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

The night was calm, the crackling campfire the only sound breaking the quiet stillness of the forest. Above them, the sky stretched infinitely, a vast canvas of stars shimmering like scattered embers. The camp was modest—simple tents, supplies stacked near the edges, and a warm fire at the center where the group gathered, seeking rest after their previous battles.

Marie Antoinette sat on a cushioned blanket, elegantly unbothered by their rough surroundings, while Scorched Girl clung to her tightly, nestled into her side for warmth. The ash-covered girl barely spoke, eyes half-lidded, her small fingers curled into the fine fabric of Marie's dress. Every so often, she would let out a small sigh of contentment, whispering something inaudible against the queen's shoulder.

Mozart sat a little further away, absently adjusting his cravat, throwing an occasional glare at Scorched Girl. "Honestly, how unfair," he muttered. "I devote my life to music, to art, and yet I am cast aside while the little ember gets to bask in royalty's warmth. What injustice."

Scorched Girl, her voice muffled against Marie's shoulder, only murmured, "You smell like burnt wood. I don't like burnt wood. It means something was warm and then wasn't anymore."

Mozart raised an eyebrow. "And is that a bad thing?"

She pressed her face back into Marie's shoulder, mumbling, "Burnt wood is what's left after something warm dies."

Mozart clicked his tongue. "I am the embers that never fade, little one! My music lingers through eternity, far beyond fleeting warmth."

"Sure," she muttered, unconvinced.

Across from them, Ritsuka stretched his arms with a groan, leaning back slightly. "It's rare to get a peaceful night like this. We should enjoy it while we can."

Mash, sitting beside him, nodded. "It feels strange, though… Knowing the Dragon Witch is still out there, gathering her forces."

Angela, sitting a short distance away with her book open on her lap, didn't lift her gaze. "A temporary respite does not negate the war ahead," she stated simply.

"You always have to be so cold about it, huh?" Cu Chulainn smirked, lazily spinning a stick in his hands.

"Stating facts is not cold," Angela replied, flipping a page.

"Yeah, yeah," Cu muttered, rolling his eyes.

"So, what now? Are we just gonna sit around and let the night pass?" Cu prodded the fire with a stick

"Isn't that what resting is?" Medusa countered, her blindfold-covered gaze reflecting the fire's glow.

Cu grinned. "Yeah, but we're a rowdy bunch. Someone's bound to have a good story."

"You know," he mused, "I've been thinking about something."

"What is it?" Ritsuka asked.

Hong Lu's ever-present smile didn't fade, but something in his eyes sharpened. "That Kromer woman… The one leading the inquisitors. Did anyone else find her… peculiar?"

Mash frowned. "She was certainly powerful, but… what do you mean?"

Angela finally looked up from her book, eyes narrowing. "She's from our world" she said, her voice measured.

Hong Lu chuckled. "Quite right Angela. But no one else here does, do they?" He glanced around.

Ritsuka, Mash, Cu, Medusa, Jeanne, Marie and Mozart all exchanged looks of mild confusion.

Ritsuka spoke up first. "You're saying there's something specific about Kromer?"

Hong Lu's expression didn't change, but there was a distinct amusement in his voice. "Let's just say… she's a very scary woman where I come from."

Ritsuka straightened slightly. "Wait, are you saying she's a big deal from your world?"

Hong Lu fingers tapped lightly against his chin. "Well not really a big deal, but yes she from my world," he said, his tone sharp. "She was one of the highest-ranking Inquisitors of N Corp."

Ritsuka furrowed his brows. "N Corp…?"

Hong Lu let out a small, almost nostalgic chuckle. "Ah, N Corp. Nugel und Hammer. The name alone sends shivers down the spine of anyone from my home."

Medusa tilted her head. "I've never heard of it."

"Of course you haven't," Angela replied. "It exists in our world, not yours."

Ritsuka crossed his arms. "Then explain it to us. If Kromer is involved, we need to know what we're up against."

Hong Lu exhaled dramatically. "Alright, alright, since you're all so curious. Let me enlighten you about N Corp, the most rigid and merciless Wing of the City."

The flickering flames cast long shadows across his face as he leaned in, his voice dipping into something more serious.

"N Corp specializes in what they call 'canned human experiences.'"

Mash blinked. "Canned… what?"

"Experiences," Hong Lu repeated, stretching the word with amusement. "They take emotions, memories, pain, suffering—bottle it up, process it, and sell it to those who can afford it."

