A/N: Now I know the Donkey Kong franchise is a part of the Mario Universe. I do have an explanation later on in this arc that explains their connection. It's a bit of a different interpretation, but I hope you enjoy! :)

Chapter 18: King of the Jungle

Mornings brought new beginnings. For the most part, the group was relieved of yesterday's burdens (although some still lingered, such as Samus and the baby), and were ready to face today's trials and tribulations. Same could be said for their ship, which had been repaired, and soared into the endless, star-infested sky.

Sora sat back in his seat, letting his thoughts ingest various ideas on what type of worlds they would visit today. But he didn't have to daydream long. Another world came into view. As Sora leaned forward to have a good look at it, he felt his heart pound in surprise. But upon inspecting the world's features further, it sank into his stomach in disappointment.

The world was a huge jungle resting on an island. Healthy green leaves from the trees covered almost the entire world. At the end of the jungle was a shore with clean, crisp water. All those elements made Sora believe it was his island for a moment. Still, seeing a familiar environment made his cheeks swell with nostalgia. It was like being home; those pleasant sensations squeezed his wrist like a motherly hand.

But then a possibility crossed his mind – one that was tugging at him with excitement like a child to a parent. Meanwhile, Luigi looked at the 3DS, and determined that there wasn't a captive Star Spirit residing in the jungle.

"Think maybe Mario there, then?" Yoshi asked.

Luigi focused on the world's features. "In a backwater place like that? No way. Let's move on."

"Wait, Riku and Kairi might be there!" Sora said. "We should check it out!"

"Forget it," Luigi said. "We're on an important mission. How can you be so sure they're there?"

"Well, how are you sure Mario's not there?" Sora asked, growing harsh in his tone.

Luigi started to become annoyed. "He wouldn't waste his time in some jungle. And wasting time is something we can't afford. Especially after our little detour at the coliseum."

Sora's anger started to rise through his windpipe. How could Luigi dismiss the possibility of their loved ones residing on this world? This didn't sit right with him. He felt like a tool being used for Luigi's agenda, forced to do things when it was convenient for him. This assumption only made him more irritable.

He wasn't going to let anyone obstruct his desire to find Riku and Kairi.

"Just land!" Sora said, his voice rising at a considerable rate. "It wouldn't hurt!"

"No!" Luigi said, becoming enraged. "I'm tired of going along with your crazy ideas! I'm putting my foot down this time!"

The weight of their anger started to crush Isabelle and Yoshi's ribcages.

"Guys, arguing is just going to waste more of our time," Isabelle said, trying to defuse the situation.

Yoshi whimpered. "And arguing making Yoshi feel bad."

"You're right, Isabelle," Sora said. "Let's just land now and get it over with!"

Irrational desire dominated Sora's mind, and he lunged for the controls, pressing every button. Distressed, Luigi tried restraining him, but Sora fought back with all his might.

"Stop it! Let go!" Luigi said.

Sora continued hitting buttons. "I said we're landing!"

"Not if I can help it!"

Upon hitting another button, the ship started vibrating, and began its quick descent into the world.

"Now look what you've done!" Luigi said.

Luigi pushed Sora aside and tried to rectify the issue. But Sora had messed up the controls; he couldn't fix them in time. All everyone could do was scream as the jungle grew bigger.

Isabelle sat at her desk in the mayor's office, content. Today was another productive day. Outside her window, the rays from the sun came through. Birds flew by the window singing a pleasant melody. Other than that, the only sound she heard was the clock ticking. She liked the calm atmosphere; it helped her focus.

Isabelle's woodgrain desk was neat and organized. Well, except for the hundreds of envelopes she had piled onto it. Enclosed were letters from the lively citizens, leaving feedback to help improve the everyday life of the town. Using a letter opener, she gently tore open the envelope's contents. She was greeted by a long piece of paper that extended to the ground. Even an old parchment would be envious of its size.

After reading through the verbose letter, she giggled. "Gosh, Blathers, that's a long way to go to request expansions for the museum."

She read through another one, and rolled her eyes in annoyance.

"When will Crazy Redd learn? He cannot legally 'borrow' things from the stores." She paused. "Actually, I think there's another word for that…"

The peaceful sounds of the office were interrupted by an abrupt knock at the door. She rose to her feet, hurried over, and answered it; standing on the other side was her twin brother Digby, holding two foam coffee cups. Seeing his bright smile put her in an even better mood.

Work meant nothing compared to the love she had for her brother. They inspired each other, made each other laugh, and picked each other up in dire circumstances.

"Hello, is the mayor available?" Digby asked with a playful smile. "I'd like for him to pass a law where he's not allowed to keep my little sister glued to her desk all day."

Isabelle chuckled. "Oh, come on! You're only five seconds older!"

