Disclaimer: I own neither pikmin nor its characters
Chapter 29: day before death
I woke up still feeling really tiered, but feeling better than yesterday. We ate, and then landed, then we got out. Only blues were taken out today, and we quickly went to get the last part. A few minutes later, we had reached the part. I looked around at the area and saw no moving creatures, besides the pikmin and us. That's when it finally hit me, we had just killed hundreds of creatures for no reason. How it hadn't gotten to me before, I had no idea, but it hit me now, and it hit hard. "All of those creatures…" I mumbled, not realizing I was saying it out loud. Aqua looked at me "everything ok Alex?" Olimar asked. I didn't hear him, my mind was swimming. Before I went on this adventure, I had never killed anything, now I could have just made several species go extinct! I started crying uncontrollably as the shock was replaced by guilt. All those creatures I could have reasoned with, we killed them. I heard the pitter-patter of a couple pikmin running off as I felt Olimar's hand on my back. "Alex, we didn't have a choice, it was us or them, you know that" I barely heard him, I wasn't thinking. He lifted his hand, probably a pikmin had gotten his attention, and I felt three sets of smaller hands on my back "Alex, it's not your fault, they attacked you, remember?" Flame said soothingly, it didn't do much because that got me thinking we invaded their territory, and it made it worse. "Come on, most of them can reproduce easily, and you saved us, think about the good things" Daisy said, trying a different approach. Didn't help me much "let me try" I heard Aqua say. "Remember how I kept melting down Alex?" she asked. I nodded weakly, trying to calm myself down "most of those were because I realize the innocent creatures I killed too" I saw this going worse than the others, but she wasn't done "but Flame and Daisy calmed me down several times. While what calms me down won't work on you, think about this: you didn't kill EVERY creature you came across, and a lot of the ones you did kill can regenerate." I looked up at her "they can?" I asked, not realizing the abilities some of the beasts had. Aqua nodded "their insects Alex, they not only have large numbers, but most of them will heal over time." That calmed me down enough for the others to try again "Alex, they can multiply easily on their own, we'd still be stuck in the ground if you hadn't come along" Flame said "yea, you may have killed a bunch of bigger creatures, but for every one of them you defeated, you saved a hundred of us." They were right, and think about it, I personally had only killed a hand full, the pikmin had done most of it, and it was for their survival. I managed a weak smile "thanks guys" I said. "Trust me Alex, I know exactly how you feel, we blues feel it all the time." Aqua said. I got up, and I saw most of the pikmin looking at me, and handful were in the distance carrying the enemy we had just defeated. Olimar walked back as he realized I was calm "are you ok now Alex?" he asked gently. I nodded "the pikmin helped me calm down" I said with a weak smile. Olimar smiled back "good. You know, you seem to have a special connection with these little guys" he said, patting one of them on the head. I nodded "the suns going to set soon, let's get this part back" he nodded and the pikmin carried the part next to us back. I watched as the Dolphin went through its final repair. Wow, it looked amazing in its full beauty. I yawned and climbed back into the ship. Tomorrow was Olimar's last day on the planet, and by now, he'd take off with or without his safe, but he could take off. I fell asleep quickly, I needed the recharge time. My dreams were filled with crazy scenes bouncing back and forth, but most of them involved the Emperor Bulbax, and…were those guns? I woke up several times, scared out of my mind, and Olimar had to calm me down. I had never really feared the emperor, it was more of a respect for its power, but now I was going up against that power, and it would most likely be increased. The next day, after eating and landing, we quickly got through the obstacle course and found only I and three pikmin could go up due to a ledge too high to throw pikmin, and a weighted seesaw. "You sure you're ok alone?" Olimar asked. I was shaking visibly, but I had to go on. "Yes, I have to do this, you can take off if I don't make it, but I couldn't live with myself if you died in a fight I could take" I sounded way more confident than I looked, I knew it, but I had to go on. Olimar activated the seesaw, and I realized why I had dreamed of guns…those were what the three leaders had to use. Flame got a flame thrower, Aqua got a water gun, and Daisy got a grenade launcher, I could see each were powered by the pikmin's fighting energy, which was good, because I didn't want any of them dying. The bulbax erupted the moment I entered. "Well, I expected Olimar, but I guess you'll do" it said in a growl "what? Why do you want Olimar?" I asked, confused "that's irrelevant, you'll die in his place, and when he returns, he'll be next" the creature growled. So much for that. The creature let out a loud roar, and I knew I was in for the fight of my life…
Next chapter is the finale! I decided to end the chapter at the final battle instead of the end of the day to make it more interesting, but that means a cliff hanger instead. I know the pikmin using guns instead of power is pushing their limits, but I wanted a twist that no one would expect. The bulbax wanting Olimar dead was a last minute thought I had to make the story more interesting, but I'm glad I put it in. anyways, reviews encourage me and I love criticism. The ending at the beginning of the battle was also a last minute change, so I might be a while with the next chapter, but the longer it takes, the better it will be! Stay tuned!