Buried Treasure (episode)

Buried Treasure is the eighth episode of the first season of Donkey Kong Country, and it aired on October 4, 1998. During the episode, Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, and Funky Kong find a map, and, in turn, others on the island also discover the map's existence. The Kongs go on a treasure hunt, but it turns into mayhem instead of a hunt. Unlike all other episode of the cartoon series, this episode does not involve the Crystal Coconut.

Plot Synopsis
The episode begins with Cranky Kong relaxing on the beach on his week-end vacation. While the ape tries to enjoy himself, several insects begin to pester him.

Meanwhile, Donkey and Diddy Kong eat and talk at the banana plantation. The two discuss how Cranky is enjoying his vacation. As Diddy Kong wonders what they are going to do today, the Kongs spot Funky flying on top of his plane. This makes Donkey Kong excited, and he jumps up and down, not noticing the banana peel on the ground. The ape slips on the peel and slides to the ground, landing on a strange bottle. Inside the bottle, the Kongs find a map leading to an X. Diddy explains that the X stands for treasure, but Donkey Kong replies by saying, "There's no X in treasure, Diddy." This angers Diddy, who begins to stomp on his hat. He then screams that it is a treasure map showing that X marks the spot. The Kongs excitedly leave the plantation to find the treasure. Bluster Kong hears them as he looks for a lost coin and decides to find the treasure too to become richer.

Bluster heads near the entrance of Bluster Barrelworks, where he is ready to find treasure in his helicopter. Candy Kong and Dixie Kong notice him in the copter and ask where DK is. Bluster tries not to tell them that he is on a treasure hunt, but accidentally gives it away while saying, "You just think Donkey Kong's going on a treasure hunt." Candy becomes angry that Donkey Kong is standing her up for a treasure hunt, but Dixie reminds her about the treasure. The apes quickly jump into Bluster's helicopter to find the treasure, and the ape has no choice but to fly them.

At that time, King K. Rool is playing a video game on a computer monitor-like device. Just as he is about to beat his high-score, General Klump appears on the monitor, canceling the Kremlings' game. The crocodile king becomes greatly enraged and destroys the device as a result, so Klump speak to the Kremling by phone instead. General Klump explains that he has seen the Kongs heading to the mountain mines searching for buried treasure. King K. Rool think this treasure is "a dooms day device capable of destroying the while island." The Kremlings heads out to find this buried treasure, commanding Krusha to take care of the phone they are using to speak to Klump. Just as the crocodile leaves, a silhouette is shown of Krusha jumping on the phone.

Donkey, Diddy, and Funky fly over the trees in search for the buried treasure. Bluster, Candy, and Dixie Kong in a helicopter follow from behind, fighting about who will be given the treasure when they reach it; Candy Kong wants to use her share of treasure to by Bluster's factory, but Bluster insists that he will be given all of the treasure. As the discussion continues, Dixie tries to warn the apes that they are going the wrong way. By the time she is noticed, Bluster is about to crash into the trees in the jungle. Meanwhile, Cranky is at the beach, still trying to ward off insects. Just as he sits down to relax again, a group of ants steal his food, and the old ape must head out to chase them.

King K. Rool, in search for treasure, rides through the mines in a Mine Cart. Krusha, who is controlling the cart, causes the vehicle to crash after traveling in the incorrect direction. Meanwhile, Donkey, Diddy, and Funky Kong continue to fly over the jungle. Unfortunately, the plane runs out of gas and the Kongs uncontrollably begin to fly towards the ground. Donkey Kong points out a mine entrance, so Funky tries to move the falling vehicle into it. The Kongs crash inside of the mines, but are safe nonetheless. Donkey Kong complains that he is hungry, but the three primates keep going, as they are close to the buried treasure.

Bluster Kong soon arrives at the mines. Before he notices, Candy and Dixie are already searching for treasure, so the ape quickly chases after them. King K. Rool and Krusha notice the two apes running through the mines, and the crocodile king announces that the island will be his after he gets the dooms day machine he thinks they are looking for.

Donkey, Diddy, and Funky make it to the end of the treasure map, where they find them selves at a mine cart intersection in a large room. Donkey Kong falls on a pile of rocks due to his great hunger, and a rock with a X printed on it immediately rolls out of the pile in front of Diddy. As the three celebrate, Candy runs into the room with Dixie and Bluster following behind her. Each of the Kongs, other than Diddy and Dixie, fight about who will get the treasure to buy what they want. As they argue, King K. Rool and his minion, Krusha enter, wanting the dooms day device. King K. Rool demands they hand the treasure over, but Funky announces that Candy and Dixie have already run off with the treasure. The Kremling commands Krusha to get a mine cart and find the apes, but Krusha ends up leaving in the cart with King K. Rool, who dashes behind his cart. Donkey and Diddy head out to stop the Kremlings, just in case the treasure is what the crocodiles think it is, and Funky Kong follows behind them, dragging Bluster along with him.

Dixie and Candy ride through the mines in a mine cart with the treasure. Dixie asks what King K. Rool was talking about, but Candy simply replies that, by the time he is done talking, she will be the owner of the barrelworks. She and Dixie then begin to sing about the treasure, along with King K. Rool, Krusha, DK, and Diddy behind them.

Deleted Song
There is a deleted song in this episode. It features Funky Kong and Diddy Kong encouraging Donkey Kong to search for the treasure through song. It was cut because it slowed the episode down.