Fanon:Rachel's Race to Fame (fanfic centered around one of Nate's future kids)

It's the present year of 2023, over 3 decades after Nate Wright's 6th grade adventures. So how's it going for the guy we all knew as one of the most rebellious 6th grade characters around? Well now he's married to Ruby Dinsmore (his crush/girlfriend from Big Nate Blasts Off), both age 43 (based upon the start date of the comic). They have two kids, Rachel (age 13) and Maxwell (age 9).

Let's focus on one of the kids, Rachel. She's in 8th grade, and due to P.S. 38 getting dismantled after falling apart beyond repair (no surprise, since that school was over a century old), the school she goes to is Cole Academy. Nate says that even though his "detention rival" used to go to that school, it's a much better school than his school's rival Jefferson. Rachel's birthday is June 30th. She likes to pull small tricks on her brother Maxwell, though none as harsh as the ones her aunt Ellen used to pull on Nate. She knows how much of a prince their parents treat Maxwell as.

Nate cares about Rachel's occasional problems, and the often concerned Ruby sometimes tries to make Rachel be as calm and low-key as her. Ellen lives in a huge house in a different city not too far from Rackleff. Ever since divorcing from Gordie, Ellen has been writing romance novels, which sell a lot, so she makes lots of money, which she gives some of to Rachel for her birthday, the only time Aunt Ellen comes by besides holidays.

Ellen also visits her dad (Rachel's grandpa) Martin at the hospital. He is 80 years old and suffering from a severe illness, so he's expected to go any time. His younger brother (Rachel's great-uncle) Ted is conveniently a doctor in the hospital Martin is in. After his parents (Rachel's great-grandparents) passed away from old age, he finally got the courage to get a job and enough money to have his own home.

Anyway, one weekend, Ruby has to take Maxwell to a dental appointment, so Rachel stays home with her dad Nate. Rachel and Nate have a small talk, and when Nate mentions something about when he was in a rock band, that interests Rachel. She likes listening to metal music and enjoys bands like Black Veil Brides, Avenged Sevenfold, Metallica, and Iced Earth. Rachel asks Nate to tell her more about his band.

Nate goes to the attic, with Rachel following him. He takes out a scrapbook that he titled "Enslave the Mollusk". Rachel finds out that's the name of Nate's middle-school band, and although she thinks that's a stupid name, she does not say that, and she finds the band really cool. It features Nate as drummer and backing vocalist, with best friends Francis on electric guitar and Teddy on keyboard, as well as Artur as lead vocalist. Rachel asks what happened to Enslave the Mollusk, and although Nate was slightly hesitant, he tells her.

The last few months of 7th grade for Nate and his friends were highly turbulent. Artur had to leave the band to focus on schoolwork and eventually move back to Belarus. Francis' girlfriend Sheila was killed in a car crash, and he left the band to have some time to cope with the grief. There were recent news about slavery in the country, and Martin was concerned about Nate performing in a band with the word "Enslave" so Martin suggested changing the word "Enslave" to "Fear", an idea Nate hated. Teddy agreed with Martin on that one, and Nate left the band due to Nate's refusal to change the name, along with burnout.

Since then, Nate's friendship with Teddy and Francis started fading, and by sometime in high school, he lost all contact with them. After telling Rachel the story of Enslave the Mollusk, Nate tells her a small moral, "Being in a band can be cool when you're young, but the coolness fades away when you get older."

Just then, Rachel finds something peeking out of a box. It's a keytar! Due to her low muscle tone, Rachel is not good at playing the guitar, bass, or complex drum kits. The only instrument she doesn't suck at playing is the keyboard. She tries the keytar, and she totally rocks it! Much more than when she was playing the keyboard. She exclaims, "Wow, Dad! Do you own this?"

"No, Rachel," Nate responds. "It's your mother's. She was a one-hit wonder before you were born."

Rachel is amazed about Ruby having her own keytar, but doesn't know what "one-hit wonder" means. "One-hit wonder? What's that?"

"Ask your mother. And ask her for permission to use it."

Later, when Ruby and Maxwell come back home, Rachel asks Ruby, "Is it true, Mom? Were you once a pop star with this awesome keytar?!"

"Oh yeah!" Ruby replies. "I was Ruby Pink, one-hit wonder! Want me to explain what that means?"

"Sure!"

"Well, a musical act goes to the top of the chart with a catchy tune and meaningless lyrics. Then they throw a big diva tantrum, lose their label, then fade to obscurity. Before they know it, their song ends up as elevator music. Years later, they have a reunion concert, and after that, they never sing again. And no one remembers them. That basically was my entire pop star experience, and once you were born, I gave up on that dream."

"Wow... So may I please have your keytar?"

"Of course, but don't get too carried away with your dream. After all, I gave up on the fame before it could have the chance to take over me."

"OK, thanks Mom!"

