Fate Grand Apocrypha - Standard Bearers
Chapter 01 : Sudden Meeting
Author's Note : Hello and welcome to the first fanfic i've ever written, expect lots of grammar mistake and wrong terminology from me, since i'm still new to writing and English is not my main language.
I made this fic simply because i like the Jeannes, especially Alter. Their current dynamic is interesting, because unlike Artoria who barely interacted with the other version of her, on The Servafes event Jeanne straight up claims that her other version is her sisters, she won't take no for an answer, even resorting to brainwashing. Giving her an (in)famous reputation as a big sister. Their interaction was the main highlight for me during that event. So this fic will focus on their relationship with each other on a familiar setting. What setting am i talking about? I'm sure you would've figured it out by now.
Disclaimer : I don't own Fate, Type-Moon does.
With that out of the way, enjoy the story.
"Ugh.. " Jeanne Alter groggily opened her eyes, not feeling too well right now.
"What the hell?! Where am i?!" Alter asked no one in particular, finding herself in an unfamiliar location.
"A forest? Last time i checked i was in my own room back in Chaldea, not in some random forest." Alter tried to remember why she is suddenly transported somewhere else. Not finding much luck in that
"Dammit! I don't remember Rayshifting here, was it because of the enemy's Noble Phantasm?" Alter reasoned, it's not that farfetched either. Master once said Jack could erase memories after all.
"Ah! Speaking of Master, He must be nearby! I need to find him!" Alter concluded, that guy couldn't Rayshift alone after all, it would be suicide.
"Oi! Master! Are you here?! Masteeeer!" Alter shouted as loud as she can, she wouldn't admit it, but she is quite fond of that guy, and thinking about him being alone, with no one at his side is starting to worry her.
Yes, her Master, the one who accepted her, even though she tried to kill him before. He didn't shun her, he didn't blame her, nor did he hated her. It was confusing, her nature as an Avenger couldn't comprehend his reasoning at all.
That Saint, her original self, said not to worry about it too much, saying that he was just that kind of person. Alter loathe to admits it, but she founds herself agreeing with the Saint for once.
In all of her short existence, all she know is how to hate, but now, she couldn't care less about that. Having someone that cares about her has changed her views on things. Hell, she even learned to tolerate her original self, now people even thought they were sisters for god sake! Honestly, it infuriates her, but for some reason, she doesn't really feel the need to correct those people.
Now all she wanted is to find her Master, to be at HIS side. He couldn't do anything without her after all, what a hopeless idiot.
"Ah! It's future-me! What are you doing here?" A voice suddenly called out.
"Hm? I thought i heard an annoying voice just now.." Alter mused to herself, with her back turned, not really paying attention to the new arrival
"Future-me! I'm right here! Heeeey!"
"Nah, must've been the wind." Alter continued feigning ignorance.
Tired of being ignored, the so called 'wind' decided to try the rough approach, she ran and tackled Alter, sending them both tumbling on the ground.
"Ow! Ow! Dammit brat! I'm just messing with ya!"
"Unacceptable! Don't you know it"s rude to ignore people?"
"Sheesh, lighten up will ya? I thought you wanted to avoid turning out like me? What you did just now sounds like something i definitely would do."
The little girl gasped, realizing what her future-self is implying, but tried her best to remain calm.
This little girl is Jeanne Alter's younger-self, born from an incident where Alter drank a youth potion accidentally given to her by a certain little King of Heroes.
Her full name is Jeanne d'Arc Santa Lily Lancer Alter, quite the mouthful indeed. Master loves to tease her about it too, asking her to say her own full name as fast as she can, predictably, she stutters a lot saying it, but her stubbornness made sure that she never gives up doing it again and again, which is all the way more hillarious.
Why is she a Santa? That's a story for another time. She idolizes the original Jeanne and is embarrassed of Alter's rude behaviour, which explains why her personality is closer to the original and her refusal to one day grow up to be like Jeanne Alter.
"So, have you seen Master around here, brat?"
