Tree of Beginning
A lone White Pikmin peeped out from behind the grass blade. There were countless more of its kind in various colors, happily following the instructions of their Minish masters. Because there were so many Pikmin belonging to so many different masters, no one paid the lone White one any mind. All the Minish knew was that it didn't belong to them, for it wouldn't answer to their whistles.
The Pikmin had only one target in its big red eyes: a childlike spirit with rainbow hair, the Song Spirit, Meloetta. In Meloetta's hand was a young nun in a white and gold habit, and in that nun's hand was a small light. Following the Song Spirit wasn't the Pikmin's initial orders, but it thought Meloetta could lead it to the true target.
It seemed that Meloetta and the nun had come to meet the Minish KND leader. The Pikmin arrived in time to hear Meloetta say, "Where's the Distant Spring?"
"It's in Japan." Lenari replied. "Why don't I have Sappo and Gibli transport you there?"
"Sure! If it's not too much trouble." Index replied.
"Not at all! I'll send for them right away." Lenari whistled for some Wing Pikmin to fly off and retrieve them.
"Listen, I think I'm gonna go now." Meloetta said. "I wanna check up on Sugar and the tower."
"You're not gonna go with me, anymore?" the light in Index's hand asked sadly. "But why?"
"It's just becoming a bit much of a detour! Besides, it'll be your first time meeting Rupert, so I doubt he'll be able to become your Guardian right away. We can meet again later. You don't really need me to tag along anymore, right?"
The Pikmin perked up and zipped away. "But… I feel more comfortable with you around." The light said.
"You spent most of your life without me around. You'll be fine, Synthia! Just promise you'll be good."
"Okay, Meloetta…"
The Pikmin made its way out of the tree and raced through the valley surrounding it. It returned to a cavern, cowering at the skinny, bone-faced, and vertical-eyed monsters staring down at it. They ranged between quadrupeds and bipeds, and their fingers were skinny and bone-like. "Well? Did ya find Rupert?" the boss demanded. He was a dark-green, ovular creature with two leaf antennae and one eye.
The Pikmin nodded frightfully and squeaked at its master. "He's at the Distant Spring, eh? And something about being a Guardian? Very good, White Pikmin #531. You deserve a little reward for that intel! Eat up!" His left antenna bloomed a flower, spraying a green gas over the unfortunate Pikmin. As it squirmed frantically, its eyes merged and its skin became green. "Mweheheheheheh!" The Pikmin grew a mouth with sharp teeth and laughed.
The skull-faced monsters shared laughter over the Pikmin's fate. "Now send some Wing Pikmin to follow their ship!" the boss ordered. "I'll track them down afterwards…"
The Distant Spring
Steam could be seen rising from the side of a peaceful mountain in Japan. It was a little too far for people to venture to if they wanted to relax, but was a pleasant place for explorers all the same.
But hidden atop the cliffs above the springs were smaller springs. The Minish worked to keep the waters of the human springs purified from here, while also basking in the warming waters their selves. The quarter-inch tall Minish were defined by buggy black eyes, long ears, mouse-like faces, and feather-like tails. They mostly wore small leaf robes and pointed caps.
The springs were a common training ground for cadets of the Minish KND, a safe place to hone the ways of the Pikmin. A band of seven young Minish lined up at the entrance of the spring, where a Celery ship was coming in for landing. It didn't look a thing like a celery, as it was a light-green saucer commonly used by Minish operatives, and accompanying it were smaller, colored ships called Onions. The Onions flew with flower propellers and had three legs to make land.
"Is that him?!" a girl asked.
"Yeah, it's gotta be the human!"
The one to step off the ship was a human boy of 10 years, with blonde hair, a blue jean vest over an orange shirt, and camo pants with white shoes. "Alright, newbies, let's cut to the chase: do you guys know anything about Pikmin?"
"Is your 10,000 Pikmin in those Onions?!" a bucktoothed girl shouted.
"Are they from Malarko's army?"
"Why did you wanna be a Minish?"
"Wow, you completely ignored my question!" Rupert laughed.
