The three karts pulled up to the starting line of the main race track of Sugar Rush, preparing for a big race between them. "Is everybody ready?" Vanellope asked eagerly.
"The Queen shall be victorious!" Nightmare proclaimed loudly.
"I'm gonna wreck this track!" Ralph chimed in eagerly.
"Alright!" Vanellope proclaimed. "Let's hit it!"
Sour Bill stood in the announcer block. "Ready..." he stated in his monotone. "Set...Go!"
The three karts took off down the track.
As the lightest kart, Dream Eater started out in the lead with its high acceleration. Vanellope's kart, "The Precious Gift", was firmly in second, being an overall balanced kart with its glitch bonus. Ralph's kart, "Bull Dozer", was in last at first. As the heaviest kart, it had the lowest acceleration of any kart. However, it had both the highest max speed and could break through most of the course obstacles without slowing, as long as it hit them head on. Between its high traction and the speed boost it got for smashing something, he was able to keep close once it got to the giant gumballs.
Two other things also became plain to balance out the discrepancy between the karts. Nearly all of Sugar Rush's attack items had to be launched in a given direction to target an enemy kart. Due to its small size and light weight, however, Dream Eater's launch range was half that of other karts, and it suffered recoil from launching, pushing the kart in the opposite direction the item was fired in. When impacted by an item or course obstacle, Dream Eater also took 15% longer than other karts to recover and drive normally again. However, between the light weight and high drift and control stats, it was far easier to avoid such things if one knew how. Bull Dozer, on the other hand, had twice the normal launch range, and recovered 15% faster from item damage.
However, with the inclusion of items in the race, Vanellope's experience at using them proved the most advantageous, not to mention her familiarity with the track itself. As a result, she came in first. Ralph came in second, due to the sheer power of his kart, while Nightmare came in close after him, but still in last.
"Great race, guys!" Vanellope called happily as she leapt out of her kart.
"That was real fun!" Ralph said proudly. "I can see why you love racing so much!"
Nightmare, however, pouted furiously. "Cheaters!" she grumbled.
Ralph and Vanellope glanced at each other. "Think we should have gone easier on her?" Vanellope asked.
"Wouldn't know how to," Ralph replied. "I was as much of a beginner as her. More so, since she was at least familiar with the kart controls."
Turning, Nightmare blew them both a raspberry before driving off in a huff.
Vanellope sighed. "Forgot we were dealing with a little kid here," she admitted. "Shoulda let her win."
"Maybe," Ralph allowed. "But for right now, I need to go catch up with her and talk to her." Getting back into his kart, he drove to a boost pad before taking off after her.
Vanellope rolled her eyes. "Didn't she say I was Mom?" she demanded, hopping back in her kart and driving after them.
Ralph drove easily through the countryside, Bull Dozer boosting speed every time he crashed through something, following whatever trail he could find of Nightmare and Dream Eater. Unfortunately, the light kart didn't actually leave much of a trail, and he was forced to rely on other ideas.
"Let's see...if I were a filly sprite with strange powers...no, that's the wrong way to think," he muttered to himself. "If I were a little kid born of the night, where would I go if I was upset? Hmm...someplace dark and quiet where no one was likely to bother me..." He suddenly grinned. "I know where she went." Turning, he set his course for the gate back to Grand Central Station.
After a time, he was in the Pac-Man maze, following a path blank of pellets. Before long he found Nightmare pouting in one corner, her face buried in a melon, munching away. "Moony?"
She turned away, still pouting.
Walking up, he sat beside her as the shadows of the maze wrapped around them. "You wanna talk?" he asked softly.
Nightmare was silent for a time. "...why didn't I win?" she demanded petulantly.
"It was your first race with items," Ralph explained. "Without any experience with them, you were at a huge disadvantage."
"But I won before..." she complained.
"That was a no items race," Ralph explained. "Also, it was mostly uphill. You had a massive advantage there. Here, Vanellope had the advantage of more experience, both with the course and with items."
