Chapter One- Pie
Mix, roll, cut, crimp, fill, bake!
One pie hot and ready!
Mix, roll, cut, crimp, fill, bake!
Two pies hot and ready!
It was another busy game day and for a particular group of characters, that meant things were REALLY cooking!
The Nicelanders in Fix-it-Felix Jr. were working hard away, preparing the many pies needed to hand out for the busy game day, each one ready to climb the ladders and run all through the apartment with their tasty treats.
Anyone who was even NEAR the game could smell the delightful aroma of baking pies wafting down the cord, the entire station soon filled with the scent of pie.
Apple? Blueberry? Peach? Pecan?
It was all there, and if anything it made several characters hungry!
If there was one game known for its fresh baked pies, it was this game but at the same time, if there was a game known for how feverishly the bakers made them, it Fix-it-Felix Jr.!
As so many had said, the Nicelanders MIGHT have looked like walking eggs but man, could they make a MEAN pie!
Inside her apartment Mary opened the doors of the oven, a blast of heat and a sweet smell of strawberry filling the entire apartment. She breathed in deep, the smell making her warm all over.
"Oh, another wonderful batch!" the woman cooed to herself as she carefully laid the pies on the counter, stacking them with the many others.
There was no argument about it. While everyone in Niceland was programmed how to make a decent pie, if there was on person who EXCELLED at that talent, it was Mary. Then again, Mary excelled at baking EVERYTHING that could be made under the sun. Her cakes, pies, cookies were always the talk of the apartments and if there was something Mary enjoyed, it was sharing her talents with others.
There was a certain joy the woman got when she saw the look on a character's face when they took a bite of her cooking. To see their faces light up and their mood brighten was enough to let the woman know that in her own little way, she was making a difference somewhere.
She knew she wasn't the most powerful character, the fastest, or even the most important since she was just an NPC….
But she loved her job.
Everyone in Niceland loved their job.
Some might have thought it was boring or even tedious but not the Nicelanders.
They were more than happy to run throughout their apartments to give pie to their hero, a man by the name of Felix.
It was their job and it was something they loved to do.
But by now, everyone knew that things weren't always so hunky-dory in the small game. Only a few weeks prior, everyone in Niceland was in fear that they were going to lose their homes. After thirty years of being ignored, feared, and outright ostracized by his fellow game-mates, the big bad of the game decided to jump ship.
And the results were DISASTROUS.
Well, for the most part.
Things were on the brink for EVERYONE but by some wave of a miracle, something had happened.
Ralph had saved the day.
And not just one game but possibly ALL of the games in the arcade.
He had become a hero not only to the other characters but to the Nicelanders as well. They learned that Ralph wasn't just some person who was out to make their lives miserable or to threaten their safety and in that one daring act, the Nicelanders realized that there was not one but TWO heroes among them.
Things had changed in Niceland and they had changed for the better.
As the weeks went on, Ralph and the Nicelanders were starting to get closer, a feat none of them would have really thought would happen in all their lives but step-by-step, everyone was getting closer. It wasn't easy for all of them but there was some progress being made. Not only were the Nicelanders learning that Ralph had a heart as big as his huge body but Ralph was learning that even the Nicelanders had their quirks that he enjoyed.
Lucy loved music, Norwood was always snarking on someone, Nel was quick on her feet and her wit, Don just LOVED to tell stories and Meg was always ready to share a pot of her homebrew tea with the wrecker.
Ralph couldn't believe it but he was starting to enjoy the company of his neighbors.
Even the very one who had caused him the most pain….
Gene.
There was still a bit of tension between the two men as things were starting to clear up in the game but from the eyes of everyone else, it seemed like BOTH men were trying out do each other in both pride and stubbornness.
While Gene had admitted that he was wrong about Ralph, the little blue Mayor still was a bit hesitant, something he always showed around characters he was wary about. It wasn't just Ralph, but considering he LIVED with the man, the poor wrecker had always gotten the worse of Gene's anger.
The wrecker on the other hand was hesitant himself, wondering if Gene really meant some of the things he said. Of course, EVERYONE in Niceland knew that Gene kept his promises and he had NEVER broken them since the day the game was plugged in. Despite this, Ralph continued to convince himself that Gene was lying somehow, if only to have someone to complain about.
