For a while, I wanted to draw a scene between the Outlander and Pridelander cubs. I like the idea of the main four as friends, living their lives despite the division with their prides. I saw parallels to the goofier Donkey Kong characters, constantly meeting with their stubborn ways.
With Donkey Kong’s 39th anniversary and my admiration for the two series, I thought I'd make a tribute. This is my favorite piece I’ve drawn since I started again in March. I’m proud to share it with everyone here.
Story:
Lost within the heart of Africa, the once proud Kremling leader K. Rool retreated on a flimsy raft, heading deep into the continent’s rivers. The sinking of his home, Crocodile Isle, left him astray in exile without a crew or plan. His green scales and golden plated belly seemed to match the dull grey clouds above. He glanced at his reflection. Same eye, but no one around to scare.
Further into his travels, Rool looked over the wild life with a grimace. Each walked in tidy groups across the savanna: Leopards, warthogs, fellow crocodiles, and lions! They dare lead their armies while he wallowed in the muck?
Rool rose from the waters and scared off young felines sprawled around a forest shore. Their retreat drew memories from the enormous reptilian, of diminutive Klaptraps snapping at chimpanzees, all under his command. He stepped forth and followed.
Surrounded by brightly, pelted lions at the edge of a sunny grove, the renowned lion fighter, The Grey One, sat and calmly turned towards the former king. The massive mammal warned him with green orbs and a sneer. Young lions crouched behind the larger, black maned champion, snickering to each other in anticipation.
The Grey One raised his claws to Rool's protruding, plated belly. He explained his family’s rich history of conquest, mentioning epic charges and seizes of treasure. The lion’s claws poked with an ever-slightly reverberating pitch, penetrating an instinct lodged through K. Rool's thick hide. The longing for the hoard, the island, the ape!
A pummel to the ground and belly dive later, Rool stood a victor. He faced his onlookers; new animals wandered in from the savanna. With a leering eye, the robust reptilian pointed to the crowd before him. Should they spread word of his triumph, more spectacles would soon follow.
Rool drew crowds of all species; many trotted over hills and lakes to see his dazzling battles, each more elaborate than the last. None, however, knew of the Kremling’s true intentions. Once a former rival from the Eastern Islands finally took notice, Rool considered the vast and highly populated Pride Lands as the perfect area for a rematch.
The event was known by many flocks and herds. Several declared it a brawl not to be missed. Two groups sprung in support for each challenger. It was decreed “The mighty K. Rool shall fight his strongest opponent yet; the savage Donkey Kong (DK)”.
No sooner did the king and queen of the Pride Lands learn of the two brutes than they appeared before them. Rool crossed both arms with a hearty laugh, expressing complete disinterest for lions’ territory. He merely desired the largest audience to witness his finest hour. Kilio Valley of the elephants was his final arena of choice.
DK himself had traveled a grand distance over waters and desert to face the reptilian crony, all as a dare from his revered yet cranky grandfather. He would prove he was more than a mere lazy buffoon (for the umpteenth time). It was agreed that the feud would remain between the two longtime rivals, with no harm to the spectators. The royal couple, however, stared at the Kremling’s elongated teeth and Kong’s immense fists. The queen hoped that her curious cubs would stay put in the den. She had prepared her hunting party and the elephants for an intervention, just in case…
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The day finally arrived. Animals from distant regions hurried into the valley, some from devotion and others out of brief curiosity. Some of the neighboring Outlanders, from vultures to hyenas, joined in on the spectacle as well, all supporting the ferocious K. Rool as their fighter of choice. Thinking that the Kroc's boastful nature was...less than pleasant, many Pridelanders took interest in the humbler, banana-loving DK.
On the grassy plains, four lion cubs huddled together as they awaited the match next to the expanding crowd. Outlander siblings, Vitani and Kovu, scooted next to Pridelander siblings, Kiara and Kion. Kovu rested on his fuzzy belly, steadily stretching his dark furred limbs after sneaking into the Pride Lands with his sister. He finally breathed at peace, having feared that the king would notice them back at the water hole.
Most were too excited to notice the giddy and slightly dirty cubs move past the borders. Next to him, Vitani sighed and perched comfortably behind the royal cubs. Her jealousy had waned since she saw them in the embrace of adoring parents. Their mother would not even give a head nuzzle for a day’s worth of training. Kiara and Kion, to Vitani’s shock, played with her and Kovu just as they did among themselves. What good could a cub do to change a king's mind? One lousy river wasn't enough to split them anyways!
Amid the buzz of excitement, Vitani noticed Kion’s fuzzy Kong doll at his side; courtesy of Uroho and his baboons as gifts for the young ones. Easy pickings at the fruit groves with a distracted crowd convinced them as well. She scoffed and pulled in her very own Rool equivalent: one button eye larger than the first.
“That ape came all this way just to fight K. Rool. Heh, kinda like us…Meh, I’ll let him have it anyways.” Vitani thought, smiling at the youngest cub.
"Ha, you really think he's going to win? I heard K. Rool beat Kuponda the Thunderous, Makali the Pointy and even Old Tungora, the...!"
"The Grey One, Vitani, yeah I heard the stories of the Pride champions too! Him?," Kion smiled and cupped his Kong doll, rubbed it against a cheek and proudly stood it on its leaf-stuffed belly, "He’s the first one I’ll see up close!"
"Yeah, whatever, that gorilla still doesn't stand a chance.” Vitani said. Kion stared at his paws, taken aback that his friend really did root for the big Kremling!
"Oh yeah? Well my dad told me King Sokwe taught DK everything he knows. Sokwe’s been in a lot of fights you know? He made sure Donkey can beat up that bully K. Rool." Kion responded, keeping his back towards Vitani.
"Ha, he won't know what to do in there…not when..." Vitani slouched a tad, "...when the mighty gut dive hits him!" The young lioness held her limp yet plump doll up into the air.
“And here comes the drop!” Imitating bubbly grunts, Vitani plopped the doll onto Kion’s small mane. With ruffled fur, Kion chuckled and turned to swipe at Vitani. She dodged his paw, tucking in her chest and lurching forward to poke back.
Kiara giggled as she slid next to her brother, padding at the dirt with her own DK doll, over-sized head dangling to her chest.
“He never backs down.” Kiara whispered to herself. Kovu tried his best to ignore his sister’s tail, which had ruffled his own mane. Vitani continued to dodge Kion’s mid-air slaps.
“She’s always picking fights. It’s fine, I guess. At least for today sis’.” Kovu muttered with a huff. He glanced behind the feuding cubs and met eyes with Kiara. The strands of Vitani's tail could distract him no longer. The two smiled at each other, both reminded of their first meeting near crocodile shores. The four suddenly turned to face the cheering crowd.
Following the stares of zebras and flamingos, the cubs gazed in awe at the two fighters, now stomping into the clearing.
“Whoa,” Vitani began, “Never mind Kion, I don’t care who wins. They’re both so awesome!” She dropped her doll and shook Kion’s shoulders with eagerness.
“Ah, ah, I…k-know…r-r-right?” Kion replied, giggling as Vitani shook away. The four friends cheered with the rest of the kingdom.
Keywords
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Details
Published:
3 years, 9 months ago
11 Jul 2020 20:30 CEST
Initial: f285387b6fa88cc5a7f23bf8270d37f8
Full Size: e5dffd0c963a04def997ae0a09d022ab
Large: 3556ca25e5c24ecc22fbff39ddeb477d
Small: 966b52246edca0436c3793f144c1732e
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