But It's MORE than Just Pie

by CandleHeadButt

A continuation of But It's Only Pie, Ralph and Vanellope find themselves baking pies alongside the Nicelanders of Niceland and discover that there is indeed more to the little NPCs than just pie. What will our wrecking hero and racer learn about these guys that no one else seems to know? Maybe this punishment isn't so bad.

12. Bitter

Chapter Twelve- Bitter

"How did I get myself into this?" Calhoun said as she carried the mountain of supplies in her arms "I thought we were goin' ta ONE store. The important detail bein' ONE!"

One store might have been promised but as the Nicelander lead the marine along the small errand had morphed into a rather large one, Calhoun now carrying several packages and boxes in her arms while Mary walked in front of her.

"Oh, we'll also need that!" the Nicelander reminded herself, going over her mental list "And we cannot forget that as well! Ah, should we turn back and head towards Need 4 Speed? They're the only place that carries that brand."

"Uh, ma'am?" Calhoun asked, peaking from behind a box "Ya said ya wanted ta keep this hush-hush, right?"

"That I did." The little woman said with a cute smile as she turned to face the marine "Why do you ask?"

"Well, I would think that someone like ME carrying stuff like THIS wouldn't fly under the radar too smoothly." Calhoun chuckled, still trying to juggle everything in her grasp. Mary stopped and looked, realizing that perhaps she did go a bit too far with her shopping.

"I'm sorry, dearie." The Nicelander sighed "Here, just put that down and I'll help you with it."

Calhoun dropped the heavy load on the ground, shaking her head "WHOO! I didn't even know that many shops EXISTED in this place! I have a lot more explorin' ta do."

"Indeed you do but I want to thank you for helping me out." The little Nicelander said as she picked up a few bags "It would have taken me so many trips to do this myself."

"Saaaaaay, you've only given me a PIECE of tha info on this, ma'am." Calhoun said "What's all of this really about?"

Her back towards the marine, Mary could not help but blush in happiness as she thought. All this pie baking had given her an idea, an idea that she knew should have been done YEARS ago but now that she had the courage, now that she had the support, she knew she had do it.

"Young lady, if there is anything I have learned from all of this…." The Nicelander began "It's that I still have some things I need to do."

"What do ya mean?"

The Nicelander took a seat on a bench next to the marine, smiling so sweetly and warm "What I mean is, Ralph has really shown to me what a wonderful young man he is. I've talked to the other Nicelanders and they've just gone on and on about how wonderful guests both he and Vanellope have been!"

Calhoun smiled; her plan was working wonders if the Nicelanders were talking in such a way. And it wasn't as if they weren't the only ones who had something good to say. Ralph and Vanellope were just as talkative. The little racer had gone on and on about the pies that the Nicelanders made but more important than that, what the little people could do BESIDES bake pies. Calhoun was glad that Vanellope wasn't going to go down a path repeated by so many others, one that could have made things in Fix-it-Felix Jr. so much harder for EVERYONE.

Aside from that, Calhoun was finding herself enjoying the company of the Nicelanders as well.

ESPECIALLY Mary.

She couldn't explain it but she never would have thought that such a dainty, soft-hearted woman in pink that barely made it up to her KNEE would manage to get her climb her way on her acquaintance ladder but there she was. It seemed like everyone in Fix-it-Felix Jr. had their way of roping people in!

Maybe it WAS the pie…..

"But more than that…." The Nicelander continued "I've wanted to do something else for Ralph. To thank him. To show him how much we….I…."

Mary had to stop. There was still some shame in her voice but she was braving through it, as if she wanted to show Calhoun that she wasn't the coward that people had said she and the rest of the Nicelanders were. Mary wanted to show everyone in the arcade that if Ralph were capable of proving himself more than what he was, then so could she.

The only question was if the arcade would actually ALLOW her to act.

"I just want to do something nice for him."

"Really?"

"Yes. Well, Ralph and a few others but I'll tell you once we get to the apartments. This is something that EVERYONE will have to get involved with!"

"Sounds like you have some sort of party planned!" the marine laughed "Hope Genie won't get too upset that you planned it WITHOUT him."

"He won't be doing too much complaining." The little woman said with a sneaky grin "Not after I'm done with him."

"Oh-HO, leave some pieces of him left! I would HATE to hear YOU were the cause of his game over!"

Mary placed her hands on her hips, a twinkle in her eyes and some swagger in her steps "Gene might be the MAYOR but everyone knows who's REALLY in charge."

The little woman took a look at her watch; it was much later than she thought!

"Oh dear!" she exclaimed, taking some bags into her arms "We better get going! We wouldn't want to be late would we?"

"Late for WHAT exactly?" Calhoun said as she gathered up the other packages "'Less, you're talkin' about-!"

"You know EXACTLY what I'm talking about!" Mary said with a smile "There is NO way I am missing ANY of that!"

"Then be better hurry!" said the marine "A second missed is a second of entertainment we may never see ag-GAH!"

