Chapter 7: Marshal's Child True Colors/ A Great Plant's Last Words
A/N: Definitely taking my time on this chapter! Hope you're enjoying the story so far! I'm sorry if you've been long for a proper chapter to be updated because I'm also working on the side story and the future stories (yes, I'm working on A king's return too. I might pre-publish a couple of chapters for you guys) so there would be less time to work on this one. Anyways, enjoy the chapter!
Floating towards Crazy Dave was a smart-looking Fire Rose. She was wearing a pair of round glasses and a white headband. Her name is Hailey Edwards, marshal Phillip Edward's daughter. She's a specialist in escorting and protecting the VIP, in this case, Dave himself.
-Are you alright Dave?
The man grinned.
-Not even a single scratch! Well done Hailey!
She bowed at him.
-Why thank you Dave!
She then turned to the four plants standing next to Dave.
-Oh, you must be team 714. Please to meet you all.
She greeted them with another bow. She then turned to a Chomper security guard nearby and signaled him to take care of the dead zombie. He quickly carried the dead Archaeologist away.
-So, let's head back shall we?
A limousine pulled up and Hailey told everyone to get in. The trip back to the base was uneventful, just Hailey and Dave exchanging a few words.
After thirty minutes, they arrived at L.E.A.F HQ.
-Team 714, please follow me, marshal Edwards has some words he needs to exchange with you.
They followed the Fire Rose to the Marshal's office. The door to the office opened, revealing a genuine looking Peashooter. He was wearing a pair of reading glasses and his military uniform. He looked like he was in his early forties.
-Ahh... team 714. Come on in!
He spoke with a heart-warming voice. The four sat down on their respective chairs in front of the marshal.
-Representing L.E.A.F I, marshal Phillip Edwards proudly congratulate you on finishing your first mission.
They all grew a large proud grin on their faces.
-And, the agent who was sent to check your garden reported that you did really well. You just set our first ever garden in Southern China and it was without a single mark.
These made them even more proud.
-So. I hereby declare that team 714, you have passed the academy's test and will be sent to a nearby base in Suburbia to begin your military training.
Jason almost fell off the chair when he heard this.
-Really?
They all said in unison. The marshal and his daughter smiled at them.
-Of course, you'll be moving in two days with team 693.
Lily felt like dancing when she heard that. She'll get to work at the same base with her BFF, Elise.
-Great! Now we got that settled, Hailey, would you be kind enough to take them to back to the academy?
-Certainly, sir!
-I told you about this, no need to call me sir dear, just call me dad or whatever. 'Sir' is a bit unnatural.
-Sure dad.
-Alright, now get them back to the academy so I can finish these tedious paperworks.
Hailey lead them back to the limousine and they were quickly on our way back to the academy.
They arrived at the academy and team 714 stepped out.
-Here's my number. Give me a ring whenever you need to!
-Thanks Hailey. See you around!
They said good bye to Hailey at headed inside.
After dropping the four off, Hailey told the driver to head back. A huge rain suddenly started, forcing the limousine to go slowly. Thirty minutes later, they arrived at the base. Suddenly, the limo stopped and the driver told Hailey.
-Ms Edwards, you might need to see this.
Hailey opened the window to see the entrance to the base had been blasted open and zombies' footmarks are everywhere.
Without a single thought, she opened the door and dashed inside the base, ignoring the heavy rain.
Inside, chaos is all around. Zombies and plants fighting, projectiles being launched through the air, medics rushed around trying to rescue injured plants.
She looked around for a couple moments when she spotted her dad at the West corner. He was surrounded by two Z-Mechs, and behind him are two severely injured plants. He started fighting the first Mech. He swiftly dashed through the air, shooting peas rapidly at it, quickly damaged and immobilized the mech. The second mech took this as a distraction for it to fire at the two injured plants. But the lasers bullets didn't hit the injured plants because stood in front of them is the marshal himself, blocking off the lasers. The mech fired another barrage of lasers at the peashooter. He collapsed with a burnt stem.
Seeing this Hailey felt her heart dropped. Her father was on verge of death. Then, filling up inside her head and heart was anger, which rose like scorching lava. A moment later, the inferno broke loose inside her, her fire crystal on her bulb turned from orange into dark purple, fire burst out from her body, the temperature raised up to a thousand degrees. 'Furious' cannot describe how mad she was at that moment.
All the zombies and plants had eyes on her. The accursed Z-Mech turned around to see a giant flaming ball of fury and hate flying towards it at incredible speed. The fireball collided with the mech, making a huge flaming explosion. The Z-Mech remains were nowhere to be found, all there was left were ashes. Terrified, the zombies started fleeing for their lives while the plants chased them down. Hailey didn't care. She quickly hovered towards her dad, who was on the floor panting.
-Dad! You'll be alright dad! Medics are on the way!
He weakly put a pod on his daughter cheek.
-It's too late for me Hailey...
He coughed furiously.
-...my organs are burnt, I can't be saved. Tell the medics to save the others...
She couldn't believe her dad, he was dying and he still placed other plants on top of him.
-Don't say that dad, you'll be fine, just stay with me!
He smiled weakly and let his daughter squeezed his pod.
-... Hailey, my dearest, remember to stay strong, no matter what cruel things life throw at you, no matter how much you've lost, no matter how hard you fall, stay strong. My little rose, I don't want to leave your side, but fate has decided.
-Dad...please...
He gave her another weak smile.
-Hailey... you really remind me of your mother. A strong independent beautiful Fire Rose...
Hailey started crying. Tears streaming down her flaming face.
-Hailey, promise me... you'll be a great leader and lead L.E.A.F to victory.
-I... I promise dad.
-Good... now a can finally go join your mother... remember dear you'll always be in my hear...t...
And the peashooter breathed his last breath. His eyes closed making him look as peaceful as ever.
Hailey burst out crying. She hugged her dad's body, feeling his warmth slowly fade away...
That's was quite depressing to write. I'm sorry this is a short chapter, I really wanted to write it longer but I simply couldn't. I'm also sorry if I sounded like I was depressed or sad in the author's note (chapter 6,5), and I'm really glad that Stwolfgang and Caluber267 actually encouraged me. I cannot thank you two enough!
Anyways, goodbye to all of you awesome readers and I'll see you in the next chapter! Asiandude's out, PEACE!
