I wonder how many people are irritated by the "K" words? It's how Kremling culture works, people, it's fantasy worldbuilding! Come to think, the Tirkins in Xenoblade talk like that, too.
Part 6: The Diary of Kaido
The days aboard the Little Galley were calm and fleeting. The small-time pirate crew did only what was necessary to make their living. They shot down weak trade ships and would only make port on secluded shores or coves. The little kabin boy did well to earn his living. He would always be sent first to attack whoever were the next victims, even if he usually wound up with bruises. Still, the young Kremling barely protested his treatment. On the contrary, he'd always be eager for the next raid.
He was the spitting image of Klammy's brother, as though he'd gone back in time. The kaptain, Klammy, was a soggy old croc with a damp brown coat and white rags underneath. It did Klammy health to see his nephew hearty and happy… but he had yet to determine what Kaido really wanted to do. For now, he could only test his mettle. The krewmen shared laughs and (healthy) drinks with him, Kaido would fill with glee when blasting cannons at enemies, and the pirate life was all for him.
Klammy would subtly tease Kaido with a small treasure chest he kept in his quarters. When Kaido was 14, he stole the chest in secret… except Klammy had planned for him to do so. He wondered how long Kaido would finish reading that diary… the truth of his father, and of himself.
I don't expect to live forever. Sooner or later, I'm bound to fall before a worthy adversary. But the Kremling Krew will live on: I will begin anew. My DNA was injected into an unborn egg, and that egg will become my Klone—no… my son. He cannot just be created as a Klone… he must be born. He must be placed inside a woman and born. But that woman must have the right genes. My female krewmen do not satisfy. I do have a candidate in mind… but how to go about retrieving her? The diary never specified who this person was.
"I'M A KLONE?!" Kaido bellowed, flailing the diary in his claw.
"You stole from my room, you little brat."
"Don't give me that krap! My dad was… He really did all this?! YOU did all this with him?! All these war machines, and the Firstborn, all these animals and other pirates, the war… and I'm him? Am I supposed to be him? Who…who am I?"
"It's true that you were born with certain 'expectations.' But we had no intention to force these expectations on you. All we were going to do was raise you as a pirate. Not because it's how we lived, but if you had lived a civilian life, then sooner or later, someone would learn who you were, and you might face persecution. This life was meant to train you to harden yourself for if that happened. All those people we pillaged think we're a lowly band of Kremnants, clinging onto what we still have, and you're just some rascal of a kabin boy."
"But we're not, are we? There's more of us out there… is that what you're saying?"
"I'm asking you what you want to be. Do you want to follow such a dangerous and infamous man like your father? Or would you rather live a simpler life? I'm sure we can go somewhere you'll be able to blend in without discrimination. You've already read it yourself, but we weren't born as pirates. We chose to pursue that life. And what started as simple fun evolved into much more, but only because your father had the will and determination. That doesn't mean you have those same qualities. Klone or not, you have your own choices. So, what do you choose?"
Kaido looked to the diary for an answer. He felt no lie in his uncle's words, and yet he wondered if it was true. Kaido did have his own choices, his own feelings… and yet he enjoyed reading this book. His father's feats, charisma, and even his mistakes. Kaido almost fantasized himself in that cape… He didn't know if it was because of a swelled ego, or if a voice inside him was speaking. He wasn't against choosing this path at all. But was it his own choice, or his father's? Either way, he only had one goal in his mind…
"What if I said I wanted to? What then?"
"Well, we still have plenty of ships and resources waiting in reserve… including Klone facilities and loyal acquaintances. Our original subordinate Krews have new leaders now, and I can't promise they'll follow you easily. If you want to follow this path, it's up to you how you'll approach it."
"Hur…I see what you're sayin'."
His father didn't rely on abundant resources when he first set sail. But, he did have a way with animals. His aura allowed him to bend the animals of any habitat to his will… and that was thanks to his latent Haki. All creatures in the universe possessed Willpower Chi, and could mold that chi into advanced martial arts and incredible strength. The most prominent art was Haki, the act of strengthening one's power or observation. But, few mortals were born with the art of Conqueror's Haki, the ability to bring people to their knees simply by projecting one's own "presence." It's said the gods only grant this power to beings with exceptional potential… but some believe the power of Conquerors exists in everyone, yet few have the will to exert it. This would be the first test to see if Kaido had his father's potential…
Present time; Expandong Island
Jim Lad and Matilda sat dejectedly on the shore of the football field. They could only wait for the Deer-fox Hikers to find and pick them up; Jim certainly had no stamina left to swim them to the main island. "I'm sorry, Jim… I only wanted to come and support you."
"No, it ain't your fault… I wanted you to race with us to begin with. But what was I thinkin'… we're just a casual crew, anyway. We ain't murderous like them Lagooners, and we ain't strong like Jason or…or that croc. We shouldn't have thought about makin' a lubber do something we can't even handle."
"Don't be like that, Jim." Matilda put a hand to his knee. "I already thought it'd be dangerous. But I still wanted to come. They were broadcasting the race, and we saw you up on the cloud sea, and in that underground ocean, and it all looked so amazing."
"It weren't that amazing." Jim cracked a light smile. "I mean, the whole time, I was thinkin'… what would Matilda say if she were here? I mean, the cruise just felt so empty without ya."
