Author's Note: Chapters 1-10 have been revised and updated. This necessitated me deleting several chapters (since the beginning of this ordeal I've recently only had to delete one chapter at a time). You may have to go back a bit to return to where you left off. Sorry for the inconvenience. It might be easiest to make note of the title of the chapter you're on in the future.
"Alright," Crumbelina said after thinking on it, "I just wish Jet could go with us.." I wish he didn't feel he had to go to Dragon's Lair..
"He'll come next time for sure," Taffyta said, "It's just bad timing, that's all." I wonder what he had to talk to the surge protectors about..
They all went to Taffy's to get swimsuits.
Crumbelina picked a caramel colored bikini, to be covered by a latte colored t-shirt and milk chocolate colored shorts. "I wonder if we should get something for Jet. Yeah, probably should.." That way we don't have to come back for next time. He is coming back.
Taffyta got a pink and teal swirled bikini and topped it off with a white t-shirt with a large strawberry on it and pink shorts. "Oh, I'll help you pick something out." Brown or blue?
"I think blue suits him best," Rancis said, joining them in picking something out for Jet. Brown does too, but I wear brown. Best to have variety. He had picked out a peanut butter colored t-shirt and milk chocolate colored swim shorts. I can't wait to see her in that bikini.
Minty chose all mint green colored stuff. The t-shirt had little chocolate chip designs on it. "Oh that looks cute Leon!" she said with a smile. They're skulls, but surprisingly cute..
Leon had picked out a grey tank top and black swim shorts with cartoon skull patterns. "Yours is cuter," Leon said with a smile as he pulled her into him and kissed her lightly. I just can't resist..
"Save it for later, you two," Jubileena said embarrassedly, "How does this look, Garret?" She was holding up a red and maroon swirled bikini. She had already picked out a black t-shirt with giant pixelated Pac-Man cherries on it and crimson shorts. They are not helping me keep my mind off of that kind of thing. And now I'm putting thoughts into Garret's head, aren't I? I just can't get away from it.
"Oh that's nice!" Garret said excitedly, "It's perfect if you ask me." Especially once it's on.. But for crying out loud, settle down Leon. Sarge would have a fit.. A laughing fit.. He had chosen a plain white t-shirt and camouflage swim shorts.
"Hey Vannie!" Vanellope said happily, "I was just thinking about going over there." I was hoping to get this stupid memory out of my head while I was at it. It's hard to ignore.
"Oh.." little Taffyta said with a smile as she walked over to Vannie and gave her a hug, "I know who you are immediately.." I'm almost more happy to meet big Vanellope than I was when I met myself. "Why don't we all play together, Vanellope? We haven't had a chance to in a while. Not counting races." Ralph is awesome, but we hardly ever get to see Vanellope when the arcade is closed.
Vannie laughed and asked, "What kind of game did you guys have in mind?" She looked around seeing little Rancis, Minty and Jubileena.
"Well I was thinking something along the lines of hide and seek," Rancis said with a smile, "Or maybe we could go to Diet Cola Mountain and tell ghost stories." Taffyta would probably kill me if I gave big Vanellope a hug too.
"..H-how about we check out one of the other games?" little Jubileena asked with a shy smile. I said it.. Candlehead made it sound so easy when she said 'just speak your mind'. I hope they don't think it's a stupid idea.. And I hope Taffyta isn't mad Candlehead started playing with me more than her..
"Hey, that sounds like a good idea!" little Minty said excitedly, "I wonder what kind of game though?" You did good Jujube! I got your back.
"Hmm.." Vanellope said thoughtfully, "Well.. Why don't we do this. We can go play hide and seek in the House of the Dead." She had a devious grin on her face. It should be safe considering the fact that Zombie is a pretty cool guy.
"What?!" little Taffyta asked in shock, "But but but Vanellope, that game has all those monsters in it. Isn't that like way too dangerous? Think of the children.. Us!" I don't wanna die, you know?!
"You never met Zombie?" Vanellope asked with a laugh, "He's best friends with King Candy. It'll be fine. It's just for the atmosphere. It's completely safe.
They talked for a while finally deciding to go along with Vanellope's idea but made a quick stop at Burger Time for a meal.
Jet turned around fast. The very presence of this small child, no more than 8 or 9 years old, was enough to chill Jet to the bone. That freaked me right the hell out. Calm down. Calm down. "That's a secret." It's best not to give away our abilities..
"Well we can always try again," Charley said as he pulled a water balloon out of nowhere.
William rolled his eyes and placed a force field around him. Did we even need so many people for this?
Charley laughed and faded out as if he were a glitch. He faded back in about a foot away and said, "Hey Mister, you didn't think it would be that easy, did you? Let's play a game, come on. It's called Dragon's Lair. Because well, we're in Dragon's Lair that's why. I'll be waiting at the end so don't die until then, okay?" He faded out again.
"O-okay.." Felix said nervously, "So this may be a bit difficult.. I'll try to tell you exactly what to do as best I can.."What did we get ourselves into? I haven't been in here in a long, long time..
