Chapter Six

Redd twisted the knob to his apartment door. He had thought about visiting his family, but he wanted to catch up a few things before he did that. HIs door was at the top of the steps but the stubborn old door refused to open.
"Stupid door." He said, "Can't a guy get in his own place."
He began to ram the door with his shoulder until it gave way. When the door suddenly did, Redd had to swing his arms to keep from falling over.
"Well, I didn't break my nose." Redd said, remembering a pretty bad incident one of the first days he moved in, "Home sweet home." He slammed the door behind him but still the door swung back open, now refusing to close. Redd sighed and repeated his technique on this side of the door.
Finally it shut itself and Redd turned back to his single room studio. It had really only the basics, and it was originally just a single large room with one extra room for the bathroom. Since Redd moved in, he put up fake walls to divide off areas; the kitchen, the bedroom, and the t.v. room.
Redd put his coat on a peg in the wall to his right of the front door, and thought about getting a cup of nectar from the kitchen. He barely took a step with something slid across the floor from his foot.
"Well what do we have here?" He asked reaching down. It was a small silver envelope with a single leaf design on both the back and the front.
"It looks like I have mail." He said, "And at least it's not from that lonely guy who wants to meet me. Stupid spam." He flipped the envelope around to find an address but there was nothing.
"Weird. I don't know anyone who would send me this." Using his index finger he tore open the top and unfolded the letter within.
"'When all has failed, and life deserted you!'" Redd began, "'When your gods of Pikmin have been made a sham.'" Redd stopped and rolled his eyes.
"Great, a cult group letter."
He was tempted to throw it away when something caught his eye; the words "silver-skinned Goddess".
"'Turn to the one true mother of the Pikmin race! The silver-skinned Goddess herself given us a glimpse to a new tomorrow. A tomorrow that brings with it the promises of many and the future of many more!'"
Redd felt his heart stop for a moment.
"Silver? Could she be the one I saw out in the forest?" He read the bottom of the note and added, "There is a gathering in the Wistful Wood, just across the ocean. I wonder if I should go or not."
Everyone knew the main religion of the Pikmin was of an ancient race of giants who created the Pikmin. There were so large that even the biggest Purple Pikmin barely matched their thumbs. Redd didn't really believe in this religion because of the sheer size of the race. How could Pikmin have been born from such large creatures? But Redd had to follow what his father always said; to each their own.

Yellow was going to head home but the encounter with Roy only made her nervous. "What if he is following me?" She asked herself nervously, then decided she was going to walk around for a bit. Eventually, her path lead her to a popular spot for the community, especially the younger Pikmin:
The Nightbulb.
It was a bar that specialized different berry drinks and nectars so patrons could get a nice buzz. Yellow herself was not proud to admit going home with her leaf lit up like the Onions during ceremonies a few times.
The small square grey building wasn't in the best part of town though, so Spore dealers crept in now and again. Thinking about this, Yellow wondered if it was a bad idea going here: Roy could be following.
"Roy wouldn't try anything here," She assured herself, "Some of the best people in town run the Nightbulb." She trusted the owners with her life, she knew they wouldn't let anything truly bad happen to anyone.
Assured that she was safe here, Yellow pushed open the double doors and took a deep breath. The bar had just opened for the night so the place was most likely empty.
Yellow had been wrong though.
The place was packed with Pikmin of all shapes, sizes, and colors filling up every available space, even a few flying in the air. A group of white and purple Pikmin were around a few tables and cheering on their friends who were competing in arm wrestling contests. Poor white Pikmin. And the biggest thing to note was that every single Pikmin had a drink in their hands.
Through the crowd, Yellow noticed an empty chair and sat down. She turned away from the bar and looked around the noisy, fun-loving group. Her youth had been filled with this sort of activity. She would come in with friends, have a good time, then wake up in someone else's bed or couch, with the other person passed out half in the toilet.
She wasn't too proud of her old life, and on more than one occasion wondered how she lived through it.
"Well, I haven't seen you in a while." Someone said from behind the bar.
Yellow turned around but already knew who was talking: William.
"William! Hi!" She said when she turned around. She could feel her face flush when she saw the bartenders face. He was a white Pikmin with ruby eyes that could see right into you, almost literally. He stood there over the counter cleaning a glass with a rag like a classic bartender would do.
