Fate/Eclipsed Stars (Project Moon/Fate Grand Order)

The sun cast an eerie glow over the castle courtyard, painting the crumbling stone walls in hues of orange and crimson. The bell's toll echoed in their ears as the first wyverns descended from the skies like living flames, their screeches a discordant symphony of chaos.

Ritsuka gritted his teeth, standing in the safety of the rear. His heart pounded as the wyverns circled overhead, each one a harbinger of destruction. He tightened his fists. "Stay focused! We need to keep them from overwhelming us!"

Cu Chulainn stepped forward with a confident smirk, twirling his crimson spear. "They don't seem so tough. Just some overgrown lizards with wings."

Medusa joined his side, her blindfolded gaze turned to the incoming swarm. "They're fast, but predictable. We'll thin their numbers quickly."

Angela stood beside them, her book glowing faintly in her hands, shimmering with a verdant light. She eyed the wyverns coldly, calculating their movements with precision. "Stay coordinated. There's no margin for error."

Hong Lu, twirling his hammer, chuckled lightly. "Flying beasts, huh? I've fought worse things in the City's backstreets. Let's make this quick."

In the rear, Ritsuka barked his commands. "Cu, Medusa, keep them distracted! Angela, Hong Lu, take down any that stray! Der Freischütz, hold back—prepare to fire when their numbers cluster!"

Der Freischütz nodded silently, her gun raised, the dark barrel glowing faintly with power. She whispered to herself, her lips mouthing words of the curse that bound her weapon.

With a powerful leap, Cu Chulainn launched himself into the air, his spear spinning like a crimson whirlwind. "Gáe Bolg!" he shouted, his spear piercing a wyvern mid-flight. The beast roared in agony before crashing into the ground, its wings flapping weakly as it writhed in pain.

Medusa moved with unparalleled grace, her chains slithering around her as if alive. She lashed them out at a wyvern attempting to dive-bomb the group. The chains wrapped around its neck, pulling it down with a violent crash. She finished it off with a precise strike, her sword slicing through its hide.

Angela darted forward, her Fairy Festival EGO knives glowing brighter with each step. Her movements were sharp and methodical, like a hunter stalking its prey. She slashed through a wyvern's wings, the green energy surrounding her blades leaving trails of light in the air. The beast howled as it spiraled downward, its fall punctuated by a final strike from Hong Lu, who leapt into the fray with his hammer flashing.

"Angela, behind you!" Ritsuka shouted as another wyvern swooped down.

Angela didn't even turn her head. With a flick of her wrist, her serrated knife spun backward, embedding itself into the beast's eye. The wyvern crashed to the ground, writhing in pain as she approached, her second blade finishing it off with a quick, clean strike.

Hong Lu laughed lightly as he dodged a wyvern's talons, his hammer bash through its legs. "You're a natural, Angela. I'm impressed!"

Angela didn't respond, her expression focused and cold. She moved seamlessly to her next target, leaving Hong Lu to smash the head of the wounded wyvern.

Despite their efforts, the wyverns continued to pour in, their numbers seemingly endless. Der Freischütz stood at the back, her weapon glowing ominously. She whispered her chant under her breath, her voice carrying an almost melodic, haunting tone.

"Six paths to strike, yet one brings ruin…"

Ritsuka glanced back at her. "Are you ready? We need to thin their numbers now!"

Der Freischütz's golden eyes flashed with a mix of calm and tension. "I will fire," she said, raising her weapon. The barrel glowed brighter and a magical circle appeared in front of her, the air around her thickening with an unnatural presence.

She took aim at the densest cluster of wyverns. Her voice grew louder, each word carrying weight

"Guided by fate… let this cursed bullet sing its requiem! FREIKUGEL!"

The shot entered the magic circle and the shot echoed across the battlefield, its sound sharper and heavier than any normal gunfire. The glowing projectile tore through the sky, weaving unnaturally as if alive. It struck the heart of the cluster, and in an instant, the wyverns were engulfed in a blazing explosion of energy.

The shockwave sent the remaining wyverns scattering, their numbers significantly reduced. Ritsuka shielded his eyes as the light faded, the battlefield momentarily silent.

But the lull didn't last. The wyverns regrouped, their screeches signaling their renewed assault.

