After a week full of bad luck, the Jedi Council called an emergency meeting! This was way too strange to just be bad luck. Seven bad days in a row? Even people with bad attitudes didn't have that much misfortune following them around, and it didn't usually happen to large numbers of people at the same time, at least not to most folks' knowledge.

Everyone in the room was a total mess!

Obi-Wan was covered in baby food from Olivia throwing her breakfast all over him and squirting him with her bottle. And now he had to take Olivia with him to the meeting because Satine was feeling sick and Korkie stayed back to take care of her.

Kit and Sunheart got their tentacles and mane tangled up from bumping into each other this morning, Mace was covered in soot after the oven practically exploded in his apartment, and Anakin's hair had been turned blue because somehow his shampoo bottle got mixed up with Boba's hair dye as he'd been meaning to reapply his streaks. And the Council weren't the only ones to fall victim to bad luck today either.

Ahsoka got grape juice spilled all over her robes in the commissary that morning then bumped her head on the table twice, Petro and Ganodi slammed into each other after slipping on some more spilled juice, Master Luminara got her dress ripped after Citrus accidentally bumped into her and knocked her down while he was blinded from lemon juice squirting in his eye when he was making himself some iced tea, and Master Plo got his claws stuck in some brownies that Strawberry made and somehow made really sticky. Comedia was still licking them clean for him.

"Yum!" Comedia smiled. At least one good thing was happening today. "This is one mess I definitely don't mind cleaning."

"I am glad at least one of us is happy this morning." Plo said, feeling a little disgusted by the horse saliva getting on his hands.

"Well I, for one, am not." Magenta said, still trying to get her hairbrush out of her mane. "How did my hairbrush even get honey on it?"

"Calm down, you must." Yoda said.

"Easy for you to say. The worst thing that's happened to you was your oatmeal being too runny at breakfast."

"We all know all this bad luck happening is too strange to be just a coincidence." Anakin said. "That's why we're here."

"It's true." said Sapphire. "Bad things have been happening to all of us. Just look at me!"

"Sapphire, you look fine." said Sunheart. "Stunning as usual."

And then Sapphire turned her back to show that there was a squirrel nestled up in her tail and leaving a huge mess of leaves and acorns in it.

"Okay, how did none of us notice that?" Anakin said.

"I haven't been able to sit down because of this squirrel. As much as it bugs me to have him using my tail as a blanket without my consent, I don't wish to disturb him."

"Just let me get him." Hydrangea said, using her mouth to get the squirrel off Sapphire's tail and carry him away somewhere else.

"There's no denying it." Comedia said, licking her mouth after finishing the chocolate. "This is all bad luck."

"Like I keep telling my daughter," said Master Mundi. "There is no such thing as luck."

"Then how else would you explain everything that's happened?" said Citrus. "Everything literally falling apart, everyone falling down randomly, getting hurt, lemon juice squirting in my eye, Magenta's hairbrush being covered in honey, Anakin getting blue hair, those bats getting into Katooni's room, a squirrel nestling in Sapphire's tail?"

"Diamond getting a salad with carrots in it, that would just be an accidental serving of food she doesn't like." Anakin said. "But everyone spilling food on themselves, dropping things, falling down, and slipping on things at least twenty times a day for three days straight?"

"I guess it really is just a superstition that finding a coin gives you good luck." Comedia said, getting out the gold coin she'd found when her bad luck started. "And it was a really pretty coin too."

"Wait a minute. Comedia, can I take a look at that coin real quick?"

"Sure."

Comedia gave the coin to Anakin, and he examined it. The coin looked very familiar.

"This looks a lot like a coin Carmine found recently. And what's even weirder... I've never seen a coin like this before. It's definitely not any currency I've seen."

And Anakin was right. This coin was about the size of a quarter and it was a golden color. It looked nothing like Republic credits, and Anakin hadn't lived in the Outer Rim in fourteen years, but he was pretty sure wupiupi coins didn't have a picture of a beetle on them. Recently, his family learned about Solaran currency and Enchantra currency in general. It was a special coin called sun dollars, and the most valuable was golden, but it was two times bigger than this coin.

"Comedia, is there some society in Enchantra that uses coins like these?"

Comedia shook her head and said, "Not that I'm aware of. I found that coin after my dad and I did a grocery run last week, just after our bad luck started."

Anakin thought back to when Carmine found the coin. He'd said that he, Caroline, and Susy were all having bad luck just before he found it, and then more bad luck happened.

"Ahsoka, didn't you find a coin like that on Shili?" Fiesta pointed out.

"Yeah, I did." Ahsoka said.

"Do you still have it?" Anakin asked.

Ahsoka got the coin from her room, and sure enough, it matched Comedia's coin.

"You know, it's odd." Peppermint said, remembering something. "Korkie said he found a coin when he was taking Olivia for a walk in the park, and it looked just like that too. And then we started having bad luck too!"

