Chapter 7: Only one Way To Settle This
Ryan Stoppable: Thank you. The dream sequence went through I think three re-writes until I was satisfied. And yes I wanted Ralph to kind of humiliate Taffyta. By the way, your name is AWESOME. I loved Kim Possible as a kid.
: That's a great compliment. You see foreshadowing well. Use that to your advantage ;)
Dixie Darlin: We NASCAR fans need more recruits like you. And soon, the NASCAR Revolution can commence! Swizzle HAS to be okay! It'd be like Happy Days with NO Fonzy. It's SACRILEGE
A Sugar Coated RIVALRY
"So you little diabetic cavities don't trust each other? Well, I'm here to change that. You're days of wrecking each other and fighting are over because I won't have it going on in this family," the figure said as it spun around.
"Oh great, here we go," Vanellope, Taffyta, Gloyd, and Rancis said in unison.
Calhoun was sitting in Felix's desk chair, with a serious expression plastered on her face and her hand stroking Felix's head. "Okay short stack, you can go," she said and let Felix up. Felix put back on his blue hat and walked next to Ralph. Taffyta frowned and rolled her eyes and slammed her fists on the desk. Her face had an angered expression with furrowed brows and a snarl.
"What do you care if we don't trust each other? What business do you have meddling in our situation you bully?" Taffyta demanded. Calhoun twitched her face like she did to Felix in the Nesquik sand and then back handed Taffyta. She yelped and fell backward into Gloyd who tried to catch her, but she slipped through.
"Sorry Taffy," Gloyd said as he picked her up. Taffyta had a red hand mark on her face and some tears in her eyes. Vanellope and Rancis's faces were stuck like Vanellope's when she saw Ralph break the jawbreaker. Ralph chuckled and smacked Felix's back. Felix didn't make a sound until he blurted out.
"TAMMY WHY WOULD YOU HIT AN INNOCENT GIRL?" He asked in disbelief. Calhoun got up from the chair and straightened out Taffyta. She turned to Felix and gave him a look that said, 'Shut up before I make you.' She then turned back to Taffyta and knelt down. Ralph snickered at Felix's outburst, "Innocent kid my behind." Calhoun stared deep into Taffyta's soul, scaring the crap out of her in the process. Once Calhoun had Taffyta's full undivided attention, she laid down the law.
"Quit your crying kid. Back in Boot Camp, my fellow recruits and I got slapped and hit 24/7. That was our leader's way of toughening us up," Calhoun told Taffyta. "And plus, you need to listen to reason. And another thing, that was for treating Vanellope like dirt for 15 years," Calhoun concluded and playfully smacked Taffyta's other cheek. Taffyta squealed in fear a little and started shaking. Gloyd held her hand which seemed to help her calm down.
"Look, Mrs. Felix," Rancis began, "Taffyta got hit a lot last night and I don't think hitting her again is going to help her any," he finished. Felix quickly gave him the 'stop it' sign by cutting across his neck with his hand. Rancis quickly got the idea and shut up. Calhoun paced before them, thinking of what to say next.
"I know what you kids are thinking," Calhoun finally said, 'I'm just being mean to get you in line.' But That's not it at all. You little soldiers are all one big family in your game. And if you don't trust each other, then you're not a family at all. I'm not saying you have to love each other, just learn how to trust and deal with one another," Calhoun instructed them. Vanellope thought about this before stepping forward.
"Look Sarge, I can tell you that Rancis and I, and the rest of our own group," she added, "trust each other. So we'll just take our leave and let you deal with Taffyta," she said and grabbed Rancis' hand. Calhoun leaped over the other game characters and landed in front of the door, wearing an evil glare. She sneered at Vanellope and Rancis and made them back down.
"Get your butts back in there," she said with gritted teeth. Vanellope and Rancis cowered in fear and high tailed it back behind Ralph. Calhoun locked the door and turned back to the six other people in the room. "No, all of you need to listen to me. If you do not listen and trust each other, then what's the point of being in your game?" Calhoun asked.
"Now Tammy, isn't that a little sadistic?" Felix asked.
"CAN IT!" Calhoun shouted in reply. Felix backed off and also hid behind Ralph. Ralph then rolled his eyes at the thought of being a shield for his three friends.
