She remembered how strange it was that day, to see every person she knew wearing the dark ebony color, such a contrast to the usual dull shades of endless blue. She remembered staring at the dark plain dress that had been laid out for her; it was such a foreign thing… if not for the single blue ribbon that had been forced around her wrist she would never have known her own Erudite-born reflection.

Most of that day passed the young girl with a haze of pitied gazes and false words. However she did remember how her brother came up to her, his eyes red and puffy with a matching dark suit and blue ribbon "its ok you know…"

Isaac's voice was soft and almost soothing as she sat playing with some word tiles, she never even glanced away from them "I'm fine."

"Liar…" despite his word choice there was no accusation there, just honesty. He curled one of her long honey kissed locks around his finger as his matching sparkling blue eyes found her own "I see you Duchess. I. See. You."

His smile was weak and not as teasing as the girl had grown accustomed to in her short years. Those words sent a shiver down her spine. She hadn't cried, she hadn't called out and pleaded for her mother… She didn't do anything people had expected. A normal six year old would cry, they would scream and break and demand answers, but that wasn't the case here…

As Isaac walked solemnly from her she fought the surge to rip the golden curls from his own head, how dare he claim to know her mind? How dare he see what she herself could barely understand?

She wasn't in morning, she wasn't sad.

She was angry, so fucking angry.

That was so long ago now, a blurry memory from another time, almost another life. Well that's how it felt as she stood waiting with a tap of her food and her heart beating like a hummingbird.

"March, Mary." As her name was called amongst others the blonde girl took a step into the door where her fate would be decided.

A man stood waiting for her inside wearing many shades of grey, with a chair that gave her flashbacks to having metal strapped to her teeth; thankfully they'd only been on just over a year, leaving her teeth straight and new.

"Please, take a seat. My name is Oliver; I'll be administrating your test." She had already begun to so his asking was more than a little redundant. Fidgeting with the hem of her shirt she watched the Abnegate closely as he spoke, hardly listening to his words but taking in his movements, her Erudite programmed brain taking all the information she could, she'd never met a Stiff before. He took careful movements not to startle or touch the girl, being as gentle and polite as possible. It was strange for Mary to see genuine kindness rather than the false shadow of it that was often given to obtain something, anything, like she had grown up knowing.

The strange blue liquid met her lips and once she swallowed the bittersweet serum her fate was sealed…

After the test Mary walked home watching her feet. Somehow the pale blue cotton of her shoes was mesmerizing, she watched the fine blue laces tied in their perfect ribbon and thankfully knew where she was going by instinct alone otherwise she would have walked into a pole or something.

When she finally arrived home she made her way through the fogged glass door and stared at her family, all stood to attention in anticipation. The small blonde girl stared at them all one by one for the longest moment, taking in the worried gaze of Fredrick, her father, the eyes he so kindly gave to her and Isaac, tall and lean and almost shaking, his usually well groomed honey brown hair pushed up where his hands no doubt had combed through it, patients had never been a virtue of his. Beside him stood Diana, his wife, a small shapely woman with scarlet hair, so deep you could never mistake her as ginger, her smile almost faltering for a moment. Then she found Isaac, licking his pale lips with a leathery tongue, readying himself to speak but never getting the chance…

Before she even knew what was happening Mary was crushing into her father's chest, she then turned to her brother, a tear almost falling from his flooded blue orbs, almost. Abandoning her father, Mary's arms wrapped high on Isaac's neck while he lifted her to the tips of her toes, holding her as though she could disappear at any moment, he knew, he'd always known her better than she knew herself, it was his superpower.

With a kiss to her brother's rosy cheek and a weak smile to Diana the blonde girl made her way to the high stairs, stopping only at the question her father needed to voice "Mary, the test?"

She cast him but a glance, staring instead at the white urn perched high on the mantle behind him "I don't belong here Daddy, I never did… you know that."

His lip quivered for a second before nodding and heading out of the room, not that she saw it; Mary instead headed up to her room to change. After all she had a big night planned…

Erudite was a big place, it would be easy to get lost if you didn't know your way, and sometimes even if you did. A certain blonde sat in one of the older buildings looking out though the factions, surrounded by glass windows old desks were covered in dusty sheets and the door creaked as it opened "Hey pretty lady…"

"Hey yourself, so…" Mary stood with a large gulp of breath and a bite of her lip, fiddling with a small folded piece of paper in her hand as she stared intently to Iris, her best friend. The girl was taller than Mary, not that that was hard to accomplish, but she was lean and slender while Mary held some of her baby fat still and inherited her mother's voluptuous curves; Iris's creamy caramel hair contrasting completely with her friend's bright blonde curls.

