Chapter 23: K. Rool's Last Stand
The jungle illuminated as the invisible Heartless summoned a ball of energy, firing it straight at the group. Sora caught the ball, but its unrelenting power pushed against him; he felt his feet slide backwards against the dirt.
"Yoshi! Snack time!" Sora said.
The dinosaur stuck his tongue, devouring the energy; it burned against the roof of his mouth. Not wasting anytime, he spat it straight at K. Rool. In response, the king fired a cannonball straight at the energy, which caused a massive explosion upon impact. Luigi leaped into the air and tried bringing his hammer down on K. Rool; he raised his blunderbuss to block the strike.
After landing on the creature, Luigi swung at K. Rool, but he blocked again with his blunderbuss; then, he pointed it straight at Luigi, preparing to fire another cannonball. Just as the king pulled the trigger, Luigi swung his hammer inward, knocking the muzzle away, causing the blunderbuss to fire in a different direction.
Sensing an opening, Luigi prepare to land a hit, but the creature started moving back and forth; he lost his balance, and fell onto the ground. The creature leaped high into the air, preparing to make Luigi a permanent part of the earth. Yoshi wrapped his tongue around Luigi's leg, retracting him like a fish on a hook; he just avoided getting crushed.
Sora unleashed a fire spell at K. Rool, who used his blunderbuss to suck it into the muzzle, like a vacuum cleaner. The boy blinked in bafflement – science had been turned on its head for the number of impossible feats witnessed. And it got worse, as the king fired a cannon ball engulfed in flames.
Sora leaped back to let it hit the ground. But it was a diversion, as the Heartless fired another beam straight for Sora. DK leaped in front of him, braced himself, and took the hit.
"DK!" Sora exclaimed.
DK emerged from the smoke; he felt a slight tremble from the damage. His fur was disheveled. But confidence kept his strength elevated, like support for a building. Sora exhaled in relief. He noticed DK gesturing towards his shoulders; Sora leaped onto them, jumped into the air, and threw the Keyblade right at the Heartless.
It was a direct hit, as the creature screeched in pain, flailing around from the shock. K. Rool clutched onto the Heartless with all his might.
"Stop blubbering, you big baby!" K. Rool said.
DK listened to the creature's screams of pain, and determined the location of its face. Which he then punched, sending the two sliding backwards. With it fazed, Sora and the others delivered a simultaneous strike to the Heartless. It responded with a powerful scream; the force not only made their eardrums explode like a bomb, but it knocked them backwards.
The Heartless fazed into existence, revealing itself to be a large chameleon with green skin, black stripes covered over its body like tattoos, five spikes on its back, and a giant horn on the snout. It stared down the group with large, bulging, unblinking eyes; the pupils spun around in a clockwise motion – manic, unstable. Luigi gulped at the creature's intimidating anatomy.
Sora cracked his knuckles. "About time you showed yourself. At least take your defeat with some dignity."
"A chameleon?" Yoshi asked in surprise. "Quick! Put it in front of some modern art! Me hear that it weakness!"
Everyone (even K. Rool) glared at him in confusion. "What?"
"Never mind," Yoshi said, blushing in embarrassment.
"No matter," K. Rool said, unperturbed. "Transparent or not, my Stealth Sneak and I are an unstoppable force. We plan to make you disappear. Permanently."
"Good one," Sora said in sarcasm, rolling his eyes. "In case you forgot, we've demolished your entire Kremling army. I think we need to remind him who the real unstoppable force is. Right, guys?"
His friends nodded (although Luigi hoped K. Rool was just having a minor case of amnesia, and he would remember how unstoppable they were, forcing him to flee).
K. Rool responded with a faux chuckle. "How disgustingly idealistic."
Stealth Sneak shot lasers from its eyes, which everyone avoided. DK climbed up the nearest tree, grabbed a vine, and swung his colossal feet into K. Rool's face, knocking him off the Heartless. After crashing onto the ground, K. Rool hurried to his feet, noticing DK running right towards him.
K. Rool fired a cannon ball at him; DK rolled underneath it. After standing up, he saw another one heading straight for him. The gorilla caught it, leaped into the air, caught a vine, and threw the cannonball straight back at the Kremling king. K. Rool leaped back to avoid it, and retaliated with another cannonball. DK released his grip from the vine, managing to avoid the cannonball, ran straight up to K. Rool, and elbowed him in the face.
DK continued his assault with a punch, but K. Rool was quick to recover; he punted the blunderbuss to block the punch. Then, he slammed his head into DK's, momentarily stunning him; his vision turned into a mess of spinning colors. K. Rool rammed his golden stomach into the Kong, knocking him onto the ground.
With a shake of the head, DK regained clarity in his vision; he witnessed K. Rool firing a blue gas cloud at him. Unfortunately, he couldn't dodge it in time, and felt the full force of the fumes. A putrid smell made the hairs in his noise stand up in distress; he coughed from the gas trying to burrow into his throat.
But, then, he was paralyzed. Every muscle refused to move. He was a prisoner of his own body.
K. Rool prepared to fire another cannon ball. He smiled in excitement; DK was cornered like a wounded animal, unable to escape. This fueled his ego with more fire – uncontrollable flames that could not be contained. DK continued struggling. No avail. K. Rool prepared to pull the trigger…
…and then was hit in the cheek by a familiar key-shaped sword. Furious, he turned to his left, seeing Sora running right for him. K. Rool fired a cannonball; Sora side stepped left, and launched an ice spell, which the king deflected with his blunderbuss. Within proximity, Sora thrusted the Keyblade; K. Rool swung the blunderbuss inward to block the attack.
