I am sorry with how long this took. I could not get what I wanted out on the page. Orleans is...not one of my favorites mainly because it's a tad boring. I was not a fan of how they presented Jeanne herself so I...kinda changed it up a little. So Jeanne is a bit different than she is in the game itself. It's one of the things I felt would be a better story. Anways, here is the new chapter.
Orleans: Dark Jeanne
Cira and Mash followed Jeanne into the forest, making their way towards a clearing not far from where they had Rayshifted into the world. They cleared the area of a few wolves and wandering zombies, but that did not take long at all.
"We should set up camp here," Jeanne suggested, "It has been quite the wild day for you both it seems,"
"No kidding," Cira replied as she looked around the clearing, "First off we need a fire...so I'm gonna gather some branches, can one of you find stuff we can use for kindling?"
"I'll look," Mash piped up, nodding as she dismissed her shield, "Um...what would be good?"
"Small twigs, grass and dry leaves," Cira told her, "There should be plenty of that,"
It took about twenty minutes before they had gotten a fire started, Cira looked happy as she managed to get the kindling to spark in a 'log cabin' type base. The fire would definitely last long into the night so long as someone continued to put logs on it.
"How are you doing this?" Mash asked, curiously watching as the flames crackled gently in the growing dusk.
"My family would take me camping when I was little. The way the fire's set up, it'll last a long time as long as we keep it fed,"
"Are you sure you're ok?" Mash asked, looking at her friend, "You look pale,"
She put a cool hand to Cira's forehead and her eyes widened.
"You have a fever!" she gasped, "We need to contact the Doctor right away! We need to find that leyline now so that we can get medical su-"
"Mash, I'm fine," Cira reassured her, gently but firmly grabbing her shoulders, "It's just a side effect of me using my magic too much. I expend a lot of energy because I've got no training whatsoever. I'll be fine when I get some rest, I promise. Let's go sit down, ok?"
The human girl sat next to Mash across the fire from Jeanne. The Ruler Servant looked at them both curiously and let herself relax slightly.
"I suppose you all have questions, but please...allow me to ask one myself," she started, "Please, tell me your names,"
"My name is Mash Kyrielight," Mash started, "This is Cira, my Master,"
"Master, hm?" Jeanne hummed, "So there are Masters in this Holy Grail War…interesting,"
"Oh, nonono," Mash shook her head as Cira stretched, fighting a yawn, "This has nothing to do with a Holy Grail War. I'm just a Demi-Servant,"
"A...what?" Jeanne asked, "I don't think I have heard that term before,"
"I'm...not a true Heroic Spirit," Mash muttered, an embarrassed blush coloring her cheeks.
"I see," Jeanne nodded.
"To be fair, your class is strange too," Cira pointed out, "I've heard of Saber, Archer, Lancer, Rider, Caster, Assassin and Berserker...and now Shielder, but 'Ruler' is new."
"Let me clear that up," Jeanne replied, "I am a Servant, my Class is 'Ruler'...but a lot of the information on the Holy Grail War that I should have been given is missing. And not just missing...my own ranks have been lowered as well,"
Cira's eyes narrowed slightly as she focused, seeing Mash's stats and then Jeanne's...whose ranks were just slightly worse.
"Rulers are supposed to be adjudicators in Holy Grail Wars," Jeanne continued as the stats faded from Cira's sight, "We are given anti-Servant Command Spells and have the ability to reveal True Names of those in the war...however...I seem to not have them. Fortunately, this is my homeland, if nothing else I can still speak the language,"
"Your brother said that there were people saying Jeanne d'Arc turned into a 'Dragon Witch'," Mash pointed out, making Jeanne's face dim in sadness.
"He didn't believe it though," Cira added, "He said there was no way his little sister would ever make a pact with the devil,"
"Ah, Pierre," Jeanne sighed, "Loyal to the end, my dear brother. Unfortunately, I have no idea what is going on. I only materialized a few hours ago...apparently there is another Jeanne d'Arc in this world? One that murdered King Charles and slaughtered the people at Orleans..."
"Roman, I know you're listening here, is that possible?" Cira asked.
The hologram crackled to life and Romani's form appeared.
