A/N: Sorry for the delay - school etc. I want to thank you all for reading my story! Special thanks to LadyIunara, who keeps helping me with my story! Enjoy reading!

Disclaimer: I own nothing except OC's, and the planet Schillush III - as well as everything else I invent and add into my story. All else is the property of LucasArts Ltd.

Refound

"I don't understand, what do you that mean my spirit is not mine?" Ahsoka asked, looking at the tall and proud man in front of her. Only now, after the initial shock of her capture eased a bit, did she notice what he really looked like. Albeit old in heart and spirit, he looked very young. He had dark brown hair, almost black, and his moustache was tuned in a way that gave him a very elegant style. He was tall, six feet at the least, and his stature was proud looking. His expression, though, was unreadable as he trained himself not to show emotions ever since his dealings with the dark side became deeper and deeper. His eyes, on the other hand, were deep and dark brown, and showed much wisdom. For some reason, his eyes gave her a soft gaze now, and in them she saw sorrow, care and longing all together. He spoke in a silent voice, as the storm outside died out, but his tone was a mixture of emotions Ahsoka could not really comprehend.

"In your dream you saw everything! You saw the battle that ended my life!"

"But I didn't understand much of it - it was all so strange! I understand now that your story is very complicated, and I'm sorry for your loss, but if you ever want to really leave the dark side, you must let the sorrow and anger go! If you tell me, I can help!"

There was a long pause, and then he turned around and began to walk away. After a few paces he waved his hand at her to follow. He led her into a library brightly lit by the precious lanterns hanging from the high ceiling. There, he motioned her to take a seat on one of the chairs nearby. Afterwards, he began pacing around and looking at different shelves, holding hundreds of old dusty books. He then began to speak.

"The force is eternal, and offers unlimited possibilities. In the days of my youth, my fiancée and I made many discoveries. She alone, though, discovered the secret of eternity. When her life power failed, her spirit did not. I believe some of it, while yet unknown by you, is hidden inside you."

"Inside me?! That is ridiculous!"

"Oh, is it then? Well, it might be. But nonetheless, you better pretend that is so if you still want my protection! For if I decide to leave you, you'll be left in these jungles where no sentient ever survives - at least as a sentient..."

"Regardless of me, you were just telling me of yourself." Ahsoka said, now playfully smiling at him.

"And that is just more proof for my statement." he sighed, his sorrowful memories flooding over him.

"I was born as a noble prince, in the Great Empire of Singallicia. Our empire was a prosperous country, respected by all others. Our people were happy, and our world wasn't poisoned by vicious technology and corruption. But that was for a good reason - the empire, and the surrounding countries as well, were ruled not by these with only power to dispose, but these who used it to guard the world from the outer galaxy. As the prince of the strongest empire on the planet, this was part of my duty.

"But in the youth of my race, the strong guardians of the world, we are merry folk. I took great joy from wandering around the capital, disguised as a simple citizen. One day I went to the Grand Circus, where there was the great market. It was during sunset, that I saw in the already half empty circus, on its edge, a young woman in her middle teens - just like I was. She was carrying many bags of goods, and she stumbled upon something and fell. I offered her my help, stubbornly refusing to hear her belays. I helped her carry her bags to her home in the outskirts of the capital, and when we arrived it was dark already. We parted, now befriended, and promised to see each other again. She already knew I was the prince, and I already knew that there was something special in that Tania de Jeurie.

"Years went by as we became close friends. She turned out to be the Arránath - the centre of the force – the point where all the force originates, an entity reincarnating from generation to generation, possessing powers beyond the reach of anyone else. We were training together in the arts of combat, and force-usage of different kinds, and when we were thirty-six, we engaged in the betrothal ceremony, and planned our wedding for the day after the day of our meeting - her birth day - in three centuries from the moment. Since our world used then a duodecimal counting system, the wedding was planned on the day after her four-hundred and sixty-ninth birthday - the day she never had a chance to see.

"In the years past our betrothal, we were sent on the behalf of the emperor - my uncle - to the outer galaxy, to learn the ways of the Jedi. We were both terrific Jedi, and soon we were knighted on Tython. But there, on Tython, we were watched. From the dark moon Bogan where he resided, the Dark Lord Aegallos the Great watched upon us. For reasons he never used to speak of, he chose me as his target - as his next apprentice. He then gave the mission to his loyal servant, Lázzar the Count of Mellados the northern hillside of Singallicia, who all along played with me and Tania forcing us to believe he was a friend.

