Fate Grand Apocrypha - Standard Bearers

Chapter 02 : Reason

Author's Note : Yo! I'm back. Didn't expect to release this so soon after Chapter 1 but here it is. Once again i'll apologize for any grammar error in it.

Disclaimer : I don't own Fate, Type-Moon does.

After walking for the entire day, night is soon approaching. The sisters decided to set up camp on a nearby river. By 'camp', it means setting up a campfire and nothing else, since Jeanne's belonging got caught in the crossfire with Karna. Jeanne and Lily searched for the logs and sticks while Alter caught some fishes using her sword from the nearby river.

"Thanks for helping me setting up the camp you two."

"It can't be helped, having a human host means you require proper rest and sustenance. Unlike us full-fledged Servants."

"Yeah, like i said before, it's no problem at all, original-me."

Jeanne already told them about her... unique condition, but didn't went in full detail, while Lily already explained the basic of Chaldea to Jeanne.

Jeanne smiled, so far this trip has been pleasant. Now that they've nothing to do, she decided to ask more about her two mysterious savior.

"Now that we've taken a break, do you mind if i ask a few question?"

Before Lily could answer, Alter already spoke up. "Hold up, you've asked enough question last night, now it's our turn. Answer our question first and then we'll do the same for you." Lily pouted at being cut off but didn't voice her complain.

Jeanne nodded and gestured Alter to go on with her question. "First up, how many Masters are there on this Holy Grail War of yours?"

"14 Servants beside me have been summoned, meaning there should be about the same number of Masters out there."

Alter scoffed at the answer. 'Pfft, the number of Servants being equal to the numbers of Masters, what a bad joke. That's not how it worked back home.' Alter looked at her younger self and nodded at her. "Now you ask her brat, we get one each. Ask about important matters only."

"Fine, why are you using a normal human as a vessel, original-me? Is there something wrong with your summoning?"

Jeanne can only shakes her head as an answer. "That's what i'm trying to find out as well. Something must be wrong with the Grail, finding out the reason of my current condition is my other objective here. This girl whose body i'm inhabiting, her name is Laeticia, she lives in France before i started possessing her. I had to make up various excuses so she would be allowed to go on this journey."

Alter raised an eyebrow at this. "Whoa, not only you lied to her friends and family, you also body-jacked her to go to a bloody war between super powered ghosts. A stunt unbecoming of a Holy Maiden like yourself. Just for that, my respect for you went up a little." Alter said with a small grin while giving a mock salute.

"N-No! It's not like that at all. She's a devout believer of God, and after learning of my name, she wholeheartedly allowed me to take control."

"Whatever you say, Not-Laeticia. Sure is convenient that a French girl that just happen to look like you is readily allowing you to go around to take her body for a drive. You sure she isn't a descendant of yours? Maybe from one of your siblings?"

"That's enough, future-me! One question only, remember?" Lily shouted to stop her future-self from guilt tripping her original-self, although she is also curious about the answer to that last question.

Jeanne raised her hand to calm Lily down. "That's alright, Lily. Alter brings up some valid points there, so i don't mind it at all, even now i feel hesitant to endanger Laeticia, but currently i have no other choice, so i must make do with what i have."

"As for that descendant question, i certainly hope that would be the answer, because it means at the very least my siblings managed to continue their life normally after my death, raising a family that still lasts to this very day..."

Lily eyes lit up brightly hearing that. "Did you hear that, future-me?! This girl is potentially our descendant! Isn't that amazing?" She said while shaking her future-self's cape excitedly

"Geez, yeah yeah, i got it already. Let go of my cape, you damn brat." Alter tiredly said while pulling back her cape toward herself.

Jeanne giggled at seeing Lily's excitement, before coughing to preserve her dignified appearance in front of her other selves. "Ahem, i believe it is now my turn. I just wanted to know how the two of you came to be."

Alter gulped at this, not liking the direction of this conversation. She gestured at Lily to go first. "How about you go first, brat. Mine's pretty shitty after all."

Lily sighed at her future-self's hesitation, but didn't actually reject her request. "Fine then, now where should i start? It aaaall started on Chaldea's second Christmas..." Lily then told the tale of her origins, apparently it all started when Alter shrunk after drinking a certain potion given to her. Lily decided to become Santa to look for something to do in her newly born life, but it does not work out, the presents Lily gave away was not well received. Lily only prioritize what she thinks the other Servant needed instead of what they actually wanted, such as giving the other children some books for studying instead of toys.

