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Yo. It's me, PenWraith! My story rules and it totally DOES NOT SUCK!! This chapter focuses on the big battle, and the beginning of their mission. They get to the cannon beetle larva, but it sure takes them a while! Okay, this is the part where YOU READ!!

P.S. for all of you who read this I have two things to say:

1. I am deeply and totally honoured to have my work posted onto this site, and to have you guys read it. Thanks.

2. If you read this I expect CONSTANT REVIEWS!!! This story is just developing! They haven't even started on their quest! Post your ideas up, and WHO KNOWS!!?? I may even post one of yours in this story! I will mention If any ideas have come from who, so you guys know who to pin the credit on, and so I don't get in trouble. THANKS FOR READING!!!

DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own the piklopedia entries. Those I copied down from the games. The greenteeth and its piklopedia entry was, however, invented by me.

All was chaos. Nothing was clear or focused, except for my mission. All I could see, all I would look at, was the water, and whenever a shape that was not blue obscured the path, I jumped up, grabbed on, and pummeled viciously until whatever it was I had landed on was still.

Looking back, I surprised myself. I usually was not very focused and got distracted easily, for a pikmin. But then again, I was never in a battle such as this, never had a goal quite like this.

It was my mission to get into the water, where I belonged.

It was my purpose to get into the sweet, sweet moisture where I was born for and from, and where I will, eventually, perish.

The only other thing I was able to focus on clearly was the Eldest, and even him only dimly. I was able to discern him from the other blue smears around me. Everything was slow, sluggish, like everything was underwater. He was yelling something I could not hear, but I was certain that it was a war cry, from how his voice spoke of rage and determination.

Then, something strange happened to me. I felt as if...I was a leader, or how a leader was supposed to feel. I did not know why, but it was enough to bring me to my senses.

Some part of me had disappeared when the great object from the sky came down and pierced the Mother Vessel to her heart. But now...

I felt as if something had been given back to me.

For the first time, I noticed what events were unfolding around me. Pikmin were running to the water with singleminded purpose. Their movements spoke of something that was...wild...within them, something primordial. I was sure that that was how I had appeared not a rotation ago. They attacked anything that stood in their way, any obstacle obstructing the path.

Any soul that reared up before them in defiance.

A tremendous blast of air caught me by surprise, and I was blown forwards by the pressure. Pikmin around me toppled onto their faces and stomachs, and some on their backs. I had forgotten about the creature the Eldest had pointed out.

A massive, floating monster with a blue hide drifted down. Its hindside was covered with spikes, probably used as a defensive advantage against attacks from behind. Pulses of color flashed along its body, making it mesmerisingly beautiful. I watched it for a moment, before resuming my mission.

Puffy blowhog

Sus inflata

Blowhog family

This species of blowhwg uses internally generated hydrogen to inflate a flotation bladder and hover above the ground. The creature's electrified pulse creates a sash of color that flows along the surface of its body, making a particularily beautiful blowhog species. Precisely how it is able to internally stabilize its highly explosive hydrogen and simultaneously generate electricity remains a mystery. The puffu blowhog blows leaves and grass to eat the insects underneath. It maintains midair buoyancy by using its fins and releasing air through blowholes. This enables it to float effortlessly, even in the breeze. In times of danger, the puffy blowhog can decompress its floatation bladder for a rapid escape from predators.

Excerpt from: Piklopedia, 7th day on pikmin planet.

As I noticed it I realized that I had known it was there all the while. Was I that intent on my mission that I would forget an important detail such as this?

Just then, when I was absorbed in my thoughts, a huge pain erupted from my leg!! I felt as if i was dying, like my soul was eager to escape this husk of a body. I should have, I thought. I should have focused on my mission.

But it was too late. This was some cruel joke played by fate! I was footsteps away from the water. Almost to our goal!

I glanced towards the source of the pain, and gasped, my voice speaking of horror, revulsion, and pain.

A violet insect, cylindrical in shape, but with large mandibles protuding from its front, used its jaws as a vice to hold me in place as it slowly gnawed on my leg.

Male sheargrub

Himeagea mandibulosa

Mandiblard family

This specimen is a male sheargrub. Having lost both legs and wings, the male burrows into the soil and waits to ambush small creatures that pass by. this beast's mandibles can be dangerous, making creatures such as pikmin easy prey.

