A Hedgehog Of Chaldea
Orleans (Part 3)
*Morning*
"First, let's cut through this forest and head to Orleans. Of course, it will be difficult to enter directly. But we might be able to get some information from the surrounding towns and forts." Jeanne said
"Sounds good to me," Sonic said
*Later*
"We're almost at La Charite. If we can't get any information here about Orleans, we'll have to get closer... I'd rather avoid that as much as possible. As long as I am still uncertain about the forces we have, we cannot engage." Jeanne said
"Man, Jeanne, you are cautious when it comes to these kinds of stuff. At this point, I would've just entered Orleans without a second thought." Sonic commented
"...No, Sonic, to be honest, I am panicking. No matter how you look at it, the other "me" cannot be in her right mind. What that monster will do by controlling the people... it's not easy to imagine. Overwhelming power and hatred can easily destroy a person, no matter how noble they are. Like you, Sonic, you may be very kind to us right now... but you also can lose your kindness and have hatred to something if you lose something dear to you." Jeanne said
"I understand that, Jeanne. I have been through that before, and I hope I don't experience that in the future again." Sonic replied
"Wait a minute. A Servant was detected just ahead of your current path. Its location is in La Charite, which is your destination." Romani said
"!"
"Huh. it's getting further away. Oh no, I've lost it! It's too far away!"
"Fou! Fou! *Climbs on Mash's Head.)"
"What is it Fou? Suddenly climbing on my head? Do you want to see the sky over there? The town... it's burning?" Mash realizing
"Let's hurry!" Jeanne said
"*Grabs On To Both Jeanne's and Mash's hand* Hold on tight, this is about to be a bumpy ride," Sonic said before speeding off with Jeanne and Mash
*At The Town*
A couple of minutes later, the three arrive at the town as everything around them was destroyed
"An animal who not only can talk. But can also run super fast? Just who are you, Sonic?!" Jeanne shock
"We don't have time to talk about that, just look around us!" Sonic replied
"*Looks around her surroundings* It couldn't be!"
"Doctor, life form detection..."
"It's no use! There's nothing alive left in that town." Romani said
"It can't be..."
Moments later, the three heard a sound of a sword.
"Wait. Just now, a sound!" Jeanne said
"Wait a minute, that's!"
"No... It can't be!"
"Looks like they've turned into the living dead. Master, I will scatter them!" Mash said
"I'll start first!" Sonic said
Sonic runs towards the two living dead and swings his sword at them, knocking them away and falling on a pile of bricks. Jeanne runs past Sonic as she stabs one of the living dead, throws them up into the air and strikes them several times and cutting them into pieces before fading away. The second living dead soon grabs on Jeanne's leg and was about to bite it until Mash slams her shield on the living dead's head and crushes as blood and its eyes flew out. Moments later, three more living deads appear as they were all sprinting towards Mash and Jeanne, ready to eat them until Sonic zooms by in front of them and attacks with his sword at the living dead with a slash and cuts all of them in half before their bodies all fall to the ground. Soon after, three more living deads appear and were sprinting towards the three. The three began charging at the living dead and all attack them at the same time. Jeanne struck the first living dead by stabbing it with her spear and cutting it in half. Mash slams and knocks the second living down to the ground before slamming her shield down at its head and exploding. Sonic
"That was close you two. We need to stay focused on our surroundings." Sonic said
"Gasp, gasp, gasp..." Jeanne exhausted
"Are you all right?" Mash asks
"Yes. I'm fine..." Jeanne replied
"They're still here. They look like wyverns. Are they... Ugh, no way!" Mash is disgusted but what she's looking
"Yeaaa... I didn't expect to see this today..." Sonic looking at what Mash was looking at as well
"Are they devouring the corpses?" Romani said
"Stop it!"
The zombies and Wyverns all stop and starred at the three. They all roared at them and began sprinting and flying towards them.
"I'm going!"
"I got this!" Sonic said
Sonic runs up to the three Wyverns, jumps right at the first one and unleashes a series of strikes above his head, attacking the Wyverns stomach and leaving heavy injuries on it, causing it to roar in pain. The two zombies were spriting at Mash and Jeanne and were about attack them until Mash runs up to both of them and slams them with her shield and knocks them away from both her and Mash. Jeanne jumps over Mash soon comes back down and stabs the first zombie through the head with her spear before vanishing away. Jeanne then raises her spear and stabs the second zombie next and throws it into the air where she jumps at it and strikes it several times before dropping them to the ground and vanishing away. Sonic continues to fight the Wyverns off by himself and was taking care of them pretty easily. The Wyverns were flying right at Sonic, ready to attack him until Sonic rushes towards them and repeatedly stabs both Dragons with blinding speed before knocking them away and vanishing.
