Featured song:
"Twist That Frown Upside Down" from Teen Beach Movie
Omega and her friends continued their way down the yellow brick road, on their way to the Emerald City to get their wishes from the wonderful wizard. Creativity, a heart, and a way to send Omega and Diamond home.
And throughout the walk towards the forest, Omega shared stories about some members of her family back home.
"And my brother Crosshair, he looks just like you, but more... fleshy. And has pretty much what my little sister calls a bit of a serious kinda surly attitude. But, he can have a soft side."
Tin Crosshair found it hard to believe that Omega had brothers who looked just like him and Tech Crow.
"And the family got even bigger when the Heartwood family moved in with us." Diamond said.
"Garrett's a great teacher. He's been to so many places, and he's really smart when it comes to magic and so many cultures. And his wife Mariposa is great too, and so is their daughter Goldie."
"Yeah. At first we were scared when we learned she was a Doresho Gypsy, but she's really nice, and actually really pretty too. Lots of blue, just like my Auntie Sapphire." Diamond's ears drooped as she thought of her aunt. "I wonder if she's looking for us now."
Omega suddenly realized she'd been so focused on her own family, she forgot how being so far from home was affecting Diamond as well. Not only was she away from her master Kara, but from her loving aunt who'd served as a motherly figure to her since she was born, and especially so when she moved in with the royal family.
What was going on back home now, they both wondered. Was the storm still brewing and they were stuck indoors so they couldn't look for their missing members? Had it stopped and they were sending out search parties?
Unfortunately, Omega was so lost in thought, she didn't realize she was coming up to a tree root until she tripped on it!
"Ouch!" Omega groaned.
"Are you alright?" Crosshair asked.
"I could be better," said Omega, amid Tech Crow picking her up. "Thanks."
Omega dusted herself off.
"Just when I thought my bad luck was finally giving me a break too."
"Luck is only a superstition, Omega." Tech said.
"You wouldn't think so if you'd been through what I've been. Just before I came here, all kinds of things were going wrong."
"Like what?"
"Well, first my alarm didn't go off and I was almost late for breakfast and school, then my brother Wrecker hogged the last strawberry danish, my favorite treat, for himself. Then, my dad bumped into me and ruined my favorite jacket with hot coffee and burned me, and I had to wear this ugly and itchy sweater my grandmother made me that my mom won't let me get rid of, then it rained during recess at school, and our teacher made us take a pop quiz." Omega growled at that last one. "I hate surprise quizzes."
"That does sound like a rather oppressive day."
"That wasn't even the worst of it. After that, some reckless second grader destroyed an engineering project I spent weeks working on by kicking a soccer ball indoors, and now I have to rebuild it all over again! And I had no one to turn to. My parents and all the other grownups, my siblings and my cousin were busy, none of my friends were around either, and I couldn't even find my favorite book to read either. And then Diamond and I got into a game of Hide and Seek gone horribly wrong, and now some evil warlock is after us! What next?"
Tears started to fill Omega's eyes and she started to cry as she started running through the forest. Diamond, naturally, ran after her, and so did the scarecrow and tin man. But, none of them seemed to realize they were running really deep into the woods.
Omega eventually stopped and sat on a rock to continue crying. But Diamond crawled up and started nuzzling Omega.
"Omega, don't cry." the little filly soothed. Or, at least tried to.
"What did I do to deserve this?! Why did it drag you along?"
"Maybe so you wouldn't be alone? Remember what Padma the good witch said. A day is what you make it."
Omega sighed.
"The only thing I want to make this is the day I go home."
"And we will get you home, Omega." Tin Crosshair said, amid seeing where they were now. "Once we find our way out of this... dark and creepy forest."
None of the group, not even the brainy Tech-Crow, knew how they didn't notice where they were until now, but sure enough it was dark in here, and scary too. There was wind whistling through the trees, leaves rustling, and all kinds of scary noises.
Hoot!
Diamond neighed and jumped into Omega's arms at that sudden noise.
"It's okay, Diamond." Omega said nervously. "It was just an owl. I hope."
"These woods are no joke, kids." Tin Crosshair said. "All kinds of creatures live in here. Some say a big brawny lion lives here too."
"A lion?!" the girls exclaimed.
