Hellooooooooo! Did y'all miss me? ;)

Nah, I'm just playing. Most of y'all wouldn't remember me probably. It's been a good long time since I wrote a proper Donkey Kong fic! I (and the timelines I've dabbled in) have grown as people since whicher was the last thing I posted was, and I've had this idea brewing in my little brain bank for the last couple of years, and it's finally here! There's a bit of an explanation of some things for you at the end, so until then, I hope you enjoy!

XXX

To be honest, it all started out as a good idea.

Inari had been reluctant to let her children run about by themselves. Most of the villagers thought this meant she was very strict in raising them, especially considering her eldest's less reserved nature, while the rest of them just figured she was overprotective and didn't want them getting hurt or into other trouble.

In truth, both sides were half-right.

She did try to be strict in their upbringing, but she also knew there was a time and place for it, such as preventing them from putting coins in their mouths. Otherwise, she was a very doting mother who loved both her children dearly. She'd had a few experiences in her youth that made her wary about letting her children run around without a trusted adult to prevent any bodily harm, a fear that only became worse when having one child became having two. However, as time passed, she knew that if at least one of them had inherited her tendency to go absolutely feral at a moment's notice, they'd be OK.

Inari wasn't stupid, though. Even considering the likelihood of them inheriting that sort of thing, there was always the problem of if it wasn't enough to keep them alive and well until either help arrived or they could get to safety. They were still young children, after all; the youngest a toddler and the eldest having only just turned five. There was only so much either could do to defend themselves.

So she waited. She waited, no matter how much the eldest begged, no matter how much her husband tried to convince her they'd be OK. Because there was a specific time she was waiting for.

Being the king of the island meant her husband Don was usually somewhere near the village, either on the outskirts or just inside, during the day but exactly where would vary from day to day. The particular time she was waiting for was when he had to do something near the area the village children usually played at. This way, if something were to happen, their father was near and could protect them, and thus her fears were eased.

"Mama, can I go outside to play?" the eldest child asked, as usual, on the morning in question.

"You already know you can, Junior," she replied. "However, there is-"

"I know, Mama. Stay by the cabin."

Inari chose to ignore the eyeroll he gave her.

"I was going to say you can go play with the others in their usual spot today."

Junior gave her a flabbergasted look, his mouth agape in surprise, before his expression changed into one of excitement.

"Really?" he squealed.

"Yes, dear, but there's something I want you-" she began, but then he ran off deeper into the cabin.

"ASA! MAMA SAYS WE CAN PLAY AWAY FROM THE CABIN TODAY!"

She sighed, rubbing her temples. Junior returned a minute later, dragging a half-asleep Asari behind him, still dressed in his bedclothes with a line of partially dried drool trailing from the corner of his mouth. The older brother was absolutely vibrating with excitement while the younger brother seemed slightly irritated.

"Jun, why," the toddler murmured, rubbing his eyes.

"Aren't you excited, Asa?! We don't have to stay by the cabin today!" Junior beamed.

"...Mmmh…"

"I'm glad you're excited, Junior, but please let your brother wake up first," Inari said, picking Asari up. The toddler immediately flopped against her shoulder, snoring softly. "There is a catch to this, and I want you both awake and aware before I tell you what it is."

"Wait, really? Why?" Junior asked.

"Because it's the only way your father and I would agree on the matter."

Inari gave it another hour, making sure both children were completely awake, before deciding to let them loose. The kids were by the door of the cabin, Junior once more vibrating in anticipation while Asari watched with an exasperation that should have been beyond that of an almost two-year-old, when their mother approached them with a small package.

"You both ready?" she asked them, and they responded with nods. "OK. Now, I want you to bring this to your father. He's close by where you should be meeting with the other kids."

"Aww, Papa will be near us?" Junior exclaimed, apparently not knowing his parents as well as he thought he did.

"Of course, I could always go with you and bring you right back here instead and we continue business as usual."

She said this with a knowing smile, but then Junior pouted and it made her frown.

"OK, Mama."

"You boys know I love you both more than life itself, and you know I hate making you do things that way, but you'll have to learn eventually that a lot of things don't always come as we want them to." She pulled them into a tight hug. "Be good and be safe, OK? Remember: if you need anything, your father will be nearby."

