AN :
If this got 160 power stones in 12h I will release another chapter Tomorrow
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( 34 BBY )
More than anything else in the Galaxy, Tan'ya was coming to hate being cute. This ridiculous Life Day celebration had been over and above her will, decreed by her mother's strange whim, and so Tan'ya had been forcibly prettied up for the occasion. Clad in a purple dress, with her dark hair curled into wavy locks, and flowers carefully pinned at her hem.
The only part of her usual outfit that was allowed to remain was her small chain of office, representing that she was her father's heir apparent.
Well, she wasn't sure what all that effort of getting dressed up was even for, because after having her hair ruffled and her cheeks pinched by a parade of distant cousins, aunts, uncles, and even her own grandparents, all the effort they'd gone to had been completely ruined! The flowers that her mother and their servants had spent nearly an hour placing had been scattered on the floor for new guests to trample on, none noticing or caring.
The one person Tan'ya had been looking forward to meeting, Auntie Jenza, had barely even glanced at her nieces and nephew before going to mingle with the rest of the guests.
After all the greetings had been exchanged, and Tan'ya had been called cute more in an hour than in the entirety of her third life before that point, she found herself seated with the other children of the Serenno family at the small table! All the toddlers and the babies too young to feed themselves were at their mother's side, but the children who weren't yet in their double digits of years had their own area to sit by themselves and enjoy dinner.
Surrounded by her cousins, and one slightly older boy who she had discovered was actually her nephew, Tan'ya found herself isolated from her own family and even the Jedi of the New Temple. She didn't want to be here, these people were, well, they were just children. Ordinary children. Maybe one day they would grow up enough that they could hold an actual conversation, but right now they were simply not Tan'ya's peers.
She heaved a sigh as she watched one child pick his nose and eat it, while ignoring the perfectly good plate of finger food in front of him. That had been another one of Mother's ideas.
The children's meals were all things they could eat with their hands instead of needing cutlery, that way there was less risk of injury and less need for their parents to supervise them. It was maybe even a good idea from a parent's perspective, but from where Tan'ya's was seated it just meant she was surrounded by grubby handed brats who left stains on whatever they touched.
Though she would admit the food was pretty nice. She was not yet at an age where her taste buds really appreciated soft or savory flavors as much, so the salty deep fried tubers and fatty sweetmeats really hit the spot.
After wolfing down her food as fast as she could, Tan'ya jumped to her feet and left to find a bathroom. She wanted to wash her hands before the gift giving started, so she could personally hand her presents to her family and Master Dyas. It would be mortifying for master Dyas to discover a grease stain on the first edition print of his book.
When she returned, Tan'ya was surprised to find her seat had been taken by a small green old man. Really small. Even at five years of age and change, Tan'ya was head and shoulders taller than him. The only way she could really tell that he wasn't an incredibly small child was his wisened, wrinkled features, and the slow, deliberate struggle in all his movements.
Of course, this tiny old man happened to be the Grand Master of the Jedi Order, Yoda.
Tan'ya knew him best from his role in history. He'd held his rank as head of the Jedi Order for more than half a millennium and had played a pivotal role in much of the galaxy's recent events, specifically in the last few hundred years.
Her impression of him was pretty good. Leadership often worked best when the people in charge took a more hands off approach, and Yoda certainly couldn't be accused of being petty or controlling. If anything he edged a little too far into the other extreme, not taking action when the situation might possibly demand it. Whatever his critics said, it was important to note that he'd overseen more than half a millennium of peace, which in itself was a feat that even the greatest of Earth's many rulers couldn't claim.
Right now he was talking to the youngest children around the table, picture book in hand as they listened with rapturous awe. Tan'ya watched for a moment, until the wizened Jedi made eye contact and crooked a finger at her, smiling as he did. All the eyes at the table glanced at her briefly, before returning to the Jedi and after a few moments Tan'ya trepidatiously walked over to join them.
"No need to watch when join, you can." Yoda smiled at her.
Tan'ya had not particularly wanted to join a storybook reading, her taste in literature was more along the lines of reports and official documents.
"Not interested are you, in the Brave Wookiee Padawan and the Duracrete Jungle?" The book in his hand was almost certainly a piece of pro-Jedi propaganda aimed at younglings, but Tan'ya hadn't meant for her cynicism so visible on her face.
"I'm fine, Master." Tan'ya answered, lowering her head. "Please, continue the story."
