Chapter 1: No Time For A Dreamer
The night was dark and gloomy, the moon dared not cast an illuminating glow on the land below. Tonight Metropolis was as sorrowful as a funeral, and maybe that's because everyone knew the news would soon be coming. Their King Samuel Lane was dying and leaving the throne to a daughter in the midst of a war for possession of their country. A daughter who was loved by the country but was unproven in the role of a Queen ruling her country in a time a war. A queen who was not married and bore no children. A queen who was alone to be manipulated by possibly corrupt advisors in Court.
Outside a bleak castle were hundreds of torches symbolizing the countries hope that their King would last one more night. The biggest battle against rival country Krypton was on the horizon and the citizens of Metropolis were not sure if they could win without their King fighting beside them, planning out what was best for them. Inside the castle, in the Kings bedroom were five individuals gently lit by candlelight, one in bed, three standing next to the bed, and one in the shadows of the room.
"Father you can not leave us right this moment, the country needs you." Princess Lana cried holding onto her fathers chilling hand.
"My child I can not stay much longer." The King gasped for breath trying to comfort his youngest daughter. "I pray to God that the country will be able to remain strong in the midst of my death. Oh how I wish I left a son to take the throne in my place, I have failed this country." The dark figure in the shadows abruptly turned at hearing the Kings words. "But I know my Lois will do her best. Lois may even shed a light on our desperate city. And my Lana and Lucy will always stand beside their sister, she needs you now more than ever." The Kings breath grew shallower with each passing word. "Good luck my girls."
Silence.
A man dressed in a bland white tunic stepped forward placing two fingers on the Kings wrist. The older graying man frowned, before looking to another older man, in his forties, "The King is dead."
"No!" Lana cried clutching her fathers hand.
The man in his forties rushed to the door turning to the guards outside, "The King is dead, Lois is Queen, the news must be sent out at once!" One of the guards nodded and rushed off to alert the necessary people. The brunette man returned to the room facing the figure in the shadows bowing. "Long live the Queen."
The woman stepped out of the shadows gracefully to reveal herself as Lois Lane, new Queen of Metropolis. She stood tall and proud dressed in a golden gown that was delicately beaded from the sleeves down to the bodice, her long curly brown hair flowed down her back. Her cheeks were dry, no tears had been shed over the loss of her father, she had a war to worry about. "Lord White." Lois spoke in a dignified voice.
"We must alert the crowds." White spoke walking out to the balcony of the King's bedroom where the citizens of Metropolis were gathered. "People of Metropolis, the King is dead." A faint gasp could be heard even from the height of the balcony. "God save the Queen!"
Lois stepped forth on the balcony allowing herself to be seen by the people of Metropolis who were all looking up to her, hoping she would be their savior. Lois straightened her back and spoke to them, "Loving people of Metropolis, though tonight has suddenly turned tragic we must keep our spirits up. Soon we embark in a battle such as we have never seen before. I have faith that we will end up on the winning side. Though he may be dead, our King will be watching over us all. Krypton may have a military like we have never seen before, but they do not have the spirit of King Samuel guiding them." Lois paused as the crowd roared to life voicing their approval. "And why I may only be a Queen, I am my fathers daughter and I have the heart of the lion. Together we will see victory in our hands." The crowd once again voiced their approval as Lois finished her first speech as Queen of Metropolis and disappeared back into her fathers room. Lois' gown flowed behind her as she approached her father's cold body in bed. Lois placed a gentle kiss to his forehead, "Guide our country to victory in the coming months Father, give me strength to be able to provide this country the stability it needs."
Lois looked up at her sister whose tears were still slowly rolling down her red cheeks. "Sister you must make sure you are safe when we go off to fight, stay within the castle walls. If anything happens to me you'll be safe and able to rule." As Lois was speaking Lord White appeared at her side, sliding the King's ring off her fathers cold hand and slipping it onto Lois's thumb causing a shiver to go up her spine.
"You can not talk like that Lois." Lana spoke, her voice shaking.
"I have to be realistic." Lois replied quickly turning to White, "If anything should happen to me, I want Father's advisors along with you to assist Lana. She will be Queen of Metropolis and I trust her in your hands, she has not been raised by father to be queen, as I have, so you must mold her into that. Promise me you will do so."
"Of course your Majesty." White nodded his head to Lois.
"And send for Lucy, I, unlike Father, am not going to accept my sister acting like a trollop in my Kingdom." Lois shook her head in disproval.
"Of course Majesty, Princess Lucy will be sent for immediately." Lois nodded in approval before walking towards the door. "Your Majesty, where are you going?"
