Sorry, this kind of took me a while (thanks to my writer's block). But now, I have another chapter up.
So, enjoy this next chapter.
Diddy continued to sit there, with Kutlass watching his every move. The monkey had thought of trying to grab Kutlass' sword with his tail, but the Kremling would just cut his tail off if he did so.
The monkey began to kick his feet against the ground, bored. He looked at Kutlass, who was as bored as he was. All the monkey could do was look around. There were only bugs, trees, a rhino...
...wait a minute...What's a Rhino doing here? Diddy thought to himself. The Rhino was sniffing the grass, much like a dog...This Rhino looked rather familiar to Diddy. He needed to get the rhino's attention, somehow...but first, he needed to lose Kutlass.
"Hey, buddy, what do you s'pose those Kremlings are up to?"
"I have no idea..." Kutlass began to glare, "Wait, why am I talking to you, you're just a rat!"
"Well, those Kremlings should've been back, by now," Diddy said calmly, Kutlass frowned, "I guess they would...But I have to stay here, I can't let you leave!"
"Honestly, does it look like I can go anywhere?" Diddy said, trying to struggle from the rope.
"...Good point..." Kutlass said, feeling somewhat stupid. Hesat up from his spot, "You'd better not be up to anything!"
"Trust me, I'll be here the whole time!"
Kutlass had left Diddy alone, this was the monkey's chance to get the rhino over on his side. The monkey whistled, making the rhino's ears perk upward. Diddy whistled again, the Rhino was looking over at his direction. He ran over to Diddy and sat down, panting like a dog.
"Rambi? Is that you?" Diddy was right, it was Rambi. He began to speak in a hushed voice, "Listen, I need you to cut me loose. Can you do that?"
Rambi nodded, he went behind the tree and cut the rope with his horn. Diddy stood up and stretched, "All right, now we need to find-"
"Hey!" Kutlass had returned. Needless to say, he was furious. "You stupid monkey, you said you wouldn't do anything!"
"Should've known better than to trust a monkey, huh?" Diddy said, climbed on Rambi, "Now get outta my way before I run you over!"
"Just big talk coming from a kid like yourself!" Kutlass said, trying to look tough, "I'd like to see you try!"
Diddy began to kick Rambi's rips, lightly. The Rhino charged at Kutlass at full speed. Kutlass was running as fast as he could. "HELP! MAD KONG! MAD KONG!"
It wasn't long until the group came into more Kremlings. They tried to attack Diddy and Rambi, but the Rhino charged blindly, knocking away some of the Kremlings.
"Kutlass, you idot!" One of them yelled, "You let him escape!?"
"It wasn't my fault, I swear!" Kutlass complained.
"Well, you'd better pray that monkey gets taken down, or it's off to the dungeon!"
Meanwhile, Rambi continued to run as fast as his legs could carry him, Kremlings were throwing barrels and shooting cannonballs at Diddy, the monkey continued to dodge anything the Kremlings threw at him. However, Rambi seemed like he was reaching his limit, his legs were getting tired.
"C'mon, Rambi, keep going for just a little longer." Diddy said in a worried tone. Rambi nodded, using the last of his strength to run ahead. He ran for fifteen more minutes until he collapsed in the middle of the dirt trail.
"No, Rambi!" Diddy climbed off his back and began to shake the rhino. "C'mon, we have to keep going!" Rambi shook his head, he just couldn't keep running, anymore. Diddy felt sorry for the rhinoceros, "I'm sorry, Rambi, I worked you too hard..."
"C'mon, men! That rat has to be here, somewhere!" A Kremling's voice yelled. Rambi tilted his head, telling Diddy to keep moving. Without much of a choice, Diddy began to pet Rambi's snout. "Don't worry, I'll be back."
Diddy began to run, he was looking for a place to hide. There had to be some place he could go to, at least until things settled down. Besides, there was no way he was going back there with the Kremlings.
After running far from the Kremlings, Diddy leaned against a broken crate, trying to catch his breath. Things were never this difficult on his other adventure. Looking around, Diddy was near what looked like a ship graveyard. Broken pieces of pirate ships were in the water while other parts were washed up upon the shore, below him. Across from where Diddy was, he could see a silhouette of Kongo Bongo.
Diddy began to feel homesick, he started to lie down against the broken crate. Was the island all right? How was everyone doing without a leader?
