After a minute or so of semi-awkward staring at a pot of boiling potatoes, Hans grabbed a nearby straw and poked it into one of the larger potatoes. Satisfied, she grabbed the pot and put it down beside the fire. She poured out the water and what was left was three potatoes of moderate size and quality.

Normally, as I was now a plant, I would have dismissed this distress beacon of hunger, however, that was not what happened.

In my flower, I not only saw but also felt a liquid forming. In the depth of my roots, I could feel myself squirming in huger.

Hm.

Hey, Voice?

Whats that liquid in my mouth?

- Acids and enzymes. -

Aha. I see.

Wait.

Wait...

Voice?! You're still here?!?

- Yes. I never left. -

But-, there was-, this dude-, Pluto?...

- Pluto? Aha. Neither has he left. -

= Yup. Neither have I left! =

So... There's three of us?

= Huh? =

- Indeed. -

= I... guess so? =

…

Voice?

- Yes? -

Why were you quiet for so long though? And who is this other dude? Why did he appear?

- I was quiet as H-...Pluto was taking care of you. Pluto is my friend. He appeared due to your choice of evolution. -

= ...Yeah basically what she said. =

Uhuh, uhuh.

And you want me to believe that?!?!?!

- Yes. -

= Whoa dude, chill =

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

...Alright, I just wanted to see if that would work. It always works in those films...

= ...Sure. Why not. But, erm, shouldn't you focus on food? Your E is kinda low. =

- Quite. -

...Oh hell right

Right as Hans was about to bite into a suddenly tantalizing potato, I waved my roots and successfully caught her attention.

“Hm? What is it?”

I let my root slither through the air over to her. I noticed how she turned a shade of pale and how sweat started running down her forehead.

Is it that hot? I dunno, although I have the sense of touch it's kinda hard to feel warmth or cold...

Her fears were quelled once I started pointing at the potato and myself in a sort of “may I have this?” way.

She looked at the potato. She looked at me. She furrowed her brows.

A minute of silence.

“Alright, sure. Here have you.”

She handed me the smallest potato.

One part of me wanted to cry at not being trusted with the second smallest (as she had already eaten the largest) but another understood her reasoning.

I grabbed the potato using my roots and stared at it for a second or so.

How do I eat this?...

Cut into pieces, plop into mouth?

Absorb by way of roots?

- The ladder. -

= Yeah the second one =

Why not by way of mouth? If its producing “saliva”, then shouldn't I be able to use it?

= Save it for the meat, pal. =

- Your mouth doesn't have the ability to break down plants. Although it should be able to as both meat and vegetable is carbon-based, it simply cannot. Think of it as one of the great mysteries of the world. -

Uhuh, ahah. Right then.

My root slithered around the entire potato, and in a single S U C C, it was gone.

Whoa.

It just poofed.

- You have gained 5 E. -

Right.

In my root, all that was left was a shrivelled up husk of a potato. It was a depressing sight to behold, and if I had tear glands, I would shed a tear.

Hans was staring at me, potato in hand, paralyzed. Why I did not know.

No, not at me.

She was staring at the shrivelled-up carcass of what was once a glorious potato.

I think she wanted to shed a tear or two as well.

The carcass was light as a feather, so I simply let it float to the ground in what one could only call a solemn funeral for what once held such potential.

Chips... fries... baked... fried in butter... such potential... lost...

The carcass touched the ground uneventfully, and my head hung in sorrow.

A silent minute followed.