Chapter Eleven – Keys

"Ralph, you really don't have to do this."

"Mary, I want to." Ralph said, his voice calm "Besides, I don't want ya ta head this group ALONE. Since Gene hasn't come down…."

"I know, I know…" Mary sighed, shaking her head "But you already have so much on your plate as it is. I feel even worse knowing that you're handling your OWN group as well as ours."

"I just wanna help as many people as possible…" the big man said with a smile, Vanellope sitting by his side "'Sides, I think this is actually helpin' ta get more people out. I mean, look around ya. Last time ya tried ta hold a meetin' barely anyone showed up but now-?"

Now it looked like the NPC network was back into full swing. There were still a few other people who had yet to return but the fear that was hanging over the group seemed to have dissipated. Even better than that, some of the Nicelanders began to show up for their own group, a thing that Mary welcomed.

"I don't know why I hafta be here…" Lucy said, as fidgety as ever "I…this is somethin' that is more suited for Meg, for ROY! Not me!"

"After what you told Taffyta, I think it would best if we actually discussed this, Lucile." Tony said, trying his best to remain by his little sister's side.

She had fought him, she had kicked and screamed but Lucy had FINALLY given in; she was now in the NPC Network meeting.

"Well, since it seems that everyone is here it looks like we can get started." Said Mary "Who would like to introduce themselves first?"

The introductions got off as they usually did, Lucy feeling even more awkward as the line moved closer and closer to her until finally-

"Lucile?"

"MARY…." The girl said, sounding embarrassed "Ex-nay on tha ucile-lay!"

"I could add the ALISON part at the end if you would like me to." The older Nicelander said, obviously not to keen to her neighbor's behavior.

"Oh, fine! Whatever!" Lucy growled, puffing and pouting as she usually did "M-My name is Nicelander Lucile-Alison an' this is my first NPC Network meetin'."

HELLO LUCILE-ALISON!

Darn it….

"Lucy, from what Anthony told me you've been feeling rather upset because of all this going on with Turbo's return and some of the way people have been treating you. Is this true?"

Lucy rolled her eyes "I dunno. Ya know how Tony can get his wired crossed sometimes. He can say anythin' but it doesn't mean that its true."

"LUCY."

"Mary, I don't know what ta say!" the young Nicelander protested as she sat on her blanket on the lawn "This…this is just so EMBARRASSIN'! I'm pretty sure by now EVERYONE in this stupid arcade knows what I did with Turbo so why repeat it?! They're gonna make up their own minds."

"Lucy, I think it would be better if you told us the truth to everything." Tony said, putting a comforting hand upon his sisters shoulder "I mean, we've all been hurt by rumors and the truth-!"

"Tha truth will set us free or whatever junk, blah blah blah." Lucy moaned "Urgh, you're just as SCHMALTZY as Mary! Don't bury me in this junk."

"C'mon Lucy, Ms. Mary an' Mayor Gene made this group ta HELP ya guys." Ralph said "That's all they wanna do. Don't push 'em away."

Lucy still wasn't sure she could trust everyone, worried that someone would take her words and twist them even further.

But she had told Taffyta PART of the story and nothing seemed to get out and from what people had been saying about the strawberry racer, it was if she were the worse person on the planet and yet she had kept her mouth shut better than MANY people Lucy had known for YEARS.

ESPECIALLY a certain racer.

Lucy looked at the group then turned back towards her brother; ah, sweet Anthony. He was always looking out for his baby sister no matter the amount of calamity she got herself into. He had always been there for her through thick and thin but in all those years….she hadn't return the favor for him quite as often.

She had gotten into trouble, A LOT, and most of the time she had used him as a shield. After all, Tony was sweet and caring but he was also a bit light in the head, easily lead by many of the more crafty Nicelanders in the building, LUCY being the top contender for this. If it hadn't been for HER, he would have avoided so many incidents, so many run-ins….

A run-in with Turbo.

"Sis, its gonna be okay…" Tony said, smiling as he always did. There was no way that Lucy could defeat that look, escape those eyes.

If she were going to do this, she had to act for someone other than herself.

Tony only wanted the best for her.

So now it was time to ACT her best.

"F-Fine…." The young woman began, lowering her head in shame "Y-Yeah….I've been….bullied."

The way that Lucy had said those words, she almost sounded ASHAMED to admit it, as if she feared that something were to happen or that someone would say something as she spoke out. Vanellope peeked over from beside Ralph, watching the youngest Nicelander's movements.

