At Least with Sorrow (episode)

At Least with Sorrow is the twenty-third episode of Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion.


 * Warning: Spoilers ahead, Read at own risk

Brief Summary
Left with no choice, Lelouch shoots and mortally wounds Euphemia in front of Suzaku. Suzaku returns to the Avalon with her battered body as the Black Knights continue to contain the violence. She then dies from her injuries as Lelouch announces his plan for the creation of the United States of Japan. Alone, Lelouch grieves over his actions as C.C. comforts him, reminding him she will stay alongside him, as per their contract. Soon, the entirety of Area 11 revolts against the Britannian Empire. Advancing with his massive army, Lelouch ignites the conflict by initiating the collapse of the Tokyo Settlement.

Long Summary
In the aftermath of the massacre, all Japanese including Karen are outraged and swear to stop Euphemia. It also becomes apparent that Britannian frames are no match for Karen's Guren Nishiki and Toudou's Gekka frames. While trying to stop a frame from shooting at civilian, Karen realises that the pilot is none other than Euphemia and vice versa. Before they can have a proper catfight, however, Zero already arrives on the scene with Gawain. He basically dismantles Euphemia's frame using wire-like weapon. Despite this, Euphemia picks up an automatic gun to shoot at Gawain and Guren Nishiki. Eventually she runs out of ammunition so Zero comes out of Gawain and proceeds to approach Euphemia. While this happens, Suzaku is frantically looking for Euphemia and is shocked when he sees Zero shooting Euphemia at point-blank range. As Euphemia falls to her death, she wonders why Lelouch shoots her.

Lelouch bids goodbye to Euphemia, telling himself that Euphemia was probably his first love. Suzaku immediately goes berserk upon seeing Euphemia's lifeless body. Lancelot quickly swoops down, causing C.C and Karen to worry for Zero's safety. The two, however, are overpowered by Lancelot's quick movement. Thankfully Suzaku is only interested in getting Euphemia and goes back to Avalon right away after securing her. Meanwhile, Diethard tells Laksharta that he intends on showing footage of Japanese people beating up a Britannian to the entire world using the internet. Upon hearing this Laksharta comments on Diethard's lack of loyalty towards Britannia. Diethard, however, doesn't care since he doesn't want to serve Britannia. He also questions Laksharta's motive so Lasharta tells him that she's just in it for the data. However, she'd feel bad if she abandons them. Plus, she thinks Zero is an interesting man.

Meanwhile, Zero is now meeting with the remaining Kyoto group. Upon seeing Kaguya, Zero remembers that she is actually a relative of Suzaku. One of the old men tells Zero that from now on, they would like things to be under their control. Zero, however, snaps back, telling them that the reverse will happen. Since the situation has turned this way, he'd like the 6 remaining members of the Kyoto group to be under his command. He would not allow counter-argument and besides, their surviving method has completely gone. Back inside Avalon, Suzaku asks the barely alive Euphemia as to why she gave the order. Unfortunately Euphemia doesn't know what Suzaku is talking about. For a brief moment, her eyes are under Geass' influence again and she remembers that Suzaku is also Japanese. Euphemia, however, manages to suppress the power because she cares about him too much to think that way, she forgets about the massacre and asks Suzaku what happened to the ceremony and Japan.

Upon hearing Euphemia's words, Suzaku realizes that Euphie doesn't remember anything. While this happens, Zero appears on the stage in the ceremony hall while a television camera relays the scene to the whole world. Zero quickly addresses all of the Japanese people who have been oppressed by Britannia. He claims that he was waiting for the time to return from the shadow and to correct Britannia's injustice. He then goes on to say how their trust have been betrayed in a barbaric slaughter. While Euphemia wonders if the Japanese are happy, the Japanese people are telling Zero that they won't forgive Euphemia while others name-calling her liar, witch, etc. On stage, Zero agrees with the Japanese, telling them that Euphemia is the symbol of Britannia's hypocrisy. Meanwhile Euphemia asks Suzaku if she did well. Suzaku, decides to lie to her, saying that the ceremony was a great success and everyone was very happy.

Back to Zero, he declares an independence from Britannia. This, however, does not mean that he wants a revival of old Japan. The new Japan that Zero intends to build from now on is a state full of dignity, where the strong ones do not oppress the weak. A country which accepts all races, history, and principle. The name of this new country is the United States of Japan. Diethard who sees this is delighted to be able to see the founding of a nation. Back inside Avalon, Euphemia thinks it's strange that she suddenly can't see Suzaku's face. Suzaku starts crying upon hearing this and holds Euphemia's hand with his own. Euphemia urges Suzaku to stay in school, how she could never finish, so Suzaku tells her to go with him to Ashford and how nice the student council is because she still can, but that is the opposite case and Suzaku knows that as he cries. Euphemia starts to cry as well and tells him to stay in school for the both of them, she becomes more tired and Suzaku screams "No! Euphemia! No!" Eupehima closes her eyes and whispers "Suzaku...I'm so glad..." her heart stops and she passes away.

At the same time, Lelouch has finished his speech and has gone back to a room to talk to C.C. C.C wonders if Lelouch intends on invading the Tokyo settlement. Lelouch confirms this, claiming that this is their best chance. After taking his helmet, Lelouch remembers that his Geass is now permanently active so he tries to not see C.C directly. C.C, however, assures him that she'll be okay because Geass doesn't work on her. Their conversation comes to an end when Nanaly calls Lelouch, telling him that she'd like to talk to Euphemia. Apparently she wants to go to the school festival with Lelouch and Euphemia since Millay has told her that they can redo the school festival, which got interrupted due back then. Because of this, she wonders if the three of them can go together. Upon hearing this Lelouch asks Nanaly if she hadn't heard the news. Nunally confirms this, saying that the radio broadcast has ended. However, she wonders if something happened.

