Chapter 27: Unforeseen Events in the Open Sea
It was late at night and, in the middle of the open sea, there were Diddy and Dixie paddling in the small boat. It had been maybe a couple of hours; they still had a long journey to go to get home. Both were too exhausted, apart from the fact that cold currents of wind were coming around and making them cold. At other times, the sea also had waves that made the boat sway slightly, but they managed to balance it with the help of the oars.
"Don't you want to rest a while better?" Diddy asked Dixie as he rowed exhausted.
"I was going to tell you the same thing," Dixie replied in kind.
They both put their oars on the boat and finally took a break; they had been paddling since they left the city beach.
"Do you know?" Dixie said later. "I was thinking... that if those tamers had managed to capture me that time, surely with Tiny and Kiddy we would be circus animals again... but this time with those appalling mistreatments."
"Oh, no, it would be terrible," Diddy said. "That place was a complete prison; I wouldn't even want to imagine how you would be treated... or who knows what fate you four would have had."
"The good thing is that now those monstrous ones will be in prison and pay for the damage they did to us," Dixie added with a little smile of victory, before looking down. "Or at least I want to think that."
"I hope so, those men were monsters with the animals... Geez, although that was the only thing we could do against them."
"I swear I would have liked to keep beating them up, but... nothing more could be done," Dixie added before sighing and lowering her gaze. "But at least something could be done... I'll have to tell this to Tiny, Kiddy and Chunky no matter what."
"I still can't believe we were able to free a bunch of big animals from a circus," Diddy said after a while. "I mean, just look, we were there for a few days and we already got them all out of that horrible place... And it was you who gave the idea."
"I don't even think so, I had only come looking for you and we ended up directing a massive escape," Dixie replied, smiling a little, before pausing. "And I really hope that all those animals reach a good destination."
"Yeah, I also hope they'll reach some mainland or somewhere safer."
They both smiled as they remembered and talked about the whole mission of freeing the animals from the circus and zoo. It made them sad also to remember all the terrible things they had to witness in that place, as well as, they were glad to have rescued all the animals there.
But after a few moments, the topic of the zoo, the circus, the city and the animals was already ending, and there began to be moments of silence. Suddenly, Diddy began to remember the last matters before leaving DK Island; there were pending things to be talked about, and now there was Dixie in front of him to do it.
"Dixie... I think... all this was my fault," he told her with a low expression. "I shouldn't have gone out to sea at that time of night... Sorry if I made you come looking for me and put yourself in danger too."
Dixie also began to remember the last things that had happened before she had gone looking for Diddy. They had already clarified the matter at the zoo, but now was a better time to explain it well... and even make real peace.
"Hey... it's not your fault," Dixie replied in the same tone. "I mean, you just wanted to go out for a while; those tamers were the ones who captured you," she paused before continuing with what she had to say. "And... sorry, Diddy. I already told you: it was Jemky who appeared at that moment and threatened me so that I told you that I didn't want to be your friend anymore, that you were a dumb monkey and that I was dating him. You know I wouldn't have told you that; you are my best friend. And I would have to be crazy to have really dated that burnt hairs."
Diddy stared at her for a few seconds, as he took courage to open the topic again. Really, he didn't feel any discomfort towards her anymore now that everything had cleared up.
"Okay, Dixie," he said, placing a hand on her shoulder and smiling a little. "I forgive you, seriously. And I'm really glad this has at least been fixed."
"Oh, and sorry for taking your pyramid," Dixie added, still embarrassed. "And for having told Mr. Pinky that it was Jemky's. But you know, those four fools threatened me and I was very afraid back then."
"Ah, don't worry about that pyramid anymore," Diddy replied with a shrug. "That can be fixed... And by the way, how did that pyramid matter happen?"
"That was the last time I was going to go with you to the waterfalls. In fact, it was all those four fools who threatened me so that I stole it."
"So, there were also Mandrew, Melenky and Rocky at that time?"
"Yes, they seemed to be organized. After having to tell you all that, along with Jemky, the other three appeared. They were also armed and forced me to take them to your house and take your pyramid at night; they didn't want to let me go until I did. And that the next day, I would not say anything to Mr. Pinky, or else they would attack the whole class at that moment."
"Geez, those fools are completely insane, really," Diddy said in disgust. "Why would they have done that after all?"
