Chapter 4: Rivalries of the Past

Isangtao: You licked the review button? I've wondered what it tastes like a few times. But yeah some characters are OOC but that makes it more interesting.

dark demon 122: If Vanellope killed Taffyta, that would be the end of the story. WAY too early to end it. And besides, Taffyta would just respawn.

JarrettSoon: Thank you. I thought there was not enough rivalry stories on here and there is so much potential for them. Oh well, leave it to the NASCAR expert to take care of it.

A Sugar Coated RIVALRY

Since the game was temporarily out of commission for the remainder of the day, it was a dreadfully boring one for the racers of Sugar Rush. Vanellope couldn't hang out with Ralph until the arcade closed for the day, and was basically stuck doing nothing in her castle.

"Cheer up Vanellope," Swizzle stated as he moved around slowly due to his injuries, "We can get them back, we just have to be patient and keep our heads on straight," he continued and put his hand on her shoulder.

"Swizzle Malarkey!" Jubileena called, "I told you to lie down to heal!" She exclaimed and drug him away from Vanellope, "See you later Van! I have to nurse my Swizzy back to health in time for the Roster Race!" She said as the two left. Vanellope sighed and sat down in front of the window. She had never been more angry in her life, other than the time she thought Ralph had betrayed her to get his Hero Medal back. She was honestly having fun with Taffyta's tough competitive nature, but competition can make people do crazy things. Yet, she never thought that things would spiral this much out of control and pit friends against each other. Vanellope was so caught up in her thinking that she hand't noticed Adorabeezle was still in the room. The others had left to prepare for the Roster Race.

"You could just throw her in the Fungeon for a day or two Vanellope," Adorabeezle stated. Vanellope shrieked a little and whirled around.

"Please don't scare me like that Adorabeezle!" Vanellope exclaimed as she held her chest to get her heart rate down. After getting it to a normal level, Vanellope replied, "What would throwing Taffyta in the Fungeon solve?"

"It would at least show her that she is messing with the leader of the game," Adorabeezle said in response. She sat on the edge of Vanellope's bed and held her snow hat in her hands. Vanellope sighed and shook her head in despair.

"Look, number one, it would just piss off her and her team. Number two, that would violate her rights in our democracy, I can't just throw her in because I don't like her," Vanellope explained. True, she would love nothing more than to just quickly get rid of that pink bitch by locking her up, but as a good president, she had to abide by the rules of their Constitution.

"Well it's just a thought Vanellope, I'm sure she would do the same thing to you if she were President," Adorabeezle said and walked out. The door shut with a thud that echoed throughout not only the room, but Vanellope's mind as well. "No, I am not going to take the cheap way out," she said to herself and looked back out the window at Taffyta's house. "I'll get her back, by showing her I am the best of the best."

(With Taffyta and her crew)

Taffyta had all of her team members situated in her living room. Needless to say, every single one of them were pissed off, except Candlehead of course. She was still crying from Swizzle yelling at her. "Here Snowanna," Crumbelina said as she handed the injured racer a couple ice packs for her eye and jaw. Snowanna groaned in pain as she applied the cold remedies.

"Thanks Crumbelina," Snowanna replied, "I had no idea Jubileena could pack that hard of a punch," she finished. They all agreed and shook their heads. Taffyta had surprisingly been quiet through the whole 'meeting' they were at. "You know, if Vanellope and her team could just keep their mouths shut and their damn heads in check, we wouldn't be put out of commission for the day!" Snowanna said angrily. Taffyta finally looked up at her team mates with a big scowl on her face.

"I don't care about that Snowanna. Von Schweetz needs to realize that I will not put up with her crap. She thinks her team is the good team, but they resorted to violence first," Taffyta explained and tossed a lollipop in the trash. "She just pisses me off so much, even if we beat her, she always manages to make us feel guilty," Taffyta continued and kicked a chair, toppling it over.

"I think someone needs to take care of Malarkey honestly," Crumbelina broke in, clenching her teeth. "He made poor Candlehead cry! He is such an ass," she continued and gave Candlehead a hug.

"Leave that to me Crumbs," Gloyd said and cracked his knuckles, "that hot-shot needs a good ass kicking. You girls can't touch him because of his girlfriend, but I for sure can get him," Gloyd continued with a smirk.

"Good Gloyd, taking them out on the track simply is not enough anymore, we need to strike whenever we have an opportunity, do you get that?" Taffyta said to her crew. They all nodded and got up to prepare for the Roster Race in a few hours.