"OOF!"

Another crash?

Bags went spilling on the ground, people stopped in their tracks!

What was that?

Is everyone okay?

Hey, hey! Watch your feet there!

"Oh, nice moves…." Calhoun mumbled to herself as she looked at the mess on the ground. She put her hands on her sides, grumbling "An' I was bein' so careful ta make sure they DIDN'T end up muffed!"

"My wings!"

Calhoun looked over, seeing a figure in black standing a few yards away and from the way she was carrying about-

"Are they wrinkled?! Are they stained?!"

They weren't taking the run in too well.

"Ah! AH! I think there's…..HONEY or something on them!" the woman cried out, stretching out her long, black wings to check every inch of them, nearly knocking over a few bystanders in the process.

"Hoo boy…" Calhoun said to herself as she walked forward, her hands reaching out "Hey, you okay there? Didn't mean ta get ya like that but-!"

"Am I OKAY!?" the figure asked, walking right up to Calhoun, a small screech in her throat "AM I OKAY?!"

It was a little jarring for Calhoun to be reminded that she wasn't the BIGGEST woman in the arcade, the shadowy figure nearly standing even with her and doing so BARE-FOOTED.

"Uh, yeah. ARE-YOU-OKAY?"

"Look at this mess!" the figure said, motioning down to her long cloak and wings "Flour and syrup! Milk and butter! You got them all over me!"

"Yes, and I said I was sorry." Calhoun replied, her brow twitching "If ya want me to, I would be more than happy ta help ya with this but there really is no need ta make a scene about it!"

"And why NOT?!" the woman huffed, crossing her arms "People EXPECT me to look my best around here and now thanks to YOUR clumsiness, I look like I just climbed out of the GARBAGE!"

Calhoun placed a hand on her forehead, already feeling her nerves tensing up "Alright, for starters. Tha mess isn't even that big an' second? Honey, I've seen things WORSE than ya so don't even START-!"

"You must not know who I am, DO you?" the figure frowned, floating off the ground a bit "Perhaps if I TAUGHT you, you'd understand why it's a good idea NOT to get in my way!"

"Sirin!" came a little shout "This is not the time, nor the place!"

The larger women looked down, surprised to see Mary standing between them, her arms out to separate the both of them.

"Miss Mary?"

"There is ABSOLUTELY no need for this, young lady!" the Nicelander scolded as she walked up to the larger figure "The Sargent just made a misstep, one that is somewhat my fault…."

"Aw, ma'am!" Calhoun called, shaking her hands "This isn't-!"

"YOUR fault?!" the one called Sirin screeched, her once soft features starting to sharpen and warp. Even Calhoun had to shake at the sound of her voice, the woman reaching up for her ears suddenly as the sound echoed across the walls.

"WHOA!" the marine called, surprised to find her knees shaking "Tha heck is th-!"

"Mini-boss." Whispered Mary, fingers in her ears "She's a good girl but she can often-"

"Yes, so I am a mini-boss! Are you insinuating something about it?! Are you going to judge ME just like you once judged your Wrecker?"

"No, no! Of course not!" assured the Nicelander, refusing to take a step back but clearly growing more agitated once Ralph was brought into the conversation "I just don't think it was polite of you to just jump on Ms. Calhoun like that, She did nothing wrong to you."

Apparently, the little woman had had a few run-ins with the creature before if she were this familiar with her. At least familiar enough to dare come face-to-face without her anyway. Even Calhoun was a amazed at what she was seeing. Sirin TOWERED over Mary and looked as if she were decked out to slice a pig with ease with one swipe of her claws and nails but Mary didn't seem to worry or if she did, she sure wasn't showing it.

And if anything, THAT was what was making Sirin so angry; Mary's refusal to be scared.

"Now, young lady…." Mary said in a calm voice "I'm sure if we can listen to REASON, we can avoid a whole world of trouble. Just settle down for a moment and we'll get you cleaned up."

"Hmmp!" pouted Sirin, feeling her skin crawl as she felt the sticky honey dripping on her feathers "Do you think your words bring any hope in me? What could a person of YOUR stature do to help in a situation like this?! "

Mary's brows furrowed but once more, she remained calm or as calm as she could given the situation "Sirin, just listen to me."

"It's MISTRESS SIRIN to YOU!" the bird-like beast hissed, purposely trying to send Mary to the floor "And I will NOT have you addressing me like some sort of CHILD!"

"HEY, HEY!" shouted Calhoun, riled up plenty "C'mon now! Mary hasn't done a darn thing to ya, so there is no reason ta treat her like that! BACK OFF!"

"She didn't do a thing to me?" scowled Sirin, her eyes going down to Mary "You say that but you were here to witness it! The way she tried to overstep her boundaries!"

"What BOUNDARIES?" Calhoun snapped back, not liking where the conversation was headed.