"An' before ya start, it wasn't just by Turbo though he kinda made tha most impact on me….it was from other characters, specially some of tha ladies but I didn't let 'em stomp me out. I mean, Imma big girl! I can take care'a myself!"

A bit of a smirk appeared on Lucy's face, the woman putting her hand behind her head.

"They try ta say somethin' outta term 'bout me? I'll show 'em a thing or two! Ya can't get this Nicelander down!"

Then why was she there?

"But even still…."

Mary looked at her neighbor "Yes?"

"Even with all tha talk I say, I still got roped in. I still got pushed n' pulled around."

The Nicelander looked over at her group-mates, feeling a bit uneven with them. To her, she felt like her contribution to the group would only show that she ADDED to the problem, making way for more victims to come. Was she BULLIED but or was she the person who BULLIED everyone else?

"Man, I know I'm gonna get a lot for this…but…."

"Lucy, please share with us. You'd be surprised how many people know what you are going through."

"Really, Mary?" the girl huffed, flapping a hand towards the leader of the network "Okay, fine. I'll tell ya what happened!"

"So Turbo had me in as one of his groupies an' I was livin' it up. Non-stop parties, free gifts an' all that stuff. It was more than what a single Nicelander could ask for but…."

"Ya want me ta do what?!"

"He still knew where ta rope me in, knew what ta say ta get me ta act like his little puppy on a leash. I had spoken too much ta him 'bout so many things in tha past, things that eventually lead ta a BIGGER fight that was comin' but I didn't wanna see disloyal ta him. He was startin' ta scare me when he made it clear he would drop me like a hot potato should I say anythin' outta line, should I do anythin' outta line…but I was determined. I was determined ta show that NICELANDERS weren't scared, that NICELANDERS don't hide an' most of all, that NICELANERS weren't weak."

"Lucy, what did he make ya do?"

"Tha one thing that still haunts me ta the core ta this day, Ralphie. He wanted me ta get him a SUPER PIE."

"Turbo….I'm not too sure about this."

It was late in the evening, most of the Nicelanders either tucked away in their apartments or off doing something with Felix. Two other guest however had something else on their mind, something to do with PIE. She didn't remember the EXACT way he had done it but somehow, Turbo had manage to smooth talk his with Lucy into getting him into the apartments, the man's second time being there since the first incident with the pies.

"But you're tha only one who can do it babe."

"Get us in trouble, ya mean…." Lucy gulped, checking every hall in the place to make certain that no one was around. Things seemed clear and if there were anyone in their homes, they were distracted by something else.

"C'mon, girlie. Move."

"Turbo, wait!"

The man DIDN'T wait, quickly taking a hold of Lucy's hand and rushing up the stairs, her heels stumbling on the steps.

"TURBO!"

"Shhh!"

The two stopped at the second to last floor, right where Nicelander Mary lived.

"Ya got tha key?"

Lucy reached into her little handbag, her tiny hands shaking as she reached in.

She could not believe what she had done but there it was; one of the universal keys to the apartments. Only Felix and Gene were allowed to hold suck copies as not only did the keys open EVER lock in the place…it also unlocked the most PRECIOUS of doors in the whole game.

The door to the code room.

Lucy knew the danger that could happen should she allow the thing disappear from her grip but Turbo had assured her that it would be okay, that she was doing something to help.

"Turbo…I-I know I've done some WILD things but….but this is nuts!" the girl said "Why do ya want a Super Pie ANYWAY?"

"Because I wanna see if it can help."

"Help with WHAT?" the Nicelander turned, looking the man in the eyes "Tha only thing they do is make Felix all rainbow colored an' even more spazzy than he already is. How can YOU benefit from that?"

In all honesty, Turbo did not know but he had seen the power that came over Felix whenever he ate one, the power within it just as great as the golden hammer that everyone praised the man for. The racer just HAD to have a pie and given it was easier to swipe a pie than a HAMMER, it was the thing he would have to settle for.

For NOW at least.

"It might help me an' tha twins when we get tired. I mean, it's so EXHAUSTIN' having ta keep up with so many people day in an' day out? I mean, wouldn't it be great if YOU had a slice ta help ya with YOUR duties?"

"T-Ta tell ya tha truth…." Lucy said, twiddling her fingers "Th-tha rest of tha guys an' I haven't eaten one of those pies."

