Code Geass Cornelia of the Defection
by draconichero21 is a For Want Of A Nail Code Geass Fan Fic where Lelouch is captured at Saitama as opposed to CC rescuing him at the last minute. Cornelia, upon discovering him, decides to team up with him rather than turn him over to Charles, understanding his motives.
Directly inspired by Code Geass: Lelouch of Britannia, this was a path draconichero21 believed could have been explored, but was entirely ignored by the anime. The idea of Lelouch and Cornelia teaming up has been explored in the writer's other works, but certainly not like this. The author also set the tone for how closely the series will resemble canon after episode 7 of the first season with two words: "What canon?".
The series had seven chapters before going on almost a year's hiatus before a new chapter was released October 8th, 2015 and draconichero is intending to stick to as consistent an update schedule as possible. Since then though the series has been on an unexplained hiatus that's lasted since November 2015. Apparently, draconichero misplaced his notes. In the intervening time, he's been hard at work on Fairy Without Wings.
This Fanfiction contains examples of:
- Armor-Piercing Question: Schneizel asks Lelouch if he's talked to Nunnally at all about his revolution, causing Lelouch to backpedal, realizing things are all for naught if he doesn't have Nunnally's approval.
- Ascended Extra: Guinevere. She was seen for less than five minutes of screen time in canon, but here she's shaping up to be Cornelia's FOIL. Would not be the first time.
- Nonette could also count since she never moved or spoke in the anime.
- Audience Participation: A poll is currently up to decide if Lelouch should reveal himself to Kallen as per the ending to chapter 7. The results of this poll will affect how chapter 8 begins. He does.
- Better to Die than Be Killed: Linda Thorton of the Britannian army rigs her Knightmare into a bomb and takes out several members Cornelia's forces with her.
- Big "WHAT?!": When Euphie states that CC is Lelouch's betrothed due to the latter's half-truth telling to her in Lelouch's absence, this is Lelouch's reaction.
- In Chapter 7, played for much more drama than the previous example, Lelouch has this reaction when Schneizel tells him under the influence of Geass that Marianne's body was collapsed that made it look she was shot from behind, but all her wounds were from the front according to the autopsy.
- Bolivian Army Ending: When cornered by David Darlton, Captain Marcus Lydon stands with his men and the scene cuts away. It is implied they're all going home in a body bag or less.
- Bunny-Ears Lawyer: Nonette Enneagram. The narration even describes her as having a loose grip on reality entirely. And yet the woman is the Knight of Nine and is described by Cornelia as being the best Knightmare pilot Britannia has.
- Casual Danger Dialogue: Schneizel takes to being Zero's prisoner rather well, though as far as Zero is concerned Schneizel is just pretending to act unafraid to throw Zero off his game. Unfortunately, Cornelia knows better.
- Chess Motifs: It's a Code Geass fanfic. This should be obvious.
- Child Prodigy: Marianne and Cornelia as soldiers given their respective origin stories.
- Child Soldiers: Marianne and Cornelia both joined the military at a young age and both by choice, though the circumstances were widely different.
- Defector from Decadence: The very premise of the fic is centered around Cornelia choosing to become a traitor to Britannia to help Lelouch get at the heart of Marianne's murder.
- Digging Yourself Deeper: When it comes to his relationships with women, Lelouch might want to keep his mouth shut if chapter 5 is any indication.
- Double Don't Know: Done by Milly after Shirley asks if she's okay when Cornelia broadcasts that she's a traitor to Britannia.
- Easily Forgiven: Sort of. Cornelia is obviously angry with Lelouch over Clovis’ death, but he holds a higher place in her heart since he’s Marianne’s son. If it had been another sibling, chances are they wouldn't be treated the way he currently being is.
- Double Subverted with Euphemia. She actually slaps Lelouch when she finds out that he's the one who murdered Clovis, but ultimately winds up being okay with it.
- Evil Costume Switch: Played Straight and Inverted at the same time. Cornelia switches into a black version of her R2 outfit when she reveals herself a traitor to Britannia, but it's inverted because Dark Is Not Evil.
- Fix Fic: The series can mostly be seen as this given that Cornelia and Lelouch are now on the same side, as is Suzaku, which could keep Euphie alive, but time will tell.
- Likewise, at Cornelia's urging Lelouch has already used Geass on Euphie, deliberately, so as to to prevent her from being caught by it accidentally.
- Foil: Guinevere is one for Cornelia.
- Foreshadowing: In chapter 3, Lelouch, as Zero, tells General Katase of the JLF to weed out extremist parties. In chapter 5, Kusakabe leads such an extremist party against the Lake Kawaguchi Convention Center.
- In chapter 7 there is a lot of heavy-handed foreshadowing regarding Charles' Geass.
- For Want Of A Nail: Inverted. Cornelia is the nail being inserted into this story.
