-==Chapter 14==-

Underground Chaos

It was Friday, and Arthur disembarked the train and walked to the Arcade, along with his new friends he made in the Study Group. Aside from the usual busy day, Arthur came across Sugar Rush Super Speedway again for his practice run. Jackson and Norton aren't with him today, so he's going solo. Boarding seat #1 and putting on the 3D-Power Goggles, as well as fastening the Seat Belt, Arthur inserts his first quarter of the day, and taps his Tobi-Save card on the Save-Card spot. And of course, the screen shows Vanellope and her messy kart as usual. Olivia takes Seat #2, Martha takes Seat #3, Clark takes Seat #4, Vanessa takes Seat #5, and Jay takes Seat #6. Since these five only play for fun, they don't have Tobi-Save Cards.

As a fun fact, when Sugar Rush was upgraded 2 months before the Plug-in that took place one month before Heather's Death, Vanellope's condition from Litwak's was not only cured and modified to Un-Glitch her, the new code of her was applied to ALL Sugar Rush Super Speedway cabinets. The only difference is the government of the In-Game world. While all the other Sugar Rush games still have Vanellope as Princess, the one from Litwak's which became the First Sugar Rush Super Speedway still ran in a Republic government, so Litwak's Sugar Rush is still a Limited Edition.

Announcer (Arthur's Seat): "You are ready to race!"

Since Arthur started off with Vanellope, he confirms her, while Olivia, Martha, Clark, Vanessa, and Jay must "Chews" their racers. Jim, Carson, Lara, Timothy, and Nelson all wait behind the players in the seats.

Vanellope: "Oh? (Jumps in Excitement) Ha-HAAA!"

Crumbelina (Picked by Olivia): "(Twirls, bows, and pumps her right fist up, smiling)"

Jubileena (Picked by Martha): "(Jumps and points both fore-fingers up) Ha!"

M. Sakura (Picked by Nelson): "(Pulls up her katana, swings it, and hoists it up with a serious face)"

Rancis (Picked by Vanessa): "(Smugly raises his right fist up and does a Karate-Slice with a vain look on his face)"

Taffyta (Picked by Jay): "(Brushes her hair with one hand and pumps her other one up, carrying a LolliPop.)"

Arthur was still left shocked about his first race with Elvin. He doesn't even know a lot about the purple guy, only that Molly told him that Elvin is an active Doomsday machine, who has NO problem in derailing his opponents. Since no other player is in Sugar Rush, Arthur can wait for challengers. Since he chose "Play Together" but no one is available to challenge him, a notice pops out saying "Waiting for other players to join. Press the Red Mode-Change button to alternate between accepting VS player challenge or Refuse VS Player Challenge". This means while he's waiting for other players to challenge him, he's going to pas that time by racing against 9 A.I. racers.

In Single Player mode, there are three modes: Single Race (One track), Grand Prix (5 tracks at once), and Time Attack (Which is driving Solo against time). He chose Single Race, and Out of the 20 tracks, he chose Caramel Abyss, the same track he raced Elvin the first time. And with him on Solo, he chose Casual mode and set the Camera mode to 3D-MAX and Motion Simulator active like usual. Arthur waited for a short while as the game is loading Caramel Abyss, but out of the blue…

Announcer: "A NEW CHALLENGER!"

Arthur was CHALLENGED to a Multiplayer race, IMMEDIATELY. Then, as the menu pops up, the players choose one specific track: Nougat Underground. Like it or not, Arthur has to comply. They all chose Casual mode, and not long afterwards, Nougat Underground is fully loaded and the race is about to start.

Vanellope: "Here we go again."

Taffyta: "Well, Watch your Back, Vanny!"

Vanellope: "Oh, I will, Taffy-Cakes!"

Taffyta: "Taffy-Cakes? That sounds….. Cute…. I guess…"

Rancis just giggled about his young sweetheart Vanellope, he can't help it about Vanellope's nickname for Taffyta. Crumbelina pulled up next to Vanellope, followed by Gloyd, Candlehead, Jubileena, Sticky, Swizzle, Citrusella, and Nougetsia. After a short while, a group of people gathered around the game cabinet set, and the race is about to begin.