"You're kiddin'." Turbo said, actually showing real surprise for a change "Ya mean in all this time ya've been here? Not even a bite?"

"No, Gene won't let us." The girl said, shaking her head "Somethin' 'bout how we can't handle tha power an' not even RALPH is supposed ta eat 'em…."

The man put his shoulder around the girl "Tell ya what then, sweets. Ya go in there an' get a pie, we'll share it."

Lucy blushed as she turned back towards Turbo "Really?"

"Yup. Racer's honor."

Mary was ASTONISHED at what she had heard, looking at Lucy with her jaws dropped.

"LUCILE!"

"Yeah, yeah, I know you're angry at me." The girl huffed, leaning on her leg.

"I'm-! I-I'm not ANGRY, just-!"

Mary didn't know what to say, still taking in the truth that Lucy had lead TURBO into her apartment.

Or had she?

"Did…did you really go through with this? Did you REALLY-?"

"Lemme finish tha story, Mere-Mere!" the young Nicelander said, studying her nails.

'''''''''''''''''''

Lucy lead Turbo towards the baker's apartment, both checking the door to make certain that she was gone. The young woman held her breath, putting the key into the door and with a turn.

Click.

Clack.

It opened.

The door slowly moved away from the two, both of them smelling the sweet scent of the pies that filled the room but Turbo knew better. He knew that the pies that he had come into contact with earlier were TERRIBLE which was why he had gotten Lucy to join him on this quest. As a Nicelander she would be able to spot the REAL Super Pie from the fake, terrible ones.

"So, which one is it." The man said, finding himself much more comfortable to walk about "Is it the pink one, the blue one-?"

Lucy said nothing.

"Or is the ORANGE one?"

What was she doing?

She couldn't do this.

"Turbo!"

"What?"

Lucy took the man by his hand and rushed towards the door "We gotta get outta here! This is NUTS!"

"Not till I get that pie!" the man shouted angrily.

"SHHH! SHH! We're gonna get caught if ya keep yellin' like that!"

As much as he hated to admit it, he knew the girl was right and he quickly lowered the volume.

"Don't waste time, girlie!"

"Turbo, I am NOT goin' through with this!"

"WHAT!?"

"Turbo, hear me out! I know….I know ya given me MORE than what I could ask for an I thank ya for it but….but I draw tha line at stealin' from my friends!"

"Oh, ya gotta be kiddin' me!"

"What, WHAT?!"

Turbo rushed towards the girl, pushing all his power and height against her "What happened ta tha Nicelander who wanted ta prove that they were more than just another dumpy NPC? What happened ta tha Nicelander who would take risk, who wanted ta REBEL against all tha stuffed shirts here?!"

Lucy pushed the man back "Yeah, some of tha guys might be STUFFY but Mary isn't one of 'em! Ya gotta understand, Turbo! She TRUSTS me! She's like my second MOM an' I can't-! I can't do this ta her! I feel bad enough that I swiped tha key from Mayor Booty-Shorts, but I can't hurt Mary! I can't! She works so hard with these pies that if somethin' were ta happen ta ya because we got tha wrong one-?!"

"UUURGH! LUCY!"

"Turbo, back off this!" the girl said, standing on her tip-toes "What we're dealin' in is DANGEROUS! Genie said only Felix can eat those pies? Well, he must have a good reason for sayin' that because even HE doesn't eat those things an' tha man inhales EVERYTHIN' that crosses his path!"

"You're just tryin' ta hold me back…"

"I am not!"

"Yes ya are…." The grey racer growled, his features suddenly appearing less friendly and more sinister towards the girl "After all I did for ya, after all I gave ya. Right at tha moment ya turn on me?!"

"I-I'm not turnin' on ya, Turbo! I just don't want anythin' ta happen ta ya!"

"Ya don't want anythin' ta happen ta me? What if I NEEDED a pie, what if I NEEDED it ta live?!"

"W-Well, I would-!"

"Would ya deny me a pie THEN, Lucy?!" the man hissed, taking the girl by her hands "Lucy, I need that pie!"

"Turbo, stop! STOP! Just listen to me before-!"

"M-Mary! D-Don't do this! Don't-MMMPH!"

What was that?

The two looked towards the door, both of them hearing thuds and bangs as bodies seemed to FIGHT their way down the hall.

This could be trouble.

"What do we do?!" Lucy gasped, falling to the floor "If we get CAUGHT, then-!"