"In the end, what they wanted was that emerald I gave you. And Jemky also wanted your pyramid for Mr. Pinky to approve him."
"And what are they supposed to want the emerald for?"
"They didn't want to tell me; I have no idea."
"Ugh! Those stupid guys have nothing else to do," Diddy complained. "What else did those deranged ones do to you?"
"Well, you know: the last day of school, when I left, I confronted Jemky because he didn't want me to rat them out to you, and well... you know what happened."
"Oh, right... that incident happened," Diddy said with some insecurity after returning to the topic.
"Ugh, I don't want to remember," Dixie said, clutching her hands to her temples. "I didn't want to do something like that."
"No, you don't worry. You only fought back, didn't you?" Diddy replied, trying to calm her down. "And if something happened to Jemky... nobody will find you out. We'll solve all this as soon as we arrive."
"Do you think he survived or something?" she asked, looking up again.
"If you gave him just one shot, I would think he did. Where did you shoot him, by the way?"
"In the chest," Dixie replied, making a gesture of discomfort after remembering it.
Diddy made the same gesture to Dixie's response, so he decided to withdraw his words of calm.
"Uh, well... if you shot him there, so-"
"Yes, I know... Maybe he didn't survive. Besides, when he fell off the cliff, was scratching himself with the stones nearby," Dixie said, overwhelmed and putting her hands to her head again. "I can't get out of my mind the image of when I shot him: he had his hand on his chest with that wound... and when he fell into the river, he remained wrapped in leaves while the river current took him away."
There was a moment of silence as Dixie showed her guilty face. Diddy, for his part, wanted to cheer her up not to at least think about it for the time being, even if he also flinched at the story.
"Woah…" Diddy commented rather insecurely after hearing Dixie's story. H-hey, but let's imagine that he has survived and... I'm sure no one will suspect you," Diddy told him with a forced smile not knowing what to say. Dixie just kept looking at him the same way. "Or well, we'll see what all that turned out to be."
"But you're right," Dixie said before sighing and her eyes lowered. "For now, nothing can be done and we'll have to wait for us to reach DK Island."
"I just hope those fools aren't on the island when we arrive," Diddy said before pausing. "In the meantime, regarding the first topic... it's all fixed, Dixie, and we'll still be friends," he added this time with a sincere smile.
"Aren't you mad at me about the pyramid?" Dixie asked insecurely.
"And why would I be? Now you explained it to me better, Dix. Then we'll talk to Wrinkly when she gets home from vacation or when we meet her there."
Dixie continued to look at him insecurely, but later, she smiled a little as she saw that things had cleared up and now her friendship with Diddy could continue as normal; it was something she at least needed for days. And, of course, she was happy that she had finally managed to find him; she could not wait more to get back to DK Island with him back. She didn't want to think about any bad events at the moment, so she just smiled again.
"Come here!" she exclaimed as she lunged at him to tickle him.
"Hey, no!" replied Diddy trying to pull away and laughing, but tickling back her too.
Then, between the two's play, a piece of paper came out of Diddy's cap... When they looked at it better, they realized it was the broken photo of the two of them. Diddy, embarrassed that Dixie saw it like that, immediately took it and tried to hide it.
"Is it the... photo of the two of us? I have the other half!" Dixie said, taking out of her backpack the other piece of the photo where he appeared. Then, she showed it to him and joined it with the other half.
"What?! But how did you get it?" Diddy asked her, surprised.
"I found it in the jungle while I was searching for you when you disappeared... You broke it, didn't you?"
"W-well... I'm sorry, I was angry, you told me we weren't friends anymore and... Aren't you angry?" he asked when he saw that Dixie was just laughing a little.
"It doesn't matter, we'll take another one, or we'll just stick it again."
Diddy was very relieved now. Things with Dixie had really been fixed; he already missed her very much and really feared that things wouldn't be the same between them anymore.
"By the way, Dixie... I think I didn't tell you, but... thank you for coming for me," he said somewhat shyly. "I didn't think you would. And if you hadn't... I would continue in that terrible circus, locked up and I don't even know with what fate."
"And why did you think I wouldn't, Diddy? I wasn't going to let you be lost forever," she replied, smiling calmly, and then he smiled back.
Then, there was a long time of silence as they continued their journey normally. They just stared around even though there was almost nothing to see: just the sea everywhere and a few islets that could be seen in the darkness of the night.
