A/N~

Thank you guys so much for all the support! It brings me so much joy to know that you are reading and enjoying my story. I thought I would take the time to reply to some of your lovely reviews here :)

Ascended95: Thank you very much for all of your kind words; you are so sweet and encouraging! I do try my best to keep the characters true to their personalities, and thank you for being supportive about this. And yes, haha, I agree things did escalate a little quickly during the last chapter ;) our two lovebirds are indeed freshly opening their wings and their love is about to truly take flight. I can't wait to keep developing their relationship, not just in that way though! I also do have big plans for our three other Sugar Rush racers!

Roni: Thank you for returning to my story again, and for giving it another chance! I really have anjoyed your kind reviews here! I have so much more planned for this story than I ever did, and I've been continuously fleshing out more of the plotline in my head. There is certainly much more to come! ;)

Turtuline1: I'm so glad you're still hanging in there with me through all of this! I remember all of the kind reviews you left me when I first started out on this endeavor, and I'm thankful you decided to join me for the ride yet again!

King-of-conmen: I know it's been a couple of chapters since your last review, and I do hope that your are enjoying the events that have been unfolding! ;) There is much more planned for all these characters!

Anyway, I appreciate all of you! This story has been so exciting to progress, and I've got lots of plans and ideas for what is to come!

Chapter 19

Bright Sugar Rush sunshine flooded in through the large bay window on the far side of Vanellope's bedroom. Sheer cream colored curtains billowed gracefully in the small breeze that the ceiling fan created in her room.

She shifted groggily in her sleep, before blinking her eyes open to come face to face with none other than her loveable wrecker.

She smiled at him sheepishly as her round hazel eyes immediately met with his. He was already awake and watching her stir out of her slumber. Her cheeks flushed a rosy pink and she lightly barked, "Whatcha lookin' at, Stinkbrain?"

He rolled his eyes and chuffed at her. "So much for having a romantic moment," he teased, returning his narrowed gaze to her face with a smirk.

Giggling softly, she gently shoved her palm against his shoulder. "Hey!" She laughed, before burrowing her head bashfully into his chest. "What time is it?" She wondered aloud.

"It's 8:00," he replied. "We have about an hour until the game day starts." She let out a deep sigh and lovingly stroked the skin on his upper chest.

"I wish we had more time together," she breathed, the skin on her face flushing with heat in the small space between her cheek and his chest.

He nuzzled his chin down into her black hair and closed his eyes, breathing in and out deeply. "Me too, Vanellope." He whispered. "I don't think I've ever felt more relaxed in my life." His arms wrapped tenderly around her middle, pulling her in closer to his body. He smiled into the top of her head and gently caressed her back with one large hand.

She curled her toes in as his touch sent goosebumps crawling up her skin. She let out a small yawn as she relished in the feeling of his sweet touch. She pulled her head up and gazed at him with warmth in her eyes. She smiled, watching curiously as he turned to meet her stare.

Her heart thrummed in her chest, but not in a nervous or overwhelming way. She could feel her code warming her entire body as she savored these moments of affection with the one she loved. It was as if her pixels were humming in a satisfied sense of calm, completely settled and at peace within her. She smiled, closing her eyes as he pressed a small kiss against her forehead.

All seemed still for a few minutes, and she allowed herself to simply lie with him, undisturbed, and soaking in as much affection and love as she could in their brief amount of time.

"I love you," she murmured, her cheeks flushing quickly. "It's like I can't stop saying that."

He chuckled and pressed another kiss into her skin. "I love you too," he responded. "And I love hearing you say that."

"It feels like after all these days of tension ever since the update, we can finally just...be."

He nodded silently in agreement. "I know what you mean. I spent so long resisting everything, but…" He shook his head in bewilderment. "I just couldn't keep it up any longer. There's so much still I feel like I wanna tell you, but I can't seem to put it into words. I've never felt this way about anybody else. It's so indescribable and amazing."

