Hey!
I've had this plot scribbled down in my notebook for a while and so I decided to write it as a means of relaxation from stressful school work! Hopefully, you enjoy it!

The regolith towers of Luna loomed overhead, casting large shadows below. People hurried through their daily routines as they shuffled in and out of the booths that lined the streets. Cinder watched as a group of children chanted a nursery rhyme before they all collapsed onto the path, giggling. She had always loved the children for that; playing their games in the middle of nowhere, annoying people who had to walk around them to be on their way. Cinder smirked, reminding herself of the many times she'd adored the kids in New Beijing whenever they got in the way of customers.

She stopped in her tracks, her mind racing to grab the memories she had left behind so many years ago. Her life as a mechanic had been thrust away, and, as Cinder liked to think of it, she had been chained to a throne on the Moon. She didn't think it was so bad now, but she still had the sense of longing for her mechanic booth back on Earth.

Memories shifted through her brain as if the netscreen inside her head was playing it as a video in front of her eyes. She remembered her booth, in all its stuffy glory. She remembered Adri and Pearl, and Peony, whose name still scarred her heart.
And she remembered him.
His startling copper brown eyes and his midnight black hair had committed itself to her memory. She felt a sensation of desire for him, but she knew that was impractical. Not where she was now. She was all the way on the Moon. And he?
Kai was on Earth.
Far, far away.

Cinder made her way through the winding streets casually as if it was the most normal thing for a queen to do. People bowed their heads respectfully as they passed and Cinder felt obliged to return the gesture. Little children occasionally ran up to hug her or waved frantically at her until she waved back. She liked the attention a bit; it was different from the years of seclusion she'd experienced at her booth.

Nearing a fruit stall, her eyes swept over the apples on display. Ever since she'd tasted Luna apples, Cinder had fallen in love with them. They were like no other fruit she'd ever tasted, with sweet juice that trickled down the lips and a crunchiness that enhanced its flavour. She eagerly inched herself towards the basket and studied one in her hands. The surface was smooth and it looked as though it had been polished to the point where it glistened if a single ray of light fell upon it.

'You look very pretty today, Your Majesty,' a little voice squeaked through her thoughts. Cinder looked down to see a little girl with wavy blonde hair and crystal blue eyes. Cinder was donned in a shimmering navy gown; the sleeves started just past her shoulders and ended in a pointed shape at her knuckles, the bottom hem of the dress settled on the floor. A navy blue rose was pinned to a complexly wrapped belt at her waist. She smiled and patted the girl on her head.

'Thank you,' she smiled. The girl kept her wide eyes trained on Cinder as if she could see all her wiring through her skin. Finally, she spoke.
'Have you found a king yet?! I really want a king!' The girl's eyes were bright and hopeful and Cinder almost felt like telling the girl a lie, but she knew the truth was what she wanted.
'No,' Cinder laughed. 'Perhaps someone will come soon and be the shining star of my sky.'
'I hope that's soon!'

Almost everyone in Luna, especially the children, fantasised about a King. They seemed to think it fitting their Queen have a man by her side to run affairs and make her happy. The children just wanted some romance to fangirl about. Cinder thought otherwise. The girl turned around as her mother appeared from a crowd of people and with one final hug; she skipped away and disappeared into a store.

The artificial light reflecting off the store window blinded Cinder's eyes, making her tear her gaze away from the shop the girl had gone into. Another thing Cinder missed from Earth; the weather. She liked experiencing the beautiful weather shifts in New Beijing, gazing at the sky from her booth, wondering what the weather would be like the next day. Here on Luna, it was all controlled forecast and so most of the days went by with continual weather cycles depending on the citizen's needs. Although it was convenient for the agricultural sides of Luna and everything else that depended on the weather, Cinder just didn't think it felt right.

A stream of green text flowed past her vision, her thoughts being broken for the second time with a message from Scarlet.
Comm from the EC officials. Requesting to speak to you immediately.
Her heart racing, taking on her diplomatic side, she apologised profusely as she slipped through huddled people and rushed back towards the palace.

She was just in time, slipping into her seat for the meeting, as Scarlet, Cinder's Royal adviser, finished a quick speech for an excess matter. Cinder's gaze swept over each Union leader, whose eyes were on her. And then she saw him. Kai looked bored as ever, raking his hand through his hair, something he'd always done. Cinder had always loved the gesture; it was one of his cute habits. Their eyes locked, and his lips quirked into a teasing smile, knowing that she would have been blushing if she had the ability to. Scowling, she turned her attention away from him.

