Nintendo High
Chapter 9: Call of the Woods
(Originally posted on deviantART on January 17, 2013.)
It was a breezy Friday afternoon when it happened. The much anticipated school camp-out was about to get under way. Two buses were parked in front of Nintendo High about a half hour after everyone would normally have been dropped off at home or otherwise left the school, but those who were attending the camp-out were crowded around the front doors, chatting excitedly as their backpacks, sleeping bags, tents, and other supplies were loaded into the buses' cargo holds by the eager and helpful members of Club Pikmin. Olimar Ligase, the Hocotatian teacher who had organized the camp-out, made his way to the front of the group of students, along with Coach DK, Ballyhoo, and Samus, who were accompanying as teacher chaperones.
Olimar held up a hand and cleared his throat to get the students' attention. "Good afternoon, everyone!" he exclaimed cheerfully. "I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for signing up for this camp-out. I'm simply delighted to experience the wonder of the Kokiri Forest with all of you! Now, everyone be sure to remember your groups. If all of the freshmen could come with me, please, we'll begin boarding the buses."
The students soon began to board, with freshmen and sophomores in one bus with Olimar and Coach DK, and juniors and seniors in the other with Ballyhoo and Samus. It didn't go unnoticed by any of the students that Pit had offered to help Samus with her things, as they all had a small belief that the angel boy had a crush on their lady gym teacher.
However, this story is not about Pit and Samus. This story focuses on Pika and the group he had formed with May, the Isberg siblings Popo and Nana, and Issun. Originally the groups were only supposed to consist of two boys and two girls each, but as there were an uneven number of freshman, Issun was made to join an already full group, which was thankfully not much of a bother because he was barely over two-and-a-half inches tall. "Aw yeah, this is gonna be so awesome!" Issun exclaimed, bouncing around the two seats the other members of his group occupied. "My parents always told me that they grew up in a magic forest, so maybe there'll be other Poncles living in this forest, too!"
"I wouldn't get your hopes up, Issun," Pika said, looking over a printout of a guide for the camp-out. "It says here that the Kokiri Forest is inhabited solely by Kokiri, though there may also be some Deku Scrubs somewhere in there." He looked up and noticed Issun still bouncing around like a kid with too much sugar. "Hey, could you quit bouncing around like that?" he asked. "You're making me kind of nervous. What'll happen when the bus starts?"
"Relax!" Issun scoffed, momentarily pausing his bouncing. "When the bus starts, I'll just keep myself in place by holdin' on to your hai—AAAH!" Issun had tried to demonstrate what he was talking about, but had received a nasty jolt from the static build-up in Pika's hair. "You seriously need to do something about that charge, yo."
"I can't help it..."
"So, did you hear the rumors about what's in that cooler the teachers brought?" Popo asked.
"What rumors?" May asked, slightly confused. "All those coolers were for our lunch ingredients. I saw it myself when I put my share in."
"No, I mean the blue cooler," Popo said. "Y'know, the one they wouldn't let us get in to?" He looked around, then continued in a whisper, "One of the juniors said that a student managed to sneak a peek inside, and there's apparently cake and fruit and all kinds of awesome stuff in there!"
"Seriously?" Nana asked. "I dunno, that doesn't sound like something they'd do."
"Not really a camping-appropriate selection of food, but if it's true, then I'm certainly not complaining!" May exclaimed with a laugh.
"I just can't wait!" Issun exclaimed, bouncing on every word.
Just then, the bus driver shouted from the front of the bus, "All right, hold on t'yer buttocks, lads 'n lasses, we be shovin' off now!" The bus started up and began to drive a bit faster than it should have in a parking lot. Just as Pika had predicted, the sudden forward momentum caused Issun to be flung from his place on the back of the seat and onto the floor, rolling all the way to the back of the bus. Thankfully, Issun managed to bounce back to his group none the worse for wear.
