Chapter Two
She flew up above the crowd and looked for the game Fix-It Felix Jr. while trying to calm herself. There it was, across the mall and down a bit. She flew over to it and landed lightly. A few characters moved away from her, but she was so used to that kind of treatment she ignored it.
She stepped into the entrance, but nothing happened, to her surprise.
The rail cart wasn't there, so she hit the call button for it. She had considered flying in, but different games had different rules, and it was best to stick to the protocols long established for visits. Besides, she had never been here before, and had no idea what kind of game it was.
Before long the cart arrived and she settled into the second seat. It moved at a fair pace, but still seemed to be longer than usual. Maybe just my own anxiety, she thought.
Coming out of the tunnel, she noticed three things immediately. One, it was night. Two, the tall brick apartment building, and three, the huge screen in the distance over some trees directly across from it. The carts stopped at a quaint wooden platform with a screech of brakes and a bump.
This time she did levitate from the cart and landed on the brick sidewalk beside an arch that read "East Niceland". Beyond it was a huge pile of red bricks and some small shacks. The other way had a row of identical apartment buildings that were outside the view from the screen. Since it stood apart from the others, this closest one must be the game building.
As she walked toward it, boot heels clacking on the brick sidewalk, she took in the sight of the rather elegant building. An arch over the door read "Niceland", and she had to agree. She wouldn't mind living here herself; it was probably better than the drafty, dark castle she called home.
Knocking, the door was opened a minute later by a very short, rotund and low-resolution female character whose movement was jerky. Still, she was dressed nicely; fitting for someone living in the building.
The Nicelander was taken aback by Sorceress. "Can- can I help you?" she finally said, nervously looking up at her.
"Hello," she replied with a short bow, doing her best to move slowly and not to alarm the woman, "I am Sorceress, from the game Castle Quest. I am looking for Wreck-It Ralph. Can you help me?"
"He- he's not here," was the reply, "I don't know where he went, but I do know he left about an hour ago. Maybe you can catch up to him."
"I see..." said Sorceress, moving her hair from her face. She DID see; this woman wanted to be rid of her. Well, too bad; she had a quest to complete. "Is there someone here who would know?"
"I'm n-n-not sure. Let me go ask," said the woman, and closed the door just a bit too fast, which saddened the elfin woman. She heard the Nicelander calling "FELIX!" faintly from inside.
Nothing happened for several minutes, so she sat down on the steps to wait. She caught a glimpse of several Nicelanders as they came out of the other buildings. But as soon as they saw her, they quickly went back inside. That saddened her even more.
It was just like Zangief had said several times, "Just because I am bad guy, it does not mean I am bad... guy!" She wished more people understood that.
The door opened behind her, and she stood up. On the steps stood a short (but taller than the Nicelanders) man in jeans and a work shirt with a patch that read "Felix". He had on a tool belt and a ball cap, and looked a bit worried. Behind him was a blond woman even taller than she was, wearing a gray tank top and loose gray cotton pants. She was barefoot, and half-concealed behind her was a pistol in her right hand.
Sorceress noted the weapon, but ignored it. She had a shield spell she could call up very quickly, if it came to that.
"Can I help you, Ma'am?" he enquired.
"Hello, Felix; Tamora: nice to see you again," she answered with a bow. "I am Sorceress, from Castle Quest. We met at your wedding."
The light dawned behind Felix's eyes. "OH! Yes, I remember you! You're one of Ralph's BadAnon friends!"
"Oh, right," said Tamora with a nod, moving the pistol so it was completely hidden behind her.
"That's right. Do you know where he is? I have a quest to complete by tomorrow, and Tapper said he might be able to help," she replied.
"I'm pretty sure he went to Sugar Rush," Felix replied, "He spends most of his free time there these days."
"Thank you; that's where I'll go, then," she smiled at the still newlyweds and drifted up from the porch. "My congratulations, once again."
The Fix-Its glanced at each other.
"Hang on a few minutes, and we'll go with you," said Tamora.
That pronouncement stunned the villainess for a moment. These good guys were willing to help her? Be seen in public with her? That was... unusual.
"I appreciate the offer, but it's not necessary," she finally replied, "I can find my way."
"Have you ever visited Sugar Rush?" asked Felix.
"No, but..." she started.
"Then you'll need a guide," interrupted the Hero's Duty soldier. "It's a big world."
She hesitated a moment, then nodded. "Very well; I see your point. I'll wait. Thank you."
Tamora disappeared inside while Felix came outside and closed the door.
They stood there for a long minute, neither saying anything. Sorceress studied the surrounding area.
"So... tell me about yourself," Felix said into the silence that was starting to be a bit awkward.
That surprised her as well. She decided that it might be his friendship with Ralph that caused him to be more at ease with bad guys than most. She smiled at the building super, who was looking up at her with a smile of his own.
"If you insist." She got a faraway look for a moment. "My back story is rather more complex than most. My real name is Alicia, and I am the King's younger sister."
She sat on the steps again. "I thought that my brother Antonio was not a very good king, and that I could do much better. But being the younger I had little chance at taking the throne, so I moved into Blackstone Castle and made a deal with the evil spirits who live there for magical power. Part of the deal was that I had to give up my human appearance, which is why I look like this."
"Huh," commented Felix. He thought she was rather pretty, in a creepy kind of way, but kept any hint of that out of his face and voice.
Sorceress sat back a bit. "I actually have a good relationship with my family. When my nephew Michael reports for duty at my castle, he usually brings a book or his art supplies for while he's in the dungeon. But the characters in my game are about the ONLY people who accept me." A pause, and she quickly added, "Well, BadAnon, of course."
The setup of the game is that I have kidnapped Prince Michael to blackmail his father to abdicate to me. The gamers are a party who come into my castle to rescue him and defeat me."
"Oh, right... I remember that your console has four controllers," he said. "That was unusual when you were plugged in."
"Six, actually, since an upgrade, but one is broken and Litwak hasn't gotten it repaired yet." She gave him an evil smile. "That throws off the balance and lets me win more often."
"I see..." said Felix.
Just then the door opened and Tamora came out, dressed in her full Hero's Duty armor, which made her even taller.
Sorceress raised an eyebrow. "It that really necessary?"
The soldier shrugged. "You never know." She pulled her pistol and checked it, then returned it to the holster with a much practiced move.
"Shall we go, then?" asked Felix, and led the way toward the train station.
As they left the train platform and headed for the entrance to Game Central Station, Sorceress drifting along a few inches above the floor, she said to the couple, "Don't be surprised if the Surge Protector stops us."
"Why?" asked Felix, in a puzzled voice.
In answer, Sorceress gave him a glance with her blood red eyes and gestured at herself.
"Oh, right... bad guy..." he said.
But nothing happened, and they stepped into the still-busy open area. Characters of all descriptions were going to and fro, talking and enjoying the day.
