A/N: Thanks to all those who reviewed/favorited/followed! :) Please continue to R&R!

BEEP! BEEP!

"Ah, Vanellope," the surge protector says as he appears at the entrance to Sugar Rush. "I see you got my letter."

"Yeah," she says, "but you made me crash into lollipops."

He grimaces. "My apologies. When I send a notice into a game, I can't see where it directly goes. I only know the general area of where it goes. So, are you ready?" She nods, a determined look on her face. "Very well. Hold on tight."

ZAP!

"Ow!" She lets go of his hand so she can shake hers out. "You really need a new entrance."

He leads her to the middle of the room. "What you're about to see," he tells her, "may come as a shock to you." He goes over to the wall and taps a sequence of lights.

A pixel ball appears in the middle of the room. Vanellope watches as an image form inside. It's Tapper's. A man in a purple jacket, yellow puffy pants, and red bow tie walks in. He takes the crown off his balding head and sets it on the counter as he takes a seat. "Hello, sir," says Tapper. "What will it be?"

"Your finest root beer, please," says King Candy. As he drinks his soda, he chats congenially with the other characters around him.

"I've never seen you before," says Mario. "Where are you from?"

"I'm from Sugar Rush. We just got plugged in today."

"Welcome," everyone tells the king. He chats a little longer, then places the crown on his head and bids everyone farewell. He makes his way outside.

He trips over a bundle of white and red. "Oh, I'm so sorry," Turbo says, looking apologetic and humble.

"It's okay," Candy says as he helps the character up. "What are you doing out here? You should go inside and have a nice drink."

Turbo quickly refuses. "Oh, no, I couldn't. They wouldn't want someone like me."

"Nonsense. Why wouldn't they?"

"My game was unplugged, so now I wander around, homeless."

"Oh, you poor fellow!" King Candy says. "And no one helps you? Shame on them."

Turbo changes the subject. "I couldn't help but overhear, though. You said you're from that new game?"

King Candy grips the lapels of his jacket and beams proudly. "Exactly. It's a racing game. Hoo hoo!" He jumps in excitement.

The rogue racer gets excited, too. "Really? My game was a racing game, too."

"What a small world."

"Hey, mind if I come by your game and check it out – maybe race a little?"

"Why not? It'll be fun! You could meet my daughter, Vanellope. It's only been the first day, and yet she's the best racer ever."

Turbo's face twitches. "Are you sure she's the 'best racer ever?'"

"Come over right now and see for yourself."

"Alright. I will." Turbo grabs a cloak he had hidden nearby. When he sees the king's expression, he says, "No one likes me, so I hide who I am."

The scene fades to one of Vanellope and Turbo racing. They glance at each other as they zoom along. Vanellope crosses the finish line first. Everyone cheers and comes forward. The two racers hop out of their karts, Vanellope from the white kart and Turbo from Candy's purple and yellow kart. The king comes forward and hugs his daughter, congratulating her and his new friend on a good race, Vanellope acting a little smug in her victory. When the commotion dies down, Turbo grumbles, "You are a good racer."

"Thanks," Vanellope says. "Racing's in my code."

"But where's the trophy? Or medal?"

King Candy laughs. "There are no prizes in this race."

"Really?" Turbo says, not believing it. "Then, what's the point of racing?"

"We just race to have fun," Vanellope tells him.

Candy hugs her to him. "My little girl and I plan to do it every day."

"I see…"

"Let's go back to the palace," Vanellope says. "I'm hungry." Her father laughs as Turbo rolls his eyes and everyone gets into the karts and drives off.

The next scene shows King Candy sitting behind a chocolate bar desk, drinking a cup of punch while Turbo sits before him in a pretzel-and-graham cracker chair. "I hope your room is to your liking," Candy says.

"Yeah, thanks. You've been kind." Turbo leans forward. "So, you and your daughter seem pretty close."

