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"Now that the decision has been taken, let us talk about the details of what comes now," said Aku Aku. "The temple is at five hundred miles. We need to..."
"WHAT?!" yelled all eight Commandos as one.
"WE GOTTA TREK HUNDREDS OF MILES AGAIN?!"
"DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!!"
"YOU'RE FUCKING NUTS!!"
Aku Aku just let the storm pass.
"Are you done?" he snarked once they all broke their voices. "I never said anything about walking."
"Then how do you intend to get there? There's a portal close?"
"No. But it is close to the river that borders Muros. A river that is very used by small cargo ships, and thus, teeming with pirates."
"I think I see where you're going," realized Pinstripe. "You're suggesting we sell our services to one of these cargo ships as mercenaries, to protect the crew in exchange for a payment."
"And getting easily closer to the temple," concluded a satisfied mask.
Coco looked at the window.
"It's almost night already. It's too late to go at the docks and see if there are ships there."
"Then let us check our preparations, go and buy more supplies if necessary, and then rest. Tomorrow at the first hour, we will go to the docks."
"Thus was done.
The Commandos had a bit of trouble to get asleep, between the surprise at the turn of events, the apprehension of the future, and the hopes and excitation that came with it.

The following day, the breakfast was a bit of an awkward affair. The two former enemy groups weren't used yet to being on the same side, and so while the food was tasty, it was eaten silently.
Once finished, they went to the docks.
The search for a boat was a failure at first: all crews they talked to intended to go downriver, the opposite direction of the temple.
Finally, they found a crew that intended to go upriver, but their boat had a damaged hull and was stuck a bit away from town until the dry dock got freed for the repairs, which would take a few days.
"We're capable to repair it without needing a dry dock," affirmed Pinstripe. "Hire us, and we'll repair it."
"If you can do that, you've got a deal!" exclaimed the captain.
As he and the rest of the crew went to Muros for lunch, Dingodile, under the cover of an illusion, absorbed his flamethrower's flames until he was strong enough to effortlessly lift the boat, which he did.
And the others got to work on the hull, repairing it under Coco's instructions.

As the repairs went, Dingodile, between bouts of enjoying his reinforced bulk and strength, noticed that Kong glared daggers at him more than once.
At first, the hybrid didn't understand why. Until he realized the koala wouldn't have been able to lift the boat as easily, otherwise he'd have done it.
Now he understood.
"Oh, don't be jealous, mate," he smirked.
"Who's jealous? I'm not jealous," grumbled Kong. "You smug jerk," he added sotto voce.

When the crew came back, they were astonished to see their cargo back on the water, ready to navigate.
But they didn't complain, far from it.
The team was hired for protection on the spot, and the departure was planned for the next day's morning.
It suited perfectly the group, who exploited this time for last minute preparations and rest.
While the apprehension was still there, hope and excitation now prevailed, and thus the uplifted's sleep went more easily.

Art by  caseyljones
Original here: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/26753295/
Dingodile, Koala Kong and Penta Penguin © Naughty Dog