This fanfiction uses the same start and premise as Henrik Legacies, as that start was actually drafted for this one. I just extracted it from this one when I decided to make Henrik Legacies.
Warning:
This world is an alternate Earth with similarities in everything, except there are some things that are different, such as: the nonexistence of the Abrahamic religions, and incest and harems being normal and the norm all over the world. Childbirth from incest does not produce any kind of problem. In an alternate Earth where the Abrahamic religions never took root, a world more focused on philosophical and scientific ideologies would emerge. Religion would become a more personal and varied practice rather than the central societal force it has been in our history. Societies would still have hierarchical structures, and practices like incest or harems would be normalized. However, political power would revolve around dynasties, scientific discovery, and resource control. By 1914, the world would resemble a more secular, advanced version of our current world, yet still struggle with colonialism, industrialization, and power conflicts.
Maybe at some point, I make a World Lore more detailed for the events.
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Henrik found himself engulfed in darkness, unable to move or feel anything. He was confused by this sudden change in scenery; one moment he was lying on his bed watching "The Vampire Diaries" TV show (after binge-watching Legacies and then The Originals), and the next he was transported here. But there was something strange yet familiar about this place—he was submerged in liquid, yet he wasn't drowning. He could also sense another presence beside him.
After an undetermined period, he finally managed to sense movement around him along with a tiny speck of light piercing through the darkness. Suddenly, an idea dawned on him: he was inside a womb, moments away from being born alongside his unborn sibling.
Not even a moment outside, he could hear people screaming.
"I will bring hell to your doorstep!" Klaus roared to the people present in the old church.
"One last push. The baby's almost here." Genevieve urged the woman in labor alongside her were other two women assisting her.
"I will bathe in rivers of your blood!" Klaus kept yelling trying to move from his immobilized state, being pinned against the wall by the witch's magic.
"No, no!" Hayley cried disconsolately
"I can see the baby!" Monique who was assisting in the delivery exclaimed, as the baby's head was going out.
"Ok. Now push gently." Genevieve kept urging the new mother.
"You will die screaming!" Klaus yelled at the top of his lungs to the witches with tears in his eyes and a broken emotional face seeing his childrens being born.
"There. You have a beautiful pair of babies, a daughter, and a son." Genevieve says looking at Hayley and Klaus. "We must start the sacrifice as soon as the moon sets."
"Please. Please can I hold them?" ask Hayley to Genevieve who gives her the babies, and while holding both her children Monique slits her throat with a dagger.
"No! Hayley!" Klaus looking at Hayley being killed like cattle screams with rage to the witches.
Hearing the madness around him, Henrik immediately thought about the events during Hope's birth on "The Originals" show, confirming where he currently is. So, trying to protect his new mother and baby sister, he quickly decided to do the thing all witches do – giving others a killing look wishing to inflict great pain onto a person by causing their blood vessels to burst and thus giving them multiple aneurysms. Doing exactly that to all the witches around him, he disabled every single one of them.
"Oh, no...her demon son is doing something!!!" screams Abigail in pain holding her head as blood trickled down her eyes and ears.
"AAAAAAAAAgh my head!!!, he is doing magic naturally, do something!!!." Monique curling in the floor says to Genevieve while screaming in agony.
The witches kept screaming for a few seconds until the place became dead quiet with just Klaus raging around to see the witches stopped moving being all dead.
But suddenly from the top of the building crashes a beam of light on his son's body that blinds him for a moment, and when he could see again, his son was gone. He was nowhere to be seen.
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NORDDEUTSCHLAND - Frühjahr 1917
DRITTES KRIEGSJAHR
Northern Germany - Spring 1917
The third year of the Great War - The war to end all wars.
Henrik suddenly appears in a cornfield, his body rapidly transforming from a newborn baby into a teenager aged approximately 14 years old within moments. His physical appearance is extremely emaciated, with a noticeably pale complexion and apparent weakness. Stricken with overwhelming pain, he clutches his head between his hands, gritting his teeth through the discomfort as his bones continuously snap, break, and regenerate until the process finally ceases. Numbed by the sheer intensity of the experience, Henrik passes out cold once the torment subsides.
Upon awakening hours later, Henrik amidst the darkness of midnight, reluctant to move due to lingering agony throughout his body. However, his overwhelming hunger pangs were relentless, driving him to devour the surrounding cornfields as if he hadn't eaten in weeks, driven by instinct, he begins devouring the surrounding cornfields like a ravenous beast, eventually succumbing to exhaustion once more.
