Chapter 18 Plant Problems.

After learning where the gem would be located the party set off towards it immediately, Naofumi had argued that they should get the shop keeper but Malty had argued that they should be able to find it without her, Malty had studied magical stones because she remembered this particular plot point and so they had set off to the mines.

Malty wanted to get this plot point over as soon as possible because she was pretty sure that the other three heroes had made the same blunders they did in the anime, so she wanted to get this done with as quickly as possible so they could deal with those blunders.

They quickly made there way through the mines with each of them holding a torch Malty had made for them with her magic and they quickly found something that proved Malty's theory, the stone case that contained the Miracle seed, Malty cursed to herself as Rishia read the stone plac, she already knew what was in it so she wasn't paying attention.

After that they continued to move deeper and deeper into the mine until finally they encountered their first obstacle the bats, they were surrounded by darkness and started to hear each others voices, Malty had to admit she was somewhat curious what she would hear and from the darkness she heard:

''I really hate Malty''

''Malty's such a bitch''

'Oh, so that's it' Malty thought 'I'm sure it's much harsher on the others but I already know what's happening so, meh, just sounds like schoolyard insults an overcompensating bully would sling' shrugging she then called out into the darkness, everyone tune it out, it's just a couple of Voice Gengar's don't listen to it!'' She then held out her hands and formed a small fireball in them ''lets light everything up'' Malty then threw the fireball into the air where it burst into flash of light illuminating the dark.

From that point it was easy for Malty and Eclair to cut down the bat monsters, after Naofumi gathered the materials the group gathered in a circle.

''Is everyone ok?'' Malty asked, everyone either nodded or affirmed that they were alright.

''What was that?'' Naofumi asked.

''Voice Gengar's'' stated Eclair.

''What?'' Naofumi asked.

''A kind of bat monster, they can replicate voices and they use that to their advantage mostly by luring you away or turning you on your comrades'' Eclair explained ''and that's what they were doing''

''Yeah, don't worry about anything you heard Naofumi because it wasn't true'' stated Rihsia.

''D-does that mean you won't get rid of me mama?'' Filo asked.

''Of course not, it's like Eclair said, it was those bats understand, me and your father would never get rid of you, right Naofumi'' said Malty shooting a glare at Naofumi.

Naofumi flinched taking an involuntary step back ''y-yeah of course not'' he said.

Malty blushed afterwards as she realised what she just did 'ok, I might be getting into this a little too much, gotta pull back slightly' she thought to herself.

The party continued on through the cave until they reached the main cavern where they saw the Nue.

''Oh, that's a New which could be a problem'' stated Eclair.

''Why, is it powerful?'' Naofumi asked.

''Yeah, I never fought one in the arena, but I saw a few fighting in the arena, they're quite deadly, especially due to their very sensitive hearing and they're snake tails, they're impossible to sneak up on and they can easily keep you at a distance'' Fohl explained.

''Not to worry everyone'' smirked Malty ''I know exactly how to beat'' this caused them all to turn to her ''Naofumi you got a new shield from the Voice Gengar's didn't you?''

''Yeah I did'' he said showing his new megaphone shield.

''Alright we're going to use it to our advantage'' Malty grinned ''Fohl, Atla, you two sit this one out because it's going to get pretty loud, now me, Eclair and Rihsia will get its attention and draw it here, when we do Filo I want you to scream into that as loud and you can''

''Ok Mama'' nodded Filo.

''Wait, what about us?'' Rishia asked.

''We should be ok'' said Malty with a shurg ''probably''

''Probably!'' Rishia cried.

''Hush Rishia, it might hear you'' Eclair chilled ''I'll admit I'm a little skeptical on this plan due to that little detail, but I think it's a good plan and it's probably the easiest way to beat the Nue''

''Well… ok fine, I agree it's a good plan and the best way to beat the Nue quickly and easily'' Rishia begrudgingly admitted.

''If it makes you feel any better we'll try and jump out of the way when Filo screams'' said Malty.

''Ok then'' said Rishia.

