Chapter 21: An Estranged Friendship
An avalanche of horrified emotions collided with Cranky and Isabelle. With each sentence Squawks uttered, the two sunk deeper into the snow. Cranky took it hard; he felt around in his pocket for the photo, squeezing it, trying to believe that Squawks' claims were erroneous. He wanted to just dive into the photo and escape into the past, where life was carefree.
But the past was a relic, much like the various antiques he had collected.
"That monster!" Isabelle said. "Why would he do such a terrible thing?"
Cranky usual irritable demeanor was replaced by pure enmity. "This time he's gone too far. He must be stopped! Can you tell where those goofballs are on your doo-hickey?"
Isabelle nodded and glanced back at the Wii Stream, sighing in relief upon what she noticed. "Looks like they're on their way back."
"Good," Cranky said, expressing her exact sentiments. "Squawks, find DK and his friends. Tell them to head for Funky's!"
Isabelle opened the hatch, allowing the parrot to leave in a hurry.
"Do you think they can make it in time?" Isabelle asked.
Cranky sat back in his chair, thoughtful. "My grandson may be a dimwit, but he rules the jungle. He will do whatever it takes to keep it safe. Just like I did years ago. That's why I chose him to be my successor. I'm counting on him to stop K. Rool in time."
Isabelle was surprised by Cranky's sincere statement. She smiled; deep within that disgruntled cavern was a flickering gold flame of compassion.
"You must be proud to have a grandson like him," Isabelle said.
Cranky chuckled. "He drives me crazy sometimes, but just seeing that stupid grin of his makes me happy."
Suddenly, a commotion ensued outside. Squawks was screeching in agony. Before they could react, the parrot flew into the hideout, hovering in an uneven manner, and collapsed onto the ground. Torn feathers were sprinkled onto the carpet. The two hurried over to his side; he was on his back, eyes closed, in massive pain. His irregular breathing filled the room with dread.
"Oh, no!" Isabelle said. "Are you okay?"
He opened a single, weak eye. "I tried to get away…there were too many of them…"
The two looked outside to see Squwak's assailants: unusual monkeys with cold, emotionless eyes, staring right into their souls.
"Heartless!" Isabelle said.
"So that's what those things are called," Cranky said. "They've been nothing but trouble. Been helping K. Rool the whole time, I bet." Any pleasant memories he had vanished within a raging storm, which was building in Cranky's chest. "He tried to hurt my family and friends with these abominations. They have nothing to do with this. I'll…I'll never forgive him."
He noticed his cane nearby, and after some thought, came to a decision. It was an asinine one – every rational voice tried to plea with him. But his emotions channeled out the clamoring; all he could think about was releasing the burden from his family. He never wants them to suffer again.
"Keep Squawks safe." Cranky picked up the cane.
Isabelle gasped upon realizing what he was planning. "No. You're not going to…"
"Gonna put this thing to good use for a change," Cranky said. "These Heartless are going to learn why the jungle bowed to me."
Without another word, he walked out of the hideout, and slammed the door shut before Isabelle could stop him. He stared down the Heartless, not showing any fear. Cranky's age withered, but his resolve remained imperishable.
"Heartless? Bah! What jokes. You posers think you can come to my jungle and do as you please?" He cracked his knuckles. "Well, let old Cranky teach you about natural consequences."
One of the Powewilds leaped for him, but he stepped aside with incredible speed, and smacked it on the back with his cane. The other Heartless froze in their place, as if unable to believe what they witnessed.
Cranky smirked. "What? You think I'm a helpless old man? You're a lot denser than I thought. Oh, well. Guess you'll have to learn the hard way." He brandished his cane like a sword, conjuring the spirit of the youthful, stalwart gorilla that once ruled the jungle with pride. "Time to party like it's nineteen eighty-one!"
He slammed his cane down on an incoming Powewild; from there, he leaped off it, and brought his cane down on another one's head. One appeared from behind; Cranky noticed, ducked under the attack, spun around, and tripped it with his cane. He then took the tip and rammed right into its stomach.
"How disappointing," Cranky said. "My wife can hit harder than you onionheads. And she's a ghost!"
Cranky moved away from some claws, and hurried towards the nearest palm tree. He shook the tree hard enough to make it cry coconuts. After gathering some ammunition, he threw them at the Heartless. Some tripped over them, while others collided with their skulls. Taking the opportunity, Cranky scurried towards some barrels, and glared at them with a sense of nostalgia.
"Time to see if I still got it."
Cranky searched deep within in his body for any ounce of strength he could summon. Fragments of that young gorilla's strength was in a peaceful slumber; now, he was going to awaken him. Pulling with all his might, he started to lift the barrel. His arms trembled; he thought his back would collapse like an unstable tower. But he persevered, bringing the barrel right over his head.
With a mighty swing, he threw it into the Heartless, knocking them over. He clutched his lower back, trying to lessen the intense pain.
Cranky winced. "That takes me back. Totally worth it."
Occupied with the ache in his back, he failed to notice a Heartless sneak up behind him. The creature slashed at his shoulder; small pieces of hair flew into the air. Cranky hissed from the sharp pain. As he stumbled forward, another one kicked him in the chest, and he fell straight on the ground. Unbeknownst to him, the picture flew out of his pocket.
