Oneshot inspired by a post made by @ottersgamers
Jimmy was gathering some stuff he needed for a trip in the Nether. He grabbed a shulker box or two, some TNT and a flint and steel, some food, and some spare pickaxes and armour just in case. He placed on his armour with a pair of gold boots so no piglins will attack him. "Come on Flick, Norman" he scoops up his cats. "We're off!" He flies over to Lizzie where she's agreed to look after his cats whilst he's away. "Of course they're welcome! This is Critter City after all" he hands her his cats before turning around to leave. "Where are you off to that requires me to look after your cats?" Asks Lizzie. "Well I'm going on a netherite trip and I don't know how long I'll be" she nods before waving goodbye as the sheriff flies off.
Once he's back in Tumble Town, he flies off a little before arriving at his second portal. He heads on through and flies to the tunnel he built last time and continued on mining and exploding. After it felt like hours, Jimmy stopped to take a break. He ate some porkchop but realised he forgot water. "Well I'm not staying down here any longer so I guess it wouldn't matter" he gets up and begins to mine the two Ancient Debris in front of him, only to spy a tunnel right after. "Has someone else been down here?" He walkthrough the 2x2 tunnel as it slowly expands upon movement. The walls, floor and ceiling were covered with blackstone, soul lanterns hung above him as it leads to an opening and the sheriff's jaw dropped.
In front of him was a castle. It didn't look like anything he's ever seen before. Made entirely of blackstone, with a bit of warped wood and it spiked at the top. "A castle. In the nether?!" He swayed, the heat slowly getting to him. He leans on the side of the tunnel he came through. "Halt! Who are you and what are you doing here?" Spoke a voice as six guards surrounded him, decked out in netherite. "I....uh..." He felt dizzy, making him wish he did bring some water. "Well? Are you going to answer?" "Um...." "Well then. You're hereby under arrest for trespassing-" the guard was caught off guard when the blond stranger collapsed in front of them. "We should take him to the King" One of the guards dragged Jimmy by the feet, into the castle, leaving his hat behind. "Sire! We found this trespasser and-" "Leave him with me" spoke a voice. "But. But-" "I said: leave him with me!" The guard nodded, letting go of the sheriff's feet before leaving.
The king sighs upon seeing who was dragged in. Would he remember him? He scoops up Jimmy and takes him to his chamber. He tells a servant that he'll need some ice, a bowl and a cloth. She nods, bowing before running off. He places Jimmy down as the servant returns with the items he requested. "Who is he?" "An old friend" smiled the king. He placed the ice into the bowl and he hovered a hand over it. The ice began to melt and he placed the cloth in. He sat down on the edge of the bed, waiting for the blond to wake up. A couple of hours go by as the blond begins to stir. He opens his eyes, rubbing the sleep out of them and stretches. "Hey" he jumped when the voice spoke. He looked at the end of the bed. There in front of him was a man.
He wore a silver crown upon his blue hair, he had a cheeky grin upon his face and was wearing a black robe. "H-Hello" spoke Jimmy. The stranger got up and placed the cloth onto his head. "Pearl?" "Yes sir?" "Fetch me a glass filled with ice cubes" "Right away, sir" The servant known as Pearl leaves the chamber, leaving the two males alone. "How did I get here?" Jimmy asks. "I brought you to my chambers, my guards brought you inside" spoke the stranger. "Who are you? Is this place yours?" "Yes, this place is mine and you'll know in due time who I am" spoke the stranger. Jimmy was confused. Why wouldn't the guy tell him who he is? Was he a bad guy? Was that why he didn't say? He did seem familiar though. "Here you go, sir!" Pearl returns, holding a glass, filled with ice cubes. He thanks her as she leaves. Jimmy watched in awe as the ice began to melt.
"Drink" Jimmy hesitated, thinking that I'd be warm, but it was ice cold. "What can you remember?" The sheriff went silent for a little while before speaking. "I dropped off my cats at a friend's place, came to the nether, began to mine and explode, found a tunnel that brought me here, met some guards and now you" The king nodded, understanding what has happened. "Wait Lizzie! She must be so worried! I said I'd be gone a while but if I don't return, she might panic!" Over in Critter City, Lizze was not worried. In fact, she was pleased to have guests staying and did everything she could to make Flick and Norman feel at home. Back in the nether, Jimmy began to hyperventilate. "Hey, breathe. Its okay. I'll take you back, alright?" His breathing slows as he stares at the stranger. "You will?" "Yes. Come on" he stands, holding out his hand.
Jimmy takes it, as the guy helps him stand. "Are you not hot in that?" Jimmy asks as they began to leave. "Nope! When you've lived here as long as I have, you get used to it" "How do you have water in the nether?" "I send my guards and a few servents to the overworld to grab ice. When I first began to store it, I asked for some redstone too, and made a secure place to store the ice. Its the coldest place in the entire nether" "Do you know me?" the stranger stops, he looks at Jimmy and nods. "Yeah I know you, Jimmy" The blond just blinked at the guy. He knew him, but won't tell him his name?
The two leave and Jimmy picks up his disguarded hat, placing it back on his head. "Where to, sheriff?" "This way" they head through the tunnel and into Jimmy's mine before travelling back to the portal and heading on through. Jimmy takes a deep breath, feeling calm as a breeze blows by. The guy next to him however, shivered. "Cold?" "Yeah. Forgot how different the temperatures are" They walk to Tumble Town where they spot a girl, with pink hair and a mask. "Lizzie!" The girl turns and walks over "You were gone for quite a while. Don't worry about you're cats, they're here and are fine" The stranger was confused how the girl was talking without moving her mouth but quckly saw it was a mask.
"Thanks Lizzie" she shot off, flying back to her empire. "So... That was Lizzie?" "Yup! She's nice. A bit strange, but nice" Jimmy began to fuss over his cats whilst the stranger watched. "Hey, since you brought me back, will you now tell me who you are?" The guy shook his head. "Think back to what I told you and what you've seen" Think back? The guy mentioned how he lived in the nether and owned the castle, he had a servant called Pearl, his hair was made of blue fire, he could do redstone- "Tango?!" The guy nodded. "Tango, is that you?!" "Hi Jimmy!" Beamed Tango. "Oh my gosh!" He hugs Tango tightly as the guy chuckles. "Took you long enough" Jimmy was so happy. His old rancher buddy was here in empires!
"This feels surreal, Tango" smiles Jimmy. "It sure is, Jimmy" "You know, not a day went by that I didn't wish that you were here with me" "Really?" "I missed being ranchers with you Tango, and I want to do it again. Will you Tango?" Tango paused for a moment before a grin appeared on his face. "Yes! I wanna be your rancher again, Jimmy" Jimmy smiles before jumping for joy. He hugs Tango and he kisses him. Tango kisses back, happy that he had his rancher.
In the distance, a rocket was fired but the two didn't notice another blue haired male, holding back tears as he flew home.
