Chapter 12: A new life (Part 1)

Pete stepped out of the house, squinting against the morning sun, and took in his surroundings. As Elli had said, what he saw outside was indeed a farm—but it was far from the one he knew. His heart sank as he surveyed the unfamiliar landscape, every detail amplifying the strangeness of his situation.

The layout was completely different. The barn, stable, and chicken coop were arranged in a way that seemed more efficient than his old setup, but they lacked the charm and history of the structures he'd worked so hard with back at Flowerbud Farm.

Nearby, a small pond glistened in the sunlight, ripples indicating the presence of fish below the surface. Pete had never had a pond on his farm before, and its presence here made him feel like an intruder in someone else's life.

He wandered over to the greenhouse, which was significantly smaller than the one he had with his life with Popuri. Peering inside, he noticed rows of fruit plants he didn't recognize—small plants with vibrant, unusual fruits dangling from their branches. They were healthy and well-maintained, evidence to the care he'd apparently given them in this alternate life.

The fields were neatly divided and brimming with crops, but there wasn't a single flower in sight. His heart ached at the absence of Popuri's beloved blooms, which had brought life and beauty to the farm he called home.

As he walked further, he noticed the farm's entrances had also changed. The west entrance, the familiar path to Flowerbud Village, was gone. In its place were two new gates—one to the north, leading to what appeared to be the outskirts of a town, and another to the south, disappearing into the shadows of a dense forest.

Pete stood in the middle of the field, taking a deep breath as he tried to steady his nerves. This wasn't just a different farm—it was an entirely different life. The familiarity of farming gave him a small sense of comfort, but it wasn't enough to quell the growing anxiety in his chest.

"Where am I really?" he muttered, staring down at the dirt path beneath his feet. "And how did I end up here?"

Pete stepped into the barn, and his breath hitched as he took in the overwhelming sight before him. The barn was bustling with life—cows mooed softly, and sheep bleated in contentment. There were at least twice as many animals as he'd ever managed back in Flowerbud Village. He ran a hand through his hair, staring in awe and slight panic.

"How in the world does my alternate self handle this many animals?" he muttered under his breath. The sheer number alone would have been enough to keep him working from dawn until well past dusk.

His eyes were then drawn to a cluster of gleaming machines tucked neatly in a corner of the barn. Curious, he approached them, reading the labels engraved on their metallic surfaces: Cheese Maker, Butter Maker, and Yarn Maker. Each machine looked sturdy, sleek, and slightly futuristic compared to the old-fashioned tools he was accustomed to.

He leaned closer to the Cheese Maker and read the directions etched onto a small plaque: Insert milk to make cheese.

Pete scoffed. "No way," he said, shaking his head in disbelief. Cheese-making was supposed to be a delicate process requiring time and effort—not something that could be handled by simply pressing a button.

Still, curiosity got the better of him. He grabbed a nearby stool, fetched a milking pail, and milked one of the cows with practiced ease. He poured the fresh milk into an empty bottle, hesitated for a moment, and then inserted it into the machine.

The Cheese Maker whirred to life, making a series of mechanical sounds that grew louder as the process continued. Pete stepped back, half-expecting the machine to explode or at least emit some kind of warning alarm. But instead, after a few seconds, there was a cheerful ding, and a perfectly formed wheel of cheese rolled into the collection tray.

Pete picked it up gingerly, turning it over in his hands. It was flawless—golden, smooth, and aromatic. The rich scent of freshly made cheese wafted up, and he couldn't help but let out an shocking gasp.

"You've got to be kidding me," he said, shaking his head. "It's really this easy?"

Emboldened, he turned to the Butter Maker. Grabbing another bottle of milk, he placed it into the slot and pressed the button. The machine purred, and seconds later, a stick of butter emerged, perfectly wrapped in wax paper.

Finally, he approached the Yarn Maker, grabbing a pair of shears from the wall. He gently sheared one of the sheep, collected a bundle of soft wool, and fed it into the machine. As with the others, the Yarn Maker hummed to life and, in no time, produced a neatly wound ball of yarn.