Cranky was immobile. Seething pain traveled throughout his aging body. He knew the idea was foolish, but his stubbornness refused to submit. Maybe the instinct of being a ruler never left; he wanted to do what was best for his former subjects.
But most importantly, his family.
He sat up, taking slow, deep breathes. The Heartless hovered around him like vultures, preparing to feast on their vulnerable target.
"You guys don't play fair," Cranky said. "Only I'm allowed to fight dirty!"
One of the Powerwilds prepared to pounce. This was it, Cranky thought. It's all over. If only he could've told his family the truth. He would carry a heavy burden straight to the afterlife.
And then, a massive brown hand grabbed the Powerwild. Cranky looked up to see DK staring straight into the Heartless' eyes, furious that it tried to harm his grandfather. With one punch, he sent the Heartless flying into the horizon. Before the remaining Heartless could attack, Sora and his friends arrived to help, warding the group off with their spells.
DK hurried and help Cranky onto his feet. The elderly Kong took a moment catch his breath, and rubbed the pain in his back.
DK mumbled to him.
"I'm fine," Cranky said. He rubbed his wrist. "Could've taken care of them had my rheumatism not kicked in." He gave a weak smile. "You youngins could learn a thing or two about fighin' from old Cranky."
DK rolled his eyes. Yeah. Definitely fine, he thought. He assisted the others in vanquishing the Heartless. It didn't take long before they were slain; their dark remains vanished into the sun's bright rays. With the battle over, Sora's group walked over to check on Cranky. Diddy came to a halt; he noticed a piece of paper on the ground.
"What happened?" Dixie asked in concern. "Why were you out here? Are the others okay?"
Cranky held out his hand, trying to reassure her. "Don't worry about that. They're fine. You know how I am about unwelcomed guest. Not gonna let them mosey around on my watch. I assume you rescued the other Kongs?"
"Yeah," Sora said. "They should be good." He slammed a fist into his palm. "Now we just need to focus on K. Rool."
"First, we need to figure out where his lair is," Luigi said.
Cranky was about to open his mouth when Diddy called out to him. Upon turning around, he felt his heart stop. For a moment, the world became an incoherent mess of colors. In Diddy's hand was the picture. It was facing everyone. The picture showed a young gorilla that was the spitting image of DK.
He looked so happy in that picture; so carefree. The struggles of everyday life didn't matter to him. The Kong had his arm around a Kremling, sharing the same blissful feelings, wishing the moment would never cease. At first glance, the Kremling didn't seem different from the others: green skin, black sleeveless jacket, and a belt around his waist.
But there was one distinct feature: a bloodshot eye.
"I-Is that you in this picture?" Diddy asked.
Trying to change the subject, Cranky snatched the picture. "Nosy little monkey! You know better than the look through other people's personal things!"
But his chastising wouldn't work. Diddy had the picture engrained in his mind; he couldn't believe the image that stared him in the face. It didn't seem possible.
"That…Kremling," Diddy said. "Is that…K. Rool?"
Cranky said nothing.
"Were you two….friends once?" Diddy asked.
Cranky felt the guilt rupture in his chest. After fighting the Heartless, he wanted to tell them the truth. This wasn't the way, he thought. Fear started to pulsate throughout his body. He never considered how they would react to this revelation. But had no choice. It was wrong to keep the secret hidden any longer.
"Yes. We were."
The Kongs froze in absolute shock. They felt like their entire perception of reality had been shattered. For years the Kremlings had caused them grief, by stealing, kidnapping, and subjugating their jungle. They had nothing but contempt for these vile crocodiles. And now, they learn that Kremling King himself – the one responsible for causing so much misery – was once friends with Cranky.
DK had always shown respect for Cranky, even when getting pummeled by his cane. Despite his irascible personality, he was wise. He knew the answer for everything. DK trusted his judgement. But for the first time in his life, DK felt betrayed. In silent anger, he marched right up to him, staring right into his eyes.
"And you never told me this whole time!?" DK asked in his monkey language. A bitter taste of contempt pressed against his tongue.
"You didn't need to know."
"Yes, I did," DK said, his voice growing louder. "We're family! We don't keep things from each other!"
"It would've only led to more pain!" Cranky said, pushing back with his own anger.
"And keeping it a secret isn't causing pain!?" DK asked; the sound barrier was about to shatter from his exploding voice. "How could you do this to us!?"
The two hollered back and forth in their native language. Diddy and Dixie wanted to interject – to try and defuse the argument – but they were too stunned to find the right words. How could anyone? But someone was beyond distressed with the whole situation. Yoshi couldn't take anymore. The arguing punched his head, and only grew stronger.
He covered his ears; the arguing drilled its way through. The yelling and screaming would never cease. His body trembled; everything around him started to cave in, as if ready to crush his very being.
Finally, unable to restrain his emotions, he yelled, "STOP!"
The entire jungle went silent from his cries of pain. Sora could see the overwhelming sadness drain the bright, happy-go-lucky glow from the dinosaur's eyes. It was heartbreaking to experience.
"No more fighting!" Yoshi said; his voice shook from the stampede of emotions running through his body. "Me can't take it anymore! Fighting bring nothing but hurt! Why can't we just stop and listen instead of yelling!?"