Excerpt from: Piklopedia, 2nd day on pikmin planet.

It bit down harder as I struggled, sending a lance of pain jolting through my leg all the way to my head intense enough to cause me to cry out, my voice speaking of intense pain and suffering. My leg squeezed out a clear fluid.

A blue pikmin, instead of rushing to the water, stopped to aid me.

"Focus on the mission, brother! Worry about yourself!" I said to him, as he helped me to pry the jaws apart with his stem.

"No! I cannot abandon a brother to a fate such as this, eaten alive by such a small creature!"

I was about to thank him, but my gratitude was snatched from my throat by another blast of wind from the creature in the air, which sent me sprawling, and the small creature flying into the air. The floater, letting out a grunt of content, swooped down and caught the small creature in its muzzle, and was in the process of devouring it when a yellow pikmin leapt high into the air and landed on the creature's smooth, iridescent hide.

The effect was instantatnous. The creature drifted to one side, taken by surprise. It began to right itself when another yellow pikmin landed, this time on is back. Another yellow landed on it's brightside fin.

The creature reeled. I stood there, awestruck, as it began drifting backwards. More pikmin landed onto its hide, strangely not attacking, but just clinging on. Maybe they hadn't the strength? It was an accomplishment, even for a pikmin of the yellow vessel. Or maybe they had another plan in mind...

It was then that two things happened.

One: the pikmin of the yellow vessel raised their stems simultaneously, in the pikmin attack position, and

Two: I came to a sicknening realization.

I snapped out of my trance, and cried out to them frantically, my voice speaking of warning:

"No! Do not strike!"

But it was too late.

The pikmin simultaneously struck the creature with all of their strength, all striking the creature at once with their strongest blows.

Whatever the creature utilized to keep it in the air collapsed, and the creature sped towards the lake, launched by the force of the air speeding out of the great rend in its side.

The pikmin beside me snapped out of his trance, and spoke:

"Come! We must get into the water!"

He helped me to limp to the water at the fastest speed that I could muster, and I finally was submerged in the cool, sweet, clear moisture that I came home.

The pikmin shook me."We must focus on the mission! Do not idle! The other pikmin are already starting to move!"

I saw other blue pikmin running through the water, their movements slightly being impeded by the water. My injuries forgotten, I began to follow them.

I saw the pikmin of the yellow Vessel up ahead, along with the limp, flat carcass of the creature.

I quickly sped up to investigate, and noticed the water rippling with their struggles to stay afloat. They were still alive! They could be saved!

Me and the other blues came to the carcass and saw that some pikmin were already dead. Their blank faces stared at me with peace, their eyes spoke of calmness. I stood before one, and quickly muttered an oath to the Mother Vessel.

Guide his soul to the Father Vessel, who watches over the pikmin in the sky.

Along with the Mother Vessel, the pikmin have a Father Vessel, who watches over the pikmin while they are in the sky, the compatriot of the Mother Vessel, who watches the pikmin on the ground. The Father Vessel is the pikmin equivalent of God, who joined with the Mother Vessel to give birth to the pikmin Vessels who are their guardians, and watch over them always.Excerpt from-- Olimar's journal: pikmin studies and research, 7th day on the pikmin planet.

I quickly glanced to the shore, where I saw the pikmin of the red Vessel battling with squat, gray creatures who spat fire.

Then I glanced back to the yellow pikmin, struggling to survive. I ran over quickly to a pikmin who seemed in greater danger than the rest, and was sinking to the bottom despite his best efforts. I grabbed him and raised him to the surface, where he took great gulps of air. I listened to him gasp and sputter, before he wheezed,

"Brother, do not worry about me. Focus on your mission."

I sternly spoke back at him,"No! I cannot abandon a brother to his fate any more than the one beside me can."

The pikmin supporting me spoke, his voice speaking of modesty,

"I am not a saver, simply a guide to those who need one."

But I urged to both of them,

"We are all brothers, all on the same mission. I am going to the Sanctuary, and I will see that I and you will make It there."

The two pikmin quickly exchanged glances, their faces speaking of awe and inspiration, then looked back at me. Their replies were simultaneous.

"We will go together to the sanctuary."

We then left the carcass of the creature, with fond farewells and advice tossed back to the pikmin of the yellow Vessel, who were then sitting atop the apparently buoyant carcass of the creature.

