Disclaimer: "Wreck-It Ralph" and all characters related to the movie belong to The Walt Disney Company, and/or their respective gaming companies. Wreck-It Ralph was created by Rich Moore, Phil Johnston, and Jim Reardon. Level Up! and any characters not associated in their own respective franchise belong to Berserkeroo. All rights reserved.
(A/N: Okay, I know I've been bad and not update at all in the entire month of February, but I have an extremely valid excuse. For one, I was trying to get out of that depression funk I've been in since Thanksgiving, which thanks to some friends and some much needed alcohol, I am over with… for the most part. Excluding that, I've also been on bed rest from this illness I had. Seriously, I was cripplingly ill and lost a lot of weight because of it. My doctors still can't pinpoint what it is, but I was on bed rest for quite a few days. It was really bad guys. High fever, coughing up blood, and having a hard time breathing. Truthfully, my doctor said that I was lucky that I came in when I did, because whatever I had was attacking my lungs and I could have gotten pneumonia. And FYI, I've had quite a few relatives die from pneumonia, and I don't think the fanfic would ever get done if that were to happen. Still having some lung problems, but definitely better and medicated.
On another note: this chapter was cut in half, because this information was taking away from the plan of a Ralph-centric chapter, so I had decided to make two short chapter to fulfill this. The Ralph chapter will come up after this, but I don't know when, because I haven't even started on that half yet. This is a short chapter in comparison to most of my other ones. Regardless, I hope you guys enjoy it. It's a chapter that is filled with important information so bare it with a grain of salt.)
There was no way that any being's brain was meant to function after such a rude awakening, but luckily, or unluckily — depending on the view point — the arcade wasn't open this particular day. The owner had business downtown to ensure that electricity would be running by the time that the Thanksgiving holidays came around. The throbbing in the back of the young president's head was starting to annoy her to say the least, and then, there was the painfully restricting clothing that did its best to deprive her of any and all breath to her digital lungs! "Great Shigeru Miyamoto take it off!" Vanellope gasped out as her mother's wedding dress was zipped up from the back. "Pain is beauty sweetheart." Her mother comes up to look at her from various angles. Much like she figured, her daughter didn't inherit her figure; bust or hip wise. Eh... she'll grow after having after having some children. With a sigh, she turns to Candlehead and says, "Take it off of her. We'll need to get a tailor in here."
Taffyta was already at the door telling one of the candy housecarls to send a note to Crumbelina to make a schedule for a fitting tomorrow. Just as she was about to close the door, a metallic-plated boot wedged in the door before the blonde marine briskly entered the room. "I'm extremely tardy, I know." Vanellope and Confection gave her a look of understanding; they knew exactly why she was late, and it went appreciated. "The point is that you made it. We already decided for Crumb to tailor mom's old wedding dress. "
"Watch the o-word Vanellope," the queen says wryly. All of the females rolled their eyes at the thought. The queen didn't even look her programmed age. Deciding to get to business, the commander looks on with a bit of nostalgia. Ah, weddings. "Mind if I take a look at what you'll be wearing Hotwheels?" she asks. Vanellope and Candlehead straighten out the large dress in order for the older woman to get a good look at it. "Oh yeah, this puppy needs to get altered."
"Who are you telling? The thing is a death trap. Too tight around my ribs, and too baggy in other places," Vanellope comments as she and the other racer heft the dress onto a hanging post. "You think the dress is uncomfortable? Try wearing a clown suit and come back to me with baggy, uncomfortable clothing," Confection mutters under her breath, but all eyes were on her. Apparently, she wasn't as quiet with that comment as she thought. Her daughter stares at her realization. "Ah-ha! I knew it!" the sugar princess says. "Well the cat's out of the bag," Snowanna huffs. Vanellope looks around the room as all eyes were looking anywhere, but her. "No way. All of you were in the circus? Why?"
"We were spying on your date with Ralph," Candlehead admits as she pulls on one of her braided pigtails. "Dear user, you guys are so nosey. Just how many of you were there?" Vanellope rolls eyes as she blows a stray hair from her forehead.
Taffyta counts off the people who were helping in the circus: her, Candlehead, Snowanna, Everlyn, King Candy, Queen Confection, Roxas, Almonandro, Frapchesca, Sgt. Calhoun, Felix, Zangief, Badda, and Bing. The girl just raised an ebony eyebrow at the extensive list. "Hey don't give us that look; we did this for you and Ralph. We wanted to make sure your first date went perfectly; and look at you two now. You're getting married," the queen says as she hugs her daughter.
