Chapter Nine – Growing Confidence, Growing Worry

Like all things, it did not take long for word to spread what had happened in Fix-it-Felix Jr.

Soon all manner of characters were whispering how a little NPC had thrown a big Hero into the duck pound, some believing the tales, others not.

"No way!"

"That's what Q*Bert said happened!"

"That lil orange dollape says a LOT of things. A lotta things I can't understand….who's to say he was actually telling the truth on this one?"

"I heard he threw the guy through the window!"

"Nu-uh! Not buyin' it!"

Some did.

Some did not.

Either way, Gene was enjoying the gossip for once perhaps because this time around he wasn't the butt end of the word of mouth. Even if there were still many who did not believe his feat and some who would still chuckle towards him, he didn't bat an eye.

This time around, Gene felt stronger, he felt BIGGER and whatever anyone had to say towards him could not knock him down.

Gene had never felt so good in YEARS.

But for others…


"So have you heard the news?" said Sorceress as she and the other Bad-Anons took their weekly meeting to Tapper's this night "Word is Mayor Gene flipped the former hero of Cosmo Naunts right into the local duck pond."

"Yes, I heard that." Said Clyde, taking a sip of his drink "I know the guy can jump on you when you say the wrong thing towards him but WOW. Never thought he'd do that?"

"Clyde, REALLY?" said Sub-Zero "Remember that lil EXPLOSION he had when someone DARED to say some off-color words to Miss Mary?"

"Yeah, but what happened that time?" the ghost said as he looked over at the fighter "Gene wound up in the trash can and it took Felix an hour and a stick of butter to get him out. And besides that, Quasar is nearly TWICE his size and weight! If Gene could flip him that easily-!"

"He flipped RALPH!" Vanellope squeaked as she got up, the anons turing their heads towards the racer "Ralphie-Boo told me all about it! He said that ol Blueberry-Britiches was tossin' him this way an' that all throughout the day!"

The girl rubbed her chin, a thought going off in her head.

"If it were THAT spectacular, I wudda asked one of the guys to film it for me."

The girl waited for a moment or two, expecting Ralph to growl or retort to her comment but rather than a grumping tone…

"SNNNNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARK….."

She got snores instead.

"Wow, guess the big guy is tuckered out." Said Sorceress, a little smile appearing on her face as she watched Ralph snooze at the bar.

"Hey. HEY, wake up Stink-Breath." Vanellope said as she shook Ralph's arm "We don't wanna carry ya home!"

"Uh, what?" Ralph snorted, finally waking up "O-Oh, sorry guys, J-Just had a rough day."

"An' lemme guess." Said the lil froggy baddie "Was it because of tha Mayor again?"

"Do ya really hafta ask?" the Wrecker yawned once more, wanting nothing than to get back home to his bed "He said he was gonna go easy today but do ya think that happened? NOPE. He started throwin' me so hard off tha roof that I had ta RUN back before tha game picked up again! And it didn't end there!"

With the mix of anons, there were a mix of emotions to Ralph's tale. Some were a little concerned over the matters but others were trying their best to hold their giggle snorts down.

"The guy held an arm wrestlin' contest at Diggy's place….AN' WON ALL THA ROUNDS!" continued Ralph "He threw Bald Bill over a table! An' tha NPC meetin'? Vanellope an' I TRIED ta sit through it but-!"

The Wrecker reached for a pen on the bar, putting it under his nose as he did his best Gene pose.

"Hay guys! Ya wanna know tha best ya ta fend of bullies! Ya gotta wring 'em through an' show 'em you're ready ta bust their heads through a wall. Nyaaaaaaaa-HARHARHARHARHAR!"

"Oh, give me a break!" Sorceress howled in laughter "He did not say that!"

"He might as well!" Ralph slouched "He more or less told those NPCs to beat the living crap out of someone if they tried to use their size to bully 'em."

"Sounds ta me that Gene is gettin' too big for his britches." Vanellope harrumphed, an adorable pout on her face "Have ya upped your throwin' arm ta show 'im who does the REAL throwin'?"

"What good would that do?" Ralph grumbled "I mean, I TRIED doin' that but he takes the hits again an' again an' again! Nothin' is stoppin' him!"

The Wrecker stopped himself as he arched a brow.

"Wait. Lemme take that back…."

