Chapter 9: Her last Green Flag?

Miss Rune: What? Ya don't like my cliffhangers? Cliffhangers are good for the SOUL! SOUL!

Dark demon122: Thank you. Although, I don't think it beats the race I wrote in Chapter 4 of Nights of Lightning

Dixie Darlin': I still think Swizzle and Jubileena are adorable together like Gloyd and Taffyta or Rancis and Vanellope. And you hope they'll be okay? Well, it's a surprise….

A Sugar Coated RIVALRY

Warning, depressing chapter…..

Swizzle kept Jubileena from looking outside the window at her two unconscious friends being wheeled into a helicopter that would transport them back to Sugar Rush with their boyfriends in tow. "Come on Jubee," Swizzle whispered as he led a teary Jubileena out the door of the VIP suite. Once outside, the two were met with an eerie silence from all the Mario Kart race fans and other racers. Peach bowed her head as the helicopter flew out the entrance to the game, leaving only falling leaves and tears behind. Mario had transformed into his Doctor Mario outfit and raced out to follow the helicopter. The racers parted to let Swizzle and Jubileena pass through.

"Swizzy," Jubileena began, but Swizzle cut her off.

Could you ever steal a prayer to deny your god
Could you ever buy your love and not count the cost
Could you ever take a life when all was lost
Would it ever be enough?

"Let's try not to think about things right now Jubee, just keep on a smile," Swizzle croaked out, "and we have to tell Ralph; Tobikomi knows he'll not take it well," he sniffled. Swizzle started up The Tongue Twister and let Jubileena sit on his lap. Ironically, his kart didn't roar to life, it sputtered sadly to life. Swizzle never thought in his entire life he would drive slow, but right now he couldn't drive faster than 20 mph. The scariest thing about this was the only noise that could be heard was the morbid sound of his kart's engine and Jubileena's sniffling. Once they made it to the gate for Fix-It Felix Jr, Swizzle made Jubileena get out.

"B-but Swizzle, I want to come with you!" Jubileena pleaded. Swizzle was silent for a few moments, mulling over what exactly to say to the girl he loved with all his heart.

"No Jubee," was all Swizzle could quietly muster. Jubileena, wanting a better answer, let her emotions start to control her words.

"But why Swizzle?" Jubileena silently demanded. Not only was she frightened and sad for Vanellope and Taffyta, but she was also upset that Swizzle wouldn't let her go with him or give her a straight answer.

"Because Jubee, I said so, you don't need to come," Swizzle flatly and creepily said. He started to drive through the gate, but was stopped by Jubileena stepping in front of his kart.

"Swizzle Malarkey!" She shouted, "You better give me a DAMN good reason why I cannot go with you to Ralph's game to let him know what happened to Vanellope!" She screamed at him. Swizzle immediately cut off the engine and hopped from his kart.

"Because I don't want to lose you again," he said before hugging her strongly. Jubileena was confused and guilty at the same time for yelling at Swizzle, but for also his mood. She had never seen this side of him, and she didn't like it.

"What do you mean Swizzle?" She asked as she held him.

"When Gloyd kidnapped me, I lost you for not taking better precautions over myself, and now, if we go in there and Ralph flips out and blames us for what happened, I'd rather he hurt me up front before you, you're too important to me," Swizzle explained while taking off his hat. Jubileena understood and hugged him again. "Plus, you need to get to Sugar Rush fast to check up on Vanellope and Taffyta," Swizzle continued as he put his hat back on. Jubileena stepped out of his way as he climbed back in his kart. He drove off more quickly than when he drove through Mario Kart's tunnel. Jubileena quickly started to run off toward Sugar Rush, praying all the way that Vanellope and Taffyta would make it out okay.

(With Swizzle)

Swizzle drove with emotions he never knew he had. His throat clenched several times as he fought back tears. Once he arrived in the game, his stomach knotted itself as he saw Ralph wandering outside his shack. Swizzle gulped as he thought of what Ralph's reaction would be. He was so caught up with dealing with Ralph that Swizzle didn't notice Ralph approach him.