"Jim…"
"But if you did come, you'd probably be in the same boat as them now. Ah'm glad those crooks decided to leave you be. Maybe those hikers can fix ya a way home."
"But we've got to save your family."
"That's not your problem, Tilda. Those hikers are KND ops, so I'll work with them to save me folks. Assumin' we even can. He weren't no ordinary pirate, that croc was an Emperor. He was King K. Rool, the Animal King. Not even Jason's crew were a match for him."
"But I want to help, Jim. The Jolley-Rogers are like my second family. Ever since we've met, life was so much more exciting. The smell of saltwater, sardines, and gunpowder, being frightened whenever you swing into my window, and when we go sailing, away from that boring old town… I feel like I can take off flying."
"But you nearly died just then."
"I'm alive now, aren't I? Thanks to you."
"Yeah, but… why would you want to help then? You'll just get in danger all over again."
"Hey, you rhymed! It's been a while since you did that."
"Huh?" True, when he and Tilda first met, Jim liked to talk and rhyme in a sing-song voice sometimes, though he generally outgrew that quirk.
"I don't really know how to answer… but I don't want this to end. I want to keep playing pirates—I mean, being pirates… with you guys."
"…" Stunned silent by her words, Jim could only stare at his first mate. She was nervous, as she should be in this situation, but she really wanted to try. She really wanted to…
"Oooooiiiii!" The Deer-fox Hikers' ship was closing in on the field. Jim and Matilda stood to wave them over.
Once onboard, the duo recapped the events. "They even took Nugget." Jim said. "Reckon they didn't even know she was with me."
"King K. Rool?" Frida repeated in shock. "I don't know much about him, but I heard he's really dangerous… I didn't think that was who we were dealing with."
"We've gotta call the KND!" David exclaimed.
"Yeah… no way we can handle this ourselves." Hilda said. …Looking out to sea, something caught her eye. "There's a ship over there. Abel, see if they look like other racers."
Abel gazed through the telescope. The ship in question was a yacht, driven by a trio of tan-skinned kids. "Yeah, I bet they are! And they don't look dangerous either."
"Hey, I'll be the judge of that." Jim took the scope and saw for himself. "…! Wait, I know them! They're friends with Jason, too! Hurry, let's signal them!"
…
"Max, heads up!" Shark alerted. "There's a ship coming! Looks like some other racers! And… they're waving a white flag?"
"A surrender?" Max questioned. "Didn't expect this to happen twice in a row… Might as well see what's up."
The Shorescrubbers parked their yacht next to the larger boat and climbed a boardwalk up. "I remember you!" Max smiled. "Er…what was your name?"
"It's Jim. Now, listen…"
The three pirates were stunned by what happened to Jason and his crew, more so that the culprit behind it was the one and only King K. Rool. "So… the dude is alive after all?" asked Shark. "He's not just some guy calling himself K. Rool?!"
"He said he was a different person from the first K. Rool. He called himself Kaido Rool."
"Could he be K. Rool's son?" Max thought aloud. "Hmm…I don't know if this is related, but before we got here…"
Sometime earlier, Moo-Moo Farms
"WE'RE GOING TO MEET UP WITH EMMA?!" screamed Gabi in extreme tensity.
"Sh-she called us while you were exploring…" Don shuddered. "Yamato got a letter saying Nel's been kidnapped!"
"You can't tell me those baby pirates took her hostage?! And picking a fight with YAMATO, of all people?!"
"No, Emma said the culprit looked like King K. Rool!"
"WHAT?! How would K. Rool know Nel would be there?!"
"I don't know! The point is, they already know we lost Nel, so we have nothing to hide, anymore. We should go-"
"Or maybe you're just trying to trick me. IS THAT IT?!"
"Gabi, I don't think Don would lie about this…" Gilda rationalized.
"Yeah, you WOULD say that. We're sticking to the plan and finishing the race! I won't let you trick me!"
Gilda closed her eyes and softly swayed her head. "Shuuu, shuuu, shuuu, shuuu…"
"…What the frick are you doing now?" Gilda asked. She didn't expect this argument to take such a random turn. "You…you take drugs… or something…" A pink mist flowed around her tiring face.
"Yaaaawn…" Falco yawned. "Oh…Sleepytime Spirits… I get it…"
As though anticipating this discussion and Gabi's reaction, Gilda had placed her special pillows on the deck, where sweet, pink spirits rose from her song. They were meant to help them get to sleep quickly… and it certainly helped settle Gabi down without fighting. The kids knew that even if they all ganged up, Gabi could wipe the floor with them all, and as her first mate, Falco would probably support her. The safest option was to put them both to sleep… and tuck them nice and cozy in the brig.
While the younger crewmen hauled the two inside, Gilda heard a voice call, "Hey!" She turned to the shore and found the Shorescrubber Pirates, looked bruised and ragged. "Don't think we're gonna let you get away, you jerks!" Max shouted.
"Wait!" Gilda crossed arms above her. "We're sorry if Gabi did anything mean to you. You can have our compass!"
"What're you talking about?" Shark asked.
