The twin suns of Coruscant blazed overhead, casting golden light through the crystalline spires of the Imperial City and down onto the newly restored Black Forests below. Where once these woods had withered under Palpatine's reign, they now flourished, a testament to Empress Ruby's vision for renewal.

Standing at her balcony in the Imperial Palace, Ruby watched shadows dance across the forest canopy. The morning light caught the silver threads in her deep red robes, a reminder of how much had changed since she'd been just another of Palpatine's apprentices. She had seen the darkness in his heart, the way it had poisoned not just the Empire, but the very planet itself. The Black Forests – once dead and decaying – had been her first act of restoration.

Now, five years into her reign, Coruscant breathed again. The acrid smog that had choked the planet's atmosphere had cleared, revealing skies of brilliant blue. Between the towering buildings, gardens bloomed in impossible places. The lower levels, once abandoned to darkness and crime, now saw shafts of sunlight pierce through newly created openings in the city's layers.

Ruby placed her hand on the cool transparisteel of the viewing window. Below, citizens walked freely through the forest paths where stormtroopers had once patrolled. Children played in clearings that had previously housed military installations. The Empire she inherited had been built on fear; the one she was creating would be founded on hope.

Yet even as she watched life return to her capital, Ruby felt a familiar unease. Somewhere in the shadows of her renewed Empire, darkness still lurked. But this time, she would not stand idle as she had under her former master. This time, she would protect what she had built – not through fear or dominion, but through justice and light.

The suns climbed higher, and the Black Forests shimmered with possibilities. In its rebirth, Ruby saw the future she envisioned for the entire galaxy: a place where order and freedom could coexist, where power served the people rather than crushed them. And she would see that vision realized, no matter the cost.

Ruby turned at the sound of footsteps, her crimson robes swirling softly around her. A stormtrooper stood at attention, his white armor gleaming in the sunlight. Where once these helmets had been symbols of terror, this one bore a delicate red flower painted on its side – the Ruby Bloom, her chosen symbol of renewal. It was a small change that meant everything: these were no longer faceless soldiers, but individuals who had chosen their loyalty.

"Speak, friend," she said warmly, noting how the trooper's posture remained respectful but had none of the rigid fear that had characterized the old Empire.

"There are whispers of your apprentice's return, Empress," the trooper reported, his modulated voice carrying a note of anticipation. "Kylo Ren has been sighted in the Outer Rim, making his way back to Coruscant."

Ruby's expression softened at the mention of her apprentice. Unlike the Sith teachings of her former master, she had chosen a different path with Kylo. Where Palpatine had used pain to teach, she used understanding. Where he had demanded blind obedience, she encouraged questions.

"Thank you," she said, then added with genuine interest, "How fares your family in the Lower Gardens, Captain?" She remembered he had mentioned them during her last inspection of the troops.

The trooper's helmet tilted slightly in surprise at her remembrance. "They thrive, Your Majesty. The new schools... my daughter, she's learning things I never had the chance to."

Ruby nodded, pleased. This was what power should be used for – not to crush, but to lift up. "And your name, friend? I prefer to remember those who serve so well."

"CT-2187, your Majesty... though my family calls me Bloom."

"Then Bloom you shall be," Ruby declared. "Keep me informed of any further news of Kylo's return. And give your daughter my regards."

As the trooper saluted and turned to leave, Ruby returned her gaze to the horizon. Kylo's return would bring changes, she knew. Her apprentice had been investigating rumors of Snoke's activities in the Outer Rim, though few knew the true nature of his mission. She could only hope he returned with answers, not more questions.

The suns continued their arc across the sky, and somewhere out there, her apprentice was coming home.

◤◢◣◥◤◢◣◥◤◢◣◥

Hours later, the distinctive silhouette of Kylo's fighter descended through Coruscant's atmosphere, its sleek form catching the late afternoon light as it glided into the palace hangar. Inside the cockpit, Kylo Ren let out a long breath. After months in the Outer Rim, it was good to be home.

The fighter settled onto the polished hangar floor with a soft hiss of hydraulics. As Kylo emerged from the cockpit, his black robes billowing around him, he was greeted by the sight of his personal guard – the Knights of Ren. They stood in perfect formation, their chrome and black armor gleaming under the hangar lights. Each Knight dipped their head in silent acknowledgment of their leader's return.

And there, standing stiffly at attention beside them, was General Hux. His pristine white uniform seemed to glow against the darker backdrop of the hangar, red hair meticulously combed, posture rigid as durasteel.

"Kylo Ren," Hux announced, his cultured accent barely masking the tension in his voice. "Welcome home."

The words were correct, but the tone made them land like ice. It was no secret within the palace walls that both men had harbored deep admiration for Empress Ruby since their earliest days in her service. Where Kylo had become her apprentice, learning both leadership and the ways of the Force, Hux had risen through military ranks, proving himself a brilliant tactician. Their rivalry had only grown sharper with time, each viewing the other as an obstacle to the Empress's favor.

Kylo strode past Hux, deliberately making the general step aside. "Still practicing your courtesies, General?" he said, voice modulated through his mask. "Or just keeping my landing pad warm?"

The Knights fell into step behind their master, their synchronized footsteps echoing through the hangar. Hux's face flushed almost as red as his hair, but his voice remained controlled. "The Empress awaits your report in the Sunset Chamber. I trust you bring news worth her time?"

Kylo paused mid-stride, turning just enough to let Hux see his masked face. "I always do, General. I always do."

The tension between them crackled like static before a storm, years of competition and jealousy compressed into a single moment. Both men had dedicated their lives to serving Empress Ruby's vision of a better galaxy, but their methods – and motivations – couldn't have been more different.

At last, Kylo turned away, his cloak snapping behind him as he headed for the palace proper. He had far more important matters to discuss with Ruby than trading barbs with Hux. The information he carried about Snoke's activities in the Outer Rim couldn't wait – even if part of him enjoyed leaving the general to stew in his own frustration.