Alright, I'm going to tie it all up now. Well, some of it. I'll explain after you read. But I do realize that I left some, ok, a lot of plot holes. So sit back and enjoy a new thing I'm trying: changing POV!
Chapter 20: Is This the End, or the Beginning?
/Back in the past: After the message
Buck's POV
Walking back down the corridor, I wondered if my message had changed the future. If it did, then, good. But if not, I tried my best.
"Buck! Where are you?"
"Maybe he got lost too."
"Nah. Not Buck. BUCK! WHERE ARE YOU!"
"I'm here! Jeez, Allstar!"
I ran to my two squad mates, wondering what they had been doing. They didn't seem to have moved. I sighed.
"I guess you don't know where Brian is."
"Nope."
I groaned and turned around, looking for him. Steve and Allstar helped as we searched the place, but he was nowhere to be found. Angrily, I slammed my fist against the wall.
"Where is he?"
Brian's POV
I looked at my surroundings. I was just thinking about this place! I stood still in an abandoned house, no, my parent's house. Nothing had changed, my mother's glass cabinet still hung on the wall. The old recliner was still there, with the exact same rip on the left arm. Everything was the same, minus one thing. My parents.
Falling to my knees, I dropped my flag and started to cry. Why had they gone? Why couldn't I just go back, back to those early days? It wasn't their fault. It wasn't my fault. Why couldn't this stupid war never start?
Getting up, I realized that I should be at the Hero HQ. My squad mates would be furious, well, Steve and Allstar. I knew exactly where to go. Picking up my flag, I left for the mountains. They aren't too far. After all, my parents lived in northern Zomburbia.
Allstar's POV
"SEVEN HOURS, BRIAN! SEVEN HOURS!"
Steve was furious. We had just about given up our search when Brian had showed up! And he had the nerve to activate the green button before we found him!
"Steve, calm down. I'm sure Brian has a good explanation for his leave."
Steve sighed and crossed his arms.
"How do we get back?"
"Uh, Steve? Didn't you make the portal?" I asked, confused.
Steve face-palmed. Buck and Brian glared at him, both of them furious. Why can't we just get along?
/Zomboss Laboratory: The present
Joanne's POV
Pressing all the buttons, flipping all the switches, and watching all the monitors is hard work. And I'm kinda sick of it. But one last time. One last time to get Brain Squad back, to get it done. Get away from Zomboss.
I'm getting ahead of myself. Zomboss might not let me leave. But I have to. Taking a deep breath, I activated the portal. It was still magnificent how we- Zomboss had the technology to go through time. Eventually, Brain Squad stepped through the portal. Steve nodded at me, and I deactivated the portal. Finally, I could leave. After Brain Squad left, I locked up the room. Taking the key, I decided to hold onto one. Using a cloning device similar to Impfinity's, I duplicated the key.
/Christmas Eve: Squad House X
Chomper's POV
I sat on the roof with Peashooter. Somehow the sunset never gets old. Me and Peashooter smiled as we imagined how far we'd come. This was our life, laid back. Until L.E.A.F. wants something done. But they don't demand too much.
A little later, after everyone else had gone to bed, I had an idea. Heading into my room and picking out some mistletoe, I glanced at the couch. A small risk, but who cares? Bouncing off the couch, I pinned the mistletoe to the roof, right over the couch. This was going to be good.
The next morning, I was woken up by a very excited Wallnut.
"CHOMPER! CHOMPER IT'S CHRISTMAS!"
"Wallnut, can you be a little quieter?"
"Oh. Okey!"
Wallnut bounced out of my room as I shook my head. Getting up, I yawned. What a jolly way to start Christmas. Heading out to the living room, no one else was up. Wallnut bounced next to our fake Christmas tree, which we had set up next to the TV.
"C'mon! Presents!"
"No one else is up yet."
Wallnut frowned and took my seat on the recliner. The two of us waited as Sunflower got up, then Peashooter. They sat on the couch, all according to plan. Smiling, I went to the tree and passed out their presents.
Peashooter got me a camera with a note about borrowing his camera. He also got me a fifty dollar gift card. Sunflower got me a box of zombie bits, and Wallnut surprisingly got me a new gaming headset. After they had opened all their presents, Wallnut having given out pretty good ones, I smiled at Peashooter.
"Merry Christmas. Oh, one last present."
