Distant Pond

What a coincidence! Hurriclover just asked me to help you, and here you are looking for me at the pond.

Good thing I've just reached shore. This island is in the middle of the ocean and very hard to find.

Halt! This factory belongs to CocoBottle Shine. Go back where you came from!

We're sorry to bother you. Do you know about a drink produced here called "The Pond"?

We mean no offense. Do you know about a drink produced here called "The Pond"?

Oh, the factory used to make that. Now it makes what I need instead. Why do you ask?

One of our friends needs a drink made here called "The Pond." Would you please...

No. The more liquid in my bottle, the better. I don't use that stuff anyway.

I don't mean to spoil your fun, but as I recall, this factory used to be unclaimed.

...None of your business. It's mine now, and there's nothing to discuss.

If there's truly no room for discussion, I'm afraid we'll have to resort to less-than-friendly measures.

You want a fight? Unless you can beat me into submission, forget it! No deal!

Dodder, have you finished what I asked?

Everything's ready. It just needs to be set up.

But will this really work? We don't even know when CocoBottle Shine will come back.

You lot! Behold my champion: enormous and a master with a fishing rod! Dare to face him?

You got here fast. Just in time.

We've been waiting a long time, too. I hope you'll keep your promise once the fight is over.

We're ready, too. Just make good on your promise after this fight, okay?

Honey Bamboo, what's the plan this time? Have CD-shroom analyze the composition of his liquid?

Honey Bamboo, got a plan this time? How about having Lightning Reed electrify the pond?

Analyzing it sounds like a pain. Let's just have Lightning Reed shock the pond.

That wouldn't be good for the environment. Why not have CD-shroom analyze the liquid in his bottle?

Electrifying the pond won't affect the liquid inside his bottle, and it's bad for the environment. I think we should ask Hygro Plantago to help.

Analyzing its composition wouldn't actually help. Our best option now is to ask Hygro Plantago for help.

Oh, right! The stuff inside his bottle is liquid, too.

He's already spread all kinds of liquids across the field. You just need to keep absorbing them.

Also, his bottle isn't completely sealed. See if you can absorb the liquid inside it.

Come and fight me! This time, I've coco-rigged a liquid trap! You don't stand a chance!

He really hasn't forgotten that trap.

Come on over! I've brought some new backup. This time, I'll avenge every defeat!

He's challenging us again? What kind of zombie is his new backup to make him so confident?

...Uh, okay. That confidence makes sense.

Huh? What are you doing here?

G-Gatling Pea? Sir? What are you doing here?

Well... I happened to be vacationing at the pond. A plant needed help, so I figured I'd lend a hand.

So... are we still fighting?

Gatling Pea, would you spar with us here so we can convince CocoBottle Shine?

There's no need to hold back. Just fight as you normally would.

Peashooter, could you represent our side and spar with Gatling Pea?

I... don't think I can. Couldn't we ask Alloysuckle?

Pea-Pea, haven't you always wanted to learn from Gatling Pea? You'll be fine!

Pea-Pea has those powerful genes from Maple Falls, and I'll produce plenty of Sun to cheer him on!

Oh... Okay, I'll try.

Get ready, Peashooter. I look forward to witnessing the power in your genes.

So when Cuscata's trap caught him, it extracted his Seed Packet, too.

I can't believe Cuscata's trap can extract Seed Packets, too.

You were busy setting up formations and fighting, so Honey Bamboo asked me to figure out how to use this Seed Packet.

Right. You were busy setting up formations and fighting, so Honey Bamboo asked me to study how this Seed Packet works.

...Oh, so just like before, I absorb it whenever I see an opening?

I think I get it. I'll grab him as soon as the moment's right!

Got it! Explosions are my specialty. No problem!

You have worked hard, Chief Strategist. This time, I too shall do my part.

You needn't worry about the strain on our defenses.

Of course. It's what I should be doing anyway.

Thank you, everyone. This should be our final clash with him. Let's give it everything we've got!

Sunflower, do you know exactly where Peashooter is? I don't think I've seen him.

I haven't seen Peashooter. Sunflower, do you know exactly where he is?

I can't say for sure either. The Pond is pretty big, and there are plenty of places he could've gone.

We can't search it tile by tile... We'll be here till the zombies come home.

Then where are we supposed to look? We can't play hide-and-seek across a pond this big.

That won't work... And I'm really worried about Peashooter. I want to find him as soon as possible.

Oh, right! Gatling Pea should still be at The Pond. He might know something.

Why would Gatling Pea know where Peashooter went? Isn't he here on vacation?

You think Peashooter ran off to The Pond alone to sulk because of... Gatling Pea?

