Chapter Three - "Nature"
Where is he?
There came no reply. The words traveled outward, from plant to plant. It traveled in the air, it traveled in the soil, it traveled in the water, and through the branches. And there came absolutely no reply. Silence. Moss Man shuddered.
Had they forgiven him? Perhaps not. Word traveled fast in the plant world, and while most of the elder trees and plants had long since forgiven him, Moss Man feared it was not so with the younger ones. These plants and trees that were not so easy to forgive. They didn't have the trust the others did, they didn't have the age and the experience the others did. And with this part of the Evergreen Forest fairly new, it would be harder to get answers.
They just didn't understand. While Moss Man had taken control of them only once and used them against each other, Evilseed was bound to do worse. He would not only use to fight each other, he would also command them to fight Eternians. And that was worse, because Eternians could fight back in a horrific way.
"No," Moss Man told himself. They had to be aware of the danger. It was impossible not to be. Moss Man shoved his large hands into the dirt and reached out. His fingers grew long, like roots. They scurried under the ground until they connected with a tree.
Fear, pure and simple. They were having trouble forgiving him, but there was fear there as well. Which made things hard for Moss Man. Not only were they in terrible danger, but they also didn't trust the only one that could help them.
He's still here.
Moss Man pulled his hands out of the ground and they reverted back to normal. Something had called out to him. It was a tiny voice, but one of courage. To speak now when all of its brethren made no noise whatsoever was courageous.
Where?
The voice that returned to him came from a small rose sitting beside a small group of rocks. Moss Man ventured over and leaned down it. His hand waved above it, and he smiled.
The one you are after. The one that is like you, but terrible. He took control of us, for only a dash of sun by the second, but it brought fear to us, the rose explained. He is still near!
Moss Man nodded.
Another voice, then, filled Moss Man's ears and mind. DO NOT TRUST HIM! was the harsh voice of a nearby tree. Moss Man looked over at it and saw that it was young, merely a sproutling. He also took control of trees and plants! Made them battle each other, he did!
Moss Man stood up.
Perhaps, came the reply of Moss Man. But the Spirit of Evil forced me to. Your elders have forgiven me. Why have you not?
Because we can no longer trust you! shouted the tree.
Is this true, Moss Man? asked the rose.
Moss Man grunted. I . . . I have. But it was a different -
HE'S HERE! It was a shrill scream, coming from a bush not five feet away. Moss Man was suddenly overcome by terrible waves of fear emanating from all of the plants and trees. His empathic ability to connect with them was suddenly flooded.
He stood up and as he did, all of them went silent with fear. Evilseed came around one of the bigger and older trees. His huge, brown robe flowed around his green body; his bulbous, turnip-like head sitting disproportional atop his skinny frame.
"Ah, good day Moss Man."
Moss Man gritted his teeth. "Stand down, Evilseed. I've come to take you to Eternos. I don't want to fight you."
"You wouldn't have to, Moss Man. Just have extent your power to the trees and have them to it. You did once before, do it again."
Moss Man could sense a wave of distrust and displeasure beneath the drone of fear coming from the trees. The plants seemed to do it as well, but there was always a little more leeway with them.
"That was a mistake."
"But it felt good, didn't it?"
Evilseed was leaning up against the tree that Moss Man was arguing with. Moss Man contained his anger, trying to plan. He empathecally reached out and asked the tree to swat at Evilseed, but the tree ignored him out of pure distrust.
"No, it didn't. It's not my place to command any plant-life on Eternia. Not trees, plants, flowers, grass, nor vegetation. I merely ask them to help me and they do or they don't."
"My dear boy," Evilseed said in a condescending tone. "It's time to change that, don't you think? You're asking this tree behind me to help you, aren't you? You're asking it to reach down and beat me silly. But is it listening? No. So what should you do? Take control of it! Seize it and send it against me! Send the whole forest after me! You have that power, so why not do it?"
