CHAPTER ONE.
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Like summer,
the young never last.

DAWN WINTERS,
HELLOPOETRY
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YNARA, COMPARED TO ITS SISTER planet Ynara 7, is idyllic.

Subtropical and green, the planet calls to mind images of Naboo — modern and sleek, yet still clinging to the ancient relics of the past. When viewed through an observation window coming out of hyperspeed, they are very similar. The capital, Calis, is a bustling lakeside city with the palace lying in the heart of it. Perched high on the mountains overlooking the east, the palace is a picturesque example of the Ynaran upper-class; gilded finish, and polished marble columns.

Built on the back of the intergalactic gem trade, Ynara has reaped the benefits of being on a shuttle transport away from the New Republic's Galactic Senate on Hosnian Prime. Senators, from far and wide, often summer on Ynara — and because of this, the politicisation of dinner parties has reached an all time high.

Kylo Ren lands in the late afternoon, swathed in First Order Stormtroopers and General Hux. The sleek black ship appears like a shadow in the sun.

The moment the ramp drops and touches the tiled floor of the palace's gardens, he can feel the sun kick off the terracotta. The warm air of the late summer is thick with something familiar; it dredges up a feeling of nostalgia in his gut. It sticks to his ribs and brews discomfort in his chest. The air is so fresh and sweet that it is dizzying when one is so used to the stale air on the Finalizer. As he moves out into the burning warmth, he spies their welcome party in the distance. They are waiting eagerly, eyes drawn upon the menacing transport ship in distress. Kylo can sense a hint of fear. He feeds off of it.

     This is no small party and the intention behind their numbers could not be clearer — Queen Val wants to remind the First Order of the might of Ynara. The system is united in the opposition of them.

    The Ynaran Royal guards lining the deck stiffen as he steps off the transport and emerges into the stifling heat, and under opalescent armor, he can see the tension in the muscles there. A threat to the kingdom, the man challenging their queen.

     Kylo takes his time to watch Val Zana. Against the marble backdrop, she is an ethereal picture of royalty. He is aware that he looks more than out of place here. He wears thick, black robes, stark in contrast to the femininity of her lilac lace gown. Kylo sees his mother in her and it startles something in him — wariness, maybe. He feels an ache blooming in his chest but quickly forces it down with something darker. He tries to recover a sense of calm before he would have to greet the hosts.

The queen is by no means small, she is a rather tall woman, yet his dark silhouette blocks the sunlight and baths her in shadows.

"Your highness," General Hux greets quietly.

     Silence swallows the entire hangar whole. Her face betrays any feelings and she stays silent. Next to him, Hux fidgets in discomfort. Kylo, all the while, is grinning under his mask.

"Commander Ren, General Hux," she finally greets, smile guarded. "In the name of my people, I welcome you to Ynara. I guarantee you that we will do our very best to make your stay a pleasant one."

     Her voice is smooth but her words cannot fool him. The meeting has been arranged as a way to negotiate contracts but he knows that the First Order isn't welcome here.

Kylo tries to push past the shields of her mind but fails and the emotion swimming in her eyes as she looks at him is hard to read, even for him. Something about her startles him but he cannot quite put his finger on it. A distant memory lingers at the back of his skull and for the briefest of moments, he can taste peaches. He exhales mechanically. It's not possible, he tells himself and discards the thought.

     "Gayle," the queen says, stepping away from the two First Order commanders and turning to the council, "Commander, General, this is Gayle Lars, my lead aide."

     "A pleasure." He hides his interest in them with calculated expertise.

     "And this is Soa Abya," she continues, "She is another member of my council; hospitality is her area of expertise."

     The elderly woman offers a slight twitch of her lips.

     Anger bubbles in his lungs at the lack of respect and beneath his mask, Kylo frowns. Wars, much like everything else, are won through negotiations. Negotiations of contracts, allies, resources, relationships, and power. But Kylo doesn't believe in negotiations of any kind — he simply takes whatever he wants. He is not used to having to engange in politics and usually deems it a waste of his energy. This time however, Supreme Leader Snoke insisted on parading the full power of the First Order, which includes their Commander as well as their General.

     Under the many layers of his robes, Kylo is sweating. Already, he hates this mission.

     After some polite chatter — Kylo was not aware that Armitage Hux could strike up a conversation, let alone chatter — Val Zana swiftly turns to him. "What a pleasant surprise that you were able to join us, Commander Ren. As far as I was aware, negotiations are not favoured among your duties." She smiles, and again it reminds him of his mother, soft and gentle around the edges. It's a mask, he realises with a jolt, a mask to hide what lays underneath.

     The knight hesitates, cocking his masked face at her mutely. I will not play any of your wretched games, he thinks.

Val smiles and it flashes like a knife in the light. Her skirts flutter at the light breeze as she invites them into the palace with a subtle wave of her hand.

     "Wonderfully done," Hux chides when she is finally out of earshot, all brandished charm and wistful arrogance. "Surely she'll be wrapped around your twiddling thumbs in no time."

WHERE THE TULIPS GROW.

me, whenever i see adam on my instagram feed: