Those words were spoken out of hurt but they were bruising to Ralph. He couldn't be mad at Candy for them, but he felt so terrible of how things had turned out. It was solely true that things were tough all over. Long before he knew something chilling was going on after these dormant, boring years. Perhaps it was good that he flew in here, considering the possibility of someone else sneaking around, who was believed to be long gone. Ralph wisely chose to take Candy's words into consideration.
"I am not a bad guy. I don't want the same happening to you guys, like our game…" That was the first wrong thing he did. "Let us help you."
Something stirred in Candy's heart, believing what he had lost was still there. It was a precious thing he had to hold onto. A lot was unsure but he had no choice, for the good of his children, his entire home… Genuinely, he was touched that they had just come out of their way. That tiny glimmer of honest faith in King Candy's eyes was a fresh start.
"You have my word." Ralph nodded firmly, and so did Felix.
There was no ill intent here, as messed up as things were at the moment. The pure honesty that was shown to them only moments ago, as mere strangers, for one thing, was a very difficult decision. Even with this memory glitch, although it could be linked to something else, something was damaged. Yet the bug issue was a bigger priority.
Oh! Throw me in Nesquik if all this ends badly! Candy ultimately thought, finding no choice in the matter.
"Thour Bill," Candy finally spoke, finally making up his mind. "Gather my Racers. Make sure Vanellope is with them."
"Yes, sire." the lime treat bowed before he fled to the stairway.
"King Candy—" Felix was about to give an idea before Candy outright stopped him.
"We're going to the Royal Raceway for the rest of my subjectsth." he ordered. Although, after a moment, it was obvious that this was hard. "I'm counting on you to make sure they all get to that gate."
"Can do, your Majesty~" Felix looked quite determined.
As beautiful as it seemed, this world was heading down towards a heap of trouble that was started a single disagreement. Even with home so close, there was no going back just yet. In Vanellope's case, being utterly forgotten was the least of her problems having been led to the Royal Racer strangely enough and then was told to use it, in order to follow her fellows to safety. Candy himself got in with her, sharing one last look at Felix and Ralph. Felix was permitted to ride on the back as best as he could. Ralph kind of knew of a shortcut back down to the Raceway, where there was a town full of citizens. More than anything, the least he could do was stick around to protect them until all this was over, whether the King was agreeable to it or not.
Ralph got himself a spot on one of the backs of one of the other Karts, to make for a shorter trip. Once the speedsters were off down the wavy bridge, something else had come into their line of sight. It was white and red, like a candy cane and it buzzed in the air with white sugar coated wings. When it came their way, it prompted the drivers to need to break on the spot!
This was the very first time King Candy had ever seen anything like this. Surely, he couldn't hold back a gasp and could only hit the gas to maneuver. It snagged one of the flags of the Kart, narrowly missing both Candy and Vanellope. As panic filled each driver, even Felix, Ralph did what he was best at and jumped off to snag the leg of this thing before it could take chase. It struck the road before snapping and hissing at the Wrecker.
"RALPH!" he heard Felix cry out but he was just starting.
Now was a good time to put all this frustration to good use. As if he had a mighty mallet in hand, he swung the insect beast over his head and struck it to the ground so hard that it basically burst into a bunch of dust and particles, just flittering away into nothing. The whole band of Racers all had to stop to catch a breath. King Candy gawked in horror, seeing the truth for himself, besides the fact that they had just been saved. Vanellope couldn't believe what she was seeing, but that big lug just took on this thing without a second thought. At Ralph's bellow for them to keep going, King Candy shook awake. A natural instinct went through him that compelled him to grip Vanellope's hand.
"Hurry! To that gate!" he barked out an order and the speedsters were off, non-stop.
Ralph was quite happy to have got it in time and they got away. He swept his great hands clean as he took a breath after that sudden tussle. That was just child's play.
"So this is how we're gonna play, huh?"
He worried that that wasn't the only one. Left behind, he had to look for another way to get down. He saw that bridge leading to the gate and he heard those engines get farther and farther away. Thinking that it wasn't so tough to book it down these hills, Ralph made a jump down from the side of the road and started running, jumping and sliding towards that Raceway.
It was only a matter of time when he got there when there was a crowd of frightened little sweets all running all at once up the bridge. There were just one of those things but there was no taking any chances. Once they got far enough away, the Karts had to be fully abandoned and a race was on for everyone to make their way up as fast as they could. Vanellope was guided to go with them only she was unwilling to go without her father in tow. Her other friends thought she was crazy but tried to get her to get a move on, but it wasn't enough. She was mad as a hornet, she broke rules, she tried to create little ways to worm her way into races, but she adored her one and only family. Even knowing the fact that he had forgotten her, he still provided that same love and care he had always shown her, as well as to all of them.
"Go with them, my dear! Pleasthe!" was more of a plea than an order.
"And you're coming with us!" she boldly ordered back.
There was no choice here but to make sure everyone was on this bridge to that Station, but the gaze he fixed on her hinted that he truly knew. The moment was once again shattered when a shrill hiss came from the air before one of the stands was completely torn apart behind him. There were screams and cries but poor Candy was facing this beastly thing as it made a leap at him.
"NO!" Vanellope cried but Felix had to hold her back.
Candy was small like the lot of them and had to use that to his advantage to better distract this thing while he had the chance. It nearly took his crown, it nearly stabbed him through with a single claw, but he ran between his stand as it tried to crash through to get him. Just as Candy got to the center of the Starting Line, it flew over and landed dead center in front of him. The shaken King of Sugar Rush was glared down by those intensely green lights as it opened its sparking mouth. Sour Bill tried his best to run after the dear leader only to see this horrific vision unfold.
"Heh-heh-Ha! Very nice t' meet someone who'sth very decisive, hoo-hoo!" King Candy's voice shook, feeling too shaken to move as he held his hands outward, defensively, preparing to dodge. As long as it stayed away from the others.
And it did what he thought it was going to do! "WA-HAAH!"
Candy shut his eyes and held his arms over his face, expecting it to end quickly. At that exact moment, there were loud multiple gunshots fired at the thing, instantly turning it into a mass of white dust. Candy was left breathless, not daring to open his eyes just yet. He heard heavy footsteps and the clanking of armor come over to him.
"You're alive, soldier. You're safe…" came a woman's firm, brash voice above him.
The Sugar Rush ruler finally shook awake, surprised to see another character towering above him with a massive machine gun in hand. As King Candy finally found his feet, Felix, the Donuts and Sour Bill came running to them on the track.
"Your Highness!" Felix cried out in relief. "My lady, you came back—"
"Can it, Fix-It!" the woman snapped as she latched her gun to her back. "Just as I expected, that there is an infestation in this game, all thanks to this colleague of yours. Now, here we are…"
"Y-you justh… you saved me… All of you." Candy was a bit speechless. "I thertaintly didn't expect this…"
"Pretty hardcore taking on a Cybug, soldier. I take it you're the owner of this establishment. Sergeant Calhoun, sir…"
"Juth call me Candy, hoo-hoo!" he waved off the formalities, there was no use for them. "Thergeant."
"King Candy!" Sour Bill's voice sounded deeper than usual, a little out of breath.
"Are you hurt, sire!?" Wynchell asked, wary of this new stranger talking to his King.
"Not at all, not at all, thanksth to her…" Candy was very grateful. "And now, all my subjectth are at the Station, I juth hope they all made it in time…" the poor man almost trembled. That was before there was a scream at the top of the hill…
