Chapter 19: Kremling Catastrophe

Adjacent from the peaceful island of the jungle stood King K. Rool's massive navel fortress; it was modeled after the egocentric king himself. Every facial detail was precise, right down to wearing the golden crown, which glistened in the sunlight. The eyes stared at its target, emotionless, but eager to pounce like a wild coyote with an insatiable appetite.

Deep within its cold innards, a group of Kremlings were toiling away at a satellite shaped computer. Some were tinkering with the bloodstream that made up its wires; others were typing on the control panel. The computer was connected to two large pipes; neon colored electricity could be seen surging within them, producing a low hissing noise that ran throughout the Kremling's ears. It reminded them that, if those sounds went silent, their lives would meet a similar fate.

A Kremling wearing a white lab coat ran into the room, in a panic. He glanced at his notepad, then back at the giant computer. Anxiety crumpled his confidence into a small wrinkled mess.

"Oh, dear!" he said. "We're behind schedule! The king will skin me alive for sure!"

One of the Kremlings was on the computer. And he decided to let his precious time wither away by playing a video game. On screen was a Kremling, whose character model appeared jagged and blocky. He was sliding down a slope made of ice. The fun ride came to a sudden halt when a giant yeti appeared from behind the camera, knocking the Kremling into the dark void.

The Kremling playing the game slammed his fist on the control panel, furious. "Stupid, Eddie! How does he always catch up to me? What, is my butt made of magnets!?"

"Johnson, what are you doing?" the scientist asked.

Johnson's shoulders flinched, and, in a hurry, brought up the computer's desktop, in hopes of not getting caught for being indolent.

"N-Nothing, sir," Johnson said, trying (and failing) to feign innocence. "Just frustrated at the incompetence from my other colleagues. They're not getting anything done!"

The scientists formed a scowl. "I saw you playing Super Kremling 64! You better get back to work, or else his majesty will bestow a faith worth than death upon all of us!"

"Y-You're right," Johnson said, nervous. "Sorry."

"Status report!"

Johnson brought up statistics on the monitor. "The Blast-O-Matic is eighty percent complete. Still have to iron out some kinks."

"Eighty percent is not good enough!" the scientist said, grabbing Johnson's shoulders. He was on the verge of a panic attack. "We need this stupid thing functional ASAP!"

"Well, there is some good news," Johnson said, forcing an encouraging smile. "We just received the last shipment of Heartless. They're about to be loaded into the machine."

Johnson directed the scientist's attention to another Kremling; he had wheeled over a large wooden create to an opening in the Blast-O-Matic.

"Right, Bob?" Johnson asked.

Bob glared at the crate with a skeptical expression. It started thrashing up and down from the imprisoned Heartless. "Why do I have to do it? Ain't these things supposed to take your heart?"

"Oh, come now," Johnson said. "It won't be that bad. They're the weakest species. You can handle them. Just think of them as deformed little bunny rabbits."

If the crate thrashed anymore, it would explode like a volcano, unleashing a tidal wave of ravenous Heartless into the room. Bob glared back at his colleague with an angry stroke of red brushed across his green face. Still, he didn't want to upset King. K Rool. Really, it was the most fatal blunder to make.

Grumbling to himself, Bob used a crowbar to open the crate, and led the Heartless into the machine. The last sound they heard was the deafening slam of the door.

K. Rool's loud, hot breath echoed throughout his dark throne room. He was content with his flawless plans. Now, he had to endure the painstaking process of waiting for it to be implemented. But he had pleasant daydreams to keep him company – ones that continuously showed the Kongs' suffering under his tyrannical foot.

Resting on his lap was a crocodile-like creature with a small body, but it had a huge head. K. Rool stroked the little creature's head as he tried containing the excitement within his plump, golden stomach.

"I've been waiting a long time for this moment," K. Rool said. "Soon, those dimwitted simians will feel my wrath, and I will take back what is rightfully mine."

His gloating was interrupted by a fierce growl from the little crocodile. He could hear the snapping of the creature's ferocious jaws echo through the room. Turning to his left, he was surprised to see the hooded figure standing before him.

K. Rool groaned. "Guess you and that overgrown turtle have one thing in common: you both are most inconsiderate when making an entrance. At least have some class."

"Like you, right?" the figure said; his tone was drier than sand.

"Indeed," K. Rool said with a pompous smile. "There is no one classier than me. Why do you think I am the King of the Kremlings? The moment those miserable minions of mine recognized my magnificence, they knew that I'd lead them to a better tomorrow."

Silence descended upon the room. The hooded figure didn't respond, and the longer he lingered, the more uncomfortable the air started to constrict K. Rool's windpipe.

"I held up my end of the bargain," the figure said. "I delivered you Heartless to power your machine. We now need possession of the girl. Have you captured her?"

K. Rool sighed in disappointment. "Being King comes with its detriments, such as having loyal but incompetent subjects. In attempt to keep Donkey Kong distracted from my plan, we kidnapped most of his friends. But the girl somehow escaped."

"That's a shame." The figure crossed his arms. "Guess your incredible machine must wait to bring its impending doom on the island. We can't risk firing while she's on it."