"What is it, Ralph?"

"What I mean is….I'm kinda glad that tha Big Guy is SMILIN' but man! He's spinnin' around like a freakin' top! I can't keep up with him an' when I can't keep up with a NICELANDER-!"

"Booooy!" whistled Vanellope "Maybe ya need to have a bite or two of those Super Pies if ya wanna keep up with 'im!"

"Aw, naw." Ralph gagged "There is NO WAY I am gettin' near a Super Pie again! NEVER!"

"I'm sure he's just happy about the wedding." Said Clyde "Ever since the announcement was made you have said he's been a lot more positive and has restrained himself from his usual angered outburst."

"That's all good an' true but things are just so WEIRD now." Said Ralph "He does that to me but then he's goin' about all gleeful on how he can't wait to see me with the other groomsmen at the weddin'. He keeps goin' back an' forth an' I don't know which version to trust!"

"Don't put your head in a whirl…." Said Sorceress, her voice calm and collected "Something tells me he's just playing with you for the most part but if things are really bothering you that much, remember not only do you have US."

"Yeah?"

"You also have FELIX and I know that if there is one person Gene will ALWAYS listen to, it's him."

Realizing that the witchy woman was right, Ralph felt a sense of relief come over him. What in the arcade HAD he been thinking? Of course he had Felix by his side in case of some Nicelander exploits gone wrong but even with the hope the other anons had, Ralph kept his tongue about him as he knew Felix was worried as well.

The next day went about as usual, at least for how things had become in the game. Gene was still toying with Ralph though on this day he seemed to restrain himself, if only but a tad.

"So what's the deal this day?" Ralph smirked, trying to hide his annoyance about being thrown in the backyard hen house "You slackin' off?"

Gene didn't say anything, his eyes filled with warmth and love.

"Hello. Arcade to Gene. Come in."

"Oh, sorry." The Nicelander chuckled to himself, rubbing his hands "What did you want Ralph?"

"What's got ya all spacy today? All ya can eat pie day somewhere?"

"No, no. Tonight we're doing a rehearsal, remember?"

Oh, great. Just what Ralph wanted to remember.

It wasn't that he didn't want to go to the wedding rehearsal, not when he had been so excited to be a groomsman, but after the amount of days he had he wasn't so sure about it anymore. Gene on the other hand was GLEAMING with happiness and his smile was still on as he peered up at Ralph.

"You know, I'm counting on you."

The Wrecker had to do a double-take; GENE was counting on HIM?

"What now, Genie?"

"You've had enough practice being Felix's best man for his wedding so I EXPECT nothing but the best from you on this one as well!" the Mayor laughed with pride "I mean, you wouldn't want to embarrass yourself up there would you Ralph? Not with all your fans watching you."

"Are you TRYIN' ta make me nervous? Is this all funny to ya?"

"Oh, come on Ralph! I'm just trying to have a lil fun, that's all!"

"FUN." Ralph replied in a gruff voice "Sir, I know FUN an' endin' up face first in a BIRDBATH isn't fun. An' neither is landin' in a tree, or tha chicken coop, or ROLLIN' OUT THA WINDOW."

"Ralph, you've spent THIRTY YEARS falling off this building, much like I've had to endure THIRTY YEARS of being thrown OUT the window as well as being BLOWN out of it. We both should be able to take a few hits, now…."

Ralph noticed a glint in Gene's eyes, as if the little man were making a threat towards him.

"So don't tell me you're going to let a NICELANDER take more hits than you."

The larger man scowled; Gene wasn't being coy about it this time as he was definitely trying to push the big man's buttons but it still made no sense to Ralph as to WHY?

Where had all of this bravery come from and more importantly, why was it bothering Ralph so much?

Before the Wrecker could reply, Gene turned on his heels and strolled back towards the rest of the group.

"Alright guys, we may be at a lull but that doesn't mean we can't slack off! Get ready for the next drop!"

"Gene, hang on!" Norwood panted "You're wearin' us out here."

"Should I fetch Nel after you then? I'm sure if I told her some of our 'secrets' she'd get you up an' running again."

"Gene, don't you dare." The red-head said as he turned towards his 'friend', eyes narrowed "Ya've been raggin' on me enough all week, I don't need any more from ya!"