Jeanne frowned deeply. "That is… monstrous."

Hong Lu nodded. "That is the nature of the City. The monetization of suffering. N Corp thrives on the idea that human experience is purity."

Cu's smirk faded slightly. "So what, they just sell people's pain?"

Hong Lu laughed. "Oh, if only it were that simple. N Corp is split into factions. And one of them—the 'Nail' faction—believes that human bodies should remain pure. They see prosthetics as a rejection of human suffering, so they hunt down those who replace their flesh with machines. But make no mistake, this isn't N Corp's official policy—it's just one faction enforcing their belief in the most violent way possible."

Mash hesitated. "Wait, so not all of N Corp agrees with them?"

Hong Lu shook his head. "No. The main body of N Corp is like any other Wing—focused on power and control. But the Inquisition or the Nail faction… they're extremists. They're the ones who purge entire towns, executing people simply for having mechanical limbs."

Ritsuka's expression darkened. "And Kromer… she was one of them?"

Hong Lu nodded. "Not just one of them. She was one of their most zealous Inquisitors. If she decided someone was 'impure,' she'd burn them alive or nail them to a wall. And she enjoyed it."

Hong Lu continued, voice quieter now. "You have to understand—Kromer wasn't important to N Corp itself. The Inquisitors weren't a massive force within the Wing. They were just a particularly brutal faction. But Kromer… she wanted to be more."

Mash looked up. "What do you mean?"

Hong Lu's smile was thin. "She wasn't content being just an Inquisitor. She wanted power. Influence. She wanted to bring more people under her twisted idea of purity. If she's here, in this world… that means she has a chance to make that dream come true."

Mozart scoffed. "That's absurd. The idea of rejecting progress simply for the sake of suffering—"

"Is their entire ideology," Hong Lu finished.

Mash shook her head. "That's… that's just cruel."

"Oh, you haven't heard the strange part," Hong Lu continued, voice tinged with dark amusement. "They also ban cameras."

Ritsuka frowned. "What? Why?"

Hong Lu's smile widened. "Because, to them, memories should be felt, not observed. If you need a photograph to remember something, then you weren't truly suffering."

The fire crackled, embers drifting into the night sky. The weight of Hong Lu's words hung in the air, suffocating.

Jeanne's voice was barely above a whisper. "Then she is an enemy beyond redemption."

Marie, ever the optimist, cleared her throat. "Then that only means one thing—we must defeat her. And we must prepare."

The flickering light of the campfire was suddenly interrupted as a bright, blue-tinged holographic display activated. The sudden change startled some of the Servants, but Ritsuka and Mash immediately recognized the familiar signal.

"Ritsuka! Mash! Can you hear me?" Olga's voice rang through the air, sharp and urgent.

Ritsuka stepped forward, straightening. "Loud and clear, Director. What's the situation?"

Olga wasted no time. "We've been tracking unstable magical energy all across France. There are many rogue Servants scattered throughout the region."

Mash's eyes widened. "Rogue Servants? How many?"

Da Vinci's voice came through next, far calmer. "We don't have an exact number, but the sheer density of magical energy is concerning. Some of these Servants may be neutral, but others… well, we don't know if all of them are friendly."

Ritsuka exhaled, his grip tightening. "So you're saying we might have more enemies waiting for us."

Romani groaned. "Not quite, the good news is we might be able to get to them first. If we can gather rogue Servants willing to fight with us, we can bolster our forces against Jeanne Alter."

Jeanne, who had been listening in silence, finally spoke. "Then we must act quickly. If my counterpart reaches them first, she will turn them into weapons of destruction."

Angela crossed her arms, her golden eyes calculating. "You assume these rogue Servants will even listen to us."

Da Vinci chuckled. "That's the tricky part, isn't it my protagonista? Some might be open to an alliance, others might try to kill you on sight. It'll be a gamble."

Ritsuka glanced around the campfire, studying the faces of his companions. Each of them knew that this was their best shot at turning the tide against the Dragon Witch.

Mash looked at him, determination shining in her eyes. "Then we need to try."

Olga's voice cut through the moment. "Ritsuka, I'm issuing you a direct order—seek out these rogue Servants. Recruit as many as you can. We need every possible advantage."

Ritsuka nodded without hesitation. "Understood. We'll move at first light."

Romani sighed in relief. "Good. Just… be careful, alright? We have no way of knowing what kind of Servants are out there. Some of them could be extremely dangerous."

Da Vinci smiled. "Oh, but that's what makes it exciting, doesn't it?"