Lily cannot understand what she did wrong, with logic dictating everything she does, not leaving any room for feelings. She almost gave up, accepting that without any real purpose, she will soon disappear because her Spirit Origin is unstable and temporary. But thanks to her Master, she realized what she lacks, a true purpose in life. After an elaborate plan involving many Servants (including Chaldea's very own Jeanne). Lily fulfilled her dream of seeing the ocean. The same dream the original Jeanne once had. Her Spirit Origin is now recorded as a 'Jeanne that realized her dream of seeing the ocean'.

"That's a very beautiful story Lily, i'm proud that you learned from your mistakes instead of giving up."

"Hehe, i owe everything to Reindeer-san. One day i wish to repay his kindness." Lily beamed, enjoying her original-self's praise.

The two now looked at Alter, who tried averting her gaze from them.

"How about you Alter? Anything you wish to share?"

"Nothing in particular..."

"Come on, future-me, I told her about my origin, it's only fair that you did that as well." Lily nudged her future-self with a pleading look.

Alter, while hesitant at first, finally decided to start talking after a few seconds of silence to steel her resolve. "You remember Gilles, right?" Jeanne simply nodded to answer. "Then i will assume you knew what become of him after your death. The Gilles of that time period were summoned a few days after your death, and with the power of the Grail, he wished for a Jeanne that will exact her revenge on France. That's where i came in. And it all went downhill from there..."

Alter once stood on the way of Human Order Restoration. Terrorizing France with her dragon army, alongside many Servants modified with Madness Enhancement as her generals. She took revenge on all of France for not saving her in life, leaving her to her cruel fate. She dedicated her whole life for France, but what did France did in return? burning her alive.

Jeanne's breath hitched for a moment, she looked at her Altered self with a solemn expression, she is mad at Alter for her senseless murder spree. She does not approve of Alter's action, but Jeanne can see why Alter would do such horrible things. In her own twisted way, Alter did what she did for Jeanne, because the original could not bring herself to hate her own country, so it's up to Alter to exact vengeance.

"Are you okay there, original-me?" Lily asked with concern in her voice, not used seeing her original-self with a dead serious expression like that.

"I'm fine, Lily." Jeanne smiled wryly at her younger-self (in a way), before returning to a focused expression.

"You can continue, Alter."

Alter nodded, and proceed to tell how it was the Chaldean Master who stopped her self-destructive attitude. She closed her eyes, reminding herself of something that happened a long time ago.

"There's nothing lovable about me! I have no charm! I'm a helplessly twisted little girl! All i have is power, so much that you want to throw up! But can you blame me? That's all i have! I'm driven to seek revenge and it's all that i have!"

"I don't think i have the right to judge your action, for wanting revenge towards injustice. But! I don't think having power is a bad thing, you need power to protect those that you hold dear. I'm still a weak and inexperienced Master, i need strong people like you to help me save everyone, since i can't do it on my own!"

"...After all this time, i wouldn't have the nerve-"

"I would welcome you! You caused suffering, i know that. But sitting around doing nothing won't change anything! So come with me, let's change your fate, wash those blood away from your hand."

"...Tch, what a hopeless idiot. Fine, i will admit my defeat, i admit to an inferiority complex over that Holy Maiden, i admit to a craving to be sought after, i admit to having smoldering hatred in my heart even now, and i admit that no matter how much success i achieve, how many lives i save, i'll always be an Avenger who is never satisfied. But even so, with all the sins this hopeless Avenger committed, if you still wish for this strength, this flag of hatred, i will respond to your summon, last Master of the world. You'd better take full responsibility!"

"Yeah, i will, i appreciate you placing your trust in me, Jeanne."

"...Alter."

"Hmm?"

"Call me either with my full name, or just call me Alter. I don't deserve being called by that name."

"You got it! Now let's head back home... Alter!"

"I became a Servant for his sake, because he was the only one who accepted me. He offered me a place in Chaldea, knowing full well what my horrendous action has caused. I caused suffering and destruction for many, yet he still foolishly cling to the belief that people can change for the better, that even I, an Alter, can change for the better." Alter finished telling her story, now silently awaiting her original-self's judgement.

"...Have you ever regretted your action?"

"No, i don't regret a damn thing. Those bastards deserved it for abandoning us!" Alter answered without hesitation, venom dripping from her voice.

"Really now? Is that why you went to the remains of Orleans and exorcised the ghosts of your victims? Ghosts that is still reliving their painful death over and over mind you." Lily Interjected.

"...I don't know what you're talking about, brat."