Sirin stepped back, tapping a long finger on her wing "That of a background character such as her. There are RULES to follow here and even with the heroics that Mr. Ralph has done, we still have to follow them!"

Calhoun could feel the fire lighting in her chest. But she wasn't the only one.

"I am a mini-boss. I know MY place…." The bird girl hissed, eyes narrowing in anger "And I will not have a thing such as this talk down to me!"

"I am NOT a thing."

All eyes went down, Mary holding her fist tight as she looked up at Sirin, her throat tightening in anger.

"What did you say?"

The Nicelander drew a breath back, trying her best to keep her composure and dignity.

"I do not CARE if you find it humorous that I am smaller than you…." The Nicelander began "I do not care if you think that my words do not matter because of my job or my pixel-depth. But I am NOT a THING, young lady! I am a character just like YOU and everyone else around here!"

The fronw on Sirin's face grew deeper, her temper nearing its peak "Would WEAKLING suffice better, small one?"

"Okay, that's it!" Calhoun shouted "YOU have crossed tha line kid! If it's a fight ya want, then have it with ME!"

"Young lady, don't!" said Mary, trying to push the larger marine back "Don't go down that road It's not worth it, not over THIS!"

"I was told how TOUGH you were, woman-solider…" the mini-boss chortled in glee "But seeing as the little pill-bug has to keep you on your leash, I am beginning to have second thoughts on your bravery, Bug-Killer. "

NOW Calhoun was RAGING! It was bad enough that this character was going after MARY but to say something about her like that?

The fight was about to begin!

"Ya were worried about those feathers of yours getting' dirty?" The marine growled, balling her fist up "A good PLUCKIN' might do ya well!"

"HEY EVERYONE! CHICK FIGHT!" called someone from the crowd, more and more starting to gather around as cheers filled the area.

"Wait, NO!" Mary cried out but her voice was drowned out by the others, her cries just too small. She fell to the ground, finding herself right in-between Calhoun and Sirin as they hovered near each other, the other waiting for the first move.

"Tamera! NO! Don't let her get to you!"

"It's stuff like THIS that gets bad-guys painted in a negative light!" Calhoun glowered "You're not doin' yourself any favors, ya know?"

"All I know is that I won't stand for people getting my way." Hissed Sirin, smirking at Calhoun "And if you see THAT as an issue, that is YOUR problem. I don't have time to waste on weaklings like THAT or YOU."

Calhoun cracked her knuckles "Weak? You gonna see what's WEAK!"

"TAMORA, STOP!"

Hearing her FIRST name screamed out, the marine faulted, looking off to the side to see the source of the noise.

"Who-?!"

The mini-boss' eyes glowed, ready for the move "An opening."

Sirin might have been irritable, she might have been haughty but she was well skilled and FAST. She saw the little move of Calhoun coming a mile away and she readied herself to go in for the attack. But someone ELSE saw the attack.

Someone who had years of arcade experience under her belt.

"TAMORA!"

Calhoun only had a second to look as she saw Sirin sailing towards her, her wings opened and her hands out for a move but a flash of pink crossed their paths!

"WHAT-!?"

And before the marine had a chance to react she heard that cry!

"OOW!"

The crowd gasped as they moved back, Mary tumbling onto the floor and grasping her arm. Calhoun froze in her tracks, realizing just what had happened before her.

"M-M-M. MARY?!"

Even Sirin had to stop; she had become greatly annoyed by the Nicelander but she wasn't her intended target; Calhoun was! To do such a massive mistake was enough to get the character to rethink her own move.

"O-oh! GRACIOUS!"

"Mary? Mary!" Calhoun called out in great concern, going towards the woman "Ma'am, please say something!"

"Th-th-this HURTS like SOMETHING." Mary hissed between her teeth, trembling as she held onto her injured arm.

"Lemme see, please!"

Mary looked up at the larger woman and though she tried to hide it, it was easy to see in her eyes that she was in immense pain. Calhoun's army instincts began to kick in, quickly looking at the wound. What she say looked BAD. Though the attack had left no puncture wounds, the massive power-burn was there for all to see. Mary's soft skin was swollen and burnt red, so much so that the marine could feel the heat and see the small bits of smoke rising from her arm. And who knew what damage was done on the INSIDE as well?

"I-Is it bad?" whimpered the little woman, regretting jumping the gun without thinking "A-a bit of ice will help it right?"

All of this, over a fight Mary never wanted to happen.

"We need ta get ya outta here!" growled Calhoun "We need ta get ya to tha infirmary, ta tha doctor's, TA FELIX! STAT!"

"W-Wait!" the Nicelander called as she was lifted up with ease in Calhoun's hands "D-Don't-! Just let me-!"

"Sh-she just got in the way!" stammered Sirin, feeling increasingly ashamed for what she had allowed herself to do "I didn't see what got in my way! I was-!"

"YOU-!" roared Calhoun, grabbing the creature by her collar "YOU are DEAD once I take care of her!"

