What if Queen Channary recovered from regolith poisoning? What if the fire happened but they arrested Levana and found Selene still alive? She was kept in a tank for several years until she was strong enough to have the surgery. Channary teaches her how to use her powers and starts hiding her cyborg parts. She learns of all Channary wants her to learn for when she is queen.

This is my first Lunar Chronicles fanfiction but not my first time writing fanfiction for other worlds. I really put a lot of thought into the plot of this story and everything is strung together so nothing will be loosey goosey.

Please be respectful and not make too many harsh comments if that is alright. It is very much appreciated. If you have any feedback please do not hesitate to let me know.

This story is thirty four long chapters with an epilogue at the end. I will post every Monday either early in the morning or in the evening. It just depends.

This is a Lunar Chronicles AU and I hope you enjoy it!

-Kath

Chapter One: No Sickness Can Kill a Queen

All of Luna has been silent, patiently waiting to hear the status of the queen. Suspense has been hanging over everyone's heads since the moment the queen got regolith poisoning three months earlier.

Some want Queen Channary to die and Princess Levana to take the throne as she has been ruling in the queen's absence over the last few months. While others want the careless queen to rule again because anyone would be better than Levana, who instituted life changing laws that affected the lives of so many of the poor. She has already destroyed some of the only good left in the lives of so many in the outer sectors. If she rules until Princess Selene is old enough, who is to say what will happen? Then there's the rest, who are impatiently waiting for Princess Selene to become queen because even at her young age, she is looking promising for being better than her successors and ruthless aunt.

I let out a painful cough as the nurses rush in to change the flowers placed beside me and place a tray of delicate fruit and cream on my lap. It's nice, being waited on more than ever and not having to worry about this bloody kingdom.

I smile as I chew on a sweet blueberry. The doctor comes in as I am eating and I groan. Can I never get two minutes of peace? These fools think they can just storm in like they own the place. Fortunately, I am queen and I can do something about it. I smile at the thought.

The doctor, a rather young woman with glowing golden hair and soft green eyes looks at me hesitantly for a moment. She is rather beautiful but of course, not as beautiful as me. No one is as beautiful as me.

She bows and glances at the clipboard in her hands. "Your Majesty. How are you feeling?"

I let out a disbelieving laugh. Like she even cares. Nobody on this moon cares. It's all an illusion. "I am feeling much better other than a cough."

The doctor smiles and looks at her clipboard again. "I have fantastic news, Your Majesty. You are perfectly fine to get back to your duties but you will have a cough for a while." She bows again and leaves.

I groan. Great. Get back to your duties, your Majesty, for you are queen. A queen shouldn't have all these responsibilities. A queen should just get all the wealth, finery and glory while her cronies do all the work. I smile at the pleasing thought of never having to make another bloody decision for the rest of my life. Maybe I'll have Selene do all the decision making to prepare her. Of course she is only two years old. I frown. Great, I'll have to wait until she is of age.

I move the tray off my lap and stand, feeling much better. I put an illusion over my face. Soft features with a glowing smile. I change my silk hospital gown into the illusion of a maroon gown. I love the Lunar ability of glamouring.

I walk out of the door and into the halls of the medical wing. I am ready to leave behind the smell of sickness and medicine for a long time. My guards join behind me and I walk towards my chambers where my ungrateful sister, Levana is waiting with my precious daughter, Selene.

I am outside, standing in the court yard watching Selene and Winter play with Jacin, the son of a guard who is friends with my husband who is on duty at the moment. I told him time and time again that now that he is a prince, he doesn't need to work anymore. That he doesn't need to be a guard but like he told me time and time again, he wants to work. He feels he needs to work. I don't understand him sometimes but I roll with it because I love him.

I watch as he walks the perimeter, never looking at me as I try to get his attention. Always the perfect guard. It really does infuriate me sometimes.

I look away as he turns in this direction and starts walking. I turn my attention back to my annoying pretty stepdaughter, bothersome son of the lowlife guard and throne-stealing niece. This pest is going to steal my throne.

