The Great Gardener
While following Audric's trail, the Lightning League landed on a desolate, lifeless planet. "It feels like the planet's mad at us!" Oon exclaimed. Flora explained that the world was impatient, waiting to be born.
After a brief search, the League discovered a small campsite with stone-cold ashes from a fire used by Audric. Gillian declared that there was hope even in this old clue, since it meant that Audric is still alive and keeping ahead of the Monster Minds. Oon spotted something hidden in some nearby debris -- a platinum-silver orb studded with a ruby surrounded by pearls. Herc wanted to sell the treasure, but Jayce insisted on holding it until they find his father.
A boat-like starship suddenly appeared overhead. The League barely had time to jump clear before its huge anchor dropped into the middle of the ashes. Farrow, the captain of the ship, apologized for nearly hitting them. He was a jovial elderly man dressed in colorful "buccaneer" clothes, boasting a white quail-like bird named Queedo on his left shoulder.
After confirming that the planet is "dead, dead, dead" (to quote Herc), Farrow blanketed it with flowers, grass, and trees. He did this by first releasing a magical rainbow-radiating seed, which exploded into a translucent white fog. Then he produced a sparkling mist from a small glass bottle to complete the spell. The resulting magic spread rapidly in every direction, leaving new plant life in its wake.
Gillian identified Farrow as one of the Visani, beings as old as the cosmos. The Visani were also known as Caretakers, Guardians, Old Ones, and Watchers. (Episode Note: See Steel Against Shadow for more details on the Visani.) When Oon opened the bottle out of curiosity, the mist completely enveloped him. Farrow wished the League well, and asked them to tell Oon that the effects of the mist would wear off. Jayce turned to see Oon transformed into a tree trunk with armored arms and legs! A bemused Gillian promised to clean Oon up, and the League left the planet.
Saw Boss observed all this from afar. He wanted Farrow's mist to strengthen the Monster Minds. To do so, he tracked Farrow to a nearby world, where he had the Monster Minds capture him and his animal friends. Queedo evaded the enemy troopers long enough to send out a call for help.
The Pride received the signal, resulting in the League heading out to save Farrow. Flora and Gillian took Drill Sergeant to search for their Visani friend while the others distracted the enormous mist-grown Monster Minds. Flora, Gillian, and the rescued Farrow entered the latter's ship, where a viewscreen showed the others surrounded by grossly oversized enemy troopers.
Farrow revealed a secret device, used only when a planet's plants "have turned evil beyond hope" to wipe out all vegetation on a world. Gillian protested at that, stating that Flora would be destroyed as well. Farrow knew this, and could not pull the switch. Flora did the honors herself, sacrificing herself to save the others.
Before the League's eyes, the gigantic Monster Minds melted away to nothing! (Think the demise of the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz.) Saw Boss teleported away before he could be affected.
Farrow's ship partially shielded Flora from the device's effects, but she was fading fast. Jayce begged Farrow to use his mist on her, and when he did, she was restored to full strength.
After reintroducing vegetation to that world, Farrow turned down Jayce's offer to join forces against the Monster Minds. He explained that his purpose was to spread life, not battle it, and his device was too powerful to ever leave his hands. Farrow also stated that he could see a little of the future. This skill allowed him to proclaim with certainty that the League wouldn't need his help -- they were born to their task. Farrow wished them good luck and lifted off.
Herc and Flora asked Gillian if he could duplicate the plant-killing device; his answer was yes and no. It would take ten thousand years to gather all the rare components needed. Gillian noted wryly that "We can't wait quite that long."
Chronological Note: This episode obviously took place before Steel Against Shadow. In this episode, Jayce had never heard of the Visani, which meant that the events related here had to have taken place before Gillian told the League about the Visani's Helmet of Valroth in Steel Against Shadow.