With the plan set the three strode towards the Nue, the stones one the cavern floor crunching with every step which woke up the Nue, its eyes flickered open and swivelled in the direction of the crunching sound, as it saw them

leapt up with an animalistic roar and began charing towards them, following through with the plan the three turned and ran in the opposite direction with the Nue following, until they got in range ''now!'' Malty cried.

Naofumi and Filo then ran in with the Shield ready, the girls jumped out of the way as Filo screamed into the megaphone looking shield, the Nue screamed in pain as blood burst out of its ears, the monster started to thrash around in pain as Malty, Eclair and Rishia charged forwards and stabbed their swords into the monsters ribs and belly killing it.

''Wow, that worked like a charm, but everyone ok?'' Naofumi asked ''anyone need healing?''

''I'm good, anyone else?'' Malty asked.

''I'm ok, Rishia?'' Eclair asked.

''I can hear, so I'm good, I was really worried I was going to go deaf with that plan'' Rishia said.

''Sorry Rishia, but don't worry, I don't think we're ever going to have to do that again'' said Malty.

''Oh wow!'' Filo cheered, she, Atla and Fohl were looking at the crystals, Fohl was carrying a pickaxe to harvest the crystal they needed.

Once they harvested the crystal they brought it back to the shop where Filo stared to imbue the thread with magic, afterwards they took it to the tailor who happily took the threads and after a whole night of sewing a tired tailor, with large bags under her eyes, presented Filo to the party who all smiled as they saw Filo who looked like she did in the anime.

''Wow'' smiled Naofumi ''you did a really great job''

''I know right!'' the tailor cheered ''I went all out to bring out the very best, I went with white and blue to complement her features and I added plenty of frills to add to her fathers''

''Ok, let me get your payment'' said Naofumi ''you did a really great job, Filo looks really great''

''Yay!'' Filo cheered transforming.

''Filo don't transform inside!'' Malty scolded.

''Sorry mama'' she said.

''Eee! Even on a monster it looks adorable!'' The tailor squealed ''don't you agree with me mother, doesn't your daughter look adorable!''

''Yes she is, isn't she'' Malty smiled.

A couple of days after they got the crystal to make Filo's dress the party was on the road again the merchant had given them a job, to deliver pesticide to a small town and Malty knew exactly why they needed so much, currently she and Naofumi were sat inside the wagon with Atla and Fohl looking over the pesticide while Eclair and Rishia sat at the front with Filo.

''I wonder what town needs so much pesticide'' Naofumi mused as they drove.

'The one that trusts the spear idiot to solve their problems' Malty thought.

''Mama, Papa, the plants here are amazing!'' Filo cheered from the front.

'We're here' Malty thought to herself as she and Naofumi moved to the front of the wagon to see a village covered in vines.

''Ok, yeah I can see why they need this much pesticide, what happened here?'' Naofumi asked.

''We're coming up on some kind of wall'' said Rishia ''that's probably where the request came from''

When they finally made it to the wall Naofumi stood up and called out ''hello! Is anyone there? We're here to deliver your pesticide!'' With that the door opened and they entered the wall, once inside they were greeted by the village leader as well as several people who helped to offload the pesticide.

''Thank you so much for delivering the pesticide'' he said with a bow ''any longer and this place would have fallen to the vines too''

''Have you tried any other solutions, burning them for example?'' Naofumi asked.

''We've tried everything we could think of'' said the village leader ''we've even hired adventurers but the situation has remained the same, our village had already been completely overrun by the vines but then it got worse as the plants turned into monsters and started to attack us, this our last haven''

Suddenly a cry rang out ''what was that?'' Atla asked.

''Those were the adventurers, weren't they'' said Malty.

''Yes, they left to level up'' stated the village leader ''I tried to stop them, but…''

''Don't worry we've got it handled, Filo go find those adventurers and bring them back here'' Naofumi ordered.

''Wes paw-wa'' said Filo her words muffled because she was having a feed, she stopped to rush off into the vine covered village, she returned 5 minutes later carrying the adventurers with her wings only now many were staring at her and whispering ''these guys went out there when they're super weak''

''Even if that's true you shouldn't say things like that out loud'' said Eclair.

''Urg, fine red vegetable lady'' grumbled Filo.

