❱ http: MISCHA

The goblin across from him, with skin as green as an olive and ears that moved and tilted with every sound echoing from the caves, scowled back. His arms were crossed, his feet tapping impatiently, causing a repetitive tuk tuk tuk sound on the stones.

There was no recognition in those blue eyes.

(And Oli wept internally, because Gem looked at him and saw a stranger. Because Sausage slept above, and Pearl wouldn’t let him pass to see him. Because Fwhip held him in a cage, dangling above the cavern floor.)

(Because someone called the Sheriff was on the way, and he didn’t know if he could handle looking another friend in the eye and seeing nothing but a blank stare.)

“Fwhip,” came the call, from further within the massive cave, “Why is there a man locked in a cage? Are you stealing my brand?”

Jimmy.

Oli turned to look at the blonde, taking in the rancher cowboy outfit. Dusty hat, golden star, and a leather elytra that folded together to create the image of a badge on its edges.

(And internally, he prayed to the Orb, a habit not yet broken, that this wouldn’t be another friendship lost.)

The Sheriff approached quickly, taking in the cage and the impatient goblin with a keen eye. The lasso on his hip swung as he finally ascended to the platform above.

“No, no, never!” The goblin teased back, “Gem says that he has the dragon egg. And Sausage said-”

“Sausage is here?”

Both emperors turned to the prisoner, who’s choked, incredulous statement startled them.

“Yeah, Sausage is the ruler of Sanctuary,” Fwhip elaborated with a casual, dismissive wave of his hand. (Sausage is here. Sausage is here. Sausage is awake-) “But anyways, he said he saw a strange figure at the campsite the other day. And we did find that weird sign in the Ancient City. So we were thinking that he might just be our culprit.”

Jimmy finally locked eyes with Oli himself.

(And Oli wanted to cry again, but this time in relief, because he knew that look.)

The Sheriff shook his head with a wry grin. “Is that so?” He drawled. “In that case, I’ll take him off your hands and back to Tumble Town for questioning.”

(It was the “gosh dangit Oli, what did you do this time?” Look.)

And the goblin whined and groaned and complained, but he let them go without too much of a fuss, because watching over a prisoner was taking up a lot of time anyways.

As Oli clung to Jimmy’s back, taking in the new sights as they rode atop Arrow, he felt the Sheriff sigh.

“You know, I’m going to be honest, I don’t know who you are.”

(And Oli recoiled because no no no not another one-)

“But I know that I know you. And that you mean no harm. So I’m going to take you back to my home, and you’re going to explain how you know us, and then I’ll help you find your house okay?”

And that was all Oli needed to finally burst into tears and start wailing his woes dramatically, thanking his savior for bringing him out of that “horrible, unbearable cage,” grinning all the while.

(And Jimmy grinned too, because something had felt off, memories missing and inside jokes made with no context. Maybe this familiar stranger was the final missing piece.)

(Elsewhere, a Keeper of Lore straightened and smiled, his hands stilling and resting on a lectern.)