It was probably a fine children's story, even if Tan'ya couldn't quite appreciate it. The drawings of Coruscant cast the city in a romantic and mysterious light, full of discoveries and strange places, as well as being dangerous and exciting. Many of the sentences rhymed, and it even found a good moral message in balancing the competing virtues of obedience and personal initiative. She appreciated it, even if she didn't enjoy it much.
"Glad you enjoyed it, I am." Yoda said to her, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "A favorite of your Father's, it was."
"Father?"
"My Padawan, he once was." Yoda quirked a smile. "Before that, I train all the Temple Younglings."
Tan'ya hadn't known that her father had such a close relationship with such an important figure. She opened her mouth to ask another question, but was interrupted by one of her cousins.
"Can you read another story?" The little boy asked.
"Of course." Yoda answered, but then paused. "Perhaps later." He pointed with his cane over to where many of the adults were beginning to crowd around the Wroshyr Tree, including Tan'ya's parents. "About to begin, gift giving is."
Excited murmurs ran through the children, and eyes shining, they all quickly rushed over to join their parents in a semi circle. Tan'ya lingered for a moment, understanding that it would take some time to sort through all those gifts and distribute them.
She wanted to talk to Master Yoda while she had the chance, he was the only one who could really answer some of her questions about the Jedi Order. As a whole, the organization felt rather cult-ish to Tan'ya, but individually she rather liked the members she had met so far. Talking to someone high up in the Order might reveal a lot.
"Not eager for your gifts?" Yoda asked her.
"I am, I just wanted to talk for a moment while there's still time."
"Curious about your Father, are you?"
Well, yes, but only among other things. Tan'ya nodded anyway.
The Grandmaster smiled at her. "Well, come sit with an old man for a moment."
"Actually," A bass voice interrupted them, and Dooku stepped forward. "Tan'ya's mother was just about to start handing out the presents."
Yoda looked at her father for a long time. "I see. That's how it is."
"Yes. That's how it is." Dooku agreed, putting a protective hand on Tan'ya's shoulder.
The two made extended eye contact, and even Tan'ya could feel the rising tension between them. If they started arguing now, or if Father took her away to start opening gifts, she'd never have a chance to talk to the Grandmaster again, Tan'ya was sure of it.
"What's a Jedi Lord?" She asked, suddenly. It was a question she wanted answered, and maybe it would distract them from whatever they were wordlessly fighting over.
The two feuding old men looked at her as one.
Suddenly feeling slightly nervous and self conscious, Tan'ya continued. "Master Dyas mentioned it. 'The Jedi Lords are returned,' he said."
Her Father suddenly looked incredibly annoyed, while Yoda smirked with amusement and poked at her father's calf with his cane. "From the mouths of children, wisdom often falls."
"My daughter doesn't know what she's talking about." Dooku ignored the physical jab, but not the verbal one.
"Master Sifo Dyas might." Yoda pointed out. "A doctor, he is."
Dooku looked at the Grandmaster annoyed. "A doctor?"
"Of history." Yoda hummed with affirmation. "Know the subject well, he does."
"Well, whatever Sifo knows, I don't intend to recreate the Jedi Lords." Dooku declared. "I've told you this a dozen times, and the Council members a thousand all put together, I'm sure."
"But what is a Jedi Lord?" Tan'ya prodded.
"A complicated topic-" Dooku began to say, but was cut off by Yoda thumping his cane on the ground.
"Rewarded, a Youngling's curiosity should be." He lectured her father, before turning to Tan'ya. "A kind of Jedi Knight, they were. Sworn to protect one planet over the Republic, and trusted to find and raise an apprentice to take on that oath."
"Like a feudal system?"
"Yes, similar but the details are different." Dooku replied.
"Not so different." Yoda countered. "Important, the broad strokes are. Very feudal, the Jedi Lords could be."
"But there was no blood relations between them." Dooku shook his head, dismissively. "Without blood ties, it can't be a feudal system. Believe me, I would know."
"And children often they would have despite their oaths." Yoda continued.
"Regardless, it isn't my case." said Dooku, his annoyance clear.
"Expert, are you?" Yoda prodded at him. "Hmm. A Jedi Lord, I suppose you are."
"I am the Count of Serenno, and a Jedi Master." Her father replied, his voice starting to rise with frustration. "I am not a Jedi Lord, but a Jedi who has a separate, unrelated title that makes me a lord."
If only to stir the pot, Tan'ya asked, "So can I be a Jedi Lord?"
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