Featured song:
1. "Our Time Now" by the Plain White T's
Goldie found the box Buttercup mentioned, and sure enough there was a journal inside of it with Karissa Adebayo's name on it.
"Uh oh!" Goldie said. "I can't read this. It's not written in Basic."
"Hmm, my Harrun dialect is a little rusty, but it looks like it's written in the language some humans refer to as 'Swahili'. But I don't know enough to be able to translate this."
"Let's go find Tech." Goldie said. "He can read lots of languages."
So, they did find Tech at one of the local theaters.
Teatra was working on a Pony Production for a big project she was working on; although her talent mostly resided in acting and musical performance it had been a dream of hers to become a great producer and director, and she had a chance to become part of a big theater program, and could only do so if she did an original play. The play she was working on? She was making the royal family's story into a play. The script was terrific and the stage was being set. The only thing they were lacking was the actors.
Tech, being the smartest and able to think clearly in stressful situations, was working as the assistant casting director. Indira and Hunter were helping too. Indira had great judgement of character, and with Hunter being as sensitive as he was, Teatra figured he would be best at helping uncover the best singers since he had sensitive ears. R2 and Threepio were helping out too, keeping track of everyone who came to audition and translating for anyone who spoke a different language.
"Okay, R2. Who's next?" Teatra asked.
R2 beeped and brought up the next name.
"Artina Lebowitz, you are up next." C-3PO called up.
A young Tholothian came up and began to sing a song, but very off-key, making Hunter cover his ears. Teatra too!
"Cut!" Teatra shouted into her megaphone. "Thank you! Thank you, Artina! We'll let you know what our decision is."
"But I just started," said Artina.
"We've seen and heard all we need, thank you." Tech said. "Off the stage for the next contestant, if you please."
So, the next candidate stepped on stage, when a certain pegazeeb and her girl came bursting in.
"Tech! Tech!" Goldie shouted.
"Cut!" Teatra said again. "Take five, everyone. Auditions will resume shortly."
"Goldie, what's wrong?" Tech asked.
"Brenda... mariclava... diary! Can't read! Trapped!" Goldie panted.
"Long story short," said Buttercup. "Brenda's been clavatized, Myra and Kade are trapped in the box that clavatized her, and the only lead we have is their great grandmother's diary, but it's written in a language none of us understands. Do you happen to know how to read Swahili, Tech?"
"I do." Tech said. "Where is this diary you speak of?"
Goldie took it out from her bag and gave the book to Tech. Tech opened it and started to read it.
"Hmm... intriguing."
"What does it say?" Goldie asked.
"I will translate this in Basic so you can understand."
And Tech began reading it.
On this most important of birthdays, I was certain I wanted it to be my last. So many dreams I hold dear that few know about, dreams too big for this small town in which I live. I am told so often that it's become routine, "Thou art a woman, thou art made to work for man. Never more than thee will thou be." But today, as I prepared to throw myself from the cliff, I was stopped and met by this woman from another world. Here in Horuun Kal, we have many a tale told about the supernatural, and most would consider this woman a witch. Though afraid I was, she gifted me this case, a case of my truth. In this case was an amulet she said I would someday pass to a descendant of mine. Protection, this amulet will grant to those who are true in spirit and heart, and if ever forces that have tried to hold you back should try to reach the treasure within, only words of pure truth and willingness to adapt will allow them to open the box and reunite with what they lost.
"What the heck is that supposed to mean?" Rhett asked.
"I think it means someone has to tell the truth," said Goldie. "Someone who lost something they treasured more than anything else. And right now Kade and Myra are the treasures hidden inside. But Mace and Myra already made amends with each other, and he and Kade even have an undeniable bond with each other. So... who else could we have open it?"
"I'm not sure," said Buttercup. "All I know is we can't destroy the box until we can get Myra and Kade out."
Except, there was a bigger problem on the rise.
Carmine blasted Mama Bear with a Sonar Wave, which threw her off balance for a bit, and Anakin tried trapping her in some vines. Qui-Gon even managed to hold up some of the rubble that fell long enough for everyone to run out and get to safety.
