3: Venus McFlytrap:

Nothing is underestimated more so than a plant. People know to fear sharks and snakes and spiders, but in actuality one species of plant kills more people every year than all three animals combined. Of course, tobacco is a slow acting killer, but it is a killer nonetheless. Most monster hunter view plant monsters much the way you might view an exotic flower. Elusive, fascinating, pretty, have unique properties and uses, but not very monster-like. (Not dangerous) I'm going to say it here and now: they are call plant monsters, not nature spirits, for a reason.

I won't deny that I am enamored by the mystery of plant monsters. They are highly diverse in both shape and ability and very little is truly known about them. This mystery and elusiveness presents a danger in and of itself. You already know that my associate, Mrs. Crabgrass is a plant monster. She does have the fascinating ability to shape-shift using a special pollen, but other than that she is a downright bore. This spritely young sprout is much more exciting when it comes to my personal studies.

You've probably figured out by now than I hold mental abilities in a very high regard. Therefore, it should come as no surprise to you that mind control is the primary reason this monster is ranked so high. But it would be unfair of me to claim mind control is powerful without properly backing it up. There are, of course, different forms of mind control, so I will solely focus on Ms. McFlytrap's pollens of persuasion. When people think of mind control, they often think of being forced to do actions against their will. While there are powers like that out there, those are more of what I like to think of as body control, not mind control. Pollen of persuasion is true mind control in that the affected has no idea that they are under the influence of mind control. That is why it is referred to as persuasion. Do not be fooled by the innocent name, this is more dangerous than force of will. The only real way to realize you've been mind controlled is to think back and question your own actions, then piece together the most logical explanation. This is why, so I've been told by Crabgrass, that Ms. McFlytrap probably uses her pollens much more often than she gets caught. Now, this pollen does have its limits. For one, it does not have lasting effects. Its influence can range from a few minutes to a few hours depending. (Bare in mind, young hunter, that it only takes a few seconds to pull a trigger or step off a cliff.) Another limit is that the victim has to be close enough to her to be within range of the pollen, and it typically only affects one person at a time. Now, as it happens, the pollen can affect a group, but usually only when released on instinct and the effects last merely for a few seconds. (As a side note, it is rumored that this pollen ability is part of why plant monsters have become so rare: any fool would pay to have mind control, and there are many who would be happy to take up the hunt.)

As if mind control wasn't enough, Ms. McFlytrap has the power of will over most lesser plants. She can cause vines to grow at a rapid pace as well as control their actions. The same goes for a number of other plans, but none that appear to have a strong sense f will. Trees, for instance, are unaffected by her influence. And I know what you're thinking right now. 'Oh, no, how scary! She can grow flowers really fast! Whatever shall we do?' Trust me, you won't be making fun of her when trapped in a chokehold by twenty vines, lethargic from poison, and being chewed on by a lesser monster plant. And as opposed to the short range ability of the pollen, this control over floral life has a far-reaching effect.

Furthermore, most plant monsters have the ability to communicate with plants of all kinds. This adds on the abilities already mentioned for Jane Boolittle, except plants rarely have any reason not to help a plant monster. (What I mean to say is that they don't hold loyalties the way a guard dog might.) They can also, sometimes, communicate with Mother Nature herself. This might not sound like much, but it is the equivalent of infinite knowledge of the natural world. Of course, Mother Nature is a deity and chooses to or not to respond and inform. I have questioned Crabgrass about this, but she claims that Mother Nature has never spoken to her. I don't know if I believe her…

Finally, there is the plan't monsters' literal sixth sense. Scientists are not entirely sure how it works, but plants can locate the sun and water sources from any given point. This sense is referred to as tropism. Crabgrass tells me that tropism carries out in some plant monsters, but not all. It is unconfirmed weather or not Venus has this sense, but the chances are high.

And all of that is just supernatural ability. One trait that I see repeated in many plant monsters is a high level of stubbornness. Even Crabgrass, though she usually reverts to being sulky rather than proactive. Point being, Mrs. McFlytrap has a strong sense of self, is very willful, and won't hesitate to take up action. All admirable qualities, but aggravating for my cause. Crabgrass has also noted that she is very clever and works well in tight situations. Crud. What happened to the mindless teen stereotype? I could use a few of those.

As much as I've played up this young plant monster, she still is not the most powerful monster at MH. You see, as powerful as she may be, there is a weakness to most plant monsters: Cold. Most plants go into a dormant state during the winter and come back in the spring, much like hibernation. Cold climates often make plant monsters tired and sluggish. If gets to cold (-20F and below), their bodies will start to shut down and go into the dormant state. It's great for survival in the natural world, but in modern times it is merely a hindrance. Cold isn't the only method, there have been many defensive tools invented by monster hunters, but I haven't the time to list them all. Speaking of cold, I believe that leads us to our next monster...

Holy crap this one was long. There was just a lot to it I guess. I actually did do some research on the plant itself, but chose not to include speculations because they would be unconfirmed. I'll put them here just for fun. The venus flytrap is a semi aquatic plant and can survive up to a month submerged in water, so I imagine that Venus can hold her breath for a long stretch of time, say, an hour. Also, after trapping a fly, the plat takes approximately 48 hours to digest it. It is confirmed that Venus drinks a lot more water than most monsters and that she uses photosynthesis, but being a monster she still eats. I think it would make sense if she only had to eat every two days. But that's all just creative speculation. ;)

Anyway, thank you to all who commented! We're finally in the top three!

Till Next Time,

RainStorm