Well, here we are again! Thank you guys all so much for your really really awesome reviews and to continue sticking along with my story! Hopefully it will satisfy you continually and is- well good enough for your attention and appreciation! :D

And, again, my timing isn't exactly the greatest. I mean really... I've made you guys wait for so long! I'm terribly sorry! But thank you all for sticking with me! All you new people, it's nice to see you ^^

30 Years Of Game Over

The Consequences

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Ralph and Felix made it back in time for their game, the Surge Protector meeting the two of them at the archway, yet saying nothing. He merely shakes his head at Ralph, watching him enter his game. Ralph has the strangest feeling growing inside of him at the sight of the Surge Protector's watchful eyes. As if- well, as if he will be seeing a lot of him.

"Oh, we got to hurry!" Felix mutters, as he fidgets on the monorail cart. Ralph glances at him, opens his mouth to say something, yet closes it again. He scrunches his forehead for a few minutes, trying to think.

"The Surge Protector said there would be no problem getting back in time." Ralph says suddenly, "Besides when the arcade opens it does take a few minutes for the kids to gather and get their coins to play. We are good. I even heard at Tapper's that Mario was late for his game a couple of days ago."

Felix glances up at Ralph, "Fashionably late, I hope." Felix smiles at Ralph, and Ralph gives him one back.

"Probably."

The two bumped right up against the monorail platform as the 'Arcade is Now Open' rings throughout the building. Felix nearly flies out of the monorail, in his rush to get to his waiting position. Ralph calmly lumbers behind- after all the kids wouldn't rush to play this game. They rush to play Turbo Time, the game that was a few games over. All the children seem to go crazy for it. Ralph thinks to himself, walking sedately to his own waiting position. As he was walking there however, he could feel daggers digging into his back. The Nicelanders probably were not happy with him. Probably? Ralph mentally snorts.

That doubt he held, was only solidly confirmed on as the day wore on. Mary was giving out as many pies as she could cook, the Nicelanders appeared in the windows to 'save' Felix from the birds flying in the air- sometimes even the bricks and other things he threw down. They pinched him at any opportunity they had and when they tossed him into the mud, he could tell they were putting in a more conscious effort into it.

Sometime as he flew down to the mud, he wondered if the rate of his fall would break his neck. Of course, I'm a game character. I don't have a real neck to break.

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The Arcade Is Now Closing.

"It's closing time!" Felix happily chimes, ushering the Nicelanders down into the apartment. Ralph hops up from the mud as always, purposely brushing it off in the flowers just outside the window. Unfortunately the Nicelander that came out to clear the front was Gene; and by the frown that was already on his face, Ralph could tell that he had been caught. Ralph tries to walk past Gene, managing to look fairly innocent as he does so.

"Ralph!" Gene- Big Gene as he liked to refer to himself as- curtly shouts. Ralph freezes, before turning on his heel, his foot still in the air to take another step.

"Yah?" He deliberately drawls out, setting his foot on the ground. Gene's frown grows steeper. Ralph scratches the back of his head.

"Just what is mud doing in the flowers?!" Gene demands standing empirically on the front step, crossing his arms and tapping his foot- a stance Ralph usually sees Gene in.

Ralph shrugs, "Maybe it splashed in there when ya threw me into the mud." He lies. Gene's eyes narrow, as he huffs imperial.

"I don't think so." He grits out, before sighing irritably, "It's bad enough that you cause such a mess in the game- now you're doing it outside of the game as well!? First Tapper's, now our flowers- what's next?! Grand Central Station?! Wrecking our power source?! You're going to be the termination of us Ralph, mark my words!" Gene announces savagely, his finger pointing accusingly at Ralph. Ralph's brows furrow- Is he saying that I'd be the destruction of our game-?!

"Hey, fellas, what's all the shouting about down here for?" Felix asks worriedly, appearing beside Gene on the front step. Gene looks up at him, pointing aggrivatively at Ralph, too angry to speak. Ralph glances at Felix, noticing behind him that the other Nicelander's were peering out from the crack in the door.

