The Pauper Princess and the Born Legacy, Part 8

[maramcc]

Here's Part 7.

I'm so long-winded, even my fanfictions have chapters!!

The story so far...!
-Agatha tried to get Mara out of the crypt, aka the Chapel of Bones
Hilarity ensued.

The legal disclaimer stuff:
"This story is not approved by, sponsored by or affiliated with Studio Foglio LLC or Airship Entertainment."

Pauper Princess FanFiction Theatre presents:
The Pauper Princess and the Born Legacy, Part 8!


  Violetta and Zeetha had joined Kelvin on the other side of the gorge. According to them the castle was "going crazy," so he was not the only one anxious about the other women's fate. All three of them stood at the edge of the bridgeless gorge and kept a steady eye on the library's tower. Finally, they spotted movement; somebody was climbing out of a hole in the floor. The figure was blonde and wearing green, meaning it could be either Agatha or Mara. The woman finished climbing out and helped the other woman up and out. The castle did its part by reforming the elaborate stone and metal bridge, starting from the two women's side. Kelvin swayed side to side impatiently as the women walked.
  "Both of them," he said. "They've both come out! They're both coming over! She got her out! Oh, bless her, she saved my wife! She didn't die from that horrible test."
  Zeetha peered at the two very mobile women making their way across. "You could be right," she said. "Maybe they should keep walking so we're certain they're not dead."
  "You never know," said Violetta. "Death hasn't stopped people from moving around before."
  "I'm ignoring both of you," said Kelvin. "Why is this stupid thing not forming more quickly? It could collapse on them any second! Do you know it tried to kill me?"
  "Please," said Zeetha, "Tell us a fourth or fifth time."
  The Spark women kept up their, for Kelvin, excruciatingly leisurely pace, until the last twenty feet, when Mara hurried the rest of the way and ran into his arms. They hugged and kissed in joy and relief as Agatha arrived. Both Violetta and Zeetha babbled to tell her at the same time about troubles with the castle.
  "Ladies," she said, holding up a hand to quiet them. "I know that there's a problem. Trouble is, the castle isn't acknowledging it. I'm going to look into it asap. But first, you've met Mara, yes?"
  "...Yeah?" said the ladies.
  "Well, I just thought you'd like to know there's a new root in the family tree," said Agatha. "Say hello to Mara... Heterodyne... Mouseheart."
  An expected, stunned silence followed, but it was Mara who broke it. "Look, I'm as surprised as any of you," she said, "But we should probably address that after things have been settled with the castle. Do you agree, Agatha? And does anyone know if the others have returned from the city? Our children, our nanny, your assistants?"
  Violetta shrugged.
  "You two need to find them and keep them safe," said Agatha to Violetta and Zeetha. "Where's Higgs?"
  "He's trying to help the minions," said Zeetha. "That's what I was trying to say earlier! The castle has them locked up in a solid box made of the walls and insists that they're all playing a game! Higgs is trying to get them out."