Yoshi stared at the floor, beyond saddened. His breathing became rapid; he tried his hardest to fight back the tears. He was an emotional wreck. Dixie hurried over and placed a comforting arm around him.
"Shh, shh," Dixie said in a soft, soothing tone. "It's okay."
Sora felt a sense of tremendous guilt squeeze against his chest. He knew what lead to this outburst. His eyes met with Luigi's. They had no idea Yoshi was so upset over their antagonism towards each other. And it made them realize that holding a grudge was pointless. What good was it? It just made everyone suffer from a bitter aftershock, which would escalate into dejection.
Cranky contemplated Yoshi's words. His anger had subsided upon making a realization. He sighed. "The young one's right. What is this pointless bickering going to accomplish? We can talk about this rationally." He chuckled. "Funny. Should've taken my own advice years ago."
"I'm guessing you and K. Rool had a falling out," Diddy said.
Just hearing Diddy say that opened a locked door of painful memories. He still wished that wasn't the case – that he could keep that door closed forever.
"I owe a lot to K. Rool, actually," Cranky said, trudging forward with his story. "Years ago, I was imprisoned by this carpenter named Mario."
Sora faced Luigi again, noticing all the color had been drained from his face; he would've blended into a pile of snow for being so pale. Not only was Luigi's suspicions correct, but Mario had Cranky imprisoned?
At first, it didn't seem right. His older, kindhearted brother locking someone against their will? That wasn't Mario. But why would Cranky lie? This news agitated him – he felt a sense of remorse for his brother's actions.
Cranky continued: "Thankfully my family freed me. We escaped, built a raft and got away. It wasn't too long after that we ended up here. K. Rool found us and took us in. He was like a brother to me."
"No way!" Diddy said, feeling his jaw drop. "This is the same K. Rool we're talking about, right?"
"Hard to believe, I know," Cranky said. "In fact, he was the original ruler of this island."
DK couldn't believe what he was hearing. He thought Cranky had inherited this island. Now he learned that it originally belonged to his mortal enemy. This felt like a dream; nothing made sense. DK's perspective on his linage had become a bewildering mess of scraps laying on the ground.
"So what happened?" Sora asked.
"Well, K. Rool was a very strict ruler," Cranky said. "His Kremlings always followed him, but the other animals couldn't stand him. Us Kongs live a carefree lifestyle. We never followed what he said. The animals took notice of this, and they started following me. To say K. Rool wasn't pleased would be an understatement. He was never stable, despite our friendship. He was very narcissist, and always thought in extremes."
"That…explains so much," Diddy said.
Cranky nodded. "Soon, every animal looked to me as their ruler. But this wasn't my island; it was his. I tried talking to him, thinking we could come up with a compromise towards his rules. Instead, we just blew up in each other's faces. We were shouting words, but not listening to them. That's when he decided to take his loyal subjects and leave."
He walked over to a rock, sat on it, and sighed. He hated to recall the next memory. It left an everlasting scar in his mind. Whenever he pictured the moment, it was agonizing. Reliving it made him depressed.
"I'll never forget the last thing he ever said to me: 'next time we meet, I won't be the same.' And he was right. Remember when he stole our banana hoard? I saw him that day. I looked right into his eyes and knew: my dear friend was long gone."
Once again, the jungle went silent.
"Man…I…don't even," Diddy said, stunned.
"Why didn't you tell us?" Dixie asked.
"Because you Kongs are too good natured," Cranky said. "You would've tried to find some way to reason with him. He can't be. You would've ended up getting hurt. Despite how grumpy I am, you mean to world to me."
"Aw, Cranky," Diddy said.
"Please. Stop," Cranky said with sadness in his voice. "Don't feel sorry for me."
"But you've kept it bottled up all these years," Dixie said.
"There are some things we just have to live with." He stood up from the rock. "What matters is how we move on from them."
With a nervous exhale, he turned to the Kong that meant the most to him: DK. He watched his grandson mature into strong gorilla. Sure, he could be lazy, and wasn't the smartest, but DK had compassion for everyone. Whenever there was trouble, he would be there to protect his loved ones, and encourage them when they were despondent.
Cranky could see disappointment in his grandson's eyes, with a hint of resentment. It caused his spirit to collapse. He never wanted DK to feel animosity towards him. But he succeeded.
"I don't blame you for not forgiving me," Cranky said, dispirited. "Yes, I did it to keep you safe, but it was wrong of me to keep such an important secret. Whatever you do, DK, I want you to know that I'm proud of you. Make sure you keep this island safe, even long after I'm gone. But more importantly, listen to your friends. They'll guide you to a happier future."
He turned towards the dark jungle. Perhaps he should be consumed by its maw. He knew everyone had lost faith in him. Staying would only cause more misery. With regret forever engrained in his mind, Cranky walked away, accepting his fate of being alone forever.
That was, until, he felt two giant hands pick him up, spin him around, and pull him into his brown hairy chest. DK hugged Cranky with all his might.
"Donkey…forgive," DK said.
