Chapter One

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…

The Jedi Order is struggling to keep peace in an increasingly hostile Republic. Rumors that the Sith have returned are widespread, the Senate is rife with corruption, and Supreme Chancellor Finis Valorum is nothing but a figurehead.

Meanwhile, a Jedi Knight named Anakin Skywalker may or may not be the subject of a prophecy pointing towards the destruction of the Sith. His former Master, Qui-Gon Jinn, was instructed to teach him the ways of the Force with utmost diligence, and he appears to have succeeded. However, another boy of puzzling origin has been found. Like Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi started his Jedi training late in childhood. Now both must face the challenges of their prospective destinies…

Coruscant, 20 BBY

Through the haze of adrenalin and the whirring of lightsabers, Obi-Wan Kenobi could barely make out the sounds of his master's walking stick hitting the floor. "Focus, focus! Concentrate. Use the Force!"

Obi-Wan tried to keep his kicks straight, but every muscle in his thigh was straining painfully. Four consecutive hours of Ataru could do that to a person. He took a breath to center himself and felt out for the Force, drawing it in for clarity and stamina. He carefully distanced himself from any shades of desperation or exhaustion; they would not relieve him, they were not of use to Jedi. The room snapped into sharper focus until he could hear the sound of Master Yoda's stick hitting the floor long instants before regular humans would have registered the contact.

It felt not a little bizarre to fight air, brandishing your saber in a series of complex attack-only sequences at a nonexistent enemy, but after seven years of such practice, Obi-Wan was accustomed to it. There was more freedom of method in this, rather than following the carefully erratic motions of a droid. Nothing was as taxing or didactic as mock-fighting a fellow padawan, but too much of one thing led to habit, inflexibility. A Jedi needed surprise on his side.

After all, Obi-Wan Kenobi is nothing if not a Jedi.

An apprentice; a padawan, yes, but he lives and breathes the Jedi Code—through it, the Force. He has no significant past and no Unifying abilities to speak of, but he knows this is just an epoch before he is made a Jedi Knight. If he is not the Chosen One (as Obi-Wan has long privately suspected), he will do his duty regardless. It is his lot in life, his desire to be one with the Force, to be noble and selfless. He would gladly leave the Sith-slaying to Anakin Skywalker.

Newly-made Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker, the other rumored center of the prophecy. Obi-Wan has heard more of the man than he has seen of him, but that is always the case. The prophecy isn't well known, but Skywalker does not need divination to secure admiration; the HoloNet did that.

At only twenty-one, he is something of a legend to the padawans, and to most of the Republic as well. He is cunning, bold, powerful, and his oft-mentioned impulsiveness has been tempered by frequent loss and Qui-Gon Jinn's sympathetic teachings. Even Senator Palpatine, a politician, has been known to comment on Skywalker's prowess. Responsible for the identification of (and subsequent near-capture, although Skywalker seems to find that more of a huge failure than an almost-win) fallen Jedi Count Dooku as being behind feuds involving the Trade Federation, Skywalker is now recuperating at the Jedi temple on Coruscant. There is talk that he may soon be one of the youngest Masters in Jedi history. But he hasn't so much as taken on a padawan yet, so likely it is just talk.

Though this may change.

Obi-Wan Kenobi is well aware of his lack of gifts regarding the future. He continues to collect himself and use the Force as his constant ally during lightsaber practice, oblivious to the storm his master Yoda senses brewing.

Changes will be made. Soon.

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Thank you toTrey and Catrina for the beta and various encouragement. As I stated in the summary, this fic is totally AU. Seriously. Don't get angry with me over dates or similar stuff; I'm doing this on purpose, and actually if you cross-check the info, I did a meticulous job of fitting everything where I wanted it to go. And for the record, this will eventually be slash, but I'm not going to spoil the pairing just yet.