Instead of telling her the truth, Lelouch tells Nunally that nothing happened. He then promised to come back tomorrow and they will discuss this. After Lelouch ends the phone call, C.C wonders if there is any other changes apart from the fact that Lelouch can't turn on/off his Geass. Lelouch thinks there wasn't anything else except that Euphemia tried to resist his Geass. At first he thought he was losing his power but when he thinks about it, he should have expected Euphie wouldn't permit that kind of thing to happen. Lelouch becomes depressed upon saying this so C.C embrace him and assures him by saying that their contract will ensure that she will stand together with him. A few days later, Britannia is in panic because riot has broken out in various places. Now that they are the largest armed group, the Black Knights draws the general public as the group sets its sight on Tokyo settlement. It is estimated that those who changed sides adds up to tens of thousands.

To make things worse, Guildford refuses to let the soldiers' move because Cornelia has ordered them to stop attack. One of the generals try to point out that Cornelia has shut herself up in Euphemia's room due to shock. In addition to this, General Dalton has also gone missing. Cut to a shot of an emotionless Cornelia and a VERY disturbed Nina. While this happens, participants for Black Knights come from every areas in Japan. Realising the odds are against Britannians, Karen can't help but hoping that her friends in the student council will be able to escape. Meanwhile, C.C can be seen talking to an unseen person again, saying that the person who's happy is her. She also admits that she has forgotten how to be nice and addresses the person she's talking to as "Marianne". At the same time, Ougi is talking to Villetta on the phone, telling "Chigusa" that once he comes back, there is something that he'd like to tell her.

Villetta (or Chigusa) is happy to hear this because this is the first time Ougi called her using that name. After Villetta hangs up the phone, however, there are banging noise from the front door and before she knows it, a group of Eleven has entered Ougi's house and accuses her of being a spy. Meanwhile, Rivalz, Shirley, and Nanaly are watching the news which inform them that as the rebel army are approaching, public order in the ghetto area deteriorates. Because of this the government advise their citizen not to get out of the house. Upon hearing this Nanaly can't help but wonder if this area will become a battlefield as well. Rivalz assures Nunally that it won't happen because Cornelia's army is here. He then changes the conversation by asking Nanaly if Lelouch has return home. Shirley can't conceal her surprise upon hearing the name so Rivalz tells her that she should be calling him "Lulu" and urges her to reconcile with him.

Shirley is even more surprised upon hearing this since she didn't know that she used to call Lelouch "Lulu". Despite the confusion on her face, Rivalz still thinks Shirley is just joking around. Meanwhile, Nina can now be seen working hard modifying Ganymede. Millay tries to persuade her to go back to school because the rebel army is approaching Tokyo. Nina, however, coldly tells Millay that she knows that Zero is coming. She then asks 'Euphemia' to wait because she'll surely avenge Euphemia's grudge. At the same time, Suzaku is still grieving inside Avalon, wondering why she ended up in this state. Suzaku is startled when someone asks him if he should tell Suzaku about it. When Suzaku turns around, he notices a blonde-haired boy who introduces himself as V.V. Meanwhile, Britannian soldiers are about to abandon the area that is being attacked by Black Knights when Cornelia appears and orders them to calm down.

Cornelia orders Glasstone knights to be on alert, the army to form battle formation on the outer of Tokyo settlement. She believes the rebellion will be subsided if they crush Zero and the Black Knights. In reverse, Zero tells his army that if they can defeat Cornelia, victory will be theirs. He then orders the army to follow the strategic arrangement and asks Diethard to watch over the command vessel. Before Zero can get out of the command vessel, however, she bumps into Kaguya, who's happy that she catches him in time. She then tells Zero that she's always been his fan ever since his debut and is here so that she can see her husband fighting for the first time. Kaguya believes that if Zero wins this battle, he would need a wife soon. Kaguya believes that Zero will win this battle because she's the goddess of victory. Zero is amused to hear this but tells the girl that he's already on contract with the devil, referring to C.C. and cannot be with a goddess.

Meanwhile, General Bartley's experiment with Jeremiah's body ends up in explosion, causing the body to come out of the tube. Jeremiah is then awaken and greets everyone good morning. At the same time, Zero is now flying inside Gawain, informing the Britannians that he'll begin his attack at precisely 00:00. He suggests that those who wish to surrender should go to his camp's gate. There's just one problem with this. The time right now is 23:57. Heh. Inside his frame, Dalton tries his best to maintain his composure despite the injury that he suffers. Dalton, however, refuses to back down, insisting on accompanying Cornelia. Before they set off, C.C warns Zero that this is the point of no return. As it is now, the fight won't end with just area 11. The entire world will be stained with the battle that Lelouch is about to engage in. Lelouch tells C.C that he understands but before he can explain his situation, he gets a phone call....from Euphemia.

As it turns out Suzaku is the one who calls him. Suzaku asks Lelouch if he has someone that he really hates to the point he is willing to kill. Lelouch admits that this is the case so Suzaku admits that right now he is fighting while ruled by hatred. Lelouch tells Suzaku that it's okay to hate because he knows it's for Euphemia. He admits that he too has decided this a long time ago and does not plan to turn back. All of this is for Nanaly. Before the call ends, Lelouch asks Suzaku if they're friends. Suzaku confirms that they've been friends since 7 years ago. Lelouch then hangs up the phone and all of a sudden, the ground under Tokyo settlement gives away. Lelouch then tells himself that his hand is already dirty a long time ago so he doesn't mind if he ends up facing Suzaku since they're friends. Lelouch believes that destruction and loss are necessary before creation. Therefore, if his heart becomes an obstruction, it is important to destroy it. He realises now that he now has no choice but to move forward.