Cranky felt the weight of his guilt crumble within DK's arms. He never wanted DK to go through life carrying resentment for him. It would've had a profound effect on him later in life. But DK remained true to himself, showing empathy towards his family and friends. He couldn't have been happier. And Diddy and Dixie felt the same way as DK. They knew everything would be okay.
Inspired by the Kongs, Sora turned to Luigi, rubbing his head apologetically. "Sorry about earlier. I got carried away."
"Same," Luigi said. "I'm sorry too."
The two shook hands; their grudges melted in the hot rays of forgiveness. But there was one loose end that still dangled. Sora gestured Luigi towards Yoshi, who was starting to compose himself from his breakdown. He looked up to see Sora and Luigi approach him. For a moment, he thought they'd be furious with him. But instead, Sora rubbed his head with a warm smile.
"We had no idea how horrible you felt over us fighting," Sora said. "Don't worry. We've worked it out."
"You have?" Yoshi asked.
"Yep," Luigi said. "But then next time you feel bad about something, don't keep it to yourself." He tickled Yoshi's chin, forcing him to laugh. "Open that trap of yours and say something."
Yoshi felt the tension in the air vanish. Everything was back to normal, he thought. He glanced at Dixie, who gave him an approving nod. With their friendship healed, that meant Sora would continue traveling with them. He was overjoyed.
"All for one?" Sora asked; he stuck his hand out to Yoshi. Luigi placed his hand on top of Sora's.
Yoshi followed suit. "And one for all!"
Meanwhile, DK continued hugging Cranky.
"Okay, big guy," Cranky said. "You can put me down now. We've got bigger things to worry about."
DK hugged him tighter.
"Now you're doing that on purpose!" Cranky said, returning to his usual irritable self.
Everyone chuckled. Levity had swept away the remaining particles of the somber atmosphere. But Cranky knew something far more life threatening was on the horizon. After DK placed him on the ground, he cleared his throat, getting everyone's attention.
"Listen up!" he said. "I just got word about K. Rool's plan. He's using some sort of superweapon to destroy the island!"
Levity hid back under the rug in terror.
Diddy gasped. "Oh, no!"
"I see why he thinks in extremes!" Luigi said, anxious.
"How do we stop it?" Sora asked.
"Go see Funky Kong," Cranky said. "He has all the information you need. Move your tails! The entire island is counting on you! And yes, you should feel all the pressure in the world!"
Diddy chuckled. "Good old, Cranky. C'mon. Funky's isn't too far from here."
Luigi took a deep breath. While time was of the essences, he didn't want the remorse over his brother's actions to swell. He needed to speak to Cranky immediately, and quell those feelings.
"You guys start heading there," Luigi said. "I'll be along in a second."
"Everything alright?" Dixie asked.
"Need to take care of some unfinished business," Luigi said.
Dixie decided to wait nearby, so that she could escort Luigi when he was ready. While somewhat confused, everyone else headed towards Funky's house.
"If you're going to thank me for rekindling your friendship, don't bother," Cranky said. "I'm not a miracle worker."
"It's not that," Luigi said, feeling a nervous jitter wrap around his legs. He paused, unsure of how to approach his next sentence.
Growing impatient, Cranky said, "Well? I ain't getting any older."
"That carpenter that held you captive" —he gulped— "he's my brother."
Cranky's eyes widened in shock. "No wonder I recognized you! You look so similar to him that it's uncanny. Right down to the clothes you wear. Couldn't the planets have aligned like this when I tried winning the lottery?"
"He told me about you," Luigi said, feeling awkward, "but omitted the part about keeping you locked up. I-I'm sorry. My brother's a good person. I don't know why he would—"
"Son, that was years ago," Cranky said with an understanding smile. "That's something I since put behind me. You brother had a reason. I was rambunctious back in the day. I broke an entire construction site, so it made sense to lock me up. I was dangerous."
"But he kept you locked up for so long," Luigi said.
"When we're young, we tend to do things that are foolish. You think maybe he never told you because he felt ashamed by it?"
Luigi pondered Cranky's words, and browsed through a catalogue of memories. There, he found the time Mario told him about his encounter with Cranky. He could see a flicker of regret behind his blue eyes. Mario must've carried this burden for years. If only he were here now; he'd be able to extinguish that flame forever.
Although, at the same time, given everything that's happened, Luigi's perspective on his big brother had been warped into a mess of dubious papers thrown haphazardly on the ground. How many secrets had he been keeping from him? Luigi understood how DK felt earlier with Cranky; when your own family member hides so many secrets, their credibility comes into question.
It was an upsetting thought, but he wouldn't linger on it right now. Finding Mario was his priority; then, he'd unravel his long parchment of questions.
Right now, he understood what Cranky meant. "I never really thought about it that way."
"There!" Cranky said. "Ya see? Don't get so worked up about it. It's all in the past. We learn from all kinds of experiences: good or bad. You had nothing to do with it. Besides, you helping my grandson shows me that you must come from a good family."
Luigi blushed. "Really? Thanks."
"And that's the last compliment you're getting me," Cranky said, frowning. "My gag reflexes are already acting up again! I suggest you move your behind" —he holds up his cane— "because Lucille here is getting restless. And when she gets restless, she loves to give headaches!"
Not wanting to feel Lucille's wrath, he gave a quick good-bye, and started to leave.
