Featured songs:

1. "Little Brothers" from Phineas & Ferb

2. Instrumental of "Red" by Taylor Swift

3. Excerpt from "You'll Be in My Heart" by Phil Collins

The royal family already set up a special classroom in the palace where Garrett could give lectures to all of the Enchanted members together. To start, Garrett gave each member individual private lessons and had them practice with hands-on exercises.

For example, Qui-Gon's super strength had gotten a lot stronger and more balanced over the last year since his revival, but according to Garrett, his lower body strength needed some work to make sure he was firmly balanced all the way. Upper body strength was something more needed to work on, but without lower body strength to hold the upper body up, even the strongest being would lose his or her balance and collapse. So, Qui-Gon's assignment was to exercise his legs more. So, Carousella and Crescent, being royal guards, started coaching him through running in place and then doing pilates. As horses, they had naturally strong legs, which was why they ran and jumped so well.

"One surefire way to make fast and strong legs," said Carousella, jumping in a double dutch game. "Is a good game of jump rope."

"Double dutch is a lot trickier." Crescent said. "So you'll need to start with one rope."

"Alright then." Qui-Gon said, picking up a rope and getting it behind his feet. Except, he did the first jump too soon and missed the rope. "Rats!"

"It's okay. Try again." Carousella said. "This time, we'll help you. You swing the rope, and when we say 'jump', you jump, okay?"

So, Qui-Gon did try that. And after about ten jumps on command, he was starting to do it by himself.

"Oh! I wanna jump rope too!" Gabby said, grabbing another rope and joining in, singing the alphabet and making up rhymes as she skipped the rope.

Qui-Gon couldn't help chuckling when he saw his granddaughter joining in. Sometimes, it seemed like all his grandchildren were always battling for his attention. To be fair, Qui-Gon was always popular among the children, including those that weren't even his. It was like he was surrounded by this kind of energy that said, "come to me, children. Let me be your friend" or something like that.

When it came to his grandkids, though, Qui-Gon took pride in being a tutor for his Force sensitive ones as well as the ones that weren't. He even started teaching them how to use a lightsaber (using toys, of course), so that Gabby and Lamenta would be ready to use their future real lightsabers when they were old and trained enough to make them. Boba and Omega, on the other hand, despite neither of them being Jedi, Qui-Gon wasn't going to exclude them from learning to use a lightsaber. Who knows? There could come an event where one of them was the last one standing, and a lightsaber was their best means of defense, but it would be useless if they didn't know how to use it.

"Remember, Omega." Qui-Gon said, showing Omega the proper stance. "Always protect your weakest spots. Don't hold your lightsaber too tightly either. Too much tension in your hands is the easiest way to allow your opponent to catch you off guard."

"That was better, Sweetie." Caroline said, as she was teaching Boba how to increase his flexibility. "But, you need to increase your breathing a little more. And spending a little more time in a butterfly position will help loosen your hip muscles."

Caroline was also one to take pride in teaching the next generation of dancers of all kinds. Given that she just found out she was pregnant, she wanted to get in as much time with dancing as she could, knowing she would need to take it easy, and eventually switch to prenatal exercises once she started to show more.

I guess you could say, Garrett wasn't the only teacher in this palace.

Meanwhile, Garrett also took pride in showing his students he cared about each and every one of them. This family was no exception. So, now that he'd figured out lesson plans for each of them based on what kind of powers each of them had, and since he was living with them now, he decided it was time to get to know each of them more personally.

He decided to start with the oldest members of the family.

Qui-Gon sat down while Garrett asked him a few questions.

"What can you tell me about when you discovered your powers?" Garrett asked.

Qui-Gon told Garrett about how he discovered his super strength when he was only six, and had to work really hard to hide it from everyone else in the Temple. And there were even crazier instances, such as when he first got his wings, and eventually found his mother, who told him of his heritage and gave him a book so he could learn to control his magic. The trickier thing was if he would have any heirs, being a Jedi and all.

"Eventually, I did find my first love. I began a secret relationship with a fellow Jedi name Tahl. Eventually, we had Kara. We couldn't be happier to have her. Sadly, we both agreed we had to leave her in the care of the Jedi to keep her safe. And then when Kara was a toddler, Tahl passed away."

"And what about Shmi?" Garrett asked.

To put it simply, that mission with Padme wasn't the first time Qui-Gon had been to Tatooine. It was a different time then, and he'd been on another mission in the Outer Rim, when the ship broke down and Qui-Gon did his best to get a distress signal out. Throughout his time there, Qui-Gon did his best to survive though, but eventually he was captured by some of the slavers there, and they tried to make him one of theirs. That, he didn't tell his kids about.

The slavers tried to place a transmitter into his body like the other slaves, but a thing about super strength enchanted was that they had thick skin, so it was a little harder for them to get it into him. So, they resorted to other methods in the form of a shock collar, which was a little trickier for Qui-Gon to take off, even with his super strength. But sometime during all that, he met a lovely woman named Shmi.

For a while, they worked together, and eventually fell in love. One thing led to another, and eventually someone got Qui-Gon's distress signal and he got home, but he couldn't free Shmi. But then eventually, similar to how Anakin sensed Gabby was coming, Qui-Gon sensed Shmi was pregnant as well, and he travelled back to Tatooine. But this time, he came in disguised as one of the workers, and was able to help Shmi as she gave birth.

"Seeing my sons for the first time and holding each of them for the very first time... it was the most magical day of my life since Kara was born. But, I knew I had to get them out of there fast. Sadly, I didn't have enough time to grab both of the twins. I brought Carmine to Coruscant to live with my mother, and promised to retrieve Anakin as well, but by the time I'd gotten back, Shmi and Anakin were gone. I looked and looked, but they were both gone. For the longest time I was heartbroken and felt guilty for being unable to free both my boys. I knew at least two of my children were free, but I could never forgive myself for losing one. And to this day, I find that although I may be physically stronger than an ordinary man, emotionally, I feel weak many times."