"That's good enough for me," Digby said.

"How are you, bro?"

"Good. Came by to see how you are. Why not take a break for a little bit? You work so hard. Yet, you don't have time to relax."

"That's not true! I take breaks!"

Digby gave her a skeptical look. "By doing the mayor's laundry?"

"I won't deny that," Isabelle said, "but I won't confirm it either."

"C'mon, sis. Let's hang out for a bit. Brought you your favorite coffee." He held up one of the cups. "Mocha with lots of milk, and three spoonsful of sugar."

Isabelle smiled. "Oh, thanks! I knew you'd remember my preference! Guess I can take it easy for a little while. Not like those papers are going anywhere, right?"

The weather was perfect. Clouds did not dare intervene with the bright blue sky. It was content in being alone. But it also enjoyed the laughter and conversations of Isabelle and Digby. They sat on a bench in the middle of the village. Scattered throughout were the homes of the friendly residents. Some walked by the twins, greeting them as they went about their business.

During their casual conversation, Digby went on an anecdote. "Recently I went to help Pavé redesign his camper van. Nice guy, but man does he let his ego slide out of the crevasses."

"Isn't he the peacock that holds the annual Festival?"

Digby nodded. "The same. I've designed all sorts of homes, but never ones that had feathers hung everywhere! And they need to look exactly like his. No substitutions. One of the hardest homes I've ever had to work on. He wrung me out for placing a feather the wrong way. He said: 'You clearly don't understand how to design Pavé's house. Pavé encompasses everything, not just one spot. You must visualize the house as an extension of Pavé.""

Isabelle groaned. "Sheesh, you shoulda just put in mirrors and called it a day."

"Yeah!" Digby said, laughing. "Good point!"

Once he stopped laughing, an awkward silence disrupted the peaceful flow of the afternoon. Digby glanced down at his coffee, watching the steam rise from it. A random assortment of words juggled through his head, and he didn't know how to string them into coherent sentences.

After a few moments, he took a deep breath, and said, "Ever since the new mayor started, you've been busier than ever. Feel like it's been forever since we've last talked. I know our jobs are important, but there have been times where you've been in that office all hours of the night. It's rare for me to even see you. Sometimes I start to worry that….we're starting to grow apart."

Isabelle felt her stomach tighten like a hand squeezing clay. Anyone would feel hurt upon hearing such a claim. Sometimes the mind refuses to accept the truth, and will become perturbed by the very idea presented.

"You know that's not true!" Isabelle said, feeling disheartened. "The mayor still has a lot to learn. He just needs the right support. And it's through that support that he, along with everyone else, will find happiness. Isn't that what you and I inspire to do? Elicit happiness? You know it gives me a rush to make people's lives better."

But then she looked into her brother's eyes, seeing a haze of distress start to cover them. A startling realization harshly tugged at her fur. Fragments of guilt started to snow on top of her heart, and only grew stronger with each passing second.

"But….I guess in getting wrapped up in all the excitement," she said, remorseful, "I forgot about keeping the most important dog I know happy. I-I'm sorry."

Digby placed a sympathetic hand on her wrist. "Don't apologize. You don't think I know you by now? Sometimes you get lost in your work. Have to remind you to take it easy, sis."

The stuffy, uncomfortable air started to drift away into the sky. Isabelle felt better knowing that Digby was understanding of her plight. Simultaneously, Digby was relieved that she acknowledged the issue. The twins couldn't bear to lose each other. Sometimes life can seem a little darker when your best friend isn't there to help light the path ahead.

"You're right," Isabelle said. "I'm going to make sure I don't have my head so far in a pile of paperwork. I do want to hang out with you more. There are so many stories I want to share; and there are so many things I want to reminisce about with you."

"Same here," Digby said. "What do you say we go to the LOL Café this weekend? Hear K.K. Slider's performing!"

Excited from hearing that name, she shouted, "He's such a dreamboat!"

Upon realizing what she uttered, Isabelle covered her mouth in embarrassment. Digby was having a laughing fit that echoed throughout the village.

"You better not tell anyone I said that!" Isabelle said in a stern tone.

Digby raised a teasing eyebrow. "Including K.K.?"

"Oh, you're so funny," Isabelle said, giving her brother a light, playful push.

The laughter resumed. And they never wanted it to cease.

Digby spread his arms open. "Awkward sibling hug?"

"Awkward sibling hug."

When the two embraced, they pat each other on the back, saying, "pat, pat," simultaneously. After pulling away, the two felt a harsh wind rush through their fur. The twins noticed the sky becoming dark.

"Huh," Digby said. "It was sunny just a minute ago. The news said nothing about a storm."

Isabelle shrugged. "Dunno, but I should get back."

"I'll walk with you."

