Chapter 25: Frostbite Candlehead

If there was one thing that Penelope knew through her life, it was power. She had it. She ruled Horror Rush with an iron fist, and everyone obeyed her without questions.

But now, Penelope was powerless to do anything.

Licortwist smirked and had the licorice pieces form into spikes, and he brought the licorice spikes closer to Penelope.

"Say goodbye, Penelope von Schweetz." Licortwist said.

BANG!

Everyone in the room jumped, looking around with wild eyes.

BANG!

It came again, this time louder. A second later, Candlehead burst through, the walls exploding in fire behind her. The other Sugar Rush racers and Cinndon then followed her in. They had arrived at the Horror Acropolis and had blasted their way through the wall and into the throne room because making their way through the huge castle would have taken up too much time. Vanellope looked up and gasped when she saw her palette swap trapped in Licortwist's grip.

"Penelope! Don't worry, I'll get you out of there!" Vanellope shouted.

Vanellope shot a blast of pixels at the licorice pieces that were holding up Penelope. The licorice pieces fell apart and swarmed back to the rest of the licorice pieces. Meanwhile, Penelope started falling down to the floor, but then Taffyta stretched her legs and grabbed Penelope before she could hit the ground. Taffyta then lowered her to the ground before stretching back down.

"Are you okay, Penelope?" Taffyta asked.

Penelope nodded.

"Yes, I am. Thank you, Taffyta." Penelope replied.

Vanellope turned to look at Penelope.

"You should get out of here, Penelope. Leave Licortwist, the Frostbites, and Steven to us." Vanellope ordered.

Penelope nodded and she ran out of the throne room. Meanwhile, Licortwist glared at the Sugar Rush racers, and then he turned to Frostbite Willow, Frostbite Wynter, the Sugar Rush racers's Frostbites, Frostbite Rudolph, Frostbite Adolf, and Steven.

"What are you waiting for? ATTACK THEM!" Licortwist ordered angrily.

Frostbite Willow, Frostbite Wynter, the Sugar Rush racers's Frostbites, Frostbite Rudolph, and Frostbite Adolf charged at the Sugar Rush racers and Cinndon. Steven also tried to charge at the Sugar Rush racers and Cinndon, but Licortwist held him back.

"You stay here, Steven. Have the Frostbites fight the racers and that new kid for us." Licortwist ordered.

Meanwhile, Frostbite Willow, Frostbite Wynter, the Sugar Rush racers's Frostbites, Frostbite Rudolph, and Frostbite Adolf started to attack the Sugar Rush racers and Cinndon. Frostbite Rudolph charged at Candlehead.

"Die! Die!" Frostbite Rudolph bellowed as he tried to ram into her.

Candlehead leaped out of the way.

"Not today, Rudolph." Candlehead said.

As Frostbite Rudolph spun around to charge again, Candlehead shot a torrent of fire at Frostbite Rudolph, burning him to a crisp.

Frostbite Artie growled and charged at Gloyd, swinging his claws at his face. However, Gloyd was ready for him, and he dodged the blow by ducking. Gloyd took out a pumpkin bomb and threw it directly into Frostbite Artie's face. The Frostbite bear growled in pain, and Gloyd did a back flip and shot a second pumpkin bomb at Frostbite Artie's leg in midair, burning it to a crisp. Frostbite Artie collapsed on the ground and looked up just in time to see Gloyd take out a third pumpkin bomb.

"No, wait!" Frostbite Artie cried.

However, it was too late. Gloyd threw the third pumpkin bomb right into his jaws, and instantly, Frostbite Artie erupted and exploded, showering everyone in snow.

Frostbite Willow, Frostbite Wynter, and the Sugar Rush racers's Frostbites gasped upon seeing Frostbite Rudolph and Frostbite Artie get killed, but then they resumed fighting the Sugar Rush racers and Cinndon. However, Frostbite Citrusella hadn't attacked the Sugar Rush racers and Cinndon. She walked away from the fighting and shouted.

"STOP!" Frostbite Citrusella yelled.