"That is very normal, Qui-Gon." Garrett said. "And, I'd say it's a sign that you care deeply for your family. It's no mystery your children and grandchildren all love you very much as you do them. I've seen how the children are always competing for your attention. Tell me. This revival spell, Gabriella was the one to cast it?"

"She wasn't the only one. She had her brother and her cousin as well as some friends helping from what I recall. Even in death, I could see something in her, much like in her father. A great darkness was coming, but I was not there to help. And it became clear my family needed answers, but I could not speak to them so easily as a spirit. When I did, Gabriella... she started screaming. Carmine had a similar reaction."

"What happened after she cast the spell?"

"A lot. First, I had to used to walking again in a physical body. But then, I got to catching up with my sons and then my grandchildren. But one night before my coronation, I had a vision, and for safety reasons, I asked Kara to keep our relationship secret a little longer. That way, there would be at least one Solaran heir left if the rest of us could not fight for any reason."

"And I understand you and Shmi will finally be getting married soon. You must be excited."

"That would be an understatement." Qui-Gon chuckled. "I do believe Shmi will be a wonderful queen. Even if we were common people as we believed we always were, I would still love and treat her as my queen."

"I must say, I believe she is a very lucky woman. And I'm sure you will be very happy together."

"We already are. And soon we'll finally get to seal our vows with our friends and family there."

Kara was next. The news went crazy when it was revealed that the royal family had yet another long-lost member, and only King Qui-Gon knew about her. And there was a lot of debate about who would be the next ruler after him, especially when it was revealed that Kara was the oldest, and Anakin was the middle child, thus naturally making Kara the rightful heir, at least according to old Solaran laws.

"Tell me, Princess Kara. How do you feel now that it's been revealed you are the true heir to the Solaran crown?" Garrett asked.

For Kara, it was complicated. She'd known she was royalty long before her brothers did, but she never really thought she would actually get a crown, and now that she had hers, a lot ran through her head.

"Well, I can't say I wasn't anxious after I realized that I'm the rightful heir to my father's crown." Kara said. "In many kingdoms, they would call such a thing a birthright, but if my father's wisdom and my time in the Jedi Order has taught me anything, it's that a leadership role is not a right, it's an honor that must be earned."

"Your father sounds like a very wise man, and I can see you no doubt inherited that from him."

Kara couldn't help blushing at that. It was nice to hear people say they thought she would make a great ruler, but at the same time, that put a lot of pressure on her. To be a princess was not as easy as many fairy tales made it look. Real royal princesses didn't necessarily worry about being locked in towers or poisoned to wait for Prince Charming to rescue them, and Kara definitely was no damsel in distress; she was too smart to fall for most devious schemes too.

"Tell me about your relationship with your half-brothers."

"You mean Carmine and Anakin?" Kara said. "Well, I remember when I learned they were my brothers. It was an emotional time for me though. I wanted to tell them then so badly that Qui-Gon was my father too. But... I never had the courage too. Even so, somehow, I just felt this strong connection to them the moment I met each of them I couldn't quite explain."

Thirteen years ago...

Fourteen-year-old Kara Talhin heard word that the alleged Chosen One was now a part of the Order. At the time though, she was grieving over the loss of Qui-Gon Jinn, her father, whom no one else knew was her biological father. And then one day, she got to meet the little boy who'd started very late in his training. Except, she saw that many other younglings were being mean to the boy. So, when she saw him alone and crying in the hall, she came down to him and hugged him. She didn't know why, but her instincts told her she had to do it, like a good big sister would do for a little brother. And when she looked into that little boy's eyes, his eyes reminded Kara of Qui-Gon, and he had the same hair color as him too. But, at the time, Kara thought that was just a coincidence.

Little brother,
I remember when you first came home

Time jump to two years ago, when Carmine arrived in the Temple...

Kara couldn't believe it when she learned Anakin had an identical twin, and she was in total shock when word spread that Carmine revealed Qui-Gon Jinn was his biological father. Then, Kara realized, her mother passed when she was two, so Anakin and Carmine had a different mother, and that could only mean they were half-siblings.
Then came another
Little brother of our own.

Even in the time before Kara revealed to the twins that she was their big sister, she did everything she could to be that for them whether that was watching over them, tutoring Carmine in his Jedi training, or sharing with them what she remembered of their father from when she was young. Of course, like all siblings, they had their ups and downs, like when Anakin and Carmine were having a childish race in the halls and Anakin accidentally stepped on Kara's lightsaber and broke it.

Even when you break my toys,
You will always be my
Little brothers
'Cause you're younger, we're related, and you're boys

Carmine might have been the cautious one of the twins, but even he had his ways on getting on people's nerves, even if he didn't mean to, mostly when he got lost in playing music and played too loudly, which could sometimes disturb Kara when she was reading or meditating.

Even when you're making too much noise
You will always be my
Little brothers
'Cause you're younger, we're related, and you're boys

But when Kara could finally tell her brothers they were related, they slowly became more connected than ever before, and Kara loved her little brothers more than words could describe.

Little brothers
Little brothers
Little brothers...

"My brothers are each a treasure." Kara said. "And now that we can finally be together as a family, that meant so much more than getting a tiara on my head."

"There's no greater bond than that of a family." Garrett smiled.

"What's your family like?" Kara asked. Except, to her surprise, Garrett seemed to flinch when she asked about his family. She could swear she heard him growl too.

"I...I think I hear Mariposa calling." Garrett lied, backing away, only to bump into the door, forgetting it was closed, before he opened it and walked out.

