Chapter 40
"Ralph, it's me, Vanellope!" The princess made another attempt to talk sense into him. "I'm your friend, not your enemy. You taught me how to drive and helped me build a kart. You helped reclaim my kingdom."
"What is she talking about, honey?" Takeru regarded the Bad Guy, who only shook his head in response. But she took it as a good sign for her. "I don't think Ralph knows what you're talking about, cavity." She laughed. "I know he'll be the one to kill you, though. Starting with you." The succubus pointed at Vanellope. "You're the one who destroyed my disguise." Her face then took on a numb expression. "Or was that Sora?" Her gaze fell on the witch. "It's been a while, old friend." T.K. emphasized the word "old."
"You haven't changed yourself." Sora swam closer to the succubus. "You haven't picked up a lot of men with your body, I presume."
"You're one to talk with a disgraceful body like your own."
"At least she's guaranteed to bag more than one guy!" Taffyta interjected. "As well as one who's more than just a robotic kiss ass." She glanced at the wrecker.
The lollipop racer suddenly felt Takeru's hand grip her neck. The succubus conjured her whip, ready to kill.
"On second thought, I'll start with you." T.K. squeezed harder on Taffyta's neck. "You must be the sassy one of the bunch."
"Actually...that's Citrusella..." Taffyta corrected. She produced her own weapon, but T.K. smacked it out of her hand.
"Taffyta!" Minty and the others started toward them.
"Ralph, hold the others off!" Takeru commanded.
The wrecker blocked the others' path, preventing them from hurrying to Taffyta's rescue. He mindlessly threw a punch at the group, causing them to jump backward.
"Okay." Citrusella studied the Bad Guy. "He's as strong as he is in Fix-It Felix, Jr., I'm guessing?"
"I don't know, but I'm assuming that," said Snow. "And some of us needs to get Gretel and King Candy outta here."
"We'll do it," Minty decided. She, Adorabeezle, and Citrusella grabbed Candy and Gretel, headed for the door. Then they turned back to regard Sora. "You coming? We kinda need you alive, too if we're gonna get rid of these viruses, you know?"
"What do you take me for, girl? A coward?" Sora scoffed. "Please, T.K. is technically my fight, and I will help bring her down. Do not worry; I will survive this fight. Now get them out of here!"
Once Minty's group left, Candlehead, Vanellope, Sora, and Snow faced Ralph, who looked like he didn't know where he was. Candlehead, Sora, and Snow prepared themselves, magic and abilities at the forefront. Vanellope, on the other hand, shook her head, knowing she couldn't fight the Bad Guy. She cared for him too much.
"Vanellope?" Candlehead noticed the president.
"I can't fight him, Candlehead." Vanellope shook her head voilently. "I won't. He's my friend. My Stinkbrain. And I..."
"Look, we don't really have a choice here, Pres.," said Snow as Ralph swung at her again. "And that's why."
"But I can't. There's gotta be a way that doesn't involve hurting him," Vanellope pleaded, then glitched out of the way when Ralph focused on her next.
"Looks like she can't fight the man she loves," T.K. taunted, noticing the scene.
"Shut the fuck up!" Taffyta kneed her in the gut, breaking free of the witch's grip. "Maybe you'd know about friendship if you had a heart, which I can guess is nonexistent in that slutty body of yours." The strawberry racer picked up her lance, pointing it at T.K.
"You have to fight, child," Sora urged, deflecting another Ralph-sized fist with her magic. "I'm fighting against T.K., aren't I?"
"But T.K.'s evil," Vanellope reminded. "And Ralph's not. He's good, and I hope he can remember that."
"Then you need to help him remember that," said the witch. "Talking was futile, so you may need to resort to something you don't want to do."
Vanellope knew what she meant, but refused to admit it. She didn't want to fight her best friend. She couldn't, not after everything he'd done for her including how she regained her throne. She'd be thanking him by fighting him or worse killing him.
But as she looked up at the Bad Guy, she knew there weren't a lot of options. No options, to be exact. Her blue code rippled through her body, signaling that it was in agreement with Sora and wanted to save Ralph...even if it meant his game over. And she knew Ralph would understand.
