Apologies for the wait, had some...issues with writers block and then quite a few events that I really wanted to do well with (who knew having so many dragons/dragonslayers needed so many teeth...I still haven't reached the goal for them either...) Anyways, here is the next chapter, hopefully the next one will come out easier.

Orleans: One Thing After Another

"What took you so long!?" Lily demanded, sitting up and allowing Cira to do the same.

"Leylines are not easy to find!" Cira protested, taking Artoria's hand as the king helped her to her feet, "And you're here now, aren't you?"

"Do not think you are getting out of this so easily," the older King growled.

"Cu, please help," Cira pleaded, turning to the Irishman, who vehemently shook his head.

"Nah, I'm not gettin' between those two," he shuddered, "They were pissed when you just up and disappeared, ain't no way I'm messing with the Red Dragon. Either of them."

"Mash!?" Cira started, but Mash already shook her head and took a step back.

"Do you have any idea how worried we were?!" Artoria demanded, crossing her arms as Lily fussed over Cira and made sure she was ok, "All we knew is you were preparing to Rayshift, the next moment we all get the plea for help and we come in to the command room to see you panicking and striking the Coffin to be let out. I was about to rescue you from that but was taken away from Chaldea to wait for your summon before I could,"

"...Yeah Romani said they're gonna have to give me anesthetic when we Rayshift…" Cira admitted, "Look, I'm sorry I worried you all. But it's ok, I'm fine. I'm alive, I'm well. And we're going to save this place, ok?"

"Where is here?" Lily asked, finishing her fussing and looking around the the area, "It looks a bit like home yet...I know it's not England,"

"Close enough," Mash said, "We are in France, during the Hundred Years War,"

Lily blinked, her green eyes horrified.

"Why would you fight for a hundred years!?" she demanded, "Do they realize how the people would be affected?!"

"Economies decimated, moral broken," Artoria agreed, "But the logistics for that are not entirely sound. From what I have been told, there were many breaks between the battles and it was more a series of wars than a single battle, Lily,"

"...Oh," Lily blinked, "But still! That is horrible!"

"Leave it to you Brits and the French to get yourselves embroiled in a massive war," Cu Chulainn teased.

"Don't you start," Cira warned, "They're already mad,"

Cu Chulainn shrugged, chuckling as he leaned against a tree.

"Irishmen," Artoria huffed before looking around the area, Cira noticed she did not take her hands off of her sword, despite it being hidden, "We should not linger here for long,"

"I agree…" came Jeanne's voice, slightly slurred from being roused from unconsciousness, "We need to destroy that witch before she can harm my homeland further,"

Artoria calmly turned towards the wounded Jeanne and frowned.

"You are injured," she pointed out, "You should not be moving for a while yet,"

"I have suffered worse," Jeanne returned, getting to her feet and wincing as the wound pulled, "Who are you to tell me to stand down?"

"Ah, I suppose we should introduce ourselves then," Artoria said, her green gaze was unflinching and more than just a bit cold, and Cira took a step forward.

"OK! Let's not get too hasty here!" she started, "Marie, Mozart, Jeanne..These are my Servants that followed me from Chaldea. Cu Chulainn is my Lancer,"

He gave a lazy salute from his position.

"Lily here is one of my Sabers," Cira continued as Lily gave a brilliant smile and a small curtsy, "And Artoria here is my first Saber,"

"I don't recall any swordswoman called Artoria," Mozart pointed out, "Perhaps she was after our time,"

"No," Artoria said, "Knowing your names, you all were after my time,"

"Hm, not sure they'd know your legend as well," Cira pointed out, "Marie and Jeanne would probably know of Charlemagne's Paladins better than you and your knights,"

"Localization is common," Artoria admitted, "The French did not care for my legend at all it seemed...there were many 'edits' done after my death,"

"Oh now I'm curious, you simply must tell me," Marie smiled.

Artoria gave a sigh, her fingers tapping lightly against Excalibur's pommel, but she did let her guard down slightly.