"Heh, I thought that bugs usually splat on the front of the vehicle," May said jokingly.
"Shut your face!" Issun shouted. "I ain't no bug!"
The bus continued onward, making great time due to its specially built engine that allowed it to drive fast and make safe, precise movements through the streets while maintaining a low inertia to the passengers. Still, the students had plenty of time to make conversation and joke around with one another. In Pika's group in particular, Popo was telling everyone a story of a camping trip he had been on as a child that involved a toy beam sword, oversized socks, and a bat that had wandered into his tent. "THIS IS MY KINGDOM!" Popo shouted, making upwards jabbing motions to illustrate what he was doing in order to ward off the animal. "GET OFF MY FLOP-SOCK!" While other nearby students glanced over at the group with odd expressions, Popo's fellow team members laughed at the ridiculous yet true story.
"That story never gets old, Popo!" Nana giggled.
"Yeah, cool story, bro," Issun said. "So anyway, what're the sleeping arrangements for this camp-out gonna be? Huh? Huuuuuuh?"
"Ugh, I know what you're planning," May groaned. "Guys and girls are sleeping in separate tents, got it? And even if the school didn't threaten detention to those who broke the rules, I'd still insist on it!"
Issun stopped bouncing. "Sheesh, girls are always so paranoid!" he said, acting as if he was taken aback.
"It doesn't help your case that you were kinda being a creep about it," Pika pointed out.
The bus suddenly stopped at a red light and Issun, not having learned from last time, was flung from the back of the seat again, this time colliding with the inside of the windshield due to his group having chosen to sit close to the front. "And here I be thinkin' bugs always splat on the outside o'the bus..." the driver mused.
Soon enough the buses had arrived at their destination. The outskirts of the Kokiri Forest made the place seem pleasant and inviting, which was helped by the friendly faces on the green-clad children waiting for the students. Each of the children were accompanied by a glowing fairy. "Welcome, welcome to the Kokiri Forest!" one of the boys exclaimed. "My name is Mido, the acting head of the Kokiri and your guide for tomorrow's hiking tour."
"Now wait a minute!" Olimar said, somewhat confused. "I thought our guide was to be Miss Saria. That's who I contact, anyway..."
"Ah, about that..." Mido replied, embarrassed. "Saria was going to be the guide, but something urgent came up and she's been super-busy taking care of it." He then clapped his hands together. "All right, then! First things first, our payment?"
"Payment?" A murmur spread through the students. "What's he talking about?"
"It's right here!" Samus called out. Nearly everyone turned to see that she was carrying a blue cooler over to the children. Two twin Kokiri girls went over to the cooler and opened it, revealing cakes and large cups of sliced fruit.
"Is that...?"
"The cake chest...it's gotta be..."
When the Kokiri finished inspecting the cooler's contents, the twins picked up each end and carried it into the forest. Mido then cleared his throat and the disappointed chatter over the cake cooler subsided. "All right, outsiders, listen up!" he said loudly so that everyone could hear him. "Just because we look like little kids doesn't mean there's no guarantee that we're not as old as if not older than the oldest member of your group, grown-ups included. So you better listen to us, 'cuz we know what we're talking about. Clean up all your trash, don't take anything weird from the woods, and stay on the marked paths." His face then broke into a sinister grin. "We can't guarantee your complete safety if you break any of those rules, y'know."
The students seemed uneasy at this last statement. However, upon seeing their expressions, a Kokiri girl wearing buns in her blonde hair laughed. "Oh, there's no need to worry, everyone!" she told them. "Mido just enjoys his little jokes sometimes! Haha!"
Later that evening, everyone had pitched their tents after eating dinner. It was time for bed, but there seemed to be some unease among at least three of the students. "So..." Issun said softly to the other boys of his group. "Is it just me or can you guys not get any sleep, either?"
"Yeah, I'm having trouble sleeping, too," Pika answered. "The ground's all lumpy and I can feel it through my sleeping bag..."