…
"Good, no guards around." Citrusella entered the throne room, with Minty and Adorabeezle hustling King Candy and Gretel. It hadn't been too difficult to escape the war zone in the code room and its empty hall; only Takeru and Ralph greeted them.
But their relief was cut short when three massive Cy-Bugs burst through the floor.
"What now?" Minty groaned as the trio of viruses crawled out of the created hole.
"Those Cy-Bugsth look familiar," King Candy pointed out as he studied the Cy-Bugs. Citrusella, Minty, Adorabeezle, and Gretel stared at the group of viruses, namely the caramel, tan, and white color scheme on one, a unicorn pop racer pattern on another, and the red color on the third.
"Oh...shit..." Adorabeezle realized upon recognizing the viruses.
...
"Ralph, I know you can hear me!" Vanellope called, blocking the wrecker's punches as best she could through the basic skills she'd been taught. However, she still took damage due to Ralph possessing more strength that overwhelmed her and later pressed her to her knees.
Candlehead, Snow, and Sora used flames, strength, and silver energy respectively to try to subdue Ralph but the wrecker dodged every blow and delivered a barrage of punches at the group, knocking the racers and witch backward.
"Vanellope, you're holding back," Candlehead accused. "You need to fight."
"I am!" Vanellope shouted while blocking another of Ralph's punches.
"No, you're holding back!" Snow pointed out. "You're still scared."
"I'm not!" Vanellope protested.
"You are." Takeru approached the group dragging an unconscious Taffyta. Her face displayed that emotionless expression. "She can't fight because she fears that she'll kill him. And we all know that Ralph won't regenerate if he's dead in this game."
"Shut. Your. Mouth!" Snow lunged at T.K., delivering a left look at the succubus.
"You've gone too far!" Sora charged at T.K., silver energy orb in hand. She hurled it at the succubus, knocking her back a few inches.
"Sora..." T.K. cocked her head. "You shouldn't have done that. Don't you have anything else?" She retaliated with a glance in the witch's and Candlehead's direction. Her emerald eyes glowed as they bore into theirs. "You two may not be men, but my abilities have an effect regardless of gender."
"I can't move." Candlehead struggled to move her limbs, along with Sora, but they wouldn't listen. She couldn't even access her flames.
"Her abilities can charm men but can paralyze or confuse women," Sora explained. "Presumably to keep the woman from saving her man from T.K."
"Tell us that now." Sarcasm was present in Candlehead's voice.
"Ralph, come on! Remember!" Vanellope threw another punch, this one electrified with blue energy making it stronger and sending Ralph falling backward off his feet. The princess glanced at her now-open hand, knowing she needed to learn how to control it soon. Real soon.
The blow proved itself useless, as the wrecker recovered, regaining his footing and charging at her again. He delivered his own punch at the princess, who blocked it but his strength broke through her defense, causing her to lose her footing. The wrecker followed up with a punch that pinned Vanellope down.
Vanellope tried to recover, but Ralph stepped on her back, not allowing her to get up.
"That's enough, Ralph." T.K. approached them, gesturing for him to get off of her. She retained that emotionless expression as she looked down on Vanellope. "You can't fight your own friend let alone kill him. But he and I can kill you." The succubus grabbed the president by the neck, lifting her so they faced each other. "And trust me, I'm going to enjoy it. You may have destroyed my virus and regained the ability to regenerate, but I don't mind doing it to you over and over again until you tire of it. And then I'll drag you out of this game and slaughter you for real." Her voice took on a deadly, eerily seductive tone.
Vanellope kicked and flailed at T.K., but she succubus maintained her grip. She tried to will her power to activate and electrify her, but it didn't generate. The princess tried to glitch, but no code rippled through her body.
Takeru conjured her whip and raised it at Vanellope.
"Another game's hero falls."
Vanellope braced herself for the whip's impact. She couldn't save Ralph or the arcade, and Sora would have to find another source of the virus or another way to distribute her antivirus. She would never race again, nor would she save Ralph or tease him with nicknames.