Candy smiles. "Yes, we are." He sets his cup down and leans back in his chair. "She reminds me of her mother. I know our backstories are just programmed and didn't actually happen, but I remember when she was first born. We were so happy." His smile fades. "Her mother died shortly after. I took care of Vanellope and raised her to be a good princess." He looks at Turbo. "She went beyond what I was expecting. She learned to race before she even learned to walk, she helped me with my duties whenever she saw I was busy or stressed. It's no wonder she's the rightful ruler of Sugar Rush."

"Wait," Turbo interrupts. "I thought you were the rightful ruler of Sugar Rush. You're the king."

King Candy shakes his head. "I may be king, but Vanellope's the rightful ruler. Everyone in the game knows that."

Turbo makes a face. "Funny, when I talked to her earlier, she said you were the rightful ruler."

"Such a sweet girl. I have the royal scepter, true, but I'm giving it to her soon," Candy explains. "Ho ho! Then it'll be official."

"Great," Turbo says, glaring off to the side.

The next scene shows Vanellope racing with her dad. They zoom through the Ice Cream Mountains, and Candy pulls ahead, but Vanellope slips past and wins. Everyone congratulates her and comments how it's only been a week. (Just like in my dream, she thinks.) Vanellope smiles, but it fades when she spots Turbo behind the stands uttering, "You're going down, Princess."

"Vanellope?" King Candy says. "What is it, my dear?"

"I thought I saw Turbo, and it seemed like he said-"

"Well done, Princess!" the said racer cheers, pushing his way through the crowd. "As usual, you are a good racer."

"I'm the best racer ever!" she says.

Turbo stiffens. When everyone's gone, Turbo grabs Candy's arm and pulls him away from Vanellope. "Listen, Candy, I need to talk to you about something."

"Hey, Dad!" Vanellope shouts. "Race you to Sugar Palace!"

King Candy, who can't resist this race, says, "Maybe later, Turbo."

"When? Either you're helping your subjects or you're racing your daughter."

"I'll find time for you, my friend. Don't worry!" King Candy hops into his kart and he and Vanellope race towards Sugar Palace.

Turbo grumbles, putting his hands in his pockets. His eyes trail until they spot Cakeway in the distance. His eyes narrow as a wicked grin spreads across his face. "You won't be racing tomorrow, Candy," he says.

Now, it shows Turbo holding a lit candle and climbing Cakeway to the tunnel part. He takes a nearby cherry and puts it in the middle of the tunnel, touching the flame to the cherry's stem. Once it's lit, he dashes back down the Cakeway path, but the cherry bomb goes off before he can get far enough away. The impact sends him flying off the top part and landing on the ground. He moans in pain, slowly sitting up. Pieces of the tunnel are scattered around him. Grinning at his work, Turbo gets to his feet and runs back to Sugar Palace, avoiding the gossiping citizens. He rings the doorbell, and eventually Sour Bill answers the door.

"Ah, my friend," King Candy says, walking forward. "How are you liking Sugar Rush?"

The pale racer steps inside. "Not bad, though I almost got hit by one of the falling pieces of the Cakeway tunnel."

"Oh, I'm so sorry you had to be there when that accident happened."

"Yeah, the, uh, accident. Caught me by surprise."

Vanellope blurts out, "Guess what, Turbo! I'm gonna have a party!"

The rest of the scene plays out like Vanellope's second dream, only it continues after Turbo leads the king away to talk in his study. Once the pair is inside, Turbo cuts to the chase. "I want to be a part of your game."

King Candy is taken aback. "What?"

"Candy, I miss racing, and though you let me watch the races and do a couple after hours, I want to race with everyone else."

"Turbo, I can't do that. You can only race if you're a part of the game."

"Can't you do something? Add a code, maybe?"

Candy thinks for a moment. "I guess you could share a code with someone. Codes can't be deleted or added completely; they can only be changed."

"How about you? I could share with you."

The old man's eyes couldn't get any wider. "What?"

"You're a good racer, I'm a good racer. It makes sense. Besides, I thought we were friends."

"We are friends, but this is a serious situation. Nothing like this has ever been done before. Besides, you aren't sugar-themed, so it would be obvious to the gamers you're not from this game."

