Disclaimer: I don't own Code Geass.

A/N: Here it is the rewrite of Changing Course.

Turn 00: Prologue

Somewhere else in the Tokyo Settlement

"LIVE!"

That was the geass command that had just taken control of Suzaku Kururugi, the Knight of Seven and the pilot of the Lancelot and under the influence, Suzaku pushed a button on his console and had his knightmare frame fire a weapon and that weapon was the FLEIA warhead as it was pointed at the government bureau. When the warhead launched, it created a huge radius on the Tokyo Settlement. Lelouch vi Britannia aka Lelouch Lamperouge aka the masked revolutionary Zero, leader and CEO of the Black Knights and in his knightmare the Shinkiro, watched in horror as the blast took form especially taking out buildings and a jet that known to have carried his sister Nunnally vi Britannia as well as his loyal ninja maid, Sayoko Shinozaki. By the time, the explosion died down, it was dawn and the aftermath was devastating. Lelouch was in despair, seeing the jet that carried his sister had been caught in the blast, Lelouch was heartbroken for as far as he knew, his precious sister Nunnally was gone, dead from the explosion.

Meanwhile, a man was in a tunnel was that ripped opened by the FLEIA blast and he looked up and saw the knightmares. The man was tall and a bit muscular who had short blue spiky hair and green eyes. The man wore all black undershirt, black pants, and a long black coat with a pair of black gloves, a black belt, and black shoes. He looked up in the sky and saw the knightmares of the Black Knights and the Britannian forces. The man narrowed his eyes and then something blue glowed from his hands and then he disappeared.

Bridge of the flagship, Great Britannia

In the personal flagship of the 98th Britannian Emperor Charles zi Britannia that was hovering over Kamine Island, he was sitting on his throne while his Knight of Twelve, Monica Kruszewski was looking over the report of what had happened in the Second Battle of the Tokyo Settlement.

"There was a giant explosion in the Tokyo Settlement. It appears that a F.L.E.I.A. warhead caused it," Monica reported and then turned to the emperor, "Your Majesty, should we remain here on Kamine Island?"

"Enough," Charles responded with authority, "let Schneizel handle mundane affairs."

Tokyo Settlement

Following the aftermath of the blast that had destroyed most of the Tokyo Settlement and killed around ten million people, both sides were extremely worried and wondered if they were even fighting in a war anymore.

Bridge of the Avalon

Within the flagship, Nina Einstein looked on with horror to see the list of many innocent lives lost caused by the very weapon she created.

"No, how could this happen?" Nina asked herself mortified, "They're all…they're all…"

In the air, over the Tokyo Settlement

The Lancelot was hovering over the air, missing its legs and left arm.

In the cockpit of the Lancelot

Suzaku was shocked in what he saw and it was horrifying for him because he was the one that pulled the trigger.

"I did it?" Suzaku spoke mortified, "I did this?"

In the cockpit of the Tristan

Gino Weinberg, the Knight of Three was in shocked as well and he checked on Ashford Academy.

"The school is outside the blast radius," Gino commented and then gritted his teeth in frustration, "but this gone beyond war."

In the air

The Black Knights in their knightmare frames were also terrified in what they saw including Kyoshiro Todoh and they had suffered another lost when Shogo Asahina had died in the blast.

In the cockpit of the Zangetsu

"If they use that weapon again, the Black Knights will be completely wiped out," Todoh said.

An audio channel went through and it was Zero, "Todoh, it's me."

"Zero," Todoh responded, "we can't remain—"

"Have all forces land in Tokyo Settlement. Search for Nunnally."

"Wait a minute, we've lost Asahina and we have massive casualties!"

"You think I care about that?!" Lelouch replied losing patience and his composure.

In the cockpit of the Shinkiro

"Find Nunnally now, that's an order!" Lelouch demanded strongly, "All forces search for Nunnally!"

In the cockpit of the Zangetsu

Todoh was shocked with the way the leader and CEO of the Black Knights was behaving, "What's happened to Zero?"

Outside of the Ikaruga

Cornelia was running after she escaped from the room she was held in. She hit a dead end and was confronted by some of the Black Knights who was led by Diethard.