The other blue pikmin in the group provided a small barrier with their stems between the water and the yellow pikmin. I noticed that other pikmin had saved some other yellow pikmin, who were currently lying prostate on the small platform, moaning softly or asleep. The pikmin I had saved was wide awake, and had appointed himself as a sentry, to warn of approaching danger.

Altogether in our group, we had a total of 43 pikmin of the blue Vessel, and 11 pikmin of the yellow Vessel, adding up to a total of 54 pikmin. Or 55 with me included.

Then, when we had all been rallied up by the Eldest, he spoke to us:

"Brothers, the time has come to put the plan into action. We will move down this channel and, for all but the pikmin carrying the pikmin of the yellow Vessel, we will keep to the deeper waters. A few pikmin will be sent to guard those carrying the pikmin of the yellow Vessel.

Just then, I spoke up."We will need some pikmin to remain in between the two groups to watch over both, for if one group is in trouble, the other group will not know about it."

The Eldest looked at me with admiration, respect, and something else. It was as if he just had something confirmed, a belief realized.

"A wise notion, brother. You are intelligent and will one day make a fine chieftan for us to follow. But, I warn you,"

His eyes spoke of happiness and mischief.

"That day may come sooner than you think."

The other pikmin stared at me with respect and awe. The Eldest had spoken to me as...an equal. A friend.

But then his face hardened.

"Now, we must get back to the mission."

He indicated to a cluster of about 20 blue pikmin huddling together.

"All of you will accompany me to the deeper waters, along with you, brother."

He indicated at the blue pikmin who had helped me, and we looked at each other for a rotation, before turning away with a small statement,

"May the Father Vessel guide you and the Mother Vessel protect you."

I said the same to him, then he strode to the group of blues and turned around.

The Eldest then indicated to the group of nine pikmin supporting the 11 yellow pikmin.

"You shall travel with the eight standing there,"

He pointed his stem at the small group standing to their brightside,

"And you five will be the liaison between us."

He pointed at me and the other pikmin standing around me.

"If we become engaged with any creatures of the deep, you are not to aid us. We are in a sizeable group, and are capable of defending ourselves. But you must protect those who carry our brothers from the yellow Vessel. They are the top priority. They are too weak to survive on the land currently. They must have rest. Simply shout to us if they are in need of aid. If you encounter and creatures, avoid them. Do not waste time in combat. Once we are in combat with the cannon impedeing the way of our brothers of the red Vessel, do not, I repeat, NOT, linger around of its mouth. Once he tosses you off of his back, he will attempt to finish us off."

His eyes shone with something that spoke of enthusiasm.

"And, in the process, will find that we are pikmin of the Mother Vessel, and not to be taken lightly."

All pikmin cried out battle cries and cheers, with weak hoots coming from the yellow pikmin.

The Eldest then bowed his head.

"I pray for all of your goodwill, and for those who move to the Sanctuary, simply run after the cannon has been taken down. I pray that you find your destination, and go with not fear, anger, or sorrow in your hearts, but with goodwill. Farewell, my brothers. Farewell."

We then turned to the waters, and moved down the channel. We did not look back.

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We had already separated into our groups. We were walking down the side of a narrow cliff, with plants creeping down its side. We had passed some creatures, but they had been fiercely in combat as well. We had also noticed some carcasses lying on the bottom. Some had even begun to rot.

I had been thinking about how it was when I had first entered the world.

From what I gather, I had started out as a small little root that sprouted a leaf. I had no consiousness at that point, so I had to learn off of other individuals. I had sucked in moisture from under the ground, for it was that water which supplied me with nutrients and what I required to survive. At the point where I sprouted a leaf, I gained intelligence.

The ground was cool, soft, and caressing. I was safe, for now and always. Or, for a while at least.

I had been pulled from the ground by the leader. I do not remember much, as my mind was still developing.

But I do remember a kind, caring face, strange though it was.

Its eyes were strange, squinted somehow.

Its skin was the color of the desert, which I had not seen until later.

It was wearing a barrier around its head. That one was clear. The one around its body obscured its true shape.

It also had a stem. It did not have a flower, however. Instead, there was a bulb of some sort. Glowing red, shining brightly through the darkness.

Darkness? The sun was obscured. I could not feel its warmth. Yet it was still there, simply blocked bu huge, earthy pillars with not one, but many leaves.

Later, the other pikmin said that they were called "trees."