"Hey Taffyta can I keep these ice packs please?" Snowanna asked as everyone left. Taffyta nodded in an uncaring way and sent Snowanna out. When her house was empty, and she was alone, Taffyta filled a shot glass full of Coca-Cola and walked over to her window and looked out at Vanellope's castle. She sipped her drink as a tree cast a shadow over her window and she chuckled evilly. "Get ready Von Schweetz, tonight, you're going down" Taffyta said and clenched her glass so hard it shattered.

Meanwhile outside, Gloyd was climbing in his kart when Candlehead approached him "What can I do for you Candlehead?" Gloyd asked as his kart's engine turned over.

"Well, I was wondering if when you get Swizzle back, you could give him a punch or a kick for me?" She asked sweetly. Gloyd looked over at the green haired ditz and nodded.

"Sure Candlhead. I'll hit him so hard his kids'll have bruises," he joked and put his helmet on. Candlehead gasped in shock and covered her mouth.

"Swizzle has kids? When did that happen? Is Jubileena the mom? Are they even old enough to make kids?" Candlehead asked many questions in the span of ten seconds. Gloyd grew frustrated with her stupidity again and just took off before hurting her feelings again. He made his way over to Jubileena's house where he figured she might be nursing him.

(With Rancis)

Rancis was busy at his house calming his nerves. He was pissed off no doubt, but he was more concerned with what Vanellope would do if Taffyta's gang struck again. "I hope Nelly doesn't do something stupid," Rancis told himself. He hated having to yell at her to calm her down, but having her getting into a fight and her possibly getting hurt would make him feel a lot worse. Rancis also thought back to when he and Taffyta had been friends. He knew that she was an aggressive driver that hated to lose more than anyone, but to think she would go as far as to hurt fellow racers boggled his mind. Rancis sat back on his couch and shut his eyes, deep in thought. He only had a few hours before the Roster Race, but he simply didn't care for it today, he had to protect the girl he loved, especially from herself. "I need to talk to someone," Rancis said as he snapped open his eyes, "I think Ralph or Calhoun might be able to help me," he continued and left his house. As he raced across the game and to the bridge, he wondered may times, what happened to the cheery nature of their sweet game?

"Hey Rancis, wait up!" He heard someone shout. He looked in his mirror and saw Vanellope running after his kart. He slammed on the breaks to let her catch up. When she caught up, she coughed a little to get the cinnamon dust out of her mouth.

"What's up Nelly?" Rancis asked sweetly and shut off the RV1. Vanellope climbed on his lap and hugged him. Rancis immediately blushed a crimson red, but thanks to his helmet and visor, his face was partially covered.

"I just wanted to say thanks for sticking up for me today, it was really sweet," Vanellope said and gave him a quick peck on the lips. Rancis' body froze as his lips tingled. He regained composure after a few seconds and cleared his throat.

"No problem Vanellope, I just don't want you to get hurt," Rancis replied and mellowed his body out a little. He enjoyed having her sitting on his lap, it was comfortable and warm. "Is there anything else you want Nelly?" Rancis asked.

"Yeah, where are you going Rancis?" She asked in a curious tone, "the Roster Race is commencing a few hours, shouldn't you be practicing?" She finished.

"Well, I was going to Fix-It Felix Jr. to talk to Ralph, Nelly," Rancis explained. He silently prayed that she wouldn't think he was going behind her back to tattle on her, the other last thing he didn't want was her mad at him, but luckily she wasn't mad at all.

"Sounds fun, can I go?" She asked in a puppy dog tone. Rancis could never in a million years ignore that face or tone. "Oh of course Nelly, just get buckled," he said and unbuckled the safety belt and loosened it. He wrapped it around her stomach and buckled it.

"To Ralph's house chauffeur," Vanellope said in her old princess voice. Rancis chuckled and started up the kart and drove off. It was nice to share a drive together, he thought. As they zoomed through the power cord leading to GCS, Vanellope spread her arms out like an airplane and shouted, "I'm President of the world!" Rancis chuckled and drifted around the corner of the power cord and stopped the kart right at the gate. Vanellope got out first and helped Rancis out.

"Nice driving huh Nelly?" Rancis asked as he led her through Game Central Station. Vanellope giggled and nodded as they avoided the large crowd inside the power strip. The arcade had just closed and all the game characters were ready to begin their socializing. The two candy kids had to run around what seemed like a million pairs of legs to not get run over as they arrived at the Fix-It Felix Jr gate.