"Just hold on for a minute, I'll bring it." Gilda rowed a boat back to shore, compass in hand. The three pirates were wary, but felt no sense of trickery from the soft-voiced girl. "We're abandoning the race." Gilda handed the compass to Max. "A friend of ours was kidnapped, so we need to go."
"Kidnapped?"
"Yeah… and supposedly, the kidnappers are close to where Scurvy Sands is. But don't worry, we'll take care of them so you guys can finish the race safely! See you later!" Gilda leapt back in the boat.
"Alright. Thanks for the compass, then!" Max smiled. "Let's get going, mates!"
Present
"I bet their friend was kidnapped by the Contest Crew, too." Jim said. "Or should I spell the Kontest Krew. Blimey, it all makes sense now!"
"And they're close to Scurvy Sands?" Matilda asked. "Do you think that's where K. Rool returned to?"
"The last compass…" Jim stared at the item in his hand. "This was supposed to bring us back to Scurvy Sands. …Or maybe it's gonna bring us to his lair."
"Then, do we just follow it?" asked Max.
"W-We can't!" David gasped. "Not without calling the other KND!"
"But it'll lead us back to Earth, anyway." Abel reasoned. "We can contact backup then!"
"In the meantime, we can get a headstart." Max said. "It sounded like those kids are gonna bring allies, too. Hope they won't mind if we jump in after them."
"Sounds fun to me!" Matilda grinned.
"You're really set on doing this, Tilda?"
"We have to try. Don't you want to, Jim?"
"…" Jim turned to the horizon. Of course it would be reckless to go charging into an Emperor's den, even a former Emperor. Jim saw the strong Jason and Christina be taken down firsthand, and neither of these kids packed the sort of muscle they did. Jim couldn't just endanger Matilda… and yet she herself wanted to brave the danger. Just like a true pirate. Somehow, being with her made Jim feel stronger. Maybe he should be as bold. After all, his family was in danger, their new friends were in danger… and the compass in Jim's hand may be pointing straight to them. No matter the danger, Jim had to sail forward. A captain couldn't leave his crew behind. With a furrow of his brow, Jim declared, "Set a course west."
Forsaken Sands
Darker and deadlier than the Scurvy Sands where carefree pirates danced, the Kremlings made this dank, gritty town their base. "This is sure to be a promising battle." A dinosaur humanoid in black armor hissed, drinking a glass of juicy meat. "But will the king really 'awaken' from it?"
Kremling Dinosaur Kommander
MESOGOG
"I doubt Yamato is strong enough." replied a thin, elderly, black cat woman in a matching coat. Using a jewel-encrusted fork and knife, she eloquently cut and ate cooked mice. "Either way, we should make ready to abandon this fort. Yamato is bound to lead more Marzipans here."
House Pet Kommander
NYAKUZA EMPRESS
"Ah, who cares, man." A laid-back voice replied. Across the table was a walrus with a soggy beard and sunglasses. "We'll just beat 'em up and stuff."
Arctic Kommander, Snowmad King
RODRIK
"I ain't ready for another war." Empress said. "And the king ain't either. Not until he gets his real Haki back."
"At least we've got a handful of slaves out of this." Mesogog drank. "Including a certain KND sector…"
…
"HOOOYYYYY!" Jason's scream ruptured the relative quiet of the dungeon. "Lemme outta here, you cowards! I'll smash you all into fishpaste!"
"Jason, what makes you think they're gonna listen to you?" Ralph sighed.
"I don't wanna be in the same cell as this fatty!" Nugget shouted, her cellmate, Mali chained into a seated position. "We ain't got a toilet big enough and she's startin' to stink somethin' fierce!"
"Don't tell everybody…" Mali whimpered.
"Nugget! Nugget, is that you?!" a man's voice called down the corridor.
"Dad?!"
"Nugget, thank goodness you're alright!" Mum's voice called. "Is Jim there with you?"
"They left Jim behind! With Matilda, too!"
"Matilda?! How in blazes did Matilda get with Jim?"
"Oi don't know! Tell me you have a way-"
"NYEH!" A Sharpclaw (humanoid dino soldier) bashed his club against Nugget's cell. "Be quiet! Me want to take nap."
"Awwww, poor lizard." Nugget cooed. "Want me to sing you a lullaby?"
"Hrah! Like you sing good with that voice."
"No, but I play a mean violin."
"Heh heh! Then how about me put you to work?" The Sharpclaw whistled for a Krook to bring over a violin and stick. "Play good lullaby and help me get sleep. Fail… and I demote you to plumber."
"Gulp!" Knowing who she was sharing a cell with, Nugget wouldn't like that job.
The instrument was passed through her cell as Nugget began to strum the violin. True to her claim, her skill with the instrument was fairly decent. She was able to play a calm tune. "Meh…" The Sharpclaw kicked back on his desk. "Me heard better…snoooore…snooore…"
"'Guess she wasn't all talk." Laruta said. "Maybe now we can think of a way out of here."
"Let me know when you think of one." Christina sighed, slumped and chained on her bench. "As for me, these chains are chi-blocked and too hard to rip off, so I'm just checked out."
"I'm sure your brain is still working. However much it can."
"I sure did more than you this whole voyage."
"Excuse me?! I didn't see Jason try to keep everybody organized! Also, have you forgotten my special booger?" A wad of snot drooped from her nose as Boogwendy's face took shape. ("Hi! Hi! Hi!")
