I don't own Code Geass...Damn...

Ardor: You better not cry over it!

*Sniffle* Shut up!

Act II, Part 5:

Truth vs. Justice

Empress's Palace, Britannia

December 30, 2018

Gage sighed out of boredom as he supervised preparations for security with Hawk and Shinji. "Remind me why we have to sit around here?" he asked.

"Because, Noa was invited to the New Years Ball and thought to bring us along," Hawk reminded him. "But it's strange that he brought all of us here."

Shinji shook head. "You need to relax more man. We're here for a party, are we not?"

"Then, why have us help with security?" Hawk inquired.

Gage narrowed his eyes on the sharpshooter. "You don't think those guys that attacked Lelouch and Kallen will be here do you?"

"I don't know, but if they do," Hawk pulled out of his pocket a watch-like object with an anti-Geass sigil on it, "we'll be ready with these anti-Geass devices."

"Not to mention Orange-kun is here too," Gage added.

"Speaking of which," Shinji pointed down the hall, "here he comes." Hawk and Gage followed to where Shinji was pointing. They saw the cybernetic orange farmer in his old white and purple trimmed coat he wore in Lelouch's service. Lance was following behind him.

"What's the status of security?" Jeremiah questioned.

"We're covered here," Hawk replied coolly, "The west and east sides of the palace are nearly finished with their security measures. Still working on the back and front."

"And the hanger area?" Lance asked.

"S-0 and W-1 are taking care of it," Hawk informed the two.

"Why don't we just call them by their real names?" Gage asked.

Shinji smacked him upside the head. "Because, idiot, not everyone knows who they are. Only the higher ups know that they are working for us here."

"The three of you continue with security," Lance ordered them as he and Jeremiah walked off.

Then Gage thought of another question. "Why didn't we bring the Skeith and Aether?"

****************

"Because Eddie is still working on them," Lelouch answered when Kallen asked. They, with Adam and Alice, were making sure the Knightmare hanger would not be left unguarded

"What do you think he's doing to them? I mean they are already so powerful."

Lelouch shrugged. "Don't know. I just hope he doesn't go crazy with them."

"He isn't working on the Skeith," Adam informed them. "Noa made it himself and he hasn't given any plans for it."

"I wonder if Rakshata worked any on the Guren," Kallen pondered.

"Only on the AI systems with Llyod," Lelouch answered her. "That includes with the Lancelot."

"I wonder where those two are?" Lelouch muttered to himself.

Alice joined in on what they were talking about. "Speaking of the Lancelot, have you spoke with Zero yet?"

Lelouch quirked an eyebrow. "No, why?"

"You left him under that mask remember?" Adam questioned. "A mask he despises, of all things."

Lelouch thought about it for a moment before he made his reply. "Yeah, you are right," he sighed, "I should talk to him about it."

"I'll come with you," Kallen stepped up beside him, "I should do my job as Zero's personal guard, right?"

Lelouch chuckled as he pulled the blue hood over his head. "Yeah, I believe you should now that you are back on the field." With that, he and Kallen walked off to the main building of the Palace.

Soon after they left, Adam began to walk off. "Where are you going?" Alice asked.

"Nowhere," he answered back as he left the hangar.

******************

Zero sat in his private office as he looked over the UFN reports over the computer.

"Spain seceded and the former Spanish delegate hasn't been seen or heard from since the Madrid incident," Zero muttered to himself. "Now Spain and several other countries on every continent are growing their military strength. There's even rumors of Britannian nobility returning and some of the ranks of the Black Knights are quitting."

Zero got up from his seat and looked out the window of his office. "Ever since Lelouch reappeared, there's been uneasy tension in the signs of war are being seen again...Noa, did you want to destroy the Zero Requiem?...And if so, did you understand the repercussions of doing that?

"Heh. I'm not cut out for figuring out such things," Zero sadly chuckled.

He reached a gloved hand and pressed a button on the top. Three slides on the back retracted up and the mask came off with the man's pull. Suzaku held the mask with both hands and gazed into the purple lens of the faceless object.

"Why am I still Zero?" the supposedly dead Japanese knight questioned. "Why must I still bare the burden of being the one that killed Euphie?"

His thoughts were disturbed by a knock at the door. "Lord Zero," called the guard from behind the door, "Captain Kozuki and one of the Guardians are here to see you."

"Send them in," Suzaku called back, returning the mask to his head.

Kallen came in wearing the outfit she obtained at the Guardians with now a black sash tied around her belt. The hooded Guardian wore a navy blue outfit that included a zip-up turtle neck with long wide sleeves and was zip-down the collar to show a black undershirt. He also had black gloves, baggy navy blue pants that covered his black boots, and a belt that had a buckled strap attached with a half skirt that covered his left leg. He also had a black and white feather attached to the right side of his belt.

"Hello Kallen and Lelouch," Zero greeted them, murmuring Lelouch's name.

Lelouch removed the hood that concealed his face. "How have you been, Zero?" he asked. The masked man remained silent as he removed the mask after the door closed.

"What are you doing up here, Lelouch?" Suzaku questioned as they all took a seat.

"Can't I say hello to a friend?" Lelouch responded with a chuckle.

"You know what would happen if someone sees your face," the green eyed boy scolded. "There's some serious trust issues in the Black Knights just because you are alive. Not to mention the fact that some countries are seceding from the UFN."

Lelouch had an impassive, bored, expression on his face. "Your point?" he questioned.

Suzaku and Kallen were shocked by Lelouch's response. Suzaku could barely contain his anger. "It's because of you hardly trying to hide that the world might plunge into war again!" he whispered a shout. "How can you not be upset about this?!"

Lelouch narrowed his eyes toward Suzaku in a way that the Demon Emperor did to those that opposed him. "You believe I am not upset that the world's peace is now showing signs of falling apart?" he questioned. "I am aware of what is going on in the world. It's just that I cannot do a thing about it without resorting to Geassing the leaders of each country. I merely staying calm because being angry about it won't help Suzaku."

Suzaku backed off as Lelouch continued. "Suzaku, after what I saw two months ago, I don't think war will be preventable...You think the same thing too since you got that mark, right?"

