sugarglitch | first gear ; action

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Entry tags:

*action,
intro

first gear ; action

[It was early morning when Vanellope woke up and found herself staring up at a dreary, overcast sky. Huh. That was weird. Cotton candy clouds were always pink, sometimes stripey and vaguely stringy - the ones up there were fluffy and boring and dreary and grey. Even more curiously, she hadn't had to nap outdoors in a long while - she had a castle now, and it was pink and sparkly and covered in sugar crystals...

She turned over and gave a surprised yelp when the world suddenly dropped several feet around her. She glitched on reflex, appearing a few feet down and landed pretty painfully on something hard and brown - a branch, she realized, when she sat up. Was it chocolate? Most trees she liked to climb were peppermint flavored. At least the one she landed on wasn't double striped! It still hurt though - way more than it should, really - was there something painful on her back? She got up, feet planted squarely on the tree branch and rubbed the back of her neck as she craned her head to check on what that ache was -

and stepped back again in surprise when she saw the minty green feathers fluttering behind her - not that there was anything there for her to step on! She'd fallen several feet down the tree before she even thought of glitching down to safety, and so was a flurry of pixels and feathers and candy bits when she was closer to the ground. Hopefully she doesn't crash into anyone! Though to be fair, landing on someone would prooobably be better than hitting the forest floor. Well, better for her, anyway.]

Owww... Talk about waking up on the wrong side of the candybar...

[Later in the afternoon, when she was somewhat settled and finally convinced that she wouldn't be going home for a while, Vanellope can be found in the middle of town! She's mostly hanging around the bakery, hovering by the window and peering inside at all the the sweet treats ( "Why are they all so freakishly tiny!" ) - but at some points can also be found glitching from shelf to shelf at the grocery, item shop or clothes store at all the things that weren't made of candy!]

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[Still with the eye-rolling.] Um, doy. You got your buddy Fix-It to fix things so the game was all fixed and stuff. [She punches his arm lightly.] So now I'm in the game, and I'm not just a glitch anymore, so after hours I can get out of Sugar Rush and come find you over at your game, too! It's all great, 'cause we did it! We saved Sugar Rush, an' the rest of the arcade!

Vanellope... [He takes a moment to weigh her words. Part of him wants to doubt her, to keep on feeling down about everything that's happened. But at the same time... a feeling in his heart says that this is the truth. And it's bursting with joy.]

That's great! More than great, that's wonderful! [Whoops, he can't help but reel her into a giant hug.] You don't understand, I thought I was done for. And that... you might be, too. But, but all of this... I knew the gamers would love you. I'm proud, kid.

[What else can she do but hug back? Sort of, anyway, her arms can only go so far around his neck. And only for a while, because while this is nice - especially after how confusing this is all being - all this huggy touchy feely business is making her squirm a bit. She laughs a bit, though. Because at least this was more like the Ralph she remembers.]

Well, you aren't done for, 'cause from what I remember you're havin' the time of your life back in your game! [She draws back and gives him a bright grin.] And you called it, didn'cha? That the gamers would love me. You said that before anyone else did! And you were right!

I am? Really? If everything really did go that well for you... Yeah. I think I would be happy.

And I did call it. Of course I did! When you've been in the business as long as I have, you can know a winner when you see one. [He pulls out the hug and tosses the tiny creature into the air with a laugh.] Even a bratty one.

[And then, tossed! Vanellope laughs right along with him, glitching when she's at the peak of his throw so that she's right back on his neck in no time.]

I asked you to stay, y'know. And you were like [She makes a vaguely frowny face as her voice takes on what's probably supposed to be a cheap imitation of his.] I can't, I gotta job to do and my game's countin' on me!, and stuff. That was prooobably a smart thing to do, though. And the weird little people in your game are nicer to you now...

[Having this kid climbing on his neck, feels so familiar. And so great.]

What, they are? Even that crumbutt, Gene?

Ooh, that's the stuffy one with the really crummy looking mustache, right?

Yeah, that's him!

[He says excitedly, with a laugh. She knows him. She really knows him.]

Yeahhh I guess he's being nice to ya. They all were, once Fix-It told them all about what you did! They made you a cake and everything! Dunno how that's any special, though. I mean, if you wanted a cake I coulda gotten you one bigger than you over at Sugar Rush...

My own... cake? [He says slowly in awe. Then he regains is composure and addresses the runt.]

Thanks, kid. I really would've enjoyed that. But it's the principle of the matter, really. Part of what got me so mad that I left the game in the first place was that I didn't get any of our 30th anniversary cake. Gene actually got me so mad, I... wrecked the cake.

Ahh, principle, schminciple. I still coulda gotten you a better one.

[She gives him grin, though.] But I guess if it matters to you that much, I'm glad you got it from them! Even if they were being pigbrains to you before then.

Total pigbrains. The worst kind! But tha- wait, but I didn't even get that cake yet, you just told me I will when I catch up to you! [He huffs.] Whenever I get that cake, it better not be chocolate.

[She giggles.] I hope it is. Then I can come visit and show them how a real cake is done!

You really think you can make a good cake? I'd like to see you try. You couldn't even make a candy kart without me.

Hey! The Lickety Split (may she rest in peace!) was a great kart while she was around! She wasn't the fastest pedal-pusher west of the Whack-a-Mole for nothin'!

I don't know. Maybe the Lickety-Split was overrated. I think that everything it had going for it, maybe it was driver's unbelievable skills instead.

[Vanellope blinks, and then squints up at Ralph.]

Wait, so is that a good thing or a bad thing... [She built the Lickety Split herself, after all!]

[He grunts in exasperation.]

I was trying to say that the kart was bad but your driving is good, and... Ugh! Forget it, it's ruined.

[FROWNING]

It wasn't that bad... It was charming! And adorable!

[He pauses for a moment, realizing the mistake he made by dissing the Lickety-Split.]

Know what, kid? It was. And you would've won in that, too. I know that for a fact.

Darn right I would've! [She huffs and crosses her arms. But she can't stay mad for long. There's still a lot of questions she needs to ask!]

So, what's the story of this place, anyway? What kinda game is it? And what's up with the wings?

[He pokes at Vanellope's head. She'll get over it soon enough. But for now, finally he has someone he can explain this place to in his own terms.}

It sounds like it's a game that takes people from all different kinds of games in and traps them here. And most of the people here? They don't even have any self-awareness. Lots of them think they're customers instead of characters. And it's a really, really weird game where these scientist guys called the Malnossos? They keep us locked up in this area and run experiments or something. I think they're the bad guys? It's hard to tell. I don't even know the point of this game, there's no medals and everyone seems to spend their time just, I don't know, living. There are war levels and optional missions, too, but I think those're just bonuses.

And be careful with those wings, kid. That's your life meter.

[She tries to listen to everything he says, but only a few things stick out for her. War levels? Missions, scientists and a life meter...?]

What? There must be some kinda mistake! I'm not from a fighter game, I'm a racer! What am I supposed to do on those bonus levels?

Nothing, duh. I'll make sure you don't have to do anything dumb like that. And in the meantime, we can find a way for you to race here.

[She frowns.]

Yeah but if we don't do what we're supposed to, how do we finish the game and get outta here? That's not how games work... [And she really doesn't wanna fight. This sucks.]

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