Orleans Prelude:
Beginning the Comeback Concert
Gudako POV
I stood on top of the Vaucouleurs fortress wall, over the entrance gate. Kinda funny that the entrance was facing the same direction, the dragon and zombie army were coming from. Or is it symbolic?
Jeanne would have probably liked the idea, of finally standing our ground and fighting, rather than all running away again.
Jeane…
I could still hear those last words she shouted, before Medea teleported us away.
"La Pucelle!"
Later on, Medea confirmed via scrying that Catgirl Archer, Dracula and the Black Knight Dude were all gone.
But so was Jeanne.
I've only gotten to know her a few shorts days. Two days if I was actually counting. Maybe even less than that. Yet I wanted to help her.
She tried to hide it but I could tell the whole Evil Side gone rampage situation was bothering her. But we didn't get a chance to find answers. Seriously, isn't the enemy too OP from the get go? Or rather too competent?
There was also that bob cut blond guy. I don't know why, but I can't help but feel he's responsible somehow. What did Evil Jeanne call him? Pretell? Pretally? Prelty? Some kind of starbucks drink name.
Either way, he gives me the creeps. Definitely not husbando material, even if he's handsome-ish.
I let out a sigh. Thinking of husbandos let to thinking of waifus, and thinking of waifus led to thinking of Mash. I need some Mashuium to replenish my energy in these depressing times.
"Enough," I slapped my face, to kick out the bad thoughts, and focus. "No more pessimism. Positivity, positivity!" I cried out pushing the air. That's right, we'll beat Evil Jeanne, find where Mashu, Newbie and Supergirl went, get back to Chaldea and fix everything.
"So that's where you were, Master?" Medea called out as she floated down next to me.
"Big Sis~." I know I sounded whiny, but I didn't like how she said Master. Like she was trying to put distance between us. "I told you to call me by my name." I said as I hugged her.
"A-ah, right." Big Sis Medea coughed to try and hide her blush and look important. "Yes, I'm the big sister." She gave a proud sigh.
Which in turn made her heavenly chest, even heavenlier. "Ah~ truly, Big Sister's 'big sisters' are the best." As I have come to appreciate as of late, Servant Boobs
are Best Boobs.
"What are you calling 'big sisters'?" Said Medea as she pulled on my ear.
"Ow, ow, Big Sis~ It hurts~." Oh come on, I'm still in emotional pain here!
Medea thankfully let go of my poor ear, as she let out a big sigh. "Good grief and here I was worried you would be taking things badly." She really needs to relax. All that anxiety can't be good for her.
"I was, but then I snapped myself out of it!" I said while doing a Can-Do pose. "I can cry when it's all over, but right now we're alive. So we have to do our best with what we can." I crossed my arms as I nodded to myself. TV has taught me well, even if Rin-sensei was completely useless with it.
"Resilient, aren't you? I suppose that's a quality to be admired in the current situation." Medea said neutrally, but I knew the truth! She's trying to stealthy praise me. I accept that praise!
"Thank you! So how's Eli and Mozart?" I asked the other Servants with us.
Speaking of Mozart, I really hate that we didn't find him earlier, I would have liked to have met Marie Antoinette. I wonder if she really is like history and actually liked cake? Maybe she knew some good recipes.
When Evil Jeanne and her group found me, Good Jeanne and Medea at La Charité, I had Medea teleport us away, empowered by a Command Spell, that we managed to reach Thiers. We met Elizabeth and Kiyohime there who were arguing about...I dunno. Being dragons of different cultures? Either way, we stopped their squabble, got them to make up, shake hands and all.
But we barely got a full day to rest before Evil Jeanne attacked us with
ten freaking Servants. Seriously, that's bullshit!
I don't remember all their names but I remember them. They were Dracula, Black Knight Dude, Catgirl Archer, Starbuck Name Creep, Bug-Eyes Priest, Sad Edward Scissorhands, Musketeer Trap, Hot Vampire Dominatrix, Serial Killer Bureaucrat, and Saint Martha.
Saint Martha I remembered because she just felt so out of place. Even more than Musketeer Trap.
Seriously. Attacking us with all your Servants? How's that fair! Shouldn't the Heroes be given a chance to make a shiny comeback!?