See? Even NORWOOD was getting weary of Gene's behavior! Ralph wasn't the only one!

Norwood was once again trying to stand in a way to show that, even if he were small as well, he was still larger than Gene but this time around the shift was spotted. Gene continued to grin at the red-head, not at all taken by his act to which Norwood felt himself crumble a bit, the Mayor's smile and blue eyes much too strong this time.

Norwood felt so odd; why did it feel like the two were on even grounds with each other? That never happened.

"You were sayin'? NORY?"

Norwood took a step back, his hands going in his pockets as he gave the Mayor a grumpy look "Oooh, shove some pie in that big mouth of yours."

HA! If Gene were able to shut Norwood up, things were most DEFINITLY turning out for the better!

Gene laughed richly as he gave his friend a hearty slap on the back, nearly knocking him down in the process "Oh, NORWOOD! The things you say! They're so classic! So YOU!"

"I still hate you, Gene."

Despite the last comment the two Nicelanders walked inside which meant that Ralph was now alone, the big man left to contemplate what was going on as he sat at the steps of the apartment building.

"Hey Ralph!" called Felix as he approached the man "What's got ya so down?"

"Down? I'm not DOWN." Said Ralph, looking MOST down indeed "M'just….m'just FRUSTRATED I guess."

"Bout what? Tha Orangeboar kid put another snake in your toilet?"

"Not a live one this time…" Ralph replied, shaking his head "Nah, it's…it's Gene."

"Gene?" the Repairman said as he sat next to his friend "Aw, c'mon. I thought ya two weren't at each other's throats anymore!"

"That's up to HIM at the moment."

"Ralph…"

The big man put his chin in his hand, thinking deeply "Have ya noticed? Gene's been actin' more…..Gene-ish than normal?"

"Uh, not sure I'm followin' ya…." Felix grimaced, removing his hat.

"Don't pretend ya haven't seen it!" Ralph said as he turned towards his friend "The last few days! The way he's been actin'! Throwin' me everywhere, challengin' larger characters! An' what he did to Quasar."

Ralph stopped himself for a moment, laughing slightly.

"Okay, now THAT I WILL admit he had comin' but MAN! Did you expect Gene to pull a move like that?"

"No….no, actually I did not." Felix said, his voice sounding worried "An' don't imply I haven't noticed Ralph. I've just been at a loss on what ta do about it."

Ralph was starting to regret the way he addressed himself towards Felix, worried that it had sounded like he was blaming the repairman for the Mayor's behavior.

"Hey, hey. Sorry if it sounded like I was pushin' ya there, Felix."

"No, I get it Ralph. I do. But I'm tellin' tha truth. I just don't know EXACTLY what ta say ta Gene other than tellin' him ta ease up."

"There are some OTHER things ya can tell him but this is a kids' game so…"

"I don't want ta see ya two fightin' anymore…." Felix said sadly "You're both my best friends, brother an' for tha past year or so I've had ta deal with so many people who want me ta pick an' choose who I hang out with. I mean, it's tha same thing that lead me ta ignorin' ya but people are doin' it again because they WANT tha Nicelanders ta suffer?"

Ralph remembered that; he remembered it PAINFULLY well. He could feel his cheeks starting to blush once he started to see what Felix was insinuating.

"I don't wanna do that anymore, Ralph because in tha end? It just hurts so many people but it's made me more jittery than a cat inna dog town."

"Tha last thing ya should be is riled up over this." Said Ralph "But considerin' that Gene is more likely to listen to ya than he is to ME, I just figured ya held his ear better."

"I've been concerned with Gene's behavior as well Ralph but when I see him, I see that he's really peppy now."

"Peppy enough ta keep throwin' me?"

"No, I mean aside from that. I guess after all these years, I'm so used ta seein' him so stressed an' angry. I've never seen him so…so…."

"HAPPY."

The two men looked over, surprised to see Nicelander Mary standing before them. Felix suddenly beamed, getting off his step as he ushered the little woman to sit.

"Ma'am, I was wonderin' where ya went!" Felix smiled as the woman sat between the two men.

"I want Gene to be happy as well…." The woman continued for the repairman, clutching onto her purse "But I agree with Ralph."

The big man blinked, surprised that the woman would say such a thing.

"Ya do?"