Kara scratched her head in confusion. Garrett seemed very calm and sociable before. Now, the mere mention of his family seemed to irk him, and it made Kara wonder. Did Garrett have an abusive relationship with his family? Did Garrett even have a family? What if he lost his family when he was very young and he didn't like to be reminded of whatever tragedy led to it, similar to how Boba lost his biological father? But, it appeared it would take time to get Garrett to open up about his familial issues.

After settling down, Garrett decided to talk to the oldest twins next.

"It's not everyday I run into a family with multiple sets of twins." Garrett said.

"I guess it just runs in this family." Anakin said. "And not all the twins in our family are identical either."

"At least we're easy to tell apart, though." Carmine shrugged. "Except, most people still sometimes mistake me for Anakin, mostly when I'm cleaning my glasses."

Garrett chuckled and said, "That can be helpful for pulling a switch, though, I imagine."

"Not so much with Dad." Anakin said. "He and Mom can tell us apart no matter how well we make ourselves look like each other."

"Tell me, boys. What would you say about your relationship with each other?"

The twins looked at each other to decide who would speak first. Anakin nodded to Carmine, so the latter went first.

"I'd say we have a pretty good relationship, as brothers should have. Truth be told, when I was little, I always wanted a brother or a sister, because to be fair I thought I was an only child then. Dad never told me then what happened to Mom, and my grandmother Miranda was the only mom I ever knew."

Carmine took off the locket he wore and showed Garrett the picture he had inside of his grandmother.

"For the longest time, it had been just me and her, and once a year, Dad came around. I didn't understand at the time, but he said he couldn't come around much because it was to keep me safe. He at least had a special tradition though to make that day special. We would spend the whole day together, I would spend all year planning what I'd wanna do with him to make sure we made the most of it, and it would always end with him tucking me in at bedtime."

"What was Miranda like, if you don't mind me asking?"

Carmine felt saddened to think of his grandmother again; not a day went by that he didn't think of her and how much he missed her.

"Grandma was a very special woman. Even though she had magic, she chose to use hard labor to get the things she needed, and she didn't stop even after Dad gave me to her. When I asked her why, one thing she said to me was 'Using magic to get the things we want is too easy. If you want to prove to someone you love them, you put effort in.' And that's what she did, starting with raising me as her own. She didn't even use magic to make Fluffy, my stuffed rabbit. She was really talented with needles and thread. Over the years, she always made me a new plushie for Life Day or for my birthday, but Fluffy always remained my favorite because he was my first one. And this locket, it helped me to remember where I came from when I decided to pursue a career in music."

"What is it you love most about your music?"

"Well... I guess it's that through my music, I feel like I can express how I feel better than just talking does. For most of my life, my anxiety got in the way; I felt scared of being humiliated. So, when I pursued a career in singing, I decided to do it behind a mask so no one could judge me for who I was. If people don't know it's me up there, it didn't feel like it mattered if I messed up or not, and somehow I never do, and I'm able to get back up more easily if I fall."

Garrett then asked Carmine how he did as a performer now. Carmine was hesitant, so he asked Garrett if he would be willing to take an unbreakable promise before he answered that, a promise not to reveal to anyone else what he was about to say. So, Garrett agreed to earn his students' trust.

"Not a lot of people know," said Carmine. "But, have you heard of the singer Count Crescendo?"

"Yes. I heard Count Crescendo helped the Commission with an undercover mission when Silvaria first escaped from prison." Garrett said. "Eventually, my daughter heard his music, and she loves him. A lot of people in the Commission do as well. Truth be told, I enjoy the tunes he does as well."

"Well, that's flattering. Because... he's me."

Garrett looked surprised when Carmine said that, and Carmine changed his hair for a moment to prove it, and sang a little too.

"I guess it's no wonder your family couldn't find you before." Garrett said. "How does the superstar life treat you?"

"It has its ups and downs. I've gotten to see lots of places with my wife and daughter, and we've earned enough to live comfortably too. And it's a true joy that I can use my talents to help other people in need. There are lots of children who need compassion and help to grow when their families can't for one reason or another."

"Now that you're part of a royal family now, why not let everyone else know who Count Crescendo really is?"

Believe it or not, this wasn't the first time Carmine had been asked this question; his family and friends who knew questioned him on that as well.

"Many reasons. In part, I still deal with anxiety, but mostly to protect my family." Carmine said. "I kept my identity secret to protect Lamenta from the paparazzi, as well as crazed fans who may try to use her to get to me. You know, like all those instances of celebrities whose kids got kidnapped for reasons such as that? Plus, I'm not so sure how people would respond to a royal prince having a secret life as a big shot pop star who walks the red carpet and attends crazy parties."

"That does make some sense. I can't say I've seen much in terms of credible evidence that you've ever trashed a hotel room."

"Yeah, unlike some other stars, I behave myself. I don't drink, for one, because I have a family to think about. And after performances, I'm more interested in after parties with my wife. Keeping it simple. Some like to do huge all night parties, I prefer to celebrate getting ice cream with my girls. And I get cranky when I don't get my sleep."

"It's true. The last time he couldn't get a good night sleep, he got angrier than Carousella does when she goes too long without a meal." Anakin chuckled, ruffling Carmine's hair.

Carmine sighed.

"And ever since we found out who the oldest twin is, someone won't stop treating me like a baby."

"That is normal among big brothers and sisters." Garrett said. "Even for multiple birth siblings. I've seen the way Hunter appears protective of all his brothers. Is he the oldest?"

"I think so." Anakin said. "It's hard to keep track of all of them, though."

"Now, let's talk about you, Anakin. You got your powers later than Carmine did, am I correct?"