"I already said! IT WAS NOT MY FAULT!" hissed the mini-boss, pushing herself free "I-if anything, SHE was the one who started by getting-!"

"IF YOU HADN'T ACTED LIKE A TOTAL JACK-ASS-!"

"YOU WERE THE ONE WHO OVER-REACTED!"

"I SHOULD RAM MY FIST DOWN YOUR THROAT, BIRDIE!"

"I'LL HANG YOU BY YOUR LOCKS, BLONDIE! IF YOU HAD ANY SUFFICIENT AMOUNT OF HAIR!"

"THAT-!" called a voice from afar "Will be enough."

The crowd went hush as they looked to the side, Sirin going pale as she took notice of WHO was coming near her.

SORCERESS.

And she did NOT look at all happy.

"What is going on here?" asked the graceful bad-guy, all eyes on her. Sirin seemed to cower back as the main boss approached her, shivering like a leaf.

"I-I was-! It just happened!"

"And what exactly would THAT have been?" the woman in black asked, pulling Sirin by her winged ear.

"OW! Sorceress!"

"It-it's nothing to worry about!" Mary said, hoping someone would stop and listen to her for once "I just….I just midjudge a situation."

Sorceress' mouth nearly hit the floor when she saw Mary's arm, the sight of the injury enough to send her to the ground.

"DID YOU DO THIS?!"

"I said it was an accident!" Sirin ducked, scared of the mighty boss' fury.

"Accident or NOT, you had NO RIGHT of hurting someone like that! You know that!"

"But she-!"

"What did she do?!" Sorceress blared, her features becoming more monstrous as she stared down the lesser boss "WHAT DID SHE DO TO YOU?!"

"N-nothing!" cried Sirin, her wings folded down against her body "She didn't do ANYTHING…"

"And yet you attacked her. Sirin, I cannot believe you."

The mini-boss looked down, her form looking much more subdued and calm "I just didn't want to get bossed around by an background character….."

"A background character?" Sorceress glared "You went after her because she happens to be a BACKGROUND CHARACTER?!"

"YES! I mean-! NO! I mean-!" the younger creature struggled to find her words, looking this way and that "Please, Mistress! Y-You understand the reason!"

"No, I do not!" the main boss said in a powerful voice "No, I do not understand the reasoning behind SCARING background characters! I do not understand the reasoning behind HURTING them! Tell me, young one! WHAT REASONS WAS THERE?!"

Everyone was silent, Sorceress' words loud enough that even Litwak himself would have been able to hear had he been there. Her hands on her hips, Sorceress shook her head, tapping Sirin atop her own.

"You attack someone who not only has no means of defending themselves against your powers but you even BLAME them for the entire thing? Sirin, I'm not only upset at you, I am ASHAMED!"

With those words said, everyone could see Sirin shaking.

"We've been in this arcade for how long? HOW LONG?"

"T-twelve years."

"Twelve years and you still cause trouble! You cause trouble over NOTHING!"

"But Sorceress-!"

"Apologize."

Mary and Calhoun jolted back in surprise.

"'Scuse me?" said Calhoun.

"I want you to apologize to BOTH of them, Sirfin." Sorceress demanded, not having the patient for the younger boss any longer.

Sirin floated over to the two, her head still down and unable to gather any courage to lift it up.

"I am wait, youngling."

Sirin lifted her head, looking right into Mary's eyes.

As the two made contact, something clicked. Mary felt a tingle go down her spine, almost as if she were afraid of the girl but perhaps it wasn't fear. If anything, Sirin looked more frightened than the Nicelander at this point, the girl realizing just WHO she had hit with her attack.

She had hit a background character, a background character who could not fight back. A background character who stood no chance against her had she used her more powerful attacks. And yet Mary had attempted to stand up to her ANYWAY, just to help CALHOUN.

And they said that Nicelanders cared about NO ONE.

It was only then did Sirin realize whom she was boasting over and just how silly it had made her look. Even when compared with Calhoun, she had gotten upset over NOTHING, just over bits of flour and fruit. Her words and attacks didn't make her look the more powerful of the bunch.

"U-Um…."

It had made her look like a BAD GUY.

A REAL bad guy.

"I am sorry."

"Address them politely." Said Sorceress "I know you have more manners than that."

"I am sorry I took things out of hand…." Sirin said, standing up taller this time "And I am sorry that I attacked without reason."

Mary couldn't have looked more embarrassed. She was hurt, she looked a mess, and Calhoun had her tucked under her arm like some sort of chubby little doll. Her entire face was as red as a strawberry but she had to say something.

"I-It is alright young lady." The Nicelander said, her voice sounding so tiny and shy "I am not angry at you…"

It was ASTONISHING that anyone could say a thing after being attacked like that but Mary had done so much to Calhoun's amazement. Still holding onto the woman, Calhoun turned away. She blushed deeply and put a hand behind her head.

"I-I accept your apology too."

"Good…" said Sorceress "And in the future, I hope you will learn to behave yourself Sirin."

