Before Maria was born, her father had commissioned a clockmaker to make him a clock. Her father at the time was only seeing her to-be mother, and wanted to give a gift to her father in a request for her hand in marriage. His soon-to-be father-in-law loved items of excellent craftsmanship, such as intricately-carved furniture and shining, pristine music boxes. As the clockmaker was a family friend, Maria's father was able to make an appointment with him swiftly.

The clockmaker was a kindly, older man. A hard worker and dependable, he lived an honest life, and got along well with his neighbors and customers. These days however, he had grown lonelier after the passing of his wife. In a bid to fill that emptiness, he began a private project he told not a soul- he was trying to turn one of his creations into a Chan.

Due to his age and his busy work, the clockmaker was seldom a candidate for adoption. While he understood why these agencies rejected him, it still left a dismal feeling in his spirit. During one of his outings, he had heard a passing discussion on Chans, and that's where his plan had sprang from.

From that time, the clockmaker researched the subject, and discovered the power of smooth-channel lightning. However, as a civilian, he had little to no access to the tools necessary to collect this strange energy, and opted for a simpler alternative- lightning rods. This had the unintended effect of causing small fires to occur on his roof, and for people to question his intentions for keeping the strike-prone rods on said roof.

It was a few years before he finally found his fortune. Unfortunately for him, it wasn't any of his personal crafts that had been struck.

One dreary June day, the clockmaker was taking one of his newest pieces out to its owner, as they had gone to a brief conference and requested a friendly meeting at their home. It'd been some time since the clockmaker was able to enjoy an afternoon with somebody. As he placed the cuckoo clock on a table outside his workshop, he noticed he'd left some clutter in his car. As he went to clear it out, a loud boom resounded from behind him.

The first thought he had was of yet another fire. Turning swiftly around, he saw no fire. A staticky feeling in the air, yes, but no fire. Not a thing except-

The cuckoo clock had gone. The clockmaker's heart jolted in his chest as he realized what had happened.

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So it was, the event of Maria's birth. The clockmaker didn't want to let her go, Maria's soon-to-be father needed something to make up for the money out his pocket, and a proposal was on the line, at that. In the end, the clockmaker found himself out another chance at fatherhood, Maria's newly-appointed father having gained guardianship by the government, and his girlfriend was now his bride-to-be (having been enthralled by the sight of Maria).

Despite everything, in a way, the clockmaker still got his wish. He offered to keep Maria's intricately-carved exterior in pristine condition, and to upkeep her mechanisms so she may never wear down, without charge. This was the only way he could think of to stay close to her as much as possible.

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Growing up was a difficult affair. As her father's most prized possession, Maria was paraded around in front of anybody who came over to their household. Even with all the cooing and compliments, she didn't like being looked over by strangers so frequently. It especially didn't help when her clock struck the hour- the clock face swinging open, the bird that lived in her chest calling out, and the jingle that played directly from her head following afterwards. It was too much for somebody who kept quiet otherwise, but she always stood where she was and let the process finish to the end.

Despite this uncomfortable aspect of her life, Maria still enjoyed a good education and care, and was spoiled. She had many popular toys, wore only dresses she liked, and got to enjoy plenty of time in front of the television. Since she couldn't eat food conventionally, she spent mealtimes watching children's programs. This became a fixation of hers when her education began to fall out.

Since Maria could remember, her clock's hourly processes were always active, and always on time. There was no stopping it. No matter how much she wanted to, she couldn't stop her clock face from swinging open to the loud cuckoo's calling, neither could she prevent the tune in her head from playing. Attempting to caused her a sensation like a terrible, painful sneeze about to explode from within her. This also meant she could wear no cover over her chest. All the clothes she had had a large hole sewn around the chest area to fit her clock, which caused her discomfort from feeling so immodest.

To add to this major problem she couldn't control, it caused some level of grief in her classes. Even with the added education her teachers gave on Chans and the accommodations given to her, nothing could stop her clock from starting the processes every hour. Always, students around her jeered, glared, or turned themselves away from her. Maria had no friends, and as she realized the classmates that were kind to her only did so out of pity, couldn't handle going to class any longer.

Despite her schooling being only in the finest private institutions in the area, her father took consideration when the clockmaker discussed Maria's wishes to him. Maria had come home from school one day, and although no tears could be formed, had set herself at her bed and cried. She begged the clockmaker to ask her parents to allow her to be homeschooled, that she couldn't handle another day of constant anxiety over her own bodily mechanisms.

Initially, the clockmaker did make attempts to alter her- a quieter cuckoo, a stalled music player- but as the clock struck for the hour, Maria became overwhelmed in immense agony. The music player was grinding in her head, forcing itself to play, and the cuckoo in her chest kept thudding out, trying to make its call heard. Any further attempt was discarded.

So it was then her father fancied the idea that Maria wouldn't have to go out among the riff-raff of her grade any longer, and that she may be taught at home by a private tutor instead. Despite being able to stay within the comfort and safety of home, Maria wasn't truly happy. Spending more time in front of the TV, she watched as characters came together and enjoyed each other's company, going on their little adventures, telling their stories of friendship. This allowed her feelings of loneliness, while subdued, to grow.