Chapter I – The Hundred Years' War of Evil Dragons: Orléans.
"I'm afraid I cannot fulfill your request." In the commander's tent in Lyon, where the vanguard was being hastily organized, Gilles de Rais firmly rejected the proposal from Ritsuka and his companions.
"Is it because of... Jeanne?" Mash asked.
"I had suspicions about her. I just lacked certainty." At the mention of Jeanne, Gilles de Rais's face darkened. He himself was a hero who had saved France side-by-side with the Holy Maiden, a knight utterly devoted to her. Bluebeard – Gilles de Rais – was now more shaken than anyone else.
"Even so, an assault on Orléans is impossible. Setting aside the difference in strength – I simply cannot abandon all these people and leave Lyon undefended." Mash and Maria remained silent. The situation here was dire. Demanding an advance on Orléans under these conditions seemed almost reckless.
"Well, then there's nothing to be done. We will go to Orléans ourselves. We will go there and defeat Black Jeanne."
"You are not capable of that," Gilles de Rais wanted to shout, but he held back. Everyone has their own path, and he had no right to stop them.
"Good luck to you." With these words, Ritsuka and the others left the tent. They had to hurry to Jeanne's group's aid.
"And where is Wade?" Ritsuka looked around. Mash and Maria also turned their heads, but Deadpool was nowhere to be seen.
"Mash?"
"I saw him lie down to rest, but I haven't seen him since." And as if summoned, Deadpool himself ran out, pulling up his pants as he went.
"Where have you been? Keeping ladies waiting is bad manners," Maria chided him. Deadpool, still adjusting his belt, clasped his hands apologetically.
"I was just running to replenish my arsenal. I got hold of an absolutely incredible thing."
"A weapon? Could it be a Noble Phantasm?" Ritsuka didn't hide his curiosity, but Deadpool immediately pressed a finger to his lips.
"Shh... Every man should have his secrets. Curiosity doesn't lead to good things." A chill ran down Ritsuka's spine, and he firmly decided not to ask any more questions.
"What?! We helped them clean up this mess, and they refuse us? How ungrateful! May you all be damned!" Upon learning of the conversation in the headquarters on the way from Lyon, Deadpool defiantly showed his middle finger towards the city.
"Since it's turned out this way, there's nothing to be done. We'll have to team up with Jeanne. I hope they managed to find a saint-level Servant..." Ritsuka touched Mash's shoulder encouragingly.
"Don't worry, Mash. We'll find them."
"Yes, I believe you, Senpai." Looking at this touching scene, Deadpool and Maria exchanged knowing glances and raised their eyebrows.
"Fou!"
It wasn't Deadpool who ruined the moment... but Fou.
"Hey, fluffy, what's wrong?" Wade whispered. "Such a scene was ruined..."
"Fou, Fou! Fou-ou! Fou-fou-fou!" The beast barked furiously, the fur on its nape standing on end. It pointed in the direction they were heading. Suddenly, the air seemed to grow cold, and a heavy premonition gripped their chests.
"Jeanne!" Ritsuka wasn't sure, but he felt it: she was in trouble.
"It seems we need to hurry. Well, in that case..." Maria spun gracefully on the spot. Myriads of sparkling shards danced around her, beginning to merge into a single form.
"May glory be in the lily crown!"
[GUILLOTINE – BREAKER]
A steed of pure crystal appeared before them – huge, capable of easily carrying two riders, not counting Maria herself.
"Quick, hop on!"
"Let's go, Senpai!" Ritsuka grabbed Mash's hand and helped her onto the crystal horse. Maria gently stroked its mane, and the steed, striking sparks with its hooves, galloped towards where Jeanne was.
"Hey! What about me?! Did you forget me!!" Deadpool was left standing alone in the middle of the road.
◇
Meanwhile, Jeanne, Mozart, and Siegfried had managed to find whom they were looking for. The Rider-class Servant turned out to be the legendary George the Victorious.
Jeanne explained the situation, and George, as befits a saint, readily agreed to help. It seemed the plan had succeeded, but at that very moment, they were struck by a sudden attack from Black Jeanne's Servants.
