Race 6: Sugar Rush

"I hope you have healthy snacks today, race fans, because today's track might just give you cavities with how sweet it is," Lightning announced.

"That's right, Lightning, all the way from Litwack's Arcade, today the MWGP takes us to the fast-paced world of Sugar Rush!" Mickey said. "This course was built in part by Wreck-It Ralph himself, and is unique in that the racers will have to make two laps around the track to complete it."

"You better keep your eyes to the screen, or else you're going to miss all the fast plays today," Lightning said. "Let's get down to the track to start this race!"

[***]

"…So in conclusion, we can't figure out what this robot leg is," Adam said, showing off said leg to Rachel.

"Yep, that's definitely the same kind that we found," Rachel nodded. "You know about the mysterious person sabotaging the race then. Keep an eye out for any clues, okay?"
"Tony has some of his best guys and girls working on an analysis back at Stark Industries," Adam explained. "I'll tell him to open up a line to Gary the Gadget Guy, see if they can cross-reference notes or something."

"Sounds like a plan," Rachel said. Suddenly she got a shutter down her spine, causing the sword mage to look around in confusion. "Woah, did anyone else just feel a weird sense of ill-will in the air?"

"You have a sense for that?" Gabriel questioned.

"Yeah, it was part of my training to be the strongest mage," Rachel explained. "And I just sense some major growing darkness. I can't exactly pinpoint where it's coming from, though. It doesn't match anything I feel on the robot parts either."

"Well, that's concerning," Aline said. "Maybe it really is-"

"Aline if you bring up Emperor Belos one more time, will personally subject you to Logan's Star Wars Prequel Trilogy rant," Gabriel said flatly. "And trust me, Dastan has told me that Logan once did so for a full twenty-four hours, so you do not want to get an earful of it from him."

Aline looked like a cat that had just been dunked in water. "You wouldn't!"
"Aline, if it was Belos, I would know," Rachel nodded. "Trust me, I've memorized all of the evil wizard and witch magic auras, from the big ones like Maleficent to the more obscure ones like the Mirage."

"Syndrome's secretary?" Adam asked.

Rachel shook her head. "No, the cat lady from Aladdin. We met her that one time when we saved the House of Mouse, remember?"

"Anyway, if there is a growing darkness around here, be on the lookout," Gabriel said. "For now, let's focus on the race. Vanellope, the code is all checked out, right?"

The racer gave a thumb's up. "Yep, and I double checked to make sure that Turbo isn't around either. I have a feeling that the robot legs might actually be cybug parts."

"Oh, interesting theory. I'll run it by Tony after the race," Adam said.

The group broke up to their respective vehicles, engines at the ready as Cruz raised the flag.

3

2

1

GO!

The Sugar Rush theme music played as the racers took off from the starting line. "Uh-oh, looks like Sweet Vision had a blowout at the starting line!" Lightning announced.

"Yikes, that's not good," Poe said as they get going.

"But we timed the starting boost and everything!" Vanellope whined.

"Well, you have been living in Slaughter Race for a while now," Rachel pointed out. "No need to be ashamed of being rusty."

Vanellope frowned. "Okay, give me the wheel! I'll show you that I've still got what it takes to win in my own game!"
Up at the front of the pack, the teams entered the hazardous Gumball Valley, dodging around the rolling gumball boulders as they tossed items at each other. Gabriel tossed a banana at Beth, but she quickly put up a shield to block the item. As they came out of the valley, the racers all made a drifting turn around layer Cake Mountain, right into the next set of items as they went through the Cupcake Weave.

"Eat bombs, suckers!" Rocket called, activating his special to drop mines on Logan, Toren, and Beth. The mines even managed to blow up Logan's bomb item before he could retaliate.

"Nico, I think it's time we have a little mischief," Toren said.

"You got it!" the Jaquin grinned. He pulled out a Crystal Tamborita to use his special, playing a song that caused weird music notes to swarm the Concerto Comet.

"Ak, this noise is breaking my concentration!" Gabriel said, swatting at the discordant notes.