She brought her hands up to rest on his large arms. "I feel the same," she whispered. "There's always been in a place in my heart only you have occupied."

The two sleepy gamers rested for a few minutes in each others' presence, dwelling in the comfort and security of their cozy little nest.

"Well," she finally breathed, pulling away slowly from his grasp. She looked at him reluctantly. "I guess you better get going...we've both gotta get ready for game day."

He nodded, eyes glimmering with disappointment. "You're right," he sighed, before pulling himself up and quickly sliding off of her bed. "Can you toss me my shirt?" He asked, cheeks flushing with embarrassment as she turned to look behind her and grabbed his t-shirt off the ground. She quickly picked it up and tossed it lightly for him to catch. He hastily pulled it down over himself and slid his arms through the sleeves.

"I'm a bit nervous about today," Vanellope admitted, standing up and moseying over to her dresser. She looked into the mirror above it and began brushing lazily through her hair.

"How come?" Ralph asked, turning to look at her with intrigue.

"Well, Azalea is actually on the roster now," she replied, turning to look at him as her eyes glimmered with uncertainty. She finished brushing her hair and let it rest over her shoulder before turning back around and beginning to fish for some racing clothes.

"Why does that make you so nervous?" He asked as he casually meandered over to the bay window seat and sat down on the comfortable cushion, looking out across the sugary kingdom.

"It's just, she seems so reckless," she huffed, yanking some clothes out of her dresser. "I'm worried that she may do something stupid, or…" she trailed off, blushing with embarrassment.

"Or what?" Ralph chuckled, turning to eye her playfully. "Upstage you?"

Her cheeks turned dark scarlet. "What? N-no!" She exclaimed, crossing her arms bashfully over her chest. "Okay, well, m-maybe a little. But it isn't just that!" She quickly defended as he began to chuckle in amusement. "I'm kind of scared that my overly competitive side will come out. And I've promised Taffyta and the other racers I won't use my glitch unless the user chooses me. B-but she's really good, and I'm worried that I'll start to get frustrated and forget about that if she starts beating me or racing dirty. And I don't wanna upset Taffyta. I know it used to really bother her when I used my glitching tactic." She looked down at the floor sheepishly, her shoulders slumped slightly.

Ralph frowned and stood up, walking towards her slowly. He looped an arm around her gently when he reached her, and tilted her chin up to look up at him with his hand. He smiled lovingly down at her. "Whatever happens," he soothed, "I know everything will be okay. Just try your best to stay level-headed...and if you do use your glitching, I'm sure Taffyta won't stay mad at you forever."

She gave him a small smile, though her eyes still glinted with worry. "Thanks Ralph," she croaked. "But you don't know Taffyta. When she gets her mind set on feeling one way, it takes her a long time to come around. And she's not exactly easily offended, but when she is, she gets real fiery."

He chuckled quietly. "I can see that," he admitted, "But I know she sees you as her sister. I'm sure it wouldn't last forever."

She let out a deep breath she didn't know she was holding, and nodded gingerly. "You're right," she conceded, "Thank you again."

He smiled down at her. "Of course, Vanellope. Any time. I really should get headed back to my game now though." He gave her a gentle kiss on the forehead before lumbering towards her bedroom door.

"See you later, Wreck-It," she teased with a smile.

He turned to look at her and playfully rolled his eyes. "See you, short-stop. I love you."

"I love you too," she responded with a grin, rocking back and forth on the heels of her feet. "Come see me after game day, okay?"

He smiled back at her. "Of course. I've got something to show you."

About fifteen minutes later, Ralph was pulling himself out of the small train car used to ride into Fix It Felix Jr., and began to mosey over to the neighborhood behind the Niceland building. His head was filled with buzzing thoughts of the night before, and as memories of his and Vanellope's first kiss together flooded into his mind, he couldn't contain the smile on his face. He found himself nervously fidgeting with his fingers as a blush slightly darkened the skin of his cheeks.