"Your game will fail if you keep trying to either kill each other or keep ignoring your leader," Calhoun emphasized, looking at Taffyta and Gloyd. "If my men didn't listen to or trust me, then we would die every time a gamer put their hard earned money into our game, and eventually we would get unplugged," Calhoun explained. Rancis then had a flashback to what Felix told him the day before.
"She's right Nelly," Rancis said as he took her in front of Ralph, "I know you trust Taffyta, but you need to help her trust you," Rancis explained. Calhoun grinned and lightly patted Rancis' Reese's hat.
"You got a smart boyfriend there Vanellope, you need to listen to him more often then not too," she said while scanning the other two kids. Gloyd nodded, knowing full well that Calhoun was speaking the truth.
"Vanellope, can I speak to you for a sec?" Gloyd asked. Vanellope was surprised a little, being that the only boys she spoke to alone were either Ralph, Rancis or Swizzle.
"Um, sure I guess," Vanellope replied and walked to the door with Gloyd by her side. Felix unlocked it and let them go. "Can you please keep an eye on them Felix?" Rancis asked. Felix nodded with a warm smile and quietly followed Vanellope and Gloyd.
(With Vanellope and Gloyd)
Vanellope and Gloyd walked to the end of a hallway, overlooking the dump which used to harbor Ralph. And unbeknownst to them, Felix silently followed. "So Pumpkin boy, what is so important?" Vanellope asked while crossing her arms. Gloyd rubbed the back of his head nervously, searching for words.
"W-well Vanellope," Gloyd stuttered like an idiot. Vanellope then thought back to her nightmare the night before, and she began to become even more nervous.
"Look Gloyd, if you're telling me you want to leave Taffyta for me, I'm glad to burst your bubble because I love Rancis," she said quickly, ready to kick Gloyd's gum balls.
"NO! Not that at all Vanellope. I just want to say, I am so sincerely sorry for what I did. I mean, I for some reason never thought it would have this big of a negative impact on everyone," he confessed. Vanellope softened her expression as Gloyd leaned his head and arm against the wall.
"That's nice and all Gloyd, but you really should be apologizing to Swizzle and Jubileena. They're the ones who you hurt the most," Vanellope explained and patted Gloyd. "Besides, why in Tobikomi's name did you kidnap and beat Swizzle unconscious?" Vanellope asked sternly. Gloyd turned to Vanellope with some tears forming in his eyes.
"I-I don't know Vanellope," he said with a croak, "I guess love blinds us from the real world and makes us do fudged up things," he said and collapsed onto the floor with his back on the wall. Vanellope immediately knelt down and grabbed his shoulders. Felix, who was watching from the ceiling, looked on in pain.
"Those poor kids," he said softly and continued watching.
"Gloyd! It's gonna be okay," Vanellope assured him, "we just need to take Calhoun's session seriously and learn to trust one another, like families do," Vanellope said. Gloyd looked up with wet brown eyes and hugged her.
"Thanks Van, and I'm sorry for calling you a bitch. And whatever punishment you have set up for me kidnapping Swizzle, I'll take it on the chin like a man," he said sternly and got up.
"Actually, after spending the night in jail and going through a morning with Calhoun is punishment enough for now Gloyd," Vanellope said as they started making their way back to the penthouse. Gloyd stopped her and stared her down.
"No Van, I need a punishment more than this, anything, and I will do it, TRUST ME," he said with a wink. Vanellope smirked at his joke and thought about a decent enough punishment for him. Then her eyes lit up at the perfect idea.
"Okay then, you want a punishment, here is one: You can't pull any pranks FOR ONE WEEK!" She said triumphantly. Gloyd's heart stopped and he dropped to his knees much like Swizzle did when Vanellope threatened execution.
"ANYTHING BUT THAT PLEASE! THE FUNGEON FOR A MONTH! I'LL BE SOUR BILL'S ASSISTANT FOR A YEAR! JUST DON'T TAKE AWAY MY PRANKING!" He pleaded. Vanellope laughed and shook her head.
"Sorry there Orangeboar, but you said anything," she said and skipped ahead of him. Gloyd got up and ran after her.