It was an unstoppable force and an unmovable object.
Both men were acting like children towards each other but neither one would admit it.
*BOOM!*
"NYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!"
Mary looked out the window, watching Gene fly off into the distance as another stick of dynamite had blown up in his face. Ever since the truth had gotten out, things had changed in the arcade, the biggest on being that Fix-it-Felix Jr. had become a haven for characters whose game had been unplugged over the years but it wasn't just homes they had received….
They had gotten an opportunity to work again.
Of course, with that extra work came an extra duty for Gene and that was to be LAUNCHED out of his window whenever the bonus stage started. Mary couldn't help but giggle as she heard the man's scream go into the distance but at the same time, something began to tug at her heart.
It was no secret to anyone that Gene didn't like his role of being a throwing object in the game but since the bonus stage had been put into place, Mary began to worry more than ever. She began to worry that perhaps Gene had agreed to take on a bit TOO much. After all, HE was the one who agreed with Ralph and Felix to continue in the act.
He didn't have to, BUT HE DID.
If that were the case, perhaps he actually didn't mind but either way, Mary felt a bit sorry for the man, worrying that he would soon blow himself up if he took one too many blast to the face.
"Quitin' time!"
Felix and the others strutted back into the apartment, happy that another work day had gone off perfectly. Mary opened the door of her apartment, watching her neighbors file in but there was one person in particular she was looking for.
Gene.
She found it odd that after everyone had gotten in, the Mayor still wasn't found. Perhaps he had been blasted TOO far this time?
"Goodness…" the little baker said to herself "I wonder where he could b-?"
"URGH! Just need to-!"
*CRACK!*
There was a heavy sigh from the hall, Mary looking out to see Gene stretching his short little arms and placing a hand on his back.
"Man, I need to start workin' out…" the man said with a huff, his hair a mess and ashes all over his face and suit.
Opportunity strikes!
Mary smiled as she hopped out of her apartment "Mr. Mayor!"
The little man stopped in his tracks and turned towards the woman, blushing like mad.
Another secret that was OBVIOUS to everyone?
Gene's love for Mary.
There were many things that Gene loved but the top thing on that list was his love for the baker but in thirty years, Gene had been much too bashful to say ANYTHING towards her. Sure, there were a few little hints here and there but nothing beyond an action that made Gene so embarrassed that his chubby cheeks turned redder than a spiny-fisted echidna.
Apparently, Gene could be sharped-tongued to EVERYONE else….but when Mary entered the situation…he felt as small as a mouse.
"O-Oh, hello-!" the man stumbled, catching himself "Hello, Ms. Mary! H-how are you doing this evening?"
"I'm fine, SWEETIE." The baker said, only accenting her words to make Gene blush more "I was just wondering if you were in the mood for some pie."
Oh, so many things went off in Gene's head.
"P-Pie?" the man stammered, wanting nothing more than to put his hands to his face to hide his glowing cheeks "Th-that sounds GREAT dear, but I-"
"Oh, don't tell me you have something else to do other than eat." the woman teased, tickling Gene under his chin "I know you too well, Mayor. You're always hungry by the end of the game day!"
Indeed.
Gene placed his hands on his round belly, feeling a little rumble as he smelled and thought of pie.
He knew he would indulge himself too much somehow but….
"W-well…I guess that would be a good id-WHOAH!"
Before Gene could interject, Mary had PULLED him into the apartment, wasting no time in shoving him in a seat and placing an entire pie in front of the man.
"Is this blueberry?" the man smiled, cutting right into the pastry and savoring every bite.
Mary smiled as she watched Gene enjoy her pie but there was something more to it than allowing the mayor to eat his fill of her baked goods.
She was getting closer. Even though she couldn't find the courage to say it, she was getting closer to Gene and with each new move that she made, she loved it.
She just wished she were brave enough to tell the man the truth but unbeknownst to her, Gene was thinking the exact same thing. He was hopping that Mary didn't see him as a glutton since he was always willing to take up an offer whenever she mentioned food to him but he enjoyed EVERY second of being around her whenever the two got a chance to share a pie together.
They couldn't say it, but they loved each other.
And the pie was the thing that was bringing them closer.
Ah yes, pie.
Pie is such a wonderful thing.