"Yeah, how many characters do you know who would wear a rainbow afro just to see you happy?" Calhoun asks — earning a glare from the dark skinned racer not that many feet away from her. "No offense," she amends. Vanellope's stomach did a somersault as she considers their point of view. "Aw, you guys are so sweet."
"We all love you Vanellope. We're like one big dysfunctionally-functional family," Taffyta says as she squeezes into the queens arms to join in on the hug. "Oh, group hug!" Candlehead exclaims as she rushes in to get in on the love. The president just chuckles before looking at the other two who have yet to embrace the moment. "Hey you two get in on this lovin' too!"
Calhoun was reluctant to really get in on displays of affection in mass, but for favorite racer, she would do it. Snowanna was already over in the embrace. "All right, now that we've had all of this namby pamby cuddling, can we get back to the wedding preparations? You know that all the sweetness in this game gives me hives."
The Sugar Rushians chuckled at her discomfort, but disbanded their group hug. "Since the dress won't be much of our concerns for the day, what else should we do? Catering? Sending invitations? Getting the permit pdf from the Surge?" she ticks off the suggestions on her fingers. Vanellope was strumming her fingers against her elbow. "Hm, that's a good question. I haven't even assigned many roles to any-"
"I think I'd make the best Maid of Honor, after all, parties are my specialty!" Candlehead says with a longing look in her eyes. "Oh no. I've been too emotionally invested in those two to fall by the wayside. If anyone deserves it, it's me!" Taffyta says from her position against the wall. Her relationship with Roxas was hanging by a thread a few weeks ago because of his programmed relationship to her best friend, and now that things were going back to normal, she would be damned to level zero if she wasn't getting an important role in this wedding.
"I've been her best friend since we were kids. It's even in my backstory! I know her like the back of my hand, and if either of you two think otherwise, we'll have a little problem," Snowanna says with a twitch in her brow. "So much for the moment we just shared. You girls are cattier than tomcats fighting over fish guts. Yeesh!" Calhoun says, clearly not trying to get in the mix. "And you think you're more qualified?" they said, their eyes now set on the marine. "Well, out of everyone here, I'm the only one who's actually married and not related to her; so yeah."
"Don't I get a say in this guys?" Vanellope says as she ruffles the wrinkles out of her tank top. There was an awkward moment of silence, as they momentarily forgot that this wasn't their wedding that they were planning for. A tired sigh escaped the lips of the sovereign, as she let her programming go into leadership mode. "All right ladies listen up! Here's how it's going to go: the engagement party will be planned by Candlehead, Taffyta will host the bachelorette party, Snowanna will be in charge of music and entertainment at all events, and Tamora will be the Maid of Honor because it was the medal, Cy-Bugs, and shuttle from her game that led to Vanellope and Ralph meeting in the first place. Satisfied?!" she orders more than asks. "Yes ma'am!" the trio replies quickly. Though neither of them would be the Maid of Honor, they knew better than to battle the stern tone of the queen... and to be honest, they were too afraid to. "Wow, mom you've got to teach me how to do that."
"You don't need me to teach it to you. You'll learn it on your own," she assures her.
Just then, a thought occurred to her. "Wait, mom, we're Chewish. How are they going to plan to work with the traditions? None of them are Chewish," Vanellope points out with groan. Back to square one. "Wait, you're Jewish?" Calhoun asks. "No, Chewish. It's a difference," Vanellope informs. "To think you know a person," Snowanna says, not knowing that bit of her friend's background. "I know." Taffyta agrees. "Hey, what's wrong with being Chewish?"
"Nothing!"
The matriarch rolls her eyes at their reaction. "I'll have to assist with that detail, and probably bring in some of our relatives from York. Wouldn't want anything unorthodox on the menu or some other disaster."
"I could help too. I'm Chewish," Candlehead says with a smile. "You're Chewish?" Vanellope asks with a questioning stare. "Hello, I have a candle on my head; you didn't think my theme was just for birthdays did you?" The black-haired teen thought more on it. Oh right; Honikkah. "Wait, then why don't we ever see you at the cinnagogue?" she asks. "Do you go every, Sundae?" Both the queen and the princess closed their mouths at that question. "Note to self: make an amendment for the right against self-incrimination when I take back the throne."