I give Selene a death stare while her back is turned away from me. What a disrespectful brat.

I sigh, impatiently watching them. How long are they going to play for? Why am I even watching them? I wave down one of my guards who are standing a respectful distance away. The one I waved to -I forgot his name- walks up to me and smiles softly. I give him a forced smile.

"Yes, Your Majesty?" He asks in a higher pitched voice. I wince and his smile falters.

"Yes, you can. Go fetch the girls' nurse. I don't understand why she isn't here. She should be executed for not doing her job." I say, freely. The guard's smile drops. My smile is no longer forced.

"Yes, of course. Right away." He gives a sloppy bow and hurries away into the palace. Maybe I should have him executed for being disrespectful too.

I feel a pull on my skirt and I look down to see Winter with her hand on my silk gown. I slap her hand away and she jumps back, frightened.

"Child! You do not touch me, do you understand?" I am impatient and I can't deal with these kids right now. Winter's eyes fill with tears and she rushes off with her other hand covering her hurt one. Pathetic little girl.

I roll my eyes as I watch her run off to wear Selene watching from her spot on the ground and Jacin is picking up some twigs. She has dirt smudges on her cheeks and his shirt is filthy. Filthy and she is supposed to be queen, him a handsome guard someday? Unbelievable.

I feel eyes burning into the back of my skull and I look up to see that Evret has stopped and giving me a death glare. I forgot he was even here. I'll have to explain to him later. Or maybe I'll just glamour him into forgetting. He really is weak as the rest of them guards. I give him a soft smile and turn away before his glare gets to me.

I impatiently tap my foot on the soft grass, waiting for that bloody nurse to get here. I really need to have her punished.

I hear footsteps behind me and I turn to see the guard and the nurse appear, both red faced.

They both bow and the guard goes back to standing beside the other. I turn towards the nurse and stare her down, raising my eyebrow and patiently waiting for her pointless excuse.

She bows, still red-faced and having trouble breathing. I roll my eyes. She is young and fit. She shouldn't be having trouble breathing. Maybe she isn't fit to stay breathing.

"So very sorry, Your Majesty. I was on the other side of the palace cleaning out the girl's nursery like you asked me when you picked them up about over an hour ago. I am so sorry if I was mistaken to do so."

I roll my eyes behind the illusion of fiery auburn hair, ghostly pale skin and bright red lips. What a fool.

I force a delicate smile. "Of course." I narrow my eyes at her. "But, of course, your position in this palace will be reevaluated for your incompetence." She winces but I act like I don't notice for her sake.

"Take the young princesses to the nursery and keep them there until it is time to visit the Queen." I force the words out of my mouth. They taste like vomit except when people address me as queen. Well, that makes me smile, makes me joyful. "Also take the boy back to his father who should be finishing his post in a few minutes."

I turn sideways so I am slightly facing the nurse while completely looking at the two playful girls and young son picking up an armful of sticks. Why does he even need those sticks? Before I can call them though, a guard comes running out of the doors. He stops just short of running into the nurse and smiles sheepishly.

"Yes?" I hear the two young girls and young man behind me stop and watch after seeing the ruckus the guard made.

"You Highness," I wince when I hear Your Highness. It's Your Majesty you blimey fool. Many executions to look forward too. The guard seems to realize his mistake all too late. I give a small smile. "Y-your M-Majesty, excuse me. I am so very sorry. I just got word from Her Majesty's doctor. Queen Channary is healthy other than a slight cough and ready to return back to her duties. She is heading back to her chambers."

My glamour almost slips which never happens. Foolish, unfit to rule Channary is alive and healthy. I grab a fistful of my skirt, making sure no one noticed and gave the fakest smile anyone has ever seen.

"Wonderful, absolutely wonderful. Nurse, take Princess Winter to her chambers and take the young guard to his father. Princess Selene and I will be at Channary's chambers to welcome her back in full health." My teeth are clenched through the entirety of my sentences and the last word comes out laced with sarcasm. At this point I don't really care. I am furious.

