The Teddy Bear from Another World

“Excuse me! Have you seen my Marie?!”

On a busy cobblestone street with many passing individuals...one wouldn’t bat so much of an eye at someone shouting asking for their lost child...what did turn heads was the fact that the voice is cute and childish. The owner of the voice isn’t that of young child, but that belonging to a talking teddy bear.

“My Marie! Has anyone seen my Marie?!”

The teddy bear jumped up and down on the wooden boxes it had climbed atop of. The bright pink ribbon around its neck would flop up and down following its motion. The teddy bear continued to shout for information for Marie, its lopsided legs doing little to help its cotton body to jump and down easily. Beside the wooden crate stood an awkward young squire still in his teens...unsure what to do about the shouting teddy bear.

“Momma, the teddy bear is talking!”

“Shush, don’t point and don’t look. It’s obviously a cursed doll.”

“Excuse me...ah...” The young squire could only awkwardly stare at the doll. He isn't entirely sure if he should climb the boxes himself to retrieve the bear or let it come down on its own. “Bear...no...ah...”

“Yes?” The bear turned towards the squire. Its black buttoned eyes made it difficult to tell what it could be thinking. “What is it?”

“The Queen Dowager is looking for you so I have to...ah...take you back to the royal palace.”

“Is Marie there?”

“I’m not sure if the Marie you are looking for is there, but I’m sure there are more than a few people with that name there.”

“Marie!”

The teddy bear jumped down startling the squire as he was forced to reach out with both hands to catch the flying plush. As expected, due to its light weight, it wasn’t difficult...but the young boy still fell over in his surprise not expecting it to just jump down at him.

“Oh, are you alright?”

“Please don’t jump down like that...”

“Sorry...” The teddy bear pressed its paw against its mouth. “So, where are we going?”

“...Why couldn’t Philia handle this...? She's used to crazy...”

The squire carried the teddy bear back to the royal place. He was forced to listen to the teddy bear question him about this mysterious Marie...who is likely the owner. There is still a strange thought in the boy’s mind though...why would there be a talking teddy bear in the royal place of all places? The boy didn’t really understand and when he saw a figure rushing towards him in a large dress...he initially thought it was one of the Queen Dowager’s handmaidens...not the actual woman herself!

“There you are, Benny!”

"Your majesty?!"

“Oh my...” The elderly woman could only heave a small sigh of relief, her breathing uneven due to running at her elderly age. The handmaidens behind her were fussing over her, but she merely waved her hands towards them. “I haven’t run like that since I was a little girl...”

“Who are you?”

“I suppose you wouldn’t know who I am.” The elderly woman leaned down until she was at eyelevel with the teddy bear. “Your name is Benny, am I correct?”

“Yes! I am Benny! Benny was made for the sake of Marie!” Benny tilted its whole body to the side. “Who are you? Do you know my Marie?”

“Yes, I know Marie.”

“Then, where is my Marie?!”

“As expected of Marie’s most beloved Benny, you only care about her.”

“I’m sorry, did I hurt your feelings?” Benny suddenly had a realization, it quickly held out both of its stubby hands. “I’m sorry! I don’t have any manners! Even though you know who I am, we have to introduce ourselves! Granny taught Marie this when we first met!”

“Oh?”

“That’s right! I’m supposed to say this! Hello, my name is Benny! What is your name?”

“It’s nice to meet you, Benny. My name is Elizabeth.”

“It’s nice to meet you!”

“Now then, it would be best if we discuss everything that happened.”

“What do you mean, your majesty?”

“If I recall, you are Philia’s friend.”

“Yes, your majesty.” The young squire knelt before the queen, still holding Benny in his arms. Benny quickly wiggled his way out of Ansel’s arms. “I am Ansel.”

“I need you to fetch Philia. I’ll have one of my handmaidens escort you to the garden once you find her.”

“Y-Yes, your majesty!”

“Now then, Benny.” Elizabeth reached out, a smile on her face. “Let’s go to the garden to have a chat.”

“No.” The Queen Dowager was started at the sudden rejection. “I don’t like being carried by anyone who isn’t Marie! I thought Marie was here so I wanted to get here quickly! It took me all morning to get outside!”

“Oh, did it now?”

“I almost fell down in the big river beneath those big stone walls!”

“That’s called a moat.”

“Moat!”

Elizabeth could only smile as she walked slower than usual to match Benny’s excited steps. Benny began explaining his story about how he ended up outside after waking up, sneaking past ladies dressed in black and white dresses, trying to climb up a tree only to fail, then getting onto the top of the palace walls. The only way he managed to get across the moat was because a large gust of wind blew him clear across it, allowing him access to the castle town.

“Sounds like quite the adventure.” Elizabeth motioned to her maids to serve Benny tea...despite the fact it may not be able to drink it. “I’m sure you’re quite curious where Marie could have gone.”

“Yes! I’m very curious where my Marie has gone off to without me!”