"And have you forgotten those oversized rats?" Chris indicated the Neeks creeping the hallway floor. "They're obviously pirates, too. They'll chew that little snotwad up."
"If she can just undo your cuffs, that'll be a good start."
"And then what? I just got my butt handed to me, and I didn't even fight before that! We weren't a fricking match for that guy! 'Guess all your peppy 'get up and move, get in shape!' crap was for nothing."
"Why're you trying to blame ME?!"
"'Cause you're always acting like your regimen is the way to go and the right way to win battles, so who else am I supposed to blame?!"
"You never took my regimen serious in the first place!"
"Yeah, but I'm still stronger than you, and YOU sure as hell didn't stop that creep!"
"'ey, both o' you need to knock it off." Jason ordered.
"Oh, look who's trying to sound in charge now." Laruta argued. "Despite always running ahead and leaving me to give orders."
"He said to knock it off!" Isabelle shouted. "It wasn't anyone's fault that K. Rool of all people showed up! None of us expected it, so why're we trying to blame anyone?"
"Aye." Jason affirmed. "One way or another, we're gonna bust out and save all the pirates K. Rool kaptured! Ah mean, captured! It don't matter how bad a pirate he is, Oi won't let him-"
"Be quiet!" Nugget hissed. "I'm tryin' ta concentrate!"
The tunes of her violin attracted the Neeks, the rats scampering in circles before her cell. "They look like they really like it."
"Ah, I remember when our ship had rats." Jolley Dad said. "They always followed Nugget whene'er she played. She 'as a way with 'em, she does."
"Heheh, that's a noice distraction if any! Laruta, how's about that special snot?"
"Okay… Wendy, it's up to you." ("Hi!") The booger seeped into the lock of Laruta's cuffs.
Off the coast
Yamato was almost a celebrity among the pirate community, famous for her beauty, her incredible strength, and her remarkable 8'8" height. That's why, when the TV's suddenly started to broadcast the Ogre Princess sailing bravely to the giant, stone crocodile head, the viewers were ecstatic. "Mom, why's Miss Yamato on TV?" Charmy Pappitson asked.
"I don't know…" Jasminka replied in confusion. "This isn't part of the race, is it?"
"What is this, some kind of halftime show?" Ollie Day asked. "Well, you can't pick 'em better than Yamato."
"Whoa, it's Captain Yamato from the Marzipans!" Cursed Katie exclaimed. "Where is she going?"
King K. Rool waited on the shore in the mouth of the croc head, the Forsaken Sands beyond it in its throat, and beyond the Kremling hordes attending as audience. Yamato boldly marched up the damp beach, her kanabo clutched firmly in her right hand. "Well, Kaido? I came alone, just like you asked. Now, where's Nel?"
"Big Sis! Big Siiiiiis!" The child in question was trapped in a cage situated on a pillar to Yamato's right.
"Perfectly unharmed, as you can see." Kaido smirked. "Thanks for coming to meet me… my 'twin.'"
Yamato flinched. "What did you just call me?!"
"Sister?!" a Kritter gawked. "But she don't look nothin' like a Kremling!"
"Arr har har!" Kaptain Kruckers laughed. "Me brother had many good friends, and this be one of 'em!"
"Don't play dumb with me, Princess." Kaido said. "Although we look different, you and I are the same age and height. My father's diary tells of a powerful king who could bend golden fire… just like yours. The diary didn't give many details; Father likes to keep things vague sometimes… but I get the gist, and so do you. That man was Father's opposite. So, you…you're mine, aren't you?"
Yamato grit her teeth. She refused to talk about her origins… but she had no evidence against Kaido's deduction either. "So, if I kill myself, that means you'll go away, too, is that right?"
"Perhaps… but would you really do such a thing? Would you really upset your false family like that?"
"They are not my false family! Captain Augustus raised me like a daughter, not some 'perfect life form'! What, did you think I was going to side with you just because we were connected?"
"Certainly not! But since I figured out who you were… I felt the need to carry on the family tradition. Let's battle, Yamato! Fight me, and I will set Nel free!"
"Fine by me." Yamato flared with gold flames. "I'm not afraid of some wannabe Emperor!"
Her fire-clad kanabo met Kaido's iron-coated fist, the shockwave blowing away the sand. Yamato swung her weapon from several angles, increasing the torch at the end of it as each blow was an explosion. Yet, the heat seemed to be no bother to Kaido, his iron scales barely flinching. After enough of a literal warmup, Kaido threw his first punch straight at Yamato's stomach, sending her flying against the barrier on the beach's side. Yamato returned from a burst of fire, ramming Kaido horns-first. Alone, the horns wouldn't pierce his golden belly, but by spinning like a drill and projecting flames on top, she was able to shove the king straight to the other side of the beach. A large chunk of the ledge crumbled from the impact, the audience members above it tumbling down, and would be swept up in Kaido's struggle to fight Yamato out of the cliff.
…
"So, it really did lead us here." Jim Lad said.
The huge crocodile head embedded in the cliffside was very clearly not the Scurvy Sands. The intimidation was heavy in the air, as though the fiery eyes of the head were burning into them. "So, K. Rool was planning to lure racers to his secret lair with the last compass?" Max questioned. "But then why did he ambush you on the balloon island, anyway?"
