Root of the Problem
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The moon rose as darkness cascaded over the village named Jungopolis. Torches lit up and lights inside houses dimmed as residents retreated to their homes, but a particular home kept its candles burning. It was the home of Jade and Jane, the mayor’s two daughters. They had heard about the incident of the Plagueplant—a huge, walking, talking, poisonous plant. It had made its first appearance at the nearby river. It was seen scaring away the animals and wilting the greenery around it.
The bed both Jade and Jane sat on creased from both their weight as Jane laid out a badly drawn plan onto the sheets, featuring the Plant and the two of them.
“So, this is what I’ve been thinking,” Jane flattened out the paper, letting Jade see the drawing better as she continued, “We know the Plant hangs around outside the walls of Jungopolis up to no good.”
Jade would interject, gesturing at the image of the PlaguePlant on the paper. “Yeaaah, but we should get to know its intentions, for we know—it could just be ‘chilling,’ and we shouldn’t rush straight to stopping it.”
Jade nodded in agreement. The wind whistled in the quiet night as the two planned.
The night went on as Jade and Jane went to sleep.
The paper lay crumpled on the bed while the sun rose, the light creeping through from the bedroom window. They were soon woken up by a loud crash outside—the sound of panicked villagers startling them awake. Jane woke up first, eyes widening at the noise as she struggled to balance herself as she had just woken up. Nudging Jade awake as she rubbed sleep out of her eyes, she’d trudge over to the window, the sight alarming her.
It was the plant and her father, Mayor Nathanyiel, arguing with each other. She could hear a slight dialogue; however, it was barely audible behind the closed window. Something about a sword or along those lines.
Jade finally managed to wake up as Jane peered out the window. “What’s going on? ” she mumbled, lazily staggering to the window, only to have the same reaction as Jane would at the commotion going on in the street.
Jane gripped Jade’s shoulders worriedly as she spoke, “We must go help Dad! ” She exclaimed, pulling Jade downstairs, hastily speeding down the stairs, bursting out the door alongside the half-asleep Jade being dragged downstairs, quickly grabbing a butter knife with her free hand as they confronted the plant talking to their father.
The Plant didn’t seem to notice them, as it continued speaking to their father amidst the ruckus. “If you don’t pull out the sword, I’ll wreck this entire village, punk! ” it roared, vines emerging from the floor.
Then Jane, absolutely fuming at the way the Plant spoke to her father, yelled, “My father doesn’t take orders from anyone, especially from glorified houseplants with a god complex! ” she sneered, accusingly pointing at the PoisonPlant.
Mayor Nathanyiel turned around, a drop of sweat rolling down his neck at the sudden appearance of his two daughters. “Girls, why are you here?! ” he stammered.
The Plant laughed mockingly at their faces before turning into a cruel expression. “You think I take insults from naive little girls? Think twice! ”It marveled.
Then—completely out of the blue—Jane swiftly launched the butter knife she had snagged from the kitchen at the monster. It landed onto one of the creature’s grimy, dirt-riddled green legs, as it screeched in anger at the stinging feeling.
“Grrrh, you punks dare even GRAZE my skin? The… the absolute NERVE you have! I… I can’t be seen in such a disgusting appearance of weakness! ”It roared in utter disgust at its wounded self, letting down its unbothered attitude. “A simple wound will not stop me; I will get that sword. And nothing will stop me! ” The creature growled, suddenly sweeping Mayor Nathanyiel off of his feet, then scurrying into the forest away like a spider being caught under a rock.
By this time, Jade was already fully awake, her terrified gaze turning to Jane.
“J-Jane, we need to go help! ” She gulped.
“Obviously—let’s bounce. Chase that plant! ”
They both ran after the plant, but it had already escaped.
“Gah, we mustn’t let this happen. We have to save our father,” Jane hissed under her breath, a bitter resentment forming towards the plant.
“Jane, calm down, please. Also, can I ask? What does the plant mean by… The sword? ”Questioned Jade, walking closer behind Jane.
A sudden realization struck Jane as she remembered. There was a sword, eternally sealed in a rock from when their father defeated the past corrupt mayor of Jungopolis. The sword held corrupt power: it could control minds and make every creature in the jungle obey. However, only the current mayor could take the sword out of the rock.
Without a word, Jane gestured for Jade to follow her; they had to get to the rock before PoisonPlant could.
Jane ran as Jade followed with a confused look in her eyes.
“Hey, what—where are we going?! ”Jade panted, trying to keep up with Jane’s speed.
But Jane didn’t answer; her sole focus was on not letting the plant get any power.
As they arrived near the rock, they saw the plant, its loud threats heard even from a distance away.
Jane and Jade ran up to PoisonPlant. Jade then finally took the initiative to confront it herself, throwing out an accusing finger.
“You! Let our father free, or else we have no other choice but to… to…” she trailed off, her voice falling.
But Jane stepped up immediately once more.
“You will not take the sword; I will not let you use my father for your own benefit; I will not let Jungopolis down,” she barked, taking a step forward.
“Don’t you understand? You’re ruining—“ Jane’s voice was cut short by PoisonPlant; it spoke, but it felt more upset than angry.
“You think I wanted to hurt anyone?! I’ve been alone for so long. I watched from the shadows while everyone else had a purpose, and I thought, maybe if I had the sword… I would have a purpose too,” PoisonPlant muttered, its voice softer now.
Jade blinked in surprise as she took a tentative step forward. “You weren’t trying to control the jungle… You just didn’t want to be forgotten? ” she said quietly.
The plant’s vines untightened its grip as Mayor Nathanyiel was still tangled but unharmed. Jane was about to open her mouth, but she stopped herself for once, finally letting someone speak.
Jade then stepped forward, speaking again. “…It’s alright, you matter, and you don’t need the sword to prove that. As the mayor’s daughter, I’d like to say I’ll allow you to be with us, with all the residents of Jungopolis.”
She reached out her hand, a smile tugging on the corner of her lips. A hesitant vine extended itself, not striking but to shake hands.
About the author
Patrice Recodo is 11 years old and in grade 6. She is from the Philippines.
She is an aspiring writer and drummer.
Patrice joined BUBOTS in February of 2025 and has gotten better at writing ever since!