“Marie has gone on a long journey, long ago.”

“A journey?”

“Do you know about it?”

“I don’t remember all that much from before I could move.” Benny shook its head, making its entire body shake with it. The ends of its ribbons shook as well...quite the odd sight. “I remember Marie was crying before we last saw one another. I don’t know why, but whoever made my Marie cry will have to answer to me!”

“Oh my.”

“Granny Elizabeth.” The handmaidens who heard this were shocked at how bold and impolite the little bear was being, but Elizabeth only laughed lightly while waving them off. “Where did my Marie go? Can you call her for me?”

“I’m afraid that Marie cannot come here to fetch you.”

“She can’t?”

“And I could not send you to her.”

“Why?”

“Being an adult is very difficult.”

“Yeah, being an adult is difficult! I remember how tired my Marie’s momma and pappa worked always coming home suuupppeeer tired!”

“I couldn’t send you to Marie before, but I can do so now.”

“What do you mean?”

“Your majesty.” A young female knight is kneeling on the ground, Ansel beside her. She didn’t look to be much older than Ansel. “You called for me?”

“Philia, this child needs assistance.”

“This child?” Philia raised her head, making Benny stare at her. “It’s...a teddy bear.”

“Yes, this child is a teddy bear.”

“...Your majesty, if I may be so bold...is it...perhaps a cursed doll?”

“No, this child is not a cursed doll.”

“...”

“Benny, this is Philia. Philia, this is Benny.”

“Hello, it is nice to meet you!”

“...Good...ah...Good day to you...Mr. Bear?”

“Good day to you as well!”

“...”

“Philia, I have an assignment for you. Of course, you are free to reject my request.”

“Your majesty, I have no desire to reject any request you have of me. No matter what it is, I shall complete it without fail.”

“Then I would like you to take Benny to see your great-grandmother.”

“...” There is a look of mild displeasure on Philia’s face, but she quickly schooled her expression. “May I inquire what it is you would need of her...the Great Witch of the Slumbering Forest?”

“Perhaps it is better for you to explain.” Elizabeth turned her head to look at Benny who is merely looking at whoever is talking. “After all, you are the one who is seeking someone.”

“Oh? Do you mean me, Granny Elizabeth?” Philia and Ansel, not to mention the handmaiden who just arrived almost fell over in shock at its rude tone. “Are they going to help me look for my Marie?”

“That’s right.”

“Oh!” Benny seemed to understand as it struggled to get down from the chair. It fell over, rolling on the ground making the more softhearted handmaidens hold out their hands like worried aunties for a small child who suddenly fell. “Don’t worry, I’m okay!”

“Can you get up on your own?”

“Yes!” Benny rolled onto its stomach before using its front and back paws before lifting itself upright. Benny toddled over to where Philia is kneeling, placing its cotton stuffed hand on her knee. “You’re going to help me look for my Marie, aren’t you?”

“Who is Marie?”

“My Marie!”

“...As I said, who is Marie?”

“Philia, you should ask who Marie differently...I don’t think it understands what you’re saying.”

“B-Be silent, Ansel! I knew that!”

“Let me try.” Ansel could only roll his eyes at her behavior. “Can you tell us about Marie? How old is she?”

“I don’t remember!”

“...”

“What color is her hair?”

“It’s shiny!”

“...”

“Her eyes?”

“Like honey!”

“Do you know Marie’s last name?”

“Last name? What’s that? My Marie is just Marie.”

“Hey, Ansel...this thing...it’s kinda dumb for a cursed doll...”

“You got all that magic bloodline stuff in you. Don’t you know anything about this sort of stuff?”

“That’s more my uncle’s area of expertise.”

“Should we ask your uncle for help?”

“Do you really want to go to the Mage Tower?”

“No way.”

“Didn’t think so.”

“What’s wrong?” Benny is looking between the two. “Is something wrong? Can you help me find my Marie or not?”

“Benny is not a cursed doll.” Both teens could only look towards Elizabeth before averting their gaze. “Benny was brought to this world from another one.”

“So this th...ehem...I beg your pardon, your majesty. Are you implying that Benny is actually an artifact from another world?”

“Yes, that is the case.”

“This...doll...”

“Benny is a teddy bear!”

“This teddy bear is a precious artifact from another world.”

“That is indeed the case.”

“Your majesty, are you saying that this Marie is actually an Otherworlder?”

“She is. Marie had left Benny here at the royal palace before she went on her journey. I’m afraid that is all I can tell you.”

“That is all you can tell us, your majesty?”

“Philia, with who your great-grandmother is surely you know about the ‘Oath of the Heroes’.”

“Oath of the Heroes?” Benny looked towards Philia. “What’s that?”

“It is a spell, a spell developed by a powerful witch 60 years ago.”

“A witch?! Aren’t witches bad people?”

“That’s a misconception. There are good witches, just like there are bad ones. Long ago, there were people who would use Otherworlders for evil purposes.”

“What sort of evil purposes?”