"Eyes on the road!" Lop shouted, leaning over to grab the wheel as they fell behind in order to get rid of the magic music notes.

"Good job!" Toren said, giving a high five to his fellow Jaquin.

"You better watch out, we're coming through!" Iron Man called, using his boost power to pull up right behind Heart of a Jaquin.

"Sprig, now's our chance!" Aline said as the race entered Diet Cola Mountain. The frog pulled out his slingshot and fired at Beth and Gabriel, allowing for the Hex Rider to catch up to second as they crossed over the starting line.

[***]

"Pitstop!" Guido called.

"It's time today's Pitstop Challenge before the next lap," Cruz said. She took the teams over to a candy cane tree in the middle of a frosting lake. "If you've seen Wreck-It Ralph you'll remember when he chased Vanellope up a tree to get his metal back. For today's challenge, you'll do the same and bounce on the tree branches to reach the top and retrieve your own metal. Watch out for the double stripe branches, as those will fall away and leave you landing right in the frosting below!"

"Looks like we only need one member of the team for this challenge," Gabriel noted. "Lop, I think your natural jumping abilities plus your connection to the Force will get us through."

"I won't let you down!" Lop replied, giving a peace sign of confidence.

The other teams picked their members as well: Melanie for SEA Racer (though for the sake of the challenge she wouldn't simply float up the tree), Elsa for Blue Royale, Sprig for Hex Rider, Agent P for Heart of a Jaquin, Bonkers for Toon Buggy, and Vanellope for Sweet Vision.

"I'll do this one," Logan said.

"Really? I think Dastan would be the better choice," Della suggested.

"I said that I'll do this one," Logan insisted, his teammates taking a step back at his forcefulness. He went over to the tree and did a few stretches, jumping up to grab a branch… only for it to be double striped, sending him down into the frosting lake. "I meant to do that!" he called.

"Hah, piece of cake," Vanellope scoffed, glitching her way between branches and easily grabbing a medal. Agent P was right behind her, the platypus grappling up the tree to complete the challenge.

"Logan, I really think you should reconsider this," Ant Man said as Logan fell down once more.

"I have this!" he said. "Ugh, I got frosting in my eyes…"

Melanie smiled as he grabbed her medal, gently floating back down to the ground. Elsa used her ice powers to freeze the branches in place, making a safe path to the top.

"Ah phooey this is getting hard to watch," Della said, wincing as Logan fell down for the third time.

"Race you to the top!" Sprig said to Lop, the frog and rabbit doing impressive flips all the way up the tree. Despite a few missteps, even a clutz like Bonkers managed to make it to te top without much of an issue.

"Okay… one last time…" Logan said, his body now covered in so much frosting that he looked like Ralph after he took a dip in the lake.

"Here you go," Dastan said, handing a medal to Logan.

"Thanks Dastan- wait what!?" Logan exclaimed. "Where'd you get that!?"

"I climbed up there and got it for you since you kept falling down," Dastan explained. "It's what teammates do."

"Well, as the team leader, I order you to put that back up there so I can get it myself!" Logan barked.

"Okay, this has gone far enough," Della said, getting between the two. "Logan, I joined your team to have fun, but lately all you've been doing is acting like a Negative Nancy. Why don't you just tell us what's going on here?"

"You want to know what's going on?" Logan laughed darkly. "First one of my 'best friends' betrays me by joining another team, and the team of a person that's tried to hurt my other friends in the past. And there's the fact that no matter how hard I try to act nice, it always seems that someone will come around to dredge up my past and paint me as a bad guy."

"Logan, no one thinks of you like that," Dastan said.

"In fact, you guys probably are only my 'friends' because you don't know the real me," Logan shouted.

Rachel shuttered. "Gabriel, I think I know where that darkness was coming from…"

The Dream Keeper looked and gasped as a dark figure loomed over Logan. "Is that… a Heartless!?"

"Maybe I should just stop trying to be nice," Logan said as the Heartless held up a claw. "I'd be better if I was the villain."

In a burst of darkness the sky turned dark, and in Logan's place stood a figure clad in white and black Keyblade Armor, a gigantic Keyblade in hand. Rachel and Gabriel immediately ran forward, summoning Maleficent's Bane and Fantasia magic respectively to defend themselves against this new Heartless.