Kallen was baffled at the accusation, Suzaku wouldn't get an Advent would he? It's in the same boat as Geass, which he entirely despises with every fiber of his being, right?...Suzaku's expression answered the not uttered questions.

"Let us see it," Lelouch ordered. Suzaku complied, removing the glove covering his right hand and held it out. Slowly, a glowing green mark etched itself on the back of his hand, taking the shape of what looked like a dragon's head with the Geass sigil in the eye.

Lelouch observed it closely before looking back to the Japanese knight. "What ability does it grant you?" the ex-prince asked.

"As far as I know, mainly my physically abilities," Suzaku answered.

"It's supposed to increase all physical abilities by default," Kallen told him.

Suzaku shrugged as he took his hand back and put back on the glove. "I haven't really had much chance to use it," he informed them. "But Noa told me not to use it too much since I don't have a real Geass."

"Then how did you obtain an Advent?" Lelouch inquired.

"Noa used the 'Live' command as a base for it," Suzaku shook his head, "I'm not sure how it's supposed to affect my Advent, but I guess I haven't had much chance to test it."

Lelouch went into deep thought as he let the information sink in. 'An Advent can amplify certain behaviors that would be dormant in us, like I'm a little more carefree while Kallen has been a little harder to anger...Would it be affect Suzaku's human desire to live just like the command? Or would the mix change Suzaku's personality entirely?'

"Lelouch?" Kallen spoke, bringing him back to real time. "What are you thinking about?"

The prince shook his head. "I was thinking of his Advent," he answered then he turned his attention back to his best friend. "Suzaku, refrain from getting into a fight where you need both your Live command and your Advent, understand?"

Suzaku was taken off guard by Lelouch's demand, but nodded. "That's what Noa kinda told me, but why?"

"The Advent can amplify your most dormant behavior," Lelouch explained, "which I would guess is your desire to live. You could change entirely if it enhances your Live command."

"I understand," Suzaku noted. They sat in silence for a few minutes before Suzaku spoke again with his head bowed low. "Why didn't you become Zero again?" he asked, addressing the former Knight of Justice by raising his head back up.

Lelouch wasn't too surprised by the question. He remained quiet, staring back at the Japanese boy's eyes that seemed to be pleading for an answer. Finally Lelouch gave him one.

"Because you are the Knight of Justice," Lelouch answered. Neither Suzaku nor Kallen expected that. "You need to understand that Zero is a symbol of Justice. I cannot uphold such a thing because some of the acts I committed could not be said as just." The familiar red-orange glow appeared in both of Lelouch's eyes. "The many deaths of the innocence that were not justified, their blood is on my hands, not yours." As he finished, Lelouch remembered Euphemia, Shirley, and Rolo. "How can I be a just person?"

"What are you talking about?" Suzaku questioned, glaring intently into the violet eyes of his friend. "You sacrificed so much to give the world the peace it deserves. You didn't let a single death be wasted." Suzaku thought back to what he had done. "I betrayed my father, my country, and even my best friend for my goal...A goal that I lost sight of after Euphie's death. Lelouch, you were able to keep moving forward while I wallowed in the hatred of the past." He held out the mask to Lelouch. "I am still tied to that hate...That's why you should be Zero, Lelocuh."

Lelouch pushed the mask away. "Suzaku Kururugi is the definition of a Black Knight," he stated, confusing the other two. "You are a knight with no master. Zero is a knight that is his own master. You and Zero believe in doing what is best to uphold Justice. Not to mention, this gives you a chance to pay for your crimes. Suzaku, you need to be Zero because you are The Black Knight for Justice."

Suzaku stared at he mask in his hands as he let the words sink in. "You fit that description too you know," he commented, looking back to his friend who just laughed.

"Actually, I have a master," Lelouch informed him. It didn't take long for Kallen to understand what he meant, but Suzaku was perplexed.

"Who?"

"Why do you think I am called the Azure Knight of the Wind?" he joked.

Suzaku chuckled. "I get it. You follow wherever the wind blows, but what do you do when is stops blowing?"

"Is it not simple?" Lelouch said with his smirk, "It means that I do what I want."

They carried on with simple conversation like how things were going or other stuff like that. Then Suzaku asked something that both Kallen and Lelouch did not see coming.

"So, have you too...ya know..."

Both Lelouch and Kallen turned several shades of red. "Not you too!" they both cried.

Suzaku held up both his hands in defense. "S-sorry, I was just asking," he appealed, but his grin showed him laughing inside. "I just thought...."

"You shouldn't ask something so personal," Kallen fumed.

"I said that I was sorry," Suzaku repeated.

****************

Adam came out to the gardens to relax. He didn't expect to find Noa, Empress Nunnally, and Princess Cornelia there conversing. When Adam tried to turn away, Noa beckoned the white haired youth to come over.

"Good afternoon Adam," Noa greeted. Nunnally eyed Adam curiously as he approached.

"Is security in the hangar set?" Cornelia questioned without greeting.

Adam nodded. "Everything is set up for the party tomorrow," he answered coolly.

"And the other areas?"

Adam shrugged with his bored reply. "Not my problem."

Cornelia was angered by the way he answered with such disrespect. "Listen you-" she began but Nunnally cut her off.

"Cornelia, he was only assignied to the hangar area with brother and Kallen," the empress reminded her sister. She turned back to Adam and reached out her hand. "It is good to finally meet you face to face," the girl said with a friendly smile.

Adam did not smile back but did shake her hand. "It is good to meet you your majesty," he said with his usual tone, "Lelouch has told me a lot about you. Mainly about how kind you were...I can see he was lucky to have a sister like you."

"Thank you for the compliment," she released his hand, "And I've heard a lot of rumors about you."

Adam quirked an eyebrow. "Oh, like what?"

"Like how you look so much-"

"Similar to Lelouch," Adam growled, "Not alike."

"Forgive me." Nunnally stared into his red eyes with her periwinkle blue. Her stare was now more sympathetic. "I've heard that you can create things from nothing and can move from one area to another, miles away, in less than a second...And I've heard what they call you on the battlefield..."

"The Terror of Death," Cornelia said the nick name with such venom. "From the destruction I've seen you make in Lelouch's service, that name suits a monster like you that served the Demon Emperor."