"Hey, uh Swizzle is it?" Ralph called. Swizzle jolted as the eerie silence was broken. Swizzle cleared his throat and climbed from The Tongue Twister. "Is anything wrong kid?" Ralph asked and knelt down in front of the boy.

Could you bite the hand that feeds and then ask for more
Could you kiss the wound that bleeds, spit it on the floor
Could you open up your heart and then close the door
Would it ever be enough?

"Erm, well Ralph, I hate to bring you such morbid news, but as a friend, I have to tell you," Swizzle nervously said and hid behind his kart. Ralph's eyes immediately grew in size and his breath was drawn from his lungs.

"What did you Swizzle?" Ralph asked worriedly, "what bad news are you talking about? Is it about Vanellope?" He asked the questions quickly and under some anger. Swizzle was frightened of course by Ralph's size, strength and anger, yet he gathered the strength to tell Ralph about his best friend.

"Ralph, I regret to inform you Ralph that Vanellope and Taffyta were involved in a horrible crash in Mario Kart. They've both been transported to Sugar Rush Hospital," Swizzle said. Ralph's eyes twitched and his breathing became just like Bruce Banner's before he turned into the Hulk.

"WHAT?!" Ralph roared. Swizzle shrank behind his kart as Ralph went berserk. "SHE BETTER BE OKAY OR I'LL KICK EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOUR ASSES!" Ralph roared again and smashed his shack. Swizzle, wanting to see Vanellope and Taffyta quickly, tried to calm Ralph down.

"PLEASE RALPH! Calm down," Swizzle pleaded, "Vanellope needs you now more than ever!" He yelled. Ralph seemed to calm down and his breathing returned to normal.

(With Rancis and Gloyd)

The two had dry tears staining their cheeks as they rode next to their girlfriends in the Mario Kart Emergency Helicopter. Rancis stroked Vanellope's cheek as tears fell from his eyes onto her body. It was frightening to see the IV needles, bandages and braces on Vanellope's head. Her face, he beautiful face, was black and blue and swollen from bruises. Vanellope however, was not moving or making noises. One of the medical personal had pulled her eye open to check for a concussion. Her eyes were glazed over and soulless. "I'm sorry son," the medical officer told Rancis, "she has a severe concussion and a broken neck." Rancis gasped hard and let a startling whine escape from his mouth. Everyone on the chopper, except the pilot, jumped when Taffyta let out blood curling screams of pain.

Every word you whisper, all the tears you hide
You die for love when it's alive
But where does friendship go when it dies

"AHHHHHHH!" She screamed from the pain. She started to struggle against the belts that held her down in the gurney. "LET ME OUT! IT HURTS SO MUCH!" She screamed again.

"HOLD HER DOWN!" One of the medical officers screamed to the other. They tightened the slack on the belts that held her down, causing Taffyta to scream even louder. Gloyd jumped and tried to get the officers to stop.

"HEY! GET OFF OF HER!" Gloyd screamed and got in between his girl he loved and the officer. The medical officer grabbed Gloyd by the shoulders and moved him toward Rancis.

"Rancis, could you please keep him away from Taffyta?" The medical officer asked, "if she keeps struggling she could hurt herself even more," the medical officer explained as he pumped Novocain and IV fluid into her system to make her calm down. Rancis and Gloyd looked at each other and let out tears as they couldn't stand to see their girlfriends in this state. The helicopter landed and Vanellope and Taffyta were rushed to the OR in the hospital. Rancis and Gloyd tried to enter the OR as well, but hospital staff prevented them from going further than the waiting room.

"Sorry Mr. Fluggerbutter and Mr. Orangeboar, but we cannot let you in any further," one of the nurses said, "you're going to have to wait out here, we'll do the best we can," she further explained and entered the OR. Both boys removed their hats and sat down in one of those hard hospital chairs and let tears stream down their cheeks.

"Gloyd," Rancis sniffled out. Gloyd wiped his eyes with his sleeve and looked back over at Rancis.

"Yeah Rancis?" Gloyd asked quietly. Rancis drew in a quick breath and gathered up the words together.

"I'm sorry for everything we each let happen. And really hope both Nelly and Taffyta get out of this because neither of them desereved this, and I'm glad we're friends again" Rancis said before choking out more tears. Gloyd gave a weak smile toward Rancis.

