Gabby was shocked with all the stuff that she found online! So were Carousella and Mila... once they came out from hiding in the closet.
"What did you find?" Mila whispered.
"A lot of things." Gabby said, a mixture of emotions running through her head.
The first headline she found was about Padme learning she was pregnant.
Two Political Parents-to-Be
The Galactic Senate sends their congratulations to newly engaged Senators Padme Amidala of Naboo and Rush Clovis of Scipio on their impending parenthood of a future prince or princess.
According to the article, Clovis and Padme woke up very close together after falling victim to spiked punch at the gala celebrating the new alliance between Enchantra and the Galactic Republic. And, they'd just discovered they were expecting a baby. Shortly after that, Clovis proposed to Padme, and they got married two months after their baby girl was born.
Gabby looked at many pictures on other articles that featured her "family," and she didn't look too happy in any of them.
"I'm not in any of these pictures either." Carousella said. "And I checked the penthouse. The stable that was here isn't there either. So, we never got matched in this world either."
"And Padme doesn't remember Tech, which means... Tech probably doesn't remember me either. But, somehow my world wasn't affected and I remember him." Mila said. "I still remember everything about this world from when my family came here to save Rosella."
It occurred to Gabby that this world's version of her knew something wasn't right. Then came another story about the Battle of Geonosis. Anakin was praised as a hero for saving Senator Clovis' wife, but Gabby noticed in one picture Anakin looked heartbroken in one. That didn't surprise Gabby; what man wouldn't feel heartbroken knowing the woman he loved was married to another man? But, Gabby was also shocked to find an article titled Ten-Year-Old Gets Ten Years; it told all about Boba Fett being taken to trial and sentenced to prison after an attempt on Mace Windu's life, destroying a military cruiser, and accidentally killing a clone trooper. And according to the date, that was four years ago. Which meant...
"Boba's in jail?!" Gabby gasped.
"Then Remix never got matched either!" Carousella said.
"I don't think any ponies got matched, traditional Ride of Love method or otherwise." Gabby said. "I didn't see Comedia, Zipp, Citrus, or even Peppermint or Sapphire at the Jedi Temple. Not one horse in sight! Ahsoka wasn't around either, and neither was Fiesta."
"But if the Clone War remained with the same events," said Mila. "Why didn't the ponies get matched, and why don't the Jedi remember any time with you between your birth and now?"
"Because in this world, I never joined the fight!"
Things started to make a little more sense to Gabby now. Whatever Clovis did, it must have changed the world so Gabby never fought in battle with Anakin. Clovis, in this world at least, wouldn't let his child (though technically she wasn't his) go into battle, even with an undefeated Jedi.
Because of that, Gabby grew up never being trained as a Jedi, living the high society life, and being kept away from Anakin. And because she never fought in battle with Anakin, she was never put in danger for Carousella to come rescue her and be matched with her. Not only that, but she was never there to talk Boba onto the right path, nor was she there to help prove Ahsoka's innocence when the Temple was bombed, or to convince the Jedi that the old code was wrong, which meant Obi-Wan and Satine never got married, Mace never reunited with Brenda and Myra, the Madrigals never met the Jedi, none of their equine friends got matched with their riders, Carmine and Anakin were never reunited, Luke and Leia were never born, Goldie and her family never met hers, and... Qui-Gon and Shmi were both still dead in this world.
But... what happened to Lady Morpha and Máriverdé? What happened to the Sith? Gabby needed to find out what happened to everyone and fix this, but, she would need to get out of the apartment first.
"Come on, we gotta find Boba, and then we gotta find Garrett. If magic was involved in this, he'll be able to help us!"
Teckla sat on the couch, reading a book while Gabby was quietly checking to make sure it was the right moment to sneak off. That was simple enough. Gabby still had her powers, so, all she had to do was sneak out the window, using her wings to fly out while Carousella carried Mila on her back.
Gabby did a little more research to find the exact prison Boba was being kept it. As crazy as it seems, despite his young age at the time of his arrest, he was tried as an adult, so he wasn't in juvenile detention or placed in foster care like in Gabby's old world.
Eventually, the three friends were able to find the Coruscant jail, where they requested a meeting with a prisoner named Boba Fett.
"Do you have a grownup with you, Princess?" A guard asked.
"Yes. This is my... nanny, Milagro." Gabby said.
"Right this way, ladies."
The guard escorted the girls to the special visitng area, where there were at least a couple of other visitors talking to prisoners over special phones.