Announcer: "ARE YOU READY? 5! 4! 3! 2! 1! START!"

And the race begins. In Nougat Underground, the track is composed of two laps like Sugar City Highway due to the long stretches of straights, and the Starting/Finish line was in an Outside area, albeit short and placed between two tunnels that make a Long Straight. Along the straight to the tunnel entrance Arthur accelerated, he saw the many glowing golden nougats surrounding the track. In front of the main straight from the Starting/Finish Line is a left gentle long turn towards an In-Tunnel bridge to 2 underground Right and Left slaloms. The first right slalom has Power-Up item blocks, and Arthur got himself a Sweet Seeker. He and Vanellope are currently in 5th place behind Sticky, Citrusella, Nougetsia and Swizzle. Arthur activates the Sweet Seeker.

Vanellope: "RED HOTS COMING RIGHT UP! (the sweet seeker fires three red hots)"

Sticky, Citrusella, and Nougetsia: "OUCH!"

The three red hots hit Sticky, Citrusella, and Nougetsia, allowing Arthur and Vanellope to move to 2nd place. Now behind Swizzle, Arthur and Vanellope maintain 2nd place while Taffyta and Crumbelina caught up to Arthur, Vanellope, and Swizzle. After the Slalom chain, the track goes to a gentle right turn, ascending to a higher level of the underground and into an area full of RED colored nougats with a medium straight to a gentle left curve. Candlehead and Rancis have their own problems with Gloyd and Jubileena, and the three recolors who just got recovered from the attack.

Vanellope: "SWIZZ! I'll get you today!"

Swizzle: "Fat shot, V! I won't let you! (deploys a Sprinkle Spikes power-up)"

Vanellope: "Uh-oh…."

Arthur then swerves Vanellope around the Sprinkle Spikes, dodging them through clean parts of the track, followed by the other racers. Crumbelina in particular is now in 3rd place behind Vanellope and Swizzle. Through the Red colored Nougat area of the underground, the race reaches a Rainbow track, which leads to the first phase of Royal Raceway's Nougat Underground section. This area is where Arthur can see the two tracks of Royal Raceway below him, one is the Rollercoaster track and the other is the shortcut with hazards.

Arthur: "Huh, now I get what Molly meant…."

After this area, the track goes to a gentle right turn back into another cave, now with BLUE and TEAL nougat lights. This is where Vanellope, Swizzle, and Crumbelina got Power-Ups. Swizzle got a Maple Syrup slick, Vanellope got a Cherry Bomb, and Crumbelina got an Ice Cream Launcher. Swizzle deploys the Maple Syrup slick; Arthur and Vanellope planted the Cherry Bomb, and Crumbelina fires the Ice Cream Launcher, only to crash into the cherry bomb. Arthur immediately drove Vanellope AROUND the slick, and Swizzle got attacked by the Ice Cream that Crumbelina shot.

Crumbelina and Swizzle: "AAAAGH!"

Vanellope: "Hahahaha, sorry, guys, looks like I gotta BLAST!"

Olivia: "I'll get you for THAT, Arthur!"

Vanellope thriumpantly drove away from the two racers who were later reset back on track. After the gentle curve comes a Descending-Ascending Long straight. Vanellope's Superpower bar is full, ao Arthur activates the Sugar Nitro at the straight.

Vanellope: "(Glows in Light Blue and picking up speed) WHOOOAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!"

But SO DID CRUMBELINA!

Olivia: "I won't let you GET AWAY! (Activates Crumbelina's Skill)"

Crumbelina: "(Tira-Missile summons the Linearity Missile underneath it, and Crumbelina accelerates!)"

Both Vanellope and Crumbelina sped past the Descending and Ascending straight to a Gentle right curve, one that leads to a Descending 360 degree Helix back to the main straight where the Starting/Finish Line sat. They are now equally in the front, overtaking one another. They rush through the main straight to Second and Final Lap of the race, and then, Taffyta and Rancis caught up.

Jay: "Arthur, Olivia, you're going DOWN!"

Vanessa: "Not if I take them out first!"

But Taffyta and Rancis aren't the only ones; Jubileena and M. Sakura are ALSO behind the four racers.

