Chapter 9: Melon No More

Winter Melon had awoken, and he was inside some infirmary or some sort in the basement. He was on a short square flower pot and had a huge gauze covering the upper-left part of his head. His lobbing stem was covered in medical tape, and he hadn't noticed it until Dr. Andy arrives.

"Dr. Andy?" He attempts to rise up from the bed and Dr. Andy holds him aback.

"Hello, Winter. You're still recovering from bite wounds, minimal internal bleeding and..." Dr. Andy gestures to a Garlic to leave.

"and a cut lobbing stem." When Winter Melon heard this, his eyes widened and Dr. Andy pointed to his stem. "You won't be able to throw those frozen melons, or even a ball. I'm so sorry."

Winter Melon stared at his cut stem. He was shocked and he asked, "Will it regenerate? How bad is it?"

Dr. Andy replied, "It's really bad, the zombie bit and pulled it off."

Snow Pea was about to enter the infirmary Winter Melon was in when she overheard Dr. Andy and Winter conversing. Winter Melon was in tears and Snow Pea was watching them from the door window. Ice-Shroom appeared and put his frosty branch on her bulb.

Winter was in an emotional state, crying and wiping his tears with a small blanket.

"It's gone! I can't throw those melons or balls? My...my lobbing stem is gone!" Winter Melon repeatedly said while Dr. Andy was trying to offer him a glass of hot water. His temperature was dropping from -34 degree Celsius, beyond the normal temperature of a ice plant.

"I'm sorry, it's not gonna regenerate. Please calm down, you need to rest-"

"No! It's just gonna take a long time to heal up!" Winter Melon countered as Dr. Andy placed the blanket over him and trying to calm him down.

Snow Pea was sad for her friend. She wanted to tell him that she loves him, same for Winter Melon, but Winter Melon needed to rest as he remains distressed by his condition. Gold Magnet brought a basket filled with fertilizer soup, bottles of hot water, and many more. After Gold Magnet left the basket beside the sleeping plant, Snow Pea walked in and stared at Winter for a few seconds.

"Poor Winter Melon..." she said to herself, and she departed the infirmary.

Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Winter Melon and Snow Pea, Ice-Shroom had met with Winter's father. He told of Winter's current condition and also said that he was in a relationship with his daughter. Winter's father had been deeply saddened by what happened to his son, and simply smiled it off and thought of how grand Winter Melon did with his duties. Winter Melon's father was worried, and also proud of his son.

Winter Melon was no longer useful for lawn defense service. The spot he was in was replaced by a Chomper and he was discharged out of the infirmary and took his stuff. But he forgot one book that he wrote; the one that he recently finished and gave to Snow Pea. Winter didn't mind looking for the book and Snow Pea, and he left the house into a taxi cab.