"How is it going?" He asked and Yellow immediately replied, "Me? I'm fine, just fine! How about you?" She hated when she got like this, she always ended up looking like a stammering fool.
"I've been alright." He replied but something in the way he said it stopped Yellows giddiness and made her wonder what was wrong.
A few moments passed before anyone said anything, and it was Yellow asking, "Anything new?"
William looked around a bit and, almost as if ignoring her tended to the other patrons at the counter, then said something to the other bartender, another white one then came back.
"Got a minute, it's a bit noisy in here." William asked Yellow.
"Uh, sure. Do you want to go outside?" Yellow asked and William simply nodded.
Yellow stood up and William walked down the counter till he pushed open the half door. The floor behind the counter was much taller than the main floor, because the bartenders were white Pikmin so they were much smaller than everyone else. When William took off his apron and hopped down the lower floor, Yellow had forgotten how small William was. His bud on his head only reached her forehead.
He looked at her and simply asked, "What? Something on my face?"

Chapter Four

The three Onions took to the air and this time didn't stay in the same area, instead they leaned toward the setting sun, and began their journey to the great Pikmin City. Blue took in a heavy, water-filled sigh and retrieved a pen from it's cup on the wall. His Onion was entirely filled with water to help make his kind, the blue Pikmin, more comfortable. To Blue it was fine, but to others it was deadly. Blue began to write down in the blank, binded book and said, "In order to continue our race..." He had decided not too long ago to work on a book, sort of an autobiography, where he detailed his life so other Pikmin could live and grow even after he is gone. "I was sprouted the same as the rest, from a blue Onion under the command of my mother, who raised me and my 14000 collected siblings the best she could during her life. I was one of the few who survived into adulthood, and having been born in the time of flightless Onions, that is no small feat. I am several decades my comrades senior, but I am glass they don't loose respect for me because of that." blue sat there and wrote for a few more hours filling twenty to thirty pages with his words and thoughts, then stood up and checked on their positions. "Only a few more hours till we arrive." He said looking to the panel, "I'll see you soon Blossom." That morning, the Onions one by one extended their landing legs and landed on a large silver platform that stuck out from the side of a mountain. "Kay, we're here." yellow said feeling the fist shake form the Onion's legs landing, then a quick static discharge came from the console and then into a physical spark that passed into Yellow's hand who didn't really feel it. "Will that be all in your party?" A voice asked. "Yes." Yellow confirmed, then moments later, felt the platform begin to move toward the rock face. While the platform moved toward the mountain, the mountain began to open up and allowed the Onions to pass through. Once they were inside, the door they passed through closed back up and three cranes moved down onto the Onions, picking up the vessels in their three metal fingers. The Onions began to pull their legs in as they arrived in the docking pay and were gently placed in a row of multicolored Onions. When it was clear they were ready to leave, a beam of yellow light transported Yellow to the front of her Onion where she was greeted by both Blue and Redd. "I'll go check in with the Pikmin Council, you two will go speak with the Purple's and get the Onions worked on." Blue informed, "After that, it would be acceptable to visit with your families and friends." "So we get the rest of the day off huh?" Redd asked. Blue nodded his head. Yellow gave a smile and her ears perked up a bit, it felt like years since she was home last. Yellow had started working as a picker several years ago and spent most of her time outside of the City. She knew Redd didn't feel as homesick, this being his first year as a Picker, the ties from family weren't as strung out. Blue, on the other hand, had been doing this for many, many years, she wondered how he could keep sane being so far from his loved ones, and then, while at the City, still continue to work. Yellow sighed then looked to Redd, who had busied himself with a small toy he always had with him. "Ready?" She asked. Redd stopped examining his "Pik-man" action figure he got from his grandfather when he was young, and gave a small shrug while saying, "Whenever you are." The Purple Pikmin were, by far, the strongest guys around and handled all things labor wise, which included Onion maintenance and repair, and, thankfully, there was a small Purple Unit located in the docking bay. "Hey fellas!" Redd said when they got within earshot. The purples were all chatting with each other across from the Onion line all drinking nectar from cooler in the small break room. When Redd had called out, the larger one of the small group looked over and raised an eyebrow, then sighed. He took another sip of nectar and replied with a, "What do you need?" Redd's smile dropped at the