 "What??" said Agatha. "Castle!! You didn't tell me this before! Release those people, now!"
 "ALL RIGHT, I DIDN'T TELL YOU EVERYTHING, BUT IT WAS A SECRET. THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO COUNT TO A THOUSAND, THEN FIND ME!"
  "Find you?" said Agatha. "And where would that be? Tell me, now!"
  "IT'S NOT YOUR GAME, IT'S THEIRS. BUT THEY'RE NOT DOING IT RIGHT. MOST OF THEM JUST WENT TO SLEEP."
  "Oh, my God," whispered Mara.
  "Castle!!" said Agatha. "Release them! Release them now! They need air! Give them air!"
  "STOP YELLING AT ME!" it said. "I DON'T HAVE TO DO WHAT YOU SAY, YOU KNOW!"
  " What ??"
  "Castle, they're not asleep, they're dying!" said Mara. "You're hurting them! You're killing them! Please let them out!"
  "OH, ALL RIGHT," it said. "THERE: I OPENED THE HIDING PLACE, MOMMA."
  "Thank God," whispered Mara, leaning against Kelvin. "Are they breathing?? Please tell us!"
  "I DON'T KNOW," it said. "I THINK SO. THEY LOOK IT."
  " 'Momma?' " said Agatha, then shook her head in frustation. "Ach, I'll figure it out later. Zeetha: help Higgs with the minions. Violetta: find the Mousehearts and keep them away from the castle!"
  "Got it," said Violetta. Zeetha was already running down the corridor to rejoin Airman Higgs. Violetta then noticed the cut on Mara's hand. "Give it here," she said, pulling out another small vial from her belt. She popped off the stopper.
  "We don't have time for this," said Mara.
  "This is an antiseptic and will speed up healing, too," she said, taking Mara's hand. "But it's going to sting, a lot. Are you ready?" Mara nodded. It was a white powder that smoked and bubbled as soon as it touched the wet wound. Mara grunted and tightened her mouth, but otherwise did not react.
  "Stoic, I see," said Violetta, now producing a small bandage to wrap it. Mara grunted and nodded. She patted Violetta's shoulder in gratitude.
  "Did the castle just call you 'Momma?'" Kelvin asked Agatha in a low voice.
  "I don't think it was calling me that. My guess is that it's regressing somehow," she said, also keeping her voice low. "If there ever was such a thing as a 'childhood' for it. It's become obsessed with fun and games. At the very least this suggests a deterioration in its A.I., and that, we do not need."
  "Agreed," he said. "I noticed the name, because I could swear that it called me 'Poppa' earlier."
  "Oh?"
  "Agatha," said Mara, "If you think I can help in any way, I offer my services."
  "Dear, we need to find Daphne and the children," said Kelvin.
  "They do need to be found," she said. "But I also... have new responsibilities. And Violetta is more than capable of guiding you through this and keeping you safe."
  "Offer accepted," said Agatha. "This probably isn't a one-woman job, anyway. But this is my castle. You do exactly as I say, when I say it, understood?"
  "Of course, absolutely."
  "DOES ANYONE KNOW WHERE MY LITTLE MISTRESS IS?" said the castle. "I HAVEN'T SEEN HER IN A LONG TIME. I MISS HER."
  "Uh... We'll help find your 'little mistress,' castle," said Agatha. "Come on, everybody get where they need to be. Violetta, why don't you two take the squid? We're going to my workshop first, and that's not far. After that, it's back to the library."