"So give me a costume!" Turbo's patience is wearing thin.

King Candy looks angry. "Look, Turbo, as much as I'd like to help you, I can't. I know you miss being part of a game, and I don't blame you, but-"

"You listen to me, old man!" Turbo spits. He comes up to Candy and pokes him. "I will race again, and I will be part of this game! It's the only kart game in this arcade, and I will not just stand around in the shadows while some puffy-pants king and his bratty daughter race to their hearts' content!" He tackles the king to the ground.

"Are you crazy?" Candy says, wrestling with the rogue racer.

The door opens to show Sour Bill. "Sir, I-" He stops and stare wide-eyed at the scene before him. "Uh…"

"Sour Bill!" Candy cries. "Call the guards! Destroy my kart! We can't give this man a chance to race!" Sour Bill scampers off as Candy kicks Turbo off of him. "Get out of my game!"

"Never," Turbo growls, getting to his feet and running out the door.

"Get back here!" The king chases the racer down the hallway as sounds of a kart breaking can be heard.

They run into the throne room, and Turbo suddenly comes to a stop. Candy follows his gaze to the throne – Vanellope's white kart. "Since your kart's out of commission," Turbo says, "I can always take your daughter's."

"No!" The men get ready to face off again.

"Dad?" Looking up at the staircase, they see Vanellope standing there.

Turbo takes a step toward the princess, but is knocked down by Candy. "Vanellope, run!"

She just stands there, looking horrified and confused. "Dad-"

"Vanellope, my dear! You must run! Run away!"

Only then does she listen. She runs up the stairs and down the hallway until she comes to her room. "Stupid dress," she growls when she almost trips on the skirt. She slams the door shut and barricades it with a peppermint bark chair. She runs to her closet and quickly changes from her princess dress to her favorite outfit: a mint green hoodie, a brown candy wrapper skirt, mismatched leggings, and black boots. She shoves her dress, tiara, and scepter into the closet. Her hair falls out of the bun and into a ponytail as she opens her bedroom window and looks down, judging the distance. She grabs a licorice rope from a nearby curtain and uses it to lower herself partway to the ground. She jumps the rest of the way, scrambles to her feet, and takes off running.

There's banging at the door, and finally Turbo breaks his way in. "No!" he yells, running to the window. It's too late. Vanellope's gone.

Candy runs into the room, and he nearly collapses in a huff when he sees his daughter's managed to escape. He smiles and pants, "She got away."

Turbo, in his anger, takes advantage of the king's exhaustion, grabbing the licorice rope and tying him up. "You won't be so lucky as that little brat," he spits, tightening the rope.

"You can't do a thing to hurt her, Turbo," Candy says. "She's gone."

"That may be." Turbo leans closer to the king. "But she's still a little girl, Candy. Sooner or later, she'll come back for her father. And when she does…" He leaves the sentence hanging in the air.

Candy blanches. "You wouldn't."

"I would."

"But she'll regenerate. You can't eliminate her. It won't work."

"Well, then I'll kill her every time she respawns."

"Not my little girl! Please, I can't bear seeing her suffer!"

Turbo's eyes narrow. "Make me a part of the game," he snarls.

"Is that what you want?"

"That's all I want."

"…Fine."

Vanellope watches the pixel ball in horror as Turbo gets King Candy to reveal the hidden location of the code room. He drags the king along as they make their way there. Along the way, they find Sour Bill, who just came back from warning the guards. "Your Majesty!" he says.

"Sour Bill! Save yourself!"

The cough drop tries to escape, but Turbo tackles him to the ground. Turbo spots a chest nearby, picks up the squirming ball of sour, and drops him inside, slamming the top part shut. He drags both of his prisoners through the throne room to the white part behind the curtains. The automatic doors open, and Turbo shoves both king and chest inside.

"Alright, Candy," he says, "how do I get in?"

He hesitates before muttering, "Up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A, start."