Anakin then remembered Senator Chuchi finding a coin. He didn't get a good look at it, though. So, he asked Padme if she could contact her and find out what it looked like.

A couple hours later, sure enough, the coin Senator Chuchi found matched the ones everyone else found.

Back at the palace...

"And all of these coins were found somewhere bad luck was happening?" Qui-Gon asked everyone.

"It looks that way." Anakin nodded.

"Wait a minute!" Qui-Gon opened his laptop and looked something up. A news report.

According to Qui-Gon's research, all these places where these coins were found and the worst bad luck happened, there were also a lot of robberies reported not far away. Jewelry stores, houses, even banks were robbed. But nothing was caught on security cameras because they'd all shorted out or electrocuted security detail. They did, however, find that the most stolen items consisted of things made of gold and crystals.

Garrett got in touch with Hunter over holo-chat, who'd gone with the rest of the Batch to talk to Cid and find answers. And, of course, they found Ord Mantell had also fallen victim to bad luck, and gold was stolen there too!

"But why would someone need to steal gold if they already have a bunch of gold coins?" Omega said over the phone.

"This isn't gold at all." Tech confirmed, getting a better look at one of the coins.

Tech decided to run some tests on the coin, and found that it stuck to a magnet! Even Wrecker didn't need Tech's smarts to know that coins didn't usually stick to magnets. And gold was one of those metals that doesn't stick to magnets.

"This coin is made of pyrite, also known as fool's gold. According to Mila, it's fooled a lot of miners in various parts of her world before. While it may be shiny and beautiful like gold, it's practically worthless on the market."

"So, we're looking for a criminal walking around with worthless coins?" Hunter said, sounding confused. "That's just weird."

Echo looked through the database and found that the description of these coins matched with an escaped convict named Fortuna O'Sullivan, but she called herself Miss Fortune.

"The name she gave herself is all too appropriate." Echo said. "Says here she's some kind of leprechaun called a meabhlúchaun."

"I thought leprechauns were supposed to be good luck." Omega said, looking at the mugshot. "And that they wore green, not red."

"Isn't it also said that if you catch one, they have to give you gold?" Wrecker asked.

"That depends on which kind of leprechaun you run into." Mariposa said. "Remember, there good and bad versions of various creatures. The leprechauns you know of are sneaky, but they are also usually playful and full of good luck and kindred spirit of green being good as gold."

"Meabhlúchauns are an entirely different story." Garrett said. "Unlike leprechauns in green, they are a seductive type of being whose sole purpose is to spread bad luck everywhere they go, and many of them like to use this to their advantage for various selfish purposes."

"But why pyrite coins?" Omega asked.

"Pyrite is fool's gold, and while it may have no marketing value in most places, most do not know it has magical properties, particularly in the negative energy field. Thus, when made into coins and flipped by a meabhlúchaun, they can spread bad luck anywhere and have it affect everyone but them."

"But then why isn't she going after leprechauns to take their gold?"

"A thing about meabhlúchauns, they don't like rainbows. Too much happy energy, and that is what leprechauns make their protective barriers out of to protect their pots of gold from them specifically."

"According to some legends," said Mariposa. "If a meabhlúchaun collects enough gold and jewels, they can not only turn themselves into good luck leprechauns, but it is said to grant them immense powers to make them invincible."

Echo looked again at Ms. Fortune's profile and confirmed that was what she'd been trying to do before she was convicted.

"Says here, she was almost successful. All the items she stole were returned, and her magic coins were confiscated."

Mariposa looked in a book with what Miss Fortune would need to do to complete her task.

"Huh, ironically, in order to perform this ritual she's looking to do, she would require someone to make a rainbow to complete the spell. Fortunately, not a lot of spell casters can do that."

"Why not?" Tech asked. Magical creatures were something he was not an expert on.

"Rainbow magic is powered by someone who is a living beacon of happiness, hope, and typically a very colorful personality."

"Wait a minute." Maybelle said. "Doesn't Princess Gabby do that? And what about her uncle?"

The others quickly realized Maybelle was right! Carmine and Gabby were both beacons of energy. As Count Crescendo, Carmine sometimes conjured a rainbow for a big finish at a concert, and Gabby made rainbows almost everyday. If Miss Fortune needed someone who could make a rainbow for thus ritual she wanted to perform... then that put both of them in danger!

Crosshair then tripped and bumped heads with Teatra.

"OW!" they both groaned.

"Is there some way to defeat her and make all this bad luck stop?" Crosshair asked, rubbing his head.

"There is, but it's very tricky." Garrett said.

"According to this report, a lot of folks ended up in the hospital while trying to capture her." said Echo. "Huh. Guess it's not that surprising with all the misfortune she spreads."