"I'll scout ahead," William said, "It's not like I have to worry about a game killing me." Before anyone could think of arguing, he zipped ahead into the castle.
"H-he'll be fine," Felix said, "Now there's a hole that forms in the bridge up ahead. These purple tentacle things with an eye at the end of them pop up and try to grab you." What else? There's no time to think in this game once you've started..
"What manner of game is this?" Darth Vader asked in disbelief, "That is ridiculous." It would be unwise to interrupt the only person who has been in this game. Why did we even come along?
"Oh!" Felix said while standing in front of them and urgently signaling for them to stop, "Wait.. I almost forgot that this is obviously meant to be played by one person, so it's going to be really difficult going forward. These quick time events are unforgiving even for one person, there's simply not even room for all of us to stand. How are we going to do this?" We may have to break a few rules..
"How about I climb the building and wreck us open another entrance?" Ralph asked while cracking his knuckles. Something I can do.. "I suggest we go off the standard path. Where these events aren't scripted to happen.."
"He's got a point," Calhoun said, "It sounds like there's just no other way to go about it. The problem will be getting to this other entrance though won't it." He does get a good idea every now and then. Even if there are still flaws in it.
"Well, I'm no expert with it.." Jet said, "But we've got four force users here, we can levitate each other to this new entrance.." At least I wouldn't have to worry about being tasked with lifting Ralph again since he'll already be there.
Meanwhile in the code room of Dragon's Lair.
"You see this, Mom? Dad?" Charley laughed, "They're smarter than they look, huh?" He was watching Ralph and the others on a pop-up screen. "I have a feeling this will be good." He took a sip of Tapper's root beer then let it float next to him. He had brought one with him one day to copy for whenever he was thirsty.
"Careful, they'll be here in no time at all," a man with brown hair just past his ears said. He wore an off-white long sleeved shirt with a black vest, and dark blue pants.
"Nah, it'll be fine," Charley said with a smile, "I've got a few surprises planned all the same. I'll just add a few monsters wherever they enter. That'll slow them down if it doesn't kill them."
"Just keep everything off me, got it?" Ralph said nervously, "I don't need tentacles or anything like that pulling me down." I can just wreck them if they try, but I'd rather not risk it all the same.
"S-sure thing!" Ashley said. I feel so useless.. Where did William even go? He's probably still going on the original path.. Come on Ashley focus! You can't get distracted at a time like this.. Just watch for any suspicious movement.
Ralph began climbing the building and purple tentacles with eyes came from a hole that formed on the bridge just behind him. Ashley put a force field around them.
"These aren't sentient," Felix said confidently, "It's.. It's okay to kill them. This is their game anyways, they'll regenerate when they're supposed to." Even I killed them back when Dirk let me have a run of the place all those years ago. Of course he had to lend me his sword.. A magical hammer that fixes things won't do much damage. He fought the urge to shake his head at how little offense he could manage otherwise. It's a miracle I didn't get myself killed that day. I swore I'd never come in here again, and yet here I am..
"I heard you loud and clear," Calhoun said with a smile as she drew her pistol, "I'll take it from here Ashley." Finally something to do.
Ashley reluctantly released the tentacles from her force field and Calhoun happily opened fire.
"So where's the lair at?!" Ralph screamed from the top of the building, "I'd like to get us as close as possible if you don't mind."
"Alright, let's go!" Minty said excitedly as the group left Taffy's in their new outfits, with their others in bags, "I can hardly wait to get there." I wonder what else might be in Hero's Duty. What goes with beaches? Volleyball? She laughed.
"Right this way," Leon said with a smile as he bowed and gestured with a hand.
"Don't get too full of yourself now Leon," Garret said with a laugh. Minty is really rubbing off on him.
They went to Hero's Duty and chattered along the way.
"So then he lost his balance and landed on two of the Cy-bug eggs and made them hatch," Jubileena said with a laugh, "We thought we were going to die so we just ran to their armory and left him in the dust." It's funny thinking back on it.
"Hey, come on," Leon said with a nervous laugh, "I can't help it if I have a minor case of insectophobia.. And besides, I killed them just fine after that." He stood proudly. But that skin crawling sensation is urgh.. So gross.
"It's alright Leon," Minty said knowingly, "I would have reacted the same way. Well, minus being able to kill them.." Why'd Jujube have to bring that up? That was kind of mean even if it is a little funny.
Leon sighed, "But I was pretty cool before that when I figured out how to fix the mess Set left behind." It was all luck figuring out how it worked though.
"What kind of damage did he do?" Crumbelina asked hesitantly. Jet wouldn't know.. Maybe I can tell him about it later..
"Well aside from what they did to me, Garret and Loya," Leon said seriously, "He also modified the Cy-bugs to make them go haywire if he ever went more than a few days outside the game. Sarge found and fixed that before it became a problem right away though." It's a good thing she decided to poke around the files once the dust settled.