'So what are we sitting here for?' Queen Camilla's voice filled the vid-link's speaker system.
'I believe the young Emperor called this meeting,' President Vargas said. 'Well, Emperor?'
All eyes shifted to Kai, who had his chin settled on his cupped hands. He straightened in his chair before addressing the other leaders.

'I know it was a random meeting but it is a necessary one according to Torin.' Kai showed no enthusiasm in his words, earning a disapproving glare from the man behind him.
'I understand this is a very short notice but the Commonwealth will be holding a party on April 7. We extend our invitations to all Union leaders,' Torin said. Cinder remembered him as Kai's royal advisor. She thought he'd always found her an annoying brat in Kai's life.
'Why the random function?' Governor-General Williams asked looking as bored as Kai, which was something since it was often Kai who was the most bored of all.

There was a momentary silence as everyone thought of an answer. Something in Cinder's brain clicked. She found herself smiling at the thought but she masked it with a poker face.
'His Majesty's birthday.'
All eyes shifted to Cinder. She shuffled uncomfortably, hating the fact that everyone's attention, including Kai's, was trained on her. But she had no reason to be unnerved by their enlarged faces upon the screens and she looked them all in the eye, sitting a little straighter.

'Emperor Kaito's birthday,' Cinder repeated, forcing herself to raise her head. Kai flashed a charming grin at her, which killed her defences almost instantaneously.
'You have good memory. Yes, it will be my 22nd Birthday. The point, though, is if you would be as gracious to accept the invitation,' Kai said, drumming his fingers against the table he was seated at. He eyed each Union leader as if daring them to decline and it seemed as though they graciously accepted it.

'I think I'll pass on the invitation with all due respect,' Prime Minister Bromstad of the European Federation said. Slowly, each of the other Union members declined, hurrying nonsensical excuses about things to do. Cinder thought it was just because they couldn't care less about a birthday and it was doing none of their countries any good. Kai glared at them accusingly but said nothing. The silence dragged on.

'I'll accept.'
All eyes once again shot to the Lunar queen who'd spoken their eyes wide in surprise. Cinder had only come to Earth 3 times over the 4 years she'd been queen; twice to sign documentations and once for a tribute to Farafrah, the small African town whose people lost their lives to help her back when she was a fugitive. She didn't see the need in coming for no reason and she'd always felt uncomfortable at the way people, especially the media, stared at her. She thought it was just because she was a cyborg girl who everyone had criticised and hated from their hearts who'd turned out to be the lost princess who won them freedom from a lifetime of horror and slavery. But just this once, because the others were disagreeing, she'd accept.

'I'll come,' Queen Camilla said just as quickly as she'd declined. Cinder smirked. She knew Queen Camilla just couldn't stand having another queen in the Union. Now that Cinder was here, both the people on Earth and Luna had taken to idolising her instead, and soon enough she became a hit with almost everything, leaving Queen Camilla to sit on her throne in jealousy. And if Queen Selene would be attending the party, then so would Camilla.

Cinder didn't mind the rivalry, possibly because she really didn't care if she was idiolised or not. The people of Luna wanted her and that was all that mattered. Besides, Cinder's beauty was genuine; her brown hair draped perfectly down her back and her tanned skin was almost flawless. Camilla's was not much so; her years of many plastic surgery attempts had made her face look like she'd just eaten a lemon and the taste was permanently in her mouth.

It seemed everyone else had decided they'd attend too as they all agreed into coming. Figures Cinder thought, and Kai seemed to be thinking the same thing as they shared a smirk. Cinder knew all of them just wanted a chance into bribing her to come to their countries and take a chance at becoming her favourite Union leader. She didn't have a favourite, didn't want a favourite. Cinder had classed most of the Union leaders as disinterested political leaders who rarely showed any sign of emotion besides the usual distasteful glares or the bribery kindness she received from them.

'So you're all going to come now?' Kai asked, giving them a smug look.
'Wonderful!' Torin smiled. 'I do hope the Eastern Commonwealth will live up to your expectations. We will inform our citizens of your attendance and will gladly welcome you to our country.'
Kai still wore the smug look but nodded in appreciation.
'I look forward to your presence,' Kai said, nodding like he really meant it, but, of course, Cinder knew him well enough to know he was just teasing them. And with a final nod of acknowledgement at each other, Cinder found herself staring at her reflection in the blank screens.

I really do hope you enjoyed it! I don't mind any constructive criticism or reviews in general!
Please do so if you have the time because I'd love to know your opinions of my writing.

Thank you,
Arya