"Yeah. Carmine told me he got his on our fifth birthday. I didn't get mine until two years ago." Anakin said. "I still don't get why. I'm the oldest, so shouldn't I have gotten them first?"

"Being the oldest doesn't always mean you're first at things. Tell me about when you first discovered them."

Anakin told Garrett all about the mission on Zygerria to free kidnapped Togruta colonists meant to be sold as slaves. That mission came close to home for Anakin, having been a slave himself, still wishing he could free all the others, and then in the middle of the slave auction, all kinds of plants started growing all around him randomly. He thought Gabby stowed away again and she was growing all those plants to help out, but he was surprised and baffled when he got back to the Jedi Temple and Gabby had no idea what he was talking about.

"Tell me, Anakin, do you remember what was happening every moment a plant appeared? Did you notice a pattern of some kind to their appearances?"

Anakin thought hard. He remembered some vines whipping a few Zygerrians and a prickly rose bush growing around him when more tried to get close to him, and then a huge tree sprouted up and reached out its branches, more branches than Anakin was used to seeing on any tree; it looked as though it was telling Anakin to grab onto one.

"Every time I saw a plant, I was about to be attacked." Anakin said.

"Based on what you've shared Anakin, the combination of your strong emotions, and the fact that you grew closer with another Enchanted and connected with your heritage a little more, your powers came out the same way they do when younger Enchanteds first get them."

According to Garrett, many studies showed that when young Enchanteds first got their powers, they tended to have a mind of their own. As in, that was why young Enchanteds needed to practice discipline and balance their emotions; magic didn't work right if placed into a vessel that could not handle the pressure or cooperate. And since the magic had a mind of its own when it first sprouted, it would do what it could to protect its vessel.

"In other words, what you thought was magic going all willy nilly all over the place," said Garrett. "It was actually your new growing power protecting you without you even realizing it. It sensed your fear before even you did, as well as the oncoming danger, and sent out the right spells right before the danger could it you."

Anakin was astonished. He knew magic worked in strange ways, but he had no clue magic could protect its vessel without them realizing it.

"Is it normal for different emotions to make magic work differently too?"

"Yes, it is. Did you notice that pattern in yours?"

"I did. From what most have told me, safe and very colorful plants tend to grow when I'm happy."

"But when he's angry," said Carmine. "Someone usually gets a cactus to the rear."

"I said I was sorry a million times!" Anakin sighed. "In other words, spiky plants."

"And every time you're with Padme, you grow more roses in a minute than I've seen in my entire life."

"That's a sign of a passionate love," said Garrett. "A friend of mine with botanical magic, she had the same reaction anytime she and her then boyfriend were together, and now, twenty years later, they are happily married with three boys of their own."

"If they're anything like Padme and I, let's hope their marriage stays that way."

"I think everyone who gets married hopes the same thing." Garrett said. "I myself found many complications rising when Mariposa and I got married."

"Because of her species?"

"Pretty much. The people of Verden are accepting of any maricambas, the doresho gypsy's proper species name, who come seeking refuge. And so, that was where we decided to build our home together. The hard part was preventing anyone at work from finding out my wife is a member of one of the most feared enchanteds in the universe. But, when you truly love someone, you're more often than not willing to make every effort to make it work. As long as you remember not to compromise what really matters, you'll find a way if you're patient."

In Garrett's case, when he married Mariposa, they both knew it wouldn't be easy. Mariposa had been on her own since she was a child and struggled to trust anyone who wasn't a maricamba like her, and even then, it was impossible to tell at first glance which ones were simply seeking refuge, and which ones were bent on revenge. Her only friends were any butterflies and sometimes other bugs she came across. But, Garrett and she, they saved each other's lives, which earned a lot of points in gaining trust, and because they trusted each other, they grew to love each other, and eventually decided they wanted to kiss each other and love each other for the rest of their lives. But again, keeping Mariposa's species a secret was the hard part. So, for a while, Garrett had to be the breadwinner for the two of them, at least until Mariposa could find work for herself, and they worked especially hard when Mariposa learned she was pregnant, and given that maricamba babies came sooner than human babies, they had to prepare quickly.

"Padme and I used to have to hide our relationship too," said Anakin. "But we made it work. And even if the rules hadn't changed in the Jedi Order, I was more than willing to give it all up if it meant I could continue to be a husband and a father. Padme is my queen, royal or not."

"And I feel the same about my Caroline." Carmine said, looking at his wedding ring.

"Tell me, concerning each of your powers... have you ever used them together?" Garrett asked.

"That depends on what you mean." Anakin asked.

"Twins have been known to have powers that are connected in some way, some in a seemingly obvious way, others not so obvious. A yin-yang kind of connection."

"How exactly are plants and music connected?"

"Well, studies have shown that plants like music." Garrett said. "And plants are sometimes used as a symbol for growth, which both of you, from what I have heard, struggled with in one way or another. Both of you had to grow up a little too soon, and growing in such a way usually is not a healthy way to grow. In a way, each child brought into the world is like a seed. They need proper care and time in order to grow healthy and strong. Music has been known to invoke many things, and patience is one thing it can help with in more ways than one. Despite the fact that you can grow plants in a matter of minutes, even seconds, Anakin, your power still requires patience to maintain balance and safe growth. And Carmine, you're obviously very talented in music, but your emotions affect how your music is played. One thing about plants, even those not grown through magic have the power to create positive energy."

Garrett saw a little vase on a table with some tulips Padme put there earlier.

"Like those tulips, for instance." Garrett said. "When you look at them, Carmine, how do you feel?"

Carmine looked at the flowers, and seeing these particular ones, orange with bits of yellow on the top ends of their petals, it made him feel... happy. And when Carmine played his guitar, he started to play a very happy sounding tune. (Cue instrumental of "Red)

"And Anakin, when you hear this music, how it make you feel?"