"If we could access the Holy Grail War's records, there should be examples of simultaneous summons," he said, "But until that...we know one thing for sure. Charles VII is dead and Orleans has been occupied, which...symbolizes the collapse of the nation of France."
"That's...a bit drastic," Cira admitted.
"France was the first nation to declare human liberty and equality," Romani explained, "A lot of countries followed suit. If you delay it by about a hundred years...civilization would stagnate. And without that progress...well, we might as well have stayed in the Middle Ages,"
"I heard this before," Jeanne admitted, coming closer, "but...I wasn't quite sure. Is this magecraft?"
"Oh! Right!" Romani started, giving a wave, "Sorry we didn't introduce ourselves earlier...nice to meet you, St. Jeanne d'Arc, I'm Romani Archaman...though most people call me Roman."
"Doesn't DaVinci call you lazy?" Cira teased.
"...You haven't slept today have you," Romani huffed, "You get real snarky when you're tired, Cira. And no! I am not lazy! I've been doing all the support stuff lately, it's exhausting!"
Jeanne gave a small, bell like laugh.
"I see! You're a dreamer then," she smiled.
"...I feel like I'm getting ganged up on despite the fact she complimented me…" Romani said.
"I think we're getting off topic a bit," Mash interrupted, "Sorry for the interruption, Mademoiselle Jeanne...our objective is to correct this twisted history, we work for an organization named Chaldea…"
Mash continued to explain what was going on with the situation, the incineration of Humanity, why they were here, what they had come to do. Cira kept quiet, partly because she knew interrupting would get Mash off track and it was often hard to get her restarted back on her track once that happened and partly because she was starting to fade in and out of consciousness. Mash had drawn quite a bit of energy from Cira back in the fight with the wyverns, and Cira herself had nearly depleted it in the fight before...so her reserves were in shambles and she knew it was a very bad idea if it went out.
"Summoning dragons is the highest form of magecraft," Jeanne said, snapping Cira back into focus, "Let alone having this many…"
"It's an impossible feat for modern mages," Romani said, "And it's probably even difficult for mages of this time. So that means...Cira, if anything could do anything like this…"
"It's a Holy Grail?" she asked, her voice soft and mumbled.
"...Oh someone's tired," Romani teased, "What happened, Cira? Take a few sleeping pills before you Rayshifted?"
"You...hush," Cira huffed.
"There's some points that still aren't clear, but it's starting to come together," Mash started, "Mademoiselle Jeanne, what are you going to do from here?"
Jeanne's face turned determined and Cira could definitely see how the young farm girl led armies under one banner against the English.
"My path is clear," she said, "I am to go to Orleans and liberate that city. And I shall exterminate that Jeanne d'Arc that stands in my way. The Lord has not shown the path to me yet, but the destination shines bright as day. I cannot turn my back on this."
"Just like the history books said, Master," Mash beamed, an air of excitement blossoming around her, "Even alone she will fight,"
"Startling difference from DaVinci," Cira smirked.
"I heard that!" came DaVinci's faint voice over the transmission and Romani rolled his eyes, shaking his head.
"I believe our objectives are the same," Mash pointed out, "Why don't we help her?"
"I've got no objections," Cira said, turning to Jeanne, "Will you let us help?"
"It'd be an honor to fight under the same flag as you," Mash added.
Relief washed over Jeanne's face as she smiled gratefully.
"The pleasure would be mine...thank you," she breathed, "Thank you so much…I thought I was going to be in this fight alone. Even if I am against myself, a witch, I have nothing to fear now that you two are with me. I was burned at the stake not but two days ago...and a resurrected me massacred Orleans...I would not blame the populace if they were afraid of me,"
Her hands shook slightly.
"I was so afraid the British would be stirred up…" she whispered, "But thankfully, they have not been. We should scout around first...for while the goal is clear, the path is not,"
"Yeah, that would be suicidal," Romani agreed, "We don't have any knowledge of the land and we have no bases. So take initiative and gather intel on the defenses. As for the Witch Jeanne...Dark Jeanne? God it's just like the Arthur in Fuyuki...annnnyways, try to figure out what kind of Servant she is. That might help out. I'd like to build up our forces too...so uh...again, find that leyline."