"But...but you beat me too," Nightmare countered. "And you had even less experience than me."
Ralph chuckled. "My kart's built around breaking stuff. I'm an expert at that. I got bonus speed for breaking the course."
Nightmare pawed the ground with her hoof. "So...it was just stacked against me?"
"Kinda, yeah," he replied. "You lacked the one thing that really decides races like that: experience. Get a few more item races under your belt, and you'll get back to owning us." He tickled her under the chin. "Also, be a bit more careful launching items. You recoiled yourself off the course three times."
Moony stuck her tongue out at him, blowing another raspberry. However, it was plain she was cheering up.
"Come on," he said. "Let's go back. Vanellope's probably worried about you, and she can't leave her own game."
Nodding, Nightmare walked with Ralph back to Sugar Rush.
Wily pushed his empty drink mug back as he stared down at the data before him. No matter how many times he read it, it didn't get any easier to accept or wrap his mind around.
Nightmare Moon was not a sprite. She was manifesting as one, but the full nature of her being went a great deal beyond that. She wasn't born of video games, or even of the internet. She came from somewhere beyond that, and had somehow entered the world of data. Not only that, but her full magical nature couldn't be completely expressed as code.
And she wasn't going to stay small and adorable forever. That aspect of her functioned like a chibi-custom. As best as he was able to determine, there would be three stages of growth minimum. She was currently in her first stage, and there would be at least two more. He couldn't begin to understand what would cause those two growth stages, but he could see that her ability set would drastically alter with each one, and she'd be constantly aware of everything she could do in each stage. Thankfully, as far as he could tell, she'd demonstrated the full range of her abilities of this stage already: warping, her lightning, and a shield she'd crafted once.
"So how's it look, Pops?" Zero asked, setting his own mug down.
Albert sighed. "...this would be so much easier if I were actually evil," he grumbled.
Zero raised an eyebrow. "You aren't?"
Chuckling, Albert shook his head. "Not technically. Chaotic neutral at worst. In my own game, I want what's best for the world. My perception of that is just completely different from what others perceive it to be."
Zero raised his eyebrow. "Really?" he asked in disbelief.
"Read the manga," Albert replied, chuckling. "My goal was for robots to be treated as equals to humans, rather than treated as disposable tools."
"So...your goal was the Reploid society I'm a part of?" Zero's wide grin was telling.
Wily rolled his eyes. "Yes, I get the irony. My ultimate weapon towards that goal - the Wily Virus - is the thing causing the greatest discord in the very society I wanted to create. Very funny, son."
Zero chuckled. "So how would this be easier if you were evil?" he asked.
Albert sighed as Tapper poured him another mug. "Because I could just make the tough decisions for the good of the arcade. Because I wouldn't care about who I hurt in the process. ...because I wouldn't feel guilty for even thinking about it every time I looked into those adorable cat eyes..."
Zero wrapped his arm comfortingly around his old man, doing what he could to make things easier.
Wily rested his hand on his son's. "...thank you."
They sat in silence for a time. "...so," Zero finally spoke up, "why the boob lights?"
"Do not start that again!" Albert growled through his laughter.
Your dad once made a robot out of wood. It's safe to say his mind works differently than most people's, Zero.
Boob lights
WoooOOOT! Moony is looking more and more like she's the legit Nightmare Moon, who somehow found herself in the game world! I am happy. Great chapter, as usual!
I love how this is turning out so far! You've added a lot of depth to your story, both in the story itself and the authors notes. I wish I had your talent.
I kinda got some feels out of the last part of the chapter. Then the boob lights came up
This really is an eye opener: Wily considerably being Chaotic Neutral at best, and yet his designs are so obviously themed for evil.
Not to mention him teaming up with Dr. Eggman, if the Archie comics count.
6026788 Wiley and Zero are from Megaman. This is what Zero looks like:
vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/megaman/images/1/13/Xt1_zerostand.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20100601215618
He's asking why Wiley built him with boob lights.
