"Oh so you're one of the virman!"
"The only virman I see here is you!"

Chapter 1

Clara winced slightly as she losend the screw in her wrist slowly. The rusty screw roughly moved its way out of its place till it finally came out, her hand finally feeling sweet relief from the Tension.
"Ahh... Jade, would you be a sweetheart and get my bag please?" She sighed as she addressed the small green bunny that sat on the floor. Immediately the small creature happily hoped away and came back with a small leather satchel and placed it on Clara's lap. "Thank you darling." She commended as she gave a loving scratch behind the bunny's ears, the critters' feet thumping with joy in the process.

Clara opened the satchel taking out some screws and laying them out before her " oh no we have no more centimeter screws!" She sighed "oh well I guess the millimeter ones will have to do for now, looks like we're going to have to make a stop at Ashe"s today!" She stated to the bunny as she got up after replacing the screw. She walked out of her study slowly making her way to the back entrance trying not to be seen, jade happily hoping behind her. she snuck her way out through the ivory colored walls dodging servants and advisors as they attended to their duties. She made her way to the servants quarters and out through the back door of the kitchen, now only a few feet away from freedom before a large armored figure blocked her way. She slowly looked up, giving the man a sheepish smile "oh umm h-hello dear F-fred how wonderful to see you here!.." she started trying to give him the most innocent look she could muster.

Fred raised his brow at the girl not being convinced by the girl's antics, Fred sighed "Your highness... you know very well your father doesn't want you out in the city without a guard at your side at all times!" he stated as he began to escort the girl back into the palace "b-but-!" "Ah no buts your highness, you know your father's rules!" He continued before she could argue against it any further. Soon enough they had traveled back through the large palace to her bedroom where her lady in waiting was standing with a frantic look on her face.

"Is this what you're looking for?" Asked Fred, gaining the attention of the lady in front of the white wooden door, a small smile appearing on his face at the sight of her. "AH your highness thair you are, we must get you ready immediately, the party begins In twenty minutes!" The lady frantically yelled as she pushed Clara into the room "oh and  t-hank you again Fred for finding her!" She choked out as they smiled at each other for a little too long, both their faces tinted pink, Fred quickly snapped out of it and gave her a small smile and bow "tis but my duty lady tarisa." He said calmly before leaving. Tarisa rushed into the room closing the door behind her with a sigh facing the princess as she hung upside down on her bed "so tell me,when are the two of you going to start courting each other!?" Asked Clara with a smirk on her face.

"W-WHAT!" Tarisa yelped in shock at Clara's words, her cheeks now red and flustered.
"And where would you get such an idea?!" She quickly exclaimed as she walked to the closet. "Oh you don't fool me for a second Tar, you and I both know that you fancy him!, and don't try to deny it either, it's written all over your face!" Exclaimed Clara "it is not!" Tarisa Mumbled out in frustration. "If it makes you feel any better I'm almost positive that he fancies you as well!" Clara cooed. "You really think so!!" Tarisa asked before composing herself once more "I-I mean! Oh never mind now let's get you dressed!"

Tarisa slowly made her way over to the princess holding a beautiful floor length dress made of white silk with a layer of shimmering Chiffon over top. With golden bedding and embroidery that adorned the bodice of the dress and up the skirt as if they were beautiful golden vines crawling up the train of the gown. Tarisa then pulled Clara's dark brown hair up into a bun with long curls cascading down her back with roses scattered throughout her hair, and finally a pair of white gloves, golden heels and her golden shimmering tiara made out of cogs that had chains gently hanging around the front of her head.

Clara slowly made her way down to the ballroom where the party was being held. She froze when she heard the sound of people wining and dining within the grand hall. She took a deep breath before she felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked behind her only to spot her fathers best friend from childhood, her aunt Isla who was like a mother to her "are you ok moonlight?" her Isla questioned, a look of concern on her face "y-yes I'm fine." Clara responded as she took a shaky breath fidgeting with her mechanical hand  "just a bit nervous is all.." Isla could sense the discomfort coming from the girl
"Is it because of your hand darling?..." she asked the young girl infront of her, the girl simply gave her a disheartened look answering her question at once. She quickly took the girls hands in her own and held them close to her chest
"Moonlight, you're an amazing beautiful girl and just because you have a hand that's made of metal cogs and screws does not change the fact that you are equal to everyone in that room do you hear me. You are kind, loyal and brave! And I admit at times a little bit much." This statement caused the girl to giggle which then caused Isla  to smile "moonlight, always know that the only ones who matter are those who view you for yourself on the inside and not the outside. And know that your father and I will always love you no matter what! We promise..." they looked at the door before looking back to one another both with smiles on their faces. "Together?" Asked Isla "always together!" Clare replied

So together they entered the ballroom hand in hand. Clara was blinded momentarily from the sudden light change. Her eyes adjusted slowly as they made their way through the ballroom over to her father, a tall man with medium blond hair, round face, honey colored skin and deep chocolate brown eyes that showed with kindness and humor was standing near the back of the room discussing things with other nobles. He wore a  navy blue suit that was covered in gold embroidery along the edges of the lepels and along the cuffs of the sleeves and lastly a gold crown that sat upon his head. He commanded respect but also compassion, finally they made it to her father right as he finished his conversation with one of the nobles.