A tidal wave of anger swished around inside of K. Rool. He tried to prevent it from leaking out; it proved to be a challenge, and he squeezed the arm of the throne with all his might.

"Perhaps you didn't hear me talking ominously to myself just now," K. Rool said. "I've been waiting too long for this moment! Why should I hold fire over a child?"

The hooded figure remained emotionless within the heat of K. Rool's restrained temper. "She is more valuable than you know, and is integral to our goal. Going back on your word might not sit well with Bowser."

And the tidal wave exploded. K. Rool slammed his fist on the throne, startling the little crocodile.

"That numbskull couldn't beat a pet rock at a Spelling Bee!" K. Rool said, livid. "He's not going to ruin this moment for me! If that stupid magic wand of his makes him all powerful, why can't he simply teleport that brat into the castle?"

"Because we've learned that the rod's magic is limited to its place of origin," the figure said, undaunted. "Since every world's structure is different, the rod has no effect on IT or its inhabitants. But he can still use the Star Rod on himself. So, I'd think twice before breaking a deal."

He glanced around the room. "Unless you are content with watching the fruits of your labor sink to the bottom of the sea."

K. Rool slammed his seat again, which scared away the little crocodile. The king started to suffocate from a wealth of negative emotions. Those feelings collapsed onto his chest; his heart pounded faster from the excessive weight. He rose from the throne, and clutched onto his chest, hoping to ease the pain. Dark energy emanated from his body.

"No. That's not…fair," K. Rool said. "Those Kongs have caused me nothing but grief for years. No matter what I do, they just won't quit! I tried starving them to death, kidnaping their so-called ruler twice, and yet they've STILL defeated me. Now I have a new weapon that can wipe them out, and I CAN'T EVEN USE IT YET!?"

His breathing became harsher. The little crocodile cowered in the corner.

"I suggest you compose yourself immediately," the figure said. "The darkness is feeding off your rage. If you let it overtake you, it will completely eclipse your heart. Just as it did Ridley's."

K. Rool took slow, deep breaths. The weight in his chest melted into a puddle of tranquility.

"Yes," K. Rool said as he sat down in his throne. "I must keep my emotions under control. As a monarch, I need to keep a strong, calm demeanor in front of my subjects."

A voice on an intercom said, "Your majesty!"

"Excuse me!" K. Rool said, unleashing his rage again. "Did you not hear me having a royal temper tantrum? I'm too busy to be interrupted!"

The figure shook his head; so much for keeping a strong, calm demeanor.

"But, sir, General Klump is here, and he found something that might interest you," the voice said.

K. Rool sighed in defeat. Perhaps he needed a distraction from this argument. "Fine. Put him on screen."

The metal window in front of him opened its doors to show a monitor; Klump appeared on screen, holding both hands behind his backside. Moving into frame was his subordinates, struggling to bring the Labo Ship into the camera's view.

"Salutations, your vileness!" Klump said. "General Klump reporting!"

K. Rool rolled his eyes. "Thank you, Captain Obvious. I couldn't tell."

"Forgive my interjection, but I am a general, not a captain."

Klump reeled back in fear upon witnessing K. Rool's enlarged, bloodshot eye stare furiously into his soul.

Klump cleared his throat. "Erm, anyways, while my troops and I were scavenging the vicinity for any Kongs, we came across" —he noticed the Kremlings struggling to bring in the ship— "Get into frame! This is a poor display of the Rule of Thirds for our king!"

"General!" K. Rool said, growing irritable.

"Apologies! We came across this strange vessel. Figured you might have some use for it."

The hooded figure glanced at the ship. "That vessel belongs to the Keyblade wielder and his friends. Curious as to what brings them to this island."

For a moment, K. Rool wasn't sure what to make of this revelation. But upon examining the ship further, a smirk appeared on his face. "Doesn't matter. From what it looks like, they aren't on board. Perhaps they are stranded here. Oh, this is too good to be true! I can get rid of them and the Kongs simultaneously! General!"

"Sir?"

"Lock that ship up. I'll decide what to with it later."

With a nod, Klump gave the command, which was met with pathetic, exhausted groans. Still, they carried out his instructions. Telly-Vision emerged in the cockpit, flying around, calling for help. But his voice would never leave the ship. His only hope was that Sora and the others would storm the lair.

K. Rool leaned back in his chair; his sharp teeth formed a vicious, delighted grin. "Perhaps today is going to be a good villain day after all." He looks at the hooded figure. |Now, if you'll excuse me, I have work to do on a secret project. I simply can't wait to see the look on Donkey Kong's face when he sees my other surprise."

After pressing a few buttons, a door opened beneath his chair, and he descended into the chest of the lair.

The figure lingered for a moment, staring at the spot K. Rool once occupied. "Whatever you're planning, I hope it doesn't interfere with our goal to find the princesses."

Despite enjoying the exhilarating ride, Sora searched for his friends (although calling Luigi his friend at this point was indecisive; that grudge throbbed in Sora's head). They were nowhere to be seen. Their search came to an abrupt halt when a voice cried out for help. For a second, Sora thought the voice sounded like Yoshi. But upon closer analysis, it belonged to someone else. However, he noticed DK looked distressed.

"Diddy!" DK said.

"Diddy? Is he your friend?"

