:
Hey ;)
Even though we didn't achieve the goal in 24 hours—instead, it took around 40 hours—I'll make an exception this time and give you a chapter. But just this once!
The next goal is 250 power stones in 24 hours , and I'll bless you with an extra chapter. But if we hit 320 , guess what? Double release! That's right—two chapters, back to back!
So basically, your next update is in your hands. No pressure… ;)
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( 32 BBY )
Tan'ya's eyes fluttered open at the sound of her alarm, and she blinked blearily at the darkened roof of her bedroom. Groggily she groped about in the shadows until she found her chronometer, and rubbed her fingers against its surface as she searched for the button to turn the alarm off. Once again her room was silent, except for the rustling of her pajama's brushing against the bed sheets as she stretched and yawned.
Finally she sat up, her long dark locks, a shade lighter than black, fell down around her shoulders. Now awake, she reached out in the force, deliberately and gently flicking the lights on before heading into her ensuite bathroom.
A few minutes later she emerged from it, changed into her practice robes with a toothbrush in one hand, and a hairbrush in the other. Once her hair was free of knots, and her teeth free of plaque, she bent over to pull on a pair of soft soled boots, before climbing out the window.
The morning air at the top of the mountain ruffled her wavy locks, and she dropped several stories down to the ground floor with featherlight grace. Assisted by the force, she landed soundlessly in a gentle crouch, before standing and walking through the garden.
Tan'ya wasn't the first to arrive at the flat square of grass set aside for exercise and play - Asajj was already there, waiting. She was dressed similarly, in slightly loose Jedi robes fit for exercise, a mix of black and brown colors that the New Temple Jedi tended to prefer.
"Good morning." Asajj called out, picking a bit of sleep from her eye.
"Good morning, where's Father?"
"He said he had an important meeting on Coruscant." She shrugged. "Hardest worker in the Galaxy."
That was barely an exaggeration at all. Whether he was at the Palace, at the New Temple or traveling the length and breadth of the Galaxy, the Count was constantly occupied by something. It wasn't that he neglected his family, Dooku made every effort to share meals with his children, speak to them and keep up with their interests, to be a good father and a husband, but it was hard to do those things when he wasn't present.
Tan'ya understood, she really did. Her father was a busy man who a great many depended on. Compared to her first life she definitely saw Dooku much more than either of her former parents in Japan. Not to mention Tan'ya's mother was always there for her in this life. Athemeene was the bedrock of their family, attentive and devoted, infinitely patient and kind, and she was remarkably clear thinking.
Really, Tan'ya had nothing to complain about.
She was literally a princess in a palace with two loving parents, a bright future of incredible personal wealth, martial prowess, and far reaching influence. By any sensible metric, Tan'ya had never had it so good. She lived in comfort and peace, working towards achievable dreams, surrounded by a wonderful family.
Honestly, what kind of an ungrateful Disney princess would complain about this lifestyle? Some silly child staring wistfully out a window and dreaming wistfully that daddy would pay attention to her?
Pathetic.
That wasn't Tan'ya. She was an adult in her first life, a war leader in her second, and now she was a responsible heir and a Jedi in training. That's all there was to it.
Occasionally Father wouldn't have time for her.
So be it.
"You okay?" Asajj asked.
Of course she was, but even so Tan'ya hesitated to answer just long enough for her mother to interrupt them. Athemeene walked out into the garden, dressed in a similar manner to them, though she really didn't need to be for what they were doing.
After having her fourth child six months ago, Athemeene had been concerned about how heavy she was getting and started looking into some ways to exercise. Probably for the best, too. Tan'ya's grandmother was genuinely obese, so she suspected her mother's side of the family had a fairly slow metabolism. Tan'ya's father, looking for more ways to spend time with his family, had asked her mother if maybe she'd like to start learning lightsaber forms in the morning, and so this had become something of a normal ritual.
Honestly, watching her Mother slowly move through the basic Shi-cho forms with a wooden sword reminded Tan'ya of a scene from her first life. In Japan, and in China on the few occasions he'd visited it, he'd seen plenty of old people standing in a group, holding old plastic swords and stretching and leaning about to stay healthy. What was it called again? It was so long ago, it took a moment for the word to come to her. Tai-Chi, that was it.
After having four children, and never being particularly athletic previously, Athemeene had put on quite a bit of weight. Tan'ya estimated that at this point her mother probably weighed nearly as much as her father, so it was definitely a good thing she had taken up exercise to stay healthy.
"Good morning, Tan'ya." Athemeene yawned and smiled, reaching out to cup her daughter's chin affectionately. "Your Father had to go to Coruscant."
"Asajj already told me." Tan'ya answered. "It's alright, he's the one who's missing out on a nice weekend."
"...Yes, he is."
Athemeene smiled, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. Tan'ya realized she might have just gotten her father into trouble.
Athemeene looked over to Asajj, and her eyes seemed to warm up a little. "Good morning Asajj. It seems we will be following your lead today."
Asajj bent over to collect a pair of long, straight wooden swords before passing them to the two of them.
Soon enough, they settled into a series of thrusts, stabs, backsteps and holds as the sun rose over the distant mountains and bathed the garden in warm pink light. Asajj set a fairly slow pace, conscious of who her students were. Being a child, it wasn't a good idea to tax Tan'ya's joints and bones too sorely lest her growth be stunted, and anything too intense would be beyond Athemeene's ability to follow.
By the end of the hour, Tan'ya felt a little fatigued, while Athemeene was sweating profusely and panting slightly.
"Good work." Asajj encouraged them, not looking at all affected. "You're getting a lot better, My Lady."
"Oh, just call me Athemeene." Tan'ya's mother swatted at her half heartedly, and not for the first time. She reached into a pocket and took out a handkerchief, which she dabbed at her face. "No need to flatter me, either."
Asajj and Tan'ya stayed behind to practice their Makashi forms a bit more, while Athemeene went inside. Both of them were much more advanced students, not to mention actually force sensitive, so they had more to work on.
Finally, the two retired and went inside for breakfast. Athemeene, Renth, Madale and the newest child, a boy named Ideon had already eaten. That didn't stop Renth running in to show off his new Jedi robes.
He was due to start as a youngling at the New Temple in just a month's time, and he was clearly incredibly excited for it. Often Renth would wear his uniform to breakfast or to play, and more than a few times he'd come into Tan'ya's bedroom when she was studying to see if he could play with her wooden practice sword.
Of course she let him, and had even occasionally been tempted into joining him to play Jedi. Obviously, such childishness was beneath her, but as long as she completed her studies for that day, what harm could it do to entertain her younger brother? And, well, it was fun.
Renth would make whooshing sounds with his mouth every time he swung the sword, and often scuttle to the top of a rock or a fountain in the garden, eyes gleaming with barely contained energy as he copied the lightsaber forms he'd seen his father, sister and Asajj practice.
Of course he always managed to get himself filthy with his games, covered in mud, tree sap or pollen in turns, and on more than one occasion he'd lost his shoes somewhere and hadn't been able to find them.
His mother fussed endlessly about him hurting himself. Yes, there was a risk of that, but the Palace grounds full of servants was probably the safest possible place to let a boy just be a boy.
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