*********************

Agatha and Mara both put on toolbelts and sacks for carrying equipment. She holstered whatever Agatha handed to her and offered suggestions, but all were rebuffed.
  "What do you think is the cause?" asked Mara. "A virus, perhaps?"
  "I only have unconnected hypotheses right now," said Agatha, holstering a hammer and wrench. She produced a rod with an electrical discharge tube at the end, and handed it to Mara, who stepped back and held out her hands.
  "Sorry, that wouldn't happen to be a weapon, would it?" she said. "Why do you think we'll need weapons?"
  "Is that a serious question?" said Agatha. "By the way, you probably want this back." She held out Mara's ring, which was happily accepted. As Mara was putting it back on, Agatha turned on the electric prod and touched her in the chest with the live end. Mara was knocked back several feet, but miraculously remained standing. She was still too dazed to react to Agatha slamming her backwards against a wall. She held the prod under Mara's chin, not quite touching it. Mara fought to remain conscious.
  "What have... What are you..."
  "Shut up," said Agatha. "The castle called you 'Momma.' Kelvin tells me it called him 'Poppa.' Why? And who's its 'Little Mistress?'"
  "Don't know..."
  "I think you do," said Agatha. "All of this started happening after you arrived. Maybe Violetta was right after all not to trust you. I've been giving you the benefit of the doubt, but... is she right? Has any of what's happening been planned by you??"
  "No..."
  "Why did the castle listen to you and not me when the minions were trapped?"
  "You're its mistress... What do you m-?"
  "Nooo, it blatantly disobeyed me, but not you! Why? What have you done to my castle??" Mara's eyes rolled up and she began sliding down the wall. Agatha gripped her chin with her free hand. "Stay awake when I'm talking to you!!"
  Mara snapped up, deflected the prod away from herself and spun Agatha around, simultaneously locking an arm behind her back and pushing her cheek to the wall. Mara touched the prod to the wall, which absorbed enough of the current to cause pain without injury. Agatha struggled, and ended up with a tighter hold on her arm for the effort.
  "Let me guess," she said through gritted teeth, "You could've done that at any time."
  "No," said Mara, her voice perfectly calm. "I needed to recover from that shock first. I'm going to overlook your attack because you're under a lot of stress and pressure right now. Your castle is 'sick' and has become dangerous as a result. I acknowledge that circumstances do seem to point to something that I've done to bring this about."
  "Exactly!" said Agatha. "What do you expect me to think?"
  Mara released her hold on Agatha and took several steps back. She carefully switched off the prod, but held onto it. "'Think' is the key word here," she said. "I've been trying to work this out, same as you. But you know this place better than anyone; I'm only just getting acquainted. I have no idea who it thinks its 'little mistress' is, or why it called us 'momma' and 'poppa,' or its obsession with-- playing..."
  Mara stopped abruptly. Her eyes went wide in realization. "Oh, my goodness. I can't believe I didn't realize this. My daughter's toy clank; it has to be. The one she calls 'JoJo.' The one that she lost when we arrived here. Agatha, I'm so sorry. I owe you an apology; I think this is my fault, but I swear to you that no forethought or malice is behind it. In fact, a stupid little clank like that is the last thing I would imagine being capable of doing something like.. like this! I honestly don't know how it's managed to do it."
  "Interesting hypothesis," said Agatha, "But it may be the best one we've got. Tell me about its workings. How could it possibly corrupt the castle's A.I.? Especially the castle's A.I.!"
  "B-b-but it's a plaything!" said Mara. "I gave it... it has an open-ended program to be Isabel's playmate, for any games she wants. That's... why it was made. To play! She's its 'little mistress.' It only minds her in order to-"
  "-To teach her about responsibility, right," said Agatha. "Go on. The castle: How?"
  "It..." she said, sifting through memories, "It plays with... It can play with other things. Right! I'd completely forgotten about that. She has other clockwork toys, and I made 'JoJo' so it could interact with them. No, activate nd control them. For instance, she has a flying toy, and it can.... commandeer that toy, and 'pilot' it. It does the same thing for her other clockworks. You know, to.. make it more fun for her?"
  "So..." said Agatha, "You made a clank programmed to do nothing but play, and gave it the ability to take over other devices. All in the interest of fun and games."
  Mara looked away, mortified. "Yes," she said. "It's just supposed to be a toy."
  "Focus," said Agatha. "How does it do it?"
  "Um... um... it 'reads' the operating frequency of the device it's commandeering, and then adjusts itself to that frequency and... takes over from there. But something this big? I-I would never have imagined-!"
  "You're new to being a Spark," said Agatha. "And one harsh lesson to learn about that - especially if you're a Heterodyne - is to never underestimate the capabilities of your clanks."
  Mara sighed. "It was just supposed to be a toy."
  "And my dingbots were just supposed to be dingbots."
  "Your what?"
  "Never mind," said Agatha. "We've got to get to the library." She picked out the last of her tools and holstered them. "Let's go."
  Mara held up a hand. "Hold on now," she said. "Are we... okay?"
  Agatha pondered this a moment, then nodded. "I'm... sorry about attacking you."
 "No worries," said Mara. "Look, I've only got two things on my mind: my family being out of this castle and safe, and helping you fix it. My hands are your hands."
  "But it's your clank," said Agatha. "So I guess we're even. Let's go."