But when she opened her eyes, the impact never came; Takeru froze, placing her whip hand to her ear as if she was trying to hear something only she could hear. A few moments later, the succubus released her hold on the princess, now putting both hands on her ears.
"What in the heck is up with you, lady?" Vanellope moved back. "Has she lost her marbles?"
"That hooded traitor! The little bitch intends to get the key for herself. I should choose who I trust next time." the succubus growled. "Let's go, Ralph!" Grabbing the wrecker, T.K. glitched away.
"She has lost her marbles," said Vanellope. "She could've killed me, but then..."
"What's the hurry?" Candlehead wondered. "And what's a key?" The birthday racer regarded Sora, who recovered and began to assist Taffyta and Snow. "Do you know?"
The witch shook her head. "Even I don't know, but we should go back to Tapper and discuss it. From how T.K. freaked out about it, this key must be important."
A sudden roar cut through the conversation, coming from outside.
"After we take care of whatever's going on out there," said Candlehead. "Citrusella and the guys are in trouble."
"I hope it's not what I think." Vanellope and the others exited the code room to catch up with the blueberry recolor's group.
…
"Come on, Jub, it's me!" Citrusella called out to the mutated cherry racer, who swatted at the recolor with her elongated claws. "It's your sister!"
But the Cy-Bug didn't seem to listen, as she coughed out cherry bombs at the group. Everyone dodged once they exploded.
Citrusella, Minty, and Adorabeezle had struggled in the fight against the trio of Cy-Bugs that had been Swizzle, Crumbelina, and Jubileena, defending Candy and Gretel at the same time. They had no idea how Cy-Bugs had intruded the same let alone how they found and consumed the three racers. However, they knew they had to be stopped or at least held long enough for the group to escape. Citrusella, considering they had met T.K., could probably blame the succubus for the deed.
"Dammit, what's wrong with them?" Minty wondered, speeding past the attacks of Crumbelina to score a strike on the caramel-themed Cy-Bug, tripping it.
"Um, hasn't Sarge taught us anything?" Adorabeezle sighed as she froze Swizzle's legs. "Some Cy-Bugs broke into this game and devoured them. Now they're monsters."
"T.K. must have let them in," Citrusella guessed, wrapping her whip around her twin's neck. "And they're not listening to us."
"Becausthe they're not in there," said King Candy. "Thosthe monsthersth are taking over."
The situation worsened when Jubileena broke out of the recolor's whip, Crumbs knocked the green apple racer aside, and Swizzle broke out of the ice. The trio approached the group.
The blueberry recolor swore, backing up to King Candy and Gretel alog with Minty and Adorabeezle.
"Our attacks suck when we're infected," the popsicle racer realized as the creatures closed in on them, ready to launch another round of attacks.
But they were surprised by a cloud of violet dust that knocked out the trio of Cy-Bugs.
"You children must be having a hard time."
"The old bat!" Minty and the others noticed Sora, Vanellope, Taffyta, and Candlehead coming out from behind the throne.
"I save you, and the first thing you do is insult me," Sora said.
"You killed them!" Adorabeezle accused.
"I didn't kill them!" The witch rebutted. "They're sleeping right now, but they won't for long, so we need to hurry out of here."
"T.K. said something about some 'key,'" Vanellope explained. "We're going to Tapper to discuss it."
"And brainstorm a plan to stop T.K. and ask around about this key," added Candlehead.
"That's Swizz, Jubileena, and Crumbs," Vanellope realized.
"Very good, Pres," said Minty.
"And they'll be fine," added Sora with a note of promise. "We'll save them once we stop T.K., especially since we know how." The witch nodded to Vanellope.
…
"Hope Sarge returns soon," Chun-Li said. She, Zangief, Dyne, and Aika were watching over a still-unconscious Felix, who could wake up at any time. And if Sarge wasn't back, they'd have a fight on their hands, not to mention that the Good Guy would be hard to keep in control.