"I know," Cira sighed, "But it's been a rough day…"
"You think it's rough now...wait until your Sabers get a hold of you," Romani grinned.
"...On second thought we can wait to get them back when we get to Chaldea," Cira shuddered.
"Master!" Mash scolded.
"My apologies," Jeanne interrupted, "But on the class of the other Jeanne...Dark Jeanne I suppose I should call her...I believe her class is the same as mine. That being said...Rulers are able to sense other Servants, pinpointing where they are exactly."
"...You're saying she knows where we are," Cira whispered.
"It is possible," Jeanne admitted, "So I would suggest being able to fight at all times,"
Cira looked at Mash, her face was even paler in the firelight and she looked about ready to fall over.
"We need to find that leyline. We need to get those three here if we are going to stand a chance," she said.
"Agreed," Mash nodded, "However, you should sleep. We can do that tomorrow,"
"Cira is only human after all," Jeanne nodded, "If you do not keep your energy up, it would be catastrophic should they find us."
Cira looked at both Servants before her. She knew she should get some sleep, that it would be bad if they had to fight again before she had the chance to rest. But at the same time...she was worried that they would get attacked.
"We will keep watch," Mash reassured her, "Please, Master, get some rest."
"Yeah, Cira, that would be a really good idea," Romani added, "your vitals are not in a good way should you stay up any longer. You're showing all the signs for the flu...and a really bad one. Your temperature is pushing 102°. Get some sleep."
Cira gave a heavy sigh and nodded. Stretching out and laying her head against the tree she sat against, she closed her eyes and let sleep take her.
It's cold when I hear the call bringing me to the world. Where am I? Why can't I move? I see her before me, her pale hair flopping over her face as her hands were crossed over her chest. It's so dark, but it's just me and her.
"Who are you?" I ask, coming closer to her.
"It's so cold...it hurts...everything hurts…" she whispered.
"What is your name?"
She was silent, shaking as she refused to answer me. I kneel before her, putting a hand on her shoulder and frowning as she flinched as if struck. Had she been abused? There was a light that shone above us, the girl seemed to curl into herself, not even looking at me.
"Please...I don't want to be hurt this time...the experiment worked this time right?" she whimpered, "I did what they told me to…"
And I saw red.
How dare they harm a child! How dare they do this to her!
I lay a chaste kiss on her head.
"I will take care of this. Do not fear," I reassured her as I turned towards the light...
And I saw these...people...before us. They were just watching us, I looked down, seeing my black armor on this poor girl's frame…
What have they done!? I'm...her? She's...me?
What is this?! No, I have to get her out. It's my honor and my duty to protect this girl and like hell I was going to let them harm her again! I ripped the restraints binding me to this table off my wrists and ankles, launching myself forwards towards the door I could see behind them. They would not be able to stop me I don't th-
I rebounded off of some form of bounded field, skidding backwards with the force. I heard a whining sound as hot red light shot towards me. I jumped out of the way as the lights slammed into the tiles, scorching the ground. More light shot towards me and I held out my hand.
A loud clanging sound rang through the air and a familiar weight entered my hands as a massive cross shaped shield of sable and silver metal appeared in it.
Cira shot up with a gasp, the dream fading away and leaving only bare flashes behind. Something about a little girl...there was a lot of light and anger...
She shook her head. It was probably her own wild imagination. Her mother had always said she should write a book. She sat up, wincing as something pulled in her side, likely the remnants of the scar there from the last Singularity...Romani did warn her that it might not heal completely.
"Oh well...least it'll be a fun story to tell the family if I see them again," Cira reasoned as she felt some of the bones in her back pop and crack.
"Morning!" Mash's voice called as she sat down next to Cira and handed her an apple, "I stole back to the Fort a few minutes ago...Pierre sent us some supplies as a thank you for bringing Jeanne to him again,"
"We didn't do that though," Cira pointed out, "But I appreciate it,"
"You're looking a lot better than you were last night, your color is back anyways," Mash smiled, "Did you sleep well?"