The Sugar Rush racers, Cinndon, Frostbite Willow, Frostbite Wynter, and the Sugar Rush racers's Frostbites stopped fighting, and they stared at Frostbite Citrusella in confusion.

"Citrus, what is it?" Frostbite Jubileena asked in concern.

Frostbite Citrusella walked over to the Sugar Rush racers, stood in front of them, and crossed her arms and glared at Frostbite Jubileena, the rest of the Sugar Rush racers's Frostbites, Frostbite Willow, and Frostbite Wynter. They immediately got what Frostbite Citrusella was trying to do. The Sugar Rush racers and Cinndon gasped, while Frostbite Jubileena, the rest of the Sugar Rush racers's Frostbites, Frostbite Willow, and Frostbite Wynter stared at Citrusella in confusion.

"Citrusella, why are you helping the racers and that boy?" Frostbite Jubileena asked.

Frostbite Citrusella frowned.

"I'd rather be with them then help Licortwist." Frostbite Citrusella replied angrily.

Shockingly, Frostbite Jubileena didn't look angry, just simply baffled.

"Why not? Licortwist is our leader, besides Willow." Frostbite Citrusella asked.

Frostbite Citrusella scowled.

"Think about it. What has Licortwist done for us?" Frostbite Citrusella asked.

"He freed us." Frostbite Willow replied indignantly.

"Sure, he may have done that, but he's just using us! He doesn't care for any of us because he's just using us for his own selfish goals. So why do we put up with it?" Frostbite Citrusella asked.

Frostbite Willow opened her mouth to respond, but nothing came out. After a few moments, she spoke.

"That's... that's an excellent question." Frostbite Willow replied. She then turned to Frostbite Wynter and the Sugar Rush racers's Frostbites and said "Guys, we're not going to fight the racers anymore.".

Frostbite Wynter and the Sugar Rush racers's Frostbites nodded, and they walked over to the Sugar Rush racers and Cinndon. However, Frostbite Candlehead did not join them. She simply glared at the Sugar Rush racers, Cinndon, Frostbite Willow, Frostbite Wynter, and the Sugar Rush racers's Frostbites before disappearing in a cloud of snow and ice.

Frostbite Willow, Frostbite Wynter, and the Sugar Rush racers's Frostbites slowly approached the Sugar Rush racers and Cinndon. Frostbite Willow looked at Vanellope.

"Vanellope, do you think that you could forgive us?" Frostbite Willow asked.

Vanellope stared at Frostbite Willow, Frostbite Wynter, and the Sugar Rush racers's Frostbites in suspicion.

"How do I know that this isn't some sort of trap?" Vanellope asked.

Frostbite Willow sighed.

"Because we don't want to help Licortwist anymore. We never we're in our right minds, then or any other time ever since Santa's Sled got plugged in." Frostbite Willow replied.

Vanellope thought about what Frostbite Willow said, and then she nodded in agreement.

"Okay. I believe you." Vanellope said.

Frostbite Willow, Frostbite Wynter, and the Sugar Rush racers's Frostbites smiled. Frostbite Willow stuck out her hand and shook Vanellope's hand.

"Well then, it's nice to meet you on good terms, President Vanellope." Frostbite Willow said.

Vanellope smiled at her.

"It's nice to meet you on good terms as well, Willow. Normally, I would throw you all in the fungeon or lock you up in Frosty Massif, but I'm feeling generous today, so I guess that I can forgive every single one of your wrongdoings, and hopefully, the other arcade characters can too." Vanellope said.

"Well, that's a relief." Frostbite Snowanna said.

Citrusella felt like that there was someone behind her. She turned around and gasped in horror.

"Um, guys, I hate to say this, but we're not finished here." Citrusella said.

The Sugar Rush racers, Cinndon, Frostbite Willow, Frostbite Wynter, and the Sugar Rush racers's Frostbites became confused.

"Why is that?" Jubileena asked.

