Well, I'm actually impressed by the positive feedback this story got. While it will be running along the rails of the Girl Genius storyline somewhat, I've already written up to almost the end of the sixth chapter...which runs the story off the rails. It will go through some of the stations of the canon, but a number of events have changed, and the relationship between Agatha and Klaus, while still antagonistic, will be considerably less so (he's going to realise that she's a Spark earlier, and instead of viewing her more as Lucrezia's daughter, he will view her more as Bill Heterodyne's daughter...and when the Sturmhalten arc comes around, he'll be saved from being Wasped). But other problems will still arise, including Lucrezia. Gil, while no longer a romantic contender, will still be Agatha's strongest ally in the Wulfenbach camp. I have a potential new character to ship him with in mind.
Incidentally, for those who care, this is actually a hybrid of both the webcomic and novelisations. The novelisations include a few details and dialogue that wasn't in the original comics, and while most of the story pieces are based on the comic, I'm using the novels for some scenes, like when Lilith tells Agatha what to do when they intend to flee Beetleburg.
Anyway, I feel confident enough to post this as a full story before long, so keep an eye out for it. Tomorrow, I'll post the second chapter to Under the Light of the Shattered Moon. You'll have to wait until I watch more of RWBY until I do a full story, if I do manage it.
And I am seriously considering a crossover with the Adam Warren comic series Empowered, though whether that's as a one-shot, or as an ongoing story, I don't know. I have too many ideas, but getting them into story form is another matter. I'm certainly seriously considering a crossover with the light novel and anime series Overlord.
GIRL GENIUS' ANIMAGUS
CHAPTER 2:
THE BARON AND THE BEETLE
How long had it been since he'd had a shower? Years. Two years stuck as a bird. Hell, he still had feathers in his hair, and he had this weird craving for live mice, but he actually missed being human, now that he had managed to get back to normal.
Thankfully, Agatha managed to find some spare coveralls and a labcoat in his rough size, so he changed into those after his shower, and returned to the lab. Agatha was contemplating something, before she looked up. Merlin, she was beautiful. Blonde hair framed a heart-shaped face, her green eyes peering at him curiously behind thick glasses. And even with that rather Victorian-style dress on, she had a beautiful body.
She reminded him painfully of Hermione, and he struggled to forget that. Hermione may be dead, and he had no way of getting back to try and save her…or avenge her. Along with his other friends.
"…So, Emerald…I mean, Harry…what do you mean by a wizard?" Agatha asked.
"Exactly that. Yeah, I know, not very scientific. I don't think scientists back home found out about magic. Besides, you only have Sparks in books and films and stuff back home."
"Home?"
"Yeah. I know this sounds crazy, but I come from another world entirely, I think. Not unless the Industrial Revolution was crazier than I thought."
"…Another world? Like Mars?"
"No, like another Earth, a parallel universe. I mean, we have Europe, I come from England. It's 1894 here(1), but for me, it was 1996. Like I said, I know it sounds crazy, but…"
Agatha peered at him, before she said, "Look, I'm not going to call what you did magic. It's obviously some sort of Will-based Transmogrification Force(2) that hasn't been quantified by science yet. And I don't know what to make of your story. But I have heard a couple of Heterodyne stories, claiming travel to other worlds is possible…look, you tried saving me from that soldier earlier, and, well, you've been a good companion to me so far. No, a friend. So I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. Plus, in hindsight, you're right. You never peeked at me while I was changing. I found that odd, that you were being so polite. Thanks, in retrospect."
"You're welcome. So, what's actually happening here, anyway? Why's that wanker Baron Wulfenbach coming here?"
"I'm not sure," Agatha said, biting her lip. "I think it's something to do with this." She pointed to an apparatus hanging from the ceiling, a complicated cluster of metal tanks and pipes. "I think they called it a Dihoxulator. Dr Glassvitch and Dr Merlot have been working on it for months at Dr Beetle's orders."
"Huh. I wonder why?"
"I don't know. Actually, how did you end up becoming an owl in the first place?"