"Well, I listen to a lot of hip-hop music, and I usually feel free and excited when I listen to it." Anakin said. "This music...it definitely puts me in a good mood."

And sure enough, as Anakin enjoyed the music, some colorful flowers started to grow out of the floor. Sunflowers sprouted up and moved as though dancing, which only made the twins happier, and thus made their magic stronger. And all of a sudden, a green streak of color glowed in Anakin's hair, and an orange one in Carmine's.

And Carmine strummed a big finish, and then the colorful streaks in both twins' hair disappeared, but the two of them were laughing as that was definitely a fun lesson.

"See? Your powers are each triggered strongest by your emotions. And when your powers come together, they can create something wonderful. Remember, it takes opposites to create a new something, especially that of something filled with life."

Anakin and Carmine were definitely a spirited pair of twins Garrett would not forget any time soon. Boba and Omega, on the other hand, were an extra special case for Garrett.

Now that all the grownup enchanteds were covered, Garrett decided to talk to the children, oldest to youngest.

Garrett had a private talk with the middle twins together.

"The two of you are twins, correct?" said Garrett.

"Pretty much. We were born on the same day." Boba said. "Well, created anyway."

"Created? Please explain that to me."

Boba explained to Garrett that he and Omega, as well as the Batch, none of them came from a mother's tummy like all their adoptive family did. They were clones of a template named Jango Fett, purely created to be an army, and as they found out a few months ago, programmed to destroy the Jedi.

"Thank God we found out and found a solution in time." Boba said.

"So, all the clones were genetically modified to age twice as quickly, and thus your brothers are the same age as you?" Garrett asked as he wrote some notes.

"Pretty much. Biologically, they're grownups." Omega said. "But we're technically older than them, even though we're biologically still kids."

"But, we're unmodified." Boba said. "When I was little, I always wondered why I didn't have a mom, so I asked my birth dad where she was. He told me I never had one, which obviously confused me. I was only four at the time. Then, he told me that on top of being paid for his DNA for the clone army, he said he wanted the first clone for himself unmodified. And then, I was born. Then came the Battle of Geonosis where my father died, and eventually Gabby rescued me from a dark path, and I got adopted."

"What about Omega?" Garrett asked.

"He didn't even know I existed." Omega said. "Neither of them did. I wasn't really allowed among the other clones."

"And you were modified to be born female?"

"Yup. As far as I know, I was the only girl clone." Omega said. "I'm defective like Hunter and the others. It's a long story."

"What can the two of you tell me about how you got your powers?"

"Well, it all began sometime last year after Gabby's coronation." Boba said. "I was feeling left out at the time because I was the only adopted kid in the family and the only kid without magic. And then came this whole adventure where we met a family from an entirely different universe. We're still in touch with them too. We can show you the mirror to their world sometime. Anyway, then came Lady Morpha's attack."

Boba told Garrett the story of how one of their friends had the power to see into the future, and he'd had a vision of his father, uncle, cousin, grandfather, and sister all being put under her enslavement spell, and so he told his family, who came up with a plan to protect their magic, and they'd also discovered she'd stolen a scepter that could drain enchanteds of their magic. So, the family decided they had to transfer all their magic to a willing vessel. Lady Morpha couldn't steal their magic if she couldn't find it, but they needed someone who was strong enough to hold it, and was trustworthy. Turned out, it was Gabby who came up with the idea for Boba to be the vessel. It made sense; he spent a lot of time around all of them, more than anyone outside their family, and being one without magic, no one would suspect him. So, they transferred all of their magic to Boba, and sent him to live with the Bad Batch for a while before he would be transferred to a series of operatives who would move him from place to place. At least, that was the original plan.

"During that first trip was when Omega and I met. All the while, I got a taste of what having powers was like." Boba said. "We only made it to one operative though before we found out Morpha got to the others and was about to make herself queen of Solaris. Then, through a magic box I couldn't open, I found out I had an aunt on my dad's side too. Aunt Kara. She helped us find out how we could defeat Lady Morpha, and we went to do that, but then she held my family hostage in exchange for the magic in me. It was the hardest choice I ever made. There was no way I would trade my family's lives for any amount of magic."

"And that was a very brave decision to make, Boba." Garrett said.

"Except, after she freed my family, she threw me into the ocean."

"And then she threw me and all the family except Aunt Kara into the dungeon." Omega said. "We all thought Boba was gone forever."

"So did I. Believe it or not, I found myself in a spirit realm, where I saw my birth dad, and my adoptive dad's ancestor Queen Serafina, Solaris' last queen. I thought I was dead, but then Serafina told me my sacrificing the magic proved I was ready for something. And then, I woke up back in the water, I found out I could breathe!"

"And around the same time, I think, my hands started glowing."

"I guess since I'm a good swimmer, and I've pretty much been around water all my life, that's why the power I got is related to water." Boba shrugged. "But, sometimes I wonder why Omega got light magic."

"Me too."

"Well," said Garrett. "Let me tell you a little something. In the Enchanted realm, twins are famous for having what is known as Yin-Yang powers, magic powers that balance each other out or share a connection. Like your father and uncle, they're identical twins, correct?"

"Yeah, but how can music magic and plant magic be connected?" Omega asked.

"Well, my dear Omega... plants are living things like you and me, and every living thing requires love and attention to grow big and strong. And music... it's famous for throwing emotions in a powerfully passionate way. In other words, your uncle's musical magic creates strong emotions, whereas your father's creates a magic all about growing. The entire circle of life on every planet with living things, one thing they have in common is that when one falls, another grows. Such as how after your ancestors pass on, their descendants are like seeds that grow into tall plants, and when they have children, they've planted new seeds. And any kind of seed needs love and care. And Carmine and Anakin's powers are connected in that respect. It is fitting since your father has required more time to grow as an individual, and your uncle uses music to unleash his feelings, especially how he feels about his loved ones. If there's anything identical about those twins besides their faces, it's that they've each been through many hardships when they were children, based on what they've told me."

