Chapter Three:

Crash-Landing in The Jungle


Today was warm, sunny, and bright enough for a nice stroll, especially for Donkey Kong.

DK walked calmly through the lush hillside overlooking the rainforest, climbing his way to the top of the high mountain that allowed him to get a majestic view of all the trees, bananas, and everything else that his home had to offer.

He listened to the birds chirping and gazed at the sky, thinking of peace without a worry in the world.

King K. Rool and his crazy Kremling Krew had not attacked in ages, and it felt like forever since DK and Diddy had encountered those whacked Tikis that took his banana horde. The island was safe and sound, with no invasions or attacks; it was just peace. Except for an occasional volcanic eruption.

He reached the top of the hill and looked down upon the jungle that lay at the bottom of the cliff, full of lush trees and content animals feasting on whatever fruits the island had to offer.

The mighty Donkey Kong beat his torso and howled, letting the world hear him, and he hollered as loud as he could.

"Yeah! YOU DON'T SCARE ME, JUNGLE!" DK declared, "NOTHING STANDS IN MY WAY!"

DK felt a sense of pride, being honored to be the top Kong in the Kong family. He truly was worthy of the name "Donkey Kong", which Cranky Kong had carried until his ripe old age. Even DK's father Donkey Kong Jr. had proudly carried the name until he retired before DK stepped into the spotlight.

He gazed out at the horizon, taking in the peace, and his smile faltered when he saw something streak across the sky. He looked closely, seeing that it was a boat of some kind. The tie-wearing gorilla heard a shriek and saw someone falling too.

The ship vanished behind the next mountain and a loud crash was heard; dust rose and birds shrieked as they flew away.

"What was that?" DK questioned, "I better check, and it sounded like someone was in trouble. IT'S DONKEY KONG TIME! Watch out, Kong Island, DK is leaping into action again."

He jumped off the cliff with a hoot, grabbed a vine on the way down, and swung into the jungle. DK released his grip from the green weed and grabbed a tree, then rode it down to the forest floor and grabbed a banana before eating it.

DK munched it all, letting it energize him, and then he took off through the woods. He was running on his hands and fists, dashing like his life depended on it.

The burly battle-ready monkey leaped over a gorge, swung from a vine, and dodged a falling Tiki Kong statue that shrieked before it tipped over. DK wove around a hole, picked up a large rock, and threw it against a tree before breaking into another dash.

Nothing stood in Donkey Kong's way; he pushed a rock into a small hole, and it touched a switch, which lowered the bridge that enabled him to cross the deep, watery chasm ahead without incident.

The seasoned hero pushed through the bushes near a large tree, finding the nearest Kong Cannon, primed and ready, positioned at just the right angle to allow DK to get over the steep cliff in front of him.

It was on like Donkey Kong. He jumped into the cannon, automatically triggering it. The cannon shook, and then it fired, sending the burly brown gorilla high through the air, over the mountain, and towards the valley where that boat had crashed.

Hopefully, he would get there in time. After hearing someone scream and seeing them fall, DK hoped they weren't severely hurt.

DK landed safely on the ground, right next to the trail that led towards the waterfalls. He hooted triumphantly, and then he made a mad dash along the dusty path, seeing a wooden mast that lay by a tree and a rock. It had to be from that boat that crashed.

In a second, he heard rushing water and dashed faster, making it to the waterfall. DK saw the wreck of the boat lying on the rocks with splintered wood scattered near the trees. Then he spotted a Koopa lying on the ground in a daze, wearing headphones. If this had been a normal Koopa, Donkey Kong would have been very cautious.

But he recognized him.

"Isn't that Dante Koopa?" DK remarked with a frown, "What's he doing here? Something dangerous must be happening in the Mushroom Kingdom, and the fact he landed on the island with that ship makes that clear."

Leaving someone in a hurt state was no good. Donkey Kong picked up the unconscious Koopa and left the area. The boat would be taken care of later, and Dante needed help. He could hear him breathing, that Koopa was lucky to still be alive.

The miracle of his survival wasn't important; DK needed to take care of him, and then they had to talk about whatever the heck was going on...