I'm watching the opening to the Olympics as I'm submitting this, and it is AMAZING! What are you doing, reading fanfiction right now? Go and watch it! This chapter will still be here when you get back!

On with the fic!

-Olimar-

Routine Deviance

A piece of pipe clanged loudly against Olimar's helmet, waking the astronaut. He sat up, rubbing away a dent on his helmet. Squinting through the glass, Olimar found himself in a dense jungle, surrounded by smoking pieces of his spaceship.

His eyes grew wide in realization of his situation.

"You have to be kidding me!" he yelled, his voice sounding tinny inside his helmet. "Again? I crashed on an unknown planet again?"

"If only Louie could see me now," he said ruefully, shaking his head. "Looks like he was right about those pilot lessons. I pretty much coasted through flight academy anyway…"

Olimar got up, surveying the forest worriedly. "The parts must be all over the place, just like last time. I wish I still had-"

A small squeak diverted his attention. Olimar looked down to see a Red Pikmin tugging on his suit leg, looking up at him with wide eyes.

He laughed disbelievingly. "What luck! I didn't think I was anywhere near your planet!"

Looking around, Olimar noticed Pikmin of all shapes and sizes creeping out into the clearing, tentatively approaching him. He smiled, rubbing a few affectionately. "I missed you guys."

The Pikmin squeaked happily.

"Well," Olimar said abruptly, "I guess you know what to do. The engine is over there. I need four White, six Purple, and a few Reds."

The Pikmin scattered, moving into the formation he had outlined for them.

Olimar looked at the busying Pikmin with satisfaction. Looks like things are back to normal.

The full meaning of his statement hit him a minute later.

NORMAL?! This isn't normal! This is an emergency situation! Olimar thought furiously, kicking himself. Don't tell me I've grown used to this!

Although… he thought, watching the Pikmin. I have grown attached to the Pikmin. And I certainly know how to repair my ship more than I know how to fly it, that's for sure. I can't remember the last time I enjoyed making a delivery.

I guess I could make a hobby out of repairing my ship, Olimar thought wryly.

Several feet away, a group of Pikmin heaved and struggled to carry the engine over to him.

The rest of the day passed uneventfully. Olimar continued giving orders to the Pikmin, telling them to bring parts of his ship. The Pikmin obeyed, working as a team to help their protector.

By the end of the day, a rough structure resembling the Hocotate Ship had formed.

Settling down to sleep, Olimar was flabbergasted to discover the Pikmin following him into his ship. The Onion had gone missing, and the Pikmin were homeless.

Feeling sorry for them, Olimar allowed the Pikmin to curl up in nooks and crannies inside his rocket.

Several days passed in a similar manner. Olimar continued to rebuild his ship, constantly checking his life support system to see how long he had left.

One day, Olimar was using his portable scanner to locate the next part. He swiveled around, trying to pinpoint the signal.

Having identified the source, Olimar set out in its direction. The Pikmin hurried to keep up.

"This can't be right," Olimar said, annoyed, "There's a cliff up ahead, but the signal leads several miles further."

He pushed past hanging vines, fearing the worst. "Please don't be in the water, please don't be in the water, please don't be in the-"

Olimar broke off as he approached the end of the cliff, his jaw dropping open at what he was seeing.

An island was floating in the sky, perfectly silhouetted by the horizon.

A quick glance at the scanner confirmed Olimar's suspicions. The part he required was there.

"…Has that always been there?" Olimar asked weakly. "I'm sure I would have noticed something like that."

He sat down hard, the shock still upon him. "Okay, okay," he said to himself, the Pikmin crowding around him worriedly. "I could probably make it there with the ship, but it would take a toll on the engine. Plus I have absolutely no idea what's on that island."

"I'm scared," he admitted to the Pikmin. "I've never done something like this before. That island is stranger than anything I've ever seen, and I'm heading right for it."

"But then again, this is me I'm talking about," Olimar said with a smile. "The extraordinary is my ordinary."

Getting to his feet, he faced the crowd of Pikmin. "What do you say?" he inquired. "Ready for a trip into the unknown?"

The Pikmin cheered.

Doesn't it seem like Olimar has a habit of encountering the Pikmin?

Given that I've played only one level of Pikmin myself, I'm a bit hesitant about the way I wrte Olimar. Does it seem in character?

Having a piece of his ship located on the Isle of the Ancients is the only reason I could think of for Olimar going there. Seriously, the place is everything Olimar hates. Big, scary, filled with mechanical and otherworldly "predators", and completely unfamiliar. Need further proof? Just take a look at Olimar's first cutscene. The poor guy is shaking like a leaf.

Yeah, I think Olimar barely graduated from flight school. He's terrible at flying. In "Galactic Brawl", his ship is the last in the Subspace sphere, and it looks like it's about to explode.

On an unrelated note, aren't the Beijing Olympics opening ceremonies made of PURE WIN? It's like watching a movie!

I STILL NEED MORE IDEAS! Same rules apply!

REVIEW!