"I think I slept wrong on my neck," Cira winced, stretching and feeling the soreness that came with it, "But I'll be ok,"
There was the sound of armor clinking and Cira looked up to see Jeanne stamping out the fire before looking at the young Master.
"That is good to hear," the Ruler said, a smile lighting up her face, "You slept quite soundly for someone so young."
"I don't believe I'm much younger than you, Jeanne," Cira grinned, "I might not have led armies, but I'm still 17,"
"I see, my apologies," she smiled "I'm afraid you are going to have to eat on the run, Miss Cira, it is not safe here and we have dallied too long,"
"Right...Dark Jeanne being a Ruler can probably see you and Mash," Cira pointed out, giving a slight groan as she got to her feet, "What's the plan?"
"I suggest we move through the forest and start making our way to Orleans," Jeanne said, "Of course, entering it directly is not wise...but we may be able to get some information from the cities surrounding it,"
"Sounds like a good idea to me," Cira nodded, "What's the closest one?"
"La Charite is the closest," Jeanne stated as the trio started walking, "It is not too far to the south. If we cannot get information there, we may have to get closer, however I would like to avoid that if possible,"
"Afraid of getting recognized as the 'Dragon Witch'?" Cira asked, making Jeanne pull a face.
"I am not sure of our forces...as in, who is friendly and who is not. I do not want to engage, it would be bad for the three of us if we went against a foe greater than that," Jeanne said, "Does that make sense?"
"You're the military expert here," Cira told her, "You know what you're doing in terms of gathering information and waging war, likely gonna defer to you on a lot of this. We're not fighters really…"
Jeanne's face turned sad.
"I am sorry you were put into this situation," she apologized, "You should not have been...perhaps I should not have been as well, but it is as God wills,"
"You are quite calm despite all of this," Mash pointed out.
"Am I really giving that off?" Jeanne asked, giving a soft chuckle as they exited the woods and walked along the road that snaked towards a city in the distance, "No no no, Miss Kyrielight, if I must be honest, I am panicking. Whoever this other me is...she cannot possibly be in her right mind. It frightens me what that monster would do by controlling the people,"
She gave a shudder.
"It is too easy and too horrible for me to imagine," she sighed, "Overwhelming hatred and anger can destroy a person...no matter how noble they seem to be."
Cira's watch chimed and Romani's hologram popped up once more.
"Stop," he ordered, "There's a Servant not too far ahead of you. You guys were heading to La Charite, yeah?"
"Oh please tell me it's not there…" Cira sighed.
"It just popped up," Romani apologized, "...Wait...no...it's leaving...oh come on!"
He gave a sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Never mind. I lost it. It ran off out of range...I don't know where it went."
Mash yelped as Fou jumped off Cira's shoulders with a chirp and climbed up on top of the other girl's head.
"What are you doing?" Mash asked, fighting a slight wince as his paws slipped down the side of her head, "Are you trying to see the sky over th-"
She stopped, her violet eyes going wide.
"...The city is burning," she whispered, making Jeanne whip towards La Charite.
The Ruler's banner dropped slightly and her face was ghostly pale. Her own amethyst gaze glazing over with horror.
"No...no that cannot…" she breathed as she started running towards La Charite.
"After her!" Cira ordered, starting to run towards the town with Mash beside her.
The trio stopped just inside the city's shattered gates, flames and smoke still rose from charred ruins. Bodies lay out in the streets as the cobblestones were soaked in blood, running through the town and pooling at the trio's feet. Jeanne shook noticeably as she took in the sight, shaking her head violently in disbelief as she knelt down to the corpse of a small child whose wide green eyes stared at something none could see.
"This is not…" she whispered, closing the child's eyes, "Who would do such a thing…"
"Doctor, life-form detection?" Mash asked as Cira held the hologram up.
Romani was silent for a long while.
"Roman?" Cira questioned.
"...Nothing." he finally said, his voice defeated, "Just you three. Everyone else is dead in that town."
"That can't be true," Mash protested, "There has to be a survivor...right?"
"Mash I triple checked," Romani told her, "There's nothin-"
"Quiet," Jeanne ordered, looking up from the body, "I thought I heard something…"
All four held their breaths, silence save for the crackle of flames and the beating of their hearts reigned throughout the decimated city. Cira opened her mouth to speak when a low hiss cut her off.