"Cornelia!" the empress spoke, looking up to her sister with a scolding glare. "Do not berate his and brother's names like-"

"Forget it," Adam disrupted. "If she wants to view me like that then so be it, I have nothing to prove to her." He turned away began to leave without saying good bye.

"Are you that afraid?" Noa's voice stopped Adam in his tracks. "Are you afraid that people that call you that are right? That you just might be nothing more than a weapon?" Adam turned and looked back at Noa. Nunnally could barely see a glint of sadness within his ruby eyes. "You are," Noa continued, "who you believe you are. You can listen and become the weapon people believe you to be or you can become something more...It's up to you whether or not you are their protector or their Grim Reaper."

Cornelia looked at Noa with disbelief. 'Is he telling Adam to choose between being an ally or our enemy?' she wondered. The princess looked back to the boy in question as he resumed to leaving, this time with Noa leading. She was knocked out of her thoughts by Nunnally's voice.

"Cornelia, you shouldn't have said that," she said with a saddened tone. Cornelia looked to see Nunnally with her head bowed to the ground. "He is...uncertain."

"What do you mean?" the warrior-princess asked.

"Adam...does not know if he should continue to defend us," Nunnally answered, "or if he should abandon and look at humanity as another enemy."

"Can a Grim Reaper truly defend anything?" Cornelia questioned absently.

"It depends on if he believes he is a Grim Reaper."

******************

Noa lead Adam to the roof of the palace.

"Is there something you want Noa?" Adam questioned as he crossed his arms and gazed into the landscape. The sun was setting.

"We haven't talked in awhile," the mage answered as he too looked toward the setting sun through his red sunglasses. "Tell me, what is it that troubles you?"

"I don't feel like talking about it," Adam murmured.

"You should."

Adam gave in to Noa. "I dedicated myself to protecting all of humanity because I thought that is what I should do...But they reject me and when I shield them from danger. Once during one of my missions when Lelouch was captured by the Emperor, I used my Geass to stop a landslide from destroying a small town."

"You absorbed it," Noa stated to which Adam confirmed with a nod.

"I didn't think there would be too much," Adam confessed. "I thought I could take it all in by just using my Geass...It resulted in me having to discharge the material into plasma." He paused letting Noa process the information before continuing. "It wasn't too much for me to control so I directed the energy up toward the sky in a beam...The townspeople saw what I did to prevent the landslide. Do you know what they did?" Noa didn't answer, he just listened.

"They threw things at me, whatever they had with them at the time," Adam's voice quivered with hurt. "They called me things like a monster, a demon, or the devil incarnate...Even though I saved them, they were afraid."

Noa glanced over at his young protegee and saw his expression more anguished. "I did nothing to defend my name from them," Adam went on, "But since then, I've been wondering...Should I continue to protect those who hate me, who see me as only a monster?"

Finally Noa spoke. "It's natural for people to fear those who wield such great power and, in time, they would wish it gone. You shouldn't let it get to you." Adam didn't respond. "Like I said before, it's up to you to decide your path." The mage turned but before he walked off he said one last thing. "Adam...one day, you will inherit all that I have left behind."

The youth didn't hear what the man said, for he was thinking of himself reacting to those people that feared him. When Noa was gone, Adam spoke what he thought.

"I never said that they got to me...The problem is, I don't even know what I felt that day. I just know that it didn't hurt me."

********************

The palace was a bustle of activity the next day. All except for security was rushing to finish preparations for the party. Around nine at night the guests arrived. They consisted of former nobles that supported the new Empress, Knights of Honor, and Black Knights soldiers that were off duty for the day. Several of the Black Knight higher ups attended as well, even the Tianzi and Xingke were there. They didn't want to miss the beginning of Nunnally's first full year as Empress of Britannia.

Alice sighed in disappointment. She was surrounded by so many rich people and she wasn't able to steal from any of them because Kallen was keeping watch over her. The red head wouldn't even give her the chance to dance with anyone who asked her. So here the thief was, sitting quietly at a table in a corner...going silently stir crazy.

"Can't I just go dance?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because you will end up picking everyone's pockets."

"Since when do you care what happens to nobles?"

"I don't. I just don't think you should steal when you already have enough money."

"Says the girl that was a terrorist and at the same time a noble."

Kallen death glared the smirking thief. At least C.C..... "Where's C.C.?" she asked, realizing the green haired witch missing.

"She's over there," Alice answered pointing over to a woman in a black and gold dress with white gold-tipped, thigh-high boots talking with a blonde man in royal clothing.

"What is she talking to Schneizel about?" Kallen wondered aloud, but noticed Alice looking intently at something else. "What is it?"

"Huh? Oh, nothing, I just thought I saw something," the raven-haired thief stood up, "Lets go bug C.C., shall we?"

Kallen nodded and followed Alice to the table the second prince and the witch sat. "Ah, Miss Kozuki," greeted Schneizel after taking notice of them, "good evening to you and...I don't believe we've met, Miss?"

"Alice Saika," Alice introduced herself.

Schneizel took her hand and bowed, making the thief blush. "It is a pleasure to meet you Miss Saika," the second prince released her hand.

"It's...good to meet you too," Alice uttered in response.

The seated witch chuckled. "It seems like Lelouch is not the only one that was gifted with charm," C.C. mused.

Schneizel laughed. "I wonder, just what is my brother up to?" he asked, turning to Zero's personal guard.

Kallen shrugged. "Hopefully staying away from the party."

********************

After the guests arrived, Adam and Lelouch stayed outside the palace. What would happen if both the Demon Emperor and the Terror of Death was seen at the party in the Britannian Palace on News Years Eve? Well...they were supposed to stay outside. Lelouch managed to convince Adam to go inside where it was warm. They avoided the ball room or any other crowded room in the palace.

Currently, when the time was nearing the midnight hour they were strolling through the south hall when Adam stopped, looking out the window toward the gardens. "What's wrong?" Lelouch asked.

"I think I saw something in the bushes," Adam answered, then a thought occurred to him. "Where are the guards?"

********************

Gage was getting restless as the party went on. "Ahhhh, I'm bored!" he whined. "This fancy crap just puts me to sleep."