"So, maybe I got light magic because light can make things easier to see?" Omega said. "And since I was something Boba needed to find, I got light magic?"

"Perhaps. Did you do anything related to light before you got your powers?"

"I don't think so. All I remember before then was wishing on a shooting star I saw."

"Did your wish come true?"

"Yes. I wished for a miracle, and we got one. Boba was okay, and he came to our rescue, and then everyone got their magic back."

"I think I understand now. Omega, you had a spark of hope within you when you made your wish. The thing about light, it only takes even the smallest spark to light up a pitch black darkness. And based on what you shared, your wish for a miracle came in what was perhaps your family's darkest hour. The fact that you held a strong love for them even before you officially became a family, in that moment, you already committed an act of a true family member. And then, you were granted light magic. Light and water magic have a seemingly more obvious connection too, seeing as you made a rainbow earlier together."

It started to become clearer to the twins how the connection between their powers was even stronger than they initially thought. Boba committed what looked like the bigger deed, but Omega committed one of the more unnoticed kinds of deed that still had an impact, and yet required one to dig a little deeper to see its significance. It didn't matter the size of the physical actions either of them committed; both were intended for the same reason; to save their family and their home. And regardless of the types of strengths they had alone, the only way they truly made a difference was when they came together and supported one another.

"Anyone can lift a magic wand or brew a potion." Garrett told the children. "But, it takes a special individual to earn the privilege of wielding them. A wise someone once told me that if you give someone a lot of money and/or power, it's then you will see their true colors. And it takes an extra special someone to be willing to give that all up, the way Boba was willing to give up all the magic his family entrusted him with to save their lives."

"Gabby once risked everything to save me from falling in too deep with a bad crowd." Boba said, looking down a little. "I couldn't call myself her big brother or her friend if I weren't willing to do the same for her. Something just tells me if it wasn't for her, things might've taken a dark turn I couldn't very well imagine."

Speaking of Gabby... she was next for Garrett to interview.

Gabby sat down in a chair as Garrett prepared to ask her some questions about her and her powers.

"I understand you have more powers than anyone else in your family, correct?" Garrett said.

"That's what I've come to learn." Gabby said. She decided to summon a book she hadn't looked at in a while. "Some of my friends gave me this. A Learning Libro. I got it when I was three. I started showing powers when I was just a baby, barely one year old, and we still have no clue why I got my powers so early."

"Well, what do you really know about Learning Libros?"

"Just that it gets a new chapter with spells to practice and possibilities to consider every time I get a new power." Gabby shrugged.

Garrett hadn't seen a lot of cases like Gabby, but he'd read plenty about it. He told her she was a special kind of Enchanted called an Adapter.

"Do you remember what you were doing when you got certain powers?"

"It was a long time ago, but I think Daddy told me when I first got my plant growing powers, I was playing in one of the old temple gardens. And another time, I sang Daddy a lullaby after he had a bad dream, but it put him into a deep sleep, and that was when I found out I got siren song magic. And then, after I helped tame a Zillo Beast, I got the power to talk to dragons."

"Just as I suspected. Did you know you were an Adapter before?"

"No. What is that?"

"Not a lot is known about these particular kinds of Enchanteds because they're rare. Only one in every two hundred Enchanteds are found to be one. Adapters are enchanted whose powers don't focus on one kind of magic alone. Members of this class, they get their powers when they connect deeply with something. And based on what your parents have shared with me about how you received different powers, you were emotionally connected in some way. Every adapter enchanted has a main source for gaining control of different kinds of magic. And in your case, it appears love is yours. Each time you gained a power, you were helping or sharing a special moment with your loved ones. Now, you said you discovered siren magic after you sang your father into a deep sleep. Did you sing at anytime before that?"

"No... but I think Daddy did. Since I was a baby, he's always sang this really deep, loving lullaby to me before I went to sleep."

"Would you mind singing it?"

Gabby didn't hesitate. No matter how big she was getting, she loved that song.

Gabby:

Come stop your crying
It will be alright
Just take my hand
Hold it tight
I will protect you
From all around you
I will be here
Don't you cry

For one so small
You seem so strong
My arms will hold you
Keep you safe and warm
This bond between us
Can't be broken
I will be here don't you cry

'Cause you'll be in my heart
Yes, you'll be in my heart
From this day on
Now and forever more

Garrett couldn't help finding that song very heartwarming.

"That is a beautiful song." Garrett said. "Where did your father learn it?"

"He told me Grandma Shmi used to sing it to him when he was little. I don't remember a lot from that particular night though. I'd fallen asleep early. I guess Daddy sang it to me while I was sleeping because he didn't want me to be scared. Or maybe he was scared and sang it to calm himself. Maybe both."

"You and your father sound like you have a close bond."

"We do. And that was back when I was the only kid. I used to have him all to myself, and now I have a bunch of kids here to share him with."

"I take it that's a change that's been a challenge to adjust to?"

"Yeah, kinda." Gabby said.

Gabby didn't show it, but she missed having Anakin to herself sometimes. It wasn't all bad though, because she got a big brother to play with. And then she eventually got her cousin Lamenta.

"But... things have been even crazier since the new babies came." Gabby said. "Now both Daddy and Mommy hardly have any time for me or any of us."

"Change can be scary, little one." Garrett said. "But, you know why butterflies are an important symbol in many cultures even with maricambas being a feared species?"

Gabby shook her head.