"*Putting sword back to its Scabbard* Is everyone okay?" Sonic asks
"We are fine. That was the last of the wyverns. No sign of the enemy,y nearby. The battle is over, Master." Mash said
"Your sword skills are remarkable, Sonic. No human can ever stab something that many times in so little time. The Lord praises you for your bravery." Jeanne said
"*Rubbing his head while blushing and giggling* Thank you for the kind words," Sonic said
"..."
"Jeanne?"
"It was most likely "me" who was behind this," Jeanne said
"We can't be sure of that yet..." Mash replied
"No, I can tell. I am sure of it... There's just one thing I don't understand. How much do you have to hate others to wreak such havoc? I can't understand it." Jeanne said
"Hold up! The Servants that just left reversed course! This isn't good. They've must've realized you're here!" Romani said
"How many?"
"You must be kidding. There are five! They're fast... Are those Riders or something? We don't stand a chance against them! We must run!" Romani commanded
"But!"
"We might be able to face them if we had the same numbers. But there's no way you can fight an opponent that's several times stronger than you, is there? Let's retreat, as any sane person would! It says so in the 36 Strategies of War!" Romani shouted
"Do you keep forgetting that I don't know anything about your guys' history? Besides, I don't believe in the word 'retreat' I'll just stand my ground and fight to the very end." Sonic said
"..."
"Jeanne! Servants are closing in!" Mash said
"...I won't run. I must at least find out what their true intentions are!" Jeanne said
"But!"
"It's no use you two, we won't make it! Mash, just run, got it?"
Minutes later, the five Servants arrived at where Sonic, Mash, and Jeanne were at.
"...Ugh!"
"Is this what you were worrying about? They look powerful to me." Sonic commented
"What, on earth? Who knew... Who knew such a thing could happen?" Jeanne Alter said
"..."
"Could someone please pour some water on me? This is bad. It's awful. I think I'm going to lose it. It's so funny I might die from laughing! Take a look, Gilles! Look at that pathetic girl! What is she a wimp? A mouse? A worm? Either way, they're all the same! So punt, I can't even muster any sympathy! Ah... truly... a country could only cling to "me"... comparing them to mice is an insult to mice. Hey, Gilles, don't you think so... Oh, I see. We didn't bring Gilles along." Jeanne Alter mocking the three
"Man, you're more annoying than Egghead. Plus, am I supposed to be scared of you?" Sonic said
"Hmm... I've never seen such an animal in my life before. Who the hell are you?! Are you talking back to me rodent?!" Jeanne Alter pissed
"Well, who else is a talking Hedgehog here? It's just me." Sonic replied
"You've got some nerve to talk back to someone bigger than your height rodent. I can crush your big head right now if I feel like it!" Jeanne Alter said
"I would love to see you try!" Sonic replied
"You... Who are you?" Jeanne said
"I could ask the same of you... Right, as a leader, let me answer that. I am Jeanne d'Arc. The saint devoted to France... the other "me." Jeane Alter said
"What? that's nonsense. You are no saint. Just as I am no saint. But, that is already a thing of the past. More importantly... Why did you attack this town?" Jeanne asks
"...Why, you ask? As the same Jeanne d'Arc, I thought you would understand. Are you stupid now that your alignment has changed? The reason I attacked this city? What a foolish question. It's obvious, isn't it? It is for the sole purpose of destroying France. I am, after all, a Servant. Politically, economically, these methods take too long. Is it not better to simply physically crush everything?" Jeanne Alter replied
"Such foolishness!"
"Such foolishness?" The foolish ones are us, Jeanne d'Arc. Why did you want to save this country? Why did you want to bring salvation to these people? All the while knowing that they are the ones who spit on and betrayed us!"
"That is..."
