Pie was happy too, and tried to thank the plant that had helped them.
But the plant gave no answer.
Pie stepped out of the hut and followed the roots that lay weakly across the ground.
The roots led all the way to the largest tree, standing deep behind the village in the forest.
Pie walked closer and called again and again, but still there was no reply.
The tree began to dry, little by little.
Then cracks split down from the top to the bottom, opening wide.
Pie could feel it. The tree was dying.

Before long, Pie’s friends gathered around and asked,
“What’s wrong, Pie?”
Pie answered quietly,
“I think this tree… gave its own life to us….”
The children all felt grateful, and sorry.

“Thank you…” Pie whispered as she touched the tree.

At that moment, many small buds appeared. The buds burst open into flowers, and the dazzling petals and green leaves rained down over the children’s heads like a shower.
Then the tree fell asleep.
Pie covered her flowing tears with both hands.
The children also laid their hands on the tree.
They were about to leave, carrying their sadness, when suddenly countless sprouts began to grow around the tree.

“Everyone, don’t move! Don’t step on them!” Pie shouted.

The sprouts grew up to the children’s knees.
A little more time passed, and thick branches spread out, bearing small fruits.
The fruits looked the same as the ones that had healed the sick Kurak woman earlier, though smaller in size.
Suddenly Pie gasped and shouted,
“What!?”

The friends turned to him in surprise.
“What is it, Pie?”

Pie: “It says… it’s here….”
Elly: “What is?”
Pie: “It says… I am here….”
Dabi: “Huh? What do you mean?”

Eti, quick to understand, exclaimed,
“The tree is speaking! It’s still alive!”

Excited, Eti picked one of the small fruits and put it in his mouth.

“Gaaaahhh!” Eti roared.

Yona shouted in alarm, “What? What’s wrong!?”
Again, Eti screamed without control and began running wildly around the village.

Yona: “What’s happening? This is scary!”
EAT: “Just leave him… he’ll burn out….”

The children picked more of the small fruits and gave them to the injured Kurak people.
Those who ate the fruits recovered with amazing speed.
The children named the fruits “Healing Fruits.”
The Kurak came to them, expressing their thanks with smiles and with tears.

While everyone was rejoicing, Moring rushed forward and said,
“Please, honored Space Heroes, protect us. We never know when the beasts may attack again.”

Dabi and the friends looked at one another with worried faces.
Leo said, “He’s right. Once we leave, they’ll be in danger again anytime.”

Just then, far away, Eti came running back, gasping for breath.
“We… can… fix the problem… before we go… huff, huff…”

Yona: “How?”
Eti: “We have to find a way.”
Dabi: “Yes, that’s a good idea.”
Yona: “What’s good? You didn’t even give an idea yet.”
Elly: “Then let’s ask EAT.”
Dabi: “Yes, that’s a good idea.”

The children looked around for EAT.
They spotted EAT in the distance, staring at a small fruit alone.

“What are you doing there, EAT?”

EAT was studying the fruit, even tasting it. Then he muttered,
“Why does it have no effect on me? Tch!”

Yona asked, “EAT, if we just leave, the Kurak will keep suffering. We have to help them!”
EAT popped the last of the fruits into his mouth and said,
“Hmm… help? But a method only comes after you find the cause. Start with the cause.”

Yona: “Right, we need to find the cause!”
Dabi: “The cause is the Poppies, isn’t it?”
Elly: “No, first we should ask the Kurak how it all began!”

So the children went to the elder of the Kurak, asking when everything had started and why these things had happened.
The elder replied,
“One day, stars began to fall from the sky. After that, [pointing to the Poppies] such enormous beasts appeared, and their attacks began.”

“Stars fell?” The children looked at each other in shock.
“What happened at the place where the stars fell?”

Elder: “We tried many times to discover what happened there. But the more time passed, the more wounded people we had… We never learned the exact place. We could not get close.”

EAT: “Why couldn’t you? Were the beasts more frequent in a certain area?”
Elder: “Yes. In one area, they were many. In that place, the beasts were more savage. We could not endure it.”
Pie: “Then that area is their nest!”
Leo: “Hmm… so the beasts’ nest is at the place where the stars fell? Strange.”
Yona: “Yes, strange. If stars rained down, even beasts living there should have fled.”
Eti: “It seems we already know where we must go…”
Elder: “Then… I shall tell Neb to guide the honorable Space Heroes roughly to the place.”
Rogi: “No, it’s fine. We’ll ride the Poppies and return quickly. We can’t take Neb with us.”
Leo: “Eh… but all of us can’t fit on the Poppies’ backs.”
Yona: “At most, four people can ride.”
Rogi: “What now…”
Pie: “Why?”
Rogi: “I don’t want to walk…”
Pie: “Ugh… I hate it too…”

Everyone fell into worry.
There was no good way to travel. Not even a small cart could be seen.
As they worried, Eti suddenly said,
“I’ve got an idea. Just wait.”

Eti popped one Healing Fruit into his mouth, looked around the village, found a sack, and vanished for a while.
After some time, he came back with the sack stuffed full of Healing Fruits.

Eti: “Those who ride the Poppies can ride. The rest can eat these fruits and run.”
Rogi: “Eh… what…?”
Leo: “Good! Rogi, Pie, EAT, and Yona can ride the Poppies. The rest of us will eat the fruits and run alongside!”
Pie: “Eh… what…?”