Harry's face fell at the reminder. "Long story short, I was stupid while trying to save my godfather. I fell through some archway, must've been a portal to another world. In the process, I changed. I don't think we've got enough time for the long story. I don't suppose you have any playing cards?"
As it happened, there were some in a nearby drawer, and they played a couple of games to while away the time. Agatha seemed to warm more to Harry after the initial shock of learning her pet owl was actually a boy her age died down. And she began humming softly to herself, for reasons Harry wasn't sure about.
Glassvitch and Merlot came back some time later, engaged in a hushed conversation, only to notice the cleaned room, both surprised. "And you were saying she was incompetent?" Glassvitch asked.
"Ah, yes. Well done, Miss Clay," Merlot said, reluctantly, though honestly. "I have to say I'm impressed."
"I had a little help," Agatha said modestly with a smile.
Suddenly, one of the doors burst open, and a heavily-accented voice barked out, "No von move! Dis is hyu only varning!"
The barker of the order was a purple-skinned man-like being with a lot of shaggy hair on his head and face, dressed in a military uniform adorned with a symbol showing a winged castle. His teeth were sharp, and his expression belligerent. A Jägermonster. One of a number of beings like technicolour werewolves with a little more intelligence and civility, though not by much. Creations of the Heterodynes, if Harry recalled correctly.
Following the Jäger were a number of Clanks with the same emblem, along with four people, one of whom said in a deep, resonant voice, "Thank you, Unit Commander, stand at ease."
"Yah, Herr Baron," the Jäger said.
The man who spoke was tall and powerfully built, with a shock of grey hair and icy eyes, dressed in a black coat, his bearing one of effortless authority. Harry knew from pictures that this was Klaus von Wulfenbach, the dictator of most of Europe in this world. While his hackles rose, he at least noted that the man wasn't arrogant in his authority, but more assured.
Another man, dressed in a suit tailored for four arms, which he possessed, was making notes in a notebook, seemingly the Baron's personal assistant. Trailing behind Klaus was a brown-haired boy about their age, clearly the Baron's son, given the facial features. And scrambling next to the Baron was the rotund and short Dr Beetle, a dark-skinned man with a beard. "Damnation, Klaus, you're too early. I told you…"
"And I told you, Beetle, you've had more than ample time to do this," he said, before looking over at Agatha and Harry, along with the two scientists.
"Ah, this is Dr Silas Merlot, my second-in-command," Beetle said, indicating Merlot, who bowed.
"I read your latest report with considerable interest, Doctor," Wulfenbach said.
Merlot responded, "I am honoured, Herr Baron."
"Dr Hugo Glassvitch, my chief of research," Beetle said, indicating Glassvitch, who greeted the Baron. He then noticed Agatha and Harry. "Ah, and this is Miss Clay, our lab assistant, and…who are you?"
"Sorry about that. I'm Harry Potter, a friend of Agatha's," Harry said, looking grateful that Glassvitch didn't contradict him. "I helped her get here after she was mugged. I then helped her clean up a little. Sorry about intruding."
Beetle peered at him suspiciously, before noting the locket, or lack thereof, on Agatha's neck. "Miss Clay, did those muggers take the locket?!" he yelped.
"Yes, they…there was an electrical anomaly of some sort, and while trying to flee, a couple of soldiers took it!"
Beetle hustled Agatha away. "No, no, this is terrible. Look, you're distraught, my dear, and I want you to go home, have a nice lie down, and I will send for the watch to get your locket as soon as possible…"
"No, wait," Wulfenbach said, approaching. "You saw the event, Miss Clay?"
"Harry and I both did," Agatha said. "We were right there."
"Then I want you both to stay. I have questions about that."
"No, Klaus, she's had a terrible shock! She must be allowed to leave!" Beetle protested.
"Master, please, I am fine!"
Wulfenbach, meanwhile, had started examining the apparatus. "Beetle, your concern for your citizens' well-being does you credit, but Miss Clay appears fine to me, so I would like to get started." He looked at the two doctors. "Why is this not finished? I thought that I had explained the underlying principles succinctly enough."
