The new year had begun, and that meant it was gonna be time for school to start again soon.
Everyone loved the holidays, but even they had their downsides, and the biggest downside was always... cleaning up when it was over.
Saying goodbye to the good times was always a sad thing. But you know what they say about endings. Each one brings a brand-new beginning, and after Life Day comes New Year's, after which came a new semester for school.
The Skywalker-Jinn children were no exception to this.
"Oh, children." Shmi said, looking at the time. "Grab your backpacks and get to the ship. You don't want to be late."
The kids were just finishing their breakfast. It was the first day of back to school after the holidays, and the kids were ready to get back to learning in a classroom and getting a break from all the excitement they faced this holiday season. Saving Santa and Life Day from two clavatized villains, delivering a billion presents across the galaxy in one night and making it home in time to celebrate with family on Life Day Morning. It was all exhausting!
"I call shotgun!" Omega exclaimed, getting in the ship first after passing through the snow.
"Be careful, kids." Padme said, coming to get the kids to school. "It's still a little slippery out here."
"WHOA!" exclaimed another voice. "Watch out!"
Anakin slipped right past the kids, just barely managing to save himself with a couple vines.
"See what I mean?" Padme chuckled.
"I'm okay, though." Anakin said, dusting some snow off his pants. "Just giving the kids an example of why they need to be careful."
The kids laughed and got into the ship so their parents could drop them off at school.
Twenty minutes later...
Everyone at school was all bundled up in their winter wear, as it was snowing today. Not enough to cancel school, but definitely enough to play with at recess later.
Padme and Anakin kissed the children goodbye and sent them in to head to their respective classrooms.
"I hope they don't forget to turn the heat on in the gym today." Boba said. "Remember what Uncle Carmine said about dancers and cold season?"
"Cold weather and strong dancing muscles don't mix." Omega nodded. "I remember."
"Don't I know it." said Lamenta as she walked into the hall with her cousins. "Dance on cold muscles and it's Ouchie City."
The kids soon went their separate ways and got to their classrooms.
Gabby and Lamenta found their desks, but Lamenta looked around and saw Lee Ali wasn't there.
"Lee Ali must be running late today." Lamenta guessed.
As it was time for class to begin, Ms. Deera had a special announcement.
"Everyone, I'm very glad to see you all again. I hope you all had a marvelous holiday with your friends and family. Now, let's all give a warm welcome to our newest student."
Next to Ms. Deera, there was a little human girl with pretty brown skin dressed in yellow, and she had a little headband with little curly antenna on it.
"Everyone, this is Goldie Heartwood. Goldie, would you like to tell us something about yourself?"
Goldie was very shy, and she started hiding her face behind her caterpillar plushie.
"Uh... I'm from Enchantra, and I like gardening too." she said, hugging her toy.
"Now, Goldie. I understand it can feel scary being in a new school, and we will do all we can to help you feel welcome." said the teacher. "Why don't you take a seat next to Gabriella? Gabby, would you please help Goldie?"
"Sure, Ms. Deera." Gabby smiled, helping the new girl to her seat. "I'm Gabby Skywalker, by the way. Welcome to Windy Falls."
"Thanks." Goldie said, still a little shy.
Meanwhile, Boba was ecstatic to reunite with Roya, and when the teacher wasn't looking, they shared a quick kiss.
"How was your vacation?" Omega asked her friend Hera.
"It was good, thanks." Hera said. "But, would you believe that some monster terrorized all the kids on Life Day Eve?"
"I would." Omega chuckled. "But my family stopped the monster and saved Life Day."
"I always thought Krampus was just a story."
"He is. The monster you're talking about was Scare Mare, a clavatized pony friend of ours. But she's fine now, and Mariverde hasn't tried another attack lately."
Later, it was recess time, and Goldie went into the girls' bathroom to make a call on her phone.
"Hi, Mommy." said Goldie.
"How's your first day going, Baby?" said a voice on the other end.
"Okay. I met Gabby Skywalker."
