"Again!" Carmine instructed. "Plie."
Qui-Gon stood at a barre with his father, guiding him through some ballet movements to help strengthen his body. Little by little, Qui-Gon was regaining his strength, and becoming even stronger too.
"You're getting much better, Grandpa." Lamenta said, practicing pirouettes with her mother.
"Thank you." Qui-Gon said, trying again with a releve, and then trying standing on one leg, only to nearly fall down. "Rats!"
Gabby giggled and said, "That happened to me the first few times too."
Caroline helped Qui-Gon adjust his body.
"Remember, the core is essential to balance." Caroline told her father-in-law. "Straight spine. Imagin you are a tall tree."
"You've already got the height for it." Gabby joked, standing on her toes to look a little taller.
"You'll get the hang of it eventually." Caroline said, practicing an arabesque, and doing it so perfectly. "Everyone can dance."
"Easy for you to say." Anakin said, doing some stretches. "You were the top dancer in school."
"It's true." Carmine said. "I remember falling more and more in love with her every time I saw her dancing so gracefully, so passionately, so... perfectly."
Carmine twirled his wife and held her in his arms.
"Like the perfect flower she is."
And the two dancers kissed.
It had been already about two weeks since Qui-Gon Jinn was revived. So far, only members of the Jedi Order knew about this, and some members of the Enchantra High Commission, who scheduled a hearing and testing for Gabby regarding this matter.
It was no surprise that this caught the EHC's attention. Such a powerful spell sent out a very strong signal that any Enchanted strong enough in magical force would sense from lightyears away.
This was a pretty big deal. No one had cast the Amorevo spell in over five hundred years and this was the very first time a five-year-old Enchanted had cast it. Thus, the EHC wanted to see Qui-Gon for themselves and do a little testing on Gabby's magic specifically. They'd seen many young royal Enchanteds with powerful magic over the years, but this was the first time any of them had been powerful enough to cast a level 10 spell long before their eighteenth birthday.
For the time being, the Jedi and the Skywalker-Jinn family agreed to keep Qui-Gon hidden from the public. If anyone else saw him, it would be all over the news faster than Carousella's video of her break-dancing possibly even better than Remix.
So, they had Qui-Gon leave the Temple wearing a cloak to conceal his face, and enter disguised as a guard so no one outside the Temple would spot him.
Gabby sat in a chair, dusting off the royal blue gown she was put into, her hair in a sophisticated updo to make her presentable for the EHC.
There were six members of the EHC sitting in their maroon and gold uniforms. And there came a woman whose robes had more gold on them than the others, and she wore a crown of gold, indicating her as the leader.
The Chairman of the Commission took her seat.
"Princess Gabriella Rosella Amidala-Jinn-Skywalker. Please, stand tall."
Gabby stood tall as instructed.
"Councilwoman Redfeather, tell us why we are here."
A red headed woman took out a scroll and read the reason they were there.
"Casting of the Amorevo spell precisely seventeen days ago. A spell led by main caster Gabriella Skywalker. Accomplices who aided in this spell include Boba Jango Fett-Skywalker, Princess Lamenta Valentine Mitchell-Jinn, Princess Dracona Fireheart of Elementara, Princess Wysteria Greene of Spirituo, Princess Fantasia Saddleheart of Equinaro, Carousella Mareheart, Crescent Mareheart, Remix Mareheart, and Princess Roya Harischandra of Maamoh-Yah."
"Princess Gabriella, were you aware of the power required for this spell and the risks involved?" asked the Chairman.
"Yes, Ms. Chairman. Ma'am." Gabby said. She knelt in respect before her. "I read everything about the spell before even considering it, and everyone on the list knew too. You can ask any of them."
"Can you explain why you cast this spell?"
Gabby took a deep breath. Then, she explained to the High Commission about how Grand Jedi Master Yoda started hearing the voice of her newfound grandfather Qui-Gon Jinn, and later so did her Uncle Carmine. According to what her grandfather and Yoda told her, the then dead Jedi Master sensed a great darkness approaching, as he had mastered becoming one with the Force, which might have given Gabby a slight advantage to casting the spell.
Gabby also shared with them how Qui-Gon, as a ghost, came to her on Mortis and shared with her that there was more to her powers than she knew, and that was how she began researching her ancestry and eventually learned her entire family was royalty; the long-lost royal family of Solaris.
"I had a feeling something bad was coming too, and I needed to be able to communicate with my grandfather. But, I didn't know how to get him to come." Gabby continued. "He wasn't coming to me, and I'm smart enough not to even dare to look at a Ouija board."
Gabby shuddered at that thought.
"And from what I've seen in scary movies, a seance would be way too dangerous. So, I saw only one solution. I had to bring Qui-Gon back to life. So, I found the spell in my book of healing spells and figured if I could restore my daddy's lost arm, maybe I could cast a revival spell, and I gathered as many people willing to help as I could, and we had adult help too. My father, my uncle Carmine, and Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi."