As he approached the front door of his house, he found himself thinking about the way it felt to hold Vanellope's soft warm body against his, and the feeling of their lips pressed together in a beautiful dance of longing and desire. He remembered the sound of her labored breathing as he timidly explored the smooth skin of her neck, and the soft gentle moans she let out as he pressed his kisses against her.

He felt his body heat up as he inhaled a shaky breath and turned the lock on his door, slowly letting himself in. By User, if I don't get these thoughts out of my head, I'm going to be useless during game day.

However, when he walked into the living room of his cozy house, he saw the last person he had expected to see sitting comfortably on his couch.

"Welcome home, Ralph," Felix said slowly with a small sly smirk. "I came over to invite you to the Niceland building for breakfast with me and Calhoun...however, it seems you had some kind plans of your own for this morning."

He immediately brought his hand up to sheepishly scratch the back of his head, and quickly averted his gaze. "Uhh...I-" he sighed before shaking his head in bemusement. "You're right," he confided. "I stayed out late last night with Vanellope, Taffyta, and Candlehead. And..." he trailed off, feeling his cheeks flush with color.

"And?" Felix prodded, grinning as he folded his hands impatiently on his lap. "Something tells me there's much more to the story than that. Something kept you from your house last night."

Ralph let out a low groan. "Why does it matter?" He snapped, not wanting to tell Felix exactly what happened between him and his favorite brunette racer.

The short brunette let out a small, amused chuckle. "Aw, come on Ralph," he eased gently. "There's nothing to be embarrassed about. In fact, I remember the first time me and Calhoun-"

"Woah, woah, woah!" Ralph interrupted, throwing his hands up as his face turned warm. "It was nothing like that, Felix!"

Felix gave him a knowing smile, his face also slightly flushed. "Well," he responded slowly, "I guess that's a good thing, because I would be a little bit concerned y'all were moving too fast." He stood up and placed his hands casually on his hips. "But I do know there is something you aren't telling me."

Ralph let out a frustrated sigh and walked over to join his brother in the living room. He uneasily sat down on one of the sofas, his shoulders squared in awkward tension. "This has got to be the most difficult conversation I've ever had," he grumbled, though he couldn't hold back the small smile growing on his face. "I've never been in this situation before," he added, looking over at his patient friend.

Felix gave him a warm smile. "Ralph," he barked calmly. "Come on now, you can trust me."

The big wrecker let out a long breath of air slowly, trying to relieve the tension he felt in his body as he sat up straighter and took a large gulp. It felt like there was a strange lump settling in his throat. He could feel a mixture of emotions whirling around in his stomach - excitement, surprise, worry, embarrassment, and many other unexplainable feelings. He fiddled with his large fingers silently for a few moments as he contemplated his next choice of words. He felt the couch cushions shift slightly as Felix sat down beside him in quiet anticipation.

"Me and Vanellope had our first kiss," he murmured quietly, his cheeks flaming up in humble nervousness.

"Jimminy jamminy, Ralph!" Felix exclaimed in triumphant excitation, eagerly clapping his friend on the back in a few eager pats of joy. "I'm really happy for you!"

Ralph looked up at him with a hesitant grin. "Really?" He asked, feeling some of the uneasiness he had been feeling begin to fade away. "You really are happy for me? You don't think that what I did was-was wrong?"

"'Why, of course not, Ralph," he replied, his face flickering with confusion. "I know how strongly you feel about Vanellope. It's written all over your face every time you're around each other. Why would I think that it's wrong?"

"Well, it's just…" he trailed off, looking away guiltily as he gradually processed his unrealized insecurities. "It's just that she used to be so...young. I guess I'm just worried that some of the other gamers will look at me weirdly because I used to know her as this little runt."

Felix rested a hand on his shoulder soothingly. "She certainly isn't a runt anymore," he eased. "Don't worry bud, I don't think there's anything wrong about you two being together. It makes me happy to see the two of you so happy. Besides, it's obvious you two are destined for each other."