"Pfft, well o' course we know about Pikmin." A cocky boy named Smene retorted. "It's our main way of fighting. We bring food and creatures to their Onions, where they get eatin' up and made into more Pikmin. And we can make as many as we want and beat up all kinds of enemies! And best of all, they can do chores for us~"
"Yes, that is the gist of it. But how exactly do you become a Pikmin trainer? How do you get the Pikmin to listen to you?"
"Don't they just listen already?" the bucktoothed girl, Tete, asked. "Like as soon as they wake up?"
"That's only if YOU'RE the ones who wake them up. You see, before me, my cousins practiced in the ways of Pikmin. And when I started, I basically picked up after them, and I also borrowed Pikmin from other ops. But after a while of building up my own Pikmin, I found that those borrowed Pikmin didn't listen to me quite as well. Sure, they're able to get basic tasks done, but take a look at what my own Pikmin can bring! HUDDLE!"
"HUDDLLLLLLLLE!" An enormous swarm of Pikmin came pouring out of the Onions and Rupert's ship! The Pikmin were impish, alienish creatures with stubby hands and legs, had several different colors, and they all either had leaf or flower antennae. "OKAY, GUYS, LIKE WE PRACTICED! GO!"
"WEEGLE!" The flying Pikmin zipped up to a giant beehive and thrashed all the Zingers patrolling outside! Some carried Brown Pikmin into the hive to steal honey globs and larvae, afterwards following a route down the tree. Some Purple and Rock Pikmin went to go beat up a bear stalking the human springs, while others fled to go hide treasures around the Minish springs.
"Whoa, they're going all over the place!" Smene shouted.
"They're so choreographed!" Tete exclaimed.
"It's true that you can borrow Pikmin from friends or family." Rupert said as some flowered Yellows danced circles around him. "But some of the fundamentals of Pikminship are exploration and discovery." The blue ones were doing expert swimming maneuvers in a pool. "If you wanna become a true Pikmin Master, discovering your own Onions is key. Breeding your own Pikmin is key. When you become a master, you'll even be able to rival the big foes!"
"Yeah, yeah." Smene said. "Ain't our whole job to support the big KND? Bring them supplies and junk? Ain't they the ones who do all the fighting?"
"Supporting the Human KND is one of our primary jobs, along with delivering gifts to poor children and protecting the environment, but that doesn't mean we don't face our own battles. The more you hone your Pikmin, the more likely you're going to win." Rupert then whistled, and one of each colored Pikmin lined up and saluted. "Now, quiz time: tell me what each Pikmin does."
"Ugh, too easy. Red Pikmin can go through fire."
"Yellow ones are resistant to electricity." Tete answered. "They can channel it, too, right?"
"Yeah, and blue ones can swim!" a peppy girl named Piwi said.
"White ones are poison and smelly…" said a gloomy boy named Dudu.
"Purple ones are super strong and heavy!" a tough boy named Pede punched his palm.
"Pink ones fly, of course!" a girl named Lilee flapped her arms.
"And the rock ones are rocks, light-blue ones can freeze water, green ones are ghosts, brown ones are sticky, and the ones with notes can sing." A bored boy named Stepe said. "Can we just get on with it?"
"Fine, fine, Mr. Antsy. But seven of you is too much to manage at once. You three can go first." He pointed at Smene, Tete, and Dudu. "I'll lend you one of each of my Pikmin and give you 10 minutes to do as much as you can. Good luck, future Pikmineers!" (Play "Mission Mode Music" from Pikmin 3!)
Stage 0: The Distant Spring
Mission: Train in the ways of Pikmin!
With Smene acting as the leader, the trio led the Pikmin through the gate. Their first objective was naturally to harvest the different flowers growing around. They acquired 9 total Blues, 8 Yellows, and 6 Purples. They crossed to the shore of the first spring, where three Bulborb children were roaming. The kids divided Pikmin and violently threw them onto the creatures, KOing them. "Okay, we're gonna need our Blues here. Let's let the Reds, Whites, and Wings take them back." Those Pikmin would carry the Bulborbs back to their Onions, making two more of each. Smene led the Blues into the spring, throwing Pikmin to defeat the Wogpoles swimming around. There was a small island with a pile of tiles, which could be used to fix a bridge linking the shore to a different island, which would connect to the other side.
"Ugh, I guess we can only wait until they fix the bridge." Smene figured.
"Um, Smene?" Dudu spoke. "We can take Wing and Ice Pikmin across water, too, can't we?"