Medusa gritted her teeth, her chains coiling around her like serpents. "We can't keep this up forever. They just keep coming!"

Angela wiped green-tinged blood off her blades, her expression unchanging. "Then we ensure none of them leave this field alive."

Hong Lu smirked, his hammer smash cleanly through another wyvern's head. "You make it sound so simple, but I like the confidence."

Cu Chulainn landed beside Ritsuka, his spear dripping with blood. "We need to hit them harder. Ritsuka, what's the plan?"

Ritsuka scanned the battlefield, his mind racing. "Angela, Hong Lu, take out the ones on the left flank. Medusa, Cu, keep holding the center. Der Freischütz, save your next shot for their leader!"

Angela and Hong Lu darted toward the left, their combined attacks quickly dispatching the wyverns in their path. Medusa and Cu worked in tandem, their strikes coordinated and precise.

In the chaos, a wyvern broke through the group's defenses, heading straight for Ritsuka. He stumbled backward, panic flashing in his eyes.

Before it could strike, a chain shot past him, wrapping around the beast's neck and pulling it back. Medusa stood firm, her chains retracting as she yanked the wyvern to the ground. "Stay focused, Master! We can't afford to lose you."

"Thanks," Ritsuka said, regaining his composure. "I'll be more careful."

As the group pushed forward, the wyverns began to falter. The combined strength of Cu's relentless strikes, Medusa's precision, Angela's calculated efficiency, and Hong Lu's agility proved too much for the swarm.

Der Freischütz, watching from the rear, whispered another chant, her weapon glowing faintly as she prepared for another shot. But before she could fire, the remaining wyverns screeched in retreat, their alpha calling them back.

Ritsuka exhaled deeply, his shoulders sagging with relief. "We did it. For now, at least."

Angela wiped her blades clean, her cold gaze scanning the battlefield for any lingering threats. "We should move quickly. They'll regroup and return."

Hong Lu chuckled, leaning on his weapon. "That was exhilarating. I almost feel bad for them… almost."

Medusa approached Ritsuka, her expression calm but serious. "We can't let our guard down. The next attack could be worse."

Ritsuka nodded. "Agreed. Let's regroup and plan our next move."

---

The chaos of battle lingered in the castle courtyard, smoke and the metallic tang of blood heavy in the air. As the wyverns retreated, the inhabitants of the castle began to cautiously emerge, their expressions etched with fear and exhaustion. A few tried to comfort each other, but the tension remained palpable.

Among them, a woman knelt by the well, her hands trembling as she drew water. The toll of the wyverns' assault had left her shaken, but her resolve to aid the frightened children gathered around her was steadfast. Suddenly, a guttural roar split the air, and her head shot up to see a lone wyvern circling back, its talons poised to strike.

The villagers screamed and scrambled for cover, but the woman stood frozen, clutching her shawl in fear. Before the beast could close the distance, a figure clad in a tattered cloak leapt into view, wielding a spear fashioned from a worn, wrap-up banner.

With a powerful thrust, the spear found its mark, impaling the wyvern through its chest. It roared in pain, collapsing to the ground in a writhing heap before going still. The cloaked figure landed gracefully, straightening as she pulled her weapon free.

The woman's eyes widened as she took in the figure before her. She whispered, her voice trembling, "Jeanne… is that you?"

The cloaked woman turned, her face hidden in the shadow of her hood. But as she took a step closer, the light revealed her features—a young woman with golden hair and piercing blue eyes that shone with resolve.

"Jeanne…" the older woman's voice broke as tears filled her eyes. She stumbled forward, arms outstretched, desperate to embrace the figure she believed to be her daughter.

But the younger woman raised her hand, halting her in her tracks. "No," she said softly but firmly. Her voice carried a deep melancholy as if burdened by the weight of her identity. "You're mistaken. I'm not the Jeanne you know."

The older woman froze, her arms falling to her sides. "But… you… You look just like her! My Jeanne!"

The cloaked figure lowered her gaze, her expression pained. "I am sorry. Please, take care of yourself and the others here. May God watch over you." She turned away, disappearing into the shadows of the forest.

Ritsuka and the group had been watching the interaction from a distance. Angela's sharp gaze followed the cloaked figure as she retreated into the forest.

"That's… strange," Mash murmured.