"But you do know how caterpillars change into butterflies?"

Gabby nodded this time.

"That's what they symbolize. Butterflies start out as little caterpillars. They look weak and helpless, but they eventually blossom into something beautiful for all the world to enjoy. And despite their small and frail stature, they have a strong impact on the world in terms of spreading a great beauty. They even aid bees in pollination when they travel from flower to flower. And both those bugs serve as proof you don't have to be big and strong to make a difference."

Gabby liked hearing the sound of that. Although, she wasn't so little anymore. The vents were beginning to definitely feel smaller as she continued to grow, so that was one less hiding spot or secret entrance method for her to take on missions soon. As bright as sunny as the girl was, even she wasn't without her share of pain and sadness, and her family knew that.

For as long as she could remember, Gabby took it upon herself to be the ray of sunshine everyone needed in their time of darkness. In her eyes, she wasn't going to just wait for someone else to take action. In a lot of educational shows her parents showed her when she was smaller, they taught her pretty much the same thing: if you see something wrong, step in and do something. So, anytime she saw or sensed someone wasn't happy, she went up to them and did everything she could think of until she made them smile again. She didn't even need to use fire magic to create the spark that lit up the darkness. And speaking of darkness, Garrett had one more student to talk to.

Lamenta held her lamb close, and part of her hair fell over her right eye like it always did if she wasn't wearing a hair clip. Since she was a baby, Lamenta had always been very shy and quiet.

Garrett, fortunately, had dealt with anxious students before. He wasn't afraid of this challenge.

"Okay, Lamenta. So, you're the one with magic of the night. According to my notes, you mainly work in the dark, as in seeing what goes on inside people's minds."

"Yeah. I can control wind, water, fire and plants too like Gabby. Except... mine looks a lot different."

Lamenta explained that when she made fire, it always came out blue. When she controlled water, it either became very cool and smooth or it rose more. And when she grew plants, she either grew flowers that lit up the night like the moon and stars, or very strong, spiky black vines that were hard to see at night.

"I see." Garrett said. "Well, Lamenta. Such powers are actually normal among night wielders."

According to Garrett, although Lamenta's powers looked similar to some of her cousin Gabby's, she was not an adapter like her. Night wielders had magic that sometimes resembled dark magic, but it was entirely different. The way a night wielder's power worked, they didn't just see in the dark, work in the dark, or control the dark, they lit up the dark. In other words, they were someone who could show those afraid of the dark how not to be afraid.

"Tell me, Lamenta. How do you usually assess the event in which you enter someone's dream, and it turns out to be a nightmare?"

Lamenta thought and said, "Usually, I use a spell to get rid of whatever is making the nightmare, and after that, it creates space for a nice dream. And then I cast another spell that make something nice appear in the dream. Water slides, balloons, or cute little puppies. Stuff like that."

"Have you ever had to revisit the same dreamers because the same dream came?"

"Yeah, I have lots of times."

It was a scary thing Lamenta had to face. One moment, she got rid of the nightmare and it seemed all was fine, but then the same nightmare came right back, and she had to get rid of it again, and again, and again. Even though Lamenta was usually asleep as she did this, it was a tiring job.

"Recurring nightmares are one of the worst kinds of nightmares there are." Garrett said. "Lamenta, part of your power is seeing the truth. Therefore, instead of just replacing the nightmare, a way you could put that to good use would be to find what caused the bad dream in the first place so the dreamer can confront it head on. Running from our fears may seem like a good solution at first, but that effect is only temporary. Just like when people stack lies, the more you run, the less space you have to go, and eventually you won't have a place to run to or the energy to keep running. I know deep inside, you're a talented young lady, Lamenta. You just need to find out your truth before you keep looking for others'."

Lamenta remembered hearing that same message just before her coronation, and she gave a speech about how when she was with her family and doing what she loved, she recalled the greatest truth of all: the love between her and her loved ones would never fade away. But, even now, she sometimes forgot that lesson. And now, she wasn't sure how she was supposed to remind herself of that now that she had a new teacher and potentially lessons she didn't realize she needed.

"How do I do that?"

"Well, you can start by focusing on things you like to do. Find out what your passion is and practice what makes you happy. Tell me. What hobbies do you have?"

"Well... I do love to dance."

"Dancing! That's a good place to start. What kind of dancing do you like?"

"Ballet. I wanna be a prima ballerina when I grow up. Like my mommy and daddy. They were the stars in a ballet when they were just teenagers. I wanna do that too."

"Have you ever danced in front of people before?"

"Yeah. I danced for my grand entrance at my coronation. I was scared to even have a big party for my birthday. Before that, all my birthdays were spent at different places."

Lamenta remembered a few of her birthdays; a couple, she only knew through her parents. For her very first birthday, they'd been on Count Crescendo's first world tour, so her parents made a stop at this fun play place for little kids and toddlers to see a fun puppet show. For her second, they brought her to a science museum that had a beautiful and fun presentation for kids all about the planets and the stars. And her third, they took her to a circus where the acrobats were super sparkly like the stars, the balloon man made her a cute little balloon puppy, and she loved the cotton candy her dad got her. For her fourth, her parents got her a very special V.I.P. seat at Count Crescendo's next concert, and not only did they have their crew sing Happy Birthday to her with a tower of cupcakes, but Count Crescendo sang a very special song just for her at a private concert.

"But when I danced into the grand ballroom, I forgot all about how scared I was. And truthfully, I felt so alive with every step. I felt like a star on stage, like my dream was coming true. And with the big finish, Grandpa putting my tiara on my head felt like I just won a prize. Uncle Anakin even gave me a beautiful bouquet of roses afterward, just like real ballerinas get after they perform."

"That all sounds like a birthday to remember." Garrett said.