"No, no!" Tete shouted. "Ice Pikmin won't work on hot water! Let's just take the Wings."
"Ugh, what a pain." Smene said. "Dudu, go get the Wings and have them help with this bridge stuff."
Dudu did so, the Pikmin eventually fixing the bridge. They could lead them to the next shore, harvest more flowers, and defeat some Bulborbs, letting the other colors reap the benefits. With several new Pikmin harvested, they continued up the path, which led onto a cliffside above a waterfall. Tete saw a spider-web down below between two branches, and a large dime was on it. The kids dropped their five Brown Pikmin onto the web. They could pick the dime off and carry it up a nectar wall without getting stuck. The path sloped up with three turns, but a large Bulborb waited on the second turn. The kids aimlessly threw Pikmin over the Bulborb, but they lost three Wings and two Yellows before they could defeat it.
They let those Pikmin carry the prey back. Once at the top of the cliff, they overlooked a river that would flow into the waterfall. Smene took the right route, Tete the left, while Dudu went back to regather the Pikmin. Smene encountered a Bearded Amprat, sending his Pikmin to attack. Sadly, the creature sparked with electricity, stunning some Pikmin and knocking two Purples and a Rock into the water. Smene hurriedly whistled his Pikmin back; only the four Yellow ones could damage the Amprat, but it would shake them off and eat two of them, along with a Red and Blue. "CRUD! Tete, I need some Yellows!"
"Um, okay, I'll be right over! Actually, I need more Wings to get that soda can out of the tree." Tete rushed over to Smene's side, giving him her five Yellows while she borrowed his two other Wings. She was able to get the empty soda can down and have it carried back, while Smene took down the Amprat. At the end of either side were ropes holding up a drawbridge. They had their Pikmin attack either rope to make the bridge drop, plopping against the bottom of an upside-down wooden bucket.
They crossed up the sloped bridge, and other bridges connected several other upturned buckets. The kids divided in separate directions, with a Puffy Blowhog lurking above Tete's path. The purple floating creature puffed up like a balloon and blew her Pikmin off the bucket, landing on the ground below. "Oh, no!" She jumped off to regather them, but some were eaten by Skitter Leaves. "Hey, I lost the green one! Does that mean it's a ghost?"
"Who cares, we can't use it in the daytime! Let's just—WHOA!" Smene fell into a hole on his bucket, his Pikmin following. "Whoa, what's all this?!" There were a bunch of gold nuggets lain around the ground. "I hit the jackpot! But how do I… Pikmin, hurry, tear down that wall!" He sent them to attack a weak wall.
"Hey, guys, I'm back…" Dudu announced in a bored way, more Pikmin at his back. "Where did you go?"
"Dudu, I'm down here!" Tete called. "I'm having some bring these leaf monsters back to base, can you go with them?"
"Do you guys not want me around?"
"Well, we need someone to get the new Pikmin for us!"
"But I hate having to run all the way back and forth!"
"Then wait here for these ones to get back!" Smene said, having broken out of his bucket. "They're carrying those nuggets back. I think they should come back on their own."
"Why do they do that for the nuggets and not anything else?"
"Hey, you have one minute left!" Rupert called, floating overhead with some Wings.
"WHAT?! Okay, screw it, let's get past this bucket part!" The three found a staircase leading onto the first bucket, rushing across the others. They could use Rock Pikmin to break a jar containing toothpicks, but ignored it. The buckets would lead to a human-size, wood cabin, but an Orange Bulborb and its three children were guarding it. The kids threw their Pikmin on the children, but four Pikmin were eaten, and the parent would awaken to devour five more.
"TIME'S UP!" Rupert declared. "Pikmin, take down that Bulborb!" His troops saluted and fled to defeat the creature. "You kiddos did good! Return to base and we'll send the next batch."
"Who you callin' kiddos?" Smene asked. "You ain't much older than us!"
"Heh, sorry, that's my dad speaking." Rupert blushed. "Alright, you four will go next." He pointed at the other cadets. "Go and start from where the first group ended." (End song.)
Guatemala; Sector GT Treehouse
Doran Dodley was always at peace in the treehouse's garden. He wished the sky wasn't so cloudy today, but so long as the weather was cool and the vegetables were healthy, he was happy. "Think fast, Dory!"
