A/N: I do not own Code Geass and Batman Beyond. Those works belong to Sunrise and Warner Bros. Animation respectively, and they are amazing works.

Here is the final chapter in my Rise of the Bat story. This chapter will focus on what kind of world Lelouch has created and his role in making sure that the world stays safe for all who live in it.

And if there are moments where some may hate me for what I do in this chapter, please make it to the A/N at the end for my reasoning.

So enjoy!

"This is Milly Ashford coming to you live from Ashford Academy, my old alma mater!" Milly reported with a giggle and a wink before becoming serious again. "It has been over a month since the defeat of Britannia's Second Prince Schneizel el Britannia at the combined efforts of the Black Knights, a splinter force of rogue Britannian military personnel, and the masked vigilante known as Batman."

"A week after the defeat was announced, the successor to the throne of Britannia was announced, and let's just say that some people, mainly the nobility, weren't all that thrilled when they learned who was now the 99th emperor of Britannia. However, I can proudly say that I am not one of them. In fact, I couldn't be more thrilled honestly!"

"Ever since he took the throne, he's had been making big changes to the Empire. So far, he's abolished the aristocracy system and the nobility status throughout the Empire, which mainly the nobility wasn't all too thrilled to hear about that. And he's also made sure that any record or propaganda of how Britannia was used to govern when Emperor Charles zi Britannia or any recent Emperor or Empress was in charge be destroyed. Many more were unhappy about his decision, but the majority supported their Emperor's decision."

"Also they have worked to demilitarized the army down to the sake of national defense only. Meaning that it seems that Britannia won't be establishing any new areas for the time being. And speaking of areas, it seems that he has also established Special Zones in all of the areas that are under Britannia's control, where the natives can establish their own rights and govern themselves however they want too. I'll say this right now about our new Emperor, they are an ambitious lot, aren't they!"

"However, what I and most others would say is his boldest move yet was when he announced his intention for Britannia to join the United Federation of Nations just days ago. Due to the current leaders of the UFN's troubled history with Britannia in the past, many worried that this decision was idiotic on the new Emperor's part. However, so far, the new Emperor seemed to have only the best intentions for all who rule under him and those who do not, so they agreed to it."

"However, the Emperor made a condition to have the meeting on neutral ground. That is why Ashford Academy is standing right behind me, for this is the spot the Emperor of Britannia chose to be the meeting location. No one for sure knows his reasoning for this, but they nonetheless agreed to the meeting location." In her eyes, Milly had a knowing smirk, for she knew exactly why the Emperor of Britannia had chosen this location. But she sure wasn't telling anyone else.

"For the past few days, the UFN has been setting up the gym of the school for the conference which is scheduled to be today. The Emperor himself had just touched down about ten minutes ago. Sorry ladies but you just missed him." She commented with a devilish smile, hoping that all that wanted to see the handsome Emperor were now holding their heads down in defeat.

She then blinked as if she heard a voice came out in her ear and tapped a headphone piece on her head that seemed to be giving her information while looking down taking it all in. After a moment of doing so, she smiled as she looked back at the camera.

"Good news ladies and gentlemen, especially the ladies," She once more donned her devious smirk, "I have just received word that the Emperor has arrived at the gym. Now let's go live for the press conference of the century!"

"Announcing his Imperial Majesty, the 99th Emperor of the Holy Britannian Empire, Lelouch vi Britannia!" The announcer said as the doors to the gym opened for said Emperor.

When the doors finally opened all the way, they revealed said Emperor walking in wearing his white and gold royal garb. He walked across the gym to the podium he was to make his speech with great confidence in himself, not even a hint of nervousness was in his eyes or his body. At least, not visible to those who didn't know him well enough.

When it was announced that Lelouch vi Britannia would be the Emperor of Britannia, many of its citizens weren't all that happy with the murderer of the last Emperor to take command just like that. However, it was written that whoever killed the previous Emperor in the Royal family was the next Emperor by law, so they couldn't really complain. But that didn't mean that everyone, mainly the nobility, was happy about the arrangement.

But over the past month, Lelouch had grown in popularity as Britannia's greatest Emperor, mainly due to the policy changes he made under his reign. He was even popular with the former areas that were once under Britannia's control and nations that weren't. But not everyone liked him, mainly because he was the Emperor of Britannia or because he was the son of a commoner.

At his side was his personal knight, best friend, the leader of the Knights of the Round, and the newly dubbed Knight of Zero, Suzaku Kururugi. After Lelouch ascended to the throne, his first decree was that anyone with the skill and the courage to be a Knight of the Round, whether they were nobility or not, Britannian or foreign, were given the position, and Suzaku was the one that stood above all of them as the Knight of Zero.

Along with them was Cornelia li Britannia. She was the believed candidate to be the Empress of Britannia, but she had given up her claim of the throne s that Lelouch could have his place back on the throne. She wasn't all that interested in the throne, to begin with anyway. So Lelouch made her in charge of Britania's army. Where she excelled as a General more than she ever could as the Empress.

And finally was Lelouch's own sister, Nunnally vi Britannia. She wasn't given any formal or official position in Britannia as of yet, she mostly just stayed by Lelouch's side and learned from him and how he governed Britannia. The reason why she was here, was unknown to all but two individuals.

In front of the group, was the head delegates of the UFN, with the chairwoman herself giving a warm smile to their guests, which they returned. However, almost all could sense the tension in the room.

Suzaku, Nunnally, and Cornelia hung back as Lelouch made the rest of the way up to the podium. Once he made it to the stand, the negotiations finally began.

"Greetings Emperor Lelouch!" Kayuga said with a small bow that the whole UFN followed with Lelouch giving his own as a sign of respect. "I do hope your ride from New Pendragon was pleasant." It was small talk to elevate some of the tension in the room.

"It was very enjoyable, thank you for asking chairwoman Kayuga," Lelouch responded in a cheerful manner.

"I only hope for your sake that it wasn't a wasteful trip." Kayuga suddenly said with a stern voice to show that things weren't going to be easy for the 99th Emperor. "As I'm sure you know, it takes a vote of a two-thirds majority of our members for you to join us."

"Of course. That is how a Democracy function, does it not?" Lelouch asked, acting like he studied up before coming here. But why would he need to study when he practically wrote up the whale UFN charter when he first created it as Zero? But he needed to make sure there was a clear separation between the two.

"And you are certainly aware that most of the countries in the UFN simply joined us because they wish to stand up against Britannia. And they have a… less than glorious history with Britannia?" Kayuga stated. It wasn't an insult of any kind, just the simple act of stating the facts.

"I am fully aware of Britannia's past injustice to those around it and under it." 'As well as my own.' He thought to himself. "But I hope we can leave the past behind us where it belongs and move forward to create a brighter future. Together."

He truly sounded sincere, and Kayuga wanted to believe it. But with the fractured trust caused by him keeping too many secrets and his Geass, it made it hard to tell what Lelouch was really after and believe the words he said.

"You do realize," Kayuga continued, hoping the fears she was holding inside her weren't leaking into her facial expressions, "that with the break up of the Chinese Federation, the nation with the largest population density in the world currently is Britannia. So if you do join in the UFN, your country would have the most sway in political decisions."

Kayuga then gave Lelouch a stern frown, but it was purely professional, mostly. "So your options are that follows: Break up your Empire. Limit your voter's percentage to 20% of your population. Or release the former areas under Britannia's rule. What will you choose?"

"What do you think he'll decide?" Chiba asked to no one in particular as the head of the Black Knights watched the conference from the main screen in the Ikaruga's bridge.

"To be honest, I have no idea," Tohdoh admitted as he looked at the screen showing the boy's face. "Trying to find out what that boy is thinking is a fool's game and a waste of time."

"But what will we do if he decides to turn on us?" Chiba asked, not afraid t show her distrust of Lelouch. "If he wants to take the UFN delegates hostage, then this is the perfect opportunity to do so. And what's stopping him from doing something after that?"

"We'll have to trust him."

The occupants on the bridge turned to see the owner of that voice and were greatly surprised to see that is was Ohgi, who lead the coup against Lelouch in the first place, said that.