Boba did his best to get the water under control while Omega, Gabby, and Lamenta guided any trapped victims out from the collapsing building. Mama BEar managed to destroy the first building and now was making her way to the next, and more bad luck just kept brewing the more the royal family tried to help.
They called in some of the Jedi for backup, but bad luck was spreading everywhere they went.
"Deja vu!" Comedia said, pulling her horn out from a wall.
"There's too much of this bad luck going around! Incoming." Zipp commented, jumping in to catch Master Fisto as he fell from a crumbling ledge.
"Thank you, Zipp." Kit got down from her back, only to slip on a banana peel that came from out of nowhere and end up knocking Padme down. "I am so sorry, Senator!"
"It's okay, Master Jedi." Padme said.
Suddenly, Gabby got a text on her phone. So did every other member of the royal family, and the group text said the same message.
"Caroline's in labor!" Carmine exclaimed with everyone else.
And what was worse, Caroline and Cecilia were trapped in the Temple. And not even near the Healer's wing. Apparently, they'd gone to the Temple to search for Mace and the others, when one of the doors got stuck and locked them both inside. When Mace wasn't in his apartment, they'd gone to check the others, only to find a bunch of water hazards and other things going on. Now they were trapped in Comedia's bedroom.
"Wait, they're in my room?" said Comedia. "Mariposa, you're a nurse right? You know anything about delivering babies?"
"I do. But unless your room is secretly a maternity ward, I'm not sure you'll have everything they need to give birth." Mariposa said.
"Well, we gotta try something!" Comedia said. "A new baby is on the way!"
"What do we do?! What do we do?!" Carmine panicked. "Okay, let's not panic. My wife is just in labor, and she's trapped in a room where there's nothing helpful for her to safely give birth, and I'm not there to help her! Okay, now I'm panicking!"
Dramatic music started to play as Carmine's emotions were starting to get out of whack!
"Carmine, get a hold of yourself!" Anakin said, slapping his brother's cheek.
"Ouch!" Carmine scolded.
"Look, I know you're distressed, but panicking isn't going to help Caroline or anyone else." Anakin said. "And right now, we've also still got a clavatized villain,if you haven't noticed."
"I'm texting Wrecker, Crosshair, and Echo now." Omega said. "If anyone would be strong enough to break down a door, it's Wrecker, and our three country pony friends know a thing or two about getting through tough situations, and they were literally born in a barn."
But Carmine was worried. His family was dealing with a clavatized villain they couldn't change back to normal, his wife was trapped and in labor, and he wasn't sure where he should go. There was only one of him, and unlike now, when Lamenta was born, he and Caroline were able to plan ahead and get through it no sweat. Back then, they didn't have much, much less a crazy butterfly gypsy after them. Things were simpler then, but now he had to be in a million places at once (not that he didn't already deal with that after he became Count Crescendo).
"Look out!" Comedia shouted.
Lamenta blasted a piece of rubble that nearly fell on her.
"Go help, Mommy, Daddy!" Lamenta said. "She needs you now more than we do. My baby brother or sister needs you like I did when I was born!"
Carmine looked at his daughter and saw it in her eyes that she was begging him to go, and all for the sake of the new baby. The baby wasn't even born yet, and already Lamenta was a great big sister. So, Carmine got onto Comedia's back and began riding her back to the Temple. Mariposa took Carousella; she would've flown herself, but she couldn't risk anyone seeing her wings and realizing she was a doresho gypsy.
Quickly, Carmine called Caroline's phone and asked her to put it on speaker. It was at least lucky that Cecilia was a nurse, but Mariposa would provide some backup.
"Okay, first things first." Mariposa said. "Is there a comfortable surface for Caroline to lay on?"
"There is a bed in here."
"Nevermind getting it messy." Comedia said, flying. "I needed to change out the sheets tomorrow anyway. There are some extra blankets in my closet, and a first aid kit under my bed. You'll find sterile supplies and some gloves in there."