They both nodded, and were off. Their mother, her nerves thoroughly shot, watched them for a bit before talking herself into retreating back inside, and the second the door closed, Asari instinctively grabbed Junior's hand. The two brothers shared a look and continued on through the village.

The trip to the spot took a bit longer than was likely needed. On occasion, a villager would stop and say hi or ask what errand they'd been sent on. With each successive person, Junior grew slightly irritated, anxious that by the time they reached their destination the other kids would be gone. In reality, not much time had passed, but to him it felt like the people they encountered talked forever.

They were finally continuing on their path, when another voice called out to them.

"Hey there, kids!"

Both boys looked around until they spotted a much older Kong a bit of a ways away, waving to them and smiling.

"Hi, Mr. Mischa," Asari called back.

"What are the two of you doing out here by yourselves?" Mischa, the Kong in question, asked, coming up to meet them. "I'm sure Inari's got to be very worried about you. She never seems to let you out of her sight unless your dad or grandpa are around."

"She let us out by ourselves today!" Junior said happily. He held up the small parcel. "We gotta take this to Papa first."

"Well, if it helps, I do recall seeing him by the entrance to the village. He and a few other adults were examining some trees that fell down the other night during the storm."

The children nodded, thanking Mischa and continuing on their way.

As they neared the edge of the village, Junior seemed to vibrate more and more. Asari, ever on the same wavelength as his brother, tugged on his hand to get his attention.

"Asa? Are you OK? I know you don't like people," Junior asked quietly. Asari tilted his head suspiciously, as if redirecting the question back at him. "Of course I'm fine! Why do you have to judge me?!"

Asari rolled his eyes, but suddenly seemed to peer behind him. His eyes widened, and he nodded his head in the direction they'd been heading in, tugging on Junior's hand once more, this time in excitement. The older child turned back around, seeing what had gotten the younger so riled up. True to Mischa's words, Junior could see a gathering of older Kongs, among them their father and grandfather, at the edge of the village, standing around and discussing something on the ground. Even from a distance, he could make out the distinct form of Donkey Kong Senior. Junior looked to Asari and nodded, the toddler taking off like a bullet, still clutching his brother's hand.

"Papa!"

The toddler's shout caused several heads to turn as Asari barreled himself into his father. Don, used to being body-slammed by his sons, didn't flinch. He turned his head to the direction where the flying child had come from, carefully lifting the leg the youngest had attached himself to, and smiled.

"Hi," Asari grinned.

"Hello, Asa, Junior," their father replied in kind, peeling him off his limb. "I see Inari kept her word."

"Yeah!" Junior said. He held up the parcel, which Don took upon setting Asari down."Mama wanted us to give this to you."

"Oh, thank you." The parcel felt mostly weightless, and he shook it slightly, hearing only the slightest noise come from inside. He furrowed his brow. "Hm. Well, in any case, I appreciate the effort. The other children should be that way," He gestured to the west, "but I should be near for another while if something happens."

Both children nodded, Junior happily dragging Asari away into the pointed direction. Don watched them for a moment before turning back to the parcel. Undoing the string and tearing away the wrapping, he found a small box that upon examination only contained a note:

Bring the boys with you when you head home.

If you're still there past noon, send them then.

~Love, Ina

The note made him chuckle and roll his eyes.

X

Junior and Asari entered the clearing to find several of the village children already engaged in a game of sorts. The brothers let go of each other's hand then, letting Junior run unabated into a gaggle of them excitedly and Asari to find a quiet place to sit.

Something to note about Asari was that he was very smart for a child his age in the sense that he could usually understand what was going on just by vibes, though it was likely a result of his parents being more predictable than they'd ever admit. He could tell when they were worried or angry, and subsequently this extended to being able to tell in regards to Junior. Right now, despite his brother's happy exterior, Asari could tell he was anxious but couldn't discern exactly over what.

He shrugged it off, attributing it to the overwhelming excitement he'd be exhibiting since the younger brother had been rudely awoken. Asari began to draw shapes in the dirt, switching his attention between that and observing his brother tumbling around with the older kids.

