A/N: Hey guys, just to let you know, the first Defying Code sketchdump has been posted! Sorry if yours didn't get drawn this time around, I was extremely busy with con, and am currently in the midst of transitioning jobs, so it's been rough, but I WILL be doing another sketchdump, and I hope to make it bigger than this one!

To see the sketchdump, head on over to deviantART! My username is Vyntresser

*Chapter 61*

"Oliver, relax, Zed has the graham crackers!" Penny barked to her cousin as Tessa and Zed slowly came within earshot.

"Oh, I thought we forgot them," Oliver gave Zed a smile as he approached the two, he reached out for the box Zed was holding.

"Sorry, I... I sort of got lost in thought, for a moment," Zed said sheepishly, though he immediately felt his stomach drop as he could see new eyes focus in on him, in a curious way, "Th-the game is beautiful."

"Gloyd, Candlehead, this is Zed," Vanellope eased as she lightly motioned her hand; Ralph was sat to her right, who was busy running his large hand over Lickity's head. She easily sat to Ralph's right, her large, slumped body and tucked wings fit on the massive, stone bench that hugged the pit. It was lined with the biggest, softest of cushions. Lickity's body was draped comfortably as she received the head and belly rub of a lifetime.

"Hi, I-I'm Zed," Zed said kindly down to Gloyd and Candlehead, who were sat to Vanellope's left. Rancis was quietly sat next to Gloyd and was closest to where Zed and Tessa stood.

"Gloyd," He said happily as the two shared a firm handshake.

"We've heard so much about you," Candlehead chimed kindly as her and Zed shook hands as well, she eyed Tessa with a loving, teasing wink.

"Yeah, and Olly won't shut up about another guy being added to the fam," Gloyd laughed loudly to Oliver, who quickly furrowed his eyebrows in a bashful, embarrassed way.

"I hear yah, Ol," Ralph grumbled, though he smiled and eyed Vanellope, "This castle is mostly women."

"You'd be nowhere without us, dad," Tessa quipped as she wagged the sharp prongs in her dad's direction.

"That is a true story," Ralph said through a hard side as he continued to scratch Lickity's head; she easily turned to goo as her tongue hung out of her mouth.

"I think Sugar Rush is the only game that is accepting applications for bad guys," Vanellope laughed gently, which caused the group to disrupt with knowing laughter and kind notions towards Zed.

"He hasn't been here for more than two minutes and already you're ragging on him," Rancis playfully nudged Vanellope's arm; Vanellope gaped.

"I am not," Vanellope argued with a wide smile, "I married a bad guy. I'm the last person to rag on bad guys."

"If I do recall, Taffyta married a bad guy, too," Ralph eyed Rancis, though the two continued to banter on in a brotherly fashion.

"Okay, Penny, looks like you'll have to date a bad guy in order to make this stupid circle complete," Vanellope called to her gently, Penny largely shrugged.

"I guess I'll see what I can do!" Penny laughed, though she largely eyed her uncle, "Oh no, it's okay, uncle Ralph! You don't need to move Lickity, she's not taking up ANY room," Penny quipped sarcastically; Ralph raised his eyebrows in dewy surprise.

"I'm sure glad the sass ended with Taffyta!" Ralph heaved a hard, sarcastic laugh towards his niece and rubbed Lickity's head; she garbled a satisfied noise and lulled her eyes closed, "The castle finally gains a pet, that's my size, and the world ends."

"Just kidding," Penny lightly eased to her uncle with a playful smile as her and Oliver lightly sat down across from the group that had already made themselves comfortable.

"C'mon," Tessa said through a small giggle as she hooked her hand in Zed's and lead him over to Oliver's and Penny's side of the bench, "You save room for s'mores?"

"User, maybe one or two," Zed lightly complained, though in a tone that lead to suggest he was beyond grateful for the fantastic dinner they had an hour prior. He lightly ruffled his blue hair and squeezed his other hand in Tessa's; he let her pick a spot first.