The conditions worsened with each step taken. Wind started to fight against the twins. They heard an agonizing howl scream in their ears. The light blue sky was suffocated by a pitch-black cloud. This abrupt change in weather was both perplexing and troubling.

"Digby, do you want to stay at my office until things settle down?"

No answer. Just howling.

"Digby?" She turned around, and stood frozen in absolute terror. Isabelle's mind couldn't process the images wriggling before her eyes.

Digby was fighting against purple tendrils that emerged from the earth. His limbs were wrapped around their slimly form. One of them had covered his mouth, holding his screams of terror captive. Isabelle's legs turned to stone. A million questions spun through her mind faster than the wind. But her biggest concern was rescuing him.

And she couldn't.

Isabelle's non-confrontational disposition held a tight grip on her shoulder. She was too afraid to fight the abomination pulling her brother beneath the surface. Tears formed in her eyes. Fear, along with regret, burned a wide hole in her chest. She couldn't believe this was happening.

The last sound she ever from him was his muffled screams. Soon, he was gone.

The village spun into a room of emptiness. Darkness covered every square inch of the vicinity. Isabelle fell to her knees. The room started getting narrow. She felt it press against her body. Screams bellowed in her ears. All she could do was shut her eyes; her entire body trembled from the overwhelming emotions. She placed both paws on her forehead.

"Digby, I'm sorry," Isabelle said; her voice tried fighting through the screams.

"Why, Isabelle? Why, Isabelle? Why, Isabelle? Why, Isabelle? Why, Isabelle? Why, Isabelle?"

She screamed and woke up from her nightmare. Everything was calm. She took slow deep breaths to regain her composure. While doing so, she looked around at her new environment. She appeared to be in a jungle. The branches of tropical trees rustled lightly in the wind. Some even contained fruit such as coconuts, bananas, and orange.

Tall grass obstructed her view of the path ahead. She assumed that, because of Sora's recklessness, they crashed in the jungle. But that didn't concern her now. Nothing did. Ever since arriving in the Mushroom Kingdom, she tried to forgo the memory of Digby's disappearance, by plunging it below the surface of her mind.

But the painful truth of the past always lingers.

Through that nightmare, it resurfaced, reminding her that, because of her weakness, she lost her brother. Possibly forever. She burst into tears, burying her face in both paws. There's an old saying that crying helps; it alleviates the pain. But no amount of tears – even if it formed a lake – could reverse the damage.

For a while she cried, berating herself for failing to help her brother. The sounds of her sobs grew louder. Then, Isabelle felt a gentle tap on the leg, which startled her, and she scurried back towards a tree in fear. What disgusting insect had crawled up her leg? Turned out, it wasn't an insect, but a familiar small robot.

Isabelle exhaled in relief. "Oh, Chibi! Thank goodness!"

Chibi Robo hurried over to her side. Seeing a familiar face quelled her pain. If only for a short while, anyway. She picked up the robot, bringing him up to her face.

"Are you alright?" she asked.

Chibi nodded. He noticed a tear streaming down her face, and she wiped it away. The robot patted her paw.

"No, I'm okay," Isabelle said. "Was just….lamenting."

She stood up to get a better look at her surroundings. Isabelle could hear wild animals howling in the distance. She felt a bit unnerved. Jungles weren't exactly known to be the safest of environments.

"Guess this is the world we crash landed on, huh?" She then gasped. "Oh, no! The others! Hope they're okay!" She looked down at Chibi. "Have you seen them?"

Chibi hopped up and down, frantically pointing towards a part of the jungle.

"Do you want me to follow you?"

With a nod, Chibi hopped off her paw, and hurried towards the tall grass. Isabelle felt a nervous lump hover in her throat. She was worried that dangerous creatures lurked within the tall grass, waiting to greet their house guests with its vicious teeth. Still, she had to find her friends. Losing Digby caused her enough grief. She didn't want history to repeat itself. Taking a courageous breath, she hurried through the grass.

Moments later, they arrived at a beach. The water was clear and crisp. Seagulls flew overhead, singing a merry tune that echoed throughout the vicinity. Gentle waves crashed into the shore. For a moment, it was like living in paradise. The intimidating jungle seemed like a dream.

Chibi directed Isabelle's attention towards the right, where they saw the Labo Ship; and it was being carried from underneath by a group of crocodile-like creatures. At the back of the group was a corpulent crocodile with purple skin. He donned a green military helmet, and a green belt with five pouches in the front. His black boots stomped into the sand, sending particles everywhere.

"Left, right, left right!" the crocodile, named General Klump, said in a commanding voice. "Move it ladies! You will break your spines in the name of our glorious King K. Rool!"

One of the crocodiles carrying the ship asked, "What on earth does his majesty want with this ship?"