"Because . . ." Moss Man's voice faded. He wanted to answer so very badly, but it was as if his voice just left his throat. It took him a full three seconds to realize what it was that locked his voice. Everything around him - all of the plant-life - shook in fear at Moss Man. Almost as much as they did for Evilseed.
Evilseed stood to full attention.
"Because you're a sissy, that's why."
Before Moss Man could act, that rose that had helped him screamed. To describe the scream is impossible, only that it was a scream of shock and horror. The rose was now under the control of Evilseed and it hurt and burned and ached and screamed as it was torn away from its peaceful life.
The rose stretched out and its stem wrapped around Moss Man's neck. The thorns grew huge, much the roses horrendous cries, and dug into the bizarre flesh of Moss Man's neck. Blood and water spewed from the impact points.
STOP! cried Moss Man to the little rose that was now killing him.
I CAN'T! roared the rose in return.
"Make it stop," Evilseed told Moss Man. "You can do it. Make it stop."
"Nuhhhhh." It was all Moss Man could manage, but Evilseed understood anyways.
"No? Oh posh, friend, you're not even worth it."
The rose released and returned to its normal size and shape. Moss Man fell to the ground, hand on his neck.
"Kill you . . ." he choked.
"Doubt it. I'm sensing all sorts of fear from these trees and plants. Something tells me they don't like you very much. They're afraid of you, aren't they?"
Yes!
Fear him!
He'll destroy us like he did those others!
Take control!
Evil!
EVIL!
Just as bad as the other!
Traitor!
All of the plants around him cried out in anger and fear, shouting and screaming in their own ways. Moss Man shook and shivered under the weight of the horrible cries. Even the rose turned against him. How could he help them if they all hated him?
Moss Man ran, moving as fast as his legs could carry him. Behind him, the cries still carried to him. They traveled in the air, they traveled in the soil, they traveled in the water, and through the branches. When Moss Man finally reached the edge of the Evergreen Forest, he collapsed, falling in the field south of the great vast woods.
All around him, he could hear traveling whispers. The grass - ever the gossips of the trees and the flowers - wondered what to make of him. They too had heard the shouts of forest dwellers, and now the one they were cursing way lying among them. What to make of that? What to do with that?
The blood was slowly beginning to stop and the water loss hadn't been too bad. But Moss Man still felt terrible. The emotional damage would be hard, and he wasn't sure if he could even go into the Evergreen Forest again.
But he had to. Moss Man had no choice. He had to save them, otherwise they would be nothing but pawns at the whim of Evilseed. But how could he do it? How could handle fighting Evilseed if the villain had turned all of the young ones against him? It was almost impossible.
Moss Man would need help, but doubted the other Heroic Warriors would ever be able to aid him. There was one that could help him, Moss Man realized, but he was no Heroic Warrior. He pulled himself up and headed towards the Wind Raider.
-----------------
Skytree, who stood as the tallest, oldest and wisest of all trees, towered in the heart of Evergreen Forest. A being of innumerable years, Skytree could do many things that regular trees can not. Such as move and shift on its own; and speak the words of Man, Elf, Goblin, and all others. Skytree was also the one responsible for appointing Moss Man his position.
"I need your help," Moss Man said Skytree, going to one knee out of respect.
"Eat my fruit and be healed," Skytree told him. "And then speak to me."
Moss Man dug into what looked like a peach and already felt better. He relayed his story to Skytree then. During the Spirit of Evil crisis when all of the Heroic Warriors were under the influence of such a dark entity, Moss Man did battle with the Great Rebellion member named Perfuma. Both had plant-related powers, and it was a logical conclusion that they would be the two to battle.
Moss Man was shocked when Perfuma controlled the trees to attack him. Moss Man, far from himself, commanded the trees to counter-attack. Though Perfuma won out, scores of trees were left either dead or critically injured from Moss Man's counter-attack.