"Son?" Cranky said. Luigi looked over his shoulder. "Tell your brother he's always welcomed to DK Isle."
After a grateful nod, Luigi left the area. Cranky smiled; it was an expression seldom seen. But he knew everything would be alright. He had complete faith in DK and his friends. With their incredible teamwork, the island would soon be a peace.
And deep down, just maybe, he'd be able to rekindle a broken friendship.
The group arrived outside a wooden shack. Resting on top of it was a giant banana and two satellites; one was stationary while the other spun around in a perpetual motion. A wooden sign above the door said: "Armory."
"Funky, we're here!" Diddy said.
A Kong wearing a blue army outfit, complete with at hat and a rocket tied to his back, walked out the shack with an excited grin, as if ready to help fight against the Kremlings. He was almost DK's size, and wore purple sunglasses.
"Duuuudddddeeeeeesss!" Funky said; he sounded like a surfer from the nineties. "If it isn't my main man Donkey Kong and his crew! What's happening? Kicking some Kremling boo-tay as usual?"
He gives DK a high five, stood up right, and places both hands behind his back.
"Attention!" Funky said in a commanding voice.
Everyone but Luigi stood tall on command.
Luigi glared at them in disbelief. "Are you guys kidding me?"
Soon, Funky's giant face invaded his personal boundaries; Luigi felt the Kong's breath tickle his moustache.
"Well, well," Funky said with a displeased expression. "Either someone's got peanuts in his ears, or we have a failure to communicate."
"Now, wait," Luigi said, nervous. "Aren't you taking this too seriously?"
Before Luigi could even draw his next breath, Funky began to reposition his body into the upright position, bending it in ways that would make him feel sore in the morning.
"Hey, stop that!" Luigi said, grunting from the sudden pull of his limbs.
Within seconds, Luigi found himself standing as tall as a statue.
Funky patted his back. "That's better. Luckily for you that was the easy way."
Luigi gulped; he seemed a bit too passionate about his hobby. And when Luigi means passionate, he means crazy. Not to upset Funky anymore, he remained as silent and still as a painting (in his case, it'd be 'The Scream." Somewhere in the distance, a rimshot could be heard).
"Seems like we've got three new recruits," Funky said, scanning over Sora's group. "State your names."
Sora saluted. "Sora, sir!"
"I Yoshi!" He did the same gesture. "And the naughty one next to me Luigi, sir."
Luigi glared at the dinosaur in surprise. "Why aren't you this obedient back home?"
"Welcome aboard, dudes!" Funky said. "Glad to have you! At ease!" Everyone did so. "Now then: thanks to our inside source, we know what K. Rool's secret weapon is. However, deactivating it will not be simple. So I'll let you speak with the source directly. Snide, if you would be so kind?"
An orange weasel wearing a purple jumpsuit walked out from Funky's armory. "Hey, there! Snide's the name, revenge is my game."
With the graceful movement of a snake, he slid over to Luigi and Yoshi, putting his arms around them.
"Former conman/technician for the Kremling crew," he continued. "Very nice to meet you." He walked in front of them, pulled out a wallet, and showed them a white card. "My card."
Yoshi gave both the card and Snide a double look. "Wow, me didn't notice before, but you have a nice moustache."
Luigi glanced at the card in surprise, because that was his picture on it.
"Give me that!" Luigi said, snatching back both the wallet and card.
"My apologies, fella," Snide said. "Good habits die hard. Am I right, or am I right? Okay! I was the brains behind K. Rool's machine. But that lousy tub of lard thought I would betray him! Me!? Who could doubt this boyish charm?"
Luigi started to open his mouth, but Snide interrupted. "No doubts here? Good. Anyways, he kicked me out of his crew. Now I'm going to double cross him big time!" He turned to DK with a sinister smirk. "So this is the great Donkey Kong, huh? How would you like to wreck some havoc on old lizard breath's machine?"
DK hopped up and down, eager, causing a miniature earthquake that made everyone stumble around the area
"I like your attitude," Snide said, regaining his balance. "Just keep that attitude away from me and I'm sure we'll be pals. Now, the only problem is, doing so while it's active will cause everything to go kablewy. Might ruin everyone's day."
DK lowered his head in disappointment.
"Fret not," Snide said in an uplifting tone. "Good old Snide had some forethought." He pulled out a wide piece of paper. "Right here are the blueprints. Gather around, my friends."
While Snide unfolded the blueprints, everyone huddled together to get a good view of them. Well, except for Luigi. He didn't want the crafty weasel to steal something again. The blueprints showed the inner workings of the Blast-O-Matic. There were many components written out that Sora didn't understand. But Snide knew every inch of the machine, as if it was an extension of his own body.
Near the bottom of the machine was a switch, which was hidden deep within a jungle of wires.
"It's the Emergency Power," Snide said. "Just flip it off and DK can break open the machine like a birthday present. Sound good, big fella?"
DK cracked his knuckles in eager anticipation.
Snide folded the map, and stuck it out to Sora. "Mind holding onto it, kiddo?"
"No problem." Sora grabbed it. "Will you need it back?"