Junior, meanwhile, was having an absolute ball. No adult scrutiny, and there was nothing breakable in the vicinity. He'd gotten himself involved in an overly raucous game of tag, and he was enjoying it far more than he probably ever should. He dove for another child, a girl maybe a year or so younger with her brown hair tied into two short braids, in an attempt to tag them. This other child was surprisingly fast, dashing out of his way when she realized she was his target. Junior missed her by a good margin, landing belly-first on the ground.

The game stopped entirely as every child suddenly turned to him. Asari anxiously clutched the dirt, pondering whether or not he needed to make a break for Don. The girl gasped, hurrying back over to where he still lay stunned from the impact.

"Junior? You OK?" she asked nervously. Junior shook his head rapidly, recovered now, and grinned at the girl before gently placing a hand on her leg.

"You're it, Millie!" As if he hadn't just eaten dirt, he quickly got up and bolted away. The girl, Millie, stared at him in disbelief before quickly growing frustrated and giving chase.

Asari sighed in relief and let go of the ground. At least Junior would be OK. He honestly had been worried about what their father would have done had he gone and gotten him, and whether or not Junior would be mad at him for it. He resumed drawing in the dirt, relieved his worry in this instance was for naught.

Maybe an hour passed before someone suddenly approached him. Junior quickly took notice, stopping to observe what was happening. He couldn't hear what they were saying, but he did notice it was a kid maybe a year older than him that they'd had problems with in the past called Jirou, if he recalled right. He watched more intently, beginning to make his way over in worry when he noticed Asari growing agitated by the older boy's presence and beginning to try to stand up in order to move elsewhere.

Jirou made a kicking motion, and Asari fell to the side.

Junior saw red then, hurling himself at Jirou and pinning him to the ground with all his weight. He managed to land one punch before Jirou caught his fists, and the two began to struggle against each other.

"LEAVE MY BROTHER ALONE!" Junior shouted, trying with all his strength to free his hands from the older boy's grasp.

Suddenly, he was being lifted into the air. He still struggled to reach Jirou, whose eyes had gone wide at who towered before them now.

"Junior, what is going on?" The boy stopped at his father's voice. He turned to see Don's face set in a mix of concern and surprise. "I've never seen you act like this."

"He kicked Asari!"

"Did not!" Jirou claimed. "He hit me first!"

Don looked to Asari, still on the ground. He was rubbing his eyes, but otherwise seemed all right for the most part. Millie as well as Don's father Romani were next to him, trying to make sure he'd be OK.

"Something surely happened to my son, so you're not off the hook just yet, kid," Don said. A dark look seemed to cover his face in an instant. "I suggest you get to your parents before I do." Jirou grimaced, and ran from the clearing.

"Papa, please, he started it," Junior began to beg as his father turned him so they could more easily face one another. "I promise!"

Don sighed. "I know, but I'm afraid this is a conversation we'll have to have at home."

Junior's face fell. Romani approached then, holding Asari, who still hadn't recovered, and offered the smaller child out to him. Don shifted Junior so he was held like a stack of books under his arm, causing the boy to fix his face into a pout instead, and accepted the other kid.

"Do what you need," Romani said. "I can finish up with the others just as soon as I can calm these kids down."

"I'm sorry to leave it to you."

"Don't be! The boys were bound to get into this kind of trouble some day."

Don could only sigh, nodding silently in agreement.

XXX

So, uh, fun fact: because I couldn't figure out a good title for this on my own, I looked up flower meanings and picked one that I feel best described the summary if nothing else. "Chamomile" evidently means "patience in adversity" in Victorian-era flower language (and I picked that era because it was the first chart to pop up when I googled flower meanings). Theyyyyy're... gonna need a LOT of patience. Not just the parents, but the kids themselves.

Also! I bet you're wondering about characters and names and such. Some who have read previous (as well as since-deleted) works would know who Inari is supposed to be (as well as noticed that some bits of the Kong family tree have changed), but I'll go ahead and put the explanation here, just in case it's not too easy to figure out:

Don=Donkey Kong Senior=younger Cranky (it comes from a nickname from Romani)

Inari=younger Wrinkly (it's her given name in my headcanon)

I literally feel like Junior is self-explanatory (tho he does goes by Jay when he's older in my headcanons)

Asari=pink DKJr from Donkey Kong Junior Math who I have taken and molded into his own character (he is my son)

Thank you for having the patience to read this! I know it's probably a slog to go through, an hopefully the conclusion will be posted soon. :)