Planet of the Tomatoes
By Cullen Pittman
Chapter 10
The Climatic Ketchup Covered Conclusion
The Saladovians were dancing in the streets cheering for their great victory against the tomato clones. They formed a circle around Xylena who was now a giant queen tree and started singing a praise song to her while doing a ring around the rosey dance. Our Earth heroes were watching as the Saladovians were celebrating their victory.
"I think Xylena will make a wonderful leader", said Elisa.
"Of course", said Rob, "She's got guts, I mean, sap."
"Oh no!" cried Tara as her eyes started to glow red again.
"What's wrong, Tara?" asked Chad. "Are more Otamot spaceships coming?"
"No!" cried Tara. "I sense something worse than spaceships!" F.T. squeaked for he sensed something too and then shrieked as he pointed to the sky. Everyone looked up and became frightened at what they saw. It was a giant Otamot coming closer and closer to Saladovia.
"Now that's the biggest and ugliest Otamot I've ever seen", gasped Rob.
"It looks almost as big as a planet", said Wilbur.
"That's because it is a planet!" shouted Chad.
"Greetings my diminutive Saladovian neighbors", said the planet in a loud monstrous voice.
"I know that voice", gasped Xylena. "It's Darkseed!"
"But how did he get so huge?" asked Elisa.
"As your tiny seeds of brains have figured out, you're looking at the planet of Otamot 13", said Darkseed. "I just simply merged myself with my home planet making me a force not to tangle with. It's just a shame I had to sacrifice my dear Otamot subjects in order for this miracle to happen, but maybe a snack will cheer me up. Like your whole soil covered planet!"
Then Darkseed started to open both his mouths and began to gnaw on the giant greenhouse that was protecting Saladovia. "This is like nibbling on a giant gingerbread house", said Darkseed, "Without the fattening sugar that is!" And he continued nibbling.
The Saladovians panicked as they watched the greenhouse sky forming cracks little by little. "My word!" gasped Photosynth, "He's not actually doing this?"
"Queen Xylena", asked Elisa, "Can you make another flower ring to send that ketchup ball out of here?"
"I'm afraid not", sad Xylena, sadly as she pointed to the single blue flower on her leaf afro. "I've run out of flowers and even if I could grow them back, there still wouldn't be enough to make a ring big enough to transport a planet that big away."
"How long do you think that greenhouse can hold out?" asked Wilbur.
"Elisa and I did design and construct that thing to be mega strong", said Rob, "But I'm afraid not ultra strong. I predict that psycho planet will break through in about 15 minutes."
"If that's so", said Wilbur, "I'm not giving up without a fight!" Wilbur took out his bazooka and aimed it at the still nibbling planet.
"I'm with you, bro", said Rob as he charged up his eggbeater gun.
"The same with me", said Elisa as she posed her arms in karate mode while Mary Jo did the same. Floyd got his harpoon gun ready, Photosynth aimed his sword, and Sam took out a small toy pistol with a, BANG, flag sticking out. They all stood there aiming their weapons ready to fight when Darkseed does manage to break through the protective greenhouse.
"This is Whitley White, bringing you what will probably be my last newscast", said Whitley. "The evil emperor Darkseed has merged himself with his own planet and is trying to break through and eat up all of Saladovia and probably us too. That's surely going to make property values go way down here! Yes, I can see those cracks in the greenhouse getting bigger and soon there'll probably be a hole even bigger than that one over there on the right."
Chad looked over and saw the hole where the greenhouse door used to be and remembered it got blasted away by Dr. Gangreen's rocket cucumber. Then he suddenly had an idea and rushed off. "Chad, where are you going?" asked Tara as she and F.T. followed after him.
"I have an idea", said Chad, rushing over to a trembling rocket cucumber, "And I'll need Q-51's help to do it." And Chad, Tara, and F.T. entered the rocket's door.
Soon, Q-51 blasted off and went through the blasted hole in the greenhouse. "I sure hope planet face doesn't spot me", said Q-51 nervously.
"Don't worry", said Chad as he was in the pilot's seat while Tara and F.T. were behind him. "Darkseed's too busy trying to eat his way through the greenhouse. He doesn't even notice us. I just need you to land where Darkseed's palace is located."
