Chapter 4: The Trip To The Future

"Location: Litwak's Arcade, The World Of Disney, December 25th 2110"

When the light faded away, Licortwist and Viridi were standing inside the ballroom in Vanellope's castle.

"What are we doing here?" Licortwist asked.

"We've just jumped forward in time. This is the Christmas Eve that will come about next year, should things remain as they are." Viridi replied.

Licortwist blinked and looked around. It was a Disney and Nickelodeon Christmas Party that the Disney Characters and the Nickelodeon Characters threw every year on Christmas Eve, and they swapped worlds in which the party would take place each year. This year, it was the arcade's turn for the party, and Vanellope hosted it at her castle.

The ballroom was full of people that were talking, eating, and dancing. Grumpy, tired of waiting for a meal, tried eating a roll once he looked around to see if anyone was watching, only to be slapped on the wrist by Snow White. Aladdin was telling jokes to Pooh, Lefou, Goofy, and Rudy Tabootie. Tapper and Gaston were having a drinking contest, and several characters chanted as the contest went on. Sofia, Cedric, Maleficent, Magic Carpet, Kuzco, Syndrome, and Angelique were hanging up Christmas ornaments on the ballroom Christmas tree. And everyone else was mingling with each other.

Eventually, Licortwist spotted Vanellope and hurried over to her. She was talking and laughing along with Kandle and a rather tipsy Candlehead, and he decided to listen to what she was saying. Before long, another familiar voice sounded out behind the three partygoers.

"Hey, guys!" the voice greeted.

Licortwist was greeted with the sight of Taffyel, who wore a pink and white tuxedo, and Taffyta, who wore a pink and white dress that ended just at the top of her knees.

"Hey, guys. Looking good tonight, I see." Vanellope greeted.

Taffyta smiled.

"It's nice of you to notice. At least someone besides my boyfriend finally compliments this outfit. You know how many gold coins it cost? Good thing I've had so many race winnings this month." Taffyta said.

"Well, it sure paid off! You two look almost as posh as Candi and Crumbelina do!" Vanellope said.

Taffyel smiled.

"Thanks, Vanny." Taffyel said.

"Your welcome, Taffyel." Vanellope said.

Taffyta looked around.

"So, is everyone here?" Taffyta asked.

Vanellope nodded.

"Yeah, everyone's here. Everyone except Licortwist, that is." Vanellope replied.

"Well that's not a surprise, seeing as no one ever sees him anymore, which I don't know is a good or bad thing. You'd think that he would have the sense to catch one of your Christmas parties!" Taffyel said.

Taffyel's words sent a chill down Licortwist's spine.

"No one... ever sees me anymore? Not that's... such a bad thing... but..." Licortwist started to wonder.

"Aw, I've given up trying to invite him. No sense in trying to talk Christmas or anything else with Licortwist. It's bad enough that he hasn't donated to the annual fundraiser ever since he got unlocked, but he doesn't even talk to people anymore. All he ever does is hole up in that big ol' castle of his." Vanellope explained.

"He won't even donate to the fundraiser? I pitched in just about as much for that as I did for this." Taffyta said in disbelief, tugging at her dress.

Vanellope chuckled.

"Yeah, but every time we ask, no dice." Vanellope said.

"Wow, what a scrooge." Kandle said in disappointment and shock.

Vanellope sighed.

"You said it, chumbo." Vanellope said.

Licortwist scowled.

"A scrooge? Is this really what everyone thinks of me?" Licortwist wondered angrily.

Taffyta smiled.

"Well, you've always got my back, Vanellope." Taffyta said.

"Thanks, Taffy, but if things keep up, we're going to need more then your help. Even with your, Timothy, Crumbelina, and Candi's cash, it's going to take a lot of work on everybody's part to keep the game in shape. The track's getting worse and worse each year, and I don't know how much longer we can keep it running." Vanellope explained.

Kandle nodded and gently grabbed Candlehead as she began staggering in his direction.

"Well, Vanellope, knowing you, I'm sure you'll think of something. Come on, Candlehead, let's get you home. Thanks for the party, Vanellope." Kandle said.

Vanellope smiled.

"Thanks for coming, Kandle." Vanellope said.

The room suddenly vanished into thin air.

