A/N: I'm glad some of you caught on to the group's newest member, Lickity! (unnamed in the story, until this chapter - sorry for any confusion) - I have a few drawings of her, on my deviantART, if anyone is interested! She is a main character in the story and, for a character that can't talk, she is surprisingly a lot of fun to write for! Stay tuned for more Lickity goodness :D I have 2 drawings of her on my deviantART titled 'Ready To Run' and 'Unbelievable' - my username on deviantART is Vyntresser :)

*Chapter 34*

As the Dead Zed night grew darker, Tessa began to worry more and more. She now felt more protected to have a dragon companion that enjoyed her company, though she didn't want Zane, or her family, to worry. She paced through the darkening jungle, with the medium sized dragon quietly following behind. She heaved a soft sigh and, after a few hours of aimless walking, she finally slowed to a stop. Her dragon friend slowly approached her from behind and moved to her right side. It tenderly nuzzled the front of it's snout into the palm of Tessa's hand, it heaved a chuff of a breath, as if to wonder if Tessa knew where she was going. Tessa gently gazed down at her friend in a sad way, though she idly glanced at the saddle on it's back. She rubbed it's snout lightly, though she was beginning to wonder if maybe this majestic creature would let her fly it.

"I don't suppose YOU know where we are, do you?" Tessa wondered, the dragon lightly let a grumble escape it's figure in a fit of defeat.

It's large chest cavity expanded, as if to show signs of wanting to relax, though the two continued on. The leaves undertow lightly crunched every now and then, jungle foliage rustled about in Dead Zed's evening wind. Tessa tenderly eyed her new companion and wondered how to go about politely asking this creature if it were okay to hop on it's back. She furrowed her eyebrows lightly and forced her thoughts away; she knew randomly getting on a flying creature, she had only known for a few hours, probably wasn't wise. She knew her thoughts and hopes of getting home were just getting ahead of her. Along with her stumbling thoughts, her foot accidentally caught an uprooted tree that stuck out from the ground. With a hard yelp, she fell to the ground.

To her surprise, she caught herself with her hands, though with her weak leg, her knees failed to reflex on time. She coughed a startled noise and pushed herself up a little, though her arms shook nervously. She flinched once she heard her friend exhale a loud, grumble of a snort; it immediately held it's attention on her as it quickly drew near. As smoothly as it could, it nudged it's nose and snout under Tessa's center and delicately tried to bring her to standing. Tessa stumbled a little, though with the help of her new friend, she finally got back to her feet. She gently held her hands on her dragon's snout and peered down into it's eyes, even though she had a hard time seeing through the dim amount of lighting.

"Thanks, boy," Tessa breathed, though she wasn't even sure if that gender type was accurate.

She was surprised to feel her friend's long, sturdy tail come around the two, as if it was silently conveying to Tessa that the two should wait until morning to carry on. Tessa lightly pet the side of it's head and neck, and nodded a small nod down to it. She heaved a shaky sigh and, as easily as she could, she sat down to the ground; her companion followed suit. Like a massive, curled up dog, the dragon made sure Tessa was warmly tucked to it's larger body. Tessa eagerly watched the dragon spread one of it's wings. She wished she could see more, just so she could see the size of it's wing span, though she figured that'd be best saved for the morning. The dragon tenderly splayed it's large wing over Tessa for protection and cuddled into her. Tessa exhaled a tired sigh of defeat and leaned into the dragon's warm, scaly body. She shut her eyes and pushed her ear to the side of it's chest. It's heart beat was slow yet strong, and as quickly as she fell victim to her new friend, she fell into a tired sleep.

As the night grew old and the dawn of the next morning began to shine through, the two slept soundly in the midsts of their jungle bed, though a distant, quiet rustling broke the dragon from it's sleep. With dilated, large pupils, the dragon quickly opened it's eyes and peered around in the night. It laid it's ears flat as it determined the direction of the rustling, though it flinched once a light was present. It laid it's ears flatter on it's head and quickly barred it's sharp fangs. As quietly as it could, without waking Tessa, it snarled a deep, throaty threat and dared whatever it was to come closer. It tucked it's wing and tail tighter around Tessa and continued to growl in a core shaking grumble, though as soon as a certain figure came into focus, it dropped it's threatening act. It perked it's ears in curious knowing as it's leader neared Tessa and her dragon.

