Part 1: Let it Begin

Chapter 1

I'm literally the last plant you want on a top secret operation to spy on the zombies. My name is Doug. I'm a repeater, and the biggest coward you'll ever find. There's no way that I was chosen to lead the operation, and not a plant like Peas or Daniel.

I live in Suburbia, a huge city with forests on every side, and plenty of buildings. For years we lived side-by-side with the humans, all of us living in peace. Then, Doctor Francis George left Suburbia. He was a nice man, obsessed with achieving immortality. He and his genetically cloned son, Edgar, left Suburbia because Francis was supposedly killing off humans.

Francis achieved half his goal. He figured out how to trap souls in mindless corpses, who yearn for the taste of brains. These corpses, which we call zombies, killed many people before we plants figured out how to stop them. The peace was at an end.

It had been many years since Francis had left, and I was one of the first to fight. Me, Daniel, Sunny and Rodger, a repeater, sunflower, and chomper, respectively, had to fight first. Rodger led us to many victories, and our numbers grew. Soon, we had held Suburbia for five years. Then, everything changed.

Three years ago we were holding off an attack with the most giga gargantuars I had ever seen. They stormed the front lines, killing dozens of plants. We retreated as they destroyed houses, wreaking havoc. Luckily all the humans remained in the most secure area. We fought again the next day, and almost suffered another defeat.

But then Peas came. The only peashooter I had ever seen. He appeared as if sent by the heavens to save us. The fight was long, taking three whole days. And as we finally drove the gargantuars out, Rodger died, leaving us weak and vulnerable. We had no leader. That was only until a couple plants convinced Peas to be leader, and he really didn't want to be. But he complied. And for two years Peas has led us, unopposed. Until now.

It was all innocent enough. I was sitting on a bench outside. Peas, Daniel, and the other plants were inside the house, having a victory party. Sunny was singing her second version of "Shake it off," and that's just today. Most of the plants tell her to shut up, but she won't. At least until Peas tells her to. Then she's as tight as a clam.

Oh, yeah. Before anything else, you're probably wondering how I'm writing this down. Someone gave me a magical book that I can put my thoughts in when I feel like it. This is my first time trying it, so yeah. I'm currently holding the book and watching as letters magically appear, amazed at this useless magic someone wasted their time on. But whatever. The funny thing is, when I try to look at a previous page, the book won't let me. Maybe it has to be completed first or something. Man, this is a long paragraph.

As I'm sitting on the bench writing or thinking this, not sure which, I see two agent peas and an ice pea approach the house. Picking up my book, I run inside the house and start to shout.

"THERE ARE VISITORS HERE!"

Everyone stopped partying. Sunny was still singing, but otherwise all was quiet. Then, the door opened, and the ice pea came inside. The agent peas blocked the door, which made no sense since there's another door going to the backyard. The ice pea looked at all of us and proclaimed:

"I am general Frost from L.E.A.F., a plant organization we have founded. Recent reports show that this base has plants that could be valuable to the L.E.A.F. cause. We encourage you to join us, and help us fight the zombies and defeat them once and for all."

Peas stepped forward and was obviously thinking hard. Then he found an answer.

"What makes joining this "L.E.A.F." cause so worth it? If you help us by providing reinforcements or supplies, I get it. But why do we join if neither of those things have been promised? And, speaking of which, what does L.E.A.F. do?"

The ice pea glared at Peas. But Peas was just looking at her with a quizzical expression. He wasn't backing down. The ice pea finally withdrew and then proceeded to ask,

"Where is your leader? Perhaps I should discuss this in private with him instead of with plants like you."

Peas was laughing. "Our leader is the plant you just dissed, and that means it's me."

It was hard to tell which was more hilarious. Peas' response, or the ice pea's look of horror. She immediately backed up and composed herself, even though we all knew she wasn't ready to deal with Peas. Peas turned around and gestured for us to follow him up the stairs.

"We'll discuss it. You will wait here."

The ice pea flinched. It was funny. A minute ago she had all the power. But you can't beat Peas. I hoped that Peas really thought about this, and me and Sunny were the last to head up the stairs. As I glanced back at General Frost, she was sitting in a chair with a terrified expression. Maybe joining L.E.A.F. was the right thing to do. But was the ice pea terrified of us, or our answer?

In the loft, we all sat down wherever we could. Silence was hanging in the air. Daniel cleared his throat and began.

"So what do we do? Take a vote?"

Peas nodded gravely. I think we both knew what would happen. Daniel found a clipboard with a piece of paper on it and passed it around, after he voted himself. Each plant would put a tally mark next to their vote, and the highest score wins. As it was passed to Sunny, who was next to me, she seemed to have a sad expression. When I looked at the clipboard I was shocked. As I voted, all the plants that had voted before me, except Sunny, had chosen no. I put down a yes as I voted. Who knows what will happen now? I suspected it from the beginning, but the "no" option was two off of majority. When the clipboard got to Peas to announce the results, I was really nervous.

"The votes are in. The decision has been made. Currently, the votes are tied."

Some plants gasped. This had never happened before. I realized that with the three casualties from our victory, the votes couldn't be tied. Peas hadn't voted yet. He was probably doing this for dramatic effect.

"So with my vote, the answer is yes. We will join L.E.A.F."

Most plants were confused. Wait a minute, I thought. There's no way that after me only one plant voted for "no" after me. Is there? Or is something not right here?

"Wait a minute, Peas!" Daniel shouted. "Can we see the results?"

Peas smirked as Daniel read the results. He counted each vote. There were exactly forty-seven votes. The exact number of plants left. Daniel glared at no particular plant as Peas took the clipboard back.

When we went back down, the agent peas were gone. The ice pea was still sitting at the table. When we told her the news, she smiled wide.

"Thank you for joining. Before I leave, there's one more thing." She pointed at me. "I need him to lead a squad of three on a mission for L.E.A.F."