The rogue racer taps in the code, and the console parts like automatic doors to reveal the black space with glowing code. He opens the chest and dumps Sour Bill out, then ties what's left of the licorice rope around his waist and jumps into the no-gravity zone with the chest. The two Sugar rush characters watch in horror as Turbo swims to the code. He's like a kid at Christmas, grinning at all the code boxes. "Aha!" he says, swimming closer to one. "King Candy." He taps the box twice, and it opens up.

"If you're going to kill me," Candy shouts, "just get it over with!"

"Ah," Turbo says, turning to the old man, "but I still need you. Like you said, I can't be added into this game, but I can share a code with you. That way, I can be an official racer!" He touches the icon in the middle of the box, and his appearance pixelates until he resembles King Candy. "Success!" he cries as the code box doubles in size. He turns to the original Candy. "How do I look?"

"You monster!"

Turbo/Candy shrugs it off and continues on, searching for another code box. He finds it. "Vanellope von Schweets," he reads. King Candy and Sour Bill cry out in horror as Turbo/Candy proceeds to unplug Vanellope's box from the game, pushing it out of the group of code.

"What have you done?" King Candy screams.

"I'm just deleting your daughter from the game. Now, she'll never be the rightful ruler, and the only one left to rule-" he smirks, "-is me."

"No!" Candy says, struggling against the licorice. "You can't do this! People will remember who the rightful ruler of Sugar Rush really is."

"You're right. Thank you for reminding me." Turbo swims over to the chest and carries it with him over to two boxes marked "Racers' Memory" and "Citizens' Memory." He shuts them up tight in the chest, then pulls himself along the rope back to the white room.

Sparkles appear around Sour Bill's head, and he holds his head in pain. Before the cough drop realizes it, Turbo/Candy is back in the room and he shoves Sour Bill out the doors into the hallway. The doors shut as Turbo/Candy turns to the real Candy. "Now," he says, tapping one finger to his chin, "what to do with you? How about that fungeon I heard about?"

Candy's eyes widen in horror. "No-"

"Yes, I think that'll work. But since I can't have anybody see you…" Turbo/Candy unties the licorice rope from around his waist and anchors the ex-king to one of the blue wires.

"You'll never get away with this!"

"I think I have," Turbo/Candy smirks.

"Just wait 'til I reset the game, then you'll – mmph!"

Turbo/Candy takes the bow tie off of the real Candy and uses it as a gag. "I'll come back for you later," he says, leaving the code room. "Hello, Sour Bill," he cheerfully tells the little ball of sour, the automatic doors shutting behind him.

Sour Bill rubs his head. "What happened?" he drones.

"Oh, I just took care of some business. By the way, do you remember how you got here?"

Sour Bill stares at the ground for a moment before answering, "No."

"Excellent! Hoo hoo! Now, let's get out of here."

The next scene is the first memory Vanellope ever had: the day she found out she was a glitch. It hurts to watch it again. Following is a scene of King Candy in the fungeon. He looks horrible: clothes ruffled, crown tarnishing in the corner, hair matted. He leans against the wall with a look of sheer exhaustion and weakness.

The door to his cell opens, and light floods the semi-darkness of the tiny room. Candy blinks and squints into the light. Turbo/Candy strides into the cell. "Enjoying ourselves, are we?" he says.

"What do you want, Turbo?" Candy sounds worn out.

"Aren't I allowed to visit an old friend? Guess not," he says when Candy glares at him. "That's not the only reason I came. Look what I found among the trash." He tosses a pink tiara inside.

Candy's eyes widen and he reaches out for the tiara. He gazes at it in sorrow. "Vanellope," he whispers.

"I'm surprised it didn't disappear along with the rest of that little brat," the fake king grumbles.

Candy tries to look angry, but his watery eyes and trembling lip betray his emotions. "How could you? How could you delete her?"

Turbo/Candy leans closer to the fatigued man and sneers, "I always get what I want, Candy, no matter what."

"But she was just a little girl!"

"She was in my way. I couldn't give her a chance to undo all my hardwork."