"Don't...move," Mash breathed, her eyes golden in the flames, "Wyverns."
Cira did not move, though her body screamed at her to do so as she caught sight of the thick scaly hide and heard the sharp ticking of their claws on the cobblestones. There were two of them...but they didn't seem to see Jeanne, Mash or Cira. Instead, they were too interested in the bodies that littered the streets, bending their long necks down and taking massive bites out of the no longer living people.
"They're eating the bodies…" Mash rasped, her face going absolutely white.
"No...NO! STOP THAT!" Jeanne shrieked, charging forwards and hurling her javelin at the first wyvern.
The cloth-bound spear shot through the air and impaled the wyvern right through the eye, going straight through the wyvern's skull and through the other side. Jeanne dashed forwards after the spear and yanked it out of the creature's head, spattering the snowy white cloth with blood as Jeanne whirled to face the next one...who roared at it her as it lifted it's bloody muzzle from it's meal.
"Mash!" Cira cried, watching as Jeanne started towards the other wyvern.
"Going in!" Mash nodded, bolting forward with the sound of shattering stone, her shield arching forwards in a black glimmer and slamming into the long neck of the wyvern, sending it snapping upwards.
Jeanne took her lance and struck at the exposed underbelly of the wyvern, sinking deeply into the softer flesh and causing a gurgling hiss to come from the wyvern as it snapped at Jeanne. Jeanne took the sheath of the sword at her side and blocked the bite, grunting as the death throes of the creature pushed her backwards. Mash leaped out of the way as the wyvern sank to the ground, it's head thudding on the ground as it's forked tongue lolled.
"No non-human life signs...I think they got them," Romani said as Jeanne readjusted the sheath back on it's belt.
"Roman says they're gone," Cira called, jogging up to the two Servants, "We're alone again."
"Thank goodness," Mash breathed, turning to Jeanne, "Jeanne? I know seeing the bodies is hard but…"
"No...I am used to that," Jeanne sighed, leaning on the blood-spattered standard, "God knows I have led so many battles that I have seen my fair share of blood. No, I am for sure that this…'me' is behind this,"
"We can't be sure of that yet," Mash countered, "We hadn't seen anything tha-"
"I am certain of it," Jeanne replied firmly, "There's just one thing I do not understand...how much do you have to hate others to cause this much damage? I can't understand it…"
"Hold on!" Romani yelled, "The Servant signature! It's coming back! You need to get out of there! They know you are here!"
"How many?" Mash asked.
"...OH COME ON! There's five! You guys don't have the numbers to fight this! Oh God they're so fast...are they Riders!?"Romani looked absolutely terrified, which did not help Cira's heart, "You guys need to run. NOW!"
"But…!" Mash protested but Romani shook his head.
"Mash, if you had the same numbers, I'd say maybe you'd stand a chance. You guys haven't found a leyline yet...you don't have the firepower on your side."
"All the same, I do not want to run," Jeanne said, planting her standard in the ground, "Just until we see what their intentions are. Should they prove to be hostile, then we will retreat. But not before,"
"...Stay with me," Cira whispered, looking at Mash, who nodded and came closer as shadows began to take form in the smoke before them.
The wind blew apart the smoke and Cira heard the familiar clank of armor against stone and her eyes widened as she saw them. They were silent as shadows for the most part. They consisted of a man with long, pale blond hair with even paler skin and a long sharp thing that looked absolutely lethal; a woman with snowy white locks and equally pale skin hidden behind a mask of sable that reminded Cira eerily of a bat's visage, her amber eyes glared hatefully at the small trio; another woman dressed in a frilly, conservative, light-blue top with lacy sleeves, a rapier sheathed at one hip while a large azure hat topped with a plume graced her blonde hair; a woman dressed in white and scarlet with striking violet eyes and dark hair, she carried a staff in her gauntleted hands that looked more like a cross than a regular polearm. The final woman caused Cira's blood to run cold.