"It would be kinda hard to catch someone when you're busy dodging falling objects, tripping all over the place, and bumping into things." Omega said

"If any of us want to catch this girl, we'll need to dig a little more information on her." said Garrett.

Mini-R2 beeped as he'd found some information. It turned out Ms. Fortune had a sister named Clover O'Sullivan. At least, that was her maiden name before she got married Harden Nite.

"I know him!" said Carmine. "He was one of my teachers at Melody Academy. I'll see if I can get in touch with him."

"Take the little girls with you. They may aid in getting the right help." Qui-Gon said.

"Okay, Dad."

And so, Carmine, his wife, and his adoptive mother went to visit their old alma mater.

Lamenta and Gabby couldn't believe their eyes when they saw Carmine and Caroline's old high school in person.

Here, nothing bad seemed to be going on. Students were making music, dancing, and singing as usual.

"You really went to school here?" Lamenta gasped.

"Indeed they did." Susy said. She looked around and took in all the sights. "It's been so long since I've seen this place."

"I remember my first ballet class here." Caroline said.

"Your mother was the finest female dancer here, you know, Lamenta." Susy said. "Work really hard and someday you could be the next top dancer here."

The group walked into the hall for a while and ran into a couple of old friends, including one well dressed man Carmine almost didn't recognize.

"Mr. Jakobi, is that really you?" Carmine said.

"Carmine Jinn? How long as it been?" said Jakobi, happy to see his former assistant.

"About five years."

"And... Susy? Where have you been? Everyone thought you died in an accident."

"That was only partially true." Caroline said. "My parents were the ones who died. Susy got kidnapped by Zygerrians impersonating doctors to capture vulnerable patients."

"I'm so sorry, Caroline. You are as beautiful as ever, though. And are both of these little beauties yours?"

Carmine introduced his daughter and niece to Jakobi.

"Gabby is my brother Anakin's."

"Ah, yes. I remember the news reports about the royal family."

"I see you've changed a lot too."

"Ah, yes. No longer a janitor, am I. Completed my studies and became the new guidance counselor just five months ago."

"Congratulations." Caroline said.

"As nice as it is to see you, we're actually here to see Prof. Nite. Does he still work here?" Carmine asked.

"As a matter of fact, he does. He and his wife are in the middle of touring the school with their sons today."

Jakobi brought the group to a room where Prof. Nite was with a woman with red hair dressed in green. And they had two boys in the room with them. One looked about Boba and Omega's age, and the other was maybe a year older than Gabby and Lamenta. They both had the same red hair as their mother. The older one was trying out a cello in the music room.

"Excuse me, Prof. Nite?" said Carmine.

Prof. Nite looked up and was surprised to see one of his prized students back, as well as a former teacher.

"Carmine, Caroline. What a pleasant surprise. And a perfect timing. My wife and I were giving our sons Arthur and Gino a tour of the school."

"Your boys wanna be musicians someday?" Carmine said.

"I'm a violinist." said the older boy, Arthur. "I wanna play at Coruscanti Hall someday."

Then he missed a note.

"Dang it!"

"Hey, don't sweat it. Even I missed a note or two in my day." Carmine said. "Keep practicing, and you'll do great someday."

Carmine picked up a violin and played a short song perfectly on it.

"I can do that too!" Lamenta said, picking up a little violin and playing Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star on it.

"That's my girl." said Carmine.

"Looks like you got lucky after becoming teen parents." Nite said.

"Yes, we did." Carmine said. Then he looked at Nite's sons. "But I don't recommend either of you do it."

"Any plans to train your daughter to go to school here someday?"

"Only if she wishes it." Carmine said. "Right now, she's preparing to be a big sister in five months."

"Ah, congratulations. My wife and I are expecting another child in five months as well. A girl, according to our last appointment. Have you learned what yours will be?"

"No. We wanted to be surprised, just like with Lamenta."

It was then that Nite realized his wife had been totally silent.

"Clover, Dear. I don't believe you've met my prized students?"

Clover looked at the two royals and then looked away, seeming worried.

"Mrs. Clover..." Caroline said. "I assume you know why we're here?"

"If you're here to ask me about my sister, I know nothing of her whereabouts." Clover said. "Like I told the boys, she is dead to this family."

"You were never close with your sister?"

"Never. She chose a path of hate and brought shame to our family name by ending up in prison."

"Well, she's creating a lot of bad luck for everyone." Gabby said. "She just escaped prison, and if there's anything about her you can tell us, it might help us keep the bad luck off the streets."

"Like I said, Fortuna and I haven't spoken since we were children. I tried to reason with her once, but then, she did this to me."

Clover rolled up her left sleeve and showed a nasty scar that was still visible, but looked old.

"She said if I ever got in her way again, I wouldn't be so lucky to get just a scar. As far as I'm aware, she doesn't even know I'm married or a mother. And I can't put my babies at risk."