Dixie was leaning to the side of the boat while looking up at the night sky, and next to her was Diddy, who at times also looked at the sky or the sea, but most of the time... he stared at her and smiled inevitably; Diddy hadn't enjoyed her company like that for days. After a while, Dixie suddenly turned and made eye contact with Diddy, so he immediately looked in another direction. Dixie laughed quietly and tried not to blush at the accidental eye contact, which they had had long before.
While they were side by side, Diddy was placing his hands on the edge of the boat while remaining thoughtful, but by some involuntary action, and without realizing it, he had placed his hand on Dixie's, making him react immediately as he withdrew it. She noticed that and turned to look at him instantly.
"Uhh... is that a shooting star?" Diddy pointed toward the horizon, not knowing what he had said to divert attention about the involuntary gesture that had just happened.
"Where? I don't see any shooting stars," Dixie replied in confusion as she turned her head to look. "There are no shooting stars on the horizon, Diddy," she added with some little laughs.
"Hey, yes, there it was, I saw it," Diddy added, extending his arm again in the direction indicated... despite realizing the incoherence he said.
"But there is... nothing."
Dixie, turning again, almost bumped her face into Diddy's. Such a fact made the nerves invade her strongly and her heartbeat accelerate instantly, but she tried to hide it.
As if that were not enough, Diddy also reacted to what happened, but his nerves didn't cooperate either. They stared straight into each other's eyes not knowing what to do and, for some reason, couldn't move away. A tension began to appear between both, which prevented them from pretending that nothing was happening. Suddenly, being less than ten centimeters... Dixie got a little closer to Diddy, and he did the same; they didn't know what might happen until, seconds later... their lips had touched each other; they both closed their eyes at the same time in the moment...
But almost instantly, they separated their faces, as they could not believe what was happening, and looked at each other for several seconds, while an intense red color appeared on their faces that even between them two noticed each other. Although it was something very quick and unexpected, it was enough to activate their strong emotions suddenly. After a few seconds of silence, and with her nerves well alive, Dixie smiled shyly at Diddy, making him blush a lot more, but then he smiled back in the same way.
But suddenly, that moment was interrupted when a strong flickering light around the place frightened them... And, a couple of seconds later, rumblings were heard in the sky. Both seemed not to have realized what was happening, but suddenly, it had begun to rain, while the boat began to wobble from top to bottom. In addition, the cold wind that was felt from the beginning, was getting stronger and stronger.
"W-what's going on?" Dixie said in fear and looking around, changing her expression abruptly.
"It's just the weather, I suppose," Diddy replied, trying to stay calm while looking everywhere too. Suddenly, he was astonished at a sudden event and pointed in one direction. "Watch out!"
A huge wave was forming in front of them, which was getting bigger every second and was heading in the direction of the boat. Both of them were instantly alarmed, and their survival instinct soon appeared.
"Oh, no! The oars! Take the oars!"
Diddy and Dixie took the oars again and tried to divert the boat as fast as they could. Unfortunately, it was clear that the force of the wave was greater and, without any time to avoid, it came over them and made them get out of the boat completely, leaving both submerged in the water.
Diddy immediately swam to the surface again, trying to return to the boat. Suddenly, several wild waves began to appear in different directions and at different heights, making it difficult for Diddy to see and submerging him again repeatedly.
"DIXIE!" Diddy screamed desperately as he now struggled against the force of the sea.
"DIDDY... OVER HERE!"Dixie appeared in the same situation.
They had located the boat in the distance, but unfortunately, it was being swept away wildly by the waves, until later losing sight of it completely. Diddy swam as fast as he could to where Dixie was until be along with her again.
"What's going on?!" Dixie exclaimed, panicking.
Both were frightened, since the only thing that could now be seen was an open sea with roiling waves and torrential rain falling, in addition to a wind sweeping hard. Panic gripped the two of them again, as didn't even know what was going on and why so suddenly.
"Don't worry, it's j-just the weather!" Diddy said, holding her and trying to be optimistic, even if deep down he was in all the terror he could feel. "Oh, no!"
As if that were not enough, a great wave of the apparent size of a building was forming in front of them, which little by little was taking on a colossal appearance... At that time, the two little kongs didn't know what else to do.
"OH, NO, LET'S GO, LET'S G-"
Without giving them more time to escape or say another word, the wild wave caught them both completely and clouded all their vision...