"Same here," Shinji agreed as he looked over to Hawk who was surrounded by a lot of women. "How does he do that without even doing anything? He's not even dressed for this kind of soiree....I mean, we're not dressed for this either, but still! He's just standing there!"

Gage shrugged. "I guess they love the cool silent type," he thought about Ghost, "I wonder what he looks like under that mask..."

"We tried to look," Shinji reminded him.

"Oh yeah...Even with Lelouch and Kallen we couldn't trick him to take it off in front of us," Gage recounted. "I guess there are somethings fate does not want us to know."

"Guess so...."

Gino walked over to them after breaking off from a dance with a beautiful girl. "What are you two doing? Aren't you going to enjoy the party? You should guys should be out on the dance floor."

Gage shrugged. "Well, it'd give me something to do I guess...Hmm? Shin? What are you looking at?" the New Zelander asked, noticing his partner looking intently in some direction.

"Over there," the fist fighter pointed at someone in a black hooded coat with a man in white regalia. "Doesn't that guy fit the description of the people that attacked Ashford?"

Gage looked over. "Yeah, but what if it's just a guy...in a black....hooded....Okay let's keep an eye on 'em." He looked over to Hawk, who was now looking over a something in another corner of the huge room. "Looks like Hawk notices something's up too."

Gino looked at the two Guardians. "Is something wrong?" he asked seriously.

"Well," Shin sighed, not taking his eyes off his target, "if I'm right, then there will be hell soon."

*****************

Adam looked over the guard's corpse. His throat was slashed and his lungs pierced. Who ever did it, was efficient and made sure no help would be called. They even killed the guards without a shot being fired.

"Adam!" Lelouch called from the rose section of the garden. Adam rushed over to where Lelouch had called and was shocked to see Black Knight soldiers and Britannian guards hanging by their necks on thorn-covered vines. Others seemed to have been pierced through their heart by the same force.

"What happened?" Adam voiced the question they were both thinking.

"There's...no way that the plants would just move and do this right?" Lelouch wondered. "Unless..."

"Why would they come here with so many witnesses and the Black Knights surrounding the area?" Adam questioned.

Lelouch's eyes widened when he realized that so many men wouldn't be killed so stealthy by just one person, even if they had this kind of power. There had to be more, and Lelouch doubted that whomever wanted their people in, didn't settle for just the southern entrance. "You don't think..?"

"We better get inside!" As soon as Adam turned around and said that, he and Lelouch were staring at about ten skinny white and gray uniformed masked soldiers with dangling bladed arms. One of them stabbed a spiked had toward Adam from a few feet away. The arm unexpectedly stretched toward him as if it was made of rubber, and by the time he realized what was happening, Adam was done for.

Luckily, Lelouch had his sword and was able to slash off the assailant's arm before it pierced his comrade. The assassin didn't even make a sound to indicate that it was hurt.

"You alright?" Lelouch asked the Guardian behind him while he focused on the ones in front.

"Don't worry about me," Adam scolded as he conjured a spear and a sword. "You go on ahead, I'll take care of them."

"Alright," Lelouch nodded, "You take care of the pawns, I'll find whoever is in charge."

"Ready."

"Set."

Adam chucked the spear and nailed the center assassin's head while the others broke up their formation. "GO!"

Lelouch dashed, sword in hand, toward the entrance, leaving Adam to tend to the enemies behind. As he turned left down a hall, someone called out to him.

"Where do you think you're going?" Lelouch stopped and in front of him a portal of dark energy appeared and a man in a hooded black coat stepped out. "You can't stop the inevitable," the man said.

"Your voice sounds familiar," Lelouch pointed out. "Who are you?"

"I'm hurt," the man said as he reached both gloved hands to his hood and slowly pulled it back. "Do you really not remember me..." Lelouch couldn't believe what his own eyes showed him. "...Brother?"

*****************

Ohgi looked at his watch. "Just three more minutes," he said to his wife.

"We should have stayed with Naoto," Viletta sighed. "I know he's in good care with Sayoko but still."

"We'll pick him up and go as soon as the ball drop is finished," Ohgi assured her, smiling. "Promise."

The dark skinned Britannian smiled back to her Japanese husband. "Okay."

"Are you and your wife enjoying yourselves, Prime Minister Ohgi?" Noa asked, walking up behind them with Lance at his side. Lance was carrying two long objects, wrapped in some sort of fabric.

Ohgi nodded to the one armed man. "Yes, we are...Noa, what was with all the extra security?" he asked.

Noa frowned. "You might see why soon, if I am right."

Ohgi didn't like the dread that came from the enigmatic man's answer. "What's going on?" he asked. Viletta could sense an air of danger comeing from the room as the last minute to midnight ticked by. People began counting down

Ten...

"Ohgi, be prepared for war like no other," Noa advised. Nine... "Do not be afraid. Let go of other people's past sins...Or you most certainly will not survive."

Eight...Seven...Six...

Ohgi's eyes widened as he took notice of a man in black hooded coat followed by a another masked man in a white and gray trimmed uniform that looked like one of the Black Knights' uniforms. The one in the black held a rose as he and his companion walked to where the guests of honor gathered.

Five...Four....Three...Two...

Noa nodded over to Lance who pressed the communicator in his ear and began giving orders to the other guards in the room. But something was wrong with communicating with the rest of security, there was a lot of static.

One...No one screamed 'Happy New Year.' All that was heard was a loud explosion from outside and a gunshot in the room.

****************

Five minutes prior.

Marik sat by his personal guard. Five minutes till the New Year. Five minutes till the Geass War goes global.

'I do hope Bismark and Issac won't screw up,' Marik thought to himself as he sniffed the rose he took from the garden. 'Bismark isn't one for spotlight and Issac can't speak...I guess I have to be the theatrical one it seems.'

He looked over to his personal Drone, a non-Geass user brought back from C's World. Each Remnant was given a personal Drone to act as a guard and were different from regular drones since they were intelligent enough to act as there former personality and were more empowered than normal Drones. They were named as the Templar. The one Marik chose was a man named Luke Monet, a former painter, he wasn't much of a fighter but Marik picked him because he was like the Remnant himself...One of art.