*********************

Moloch's group had returned from Mechanicsburg and were just entering the castle's front door, when Moloch was distracted yet again by familiar voices.
  "Hoy, Von Zinzer!" Dimo called from behind. The three Jägerkin were making their way up the path to the castle.
  "Uh, hello again?"
  "Ve gots kvestions for hyu," said Ognian.
  "What do you mean?" he said, urging the others to keep walking.
  "Vhere all dese Heterodynes come from?" said Dimo. "Dey gots a family reunion happenink Und ve vornt told??"
  "Family re-?" said Moloch. "What are you talking about? We've been over this. They're just friends from Guildern."
  "Ve tried to tell de mistress, but she shushed us!" said Dimo.
  "Yah, shushed!" said Ognian.
  "Ve's goink in now to see vot's goink on," said Dimo. "Vun side, minion!"
  "I AM NOT A-!" Moloch started, then shook his head. "Ach, I give up. And fellas, you're not making any sense-" Moloch was distracted by a commotion at the front door. Snaug and the Mousehearts were being directed back outside by Violetta and Kelvin, who himself appeared especially frantic. 
  "What's going on?" said Moloch.
  "The castle's sick," said Violetta. "Something's making it act crazy. It keeps trying to 'play' with people, but it's the castle; all of its 'toys' are deadly."
  "'Playing' how?" asked Moloch.
  "Vhere's de mistress?" asked Dimo. "Iz de kestle 'playing' vit her?"
  "It's under control, boys!" said Violetta. "She's taking care of it. Wait, why are you here?"
  "Neffer mind dot - who's takink care of her?" asked Ognian.
  "Come on, people, let's get our distance from it," said Kelvin, continuing to usher his family away from the castle.
  Isabel saw the Jägerkin near Moloch and wasted no time rushing to them. "Hey, you Jägers!" she said. "Are you still picking on Mr. Moloch? You be nice to him!"
  "Dun vorry, leedle Prinzess," said Dimo. "Ve know who hyu iz!"
  "LITTLE MISTRESS!" the castle bellowed from the inside. "THERE YOU ARE! I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR YOU!"
  Kelvin, starting a headcount, heard the castle and immediately realized that his daughter was elsewhere. For the first time he noticed the Jägerkin nearby, and fought a growing panic. With a speed that surprised even himself, he was at her side and snatching her up into his arms. Daphne was torn between staying with the other children and assisting her lord, and wisely decided on the former.
  "Gentlemen," said Kelvin, trying to hide his nervousness, "I don't know what you're doing here, but-"
  "Hoy! Iz hyu!" said Ognian, throwing his arms wide. "Prinze, hyu know us, yas?"
  "I-- What?" he said.
  "LITTLE MISTRESS!" said the castle. "WHY AREN'T YOU ANSWERING ME?"
  "Poppa, who is it talking to?" asked Isabel.
  "Ve vas de big prize-vinners!" said Maxim. "Ve had de teatime und de tour und shtuff!"
  Kelvin gasped. "You three again??" he said.
  Violetta tugged on his sleeve. "This must be a very tender reunion for all of you," she said, "But let's keep it going."
  "Yes, yes, of course," said Kelvin, moving away from the Jägers. Unfortunately, they followed.
  "Vy nobody tell us ve gots new Heterodynes?" said Dimo.
  "Ve knew back den, at Guildern," said Maxim. "De Prinzess..."
  "Ve din know, ve zuspected ," said Dimo. "But now... Ve know!!"
  Violetta held up a hand. "Nobody's kept anything from you," she said. "I don't know who told you anything even now, but I could use your help. Kelvin, you've got your family secured, right?"
  "We're together, yes," he said, setting Isabel down.
  "I'm going back inside," said Violetta. "Boys, Agatha needs you. Who knows what this thing could do to her in the name of 'fun?' "
  "And to Mara," said Kelvin with some indignation.
  "Right, her, too," said Violetta.
  "Vot about dem?" asked Ognian, pointing to the Mousehearts. "Dey need h'our protection!"
  "Not out here, they don't," said Violetta.
  "If the castle is 'sick,' " said Moloch, "We're needed, too. Come on, Fräulein! What about the other mechanics? Do you know where they are?"
  "Right here," Airman Higgs' voice was heard. He and Zeetha were carrying or assisting a group of groggy minions outside. "Good luck to you in there." Moloch and Snaug ran over to assist their injured colleagues.
  Kelvin bade Daphne to shepherd the children down the path and back into town, while he also went to assist the minions.
  "LITTLE MISTRESS!" said the castle. "WHERE ARE YOU GOING? DON'T LEAVE!"
  Isabel was distracted by its words, but Daphne had her by the hand and kept her going with the others. The path closest to them began to rumble, then to quake, then suddenly to rise up like a wave made of brick and stone, pushing Daphne backwards. She tumbled to the ground. The stroller carrying Edward and Silas toppled to its side. Silas remained inside, but Edward fell out, hurting his arm. Both boys screamed in pain, terror, or both. Daphne was uninjured and scrambled to retrieve Edward and right the stroller. Isabel was the only one left unscathed. Kelvin was back at their side, assisting Daphne and cursing himself for "not keeping (his) priorities straight!" To his dismay the three Jägers were also there, fretting over "de Heterodyne bebbies!" He tried to shoo them away, but they stayed.