"Quit playing dumb! I kept bugging Master until he gave up and told me the whole thing, it's not every day that you requested permission to Rayshift you know! You went out of your way to relieve those people from their eternal suffering, the very suffering that you intentionally caused, if that's not regret then i don't know what is!"

"YOU DON'T KNOW A DAMN THING ABOUT ME, BRAT!"

"I know everything about you, i know because I AM you, you numbskull!"

Alter said nothing in return, stunned that the hard-headed Lily is admitting being Alter's younger-self. Usually she would always stubbornly denies it whenever asked about it.

"I see, so you truly regretted your action. I'm delighted, Alter. You deserved a better life than just being an existence that is obsessed with revenge." Jeanne spoke with a soft smile, not wanting for the two to bicker with each other.

"Don't misunderstand, i still hates humanity and France. My Master being the sole exception."

"That is fine, to my knowledge, the only emotion an Avenger knew is how to hate. But i can tell that you're different, you knew how to love, like any normal girl." Jeanne replied with a knowing smile.

"L-Love?! W-What the hell are you talking about?! I don't love that idiot!" Alter quickly denied, with a blush on her face.

"Original-me didn't say anything about you loving Reindeer-san, all she said is that you knew how to love." Lily countered with a mischievous smile.

"S-Shut up, brat!" Alter's face got even redder.

Jeanne and Lily shared a laugh, while Alter can only bemoan her fate.

"Sometimes i really wonder why i put up with these two..."

"Well, Karna? How did your mission go?" A white haired man dressed in black clothes resembling a priest attire asked Karna, who frowned at the man's question.

"I was unsuccessful, Ruler survived our encounter." Short and to the point, Karna did not waste time.

"Oh? The Hero of Charity failed to defeat a mere little girl?" Another spoke, this time it's a woman in a black dress. Her most prominent features being her long pointy ears, reminiscence of an elf.

"Ruler herself is not a problem. Her attack and speed does not paint her as a threat. It was her sudden reinforcement that derailed my mission."

The white haired man raised his eyebrows at this revelation.

"Reinforcement? Please, explain."

"Two unknown Servants came to her aid. One of them immediately recognized me, yet still stands in defiance. Apparently she does not think fighting me will be a problem."

"Not afraid of you, you say? They are either incredibly brave, or foolish." The woman spoke with an amused tone.

"Not only that, I could sense that another Servant is en route to my location, furthering the disadvantage at hand."

"Even so, why did you retreat? Surely they won't pose a threat to you."

"I was under the impression that you have to be somewhat smart to be a ruler, but it looks like i was mistaken."

The woman snarled at the subtle jab but said nothing else

"I'm confident that i could defeat them, but my Master's mana reserve is limited, as a result i cannot fight for long against too many Servants."

"I see, that's a valid reason. You are dismissed for now, Lancer. I'll inform you if your Master has given you any new order." The man commanded, not wanting a fight to broke out between allies.

Karna narrowed his eyes, but he only nodded and disappeared into Spirit Form, leaving the pair alone.

"How dare he act like that towards an Empress! Such insolence!"

"Now, now, Semiramis. I'm sure he is also frustrated at his own failure, he was expecting it to be an easy mission after all. His pride must've been damaged a little."

"Hmph, fine. You're too lenient towards him, Master."

"Don't worry, Ruler's survival would not affect our plan at all."

"What about those mysterious Servants that interfered with Karna's mission?"

"Patience, my dear Empress. One or two Servants couldn't possibly do much. I will get them taken care of."

"Achoo!"

"Oh? You've gotten a cold Alter, want to borrow my flag as a blanket?"

"No need, some asshole out there is probably talking shit about me."

"I see you have returned Gordes, how was your task to get Ruler to our side?" said a blue haired man in a regal white uniform. This man is Darnic Prestone Yggdmillennia, the patriarch of the Yggdmillennia family.

"Unfortunately, we're unable to reach her in time."

"I see, that is indeed unfortunate. So Ruler is gone now i presume? Do you have anything else to report?"

"No, Ruler is still around. When i arrived on location, two unidentified Servants were already engaging Lancer of Red." Gordes replied with a hint of anger in his voice

"Oh? Still alive you say? I don't remember sending anyone else there. Perhaps an infighting between the Red Faction? They are just a bunch of Magus forced to work together by the Clock Tower after all."

"That's what i think as well, those two Servants managed to repel Lancer of Red and now they're traveling alongside Ruler."

"Interesting, what an unexpected development."

"What are you talking about?"