"Nah," Snide said. "The less I'm reminded of that dumb crocodile, the better. Do what you want with it. Burn it for all I care. Or better yet, use it as toilet paper. That will bring me joy."
"Ew!" Diddy and Dixie said.
Snide cleared his throat. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have some hacking to do. I can stop the ship from firing for about fifty minutes. The rest I leave up to you! Good luck!"
Snide hurried back to his own headquarters; the savory taste of revenge spun through his mouth in excitement. He couldn't wait to unleash his surprise on K. Rool.
"Alright!" Funky said. "K. Rool's lair is located at the beach. A minecart station is nearby. It's the quickest way there."
Sora felt an excited tickle in his stomach. "You guys have minecarts?"
"Yep," Diddy said. "It's the only way to travel."
Sora was ecstatic. As a kid, he watched old movies with his grandparents about daring heroes making their grand escape in minecarts. It was stunning to watch, and probably just as exhilarating to ride.
"Cool!" Sora said. "I want to ride one. Let's go!"
"Hold up, spiky haired dude!" Funky said. "The station is being guarded by Kremlings. You're going to have a fight on your hands." He turns to the three Kongs. "And you're gonna need the finest hardware from your main monkey! I've got your gear locked up inside. It's ready to go on a reptile rampage."
The three Kongs grinned at each other. It was time to unleash the mayhem upon the Kremlings, and make them pay for the agony they put them through. DK, Diddy, and Dixie ran into Funky's Armory; they went straight towards the back, arriving at a giant safe door. Next to it was Keypad.
DK entered the numbers "1194," and the safe opened, revealing a plethora of wooden gun-like weapons. It was as if the heavens above granted them a marvelous gift. DK picked his weapon of choice: The Coconut Shooter, a hollowed-out log with a wooden grip and two twigs on top.
He grabbed some coconuts, loaded it into the gun, and cocked it. Diddy strapped a belt with two holsters around his waist, and grabbed pistols that looked like smaller versions of DK's gun. These were the Peanut Popguns. He loaded them with peanuts, spun them around, and placed them in the holsters.
Meanwhile, Dixie took a casual stroll through the armory, humming, as if she were in a grocery store. She noticed a small golden crossbow, which used feathers as its ammunition.
"Ooh, that looks adorable!" Dixie said.
DK strapped an ammo belt on his shoulder, placing coconuts and oranges in it. Diddy grabbed his jetpack, strapping it to his shoulders. Nearby was a random banana, which DK grabbed, and stuck in his mouth. The two Kongs were locked and loaded. They stood ready to fight; even the largest Kremling would tremble before their arsenal and might.
It was time to save their home
And then Dixie appeared in front of them, ringing a random triangle bell she found. The sound echoed through the room, leaving an awkward silence in its wake.
Dixie gave the two a nervous grin. "I killed the mood, didn't I?"
"You totally did," Diddy said.
Deep within a cavern was a huge minecart station. Scattered through it were boxes filled with random supplies, broken tracks that needed to be repaired, massive barrels the size of houses, and immobile, rusted minecarts. Further ahead were a plethora of interconnected tracks, which lead to tunnels; minecarts rested against bump blocks, ready to take their passengers to any destination in the jungle.
However, the station was closed, due to a squadron of Kremlings guarding the area. No one was to enter, no one was to exit. Their target: anything with brown fur that moved. Every section was scrutinized. So far, the only sounds heard were the Kremlings feet echoing throughout the caverns.
Nearby, a Kremling stood watch by a metal door. His daydreaming was interrupted by a loud bang. With cautious steps, the Kremling approached the door. Nervous sweat traversed his scaly skin
"G-Go away," he said. "Station's closed."
The door fell right on top of him, producing a loud clang that punctured the Kremling's eardrums like a needle. They turned to see Sora and his friends enter, brandishing their weapons, preparing for an all-out brawl against K. Rool's troops. DK stood in front of everyone, and cocked his gun.
"It's on," Diddy said. He pointed at DK. "Like him."
In a low, intimidating voice, DK said, "Yeah."
Kremlings charged straight for the group. Everyone separated from DK to pick an opponent. DK shot a coconut at a Kremling straight ahead, knocking him over. Next, DK fired his gun left, disposing of another one, and then stuck it under his arm to hit a Kremling on the right.
As another Kremling tried to attack, DK rammed the gun right into his stomach, pointed it at an angle, and blasted the crocodile into the sky. When the next one tried to attack, DK bunted his gun right into the Kremling's face, and then kicked him aside.
Another Kremling appeared right in DK's path; he was wielding a shield. DK shot a few coconuts, but the Kremling deflected each one; he tried to counterattack by throwing his shield at the gorilla. Sora leaped in front of DK, caught the shield with his Keyblade, and knocked it aside.
Before the Kremling could react, Sora threw the Keyblade into his stomach, catching him off guard. He ran up the Kremling, punched him in the cheek with a right hook, hit his jaw with a left, and finished with a kick to the chest, sending him a fair distance. A small Kremling wielding two swords hurried over, leaped off his fallen comrade, and prepared to strike Sora.
The boy summoned the Keyblade to his hand, and brought it up to block the attack. Sora tried to counter by bringing the Keyblade straight down, but the Kremling brought his blades together, catching the strike. After pushing the Keyblade away, he twirled around, swinging his blades, forcing Sora to rotate backwards to avoid getting shredded like cheese.