"That's far enough Miss Fugitive," Diethard called out.

Cornelia turned around to face Diethard and members of the Black Knights that had been pursuing her.

Diethard was surprised to see Cornelia.

"Cornelia?" Diethard said in his head, "I thought it was Villetta that escaped."

Cornelia smirked seeing Diethard, "So it's you, newsman and turncoat."

"Is Zero behind this? Secretly holding the princess captive? He should have shown a little more trust in me," Diethard turned to the soldiers, "Aim for her legs, I want her alive men."

"Yes sir," The soldiers replied simultaneously.

A siren suddenly blared as an aircraft arrives near the Ikaruga surprising them.

"Attention," An announcer spoke, "we are carrying a Britannian special envoy on an urgent diplomatic mission. We have no hostile intentions."

The aircraft landed on the deck of the Ikaruga.

"Diplomatic mission?" Diethard spoke surprised and then began to speak into his communicator, "Minase, is that craft cleared to land here through official channels?"

Diethard saw some Britannian soldiers coming out of the aircraft with rifles and then Schneizel steps out of the aircraft as well with a smile.

"Schneizel!" Cornelia said happy to see her brother.

"Impossible," Diethard said in shock, "why would he step right in the midst of his mortal enemies?"

Back in the air

Lelouch was repeating orders to search for Nunnally but he was finding that his soldiers were ignoring that order. Even more so when Todoh received word from Diethard regarding Schneizel's arrival for his desire to speak with members of the Black Knights, he suddenly gave the order to withdraw and Lelouch was frantic trying to get someone, anyone to do what he wanted and to search for Nunnally. He was suddenly stopped by the Sutherland Sieg, piloted by Jeremiah Gottwald with Rolo who was piloting a Sutherland model. Both of them glad that Lelouch was still alive.

Both opposing sides were withdrawing and for Lelouch, he fell into depression as he came to the realization that he was never going to see Nunnally again. It was a very dark day for the former Britannian prince and he thought that nothing could get worse. He would soon realize how wrong he was as he was being forced to return to the Ikaruga.

The Ikaruga

In the hall, Kaname Ohgi was holding hands with Villetta Nu.

"Chigusa, are you okay?" Ohgi asked.

"Yes, I'm okay," Villetta answered, "So, you're really going to do this?"

"I am, he has to be stopped," Ohgi said with resolve.

Villetta nodded, "I agree, I don't want to be his puppet any longer."

Meanwhile, Schneizel el Britannia, the second prince and Prime Minister of Britannia along with his aide, Kanon Maldini and his half sister, second princess Cornelia li Britannia who thanks to Schneizel was able to walk around free went in the conference room and waited for the core members of the Black Knights. Schneizel had arrived in his jet on the deck of the Black Knights flagship, surprising the members who were trying to stop Cornelia which included Diethard Reid. Schneizel made the request to have a meeting with them and was very 'persuasive' to have the meeting which entailed of having the Mordred, piloted by the Knight of Six Anya Alstreim, equip with the F.L.E.I.A. warhead on the Ikaruga. Everything was set as Schneizel, Kanon, and Cornelia was ready to expose the leader of the Black Knights, Zero as the kind of person he was which of course to revealing his geass power. Schneizel smiled because he knew that Lelouch would be too depressed to come to meeting as he figured that Nunnally was lost not knowing that Schneizel was keeping Nunnally safe somewhere for the time being. Schneizel had everything figured out and after he turned the Black Knights against him, it would just be another victory and then he could set things in motion to unleash the Damocles.

Meanwhile, Rolo was sitting in the knightmare hanger of the Ikaruga. Lelouch had just demanded that he leave him alone, confessing how he hated him for daring to take Nunnally's place as his younger sibling and even admitted that he had been trying to kill him. It was a complete shock to Rolo that the only thing he just did was leave Lelouch's room in shock. He just sat and look at the locket that Lelouch had given to him and wondered what was going to be the next thing he was going to do.