"You would likely know me better as Arthur Pendragon," she explained, "I was a King of the Britons."

"The name isn't familiar to me without the grail's knowledge," Marie admitted, "But another monarch here is simply interesting! What about Miss Lily here? You two look nearly identical, are you sisters?"

"...In a sense," Artoria stated.

"Artoria's led a few wars herself as well, Jeanne," Cira said, "Maybe you both could come up with a plan on getting rid of that dark Jeanne,"

"...Dark...what?" Cu Chulainn asked.

"Uh...remember the corrupted Artoria we saw in Fuyuki?"

"Unfortunately," Artoria growled.

"Yeah think that. Except it's Jeanne,"

"Can the Grail do nothing but make corrupted copies of people?" Artoria demanded.

"You ask the sentient wish granting device, not me!" Cira protested, "But that's not the pressing issue now. We've got a lot of things to deal with and not a lot of time to do so, so can we get to work and all that?"

"I don't see why not," Cu Chulainn shrugged, "Seems you've gotten this far with just a little help...should go by a lot faster now that you've got us, Master,"

"The fact that there are now thirteen servants in this war does not reassure me much," Jeanne admitted, getting up.

"There are only supposed to be seven, right?" Lily asked, "At least...that is what I remember,"

"Normally," Mash nodded, "But there has been a war where there were fifteen fighting against each other. That one is the largest to date,"

"Fifteen!?" Cira sputtered, "Good Lord what was the state of the country that was held!?"

"There's not much information on that one," Mash said, "So I won't be able to tell you much about that, maybe DaVinci or Roman know,"

"Oh I get it now!" Marie beamed, "I know why we were summoned here!"

"And why would that be, dear Marie?" Mozart asked.

"It's obvious isn't it?" she smiled, "We were summoned so that we could defeat them like heroes!"

"I think she's on to something there," Cira nodded, "The more hands to help with this insane mission the better,"

"Yes!" Marie chirped, "Oh I feel as if I finally found my purpose in life!"

Mozart shook his head slightly as he put a delicate hand on Marie's shoulder.

"Being confident is perfectly fine, my dear Maria," he told her, "However, we are against very powerful foes. The others...even Miss Cira here, are used to combat. You and I, however, are not,"

"Surely not everyone!" Marie protested, "Mademoiselle Lily surely…"

"About that…" Lily started, shifting on her feet uncomfortably, "I...have seen a few battles too,"

"But...but you're just a child!"

"I am thirteen, I'm not completely a child!" Lily protested, crossing her arms and making the silver-white armor clink as she did so, "I may not be my older self, but I have seen battle! As much as I dislike it…"

"The point I was trying to make, Marie, is that the numbers do not matter if they are far stronger," Mozart continued, "I've no doubt we have strong warriors on our side: The Child of Light from Ireland across the sea, the Maiden of Orleans, the Red Dragon of Briton...even if she seems to be split in two and we have a Princess Knight as well, as well as a Shield Maiden. You and I, a queen and musician, are not warriors. I create songs of their deeds and you command them to do your bidding...but we do not fight,"

"There's not much we can do against Vlad the Impaler, Elizabeth Bathory...both bloodthirsty and violent heroic spirits that would sooner kill us than have conversation…" Mash murmured, "But that Saber...she seemed to know Marie…"

"D'Eon," Marie sighed, "I know her well...It breaks my heart to see her reduced to this. She was such a kind and loving soul...this...I can't…"

She swiped delicately at a few tears.

"It'd be amazing if she'd join us," Romani said as his hologram flickered.

"Oh now you pipe up!" Cira scolded, "Where were you when I was getting chewed out by two King of Knights?!"

"Eating popcorn and enjoying the show," Romani smirked.

"...Mash I'm going to do what you asked me earlier and reserve some combat magic for you when we get back," Cira hissed, making Lily clap a hand to her mouth and Cu Chulainn to burst out laughing.

"Oh allow me," came DaVinci's voice, followed by Romani's yelp.

