Chapter 1-Misfit

Emi sighed heavily, turning the page of her glossy magazine. She skimmed through the article with her blood-red eyes, not really interested in a young Kalma who'd managed to birth triplets.

"Hey, Kin," She sighed, looking up at her friend. "How long do you think it'll take now?"

Kin, a fellow Kalma female like Emi, took a long gulp from her glass of Sango juice, her sharp, vampire-like teeth clinking on the glass.

"Not sure," She replied. "But with her track record, I'd say not long." Emi tossed her long, black hair over her shoulder, having just tied it into an un-tidy plait with a couple of bands.

"Yeah," She said thoughtfully. "I suppose so." She closed the magazine, and placed it back on the pile of old magazines, which sat on the hovering table in front of her. She wasn't much interested in its articles, and she was finding it hard to concentrate with all the chatter going on in the room. Kin seemed at ease, as she took another few gulps of her beverage and picked up an old issue of 'Brides to be.'

Emi flexed her bat-like wings in a frustrated manner, lounging back in her chair in an attempt to relax.

The room was becoming to feel hot and humid, as it felt like the whole planet of Kal had come to the waiting room of Kalma general hospital.

They'd run out of chairs to seat everyone, so most were standing in groups, chattering away amongst each other rather loudly, and drinking a number of drinks, which were being served by hospital staff in soft green uniforms, that ran around franticly trying to serve all the Kalma aristocrats.

Emi looked at them all; with their fine Razeon silk clothing, and large wings, in some cases down to the floor. Their perfect grey completions, and floppy dog-like ears, all with raven-black sleek hair. Emi couldn't help feeling, watching them all clutching champagne-like glasses filled with some rich frothy liquid, that they were looking down at her. Emi sighed un-happily, glancing down at her maid's outfits, a simple top and skirt.

Then her wings. They were rather large for her rank, which was why she was given a job working with the empress. Jet black and perfectly shaped, they were one of the only things she liked about her appearance.

Kin, who was still happily drinking away while reading an article about the latest bridal gowns, was the only daughter of the Empress's cousin. She was dressed finely, clad in a beautiful dress tailored to fit her, with a necklace of rare Meekrob diamonds. They glinted in the light, looking as though they had little stars inside, shining a brilliant blue.

Emi felt a little inferior sat beside her highbred friend, but soon put her feelings aside. What did she care about what a lot of high class snobs thought about her?

I don't care, she thought, turning her gaze away from a partially nasty group that were glaring in her direction.

"Hey," Kin said, giving Emi a little poke. "You alright?"

Suddenly, with a loud crackle, a voice spoke through the large intercom on the wall.

"Would the royal nanny please enter the birthing chamber!"

The room went silent, as everyone looked around to see who was the new nanny for the newest addition to the royal family. Only Kin's look never left Emi.

"Go on!" She mumbled, giving Emi another poke. "They need you in there." With a sigh, Emi stood up, drawing each person's eyes to her. As she began her short walk to the double doors of the maternity ward, she felt everyone's judging eyes upon her. She just stared at the shiny, metallic floor, not wanting to catch any of the nasty looks.

The doors opened automatically with a loud swish, and another swish as they closed behind her.

She raised her head up curiously, as the soft smell of exotic flowers filled the air. It was wonderful, and Emi couldn't help smiling. The rest of the ward was pristine, the metallic walls and floors coloured in sweet, soft tints of blue and green, all mixed in with a wondrous shell pink. Nurses and Doctors chatted to one another, seemingly having not noticed Emi's entry. They ferried piles of papers and equipment between doors on either side of the long corridor, nattering all the while.

Emi breathed a sigh of relief she didn't realise she had been carrying, and breathed in the lovely fresh, clean smell.

"Oh! Miss!" came a voice, pulling Emi from her thoughts. "Are you the nanny?"

Emi looked a little down the long maternity corridor and spotted a young, nervous-looking nurse who was franticly waving to her.

Making her way through the bustling crowd of staff, Emi managed to reach the young nurse who took her hand and ran with her down the corridor.

"He's coming any second!" She cried, her tough grip hurting Emi's hand. "The blood temperature is almost right!"

"It's a boy!" Emi cried, but was suddenly pushed through another large pair of double doors, which banged, as they slammed shut behind the rushing pair.

They were met with angry mumblings and glares from the three Doctors already present, who put their gloved fingers to their lips to tell them to be quiet. The nurse looked down at the floor, blushing a little sheepishly.

Emi, on the other hand, was looking around in awe at the sharp difference around her. The Birthing chamber was a huge room in height, covered with cold, metallic floor and wall panels. There were no windows, the only light issuing from the many artificial lights, which were all pointed towards a hovering operating table in the centre of the room, that the Doctors were all gathered around. It felt barren and lonely, cold and frightening…. The Empress herself was laid on the metal table, wearing only a silk lilac gown. She was lying on her side breathing heavily, shaking, her wings flexing and tensing to the beat of her heart.