"T-thanks man. I really hope Vanellope is okay; she got the worst of it from what I saw, but she's tough," Gloyd responded. Rancis took out his wallet and looked at a picture of him and Vanellope. He sighed sadly and happily as he remembered the good times he had with the girl he loved. The picture was of them holding each other whilst standing in front of the RV1. Meanwhile, Gloyd was staring at his reflection in the plain white floor of the waiting room. The combined sounds of the secretary, the ringing phones and the loud echoes of shoes against the hard floors, bore into Gloyd's subconscious. The stress of the situation, the fear for Taffyta's life, and the gruesome annoyance of the sounds, was too much for Gloyd. His breathing became short and ragged and his eyes started darting around the room.

If you came across your dream, would you walk on by
Hold a candle to the wind and just let it die
And is there room inside your mind for one more try
Would it ever be enough?

"Gloyd, are you alright man?" Rancis asked with worry. When Gloyd didn't answer, Rancis became even more frightened and called for help.

"NURSE!" He called out frantically. Two nurses and a doctor rushed over and looked at Gloyd. The doctor knelt down and held Gloyd's shoulders to get a better look at his eyes.

"He's having a panic attack Mr. Fluggerbutter," Dr. Goodbar pronounced. He tried to get Gloyd to calm down, but Gloyd started to struggle out of Dr. Goodbar's grip. "Get him a dose of chloroform," he barked. One of the nurses handed him a wet rag drenched with chloroform. The doctor put it over Gloyd's mouth and he fell asleep. "He'll be alright," the doctor said as he turned to Rancis.

(With Swizzle and Ralph)

The two ran and drove to Sugar Rush from Fix-It Felix Jr. as fast as they could with Felix and Calhoun in tow. Nobody said a word as they all silently prayed that Vanellope and Taffyta would be safe. They met Jubileena halfway to the Sugar Rush hospital and picked her up. "I see Ralph didn't kill you," Jubileena remarked. All five burst through the doors of the hospital just as Dr. Goodbar put the chloroform rag away. "He'll be alright," they heard him say to Rancis. The doctor left, as Rancis looked up at the party that had just joined.

"Rancis, what happened to Gloyd?" Swizzle asked him. Rancis sighed and swung his hat around in his hands.

"He had a panic attack from the stress of the situation and Dr. Goodbar gave him some chloroform to calm him down," Rancis replied. Ralph noticed the photo that Rancis was clutching on to in his hand.

"Hey Fluggerbutter," Ralph said softly, "how's Vanellope doing?" He asked. Rancis' eyes got wetter as he looked over at Ralph.

"I-I don't know Ralph," he sniffled and wiped his nose with his jacket sleeve, "and we've been here for about half an hour and not one damn report!" He yelled and slammed his fist down on the coffee table, breaking it in two.

"I'll get that," Felix said and hit the table with his hammer. Rancis' eyes lit up as he got an idea.

"Mr. Fix-It! You can use your hammer to make Taffyta and Vanellope better!" He exclaimed happily. Felix looked sadly over at Rancis and shook his head.

"I'm sorry Rancis, but my hammer can't fix damaged codes, otherwise I would've been able to fix Vanellope's glitch during the King Candy fiasco," Felix replied, "in other words, I can fix some oral injuries and scarce body injuries like broken bones and torn muscles, but not codes," he explained further. Rancis' face dropped and he plopped back down in the candy chair holding his head in his hands. Ralph wanted to punch something, but he knew it would solve nothing. It was known to a lot of others that Ralph didn't like the idea of Vanellope dating Rancis because of their age, but seeing how scared for her life he was, Ralph instantly saw a new side of Rancis.

"Hey kid, I'm scared too," Ralph said as he nudged Rancis a little. Rancis smiled at Ralph as he knew Ralph didn't hate him as much anymore. Jubileena sat down next to Rancis and hugged him. Swizzle was okay with this as Rancis needed some comfort from something.

