And so here we are, the last chapter of Orleans. This one...not going to lie, I am happy it's over and I can move on haha. I will start working on the Intermission Chapter...it should be fun for me, at least humorous and not heavy. I won't lie, the Intermissions will very rarely be dark...the main story itself has that enough. Anyways, enjoy the final chapter of Orleans.
Orleans: The Dragon Witch
Everything burned and ached, but Cira knew she had to keep going. Her world was white along the edges of her vision, steadily brightening as heat built up through her body. Her legs wobbled and she let go of Mash's hand, feeling herself fall forwards. Hands grabbed her before she could hit the ground.
"Master…" Mash started.
"I'm fine," Cira repeated, "I just...need to rest. Please look away for a moment…"
Mash turned her head and Cira felt sick to her stomach. The brilliant white edge around her vision flared, blinding her as her form burned bright white for a few heartbeats, finally dying back to her normal self.
"I have to fix this...get better...so I'm not incapacitated again like this…" she thought to herself as she staggered back to her feet, "Sorry, Mash...I need to get a better hold on my magic,"
"So that's what causes that then," Mash said, helping Cira stand, "That bright light is your magic?"
"Yeah...whenever I use a little bit of it, it all comes rushing out and makes me feel a bit sick," Cira admitted as the two ran to catch up with Jeanne, "It sucks, but unfortunately I end up not being able to use it again,"
"You saved Artoria with it,"
"I just gave a distraction," Cira sighed, "There's no way I'd be able to take on a Servant like that. It's just an annoyance and can cause people to stumble or I blind them. Literally a glorified flashbang grenade."
Cira skidded to a stop, nearly running into Jeanne, who looked up at the castle walls before her. The Ruler gave a heavy sigh.
"Shall we?" she asked.
Cira nodded and Mash started forwards.
"Stay behind me, ok?" the Shielder asked, "I don't want you getting hurt,"
"Not a problem," Cira agreed as Jeanne pushed the doors open and the trio went inside the castle.
At one time, it would have been beautiful. Golden filigree threading through the walls in the shapes of swirls and suns. The beige marble floor was scored with claw marks and burns, blood pooling in some areas while ash and soot covered what wasn't streaked with blood. Cira and Mash immediately clapped hands to their noses to block out the smell of burned and rotting flesh. Jeanne did not seem as fazed.
"With Fafnir destroyed, the wyerns will fall," Jeanne said as the three sprinted through the halls, "D'Eon, Carmilla, Saint Martha, Atalante and Vlad III all have fallen...I imagine she will try to someone more powerful than them to fight against us. She is down to just herself and that man who calls himself Gilles. I do not know who she will try to bring here,"
"We can rule King Arthur and Cu Chulainn out," Cira said as they rounded a corner, "Unless by some weirdness they manage to summon a second version despite being under my contract,"
"I doubt an English Knight would come to her aid," Jeanne snorted, "As you saw when we first met...Arthur and I did not get along very well. And the Dragon Witch has managed to royally anger her."
"Yeah...Artoria's still sore about the whole Lancelot bit," Cira nodded, hissing as a sharp pain lanced across her ribcage, "...Oh no…"
"Your injury…" Mash whispered as Cira halted, leaning against the wall and panting, her face pale.
"If I don't move too much...I think I'll be ok," Cira reassured her, "Besides...We're in the endgame, yeah? We've got the enemy in check...just need to get rid of the bishop,"
"Speaking of…" Romani piped up, "I'm getting a read in front of you guys...Servant. Cira...you need to be very careful, ok? Your temperature's spiked and your ribs have cracked again."
"I know...we need to end it fast," Cira growled.
"End it? Fast? Now, now, sweet child, what in heaven would make you think I would want that?" an oily voice asked from the gloom.