"We were oblivious of all these happenings when we returned home. When came the second month of the new year, the four-hundred and sixty-ninth year of our lives, we were already preparing for the wedding fifteen days away. But then, a war began. The country to the east, the cursed Dehorrezhia, attacked, and only years afterwards did I discover it was all Lázzar's doing! The war was cruel, unexpected and reasonless, but fair and honourable nonetheless. Our culture held strict view of honour, and as such we did not break the code. Eventually, it came to the battle of the Mellèonath fields on the eastern borders - the battle which you have seen. When the battle ended, as suddenly as it has begun, I sensed something was wrong." tears were welling now in his eyes, and as he spoke his voice was weak and shaky.

"When she died, I held her body for hours long, and on the next day, the day after her birthday, instead of a wedding I made a funeral, which no one ever attended - only I know where lies her grave. But the darkness did consume me." now his voice turned harsh and angry, and Ahsoka could feel the very floor trembling with his sudden change of mood.

"The rage, the longing for vengeance! They drove me off into that abyss, and into the hands of Aegallos. But till this very day, I remember whom I must reserve my vengeance for - Lázzar, who escaped death in my hands thrice! Lázzar, whose silver knife that widowed me still inflicts pain upon me when I touch it! Lázzar, whose life shall end when the lake of Phellias shall turn alight!"

There was another loud thunder, and the lightning was so bright that Ahsoka couldn't help but close her eyes. When she opened them again, Lannár wasn't there. The book he placed on the table earlier was now swung open, and on the page opened she saw a symbol - a triangle eye, surrounded by flames. She remembered this symbol - it was on the blanket she had with her when Master Plo found her alone on Shili, and brought her to the Jedi Temple. Bellow the symbol was written, again in Lannár's curved handwriting - "The Arránath".

After staring at the page for a few long minutes, she got up and decided to go for a walk around the vast castle. Walking aimlessly around the dimly lit corridors, she stumbled upon a door with the same symbol wrought in gold on it. The door was slightly ajar, so she couldn't help but look inside - but there was no one in there, so she came inside herself, leaving the door behind in the same position it was earlier. It was a large bedroom, but certainly disused for a very long time. Albeit so, the room was very clean, even cleaner than the rest of the castle. The bed, covered in a dark red blanket, looked as if though someone kept it perfectly smooth and tidy. There was a large mirror on one of the walls, near the biggest dresser she has ever seen in her life. She concluded it was Tania's room once, and turning around she saw a lightsaber put on a small table near the window. She carefully walked beside it, to see it was the same wooden-like lightsaber she saw hanging on Lannár's belt when aboard his starship. It was very old, but very beautiful as well. She carefully took it off the table, and examined it in her hands. She couldn't find the activation button though, or any button at all, so she eventually put it back on the table and turned to leave. Only then did she notice the picture on the wall - it was large, reaching to the very floor, and featured a very beautiful landscape: a large lake in the middle of a hillside, and the hills were all covered in red and blue and violet flowers. The most interesting feature of the picture though, was that it didn't touch the wall on one side. Walking closer Ahsoka realised it was actually a door into a secret passage, that led downwards. Although it seemed strange to her that both of these doors were left ajar when apparently not meant to, she decided to go downstairs.

The passage was completely dark, but after a few steps, to her great surprise, it turned suddenly alight. It was lit by electric lamps along the low ceiling. She was walking down the passage for what seemed like a pretty long time, until at-last she came into a wide hangar. It was full of starships of all kinds - ranging from luxury shuttles, to star fighters. She was surprised when she saw a Jedi fighter standing near a republic gunship and a Royal Cruiser from Naboo. But no matter how many ships she tried to get inside, they were all locked down. Except for one - it was a strange fighter, the likes of which she has never seen before. It looked agile and stealthy, not too small, and indeed very fast. Its door was opened, so she went inside the black fighter, to find it empty - except for a pair of yellow eyes staring at her from the direction of the cockpit.

"You're not supposed to be here!" said the creaky voice of Arram as the giant grey crow emerged from the shadows.

"As a matter of fact, I am. Your master said that I'm free to leave whenever I want too, if I ever find a way. So, are you coming with me?"

"I bet that's not what he meant when he asked me to prepare his fighter!"