Peashooter looked confused. I nodded upwards, causing Peashooter and Sunflower to look up at the mistletoe above their heads. Peashooter looked back at me, unsurprised.
"Really, Chomper? Really?"
Both Peashooter and Sunflower were blushing, Peashooter's barely noticeable. Wallnut looked up at the mistletoe and gasped.
"Whose leaf is that?"
Sunflower looked at me, glaring.
"Chomper!"
"What? It's the Christmas spirit!"
Peashooter rolled his eyes. These two weren't cooperating. Fine then.
"Well, come on! It's a rule. Seriously, you two even went on a date!"
Sunflower's and Peashooter's looks told me to drop it. But Wallnut intervened.
"So, Sunflower likes Cabbage-pult?"
Oh, god no. Why, Wallnut? WHY?!
Peashooter looked shocked, while Sunflower glared at Wallnut.
"That's none of your business."
I looked at Peashooter, who seemed to be trying not to run. Sunflower didn't seem to notice, because she then glared at me.
"And you. I thought better of you."
"Uh, Sunflower?"
"What?"
I gestured to Peashooter, who had his eyes closed. He was completely still, frozen in place. I tried to get him to respond.
"Peashooter?"
Nothing. Completely unresponsive. Wallnut looked really worried. Sunflower was almost crying. It was all my fault. Man! That backfired pretty badly. Peashooter wouldn't move. I yelled in his face. No response. I felt his forehead. It was ridiculously hot, making me recoil.
"What happened to him?"
"I'm not sure. It's not a state of shock, he didn't faint, and he's completely unresponsive. Nothing I know of."
Sunflower sighed.
"Peashooter?"
Still nothing. What's going on?
Peashooter's POV
I couldn't feel or hear anything. Something happened. Everything was shut off. Like I'd shut down. The last thing I remember is Chomper asking Sunflower about something. Now, I can't see. Can't hear. Can't move. Then I saw something in the distance, like a spec of light.
"Welcome, plant. You have reached a common mental stasis. Unfortunately for you, this isn't experimental. How have you achieved this?"
I looked around. Nothing, except the spec. I guess the spec can talk?
"Um, I seriously have no idea what you're talking about."
"You should. At the very least, you'll be here for a few days. Unfortunately for you, that's enough to kill you."
"What?!"
"Yeah, I wish I was joking."
"How do I get out of here?"
"Well, how'd you get here?"
"I said I had no idea."
"Oh, you do. Something so simple. You feel exactly how all the others got here. You gave up."
"Wait, what? Gave up? On what?"
"Oh, nothing too major, just your life."
"Yeah, right."
"Face it, plant. You feel betrayed. You feel rejected. You, strongest of all, feel like a failure."
"Well, that first one? Not really. Second one? Only a little. I expected it."
"The third."
I grew uncomfortable. Thing was, I always felt like a failure. Being kidnapped multiple times, getting Sunflower practically killed because I wouldn't shut up, not being able to help Scorch, the list goes on for a while. The spec laughed.
"You feel like a failure, henceforth you shall be one."
I clenched my pods. That was it. As much as he's right, I don't let people get away with things like that. Running towards the spec, I tried to hit it, only for the spec to move to the opposite end of the darkness.
"Oh, that doesn't work. Just telling you now. Only outside intervention can save you, even then, do you want to be saved?"
I thought about that for a long time. Unclenching my pods, I closed my eyes. I wasn't afraid of death, I only feared the things that would prolong it. Worse, those that prolong the deaths of those I love. This isn't one of those things. But I won't give up. Not now, not ever. I'll fight for as long as it takes, for anything and anyone I care about. But would I allow someone to do the same for me?
"Alright, spec. I want to be saved. But only if my friends aren't hurt in the process."
"You remind me of someone… are you related?"
"Give me a name and ask again."
"Oh, no one much, just a repeater. His name was Daniel. Came here. Never got out, I'm afraid. I guess his friends didn't care enough."
I froze. It couldn't be. It had to be a coincidence. My great-grandfather, trapped here?
"Oh, so you are related. Hmph. I didn't like him."
"What did you say earlier? Something about experiments?"
"Oh, this stasis is usually reached through an experimental tube. It preserves the body, letting it age without the person ever having to live their life. But there's a catch. Preserving the body isn't as easy as it sounds."
"Alright. Since I'm waiting for my death, what do you do for fun around here?"
