Author's Note: Chapters 1-10 have been revised and updated. This necessitated me deleting several chapters (since the beginning of this ordeal I've recently only had to delete one chapter at a time). You may have to go back a bit to return to where you left off. Sorry for the inconvenience. It might be easiest to make note of the title of the chapter you're on in the future.


Taffyta sighed happily as she floated face up in the shallow water of the beach. She and Rancis went off on their own a good distance away, still within sight of the others who were trying to keep a large beach ball from landing in the water. "It feels like I've been waiting for this for weeks now," she said with a wide smile as she looked over to Rancis who was making hand gestures, "..Don't you dare.." She laughed as he began tickling her, or he tried to at least. "You'd better not make me choke on this water." She stopped floating and crouched just low enough for only her head to be above water. You'll regret it if I do.

"Would that really be my fault?" Rancis asked with a mischievous grin as he lowered himself so that their heads were even. If you're not going to be sweet on your own, I'll tease it out of you.

"Yes!" Taffyta said as she backed away some and splashed water into his face, "I know what you're trying to do, you know. It's not gonna work." Too much lovey dovey-ness is a dangerous thing.

"Oh?" Rancis asked, "And what might that be?" We'll never know until I try.

"You're really going to make me spell it out, aren't you?" Taffyta said with an annoyed smile.

"Well that's the only way we can be sure we're on the same page, right?" Rancis asked with a smile. I'm glad those guys aren't bothering us at least. Well, not so much bothering, but..

"You're trying to entice me into bringing my sweet side out," Taffyta said, "There. I said it." She got the honeyglow in her cheeks. It's not that I don't want it..

"You're blushing," Rancis said teasingly. Of course that's what I'm doing.

"Like I said, it's not gonna work," Taffyta said playfully then stuck out her tongue, "I'll let you know when, don't worry." She ruffled his hair before dunking his head underwater. Good things come to those who wait.


"I guess they wanted to go play alone," Garret said with a smirk. Go have your alone time, I don't mind. Jubileena probably appreciates it.

"You said it like that on purpose, didn't you?" Jubileena said wryly. Is he trying to do this?

"Like what?" Garret ask with a laugh, "Well they're not here with us." I guess it could be taken a bit more perversely.. Not really what I meant though.

Leon smirked but didn't say anything. Dirty minds think alike? The beach ball bounced off his head. Oh?

"Pay attention, Leon," Minty said happily. Don't get distracted now.

"Why didn't I know about this place?" Jet wondered aloud, "A-as long as I've been here.." Here I go again bringing this subject up.. Let's not make anything out of it please.

"No idea," Garret said as he lightly tapped the beach ball upwards in Jet's direction, "I knew about it. Leon knew about it. There probably wasn't any reason for you to expect there to be a beach here. It's not like we've ever come here before." Not either of us, anyways..

"I-I guess that makes sense," Jet said modestly as he tapped the beach ball towards Crumbelina, "I never really looked too deeply.." What I did was already too personal. And it's hard to grab a memory if you don't know it's there anyways.

"You sure bring it up a lot.." Jubileena said, "J-just making an observation.." I really need to think more before I speak..

"I-I know," Jet said with a nervous sigh, "It just slips out sometimes. The only reason I was never caught before was because I-I was wearing Loya's personality. I guess you could say it like that anyways.. I'm terrible at keeping secrets otherwise.. I don't want to give the impression that I enjoyed doing it.." It's just the games themselves that I enjoyed..

"Relax," Leon said in the friendliest manner he could muster, "It's done with already." I already had a pretty good feeling that's how you were, judging by the way the girls and Rancis defend you. Even Sarge implied as much.

"Besides.." Garret said and cleared his throat, "If it weren't for what you did, I might have never even met Jubileena.. Or by the time I did it could've been too late." I need to stop being so sappy. Especially around anyone except Jubileena. For crying out loud.. "This result isn't bad at all." It's easier thinking about it that way.

"Well you don't have to worry about that, now do you?" Jubileena asked with a laugh as she hugged him briefly. I'm glad I met you first too.

Crumbelina stood there smiling next to them holding the beach ball steady on side of her. I don't even have to say anything in his defense. Good. Loya is the only one to kind of worry about, but he just wants a favor judging from what he said..

"It's the same way for me with Minty," Leon said happily, "I couldn't be much happier." I don't even care how that might have sounded.

"And what could make you happier, I wonder?" Minty asked playfully. Tell me?

Leon whispered into Minty's ear, making her blush and giggle. I hope that wasn't too loud.

"So that's what you meant," Minty said with a shy smile. I'll think about it.

"I may have heard that," Crumbelina said with a wry smile. Leon is that type of guy, hmm?

"What?" Jubileena asked with a smile, "I think I'd like to hear this too." It might not be perverted judging by Crumbelina's reaction.

Crumbelina whispered into Jubileena's ear, making her jaw drop, leading into a wide smile. Shh..

"Is there something I shouldn't know?" Garret asked. Maybe she'll tell me later? Or maybe I can get Leon to tell me later. Or maybe I could get Sarge to ask him. No, that would be too much..