"Excuse me!" Klump said with a stern tone in his voice. "Who gave you permission to speak out of line!? Only my angelic voice should be gracing your ear canals!"

One of the crocodiles turned to his comrade, annoyed. "Why is lardo here in charge?"

"I heard that, maggot!" Klump shouted out in range. "Anymore insubordination and y'all will be part of a new line of handbags! Capiche!?"

"Yes, sir!" they said in unison. Although deep down, they were in massive pain, and wanted a moments reprieve.

Isabelle felt her heart skip a beat. Leaving this world was going to a lot more complicated.

Turning to Chibi, she asked, "Is anyone still on the ship?"

Chibi nodded. After going through everyone's names, Chibi pointed at the ship when she mentioned Telly-Vision.

"Then we need to find the others first," Isabelle said. "No way we can deal with those crocodiles by ourselves."

Upon turning around, she ran into one of the Lakitu brothers, and screamed in surprise; she covered her mouth as it echoed through the beach, disturbing the seagull's pleasant song, and catching the attention of the crocodiles. Isabelle, along with others, dove into the grass to hide.

Klump faced the grass, rubbing his head in confusion. "Now what in the wide, wide world of sports was that?"

"Who cares?" one of the crocodiles said, grunting from the extreme weight. "Standing here ain't doing our backs any favors."

"For once, your nonsensical jabbering has some merit to it," Klump said. "We don't have time to loaf around! Move your tails!"

Klump commanded his troops to continue through the sand. Isabelle and the others waited until they were no longer in view.

When they reemerged, Isabelle turned to Lakitu with a frown. "Why did you just float there? Could've told us you were here."

"Sorry," Lakitu said, blushing in embarrassment. "Get a little too invested in my job. We cameramen just film the action, not strike up a conversation."

Isabelle smiled. "Either way, glad you're here."

She pulled out the Wii Stream. Cracks, thankfully, had not infested its glass coat. And she was further relieved to see that it was still operational.

"Can you fly around this place and find the others?" Isabelle asked. "And then lead them to us?"

"This jungle is huge," Lakitu said. "It may be hard to find you again. However, I did see a bunch of treehouses in that direction. I can lead you there. It'd be a good randevu point."

Isabelle reeled back in fear. "What!? I'm not going back in there! Who knows what'll await us? What if it's something lethal? I can't deal with that!"

She noticed Chibi had his arms crossed. Robots couldn't expression emotions, but Chibi wasn't your average machine consisting of bolts and wires. He knew when to share his feelings. Isabelle knew that Chibi was right to be aggravated. Right now, they had to support each other in order to stay alive. If one were to loosen the rope, the rest would fall.

She thought of Digby again, and knew making the same mistake would be inexcusable. It was time to act. To learn from the past, and come out of your comfort zone.

After exhaling the nervous air, she said, "Alright, I'll do it!"

Chibi hopped into the air in excitement.

"But you have to go first, Chibi."

The little robot crashed into the ground.

"Just kidding," Isabelle said with a nervous giggle.

Sora plummeted from the sky, and was fortunate enough to land in a bush. Upon leaving it, he noticed he was in an enclosed jungle area. Surrounding him were four small caves; he could easily see the light at the end of each one.

The pain in his head persisted, and he rubbed it. While regaining focus, he called out for his friend's names. They weren't anywhere in sight. He lay down in the grass, glanced at the cloudless sky, and reflected on what just transpired. Guilt had encircled his heart. He didn't mean for this to happen. His desire to find Riku and Kairi grew stronger with each passing moment; for a second it stood tall over any rational thinking.

Desperation was his worst enemy. He prayed that the others weren't hurt by his actions. At the same, time, however, a grudge latched onto his spine, growing more repulsive with each passing second. He was angry with Luigi. How could he not be? Whatever happened to 'all for one,' he thought. Everyone was supposed to support each other – why did he refuse to land for just even a few minutes?

The more he mulled over it, the more that grudge expanded around his body. His thoughts were interrupted by a rumbling sound. Turning to his left, he saw a large, circular, metal shell roll out from one of the caves. Startled, Sora scrambled to his feet, and summoned the Keyblade.

The shell came to a halt upon reaching the middle. A yellow armadillo emerged from it, and laughed in triumph.

"Aha!" the armadillo said. "Caught you right in my trap! Just like the big, hairy…"

His words started to crawl as he took a good look at his prey.

"….ape you are?" The armadillo glared at him in confusion.

Sora did the same; words couldn't begin to express what he was witnessing. Battling giant monsters in an arena seemed like an everyday occurrence now. The armadillo pulled out a photo, and stared with intensity at it.

He glanced back at Sora, in deep thought. "Hm, this one is definitely not as hairy. Still up in the air on the ugly factor, though."