The half-plant, half-man continued on. Evilseed, whose power was nearly the same as Moss Man's, joined with Count Marzo to rob Eternos. And although Count Marzo was stopped, Evilseed and a number of other villains escaped. Fearing the worst, Moss Man attempted to follow Evilseed and did so over the course of three days.
However, catching up to him today, Evilseed had increased the amount of distrust towards Moss Man in the younger and wilder plants and trees. There would be no one to catch Evilseed now. The dark reflection of Moss Man would only continue to plant the seeds of distrust and fear until all had turned against him.
"They fear him," Moss Man explained to Skytree. "And they distrust me. I can't help them because they're too afraid I'm going to be like Evilseed."
Skytree made a loud huffing noise, and then spoke. "Then it seems to me like you have one option."
"What's that?"
"You need help."
"So I figured. But I don't think any of the other Hero Warriors can help me."
"It is not a Heroic Warrior you should seek help from."
Moss Man pondered for a few seconds, then began to smile. He pulled out his communicator and opened a channel to Gwildor.
"Gwildor, this is Moss Man. I need your help."
-----------------
Perfuma stepped across the spring grass, annoyance dancing in her usually sparkling eyes. She was perfectly fine, hanging out with the others, welcoming back Adora when Kowl comes and tells her there's someone to see her in the woods. Just who would see her in the Whispering Woods?
"Perfuma."
Perfuma halted in her tracks, recognizing the bulky, green covered man that stood upon a hill. Moss Man. His thick hand ran across a nearby tree and he seemed captivated with it.
"Moss Man, I . . ."
She smiled, something she always did when she felt uncomfortable. He returned it, genuine and warm.
"Good to see you again."
"It's been a little while since the fight. Are the trees okay?"
"They are . . . recovering." Moss Man grunted and then took a breath. "I need you help."
"How so?"
"A being known as Evilseed is on the run. His powers are practically identical to mine. I need some back-up."
"And I'm the best one to help you?"
Moss Man stepped towards her. "Yes. The trees and the plants . . . they don't trust me after what happened. The younger ones don't, at least, and those are the ones I'm most worried about."
"Why?"
"Because I do not control plants. I rely on their trust in me."
"Why?"
"Because to control them is to take away their freedom. I only ask for their help and they only help if they want to."
Perfuma shrugged. "But . . . but that doesn't make any sense. The plants are creatures of freedom, yes, but isn't our place to guide them?"
Moss Man shook his head. "I . . . no. No, it's not our place."
Perfuma pretended not to really care. "Maybe things are just different on Eternia than here on Etheria, then."
The half-plant, half-man took a deep breath. "Listen, Perfuma, I need your help. Evilseed is dangerous to all plant-life on Eternia. With him running amok in the Evergreen Forest, that leaves Castle Grayskull and the Swamp of Enchantment vulnerable to an attack. That will put Eternia in danger, and will most likely spread to Etheria. I need your help."
Perfuma pondered it, but knew the answer immediately. "Yes. Yes, I'll help."
"Good. However, I have one condition. You are not to control the plants. Instead, ask them to help you."
Perfuma blinked, unsure as to just what he meant. "Uh . . . okay. But what makes you think they'll trust me when they don't trust you?"
"Because they only know me. They know you only as an alien. They're more willing to forgive an alien who didn't know any better than their protector who messed up."
Perfuma tapped her chin. "I suppose that makes sense, then."
"Good. Ready to go?"
"Ready."
Moss Man retrieved his communicator. "Gwildor, this is Moss Man. Open the portal, we're good to go."
-----------------
As soon as they entered the forest, there was definite change. The distrust for Moss Man was still there, but with Perfuma at his side, there seemed to also be a sense of immediate calm. It didn't seem to make much sense, and when Moss Man turned to Perfuma to ask her about it, he could see she wasn't the least bit concerned at all.
So he forgot about it and just kept walking.
"This place is so different than Etheria," she noted, fingers grazing across a tree.
"Yes."
"But the plants are just as beautiful," she added.
Moss Man grinned. "We're very much a like, you and I."