Rachel can play the keytar like a professional rock star, and she can perform keytar covers of songs from her favorite metal bands. Inspired by this along with her musically talented parents, she decides to make her own rock/metal band. She can't ask Maxwell to join because Ruby believes he's too young to be in a band or even listen to the bands Rachel listens to.

Rachel decides that she will ask her friends to join her band. Rachel's friends are Vanessa Rosa and Sonja Lappalainen. Sonja is an exchange student from Finland, and not only can she play bass guitar, but she can also sing in operatic soprano, inspired by her favorite symphonic metal vocalist, Tarja from Nightwish. Vanessa can play guitars. At school, Vanessa and Sonja accept Rachel's offer to join her band. Then in music class, Rachel's crush Todd Spyro performs an impressive drum solo, so Vanessa suggests to Rachel about adding him to the band, and that's what she does, despite her reluctant embarrassment.

So the band has been formed, an operatic pop rock/metal band named DreamStars. They practice in Vanessa's garage every weekday after school. However, "popular" school bully Julianne Godfrey would often insult Rachel, her friends, and their band, saying something like, "DreamStars? More like DreamSTINK! Get some freakin' lives, losers!" Fortunately, Rachel and her friends have a thick skin when it comes to insults, so they won't let Julianne verbally bring them down.

DreamStars' rehearsals go on for a couple months, and they've made a few songs. But as the rehearsals go on, Rachel starts to notice that she and Sonja are always the first ones to leave at the end of band practice, with Todd staying behind. One Saturday, before Rachel starts heading home, she asks Todd, "How come you keep staying behind?"

"Oh, I just need to make sure I don't forget anything from my drum kit, that's all," Todd answers.

Rachel enquires Vanessa, "Does Todd really need help getting all he needs from his drum kit?"

"Don't worry about it," Vanessa says. "I can always give him a hand."

Though a bit suspicious, Rachel starts walking with Sonja. Near Sonja's home, Rachel notices a flier on a pole advertising a buskers competition downtown. Excited, she shouts, "Sonja! We have to do this!"

Sonja sees the flier. "Awesome! We still have a couple more songs we should make and learn, but I think we can do it. Go tell Vanessa and Todd about this!"

Rachel runs back to Vanessa's garage. "Vanessa! Todd! We gotta do..."

Her voice trails off, shocked and speechless, having noticed Vanessa and Todd on the couch, about to kiss! Before they could, she screams, "WHAT THE HECK?!? What are you two doing?!"

Vanessa is confused. "Uhh... Dating???"

"Oh my God... You never told me you've been dating my crush!"

"That's because you never told me he's your crush!"

"Uh, I have to go now," Todd mutters. "Don't wanna be late for dinner."

After Todd leaves, leaving his drum kit behind, Vanessa yells at Rachel, "YOU FREAKIN' JERK!!! You just had to ruin our date!"

"You just had to ruin my crush!" Rachel snaps back as she slaps Vanessa in the face. Vanessa shoves Rachel into Todd's drum kit, ruining a few parts, though Rachel only suffered a small cut on her elbow as a result. She hits Vanessa in the shin with the keytar.

"OWWW!!!!" Vanessa shrieks in pain and holds her leg. "You know what!? I don't wanna be in your stupid band anymore. Just get out!"

"What?"

"GET OUT!!! I've had enough of you!"

"Same here."

So that marks the end of Rachel and Vanessa's friendship, and that also means, only Sonja is left as Rachel's bandmate. That is, until a week later, when Sonja tells Rachel some shocking news; Sonja's dad lost his job, and she and her family might have to move back to Finland in the summer. That also means, she has to quit the band in order to focus on her eventual move. And that marks of the end of the band. Rachel is upset about losing her friends and her band. Her life is screwed.

Rachel decides to get in contact with Aunt Ellen, who's an expert at school/friendship stuff. However, since she's often busy with her romance novel writing, she's unable to help. She cries on her bed about Aunt Ellen. Ruby hears her cries and offers her some snacks.

"Thanks, Mom," Rachel says as she takes a snack.

The next day, Rachel and her family have to go to church. However, Rachel is nervous because that's the same church Vanessa (whom they hate each other now) and Julianne (who would do her usual verbal bullying) go to. Rachel is about to go to the restroom and try to stay for the rest of the day, when she is stopped by someone calling her name, "Rachel?" It's Vanessa! She's wearing a dress that covers the knees but shows a bit of her shins, one of which has a band-aid from that keytar hit. Rachel starts to feel really bad about that.

"I know we are fighting," Vanessa says. "But why are you here?"

"Going to church," Rachel responds. "Why else would I be here?"

Rachel regrets freaking out on Vanessa and having that small fight with her, so not wanting to screw things up further, Rachel apologizes to Vanessa for all that and tells her about the crush Rachel has on Todd, on the condition that the crush be kept secret and that Rachel would let Vanessa go out with Todd.

"I understand," Vanessa says. "Thanks for being a good sport today, Rachel. But it seems like our fighting upset Todd. He wants a break from us and the band."