"Leonardo! That hurt! Where the hell did you get that newspaper?!"

"Doesn't matter," DaVinci said, leaning into the frame as she sipped at her coffee, "Anyways, you guys should be careful...I don't know how well this is going to work out,"

"Having Chevalier D'Eon joining us I'm afraid is impossible," Jeanne said, "I may have lost my Ruler's ability to see True Names...but I could see one thing,"

Her gauntlets tightened on her standard, making the wood creak.

"All of them have been given 'Madness Enhancement'...regardless of alignment and background,"

Silence reigned for a moment.

"What!?" the group demanded.

"They're all...Berserkers!?" Cira sputtered.

Jeanne nodded.

"Speaking reason to them will not be effective," she warned, "however, there is another thing that does not make sense to me,"

She looked towards Marie and Mozart.

"If the grail has already been obtained by the darkened Jeanne...why are they here and summoned? If I may make a guess, perhaps the greater the opponent, the greater the grail's will to oppose it,"

"...You're saying there are likely more Servants besides Marie out here?" Mash asked.

"Of that I am certain," she nodded.

"Oh well that just means we can meet more people!" Marie smiled.

"That may not be a good thing, Maria," Mozart warned, "It could mainly mean there are many enemies,"

"We should start to search for them," Artoria suggested, "Numbers do not always win a battle, but they help,"

"If the other Jeanne finds them, she may either turn them to her side or destroy them," Jeanne nodded, "So I suggest we do that first. I cannot locate Servants, so we will have to rely on Monsieur Romani,"

"On it!" Romani nodded, "I might not have the Ruler's senses, but I can locate a Servant at a further distance than you guys can,"

"My thanks," Jeanne nodded.

"Perhaps it would be best if Master rested," Artoria suggested, "It is growing dark,"

"The longer we wait the more of a chance that witch has of finding us and those other Servants," Jeanne countered.

"Forgive me," Artoria growled, her hands tightening on Excalibur's hilt, "But I believe I know my Master better than you. She is merely human. She needs rest."

"If she stays here, she will be killed before daybreak,"

"Please don't fight…" Lily started, "We are all on the same team, right? We shouldn't be infighting. I don't know why, but I feel that more keenly than anything else. If we fight each other, then it'll just end up destroying us all,"

Artoria seemed to flinch, but relaxed slightly.

"Lily doesn't know about Camlann…" Cira thought as Jeanne's combative state also relaxed, "She doesn't know how her kingdom fell...I wonder if Artoria will tell her one day?"

"...We will wake early," Jeanne said, finally, "Before sunrise and we will have to move immediately. I will take first watch,"

With that, she started towards the perimeter of their camp.

"Mon dieu, that was intense…" Marie whispered, a hand to her heart.

"I'm sorry…" Lily apologized, looking up at her older self, "I just...had this intense feeling that I needed to stop the fighting. Like I'd seen it before and it didn't end well…"

Artoria's eyes turned fond as she gently ruffled Lily's hair.

"You did well, Lily," she told her, "You deescalated that situation admirably, you are on your way to becoming a great king,"

Lily gave a brilliant beaming smile before it faded somewhat.

"I wish Merlin were here to see it,"

"I'm sure he is watching," Artoria reassured her, "And is very proud."

"You should get some rest, Master," Cu Chulainn suggested, gently poking Cira's shoulder, "You've had an exciting day if what I heard was right."

"...Yeah, it was," Cira said, "And that...actually sounds like a great idea,"

Cira didn't get to sleep long before she felt a rough hand on her shoulder and over her mouth.

"Don't scream," Cu Chulainn hissed, "Get up, there's Servants here. As well as quite a few monsters,"

Cira's eyes went from blearily awake to full on awake as she scrambled to her feet. She could see Jeanne, Artoria, Mash and Lily all ready for battle. Artoria's cloaked sword casting shifting shadows in the moonlight while Lily's golden and needle-thin blade caught the firelight. Mash was already in a ready position as Cu Chulainn slung his spear off his shoulder and held it at the ready. Jeanne stood tall, her white banner fluttering in the wind.

