Bonka Bonka from the Grotto

Deep beneath the Marble Kingdom, hidden far below the mountains and rivers, there existed a mysterious underground world known only as The Grotto.

The Grotto was a magical maze of glowing caves, crystal tunnels, underground waterfalls, and enormous echoing chambers filled with shimmering blue light.

Very few marbles had ever travelled there.

And those who did often returned with strange stories about mysterious sounds echoing through the darkness.

BONKA…

That sound belonged to the most unusual marble in the entire underground kingdom:

Bonka Bonka.

Bonka Bonka was enormous compared to most marbles. His glass surface glowed with swirling colours of dark bronze, glowing orange, and deep cave-blue. Whenever he rolled through the tunnels, the ground trembled slightly beneath him.

BONKA…

That was how he got his name.

Now despite his giant size and thunderous rolling sound, Bonka Bonka was actually kind-hearted and gentle.

Unfortunately…

Most marbles were terrified of him.

Whenever they heard his heavy rolling through the caves, they immediately hid behind rocks shouting:

“RUN! IT’S BONKA BONKA!”

This made Bonka Bonka rather sad.

One evening, while sitting quietly beside the Crystal Falls deep within the Grotto, he heard a distant cry echo through the tunnels.

“HELP!”

Bonka Bonka immediately stood up.

Far away beneath the caves, a group of young mining marbles had become trapped after a tunnel collapse near the Shadow Caverns.

Huge crystal rocks blocked the exit completely.

Worse still, underground flood waters were beginning to rise rapidly.

Rescue teams rushed toward the collapse site, but the tunnel was too narrow and unstable for ordinary marbles to move the giant rocks safely.

Panic spread through the Grotto.

Then someone quietly whispered:

“There’s only one marble strong enough…”

Moments later, the deep booming sound echoed through the tunnels.

BONKA…

The frightened rescue marbles turned as Bonka Bonka appeared from the shadows carrying enormous crystal tools across his back.

The younger marbles trembled nervously.

But Bonka Bonka simply asked softly:

“Where are they trapped?”

At the collapse site, water rushed dangerously through the lower tunnels.

The trapped marbles could be heard shouting faintly from the other side of the rocks.

Bonka Bonka carefully examined the cave walls.

Then he shook his head.

“If we force the rocks, the whole tunnel may collapse.”

“So what do we do?” cried Sir Rodney.

Bonka Bonka thought carefully.

Then a small smile appeared on his face.

“Follow me.”

Using his enormous strength, Bonka Bonka rolled through an ancient hidden tunnel known only to the oldest cave marbles. The tunnel twisted deep beneath the mountain before leading behind the collapse itself.

The trapped marbles stared in amazement as Bonka Bonka suddenly emerged from the darkness behind them.

“You came!” shouted Peanut excitedly.

Bonka Bonka gently lowered his head.

“Of course.”

One by one, he carefully carried the frightened marbles across the flooded tunnels on his broad crystal back while rescue teams cleared the remaining debris from the main entrance.

Just as the final marble escaped…

CRAAAAASH!

Part of the tunnel collapsed completely behind them.

The rescue had succeeded only seconds in time.

The marbles of the Grotto erupted into cheers.

For the first time, nobody ran from Bonka Bonka.

Instead, the younger marbles gathered around him excitedly.

“You’re amazing!”

“You saved everybody!”

“You’re the bravest marble in the caves!”

Bonka Bonka looked surprised.

Then slowly, he smiled.

That evening, the Crystal Caverns glowed brighter than ever as the marbles held a huge underground celebration beside the waterfalls.

Music echoed through the caves while glowing crystal lanterns lit the darkness.

And throughout the Grotto, the great booming sound echoed proudly once more:

BONKA…

But this time, instead of fear…

The marbles smiled whenever they heard it.