Welcome to all the curious people who clicked on this new story! Be it for new Rotg stories or just looking for a random read I thank you for giving this a minute of your time. I humbly invite you to this story of mine! ^-^ As you may or may not know this is a Rise of the Guardians fanfiction with a bit, well, a large twist on the premise. That is for the most part being set in a steam punk world. Also this story takes both from the film and the books, so I will hopefully be able to please both audiences. I apologize for any problems the story may have and feel free to comment, criticize and suggest! Although try to be civil. Thanks a bunch and I hope to see you all for chapter one! :D
"Vox ex Machina"
A small buzzer goes off at the desk as a customer walks into the threshold a room over. A system of pulleys and wires are neatly laced and intertwined to form a web stretching from the back room all the way to the front door. These thin wires lace through the walls to make a maze for the teller. She used these to know where anyone was in her parlor at any time, which only helped the air of mysticism. For you see the owner of this parlor was none other than the most extraordinary scam artist on Clement Street, The Amazing Madam Deniro. This particular Madam was actually the most ordinary of people; she was selfish, unkind and uncaring for the needs of others and of course, most fascinated with money. She was in her late twenties to early thirties, with long dark hair with brown roots and a round face. She was most acquainted with scams and trickery using her specific appeals and magical claims. But on her own, without tricks and looks she was powerless. This extraordinary pulley system was not even of her handiwork but the design of a rising inventor who we look into later. But for now, the door has chimed and she is ready for her next "sucker."
This man was far from the average sucker, she thought to herself. Quite the contrary, this man was one of high stature, and should be treated just so. Just so long as she gets some of that nobility in her pocket, of course. His eyes were piercing to a point that made her worry. What if he figured her out? No. Why would he be in here in the first place if he was smart enough to not be fooled, to gloat? Doubtful, no she must just play it safe and she can make enough for the week for sure! She uses a small mirror, reflecting his face from different angles and reflects of a great many mirrors strewn throughout the room to study his looks. Maybe that will give her an insight to what he needs. He is very gaunt, tall, and proper. His eyes are narrow, as are all his features, sharp. He was quite handsome, even with the especially arrogant smile across his face. Madam Dinero adjusted her blouse and cloak to look most presentable and lovely for the handsome customer, and she called from the "room where the magic happens," and says, "Come in, come in my child. What may I do for my most honorable guest? A reading maybe? Or would you prefer a spell?" You see, Madam Dinero was renowned, aside from being a cheat by her more knowledgeable friends, as a fortune teller and mystic of many secrets. But this guest seemed unphased by the magical scene or incense around the room. The room was dark but he seemed to be able to cover every inch with his gaze.
"No no. Just a reading would be fine. My name is Cross, and I have an inquiry about my business."
"Oh, Mr. Cross, might I have a first name, to better acquaint us? And just business? Wouldn't you also like another, maybe a reading about personal matters, such as family, or romance. . ?" She stressed the word, leaning in over the crystal ball sitting on the table behind which she sat. She knew that her looks would attract many a man just to come and see her, and a very wealthy man is all the more welcome in her parlor.
"Just," He starts, sitting down slowly and purposefully, "Cross thank you. And no no, I have no need for questions of the sort. Right now I am only concerned with business."
Shit. One of these. No matter. "Of course!" She leans back as subtly as she can, though subtlety is hard to achieve from such an unsubtle position. "Well, come closer to the crystal ball, as we discuss payment." She smiles from behind her shawl, a toothy smile, the very face of greed. But since a shawl blocked this true look at her soul, Mr. Cross was unwary as ever.
"Here." He tossed a small purse of coins that clinked heavily onto the table. "A little extra is in there to be sure you do your absolute best." He states inflecting the end and throwing on a small smile. Madam Dinero snatched the purse and checked to see the amount. This was, thre-no FOUR times her charge fee! Better tell this guy what he wants to hear!
"But of course!" she says as she slips the small coin purse down the front of her shirt. "Now tell me what your request is."
"Ehem," he coughed, "Well I must ask you whether or not my most recent ventures will be successful. I am putting far more than I am comfortable with into this deal and will NOT accept anything but success."
When speaking his hopes he seemed a lot less friendly than before. Now he seemed very businesslike. This was all the more reason to hurry this up and get it over with. Time to start the show. She began as she does by dimming the lights, a small set of pads under her foot controlling everything. The far left pressed down half way dimmed everything. Next she pressed the button directly right of it, and the light started to glow inside of the ball. A familiar light blue, cloudy light was set around the room. She smiled behind her shawl as it was her favorite part of the act. Then snapping back into focus she pressed the last button and the smoke machine silently kicked in, releasing a fog around the room. "Oh mighty spirits, please answer us a request. Go forth through your ethereal planes to find us the truth that only lies in the future. We seek but one answer to our request, a simple one at that. Oh spirits from beyond, come forth to my summons! I ask of thee, what does fate hold for our patron's business ventures?!" The ball began to shine brighter as she pressed the pad harder and she grinned as her job was almost complete. But before she could begin her act of possession, an entirely extraordinary thing happened to our ordinary Madam Dinero. The ball began to shine red. She didn't know why or how but red. This was new; she hadn't installed a mechanism for this. As a million questions where zooming around her mind the ball suddenly turned green and everything went dark for Madam Dinero.
