((To clear things up, I took some cues from the Wreck-It Ralph artbook where there was concept storyboards that Ralph and Vanellope was supposed to win some parts in mini-games before baking her kart. I also took cues from the book One Sweet Race, where a kart can be made from scratch. Swizzle and Vanellope will still make a kart in the Kart Factory but under different circumstances.))

Chapter 7

"Ow, my back," Swizzle groaned. He wasn't used sleeping on the solid, dirty ground so his back was stiff and aching.

"It's not so bad, once you get used to it," Vanellope smirked.

It is the following day and while everybody is busy during arcade hours, Vanellope and Swizzle can go out and find parts so they can build a kart. Swizzle told her that they can't head to the Kart Bakery and bake one up.

"It costs a lot of money," he told her as he worked under the hood of his Tongue Twister, to make sure the engine is still working and the fuel tank has enough gas. "You need to pay about fifteen gold coins out from your winnings, if you ever won a race."

"FIFTEEN smackers?" Vanellope cried, her eyes pop wide. "No wonder everyone's karts has to be fixed up by King Candy's personal mechanics. They need to be in top condition so they won't break down in the middle of a race."

"Exactly! Also, you're not allowed to come anywhere near the factory," Swizzle added. "So, we might as well make a kart from scratch, and I have never done it before."

"Have you made your kart from scratch?" she inquired as she sat on the back of his kart.

"Uh, no, not exactly," he replied, trying to remember. "This kart comes with me when the game was plugged in."

"But where do we get the parts and the proper tools to make a kart?" Vanellope asked again.

"Well, we can get the parts from some mini-games and other places," Swizzle said. "I'll worry about getting the tools."

He closed his vehicle's hood down and looked up to see where Vanellope is sitting. "Hey, get down from there!"

"Well, I don't know where I'm going to sit since I'm coming with you," Vanellope argued.

Swizzle shook his head and jumped into the driver's seat. He could feel her hands gripping tight on his shoulders.

"Don't fall off, okay?" he said, his voice filled with concern.

"Aww, you do care!" Vanellope smirked. Then her expression turned serious. "Hey, Swizzle?"

"What is it?" he asked while he starts up his kart.

"What happens to karts that are broken and beyond repair?"

Swizzle looked up to her. "You have to throw them away, or have them destroyed in the factory where they can be recycled in code. Then you have to get a new one, but you still need to pay for it..." he paused for a bit, and then smiled happily. "I'm quite glad that that DIDN'T happen to me."

He pressed his kart to go, and it zipped out of Diet Cola Mountain. Vanellope hang on tight, but she was laughing.

"I can't believe I'm riding on a kart!" she screamed. "Now I can't wait to drive one!"

Swizzle rode them out through a vast field and stopped his kart at the entrance of the Maize Maze. A large candy corn maze stood before the two kids, and the entrance is guarded by a scarecrow dressed like a farmer. Black licorice crows fly over the maze and a giant hourglass stood across the entrance from where the scarecrow is. Nearby was the engine ranch, where wild engine blocks roamed free.

"Okay, what are we doing here?" Vanellope asked.

"The first and important thing we need to gather is the engine for your kart," Swizzle replied.

"Guh-DOY! I already know about this place!" the glitch girl rolled her eyes. "I don't see why we can't just nick some engine blocks from that ranch instead of winning one in a mini-game."

"Because you'll be missing out a very special engine!" a scratchy voice spoke up. The scarecrow farmer suddenly comes to life, flipped into the air and landed with ease. He laughed cheerfully.

"I am Cornelius Cobb!" he announced. "Welcome to the amazing Maize Maze!"

"Oh no, puns," Swizzle groaned. He noticed that Vanellope was putting on her red goggles and her hoodie over her head, probably so she won't be recognized.

"I see you kids are here for an engine, huh?" Cobb the farmer pulled and released his suspenders with a snap. "Well, that's why I'm here for! I got a superb engine sitting in the middle of my maze; high speed and acceleration, lots of spirit for serious racing. Perfect for an enthusiastic driver!"

"Sounds like a good engine," Vanellope said. She and Swizzle change glances and nodded before turning to Cobb. "So, we just have to get through the maze and get it?"

"Of course!" Cobb laughed. "But it won't be easy! You must outrun black licorice who might drop boomcorns on top of your heads as you go through the maze."

"Boomcorns?" Swizzle repeated. He wondered if the scarecrow meant popcorns or candy corns.

"And then, you'll have to watch out for Skittles!" Cobb added, rubbing his hands excitedly.

"… Who's Skittles?" Swizzle asked.

"You'll find out," Cobb said in a sing-song voice. He goes to the giant hourglass and turns it upside down. "You have one minute to get your engine! Good luck!"

Swizzle and Vanellope did not stop to ask more questions. They hurried inside the Maize Maze and they came to a fork.

"You take the left, I'll take the right!" Vanellope told him, sprinting off to one side.

"Right! I mean, left! Left for me!" Swizzle nodded and moved left.

Swizzle made some different turns and twists, based on his hunches. Soon he came to a dead end. He was about to go back and retrace his steps when he comes face-to-face with a pink uni-candy-corn. It appeared cute and harmless.

"Oh, hey there, pretty horse," Swizzle greeted it.

The uni-candy-corn suddenly snorted with anger and began to breathe fire. Swizzle's girly scream echoed around the Maize Maze, startling several black licorice crows.

Vanellope wasn't having so much luck either. She had three crows chasing after her and dropping candy corns ("boomcorns" that Cobb mentioned) that exploded when they hit the ground. She is nowhere near the engine block at the middle of the Maize Maze, and she's running out of time.

"I really hate this maze!" she panted. "Getting an engine block isn't worth this!"

She heard Swizzle's screaming, following by something crashing and running. Her head turned to see Swizzle coming from a corner being chased by a rabid uni-candy-corn. She screamed and ran as well. Both kids made a turn and then came to a dead end.

"WE'RE TRAPPED, TRAPPED LIKE CANDY CORN RATS!" Swizzle screamed. "WE'RE TRAPPED AND WE'RE GONNA BE KILLED BY A FIREBREATHING HORSE!"

Vanellope quickly looked for some secret openings to escape. Skittles finally found them and is running towards them. Swizzle screamed again and held on to Vanellope. The latter then looked up and saw a crow flying above them, ready to drop a boomcorn on their heads.

Thinking quickly, she grabbed Swizzle and they threw themselves to the ground while Skittles crashed into the wall, missing them. The boomcorn fell on top of the uni-candy-corn…

BOOOM!

The maze wall was destroyed and Skittles was unharmed, though burnt and confused. Swizzle and Vanellope saw the new path led them into an open area where the engine block is waiting for them.

Vanellope gasped and happily grabbed the engine. "Yes! I finally got my own engine!"

Swizzle tried to stand up on shaky legs, but he was smiling.

"You finally beat the maze!" Cobb congratulated them when the two kids came out. "I hope your new engine is worth the effort. Come back next time for another game!"

"In his dreams," Swizzle said in a low voice only Vanellope can hear. "I'm not coming back to this place ever again."

Vanellope laughed and held her prized engine close to her. They jumped into Swizzle's kart and rode off while Cobb waved them good-bye.

"I admit, that was pretty fun… even though we almost got killed!" Vanellope said cheerfully. Swizzle secretly disagreed with her. "So, where do we go from here?"

"We're heading straight to The Wheelhouse Club," Swizzle replied, keeping his eyes on the road. "We won't find any crazy farmers or uni-candy-corns there… But there'll be dancing."

((The next chapter will feature their dance-off to win wheels for Vanellope's kart. I hoped you enjoyed this chapter~))