''Red vegetable!'' Eclair cried.

''Filo don't talk to Eclair like that'' ordered Malty sternly.

''Yes Mama'' said Filo.

''E-exscuse me sir, are you the saviour of the Heavenly Fowl?'' The village leader asked.

''Umm'' Naofumi hesitated for a moment ''yeah I guess I've been called that, I'm also the Shield Hero'' Naofumi then changed the legendary shield to its regular form ''and if I can help you in any way I will help you, just tell me how''

''Than could you please use your powers to heal our sick'' the village leader pleaded.

''You have sick?'' Naofumi asked.

''Yes, follow me'' said the village leader leading them to a tent they had set up ''at first we thought the plants turning into monsters was the worst of it, but a day later was saw that it wasn't, something awful happened'' entering the tent they saw the awful thing he was referring to ''as you can see the plants are devouring their bodies and we have no idea what to do to help them''

Naofumi quickly went to the side of one of the sick, a child, kneeling down next to them Naofumi frowned ''I don't know if I can heal them, but lets see'' Naofumi looked over the child and gave them a potion but it didn't seem to work, then his eyes widened ''get me some of the pesticide!'' Rishia quickly ran out of the tent and in a minute brought back a bottle of the pesticide, Naofumi quickly dowsed the child with the pesticide and the vines turning them black before they crumbled and turned to dust ''we're not done yet, get me five bottles lets say and if that isn't enough get me five more bottles''

It took an hour and thirty bottles of pesticide for Naofumi to dowse all the victims with pesticide, afterwards Naofumi, Malty and Eclair had a meeting with the village leader and two other men, while Rishia directed and managed the offload of the pesticide with the help of Filo and Fohl and Atla was sat in the wagon.

''Alright, we're here to help, we'll take care of the vines but I need to know how this happened, just so we can try and prevent this from happening in the future, I doubt anyone wants something like this to happen again, did some kind of plant monster appear? Is this the results of a curse from a long time ago? What happened essentially?'' Naofumi asked.

'Spear idiot happened' Malty thought to herself.

''Our village had been suffering, our crops hadn't been growing and we didn't have enough money to buy food, but one day the Spear Hero came to our village as he was passing by, we pleaded for his help and one of his companions seemed to know of a solution to help us, he returned a day later with something he called a Miracle Seed'' the village leader explained.

''Didn't we come across stone casket that talked about something like that in the cave?'' Eclair asked.

''Yeah, I'm pretty sure we did!'' said Naofumi.

''You most likely did, there's an old legend that an alchemist created it, but it was too dangerous and so the alchemist sealed it away'' explained the village leader.

''Wait, you had a legend that it was dangerous right? So why did you take it?'' Naofumi questioned, to which the village leader and the two people following him wilted, Naofumi let out a long sigh ''let me guess, you convinced yourselves it would be alright since the seed was given to you by a hero'' Naofumi sighed ''look I get you were desperate, I really do, but if you knew that seed was dangerous you shouldn't have taken it, we're not gods or anything were people capable of making mistakes just like you, just keep that in mind for the future and don't worry because me and my party will fix this''

With that the party grabbed some pesticide and then headed off to solve the problem, following the vines they were soon able to find the main body, they did meet with some interference but nothing they couldn't quickly handle, they now all stood in front of the Bioplant, Naofumi had his shield in Chimera Viper Shield form, Malty had taken out her axe deciding it was best to fight this monster, Eclair had drawn his sword, Rishia was ready to cast magic, Fohl was wearing his gauntlets and Filo was in bird form.

''Alright, looks like that's the main body'' said Naofumi ''and it looks like that eye is its weak spot''

''I'll destroy it papa!'' Filo chirped before charging forwards.

''Filo wait!'' Malty cried.

The Bioplant vine tendrils shot towards Filo, Filo dodged out of the way of the vines which then lashed out at the rest of the party, Naofumi and Fohl blocked pushing the attacks away with there weapons, Malty and Eclair dodged slashing the vines with there weapons and Rishia fired magic at the vines cutting them with wind.