Gabby sat with Mila beside her at a chair where there was a glass screen and a phone for her. Eventually, two more guards came and brought...
"Boba?" Gabby gasped.
Gabby couldn't believe her eyes when she saw this world's version of her brother. Boba looked terrible! He looked like he'd aged well beyond fourteen, and his hair was a lot shorter now too.
"What did they do to you in here?" The younger child gasped again.
"Um... who are you?" said the prisoner on the other side. "Why did you ask for me?"
Gabby placed her hand on the glass and had a look of love in her eyes. Boba however, felt a little uncomfortable and confused with the way she was looking at him.
"Hi, Big Brother." Gabby said. Of course, she wasn't surprised when Boba looked confused.
"Um, I think you have me mistaken for someone else, Princess. I don't have a sister." Boba said.
"Yes, you do." Mila said. "And you have a twin sister too."
"It's true. Well, technically you were adopted and then later Omega, your twin did too, but still. I am your sister." Gabby said.
Boba just thought Gabby sounded crazy and was about to leave.
"Okay. That's it. This has been fun, but I'm going back to my-"
"Wait, please! Boba, we are siblings, or at least we were, and you had a dad and a mom, until someone cast some kind of a time changing, world changing spell or something."
"I never had a mom." Boba said.
"But my mom is your mom, and she loves you so much. And I do too."
Still, Boba didn't look like he believed Gabby.
"Okay, if we don't know each other, then how do I know your middle name is Jango?" Gabby said. "And how do I know that when you were little, your favorite toy was a plush lion named Fuzzy? Or that your favorite book was the story of The Lion & the Mouse? And how do I know you have a pink birthmark on your upper left thigh?"
That last one had Boba shocked and looking self-consciously at his left leg.
"How do you know I have a birthmark? How do you know all that stuff?" Boba asked.
"I told you. We're siblings."
Still, Boba seemed skeptical. He needed at least one more, powerful piece of evidence to believe her story.
"Let's say I believe for a moment that you're my sister. If you really know me, then tell me something I would only tell someone in my family. Someone I'm really close to."
Gabby tried to think of something.
"I know the lullaby your birth dad sang to you when you were little. You taught it to Remix, and he sang it to me."
"Who's Remix?" Boba said.
"Another very special friend I hope we can find again. He taught me your song, and I know it by heart."
And Gabby sang into the phone:
Oh, the waves roll low
And the waves roll high
And so it goes
Under the bright blue
Endless Sky
Waves try to measure
The days that we treasure
Wave hello
And wave goodbye
Boba's went wide after that, and all of a sudden, he felt a pain in his head that had had him collapsing to the floor.
"Boba!" Gabby exclaimed.
The guards checked Boba and told the visitors it was time for them to leave now. But Gabby didn't think so; this was the third time someone passed out after she'd tried to prove she knew them, and she needed to find out why.
Obviously, the guards weren't going to just give her back her brother. So, she decided to try a little Jedi trick she'd been wanting to do for a while. She'd seen plenty of Jedi do it loads of times. How hard could it be? She figured.
"You will release the prisoner into our custody." Gabby said, waving her hand at the guards.
"I will release the prisoner into your custody," said both the guards.
Boba was dragged out from the detention area and relieved of his cuffs and orange jumpsuit. And before they knew it, an unconscious Boba was placed onto Carousella's back, and the group walked peacefully out of the prison.
Gabby gave Boba a kiss on his cheek.
"I told you once I would rescue you all over again if given the chance, Big Brother. And I will." She whispered to her brother.
"That was a good trick, Gabs." Carousella said.
"I don't know why we ever worried. That was easy." Mila said. Except, she'd spoken too soon, as an alarm suddenly started blaring that there was a prison break.
"Uh oh!" Gabby said. "I think the mind trick wore off!"
Gabby definitely did not account for the Jedi mind trick not lasting long enough for her to get far away from the prison. Either that, or another guard noticed and ratted them out, but either way, they had to get out of there and find a way to help Boba.
"We gotta run!" Carousella said.
Gabby made her wings appear again and flew alongside Carousella as she carried Mila, who made sure Boba didn't fall off.
Police sirens started to wail, and officers immediately began to approach the three humans and the alicorn. No doubt they were going to be arrested too for helping a prisoner escape. They had to hide, and quickly!
"What do we do now?" Gabby said.
"I think I know where we can hide." Carousella said. "Everyone, hold onto me!"
Luckily, Carousella still had her horseshoes and she activated them to take them someplace the guards wouldn't find them.
