From now on, NOTES TO THE READER will be in italics.

The second day has arrived! Thanks for all your reviews. Extra thanks goes to Pyrasaur, the provider of my first bit of decent constructive criticism.

About the Olimar/Louie script format: I'm doing that because the Pikmin can't really narrate it. The Pikmin language is made up of musical notes, thus the spacemen's ability to control them with beeps and whistles. Another reason is that I need to put Olimar and Louie's names in here somewhere, but the Pikmin doesn't know them. Pikmin don't even have names! So, I deviate from the narration in order to effectively convey the spacemen's conversations. Although, I admit I don't put in enough actions in the script format writing. I made an effort to improve that slightly this chapter.

Also, Olimar and Louie's unstable relationship will naturally be a big subject of this fan fic. I needed the long amount of "collection time" in the first day to set things up. The rest of the story will be more interesting.

Day 2

I reawaken to the sound of a whistle. The Red Leader (whose whistle is slightly different than the Blue Leader's) is calling for twenty-five white Pikmin.

I jump into action. I race to the exit nozzle and emerge into the... white outside? This isn't the place where we were yesterday. The air is frigid and a layer of snow covers the low walls. (My instincts allow me to know what snow is.) I'm sad that I won't get to explore yesterday's luscious environment.

On looking back at the storage vessel, I notice that it's much smaller on the outside than it was on the inside. So that's how all those items fit into it, not to mention all of us Pikmin. I bet there are multiple floors as well. The Leaders must have their own habitat above us during the night.

And speaking of the Leaders, they're currently chatting together. I listen, as usual.

Louie: -whines- "Oh, come on, Captain. Tell me where we're going. We were just here two days ago. We got everything in the Frontier Cavern. Why are we back here?"

Olimar: -sighs- "Please stop asking, Louie. I am no closer to changing my mind about telling you than I was a few seconds ago. I don't want you to argue with me, so I am keeping the intel concerning today's mission to myself."

Louie: -whines harder- "Pleeeeeeeeease! I'm begging you!"

Olimar: -nods- "I see that, but my mind remains resolute."

The Red Leader walks out of the enclosure where the three Seed Huts and the storage vessel rest. The Blue Leader follows. I do as well, along with my twenty-four fellows.

I run to the front of the group and look back at the other Pikmin. With a sudden jolt of surprise, I realize that no other Pikmin type was called for, just twenty-five whites. Where could we be going that would require only one color? A place filled with poison possibly?

We turn right, walk across a metal surface, turn right again, walk across some snow, walk through a stone basin, turn left, and cross a wooden bridge over a puddle.

Olimar: "I studied intensely for this mission overnight, Louie, so that we could perform the task today. I didn't want to wait until tomorrow, when the bugs in this area will no doubt return."

Louie: "Wait... Oh, please no. Please no..." -eyes widen- "Don't turn right!"

We turn right onto a large, low hill of snow.

Louie: "Captain! Not back in there! Are you crazy?!"

Olimar: -points at Louie- "Listen, Louie. I'm not turning back. We never got the last treasure in the Subterranean Complex and I intend to retrieve it."

Louie: "B-but, last time, the... the thing... shot you until your suit broke. I had to retreat to the geyser with the rest of the Pikmin while the ship's pod rescued you! YOU COULD HAVE DIED!!! Plus, we lost nearly all our purple Pikmin! It's a miracle your helmet didn't rupture! One breath of oxygen and you'd be dead as a... a... dead Pikmin."

We arrive at a hole on top of the snow hill.

Olimar: "I have studied extensively the specs of the beast we faced in these depths and I am certain that, this time, I shall prevail. With an army of fast runners, for timed retreats, I will be able to run to safety when the Man-at-legs readies its gun to fire, and then quickly attack while it reloads."

Louie: -folds arms- "Well, I'm not going with you. I'm never going back down there. You can go kill yourself for all I care."

Olimar: -nods- "Fine. I don't really need you here. I was planning on leading the attack solo anyway."

Louie: -unfolds arms- "What? You... You mean I don't have to come?"

Olimar: "No. No you don't."

Louie: "But... You... I... No, I'm coming. I can't let you go down there alone."

Olimar: "Then come."

Louie: "Alright, I will!"

Both Leaders jump in the hole. We follow.

On each descending floor of this underground maze, the Leaders lead us straight to the exit hole. We avoid every bug.

