After a tiresome conversation about the Fungeon being a fun dungeon (notice the play on words, ha ha), King Candy rode out of the castle in his kart to search for 'The Glitch'.
Ralph quickly escaped the castle by busting through a wall shortly after. When he finally hit the ground, it thankfully busted the giant, rock solid cupcake he was encased in so that he could proceed unhindered. He ran for a while, with Wynnchel and Duncan, and a few Devil Dogs hot on his smelly trail until he had the bright idea to hide in a pond full of chocolate syrup. He cringed and shuddered at the thought of being surrounded by so much chocolate but ultimately decided it was his best bet.
"I just gotta do this.." Ralph reluctantly said to himself as he grabbed a giant, hollow cinnamon stick to use as a breathing tube and slipped in. Yuck..
He closed his eyes then moved to the center of the pond. After mentally fighting off the crawling sensations in his skin until his pursuers left, he quickly made his way out of the chocolate syrup and spat out the stick of cinnamon. In the process he got a taste of chocolate. "Chocolate.. I hate chocolate.." he said in a disgruntled tone as he started climbing up to a track composed of chocolate dust. The edges of the track were lined with balls of chocolate, thin chocolate strips, green and yellow swirled gumdrops, and assorted small candy beads.
"I gotta get my medal back," he muttered to himself, unsure as to how exactly he would accomplish that. Before he could get lost in thought about it, he quickly ducked his head down when three racers drove past on the actual track. The mental, coded gears in his head slowly turned until finally.. "The pot goes to the winning racer!" he said to himself in a hopeful tone, "Hey guys! Can I talk to you for a second?!" They didn't hear me.. He ran after them.
"Who was that guy?" Taffyta asked herself as she scrunched her nose and ignored him. Whatever.. We just need to make sure The Glitch doesn't race. She is not about to get our home unplugged.. I don't care how badly she wants to race. Besides, she'd die if that happened. I'm doing her a favor!
Vanellope was grinning like an idiot and humming as she went on her way back home in her mess of a kart to wait it out until the race would be held. Along the way however, in the Junkyard, her kart lost one of its wheels. "Oh, come on!" she groaned as she came to a stop and got out, "I don't have time for this!" I need to have this ready for when the race starts.. Not that I'll win with this piece of junk.
She was snapped from her concentration while fixing said tire when she heard the roar of three engines. Just what I needed.. Play it cool, Vanellope. They can't prevent you from racing, right? I'm in! She dusted herself off and smiled nervously as Taffyta, Rancis, and Candlehead surrounded her in their karts.
"Hello, fellow racers!" Vanellope said in an attempt to make nice.
"It's that little crumb snatcher.." Ralph said under his breath as he hid behind one of the track's mounds to watch. What are they even doing?.. And why am I hiding?
"Candlehead, Taffyta, Rancis," Vanellope started warmly, "You're looking well.. Came by to check out the competition, huh? Well here it is!" She danced back and gestured at the Frankenkart, "The Lickity Split!" Why I came up with that name, I don't know..
"Sheesh, it looks like she built it herself.." Ralph said under his breath, completely appalled at its bad design.
"Built it myself," Vanellope said proudly. It's bad, I know.. She opened her mouth to continue, but Taffyta shook her head and held out a hand as if to say 'stop'.
Taffyta licked her lollypop and sighed, "Vanellope, what are you doing? Seriously.." She crossed her arms, completely unamused at both the kart, and Vanellope's attempts at being nonchalant. "You know the rules. We're all adults here, aren't we? Just back out of the race and everything will be as it should be."
"Hey, I paid my fee to race just like everybody else!" Vanellope argued modestly, "My name's even on the board! So yeah, I'm definitely racin'." She smirked. Like I'm about to give this chance up!
"Did you even think about what would happen if you got on the roster?" Taffyta asked dryly as she shrugged widely and paced around briefly, "You're going to get our game unplugged, you stupid Glitch." It's like arguing a jawbreaker..
"Now, Taffyta.." Rancis cooed. You're being a little too harsh..