tone he had been answered with and asked, "What did I do?" "Don't worry about him." A second purple said walking forward, "The name's Mech, what can I do for you?" Purple Pikmin all had the same basic features as every other Pikmin, a rounded body and a sprout from their head, but they had, of course, purple skin and string-like hair around their sprout. Mech was obviously proud of his hair, as it was longer than the others and pulled into a ponytail, it even seemed to shine from great care. The other purples had their hair cropped short and it was barely noticeable. "We just came back from Picking the Eastern Woods and in the mission we increased our seeds to almost max. We were wondering if you and your crew could help update our Onions?" Yellow asked. Mech crossed his arms and said, "Wouldn't it be easier to give the extra seeds to the care of the Council?" Redd shrugged his shoulders, "Sounds easier to me, but we're just following blue's orders." "Well, I have no problem workin' on them, you just need the expanion for the storage right? Or is there anything else we can do for you?" "Only if you think something does." Yellow replied. Mech smiled and stuck out a hand, "Consider it done." He said, then he shook hands with both Redd and Yellow. Yellow handed over the numbers of the Onions to Mech, they said their farewells, ready to see the City and their families. "Name." The Grey Pikmin said when Blue approached the desk. "Captain James Blue." Blue responded, "Primary leader of Picker Unit SM2001." After a moment on a holographic console, the grey receptionist said, "Captain Blue, you are cleared to report to the Council. Wait in the man meeting room, if you will." Blue walked past the desk and headed straight into the meeting room, a small room with a large table and several chairs. "How may I be of service?" A voice questioned, from a chair at the far end of the table. It was a grey Pikmin, noted for their wrinkled grey skin and yellow eyes, who had asked the question. The grey Pikmin were said to be the oldest and wisest Pikmin of all, though they were the weakest race. They assumed civil duties such as running the City and other non-dangerous duties. "I have come from a recent Picking mission and stumbled across something... different. I would like to present my report tot he Council and see what they have to add on my find." The grey Pikmin raised an eye ridge and asked, "What exactly did you find out there?" Blue stood a bit taller, though the memory of his blue Pikmin who was life was taken by that claw, buzzed angrily around his head. "A monster." He simply replied. "A monster? What do you mean by that?" The grey asked, a touch of nervousness edging his voice. "I'm not sure, that's what I wish to discuss with the Council. I think it may have to do with the old history." The Pikmin's forehead wrinkled in surprise. "If that's the case, we shall get you an audience as soon as possible." With that, they Grey Pikmin rose from his chair and led Blue through a small door on the side of the room.

Chapter One

Captain Olimar crash landed on a strange new planet, one filled with terrifying and curious creatures, either ready to devour Olimar or help him. Stranded with little life support, the captain became distraught, fearing that he would die there as his ship was lying in ruins, damaged beyond repair for a single person.
But, as luck would have it, he met his salvation in the form of small, familiar creatures: Pikmin. In the 30 days he spent on that strange planet he met three different kinds of Pikmin, each with a different talent, and by combining their skills he was able to repair his ship and teach the Pikmin to survive on their own.
But during his adventure and on his way home, questions continued to flutter. What were the Pikmin? Why did they trust him as a leader? And where did they come about?
The only way to know would be to travel back in time and watch the struggle the first, true Pikmin had to endure as they tried to live out their lives in a world where they were the food.
Redd sat there, deep in the tunnel to avoid the monsters on the surface. The Onions were quite a ways away, so there was no choice but to hide underground. The red Pikmin rubbed his hands together and created a small fire to give him some comfort. He knew there wasn’t much time left before the creatures began to investigate the hole he was in.
The light brought some comfort, but he was still in an enclosed area that if a hungry predator were to jump down into, Redd would have little options for survival.
“How did I get here?” He asked himself, though he knew the answer, “What was that?” He thought about the strange figure that he had followed till it became dark.
Blue sighed heavily as the waning Sun winked good night and said, “Looks like he won’t be here.”
Yellow dropped her head and closed her eyes for a minute then said, “We’d better load up the ships.”
Blue nodded in agreement then gave a sharp whistle. The smaller Pikmin around them snapped to attention, though the red ones were slower to move. Blue gave another whistle and waved his arm in a sweeping motion that had the groups heading for their individual Onions.
“Regroup with the others,” Blue said to Yellow, “Guide the ships to the safe zone.”