IF.

That was the important word.

Turbo wasn't about to let another plan crash and burn before him so without missing a beat, he grabbed Lucy across her waist and headed towards the window, opening and jumping upon the landing before shutting it behind them.

"What happened then, Ms. Lucy?"

"Um….things got REALLY fuzzy after that, Vanellope."

The door then opened.

And two figures BARGED their way in.

Mary had thrown herself on top of Gene, the woman embracing him tightly as she kissed, she smooched.

"MMMPH! MEH-WEEF!"

She had gotten the Mayor at the right moment.

But only moments before catching someone else.

Mary finally pulled away from the man after throwing him on the couch, showing him such a turn from the powder-puff of a woman he was used to.

"D-Dear?"

"You've been so tense, so worried about us, about ME…." The woman said as she flicked the man on his nose "STOP. Just let lose. Just have fun."

OH DEAR.

The kissing only continued, Gene finally letting go as he took Mary into his arms, nipping her so close, so warmly.

"Why must you be a bother to me?" the man asked in-between smooches "One moment you're teasing me, the next you're…you're doing this?"

Mary sank into the blue man's hold, purring in content "Felix might be the hero of the game. He might be the one I kiss….but there is someone else I would rather be with all day."

The man turned such a shade of red that even Ralph's overalls would have been jealous.

"M-Mary, w-what good am I to you? S-So far I haven't been that good of a Mayor, I've been thrown around like a football by nearly everyone around and-!"

She gave him another kiss, so many hearts popping over his head.

"Please Gene? Please?"

Turbo looked inside, wrinkling his nose in disgust as the kissing spree continued.

"Aurgh, that's fine. I didn't need ta eat today ANYWAY."

"MMMPPPH!"

The man looked down, his hand covering Lucy's mouth. He scowled as he lead her towards the ladders.

"You. Don't say a FREAKIN' word ta me."

The two then made their escape, Gene and Mary none the wiser to what was going on. They were too busy contending to their own 'games' at the moment, both coming near their own bonus levels.

"Ah, see?" Mary sighed as she fell in Gene's arms, holding him tight "THIS is why we call you Big Gene."

Gene said nothing, just smiling as he rubbed Mary's back.

Suddenly, all that stress felt like it was in the past.

The two felt content enough to just stay where they were for the entire night after that but as Mary opened her eyes….

"Hmmm?"

Gene raised his head up, noticing his darling peering down at the floor "Dear?"

"Honey…." Mary said, her eyes focused near the window "Isn't that your key?"

"WHAT HAPPENED BACK THERE?!"

"Turbo, I already told ya! I couldn't do it!" Lucy said as she and Turbo argued back and forth in his suite "It-! It was a stupid plan ANYWAY! Who knows what could have happened if we ate that thing!"

"WE?"

Turbo walked over to the small woman, once more forcing his height upon her.

"Hahah, baby no! Ya knew EXACTLY what ya were doin' when ya lost that opportunity for ME! There was no US in that plan!"

"Turbo, just stop! STOP!" Lucy cried out, sitting on the couch "I…..look. Th-this has been fun, but…but I think I've found my limit."

The man's eyes widened as he peered over at the girl. Lucy was now rubbing her arms, suddenly feeling so cold and scared.

"Y-Yeah, I like ta mess with tha guys as much as everyone but….there are just some things I can't do, some things I can't say. Mary made us PROMISE we wouldn't hand out those pies an' if I were ta make her upset on that then-!"

The woman fell forward, her hands cupping her face. Turbo could hear her shaking, hear her crying.

"I'm sorry…." The Nicelander sobbed, sniffing as she wiped her eyes "I can't do everythin' for ya."

Turbo stood in silence as he looked at the girl but his breathing began to quicken, his brows began to bunch.

After all his work. After all of that.

It had come to this?

Lucy still felt there was something that could be saved, something she could tell the man to make him feel better but as she looked at him her face dropped.

"T-Turbo?"

Suddenly she didn't feel so safe.

"Get….out."

"W-What?"

"GET OUT!" Turbo roared as he took Lucy by her wrist and pulled her from the couch, flinging her to the ground "GET OUTTA HERE YA USELESS, BITCH! GET OUT!"

Lucy looked stunned for a moment but she got back on her feet, glaring at Turbo angrily.

"W-What did ya call m-?!"