"I will be fooled no longer. I will be betrayed no longer. I no longer hear the voice of the Lord. the fact that I cannot hear His voice, means the Lord no longer blesses this country. So, I will destroy it, in accordance with the Lord's grief. I will cut away all the bad seeds at the roots. As long as the human race exists, so will my hatred. I will remake this France into a land of the dead. That's how I will save this country. By the hands of the new Jeanne d'Arc, reborn through death. I suppose you could never understand. Always playing the saint. Impossible for a pretty little holy virgin who pretends not to see hatred and joy and is incapable of human growth!" Jeanne Alter shouted
"I..."
"Can you just shut up?!" Sonic said
"Take it easy, Sonic. Also no, What is human growth to Servants? If you're going to call it something, you would rank up as a Heroic Spirit." Romani said
"There appears to be a noisy fly her. Should I kill it if it gets too annoying?" Jeanne Alter said
"Wait, what-, the consoles on fire! That Servant can burn her enemies with just a glare?!" Romani shouted
"...Are you really "me"?" Jeanne said
"...I have played my party for you so clearly, yet you still have doubts? This rage is an ugly justice. It's not that you cannot understand it, you do not even have the will to try. But, I understand. Seeing you, I have realized all there is to the Heroic Spirit is myself. You are neither Ruler nor Jeanne d'Arc. You are nothing but some leftover residue that I threw away." Jeanne Alter said
"!"
"If you were the same existence and Class as I, then I should have felt something. But you are worthless. Nothing but a ghost with a misguided effort to recreate history. Berserk Lancer, Berserk Assassin. Finish off that country girl. You're getting tired of small prey, aren't you? Rejoice, they are strong. Among all the Servants I summoned, your thirst for blood is the strongest. You exist to crush the brave. Devour them to your heart's content. But before you do that. *Pulls out the green chaos emerald.*"
Sonic looks at what Jeanne Alter was holding and his eyes widen and his mouth opens in shock.
"T-That can't be... That's..."
The emerald begins to glow as a green aura begins to flow around both Berserk Assassin and Berserk Lancer.
"Kill her," Jeanne said
"Very well. Now, I will have your blood." Berserk Lancer said
"Not so fast "my King." I would like to partake of her flesh and blood, as well as her insides." Berserk Assassin said
"So greedy. And her would? Who gets to take her soul?" Berserk Lancer asks
"There is no gain in taking her soul. Do you think honour or reputation can maintain my beauty?" Berserk Assassin replied
"Very well. Then I shall take her soul. It's quite ironic though. I can understand her beauty, only after I have fallen as a blood-sucking devil."
"Yes. That is precisely why I cannot hold back my emotions. I will not forgive anything more beautiful than me. No, more than that... the blood of those more beautiful than me can only elevate my beauty! Ah, how fun it is to crush such fresh fruit. I'll throw the skin and just enjoy the juice... This is the privilege of being a Noble of the Night. I'll squeeze every last drop out of you."
"W-What?! That's impossible! No one other than Mobians can obtain the power of the emeralds..." Sonic in complete shock
"Oh... so you know something about this gem I'm holding? You're quite an interesting rodent if I do say so myself." Jeanne Alter
"S-Sonic... what's going on? Why are they glowing?" Mash said
"Stay back! *Takes out the sword from scabbard* I'll take care of this on my own."
"W-Wha?! What are you doing Sonic? You're going to get killed by them!" Jeanne said
"What is going on, Sonic?" Mash worried
"They are using energy from the Chaos Emerald. The emerald that she's holding. It possesses a power that surpasses your strength. Although they aren't still as powerful as you may think. They can kill someone easier like you two." Sonic explained
"If you want it... Come and do so." Jeanne said
Moments later, Sonic begins to emit electricity from his body as the sword began glowing bright blue once again. After charging up his sword, he then runs past Berserker Assassin and Berserk Lancer in light speed and charges at Jeanne Alter and swings his sword at her. But Jeanne Alter manages to block the attack in time.