She lightly sat down, though the billowy, comfortable white cushion practically drowned her into it's comfort. Zed smiled and softly sat down to her left, though he was careful not to sit too close; he knew Ralph had to be keeping a close watch on the two, even though he didn't make it obvious. Zed exhaled a small, nervous breath and lightly peered to Tessa, as if to wonder if he was making a good house guest of himself. He knew he had visited the castle a few times, prior, though being invited to their nightly, family events was something he was trying his hardest to get used to.

As the night carried on, the ten eager, chattering voices coated Sugar Rush with growing love, a bond that couldn't be put into words, no matter how hard anyone tried. With not one soul left out of their growing, hilarious and thoughtful conversations, the castle boasted it's strong, growing family, from what started with a single bloom; a small, ember of a fleck that expanded to several petals and gentle, gripping vines. As the night grew old, the flame grew smaller and everyone's stomachs filled to the brim, the group fell into a comfortable lull of gentle conversations, lazy laughs and nostalgic memories. Ralph had gently removed himself from the group, though he hung about a dozen or so feet from the gazebo. He stood by himself, leaned against the wall that held the castle in tact; Lickity had followed him, like a puppy dog, and neatly sat near his feet. Tessa found herself easing farther into Zed's side and arms the more time that went by. He easily hugged his arm over Tessa's shoulder as the two sat comfortably against each other, the cushions enveloped the two with warmth and safety.

Zed's voice softly lulled from conversing, and not shortly after did Tessa's, as well. The two lightly listened to the funny stories that were swapped, they finally were pushed against each other in a position that could likely be held until the end of eternity. With Zed's strong, warm arm around her shoulder, he tucked her into his side softly and tried not to seem to eager to hold her closer. He lightly gazed out to the fire and let the flames lull his busy mind. He furrowed his eyebrows lightly, in a daze, and could swear that rushing memories wanted so badly to surface. He felt a pang of sorrow hit his skin, a curious feeling of loss that sat at the very bottom of his being, like rocks on a lake bed. It wasn't until he inhaled a deep breath and let it out, did Tessa gently tilt her head to look at him through lazy, though inquisitive eyes.

"You doing okay?" Tessa wondered to him quietly, her honey-coated voice made Zed's brain hone in on her, and only her.

"I don't know, you tell me," Zed's slowly growing, cheeky smile was beyond bashful.

"You're doing fine... What's on your mind? I can practically feel you thinking," Tessa asked, their little conversation was kept safe and quiet between them as the rest of Tessa's family loudly bantered and chatted.

"Is it obvious?" Zed frowned lightly, though Tessa slumped her shoulders and gave him an unsatisfied, side eye of a smile.

"Well, not unless you're sitting right in someone's arms... And not unless you're me," Tessa heaved a tender laugh and tilted her head to get a better look at Zed, "Whatcha thinking about?"

"Sorry," Zed eased softly, "I just want to make a good impression. Your family means a lot to the Arcade. Sort of weird that I'm the lucky duck to be sat right at the heart of this situation."

"Everyone likes you," Tessa said through a kind smile, "I don't think you need to worry. If someone didn't like you, they'd have taken it up with me, by now."

"Well that's good, I wouldn't want to disappoint anyone," Zed's facial expression sloped from soft kindness to genuine curiosity, "For some reason... I'm having major dejavu."

"Really?" Tessa furrowed her eyebrows, though her heart lightly skipped with worry. She gently let her eyes scan Zed's slowly rising and falling chest in hard contemplation; she knew she had to tread lightly, into this conversation, "You... You don't have any relatives, do you?"

"No," Zed scoffed softly as he furrowed his eyebrows and peered towards the fire, "I don't have any family... But, this feeling, of being welcomed and accepted, it's sort of creepy how familiar it feels. I really don't know how to describe it."

"Maybe you had a really vivid dream once?" Tessa wondered tenderly, "Maybe... It's just something you really want, so this moment just feels like you're revisiting old thoughts?"

"Possibly," Zed said through a gentle exhale as he tilted his head down and caught eyes with Tessa with apologetic eyes; she gave him a loving, understanding smile in return.

"You can be a part of my family," Tessa said to him, almost in a whisper; the two coated their existence in quiet, conversing love, a tender sight that could melt even the hardest of hearts.

