PvZH Bye-Bye L.E.A.F

Chapter 9

Night fell as the three plants lay huddled together, fearing what was going to happen next. Solar Flare was still shivering as she held onto her friends tightly. Green Shadow hoped that Crazy Dave had gotten that flat fixed and was on his way. She softly brushed Solar Flare's pale petals back as she watched the dark tent. Grass Knuckles was keeping watch, holding Solar Flare close.

Just then a man walked in and opened the cage door.

"The show's about to begin. We need the flower."

Green Shadow and Grass Knuckles glared at him and held onto her tighter.

"I said, we need the flower."

Grass Knuckles only glared at him as he called three other men over.

Two men went inside the cage and held down Green Shadow and Grass Knuckles.

Green Shadow struggled to get the man off of her as she watched Solar Flare get taken away.

"NO! STOP! She's too weak!" Grass Knuckles shouted out.

"She's not weak. She'll do what we say."

The men quickly released Green Shadow and Grass Knuckles before exiting the cage.

Grass Knuckles stood up and rammed against the bars, trying to break them, only to be sprayed with water.

"We don't break the bars, do we?"

Grass Knuckles backed up and clenched his fists.

Green Shadow could see that the two men had never left, they were standing guard.

---

Immorticia and Brain Freeze sat down on a bench, waiting for the show to begin.

"Ok, remember, we want to wow the crowd. Then after, we go and free the others."

Brain Freeze tilted his head, almost if asking "are you sure?"

Immorticia got up and held her wand.

"It just feels like the right thing to do. I don't know why."

A man then came in with Solar Flare following behind him. She looked nothing like her old self. Her once green leaves resembled more of a pale mint green, and her petals were wilting and a grayish yellow.

Immorticia knew a lot about Solar Flare, and one of the things was that she hated cold water. If Solar Flare was hit with water it would take a while for her to get back on her feet. She needed sunlight, and lots of it.

"Show starts in five minutes. You two are up first." The manager said, pointing to Immorticia and Brain Freeze.

Immorticia nodded and looked at Solar Flare.

"Are you ok?"

Solar Flare nodded.

"I-I'm Fine. I j-just got wet. "I'll be fine."

Immorticia frowned and knelt down.

"You're not fine. I know that much."

Solar Flare shivered as she nodded.

"Alright, enough chitter chatter." The manager stepped in between the two.

"Sir, she cannot be in the show. She's not well."

The manager looked at Solar Flare.

"She looks fine to me."

"But you don't understand! She's sick!"

The manager glared at Immorticia.

"And what do you know?"

Immorticia pointed her wand at him.

"I know more than you do."

The manager glared before hearing the stage music.

"It's time."

---

Green Shadow wrung out her cape as she glared at the two men. The water that they were spraying was freezing cold.

Green Shadow didn't know how many times Solar Flare was sprayed, but it must have been a lot.

As soon as she heard the music she edged closer to the bars.

"The show's starting." Grass Knuckles mumbled.

"Yeah." Green Shadow sighed.

The two plants sat down and watched the two men as they guarded the cage.

"This is hopeless. We're never going to escape." Grass Knuckles whispered.

Green Shadow looked up and sighed.

"Dave, where are you?"

---

Immorticia and Brain Freeze finished up quickly, getting backstage and out of sight.

"Alright Brain Freeze, go and free the other plants. I'll cast a spell on Solar Flare."

Brain Freeze was about to object when Immorticia raised her wand at him.

"Do it. I know it's not like us to help the plants, but I feel like we have to."

Brain Freeze nodded and ran off.

Immorticia turned to Solar Flare and was about to cast a spell when her arm was grabbed.

"What do you think you're doing?" The manager hissed.

Immorticia struggled to get her arm free.

"I'm just trying to help her. You don't understand!"

The manager yanked the wand away from Immorticia as she watched helplessly.

"Fire Flower! You're up."

Solar Flare whimpered before slowly going out on stage, facing hundreds of people. Tears begin rolling down her cheeks as she backed up.

She couldn't do it. She couldn't summon any fire, let alone fly away.

"Hey, what's up with this flower?"

"Do something!"

The crowd started shouting as Solar Flare looked at the manager, only to be met with a face full of water. Solar Flare hit the floor hard, her sight was blurry as she struggled to stand. Her hearing was blurry as well.

What was she even hearing? Screams? Cries? She didn't know as she was sprayed again.

---

Green Shadow heard the sound of someone running towards the cage as she and Grass Knuckles looked out.

The men also looked and backed up before running away.

"RAPID YETI!" One of them screamed out.

A gray figure ran towards them and pried the bars open.

"Brain Freeze? Is that you?" Grass Knuckles asked.

Ice was blasted at the two chains, breaking them instantly.

"It's him. Let's go." Green Shadow ordered.

The two ran to the stage area to find Solar Flare on the ground, not moving.

"No...". Green Shadow covered her mouth.

"FLARE!" Grass Knuckles shouted out.

"She'll be fine. She was just knocked out." The manager said calmly.

Green Shadow ran onto the stage and held Solar Flare close.

"FLARE! FLARE PLEASE!" Green Shadow cried out.

Solar Flare didn't respond. Her breathing was shallow and short as Green Shadow held her close.

Immorticia picked up her wand and pointed it at the manager.

"You are dead."

Brain Freeze growled and watched as Grass Knuckles approached Green Shadow and Solar Flare.

"Is she-"

"I DON'T KNOW!" Green Shadow shouted out.

Grass Knuckles picked her up and carried her backstage as a man ran to the manager.

"Some crazy guy with a pot on his head as demanding entrance. Should I call the police?"

The manager was about to speak but couldn't.

Immorticia and Brain Freeze quickly ushered the plants outside where Crazy Dave ran to them.

("GUYS! I'm sorry I'm late. There were no tires at the station I was at, so-"). Crazy Dave stopped when he noticed Solar Flare.

"Dave... we need help." Green Shadow sobbed out.

Crazy Dave picked up Solar Flare.

("What happened?")

Immorticia walked over to them.

"Get her into the heat at once."

Crazy Dave nodded and ran back to Penny. Green Shadow and Grass Knuckles followed after him quickly.

Penny started up and drove off, leaving Immorticia and Brain Freeze alone.

Immorticia picked up her communicator.

"They got away. It's your turn now Rustbolt. Don't screw this up."

---

Solar Flare was wrapped up in a blanket as Crazy Dave drove down the long lonely highway. Green Shadow and Grass Knuckles lay next to her for extra warmth. A small bit of color was starting to return back as Grass Knuckles slept.

Green Shadow lay awake, listening to the low hum of the radio playing Somewhere Over the Rainbow. She didn't know what to do, she just held Solar Flare close and listened to the music.