She looked exactly like Jeanne herself, cinders trailing from the her cloak as the smoke curled around her like a living shroud. She was dressed completely in sable, save for the cloak that seemed as if it was dipped in blood and torn. What struck Cira most was the fact that she bore an uncanny resemblance...to the King Arthur they had met in the previous singularity. Pale as death itself, hair an ashen blonde and eyes that were just a shade darker than her hair.
Cira saw Jeanne's hand tighten on her standard as the darkened Jeanne's face twisted in a sneer.
"So, I was not wrong," she said, causing Cira to shiver at how close it sounded to Jeanne's own, "Who knew that such a thing was possible? Please, someone pour water on me, pinch me, strike me...prove to me that this is not a joke that stands before me...because I might die laughing at the absurdity of this!"
She threw back her head, laughing viciously and causing Cira's skin to crawl as Mash subtly shifted herself between the newcomers and her Master.
"Gilles, look at her! This pathetic excuse for a girl...no, more a worm or a mouse!" the dark Jeanne laughed, jabbing an ebon gauntleted hand at the original Jeanne.
"...Gilles?" Jeanne whispered, "No...you're lying, Gilles would never side with you! Not my Gilles!"
The woman smirked and shrugged.
"I suppose I got ahead of myself, I forgot we did not bring him along. But how could you be so sure he would not? Grief does such terrible things to people, wouldn't you agree?" her golden eyes carried a cold fire that seemed almost demonic.
"Who are you?" Jeanne demanded, jamming her standard between the cobblestones with a loud crack, "Answer me and answer swiftly,"
"I could ask the same thing," she scoffed, "But I'll indulge you. I am Jeanne d'Arc, the saint devoted to France...the other me."
"You are no saint!" Jeanne snapped, "Just as I am not! But that is not important...why did you attack this town?!"
"I thought you of all people would understand," the darkened Jeanne frowned, "The reason I attacked this city...that is such a stupid question. The answer is obvious. Because it is for the sole purpose of destroying France. I'm just a Servant...so destroying it politically, economically...that takes far to long for an ephemeral dream such as me. It's also more fun to incinerate this entire place to ashes."
"You are a fool!"
"As are you," the Dark Jeanne smirked, "We are the same person, aren't we?"
She came up closer to Jeanne, almost within touching distance. Aside from the coloring difference...they were for all intents and purposes identical physically.
"Why did you want to save this country?" she demanded, getting into Jeanne's personal space and grabbing a part of her chainmail, "Why did you want to bring salvation to these people? All the while knowing damn well that those oh so virtuous people turned their backs on us! Spitting on us! Betraying us! Laughing as we burned in flame! I won't be fooled no longer! I will never be betrayed again! I can no longer hear the voice of God, and because I cannot? God has given up on this country! So why don't I bring his judgement down on this hell?"
Jeanne slapped the darker Ruler's hand off her, her violet eyes blazing with fury.
"You no longer hear his voice because demons such as you don't hear the cries of angels," she hissed, "I hear his voice clearly enough...you are nothing but a demon from Hell!"
"Oh that is a new one!" the Dark Jeanne cackled, "Very well, if an 'angel' could not save France, then a demon will! By purging it with fire and the blood of it's people!"
She slammed her standard on the ground, spikes of black fire cracked through the cobblestones and causing Jeanne to leap backwards. The Dark Jeanne looked towards the white haired woman and blonde man and nodded towards Mash and Cira.
"Berserk Assassin, Berserk Lancer...take care of those two. I don't want to see them again," she ordered, "You were tired of small prey, yes? Well...I think that would be satisfactory,"
"As you wish," the man bowed, whirling his spear around only to get stopped by the white haired woman's staff as she looked up at him.
"Not so fast, 'My King'...those young women, I want to take them and partake in their blood and insides," she smirked.
"You and your disgusting ritual that will never work," the man scoffed, setting his spear's tip in the stones, "And what of their souls? Will you take those as well?"
"There is no honor or reputation to be gained by that," the woman snarled, "That will not maintain my beauty,"
The man sighed, picking his spear up and setting into a ready position.
"Very well, I shall take their souls. Quite ironic though," he chuckled, dashing forwards and grunting as his spear met with Mash's shield.
