It's back...
Disclaimer: Seriously, why do people add these, for their word count? Fan fiction has the right for us to post these, we realized that when reading the guidelines (you DID read the guidelines didn't you? This is almost unnecessary, of course we know I don't own Pikmin, if I did I would be doing something far more productive.
The sounds of the battle behind me still echo through the forest no matter how far I run, solidifying the guilt inside me. They grow fainter and fainter in the cool air, but they still seem to resonate clearly inside my head.
Finally I stop. Cold, out of breath, hungry and guilt stricken.
That Leader saves my life and I run?
But...
It does seem like a fair compensation, a Leader is a Leader after all, and they're guilty for a lot more things compared to me.
The conflicting thoughts grind in my head for a while, before the overwhelming physical needs slip subtly back into my mind.
I"m cold, so I need warmth
I'm hungry, so I need food.
I look around through the maze of trees, hoping the solution would appear in the vast white ground. Nothing at first seems to catch my eye, but then looking left I notice a clear reflection of the sun glinting off a shiny, mirror like surface.
Ice, slicked over a small stream that snaked through the woods.
Being a blue pikmin I was naturally inclined to head towards the water source, would there be any food there though? In this kind of weather it was rare to find anything edible anywhere. Still it was water, and although frozen, if anything was growing around it would be there. There may even be some aquatic plants growing under the surface, I would just have to break the frozen crust to get a hold of them.
My mind was whirring with possibilities, and it seemed like a wise decision to head towards the stream.
The snow had gotten quite deep, layer after layer had built up, each one mercilessly crushing the last. More than once I had to wave my arms wildly to keep balance and prevent myself from falling. The stream was quite close and should have been a short trip, but it ended up taking quite a long time. The sun had sneakily dipped lower in the sky when I finally reached the edge of the stream.
Frustrated and exhausted, I took my first step on to it's frozen surface...
...and slipped and fell.
My hands failed at saving my fall, and my head hit the ice...hard. Lights briefly flashed in my eyes. Groaning and cursing, I slowly got back to my feet fully aware of the potential danger.
Warily, I slowly shuffled towards the middle of the stream, almost slipping over twice. At the centre of the stream was a small stone jutting defiantly out of the frozen surface. I gratefully leaned on to that.
The stream was only frozen at the top just as I had thought. If I could break through that, I may be able to find something to eat down there. I could also use the current as a form of travel.
It paid off to be a blue pikmin.
I scanned the ice for any weak points, someplace where I could start. Nothing seemed to stand out though, it all seemed like one solid surface.
That's when I heard a noise to my right.
Looking down the stream, I noticed a cyan pikmin moving across. The noise was coming from a small pellet of crystallized nectar he was dragging with him. A small pouch is slung over the cyan's shoulder and falls to his waist.
Food...
And a chance for revenge.
The sick thoughts wormed their way into my head. These cyans, brutal, savage, to the point where eating their own kind is acceptable...
All of these thoughts gradually flow into one solid emotion...anger.
Forgetting the slippery surface I stand on, I swiftly move toward the cyan, his back is turned away from me. He doesn't sense my presence...yet.
I quickly shorten the distance between us, and I am almost ready to charge when the cyan pauses.
I stop too.
Neither of us move.
Then very slowly, the cyan pikmin's stem, crowned with a flower, slithers down into the pouch and pull out a small rock that's black with pulsing yellow veins.
A bomb rock.
There's another brief pause, then the cyan quickly spins around to face me, his momentum carrying his long stem behind him. With a quick twist of his head, the bomb rock is suddenly flying through the air...towards me.
I barely have time to react, but get just enough time to throw myself to the ground. I feel the air distort in the place where I just was, as the bomb rock whips past overhead...
I hear the sharp snap and hiss, as it lands on the ice.
And then feel a sudden burst heat as it explodes, shaking the ground. I hear a few loud cracks as the ice breaks behind me.
Looking back, I see the last of the flames die away, contrasting with the vast blue hole that has now appeared in the ice. A few stray ice chunks sway in the water.
Pretty impressive for a tiny shard of bomb rock.
And the cyan seemed to have a lot more of those.
He was looking at me with an almost disappointed look, as if he had expected something more dangerous and far bigger to be fighting with. It seemed that the cyan pikmin decided that using more bomb rocks on me would be a waste and better spared for other times, so his stem that had been dipping into his pouch a second time hesitated and then retracted.
Nevertheless we continued to face each other.