Candy hangs his head. He chokes back a sob, a tear trailing down his cheek and falling onto the tiara in his hands. "My poor little girl."

Turbo/Candy rolls his eyes and scoffs, "It's been five years since I unplugged your daughter. Get over it already!"

"You don't understand," Candy says, wiping his eyes. "You've never had a child. There's nothing that can replace the hole in your heart." Vanellope tears up a bit watching this scene.

The rogue racer just steps out of the cell, only to return with a small plate with a caramel apple, a sugar plum, and a handful of jelly beans. "Here, you better eat up. I still need you alive." That's the last thing he says before slamming the cell door shut and locking it.

Candy crawls over to the food. He hungrily looks at it all, and he picks up the caramel apple and is about to take a bite.

A pattering sound can be heard approaching. "Mmm, hello?"

He freezes, the apple halfway to his mouth. Dropping the apple, he stumbles to the cell, grabs the bars, and shouts, "Help! Sour Bill, help!"

The cough drop clacks into view. He stares in horror at the sight of King Candy locked up. "How did you get in there?" he asks, pattering over.

"I was tricked by that wicked monster," he spits. "Hurry, you have to let me out so I can reset the game!"

Sour Bill puts a hand on the lock – when the other King Candy rounds a corner. "Sour Bill!" he yells. "Step away from that cell!"

The sourpuss looks from one Candy to the other. "How-"

"Leave that prisoner in the cell!" Turbo/Candy storms over to the two. "He'll just help the glitch!"

"Glitch?" ex-King Candy repeats. "There aren't any glitches in Sugar Rush."

"See? He's obviously trying to trick you. No doubt he's conspiring with the glitch!"

Sour Bill looks confused. "I thought Vanellope couldn't get in here."

"Vanellope?!" ex-King Candy echoes in disbelief.

"Sour Bill!" Turbo/Candy hisses. "I thought I told you never to mention the glitch by name!"

"Vanellope's a glitch?" the old man says, horrified.

With one last glare at his doppelganger, Turbo/Candy says, "Let's get out of here, Sour Bill."

"No! I need to reset the game! I have to save Vanellope!"

Turbo/Candy grabs the little ball of sour and drags him out of the fungeon, the whole while ex-King Candy screams for someone to let him out to reset the game.

Next is the boss battle in Sugar Rush. Even though Vanellope's already seen it before, she watches it with fresh eyes as Ralph sacrifices himself for her. Following this is an image of Ralph and Felix back inside their game. "That was an amazing thing you did back there, Ralph," Felix says to his new friend.

Ralph smiles. "Thanks, Felix. I just couldn't let anything happen to Vanellope."

"She's lucky to have a friend like you, brother."

Nod. "I wish I could do something for her." His face brightens as an idea comes to mind. "I got it, though I'm gonna need some help."

"Anything, Ralph."

The pixel ball flickers to another moment before Vanellope can find out what Ralph was planning. This time, he's in Tapper's talking to heroes, villains, and extras alike. "I think I know how I'm gonna give it to her," he tells them.

"Good for you, Ralph," Zangief says. "You've been planning this for long time."

"There's just one problem: how am I gonna make the gift? I'm not good at making things." (He's making me a gift?)

"I'm sure she'll like anything you make her," Luigi says.

"What are you thinking about making?" Sonic asks.

Ralph rubs the back of his neck. "I'm not sure. I don't know what she likes. I haven't seen her in a while."

"You don't think she's upset that you're not spending as much time with her, do you?" Satan asks.

"No, I don't think so," Ralph says with an assuring grin.

Just then, Vanellope and Kairi walk into Tapper's. Vanellope looks shocked seeing Ralph talking to a group of characters. "Ralph?" she whispers.

Ralph's face falls. "Kid." Everyone turns to see the girls standing in the doorway and look away, some whistling innocently. The little racer runs out of the pub, and Ralph rushes to follow her.

The image fades to Ralph in his house. He's sitting glumly on his bed, staring at the cookie medal in his hands. Someone knocks at his door. "Kid?" Hopeful, he rises to his feet and goes and answers the door. "Um, who are you?"