Ritsuka frowned. "Whoever that was, we need to find out more. She might be connected to the Dragon Witch."

Angela nodded. "We can't ignore this. Let's go."

The group quickly followed the cloaked woman's trail, her footprints still fresh in the damp earth. The forest grew denser, the light filtering through the canopy casting eerie shadows on the ground.

They finally caught up with her near a clearing, where she stood leaning on her spear. The hood of her cloak was now down, revealing her face fully. She turned to face them as they approached, her expression calm but wary.

"That's far enough," she said, her voice steady. "I am not your enemy."

Mash instinctively raised her shield, standing protectively in front of Ritsuka. Cu Chulainn and Medusa readied their weapons, while Angela's knives shimmered faintly with green light. Hong Lu, however, leaned casually on his weapon, watching her with mild curiosity.

"Who are you?" Ritsuka demanded, stepping forward cautiously.

The woman straightened, planting her spear into the ground beside her. "My name is Jeanne d'Arc. I am a Servant of the Ruler class."

The group tensed at her words.

Mash's eyes widened. "Jeanne d'Arc? But… how? You…"

Jeanne raised a hand, her expression earnest. "Please, listen. I am not the Dragon Witch you are seeking. I was summoned only yesterday, and I've been learning what I can about this war and the atrocities being committed in my name."

Ritsuka blinked in surprise. "Wait, you mean you're not working with her? Then why are you here?"

Jeanne's gaze softened. "I came to bear witness to the suffering caused by my doppelgänger. The people cry out for salvation, and I must answer that call. But I cannot do so alone."

Angela narrowed her eyes. "Prove it. Why should we believe you're not working with her?"

Jeanne looked at her calmly. "If I were, would I have left the battlefield without harming the innocent? Would I have struck down the wyvern instead of aiding its attack?"

Mash lowered her shield slightly, glancing back at Ritsuka. "She… does have a point."

Jeanne nodded. "I understand your caution, but I ask for your trust. The Dragon Witch's actions bring shame to the name of Jeanne d'Arc, and I cannot stand idly by while innocent lives are lost."

Jeanne's gaze softened, and she placed a hand over her heart. "I was summoned to this land, not by hatred or vengeance, but to save france from suffering caused by my doppelgänger. The people cry out for salvation, and it is my duty to answer their pleas." She looked at each of them in turn, her eyes filled with quiet determination. "But I cannot do this alone. I need your help to stop her tyranny and free France from this nightmare."

Cu Chulainn frowned, tapping his spear against the ground. "This is getting more complicated by the second. Two Jeanne d'Arcs, one a saint and one a witch? Talk about a mess."

Medusa nodded. "Still, her actions so far don't seem hostile. I believe we should hear her out."

Angela studied Jeanne closely, her expression unreadable. "You speak with conviction. But words alone won't earn our trust. Actions will."

Jeanne met her gaze, unflinching. "Then allow me to prove myself to you. Let me fight alongside you and show you where my allegiance lies."

Ritsuka hesitated for a moment before nodding slowly. "Alright. I believe you. Your actions earlier don't seem like those of an enemy."

Cu Chulainn chuckled, breaking the tension. "Well, this just got interesting. Two Jeanne d'Arcs, one a saint and one a witch. Talk about a twisted fairy tale."

Medusa tilted her head. "It does seem… unusual. But her demeanor is sincere. I believe we should give her a chance."

Hong Lu tapped his chin, his lips curling into a playful smile. "So, you're the good Jeanne? How poetic. I suppose every story needs its hero and villain."

Jeanne glanced at him, her lips curving into a faint smile. "I am no hero. But I will do what I must to protect the people of this land."

Ritsuka offered her a reassuring nod. "Then we'll work together. We're here to stop the Dragon Witch and restore this timeline, so we could use all the help we can get."

Mash smiled at Ritsuka, her eyes filled with admiration. "That's… very kind of you Senpai."

Jeanne inclined her head respectfully. "Thank you. I will not betray your trust."

---

A/N: Hello everyone this chapter is a gift from me for Chinese New Year. This will be the last chapter for the week because of Chinese New Year. See you next time!

Thanks for waiting and feel free to let me know what you think of how the stories are going and where it should go. I'm always eager to hear from you. Leave a powerstone and comments to motivate me ;)