"It's all Ralph's fault!" Gene concludes, recovering his voice. He swings around to regard Ralph viciously, "You're a monster, Ralph! A bumbling bafoon that destroys everything in your path! Nothing is safe in your presence! Why it's a wonder we've all survived with you around!"

Ralph's face twitches, "Excuse me?!" He demands, "My presence is a threat to your lives?!" Ralph nearly bellows. However, his voice was loud and harsh enough to cause everyone but Gene to flinch.

"Guys, can't we settle this peacefully- None of us can't live without the other-" Felix tries to interject, yet Gene holds a hand up.

"Felix, it's alright. I've got this." He announces. Ralph can see all the approving looks of the Nicelanders. Ralph scowls. Felix looks around helplessly, feeling trapped and not sure what to do.

"But- can't we just sit around and talk-?" Felix tries again, yet neither one was listening.

"You've been a threat ever since you've been here! We thought, perhaps you'd only use your strength in the game- but we were wrong. You nearly demolished Tapper's game, didn't you?!"

"Well, Gene, I wouldn't say demolished-" Felix interjects

"-All of us Nicelanders know that if you could almost destroy Tapper's game, well it's just a short cry away from you destroying our game- Heck, you could probably destroy everyone's game. You are a danger to us all Ralph! We can't have you around us. Your brick home is the only safest place for you and your monstrosity. There, it's all broken anyway so it doesn't matter what you do to it."

"Come on now, Gene- This is Ralph's home. We can't just not let him come in because of a small little crack-"

"Felix, Ralph's home is that dump pile over there." Gene states sourly, pointing towards the ever-growing pile of bricks and other debris, "He eats there, he sleeps there, he twiddles his thumbs there- whatever it is that he does, he does it there." Gene growls. The Nicelanders utter a chorus of agreement.

Ralph has many things that he could say to them, yet none of them felt proper enough to say. Not that he could exactly say anything, since rage had begun to take over his throat. All he could do was these half growl gurgling sounds, with his fists clenching and unclenching. It wasn't going to be long before something was broken.

And look at where that gets him. A whole mess of trouble.

"I'd never wanted to go in that crummy penthouse anyway." Ralph finally retorts, getting his tongue back in motion, "It's crowded, way too short and smells like chemicals. Who'd want to live in a piece of metal? You can't even see the beauty of the sky at night, anyway." Gene rolls his eyes, scoffing. Felix was looking at Ralph, slightly entranced, Beauty of the sky...?

"Besides," Ralph continues on, a serious tone in his voice now, "You all couldn't survive if I wasn't here." He points to each one of the Nicelanders, the look in his eyes darkly serious.

Gene laughs. Ralph gives him a scowl, before he turns and leaves. Felix calls out to him, yet it was too late. Ralph had already left.

"I hope he doesn't come back." Gene says sourly, turning to his fellow Nicelanders. They all murmur and nod in agreement. None of them wanted the potential walking bomb back here.

"He could have flattened us any second. Did you see him clenching his fists?" Mary whispers nervously, shivering as she stares at the monorail- Ralph had left the game entirely.

"He wouldn't have dared. Felix was here. You would have put a stop to him, wouldn't you Felix?"

Felix blinks, resurfacing from the thoughts of the stars (he felt rather guilty at daydreaming, especially now in such a crisis), as he shuffles a little awkwardly. He didn't like how all the Nicelanders always looked up to him- especially now, when their conduct was so rude, "Well, I certainly wouldn't let any harm come to anyone." He says, however his eyes flicker to the monorail. I feel like I've already failed that promise though. Felix thinks to himself, "But all of you should think carefully of Ralph's position here. He is a very valuable character."

"You whole lot should be ashamed of yourselves!" Felix Sr. was leaning as far as he could out the window, giving everyone a severe glare, "You all treated poor Ralph with as much respect as a goat gets. Heck, a goat gets more respect. Ralph is right in saying none of you could survive if he wasn't here. The game depends on Ralph. You should treat him with the respect that he deserves."

The Nicelanders bristle, "Felix is more important then Ralph is." They say offensively. Felix Sr. clucks his tongue.