Ralph looked back at him, smiling hopefully. "You really think so?" He asked, his voice full of uncertainty.

"Of course I do!" He proclaimed in response, flashing him a dazzling grin.

"What about the other gamers in the arcade?" Ralph questioned uneasily. "What if any of them think there's anything wrong with it?"

Felix shook his head slowly. "Nah, I don't think that'll happen," he reassured him. "I highly doubt many of them will really put much thought into the situation. Besides...even if there are a few people who feel negatively about your relationship, their opinions don't really matter, and they don't know the two of you like the rest of your friends do." He took off his hat and spoke in earnest consolation, "I really do think something very beautiful is going to come out of all of this." His blue eyes were wide in honesty. "What you two have is truly amazing, and it really could bind our two little groups together."

Ralph let out a relieved sigh and looked forward with a smile. "I think you're right," he conceded. "I'm really excited for whatever is to come."

At the start of game day, Vanellope found herself confidently striding towards the huge Sugar Rush stadium, dressed in her racer gear for the day, goggles slinging back and forth in her grasp as she walked. Her sleek black ponytail swung back and forth behind her back as she moved steadily towards the other racers lined up at the starting line Loud cheers erupted from the crowds piled up into the stadium seating, and she beamed widely as she looked out at her candy citizens and waved enthusiastically.

She made it to her cart and ran her hand along its sleek surface. She glanced over at Taffyta and Candlehead and gave them a small smile. Taffyta exchanged a glance with Candlehead before meeting Vanellope's gaze with a smirk and folded her arms knowingly across her chest.

The black-haired racer turned to look for Azalea before spotting her not too far off, leaning casually against her car with her hands slid inside of her pockets. The younger girl gave her an encouraging smile and a thumbs up, and she hesitantly reciprocated both gestures. I'm sure most of the users today will pick her, seeing as she's the newest racer and they'll likely be excited to try her out.

Less than a minute later, the sounds for the quarter alert sounded out through their game cabinet, and she slid carefully slid her goggles over her head and onto her eyes. She made sure her gloves were on securely before sliding into her seat and revving up her engine. The first player did, indeed, choose Azalea, and Vanellope let out a soft sigh of trepidation as she watched her sister's face light up with a confident smirk as she gripped the sides of her steering wheel with determination.

She felt her stomach churn nervously for a few moments, then before she knew it, she was pressing eagerly onto her gas pedal as the race began. Adrenaline shot through her code as she rocketed off away from the starting line. She peered across the road at the other racers as they fought for the front of the group.

The familiar feeling of excitement for the race began to fill her veins, pumping through her body like the very pixels that caused her binary to work together and allowed her body to function. She leaned herself forward towards the steering wheel, grinning widely as a bright sense of joy seeped through her skin.

Every time she raced on these tracks, she felt like her heart was being filled more and more - as if racing itself was a crucial component of her code. It pulsed through her and filled her mind with a renewed sense of purpose and vitality.

She shifted her car into a higher gear and shot off away from the rest of the racers, quickly pulling into the lead. However, not long after, she watched as Azalea's car rocketed past, and she felt her competitive nature began to surface as her heart pulsed and throbbed in anticipation. Gritting her teeth, she pushed the gas down even harder, struggling to gain way on her sister as they rounded a tight curve, rolling at top speeds over the chocolate coated race track.

She soared across the track, her hair flying wildly behind her like a banner as all the racers crossed over a raised bridge. The circuits in her binary seemed to buzz with electricity, brimming with excitement and competitive yearning as she struggled to pull up beside the race car of her green-haired sister. She hadn't faced a challenge this difficult since the time she had raced against King Candy. Her small hands gripped the steering wheel tighter and she felt the blood roaring in her ears.

The track took them swiftly through rolling Sugar Rush hills of bright candy-coated surfaces, and visions of honeysuckles and an assortment of lovely cotton candy trees rushed past her peripherals as the race moved onward and passed underneath the shaded path of an orchard. A rainbow of colors passed by her car as she pressed it forth, zooming with intense ferocity across the gorgeous countryside.

