Chapter Twelve is here for you. My faithful readers, I hope that chapter eleven is up to par with the rest of my story. It was sorta rushed because I wanted to get it in before I had to get back to my studies. If it is not, please feel free to flame. This chapter is going to be far better than chapter 11 so please read and review.

DK opened his large eyes to only see wet, brown fur hanging in front of them. Seeing that his left hand was currently occupied...by what, he didn't know, he used his right to wipe away the water and the hair from his eyes. Blinking a few times his eyesight came back to him and he gasped. Bowser was hanging from a small protrusion in the waterfall, his claws digging deep into the rock. His other hand was latched on DK's, keeping the hairy battler from falling to his doom. To say that DK was shocked was an understatement. Want to know why, let's see...One: This was a Super Smash Brothers battle and the point was to win. Two: Why was Bowser helping him? Three: Why was he relieved that Bowser was helping him? He hated the guy. Four: He had forgotten to take the garbage out before the battle and Peach was going to kill him.

"Grr." Bowser grunted as the pounds of water fell on his body mercilessly.

His claws dug into the rock that he and DK were dangling from precariously. Small lines indicating their path as he was dragged further and further down the rock appeared as he slowly lost his grip. Bowser really seemed to be struggling to stay latched to the rock and to keep DK from falling.

"Why?" DK thought

Why was Bowser helping him? Bowser didn't help anyone unless it favored him. Why was Bowser going out of his way to save DK? Sure, it was not like his life was in danger, but still. BOWSER WAS HELPING DK! THE WORLD IS ENDING HERE PEOPLE! ENDING!

"If it's not a problem down there then maybe you could, oh I don't know, maybe, let's say, TRY AND CLIMB UP!" Bowser yelled, not angrily, but sarcastically

Well at least Bowser's wit hadn't changed.

"Could ya throw me up, maybe I can grab that ledge over there." DK replied, pointing to a ledge that was shielded from the water.

"I'll try." came Bowser

Slowly Bowser began to swing the primate back and forth, building up momentum. As he did so his claws slid further down the rock, dangerously close to the edge. Once the necessary speed was achieved Bowser used all the strength in his free arm to launched DK toward the ledge. DK tore through the pounding water, speedily heading toward the ledge. At the last second his large arms shot forward and he grabbed the ledge and pulled himself up. Shaking his fur of water he didn't realize that Bowser's grip on the rock was becoming more and more loose. He didn't realize until he heard a cracking noise as the rock started to give way. DK turned to see the rock slowly crack and tip. Bowser tried to shift his weight to lessen the crack but that proved to be a grave miscalculation as because the shift in weight caused the already unstable rock to crack even more, further lowering him downward.

"I really hope you're okay, because I'm not!" yelled Bowser through the roar of the falls

The rock lowered a little more.

"Could ya be a pal and help me!" Bowser yelled

It lowered a little more.

"Really buddy! Could use a hand!" Bowser yelled

And a little lower. DK wasn't sure what to do. Bowser was yelling at him, that was a given, a deaf man at a heavy-metal concert while the music was blasting and the deaf man was wearing ear plugs and yelling at the top of his lungs could hear Bowser yelling. But it wasn't an angry yell, per say,more ofit had a tinge of desperation. DK did a double take; Bowser desperate? The Koopa King, the Sarcasm Spitter, the Mean Monster, the Livid Lizard, (and anything else you can think of that rhymes) was desperate. Like I said earlier. THE WORLD IS ENDING PEOPLE! REPENT, REPENT!

"If you're my friend Donkey Kong then you'll help!" Bowser yelled

Okay, that tore it. Did Bowser just use the words 'friend' and 'Donkey Kong' in the same sentence in a positive note...somewhat? Something was definitely wrong. No way did Bowser ever acknowledge someone as a friend. Sure, Bowser could be friendly when he wanted to be, which wasn't always, but he never actually said the word friend. DK was so shocked by the sentence that he punched himself to make sure he wasn't dreaming.

"Ow."

Safe to say he wasn't dreaming. Seeing that a fellow living being is in danger and that for the moment any hate toward the king is replaced with confusion DK quickly decides to finally help. But because of his slow response time the rock that Bowser is hanging onto by a thread completely snaps and sends the giant Koopa hurtling to the basin below.