Then, Sora tried striking from over the shoulder. Again, K. Rool held his weapon at a vertical angle to block it; and he retaliated by swinging his weapon at Sora's head, who leaned back to avoid the muzzle. The king tried to ram the muzzle into Sora's chest, but he brought the Keyblade up from a diagonal angle to catch it.
Sora tried swinging again, but K. Rool leaped into the air, avoiding it just in time. The boy watched in baffled silence as the king bounced away towards a small cliff. For an overweight crocodile he sure was agile, Sora thought. Upon landing, K. Rool aimed his sights for the boy, planning not to miss this time. Sora was frustrated; he wanted to break that gun in half. Soon, the trigger in his mind for an idea was pulled faster than K. Rool's blunderbuss.
Channeling his fire magic, he managed to make it flow through the Keyblade's essence, and the blade ignited into fierce, crackling flames. He ascended the cliff, avoiding cannonballs, reached K. Rool, and sliced the blunderbuss in half. K. Rool started to sweat; did he and his colleagues underestimate Sora's strength? He knew repressing his power was no longer necessary.
K. Rool leaped off the cliff, with Sora in pursuit of him. After landing, K. Rool tossed his crown at him, which was deflected with little effort.
Sora raised an eyebrow. "Seriously? A crown?" He grinned in confidence. "Looks like you're running out of tricks!"
K. Rool extended his arms to each side, and closed both eyes. Pressure in his heart built; he was preparing to let the dam burst. Soon, the energy imploded from within, releasing an outpour of darkness that consumed the king's entire body. He clinched his fists – purple boxing gloves covered each one. Sora felt that familiar chill; it was like being in a blizzard.
K. Rool slammed the ground with his fist, producing a large crack that went past Sora, and traveled to the end of the jungle. The impact was so strong that the boy stumbled, almost falling over. He regained his balance, then glared into K. Rool eyes. There was nothing but unrestrained anger – resentment for all those that opposed him. The feeling was intense; Sora felt it in his stomach, and it was as sharp as needles.
"So," K. Rool said in a dark, low hiss. He slammed his gloves together, producing a purple spark, "will these suffice?"
Sora gulped. "Actually, I liked the crown better."
K. Rool dashed for Sora, and tried slamming his fist down on him; the boy hopped back to avoid the attack. Nervous sweat dripped down Sora's face – K. Rool was far more aggressive. He had to stay focused. K. Rool threw a punch, which Sora dodged by jerking his head left. He then brought his Keyblade up to block the next punch.
The king turned around and swung his arm inward. Sora flipped the Keyblade around to catch it, but the force pushed him backwards. His body trembled from the power. One direct hit would make every bone in his body collapse faster than building. He needed one strong attack to cause damage.
Pointing the Keyblade at K. Rool's feet, he froze both with an ice spell. The king struggled to break his frozen shackles; cracks started to creep into the perfect sheet. Sora had to hurry; he charged up his spiral attack, unleashing it just as K. Rool freed himself. With no time to dodge, K. Rool braced himself for the incoming projectiles. He was engulfed in a miniature explosion.
Smoke covered the spot where the king once stood. Sora rocked the soles of his feet back and forth, hoping to have done some harm. The smoke cleared, revealing himself to be standing tall. Although the attack did minor damage, it wasn't anything significant. Sora's jaw dropped in astonishment – even the most robust of Heartless were eradicated by his attack.
K. Rool ran for Sora again, smirking in confidence, knowing his opponent was incapable of harming him. Victory was guaranteed. But Sora stood his ground; he would never quit. The Keyblade wielder's constant scuffles against Riku were a testament to his resilience. K. Rool threw a mighty, earthshattering punch…
….and it was caught by a giant brown hand.
DK had regained mobility, and was prepared to crush K. Rool's advantage between his hands. He punched K. Rool straight in the face, knocking him back a fair distance. The king dematerialized his boxing gloves, and clawed at the ground, coming to a sliding halt. He glowered at the meddling Kong; rage pulsated throughout his veins, pounding harder the more he glared at him.
"Thanks!" Sora said, relieved. He turned to K. Rool with a spark of confidence in his eyes. "Let's team up and beat this guy!"
He prepared to move forward, with a reawakened spirit, when DK stopped him with his huge arm.
Sora was shocked. Did he want to face K. Rool alone? It didn't seem ideal. "Hey, wait—"
DK's eyes focused on something nearby them. When Sora followed the trail, he saw Luigi and Yoshi struggling against Stealth Sneak. His conscience was being pulled in two separate directions. But then he remembered the long history between the Kremlings and the Kongs. This feud was between them.
Sora saw the serious glare in DK eyes; he ruled the jungle, and felt responsible for its safety. It was wrong to interfere, so would abide to the 'no meddling' rule. At least this time. With an understanding nod, Sora left to help the others. DK got onto all fours, preparing to lunge at the king. The two stared into each other's eyes; emotions ran rampant through their bodies.
The chatter of wild animals grew silent, as if they knew a battle of the jungle was imminent. DK slid his fingers through the dirt, releasing the nervous tension. Their gazes remained fixed on each other. It was going to be a showdown of raw strength: no weapons, no magic (although K. Rool was imbued with the darkness).
DK and K. Rool ran towards each other, on all fours. When they were close, K. Rool stood up, rematerialized his boxing gloves, and their fists collided, creating a powerful shock wave that made the jungle tremble in fear. The two collided again with their opposite fists. DK punched with the other fist, but K. Rool caught it by flexing his arm upward.