"Ah Isla it's so good to see you. I'm so glad you could come!" he commended as she hugged his childhood friend. "Oh of course James! I wouldn't miss it for the world" said Isla as she hugged him back."Ah and I think there is someone else who would like to see you!" she whispered before pulling away from the hug. The father and daughter locked eyes, a small smile made its way onto his face "my,my clara, darling you look beautiful!" he said, bringing her into a hug. She immediately hugged back feeling  a sense of calm and warmth come over her "thank you father you look quite dashing yourself." Clara exclaimed, trying to remember the edicate she had been taught from an early age. "Why thank you my girl, to be honest I just put on the first thing I found in my closet, just between you and me that is!" he whispered to her with a wink causing the girl to giggle with delight. "James!" exclaimed Isla as she gave him a small smack on his shoulder with her fan "What?!" he asked as they began to bicker with one another, causing Clara to once again laugh, snapping the two nobles out of what they were saying and smile as the girl who had brought them so much joy in their lives. "Your majesty..." said a voice bringing the king out from his trance "ah yes reginald?" he asked his royal adviser "sir there are still many more nobles to meet my lord." he said bowing "ah yes well let's begin, come along clara." said the king and so it began the many exhausting  hours of greeting and shaking hands all night.

After many hours of being introduced to many nobles and royals from other countries Clara was able to get away from the big groups of people and walked to one of the paintings that was being auqtand off to the highest bitter. It was a beautiful abstract painting that depicted half of a woman's face while cogs covered the rest, the gold paint shimmering off of the black paint underneath. "It is a beautiful painting isn't it?" said a sudden voice from behind her, making her jump in surprise. "Oh sorry i didn't mean to frighten you!" he said, she swiftly turned to face him.
He was tall with jet black hair brushed back nicely, he wore a black suit and red tie that brought out his eyes. "You are right." she looked over seeing his confusan "your right about the painting i mean. It is very beautiful.'' They sat in silence before he spoke again. "It's such a pity tho that all the money going towards this painting is for more cyborgs bown in the slums." this comment set Clara on edge "i mean really their monsters if you ask me. I don't see why all our money should be going towards making monsters if they can just live their lives with a little more difficulty."
Now she was getting angry how dare he just talk about those people as if they were nothing and calling people like herself monsters! "I mean it is what they deserve for being born into the wrong family after all." and that was the last straw.

"Shut up..." she mumbled, trying not to explode in anger. "Hmm what was that darling?" he looked at her in quriosity not heatingher words. "I said shut up!" she said in disgust before turning to face him. "Excuse me sir but you can't talk of those lower than you like that. They are the ones depending on us with their lives. so if you excuse me i shall be heading to the stables i need to spend time with someone civilized!" she stated before turning away from the man and walking towards the exit. "NOW wait just a second you didn't just imply that i am at the same level as a horse!" said the man running after her till she stopped. "Why heavens no... that would be an insult to the horse! No, I think you are at the same level as the sewage in the sewers!" she stated before continuing to make her way to the door. "How dare you wench you have no right to speak to me that way!" hde said, grabbing her wrist tightly. "Let me go." she demanded but his grip on her only thightend "come on all it will take for me to forgive you is one little apology and i'll forget all about what just happened." he breathed in her ear sending shivers down her spine. "Never!" she spat in his face which only made him angrier "well then have it your way!" ,he threw her into the punch table covering her in the bright pink fruit punch. She looked at her hands only to see she was wearing one glove the other was showing the bare metal that was her hand. She looked up slowly to see all eyes on her and the man holding her silk satin glove in his hand. "HA looks like you are one of the monsters! And you say I'm vermin!"
He laughed. She slowly rose to her feet before stomping her way over to the man and with an innocent smile she raised her hand back before thrusting it forward with all the force that she could muster breaking his nose in the process. He fell to the ground with a thud as he screamed out in pain. "I'm sure your friends would love to hear about you getting punched by"vermin"" she stated and with that she conducted herself out of the ballroom Passed all the prying eyes who watched her in surprise and shock.