"Good. Now, remember. You have to earn her trust and her friends. And don't act suspicious around Lamenta. She has the power to see truth. You can't let them find out you're a Doresho Gypsy."
"What about if they ask me where I'm from?" Goldie asked.
"Just tell them the truth, but don't tell them what kind of Enchanted you are. Remember, Goldie. Be yourself. Daddy will pick you up after school, okay?"
"Okay, Mommy."
Goldie's mother hung up, and Goldie went outside to see the other kids playing in the snow.
Gabby and Lamenta were building a snow castle in the snow. Goldie looked around and tried to figure out what to do.
Goldie was more than just a new student here, you see. She was there for an inside job. Her mission was simple: become friends with the children in the royal family. But, Goldie knew that was easier said than done. For one thing, Goldie was pretty shy. Her mother, Mariposa, was a Doresho Gypsy like Gray Morpha and Mariverde, Goldie's aunts. But, Mariposa, for as long as she could remember, was always different from her sisters.
Mariposa could communicate with and control butterflies like her sisters, but she didn't seek power or enslave folks with her powers. In fact, she found a way to use her power for good, and unlike her sisters, she did what many young women dreamed of. She met a wonderful man, the kind you never think you'll meet but feel blessed when by some miracle you do, got married, and eventually they had a baby girl.
Mariposa thought she'd finally escaped her old life after she'd found a safe, simple home with her husband where they could raise Goldie to lead a happy life, and hopefully lead any other Doresho Gypsies they found to change their ways and how the rest of the Galaxy viewed them.
With Mariverde back to her old tricks, Mariposa felt sure that would endanger her family's safety. So, she saw only one way to keep Goldie safe. She hypothesized that if her daughter could gain the royal family's trust, then she could also gain their trust and aid them in stopping Mariverde and getting their aid in ensuring her family's safety and changing the way the rest of Enchantra viewed her species.
Goldie didn't have any wings yet. Right now, she was still in her caterpillar state. Just like regular butterflies, young doresho gypsies spent their youth nurturing themselves with lots of food, and then once they were ready, they spent time in a special sleeping stage in which they transformed into a beautiful, colorful winged miracle of life.
But, for this mission to be a success, Goldie would have to approach the princesses and get them to spend time with her.
Goldie took a breath, and slowly approached Lamenta and Gabby as Gabby grew some blue and white flowers to decorate the castle with.
"Um... hi." Goldie said, getting the two princesses' attention. "Remember me? From class this morning?"
"Yeah, I remember you." Gabby said. "Hi, Goldie. This is my cousin Lamenta."
"Hello." Lamenta said.
"Uh... do you guys think I could play with you?"
"You like building castles too?" said Lamenta.
"Yeah. Back home, I built castles with blocks. But I never used snow."
"Well, in that case, join us and we'll show you how to do it." Gabby said. "It's a lot of fun."
So, Goldie did join in on building a snow castle with the girls. But the poor girl shivered a little.
"Cold?" Gabby said.
"A little." Goldie confessed. "But I'm used to winter being a little warmer back home."
"Where are you from, anyway?" Lamenta asked.
"Oh, just a little village on Planet Verden. My parents said it would be good for me to come to school here and meet more kids my age."
"Wait until you see Naboo when spring finally comes." Gabby said. "It's always so beautiful."
"My mom loves flowers." said Goldie. "She has the most beautiful garden in the world."
"Maybe she and my parents can share gardening tips." said Gabby. "Daddy grows plants and Mommy knows all about the different plants native to Naboo."
The bell soon rang for the students to get back to class, which was disappointing because snow days were one of the best days to play. But, with this cold weather there was a good chance of the cafeteria serving hot chocolate today.
"Hey, Goldie. Wanna sit with us at lunch today?" Gabby asked.
"Really?" said Goldie.
"Sure. It'll be a great chance to get to know each other better."
At lunch later, Goldie sent a message to her mom, telling her that she made it to lunch with two of the youngest princesses. It would probably take some time, but with a little effort, they would move on to having playdates with each other.
Sure enough, there was hot chocolate served, to the children's delight. And what was hot cocoa without cookies?