"You mean it?" Zed wondered in a tone of vulnerability, though Tessa's smile widened.

"Considering where you're sitting," Tessa lightly shrugged and pretended to mull over her decision, "I think we can work something out."

"That means a lot to me," Zed said in an almost delightfully sorrowful way, as if deciding which emotion to let surface first was impossible, "I have the weirdest, faintest memories... Of situations just like the one everyone is in now. Everyone gathered around a fire, long, conversations into the night."

"Are you sure they're not from old dreams you may have had?" Tessa wondered, though Zed lightly gazed down to their laps in idle contemplation; Tessa quietly carried on, "Do you think this has anything to do with the weird coding that has dug itself into the back of your brain code?"

"Maybe," Zed wondered nervously, "Maybe it's messing with my memory? I seem to not really remember anything that happened before last winter. Not the winter that just passed, but... I guess the winter before you were born."

"Odd," Tessa chimed softly as she studied Zed's face; his eyes were so inviting, she inhaled a breath to steady her fluttering thoughts and brought herself back to arcade, "If you want, we can start trying to delete the excess coding, tomorrow."

"You don't mind?" Zed wondered nervously through innocent eyes.

"Of course not, I offered, didn't I?" Tessa wrinkled her nose, she gently braved her feelings and let a few of her fingers grip his shirt, just over his stomach. She peered down at her fingers softly before her eyes slid into his, "Tomorrow is Saturday, which means no Academy... I'll come over bright and early, and we can hack away at it for the day, yeah?"

"I'd like that," Zed smiled, "I can show you some of Dead Zed's courses, if you'd like."

"That'd be awesome," Tessa agreed with an eager smile to match his.

"Zed, I think Lickity wants your attention," Oliver said softly, so not to interrupt his and Tessa's conversation.

Everyone continued chattering with their mazes of conversations, though their eyes lightly looked over to Tessa and Zed, and back to Lickity. Lickity stood about a dozen feet, or so, outside of the glow of the gazebo. Ralph was an equal distance on the other side of her. She bobbed her head lightly and grumbled a noise of acknowledgement, as if she wanted Zed's attention. Zed exhaled a scoff of confusion, though he lightly reached over and grabbed a marshmallow. He lightly tossed her a marshmallow; it rocketed at her, and much to everyone's surprise, she quickly snapped it into her mouth and caught it in mid air. Everyone let out eager laughs at the escalating situation, though Lickity exhaled a noise, as if to request his attention.

"Lickity," Zed complained, though he lightly began to remove himself from Tessa's presence, "I guess I'll be right back."

"She probably just wants a belly rub, again," Taffyta said in a playfully dull tone, though Zed gently stood and began to make his way out of the gazebo.

"Think she's had enough? I mean, Uncle Ralph is right there," Penny chimed as she largely gestured.

Zed looked back, only briefly, before he gently removed himself from the glowing warmth of the gazebo. He heaved a hard sigh, though he gave his friend a loving, patient smile. He gently approached Lickity and gestured his hands towards her, as if to be confused.

"What, y'silly dragon," Zed quietly laughed.

Lickity only briefly nuzzled her snout into his center before she bounced away a little, as if to urge him to follow. Zed squinted his eyes with a kind smile, though his eyes trailed to Lickity's line of direction, which lead to Ralph. Zed gently stood up straighter and felt a nervous sweep of a chill hit his skin. He raised his eyebrows lightly, and though he so badly wanted to shy away from Sugar Rush's powerful King, he held his breath and braved his nervousness for Tessa. He lightly approached Ralph, though he was thankful Lickity kept near him. He gently glossed his eyes over Ralph, the sheer size of him; Arcade's biggest, most misunderstood bad guy. He immediately felt tiny, though he knew Ralph would never hurt him. He tenderly approached Ralph, though he made sure to keep about half a dozen feet of kind, respectable distance. With a shivering heart, he cleared his nervous thoughts, as well as his throat.

"I-I'm pretty sure Lickity is going to turn into one big pile of marshmallows," Zed said to Ralph, with a gentle laugh, "Sugar Rush has definitely been kind to her."

