Author's Note:

READERS BE ADVISED: THIS CHAPTER CONTIAINS PERIL.

Alph's POV

At first glance, we could already tell that this was definitely NOT going to be an easy area to cover. Granted, that's noticeable in every part of this planet we've traversed in. But this one looks the meanest of them all.

We jumped out of the ship and felt the extreme heat immediately. Charlie didn't seem fazed a bit, "We can't afford to dilly dally now team! Let's hurry and find Olimar!"

I looked at my radar and saw that there was no fruit in this place. There wasn't much plant life here anyway, other than the dry shrubs that decorated the ground, tumbleweeds, and these unpleasant-looking spiny plants. I've heard of those before I think they're called cacti.

We gathered an equal number of each kind of Pikmin out of their onion and set off into the vast wilderness. The first thing that caught all of our sights was this large tree a fair distance away. It was quite tall, almost touching the sky.

I voiced my idea, "I bet if we got up to the top of that tree we could get a better view."

"Hm! Charlie considered, "Maybe we could get a signal too... All right team! New objective! Get to the top of that tree!"

Luckily, the tree appeared to have a footpath like the last giant tree we climbed. This time the path was so narrow we had to walk in a single-file line. The walkway was quite unstable so we had to proceed with caution.

Upon the path we stumbled upon yet another data file from Captain Olimar. Reading...

"I spotted some glittering gold material on top of the tree! I think I smell treasure! I'll head up there the first thing tomorrow to investigate. Louie is refusing to go for some reason, but I'm not going to let him come between me and some undiscovered riches."

Captain Charlie had a good feeling, "All right team! Looks like we're getting close!"

Brittany was also excited, "He's probably at the top of this tree! Let's hurry!"

"If he is, than this was easier than we thought it would be." I remarked.

We began to rush up the tree, hoping that our hard and nerve-wracking journey would finally be over soon. We reached the top which led to a five foot drop into an open area.

It was the most shocking thing we have ever seen on our trip here.

There he was, Captain Olimar. He was in an unconscious state. The Pikmin were sure excited to see him, but worried at the same time.

The shocking part? This shiny gold... I don't even know what it was! But it was looking over him!

"Captain Olimar!?" Charlie exclaimed, "He's out cold! What is that thing!?"

The gold figure bent over and pet Olimar with a tentacle.

"I have no idea." Brittany stated, "But we need to get Olimar!"

I felt there was no time to lose, "Let's hurry and bring Olimar back to the Drake!"

We skidded down the drop and cautiously approached... whatever it was to take Olimar back.

As soon as the presence took notice of us, the first thing it did was absorb Olimar then curl itself into a ball.

I was shocked, "Did you see that!? That thing ate Olimar!"

"What are we going to do now?" Brittany pondered.

"Let's get the Pikmin to beat it!" Charlie suggested, "Maybe it'll let Olimar go."

"Okay, it's worth a shot." I agreed, "Ready Pikmin?"

The Pikmin all got into a prepare-to-run pose.

"ATTACK!"

At my whistle, the Pikmin all rushed the gold ball at once. Glittering blobs of gold began to scatter and the ball got smaller, "Yes! It's working! Keep going guys!"

With a few more hits the ball exploded into globs of shimmer, scattering the Pikmin all around us. To our relief, Olimar was there and he appeared okay.

"Whew! He's all right!" I enthused, "Now we can take him."

I commanded five of the winged Pikmin to pick him up. Just as they did, the large gold thing suddenly put itself back together behind us! Twice the size that it was before!

"AAAAAAAHHH!" We all screamed, now unable to go back the way we came we were forced to retreat in the cave entrance in front of us.

Inside was a dark narrow path, we ran as fast as we could with that thing now pursuing us.

"Wh-What is THAT!?" I freaked out.

"We better find a way out of here pronto!" Brittany urged.

"Absolutely! Emergency retreat! On the double!" Charlie ordered.

For a few hundred yards, we seemed to be making process. Until we came across a family of Bulborbs, awake and hungry!

"Oh great, now what?" Brittany dreaded.

Charlie promptly gave us his plan, "All right Brittany, I need you to take Olimar and run ahead."

"What about you guys?"

"We're going to fight them off. Don't worry we'll catch up. Just run for it!"

Seeing the anxiety in her eyes, I encouraged Brittany, "We'll be fine, don't worry."

The bulborbs began to rush us, I gave her a nudge, "Go Brittany! Now!" and she took off.

Brittany's POV

With the five Pikmin carrying Olimar by my side I ran off into the unknown. I could hear the sounds of Alph and Charlie fighting the Bulborbs fading as I ran. Gosh I hope they can kill them before that gold monster catches up!

"Just run for it!"

"We'll be fine don't worry."

The words of Alph and Charlie repeated in my head. I have to find the exit... but to do that... Where am I supposed to go!?

With no other choice, I kept on moving. In this one room, visibility was severely dropped and I had to carefully follow the soft light of these glowing mushrooms.

I looked back at the winged Pikmin carrying Olimar. I couldn't help but think what determined little creatures these Pikmin are... How willing they are to help us all the time. It's amazing really, we never would have gotten this far without them. I don't know how we could ever repay them.

My eyes came upon a lit up entrance, I hurried for it. Hoping that it was the exit.

It wasn't, but at least I had a clearer view. Now I had a dilemma, there were two different paths. One to my left, the other to my right. Which way do I go?

My answer was given to me when that gold monster suddenly came from my right! Armed with only five Pikmin I didn't stand a chance. I involuntarily screamed and ran to the left.