A soccerball came flying at him. The orange-skinned giant quickly bent a corn stalk to bash the ball back. "Don't play soccer in the garden, Sind!"
"Just testing your reflexes!" the Hispanic boy replied. Sind Diego wore a red soccer jersey with matching shoes, black shorts, and blonde hair.
"Sounds like you're just bored~"
"Heh…kind of." Sind's expression faltered. "Hmm…hey, Doran… you think we oughta try to help out more?"
"With the garden? Sure, I'd love it if you guys helped!"
"Not that!" Sind flushed. "I mean in the KND. We've barely done anything to help in these past few incidents."
"We helped in the Pirate War, didn't we?"
"We only beat up some fodder! I know we're not as strong as the Top 10 operatives, but as giants, I feel like we should try to do more to help."
"We do plenty to help around here." Doran smiled, using his bending to make a cabbage grow. "We protect the people of Guatemala and we're friends with them, too. I've always kind of thought we were gentle giants, you know? Meant to be strong, but not insanely strong."
"I still feel like there's more we could do."
"Well, do you wanna call Cheren and ask if there's a big mission happening?"
"We could… but I guess I should talk this through with the others first."
"Heh, yeah. You know Biyo probably wouldn't be up for…? That's a weird flower."
"Huh?" Sind looked down. There was a glistening purple flower growing from the soil, tiny in their vision. The boys cocked a brow and squatted down for a closer look. "…!" It was then they realized the treehouse was glowing as well, covered in these flowers. It unleashed an explosion of purple light. "AAAH—!"
Other treehouses…
"Uh…Mason? Who blew up our balcony?"
Sheila and Mason had been chilling on the treehouse's balcony when it seemed to gigantify by 100. "I dunno, but this is bringing back some bad memories." He held up his wristwatch. "Guys, this is Mason, do you read me?!"
"Yeah, and we shrunk!" Artie responded. "What's going on out there?!"
"Kirie says she saw some weird flowers growing outside the treehouse!" Haruka reported.
"OI, WHAT'RE THOSE?!" Sheila exclaimed, pointing at a swarm of winged monsters.
Down below in the Uno Household, Chris Uno found himself shrunk on his own bed, panicking. "What the…" The winged, bone-faced creatures with vertically-aligned eyes flew into his window. "What the hell is HAPPENING?!"
…
Anthony and Fybi had been playing in the yard when it happened. The earthbender began to stomp up and launch pebbles at the monsters' skull masks, smashing them so Fybi could launch arrows through their heads. The sounds of a mini stampede and buzzing followed as green, one-eyed imps charged through the grass. "Anthony, doth these not appear as Pikmin?!"
"They're some pretty effed-up-looking Pikmin!" Anthony began to roll up parts of the ground and crush the Pikmin underneath.
…
Jinta socked the monsters in the face and broke their masks, leaving Megumi to strike them with her iron paddleball. "Karin-san, are these things the Hollows you mentioned?!" Megumi asked.
"They look like Hollows, but they don't feel like Hollows!" Karin threw kicks against the beasts.
"Good thing the weapons we were carrying shrank with us!" Kodama said, launching fireworks at some beasts.
"I should've been wearing my Tiny Devil!" Ururu yelled, zipping behind one, leaping on its back, and trying to choke it. "Be careful how many fireworks you use, Kodama!"
Distant Spring
Rupert stood to address his seven cadets. "So, young Pikmineers, tell me what you learned. What were your favorite and least favorite parts of Pikminship?"
"I hated having to keep going back to get my Pikmin…" Dudu said.
"We didn't have enough Pikmin to start off with!" Smene complained. "And there were too many things to focus on!"
"How come they know to come back for gold nuggets and bridge pieces, but not for the heavier stuff?" Piwi asked.
"It's just how they are." Rupert shrugged. "But once you reach a decent level, they'll know to come back."
"I like watching them beat up enemies!" Pede declared. "But I keep frickin' missing and they get eaten!"
"You can't even use Ice Pikmin in this place…" Stepe said.