Right then, Jeanne said she would hold them back, and Medea...I went along with what she said and ran away. To make things worse, the only reason Evil Jeanne took as long as she did to catch up to us, was because she found Mozart and Marie on the way to get us. I know logically it's not my fault, but I feel things should have been different. If I was a better Master…
Well, I'm still gonna kick Evil Jeanne's ass! More Servants, just means more EXP, right!?
"They are currently arguing over how to stage should be set for the acoustics, and how the 'concert' should be performed." Medea rolled her eyes at the word 'concert'. Oh right Medea was talking. No time for flashbacks. "I have made the drum towers closest to the image of her Noble Phantasms sound tower. Bathory would be able to overlay her towers over them allowing her to cut the cost of her Noble Phantasm and use it repeatedly. However suggested to just use the sound system to empower his Noble Phantasm to increase its range and power, thus the crux of the issue. I would appreciate if you deal with this post-haste so I can finish up the preparations before the Other Jeanne and her army arrives." Medea's tone was bored, but it was easy to tell she was annoyed. Better deal with this quick.
"Ah, I see." I looked back inside the castle to see Mozart and Eli shouting at one another on top of the unfinished stage. "Hey guys! Just take turns with your shows!" I called out.
"Eeeeh! Puppy, why do I have to share the stage with this pervert!?" Shouted the Idol Dragon Girl pouting heavily.
"I don't mind subjecting our enemies to her horrendous voice, but do we have to listen to it as well!?" Said Wolfgang—even thinking about it again it is still a badass name—actually looking annoyed and not just his usual disheartened. "In fact there is no need for her to make any noise. This loud dragon has done enough to arm us, now she should just be quiet."
"I'll show you quiet!" Elizabeth growled as she turned to Mozart.
"Guys! Different shows allows the audience to not get bored of the same performer, and even see which one they like better and be excited for them to come back!" I shouted out. I really hope they don't go all out into actually fighting.
"Hmph!" Elizabeth crossed her arms. "I guess I can take the time to show how much better an idol is, to an old sack like you." Thankfully Elizabeth seemed to be fine turning this into a competition.
"Your audience would end up wanting to kill themselves, but I suppose it would make it easier for me to show them a better requiem." Said Mozart, holding his baton for emphasis.
Thankfully they both went their separate ways after that.
"Thank you for resolving that, Gudako." Said Medea, and no matter how neutral she sounded I knew she was glad.
"Heehee," so naturally I grinned back. "Oh right, did you find anymore of the Rainbow Rocks?"
"Ah, yes," Medea opened her hand, and magically two of the Rainbow Rocks appeared. "One was at the town of Domrémy, the other was actually around here."
"Cool!" I took them and put them in my side pack with the rest. "That makes eight! So we can summon two more Servants, and save the other two for healing, right?"
"From what I've also analyzed, they would also work as a replacement magical energy for Servants. Allowing multiple uses of Noble Phantasms if you are empty of energy or need to ease the magical drain upon you." Medea explained. "Personally, I suggest summoning only one more Servant, and keeping the rest for emergencies."
"But shouldn't we summon as many as we can on our side, to build up our advantage?" I asked.
"Incorporating new Servants into our strategies might be difficult, especially if they are a wildcard." Medea explained, and I think I was beginning to see the picture.
Medea was used working on her own or manipulating others. Working with others probably isn't something she was used to. But she is also right on us needing to save some of the Rainbow Rocks in case the Servants on our side needed an emergency full heal. After all, this is gonna be a long fight.
"Alright then, one summons and save the rest." I finally said.
"I'm glad you agree, Master." Super Pout. "Sorry, Gudako. It's a force of habit." She raised her hand in a placing manner.
"...Okay, I guess I can't stay mad at you, Medea." I grinned, looking forward to what's next. "Time to summon a new Servant!"
=x=x=x=x=
A golden pillar erupted from the summoning circle.
"Queen of the Amazons, Penthesilea. I have complied with your summons. Listen, firstly, if Achilles is here, get him out here. Keeping him a secret will get you killed." Said the Muscular Amazonian Jailbait. Also when I look at her stats...
"HELL YEAH! WE GOT ACTUALLY GOT SOMEONE STRONG, WHEN WE REALLY NEEDED IT!" I pumped both arms in the air. We seriously needed a break, and I am so glad we got something to fight back against that OP Evil Jeanne.
"..." The queen who was frowning till now smile. "It seems I will enjoy with you, Master." I smiled at her, then replayed what she said when she was summoned.
"Wait, what was that about me getting killed?"