"No, Rancis," Taffyta said as she pushed his face away with her hand, "I am not going to risk losing my home because some programming mistake thinks that she can just waltz on in like she runs the place." Her stomach churned. "Forget about us for a second. Don't you even know what will happen to you if you get on the roster?" She flicked her lollypop at Vanellope, which made her involuntarily glitch. "One look at your glitching and Litwak is gonna pull our plug. The rest of us can leave.. but you? You're gonna die a slow, agonizing death as your pixels get ripped apart. Is that what you want? Is racing that important to you?"
"Yes," Vanellope said through clenched teeth without a pinch of hesitation.
Rancis and Candlehead immediately froze in shock.
Taffyta scoffed at the unexpected answer, "Well that's too bad. Because you are not going to race." She was ready to push Vanellope in a small puddle of chocolate when Ralph tapped her on the shoulder. She nearly had a game over when she turned to see the same hulking man she noticed hiding earlier.
"Hey, uh.." Ralph started awkwardly, "I see you're kinda busy, but I'd like to clarify something for a sec.." That was just painful to watch.
"G-get away from her!" Rancis squeaked an attempt at intimidating the wrecker. No good.. He laughed nervously and couldn't stop his body from shaking at the thought of those fists flying his way.
Ralph facepalmed and sighed, "Why does nobody listen to me?"
"You oughta speak up, Stinkbrain and maybe they would," Vanellope said as she rolled her eyes. Saved by the smell..
"Don't press your luck, princess. I just saved your molasses," Ralph grumbled as he stared her down before turning his attention back to Taffyta, "Litwak ain't gonna unplug anybody's game if it's goofy for a day. Who told you that? My game has an out of order sign on it right now and it's still plugged in." It's happened before for other games too.
"See!" Vanellope beamed excitedly and hugged Ralph's arm briefly before cringing and glitching away slightly. Okay, that was gross..
Ralph awkwardly cocked his jaw to the side in mild annoyance and said, "Look.. I need to get the medal that his chick stole from me to enter your little race. I don't care about your argument, but her racing for even just a day isn't going to kill anybody, let alone an entire game."
"That.. But King Candy said!" Taffyta argued in a whiny tone. That can't be right..
"And what does he know?" Vanellope asked bitterly, "We've never been out of order even once in 15 years."
"What are you talking about?" Rancis asked with an incredulous grin, "We've only been plugged in a week, you know?" I guess that's another downside of being a glitch..
"Two days, Rancis.." Taffyta sighed and facepalmed. How does he get a week out of two days?
"You've got a pretty messed up sense of time. Penelope is right.." Ralph said pointedly, "My game is right across from yours, so I think I'd know how long it was plugged in." It's been there ages. I don't know if it was 15 years though.
Vanellope rolled her eyes and sighed, "Vanellope! With a V.. And they won't believe you no matter how many times you tell them that. I'm the only one that remembers."
"U-um.." Candlehead laughed awkwardly, "I thought we were plugged in a month.. so.."
"See?" Vanellope said as she gestured at Candlehead, which made her flinch, "You're all mixed up. That should tell you something! Now are you gonna let me race or not?" Please? She smiled earnestly.
Rancis sighed, "All in favor say, 'Aye'.." Sorry, Taffyta. He cleared his throat to the side, "Aye.."
"Aye?.." Candlehead said with an apologetic smile in Taffyta's direction. Please just do it? I feel bad otherwise..
"Fine!" Taffyta grumbled, "But this piece of junk isn't even gonna cross the finish line, you know?"
"It might.." Vanellope said as she began to pout. No, she's right..
The wheel she had started to fix before fell off.
"You were saying?" Taffyta asked with a face that said, 'I told you so'.
"Let's help her make one!" Candlehead said with a glint in her eye. That's always fun!
Taffyta shot her a glare then scrunched her shoulders and held her hands in the air, "Fine.. We're already gonna be accomplices to a crime. Why not commit a felony or two while we're at it, right?!" I hope the beds in the Fungeon are soft..
"You think they'd let us share a cell?" Rancis teased, which earned him a glare as well. What? He laughed.
"Are you sure about this?" Vanellope asked while fighting off the urge to cringe and vurp.