Martha: "Hey, don't you forget about me!"

Nelson: "Oh yeah, well I'm gonna leave ALL of you in my SUGAR DUST!"

All Player controlled racers are in the front of the pack.

Martha: "(Notices Jubileena's Superpower bar fully charged and that she and Jubileena are in 4th place behind Arthur, Vanellope, Olivia, Crumbelina, Jay, and Taffyta.) GET OUT OF MY WAY! (Activates Jubileena's Skill, Twin-Cherry-Bomb-Rush)"

Jubileena: "HAVE SOME CHERRY ON TOP! (Deploys the 5 Twin Cherry Bombs, 3 to the front, and 2 to the back.)"

The three Twin-Cherry-Bombs HIT Vanellope, Taffyta, and Crumbelina!

Vanellope and Taffyta: "AAAAAAGH!"

Crumbelina: "OUCH!"

Martha and Jubileena sped past the three racers they attacked, while Vanessa, Rancis, Nelson, and M. Sakura evaded the Twin Cherry Bombs in front of them. Arthur and Vanellope quickly recovered, followed by Jay, Taffyta, Olivia, and Crumbelina. From the First Curve and then the Slalom they raced, the other 4 racers are gaining on the Player controlled racers. As the race reaches the Cross-Path with Royal Raceway, Molly, Swati, and Nafisa walk in. They watch the race as Arthur and his 5 classmates' battle for the Finish Line after the Descending-Ascending Straight and Last Helix.

Arthur: "This is the last straight! I'm gonna win this!"

Jay: "Not if I do it first!"

Olivia: "You're so gonna get it, Jay!"

Taffya and Crumbelina: "Oh Vanny… lookout behind you~uuuuuu~uu…"

Vanellope: "(In the lead, driving away from Taffyta and Crumbelina, but she knew that those two are hot on her.) Oh dear sugar, Taffy Cakes and Crumby are HOT Behind me!"

Jay: "This is my win! (Sees Taffyta's Superpower Bar fully charged, so he activates the Taffy Slingshot Skill, where Slingshot Drones make a Mobile Slingshot, and Taffyta was Hurled Forwards!)"

Olivia: "OH NO YOU DON'T! (Crumbelina's Superpower bar is also fully charged, and Olivia activates the Linearity Missile, and the Missile rocket was shaped under the kart, and Crumbelina blasts forward, both her and Taffyta are catching up to Vanellope.)"

Vanellope was worried, her Superpower Bar isn't fully charged yet, and Arthur at this point will lose the race. Not even a Power-Up was in her hands. The Finish line is already close to Vanellope, but Taffyta and Crumbelina are gaining on her fast. But as their Skills wear out and are still gaining on Vanellope, the latter was still in front, the Finishing Straight becomes truly intense.

Rushing to the finish line they drove, Arthur and Vanellope WON THE RACE with Jay and Taffyta in 2nd and Olivia and Crumbelina in 3rd, Somehow the same outcome with Arthur's first ever race in Sugar Rush Super Speedway, or in Sugar Rush in his life. A little while later, Nelson and M. Sakura finished 5th, Vanessa and Rancis finished 7th, and Martha and Jubileena finished 8th.

Arthur: "HAHAHA! I WON!"

Olivia: "What the hell?! I was so close to overtaking you!"

Arthur: "Well you nearly got me, seriously, that race was crazy!"

Jay: "And I thought I would win this one!"

Martha: "Screw Winning, at least you all had fun!"

Arthur just laughed, seeing his classmates argue over a race, and since he won, he gets a free game. He saw Vanellope on the Top 3 Winners' Circle with Crumbelina and Taffyta.

Vanellope: "Excellent Race, Everyone! You all nearly got me there!"

Crumbelina: "Great Job on trying to maintain your Speed!"

Taffyta: "Keep it up, and you'll truly be the better racer as Everyone in Litwak's were told to believe!"

Rancis: "But still, I'm winning the next round."

M. Sakura: "We'll see about that."

Jubileena: "Well, let's go back to the positions for the next one!"

Arthur waited for the next challengers, and he had a fun Friday with his classmates. Who knows they might end up in the Finals.

To be continued...