Author's Note

I don't own Wreck-it Ralph

Well, last chapter was. . .fun. In a review, 'Dixie Darlin' voiced a want for me to expand a little more on the game Sun and Moon came from, so that's what I'm going to do. Some 'Hero's Cuties', because I can't really 'avoid' it forever. Onwards!


Chapter 7: Food, Drink, and Origins


Sun (POV)

I made my way cautiously to Diet Cola Mountain. Sneaking out of the castle was easy. I told Vanillope what I was doing, of course. Would be no good if they had to track me down. I had grabbed a bag and filled it with some food and bottles of water before heading in a fast round-about-way to the mountain. When I got inside, his 'royal highness' was asleep.

Dropping the backpack next to the bed, I go a short distance away, so I can practice my claw swipes. 'Keep your claws sheathed when you practice.' I remember Moon's instructions, echoing in my mind as I see her demonstrating in my memory.

'Try to keep you fingers a hairs-breath from the target. When you're actually fighting, your instincts will take over and your claws will come out. You need practice, so you know how and when to let 'em out or keep 'em in. You'll find you own way soon.' I extend my paws, choosing a weak looking stalagmite to practice on. I make a few swipes at it. Whenever my fingertips brush it, I readjust how I smack at it, rather than my position.

Arms in more, elbows on the ribs, and, now! I swiped at the stalagmite, my fur just barely brushing it. I repeated this for a few more times, before taking a fighting stance. I kicked, punched, and finally, clawed at it. My claws grazed the surface, leaving four faint lines engraved in it. I repeat this, left hand, right hand, left hand, right hand, until there is a pretty decent-sized mark in the stalagmite. Crisscrossed grooves running about half an inch into it.

"Nice, nice. Maybe when I meet up with Sis later, we can spar." I say aloud, looking at the deep, crossed-over claw marks. They wouldn't be removed easily, which meant I could practice something. An idea came to me. Make up my own mark, or symbol, or something, practice clawing it out, then find and/or make a secret hideout.

And protect my territory. Wait, what?! I shake my head. "Tiger instincts, right. Gotta watch that." I mumble, deciding to go check on Cola. He was mumbling in his sleep. I pull a wrist watch from the bag, seeing that it was 8:57 A.M. I nudge at Cola, lightly shaking his shoulder.

"Hey, wake up. It's time to do stuff." I shake a little harder, raising my voice. "Hey, wake up!" I whistled two quick notes. "Come on, it's time to get up and get going!" my final words seemed to do the trick. He sat up with a yawn, looking at me more alertly than I anticipated. He rubbed at his eyes before looking at me again.

"Oh, right. What are we doing?" his stomach growled loudly, and he he placed his hands on it, as if to say, 'quiet'. I hold up the bag, pulling out some water and candy. I push it into his hands before taking a swig from one of the bottles.

"Breakfast." I say simply, making a small face at what I thought was water. It was bubbly, and tasted funny, but was clear like water. I had brought some cake, candy canes, lollipops, and some chocolate bars. Cola had been digging into a slice of cake and drinking the stuff, which tasted more familiar on the second sip. He raised an eyebrow at the face I made.

"What is this?" I hold up the bottle as I lick a candy cane.

"Soda. Sprite, Mountain Dew, or 7Up; could be any of them. Why do you ask?" I take another swallow before answering. At the mention of the different soda names, it comes back. This was soda, how could I forget? Even several months in a forest-y world shouldn't cloud my memory that badly.

"It's been a long time." Is all I say. How could I explain that I wasn't from a game, I was from the real world? Or at least, what I thought was the real world? Where I had been a player, rather than been part of a played game? I shrug those thoughts off of me as I take my candy cane and start crunching on it. I take one chocolate bar and a tiny slice of cake, but didn't get to eat much more of what I brought.

Cola seemed to inhale the rest of the food, so he hadn't eaten for a few days, at least. There was truth in his words, even if he didn't know when he respawned in here. He ate and drank nearly everything in the bag, all but a last few bits of cake and chocolate. His belly sticks out a bit from the amount he ate, and he groaned a little as he lay back down.

"Okay, I definitely ate to much. I-" he burped, looking like he might get sick. "I think I've had enough." I try not to laugh, but a snort escapes me.

"Well, at least you got something to eat. Anything I could do to help at the moment?" he shook his head rather weakly, it seemed, or maybe he just didn't want to move to much. I poked experimentally at his stomach, and he groans, curling in on himself, trying to glare at me. I shrug, taking another drink of my soda.

"I h-hate you . . . you little double *Burp* striker." he moans, holding his stomach. He doesn't sound serious, though; he sounds sick.