6026788 LOOK AT ME! WHAT USE COULD ZERO TYPES HAVE FOR BOOB LIGHTS!?
6026788 Wily was lonely. XD
Ah, yes, the second most popular Megaman protagonist... has boob lights... well, at least he loses them once he gets that redesign in his own series...
But still, imagine if Wily DID create Sigweil... no one would be safe... not even if every Megaman protagonist teamed up to do that badass Final Smash from SSB4.
6026786 don't even mention sheepman
Great scene, but damnit Wily somehow manages to steal the show. I am now thinking about Button Mash under his care.
6026983 What I want to know is why he put his underwear on the outside.
Good chapter. I wonder what will become of Nightmare Moon.
This chapter, Ralph's cart was "The Wrecker." Last chapter, it was "Bull Dozer."
6027244
Misremembered what it was called. Fixed.
Boob lights!? That was too much. But the Dream Eater's really an expert kart.
You make it sound like Sugar Rush is an actual playable game. Is it?
Why the boob lights?
Why NOT the boob lights?!
6026788 fightersgeneration.com/np2/char2/char/zero-tvc.jpg Boob lights.
6027319
Nope there is no Sugar Rush arcade game. Sugar Rush was created for the movie.
6027073 .... I really want this....or maybe in a game anime like log horizon?
Amazing. The last part was very heartfelt but I can't help laughing at the Boob Lights and all the comments concerning them.
Oh deary dear.
Boob lights *snicker*
Yes Wily, why did you give him those??? I'd understand if they actually acted as flashlights in game....
Anyways, as chapters go, I think Moony should realize Ralph and Vanellope treated her like an equal and didn't baby her in the race at some point. On the note of Vanellope still being stuck in her game, I don't get that, her code was fixed when she won the race at the end of the movie so shouldn't she be able to leave the game??? I honestly want to see her going on adventures throughout the arcade with Ralph and Moony.
6026786 Yeah, he's crazy evil genius awesome!
6027695
The movie stated, flat out, that glitches can't leave their game.
After Sugar Rush was fixed, Vanellope still glitched. Ergo, she is still a glitch.
Unless there is a sequel that states flat out that, despite that, she can leave her game now, I treat it as she still can't leave. That's just how I interpret the facts.
6027713
Well there's actually a better argument than you think to that end, but it's still up for interpretation. Wreck-It Ralph 2 production has stated as a possible plot will involve, quote, "Ralph and the gang..." exploring other planes of gaming, and may even encounter alternate versions of themselves from other arcades or modern consoles, or meeting characters or universes from consoles or online games.
Given that Vanellope is a major part of the story of Wreck-It Ralph, it can be inferred she is able to leave her game, or will be made to be able to by or during the events of the second movie.
Reference: Wreck-It Ralph wiki.
So what you're saying is that Dream Eater is the equivalent of being able to quick scope people in PvP in terms of skill level and effectiveness?
6027713 She's outside her game at Calhoun's wedding to Felix which takes place in Hero's Duty:
vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/wreckitralph/images/e/e2/Calhoun_and_Felix_wedding_02.png/revision/latest?cb=20130625183837
6027780
It's never stated what game that chapel is in. And since at no point in Hero's Duty do we see any building other than the Tower where the beacon is, it's left up to interpretation where it is. Being in a flashback doesn't count, especially since it's stated flat out she was programmed with that backstory, meaning it never actually really happened.
Just like Ultron
6028338 Does that mean he's going to save the world by raising a city into the sky then dropping it back down like a meteor?
>>Tatsurou
Just in case some of you haven't seen Wreck it Ralph
Vanellope glitched because of what Turbo did to her code so he could become King Candy. Her being displayed on the side of sugar rush is what makes Ralph go back to sugar rush to question Sour Bill in the end. Then the events of the ending happen, Sugar Rush gets reset and Vanellope is revealed to have been their queen all along. she does keep glitching but it's never explained beyond 'Because Reasons' but she herself is no longer a glitch.
Another epic chapter well done, nice job!