"Last time we doubted him, we ended up helping a psychopath almost destroy millions, possibly billions of lives on Earth." Ohgi reminded them. "We need to trust him, as he is willing to trust us. And we also can't forget about the other matter."

All Black Knights present looked down in defeat when Ohgi brought that topic back up. They were referring to Lelouch's ultimatum. After he'd recovered from his fight with Schneizel as the Goblin, Lelouch made it clear to the Black Knight leadership that, while he didn't hold any ill wishes and desires to them, he still wasn't forgiving about them betraying him and trusting Schneizel and almost allowing him to destroy the world.

So he ended up showing them a file he obtained from Diethard when he interrogated the reporter. It was the footage of the Black Knight's betrayal of Zero. and Lelouch had made sure that he made enough copies that no matter how hard they tried, they wouldn't be able to erase the footage.

They knew that if that footage ever got out, they would all be ruined. Riots would be in the streets and the high command would be severely punished for their crimes or even executed for such actions. They were already in enough trouble for making the deal with Schneizel behind the UFN's back as it is.

It showed them that even though Lelouch had changed, for the most part, he still had that demonic personality inside him. Though Lelouch stated that if he ever did an action that would threaten the world, they had permission to stop him.

But he warned them: if they ever got in his way again, either as Emperor of Britannia or as Batman, he would show them no mercy!

So they had to believe in Lelouch, or then the Black Knights would be finished completely.

There was a tense silence as everyone around the world watched the Britannian Emperor seemingly contemplate his choices and the consequences of those choices.

However, Lelouch already knew what he planned to do, but he had to give off the appearance of actually thinking so that he could fool them into being tense. Simply for his own amusement. And to be able to take them completely off guard when he made his final move.

After a few tense moments, Lelouch finally gave his answer. "I accept all these terms that the UFN has given to me," Lelouch stated without a hint of doubt or regret in his voice. "I just want Britannia to be apart of something that will benefit the world as a whole. I don't care what power I must sacrifice to do so."

His answer baffled the delegates. They had all expect the boy to refuse such terms because that's exactly what his father and every other Emperor before him would have done, never even considering relinquishing any portion of their power. It was a test, to see if Lelouch really was different from the previous Emperors and that he truly wished to change Britannia for the better. And he passed with flying colors.

Kayuga gave off a sigh of relief that it ended this way, glad that Lelouch wasn't making any sort of play for more power. "Thank you for agreeing to our terms Emperor Lelouch, it seems that there's hope for this new Britannia yet." Kayuga smiled warmly at Lelouch. "But for now, before we make any decision, may we ask you to please leave the room while we make a decision?"

"Of course Chairwoman!" Lelouch said before he and the company bowed with respect as they turned and left the room.

"Are you really sure about this?" Suzaku asked Lelouch as they stood off to the side away from Nunnally and Cornelia who were still in the process of catching up and discussing old times.

"Yes," Lelouch answered immediately. "This is the only sure way for the world to accept a new Britannia and for it and the world to move on to a bright future."

"I agree, but…" Suzaku began, scratching the back of his head in uncertainty. "Are you absolutely sure that you made the right choice?"

Lelouch looked Suzaku dead in the eye. "Of course I am. After all, she is the angel to my demon." He responded darkly.

Suzaku gave a sigh of exhaustion that Lelouch was still comparing himself to a demon. "Your not a demon," Suzaku said for the thousandth time.

Lelouch tilted his head down slightly in shame and guilt. "Tell that to Euphie and Shirley." Suzaku took a step back in shock at those names, he had mentioned those names in a month, ever since he became Emperor. But then he frowned in somber.

The death of those two affected Lelouch greatly and still weighed heavily on the Emperor's mind. So much so that Suzaku was worried that Lelouch would never forgive himself or fully move on from their deaths to find happiness.

He then moved to place a comforting hand on Lelouch's shoulder, which the emperor slightly jumped at. "Lelouch, I don't know a lot of things." Suzaku began.

"Because you're an idiot," Lelouch said. The boys laughed in good humor.

"Yes, that's the reason." Suzaku laughed a bit more before becoming serious again. "But what I do know without a doubt, is that those two are in a much better place than they ever could be right now, and they are proud of the man you've become."

Lelouch vi Britannia was, for one of the rare times in his life, speechless. Suzaku Kururugi was both his best friend and his worst enemy. So much had happened between the two that Lelouch feared that they could never salvage and repair their friendship. For one of the few times in his life, Lelouch was glad he was wrong.

"Thank you, Suzaku," Lelouch said as tears of joy began to leak out of his eyes, no matter how hard he tried to hide it. After a few moments of tears, Lelouch took a deep breath, as he had his own thing to say. "And so you know, the task I'm assigning to you will be the most important thing I've ever asked anyone to do for me ever. And keep in mind, it doesn't matter if we're friends, if you fail, I will have you begging for death."

Suzaku knew Lelouch was being entirely serious, and the way he was now, he knew that he meant the words he spoke. But he merely shrugged. "Hey, I've wanted to die for about nine years now," Suzaku replied with a simple smile. "But you just had to give me that Geass command to live."

The two friends shared a good laugh with each other before the doors to the gymnasium opened again and a guard stepped out.

"The delegates have made their decision." He informed the company.

'This is it.' Lelouch told himself as he made his way back to the podium leaving his company behind. 'If they refuse, then all I've ever done and worked for would have been for nothing.'

"Emperor Lelouch," Kayuga began, taking Lelouch out of his thoughts, "After much discussion and compromising, we the delegates of the UFN have made a decision."

This was it!

The tense silence was felt all over the world as everyone on the planet waited to hear the verdict.

Kayuga then smiled warmly as she then announced. "Britannia has now unanimously been accepted into the United Federation of Nations!"

The stress that had been building in his body and mind flooded out faster than water out of a dam that was completely destroyed in a wave of relief.

"You must now simply sign the UFN official charter and it will be official that you've joined us," Kayuga announced as aids then brought the said charter and pen before the 99th Emperor. Some viewers believed that the boy would snatch the paper and pen out of their hands right away and sign it right now.

However, to the surprise of all watching him, except to one, he didn't snatch it up right away, or even pick up the pen and sign it when they placed it before him. Instead, he just stood there looking down at the paper before him, his eyes hidden by the bangs of his hair, his expression unreadable.

Some delegates began to grow concerned by his lack of action. Some even began to fear that he was up to something sinister. Kayuga also began to have fear growing inside her, fearing that she didn't make a mistake.

"What's he doin' just standing there?" Tamaki asked with a frown as he and the others were watching Lelouch on the screen. "Didn't he get what he wanted? Why doesn't he just sign the dang document?"

There was no answer to his question given immediately. However, after a few moments, Tohdoh spoke up, suspicion filled his voice. "He's up to something."

Chiba gave off and annoyed and disgusted growl. "I knew we couldn't trust him!" She voiced out. "We can't let him make a move that would endanger the UFN. We have to stop him!" She was about to sprint towards the hanger when Ohgi called out.

"Wait!" His order caused her to stop in her tracks and everyone on the bridge to look at him in confusion. "We have to trust him. He's up to something, that's for sure, but we can't jump to conclusions and assume that it's bad, or else we end up ruining everything."

Everyone reluctantly followed the commander's orders. Ohgi himself knew that /Lelouch was up to something that would definitely shock the world, but what, he couldn't possibly know. He only hoped that Lelouch wasn't planning anything sinister.

Finally, Lelouch took up the pen and inspected it carefully. It seems to of a set of a famous Japanese story writer whose name he couldn't quite remember that Kayuga must have got out of some archives somewhere. Many thought he was going to sig the paper now. But again he did nothing but inspect the pen.

Finally, he put the pen down.

"Chairwoman Kayuga." He began, surprising everyone as he decided to speak, he then brought his head up and look at Kayuga dead in the eyes. "May I please be given permission to give a speech and announcement as my last act as Emperor of an independent nation before I sign any papers?"

Kayuga seemed to be taken off guard by the request, but she nodded. "That will be acceptable Emperor Lelouch, so long as you don't do anything that may threaten your standing with us now. We may have accepted you unanimously, but people's opinions can change very quickly." She said sternly.