"Yes." Nodded the pink woman "Everything that he has been doing? This isn't like Gene. This isn't like Gene at all."

"Maybe there isn't anything wrong then, ma'am." Felix piped in, hoping to cheer up the little woman "Gene's just turnin' over a new leaf! He said he would."

"He may have said that and I love him enough to put faith in his efforts but….but this isn't anything close to what he would do on his own."

"Yeah, right." Ralph snorted "Given the chance, I know that Gene would INSTANTLY do this and-!"

"Young man. You may have THROWN Gene for thirty years, but I've been AROUND him." The woman said, looking at Ralph intensely "I KNOW his habits, his ticks, his little tricks he tries to use. I KNOW when he tries to cover something up, when he tries to keep things from me…."

Mary gulped, her hands clutching her purse a little tighter.

"T-to keep me from worrying."

There was a small wave of guilt coming over Ralph at that moment as once more Mary held one over him. Indeed, he may have had more experience THROWING Gene, but Mary was the only person in the arcade who knew of Gene's REAL behavior and his real pains away from the eyes of others, Felix included.

And the way she was worrying? Things may have been going a lot deeper than both Wrecker and hero could have guessed.

"I want Gene to be happy…." Mary said "I want him to be happy, I want him to feel safe, and I want him to feel comfortable in his own pixels above all else. But it's as if someone has flipped a switch inside of him and he is going beyond that and what he is capable of. He's taking on too much again and when I try to talk to him about it? He pushes it aside."

"Are ya sure he's hidin' somethin' ma'am?"

"Yes. I know he is." The woman replied towards both men "I can feel it. He's a man of his word and I…I know when he tries to fib to me. I can usually get it out of him because even at his worst he cannot lie to himself, but whatever he's gotten in his head this time around-!"

"Dear?"

Mary squeaked as she turned around, her fiancé walking up to the group.

"GENE!"

"Is something wrong, love?"

"Oh! Oh, no no no!" the woman said as she shook her head "I-I was just discussing to Felix and Ralph some of the other things we needed to get done for the wedding!"

Mary faltered, blushing bright red as she turned away from her love.

"Th-that's all, honey. That's all."

Gene saw the sadness in his fiancée's face, putting a finger under her chin "Aw, look at you. Getting so flustered over all of this! I told you I had EVERYTHING under control!"

Ralph and Felix found themselves turning away, as if they did not want the Mayor to see that they too had suspected something ill of him but whatever suspicion they felt Gene didn't even seem to notice, all his attention focused on Mary. He pulled her closer and nuzzled her lovingly.

"Are you certain you're okay?" he said in a gentle tone.

At least he was being honest this time.

Mary felt it best that she say nothing this time, responding with just a nod.

"No one has been messing with you?"

Another nod no.

"You feel safe?"

A nod yes this time.

Ralph and Felix observed the two, not used to seeing Mary playing the meek one as it was usually the Mayor who shrank away whenever there were displays of affection.

"Dear, do not worry. I'm here should anything happen." The man said as he hugged his fiancée closer.

"I-I know that, dear."

"You know we have our rehearsal tonight. Do you think you can still make it?" the man asked "I can postpone it if you're not feeling-"

"Oh!" the woman gasped, stepping back slightly from the Mayor "Oh! No! No, don't postpone because of me!"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I am sure!" Mary said a little louder than normal, her face still red "I-In fact, I KNOW I'll be more than ready once the arcade closes! You don't have to worry about a thing!

Once more, Ralph and Felix were struck with how ODDLY both Nicelanders were behaving. It was as if the roles were reversed with Mary the one being so jittery and Gene being so calm and poised.

Felix has said he wanted Gene to simmer down but as Mary had mentioned earlier, something just wasn't right about this. Something wasn't right to Gene's calmness and sudden gain in confidence.

He could see it now too; he WAS hiding something.

Gene placed a hand on Mary's shoulder as he lead her down the path "I hate to see you all a-fuss dear so let me assure you. Right now, even before the wedding, I am going to make sure that nothing happens to you, to anyone here in this game."

Mary managed to muster up a smile, her cheeks still glowing.

"That is sweet Gene….but don't overexert yourself over me. Please don't."

"I have to, honey." The Mayor said, his chest puffed out "As a man of my word, I promise you that you will be safe and I won't let anything hurt you anymore."