As if to answer Jubileena's question, a shadow suddenly loomed over the Sugar Rush racers, Cinndon, Frostbite Willow, Frostbite Wynter, and the Sugar Rush racers's Frostbites. They spun around in shock, and Candlehead gasped at what she saw.

It was Frostbite Candlehead in her giant ice monster form.

"Miss me?" Frostbite Candlehead asked with a maniacal grin as she twitched excitedly.

Candi gulped nervously.

"Oh nuts." Candi muttered nervously.

Frostbite Candlehead loomed over the Sugar Rush racers, Cinndon, Frostbite Willow, Frostbite Wynter, and the Sugar Rush racers's Frostbites, a malicious grin spread across her face, before she swooped down at them.

"Duck and cover!" Taffyta shouted.

The Sugar Rush racers, Cinndon, Frostbite Willow, Frostbite Wynter, and the Sugar Rush racers's Frostbites dove to the ground to avoid Frostbite Candlehead.

"Candlehead, what are you doing? Stop this!" Frostbite Willow ordered.

Frostbite Candlehead shook her head.

"No, Willow, I'm done taking orders from you. You and the other Frostbites have grown soft... too soft. For that, you must pay." Frostbite Candlehead sneered.

Frostbite Candlehead then swatted Frostbite Willow, Frostbite Wynter, and the Sugar Rush racers's Frostbites with her claws. They were thrown away like ragdolls, hit the wall, and were knocked unconscious. Frostbite Candlehead then turned back to the Sugar Rush racers and Cinndon. Her eyes glowed blue and she blasted a bright blue ice blast at Torvald, encasing her in ice.

"You'll pay for that!" Minty shouted angrily.

Minty ran towards Frostbite Candlehead and attempted to punch her. However, Frostbite Candlehead extended her legs again and she shot up into the air, and Minty missed her. Frostbite Candlehead laughed maniacally and blew frost out of her mouth down at Minty, encasing her in ice. She then blew frost at the other Sugar Rush racers and Cinndon, and before they could move, the frost engulfed them, and Jubileena, Swizzle, Snowanna, and Citrusella were encased in ice, once the frost cleared.

"She's annihilating us one by one!" Rancis screamed.

"No kidding." Sticky snapped.

Sticky shot a blast of marshmallow whip that blew back Frostbite Candlehead, leaving her stuck on one of the throne room's walls. However, Frostbite Candlehead quickly broke free and went onto all limbs. Skittering across the terrain like a spider, Frostbite Candlehead sprinted towards Sticky and knocked her over. Sticky yelped as Frostbite Candlehead pinned her to the ground and transformed her fingers into claws.

"Ho, ho, ho, merry x-mas!" Frostbite Candlehead sneered.

Frostbite Candlehead then brought her claws forward, driving it right into Sticky's chest. The girl screamed, expecting pain, but after a few seconds, nothing happened. Sticky opened her eyes, seeing that the claws had gone through her but was harmless to her, thanks to her marshmallow abilities.

"I guess Vanellope was right. I AM able to resist getting stabbed!" Sticky thought.

Meanwhile, Frostbite Candlehead struggled, finding it impossible to pull her claws out.

"Hey, let go!" Frostbie Candlehead ordered angrily.

Sticky glared at Frostbite Candlehead and took a hold of her claws. She found that even though she touched the claws, she didn't feel pain from the sharp edge.

"No, you let go!" Sticky cried angrily.

Another blast of marshmallow whip erupted from Sticky's chest, blowing Frostbite Candlehead many feet away. Sticky got up and her wound immediately healed.

Frostbite Candlehead rose to her feet. However, just as soon as she got up, Cinndon produced a cloud of cinnamon dust that blinded Frostbite Candlehead. However, she fought against the cinnamon cloud, spotted Cinndon, and glared at him.

"Is this how you treat Frostbites?" Frostbite Candlehead asked.

With that, Frostbite Candlehead ran up to Cinndon and struck him across the face, sending him flying into Vanellope, who got thrown away, and the cinnamon cloud immediately dispersed. Before Cinndon could get up, Frostbite Candlehead's elongated arms pinned him limb from limb. Pulling herself onto him, a fifth arm burst from her back and transformed into a blade.