"Zig! Guys..." Breathing heavily, Jeanne looked at the defeated Mozart and Siegfried. Against the might of the mad Saber, Assassin, and Archer combined with Black Jeanne herself, they were powerless.
"Jeanne d'Arc, snap out of it! If we don't survive, there will be no chance." George, thanks to his exceptional defense, suffered the least damage, but the disparity in strength was too great. Escape was also out of the question.
"To think of luring away two Dragon Slayers at once... You've become more cunning, haven't you, 'other me'?"
"Kk!" Jeanne could barely parry the furious thrusts of the mad Saber. She had almost no strength left to dodge the rain of arrows with which the mad Archer showered them.
"It was foolish to hope that I would let two Dragon Slayers reach Fafnir. How naive. Is this also the 'will of God'?" Watching the agony of Jeanne's squad, her dark double showered them with mockery. Black Jeanne's Servants were empowered by Mad Enhancement, giving them an overwhelming advantage in battle.
"And now, let's finish them. Assassin!" At Black Jeanne's command, Assassin, clutching a huge falchion, pressed the blade to the throat of the defeated George.
"I will cleanly sever your head."
"Kk... Is this the end?" As the punishing sword was raised above the saint's head, a shining crystal horse at full gallop rammed into Assassin, throwing him aside.
"Jeanne!" Ritsuka's group arrived at the last moment, wedging themselves between the enemies and the wounded allies.
"I see you found the saint. But your condition..." Ritsuka glanced at the battlefield.
"I-I'm sorry... It's my fault. I couldn't... sense the enemy. Forgive me." Siegfried, leaning on his sword, struggled to his feet and helped Mozart up.
"No mortal wounds, thank God. We need to leave, but how..." Maria looked at those who blocked their path: the mad Chevalier d'Éon and Assassin – Charles-Henri Sanson, her own executioner in life.
"Oh, Queen. Is your neck alright?" Charles's gaze burned with madness as he greeted the one whose life he had once ended.
"Hello, Charles. I didn't think we'd meet again... under these circumstances." Maria turned pale but didn't avert her gaze from her executioner.
"What irony of fate! A villainous connection that has overcome space and time. The executioner will strike down again the one he has already executed once. Oh! A wondrous predestination!" Black Jeanne almost choked with delight, watching this scene.
"Forgive me, everyone... and especially you, Mo-chan." Maria's voice sounded unusually serious.
"Lady Maria?" Ritsuka felt the atmosphere around the queen change. She continued, putting on a weak smile.
"It seems I understand why I was summoned here."
"What are you talking about?" Ritsuka didn't understand, but Mash already guessed. And she knew – she couldn't stop her.
"Jeanne. Although our acquaintance was brief, I am glad I met the real you. Remember: the answer you are looking for lies not in your double, but within yourself."
"Maria... Ma-Mari-chan!"
"Finally, you called me that. I am happy." She had been waiting for this moment, but had pushed away thoughts of the inevitable until the very end.
"Mash, Ritsuka. Please give my apologies to Mo-chan. And tell Ded-chan... that I didn't turn out to be a hero. Forgive me."
"But Maria!" Before Ritsuka could finish, several spectral crystal horses picked up the wounded Servants and people, carrying them away at breakneck speed.
"I won't let you escape!"
"Oh no, you will let them go, false Jeanne." Maria blocked the path of Deon, Charles, and Archer. Black Jeanne merely sneered contemptuously, watching the queen who had decided on a sure-to-lose battle.
"And what can a Rider do, a queen without a single combat skill? This is a meaningless death."
"Watch your words. Before you stands a noble daughter of the Habsburgs and Queen of France." Magical energy began to condense around Maria, swirling into a powerful vortex. Black Jeanne, realizing what she intended, screamed hysterically:
"Kill her!"
Deon's blade pierced her body, and Charles's sword forced her to her knees.
"It is an honor to strike you down again, Your Majesty."
"Ha... ha-ha... Forgive me, Charles. Forgive me for making you return to the Throne so soon after being summoned..." Maria's body erupted in a blinding white light, and the accumulated power burst forth in an unstoppable torrent.
"May glory be in the lily crown!"
[GUILLOTINE – BREAKER]
"Eternal radiance of my love!"
[CRYSTAL – PALACE]
***
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