The snow outside continues onto the first floor, but the rest of this cavern becomes quite strange. The floor is made of rusting metal, suspended over a fathomless abyss. I find it hard to believe that we are indeed underground. This place is like a whole other world.

All the while, the Leaders talk.

Olimar: "As I was saying, it was the fact that I relied on brute force in our first encounter with the Man-at-legs that brought about my defeat. My army of purple Pikmin was simply no match for the beast's weapon. Yet, now that I have all these white Pikmin at my side, I will surely triumph." -clenches fist-

Louie: "But, if the monster sees you run behind a wall, won't it follow you?"

Olimar: "No, no it won't. One of the characteristics of the Arachnorb family, of which the Beady Long Legs was another member, is that they lack optical receptors."

Louie: "Optimal resetters?"

Olimar: -rolls eyes- "Optical receptors, Louie. Eyes. The Arachnorbs are blind."

Louie: "But, then how did it have such good aim?" -tries to scratch head, but can't because of space helmet-

Olimar: "The Man-at-legs possesses two abilities that allow it to pinpoint prey with exceptional proficiency. First, you noticed the little red light attached to its gun, right? Well, that is a sensory laser. If it passes over something living, the gun will fire. But, the true aptitude the Man-at-legs possesses in that of sound perception. The Man-at-legs listens for its prey. It can detect noises as faint as a Pikmin's breathing, and that is why it will fire on us even while we're protected. It hears sounds coming from behind a wall, but it can't hear the wall. So, it then fires in that direction even though its laser doesn't 'see' anything, because it can't move while it has its gun out and it's too cautious to pull the gun back in in order to do so. Understand?"

Louie: "I... think so."

We arrive at the fourth floor. For some reason there are no bugs on this floor.

Olimar: "Hmm. I should have brought some red Pikmin with us so they could be turned into whites in these Ivory Candypop Buds. Oh, well. Louie, comb this area and break open any eggs you find. More Ultra-Spicy Spray will be helpful."

The two Leaders leave us standing under the floating vessel, which I only just now notice has followed us. They walk off in different directions. A short while later, the Red Leader returns. Not long after that, so does the Blue Leader.

Louie: -thumps chest- "I got another Ultra-Spicy Spray!"

Olimar: "Excellent. None of the eggs I broke contained anything but nectar. So, we didn't waste our time stopping here after all."

Louie: "Ooh!" -jumps up and down- "I just got an idea, Captain. Can we test our dose of Ultra-Bitter Spay today? How 'bout we use it on the Man-at-legs?"

Olimar: "Maybe we should. But, that might be a bit too risky during such a dangerous battle. I will use it only in a state of emergency, as we still don't know what its effects are."

Louie: -shrugs- "Yeah. Okay. That sounds about right."

We all depart for the next floor.

The Leaders have stopped talking, so I decide to take up a conversation with another Pikmin. However, I don't know any of them personally, so I run to the front of the group and address them all.

"Have any of you been here before?" I ask.

Five answer "yes". I notice they are all at the back of the group. I hesitantly join them; I don't like not being able to see what's coming.

"So, if you've been here before, where are we going?" I ask the five. "The Leaders aren't having us retrieve objects. They aren't having us fight. We aren't doing anything but following. Why?"

"Because we've been here before, you twit," answers one disdainfully. "If we hadn't, then your hands would be very numb indeed by now. Back when we first came here, the Leaders had us carrying huge metal things that were all freezing cold. Do you think I wanted to come back here? Not at all. I thought we were staying in yesterday's flower garden, but noooooo. We had to come back to visit this hellhole. No doubt the Leaders intend to trifle with that mechanical beast in these depths. Though I have no idea why they brought only white Pikmin like us."

"Mechanical beast?" I squeak.

"Oh, yeeeeees," continues the Pikmin. "It was quite the problem for our intrepid Leaders. It nearly killed the Red one, along with 28 of his 34-Pikmin strong purple army."

"It... It was t-terrible!" cries a second of the five. "I dun wanna go back down there! I d-dun wanna fight that thing!"

I begin to get very scared. If 34 purples couldn't beat this thing, how do the Leaders expect 25 whites to even stand a chance?!

"Oh, you'll fight it," sneers the first. "We're all going to die eventually. Why prolong the inevitable? It's quite futile, really."

"I think we can do it!" pipes up a third. "The Leaders must have a plan! Why else would we be back here?"