"Hurry guys!" I encouraged the Pikmin. As tired as they were, they flapped their little wings harder.

My thoughts went out to Alph and Charlie, what became of them? Did they fall victim to this... thing? Am I all alone now?

"Keep strong Brittany..." I muttered, "I have to keep going! For Koppai..."

I swear my heart stopped when we came across a dead-end.

"Oh no..."

There was nowhere for me to run, the monster was catching up fast.

This cannot be happening...

-FLASHBACK-

"So I hear that Captain Charlie has chosen you to come along on the mission." Her Auntie Bea's voice sounded concerned.

"Yes. He says that my knowledge in many kinds of plants will help out a lot." Brittany explained, "He's also recruited Alph."

"Alph? That young engineer? The one you knew in college?"

"That's the one."

"I see. Very good. Say Brittany?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you... still have feelings for him?"

Brittany felt heat flash to her face, "What?"

"You like him don't you?"

"Wh-what are you saying Auntie Bea? I mean... we're friends!"

Her aunt chuckled, "Hahaha I know dear I know. Just be careful on your journey okay? Come home safe."

"Don't worry Auntie Bea, you can count on me!"

-END OF FLASHBACK-

"This seriously sucks... I'm so sorry Auntie Bea... But it doesn't look like I'll be coming back..."

I glanced through this living blob's transparent body. Looking down that dark path...

Then I saw something odd from the shadows.

All of a sudden, we had to dive to avoid this massive heavy ball! Bits and blobs of gold went scattering everywhere! I was quick to realize an opening and I ran past all the blobs with the winged Pikmin flying close by.

"Brittany!"

The sound of Alph's voice coming from down the opposite path was the best sound I've ever heard so far today. Charlie also came rushing in, "Brittany! Thank goodness we found you!"

All of the Pikmin showed up, they made cheering sounds.

"Good to see you guys made it!" I expressed, "Did you guys find anything?"

"We sure did!" Alph enthused, "We found the exit! Follow us!"

I immediately felt weight lift off my conscience, "That's great guys! Let's hurry before that thing comes back!"

Charlie's POV

It was such a relief seeing that Brittany was all right. I was consoled a reasonable amount knowing nothing happened to her after I had sent her away to fend for herself. After all it was necessary to protect her and Olimar.

At last we had made it outside! We ran a long distance from the tree before stopping to catch our breathes.

"Well... I've had my exercise... for the year..." Alph said in between pants.

Brittany pointed out, "That Olimar... I can't believe he... slept through all that..."

One look at that suit and I could see that it was the same type that Louie has.

"It's the suit..." I mentioned, "The same type that Louie wears."

"Oh brilliant..." Brittany rolled her eyes, "You mean that suit knocked him out too?"

I nodded, "Indeed. But never mind that for now! Let's get back to the Drake before that thing returns!"

Before we could bolt, a glob of shiny gold plopped right in front of us! A gold square floated above the mess. What happened next was unbelievable! The gold mess burst into flames!

"WHOA! Other way team other way!"

But when we did there was a huge gold sphere that appeared to have a strong electric current!

"Turn around turn around!"

We came face to face with that giant blob! Except now it's become a humanoid figure. It snatched Olimar right out of our mitts!

"AAAAAAAAH!"

We ran the only way we could, that things bubble legs stomping after us. Suddenly it barfed a hunk of goo in front of us that formed into a cube! The cube fell forward.

"Watch out!" I cautioned, "That cube is solid!"

"What is this thing!?" Alph exclaimed.

"I think that square is a weak point! Throw some rock Pikmin at it!"

All of us grabbed the rock Pikmin and started chucking them like crazy. All the while trying to avoid the relentless attacks from the gold beast.

The glass shattered into goo, in which the Pikmin started attacking before the thing sucked it up!

"We've got to destroy those scattered globs before it sucks it back up!" Brittany shouted.

The gold creature hurled up some more and the gold formed into three spheres, with fire water and electricity producing from them! Alph was right, what in the world is this thing!? For crying out loud this thing controls all the elements!?

"Look! It's gotten smaller attack it attack!"

We commanded the Pikmin to charge the humanoid beast, after some hits the thing spun around sending blobs everywhere. Then it HOVERED INTO THE AIR! WHAT IN THE WORLD!?

Naturally this was no problem for the wing Pikmin, they brought that thing down from the sky within seconds and then everyone was open to attack it again! With all of their might they let loose on the thing until finally the creature beat everyone off!

"It's losing steam!" Alph encouraged, "Keep it up guys!"

Brittany watched intensely, "We've almost got it!"

It's now tiny body stumbled and withered around before it threw up a square and fell apart into a golden liquid.

The golden square illuminated and melted, revealing... Captain Olimar!

Alph leapt high in the air, "We did it guys!"

"Woo hoo!" Brittany cheered.

I too, was ecstatic, "Victory is ours!"

All of the Pikmin began cheering with us. Now all we had to do was quickly get Olimar back to the Drake!

Could this be? The long-awaited end of our journey?

Author's Note: It's me again! :D

ALL RIGHT! Only one chapter left to GO! :DDDD Three cheers! Hip hip hooray! Hip hip hooray! Hip hip Hooray!

I would like to thank everybody for reading this fanfiction! Thank you for sticking it out until the end! :D I am quite pleased on how this fic turned out! I hope you guys are happy too! :D

I admit I'm also a bit sad that this adventure will soon be over. :/ But I'm also inspired to keep on writing more! :D

The next chapter should be up fairly quickly, be sure to keep a look out! :D I have a little surprise announcement at the end!

Shine bright everyone! :DDDD