"Master, get out of here!" Mash yelled, shoving forwards quickly, violently and knocking him off balance before bolting back to Cira.
"What about Jeanne?" Cira asked, looking over to Jeanne and the darker version of herself as they battled each other, their standards clashing together in flashes of hell fire and holy light.
"You're my priority," Mash stated, "If you fall, humanity falls. I can't allow that,"
"The one with the shield…" the Assassin frowned, "She smells strange. Young in years and fresh of face...yet her soul is old and battle-hardened...how odd…"
Mash's eyes flashed gold as she grabbed Cira's hand.
"Run!" she hissed, "And do not stop."
The two bolted through the city, hearing the cracks and harsh thuds as the two berserk servants charged after them. Mash skidded to a stop, looking around for a better escape route, but not seeing any. She whipped around, her head casting about only to freeze as she spotted something and she darted over to a wall and started ramming the bottom of her shield against the edge.
"Mash! They're coming!" Cira yelled as the two Servants started closing the distance.
Mash continued to whale on the building, her blows becoming more and more frantic the closer the two Servants got...before with a final roar she managed to take a massive chunk out of the building, causing it to collapse upon the two servants. Cira's breath went out in a shaky sigh as she felt Mash's gloved hand grab her wrist and the two picked their way over the rubble and ran back towards Jeanne.
They returned to the main square just to watch Jeanne get catapulted into a wall, nearly causing the building to fall on her. The Ruler groaned as she slowly got up, blood dripping down from a nasty cut on her head while her darker self laughed, fire blazing around her yet not scorching her. She caught sight of Mash and Cira and her eyes narrowed. The Dark Jeanne's eyes flicked past them and her once amused expression turned sour.
"You two are pitiful. You could not take care of a human brat and a crippled Servant?" she demanded, causing Cira and Mash to look back at where they'd come from.
The Assassin and Lancer looked a little battered from Mash's attack but were alive.
"The Servant dropped a building on us," the Lancer huffed.
"You felt sympathy for them, Dracul," the Assassin snorted, "Perhaps the cold-hearted Vampire King has a soft spot,"
"...Vlad the Impaler…" Romani's voice whispered quietly, "Cira that is really bad for us…"
"Yeah no kidding…" Cira hissed back as Vlad III whirled on the Assassin and spoke harshly to her, she ignored them as she slowly went to Jeanne and helped the Ruler to her feet.
"Thank you, Cira," Jeanne nodded as Mash came over, her face even paler than Jeanne's.
"The woman is Carmilla," she said, "Vlad III snapped it off in response to her revealing his identity. Are all of them vampires?"
"We're gonna have to assume that," Cira said as Jeanne hissed, her hand going to her side and holding it, blood seeping through her armored gloves, "Oh that's not good. We need to retreat,"
A flash of what seemed to be pale blue light shone between the trio and the attackers, Cira frowned as she concentrated and focused on it. Not a light at all…
But a glass rose.
"What the…?" she whispered as the rose hit the ground and exploded with brilliant white light.
"It isn't elegant at all!" a new voice huffed as a gentle hand grabbed Cira's wrist and softly tugged her away, "Neither is the city, nor their philosophy or their fighting style! Come, let's get you out of here, oui?"
"What?!" Cira demanded, blinking the flash of light away and seeing a young woman with startlingly vivid cobalt eyes and hair whiter than snow.
The woman smiled brightly, almost as bright as the absolutely massive red hat she wore. She took her free hand and waved happily at Cira.
"Introductions later, Mademoiselle Jeanne is injured and those awful people are being a nuisance. Amadeus!" she trilled, "Please give us a grand exit if you would!"
"Oh but of course, my queen!" a male voice called back, "But your ladyship's friends might want to cover their ears!"
"Please do, it is about to get quite noisy," the woman smiled.
Cira looked at Mash, who gave a helpless shrug and covered her ears. Cira did as asked, as did Jeanne...but even covering their ears wasn't enough to completely block out the sheer tidal wave of sound that suddenly ripped through the area. It was if a bomb had gone off, throwing everyone off their feet. Cira felt more hands help her to her feet and she in turn helped Mash to her feet while the woman helped Jeanne.