He swung his one leg up and planted it on the nectar pellet, giving me a taunting look. I slowly started approaching again making it seem as I was going to make the first move.
But I wasn't
Because unaware to the cyan...a mushroom pikmin was creeping up behind him. I had noticed him only moments before, but the cyan was still oblivious. I slowly watched this new challenger, but kept the focus on the cyan.
He suspected nothing.
I paused.
Then the mushroom pikmin sprang.
The cyan pikmin suddenly sensed it, but far too late.
And then I started running towards the fray, my eyes on the pellet.
The cyan was trying to turn, but the mushroom had already slammed into his back. If it wasn't for his clawed feet, he would be on the ground. Still the blow hurt, and the cyan was doubled over.
Before the mushroom pikmin could land another hit though, the cyan's stem snapped out and twisted itself around the mushroom pikmin's stem. With a grunt and some incredible strength, the cyan whipped his stem and the mushroom pikmin over his head. His stem released, and the mushroom pikmin was suddenly flying towards me.
My momentum already carrying me towards the cyan, I could only continue to move forward. And as the mushroom pikmin slammed into the ice, his sprawled form still rushing towards me, I summoned the strength in my legs, and jumped over the mushroom pikmin.
While I was still in the air the cyan, with a simple kick of the leg, sent the nectar pellet sliding across the ice towards me as well. I landed, fortunately, still on my feet, then leapt up again, not over the pellet, but simply on top. My momentum continuously pushing me forward I then jumped from the pellet...
And crashed into the surprised cyan.
The impact sent us both into the ice. Normally I would be groaning from the impact, but the adrenaline made that obsolete and instead focused my attention to cyan's claws already trying to slash at me.
I twisted my body and the claws missed by inches. Both of us were still sprawled on the ice, and i grabbed the cyan's stem, it attempted to snake out of my grasp but I tugged it hard and moved the cyan closer to me...
Close enough to land a punch into the dazed cyan's face. I tried to keep his stem in my hands, as it seemed to cause the cyan the most pain but it finally managed to twist out. I had time to land another punch, and the cyan's face contorted in pain. I then attempted to stand up, but the cyan's stem swiped under my legs and sent me to the ground again.
The cyan gave me a quick kick in the gut to insure I stayed lying on the icy surface. He then attempted to stand up himself...
Only to have the mushroom pikmin once again tackle him from behind, sending the cyan back into the ice. This time the cyan's pouch flew open and bomb rock shards were sent skittering across the frozen surface.
I used this brief distraction to stand myself up again. The mushroom pikmin noticed this, and swung his stem at me. I ducked and the large mushroom flew over. I responded by sending my own stem and its razor sharp petals into the mushroom pikmins chest. A spray of fluid shot out, signaling a highly effective slash, and sent the mushroom pikmin sprawling backwards. I used this time to return my attention to the attemping-to-get-on-his-feet-again cyan pikmin, whose stem was once again sweeping at my feet. I managed to jump over this, so did the mushroom pikmin, who had quickly recovered from the chest wound. I barely managed to land without falling over.
Now all three of us were standing up. The cyan pikmin wasted no time and whipped his stem out at me, but I swiftly moved to the side and it hit the ice instead, while I tried to once again slash the mushroom pikmin with my flower, but merely manage to graze his side as he sent his fist into the cyan pikmin's gut, who would've been able to dodge had he not been wincing in pain as I dug my foot into his stem that had yet to raise itself from the ice.
The cyan pikmin replied to the mushroom pikmin's blow by scraping his claws across the mushroom pikmin's already wounded chest. The mushroom pikmin staggered back and I stepped forward, sending an uppercut into the cyan's jaw. I had stepped off his stem to do this, and it wasting no time in whipping me in the side. Yelping in pain, I had to step sideways to prevent the stem from wrapping around my arm. Doing so I managed to receive a mushroom straight in the face, which sent me staggering back. It felt like my face had punched to the back of my head and I struggled to keep upright.
This brief pause got me to focus my attention on something peculiar. All three of us had managed to move quite a bit down the frozen stream, and now up ahead I noticed the icy glint suddenly ended, not into the deep blue of unfrozen water, but into blank thin air...
The mushroom pikmin tried to hit me again, but the cyan pikmin came from the side and with one swift motion stabbed his claws into the mushroom pikmin's back. The mushroom pikmin led out a horrid screech, before he choked and vomited fluid out of sheer pain. The cyan pikmin retracted his claws, but the mushroom pikmin did not have time to recover as I stepped over the spilled fluid on the ice and got another swift punch on the mushroom pikmin. His weakening body was then kicked aside by the cyan pikmin, who now slashed his claws at my stomach. I moved backwards, his claws missing by inches.