The trees shifted, branches snapping as hissing snarls caught Cira's ear.

"Wyverns," she started, "Mash, get ready!"

"Wyverns?" Lily blinked, "This far south? What?"

With that, the wyverns broke through the trees and caused most of the party to tense...save two. Lily and Artoria looked at the creatures almost...amused?

"What in the…" Cira whispered, "Lily, Saber...what's going on?"

"Oh they're just babies!" Lily laughed, "This isn't going to be hard,"

"Babies!?" Mash demanded.

"They will not be a problem," Artoria stated, "For what is a wyvern to a dragon?"

A pulse seemed to ripple through the air, sending a shiver of almost fear through Cira, originating from Lily and Artoria both. The two Pendragons dashed forward with insane speed, Lily's golden blade flickered in and out as the wyverns screeched and snapped at them both. Jeanne darted forward, the spear point of her standard gleaming in the light as she charged one of the wyverns.

"Oh I can't let them have all the fun!" Cu Chulainn protested, dashing towards the nearest wyvern, "Oi, Missy! Come help me out!"

"Got it!" Mash yelled, rushing to help him.

Cira picked up a rock.

"MASTER YOU STAY RIGHT THERE!" Mash's voice cut through the din, "Don't try it!"

Cira let the rock fall from her fingertips and she gave a harsh huff.

"I want to help…" she growled.

"You help best from supplying mana and not dying," Mozart pointed out, gently patting her shoulder, "I take it you tried to help earlier?"

"I...may or may not have tried to stab one with a discarded sword," Cira admitted, watching as Mash set her shield firmly in the ground, shoving upwards as Cu Chulainn jumped on top of it, sending him flying into the air and allowing him speed and momentum to hurl Gáe Bolg into the creature's head, pinning it to the ground, "And it bounced off. And I nearly got eaten,"

"I can see why she would be concerned," Marie admitted, watching as Jeanne stabbed the standard through the wyvern's throat and causing it to gurgle as it slowly sank to the ground.

Artoria and Lily fought back to back, movements almost mirroring each other with few differences. Lily fought as if she were a fencer, nearly dancing over the battlefield and jabbing Caliburn into the little cracks between the wyvern's scales. Artoria's attacks were more weighted and there were bone rattling cracks when the invisible blade hit the ground after shearing through a wyvern's leg or wing.

The battle did not last long and the force of five came back to Marie, Cira and Mozart. They were all covered in blood, but for the most part looked unharmed.

"I think that's it for the wyverns," Cu Chulainn stretched, "Just leaves the Servants,"

"Servants as in plural?" Cira asked, "There's more than one?"

"Two it looks like it," Jeanne said, turning to face the clearing as the two Servants came into it.

It was the woman with long dark hair and the blonde Saber that both appeared with the Darkened Jeanne.

"Good evening," the dark haired woman smiled warmly, "Such a lonely night, isn't it?"

"Who are you," Jeanne demanded as Cira's Servants all shifted to shield her from harm.

"That is the question, isn't it?" the woman sighed, "Who am I? In life I forced myself to become a saint...and in death I find myself bound to a broken one...and thanks to her I've lost my reasoning and gone mad…"

Her eyes shone with...tears? Cira frowned, noticing that the woman shook ever so slightly, her knuckles were white against her staff where she clutched it and the muscles in her neck twitched.

"I'm doing everything I can to keep my sanity and reason from fleeing entirely…" she whispered, "Oh how I wish I could join you instead, but her curse prevents me. You don't want a Servant that will try to stab you in the back at every chance she gets, do you...young Master?"

Cira could hear the grips on Caliburn, Excalibur, Lord Chaldeas and Gáe Bolg tighten as boots scraped the forest floor and shifted weight.