"I'll admit the time limit is a little tight, but I just wanted to warm you kids up. On normal missions, you'll need to determine how many Pikmin to take, how to divide yourselves, collect whatever's available, take whatever Pikmin are necessary, not to mention the constant running back to recollect them. But you'll normally have plenty more time than 10 minutes, so remember to just be patient with them. At its heart, Pikmineering is supposed to be a relaxing exercise."
"I agree!" Lilee sang. "I love how they sing and work together!"
"Hyeah!" Rupert cheered. "But speaking of relaxing, how about we take a break? Who comes to a hot spring just to work?"
"Now we're talkin'!" Smene jumped in the spring.
"But I don't wanna get nakey…" Dudu shirked.
"Then don't!" Pede pushed him in. "Just get dunked!" And he jumped in next.
"I'm gonna need my trunks!" Rupert said. "And also…" He returned to the Celery and saw his chubby friend in the pilot's seat. "Yo, Timmy, ready to take a dip?"
"Yeah, sure." Timothy Gilligan answered neutrally. Timmy wore an aviator's cap and goggles, a brown vest over his sky-blue shirt, and khaki pants. "By the way, I got a transmission from Sappo and Gibli. They said someone from the Human KND is coming to speak to you."
"Really? Heh, I wonder if I inspired fellow humans to learn the art!"
"Don't get a swelled head."
"…" Rupert frowned, sensing his friend's tone. "What's the matter?"
"What do you think?"
"You mean Hikari? But she's still alive."
"Barely. She could've been killed in that dumb game… just like Richard. It didn't wake her up at all…"
"I'm sure she'll wake up some day. But if you're still worried, why didn't you stay home?"
"Because now I feel like there's nothing I can do… and I'd only make things worse. Not like there's much I can do here either. We were just your tag-alongs, we can't do all the stuff you do with Pikmin."
"Come on, you two are my best friends." Rupert placed a hand on his shoulder. "No matter how many Pikmin I have, this job isn't as fun without you two. I'm worried about Hikari, too, but if there's nothing we can do, then we'll just have to wait. That doesn't mean we shouldn't teach cadets the art of Pikmining."
"Just how many Pikmin terms can you make up?"
"Heh, the word has a lot of uses… just like the Pikmin!"
"Then why don't they wake Hikari up?"
"Come on, Timmy…"
"This is Sappo to Timmy. Do you read me?"
"We're about to make landing!" a girl's voice followed.
"Yeah, this is Timmy. Rupert and I will be out to meet you shortly."
The duo stepped outside as another Celery ship, along with some Onions, landed partway down the path. A pair of Wing Pikmin were clinging the roof of the ship, peeping over the side. Sappo and Gibli, Minish twins with blue and pink tunics respectively, greeted them. "Hey, Rupert! How did training go?" Sappo asked.
"Didn't go too badly. Maybe they'll feel more comfortable once they build up a fair amount. Maybe during our next exercise, I'll take them to find some Onions!"
"Having their own Onions would certainly help!" Gibli said. "Of course, there's no guarantee they'll wind up on the same team. Anyway, here's the human that wanted to speak with you."
The white and gold nun stepped off the ship, holding the small light. "Who are you?" Rupert asked.
"You don't know me? I guess I'm not as popular in Minish World… Well, my name's Index! And this little one is called Synthia."
The light flew up to Rupert, a curious glimmer in his eyes. The light touched him—"WHOA!" and everyone was taken aback as Rupert vanished on the spot.
The boy found himself amongst a sea of amoebas. "So, you're the guy who's supposed to be my Guardian?" The one speaking was an orange amoeba with a sun-shaped head and a tail with red, green, and blue molecules.
"G-Guardian? Wait, where the heck am I?!"
"Tehehe! You're in the Microverse, silly! You're still where you just were, but now you're super-duper tiny!"
"How do I get back to the Bigverse?!"
"Like this!" Synthia touched Rupert again. He exploded out of the Microverse and returned to the level of his friends.
"Okay, what just happened?!" Timmy exclaimed. "Rupert, did you actually shrink just now? It sounded like that thing was talking to you."
"Synthia was given a special charm so that she could be heard." Index explained. "Otherwise, the people she shrinks are far too small to hear."
"I seriously have no idea what's going on!" Rupert shouted.
"Hold your horses and I'll tell you! Synthia is a Firstborn and I think you're meant to be her Guardian."