Mash immediately put herself between the Servant and Cira, her golden eyes flashed in the flickering candle light as the hunchbacked man from earlier glided into the room. His blue robes dragged across the marble floor, catching in blood and leaving crimson lines behind him. His face was gaunt, pale as if he'd never seen the sun, his hair was frazzled and dark and greasy. What made Cira's skin crawl though were his eyes. Wild and dark, bulging out of sockets that held shadows from nights of sleeplessness...they held a hunger in them that made Cira want to claw at herself and take a very hot shower to get rid of the gross feeling that crept over her. He held a book...that looked as if it were bound in human skin. That lipless mouth opened into a smile and Cira saw Mash freeze, almost bristling.
"He...I don't like him. There's this...evil aura about him…" Mash hissed, "An evil that I feel must be put down…"
"Well, well, well, long time no see," the man purred, looking at Jeanne, who nearly dropped her standard.
"Gilles…" she breathed.
"Who knew you'd defeat Fafnir and show yourself here in Orleans?" he hummed, "To be honest, I'm impressed! However! Oh my saint...and your comrades...Why do you stand in my way?"
That smile turned into a bared, feral snarl and Cira put a hand on Mash's shoulder, steadying herself.
"You come into my world," Gilles continued, spitting the words out, "destroying everything. And now you're trying to kill Jeanne d'Arc!"
"No...this cannot be...what happened?" Jeanne demanded, "How and why is she here? Is she truly me?!"
"Such blasphemy! Even the Saint would despair and rage to hear such a thing!" he snapped, seemingly appalled, "That, without a doubt, is the true Jeanne d'Arc! It is the darkness hidden within her!"
"Then," Jeanne said calmly, "As the light, I must face her. Gilles...step aside."
"I will not let anyone stop me!" Gilles screeched, "Not even you, Jeanne!"
"Jeanne, he's one fry short of a happy meal," Cira said, only to correct herself, "He's insane. There's no reasoning with him."
"...OH! THAT IS WHERE I HEARD HIS NAME BEFORE!" Romani yelled, "Cira! Gilles de Rais! The French called him Bluebeard. The infamous child molester and murderer who took lessons in sorcery from a certain Prelati. Be careful!"
"Murdered…" Mash breathed, shaking, "Children…"
"Mash…" Cira started, her voice wary, "What are you…"
"I won't let that stand. I can't let that stand. Every fiber of my being is screaming to take him out…" Mash hissed, and Cira realized she wasn't shaking in fear...but in rage.
"Jeanne uh…" Cira called, "We gotta take him out. He's gonna kill us if we don't!"
"As much as I hate to admit it, you are right," Jeanne sighed, "Gilles...forgive me...but I shall free your soul!"
"Prelati! My teacher!" Gilles screamed, "Grant me your teachings!"
The book opened and a diseased looking violet light poured from it's pages. Oily smoke dripped from the book down to the floor, it writhed and coiled in on itself before seeming to bubble. Cira's eyes widened as a spiked tentacle reached out from the smoke that covered the floor, slowly creeping its way towards the group. The tentacle sank back beneath the smoke and all was still for a few moments...before something latched around Cira's ankle and dragged her down. Cira shrieked, clawing at the tile and trying to grab on to something...anything.
"Master!" Mash yelled, dashing forwards and grabbing Cira's hand, pulling hard.
There was a loud snapping sound and pain bloomed in Cira's shoulder, making her shriek even louder as she thrashed and kicked, trying to get whatever it was off her ankle. Jeanne dashed forward, stabbing her standard into the tentacle that had wrapped around Cira's ankle. The creature screeched and let go of Cira, who scurried backwards as far as she could, blood oozing from her ankle as she held her arm, her shoulder looking oddly square compared to her other one.
The smoke suddenly exploded upwards and some large, starfish-like creature came barreling towards the trio. Jeanne set her feet and raised her standard, sending it straight through the creature's large, open maw and out the back. It squealed and thrashed, flopping in death throes as Jeanne yanked the lance out. Cira ground her teeth in pain, her eyes rolling up as her breath came out in pants.