"Okay, we have about an hour and a half to do this and get back to the Roster Race," Vanellope told Rancis. He nodded his head and took her hand to let her in the train. As they boarded, Rancis took another look behind them into Game Central Station. Vanellope noticed and looked behind them. "Whatcha staring at Baby-Blue eyes?" She joked and playfully punched his arm. Rancis jumped at the contact and looked over.

"Nothing Nelly, I thought I felt something following us or watching us," he said in a creeped out tone. He shook it off and climbed on the train which lurched forward toward the 1982 classic game. Once they entered, they saw a few Nicelanders chatting outside the apartment building. "It looks like Ralph is home, there are some lights on in his cottage," Rancis said to Vanellope. She ran up and banged on the door. When they got no answer, Vanellope started to shout.

"COME ON STINKBRAIN, YOUR FAVORITE PRESIDENT IS HERE!" She shouted and kicked the door. Vanellope started to lose her patience. "Come on Flugs, help me break his window."

"Um Nelly, Ralph is right behind us," Rancis said, tapping Vanellope's shoulder. Vanellope froze and turned around with a nervous smile.

"I don't go around breaking your windows, President Fartfeathers," Ralph joked and picked her up and hugged her. "How are ya?" he asked and led them to his living room.

"I'm fine Ralph, just had a bit of a scuffle with Taffyta again," Vanellope said and sat down on a chair. Ralph tensed up and let out a big sigh. Rancis took this opportunity to get out. "I think I'll go explore the game a bit more," Rancis said nervous as hell and left.

"Vanellope, did you get into a fight?" Ralph asked and knelt down in front of her. "I really hope you didn't break the promise you gave me," he finished and looked at her like a concerned father. Vanellope twiddled her thumbs before nervously responding.

"W-well, we kinda got into a shoving match when I saw that video she made," she said, not looking at Ralph in the eye, "and when she and her gang wrecked basically all of my group," she finished and bit her lip. Ralph contemplated before answering.

"Did she start it Vanellope? Be honest with me," Ralph answered and gently lifted her chin up to make her look him in the eye. Vanellope sighed and answered, "No Ralph, I started the physical fights and I may have used grown-up words on her," she admitted. Ralph let go of her and growled.

"I can't believe this Vanellope, you broke the promise you made to me," Ralph said in a pissed off tone. Vanellope tried to defend herself, "But Ralph! She started the whole rivalry and wrecking fiasco!" Ralph turned to her glared in her eyes, scaring the snot out of the little girl.

(Meanwhile, with Felix)

Felix was stretching from a long day's fixing when he spotted Rancis wandering around the game. He happily walked over to the Reese's Hat boy and greeted him, "Well hello Rancis, what brings you back here today?" Felix asked. Rancis looked over and smiled.

"Well, I left Vanellope to talk to Ralph. There's been a terrible rivalry that's tearing our game apart Felix," Rancis said and sighed deeply. Felix's expression went from a cheery one, to a concerned one.

"Oh my land, not again," he said worriedly and started to softly bite on the thumb of his glove. He started pacing around as well which weirded out Rancis.

"Are you alright there Felix?" Rancis asked and followed Felix around as he paced in a circle. Felix stopped his pacing and nibbling and turned back to Rancis. He bit his lip and shook his head.

"I'm fine Rancis, it's just that, you do know the story of how the phrase, 'Going Turbo' came to be right?" Felix questioned. Rancis nodded as he understood but didn't understand what that had to do with the situation. "That's good, but do you know why Turbo did what he did?" Felix pressed on as the two sat down on a bench.

"Because he was jealous of not being the most popular racing game in the arcade right?" Rancis guessed as best as he could. Felix took off his blue worker hat and ruffled his hair with his gloved hand.

"That was partially the reason Rancis. But there is more that only a few people from back in the 1980s know. Turbotime and Roadblasters were fierce rivals. Not only was Turbo jealous of the other's attention, but the drivers from Roadblasters wanted to upstage Turbo to prove that they were the best and that Turbo was nothing more than a has-been at that point. Turbo didn't abandon his game right away, the twins of Turbotime kept Turbo's jealousy and anger under control until someone made both the games a bet they couldn't refuse: A Race. They were racing throughout both games and the winner would be declared the best in the arcade. Well, Roadblasters pulled a lot of dirty tricks, as did Turbo, but they came out on top. The rivalry reached the boiling point by then and Turbo went to extreme measures that cost his game and Roadblasters their lives," Felix explained the story to Rancis.

"You mean to tell me, that our game could get unplugged if the rivalry continues?" Rancis asked in disbelief with huge eyes. Felix nodded sadly and responded.

"Didn't your game get postponed from playing for the rest of today because of what happened?" Felix asked Rancis. Rancis gasped hard.

