Chapter 12

A/N: I sadly own nothing. And thanks to all current reviewers.

Moonrose put on some of her clan clothes: a pair of black leggings, blue shirt, a knife on her leg, and knee high grey boots. She tossed her hair back in a ponytail beginning to doubt herself. ~I'm the Crown Princess. Everyone knows what I look like. How can I pull this off?~ Her doubt was soon replaced with stubborn, determination. ~Dawnfire did it. She wasn't afraid. She walked among her people and they didn't even know it. If she can do it, then so can I!~

Apparently Primus had been watching out for her, because Hailstorm had to go to bed early with a migraine, and she told her mother she was dining in her room. She went to the room in her suite where they put all the suitor gifts. She looked over the priceless jewels, and other things royals from other nations (besides Kaon) had sent. She spotted gifts from the Clans in a separate spot: her grandmother sent a new clan dress, and shoes, her aunts and cousins sent a few dozen fur blankets and jackets for winter. Though her cousin Knockout decided to be his creative, perfectionist self and made her a tiara made of silver, shaped like woven branches embedded with the occasional emerald or topaz.

She grabbed several handfuls of jewels, and gifts from outside nations that Hail probably wouldn't realize was missing. Her bag now bulged with the weight of the expensive items. Leaving through the secret passage, she made her way through the laundry area, leaving with all the daytime servants.

Smokescreen was waiting for her at the other end of the bridge. He was dressed in a long blue trench coat, regular pants and shoes, and a plain yellow shirt. His sword was on his hip. "You're late," he stated.

"I know, and call me Misty Brooks," she said. "How do I look?"

"Be better if you went as a guy," he said. "Even better if you were ugly."

~Is that supposed to be a complement?~ She shook her head. She took his right arm, but he switched her to his left side. When she raised a questioning eyebrow, then he tapped his sword. "Let's get going. I want to see the town."

"Believe me, you'll see plenty by the time we're done," he grumbled as she dragged him away.

"What did my grandmother say?" she asked.

"She said she'll see what she could do," he stated looking around.

As she went further away from the palace she noticed how different things were from the palace. Trash was laying in the street. Music and light poured out from every tavern. In some street corners there were women dressed in skimpy outfits and too much make-up. They looked at Smokescreen, but didn't say or do anything since she was with him.

She shifted her bag, becoming very aware of the valuable contents inside. She noticed all the houses were locked up tight. And suddenly was very glad she wasn't walking down the street alone. "Where is everyone? It's not late yet," she said noticing how empty the streets were.

"Most are smart enough to not stay out after dark," Smokescreen stated.

"How do people get around?" she asked confused.

"They're either big, strong, well-armed, very fast, or they don't," he said.

"The Guard?"

"They can't be everywhere, and the ones here on Eastside have been bought off," he said with a growl.

"Bought off? By who?"

"The Eastside gang lord," he stated.

As the amount of streetlights diminished, and there were less and less people, Moonrose was now unsure if this was a good idea. A rat ran across the street, and she jumped. A shutter slammed shut, and Smokescreen pulled out his sword. Once he realized what the noise was he shook his head and put his sword away. Out of the corner of her eye she saw several figures behind them.

"I think we're being fallowed," she whispered grabbing his arm.

"It's ok, that's my pals," he said. "Remember, you said they could help."

"Oh…right," she grumbled.

"Wolfpack! You can come out now!" he called. Six teens their age stepped out, five boys, two girls; all made Moonrose look small.

They continued as a group towards the Northside temple. Knocking on the door, a young girl opened the door. She was dressed in a simple pair of light blue pants, and a silver-white top, her blonde hair was tangled and fell just past her shoulders. "Can I help you?" she asked with wide blue eyes.

"We're expected for a meeting with Alpha Trion," Moonrose said.

"Oh! So you're who he told me to keep a look out for!" she said giving an adorable grin. "The trader is already inside waiting for you!" She opened the door further and let them in.

"Smokescreen come with, everyone else stay here," she commanded as she walked to Alpha Trion's study. When she entered she saw Alpha Trion and the trader talking. Spotting her they both rose. "DADDY!" she squealed tackling her father.

"Hello Moonrose," he said returning the hug. "I returned from Kaon yesterday and my mother said you needed a trader. Figured I'd come down and surprise you." He released her, and smiled. He looked tired, and worn; probably from the travel. "I see you're wearing your grandmother's gift."

She touched the necklace. "Yes, cool right?" she asked and he nodded.

"Even though your father wouldn't tell me what you're doing here, I'm honored that you chose to come to our temple," Alpha Trion said.

Moonrose smiled; she remembered how her father told her how Alpha Trion was his old mentor before he became a Prime. "Your welcome, thanks for letting me come. Alright, now onto why I'm here. Smokescreen has told me what's been going on here in the city, and I want to help. As future Queen it's my job to help my people. Alpha Trion, I've heard about your ministry and would like to fund it." She held out her bag.

"Did you really bring a bag of gold through the city?" her father asked placing a hand on his forehead.

"No…I brought a bag of jewels. And I need you to trade them for gold!" she said.

