Mission 12: Eliminate the Poison Plant

Mission 12 for Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days sends Roxas out paired for the first time with the mysterious Xion.

Regular Mission
Defeat the Poison Plant.

Story Summary
Roxas is put in charge of a mission for the first time, paired with the quiet XIV, Xion. The mission is successful, but Xion never says anything to him or reveals her face; she heads back without protest once the mission is finished. Roxas is left to eat his ice cream alone for the first time.

Mission Walkthrough
You will enter in the Sandlot; sprinkled around here and there are basic enemies. Unless you're looking form extra munny or HP, don't bother with Station Heights, as there isn't anything to do that way other than kill more small enemies. When you're ready, head for the Side Street, and then enter the Underground Passage through there. Fight through the Minute Bombs and grab the two chests before heading for the south entrance to finish up the mission.

The Poison Plant can't move; it's rooted in one spot, but that doesn't make it an easy foe. It will attack with a projectile seed that sometimes causes Darkness if it hits you; luckily, the seed is rather slow and easy to dodge. It will also slam its "face" into the ground quickly, causing damage that can hit repeatedly if you are too close, and occasionally causing the Heavy effect if it connects, preventing you from jumping. After this attack, however, it will be "dizzy", and will stay resting on the ground, giving you a chance to get a few blows in. The best way to tackle the Poison Plant is Fire, and lots of it. Luckily, Xion only fights with magic at this point, and she has Fire magic in abundance, making her quite useful.

After the fight, the minute bombs in the Passage and Side Street will be replaced with Dire Plants; otherwise, there isn't much keeping you from heading back to the Sandlot to RTC.

Video
Video walkthrough here.