"I'm sure it wasn't, but nonetheless I know he'd keep his word. So?"

"Fine! But know he'll find you again, if he must..." he answered after a short pause, then opened his wings and flew away from the hangar, on his way opening the main exit from the hangar.

Ahsoka then climbed into the pilot seat, and started the engines. When the engines were ready, she took off, and flew away and out of the atmosphere of Schillush III.

"Anakin, please! We must inform the council!"

"Not until we find Ahsoka!"

"Anakin, we've been searching for that Trayus academy for two days now, and there's no sign of it! I'm sure the council knows its location better than we do."

"I agree, general," Rex interfered in their argument, "the faster we find it, the sooner we get out of here. This place gives me the creeps!"

"Welcome to Malachor V, then!" Rex was answered by a strange voice, emerging from the shadows of a vast cliff on their right. Out of the shadows stepped and old looking woman, and supported by her cane she came closer to them.

"Who are you?" Anakin asked her, stepping back.

"Oh, I'm just a native. I crash landed here some seventy years ago, and you're the first men I see for all these years. Might I be of any help?"

"Yes ma'am," answered Rex, "we're on a mission to find the Trayus Academy, could you please point us the direction?"

"The Trayus Academy? You should know that it's deserted for years now. I can take you there - follow me!" she said as she turned around and walked away in a decent pace.

"Rex, take your troops and go back to the ship - stay on guard, I have a bad feeling about this." Obi-Wan commanded, looking worriedly at the old woman.

"Yes general, right away!"

They followed the woman silently for almost an hour, until they arrived at what seemed like a narrow passage between the cliffs. Passing through, they saw a large, yet old and crumbling stone building - the Trayus Academy.

"It definitely seems deserted Anakin, I don't believe Ahsoka's in here."

"We must check inside!"

"I believe there's no need to do that!" said a voice from the old woman's direction, although it was different - it was cold and man-like. When they turned to see who was talking, they saw Darth Contabilous standing in the spot where the old woman stood.

"You!" exclaimed Anakin and Obi-Wan together.

"Don't talk the words out of my mouth, it is you who infiltrated my residence after all!" he exclaimed half sarcastically, half surprised as he drew his red coloured lightsaber.

Both Jedi drew their lightsabers at the same time as they all started to circle around each other.

"Might I understand what in the name of the Sith are you doing here?"

"You kidnapped my padawan! Where's Ahsoka?!"

"Your padawan? Oh, you mean that Togrutan eavesdropper? She's not here." he answered simply.

"You liar!"

"Oh really, am I? Well maybe I am, but not in this case."

"How can we know you're not lying?" asked Obi-Wan who kept quiet all the while.

"You are her master, right?" Contabilous turned back to Anakin now, "What can you sense?"

"I sense she's alive!"

"Alive! Here's your proof then - if she was at my hands, she'd be many things, but not alive..."

With that Anakin stormed at him with all fury he could muster. Obi-Wan followed, more carefully, and Contabilous took the defensive. He was very fast, and none of the Jedi got even close to breaking his defences. After a few long minutes of the two Jedi striking Contabilous furiously, he finally decided to take an offensive stance. His strikes were quicker than the Jedi expected, and that caused Obi-Wan to withdraw for a split second, an opportunity Contabilous used to kick Obi-Wan while still attacking Anakin, and the furious kick launched Obi-Wan a few feet backwards. At last Anakin withdrew, and Contabilous stopped his attacks.

"You're a little angry for a Jedi!" he snapped at Anakin, yet still calmly.

"And you're a little calm for a Sith!" Anakin snapped back.

"Oh, you want to see me angry, aye? Good luck then!"

With that Contabilous launched himself at Anakin with all fury, shouting as he did so. Obi-Wan, who sensed the immense power now omitting from the Sith Lord, sprang to his former padawan's aid. If it was hard to defend against the calm attack of Darth Contabilous, his furious attacks were much harder to fend off. At some point Obi-Wan was almost decapitated by the red lightsaber, but he was saved by Anakin who pushed Contabilous away with a strong force-push. His red eyes glowed with fury at Anakin's act, since he believed using the force to break a lightsaber combat was the most disgraceful act. The sight of Darth Contabilous was horrible then. He slightly bent forwards, put his lightsaber in his right hand and set it slightly aside, and as he showed his yellow teeth in what seemed like a growl, he released a powerful short blast of lightning from his left hand that hit Obi-Wan and sent him many yards away. As a direct result of his attack, Anakin attacked him more furious than ever, but his lightsaber was blocked by the red lightsaber, and the two found themselves struggling to gain the upper hand in the block.