"Thank you Chairwoman Kayuga." He said as he performed a bowed as a sign of thanks and respect to her. "And I give you my word that I won't do anything to compromise my standing with the UFN." He finished before taking a deep breath and letting it out.

'All the necessary preparations have been complete. Now I need only execute.'

"For over a hundred generations, the Britannian Empire has been built on the single belief that the strong rule and the weak must serve or perish under them. And they saw everyone lie that, no point in denying it." Lelouch began.

"Much of this belief has stemmed from the corruption of Britannia's own royal family. As long as they held absolute power, and refused to relinquish it, no true and everlasting change could be brought to Britannia no matter who was Emperor because even they never sought to give power."

He then took another deep breath as his eyes lit up with fiery determination. "But that all ends today! Today I am breaking that cycle of unrelinquished power! I assumed you all thought I was the one who would lead Britannia into a brighter future. Well, I'm sorry to disappoint all of you, but you're wrong."

Those in the conference room and all around the world gasped at Lelouhc's statement and what it all entailed beneath the lines. Was he doing what they all thought he was doing?

"I do not have the strength of the heart to lead Britannia into a bright and glorious future. I could only have the strength and will to prepare it as best I could, lead it up to the gate, and open the doors for the one who would take my place. But I myself am not worthy or strong enough to lead it in the glorious future it needs."

The world was shocked at what Lelouch was saying on live television. An Emperor, a successful Emperor, of the world's most powerful Empire, just admitted that he saw himself as unworthy and unfit to rule over the Empire in an era of peace. 'Was this true humility?' were the thoughts of many people around the world.

"Therefore," Lelouch continued, about to give his big finish like he always did as Zero, "I give both the throne of Britannia and the key to the future, to the one person who is capable of leading this world out of the darkness and into an era of true peace!"

He then looked behind him and all eyes, and cameras, followed his focus to his trio of people that accompanied him. Or more specifically, the form of one girl.

"My sister! Nunnally vi Britannia!"

And, for the third time, Lelouch made the whole world go still.

"WHAT?!" Tamaki shouted in shock as he and all other Black Knights all held looks of absolute disbelief at what just transpired. "Is he serious?! He's the emperor of an entire Empire that loves him and obeys him, AND HE'S THROWING IT ALL AWAY?! WHO DOES THAT?!"

The rest of the Black Knights had similar looks of shock on their faces. One among them was Ohgi.

When he knew that Lelouch was up to something, he certainly wasn't expecting this kind of move. But then, he smiled almost proudly at the young man's actions. "Someone who wants a future."

"Wh-what?!" Nunnally cried in disbelief as she came back to her senses. Did she hear that right? Did Lelouch really hand over the entire Empire of Britannia to her of all people?!

She looked up to Cornelia who was just as shocked as she was over this revelation, but then she smiled in approval. She then turned her head over to Suzaku who had a knowing smile on his face, not even seeming fazed by the revelation. She then looked back over to Lelouch who had a knowing smile of his own as he looked at them. It then all clicked together in Nunnally's mind. 'Those two planned this!'

"Is that desire acceptable Chairwoman?" Lelouch asked Kayuga, who was in her own state of confusion.

For her own part, Kayuga had been taken completely off guard by the request Lelouch had made. Her mouth hung wide open and her eyes were wide in shock. She certainly wasn't expecting this when Lelouch came here. Was He being sincere? Was this truly what he wanted to do?

She then looked Lelouch dead in the eyes, and one look from them was all the confirmation she needed.

Taking a deep breath to compose herself she then replied with, "Very well." The delegates were sent into an even greater shock that Kayuga accepted Lelouch's proposal so fast. "I accept your decision."

Lelouch nodded in thanks. Then he turned around and walked beach over to Nunnally and the others. When he arrived, he kneeled before her. She still had a shocked expression on her face.

"B-big brother," Nunnally stuttered, still not quite believing what she'd heard, "Is… Is this a joke? Be-because it's not very funny to me Lelouch!"

Lelouch giving a chuckle only seemed to make Nunnaly believe it was a joke before he looked at her with reassurance. "It's no joke, Nunnally," Lelouch answered her.

"B-bu-but I'm completely useless!" Nunally tried to object by shaking her head. "I failed and made no real change as a Viceroy. "I'm not strong enough to-"

Lelouch silenced her by gripping her hand and holding it tightly. "Nunnally," He began quietly and sincerely, "You have true strength. The kind of strength that I could never have. And you have a truly kind heart."

"But you also have a kind heart as well!" Nunnally tried to counter. But Lelouch merely shook his head.

"No," Lelouch said darkly. "My heart is sill to full of hatred and contempt for this country and it's people. I'm not fit to rule over the long term. I was only meant to get Britannia this far so that you could take it the rest of the way. You though, Nunnally, have the strength of a true Empress, but a heart kind enough to be the Empress this world needs. One who will love all her subjects. And besides…" He then took gazed behind her, which he followed, to see him looking at his best friend and half-sister, who both nodded in agreement that they will do all they could to help Nunnally. "You'll have help."

Nunnally was absolutely speechless. Her big brother, who always used to shoulder all the responsibility on his own shoulders so that she wouldn't be crushed by all it, had just dumped on her the biggest responsibility a girl like her could have. And he believed that she could do it.

"Bu-But what about you?!" Nunnally asked, curious as to what her brother would do now that he's not Emperor.

Lelouch turned his head to look outside at the crowd of people. He then smiled as he imagined a certain redhead among the crowd watching the broadcast with a look of absolute disbelief. He then looked back at Nunnally, with a playful smile donning his face. "I've got a girl I gotta catch." He told his sister with a playful wink in his eyes. Nunnally gasped again at what her brother was implying.

He then rose over Nunnally and gave her a quick kiss on the head. He then looked toward Cornelia and Suzaku with a serious look on his face. "Take care of her for me." He told the two.

They both nodded. "We will." They both said.

Lelouch smiled in thanks to the two former enemies of his.

Then, he bolted. He sprinted at top speed out of the gym while throwing off the royal garbs he wore that were slowing him down as he ran at full speed to the one person he needed to see.

The next thing Nunnally knew, the charter for Britannia to join the UFN and the pen were thrust in Nunnally's face by one of the aids. "Empress Nunnally," The aid said, which sounded somewhat weird to Nunnally, "You must now sign the charter for Britannia to be apart of the UFN."

Nunnally grabbed both the pen and paper and had her hand hover over the signature spot for a few moments, doubt creeping in her mind. But then she reminded herself that if Lelouch, Suzaku, and Corenila believed in her, then she should believe in herself.

She then took the pen and signed the paper immediately with a bright hopeful smile on her face.

Kallen had her mouth hung wide open. She thought Lelouch couldn't be able to surprise her anymore. Boy was she wrong! He just practically did the impossible: having an Empire that was famous for its belief that standing alone makes you strong join up with other nations that were its former enemy, and then he threw his position as Emperor away and handed it all over to his sister and left the room without making any such comment.

She was not the only one who was surprised by the 99th Emperor's actions. The ones that stood in the crowd with her had mixed opinions and feelings about all this.

"That kid is such an idiot! Throwing away his Empire like that!"

"Yeah, but doesn't that show that he's different from other Britannian Royals, giving up power?"

"But he gave all that power to a girl that can't even walk, how is that gonna be good for anyone in Britannia?"

"Well, sometimes it's the one that can't do anything that has the strongest will over one that can do anything." People looked in confusion at that one statement. The one who said it then rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment. "I got that from a fortune cookie," He admitted.

"Of course you did."

Kallen paid little mind to the rest of the comments as she tried to make her way out of the crowd of civilians and back to Ashford Academy.

Earlier when Lelouch first arrived with his entourage, she had volunteered to escort them to the gymnasium where the meeting was taking place. Lelouch asked if they could take a long way because he was feeling somewhat nervous. Of course, they had to feign ignorance of each other because if the Black Knight ace and 99th Emperor were that familiar with each other, people might start connecting the dots.

When they made their way to the Student Council building and were walking up the stairs, Leloouhc told the rest of them to go up ahead while he talked with Kallen for a few minutes. When the others were gone, Lelouch and Kallen gave in and kissed each other with as much passion as they could in the short time they had together. After they were finished, Kallen had wished Lelouch good luck and left the building waiting for Lelouch to finish. He also promised to take her to dinner tonight.