"That's what i was about to ask you, i thought you were with Reindeer-san, future-me, like you always do."
"T-Then, do you at least remember how we got dragged into this place?" Alter quickly replied with a hint of red on her cheeks.
"Sorry, i don't. I suddenly woke up and already found myself here. I heard you yelling around here and went in to investigate, that's how i found you."
"Damn, not much luck either huh?" Alter sighed, truth be told, Alter is not sure what to do, without her Master she can't just carelessly move around. She's not the thinker type after all, that's her Master's job!
"Fine, let's just search for Master around here, with any luck we'll find him soon."
Lily nodded and went along with her future-self, even though she dislike her future-self, she's willing to put it aside for her Master's sake.
Meanwhile, on a nearby road, shockwave could be heard ringing around, shaking the very earth itself.
The cause is an ongoing battle, between the Hero of Charity, Karna, and the Saint of Orleans, Jeanne d'Arc.
"Please stop this! Why are you doing this, Lancer of Red?" Jeanne pleaded.
"I refuse. I am just following my Master's order, like any good Servant would." Lancer of Red cooly replied.
Jeanne, as a Ruler, simply wanted to carry out her duty as the overseer of an ongoing Holy Grail War between the Black Faction, consisted of the Yggdmillenia family and the Red Faction, consisted of various Magus affiliated with the Clock Tower.
But Karna won't have none of that, he was ordered by his Master to attack the Ruler, and so attack her he shall. He has no idea why his Master wanted Ruler to be eliminated, but it's not his place to question the order of someone he has sworn his loyalty to.
"No good, i can't match his movement!" Jeanne grimaced, her speed simply couldn't keep up, even if she can, her attack is incapable of scratching his armor, let alone hurt him.
Her Noble Phantasm, Luminosite Eternelle were meant to protect, not harm. While using her other Noble Phantasm, La Pucelle, is out of the question right now. So currently she is out of options.
"I see you're at your limit already Ruler. Fine, the least i can do is make your death quick and painless." Karna stated, picking up the pace, now only a blur. He suddenly appeared in front of Jeanne, spear ready to take her life.
Jeanne can only widen her eyes, but quickly closed it, she can only accept this outcome. Karna is well renowned as a strong Heroic Spirit after all, she couldn't stand up to that.
"I hope Laeticia will be fine after i'm gone..." Jeanne thought about the girl she borrowed her body from. Even in her last moment, she only thought about the well being of others.
Jeanne waited for the embrace of death, for the spear that will soon pierce her heart. But it never came, a loud clang resounded. Jeanne opened her eyes, and couldn't believe what she is seeing. Someone is protecting her, driving Karna away.
"Just my luck, that annoying Saint is also here..." The newcomer sighed, but soon steeled her eyes, this was an opponent she couldn't take lightly.
"Well, well, what's this? The so called Hero of Charity bullying a helpless Saint? I'm disappointed in you Karna, i thought you were supposed to be the honorable type?"
"Yeah! Stop bullying our sister, you big meanie!"
"S-Sister?" Jeanne stuttered, confused by the sudden arrival.
It was a pair of girls, one around Jeanne's age and the other one being much younger. They repelled Karna's attack and now they both stand right before Jeanne. She was surprised by this sudden development. But that's not all that's surprising, it's their face!
The first girl, looked almost identical to Jeanne's own face, save for the white hair color, and yellow eyes. Her armor looked exactly like what Jeanne is wearing right now, except more tattered and colored black, the flag she"s holding right now is also of the same color and has a different symbol, this one resembles a dragon.
The second girl also looked identical to the first one, except she's shorter and wore a white dress with many red and green ribbon decorating it instead. Her weapon is a spear with two flags that has the same color as her ribbon.
Jeanne is not sure what to make of this situation, it's as if she were looking at a mirror.
"Hoo? Impressive. You blocked my attack. Not many could do that, even if they knew it was coming" Karna stated, impressed by the first girl's skill.