I liked that place. I intend to return there someday.

I also remembered the first time I was sumberged in the cool, fresh moisture called water. The sun shone brightly, bestowing upon me nutrients which I sucked in with my stem.

When I first entered the water, I began to panic, for I could not breathe through the pores in my skin. Eventually, I learned how to breathe through the gills on the front of my head, or "face."

I had fought the large, red creatures before. The others had called them "Min-eaters."

When I had first fought one, it was very small. I was alone, the other pikmin had been instructed by the leader to do other tasks. When he had noticed the creature, he had spoke to me in the language I was familiar with through a box on his hindside.

"This creature is called a min-eater. It is ferocious, but it is small. Attack it without fear or doubt. I will watch your fighting capabilities, and assess you upon them. Now go."

I obeyed him without hesitation.

As I strode towards the creature, it noticed me. Immediately, it began to snarl, displaying ferocious fangs. Its eyes, mounted on stalks, spoke of malice, hatred and--could it be fear?

We circled each other warily, our eyes trained on each other for a few rotations, before it howled with a voice that spoke of rage and charged forwards. I jumped to the side, and the creature fell to the ground. Before giving it a chance to raise up, I leaped upon its back and pummeled it with all of my strength with my stem. The creature howled and attempted to shake me off, but still I clung on. Eventually, with one last, pitiful roar of defiance, it fell to the ground.

The leader called me back and gave me praise.

"You have done well, child. You are a fierce fighter, and extremely quick on your feet. I shall call you...swift, as the slitherer."

I was proud of myself, and I filled with warmth at his praise.

But that had changed.

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I had never, since then, had told any pikmin what he had called me.

And I suspect he had lain his mark upon others, as well.

We, the four pikmin and I, had walked for a time. The pikmin at the bottom of the water channel had not encountered any creatures as of yet, and neither had the group at the top.

But the same cannot be said for us.

We walked for a while before coming across a small cave at the bottom of the hole. The other pikmin had stopped.

One of them spoke up,"It is a creature's nest."

And then another,"We must not lose sight of the groups. We must go around!"

They looked at me, as if expecting guidance.

So I said,"We will go around. We cannot risk conflict."

And so we went around.

As we did, we noticed the group at the bottom of the water. They were gesturing at us strangely, pointing their stems to the group above with a motion that spoke of...urgency?

We quickly spon around, to look at the group carrying the pikmin of the yellow Vessel. A large creature was menacing them! They need aid!

We rushed to help. The creature was large, almost as large as a greater min-eater.

It was gray, and had yellow eyes that spoke of cold malice, and cruel intelligence. It had many fins placed around its body, which I assumed were used for locomotion. But its most distinguishable feature was that its teeth were large, and serrated. And they were green!?

Greenteeth

Dentalia serratus

Pirhana family

The greenteeth is a large, ferocious fish that dwells in large ponds and small lakes. It is part of the pirhana family, but rather than hunt in packs, this creature hunts alone. Its mouth is its most prominent feature, for it boasts large, serrated teeth that are, in fact, hollow. They are connected to a venom gland located on the bottom of their lower jaw, which produces the venom in a similar manner to rattlesnake venom. The venom is then stored in the teeth, and is secreted under pressure. The venom is what causes the teeth to appear green. The greenteeth resides in freshwater weeds, and springs out to attack any creature passing by their territory.

We rushed to help the pikmin attack the creature, noticing that two pikmin were lying on the ground, bubbles rapidly rushing from their lifeless bodies. A third was in its teeth, dead from their venom. The remaining five were spaced on various points of its body, pummeling it rapidly. It bucked and twisted, attempting to throw them off.

The pikmin carrying the yellow pikmin had retreated to shallower waters where the creature could not reach.

Me and the four other pikmin let out cries that spoke of fury and outrage, and threw ourselves at the monster.

Eventually the creature grew still.

The blue pikmin at the bottom had reached us by then, panting rapidly.

The Eldest, between gasps, asked us:

"Brothers...are the other pikmin...safe...?"

Panting myself, I nodded.

"Good."

The pikmin carrying our brothers returned, and we set off again, but this time in a great group.

About half a cycle later, we came to the cannon.

Sorry it needs to end here, but i'm sure this chapter is long enough! Whoo! That took a while. Keep up the reviews, and stay tuned for the next chapter!