"That's good cocoa." Omega sighed happily, taking a sip of cocoa.
"School's pretty relaxing compared to all the crazy stuff we experienced." Boba said, his fingers feeling frozen. "Brr! I wonder if this is how Aqualia feels when she's in cold environments."
"You can bet she does." Roya said. "Winter is a nightmare for water makers and merfolk on land."
Omega used her magic to warm herself a little more.
"I think I just found another use for my power." Omega said.
"How come you got the light and I got stuck with water?" Boba asked. "We both grew up on Kamino."
"Maybe it has to do with you having a stronger connection to it." Roya hypothesized. "You were the one who uncovered the secret of the river of memories, and you've been in contact with more than one body of water since you left Kamino, so that could be one reason."
"I don't know a lot about magic, but I do know Omega is very bright." Hera added. "If I've learned anything from pilot training, it's that once you go into the light of a new world, you never want to get away."
After school, Lamenta asked Crescent to take her to Lee Ali's apartment.
Lee Ali never showed up to school, and Lamenta was worried. She hadn't heard from her either. But, she did hear people were getting sick at this time of year. If Lee Ali was sick, Lamenta wanted to know she was alright. So, naturally she volunteered to deliver the assignments she missed today. Of course, Caroline didn't let her go alone.
Lamenta knocked on the door. Lee Ali's mother answered.
"Oh, Princess Caroline." she greeted, wiping her eye like she'd been crying. "Lamenta, what a nice surprise."
"Hi, Mrs. Hartem." Lamenta said. "How's Lee Ali? I didn't see her at school today."
"We brought her homework over." Caroline said.
Mrs. Hartem thanked the Jinns for their deed and invited them in as it felt cold outside.
"Lee Ali, your friend Lamenta is here."
But Lee Ali didn't come out from her room. Lamenta looked around. Caroline didn't need magic or the Force to notice that there were sad vibes around here. Mr. Hartem looked like he was trying to stay strong, and Lee Ali's older sister Naya was hugging herself, hiding underneath a hood, looking like she'd been crying.
"Where's Lee Ali?" Lamenta asked Naya.
"In our room, moping." said Naya simply.
Lamenta looked into Lee Ali and Naya's bedroom. Sure enough, Lee Ali was there, laying in her bed, Yappy laying beside her, whimpering.
"Hi, Lee Ali." said Lamenta quietly, but loud enough for Lee Ali to hear her. "Are you okay?"
"Do I look okay?" Lee Ali said miserably.
Lamenta could tell that Lee Ali wasn't sick. Not physically anyway.
"Lee Ali, what's the matter?" she asked her friend. "I was really worried when you didn't come to school today."
"I didn't feel like going today. And I never will again."
Lee Ali sounded like she was crying now.
Lamenta came closer and told Lee Ali she was here to help. The last thing she wanted was to resort to her magic to find out. If something was bothering Lee Ali, Lamenta wanted her to tell her herself, as she should. Lamenta might have the power to see the truth, but that didn't mean she was going to use it to snoop into her friend's personal life.
Lee Ali just started crying again, motivating Lamenta to pull her friend into a hug.
Meanwhile, Caroline joined Lee Ali's parents in the den for some hot tea.
"Oh, Corrine, I'm so sorry for your loss." Caroline said. "If there's anything I can do to help..."
"I'm not sure there's anything anyone can do right now." said Mrs. Hartem. "It's hardest on the girls right now."
"Both of them were out of school today," said Mr. Hartem. "Not that I can blame them. After last night, who would be able to focus on anything else?"
As it turned out, Mr. Hartem's mother had apparently passed away in her sleep the day before, and the family found out last night. The whole family was up all night, crying. Lee Ali and Naya were close to their grandmother, and the last time they ever saw her was on New Year's Eve.
"The last thing we did was count down until midnight." said Lee Ali to Lamenta.
Lee Ali held in her hands a very special necklace of rose gold with a round watch hanging from it.
