Pepe's Peculiar Plants: The Cacao Conundrum

A short story of alien abduction and tropical fruit

Pepe's Plants was known for its lush cacao trees, producing pods that were the envy of chocolatiers worldwide. Pepe, with his almost mystical connection to his plants, was celebrated for the quality and uniqueness of his cacao. His nursery was a haven for those who appreciated the finer things in life.

One evening, as Pepe was closing up, a strange light enveloped him. The next thing he knew, he was aboard a spacecraft, surrounded by beings with eyes that seemed to hold the cosmos. They explained they needed his expertise for an experiment involving Earth's flora. After what felt like a brief visit, Pepe was returned, his memory hazy, but with an inexplicable sense of having been somewhere else.

Upon his return, Pepe noticed something peculiar. His cacao trees began to produce pods that were unlike any he had seen. These pods had an ethereal glow, and when opened, they revealed beans that shimmered with a soft light. The first to emerge from these beans was a creature Pepe named "Cacaorix." It had a body that seemed to be made of cacao pod skin, with leaves for hair, and could speak with a voice that was both soothing and otherworldly.

Soon, more beings followed. There was Luminar, whose presence could illuminate any dark corner, and Melocacao, whose touch could induce feelings of happiness and calm. Each creature was unique, not just in appearance but in abilities. They could communicate with plants, enhance growth, and even influence the taste of the cacao they produced.

Pepe's nursery became a place of pilgrimage. Visitors from around the globe came to witness the walking, talking cacao beings. Each creature was a marvel, offering insights into plant life and the universe beyond. Pepe, initially bewildered, embraced his new role as guardian to these beings. He taught them about Earth, its cultures, and its people. In return, they shared knowledge of their origins, explaining how their essence was a fusion of Earth's cacao and alien genetics, designed to bridge understanding between worlds.

The nursery transformed into a sanctuary of learning and wonder. Scientists, chocolatiers, and curious minds flocked to study these beings, hoping to understand the implications of such life forms. Pepe's Plants became a symbol of unity, where Earth's biodiversity met extraterrestrial life in a harmonious blend.

However, not everyone was welcoming. There were those who feared these new entities, seeing them as threats or unnatural. Pepe, with the help of his cacao friends, advocated for peace and understanding, showing that these beings were not invaders but ambassadors of a new era of coexistence.

​Years passed, and Pepe's Plants was no longer just a nursery but a beacon of intergalactic friendship. The cacao beings, now integrated into society, contributed to agriculture, medicine, and culture in ways previously unimaginable. Pepe, once just a nurseryman, had become a bridge between worlds, proving that sometimes, the most extraordinary things can grow from the most familiar seeds.