"Shall we take the stage?" Marik asked Monet at the last minute to midnight ticked on. The painter nodded and they stood up, knowing the other Remnants were in place. Marik took the rose he had with him. "Let us introduce ourselves."

The midnight hour arrived and everyone was silent at the loud BOOM that sounded from the front of the palace. Marik mentally sighed as he approached the target. 'That stupid clown has no taste in finesse.'

The guards protecting the honorable guests were taken down by Monet's gunshots. The Remnant approached before the young Empress of Britannia and her Black Knight guests. They glared at Marik as he mockingly bowed before Nunnally.

"Good evening," he greeted.

"Who are you?!" Xingke questioned as he stood between the Tianzi and the hooded man.

Marik stood back up, but did not remove the hood that shadowed his face. "Well now, no need to be rude," he told the Chinese man. "You can know that I am an enemy to this so called peace you established...So, which of you should die first?"

"Do you realize that you are in no place to make threats?" Zero asked as he approached Marik.

"I believe that I am in the right place," Marik smoothly answered. "That explosion you realize was from one of my accomplices in this act. And in reality, we have this entire city surrounded and this palace infiltrated by me and my friend here."

"Impossible!" Jeremiah claimed. "We have this whole place guarded at all sides. There is no way you got in here without being noticed. And an army is hard to hide if it is about to attack." To this Marik laughed.

"What's so funny?" Guilford asked, he and Cornelia stood side by side against the hooded man.

The Remnant stopped laughing. "You all will soon realize...That the impossible was never impossible," he proclaimed. No one noticed the temperature of the room begin to decline.

Zero drew his sword and pointed the tip of it at the threat. "Who are you?" he demanded. Several guards surrounded Marik and his guard, aiming their guns at them.

Marik stared at Zero with an amused smile. "Ahhhh, the masked hero of Justice," Marik twiddled with the rose in his hand. "It's an honor to meet Zero...Too bad you are not really him."

"What are you talking about?" Behind the mask, Suzaku was taken off guard but wouldn't let this enemy of peace to see it.

"I mean you are obviously not the original Zero," the Remnant answered. "Although you do play the role of a Black Knight better than anyone here. Hmm, I bet everyone would agree if they saw your face."

Xingke and Nunnally knew who this Zero was and could sense that this man knew who he was as well. "What is it that you want?" Zero questioned.

Marik chuckled. "What me and my comrades desire, is an end to his illusionary thing you call peace," he turned and faced the crowd. "I am a Remnant and my friend is my Knight. We Remnants wish to reveal and crush the sins you hidden in the name of Justice. We are Truth and our soldiers defend the Truth that you Black Knights try so desperately to exterminate."

Monet now spoke up. "We are the White Knights Templar. We are Knights for Truth. We ask you too not look away from that which is frightening, do not allow yourselves to be deceived by pretty words."

Some of the people looked at the terrorists as if they were crazy. "What Truth?" someone called out.

Marik smirked. 'Bingo.' "This so false peace you have," he began, but Zero would not let him speak anymore.

"Enough!" The masked knight attacked from behind, but a new hooded man jumped to the platform from which they stood and blocked Zero's attack with a large black and gold sword.

"Why be so eager to stop him?" the new one asked, with a very familiar deep voice. "Why would a knight discard honor by attacking from behind unless there was something to hide?"

'Damn,' Suzaku cursed himself. He saw the look of suspicion on the faces of the crowd. 'Now they know there's a secret.'

"As I was saying," Marik continued, "This peace was created by those whom you believe evil, through a plan known as Zero Requiem...Created by the first Zero, Lelouch vi Britannia's plan of peace through a lie." He paused to let the shock fade from everyone's faces. "You may allow yourselves to live in peace created by a lie but, ask yourself this: Is it really peace? The Demon Emperor is known to be alive after his 'death', yet he was never brought to justice by the Black Knights yet. What do you think, Zero?"

"What does it matter?!" Zero responded. "He has done nothing to threaten us yet!"

"Why should we believe the words of his replacement?!" the one he was fighting with asked.

"It does not matter," Marik resumed his speech with unsure gunners still aiming at him. "This fake calm you fabricated with Lelouch will come to an end and we shall make a real peace not created through lies. And to those who believe we are in the right, join us! Do not allow your eyes to be clouded anymore!

"Now...Let the curtains rise for the first act!" he finished with the sound of another explosion from outside the palace. The doors burst open and civilians stormed out of the ball room away from the upcoming fight between the Black Knights of Justice and the White Templars of Truth with their Remnant leaders.

Marik turned to the Empress who stayed silent throughout the whole speech. He finally removed his hood, revealing his long strawberry blonde hair and his handsome green eyed face.

"Why would you destroy their peace?" Nunnally questioned.

Marik looked at her with a smirk. "Because this world needs to pay for it's sins." He held out the rose and a petal fell. "It was time for your peace to wilt away." With that the rose shined bright and changed into a to a broadsword.

"Don't think you will make it out alive," Xingke warned, drawing out his own blade.

Marik knew he and his comrades were still surrounded by their guns but he was not worried. The rear of the castle was already broken through and three Remnants were inside as well...Only the Guardians and Noa posed a real threat.

But still... "Oh, I think we will make it out," Marik told them. Kaguya sneezed, causing everyone not fighting to see her shivering. "Getting cold?" he mused before spikes of ice broke through from below.

*****************

Adam had finished the strange soldiers and now tried to call someone on his cellphone, but all he got was static. "Damn," he cursed as he pocketed his phone. "This would explain why no one was alerted to intruders."

"An electro magnetic signal is jamming all communication around the palace," called a low British-accented voice from behind.

Adam turned and saw many armed masked white soldiers aiming their machine guns at him. In front was a woman soldier what seemed like a skin type uniform, kinda like a pilot's suit, and a Remnant.

"Calm down," the Remnant warned. "Even you can't take on this many without using your full power, Adam." The comment made Adam take a step back. A third explosion came from the west entrance.

"We're surrounded," Adam stated through gritted teeth.

"Don't worry," the Remnant told him. "This is not a real fight, this is a demonstration."

"You want to show how your army is compared to the Black Knights," Adam accused.

