The Calm Before the Storm
Chains rattled and propellers hummed as the ‘Flying Kroc’ – prized airship of the Kremlings – hovered in the air. The sea sparkled below it, penetrated by many lines of chains that hung from the mighty airship.
At the helm stood K. Rool, leader of the Kremlings, and mortal enemy of the Kong clan.
One of the crewmembers ran up to him. “Kaptain K. Rool! Our divers are reporting that the lines have made successful contact.”
“Very well,” his leader said. “Pull it up.”
On his command, the Flying Kroc ascended, and its chains creaked and went taut as they began to haul an immense load from the depths. The propellers of the airship whined and smoked in protest, and warning lights and buzzers began to blare all over the cockpit.
But Kaptain K. Rool was not one to be opposed. If he wanted something done, it was done, and with no consideration of the consequences. This was the entire reason he had his technicians improve the airship’s engines.
Surely enough, amidst a tidal wave, the peak of a colossal mountain emerged from the watery depths, followed soon by the remainder of his dark mockery of an island.
Crocodile Isle.
The Kremlings’ homeland.
K. Rool’s devilish laugh was heard by all his crewmen. The colossal chains were dropped into the sea in a maelstrom of foamy splashes, and the waves subsided as the island took its place upon the Seven Seas once more.
The pirate king turned to his servant. “At last, our island is once again ready to serve as the origin from which we will launch our conquest of the surrounding islands.” His face darkened as he recalled previous events which had led to the sinking of Crocodile Isle in the first place. “As for those mangy Kongs, this affront will not go unpunished.”
-
Donkey Kong swung through the trees, enjoying the feel of the tropical breeze on his face. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and times were altogether great on DK Island. The mighty ape had decided to go one of his journeys to improve his strength and break out of his idleness.
“Just don’t go too far,” Wrinkly had said when he told her where he was going. “The jungle is dangerous.” Cranky’s good natured old wife was always worrying for the well-being of others on the island.
“Pah!” the elderly ape in question had snorted. “The boy needs this! Better than sitting around on the beach all day, drinking banana milkshakes!” He had then prodded DK’s belly with his cane. “Looking a bit fat there, kid!”
“Jeez, Cranky, that’s a low blow,” DK had muttered, but set out on his journey nonetheless, unaware of the danger at hand.
-
Birds twittered in the trees outside the window as Diddy and Dixie Kong sat in her tree-house, sipping on coconut juice. The evening breeze was drifting in from the ocean, and the sky was darkening quickly, with the first stars already beginning to twinkle.
Diddy sighed contentedly as he felt the wind blowing upon his face, ruffling his fur and cap. “I’ve always liked visiting your place,” he commented, gesturing to the darkening blue jewel of the ocean outside the window. “It has such a nice view of the beach.”
“Why do you think my sister and I chose to live here?” Dixie replied with a smile.
Neither of them heard the distant BOOM, but the whistling drew their attention, as did the explosion of gunpowder right outside!
“What was that?” Dixie screamed.
“Cannon fire!” Diddy yelled. He grabbed his friend and dragged her to the floor as another cannonball smashed right through the flimsy wooden walls of the hut, sending splinters flying in every direction.
The tree creaked and groaned horrendously as its roots were all but annihilated in the bombardment. The monkeys’ eyes widened in horror as the room tilted sideways. With a deafening CRASH, the entire tree was felled.
Just off the coast, a Kremling galleon approached the island. Its sails and flags were all black, and the largest sail bore a skull and crossbones. The intermittent flashes of cannons lit up the dark night sky as it blanketed the coastline of DK Island in cannon fire.
Very soon, however, the lights of torches could also be seen crossing the water. Several rowboats touched up against the shore and unloaded landing parties of bloodthirsty pirates, eager to wreak vengeance upon the Kongs.
-
DK turned back for home as soon as he heard the sound of cannons. He arrived amidst a scene of devastation – trees were felled, houses were toppled and the jungle burned around him.
“About time you got back here, you lazy bum!” Cranky snapped.
“What happened?” DK exclaimed as he took in his surroundings.
“Kremlings, that’s what. They came to attack us, and managed to capture Funky, Tiny, Candy and Wrinkly.”
“What!”
Cranky scowled. “My wife would never hurt a fly. Why they took her, I don’t know. Probably to get back at me.” There was a flicker of worry in the old ape’s eye. “You have to get her back.”
DK nodded in agreement. He was going to save all of his friends. He immediately set off to find Diddy and Dixie, hoping that he was not already too late...