Olga groaned. "Da Vinci!"

The hologram flickered slightly as the connection wavered, but Olga's voice remained firm. "Just… don't get yourselves killed. Chaldea is counting on you."

The transmission cut out, leaving only the sound of the crackling fire in its wake.

A heavy silence followed as the group processed the weight of their new mission.

Mozart ran a hand through his hair. "So, in summary—we have no idea who's out there, no way to tell friend from foe, and we're supposed to just walk up to these unknown entities and hope they don't kill us?"

Marie, ever the optimist, clapped her hands together. "Oh, but how exciting! It's like gathering a grand army for a revolution."

Mozart chuckled. "I like your enthusiasm, Marie."

Angela remained still, expression unreadable. "Hope and optimism will not protect you from betrayal."

Jeanne lowered her gaze. "Angela isn't wrong. Heroic Spirits are summoned with their own goals and desires. Many of them may have no interest in this war, or worse, they may revel in it."

Mash frowned slightly. "Even so, we have to try."

Cu grinned, resting his spear against his shoulder. "Well, at least it won't be boring."

Medusa nodded. "I agree. We should act quickly before the Dragon Witch consolidates her power."

Ritsuka exhaled, gathering his thoughts. "Then it's decided. We'll rest for the night and start tracking rogue Servants in the morning."

Der Freischütz, silent until now, leaned forward slightly. "Then I'll keep watch."

Jeanne hesitated, glancing toward the fire. "…I'll stay up for a bit as well."

Hong Lu smirked. "Don't go losing sleep over things you can't control."

Jeanne didn't respond, but her grip on her banner tightened.

As the others gradually settled in for the night, the weight of the mission loomed over them all.

Tomorrow, they would begin their search.

Tomorrow, they would start gathering their army.

---

The campfire had burned low, its embers glowing faintly against the cold night air. The others had retired to their tents, their exhaustion finally catching up to them. Only Der Freischütz remained awake, idly tending to her rifle while seated on a fallen log. The rhythmic motion of her hands—cleaning, inspecting, reloading—was almost hypnotic, a habit formed over years of surviving battlefields where death lurked in every shadow.

Across from her, Jeanne d'Arc remained by the fire, her gaze fixed on the dying flames. She had barely spoken since the meeting with Chaldea, and though she had tried to rest, her thoughts refused to quiet. The image of her mother burning in the ruins of the castle haunted her.

She wasn't sure how long she had been sitting there when Der Freischütz's voice broke the silence.

"You're not going to sleep?"

Jeanne blinked, as if pulled from a trance. "I… suppose not."

Der Freischütz studied her for a moment, then exhaled through her nose. "Hmph. You're thinking about your doppelganger, aren't you?"

Jeanne stiffened. "...Yes."

Jeanne Alter. The Dragon Witch. The one who wore her face, yet stood as everything she swore to oppose.

Jeanne's fingers curled into the fabric of her coat. "She killed them. She burned them without hesitation. And I…" She swallowed hard. "I let it happen."

Der Freischütz's golden eyes narrowed. "You think it's your fault?"

"I was too late," Jeanne whispered. "If I had been faster, if I had been stronger… maybe I could have stopped her."

Der Freischütz sighed, while taking a smoke from her pipe. "Let me tell you something about battle, saint. Regret is a useless emotion."

Jeanne looked at her sharply, but Der Freischütz's gaze remained steady. "You can think all you want about what could've been different, but it won't change a damn thing. The only thing that matters is what you do next."

Jeanne clenched her fists. "But how do I fight her? How do I fight… myself?"

Der Freischütz smirked slightly. "She's not you."

Jeanne flinched. "She is me. The same face, the same voice"

"But not the same heart," Der Freischütz interrupted. "She made her choice. You make yours."

Jeanne bit her lip. "And what if… what if I would have made the same choice, given the same circumstances?"

Der Freischütz finally looked up at her fully, her golden eyes sharp in the dim light. "Would you?"

Jeanne opened her mouth to respond—then hesitated.

Would she?

Would she have burned everything if she had suffered as Jeanne Alter had? Would she have turned her back on God, on France, on everything she held dear?

Her mind flashed back to the flames, the screams, the look of unwavering hatred in her counterpart's eyes.

Slowly, she shook her head. "...No."

Der Freischütz's smirk widened. "Then that's your answer."

Jeanne let out a slow breath. "You make it sound so simple."

Der Freischütz shrugged. "It is. Complicated thoughts just get in the way when you're trying to survive."