"Hey, I can hear you!"

"Whoops," the armadillo said in a dry, sarcastic tone. "Must've let that slip. Definitely the wrong guy." He put the photo back in his shell. "The king is not interested in some kid. Might as well…"

His eyes lit up upon noticing the strange key shaped sword in the boy's hand. What a peculiar weapon, the armadillo thought. It appeared to be valuable, and would make a great addition to the king's treasure room. Soon, his thoughts burst into flames of excitement. He'd receive a promotion, and would live in luxury. Already pleasant thoughts of his new lifestyle filled his head like a hot air balloon.

He saw himself relaxing in a hot tub. A beautiful female armadillo snuggled in his arms. Life was perfect.

"Oh, Army Dillo," she said. "How'd you get to be such a stud?"

"Why, it's simple, baby," he responded with a sly grin. "I just beat up a teenage boy."

Back in reality, Sora watched with a blank, confused expression as Army Dillo laughed like an imbecile at his daydream.

"Hellooooo!" Sora said. "Anyone home in that overgrown shell of yours?"

Like a bubble, Sora's voice popped Army Dillo's daydream out of existence. Enraged, he said, "Rude child! How dare you interrupt my fantasies!"

"Look, it's clear you're waiting for someone else," Sora said. "I'm just gonna go now. My friends are somewhere in this jungle."

Army Dillo smirked. "Oh, you can go, alright. Under one condition: hand over that giant key of yours."

"You're kidding," Sora said, feeling his shoulders slump from Army Dillo's inane request.

"Did I stutter!? Let me have it!"

Sora glanced at the Keyblade. "You sure?"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!" His tongue was hanging out like an excitable puppy.

Sora smirked. "Positive?"

"Stop patronizing me! I said, let me have it!"

Sora's smirk formed a huge grin. "Oookay."

Sora threw the Keyblade right into Army Dillo's forehead. He yelped in pain, clutching his head.

"You lying little—"

Sora made the Keyblade reappear in his hand. "I didn't lie. You wanted it, so I gave it to you. Why don't you keep your word and let me go?"

After easing the pain, Army Dillo glared at Sora in pure rage. He was no longer playing around with some kid.

"Oh, I'll let you go alright." Two mounted cannons appeared on each side of his shell. "After I completely incinerate you!"

Sora dove to his right to dodge an incoming fireball. It was double the size of a beachball. Well, that escalated quickly, he thought. He had no time to deal with some miserable armadillo and his strange desires. Sora hurried to one of the caves, but metal bars rose from the ground, blocking his path.

"Seriously!?"

Sora heard a whistling sound approach from behind him, and once again rolled to avoid becoming incinerated. Army Dillo was relentless, firing rounds without catching a breath. Sora tried the other caves, but they, too, were obstructed by metal bars. His only chance of escape was to fight.

Sora tried throwing his Keyblade at Army Dillo's head again. This time, he lowered his shell to cover his face. The shell rolled forward, chasing Sora around the vicinity. Need to catch this guy by surprise, Sora thought. Thankfully, being chased allowed him to formulate a plan. He started charging his spiral energy attack.

When Army Dillo reemerged, he prepared to launch another fireball. Sora was ready. He unleashed his energy attack, which collided with the fireball, causing an explosion right near Army Dillo's face. The armadillo spun onto his back from the impact. Sora hurried over to attack while he was down, but Army Dillo reverted into his shell, leaped into the air, slammed the ground, and unleashed a powerful shockwave that knocked the boy over.

While the fight ensued, a pair of hairy brown arms had grabbed the metal bars. They started bending them with ease, as if they were made of putty.

Sora was in a daze from the shock of the impact. Once regaining his senses, he saw the shell roll straight for him; it was preparing to crush him like a steamroller. Sora tried standing up, but, in the heat of the moment, fell over again. He braced himself for the inevitable. In the end, he had no one to blame but himself. Although he never imagined being crushed by an insane armadillo. The rumbling sound grew closer and closer.

And then, it stopped.

Sora opened his eyes to see what hindered Army Dillo's movement; and they bulged in complete astonishment at the culprit. Holding the shell with a single hand was a giant, muscular gorilla with brown fur. His underbelly and face were a tan color. The fur on the top of his head curled, making it appear as a hairstyle.

The gorilla's most prominent trait was the red tie he wore around his neck. Imprinted near the bottom in yellow were the letters "DK." Confused, Army Dillo emerged from his shell, and froze in terror from the sight of the gorilla, who gave the biggest grin.

"Uh, hey there," Army Dillo said, shivering in fear. "Was wondering when you you'd show up." He paused, and then said, "P-Please don't hurt me, Mr. Kong. You can have that kid's key! It ain't worth squat!"

The gorilla waved in response. "Heh, heh."