"Sorry." I try my best to sound sincere, and he half nods. I curl up at the base of the bed, looking around the mountain's interior. There was some sort of track carved into the mountains rock around the hot springs -was it made of rock candy? It smells a little bit like chocolate- and a half built, more professionally made -in my opinion- track up in the air, not meeting in the middle over the pool.

I could feel my mind drifting and my eyes getting heavy. I woke up very early thes'morning; much earlier than I usually do, and I went to bed late anyhow. A little nap wouldn't hurt anyone. I yawned, curling my tail over my nose, my legs pulled up to my belly, before remembering. I can't let anyone know I'm a Were-cat. So, I picture my tiger form staying the way it is when I fall asleep, locking it there, before finally drifting off.


Moon (POV)

The candy I ended up grabbing was some chocolate, a candy cane, and some sort of mint-smelling thing. I nibbled on them quietly as we left, feeling rather shocked at the sweet taste. The sweetest thing in the game we were zapped into, 'Enchanted Forest Questers', had been some blackberries I'd chanced upon before all the chaos started up.

I nibbled absentmindedly as we rode to Game Central Station, made our way through the small crowds of people before climbing onto the train to go to Tappers. I shuddered at the crackling electricity sounds, trying to bring my mind elsewhere, with little success. The next crackle seemed to bring the phantom pains back to my chest, over my heart.

I have to stifle a gasp. I didn't want anyone to know about my nightmares. How could I explain it properly, when I have trouble voicing lesser fears? I shake my head as we step off the train, trying to gather my wits. We walk down a hallway before stepping through an open doorway into the bar itself. There were several bars with chairs here and there, large kegs at the farther ends, and the man himself, Tapper, swerving out some drinks before walking over towards us.

He smiled, offering a hand and welcoming me to the arcade. Ralph, Vanellope, and Felix are already seated farther down, so me and Sarge join her. I look away when Felix gives Calhoun a kiss, making a small face. Vanellope is doing the same, before waving me over. I take a seat between her and Ralph. Felix is at Vanellope's right, and Calhoun just beyond him.

Tapper serves us up tall glasses of root beer. I sniff at it, before taking a sip. The flavor is good, very good, much better than I could remember having before. I take gulps, listening as the others chatted. So far, only these four people know that me and my brother were once Players. I've finished my first glass, and was starting on another when Vanellope asked me a question.

"So what was your game about, anyway?" I look at her, then the others. I finally decide truth over lies.

"Well, first off it was called 'Enchanted Forest Questers'. The player could choose to use either the boy or the girl character, and choose a name to be called by. Since there wasn't actual voices that spoke, but rather these text boxes, it made some things easier, or harder, depending. It's basically a world made of human settlements in different areas.

"I guess that there were actually one human settlements, and then dwellings of magic clans that appeared human. The Player helped the townsfolk fight off 'monster', like werewolves, vampires, witches, and so on, besides doing 'Quests'. The quests were when a villager would ask you to do something, like get some sort of medicine plant, rescue someone, etc., and in return, you get a useful item."

I gesture with my hands between sips of root beer, trying to emphasis on the more significant things.

"There were lots of places you could explore in the woods or mountains or plains, but the Player didn't have to go to all of them. There are hidden things in some of them, whether it be super-rare items or new animals or people. You could play the game forever, sorta, but it basically ends when you defeat the final boss, which is really hard to do."

There was silence for a minute or so as the others thought over all this. I take another swallow of the root beer, feeling a little more relaxed than I had in a while.

"So, what did you do when you got," Felix gestures vaguely, "magicked into the game?" I can't help but laugh a little.

"'Magicked', good one." I can't hold back my giggles for a moment, before finally stopping. "Well, the other characters assumed we were from one of the secret areas, and we went with that. Sun joined with the village people, and I joined the Mountain Lion clan. They are swift, can jump high and climb fast. We have no fear, no weakness, and are strong united."

"So, when did all the trouble begin?" asks Calhoun, giving me an odd look. I take another drink from my cup before answering.

"Well, during game-play, since I didn't look enough like the Clan to be there and fit in the background there, I became a background character for a friendly wizard in the forest, at the very foot of the mountains. I learned all kinds of potions; when Sun and I got together again to hang out, I brought this really cool potion the accelerated plant growth, I think. The villagers followed and spotted us, blamed me of witchery, whipped me, and separated me from Sun."

Everyone becomes silent. I look at them, feeling rater confused and kinda jittery. They look at eachother, shock written across their faces, while Felix seemed horrified. I hunch my shoulders some, taking another drink from my glass, draining it completely. I push it away before glancing back up at them.