Rachel doesn't know if it would be a good time to share her own stunning news but ultimately decides to do so. "I have some shocking news too. Sonja and her family might be moving back to Finland this summer."

"WHAT?!?!"

"Yeah. Because her dad lost his job. She also had to quit the band to focus on her move."

"NO WAY!!! Sonja has the best singing voice in school, possibly in town! There's no way anyone can sing as beautiful as her! And also she's a great friend to us."

"Yep. Hey, at least we just became friends and are not fighting anymore. Otherwise, our band would be dead."

"True that. After this, we gotta go convince Todd to join the band again."

A familiar voice behind Rachel and Vanessa asks, "Todd, did you say?!" It's Julianne!

"Yeah, what's it to you?" Rachel snarls.

"Oh, nothing. It's just that Todd's one of the hottest guys in our school! If there's anyone who really should head out with him, that would be me! M-E, ME!!"

Vanessa grumbles, "Oh my God, why do you all have a crush on my boyfriend?"

"HEY, don't use the Lord's name in vain! We're in a holy place. Now let's fight over Todd."

"Hey!" Rachel shouts. "You just said this is a holy place. We can't fight in here."

"Fine. Then let's take this to the back parking lot later. See you losers then!"

As Julianne walks off, Vanessa whispers to Rachel, "Are you sure this is a good idea? She might pulverize us!"

"Don't worry, Vanessa," Rachel replies. "She's not usually a physical fighter. And besides, my grandpa taught me to stand up to bullies so they end up backing down. Not sure if that will work, and my dad doubts that it would, but it's worth the risk."

After church, Rachel, Vanessa, and Julianne meet at the back parking lot, ready to start the fight. Rachel and Vanessa charge towards Julianne. However, Julianne trips Vanessa, causing Vanessa to fall, bend her ankle backwards, and scrape her hurt shin more than before, losing the band-aid. Rachel gasps at the sight of Vanessa having her leg messed up on the road, and charges toward Julianne in full fury. She manages to piggyback Julianne, who then throws Rachel off her. Rachel hits the back of her head on a car, and while it is painful, she only has a slight bump. Julianne starts choking Rachel!

"L-Let go of me!" Rachel wheezes.

"You should gotten out of my way, Rachel!" Julianne growls as she starts squeezing tighter.

"HEY!!!" a familiar voice yells. It's Nate! "Let her go, or I'll call 911!"

Julianne drops Rachel who's now coughing from that strangle and rubbing her head bump. Julianne tries to fake an excuse, "Oh, it was just self-defense. She shoved me and bit me! It hurts so bad!"

"Don't you lie to me, missy! I saw all that happened. I know you're the granddaughter of this psychotic social studies teacher who used to bully me when I was in middle school, and now I'm standing up to a Godfrey so I can protect my daughter and your friend. Now get out of here!"

"OK then, but you shall all pay later!"

As Julianne storms off, Rachel thanks Nate. "You really saved our butts, Dad. I had never realized how vicious this "popular" bully Julianne can be when she has a crush on our friend Todd."

"No worries," Nate responds. "Good things can often come around bad things. It's all I can do to keep you and your friend safe. Really cool how your friend is the granddaughter of my art teacher."

Nate takes Rachel and Vanessa to the hospital. Due to a mild concussion from the bump, Rachel has to take it easy for a week and not watch any TV or read any books during then. She also has to wear a scarf around the marks on her neck from the strangle. Vanessa has to wear a cast for her broken ankle for over a month, and wear bandage on her scraped shin during a fraction of that period. That also means that she has to take a break from Rachel's band.

By Saturday, Rachel's head is feeling better and she isn't concussed anymore. Ruby decides to take the family on a one-day road trip and motel stay. Normally, Rachel does not like road trips, but she finds out that the motel is close to the place where the buskers competition will be held that night. So she brings her keytar with her. She has a good devious plan...

During the motel stay, at midnight, while Nate, Ruby, and Maxwell are asleep, Rachel sneaks out of the motel with her keytar, heading to the buskers competition. Over there, she performs her keytar like a boss and earns a lot of money. She's having the time of her life...until Nate and Ruby show up at around 1am, worried and furious, and take Rachel back to the motel room, leaving behind her money bucket.

"DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW WORRIED WE'VE BEEN!?!" Nate yells.

"When that cop came to our room and said you were out there in the dark on your own, I almost died!" Ruby cries.

Nate sighs, "I'm very disappointed in you, Rachel. Even I didn't sneak off outside in the middle of the night when I was a kid."

So after the family return home from the motel, Nate and Ruby ground Rachel for a week. During then, she can't leave the house except for school, watch TV, or listen to metal music. She also has her keytar confiscated until further notice. That means her band really isn't meant to be. Vanessa still has her messed up leg, Sonja might have to move back to Finland, and Todd is unsure about joining the band after that earlier fight Rachel and Vanessa had. What can she do about her band now?

[WORK IN PROGRESS, MORE FROM THIS FANFIC LATER]