"Diddy…little buddy…"

"Sounds like he's in trouble," Sora said. "I'll help you rescue him!"

Besides, his friends may be nearby Diddy. Who knows. It wouldn't hurt to look, Sora thought. And he did owe DK his life from earlier; might as well return the favor. DK seemed to understand, as he gave an appreciative nod in response, and swung towards Diddy's voice.

The two arrived in large open jungle area, which contained cliffs covered in grass. A waterfall rushed down from the peak of the cliffs, and landed in a large pond. Sora listened to the waterfall murmur a sweet tune in his ear. It remined him of the one on his island, and started reminiscing about when he, Riku, and Kairi would play under it.

But his pleasant memories faded into the catacombs of Diddy's voice. Sora and DK turned to their left to see a small cave with metal bars. Behind them was a spider monkey with dark brown fur. He donned a red baseball cap and a red sleeveless shirt with two yellow stars. Upon seeing DK, the monkey's eyes lit up in excitement, and he clapped his hands.

"DK!" Diddy said. "I knew you'd fine me!"

DK hurried over to help his friend, still carrying Sora on his shoulders.

Diddy's expression turned to concern. "Wait! Be careful! Some strange monkeys are guarding the area!"

"Strange monkeys?" Sora murmured to himself.

DK came to a halt and scanned the jungle. Things seemed calm. The only sounds heard were the random chatter of the animals. And then, both Sora and DK were startled by the appearance of monkeys with blue fur. They swayed back and forth with unnatural, large movements. Right away, Sora recognized those lifeless yellow eyes.

Heartless.

DK hollered in terror. He was frightened by their movements. His nostrils became overwhelmed by their unusual scent. He didn't know how to react in this situation; fear had seized his rational thinking in a web of disorder. As he leaned back, Sora fell onto the ground. While hurrying to his feet, he saw a Heartless leap straight for DK. Sora hurried in front of the distressed gorilla and slashed the Heartless in half.

He swung his blade in front of the other Heartless, to keep them at bay. Sora turned to see DK clutching his head, in a panic; so many thoughts and feelings on these mysterious creatures were staggering. Sora needed to calm DK down before he did something irrational. Or, worse, the Heartless may take his heart while in a defenseless state.

Sora shouted over DK's cries of despair, grabbing his attention, although he was still frightened.

"DK," Sora said, lowering his voice into a calm, steady tone. "It's okay."

Sora's gentle voice guided DK's mind out of its muddled, terrified state, and into the comforting sunlight of reassurance. But fragments of confusion remained dormant within his head.

"Okay?" DK asked, tilting his head.

"They're bad news," Sora said, keeping his tone consistent, "but we can beat them."

DK continue to stare in bewilderment. Sora took the gorilla's giant hand and pointed it straight at the Heartless.

"We can beat them together," Sora said. "There's no way they can stand up to us. You gotta trust me."

DK stared into his blue eyes, seeing a gleam of confidence stick out its hand. Something about Sora was trustworthy. DK didn't need to be afraid of the unknown, because he didn't have to face it by himself. Regaining his courage, DK pounded his chest, and let out a fierce shout that echoed through the jungle.

Sora smirked. "That's more like it! Let's get 'em!"

With Sora's magic, speed, and skills, and DK's raw strength, the two were an unstoppable force against the Heartless. They tried striking DK with their claws, but their nails broke upon contact with his chest; it was like trying to penetrate iron.

While the Keyblade was the most effective weapon against the Heartless, one punch from DK sent them flying into the sky, where the clouds ate them like an afternoon snack. At one point, DK delivered an uppercut to one of them, sending it soaring. Sora leaped onto his shoulder, and he pushed him into the sky, in pursuit of the Heartless.

Before the Heartless could counter, Sora brought his blade straight down, cutting it into ribbons. For once, Sora liked that the fight was one-sided; DK's strength made them untouchable. Now, if only he could convince Luigi to bring him along on their journey. Probably impossible. He sighed in annoyance; why'd he have to remind himself of Luigi?

Soon, the Heartless were vanquished. Sora pumped his fist; DK once again pounded his chest. The two exchanged a high five. Sora felt his entire hand throb in pain from DK's rock-solid palm. Is his entire body made of steel? DK hurried over to where Diddy was being held captive and broke the bars wide open.

Overjoyed, and relieved, Diddy jumped into his best friend's arms, giving him the biggest hug imaginable. He felt safe now; no one was going to harm him. That's how secure he felt around DK. The two were like inseparable brothers; it was like finding that missing piece in your life (if that piece was eight-hundred-pounds of pure muscle).

DK got Diddy into a choke hold, removed his hat, and gave him a noogie. Sora was happy the two were reunited, and hoped to experience those same emotions. He could already picture him and Riku in that exact same position as the Kongs.

After DK placed Diddy on the ground, he began examining him.

"Don't worry, big guy!" Diddy said, laughing. "I'm fine. Wasn't worried at all. Knew you'd save me."

But his time of relief was shattered when he noticed Sora. Fearful of the stranger, he did behind DK.

"I take it back!" Diddy said. "I'm worried! W-Who's that?"

"Oh, hey there!" Sora said in his usual affable tone. "I'm Sora. DK says you're his little buddy?"