K. Rool swung again, and DK leaned backwards. He tried countering with his own swing, but K. Rool ducked underneath. Seeing an opening, K. Rool elbowed him in the stomach, rammed his head straight into DK's, and kicked him backwards. DK started to stumble, but he regained his footing. K. Rool leaped in with another punch; the Kong rotated his torso dodge it.
Then, K. Rool swung his arm around, and DK shielded his face to block the attack. When K. Rool punched again, DK leaned right to dodge it, and then punched him in the side; it was one of K. Rool's vulnerable spots (as his stomach was impenetrable like metal). Wincing from the pain, he was distracted, allowing DK to punch his right cheek, and then hit him straight in the jaw.
K. Rool was at the mercy of DK's punches. They were quick, furious, and difficult to block. At one point, DK spun around like a tornado, delivering a barrage of punches to the face. DK finished his assault with final punch, which made K. Rool slide backwards. The rage reached its peak, allowing the darkness to grow at a steady, uncontrollable rate.
Upon delivering the next punch, DK was shocked to see K. Rool was unfazed. Darkness burst from his entire body, forcing DK to jump back a safe distance. But that wouldn't last. K. Rool vanished, reappeared at DK's side, and punched him in the cheek. When DK tried swinging his arm at the king, he vanished again, and reappeared behind him, kicking him in the back.
As DK stumbled forward, K. Rool appeared, delivering an uppercut to the chin. Then, he delivered a flurry of punches to DK's stomach. The pain intensified with each blow. DK gritted his teeth, fighting through the pain. He blocked a punch, tried to counter, and K. Rool vanished again.
K. Rool reappeared, punched DK in the chest, expelling dark energy, which exploded; the Kong screamed in anguish as he tumbled across the ground, and crashed into a tree, splitting it in half.
Every muscle in his body trembled from the immeasurable pain. His chest felt like it was on fire. He tried standing up, but his body refused to continue. DK collapsed onto the ground, panting, searching for even a small fragment of vitality with an endless white void of fatigue. It started getting cold. He felt K. Rool's presence approach.
The king stood over his fallen foe, basking in every moment. His ego soared into heavens; he felt untouchable.
"Face it," K. Rool said; "you were never meant to rule this jungle. You're too soft on your subjects. They're lazy. Carefree. Defenseless against the unknown. A true leader must never let his authority falter. Perhaps they may have survived succumbing to the darkness under my guidance. Oh well. Least they'll make excellent servants once they become Heartless."
K. Rool punched his fists together. "But you won't be joining in their suffering. I plan to end your meaningless existence. I want your last moments to be of failure – that it's because of your inability to lead that everyone you love is gone."
DK's eyes closed. He was exhausted. Darkness filled his vision. Then, he heard the gentle sound of leaves rustling in the wind, the water crashing against the sand, and the animals chatting peacefully to each other. It was soothing to hear the everyday sounds that brought him joy.
Diddy and Dixie were laughing with each other; Candy and Tiny were in the middle of a conversation; and Cranky started yelling. He was happy. But, then, the sounds became muffled; they were indistinguishable. With each passing moment, they grew softer and softer.
Until silence. It was gone. They were gone. Everyone he cared for had vanished. But he didn't blame himself. The sounds of merriment reminded him that, because of his laidback attitude, everyone was happy. K. Rool took it away from it. Over a petty dispute. He would never forgive him.
K. Rool watched in complete shock as DK stood to his feet, taking slow, deep breaths. His eyes were still closed, but his soul swelled with fortitude.
"Perhaps you aren't as soft as I initially thought. Too bad your strength won't save you from the darkness!"
K. Rool threw a punch. DK caught it. He opened his eyes, staring at the king with a vicious stare. And with one punch to the face, K. Rool flew backwards. He caught himself, looking up at the Kong in bewilderment. DK's was furious; his breathing became rapid. He let out an ear shattering roar that caused the air to vibrate.
The King of the Jungle had risen again.
Cranky heard his grandson's fierce roar. What was happening over there? He didn't want to assume the worse. Only his eyes would give him the answer. And he hoped the answer wouldn't imprison his heart in a steel cage of remorse. Fighting against his withered bones, he hobbled towards the battle.
Inspired by DK's second wind, Sora and his friends fought even harder against the Stealth Sneak. The Heartless fired more beams from its hands. Sora deflected them. Using his tongue as a grappling hook, Yoshi wrapped it around the Heartless' horn, pulled himself over, and delivered a kick to the head. While the creature was stunned, Yoshi performed his 'butt stomp,' forcing it to the ground.
Luigi continued the assault by delivering his fire uppercut, which forced it to reel back in pain; it let out an agonizing screech. Sora held the Keyblade with both hands, closed his eyes, and concentrated on the energy from within. A new power was hidden deep within his soul; he channeled it straight to the Keyblade.
Running forward at blinding speeds, he delivered a power slash right across the Heartess' stomach. It flailed around, screeching from the unbearable pain. Sora leaped into the air and delivered the strike straight down its torso. The Heartless stumbled back, feeling life fading from its body. It collapsed onto the ground, exhausted, but still clinging onto its existence.
K. Rool tried teleporting again, but DK was able to sense his pattern, and countered every strike with his own. Where did this burst of strength come from, K. Rool thought? He reappeared behind him, and the Kong lifted his arm, delivering a punch with his knuckle. DK turned around to deliver another punch to the face. Then, he grabbed the king's shoulder, and headbutted with such force that K. Rool ended up in the ground.