She certainly wasn't expecting this to happen when Lelouch went into the conference.

Now she was running back to the Academy, trying to find Lelouch and confront him over his decision before he decided to disappear again. She was about a block away when a hand shot out of an alley and grabbed her by the arm and pulled her into the darkness. She was about to scream and attack when her captor captured her lips with his own.

When she recognized the familiar feeling behind these lips, she let her guard drop and melted into the kiss and returned it with all her might. A long moment passed before she was finally free, much to her disappointment. She opened her eyes and smiled as the sight of her love. His violet royal eyes, his raven black hair, and his kind and truly sincere smile. He discarded his royal attire and was wearing the same clothes he wore when she found him in Shinjuku that one time with the vial of Refrain.

"Hey." He said simply with a smile that he rarely showed anyone. No, in fact, it seemed as if this was a smile he never let show around everyone, even Nunnally.

And then he just had to say something that took her completely off guard.

"Will you marry me?"

Kallen's face then became a brighter shade of red than her hair could ever be as her face shifted to absolute and complete shock. After a moment of contemplating on what he just said, Kallen gritted her teeth in frustration. She then brought her knee up into the royal family crown jewels. Hard! Lelouch let out a howl of pain as he slumped down to his knees, holding the area of impact.

"'Hey. Will you marry me'?! Are you serious Lelouch?!" Kallen screamed, her face still red with embarrassment. "You are unbelievable!" You work tirelessly for and to change Britannia from the Empire it once was, have it miraculously join the UFN, then throw away the position of Emperor, handing it over to Nunnally, and come over here in a dark alley and kiss me, then ask me to marry you and you think I'm gonna say yes right off the bell?! Who do you take me for!?"

Lelouch was still in the process of recovering his breath, as well as his dignity, as he let out a pained yelp. "Okay," Lelouch said in a high weak pitch, "Now that I think about it in that format, it might have been stupid on my part to do that. And I can totally see now how that made you angry." Lelouch then began to rise to his feet, although barely. "But in my defense, I wasn't planning on proposing right now, it was gonna be at dinner tonight, but when I saw your face, I couldn't help myself."

"And do you really think that is gonna make me any less mad at you?" Kallen asked with a raised eyebrow, still frowning in anger.

"Maybe? Yes?" Lelouch said with a hopeful idiotic smile on his face.

Kallen then sighed in annoyance as she slapped the butt of her hand against her forehead, turning away from the former Emperor. "Ugh! Why did I have to fall in love with such an idiot?" She muttered under her breath, but Lelouch was able to hear, and she wanted him to hear that.

"Well you aren't saying no," Lelouch pointed out as he stood fully up, although he still could feel the pain in the area of his body where Kallen hit him. "So do I take it as a yes you will marry me?"

Kallen's eyes widen when she realized he had her in his trap and executed his plan perfectly. Just like he always did. But she wasn't gonna make it easy for him, she wasn't like most girls, or any girls Lelouch knew before.

She then looked back at him, but not meeting his eyes, he faced being as red as her hair. "Ask me at dinner tonight and well see then." She told him instead, even though she already had his answer, but she wanted him to wait in suspense not knowing what Kallen felt in her heart, much like what he did to her when he went missing after the betrayal of the Black Knights.

She then looked back at him and asked the question that she originally planned to ask. "Why did you do it?" Lelouch gave a confused glance, and held a face that just screamed, 'Do what?'. "You know what!" Kallen screamed, causing Lelouch to back up against the wall with fear in his face.

One thing he learned as both Zero and Batman, is that you do not anger the fairer sex, especially redheads if you want to live for a long time, and Lelouch had already angered his fair share of woman, so he probably wasn't long for this world, but he didn't want to be on it any less than he already was.

"Why did you throw away your position as Emperor and dump it all on Nunnally?" Kallen clarified, hoping he understood this time.

Now that Lelouch understood what she said, he began to stroke his chin as if in deep thought. Finally, after a moment he answered her. "A number of reasons. Some I mention in the conference, others I keep to myself, but the one I want you to hear is that I made a promise to you."

Kallen seemed to be confused by what he meant, which caused Lelouch to sigh. "Now who doesn't understand what the other is talking about?" Lelouch muttered under his breath. "Back at Horai Island before we entered the Chinese Federation after leaving Japan when you feel on top of me." Kallen's face then brightened as she recalled the memory, and then went red when she remembered how close her's and Lelouch's faces were to each other.

"You asked me why I came back," Lelouch continued the trip down memory lane, "So I asked you in return when this was over if you could then return with me to Ashford. I wasn't able to explain why I wanted that because we were interrupted by C.C. But here's my answer now." Lelouch took a deep breath, steeling himself for this part. "I wanted you to come back with me because I wanted to be with you in a place where we didn't have to worry about things like Britannia, war, and losing those closest to us. And I wanted you to be with me when we returned because you were the only one that I could see myself with when this all was over."

Kallen's face then went redder when he finished talking. He threw away his position as Emperor, just so that he could live in peace with her and not have to worry about such things. "So…" She began, unsure of herself as she asked her last question. "Your really okay fiving the throne of the Britannian Empire up just for me?"

Lelouch frowned in confusion. "Of course I am!" He said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Did you not just hear anything I said just now. Besides, being Emperor of an Empire that's in control of over one-third of the world is overrated. And it is so hard to go out and be Batman when you're already exhausted from your duties as Emperor. And besides, I never wanted the stupid throne in the first place!"

Kallen then gave a small giggle as Lelouch listed the grievances of being Emperor. Most people would probably give anything to get in that position of power, but not him, he would gladly give it all up for no power at all.

"Well then," She said cheerfully, smiling as she began to make her way out of the alley. She then turned back to him, holding onto that happy smile on her face as she extended her hand to him. "Let's go and begin anew, shall we?"

Lelouch merely smiled as he took her hand with his and let her lead him out of the darkness into the light as she, and any others in his life, always did.

"We shall."

Months later

Lelouch walked up and took his place in the Ashford Academy gym area where graduation was being held for him and his class. It's funny, months ago Lelouch made an appearance in this very gym to usher in a new era for the world as the Britannian Emperor. And now he was ushering in a new era fr the lives of the students of Ashford as they leave school behind and venture off into the real world as class valedictorian.

In order to honey Shirley's memory of him, Lelouch had begun applying himself more often in school than he did before. And just like Shirley said, he began to rise through the ranks to become the top graduating Student of Ashford.

It wasn't easy, however. Due to him having to make up work, as well as his duties as Batman making it hard for him to stay awake in his classes. All that and busy planning for the next stage of his life, both his wedding to Kallen and his other plans. It was hard to stay on top of all his school work. However, thanks to both Kallen and Rivalz, he was able to always get all his projects and assignments turned in on time and complete all he had to do to make it where he was. He also became very active in any form of service projects and clubs he could help with during his time back.

He was also made the President of the Ashford Academy student council. While many people were relieved that they had a president that was more level headed (and not a she-devil) unlike the last President, they were in for a surprise when he had begun doing some of Milly insane schemes and ideas when she was president. Although his were tamer and less forceful than hers. And under his guidance, they had finally completed the World's Largest Pizza, thanks to the guest of Honor the Knight of Zero, Suzaku Kururugi.

All in all, it was a great way to finish Ashford strong.

As he looked throughout the graduating class of Ashford these years, he was surprised by the amounts of changes that had been made since he returned after he gave up the title of Emperor. For one, the student body now consisted of Britannians and Japanese, even half of the teachers were now Japanese. Also, most of the study material was now changed to reflect Britannian and Japanese culture, but mostly Japanese considering this was their island.

Lelouch smiled as he looked upon the changes he made to both this school and this land, even the world. Feeling proud that he finally made a difference significant enough without giving in to the demon, as he had when he was Zero. Now he just had to give his speech, and then he could move forward with his life.

As he stood on the podium, he looked out to the crowd and spotted Rivalz and Kallen, front and center, looking up and giving him a thumbs up along with smiles of encouragement. He then looked to the back of the hall and saw Milly there, donning a smirk, with a camera crew and all, ready to record every moment of the former Emperor's Valedictory speech.