DK muttered something to Diddy, who started to feel the anxiety deflate the more he listened.

"Really?" Diddy asked. "He wanted to help. Then I'll take your word for it."

With slow, careful steps, Diddy emerged from behind his friend, and approached Sora.

"That's right," Diddy said. "His one and only little buddy!"

Sora chuckled from Diddy's response. "Heh, aren't you privilege? So you speak English?"

"Yep. All of us Kongs do. Except for DK." He felt uncomfortable uttering the next sentence. "He's….not the brightest banana in the bunch." Then, he smiled in excitement. "But who cares!? He's awesome! Just look at him!"

All Sora saw was DK sniffing his finger.

"He can punch himself out of any situation! One day I'm going to be big and strong just like him!" Diddy's expression became inquisitive. "So where did you come from?"

Sora went into the details of his arrival. The whole time, Diddy listened with a fascinated ear. Every syllable made him form a continuous string of questions. He had heard many tales of the outside world, dismissing them as nothing more than myths – stories shared around the campfire on a cool summer's evening.

"So DK's been helping me find them," Sora said. "What about you? Have you seen them?"

Diddy shrugged. "Can't say I have. Been locked up for a good part of the day."

"Oh, yeah," Sora said in realization. "Why were you locked up?"

"Long story," Diddy said. "But there are these guys called the Kremlings running around our island causing trouble" —he gasped upon realizing something— "can you excuse me for a second?"

Sora nodded as Diddy turned DK, speaking in his native monkey language.

Diddy's Translation: "DK, I overhead the Kremlings earlier. They captured more of our friends: Kiddy, Tiny, Lanky, and….Candy."

DK lowered his eyes in silent anger. A storm started to spin lightly in his soul, gaining more speed with each passing moment. It was bad enough his friends had been abducted, but Candy was his one true love – always encouraging him, always helping him find the strength to fight against oppression.

Diddy continued in his native tongue: "I don't know about Dixie, though. One of them mentioned that they need her for specific reasons. Oh, what if they caught her? What could they be doing to her?" He started to hoot as if on the verge of a nervous breakdown. "Are they going to hurt her? What if she didn't get caught but is still out there? DK, I'm panicking!"

DK punched Diddy straight into a wall, and he fell onto the ground, landing on his face.

Sora, in complete bewilderment, asked, "What did you do that for!?"

"I'm okay," Diddy said, mumbling beneath the grass. "I needed that."

DK walked over to Diddy, helping him onto his feet. The spider monkey shook his head from the pain.

"What was that about?" Sora asked, still stuck in a state of confusion.

"Again, long story," Diddy said, still feeling a bit lightheaded. "Right now, DK and I need to go see Cranky about our Kremling problem. Why don't you come along with us? He may know where your friends are."

"Who's Cranky?"

"The oldest Kong on the island. He knows everything." Diddy sighed in annoyance. "Even if he likes to REMIND us he knows everything."

"Okay. Lead the way, then!"

DK placed Sora on his shoulders. Despite how hectic the morning had been, at least he could look forward to swinging through the trees.

Diddy moaned. "Aw, I wanted to ride on DK."

"Sorry," Sora said. "Can't climb trees like you guys."

Diddy rubbed his chin in thought. Then, he said, "Your logic is sound. Okay, you can ride on my big buddy for now."

Sora was happy to have made some new friends. With any luck, he'd be reunited with others in no time. And maybe with Riku and Kairi, too. Although he started to wonder more about these Kremlings. His curiosity soon evolved into concern. They had to be controlling the Heartless. He had a bad feeling that things were about to become more complicated.

"And that concludes our tour," Dixie said. "Any questions?"

Dixie lead Luigi and Yoshi to a wide-open area where plenty of treehouses resided. Of course, their trek through the jungle hadn't been pleasant: wild animals in their path, bugs flying in their faces – it was an adventure fraught with aggravation.

"Yes," Yoshi said. He was scratching his scaly skin. "Dixie have any itching power?"

Before she could answer, Dixie noticed something on top of Luigi's hat, and gasped in awe.

"Wow!" she said. "That slug is huge!"

Luigi removed his hat to see that, indeed, a slug was using it as a place to lounge. The plumber screamed, threw the slug off his hat, and it scurried away into the grass.

Dixie looked disappointed. "Aw, what did you do that for? He just wanted to give you a slimy kiss."

"I get slimmed enough already from Yoshi," Luigi said as he wiped the mucus off his hat.

"No one can slime him better than me," Yoshi said, puffing his chest in pride.

"So, how close are we to Cranky's?" Luigi asked.

"Very," Dixie said. "In fact, his secret hideout is right under that fake rock."

The three approached a giant, dark blue boulder that was nestled in the corner of a cliff.

"Oh, so guess you can say he been living under a rock," Yoshi said.

Luigi released a deep exhale from his nose, somewhat irritated. "Please, don't remind me of Sora right now. I don't want you channeling his pun making."

Dixie knocked on the rock, which produced a loud, metal banging noise. No answer. She tried again. Still no answer. An uneasy feeling started tunneling its way through her chest like an earthworm.

"Cranky?" she asked. "Are you there!?" Silence once again answered. "Oh, I hope he's okay. He has to be in there. What reason would he have to leave?"