"If you all believe that, you're a bunch of fools," His eyes rest on his son, a mixture of disappointment and displeasure, "You should have known better, my son." He says sadly, "You should have put a stop to that, right there." Without another word, Felix Sr. closes the window. A few moments later, he is pushing past the line of Nicelanders, "Especially since he just had an incident with some other person yelling and arguing with him. Ralph is a soft-hearted fellow." Felix Sr. looks at all the Nicelander's, his stare cold, "All of you should heed my words." He warns them sternly.

Felix gulps, yet only manages to watch as his father takes the monorail and leaves the game. The Nicelander's all huff and grumble, before dispersing. Felix continues standing there, feeling incredibly awful and guilty. He sighs, taking his hat off and running a hand through his hair. I've gone and done it this time. I wouldn't blame Ralph if he didn't come back at all. I should have been the one telling them to stop. I should have told them to treat Ralph better... In fact, I should also be the one rushing out to find him.

"Felix! Come inside! We need to have a discussion." Felix turns towards the penthouse, the Nicelander's voices calling out to him. He sighs, slowly shuffling into the building. I'm required to fix any mess that Ralph makes- but should I not fix any mess that the Nicelander's make as well?

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Ralph was too tired to truly care anymore. He could feel all the looks he was getting, all the fear that circled around him. Of course, the Tapper incident was now spreading throughout the arcade- everyone could point out and name Ralph and his 'destructive ways'. A Surge Protector hung around him like a shadow- Ralph could only guess that was going to last... oh well, forever.

Ralph sighs- the tenth since he sat down on the bench. I can't go to Tapper's yet, it hasn't even been a day. He grumbles to himself. Yet he wanted the warmth and comfort of Tapper's bar. Tapper still accepted him, despite the damage he had caused. Ralph expected that even if he hadn't had fixed it, Tapper would still have accepted him. Tapper wouldn't shut him out. He wouldn't exile him, like the Nicelander's did. Like everyone else was doing.

Ugh. The Nicelanders. Ralph cringes to himself. The sour bunch of oats. He thinks to himself. He scowls, putting his head in his hands, before tossing his hair about, his hand running through it needlessly. Was this really how things were going to go? Forever branded as the one who destroys things? Forever something that everyone would detest, that they would hide from? No! Ralph couldn't believe that. This will all blow over, I'm positive. I can't despair. After all, who wouldn't be nervous around someone who just broke a wall? Of course people will need to come to terms with that. I didn't mean to break it- everyone will understand that. Eventually.

"Ralph! Ralph! Ah, there you are!" Ralph looks up to find Felix Sr. rushing up to him. Everyone glances at him out of the corner of their eye, watching warily as the old man rushes towards the towering monstrosity that had broken a game's wall. Without another word, Felix Sr. takes a seat beside Ralph, huffing and setting his cane aside.

"You know, the Nicelanders merely-"

"Sometimes, I wonder if its actually the Nicelanders and Felix who are the good guys in my game." Ralph interrupts suddenly. Felix Sr. pauses, looking up at Ralph, "Because I think that actually the Nicelander's are the evil ones in the game- I mean if you really think about it."

"How did you come to that conclusion?" Felix Sr. asks softly. Ralph shrugs absently.

"Well, they did just kind of kick me out of my only home and dumped me with the garbage. They took my land without even asking me!"

"That is very sound reasoning, Ralph." Felix Sr. complies, "But what brought this train of thought on?"

Ralph shrugs again, silent. A few beats pass over them before Ralph opens his mouth, "Well, maybe I don't know my good guy behaviour very well, but the Nicelanders haven't exactly been acting very good guy-e lately." Felix Sr. gives a long, drawn out sigh, "So I've just been... thinking about that.

"Yes Ralph, you are correct. They certainly aren't acting like their namesake. Pfft. Nicelanders. More like Awfullanders."

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"All of you cannot seriously be thinking of shunning Ralph, now can you? Just because he accidentally hit Tapper's wall?! That is uncalled for! My Father is right, you all should be ashamed and rethink your actions! Ralph is a kind, honest man. He just has mishaps when he is upset," Felix reprimands all of them, his finger wagging at all of them, "Now, I don't want to hear any other mean things about Ralph. Again." Felix's voice is firm. The discussion, having started with Gene's complaining, along with a string of grievances from the rest of the Nicelanders, was now over with Felix's simple sentences. He leaves the Nicelanders, hoping out of the apartment- after all, his job was not done yet.