"No kidding," Ralph eased, he turned his head to peer at Zed, in a kind way, though he kept his arms propped up on the wall that overlooked the better half of Westwind Acres. He tapped his large fingers against his arm and cocked an eyebrow, "I don't suppose all the dragons in Dead Zed are this friendly."

"Well, no," Zed laughed gently as Lickity eagerly enjoyed a good scratch behind the ear, from Zed. He smiled and returned his gaze to Ralph, "Most of them aren't really ever around people. Guess Tessa just got lucky, with this one... Pretty sure she saved Tessa's life."

"She's definitely a fun addition, around here," Ralph smiled as he glued his gaze to Lickity.

"I-I... I just wanted to thank you," Zed eased softly as he softened his demeanor. Ralph finally stood up straight and faced Zed once and for all; Zed tried his hardest not to feel even smaller than he already felt.

"For what?" Ralph inquired lightly, the corner of his mouth peeked into a smile.

"For having me, really... I haven't felt this welcomed in a long time," Zed said seriously as his gentle gaze held to Ralph's with honesty.

"Not long ago, I was in your shoes," Ralph gestured lightly, "I know what it means to be your game's bad guy... To be hated by everyone. Seems there's something sweet about Sugar Rush, no? Inviting bunch, here."

"True story," Zed and Ralph shared a breath of a laugh. Zed pricked his attention behind him, but only briefly; the loud and funny conversations of everyone under the sky gazebo were drowned out and muffled from the distance. Zed inhaled a nervous breath and began to feel sweat gather on the crown of his head, even with Sugar Rush's cool air coating the two in knowing. He lightly gazed at Ralph and felt as if his skin was about to turn to goo, though he pressed on, "I-I know I haven't properly asked you... Well... What I wanted to ask was, I guess, if you were alright with me-"

"Courting my daughter?" Ralph finished with a wide, almost annoyed smile. Zed held his breath and was certain Ralph could wreck people's souls by the look of a simple stare. Ralph laughed gently and enjoyed torturing Tessa's boyfriend, "Hey, I'm an easy-going guy. I understand this is new, and I knew this day would come eventually. In a lot of ways, you remind me of myself... Typical bad guy, seeking camaraderie and friendship, a unit to call your own... Much like you, I didn't have a family of my own, either."

"Tessa is really fortunate to be born into this," Zed said softly as he gestured back to the sky gazebo, "I-I would have killed for a life, like this."

"Well," Ralph furrowed his eyebrows and gently looked down in contemplation. He lightly looked back into Zed's face and let a small smile form, "You DO have it. It's clear Tessa is holding fast to your guys' relationship. You seem to get along with everyone."

"I love everyone here... It's definitely something I'm not used to," Zed heaved a gentle sigh, "My game-mates hate me."

"Because of your programming?" Ralph uttered gently, in an understanding tone.

"Yep," Zed chirped quietly as he looked down to the ground.

"Makes my whole existence happy, with the fact that Tessa has landed herself a 'bad guy'... Guess that says a lot about how much she must love me," Ralph chuckled and looked out to his kingdom, "I was always curious as to who she would seek in life, and who she would add to the head of this kingdom."

"Me?" Zed wondered nervously, as if he couldn't wrap his mind around what Ralph was insinuating.

"You," Ralph gestured with a gentle chuckle, he shook his head and furrowed his eyebrows with a curious smile, "I'm positive you know what you're in on. Sure, Tessa won't be Queen unless her mother, and I, step down from the throne... But if that were to happen, you understand Tessa would be Queen... And any man she married into the game would be King."

"I-It's definitely been a lot to wrap my mind around," Zed said gently, he wondered just where to step in this tricky conversation, "I've always known Tessa was next in line, for the throne, but it never has warped my opinion of her. I genuinely care about your daughter, sir... Whether she was royalty or not."

"Just as long as you're prepared," Ralph eased, though his protective smile never faltered, as well as his dominant posture over Zed, "Surely you know all about it... What with being the head of Dead Zed."

"I may be the core, but I'm not royalty," Zed laughed softly.