"Ya stupid bitch, ya filthy tramp! I gave ya EVERYTHIN' an' this is how ya repay me?! THIS IS HOW YA GIVE ME BACK!?"

"Don't touch me again!" Lucy shouted, trying her best to give Turbo a punch in the face but as he was BIGGER than her, he was also stronger, taking the woman by her arm again and THROWING her against the wall, a scream escaping her throat.

"NO ONE would every wanna touch a fat piece'a crap like ya, ya sawed-off FREAK!"

The fight had begun, Lucy trying her best to keep her strength up against Turbo but it was no use. He grabbed hold of her again, opening the door of the suite and throwing her out.

"OUT!" the man roared once more "If I even so much as see one of ya butter-rolls in my game I'll make sure ya game over, PERIOD!"

"Y-Ya can't do that!" Lucy cried out "Ya can't threaten us like that! NOT LIKE-!"

The door slammed hard in the girl's face, almost making her fall over on her behind but she caught herself, breathing hard as she looked at the door but…

"Turbo?"

No reply.

"Turbo?"

"Go away, bitch!"

"Turbo, don't do this!" the girl pleaded "It….it was just a mistake! I'll get ya tha pie, I promise I will!"

"Too late!" the man said from the other side as Lucy continued to pound the door.

"Turbo, this isn't fair! Please give me another chance, PLEASE!"

"After what ya did? Ya just proved ta me that everyone was RIGHT?"

The Nicelander stepped away from the door, her hands shaking "R-Right? Right about WHAT?!"

"Ya Nicelanders ARE useless, useless as every other NPC in this damn arcade!"

There was a pause, Lucy trying to catch her breath.

"Oh, what. That implies that there could be NPCs in this place WORSE than ya guys! I take it back; ya ARE ta worse! Tha ABSOLUTE worse!"

"T-Turbo!"

"Like that Wrecker of yours said!" the racer cackled from the other side of the room "Ya guys are only good ta throw! I was tossin' ya a line, givin' ya a bit of a chance ta prove 'im wrong but I guess in this case tha Bad Guy wins, huh?"

Even RALPH thought the Nicelanders were useless, even HE thought they were pointless?

It could not be true, it just could not!

"S-stop it!" the girl cried out "Y-you're just mad ya didn't get that stupid pie! That's all!"

"Lookin' back now, I cudda saved all tha time sweet talkin' that PINK one of yours. Or any of ya for that matter. Guess stupid me was bein' too sweet, too open. But hey, it was a fun ride while it lasted huh, BAAABE?"

Lucy didn't know what to do as she stood at the door of whom she thought was once her friend.

"But I think it would be best if I traded up. Wouldn't want tha arcade ta think I've let myself go by havin' a NICELANDER holdin' onta my arm…."

The entire game was silent, the halls pitch black. All she could do was stand there, stand there and look as if Turbo would return, as if he would come back to the door and greet her back in with open arms.

But he did not come.

He did not return.

And so Lucy was forced to make it back to the apartments by herself, her clothes in a mess, her hair everywhere and her make-up smudged. It was a complete walk of shame as she went through the station, people stopping, people looking as the little woman trudged by herself back to her game. She could see some of them, some of the people whispering about her. They were the people she thought she had gotten one over by hanging out with Turbo but without Turbo?

Without the man she felt like nothing.

The larger characters giggled and pointed, snickered and stared, stared upon the chubby little figure in tattered clothing. Her pace began to quicken, her legs began to move as fast as they could.

She could not let anyone see her, not like this!

She finally arrived back in Niceland, feeling out of breath, feeling much too weak to carry herself back to the apartments but by some miracle she was able to make it though she did so clumsily. She didn't want to get caught, she didn't want to get seen but-

"Lucy?"

The little woman looked, seeing Ralph standing over her. She cried out in shock, moving back from him.

"G-Get away!"

"W-What's wrong?" the man said, much more concerned over her given the way she looked "W-what happened ta ya! It looks like ya've been in a fight!"

The girl said nothing, clutching the torn remains of her dress as her eyes began to fill with tears, the anger frown still on her face.

"I AM NOT WEAK!"

Ralph jolted back "O-okay?!"

"Don't look at me like that! Don't ya DARE look at me like that, Ralph!"

"Lucy, what did I do?" the man asked, sounding more and more worried by the second "I-I don't wanna hurt ya but-!"

"Don't come near me!" Lucy snapped back as she SLAPPED Ralph's hand away, crying even louder than before "I-I know what ya think about us, about ME!"