"Yes, ma'am." The mini-boss said, awaiting the older boss' orders.

"Ms. Mary?"

Mary looked up, Sorceress giving her a concerned look "Y-Yes?"

"It's not bad is it? Sirin's moves have a lot of power to them so I would HATE to hear that it-!"

"Dear, I am FINE!" Mary blurted, far from the truth "There is no need to carry on about this! NO NEED AT ALL!"

"But ma'am!"

"Please, let's all just go back to our business! There is NO NEED to tell people, to tell ANYONE what has happened!"

"Um, what is goin' on?" asked a rightfully confused Calhoun but Sorceress could hear the words loud and clear. She nodded sadly.

"I won't tell him."

"Don't tell ANY of them!" whispered Mary "If he finds out, he'll hit the roof!"

"Do not worry, I will keep your promise."

"Um, is there somethin' I need ta know? I WOULD like a lil info here!"

Mary was about to say something to the confused marine when-

*STING!*

"AH!"

"Ms. Mary!" Calhoun gasped, looking down at the growing welt on the woman's arm "Aw, this needs medical attention, STAT!"

"The apartments."

"What?"

"Take me home…." Mary said, swallowing back the pain with a brave look "There's no need to worry about ANYTHING. I have what's needed at home."

Calhoun nodded her head and prepared to leave but she turned back towards Sorceress.

"Thanks for helpin' us out there!"

"We're all neighbors here." The witchy woman said with a polite bow "We help each other out."

Mary gave Sorceress one final look as she was carried away, the only calm head in the entire mess.

"Yes. We help each other out…."

The crowd then began to disperse, everyone returning to their plans but two remained still.

Calhoun didn't know how to react to what had happened, how to react to what Mary had attempted to do for her. The woman was hurt in her arms but she refused to show it, refused to show any fear that was going through her.

But she couldn't leave her in such a condition.

"Ma'am?"

The Nicelander, still clutching her injured arm, looked up "Y-Yes?"

"Let's get you home!"

Mary let out a startled cry as she was flung forward in the marine's arms, Calhoun darting off at top speeds towards Fix-it-Felix Jr.

"I SAID LEAVE ME ALONE!"

Who was that?

"But sir!"

A familiar voice?

"LEAVE. Me ALONE."

What was happening at Litwak's this particular night?

---

"It's still not too bad is it?" Calhoun said, rushing as fast as she could through the apartments, Mary still in her arms.

"Dear, please put me down." The other woman sighed, though she did her best to hide how much the welt had stung "She got me in the ARM, not my LEGS. I am fully capable of walking."

"But that attack! Who knows what it'll do to your-!"

"Tamora."

The marine stopped, feeling a sense of doom come over her not unlike a child who had gotten into trouble with her mother.

Though this time the child was CALHOUN and the mother was MARY.

She peered down at the Nicelander, a frown on her face and her eyes clear.

"DOWN. NOW."

Calhoun did what she was told, gently putting Mary onto the floor but she could see the way she held her wounded arm, the appendage folded as if she were nervous to move it.

"Ms. Mary."

"Gene has what I need…." The Nicelander said without missing a beat "Once I apply it, I'll be just fine."

"Gene?" Calhoun blinked "HE knows how to deal with something like this?"

"My dear…." Mary said with a slight titter "We have been here for thirty years. Even if Felix can fix everything with a single tap, that doesn't mean we haven't learned a thing or two about dealing with unfortunate run-ins with some baddies."

Mary was always the one who threw Calhoun for a loop. Ever since she had gotten to know her, Mary was starting to come off more than just the Nicelander who baked more than the others. She was carrying much more experience than she given credit for and even if she was smaller in size, she gave off an air that Calhoun couldn't help but listen to.

Then why was she so scared? Why was she so afraid of Ralph?

With the run in that had happened, some questions had been answered but Calhoun wanted to know more. She watched as Mary dug through her purse, fishing out a spare key.

"Glad I kept this."

"What is it?"

"It's the key to Gene's apartment." The Nicelander said, opening the door "He gave me this thing years ago, back when…."

Mary stopped, forcing herself from letting on too much about things that she felt were best left to the past. The marine noticed the little slip but before she could ask Mary recovered, giving her that warm, loving smile that she always had on her face.

"Well, he just wanted me to have it." She said, squeezing it in her hands and pressing it against her chest "He just wanted me to be safe…"

Well, this was awkward. Calhoun was thinking very OBVIOUS reasons as to why GENE of all people would have given MARY a key to his home but she bit her tongue. They were ADULTS, so it was best to act like adults right?

"Do…do you use it much?" Calhoun coughed, hoping her curiosity wasn't TOO obvious.

"Only when it is necessary." Mary said, putting the key in the lock "To be honest….it HAS been a while."

"Really?"

"I always reserve this thing for when I feel it is truly needed and…well."

Calhoun could see Mary blushing even deeper, biting her lip.