Is this really where I was born…? Emiwondered, sniffing the hard, nasty smell of anaesthetic. In such a cold place… The thought made her shiver.

"Here! Quickly!" A Doctor beckoned to Emi, holding out a large, white towel. "Don't worry, but there's going to be a lot of fluid in a second."

"Wha..!" Emi cried out, as the towel was shoved into her hands.

"Hold on!" another Doctor cried out. "The blood temperature is nearly hitting optimum!" Suddenly, with a sharp quiver from the Empress, there was a loud swash of fluid, which began dripping off the table. Emi shut her eyes tight; the sounds making her feel sick.

"YES!" She heard the Doctors shout loudly with glee. "Here! Take him!"

Emi opened her eyes with a startled gasp as what appeared to be a large lump covered from head to toe in fluid and gunk was forced into her arms.

Emi stared down at it, the orange coloured liquid dripping off the wriggling form and down her skirt, splattering onto the floor.

"Here," The smiling nurse said, another towel in hand, as she began to wipe the heavy gloop off the newborn kalma.

Emi watched as the infant wriggled in her arms, the fluid still glistening a little on his tiny body. His tufts of black hair were wet and sticking to his forehead, his large red eyes blinking rapidly in the light. Emi looked down at him, and found herself smiling, and to her delight, he smiled a tiny, cute smile back.

"He's quite a small child," A Doctor commented. "But with his highbred status, I wouldn't worry yourself, my Empress. He's bound to have the most large, beautiful wings."

Emi jumped in shock, having not realised two of the Doctors and the nurse surrounding her, gazing at the baby.

"I-I..w-want to see h-him.." came the timid voice of the Empress. The third Doctor was slowly helping the Empress to sit up, draping a number of towels around her as she began to shake violently, weak from the birthing. "I-I…want to see h-his…w-wings."

To Emi's dismay, the nurse carefully but roughly took the baby from her arms and gently turned him over. The little infant instantly began to cry, wriggling about as best he could.

The Empress' eyes filled with tears, and her wings bristled in anger. "This is IMPOSSIBLE!" she yelled. "How could this HAPPEN!"

"Calm yourself, my Empress!" pleaded a Doctor, wrapping another towel around her shaking frame. "I'm sure he's just a slow developer. I'm sure he will be fine."

"NO!" She cried out, her fists clenching. "THIS CANNOT BE! I CANNOT SHOW THIS CHILD TO MY PEOPLE LIKE THAT!"

"Please, please, my Empress...you're just very tired…he will be fine…" The Doctor continued, trying to calm her. "Dr. Miko and Nurse Riku will take him to the after-birth hall to be properly cleaned and seen to." He nodded towards one of the Doctors and the nurse, indicating for them to leave. "The nanny will take care of him. But you need rest."

Emi was relived when the child was returned to her waiting arms, and was hustled towards the doors by the two staff, who opened one for her and ushered her out, the wonderful scent of flowers once again filling the air. They led her quickly down the maternity corridor, the staff silently backing out of their way. Dr.Miko and Nurse Riku walked a little ahead of her, talking anxiously between each other, occasionally glancing back at Emi and the little one.

Emi tried to ignore them, and smiled down at the baby, who snuggled into her arms, exposing his back. Emi could see why the Empress had been so furious. With her bloodline, the little one should have had the most biggest and most beautiful wings. In a society where if your wings weren't up to standard, you got the lowest jobs and the lowest life, it was dangerously important for the royal family to have the biggest. And here, in Emi's arms, was a baby kalma with wings only as big as his hand. Tiny, little floppy things, issuing out of his back.

"Poor little thing," Emi sighed, giving him a cuddle.

"I just can't believe it!" Nurse Riku mumbled to Doctor Miko, making Emi's ears prick up as she caught their hushed talk.

"I know," Dr.Miko replied. "It seems our poor Empress has birthed a runt."

"I mean, the other two princes are fine…and the princess…" Riku answered. "With her high bloodline, what went wrong?"

"He's just a little misfit." Miko mumbled, clearly hoping no one would hear him but Riku.

MISFIT.

The word struck Emi hard, and tears pricked her eyelids. That's what…. they'd called her…when she was only five. She remembered, the harsh, hard words….

MISFIT.

Emi looked down at the buddle in her arms, who was now resting nicely. She hugged him close to her chest. "Don't worry…I'm sure you're just a slow developer…like me." She smiled at him reassuringly.

He looked up at her, returning her smile, his tiny, little wings flapping happily, before he yawned, showing his sharp, vampire-like teeth, and settling down for a rest in Emi's arms.