The nurse and clumsy guard hastily bow. The guard rushes off while the nurse beckons my stepdaughter and her annoying little friend. I watch Winter give a sad frown and hug Selene and Jacin drop his pile of sticks before running off towards the nurse. They walk into the building and I am left alone with my niece and angry thoughts.

I turn towards her where she is staring at me expectantly. Her chubby cheeks and wide, innocent eyes. Oh, how much I hate her.

"Come, Selene. We are to see your mother."

She smiles and it makes my skin boil even more. I keep the anger hidden behind my composed illusion. No one will ever know my true thoughts and feelings.

She runs towards me on her unsteady little feet and takes my head. It takes all I have not to force her surprisingly strong grip out of my hand.

"Is mother better now?" She asks in her tiny, sweet voice. It makes me want to throw her out the window as we walk up the stairs and pass through the walls with wide glass windows. I hate how well she is at grammar at her age. I hate how everyone says she will be a beauty. I hate how she is expected to be the most powerful. I am the most powerful. I am the most beautiful.

"Yes, darling." I spit the word at her but she doesn't seem to notice. Her smile widens and she starts skipping with our arms swinging between us. Oh, how much I want to throw her out the window.

We head down a few more halls much the same -Selene skipping and much to my delight, her falling a few times, her death grip locked onto my hand and our arms swinging between us. Oh how embarrassing this is. There are too many tempting windows around us.

We come to the hall where the royal family's chambers are. Mine, Channary's, Selene's and Winter's. Evret resides in his small palace guard chambers. Again, he refused to be treated like a royal. How annoying it has become.

We stop outside Channary's room and wait. Much to my delight, Selene lets go of my hand and stays still and patient. When she wants to be, Selene is a good kid. Which is rather unfortunate. We'll see when she gets a bit older and starts using her gift. Maybe she will be just like her abusive mother. Maybe Selene will be dead before that ever happens. . .

I hear footsteps coming and the click of Channary's annoying heels. She rounds the corner in her perfect glamour and smile. Instantly, my hatred skyrockets above what it was when I heard the news. But I continue the facade and keep the illusion of my calm composure and delicate smile.

"Sister, glad to see you well." I say when she nears. She only smiles in that way of hers but doesn't speak. She opens her doors and Selene and I follow. The guards close the doors and leave us be, as instructed.

Channary opens her closet and gushes. Rushing in and rifling through, looking for a new outfit. Selene runs over and jumps on the bed with a struggle. I don't help of course.

"I am surprised you came to see me finally well. You certainly didn't visit the rightful queen while she may have been on her deathbed." I hear Channary shout from the closet. I stay where I am, by the door but I hear her loud and clear. I clench my jaw. Mocking, always mocking me.

"Well, you know, sister. Queenly duties to adhere to while you were unwell."

"Oh, of course." Channary comes out dressed in a simple but elegant silver dress. She sits on the bed next to Selene and places her on her lap. Selene snuggles up to her mother.

"Oh, my precious daughter." She says. After seconds -like she does with everything- she loses interest and places Selene on the ground. "Go find Winter, Selene." Selene rushes past me without a word and leaves. What a terrible mother Channary is.

Channary glances at me for a few seconds before getting up and walking over to the window.

"You look sad sister. Upset that you are no longer queen? It wasn't like you were the actual queen." There she goes again, mocking me. And she is enjoying it. "Of course I knew you were hoping I was going to die so you could be queen, but sweet sister," she turns to look at me.

I brace myself for whatever she is about to say.

"Sweet, darling sister, no sickness can kill a queen."

Her laugh pierces everything around us and I can't stand it. Channary and Selene must go away for I am the rightful leader.

Sickness may not be able to kill you but there are other ways, Channary. But let's start with that precious daughter of yours. Little Princess Selene. There are worse ways to go than sickness.

So ummmm… Levana what's the deal with you? Like lord almighty.

Please comment and let me know your thoughts.

Question of the chapter: What did you think of using the chapter title at the end of the chapter?

Peace, Lunartics, until next time.

-Kath