"You've been a really naughty boy, Cinndon. And now, you must be punished." Frostbite Candlehead whispered in his ear.

Aiming her blade at Cinndon's face, Frostbite Candlehead brought the blade down towards him. But before she could cut him, Adorabeezle knocked her off of him.

"Get away from my friend!" Adorabeezle shouted.

Adorabeezle then used her claws to slice Frostbite Candlehead's arm. Instantly, her arm went flying off and clattered onto the ground. Frostbite Candlehead gasped and glared at Adorabeezle, but before she could attack, Rancis jumped in and burned Frostbite Candlehead's other arm off with one of his tentacles. It collapsed on the ground and melted into a puddle.

However, Frostbite Candlehead still had three arms left, and she grabbed Rancis and Adorabeezle, hoisting them into the air with surprising strength. Dangling them from her arms, she cackled.

"You really thought that you could defeat me, you brats?" Frostbite Candlehead asked.

Frostbite Candlehead laughed as she shook them with her long arms.

"Hey, leave them alone!" Taffyta demanded.

Taffyta stretched her arm out and Frostbite Candlehead in the shin. Frostbite Candlehead grimaced and kicked Taffyta in the stomach, knocking the wind out of her. Then she slammed Rancis and Adorabeezle onto Taffyta's head, stunning all three of them.

"Game over." Frostbite Candlehead sneered, transforming her three fingers into a hatchet, a mallet, and a spear, and aimed them at the three Sugar Rush racers. However, before she could impale them, Candlehead spoke up.

"Hey, Frosty!" Candlehead shouted.

Frostbite Candlehead paused and glared at Candlehead.

"Well, if it isn't my inferior double." Frostbite Candlehead sneered.

Candlehead was not frightened by Frostbite Candlehead.

"Why don't you come and fight me instead of beating up those three?" Candlehead challenged.

Frostbite Candlehead raised an eyebrow and then shrugged.

"Okay, but it's your funeral." Frostbite Candlehead replied.

Frostbite Candlehead spun around to face Candlehead. Candlehead surrounded her body in fire and then flew full speed ahead at Frostbite Candlehead. Frostbite Candlehead's eyes widened in shock as Candlehead flew towards her. Quickly, she dodged to the left, but she wasn't quick enough. Candlehead flew up and smashed her fist into Frostbite Candlehead's stomach. Frostbite Candlehead went crashing onto the ground and the heat from Candlehead's fire began to melt her slowly.

"I'm melting!" Frostbite Candlehead screeched, flailing her arms and legs around.

Her stomach began burning away like acid, and her arms dropped to the ground and became detached from her body. Water poured out of her mouth as she melted into the ground. Once she had melted, everyone stared at the puddle that used to be Frostbite Candlehead. Taffyta sighed with relief.

"It's finally over." Taffyta said.

Candlehead then walked up to Minty, Torvald, Jubileena, Swizzle, Snowanna, and Citrusella, and unthawed them. She then made sure that Frostbite Willow, Frostbite Wynter, and the Sugar Rush racers's Frostbites were alright. The Sugar Rush racers and Cinndon then turned around to confront Licortwist and Steven, but they were gone. They had left while the Sugar Rush racers and Cinndon were busy with Frostbite Candlehead.

"Oh, come on! This is the third time that they got away!" Rancis snapped.

Vanellope frowned.

"It's okay, Rancis. I have a feeling that this is the beginning of finally stopping Licortwist. He and Steven can't be far away. If we hurry, we can still catch them before they disappear into one of the games." Vanellope said.

The Sugar Rush racers and Cinndon nodded, and they, Frostbite Willow, Frostbite Wynter, and the Sugar Rush racers's Frostbites, headed out of the Horror Acropolis. Frostbite Willow, Frostbite Wynter, and the Sugar Rush racers's Frostbites headed out of Sugar Rush in order to get back to Santa's Sled, while the Sugar Rush racers and Cinndon headed out in order to find Licortwist and Steven.