Perfuma grinned in return, the light that shined through the canopy of the forest, came across her pale, lovely face. "I suppose we are."
"Back with a friend, I see!"
The pair jerked over and saw Evilseed sitting up in a tree. The tree was mangled, a misshapen hulk of what it once was. Moss Man could hear its moans of pain and discomfort and blocked it out. Perfuma heard it as well and just wanted it to stop completely.
"Perfuma, aren't you?" questioned Evilseed. "Such a beauty you are! You and I could get a lot of work done if we joined forces, you know?"
Evilseed dropped down from his perch, grinning fiercely. Moss Man launched forward, thorns appearing on his fists. Moss Man made to punch him, but Evilseed dodged it just in time.
"Talk to them!" shouted Moss Man.
"Yes, my dear," Evilseed cooed towards Perfuma. He slammed his palm against Moss Man's chest, sending the hero into a huge bush. The bush suddenly surrounded Moss Man, holding tightly against his body, keeping him bond.
"Talk to them, he told you. Go ahead. Do it," Evilseed continued. "Do you even know how?"
Perfuma just stood there, looking dazed and confused, eyes darting between the mangled tree, Evilseed, and the trapped Moss Man.
"I don't . . ." she started.
"Are you like me?" he questioned. "Do you know how and just don't want to? Do you just like to ignore them?"
He hand gestured to the tree. The tree groaned and yelled out as Evilseed twisted and turned, playing chaos with its branches and trunk.
"STOP IT! STOP IT!" yelled Perfuma, face growing angry. Her hands outstretched, palms out and flat. A wispy, glittery glow flowed from her hands and circled around Evilseed. Evilseed, shocked by this, was suddenly overgrown with hundreds of roses.
"What is this?!" he roared, yanking them off. It kept him distracted long enough to allow Moss Man to be free.
"What did you do?" questioned Moss Man.
"She annoyed me!" snarled Evilseed, and he came bursting out from the roses, fast as a jackrabbit.
Moss Man extended his fingers, creating branches out of them. He rammed them into Evilseed, throwing him backwards. Perfuma sprouted daisies all around Evilseed then.
"Even of this! I am finished with you!" yelled Evilseed. "Next we face each other, I shall be more powerful than either of you combined!"
He began to sink then, into the dirt and ground. Moss Man could feel his command over the plants in the area weaken. He put his hands to his knees and sighed heavily. He then turned to Perfuma, whose hands were gently resting on the mangled tree.
"Hush, now, it's alright. I'm going to relax you," she said-sung to the tree.
Moss Man stood in shock as she commanded the tree, but was even more shocked when he found that the tree wanted to do as she commanded. Almost like . . . Perfuma was it's master or leader. It didn't make much sense. For the nearly eight hundred years Moss Man held his post, never before had a tree surrendered its freewill to someone of her nature.
The tree relaxed then and assumed it's rightful shape and form. A sound like a sigh of relief was heard.
"You're different than me," Moss Man told her.
Perfuma smiled as if this were no big surprise. "Of course we are. Is it not obvious? You're a man, I'm a woman. I have flesh, you have leaves. I'm from Etheria, you're from Eternia."
Moss Man grinned just a little. "No, no. It's not that. It's . . . Perfuma, our powers. Our abilities. They're different. They're very different. I . . . I have never seen a tree act that way towards anyone commanding it before. I don't understand."
Perfuma shrugged. "I don't understand either. It's just what I've been doing all of my life. I tell them what to do and they do it. I've never had to ask."
"It's strange."
Once more, Perfuma shrugged.
At that moment, a telepathic voice rang in. It was the voice of Tullamore, the Treeperchuan that took care of Skytree.
Faith and begora! Tullamore exclaimed telepathically. You two need to come to Skytree immediately!
-----------------
After they landed, both Moss Man and Perfuma rushed to Tullamore and Skytree. "What is it?" questioned Moss Man. "What has happened?"
"We know what Evilseed is after," spoke Skytree.
