S'up, reada's?

So, here's the origin: I saw the movie Wreck-it Ralph just about a week ago. Let me tell you; it was beyond awesome; 5 out of 5 stars, hands down. So why not use it as a catalyst to improve what relatively small, budding writing experience I have?

I'm also proud to be the first author to ship the couple of Rancis and Taffyta! :)

This fanfic takes place after the movie, so there will be spoilers. If you haven't already, I STRONGLY suggest you do not proceed to read this until you've seen it.

Disclaimer: As much as I think the movie was too good for them, Disney owns Wreck-it Ralph, not me.

Chapter 1: Remembering before a Rescue

"Face it, Taffy; You couldn't beat King Candy in a race, so how can you beat your President?"

"I told you, you only won because of that glitchy teleporting! It's SO unfair!"

It was a usual day after hours in the sweet world of Sugar Rush. Vanellope von Schweetz, the reigning princess, or president as she preferred to be addressed as, had earned first place in yet another Random Roster Race, thanks mostly in part to her teleport-like "glitch" ability. She was being confronted by a frustrated Taffyta Muttonfudge, the nearly undisputed best racer in the entire game...next to Vanellope, that is. While they did make amends & create a mutual friendship after the near-destruction of the game & the entire arcade, what also sparked that day was a fierce rivalry between them.

While Vanellope gloated & Taffyta scolded, a blonde boy in a brown blazer jacket was seated on the hood of his chocolate kart, watching them with a rare feeling of amusement. His blue eyes were focused mainly on the girl in pink with the strawberry-themed hat. He would only occasionally notice that he made sure every moment he spent around her, even the time that was used in bullying Vanellope & preventing her from racing before her true identity was remembered, was cherished & savoured...and he didn't know why.

"Hi, Rancis!"

The blonde boy turned his head to see a familiar flame lit on a candle atop a bright eyed girl's head.

"Hello, Candlehead." The boy said with a nonchalant tone, then returned his attention to the bickering rivals.

"Those two are fighting again? This is fourth race in a row!'

"Yeah. It is, isn't it?"

"What's the matter? You're acting weird."

"I don't know what you mean."

"I mean you seem...different." She narrowed her eyes. "I saw you. At this race's start and end, you sure weren't acting like the super-serious, stick-in-the-fudge Rancis Fluggerbutter I know."

Rancis let out a sigh. He knew he was seen by the other racers as a quiet kid with a serious, get-to-the-point personality, & this was reflected in his skilled racing style. But when he thought about it, he had to admit he was not his usual, focused self on the track that day.

Not averting his gaze from Taffyta, Rancis reminisced about what had happened during the day's race.

After tossing his gold coin into the grand trophy, Rancis hurried to his beloved cruiser of chocolate; the Kit Kart. He hopped behind the wheel, donned his chocolate brown & caramel tan racing helmet, & looked at himself in his rear-veiw mirror. He tried to make it look vain in order to mask the fact that he would do this sometimes to give himself a confidence boost. Of course, while his I-mean-business attitude was clear to everyone who caught of it on his face, even he needed a small push in self-esteem at times to urge himself to race the absolute best he could everytime.

He just took another quick glance at the mirror when something caught his eye; Taffyta had just boarded her own kart, the Pink Lightning, just behind him. When she removed her hat to make room for her pink strawberry racing helmet emblazoned with glitter, her short, platinum-blonde hair fluttered with the breeze. Rancis felt his heart skip a beat & cheeks redden when he saw that. In all the years he interacted & raced with her, he had never seen her without any kind of headwear. Even when her hair was once again concealed, he found himself unable to avert his awestruck stare away from her image's face in his mirror. In fact, it wasn't until he heard the announcer shout "GO!" and the loud revving of the speeding karts that he snapped out of his trance.

Rancis' poor start left him in near last place. Regardless, he too, was speeding down the track to make up for lost time.

On the home stretch of the final lap, Rancis managed to retake 3rd place behind Taffyta and Vanellope. With a fortunate Ice Cream Cannon ready and mounted on his kart's rear, he inched closer to Taffyta's kart. However, once he was within range, a twinge of affection halted his finger just over the fire button. Competitiveness was one trait that Taffyta had Vanellope beat in, and Rancis was well aware of that. Not having the heart to potentially humiliate his best friend, he returned his hand to the steering wheel, convinced that his decision earned Taffyta her continued friendship with both him & Vanellope as he came towards the finish line.