"No!" DK yells

Now normally this wouldn't be a problem. When a Smasher falls from an arena they get teleported away. That is if the arena is still in one piece. And due to DK's rage the arena was now resting at the bottom of the basin--a place that Bowser would soon discover himself.

"ROAR!" Bowser roars, the roar seeming to get quieter as he plummets.

Then came a loud splash followed by a column of waterthat sky-rocketed in the air, which was followed by an after-splash that soon settled into a huge outgoing series of ripples. DK couldn't believe what had happened. First Bowser acted as if he didn't care about the fight. Then he flipped out and destroyed the arena. Then Bowser saved him, and then BAM! Bowser hit the water and that was it. Everything happened so quick that not even Pichu could have caught up with all the happenings. And he did nothing to stop it all from happening. All he did was get angry and wished to smear Bowser off of his feet. And now he was gone.

"And I never got to say..."

Then he spotted something. It was something large moving through the water. It was green and had spikes protruding from its surface. A tail bobbed in and out of the water periodically as if it were some sort of paddle or rudder.

"Duh." DK grunted

The big advantage of being a koopa is the fact that koopa's are turtles, and turtles can swim. And even though Bowser breathed fire and hated being submerged, he could swim, rather well. Soon enough Bowser climbed onto the shore and shook himself clean of water.

"I hate the WATER!" Bowser yelled after climbing out

Then the Koopa King looked up and saw DK standing on the ledge high up on the water fall.

"Get you're hairy butt down here so we can finish our fight!" Bowser yelled

Okay, DK was officially freaked out. First Bowser was helping him, showed signs of friendship, and was now yelling at him to fight. What the hell was going on? Did DK fall into a parallel universe? Was he high? Did little gnomes jump into his head and were now controlling his mind? Was he losing his mind? But DK didn't ponder this for long. It made his head hurt so he decided

"The hell with it." and he climbed down the cliff to accompany his fellow Smasher

After what seemed like forever to make it to the bottom DK and Bowser finally stood face-to-face. Each creature's eyes bore into the others, looking for that emotion that would tell them what the other was thinking. A long silence was their only friend. Even the 'crickets-that-pop-up-anytime-there-is-a-long-silence-to-annoy-the-hell-out-of-you' didn't make a sound. It was deadly quiet...that was until someone spoke.

"Why?" DK asked

"Why what?" Bowser asked monotonously

"Why did you save me?" DK asked

Bowser shrugged "Felt like it." he replied

DK fell silent.

"You know, this is still a battle. Why don't we get back to the part where we beat each other to a pulp?" Bowser suggested

DK cocked his head to the side, confused. But when he saw a slight smile on Bowser's face his confusion turned to contentment. DK nodded his head, approving Bowser's suggestion. But before they went into battle DK said one thing.

"Thanks."

"Don't get all mushy on me. Save that for that annoying little dinosaur." came Bowser

DK smirked.

"Let's go." DK said

"Well, actually, it won't feel so right if we don't have a countdown." came Bowser unexpectedly

"Okay. Want to count together?" DK suggested

Bowser shrugged, it didn't matter to him. With his smirk growing bigger DK began

"3..."

Bowser followed up with his own smirk and continued

"2..."

Then came DK once again

"1..."

"GO!" they both yelled and ran at each other, their fists rose to pummel.

The next series of events could only be described in one word "Absolutely Beautiful"...okay that was two words, but you get the point. And I probably shouldn't say beautiful when referring to Bowser and DK. It was more along the terms of "Utterly Diesel." DK got the first hit in, slamming his paw into the hard jaw of Bowser, sending the turtle into a tree, smashing it to splinters. Bowser retaliated with a sea of flames in DK's direction; said flames completely engulfed the furry fighter. When the flames finally died down DK was still standing, though sizzling, he was still standing. DK smirked and playfully taunted the large Koopa; laughing, grunting, and making a whole slew of simian noises. Steam billowed from Bowser's nose as he snorted and he dug his feet into the ground, bending his head down to expose his horns. A strange, angered mooing sound appeared from nowhere and Bowser charged DK with full intention on show DK just how sharp his horns were. DK stood his ground and awaited the bulldozing Koopa and a moment before Bowser's horns met DK's chest, DK pitchedhis arms out and took hold of both horns with an unshakeable grip. Then using sheer brute strength DK lifted Bowser up into the air and onto his back. Bowser struggled to get free but DK was unshakeable in the current position they were in. DK turned to the water and Bowser peered up and saw the crisp clean water of the lake that the water fall formed.