"I cannot fathom our Leaders' intellects," retorts the first. "They are not our species. For all I know, they could be leading us to this monster as sacrifice."

"They would never do that!" I interrupt. "I have faith in the Leaders! You should too."

"And I have faith in us!" resumes the third. "We are Pikmin! We can triumph over any foe!"

"WE SHALL TEAR IT APART," suddenly barks a fourth.

The second gives a terrified shriek and cries, "Shut up! D-do ya w-wanna wake it?"

"We are not there yet," says the fifth monotonously. "The monster is far below us. It will not wake."

"B-b-b-but we're getting closer with ev-every step! We'll be there before y-ya know it!"

"We may not be headed for the monster," continues the fifth. "Perhaps our Leaders have something else planned. Whatever the case, we are here to obey them. If they intend for us to fight the monster, we will do so. No amount of complaining or crying will change that, so do not dwell in misfortune. Be prepared for whatever comes."

"LET THE MONSTER COME," interjects the fourth. "IT SHALL QUAKE BEFORE OUR MIGHT."

"That's the spirit!" chimed in the third.

"Yes, spirit indeed," scoffs the first. "Move to the front, why don't you?"

"I SHALL!" replies the fourth, running ahead.

"Finally," sighs the first. "Now he'll die before I do and my last moments will be free of annoyance."

"Our l-last moments?" whimpers the second. "I dun wanna die."

"I take that back," groans the first. "My last moments will be free of that particular annoyance."

We arrive at the eighth floor, which, like the fourth, lacks bugs, and the Leaders begin to speak again.

Olimar: "Excellent. Another rest stop. It's time to look for more eggs."

Louie: "Okey-dokey."

Olimar: -gives Louie a quizzical look-

Louie: "I mean... You got it, Cap."

Olimar: -continues to eye Louie-

Louie: "...tain."

Olimar: "Right. Let's go."

The Leaders depart without us as they had on the fourth floor far above us.

"An exit geyser!!!" screams the second of the five veterans, pointing at it. "It's right there! We're goin' back home! We won't have to fight!"

"Shut it, you imbecile," interjects the first. It then points in another direction. "There's another hole over there. Do you really think the Leaders brought us all this way for nothing?"

"They've g-gotta take us out! We're getting out of here! We're leaving and n-never coming back! See?! Here they c-come t-to take us back out!"

The Leaders come back. The Red arrives, then the Blue.

Olimar: "I got two more Ultra-Spicy doses! How about you, Louie?"

Louie: "I got another dose of Ultra-Bitter Spray!"

Olimar: "Wonderful! We now have two shots to experiment with. Good work, Louie."

Louie: -grins- "Thank you."

Olimar: "Now, onward. The Man-at-legs awaits."

The Leaders call us and lead us toward the hole.

"No!!!" wails the second of the five. "We've gotta go the other way! THE OTHER WAAAAAY!"

"Oh, don't be like that," I say, making an attempt to console the frightened Pikmin. "I went up against a humongous brute yesterday. I turned out all right. The Leaders were shaking back then just as violently as you are. I'm not afraid. You shouldn't be either."

"Pikmin have no business being afraid," drones the fifth. "We do our job and we do not complain. Fear is irrelevant."

"In other words," comments the first, "a frightened Pikmin will die just like any other."

"Don't tell our poor companion that!" scolds the third. "Whoever doesn't fight with the rest of us won't feel the joy of victory."

"Everyone will have to fight," corrects the fifth. "It is not our decision. Joy and fear are both irrelevant. We are here to serve. That is all that matters."

We descend through the hole. On landing, the floating vessel speaks, followed by the Leaders.

Pod: "Sensors indicate that this is the Final Floor."

Olimar: "Ah. So, we have finally arrived. Today shall be a testament to knowledge and its value over force. Alright, Louie, you stay behind one of these walls. I'll take cover with you while the Man-at-legs is firing."

Louie: "This is one time when I'm thankful to stay on the sidelines."

Olimar: -nods- "I'm glad you feel that way. Superior knowledge is all the help I need here."

We are in a gigantic, circular, metal arena. About a third of the way from the outside wall to the center lie low walls. It is behind one of these that the Blue Leader goes to stand.

The Red Leader, however, takes all twenty-five of us towards the center. I run to the front of the group, partly because it's the spot I like best and partly because of the second-of-the-five Pikmin's fear. I don't want it to rub off on me.