I watch the time go rushing by, it's like an ocean wave
Showing you no mercy, throwing dirt upon your grave
You're drowning in the darkness and you're blinded by the light
And there ain't no prayer that's gonna save you now

"Rancis, I know your pain and what your feeling," she said, "I felt the same way when Swizzle was kidnapped and then when we found him hurt. But I am sure that Vanellope can make it out this because of how much you love her," she coaxed him. She stroked his cheek and hugged him again. Since Swizzle was the one who told Ralph, and Ralph had not told Calhoun, she took Swizzle aside to get the full details of what happened.

"Tell me Swirl Boy, what happened to our two soldiers that put them in sick bay?" Calhoun demanded with a cocked eyebrow and a sneer. Swizzle gulped and started shaking.

"Well okay, we were in Mario Kart and Vanellope and Taffyta had been invited to race with them. Normally it would've been a three lap race, but because it started raining, they switched it to a one lap race," Swizzle began to explain, "Vanellope and Taffyta had never raced on wet asphalt before, so they had trouble with adjusting so quickly. Coming out of the last turn, the leader wiped out and Taffyta swerved to avoid them and ended up spinning. However, due to the spray of the water, and the smoke from the tires, Vanellope couldn't see past the wreck and ended up hitting Taffyta's kart," Swizzle explained with a strained voice. Then he looked up and saw a sight he never knew could've existed: Sgt. Calhoun had tears in her eyes. "Sarge," Swizzle whispered. Calhoun wiped her eyes and sniffled up to get her voice back to normal.

"It's just dust soldier," she excused, "you saw nothing," she threatened and put her hand on her pistol. Swizzle nodded knowingly and let her back to the group. Suddenly, the OR doors opened, and coincidentally, Gloyd woke up from his self induced nap. Dr. Mario stepped forward with his stethoscope hanging around his neck and his surgical gloves clenched in his hand.

"I have-a good news and-a bad-a news," he said. Everyone looked nervously around before Gloyd said, "GOOD NEWS!" Mario stood aside and let Taffyta out. Gloyd shrieked and ran up to hug her. She winced as he hugged her a little too tight. "She-a has a strained-a neck and-a some-a bruised-a ribs, but Im-a sure Felix's a-hammer can-a fix them," he smiled. Felix grinned and hit Taffyta a few times with his hammer, fixing her as good as new.

"TAFFY!" Gloyd said happily with tears as he kissed his girlfriend. Taffyta smiled from the affections of her boyfriend. While he was happy for Gloyd and Taffyta, Ralph needed to hear the bad news.

"Um Doc?" He asked. Mario turned to him with a dark look, "and how is Vanellope?" Ralph asked again. When Mario looked down, Ralph, Swizzle, Jubileena, Felix, Calhoun, Gloyd, Taffyta and Rancis' hearts went up to their throats.

"She's awake, alert and talking to us, but she has massive internal-a injuries. I doubt-a she'll a-ever race again. One-a wrong crash even in-a her own-a game can kill her now," Mario said sadly and left. Rancis ran outside to cry his eyes out with Swizzle and Jubileena following. Felix bit his fingers through his work glove. Calhoun stared out of the window with the shadow of a tree covering half her body. Gloyd and Taffyta held each other. And Ralph covered his eyes with his giant hand. Outside, Rancis' tears stained the cinnamon dirt.

"She'd r-rather die before not being able to race again," Rancis finally said as he cried as much as he could.

"Look Rancis," Swizzle said, "we're just going to have to do our best to cheer her up okay?" He said.

"Really Swizz?" Rancis said with surprise anger, "why don't you try telling Jeff Gordon he can never race again huh? Or tell Arnold Schwarzenegger that he can't shoot anything anymore, or that you can't kiss Jubileena anymore?" He said angrily.

"HEY! You leave Jubee out of this," Swizzle replied with spite, "I'm just trying to make you feel better!" He yelled and shoved Rancis. Rancis shoved him back.

"Did I ASK you to help me?" Rancis said as he shoved Swizzle. Swizzle tackled Rancis to the ground and the two began to scuffle.

"STOP IT RIGHT NOW YOU STUPID BOYS!" Jubileena demanded. The two continued to wrestle. She had enough and left to get Calhoun.

"You know, for a brown loving pries, you don't fight half bad," Swizzle teased as he pulled on Rancis' hair.