After reeling his arm back, he delivered a powerful punch that send Army Dillo flying into one of the caves. Sounds of clanging echoed throughout it. Army Dillo moaned from the tremendous pain he felt. Victorious, the gorilla pounded his chest, and unleashed a boastful howl. It echoed throughout the jungle. Birds flew away in fear from his threatening voice. Even the earth trembled before his might.

Sora was impressed, but also fearful. The gorilla may target him next. And sure enough, the hulking animal focused his attention on him. Sora remained still, not even attempting to breath. He felt his heart bounce around his body, as if trying to free itself from its imprisonment. The gorilla approached Sora with caution.

Hot sweat started to pour down his face. He shut his eyes, expecting the worse. The gorilla examined Sora, looking him over from head to toe. Then, he let out a gentle hoot.

Sora opened his eyes; the gorilla held out a giant hand towards him. He even gave the boy a warm, gentle smile. Every inch of Sora's body relaxed. The gorilla meant no harm. In fact, Sora could see a friendly glow in his eyes.

With an exhale, Sora said, "Thanks."

The gorilla pulled him up, albeit a bit too quickly. Sora thought his arm was going to be ripped from the socket like a Mr. Potato Head.

"Whoa!" Sora said. "Man, you're strong! What's your workout regimen!?"

Growing inquisitive about the visitor, the gorilla walked around Sora, continuing to analyze every feature. At moments, he got close to him. So close that Sora could feel his warm breath brush over his face, tickling him in the process.

Sora chuckled. "Easy! Easy! And I thought I had issues with personal space!"

The gorilla returned to face Sora again, still just as wide eyes and curious as ever.

"I'm sure this is interesting," Sora said, feeling uncomfortable by the gorilla's stare, "but I'm kinda new here. What is this place?"

The gorilla sniffed Sora's hair, picked out a bug, and ate it.

"Hey!"

The gorilla gagged at the putrid taste rubbing against his tongue. Sora placed both hands in his pockets, disappointed.

"Guess you don't understand me, huh?" Sora asked.

The gorilla tilted his head in confusion. Every word Sora said reached his ear, but they ended up getting locked out from reaching the brain.

Sora sighed. "Great. Finding my friends isn't going to be easy."

"F-F-Friends?" the gorilla asked.

Sora thought he heard things for a moment, and spun around to face the gorilla, hopeful. "Wait, you DO understand what I'm saying!?"

"Find….friends?"

Excitement graced his presence. "Yes, my friends! Maybe you can help! There's two of them: the frightened one's named Lu—"

He stopped midsentence. The grudge awoke from its slumber. After everything that transpired, he wasn't exactly eager to see Luigi again. Maybe the others, but, even then, he wasn't sure they'd be happy to see him, especially after crashing the ship. A dilemma played an endless game of ping-pong in his head. But, then, he thought of a third option.

The gorilla couldn't stand the long silence. He poked Sora with his large finger, which caused the boy to stumble backwards.

"Give me some warning when ya do that next time!" Sora said, and noticed a concerned look on his face. "Sorry. I'm okay. Anyways, there's two of them: a boy with silver hair and a girl with red hair. Their names are Riku and Kairi. Seen them?"

The gorilla used every part of his brain to grasp what Sora told him. "Look for Riku, friends?"

"Right."

Sora noticed something moving behind the gorilla. For a moment, he thought it was Kairi. Much to his disappointment, it was just a shadow. He missed her so much; any sign of movement gave him hope.

"Kairi, friends?"

Sora snapped out of his thoughts. "Uh…right…"

"Friends here."

"R-Really?" Sora asked; his face brightened up, although he was a bit pessimistic. Did the gorilla know their location? Or were the words lost in translation?

The gorilla chanted something in another language.

"Huh?"

The gorilla repeated the same chant. "Friends here."

At this point, the gorilla was the only ally Sora had in this jungle. Regardless of whether Riku and Kairi were here, his only chance of making it out alive was with the gorilla's help. But blind optimism leaned on his shoulder. He still wanted to believe that they were here; and this gorilla knew their whereabouts.

Right now, blind optimism was all that kept him going.

"Not sure I understand, but show me. Take me to Riku and Kairi."

The gorilla placed a hand on his chest. "Donkey Kong. Donkey Kong go."

"And I'm Sora." He copied DK's motion. "Donkey Kong, go. Sora go go!"

In one fell swoop, DK placed Sora on his shoulders, and gave him a thumbs up.

"You want to give me a ride?" He grinned. "Sure! Why not?"

DK charged for the metal bars, and smashed right through them as if they were paper mache. Sora held on for dear life as DK ran at unimaginable speeds. Moments later, he stopped at the edge of the cliff. Sora looked out at the incredible view. Jungle as far as the eye could see. It was endless. The sounds of animals echoed in the distance.