Sunflower's POV
Peashooter hadn't moved in hours. Neither had I. Was this my fault? Partly. It was all of ours, except his. But I hope he's okay. I never meant it like I didn't care about him. I actually hadn't decided between the two of them yet, but I probably sounded heartless. And I was.
Feeling his forehead, Peashooter's temperature had dropped drastically. He was alive, but I don't know what happened to him. Chomper and Wallnut had left to try to find someone who knew what to do. Some Christmas.
Looking up, I noticed the mistletoe was still there. I felt a single tear fall. Looking at Peashooter sadly, I kissed his cheek. He might never recover. There had to be something I could do…
Chomper and Wallnut came back, both of them looked frustrated. Wallnut stormed off while Chomper walked over to me.
"How is he?"
"I don't know. His temperature dropped."
Chomper sighed and sat on the recliner. I looked at Peashooter, then hung my head.
"I'm sorry, Chomper. I was a jerk."
"Don't apologize. I made the mistake."
"So? I yelled at you and Wallnut, while simultaneously rejecting Peashooter! Why aren't you mad?"
Chomper was about to respond when Peashooter mumbled something. Chomper and I looked at each other in shock. I started to shake Peashooter.
"Peashooter!"
"Ugh, you can stop now."
Chomper ran to Peashooter and tackled him, smiling wider than I'd ever seen. Peashooter was dazed, but not hurt. Shaking his head, Peashooter looked at Chomper, confused.
"What happened?"
"You shut down, were completely unresponsive. We tried to get you to do something, anything! But you wouldn't move."
Peashooter looked at Chomper like he was crazy.
"I'm don't get it. By the way, who punched the side of my head? Because you shouldn't do that."
I was confused.
"Peashooter, no one punched you. Are you ok?"
"Um, someone punched me. I swear."
Chomper and I exchanged glances. Peashooter sighed.
"You guys think I'm crazy, huh?"
"No. We're wondering who punched you."
"Well, whoever did it, I guess I should thank them. I wasn't going to come back if they didn't punch me."
"Come back from where?"
Peashooter didn't respond. He looked down sadly, making me wonder what he'd experienced. Chomper walked away, looking back, and smiling. After Chomper went in his room, Peashooter got off the couch and started to leave.
"Wait, Peashooter!"
Peashooter turned, not looking at me.
"Yeah?"
"Are you ok?"
"I don't know."
I sighed. Peashooter was always so, so frustrating but nice. It always made me feel bad. And he doesn't do it on purpose, either.
"Peashooter, I'm sorry."
"I didn't expect anything different than what you said. No need to be sorry."
"But, I didn't really mean it."
Peashooter looked at me sadly.
"You don't have to try to fake it. It's fine."
"But I'm not faking!"
Peashooter stood there, not looking at me. I was frustrated. Why couldn't he understand?
"Peashooter, why don't you get it?"
"Because I've never understood. Why people care about me, why you guys tried to save me. Why do you care about me?"
I froze. What just happened? One second, Peashooter's acting all ashamed, then he practically says I shouldn't care about him!
"Peashooter, I care because you're my friend. I don't get why you can't see that you're worth being cared for!"
Peashooter's POV
But I'm not worth it. I sighed in exasperation.
"Look, I'm not worth it. We're still friends, but I just can't let you guys try to save me anymore. I've caused enough trouble. Also, I've given up. I'm done. I'll fight, I'll do what L.E.A.F. wants, everything. But you guys shouldn't care about me anymore."
Sunflower looked angry. Honestly, it didn't matter to me. I turned and walked to my room. I was done. I still cared for them, but that's as much as I can say. I'm broken. Then Sunflower grabbed my stem and threw me across the room.
"Peashooter, stop it! We care for you, why don't you get that we won't let you do this to yourself? Before today, you were fine! The Peashooter we all knew and cared for! Now, you're acting so insensitive!"
I started coughing. I was different.But that wouldn't stop me.
"I'm a failure. Don't any of you understand that all I cause is pain? Look now. You're yelling at me, annoyed and concerned. This is just a result of what I've done. Fail, over and over and over. I'm not the plant you thought I was."
Sunflower picked me up as Chomper came out of his room. He yelped as Sunflower pinned me to the wall.
"Sunflower, what's going on?"
"This guy thinks that he's just a failure."
"Ok, but you really shouldn't pin him to the wall. Peashooter, seriously! What the heck?"
"Can you let me go please?"
