He's Not Worth It – Chapter 4
Hey everyone! I hope everyone is enjoying their holidays and Christmas! Also, I want to thank you guys (you know who you are) for giving me some ideas what to write for this chapter! It was originally going to be about Felix and Calhoun bonding with the racers, but now I'm certain on what to do. Thanks again! Well enough chitchat. Let's go!
Disclaimer: I do not own Wreck-It Ralph/Ralph Breaks the Internet, and it makes me sad, so I'm gonna play Pancake Milkshake to make myself feel better
Enjoy :)
Taffyta reflected on what Vanellope had said to her before she left for the internet.
"You've clearly never had real friends before and you CLEARLY don't know the true value of friendship!"
Before Vanellope came into the picture as princesident, Taffyta has been the center of attention in Sugar Rush. Even King Candy/Turbo occasionally smothered her in praises. Characters outside knew her well, and she was quite popular with other racing games like Mario Kart 64, Finish Line and NASCAR. They sometimes considered making a copy of her code into their games.
Taffyta was the queen. Taffyta was The One.
She enjoyed the attention. No, not Turbo-level attention craving, that much is fortunate.
However, having friends, real friends, never came into mind.
Most days/nights when she wasn't racing, she was basically alone, but she didn't think much of it. All she needed were her many winner's cups and medals to remind her that she was a winner. Sure, she hung out with Candlehead and Rancis the most, and they were her supposedly 'closest' friends, but it just didn't add up. They only really talked during arcade hours, and when they tormented Vanellope back in her glitch days. Other than that, nobody was there for her when she was feeling down, because everyone thought of her as an independent woman in a child's body. If someone wanted to talk to her, the topic was, 100% of the time was in fact, racing. As much as she loved it, she dreaded talking about it 25 hours a day, 8 days a week. Some people even feared being around her because of her fierce demeanor.
So Vanellope was right.
Taffyta had no real friends. The Sugar Rush citizens were programmed to idolize her, and nothing else. No video game character in Litwak's knew her true colors.
Today, she wanted to change that.
She headed off to Sugar Ru- oh right, her game got unplugged, thanks to a certain somebody. So instead, she headed to her new home, Fix-it Felix Jr. She was greeted by some of the Nicelanders, but she didn't acknowledge them. She walked to the entrance of the apartment, but was greeted by a familiar, monotonous voice.
"Yeeeeeessssss?" Sour Bill said.
"Sour, what are you doing at the door?" Taffyta hissed. "You could trip someone!"
"Mayor Gene said I didn't fit in with his décor," the green ball responded, "so he gave me a job to be a doorman/guard, in case there are any intruders. Allow me to demonstrate." Taffyta quickly took a step back before she could fall into the darkness the 'WELCOME' trapdoor mat had to offer.
"I even installed a system just like the one at home," he added.
"That's…great." Taffyta simply said. Though she was moody, she was slightly impressed with the sour ball's ability to adjust to his new life in the 8-bit game. "Anyways, where can I find Mr. Handyman and Sergeant Shoots-a-Lot?"
"Up in the penthouse with the other racers, waiting for you," Sour Bill replied, easily able to identify who the two characters were despite their nickname.
Waiting for me? She thought. Did I do something wrong?
As soon as Taffyta reached the penthouse, she indeed saw Felix, Calhoun and the racers – including the recolors - sitting in different places, talking amongst themselves. It didn't take too long for them to notice the strawberry-themed racer.
"Ah, Taffyta," Felix said. "It's nice of you to join us! Please sit." Taffyta hesitantly complied, taking a seat next to Candlehead. She looked at her with sadness in her eyes, but the candle-headed racer only side-glanced her and shifted the opposite direction. That wasn't a good sign at all.
"Alright, listen up, you little lambs," Calhoun said to finally break the silence. "We brought each of you here today to share some news with you."
"Sugar Rush is getting plugged back in?!" Jubileena blurted out. All the racers started yelling at once. Calhoun shot bullets into the air to shut them up.
"That would be correct, young lady!" Felix replied. "Ralph and Vanellope have traveled to the inter-"
"Ralph and Vanellope?" Citrusella repeated. "Ralph and Vanellope?! Why is it always 'Ralph and Vanellope?' Why can't Vanellope trust us to do things with her?"