"Why would a horse have gloves in a first aid kit?" Carmine asked. "Not having hands and all?"
"In case someone with hands is the one to do the job."
"Okay, I found the kit," said Cecilia over the phone.
"We're contacting help. Just hang tight." Mariposa said. "Keep Caroline as calm as possible until we can safely apparrate to you."
"She can hug Benny, my panda bear." Comedia suggested. "He always calms me down."
"I'm on my way, Caroline." Carmine said. "I was there for our first baby's birth, and this time won't be any different."
Wrecker, Crosshair, and Echo arrived with their horses and found the entrance to Master Mundi's apartment.
"Whoa! They got hit bad!" Wrecker said.
He wasn't kidding. There was water everywhere, rubble in front of the door, and the button that opened the door was smashed in by a ball that bounced in their somehow.
"What a mess!" Echo said.
"I've been in some wild rodeos," said Pinto. "And I ain't seen nothin' like this!"
"Then I suggest we hurry up and clean a way through." Maybelle said. "A princess is havin' a baby in there!"
Almost as if on cue, Caroline could be heard screaming from the other side of the door, loudly enough to make the guys cover their ears.
"Sounds like the first contraction just hit," winced Maybelle, remembering hearing her mother whinny a shriek as loud as that when she gave birth to her brothers.
"Wrecker, start lifting the bigger stuff." Echo said.
"Can't we just blow it up?" Wrecker asked.
"If we do that, it would put Caroline at risk." Maybelle said. "Ya gotta be extra cautious when it comes to a pregnant female. Even if me and brothers use our magic, if we don't remove these pieces of rubble in the right order, it could collapse even worse than a barn after a tornado and an earthquake struck." She looked at her youngest brother. "Banjo, since yer the only one who can fly, I'll need ya to give me a lift."
So, Banjo carefully balanced his sister on his back so she could guide Wrecker and the other guys on which pieces to remove first while Echo and Mini-R2 worked on fixing the door key. But Caroline's screaming distracted the guys from time to time.
Luckily, soon Carmine, Mariposa, and the two horses managed to apparate into the room to help Caroline.
"I'm here, Honey!" Carmine said, immediately taking his wife's hand. "How far are we?"
"Very much!" Caroline screamed again.
"Someone really needs to boil some water now," said Cecilia. "I need some blankets."
"I'm on it!" Comedia said.
Mariposa adjusted Caroline's blanket and checked underneath.
"Oh dear!"
"What?! What's wrong?" Caroline said.
"You're going to have to start pushing." Mariposa answered.
Oh boy. They'd all hoped it wouldn't come to this.
While everyone else was working to keep Mama Bear from destroying more structures (well, as best as they could with things falling and bad luck striking them at random moments, Brenda's father began rushing back to see how what he could do at a time like this. Except, in doing so, he ended up running into a lot of bad luck, even with Sapphire being an agile flyer.
"You fly through things like this often?" shouted James.
"I was also a guard for a royal treasury for fifteen years. Not bad for a female, eh?"
"Okay, women can do men's work! I get it! Will you drop it already?"
But Sapphire didn't need to be a Jedi to sense what was in James Monroe's mind and heart.
"I'm not the one who needs the convincing. Even if I were, you know very well who needs to forgive you before anyone else will come to do so. I came to learn at a young age that heartbreak is necessary sometimes to build empathy, and it seems to me you didn't face much of it because you were taught to blind yourself with rules and regulations written when men were the only ones permitted to voice their opinions despite there being women smart enough to know what was really going on when the men couldn't. And because of that, you created heartbreak instead. Be honest with yourself for once. Forget everything your own parents raised you to think. Are your children and grandchildren bred for show, or are they something with a deeper meaning?"
James started to think about what Sapphire was saying, but he didn't have much time to think, as Sapphire was crashed into by Buttercup and Goldie! Luckily, they managed to catch themselves and their riders before they fell.
"Goldie? Buttercup? What are you doing here?" Sapphire asked.
