The Teddy Bear and the Unforgettable Memory

Benny has gotten used to traveling with Ansel and Philia. The pair lessened their arguments after Benny admitted it didn't like listening to them argue...or see Philia kick Ansel. There were times old habits died hard, but if Philia saw Benny just staring at her after kicking Ansel...she felt as if she was being judged and apologized to Ansel half-heartedly. Philia also got used to Benny's rather curious nature, explaining things in a patient manner. Benny did think that Philia is too violent, completely unlike its cute and adorable Marie.

"Why is that forest different from this forest?" Benny pointed its hand in the direction of rows of green trees in the distance then at the yellowing and bright red trees above them. "That's green! This is red and yellow!"

"That forest is under the protect of a powerful spirit. They hate humans so we can't go in there. We can only go around."

"Oh!"

"There's a river up ahead. We can take a short break there before heading around."

"Don't jump into the river again, Benny. Neither one of us wants to jump in after you again."

"I know!"

Benny is a bit annoyed that the two would think it would make the same mistake it did when it first saw a river. It had never seen a fish before and tried to get a closer look...only for the fish to yank at its ribbon dragging it in. Ansel was the one who saw it and dove headfirst into the river to grab Benny. As Ansel couldn't swim, it was up to Philia to drag them both to shore. The result was two soaking wet teenagers and a waterlogged teddy bear that threw a tantrum when Philia was forced to wring it out like a cloth to get all the water out.

"Acorn~! Acorn~!"

Benny ran off to go acorn hunting, wanting to find the roundest one with the prettiest cap. Benny didn't notice at all that something is staring down at it...already choosing its target. and neither Ansel nor Philia would realize what would happen next. A sharp screech filled the air, the sound belonging to a hawk.

Now! Now my minions! Attack the humans! Capture the strange creature!

!!! Child! Get down!

Iris released a loud cry, kicking up her front legs. Iris' sudden cry and agitated state alarmed Philia and only confused Ansel. Philia drew her sword, expecting bandits or a large beast...not the flurry of wings and the sharp cry of crows that descended upon the two humans.

"Crows?!"

"A witch must be behind this!"

"Ow!"

"Benny! Get to one of the horses! Ow!"

Iris tugged against the reins attached to the branch, desperate to break free. While the two humans were distracted, a large white hawk descended from the sky, its talons menacingly reached out towards Benny...who was more confused than scared. The talons secured itself tightly around Benny's waist and left arm. With a sharp beat of its wings, the hawk took to the sky once again.

Retreat! We have what we came for!

Child! Child!

Iris' cry couldn't be heard by Benny any further...and it looked upwards only to see the white belly of the hawk carrying it. It reached up with its free hand, poking at that white belly. Benny wasn't frightened, instead...it stared at the hawk's wings as they glided across the air. They were like snow. Transparent like ice in the sunlight.

"Mr. Bird! Can I have one of your feathers? They're pretty and I want to give it to Marie!"

Silence, insolent thing! If not for my master wanting you, I wouldn't have bothered fetching you myself!

"What does that mean?"

Not only insolent, but dumb as well. Fret not, my master will care for you and teach you. You will become as noble and intelligent as myself!

"No! I have to find Marie!"

Forget others! Once my master takes you in, you will live beneath his care!

"Noooo! I don't want that! Nooooo!"

Stop struggling. What if you-

The hawk couldn't finish speaking to Benny...as it didn't realize just how fragile a creature made of cloth and cotton could be. Benny's struggle against the hawk's talons was its undoing...the sharp talons cut through Benny's trapped arm, ripping it off. The other talon had gripped itself to steady its prey better...but it also cut through the body of Benny resulting in large tears.

No!

The hawk could only watch as the bear drifted down into the forest. It was quick to try to go after the bear only to reel back to avoid hitting the canopy of the forest. It circled around the general area it had dropped the teddy bear.

Curses...I must demand assistance from one of the forest dwellers below. We mustn't allow that strange creature to escape.

