How 'The Approaching Storm' would have continued
First of all, my apologies. I don't like starting a story and never ending it, but that's what I've done with The Approaching Storm. It's been three and a half years by now, and it's very clear that I will never continue it. I get as annoyed as anyone else when I read a story I enjoy, only to find out it stops halfway through and hasn't been updated since 2011. However, I'm not going to write the rest of it. As much as I enjoy Donkey Kong Country, and the characters of Diddy and Dixie in particular, I've long since moved on from the story. When I began The Surprising Adventures of a Glaceon in Unova, I expected it to just be a short, silly thing, and that I'd return to The Approaching Storm in a few months. Things didn't exactly turn out that way, and I'm glad about it as my writing skill has improved enormously in the past three years, but sadly The Approaching Storm got left by the wayside.
Enough apologies. I promised that if I ever decided I'd truly drop this story, I'd at least give a summary of what was going to happen. But before we get into that, I actually found my file for chapter 7 of the story. It's about half-complete, and neither proofread nor edited, so I'm afraid the quality will be lower than you'd expect even of 2011 me. But it only makes sense to me to let you read it before we get to the summary of the rest.
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Chapter Seven: The Technician's Treason
Kunning didn't turn around, but talked into the mirror he was looking in. "Diddy, Dixie, my friends. I didn't expect to see you here."
The fact that Kunning still referred to them as friends after double-crossing them made Diddy even angrier than he already was. "Don't give me that "my friends" nonsense, Kunning, we saw everything!"
Kunning still talked on a tone as if he was exchanging pleasantries with a friend. "Ah, I could see how that would make you so angry, but let me assure you that things are not as they seem."
"You lied to us!" Dixie said furiously, "You betrayed us!"
"I have only lied to you about the details of my plan. I did save your island from destruction, as promised."
Diddy snorted. "'Saved it from destruction', hah. You delivered the island right into K. Rool's hands! When you said you had no idea what K. Rool was going to use the blast-o-matic for and all your talk of saving innocents was just a big lie, wasn't it?"
Kunning turned around to face them. "While I can't deny that I knew K. Rool's plans all along, I wasn't lying when I said I don't want innocents to die, that's one of the reasons I didn't build K. Rool a blast-o-matic. I understand-"
Diddy interrupted him. "Do you have any idea how many innocents will die in your invasion and how many more K. Rool will have killed just for fun?"
Kunning gave him a friendly smile. "The casualties in the invasion will be minimal, as the men will be ordered specifically to spare anyone who surrenders, and once the invincibility of my tank becomes clear most will surrender. A few who resist will die, yes, and that'll be unfortunate, but you can't make a good meal without killing some bugs. As for K. Rool, I've anticipated his destructive nature in my plans and thought of ways to prevent him from making a chaos on your island. Don't worry, I'll make sure he shan't hurt anyone on DK Island."
"Oh, that puts me at ease." Dixie said sarcastically, "Only those who resist will be crushed under your iron fist and we have your word for it that K. Rool will be kept in check."
Kunning sighed. "I think overhearing my conversation with K. Rool has given you a bit of a wrong impression of me."
"No." Dixie said resolutely, "I think listening to your lies and manipulations for several days while escorting you gave me the wrong impression of you."
"Please, listen to what I have to say. First, you've got to know that when I'm talking to the Kaptain, I play a sort of persona, that of a heartless, murdering piece of scum like him. It's the best way to make him trust you."
"And you also played a persona for us." Diddy said. "You sold our island and our trust out for power, what makes you think we'll believe anything you say?"
"You say I sold your island for power, and from a certain point of view I guess you're right. But did you pay any thought to the question of why I want that power and what I'm going to do with it?"
That question surprised Diddy. "Well... um... I guess you want it because you villains just want power for it's own sake? Um... Maybe you'll use it to kill some people for fun, abuse your power, attract a harem of lizard ladies, maybe to make someone build a solid gold statue of yourself, or whatever strikes your fancy."
