The Lake

Cutscenes Leading To

The Lake stage occurs after Donkey Kong punches Diddy Kong out of the way of Bowser's Dark Cannon. Diddy is jumping through the jungle and he lands by a vast lake. He sees a crashed Arwing (the same one shot down by the Halberd in the Sea of Clouds level), and goes over to check it out. The lake then vibrates as Rayquaza rises from the lake, and threatens Diddy. Apparently, Diddy violated Rayquaza's territory, so the legendary Pokemon wants to make him pay. Rayquaza uses Energy Ball and engulfs the crashed Arwing in flames. Grabbing Diddy, the Pokemon is about to finish Diddy when a figure jumps out of the Arwing and uses his Fox Illusion technique to liberate Diddy. Landing, it shows his name, and then he gestures to Diddy to help him fight Rayquaza.

Overview

Choose between Fox or Diddy Kong, and fight Rayquaza. Rayquaza can easily be defeated using Fox's acrobatics or Diddy Kong's speed. Either way, defeating Rayquaza is a cinch. In a cutscene after the boss fight, Fox will attempt to leave, but Diddy Kong will try to appeal to him, with no success. Diddy Kong just decides to drag Fox away with him. Choose between Fox or Diddy Kong and continue the level. Head through the door, break the blocks to your right, and continue down the path. Move left to pick up the item box, then continue to your right, down to the lower level, and into the next door. When you appear again, you are in a dark area. Move as far to the left as possible, and use a short jump into an upward Smash Attack to illuminate the area. Climb the platforms and move left to find another blue door. Head right and destroy the breakable blocks to find another door. Enter the door and continue to the right beyond the next door to find an item box. Grab the box, then head back to the left and enter the first door you come to. Move to the right and defeat the Goombas to reveal a switch box. Break the switch box and head back to the door you came from. Move to the right to find an open area above you. Jump up to the switch. Hit it and head back to the left. Take the door above the one you just came out of. Drop down and head through the door on your left. Defeat the enemy and go through the door that appears. On the raft is a door floating above you, just after the Hammer Bros. Take the door and use the railed objects to in the next room to access 2 item boxes. Head back through the door and continue on the raft. Move to the right and into the barrel launcher. Afterwards, you will fight a false version of Bowser. After defeating him, a cutscene will occur where the real Bowser comes in and attempts to use the Dark Cannon to turn the two new teammates into trophies. Diddy Kong prepares to fight Bowser, but Fox grabs him and dashes away, knowing they can't defeat Bowser. After beating this level, Fox joins your party.

Returning

Characters with good speed and decent power should return to this stage if you missed any key items to completing the stage 100% (ex: Marth, Fox, Falco, etc.)

Trivia

• In the cutscene before the level starts, Space Armada from Star Fox plays when Fox enters.
• During the Rayquaza boss battle, Victory Road from Pokemon Ruby/Sapphire plays.
• During the False Bowser miniboss battle, the Airship Theme from SMB3 plays.

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