=x=x=x=x=
It was finally time. As the sun was at its zenith, I could see the monster army crossing the hills to reach us, and as I suspect further away, is Evil Jeanne taking her time to get to us on Fafnir.
Guess Medea was right in her estimations about her presence hiding wards. Evil Jeanne saw through them eventually. ...Or maybe it was summoning Penpen that did it. (I don't call her that to her face by the way. At least not yet.)
"Are you nervous?" Medea asked next to me.
"Yeah, but that doesn't mean I'll run." I looked at my Servant, my Big Sis and grinned. "After all, this is the start of our counterattack!"
"That's right!" Elizabeth's voice comes from the speakers, as she stood with a mike on the stage in the middle of the fortress. "Light it up, Stage Designer!"
"That's not my name," Medea growled, but nonetheless flared her Od, and the fortress glowed physically and spiritually, as magic lit up the main pipes running through it.
"Good gosh, that lizard really is tiresome." Mozart sighed.
"Ha, maybe, but she does have the right mood." I laughed, feeling Eli's enthusiasm as well.
"Heh, I suppose I am looking forward to playing my part as well. Letting the noisy dragon yell at that first first, should stun them to be laid down by my performance."
"I heard that, triangle hat!"
I laughed and grinned at their antics.
The fortress began to shake and then lifted off the ground.
"So this is how you will fight." Said the oddly calm Berserker, as she observed the coming army.
"Yep, we're gonna hit them big and hard, like they hit us. And hopefully if we are lucky all the other Servants will be stuck to the ground." I said.
"Lucky rarely offers aid in the battlefield. Take note of it, but don't depend on it." Said Penthesilea. "You should have train like I told you." He said frowning, or rather is her face always like that.
"Hehe, I don't think a few hours would have made a difference. Also, I'm pretty sure it's a bad idea for the Master to be in the middle of the fight." I grinned sheepishly.
"Well, I'll acknowledge your strength is different than mine." The Amazon Queen focus back on the approaching army. They were now only a few minutes away. "I will crush them, whatever your plans, don't get in my way." She said as she climbed on top of the merlon, ready to jump.
"Wait!" I shouted, only to get a glare back for it. "Can you please save your strength, and not get too far away till, Evil Jeanne arrives with Fafnir? If you are going to fight her, it's best to be not to exhaust yourself on the cannon fodder. That way, while you're fighting her, we can take care of the other Servants, then join you." Penthesilea was my strongest Servant now, but she...was a bit difficult to get along with. But one day, I'll melt that rough exterior to get o the waifu within.
"...If there is anything left by the time you arrive, you may assist me." She grinned, and launched herself off the castle wall, causing the wind to ripple in her wake. I found myself grinning as well, while protecting my face from the wind caused by Penpen jumping away.
I looked up to see the wyverns flying in disarray, as Penthesilea landed on one attacked it and it's friends, before jumping away and doing the same to another group.
"Welp, now we really can't fall behind." I said mostly to myself. Medea already had the fortress defenses fire and attack the wyverns, as she went and played orbital laser satellite herself on the enemies. "Elizabeth, hit it!"
"Báthory Erzsébet"
The world shook with the voice of a tone-deaf idol.
=x=x=x=x=
"How. Many. Frickin'. Dragons. Does. She.
Have!?" I growled.
It's been three hours of constantly fighting wyverns, and also burning the zombie gathering below the castle. So far, no sign of Evil Jeanne or her Servants, and I'm starting to feel like how my Berserker is feeling.
"RRRRRAAAGGGHH!!" Penthesilea roared as she jumped on another wyvern, before kicking it into another wyvern, and used the forced to jump on another wyvern, rinse and repeat.
Wyvern, wyvern, wyvern. I'm tired of seeing wyvern! Give me something new dammit.
"Pa-" Eli coughed. "Puppy, I need a break, my throat needs to cool down. This concert is really very duty."
"As much as it pains me to agree, we need some breathing room." Said Wolfgang. "This battle is going on for too long without them pulling back even a bit, also some of the wyverns seem weird. Not to mention the strain on your circuit, Gudako."
"I'm fine."
Not really, my Magic Circuits were a bit heated for a while now. While this era provides a lot of Mana for Servants to say manifested and fight, they do need my connection to stay anchored to this world, and to fight to their full abilities. Naturally, there would be a drain on my circuits for them to be able to fight. Again, due to the nature of this era, they don't need much, from all the mana around, but with how long the battle's been going, even I'm feeling the strain even from the bits they take.