(Back with the rest of the crew)
Calhoun, Taffyta, Ralph and Rancis were idly chatting while waiting for the other three to get back. Felix got back first by crawling through the air ducts. About twenty seconds after he did, Vanellope and Gloyd arrived. Rancis quickly took Vanellope away from Gloyd and questioned her.
"Did he touch you? Did he kiss you? Did he threaten you?" He asked like a crazy person. Vanellope tried to get him to shut up the conventional way, but when that failed, she went for her own way. She smashed her lips on his and shut him up. His body melted and he calmed down. Vanellope took her lips off of his and explained what happened.
"Listen Flugs, all he did was apologize for what he did and took a punishment. He won't be pranking for a week," she told Rancis. Rancis and Taffyta both were shocked. Gloyd sat down on a chair, still getting over the realization that he could not be his mischievous self for one week, less he be put under house arrest.
"Wow Nelly, don't you think that's a little harsh? I mean that's in Gloyd's programming. He has to be able to prank," Rancis said as he took Vanellope aside. Vanellope stepped back with her arms crossed and had 'the look' on her face.
"Well, maybe you don't want to be my boyfriend for a week," she told Rancis with a smirk on her face. Rancis' face went pale and his breath was caught in his throat.
"NO! Of course that's a great punishment Nelly. You're the smartest and prettiest President ever," he said quickly and nervously, hoping to not make her mad. Vanellope started giggling.
"I knew that would work," she said and hugged Rancis. The Reese's boy breathed a sigh of relief and hugged her back. Calhoun rolled her eyes and fired a blank from her pistol. Everyone in the room jumped in surprise and turned to her.
"Alright enough with the goo-goo eyes, we have work to do," she said and re-holstered her gun. "Okay, now first thing in order to trust each other and break some ice, we are going to eat dinner together at the best Restaurant in your game," Calhoun declared.
"Uh, Truffle Garden?" Taffyta asked. Calhoun nodded and snapped her fingers. Felix stood at attention next to her.
"It's 2:00 now, dinner is at 7:00 SHARP," Calhoun made sure they all understood.
"I have plans tonight Mrs. Felix," Vanellope said. "Yeah, me too," Taffyta added. Calhoun glared at them.
"Well, you're going to have to cancel them. 7:00 sharp or else," she threatened and made her way to the door. "Oh and one more thing," she stated, "you two have to ride in the same car," she said, pointing to Taffyta and Vanellope, "and you two boys can ride with Ralph," she finished and left. Felix, Ralph, Gloyd, and Rancis all looked at Vanellope and Taffyta.
"Fudge," they both said in unison. The four racers bid farewell to Ralph and Felix and walked back to Sugar Rush. Once back, Taffyta and Vanellope looked over at each other and groaned. "I'll pick you up at 6:45?" Taffyta asked. Vanellope nodded slowly and let Taffyta and Gloyd leave.
"That was mature of you Vanellope," Rancis complemented. Vanellope groaned and ran her hands up her face and through her hair.
"I am all for being friends again, but I really don't want to ride in a kart with her yet," Vanellope said. Rancis hugged his girlfriend to comfort her.
"Would you like to go cuddle until dinner Nelly?" Rancis offered her his hand. She looked up at him with a warm smile.
"I'd love that Rancis," she said and pecked his cheek.
(6:30)
Ralph had shown up to the castle and picked up Rancis to take to the restaurant. All Vanellope had to do was wait for Taffyta. She was surprised when the doorbell rang at 6:32. Sour Bill opened the door, but Vanellope kicked him out of the way. "Taffyta, you're early," Vanellope said.
"Yeah I know, let's just get this out of the way," Taffyta said and led her to a kart Vanellope had never seen before. Of course Taffyta couldn't use her Pink Lightning since it was a one seater, but this kart was painted just like it, only it had two seats.
"Made it myself at the bakery with Gloyd," Taffyta said proudly. Vanellope got in the passenger seat and let Taffyta drive. Taffyta began driving, yet she took the wrong route to the restaurant.
"Um, Taffyta, the restaurant is the other way," Vanellope said.
"I know President, but I had something else in mind," Taffyta replied. Vanellope began to get nervous and asked Taffyta.