But DK's assault was about to get worse. He slapped K. Rool over the head nonstop. Bright lights flashed through his vision as if someone was taking relentless pictures with a camera. DK unearth the king like a useless weed, and then unleashed a string of fast, rapid punches on him. K. Rool felt every crushing blow press against his bones.
After delivering the last punch, he started winding up his arm for one final strike. K. Rool was fatigued from the endless onslaught. Even with the darkness by his side, it felt like hundreds of boulders collided with him. He couldn't believe this was real. The nightmare was supposed to over. He had won.
He had won.
DK delivered one final punch that sent K. Rool halfway across the vicinity. He landed on the ground – broken, exhausted. It was over. DK kneeled over, both from relief and enervation. The others hurried over to offer their support.
Luigi helped DK to his feet. "Easy big fella. You did great."
Everyone took a moment to catch their breath, which was a familiar, comforting sound. They could lower their defenses. At least, that's what they hoped. They heard grunting, and to their dismay, saw K. Rool struggle to his feet. He was drained, but his pride refused to accept the harsh reality.
Cranky arrived at the scene. Seeing his former friend in such a miserable state was upsetting. He had become a shell of his former self – driven by revenge and animosity. All the joy had been smothered within those toxic desires.
"Mama-mia!" Luigi said, exasperated. "Don't you know when you're beaten?"
"I will not allow myself to be defeated by some bottom dwellers," K. Rool said, fatigued. "I am the mighty King K. Rool, and I will never rest until I take back what is mine! You hear!?"
Little did he know that a familiar chameleon Heartless had risen to its feet, refusing to quit. But the lethal wounds on its chest were too strong to ignore. The Heartless stumbled forward, looming over the king, and took its last breath.
"K. Rool! Look out!" Cranky shouted.
The king looked over his shoulder, noticing the Heartless start to fall on him. He ran for his life, but let out a bloodcurdling scream as he was crushed beneath its chest. Everyone stared in silent horror. Adrenaline pushed against Cranky's legs, and he hurried over K. Rool. Stealth Sneak vanished, leaving behind a pool of darkness that started consuming K. Rool's being.
He opened his eyes one last time; standing over him was Cranky, his old friend. It had been so long since their eyes met one another. He saw the grief in the Kong's eyes. It was in the last moments of his life that made him realize he squandered an incredible friendship – all because of a jealousy. He remembered the good times they shared; the stories they told each other; and the jokes that made them laugh together.
But it was too late to redeem himself. This was his punishment – his fate.
"I'm sorry, old friend," K. Rool said.
"Me too," Cranky said. "Rest easy."
The darkness swallowed him whole. Cranky continued staring in depressed silence. He should be relieved; the Kremlings were no longer a threat to their island. Their king was gone forever. But those good memories refused to fade – a reminder that, despite their differences, they cared for each other's wellbeing.
Deep down, maybe their friendship could have been rekindled. But Cranky would never know now. The others empathized with him.
"Cranky, are you—?" Luigi started to ask.
"I'm fine," Cranky said in a crestfallen tone. "At least he's free of any pain. I…I need a few minutes."
He sat on a nearby log, and descended into the basement of his memories, lamenting. The jungle remained silent, to express their sympathy for his loss.
The other Kongs walked at a leisurely pace on the beach. Their thoughts, though, were running a marathon through their heads, wondering about their friends, hoping they stopped K. Rool. But they soon found themselves in their own predicament, as a dark portal appeared in front of them. Diddy drew his pistols, sensing danger lingering within the darkness.
The hooded figure emerged. Something about his dark, aloof presence made the Kongs feel apprehensive.
"W-Who's that?" Tiny asked.
"No idea," Diddy said, keeping his fingers on the triggers. "Don't like his attire. Might be trouble."
"Now, now," the figure said. "It's not nice to make rash judgements. Especially in front of your new guest. K. Rool had failed to deliver, so it seems I have to do the job myself."
He held out his hand, summoning his sword, and pointed it at Dixie. "Surrender yourself to me, princess, and there won't be any trouble."
"Me?" Dixie asked, baffled. "Princess? I don't know what you're talking about it. You must be mistaken."
"Trust me," the figure said. "I know I have the right one. Your presence is required."
He started walking towards her, but Diddy blocked his path. Both barrels were aimed straight at him.
"Back off, pal!" Diddy said in a threatening tone. "She's not going with some weirdo in a cloak."
"And what are you going to do?" the figure asked. "Overwhelm my taste buds with peanuts?"
He walked closer towards the spider monkey. Nervous sweat streamed down his forehead.
"I'm warning you!" Diddy said; his hands were trembling. He wasn't sure what to expect from this stranger.
But he had no choice. Whoever this person was, he wouldn't let him harm Dixie. He fired the peanuts, and was surprised to see the figure vanish in front of him. His heart pounded in terror. Where did he go? Then, he felt a crushing blow to the back of his neck, and fell to the ground. His body trembled from exhaustion.
Soon, he heard screaming and struggling. Dixie's cries for help rung in his ears. But he couldn't move. Her screaming started to fade. Diddy found himself losing consciousness. Before he collapsed, a tear streamed down his face. He failed to keep his promise to DK. And worse of all, he was about to lose the love of his life.
"Dixie….I'm sorry…"
Diddy carried his guilt into a state of unconsciousness.