"Relax, you two." Tech Crow said. "To my knowledge are not native to temperate forests such as this one. They are native to open plains and dry thorn forest. But then again, I am a walking, talking scarecrow."
Suddenly, a bush started rustling.
"Not helping!" Diamond started shaking.
Tin Crosshair had his weapon at the ready.
"Don't worry, ladies. I'll protect you." He said.
"Wait a minute! I've got powers of my own!" Omega said. She set Diamond down and made her hands glow, ready to fight whatever was coming their way. The bushes rustled again, and they seemed to follow a path for a while until...
"Ahh!" Tech Crow exclaimed as someone pounced him.
"Ha! Down goes the straw man!" laughed a new voice.
And the others were shocked to see it was a lion, but to Omega and Diamond, this lion looked an awful lot like...
"Wrecker?" said the two girls.
"That's my name. Wrecker the brave lion!" said the lion, who began taunting Tin Crosshair. "Ooh! Think you're so scary with your big weapon, eh? I'll take ya down with my bare paws. I'll take ya with one paw tied behind my back."
"Don't you dare try anything!" Diamond said.
But Wrecker just roared at Diamond, sending the poor little pony flying up into a tree for her safety.
"HA! Can't take on a big strong lion like me!"
But then Omega hit Wrecker with a ball of light, scaring him down to the ground.
"Leave her alone!" Omega said angrily, not seeming aware that the lion was quivering in fear as he curled up on the ground. "You should be ashamed of yourself, picking on an innocent little pegasus filly!"
"Why did you hit me with a fireball?" the lion cried.
"It was a ball of light, it didn't even scratch you." Omega rolled her eyes.
Still, the lion covered his eyes and cried.
"Either Omega is the bravest girl I've ever seen..." Tech Crow said.
"Or that lion is acting like a big baby." Diamond said, still in the tree.
"It's okay, Diamond. You can come down now." Omega said.
"I don't think so. I like it better up here."
Omega glared at the lion and said, "Well, Wrecker. Since you scare her up there, you go get her and bring her back down."
Wrecker looked up at the tall tree and got nervous.
"You want me to climb... up there?" He got shaky as the tree seemed to get taller the more he looked up.
"What? Are you scare of heights or something?" Crosshair teased the poor lion.
"Yes!" Wrecker started crying again. "I'm sorry! I'm not a brave lion. I'm scared of heights, the dark, being alone! Everything! I'm a big baby!"
"Well, you don't to pick on those smaller than you to be tough." Omega said. "And everyone gets scared. Even my grandpa gets scared, and he's big and super strong."
"Why are you in this scary forest anyway?"
"We're on our way to the Emerald City to meet the wizard. He's going to help me and Diamond get home to our family."
"And he's going to help me find creativity."
"And a heart for me," said Tin Crosshair.
"Do you think the wizard could make me brave?" asked the lion.
"I don't see why not." Omega said. "Why don't you come with us?"
"Will it be scary?"
"Not if we stick together and follow the yellow brick road. My uncle Carmine says when you take the stage with others, you won't feel as afraid."
"But, we are not on a stage." Tech Crow said.
The girls chuckled.
"My uncle and aunt Caroline work in performing arts." Omega said. Then she got sad again, thinking about more of her family. "What would i give to hear Uncle Carmine bursting into song right now?"
"Why would he do that?" Wrecker asked.
"He's a singer. Pretty much everyone in my family loves to sing and dance. And no one does it like Uncle Carmine. His whole power is music."
Omega looked down again, and then Diamond thought of something to help cheer Omega up.
"Hey, Omega? Do you remember that happy little song Carmine sang the other day when you and Boba were struggling to learn a new trick for cheer squad? You were both all frowny and such?"
"Yeah, why?"
"I think you could use it right now. The Omega I know has a bright smile that can light up a room. That's why your dad calls you Sunshine." Diamond said, nuzzling Omega's nose with hers, making Omega giggle. "I think our friends could use a little cheer themselves."
"What's wrong with us?" Crosshair said.
"Everyone needs a moment to just smile." Diamond said, shining her pearly white smile.
And music started to play.
Diamond:
It's so easy, anyone can do it!
