Honestly, it was a rather rough start for both of us -
I mean, Jesus, she was dead set on killing me and my servants. Shit, even that fever dream of an event with Da Vinci and the counterfeits. She was there too, but seeing her there was a melancholic sight.
I still remembered that time so vividly.
There she was, creating mirrors of my servants to give her love and connections that she had yet to experience.
Something she'd never really experience until she was born out of a madman wishing.
"The future me will form a bond with you. The current me will have a hearty laugh and go off into the sunset." she said in a bittersweet tone, accepting her fate at that point.
I felt more layers to those fleeting words -
There was clearly more hurt in that heart of her's; After all, she's the shadow of the sunny faced Maid of Orleans.
I decided to walk to her and I sat on the floor..
"Wha-?"
I gestured to her to come sit down with me.
"...A strange master with an even stranger request. What exactly are you trying to pull off here?"
The pale maiden reluctantly followed suit in sitting down with me. Although, as she tried to get down on her one knee, her knee gave in and she lost her balance.
With rather luckily timed reflexes, I caught her gently.
I then held her hand in mine and let her rest her head on my lap.
Composing myself, I said "So be it then," I gently patted her head as she rested upon me. "I'll stay here and be with you as you laugh your last, Jeanne"
A face of disbelief and shock marred her features, but it was quickly replaced by a blushing, melancholic expression on her face.
Averting her eyes from me, "Fine. D-do what you wish, idiot".
Initially, she seemed uncomfortable about her position. Soon enough, she relaxed and looked at me with a face of amusement.
"Heh, you really are a weird one. Initially, we were fighting to the death, but now, you dare lower your guard and let me rest upon you? Humanity may just fall thanks to your idiocy."
I gave her a small chuckle and smiled.
"You looked lonely, you know? I didn't want to send you off with such bitter feelings in your last moments." I said softly.
Sighing out of mock irritation, "Heh, I'll let it slide then. After all, to the victor go the spoils, non?"
For the remnants of our interaction here, I would just pat her on the head and tell her that she was going to be alright.
Finally, I watched as her body broke down into those oh so familiar golden lights.
"I suppose this is it then, huh?" She said as she looked over at her once whole hand.
Gently cupping my cheek, "Take care of future me, hm? I'll bite as much, but stay for her like you stayed for me this time. That will be my last request for you, master of Chaldea." She said as she handed me something in my free hand.
It felt rather soft and oddly familiar.
Smiling wistfully, "I'll see you around then, Jeanne."
The last expression I saw on her pale face was a gentle smile of comfort.
I stood up from my spot and looked back to see my current party of servants.
"Well, well, I had no idea Master-dono was so flirtatious on the battlefield ~" teased a dark purple haired girl in an elaborately designed kimono.
"O-oi! Oui, that wasn't my intention and you know that!" I tried firing back at the smirking painter. Hokusai shrugged nonchalantly, "Whatever you say, Master ~" She looks at her tiny octopus companion, "Still, this gives us something to paint, right Pops?"
Yeah, that octopus floating about her? That's Katsushika Hokusai. That painter girl is his daughter, Oui. Get it right, I've been confused about these two ever since that other fever dream with her.
"Stop teasing the poor heartbreaker here, Oui. It's about time we got back anyways." said momm- Emiya in his usually motherlike self.
Eventually, we walked away from where Jeanne was laid to rest and I noticed Mash looking at my hand rather pensively.
"A Saint quartz for your thoughts, Mash?"
Mash looked at me bashfully for noticing her intent gaze.
"...My thoughts aren't that expensive, Senpai." She said as she softly laughed afterwards.
"Ask away though, Mash."
"Senpai?" Mash asked curiously as we walked side-by-side. "What did Jeanne give you exactly?"
I opened my hand and there was a familiar obsidian cloth, faintly smelling like cinders of a great fire. Oddly enough, it was smooth and silky to the touch, even if it did look like it came from a field razed by hell. As she looked upon my hand, she serenely smiled at it.
"...Well, small things lead to new beginnings, don't they, Mash? I'm not quite sure what sort of future it would be, but it would be a hell of a ride."
"I suppose so, Senpai."
Some time passed after that and after dealing with the Okeanos singularity, I decided to try summoning a certain Servant to come stay here in Chaldea.
Walking to the summoning circle, I brought my catalyst with me.
It was still the same tattered cloth of Jeanne Alter's mantle. Oddly enough, its faint scent of freshly burnt cinders never faded away. As if reminding me of my last promise with her has yet to be fulfilled.
"You ready, Fujimaru?" asked Romani.
"As ready, as I'll ever be for this." I said with determination as I held out my hand and channeled my mana.
"I stand as the final master of humanity, the final bastion of life as it is. My fate as such, is to bring everything to order and protect the lives of all. I pray, as iron and magics have struck me asunder, to bring forth a servant worthy to stand with me as we preserve the world we stand upon. "
Closing my eyes as I finally said the last line of my ritual, "Come forth and swear thy loyalty to me as I swear mine upon you!"
A bright golden, prismatic light filled the room -
Soon enough, the light faded away, and I heard an all too familiar maiden's biting tone:
"Servant, Avenger. Summoned upon your request …"
She took a few steps forward and looked me over menacingly.
I couldn't help but feel surprised with a tinge of fear even.
She continued her little introduction, "What's with that look?" She said as she pointed her sword towards me. "Come on, here's the contract."
She ended it with a rather menacing grin on her face.
Smiling warmly, I said "Welcome to Chaldea, Jeanne."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Blooper: The New Servant is - ?!
"You ready, Fujimaru?" asked Romani.
"As ready, as I'll ever be for this." I said with determination as I held out my hand and channeled my mana.
"I stand as the final master of humanity, the final bastion of life as it is. My fate as such, is to bring everything to order and protect the lives of all. I pray, as iron and magics have struck me asunder, to bring forth a servant worthy to stand with me as we preserve the world we stand upon. "
Closing my eyes as I finally said the last line of my ritual,
"Come forth and swear thy loyalty to me as I swear mine upon you!"
A bright golden, prismatic light filled the room -
A very familiar servant popped out from the golden light.
It was a tall muscular warrior bearing glowing tattoos upon his chest. Upon his head was a long mane of white hair and in his hand an even more familiar sword.
"Saber, Siegfried. I have come in response to your summon. Please give me the order."
Sumanai.
Siegfried looked at me in recognition and surprise.
"Oh? Master, you called for me once more?"
Sumanai.
"A-ah well, not exactly Siegfried..."
"Ah, am I another duplicate?"
I nodded my head as I controlled my inner annoyance at once again summoning Siegfried.
Sumanai.
I see the warrior's face fall into an ashamed look.
Uh oh. Don't you dare say it.
"Master, -"
Don't.
"-I apologize for answering your summon at the wrong time..."
DON'T.
"Sumanai."
I suddenly got incredibly dizzy and sick as I heard that accursed line once more.
I felt my whole world rocking about harder than the time Nero decided to pounce on me from above the ceiling to surprise me as a prank.
THUD.
I felt my head hit the floor.
I see the light now.
Why must the gacha be so cruel to me even now?
"SENPAI!" Mash cried out as soon as she realized that her senpai just passed out in front of everyone.