"I sure hope you know what you're doing, kid", said Q-51 as he got closer to Darkseed and landed on his forehead. The giant tomato planet was still too busy gnawing to notice that a tiny rocket cucumber had landed on his forehead.
Q-51 ejected his celery stairs while the kids and fuzzy tomato exited. "I hope you kids don't take too long", said Q-51, "I feel way too uncomfortable sitting on this planet's sweaty brow."
"We'll be right back", said Chad, "We just need to find Darkseed's palace." F.T. made a squeak pointing to what looked liked a demolished building.
"What just happened?" asked Tara.
"Somehow, Darkseed's evil home must've collapsed", said Chad.
"I guess it's just as well", said Tara, "Darkseed wouldn't be able to fit inside it anyway now that he's been supersized."
"I just hope the things we saw earlier have survived", said Chad as he started searching through the ruins of the castle. F.T. made a squeak as he pointed over to the far distance.
"F.T. found them", said Tara as she, Chad, and F.T. rushed over and found a pile of countless Otamot shaped bombs sitting there undamaged.
"Perfect", said Chad, "Now all we need to do is activate all these bombs. But it'll probably take a long time to turn on over ten thousand switches."
"Let me try something", said Tara as she used her tomato powers to lift two bombs in the air and merge them into one big bomb.
"Wow, that's amazing, Tara", said Chad, "I never knew you could do that with your powers."
"It's something Dr. Gangreen taught me during my first days as a human", said Tara, "It's not easy, but I have to do this for the sake of Saladovia and our loved ones." Tara concentrated again and used her tomato powers to combine all the bombs together. Chad and F.T. watched amazed for it looked like the animators were going all out to draw these bomb merging scenes. And soon, our heroes were looking at one gigantic Otamot bomb that was the size of the Epcot Center. F.T. made an amazed squeak.
"You said it, F.T", said Chad, "That bomb should be big enough to blow Darkseed to tomato chunks. Are you okay, Tara?"
"I'll be fine", said Tara, rubbing her head, "That trick took a lot out of my tomato powers. Now go ahead and flip the switch"
Chad went over and set the timer on the bomb for 10 minutes. "Okay, the time is set", said Chad, "Now we have to figure out a way to get this bomb inside Darkseed."
"Even if my tomato powers were fully recharged", said Tara, "I don't think they're strong enough to move this giant thing into Darkseed's mouth."
Just then, Darkseed turned his 3 huge eyes and saw the red shaped sphere on his forehead. "That looks like the biggest Otamot subject I've ever seen", said Darkseed, "How could I have missed such a big guy?" Darkseed sprouted his vines out of the ground and pulled the giant bomb down under.
"That was surprisingly convenient", said Chad, "Now let's leave this death planet." Chad, Tara, and F.T. rushed back into Q-51 and blasted off Darkseed's forehead.
As Darkseed continued nibbling on the greenhouse, he suddenly noticed a little rocket cucumber hovering in front of his face. "Hey, Darkbutt", said Q-51, "I got a little present for you!" And Q-51 squirted some pickle juice into Darkseed's center eye causing him to stop nibbling and scream.
"You'll pay for that you insolent vegetable speck!" growled Darkseed as he saw the rocket cucumber zoom off into space while the giant planet chased after him.
All the Saladovians and Earthlings watched in surprise as they saw Darkseed turn around and leave. "He stopped his terrifying nibbling", said Photosynth.
"Yeah, what gives?" wondered Rob.
"Perhaps that giant red menace realized he was no match for the KTTF", said Wilbur as he patted his bazooka. "He's nothing but a big cream puff." And the bazooka shot a cream puff into his face. "Hmmm, Bavarian cream!" said Wilbur as he tasted it.
"Wait, where's Chad?!" gasped Elisa as she and Rob started to look around worried.
What Rob and Elisa didn't know was that Chad, Tara, and F.T. were still inside Q-51 and they were all being chased by an annoyed Otamot planet. "Wow, that planet sure is mad", said Tara.
