Quest of the Sorceress
by Robert Teague
This story was written for the enjoyment of Wreck-It Ralph fans, and no copyright infringement is intended.
Author's Note: I just recently became aware of Sorceress, and because I have a "thing" about minor characters, decided to do something to flesh her out (so to speak).
Chapter One
Sunday afternoon in Game Central Station was noisy and crowded. Characters were heading from one game to another, having their own fun since the arcade was closed.
In a corner of the station was the entrance to Castle Quest, a horror/fantasy game. It was fairly popular, and had been part of the arcade for some years.
Inside the entrance a figure appeared. It was female, with a dark red dress and boots, a thin blue belt, long navy blue hair, light blue skin, long pointed ears, and unsettling red eyes.
As she stepped into the Station, an orange grid briefly lit up across the entrance, and a buzzer sounded. The woman grunted in annoyance and stopped.
A small man with a large head who looked to be made of electricity appeared beside her.
"Step aside, please; random security check. Name?" he asked.
She rolled her eyes. "Sorceress."
"And where are you coming from?" he asked, making a note on his clipboard.
As if he didn't know. Even if he didn't, all he had to do was look up over the entrance. She felt herself tense a bit, involutarily. "Castle Quest."
He nodded. "Where are you going?" He added another note.
She crossed her arms. "Tapper's."
"I see... Anything to declare?"
Oh, she was soooo tempted, but clenched her jaw and forced herself to stay calm. "No."
"Proceed." With a flash he was gone.
She closed her eyes and shook her head for a moment. The members of BadAnon had decided long ago that the Surge Protector had been targeting bad guys with extra security checks for a long time. If there had been anybody over him, they would have made their complaints heard already. But as it was, there was nothing they could do about it.
Seeing the crowd between her and her destination, she lifted off the ground and gracefully gained altitude. As she flew, characters would look up to see who it was. Some ducked away, some ignored her, and a few, mostly other bad guys, waved. She returned the gesture each time.
Nearing Tapper's, she put on a burst of speed and sailed through the entrance. The grid appeared and the buzzer sounded, but it was too late; she was already into the rail station. Glancing behind, she saw the Surge Protector standing there, glaring at her and tapping his foot with arms akimbo.
The sight made her giggle, but she knew she would probably pay for it when she left.
There were surprisingly few patrons inside. Everyone ignored her, minding their own business. This game was a neutral place, catering to everybody, and Tapper himself kept the peace.
She sat at the bar and looked around. The short barkeep was nowhere to be seen... oh, wait, there he was, coming out of the back.
He spotted her and hustled over. He had always been nice to her, and this time was no exception.
"Well, Sorceress! Been a while! Can I get you your usual?" he asked.
"Please and thank you!" she replied with a soft smile.
A moment later a large root beer sat in front of her, the frost on the glass mug steaming. She took a long drink and put it down with a sigh.
"What brings you here today?" he asked, wiping out a mug.
"Tapper, I need some advice," she told him.
"I'll help if I can!" he answered, "What can I do ya for?"
She explained what she was looking for in a few brief sentences, then took another drink.
"Hmmm..." he said, "Lemme think a minute..." he put down the one he finished cleaning, and picked up another.
As he put the clean mug under the counter, another patron called him over. "Back in moment," he told her.
She watched as he refilled orders and spoke to other patrons. He certainly had a way with people, she thought.
A couple of minutes later she drained her mug just as Tapper came back.
"Okay, I think you should go over to Fix-It Felix, Jr. and speak ta Wreck-It Ralph," he said, "He's got some experience with this sorta thing, and can probably help you out. Can I getcha another?"
"No, thanks," she answered, pushing the mug toward him, "I'm the designated flyer."
He grinned at her joke and took the mug.
"Wreck-It Ralph, huh?" she said, thoughtfully.
"You know 'im, doncha?" the barkeep asked.
"Yes; we both attend BadAnon meetings, but I don't really have anything to do with him otherwise," she answered. Secretly she wished the reality was otherwise.
"He's a good sort. Tell 'im Tapper sentcha, if it'll help," he said.
"I'll do that, thanks! See you later!" she rose gracefully from her bar stool.
"Lemme know how it goes, will ya?" he called.
She nodded and left the game, climbing into the rail cart that would take her back to the station.
A minute later she stood just inside the entrance, peeking around for the Surge Protector. She had no doubt he was waiting for her, but right now he wasn't anywhere in sight.
She rose a few inches from the floor and moved back a bit, to get some room and build up speed. But putting a hand through the entrance was enough for the grid to appear and the buzzer sound.
"Aaarrggghhh!" she said in a low voice. Couldn't get away with it this time... She landed and moved to the outside.
The Protector appeared, glaring at her. "Step aside, please, random security check."
"Yeah, right," she returned, "Why don't you just admit the truth, that you target us villains?"
He looked up from his clipboard. "It wouldn't happen if you people didn't deliberately make my job harder."
That took her aback. The bad guys tried to avoid him because he targeted them, and he targeted them because they tried to avoid him. That reasoning hadn't occurred to her, or any other bad guy.
"I didn't realize..." she said, "I'll bring that up at the next BadAnon meeting."
He shook his head in annoyance and muttered something under his breath. "Name?"
Well, if he was going to be like THAT...
"Princess Alicia del Blanco," she answered.
"Name?"
"That IS my name," she said in a tight voice, folding her arms. "Check my code."
The Surge Protector sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Give me your game name. Please."
"Well, why didn't you SAY so? Sorceress," she said with a smirk.
"Where are you coming from?"
"A neutral place with good food, good drink, and no annoying surge protectors doing unnecessary checks," she said.
He glared at her. "You are about one wrong word away from a first warning," he said in an even voice.
That was a serious threat. Three warnings and she could be barred from Game Central Station for a month. Her quest had to be completed by tomorrow, and that would stop it cold.
"Tapper's."
"Finally. Where are you going?"
"Fix-It Felix, Jr."
"Anything to declare?"
"You are seriously getting on my nerves."
"First warning. Proceed." And he was gone.
Her light blue skin turned pink as she fought to keep her temper. The sight caused other characters to give her an even wider berth. A few who had been heading to Tapper's suddenly thought better of it and changed course.
After a minute she took a few deep breaths and managed to relax. Her quest was more important than fighting with the Surge Protector.
She lifted off and headed for Fix-It Felix, Jr.