"What is it?" Vanellope asked. Taffyta pulled the kart to a clearing and stopped. The two got out and looked at each other. "Alright, now that you got me here, what do you want?" Vanellope asked again.
"Well here's how I see this deal, since you agree I won't let you drive this kart to dinner, and I agree you won't let me drive this kart to dinner, there's only one way to settle this," Taffyta explained and motioned toward a side road. Vanellope looked over and saw another kart sitting there, painted like Vanellope's old Royal kart.
"Oh absolutely," Vanellope said and hopped in the kart. The two drove up to an intersection that was about five miles from the restaurant. They revved their engines and looked side by side at each other. Taffyta counted down three, two, one while Vanellope gave her the finger. When Taffyta reached zero, they took off racing.
(With Calhoun and the others)
It was five until seven, and Taffyta and Vanellope still had yet to arrive. Calhoun glared over at Ralph, Rancis and Gloyd. The three males looked around uncomfortably and fidgeted in their chairs. Rancis clenched his fists and avoided eye contact with Calhoun.
(Back with Vanellope and Taffyta)
Taffyta had pulled ahead but Vanellope drove up and rammed Taffyta's back end, breaking the lights on the back and crumbling the bumper. Vanellope then pulled up on the driver's side door and Taffyta hit her. The two smirked at each other and continued racing.
(At the restaurant)
It was 7:02 and the two girls still hadn't shown up. Calhoun took a couple packs of saltine crackers and crumbled them up in her fist, giving Rancis and Gloyd a glare. The two looked nervously over at the pile of cracker crumbs, scared that they could end up like the crumbs. "You know boys," Calhoun said while looking at Rancis and Gloyd, "if you can't control your girlfriends, maybe you should stick to something better you can control, like your bladders," she said and flicked the crumbs onto the floor.
(Back to the Race)
Taffyta rammed Vanellope's back end and shattered the back end and her front end. Taffyta then pulled next to Vanellope's passenger side and hit her. The two repeatedly rammed into each other, destroying their front end quarter panels. Going around a corner, both drifted around and hit each other and knocking both karts onto two wheels. Both their front ends were smashed to hell and their headlights were cracked. Parts were hanging off from under their engines. They continued to race side by side until they saw Candlehead in front of them on the road. She shrieked and cowered in fear. Vanellope and Taffyta swerved and avoided her and then went back to hitting each other. They arrived at the restaurant and parked the karts in front of the valet station. The two valet candy people took a look at the karts and whistled. Both kart's engines were smoking and leaking fluid and one of the kart's axles were broken. Vanellope and Taffyta entered the restaurant, adjusting their evening wear. "So, too close to call Vanellope?" Taffyta asked and finished touching up her hair.
"Yeah, call it a tie Taffyta," Vanellope said as they approached Calhoun, Felix, Ralph, Gloyd, and Rancis. Their boyfriends looked at them with expressions of both relief and upset. Calhoun glared at them and slammed her fist on the table.
"Why are you two cavities ten minutes late?" she sneered and demanded an answer. Vanellope and Taffyta looked at each other.
"We had kart trouble," Vanellope said nervously.
"What kind of kart trouble?" Calhoun asked.
"I believe it was the chocolator," Vanellope explained. Calhoun's eyebrow went up in confusion.
"It's our version of a carburetor," Taffyta said. Calhoun nodded and opened a menu. Vanellope and Taffyta smirked at each other from across the table and winked at each other. Then they remembered why they were glad to be there, they then laid against their boyfriends' shoulders. Rancis and Gloyd looked down at their girlfriends who were enjoying cuddling against them, and asked in unison, "What in mod's name happened to you two?
End Chapter 7
Well, how was that chapter? I wanted to put this scene from Days of Thunder into the story and this was the perfect opportunity. So after a little 'friendly' competition, do you think Vanellope and Taffyta will be able to trust each other? Read chapter 8 soon to find out. And plus FORTY THREE REVIEWS?! I cannot believe how much this story has taken off. You readers have really almost doubled the amount of reviews with chapters five, six, and seven! I have about two or three chapters left and then a few surprise chapters. So I think 60 reviews is going to happen, but if I can reach 100 for this story, that would be amazing. Anyways it is 11:45 here in Alaska and I have to go to work. Enjoy this weekend present!