"So Candlehead and I will help with Chewish traditions, and I'll have to tell Candy to cancel one of your royal lessons to help you get accustomed to the chair lift for the Hora. This is going to be so fun!" Confection beams at the thought. Truthfully, her wedding with Candy didn't hold any of her people's traditions thanks to her in-laws interference, but she would be certain that she would pull out all of the stops for her daughter's wedding. She was brought back to the digital world when she heard her daughter laughing. "Oh yeah mom. That's going to be real fun. I pity the poor souls who has to lift Ralph off the ground."
The other females present didn't even have time to try to hide their laughs at the sudden quip. "We should probably head over to Fix-It Felix Jr.: Extended and tell this to Wreck-It. I don't think he'll want to learn that he'll be lifted into the air at his own wedding at the last minute," the space marine says with a grin tugging at her lips.
Calhoun had offered the girl a ride to Fix-It Felix Jr., however she declined the offer. She informed her friend that Ralph was going to pick her up in the castle so that they could work on minor detail before his scheduled tuxedo fitting later that day. Speaking of beloved wreckers, said bad-guy was in front of his soon to be father-in-law, chatting away. The racer glitches across the hall, surprising her fiance with her presence on his shoulder. Both males jumped at her sudden appearance, which drew a chuckle from the young female.
"Oh Vanellope, don't do that. You'll give your poor father a heart attack," her mother chided, though the smirk on her face said otherwise. "So what were you two gentlemen talking about?" Vanellope asks as she folds her arms on top of Ralph's head to rest upon. "Nothing in particular. Just something to pass the time until you got here. I have something you two need to know about. Follow me."
The quartet heads toward the southern wing of the castle. In an instance, Vanellope knew they were heading to the Code Room. Sour Bill and Sweetie Jill were already at the entrance with two sets of licorice tethers waiting. After the couples were securely harnessed into place, they went into the flashing room. Both the king and queen had set in the two separate portions of code to unravel the code's core. In the heart of the room, a chest lay nestled in safety.
The anticipation and curiosity was starting to nibble at the young racer. "What's in the chest? You're not planning to lock away everyone's memories, are you?" she teases, earning a stern glance from both of her parents. "Okay, bad joke during a serious moment. My bad..." The king opens the chest, revealing a lollipop scepter. Vanellope takes the scepter with a smile. "Hey, I was wondering where this thing went after the upgrade. What's it doing in the Code Room?" she asks as she looks between her parents.
"It's not just a scepter Vanellope. We had to keep it hidden from anyone who knows what it can do and would try to use it against us. With the rise of the enemy, you need to be aware of what it does because as the future-queen, you need to be able to use it to defend us when the time comes," Queen Confection states as she takes the candy in her hand. Almost immediately, the royal staff responded to her touch. "Wait, why do I have to do it? It looks like you know how to use it better than I would," Vanellope asks.
"It's just reacting to me because I am the current female sovereign. The Code Room is in a transitional period in which it is setting up in order to reboot the information for you and Ralph taking our place. We won't know when the enemy is going to attack, and by then you may already be married to Ralph and I will no longer have as much influence over it anymore. I've already lost a bit of sway with it during my absence, so it may start gravitating to you. I want you to be ready. The royal scepter is a strong tool. Why do you think no one except a royal was able to dethrone Queen Chary I? No one could touch her, let alone, get the scepter out of her hand until Brockbirn came along."
Vanellope's eyes widened. Now her parent's adamant insistence on teaching about the dictator's reign made sense. Oh ginger snaps. "I can see that sleep is going to be lacking in my future," she sighs. "I'm sorry Vanny, but somebody thought it was a good idea to withhold information from his wife," Confection says with an accusing glare towards her husband. "Blame the Candicorn. He told us to keep a zipped lip," Candy defends. "Who is us?" Ralph asks. "A few new, but reliable friends of mine. I'll be sure to introduce you two to them at the engagement gala."
"If the Candicorn trusts them, so will I. We could use as many hands as we could get at this point since we'll be dealing with Cy-Bugs..." The Code Room fell into silence as the quartet mulls over the impending armageddon.
(A/N: Hope you enjoyed this chapter. I have animation homework that I have to do over spring break. You would think that professors would be lenient on a poor, sickly art student, but damn it if they care. DX I swear this semester might kill me; and I already have to drop one of my classes, because of this crap. Ugh, whatever. Thanks for reading, and hopefully I can give you guys another chapter within the month.)