"Such is the norm with camping," Popo said with a yawn. "We should try to get to sleep anyway. I think we're supposed to get up at 8..."
"Hope you brought an alarm," Pika chuckled. "There's no way I'm getting up that early on my own..."
Eventually, despite earlier problems, the three boys did end up falling asleep. After about an hour, Pikas eyes opened half-way. "...calling...me..." he muttered sleepily. He slowly got out of his sleeping bag, stood up, and began to walk out of the tent, nudging Popo with his foot as he did so.
"Huh...?" Popo groggily sat up and noticed Pika leaving. "Hey, where are you going...?" he asked. Pika gave no response, but continued to slowly walk away from the tent. "Wait, come back!"
Issun was also awakened by Popo's sudden shout. "Hey, what's goin' on?" he asked, looking around.
"I dunno," Popo said. "Go get the girls, I'll try to stop him."
Popo then exited the tent and ran after Pika, trying to stay out of sight of any potential patrolling teachers. Issun bounced off in the opposite direction and later made his way back with May and Nana following him. "What's so important that you had to wake us up in the middle of the night?" May asked angrily.
"Pika's sleepwalking or something, I dunno!" Issun replied. "Popo's trying to keep him from going too far and he needs help!" They kept running until they came across Popo, sitting on the ground and cradling his hands.
"Popo!" Nana cried. "What happened?"
"He shocked me!" Popo shouted. He showed his hands, which appeared to be inflamed. "I grabbed him to try and lead him back to the tent, but I guess some kinda subconscious reflex happened and now my hands feel like they're on fire..."
"Where'd Pika go, anyway?" Issun asked. Popo pointed forward. The other three looked and immediately their faces fell. Pika had wandered off through the entrance to the forest.
"Oh no..." Nana muttered, distressed.
"...So what do we do?" May asked.
"It's obvious, isn't it?" Issun scoffed. "We go in after him, of course! Even if he wasn't half-asleep, it's too dark to see the paths properly, so either way he'd be screwed in there."
"They did put us into groups for a reason, after all," Popo sighed. He stood up, still gingerly rubbing his hands. "C'mon, let's go."
The next morning, all the students gathered in front of the entrance of the forest; all, that is, except for Pika's group. The teachers went to check the tents that their group were occupying, but to no avail. "I don't understand..." Olimar muttered, confused. "Where could they have gone?"
"I believe I have the answer!" a boy's voice exclaimed. Olimar turned to see the Kokiri children had returned, with Mido once again at their lead. "Last night, Redo and Remi said they saw someone in yellow wandering around the forest with his eyes closed," Mido told the teachers. "Yellow hair and somewhat dark skin. Does that sound like any of the missing kids?"
"That sounds about like Pika," Ballyhoo muttered.
"The others in his group must've went after him," Coach DK said. "But then where are they now?"
"Who knows?" Mido shrugged. "Someone goes in there without some type of guide and they could be lost forever..."
"Everyone who goes in will become a Stalfos..." the bun-wearing Kokiri said in an ominous, hushed tone. "That's what I heard a long time ago..." This statement sparked a flurry of worried murmurs amongst the younger students, most of whom had never heard of Stalfos before. A wave of fear spread through the older students who had taken a Worlds History class, however, as well as to the teachers.
"That ain't happening on my watch," Mido said. He nodded to his fairy partner, who flew over to a nearby tree and whispered into its leaves. "We've just sent a message to the others," he told the teachers. "If anyone finds them, they'll bring 'em to meet up with us on the trail."
The sunlight filtering through the trees danced across their sleeping faces. Popo was the first to awaken. He glanced over at Pika, who had stopped sleepwalking and collapsed. Popo stood up, slightly disturbing the others who were leaning on him in their sleep, and made his way over to Pika. "Pika..." he whispered, gently nudging the errant sleepwalker. "Hey, wake up..."
