Sweet and Sour
Chapter 1 – Announcement
##LITWAK'S ARCADE##
It was a Saturday morning, mere minutes before Mr. Litwak would open the doors to a gamer's haven. A fair number of kids and game-loving adults were waiting outside for the arcade's opening. Mr. Litwak was walking around hanging up last minute posters for game updates that will take place on Sunday. Sundays were usually Mr. Litwak's days off, but he comes in for a few hours when new software comes in for his games. Mr. Litwak walked up to one of his most popular games. He hung the last poster on the side of the game and said something quietly, as if he was talking to the game. With a smile, he walked off to greet his customers for the day.
##SUGAR RUSH SPEEDWAY##
During the last few minutes of relaxing time for the morning, the ruler of a sugar coated racing world and watched as her fellow racers zoomed around the candy track to determine which nine racers would be featured in today's races. She had pulled herself from the Random Roster Race for the day. She was a featured racer for the last five days, a favorite racer for most players, and she wanted a break from the track.
The president of Sugar Rush sat on a peppermint style chair on the balcony of the highest tower of Candy Castle, the best vantage point to watch the race. She had her favorites for the day, but there were a few racers that stunned the candy crowd.
Vanellope looked up from the race just in time to see the arcade owner walk up to the game. She watched as he hung a colorful poster to the side of the game console.
"Sugar Rush is getting a big update tomorrow!" The elderly owner said to himself and smiled and walked away.
Vanellope stared in shock at the screen as the owner went to greet his guests. Nine small chiming sounds snapped her out of her reverie as the first nine racers crossed the finish line to determine the featured racers for the day.
Vanellope slid down a taffy slide to meet the racers. She watched as a cherry top Jubileena buffed the side of her pie-styled kart. She was the unfortunate target of a few well-placed sweet seekers, and barely missed out on being in the top nine. Vanellope patted the racer on the shoulders and smiled before meeting the winners.
Taffyta, Rancis, Candlehead, Minty, Snowanna, Adorabeezle, Citrusella, Gloyd, and Sticky were celebrating in the winner's circle when Vanellope walked up to them. She called for the other racers to join them for a quick meeting.
"Congrats to the nine winners!" Vanellope cheered, "You will represent Sugar Rush as the avatars in today's races! I have some news to share with everyone, so please meet at the castle when the day's done! Race a great race, everyone!" With that, Vanellope walked off toward the castle, leaving herself out of the races for the day. She had an announcement to prepare and an update to plan for. The other 14 racers watched as their President disappeared into the castle before preparing for the day's races. The victorious nine remained on the winner's circle waiting to be picked, while the other 5 walked over to their karts and waited for the races to begin.
Vanellope watched from a window near the castle's entrance as Taffyta and Sticky were chosen as the first avatars of the day. As she was headed to the throne room, a tiny, green candy drop walked up to her with a piece of fondant shaped like parchment.
"What do you have for me this fine morning, Sir Bill of Sourness?" Vanellope asked, staring at the fondant parchment.
Since the end of King Candy's reign, Vanellope gave Sour Bill the assignment of Secretary of Public Relations. He was the go-to person between the candy land's citizens and the President as well as the go-to person between other games and Vanellope (Ralph being the exception. He was, after all, her best stink-brain friend). Sour Bill liked his new duties, but he didn't show it.
"Its news of the new update, Miss President," Sour Bill replied in his usual monotone voice, "All of those that shared are from those who have games near Mr. Litwak's office. They said he was reading the insert that came with the update disk out loud and they were able to hear it all from their consoles."
Vanellope scanned the parchment for a quick minute before glancing up at Sour Bill. "News travels fast around Litwak's," she thought aloud, "Thank you for the news, Sir Bill. Please tell all of our citizens to meet in Mango Meeting Room A when the arcade closes. I'll be in my room if any new news comes up." After patting Sour Bill on the head, Vanellope headed up to her room to prepare the speech she plans to deliver later at night.
##FIX-IT FELIX JR.##
Ralph stood from being launched into the mud for the third time today. It was a slow day for the Fix-It Felix Jr. crew. But during one of the times Ralph was raised up on the Nicelander's shoulders, he noticed a large crowd of kids standing around the Sugar Rush game.
He watched as his friend, Felix, walked up to him, fiddling around with his golden hammer.
"Almost got with a few bricks there, Ralph!" Felix said, tapping his hammer to the mud and turning it back to grass, "Way to wreck it today!"
"Same to you, Felix," Ralph greeted, cleaning himself of the mud, "By the way, I thought I saw the little green tart ball here earlier today, what was that visit all about?"
"Oh, you didn't hear?" Felix questioned, looking up at the screen and watching people walk by their game, "The little tyke is getting an update to her game."
"Really, now?" Ralph asked, bemused, "Why did Bill have to come all this way to tell us that?"
Felix glanced away from the screen as a player walked up to their machine, "He was asking the Nicelanders if it was okay for their people to hang out here during the update," Felix replied, before making his way to his start position. "Get ready to wreck it, Ralph! We have a player!" With that, he left to prepare for game play.
##SUGAR RUSH SPEEDWAY##
The cheering of the candy crowd made it difficult for Vanellope to concentrate on completing the announcement she had to deliver later at night. She may have wanted a break today, but racing was in her code, and she missed the feel of being behind the wheel of her race kart. Unfortunately for her, the duties of being President had to come first today.
Vanellope looked down at the fondant parchment she received from Sour Bill earlier and sighed, "I need to get this done! The arcade is closing soon!"
She stared at what she had completed of her speech and picked up her pink icing pen. "The race is against the clock! And GO!" She whispered loudly to herself and started writing.
##LITWAK'S ARCADE##
The day went breezed by. Mr. Litwak had a commercial throughout the week, advertising the big updates. Because of this, kids and adults alike flocked to Litwak's to play their favorite games before their big changes. Older favorites received attention from a few gamers, but the largest crowd of the day surrounded the two game consoles of Sugar Rush Speedway.
"Attention gamers, the arcade will be closing in 5 minutes," Mr. Litwak announced through the loudspeaker. "Thank you for using Litwak's as your source of entertainment!"
Moans and groans were heard from around the arcade, the loudest coming from the group near Sugar Rush. There were handfuls that won't be able to play, and that upset them.
Slowly, but surely, the crowd trickled out the door. The last few races were done in Sugar Rush. Even games like Fix-It Felix Jr. and Hero's Duty had last minute games played.
Soon after the last family left the arcade, the lights went out and the doors were locked. The arcade was, at last, closed for the weekend.
##SUGAR RUSH SPEEDWAY##
Vanellope finished her speech early enough to watch the last race. She smiled as she watched Jubileena hit Taffyta, Gloyd, and Swizzle with Sweet Seekers. She knew for sure that was payback for what happened during the random roster race. Jubileena came in a close second to Candlehead.
The racers sped off the track after the last race, meeting each other at the entryway of the castle. Sour Bill led them to Mango Meeting Room A, where they saw the other candy citizens of Sugar Rush.
After a short wait, Vanellope walked up to the stage, which made the room grow quiet. She took a deep breath and started her announcement.
"Ladies, Gentlemen, and Candies, thank you for coming to tonight's meeting." She paused for a moment before taking another deep breath and continuing. "Early tomorrow morning, our game consoles are going to be unplugged..."