“That is...” Philia looked awkward, unsure how to explain this delicately to Benny. Despite only talking to it briefly, she realized that Benny most likely has the mind of a child...likely matching the owner’s mindset when she still possessed it. “They do bad things using the Otherworlders. To protect them, my great-grandmother developed a spell and cast it on the world itself.”

“The world itself?”

“I don’t know the specifics, but I know that it ensures that word about Otherworlders can’t be spread so easily. That they can’t get hurt by bad people.”

“Oh! Your granny sounds like a very nice lady!”

“She’s not.”

“What do you mean?”

“That old hag-ow!” Ansel had smacked Philia in the arm. “Ansel!”

“We are in front of her majesty, remember?” Ansel tilted his head towards the smiling queen dowager. Philia remembered where she was and went deadly pale. “Try to keep the impolite speech to a minimum...!”

“E-Ehem...As I was saying! My great-grandmother is indeed a powerful witch, a witch with no equal...but she isn’t very nice. She’s stubborn and doesn’t listen to what others have to say. If she doesn’t like what you’re saying, you get toss-er...you are politely asked to leave her home and forest that surrounds her home.”

“She sounds nice, but she also sounds mean...” Benny was obviously confused at all this. “That is unlike my Marie! My Marie is cute as a button and bright, cheerful, and her hugs are the warmest!”

“No one asked that...”

“How can a teddy bear tell that a kid is as cute as a button...?”

“I know she is as cute as a button because Granny said so!”

“Granny...as in...?”

“My Marie’s granny!”

“Is that so?”

“Philia, isn’t this why her majesty suggested...”

“...!”

Philia realized where the Queen Dowager’s request for her great-grandmother comes from. If Marie is an Otherworlder, then her information is protected and hidden due to the Oath of the Heroes. However, as both the spellcaster and an Otherworlder herself, Philia’s great-grandmother can reveal information about Marie and even find her using divinations.

“Your majesty, you wish for us to escort the magical artifact to my great-grandmother to reunite with its owner?”

“I had met Marie only a handful of times in the past and each interaction was more memorable than the last. I want to extend the kindness she had shown to me and reunite the two.”

“I understand, your majesty. Please, allow me to make arrangements to bring it to meet my great-grandmother.”

“Thank you, dear. It will be a long journey and a young lady traveling alone would not be good, knight or not. I ask that you please allow your friend Ansel to accompany you.”

“Y-Your majesty?!”

“I also ask that if officially questioned, you are to say you are returning to your hometown to pay tribute to your great-grandmother to celebrate her 80th birthday. You are not to mention Benny to anyone. If there are those who dare to press further, inform them that I have personally given my permission for you to go on this journey. We will arrange for you to transport a gift for your great-grandmother to act as cover. It matters little if the gift is lost, what must not be lost is Benny.”

“If that is what you desire, your majesty.”

“Both of you are dismissed.” Elizabeth waved off the two...doing the same with her own handmaidens. It allows her a chance to speak with Benny alone. “Benny.”

“Ah, yes, what is it?” Benny toddled over to Elizabeth, standing at her knees looking up at her. Elizabeth could only smile as she placed a gentle hand upon its cloth cheek. “What do you need, Granny Elizabeth?”

“Do you miss Marie?”

“Yes! I miss my Marie very much!”

“...Did you awaken just to look for her?”

“I don’t understand. What do you mean?”

“No, it is nothing. Benny, it will be a few days before you can go on your journey. Why not learn from me in the meantime?”

“Learn from you?”

“Yes. You should learn a bit about the route you will take to the Great Witch’s home.”

“Is it going to be a long walk?”

“A very long walk, but you should think about it like this.” Elizabeth held up a finger. “This is an adventure.”

“An adventure?”

“That’s right, it will be your adventure. On this adventure, you’ll gain a lot of stories to tell Marie when you two reunite.”

“S-Stories to tell my Marie?!” Benny began to jump up and down excitedly. “Marie used to tell me stories whenever she had to go outside! She told me about school, her friends, and all sorts of stuff! So I can tell my own stories to Marie?!”

“Calm down now. You should listen to me to the end, Benny.”

“I’m sorry, Granny Elizabeth.”

“You have to be careful on your journey and you must never separate yourself from Ansel or Philia. If you lose them, you will lose your chance to find Marie.”

“Oh no!”

“Now then, shall we go inside?”

“Yes!” Benny offered to Elizabeth its tiny hand, similar to a child reaching up towards their parent or grandparent. Elizabeth smiled sweetly at Benny as she took that outstretched cotton hand. “I can’t wait until we can go!”

“One step at a time, one step at a time.”

The little teddy bear knew nothing about the world around it, only single-mindedly focusing on searching for its most beloved Marie. Even if it has to walk with its own two legs, it would not stop until they can reunite. To jump into Marie’s arms and give her a hug as she had to it long ago and say the words it wishes to say no matter what.

“I finally found you, Marie!”