"Yep, nothing ticks off an Otamot than having his center eye get sprayed with a rocket cucumber's own juice", said Q-51.
"But at least we're getting him away from Saladovia", said Chad, "That way he can blow up without hurting anyone near him."
"But he's getting very close to us!" cried Tara as she looked out the porthole and saw Darkseed's twin mouths getting closer and closer.
"Can't you go any faster, Q-51?" asked Chad.
"I'd love to", groaned Q-51, "But this is the fastest I can go! Why couldn't it be Q-23 in this situation instead of me?!"
F.T. started sniffing a nearby closed door and started squeaking at it. "F.T., what did you find?" asked Tara as she pushed the button that opened the door. There, they found a giant cylinder of soil. "That looks like Saladovian soil", said Tara.
"That must've been Xylena's and her plant appliances' food source during their trip to Earth and back", said Chad. F.T. started squeaking while jumping up and down.
"F.T", scolded Tara, "Haven't you yet learned that Saladovian soil is dangerous to you? Why do you still crave it?"
F.T. just shook his head no and started pointing out the window.
"I get it", said Chad, "F.T. says we should send that addictive soil to Darkseed. Q-51, is there a way you can jettison this cylinder?"
"Piece of carrot cake", said Q-51, "No offense to all carrots watching this show." Suddenly, the floor under the cylinder split open and the cylinder ended up dropping out. Then the floor closed up again.
As Darkseed continued to chase after the rocket cucumber, a cylinder of soil that looked like the size of a tiny pill in Darkseed's view, ended up falling into his first mouth. Suddenly, the giant planet stopped his chasing and suddenly felt a tingling sensation. "Soil, soil, glorious soil!" said Darkseed as all 3 of his eyes started swirling and drool started dripping out of both of his mouths dampening some of the poor stars.
"It worked", said Chad as he and our heroes looked out the window, "Darkseed's too crazed on Saladovian soil to chase us."
"That was smart thinking, F.T", smiled Tara as she patted the proud fuzzy tomato's head.
Then Q-51 turned direction and zoomed passed the too dazed planet and headed back for Saladovia.
Everyone on Saladovia watched as they saw Q-51 return through the hole in the greenhouse and land. Chad, Tara, and F.T. stepped out of the rocket while everyone rushed over to them, staring with Rob and Elisa. "Chad, son", said Rob, "Why were you kids riding around that rocket during an interplanetary emergency?"
"You had your father and I so worried", cried Elisa as she hugged Chad. "Just what were you thinking?!"
"I'm sorry, Mom and Dad", gasped Chad for Elisa's hug was strong as a strangler vine. "But we had to put a stop to Darkseed now!"
"Say, where did Darkseed go?" asked Wilbur.
"I think I see him far away", said Xylena as she pointed to a small red dot in the sky.
"What is that fiend doing out there?" asked Photosynth.
"Let's just say he'll be going out with a bang", said Chad.
Darkseed was still floating in space still in a dazed state and said, "I wonder if I stick out my tongue, more surprise soil will suddenly land on it?" Darkseed stuck out his giant tongue and found what looked like a bomb timer with wires that seemed to lead inside his mouth. "What's this?" asked Darkseed, "5, 4, 3, 2, 1?" Then Darkseed started to feel his insides shake. "This might not be good." He said and suddenly, he exploded in a big red bang causing red smoke to cover the galaxy. And all that was left of the evil Otamot Emperor was a tiny black seed floating in space.
Back on Saladovia, everyone was gathered at the palace courtyard facing Queen Xylena who was addressing her subjects and heroes. "My dear Saladovian subjects", said Xylena, "Today marks a big day in Saladovian history. We no longer have to fear the ruthless Darkseed nor even the entire evil Otamot Empire anymore. And it's all thanks to these wonderful heroes from Earth you see before you." Everyone cheered as they saw Chad, Tara, F.T, and the Killer Tomato Task Force standing in front of them wearing medals that consisted of round orange slices with long red apple peelings draped around their necks.
"I could just keep this medal forever", smiled Tara as she sniffed the orange.