"Well, it's not like we're bowed to whenever we step into Game Central Station," Ralph joined in on his laughter.

"Better than the hateful stares I receive," Zed quipped, as if said hate meant nothing to him anymore; not now that he had a family unit to call his own.

"I know Tessa really likes you... A lot," Ralph let his eyes bulge a little as he breathed a small chuckle and rubbed the back of his head, "In fact, I tried to get her to change her mind about going with that one... Selka, fellow. For the Academy Ball."

"Ah yeah?" Zed inquired curiously as he crossed his arms with intent, charming shyness.

"Yeah," Ralph shook his head and peered out to the distance, to his left, "She kept saying how you taught her to dance, and how it wasn't fair that she had to dance with some idiot, and not you."

"Well, I-I guess it worked out in the end, cause she really did end up going with me, after all," Zed smiled softly, though he wobbled once Lickity nudged her nose into his side, as if to request more attention than he was giving.

"Yeah," Ralph exhaled a hard, laugh of a sigh, "She wouldn't talk to us for days afterwards."

"It's definitely been a weird transition for me, too," Zed explained gently, "To suddenly go from being hated to having a girlfriend and strong unit of friends to boot."

"Sugar Rush'll consume your life, you wait and see," Ralph shook his head as the two shared a small laugh. Ralph lightly furrowed his eyebrows and let his demeanor change a little, though he gave Zed a curious stare, "I have a question, though... How well did you know Radex?"

"Radex?" Zed wondered, he nearly flinched with the switch in the mood, "Well... I didn't know him very well. He sort of was more involved with my game-mates. My memory is sort of fuzzy, on the topic, but... I do know, I tried to get him out of the game. He mentioned overthrowing Sugar Rush, and, my only thought was just to get him out of my game. I never saw him again."

"When was this?" Ralph pressed.

"It was almost two years ago," Zed said, he held his honest gaze to Ralph's; Ralph rubbed his large hand to his chin and pondered for a moment before he wagged his finger lightly.

"Did he try to take over your game as well?" Ralph wondered.

"I-I... I know you're probably going to think I'm nuts, but," Zed looked down and furrowed his eyebrows in billowing frustration, "I honestly can't remember. All I remember is, he had a plan to overthrow Sugar Rush... When I wouldn't comply, we fought in my code room. I woke up the next morning, and I had heard news that he was killed, by someone in Sugar Rush."

"Rancis killed him," Ralph dared, Zed flinched.

"R-Rancis...?" Zed tenderly gestured back to the sky gazebo in growing terror.

"Radex was Rancis's clone," Ralph explained gently, he furrowed his eyebrows as the pain of the events came crawling back, "Radex stole Tessa's unborn code from Sugar Rush's code room."

"What?" Zed hissed nervously.

"Rancis sacrificed himself, for Tessa," Ralph said firmly, though quietly, "He reintegrated himself, for the sake of Tessa's survival."

"... I wonder why Tessa never told me any of this?" Zed wondered as he furrowed his eyebrows, Ralph threw his gaze to the gazebo far off.

"Tessa is not one to dwell... Rancis told her everything that happened, I'm sure she's just trying not to think about the negative. I know we're all trying to stray from that topic," Ralph said softly, though he furrowed his eyebrows to Zed, "That's why we were all so on edge, about you... You knew Radex... The very person that sought to kill Tessa, and destroy Sugar Rush as we know it."

"I-I had no idea," Zed said nervously as his heart continued to race, "I didn't know him... I wasn't his friend, or his ally. I wanted him out of my game as soon as possible."

"I'm glad we cleared the air," Ralph eased, though he tilted his head and gave Zed a challenging look, "Us here, at Sugar Rush, are extremely cautious about who we let into the game... Bad guy or not."

"Understood," Zed nodded, he knew exactly who was boss here.

"We've all upheld our duty, to fiercely protect the next generation of Sugar Rush," Ralph said deeply as he peered into Zed's soul, "If you're going to be a part of this unit, you have to uphold that task, as well. All or nothing. You hear me?"

"Yes, sir," Zed eased in understanding with a gentle nod.