Now the cyan started using his stem again, brandishing it like a whip. With this advantage, I could not even get close enough to the cyan pikmin to land a hit with out risking the cyan's stem and claws tearing through my skin. So I continued to back up, and I realized I was slowly approaching the end of the stream which just disappeared of the horizon.
But it wasn't actually the end, merely a frozen waterfall that plummeted down into the iced over surface of a small pond.
The pond was a long way down.
The cyan pikmin's plan was simple now. If I kept backing up I would tumble off the edge. If moved forward I would definitely be hit by the cyan's stem multiple times as it was now a mere blur in the air as he moved it so fast.
I was dangerously close to the edge of the waterfall when I decided to do something stupid.
I stopped moving, and thrust both of my arms out. Almost instantly, I felt searing pain as the stem lashed out and hit both of them. I kept my arms static though, and the momentum of the cyan's stem caused it to wrap around my arm multiple times. The cyan pikmin's eyes widened in surprise and he tried to tug his stem away, his eyes grew even more when I dived...
Not towards him.
But towards the waterfall.
The cyan pikmin was thrust off his feet as we both slid alarmingly fast towards the waterfall. Right before the ice dipped and fell, with me falling with it, I reached with the tips of my arms around the end of a stone that jutted out of the ice. I felt the rest of my body slide over the edge, but I held on, the strain in my arms already beginning to show.
The cyan pikmin had managed to get his stem untangled when I did this. But the momentum continued to send his body rushing towards the edge. He tried to reach the rock I was on with his arms, but I batted them away with my stem. I watched the cyan slide past me, a mix of panic and anger in his eyes. Then with one final scream, he slid over the edge and then fell...
But with one more trick left, for as the cyan pikmin plummeted through the air I saw his claws extend out his hands. And as he fell the cyan flipped his body so that he faced the frozen wall of the waterfall. With a burst of effort, he thrust his claws out and jammed then into the ice. A loud grinding sound echoed through the air as the cyan pikmin continued to fall, but it was apparent that his claws were definitely slowing him down. And finally about halfway down, the cyan pikmin came to a halt, his body heaving with exhaustion.
I was quite amazed about what he had managed to pull off, but the battle was over and I focused my energy on getting the rest of my body back over the edge. Before I could though another burst of pain pulsed through my arms.
The mushroom pikmin had staggered over to the cliff edge, fluid still draining out of his deep wounds and spilling onto my face. He raised his foot again and slammed it down on the rock, crushing my hand. The pain became unbearable, but I couldn't let go...
I couldn't...
The foot raised...
And fell...
The pain ripped through my arms again. I don't even remember letting go, suddenly I was just...falling.
I had no claws to save myself, I tried to get some friction by sliding my arms against the waterfall but got nothing. My mind calculated the possibilities and came up with one last desperate attempt.
I aimed for the cyan pikmin.
He looked up in surprise, and out of panic let go of the waterfall right before I hit him. Air rushing past me, I streamlined my body and caught up to him mid-air. He tried to keep away, swinging his claws wildly, but I stopped him with a kick in the face. I then tried to hook my arms around his, but my hit had sent him spinning wildly. Finally I waited for him to face me again. Then I grabbed around his chest and pulled myself forward, wrapping my arms behind his back I hung on tight.
We were both spinning and flipping wildly now, I couldn't make out the sky or the ground as everything was twisted and melded beyond comprehension. I could make out the cyan pikmin's stem though, it was snaking through the air, flapping wildly before managing to snag a rock sprouting out of the frozen waterfall.
I tightened my grip as the stem snapped tight and the cyan suddenly stopped, letting out a scream of immense pain as it happened. My arms felt like they were going to rip out of my sockets as I continued to hold on to the chest. The momentum of my body though caused me to slide down past the waist, down the legs until I could only grab onto the cyan pikmin's foot.
Pain was dully throbbing through my body but it was nothing compared to what the cyan pikmin was experiencing. His stem was holding us all up, and it was beginning to show, beads of fluid accumulated on tiny tears in the stem and were beginning to run down its length and over the cyan's face which was distorted in pain.
I looked past the cyan pikmin, and far up above I noticed the figure of the mushroom pikmin still standing there. And as I watched, I saw him casually kick two small objects off the edge of the waterfall. As they fell I got a clear view of them.