"Looking for Mr. and/or Mrs. Monroe." Goldie answered. "Good news, we have the box that clavatized Brenda, but the bad news is that both of your grandchildren from Brenda are trapped in a box, just like you wanted them to be. So, congratulations, Mr. Monroe. Your grandchildren are trapped. I hope you're happy."
Goldie gave the box to James.
"What?!" James gasped. "Myra and Kade? They're in... here?"
"Hi, Grandpa." said the kids trapped inside.
James tried to open the box, but no avail.
"Why won't it open?" James said.
"Like Goldie said," said Buttercup. "This is how you raised your kids to be, but when you failed to keep either of them trapped in a box, you decided your grandchildren would replace them, so Mariverde had them placed in here. So, congratulations. You got what you wanted. Now neither of them can run off to live their dreams."
James looked at the box and started to feel tears come to his eyes.
"What have I done?" said James, finally realizing the consequences of his actions. "I never meant for this to happen to you, children! I never... I thought I was... I only wanted my grandchildren to have what was best for them."
James began to think back to when he was young.
"When I was a boy, my father raised me to fill his shoes and do nothing else. He always used to tell me family comes first. And then my stepmother came along and told me a real man does what's expected of him. A man has to be the breadwinner and provide for his wife like a queen. But deep down that was never what I wanted. I only ever wanted to have a family of my own. And I had one... but my parents threatened to leave me in the streets if I didn't stay in line, and I let myself think I had to continue to please them even beyond the grave to have a real family. But all I really needed to have the family I always wanted was right in front of me the whole time. And I didn't realize it until now... now that I've lost it... possibly forever!"
James hugged the box and for what seemed like the first time in his life, actually cried.
"I'm sorry, Myra. I'm sorry, Kade! I failed you both, and I failed your mother and your aunt Heidi, and your cousin Rhett. I'm a terrible excuse for a husband, a father, and grandfather. I'd give up everything I ever built to have you back! To have a second chance."
Suddenly, the box started to glow and vibrate and float out from James' hands.
"What's happening?" said James.
And then came a big, but small and bright flash came, and there, floating before everyone was Myra and Kade, both of them alive and alright... until they started falling.
"Kids!" James exclaimed.
Buttercup and Sapphire immediately flew down as fast as they could to catch the falling kids, but it turned out Myra had it covered. Using what her father taught her, Myra slowed down her fall with the Force and caught her brother in her arms. Kade breathed heavily as his big sister hugged him tightly to calm him down.
"I've got you, Baby Brother." Myra soothed.
"Myra! Kade!" James immediately jumped from Sapphire to give his grandchildren a squeeze. "I'm so sorry for everything, especially your birthday, Myra. I should never have intervened the way I did. I know I haven't been the best grandfather... but if you are willing, I would like to make it up to you. If you want me to leave right now, I will if that's what will make you happy. Seeing how it angered your friends as well, I can't say I blame either of you for hating me and your grandmother."
Myra and Kade were both surprised to hear their grandpa say that. But Myra spoke on both their behalf.
"Grandpa, we don't hate you. It's not in our nature. And, I know you're all bad deep down. You walked Mom down the aisle when she and Lyle got married, and you were supportive of their marriage then. I'm only upset that you haven't been so kind to my birth dad since he's come back, and basically turned my dream party into the opposite of who I am. One thing you and Grandma gotta get through your heads: times have changed, and it's not up to you who we grow up to be. And, yes my clothing style shows a little skin, but it's what I'm comfortable wearing, and rock music is my style. I like to be loud, expressive, and just let it all out without restraint. I don't know how much can be done for me, but Kade... you've got plenty of time to make it up to him. He's already lost his father, and I don't think any of us could live with ourselves if we took any more of his family from him because of a grudge."
"Speaking of grudges," said Buttercup, finding the box. "Hi-yah!"
Buttercup smashed the box with a karate kick she knew, and it broke the box in two, releasing the mariclava, and transforming Mama Bear back into Brenda.