Pete stood in the middle of the barn, looking at the cheese, butter, and yarn now resting in a basket at his feet. He let out a deep sighs, equal parts amazement and disbelief.

"So that's how my alternate self does it—magic machines!" he said, shaking his head.

After his mind boggling experience in the barn, Pete made his way to the chicken coop, the sound of clucking growing louder as he approached. Inside, a dozen chickens were perched and waiting, their feathers gleaming and their eyes bright. They squawked cheerfully as Pete opened the coop door, a few hopping down to greet him.

"Alright, ladies, let's get you outside," Pete said, ushering them out into the yard one by one.

As he turned to inspect the coop, his eyes landed on another sleek machine tucked in the corner. This one was labeled Mayonnaise Maker. Intrigued, he grabbed one of the freshly laid eggs from a nearby nesting box and slipped it into the machine. Just like the machines in the barn, this one hummed to life. After a few mechanical whirs and clicks, a bottle filled with creamy, fresh mayonnaise popped out.

Pete held up the bottle, tilting it back and forth as he examined it. "Seriously? This is amazing," he said, shaking his head in wonder. He thought back to Rick who was always tinkering with gadgets and dreaming up new inventions.

"Did Rick invent this in this world?" Pete mused aloud, placing the mayonnaise bottle down into the shipping bin.

He stepped outside, the morning sun warming his face as he continued to wander around the farm. A familiar bark caught his attention, and Pete turned to see a familiar brown-and-white dog bounding toward him, tail wagging furiously. The sight brought an immediate smile to his face.

"You!" Pete exclaimed, kneeling down as the dog reached him, jumping and licking at his hands. The dog looked exactly like the one he had back in Flowerbud Village, down to the floppy ears and cheerful demeanor. Pete scratched behind its ears. "You look just like my dog in Flowerbud Village."

His eyes caught the shiny nametag dangling from the dog's collar. Engraved on the tag was the name "Willie". Pete's eyes squint as he his fingers brush along the tag. "I guess not everything changed," he said while patting Willie on the head.

Willie barked happily, circling Pete before darting off toward the pond, leaving Pete to continue his exploration.

The last place Pete decided to check was the stable. Pushing the wooden door open, he was greeted by a familiar sight—a horse that looked exactly like the one he had cared for back in Flowerbud Village. The horse neighed softly, its ears perking up at the sight of Pete before trotting past him and out into the open pasture.

Pete followed the animal outside, watching as it joined the other animals grazing peacefully on the grass. The idyllic scene of the farm's vibrant life momentarily eased his nerves for a moment. As he stepped further into the pasture, a gentle buzzing sound caught his attention.

A small group of bees zipped past him, their tiny bodies glinting in the sunlight. He followed their path with his eyes to see them darting towards a hive hanging from the sturdy branch of an apple tree.

"Looks like I harvest honey too," he said to himself, the realization adding another layer of intrigue to this strange new world. Standing there under the tree, with bees flitting around and animals grazing nearby, Pete felt a strange sense of wonder amidst the confusion. This farm, alien yet familiar, was slowly beginning to feel like it could be home—at least for now.

After finishing his exploration of the farm, Pete stood at the northern gate, leaning against the wooden post. His gaze stretched toward the winding path that led to town. Anxiety churned in his stomach, an uneasy mix of curiosity and dread. The farm had been a whirlwind of surprises—machines that made life unbelievably efficient, a dog that tied him to his past, and a layout that was both alien and familiar. But what awaited him in town?

Pete wiped his sweaty palms on his pants and sighed. What if the village wasn't anything like the Flowerbud Village he'd come to love? What if the people—his neighbors, his friends—were all different, too? The thought of encountering faces he didn't recognize, or worse sent a chill down his spine. After all, if Elli was here, then who else?

He gripped the gate tightly. "No use standing here all day," he muttered, trying to psych himself up. He could face a barn full of animals and machines, but stepping into the unknown world beyond his farm felt like the true test of his courage.

Taking a deep breath, Pete squared his shoulders and began walking down the path toward town, each step heavy with the weight of uncertainty.