They were both nervous; it was blatant to see as they handed over the scabs of paper. With a bite of her plum lip Mary opened the paper and the word hit her heart like a wrecking ball.

'Amity'

They shared a joint look of understanding before pulling the other close, hanging on her dear life as Mary sobbed "I'm going to miss you so much…"

"Who's going to beat people up for me?" Iris muttered laughed into her friend's hair.

"Who's going to stop me beating people up?"

They laughed together before interlocking their fingers, Iris reaching for the picnic basket she'd dropped at the door "I brought snacks. Including those disgusting Sweet Chili Sausage sandwiches you love, because you love them."

"With Jalapeno's?"

"Obviously! Like this is the first time I've fed you?" Iris feigned insult with a smile as she began laying out the perfectly planned picnic.

Dancing away towards the sheet covered table Mary pulled up a bottle and two plastic cups out of thin air "What a team we make: You brought the grub and I brought the Dizzy juice."

Iris laughed at the name they'd given to anything even remotely alcoholic after they'd snaked a bottle of peppermint schnapps from her mother's liquor cabinet when they were ten. This however was not peppermint schnapps; however the Cinnamon taste did dull the burn of the whisky as it glided down your throat. It had become a favorite of the blonde's after she'd had a fight with her father a few years before, she couldn't remember what the fight was about, but she remembered the sweet burn and how it seemed to make the world all shiny and new.

Mary poured out the drinks and offered the lowest amount to her best friend. Iris wasn't that much of a drinker, but this was a special occasion. They didn't know when they would next see each other, if they ever would again; this was their time. So with a raise of their glasses Mary smiled brightly "to us, no matter how far or how long…"

"Despite blood or faction, we're us, you and me."

"No one else I'd rather be." With a small silent clink they chugged the sweet liquor back hard; Iris scrunching her face, sticking out her tongue and shaking her head at the strong taste.

Mary laughed, picking up a sandwich and asked "so how'd your Parents take it?"

That's how they spent most of the night, just talking and being together, it was strange to think that Iris wouldn't be just a block away anymore, they had talked every day since they were eight years old. People had been so confused by their friendship at first, Iris was so sweet and nice to everyone and Mary, well, wasn't, but one day when Ashley, Lauren and Chloe all showed up looking like they'd been trampled by elephants, they suddenly stopped picking on Iris who had blood and juice on her torn and taped notes and Mary sat with her at lunch, glaring over to the girls in question as Iris happily offered her a cupcake.

When Mary got home half the bottle of whisky was gone, and Iris had only the one glass. She looked over at the urn with a snarl, her mother's picture placed beside it. she looked so much like her it sometimes made her sick, the same hair, same alabaster complexion, same shape, at least Isaac was a boy so it wasn't as bad for him. Her finger brushed lightly over the plaque on the bottom of the frame:

'In Memory of Caitlyn March'

Is that really all it came to? A jar of ash and an appeasing picture looming over everyone left behind? Mary shook her head with a bitter laugh; she then turned to find her father passed out in his chair, the high back having hidden him until that moment.

She jumped only a little I swear.

Laughing at herself Mary walked over to pull the white blanket from the sofa and drape it over her father's sleeping form, but not before pulling the photo album from his slumbering grasp, closing it she saw her name sprawled on the cover in intricate embroidery, she smiled a little before putting it back on the shelf besides her brothers own memory album. Once her father was covered in the new soft layer of the blanket Mary placed a light kiss to his forehead "Love you Daddy, sweet dreams."

She took a left at the top of the stairs rather than her usual right and didn't bother knocking as she let herself into her brother's room. Crawling in beside him Mary looked at his closed eyes and sighed "you'll look after him right?"

"You know I will." His eyes never opened until her looming gaze became too strong for him to fight and he asked "Are you scared?"

"No. Nervous, yes, anxious but not scared; not of leaving anyway."

"Then what?"