"Huh?" Brenda held her head with a groan. "What happened?"
"A lot." Garrett said, helping Brenda up.
Suddenly, Anakin got a message on his phone.
"Carmine just texted me. The ambulance just arrived and they're taking Caroline to the hospital right now!" He said.
Lamenta sat anxiously in the waiting room, staring at the fish tank in an effort to calm herself. While everyone else was helping out with cleaning up Mama Bear's mess, Anakin and Padme took Lamenta to the hospital to meet the new baby.
"Lamenta Jinn?" called a nurse droid.
Lamenta was startled out from her trance. She looked at the droid and then her aunt and uncle. They all followed the droid to a room where Carmine and Caroline were both looking lovingly at a small pink bundle in Caroline's arms.
"Lamenta," whispered Carmine with a smile. "Come meet your baby sister."
Lamenta walked over to the bedside, where her father lifted her up to get a better look at the new baby. She was so tiny and looked just like her mother, but with sandy blonde hair like her father and uncle. The baby girl was fast asleep, and she was calmly sucking on a pink pacifier.
"Her name is Charlotte." Caroline whispered. "Do you wanna hold her, Lammy?"
Lamenta's eyes went wide at that.
"What if I drop her?" she whispered in a panic.
"You won't. But be careful. We just got her to sleep." Caroline said.
Carmine got Lamenta to sit down as he took Charlotte into his arms and he guided Lamenta on how to properly hold the newborn. Lamenta could hardly believe her eyes as she held her new baby sister close to her chest. She wondered if this was how Gabby felt when she held Leia and Luke for the first time when they were born. And then a smile grew on Lamenta's face the more she gazed upon her baby sister's little face.
"Hi, Charlotte." she whispered, gently stroking Charlotte's little tuft of hair with her thumb. "I'm your big sister Lamenta. Yes I am. I... I've seen lots of dreams in my short lifetime, but I think you're the best dream come true I could ever hope for."
Anakin and Padme were so happy for Carmine and Caroline too. Their piece of the family was finally growing, and things were no doubt going to be a little more interesting with another baby in the palace.
As for Myra's family... her grandparents agreed to start attending family therapy in order to make amends with their daughters and hopefully have a better relationship with their grandchildren. Neither Heidi nor Brenda's children had any family on their fathers' sides, and their mothers couldn't very well deny them a chance to have the loving relationship they deserved to have with their grandparents. But there was still one matter to attend to.
"Even with the decorations," said Heidi. "There's no way we can have the sweet sixteen with all this damage to the building."
Mace sighed. All that hard work and now it looked like there wasn't even going to be a party.
"This is all our fault," said Cecilia.
"It's not all gone, Mace." Strawberry said. "We still have Myra's cake all redone. So, at least she can still make a wish and blow out her candles."
"I suppose," said Mace. "But Myra's been looking forward to her sweet sixteen for so long, and I don't see how we could find a new venue and decorate by tomorrow."
"Wait!" Comedia said. "I know a perfect place you can have the party!"
"You do? Where?"
"My house in Equinaro. Cousin Reigna left it to me after my parents lost their titles and Emeraldi moved in with her. There's a big ballroom in it, and there's plenty of space where the band can perform too."
"And if we all work together, and add in a little of Kara's super speed," said Brenda. "We just might be able to still make this Myra's dream sweet 16."
"You really think that's possible?" Cecilia said.
"I've seen the Jedi Temple revived from rubble, many clavatized villains, and even witnessed a dead Jedi being revived. At this point, nothing sounds impossible to me." Mace said.
So, with Caroline M.I.A. since she'd just given birth and needed to rest, Padme took over organizing the teams to fix up Myra's sweet sixteen. Brenda and Myra were in charge of calling everyone on the guest lists to notify them about the change of venue. Carmine got to setting the stage up (with help from Harmony and Teatra) for the Red Hot T's, and everyone else got to decorating the ballroom to make the party as good as new. Kara even pitched in with her super speed to get some of the harder jobs done quicker.