"FUDGE YOU!" Rancis shouted as he punched Swizzle in the nads. Swizzle groaned in pain when Calhoun shot off her pistol.

"WHAT IN TOBIKOMI'S NAME IS GOING ON HERE!?" She demanded. The two instantly stood up at attention. "Your best friend and girlfriend is injured, weak, and scared. This is NO time to be fighting!" She screeched and slapped the both of them. The two were silent as they rubbed their cheeks. "NOW! You two march in there and see Vanellope," Calhoun ordered. They went back through the hospital doors where Gloyd, Taffyta, Felix, Jubileena, and Ralph were waiting. All of them were granted access to Vanellope's room.

"Now," Dr. Goodbar said as he opened the door, "don't mention the racing deal, the stress could harm her further," he warned. They entered and felt sick to their stomachs as they saw a pale Vanellope covered in bruises. Rancis ran over and knelt to her bedside.

If you woke up from your sleep, blood on your hands
Would you wash away the pain no one understands
There must be someone who can help you breathe again
Would it ever be enough?

"Hey there Flugs," she said weakly, "how are you?" She asked.

"I-I'm fine Nelly," Rancis whispered. "I see you're doing fine," he continued. Vanellope gave a weak laugh.

"Hah, yeah. It's going to take a lot more to bring this President down," she replied. Rancis didn't know whether to cry for how bad Vanellope looked, or at how inspiring her gumption was. Ralph knelt down next to her bed as Rancis got up and went to the other side of the room.

"Hey Kiddo, glad to see you're doing okay," Ralph said with a bright smile.

"Hey, not even everyone bullying me brought me down," Vanellope said with a small smile, "and I can't wait to get back in my kart tomorrow and win again." Vanellope said with as much enthusiasm as she could muster. It pained Ralph so much to see her like this with high hopes. He figured it'd be better to tell her now, than for her to find out from a strange doctor later.

"Listen kid, there's something we have to tell you," Ralph began,

"RALPH!" Felix scolded, "You heard what the doctor said," he scolded again to Ralph.

"Well she has to know Felix!" Ralph replied with a raised voice.

"Know what Stinkbrain?" Vanellope asked weakly and with a cocked eyebrow. Ralph gulped and looked behind him. Everyone but Felix nodded their heads as they knew that her closest friend was the best candidate to let her in on the bad news than the doctor.

"Well Vanellope, Doc Mario fixed you up, but he said one more bad crash like that and it's well, Game Over for you," Ralph said putting emphasis on the Game Over, "I'm afraid you can't race anymore," Ralph concluded. Vanellope's face twitched and she started shaking.

"WHAT?!" She screeched and started strugging againthey're restraints. Her monitors started going off the fritz and several doctors came in.

"WHAT DID YOU DO?!" Dr. Goodbar demanded. The doctors took out several needles and syringes to put her asleep. Rancis punched his way past the doctors and grabbed Vanellope's head. She calmed down enough to look into his eyes and he gave her the most loving passionate kiss he ever gave her.

"You're going to get through this Nelly. I love you and I will help you," He pleaded with her. She calmed down as he held her small and frail body and rocked her genlty back and forth. Her monitors went back down to normal levels as Rancis gently hummed the Sugar Rush theme song. Vanellope fell asleep and he gently laid her back down. The doctors had tears in their eyes as they watched one of the most heartwarming displays they ever saw. Ralph wiped tears from his eyes and hugged Rancis.

"I'm glad she has a boyfriend like you Fancy Britches," Ralph complemented. Taffyta had enough and ran outside the room. Gloyd followed suit and found her outside the hospital, leaning against the wall, gathering up her thoughts.

"Are you okay Taffy?" Gloyd asked solemnly. Taffyta looked over at Gloyd with a serious expression on her face.

"I'm fine right now Pumpkin, but right now, I have a job to do," she said and wandered off slowly toward the garage area, leaving Gloyd with a pained and confused expression on his face.

Every word you whisper, all the tears you hide
You die for love when it's alive
Where does friendship go when it dies

END CHAPTER 9

No Author's Note. Except for that I do now own the modified version of the song "Where does Love Go when it dies?" By Def Leppard from their 1996 Slang Album. I recommend giving this song a listen.