After clearing his throat of any imaginative frog or something, Lelouch finally spoke to the class.

"These past few years have most likely been the hardest in our lives. And I'm not just talking about exams and heartbreaks." That earned him a chuckle from the entire class. "No, all of us in this room have lost something in our lives that can never be replaced. Friends." He glanced toward Rivalz and Milly. "Family." He then turned to Kallen. "And loved ones." The faces of those he lost flashed through Lelouch's mind as he struggled to continue. "To the war that began almost three years ago now."

A moment of silence passed between all the students as they remembered all they have lost at the hands of this war.

"But now all of that is in the past." Lelouch continued after the moment of silence. "In order to honor those who lost their lives at the hands of war, we must put away with the past and embrace the future. I'm not saying that we should forget the past. We must never forget the past!" His voice turned dark at that last statement. However, after taking a breath, he regained his composure and continued speaking.

"But we mustn't let the past drag us down and prevent us from changing who we are. We must remember the past and acknowledge the mistakes we made in those times to try and learn from it. To make sure that those mistakes can never happen again."

"We are now in an era of peace, and we, this generation, this group of people in this gym, and those like them around the world are the leaders of this new world." He then began to speak directly to all those around the world that were listening to him. "In order to make this peace last, every one of us must work with all our might to keep this peace, for the sake of not only our future but our children's future as well!"

He then glanced around the gymnasium again at all the students and then looked at both them and the camera, and in turn, the whole world. "We all have had a unique experience these past few years, some were more affected by it than others. But now is the time to move forward!" His voice then began to rise in strength. "Now is the time to unite this world and lead it into a better tomorrow! And I, Lelouch vi Britannia, wish you all the best of luck in creating and protecting the new world!"

A cheer went out through the gymnasium and the world as the graduating class threw their caps off!

"You know, I think you're better at inspiring armies than you are the student body." Kallen teased Lelouch as they were now outside of the Academy by Milly's news van. Waiting for both the blued haired Ashford graduate and his blond news reporter girlfriend. Lelouch and Kallen still couldn't believe that Rivalz had finally gotten Milly to go on a date with him and continue dating him after that. And he didn't even need Geass or be a superhero to do so.

"Well I'm no Milly," Lelouch admitted as he then massaged his brow in confusion. "I still don't get it. She was able to motivate the entire student body into doing her crazy and outlandish events like the World's Largest Pizza, yet I can't get anyone to participate in an international chess tournament except the chess club."

"Well…" Kallen began holding a hand to her lip as she was just considering the words he was just saying. Her lips then formed into a playful smirk. "You and fun don't go into the same sentence much Lelouch. Unless of course the words not, or isn't, or etc, are in there along with it."

Lelouch gave a cry, sounding offended, but merely faking it for play, it was a thing they did. "I beg your pardon madam. But I'm going to have to correct you in that analysis. I'm fun!"

"No, your really not Lelouch." Said a familiar voice. The duo turned to see Rivalz walk up to them with a smile on his face. "Lelouch you cool, your awesome, and a total boss. But you are definitely not fun. At least, not the kind of fun normal people think of." Lelouch, however, wasn't offended, at least not that Rivalz could see on his face, in fact, it almost seemed he took that comment as a compliment. Or at least the first part.

Lelouch then caught the sight of Milly a ways behind his blue-haired friend, walking toward then with a smile on her face while waving at them, but getting interrupted by multiple students who wished either to catch up or (more on the boys' side) ask for her hand in marriage. Seeing this was the best time, he then leaned in close to Rivalz and asked in a whisper. "Do you have it?"

In response, Rivalz quickly pulled out a small black box and showed them the ring that he planned on proposing to Milly with tonight. "Right here!" He said with a confident tone of voice.

However, from the combined experiences that both Lelouch and Kallen had at reading people over the years, they could immediately tell that Rivalz was more nervous than he'd ever ben in his life. In fact, it almost seemed like he was gonna shake all the skin off his bones.

He had spent the remainder of the money he kept from his and Lelouch's days of gambling on it. But it was totally worth it.

Provided she said yes of course.

Seeing his friend tremble as Milly came closer to them, he placed a hand on his shoulder to calm his friend down, and to stop the shaking. "Look, you've got this Rivalz," Lelouch said, trying to comfort his friend as best he could. "She's already dating you, which everyone thought impossible, to begin with, so don't worry or obsess so much if she says no before you ask. Otherwise, you'll drive yourself crazy."

"Like you have room to talk?" Rivalz asked sarcastically as he glared at Lelouch and Kallen. "When she proposed to you the second you asked."

"What makes you think yes was the first thing I said?" Kallen asked wit a raised eyebrow when she thought back on the moment he proposed to her. She didn't say anything to him at first. More like she hit him in a place where the sun would never shine.

"That's what Lelouch said when he told me that you two were engaged," Rivalz said with a confused frown as he pointed to Lelouch, who stiffened in slight fear.

Kallen's eyes ten turned dark and she then gave off an evil smile as she turned to Lelouch. "Oh did he now?" She asked dangerously, as Lelouch, instinctively, went to cover the royal family crown jewels. He really did not want a repeat of what happened when he first proposed to her.

He then rubbed the back of his head nervously and stuttered. "I-I might've just a teensy bit have… uh…. exaggerated when I told others of how I proposed to you. Hehe!" He let off a burst of nervous laughter. 'If you count ignoring the first attempt and getting right to the attempt that actually succeeded, then yes, I did exaggerate.' Lelouch thought to himself as he continued laughing nervously.

The evil in Kallen's eyes remained for a moment longer as she continued to glare at him. But after a moment, the look ceased and she then turned back to Rivalz, donning a comforting smile. "Just ask her Rivalz, I'm sure she'll say yes."

Rivalz eventually calmed down enough that he stopped shaking uncontrollably, just in time too. Milly had just finished catching up with others, hearing the latest gossip, and denied a bunch of other proposals from the boys when she finally caught up to them.

"Why you all just standing around here for?!" Milly asked, impatient with the company before her. "Get in the dang van already or were gonna be late!"

The trio didn't even have time to move before Milly had grabbed both Lelouch and Kallen by the collar of their formal wear and threw them in the back of the van with human strength not belonging to a woman of her stature, Rivalz following shortly afterward. She then moved up to shout un and pulled her seatbelt on in a flash. "The FLEIJA crater, step on it!" She yelled to the driver, who did so with a push on the gas pedal that sent all those who weren't buckled in, mainly Lelouch, Kallen, and Rivalz, fly back and hit the door behind them with a 'thud'! A painful groan soon followed.

The FLEIJA crater was where the first FLEIJA was fired and where it destroyed the majority of the Tokyo Settlement. The reason why they were going over there now was that it was now a full year since the FLEIJA destroy the area. And there was a peace conference being held there headed by the 100th Empress of Britannia herself, Nunnally vi Britannia.

Officially she was here in Japan because she wanted to establish good relations between the Japanese and Britannians after so many years of hatred between the two races. She knew that all that anger wouldn't evaporate in one night, but she hoped she could at least begin the process of asking for forgiveness from this nation.

Unofficially, she was here for her brother's and Kallen's wedding, which was happening the day after the conference. It was a convenient enough time that everyone they wanted to attend would be in town, so Lelouch made sure they planned accordingly so that everyone could at least try to make an appearance. And so far it worked.

Speaking of FLEIJA, Nina was brought before the court of the UFN and almost tried with the death sentence fr creating such a weapon, however, Batman was able to step in on her behalf and say that Prince Schneizel was the true creator of the weapon, having manipulated Nina and turned her design for a new clean energy source into a weapon.

While that didn't excuse her crimes completely, she did get out of the death sentence but was forced to serve her sentence coming up with a new plan of clean energy that wouldn't erupt or be turned into a weapon of mass destruction. But she was actually looking forward to the project.

When they arrived at the stadium where Nunnally would make her announcement, it was already packed with so many people, and they were all Japanese and Britannian, and they weren't fighting each other at all, which was a relief.