As dawn breaks and sunlight bathes his weary figure, Henrik gathers enough strength to stand upright, albeit stiffly. Despite his debilitated state, he presses onward, determined to find assistance. Navigating through endless rows of corn stalks, as Henrik staggers ahead like a living corpse, occasionally tripping due to his frailty, he eventually emerges onto a dusty dirt road out of the cornfields. Tired and parched, he decides to pause briefly before continuing his arduous journey. Upon examining the ground, he discovers tire marks left behind by passing vehicles, suggesting potential signs of civilization nearby. Hoping these clues might lead him to a populated area such as a village, town, or city, he follows the trail diligently.
While wandering aimlessly along the desolate path, Henrik encounters a loud engine approaching from behind. Turning around, he spots a speeding truck barreling towards him. In dire need of aid, he positions himself near the edge of the road, desperately trying to catch the driver's attention using exaggerated gestures. When the vehicle slows down and comes to a halt right in front of him, two burly men with funny mustaches emerge from the cab, they eyed the stranger suspiciously, their facial hair bristling under the harsh sunlight. However, they couldn't ignore Henrik's obvious state of distress – a fact further emphasized when he collapsed onto the ground without warning. With little choice left but to assist the fallen youth, the pair hoisted Henrik into the back of their truck, intending to bring him to safety.
Unknown to Henrik, these people were recruiting personnel for the Deutsches Heer (Imperial German Army). Consequently, they left him at a nearby recruitment post where medical professionals tended to his emaciated body; miraculously, despite appearing malnourished and frail, Henrik was healthy except for dehydration and hunger.
Upon waking up, Henrik found himself lying in a dilapidated room within a bed. There is also a chair beside him containing simple clothing reminiscent of styles used during the 1920s: short pants (knickers), a shirt, a jacket, large socks, and shoes—all worn out yet pleasing to the eye.
Just as he finished dressing, a man entered the room, expressing surprise at seeing Henrik standing clothed after finding him unconscious on the road. Smiling warmly, the man introduced himself as Heidrich and proceeded to offer food to him that he had in his hand while engaging in conversation.
"Young man, it's miraculous witnessing you standing after examining your condition when we discovered you on the road; you looked like a naked corpse, but now you appear healthier and more rosy-faced," remarked Heidrich. "My name is Heidrich. Who might you be? Why do you find yourself in such a state?"
Despite feeling famished, Henrik couldn't resist burning his lips on the hot soup provided by Heidrich, who continued talking and observing Henrik closely. Moments later, he snaps back to reality, taking note of Heidrich's distinctive funny mustache and military attire failing to recognize it anyway, before responding politely.
"Mr. Heidrich, my name is Henrik. My memory seems foggy, could you please tell me where we are?" Henrik confessed, attempting to sound innocent and appear clueless regarding his current location.
Suspicious but willing to provide information, Heidrich informs Henrik, "We are currently located in Northern Germany during Springtime, specifically in the year 1917."
Hearing this, Henrik's mind briefly freezes as he tries to process this incredible piece of news. Although skeptical initially, he eventually connects various dots related to the antique truck appearance on the road, his current outfit, and the fact that he is in Germany and can chat with him despite having no knowledge of the German language.
He didn't say a word for a second and looking again at Heidrich's uniform, the year, and his current dire situation being illegal obviously in a country at war, he doesn't have any better dumb thought than fabricate a story about being assaulted en route to reporting for duty at an army recruitment center.
Appearing surprised like he starts to remember or being more clearheaded, he says "Mr. Heidrich, now I remember I was on my way to report to the imperial army recruitment post my enlistment, I have received the notification but sadly I was assaulted on the road, I am from a secluded village and all what I had was my clothes, identification, and the notification telegram on me, I am an orphan so was prepared to contribute to the war effort for our Kaiser and Vaterland!."
'I will at least have food in the war and if I die, well, let's prepare for the next place to reincarnate, I have nothing to lose. Anyway, it was a few times crossed my thoughts to be in a war; let's experience it now that we are here in this strange dream or reality that I am currently, don't know what to think about it yet.'
Heidrich looked with a dumbfounded weird expression with a little muscle tilt on his face towards Henrik about the bullshit that was expelled from this youth's mouth, but he didn't comment anything. He didn't care about this weird youth and situation; the front is in dire need of able bodies to go there, and this one is prepared to contribute to the war effort, even if he don't have any identification. They can falsify something just to send him to the front; he will fill his day doing so at the same time and send away this weird little guy.
"Alright, youngster, we will make new papers for you and send you on your way to the front. You can participate in the nearby assembly of new recruits and later undergo a physical test. Given the uniform and be officially a true soldier from the Imperial Army defending the Fatherland."
A while later holding new official papers in hand but fake nonetheless about his information but legal to be a citizen of the empire and get recruited ('Henrik Wolf, age 18 years old, birth date 1899 from Berlin') - thinking to himself 'Congratulations, Private Wolf. You are going to the front - a dead man walking.'
