Author's Note- November 14th, 2018

Some may be curious whether this story was inspired by the soon to be released sequel movie. The answer is that it was not. I'd already introduced the internet as a setting in my Wreck-It Ralph fanfics back in 2013, and this story has been in development since 2014, before we knew the sequel would even be made, let alone what it would be about. This fic is set in my previously established continuity [and functions as a sequel to my earlier stories], and like those fics, it should be considered part of an AU where only the first movie happened. With that being said, I hope you enjoy the story.

Prologue:

The Last Two Members of the Council

November, 2016

In an obscure, darkened corner of the internet, two figures crouched in the shadows of a corridor. One, an armored figure named Leroy, faced one direction. The other, a black-garbed ninja known only as "The Master", faced the other direction. After scanning for threats, they ducked into the wall beside them, passing through it into an unclaimed domain name.

It had been nearly two months since the attack on SANG's headquarters, and almost three since their leader, Portia DeMille, had set out with two of the council members -Bruce and Frosty- and the bulk of their army for Litwak's Arcade. They had never returned. All communication had been lost in late September, and there was no chance to reestablish it; within a week, the Iron Wolves had struck.

None of the members of the council had been expecting an attack. They had seen the Iron Wolves before, but never in significant numbers, and seldom outside their own game. The wolves had always ignored them. They had never seen the pale, dark-haired man in the white suit who led the wolves' attack. Agent after agent he had slain, in a bloodbath that went the attackers' way right from the start. Only they and one other had escaped- their Chief of Propaganda, Gale. Gale had disappeared soon after, leading the wolves away in a desperate effort to allow his comrades time to escape. They hadn't seen him since.

Now, alone, in hiding on the Dark Web, constantly on the move for fear of being discovered, Leroy and The Master had acclimated themselves to the truth: the Society for the Advancement of New Games was no more.

Remembering this fact as he entered the darkened husk of a room, Leroy frowned. He had committed his whole life to the organization. With SANG gone, there was no major group left on the internet to carry the torch for their progressive ideals. What was worse than the wolves' attack, however, was the realization that Portia had failed, and all their brothers and sisters had died.

True, he hadn't seen it happen; he had no way to confirm it. But somehow, he knew it in the very depths of his code. They had all perished. And it had been at the hands of those cursed, inferior arcade sprites.

"Dirty sons of glitches!" he swore under his breath. "If I could just get even with them-"

But it would be years before he would have even a ghost of a chance at that. There were just he and The Master left now.

Leroy took in the half-formed walls, dimly lit archways, and dusty floor panels that made up the unclaimed domain name. It looked as though it'd lain dormant for several years. Broken cobwebs hung from the ceiling, swaying gently in the breeze that emanated from the furthest opening.

"So what is this place?" Leroy asked quietly. The Master turned to look at him.

"The only place left to hide. The humans once knew it as a place to buy and sell…illegal substances. Seems the government didn't like that. Out there, in the human world, only the government can access this place anymore; they seized total control from other humans. But us- we can just waltz on in."

"Well, so can other game characters, then," Leroy snapped.

"Sure they could," The Master replied. "They could- if they knew how to find it. Few ever knew when the site was live. And the ones who did- well, they'd have to be either crazy or desperate to have come."

"Desperate like us?" Leroy scoffed. "If that white-suited degenerate knows where it is, he'll come."

"I must've forgotten to mention why nobody comes here anymore," said The Master. "Word is, the place is haunted now."

"Haunted?"

"Yeah, haunted. The fools. Actually believing in something so stupid. But it'll save our hides. Anyone who'd think to look here wouldn't dare come in the first place. And even if they did- well, it's a million to one they'd ever find the place."

The two characters headed slowly forward, further into the domain.

"You know your way around still?" Leroy asked.

"Sure," his companion said. "The place might be a broken down wreck, but the layout's the same, more or less. It always is. Give me a bit of time, I'll have the place figured out. Then we can plan our next move."

"Just figure it out fast, will you?" Leroy muttered. "I don't know this place at all."

They passed through one archway, and then another, into a large, darkened chamber lit only by a dim glow emanating from the floor, allowing them to see a mere meter in any direction. Here, they paused while The Master quietly observed, trying to get his bearings.

"Main page, About Section…this must've been the first exhibition hall."

Leroy observed him for a moment, before asking: "Why'd you ever come to this place anyway?"

"Humans aren't the only ones who try to expand their minds."

He couldn't see The Master's grin behind his head coverings -only his eyes were visible- but he knew him well enough to know that the ninja was grinning. Shaking his head, Leroy looked away in disgust.

At that moment, there was a skittering sound. Startled, Leroy turned back towards his companion.

The Master had vanished.

Alarmed, Leroy drew his battle axe from the sling at his back and held it at the ready.

"Hey, man," he said. "Where are you?"

There was no answer, but the skittering sound returned.

"Master, this isn't funny," Leroy said, louder this time. "Where are you?" Again, there was no answer. He hurried forward several meters, before nearly tripping over something on the ground.

It was The Master. His eyes were wide open, registering shock. A gaping hole was in his chest. But rather than blood, the wound leaked…nothing.

Leroy knelt beside The Master. He grabbed his companion's arm. There was no response. He gripped harder, and the skin crumpled like newspaper, as though it no longer contained anything at all within.

With a cry of horror, Leroy released the corpse from his grasp. He raised his battle axe, just as the skittering sound returned…and as a sharp, bladed object pierced him clean through the armor protecting his stomach. The last thing he saw before death claimed him would have caused him to scream in sheer terror- if only he had had a voice left to scream with.