"My grandma gave me this necklace for Life Day, and I wore it the last time I ever saw her." Lee Ali felt her cheek as a tear ran down it. "Just before I fell asleep, she gave me a new year's goodnight kiss. And that was the last time I ever saw her."
Lee Ali cried as Lamenta hugged her and comforted her as best she could. Lamenta felt awful for her friend. Losing her grandmother that way, she couldn't imagine how badly this was hurting her. Nevertheless, she now had tears in her eyes as well.
"I'm so sorry, Lee Ali." Lamenta said. "I had no idea."
"Why did this have to happen?!" Lee Ali cried.
"I wish I knew, Lee. I wish I knew."
But then, Lee Ali looked at her friend and said, "Your cousin! She brought back the dead!"
"Only two people, Lee." Lamenta said, not liking what her friend was about to say.
"You can tell Gabby, and she can-"
"Okay, I'm stopping you right there, Lee Ali." Lamenta held her hands out. "My cousin did bring Grandpa Qui-Gon and Grandma Shmi back to life, but she can't cast it again."
"Why not?" Lee Ali asked.
"Because it's too dangerous. If she started reviving more people, it would upset the balance between life and death in our universe, and it could warp the universe in ways I can't even imagine."
"But can't she at least try?"
"Even if I could ask Gabby to do it, as much as I'd like to, that spell is very hard to cast and very few Enchanteds are strong enough to cast it and survive. I'm sorry, Lee Ali. I wish I could help you somehow."
But, Lee Ali just started crying again.
Lamenta grew some chrysanthemums that were as white as a clear shine of moonlight and gave them to Lee Ali. One way she remembered her parents cheering her up when she felt sad was giving her a flower of some kind. Sometimes it was a folded paper flower, other times it was a flower charm bracelet or a handheld fan with beautiful painted flowers. If there was one thing Lamenta loved about flowers, it was that no matter what kind of flower it was, even a single flower had the power to put a smile on someone's face.
Lee Ali sniffed the pretty flowers and cried a little longer. She was still pretty sad, but the sweet scent of the flowers at least helped her calm down a little.
Yappy sniffed the flowers too and sneezed some of them all gone, spreading petals all over the place.
"Well, at least he missed one." Lamenta chuckled, seeing one flower left.
"Thanks, Lamenta." Lee Ali sniffled, placing the lone flower on her night table.
Lee Ali hugged her friend, feeling grateful that she was here to help her feel better.
"I miss my grandma so much." Lee Ali sniffled.
"I understand, Lee." Lamenta said. "You were so close, and she was obviously an amazing woman. I never experienced losing someone myself, but if you ever need someone who knows what it feels like, my parents know it very well. I may have my grandparents from my dad's side, but I never knew the one's on my mom's. They died before I was even born. But this isn't about me. I never knew her, but I know your grandma wouldn't want you to be sad. If anything, she would have to have been crazy not to feel blessed to be your grandma, and I bet she's watching over you now. Master Yoda always says that our bodies are temporary vessels, and if there's one thing I've learned from those who have experienced loss... the body may die, but the soul that once lived in it never does, and neither does the love shared with them."
Lamenta kept hugging her friend. Lee Ali needed all the comfort she could get, mostly because Lamenta cared about her like a sister, but also because the last thing Lamenta wanted was for Lee Ali's great deal of pain and sadness to attract Mariverde's attention.
Meanwhile, Goldie arrived at her family's new apartment with her father Garret Heartwood.
"Mommy, I'm home." Goldie called.
And in the kitchen, cooking dinner was a familiar woman dress in blue with monarch wings of blue and black.
"How was your first day of school, Goldie?"
"I made friends today." Goldie said. "And I learned to build things with snow."
"And did you have fun?" asked Mariposa.
"Yes."
"Good. Now, remember, Dear. You can have as much fun as you'd like, but remember to stay on the royal family's good side."
"Why are we not telling them what kind of Enchanteds we are again?" Goldie asked.
"Let's just say they need our help, but don't exactly trust our kind enough to accept our assistance right now. We must first prove to them that we mean well, then we can explain to them everything."