Looking towards the front, Henrik sees a group of academics about to start giving the grand speech to raise the morale of these confused young people knowing that maybe none of these young men will ever return home.
The speech emphasized the importance of fighting for the Fatherland and reassured them that they would return home victorious and unscathed.
A learned old man with a funny moustache and glasses stands in front of the young men along with other fine old people giving the speech. Henrik liked the ambiance and how fine the people of this era dressed, good clothing style, and their way of living was so different compared to the future, educated and respectful... There was order.
"You stand here on the threshold of existence."
"Remember this moment. It is a great moment."
"For in years to come, you will be judged based on what you dared to become today."
"The iron youth of Germany. My friends, we are fortunate to be alive at a great time."
"Your deeds will be the water nourishing the growth of a strong and noble route. Stand still and listen up, Leinemann! The Kaiser needs soldiers, not children."
"I am certain that I will see most of you again soon, right here at home. Your sword returned to its scabbard with honor and respect."
"A cross crafted from iron proudly displayed upon your chest. However, take heed of this."
"In the darkest of hours, let me assure you it will happen, that prior to an attack, you will harbor doubts. But this is not the time to concede to any mental weakness."
Some young men found it funny how the old man increased his voice and with emotions and furor he talked while gesturing around with two fingers pointed to the front moving it fastly from one side to another doing a line in front of him.
"Any unsteadiness, any hesitation is a betrayal of the fatherland! For modern war is like a game of chess - it is never about an individual soldier. Our only care is for the entirety of the body, you have the chance to earn the right to wear the uniforms you have been given. And by going to the front line in Flanders, we'll pierce the enemy and then you will, in a few short weeks, finally march on Paris!"
The young men emotionally smiled while hearing him as if the war was already a sure win.
"Yeah!!!!!!!!!" Everyone cheered and feeling the surging emotions from all these people all over the place Henrik also joined the cheering, "Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"Our future, the future of Deutschland, lies in the hands of its greatest generation."
"My friends, that is you, you see!" The old man with emotion exclaimed loudly to everyone.
"Yeah!!!!!!!!!" Everyone cheered including Henrik submerged in the same feeling as these young people, looking for glory and contributing to the empire and the war effort, even if he was just a new citizen in the German Empire, intending to fight to the death for a foreign country to him just a while ago.
"Therefore, off to the camps for the Kaiser, God, and the fatherland!" The old man continued finishing his speech with fervor in his voice.
The place exploded in applause and cries of ovation and cheers from everyone.
"Yeah!!!!!!!!!" Cheers from the multitude of people around.
Yeah!!!!!!!!!" Yeah!!!!!!!!!"
Yeah!!!!!!!!!" Yeah!!!!!!!!!" Yeah!!!!!!!!!"
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In a large room filled with rows of men dressed in inner clothes or if you were sure of yourself bare-chested awaiting their turn at different tables staffed by officers distributing uniforms and conducting last-minute paperwork checks.
"Next!" yelled an officer.
"Next!" yelled another officer.
"Next!" yelled yet another officer and Henrik advanced with that cry as he was next on the line of his table. Being bare-chest he handed a pair of papers in his hand to the official who looked at him carefully.
"Wolf, Henrik, born September 1st, 1899, 66 Mitte, Berlin?" asked one of the officers, scrutinizing Henrik's documents before looking back at him skeptically, questioning whether Henrik truly matched the age stated on the papers. Despite appearing younger than the specified 18 years old, Henrik stood tall as mentioned in his records. However, the war needed personnel, so the recruitment process continued smoothly.
"Jawohl, sir," Henrik replied with a yell, confidently as he looked at the front with his chin held up and his shoulders brought back to make his posture more erect while standing in perfect attention.
"Henrik. Here. Your father can be proud of you." said the officer dismissively, but amused inside, because of his confidence being here given that he surely was just a kid by his appearance.
"Yes," Henrik answered. But inside his thoughts were different. 'Well I doubt it, my new father is on the other side of the Atlantic enjoying his vampiric life as a king in New Orleans'. Looking down at the name tag attached to his uniform, Henrik saw that it read 'Wilhelm Schneider.' Removing it, he dropped it onto the table.
Raising an eyebrow and stuttering slightly, the officer questioned Henrik's actions. "Is everything alright?"
"Yes. I'm eager to get on with it," repeated Henrik firmly.
"Move along." commanded the officer, clearly disinterested in engaging further with Henrik as there was a long line of young recruits awaiting after him.
"Here I come, Flanders," muttered Henrik under his breath as with a firm step he moved.