Chapter 12: Life on the Countryside

Once upon a time, long ago, before the very thought of a Mushroom Kingdom, there lived a man named Abir, on the fertile soil in the Moo Moo Meadows. Along with his best friend Yoshi, whose name was Spot, they ran a farm that sold the freshest produce and other such goods to the neighboring town.

For Abir, life was simple. Though painstakingly difficult. He'd get up, work all day, sell his products to anyone who passed by, fall asleep, rinse and repeat. Even though it was hard work, and comparatively little pay, even though every day ended him up with a sore back, a neck in need of cracking, and calluses on all ten of his fingers, he loved it.

Abir was never lonely, as he always had Spot to turn to. He had made acquaintances in town, who he could make small talk with. Because Yoshis couldn't talk. It was any other day when he saw her. He had a straw in his mouth, relaxing and resting his eyes from an extra tiring day of work. He couldn't say why, but he felt an inexplicable urge to sleep outside that night, watching the sun set.

"Hello?" A woman's voice asked. Abir opened his eyes, and left his mouth agape almost long enough for the straw to fall out. She was youthful, and had short hair that was the exact shade of black tea, Abir's favorite kind.

"How can I help you?" Abir asked. Spot walked up and sniffed her curiously. She laughed.

"Oh, I was just passing by," the woman chuckled. "I felt a sudden urge to pick up some eggs, if you have any." Spot ran back to Abir and ducked under his chair.

"Well, that's good. We just happen to have some," Abir replied. He felt his heart pounding inside his chest. What should he do? He felt an attraction to this woman. Like a magnet. "Just a moment."

Abir ran into the house and got a carton of eggs, returning in a haste. Usually he would be careful as to not fall and break the eggs, but he felt he should get this young woman what she asked for as soon as possible.

"Why, thank you!" The woman exclaimed. "How much are they?"

"On the house!" Abir blurted. He didn't know what he was saying. He never gave stuff away for free. But he was already this deep. He couldn't back out.

"Oh, why... thank you, kind sir!" The woman replied. "I will be sure to put these eggs to good use."

When she left that day, Abir didn't know what to do. He had never felt this before. He felt he should have said something--- anything to get these feelings across. Before the woman went away back into the endless sea that was the world. Their paths likely never to cross again.

It was a miracle what happened that day, and Abir cherished that memory. But would that woman ever return? He didn't know. Though nothing was gained that day, Abir felt like he had lost something precious.

Nonetheless, life returned to normal for Abir. Work, work and work some more. Many days went by, when... to his surprise... the woman returned! "H-howdy!" Abir sputtered, in disbelief. "What brings you back to my little ol' farm?" He couldn't believe she was back. It was like they were destined to meet again.

"I ran out of food," the woman gasped, breathing heavily. Had she ran all the way here? "So I came back to the best place I know."

"Ah---!" Abir choked. This woman had run all out of food? How? She couldn't have been poor, she wore very nice clothing and had consistently cut hair. "How'd you manage to do that?" Abir asked.

"Oh, my kids' sole purpose in life is to eat, they're pigs!" The woman laughed. Abir nearly screamed. Kids??? That meant--- she was likely taken already. By a man who loved her. And Abir had no shot at this.

Abir nodded. "I see," he replied. "In that case, pick out anything you want. It's on the house again."

"Like some eggs?" The woman asked.

"Mhm."

"Your entire selection of crops?"

"Sure."

"This whole farm?"

"Anytime."

Abir didn't know what he was saying, it just felt right. The woman laughed. "No, no, of course not," the woman chuckled adorably. "I'd feel bad if you gave me everything for free, so I insist. I have to pay you."

"No!" Abir exclaimed, almost falling out of his chair. The woman gasped. "I mean, I can't accept your money."

"It's not right for me to just mooch off of you," the woman stated, reaching into her purse. "How much do you want?" She pulled out a bunch of golden coins. She shook them around in her hand, making a jingling sound. The coins sparkled in the light of the setting sun.

"That amount would be nice," Abir replied. He wasn't one to decline people giving him money. Offering is one thing, and teasing him with gold coins is another. He gave in. "Alright, pick what you'd like." He chuckled. This woman had spirit. He didn't know if there was a word for this feeling he had.

She came back many days after this. One day, once she had picked out what she wanted, she was about to leave, when suddenly she stopped. "Edith." She said.

"Huh?" Abir asked. "What do you mean?"

"My name. It's Edith," she stated.

"Oh. Well then, it was a pleasure meeting you, Edith," Abir replied. She smiled, and continued off on her walk back home. Abir watched as she left. No... he couldn't let this happen. She was perfect, he needed to do something. He couldn't just watch her walk out of his life again. Abir got up from his chair, and ran after her. He was not a fast runner, but eventually he had caught up to her. "Waaait!" He cried.