"What did you do for your birthdays when you were a kid?"

Garrett almost got upset, but this question was at least about birthdays and not his family. So, this time, he answered.

"Well, when I was growing up, every birthday party was on the beach. Except my eighth birthday. That year, lots of new baby animals had just been born at the zoo, and I wanted to see them. Believe it or not, I've always just had this soft spot for animals. They were just one of many things I enjoyed learning about as a kid."

"Did you ever have trouble in school when you were a kid?"

"Are you having trouble in school now?"

"No. But, I'm curious. You're a teacher now, but weren't all teachers kids like me at one point?"

Garrett chuckled and said, "You're a very smart child, Lamenta. Yes, all teachers were children and students themselves once. A lot of current students don't take that into account though. They look at a teacher, and see the enemy who only gives them tests and homework or makes them listen to boring, useless stuff. But, that's only because they haven't met the right teacher."

Truth be told, Garrett never struggled in any subject in school. He had a natural gift with school work and making learning fun to help him remember things and challenge himself. Being in a classroom was okay, but he wanted to do so much more than just write essays and spend all his time at a desk. As a child, he would spend most of his time collecting samples of different things. Rocks, seashells, feathers, leaves, and sometimes he took pictures of animals and bugs he saw come by so he could learn all about them. He was a very curious child.

Other boys back then wanted toy speeders, sports equipment, or action figures for their birthdays, but Garrett asked for books for his birthday, and when he was seven, he asked for a microscope, which he still had and used now.

Lamenta looked at Garrett's neck and saw he was wearing a wooden bead necklace.

"What's that necklace you're wearing?" She asked.

"This necklace is a traditional gift of love where I'm from. My grandmother made it by hand for my fifth birthday out of the finest koa wood she could find. Sadly, she passed shortly after my twelfth birthday, and I've kept this necklace on since."

"Where are you from?" Lamenta asked.

Garrett seemed to get tears in his now tightly shut eyes at that question.

"I think I've heard everything I need. Lessons will begin soon."

Garrett left the room without another word. Laments couldn't help but feel worried. Why was Garrett so upset when Lamenta asked where he was from? Was his home world destroyed like Solaris and Butterfly Meadow were? Or was it a family problem he didn't want anyone else to know about?

The rest of the family found it odd too. Garrett just got to know all of them, but ironically, now they felt like they knew less about him.

"It's probably a touchy subject for him." Padme said. "We shouldn't pressure him to say anything, especially since he just got here."

"Padme is right," said Shmi. "Garrett, as well as his family, will need time to adjust and get to know us more. If he wants to talk about his past, he'll talk about it when he's ready."

After dinner that night, Garrett and his family got to settle into their new rooms.

"Welcome to your new room, Goldie." Padme said, walking Goldie in.

Goldie couldn't believe her eyes when she walked into her new bedroom. All her old things were placed in the room, and on the bed, there was a quilt in yellow and black, and it had little bumblebees sewn onto it too.

"This is my room?" Goldie looked around. "It's so big!"

"We hope you like it. This is your special space. So, you can decorate it any way you like later."

Goldie saw the blanket too and was curious.

"I don't remember having a blanket like this."

"Anakin's mother made that blanket." Padme said. "She's taken up knitting recently. You should see how many things she's knitted already."

"Yup, no one's gonna be cold next fall or winter, that's for sure," Anakin said, motioning to the blue and purple knitted sweater he was wearing. "Or even right now."

Goldie laughed and said, "Will you tell her I say thank you for the blanket?"

"I think it'll mean more if you tell her in the morning," said Padme.

Mariposa came to tuck Goldie into bed then. She thanked the Skywalkers for their kindness and for being so welcoming to her.

"I promise you won't regret having us in your home." Mariposa said. "And I'm certain my husband will be a wonderful teacher to your family."

Mariposa tucked Goldie into her new bed, including the new bumblebee blanket.

"This is a lovely blanket Shmi made." Mariposa said. "We'll both have to thank her in the morning."

"Mommy? Does the royal family not like us because we're doresho gypsies?"

"No, Sweetie. That's not it at all. They... they just had a recent bad experience with one and like so many, they've been led to believe all maricambas are bad. But, we can earn their trust. They want the same thing we do. A peaceful galaxy, and since I hold knowledge of both my species and my so-called sister, they'll have to let me help. Your father and I both want this universe to be safe for you, and all maricambas. You deserve a chance at whatever future you desire, and we're going to fight for it. For now, you need a good night's rest."

Mariposa kissed Goldie's head and went to join her husband in their new room.

Mariposa and Garrett's room was lovely. Shmi sewed a quilt for their bed too. This one was blue, white, and green with patterns of pretty flowers on it. Naturally, the flowers attracted Mariposa's attention.

"Did you know the queen-to-be could quilt?" Garrett asked his wife.

"I just found out in Goldie's room."

Mariposa looked at the desk that was set up, where Garrett already made his teaching supplies at home.

"I see you're ready to get to work."

"I will be. I only hope all goes well." Garrett sighed. "Somehow, I thought we could hide your wings longer, but I should've guessed Lamenta's truth seeking magic would see right through it. At least we don't have to worry anymore. Now, we only need worry about earning their trust."

"What about the Commission finding out?"

"We can only hope that eventually more people will be comfortable with maricambas being around, and learn that there are good ones. Remember, I was afraid at first too when we first met. Anakin has already spoken to the Jedi Council, and we're gonna meet them soon too. Once they meet you, they'll love you too."

The couple got into bed. Mariposa had to really fold her wings in just to get under the sheets. At least she was able to get in comfortably. Then, she and Garrett kissed each other goodnight and went right to sleep. Now, they had one other meeting they would have to face soon: meeting the Jedi.