Fanfic100 Challenge

[QueenGhid]

STATUS: ACTIVE

Has anyone ever heard of the Fanfic100 Challenge? I've been seeing it around here and there and I've always wanted to try it, but I could never decide on a fandom. The idea finally struck me (pretty hard, too) that I could pick the DKC show as my fandom! If nothing else, it should inspire my muse to wake up concerning those Skurvy stories I've been craving to write (still working on it, guys!). When I thought about where I could possibly post the fics, Kongo Valley immediately came to mind and I'm so glad it did. I've missed this place (and Qyzzy) terribly! If anyone is interested in trying this for themselves, prompts are right here: community.livejournal.com/fanfic100/profile.

Since we're not doing this OFFICIALLY (at least, I'm not), then we don't have to bother making claims. Anyone else wanna try their own DKC fics are truly welcomed and encouraged! I plan to center mine around the villains of the show, but anyone else can, too.

As I write them, I will add them as replies to this thread until I deduce a better way to post them without flooding the board with new threads. I'll also probably make a bullet list of the ones I've completed at the bottom of this first post. My status, likewise, will be at the very top to indicate if I ever cave into defeat like a cowardly cur. That...um...let's hope not?

Wish me luck! ;D

[QueenGhid]

Disclaimer: I really doubt Nintendo or Nirvana's gonna slap me with lawyers over this poorly written piece of fan-appreciation, but just to be safe, the only thing I own is an unnamed OC of no consequence and a DKC DVD my computer will just not spit out! *shakes computer*
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Title: By Any Other Name
Fandom: Donkey Kong County (TV Show)
Characters: King K.Rool, General Klump, OC
Prompt: #001 “Beginnings”
Word Count: 829
Rating: G
Summary: Crocodile Isle's top geologist may have discovered something that could solve the island's biggest problem - and bring forth all new headaches.
A/N: The show was never very clear on just what the kremlings were doing on the Kong's home turf before the discovery of the Crystal Coconut, so I'm going to be doing a lot of speculation. It's all grounded on facts given in the show (and only a teensy bit from the games), so hopefully I won't be too far off from the truth.


“Kongo Bongo? What kind of name is that for an island?”
King K.Rool fixed an expression of scorn on the geologist standing before his throne. He was feeling particularly cantankerous that morning and little things, from the mole's overeagerness, to a name he found ridiculous, were quick to grate on his nerves. “It hardly seems worth a personal conference.”
“Oh, but it is, Sire!” the squat little mole insisted, practically bouncing up and down with excitement. “I would never have disturbed you so early if it wasn't. Trust me, it's everything we've been searching for!”
This failed to inspire the King's enthusiasm. “Like I've never heard that tired old line before?” he sneered and slouched down in his seat. The disinterested action had the desired effect of causing the mole to lose some of his annoying perkiness.
The King continued. “Each and every one of your predecessors has said as much about their own discoveries and, quite frankly, I'm beginning to despise the phrase. It only ever ends in disappointment.”
The mole recovered a bit of his pep at the mention of the past geologists' failures. “Not this time, I assure you!” He stepped forward without hesitation. In his hands was a thick bundle of papers he had been busily shuffling since the meeting began. As he held them out to the King, he found himself suddenly intercepted.
“That's far enough,” General Klump warned, arms held wide as if expecting the geologist to attempt to go around him. He was there for the King's protection, and no one with claws as long as the digger's was going to get within a foot of him.
Startled by this treatment, the mole squinted up at Klump. Prior to the meeting, he'd been forced to remove the sunglasses that protected his eyes from the bright light and his vision still had yet to settle. “I only want to give His Majesty the official report of my initial findings.” He indicated his stack of papers.
Klump glanced back at K.Rool. “Want me to get these, suh?” The King made a vague gesture with his hand which Klump took to be a yes. He accepted the report and handed it over to K.Rool before reclaiming his spot beside the gilded throne.
K.Rool rifled through the report with little interest. “So, what have you supposedly found on this Bongo island? Cobalt? Iron? ...gold?”
“All three.”
The two kremlings stared. “All three?”
The geologist nodded, enthusiastic again. “Among many others! I've only been able to conduct basic regional reconnaissance, but I'm fairly confident we may be dealing with diamonds, even, Sire.”
At the word 'diamonds', all of K.Rool's earlier crankiness vanished. He leaned forward in his seat, riveted.
“Did you encounter any resistance by the islanders?” he asked with barely concealed excitement.
“None.” There was a hint of smugness to the words now that he had the King's attention. “Those apes don't even seem to be aware of what they have.”
K.Rool's nose wrinkled in distaste. “Apes?”
Another nod. “Kongo Bongo is an island of primates, Sire, and rather dense ones if you don't mind my saying. Their entire economy is centered around their banana plantations. With the proper representative, we could probably secure an exploration permit from its leaders with minimal -”
“'We'?” King K.Rool's expression hardened, his abrasive attitude returned. “You're getting ahead of yourself. You mean to say that I could secure an exploration permit with its leaders, which I intend to do. You've done your job.”
“But, Sire-!”
K.Rool snapped his jaws together with a crack. As it did to most prey species, the action worked to unnerve the mole. “Get back to your crew and await my orders.” His eyes narrowed. “And mind who you speak to about this little exchange, understand?”
Shaken, the mole guaranteed his silence, then quickly shuffled from the room. Once he was gone, King K.Rool stood up and strode toward a side door leading to his own quarters.
Klump followed close behind. “D'ya think this is it, suh?” he asked with a grin. “The answer to the island's problems?”
“I certainly hope so,” K.Rool replied, sighing almost wearily. “Centuries of wastefulness under our previous rulers have depleted our own resources to near nothingness. At this rate, the mines are so exhausted I doubt we'll have anything left by the end of the decade. We must contact this 'Kongo Bongo' and arrange a negotiation, maybe even an alliance.”
Klump bobbed his head in agreement. “How long d'ya reckon this'll all take?”
King K.Rool snorted. “Not very long. We'll just visit long enough to get an operation underway, and then return to tackle the rest of Crocodile Isle's problems.” He shrugged, chuckling lightly. “It's an island of monkeys, Klump; I doubt they'll have anything worth personally sticking around for.”
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A/N: Too bad we can't warn His Majesty about just what he's getting into, hm? Anyway, this didn't come out entirely as I planned (especially the abrupt ending DX), but I've been poking at it for a week and I think that's more than enough time to devote to a little ficlet. The hold up wasn't so much the dialogue as it was all that darn research on mining I had to do. In the end, I was only able to use a fraction of a fraction of what I learned. =/

As for all that jazz about Croc Isle's resource dilemma, Donkey Kong Country II showed that the kremlings had their own mines (Kannon's Klaim in the Crocodile Cauldron is one example), yet the TV show has K.Rool owning the extensive mines of Kongo Bongo (which I took the liberty of assuming mimic those of Africa) as well as a factory in which to process it all. I figured, where else could it be going and why else would he outsource? I guess his negotiations went well!

[LavaDiddyKong]

No one goes here

[QueenGhid]

*Pouts* I was afraid of that. Ah, well, that won't stop me from at least archiving here. And I guess that means I don't have to worry about flooding anymore, huh?

How are you, in any case?