"To see Doctor Wallis." Lois didn't bother to turn around.
"Your Majesty, we must go over battle plans, this is no time for a dreamer!" White began to panic, he needed to go over King Samuel's plans with Lois so she was informed and safe.
"Hold your tongue my Lord White, Doctor Wallis is a confidant and has never proved to be a liar. I will be at the war room soon after and we will go over everything then." Lois raised her voice sounding more like royalty than ever before.
"Forgive me Majesty." White stuttered watching the new Queen disappear down a dark hallway.
"There are hard days coming child." Dr. Wallis spoke softly looking at various astrological sheets in front of him. Dr. Wallis was an enigma of a man, he studied the stars and was often thought to see the future. Most people at Court did not approve of such a man and his talents being housed and fed there, truth be told neither did Lois' father but Lois adored Dr. Wallis and he was kept around because of Samuel's love for Lois.
Lois sat down in the chair opposite the wise old man, whose long white beard matched his white tunic. "Of course there will be Dr. Wallis, the King of Metropolis just died, leaving me, a lowly woman, in his place." Lois placed a hand to her forehead breathing out a sigh, "What do you see doctor?"
"You know as well as anyone Lois I am not a prophet. I simply look at the stars and dream of what they tell me." The Doctor spoke wisely. "I see two empires becoming one."
"I will not have Metropolis fall so soon after I become it's Queen." Lois said harshly shaking her head. "You tell the stars to fix that little desire of theirs, if any countries will me merging it will be Metropolis and Krypton and it will be done by my hand!"
"Speaking of desire I see that an unexpected love will soon enter your life." Doctor spoke.
Lois flashed a quick smile at her old friend, "Well it's not so unexpected now that you have warned me. Besides I only want the love of my people." Lois stood up placing a hand on her hips which were very pronounced by the corset of her dress making her waist smaller than it should have been. "Just give me something to hold onto, something to make me have some faith that things will be okay."
"I can make no promises my lady. Nothing I see is certain." Doctor Wallis spoke before Lois let out a huff and exited the lush room. As soon as her figure was out of sight the Doctor simply smiled to himself, he indeed knew everything was going to be alright.
"Your Majesty I think all of us are in agreement here, you should remain behind the castle walls. Despite what you think you are not a prince, the battlefield is no place for a Queen. You have inherited a powerless and desperate state, we need to ensure some aspect of stability. You are the only one who can provide that stability, your father raised you as a Queen! Your sister Lana is more concerned about fabrics and dances than government. And Lucy has completely soiled her reputation with her loose acts around court." Lord White spoke.
"With all due respect Lord White, I will not sit back on a throne when the people of the country I love are putting their lives at risk to secure its safety. If it is my fate to die on the battlefield with my people then that is my fate and I will accept that, as should all of you. There will be no further discussion of the matter." Lois spoke in a tone that ensured the end of the discussion.
"Majesty, we may be able to assure some level of security if you agree to marry and provide an heir." One of her fathers advisors spoke tentatively. "The King of Gotham is recently divorced and the Prince of Star City is in the market for a wife."
"I am not a cow at market to be chosen by a man. My father did not place me in an arranged marriage for a reason, he wanted me to be in love before marrying. There are more important things to be worrying about than finding a husband, and I will not marry the first bachelor that comes along, and I certainly will not bear a child for a man just because it's what you men want. My country will find their stability in me, I am their Queen, all actions from here on out will be made with their best interest in mind." Lois sat back in her plush chair. "The troops have set up in position last I heard, I'd like to go visit them tomorrow."
"Majesty, I don't think that is…" An advisor spoke.
"I don't really care what you think sir, tomorrow I am visiting the men putting their lives on the line for me and our country." Lois spoke authoritatively. "The people of Metropolis need to be assured that their Queen is indeed someone that is competent and unwilling to drag them any further into hell than they already are. I am not my father and will not rule as he did no matter how much you try and sway me. I am a rock that no wind will break. I will visit the soldiers tomorrow." before standing up from her chair turning to her advisors. "It's grown late and I am very tired, I shall see you tomorrow morning."
With that the newly anointed Queen of Metropolis turned to leave the room and head to her bedroom in an attempt to get some sleep and prepare for another long day that was ahead of her tomorrow. Unfortunately she knew the chances of resting were slim to none, in a matter of a few hours the entire world had crashed down upon Lois' shoulders. She only hoped she would be able to stay strong.
Well there is it chapter 1... what do you all think? Questions? Comments? Love? Hate? Chapter 2 will take place in Krypton, following along the lines that this chapter did, it will introduce characters (That means Kal!)
