(A/N: Now the Crystal Coconut is safe and sound at DK's house, and no one can make it come out by accident, unless they know the password. I guess we should probably get on with the story.)

It was now nighttime on New Year's Eve, and all the Kongs gathered at DK's treehouse. They were having a party to ring in the new year, like they did every year. By now, it was kinda late, but no one seemed tired. This was the one night of the year where they felt they HAD to stay up, and that's what they planned to do.

But before they began the New Year's festivities, Cranky knew that apart from him and DK, no one else knew what had happened that morning.

"Before we begin ringing in the new year, you should all know that earlier today, Donkey Kong has the Crystal Coconut in his possession, and has proven himself ready to rule Kongo Bongo Island!" Cranky said.

Everyone gave up a cheer, and they were applauding DK, who was blushing.

"So, DK, now that you're ruling, what do you plan to do?" Cranky asked.

"Well, I know who will be ruling in my stead in the event that I'm unable to." DK said.

"Is it me?" Bluster asked.

"You wish! But the answer is no, not in a millon years." DK replied.

"Dang it." Bluster said.

"The ones ruling in that event are Diddy, Dixie, and Funky Kong!" DK announced.

Diddy would've argued, since he hadn't done a good job back when DK was first exiled to the White Mountains. But DK was still training him, and he'd gained some confidence since then.

Dixie was also surprised that DK had given her the job, but she wasn't about to argue. He deemed her and Diddy worthy, so she figured that as long as she and Diddy worked together, they could do it.

Funky wasn't at all sure he could do it, but if DK wanted him to, he'd do it.

Candy wasn't surprised that DK didn't assign her. She already had a job, working at the barrel factory. She couldn't do much ruling while working.

"Plus, during the year, we'll up the island's security so the bad guys can't go around causing trouble and making everyone's lives miserable." DK said.

"We can do that, and I'll help you out with it." Cranky said.

DK also suggested that the song he wrote for the time capsule they sent to the moon (back in "To the Moon Baboon") was the island's national anthem, to which everyone agreed to (except Bluster, but he kept his mouth shut).

"However, we'll worry about all that after New Year's Day. For now, let's celebrate the arrival of the new year!" DK announced.

Everyone immediately agreed, and so they began to party, which is what they wanted to do in the first place.

While most of the Kongs were enjoying themselves, DK searched for his long-time girlfriend, Candy Kong, hoping to talk to her. After finding Candy in the crowd, he told her that he'd like to talk with her.

"Let's find a quiet place where we can talk." Candy replied.

"It'd probably be outside. The weather isn't too cold, in spite of the snow." DK said.

So they donned their sweaters and went outside, where it was lightly snowing, and the weather wasn't too cold, but one would still need a sweater out there.

"What would you like to talk about, DK?" Candy asked.

"About us. Our relationship hasn't been going very well, and it'll only get worse if we don't do anything to fix it so it'll work out. The last thing I want is to see it end badly, and then we'll both be old and alone." DK said.

"I know what you mean, DK. I don't want that to happen, either. That's why my new year's resolution is to work on our relationship. I'll try to be more understanding from now on, and I'll try not to blame you for little things, 'cause I've done a lot of that lately, and I feel bad about it." Candy replied.

"My resolution also involves us, in a way. I'm planning to make time for us while balancing time with friends, and my duties as ruler of Kongo Bongo Island." DK said.

"Wait a second! Cranky said that you're keeping the Crystal Coconut now. Don't you still have to guard it?" Candy asked.

"It's safe for good now, so we don't have to worry about bad guys getting it." DK said.

"Did Cranky give it to you with a new security system?" Candy asked.

"Nope. The Crystal Coconut is in my new custom-built nightstand. It's got a perfect hiding place for the Crystal Coconut (not the drawers), but you can only get to it by saying the password. And if a bad guy knew about the password, he wouldn't want to say it, because it would involve calling himself a pathetic loser." DK said.

"Wow. So it's perfectly safe." Candy said after hearing DK describe the new security system.

"Yeah. But I'll still make sure it's okay every now and again." DK said.

"I see. Well, back to our relationship. We must really want it to work if we both made resolutions that involve fixing it." Candy said.

"More than anything, Candy. Remember when we all gathered for Thanksgiving? I said that while I was thankful for my family and friends, I was especially thankful to have you in my life." DK reminded her.

"I remember. And I said that I was thankful to have you in my life." Candy said.

"I was surprised that you weren't thankful for Bluster." DK remembered.

"Like I said, the day I'm thankful for Bluster is the day the bad guys actually succeed and take over Kongo Bongo Island." Candy reminded him.

"And as long as I'm here, the bad guys will never win." DK said.

"So I'll never be thankful for Bluster. Even though he did give me some good news when he gave me my Christmas bonus." Candy said.

"He's finally going to leave you alone?" DK said.

"I wish! Here's what he really told me. He changed my work schedule to a 40-hour work week. That means that I get to work from 9-5 Monday-Friday. Plus, he gave me a raise. And all this starts when I return to work on January 2nd." Candy said.

"Apparently, he's still trying to win you." DK said.

"But he's not going to win me. Ever. There's nothing Bluster can do to change my mind." Candy said.

"So if he turned into Leo Luster again, you still wouldn't go after him?" DK asked.

"Not when I'm planning to see our relationship grow stronger than it ever was. I love you, DK." Candy said, helping DK feel better.

"And I love you, too, Candy. I can't bear the thought of losing you. You're the best thing that ever happened to me, and I have no intention to give up." DK said.

"Oh, DK..." Candy said with a loving sigh.

DK and Candy were oblivious to the others, who were still inside, counting down the last few seconds. However, the couple had perfect timing, 'cause they kissed as everyone shouted, "HAPPY NEW YEAR!" The Crystal Coconut heard the words from its hiding place, and it made confetti rain down from DK's ceiling. Then everyone sang "Auld Lang Syne". The new year was already off to a happy start, which made everyone feel good.

Look at that! DK and Candy are planning to work on their relationship. That's a good thing, especially since Candy has gotten mad at DK more often than not during the series. Keep reading to see if they can make it work.