The Remnant chuckled. "Of course, I'll tell you what. I'll let you run off and help your friends."

"I doubt you would just let me go."

"Let's just say someone else would want to have a crack at you," the Remnant explained. "Besides, I'm just here for the enjoyment the game of war provide."

"Game? There is no game that puts peoples' lives at stake!"

"Hmph. Then are you not going to take my offer? I'll hold off my attack of the rear while you go off and help your allies...I'll give you fifteen minutes."

Adam growled but took the offer and ran back inside. "Is it okay for you to be so relaxed, Morgan?" the woman asked in a seductive voice.

The Remnant called Morgan laughed as he pulled a stack of playing cards from his pocket. "Why should I be afraid in such an amusing game, Lily?" he asked as he dropped the cards from one hand to the other and back. "Besides, I'm not worried," he drew a card from the top of the deck: the Ace of Spades. "I have Lady Luck on my side after all."

***************

Lelouch dodged Rolo's hidden blades that flicked out from under his sleeve. The fight was not much, Rolo only had the job of stalling Lelouch and Adam from coming to the people's aide. But neither side seemed to gain an upper hand.

When the sounds of gunfire was heard through the halls of the palace did the battle come to a pause. "It seems my job is done," Rolo told him as he began to step into the same darkness he first appeared from.

"Wait Rolo, why are you still alive?!" Lelouch asked but received no answer as his 'brother' vanished.

"Lelouch!" Adam yelled, running up behind him. "We better get out of this area."

"What's the matter?"

"Just move it!"

Lelouch did as Adam said and hastened toward the ball room. 'Nunnally, Kallen, please be okay,' prayed the prince.

They broke through the door to find the room covered in ice and several guards dead. "Where is everyone?" Adam voiced the question.

"That way," Lelouch pointed to an opened hall with the door completely missing.

The two ran down the hall. "Lelouch!" a voice called out. The prince followed the source and found Schneizel beckoning them over from an open room.

They went inside to find all of the Black Knight higher ups, save for Kallen and Zero, with Noa, Lance, and C.C. Cornelia was on a bed her left shoulder bandaged. "What happened?" Adam asked and Schneizel explained. Apparently the two Remnants escaped with Nunnally and contact with anyone outside the palace was impossible. Zero and Jeremiah were chasing the Remnant that had Nunnally, the Guardians were dealing with the other two, and Gino, Xingke, and Anya went to help fight off anymore of the Templars. Lelouch and Adam went to join them.

"We won't make it without reinforcements," Ohgi pointed out.

"How could they get so close?" Viletta asked to which Noa answered.

"They got close because some of the guards betrayed us. Conservatives perhaps promised to restore Britannia to former glory," he explained. "But isn't it odd? Why didn't they just kill the Empress? Not to mention they haven't stormed the palace yet nor send in Knightmares."

Schneizel's eyes widened. "You don't mean-"

Noa nodded. "She's bait..."

C.C. finally spoke up. "Hopefully they won't get away with this."

*****************

Hawk, Shinji, Alice, Gage, and Kallen were fighting off two really powerful guys. Shinji and Gage fought the one with the sword while Kallen and Hawk dealed with the ice user. The Guardians didn't seem like they were going to win in time to help Zero and Jeremiah, let alone get outside to fend off troops outside.

"Damn," Kallen cursed. She was cut by an ice spike that popped out of the side of the wall. She and Hawk couldn't get close and the ice blocked any long range. It seemed to them, that this guy was just playing keep away.

For Shinji, Alice, and Gage, whomever this guy was, he seemed to defend every attack they tried. It was as if he knew what they were going to do before they did it.

"Kallen," Hawk spoke during a pause in the battle, "Go to the hangar and get the Guren. They don't seem to have any Knightmares so it'd be easy for you to deal with them. No doubt it'll be guarded, so be careful."

"But-"

"I'll be fine," he assured her. "Don't forget, I don't miss my mark."

Kallen nodded and ran off to leave the three of them behind. As she rushed to the hangar Kallen ran into Lelouch and Adam.

"Kallen, glad you're okay," Lelouch said at first. "Where's Nunnally?" he asked desperately.

"They were heading to the roof," she answered. "But that way is blocked by the enemy. You have to find a different way up."

Lelouch nodded. "Where are you going?" he asked.

"I'm going to the hangar to get the Guren, maybe I can drive away the enemy outside."

Adam shook his head. "Too dangerous. They would more than likely have already secured the hangar. I'll go with you." Lelouch and Kallen nodded in agreement before bidding each other good luck and splitting up.

As Kallen and Adam raced to the hangar, Adam began questioning the point of the attack. A broad casted speech, no Knightmare frames, and the higher ups of the Black Knights and the Britannian government were virtually unharmed....Then the thought hit him.

"Argh! They're screwing with us!" he raged.

"What do you mean?" Kallen didn't fully understand.

"Think about it. They could have killed us off already if they had Knightmares. They could have assassinated the important political people without this battle. And they are not storming the palace. I see what they are doing."

"What?"

"They're making the Black Knights look like a bunch of bumbling idiots. They're just ruining the reputation and credibility of the Black Knights."

"Then why would they kidnap...Unless."

"They are going to unmask Zero to the world....A traitor being the Knight of Justice will crush the Black Knights credit."

"Damn and there making us run around like fools doing it!"

"HEEEEEEEHAAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAAHHAHAAHA! BINGO! You guessed right!" cried an obnoxius voice. Kallen and Adam stopped in front of the hangar entrance to see two Remnants standing in their way. The laughing one removed his hood to reveal a face with clown make-up and wild green hair. "It's really not my style thought....I'd much rather kill the lot of the Black Knights."

"Will you ever shut up, Benji?" said his partner. "Seriously, you are much more annoying than the twins." He removed his hood revealing his medium length reddish brown hair and amber eyes. "It's been awhile, ne, Shadow?"

"Lazard," Adam said his name with great venom.

"I killed you!" Kallen stated. "Why are you still here?!"

"Oooooooo, Ardor's little sister isn't too smart is she?" the clown mocked. "Must run in the family."

"I agree, he is annoying," Kallen growled.

Lazard ignored their bickering. "I do owe you for that, Red Lotus, but my business is with Shadow."