"Guys, it's nothing per-"
Felix was interrupted again by Nougetsia, another recolor. "I don't get what she sees in him! He totally ruined everything in our game! He always automatically offers to fix it to cover his messy behind up!"
"GUYS!" Felix shouted. "Ralph is doing this for you guys! He loves all of you!" The racers cringed at such a strong word.
"Nuh-uh," Gloyd said, "He does anything and everything to please Vanellope."
"If a situation involves us and only us, he doesn't give a fudge," Torvald added. Felix thought back to his conversation with Ralph at Tapper's, after he asked him about going into the internet.
"If that part is the only thing that's gonna fix the game and that's the only thing that's gonna make Vanellope happy again!"
"…make Vanellope happy again..."
"…Vanellope happy…"
Felix sighed. The racers were right, Ralph often did only have regards for Vanellope, but he also thought about the game too, so he thought about them. He was about to speak again, but he heard Taffyta mutter something. Everyone gave her a dumbfounded look.
"What was that, sugar?" Felix asked.
"I said, it's because Vanellope considers Ralph a true friend!" she repeated. "I mean, can you blame them? When we were putting her down., he picked her up! When no one was there, he was! That's why they're so close! I just wish-" Taffyta quickly covered her mouth as if she was embarrassed of what she would say next.
"You wish, what, Taffyta?" Rancis prompted.
Taffyta's face turned bright red. She wanted to say, "That you guys would feel the same way about me."
"Nothing!" she insisted. She was at a loss for words. "Just leave me alone!" She stormed out of the penthouse. Felix tried to go after her, but he was stopped by his wife's hand on his shoulder.
"There's always Plan B," she said with a smirk. That was enough to make his face light up.
"Of course! We have also gathered y'all today to get to know you, and maybe, solve some…unresolved issues," Felix said with a slight chuckle, head gesturing towards the slammed door.
"I wanna go first!" Adorabeezle whined.
"No, I should go first!" Crumbelina argued. Eventually, all 14 racers started arguing on who would go first. Calhoun shot her rifle again.
"We already decided who's going first, and we put you into groups," Felix continued. "Swizzle and Candlehead, you go first. Snowanna, Jubileena and Gloyd, you'll be next. Rancis, Minty and Adorabeezle will go after them. The recolors will follow-"
"And I got Strawberry Shortcake taken care of," Calhoun added in. "That sound good?"
The racers all nodded in agreement.
"We start at dinner time."
Dinnertime,
The racers wanted to feel at home when eating dinner, so Felix insisted on cooking lasagna with pink food coloring (pink lasagna), since everything and anything they ate was candy. They didn't mind trying something new. The children lined up to get their food, which involved a lot of pushing and shoving, but Calhoun stopped that.
"Now, instead of all the physical action, we say excuse me. Then we kindly ask, 'may I get in front of you.' If you're not as hungry, say yes. But if you're a dying hamster like this one," she gestured over at Gloyd, "POLITELY decline. Got it?"
The racers complied.
"Crumbelina, I'm not as hungry as you are, so you can get in front of me," Rancis said.
"Thanks, Rancis. Excuse me."
"You look hungry, Sticky," Candlehead said. "I'll get behind you."
"Thanks, Candle. Excuse me."
Eventually, in a neat an organized manner, the children formed a single file line, from Gloyd to Rancis, hungriest to least. Once everyone got their food, Candlehead and Swizzle followed Felix into his own suite.
"Okay Swizzle, you care to explain what happened between you and Candlehead a few hours ago?" he asked.
"Yeah, care to explain?" Candle repeated with a sharp expression.
"I uh, took Candlehead's candle?" he simply replied.
"Why?"
"N-no reason in particular."
"Come on, there's a reason for everything."
"Well not this one!" Swizz said a little louder. "I just want her attention because I really like her and I want her to like me!" Swizzle clamped his mouth shut after he realized what he said. Candlehead's and Felix's mouths were agape. Felix slid into the background letting them know they should work it out themselves. There was a long, awkward silence between the two.
"S-swizz, is this true?" Candlehead finally spoke.
