OVA
Description
Ash Phoenix, a Britannian war orphan, grew up at Lavender Home alongside his younger brother Nichol and friend Narah Vaughn. He and Nichol secured adoption by Norland von Lunebelg, though Norland initially planned to discard Nichol due to frail health. Desperate to keep his brother, Ash pledged service to Norland, enduring harsh training under Christoph Scissorman to become a child soldier and assassin. Ash eventually earned recognition as the Knight of Thirteen, marked by the Roman numeral XIII tattooed on his shoulder, though his fighting style drew criticism as dishonorable from figures like Bismarck Waldstein.
A mission brought Ash face-to-face with Ruby, another Lavender Home orphan. His hesitation allowed Nichol to intervene and kill Ruby to protect him, but the mission was deemed a failure. When Norland demanded accountability, Nichol took responsibility and was executed. Ash attacked Norland in rage but was restrained and imprisoned. Trauma from his brother's death turned Ash's hair white on one side, later dyed blue. In prison, he refused food until befriended by fellow inmate Jugo Sumeragi. Ash confided in Jugo, who urged him to find new purpose.
A sympathetic guard facilitated an escape attempt where Jugo was shot and killed. Before dying, Jugo tasked Ash with protecting his daughter, Sakuya Sumeragi, giving him her photo. Ash escaped, blaming himself for Jugo's death. Later, on a battlefield, he recognized Sakuya from the photo. Before Ash could explain his vow to Jugo, Sakuya—unaware of his intentions—used her Geass power to force Ash to view her as his "most important person," replacing his memory of Nichol with her. Ash believed Sakuya was his brother "Rozé," and together they formed the Nameless Mercenaries to fight Neo-Britannia.
Under Geass influence, Ash maintained a cold, professional mercenary demeanor but showed compassion for stray animals and civilians. He rescued a maid named "Raspberry"—unaware she was Sakuya in disguise—and developed romantic feelings for her, acting uncharacteristically cheerful and talkable in her presence. Sakuya manipulated Ash, mistakenly believing he killed Jugo, and planned to discard him after achieving her goals.
Ash's past resurfaced when Sakuya investigated the orphanage, learning of his adoption by Norland. Later, during battle, Neo-Britannia's cyborg soldier Arnold Renck used an Anti-Geass device to break Sakuya's control. Ash regained his memories of Nichol's death and realized Sakuya's deception. Enraged, he left the battlefield and confronted Christoph at his lab. After defeating Christoph, Ash nearly killed Sakuya but spared her following her apology. Though he continued fighting alongside her pragmatically, he maintained hostility.
In the final battle against Norland, Ash and Sakuya synchronized their Knightmare Frames to defeat him. Ash then sacrificed himself to protect Sakuya from an attack, fulfilling his promise to Jugo. His death contrasted with Lelouch vi Britannia's, as Ash died a publicly celebrated hero enabling a brighter future.
A mission brought Ash face-to-face with Ruby, another Lavender Home orphan. His hesitation allowed Nichol to intervene and kill Ruby to protect him, but the mission was deemed a failure. When Norland demanded accountability, Nichol took responsibility and was executed. Ash attacked Norland in rage but was restrained and imprisoned. Trauma from his brother's death turned Ash's hair white on one side, later dyed blue. In prison, he refused food until befriended by fellow inmate Jugo Sumeragi. Ash confided in Jugo, who urged him to find new purpose.
A sympathetic guard facilitated an escape attempt where Jugo was shot and killed. Before dying, Jugo tasked Ash with protecting his daughter, Sakuya Sumeragi, giving him her photo. Ash escaped, blaming himself for Jugo's death. Later, on a battlefield, he recognized Sakuya from the photo. Before Ash could explain his vow to Jugo, Sakuya—unaware of his intentions—used her Geass power to force Ash to view her as his "most important person," replacing his memory of Nichol with her. Ash believed Sakuya was his brother "Rozé," and together they formed the Nameless Mercenaries to fight Neo-Britannia.
Under Geass influence, Ash maintained a cold, professional mercenary demeanor but showed compassion for stray animals and civilians. He rescued a maid named "Raspberry"—unaware she was Sakuya in disguise—and developed romantic feelings for her, acting uncharacteristically cheerful and talkable in her presence. Sakuya manipulated Ash, mistakenly believing he killed Jugo, and planned to discard him after achieving her goals.
Ash's past resurfaced when Sakuya investigated the orphanage, learning of his adoption by Norland. Later, during battle, Neo-Britannia's cyborg soldier Arnold Renck used an Anti-Geass device to break Sakuya's control. Ash regained his memories of Nichol's death and realized Sakuya's deception. Enraged, he left the battlefield and confronted Christoph at his lab. After defeating Christoph, Ash nearly killed Sakuya but spared her following her apology. Though he continued fighting alongside her pragmatically, he maintained hostility.
In the final battle against Norland, Ash and Sakuya synchronized their Knightmare Frames to defeat him. Ash then sacrificed himself to protect Sakuya from an attack, fulfilling his promise to Jugo. His death contrasted with Lelouch vi Britannia's, as Ash died a publicly celebrated hero enabling a brighter future.