When the news van parked at its designated spot, the group parted ways with each other. Milly went off with her cameraman to try and get a good spot to report of the announcement. Rivalz went along with her, but not before receiving good luck from both Kallen and Lelouch. Meanwhile, the couple went into the stadium to try and find their own good spot to watch the conference, but the place was too crowded. Thankfully they found a good spot of empty space near the exit and stood there.

They waited a few more minutes before the Empress and those with her finally arrived. On the Japanese side was the Chairwoman of the UFN, Kayuga. Along with the Supreme Commander of the Black Knights Ohgi, who stayed in command of the Black Knights. Some honestly thought that he would become Prime minister of Japan, but because of his actions in trusting Schneizel and going against Zero, he was lucky to still be in his position as head of the Black Knights. Also, Sayoko was there as part of the Black Knight guard but was really there to see her Lady Nunnally give such an amazing speech.

On the Britannian side, was the Knight of Zero Suzaku, who made sure to stay as close to the empress as possible, to protect her from harm. Jeremiah was there as head of the Britannian Royal Guard, who took his position with both pride and determination not to fail. Cornelia was also there to be able to guard Nunnally against any harm that may come to her, and her glare was enough to keep any Japanese or Britannian in the crowd from speaking up against her sister.

Finally, Nunnally appeared on stage as she wheeled her way up to the microphone. She cleared her throat slightly, the action caused the whole stadium to go silent as the Camera moved to focus on her.

"Citizens of Japan and Britannia." She began, a powerful determination in her voice that those who knew her never knew she held before. "On this day one year ago, the Tokyo Settlement was destroyed due to the creation of a terrible and horrific weapon of unimaginable destructive power. "If one looked closely enough, they could see the guilty expression on Kayuga, Ohgi, Suzaku, Lelouch, and Nunnally. While she never did kill anyone with the FLEIJA, thanks to the efforts of the FLEIJA eraser and Batman, she did still feel the guilt of having to pull the trigger. But her face became strong as she resumed the speech.

"It saddens me that one of the first things I saw once my sight returned to me was the destruction of a place I had grown to love during my time living here." Herr face looked down with sadness, then formed to disappointment as she said her next statement. "And it saddens me even more that my ow Brother Schneizel tried t destroy more cities like this in the same fashion in some misguided quest for peace."

Most of the occupants of the stadium fell silent as they recalled the actions of the Second Prince, and how close they were to destruction all over again. Nunnally then lifted up her head and smiled. "But thanks to the combined efforts of the Black Knights," She glances over and smiled at Ohgi and Kayuga, "the true Britannian military," She then smiled toward her sister and Jeremiah, " Britannia's true knights," She happened a glance to Suzkau who smiled in return, "and…" She looked around the stadium for a moment, as f searching for someone. Finally, her eyes landed on Lelouch who smiled and gave a thumbs-up to her. She smiled as she finished her thanks, "And to the masked hero Batman for stopping my brother Schneizel el Britannia in his mad quest for peace."

As she continued to talk and express her apologies for the actions that her family had taken over the years, Kallen decided to ask Lelouch a question concerning his mad half brother. "Any changes in Schneizel's condition since you last check on him?" She asked in a whisper so no one could hear them.

"Not yet, and I don't know whether to be happy or worried because of that," Lelouch said as he looked down to the ground thinking of his half brother.

They were referring to of course the state of Scheinzel at the moment. When Lelouch had brought him back from the Damocles, they waited for him to wake up before they passed judgment on the Second Prince. The only problem was that he never did wake up, or ever will.

Apparently, due to the chemicals that the Goblin serum had when Schneizel injected himself with them, and the electrical shock he got from both his gauntlet and the Damocles computer Lelouch knocked him into, Schneizel was put into a coma.

Only in this coma, he couldn't move or do much of anything at all. It was hard to believe at first, but Schneizel el Britannia, the Second Prince of Britannia, one of the smartest people on the planet, eas effectively brain dead. But he wasn't dead, apparently, the chemicals in the serum he took kept his body alive, but his brain activity was the closest anyone's ever seen to none.

Of course, there was the possibility that Schneizel was faking it, but Lelouch check by at least once a week, both as himself, and as Batman, and on different days, and times so that no one would be able to expect him. He also checks the data on Schneizel constantly so that he could be sure the Second Prince was indeed in a vegetative state.

And so far, after so many months, he hasn't changed at all since Lelouch brought him aboard the Ikaruga. While that was good news, there was, however, one big problem with Schneizel being unresponsive in a coma…

"Well that's good, I hope." Kallen finally spoke after a minute of silence. "But what about all those experiments he did on those people, you said when you arrived at the lab, all the experiments were gone."

That was one downside to Schneizel being in the coma, the biggest actually. While Schneizel was taken off the board, the chemical, drugs, and weapons he developed disappeared without any sort of trace. They had hoped to find something in the Damocles and/or Viceroy Palace databanks to the whereabouts of the projects.

But now, after months of working with the Black Knights top hacker, the UFN's resources, and Britannia's technology, Lelouch was finally able to find out where all the projects were being stored and where.

"The good news is that we know where they all are, and that they're all in the same place," Lelouch told Kallen. "So we can take them all out in one fell swoop."

Kallen seemed to process this information. While it was good news that they found where all the tech was, she knew there was something Lelouch wasn't telling her. "And the bad news?" She asked hesitantly, almost afraid to hear it.

Lelouch stayed silent as he looked down to the ground, his raven black hair covering his eyes, as if in deep thought to any other person watching. But Kallen knew him well enough to know that he was actually worried, or more regretful, to inform her of what he found. Finally, in a low voice, his voice full of brooding.

"Kallen... have you ever been to Gotham?"

Kallen gasped at the name of that accursed city.

While Pendragon might've been its capital, Gotham City was the prime example of all of Britannia's flaws, evil aspects, and its belief on Social Darwinism. She had only visited the city once with her father when she was younger, and she was utterly terrified by what she saw. The city was worse than any other Area she had been to or heard of. The rich and powerful lived their lives in such wealth and arrogance in tall skyscrapers and fancy penthouses and mansions. And the Narrows, which was the equivalent to the ghettos in Japan and other Areas, was twenty times worse than them, even Shinjuku after Clovis had ordered the massacre. The poor were barely able to scrape by for one day and people died in there every day, either due to suicide, starvation, or crime. And the crime! Gotham had the highest crime rate in the entire world history. The crime happened almost every minute during the day there, it was even worse at night. And because of all the corrupt politicians, no criminal ever stayed behind bares for long because they were always out within the hour. There were crimes of every kind, robbery of all kinds, assault, rape, murder, theft, BE, trafficking both drug and sex, arms dealing, blackmailing, extortion, you name it, Gotham City has it all. There were even some rumors of cannibalism in the sewers. Most of the Nobel men who lost their standings due to Lelouch's ascension to the throne even went to Gotham, because with all the corrupt politics, they could be protected, in fact, they being there has caused it all to become worse.

Whether everything she just thought of the city was true, there was one thing she knew was an absolute fact: Gotham City was the closest thing to Hell in the entire world.

It then dawned on her the reason he asked that question. "Are you saying that Schneizel sent his most dangerous and experimental projects to that wretched city?!" She almost screamed but was able to keep it down when she remembered where they were.

"Yes." Lelouch nodded as he answered while brooding. "Thanks to the info I got from Diethard, I was able to find a shipping line of a shell company Schneizel was associated with to track the deliveries to Gotham. And they all went to Gotham."

Kallen thought for a moment, then began to offer a suggestion. "We should tell Ohgi and Nunnally. If we get their support, we could probably get out hands on the projects before-"

"No!" Lelouch cut her off.

"What?! Why not?!" Kallen asked.

"Think about it." Lelouch simply asked her. "If the Black Knights come in and invade a city in the Britannian Homeland, then it will case and outrage and it could lead to war all over again. And we can't ask Nunnally to send in an army, the Nobles and politicians will have to much sway, she'd never find them, and lives will be the only thing taken. Innocent lives."

Kallen's head fell down in depression at his reasoning. As always, he was right. They couldn't go charging in and guns blazing on either side or else people would just die. Innocent people. And Lelouch would never allow that to happen again.

"However," Lelouch suddenly said, causing Kallen to look up back at him, his trademark devious smirk was plastered on his face as his head rose up and she could see his eyes, "Batman doesn't have those restrictions, or under any such jurisdiction. Nor is he officially tied to the Black Knights or the Britannian military in any official way."