"You can talk?" gasped Perfuma. "You are amazing!"
Skytree made a noise like laughing. "I am the oldest, wisest and most powerful of all the trees on Eternia!" Skytree declared. "Of course I can talk!"
"I am very honored, then," Perfuma replied, "to be here, at your roots"
Skytree laughed. "The honor is me, beautician, but we most be hasty as we speak. Foul things are about to unfold. Moss Man, you know of course, of Rose Mountain and the Bitter Rose."
"Yes. Why?"
"Evilseed seeks the Bitter Rose. Should he find it and take it for his own, all of Rose Mountain will be his."
Perfuma blinked, not in understanding. "I'm confused. What's Rose Mountain? What's the Bitter Rose?"
"No time to explain it now. I'll fill you in on the way. Many thanks and we part from you now, Skytree, eld of the trees."
"Good journey, guardian and beautician," expressed Skytree.
Those words - 'guardian' and 'beautician' - remained with the pair as they rushed to the Wind Raider.
Once airborne, Moss Man took the time to explain the story of the Bitter Rose to Perfuma. "Hundreds of years ago," he opened, "a goddess loved a warrior. When the warrior vanished during a great war, the goddess cried. Her tears formed into the Bitter Rose and it stood on the top of Rose Mountain ever since. Until two years ago . . ."
"What happened then?"
Moss Man smiled. "Orko happened." Perfuma laughed a little, then allowed Moss Man to continue. "His girlfriend enjoyed the story of the Bitter Rose so much, Orko went to pluck it. When he did, all of Rose Mountain began to crumble and the Bitter Rose began to die. To stop the quaking, Orko and his girlfriend Dree-Ell returned the Bitter Rose. The love between Orko and Dree-Ell brought the Rose back to life, and the goddess was satisfied by all this. Rose Mountain became covered in beautiful roses. The goddess that tended the mountain was fulfilled and vanished. However . . . the Bitter Rose is still there, at the top of the mountain. Should Evilseed control it, his power shall grow tenfold. We need to keep him away from it. His power to control plants is limited as far as range is concerned due to the nature of the Bitter Rose. He needs to be defeated before he can get too close to it."
Perfuma nodded and readjusted her big, froofy hat. "Do you have plan?"
Moss Man began to grin, a few ideas forming themselves rather quickly in his mind. "Yes. Yes, I do. It'll be risky, but it's the best way to stop him. Listen carefully . . ."
-----------------
Nearly an hour later . . .
Evilseed was getting close. He could sense it. The mountain's peek was one turn along the path away, and a quick scurry up the top and there it would be. He came around the bend, then, and stopped dead in his tracks. A huge wall of green was blocking his way; towering bushes that stood high into the air.
"What is this?" he demanded.
Suddenly, the bushes moved and yanked him into them. He was tangled and ensnared by these plants, held one way and then another. Evilseed's face was pushed through the other side, where he saw who was responsible.
"How ya doin'?" asked Perfuma, smiling widely and stupidly.
"YOU!? How did you get up here so fast?!"
"We flew, silly," Perfuma replied matter-of-factly. "Why didn't you?"
"Be silent and release me! Do so and I shall share my power with you!" His eyes looked past her and at the large, beautiful rose that sat just beyond her . . . and just out of his reach.
"Oh, no thank you. But you know what? I'll share something with you!" As soon as Perfuma said that, a big, wet daisy appeared on Evilseed's lips.
Evilseed was then suddenly drawn back into the bushes, which continued to throw and move him around. Perfuma waited impatiently, knowing it would not hold him long. She begged and hoped and pleaded that Moss Man was doing the right thing.
-----------------
Moss Man entered into the edge of the Evergreen Forest and felt the now all too familiar sense of distrust. The word of his apparent betrayal was reaching more and more and even the ones that had once been willing to forgive him were changing their green and brown little minds. But it didn't matter. Not too much.
"Listen to me and hear me well," he told the plants and trees and the like. His words, he made sure, were carried in every way possible and with as much as swiftness as the forest could muster.