"Location: Litwak's Arcade, The World Of Disney, October 25th 2112"

Licortwist and Viridi materialized into Vanellope's castle once again, but this time in her throne room. Immediately, Licortwist knew something was wrong. The castle, once teeming with life and a usual place for the Sugar Rush racers, Cinndon, Candace, Toxika, Damon, Crepe to visit, or a popular place for other characters to visit, now seemed bare with the absence of any of the servants and palace guards.

"Welcome to life in Sugar Rush, three years from now." Viridi announced.

As Licortwist wondered what could have happened, the throne room doors flew open, and in stepped a much different Vanellope von Schweetz then the one he had seen in the vision from two years earlier. There was no twinkle in her eyes or any look of vivacity in her face. Her hair was more unkempt then usual, and there were deep lines under her eyes, giving her the appearance of a person who had gone without sleep for weeks. Rather then bound about the room, as her usual self would usually do, she paced around the room, muttering to herself as she went along. For the first time, as far as Licortwist could tell, it looked as if she was actually taking her duties as president seriously.

However, Vanellope's pacing was soon interrupted by the arrival of another character, a redheaded figure that Licortwist knew all too well as Jubileena. But even she didn't look like her usual cheery self because she actually seemed worried about something as she hurried to her president's side.

"V-Vanellope? I baked you a pie." Jubileena said timidly, producing a tin from behind her back.

Vanellope didn't even turn to look at her.

"Thanks, Jubes, but I've got too much to worry about right now to eat." Vanellope said.

"Why? What's happening?" Jubileena asked.

Vanellope sighed.

"Well, you know those rumors that have been going around about the track being in disrepair and the budget being too low to fix it?" Vanellope asked.

"Yes, but those can't be true, right?" Jubileena asked.

"I hate to say it, but... yes, they are true." Vanellope replied.

Jubileena dropped her own pie in shock, and it burst at her feet, covering her frilly red skirt in cherry cobbler.

"Well, then you don't have a choice, right? You've got to get Licortwist's help! It's the only way!" Jubileena said.

Vanellope sighed.

"It's pointless, Jubes. He's not coming out of that fortress of his, not even to attack us, which is the only good thing about it. What are we going to do? Tear his castle down just to force him out? There's nothing more we can legally do, Jubes, except wait it out and hope for the best." Vanellope explained.

Licortwist was stunned by what Vanellope said. He then started to have flashbacks about how he had acted towards everyone and how he had treated them poorly.

"Perhaps everyone was right. Maybe I have gone crazy. I mean, I nearly killed my own parents after thinking they were dead for many years." Licortwist thought.

"What do you think he even does in there?" Jubileena asked angrily.

Vanellope shrugged.

"I don't know, but for now, there's not much we can do." Vanellope replied. She then said "Well, try to enjoy yourself anyway, Jubes. But while your at it, do us all a favor and wipe that cherry juice off of your skirt. You look like you just got stabbed.".

Jubileena nodded and walked out of the throne room. Once she was gone, the scene dissolved again.

"Location: Litwak's Arcade, The World Of Disney, May 10th 2114"

The scenery reformed again, and Licortwist and Viridi found themselves in the marketplace in Agrabah. Viridi reached out her arm and pointed at a group of people nearby.

"Go over to them and hear what they say." Viridi ordered.

Licortwist looked at her arm before walking over to the people to listen to their conversation. As he reached them, he realized that they were Governor Ratcliffe, Jafar, Iago, the Coachman, and Shere Khan.

"No, I don't know much about it, either way. I only know he's dead." Ratcliffe explained.

"When did he die?" Jafar asked.

"Last night during the unplugging, I believe." Ratcliffe replied.

"Finally! I thought the old furball would never die!" Iago said.

The Coachman took a vast quantity of snuff out of a very large snuff-box.

"Well, what was the matter with him?" the Coachman asked.

"I'm not exactly sure. It's likely to be a very cheap funeral. For the life of me, I can't think of anybody who would go to it." Ratcliffe replied with a yawn.

"I wouldn't mind going if lunch is provided." Shere Khan said.

Ratcliffe, Jafar, Iago, and the Coachman laughed at Shere Khan's statement before saying goodbye to each other and walking away. Once they were gone, the scenery disappeared.

"Location: Litwak's Arcade, The World Of Disney, July 14th 2114"

The scenery reformed, and Licortwist found himself in East Niceland.

"Where are we?" Licortwist asked.

"I suppose I've got some explaining to do. This is Fix-It Felix Jr., the game where Ralph and Felix come from. Five years from now, it will be the home of the Sugar Rush characters after their game get's unplugged." Viridi replied.