"Well, it'sss niccce to know you're alive." hissed a voice, cheerfully. Diddy looked around, the rattle snake from the Gangplank Galleon had appeared, "Of courssse, from what Sssquiter told me, you're a little injured."
"Thanks for reminding me," Diddy said, rolling his eyes. The rattle snake laughed. "Well, we've warned you about the bird. Now I've come to warn you about something else."
"Wait, 'we'?" Diddy asked in disbelief, the spider from Crocodile cauldron appeared from behind the crate, he looked somewhat bashful.
"I'm sssure you've met Sssquitter," The snake said, "And asss for me, you may call me Rattly."
"All right," Diddy raised an eyebrow, confused, "Hey, you guys wouldn't know where Dixie went, right?" Squitter looked at Rattly, a hint of concern was on his face.
"Please tell me Dixie's safe," Diddy said, he began to worry, Dixie was safe, she HAD to be safe. At least that's what he wanted to believe.
Squitter shook his head, Rattly spoke for the spider, "I'm afraid not, a Kremling hasss captured her and now he'sss searching for you."
"N-No!" Diddy stood up, it was hard to tell if he was angry or frightened...either way, he was upset. "I gotta go save her!"
"Easssy, lad. You can't just rush into thingsss," Rattly said, trying to sound calm. Diddy shook his head. "But it's my fault she's been captured, I gotta go look for her!"
Afterwards, Diddy began to run, looking for the missing Kong. "Hey, wait!" Rattly tried to call out to Diddy, but the monkey refused to listen. Squitter shook his head, he couldn't believe Diddy would be so careless.
"I hear you," Rattly said, "But let'sss just sssee how thingsss turn out."
Dixie was sitting in a cage with her legs crossed, she was very...annoyed, to say the least. Don't worry, Dixie...I'll take care of things, myself, you'll only get yourself in even bigger trouble, that's all...
She's been locked in the cage for hours, now. She was wondering if someone would show up. However, she was especially annoyed with Diddy. Due to his carelessness, so far, he would be slapping some sense into the monkey if she could.
"Dixie..."
The ape turned around, Diddy was outside of her cage, she was ready to scold him for what he's done. But before she could do that, Diddy began to speak, himself.
"I know you're mad at me, right now, you can yell at me, later. But for now, I gotta get you outta here!"
Dixie blinked, wondering what had gotten into her friend. "Well, whatever you've got planned, you'd better make it quick!"
Diddy tried to search through his backpack, there had to be something he could use for a key. "C'mon, where is it?"
"Well, it just so happens that the Kremling who trapped me in here has a key."
"Well, that was easy," Diddy said, confidently, "So where is he?"
"Believe me, you don't wanna stick around for it," Dixie said, now sounding more frightened.
"What do you mean?" Diddy asked, "I don't see anyone here."
A Kremling fell from the sky, shaking the ground, he was a the same Kremling who captured Dixie. Due to the resemblence to Klubba, Diddy was quite intimidated by the gray Kremling.
"Well, I was wonderin' when ye's show yerself," The brutish Kremling said.
"B-But I thought we got away from you," Diddy complained. The Kremling couldn't help but laugh. "Foolish child, ye be mistaken me for me brother, Klubba."
"Wait, you guys are brothers?"
"Aye, Klubba's nothin' but a spineless lizard, 'e doesn't go 'round killin' or stealin', 'e just sits there like a rock. I'm 'is brother, Kudgel, and not only do I fight dirty, I fight like a real Kremlin'!"
"Careful, Diddy!" Dixie yelled. Kudgel shot a glance at Dixie before looking down at Diddy, "Well? What's it gonna be, laddy? Either ye surrender or ye die."
Diddy placed a hand onto his chin, appearing deep in thought, "Well, both choices sound pretty hard to choose."
"Diddy!" Dixie glared at him, she looked quite annoyed.
"S-so that's why I don't want either choice!" Diddy said, he sounded like he was gaining more confidence, "I'm not going anywhere without a fight."
Diddy, what are you doing? Dixie had the urge to slap him across the face, he was challenging an opponent that was three times his size...then again, he was pretty stubborn, who knows how this fight would turn out.
"Well now, Lad, I'll make a deal with ya. If ya win, I'll release you an' yer girlfriend."