"I don't want to lose you, I can't lose you… I… I don't want to say goodbye." A sob broke through and Isaac pulled his sister close.

"Hush, you could never lose me. Hey look at me, I said look at Me." she did, she looked through blurry eyes to see herself reflected back in his. She looked so small, so weak, it made her blood boil.

Pulling a blonde curl to wrap tight around his finger Isaac smiled down to her "I'm your big brother, nothing's going to change that and after initiation you could find a reason to come see me and me you, it won't be like now, but I'll always be here. You know why?"

A knowing half smile crept onto the girls face as she spoke "my god really? You sound like Grandma."

He laughed but continued nevertheless "because were the Duke and Duchess of Erudite. Well now I guess, you know…"

She punched him hard in the arm, with a laugh as he held her close, "everything will work out Duchess, you'll see."

She slept peacefully that night, knowing her fate was nothing to facing it, but she was ready, she'd been ready for a long time.

Choosing Day; it was a big one, and Mary couldn't decide what to wear until Diana laid out a fitted navy colored skater dress, baby blue tights, white blazer jacket and navy flats. Her father had also insisted on a white ribbon to tie back some of her curls, she gave in even though it made her feel like a child to have the bow, but only because it was the last time he could insist upon her… or maybe she was getting soft.

They entered the Hub and Mary was almost awed by the amount of people, every faction was there, ready to make the biggest decision on their lives…but no pressure.

She took her seat with her family, her father fussing over her all through Janine Matthew's speech, picking out imaginary pieces of lint from her dress and hair "Fred dear leave the girl be." Diana tried to defuse her husband's fears by taking his hand and smiling to Mary. Diana had never been the wicked stepmother type, however she and Mary had never quiet seen eye to eye but they respected each other, some days even liked each other. So Mary was grateful for her trying, not that it did much good.

"Mary you just remember this is forever, alright, this isn't some game, it's… it's your life so just… make the right choice, ok?" he was scared, scared something would go horribly wrong and she'd end up factionless or worse, but he cared, he was actually showing he cared and that meant so much to Mary, who had always found her father to be a cold and abrasive man.

With a kiss of his cheek Mary smiled "Don't worry Daddy; I'm going to make the right choice for me. I'm going to be alright, you'll see."

The older man nodded in acceptance of her answer, still he refused to release his vice grip on her frail little hand. Isaac was late, but rushed to sit beside her and mimicked their father's actions. I guess the apple doesn't fall to far after all.

The names came and went, many choosing a new life, many others choosing to continue with the one they already had but as they called up a certain dark haired girl Mary held her breath "Iris Grains"

She watched as her best friend made that small cut and hesitated with a glance to her parents, her eyes scanning the crowd, finding the reassuring eyes she needed to push her into the decision she truly made in her own heart. A single drop of blood fell to the dirt and before Amity had a chance to rejoice in their initiate or the Grains a moment to morn Mary stood, fist punching the air as she screamed through the Hub "Yes! Go Iris!"

Yeah, that earned her a few stares but Mary didn't notice as she clapped and blew a kiss to her friend, Iris kissing back as her parents send death glares to the blonde seated behind them, obviously blaming her for their daughter abandoning them and the faction. Not that Mary gave a damn. Her father pulled her back down with a steely shake of his head, ever the respectful Erudite ashamed of his dramatic daughter. The action brought a twitch of a smile to Mary's face.

Then a while later, that felt like forever, they echoed her name from the long list "Mary March."

With a deep, openmouthed breath Mary gave a squeeze to the hands of the two men beside her before standing and straightening her dress and made her way down the long steps and onto the stage. The cut of the blade was seamless as she bled such a beautiful color, unlike her dearest friend Mary didn't look to the crowd for reassurance of her decision, the single drop of blood fell as quickly as it had been drawn.

"Dauntless."

It was only then that Mary looked up to see her brother's pride filled eyes and her father's quivering lip as he struggled to hold his composure. Her eyes found Iris's who was cheering and clapping loudly over at Amity, even louder than her new Dauntless that welcomed her with a warm seat and fresh band aid.

She didn't look back when they left the Hub, she didn't think she could resist giving her family one last hug goodbye, but she had to, she had to go and follow her new faction into her new life. As they ran down the street and climbed the tracks like you would a ladder Mary was partly convinced that the Dauntless-born were part monkey and was suddenly very thankful for the bullies that used to chase her through the school and courtyards before she started standing up for herself.