"If they truly are Red Faction's deserter then perhaps we could use them." Darnic said with a smirk.

"Use them? How?"

"No need to worry yourself about this matter, leave it to me. Thank you for the report, you may leave now, Gordes."

"Fine, but if the chance present itself, i want another chance to attain glory in battle." Gordes said as he opened the door.

"Absolutely, you may rest easy. Everything will soon fall in place."

Back at the camp, Lily is already fast asleep, while the other two is still up, not talking to each other. Jeanne really enjoyed their company and wished to know more about them. So she decided to break the silence.

"Hey, Alter."

"What is it, Miss Saint?"

"What kind of place is Chaldea?"

Alter paused, not expecting that kind of question from the Saint.

"Why would you want to know?" Alter inquired.

"Just curious, that's all. From what you've described so far it seems like a peaceful place.

Alter stayed silent for a moment before answering. "A place where many Servants from all eras can meet. They came in many shapes and sizes, people from Histories, Myths, Legends, even Phantom Spirits, and Conceptual Beings gathered into that one place for a single purpose : The continued existence of the human race."

Jeanne stared in awe, finding it hard to believe such a place existed. "And they all lived there in harmony? For the sake of lending their aid to save humanity?"

Alter shakes her head. "Of course not, not everyone there is a selfless bona fide Hero like you. Some were people who tried to kill each other during their lives." The image of a certain Amazonian Queen and green-haired Rider comes to mind. "Some were cold-blooded serial killers". An image of an adorable white haired little girl and a deranged looking man with bulging eyes comes to mind. "Some were merciless tyrant and cruel conquerors who cared little for anything except for their own ambition." The image of a smug looking blonde haired girl dressed in red wielding an ornate looking sword of the same color, an arrogant blonde haired man clad in golden armor, and a haughty black haired girl with red eyes dressed in a military uniform flashed in her eyes.

Jeanne tilted her head in confusion. "Then how could a place like that exist? Surely with that much hostilities they would've destroyed each other by now?"

Another pause from Alter, before she answered with a soft expression. "It was because of him of course. Our Master. He's an average person who got dragged suddenly into the world of Magecraft, so naturally, he was bad at it. Hell, calling him a bad Magus would be an insult to bad Magus everywhere, that's how much he sucked at Magecraft."

Jeanne listened on, noticing the change in Alter's tone when she started talking about her Master.

"Almost everything about him is average, but if there is one thing that is remarkable about him, it's his boundless positivity. He does not discriminate, no matter who you are, no matter what you're like, and no matter what kind of thing you've done in the past, He would never judge you for that, he treated everyone with equal kindness. He bonds with everyone, he listen to their problem, their worries, their pain. He welcomes it all with open arms."

Jeanne smiled warmly, both at the knowledge that such a kind person existed, and at Alter's softer tone when she is talking about her Master. "He sounds like a wonderful person."

Alter nodded. "Hell yeah he is. Chaldea may have the capability to summon hundreds of Heroic Spirits and the tools required to travel back in time, but it all ain't gonna worth a damn if all those Servants started destroying everything and killing each other. Thanks to him, people who hated each other's guts started tolerating each other's presence, murderers started to see the error of their ways and now channels their murderous tendencies towards those that deserve it, mainly those who tried to incinerate the entire human race. And even those pompous jackasses who had the gall to calls themselves Kings treated him as an equal."

The more Alter talked about her Master, the more it sparked Jeanne's interest in him. 'I asked about Chaldea, yet now the topic of the conversation has shifted into her Master. She must be quite infatuated with him.' Jeanne thought.

"Frankly, i personally think that if it were any other Masters that tried commanding us, then humanity would be doomed." Alter spoke with confidence. "99% Magus were stuck up assholes who cares only about reaching the Root and would callously treats us Servants as mere tools, discarding us if we have outlived our usefulness. Not a great recipe to incite loyalty that's for sure."

"That's quite the high praise Alter. But what you have said just now made me curious, does Chaldea have no other Master? It seems it would be quite the burden if he was alone on the quest to save the entire human race."

"They did have more Masters, i think there were 48 Masters that were prepared for the operation. They were all put into a coma due to a huge explosion caused by an enemy mole among them. The same enemy who wished for the erasure of humanity. Our particular Master was, by a twist of fate, was not with the others when the explosion occured. Apparently he was kicked out and told to wait somewhere else because he felt asleep during the opening ceremony. Can you believe that? Pure luck alone is what saved his ass."