There it is. There's no mistaking it. A yellow, metal sphere sits in the middle of the arena. Pipes protrude from its top; steam slowly rises from them.

Before we get to it, however, I notice something else. Scraps of purple debris litter the area surrounding the dormant beast, along with splashes of some light-green liquid.

The Red Leader arrives at the beast.

It is just now that my sense of the situation really sets in: This is it! I'm finally going to play a major role in a major battle! I've been longing for this to happen! I have arrived!!!

Olimar: -takes a deep breath- "Okay. Here goes."

The Red Leader gives a few short beeps. The message: "ATTACK!"

Every one of us swarms the ball of the beast. I run on top of it and smack one of its pipes around with my flower.

A burst of steam erupts from each of the pipes and the beast rises.

The beast is made up of a ball, three spidery legs and one metal leg. I am lifted high up off the ground on its spherical body. Yet, I continue to attack.

The ball then rotates slowly and I hear the Red Leader's whistle. I jump off the beast. Just as I do so, the ball spins around violently, an action that would have thrown me off.

The Red Leader retreats and we all follow him. I am at the rear of the group. Looking back, I see the lower half of the ball split apart, revealing a long stick that points at me. A line of red light beams between the stick and me.

Instantly, the stick emits a loud thumping noise and a white orb speeds in my direction, or it would have had I not darted around the wall with everyone else. The orb hits the ground with a bang, disappearing instantly.

I hear the beast still attacking. More bangs are coming from the other side of the wall.

Louie: -eyes widen- "Wow. This sure is a dangerous plan, Captain."

Olimar: -breathing hard- "No plan against such a monstrosity can possibly be infallible. Now for a little reinforcement."

The Red Leader produces a small, red rock. The bangs of the beast's attack-orbs continue to come.

Olimar: "A little Ultra-Spicy Spray will speed things up."

The Red Leader throws the stone to the ground, where it bursts into a pink smoke cloud that engulfs everyone.

I instantly feel energized beyond anything I have yet experienced. My flower has bristled; pink sparks fly from it. I run around in circles, as does everyone else. My energy has skyrocketed!

The bangs stop and the Red Leader, darting back around the wall, charges at the beast. We all charge with him.

Even in my hyperactive frenzy, I notice that the beast's stick has vanished and the underside of the ball has closed.

We race over to the beast, which is wandering around, and the Red Leader begins throwing us all onto it.

I am tossed up onto the ball of the beast. I rapidly strike it with my flower, with double my usual speed!

Pink sparks fly from our flowers and yellow sparks fly from the beast. The metal plates on its spherical body are being bashed in.

The ball rotates again. We are called off just before the ball spins. Then we retreat back to behind the wall.

The beast launches another attack, but I do not even see the white orbs as they hammer the wall.

I continue to run and jump around. I perform a flip, landing perfectly.

The attack stops and we make another rush on the beast.

I am flung up again. I grab hold of one of the pipes and wiggle it with my hands while hitting it with my flower. But, then... my flower stops sparking. My energy level drops. I am back to normal. Well, it was fun while it lasted.

I continue to hit the pipe until the ball rotates and I am called off. No one else's flower is sparking anymore either.

I hear the stick come out of the beast as we run for the wall again. Just as I round the corner, however, I hear a shriek.

I look back around. A Pikmin has tripped on its way back with us. For a split-second I see its terrified eyes as it races to join us. The next instant, it is blasted apart by a white orb. Its light-green blood spatters the ground.

I quickly duck back behind the wall as another orb comes my way. This beast means business. One slip-up and it's all over.

The orbs rain down on the wall, but stop eventually, as usual.

The Red Leader leads us out and throws us onto the ball. I attack it. Then it rotates. We're called off... and it spins.

But, this time, the stick comes out much faster. I can tell that the Red Leader has noticed because he shouts and tries to run faster.

Olimar: -panting- "Oh, NO!"

The white orbs start coming down.

I hear a Pikmin get shot. Then another. Then another.

I race around the wall. Those who haven't yet done so swarm after me. I hear three more get blasted.

Just as the last Pikmin is about to round the corner, it is struck sideways by a white orb. It lands over an inch away with half of its body missing.

I am now in panic. The beast is officially angry. Now it is moving too fast for us to retreat in time. Plus, the wall is beginning to creak and groan under the barrage of white orbs.