"Peashooter, I get that you feel like a failure. But I feel like a bigger failure for failing you. I care so much about you, you're practically family to me. So stop being a pity case and get back to the old you!"
I looked at Chomper in shock.
"F-family? B-but, but,"
Somehow, I knew Chomper was right. I started to tear up. Sunflower dropped me, and I hit the floor with a thud. I started to cry.
"Ch-Chomper…"
Chomper smiled sadly at me. He sat next to me as Sunflower looked down at me, confused. I didn't stop crying. I'd always felt alone, trying not to care too much about anyone. But all this time, Chomper had loved me like a brother. And I never noticed that I felt the same.
"I-I-I-"
Chomper hugged me.
"It's okay, Peashooter. It's okay."
Cabbage-pult's POV
The new year was almost here. Ten o'clock at night. Beatrice, Marigold and Shadow are all out celebrating. I'm here, alone. I hadn't heard from Sunflower in a while. I wonder how she's doing.
Whirr… Whirr…
A drone? Here? Opening the door, I saw a zombot drone hovering in front of me. It held a letter. Warily I took it, thinking of all the reasons the drone could be here for. Opening the letter, I read it.
Dear Cabbage-pult,
You aren't like other plants. They don't care about you, to the point of ignoring you. Hating you for no valid reason. I have realized this, and I offer a proposal. Help me get even with a few plants, and I'll help you get even with a few. You can keep the drone. If you want to accept, you can at any time by pressing the red button on the drone. Make the right choice. Don't make a mistake.
Sincerely, Doctor Edgar George Zomboss
I looked at the letter, strangely not revolted. I had dedicated myself to revenge, after all. But something was wrong with this whole situation. I couldn't figure out what. The drone slowly descended until it had stopped on the ground. Picking it up, I hastily brought it inside. Taking everything to my room, I thought about the proposal. It was simple enough, but only two things made me hesitant. Sunflower, and Peashooter.
I shrugged it off. I had all the time I wanted. I could deal with Peashooter easily enough, but Sunflower was a different story. Would she still care about me if I worked with Zomboss?
Steve's POV
I kept running. The thing behind me kept chasing me. It wasn't fair. Zomboss had wanted something for his newest project, but why did I always have to do it? I glanced at the thing behind me. It was Zomboss.
"Suffer!"
I fell to the ground, unable to move. Plants towered over me as Zomboss laughed. I screamed as two sunflowers beat me to death. Then I woke up.
I opened my eyes, expecting to be in the afterlife. Nope. It was just my room, organized and neat, blueprints on one side, chemicals separated on another. Getting up, I went to my computer. Password: "Calcium Injection Procedure."
I had started keeping a dream journal, well, on my computer. Opening the file labeled "dreams," I started to type. Once I had finished, I thought about how Zomboss said the serum wasn't needed anymore. He said to dispose of it. I hadn't yet. All that work, wasted? No. I'd find a use for the serum, then Zomboss would see. Was this connected to my dream?
I turned off my computer and went back to bed. I worked for Zomboss. That didn't mean I was his loyal servant. I have my own unlife. That raised an interesting question in my head. Was Zomboss even a zombie? He had a brain… something no other zombies had. I decided to study him, later. For now, back to sleep.
Wallnut's POV
Peashooter was different. He was less insecure. I'd make sure to analyze his behavioral changes. Sunflower and Chomper had changed slightly, but nothing too major. Peashooter was the one I wanted to examine.
I interrupted myself by running into a wall.
Something always stops me from being smart. I know that I am! But I never show it. I have problems looking where I'm going. Or getting what someone is feeling. Or doing really anything except quiet analysis. But I never remember my analyses, and, well…
It's January first. The new year is here. The old one is gone. In a way, so are our old lives. But no one ever listens.
And I ran into the same wall again.
Peashooter and Chomper had left to go visit Threepeater. Sunflower, I have no idea what she does all day. I don't really want to know, either.
Oh, I'm supposed to meet the Bowling Bulb Bros. at the bowling alley! Shoot! I rolled out of the house, off to the alley. I guess this normal life is fine. Hopefully it stays this way.
The End?
Nah.
The power of sequels compels me! SEQUELS! But in all seriousness, thanks for reading. I hope this answered some questions, and posed a few for the sequel, too. So, thanks! Shout out to ScOu because he helped me keep going with this. So thank you, ScOu. Ok, I'll leave now.