Kunning laughed. "No, you're completely wrong. First of all, I'm not a villain. K. Rool is a villain, I'm on the good side, you just have a bad impression of me. I don't want power for its own sake, but it's a necessary evil. You see, with my new authority as General, I will forever change the Kremlings. Imagine a perfect society, an orderly, peaceful state, where everyone knows their place and no one ever needs to die before they're very old. A society without chaos, strife, conflict, or evil. It's quite a long way from what the Krem Krew is currently like, but that is what I'm turning it into. Under K. Rool's chaotic leadership, we've become a force of evil, but all that will change now that I'm second-in-command. And, since DK Island will be under Krem command very soon, your own island will get to be part of this new, better Krem Krew. You see, I'm not just invading your island just so K. Rool would promote me, but I'm also making you a part of a better future."
That was not what Diddy had expected at all. He actually found himself agreeing with the things Kunning said. "And do you expect K. Rool to just sit by idly while you change the Kremlings? I doubt he'll like your plan."
"What K. Rool thinks is irrelevant. If you've seen my earlier conversation with him, you'll know he's very easy to manipulate. If you put it the right way, he won't just agree with your idea, he'll become convinced it was his idea in the first place."
"What about the Kremlings themselves, won't they notice?"
"Yes, they will notice, but why would they be opposed to my changes? I'm turning them into an ideal, orderly society. Everyone will have a place in it, and war won't be necessary any more. No one will need to lie, cheat, or otherwise cross another. I'm making a utopia, and I could use some help with it."
"Huh?"
"I can't do this by myself, I will need people I can trust to help me. If you agree, I will make you two my own second-in-commands and you can help change the Kremlings for the better. At the same time you can use that position to make sure your fellow Kongs are treated properly as new members of the Krem Krew. Don't worry about K. Rool, as I've said his opinions are easily swayed. Please join me and help improve things for us all. In an hour or two, we will be in this all together, Kong and Kremling, whether you want to or not. If you refuse, you won't be able to help anyone, while you'll be in a position of power if you agree, power you can use for the common good."
Diddy was almost ready to agree, but suddenly a thought sprang to mind.
Hold on, hold on, just think about it for a minute. Here Kunning is again, saying just the right things like before. It's too good to be true. He backstabbed me before, he's probably doing it again.
Then again, maybe he is sincere, and if he is it would be worthy of helping him. But I can't let him invade DK Island, even if his motivations for it are good.
Dixie, meanwhile, appeared lost in thought. Diddy said: "You say there shan't be any need for war in this bright future you talk of, but then why do you start with war? Stop the invasion if you really want to change the Kremlings for the better."
Dixie nodded. "I agree. You may say nice things and tell stories of goodness, but your actions don't seem to line up with your words."
Kunning sighed. "Why would I call off the invasion? My promotion to General, which I need for my further plans, depends on it, and it will allow me to improve the situation of your island as well. It's hitting two birds with one stone. Don't you see, calling off the attack would be a bad thing for everyone!"
"Then you don't become a General! Just stay plain, simple Kunning and tell all the Kremlings of your idea for a better future while we try to spread that idea on DK Island. Let people decide they want that society for themselves and let them make it for themselves."
Kunning sniffed haughtily. "That's not how change works. You can't rely on common people to just enlighten by themselves, you have to do it for them. Change is made from the top down by leaders. There is no way that individuals will improve things themselves. The invasion shall continue."
"In that case, I'll never join you." Diddy said resolutely.
"I won't join a tyrant, no matter how nice he talks," Dixie added.
Kunning sighed. "How disappointing. I had expected better of you. But if you don't want to help me, I can't let you stand in my way, there is too much at stake."
"I think I've heard all you have to say. Now, call off the invasion or we'll make you call it off."
Kunning laughed haughtily. "I can see it was a mistake to expect you to show wisdom. I warn you, don't cross me, or you'll regret it." He pounded his fist on the table dramatically.