"I don't know what came over me." Rancis responded to Candlehead when he returned to reality. "My head just wasn't in the game or something."

"But Rancis, your head's always in the game, just like the rest of you! Hey, that makes me wonder; when did your head ever leave Sugar Rush? Even more strange, how did it come back?"

Rancis couldn't help but chuckle. Candlehead's cheerful naiveté was a total contrast to his determined seriousness. He wondered how such polar opposites could be such good friends. Then again, they were together when their game was first plugged in, so how could they not be?

"That's what I like about you, Candlehead: You can always find a way to make even a 'stick-in-the-fudge' like me laugh once in a while." he remarked, earning a big smile from the candle lover.

With the race over & the roster chosen, the racers prepared to drive home.

"I'm telling you Schweetz, one of these days, you'll eat my crumbs." warned Taffyta as she boarded her kart.

"Yeah, right... when taffy turns to sugarless gum!" Vanellope laughed as she drove off towards her castle. Taffyta was enraged by Vanellope's insult to her own name. "Somehow, someway... I'm gonna beat you, Vanellope...Just you wait." She growled under her breath shaking a fist. She shifted her kart to its highest gear & zoomed away.

Rancis kept his eyes on her figure until it disappeared, until he noticed Candlehead eyeing him with a smug expression. "...What?"

"You like Taffyta, don't you, Rancy?"

"Excuse me?"

"You like her! She's the apple of your eye! Or maybe she's the strawberry of your eye."

"Um...Candlehead, I don't think I understand..." Rancis was getting nervous, slowly realizing what his candle-hatted companion was getting at.

She could tell by seeing the sweat beads budding on his forehead that it was true. "You DO like her! You LOVE her!"

"That's ridiculous!"

"You love her! Admit it!"

"I have nothing to admit!" He turned his head away and crossed him arms, trying to hide his flushing cheeks.

"Yeah, you do! Fess up!...If you don't, I'll just tell her my-"

Suddenly, a distant cry for help was heard. Rancis immediately recognized it as Taffyta's voice. He hopped into his ride and was off, leaving behind a confused Candlehead. "So, you're gonna tell her yourself, then?!" she called after him.

As Rancis drove, Taffyta's pleas for help grew louder. His level of worry increased with each of her cries. Soon, his kart came to a swerving halt at the edge of a swamp of taffy.

"Help me!" Taffyta pleaded. She had spun out from driving too fast over a stray soda slick, and was now stranded on her sinking kart. Rancis knew she would surely drown without help. Although, why should he care? Even if she did perish, she was in her native game, and would be regenerated as usual. But something within Rancis urged him to save her, even with the fact she would be alright either way.

Thinking quickly, Rancis rushed to the edge of the pond, removed the chocolate cup from his head and extended it to Taffyta. "Grab this!" he ordered.

Taffyta jumped. She landed in the sticky taffy, but was able to grip Rancis' makeshift life-preserver. Rancis summoned all the strength he could to pull Taffyta to the safety of solid ground. "Okay; you're safe now."

The white-haired girl was covered up to her arms in sticky taffy, but was spared a regeneration. She rose to her feet, speechless at Rancis' selfless heroism. "...Thank you...Thank you so much, Rancis!" she smiled. But her joy quickly turned to sorrow when she saw her beloved Pink Lightning sink to the bottom of the bog.

"No! My...My kart..." She quickly broke into tears. "What will I do now? Without a kart, there's no way I'll be able to get to the kart factory before the arcade opens! I'll have to forfiet my place in the roster!" Her sobbing grew more intense when she realized her situation. However, she instantly calmed down when she felt the palm of a hand on her taffy covered back. "R-Rancis? Wh-What do want?"

"Don't worry, Taffyta. I''ll make sure you can race tommorow."

"...How?"

"You can ride in my kart: I'll drive you to the kart factory myself."

Renewed hope shone in Taffyta's eyes. "Really?...Y-You'd do that for me?..."

"Yes, I would. You're the best friend I know, Taffy. It's the least I can do."

With that, Rancis led her to his vehicle. Since the karts were designed for single riders, Taffyta had to sit right behind Rancis at the wheel.

"Hold on tight." Rancis said.

Taffyta wrapped her arms around Rancis' midsection, causing him to blush deeply. She also rested her head on his back, making him blush even more. He was glad Taffyta couldn't see his strawberry red face under his racing helmet. He shifted gears and they were on their way.

Do you like it? Tell me! TELL ME! Remember, I'm a paranoid author. Review, Please?