The trees rustled in the wind. Clouds loomed over the heart of the jungle, making it appear darker, only adding to the solemn atmosphere. Cranky continued staring off into the bushes, releasing a downpour of sadness. It was quiet. The group respected Cranky's privacy. But as the sun started to descent, they need to look away from the past, and focus on the future.
Luigi broke the uncomfortable silence. "Hey, it's starting to get late. We should probably crash here for tonight. This day has been exhausting, to say the least."
No one responded. That same downpour continued to rain on their spirits. Luigi got their attention.
"What?" Sora asked, snapping out of his thoughts. "Sorry. Wasn't listening. It's just…do you think Cranky'll be okay?"
He felt a giant hand on his shoulder, and looked up to see DK smiling at him. The Kong walked over to his grandfather, sitting next to him on the log. Cranky felt his presence beneath the sorrow. He knew DK wanted to help him feel better.
"Ever have one of those moments where you wish time travel was a thing?" Cranky asked, still staring off in the distance. "This is one of those times. There are so many scenarios we play out in our minds. In a strange way, it's comforting. Makes us forget that reality doesn't give us those opportunities. Right now, I feel empty inside."
"Cranky….no empty," DK said in English, startling everyone. Even Cranky. He made that strange chant again. "Friends there. See friends."
"What is that he's been saying?" Sora asked. "Keep forgetting to ask."
"It means heart," Cranky said. "Friends in our heart."
"H-Heart," DK repeated.
Sora sighed in disappointment. "Oh, so that's what it means."
"Friends, same heart," DK said. "K. Rool, lose heart. No heart, no see friends. No heart, no friends."
Sora felt Luigi and Yoshi's presence next to him. Immediately, he put his arms around them Hearing DK's speech made Sora realize how important they were to him. He never wanted to experience those same dejected feelings as K. Rool. There was no point to it. Just like his argument with Luigi. Like Yoshi said, it brought nothing but despair.
He was happy to have them by his side in this incredible journey. Without them, he's not sure what he would do.
"Cranky have family in heart," DK said, patting his grandfather on the back.
Cranky chuckled. "You know, sometimes I sorely underestimate your wisdom. Now I know I picked the right Kong."
DK responded with an appreciative smile.
"But don't let that news get to your head," Cranky said in his usual grouchy tone. "You still have a lot of space that needs filling in there. Understand?"
DK rolled his eyes. Everyone couldn't help but snicker. Cranky seemed back to normal. While losing a friend was hard, Cranky knew that he still had the love and support of his family. No one could ever take that away from him. Out of the corner of his eye, Yoshi noticed a strange glow hidden behind a group of butterflies.
He got the group's attention, and approached the butterflies. The light flashed even brighter, which caused the butterflies to flee in surprise.
When the light dimmed, Sora was startled by what he saw. "It's a keyhole." Indeed, it was resting on a rock. "Like the one we saw on Samus' world. What does it mean?"
The Keyblade appeared in his hand, as if by its own volition. Maybe this was sign, he thought. That the Keyblade was guiding him again. Perhaps he had lock it, just like yesterday. It felt right to him. He held up the blade, firing a small laser into the Keyhole, and it vanished from sight, producing that same locking noise.
Before vanishing completely, a familiar block popped out, and landed in front of Luigi and Yoshi.
"A Labo piece," Luigi said.
Yoshi lowered his head in disappointment. "But it not Mario's."
"What was that about?" Cranky asked.
Sora shrugged. "Honestly, I'm not sure."
"Y'know, after today, I'm fine with not knowing," Cranky said.
"So, we're probably going to crash here tonight," Luigi said. "Hope you don't mind."
Cranky frowned at them. It seemed the answer was obvious. Nothing made this guy happy, Sora thought.
But then, Cranky smiled. "After all you've done, I don't see why not. But you ain't freeloading at my place. That is, unless, one of you wants the honor of giving me a sponge bath. Spoiler later: you have to be thorough!"
Everyone did their best not to grimace. It was a fate worse than fighting K. Rool and the Heartless combined.
"No, that's okay," Luigi said. "Think I'll be sleeping with the bugs tonight."
Cranky crossed his arms, scowling. "Very funny."
The group then broke into laughter. After today, they needed some levity.
Back in the mysterious dark room, Bowser, Black Shadow, and Ganondorf – who was leaning against the wall – had watched the whole event unfold. For a while, they remained silent, deconstructing ever vivid image like a painting, trying to understand its failures.
"Ha, I win!" Black Shadow said with a boastful grin. "Knew he wouldn't last. Hand it over!"
Bowser grumbled as he relinquished his betting money to him. "Don't pat yourself too hard on the back. Your brain might just start rattling around in your head. Next time'll be different!"
"But next time it might be you." Black Shadow thought about this prospect. "Hm, this is a win-win situation."
Bowser growled in anger. "Shut up! K. Rool's got nothing on me! Not even the darkness can touch my awesomeness."
"That's exactly the kind of mindset that ended in disaster for K. Rool and Ridley." Ganondorf stood up and approached them. "Weak hearted fools like them drove their lust for power too far. The heartless are not to be taken lightly. Perhaps this is a lesson for all of us."
"You've got a point, desert boy," Bowser said. He smirked. "But I ain't worried. I know my limits."
Black Shadow moaned in annoyance. "Says the one who is obsessed with the Mushroom Kingdom's ruler. I've seen you insert cutouts of yourself into pictures with her."
"Sooooo, what's your point?" Bower asked.