"You do not trust me and I suppose I understand that. In the eight hundred years I have protected you, herded you, and guarded you - I betrayed it all in a matter of eight seconds. I did something wrong - I took advantage of you. I was not in the right frame of mind, but I suppose that means nothing to you.
"I have come to tell you that I am not here for your forgiveness. I am hear to tell that all of you have the same enemy as I do. The enemy named Evilseed."
There was shudder and a feeling like subtle fury from all around him. Now, his words were reaching very far because many were interested. This was good.
"Yes, Evilseed, who would control you and use you in ways that I would never do. You know this. You know this, say true, because no matter what I have done, he has done worse. So, I am giving you the chance to show him your power. Your true power. Give him vengeance! Give him revenge!"
All of the trees and plants rattled with fury and anger and excitement. They were willing and he knew it. He asked the right questions in ways that could not be spoken. Now . . . it was up to Perfuma to let them loose.
-----------------
The barrier of bushes rippled and exploded. Evilseed emerged snarling. Perfuma ran towards him, but was smacked away. She fell to the ground (just as she planned).
"No more," snickered Evilseed and he made for the Bitter Rose. It glowed as he neared it.
As he came ever closer to it, however, Perfuma spoke with the roses. They had heard the words of Moss Man and felt great fury towards this enemy. Perfuma asked them if they wanted to give into the rage and the roses said yes, and the roses asked for the proper command. Perfuma gave it to them.
"Mine at last!" cried Evilseed. His fingers reached for the rose that was made from the brokenhearted goddess's tears.
They never reached it.
The roses all around him sprung up and grabbed him. Evilseed fell to the ground and the roses wrapped their throned, long steams around him. He was suddenly dragged away from the Bitter Rose, kicking and pulling and screaming. By his side was Perfuma, who was carried by the roses alongside.
"What's wrong? Can't control them?" she asked with smile.
He didn't reply, but it was true. He couldn't.
"You're probably wondering why I'm allowed to control them and you're not. Do you know why? Because I'm supposed to. It's my job to, not yours. Keep that in mind. They like me better."
In no time, Evilseed was brought to the bottom of Rose Mountain, which was mere feet away from the Evergreen Forest. Moss Man stood at the edges.
"They want their revenge," he told Evilseed.
Evilseed could sense the fury and anger and rage in the trees and the plants. He sensed it and felt afraid.
"How? They can not release it."
"Yes they can," Perfuma replied, who was standing next to Evilseed - who was in turn still wrapped up in roses. "We figured it out. Moss Man's a protector of the plants and trees. Me? I'm a leader. And as a leader, I am telling the trees and the plants of the Evergreen Forest to exact their incredible rage against you."
"Why will they listen to you? Moss Man!" cried Evilseed. "You allow her to command the plants and not I? Not yourself?"
Moss Man smiled. "You're not listening, are you? She's not the same as you or me. Perfuma isn't a protector and nor is she a caretaker. She's a queen. A queen of flowers - and whether on Eternia or Etheria, that still stands. And right now, as a queen of flowers, she had commanded the Evergreen Forest to repay you for all the damage you've done to them."
"Lest we forget, Moss Man, you did them damage too!"
"Yes, but not nearly as much as you did."
And with that, huge branches came lurching out of the Evergreen Forest and pulled him in. The trees and the plants waved and rippled. Evilseed shouted and yelled for the longest time as he was punished in ways incommunicable by those that he cared for so little about.
"So," Perfuma began, "what are you going to do now?"
"Let the forest deal with him for a while and call for back-up. In an hour or two, we'll get him locked up back at Eternos. The fight should be pretty much out of him by then. You'll need to stick around until then, I'm sorry."
She smiled at him and threw her arm around his mossy shoulder. He smiled back.
"No problem," Perfuma returned and giggled. "Mossy, ol' boy, I'd say we've planted the seeds for a beautiful friendship!"