"Really now? I thought it was kind of slow. You're not even doing it seriously weren't you?"
"You speak as if you know me, yet i don't believe we've ever met." Karna questioned, he may not show it, but he too was surprised by the sudden arrival of the pair.
"Does it really matter? So, are we going to duke it out or what?" the girl challenged.
"You knew of my true name yet still believes you can match me in combat? You must be very confident in your skill."
"Heh, guess you could say that." The girl smirked, unconcerned with Karna's status as a top tier Heroic Spirit. On Chaldea, her Spirit Origin have been enhanced with many Ember of Wisdom, making her far stronger than a normal Servant. Plus, she have sparred against many skilled Heroic Spirit on the Simulator Room, including against Karna.
Karna wanted to fight, but he could sense another Heroic Spirit is coming this way. 4 against 1 is something he couldn't risk, because even if he won, his Master's mana will be completely drained. It would kill him, and Karna refused to endanger his Master. Not to mention the time it would took battling them, morning is soon approaching. And Mages valued secrecy above all else, they would not hesitate to kill any witnesses. No doubt his Master also share this belief and would order him to silence the threat. He does not wish to spill the blood of the innocents.
"Very well, i'll let you live for another day Ruler. Next time i won't be so kind. You should thanks those two for this. Farewell." Karna vanished into Spirit Form and left the area.
"Ha! Even the mighty Karna ran away from me, i'm the best!"
"No, it's almost morning, and he couldn't risk innocent civilian getting dragged into this. That's the sort of person he is."
"Aww, can't you let me have this for once, brat?"
Jeanne can only blink at what just happened, she was just saved by their untimely arrival.
"Umm, E-Excuse me."
Both girl stared at Jeanne, surprised at her meek tone just now.
"Thank you for saving me, i would not survive that encounter if it weren't for you two."
"Don't mention it, original-me. It's our duty as family to help each others."
"Speak for yourself, brat. I just can't let someone else beating her before me."
"Original? Family? Pardon me, but i don't understand what you're talking about."
Both girls widened their eyes, they looked at each other and nodded. They understood what this means. This is not the Jeanne from Chaldea that they usually interacted with.
"Forget what the brat said, it doesn't matter."
"Yes it does! I'll explain it. But for now, i believe an introduction is in order. Nice to meet you, original-me. My class is Lancer, real name Jeanne d'Arc Alter Lily." Lily decided to use the shortened version of her name, not wanting to confuse the poor Saint.
"...Avenger class, Jeanne d'Arc Alter."
Jeanne went silent, she did not expect her savior to be herself, two of them in fact! Well, another version of herself, but that's beside the point! One of them is even on an unusual class.
"Y-You're both... Me?" Jeanne stammered, it's not something you would normally say after all.
"What, does the name Jeanne d'Arc not ring a bell?"
"Just be silent, future-me!"
"Tch, whatever, brat."
Lily looked up at her original-self and smiled.
"Yes, we're both you. This rude girl here is an altered version of you, meaning she is-"
"-An evil version of you." Alter interrupted with a smirk. Enjoying the dumbfounded look on the Saint's face.
Lily frowned at this, but decided to continue explaining.
"And i'm a Lily version of her, meaning i'm the younger version of her." Lily said whle pointing at her future-self
Jeanne couldn't quite wrap this around her head. But nodded anyway.
"I see, thank you for explaining and helping me Lily, Alter."
"Don't mention it, original-me. It's only natural that we looked out for each others. We're all Jeannes after all."
Alter said nothing in response, only her grumbling can be heard.
"So, what are you doing here, original-me? Why is Karna attacking you?"
"I'm here to fulfill my role as a Ruler class Servant, to watch over the Holy Grail War so it did not escalate. As for Karna, I'm not sure, he said it was his Master's order."
"Wait-wait-wait! Master? As in a human Master? One that have Command Spell to order their Servant with?" Alter questioned, her Master is supposed to be the last surviving Master after all. So her outburst is understandable.
"Indeed, i've been meaning to ask, but where are your Masters?