Kallen then felt a light bulb go off in her head. "Your going to Gotham are you?" She asked though she had a pretty good idea as to what his answer was. The look on his face was all she ever needed to confirm her suspicion. "But what about Japan?"

"Japan doesn't need another costumed hero. Not anymore. It already had one, and I can't change that." Lelouch simply said as he looked around the crowd. "Besides, I've honestly been wanting to do this for a while now. If I truly was gonna make Batman different than Zero, I had to not only start over with a new identity but also with a new place where I would fight injustice. And the most crime-ridden city ever happens to have the last remaining pieces of my brother's twisted experiments, that's a perfect place to establish the legend of Batman."

It then clicked in Kallen's mind that this was something Lelouch was planing all along. "Is that what you've been doing these past few months then? Getting ready to leave?" Kallen asked him

There was a long pause before Lelouch answered her. "Yes. I already picked out a mansion at least a few miles away from the city. It belonged to some old rich playboy by the name of Bruce Wayne before he passed away. He didn't have any heirs so the house was left to the City of Gotham. But as the former Emperor, I managed to pull a couple of strings and gain ownership of the house. But what really made me by the house was that beneath the mansion is a large cave with an opening that leads to the main road. A Batcave I decided to call it. Sayoko and others have been there for the past month getting everything ready for when I arrive, cleaning it out, moving equipment I'll need into the cave, and getting it all set up."

Kallen stayed silent as she waited for him to finish. When it appeared he did, she asked the only question that mattered. "When do you leave?"

Lelouch spared a glance at her beautiful blue eyes. He then sighed. "The day after tomorrow," Lelouch told her with regret in his voice. "After the wedding."

The two stood there in silence as Nunnally continued to speak in the background of their hearing. Kallen seemed to be in deep thought as Lelouch waited for some kind of response. "Well, it looks like I have some packing to do." Kallen finally said.

On his face, Lelouch had a look of bewilderment and confusion at her words. "What?" He asked.

Kallen then let out a sigh as she slapped the butt of her hand against her head. "You really didn't expect me to just let you go alone to the most crime-ridden city on Earth now did you?" Kallen asked.

"W-well..." Lelouch began to stutter as he tried to come up with an explanation. "I-I had thought that you would want to continue in the Black Knights. And stay with your mother now that she's released. Do you?"

Kallen seemed to give such reasoning a moment of thought. Finally, she said, "I would like to be with my mother now that I know how she really feels about me. And I would love continuing as a Black Knight and defending the weak. But..." She then raised her hand up to Lelouch's cheek and stroked it with such a soft touch. "My place is, and always has been by your side. For better or for worse." She then gave a smile.

That was it really. Her smile, her passion, and her willingness to stay with him no matter what he'd done, no matter who he was, or what masks he wore. Those were the main reasons why he fell in love with Kallen Kozuki.

Taking the initiative, he pulled her in for a kiss which she then returned with all her might. They stayed like that for a long time before they regrettably had to pull away for air. They smiled at each other as they then turned to look back at Nunnally again.

Lelouch took another look around at the crowd and smiled at the happy sight before him. However, he suddenly stopped. 'What's he doing over there?' Lelouch asked himself in his mind.

Who he was referring to seemed to be a Japanese, a tall, yet with a somewhat athletic build to him. His face was that of a man with a determination to accomplish something that most would deem crazy. He should know, that was the kind of face he wore often in the mirror.

"Nunnally sure has come a long way as Empress. Hasn't she, Lelou-" She began to ask, but stopped when she soon realized that her raven-haired fiance was now gone from her side. But, she had a pretty good idea of what he was doing.

But still, she sighed in annoyance. "I hate it when he does that." She muttered under her breath as she looked back toward the stage where Nunnally was finishing up her speech.

"Now is the time to stand united in this new age of peace." Nunnally declared to the crowd before her. "Now is the time to leave past grudges where they belong, in the past, and look towards the future. For the sake of-"

She was interrupted by the sound of screaming from the back of the crowd. Suddenly, a white van came charging through the entrance and tearing through the crowd of civilians that were dodging out of the way, making its way all to Nunnally.

Acting fast, Suzaku pushed Nunnally out of the way of the van as it was upon her, not wanting to incur the wrath of the now warrior skilled Lelouch. The others on stage also moved out of the path of the vehicle when it came crashing on stage.

Suzaku heard the door open and outstood a Japanese man with a gun pointed straight at Nunnally's head. "Death to the Empress of Britannia!" He shouted. Acting instinctively, Suzkau jumped in front of Nunnally to take that bullet!

However, before the man could the trigger, an object whirled through the air and knocked the gun out of his. He held his hand in pain as he looked to the object that disarmed him. He gasped as he saw that the object was a familiar object with red wings on the side and shaped like a bat. That meant-

The next thing he knew, he was on the receiving end of one of Suzaku's famous spin kicks that knocked him to the right of the van. Where he came into contact with a black claw that grabbed him by the face, then slammed him viciously against the side of the van! And caused everything to go black.

"Cutting it a bit close there you know?!" Suzaku told his friend as he stood fully up.

"What can I say, I have a thing for dramatics!" Batman shrugged as he responded back to his friend.

The ryal guards then came up to the one who attempted to assassinate the empress and hoisted him up, rather harshly. "Get that piece of scum to lockup immediately! Inform me the second he awakes, for when he does, he will have to deal with me!" Cornelia's order rang out to the guard, her voice filled with such venom and anger that her beloved sister was almost taken from her again. Lelouch and Suzaku now almost felt sorry for the poor man.

Almost.

As the man was then dragged away to lockup, Batman took a moment to lock eyes with all those on the stage and exchanged knowing nods with all of them.

He then took a glance up in the sky and that was when he made his vow. That he would work, sweat, bleed, live, die to protect this world from those that seek to destroy it or harm those who live in it. He would protect the world he created with his dying breath and would live to see it become the peaceful world that Nunnally, Kallen, Suzaku, and so many others desire it to be.

'Yes.' He thought to himself as he looked down at his hand. 'I…' He then reached his hand up to the sky and acted like he was grabbing the sun. 'I destroyed… the world…' He then clenched his fist together in tight determination. 'And created it.' He then brought his fist over his heart and smiled.

'Anew.'

A/N: Annnnnnnnddddddd DONE!

Lelouch has finally completed his transformation into the Dark Knight!

I finally finished my first fanfiction! I really enjoyed all your comments and your support in making this story! And your ideas too, even though I didn't use some of them! Still, thank you for being with me for this whole ride.

Also, I want to note that Lelouch is back in the classic Batman Beyond suit. That black and gold suit was moe for piloting his advanced Knightmare than it was for personal combat use. Also, I like that look for Batman Beyond.

Now in regards to the Black Knights, I know most of you, perhaps all of you wanted them to be punished in some way, like executed, or something else, but I decided to go with this approach. Mainly because this seems like something Batman would do. I decided to mirror the relationship between the Black Knights and Lelouch like Batman and Amanda Waller. Those two in some way keep each other from making a move on the other because they both now secrets that could end up ruining them and their lives, so I did the same relationship with the Black Knights and Lelouch, giving him the ability to ruin their lives if they ever got in his way or went after him again. I hope this will do.

Also, yes there is a Gotham City in my world. And I don't know if I did it truly any justice describing what it was like. Because this is a Gotham City that was under the rule of an Emperor that believes in Social Darwinism and promotes inequality, so it will most likely be worse than the Gotham in Batman canon.

And I'd like to point out that the ending I did there was similar to how Batman The Telltale Series Season 1 Episode 5 ended. I love that video game!

And happy graduation to the class of 2020! I posted this chapter in honor of those graduating this year! Also because Ashfords students are finally graduating!

Also, I have an announcement to make. I've been thinking hard about this for a while and have come to a conclusion. Some of you have asked if I can give Lelouch some sidekicks. But I have decided not to do that. Mainly because right now, Lelouch is, like still a teenager and beginning his Batman career, and Bruce didn't have a Robin or any sidekick till he was in his 30s. He will have partners, like Kallen, and I may have Suzkau become something like Nightwing, but no sidekicks at this time.

