How long has it been… since I came to this place?
A gentle dragon slowly opened its eyes to look at the empty world around it. For as far as it eyes could see, twilight abounds. The beasts that once fled the world of men learned long ago to keep away from his charge, a glowing wish that would stagnate humanity should it return.
So alone, it waits, to fulfill a promise to a maiden who once gave him meaning and life. Sighing, it slowly closed it eyes once more.
Perhaps the next century…
Then, just as its eyes closed and the gentle call of morpheus beckoned, a tremor reverberated throughout this twilight filled world. The gentle dragon's eyes shot open as it snapped out of its stupor. Looking around, it eventually saw a dark hole, a rip in space growing above it. Spreading its wings in defiance, the gentle dragon stood up on its hind legs and possessively cradled the glowing wish beneath it.
Something is coming… Something powerful… But I will not relent. She wanted this wish to stay out of humanity's grasp. So I will wait here, forever if need be. I will not yield an inch, no matter the cost.
Warily staring at the ever expanding rip, it took a deep breath and sighed, electricity and frosty flames smoldering from its lips. Soon, the shadow of a dragon could be seen, looming in the distance. Narrowing its eyes in defiance, electricity sparked all over its body as it gathered mana from the world around. Its eyes widened in shock as the shadow grew ever larger, its power leaking from the rift.
A trickle that quickly became a torrent as a red massive dragon forced its way through the rift. At first, it seemed as if the dragon did not notice him, as it apathetically flew around. That was until their eyes met. The massive red dragon snorted in annoyance as it shifted its gaze towards the glowing wish beneath the smaller dragon.
The ground quaked and trembled as the massive dragon landed. Not a word was spoken, and not a sound could be heard in the silent world between the two. But a message was still sent.
That thing beneath you is interesting. Give it to me.
I would rather die first.
The massive red dragon cocked its eye at the smaller dragon's defiance. Unamused, it unleashed more of its power, suffocating the entire region in its aura. Once more, an unspoken message was sent.
Silence yourself and give it to me, weakling!
I refuse.
Cheeky brat. You think you hold power here? Think you are my better?
Unfurling its wings, the massive dragon roared, its cry reverberating throughout the world as its massive aura and power flooded the realm. At such a display, the gentle dragon flinched.
A costly mistake.
The massive dragon charged forward and knocked down it's gentle opponent. A cacophony of clashing claws, teeth, wings and fire echoed throughout the world. But for those beasts watching from a distance, the victor was never in doubt.
Only a fool would dare risk the ire of the Great Red.
So that's what that punk was guarding? A stupid wish to make humans immortal?
The Great Red looked down at its fallen foe in utter contempt. The gentle dragon fought defiantly against its foe, refusing to submit until its body lay broken. Its wings were torn, its scales sundered, and its blood watering the earth beneath it. Every breath became ever more shallow its life came every closer to its end. Yet for all of its fury and determination, it failed to accomplish any more than the faintest of scratches upon the Great Red's scales.
Snorting in annoyance, the Great Red turned around and began to flap its wings into the air, until a question entered its mind.
Why?
Why would such a weak dragon go to such lengths?
Turning back around, it stared once more at its fallen foe before sighing. Walking over to its fallen foe, it closed its eyes and gazed upon its dreams. A tale of a wish, a war between arrogant mages, and dead heroes danced across its mind. But most importantly, a tale of a homunculus saved by an eccentric paladin, a dragon slayer and a holy maiden. A boy who was forced to bear a heavy burden before he could even learn what it meant to live as a mortal, much less a dragon. A boy that did nothing but endure loneliness until his promise was kept.
Ugh, way to make me feel like shit, brat. I just wasted my time wailing on a kid that didn't know any better. A puppy has a better understanding of the world than you…
Shaking his head, the Great Red turned his gaze towards the glowing wish laying discarded on the ground.
It's your fault that he turned out this way, so it's only fair that you be used to fix him.
Poking it with his claw, the wish disintegrated into countless motes of light before flowing into gentle dragon. Nodding, the Great Red then gently poured his energy into the fallen drake.
Good, with that that stupid wish has been changed to something much more useful. And I'll heal the brat just enough to survive. He only deserved a mild beating, not a complete beating.
Nodding in satisfaction, he picked up the gentle dragon, and flippantly chucked him through the rift in space.
And waiting in such a boring place is unworthy of a new dragon. Go and rampage a bit! It's a rite of passage for all of our kind!
Content with his handiwork, the Great Red flew into rift once more and re-entered the dimensional gap, ignoring the feeling that he had forgotten something.
Well… this isn't good.
Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg was many things: a vampire, a magician, a prankster. He is a man who is quick to anger at evil and crush it without mercy, yet also a man who would mock and laugh at do-gooders. Some would say he had a sadistic streak, and to be fair, some of his iterations do.
But never is he callous. Surveying the ruin around him, a frown formed on the vampire's face.
Jeanne will be here soon, only to find ruin where her love waited for her.
Kneeling, he studied the gashes upon the ground, and with jewel in hand, absorbed some of the lingering mana in the air.
The Great Red? How did it make it into this timeline?
