Donkey Kong Country II - Diddy's Quest

Donkey Kong gulped down the last of his banana milkshake and sighed
happily, his old beach chair creaking as he wriggled his toes in the
sand.  "This is the life," he thought to himself.  "The sun beating
down on a clear blue sea, and no pesky banana-thieving Kremlings to
worry about."  Lazily he raised a hand to wave at Funky, who was
showing off his surfing expertise out on the waves with the squawking
seagulls.

Donkey Kong settled back and closed his eyes, thinking he'd have a
little doze, when he heard the sound of shuffling feet.  Before he knew
what was happening, Cranky Kong bopped him on the head with his cane.

"Yowch!" he exclaimed, glaring at the snickering old ape standing in
front of him.

"Well, well..." said Cranky, "what do you thing you're doing sitting
around all day?  They won't get much of a game out of this, will they?
I thought you were supposed to be a big star!"

"Even stars get time off," muttered Donkey Kong, rubbing his head.

"I never did," said Cranky proudly.  "Whisking off maidens and throwing
barrels around the place seven days a week, I was.  That's how I got
where I am today, you know.  Hard work.  None of this lazing around on
the beach."

"Why don't you go off an pester Diddy or something?" complained Donkey
Kong.  "Let me have a bit of peace for once!"

Cranky snorted.  "Hah!  He's off somewhere with that girlfriend of his.
But still, I can see when I'm not wanted..."

Grumbling to himself, Cranky shambled off down the beach, leaving
Donkey Kong to pull his hat over his eyes, sink down into his beach
chair and slowly drift to sleep.

When night fell and their big buddy still hadn't returned, Diddy and
Dixie Kong got worried and went to look for him.  As they reached the
beach, they saw hundreds of strange looking footprints that led from
the sea to form a big circle around the spot where Donkey Kong's chair
lay, smashed to pieces.

"Kremlings!" Diddy gasped in horror.

On top of the bits of chair they found a note:

        To the yellow-bellied, land-lubbing Kong Family:
        Hah-arrrrh!  We got the big monkey!
        If you want him back, you scurvy dogs,
        you'll have to hand over the banana hoard!

                                              Kaptain K. Rool

"I thought we'd seen the last of that old rascal for a while," sighed
Wrinkly Kong.  Cranky's good-natured, old wife, when the rest of the
family had read the ransom note.

"Well," grunted Cranky, "I suppose we'd better give him the bananas,
hadn't we?"

Diddy was shocked.  "After all we did to get them back last time?
Donkey Kong would go crazy if he lost his bananas again!"

[Cranky:] Arrrrgh!  This story's even worse than Donkey Kong Country!
They're really scraping the bottom of the barrel this time!

"Got any better ideas, you young whippersnapper?" demanded the old ape.

"We've got to rescue him, of course!" said Diddy and Dixie together.

But Cranky just laughed.  "Oh, really?  And who exactly is `we', hmmm?"

"Count me out, dudes," said Funky quickly, backing away from the group.
"I hate adventures."

"I think I'm a bit old for that sort of thing," said Wrinkly apologetically.

"And I'm sure as spit not gonna do it," snapped Cranky.  "Not that I'm
past my prime, mind you--I could still do a better job than the rest of
you put together--but I wouldn't be seen dead in a game than scrolls
and has bonus levels and end bosses!"

"What about me?!" asked Diddy, stamping his foot.  "I went with Donkey
on his last adventure!  Why can't I do it?!"

"You?" laughed Cranky.  "You've only been in one game, and you didn't
even get your name in the title!  You think that makes you a hero?"

Diddy looked discouraged, but Dixie was quick to stand up for him.
"Give him a chance--he could be a better hero than you ever were," she
challenged.

Cranky scowled.  "You think so, do you?  You think he can make his way
through all those Kremlings and all those traps, all by himself?"

"He won't be by himself," she replied.  "I'm going with him!"

Diddy stared at her and she stared defiantly back.

"But it's dangerous!" he protested.

"You're not scared, are you?"

"Of course I'm not!"

"Well, neither am I.  Don't try to argue--if you're going, I'm going
with you."

Diddy sighed.  He knew a hopeless argument when he saw one.  But still,
he was Donkey's only hope!  Of course, if he managed to rescue his big
buddy, he'd become a real video game hero, too!  Could he ask for a
better chance to prove himself?

Cranky was looking them over shrewdly.  "All right," he said.  "If you
somehow get back safely from this and bring back that good-for-nothing
Donkey with you, I'll admit that maybe you have what it takes after
all.  But if you don't there will never be more than cheap cameo roles
for you in the future, my boy."

Diddy stood up straight and proud, ready for his new quest.  "I'll
bring him back, you'll see!" he declared.

The others offered him encouragement.  Wrinkly gave him a warm smile,
while Funky offered his hand for a high-five.  "Go for it, little
dude!"

And as soon as the sun rose again, the brave young pair set out.