Awww, sad Moony. She lost, dang it.
Oh crap she's gonna grow? That'll be fun to see
Hehehe.
Nice job again! Keep it up!
6028424
I have seen Wreck it Ralph, many times.
But at the end, after the game's code is repaired, Vanellope still glitches, meaning that her code block was permanently damaged in some way by what Turbo did. Meaning despite being reconnected to the game's code, she's still a glitch. We see her glitch out of the dress, and then see her - and her kart - glitch during a race into first place.
6028990
Yet she still went to the wedding, and entered other games with Ralph, meaning that problem was fixed.
6029087
I have addressed that continuity issue several times, as far as this fic is concerned. Stop bringing it up.
6029108
Mind linking the whole explanation of why you think those parts of the movie are not canon then?
6029119
I stated it in the comments here in this story. I'm not up to looking for it right now.
6029126
The parts of them going into other games could be considered a bonus and not canon, but the Wedding happened in Hero's Duty, and Vanellope was there. Is kind of hypocrite for you to just ignore that part of the movie, then don't make Ben Ten be an hero for ten years, but I guess you just don't like that series? I admit I only really liked the first series. Then again, you are willing to watch Reboot again just to have Sunset there, but I do prefer that series over Ben Ten. Is also funny how idealist the main character, named Bob, is. Heck, he is idealist up to Equestrian standards. In a way he is so idealist compared to everyone else, that makes me wonder were the heck he got it.
6029160
In regards to the wedding...
Everyone assumes the chapel is in Hero's Duty because it was part of Calhoun's flashback. However, it's stated at the beginning that she was programmed with that backstory...which means none of it actually happened. It's just a memory. Also, we get a panoramic view of Hero's Duty as Ralph comes out of the dropship when he's disguised as a soldier...and the only building in the entire world is the tower. Literally everything else is destroyed wasteland. Ergo, the actual chapel used for Calhoun and Felix's wedding could be anywhere in the arcade. In terms of my fic, it's in Sugar Rush.
6028394 Doesn't he do that already?
6029193
Well, I wonder how Vanellope took the fact Ralph married Calhoun.
I wonder how Felix took it too. XD. Though Felix is the one married to Calhoun last I recall.
I know I know it was just a wording mistake but I had to tease somewhat about it Tatsurou.
Anyway, been enjoying the fic so far, and I wonder if Wily will do the whole 'If all this doesn't fit a Sprite, does this mean she's like the users?'
6029412
He's actually already reached that conclusion. I'm just waiting for the right opportunity for him to say, "We have a Tron on our hands."
I thought Vanellope could leave her game after the game reset, giving her back her life.
They actually made a note to emphasize that in the movie.
6030303
Actually, they only emphasized in the movie that the game now recorded her as an official character.
That never stated one way or another what that did to how her glitch - which remained - affected her ability to leave the game.
Cannot wait for the next update, keep up the great work!
(sees that you did a story for my favorite villain)
...YAAAY!!!
6030398
In the movie, we see Vanellope attending Felix and Calhoun's wedding in the same chapel as Calhoun's first wedding, which must be in the Hero's Duty game. Every soldier in attendance has a gun pointed at the stained glass window in case a Cybug tries to repeat the "most tragic backstory ever." The end credits also show her game-jumping with Ralph, Felix, and Calhoun.
You can have it however you want in your story, of course.
6029193
We only see one level/world of the whole game. Nothing says that they can't be extra levels once you get the medal. Also building the whole place in sugar Rush would be harder than just using an exiting location in another game.
6031986
The original wedding occurred only in a flashback. She was programmed with that backstory, meaning those events never actually happened. There's no guarantee the chapel in question actually exists, or that it's the same building at the end
6032240
We get a panoramic of the entire game world. Same way we do when Ralph enters Sugar Rush. There are no other buildings. Also, the soldiers state flat out that all they do in the game - ever - is climb the tower over and over again so the player can get the medal, meaning that the tower is the only level.
6033424 Eh... Kinda.