Drawing his infamous sword, rainbow lights radiated from the blade as gazed upon the nature of world.
Fascinating, this cluster of timelines is close to a pair of of timelines from the Heavenly Dragons timelines. So conceptually close that one does not need the 2nd Magic to travel between them. I might be able to use this… but first…
A burst of rainbow lights erupted next to him as an exhausted man wearing a white short-sleeved dress shirt with a formal black vest. Countless bags hung under his eyes as one could see the faint visage of his soul leaking out of his mouth.
"Ugh… I finished your task, master. Lancer was able to win the 4th grail war with Waver somehow becoming his master at the end… Why you wanted to see such an outcome is beyond me, and possibly anyone else with a sound line of thought."
"Good, with that, the final variables can be accounted for before I risk the more important apprentices like Rin and Luvia on... similar missions."
"Ugh… what did I do to deserve this…?"
"You tried to break into my workshop and lived. Out of all the iterations of yourself that I've witnessed, you're the only one to have done anything this interesting."
"And what did my other selves do, dare I ask?"
"Died."
"So, can I get a break now or at least grant me the same fate as the other me's?"
"No, too boring. Regardless, how many false grails do you have right now?"
"Five. Why do you ask?"
"I need you to go into another instance of the 5th Grail war. Make sure Bazzett wins with Lancer again. Oh, and make sure the Grail is cleansed before they make a wish this time."
"Ehhhh?! But why?"
"I've studied Bazzett's desires in that cluster of timelines. I need her wish granted to test out something in this new timeline I'm about to muck around in."
"Damnit, fine. Do I have free reign on how I achieve it?"
"Of course. Feel free to be best buddies with Shirou again. I have full confidence you won't get him killed this time around."
"That only happened twice! And Archer doesn't count!"
"Of course it doesn't."
"Guuhhh... will I have any support this time around?"
"Yes, Assassin will be joining you this time."
"Hah… what a relief."
Still exhausted, the young man gave a tired, but genuine smile as he outstretched his arm. Without a word, Zelretch took his arm before judo throwing him into a rainbow tear in the space around them. Zelretch could only chuckle at his wayward apprentice's shocked face.
You should always keep your guard up around me Alexi. Unlike the others, I don't like you. Hehehehehehe….
"You!"
His words could no longer be heard as Zelretch tossed a rusted piece of metal into the void alongside him.
"Heh, that never gets old. Well then, now to wait. Jeanne after all deserves a better ending than this. Not after everything that she's endured."
Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes.
This might take a while….
Jeanne is nothing if not patient. She endured the scowls of her countrymen that doubted her. She endured the tortures of the British when they captured her. She endured the chaos that was the Great Grail War. And she endured centuries of trying and failing to enter the reverse side of the world to reach her beloved.
Until now.
After what seemed to be an eternity of fruitless attempts, she was finally able to reach the land where Sieg waited for her. Smiling, she ran forth, expecting to find a dragon with closed eyes awaiting her. Instead she found an old man, waiting with remorseful eyes.
"Did… did I fail again?"
"No my dear child, you did not. Sieg did wait for you here, a long time ago."
"What happened?"
"From what I can tell, he was attacked and dragged away."
Jeanne's eyes widened in horror as the news struck her, her breaths becoming swift and erratic from the shock.
"No… no no no no! Not after everything! I… No Jeanne, calm yourself… you've suffered delays before…"
The man watched on in respectful silence as the woman before him talked herself back into a state of relative calm.
"Indeed Jeanne, all is not lost. But the way forward is risky. Are you sure you wish to continue onward?"
"Of course. I will continue forward. Forever, if need be."
The man grinned at her response. Materializing a sword seeming crafted from a giant jewel, a rainbow light bathed the area.
"Good, I do hope you hold on to that resolve. Especially after meeting his abductor. He should answer the call momentarily."
"Wait, what do y-"
Jeanne's response was quickly drowned out by a dragon's roar as the Great Red tore yet another hold through the fabric of the world and landed before the pair, the ground quaking from his massive weight.
"What the hell do you want old man?"
"Our friend that you so callously took from here."
"Huh? I don't remember doing anything like that. Are you trying to trick me again, you shitty vampire?"
"Now why would you ever say that?"
"Pompeii, asshole."
"It was for a good cause."
"Still an asshole."
The dragon's ire became evident as its power flared throughout the world, yet the vampire's smirk never faded. One could feel the tension rising in the air, until Jeanne's near pleading voice cut through the escalating atmosphere.
"Please mighty dragon, tell me. What happened to Sieg? He was supposed to be here waiting for me."
"Like I said, I don't remember anything like that."
"Please…"
The Great Red merely stared into the girl's pleading eyes. An awkward silence reigned as neither party moved until eventually.
"Very well girl, close your eyes and let me focus."
The Great Red slowly worked his way into her dreams, and eventually saw a dragon at the end of her last journey in the mortal realm.
Oh… that brat. I had a feeling I forgot something when I last saw him. Hmmm, I never checked on him after I chucked him into the other timeline…. Oops. Oh well, the annoying one here probably has a solution I can stomach.
"Ah, that whelp. I don't know where he is now, but he ended up in a different timeline."