"Hm…" Jim could almost guess why. Maybe the other reason he was spared of Kaido's punishment was to test Jim. Kaido easily beat the Raccoon Crew, showed them how great their gap in power was, and wanted to see if Jim would try to rescue them despite that fact. If Jim wasn't with them, would Kaido have done this test with a different person? Between that and the incident with Matilda, was Jim so feeble of a pirate that Kaido got a jolly out of testing him? "Jim?" Matilda spoke.
"Er, sorry… Just wondering how we're gonna get through there. There's bound to be tons of pirates. I know we're a vanguard unit, but how long'll it take for those hikers to round up the KND?"
"We'll just use our Rocket Drone!" Max exclaimed.
"Rocket what?"
"Heh, check it out!" The shortest Shorescrubber, Ed hauled out a small rocket with crab claws attached. It was large enough to fit a small group of people. "We've been usin' this to fly to our islands!"
"It should take us a good distance in there before we go on foot."
"Well, it ain't much crazier than using a giant tyke to launch a catapult." Jim reasoned. "But, uh… are we all gonna fit on that?"
"Heheh! Looks like you gotta stay behind, Shark, you're too big!" Ed snorted.
"Well, it's not like I trust you to guard the boat, shrimp."
"I think the rest of us should fit on just fine." Max said. "So, are we up for this?"
"Last chance if you wanna bail, Matilda."
"Jim, quit trying to scare me off." The freckled girl glared. "Even if these Kremlings or the Pirate Emperors are as scary as they say… I don't want to leave. I'm not really sure why, but… I don't really feel that scared. I'm… kind of excited." She cracked a smile of embarrassment. "More excited than I've ever been. Is that weird?"
"It's downright mad." Jim stated in a reproving tone. But, with a smirk, he affirmed, "Is what a lubber would say."
With that, the four kids squeezed onto the rocket; Max in front, followed by Matilda, Jim, and Ed, each holding the forward person's stomach. "Orright, Patch, power us up!" Max's .I.E. entered the rocket. The engine sparked a few times before taking off! (Play "Secret Temple 1" from Tropical Freeze!)
Map 5: Forsaken Sands
Destination: Krookshank Prison
The sudden boost forward flung the gang back, but they had time to stabilize their selves for the first few seconds of flight. Before long, Kremling guard ships began to fire at them, but Max's smooth piloting evaded their cannons. Krooks came speeding on motorboats, lining up under the rocket. Random ones would throw their hooks up, requiring Max to shift to different positions to evade them. Eventually, the Krooks crashed into rocks and ceased to be a hindrance. Afterwards, Lockjaws would leap out of the sea and attempt to nibble their ankles, and while the piranhas were no concern, the kids weren't expecting a shark to join in on the fun, flying out with a big grin as it snapped its jaws eagerly! They were thankful to evade the happy predator either way, soon to pass the jaws of the stone crocodile head.
"Attention! You are flying in a 'No Rocket' zone!" A green Heli-Kopter flew in front of the rocket, flying backwards at the same pace. "Sink your rocket or we'll sink it for you!" the Kop pilot demanded.
"Too bad we don't have a cannon this time!" Jim said.
"These claws aren't just for show! Guys, kick the buttons on them!" Noticing the buttons on said claws, Jim began stomping the right one while Matilda got the left. The claws shot lasers at the Kopter, though with Max evading the craft's guns, it was hard to get a good aim.
"This is a very badly-designed craft!" Matilda shouted.
"We had to make it work for the race's approval!" The Rocket Drone took several punctures from the Kopter's bullets, and the right claw was snapped off as well, prompting Jim to bend his foot up onto the rocket. However, the left claw was barely enough to ruin the Kopter's propeller, causing the Kop to go fly out of control.
"AAAHHH!" The unfortunate Kremling realized he was on a collision course with the Kommanders' table. "NO! OH, NO!" Mesogog, Empress, and Rodrik boredly stared up at him. "NAAAAAARRRRGH!"
The Nyakuza Empress slashed her jeweled claws, slicing the Kopter in segments that would crash in-between the Kommanders, then returning to her drink alongside her colleagues. "Looks like we have some nuisances." Mesogog said.
"Leave them be." Empress brushed off. "The minions need something to do."
"Look down there!" Max pointed at the shore. "That looks like Yamato from the Marzipan Pirates!"
The golden-fiery brawl transpiring on the beach was difficult to miss. The woman in question conjured giant fireballs that she would bat toward Kaido, the Kremling punching through them as he stampeded toward Yamato. She rocket-kicked forth, colliding with him in a horn v crown headbutt! The crown fit between her horns to pierce her head, while the horns could only touch Kaido's shoulders. Even with channeling fire through them to enhance the effect, Yamato was overpowered and blown back first. "Hah hah har! You're not bad, but you're not what I hoped either…huh?" The rocket engine caught his ears as he faced up.
Yamato acknowledged them as well. She vaguely recognized Jim and Max from before the race. "What're those kids doing?!"
"I would accuse you of bringing backup, but…" Kaido smirked seeing Jim and Matilda. "Those kids are more bold than I thought."