I suddenly hear a cracking noise and am once again engulfed in pink smoke. All anxiety leaves me. IT'S HYPER TIME!

The Red Leader makes another dash. As I pelt towards the beast, I see its stick go back up into its body, the underside of which comes back together.

My mind is geared to attack. I am hurled upon the beast. I cling on and hold my head against the ball. My sparking flower's petals spin like blades, cutting into the beast's metal hide.

The ball rotates even sooner this time. As I am called off, it spins... and opens its underside at the same time. I hear the Red Leader scream.

Olimar: "NO!!! WE'LL NEVER MAKE IT BACK IN TIME!"

As the red beam of light from the stick swivels around to shine on the Red Leader, he takes out a purple rock and throws it at the ground.

The stone bursts into a cloud of foul black smog. Everything goes dark.

But the blackness clears quickly, revealing that the beast... has been turned to stone. Incredible! We're not going to die!!!

The Red Leader, clearly in awe, exclaims something.

Olimar: "It... It's been petrified! This Ultra-Bitter Spray is a miracle!"

The Blue Leader rushes to us.

Louie: "WOW! COOL!"

Olimar: -grins- "Yes. I know. Now we can simply destroy this statue and reap the rewards of victory."

Just as I am growing impatient for something to happen, I am thrown up onto the ball again. I pound the stone with my still-sparking flower.

There is suddenly a loud shattering noise and I am thrown from the monster. The beast had simply been encased in stone, not turned to stone. It has broken free.

Even before I hit the ground, I see the Red Leader get hit with a white orb. As I land (on my feet as luck would have it), I hear two more collide with him.

But then the Blue Leader voice rings out.

Louie: "NO!!! CAPTA-"

His voice turns into an agonizing scream as numerous white orbs smash into his body.

Suddenly, it stops. The Red Leader has thrown another purple rock, stopping the beast in its tracks.

The Red Leader whistles for some of us to pick up the Blue Leader's damaged body. I am among the ones who do so. Then he whistles for us to follow him.

Our flowers still sparking, he leads us back behind the wall, where he whistles for us to let go of the Blue Leader. As I do so, my energy boost wears off.

The Red Leader bends over the unconscious Blue Leader and whispers to him.

Olimar: -sobs- "Oh, Louie. It shot you because you were yelling. You... saved... my... life."

The floating vessel flies over.

Pod: "Initiating auto-rescue procedure."

The Blue Leader is sucked up into the floating vessel.

Almost immediately, there is a terrific clang from above and the floating vessel crashes to the ground. There is a dent in its side where the white orb had struck it.

Pod: "ERROR. ERROR. Cannot take off until area is cleared of hazards. It is too dangerous to risk another hit from the Man-at-legs."

A couple more bangs sound from the other side of the wall before the barrage stops.

The Red Leader is shaking all over.

Olimar: "I led Louie down here when he didn't need to come. It was because I was getting hurt that he yelled. It's my fault he might be dead. And now this monstrosity is preventing me from taking him to safety!"

A leg descends into the center of our group. The beast has walked over the wall. It has come to finish us off.

Olimar: "The Man-at-legs must die!!!"

The Red Leader starts throwing all the Pikmin at the beast. I instantly understand that this is an act of desperation. We cannot possibly run from it now. Now that it looms over the wall that once protected us.

I am thrown. I whack at the metal ball with all my might. If I do not succeed, I will not survive long enough to try again.

The beast suddenly crumples. A huge cloud of steam spouts from its pipes.

I let go. The surface of the ball has become too hot to hold.

The Red Leader whistles frantically for us to retreat. I run away as fast as I can. Could this be the end of us all? Or could this be the end of the beast?

I hear a huge explosion. Shards of metal fly in every direction.

I stop and turn around.

The beast is no more. Only scattered pieces of it remain, strewn all over the area.

One item does remain, however. A large, transparent orb with a few sticks of metal on the inside and a large metal cylinder stuck to its outside.

We won.

We did it.

That was... incredible! I finally got to experience the exhilaration of an awesome battle! I feel absolutely fantastic.

The Red Leader hastily commands us to pick up the item. We carry it a few inches to the floating vessel, which is now floating again.

Pod: "Initiating valuation of recovered treasure. The artifact is worth... 100 Pokos. I hereby dub this object... the Stellar Orb. In addition, th-"

Olimar: "Not now! We need to get out of here! Louie needs medical attention!"

