Title: Faded Hope
Author: Rwana-Lai Xishu
Rating:T (16+)
Category: Angst – Tragedy – Action/Adventure
Resume: First battle between Dooku and Jedi Obi-Wan and Anakin. I've brought a little twist and this will shape Anakin's destiny.
Spoiler: Episode 2 – Attack of the Clones
Disclaimers: All characters belong to George Lucas.
Note: This use to be called "New Hope" and was only 7 chapters long and the chapters were really short. It was the very first fic about Star Wars I had ever done. After many demands to make the chapters longer, I decided to rewrite it and rename it also. So here you go, I completely new story based on my first story.
Dedication: I've changed my dedication. I would like to dedicate this one to my friends back home; Marie-Jo (Meuh! I miss you Nicole!)- Steph (in a clear pitched voice Fck off! Lol! Miss you and Sponge Bob's nose!) – Shawn (What can I say… your mother!)

CHAPTER 1

"You're gonna pay for all the Jedi that you've killed today Dooku." Anakin Skywalker said as he and his Master Obi-Wan Kenobi slowly approached the Sith Lord, their blue and green Lightsabers ready for any attack.

"We'll take him together. You go in slowly and… " Obi-Wan whispered to his Padawan.

"I'm taking him now!" Anakin sprung to attack.

"No Anakin, no! No!" Obi-Wan yelled as Count Dooku attacked his Padawan with Force lightning, throwing Anakin against the wall. Obi-Wan raised his Lightsaber.

"As you see, my Jedi powers are far beyond yours. Now… back down." Dooku sent lightning towards Obi-Wan but the Jedi was able to block it with his Lightsaber.

"I don't think so." Dooku ignited his red Lightsaber and Obi-Wan approached. Their weapons clashed. Neither having the advantage but Dooku was easily able to block every attack Obi-Wan made.

"Master Kenobi you disappoint me. Yoda holds you in such high esteem." Dooku said as he blocked another attack from Obi-Wan, whose breathing was becoming heavier. "Surly you can do better!"

The battle continued on when finally their Lightsabers were pressed one against the other, and Dooku overpowered Obi-Wan. Taking the advantage, Dooku slashed at the Jedi's left arm and leg, nearly taking them off. Obi-Wan yelped in pain and fell to the ground, his Lightsaber rolling a few feet away. The evil Lord raised his weapon, ready to give the final blow but suddenly Anakin rose and blocked the attack.

"Brave of you boy, but I would have thought you'd have learned your lesson." Dooku smirked.

"I'm a slow learner." Obi-Wan used the strength he had left to grasp his Lightsaber with the Force and toss it towards Anakin.

"Anakin!" Anakin grabbed his master's weapon and fought Count Dooku with two Lightsabers.

It was obvious that Anakin was more powerful then Dooku had expected and he was starting to worry he wouldn't be able to win this battle. He tried to take a shot at Anakin's head but the young Padawan was quicker. He blew off Dooku's Lightsaber and the severed weapon fell to the ground. Dooku backed into the wall behind him as Anakin slowly approached him.

"You are under arrest Count Dooku." Anakin pointed his saber at the Sith before him. Dooku smiled much to Anakin's surprise.

"Not yet." Before he could react, Anakin was sent flying against the wall for a second time thanks to Dooku's Force push. Thinking the young Padawan was no longer able to fight back, Dooku approached a semi-conscious Obi-Wan and started using his Force choke on him. "You will no longer come into my business Kenobi. I'm going to enjoy this…" Again with the Force, he threw Obi-Wan against a pile of scrap metal. Grabbing the blue Lightsaber from the ground he approached the Jedi Knight. But before he could do any more harm to Obi-Wan, Anakin stood up and threw the green Lightsaber towards Dooku using the Force. The Lightsaber severed Dooku's head. Anakin exhaled as he watched the limp body slump to the ground. He ran towards his master.

"Master are you all right?" Anakin asked as he kneeled beside Obi-Wan. When Anakin placed his hand down on the ground for leverage, he touched something warm. He lifted his hand and saw it was covered with blood. "Master?" Anakin saw then a piece of scrap metal was stabbed into Obi-Wan's back and was coming out through his left shoulder. "No, Master! Please don't give up on me!" Yoda walked in slowly followed soon by Padmé and a small troop of Clones.

"Ani?" Padmé yelled.

"I'm over here! Obi-Wan needs help, he's wounded really bad!" Padmé ran over to Anakin and Obi-Wan. "What should we do?" he asked Padmé.

"Don't remove that." She said, pointing at the piece of scrap metal. "If you do he'll bleed out before we make it back to Coruscant. I'll contact the Healers to meet us at the landing platform." Using the Com-Link, Padmé contacted the Jedi Healers on Coruscant.

During the trip back to Coruscant Anakin stayed by his master's side, begging the Force to spare him. Obi-Wan was given an oxygen mask to help his ragged breathing but he still hadn't woken up. Thankfully they were now preparing to land and Healers were waiting for them. After coming out of surgery, Obi-Wan was placed in a room to recover thought he still hadn't regained consciousness. Anakin and Padmé sat silently in Obi-Wan's room waiting for the Jedi Knight to open his eyes, but Anakin was beginning to get restless.

"Why hasn't he woken up yet? What's wrong with him?" Padmé held Anakin's hand.

"He needs to rest." She kissed Anakin softly. "Trust him Ani, he'll find his way back to us." Anakin smiled and kissed Padmé, deeper then she had.

"I love you." He whispered.

"I love you too." She leaned her head on Anakin's shoulder and soon they both fell under the spell of the night.

Back on Geonosis, the separatist Viceroy Nute Gunray had been captured by the Clones and told the Jedi everything he knew about the Sith Lord Darth Sidious… even his true identity. With this new information, the Jedi, lead by Master Mace Windu, headed towards the Senate to arrest Chancellor Palpatine. To their surprise, he was nowhere to be found.

"Too late we are." Master Yoda said as he walked into the darkened office.

"You mean to say he has left the planet?" Windu looked down at the Head Master. "Why haven't we sensed this?"

"The Dark Side clouds everything…" was the simple answer he got from Yoda.

The first chapter of all... hope you like my new version of my old fic "New Hope".