Before our guest's eyes the fortune teller began to glow a luscious green out her eyes and mouth matching exactly to the ball. Her eyes where naturally dark brown so this was a stark contrast. His face showed a slight interest now, compared to his previously bored expression.
"Pitch, King of Nightmares and Shadows, destroyer of myself and those who I protect. I have come here personally to tell you that your plots will fail. You shall be stopped. Your armies shall be crushed. And your empire shall fall! Now if you wish to see your voice silenced forever than do not stand against the voice of the lands, the voice of the people, and the voice of the machine."
Mr. Cross was awestruck at these events. Nothing supernatural has been heard of since the great dawn of mechanism. Well, he wanted a challenge, and maybe he just got it. Nothing to worry about though, whatever that being was, no man, spirit, or god could stand to him now. And what could a machine possibly do to him, He was in control and all felt right. But, as an added measure. . . Just then a flash of steal illuminated off the now blue crystal ball, and the Amazing Madam Deniro was no more, a river of red behind her shawl. He picked up the coins by the cord hanging out her shirt. How classy of her. Well if it was a fight that whatever this being wanted, so be it.
This city was his after all, he owned almost all of the power industries ranging from coal and electricity to oil and gas. He did not own any steam power, for long at least. And he was even going so far as to study using lava as a power resource. Although this would be done by leading scientists, inventors, and a large scale work force of course. He himself would not take part in this until all was deemed "safe enough for their newborns to play in." But he was not always this tycoon, no, no. In fact all of this started around the beginning of the dawn of mechanism. Since then when the dull and dimwitted of the time found out how to use steel, a few less dimwitted began to toy with inventing. They were oft ignored until they came to power through strength of mind and steel. Since then inventions have sprung up all around such as clockwork in all sorts of contraptions, steam power and electrical power, though he himself preferred the old coal and oil. This is in fact where he started his own business after his previous ventures had halted, but that is a story for another day. Anyway as those of strong mind stayed in power as brute force was quickly crushed by mechanical strength, new politics and creations formed around once ancient cities to form bustling trafficked new metropolises. The one he currently resided in was a town called Burgess, which became a bustling cityscape after he himself had opened the power plants surrounding the city. But when certain parts of the city refused to pay, there were known to be a few "slips" in his power grid. These may or may not have resulted in some unfortunate "accidents," that where quickly swept away by the much busier police force. Life has been good in these new times, new technology is being created on a daily basis, and while a tad dirty progress was in the air! At least, for those who could afford it. And he was one of those who could, many many many times over. In fact by monopolizing the power industry he had become one of the, if not the wealthiest man in the west hemisphere; east he was not entirely sure but the dogs probably could not scrape up half as much as him.
Yes he was indeed on top of his game, but recently there was a slight disturbance in his business. And that, in his world, was the one thing not to be disturbed. A young no name inventor thought they could make a name for themselves by shutting down one of his pet businesses entirely. He had a fondness for birds, small but they did not repulse him like most creatures. Yes he decided on a whim to create a messenger bird network throughout this city for the middle class, as they could not afford the phonographs that the wealthier had. This proved to be a booming success and he soon realized how untapped the middle class really was as a resource. But just as soon as he had started making plans to expand business, this child had to step in.
Yes she had made these little clockwork birds to fly around. They could be controlled remotely or sent to destined locations through beacons and signals. This was far more effective than actual birds, the bloody rats with wings. This was mechanical, so much cleaner and more manageable. However since he saw the promise this would soon attain, he was fit to burst that it wasn't his. He tore down a newspaper clipped to a board on the wall reading "FLEDGLING INVENTOR THIA "TOOTH" NAA RON CLAIMS FIRST PRIZE AT LOCAL INVENTORS FAIR. BAFFLES LONG TIME RUNNERS AND JUMPSTARTING A PROMISING CAREER." Well, isn't this a difficult spot, that this little BRAT put me in. . . Or is it? The cogs started to spin as he thought up a devilish idea. He quickly slide around his desk and started jotting down a letter in heavy black ink. The letters he wrote where quick and spidery, like a shadow, as his handwriting was naturally. It read thus;
To whom it may concern. I, Pitch of the unified power institutions have taken into account your most recent of breakthroughs in the scientific community. I in fact own a small side business in which pertains to this most ingenious of ideas you have thought up. As an inventor myself I am very impressed, So much so in fact, that I would like to meet you in person to discuss business propositions. A deal could be brought up that would solidify your placement as a partner in business and your place in the scientific community as well as make you a plausible candidate for future projects involving many of my organizations. The meeting will be offered with a complimentary and congratulatory dinner at one of my privately owned restaurants. If you are interested do reply to this address rather than the company address as it will take an exceedingly long time to process, and by then my deal shall be gone. I expect a reply in a fortnight or less, so be quick about it and I hope to engage in business very soon.
Good day,
A sir Pitch.