AN: Two more chapters if it's possible. Ahsoka's first three years are almost over, but I'm planning to do a scene in the Jedi Temple later on where an eight year old Ahsoka meets her master when he's a Padawan.
"Welcome home, Ahsoka!" The man said in an all too strained voice. He smiled approvingly and glanced over at a tall human woman in the doorway. Ahsoka hadn't ever seen a human, and she was stunned. She wasn't his wife, even Ahsoka could tell. She wore rags and handed down garments, but she had a shining smile. Even though Ahsoka disliked the man, she liked the woman. As if the man understood her thoughts, he said, "That is Madi, your new guardian. She's my head slave, my pride. You'll learn well from her, I promise." He cleared his throat loudly and a smaller, more graceful, but this time Togruta, woman floated down the stairs. She flashed the man a brilliant smile came into the room,
"I," She announced in a smooth, rich voice, "am Irina. I'm Zan's wife, if you were confused, dear." As if to emphasize her point, she placed a kiss on the man's cheek. Zan, that was his name, Ahsoka would have to remember, smiled lightly. Irina caressed his cheek and whispered something to him. Zan nodded, almost regretfully and Ahsoka thought she heard him say, "She'll know, dear one."
Know what? Ahsoka wondered to herself, finally finding something she understood. Too pleased with her latest feat to really wonder, Ahsoka found herself thinking about Mai, wondering, hoping that she would see her again.
Dinner that night was...hard. It wasn't her home. It wasn't her way of eating. It was all wrong. There was a grand total of seven members at the dinner table, but there was silence. Not even Ahsoka made soft noises for the fun of it. She just stared with her wide blue eyes, widening and widening. Only five members of the table were stiff and solemn, acting sympathetic towards the newest member of their household. Zan and Irina laughed and chattered pleasantly, but it still seemed quiet. And then, Zan smiled hugely, flashing his teeth. He stood slowly and then lifted Ahsoka into his arms. Ahsoka disliked the feeling, as if he would drop her suddenly, not even caring about her own safety. Ahsoka felt a tear leak out of her eye. It fell slowly, slowly and then splash! onto Zan's orange-red arm. Zan winced at the small bit of wetness, but he swallowed his reprimand.
"This is Ahsoka." He announced, "She is our newest slave. Madi will train her." Slave? Ahsoka knew what that meant because of her overbearing mother. She never once thought, though, that her mother had a reason for believing in such nonsense.
Agitated and nervous, the Togruta child opened her mouth, revealing the small white teeth and bit down hard on Zan's arm. The man's yelp was sudden...and then Ahsoka was swiftly being escorted on her way to what looked like a very hard floor. Oh, that wasn't too smart...
But her fall was cut short. She had landed in Madi's arms, and the young human cradled the baby Togruta closely. She spoke for the first time, "Master. I'm sorry the child did that. It will not happen again, I promise. I take it upon myself to be sure of that." Even though Ahsoka liked Madi, she understood that she would not be allowed to defy Zan or Irina. Oh, yeah? Try and stop me, Ahsoka thought rebelliously. She took her mother's lose hard, and she wouldn't listen. Nobody would ever make her!
The months were long-nine of them, Ahsoka had turned two and a half-had passed in dreary silence, Zan's hate growing and expanding at his new charge's mischief. Like the days with Mai, which seemed so long ago, Ahsoka never meant harm, but mere fun. Credits like her long ago six-month-old self had done went missing. Books were missing pictures. Datapads were 'unfortunately' (Madi's term) crushed.
Two things meant more than anything to Ahsoka; her new friend, Shashone and the small checking book that Zan kept on the top shelf. He had once ranted for days at Ahsoka when she had gotten into it. It had been on the floor...why should it be off limits if it was there?...and Ahsoka had decided to see what it was. She got into enormous amounts of trouble that day. Now Ahsoka was going to get in trouble again. But there was one difference.
She was going to do it on purpose.
But even though she denied it to herself, she did care. It wasn't for fun right now. She was going for a taste of revenge, and she hoped desperately that it would be sweet. But how could she know?
That night, Ahsoka crawled off of her small, lumpy blanket that had been kicked into a corner and crept into the living room. Using her well practiced Force skills, she levitated the forbidden book, and for a moment it remained suspended in midair. That is, until a voice interrupted her thoughts, "What are you doing?" Ahsoka dropped the book and it fell hard onto her head. Rubbing the tops of her lekku, she glared at the intruder. Shashone.
"Shut up." Ahsoka muttered, "You'll ruin everything." Ahsoka lifted the book, "He'll know it's me, but I don't care!" With a defiant tug, the book tore easily into two separate parts. Ahsoka, filled with pleasure, tore the book into so many shreds that there was no way the book was fixable. With a satisfied smile, she left the scene of crime.
When the sun rose, Ahsoka felt happy for a moment, almost the way she felt when it was just Mai and her, the warmth from the sun just getting them through the day. But then she remembered. Ahsoka crawled with a purposeful, stubborn expression on her face, but her heart was guilty. Zan was looking at the mess, shaking his head. He glanced at the small orange face in the doorway. "How'd you manage that?" He growled. Tears slipped down Ahsoka's cheek as his thundering steps neared her quivering body. She cried out, screaming and raging, as his hand came down. When the tormenting pain subsided, Ahsoka dared to look into his face. And the faces of the several others, including a wailing Shashone. Why wouldn't that girl stopped? All Zan would do was beat her, Ahsoka groaned painfully to herself.
"All of you!" Zan boomed, "Are accompanying me on an Akul hunt!" He turned sharply, glaring at a suddenly interested little Togruta lying on the ground. Ahsoka's mind was racing. Akul! Her people fought these monsters, and now finally she could prove that despite her small size, she was worthy! Even though Ahsoka's thoughts were extravagant, she was forgetting two things 1) all children eight and under were watched until it was over and 2) Zan. "But Ahsoka will remain here."
With a deep angry scowl, Zan thrust a crusty piece of bread into Ahsoka's hands and picked her up. His fingers came around the front doorknob and he went outside, a grim look on his face. Oh, no. Ahsoka thought grumpily. Not again/ He carried to her to a small wooden shed, her 'area of punishment'-a place Ahsoka abusolutely despised. He closed the door, locking it firmly so the girl would not escape. He shouted to the others, his poorly treated slaves. Strong footsteps came from everywhere. This wasn't only her household. It was all of Shilli.
Would Mai be there? Pleased with the prospect, Ahsoka smiled. In the dark gloominess of the shed, a flicker of light caught her eye. A hole that she could fit through. Ahsoka crept over and crawled through, in awe of the Togruta natives walking towards the North. Ahsoka scrambled over and joined them, trying to hold her back straight as possible, trying to look tall.