Disclaimer: I don't own Wreck-It Ralph!

Arcade Armageddon

Chapter 2

"Bet I'll get first about twenty times today," Taffyta gloated, hanging out beside her Pink Lightning and waiting for the arcade to open as well as the first quarter alert. Candlehead and the others were with her, merely whittling away the time until then.

"You know that's impossible in one day, Taffyta," the birthday-themed racer rolled her eyes, "Besides, I think you only got first in the Random Roster Race because Vanellope held back."

"Maybe even let her win that once," added Snowanna, leaning forward on the hood of her Fro Cone with amusement. "I still love ya, Taff, but just because you're on the board for today doesn't mean kids are gonna pick you every single time. They might even pick me today (even though I got ninth in the race)."

"Or me," Swizzle chimed in, moseying up to the group of chattering girls in a blasé fashion. "Getting fourth place in most of the races and all..."

"Yeah, most," Taffyta muttered, then sighed. "I wouldn't be surprised if Vanellope gets chosen today at least three or four times."

"I got picked more than her once a few days ago," Candlehead interjected, "And have beaten her a few times out of that."

"You have?" Snowanna asked, now curious.

"Why not? Just because Vanellope's president and supposed to be the best doesn't mean she's always the best. Hey, the better karts tend to be harder to handle than most others, and the kid who was playing our game that time wasn't that good. Seriously, he was all over the place with Vanellope."

"And I bet bad players were like that with a certain viral jerkface we used to know and love. When he was part of this game, that is." That was when Taffyta started to have memories of their former tyrant, King Candy, not to mention how much they'd been forced to respect and look up to him. That had been one experience the strawberry racer wanted so badly to forget, specifically because it had meant bullying Vanellope to no end. She had to keep reminding herself that she changed and promised she'd never do such a deed again. If it were to happen again (User forbade), she'd rather spend an entire week, no, year in the Fungeon and go hungry.

"Please, I don't even wanna think about that guy!" Swizzle interjected, almost losing his cool for a second, which was a first for the unicorn pop racer. "I couldn't stand that...that..."

"Whoa there, Swizz. Calm down," Snowanna cut him off, allowing him to regain his calm, then regarded Candlehead, "Anyway, you're kinda right. I mean, not all gamers who play this game are necessarily good."

"Especially when she lost to me once last week because of a bad racer," added Taffyta. "But it makes the game fair this time. Everyone's got a chance at winning."

"Which makes her a good friend and a way better leader than that guy," said Candlehead. "Speaking of Vanellope..." The birthday racer glanced around for the princess/president. "Where is she? The arcade's about to open."

"She's probably messing around with Wreck-It," Taffyta guessed, a casual air to her voice. "Again. The usual before opening time, and don't forget after closing time. I tell you, she must really care a lot about the big guy."

"Yep, that's our pres.," Snowanna agreed. "You think she's got a thing for Wreck-It?"

Silence fell among the other racers at the sudden theory. Nobody seemed to have a comment for the snow cone racer's million-dollar question. But before anyone could say anything...

"Sorry I'm late, guys!"

Everyone turned to see Vanellope hurrying up to the starting line, with Taffyta nearly startled when she glitched over to her kart. The princess gave the strawberry-themed racer and the others an apologetic smile.

"Where have you been, girl?" Snowanna threw her arms up.

"Yeah, usually you're here, like, thirty minutes before," Candlehead added, "What were you and Wreck-It doing so long."

"I didn't get to see him this morning. I wish, though," Vanellope said, "Besides, I didn't even get to leave the game. Sour Bill didn't wake me up like he was supposed to until about a half-hour ago."

"What was he doing so long that made him forget?" Taffyta pressed on, trying to get every detail out of her sister. She always loved doing that to Vanellope because of all the constant visits from Ralph or with anything that was teaseworthy in general.

"Well, I..." Vanellope, on the other hand, was trying hard to think of a good lie. As much as she wanted to tell Taffyta about the upcoming upgrade, she couldn't, at least not now. But she promised herself she was definitely going to tell the others, eventually.

"Quarter alert!" a voice blared throughout the racing game, cuing for the racers to mount their karts and prepare for the upcoming round. Vanellope sighed in relief as she hopped in her own chocolate-coated kart she and Ralph had made. Everytime she started it up, she felt that her wrecking friend was there with her, which made this kart, in a way, better than her former kart King Candy had hijacked along with the game fifteen years ago, for it was her very own and signed by herself and Ralph.

"Don't go easy on me today," Taffyta warned, darting a friendly smirk at her rival.

"Not planning to. Hopefully whoever chooses me today's gonna be a pro and not a lazy diaper baby or a Sluggish 'Shroom." Vanellope returned the smirk, knowing this was, and always would be, a friendly competition.

"Like some of those other times, when I wiped the floor with you?"

"Don't remind me. It's a new day, Lady Lollipop. This time, it'll be your lovely President," Vanellope countered, giggling. When she and Taffyta were face-to-face, the princess knew she wasn't looking at the bully who had given her fifteen years of misery under King Candy's orders. She saw a friend. A true BFF and rival.

More to come soon! In the meantime, read and REVIEW! I'd love to hear your opinions!