-==Chapter 16==-

Sugar City Power-Up!

After a normal day at School, Arthur visits Litwak's Arcade. He sees some final steps of maintenance work on the Ferris wheel and the Roller Coaster to ensure they're running properly. Sugar Rush Super Spedway has gone through a cooldown mode during the Weekend Close days, and the game is now back in action along with others.

Arthur has been thinking about the Sugar Rush elite league, and the Top Players all around the world. He sees lots of people playing agmes like Fis-It Felix Jr., Hero's Duty, Puyo Puyo Arcade, The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Warriors the Arcade, Kirby's Arcade Land, Panel de Pon: The Arcade, Vs. Super Mario Bros, Street Fighter, and lots more.

Boarding Seat 1 on Sugar Rush Super Speedway, Arthur inserts his first quarter, taps his Tobi-Save card on the scanner, and confirms his current save data, with only Vanellope as his racer. Before he could proceed, Molly came around to see him.

Molly: "Hey, Arthur, still thinking about something?"

Arthur: "Oh, Molly, well, a little. It's about the Elite league."

Molly: "Oh, you wanna join the Elite League?"

Arthur: "Not sure, but sort of."

Announcer: "You are ready to race!"

Arthur: "(Steps on the Gas Pedal, confirming his racer.)"

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

Molly: "Mind if I join you? (Prepares her game, and chooses Crumbelina.)

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

Arthur: "I guess not. Say, can we, like, roll in Sugar City Highway?"

Molly: "Sure, why not?"

The two kids chose "Play Together" and proceed to pick Sugar City Highway. While waiting for the race to begin after choosing Casual Mode, Molly and Arthur decide to pass the time and have a talk, while also waiting for some challengers.

Molly: "So, how's school going for you?"

Arthur: "Things are good at School, actually. The classmates were all nice to me, unlike my old place were there were a lot of mean bullies."

Molly: "Sounds similar to when I was your age. Many kids were nice to me back then."

Announcer: "Chews Your Racer!"

Arthur: "Have you encountered any bullies here?"

Molly: "Well, there were some game hoggers who jumped queues for the original Sugar Rush Speedway, and I've encountered that kind of people for the first time back in 2012, where back then, Litwak's Sugar Rush was defected, you know, King Candy as the Best Racer instead of Beginner Friendly Vanellope, and the so called Glitched-Vanellope fiasco, preventing Litwak's to host the World Championships, since 2018 will be the first time this event will happen."

Sakura: "(Pulls up her katana, swings it, and hoists it up with a serious face)"

Arthur: "Wait, so this is the first time this arcade is going to be the hotspot for the World Championship?"

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

Molly: "Of course. Like I said, the original Sugar Rush Speedway in this place was defected, if the event was held anyways, those who didn't know that Vanellope has a Glitching version would consider this arcade unfair.

Arthur: "Looks like there's someth…"

Announcer: "A NEW CHALLENGER!"

Molly: "(Looks at Seats 3 and 4) Rebecca?! Sally?!"

Rebecca: "Looks like we've meet again, young Arthur."

Arthur: "What the… How did you… wait, hold it, you heard about me…."

Announcer: "Chews the Track!"

Rebecca: "Yes, I did. And I'm sorry for your loss mate, as well as yours, Molly; Heather was such a good bloke."

Arthur: "So, you know Heather, but how? (As he picks Sugar City Highway)"

Rebecca: "Anybody who played Sugar Rush at Litwak's before 2017 knew her. I found out about her in 2014. Believe it or not, Heather's status and position wasn't the only thing I've discovered. It's the first time I found out that Litwak's Sugar Rush was defected."

Arthur: "I still don't get it…."

Molly: "Aaaaaaaaaaaaaargh (Facepalms in annoyance)"

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

Sally: "Arthur still thinks it's just coincidental…. He didn't realize that it's no coincidence… It was Destiny…."

Gloyd: "(Brushes his hair using one hand and snickers evilly)"

Arthur: "Can we play Casual mo…."

Announcer: "A NEW CHALLENGER!"

Molly: "Swati?! Nafisa?! You two in on this too?!"

Swati: "It's been a while…. Fancy seeing you bere Rebecca…"

Sally: "Well you're up for a fight, aren't you?"

Nafisa: "So, where do you guys want to race on?"

Arthur: "Sugar City Highway."

Molly: "Casual mode, this time."