"What?!"

"Hang out with Turbo then!" the woman wailed as she ran to the apartments "AN' STAY AWAY FROM US!"

Ralph was left confused, he was left cold but most of all, he was left shaken. One would have thought that such a small woman wouldn't have that much power over Ralph but what she had told him, the way she had said it…Ralph felt hurt, he felt BROKEN.

But it was only proving his worries to be true.

The Nicelanders DID see him as just a bad guy.

And if that were how things were….

Ralph scowled, marching into the trolley of the game and riding it into the station. He didn't stop his journey, ignoring everyone else around him as they could only wonder what a man such as he was up to. The big man walked right into Turbo Time, right up to the suite of the star racer.

"TURBO!"

"Yes?"

"Open up!"

A few seconds later, Turbo had unlocked the door, giving Ralph a calm look.

"So, what brings tha Wrecker out."

"Ya were right!" the big man said as she pushed his way into the suite, going over to the drink cabinet.

"Yes Ralph, help yourself. I don't mind."

"They turned on me!" the big man growled, reaching out for a bottle of the strongest thing in the room, simple popping the top and taking a swig "A-all I've done was my job an' they turned on me like ya said they would!"

"Well, that's tha way NPCs think, Ralphie-Boo." Turbo said as he joined the man at the bar "They're minds are simple, their minds are weak since they weren't programmed ta think independtly like us."

"I wanted ta give 'em all tha benefit of tha doubt on this but-!"

Ralph took another swig, the drink going down hard and hot.

"She just yelled at me for no reason! I was tryin' ta help her but she acted as if I were tha one who hurt her!"

"Who?"

"LUCY!" Ralph roared, slamming his fist upon the bar, nearly breaking it in two "What does she want me ta do!? What do they ALL want me ta do?! I ain't gonna sit around an' be their PATSY just 'cause I'm a bad guy!"

"So I take it ya've had enough?" Turbo said, looking up at the bigger man.

"This stuff ya said ya wanted ta do ta make tha arcade better? What do I hafta do? How can I help?"

"I'll find ya a place, Ralph." Turbo smiled, leading the Wrecker away "Trust me, I'll put those talents of yours ta good use an' then you'll show those Nicelanders. You'll show 'em tha man that ya really are inside."

On the lawn, people were hushed but there was a split, some people looking at Ralph while others looked at Lucy. The Nicelander was looking not at all pleased in herself or anything for that matter, Ralph looking down at the ground.

"Lucy?"

"What?"

"Did…did he really do that ta ya?"

The woman nodded, Ralph HORRIFIED to hear that Turbo had put his hands on yet another Nicelander woman and expected them to take it. The reason for Lucy's anger back then began to make sense but knowing now that was the reason for her anger only made him realize that his reaction, how he had rushed to Turbo, the very man who hurt her-!

"There's nothin' as grand as knowin' that ya've been used…."Lucy said, shaking her head, disgusted in herself "I kept it silent for this long but it's just been festerin' in me. An' don't think Turbo ended it with me at that moment. The scab came back."

"He did?!" Mary said, reaching over and taking Lucy by her hand "What else did he d-?!"

"All those times I spent with him, I said too much. Between me, Ralph, an' whoever else he had under his thumb he was usin' us all as his means of leanrin' more 'bout us. Lookin' back, all those fights that lead up ta….ta that night. I can only guess he got some of tha info from me."

"D-Don't put all tha blame on yourself." Ralph said, Lucy turning towards him "I…I spilled some things out as well."

Lucy flopped forward, moaning loudly "Can we all get a reset, please? I just wanna wake up one day an' feel like Turbo doesn't own me anymore."

"Lucile…"

The young woman looked over towards her brother, Tony looking so calm despite everything he had heard.

"I wish…I wish you would have told me about this from the start. I could have done something to protet you!"

"Tony, you tried that." Lucy said, rolling on her side "An' what happened?"

"Yes, what did happen?" Vanellope said, finding herself more interested as she learned just how many people Turbo had tormented.

"Tony tried ta keep my back, he tried ta stand up for me when Turbo did make his way but…."

The shame returned to the Nicelander, sitting up and averting her eyes form her brother.

"But…."

"He got to me as well."

"Anthony, not you too." Said Mary.

"All those times Felix had to 'fix' me from fights? They were all from Turbo…" the man said "I sort of traced the steps back to him after I recalled all the times Lucy had defended him whenever Gene started but after that night, all those 'nice' things stopped."