"Oh?" Edith asked, turning around to face him. "What is it?"

"Edith, I haven't known you for too long," Abir panted, out of breath. "But when I first saw you, I felt something unexplainable. Something I haven't felt before. I don't know what to call this feeling. It hurts a little in my chest, but I can't get enough of it. I don't know what's wrong with me, why am I feeling this way?"

"Oh?" Edith asked. "I know what that's called."

"You... do?" Abir asked.

"Yes," Edith replied. She went up close to him, and placed her lips close to his ear. Abir felt his heart beat quickly. He felt his face turn as red as an apple. "It's called love."

"Love?" Abir asked. He had read about it in books, but he never knew this was what it felt like. "Is this love?"

"Yes it is," Edith said, placing her fingers in between his, and staring deep into his eyes. "And I love you too."

Abir almost fainted. "You do?" He asked. "I- how? Why?"

"That's the funny thing about love," Edith said. "It comes when you least expect it. So don't bother with 'how' or 'why'. We're in love with each other. That's all that really matters."

They said their goodbyes when the moon came up, taking place of the sun. They arranged a date to meet again. And that they did. They did that for many months. They would meet up, she'd buy things, and then they'd just talk for a while. Sometimes until the crack of dawn.

Turns out, she had had a husband who left her for another woman years ago. That was the man she had had her kids with. She had dated some for a little, but never found a man suitable for her. Until Abir, that is. One day, she had even said... "I think you would be a good father for my kids."

That gave Abir an idea.

One day, he went out into town to buy an engagement ring. He didn't find a single one perfect enough for his love. No stores were selling anything that could even compliment her beauty. He was playing with the thought of going to the Lake Kingdom to spend a ludicrous amount on a good engagement ring. He had heard legends of the stuff they made there for other people in the exact same situation he was in.

He was about to go home and get his carriage set up, when... he saw a cardboard box in an alleyway. Sitting down in it, was a young child who was using a brown and gold cloak as a blanket, protecting her from the harsh cold of the winter night. She was shivering. Was she perhaps homeless?

Abir walked up to her. She appeared to be very young. Despite this, she had unnaturally white hair. A perfect shade of white, like snow. She had heterochromatic eyes. One yellow, and the other blue.

She seemed to take notice of him as he approached. "Are you okay?" Abir asked.

She didn't respond. She felt a better use of her time would be to just look back at the wall in front of her. Abir wasn't about to just let a poor little child sleep out in the cold. "Do you need a place to stay for a while?" He asked.

"My sister told me never to take up offers like that with strangers," the little girl mumbled. "I'm sorry."

Abir thought of any way he could help this girl. He would look weird if he pressed. Just when he was considering asking her where her parents were, he took notice of writing on the box she was in. It was done crudely, and was nearly unreadable in the darkness. He held his lantern towards the box. The girl didn't look away or flinch from the brightness. In fact, she seemed to be taking enjoyment in the warmth of the small fire inside the lantern. She breathed into her hands and rubbed them together, still shivering like someone swimming in the Snow Kingdom with boxer shorts.

The writing said... "Len's Precious Jewelry."

Abir thought there could be something in this for both of them. What if she had the item he was looking for? In exchange, he could pay her a handsome amount. Possibly enough for her to get a room at an inn. "Do you sell engagement rings here?" Abir asked.

"Yes," the girl, who Abir now knew as Len mumbled.

"How much do you want for it?" Abir asked.

"Free," Len replied. "Although, terms and conditions do apply."

"What kind of conditions?" Abir asked.

"You and anyone you give my wares to will be a puppet in my experiment," Len answered. "If you accept my wares, you will be revived into a new life over and over until I find no more use for you, as long as you gain at least one hundred coins or a 1-Up Mushroom in your lifespan. You start out with three starter lives. This is done to study the nature of humans and their seemingly meaningless actions. Do you understand?"

Abir felt bad. This child was probably going a little crazy, had she not been playing some kind of game he wasn't in on. He didn't know about being revived or being a puppet. But he accepted the engagement rings, along with a jewel-lined collar for Spot, and bracelets for Edith's kids. It was all he could think to get them. He and her kids had only met once, and very shortly too. But everyone likes bracelets, right?

Abir also tried giving Len some coins, but she refused. Saying something about how she didn't want his "filthy mortal money." Abir continued on, sure he would never meet the child again. Although, looking back at her one last time...

The child was replaced by a black kitten. With those same eyes.

Odd.