Blowin' In The Wind

Jiminy Cricket

Liverpool

"We've been looking for the past hour, and still no sign of everyone!" Said Amanda. "Don't give up so easily, princess. They couldn't have gone too far." Said Fallon. "Okay, Amanda, let's try this. When was the last time you saw your friends and family members?" Asked Liam.

Amanda takes a deep breath. "I was with the Russos before the storm started, my husband and his friends I saw before they left for work, and I haven't seen my siblings since yesterday." She said. "Not bad, not bad." Liam said. "Can you remember what happened when you saw your siblings last?" Fallon asked. "I made a speech about what I plan to do when I'm queen. So I guess you can say it was a future queen speech, being as I'm next in line for the throne." Amanda said.

"How'd that go?" Asked Liam. "It was kinda stressful at first since they asked me on such short notice, but in the end it wasn't all bad." Said Amanda. "No one ever said being king or queen was easy." Said Fallon.

Liam and Amanda nod in agreement, then the swan princess sits on the nearest bench. "Why so glum, my dear?" Asked a gentle male voice. Amanda looks next to her and notices a tiny figure wearing a black jacket, a light blue top hat, and carrying a red umbrella standing on the back part of the bench. "I can't find my friends and family members. Wait, who and what are you?" Amanda asked. "Cricket's the name, Jiminy Cricket. And I'm, you guessed it, a cricket." Said the little figure tipping his hat. 

"Well, Jiminy, I'm Princess Amanda Swan-McCartney, and these are my friends, King Liam and Queen Fallon." Said Amanda. "How do you do? I've never spoken to a cricket before." Fallon said. "And I've never spoken to other humans. The first was my friend, Pinocchio, who was actually a puppet when we met. He's a real boy now." Said Jiminy. "A puppet who wanted to be a real boy? I think I know that story." Liam said.

Jiminy chuckles. "Anyway, Amanda, you said you're having trouble finding your friends and family?" He asked. "Yeah, and we've been looking for what feels like and eternity. I kinda give up at this rate." Amanda said sadly. "Now, now, don't say that. Just because things get hard, it doesn't mean you have to give up. I know deep down you have the strength and courage to keep going, and there's no doubt your friends and family would say the same thing." Jiminy said.

A tear rolls down Amanda's cheek, then she wipes it away. "I needed that. Thanks, Jiminy." She said. "You're very welcome." Said Jiminy. "Hey, why don't you come with us? We could use the extra help on our search." Said Liam. "In that case, I'd be glad to accompany you on this journey." Jiminy said. "Fantastic! After all, you never seem to fail at giving people a pep talk when they need it most." Said Fallon.

Amanda stands up from the bench and puts her hand on the back, making her arm like a ramp. Jiminy runs up it, then Amanda straighten's her arm so the little cricket doesn't fall, then he makes himself comfortable on her shoulder.