"I'm Citrusella Flugpucker," she says. "I wanted to talk to you about Vanellope."

"Come on in." Ralph offers the racer pie, but she politely declines. "What's wrong with Vanellope?"

"Nothing, Mr. Ralph. She's fine. She's really nice. She let me take her spot in the game today!"

Ralph's jaw drops. "Really? She never does that!"

"I know!" Citrusella says. "I wanted to do something nice for her in return, though she wouldn't take my gold coin. I thought you might have some ideas."

"Well, I do have something." A piece of the roof falls and almost hits Citrusella. She yelps and jumps out of the way. "Oops, sorry about that," he says, picking up the piece. "Some of the roofs are falling apart, and we're waiting for Felix to get back from fixing the karts before he can fix 'em."

"Right, Vanellope and Taffyta crashed."

"Oh, almost forgot to tell you," Ralph says. "I'm planning something for Vanellope, and I'd like you to be part of it."

Citrusella smiles. "Anything for the president."

"First, do you know anything she'd like? I'm gonna try to make her something, but I don't know what she'd really like."

"Anything but sugar. She's got plenty of that already." They laugh – at the same time Vanellope's face appears in the window. At the sight of them, she looks hurt, and she runs away with tears forming in her eyes.

"That's not the only thing I have planned for her."

"Really, what else?"

Again, the scene is cut off as another moment comes into view, Vanellope looking at the archiving code, the surge protector appearing and startling her. Both King Candy and Turbo/Candy appear in the room. The real Candy is happy to see Vanellope, who looks terrified and confused. Candy looks heartbroken, wondering why his little girl isn't happy to see him. Turbo/Candy doesn't care; he just wants to take over the arcade. After the surge protector sends Vanellope through the portal, the pixel ball flashes and disappears pixel by pixel.

The president is silent, absorbing all this. "Are you okay?" the surge protector asks.

Vanellope doesn't answer, so many thoughts screaming for attention in her mind. "I do have a dad," she finally says. "And Ralph does care about me. He wasn't being mean. And he's making me a gift?" She twiddles her fingers shyly. "I never gave him anything."

"What about that cookie medal? Ralph is very proud of that."

She ducks her head. "And Citrusella was just trying to help the whole time." Turning to Mr. Sparks, she says, "What happens if Turbo gets them?"

"He's not going to get them. As far as I know, he doesn't have any means of doing serious harm to them."

BEEP! BEEP!

"Time to go," the surge protector says, grabbing Vanellope's arm and transporting the two of them to Game Central Station.

"Kid!" Ralph cries, scooping the girl up and squeezing her in a hug. "I've been looking everywhere for you!"

"Ralph!" Vanellope returns the hug, tears forming in her eyes. She loves her friend now more than ever after seeing everything he's done for her.

The surge protector smiles at this lovely picture. He's not one to show his emotions, but who could resist seeing these two?

The moment is ruined as a space marine runs out of Hero's Duty. He spots the small group and hurries over. "Wreck-It Ralph!" he says. "We need your help!"

The wrecker sets the kid down. "What is it?"

"Turbo's got Felix, and he wants the cy-bug eggs!"

"WHAT?!" everyone screams, not caring that they're drawing everyone else's gazes towards them.

"Calhoun is leading him to the top floor. She left us all behind so one of us could sneak away to come find you."

"I'm in," Ralph says, clenching his fists.

"Me too!" The small party watches King Candy race from Fix It, Felix Jr. to where they're standing. "Look," he says to Ralph and Vanellope, "it's my fault Turbo took over Sugar Rush in the first place. I let him trick me into believing he was good. Please, give me a chance to set things right!"

Ralph opens his mouth to say something, but Vanellope steps forward and says, "It's not your fault. He's just a dummy-gummy. But we can use all the help we can get, Dad."

King Candy smiles.

An idea pops into Vanellope's head. "Hey, Mister Sparks, think you can bring back a couple karts for us?"