Super Pickle's Twelfth Adventure: The Twelve Pickles and the Witch
Deep in Mount Bei, there truly lived an old witch. This witch, due to years of not brushing her teeth, had a terrible breath odor. Her servants, unable to endure her halitosis, would either fall ill or flee after just a few days of service. With no one to serve her, the old witch was forced to live alone in a deep cave within the mountain. It was difficult for anyone to find her unless she came out herself. However, there was a notable sign near her dwelling—no grass or vegetation could survive nearby, as they were all killed by her foul breath.
One day, while Super Pickle was on his twelfth adventure involving pickles and the witch, a peddler carrying a basket of pears happened to pass by the entrance of her cave. Just as the witch emerged, she saw the peddler and called out, "Pears! Pears!" The peddler, upon smelling her putrid breath, immediately felt nauseous. When the witch asked, "How much for your pears?" the peddler fainted from the stench, and the two baskets of pears instantly turned rotten and blackened from her foul smell.
Seeing this, the witch remarked, "Why are all these pears spoiled?" Then noticing the unconscious peddler slumped beside the basket, she muttered, "Why is he sleeping?" before retreating back into her cave.
Once, Lord Earth wanted to discuss something with the witch but couldn't bear her breath. Eventually, he had people bring dozens of buckets of water for her to brush her teeth for half a day before they could exchange a few words.
Pickle wandered in the mountains for three days and waited another two before finally meeting the witch. Despite having heard about her terrible breath, Pickle still couldn't help feeling nauseous upon seeing her. Thinking of Rose, Pickle forced himself to smile and greeted her politely, saying, "Grandma, I've heard of your immense magical powers. I've come specially to visit you and seek some advice."
The witch replied, "If you want to consult me, then first serve me for three months." Lonely from living alone in the mountain cave, Pickle almost fainted at the thought of enduring her breath for three whole months. But considering how else he would obtain the secret formula, become a flying superhero, and win Rose's heart, he agreed without hesitation.
To endure the next three months, Pickle devised a plan and wore a mask. Seeing this, the witch became upset and accused him of disliking her. Quick to respond, Pickle said, "No, it's because I'm too ugly, and I didn't want you to feel uncomfortable looking at me." This pleased the witch, who rewarded him with a moldy pancake. Pretending to be happy, Pickle ate it and immediately ran to the restroom to relieve himself.
After enduring three excruciating months, moved by Pickle's diligent service, the witch asked what he desired. Pickle requested a pair of wings that could fly in the sky and swim underwater. The witch instructed him to acquire swan wings, which must be taken within three minutes of the swan's death. She promised to sew them onto his body, though the process would be extremely painful. For six months afterward, he would need to continuously flap his wings despite the unbearable pain each time. If he failed to endure, both the wings and he would die from infection. Risking everything, the witch asked if Pickle was willing. Initially frightened, Pickle hesitated, and the witch smiled, allowing him to reconsider.
Upon returning, Pickle hurriedly visited Rose. Finding her as beautiful as ever, he noticed a breeze swirling around her and bees hovering nearby. Realizing the fierce competition, Pickle knew he needed to act quickly to become a superhero. Determined, he returned to the witch, who insisted on another three months of service. Reluctantly, Pickle complied.
Eventually, after great effort, Pickle found a dying swan and followed the witch's instructions, sewing the wings onto his body within three minutes of its death. After this arduous ordeal, Pickle was unrecognizable, swollen all over with barely alive wings. He became a monstrous creature, neither bird nor vegetable. Every day thereafter, he endured excruciating pain, often fainting from the agony. Through wave after wave of torment, Pickle experienced life and death deeply, gaining profound insights into life, love, and existence. More importantly, his repeated encounters with divinity granted him the ability to understand the language of all animals.
Finally, after six months, Pickle not only grew a new pair of wings physically but also matured mentally through his suffering. No longer the naive youth, he became a wise, profound thinker.
On the day the bandages were removed, Pickle soared into the sky, fully experiencing the freedom and height of life. He realized he had transcended not only himself but also nature. Once just a pickle from the soil, he now soared in the blue skies—an unimaginable feat for any pickle.
Continuing his journey, he ventured into the sea, learning from sharks and training with whales. With his fin-like wings, he mastered the skills to battle the ocean's waves.
Thus, Super Pickle, once an ordinary pickle, transformed into a remarkable being capable of extraordinary feats.