Assembly Hall of Ashford Academy

Survivors of the FLEIA blasts were gathering in and were being instructed by Britannian soldiers. On the second floor near a window, Milly Ashford looked out in the window with a downcast expression. She wondered what the world was really coming too. She didn't want to imagine how lives were lost in that blast. She suddenly heard a scream yell and it surprised her and she saw that it was Rivalz running to her and he stopped in front of her.

"Rivalz!" Milly spoke surprised.

Rivalz was so happy to see the former student council president, "Oh Prez, just tell me you're alive."

"Yes I am," Milly responded happily, "I'm alive."

"Thank goodness."

"You can say that again."

The two of them laughed with joy that they were able to see each other again alive and well.

Conference Room of the Ikaruga

Meanwhile in the conference room, Schneizel, Kanon, and Cornelia were meeting with four core members of the Black Knights and that was Diethard, Todoh, Chiba, and Tamaki.

"Come to think of it, I never finished my match with Zero, did I?" Schneizel commented.

"Zero won't be attending," Diethard explained, "not until we have the details of the proposal."

"Of course I didn't expect him to show up."

Diethard raised his eyebrow, "Hmm?"

"He's not the type who consults with others, no; he keeps things to himself and keeps people at a distance."

"That's strange; you talk about him as if you know him intimately."

"More than any of you do."

They were taken back with what Schneizel had just said.

"Zero is our younger brother," Schneizel informed, "Cornelia and my own."

Diethard, Todoh, Chiba, and Tamaki gasped at the revelation.

"What are you saying?" Tamaki asked shocked.

"He is the former 11th royal prince of the Holy Britannian Empire, Lelouch vi Britannia, the man that I both loved and feared more than any other."

"Impossible!" Todoh said shocked.

"You're telling us that Zero is a Britannian prince?" Tamaki asked shocked.

Cornelia looked at Diethard, "Diethard please, in all this time, you never figured it out? Even with all the information you were getting from Jeremiah and Villetta?"

"You're wasting your time," Diethard said scoffing off what they were telling them, "You can't cause confusion here by spreading irrelevant stories. It's not Zero's lineage that matters but rather his efforts and all the miracles he has performed for us."

"But what if those miracles he performed were actually tricks?" Schneizel brought up.

"Tricks?"

"Zero possesses a special power, it is known as geass. It's the absolute power to compel anyone to obey him. You can think of it as extreme hypnosis."

"You're saying his miracles come from that power?" Todoh asked.

Tamaki got up from his chair angry, "Are you trying to diss my buddy Zero? He's got brains, guts, and he kicks Britannian butt. A prince with geass power? Where's the proof of all this bull, huh?"

"I have proof," Ohgi spoke as he walked in the room with Villetta surprising the others.

They all looked at Ohgi and Villetta shocked.

"Ohgi?" Tamaki spoke.

"And Villetta?" Cornelia spoke.

"What he's saying is all true. Zero is a former Britannian prince name Lelouch and he controls people with his geass power," Ohgi narrowed his eyes, "he's a con man."

Discussions continued on as Schneizel and Kanon presented evidence of Lelouch's treachery and it brought anger and despair to the members in the conference room. When it was said and done, a decision was made, a decision that had conditions that were made by Ohgi.

An unknown place

The tall muscular man in black was watching a vision of what was going on in the conference room in the Ikaruga and he frowned to see and hear Ohgi making a deal with Schneizel in exchange of turning their leader Zero in.

"That damn fool," The man in black said shaking his head, "I didn't think that Kaname was stupid but I guess I overestimated him. Naoto would be ashamed to see what his best friend is doing," The man sighed and looked at another vision that showed Nunnally and Sayoko in a jet being taken somewhere with some of Schneizel's soldiers, "Lelouch doesn't know that his sister and maid are still alive…just the way Schneizel intended," The man in black switched the vision and it showed Lelouch depressed sitting in his room with CC who had lost her memory prior of receiving her geass trying to comfort him and the man had a determination look, "I'll help you out Lelouch vi Britannia. This is my way showing my gratitude towards you. If it wasn't for you, I would still be rotten in prison within the Geass Order. Don't give up kid."

That's it for this chapter. Next chapter: The betrayal commences within the Ikaruga and Lelouch is taken by the man in black with the intent to aid him as he brings him out of despair.