…
"Matilda! Matilda, please yell if you can hear us!" While the pirates of Scurvy Sands had been enthralled by the quality "halftime show," Matilda's parents were frantically searching for her. Perhaps telling them she was going to try meet up with Jim slipped her mind. They squirmed their way through the audience in the town square, where many had gathered before a larger staticky TV.
"Oi, what are you lubbers on about?!" a pirate shouted. "This show's just gettin' good!"
"We're just looking for our daughter! Have you seen her, she has a pink shirt and an eyepatch."
"I dunno about pink shirts, but there's a right amount of eyepatches 'ere."
"Goodness, these blokes are hopeless." Mum said, turning toward the tele. "What could possibly be happening, anyway…?"
When news had reached the pirate world's ears of K. Rool's return, there was heavy debate whether it was true. "He really is unkillable!" some said. "He's probably just some phony!" others argued. "I ain't seeing no gold scales!" some reasoned. Still, on their very screens, the famous Captain Yamato was dueling the man claiming to be K. Rool, and actually struggling before the powerful croc. But, when something diverted the two's attention, the cameras craned up and zoomed in on the intruding rocket.
"WHOA!" Katie screamed. "That's Jim Lad! And that there is-"
"AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!" The parents simply acknowledged their daughter with a scream.
…
"Uh, bad news, guys!" Max cried. "We took too many hits. We're going down!"
"There's a lot of baddies looking at us!" Jim gulped.
"Okay, feeling a weeeeee bit nervous now!" Matilda clacked her teeth.
"I warned you, didn't I?"
"Where are they locked up, anyway?"
"If you ask me, the dungeon'll be waaaaay in the back." Ed pointed. "We're basically inside a giant croc's body."
"'Guess we don't have a choice." Max said. "I'll land us down there! All we can do then is barrel on through!" She steered the sinking ship toward a balcony, the kids leaping off as it crashed through some fleeing Klumps. "Can't really say which route's the best. If we split in pairs, maybe we'll confuse them at least."
"We are just wingin' it, anyway!" Jim shrugged. "Here you are, Matilda!" He drew his normal cutlass and passed her a wooden one.
"What am I supposed to do with this?! …" She grabbed a cutlass lodged into a barrel. "That's more like it!"
The duo bravely rushed up the first road, dodging and cutting past the first band of Kritters. They reached a chasm where Bazukas were shooting barrels up, which would explode into fireworks, but said barrels were safe for Jim and Tilda to bounce up to an upper path. A trio of Klumps lined up to block them, simultaneously chucking Orange Grenades. The kids ducked and dodged the first round, but would then have to catch the next grenades and throw back, knocking two Klumps down. The third one decided to charge them directly. "Matilda, throw me!" Jim yelled, handing her one end of a rope. Matilda lifted and chucked her friend over the Klump, and Jim yanked the rope to pull her with him. The Klump stumbled upon realizing what happened and fell off the ledge.
The young pirates entered a thin, brick tower where they had to climb a single chain. Kutlass would be hiding in gaps, waiting to slice them, the kids readily defending with their own blades. There was some hidden treasure behind a Kutlass, so Jim fought through him real quick. The tower let out above a river, wherein waterwheels were rolling along the side. The two needed to jump these wheels, which had Joggin' Hogs inside them, running to spin them faster. The wheels had a few spike traps, prompting the kids to jump when needed. One of the wheels had a handle, Jim grabbing as it carried him under the river, from which he could grab a chest and return up!" Similarly, they would now have to climb ascending waterwheels, still spinning with Joggin' Hogs. They had to grab handles and spin with the wheels, so when they rotated toward the next one, they would let go and fling off. The last few wheels had Zingers following the handle, and would steadily catch up should the kids not fly off in time.
The duo landed at the top of a building, and would have to cross a bridge with multiple Kaboings jumping to-and-fro in a sequential order. There was a barrel available for Matilda to pick up, timing to throw and roll it when the first Kaboing landed. She knocked down every one in a combo, earning a point bonus! From the platform across the bridge, they would need to jump a giant, rotating ship helm. There were hippos clinging each peg of the helm; this sub-species were called Bopapodamus! The duo had to jump the hippos to cross the fast-spinning wheel, reaching a new path that led through an alley. Nyakuza jumped out of barrels, the black cats swinging wood bats with enough strength to combat the cutlasses. Matilda's sword was knocked away, but she was able to grab a sack of flour and throw it at his face. The masked cat didn't sneeze, but he was blinded. Matilda bit his arm and swiped the bat, using it to bash the cat and make him scat.
They were able to scare away the Nyakuza, but a worse threat came marching up the alley: a parade of Krushas. The kids feared they were no match for the muscular Kremlings, but there was a building on the left short enough to Team Throw to. They repeated the same tactic with the rope and climbed up before the Krusha could come. From here, they had plenty of space to jump across the roofs, but Mole Miners would pop out of hatches and throw axes. Jim saw a treasure chest on one roof, but a Gold Klobber was lurking inside it! The chested croc would run around the roofs, and the kids had no patience to try and catch it.
