Fate/Apocrypha

Fate/Apocrypha (フェイト/アポクリファ) is a Japanese light novel series in Type-Moon's Fate franchise, written by Yūichirō Higashide and illustrated by Ototsugu Konoe. Type-Moon published five volumes from December 2012 to December 2014. A manga adaptation illustrated by Akira Ishida is serialized in Kadokawa Shoten's Comp Ace magazine. An anime television series adaptation by A-1 Pictures premiered in July 2017.

Plot
The story is set in a parallel world to original Fate/stay night. In the Third Holy Grail War, Darnic Prestone Yggdmillennia steals the Greater Grail, smuggling it to Romania. Sixty years later, the Yggdmillennia clan declare war upon the Mage's Association in the Greater Grail War, pitting two teams of Servants against one another. Yggdmillennia and the Mage's Association's teams are referred to as the Black and Red factions respectively.

Kairi Shishigou, a necromancer hired by the Clock Tower, summons the Saber-class Mordred. The Red faction is led by priest Shirou Kotomine, though Shishigou remains independent, distrusting him. Shirou and his Servant, Semiramis, subdue the other masters of Red, stealing their command spell to control their Servants: Karna, Atalanta, Achilles, William Shakespeare, and Spartacus. The Black faction's Servants include Vlad III, Siegfried, Chiron, Astolfo, Avicebron, and Frankenstein's monster. Their rebellious seventh member, Jack the Ripper, murders her intended master in favour of prostitute Rika Rikudou.

Jeanne d’Arc is summoned as the mediating Ruler-class in the war, inhabiting the body of Laeticia, a French student. Receiving visions of Shirou, Jeanne tries to reach the Red faction, but they travel in Semiramis’ Hanging Gardens of Babylon towards Yggdmillennia's domain in Trifas. Spartacus is captured by Yggdmillennia after trying to storm their domain.

Yggdmillennia use homunculi to fuel the mana sustaining the Servants’ presence. Astolfo helps a male homunculus escape. When the homunculus is mortally wounded in the escape attempt, Siegfried sacrifices himself by giving his enchanted heart to the boy. Jeanne takes the homunculus, Sieg, into her custody, leaving him in the care of a hermit. Sieg decides he wishes to liberate the homunculi, returning to Trifas during battle.

As the Black and Red factions clash, the Greater Grail is transported into the Hanging Gardens. Frankenstein's monster and Spartacus die fighting Mordred. Sieg defends Astolfo from Mordred, discovering he can temporarily transform into Siegfried. Mordred decapitates Astolfo's master Celenike Icecolle Yggdmillennia, Sieg becomes Astolfo's new master.

Whilst storming the Hanging Gardens, Darnic fuses with Vlad, becoming a vampire, but is slain by Shirou. Jeanne and the gathered Servants discover Shirou is in fact Amakusa Shirou Tokisada, a Ruler-class Servant summoned by the Einzberns in the Third Holy Grail War. Shirou wishes to use the Grail's power to bring about eternal happiness for mankind, materialising their souls in a new world. Aside from Mordred, the Red faction and Avicebron agree to help him. Avicebron distracts Yggdmillennia whilst the Red faction escape, using his master Roche Frain Yggdmillennia to power his Noble Phantasm, but is killed by Sieg and Mordred.

The Black faction form an alliance with Shishigou, Mordred, Sieg, and Jeanne to stop Shirou. They eliminate Rika and Jack the Ripper, Jeanne purifying the latter's soul. Jeanne falls in love with Sieg, assuming they are Laeticia's feelings, and has visions of Sieg dying in battle. Fiore Forvedge Yggdmillennia, the de facto leader of the Black faction, surrenders her magic and title to her brother Caules, unwilling to take a life as necessary.

The Black faction attack the Hanging Gardens using a fleet of airplanes. Upon Karna's request, Caules transports the captured Red faction's masters to safety. During the assault, Chiron, Karna, Atalanta, Achilles, Shishigou, and Mordred die. Jeanne confronts Shakespeare, who taunts her with the visions of Sieg's death. He then introduces Gilles de Rais, summoned as a Saber, to convince Jeanne of Shirou's wish.

Shirou's wish is granted by the Greater Grail, activating on his command. Upon Sieg's arrival, Jeanne convinces Gilles to redeem himself for past sins by siding with them. Jeanne and Gilles sacrifice themselves to stop Shirou, though Laeticia is spared. Empowered by the combined power of Siegfried and Frankenstein's Monster, Sieg is able to defeat Shirou, who is given a painless demise by Semiramis via a poisoned kiss. The remaining Red servants vanish soon after.

Sieg and Astolfo, being the winners of the war, speak to the Grail's avatar Justeaze Lizrich von Einzbern, who explains Shirou's wish will occur, but it will prevent humanity from evolving. Sieg requests that he be transformed into Fáfnir, transporting the Grail to the Reverse Side of the World, where its magic will be neutralised. In the war's aftermath, Astolfo sets off to explore the world. Jeanne's spirit reunites with Sieg, confessing her love to him.