Sora and the Kremling's blades collided. The Kremling tried to thrust, but Sora leaped over, landing behind him. When the Kremling tried to attack again, Sora spun around, knocking his blade away with the Keyblade. With his free hand, Sora unleashed a fire spell, burning the crocodile's backside.
DK arrived, grabbed both swords, broke them in half, and tossed the Kremling away like junk mail. More Kremlings surrounded Sora and DK. Unfazed by the odds, DK grabbed Sora's hand, and spun him around, delivering kicks to every single one.
An overweight Kremling stood on top of a massive, metal barrel. He was firing fast cannonballs out of his miniature cannon at Luigi. Somehow, the ammo was infinite. All Luigi could do was dodge every cannonball,
Diddy flew in on his jetpack. "I'll keep him busy!"
The young Kong fired his pistols, pelleting the Kremling with peanuts. Luigi took the opportunity to run up the barrel, charging a fire uppercut. When he landed, the Kremling gasped upon seeing him, and aimed his sights on Luigi. The plumber hurried forward, using his hammer to knock the cannon out of the Kremling's hand.
Using his foot, Luigi pushed the Kremling backwards, stunning him for the moment. Luigi delivered his fire uppercut, with force so incredible that it knocked the poor Kremling through the ceiling.
"UGH!" the Kremling shouted.
Diddy landed behind Luigi, outstretching his arms. "Wanna lift?"
Luigi nodded, and allowed Diddy to wrap his arms around his waist, acting as a makeshift seatbelt. The two took for the air. Kremlings wielding similar cannons tried to shoot them down, but Diddy was too quick and agile for them. Eventually, Diddy turned around and flew straight at one of the Kremlings, letting Luigi deliver a double kick to him.
Upon landing, Luigi knocked the Kremling away with his hammer. Before another could attack from behind, Diddy pelleted him with peanuts. Luigi ran over, slammed the cannon out of the distracted Kremling's hand, and knocked him away with a fire spell. Two more Kremlings charged from either side of him.
"Hover over me!" Luigi instructed Diddy.
Diddy complied, and as soon as the Kremlings were close, Luigi leaped into the air, grabbing the Kong's hands, allowing the two to run into each other. Luigi used his freeze spell to transform them into a ball of ice, and then, with a swing of his hammer, knocked them into another group of Kremlings. They fell over like bowling pins.
Yoshi tripped one of the Kremlings with his tail. A second one tried to attack from behind, but Dixie fired feathers in his face.
"Ow! Why is this hurting me?" The Kremling said. "Mom was right! I need more fiber in my diet!"
Yoshi slammed his head into the Kremling's stomach, knocking him into a few more of his comrades. Dixie noticed one of the Kremlings had the ability to jump high into the sky. She told Yoshi to remain still, jumped off his back, and used her long golden hair to gain extra altitude. Upon reaching the Kremling, she kicked him right in the chest.
She hovered down onto Yoshi's back, and whipped her hair against a Kremling that snuck up from behind them. Yoshi used his tongue to trip one in front of him. Then, Dixie leaped off Yoshi's back, and slammed her feet into the one he just tripped.
Diddy continued to fly around, dodging cannonballs left and right. However, misfortune soon struck him like lighting, as one managed to hit his jetpack, causing it to malfunction. Diddy saw the entire world spin into brown and gray colors as he flew around the station, unable to regain control.
Finally, he slid onto the ground, but his jetpack refused to stop. Diddy clawed his fingers into the dirt, trying to prevent himself from moving. He felt like his arms were about to break like a plastic doll. Noticing his best friend in trouble, DK plowed his way through Kremlings like an angry steamroller. He reached Diddy, ripped the jetpack off him, and threw it at the Kremlings.
Sora pointed his Keyblade at the jetpack as it collided with one of them. "Diddy, do you mind?"
"Not at all," Diddy said, although he sounded disappointed.
The Keyblade Master unleashed his spiral beam attack, which, upon hitting the jetpack, caused an explosion that sent the Kremlings flying throughout the station. When the dust settled, a pile of enervated green bodies was left in its wake.
Some groaning, some moaning, and some reflecting on their life choices, such as why they decided not to live in a zoo. Free pampering, right? Either way, they won the battle. But victory remained on top of a tall, steep mountain. As they climbed, more perilous encounters would try to stifle their pilgrimages to the top.
DK mumbled to Diddy in concern.
"I'm fine, big guy," he said, stretching his muscles to lessen the pain.
Sora walked over, rubbing his head. "Sorry about your jetpack."
"It's okay," Diddy said. "Been meaning to make a new model. Next time I'm gonna install a blender with it. All the Banana Shakes I want!"
"That seems highly illogical," Luigi said.
Diddy, not losing his smile, said, "Illogically awesome!"
"So, where to now?" Sora asked.
The Kongs lead Sora and his friends over to the minecart tracks. While DK went to grab some minecarts, Sora glanced up and down the tracks in awe. There were so many different ones to traverse; it seemed endless. If they weren't on a mission, he'd want to travel through every tunnel and see what resided on the other side.