Dixie approached him. "Enough with the drama already. Are you going to call off the invasion or will we have to make you?"
Kunning stepped to the side so the table was between him and the Kongs. "It's sad you can't see the invasion is a good thing for all of us," he sneered, "I will never call it off!"
The Kongs approached, each around one side of the table, and Kunning drew his sword. Diddy tried to cartwheel him, but he dodged just in time and slashed his sword at Dixie, who easily ducked under it and hit him with her hair. He was knocked back against the wall, where he jumped to the right to dodge another cartwheel.
"C'mon Kunning," said Diddy, "you and I both know you don't stand a chance of defeating the two of us. So just surrender and call off the invasion."
Kunning smiled. "I'm not trying to defeat you, I'm just trying to hold you off long enough."
Diddy stopped mid-cartwheel. "Long enough for what?"
"For the guards to arrive. I didn't just pound the table for dramatic effect just now, there's an alarm button hidden there, guards will arrive shortly." With a smug grin, he added: "Remember, I designed this ship."
At that moment the door opened and five big Kremlings stormed in. The ventilation duct was in the middle of the ceiling, so the Kongs couldn't get out that way. The Kongs tried to fight back, but the Kremlings were too strong and with too many, so they had quickly subdued them.
"It's a shame you don't see that this invasion is for the kommon good," said Kunning, "I kan't allow you to get in the way, there is too much at stake. I think K. Rool will be very happy to see them again, so take them to him!" he ordered the Kremlings. "Oh, and be prepared for an eskape attempt. Don't let your guard down around these two."
"Aye aye!" one of the Kremlings said.
"Aye aye, General." Kunning coldly corrected him.
"Oh, right. Aye aye, General."
The Kremlings were about to leave carrying the two struggling monkeys, but Kunning stopped them. "The Kaptain will likely have them killed in some way. If he doesn't, or if he's going to imprison them first, just kill them as soon as he's out of sight. I will kover for you." He offered the Kongs an apologetic smile: "I'm sorry, but you leave me no other choice, and are too dangerous to be allowed a chance to escape. Take komfort in the fact that your deaths will allow me to build a beautiful future for everyone. Farewell."
As the huge Kremlings carried them off, the Kongs yelled insults and curses at Kunning before they tried instead to escape their captors. But the Kremlings had them in powerful arms, and it was just impossible to escape. They marched them through the grey corridors of the Kumulonimbus, climbing higher and higher until they reached K. Rool's Kommand room.
They burst through the large, metal doors. "Kap'n, general Kunning kaptured some Kongs!"
K. Rool turned on his throne and a wicked smile spread across his face. "Dudley and Foxie Kong! I kan see appointing Kunning to general was one of my best ideas, first he konkwers DK island, then he kaptures you two!"
"No, actually," said Diddy, "it was a very bad idea."
"What?!" K. Rool exclaimed.
"Kaptain K. Rool," he continued, "we came here to warn you about Kunning."
"Huh?!"
"I know we're enemies, but this is too important. Kunning is a danger to everyone, both us and you. He has betrayed both sides to advance his own position."
Picking up the thread, Dixie said: "Surely a crocodile as clever as you can see that."
"W-well," K. Rool suddenly seemed very unsure, "I have been aware of what he's doing for a while now. What's he doing?"
"He is plotting against you! Trying to usurp your throne, to-"
He was interrupted by a sly voice from one of the speakers. "Kaptain, I have kaptured Diddy and Dixie Kong who trying to sabotage your glorious victory."
"Yes, they have just arrived here."
"Eksellent. Be warned that they are trying to sow discord amongst us by telling lies that are easily distinguishable by anyone with half a brain. I don't know why I bother telling you this, seeing as you are so smart and they are so stupid."
"Yeah, you're right. They've been telling me ridikulous lies."