  The stone wall remained as it was, blocking their path to Mechanicsburg.
  "LITTLE MISTRESS!" said the castle. "COME INSIDE! YOU WON'T BELIEVE HOW MANY TOYS I'VE FOUND! AND THE GAMES IN HERE! OH, THE GAMES!"
  Isabel could not help staring at the castle's main doors. "JoJo...?"
  "Is there any way to shut that thing up?" said Kelvin, trying to both calm his sons and keep the Jägers from touching them. "Nobody listen to it! Nobody go inside! Well, you three probably should."
  Violetta waved them over. "He's right, let's go! Coming, Zeetha? Higgs?"
  "Yeah," she said. "The minions are recovering." Higgs' answer was a simple nod.
  "Kelvin, are your kids okay?" said Violetta.
  "We'll be fine!" he said  loudly, still trying to quiet a screeching Silas. Daphne was busy trying to calm an equally loud Edward. "Do whatever you need to do! But can anyone make this wall go away??"
  "On our way," said Moloch, followed by Snaug.
  "LITTLE MISTRESS, PLEEEEEASE? I'LL LET YOU BE 'IT' FOR 'CHASE-ME!'"
  "Who the hell is it talking to??" said Moloch.
  "JoJo!" said Isabel. "Poppa, I found JoJo! He's inside!" To the surprise of everyone, Isabel had somehow made it right to the doorway, and was jumping up and down and pointing. After that, she turned to run inside. Six people rushed after her at once-- and six people tripped each other up in the effort.
  "No No No No NO!!" yelled Kelvin. "STOP HER!" He almost ran after her, but was still holding Silas. Snaug was near, and reached for the baby.
  "Your Highness," she said, "We'll stay with them. We'll keep them safe. Go get your daughter."
  Kelvin, still in a panic, finally acquiesced and quickly handed his son to her. She held the infant with expert ease. His crying was already starting to die down.
  The others recovered their balance quickly enough and continued their pursuit of Isabel, who was already in the castle's foyer. Zeetha and Higgs were in front and just about to reach Isabel, when a stone block flew up from the ground and smacked them both under the chin. They staggered back, giving Isabel a new lead.
  "YOU DON'T GET TO PLAY 'CHASE-ME' WITH HER," said the castle. "ONLY I GET TO."
  With a growl, Violetta used their bodies to vault herself up and over the next set of slabs flying up. The three Jägers were a breath behind.
  "Vy dun Heterodynes effer shtay safe??" asked Dimo. This time a piece of the floor dropped away. Violetta almost disappeared into the darkness, but was caught by Maxim. The others paused to be assured of her safety.
  "Not me, you idiots!" she said. "Stop her!"
  "Hyu velcome," said Maxim with some sarcasm after hauling her back up.
  "JoJo, where are you??" said Isabel, now a good distance ahead and oblivious to the efforts of her would-be rescuers. Her father had caught up to Zeetha and Higgs by now. Higgs appeared unfazed by the stony uppercut, but Zeetha was still groggy. He insisted on Kelvin pressing on while he tended to her.
  The Jägers, Violetta, and Kelvin moved as one now, calling to Isabel and running like the wind. She heard them and slowed down to look back, when not just one or two blocks rose from the floor, but an entire wall rose up between them. Kelvin reached out to climb over, but it was rising too quickly, and his grip was too light to hang on.
  It was the three Jägers who acted as one; Dimo and Maxim stopped and turned to face Ognian. The first two got into position, and with a great yell, Ognian leaped, and his colleagues worked together to hurl him over the rising wall with inches to spare before it reached the top. His beloved hat fell off and was almost crushed against the ceiling, when Ognian's hand reached in and snatched it to safety.
  There was an eerie silence now as the rumbling ceased, and nothing was moving. Kelvin appeared frozen in place, his arm still outstretched to the wall, his face locked into one of anguish and grief. Dimo and Maxim stepped forward and placed a hand on the wall.
  "Hyu keep her safe, Oggie," said Maxim.
  "Yas."
  "How do we--?" said Kelvin, his eyes moist. "What's happening here? How do we get to her? How do we find my daughter?!"
  "Focus," said Violetta. "We just go another way. This way, in fact."
  "Did you say 'focus?'" he said through gritted teeth. "Focus?"
  "Yes! Focus!" she gritted back. "Nobody panics! Everybody watches everybody's back! We'll get there. It'll be the scenic route, but we'll get there."
  "We're wasting time," said Zeetha, accompanied by a watchful Higgs.
  "You're looking a bit unsteady there-"
  "I'm fine," she said. "Let's go."