They soon found the best way off the roofs: a laundry basket at the top of a chute. They jumped in the basket of Krem Klothes and rode down, jumping before it crashed in a giant outdoor washer. They landed on an upturned laundry bucket floating in the current of clothes, quickly jumping up a sequence of passing buckets to reach a safe ledge. They broke into the cellar of a building and found a small crate with a lion's mane symbol. Jim stomped it open and freed a small, golden lion cub. "Oh, how cute!" Matilda cooed, bending down so the cub could sniff her hand. "Why would the Kremlings lock this poor thing down here?"
"I dunno, but maybe he'll be helpful somehow. Usually, when we save animals locked in boxes, they turn friendly."
"Can we call him Simba?"
"Where'd you get that name?"
"Really, Jim, you've never seen that movie?"
"It's not like I read either."
Simba seemed to obediently follow the kids into a wine cellar, where roaches slurped from the puddles of wine leaking out. The cub happily munched the roaches. The kids decided to search the whole room for hidden roaches until Simba had his fill, growing into a kid-sized cub. Jim tried to ride on him, but his weight was too hefty. The following wine room was flooded with the substance, requiring the trio to stand on a horizontal barrel and "walk-roll" it across. Well, Jim and Tilda did, Simba simply clung onto the boy's back, much to his chagrin. Large spiders called Munchers would droop from the ceiling. Simba bit the first one off… but the lion turned pale from sickness. "Jim, I don't think he likes the spiders."
"Meh, picky little cub." It became their task to avoid the spiders in bobbing the barrel over the wine. There was a large, red beetle buzzing in a corner of the room, so they brought Simba to eat that, ridding his paleness. Jim jumped up some barrels stacked up along a wall to find another beetle. They kept rolling their own barrel up a flooded corridor, having to either jump or duck the Kannons that shot at them, as well as avoid whirlpools in the river. More beetles would be floating over tricky areas, but the duo braved these sections to give Simba his fill. They drop off on a platform with an exit, Jim relieved as Simba climbed off. Furthermore, the cub grew into a teenage lion!
He still wouldn't let the tykes ride him, but he scouted the way ahead. A Kasplat ambushed Simba in the narrow passage, but the lion slashed claws and wrestled with the gangster Kremling, leaving the kids to jump over and bash the Kasplat from behind. After he was KO'ed, the crew exited to a ledge above an abyss, set in an alleyway outside. The floating barrel cannons would serve to carry them across Barrel Cannon Alley. As was typical in these sections, Zingers buzzed between or around each cannon… however, perhaps these would make good food for Simba. All three crammed into the first cannon, and Simba would be leading as they purposely aimed for the first Zinger. However, when Simba ate the yellow bee, he grew sick again. "Darn it!" Jim cursed.
From the 2nd cannon, a ring of yellow Zingers, plus one blue Zinger, would be buzzing in the way. "Maybe the blue one will taste better?"
"You're burying him if you're wrong." They timed to shoot through the blue one, Simba eating it. The lion was delighted by its taste! The next cannon had a blue Zinger rapidly flying around it like an outer circle, in unison with a yellow one in the inner. They had to wait for when the blue Zinger wouldn't be lined up with the yellow before they fired. The following cannon had three lines of Zingers scrolling past with gaps between them. The third line had a blue one, so they waited to fire past the first two lines and eat the blue when it was in view. Afterwards, they would have to shoot into one of many holes of a rotating beehive, wondering which hole would lead them to the blue Zinger. Amongst the complex rotation of holes, one of them shone blue, so they shot into that one.
An auto-cannon would shoot them out of the nest and onto safe land. Delighted by the refreshing bees, Simba became an adult lion with a handsome brown mane. The kids could ride him as Simba pranced up the town road, viciously tearing down the hordes of Kritters in his path. He had to struggle for a bit upon encountering a Krusha, claws swiping against its fists before Simba pounced and chomped his head. They charged up a more narrow road from where hulking Kremlings, Tyrant Twins, would dash at them. They wouldn't chance Simba's strength against them, so they commanded the lion to jump. The road turned left as they timed Simba's jump with jumping a Kannon's barrels, later to make a meal of the chubby croc. They ran into an open area with several pillars, on which Kaboings bounced around and would drop in random spots of the ground. Simba gnashed the crocs whenever he had the chance to, growing more full than ever as he shone with a sunny mane!
The lion pranced stalwartly up a street crowded with Kremlings, but Simba was Jim and Matilda's unstoppable noble steed towards the back of the den! "Haha! I sure wasn't expecting this!" Tilda laughed. "Rescuing them's going to be easier than I-"
Simba pranced up the stairs and leapt through a ring of fire, granting them a boost of speed toward a Kremling flagpole. Unfortunately, they passed a "No Lions" sign just then, causing Simba to poof just before they seized the top of the pole and were rewarded with loads of treasure. "Well… that ruins that plan."
"Looks like it's just us now." Beyond the pole was a rickety bridge leading to a round, but curvy tunnel with a dungeon. There were two cliffs along the side of the town, connected to this place as well. "Come on! I think we found it!" The kids raced across the bridge. (End song.)
Krookshank Prison
The lazy Sharpclaw snorted up some saliva before starting awake. "'ello, friend! Have a nice dream?" Nugget asked.
"Nyeah, oh yeah… I dreamed this little girl gave me a magic cannon and…nya?"
He awoke to a horde of escaped prisoners and Neeks. "We'll send you back to it then!"