"W-what the heck is that thing!?" Della gasped.

"It's a Heartless, a manifestation of a person's inner darkness," Gabriel explained. "My guess is that Logan's been dealing with a lot of stuff lately, and it's a known fact that being a Keyblade Wielder attracts the Heartless. One of them must have latched onto him and slowly corrupted his thoughts to the point of turning him in a sort of "Anti-Logan" as it is."

"We must help him then!" Dastan said, pulling out his dagger.

"Everyone, get back to your cars," Rachel ordered. "Gabriel, Dastan, and I will bring Logan back to his senses. He needs to know that he can get through this."

"So you just expect us to continue racing like nothing's wrong as our friend suffers?" Toren questioned.

"It's not an expectation: it's an order," Gabriel said. He snapped his fingers and put up an invisible barrier, trapping himself, Rachel, and Dastan in with Anti-Logan. "Rocket, you're on driving duty now. Best of luck."

The other teams looked hesitant to leave them behind. "Come on, we can help!" Beth said. Eda was the one that held her back.

"Come on kid, those three know what they're doing," the Owl Lady said.

The other teams reluctantly went back to their cars to finish out the race. The trio of fighters faced down Anti-Logan, the Heartless going for a massive sword slash to start the battle…

[***]

"And the second lap is on!" Lightning called as the racers all entered the Gumball Valley once more. Beth used a firework to spin out Toren, though Adam got back at her for his friend with his own special move.

"Override!" Adam called, using his robotic hand to reach out and zap the Toon Buggy, locking out its controls as the car ran straight into a rolling gumball boulder.

Luz had her own special, using an ice glyph to launch the Hex Rider over Heart of a Jaquin to steal a spot. Silver found himself on the receiving end of an attack next, getting a firework from Vanellope as she took over driving duties of the Sweet Vision.

Another turn brought the teams around the Layered Cake Mountain and out into the Cupcake Weave, with more items to be tossed about. Beth used a bomb to take out Concerto Comet and Gracious Bird, while Silver got his revenge by tossing a banana right in front of Sweet Vision. As they teams entered Diet Cola Mountain, the pressure was on to finish as fast as possible.

"Hold fast, Rachel," Poe said as they pulled ahead.

"I know they can handle themselves, but I'm still worried," Silver admitted to his team.

"Jeez, this is bad…" Toren sighed, his special activating with his sadness as rain started to fall due to his emotions.

"Hey, there's a jump over there," Scratch pointed out thanks to Molly's special, Aline taking the secret jump over the Cola Volcano to pull ahead a place.

"We race on for Gabriel!" Lop said, using her own special to make the secret jump as well.

"Let's pray that Logan is safe," Della said worriedly.

"He will be," Adam assured her as the finish line drew closer.

"And it first place this time is the SEA Racer, followed closely by Gracious Bird and Concerto Comet!" Lightning announced. "Wow, these guys are all crossing really close together. What a tight finish!"

"Adam, what's it like taking your first victory this race-" Daisy said as she started her interview.

"Hold off on that for now," Adam said, he and the other teams running over to where they left Gabriel and the others to fight Anti-Logan.

[***]

"Fairy Slash!" Rachel called, her blade glowing in blue, red, and green she countered Anti-Logan's attack.

"If either of you get injured, I'll reverse time to give us the advantage," Dastan said. "Though I can only do it three times per battle in this world."

"That's all Rachel needs," Gabriel replied, the raven using his magic to draw circles on the ground.

"If I may ask, what are you doing?" Dastan asked.

"I'm setting up a spell that will allow us to go into Logan's mind and defeat the Heartless at the source," Gabriel explained. "I learned it from the head of the Abomination Coven when I visited the Boiling Isles once."

"Gabriel!" Aline called from outside the barrier. "Are you using glyph magic? Let me help!"

The raven shook his head "no," but then thought about it some more. "Actually, I'll need all of you to help me with this. Everyone, get around Anti-Logan, and when I say "Now," jump at him."

