Chapter 3 - Jungle Boogie
Mario, Pit, and Yoshi lay unconscious in the recovery beds of Peach's Castle, the morning sunlight filtering through the curtains. The room was quiet except for the faint hum of magic, which was helping their bodies heal after Bowser's devastating attack.
Pit, however, felt himself drifting somewhere between consciousness and dream. He was alone in darkness until he heard a voice, light and mischievous, taunting him.
"Pit… Pit… wake up…"
"Viridi?" he groaned, rubbing his head.
Viridi chuckled. "I thought you would've taken care of Bowser by now. You can't lose to him twice!"
Pit scowled, already bristling at her mocking tone. "It's easy to criticize when you weren't even there. You could've helped, you know!"
Viridi rolled her eyes, clearly unfazed. "If I had known you'd get beaten so badly, maybe I would have. But what's done is done. No point crying over it now."
Before Pit could argue, Palutena's calm yet firm voice cut in. "Enough, both of you! Bickering won't help anyone. We have a far bigger problem on our hands, and I think you know that, Pit."
Pit sighed, his irritation fading as he looked at Palutena. "Right… Galeem and Dharkon."
"Well, it seems like you got a chance to fight with your idol," Palutena mentioned.
"I know! Do you think he'll sign my wings when he wakes up?" Pit exclaimed, waking Mario up.
He blinked as the memories of the attack came flooding back. His fists clenched, his eyes narrowing as he remembered Bowser's ambush and the kidnapping of Peach and Daisy.
"That… that monster," Mario growled, the rare fire in his eyes catching even Pit by surprise. "He took Peach and Daisy. We need to stop him before things get worse."
Yoshi also stirred awake, nodding his head in agreement. He let out a determined "Yoshi!" before hopping down from his bed.
"So, let me get this straight. Yoshi lays eggs, but he's actually male?" Viridi mentioned, voicing her confusion.
"Uhh, shouldn't you know that, O goddess of nature?" Pit remarked.
"Oh come on, Pit! There's nothing natural about this guy!" Viridi replied as Yoshi gave a confused look.
"Uhh, who are you-a talking to?" Mario asked.
"Oh yeah, it's time you all know exactly what we're up against," Palutena began. "The voice you hear right now is from me, Palutena."
"And I'm the Goddess of Nature, Viridi," Viridi cut in. "Just in case Palutena falls asleep, I'll chime in too!"
"Anyways, you're up against something dangerous." Palutena started. "There are two divine beings, Galeem and Dharkon. Together, they're attempting to reshape the multiverse to fit their twisted visions and using your nemeses against you. While I won't intervene right now, Viridi and I will provide battle tips as long as Pit is with you."
"So… what do we do now?" Pit asked, looking at Mario.
Mario straightened, his usual confidence returning. "We need allies—strong ones. Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong are two of the strongest fighters I-a know. They could help us."
The Toads, who had been quietly attending to the heroes, cheered at Mario's resolve, encouraging him to go forth and defeat Bowser and save the princesses.
Soon, the trio set out from Peach's Castle, journeying toward the jungle that led to DK Island. They hadn't gone far when their surroundings shifted into something more mystical, surrounded by dense, unfamiliar trees.
"What… where are we?" Pit muttered, scanning the thick forest around them. The trees were taller, and a soft golden glow filled the air. He began to realize that the very landscape was somehow changing around them.
A warm, friendly voice interrupted their confusion. "Mario! Long time no see, buddy!"
Mario spun around, his eyes lighting up with recognition. "Banjo!" he called out, grinning as he spotted the familiar brown bear and his wise-cracking bird companion, Kazooie, who perched on Banjo's backpack.
Banjo scratched his head. "What're you guys doing in Click Clock Wood? I didn't think we'd be running into any familiar faces today."
Mario looked around, frowning. "Click Clock Wood? I thought we were heading toward DK Island."
Pit looked around warily. "I think Galeem and Dharkon's plan is already messing with our worlds' cores. Things are shifting around."
Kazooie raised an eyebrow, a little skeptical. "Great, just what we need—more wacky adventures."
Banjo looked at Mario with concern. "Well, if you're looking for Donkey Kong, we're actually on our way to see him too. We can tag along and help!"
Mario grinned and gave a quick nod. "All right! Let's go find him together!"
Meanwhile, in a different universe, Little Mac was preparing for his next boxing match, stretching his arms and breathing deeply to focus. He felt the usual adrenaline pumping through his veins as he stepped into the ring, bouncing on his feet to warm up. But when he looked up, he froze in surprise.
"Donkey Kong?"
The towering ape beat his chest with a grin, eyeing Little Mac with interest. The referee signaled the start, and the two fighters began to circle each other. Donkey Kong moved with a wild, unpredictable rhythm that threw Little Mac off, each swing heavy and full of primal power.
The match was intense, with Little Mac dodging and landing several quick jabs, but Donkey Kong's unorthodox techniques kept him off balance. Finally, with a fierce uppercut, Donkey Kong landed a hit that sent Little Mac sprawling.
Mac lay there, dazed, as Donkey Kong picked him up, slinging him over his shoulder. The ape gave a proud grin—he was always looking for worthy opponents to bring back to DK Island, and Little Mac was exactly that.
"Hey, where are you going?" Doc Louis shouted. "You can't just take Mac like that!"
Donkey Kong looked back as he slung Doc Louis over his shoulder too as he left to go to DK Island. Back on DK Island, Diddy Kong watched with an amused grin as Little Mac groaned awake and took stock of his new surroundings.
"What the—where am I?" Little Mac asked as he got up.