The Sharpclaw went blasting through the exit doorway. "Nugget!" Her mom and dad jumped to hug her. "Snakes alive, ya haven't lost your touch! But where's Jim?"
"He got left behind on the last island." Jason answered. "We were traveling with them for a bit! Hehe, your kids are a riot!"
"But of course they are!" Mum boasted. "But we must hurry. Dad is terribly ill. He needs water!"
"Org…" The family's dog, Patch was pulling a wagon, on which Grandad lay limp and ail. "I feel… so dry… need… salt…"
"I would offer a salt tablet," Laruta said, "but those kronies took our supplies. I'm sure they're somewhere in this prison."
"Let's find 'em and get outta this dump!" Jason affirmed. "Don't pick any fights you ain't sure you can win. Our mission is leaving this island pronto!"
"You know things are bad when even Jason doesn't wanna fight." Ralph said.
"Well, I ain't an idiot, eh? That K. Rool wannabe crocked us good. We don't stand a chance with him. But if we can get all these prisoners out of here, that'll be a win for us!"
"Now, there's a plan I can get behind." Laruta approved.
"ORRIGHT, MY RATS!" Nugget declared with a fierce strum of the violin. "FORWARD… MARCH!"
Outside
Jim and Matilda scurried across the bridge, leading to a snaky road designed like a croc's tail. "Ah, I get it! Tilda, look at how the tunnel's shaped! We're headed into that big croc head's tail."
"I hope we aren't meant to go out the end of the tail."
"END OF THE LINE, SWABBIES!" To their left, a stampede of colored Sharpclaw and Snowmads came charging. "You waltzed right to our prison! This'll make our job much easi-" A bullet shot said Sharpclaw in the shin.
To Jim and Tilda's confusion, a tan-skinned boy was poked out from a sewer, shotgun in hand. "Looks like we climbed into trouble." Don said. "C'mon, guys!"
He helped Gilda out, who in turned pulled Emma up. "Buuuuhhh…" Emma moaned, her golden, spiked hair damp and drooped. "I never wanna swim through another sewer…"
"Who the heck are you blokes?!" Jim asked, clashing with a Waldough's spear. Matilda swiped a Sharpclaw's club and bashed the walrus soldier.
"We followed Captain Yamato here!" Gilda answered, shooting a few pirates. "The Kremlings captured a friend of ours!"
"Looks like we're in the same boat!" Matilda replied.
"'old on, I recognize you two." Jim said. "You were in the race, too, weren't ya?"
"They were!" Emma beamed, drawing a bow-and-arrows to snipe the dinosaurs. "But how come K. Rool targeted you guys, t-"
There was an explosion, accompanied by a spire of gold fire toward the jaws. "Ah!" Gilda beamed. "I wonder if Yamato's won, yet?"
"We don't got anything to worry about with her around!" Don said.
"Well, halftime viewers, it appears our exciting bout has reached a climax!" Itomimizu's microphonic voice resounded. "The winner is, none other than… King of the Kremlings, Kaido Rool!"
"HUH?!"
Yamato lay bruised and bloody on the beach, and all Kaido had for spoils were a few charred scales. "Sigh…didn't give me the spark I expected." The king said. "Your Level 9,000 power just wasn't enough for my 19,000."
"Nnh…you…promised…"
"Let it never be said I'm not a man of my word. Nel will go free… with the waves! HATCHA! Throw her out to sea!"
"Hachachachacha!" A colossal, big-mouthed human with blue hair, white horns, yellow pants, and a matching open jacket marched from behind Nel's pillar; at over 200 feet, Hatcha completely dwarfed the pillar. He gripped Nel's tiny cage in his bulky fingers. "Haaaa…" He brought that hand back and, "CHA!" THREW Nel beyond the croc's jaws!
"AAAAAAHHH…"
"N…Nel…" Yamato choked.
"I bet I know some people who would like to see you again, Ogre Princess." Kaido began to drag her by the arm. "Perhaps they'll get your power on the right track…"
"Scrawk! My King!" A dark-red parrot with yellow eyes flapped above. "Those intruders took down a horde of Kremlings! They're at the prison now!"
"Bah…should've expected as much from mass-produced Klones. Have Kruckers and the Numbers take care of them."
…
"I hope that young lassie wasn't yer trump card." Kaptain Kruckers approached Jim and Emma's group from the path opposite of the other minions. Behind him was a purple-skinned giant with a drunken expression and the head of a boar, his black horns bent. "'Cause now there be no hope for ye rookies! This be the price for underestimating me nephew!"
"N…Nephew?" Jim questioned.
"A skeleton man?" Gilda spoke. "Guys, I feel a dark, spiritual chi emanating from him! He's undead!"
"Right ye are, lassie. Ay've returned as the Kremling Krew's second-in-kommand! I be Kaptain Kruckers Rool, Kaido's uncle!"
"You came back from the dead? How is that possible?!" Matilda questioned.
"Thar be much of the universe ye don't know. But, ya know, pigtailed one… ye remind me of a couple of chimps Ay once knew." Kruckers cocked his blunderbuss, his glowing red eye sockets narrowed on the landlubber. "So, Ay would love ter have the pleasure of runnin' ya through!"