"W-We mustn't waste time!" the Nicelander shouted "Let's just get what we need and leave!"

"O-Okay, if you say so!"

As the two entered the apartment, they found that it was empty but Gene had already set the kitchen up for the pie session that was to take place soon. Everything was laid out and neatly organized, something that Mary was more than happy to see.

"Heh, nice digs." Calhoun said looking around "Kinda tight but given the size of the citizens….."

"Heh, I'm sure they'll have fun."

The marine peeked to the side, noticing the smile on Mary's face. She was obviously happy about SOMETHING.

*STING!*

"Eep!"

"Ma'am!"

"I-It's okay, dear…." Mary smiled, waving Calhoun away "Just let me get the ointment."

"Ointment?"

The little woman in pink went into Gene's bedroom, her movements showing Calhoun she was USED to the layout and without missing a step she went into the bathroom, pulling out the needed medicine for her trouble.

Bee, Bird and Beyond Balm: The Best for All Stinging Attacks!

The Nicelander went to the bed and sat down, removing her gloves and putting the medication onto the injury. She could feel it working, the pain slowly diminishing and the redness going away.

"Oh thank goodness."

"Here…."

Mary looked up, Calhoun holding a cold compress before her.

"What is this?"

"Just in case. I don't know if it'll work for whatever stung ya back there but it works for us."

"Thank you dear." Mary sighed, placing the item on her arm "I just wish things hadn't turned so ugly back there."

"You're actin' as if it was your fault." Calhoun said harshly sitting next to the woman on the bed, nearly falling off of it in the process due to how small it was "Geeze, ma'am! I know you're one to avoid confrontations an' all but that doesn't mean ya hafta take EVER line that people give ya! If people push ya, ya DO have tha right ta fight back!"

"What makes you think I was doing that?" Mary said, her brows bunching but only slightly "I just didn't want YOU to get into the fray."

"Me? I could have taken her on!" Calhoun shouted.

"It wouldn't have been worth it!"

"But it would have saved ya from getting' hurt like that!"

"It would have happened REGARDLESS! It always does with us!"

"Gah, MARY!" the marine growled "What is WITH ya guys!? Look, I can get if you're scared of me or somethin' or whatever else is goin' on but GEEZE! It's like you're scared ta ask for help or-!"

"Don't you DARE assume that, young lady!"

Calhoun looked down, Mary's expressions showing her that it might have been best to listen this time around.

"GRACIOUS." The Nicelander huffed, rubbing her arm anxiously "All I ask is that someone take me SERIOUSLY for a moment. I know I look silly enough but could I please talk? That's all I've EVER asked for!"

"Yes, you may ma'am." The Marine nodded "An' what was it exactly that ya wanted ta say ta me?"

Mary turned away, looking drained and tired.

"Sweetie? Look, it's not that I don't appreciate what you did for me back there. I really do. It's not every day we have people standing up for us, especially with the way people have been treating us because of Ralph."

The marine nodded her head "Yes? And how have they been treatin' ya?"

A look of anger crossed upon Mary's face that Calhoun had never witnessed before. She held tightly onto the comforters of the bed, every fiber in her being keeping her from saying what she really wanted to.

Why was she doing this again? Was Mary holding back? Why were ANY of the Nicelanders holding back?

"I usually try to put on a happy face for everyone….I usually try to reassure them, to remind them that we do have someone who doesn't look down on us."

"Ma'am?"

"But I don't' know how much longer I can do this. I don't know how much longer I can stand around and let people do this to my friends and expect us to just TAKE IT."

"Mary…." Calhoun said, concern in her face "If ya have ever felt that things were gettin' too rough for ya, ya do have me! I will help ya an' I don't CARE who ya are, what ya are! I am a SOLIDER. My duty is to help those who need it an' from tha looks of things…."

"Dear, I just don't want you getting tied up in our drama." Mary said, looking so upset and frail "It's been a storm as it is so the last thing I want someone who doesn't deserve our mess to wind up IN our mess."

"Look, ya know there are gonna be some big changes here. BIG changes!" Calhoun smiled "An' I PROMISE ya that one of those changes will be that ya guys won't hafta worry 'bout people comin' in an' actin' like animals around ya."

"Tamora, that's so sweet of you…." The Nicelander said "But…but maybe that's part of the problem."

"What is?"

"We've always relied on someone ELSE to save us all these years. Maybe it's time that we try to do something OURSELVES."

"Oh, I understand what you're sayin' ma'am!" the marine snorted in laughter.

"I don't think you do." Mary replied "I don't think you do because you're programmed to be a hero, to be someone who from the start was made to fight and defend. Us? Myself? We were meant to be SAVED and over the years, we've allowed others…and ourselves….to tell us we can't be anything other than that."

This sounded familiar. Calhoun had been reminded of what Ralph had told her, how the Wrecker had been told that he couldn't be anything other than the bad guy. It had never crossed the marine's mind what Mary had thought every time she had been told she couldn't be anything other than HELPLESS.