Pika let out a light groan and slowly opened his eyes. When he saw that what was above him was not the ceiling of the tent, but the leaves of many tall trees, he sat up with a start. "Wha-where are we?!" he shouted. "How'd we get here?"
"You were sleepwalking, dude," Issun said, bouncing over to the other two boys.
"Sleepwalking?" Pika asked, confused. "B-but I haven't had problems with sleepwalking since I was seven!" He groaned. "Aw, what a great time for that mess to come back..."
"Guys..." Nana whimpered. "Where are we?" Everyone then realized a sickening feeling...they were hopelessly lost in the forest.
"How are we gonna get out of here?" May asked, worried.
"Hold on, I remember this," Issun said. "Okay, guys, everyone follow me! The sun rises in the west, and we made camp at the west entrance, so if we follow the sun we'll get out of here eventually!"
The others followed Issun quite a ways through the forest, but then May spoke up. "Wait, I thought the sun rose in the east..."
Issun stopped in his tracks. "Ah crap...you're right...silly me, I always get those two mixed up..."
May screamed in frustration. "We're never getting out of here!" she cried. "You stupid bug, you're so useless!"
"I keep telling you, I ain't no bug!" Issun shouted.
"Guys, calm down," Popo said. "Fighting isn't going to get us out of here! Guys!"
Pika then seemed briefly startled. He looked around. "Hey, guys, does anyone else hear that?" he asked. Everyone went quiet and listened. They too could hear it; a faint chanting that didn't seem to be any language they knew. "I heard that in my dream last night," Pika said. "You don't think it was somehow leading me here...?"
Pika started to move towards the chanting, almost stepping off the path before an unseen voice shouted at the group. "Stop! Don't go any further!" Everyone turned toward the voice, which belonged to a Kokiri girl with bright green hair. She was holding a hand-carved ocarina. "Are you the students who went missing?" she asked.
"Uh, yeah..." Pika muttered, confused. "Who are you?"
"I'm Saria," the girl said. "I got a message from the others that five outsiders had entered the forest last night and became lost."
"Yeah, kinda funny how that happened," Popo said with a nervous laugh.
"Can you get us out of here?" Nana asked.
"I could," Saria said, "but I was told to reunite you with the other outsiders if I found you. I'll take you to them, then you can exit with them." She held up her ocarina and prepared to play it. "Follow me, then."
"W-wait!" Pika exclaimed. "I have to know what that chanting was. I think I'll go mad if I never figure it out..."
Saria sighed. "Well, I guess it'll be safe if you're with me," she said. Saria carefully stepped off the path and brushed some branches out of the way. With the branches out of the way, they could see a clearing full of yellow mouse-like creature scampering about, sparks flying from their cheeks as they frolicked about.
"That's what woke me up?!" Pika half-shouted in disbelief. "A bunch of freaking Pikachu?!"
"Oh, that's what they are," Saria said, amazed. "I've been trying to get them out of the forest for days now. They're not a native species, and the trees don't like them being here."
"Look at all of 'em..." Popo said in awe.
"Might even be more than a hundred..." Nana added.
With that out of the way, Saria led the students through the forest, playing a catchy little tune on her ocarina as they went. "There's just one thing that bothers me," Pika muttered soon after they had been rejoined with the others. "How could I have heard the cries of those Pikachu from all the way where we were sleeping?" He turned to the other four. "Did you guys hear any of it last night?" he asked.
"I don't remember hearing anything," May admitted.
"To be honest, we were more concerned about keeping you safe," Issun said.
"That's...that's really weird..."
AN: Posting this the day after last chapter because I forgot last week's update, which is what yesterday's update was to make up for. Also, to the person who asked about Lucas' inclusion, don't worry, I plan to include every Smash fighter from every Smash game in Nintendo High except for Dr. Mario and Bowser Jr./the Koopalings (and if this goes on long enough to see the cast into adulthood, that may change).