Her mind whirred with frenzied thoughts as she zoomed after Azalea, her circuitry alive with fiery glee. The Sugar Rush racers were soon gliding through a tunnel, and she pulled further and further ahead of the rest of them as they began launching power ups and obstacles at each other.

She turned momentarily to glance behind her. She thought she saw Taffyta launch a bout of sweet seekers towards the rear of the group. A few of the fiery cinammon flavored candies launched forth from her cart and smacked into the backs of her competitors. She only looked long enough to see Gloyd and Adorabeezle's carts spin out and careen off towards the sides of the road. She gulped and turned her head, edging onward in hopes of avoiding this infamous power up.

With each passing moment she grew closer to Azalea, and as they followed the twists and turns of the darkened avenue, she cranked her car into the next gear and her engine roared loudly as she careened closer and closer to the coveted first place.

In a matter of an instant, just as she pulled up beside Azalea's gleaming white car, her competitor glitched sideways, knocking just barely against her vehicle.

She felt herself begin to spin out, and felt as if time was beginning to slow down and her vehicle spun in circles across the track and towards the tunnel wall. Barely thinking, she glitched herself quickly back into position on the track and carefully steadied her car straight and raced on towards her sister.

However, while she tried to regain her speed once more, she watched as a familiar blonde haired racer sped past, careening quickly towards Azalea. She bit her lip and pressed on, urging her car to move quickly towards the finish line.

A couple other racers were also coming in close behind her, and she slammed her fist on the dashboard in frustration, muttering quietly under her breath. She took in a deep breath as she continued to race down the familiar Sugar Rush race track.

A small voice in the back of her head whispered to her, use your glitch, but she quickly pushed it back out of her mind, knowing that if she followed through on this temptation, she would be facing the wrath of Taffyta later. Still, it kept resurfacing, as she shot out of the tunnel and barreled down the race track. She could see both Taffyta and Azalea a long ways ahead, and inwardly cursed herself.

She could feel a deep pit of frustration well up in her stomach, and her competitive code seemed to almost cry out in agony. Her binary was itching desperately for some redemption - for victory over her competition. She could just taste the sweet feeling of victory that was now beyond her reach. She shifted her car into its highest gear and pushed her foot against the gas as hard as she possibly could.

She slowly seemed to inch towards the other two racers, but still, she wasn't close enough. With a final hurried though of determination, she glitched herself a few feet further, her bold turquoise pixels buzzing forward in a twitchy glob of binary. Again and again, she continued to glitch herself further and further down the track, urged on by a sense of desperation as she watched her competitors grow closer and closer.

After a few minutes, she came up right behind Taffyta, and she could see the mark of the finish line not too far ahead. She glitched herself without thinking right beside the blonde racer, and she could see the wide eyed look of mingled shock and disappointment on her best friend's face before she registered the anger that quickly forced itself into their place. She turned to see her blue eyes glint with a familiar ferocity she had seen many times before.

Nevertheless, as she pushed her car further, she just barely pulled herself ahead in time to careen into second place.

The three racers jumped out of the car and gave their signature victory poses as they showed off for the user who was witnessing the brief award ceremony. The rest of the racers pulled in across the finish line before parking their cars and watching breathlessly as the three of them beamed in their triumphant glory.

However, as soon as their display was over, Vanellope whirled around to find a furious messy-haired blonde jabbing her finger right into her collarbone. "You!" She steamed, gritting her teeth in rage. "How could you! You promised me you wouldn't glitch if the user didn't choose you! That move was so unfair!"

Vanellope eyed her sheepishly as she felt her face flush with guilt. "Taff, I-I'm sor-"

The irate blonde cut her off fussily. "No," she said, her tone sharp, "I'm done talking with you now." She folded her arms over her chest and eyed her warily, her blue eyes glinting with hurt. "I'll deal with you later." She turned away, shooting one last icy glare over her shoulder before stalking off irately towards her race car.