"Rider…" the Saber murmured, "Please,"

"Why have you come here," Jeanne growled, "Speak quickly,"

"Merely to observe," the berserk Rider sighed, "But whatever is left of my reason begs for me to test you. You will be facing the Dragon Witch, disaster incarnate which rides upon the 'ultimate dragon'. If you cannot beat me, then you most certainly cannot defeat her. So please,"

She pointed her staff at the bristling Chaldeans.

"Defeat me. Stab me in the heart without hesitation," she stated, and Cira understood.

"...She wants to die," she said, "She can't stand being in this existence...it's physically hurting her to be like this,"

"You are a quick one, little Master," Rider smiled, "And as such, I'll give you my name,"

She tapped her staff against the ground as the trees rumbled.

"My True Name is Martha," she said, "Now, come to me! Iron Dragon Tarasque!"

"Saint Martha?" Artoria whispered, "Sister of Mary Magdalene...God forgive me for battling a saint…"

"How bad is it…?"

"She is said to have defeated a dragon with naught but prayer," Artoria stated, "It is very likely we are going to fight said dragon,"

As the words left her lips, the clearing suddenly darkened as a shadow loomed over them all. A creature, much bigger than the wyverns around them, crashed through the trees. Without missing a beat, Martha swung herself up onto it's back, her smile still not fading as she turned to the Saber on the ground.

"Go on back," she said, "If I take care of them, then nothing will stop her. If they defeat me, well, I still believe that is a win,"

The Saber cast a look up at Martha, then at the opposing Servants and then back. Her face turned pained, but she nodded.

"May God be with you, Saint Martha," the Saber sighed before disappearing back into the forest.

"Now then," Martha smiled, "Come! Let us see whose strength is stronger!"

"Saint d'Arc," Artoria started, "May I take command of this endeavor? I have slain many dragons in my time,"

Jeanne nodded, still staring up at the creature.

"Dragons have weak underbellies," Artoria stated, "This is true for all dragons. It is getting to that underbelly that is the hard part as you have to get past the teeth and claws. I do not know if this drake can spew fire. I suggest we divert it's attention. If it has fire, then we must draw that out as well. Lady Mash...I ask you use your Noble Phantasm should we be able to do this,"

Mash nodded, shifting Lord Chaldeas.

"Master. You, Lady Marie and Lord Mozart stay behind Lady Mash no matter the cost," Artoria ordered, "If we lose you, we are lost and humanity is doomed. Stay. Here. Support us with mana, but do not leave Lady Mash's side,"

Cira nodded, not liking the fact she basically was only able to sit there.

"Lancer, you and Lily go to the left, Lady Jeanne and I shall go to the right. We must destroy the dragon before we go after Saint Martha," Artoria finished, "Are we all clear?"

"Crystal," Cu Chulainn grinned, "Man, haven't fought a dragon in centuries…"

"Neither have I, but the memory is still there," Artoria stated, "Now, let us go."

All four Servants darted forwards, splitting up as they did. The Tarasque reared back its head, light beginning to pool from it's jaws and Mash's violet eyes widened, bringing her shield up.

"Unleash the Noble Phantasm!" She cried, "LORD CHALDEAS!"

Flame slammed against a glittering white wall that sparked and sent multi-colored points of light scattering throughout the clearing. Mash grunted as the force pushed her back a few inches. Cira laid a hand on her back, her eyes closing slightly as she poured more energy into her friend.

"You can do this," Cira reassured her, "I know you can,"

Mash gave a roaring yell, pushing forwards and the wall expanded, Cira could see what looked to be towers on either side of the wall while Artoria and Jeanne sliced and stabbed at the Tarasque's legs, making it shriek and cut off it's flames, snapping at them. Lily slid underneath the creature's belly, Caliburn's golden light winking out for a moment as she dragged her sword through some of the scales of the other leg. The Tarasque roared, rearing up on its hind legs and Cira's head snapped towards Cu Chulainn.

"LANCER! YOUR NOBLE PHANTASM!" Cira yelled.

Cu Chulainn gave a grin. He took a stance: weight on his back foot, spear in both hands, pointed slightly downward at the ground. There was a burst of red mana, like crimson flame around his weapon.

