Author's Note: Eh. Stupid writer's block. I lost inspiration for this story…then found it again after starting another fic about Breath of Fire. Go check it out if you're interested. Thanks for joining, Legoman and KirbyXtreme. It makes me feel much better knowing that there are at least two people reading this.
All was quiet as wind swept through the plains. It whipped up miniature dust storms, and small pieces of debris blew around. An entrance to an underground cavern was often cluttered up with said debris, and this generally annoyed those who lived down there…like the group gathered there at the moment.
"Well…" murmured one in a hissing voice. "You better have a good reason for calling us down here. I'd bet all I own that I speak for all of us when I say that his place is just a junkyard."
Randomly scattered around a rather large, dark room, four figures were holding a conference, discussing something of utmost importance. One of them, sitting on a throne, appeared to be the center of attention. "It is important. I'm offering you as many riches as you can carry with you if you can kill…this Pikmin," he offered, throwing a drawing up in the air, where it lazily drifted downwards. Before it hit the ground, it was snatched up by another creature. It made no sound, and, instead, gestured. "What do you mean, 'Is that all?'" raged the one who had proposed the bounty. Soon, though, he regained his composure. "Yes, I suppose it must be all too easy for you professionals…which is why there's more than one target." At this, the speaker took out a handful of accurate representations of his enemies. "There is but one rule. You cannot harm each other."
One of them, leaning against the wall, let out a barking laugh. "This will be too easy. I'll let you two have a head start, even," he added on thoughtfully.
Hissy gave him a menacing glare that could not be seen through the darkness, and replied, "I'll take you up on that offer. Two days' head start, then?"
Barker grinned, another expression the was unseen. "You know it."
The former and the mute were off in a flash, ready to hunt their prey. Barker remained behind to speak with his employer. "This Pikmin…her name?"
One word, whispered with hatred and anger, answered his question. "Jewel."
Jewel couldn't believe her luck. She had fallen out of the frying pan and into the fire, so to speak. As she had opened her mouth to thank her rescuer, he had clampet it shut and closed it with some oddly sticky material. While she was stunned with shock, he bent down and tied her hands and feet, leaving her helpless. He picked her up and slung her over his shoulder, carrying her away. The only sounds she could make were muffled cries, and her kicking and/or punching didn't even phase her opponent. If only she hadn't dropped her rapier while running from Cujaq!
"Not much further," he grunted.
Jewel was surprised. That was the first time he had talked in the half hour or so he had abducted her. He eventually carried her into a small camp, abundant with Red Pikmin, though there was the occasional Grey and Blue. Jewel was surprised that there were any Greys here at all. They had the power to switch between a gassy and solid form, or could achieve a form somewhere inbetween, so they'd be light enough to float, but still solid. However, in recent times, they had been missing, and few were ever seen roaming around. A grey Pikmin with a friendly face yelled a "Heya, Kilgur!" to her carrier. In response, Kilgur only gave the Grey a nod. He carted Jewel to a large wooden building, where many Pikmin were seated around a table.
"Found her in ze wilds," murmured Kilgur. "I zink zhe iz a zpy. You take over fro' here." And with that, Kilgur left the building, closing the door with an absolute crack.
Now Jewel was the center of attention, strung up like a turkey. She struggled, but to no avail. Her bonds held fast. All of the Pikmin around the table glanced at her nervously. Finally, one stood up and said, "I suppose it wouldn't do any harm to allow her to talk," and he promptly removed Jewel's gag with some uttered words.
"So," asked an old Pikmin, his wrinkles so many that he looked ancient, "Why are you here, spy?"
"I'm not a-…" Jewel was interrupted as another Pikmin, who looked the youngest there, barely older than she was, stood up and spoke.
"Lies!" he spat. "All lies. Tell us why you are here immediately, or we'll have to get unpleasant."
Jewel racked her mind frantically. These Pikmin thought she was a spy. A spy for whom, and from what? These were likely the Lava Pits Pikmin…but why weren't they there? And why had their numbers diminshed so greatly? "Me?" she started. "A spy for whom?"
The youth glared at her with pure rage. How impatient he was! "WHAT DO YOU MEAN, FOR WHOM? WE KNOW THAT YOU'RE WITH HIM! OUT WITH IT! WHERE IS HE?" he roared.
"Now, now, Hyure, calm down," said another Pikmin, a Red this time. He was in his prime, wizened by his life experience but still young enough to retain most of his strength. "Look, miss…perhaps this is a misunderstanding. I'm Kenshin."
Most of the Pikmin rounded on him, with protests of, "She must be a spy!", "Why else would she be in this area?", and "Who ordered some Glowstem to che-oh, sorry. Am I interrupting something?" The latter came from a youth, who looked barely old enough to be working. He held a bag in his right hand, which probably contained the Glowstem.
The argument broke off as a grey Pikmin sheepishly stood up and took the Glowstem from the youth, slipping somehting into his hand as he went back to his seat. Immediately, the grey Pikmin shoved the Glowstem into his mouth, ignoring the rude stares he got when he crunched it.
"Right then," said Kenshin in a decisive voice. "Look, we just joined the rebels," he said, trying to persuade his colleagues. "We must accept any possible new members…"
Before he had a chance to finish his sentence, three Pikmin, Ivy, Niko, and Marrow, burst into the building, panting.
"Jewel…came with us…" panted Ivy.
"She's…part…of the…resistance," continued Marrow.
"Yeah…so let her go…" finished Niko.
Kenshin gave the other Pikmin a triumphant look, and untied Jewel. Jewel thanked him with gratitude. But then, a question sprung up in her mind. "Why are you all here?" she inquired.
Kenshin sighed. "I will tell you about it. But first…you should get some rest. You look exhausted."
He was right. Jewel felt like she would collapse on the spot. She accepted the offer, and was soon dozing off in the shadows of a tree…
A/N: Uh…yeah…your character will come in either the next chapter or the chapter after that, KirbyXtreme. Hope you enjoyed this one.
