Chapter 2

--

As the sun began to rise in the distance, Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong ran through the Kong village, heading in the direction of Cranky Kong's cabin, Donkey's father and king of Kongo Bongo Island.

They could see Kongs beginning to wake up and get out of their houses to get on with their day. The awakening Kongs watched as the two friends rushed by, fascinated by the majestic crystal Donkey Kong was holding. It was a typical morning in the jungle, with the air filled with the sounds of chirping birds and the rustling of leaves. The sun had just started to peek over the horizon, casting a golden hue across the treetops and illuminating the winding paths below.

Diddy Kong, running alongside Donkey Kong, felt a rush of excitement as they sped through the village. The crystal in Donkey Kong's hands shimmered in the early morning light, its facets reflecting a spectrum of colors that danced across their faces and the ground beneath their feet. The villagers, still groggy from sleep, paused in their morning routines to gape at the sight. Elder Kongs paused their conversations, younglings stopped their playful antics, and the traders momentarily abandoned their stalls, all drawn to the luminous artifact that seemed almost otherworldly in its beauty.

The friends could hear murmurs and whispers growing among the villagers. "What is that?" "Where did they find it?" "Look at how it sparkles!" The Kongs' eyes widened in awe, some even stepping out of their houses to get a closer look. The crystal was not just a beautiful object; it was a symbol of adventure and discovery, a promise of untold stories and hidden treasures. It was rare for something so extraordinary to appear in their peaceful village, and the sight of it ignited a spark of curiosity and wonder in everyone who laid eyes on it.

As they continued to sprint through the village, Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong exchanged exhilarated glances. They knew the crystal was special, but seeing the effect it had on their friends and family filled them with a sense of pride and purpose. They were not just on a simple adventure; they were on a quest that had the potential to change their world.

The path they took led them past familiar landmarks—the large banana groves where they often played, the ancient totems that stood as silent guardians of the village, and the communal gathering area where Kongs would meet to share stories and laughter. Each step they took, each breath they inhaled, was filled with the essence of their homeland, a reminder of why they ventured out in the first place: to protect and cherish the place they called home.

They approached Cranky Kong's hut, a place of wisdom and knowledge. Cranky, despite his grumpy demeanor, had always been a pillar of strength and guidance in their community. He had seen many things in his time and had stories that could fill volumes. If anyone could help them understand the significance of the crystal, it was Cranky.

Bursting into the hut, Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong found Cranky already awake, poring over ancient scrolls and muttering to himself. The moment they entered, Cranky's eyes flicked up to the crystal, and his expression shifted from annoyance to astonishment. "Well, I'll be a monkey's uncle," he muttered, standing up and moving closer to inspect the crystal.

"Where did you find this?" Cranky asked. "It was just lying on the ground next to a temple." Donkey answered. "Yeah! We thought you might know what it is." Diddy added. Donkey Kong handed the crystal to Cranky and the elderly ape picked it up, seemingly deep in thought.

"Well? Do you know what it is?" Donkey asked. "Yes... I do actually!" Cranky exclaimed. He walked over to his book shelf, which was full of ancient stories that Donkey didn't find very interesting. Cranky pulled out an old looking book. The title read The Legend of the Crystal Coconut. Cranky opened the book and began to read it.

"Many years ago, the Crystal Coconut was protected by a civilisation of apes. It was said to have ultimate power, enough to put one in charge, as well as having the power to grant wishes. One unfortunate day, the Crystal Coconut was stolen by an evil kremling pirate named Kaptain Quint Skurvy. Kaptain Quint Skurvy took the crystal but disappeared with it. No one knows what happened to him or the crystal but many hope it hasn't fallen into the wrong hands."

Cranky then passed the book to Donkey and Diddy. There was a picture of the Crystal Coconut. It looked exactly like the crystal Donkey Kong had found. "Holy bananas..." Diddy whispered. "Wait hold on, are you saying I've just found a crystal that holds ultimate power?" Donkey asked, turning to Cranky. "What, you got earwax in your ears? That's exactly what I'm saying!" Cranky snapped.

"But if it's been missing for years then how come I found it lying on the floor?" Donkey said, completely confused by the situation. "How in the world should I know?" Cranky retorted. Then Donkey remembered the voice. "Inka Dinka Do..." he whispered. "What? Speak up sonny!" Cranky yelled. "When I found this, I heard a voice from the temple of Inka Dinka Do." Donkey explained. "You mean the Inka Dinka Do from the stories?" Diddy asked. "Yes." Donkey replied. "Anyway, what the voice said was 'protect'."

Cranky blinked and there was an awkward silence. Then Cranky Kong finally spoke. "He must've chosen you..." he said. "Chosen you to protect the Crystal Coconut..." Donkey tilted his head in confusion. "What's that supposed to mean?" He asked. Cranky sighed. "It means that you have to protect the coconut from villains who want to steal it. Which also means I need some place to keep it here in my cabin." "But why is it so bad if a villain gets it?" Donkey inquired. "Didn't you listen to what I said!? That crystal holds ultimate power! If any villain gets that crystal they could take over our island! And we wouldn't be able to stop them." Cranky clutched the Crystal Coconut. "Now I need a place to put this." Little did they know, a drone hovered close to Cranky's cabin, someone watching from behind the camera...

--