"I have a name, Lazard," Adam told him through gritted teeth.

Benji laughed. "Sooooo, the wolf bares his fangs...Oh, I'm soooo scared.....Hahaahahahahaahaha...I can see it in his eyes, it's just as you say Lazard...A living weapon of pure destruc-Whoa!" A spear missed him by half centimeter. "Well, that sure was rude of you sir!"

Adam glared thousands of daggers at the clown. "You, should really learn to shut up."

Lazard chuckled. "What's the matter? Can't accept the truth of being a weapon?"

"How can you call a human being a weapon?!" Kallen shouted, drawing her sword.

"Kallen," Adam said in a barely audible whisper.

"Ahhh, don't put your panties in a bunch, girlie," Benji chided, "You really don't understand what your so called comrade is capable of do you?"

"That doesn't matter!" Kallen declared. "He is not just some monster that's only bred for destruction."

Lazard spoke, this time with a cold air coming about him. "You say that now, but I wonder if you can keep that word." He looked over to Adam who noticed the change in his eyes, they were just like...

"This feeling," Adam breathed. "Kallen, leave Lazard to me."

"Ooooooo....Finally some FUN!" Benji exclaimed with glee, but Lazard stood in his way. "Awwwwww, but I want to play!"

"Ardor would be angry if you fight Kozuki," Lazard reminded him. "And Shadow is not for you fight, understand?" He looked at the two Guardians. "Our forces have already begun to pull out."

"What?!" Kallen didn't believe it. 'They're running away,' she thought hopefully.

Adam shook his head, as if he heard her thoughts. "They are not running away," he growled through gritted teeth, "They're passing us up." Kallen scowled at the insult the Remnants were making to the Black Knights and the Guardians.

"Kozuki," Lazard called out as he began to vanish into darkness, "If you wish to see Ardor, he is waiting on the battlefield, taking out your allied Knightmares."

He vanished and Benji soon followed, but only after one last comment. "Meatheads have all the fun," he growled.

Kallen went to the hangar door but Adam grabbed hold of her shoulder. "Where are you going?" he questioned. "We have other things to worry about."

"This is just something I have to do," she explained, shrugging off his hand.

"Swallow your pride and wait for another day."

"...Okay."

"Now, lets see if Llyod and everyone is alright."

*******************

"Looks like your sis isn't comin' huh?" a 24-year old Remnant with slicked back hair and an old style rifle asked Ardor who was gazing up into the night sky. "Think she wussed out?"

Ardor shook his head. "No," he answered, turning his gaze to his Knightmare, "she's just busy, Ricardo."

"Well, it's not like her Guren will beat yours," Ricardo commented. "Not to mention Naoto taught her everything she knows, so you know you can predict her moves."

"Mm...You see anymore enemies in the hills?" Ardor asked.

"Nope, mission accomplished," Ricardo sighed. "Man, I wish I could've gone to the palace too. There's hardly any action for me up here."

"Quit whining," Ardor snapped. "We better move out if we want to catch the broadcast."

********************

Jeremiah and Zero cornered Marik on the roof. "Surrender the Empress!" Zero commanded, pointing his sword at the Remnant.

Marik only chuckled as he set down the sleeping girl on the floor. "You honestly think it will be that easy?" he questioned, humor in his tone. The two soldiers didn't notice several seeds drop from his sleeve. "Come and claim her, if you can."

"Gladly," the Orange man obliged. Jeremiah slid out a blade from one of his sleeves and leaped into the air above the Remnant, blade held high. "You shall not surpass my loyalty!" he yelled out.

Zero saw Marik smirk. "You cannot surpass Mother Nature," he said as huge vines shoot out from where the seeds lay.

"What is this?!" Jeremiah shouted. The vines wrapped around the cyborg, trapping him. "This isn't Geass is it?" The vines covered his mouth.

"No," Marik chuckled. "Minor characters like you shouldn't try to take the spotlight, especially in such an important scene," he looked over to the Black Knight, "Don't you agree Suzaku-kun?"

Zero was unfazed by this. "I'm surprised that you didn't reveal my identity entirely."

"It's better if we just unmask you," Marik explained.

"Then that means..."

Marik nodded. "You were our target." He brought up the broadsword in his hand. "The role of Zero, never belonged to someone like you anyways." The Remnant dashed toward Zero and slashed his sword.

Zero deflected the blow and countered with a horizontal cut at Marik's abdomen. Marik gracefully spun around the cut and swept his blade at Zero's legs. The knight jumped over the sword and slashed downward. Marik brought up his sword and blocked, then kicked Zero back away.

There was a pause in the fight. "What's the matter?" Marik questioned. "Why don't you tell me you want to live?" Suzaku glared at the smirking Remnant behind his mask. "I thought you knew how to use it."

Zero responded with another assault. Marik began dodging each strike as he continued to mock the Japanese man behind the mask. "You wish for death yet you cannot achieve it...I could be merciful and kill you or just keep as I am and just let you keep living."

"Shut up!" Zero demanded as Suzaku launched his trademark kick.

Marik ducked under the blow. "Now you hate the mask you wear because your princess met her tragic end....Anyone would want death's sweet embrace after that." Zero landed behind the Remnant, he turned and slashed, but Marik just back-stepped. "I'll give death."

Zero was surprised when the Remnant swung his sword at such a far length away. He was even more surprised when the blade of the broadsword broke apart and reached out, connected by a metal coil exposed between each blade. Zero raised his weapon to block but the blades wrapped around his and snapped it.

'No!' Suzaku thought in sh as he watched half his sword fall to the ground. He felt another strike hit off his mask. At that moment, glowing rings formed around his eyes...Live! Suzaku ducked under the third strike and dashed toward Marik with the half of the sword he had left.

"Interesting," Marik smiled as he step-dodged all of Suzaku's attacks. "So this is the command our leader warned us about." He returned his broadsword to it's normal state and locked his blade with Suzaku's.

"It brings out your full potential if there is any threat to your life," the Remnant observed. "But even so, there are still your physical limits." Marik hopped back and slashed across. Suzaku brought up his sword and blocked the slash. Marik just smirked. "Got you!" he exclaimed as the broadsword broke apart on contact with Suzaku's blade. The Remnant yanked away the rest of the Japanese knight's weapon and tossed it off the roof.