"Let us get out of here," the white-haired woman said as a blond man in a spectacularly colorful suit jacket approached looking quite pleased with himself, "Hurry, before they recover! There's a place that might be able to mask your signatures for a while. Wonderful composition by the way, Amadeus!"
The man beamed happily as he graciously bowed and looped Jeanne's arm over his shoulder while she gripped the wound on her side, wincing.
"I live to please, milady," he nodded as they retreated from the city.
The group made their way into a nearby forest and stopped near a stream. The man called Amadeus sat Jeanne next to a tree as the white-haired woman delicately unpacked a small bag, revealing some bandages and set to work on helping Jeanne.
"I don't detect the Dark Jeanne or her Servants," Romani said, "You guys are safe here...huh...you're actually right next to a Leyline too. Nice job...that should mask your signatures for a little while at least."
"Thank you," Cira said, "Um, sorry we didn't introduce ourselves. I'm Cira, this is my friend, Mash...and you apparently know Jeanne,"
"Oh of course!" the white haired woman tittered, "Her legend is famous in my time! But it is wonderful to meet you, Cira. My True Name is Marie Antoinette, Rider Class Servant,"
"The Flower of Versailles?" Cira blinked, "Wow uh...I wasn't expecting to meet French Royalty here, your Majesty."
"Thank you, Marie," Mash breathed, letting her shield dematerialize only to wince at what she just said, "I-I mean…"
Marie laughed and waved her off.
"Oh don't worry about that!" she smiled, "I quite like the way that sounds. Marie! Not as stuffy as 'Your Majesty', it's more friendly...I love it! Please, call me that from now on, all of you,"
"Who am I to argue with royalty?" Cira smiled.
"You argue with your Sabers all the time," Romani pointed out.
"Hush!" Cira huffed before turning towards Amadeus, "So...Marie called you by first name I think? Can I ask who you are?"
"Oh, of course," Amadeus nodded, giving a formal bow and a childish smirk, "Though that is my middle name. My True Name is Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Caster Class,"
Cira choked, her eyes wide.
"Mozart. Like, the Mozart!?" she demanded, "The Magic Flute Mozart!? One of the most famous composers of all time?!"
"I believe you have a fan, Amadeus!" Marie laughed, her smile was blinding, "Oh don't be too star struck by him, Miss Cira, he is a regular imp and all the stories about his immaturity are true. But, that's what makes it so much fun to be around him,"
"You wound me, dear Maria," Amadeus swooned, "I am but a humble composer…"
"Oh that last part is a lie and you know it!" she scolded, as she finished bandaging Jeanne's wound as the Ruler's eyes fluttered closed from exhaustion, "You are anything but humble!"
The two continued on bantering and Cira watched in stunned wonder until a flash of blue light caught her eye. She turned her head and saw Mash kneeling on the ground next to her shield. The Demi-Servant's eyes were closed as she held her hands over the smooth black metal. A faint blue glow shone over it, steadily brightening and turning more and more white.
Cira made her way over to her friend and knelt down next to her, putting a hand on Mash's shoulder and apologizing when Mash seemed to jump from the sudden contact.
"I'm just establishing the summoning circle," Mash told her, "I was a little too focused...the energy I have isn't quite enough,"
"Then let me help," Cira offered, laying her hand on the shield and keeping the other on Mash's shoulder.
She felt energy leave her and rush into her friend, light surging around Mash as the light on the shield suddenly burst into blinding brightness.
"Summoning Circle established," Mash confirmed, "Contact with Chaldea should be even clearer now,"
"...Which means I can do this," Cira smiled, lifting her hand from the shield and holding it to her chest, the scarlet command spells shining brilliantly on it.
She took a deep breath, letting it out slowly.
"Come to me," she stated…
And suddenly she felt three bonds reopen as she was suddenly and swiftly tackled to the ground in a bear hug.
"What took you so long!?" Lily demanded as Cu and Artoria materialized behind her.
Master: Cira Albion
Servant: Shielder- Mash Kyrielight
Servant: Saber-Artoria Pendragon
Servant: Lancer/Caster-Cu Chulainn
Servant: Saber- Saber Lily