"Would you quit whining?" Taffyta asked in an annoyed tone as she plucked the candies from Vanellope's hair one by one, "Beard Papa is a softy. If he doesn't recognize you as.. you.. then he'll let you in, no questions asked." She released Vanellope's hair from its ponytail and let it fall down to her shoulders.
They were all at Taffyta's strawberry-themed house. Vanellope, Taffyta, and Candlehead were in her bedroom, in front of a large vanity mirror, with Vanellope sitting on a small, strawberry patterned stool. Various kinds of makeup were scattered on the light green counter. The room was covered in various shades of pink, with slight touches of green.
Ralph and Rancis were waiting out in the hall.
"So what's up with the big guy?" Candlehead giggled, "He's been following us around like a big, lost devil dog." A grumpy and smelly one.
"He just wants to get his dumb medal back," Vanellope scoffed as she reluctantly lifted her arms so that Taffyta could pull her hoodie off and slip on a white t-shirt.
"Yeah, nice job stealing it from him.. Here," Taffyta said as she handed her a red zip-up hoodie, "I'm expecting this back after the race.." Provided we even make it that far.
"Thanks," Vanellope laughed as she put it on but left it unzipped, "but he had it coming anyways, and I was gonna give it back when I won.." It'll take a while longer before she really warms up to me again..
"You won't win though, you do realize that, right?" Taffyta said dryly, "Even with our help your chances are slim.. I mean, how fast could that kart of yours even go?"
"Her leggings too!" Candlehead whispered worriedly. He'll notice!
"Thanks for the warning, Candlehead," Taffyta said flatly, "Take those off and I'll see what I can find.." I'm glad my mom owns a clothing store.. Not like she's anywhere to be found.
Vanellope scoffed, "I don't even need to win, okay? I just want to race like you guys. You always go on about how I'm a glitch and somebody who was never even meant to exist, but do you really even believe that for a second? Look at me, Taffyta!" She glitched in place, "Do you really think that I'm just some accident? I have a face! I have hair with candies in them. I have clothes and hazel eyes! Do you think all of that is just a coincidence?"
"Alright! Sheesh!" Taffyta groaned, "You're not a mistake, alright? But that doesn't change the fact that you're a glitch and that you will give the players a bad vibe.."
"You don't know that," Vanellope mumbled, "They might think it's a feature if I can just control it better.."
"Sooo.." Rancis said with an awkward smile. I hope Taffyta doesn't plan on doing an entire makeover.. Just clothes is enough.
"What?" Ralph asked dryly. His arms were crossed tightly, which was a good thing as the hallway wasn't exactly designed for someone his size. 'Sooo..'
Rancis laughed nervously, "What game are you from?" I hope this guy doesn't snap..
"Fix-It Felix Jr.," Ralph grumbled, "Why?"
"Just trying to be nice, that's all," Rancis eased, "Just thought we could maybe be friends or somethin', I guess?" No need to be so uptight..
"Really?" Ralph incredulously. His face would let on that he was unimpressed, though he was actually happy to hear that. "You and me, huh?" Well.. That wouldn't be such a crime, I guess. Not compared to what they're about to do, I suppose.
"Well, why not?" Rancis shrugged, though his nervousness hadn't subsided in the slightest, "Just because we're from different games doesn't mean anything, right?" King Candy would disagree, but I don't see the harm..
"Guess not.." Ralph scoffed and looked away, though the smallest hint of a smile played on his lips. I can't let my guard down though.. He furrowed his brow, "So what's taking them so long in there?" Sounds a little like arguing too. Must be some thick walls though since I can't hear what they're saying..
"Girls take time to get ready for special occasions," Rancis said through a grin. It hasn't even been that long though.
Author's Note: In case you're wondering why the other racers didn't go pick on Vanellope in the Junkyard.. They've got other things to do. They're not kids eager to pick on somebody that's different than them.
I'll be continuing 'Wrecking Man' as well, though both will only be updated so long as I know you guys are still interested in them. It's not so easy juggling 4 separate stories, after all. 'Wrecking Man' is now rated M, so be aware of that when looking to read it.