The Red Leader calls us and races to an exit geyser. We all jump on and are whisked back out into the open air.

We land back in the snowy landscape; back in the area with the Seed Huts and the storage vessel, which the floating vessel lands on.

The Red Leader quickly dismisses us with a whistle and stands in the light of the storage vessel. He is sucked up into it.

The rest of us go to the nozzle and jump in.

Yes, the inside is definitely bigger than it appears on the outside.

There is a joyous commotion among us. The survivors of the battle are telling the story to everyone who stayed here.

I search the crowd to find the Pikmin that had been frightened before the fight. I'm curious to find out if it has cheered up. But, it is nowhere to be seen.

I look elsewhere and find it in a corner. The poor thing is shuddering as if because of cold. I notice that it has lost its flower and is now a leaf-bearer.

"You okay?" I ask.

"N-no..." it moans.

"But, we won," I continue. "Aren't you happy about that?"

"Go away!"

It jumps down into a crevice between two objects. I do not follow.

Suddenly, I am swept into the crowd by another Pikmin. I recognize it as the up beat of the five Pikmin.

"Hey, it's you!" it laughs. It then addresses the crowd, "This one had the guts to ask where we were going! He should be a role model for you all!"

"Uh, I only asked because I was curious," I say, feeling somewhat embarrassed and confused, "...and impatient."

"Leave that one alone, you dolt," interrupts the first of the five. "Don't you remember? It was the one that started our whole argument. That little instigator does not deserve to be near us."

I get myself loose from the up beat Pikmin's grip and wander away from the group. I didn't do so because of what the condescending Pikmin said; I did so because... Well... I guess I just felt like being alone. My utterly satisfying day has left me tired out.

I walk into a corner and sit down in the cap of an overturned mushroom. In an attempt not to dwell on the frightful occurrences of the day, I listen to the Leaders, whose voices are audible through the ceiling. The Blue Leader seems to be fine, but his voice is a little weaker than the Red Leader's.

Olimar: "Louie! I'm so glad you're all right! Any oxygen poisoning? Broken bones? Bruises?"

Louie: "I'm fine, Captain. Really I am. Thanks a bunch for rescuing me."

Olimar: "It was the least I could do after you saved my life... twice. First you escaped with me when I originally lost against the Man-at-legs. Then you diverted cannon fire from me when I faced the monster again. I'm sorry for everything I've put you through."

Louie: "It's okay, Captain. I'm okay... Just let those big bugs come. We'll teach 'em a lesson every time."

Olimar: "Louie, I refuse to put you in harm's way any longer. We shall depart for Hocotate immediately. I'm taking you home."

Louie: "W-what?! No! I don't want to go back home."

Olimar: "Why not?"

Louie: "I... I like it here. This planet is a lot nicer than Hocotate."

Olimar: "Louie, this planet's atmosphere is poisonous and huge carnivorous creatures are everywhere."

Louie: "B-but, you need me. I saved your life twice already. You said it yourself. I don't get why you want to send me back."

Olimar: "Yes. Well, I suppose you're right. Wanting to send you back was just a momentary lapse in judgment."

Louie: "Uh, huh. Hey, have I ever cooked up for you any of my famous bug dishes?"

Olimar: "Your what?"

Louie: "That means I haven't. I suppose I never treated you with one before because you were never very appreciative of my work. Well, then, its time for you to taste gourmet perfection! I cook bugs. It became sort of a hobby of mine at a young age."

Olimar: "Do they taste good? Are you sure they're healthy?"

Louie: "Only the finest for you, Captain. If this doesn't make you finally appreciate me fully, nothing will."

Olimar: "I suppose I'll try a meal. I never thought of eating our kills before. This is an intriguing use for those carcasses."

At this point, there is a long pause, and I become too tired to listen for more. The incessant chattering of the purples and whites in the crowd is becoming too annoying to try to hear over.

Exhaustion overpowers me and I slip into unconsciousness.

Another day has come and gone. Has Olimar and Louie's relationship finally been mended? You'll find out... tomorrow! That is, when I get around to writing a "tomorrow".

BTW, do you know where the name "Man-at-legs" comes from? It's a play on the phrase "man-at-arms", which means "man carrying weapons"!

Oh, and keep the reviews coming. :D