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What was it like to be a princess?
Gem has always wondered that ever since she was young. She used to dream about having her own kingdom where she would feel free and do whatever she wants. However, her kingdom would feel empty if it didn't have her best friend, Jimmy. Gem and Jimmy would always play inside her house and outside, pretending they're running around the kingdom and greeting the citizens while fighting monsters. Jimmy would always stand in front of her, shield and sword in his hands, and protect her from any harm.
Though, she was just a child...
While Jimmy was just a toy.
Even when she grew up, she always kept him around since he was something special to her. If she felt scared, she would hold him tight, as if he will always be there by her side to protect her and get rid of the fears she had. If she felt unsure of herself, she would look at her toy and wonder what he would've done.
It was like he was her guardian angel. Always watching over her, and making her feel comfortable and safe. She was devastated to find him gone. It was as if he ran away, like he abandoned her and left her for no reason. Even if he had a reason, she couldn't think of one, and she wouldn't stop crying in her bed, waiting for him to come back and apologize for scaring her.
Yet he never came back.
He never came back to her.
He was gone.
She would have to grow up without him, and he wouldn't be there to see it.
However, it didn't matter to her anymore. Growing up into a young independent woman who finally became the princess of her own empire, she was content in her life. Tending to the bees who would produce honey for her to trade with other empires, having builders who would construct her empire with a red-orange-yellow color pattern in mind, and become the sun that can bring brightness to people's lives.
Though, there was just one thing that Gem couldn't wrap her head around. It was the Sheriff of Tumble Town. While he always say he's just the Sheriff, everybody else calls him Jimmy. While he has to scream he isn't a toy, Gem couldn't stop but wonder why he looks so familiar.
Why did he make her feel so... relieved? Why did he make her feel like she finally found someone she missed for a long time?
Why did he feel so-
"Princess Gem?" Gem snapped out of her daze, finding herself staring at the ocean. Moving her head to the side, she found the Sheriff beside her.
Though, she had to look down to see him. She wouldn't make fun of him and call him a toy like the other emperors, but it was absurd if he wasn't. His body and face looks like it is carved out of wood, he is even shorter than the sneaky goblin of Gobland, and no matter how hard he tries to hide it, Joel found out that he has a string that makes him say certain phrases.
"Wu-" She quickly clears her throat, "What is it, Jimmy?"
"...You just looked like you were thinking of something." He looks back at the ocean, watching the waves gently wash over the rocks.
With the Bee festival happening behind them inside Dawn, the two were just alone. The sounds of music playing, multiple bees buzzing, and people cheering and celebrating couldn't disturb the silence between the princess and the Sheriff. Though, she has a question. A question she needs to ask.
Taking a deep breath and gather all of her courage, she speaks up, "I do have a question though."
"Better not be toy related..." He grumbled, making her chuckle and add, "It isn't. Don't worry. I respect the Sheriff and the law, after all!"
She glances over at him, then she says the important question she wanted to ask, "Do you have any memories before you became the Sheriff?" A question that she hopes doesn't upset him, since she just wants to be respectful.
She is a princess, after all. Princesses have to be respectful and polite.
"No... Not really. Why are you asking? Are you gonna ask if I had an owner or something?" He responds, raising her some suspicions. What have the other emperors been saying to this poor man? "Jimmy, no! Why? Did someone ask you something like that?"
"Yeah. Joel came by the other day and asked me 'Oi Jimmy! Where's your Andy?' and even tried to throw one of... those TOYS at me!" He lets out a deep sigh, "I want to burn that toy store down, but I am the Sheriff and it's against the law. I can't do that... but I'm very tempted, you know? And it didn't help he actually had to restock many times because people bought some!"
"Oh yeah. I bought one of those." Gem comments, causing him to glare at her and shout, "Gem!"
She couldn't help herself from giggling at his response. She made an attempt to defend herself, "What? They looked so cute!"
"Cute?! I can't believe you! That is disrespect of the law and the Sheriff! You have to get rid of that!" He felt even more offended than ever. He wants to be seen as strong, not cute! Gem rolls her eyes and snickers, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry."
After a minute passed by, she couldn't help but feel a sense of... emotion. An emotion she isn't able to describe. "So you don't really remember anything?" She questions him, her green eyes staring at the sun and the blue sky mixing with orange. Jimmy shrugs his shoulders and responded, "Yeah. I mean, I get some glimpses in my dreams, but they're just dreams. You even showed up in them but I doubt I even knew you before."
He laughs after mentioning something that completely answered the big question lingering in her mind, then he adds, "I mean, it'd be crazy if we knew each other before but we couldn't remember. How crazy would that be?"
It could all just be one cruel joke for her, but she doesn't want to wonder anymore.
"But if we actually did know each other before..." She stops for a moment, "Would that change anything?"
"Of course. That means we would already be allies, and you would know I am NOT a toy." He pouts his wooden-like lips, then the princess smiles. "Whatever you say, Jimmy."
"Uh-huh. Wait... What do you mean by that?" He quickly jumps to interrogating her, as if she is trying to make fun of him. She wouldn't be lying that she felt pity for him for all the mockery he had to endure. "You're not a toy. You're the Sheriff, after all."
"Oh, yes. I know I am the Sheriff. Do I really have to repeat myself for everyone to understand? It's not Jimmy the Toy, it's Jimmy the Sheriff. Wait... Let me make that-" His voice soon turns into white noise to her while she mindlessly agrees with him.
While the two continued their conversation, the other emperors noticed their absence and soon dragged them into the festival, interrupting their talk. With the bright yellow frog lights acting as floating lanterns around the path, Gem looks at her kingdom one last time, then she glances at Jimmy.
"I, Jimmy-" Little Gem's voice boldly yells at the small figurines with a toy on her hands, "-promise to protect Princess Gem forever!"
"Since you're the Sheriff, you'll protect everyone, right?" Gem asks him while the two strolls around the streets, looking at the stalls set up and the items the villagers are selling. Jimmy confidently announces, "Of course. I'll be everyone's protector forever, after all!"
"...That's nice. I'm sure you'll be the greatest Sheriff ever."
"Because you're my guardian angel."