The news struck Licorwist like a bullet.

"Unplugged?" Licortwist asked.

Viridi nodded.

"After being raced on for so long, the track's condition was so bad that it became unusable, and you and the rest of the kids were out of a job. Your hatred was so much that you wouldn't bother giving back to your own game. And now it's gone, along with the livelihoods of your fellow characters. So now, their all living with Ralph here in his home game." Viridi replied.

Licortwist was aghast. Everything was gone, all because of him. His parents, his gamemates, his home...

"Wait a minute! Where am I? What happens to me in the future?" Licortwist asked.

"See for yourself." Viridi replied.

Viridi pointed her staff towards a small enclosure nearby that was surrounded by a small white picket fence. At first, as Licortwist approached it, he couldn't see anything. But as he neared the fence, a small chunk of marble came into view. He read the words etched in the rock and gasped in horror.

Licortwist Hothead

1988-2114

Viridi walked up beside Licortwist.

"You never made it out of Sugar Rush with the others. You wouldn't even leave that castle of yours. You doomed your own world to being unplugged, and you went down with it." Viridi explained.

Licortwist held his head in his hands in shock.

"No. This can't be possible." Licortwist whispered.

As he stood there, a pair of Sugar Rushers entered the cemetery, walking towards a second gravestone that had initially escaped his attention. He followed them and recognized the figures as Vanellope, who was dressed in an unusually formal coat, and Creamy, who was dressed in a black version of her usual outfit. Even over the howl of the wind, Licortwist was able to hear that Creamy was sobbing as she placed a wreath before the grave.

"There, there, Creamy. He's in a better place now. He's happy now." Vanellope said softly.

"I c-can't take it! I can't... live without him. I... can't go... on like this. He was my everything!" Creamy cried between sobs.

"Hey. Listen, I know that Licortwist was too much of a jerkface, but I know one thing about Rancis, and that's that he had more will to live in him then any other character, especially Licortwist. Who else could have helped rally everybody together to get the rest of us out in time? Rancis was ten times the boy Licortwist ever was." Vanellope said in a serious tone. She then sighed, spread her arms out, and ordered "Come here.".

Creamy stumbled forward and fell into Vanellope's arms, sinking her face into her chest.

"I... I miss him so much." Creamy whispered.

"I know, Buttercap, I know. I know. We all do." Vanellope said softly, cradling her friend in her arms.

Vanellope left the graveyard, dragging a sobbing Creamy close behind her. Once they were gone, Licortwist slowly approached the gravestone, and he read what was on it.

Rancis Fluggerbutter

1997-2114

Licortwist could see that Rancis's grave had been written on with a permanent marker to make a note from Creamy.

I love you, bro. Always.

Creamy Buttercap.

There was no point in trying to hold it back now. Feeling the strength in his limbs slip away, Licortwist collapsed to the ground, tears in his eyes. Rancis was dead, and it was entirely his fault. After regaining energy, he turned back to Viridi, who was calmly and patiently standing by him.

"Please, let me change this. I'm not who I was. I can move on and learn to be friendly with everyone. This doesn't have to be my future." Licortwist pleaded.

Viridi frowned.

"You wanted this. Hours ago, you wanted to kill the members of Sugar Rush and anyone else who displeased you. Everyone's just a filthy creature to you." Viridi said bitterly.

"No person is just a filthy being. Especially not Sugar Rush... and not even you." Licortwist admitted.

That struck Viridi to dumbness.

"This... what I've been doing... it's wrong." Licortwist admitted. He then met the girl's shocked stare and pleaded "Let me make it right.".

Viridi snapped out of her shock.

"As if you could ever make this right. You don't change, don't forgive. Don't get to forgive after everything you've done to countless people." Viridi growled. She then grinned and said "Good riddance.".

Licortwist closed his eyes, bowing his head like a man in prayer.

"I'm a scrooge. I'll doom the future with my hate." Licortwist said. He glanced at the nature themed girl, bowed his head again, and said "But if I'm really a scrooge, then I still have time to change.".

Viridi smirked.

"Beg me. After all you have done to people, to your own parents that you don't give a darn about, and to Sugar Rush. Beg me." Viridi ordered.

Licortwist didn't hesitate.

"Please give me a chance to use the lessons that you have taught me. You've taught me to listen, so now let me act. This future will not come to pass. I promise." Licortwist pleaded.

Viridi remained unmoved by his pleas.

"I think not." Viridi sneered.