Donkey Kong looked at him as he carried a punching bag over, pointing to Little Mac before pointing back to the punching bag. Seeing the fire in his eyes, DK and Diddy offered to train him. Though reluctant at first, Mac agreed, and the three of them spent the day sparring, training, and perfecting their fighting skills.
But their training was interrupted as Mario, Pit, Yoshi, Banjo, and Kazooie finally arrived, spotting the three in the middle of a sparring session.
"DK, long time no see?" Banjo asked, waving at him. DK and Diddy ran towards Banjo to hug him.
Mario went over to DK as well, "DK, how's it-a going?" DK gave a thumbs up as he and Mario shook hands; old friends reunited in a time of need.
The moment of peace was shattered by an ominous rumble, followed by a chilling laugh that filled the jungle. Everyone turned as King K. Rool appeared, towering over the group with his characteristic sneer.
"Well, well, what a happy little gathering," K. Rool taunted, clenching his massive fists. "Galeem and Dharkon told me I'd find some of you here."
Mario, Pit, Yoshi, Banjo, Kazooie, Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, and Little Mac all took defensive stances. K. Rool let out a low chuckle and cracked his knuckles, ready for the oncoming challenge. With a determined shout, the heroes charged forward, each bringing their unique skills to the fight.
Yoshi leaped high, fluttering above the fray as he launched a rain of eggs down on K. Rool, who merely grinned. In a flash, K. Rool uppercut Yoshi out of the air, sending him hurtling back with a pained cry as he crashed into the ground, dazed.
Pit flew in next, diving in with his twin blades spinning. But K. Rool reached out, grabbing him by the head mid-flight. With a wicked grin, he dragged Pit along the ground, kicking up dust and debris. With a final swing, K. Rool flung him across the jungle, and Pit tumbled to a stop, winded and bruised.
Banjo and Kazooie swooped in next, hoping to catch K. Rool off guard. Kazooie pecked at him in a flurry of red feathers, while Banjo tried to strike from below. But K. Rool sneered, grabbing Banjo by the scruff and slamming him hard into the ground. Banjo groaned as he tried to get up, only to slump back, defeated.
Mario seized the moment to rush in, aiming a powerful jump kick at K. Rool. But K. Rool saw it coming and sidestepped with surprising speed, countering with a brutal body slam that sent Mario skidding across the ground, knocked out cold.
Seeing his allies in trouble, Little Mac gritted his teeth and dashed forward, fists raised. He charged at K. Rool, who let out a dark chuckle, putting on his massive boxing gloves as he prepared to meet Mac in a contest of brute force.
Little Mac swung in hard, his powerful fist aimed straight at K. Rool's midsection. But K. Rool activated his golden belly armor, deflecting the blow with a sneering laugh before gut-checking him. The impact threw Mac off balance, and as he tried to steady himself, K. Rool's massive fist came crashing down, knocking him back and leaving him sprawled out on the ground.
With nearly everyone incapacitated, Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong exchanged a grim look, knowing it was now up to them.
With a fierce roar, DK charged in, fists swinging in powerful arcs, while Diddy darted around, launching peanuts and acrobatic kicks, creating a seamless rhythm as they tag-teamed K. Rool. For a moment, they seemed to be gaining ground, their coordinated attacks keeping K. Rool on his toes.
But K. Rool's dark energy surged, and he let out an enraged roar as he drew more power from the shadows. He swatted Diddy away with a single backhand, sending the nimble monkey flying. Then, with a dark gleam in his eye, he stomped down hard on DK, pinning him underfoot.
"Finally, a chance to get rid of you!" he hissed, raising a claw for the final blow.
Just then, Little Mac stirred, his eyes snapping open, now blazing with a fierce, almost feral determination. He pushed himself up, fists trembling with renewed strength and fury. Energy pulsed through his veins as he transformed, growing taller and stronger, his body now surging with raw power—Giga Mac had awakened.
"Holy moly," Doc Louis thought, "What got into Mac to make him turn into that?"
With a primal roar, Giga Mac charged at K. Rool, his massive fists glowing with unstoppable power. He slammed a devastating punch straight into K. Rool's golden gut, and this time the impact shattered K. Rool's armor, sending him stumbling back in shock.
He followed with a relentless barrage of punches, driving K. Rool further and further back as he struggled to stay on his feet. Finally, Giga Mac reared back and delivered a massive straight punch that sent K. Rool hurtling across the jungle, crashing into the ground with a thunderous impact.
As the adrenaline ebbed, Giga Mac reverted to his normal self, panting heavily. K. Rool struggled to his feet, stunned and weakened. With a final snarl, he retreated to his ship, the Gangplank Galleon, firing up his Blast-O-Matic.
Recognizing the invention from their previous adventures, Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong pointed to the massive machine in the crocodile's maw.
"I know you see this, Kongs," K. Rool laughed. "This is no longer the Blast-O-Matic; this is the SUCK-O-MATIC!"
K. Rool smashed a button on his control pad as the machine started charging purple energy. A massive rift opened, pulling everything in sight toward it. Diddy Kong, Banjo, Kazooie, Doc Louis, and Little Mac tried to hold on, but the suction was too strong. They were pulled into the rift, disappearing with horrified cries as K. Rool laughed and vanished.
Donkey Kong's rage boiled over, his fists shaking with fury. Pit placed a hand on his shoulder, trying to calm him.
"DK," he said softly, "we'll get your friends back. We won't stop until we do."
Mario nodded, determination blazing in his eyes. "We'll all stop Galeem and Dharkon together, no matter how far we have to go."
Donkey Kong took a deep breath and nodded. His friends had been taken, but now he had allies, and he would do whatever it took to save them.