I do know where he went.

He did come here because of me.

Whoa! Don't just pop out of nowhere and scare us like that!

Before you arrived, Peashooter kept hiding in a corner and watching me.

Whenever I approached him, he wouldn't say a word. Then he ran off.

So where is he now?

I was worried about him too, so I followed him all the way to the Lower Waterfall.

So he's at the Lower Waterfall now?

But when I got there... he was gone. I searched the waterfall for ages, but couldn't find him.

Could he have slipped into the woods?

...Are you sure he didn't slip away while you weren't looking?

I don't think so. There weren't any other paths. When I couldn't find him, I went looking for you.

Later, I heard you'd come this way, so I hurried over.

Then let's hurry downstream and look for him! What if he fell into the waterfall? He could be in real trouble!

...I don't think we need to worry about that. I would've heard him hit the water.

Besides, it looks like we can't just leave whenever we please right now.

Ever since CocoBottle Shine joined us, the zombies around here have been getting restless too.

That CocoBottle Shine... He could've at least said something to all these zombies before leaving.

Then I'll leave them to you.

...We tied CocoBottle Shine up and dragged him away. When was he supposed to say anything?

Those zombies barely counted as a warm-up. Ready to admit defeat?

Will you honor your promise now?

No! This was all so sudden. You've got to give me time to prepare, at least.

Stupid bottle, quit talking tough! You lost, so hurry up and—hey, don't run away!

There's no need to chase him. With his personality, he'll definitely come back.

(Besides, he runs faster than a hamster. We'd never catch him.)

(Besides, he runs as fast as that green guy from my dream.)

How could you figure out his personality that quickly? You're just making stuff up.

I already knew a little about him before the time shift. His blunt way of speaking confirmed the rest.

I also have a modest little scheme for dealing with him. Homing Thistle, would you allow me to try it?

I also have a modest little scheme for dealing with him. Red Stinger, would you let me try something bold?

I'm sure your modest scheme is actually brilliant. What do you need us to prepare?

That's awfully modest of you. Take it away—what do you need?

Then I have nothing to worry about. Cuscata, please come discuss something with me.

Owww!

CocoBottle Shine, this trap was set in advance. Now that we've captured you, isn't it time you admitted defeat?

We agreed to fight fair! Traps are cheating. I've lost all respect for you!

...Then you may go.

Huh?

Next time, I'll use a different approach. And I hope you won't break your word again.

(You're just letting him go? I was kind of curious what he'd feel like to the touch.)

(Huh? You're letting him go? I wanted to see if the liquid in his bottle tasted any good.)

Are we sure it's okay to just let him run off?

If we force the issue now, the zombies he leads at the pond might destroy the factory in a rage. That would put Power Peony in even greater danger.

So it's safer to take this slowly. Besides, making him admit defeat would benefit the entire pond.

Hah... hah...

You can... absorb it, too...? That's... that's chea... cheating.

Are you going back on your word again? Our chief strategist has over a dozen more ways to deal with you.

If you're planning to run, I don't mind letting you go one more time.

This is already our third time. If you still won't admit defeat, we can let you go again.

I'm this... weak now... Even if I wanted... to run... I couldn't.

Don't worry. You can have a sip of honey brew to get your strength back.

You'll definitely... put something in it...

If you don't want to run, you don't have to drink it.

N-no... well, th-thanks... I guess I'll drink it, if I have to.

(Good thing it's daytime. At night, this honey brew smells like it would taste awful.)

(Does this honey brew really taste this good during the day? The sip I had at night was disgusting.)

Heave-ho! Got him!

I actually won? ...I won?

That's not fair! You promised a fair match, but you two knew each other all along!

He... he must've held back! I don't believe it!

Held back... held back? Maybe he did?

Pea-Pea, what are you muttering to yourself?

Did he really water down his attacks? That was quite a match.

Y-yeah, he must have! See? Even my bottle is watered down today... Huh?

Go on, get out of here. You put that water in your bottle last night.

Honey Bamboo, I figured out how to use the thing Cuscata collected during the earlier fight. I'll show Homing Thistle later.

Honey Bamboo, I figured out the thing Cuscata collected earlier. I'll explain how to use it to Red Stinger later.

Good. He's wavering now, so this is sure to deal the finishing blow!

Good. He's wavering now, so this is sure to deal the finishing blow!

I won't... admit defeat... because... because I just... won't!

Want us to let you go again? For all that tough talk, your Seed Packet's pretty useful.

Want to run away again? You talk tough every time, but your Seed Packet's not bad.

O... okay. This time... I... I won't run.

