Chapter Five:

A Full Recovery

He stood by the bed, watching over the unconscious Koopa, who rested under the covers with an ice-pack on his head. Donkey Kong had repeatedly inspected his body for any other injuries, finding a few bruises that Dante had taken from his fall. Right now, he seemed to be in good condition, breathing slowly even with his eyes still closed.

Once he was awake, DK would take him to Cranky, so he could speak to the Koopa. The tie-wearing gorilla had sent a letter to his grandpa via a mail parrot, telling him about Dante's arrival. Cranky didn't need to come by, DK knew he was waiting soundly in his rocking chair at his house.

'What's going on out there in the Mushroom Kingdom?' DK thought.

"Uhhhh..."

DK looked upon the bed, watching as Dante finally opened his eyes and slowly awakened. The Koopa groaned and rubbed his head, his hand touching the ice pack that rested there. Dante blinked and muttered wearily, slowly returning to consciousness after being out for a while. After what happened not too long ago, he was just glad to be alive.

"Hey, Dante." DK said with a smile.

Dante looked up, seeing the tie-wearing gorilla standing by the bed and watching him with slight concern. The Koopa had not seen the big guy in ages and, while he didn't expect to bump into him much, he was glad to see a familiar face.

"Oh, fancy seeing you, Donkey Kong." Dante quipped.

"I'm glad I found you when I did." The gorilla said, "You had quite the fall. So, what happened?"

Dante rubbed his head, as if trying to recall his past. It took a minute, but it came back to the Koopa very quickly. He remembered what he'd been up to earlier, on that fishing boat and trying to fish. It was unbelievable, that creature with that large tail had sent him flying all the way to Kong Island, and likely didn't even mean to send Dante there.

"I was fishing in the sea..." The Koopa said to Donkey Kong, "Then some shark took my fishing rod and my bait. Just as I was about to cut my loss and go home, this giant tail burst out of the water and I got launched into the air."

"A giant tail, you say?" DK remarked, "Sounds like a sea monster. Are you sure it wasn't a tentacle?"

"It wasn't, it was a tail, and I saw it's back, covered in spikes!"

DK's eyes were wide. "This is unlike anything I've seen or heard of!" He exclaimed, "Doesn't sound a lot like Bowser or anyone we know. This is… new. Whatever that creature is, it's got to be bad news. You say you were at sea when that happened, but where were you and how far from the shore did this event happen?"

"Well, I was fishing in Mushroom Bay, off the coast of Fuji City, in the vicinity of the Mushroom Kingdom."

That settled it.

"We better talk to Cranky Kong." DK said, "The old guy may know a thing or two. And, since you saw that creature near the mainland, the Mushroom Kingdom may be in danger if it ever shows its face and comes on land. And whenever that happens, we better move fast."