"Y-yeah." He affirmed. "It started during the roster race 6 years ago, when you did the Cherry Bomb on Vanellope. You literally created a new power up! Plus you're pretty, and you're candle gives off a nice scent. You may not be the smartest Sugar Rush racer, but you have the best personality."
Candlehead's cheeks were burning. "I-I don't know what to say…"
"You don't have to say anything."
"But I do! I've had a crush on you too! But for all our 21 years of racing! It was crazy, but it started to die down 6 years ago…"
"Heh, I don't blame you. I guess I-"
The Swizz noticed that he was face to face with Candlehead as he looked up. She was leaning in with puckered lips. What could he do? What could he say? His thoughts were interrupted by Felix pulling them apart.
"NOW doesn't it just feel GREAT to be more OPEN towards each other about your FEELINGS?" he was slightly taken aback of what played out in front of him. But the 2 racers nodded in agreement.
"Wonderful!" Felix said. "Now why don't you two head back up to the penthouse, and be more open, just not TOO open, alright?"
"Okay!" they giggled and left.
Felix met with the rest of the group of racers. Each stating their conflicts, Felix giving them a piece of advice or 2, and applying their lessons to their fellow peers. Things were turning out very smooth. Once Felix finished talking to all 13 racers, he had given Calhoun the signal to console Taffyta, who was sitting alone on a bench by the tram that led to Game Central Station.
"I figured you could use some food since you haven't eaten in hours." Calhoun could tell the strawberry-themed racer was deep in thought with the sophisticated look on her face. She had accepted the offer but didn't say anything in return.
"You're welcome."
She looked up at the sergeant, who produced a serious tone, but had a smirk. She forced a smile.
"Thanks." She looked down at the strange food. "Pink lasagna?"
"Felix's specialty."
She nodded in understanding and proceeded to eat. She was interrupted yet again by the sergeant.
"What was that fuss about back at the penthouse, soldier?"
Taffyta averted her gaze to her glittery pink shoes in disappointment. "I have no friends."
Calhoun was shocked by her response. "I see you, Peanut Butter-Chocolate and Candle-butt hanging out all the time, though."
"Well it's only for public display!" Taffyta admitted, intending not to yell. She was getting sick of the Taffyta-Rancis-Candlehead stereotype. "They're only programmed to be my friends! They don't care about me outside the game! None of the racers do!"
Calhoun was unfazed by her sudden action. "What makes you say that?"
"I'd say hi to them, but I have little to no chance of getting a response back. I'd make plans with them but they always decline saying they have 'other things to do.' I mean, who would pass up such an opportunity to hang out with me? The only conversation they can spark up is 'can I borrow your kart? Mine broke down.' They're all fake! Plastic!"
"And Vanellope?"
Taffyta felt a blood rush up her cheeks. She had quickly forgotten about Vanellope since she left with Ralph for the internet 16 hours ago.
"She's the only real friend I have."
"Oh?"
"Yeah. I mean, despite our huge rivalry and me bullying her for 15 years – which I still feel horrible about – she's been super nice to me, like none of that exists. Before, during and after arcade hours. When Ralph's not around, she would take me to Tapper's and Burger Time and we would just…talk! Life, racing, and other things! We would drive around our game from start to finish, laughing and exchanging playful insults. I-I've never appreciated anyone more."
Calhoun was listening carefully. Taffyta continued.
"T-that's why I get mad when she's hanging out with Ralph all the time! We barely hang out anymore! She turns down everything just to hang out with him and you guys! If she isn't around, I feel like I'm all alone. She was the only one that kept me company. She inspires me to keep being me!"
"I see." Calhoun simply said. She didn't have much to say, but she fully understood what the child was going through. "Tell you what, we can go back up the penthouse and I'll round up all the racers, and I'll have to hear their side of the story."
Taffyta nodded in agreement and headed back to the apartment.
"And short stack," Calhoun called again. What is with her and stopping me today? "What usually helps me calm down in shootin' cybugs on the wall. Maybe I could introduce 'em to you later this week." She said with a smirk.
Taffyta knew she was going to look forward to the week.
That's all for now, folks! Sorry I took so long, I was still deciding on what to write, but here it is. Next chapter might be shorter since the racers are sharing their true feelings, but better than nothing, right? Your reviews and feedback are appreciated! Thanks for reading! :)