While the hawk was busy thinking of that...Benny could only lie on the forest ground on its back. It stared upwards at the trees and at the sunlight filtering in through. It attempted to twist around and lift itself up...but the only result was cotton coming out of its ripped fabrics.

"My arm...my cotton...It's falling out...!"

Even without any real facial expressions, you could hear the heartbreak in Benny's voice at its injuries. As a simple teddy bear, it cannot feel pain. It cannot feel heat nor cold. Hunger nor fullness. It is simply a teddy bear...but this teddy bear felt something in its chest it could not understand.

It is painful...! The tightness inside is painful.  I don't like this! Marie! Marie! Save me, Marie!

Benny began to cry without tears, trying to use its only hand to try to press its cotton back into its body.  A gentle melody began to fill the air, drawing Benny's attention away from its injuries. It began to stagger in the direction of the voice, knowing that perhaps this person could help it.

"♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪"

Benny didn't understand these words, but they sounded sorrowful. As if the person singing was waiting for someone...someone precious to them. Benny kept moving until it happened upon a clearing filled with beautiful pink flowers...an individual sitting amongst the flowers with their back to Benny.

"Are you a guest or an intruder...strange little creature?"

"I...don't know...would you...can you please help me?"

"Why?"

"My cotton is falling out...my arm is gone...I need help...I don't know what to do..." 

Benny's voice began to get quieter, unsure if it is alright to ask this stranger for help. It was always warned to never approach strangers even if they offer to help it. Perhaps the stranger took pity upon the little bear...and the figure stood up, turning to it.

"Are you crying, little creature?"

"I don't know what crying is." Benny shook its head left and right, cotton falling out with each movement. It made the little bear even more distressed. "Ah...my cotton...my cotton...If I lose all my cotton..."

"Don't move, little creature."

"That's not my name. My name is Benny. Who are you?"

"It matters not, not anymore." Delicate hands collected Benny, collected the fallen cotton. "It's quite dirty now."

"Nooo...! I can't put it back in like that! I can't hug Marie with dirty cotton in my body!"

"Marie?"

"My Marie! My most beloved Marie!"

"Don't cry, little creature."

"Benny!"

"Benny. Don't cry, I will assist you."

"Assist me?"

Benny didn't understand how this strange person could help it...but the stranger opened their mouth again and began singing. This time it is a pleasant melody...and it is almost as if the wind is following each note sang, drifting past them slowly. Benny felt as if there is something in its head...that this moment reminds it of something

There are old wrinkled hands that are slowly taking needle and thread through fabric. Those hands worked at a slow pace, but it was also filled with a meticulous care. Back then, it couldn't see...could only feel and listen at the time. Back in the days before it had a name.

"My great-granddaughter will be born soon. I am not long for the world so I hope you will accompany her in my place. I wonder what sort of name she'll give you in the future...oh dear, I made one leg a bit too short..."

Benny barely realized that its body was put back together properly until it was placed onto the ground. It stared down at both its hands before jumping up and down holding its hands in the air to show its glee.

"I'm fixed! I'm whole! No more cotton falling out!"

"You seem cheerful. You children from other worlds are always so odd and amusing."

"You know those from other worlds?" Benny stopped jumping around and looked towards the kind stranger. "What's your name? You helped me so I want to tell your name to Marie so that she knows how nice you are! We'll come back here and I'll tell you all about my adventures."

"What a strange thing you are...offering up such knowledge to me."

"I'm not strange!"

"You're quite strange. Even amongst those from other worlds, you are strange. You and her...the desires in your heart is simple and pure. You look upon others with an innocent gaze. Such a gaze makes those with ill-intent feel unease while those with good hearts are soothed simply by being with you."

"I don't get it."

"Otherworlders have souls that are dirty and their gaze full of arrogance and greedy thoughts. Simply because they were brought to this world, that their bodies can contain great amounts of Mana...simply because Gods can look upon them favorably...they become arrogant with dirty thoughts and desires."