"I don't know, Herr Baron," Glassvitch said. "Constructing the machine up to a point is perfectly fine, but we hit a block in the process."
Merlot nodded eagerly. "We can't reconcile the final linkages with the rest of the assembly. Bluntly, we just don't know what to do to make it work."
Klaus peered at them, as if trying to discern whether they were lying, before he nodded. "Very well. Gilgamesh? Can you work out the problems with this apparatus tonight?"
The brown-haired boy walked over, and peered at it. "I can certainly try, father, but could you explain the theory first?"
As Klaus explained things to his son, Merlot and Glassvitch looked on, the latter muttering despondently, "We're doomed. We haven't managed to finish anything."
"Idiot," Merlot snapped irritably. "We don't have the Spark, and the Baron knows this. It's a test, and not for us. It's for the boy. He's the only heir the Baron has, and I've heard rumours that he's being tested to determine how brightly the Spark burns in him. If it doesn't burn as brightly as it does in his father…"
"Den he vill break him down for parts and try again!" chortled the Jäger.
Harry, who was standing next to Agatha, noticed that she was humming again. He gently led her away from the irritable Merlot, and so witnessed what happened next, with Gilgamesh struggling to make sense of the machine, before he seemed to undergo a nervous breakdown, screaming angrily, "THIS IS LUDICROUS! WHAT ARE YOU FOOLS TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH?! CAN'T YOU SEE WHAT YOU'VE DONE?! THIS IS ALL WRONG! EVEN A FIRST YEAR STUDENT WOULD DO BETTER! THE VARYING FORCES ARE TRYING TO CANCEL EACH OTHER OUT! WHERE ARE YOUR PLANS?!"
Merlot wheeled on Agatha. "Miss Clay, they were on the board! Where are they?!"
Agatha and Harry looked at each other, only for Agatha to pull open a drawer and remove a blueprint. Gilgamesh hurried over, only to trip and fall to the ground, hitting his head. "Master Gilgamesh!" the four-armed man yelped.
Harry helped the brown-haired boy up, even as the Clank aimed a machine gun at him. "HOLD," it intoned.
"Piss off, I'm helping," Harry said, before casting some healing spells discreetly.
Klaus stormed over. "Be careful of how you treat my son and heir, Mr Potter."
"No, father, it's fine," Gilgamesh said, getting to his feet, before nodding to Harry. "Thanks. Anyway, I think I needed that. It's cleared my head. The underlying theory for this Dihoxulator is incorrect."
"What?" the Baron demanded in a quiet, cold tone.
"Yes. What you want is possible, but the theoretical structure is badly flawed. This machine will never work."
His tone downright cryogenic, the Baron asked, "Think very carefully, boy. Are you saying that I am wrong?!"
Harry seemed about to jump to Gilgamesh's defence, only for the boy himself to say, quietly, "Yes."
Klaus considered it, before giving a knowing smile. "And you are correct, my son."
As the scientists yelped in dismay and incredulity, Gilgamesh snapped, "Another test, father? I'm beginning to find this tiresome."
"Much like raising children is," Klaus said with a knowing tone. "But I persevere for now. Thank you, doctors, for your time and effort. You will receive new assignments tomorrow."
"They worked so hard!" Agatha protested.
"We toiled on this for three months for nothing?!" Glassvitch demanded.
Merlot, however, his anger was considerably colder. "…Now I understand. Now I understand why the great Dr Beetle couldn't be bothered to work on such an important assignment. We were mere mortals, without the Spark, and he had real work to do."
"Merlot, mind your tongue! I don't like your attitude!" Beetle said, ambling over.
Merlot slapped Beetle hard. "How d'you like this?!"
Klaus, who was next to Agatha and Gilgamesh, said, quietly, to the Jäger, "Don't do anything." Then, to his son, he said, quietly, "Gil? Consider this an important lesson on employee relations."
"In other words, don't dick them around?" Harry asked.
The faintest of sardonic smirks touched Klaus' features. "In less crude terms, yes."