Vanellope sighed, slumping her shoulders and watching sadly as her friend strode angrily away. She shook her head, suddenly feeling a heavy weight of disappointment settle over her like a fog. She folded her hands bashfully in front of her and looked down at the dirt. She shuffled her feet around for a few moments before looking around for her sister. Surprisingly, Azalea was nowhere to be found, so she looked back towards the carts and noticed the new racer already standing on the outside of her cart.

Rolling her eyes, she walked hastily toward her own vehicle, ready to move it back in its position at the starting line. I knew today was going to have a rough start. Maybe Ralph's right, and maybe I do have trouble letting someone else shine in the spotlight. She took in a shaky breath as she carefully pulled her car back into its spot and shut it off. She scratched the back of her head and stared off into the distance. This whole sister thing is gonna take some getting used to.

She felt her code steam as she glared over at her new competitor, who was chatting easily with Taffyta and Candlehead a few feet away at her car. She reckoned the two others were congratulating her on her first victory. She's so cocky, Vanellope thought as she narrowed her eyes at the bright eyed girl. I suppose I shouldn't be so hard on her. I know how exciting it is to have your first win...and she is really skilled on the race track.

She closed her eyes and slumped forward onto the steering wheel, her head resting tiredly into her arms. I'm already ready for this game day to be over so I can just get out of here and see Ralph.

She opened one eye and looked curiously over at the three racers, who were still gathered around and talking.

Maybe I should go and congratulate her. I need to get over myself anyway.

With a sigh of reluctance, she stood up and climbed out of her vehicle, before turning and walking somewhat shyly over to where Azalea and her friends stood. The conversation went silent as she drew near, and she laced her fingers bashfully in front of her before pulling her goggles off of her head and casually wiping the dust off of the lenses with her shirt. She looked pointedly at her coded sister and gave her a small smile.

"Congrats on your first win," she told her sweetly. "I'll be honest, it's taking a lot out of me and my competitive self to not be all up in a tissy about coming in second, but I'm glad you're here. I need to learn to be more humble anyway." She eyed Azalea cautiously as she waited for her response.

"Thanks, Vanellope," she responded, placing her gloved hands on her hips. "That means a lot to me coming from you. From what I've heard, you're my number one competitor on the tracks."

Vanellope rolled her eyes and felt heat creep into her cheeks before scuffling her feet in the dirt subconsciously. "Well, I may be the president but," she gestured out towards the other racers, namely thinking about Taffyta and Candlehead, "All of these guys deserve some recognition. They work their tails off and really they're probably just as good as I am."

She looked over at Taffyta, giving her a small hopeful smile. "I'm sorry for earlier," she breathed, also glancing at Candlehead, who was staring at her with a knowing glint in her eyes. "I'm sorry I used my glitching power when I know I shouldn't have. Sometimes the competition of it all gets the better of me, and I forget what's really important."

Taffyta rolled her eyes playfully and gave her an annoyed smirk, crossing her arms firmly over he chest. "Yeah, well," she huffed. "Apology accepted. You're still gonna have to make it up to me though," she teased.

Vanellope rolled her eyes back and grinned, pulling the blonde into a jesting side hug. "Yeah right," she chuffed lightly back. "You know you love me."

The two girls laughed softly at each other, as Candlehead watched on in amusement. A few seconds later, the next quarter alert rang out across their game, and the three friends exchanged sly looks.

Unsurprisingly, this user also chose Azalea.

"This time it'll be a fair competition," Vanellope said with a small smirk. She also glanced at Azalea. "Looks like you're gonna be working your tail off today," she lightly joked.

She looked back at Taffyta and Candlehead with a raised eyebrow and they both smirked back at her.

"Let's see who pulls ahead this time," Candlehead challenged, her eyes gleaming with excitement.

Taffyta chuckled and shook her head before sliding her own goggles down over her eyes. "Game on."