"What a wonderful welcome home present," the Prime grumbled taking the bag. He opened the bag, and looked through the contents. "It's all high quality…well except this one, it's cut glass. Am I correct to assume these are suitor gifts? Do I need to chase anyone away?"

"No yet," she said with a laugh. "As if I'd marry anyone for just giving me a jewel."

"That's my girl," he said closing the bag. "I'll take them to the North Woods market day, it's only a few days away. And it attracts a lot more traders than the city market."

"Primus bless both of you," the older priest said. "Even the slightest amount of money can make a difference. We could call it the Moonrose Prime Ministry in honor of you your highnesses."

"You don't have to," Moonrose said.

"As much as I would like to object," her father began, "it would help the ministry more. If other nobles see you doing this it will make it a stylish thing to do in the court. Which in turn would bring it more money."

"Oh…I guess it's ok then. Perhaps I could come meet a few of the students too, give some apprenticeships in the palace!" she suggested.

"You need to discuss that with your mother," Prime said crossing his arms.

"Does she know you're back?"

"Yes, I sent word to her from the camp yesterday," he said with a nod, but a slight frown was on his face.

Moonrose wondered if her father knew about the "relationship" between her mother and Lord Megatron. Judging by his body language, he knew about it somehow…probably through some Prime thingy. "Smokescreen, I'll let you know when I have more things to send to my father!"

"You live in the same place! Can't you give it to him yourself!" he protested.

"No, it would make it too obvious," she said rolling her eyes.

They turned to leave when a young man her age burst through the door. He had thick, somewhat shaggy black hair with strange golden streaks. His eyes were an unnatural electric-ice blue. He was dressed in a pair of black, torn pants; black, Kaonian, combat boots; and a black shirt with yellow stripes. What caught her attention the most was the thick black cuffs running from his wrist to his mid-forearm with the language of the Primes engraved with yellow paint in it. He had bruises, and a splinted arm. "Alpha Trion I-!" he stopped mid-sentence. "I'm sorry I didn't realize you had guests. I'll come back later."

"Cuffs?" Smokescreen asked.

Moonrose blinked. This was Cuffs? The Cuffs?! The man who was rumored to have so much treasure he could buy Iacon. The man who women would kill to be with. He was nothing like she expected; she thought he'd look cruel, and be covered in scars. This boy actually was fairly handsome, he had a small scar on his chin, and a massive one on his throat. She winced when she saw the nasty bruises on his face.

"Corporal?" the boy asked blinking.

"Yea, do have anything new for me?" her friend asked him.

"No, unless you count the several captured Scout Runners that the guard snatched," Cuffs growled. "They're going to make an example of them."

"I heard about that, apparently the guard isn't completely convinced it's not you and you gang," Smokescreen said.

"Ex-gang," both Cuffs and Trion said at the same time.

"Who did this?" Moonrose asked, motioning to his face.

Cuffs eyed her, with his freakishly blue eyes. "The guard," he said flatly.

"'Bee?" the girl that let them in asked.

Cuffs looked at her with a look of surprise, and motioned for her to go. As Moonrose looked at the two of them she saw a few strong resemblances; same eyes, jaw, pale skin, noses, and few other things. ~They must be related~ she thought in realization, only siblings looked so much like each other. Then she realized how Alpha Trion seemed to know him, and became confused further; how could Iacon's best priest know one of Iacon's biggest gang lords.

"I won't be long," he said with a reassuring smile, and the girl left. He turned back to Smokescreen. "You think you can get them out, we may've been old gang mates, but they won't do me a solid. They're new leader, my old SIC, has a few issues with me." He had a mischievous glint in his eye when he said that. "But they're innocent."

"I'll see what I can do," Smokescreen said, but he had a tone of unsureness in his voice.

Cuffs apparently had noticed. "Alright…I'll be in touch. Who knows, maybe I'll bust them out. Later." He turned and walked out.

Without thinking, Moonrose fallowed. She could hear her companions shouting at her through the now locked door. She spotted him going to a window and looking outside. He frowned then walked over to a desk where the girl was sitting at, now asleep. He woke her up, and handed her an old, torn, weather beaten cloak. Then they both stepped out into the night.

For some reason of pure stupidity she continued fallowing them in the pouring rain. They went down so many roads and turns she was now lost. Making a turn they just did she found they weren't there. She suddenly found herself pinned to a wall, a knife on her throat, and she was staring into the unmistakable blue eyes of Cuffs.

Realizing who she was he lowered the blade. "What are you doing out here? I thought you were with your boyfriend, Smokescreen?" he asked with a smirk.

Apparently he didn't realize she was the princess, but she was relieved. "I got lost."

He smirked, looking amused, before it faded into a serious, dark, expression. "Why are you fallowing us?" he growled.

"I actually don't know," she said truthfully. He frowned but seemed to accept the answer.

"Well, since you're lost, and it's no place for a girl to walk alone on these streets at night, how about you stay with us?" he asked.

"Sure," she said. It was better than being stuck in the rain all night.

"C'mon, let's get outta the rain," he said grabbing both girls' arms.