Disclaimer: I own neither pikmin nor its characters
Chapter 17: danger ahead
I woke up in a field again, except it was different. I could see the sun above me, though it hadn't risen far yet, but I could also see the grass was about as tall as me…or I it, I think. That's when I realized I was the size I was when I was with the pikmin! But…why?
"It'll happen whenever we want to speak to you, though not when you want to speak to us" I turned around and saw Star and Starlet a few steps away and the onion a bit farther back.
"You wanted to speak to me?" I asked. They had only wanted to speak with me a few times, and they had all been casual, but it was always at least a month since they had last spoken to me. Because each person they visited had to have the same number of pikmin as last time, the onion had to rotate its holding room (they didn't explain it to me), and that took a lot of energy. Why each person they visited needed a set amount of pikmin? It was another dream rule.
Star and Starlet looked at each other "it's about the pikmin" Starlet said
"They don't miss me too bad, do they?" I asked, suddenly worried. I had made the strongest bond with the pikmin leaders who were with me, but there were a few other pikmin friends I had that I had to leave.
"Their fine, and thriving quite well, actually. We were talking about the pikmin that are with you, the ones that are currently human." Star said.
"Is there a problem with them I don't know about?" I asked. They seemed fine, but there were things they could have been hiding from me.
"You would know if something was wrong, if they didn't tell you your machine would" Star said
"Were more concerned about you" Starlet finished. This confused me, mostly because they had said they were concerned about the pikmin.
"The pikmin themselves are fine, it's the danger their causing to you, and the rest of the world, that concerns us. Though mostly you" Star said. It made sense they wouldn't care too much about the human world, but their explanation just confused me more.
"How am I in danger? I know what their abilities are, so I can avoid damage, so how am I in danger? Are they unstable?" I asked. If they were unstable, the whole world could be in danger. I had no idea how much energy was put into reforming their bodies, and raw energy mixed with elemental abilities was a bad combination.
"No, their human form is stable, for the most part at least. They themselves aren't dangerous to you, though maybe a bit to other people" Star said. Ok, now they were getting really confusing.
"Isn't death excluded from the rule?" Starlet asked Star
"How should I know? They don't tell me anything anymore" Star replied.
This completely confused me "death? Your saying I could die?" I asked
Star sighed (don't know how without a mouth, but it happened) "Alex, they themselves are no threat, it's the…tag-along, as you'd say, that is the problem" he said, seeming to choose his words carefully.
"You mean like a pikmin virus? I could get an antidote" I hadn't known they were sick, and I had no idea how to get a cure, but I could try.
"Dang it! Someone is after you and the pikmin Alex!" Starlet practically yelled in frustration
"Starlet!" Star exclaimed in surprise
"I'm not going to let him die because of secrecy, I'm sure they'll understand" she replied.
They started arguing, but I wasn't paying attention. Someone was after me AND the pikmin? Well, now I knew the mysterious person wasn't friendly. "Is there a way to avoid it?" I asked them.
They both looked at me "yes, it's what we came to tell you. You have to send the pikmin back, but you can't do it normally, the machine could easily send you with them. You have to activate the return home feature" Star said
"But that's irreversible, I could never return!" I said, shocked
"So is death, choose the lesser evil, as you say" Star replied
"There has to be another way!" I said, really upset.
"There is one way" Starlet said hesitantly "but we can't tell you right now"
"What do you mean you can't tell me?" I asked
"We'd have to take you to dream city, and you would have to be in a coma." Star said
"If you do end up in a coma, we can show you, but if you leave our meeting ground now, you may never return, and that big a risk can't be taken" Starlet said.
"And why do I have to go to Dream city for you to tell me?" I asked
"We can't tell you, we have to show you" Star replied
"Dream rules?" I asked. They nodded "well how do I activate the return home feature?" I asked
"Set it to reverse mode for a week nonstop, and it will do it automatically" Star said
"A week? What if the person finds us?" I asked
"Keep the pikmin in a place only you know about until it's done, and stay with them." starlet said "oh, keep your family there too"
"But what about school? What if it's an emergency?" I asked
"We'll convince the council to allow us to tell you the night before they'll find you, unless they'll find you on a week end, then we'll tell you on Friday" Star said
"Just enough time to get everything set up" Starlet said
"Well, what if he finds the machine?" I asked
"That's what we are most afraid of, but it's your call to take the risk" Star said
My vision flickered, and I realized the sun was starting to set. "That's our cue, bye Alex!" Starlet said.
"Wait!" I called out as they ran off, but it was too late. The onion took off, and I blinked myself awake to midnight. I sighed and went back to sleep, hoping for the best.
Another chapter done! I decided to give a bit more danger to the story, not only does it give more tension and excitement, it also gives another way to end the story. Remember: I love criticism, reviews encourage me, and I'm open to input. Bye for now!