So I apologize for not updating last week, I got swept up along with the Smash Bros hype. Dixie didn't make it in, but I ended up with a newcomer I didn't know I wanted (Incineroar). Plus, Spirits is a thing...So I could still have Dixie helping the Smashers in some way.

Anyway, here's the next chapter.

After what seemed like forever, the fish finally made it over to the island. However, since the beach was surrounded by pointed rocks and wrecked ships,the Kongs had no choice but to get through one of the ships. The fish took them through the bottom of what looked like K. Rool's galleon...or rather, what's left of it. For Diddy, it felt strange seeing the ship in this condition. He remembered the Kremlings dropping him down here so he wouldn't escape, yet he also remembered K. Rool's snake coming down and helping him. He remembered how neatly the boxes around him were stacked, but now they were covered in barnacles and algae. There were stingrays and puffer fish swimming in the water, there were seastars sticking to the walls. The ship was in no condition for sailing, but it at least provided a home for some of the fish here.

A little further ahead, and the Kongs could spot several piranha-like fish called Lockjaws swimming in the water. They were rare to find on Donkey Kong Island. In fact, most Kongs would be lucky to find one Lockjaw, let alone several. The Lockjaws noticed the Kongs and began swimming towards them. Diddy nearly screamed as the sword fish began to speed up. One of the lockjaws managed to grab Dixie's hair, to which she responded by pulling in out and tossing it aside. Finally, the swordfish made it over to a collapsed ceiling. The Kongs climbed into the cluttered room above them as the fish charged after the Lockjaws. Terrified, the Lockjaws began to swim away. Diddy watched as the swordfish swam off. He couldn't help but wonder where he was headed, but at the same time, it's probably best not to worry about it.

"Where are we?" Dixie asked while looking around.

"I think this is s'posed to be the Captain's Cabin," Diddy replied. "I'll bet K. Rool had a lot of stuff hidden away here, too."

"Yeah, well...maybe he has a map of the island," Dixie said while digging through the bookshelves. Diddy nodded as he looked through K. Rool's desk. One of them contained a pen and a bunch of notes, most of which referred to the Banana Hoard Incident. The other drawer, however, contained a rattlesnake. Diddy screamed as he jumped back from the drawer. Dixie was about to ask what was wrong, but then she noticed the snake peaking his head out of the drawer.

"Oh, hello," said the snake as he crawled out of the drawer. "It'sss been a while, hasssn't it?"

Diddy tilted his head. Come to think of it, the snake DID look familiar to him. It had a green body with red stripes. However, there didn't seem to be a rattle like Diddy remembered.

"Are...Are you the snake that helped me escape?"

"Oh, ssso you do remember?" The snake said happily. "Ssso what bringsss you here? Did you come back to kick K. Rool'sss butt?"

"Uh...kind of," Diddy replied, though he still looked puzzled. "I...couldn've sworn you had a rattle."

"I did," said the snake. "But onccce K. Rool found out that I helped you essscape, he decccided to cut off my rattle and leave me here with the ratsss."

"That's horrible!" Dixie yelled in response. "Why would he do such a thing!?"

"Becaussse it'sss K. Rool," the snake replied. "If you go againssst him in any way, then he'll do whatever it takesss to make you sssuffer. Losssing my rattle isssn't all bad, though," the snake began to smile, "This way, I could eat as many ratsss as I want without being detected."

Diddy couldn't help but feel sorry for the snake, especially after losing his rattle like that. He knelt down to the snake's level and extended his arm. "I know I can't get your rattle back, but maybe there's a way for us to help you out?"

"And why would you want to help me?" the snake asked. "After all, I was one of the Kremlings."

"Because you were the one who freed me last time we met," Diddy replied. "So why not return the favor?"

"...Very well, then," the snake said while crawling onto Diddy's arm and into his backpack. "But I mussst warn you, there isss a Necky outssside named Krow. He'sss the reassson why I can't escape this ship and head back to the island. And not only will he come after me, he'll try to come after you guysss too. "

"So what do you want us to do?" Diddy asked.

"Well, you could either sssneak passst him or fight him yourssself," said the snake. "Either way, I need you two to help me get back to the island."

Diddy nodded before turning his attention towards Dixie, "What do you think we should do?"

"I say we try to get past him," Dixie said. "Besides...he had no problem with tearing up Funky's plane, imagine what he'll do to us?"

"Good point," Diddy replied. "We'll have to try and lay low until we're outta here."

Both Kongs made their way to the door, they peaked outside of the cabin and looked up at the crow's nest where Krow sat. Krow was scanning the area, he appeared to be looking out for trespassers as well as prey. Along ship's deck were barrels, which were scattered all over the place. Rats and beetles hid inside the barrel, hoping that Krow would not be able to find them. Along the ship's masts sat some smaller Neckies. Although they didn't appear to pose a threat, they could still attack the Kongs if they wanted to. Diddy grabbed a nearby crate and held it over his head. Dixie moved closer to him to keep herself hidden as well.

As the Kongs tried to sneak by, Screech landed on one of the masts beside the Neckies. He tilted his head as he watched the one of the crates move. He knew he saw a plane crash earlier, and yet he was certain that no Kong would be foolish enough to come to the island. Still, he couldn't help but look around to see if anything suspicious had popped up.

"So...what brings you here?" asked one of the Neckies. "Did K. Rool ask you to spy on us or somethin'?"

"No, not you," Screech said while shaking his head. "He's asked me to spy on the Kongs."

"So then why aren't you spying on the Kongs?" asked another Necky.

"Well, doesn't that crate down there look awfully suspicious?" Screech asked while pointing to the crate the Kongs were hiding under. Another Necky tilted his head, "Are you sure that's not a rat?"

"Look closer," Screech said pointing to the crate, "Don't you see that blonde hair dragging behind it?"

"Fine, I'm gonna go take a look at it!" the Necky said bitterly as he flew off of the mast. He quietly soared onto the crate, causing both Kongs to pause. When the Necky looked below the crate, he could see the terrified expression on Diddy's face.

"KONGS!" yelled the Necky, "THERE ARE KONGS ON THE SHIP!"

Diddy was completely frozen, he wasn't sure if he should throw the crate at the Neckies or dive off the ship. But either way, it was too late. As the Neckies continued to freak out, Krow began to notice. He flew out of his nest and headed towards the Kongs. He managed to grab Diddy, but the snake inside his back pack lept out of it.

"What do we do now?" Dixie asked the snake.

"I know thisss might sssound foolisssh," the snake replied as it coiled itself like a spring. "But if you want to sssave your friend, then I'd sssuggest holding on!"

Dixie nodded as she grabbed onto the snake's head. He began to make his way up towards the masts, knocking out as many Neckies as he could in the process.

"Is that you, Rattly?" asked Screech , who was still sitting on one of the masts. "I couldn't recognize you without your rattle."

"You be quiet!" Rattly demanded as he hopped off of Screech's head and continued towards Krow's nest. "I've got a child to sssave!"

Screech was furious. At first, he was tempted to go after the duo. However, perhaps it was best to warn K. Rool about his unwelcomed guests. After all, regardless of whether they survive or not, Screech was sure that something interesting was going to come out of it.

So...Diddy got taken by the first boss...And given what happens to Krow, this next chapter's going to be a fun one.