"Say, Wilbur", asked Sam, "Where's that grub generating bazooka of yours? Are you really gonna use it for your pizza business?"
"No, Sam", said Wilbur, "I made an important decision. I donated my bazooka to Chef Chloro to help him with the new business I started for him."
"What kind of business?" asked Mary Jo.
"Well, even though Saladovia is blessed with pure water, fresh air, warm sunlight, ripe insects, and fertile soil", explained Wilbur. "I noticed there was one thing that this poor planet lacked and I wanted to provide it with that one thing."
"What's that?" asked Floyd.
"Why, Saladovia's very first pizza palace", said Wilbur proudly as he pointed over to a smaller pumpkin palace next door to the large pumpkin palace. There was a sign above that read Chloro's Otamotless Pizza Palace.
Inside, we see Chef Chloro, in his new kitchen, taking out Wilbur's bazooka and firing out a pizza. Then he took the pizza to a Saladovian couple sitting at a nearby table. "Here you go", said Chloro, "One fertilizer and housefly pizza." Then Chloro went over to another table and asked the Saladovian sitting there, "What kind of pizza would you like to order?"
"I'd like a pizza with OTAMOTS!" said the Saladovian. All the other customers screamed and panicked while the Saladovian, who turned out to be the annoying Otamot Guy, was sitting there laughing while Chloro stood there steamed. "I think I'm going to like this place a lot", smiled Otamot Guy.
Sunny and Jasun approached Whitley and handed him a small flat box, "This is for you, Mr. White", said Sunny. "Inside is a disc that has everything Jasun and I filmed for you during this adventure."
"You mean it's all here?" smiled Whitley with delight, "Thank you my flowery friends. Once everyone on Earth sees this out of this world news report, I'll be famous. My house will be loaded with Pulitzer Prizes! No, I'll have so many Pulitzer Prizes, that I'll have to build a huge mansion out of them with plenty of leftover Pulitzers for a summer house!"
Chad looked over at Xylena and to his shock he saw the Saladovian queen and Photosynth standing with her in the flower pot throne. They were hugging each other and kissing. "Xylena!" gasped Chad.
"Oh, Chad", said Xylena as both she and Photosynth blushed, "I guess I owe you an explanation."
"You and Photosynth are….?" trembled Chad.
"Yes", said Xylena, "Ever since I was a little sprout, I always had this crush on the mighty Sir Photosynth."
"And I too had feelings for the little princess who is now the big queen", said Photosynth, "But back then, we knew it couldn't be for I was an adult plant and she was a minor plant."
"But now that I've reached adulthood early", said Xylena, "Photosynth and I can truly be together. It's like a miracle had blossomed."
"I'm so happy for both of you", lied Chad, trying to hold in his disappointment.
"I can tell that you're lying", said Xylena as she reached out her giant branch hand and picked up Chad like he was a small doll. "And I'm sorry it had to be this way between us."
"Don't sweat it", said Chad, "I'm still grateful that you've reunited me with my Mom and Dad. So you deserve your happiness as well."
"Oh, Chad, you are so kind hearted and understanding like your parents", said Xylena, "And I'll never forget the time we shared together." And she placed her now giant lips over Chad's face and gave him a huge wet kiss getting his cap and hair wet.
"Maybe it wouldn't really work out between us", Chad thought to himself as Xylena put him back down and Chad wringed the wetness from his cap.
"Poor Chad", said Elisa, "His first love was never meant to be."
"Don't worry, our son is tough", said Rob, "He got over us being potted plants and I'm sure he can get over this."
"This was a fun and exciting trip we all took, but the Tomato Task Force and the kids and I need to get back home", said Wilbur, "There are still killer tomatoes roaming around terrorizing the Earth, and without us, there's no hope for our home planet."
"Then you should go back home, Wilbur", said Rob, "If anyone can take on those villainous veggies, it's you, little brother."
"And please continue to do a good job raising Chad", said Elisa, "We're grateful to you on how he turned out."
"Will do", said Wilbur.
"Then in that case", said Xylena as she plucked the last flower from her leaf hair and put it on the ground. The flower grew into another giant portal. Our heroes looked through it and saw it led back to San Zucchini and Wilbur's Pizza Palace.