"Thank you, for keeping her safe," Zed said softly as he neared; the dragon lightly flattened it's ears and bowed it's head to show respect for it's leader, "Come. I'll take it from here."

The dragon tenderly lifted it's wing and peered at Zed with stunned knowing. As easily as Zed could, he gently reached his hand out and let his skin meet the snout of Tessa's dragon. It easily closed it's eyes and welcomed Zed's warm, unfamiliar presence; it knew he meant no harm, to anyone. It lightly uncurled it's tail and lifted it's wing higher, so that Zed could get a hold of Tessa. As easily as he could, he lugged Tessa into his arms and held her bridal style across his strong chest. He gazed down at Tessa and gave her a knowing, almost annoyed smile, though he looked back at her dragon as it quickly got to it's feet; it gazed expectantly at Zed, as if to wonder what to do now.

"C'mon," Zed motioned gently, his electric blue hair just lightly flickered over his eyes, "She's your rider, now, right?"

The dragon exhaled a small noise as if to agree, though in question. Zed beamed a small smile and began to head in a certain direction, though the dragon quickly followed with a certain pep in it's step.

Vanellope paced near Zane's loft; she let her eyes wander the different surroundings with caution. She knew it had been a long time since she had been in someone else's game, a game in which she had no control over. She held her breath every now and then and mentally prepared herself to glitch-hop outta there. She hung near Zane's comfortably quiet loft, the extremely early morning sunrise just barely beamed over the sky. It made her surroundings a bit easier to see. The cool, Dead Zed night was finally coming to a close. All Vanellope wanted was to be with Tessa again. She fingered her lip in contemplation and gazed far off to Dead Zed's exit, where Ralph had vanished to. She could practically feel Sugar Rush's core panic; as if it knew it's heir was in trouble. She knew Ralph had the game under control, though she also knew the core fed off of emotions, specifically hers. She bit her lip and knew Ralph's stable hand was over the game, so that Vanellope could bring Tessa home once more.

After a few hours of what seemed like eons of waiting, Vanellope made herself comfortable in Zane's empty loft, of which he had offered for her to stay in while he went in search for Tessa. Vanellope took this opportune time to really get a feel for this special someone in Tessa's life. She gently moseyed about his warm loft and took everything in. He was a tidy guy, though he had a few little messes about the place, particularly clothes. His bed's billowy white sheets were folded back, like he rolled out of it and forgot. His kitchen had a few dishes in the sink, but overall, he kept everything straight and clean. Just as Vanellope was going to let her mind wander farther around Zane's loft, she heard the familiar grumble of his light bike. Her heart jolted and, before she could think, she glitch-hopped out his door and down his stairs quicker than lightning.

She flew out into the small yard he had and peered around the corner in which he had disappeared from hours earlier. She clutched her chest and was thrilled to see Zane's powerful light bike slowly crawl up the hill, towards his house. She largely furrowed her eyebrows at what suddenly came into view behind his bike; a medium sized, bat like dragon with a wing span that looked as if it could encompass Zane's bike twice. Vanellope watched the strange situation approach her, though she felt a little more at ease at the non-aggressive demeanor the large dragon gave off. It daintily floated to a halt behind Zane's bike, as Zane quickly pulled up. He parked the bike and eagerly peered at Vanellope through his nervous, blue eyes. Vanellope quickly approached him and was thrilled to see him carefully cradling Tessa in his grip.

"She's okay," Zane breathed gently, he had her situated safely in his arms, as well as sat on the bike facing him. Her face was nuzzled deep into his chest and nook of his shoulder.

"Tessa," Vanellope breathed in a worried tone as she quickly rushed over. She pushed the hair out of her forehead and notice the scratches and dried blood on her chest, arms and legs, "User, what the hell happened?!"

"Zed found her," Zane said softly as Vanellope tenderly scooped Tessa into her arms. As easily as she could, she held Tessa to her body and picked her up; Zane continued as he quietly pulled his bike into his opening garage, "The jungle shape-shifted on her and she got lost."