Mila, Carousella, and Gabby soon found themselves in... Equinaro?
"Equinaro?" said Gabby. "Why did we come here?"
"I know where Indira's family lives." Carousella said. "Teacher Sarmi used to heal me when I was struggling in tougher training sessions. She might be able to help Boba."
Mila got off Carousella's back so Boba would have more room to lay down, and Carousella carried him down the path as they took a long walk to a cottage in a more remote part of the land.
Boba groaned a little bit, but was still too weak to move much.
"Don't worry, Big Brother." Gabby said, taking her brother's hand and kissing it. "You're gonna be okay."
Gabby knocked on the door. A familiar pegasus answered.
"Indira!" Gabby exclaimed, hugging the pegasus.
"Oh! Hello... do I know you?" Indira said.
"Oh, that's right. I keep forgetting." Gabby said, a little embarrassed. "My name is Gabby Skywalker. This is Carousella Mareheart and Mila Madrigal. Does Sarmi Ghoda live here?"
"Yes, she does. What can we do for you?"
"My brother needs healing. He's unconscious."
Indira didn't need anymore to make a decision.
"Come on in."
Indira guided the group inside, where Sarmi was meditating and doing yoga while Jalebi was fixing some tea.
"Mama, we have some unexpected guests." Indira said.
Sarmi slowly exited the downward dog pose she was in and greeted the visitors.
"Namaste."
"Namaste, Mrs. Ghoda." Gabby said. "Can you please help my brother?"
"Let me see him." Sarmi said.
Carousella carefully placed Boba down onto the floor so Sarmi could get a good look at him. Sarmi carefully placed a hoof on Boba's forehead.
"Hmm... what can you tell me about what led to this?"
"Well, I'm not sure you'd believe us if we told you. It's kinda impossible to believe."
"Nothing is truly impossible." Sarmi said.
"Well, it's kind of a long story." Gabby said. "But, here goes."
While Sarmi set out some candles on a mat Boba was carefully lay on, Gabby and Mila explained that they were from an alternate timeline where Boba was adopted by Gabby's parents, Padme and Anakin Skywalker, and Mila was from a completely different universe, one that was accessed by a magical mirror. And, in their timeline, Indira was matched with a male clone named Hunter, who was a member of a squad called The Bad Batch. Except, somehow that time period was altered completely, and now none of their friends or their families remembered anything of the old time period, and somehow Gabby's mom was married to another man, and for some reason believed he was the father of her child. They'd tried to help others remember, but only succeeded in making two Jedi pass out.
"But I can remember everything, and as soon as I sang that lullaby, the same thing happened to Boba." Gabby said.
"Hmm... you said that all three of these guys passed out after you sang a special song?" Sarmi asked.
"Yes. That's exactly when each of them happened."
"Hmm... I'm not well-versed on spells like this, but it seems you've opened an old-time link."
"A what?"
"An old-time link. That is a method of turning back time thought to be only the stuff of legends."
Sarmi explained that time travel spells were among the most dangerous, and thus they were forbidden to many. Jalebi got out some blocks that were stacked up, and Sarmi carefully removed one with her teeth. She explained that time altering was like moving these blocks. All it took was one imbalanced movement to send the whole thing out of balance, but take the wrong action and... Sarmi grabbed a block from the bottom of the stack, sending the whole thing toppling over.
"The whole thing will collapse."
"But that doesn't explain why I still remember everything."
"That, I'm afraid I can't answer." Sarmi said. "But, you might be able to find answers if you question a professor at the Enchantra High Commission. They hold knowledge to spells even many great royal enchanteds don't know about."
"That's who we're trying to find." Gabby said. "He's my family's teacher, and our friend."
"Wait a minute!" Carousella said. "Do you happen to know anyone from the Commission personally?"
"I did come across one once. He was tutoring Lady Comedia."
"Was his name Garrett Heartwood?"
"Yes, I believe that was his name."
"Do you know if he's here or how to get in touch with him?"
Sarmi shook her head.
"I'm afraid not. You could probably speak with Duke Gentry. But I mist warn you, he is a very difficult stallion to speak with."
"Ugh, we've dealt with him and his wife before."
Just then, Boba started to groan. Quickly, Gabby had an idea of what needed to be done.
"Carousella, go look for Remix and bring him back here. If you come across any pony from our world, get them to come with you too. Just tell them it's an emergency. Mila, see if you can get a message out to the Bad Batch. They probably won't remember you, so just tell them there's a matter only they can help with."