"I'm sure she'll be back," Dyne assured her. "And we'll enough to subdue him if he starts attacking."
"That was difficult enough last time," Aika reminded, remembering the struggle required to even drag Felix to the office. "And whatever Sarge is following, I'm sure it's on our side."
"Like the Nicelanders or Tails?" Zangief inquired.
"W-What...happened..." a familiar voice wondered. One they'd rather not hear. "And where am I?"
"Aw, crap." Aika groaned as she noticed Felix coming to, struggling against the ropes Dyne had carried on him during raids.
"You think ropes can stop me?" The Good Guy grinned wickedly, breaking out of the ropes and glitching front and center to the surprised group.
"Okay, he's getting stronger!" Aika readied her daggers. Dyne did the same.
"Felix, you're good!" Zangief tried to reach out to him. "You're not bad guy!"
"I've heard enough of that!" The corrupt handyman fired a red stream of bolts at the Street Fighter duo, frying their codes to the point of killing them instantly.
"Zangief! Chun-Li!" Dyne and Aika hurried to the fallen characters...only to be stopped by Felix, who gripped them by their throats. The Skies of Arcadia duo felt their strength escaping them, slumping in the Good Guy's grip as the virus transferred into their codes.
"Now...we're getting it," said Aika hoarsely as Felix dropped her and Dyne.
"What...the...?" Felix felt a wave of pain shoot through his body. "Who...are you?" He covered his ears, as if trying to block out a voice only he could hear.
"What...is...with him?" Dyne wondered, watching as the Good Guy gripped his body and struggled against the pain.
"What...do you want?" Felix glitched away, leaving an infected and confused Dyne and Aika.
"Okay...what's his problem?" Aika asked, slowly rising to a sitting position. She was severely weakened from Felix's infected touch.
Dyne had the same difficulty. "I don't know, but if he's headed for Calhoun, she'd better prepare herself."
"It's embarrassing that we air pirates, the Blue Rogues, are reduced to a fucked-up state like this. First Vyse and our game and now us. This is getting worse."
"'Worse' is an understatement, Aika."
…
Turbo and his captured prisoners arrived at the main sanctum of Game Central Station, resembling a large sanctuary, with its domed roof and stained-glass windows consisting of code. A pedestal rested in the middle of the room, bearing a large blue switch resembling the Vanish Cap Switch from Super Mario 64.
"Thisth isth the key?" the psychotic racer asked.
"I don't know," Deanna said. "It could be the switch that reveals the key."
"If stho, then I'm only one step away," Turbo grinned, eagerly closing in on the switch. The arcade would become his once he acquired the key.
"Hold it, bastard!"
"Sergeant Calhoun!" Deanna and Mary noticed the Hero's Duty lead bursting into the sanctum, rifle aimed at the ex-racer.
"Back away from the switch!" Tamora demanded.
"Ah, it'sth the witch." Turbo smirked, teeth showing. "I sthee you've come to witnessth my conquesth of the arcade, along with my revenge."
"And a switch is supposed to help you with that how?"
"You will sthee, Tammy."
Tamora rushed in to tackle Turbo, pinning him to the ground before the ex-racer could reach for the switch. The sergeant pointed her weapon at Turbo, ready to end him for good.
"No Red Riding Hood disguise this time?" Calhoun taunted.
"So he's been Red the whole time, huh? Besides me?" a sultry, calm voice was heard.
Calhoun, Turbo, and the Nicelanders noticed a hypersexualized, bat-winged woman having appeared at the sanctum entrance with Ralph by her side. Everyone realized that she looked too similar to the T.K. described in Surge's files.
"And who isth thisth?" Turbo asked. "A friend of yoursth?" He regarded Calhoun.
"Your helmet must be on too tight. I'm friends with no one, Turbo." T.K.'s emotionless expression focused on the racer and Tamora. "Or is it Red? Yes, I heard the Cy-Bug killing bitch gave you away. Using one of my disguises." Then her bored-looking eyes fell on the blue switch. "And now I know your little traitorous secret. I must say it's clever. Or was clever."