What happened next happened in almost an instant. Suzaku felt the blades wrap around his ankle. Marik pulled, tripping Suzaku on his face, then he started whipping the Black Knight's back, repeatedly.

'Is a Remnant really this strong?' Suzaku wondered as he rolled away from the lashings. 'Even with the Live command...Then I have only one last resort.' He struggled himself to get up, the blades of the whip sword bore into his back. Suzaku rasied his left hand as a green dragon head mark etched itself over the back of his hand.

Marik quirked an interested eyebrow. "You have an Advent? No matter, you took too much damage and are now losing a lot of blood." He slung the whip sword and tripped up Suzaku once more before returning the broadsword to it's completed state. "Pathetic," Marik sighed, now standing over Suzaku. "Oh well, I'll go ahead and grant your wish now." He pulled back the sword as he prepared the final blow. "I'll pierce Zero's broken heart."

Suzaku watched the point of the blade fall toward his heart in slow motion. He struggled to move, but the pain of the slashes kept him from moving. But the desire to move, it was from the command, not Suzaku. His thoughts were only of death's embrace. He closed his eyes.

'This...Live...is what I wanted...Live...I should...Live...accept it. At least...Live...I'll be with Euphie...'

YOU SUCK!

"Gonna die hard huh?" Marik questioned. Suzaku grasped the blade with one gloved, now bleeding hand. He stopped it just above impact, maybe his Live command kick in one last time with his Advent. Marik frowned. "Something's different about you, Kururugi."

Suzaku opened his eyes, they were glowing bright green and he wore a big smile on his face. In fact his entire expression seemed like he was laughing.

"Suzaku is not here," Suzaku said, tightening his grip on the blade. Marik's eyes widened when he heard a crack, prompting him to pull away. Suzaku slowly stood up, still smiling.

"Who are you?" the Remnant questioned.

"I'm the dragon that resides inside of Suzaku. A dragon born to keep this sorry excuse of a knight alive," this Suzaku answered. "But it doesn't matter who or what I am though, cause you're dead!" 'Dragon' Suzaku rushed Marik at a pace that surpassed the Live command.

Marik swung his whip sword only to have Suzaku catch the coil and pull, reeling the Remnant in. "Take this!" Suzaku screamed happily as his fist smashed into Marik's face, sending the Remnant flying off, releasing his grip on the sword. Suzaku only laughed manically as Marik rolled and howled in pain.

Tossing the whip sword away, Suzaku slowly walked over and began stomping on the Remnant. "What's the matter? Can't take a beating flower boy?!" the knight, no dragon, taunted before kicking Marik closer to the edge of the roof.

Marik tried to get up, but Suzaku pressed his foot on his back, pushing the Remnant back down. Marik felt the Japanese teen grab his arm and slowly begin to tug. Looking up, the Remnant saw the absolute joy in Suzaku's glowing green eyes. Pain shot through Marik's arm as he felt his limb begin to dislodge.

Suzaku laughed sadistically as Marik screamed in pain. "That's right, scream as I rip off your arm! It makes me feel good to hear them!" As the screams grew louder, Suzaku's laughter became even more loud.

It came to an abrupt end when Suzaku was kicked from behind, getting him off the Remnant. The angered knight turn around to see Lelouch glaring at him. "You want ta fight?" Dragon Suzaku asked the prince.

"Who are you?" Lelouch demanded.

"It doesn't matter who I am," Suzaku noticed that the Remnant escaped through a portal of darkness. "Why did you stop me?"

"I won't let you use Suzaku to gain pleasure through other people's pain," Lelouch told him. "Now, answer me, who are you?"

The Dragon within only laughed. "I'm the one who saved his ass...and someday, when he no longer has anymore will to keep going...I'll be the one in control." With that last statement, Suzaku fainted. Lelouch cut the vines that held Jeremiah and ordered him to take Suzaku and Nunnaly to

Lelouch looked out to the palace, still intact, but it sustained a lot of damage. The prince looked up to see the silhouette of an airship out in the distance. He looked over to the Zero mask, cracked wide open. Lelouch gritted his teeth, the war hasn't even begun and the Black Knights already looked like they would lose.

He shook the thought out of his head. "I won't let them destroy the peace of this world," Lelouch told himself. "I swear I won't."

**********************

Unknown Location

Several Days later

"So the world descends into chaos," Lazard muttered to himself as he glanced at the screen. Many countries had joined the White Knights to oppose Zero and more importantly, Lelouch vi Britannia. Even the old nobility of Britannia. "All for the promise for power," he said.

"Just like moths to a flame," Marik agreed. "And the lower ranks of the Black Knights are thrown into a state of distrust toward the commanding officers."

"But Zero is still their symbol of Justice," Bismark pointed out, glaring toward the plant user. "I knew I should have been the one to capture Suzaku."

"Don't fret, he'll be exposed soon enough," Marik assured him with a grin.

"Your just making excuses for being thrashed," Benji laughed. "You came in all 'AHHH! It huuuuuuurts!' Hahahahaha. You wuss."

"You should learn to keep that mouth shut, clown!" Marik warned.

Lazard walked over to the corner of the room to converse with someone. "Yes, I know the time is coming," he said to himself. "I just need a reason to go into C's World without Marcus watching me...Yes, Shadow has grown a little stronger. So did the girl."

Ardor watched in a corner as everyone else talked about battle plans on the EU and the Chinese Federation. He wasn't interested in tactics for he was just an ace pilot, the one they sent to follow orders. That didn't matter to him though, his pride was to being a fighter anyways.

Ardor looked at the screen, showing the map of the world and the territories that were split between the UFN and the White Knights...The Second Great War, some would call, others would say it was the War of the Knights. No matter what it was called, this war was just a front to hide the never ending battle that went on throughout time...The Geass War.

Well there it is, the final part of Act II. Suzaku's Advent, I haven't fully decided on what it is...I just know that it pretty much triples the Live command and gives him a sadistic personality. I'd like to here some suggestions if you have any...

Tell me what you think or ask questions in a Review. Thanks for reading.