It's attached to you here on your face
These are 43 muscles to use
You just have to put them
In the right place
Omega started to smile a little as she remembered this song, and soon she was singing too, and trying to encourage her friends to join in as they continued down the yellow brick road
Omega:
If we can do it, so can you
Tooth by tooth, row by row
Diamond:
When you let your happy through
The whole room starts to glow!
Both:
Twist that frown upside down
You gotta twist that frown
Up-up-up-upside down!
Because we're gonna have
Turn the feeling around
There's a seat for everyone
You gotta make that smile
Out of a frown right now
Twist it upside down
Up-up-up-upside down, right now!
The group continued down the road until they came across a field of lots of pretty flowers, and they seemed to dance along to the music too. And Omega took Tech Crow's hands and started to dance the way Carmine sometimes did with her and the other kids.
Omega:
Take it from me
Don't try to resist
Go along, don't fight the song
Diamond:
It's doesn't get any better than this!
Omega:
Maybe it could if we all sang along!
And both girls did their best, encouraging the guys to twist their frowns upside down. Wrecker turned out to be easy; all the dancing with the flowers and music made it pretty hard for him not to smile.
Both:
Twist that frown upside down
You gotta twist that frown
Up-up-up-upside down
'Cause we're gonna have fun, fun, fun
Turn the feeling around
There's a seat for everyone
You gotta make a smile out of a frown right now
Twist it upside down
Up-up-up-upside down right now
Pretty soon, Tech Crow was finding himself smiling too.
Tech:
I never realized I could have fun like this
Omega:
That's the thing, happiness is contagious!
Tech-Crow:
Diamond, care to join me in dance?
Diamond:
Yes! Let's mix it up. Have a blast!
So the scarecrow and pegasus mixed it up and danced with the flowers.
Omega:
Join in, Crosshair. There's plenty of space.
And then, Crosshair felt an odd sensation as the corners of his mouth turned upward.
Crosshair:
What's happening to my face?
Diamond:
There's only so much time before the school bell rings
So try it out, that smiling thing
Before they knew it, everyone was smiling some and having fun just dancing about, cartwheeling in the field and rolling in the flowers.
Twist that frown upside down
You gotta twist that frown upside down
You gotta twist that frown upside down
You gotta twist that frown upside down
You gotta twist that frown upside down
You gotta twist that frown
Up-up-up-upside down
'Cause we're gonna have fun, fun, fun
Turn the feeling around
There's a seat for everyone
You gotta make a smile out of a frown
You gotta make a smile out of a frown
You gotta make a smile out of a frown right now
Twist it upside down
The five friends soon found themselves laying on the flowery fields, laughing their hearts out and smiling together, Omega smiling the biggest and brightest of all. She couldn't remember the last time she'd felt so happy or laughed so hard.
"I can't remember the last time I had a good laugh." said Tech Crow.
"Neither can I. Phew!" Crosshair breathed.
"You were right, Diamond." Omega smiled. "I feel so much better now."
"Uh oh." Wrecker said. "It's getting dark."
"Wrecker is right," said Tech Crow. "We'll need to stop and make camp."
"But we have to make it to the Emerald City!" Omega said, her smile quickly disappearing. "There's still a way to go."
"Which is exactly why we should make camp." Tech Crow said. "The road will be more dangerous when it gets dark."
"I can make light, though." Omega said.
"But I think they're right, Omega." Diamond said, laying down. "My legs are getting tired."
"Luckily for us..." said Tech Crow.
Everyone was filled with awe when the sun went down and there were lots of shooting stargazers blooming, their petals sparkling like the twinkling stars at night.
"Lamenta would really love these flowers." Omega said. "And so would Mom and Aunt Kara, and Grandma too."
"Sounds like you got a big family." said Crosshair.
"We do." Diamond said.
"Okay, let's stop to make camp." Omega said. "And I'll show you guys a picture I have."
So, the five friends got to work setting up their camp, but they didn't know that someone else was watching them now.
Darth Sidious was watching from a crystal ball in his dark castle, seeing the teenage girl and her diamond pony with the ruby slippers.
"So, the little shoe thief has gotten herself three new friends, has she?" Sidious sneered. "That little girl will not get away with my slippers for very long. Enjoy your rest now, princess. For when you wake, you shall be dealt a great deal of terror."