"And how were you and your friends affected by the casting of this spell, physically and emotionally?" asked the Chairman.
"We all felt pretty tired after the spell was cast, and personally a little dizzy. But we made a steady recovery within a few minutes. Grandpa Qui-Gon, like the spell said, took about sixteen hours to wake up when he was revived. And we've been nursing him to health with the proper diet and exercise, and he's feeling better than ever now."
The EHC then called in different people to testify on Gabby's behalf. The kids all confirmed that Gabby told them the risks, and they agreed to help on their own will. And the grownups told the Commission that they trusted Gabby's judgement when it came to new spells, as she'd proven to be a very smart and capable child.
And when Qui-Gon was called in, the EHC had some droids and security Enchanteds do a scan of him. They compared their data with medical records and data on various spells, and confirmed Qui-Gon was indeed revived perfectly well, and was making a steady recovery. When they asked him how he felt about all this, he told them:
"As I'd become part of the living Force, I could sense very clearly that my granddaughter would know what to do. She is stronger than even she knows, and I knew she was key to my son Anakin bringing balance to the Force."
"If you were trying to connect and could communicate with Master Yoda and your younger son Carmine as you claim, why did you not just reach out to her directly?" asked one councilman.
Gabby wondered the same thing. He'd appeared to her as a ghost on Mortis, so why didn't he come to her after that?
"I wanted to allow her to figure it out on her own. Like her father, she requires a challenge to unlock her true potential. And thus, I created the challenge that granted her the chance to ask the right questions that would eventually lead her to the answers she needed to understand where her heritage and her true purpose reside."
Gabby began to feel touched by her grandfather's words. He hadn't even been there to meet her when she was born, yet now he showed that like with Anakin, he had faith in her from the very beginning, and the patience to see her come through as he believed she would.
After that, the EHC told the Skywalker-Jinn family that they'd made another recent discovery. One about the kingdom of Solaris.
"What made the kingdom of Solaris so special was its connection to its true royal family." explained the Chairwoman. "As long as its bloodline carried on, the magic of Solaris holds strong."
After Solaris fell years ago, people thought the royal family was gone for good, including the ones who attacked and destroyed the kingdom. But, in the years after that, some Enchanted historians went on a research trip about this lost kingdom and found signs of life left. Poinsunna flowers.
Poinsunnas were Solaris' most precious plant; they grew all over the kingdom, but were hard to find in other lands. And a few years later, patches of green grass were found, and butterflies were found to be hatching in the land too. The growing life there indicated that there were descendants of King Reginald and Queen Serafina alive somewhere. The only problem was no one knew who they were or where to look for them.
Miranda's parents never gave any indication as to where they sent their daughter, and according to Qui-Gon, she kept her royal heritage secret from everyone including her husband, Qui-Gon's father, to ensure their safety.
"What does that mean for it now?" Anakin asked.
"Our research indicates that many descendants of the Solarans who escaped thanks to your ancestors live today, but the kingdom itself remains without leadership. If present and future Solaran descendants wish to reside in this land and to help it grow and flourish as it once did, the kingdom needs its leaders to return."
"And as the eldest and living..." said a council member, looking into an old book. "According to Solaran laws, Qui-Gon Jinn is naturally first in line."
The family couldn't believe what they were hearing. Qui-Gon half expected this, but it was nevertheless a big deal. He grew up being a Jedi, and knew almost nothing about being a royal or leading a kingdom.
"The crown is yours if you choose to accept, Prince Qui-Gon." said the Chairwoman. "If not, you may pass it on to any family member willing to accept."
"May I take some time to think about this?"
"Of course, Sire. Take three days to reflect on this decision. We shall have another hearing then."
Qui-Gon paced in his room at the penthouse. This was a really big decision.
Would he even be a good ruler? What would people think about him, a Jedi, as a king? He thought about how he hadn't even been there to raise his sons. He never even got to marry the woman he loved. If he had gotten that chance, maybe he would have felt a little better about all this.
Gabby soon came by and noticed her grandfather pacing and talking to himself. She didn't need Force sensitivity to see that he was distressed.
She walked in and said, "Grandpa, are you okay?"
"Oh!" Qui-Gon jumped. "Gabriella, you nearly scared me back to death."
"Don't even joke about that." Gabby said. "I'm sorry. I just noticed you seemed upset."
Qui-Gon sighed and took a seat on his bed.
"You really are your mother's daughter, aren't you?" said Qui-Gon.
Looking at his eldest granddaughter, he could see that same concern in her eyes that Padme had when she knew someone was not well.
Gabby grew a pretty little stargazer flower in front of Qui-Gon. He looked at it and started to smile at his granddaughter's efforts to comfort him. Then, Gabby pulled herself up onto the bed and faced her grandfather.
"Why are you so upset?" Gabby asked.
"I am worried." Qui-Gon said. "About whether I should accept the crown."