"Sh-she's not my girlfriend," Diddy began to blush madly, hoping Dixie wasn't noticing.
"Right," Kudgel didn't seem to buy it, "anyway, if ye lose, I take both of ya to Kaptain K. Rool and ye spend the rest of yer lives in captivity."
Diddy shook his head, "No, I'll be the one who's going, but you have to let Dixie go," there was a hint of sadness in Diddy's voice. Dixie couldn't believe what she was hearing. Sure, she was annoyed with him, but she still didn't want to let anything happen to Diddy.
Kudgel tapped his foot, "Such a brave young lad, willin' to sacrifice 'imself to save 'is girlfriend."
Diddy blushed again, his face was even redder than before, "But she's not-"
"Well, allow me to get ye prepared," He pulled out a dagger and tossed it over to Diddy. "The rules are simple, we fight man to boy, Kong to Kremling, got it?"
Diddy nodded, picking up the dagger and pulled it out of its sheeth, "Got it."
It didn't take long until Kudgel raised his club, trying to squish Diddy. The monkey tried to run behind him, he ducked and weaved as the Kremling continued to attack with his club. Diddy held onto his dagger, he began to climb one of the trees. The monkey was starting to come up with a strategy, I hope this works...
"Aw, is the little pipsqueak afraid o' losin'?" Kudgel teased, "That's a shame, isn't it?"
Diddy lept from tree branch to tree branch, keeping himself hidden like a leopard stalking its prey. Kudgel began to attack the trees, they each fell upon impact. "C'mon, ya li'l rat, show yerself!" Kudgel began to observe the trees, he tried to look for the odd one out. Before he attacked any of the other trees, Diddy lept out and struck Kudgel's back with his dagger, leaving a long scratch, behind.
Kudgel turned around, unphased. Diddy was out it in open, still holding the dagger.
"You think that's be enough t' stop me?" He struck Diddy with his club, the monkey almost had the wind knocked out of him. "I've seen bugs smarter than you!"
"Hey, at least he tried!" Dixie yelled, Klubba turned his head, "Do you think I care!?"
"You obviously do if you're talking back to me!"
"Really?" Kudgel came up to Dixie's cage, "Do ya think I'd be above hittin' a little girl with this?"
"I'd like to see you try!" Dixie said, bravely. Not a moment too soon, Kudgel raised his club and attacked Dixie's cage, the ape ducked in fear...but suprisingly, it only effected the cage door. "Let this be a lesson to ya!" Kudgel said, smugly before returning to Diddy.
Dixie smirked, the cage door was broken. I can't believe that actually worked. She opened the door, though it really just collapsed onto the floor, and snuck away so nobody would see her.
Klubba came back to the spott where Diddy was. To Klubba's suprise, Diddy wasn't around, either. He searched for the monkey, "Where's ya go ya little brat!?"
Diddy was hiding behind a few bushes, his fear was crawling all over him. C'mon, ya gotta keep trying...
Diddy began to run at full speed, trying to stab Kudgel with his dagger, again. However, the Kremling turned around, hitting the monkey with his club, knocking Diddy on a nearby tree. The monkey tried to sit up, but Kudgel grabbed him by the neck, making it impossible for Diddy to breathe. "Well, don't feel bad...at least your uncle will get to see your dead body..."
Diddy struggled to breathe, he was trying to force air into his lungs. He feared for the worst.
Kudgel raised his club, smiling at the little monkey with joy. "I hope ye learn yer lesson in the afterlife!"
Before Kudgel had time to react, he felt rocks hitting his back. He turned around, Dixie was throwing whatever objects she could find.
"You leave him alone!" Dixie yelled, "Nobody kills Diddy under my watch!" Kudgel released Diddy, going after the small gorilla. "How'd ya get outta yer cage!?"
"I dunno, you tell me," Dixie said, smugly. She began to make a run for it afterwards. Diddy sat up, he could finally breathe, again. He needed to help Dixie, even she couldn't distract him for long.
Kudgel whacked Dixie, she slid across the ground, holding her side. Kudgel tried to strike her again, but Diddy climbed onto his back, "Hi, did ya miss me!"
Kudgel tried to reach for the little monkey. Diddy smiled, he dug his dagger into the Kremling's back, "How do you like getting hurt for once, huh?"