"That's unfortunate, he could have someone else to share the enormous burden of carrying the fate of the entire world on his back." Jeanne mused.

"Maybe, but now i'm just glad that he was the one who summoned me." Alter stated with a fond expression, before her face shifted into a more melancholic one. "But one day, when everything is said and done, when the world is saved, and the battle is truly over. I know that us Servants won't be needed anymore and will inevitably be unsummoned. Returning us all to the Throne of Heroes."

Jeanne gaze soften, not expecting the sudden change of atmosphere into a more somber one.

"There are Servants who claimed to have fragmented memories of their past summoning during a Holy Grail Wars. They said it felt like a hazy dream, a distant memories that they simply couldn't recall."

"Alter..."

Alter spoke once more, now with a determined expression on her face.

"But you know what? Screw that! Spending my times moping around like a dumbass won't change jackshit. So i've decided to just enjoy these fleeting moment with him, to treasure the memories we've made, making sure it to would be an unforgettable experience. So one day, after everything was over, i could leave with no regret. Even if there is no way of knowing it will work, i will still keep on trying. After all, some dreams are worth remembering, aren't they?"

Jeanne wiped a tear that she did not notice were forming on her eyes. "That's very admirable of you, Alter. Not giving up like that will surely bears its fruit one day."

"I certainly hope so..." Alter closed her eyes, to let it all sink in. 'Yes, even if i couldn't remember him, as long as he remembers me, then that would be enough. It will be proof, that i once existed.'

Jeanne decided to change the topic to lighten up the mood. Takes her mind off the depressing thought. "You know, you were awfully passionate when you were talking about your Master, any particular reason?" She teased with a smirk.

"N-No reason at all! I just... i just respect his dedication is all." Alter replied with a slight blush.

"Hehe, if you say so." Jeanne decided to ask something else that also interested her when she first heard about it from them. "You mentioned before that Chaldea have also Summoned the original Jeanne d'Arc right? What were she like? Is she any different from me?"

Still sore from being teased, Alter planned her revenge, her class wasn't just for show you know. "A strict siscon who likes to annoy me and the brat all day. That's our Jeanne. Not only that, one time she tried brainwashing Master so he would call her onee-chan. She also has this weird obsession with dolphins." A victorious smirk forming on her face after seeing the disbelieving stares from her original-self.

"W-What? What do you mean by that? D-Dolphin?"

"Oh, look at the time. I believe it is time for bed. I bid you goodnight then Miss Saint." Alter said as she lays next to Lily and closed her eyes.

"Nooo, please tell me, you're just joking right? Right Alter? Alter? Heeey!".

Satisfied with the small victory, Alter is now fast asleep with a smile plastered on her face, leaving her original-self wondering if what Alter said were true or not.

Jeanne can only sigh at this. 'Looks like there's nothing that can be done about it. I suppose i could get some rest for today. Laeticia would need it.' She laid her tired body next to Alter.

'A wondrous place housing many Servants and an equally wondrous Master who have earned the loyalties of those Servants... I wonder if i could go there and meet him too one day...'

Jeanne shakes her head at that absurd thought. 'No, they already have their own Jeanne there. I don't think they could Summon two Servants with the same True Name and the exact same Spirit Origin...'

Jeanne felt disappointed, yet there is nothing that she could've done to change anything. She turned her head to look at the sleeping form of her Alternate selves. 'They must be quite happy there, it would be quite obvious just by looking at how desperate they were trying to find their Master.' Jeanne envied them a little, but quickly shakes away that thought.

'A place where they belong, and a Master who accepted them for what they are. Small wonder that they would love nothing more than to find a way back to him.'

Even though she only spends only a short time with them, Jeanne felt that she have gotten quite close to the two, valuing their company more and more with each moment spent together with them. Thinking about it now, she never really did anything for the both of them, even though she owes them for saving her. She closed her eyes to think and finally comes to a decision. 'I now have decided, that i would dedicate some of my time here to help them finds a way back to Chaldea and to their Master, it's the least that i could do after they've saved my life from Karna.'

Yes, that would be great, and that means they would be spending more time together. "Some dreams are worth remembering..." she muttered the words that Alter said before. Even if she could not go with them, hopefully the memories would stay on her Spirit Origin forever. She took another small glance at Alter and Lily before she smiled and closed her eyes. "Good night, my beloved sisters..."

Phew, finally done with it. I took lots of inspiration from several in-game events for this chapter.
I know this entire chapter is only exposition. But i can't help it okay? We'll go back to the plot next chapter.

I'll see you next time.