"F…Firstborn? Hold on, is she one of those Newborn I've been hearing about?"
"Exactly. And this…" Index withdrew a shiny, orangey-yellow ball from her habit, "is her Spirit Ball." She tossed it into Rupert's hand.
The boy knew what he had to do with this… but this was too sudden to process. He was a Firstborn Guardian? What was he meant to do afterward? He would probably get the answers if he just asked… but for now, "Am I supposed to throw this at her? Isn't she kinda… small?"
"Good point." Index figured. "It probably wouldn't even impact. Just open the ball and let her fly inside."
Rupert shrugged and popped the ball open. Synthia flew in, so Rupert closed it. …The Spirit Ball began beeping and shaking, no different from the others that had caught Newborn. But as Index expected, the ball opened unceremoniously, and Synthia flew out. "It didn't work. I guess that means you aren't worthy, yet."
"I don't know much about Firstborn," Timmy said, "but I don't think you can become a Guardian just after meeting."
"Technically, my Aunt Sonya did." Rupert replied.
Synthia gasped. "Are those Pikmin?!" The little light fluttered around Rupert's large platoon of the colorful creatures. "They are! Oh, I love these little guys! I mean, they're not little to me, but they're so full of life, and they're always reproducing! Huh? …Rupert, are you the one who helped make all these Pikmin?"
"Heh, was it that obvious?"
"No, their cells just told me! They said Rupert is a very great caretaker!"
"Well, I'm not the only one to thank." Rupert blushed from the praise. "My friends Timmy and Hikari helped breed them all! Ain't that right, Timmy?"
"Heh, I guess so." Timmy blushed. "I think Rupert was more addicted than we were though."
"Now that I look closely…" Synthia rotated around Rupert and Timmy, "you two possess very positive chis. The kind that can only bloom from giving birth to so many creatures."
"It's not like it was that hard. Pikmin are easy to order around and they only make more with anything they eat. Not to mention they're basically a hive mind, so making more isn't even special."
"That's not true, Timmy!" Rupert argued. "All Pikmin are special, no matter how much they look alike. A true Pikmin Master thinks of them all as individuals! Like Stephanie," he pointed at a pink one, "Toby," a blue one, "Rubarb," a red one, "Johnny, Joey, Brianna, Joey Jr., Cherry Pop…"
"He seriously named ALL his Pikmin?" Sappo asked.
"I'm not about to make wiki pages for them all!" Gibli stated.
"Yeah, yeah, you're real addicted, Rupert." Timmy said. "But no matter how you look at it, Pikmin have no individuality. They're no different from the W.A.T.C.H.B.O.T.s the KND use."
"Timmy!" Sappo yelled. "How could you say something so disgraceful?"
"You know, I'm inclined to agree with the boy. Pikmin do make excellent slaves~" an echoing voice said.
"See? Even Distant Maniacal Voice thinks so. …?" But it was only then Timmy processed it. "Where did that voice come from?"
"RUPERT, HELP!" Smene and the cadets came running from the springs. "MONSTERS ARE-"
A skull-faced monster with a pterodactyl-like head charged behind them and snatched Dudu in its mouth, swallowing him whole. "DUDU!" Tete screamed.
"PURPLES, ATTACK!" Rupert commanded as a swarm of Purples charged the beast, clambering around and bashing it forcefully. The beast shook them off and ate several Pikmin, but Wings flew overhead to drop Rocks, breaking the monster's skull mask. The Wing Pikmin swarmed to attack the head.
"Hey, we got more company!" Sappo announced as an army of one-eyed Pikmin swarmed in from the mountain path and the sky.
"Are those things Pikmin?!" Index asked.
"They don't look like any we've seen!" Gibli answered, the twins sending their Pikmin to attack the monsters. "What could've happened to them?!"
"I happened to them!" The winged one-eyed Pikmin cleared away, revealing some winged versions of the monsters. Their cyclops boss was riding one, his leaf antennae waving to and fro. "Ah hah hah hah hah hah! We finally meet again, Rupert!"
Rupert and Timothy gasped. "PLANKTON?!"
"That's right! After you left me to rot in that cavern, I've made some new friends! Say hello to the GUPNA!" The monsters swooped down at the kids. Rupert sent some Pikmin to defend the cadets, while he, Sappo, and Gibli directed some to defend their selves.