"And what of that?" Vanellope asked curiously as she motioned to the dragon a few yards away. It stood in patient waiting, it's ears were perked curiously. Zane breathed a chuckle before he pursed his mouth and let out a kind, short chirp of a whistle. He gestured for the dragon to approach, and so it did, with an eagerly wagging tail.

"This dragon was keeping Tessa safe, when she was found," Zane chuckled as his eyes pierced Vanellope's.

"No kidding," Vanellope breathed softly as the dragon neared. It tenderly sniffed Tessa's arm a few times before letting out a happy, 'hello' of a grunt towards Vanellope, as if somehow it knew she was Tessa's mother.

"These dragons are typically hard to befriend," Zane explained, "Not to mention, they're rare to find around these parts. This one had a rider, so it's sort of used to human interaction... Dunno where said rider went, though."

"How come it's not leaving to find it's way back home?" Vanellope wondered as she hugged Tessa closer to her body, Zane shrugged.

"Not sure," Zane wondered, "It's been following me ever since I picked up Tessa from Zed... Seems to have taken a liking to Tessa. Probably is just protective of her."

"Looks like we'll have to make room at the castle," Vanellope muttered, though deep down she knew she'd get used to the idea. She smiled a loving smile towards the calm dragon before she gazed into Zane's eyes, "Thank you... For finding her. I-I don't know how I can repay you."

"I just feel sorry, now, that I didn't meet up with her after Academy let out," Zane said sorrowfully, Vanellope shook her head.

"You didn't know this would happen," Vanellope said gently, "Though I guess it does help. You guys know what to do, from now on."

"Yeah," Zane breathed as he looked down to the ground. He opened his mouth to continue, though the 'one minute' open arcade call suddenly chimed.

"One minute?" Vanellope suddenly froze and felt a cold wash come over her skin, that of sudden dread, "I-I... I don't have enough time to get Tessa reset, I can't miss quarter alerts!"

"It's okay," Zane breathed with a small chuckle, "Why don't you leave her with me."

"Leave her here?" Vanellope protested, albeit quietly. She furrowed her eyebrows at Zane, in a sudden whirl of gentle realization, and held her daughter closer to her.

"Yeah," and gently shrugged and kept his honest gaze to the Queen, "I-I know I can't reset her code, or anything, but... I'll keep her safe. Let her sleep, make her tea. And when she wakes up, she can meet her new pet."

"Yeah, but," Vanellope trailed off and gazed down at her daughter in a fit of conflicted thought.

"I just would hate for her to be left all alone at the castle all day," Zane said gently down to the ground, "At last here, I'll be with her every minute, to take care of her. I don't have Academy to go to, after all."

"Fair point," Vanellope muttered, though she gazed hard into Zane's eyes, "I'm trusting you... Promise me you'll keep her safe, here."

"I promise, your highness," Zane said tenderly, though he raised his eyebrows in surprise as Vanellope gently moved Tessa into Zane's arms.

"I don't want to go all 'red queen' on you, or anything, but," Vanellope trailed off as she took a step or two backwards and motioned towards Zane.

"You'll have my head if anything goes wrong," Zane chuckled and hugged Tessa closer to him, "I give you permission."

"Good, cause you didn't have a choice," Vanellope beamed a playful smile, though it was also written with seriousness, though she stumbled once Tessa's new dragon friend suddenly bound up to her and grunted a noise of acknowledgement. Vanellope beamed a curious smile and lightly, and lovingly, rubbed the dragon's bat like snout. It let out a beaming, purring rumble of appreciation. Vanellope pointed to the beast before her and laughed a little, "Isn't it the Lickity Split!"

"Lickity Split?" Zane wrinkled his nose with a wide, curious smile.

"Yeah," Vanellope beamed and lovingly scratched just under it's chin, "I named my first cart the Lickity Split... Dorky 'ol thing."

"Thats fitting," Zane chuckled, though Vanellope continued to step away, as if to prepare to glitch-hop outta there.

"I'll be back after the Arcade closes," Vanellope called, Zane lifted his head as if to show acknowledgement.

"We'll be here," Zane called, though him and Tessa's dragon eagerly flinched as Vanellope suddenly rocketed away with her glitching abilities. Zane furrowed his eyebrows and let out a breath of surprise, "Sheesh...!"