She knew that the Nicelanders relied on Felix to save them as they had not been programmed to do much themselves outside of their own home but it made her think a lot more. The way the confrontation had happened in the halls, the way Mary tried DESPERATELY to stop a fight but ended up hurt because of it.

Mary WANTED to show the arcade that she was just more than a damsel that needed to be saved.

But no matter how hard she tired, no one was listening.

The only thing they were saying was how awful she and the other Nicelanders were, how awful all background characters were for being scared of their bad guys, for being scared of Ralph. That's all they were saying, that's all they HAD been saying.

And yet they were still acting out in ways that gave them good reasons to be scared.

It was a continuing circle and for the life of her, Mary wanted to get out. She wanted to get out so everyone could be happy again.

But it was if nothing had changed, as if all her actions were for nothing.

"Ms. Mary….."

"Yes?"

"I think…..I think I get it now." Calhoun said "Well, MOST of it anyway."

"You get what?"

"You're a tough lil thing, ya know that?" the woman snickers, putting a hand atop Mary's head "Maybe ya need a few hours in our Cybug Simulator! Ya seem like tha woman for it!"

"W-What!? SERIOUSLY?!" Mary fumbled "Oh, no, no, NO! I couldn't hear of it! I wouldn't last a second in your game!"

"Heh, ya be surprised. All Ralph did was run around like a chicken with his head cut-off! If ya had tha proper instructions-!"

*CLICK KLACK*

PAUSE.

The two women stopped, their skin covered in goose-bumps.

"What is it?" whispered Calhoun.

The Nicelander peered through the crack in the door, her skin going pale.

"He's back!"

"Who?"

Mary rushed over to the marine, grabbing her hand "GENE!"

"W-Wait, he's back?! Wh-where do ya want us to-!"

"Shh, shh, SHH!" Mary hushed, her hand slamming on Calhoun's mouth "Heeee's almoooost…!"

The door slammed shut hard, so hard in fact that several things on Gene's dresser tumbled to the ground. The women looked, stunned that such a small man could cause such a reaction.

But if his mood were THAT foul….

"Into the closet!"

"But I can't FIT!" the marine protested as she looked over towards the small room.

"You will now!"

Calhoun had not a moment to object as she found herself SHOVED into the closet, Mary going in a moment later and shutting the door behind her, nothing looking out of place.

And then-

GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAURGH!

The marine blinked, only familiar with ONE person who could roar like that "Wow, was that RALPH or-?"

"No, it's Gene." Said Mary "Living with him THIS long, I know all his calls…."

Mary cracked the door ever so slightly to get a good view of what exactly was going on and what she saw….

"Loud mouthed, uncivilized-!"

"H-Honey?"

Gene looked TERRIBLE. Due to her own run-in, Mary had no idea of the events that had transpired with her fellow Nicelander but he showed it on every pixel of his body. His hair was out of place, his suit was wrinkled and mussed and the marks.

Those marks.

Had Gene been in a fight?

And if so, with WHOM? Even when he was thrown by Ralph he didn't get such injuries!

"What happened to HIM!?"

"I-I don't know…." Whimpered Mary.

The mayor said nothing as he continued to pace about his room, storm clouds and various other signs of rage and anger popping over his head. He stopped once, looking at the clock before shaking his head.

It was almost time for Ralph and Vanellope to stop over but judging from the way he was going about….

"He's in no condition to do ANYTHING…." Said Calhoun, Mary taking her hand.

"I-I know but we have to wait!"

"For WHAT?"

"Until we can actually escape, for starters!"

The mayor looked down, ashamed to find himself looking so dingy and dirty. He stomped off to the bathroom, the two women seeing his tie, cardigan and dress shirt flying out fo the room.

"Oh dear…." Mary blushed brightly "PLEASE don't tell me we're heading down THIS road!"

Calhoun looked down, taking a notice of how embarrassed Mary was looking. She shook her slightly, trying to get her attention.

"Ah, no! Don't leave me, Mary!"

The sound of running water was heard, a few splashes here and there, but nothing more.

Gene was still silent.

Still quiet.

"What's he doin'?"

Moments later, the mayor finally came out, the only thing on being his slacks and undershirt. His hair looked wet and his face a bit clearer but he still looked in no condition to bake. Still, it was a little odd to see the usually prim and proper Mayor looking so….loose.

"This isn't good…."

The mayor rubbed his eyes, squinting them a bit as he threw himself on his large bed. He flopped over, rubbing his aching temples and reaching over towards the dresser. A moment later he took out a leather case, opening them up to reveal a large pair of glasses.

"Wait…." Said Calhoun "Those were CONTACTS?"

"He hates when people sees him with those things on….." Mary sighed "Not that I had a problem with them but-!"

"Ah! AH! I think he noticed we were on his bed!"

"Wait, did I drop the medicine on the ground?!"

"I think you did!"

The Mayor sat up, looking down at his feet.