"You're right Felix, I have to get Nelly to convince our group and Taffyta's to drop this stupid rivalry before it's too late!" Rancis declared and ran off toward Ralph's cottage, leaving Felix on the bench alone. "Good luck Rancis," Felix wished him and put his hat back on. Rancis burst through Ralph's door.

"Nelly we have to-" he began until he saw the scene before him. Ralph was holding Vanellope in his fist and had a piece of broccoli in her mouth. She was freaking out. "Ralph, what are you doing to her?!" Rancis demanded. Ralph, who didn't realize Rancis was there, dropped Vanellope who spit out the vegetable.

"I was punishing her for breaking our promise to not get in fights and for using bad words," Ralph explained. He didn't physically hurt her, nothing would make him do that.

"Oh yeah that's real nice Ralphie!" Vanellope shouted at him, "force feed me broccoli as punishment is really cruel!" She cried out and started rubbing on her tongue with her hands.

"Well, listen to me and that won't happen again, do you understand me young lady?" Ralph asked with an authoritative voice. Vanellope nodded angrily and took Rancis' hand. Before they left, Ralph stopped them, "Look Vanellope, I did this because I love you like a father would his daughter okay?" He said sweetly to get her to understand. Vanellope froze and turned around.

"Thank you Ralph," she said as she softened her expression, "but please, next time give me a little warning alright?" She joked and led Rancis out.

(Back in Sugar Rush)

The two had made their way back to their game in Rancis' kart. The Roster Race would be commencing in a little less than 30 minutes, so they had to prepare, but that wouldn't be as easy as it sounds. "VANELLOPE!" Jubileena called out to the pair. The two whirled around as the cherry girl ran up to them and was catching her breath.

"Is everything alright Jubileena?" Rancis asked with concern. Jubileena's eyes were red and she had dry tear stains on her rosy cheeks.

"NO! I t-think, Sw-Swiz-," she tried again and again to say but couldn't get it out. Vanellope hugged her and soothed her. "It's okay Jubileena, just calm down," she cooed. Jubileena finally calmed down enough to make sense. "Swizzle vanished! I was nursing him back to health for the Roster Race at my house and when I went to get him some Aleve, he was gone," she cried out before crying again. Rancis called the rest of the team to investigate. Minty, Adorabeezle, Jubileena, Vanellope and him all arrived at Jubileena's house.

"So he was laying down in your bed right?" Adorabeezle asked as she opened up a pen pad and clicked open a chocolate pen.

"Yes, he was actually doing better and he felt great, but he felt stiff also," Jubileena explained as she blew her nose. Adorabeezle scribbled down some notes on her pen pad.

"Alright, and you said you went to get him some Aleve and then when you came back he was gone?" Adorabeezle asked to make sure. Jubileena nodded and Adorabeezle scribbled down more notes. Vanellope was looking around Jubileena's kitchen and bathroom while Minty was looking around the bedroom and Rancis was outside. Minty wanted to find Swizzle also. Only known between her and Adorabeezle, she had feelings for Swizzle, but Jubileena made him happy and he asked Jubileena out before asking her out, so she was glad he was happy and didn't want to tear apart their love.

"I think I found something guys!" Minty said excitedly. Everyone except Rancis rushed over to her.

"What is it Minty, a clue?" Vanellope asked. Minty nodded and with a pair of tweezers, picked up a morsel of food.

"Candy Corn," Minty said with venom. No questions needed and no doubt they knew who kidnapped Swizzle. "HEY GIRLS!" Rancis then shouted. The four ran outside to Rancis.

"What is it now?" Adorabeezle asked. Rancis gestured over to some tire tracks behind a tree.

"I think we all know whose kart is the only one in the entire game who makes those tire tracks," he said in a pissed off tone. Everyone knew it was Gloyd, but they didn't know he would go so low on them. They were all pissed, but Jubileena was shaking with anger. She dropped to her knees in front of the tire tracks before extend her arms and fists outward and shouting, "ORANGEBOAR!" The shout resonated throughout the game. Gloyd heard it as he started up his kart and left a large duffel bag in the candy cane forest. He clicked on his radio.

"This is Gloyd, mission complete and successful, I'll meet you all at Tapper's Gloyd said and chuckled evilly as he drove off toward Taffyta's house.

END CHAPTER 4

Okay, I know I am pretty evil for that. But there needs to be more controversy in this story. I wish I could get some racers' opinions but they are still trying to find Swizzle. So here is a clip of the pit crew fight in Days of Thunder!

Chapter 5, coming soon.