Kunning laughed. "How funny that they think they kould fool a man of your intelligence. They really are amusing kreatures, aren't they? Obviously, anyone with any intelligence whatsoever kan easily see that every word that komes out of their mouths is a komplete lie, but only really stupid people would ever be fooled by them. General Kunning out."
That was going to make it a lot harder to convince K. Rool. But Diddy was determined to try anyway. "You see? He's lying to try to fool you, while he is really your enemy."
K. Rool laughed. "Ha, every word you say is a lie, Dimply Kong! You kan't fool me, I'm a million times as smart as you are and kan see straight through every one of your lies!"
"No, really, a clever Kremling would recognise Kunning's lies."
"Your lies, you mean. You have been my enemies for a very long time, and everything you ever said to me is a lie. But now, I'll finally be rid of you. Guards, take them to the cells and throw them in. Make sure to guard them well, bekause I'm going to kill them myself later on."
The Kremlings lifted Diddy and Dixie and walked out of the Kontrol Room. As soon as they were outside, they stopped. "Right, General Kunning said we were supposed to kill them now."
"But," Dixie argued, "the Kaptain said you should keep us alive and throw us in the cells, and he's higher in rank."
"That's true," nodded the Kremlings, "but general Kunning promised he'd kover it for us."
"But how sure can you be general Kunning will do what he said? We made the mistake of trusting him, and look where we are now."
Suddenly a sly voice spoke through a speaker on the wall. "Is there a problem?"
"Uh, no, general Kunning. Just that the Kaptain said to throw them in jail and you said to kill them, and we're not sure what to do."
"Well, did the Kaptain say anything about throwing them into jail alive?"
"Uh... No, I don't think so."
"Well, then kill them and throw the bodies in jail. If you do so, I will make sure you all get high ranks."
"Alright!" they drew their swords, but then suddenly the ship heaved and shook massively as it lifted off from the water, and the Kongs recognised their chance, bit the arms of their unbalanced captors, and began running for their lives.
–
That's as far as I seem to have gotten, so onwards to the summary. After escaping, Diddy and Dixie split up, one of them trying to sabotage the ship as much as possible and give the Kremlings trouble, while the other warns the Kongs of the attack (although I can't help but wonder if the giant flying ship wouldn't have clued them in... Maybe it makes more sense for them both to give the Kremlings trouble). Thanks to their efforts, the attack is only partly successful; the Kremlings managing to conquer the Chimp Caverns and Kremkroc, but not the rest of the island. Kunning used to be in charge of Kremkroc, and after its reconquest, he convinces K. Rool to let him be in charge of it once more and prepare the conquest of the rest of the island, while K. Rool returns to Crocodile Island.
The next chapter would have seen Diddy and Dixie return to the Kongo Jungle in a state of mild panic, only to find most other Kongs surprisingly relaxed, figuring the invasion was over, and the only parts of the island conquered used to belong to the Kremlings anyway. They slowly get put at ease by everyone else and basically spend the chapter getting some well-deserved rest. The person who snaps them out of it, surprisingly, is Swanky, who is breaking up his bonus bonanza and planning to get off the island in a hurry, because he figures K. Rool won't stop at Kremkroc for long.
Convinced by Swanky that they're all still in grave danger, Diddy and Dixie decide to go on another quest to Kremkroc to figure out the plans of K. Rool and Kunning. Fortunately, Cranky has built Dixie a jetpack of her own by now, so they get to Kremkroc in a single chapter. Over there, they find out the factories are running again, as Kunning has forced the Kongs who live in the area to rebuild them and work in them. Diddy and Dixie get in a bunch of trouble, of course, as they try and confront Kunning, only to find he has left for Crocodile Island, so they follow him there.