Sora took in every breathtaking detail. Not even his island had such an extraordinary view. DK took a few steps back, pounded his chest, and howled. He then surprised Sora be leaping off the cliff. Sora embraced DK's back, feeling the pressure of gravity push his body downward.

When they were close to the ground, DK grabbed a vine and swung through the forest. Sora sighed in relief, and soon felt exhilarated from the ride. Every care in the world was suppressed from the adrenaline filled rush.

"Woo-hoo!" Sora shouted.

DK was happy that Sora enjoyed the ride. He was having just as much as him. Today, DK made a new friend.

"Ugh. Probably going to feel this one for a while."

The trees managed to break Luigi's fall, but he still had a rough landing. His entire body ached; he rubbed any tender spot to alleviate the pain. Afterwards, he scanned the area; he was in the heart of the jungle.

"Hooray," Luigi said with sarcasm. "Lost in the deep jungle. What a way to start the morning."

He sat down on a log to rest. But the anger in his blood refused to simmer. Sora's careless behavior had put them in perilous situations. He had grown exasperation as a result. Crashing the ship was the last straw. Luigi couldn't keep these feelings bottled inside any longer.

"I don't care what Mario says," Luigi said, venting; "we don't need that kid to find him. We can do it on our own!"

Although there was no 'we' currently. Just him. First, he needed to find the others. Upon standing up, he noticed a light red block on the floor. No, he thought. Could it be? He leaned over to inspect it further. Indeed, it was a piece for the Labo ship. But he didn't recognize it as one of his own. A possibility slipped through the crevasse of doubt. Was Mario really here?

This realization made him feel foolish, as maybe his stubbornness was integral to the whole fiasco. No, he thought. Sora tampered with the controls; he was responsible for endangering their lives. That was his justification for blaming it solely on him. His resent for Sora didn't falter.

Pushing aside his feelings, he focused on the future. He picked up the block, pocketed it, and exhaled; the journey had taken a nosedive off the rails. Before Luigi could formulate a plan, he heard a rumbling sound, like feet stomping the ground.

Sensing danger, Luigi prepared his hammer. The sound was getting closer. It was coming from behind some bushes. Then, Yoshi ran out from them, holding a huge star-shaped leaf in his hands.

"Running!" Yoshi said as he hurried by Luigi.

"Running?" Luigi asked in confusion.

The sound was louder now. Turning towards it, he saw an enraged rhinoceros emerge from the bushes, running straight at him with its giant horn. Luigi ran for his life, and managed to catch up with Yoshi.

"What did you do this time!?" Luigi asked between breaths.

"Me saw this leaf shaped like star." Yoshi started to ponder about something. "Or maybe it really a star shaped like a leaf." He paused. "Yoshi just shattered his innocent little mind."

"Focus!" Luigi shouted, looking back on occasion to see the rhino gaining on them. "That leaf belongs to him, doesn't it?"

"Me didn't know! Honest!"

"Then give it back to him!"

"No!" Yoshi said with a stubborn huff. "Me want it! And me will never stop running until it mine!"

"Good. Then I guess you'll NEVER get dessert again, either."

Yoshi frowned. "Me hate when you play the 'D card.' Fine."

He released the leaf, which flew straight into the rhino's face. Startled, he swung the leaf around until it was torn to shreds. If the rhino was any angrier, the sun would start to sweat from his heat. Luigi and Yoshi both halted in front of a giant boulder. The two heard the loud growling of the rhino. They turned to see his pupils bulging with unstoppable rage.

He unleashed a loud snort that brushed against their faces. The two pressed their backs against the boulder.

"Was it worth it?" Luigi asked.

"Yes, because at least me get dessert again."

Luigi shook his head in defeat. The rhino scraped his paw against the ground, preparing to attack. Luigi and Yoshi braced themselves. They heard the scraping become faster. The rhino lowered his head—

"Rambi!" a female voice shouted.

Everyone looked up to see a monkey leap out from the trees and land right in front of the rhino. She wore a pink beret, a pink tank top, and had light brown fur. Her most distinguishable feature was her long blonde hair tied in a ponytail. She appeared to be in her preteens. Despite appearing friendly, she glared straight into Rambi, with an intimidating spark in her green eyes.

"No! No!" she said in a stern tone, pointing at him with each word. "Bad Rambi!"

The two watched in amazement as Rambi start to whimper like a dog knowing he'd done a bad deed. He broke down into a pathetic display of mumbling.

The monkey scowled. "How many times have I told you to control your anger? You keep scaring away our visitors!"

Rambi tried explaining himself through incoherent babbling. The monkey crossed her arms; her frown refused to falter.