"Can me try?" Yoshi asked.

Dixie nodded. "Sure. Maybe he'll hear you."

Yoshi walked over to the rock. Before he could open his mouth, the hatch flew open, startling him in the process. Standing before him was an elderly gorilla – he was about half the size of DK; his only form of clothing was a magenta colored vest. He had a long white beard, and wore small glasses.

In his right hand, he brandished the ultimate weapon – one that made any child cower from its unmitigated wrath.

A wooden cane.

"You're not taking me without a fight you lousy Kremling!" Cranky shouted. He bludgeoned Yoshi's nose with the cane. "How dare you invade a defenseless old man's home!"

Dixie hurried over and grabbed Cranky's arm. Yoshi ran behind Luigi, whimpering in fear.

"Cranky!" Dixie said. "Relax! They're with me!"

"Oh." Cranky's nerves subsided into the bottom of a well. But then anger emerged in its place, and he smacked Dixie upside the head with his cane.

Dixie hollered in pain; she rubbed her head. "What was that for!?"

"How many times have I told you to stop bringing visitors to my secret hideout?" Cranky said, beyond aggravated. "You're lucky I'm letting any of you Kongs in!"

"But Cranky," Dixie said, "these two are hungry, lost, and looking for their friends. We should help them."

Cranky glared at the two strangers, dubious of their appearance. "How can they be trusted? The scaly one looks like a Kremling. It could be a ploy!"

"Why everyone confusing who Yoshi is?" Yoshi said, starting to become annoyed by this misconception. "Me a dinosaur."

"Whatever," Cranky said, waving an indifferent hand. "We don't need visitors here."

"Listen, we don't mean to intrude," Luigi said in a calm, polite tone. "We're just wondering if you've seen a talking dog wearing a plaid vest."

"What about Sora?" Yoshi asked.

Luigi restrained the grudge inside from peeling away at his conscience. "And a kid with big yellow shoes that would make a clown jealous.

"Haven't seen them," Cranky said, his temper peeking. "Now scram!"

"Oh, come on, Cranky," Dixie said. "They probably need to rest for a bit."

"I need a rest, too, but you don't see me complaining."

"Please," Dixie said. "Just for a little while. What if you were in their situation?"

Cranky frowned. "Don't be pulling no psychology with me. What I say is—"

A part of his mind considered Dixie's words, which reminded him of an important memory. Despite his old age, it had stayed with him for years, refusing to disembark into the realm of oblivion. He had washed up on the jungle's beach, on the verge of collapsing from exhaustion. A furious roar echoed throughout his stomach.

With his remaining strength, he glanced up, seeing two feet approach him. That was how his life changed forever. For both the better and the worse. But one thing was definite: without this person's help, he and his family would've perished. They would never be on this jungle now, roaming around, living a carefree life.

Lowering his stone-cold, obstinate shield, he sighed. "Alright. They can stay for a little while. But after that, they're gone! Understand!?"

"Thank you, Cranky!" Dixie said, jubilant. "You're the best!"

"Are you sure about this?" Luigi asked. "We don't want to be a bother."

"Not at all," Dixie said with a modest smile. "I like visitors. Besides, it seems like you two have been through a lot today."

Luigi chuckled. "Oh, trust me; you have no idea."

Dixie noticed Yoshi still looked upset from Cranky's earlier thrashing.

"Are you okay?" Dixie asked in the sweetest voice.

Yoshi gave a timid nod.

"Here, let me kiss your boo boo nose and make it better." Dixie kissed his nose, which made Yoshi feel at ease.

Cranky was disgusted. "Never do that again, Dixie. You know how much mush causes me to have a gag reflex."

Dixie walked into the hideout, followed by Yoshi (who hurried by Cranky in fear of another strike from his cane).

As Luigi walked by him, Cranky said, "Young man."

"Yes?" Luigi asked. The old Kong approached his personal boundaries, starting with an intense glare, as if analyzing every pore on the plumber's face. He felt an uncomfortable heat slide across his skin.

"Have we met before?"

"Pretty sure we haven't. Why?"

"Something about you looks familiar," Cranky said. "The clothes, your face, and that….moustache."

Luigi had a sudden realization; his eyes widened in both surprise and hope. "Well, I have a brother! Is he here?"

"No, this wasn't recent."

Luigi felt dejected.

"It was a long time ago. There was this man I knew. Looked a lot like you. Ah, must be my memory. Probably pictured him wrong." Cranky walked into the hideout. "Come along before I change my mind." He paused, then said, "Actually, stay right there. It'll make my decision easier."

Luigi lingered on Cranky's observation. Something prickled at his thoughts, adamant in believing this person was Mario. There were few people who carried that distinct Mario Brothers look (two of those people he didn't even wish to acknowledge. Who were they? Well, that's a story for another time).

Again, it could be just a coincidence, but he kept that door of possibility open just an inch. For now, he needed to rest, and formulate the next steps in leaving this jungle.

Sometime later, Sora and the Kongs arrived at the treehouse area. Sora leaped off DK and gazed at the treehouses, impressed by their sturdy design.

"Here we are!" Diddy said with pride in his eyes. "Home sweet home!"