There is also the fact that, I've had Medea move the fortress and head to where a free Servant, not allied with anyone was located. Sadly, according to her, he was the only one left. Our last potential (hopefully) ally.
At the moment we were over a wide forest of Jura. Medea really should have added some speed boosters to this thing. Then again, we have the wyvern chase us in zigzag line, and we had to make sure the zombies don't break off to go attack the towns, so there is that constant drain.
"I can keep going." Then as if to answer my prayers (or maybe it was taunting Murphy), a giant genuine dragon approached. My eye widened in recognition. "Fafnir incoming!" I also opened the telepathic link to Penthesilea.
"Evil Jeanne and Fafnir arrived, prepare yourself."
"I will crush anything!" Came back the gleeful shout of the Amazon Queen as a reply.
"Yeah, she's having fun," I then focused on something that's been bothering me for a while.
"Hey, Medea, is it me or is there something off about those wyverns."
"One moment," Medea thought toward me.
"Gudako, I'm sorry to tell you the wyverns appear to be vampiric in nature."
"Say what?" Rather than think it telepathically, I said it out loud.
Look at them, after one of the dragons was injured and fell down, a few gathered and caught him. There weren't aiding him, they were eating him.
"Seriously?" Then Fafnir's shadow blocked the sun as it arrived, and all the surrounding wyvern were on fire. "The hell!? Medea!" I shouted forgetting the Master-Servant mental link.
"It appears the wyverns are on fire." Came her clinical reply. I think she was in as much shock as I was.
"I can see that! Is that good?" I cried out.
"It appears the fire is strengthening them."
"So, we have dragons, that are vampiric, that are on fire! The hell is this!? I didn't ask for Challenge Mode!" I shouted at the heavens.
Then I felt someone's piercing stare at me. I tried to look at the source, and as I looked at one of the bigger wyverns flying next to Fafnir, I saw someone I never thought I'd see again.
"Will you burn with me, my Anchin-sama?"
Even if she was far away, I felt as if the words were spoken right next to me.
"Kiyohime, wha…" I couldn't form any words. It was Kiyohime, that stubborn, annoying and cute dragon girl who argued with Eli but I also knew it was not. Just from looking at her, I knew something was terribly wrong. "Medea, next to Evil Jeanne on a bigger wyvern." That was all I could say.
"It appears to be a Servant similar to Kiyohime."
"Medea, wha—"
"That is all I can tell, and all she appears to be. Even if the enemy revived her, it is likely not the Kiyohime we met. Master, this is a trick by Dark Jeanne, please don't waver due to it."
Medea fired back to cold calm rationality. But I wasn't sure what to do.
With a roar, Penthesilea threw herself at Fafnir, only for the Altered Kiyo to jump off her wyvern and intercept her.
Dammit, we can't have a stalemate now.
"Master, Fafnir's magical energy is rising. It's going to launch a breath attack." Said Medea to me.
I could hear new music playing from above.
"Elizabeth, I need you to focus all your attack with Medea on Fafnir before he can attack. Then I want Mozart to nerf him while he's stunned." I shouted my orders.
"I'll right after Mozart finishes up." Said Elizabeth.
"What? I'm not playing anything at the moment." Mozart replied back, to both my and Eli's confusion.
"What are you talking about? You're the one playing that new hip music." Said the Idol Dragon. "I didn't know you played anything but boring old people songs."
"What are
you talking about? I'm not responsible for that violent rhythm. I thought it was you, as it seemed more like your thing." The Maestro blinked in confusion.
"Gudako, everyone else, look up." Medea's voice was echoed to us by magic.
We looked up and saw where that music was coming from.
"Is that a freaking spaceship? In medieval France!?" I shouted in incredulity, then I noticed something. "Wait, is that someone standing on top of the spaceship?"
"Falling from the~"
"....bbbbbiiiiggggg sssssiiiiIIIIISSSSS!!!" A turnip haired girl with a shield shouted.
My eye widened like saucers as I recognized the sound and then the person.
"MASH! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING ON A SPACESHIP!?"
=x=x=x=x=
A/N: Should I have shorter chapters for faster updates? Like would you like a 1K-ish word chapter everyday, or 10K every few weeks? Lastly would you rather the Orleans Singularity be finished in one extremely long chapter or 3 long chapters?