Lucy bit her lip, wanting only to hide herself upon hearing everything.

"He got me….but I knew I couldn't fall since I had a little sister to look after."

"That's nice, Tony….but if I were in your shoes, I would never forgive you. Me? Her? Him? Whatever I'm tryin' ta say."

"Lucy, don't worry." The older brother said "I won't deny what you did was foolish…."

"HEY."

"But….but after all of it, I'm glad he didn't do anything else to you."

"He might not have done anythin' ta me PHYSICALLY after that, but it wasn't as if there were consequences ta pay after that."

The little Nicelander looked up at Ralph, her eyes wide.

"Big guy, I'm sorry."

"There's no need ta be…"

"Are ya kiddin', after what I did?!"

"There are many things I did too…plus…

The man balled his fist, growling.

"He put his hands on YOU an' Meg like that?!"

The young Nicelander cleared her throat, turning away "Wait till ya hear what he did ta Dee-Dee."

"WHAT DID HE DO?!"

"Lucy, don't rile him up."

In the eighties, Turbo had his way with everyone.

In the eighties, Turbo was used to getting his way.

There had been a long stretch of incidences that he had led which eventually resulted in several things to fall forward, the man standing on the sidelines and watching as the entire arcade burned around him. On this particular night he was feeling ESPECIALLY proud of himself; he had completed another full set of races, the players had cheered him on once again and to end the night…

"I think Tapper's is tha place ta go!"

The man walked in, greeted by the usual others but there was one figure whom he was surprised to see.

It was another Nicelander, the one dressed in ruby, the one EVERYONE had spoken of in a PARTICULAR way was sitting there at the bar alone, none of her friends with her.

This was going to be too easy.

"Heeeey…"

The Nicelander turned her head, Turbo instantly hit with an odd sensation but the sensation wasn't based on pleasure. If anything, it felt as if someone WERE with the Nicelander, just someone he could not see.

It had to be a trick of the light, his nerves! That was it!

The man slunked up to the small woman, sitting on the seat next to her "I don't think I've seen you around here, lil thang."

The Nicelander took a sip from her glass, refusing to even make eye-contact with the man "I guess you don't pay very close attention then. I'm here all the time."

"Heh, well I do have so many folks to look after."

The woman wasn't flinching, her eyes steady focused before her but Turbo? His eyes were wandering somewhere else.

"Hmmm, gotta admit."

"Yes?"

"Didn't know that NPCs could be so….curvy."

The Nicelander's eyes narrowed, Turbo sensing that a spot had been hit.

"Ya know….I am missin' a girl."

"Then look for her."

"I could use a lady like ya on my side an' I'm sure a cutie like ya would enjoy some of tha perks that come with bein' one of TURBO'S girls."

The man slid his hands up the woman's side, her body as still as a statue.

"I think ya would look tha best…." The man purred greasily "I mean, you're so much more shapely than those other Nicelanders."

His hands were going higher.

Higher.

HIGHER.

"Ya got curves in ALL tha right places…."

TOO HIGH.

Turbo's hands had gone…SOMEWHERE, somewhere unwelcomed and much too high. And yet the woman did not move.

"C'mon baby, say somethin'…." The man said, giving her body a SQUEEZE "Say-!"

BAM!

An elbow in the back.

WHAM!

A knee to the gut!

All Turbo could do was let out a choked gasp as he fell to the ground, a few people in the bar looking on in shock as the Nicelander jumped off her seat and stood next to the downed racer, the once stony face replaced with one of RAGE. Turbo managed to open an eye, the Nicelander glaring down at him.

"W-What da he-?!"

"I would very much appreciate it if you did not place your hands upon me in such a fashion." The Nicelander said as she grabbed her purse and walked out of the bar "And the name is DEANNA, Turbo."

Deana was in the garden, looking after her flowers, unaware that the lot of the NPC Network were now looking at her, their faces ashen.

"Can we all agree on this?" Ralph said "Don't….d-don't mess with Deanna. Just DON'T"

The woman moved, looking as if she had heard the others from such a distance away, her gloved hand reaching up and brushing her hair away from her ear.

Niceland went cold as a hollow wind blew around all, Ralph certain that the game had suddenly gotten even DARKER than normal.

"Yup! YEAH! NOT MESSIN' WITH HER!"

"AGREED."