Harry watched as Merlot ranted and raved at Beetle, before getting a nasty grin on his face. "Does he know that his trusted old mentor has defied his strictest instructions with his latest experiments? Conducted in the middle of a civilian town, I should add? Well, maybe I should show him the truly important work you've been doing!" And despite Beetle's protests, Merlot yanked down on a lever, part of the wall moving aside to reveal…something out of a nightmare.
It looked like a glass orb, surrounded by other apparatuses. And within the orb, something stirred within a womb of liquid. It was hard to tell what it was, though Harry could see insectoid limbs, strange eyes, and bizarre, malevolent faces glinting within the dark green fluid.
"What the bloody hell is that?!" Harry whispered in horror.
"Slaver Wasps," Merlot sneered. "Two weeks ago, we found a fully-functional, unhatched Hive Engine, and Dr Beetle insisted on bringing it here! Now, Master, let's see how you use your superior mind to get out of this!"
"What the fuck are Slaver Wasps?!" Harry demanded.
The others looked at him in puzzlement. "Where've you been?" Gilgamesh asked. "These are Constructs, created by The Other! They turn people into Revenants, mindless slaves to The Other's will!"
"You what? These things control people?" Harry demanded.
"Yes," Klaus said. "Now, hush. I have someone to deal with. Dr Beetle, I had one rule I made you adhere to when I left you control of this city. Report all unusual discoveries, and any devices created by The Other are to be handed over as soon as they are found, and you agreed."
"Under duress! And a leonine contract is worthless! You threatened my city and my university, so I had to agree. You were in control then. Well, no more."
The roof of the lab was peeled open, and a massive Clank that Harry recognised as Mr Tock, the guard to the university, pointed a massive gun at them. "DO NOT MOVE," it boomed.
"Now I am in control!" Beetle laughed. "Well? What do you think of that?!"
Klaus and Gilgamesh's expressions, oddly enough, were rather casual. "Gil, what DO you think of that?"
"Another test?"
"Not exactly. He's deadly serious, but I'm curious about your thoughts."
"Well, he thinks we're in a standoff. If he kills us, our Clanks will kill him. If we attack him, his Clank will kill us…"
"Lemme guess, you have an ace up your sleeve?" Harry said. As the Wulfenbachs and Beetle stared at him, Harry snarked, "Oh, come on, it's obvious given your rather casual attitudes. Just try not to blow up Mr Tock too much, he's nice for a Clank."
"I'm sorry, Mr Potter, but I can't do that," Klaus said, somewhat apologetically, before Tock was hit by a blast from an airship, one of many that now filled the skies above Beetleburg. "The Third Airborne, the Seventh Groundnaut Mechanical, and the Jägermonsters. We brought them here."
Beetle called out for his Clank guards, only for the Wulfenbach Clanks to shoot them. "Older Clanks, Beetle. They may have been state-of-the-art before, but technology marches on with time, and you were left behind. Soon, this city will be secure."
"This is an invasion?!" Beetle demanded.
"This became my city years ago, Beetle. I merely allowed you to administer it."
"But why take it from me now?!"
"A Hive Engine isn't reason enough?" Klaus asked icily. "I've known for some time, even before Merlot's conniption. A field team suddenly has a suspicious communications breakdown, followed by equally suspicious industrial accidents. Your laboratory schedules are changed. The chemical requisitions, and the dramatic spike in honey prices here…" Klaus actually looked saddened. "I wished I was wrong, old friend. I truly did."
"Herr Baron, please," Agatha plead. "Don't kill him."
"I'm not. Where do you get these ideas?" Klaus asked. "Beetle, your people's loyalty, for the most part, is admirable. I have no intention of killing you. In fact, I have use for you…"
"No!" Beetle snarled, unclipping a scarab emblem that adorned his clothes. "I'll never submit to that! You won't get me, or any of us!" With that, he flung the scarab, which turned into a small Clank, at Gilgamesh…or maybe Agatha.