"What kind of dirty things? Is it like dirty?"

"It's worse than that. It is a type of dirty that thinks that those from this world are beneath them, that they should love them simply because they are Otherworlders. They commit crimes worse than bandits at times...take things from others simply because they believe they are in the right...fools, the lot of them."

"Am I also a fool? You can't say my Marie is a fool though! She's not a fool, she's a gentle and smart girl!"

"You and her, you both speak with clear eyes."

"I don't have eyes like humans. I have buttons for eyes."

"Hahahaha! That's right, you have buttons for eyes. It doesn't change that the intent behind your gaze is pure and simple. However, the longer you journey the more that gaze may become dirty...your words will not be as childish as they are now...you will no longer be as cheerful and foolish as you are now."

"I won't change!"

"All beings change with time."

"I won't!"

"Stubborn little thing, aren't you?"

"I'm Benny!"

"Yes, you are Benny...You are Benny the Teddy Bear."

"That's right!"

"You'll gain many memories as you travel...good...bad...filled with little happiness to sorrowful farewells."

"Memories?"

"Don't you have them? Memories of a girl you call Marie."

"I will never forget my Marie!"

"Those are called unforgettable memories, memories of events most precious to you."

"Do you have such memories?"

"Yes. Memories of a girl I met here...and fought beside."

"If she's precious to you, why aren't you with her?"

"There's no need to concern yourself with such questions."

"I don't understand!"

"Perhaps in the distant future you will. It's getting dark, you can spend the night with me. Tomorrow, one of my servants will send you back where you belong."

"When I go back, can I take one of these flowers?" Benny pointed at the pink flowers. "These ones! My Marie loves pink and pink flowers."

"Does she now?"

"Yes! I don't know where this memory comes from, but-"

"Look, Benny! Grandpa got me this tree! These flowers are so pretty!"

Pink flowers blossomed on a tiny tree not much taller than the girl holding Benny. Benny could see it clearly as she held it up to look closer at the blossoms. They were small, pink, and delicate flowers with five petals.

"These are different from that memory...is this also an unforgettable memory?"

"If it is a precious moment in time, then indeed it is. What sort of flowers are you thinking?"

"Pink flowers that bloom on trees!"

"On trees?"

"Yeah!"

"They blossom on trees...do they?"

"These are pretty, but the flowers from that memory are prettier."

"Why?"

"Because they were Marie's!"

"How simple. I hope that you can remain as simple and innocents for as long as possible. Things from other worlds always lose themselves when they arrive here...that girl as well..."

"That girl?"

"That girl who forged unforgettable memories with me long ago has changed. She changed so much from the day we first met..."

"What happened?"

"That girl betrayed me, betrayed us all."

"Us all?"

"You are heading to the sea, are you not?"

"Yeah!"

"Then I hope that you and those you are with are not drowned. I am kind because I still love that girl. The others are different, I recalled their anger when she betrayed us."

"I don't get it."

"As I said, you will eventually. Don't forget that simple desire in your heart."

"What do you-"

Benny didn't realize it, but the sun was setting. Benny was suddenly able to move, falling over now that its magic could no longer manipulate its body. The kind stranger stared at this with an unreadable expression. There is a coldness in those green eyes as delicate hands reached for the neck of Benny. Still, they stopped themselves because of the affection in their heart.

"My master, my beloved...the human girl whom I had once fallen in love with...This tiny thing still loves you, but do you still love it? Will you break its heart like you broke mine...when you sealed me in this place, making me unable to leave? I am a spirit of wind, free and unbound...yet you bound me to this place. I long to see you, I long to be with you...how I long to be one with the wind again...All I can do is wait...wait for the promised day..."

"♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪"

"I learned from a nice person in a forest about unforgettable memories. How these memories are super precious to someone! They didn't want to tell me their name, but they had a lot of pretty pink flowers like stars! I got one from them...I can't remember if they were a man or a woman, but they were nice and they sang pretty songs! They were sad and angry...I don't understand why..."