DK pushed three minecarts onto the appropriate track and beckoned everyone to climb aboard.
Luigi looked inside one of them; what he saw made him feel discouraged. "I don't see any seatbelts in here. Maybe I'll just walk."
"C'mon, Luigi," Yoshi said. "What big deal? We drive go-karts over rainbows all the time. Why this different?"
"Because there we at least have our seatbelts on!" Luigi said in a stern tone. "Safety is always important!"
DK groaned; the complaining was like an annoying insect nibbling in his ear. Unable to stand it anymore, he pushed both Luigi and Yoshi into the minecart, and sent them off towards the tunnel. He did the same for the other Kongs, and joined Sora in the last cart.
DK pulled on the lever inside; the cart's wheels screeched as they moved forward, as if irritable for being awoken. Soon, they were gaining speed, and the excitement built in Sora's stomach as they entered a tunnel.
"This is going to be fun!" Sora said.
The group took twists and turns through various tunnels, gaining speed as they went down drops, feeling what little air circulated brush through their faces. It was exhilarating, Sora thought. Minecarts of adrenaline were traversing his veins. The sounds of wheels pounding against the tracks reverberated throughout the caverns.
But their time of fun was short lived; they saw Kremlings ride in on an adjacent track. Sora shoulders slumped; even a moment of leisure had to result in a fight. One of the Kremlings drove next to Diddy and Dixie. He tried to grab Dixie, but she whipped him away with her hair. Diddy pelleted the Kremling with a ruthless assault of peanuts; so much so that it pushed him off the cart.
A large Kremling with a club appeared next, swinging at both Luigi and Yoshi. The two ducked from a few swings. When the Kremling tried again, Yoshi grabbed the club with his tongue, unarming him. Luigi then hit him over the head, knocking the Kremling unconscious. A third Kremling appeared with peanut pistols akin to Diddy's; he started firing at Sora and DK, who both dove into the cart for cover.
DK reemerged with his coconut gun. Upon firing a shot, the Kremling applied the break, moving back to avoid getting hit. However, this worked out in their favor, as Sora used his ice spell to freeze the front of the cart, which sent the Kremling flying off in an instant.
Luigi, who watched the event unfold, said, "And that's why you wear your seatbelt."
Yoshi rolled his eyes in response. With the Kremlings disposed, the rest of the ride was nice and smooth. Well, it would've been, if another Kremling hadn't noticed the carts in the distant. There was a sinister grin on his face. He hurried over to a railway junction, where a switch stood parallel to it.
The Kremling pulled on the switch with all his might, and, while the first two carts missed, the one containing Sora and DK went down the different path. Sora clutched the edge of cart as they dropped down a steep slope. They started making abrupt turns left and right, back and forth. Sora felt like people were playing tug-of-war with his body. DK used his strength to keep their balance.
But the worse lay upon the horizon.
They exited the tunnel, appearing in a massive cavern that seemed to stretch forever. Darkness hovered above and below their heads. Support beams kept the tracks from collapsing, but, if one was to look further down, nothingness would greet you with a blank stare. Sora felt like his insides were rearranged like a Picasso painting; the excitement had turned into a waking nightmare.
And ahead of them was the climax of this nightmare: a missing track. Sora rummaged through his mind for any ideas, but they were hindered by a surge of anxiety. However, DK remained calm, took a deep breath, and grasped the edges of the cart. All possibilities were exhausted, Sora thought, and he shut his eyes for the inevitable.
As they reached the edge, DK pulled the cart up, making it leap into the air; and they were able to land on the other side. Sora opened his eyes, seeing that they were safe. The gentle, assuring sounds of the wheels clanging against the tracks crooned in his ears. Exhaling, Sora leaned against the cart, relieved.
DK pat him on the back in comfort. Think I'll stick with the Merry-Go-Around for a while, he thought. I can stomach some ridicule from Riku and Kairi.
Soon, the group arrived at their destination, and they exited the minecarts. Everyone noticed Sora looking pale (a rare sight for the happy-go-lucky teenager); somehow his skin was able to brighten the cave further.
"You okay?" Diddy asked.
Sora turned to Luigi. "Think I'll take you up on that walk later."
Luigi smiled in pride, as if he was responsible for teaching Sora a lesson. Once everyone regained their composure, they exited the cave, arriving on a beach. Immediately Sora wanted to fall into the sand and outstretch his arms; it was like being home. The sights, the sounds, the smell of salt ticking his nose – it was all there.
In the distance, he saw K. Rool's Fortress floating in the water, looming over them, displaying its superiority. Their final challenge awaited. The fate of the entire jungle rested upon their shoulders. But they weren't concerned about what dangers lay within the fortress' innards; they had each other for support. The Kremlings had learned that the hard way, and they planned to make it even more excruciating for them.
They hurried to the entrance, preparing to face the full wrath of K. Rool's undying antipathy.
If you wish to support my work, please visit my YouTube page: channel/UCTt8bVl63VokPqhTXg2xRKQ
Check me out on social media:
Twitter: kingdomkey23
Facebook: kingdomkey23
Instagram: kingdomkey23
Deviantart: kingdomkey23
Twitch: kingdomkey_23
Cover Artist's Twitter: jitart1