All the 6 kids picked Sugar City Highway, and set to Casual Mode; they also activate 3D-MAX and Motion Simulator, so they put on the 3D-Power Goggles and fastened their seat belts. Knowing Sally picked Rancis for the race, Arthur knew it's the RV1 again. Inside the game, Vanellope's starting position is 5th, and Rancis is behind her. Gloyd and Crumbelina are in the Front Row, 1st and 2nd positions respectively, and Sakura and Jubileena are in the Back, 9th and 10th respectively. Nougetsia, Citrusella, Swizzle, and Snowanna are this race's opponents.

Snowanna: "Hope you're all ready to lose today!"

Crumbelina: "Oh, Snowy, you won't do that on my sight!"

Nougetsia: "Don't try to challenge fate, Anna!"

Vanellope: "Oh yes, this is going to be REALLY SWEET!"

Rancis: "I won't count on that, Sugar-Cakes."

Announcer: Are you ready? 5! 4! 3! 2! 1! START!"

The race begins and Arthur's Perfect launch hurls Vanellope to 2nd place behind Crumbelina who launched to 1st place and Gloyd in 3rd. Unlike Simulation mode, Casual Mode has the rack go on for 4 laps instead of 2. Speeding on the long straight to the first Right Turn to a Medium distance Bridge and short straight, Arthur and Vanellope came across a Power-Up: The Sugar Cube.

Arthur: "Power-Up! (Presses the Power-Up button)"

Vanellope eats the Sugar Cube and her kart got a Speed Boom creating a Sonic Boom wave and a Windy-Slipstream Halfpipe-Trail which Molly, Crumbelina, Swati, and Gloyd took advantage of. On the Bridge, Arthur can see through the In-Game Rear-View Mirror about Molly and Swati's stunt with the Windy-Slipstream Halfpipe-Trail. Entering the Left Helix section to the tunnel entrance is where things start getting interesting.

Molly and Crumbelina got an Ice Cream Launcher while Swati and Gloyd got a Cherry Bomb. As Molly is about to activate Crumbelina's Ice Cream Launcher, and Nafisa and Jubileena are about to overtake Molly and Crumbelina…

Swati: "MAKE WAY FOR GLOYD!"

Swati activates Gloyd's Cherry Bomb, which is thrown at Crumbelina and Jubileena!

Crumbelina and Jubileena: "OUCH!"

Gloyd: "Sorry, Gotta BLAST!"

Swati and Gloyd are now in 2nd place behind Vanellope. The two are drifting in Tandem across the Left Slalom and to the Exit of the tunnel which would lead to the section between the pedestrian-only streets on the sides of the race track and to the Candy Cane Suspension Bridge. Recovering back to the race, Molly and Crumbelina were in 7th place and Nafisa and Jubileena were in 9th place, way behind; Sally and Rancis are in third place and Rebecca and Sakura are in 5th place behind Citrusella and in front of Swizzle.

Overtaking Swati and Gloyd, Sally and Rancis are aiming towards Vanellope, but something's off, Rancis doesn't have a Power-up. And then, suddenly…

Sally: "(Drives Rancis angrily towards Vanellope.)"

Rancis: "(Angrily Bashes Vanellope, sending her to the sides of the track!)"

Vanellope: "AAAAAGH!"

Sally: "You better back off if you know what's coming to you, Arthur!"

Arthur: "Hey! That's not fair!"

Vanellope: "Rancis! That's Not Fair!"

Rancis: "Well So-RRY! Hahahaha! (Leaves Vanellope in the Dust!)"

Vanellope: "Oooooh I'm gonna GET HIM!"

Arthur and Vanellope then accelerate to try taking the lead back from Sally and Rancis. Swati and Gloyd were with Arthur and Vanellope, and those two were planning to snatch first place from Sally and Rancis as well. On the right turn back to the starting/finish line for Lap 2, Rebecca and Sakura are coming in on the two, but so did Molly, Crumbelina, Nafisa, and Jubileena, as well as the other racers. Nafisa and Jubileena got a Sweet Seeker on their way to the first bridge after the first right turn, and shoot three red hots at Sally, Rancis, Swati, Gloyd, Rebecca and Sakura.

Rancis, Gloyd, and Sakura: "AAAAAGH!"

Jubileena: "Hahahah! See you losers Late~eeee~er!"

Arthur and Vanellope managed to get in 1st place with Nafisa and Jubileena behind her. Through the center of the City after exiting the tunnel slalom and ascending section, Molly and Crumbelina would gain in on Arthur, Vanellope, Nafisa and Jubileena. Meanwhile, at Fix-It Felix Jr., since nobody is playing the game at this moment of time, the Nicelanders are watching the race.