''Filo we can't just rush in we need to strategise, Malty, Eclair Fohl with me, Rishia get on Filo'' Naofumi ordered ''we'll attack from the front, while we're distracting it you two get close and dowse the eye with pesticide''

The group then charged the Bioplant which lashed its tendrils at them, which the group blocked and dodged and cut the tendrils, while they did Filo darted forwards.

''Alright Filo let's do this'' said Rishia.

''Just don't hold me back Rishia'' said Filo.

''Hold you back!?'' Rishia exclaimed.

''Watch out!'' Naofumi cried as tendrils shot at them, Filo dodged but the tendrils caught Rishia, she gave cry as her skirt lifted for a brief moment, which Filo gave a little giggle at.

''Filo did you just laugh at me!'' Rishia cried.

''No of course not'' said Filo ''anyways just get out of there''

''I'm trying!'' Rishia cried pulling out the bottle of pesticide opening it the content spilled on the roots but it barely did anything, which gave Naofumi the inspiration he needed.

''New plan?'' Eclair asked.

''Yeah, get ready'' said Naofumi walking forwards.

''Naofumi wait!'' Rishia cried.

The Bioplant's tendrils shot out and wrapped around Naofumi, but the Shield glowed and the tendrils broke as Naofumi walked up to the Bioplant with a vile of pesticide in hand, he then opened the bottle and poured it on the roots, which caused the Bioplant to scream as it started withering dropping Rishia in the pocess.

''Wow, you're so cool papa!'' Filo cheered.

''So that's the Shield Hero's power'' Fohl breathed in amazement.

As the Bioplant crumbled and died it sprayed seeds from its withering body ''quick we have to find those seeds before they grow!'' Naofumi cried.

''Teams of two, I'll take Filo'' said Malty.

''Yay!'' Filo cheered.

''I'll go with Rishia'' said Eclair.

''I guess that means I'm going with you Naofumi'' said Fohl.

The teams quickly spread out and searched for the seeds gathering them in baskets they had brought just incase something like this happened.

''You and Rishia did well out there'' said Malty.

''Y-you mean me right mama?'' Filo asked.

''No, I meant you and Rishia, but then again I did here you say you thought Rishia was holding you back'' said Malty 'I really hope I'm ready for what I'm about to do, because I've never done this before, not as a sister and not as a mother'

''W-well she was!'' Filo cried.

''It also seemed like and I hope I'm wrong, you let the plant capture her, did you?'' Malty asked inquisitorially.

''I- I did'' Filo said shifting a bit.

''No she wouldn't have and you can't say she would have alright you didn't even get a chance to work with her you just decided no and to throw her to the plant, you can't just act like it's all about you ok, it's not just you, me and your father in the field we all have to work together ok Filo'' said Malty.

''But why?'' Filo asked.

''Because we're a team and if we don't work together then one of us might die, alright, it's not just me and your father, but them, they're your aunts, uncles, brothers, sister, whatever you want to see them as they're part of your family too and they've been around a lot longer than you have little missy'' Malty scolded ''were all here for each other ok''

''Ok, mama, I'm sorry'' said Filo.

''Don't apologise to me, apologise to Rishia'' ordered Malty.

''I will mama, I promise'' said Filo, suddenly another Bioplant sprouted to full size before instantly wilting and dying ''oh no, is there another one?''

''No, it looks like your father is just experimenting with his new shield'' said Malty.

From there it all played out like the anime, they returned to the village with the good news, Filo apologised to Rishia as they sat around the fire, they went to bed and in the mourning Naofumi had used his new shield to alter the seeds, the only difference was Naofumi did give them the plant but he asked to take half of the fruit to spread the plant, they sold the fruits and seeds to the merchant for him to sell in different parts of the kingdom.

So there's the chapter, I'm sorry this took a while, I was spending time with family and yeah, so this took a bit longer to finish, but it is finished now so there.

Also I'd like to take this moment to say RIP Akira Toriyama, I didn't get into Dragon ball until way later on and even then it was more a 'eh I like it' enjoyment, that said he did influence many other works that I absolutely love and without his influence its arguable those works I absolutely love wouldn't exist and so I will always be grateful for that.