"We're still looking for him, we lost him on the way here. Honestly, what a pain." Alter quickly calmed down and answered.
"I wish we could find him soon. Ah, by the way, we have the same Master" Lily helpfully added in.
"The same Master? That's impossible! The amount of mana needed for that is enormous! I don't know anyone in the Yggdmillennia family that have that much mana reserve."
"Yggdmillennia? What the hell are you talking about?"
"You don't know them? But you're working for them as a Servant of the Black Faction, are you not? You saved me from Karna, a Servant of the Red Faction after all."
"No idea what you're talking about."
"Original-me, we do not know about this Black or Red Faction that you spoke of. So logimically, we can't be a part of it."
"You're not part of both factions? Then were you summoned by the grail without a Master, like me?" Jeanne knew they already said that they have a Master, but maybe they were just referring to the grail as their Master. She needed to be sure.
"Weren't you listening? We do have a Master, but he's not here with us right now. Besides, even if that glorified mug is calling for me, i wouldn't answer it, not in a million years! There is only one person i would ever call my Master!" Alter snapped, not liking the idea of having other people as her Master.
Lily frowned at this, but secretly she is agreeing with her future-self. Reindeer-san is the reason why she still exists after all. She can't thank him enough for that.
"I apologize for my assumption, but please tell me, if you're not part of both factions, and is not in the same situation as me. Then why are you here?"
"We're part of Chaldea. And as for why we're here? Beats me." Alter shrugged.
"We just woke up recently on a nearby forest, already separated from Reinde-I mean, our Master."
"Chaldea? Is that a third faction participating on this Holy Grail War?" Jeanne asked, this is the first time she ever heard the name.
"No, No. We're not part of this Holy Grail War that you spoke of, original-me."
"Basically, we're a part of an organization consisting of a bunch of Servants, all contracted to the same Master. Our usual M.O. is to find baddies that changed the past, beat them up, and return home after making sure history is as what it should be, sounds simple enough for you, Miss Saint?"
"That was a crude and oversimplified version of our background, but yes, that's what we basically do, we're like a time police!"
"I... See?" Jeanne found their story sketchy, but accepted it anyway. As long as they do not cause trouble, then it would be all right. She hopes anyway.
"So what are you going to do now, original-me?" Lily inquired.
"I'm heading to a nearby town, so i can watch over the Holy Grail War undisturbed."
"Can we come with you? Please, i promise we won't interfere with anything."
"I don't see why not, maybe we can find your Master there."
"You don't have any problem with this right, future-me?"
"As long as i find Master, i'll do what it takes, i'll even put up with this Saint here."
"Yay! So it'll be a trip with just us sisters! How exciting!"
Alter groaned, while Jeanne chuckled at their antics
'Sisters, huh?' Jeanne thought, she had her own siblings when she was alive, but unfortunately, they did not make it to the Throne of Heroes, so her chance of ever seeing them again is slim to none.
'They seems really close, like a real sibling.' Jeanne observed, who knew you could be siblings with yourself?
And so, the Jeanne Sisters went on their journey, unaware of a pair of watching eyes from afar.
"Who were those two mysterious Servants? They doesn't seems to be from the Red Faction."
"I don't care who they are! How dare they stole my thunder! It was supposed to be my chance to shine! To show everyone my overwhelming strength and ingenious mind!"
"But at least our objective is secured for now, Master. They protected Ruler from Lancer of Red."
"Shut your mouth Saber! This is why i'm the Master and you're just a mere Servant! It's obviously a ploy from the Red Faction so that we let our guard down! Use your brain you nitwit!"
"I apologize, Master." Saber said nothing else in response, not wanting to anger his Master any further.
'But, still. I noticed those two new Servant looked uncannily similar to Ruler, perhaps there is a connection. I better tell my Master about this, but first, i'll let him cool off a bit.' Saber wisely held his thought for now.
That's it for Chapter 1. I know it's short but that's all i could think of for now.
I'll see you next time.