Before she realized it she had made it back to her room. She grabbed the gold door handle opening the door and slammed it shut behind her before she sunk to the floor where tears pricked at her eyes but never letting them fall.  After a few deep breaths she got up and took a quick bath getting all the sticky juice off of her body. She then got out and got dressed into a brown mini dress with ruffles and gold detailing lining the bottom edge of the skirt and a maching jacket with the same gold around the edges of the lepels and around the cuffs.
She pulled on her brown and black boots, lacing them up when Isla opened the door. "And where do you think you're going, young lady?!" she demanded as Clara gathered things into her bag, "out!" was all she stated. "Out? Is that all?! Your father is furious at the Sean you've caused! That man was one of our wealthiest providers. You're lucky that he didn't pull his donation!" There was a moment of silence before Clara spoke "I don't even know why he donated in the first place, according to him we're all vermin who should pay for our whole lives just because of something we couldn't control!... I didn't ask to be like this, I didn't ask to be made!.." she whispered out while keeping her head down before she felt arms wrap around her small body in a sweet embrace before a deep but caring voice she knew all too well spoke. "I-i'm so sorry moonlight but i couldn't lose you to, not after your mother died, you are the only thing i have left of your mother and i love you so much, but at the sametime i was also being selfish i didnt think of how your hand would affect your life afterwards i just thought if i'd get to keep my little girl then it was worth it..." they sunk to the floor sobbing as they held one another in eachothers arms their tight embrace only getting tighter. "I love you too daddy!" she muffled out from her face being squished into her fathers shoulder before he started laughing. "Why are you laughing!" she demanded from the man but he just continued to chuckle. "I'm sorry my dear but you're just too cute!"
She huffed before he started to tickle his daughter, making them both laugh until they were both out of breath. "So does this mean you're not mad about the punch?" she asked nervously waiting for an answer. "Well as I am king I absolutely cannot allow it, but as a father i say that was awesome! And what you said afterwards is pure genius" he congratulated, causing Clara to laugh "thires that smile I was looking for." he said she then hugged her dad so suddenly that they both fell to the floor. "Ahhh so what do we have here?" joined another voice, they both looked up to see Isla holding three steaming mugs of hot chocolate on a silver tray. "HOT COCOA!!!" they both squealed in excitement as if they were children. Isla rolled her eyes before handing them eche a mug. "Be careful it's hot,'' she warned before they took a sip. "You know what this needs?... marshmallows!" said Clara before a few plopped into her cocoa. "What?" said Isla "I always come prepared." and with that the small family laughed all night long until the next day

Clara and Jade made sure to wait for the right time, for the moment it hit 5:00 she would book it out the door and down to the docks. She watched the clock like a leopard waiting to pounce on its prey before the loud chiming of medium ben was heard through the city. She then bolted to the door as fast as she could without trying to look suspicious as she hid amongst the maids. But they had made it to the city without being caught, "Thank you!" Clare yelled to the universe before they made their way away from the castel all the way to town square. 

Clara pulled up her hood to not be seen as she made her way through the brightly lit city of glimtown. The bustling streets full of people out and about the grand and colorful city. The afternoon was always the busiest time of day, as families and young couples would go out to spend time together. Children running around, playing with one another up and down the cobblestone streets sometimes getting distracted by the fluffy green bunny behind her. The tall buildings emitting steam that rose passed the phone cables that hung across the city. And the distant air ships that slowly make their way across the sky. Clara continued on her way through the city before she caught sight of the dark and glistening river as the last rays of light made the water shine. The smell of fish,clams and kelp filled her nostrils as she walked past all the ships that were docked for the day. As she dogged vendors and shoppers as she entered the town's market at the edge of the docks. The smell shifted to those of spices and food that wafted to her as her boots
clicked past the many booths. Jade now rested in her arms as she turned into an ally to avoid all the large crowds.

The back allies were dark and dangerous. But she knew how to defend herself and where to run if she was ever in trouble. As she made her way deeper into the back streets of the city the less people there were and the shadier it became. The creaking of old signs and gates unsettled her as the few people who were there gave her questioning looks but simply brushed her off going back to their own business. The allies got darker and smaller as she went on her way. The old metal signs of abandoned shops' creaking in the cold breeze and the musty smell of old wet stone and wood made her stomach churn in uneasiness. She didn't like coming here, but to her it was a small price to be able to see Ashe and be free with him for a while. Yes, free with the alchemist boy that she met when she was six, free to be with the only person who truly understood her, free with the boy that knew her like the back of his hand, free with her best friend. When she saw what looked to be two shooting stars above her. She quickly made a wish before continuing on her way.

She navigated her way around the maze that is the alleyways of the city, moving swiftly and unseen like a shadow. She made her way to the rooftops of the city. She looked out at the sky like the city, sighing at its beauty before making her way across the rooftops, jumping from the house before she heard something weird. She jumped down from the leg where she was standing onto the roof of a boat repair shop. "Oh you're gonna get it you misly little girl!" She herde a man say then they came into view. A girl about her age with curly long blonde hair and a ridiculous outfit was backing up until she hit the wall. The man who had some orange stuff on his shoulders slowly stalked towards her. "Now um... s-sir can't we just talk this out i mean i didn't mean to hit you in the face with a pumpkin pie! Umm.. ''Here let me help you wash it off!" said the girl as she grabbed the duck from her shoulders and started whispering to it and shaking it until it exploded water into the man's face.

Oops..." was all she said as she dodged the punch that the man threw at her. "What else do you want me to do? I already said I was sorry!" she screamed as she ran around almost as mad as a hatter. The man did not respond as he kept throwing things as well as punches towards the girl. 'Well then i guess it's up to me to save this poor soul.'

Hi! This is the first chapter of the first chapter sires. This is a place where I'm going to post the first chapter of books I'm currently writing and or random fanfic ideas I have so i can get an opinion from those who read my things. Just wanting to know what you guys want and what you don't want thank you!