"You chucked him into yours, didn't you?"
"Do you want my help or not, asshole?"
Zelretch spoke not a word, but his insufferable grin was enough of an answer. Jeanne could only glance furtively between the two powers, anxiously awaiting whether or not there will be a clear way forward to Sieg. After a tense few moments, the dragon sighed.
"What do you want me to do, asshole?"
"Create Jeanne here a new body. She'll need one to enter your world without disintegrating."
"That it?"
"And allow me to make modifications to said body. If she's going need every advantage we can give her."
"Hmph, very well. Be grateful little girl, I'm giving you a chance to prove that brat's faith in you was justified."
"Thank you."
Bowing her head, Jeanne couldn't stop the tears from rolling down her cheeks. Hope was not lost.
"Hah, at least ONE of you shows proper respect. Close your eyes girl, and go to sleep. When you awake you'll be among the living once more, to continue on your search for your beloved once again."
Closing her eyes, she felt a wave of exhaustion hit her, centuries of relentless searching without rest finally catching up to her. Nearly fainting, she was caught by Zelretch before she fell. As her conscience finally faded, she was barely able to speak.
"Thank you, both of you."
"Think nothing of it, the dragon here owes you that much, and I can't stand to see such a worthless ending for a love story such as this."
To those words, Jeanne fell asleep with a satisfied smile. Gently setting her on the ground, the ancient vampire turned towards his dragon counterpart.
"Well then, let's get to work. Oh and let me drop off the child once you open your rift. You have a tendency of being too rough of those you send over."
"Not my fault they are too fragile."
"Of course it's not."
When Jeanne finally awoke, she found herself sitting on an empty bus stop in a verdant countryside. At her side was a travel bag and envelope sealed with a wax Z. Hesitantly, she opened it to find a letter inside.
Good Afternoon Jeanne!
Congratulations on your rebirth! It took me and Great Red over here quite some time to make the vessel just right. This world you are in is quite different from the one where you fought as a Ruler. The Age of the Gods never ended here, although the supernatural is still hidden from the normal people of the world, so don't go showing off your abilities recklessly, ok?
As far as I can tell, the Great Red lobbed your boyfriend here without warning quite some time ago. Thanks to my foresight however, I anticipated that delinquent's immaturity and prepared your vessel for the journey. You as your ruler incarnation should be a good enough starting point for you. I have tuned your revelations to show what direction you need to go for a happily after all to your love story. But remember, you are a living person again, not a static servant. You can grow and change as a person, so live a little on your journey.
That aside, inside the travel bag are the bare essentials for travelling, a purse, and bank account information so graciously donated by my apprentice Alexi. Oh, and for clothes, don't worry, I thought ahead and packed you all lingerie. Oh boy, Sieg will thank me later for that.
I look forward to the ending you will achieve.
Your benefactor,
Zelretch.
Horrified, yet morbidly curious, Jeanne opened her bag and shifted through its contents. True to his word, everything was there, including multiple sets of sensual lingerie. Only the realization that she was in public prevented her from instinctively tossing out the offending articles of clothing.
How… how scandalous! But… he's been right about everything else so far… maybe Sieg would actually like it? I'll just hide it for now… DEEP inside this bag.
Closing the bag and glancing around to make sure no one saw her struggles, Jeanne took a sigh of relief before once more. Her brief moment of respite was interrupted by a vision that overcame her senses.
A nun with blond hair was praying before an altar of the lord. Before her, the ails and woes of the masses were healed. She had an innocence that Jeanne herself lost over the course of her life, but the same unfaltering faith and loyalty to the lord. The view then panned out, to show the name of the church, sharing the same obscure name of the next town on the bus route.
Smiling as the vision ended, Jeanne knelt and prayed.
"The Lord shall provide."
Author's Notes:
Heya Peeps!
I had a few extra moments so I decided to write this out real quick with my loyal peasant, I mean editor at my side. This will be my most orthodox story, most probably, so to balance it out, I had to throw hints out for another story that will be related to, but not necessarily a part of this story. And for those that are curious, Alexi is an OC who will in the future will have a short story explain his most unfortunate apprenticeship under the most ancient of good yet mischievous of vampires.
This story was inspired by and influenced by Life Seen by a Gentle Phantasmal Beast.
Of course I'm going on a completely different direction, but it feels wrong not to give a shout out to a story that influenced me.
So yes, enjoy this appetizer. The main meal may show up in a month.
Editor's Notes:
Excitement. It's happening. This is gonna be so fucking fun. I love Jeanne. I really do. Anyways, college. Sucks, but at least Dragon Saint is now existing in its prologue state. Now we wait a solid month before we decide to update it. The next time, I'll do my best to make sure Kovaras doesn't fall under his Aqua Divinity tendencies. I believe we're updating Shackles next, starting with the Raynare Arc. Prepare for spice and hopefully something non-canonical and nice.
I want some Ramen.
(A: The king shall provide once all the nuisances have been dealt with, so claimeth, I the Emperor God-king Kovaras, the Saintly Magnificent Aqua Divine.)
(E: -half-bred mongrel.)
-That's hell he's walking into…