"Man, I'm jealous by these treehouses you guys built," Sora said. "Riku and I tried building one once."

Diddy grinned. "Didn't end so well, huh?"

"Yep," Sora said, chuckling. "We made it too small, and ended up stuck in there for an hour. You can imagine how uncomfortable it got."

Sora followed the two Kongs to the hideout. Their pleasant stroll was interrupted by the bushes rustling. As they spun around, the sound grew louder. Sensing danger, Sora summoned his Keyblade; DK cracked his knuckles, preparing to deliver the unambiguous solution to any problem: punching.

The rustling continued. Everyone stood in nervous silence, ready to fight regardless of their opposition. A hostile animal leaped out from the bushes, carrying a makeshift spear, and prepared to strike our brave heroes, unleashing a furious battle cry.

But turns out, it was Isabelle, who ended up tripping on a rock, landing face first in the grass. Sora hurried over to assist her, relieved that she was alive.

While helping her sit up, Isabelle moaned from the pain. "S-Sora?"

"You okay?" Sora asked.

She rubbed her forehead. "Yeah. I think so." She gasped upon realizing something. "Oh, no! I was going to attack you! I heard voices when we got close! I started to become paranoid! Sorry!"

"No worries," Sora said with an understanding smile. He noticed the spear next to her. "You made that all by yourself?"

Isabelle blushed as she rose to her feet. "Yep. I'm very resourceful. Just cowardly when it comes to using a weapon."

"Just glad you're okay," Sora said. "Are the others with you?"

Chibi tapped at Sora's leg. Overjoyed to see the tiny robot, he picked him up, and pat his head. "Chibi! Glad you're safe!"

Chibi concurred with a nod.

"I haven't seen Luigi or Yoshi, but—" Isabelle gasped in surprise upon seeing the Kongs. DK was enormous. Anyone would make the assumptions that an eight-hundred-pound gorilla might attack on sight.

Sora was quick to quell her worries. "Don't worry! They're my new friends! They've been helping me through the jungle."

Isabelle glanced back to see the Kongs smiling at her. A warm, friendly glow brightened their faces.

"Well, I guess any friend of Sora's is a friend of mine," she said, sighing in relief.

To DK, that seemed like an invitation to intrude on her personal space. He ran over to Isabelle, examining every square inch of her furry head. Then, he started to sniff her hair.

"Not the hair, please," Isabelle said, growing uncomfortable.

Diddy walked over and pat DK's arm. "Okay, big guy. That's close enough."

"These guys are taking me to meet someone who might know where our friends are," Sora said.

Isabelle's looked distressed. "That's good. We need to find them right away."

Isabelle explained what happened to the Labo Ship. Sora felt tremendous guilt drizzle down his head; the pressure grew stronger as she continued her story. He never intended for the situation to escalate; and it was all because of how irrational he acted. For what? Just to defy someone's objections? To fulfill his own desire? It wasn't right. And now, everyone felt the retribution for his actions.

Remorse had left a scar in his heart. The only way it could be stitched back together was to fix the mistake.

When Isabelle finished, Diddy said, "Must've been the Kremlings. What would they want with your ship?"

"Don't know," Sora said. "But it's our only way out of here."

"Then let's go see Cranky," Diddy said. "He might know what's going on."

Stepping into Cranky's hideout was like entering a basement filled to the brim with old relics. You could spend days sorting through the copious amounts of antiques scattered throughout the room. It was a gateway to the past. Old books were piled on both the shelves and floor, gaining dust from being untouched. Vinyl records were stored with meticulous care in the drawers.

On the shelves were a random assortment of items Cranky acquired over the years: porcelain figurines, model sail boats, board games, the list was incalculable.

With so many objects cramping the hideout, walking space was scarce. The only seats available was a red armchair and Cranky's rocking chair (which no backside dared to touch). Dixie sat in the armchair, while Cranky rocked back and forth in his own. Cranky was grumbling over the whole situation. It was peaceful down in his nostalgic palace.

Having the other Kongs was tolerable. But people he never met? Too much!

He glanced over at Luigi and Yoshi. "Comfortable?"

The two were sitting on a small footrest, with their backs to each other. Room was so insufficient that, at times, they almost slipped off the seat.

"Not exactly," Luigi said.

"Well, too bad," Cranky said. "That's all your getting."

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.

Dixie hurried to her feet. "Something tells me I should get it this time."

Upon answering it, she was greeted by the ecstatic, relieved face of Diddy. Right away she dove into his arms, hugging him tightly, never wanting to let go of her boyfriend again. Diddy felt the anxiety disperse from his fur. He was so happy. As the two pulled away, they held each other's hands.

"Are you okay, Dids?" Dixie asked, concerned. "Did those mean Kremlings hurt you? Did they bruise your tail?"

Diddy laughed. "Easy! I'm fine! Just glad you're okay!"

Yoshi's eyes lit up in surprise. He sniffed the air; a familiar scent greeted his nostrils.

"Can it be?" Yoshi asked.

He grabbed Luigi and hurried to the entrance, knocking the Kongs aside in the process. Upon seeing Sora, he was overcome with joy. His tail wagged back and forth like an engine ready to explode.

"Sora!" Yoshi shouted.

"Yoshi!"