"You wouldn't dare." Bowser said coldly

DK nodded his head vigorously before heaving Bowser into the cold water.

"ROAR!" came Bowser as he hit the water, hard.

Bowser started sputtering and flailing around wildly like he was drowning, even though he could swim like a shark. Guess he had a momentary lapse in memory. By now, DK was rolling around on the ground, laughing his butt off at Bowser pathetic attempt at getting out of the water.

"You are going to pay!" Bowser shrieked curling into a ball and letting his shell spin feverishly at DK, kicking up water and dirt that should be so foolish as to get in his way.

DK took the full hit of the Spinning Fortress and bounced along the ground, ripping through a few vines and low level plants. Rubbing his head he looked up to see Bowser come down, the Koopa King's large belly coming down for a Body Slam. DK rolled away and Bowser made contact with the ground, which shook under his weight. It took him some time to stand, after slamming into the ground so hard, which gave DK plenty of time to wound his Giant Punch. Bowser looked up to see a large fist connect with his jaw. Bowser's face turned so fast that it looked like it was trying to run away from his body. Finally his body caught up and was propelled back toward the lake with such force that when he hit the water he skipped across it. He skipped across the water a few more times before landing with a thunderous splash.

"I hate you with the intensity of FOUR raging fires!" DK heard Bowser yell from the lake

This time when he swam back he swam back quickly but strangely he had a smile on his face, a strange devious smile. Then as he neared the shore he dove underwater and everything went quiet. DK look at the spot Bowser had disappeared in but could not see hide nor hair of the Koopa King. Slowly something came out of the water. DK looked down and saw a Bob-Bomb slowly making his way toward him. He freaked and prepared to make a run for it but, Bowser had lunged out of the water and let his flame breath ring. DK could only utter one word before the flames engulfed him and the Bob-bomb.

"Crap."

BOOM! The Bob-bomb depressurized and exploded, blowing DK clean across Kongo Jungle.

"PLAYER DEFEATED!" boomed the announcer

"Nobody makes me go for a swim." Bowser mumbled

Back at the mansion DK was rubbing his swore muscles. Fire plus a Bob-Bomb will do that to you. As he was rounding a corner he bumped into Bowser and Yoshi. The latter seemed to be annoying Bowser to wits end, but the former somehow didn't lose his temper. He simply grunted and groaned at Yoshi's attempt at conversation. Word to the wise; Do not, DO NOT get Yoshi talking. He will not stop when he's got something to say. He has been known to go on for hours at a time. Somehow, and I put emphasis on somehow, Bowser was immune to Yoshi's constant babble and only listened to key things in the conversation so that when Yoshi asked if he was listening Bowser could reply and say something pertaining to the conversation. As the two bruisers passed each other in the hall their eyes met and an entire conversation of their own was started without saying a single word. The eye-contact only lasted a second but that second was more than enough time to tell each other one thing. Finally after months of evil glares, snide remarks, and hateful spites the two strongest Smashers (physically) actually respected one another. You may want to read that line over again if you don't believe me but, THEY RESPECT EACH OTHER! THE WORLD IS...do I really have to say it again? Fine, because you asked so nicely. THE WORLD IS ENDING! REPENT, REPENT. A DIVINE SPIRIT SEES ALL! Then they broke eye contact and went their separate ways, Yoshi still blabbing away, thoroughly enjoying himself while Bowser shook or nodded hsi head every once in a while. Meanwhile DK decided to go to his room and take a long nap. But he never got that chance because he heard someone yell...

"DONKEY KONG! YOU DID NOT TAKE OUT THE GARBAGE! WHEN I FIND YOU I'LL..."

Donkey Kong gulped. He knew death was in his immediate future.