Yellow’s large ears perked up, “What does that mean? You aren’t going to go searching for Redd are you? Don’t be stupid Blue! The animals around here will be waking up any minute now!”
“We don’t leave each other behind if we can help it.” Blue stated, “In this case I will find him, and you will take care of the Pikmin. Understood?”
“No Blue, I don’t understand. Redd may be young but he can take care of himself. I won’t leave you both behind.” Yellow retorted.
“Stay safe Yellow.” Blue said then a loud roar echoed through the weeds. “That’s my cue.” Then he ran off in the direction Redd had gone in.
“Damn it Blue.” Yellow said then ran to the yellow Onion, the one she commanded. She stood in the light and allowed it to bring her inside where she would bring the legs in and fly into the air.
Blue ran through the water not stopping once so the Bulborb behind him would give up the pursuit. When finally it did, the blue Pikmin leader stopped and got a bearing ion where he was. Off in the distance behind him he saw the three colored Onions fly high into the air; a few creatures flying after, then would give up when they got too high.
“Redd, stay alive.” Blue said then ran onto the dry land.
At night the forest became fierce, every glimpse to either side of him gave Blue the vision of a hungry predator, waiting for a chance. Then, after avoiding the gazes of many creatures just waking from their sleep, he spotted a soft glow from inside a tunnel at the base of a small tree.
“Redd?” Blue said, not yelling so the creatures would not attack.
Redd heard soft footsteps outside the tunnel and put out the fire, his eyes locked on the mouth of the tunnel. The moment of anxiety passed with the call of his name.
“Blue?” red asked to the tunnel entrance. The aquatic Pikmin jumped down the hole and said, “There you are.”
Blue stormed at the idiot rookie.
“What the hell were you thinking? Why didn’t you come back when the Sun started to set?”
Redd backed up into his corner then said, “I thought I saw someone…”
Blue yelled more, “You saw someone? Damn it Redd! Everyone was accounted for at the onions! This was not the time to play around!”
Redd kept his eyes away, choosing to stare at the dirt, rather than at his angry comrade.
After a few minutes, Blue calmed down, deciding it was better to keep quiet now that the Sun was fully set.
“Well, at least you are alive. I guess that that’s all that matters.” He sat down and let out an n appreciative sigh, “Not like we can change your stupid mistake.”
They sat like that for several minutes till Blue whispered, “Go ahead and sleep first. I’ll keep watch.”
Redd looked at blue then laid down; but trying to stay awake. Eventually though, sleep won and Redd fell asleep only to be greeted by the same scene that brought them into this…
Redd was in charge of gathering food and, with over twenty of his own red Pikmin behind him, he brought back enough food to last for several days. When they reached their maximum of food, Redd sent his squad home to rest with the others.
“I’m going for a walk.” Redd said to Yellow and Blue.
“You sure? It’s getting late.” Yellow said, with concern.
“I’ll only be gone a minute or so.” Redd assured
“Be careful out there, get back here before sundown.” Blue said sternly.
“I’ll be fine.” Redd said then started off.
“I mean it.” Blue said.
Redd waved his hand in good bye and walked off into the grass trees, strands of grass ten times taller than Redd was at least.
The area had been cleared for the most part of monsters and predators when Redd had gathered food. The walk was uneventful, though Redd did see a Honeywisp pass by, if they needed more nectar, Redd would have collected it, but instead he watched it vanish into itself.
Once the Honeywisp vanished his attention was drawn to a silver flower over some short grass. It swayed lightly in the air without any breeze, even casting off a soft, white glow.
Redd called out to it, wondering who it was. The flower moved a bit, like a head turned toward Redd. Instantly the Red commander felt eyes on him through the grass. The flower began to move away and Redd called out for it to stop. The flower ignored him this time and Redd chased. He pushed aside the brush and caught a small glimpse of the Pikmin there.
It was female, with longer legs then other Pikmin and a shorter stem on her head. She had all the features of the other Pikmin, with a nose, ears, and a mouth, though they were smaller and more curved than the others. Her arms were longer and she had delicate digits on each hand.
Redd stared as she turned away, apparently trying to ignore the red Pikmin, but he had other plans to follow the silver Pikmin.
“Are you a Pikmin Goddess? Or another Type?” He questioned but received no answers, “Are you ignoring me?”
She kept walking further and further away, while the Sun drew lower and lower in the sky.