A silence stretched between them, filled only by the quiet crackling of the fire. Der Freischütz studied the flames for a moment, then, uncharacteristically, spoke again.

"You're lucky, you know."

Jeanne turned her gaze toward her. "What do you mean?"

Der Freischütz exhaled, staring at the dark sky. "You get to question your choices. You get to wonder if you're good or evil." She tapped her rifle lightly against her knee. "Most people don't have that luxury."

Jeanne frowned. "You speak as if you didn't have a choice either."

Der Freischütz chuckled, but there was no warmth in it. "Oh, I had choices. Just… none of them were good."

She ran a hand over the barrel of her rifle, as if lost in thought. "You ever heard the legend of the Huntsman's Curse?"

Jeanne shook her head.

Der Freischütz smirked. "Figures. It's not a tale for saints."

She tilted her head slightly, golden eyes gleaming in the firelight.

"A man once made a deal with the Devil for seven bullets. Six would strike any target he desired. But the seventh… well, the seventh belonged to the Devil."

Jeanne's breath hitched slightly. "And… what happened?"

Der Freischütz shrugged. "Depends on the story. Some say he fired the seventh shot and lost his soul. Others say he tried to outwit the Devil and failed."

Her fingers traced over the old engravings on her rifle. "But the real story?"

She let the silence linger for a moment before continuing.

"The hunter was no fool. He knew what the Devil wanted, so he went out and shot everyone he ever loved. One bullet for each of them. When he returned to the Devil, he laughed and thought he had deceived the devil, 'These bullets truly strike anything, don't they?'"

Jeanne felt her stomach twist. "That's…"

Der Freischütz's smile was sharp and humorless. "The seventh bullet still had to be fired. So, with no one left to love, the hunter turned the gun on himself."

Jeanne stared at her. "And then?"

Der Freischütz exhaled, her gaze distant. "He traveled from world to world, pulling the trigger without thought, without hesitation. And then, one day, he realized the Devil had stopped following him."

Jeanne shuddered. "Why?"

Der Freischütz chuckled darkly. "Because the contract had already been fulfilled. His soul was long gone."

Jeanne swallowed, gripping the fabric of her sleeve. "…That's you, isn't it?"

Der Freischütz didn't answer immediately. She simply smirked, running a hand over the rifle as if it carried all the answers Jeanne sought.

"Me? I lived it. Six perfect shots. And then… the seventh."

Jeanne hesitated. "Did you…?"

Der Freischütz let out a slow, tired breath. "Let's just say I don't question whether I'm good or evil anymore. The answer stopped mattering a long time ago."

The weight in her voice was palpable, and for a moment, Jeanne saw past the smirks and sharp words—saw someone who had long since given up on salvation.

Jeanne looked down at her hands. "But you still fight."

Der Freischütz smirked. "Like I said—complicated thoughts get in the way of survival."

A silence stretched between them, but this time, it was different. Less heavy.

Finally, Jeanne exhaled. "…Thank you."

Der Freischütz chuckled. "Don't mention it, saint. Just don't start getting too sentimental on me."

Jeanne let out a small, tired laugh. "I'll try."

The fire flickered lower, the night stretching on. For the first time in hours, Jeanne felt like she could rest.

As she finally closed her eyes, Der Freischütz remained awake, keeping watch.

She knew the battles ahead would be harder than any they had faced.

But at least, for tonight, Jeanne could sleep without drowning in doubt.

---

The first rays of dawn crept over the treetops, casting a soft golden glow over the camp. The embers of last night's fire still smoldered faintly, the warmth lingering in the crisp morning air. Birds chirped in the distance, and the scent of dew-covered grass mixed with the remnants of charred wood.

One by one, the camp stirred to life. Mozart was the first to wake, stretching dramatically as he bemoaned the stiffness in his limbs. Marie Antoinette stirred soon after, giggling softly as she gently pried Scorched Girl off her, the ash-covered girl still curled against her side, seeking warmth.

Mozart scoffed at the sight. "Even in death, she refuses to let go of her luxuries."

Marie giggled. "Oh, hush. Warmth is a gift, is it not?"

Scorched Girl, still half-asleep, muttered against Marie's shoulder, "Mozart Cold… Marie warm…"

Mozart sighed, rubbing his temple. "What a tragic thing to hear first thing in the morning."