"Master…" Mash started, looking over Cira only for the other girl to shake her head.
"Help Jeanne. I'll stay here," Cira ground out, "We need to stop him."
Mash didn't look enthused about leaving Cira's side, but upon hearing another screeching noise from another starfish creature, picked her shield up again and came to Jeanne's side. The two raced forwards, Jeanne stabbing through the creatures as they came at her, the snowy white standard becoming stained grey with ichor. Low bangs and clangs sounded from Mash's shield as she rammed the blunt front against the creatures and crushed them to the floor or took the sharpened edges and sliced them in half with a jump and slam down.
More tentacles erupted from the smoke, but Mash and Jeanne kept moving forwards, carving through them, but no matter how many they took down...there were always more coming through. Jeanne managed to get through to Gilles, but when she jabbed at him...he seemed to not even care, the spearhead rebounding off of what seemed to be a bounded field around him. Cira tried to raise her right hand...only to realize she couldn't, the pain in her shoulder was knife sharp as she tried. Gritting her teeth and biting back a scream, she grabbed her hand and lifted it up.
"COME TO ME!" she yelled, the second stroke of her command spells blazing brightly.
Scarlet light lanced through the smoke, forming solid bars that seemed to be physical enough to touch, a ringing sound pierced through the air and the sound of rushing wind caught her ear.
Cira heard the rushed sound of armored boots on marble, the scrape of metal on the floor and felt a great gust of wind as two figures in blue and a figure in white suddenly came into being in a flurry of azure, white and red sparks, racing towards the fight in front of her. A flash of red and a loud bang sounded off as Cu Chulainn suddenly vaulted over Gilles, allowing Artoria and Lily to swing at him. Spear and swords both screeched off the bounded field and Jeanne and Mash took a step back.
"Mash, go check on Master," Lily called, wielding the blacksmith's blade as well as a half-formed glittering golden blade with sharp edges, "We'll handle this!"
"There's something you gotta finish," Cu Chulainn added, "It might get a lot worse if you don't hurry,"
"Take her and face the Dragon Witch," Artoria ordered, "We shall hold him here. I may be able to deal with this wretch."
Mash and Jeanne both nodded, rushing back to Cira, who still hadn't moved from her spot against the wall. Jeanne frowned as she inspected Cira, wincing as Cira cried out in pain when Jeanne's fingers ghosted across her right shoulder.
"Dislocated," Jeanne said, "It might have happened when you pulled her back,"
"Can you fix it?" Mash asked.
"It won't be pleasant," Jeanne warned.
"Do it," Cira ordered as Jeanne braced her shoulder, "We...need to OW!"
Jeanne gave an apologetic smile.
"It's back in place now...come, let us finish this," she said.
Cira looked at the fight before her, catching Artoria's eye and seeing the king nod...and then Cira watched as Artoria took a step back from the fight, the wind magic surrounding Excalibur shattering away in a great gust. Lily and Cu Chulainn both saw this and bolted out of the way as Artoria took the sword in two hands, light beginning to whirl and dance around her.
"Come on," Mash started, gently pulling on Cira's arm and the trio raced onwards, letting the other three fight as they ran towards the throne room.
There was a loud scream from Artoria, and an equally as loud roar as something large and fast screamed down the hall. The path ahead of them suddenly lit up brighter than the sun and Cira stumbled as a massive wave of fatigue rushed over her. She got her feet back under her as Jeanne rammed the doors open, she didn't have time to worry about what that was. She needed to see this through to the end.
Jeanne Alter stood before a summoning circle, already glowing but no other Servant stood there. The Dragon Witch's golden eyes flicked up to the trio as they entered.
"Oh lovely...Gilles is alive at least," she sighed, "Pathetic...couldn't kill a weak half-servant and a maimed Master. No matter, everything is ready."
"Dragon Witch," Jeanne said, stepping forward, "I have something I must ask you."