The Nicelanders were confused- slightly startled, as they stood there in the lobby of their penthouse. Felix just scolded us! They had hardly ever been on the bad side of Felix, and certainly never merited any scolding from their saviour neither. Felix, the kind gentle soul, had always compliments to hand out, ever the nicest things to say- Today, today they had- they had been reprimanded. It was undignifying, it was pitiable. They the Nicelanders got scolded by Fix-it Felix!

He scolded them all because of Ralph.

That thought was as clear as crystal to them once they collected themselves from their shock. Outrage and indignant flames of anger broiled after that. Not only was Ralph dangerous, but he was turning their own Felix against them. How could such a bad guy be so cruel? How could Ralph stoop so low? Well, the Nicelanders would certainly see to that upset. They would make certain Ralph never ever took Felix away from them. No way, no how.

Of course, they would have to do it secretly. Felix was a kind, gentle soul. He wouldn't understand the actual evil of Ralph. He would think Ralph as a friend, and that can't happen.

So the battle had to be done in secret, of course. Felix would not even know.

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Felix was just about to enter Game Central Station when his father and Ralph came in through the archway. Ralph was grumbling, yet his father was smiling.

"He's going to stop me every time I pass through, isn't he? I can just tell." Ralph grumbles exasperatedly.

Felix Sr gives a light chuckle, "Well, by the nice conversation I had with the fellow, it seems as if you gave him quite a scare the other day, nearly breaking Tapper's game and everything. Especially in front of many other game characters- some are very impressionable, you know? It's no wonder why he won't let you out of his site."

Ralph scratches his head, "Well, yeah, I guess so... Didn't really think about it that way."

"No, I don't think you did." Felix Sr replies, a hint of laughter in his voice. Felix Sr looks up to find Felix standing there, waiting for the both of them, "Ah, Felix, were you just coming out to find us?"

Felix nods, not saying anything as he watches the two of them. As Ralph comes closer, Felix can't seem to bear looking him in the face.

"Ralph... I just want to say sorry about what happened back there-" Felix starts to say, looking down at the ground. He could feel his heart cringing, You let him down. You didn't do anthing when one of your game members needed you.

"Don't worry about it, Felix." Ralph says, before Felix could continue on with his apology, "It wasn't your fault. Don't go blaming yourself for it."

Felix stares up at Ralph for a few silent minutes, his mouth slight a gap. In the corner of his eyes, tears start welding there.

Ralph is shocked by the sudden tear that trickles down Felix's cheek, "Ah- uh- Felix, are you alright?!" Ralph asks worriedly, his hands twitching at his sides. He had never dealt with a crying Felix before, and he didn't know how to.

Felix smiles a watery smile, wiping his eyes hurriedly, "I'm perfectly fine, Ralph. It's just that... you're such a good guy."

It was hours later, and Ralph was lying in his brick bed, gazing at the dancing lights of the game. It's such a beautiful sky... Ralph thinks to himself, still flying high from the compliment Felix had given him.

It was strange how such a small compliment could make him feel so happy, so extrodinary- but it did. Even the Nicelanders didn't seem so mean now.

After all, someone thinks I'm actually a good guy. There it was, the reason for his euphoria. The reason for his high-above-clouds feeling. After all those looks he had recieved, after the accusations he got from two different parties (Marty and the Nicelanders). Hearing someone call him a nice guy was refreshing. It was what he needed to hear.

Now, if only everyone else believed that I was a good guy too...

Awwwhh, poor poor poor Ralph. Treated like that! How could they?! How could they! Very very rude.

I'm not liking the Nicelanders the more I put them in here. They are rude, mean and nasty people.

Again, again, I'm sorry for the long wait and the rather short chapter. I seem to be getting them smaller and smaller as I continue on! Hopefully though, you all enjoyed it, despite the filler that it was. Sorry again...

Anyways, please review- It does make my writing go faster, for all those that want another chapter (however many there are...)

Any suggestions, comments? Haha ^^

- Calm-Waters