At this point, we get to see most of a chapter from K. Rool's perspective. He's noticed Kunning has made a lot of changes to the Krem Krew, which is why he has summoned him back to Crocodile Island. Kunning almost manages to convince the Kaptain it's all for the better, but K. Rool doesn't quite believe him, and decides to have Kunning killed. Unfortunately, Kunning is ahead of him and has his special handpicked extra-nasty Kremling thugs kill K. Rool. He then holds a speech for the other Kremlings, promoting himself to their new leader, outlining his new plans to make the Krem Krew into a well-oiled, orderly machine, as well as his plans to conquer DK Island completely. In hindsight, I feel like K. Rool is too entertaining and iconic a villain to just get rid of like that, so perhaps I would have changed this and kept both of them as villains if I'd continued. The rest of my plans for the story do assume he dies and Kunning takes over as the main villain, but they're pretty vague from here on, so I could probably have adjusted them to keep K. Rool in somehow.
Diddy and Dixie witnessed Kunning's speech and realise they have to take care of him quickly before his plans go any further. Unfortunately, they end up captured during the ensuing confrontation. However, around this point, just when the Kongs (and probably the readers) believe Kunning is completely, irredeemably evil, he explains to them why he's doing it all. The short version: he was K. Rool's chief technician before Snide came along (in fact, I put in a little cameo of him in chapter 8 of Diddy's Kong Quest as the unnamed technician) and built the various machines K. Rool uses in the Donkey Kong Country games. But when Dixie and Kiddy beat K. Rool for the third time, he realised the crocodile would blame him, so he decided to flee before K. Rool had a chance. Unfortunately, returning home after his flight, he discovered K. Rool had had his wife Karina killed instead. This left him a broken lizard, until he finally came to the conclusion that K. Rool himself wasn't the only one to blame for her death, but the Kongs and the entire conflict between them and the Kremlings as well, believing he could stop things like it from ever happening again if he could just make the world more orderly and sensible, like one of his machines and got rid of everything he considered chaos. Obviously, he's still a villain, but he's a villain who believes he's doing the right thing.
After Diddy and Dixie escape, the Kremlings conquer the rest of DK Island. After this point, my plans get very vague, and I don't know what would have happened in what order, or what would have happened at all. Some of them include:
-The villains making a deal with the ghost of Krow and somehow setting her free from the shipwreck, thus allowing her to pursue Dixie for her revenge. This was my most worked-out long-term plan, and actually why I had Krow 'survive' back in Diddy's Kong Quest. She would've been one of the major villains of the late parts of the story, and though Dixie eventually kills her again, I hadn't thought of how yet.
-Kunning wanting to obtain the Lost World's power, but needing some kind of material tougher than diamonds to get it, since the Crocodile Core collapsed at the end of Diddy's Kong Quest.
-Diddy and Dixie on a quest to obtain said material before Kunning does. They would possibly have adventured through some of the Donkey Kong Country 3 worlds for this.
-Donkey and Cranky Kong helping the other Kongs resist the Kremlings while trying their best to keep them safe as well. One plot related to this I considered was that Tiny Kong might betray them to the Kremlings, and then for Dixie to believe she had been forced to do so and try to rescue her. But then, it would've turned out she actually believed Kunning had the right idea and that she supported him willingly. However, the only reason I picked Tiny to be the traitor is for the opportunity for drama, considering she's Dixie's sister. In hindsight, I feel like it doesn't make that much sense for her to join the villains, so chances are I wouldn't have ended up going this road.
-Naturally, the Kongs would've eventually beaten Kunning, and taken back their island once and for all. I'd imagine the Kongs would've beaten the Kremlings right at the same time that Diddy and Dixie completed their quest and prevented Kunning from controlling the Lost World's energy, leading to a good old-fashioned villainous breakdown from him before the final confrontation with Diddy and Dixie.
I'm not sure how well the story would've worked out, in the end. I feel like it might've been too heavy, considering the source material, and also too long. Killing K. Rool certainly seems like it would've been a mistake. Anyway, thank you very much for having read this far, and for enjoying the Kongs. Now, why don't you go and play one of the Donkey Kong Country games? They never really get old and remain among my favourites after all these years.