"Unfortunately, Jedi, I don't have any time left to play games with you!" the Sith Lord yelled, and Anakin, who now looked him in the eyes, saw something strange - as if there was a wave of red colour emerging from the depths of the Sith's already red eyes. It was a split second since Anakin noticed the impulse, till it surfaced, in when it did, he was thrown back. Thrown back with such power, that his body felt as if he was sucked into oblivion. At last, he landed on rocks, a few miles away from the Trayus Academy, letting his lightsaber go out of his hand, and losing consciousness.

It's been almost an hour until Anakin showed any signs of consciousness. At first, he heard sounds. The sound of wind, going through the harsh landscape of the damned planet. The sound of a few rocks falling down the slopes of the mountain. And the voice of someone singing. He slowly opened his eyes, but could see only figures - like the one sitting on a rock on his right. He heard the man singing softly, and now could make out the words:

"...and so upon the winter's eve,
When sounds of birds were heard no more,
He stepped outside his dome to grieve,
Upon the grave he'll never leave,
The tomb of her who died at war.

His love he'll bear along with him
As long as time shall let him be,
Since widowed was the warrior wee,
Ere married has the princess him..."

"What's going on?" Anakin mumbled, sitting upright and holding his head.

"Oh, you're awake!" said the figure in a cheerful tone. When Anakin could finally see properly, he recognised the figure.

"Lázzar!"

"Aye, that be me. I believe you didn't find what you came for?"

"No..."

"Pity. If you cannot find her here, you're better leave the planet quickly. Corruption by the dark side awaits all that stay too long."

"Who are you?"

"You said it yourself, I am Lázzar."

"No, I mean who are you except for your name?"

Lázzar smirked.

"You'll find out, eventually." he stood up. "If you want some answers, you better seek for the Shadow Guild. They know everything that goes on in this galaxy, with very few exceptions. Actually, I remember there's a special meeting scheduled for one of the major leaders of the guild with Darth Contabilous, just three days from now. The lake-country on Naboo, if I got it right." he now walked away, but stopped after a few paces. "Oh! I almost forgot - you're better keep this one closer to you next time," he threw Anakin's lightsaber over his shoulder, and right into the hands of the still sitting Jedi. "I found it some thirty yards away!"

Anakin finally got up, and looked at his palm - only to find his com-link crushed into dust. He made his way back to where the ship should be, and on his way, almost reaching the destination, he stumbled upon Obi-Wan.

"Anakin! I've been so worried about you! Contabilous escaped."

"Doesn't matter, I know where to find him next."

"How comes that?"

"I don't know his intentions, but Lázzar's clearly against Contabilous."

"Lázzar? How did he end up here? What did he tell you?"

"Contabilous is going to meet a representative of some Shadow Guild in three days from now, on Naboo."

"Shadow Guild? Never heard of that before... Anakin, I beg you come and see the council first!"

"Fine. But -"

He never finished his words, as what he saw near the ship shocked him beyond anything else. All clone troopers were slain - some decapitated, some sliced, some shot. Only Rex showed signs of life, despite the knife stabbed in his chest.

"Rex! What happened here?!"

"I'm sorry general, but we couldn't take him down..." Rex replied painfully.

"Whom? Contabilous?"

"Negative general," he replied and grunted as Anakin took the knife out of his chest. "he looked like a Jedi, with a blue lightsaber, but all the while he laughed coldly, sadistically..."

"Who?!"

"Lázzar. It was just some twenty minutes ago. He left me alive to tell you that the Shadow Guild doesn't know mercy... The knife was so sharp it went straight through my armour!"

"It can't be!" belayed Anakin, "I saw him only half an hour ago, he couldn't make it here faster than us!"

"Apparently he could. We must report it to the council immediately. Give me the knife, Anakin, I'll show it to master Yoda, maybe he can read the inscription on it…"

After helping Rex aboard, the two Jedi took all the other bodies aboard as well, and took off, heading towards Coruscant.

A/N: Thanks again for reading, hope you liked it! Please let me know what you think about, and tell how to improve myself! Hopefully next chapter will be on in a week.

Taylong A.