The dinosaur leaped into Sora's arms, knocking him over in the process. Sora couldn't stop the full assault of his slobbering tongue.

Sora laughed hysterically. "Stop! Stop! I'm okay! I'm okay!"

After calming Yoshi down, he sat up and pet the dinosaur's head. Words couldn't express how delighted he was to be reunited with his friend.

"Me was so worried about Sora," Yoshi said with a small whimper.

Sora made his famous grin. "Worry no more. We're all together now. That's all that matters."

"Right." He glanced at Isabelle with a mischievous smile. "You next!"

Isabelle chuckled. "Oh, no!"

And so, Isabelle became the next victim of Yoshi's tongue. Sora's eyes soon met with Luigi's. The grudge had risen to the surface, and it forced them both to look away from one another.

Growing tired of the commotion, Cranky stepped out of the hideout. "So, looks like you all found each other, huh? Now you can all scram together."

"But Cranky," Diddy said, "our new friend was hoping to meet with you."

"I don't have any more footrests," Cranky said. "That means no more visitors."

He turned his attention to DK, who reeled back in fear. In a strange way, Sora found it amusing that this giant gorilla was afraid of an old man.

"Donkey, what took you so long?" Cranky asked as he whacked him on the forehead with his cane.

"Donkey?" Yoshi asked in confusion. "Monkeys aren't Donkey's."

Cranky continued: "What are you doing, smelling the roses? The moment those Kremlings attacked, I would have taken care of them in an instant. You still have a lot to learn, my boy. This younger generation. No initiative."

DK rolled his eyes in response.

"C'mon, Cranky," Diddy said. "They need our help, especially since the Kremlings stole their ship."

Luigi shook his head in shock, as if unable to believe what he heard. "I'm sorry, what!? As in, our SHIP!?" Furious, he turned to Sora. "Nice going, kid! As if you made things difficult already!"

"Okay, it was wrong of me to crash the ship," Sora said, on the same level of anger. "But you didn't have to be so thickheaded! We could've just landed and been done with it!"

"We were wasting time, and you know it!"

"Okay!" Diddy said, exhausted from the all the negativity. "I think we all need to take a few minutes to recuperate. Clearly being out in the sun too long has gone to our heads. Cranky, one more wouldn't hurt."

"I'm not throwing a party here," Crank said. "There's a reason this place is a secret. No one else is supposed to know about it."

Cranky noticed DK's lower lip starting to quiver in sadness. DK glanced at Sora, then back at him.

"Oh, don't start that, Donkey Kong," Cranky said in annoyed tone.

Luigi blinked in surprise. Donkey Kong. Why did that name sound familiar to him? DK got onto his hands and knees, begging with all his heart.

Cranky stood his ground. "No. That worked when you were a baby. Not now!"

But DK refused to be separated from his new friend. He latched onto Cranky's feet, blubbering, tugging at the old Kong's leg.

"Alright!" Cranky said, irritated. "They can stay! Please, stop doing that!"

Overjoyed, DK hugged Cranky, squeezing him like toothpaste. Then, channeling Yoshi, he kissed him repeatedly on the cheek.

"Ew! Cut that out!" Cranky said.

While placing Cranky down, DK glanced over his shoulder, winking at Sora. The boy mouthed "Thank you," in response.

After wiping the saliva from his face, Cranky turned to Sora with a stern expression. "One rule, kid: Don't. Touch. A. Thing. We clear?"

"Crystal," Sora said.

Cranky grumbled to himself as he walked into the hideout. DK gave him a gentle pat on the back, hoping to subdue his foul mood.

"What's with that old guy?" Sora asked. "Has he been sleeping on a pile of thorns?"

"They call him Cranky for a reason," Yoshi said. He was reminded of the lingering pain in his nose.

Luigi sighed. "Looks like we've got our work cut out for us. But there is some good news."

Sora watched as Luigi pulled out the strange block he found earlier.

"What's that?" Sora asked.

"A Labo Block," Yoshi said. "Same stuff used to build our ship."

"So that means…" Isabelle said, starting to realize the significance.

"My brother might be here," Luigi said. "So, if we're going to have any hopes of finding both him and the ship, we need to work together." He then said in a cold tone, "For now."

"Fine," Sora said in the same halfhearted, bitter tone. "I'll let you tag along. For now."

The two walked into the hideout, wordless, refusing to engage in anymore eye contact. Today's weather was adequate, but an icy breeze swept under the group's feet, tugging away at the chain that bound their friendship. Yoshi felt dispirited. Seeing a friendship smolder in the flames was heartbreaking. But losing Sora would be worse. Just when a rope started to tie your bond together, a disagreement broke it in an instance.

Noticing his depressed state, Isabelle stroked his head. "They'll work it out. Just give it time."

Yoshi hoped she was right.

Despite the hideout being littered with antiques, everyone was able to squeeze into the living quarters. Diddy recounted the events of his capture. In the beginning, he was minding his own business when the Kremlings captured him. While everyone paid attention, Sora's eyes drifted towards the various antiques scattered throughout the room. One object caught his interest:

A model castle.