"Ah, pizza palace sweet pizza palace", smiled Wilbur.
"I guess this is goodbye", said Chad as he looked at his parents.
"I know", said Elisa, "I guess your father and I didn't get a chance to say it the last time we left you."
"It wasn't your fault", said Chad. "But now it looks like I'll have to say goodbye for real. I have to go home and I guess you both can't come back with me."
"Yep, that's true", said Rob, pointing to his plantish bottom half. "We need Saladovia soil to survive and you can hardly find that stuff at any Earth nursery."
"But, buck up, dear", said Elisa, stroking Chad's face, "Xylena told me that once she starts blooming more flowers, she can create portals so we can visit you anytime or so that you can visit us. So it's not goodbye forever."
"Is this true, Xylena?" Chad asked the queen.
"I do believe I feel a bud starting to grow on my forehead", smiled Xylena.
"So, we'll be seeing you again soon", smiled Elisa as she hugged and kissed her boy. "Maybe we'll even spend this Christmas together."
"You can even decorate us like Christmas trees", laughed Rob, "And place presents under our stems."
Chad laughed and hugged both his parents lovingly. Tara and F.T. watched with happiness for their friend. Then Tara turned around as she saw Xylena looking at her. "Tara", said Xylena, "It's up to you to look after Chad now. Please care for him and protect him from harm like the way he always does for you."
"You don't even have to command it, your majesty", said Tara bowing to the queen.
Just then, everyone looked up and saw Q-51 racing around writing a smoke message in the sky. It read, "LATER YOU COOL EARTHLINGS", in big letters.
Soon, Rob and Elisa and all the Saladovians watched as the Earthlings stepped through the flower portal back to Earth one at a time. Then Chad and Tara were the last ones to step through it. As the portal started to shrink, the kids waved goodbye to everyone while the portal slowly disappeared and the petals fell onto the ground. Rob and Elisa stood there silently thinking about their son, then looked at each other and kissed.
"You majesty", Photosynth asked Xylena, "Do you remember that those Earthlings have been declared wanted criminals for the space station incident? Including you?"
"Don't worry, my love", said Xylena, "I contacted the galactic council and had them all officially pardoned, including me. No intergalactic police will be coming to Earth and arresting them."
"What about that evil Dr. Gangreen?" asked Photosynth.
"Don't worry", said Xylena, "He will get what's coming to him very soon."
Back on the Galactic Gangreen Express, Dr. Gangreen was piloting his ship through endless space grumbling, "I can't believe all my plans have gone down the drain!" he griped. "I got used and abused by a windbag of an Emperor and almost eaten by him. Now we're roaming around lost in space!"
"And what's worse", wailed Ketchuck, "We didn't get any soil!"
"Yeah!" grumbled Zoltan, "Gangreen you fink, you promised we'd come back to Earth with sweet soil. But all we got was zilch!"
"We ought to start yet another mutiny and throw you and your surfer flunky off this ship!" shouted Fang. All the other Gang of 6 agreed as they growled from inside their glass box holding.
"Well, you can't!" shouted Gangreen, "You ill-tempered tomatoes are locked up in that glass prison, so keep quiet before I turn this rocket to the sun and have you all thrown out and turned into stew!"
"Hey, Doc", said Igor. "Some kind of thing is coming our way."
"It's probably just a satellite", said Gangreen. "Let's just go around it."
"It might take a major long time to do that", said Igor. Gangreen looked at the front window and saw what looked like a giant rocket powered building heading their way.
"It's a giant courthouse", gasped Gangreen, "What's it doing out here in space?"
"Maybe it's a higher court!" giggled Igor, "Huh, huh, huh!" Before Gangreen could take out his ruler to smack Igor, an antenna on top of the courthouse shot out a beam and hit the rocket. Suddenly, the villains found themselves disappearing and then suddenly reappeared in what looked like a courtroom.
"What happened to my rocket?" demanded Gangreen as he found himself sitting next to Igor in front of a table while the Gang of 6 was behind them still in their glass box.