Why wouldn't he have done that BEFORE he put his glasses on?

Mary was screaming internally once she noticed the tube of ointment right next to Gene's feet. He would notice it! He ALWAYS noticed when his room was out of place!

"O-Okay! We can say it was a SURPRISE!" Mary shook "This was all a surprise for his-! For his-!"

"Un-Birthday?" suggested Calhoun, out of ideas herself.

"It's the only thing we have!"

"Mary, wait…." Said the marine, looking out the crack again "D-don't move just yet…."

"Why not?"

The Nicelander peered out the door again, the Mayor slumped over with his face in his hands. He was once again so still but there was an unsettling eeriness to him. He had gone from furious to defeated in a matter of seconds, his breathing rattling in his chest.

"G-Gene?"

The mayor stirred a bit, as if he had heard the two but from the way he had turned, something else had caught his attention. He reached over to his dresser, pulling out a small photo. Mary leaned closer, her curiosity wanting to know what it was that he was holding but she just could make it out. Gene clutched the paper, held it tighter until his hands shook but after so much, after so long….

"I can't do this."

Do what?

He dropped the paper onto the ground, the thing flitter next to his feet. He once again buried his face in his hands, feeling as he were being pulled this way, that way. His mind was in shambles; he wanted to scream, he wanted to shout. Or did he? Or would it feel better just to do nothing? To let it all pass?

But he was so angry.

But he PROMISED himself he wouldn't get this angry anymore!

But they had threatened Mary.

But-!

He just couldn't will up the motivation to move, to think, to even continue. But he knew he had to; he could not let Ralph and Vanellope down. They would be here soon and what would they say if he turned them away.

What would the entire arcade say if they heard he had turned them away?

It would be more ammo, more fodder for them to fling at him and that was the last thing he wanted, the last thing he needed.

In thirty years, THIRTY YEARS, he NEVER would have thought such a worry would cross his mind. He was actually WORRIED about letting RALPH down.

Wasn't this the same man he hated all those years ago, the same man he didn't want to be near five feet of?

The same man he often blamed for the pain of the other Nicelanders? Of other background characters?

The man whom he saw with TURBO that-?

No, no. Don't relive that day, NEVER relive that day.

But things had changed hadn't they?

Had Ralph changed?

Had GENE changed?

Had the ARCADE changed?

That was it.

THAT was the thing that struck him the most, that HURT him the most.

It was the arcade.

The arcade that was touting Ralph and Vanellope as heroes, the ones that were cheering their praises and their worship. It was the arcade that refused to change, the arcade that had scolded those who were scared…

And yet?

And yet, they kept doing everything that made them scared in the first place. They did it to see them scared, to see them react.

There was no change, on improvement, no acceptance. Only GUILT.

Guilt and anger.

ANGER.

Gene was familiar with anger.

Mary stood before the crack in the door, her eyes filled with so much worry, her hands clasped together.

She knew something was about to happen but for the first time in a LONG time she found that she had no power to stop it. She was too afraid, too afraid to come rushing out of the closet to comfort Gene like she so desired to, like he NEEDED. All she could do was just stand there, stand there and shiver.

It was a scene she had seen before, one that rocked her to very code.

And all Calhoun could do was watch; watch, wonder and WORRY about what to do next.

Gene finally got off the bed, walking over to his dresser to pull out one of his fluffy sweaters, a familiar golden G was sewn into it.

"C'mon, Genie. You can do this. You can do this…." He mumbled to himself "You WANTED to do this. You HAVE to do this."

He HAD to do this? For whom really?

At this point, pie baking felt like TORTURE and it was only going to get worse once Ralph and Vanellope arrived.

*BING BONG!*

Right on time.

EVERYONE in the apartment flinched at the sudden tone of the doorbell but to Gene it felt like someone was hammering his HEAD.

"Oi."

"EY, GENIE!"

The Mayor looked over, eyes looking so cold and empty.

"Hey, Big Guy! We're waitin'!"

Everyone knew that nothing good was going to come from this.

The Mayor looked over towards the front door, the two guests still knocking loudly, his head throbbing.

Should he answer? Should he pretend he wasn't home?

His feet took him out of his room, through the kitchen, and to the door. He could hear them whispering on the other side, laughing, giggling, joking.

He shouldn't think such bad things, thinking that they were laughing at his expense, at the other's expense.

Ralph and Vanellope? They were better than that. They were GOOD GUYS! Everyone in the arcade kept going on about how good they were!

But the arcade said a LOT of things, a lot of things that had gotten people into TROUBLE.

"Ya think he's there?" the Mayor heard a child's voice said.

"Of course he is!" said the other "He NEVER breaks his promises! NEVER."

No, he never had.

Not even just this once?

"You can do this, Gene. You HAVE to do this…." The Nicelander repeated to himself over and over "You promised you would change. You promised you would be more open. This is it. This is where it starts."

Would it even mean anything? Would it prove anything?

It was only pie.