"Did you just try to attack me?!" Jeanne Alter said
"Give me back that emerald! I'm not leaving without it!" Sonic said
"You little shit. My Servants, new plan. Kill this Blue bastard!" Jeanne Alter commanded
Berserk Lancer vanishes and teleports behind Sonic and strikes him several times, but Sonic dodges each strike and jumps over Berserk Lancer, where he lands behind him, throttles his sword into a super-fast high-rev spin and attacks Berserk Lancer from the back, taking damage from the attack. Berserk Lancer soon vanishes away as Sonic looks around to try to find him, but no sign of Berserk Lancer being anywhere. Moments later, Berserk Lancer appears above Sonic and attempts to strike him from above, but Sonic narrowly dodges the attack and counters back by lunging forward towards Berserk Lancer and sends Berserk Lancer into the air with a sword slash, jumps up to him and performs a mid-air blitz of sword strikes before sending Berserk Lancer back to the ground. Moments later, Berserk Lancer stands back up as both he and Sonic begin clashing weapons over and over while causing mini shockwaves each time they clashed weapons. Everyone watched as the two were battling each other at immense speed. Moments later, Sonic slashes Berserk Lancer across his stomach and knocks him back to Berserk Assassin.
"This creature is something else." Berserk Lancer said
"I can't believe you couldn't finish off that rodent! I wonder if you felt sympathy for him trying to get his gem back. Kindness doesn't suit you. It's not very monster-like, Dracul." Berserk Assassin said
"Dracul... no way," Mash said
"Vlad III... Romania's greatest hero. Also known as the Lord Impaler." Romani said
"Who knew that you'd reveal my True Name in front of others. I'm extremely displeased."
"What's wrong? I would rather be remembered by a bad name than, not at all. Besides... I prefer to be called by my True Name. Dread and despair, faintly spiced with hope. The ones with the best cries are the little squirrels who think "I can escape."
"But in the end, you were driven to ruin by the hands of those who escaped. Elisabeth Bathory. Otherwise known as Carmilla. How humorous your tragic end was."
"How boring. That's why I don't like your kind. Even as you're damned as a vampire, you still cling to your noble "heart."
"You mean to say that I cling to my faith even now?
"Stop this instant. I told you that you could devour freely, but do not forget who is friend and foe. Turn your animosity to that little rodent. Save your petty squabbles for later." Jeanne Alter said
"Ah, you misunderstand, master. Secretly, I idolize Count Vlad as a leader."
"That's the first I've heard of it. Comparing idolizing with plotting an assassination."
"Wow... They're fighting amongst themselves... it's a bad work environment, over there." Romani said
"Do not let your guard down, Master. They still intend to kill you!" Mash shouted
"Let them try to. It seems like the Chaos Emerald isn't helping them out in this situation. Because they aren't one with the emerald. They don't know how to use it." Sonic said
"Enough talk you! It's my turn. Please don't mistake me for that kind Count Vlad."
"Master... Elizabeth Bathory. Do you know he- Oh wait... I forgot..." Mash cutting herself
"I can care less of that right now, Mash. The only thing I care about right now is getting that emerald back!" Sonic said
Moments later, Berserk Assassin begins firing projectiles that were emitted with the Chaos Emerald's energy right towards Sonic but Sonic rolls over each projectile as the projectiles all landed behind Sonic and exploded. After avoiding each projectile, Sonic lunges towards Berserk Assassin as he quickly slashes her 4 times before slashing her down with great power and knocking her back soon after full force. Berserk Assassin quickly gets back up and fires several more projectiles right at Sonic. Sonic quickly unsheathe his sword with blinding speed and unleashes a whirlwind of slashes, destroying the projectiles that were coming towards him. Soon after, Sonic dashes forward at Berserk Assassin and relentlessly slashes Berserk Assassin before knocking her back more. Berserk Assassin couldn't believe what she was witnessing and who she was up against until Sonic unleashes a flurry of blows with the scabbard at Berserk Assassin before a cleaving blow with the blade.
"I've never seen such swordsman skills before," Jeanne said
"That's my Master. Always bringing something new to the table." Mash said
"Tck... Such skills from an animal like him. Who is he?" Berserk Assassin questioned
"Hmm... I underestimated the rodent here." Jeanne Alter stated
"Something doesn't feel right. That was the reason, Count Vlad... You over there, young lady. You... smell horrible. A girl of such tender years, yet so battle-hardened. How contradictory. Who is she?"
"A Demi-Servant. An anomaly, a cross between a human and a Servant." Jeanne Alter said
"!"
"What are you trying to say about my friend here?!" Sonic said
"This was a mistake. You two are crueller than the others, but that's why you're so playful. Let the remaining three deal with this rodent." Jeanne Alter said
To Be Continue...
"Next Time: Orleans (Part 4.)" Sonic As A Narrator