Sora saw flashes of a lone castle with twisted edges. In the background was a dark pink sky. Menacing blue smoke emerged from the chimneys. A dark mist shrouded the entire castle. As his interest peaked, a warm feeling wrapped around his chest. But the feeling didn't hurt. In fact, it felt strangely comforting.

And that wasn't normal.

"Sora?" Yoshi asked.

He snapped out of his daze. The feeling disappeared.

"You okay?" Yoshi asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Sora said.

But he couldn't take his eyes off the castle. Something about it felt familiar, which was impossible. He had lived on an island his whole life. Maybe Diddy was right; the sun probably fried his brain into a raisin. Shaking his head, he resumed listening to Diddy's story. The spider monkey mentioned the other Kongs that were captured.

When he mentioned Tiny, Dixie stood up in horror; that was her little sister.

"Oh, no!" she said. "Tiny! I have to go save her!"

"Wait, Dixie!" Diddy said. "It's too dangerous. The Kremlings have those strange monkeys on their side!"

"I don't care," Dixie said with a determined tone in her voice. "My big sister instincts are kicking in! She needs me!"

"I understand, but we only got a small sample of what those creatures can do," Diddy said. "Also, I overheard that they're after you, too! They need you for some big reason."

Cranky stood up with a sincere glare in his eyes. "As much as I hate to admit it, Diddy is right. If you're a big part of the Kremlings' plan, we should keep you hidden. Besides, you would leave an old man unprotected? For shame!"

"No, Cranky," Dixie said, defensive. "I'd never…erm…I…ugh…fine! I'll hold the fort down. But make sure you give those Kremlings a good one for me!"

"What are Kremlings exactly?" Sora asked.

Cranky scowled. "Great. Now I'm the exposition fairy. Is this what my old age has come to?" He sighed. "The Kremlings are a notorious bunch of hoodlums lead by King. K Rool. For years, he and his goons have been trying to take over our island."

"Fortunately, they are no match for the might and muscle of DK!" Diddy said with pride. "Isn't that right big guy?"

DK flexed his biceps, grinning. "Yeah!"

"Not much of a talker, is he?" Luigi asked.

"Well, a French animation studio tried making him speak English once," Cranky said. "Let's just say I still have nightmares of listening to DK sing." He shuttered at the thought.

Yoshi titled his head in confusion. "Huh?"

"Never mind," Cranky said. "We're not sure what those Kremlings are up to. We should focus on rescuing the other Kongs first."

Sora stood up from the floor. "Hey, let us come with you."

"A-Are you sure?" Diddy asked, surprised.

"We know what those monkey creatures are capable of," Sora said. "With us working together, we can rescue your friends and find out where our ship is being held."

He glanced at Luigi with a scowl. "Unless someone has objections."

"No, I think it's a good idea," Luigi said, struggling to keep his anger suppressed from Sora's harsh tone. "Might be able to find Mario while we're at it."

Diddy turned to DK. "What do you think, big guy? Can they come with us?"

DK's grin lit up the dark, dreary hideout. He was excited to go on more adventures with Sora. The gorilla jumped up and down, hooting, shaking the entire room.

Antiques fell onto the floor, along with the group. A pile of books landed on Cranky's head. Upon realizing what he'd done, DK stopped bouncing, and turned to Cranky, who head rose from beneath the pile of books, enraged DK gave the old Kong a sheepish grin.

"You better get your furry butt moving if you know what's good for you!" Cranky said.

"Wait, there's one thing I wanted to ask before we go," Sora said. "DK said he saw two of my other friends earlier. At least, I think he did. It wasn't clear."

"That so?" Cranky asked. "Well, as much as I want to throw these books at him, I'll see what I find out."

Cranky and DK communicated in their native language for a moment. Sora waited patiently, unsure as to what DK would say next. In the back of his head, he hoped that, maybe, there was a chance. Once the Kongs finished talking, DK turned to Sora again.

"Where are my friends?" Sora asked. "Riku and Kairi?"

With a disheartened expression, DK shook his head.

"Hey, I thought—"

"Sorry, son," Cranky said; for the first time, he sounded sympathetic towards someone. "Afraid there isn't much we can do."

Sora lowered his head. That's what he was afraid of hearing. Maybe he was just trying to convince himself they were here. After all, searching every world was beyond difficult. It was starting to become frustrating. He wanted to believe that the next world would be the one. DK placed a giant hand on his shoulder, giving an encouraging smile. At least Sora had friends to dry the sorrow away with their support.

"Thanks," Sora said. "I'm okay. Just gotta keep looking."

DK placed Sora on his shoulders, knowing a ride would make him feel better. And it was starting to work. He couldn't wait swing through the tress again. After convincing Cranky to let Isabelle and Chibi stay, Sora, DK, Diddy, Luigi, and Yoshi left to liberate the Kongs from the wrath of King. K Rool.

Isabelle sat down in her chair, pulling out the Wii Stream to watch the action unfold. Cranky sat back in his chair. The perpetual frown he carried was hijacked by sadness. He pulled out a photo, staring at with a sentimental spark that was hazed by a sense of tragedy. While both Cranky and Isabelle were busy, Dixie snuck out of the hideout, refusing to let her little sister suffer at K. Rool's hands.

With a dejected sigh, Cranky said to the photo, "Why does it have to be this way, old friend?"

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