The battle barrier went down, and everyone got into place as Rachel and Anti-Logan clashed blades. Rachel was the superior fighter, but Anti-Logan had the power of darkness to put him on an equal power level as the sword mage. Gabriel an Aline continued to draw out the complex glyphs needed for the mindscape spell, with the ring glowing white once it was finished.

"Now!" Gabriel called, with everyone pouncing on Anti-Logan as the glyph activated. The group soon found themselves inside a dark void, with only Gabriel's Fantasia magic lighting the way. "This is kind of like being inside of the weird dimension Hex sent me to…" the raven frowned. "Follow me. I can sense the real Logan's presence in here."

The group followed behind Gabriel, weapons at the ready as Shadow Heartless jumped out and tried to attack them. As they went along the hallway of darkness, pictures appeared on the wall showing many of Logan's various memories.

"He's been through a lot of hardships, even if some of them were his fault," Dastan said.

"Yeah, but his friends didn't help him when he reached out for forgiveness," Ant Man pointed out. "If I didn't have my crew to be there for me when I got out of jail, I could have ruined my chances and become a villain myself."

"But that's why Logan needs us," Della said. "We are his friends, and all of us need to reach out and tell him that we're there for him."
"I can take some blame as well," Aline said. "I didn't have any friends growing up, so when you guys forgave me for all the stuff I did, I readily jumped at your friendship. I can see what that would get to Logan when he wasn't so easily forgiven."

"Forgiveness is a two-way street," Gabriel said. "You must be willing to forgive yourself, but at the same time others aren't obligated to give their forgiveness back to you. If they're your true friends, they'll be willing to forgive you no matter what."

"Unless you tried to kill them or something," Jasiri added. "I mean, Janja might be accepted into our hyena clan, but I still don't forgive him for trying to kill me a couple of times. Mistakes like that are hard to forgive."

"Yeah, but Logan's biggest crime is cheating on a class project," Rachel said, pointing to one of the memory photos. "Like it is a big deal, especially in the world of animation where artists hold their drawings close, but it should have been a learning experience for all of them instead of just ditching Logan for a moment of weakness."

"Speaking if which…" Gabriel said, pointing to Logan's inner self. He was held in black goop as the spirit of the Heartless hovered around him. "Hey Logan, I know you can hear us, even if you're unconscious and stuff. Look, I know there's been a lot on you: Sprig joining another team, you and Aline have your petty rivalry, and I bet a bunch of other stuff you haven't told us about. Just know that we're here for you no matter what, as true friends are."

"And don't worry about the "falling into darkness" thing," Jasiri said. "Kairi told me about how her friend Riku and her mentor Aqua both fell into darkness once, but their friends were there to pull them back into the light!"

Everyone voiced their support as well, with Gabriel taking a deep breath as he let Fantasia flow through the mindspace.

"Have you ever felt like nobody was there?

Have you ever felt forgotten in the middle of nowhere?

Have you ever felt like you could disappear?

Like you could fall, and no one would hear?"

Della took Gabriel's hand as he joined in the song.

"Well, let that lonely feeling wash away

Maybe there's a reason to believe you'll be okay

'Cause when you don't feel strong enough to stand

You can reach, reach out your hand"

Jasiri stood on Gabriel's other side and sang as well.

"And oh, someone will coming running

And I know, they'll take you home"

Gabriel took the lead as everyone held hands and sang.

"Even when the dark comes crashing through

When you need a friend to carry you

And when you're broken on the ground

You will be found

So let the sun come streaming in

'Cause you'll reach up and you'll rise again

Lift your head and look around

You will be found…"

Fantasia spread outwards as they all sang, pushing the darkness away as Logan suddenly awoke. "What's going on?" he asked.

"Don't worry, we're here for you," Gabriel said.

"But, the Heartless, and everything else, I-" Logan started to say, only for Della to pull him in for a hug.

"Shh, it'll be okay," she whispered before singing out.

"There's a place where we don't have to feel unknown

And every time that you call out

You're a little less alone"

Dastan and Ant Man joined in with Della as they sang out, hugging Logan as well.