Black Shadow had gone from annoyed to enraged. "You're intolerable! I swear, Mother Brain could've led better than you!"
Ganondorf had a headache. Is this what a Pols Voice felt like when it heard unbearable noises (a creature from his world)?
"Watch it, Ace!" Bowser said, just as furious. "I have a Star Rod that's going to be firmly stuck up—"
"Enough of this frivolous arguing!" Ganondorf said in a loud, harsh voice. "We have more pressing matters. The boy is starting to become a nuisance. Aside from rescuing two Star Spirits, he found two Keyholes."
Bowser crossed his arms, unconcerned. "Pfttt, whatever. It'll take him forever to find the rest. Like he's even aware of our plans."
"Yes, the princesses," Ganondorf said.
"They are falling onto our hands, one by one," Bowser said; his smile grew wider. He felt the excitement building in his chest.
The sounds of struggling echoed throughout the room. It became louder, catching the group's attention. The hood figure entered the room; behind him was Dixie, being restrained by two Power Wild's. She was too busy squirming to notice the ban of dark individuals glaring at her in delight.
"Put me down, creeps!" Dixie said. "Wait until DK and Diddy show up! You'll be sorry!"
Her struggled ceased upon hearing loud, heavy footsteps. She glanced up at the Koopa King, who grinned at her, showing his vicious teeth. Dixie whimpered in fear at the sight of his monstrous visage. It was as if her nightmares took on a will of their own.
"Heard that one before," Bowser said. "A fool's wish."
Dixie felt herself shrink as he loomed over her.
"Aw, don't worry your little pretty head." He placed his finger and thumb on her chin. "We just need to borrow your heart for a little bit. No big deal. It'll be quick and painless."
She looked into his eyes, recognizing that same pathetic, narcissistic personality that bred life into K. Rool. You could've mistaken them for distant cousins. And she realized that there was no reason to be afraid. Regaining her courage, she bit the Koopa King's hand.
He shouted in pain, and clutched his hand. "You little flea brained chimp! You better hope I don't get rabies! Otherwise you're gonna have a bad time! Lock her up with the bounty hunter!"
The Heartless carried her away, as she continued kicking and screaming. Bowser noticed the others giving him teasing glares. With an angry snort, he turned back to the hooded figure, who started to exit the room.
"Hey, what's your rush?" Bowser asked. "Not even a hello? You're on a role today."
He stopped, and continued to stare at the door. "Sorry. I don't like to linger here. Too much noise if you ask me."
"I know, I know," Bowser said. "You wanna piece together your memories in peace. But I want to know how our recruit is coming along."
The figured turned to face Bowser. "His progress is spectacular. He knows how to utilize the darkness effortlessly." He smirked beneath his cloak. "Funny. He and the key bearer are fast learners."
"Good," Bowser with a content look on his face. "Might have use for that kid soon. Tomorrow's another princess hunting day. You're going to Traverse Town. But not by yourself."
Bowser gestured towards the corner of the room. Glowing red eyes faded into existence within the darkness. A familiar voice giggled in sinister glee, preparing to lunge from the shadows, and bring about chaos.
Everyone reunited at the tree houses. But the reunion was anything but pleasant. Tiny was buried in Candy's arms, crying over her sister's disappearance. Diddy did his best to fight back the tears himself. But he was ashamed. Anyone would be for failing to protect their loved ones. And worst of all, she was gone.
Dixie's boundless energy always kept him from falling into a state of hopelessness. Her smile kept him happy. Unable to restrain his emotions, he ran into DK's arms, sobbing, untangling the pain like a tight knot. Sora felt depressed; he thought this story would have a happy ending. Every time they tried helping someone, the results were bittersweet. And the taste grew worse with each world they visited.
But he wanted to stay optimistic; to believe that a happy ending could be achieved. Not just for his new friends, but for himself. To find Riku and Kairi. And to go home. But a pessimistic voice continued to pester him, believing that wasn't the case. Still, he fought to keep that voice subdued. After Diddy was calm, he explained the situation.
"Wonder what that guy wants with her?" Luigi asked.
"I don't care!" Diddy said, trying to regain his confidence; he refused to quit. "We should do a full-on search of the jungle."
"It's not that easy," Sora said in a discouraging tone. "We have this feeling she's been taken to another world."
"How are you sure?" Diddy asked, refusing to believe such an outlandish claim. He wanted to find her now!
Before he could explain, Luigi cleared his throat, reminding him of the world order.
Sora sighed in irritation, and reworked his statement. "It's too long of a story, but we know she's out there somewhere."
Diddy lowered his head in disappointment.
"Then maybe we keep eyes out for her," Yoshi said.
Diddy's eye lit up, feeling a resurgence of hope. "You'd do that?"
"Sure," Sora said with a smile. "We don't mind."
Luigi chuckled. "We've apparently become the search and rescue club. But like Yoshi said, we'll keep an our out for her!"
"Thank you so much!" Diddy said, grabbing Yoshi's hands in excitement.
Sora and his friends hope they could deliver on their promise.
Evening graced the peaceful jungle. The breeze was cool, yet calm. Animals crawled into their natural environments, falling into a deep sleep, feeling safe, feeling secure, awaiting tomorrow's offerings. Sora and his friends spent the night in DK's treehouse. It was a single room with a lush red carpet, a box full of bananas, barrels spread throughout, a tire swing hanging in the corner, and two hammocks made from leaves.