"I understand, Mrs. Nite." Carmine said. "You just want to protect your family. And if you help us, we can make sure Ms. Fortune... Fortuna, whichever you call her, doesn't get to your family, and you'd be helping lots of other families stay safe as well."

"I don't know. All I can tell you is that my worst luck has definitely been getting stuck with a sister full of hate."

"Aren't leprechauns supposed to be the beacon of good luck or something?" Lamenta said.

"We leprechauns are famous for being good luck and carrying pots of gold. But a lot of stereotypes are made about us too. Take a look at my height, for instance."

Most believed leprechauns were only two or three feet high, but Clover reached approximately five foot seven inches in height. And most assumed leprechauns only wore green. But like most humanoids, the color they wore was a personal choice.

"I wear green most of the time to honor my heritage. But I can wear any other color any time, as can my children."

And it was true. Currently, Arthur was dressed in blue, and Gino wore black and yellow.

"And contrary to popular belief, leprechauns do not always have to give you a pot of gold if you capture them. We are capable of fighting back and refusing. It is only the weak minded ones who end up losing their gold."

"Where do leprechauns get all the gold, anyway?" Gabby asked.

"It is an old currency our ancestors earned for being the best cobblers, or shoemakers. My family does do that for a living, but we live much like ordinary citizens."

"And, what about your sister?"

Clover found this to be a hard subject to talk about.

"Fortuna wanted more than what our family had in the beginning. She wanted a lavish lifestyle, fame, fortune. She wanted everything handed to her, but she quickly found that she'd faced a lot of misfortune. She was very clumsy as a child. Always getting hurt, stumbling into things, her belongings falling out of her bag, you name it. It was then we realized she was a meabhlúchaun, and our classmates made fun of her, calling her Miss Fortune. Sadly, our parents turned a blind eye, saying she was doomed to be a walking disaster because of the energy she surrounded herself with."

"So, they basically said it was her fault that every bad thing happened to her?" Gabby said in disbelief.

"In a word, yes. But that just wasn't so. You see, the reason leprechauns are some of the luckiest beings is that we tend to surround ourselves with positive energy of many fields. The more we manifest and spread, the luckier we are, and good things are called to us. But when we spend too much time away from that stuff, terrible things, bad mojo I believe some of the kids call it, is what arrives."

According to what Clover could recall, her sister grew tired of the mistreatment for all the bad luck she faced, and she decided to learn the ways of the meabhlúchaun. She read books about negative energy, dark forces, and how to harness the lesser known magical properties of pyrite to her advantage. And so, she managed to move her curse of bad luck to the coins, so instead of inflicting herself with bad luck, it spread to other people, thus leaving her with only good luck. Her most common targets were wealthy men, whether they were married or not. And she basically seduced them into a trap where she flipped her coin and then used the bad luck she spread to disable all security systems, disarm any guards, and make any evidence disappear before the authorities could get to her. It wasn't until Clover testified against her own sister that she finally faced justice.

It was hardest thing Clover had ever done. She'd had tears in her eyes as she watched her sister being cuffed and taken away to prison, and that was twenty years ago.

"We're so sorry." Susy said.

"We understand it must be hard still today." Caroline said. "And we understand if you're hesitant to say anything now. But... is there any particular place that was important to you and your sister that she might be targeting? Some place she might go to perform a ritual?"

"Well... there's only one place leprechauns can perform such a ritual. Many meabhlúchauns have tried to perform the ritual, but all of them failed. The best those who genuinely wanted to change for good could do was to get a diamond horseshoe."

"Diamond horseshoes?" said Lamenta.

"Diamonds are one of the sturdiest gemstones around. As symbols of love and fidelity, and reflectors of rainbows much like a glass prism, their positivity combined with the good luck of a horseshoe helped to ward off the negative energy they used to face. And once they spent enough time wearing it, they were able to transform themselves into true good leprechauns."

"Did you ever try that with your sister?" Carmine said.

"Such a thing was fairly new by the time my sister and I grew apart. Even if my parents weren't skeptical about it, they believed it was too late for Fortuna, as she had already turned sixteen, thus growing into her full powers."

"And this place that she would go to perform the ritual?" Gabby asked.

"She would go to where it all began. The very place she was tormented in her childhood. I'm afraid I can only give you the location. I cannot put the rest of my family at risk."

"Do you at least know how she was defeated last time?" Gabby asked.

"No. They didn't share any details with me. I'm sorry."

"Thank you, anyway." Carmine said.

The group began to leave and started to brainstorm how they could find out how Ms. Fortune was originally defeated. Echo was still looking in the database to find any answers he could, but wasn't finding a lot besides the crimes she'd committed. But then, Gabby had an idea.

"I might know another place to find answers. The same place we learned how to defeat Lady Morpha."