"If you only say the word

From across the silence your voice is heard"

"Never forget who your real friends are," Toren said.

"We've fought through thick and thin, and we won't stop now," Rachel nodded.

"The Dream Defenders aren't the same without you," Adam added.

"So let us share our feelings so you can share yours with us!" Silver shouted, everyone singing along as the song went on.

"Even when the dark comes crashing through

When you need a friend to carry you

When you're broken on the ground

You will be found

So let the sun come streaming in

'Cause you'll reach up and you'll rise again

If you only look around

You will be found (You will be found)

You will be found (You will be found)

You will be found!"

Logan cried tears of joy as his mindscape became cleared of the darkness consuming it.

"Out of the shadows

The morning is breaking

And all is new, all is new

It's filling up the empty

And suddenly I see that

All is new, all is new!"

The spell suddenly broke, and everyone was in the real world again, still singing alone with the Fantasia magic.

"You are not alone

You are not alone

You are not alone

You are not alone

You are not alone (You are not alone)

You are not alone (You are not alone)

You are not

You are not alone (You are not alone)"

Aline stepped forward, nervously hold out a hand to Logan as she sang a line.

"Even when the dark comes crashin' through

When you need someone to carry you

When you're broken on the ground"

Everyone cheered as Logan accepted the hand with a smile.

"You will be found!

So when the sun comes streaming in

'Cause you'll reach up and you'll rise again

If you only look around

You will be found!"

"So, are you done with the whole angry pity party stuff?" Rachel asked.

"Yes," Logan nodded.

"And will you actually allow your friends to help you instead of bottling it up until you go full super villain?" Gabriel added.

"Yes, geez!" Logan laughed. He looked to Aline and signed. "Sorry for putting a lot of my anger towards you. It was just really hard for me to see one of my friends on a different team from me. Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?"

"Well, there is one thing," Aline said playfully. With a flick of her magic, Logan squawked as he was transformed into his owl form. Aline then picked him up and hugged the owl tightly. "You can hang out with me for the rest of week and we can have a movie marathon!"

"That's not too bad," Logan said. "Why am I an owl though?"

"Because it'll be an animal movie marathon, duh," Aline giggled, transforming into her cat form. "The Aristocats, Oliver and Company, Zootopia… Oh, and you're not allowed to go on any lengthy rants about any of the movies. Gabriel warned me about those."

"You traitor," Logan said sarcastically to Gabriel, the raven just shrugging with a smirk. "But fine, I'll go along with it, but only if you add Rio to the marathon as well!"

With that conflict over, Gabriel went over to Adam and gave him a firm handshake. "I heard you won the race this time, good job!"

"I don't think the victory on the track mattered as much as the victory over Logan's mind," Adam said humbly. "But it was nice to win, yes." He then got serious. "Should we tell the others about the sabotage, though?"

"Give them this time to be happy," Gabriel said. "After the next race, we'll explain everything to them."


Total Points

Gabriel (38)

Logan (30)

Rachel (28)

Aline (27)

Toren (25)

Silver (24)

Adam (23)

Beth (21)


Author's Note

So we were in Sugar Rush for this race, but most of the chapter was focused on character stuff. Sorry for those that were excited for this race, but I really wanted to resolve the Logan/Aline subplot so we can focus more on the sabotage plotline. Plus, with everyone being friends now, we can have some more friendly competition between all the racers!

"Anti-Logan" is based on "Anti-Aqua" from Kingdom Hearts 3, along with him having a Keyblade Armor like the Birth by Sleep trio. Gabriel used his own variation of the mindscape spell from "The Owl House" to get into Logan's mind, and the song they all sang was "You Will Be Found" from the stage play "Dear Evan Hansen" which is one of the best songs from that show and is one I recommend you listen to if you ever feel lonely. There is someone out there that can help you if you just let them in, as Logan learned.

Adam is now in the loop about the villain mystery, and soon everyone else will be as well. With Tony Stark on the case hopefully the technology will finally be identified so the heroes can narrow down their suspects.

Again, sorry for not much racing this time, but the next chapter will take us to another world for some more racing action!