"I'll get on it immediately!" Mila said, rushing to find some form of communication to contact the Batch.
While her friends went to get any help they could, Gabby approached Boba and knelt on the floor so she would be the first thing he saw once he opened his eyes.
"Boba? Boba, are you okay?" Gabby said quietly as to not give the boy a headache.
Boba rubbed his eyes and looked up to see Gabby, and this time, he looked like he recognized her.
"Gabby?" was the first thing he said.
Happy tears in her eyes, Gabby immediately hugged her brother.
"You remembered me!" she exclaimed happily.
"How could I ever forget my first and closest sister?" Boba said more as a statement than question, and returning his sister's hug tightly.
"Well... it could be because this world is a little different."
Suddenly, Boba started to remember other things.
"The cruiser... I was in prison... you weren't around! But why do I remember seeing you there?" Boba said.
"A lot has changed, Big Brother. Including you."
Boba got a look at his reflection and screamed.
"What happened to me?!"
"Not a lot of good stuff, by the look of it." Gabby said. "But, I might be able to fix a little of that."
Gabby got Boba to hold still and cast the hair changing spell, and it got Boba's hair long again with the blue streaks.
"At least you look a little more like your old self."
Boba looked at his reflection again. He looked a little easier on the eyes, but still a little pale. It would have to do for now.
"Okay, explanation. Now."
That was when Mila came in.
"Gabby, the Batch is on their way. Carousella's gathering everyone she can, and we gotta go meet them right now." Mila said.
"I'll explain on the way, Boba." Gabby said. "Indira, we need you to come too."
"Okay. Mother, Father...I'll be back as soon as possible." Indira said.
"Just be careful, Beti." Jalebi said, nuzzling his daughter.
"Indira, you wouldn't mind if...?" Boba began.
"Hop on." Indira said, letting the children on her back and taking off with them to meet the others.
Carousella met Gabby, Mila, and Boba at an empty field, and she wasn't alone.
Finding Remix was easy. It turned out, since he never got matched with Boba, he continued on with his deejaying career, but his sister Magenta was still out somewhere, and the two weren't friends in this worlds. Luckily, however, Carousella managed to find at least the music-corns they knew. Carousella managed to find Fiesta, Harmony, Teatra, Pinto and his siblings, and she even managed to get a hold of Comedia thanks to a little help from Queen Reigna summoning her to the castle.
"Why exactly were we all called here?" Remix asked.
"None of you remember us," said Gabby. "And this is probably going to sound crazy, but we're all friends, and each of you was matched with a Jedi or a clone who fought during the Clone War."
As expected, the horses didn't believe Gabby at first. And then Gabby named things she knew about each of them, which had all of them a little scared at first.
"And Comedia, you have another family. You were adopted by a Jedi, and he loves you so much." Gabby said. "He gave you a home when your birth parents wouldn't."
"He did?" Comedia said, sounding doubtful, but also hopeful.
"It's true." Boba said. "Remix, how else would I know your favorite place to be scratched is right here?"
Boba started to scratch Remix at a particular spot by the side of his neck, which had him tapping his hoof as he enjoyed it.
"Yup, this kid gets me." Remix sighed happily. "Maybe they do know us from somewhere."
Suddenly, the sound of a ship arriving filled the air, and it spooked some of the horses.
"Everyone, settle down!" Mila said as calmly as possible. "It's just the Marauder."
The ship landed safely, and out came the Bad Batch. They all removed their helmets and saw everyone who came to meet them.
"The cavalry has arrived!" Wrecker shouted.
Gabby was so excited she ran up and hugged Wrecker.
"You have no idea how happy we are to see you guys!" Gabby exclaimed happily.
"You're right. We have no idea." Hunter said, not recognizing the girl.
Mila looked especially happy to see Tech again.
"Tech?" Mila said, coming a little closer.
"That is my name. But I do not believe we have met." said Tech.
"But we have."
Mila gently caressed Tech's cheek and looked into his eyes, which had the clone frozen for a moment.
"Why exactly are you looking at me that way?" Tech asked.
"You probably won't believe me, but... Tech, I'm your girlfriend. Your fiance."
That had Tech and the rest of the Batch surprised.
"You didn't tell us you were engaged." Wrecker said, playfully punching his brother.
"Probably because I don't remember even proposing." Tech said.
"But you did. At least, before this whole world was changed somehow." Mila looked down.
