Nextgen Kids: Legend of the Nine Newborn

Operation: PIKMIN, Part 1

It's time to bring back the best gameplay style from Seven Lights, the Pikmin!

Chapter 1: Downsized Invasion

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.