She was also thankful to Diana for choosing the simple flat shoes that wouldn't destroy her feet as she tried to keep up.

Mary reached the top of the tracks just as the train was coming, which she scolded herself for, and then she ran like hell, but somehow managed to make it. Losing a shoe in the process, ok so maybe not the best shoe's to have worn.

Looking around the carriage she saw two people from Candor stood close together a boy and girl, one girl dressed in bright Amity colors twiddling her thumbs in the far corner and a boy from Abnegation nursing his left arm he'd somehow hurt…

Who knew how many transfers there actually were, but none from her own birth-faction in that carriage. Yeah because after her turn she'd pretty much zoned out, falling into her own little bubble of questions of her new life and what it would hold.

Then she noticed people moving over to the doors and followed suit, they were jumping onto a rooftop, Mary huffed out a sign before kicking off her remaining shoe, knowing it would to nothing to help the jackhammer beating against her ribs. Then as the Dauntless-born began to jump so did she, meeting the gravel of the rooftop hard, her hands and feet scraped, her tights torn in various places, exposing a few of her toes and her knee throbbing with her awful landing technique… also known as falling.

It was only a moment later that she heard the yelling "Please, oh god! Please help me!"

Racing over to the ledge as the wind of the train swept past Mary saw the Amity girl from her carriage hanging over the side, losing her grip with the large long drop waiting just below. Moving quickly to grab her wrists Mary yelled down "hang on, hang on I've got you…"

Some of the others come to help but as the girl finally managed to crawl over she fell into the blonde shoeless girl, forcing her back into the gravel "thank you, thank you…"

As the girl muttered Mary stood, wiping herself down "Yeah sure, just don't do it again because next time I'm walking."

The girl laughed, her ginger braid having fallen to pieces in the chaos "I'm Willow, by the way."

"Good for you." Mary answered coldly.

Willow raced to catch up with the shoeless blonde and asked "so what's your name?"

"M-"

Before she had a chance to answer a voice echoed over the rooftop, demanding to be heard by the dominating tone alone "alright listen up!"

Mary as well as the rest of the crowd found themselves stood before a tall, man with neck tattoo's who's very being screamed intimidation "I'm Eric, I'm one of your leaders. If you want to enter Dauntless this is the way in and if you don't have the guts to jump then you don't belong in Dauntless."

The crowd remained quiet and motionless, all wondering where this could lead, to Dauntless or Death?

"Somebody's got to go first, who's it going to be?" Eric scanned the unwavering group before him only stopping to notice a girl shrugging out of her white blazer and moving forward.

Heights had never been a problem for Mary and she was suddenly very grateful for that as she shoved her blazer to Willow and strolled through the crowd as someone laughed "what happened to your shoes? Aren't your feet getting cold? Ha cold feet. Get it."

Mary wasn't sure who made the sad and pathetic joke as Eric eyed her skeptically, moving aside so she could complete her task. Mary placed a single bare foot on the cold stone and took a step up onto the ledge, staring down to see an empty abyss waiting for her at the bottom before glancing over her shoulder. A small smile inched onto her face as she whispered to herself "fuck it!" unsure and uncaring if anyone herd her.

Not that it matted as she idly leaned forward and fell from the roof, as the wind rushed past her and she fell though the sky Mary didn't feel like she was falling, it was like flying…

She met the net at with a giggle of glee and a smile as she managed to bounce down from the net with a helping hand waiting for her "Were you just laughing on the way down?"

She looked into those warm chocolate glazed eyes as the stranger helped her and smirked "Maybe. Hey, can I go again?"

He looked at her wide eyed with a shake of his head, "Well that's a first and no, you can't. What's your name?"

She looked at him for less time than it felt, it couldn't have been more than a second but it felt like a good minute as that question rolled around inside her head. She'd always said she'd never change her name, she was proud of whom she was, she was Mary March but she was more than that now as well… maybe she could be both. So without missing a beat the blonde girl smiled "Duchess, my name's Duchess March."

There was no question in her answer, no doubt as he nodded then called "First Jumper: Duchess March."

He had a ghost of a smile on his lips as he spoke "welcome to Dauntless, Duchess."