Gilgamesh snatched a wrench from the nearby bench, and swatted it back at Beetle, before pulling Harry and Agatha down to the ground. An explosion rocked the lab, and when the dust cleared, all that was left of Beetle was a charred corpse. Harry and Agatha stared at the charred corpse, with Klaus, after checking that his people and his son were fine, stormed over to the corpse and scowled. "Gotterdämmerung!" he snarled. "His head's totally destroyed. He's dead, and permanently!" He glared at Gilgamesh, as did Agatha.
"Murderer," Agatha hissed.
"Agatha, he was trying to kill us! That thing nearly killed us along with him!" Harry said. Agatha shot him a brief glare.
"He threw a bomb at me!" Gilgamesh protested.
"A poor excuse, that," Klaus said.
"Poor excuse?!" Gilgamesh demanded.
"Vell, I von't say he vas shtupid," the Jäger remarked with a smirk, looking at the ruined body, "but I hain't find' a whole lot of brains around here!"
The four-armed man, whom Klaus called 'Boris', asked, "Can we please leave, Herr Baron? This mess is making my feet stick to the floor."
Agatha tensed, before she roared, "HOW DARE YOU! YOU MURDERED ONE OF THE GREATEST SCIENTISTS IN EUROPE, AND NOW YOU'RE TREATING IT LIKE A KITCHEN ACCIDENT?! THE PEOPLE OF THIS CITY LOVED HIM, AND WHEN THEY FIND OUT HOW YOU…GAAAAH!" She screamed, clutching her head in pain, and Harry gently led her away.
"Forgive her, Herr Baron, but she gets like this when upset," Glassvitch said apologetically.
Klaus sniffed. "Pathetic."
"She has a point, Father," Gilgamesh said.
"Well, the populace could be a problem," Klaus mused.
"Not exactly, Herr Baron," Merlot spoke up, looking to curry favour with him. "Very few people actually saw him on a regular…" But then, he saw Klaus glaring at him, before the tall man gripped him by the shirt and lifted him into the air.
"I despise traitors of all stripes, and you did not expose Beetle's experiments with that Hive Engine out of altruism. His death was your fault, and without your little temper tantrum, I might have salvaged him. I am very annoyed indeed. You want to be rewarded for your treachery? Then you're in charge now. You'll oversee the city, the college, the lands…everything. And just so we're clear on how much trouble you are in, the first mistake you make will see you sent to Castle Heterodyne."
Merlot gaped in fear. "No! But all I wanted…"
"Is irrelevant," Klaus said coldly. "Now, what I want is Dr Beetle lying in state, for viewing, by midnight. With a hero's funeral to be held the day after tomorrow."
Merlot, after a moment, turned on Agatha. "Well, I know one important thing I'm going to do today. Miss Clay, you're hereby banned from this university in perpetuity. Leave, and take that grubby little boyfriend of yours with you!"
Harry stormed over, and slugged him, knowing using magic would cause too much interest in him, absence of the Statute or not. As Merlot tumbled to the ground, Harry said, "Fuck off and die, you Snape lookalike! You don't have the authority!"
"I do now! And I want your arrest for assaulting the head of the university! I'M IN CHARGE NOW!"
"Merlot," Klaus said warningly. "I am not pleased with your petty display of power." He looked over at Harry and Agatha, his expression softening slightly. "I will arrange a Jägermonster escort for you two. The streets may not be safe, and my Clanks will be keeping people off the streets."
Harry and Agatha reluctantly nodded, and allowed themselves to be taken away, hoping that this wasn't going to change things for the worse…
CHAPTER 2 ANNOTATIONS:
Well, it pretty much is. And Harry is going to have words with Adam and Lilith when they start giving Agatha the old secrecy thing…oh, and he's starting to get angsty over what happened to his friends, or what he thinks happened…
1. When Girl Genius is set roughly is a matter of contention, but fan analysis seems to indicate it starting around 1894.
2. This is the term I invented for GLaDOS to use for magic in my Portal crossover Is Your Great-Aunt an AI?! and its sequel, Just How Can a Computer Do Magic?! The acronym sums up GLaDOS' thoughts on magic…and I'm sure Agatha's too.