"It's been placed in a rocket impound lot", said a robot bailiff. "And I have a feeling you won't be flying a rocket ever again once the judge throws the book at you! All rise for the honorable Judge Uni-trial", said the bailiff.
Just then, two twin doors opened and out came a giant computer screen wearing a judge's wig. A green pixilated hammer appeared on the screen and started banging. "A computer is going to decide our fates?" gasped Gangreen.
"Order in the court", said the judge in a computer sounding voice.
"I'll have a…" said Igor, but couldn't finish his line when Gangreen covered his mouth.
"Say it and I'll have your funny bone removed and fed to laughing hyenas", grumbled Gangreen.
"Dr. Putrid T. Gangreen", said the judge. "You have been charged with the following crimes. For going 3 billion in a 2 billion MPH zone, for not having license plates or expiration stickers on your rocket, for bringing these monstrous vegetables to Space Station Alpha-Beta-Calculata, causing a panic. And now I just received news from Saladovia's new queen that you assassinated and caused the death of good King Xylem, the now former king of Saladovia."
"It wasn't my idea", pleaded Gangreen, "An evil Otamot Emperor made me do it! I felt really bad about it too!"
"Gee", said Igor, taking out a small drawing, "Then why did you draw this picture of a dead tree king with a tombstone that says, "Good riddance, King Xylem?"
"Can you do the universe a favor and give this blabbermouth the chair?" Gangreen asked the judge.
"No", said the judge, "All these guilty crimes will call for something more extreme! Bailiff, activate the transport ray." The bailiff ejected an antenna from his forehead and aimed a beam at Gangreen, Igor, and the Gang of 6.
"What are you going to do to us?" cried Gangreen as he saw his feet, then his legs disappearing.
"I'm sentencing all of you to exile!" said the judge. "To the most evil, violent, war obsessed planet in the whole universe!"
"You don't mean?!" gasped Gangreen, who saw his arms and torso disappearing.
"I'm sending you all to Earth", said the judge as the villains completely disappeared from the courtroom.
Suddenly, Gangreen found himself back in one piece standing on green grass. He looked up at the night sky and said, "We're back on Earth? But where on Earth did we get sent to?"
"I don't know", said Igor. "But that building over there looks weird. Maybe we're at Disneyworld."
"It's our old laboratory home", gasped a delighted Gangreen. "That foolish judge sent us back safe and sound to San Zucchini. And in our own backyard too! It looks like we got off easy in the end."
"I wouldn't say that", said Igor as he pointed somewhere. Gangreen turned around and found the angry Gang of 6 standing there free from their glass box prison.
"Hey guys", said Gangreen, "You're not still holding a grudge are you?"
"Holding grudges is what killer tomatoes do best!" growled Zoltan.
"We may be back home", grumbled Beefsteak, "But we still got no Saladovian soil beneath our roots!"
"And we're hungry!" growled Ketchuck.
"You dudes aren't gonna have one of those cliché cartoon fantasies where you imagine us as food, are you?" asked Igor.
"No, but it's a nice suggestion", said Tomacho. The Gang of 6 looked at Gangreen and Igor and saw them as giant clumps of soil.
"What's better than snowmen are soilmen!" said Mumato.
"LET'S EAT!" shouted the whole Gang of 6 as they started to chase after Gangreen and Igor.
"I guess we're being punished after all, huh, Doc!" said Igor.
"For the last time, DON'T CALL ME DOC!" shouted Gangreen as he and Igor continued running from the crazy killer tomatoes and disappeared over the horizon.
Back at Wilbur's Pizza Palace, the Killer Tomato Task Force was throwing a party celebrating their amazing journey and victory. Wilbur was serving all kinds of weird pizzas which everyone tried to avoid. "Why won't you all try my wild cherry and white chocolate victory pizzas?" asked Wilbur. "I made it with my own loving hands instead of a bazooka."
F.T. was sitting at a table eating a big bag of Earth soil. Sure it wasn't that luscious smelling Saladovian soil, but F.T. learned that sometimes home food from your own home is more satisfying and safer.