"Plankton?" Index questioned, blasting Light Beams at the monsters. "You were a member of Team Gnik! What even happened to you?"
"We turned him into a Pikmin and left him underground!" Rupert yelled, directing his army to attack and kill the corrupted Pikmin. "How did you escape?"
"I plucked myself out, you nitwit! And afterwards, I decided to become a Pikmin Master myself! Behold my new power!" Plankton dropped to the ground, his antennae blooming as he sprayed dark-green mist around the operatives' Pikmin. The creatures cried in panic as their skin changed green and eyes merged together.
"THE PIKMIN!" Sappo screamed, trying to whistle to get his troops back under control.
"They're MY Pikmin now!" Plankton declared. "They're PLANKMIN!"
"AAAH! SAPPO, HELP!" Gibli cried, the Plankmin piling over her.
"GIBLI!" The brother desperately tried to tug them off, but the Plankmin only crowded on him next. Rupert directed some of his remaining Pikmin to help, and when Plankton tried to spray them, Index blasted a beam to knock him away.
"Hey, you leave them alone!" Synthia flew to Plankton and shrank the villain with a touch.
"Eh? …What happened?" Plankton viewed around the cells in confusion. "Wait… was that thing-"
"You!" He faced up at the angry Synthia. "Why do all those Pikmin have such mean cells?! What did you do to them?"
"It…it can't be…" Plankton's eye glimmered under Synthia's light.
"It can't be what?!"
"You're… the source!"
"What source?! H-Hey, wait!" Synthia backed away as Plankton already began growing. "That isn't supposed to wear off until-"
"GOT YA!!" As soon as Plankton sprouted back to normal, he seized the tiny light in his stubby hands. "With you, I'll have this whole planet shrunken in no time!"
"Synthia!" Index shot more Light Beams, but the Plankmin defended their master, and some Winged ones carried their master to the air. He flew around and sprayed gas over the other Pikmin, quickly changing Rupert's army against him.
"CRUD!" Rupert yelled. "WINGS, CARRY THE CADETS AWAY!" The remaining Wings grabbed the last six cadets and flew off the mountain. "Timmy, get on the ship! Onions, retreat! We can't let the rest of you get changed!"
"Yes, hurry!" Gibli cried, the siblings desperately shaking the Plankmin off. "AAAAHH!"
A Gupna snatched Gibli's head in its mouth, tearing it off. Index immediately blasted a Light Beam to sever the monster's head, but it was too late. "GIBLI!!!" Sappo cried out in rage.
"Don't kill the other ones!" Plankton ordered. "I'll need them alive to make them handy puppets!"
The sight of Gibli's headless corpse froze Timothy pale. "HURRY!" Rupert ushered his friend on the ship. "We have to go back to—AAAH!" A horde of Plankmin jumped and pounded on the boy.
"RUPERT!" Timmy ran to help him, but some of the Pikmin on their ship held him back. "Hey!"
"Timmy, go!" Rupert ordered. "I'll be fine! Just get away from here!"
Before Timmy could protest, Rupert's Pikmin had already shut the hatch and were starting up the Celery. As soon as Plankton began corrupting them, Rupert must've felt little chance of a perfect escape, and this instinct was already felt in his well-trained Pikmin. "RUPERT! NOOOO!" The Celery flew away as fast as it could. Sappo and Gibli's Onions were flying away as well, with Index clinging onto one.
"Go ahead and run!" Plankton declared. "You'll never hide from my legions for long! Especially now that the human sectors have been downsized!"
"Downsized?!" Rupert exclaimed. "What do you mean?!"
"Ah hah hah hah! It means that the Gupna and Plankmin will soon control the world!"
…
A small group of Wing Pikmin watched the ships fly off, carrying a younger, more human-like Gupna. They were a girl with purple hair in braided pigtails, and a cropped blue cloak over a white dress. She had small horns, six fingers on each hand, and clawed feet. A Wing Pikmin flew to her from the springs and squeaked something to her. "He…he captured Princess Synthia?! And that boy was supposed to be…"
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Minish Kids Next Door mission…
Operation:
P.I.K.M.I.N.
Powerful
Infestation
Kauses
Miniaturization
Inviting
Neverland
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