"Did you say that they whipped you? You didn't mention that before." Felix finally asks, shock and a hint of horror clear in his voice. I lean on the counter, trying to think. I nod absently, holding up a hand for another root beer, which Tapper fills. He glances at the others, who seem more focused on me anyway, before going back to work.

I take a long swig from my cup, before Ralph speaks up. "Kid, are you joking? Your acting as if it was no big deal." he asks, and I shrug.

"Compared to other things, it wasn't a big deal. I was more worried about keeping my brother and friends free of blame and surviving rather than what my punishment was. I was different, associated with magic; to them, magic is bad, and the thing they blame all the bad stuff for." I reply, rather bitterly at the end, thinking over what John Arrow, the town leader did. I used to like bow and arrows, because you could shoot from a distance and never be seen.

However, since they used that often enough to try and hunt me. . .well, you get the idea. A headache suddenly made itself known, and I rub at my head slightly to try and get rid of some of the pain. My belly began to burn, reminding me of hot embers in a burned down fire. Useful for starting up another fire, but prone to being to hot before burning out.

'It must have been the sweets and the root beer.' I think, trying to gather my thoughts, without little success. 'To much sugar all at once. Meat and fruit for months on end, then lots of sugar; not my best idea.' I look up blearily at the others. Everything seems kinda blurred together slightly, and I feel tired, my head pounding and belly aching, a sharp pain appearing in my chest, making it rather hard to breath.

I feel myself leaning back, and must have been pretty far because someone grabs my arm and pulls me closer to the counter. It was Felix. He looked at me with concern, a look that I hadn't seen from anyone in a long time. I must have spaced out for a moment, trying to pull together a clear thought, because someone waves a hand in my face.

I look over to see Calhoun, kneeling down so we're on eye level. She seems to be examining me. for what, I don't know, but she stops me when I reach for my glass.

"What?" I ask, reaching for the glass only to be stopped again.

"Nope, I think you've had enough sugar." she says it sternly, as if I were a soldier of hers that steeped out of line. I didn't really like that comparison.

"From what she's described, there wasn't a whole lot of sweets available, and now that they are, she's had way to much." I didn't really pay her any mind anymore. She had armor, and a strong hit, if my bruises were anything to go by. At the moment, she could beat me in a fight, so why engage in one now? I feel a tug on my shoulder, and look up to see Calhoun.

"We're taking you to a sugar-free zone for now, miss. Come on." I obey, my head aching to fiercely for me to really think. A train ride later we were Game Central Station. My headache lessened, as did my belly-ache, and it became easier to breath. The previous blur that had been thrown on everything lifted somewhat, everything clearer.

As we pass the outlet for Sugar Rush and get farther from it, everything goes downhill. By the time we've ridden another train to who-knows-where, my head pounds, my belly feels hollow, and it becomes difficult to breath, everything blurred beyond any sort of recognition. I'm stumbling around, and only the firm weight on my shoulder keeping me from falling.

Before to long, I'm being lightly pushed onto something that vaguely resembles a bed. I curl up into it, trying my best to breath without the sharp pains racking my chest, curling up slightly.

The last thing I think of is where Sun is at, and why I feel so tired. Everything fades away into comforting blackness.


Calhoun (POV)

Something wasn't right. Moon had seemed to be feeling better when we got to the station, but as soon as we got into Hero's Duty, everything went downhill. She hardly noticed the soldiers, the weapons, if at all. She seemed to be struggling to get enough air, which wasn't a good sign. I'd brought her to the tech/medical department, where one of the guys was examining her.

Johnson had finally finished, but he seemed rather confused and concerned. Not good.

"I can't find anything obvious that's causing the problems. She fatigued, and is having trouble breathing."

"She seemed to be doing better out in the station, but it got worse when we came here." pipes up Felix, standing on his tiptoes to see Moon. I sigh, before someone bursts into the door. It's Vanellope, and Ralph is just behind her.

"Sun, missing. . .Turbo, dungeon, escape, help. . ." she pants, out of breath. Ralph rolls his eyes slightly before explaining. They believe Turbo was trying to get the to the Code Vault, when Sour Bill stopped him at the door. They were entering Sugar Rush when he was trying to get out.

"He's currently in the dungeon, and won't stop yapping on about gold or something, but we think he knows where Sun is, but he won't talk." finishes Ralph.

"And you think I'll be able to get it out of him. Wreck-it, Fix-it, stay put and keep an eye on Moon. Johnson, tell Kohut that he'll have to man the fort. Vanellope, your with me." I stride out of Hero's Duty, with Vanellope in tow.


There is a reason why she got all, well, like that, and it'll all be explained some on the next chapter. Please review, leave suggestions, and all that. Later!