DK scattered a large pile of leaves on the rug for Sora and his friends to use as makeshift beds. After engaging in casual conversation for a while, everyone went to sleep, feeling the strain of today's challenges. Only Diddy and Luigi remained awake. The little Kong couldn't stop thinking about Dixie, worrying about her.
Meanwhile, Luigi was awake because of DK's snoring. He grabbed two bananas, stuck them in his ears, and drifted back to sleep. Yoshi woke up sometime later, feeling that something wasn't right. The room felt a bit emptier to him. It took him a moment to realize that Sora was missing. Anxious, he glanced around the room, seeing no trace of him. The dinosaur stood up and, hoping to not wake anyone, crept outside of the house.
He was surprised to see a small fire had been lit, illuminating the dark jungle. Laying next to it was Sora; he was gazing up at the stars, lost in his thoughts, refusing to leave. The weight of this entire journey was starting to expand his stomach. There was so much for him to contemplate.
"Sora?" Yoshi's voice forced him out of that ditch.
He sat up, looked over his shoulder, and smiled. "Hey. Couldn't sleep 'cause of DK's snoring, huh?"
"No," Yoshi said. There was slight whimper in his voice. "Me woke up and you gone. Yoshi got worried."
"Don't worry about me," Sora said. "I'm fine."
"Can Yoshi join you?"
Sora grinned. "Like I'd say no. Come chill."
Sora lay down again. Yoshi lay next to him. For a while, the two stared up at the stars, watching them blink in and out of existence. It was a beautiful sight that never got uninteresting. But despite his best efforts to focus, his ravenous, pessimistic thoughts started to drag him into the ditch again. He let out a disheartened sigh, and rested both hands on his chest.
"You okay?" Yoshi asked.
Sora's eyes remained fixed on the sky. "This place reminds me of home. Something about it is just peaceful. The way the wind blows through the trees, the sounds of the animals; it brings me back. On some nights, Riku, Kairi and I would sleep under the stars, holding each other's hands. Sometimes the simplest of things bring us the most joy, right?"
Yoshi could hear the sad inflections in his voice. Even for someone so young, he understood the subtext of Sora's words.
"Sora miss home," Yoshi said. "And friends."
Sora glanced at Yoshi. "More than ever. I expected the three of us to take our raft, visit every world imaginable, and come back to tell our other friends. It was going to be wonderful. We're big dreamers. But this wasn't the dream I expected. I really thought Riku and Kairi were here. Guess I was just fooling myself. Now I start to wonder if I'll ever see them again. And will I ever go home? Is my home even still there?"
Sora looked down at his hands; they were clutching at his chest, trying to calm the nervous feeling rattling inside like scrap metal.
"I'm….scared for the future," Sora said.
"Sora..." Yoshi felt guilty for his predicament.
"Sorry," Sora said, feeling somewhat embarrassed. "I didn't mean to ramble."
Yoshi smiled. "No. Me understand. Yoshi worried about Mario. Me know future is scary, but, Yoshi knows that he not facing the future alone. Me have you and Luigi to make it less scary. Maybe it take long time to find home and friends. During that time, you can live with Yoshi, if you want. We do all sorts of things together: karting, golfing, parties! That keep Sora happy!"
Sora couldn't help but feel appreciative by Yoshi's kind gesture.
"Aw, you don't have to do that," Sora said. "After all, we've been together for like, what, a day, and now you want me to live with you?"
"Sometimes a day all it take to get to know someone," Yoshi said. "Me like hanging with Sora. That why Yoshi sad when you almost leave."
"You know what? I feel the same way. I would've never left. I was just angry, that's all. You guys have been a big help to me. I'd have been stuck in Traverse Town if I didn't meet you."
Yoshi smiled. "It no big deal. All for one, right? Me promise to help you find Riku and Kairi, no matter what."
The dinosaur's positive energy covered the ditch. Sora felt reassured by Yoshi's words. He felt a connection with him. Even when he met Riku, it took a while for their friendship to cultivate into a relationship akin to brothers – one that would last forever. Maybe it was because they had different ideals and views on the world
With Yoshi, their personalities latched together like train cufflinks, creating one strong unit that worked together. While Luigi and Isabelle were also his good friends, Sora felt like he could talk to Yoshi on a similar level. It was hard to explain. They just enjoyed each other's company. And while he missed Riku and Kairi, his new friends were able to fill the emptiness in his heart.
"Thanks," Sora said, feeling better.
As Sora turned back to the stars, he felt Yoshi squeeze his hand, trying to help him relieve those fond memories. To make him feel happy. Sora glanced back at the dinosaur, who smiled, reassuring him that everything would be okay. Tears started to crawl out of Sora's eye ducts. He did his best to keep them at bay.
The two looked up at the stars, and soon, they fell asleep, having pleasant dreams of a better tomorrow.
Once morning arrived, the Kongs escorted the group back to their ship. On the way, they found another piece of Captain Olimar's ship, along with more Pikmin hovering around it. Sora looked up at the clear blue sky; he hated to leave. This was the closest place that reminded him of home But a substitute could never replace the genuine article. He would never be satisfied.
Soon, they arrived at the ship, and turned to say their good-byes.
"Welp, time to hit the intergalactic highway," Luigi said, stretching his arms. Although he was still drowsy from the lack of sleep, courtesy of DK's snoring.
"We can't thank you enough," Candy said. "Right, Cranky?"
Cranky glared at them with a neutral expression. "Eh, you guys did alright."
"Still stubborn as ever," Candy said, smiling as she rolled her eyes.
"Good luck out there," Diddy said. "If you find Dixie, please bring her home."