Gabby was a bit surprised. She didn't yet know her grandfather that well personally, but from the way Obi-Wan and Anakin described him, he didn't sound like the kind of person to doubt himself.
"You feel unsure?" Gabby asked, surprised.
"I have only ever learned to be a Jedi. Leading a kingdom is another story."
"But, you taught Uncle Obi-Wan to be a great Jedi, and he's helped a lot of people in the Clone War."
"That is true."
"And, even though you didn't get to raise Daddy and Uncle Carmine when they were little, you made the decision to continue where you left off now that you're here again, and have grandkids to give you a second chance at parenting. So, that's a start."
Qui-Gon chuckled. "I suppose you are correct. If I only knew more about being a king."
"Well, you have kids who look up to you already." Gabby said. "And my mommy was queen of Naboo when she was only fourteen, and she ruled at it. So, why can't you?"
Qui-Gon thought more about it. It wouldn't be an easy journey. But he got as far as becoming a Jedi Master, so why couldn't he learn to lead a kingdom? After all, his granddaughter was going to be a queen of Naboo someday, and she needed as much help as she could get, and Solaris did need its leaders. Anakin and Carmine both would need more time to prepare themselves if either of them were to accept the throne, and Gabby and Lamenta were both too young to become queen if they accepted now. Qui-Gon wasn't even sure yet if Solaran law allowed Boba to be an heir, given that he was adopted. Even if it did, he was also too young.
"Perhaps I can learn. I will require assistance in royal etiquette lessons, however." Qui-Gon said.
"I can teach you!" Gabby said. "I taught Boba how to act like a prince when he was getting ready to be Mommy and Daddy's ring bearer. And we have lots of royal friends. They can help too."
So, three days later, Qui-Gon and his oldest son and granddaughter arrived at the EHC for another hearing.
"Have you made your decision?" asked the Chairwoman.
Qui-Gon nodded.
"I have, Your Honor." said Qui-Gon. "I would like to accept the throne of Solaris."
"Excellent. In light of this, we will begin preparations for a proper coronation celebration to occur on your next birthday."
According to the date on Qui-Gon's birth certificate, that was only a month away! That didn't give them a lot of time to prepare.
"We will provide you with the materials to learn the laws of Solaris, and it will be your sole duty to uphold, enforce, and change these laws as necessary." said a Council member. "Upon the other royal family's next birthdays, they shall receive their official crowns as well."
Preparing for the coronation wouldn't be the hardest part though.
The hardest part would be letting the rest of the galaxy know that Qui-Gon Jinn was alive.
The next day, Qui-Gon accompanied Caroline and the girls to the marketplace as they were grabbing some groceries.
"Are you sure it's a good idea to bring Grandpa to a public place like this?" Lamenta asked her mother.
"Everything will be fine, Lammy." Caroline said. "As long as we remember the rules."
While Qui-Gon was outside, for the time being, he had to follow three simple rules.
1. Keep his hood up at all times
2. Don't talk to anyone besides his family
And...
3. NO using his super strength.
However, that was not always easy, that third rule.
Qui-Gon picked up a fruit, but accidentally squashed it in his hand.
"Oops." he said, blushing under his hood.
"Maybe it's best he sticks with just carrying the basket." Caroline said.
Qui-Gon nodded silently in agreement.
The family walked through the market for a little bit, when something went wrong.
A speeder was going out of control and swerving all over the place, nearly hitting people until Gabby and Lamenta used the Force to push or pull people out of the way as the vehicle went crazy and flew higher into the air.
The speeder was sputtering and smoking, but its driver looked to be having trouble.
"That speeder's in trouble!" someone exclaimed.
"Not for long, it's not." Gabby declared.
Gabby ran as fast as she could and made herself a staircase of clouds and rushed to grow some vines.
Lamenta grew some vines too, and both girls managed to get some around the speeder, hoping to slow it down. It stopeed in the air, but kept trying to get away.
"Jump out! I'll catch you!" Gabby called to the driver.
Inconveniently, that was when the speeder stopped working completely... and started to fall from high up in the air. The girls couldn't make their powers work again fast enough, but someone caught the speeder before it could it the ground.
Everyone was astonished to see a hooded figure who jumped in, and he carried the speeder in his hands as though it were light as a feather.
Qui-Gon safely placed the vehicle on the ground while Caroline got out her phone to contact proper authorities on this matter.
Gabby gave the driver a kiss to heal any injuries she sustained.
"Thank you all so much." said the woman, relieved to be alive.
However, as Qui-Gon stood up after placing the speeder down, his hood fell off!
People around the place gasped when they saw the face of the biggest of the heroes.
Gabby and Lamenta both held panicked looks when they saw what happened.
Uh oh! They all thought.
"Run!" Lamenta said.
Qui-Gon quickly placed his hood back on and began running as fast as he could with his granddaughters and daughter-in-law.
"Do you think anybody caught that on camera?" Lamenta asked.
"I don't know." Gabby said. "But I'd say chances are we'll find out sooner than later."