Also on a final note: Some of you have been asking if there is a sequel to this story. Well, I got good news, more good news, probably somewhat bad news or good news depending on how you look at it, and true bad news.

The first bit of good news is that yes, there is gonna be a sequel, and it will take place in Gotham.

The other good news is that I planned for this to be a trilogy because Batman is aways good in trilogies. (Ex: The Dark Knight and Arkham Trilogies)

The 'probably somewhat bad news or good news depending on how you look at it' is that I may not write the sequel first. I have been getting other ideas for Code Geass crossovers in my head while writing this story. Such as a Star Wars crossover, where Lelouch becomes a Jedi and fights against Britannia. Or one with Gundam, where Lelouch pilots a Gundam and dominate the battlefield due to a Gundam's superior power. With the Gundam I would have him pilot the Strike Freedom and the 00 Raiser in two separate stories. Mainly because those are my favorite Gundams from my favorite Gundam Series, piloted by my favorite Gundam pilots. And I won't change my mind on it.

The actual bad news is that, unlike this story, it would take longer to write, even the other stories. Because while I do have a clear idea with how I want the sequel and the other stories to go, I didn't write down like an outline or a rough draft in a journal as I did with this one, so I won't have a clear set of dialogue or events happen in the stories. But I do have a plot for the sequel.

Do y'all want to hear it?

If not, too bad, I'm telling you anyway.

It takes place in Gotham about two years after this story. Lelouch has established Batman in the underworld and has grown comfortable in the role as the City's protector. But then a bounty is placed on his head and he must find who put it on him. He only has one clue to the identity of the man who's out for his blood. He used to hold the 'Power of the Kings' himself: Geass.

In this story, I would adopt elements from Batman Arkham Origins, mainly the plot with eight assassins trying to kill Batman. I already have about over half of them picked, some will be from the game, but others are apart of Batman Beyond's own Rogue's Gallery. Also, I'll make this story more Batman-like, while this one was more similar to the Code Geass side. Meaning less Knightmare action and more dark and gritty detective work. Also, I'll include some of your ideas into the sequel, such as Kallen becoming Catwoman and being his partner, both in life and crime-fighting.

I will appreciate any suggestions you guys have for assassins. I will give you a post-credit tease as to half of those I've chosen already. I have two other chosen that I won't show because that would be spoilers to the big bad of the next.

"And what was at first a rousing speech from Britannia's 100th Empress, became a sudden attack on her life! Thankfully, due to the combined efforts of the Knight of Zero Suzaku Kururugi and the masked vigilante known as Batman, the two were able to subdue the assassin and save the Empress!" Milly reported on a television screen in the wall.

"Pfft! There's no way that Bat guy actually exists right? I mean, who dresses up as a bat unless it's Halloween?!" A customer said as he continued drinking, his cup having an olive in it.

Behind him, a man was sitting in a chair playing darts. He just hit a bullseye and didn't seem t even care. "You should never underestimate a man because of how he dresses, even if it is for Halloween." The man said as he threw another dart, hitting the bullseye of another target.

The guy that was talking before gave a disgusted snarl at the man. "You must sound so confident just because you hit the bullseye a couple of times. I would love to hear what you'd sound like when you miss." He said as he was about to swallow the olive in his drink.

Only he didn't. Before he could get a bit in, a dart whizzed past his face and caught the olive in its needle. Then it ricochets off the bartender's shelf and off the ceiling lam and a number of other objects before it hit dead center on the remaining target.

All occupants in the bar dropped their mouths as they looked to the man who threw the dart, who stood from his chair, grabbing his coat. He then looked at his phone and frowned when a message came up.

He then stalked over to the man who insulted him, because he surely felt insulted and spoke in a very low, but very threatening tone. "I never miss. Never." He emphasized never to get his point across.

He then walked over to the barkeeper and handed him a card. "If you have any damage due to my performance, just call that number and I'll take care of it." The man said as he then made his way out of the bar.

But before he stepped out the door, he called back. "Oh and the names Lawton. Floyd Lawton."

Meanwhile

In another city, the same news broadcast was playing on a large TV, while it was pouring. While this was going on, a man in a hoodie was walking down an alleyway trying to seek some shelter from the rain.

However, he stopped when he saw two people walk toward him from the exit of the alley. Not wanting any trouble, he started to walk out the way he came in, only to be stopped by another pair of men.

When he was cornered in the middle, the tallest man spoke in a sarcastic manner. "We don't want any trouble grandpa. All we want is a little direction, or maybe more helpful, some money." One of the men then flashed a knife. He then reached out his hand to place his shoulder on the hoodies man. "I'm sure you'd be happy to-"

He then screamed in pain as the hooded figure grabbed his arm and violently broke it., he collapsed to the ground screaming in pain. The others became quickly under high alert. The one with the knife charged.

But the figure grabbed his hand with inhuman speed and disarmed him. Then they grabbed the knife and killed the man on the spot in the blink of an eye. He then attacked another man and stabbed him in the stomach repetitively before he fell oeuvre dead.

The final one standing the shook with such fear as he looked at the figure. The figure then dropped the knife, as if saying, 'I'll make it easy for you'. The man then threw a punch, but the figure dodged then caught him in his arms and began to strangle him. The man fumbled to get free and ended up pulling off the figure's hood.

The man who's ar was broken watched at the figure he thought was an easy rob strangle his best friend. Finally, the friend stopped struggling and feel to the ground, dead. The figure then turned his head and looked down at the man who thought he could threaten him.

With the aid of lightning, he was able to get a clear view of his soon to be killer's face. He had white hair with a goatee to go along with it. And now that he got a closer look at his body, he seemed to be in an extremely fit form. But what was really surprising is that he had an eyepatch over his right eye.

That was the last thing he saw as the eye patch man stomped his foot hard on his face, breaking the neck. He then walked out of the alley without a care in the world or without even a hint of being out of breath.

Meanwhile

Deep in the wilds of Africa, a hunter returned to his tent with his prize. The lead lion of a pride. Too easy a capture for him. And that made him sick and angered.

Ever since that panther attack, and those cybernetic enhancements, he'd been unstoppable in his hunt of the wild. But without a decent challenge, he felt worthless and the hunt held no more purpose. He needed a new prey, one who would push him, and his enhancements to their limit.

As he set his prize for the day down on the ground with the other easily capture prey, he took a glance at the television that was turned on showing the same news report. And his eyes widened in amazement.

'There!' He thought as he looked closely at the screen, which held his next pize. 'This man, no, this creature, will be the ultimate hunt for me! Fate has given me this gift, and I will claim it with no hesitation.'

Meanwhile

Deep underground in an abandoned subway station, a man with noise-canceling earmuffs was currently working on an experimental suit. However, the noise cancelation wasn't for the outside sound, bu the rining that was going on in his ears. All the while, the radio next to him was reporting the same thing as the TVs up top were.

When it seemed like he was done tinkering, he put the gauntlet position of the white suit on. He then aimed his arm at what seemed to be sturdy support and activated the arm. Suddenly, an ear-deafening blast of sonics was fired from the gauntlet, but he didn't seem to be affected.

The support shook uncontrollably for a second before it came crashing down due to the high vibrations from the sonic weapon.

He then gave off an evil smirk as he took the gauntlet off and continued working. After all, he had to make a name for himself now that there was a 'Batman' around now.

Do you know who they are? I have more planned out for the sequel, but those would give away spoilers. If you have any ideas as to who I should add, let me know in the reviews or personal messages.

I'll see you in the next story!

Also, I've been thinking of making like a deleted scenes version of this story. Meaning I would have hidden and cut scenes that show more of the story. Like maybe when Lelouch got his fear of bats and the training he did with Suzaku, stuff like that I would include. Let me know what you all think of that idea. Also if you have any ideas, I'd like to hear them and will probably use some of them.

Update: I have decided to write my Gundam Crossovers first. So be on the lookout for them. I'll release a prologue of sorts that will introduce both sides of the Gundam crossover before writing the stories separately. I'll have more details in the prologue when I release it.

New Update: The prologue for my Gundam Crossover is now posted. Look for Gundam UC and Code Geass crossover.