- Chapter 10 -
Meeting of Kings
Author's Note:
So, yeah, in case you guys haven't figured it out already, I'm trying to cram in as many references to the three series and their spin-offs as possible. I'm even thinking of introducing Banjo-Kazooie characters somewhere down the line, since they started out as Nintendo characters, Banjo first appeared in Diddy Kong Racing, and Kazooie mentions Mario in the Grunty Industries level of Banjo-Tooie.
Monkey Mines, Donkey Kong Island, The Mushroom World
After wandering through the old mines for some time, Bowser reached a wide open area, and quickly realized he had found what he was looking for when he saw two of K. Rool's elites standing before him. General Klump and Krusha.
Klump was a chubby crocodile with brown scales and a flesh-colored midsection. He wore green camo pants, black boots, and a green army helmet on his head. Krusha was a big, muscular crocodile with blue scales and a spiky white mohawk, dressed in a sleeveless camo muscle shirt and matching pants. Klump held out a hand, signaling Bowser to halt.
"You know you ain't welcome here, Koopa," he said. "If you don't leave now, there's gonna be trouble."
Bowser just glared at Klump. "I came here to talk to K. Rool, and I'm not leaving until I do."
"Oh, yeah?" Krusha asked, taking a step forward and trying to look intimidating; if it was anyone else, it just might have worked, but Bowser found it laughable. "You and what army, pal?"
Bowser rolled his eyes and lifted the two Kremlings bodily off of the ground in one hand each, their bravado evaporating instantly.
"My army, wise guy," Bowser said to the two trembling reptiles. "My army of one. Me."
With that, he bashed Klump and Krusha's heads together and tossed them aside like used gum wrappers before continuing into the base. While he did come across more Kremlings on his way, they were smart enough not to approach him.
It wasn't long before he spotted an elegant-looking chair, the chair's back facing him.
"So," a deep voice said, a slight British accent (1) and a noticeably sarcastic tone to it. "The exalted King Bowser comes to grace me with his presence. I don't know whether to be flattered or sickened."
The chair swiveled around, and Bowser found himself face-to-face with the ruler of the Kremlings, King K. Rool.
K. Rool was a large crocodile, around the same size as Bowser himself, with light green skin, a golden midsection, a long tail, jagged teeth, and four-digit hands and three-digit feet, both tipped with sharp claws. He also wore a red cape with gold trim, a golden crown, and gold wristbands. His most distinguishing feature, however, was his right eye, which was twice the size of his left and bloodshot.
"The feeling's mutual, K. Rool," Bowser said flatly. K. Rool just sat there, examining Bowser with his malformed eye.
"Why are you here, Bowser?" he said after a few moments. Bowser gritted his teeth.
"I came here to make a deal," he said. "I've got a new plan to defeat Mario, one that can't possibly fail."
K. Rool laughed out loud. "Like all the others that 'couldn't possibly fail'?" he asked. "Bowser, if there's one thing that's true in this world, it's that you always lose to Mario!"
Bowser snorted a breath of fire from his nose, but kept his temper in check. "Like you have room to talk," the Koopa king said. "Do I have to remind you that the last time you beat Donkey Kong was never?"
K. Rool growled as Bowser continued, "And is this where you've been all this time, since your little Crystal Banana scheme went down the tubes (2)? You've been hiding out in these old mines while those dumb Tikis and Snowmads attacked this island, one after another!"
K. Rool rose from his throne at that. "I've been biding my time," he said. "Just waiting for the moment where I can steal the Banana Hoard and conquer this island!"
Bowser rolled his eyes. "What is it with you and stealing that stupid Banana Hoard?"
"What is it with you and constantly kidnapping Princess Peach?" K. Rool asked rhetorically.
Bowser reluctantly conceded. "Yeah, that's a good point, and well made."
K. Rool snapped his fingers at that, and an army of Kritters filed in as if from nowhere.
"Our business is concluded, Bowser," he said. "Remove this Koopa immediately."
The Kritters just looked at Bowser, who folded his arms and looked at them. With that, the Kritters dropped their weapons and bugged out of the room en masse.
"Morons," K. Rool muttered with discontent. "Well, I guess if you want something done right..."
He turned to Bowser and raised his fists in a boxer's stance. Bowser looked at him, slightly angered.
"I didn't come all this way to pick a fight, K. Rool," he said.
"Well, too bad," said the Kremling king. "Maybe if you beat me, I'll hear you out."
Bowser rolled his eyes and raised his own fists. "If that's what it takes."
K. Rool stomped the ground in a sumo wrestling fashion, and then charged directly at Bowser like a bull. Bowser braced himself and spread his arms as K. Rool tackled him. Bowser slid back about a foot before planting his feet and stopping in his tracks, throwing K. Rool aside.
K. Rool hit the ground rolling on his side before springing up, growling. He sprang at Bowser with speed belying his size and punched the Koopa king in the face. Bowser growled and punched K. Rool right back before grabbing his cape and slinging him over his shoulder by it.
K. Rool had no time to recover before Bowser grabbed him by the tail and spun him around at such speeds that everything K. Rool could see became a blur. Bowser released the tail, and K. Rool was sent flying into the wall with such force that he was partially embedded in the wall.
"Huh," Bowser said simply as he looked at K. Rool, arms crossed. "So that's what it looks like from the outside (3)." K. Rool pried himself out of the wall, and looked at Bowser.
"Okay, Bowser," he said. "You win. Let's hear what you have to say."
Bowser grinned.
The Castle, Bowser's Skull Egg Zone
Eggman and Wily were sitting patiently in the castle's main hall when the portal opened, with Bowser and K. Rool stepping through. K. Rool's left eye was black, and he had a few bandages on his body.
"So, you must be King K. Rool," said Eggman. "I'm Dr. Eggman, and this is Dr. Wily."
"The pleasure's all yours," K. Rool said simply. Bowser looked at the two human scientists.
"Let me guess, Burnbot is junk?" he said. Eggman nodded, and Bowser face-palmed. "Why am I not surprised?"
Eggman shrugged. "It was worth a shot. Besides, our special projects are well underway. Upon their completion, those heroes are doomed."
Author's Note:
(1): A reference to the Donkey Kong Country cartoon; K. Rool had a British accent there.
(2): The plot of DK: Jungle Climber.
(3): A reference to the numerous games in which Mario and/or Luigi spin Bowser around and throw him by the tail.
So, yet another archvillain has joined Bowser, Eggman, and Wily's league of evil. What does this spell for our heroes? And what are the "special projects" they keep mentioning?
All in due time. Please R&R. Until next chapter...