"It's too late for talking," Jeanne Alter snapped, "I-"
"Do you remember your family?" Jeanne asked, cutting her darker half off as she came close.
"...What?" the dark Ruler blinked.
"I asked a simple question," Jeanne stated, "Do you, Jeanne, remember your family? No matter how vivid my memories of battle are, I remember far more of my life as a simple country girl. Even my dark side should remember those peaceful days."
Jeanne gave a sigh, sadness clear in her violet eyes.
"No...it is precisely because she remembers them that the hatred and pain of betrayal is so sharp," she continued.
"I...I…" Jeanne Alter stammered, taking a step back from the other Ruler.
"But you don't, do you?" Jeanne asked, gently.
"What does it matter?" Jeanne Alter spat, "Whether or not I remember, I am still Jeanne d'Arc!"
"And you would be right," Jeanne replied, "It does not matter if you remember or not. But that is precisely what I needed to know. I will defeat you, Dragon Witch, not with anger...but with sorrow."
She set her standard firmly on the tile, giving a confident nod.
"We are going to settle this, right here, right now," Jeanne said.
"Shut up!" Jeanne Alter screeched, "Fight me! Settle this once and for all! Will hope win, or will despair? Will Murderous intent win or will your precious pity win? Can you surpass me, Jeanne d'Arc!"
She came forward in a rush of flame and cinders, unsheathing her sword and swinging at Jeanne, who simply blocked it with her standard. The two fought once again, but this time it was different than in La Charite. Jeanne's smile never left, never faltered. What rage and anger she had felt towards this dark shadow of herself seemed to have been replaced with nothing but pity for a person who couldn't even remember a day that was unmarred by blood and smoke.
"Mash...go," Cira said, getting a nod from Mash as the latter dashed towards the fight.
Both Ruler and Shielder crashed against the darkened Servant, forcing her back until her back hit the throne behind her. Jeanne Alter gave a scream of fury, slamming her standard into the marble and forcing Jeanne and Mash to leap backwards as spears and hellfire burst through the shattered floor.
"This is the howl of a soul filled with hatred!" Jeanne Alter roared, pointing her sword at Jeanne. "LA GRONDEMENT DU HAINE!"
"Oh no, you are not going to finish us that easily," Jeanne countered as the standard unfurled, revealing a golden lily upon a white background, "Oh flag of mine, protect our comrades! LUMIONSITÉ ETERNELLE!"
Two things happened at once. Golden light blazed around Jeanne and Cira felt her cuts and pains healing as peace washed over her soul while around her the world erupted into hellfire and blackened spears that seemed to curve around Jeanne's light. Then as soon as the hellfire died, Cira watched as Jeanne leaped forwards, standard leveled and rammed the spear point right through Jeanne Alter's midsection.
"...No…" the darkened Ruler gasped, her voice surprisingly soft as she fell backwards, landing on the throne and spattering it with blood, "I have the Grail...the bearer of the Grail...cannot know defeat…"
Jeanne gently set her down, pity clear in her gaze as the doors banged open. A blur of dark blue dashed to Jeanne Alter's side and Cira realized it was Gilles de Rais. He had a nasty wound that had torn away the left side of his body, leaving him barely alive as he held the Dragon Witch in his remaining arm.
"Master!" Lily's voice called as she, Cu Chulainn and Artoria came through the door, "I'm so sorry…we tried to stop him,"
"It's ok, Lily," Cira reassured her as Mash and Jeanne took a step back from the two Servants.
"Oh, Jeanne...my Jeanne…" Gilles cried, "What a pitiful sight you are,"
"Gilles," Jeanne Alter murmured, barely there as golden light started to eat at her fingertips and extremities.
"Do not worry, my dear," he told her, "Now that I am here, you may rest...now then, sleep in peace,"
"But...I still haven't destroyed France…" she protested, her voice getting weaker and fainter.
