while ambushing the brainwashed pilots and forcing back the enemy advances. She couldn't see Cornelia's Knightmare anywhere. Had she defected too?

"Mary," she began slowly, "finish them off, then move south toward the Korean Peninsula. Clear route 329, and maneuver to point A. Repeat that process. If you find any of our soldiers, you are to order them to retreat. I want you all to do the same."

"W-what?"

"Empress…!"

"If we can make a stand in other countries, we will!"

"No," Nunnally ordered. "Jeanette, Rose, proceed with the borders. Report to Kaguya once your finished. Sarah, I want you to start moving the refugees out of the Tokyo settlement."

"Mistress," Sarah started silently, "what are you going to do?"

Though the hesitation was so very evident in her voice, the dots still all scrambled, obeying the Empress's orders without any reluctance. There they were, all lined in their positions, fulfilling their orders all the while listening for more.

Nunnally looked up at the skies. "Pest control."

His lungs screamed in agony, as his breath hastily escapes from his lips, all the while the Guren slammed back against the ground. Tiny bloody droplets fell from his mouth, the loud, grinding gears forcibly entwined within his ears. His eyes widened, the sounds of missiles instantly coming his way. He shot the Guren upwards, the piercing, sharp feathers entrenched through the night skies. Cold moonlight reflected against the metal, as he stared down at the enemy Knightmare. His finger hovered near the radiant wave surger, the flurry of communication lines immediately bombarding him.

How'd they manage to find him? The only ones who knew the Guren was here, was Suzaku and Euphie. Neither Rakshata nor Lloyd could track his location, and there was no one else here! He was sure of it!

Lelouch threw the Guren backwards, grunting slightly at the immense pressure heaving against his chest. His hazy vision began shifting left and right, with tiny spots of black dotting his surroundings. A searing pain adorned his insides, the very midst of decay tearing apart his flesh from the back of his mind. His heart was screaming, shouting, enraged by the suffocating atmosphere placed upon it, the stubborn fatigue refusing to leave it. He could hear those aggressive beats sweeping toward him, claws outstretched, swords ready for the last fatal blow.

He grimaced, as he narrowly dodging the attack. He grabbed the sword and demolished it, the black waves radiating out towards him. He shoved himself back, and dove below, trying to put some distance between himself and the upcoming white Knightmare. He stole a look back.

Britannian. The Knightmare looked familiar, but he couldn't recall where that specific model came from. It wasn't new.

Lelouch was about to turn back when he came to a sudden halt, the pilot immediately a mere few yards away from him. Rapidly, he drew out the slash harkens, only to be stopped by the the outdrawn sword lying against its palm. The metal wrapped around the chords, and with one thrust, he demolished the shoulders of the Guren. Lelouch coughed, the vibrations violently throwing him back and forth. Lelouch barely managed to draw the wings around him, and automatically, he vanished the warnings already appearing on his screen.

Lelouch stared down, desperately gripping the controls, reaching out to the claw once again to fend off yet another upcoming attack. He activated the defense systems and braced himself for the bullets now reigning down on him.

It was coming from above.

He narrowed his eyes. He tapped his finger twice, counting down the seconds until the Knightmare appeared, before removing himself out of the pilot's range. He steadied himself, and in that moment, he raced forward, and latched the claw onto the Knightmare's head. He took a deep breath, before sending the shockwaves down the Knightmare's body. Delicate cracks emerged from the outside, giving an edge to the crimson sparks imploding through the helpless air. He pushes down against the thrusters, forcing the enemy Knightmare back, before pushing away, the entire thing exploding before his eyes.

A sea of sinful fire instantly surged beneath him. Lelouch leaned forward hesitantly, knowing full well the Knightmare was destroyed. He could feel the presence of an inkling life struggling from the depths, a small existence in the midst of chaos. Familiar thoughts radiated from inside the turbulence, the quiet desperations intermingling within the quiet animosity of an insanity he'd come to know all too well. Cries resounded from his brain, and though the physical pain had stopped, in the end the emotional wounds continued reopening, prying open whatever vanity he managed to amass.

Lelouch's lips parted slightly. Where was it? Was it down there?

Slowly, he piloted the Guren downwards, the metallic shimmer dying out from the freezing atmosphere. He landed the Knightmare and opened the cockpit, and gradually made his way down onto the ruined concrete. It'll take some time, but soon people will come to the tower to assess the damage. He couldn't wait anymore. He had to go to Euphie now. Besides, she's already lost her advantage here.

But he couldn't leave yet.

Carefully, he stepped outside, the remnants of parts scattered everywhere. Footsteps reached the crumbling erosion, his ears selecting what little masses it had left to arm itself against the callous air. He meandered through the broken bits, crossing over from one side to the next without the slightest reluctance. He never bothered with his empty reflection, never even seemed to notice the warmth glazing over his skin, the shattering moans easily flying through the air, nary a comfort nor encouragement in sight. And he stopped, just a feet away from where he should be.

Though a veil of clouds shown covered the moon, the fires alone managed to burn away the shroud the pilot hid behind.

Bloodstained, blond hair scattered over his grimy face, soulless, blue eyes peeking out from underneath. Pale skin reflected the shattered purgatory surrounding him, though dark shadows rested on the lines of his once lively face. A cold, sadistic smile grazed his lips, with tiny, dry specks of blood dotting his chin. His white pilot suite lay in a tattered mess, the horrific burns a result from the tainted curse coursing through his veins.

Lelouch stopped, the nearest tips of hardened ice reaching his fingernails.

"Gino?"