Yoshi saluted him. "You can count on us."
DK was sad to see Sora leave. He had formed a strong bond with him – one that was filled with trust and respect. But he knew Sora didn't belong here; it wasn't right for him to stay. DK pulled the boy into a big hug, crushing his body in the process.
"Sora, Donkey Kong, friends," he said.
Sora winced in pain, although he appreciated the gesture. "Same here, big guy. Maybe you could be less friendly on my back, though."
DK let out a sheepish chuckle, and pulled away from Sora. With their good-byes exchanged, the group entered the ship, and returned to the endless vacuum of space, where new worlds were raring to be explored.
But the Kongs would never forget their new friends; for helping bring eternal peace to their home. DK awaited the day Sora returned, so they could laugh together while swinging through the jungle.
The Labo Ship returned to space, being greeted by an endless group of bright, blinking stars. Sora gazed down at DK's world one last time – he hoped that everyone would find peace now that the Kremlings were disbanded. But a sense of guilt trailed behind him; he knew finding Dixie was an ambitious task (look at how much luck he was having with his own friends).
Still, Sora made a promise, and he never broke it. For now, he would have to take things one step at a time. Perhaps finding that hooded figure was the first hurdle he needed to cross. While he continued to let his mind drift in a sea of endless ideas, Luigi felt something heavy in his pockets. He remembered the two Labo pieces they found, pulled them out, and examined them.
"These Labo pieces aren't like any others I've seen before," Luigi said.
"I wonder what function they serve for the ship," Isabelle said.
Luigi shook his head. "Don't know. Mario only taught me how to fly it. He never showed me how it's constructed."
"I'm still trying to figure out why they were hidden in those keyholes," Sora said, who had snapped out of his pondering to join the conversation. "Better yet, what's the point of those keyholes?"
Yoshi rubbed his eyelids. "Too many questions. Yoshi's brain can't stretch that far."
"Think Leon would know?" Luigi asked.
"Worth a shot," Sora said. "Let's head back to Traverse Town."
"Good idea," Isabelle said. "I think we can all use a break from the strange worlds we've been to."
Sora smiled; he wanted to go back and see how the others were doing, anyways. Despite not being gone long, he missed them. He could tell they cared for his well-being. And he felt the same way for them. They were good friends he could always count on for advice.
Filled with so much excitement, Sora said, "I want to be the pilot!"
"You have a lot of nerve to say that after what happened yesterday," Luigi said, glowering at him.
Sora formed an innocent, pleading smile. "I'll be careful! I promise!"
"No way!"
"But I'm the Keyblade Master!"
"I don't care if you're a prepubescent flying ace! Forget it!"
Sora glared at Luigi in confusion for that statement. "Huh?"
"Maybe you should give him a chance, Luigi," Isabelle said. "You did say you'd think about it."
Luigi turned to her with a shock expression. "Are you serious? What about your fear of flying?"
"I've gotten better," Isabelle said (although she did hesitate for a fleeting moment). "I think I'll be okay with it."
Luigi crossed his arms, unconvinced. "Still, give me one good reason why I should give him a shot?"
"Because I remember a certain someone 'put the silly thing in reverse' the first time he piloted the ship," Isabelle said.
Luigi's face became redder than the ship itself. He had forgotten about his earlier incident with crashing into the tree. And someone wasn't going to let him forget it, as he felt Sora slowly penetrate his personal boundaries, grinning in confidence.
"Something you'd like to share with the class?" Sora asked in a playful tone.
Luigi sighed in defeat. "Okay, okay. I might've flew the ship into a tree."
Sora's grin widened; it was unnatural, and unnerving, like something out of a horror movie.
"Stop that!" Luigi said, agitated. "It's creepy!"
"See?" Anyone can make a mistake," Isabelle said with a pleasant smile. "Even a good pilot like you. Why not give him a chance?"
Luigi's heart and mind were locked in an arm-wrestling match. Unfortunately, the winner wasn't in his favor.
"Alright," he said with a heavy sigh. "I'm going to go against my better judgement here. You can pilot the ship."
Sora was ecstatic. "Alright! Thanks!"
The two switched seats, although Luigi took an awkward amount of time to sit down, trying to delay the inevitable sound of screaming throughout space.
"Cool," Yoshi said. "Maybe that mean Yoshi get a shot next?"
Luigi gave the dinosaur an enraged glare, as if he was about take away dessert forever.
Yoshi, timid, slide behind the back of Luigi's seat. "Me pushing it, huh?"
"What do I do first? What do I do first?" Sora said, gazing at the controls with unrelenting excitement. It was like being a kid in amusement park. Where do you even start?
"Settle down!" Luigi said in a stern tone. "Let's start by turning the ship around."
Luigi made sure his instructions were clear and conscience; one small flub could be fatal, like dropping a lighted match in the woods. He shut his eyes, expecting the worse. But to his surprise, he felt the ship rotate at a steady pace. He opened them to see they were facing away from the jungle.
Luigi felt a string of confidence vibrate in his chest. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad, he thought. After all, Sora was a fast learner. Especially with the Keyblade.
Feeling relieved (and impressed), Luigi said, "Okay. So far so good. Now, start the engines." Sora did as instructed. "There's the acceleration. Remember to go…"
Sora pushed the acceleration level all the way to the top. The ship flew off into space at blinding speeds.
"…EASYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!" Luigi bellowed.
Believing he won a free mansion was no longer the dumbest idea to invade Luigi's mind.
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