"Shhh, I shall take care of that, don't you fret," he crooned, "Don't worry, you will never die...You're just...a little tired. Close your eyes and rest, when you wake I will have taken care of everything,"
"Yes...that's right," she murmured as her body was mostly fading, causing her voice to echo slightly, "Gilles...if you fight for me, I can rest...and…"
And she dissolved into golden light, however, there was no Grail left behind as it did when they had defeated the altered Artoria in the past singularity. Cira sensed Artoria, Lily and Cu Chulainn tensing behind her as Mash readied her shield…
Jeanne however walked forwards.
"I see now," she said, looking at Gilles, "She never had the Grail at all, did she?"
Gilles' face scrunched up into a grin.
"Very intuitive of you," he smiled.
"That Servant never was a part of the Throne of Heroes," Jeanne continued, "As long as she wasn't an aspect of my darkness, there was no other conclusion I could make."
"Then...how'd she get so strong?" Cira asked, "There's no way that was anything but the Grail,"
"Exactly," Gilles said simply, "She was my wish...in other words, she was the Grail,"
"You used the Holy Grail to create her," Jeanne murmured.
"Of course I did," he scoffed, "It was my wish! To revive you, my Jeanne. It was a wish from my heart, from the bottom of my heart! Of course it was...But the Grail rejected me...it told me it couldn't do that,"
"I think that whole 'only creating corrupt copy' thing is starting to feel more true," Cira muttered, getting a snort from Cu Chulainn.
"But my wish…" Gilles continued, "It was for you. Only you! So I created a new you! The Saint I believed in, the saint I longed for! I created her!"
"But she never learned that, did she?" Jeanne asked, coming closer, "Gilles, even if you could revive me...I would never become your Dragon Witch. Yes, I was betrayed. Yes, I was mocked...it can only be described as a tragic end."
Her gaze turned hard for a moment.
"But...I could never hate my homeland. It is where you and Pierre and the others lived!" she stated.
"...So kind, your words are so kind," Gilles cried, "However, Jeanne...Your kindness made you forget one thing. Even if you never hated this country...I HATED THIS COUNTRY! I SWORE I WOULD MAKE IT PAY FOR ITS BETRAYAL! I will never forgive this country! Nor it's King! Nor God! Nor this Nation! I will destroy them all! I will kill them all! That is the wish I made upon the Grail!"
He began to laugh, high-pitched, deranged and cruel as he lifted his remaining arm to open the book...however he never got that chance. A spear bound in snow-white cloth entered his chest, making him gasp.
"...You are right, absolutely so," Jeanne said softly, tears streaming down her face, "It makes perfect sense for you to hate, and for you to use the Grail's power to destroy France. But I had to stop you, as Ruler and Judge of the Holy Grail War...It was my duty to stand in your way."
"Not...possible," Gilles gurgled as he tried to take in air through his ruined lungs, "Even with...the Grail...I lost…"
Now, Gilles...that is enough," Jeanne chastised as she gently came down with him to the floor so he was resting in her lap, "You did a good job...it's time for you to rest now. Believing in a little girl who had no clue...you even liberated this town. No matter who you are now, I believe in who you were back then. Don't worry...until the very end, I have had no regrets. My death will light the way for someone else, that is all I wanted. Now,"
She gave a gentle smile as she looked down at him.
"Let us get back to our own time, shall we?" she asked.
"Oh Jeanne…" he sighed, as he began to break apart, golden light sparkling from his rapidly dissolving limbs, "I am the only one of us who should go to Hell…"
And he disappeared, a golden shape clanging to the marble floor and rolling until it hit Mash's armored boot. The Shielder gave a relieved smile and picked up the object, revealing itself to be a chalice...the Grail itself.
"Grail recovered," she smiled at Cira, who nodded as Mash put the Grail in a compartment in her shield.
"Gilles…" Jeanne sighed, startling as an armored hand put itself on her shoulder.
She looked up to see Artoria standing beside her, offering her hand.