Kudgel roared in pain. The muscle-bound Kremling tried to shake him off. Dixie began to wave her arms, "C'mon, let's get outta here!"
"Gotcha!" Diddy pulled his dagger out from Kudgel's back. Since Dixie was free, there was no point in fighting him, anymore. As both Kongs ran, Kudgel began to chase them down. "The day I lose from a monkey is the day I die!"
"Then this must be the day, huh?" Diddy teased. The Kongs traveled farther and farther, Klubba continued to run after them until he came face to face with brambles. The Kremling threw his club in rage, "This isn't over, ya li'l basards!"
Screech was watching the scene from above, he shook his head in disbelief, I thought for sure Kudgel would've done the trick...I may as well go on ahead of them.
Diddy and Dixie continued to get through the brambles, the green, thorny plant often clung onto the Kongs' fur. Of course, the Brambles appeared to be alive and healthy, at least in comparison to everything else in Crocodile Island. They continued to move until they found themselves on a wooden platform.
Diddy wrapped a cloth around his dagger and placed it into his backpack. Afterwards, he began to pull some of the brambles off of him. "That was a close one, huh?" Diddy asked, Dixie nodded, pulling brambles out of her ponytail. "Yeah, but I we should be fine if we stay here, for a little while."
Diddy sat down, frowning, "Yeah...sorry about what happened back there.
" "What do you mean?" Dixie asked. She sat down next to Diddy. The little monkey sighed.
"I mean when the Kremlings attacked us, I shouldn't have yelled at you, I should've just let you stay and help...after all, I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you."
"Well, I wouldn't say that," Dixie said in disbelief.
"Come on, Dixie, I would be dead if it weren't for you," Diddy admitted, "After all, you're the bravest and strongest girl I've ever met."
"Well," Dixie began to play with her hair, "Most people say that's because I take after my Papa."
"Oh yeah, I've been meaning to ask, who was your Papa, anyway?" Diddy asked, he seemed rather interested, Dixie stared at him, not even saying anything.
"Well?" Aren't you gonna say something?" Diddy asked.
"If I tell you, are you sure you'll be able to listen?" Dixie asked, Diddy nodded, "C'mon, I wanna know."
"W-well, Papa was an explorer. He went to many different islands looking for treasures. Sometimes, though, he would bring us along with him."
"So he's an adventurer, huh?" Diddy asked, Dixie nodded, "I've always wanted to be like my Papa, explore unknown places, find hidden secrets, doesn't that sound exciting?"
Diddy nodded, "Sounds like you've got someone to look up to."
"Well...I used to," Dixie placed two hands on her face, her elbows resting on her kneepads, her voice began to sound weary."A year ago, my Papa traveled to the Forbidden Islands. Usually, he would be gone for a few days, maybe even a few weeks, at the very latest. But for whatever reason, we never saw him, again. Sometimes I wonder if Papa's still alive."
Diddy couldn't help but feel sorry for Dixie, having to lose her father without any sign of him returning. Diddy hardly remembered his parents, but Dixie...She must've been going through a lot of pain when she lost her father. The monkey had to think of something to say, anything that could comfort Dixie.
"Well, whatever happened to him, I'm sure he'd be proud of you," Diddy said, "Besides, if you think about it, we're in an unknown place, right now. Isn't that the type of stuff your father liked to do?"
"Well, in a way, I guess it is," Dixie said, smiling, again.
"No problem," Diddy said, "what are friends, for?"
The Kongs looked up at the Brambles, the sky had gotten dark, the moon was beginning to come out. There was a peaceful silence between the two for a few minutes. Dixie looked over at Diddy, she seemed curious about something.
"Hey, Diddy?"
"Yes?"
"How long have you had that crush on me?"
"Wh-WHAT!?" Diddy began to blush, "I-I dunno what you're talking about..."
"C'mon, you think I wouldn't notice a thing like that?"
"Well, we'd better get going," Diddy said, getting up, "We've got a Kong to save!"
"Keep denying it, because I know it's true," Dixie said, teasing the monkey boy ahead of her.
Both Kongs began to travel again. So much for a friendly talk...
Keep denying it, Diddy...we know it's true XD...
...I cannot write romance for the life of me...or backstories... *facedesks*.
Anyway, I'm sorry this took so long...but I'm still alive, I swear...Now excuse me while I go to bed...