It was a lot of work, but with everyone coming together, they managed to make it happen, and by the next day at approximately party time...
Evermare Manor was decorated like a rock and roll concert and filled with friends and family of Myra's. Myra looked amazing in her outfit, and the whole ballroom looked so awesome. Comedia also found it fun because she knew her own parents would never have approved of this, and it felt pretty good that for once she could get away with something her parents would call and abomination to their image. And Myra finally got to have a dance with her father.
"How do you like your sweet sixteen, Myra?" asked Mace, giving his daughter a twirl. "Is it everything you dreamed it would be?"
"It's so much more, Dad." Myra said. "Thank you for everything."
Just then, the microphone was tapped as the Red Hot T's were ready for their surprise.
"Good evening, everyone!" Phoebe spoke. "Everyone enjoying Myra Dawson-Windu's sweet sixteen?"
Everyone cheered in response.
"Glad to hear it. As many of you know, we're the Red Hot T's, and tonight we got a special treat especially for the birthday girl. May we introduce special guest star Count Crescendo!"
People cheered as the famous pop star came up on stage donned in black and red in light of Myra's birthday.
"Hello, everyone!" Crescendo smiled. "A little pony told me we got a natural born rock star at this party, and for her birthday, me and the Red Hot T's will be singing a duet with a brand new song just for her. But... we're missing a key piece before we can play."
"Birthday girl," said Phoebe. "You play guitar, am I right?"
"You bet I do." Myra said.
"Then got on up here and let's see how you shred."
Crescendo tossed Myra her guitar, and the birthday girl came up on stage.
"Just feel the beat and you'll feel the song." Phoebe winked at Myra.
Sanjay counted for the band to start.
"One, two, three, four!"
Crescendo:
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Phoebe:
There will be no rules tonight
If there were we'd break 'em
Nothing's gonna stop us now
Let's get down to it
Nervous hands and anxious smiles
I can feel you breathing
This is right where we belong
Turn up the music
Crescendo:
Oh, oh, oh, oh
This is the dance for all the lovers
Takin' a chance for one another
Both:
Finally it's our time now
These are the times that we'll remember
Breaking the city's heart together
Finally it's our time now, it's our time now
This is more than just romance
Myra felt the music in her and shredded on her guitar with two of her favorite musical stars. If this was only a dream, she definitely didn't want to wake up. Someone better be filming this. Myra felt so special here and now. She was not only the girl two bands had written a special song for on her sweet sixteen, but she was actually performing it with them on stage!
Crescendo:
It's an endless summer
I can feel the butterflies
Leading me through it
Take my heart, I'll take your hand
As we're falling under
This is an addiction girl
Let's give in to it
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Crescendo, Phoebe, and Myra:
This is the dance for all the lovers
Takin' a chance for one another
Finally it's our time now
These are the times that we'll remember
Breaking the city's heart together
Finally it's our time now, it's our time now
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Phoebe:
Oh, oh, oh, oh, now
It's a dance
Get up, come on brothers
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
This is the dance for all the lovers
Takin' a chance for one another
All:
Finally it's our time now
These are the times that we'll remember
B-b-breaking the city's heart together
Finally it's our time now
It's our time now
(It's our time now)
It's our time now
(It's our time now)
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Finally it's our time now
The crowd cheered and Myra never felt so alive!
"They were right," said Phoebe. "This birthday girl is a natural rock star! Way to go, Myra!"
Myra was screaming in excitement at this moment.
"You've got a voice, Myra." Crescendo said. "Keep at it, and rest assured your talent will be recognized by more people than you can imagine, and you'll make your voice heard."
And Myra made her voice heard among her family, which was a good start. The things said in that song couldn't be more true. She was a young woman now, and it was time for her to take her place in the world as queen of her destiny. Not one, but two famous superstars believed she had what it takes to be a great rock star someday. All she needed was three things: determination, passion, and practice. But the most important tip either band could've given her was this: once you reach the top, never lose sight of what's truly important, or where you came from.