Are you... Honey Bamboo? I really... admire you. I promise I'll... have the factory make that stuff, The... Pond.

And thank you for helping our friend Power Peony.

Since you can use my... Seed Packet so well... can I surrender... and join you?

Of course you're welcome. Even better if you bring your zombies with you.

I... can't promise that. They might not all surrender with me... especially... the Fisherman.

That's fine. Once we get back to Mechanical Snowfield, I'll introduce you to our friends there.

Like Power Peony, whom we mentioned earlier, and Magnet-shroom, who can pull in metal buckets.

If you ever run empty again, he can even get you a bucket of water.

Then I definitely have to... meet this Magnet-shroom.

And is the friend who's tying me up... named Cuscata?

Now that I've... surrendered, can you... let me out? Being tied up... really hurts.

Magnet-shroom's pretty great, all right. He gave me a firefly lantern before.

Thinking about how I'd never gotten to play with lasers this awesome before still makes me mad.

He gave me a lantern before, too. If Magnet-shroom hadn't been so kind, I'd never have gotten to try such unusual ammunition.

Wasn't switching the timeline back to this point Magnet-shroom's idea, too?

Hey! Can you... stop fixating on Magnet-shroom and... untie me already...?!

Hmph! After all the trouble you've given us, you deserve a serious punishment! We'll untie you when we get back to Snowbloom Palace.

The factory problem should've been easy to solve, but you dragged it out forever. We'll untie you when we get back to Snowbloom Palace.

I... I... coco-guess that's okay. Waaaah...

I... I... coco-guess that's okay. Waaaah...

You're back! Did everything go well at the pond?

(By all rights, Power Peony shouldn't have any memories of being with us at this point.)

(Since we switched to this point in time, we haven't met Power Peony yet.)

(Looks like Magnet-shroom, Wiremoss, and the others already filled Power Peony in.)

(Then Magnet-shroom and Wiremoss must've told Power Peony about the time switch and everything at the pond.)

It went smoothly. We even caught ourselves a new ally.

Wh... what do you mean, "caught"...? Didn't you say you'd let me go once we got to Snowbloom Palace...?

All right, that's enough teasing. Cuscata, please let him go.

All right, all right. Cuscata, let him go. He's been through enough.

Whew... I can finally move again.

Now that we're here, let me introduce you to our friends in Mechanical Snowfield.

This is our inventor, Wiremoss. This is Enzymei, and this is Sweetbriar Rose, who works at Snowbloom Palace.

Huh? Which one's Magnet-shroom, the one you mentioned before?

Oh, right. Where's Magnet-shroom? He contributed more than anyone to the plan to save Power Peony.

(And he solved the whole Sands of Time problem along the way... That's one less headache.)

(The entire Sands of Time has been restored, too. I was worried sick about how we'd fix it.)

No idea. After we switched back, the moment we returned to Mechanical Snowfield, he took off on his own.

He still hasn't come back, and he didn't tell us anything before he left.

Not quite. He told me that if Homing Thistle returned before he did, we should check the message in the city basement.

Not quite. He told me that if Red Stinger returned before he did, we should check the message in the city basement.

In that case, Magnet-shroom must have his reasons. Let's go see what's happening when we get a chance.

I see. Magnet-shroom really thought of everything. Let's head over when we get time.

Um... one more thing. Before he left, Peashooter said he was going for a walk around the pond to clear his head.

He's been down ever since sparring with Gatling Pea. I'm worried about him.

Then Peashooter is probably still where he sparred with Gatling Pea.

Peashooter... is probably still thinking about that match.

Homing Thistle, Red Stinger, if you have time, could you come with me to find Peashooter?

Sure... but I think Peashooter would rather listen to you than me.

Of course... But when it comes to cheering him up, we're counting on you.

Oh, right. The Pond recipe you asked for.

The Pond! BISHOP, want some too? It's my favorite energy drink.

...You may enjoy such a delicacy all by yourself, Power Peony.

Naturally, Snowbloom Palace can produce The Pond for you at any time as well.

Can any plant besides Power Peony actually drink this stuff...?

Oh, right! The road out of the Sands of Time is... open now too.

...I'll explain. According to your map, we just need to keep moving forward through the Sands of Time.

There's a long downhill stretch along the way, so we'll need to be especially careful when we get there.

Will you still travel with us after we leave the Sands of Time?

Chief Honey Bamboo wants us to keep traveling together, and Alloysuckle heartily agrees.

Naturally, I have no objections either. So as long as you'll have us, we're staying with the group.

Of course you're welcome. Let's rest here for a bit, get our affairs in order, and then head out.

You're more than welcome! Let's sort out where things stand, then hit the road.