Nearby, Mash sat near the fire, carefully cleaning her shield. Cu Chulainn cracked his joints with a lazy grin, while Medusa silently watched the flames. Angela had been awake before the others, flipping through her book with quiet precision, while Der Freischütz stood at the edge of the camp, her gaze scanning the forest with habitual caution.

Jeanne d'Arc sat alone. Her arms were crossed, her expression distant. The previous night's conversation with Der Freischütz had given her clarity, but her heart remained troubled. She stared at the embers, lost in thought.

Ritsuka stretched, groaning slightly. "Morning, everyone."

Mash smiled. "Good morning, Senpai."

Cu smirked. "Finally awake, kid?"

Angela, without looking up from her book, simply stated, "It is inefficient to start the day without a clear plan."

Mozart scoffed. "Do you ever relax?"

Angela did not dignify that with a response.

Marie sat up, carefully adjusting her dress. "We know what we must do next. We should waste no time."

Jeanne finally stirred, glancing at her companions. "Right. We need to figure out where to go from here."

Ritsuka nodded. "We know there are rogue Servants out there, but we don't know where."

Mash hesitated. "That makes things difficult. If we take too long, we might lose our chance to find them."

Mash then turned to Jeanne. "This would normally be Jeanne's role, wouldn't it? As a Ruler-class Servant, you should be able to sense other Servants right?"

Jeanne's expression darkened slightly. "…I should."

Mozart raised an eyebrow. "But you can't?"

Jeanne exhaled, shaking her head. "For some reason, I can't sense them at all."

That revelation caused a stir among the group. Ritsuka exchanged a look with Mash, who frowned in concern.

Medusa crossed her arms. "That complicates things."

Angela's eyes narrowed. "If something is interfering with your ability to track Servants, that means there is an unknown factor at play. That is never good."

A small chime interrupted their discussion—their communication link with Chaldea activating.

"Good morning, everyone." Da Vinci's voice came through the connection, lighthearted as always. "I see you're all up early."

Romani sighed in the background. "I wish I could say the same for myself…"

Olga Marie's voice cut through the channel sharply. "Enough small talk. We have more important matters to discuss."

Ritsuka straightened. "Did you detect anything?"

Romani yawned. "More like barely anything. We're working with an extremely limited range, but we've confirmed that there are rogue Servants scattered across France."

Mash perked up. "That's good, right? At least we know they're out there."

Romani groaned. "Sure, but that doesn't help much if we can't pinpoint them. Our current range is terrible. You're going to have to travel to get a proper signal."

Angela frowned. "Then our search will be slower than expected."

Olga's tone was sharp. "It can't be helped. We're operating under too many unknowns, and we don't have time to sit around waiting. Your orders are simple—find as many of these rogue Servants as possible and recruit them to our cause. We need allies if we're going to stand a chance against the Dragon Witch."

Ritsuka nodded. "Understood."

Jeanne looked up. "Do we have any idea what kind of Servants they might be?"

Da Vinci hummed. "That's part of the problem. We can't identify them remotely, only that there are Servants present. You'll have to figure out who they are when you get there."

Mash frowned. "That means we might not just be finding allies… we could be walking into fights with enemies, too."

Olga's voice was firm. "Exactly. Stay on guard. We're dealing with Servants who are wandering this singularity without Masters. There's no telling what they're like."

Mozart leaned back. "That just makes it all the more exciting, doesn't it?"

Marie smiled lightly. "An adventure full of mystery~"

Jeanne wasn't as amused. She folded her arms, deep in thought. "Then we shouldn't waste time. We'll need to move quickly and investigate every location we can."

Angela nodded. "Speed is essential. But we cannot afford recklessness."

Olga exhaled. "You all have your orders. Start moving as soon as you can."

The transmission ended.

The camp fell silent for a moment before Cu stretched and cracked his knuckles. "Welp, sounds like we're going in blind."

Mash stood up. "Senpai, should we get moving?"

Ritsuka took a deep breath, then nodded. "Yeah. We've got a lot of ground to cover."

Jeanne exhaled, standing as well. "Then let's not waste time."

Der Freischütz smirked, resting her rifle on her shoulder. "Time to hunt."

The group began packing their supplies, preparing for the long road ahead.

The war for France had only just begun.

---

A/N:Sorry for the delay! I suddenly got hit with a nasty case of the flu and just didn't have the energy to write. Thanks for your patience!

Edit: After someone pointed out my mistake, I edited that part out to keep it true to the lore. Sorry for the inconvenience, and thank you for catching that! I appreciate the feedback.

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 or a comment to support me ;)