There was nothing more stunning to Leia than her homeworld of Alderaan.

It had it all: snow-capped mountains, lush green valleys, bright blue skies, and crystal-clear lakes. Shimmering white cities dotted the planet, intricate and smooth skyscrapers stretched to the heavens. At the very top of one, you could watch the sun rise and fall over the horizon. At the very top of the Royal Palace, nestled in Aldera’s center, there was a balcony overlooking one of Alderaan’s lakes. Leia loved that balcony.

When she was younger, she would sneak out of the numerous meetings, parties, and ceremonies her parents always tried to make her attend. Of course, she wanted to be a charismatic speaker like her father and a regal queen like her mother, but when it came down to it, she just wanted to be a kid too. And nothing screams youth louder than running away from a meeting about bilateral trade deals between core and midrim systems.

It was on one of those occasions that Leia found herself resting on the white balcony’s smooth edge. Alderaan’s sun had just begun to set and Lake Aldera reflected the orange light on its glittery surface. The wind blowing her hair smelled just like the open fields in the distance. It was quiet and peaceful and beautiful and… lonely.

She never really thought about it, but things on Alderaan were really lonely.

She never had many friends; not many people had the courage to try and talk to the young heiress to the throne of the great planet of Alderaan. Of course she knew other people, but they were mostly the servants and frequent guests of her parents, not other kids. The only real friend she had was Winter, the daughter of one of Bail Organa’s aides, but Leia’s father had taken Winter to Bothawui for some sort of diplomatic training.

That left Leia to see the beauty of it all by herself--again.

“You know,” Leia nearly jumped off the ledge as she heard her mother’s voice behind her. “I don’t think Senator Erhm’s presentation on Ord Mantell’s tariffs are particularly stimulating, but you don’t see me running away when his back is turned.”

Leia turned and gave the most innocent look she could manage. “I just got lost looking for the bathroom,” she said (a lie). “There are a ton of rooms and halls and stuff--I get distracted!” (technically not a lie).

Breha Organa let out a laugh, scooping her young daughter into her arms and holding her close to her chest. Leia could feel the gentle beating of her mother’s pulmonodes, devices protecting Breha’s fragile heart from a childhood accident. They were warm.

“You’re going to have to learn to stand these sorts of things, Leia.” She brushed a hand through the young princess’s hair. “You’ll be Queen one day, and it’s not good manners for a queen to run, no matter the situation.”

Leia let her mother speak, even lecturing, Breha’s voice was soothing to hear. She was so mesmerized by the Queen’s tone, she missed the change of topic.

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“She’s perfect, isn’t she?” Leia blushed for a second before realizing her mother wasn’t talking about her. Staring straight ahead, Breha’s gaze was fixed on Aldera. Leia could see the dusk light glowing in her mom’s eyes, just like the lake.

“She is,” Leia agreed with a smile.

Breha let out a sigh, Leia could feel so much weight on her mother’s chest, so much weight on her smiles and laughter. It hadn’t always been like that, but lately her mother and father had always been so much more distant and stressed. Despite all the extra parties and events they were always planning, each one seemed to drain Bail and Breha to the point of exhaustion. Family dinners were few, bedtime stories were rare, and having the three of them together in one room for anything other than a gala was nonexistent.

“Mom,” Leia brought her voice to a whisper, “why do you and Dad always have parties if they make you sad?”

Breha didn’t move, but Leia felt her pulmonodes beat faster.

“You’d be happier if you stayed home… I’d be happier…” The young princess felt her heart drop as her mother set her down.

Breha kneeled next to her daughter, and Leia remembered how beautiful her mother was. From her hair bundled intricately, to her violet and gold embroidered gown, to her golden skin and dark brown eyes, Breha was a born queen. A true Organa.

Leia… she was only an Organa by name.

“Leia, my Gingerbell, we were blessed to have a world like Alderaan. Enough food to feed our hungry, enough homes to house our homeless, enough medicine to heal our sick, enough peace to raise our children. In this big galaxy we live in, there are people who don’t have the same fortunes as us.” Breha’s eyes were as serious as her words, and Leia found it hard to blink. “Your father and I have committed ourselves to bringing Alderaan’s peace to the rest of the galaxy, so that your future and the future of every other young girl like you is free.”

“I thought the Empire brought peace to the galaxy.”

Breha paused, the light of Alderaan’s sun passed beyond the horizon, cutting through the balcony’s beams and setting the Queen’s brown eyes ablaze.

“The Empire does,” she struggled, “but peace without freedom, it’s not right, Leia.” The princess felt her face contort as she tried to understand what her mother meant.

“I don’t want you to worry about these things, Leia. Not now, not until you’re much older. I just want you to know that everything your father and I do, it’s not for our happiness, it’s for yours and for those everyone else wants to ignore. When you’re alone and in pain, it’s easy to be forgotten, but when you’re alone and safe, it’s easier to forget.” Breha brought her arms around Leia, and for a moment, she could have sworn she saw tears in her mother’s eyes.

“I’m sorry if I’ve ever hurt you, Leia. I love you--more than this crown or Alderaan or anything in the galaxy. When I look at you, I know there’s hope for a better world than even this.”

Leia didn’t know what to say, but she hugged her mother back.

“I love you too, Mom…”

Breha rose, kissing her daughter’s forehead on the way up. Taking Leia’s hand, mother and daughter--princess and queen--stood side by side and watched the sun finally set over their beloved Aldera, hoping that the sun will rise on a brighter tomorrow.

And as the light faded, Leia felt a spark ignite in her eyes. A spark that burned to protect the hope entrusted to her. A spark passed on by her mother in a way that genes could never. Leia was not an Organa by name, she had inherited the hope of House Organa and vowed to protect it as the Princess of Alderaan.