- In Spite of a Nail: Though this doesn't seem to stop the Lake Kawaguchi Hotel Jacking from occurring.
- Gay Option: Parodied briefly in the chapter 7 omake.
- Have I Mentioned I Am Heterosexual Today?: Lelouch does his best to convince Euphie and CC of this in Chapter 5. Both to no avail and causing other problems. Until he kisses CC that is.
- Have I Mentioned I Am Sexually Active Today?: Inverted. Lelouch, in chapter 5, tries to purport to Euphie that he's not having sex.
- Heel–Face Turn: Cornelia at the very beginning.
- He Is Not My Boyfriend: CC says this flat out when Cornelia suggests such a thing between her and Lelouch.
- Incest Subtext: Already creeping in, if you read too much into some scenes. Discussed by the author
here in addition to Fan-Preferred Couple. - Internal Reveal: In chapter 7, Suzaku reveals to Lelouch that he's the Lancelot pilot.
- Knight Templar Big Brother: Cornelia, full stop.
- Little Miss Badass: Marianne's origin story is described as her taking on and overpowering way older soldiers in hand to hand combat while hungry before she then became a soldier and rose in rank rapidly.
- My Country, Right or Wrong: Unless they show loyalty to Charles or are drunk on the Britannian Kool-aid, the remaining soldiers of Britannia can be said to be this. As opposed to...
- My Master, Right or Wrong: The soldiers fighting for Cornelia in the confederacy have the utmost dedication to Cornelia and are willing to put their faith in her regardless of whether they feel the same. Some of them even believe that she is making the right decision.
- My Greatest Failure: Cornelia feels very guilty about letting Marianne die and for failing to rescue Lelouch and Nunnally. This fic gives her a second chance for the latter. Cornelia even tells both siblings she will never leave them alone again.
- O.O.C. Is Serious Business: Downplayed. While Schneizel notes Cornelia acting kindly towards the Japanese is definitely not her usual tactics, he isn't as concerned about it as he could be. This comes back to bite him later when Cornelia and Lelouch take him hostage.
- Properly Paranoid: Cornelia recorded her interrogation of Zero which lets her later learn there's a section she can't remember and deduce Lelouch's Geass (though without knowing what it was). She also makes Lelouch Geass Euphemia to do something trivial so he doesn't accidentally Geass her later.
- Red Shirt Army: While the narrative suckers you into thinking that Captain Marcus Lyndon and his crew are being set up to be mauve shirts, they're this. Though, Major General Cervantes seems to have made it to Mauve Shirt territory.
- Rich Bitch: Guinevere su Britannia.
- Shout-Out:
- Chapter 3 has a clear reference to the famous Snickers "You're not you when you're hungry".
- It also has CorneliaCare.
- An obscure one, but noticeable if you know the series: Cornelia tells Schneizel in chapter 6 a country without a king is a country still, but king without countrymen rules naught but hills.
- Suzaku isn't the hero Japan wants. He's the hero they need.
- Fans were quick to notice Major General Cervantes and his attachment to his beard which makes him unbeatable. Of course, in the same chapter, there's also Gabriel the Mad, who is based on Mad King Gangrel and General Wolfe seems to borrow inspiration from Aversa.
- Chapter 3 has a clear reference to the famous Snickers "You're not you when you're hungry".
- Ship Tease: Lelouch and CC have gotten the most of this. He does kiss her in chapter 5 after all. And again in chapter 6.
- Unless of course, you read too much into some of Lelouch's scenes with Cornelia.
- Stealth Pun: In chapter 6 Lelouch gets shoved into a closet. Logic would dictate he can't stay there forever.
- Taking You with Me: How Linda Thorton meets her end. See Better to Die than Be Killed above.
- The Knights Who Say "Squee!": Very apparent for Cornelia's relationship with Marianne and every interaction shown of the two in the past.
- The Nicknamer: Nonette has one for practically everyone: Nellie for Cornelia, and Bizzy for Bismarck. The latter is not amused in the slightest.
- Wham Episode: Who would've guessed that by chapter 6 Schneizel would be captured. This being Schneizel, of course, it's likely he's not going to be incarcerated for long.
Word of God confirms this. - What the Hell, Hero?: Nagisa Chiba, of the Four Holy Swords, gives this to Cornelia since her brother died at Saitama and now she and Cornelia have to work together.
- You Are Not Alone: Cornelia makes sure Lelouch gets this message and swears not to let this happen to him again.
- You Wouldn't Shoot Me: In chapter 6, Cornelia holds Lelouch at gunpoint in order to get him to confess to her about Geass and he calls her out on it. Cornelia turns it back on him saying Yes, let the terrorist preach to me about extreme measures. I'd love to hear this. However, as it turns out the gun was empty.