"It is always hard to see a comrade fall," the King stated, "To madness or in battle...believe me when I say I completely understand,"
Jeanne's shoulders sagged, but she took Artoria's hand and stood.
"To hear that from the famed King of Knights...means a lot to me," Jeanne smiled.
Cira's watch beeped and she raised it up to see Romani's hologram sputter back to life.
"You guys got the Grail, nice!" he grinned, "The timeline is about to start repairing itself...don't worry we shouldn't have to worry about the place falling apart this time...but you should get ready to Rayshift back."
Lily took off the belt and scabbard from her waist and walked to Jeanne.
"Could you return this for me?" she asked, "I promised I would repay the blacksmith but it's starting to look like I won't make it back there,"
"I'd be honored to," Jeanne smiled, taking the weapon, "I will tell him it was fit for a king and that he should be proud that a hero got the chance to wield it,"
Lily beamed as she gave an elegant curtsy and made her way back to Cira. Jeanne looked at the young Master and smiled gratefully.
"Thank you for everything, Lady Cira, Lady Mash," she said, "You have saved my beloved France...I hope one day we can meet again,"
"We'll look forward to it," Cira smiled, "I…"
She stopped, holding her hand up and watching as golden light splintered off it.
"It seems it's time for us to go," Mash explained, "Get ready, Master,"
Cira gave a nod...and her world shattered into shards of swirling blue and silver light as she entered the void once again…
And then everything went dark.
Cira gasped as she shot up out of the Coffin, feeling hands on her shoulders to steady her. Her vision cleared and she saw Romani's face before her.
"Welcome back," he smiled, helping her out of the Coffin, "Good work,"
"We're...alive?" Cira blinked, looking around and seeing DaVinci helping Mash out of her Coffin, taking the Grail from her and rushing off with it.
"Yeah...and thanks to you both, the first Grand Order has been completed," he nodded, "Few supplies, no personnel...and Rayshifting is still experimental, yet you both pulled it off. I say this on behalf of all surviving members of Chaldea...you're now a full grown Mage and I'm proud of you both."
Cira gave a relieved smile as she looked around, then froze.
"Mash…" she started, getting the other girl's attention.
"Yes?" Mash asked.
"...Remember what you asked me to do when we got back?" Cira continued, looking from Mash to Romani.
Mash looked confused for a second before her face went stone cold blank. Cira made the wobbly steps to her friend and put a hand on her shoulder, pouring a bit of energy back into Mash. With a burst of violet and sable sparks, Mash was once more in her armor and marching up to Romani.
"Wait...what?" Romani demanded, "Hey, wait...Mash, Cira, come on! It was just a few candies I can-ACK!"
Mash flicked him and Romani stumbled, falling to the floor. Cira grinned and Mash huffed, her armor shattering into light and returning back to her Rayshifting uniform.
"Thank you for reminding me, Cira," Mash smiled, "Now, Doctor, have we learned our lesson?"
"Yeah...no more telling you guys I'm eating candy…" Romani groaned from his position on the floor, "Good God, Mash...that really hurt!"
"Lesson learned," Cira chuckled, only to get tackled from behind, "Oh...Lily...hi!"
Cira noticed that Mash's face went pale and she shook her head.
"Maaaaster," a voice purred that was so not Lily's, "Did you miss me, my darling?"
The color drained from Cira's face as she looked down and realized what she was seeing was a kimono, not Lily's armor.
"Oh God no…" she groaned, "Hello, Kiyohime…"
First Singularity
Humanity Foundation Value: C+
AD: 1431 Hundred Years' War of the Evil Dragons: Orleans
Holy Maiden of Salvation
Foundation Restored
Order Complete
Master: Cira Albion
Servant: Shielder- Mash Kyrielight
Servant: Saber-Artoria Pendragon
Servant: Lancer/Caster-Cu Chulainn
Servant: Saber- Saber Lily
Servant: Berserker-Kiyohime