Black striped with yellow.
Two pieces of bomb rock shards.
I think I saw the mushroom pikmin smile.
I flattened my stem against my back as the bomb rocks race by. There's a long pause and I'm almost tempted to look down.
Silence.
And then the blast.
The heat of the explosion almost burns my back and I want to cover my ears but that would mean letting go. I see chunks of ice get propelled past us, shattering against the waterfall and then raining back down. One dagger of ice cuts my back as it falls and I wince.
Then anther chunk hits the cyan pikmin's stem and the rock it was holding on to. The rock snaps from its place in the waterfall and then we're both falling again.
I look down though and smile, for the explosion has shattered the ice and has left only the gaping blue of water underneath.
Perfect.
I twist my body into a perfect dive and then slice into the water. My blue body endures but almost regretfully accepts the freezing cold temperature. I spread out my arms to slow my descent and feel relaxed.
A moment later I hear the distorted sound of a splash as the cyan pikmin hits the water...
And starts to die.
I slowly watch him sink past me. He's twisting violently as if searching for some bubble of air, stirring his arms to try to reach the surface but he has clearly no idea how to swim.
And I just watch.
The cyan pikmin deserves it, his mouth has probably tasted pikmin flesh before. What a sick, twisted life they have. Drowning seems like such a suitable death, it is similar to getting eaten alive. Every moment feels like an eternity in both...
But now a contrasting feeling bubbles up. If the deaths are so similar, am I not like the cyan pikmin then...
They deserve it...
It's cold revenge, I have bigger things to deal with...I can still save him...
He tried to kill me...
We were all trying to kill each other. Primitively, like animals....
We're beyond that...
And while I'm still debating, I realize I'm already diving down, towards the cyan pikmin. Grasping his stem, I roughly pull him up with me and begin to head towards the surface.
I've killed before, all pikmin have, but not like this
The cyan gasps as we break the surface, and I begin to swim towards the edge of the pond. It's hard though, the cyan is heavy.
"Come on, help keep us above the surface, kick your legs," I instruct.
The cyan seems too busy gasping in the air to hear what I said, but after a few seconds he begins to kick, making it much easier.
When we make it to the edge of the pond, I toss the cyan pikmin onto the snow before lifting myself out. The cyan lays there limply, still gasping for breath. I give him a quick kick to get his attention. I want something in return.
"Where did you get that pellet? The one that you had?" I ask into the cyan's dazed face.
The cyan pikmin seems to have to think hard to get the answer, he continues to breath deeply. Finally a simple point of the cyan's arm shows me the direction I want to go. Not wanting to waste anymore time and quite hungry I headed started to head off in said direction.
Only after a few steps did the cyan pikmin's voice stop me.
"You're heading there alone?" He asked meekly.
"Yeah," I replied. "Does it matter?"
A brief chuckle interrupted by another gasp. "You're crazy, the puffstool has the more major food branches defended. You'll be captured."
"Puffstool?"
"That giant Mushroom that waddles around on two legs...it can spore us pikmin, make us it's slaves."
That seemed like a suitable name. "I've heard of it..."
"Well unless you've been living in a hole for the last few days, you may have noticed that this puffstool has gotten quite powerful. It's nexus now covers a large portion of the western woods."
"Nexus?"
"It has infected a lot of pikmin, the puffstool almost has a mini army. It is sustainable enough that it has saturated a couple of areas with spores. Even breathing in those areas could risk infection. The spores themselves have gotten more deadly too, a couple of animals have felt the effects. Spring's coming too, when that happens the puffstool can spread spores a lot easier and smother more areas...intoxicating them."
I interrupted, but took the information. "I've fought them before..."
"Yeah but if you go to this food source alone, they're going to capture you and infect you too, that's what happened to my group...I managed to get away though."
"Is there another place to get food?"
The cyan hesitated, so I approached.
"I do recall saving your life, what's that worth to you? You cannibalistic bastard," I spat.
The cyan stuttered, "You judge our entire colour based on a few...but yes I will take you to food."
"Alright then, get up. And let's go." I reached down to help him up.
The cyan pikmin hesitated again, as if he had betrayed someone. Almost resentfully he finally took my hand.
And we headed off. Him leading the way, I followed behind, aware that the woods had gotten a lot more dangerous.
(Most run on sentences were down on purpose (experimental!))
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Though one always can't get what one desires...