"No excuses!" she said. "You know we have plenty of tree stars! Now, you march right on home and think about what you've done!"

And with that said, Rambi ran away, crying like a child that had been sent to his room. Luigi and Yoshi watched in stunned silence; blank expressions were plastered on their faces. Before they could even process what they witness, the monkey jumped into their personal space.

"Hiya!" she said with enthusiasm. "I'm Dixie Kong! Welcome to our island! Don't mind Rambi. Sometimes he turns into Mr. Crabby Pants, but we still love him."

Luigi tried to interject, but Dixie continued: "So where'd you come from? You're not monkeys, that's for sure. Not hairy enough. But can I just say, sir, that your hat is fabulous! With just a stroke of pink it'd be perfect."

"Um, thanks," Luigi said, feeling awkward. "Can we get a moment to breath, please?"

Dixie let out a sheepish giggle. "Oh, sorry. Sometimes I get too excited and can't keep my mouth shut." She playfully elbowed Yoshi's shoulder. "Know what I mean?"

"Me think so," Yoshi said, unsure what to make of Dixie's eccentric behavior.

"Listen, to make a long story short," Luigi said, "our ship crash landed here. We need to find it and our friends."

Dixie let out a dramatic gasp that would make a B-movie performer's acting subtle.

"Ohmygosh!" she said. "I'm so sorry to hear that." Dixie pumped her chest with confidence. "Have no fear! I'll help you find them!"

Yoshi was surprised over her willingness to assist them "You will?"

"Of course," Dixie said. "Anyone who isn't a mean old Kremling can be my friend anytime."

"Kremling?" Luigi asked.

"These crocodiles that have invaded our jungle," Dixie said. She became disheartened. "They kidnapped a few of our friends. I was lucky enough to escape their clutches. I'm not sure what they're up to, but it can't be good!"

Luigi felt the added danger of this journey pound on his head like a hammer to a nail. "As if this day couldn't get any worse."

Dixie cheered herself up, and said, "Hey, this is a no-frowning zone! Turn it around! We gotta stay positive. I was fortunate enough to find good folks like you. Now let's see a smile!"

Luigi's frown wouldn't budge. Dixie tried pushing his lips, but they returned to their original, miserable position. She then performed a handstand to notice his lips in the right position.

"Eh, good enough." She stood on her feet again.

"Does Dixie know where our friends are?" Yoshi asked.

"What do they look like?" After Yoshi described them, she said, "Sorry. Haven't seen them."

"Aw," Yoshi said in disappointment. He hoped everyone was okay. Especially Sora. In only a single day, he started to form a connection with him. Maybe it's like what Isabelle said: "it's nice to have someone close to his age." Or maybe it was Sora's positive attitude. Something about it made Yoshi strong – that nothing seemed impossible.

"But I'm sure Cranky Kong might know where they are," Dixie said, trying to lift their spirits.

"Who's he?" Luigi asked.

"He's the oldest monkey on this island," Dixie said, "and he knows everything. Maybe he saw them. Why don't you come with me? I need to head for his secret hideout. Whenever there's an emergency on the island, we're all told to regroup there so we can come up with a plan. Especially to stop those naughty Kremlings."

Luigi raised a skeptical eyebrow. "Will this guy even let us come into his hideout? With a name like Cranky, I'd expect us to be kicked out."

"Don't worry. Underneath that hard shell of his is…another hard shell." She reevaluated that statement. "Well, okay. Underneath that hard shell is…more hard shells? Huh. After getting past those hard shells you'll find…the skins of the shell? Look, I'll just tell him about your situation. Hopefully he'll understand. Maybe. Sort of."

Luigi groaned. "Please stop. Your train of thought is about fall of the rails."

"Good point," Dixie said. "We should get going, either way. Don't want the Kremlings to catch us. Follow me!"

She started to run towards the bushes. It was a start, but least they were going in the right direction. With Dixie's help, they were confident in reuniting with their friends (although Luigi's own grudge for Sora continued to rattle around in his stomach like a sharp rock).

As Dixie reached the bushes, she looked over her shoulder. "Oh, by the way. Have you seen a spider monkey with a red cap?"

"Afraid not," Luigi said. "Why?"

Dixie glanced at the ground, crestfallen. "He's my boyfriend. I got separated from him when the Kremlings attacked. I just hope he made it back to Cranky's hideout."

"Hey, me sure he okay," Yoshi said with a reassuring smile. "Just like our friends. They going to be fine. Remember what you just said: we stay positive!"

"You're right," Dixie said, feeling encouraged. "Thanks."

And so, the journey to leave the jungle began. They knew that many dangers would cross their paths. However, little did they know that a crisis was about to unfold.

Far away, a bloodshot eye watched the jungle in malicious delight, preparing to bring about an end to its peaceful ways of life.

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