Tech started to back away from Mila, but she stopped him, having an idea. Gabby sang a song to help Boba remember her, so Mila figured out one thing that might help Tech remember. She kissed him! That surprised everyone, especially Tech. Initially, Tech was going to pull away, but then he found a strange sensation running through his head and in his heart, and he would've collapsed if Mila hadn't caught him.
"Tech, are you alright?"
"I'm alright, Mila." Tech said, then realizing. "Mila... I remember now!"
"What just happened?" Crosshair said, looking as confused as almost everyone else.
"It's a bit of a long story." Gabby said. "That's why we called you here."
Gabby, Mila, and Carousella explained to everyone about the strange changes that occurred somehow with Padme not knowing Anakin was Gabby's father, and now she was married to Clovis, a former friend of hers, and somehow that changed everything else in the entire world. Except, due to the fact that they had no clue what spell was cast to cause this, they had no idea how to reverse it and fix everything.
"We need your help. We have to get to Verden." Gabby said. "Normally, Carousella would just use her horseshoes to transport us, but Verden is a place we're not familiar with, and said to be filled with more wildness than we're used to. And we have to get there to find Garret Heartwood, my family's magic teacher."
"I know him!" Comedia said, remembering. "He was my teacher once too."
"I know. If anyone would know how to fix everything, it's him." Gabby said. "Boba, your bounty hunter training prepared you for a lot of environments and finding people who are hard to find, right?"
"Yes. And that included dodging wild animals." Boba said.
"Do you know the coordinates to this... Verden?" Hunter asked.
Gabby face-palmed herself. She didn't know the coordinates.
"That's the one thing I don't know. But...I might know someone in my family who does. Someone whose been to a lot of different places because everyone in the galaxy loves his music."
Meanwhile, back at the Jedi Temple...
Anakin and Obi-Wan each woke up on a bed in the healer's wing, their headaches slowly disappearing as a medical droid scanned them.
"No damage appears to have occurred," said a doctor. "I am prescribing nothing but bed rest for the two of you."
Anakin felt his head, and he felt so much coming back to him all of a sudden.
"Gabby..." Anakin gasped. "Omega... Boba! My kids!"
"Anakin, are you starting to recall...?" Obi-Wan began.
"I have children! I have a wife! At least, I did."
"So do I!" Obi-Wan said. "Peppermint! She's not here either. And the Temple."
"I remember everything!" Anakin said. "Carmine, Kara, my parents..."
Anakin's eyes widened when he realized something.
"I have to go find Gabby."
Anakin began to rush out of the healer's wing, only to bump right into Kara.
"Oh, Kara!" Anakin said.
"Hello, Skywalker." Kara said.
Anakin noticed Kara was holding a tablet of sorts, which he asked her about.
"I found something you need to see." Kara said.
Anakin and Obi-Wan took a look at what was on the tablet Kara held. It turned out she was taking DNA samples and matching them, which showed her that Anakin and she were half-siblings, and that Gabby was in fact Anakin's daughter, not Clovis'.
"But I already know that stuff." Anakin said.
"You do?" Kara said. "How come you never said anything?"
"Because I didn't remember anything before... until Gabby sang to me and Obi-Wan."
Anakin was confused though.
"I admit, I don't know much about magic spells, but it appears somehow Gabriella wasn't affected by whatever it was, and thus her singing those particular songs unlocked what memories we have that exist in the world she remembers."
"Kara, do you know where Gabby is now?" Anakin said.
"Chancellor Amidala took her home." Kara said. "You might be able to find her there if you hurry."
So, Anakin and Obi-Wan grabbed their lightsabers and started to head out.
"Let's go find my daughter." Anakin said.
Except, on their way to Padme's, Obi-Wan stopped at a window where some T.V's were showing a breaking news report about an escaped prisoner.
"Um... Anakin? You might want to take a look at this!" Obi-Wan said.
Anakin looked at the screen and felt a big Uh-oh! shout in his mind.
According to the news, a young bounty hunter named Boba Fett was broken out of prison, and up came a security footage screen grab of Gabby, Mila, and Carousella carrying what looked like an unconscious Boba out of the prison.
"Oh no!" Anakin said. "We'd better find them before the police do!"
"But where would she go?" Obi-Wan asked.
Anakin started to think. Gabby was a Hide and Seek champion and a talented escape artist, so it was sometimes hard to predict where she would go next. Anakin mentally kicked himself for not recalling that to be an obvious sign she was his daughter. But then, Anakin remembered something else; Gabby wasn't the only one in the family who knew how to hide and still make a living.
"Obi-Wan, get out your dancing shoes. We're going to a concert."