"Your heart is mine!" he roared as the flame surged brightly, "GÁE BOLG!"

He lashed forwards, an arc of crimson light streaking at impossible angles and striking right at the creature's chest. With a piercing shriek, the Tarasque fell forwards, nearly crushing Lily who had to hurl herself across the ground to get away. She rolled to a stop next to Mash and Cira helped the young princess to her feet.

"That...was actually a lot of fun," Lily smiled, "Hard...but fun!"

"Told ya it's heart was mine," Cu Chulainn preened...only for a fist to nail him in the gut and send him flying.

"Oh we are not done yet," Martha growled, "You killed my Tarasque...now I am angry."

"Cu!" Cira yelled, bolting from behind Mash to his side, he groaned as she reached him, "Stay still, I'm going to help the best I can,"

She lay a hand on his chest and closed her eyes, pale green light flickered around her fingertips and Cu Chulainn's wounds from where he had been tossed across the clearing closed up. He gave a cough as he sat up, rubbing his chest.

"Good God she's got a mean right hook," he growled as Jeanne and Artoria darted in at Martha, battling with her, "I think she broke a few ribs there,"

"Yeah well let's hope it's not much more than that," Cira said, "I don't think I've got enough energy in me for another noble phantasm to fire,"

"Gotcha," Cu Chulainn nodded, hopping to his feet and kicking his spear up to his hand, "Imma go help the girls, go back to Mash...and hope she doesn't ping you upside the head,"

Cira groaned as Cu Chulainn dashed back into the fray, slashing and stabbing at Martha with his spear as Martha slammed her staff into Artoria's midsection, causing the King to double over in pain as the wind rushed out of her. The fight continued, but inevitably, Martha started to lose ground. There was almost a happy smile as Jeanne rammed her lance through Martha's chest.

The maddened Saint slowly sank to the ground next to her dragon's head and gently patted the massive beast's cheek.

"I see," she said, "I am satisfied, that will be enough,"

"Did you hold back?" Jeanne asked.

Martha gave a very unlady-like snort and shook her head.

"Of course not, it is fine this way...don't…" she coughed, blood dribbling past her teeth, "don't make a saint massacre you,"

She gave a sigh as she leaned her head against the Tarasque's chest.

"Listen to me, please...one more piece of information I wish to give you," she murmured, "You will not beat the dragon controlled by the Dragon Witch. There is only one way you can and to do that you must make your way to Lyon. A Saint will never be able to slay a dragon, nor a princess...only a dragonslayer can truly kill a dragon. It has been that way since ancient times."

Her eyes closed and a tear slid down her cheek.

"Ah, Tarasque...perhaps next time...we will be...summoned properly," she whispered as her body began to break apart into golden motes of light and she faded away.

"...Not even a Saint could resist her," Jeanne whispered, crossing herself and closing her eyes in prayer.

Artoria and Lily both knelt, heads bowed in respect for the saint and giving silent prayers for her. Cu Chulainn's head bowed as his shoulders sagged.

"This is completely messed up," he sighed, "We shouldn't have even been able to talk to her...yet her self-control made her able to do so...that's incredible."

"We know where we are supposed to go now at least," Mozart said as he, Mash, Marie and Cira all walked up to the mourning warriors, "Lyon is not too far from here, is it?"

"I wonder who we will meet there?" Marie wondered, "What Servant could she have talked about?"

"What worries me more is how she knew about it," Artoria reasoned, "I fear that we may find more than that Servant in Lyon waiting for us."

"What choice do we have?" Cira asked, "If we don't go, we won't have the means to kill that dragon,"

She gave a sigh.

"I don't like it either, but we don't have a choice...we need to go to Lyon. I've got you all on my side now...we can take whatever they throw at us,"

At least...that's what she hoped.

Master: Cira Albion

Servant: Shielder- Mash Kyrielight

Servant: Saber-Artoria Pendragon

Servant: Lancer/Caster-Cu Chulainn

Servant: Saber- Saber Lily