Isabel was watching the wall grow, when the meanest of the Jägers suddenly slammed to the ground next to her. She shrieked and started to run, but Ognian caught her and held her in place.
  "Ahhhh, let go of me!" she yelled. At that, the corridor came alive with spinning, whirling, sharp and flaming devices from the floors, walls and ceilings. They were all pointing at him. He froze, and then slowly set her back down. She was going to resume her panicked run from the creature, but saw all the weapons and assumed they were meant for her. She shrieked again and wrapped her arms around the Jäger's leg.
  "LITTLE MISTRESS!" said the castle. "I'LL SAVE YOU FROM THE SCARY MAN!"
  "Leedle Prinzess," said Ognian, "Hyu dun undershtand. De kestle iz crazy! Ve hef to get to de mistress!"
  "Who's 'de mistress?' " she said. "Why do you all talk so funny? And why is JoJo pointing all those weapons at us??"
  "LITTLE MISTRESS, GET AWAY FROM THE SCARY MAN!"
  "Put away those clanks!" she said. "You know that Momma and Poppa hate weapons! We're not supposed to play with weapons!"
  "BUT LITTLE MISTRESS-!"
  "Stop calling me 'little mistress!' " she said. "It's weird enough you're talking! JoJo, you put these scary clanks away, and you come here right now!"
  There was a moment of silence, and the weapons were withdrawn whence they had come. "SORRY, LITTLE- SORRY, ISABEL," it said. "I THOUGHT THOSE WERE TOYS. WEREN'T THEY? I KNOW THAT WEAPONS ARE BAD. BUT I CAN'T GO TO YOU YET. IT'S TOO HARD FOR ME TO GO TO YOU RIGHT NOW. I KNOW! I CAN HELP YOU COME TO ME! YOU REMEMBER 'HOT AND COLD,' YES?"
  "Yes?"
  "RIGHT NOW YOU'RE 'COLD,' " it said. "KEEP WALKING."
  "...Okay," she said uncertainly, unpeeled herself from Ognian's leg, and stepped forward carefully. He followed. A smaller block rose from the floor to intercept.
  "JUST YOU," said the castle. "TWO OF YOU WOULD BE CHEATING."
  Isabel stamped her foot. "JoJo! We're supposed to share, too! You know that! And Mr. Jäger needs to find de mistress!" She leaned towards him. "Who's de mistress?"
  "De mistress Agatha, uf coz," he said. "Und leedle Prinzess: call me Oggie."
  "Okay, Mr. Oggie," she said. "I like Lady Agatha. She's nice. JoJo! Where's my momma?"
  "NO CHEATING. 'HOT AND COLD.' "
  "Tell me!"
  "HOT!" the castle thundered. "AND COLD!"
  A deafening silence followed the deafening roar of the castle. Oggie felt the girl taking his hand gingerly.
  "Mr. Oggie," she said, "Will you help me find my momma?"
  "Or die tryink," he said, "Leedle Prinzess." The two walked together down the corridor. Isabel moved carefully and uncertainly at first, nervous about the erratic behavior of her favorite toy. Then a determination, fueled by thoughts of reuniting with her mother, gave her strength, and she began to trot, then jog. Oggie easily kept pace, and considered carrying the child in an effort to move more quickly, but decided against it. He kept a wary eye on their surroundings, watching for even the slightest movement or out-of-place object.
  "...YOU'RE GETTING WARMER..." said the castle.

Here's Part 9.