Tara looked around the place and found Chad missing. She went into the storeroom and saw Chad sitting at Wilbur's office desk lost in thought. Chad had drawn a sketch of Xylena as a child and started smiling. Then started flipping through the other papers for he had made a cartoon flip book and it showed the young Xylena transforming into a fully grown adult tree and then frowned.
Tara saw the depressed look on Chad's face and said, "I can't stand to see him sad again." She snuck over to a CD player sitting on the shelf and turned it on.
"What the…" gasped Chad as he heard some slow playing dance music and turned around and found Tara standing there smiling. "Tara?" asked Chad, puzzled.
"Come on, Chad, we're having a party", said Tara, "And I was hoping I would find a handsome dance partner. Would you be my partner and dance with me?"
"Sorry, Tara", said Chad, turning back around, "But I'm not really in the mood to dance."
"I said, DANCE WITH ME!" demanded Tara as she used her powers to pull Chad out of his seat and into her arms. "Let's just do a slow dance", said Tara as she took Chad's hand and placed her other hand on his shoulder and started dancing.
For the first time, Chad didn't feel so uncomfortable or nervous when he was this close to Tara. For the time he spent with Xylena helped him get over his fear of girls. "You know, Tara", said Chad as they continued dancing, "With those tomato powers, you certainly won't have any problems with stubborn boyfriends."
"Yes, and I hope to be rid of these powers someday", sighed Tara, "You know I'm not really a human teenage girl, I'm actually a tomato in disguise. And until I find a way to become fully human, I'll probably be stuck in this teenage body until I'm an old tomato."
"Don't worry, Tara", said Chad, "As long as I'm alive, we're going to find a way to make you permanently human for good. We'll force Gangreen to create a formula that will make you human. And if that doesn't work, I'll try to make the formula myself with my junior chemistry set. I'll even take chemistry classes in high school and college until I can find you a way to make you human so you can live a normal peaceful life."
"Maybe I'll finally become human the day you become a teenager", smiled Tara.
"What was that?" asked Chad.
"Oh, nothing", said Tara as she dipped Chad and raised him back up and continued dancing. "Let's just focus on tonight." And the two continued to dance.
Above the kids, a small flower portal opened and Rob and Elisa looked down at their son and the tomato girl who were busy dancing to notice who was above them. "Can you believe it, dear?" smiled Elisa, "Our own son is best friends with a tomato."
"And not a killer tomato", smiled Rob, "A real tomato! Way to go, son!" And the parents just silently watched the kids dancing not wanting to disturb this touching moment.
At the KRUD TV station, Whitley entered the control room and fired up his DVD player. "I can't wait to see how I look reporting from another planet", said Whitley as he opened up the small box. But instead of a disc, he found a pineapple ring. "A pineapple ring?!" gasped Whitley, but then remembered back on Q-51 when Xylena played the same type of ring like a DVD. "That's right", said Whitley, "This is what Saladovians use for DVDs. So it should work on my system."
Whitley inserted the pineapple ring into the DVD slot and turned on the TV. But all he got on the screen was static. "What's this?" demanded Whitley, "Why aren't you showing my greatest news story?!" Then he saw the DVD player shooting out sparks and pineapple jam oozing from the machine, for Saladovian technology wasn't compatible with Earth technology.
"No, this isn't fair!" wailed Whitley while pulling at his combover, "This was going to make me the most famous news reporter in history! And this happened?! WHY?!!!" But then Whitley started to smell something. He looked down at the bubbling pineapple ooze and tasted it. "Hey, it's smoked pineapple jam", smiled Whitley, "One of my favorites. This is a happy ending after all!" and he took out a spoon and started chowing down on the stuff while the cartoon's closing credits started to roll.
Once the credits had stopped, we see a black seed drop down to Earth landing in the grassy fields of San Zucchini. "Perfect", said the seed in Darkseed's sinister voice. "Once I take root here, I'll be back on my stems ready to get revenge on everyone. HA HA HA HA!" but then Darkseed stopped laughing when an innocent little bird flew down, plucked the helpless black seed from the ground and swallowed him. Then the bird happily flew off not realizing he had saved Earth from the wrath of an evil vegetable emperor.
THE END