"Or me?" Jet asked. Is it a girl thing? I feel like I need to know this if it's making Crumbelina so happy..

"It's nothing," Jubileena said wryly. This is a good group..

"Don't worry about it," Crumbelina said just as wryly. It's a secret. I won't even tell Taffyta. Especially not her.

"I'll think about it.." Minty said with a shy smile as she rubbed the top of Leon's head.

"S-shall we continue our game then?" Leon asked while wrapping his arm around Minty's waist under the water. That leaves me optimistic..


"I can wreck things really well.." Ralph said, trying to mask his embarrassment with confidence.. There's really no avoiding this?

"Who didn't know that?" Vannie said while rolling her eyes, "What's the magic trick you're hiding? Or are there multiple? I wanna see!" She smiled knowingly. You can't fool me.

"It's embarrassing.." Ralph said plainly, "I'll tell you later." I think I just made things worse by saying that.

"Something we shouldn't know?" Calhoun asked as she raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms. What could it be? It's embarrassing.. Okay. But what does that mean? She blew her hair out of her eyes. That one bit of hair is always getting in the way.

"You can tell us, brother," Felix said with a warm smile. It's a load off my mind knowing that the brother I'd been looking for is Ralph. I didn't even remember Dad said I had one.. And he never even told me Ralph's name.. I should have made this connection. Maybe I started to. That's probably why I've been calling him brother.. I think I ought to have a look at my code too, I'd suspect.. Maybe later.

"..Alright, fine," Ralph said in an annoyed tone, "If you won't lay off about it I'll show you. But let's get out of here first.." How am I going to get out of this without embarrassing myself too much?

"Come to think of it.." Vannie said as they got into the throne room, "How'd you get clean so fast?" I'm pretty sure he was dirty before going in there.. She smelled his arm. "Doesn't stink.." She smiled mischievously. Is that it? Did I figure it out? What scent is this anyways? Smells kind of like our game. Maybe near the exit?..

Ralph sighed and rolled his eyes. So much for revealing it myself in a more wizard-like fashion. I can't believe the developers would decide something like that..

"That is it!" Vannie said teasingly. If only you knew before it would have saved us some trouble, you know? But why does it make you smell like our game, I wonder? I guess it doesn't matter.

"Maybe.." Ralph grumbled. She would figure it out.

Ralph snapped his fingers and a whirling breeze swept across him and Vannie with faint magic sparkles coming off of them.

"Woah!" Vannie said with a surprised laugh, "What was that?" I feel cleaner.. Is it because I'm holding Ralph's arm?

"Tada.." Ralph grumbled. I was going to keep this my little secret for as long as possible, but I realize now that it couldn't have stayed a secret longer than a day with her around.

"So that's it?" Calhoun asked before she burst out laughing, "That's rich! Why haven't you used that before?" Certainly could have used that sooner..

"I.. I didn't know about it until now.." Ralph said, "Cut me a little slack, alright?" I'd rather no one else know I rewrote part of myself.. Not that I changed much..

"Me next, brother," Felix said with a laugh as he grabbed onto his arm. I think this is all it took, right?

"Me too!" King Candy said with a laugh as he grabbed Ralph's wrist. Sorry Ralph, this is too much fun!

"I think I could use it more than any of you.." Ash said plainly. Look at me, I'm filthier than Ralph was I'm sure. All this mud, dried blood from scrapes.. He stood next to King Candy and grabbed Ralph's arm.

"You see? This is exactly why I didn't want to say anything," Ralph said while clenching his fists. You all think this is so funny..

"We're just teasing you, Ralph," Calhoun said with a big grin as she patted him on the back, "Just do it again and it'll be all over.. mostly." I could use a bit of a refresh.

Ralph sighed and snapped his fingers, cleaning the lot of them. "You'd better appreciate this," he said bitterly, "I'll start charging for it." Charging what? Like we even have actual money..

"I'd like to see you try," Vannie said teasingly, "It's all good. You're a fine wizard, Ralph." She hugged him tightly as the others let go of him and backed away. I can now say I'm going out with a wizard. Should I ever have the urge to say so.. Just wait until Vanellope finds out.

"Well that's a relief.." Ralph said with a sarcastic laugh. Changing the subject. "So where would you like to go, Ash?" His shirt's still all torn up even though it's clean now. I guess it was always meant to be like that. "Oh wait! I gotta go see Vanellope!" There should still be time!

Nothing to worry about. Ralph smiled and lifted Vannie up, holding her gently into his shoulder with one hand as he ran to the castle door and kicked it open. They couldn't help but laugh as Vannie wrapped her arms around his neck in order to hang on. He ran out of the castle and placed Vannie into her kart and hopped on the back. "Let's go!" he said excitedly.

"Follow that Ralph!" King Candy said with an excited laugh, "It's about time I've had a day out!" It's good to see him in such high spirits.

"Hang on!" Felix said with a laugh as he fixed the door. Ralph, I don't know what's gotten into you, but it melts my heart to see you so happy. But don't use your 'wreckin' magic' all over the place.. I wonder what I'd find in my code..

They began the great Ralph Hunt. Well, that's what King Candy considered it at least.