Mary: "How could Rancis shove Vanellope like that? That's really mean of him!"

Dean: "How could he? Doing that to his own girlfriend like that?! He should be…"

Felix: "Hey, that's how it works. Sally is in charge, so Rancis has no control in that!"

Ralph: "Vanellope's gone through worse than that, so no worries there. She's a tough one."

Norwood: "So, how is she even capable of suriving that? She's still a child."

Felix: "May be, but she's prepared for stuff like this. After all…"

Dispatcher: "QUARTER ALERT! QUARTER ALERT! QUARTER ALERT!"

Ralph: "That's our que, Come on, get in position!"

Some random kids are playing Fix-It Felix Jr.; they are going after Molly's High Score.

Ralph: "I'M GONNA WRECK-IT!"

Felix: "I can Fix-It!"

Back to the racers, it's already the second time they passed the Suspension Bridge, and advancing Lap 3, Molly and Crumbelina are in 4th place, their Superpower Bar fully charged, and in front of them are Arthur and Vanellope in 3rd, Citrusella in 1st and Snowanna in 2nd. Vanellope, however, is starting to stress out again.

Snowanna: "Oh, What's the matter, Van?! Is the city too much for you?"

Citrusella: "Did you burn out in Slaughter Land?"

Vanellope said nothing and didn't respond to the joke as Arthur got her a Cherry Bomb Power-Up, and it is thrown at Snowanna and Citrusella, knocking them away, allowing Arthur and Vanellope to gain back 1st place.

Snowanna: "Ouch! (Reset back on track) How rude!"

Citrusella: "Aaaaagh! (Reset back on track) Hey! I'll get you for that!"

Vanellope: "Looks like you two aren't paying attentio~ooooo~on! Hahahahahaha!"

Arthur and Vanellope drove away from Snowanna and Citrusella, and on the Helix to the tunnel of Sugar City Highway, Molly, Crumbelina, Sally, and Rancis are gaining up on them.

Sally: "You two get out of my way! RV1 and Rancis will win this one for sure!"

Rancis: "Out of my way before I smash into you!"

Through the Slalom and exiting the tunnel, Sally and Rancis got an Ice Cream Launcher Power-Up, and Arthur and Vanellope got theirs too, and as Sally and Rancis shot the Ice Cream targeting Arthur and Vanellope, the latter two activated Their Power-Up: The Bubblegum Shield, which shields them from the ice cream that was shot from Rancis. Crossing the Suspension bridge, Rebecca and Sakura are gaining in on Arthur, Vanellope, Sally, Rancis, Molly, and Crumbelina.

Rebecca: "That Arthur kid won't get away from me this time!"

Sakura: "Kono kontesuto wa ikkini shūryō suru yōdesu! (Looks like this competition will be concluded in one go!)"

After exiting the tunnel into the track section leading to the Suspension Bridge, Rebecca and Sakura pull off a Long Drift, overtaking Arthur and Vanellope who are also pulling off a Drift. The crowd was egging on the 6 racers, and several people are also recording the race. However, as the players reached the Final Lap, none of the players were picking up Power-Ups. Arthur and Vanellope are still in the lead with Sally and Rancis having overtaken Rebecca and Sakura who are now in 3rd place. Molly and Crumbelina are still in 4th place; Nafisa and Jubileena are in 5th place; and Swati and Gloyd are in 6th place. After the tunnel and the District section, the players and their racers are at the Suspension Bridge, and their Superpower Bars are fully charged. The other 4 racers were left all the way behind.

Announcer: "LINEARITY MISSILE!"

Molly activates Crumbelina's Linearity Missile Skill, plowing Saly, Rancis, Rebecca, and Sakura off and catching up to Arthur and Vanellope!

Arthur: "Molly, you won't beat me and Vanellope that easily! (Activates Vanellope's Sugar Nitro Skill)"

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

Arthur, Vanellope, Molly, and Crumbelina are Neck and Neck, but as they approach the Finish line….

Announcer: "KERNEL BLASTER!"

Swati activates Gloyd's Kernel Blasters, shooting three Giant Candy Corn Missiles, Blowing up Arthur, Vanellope, Molly, and Crumbelina!

Announcer: "Twin Cherry Bomb Rush!"

Nafisa activates Jubileena's Twin Cherry Bomb Rush, throwing 2 Twin Chery Bombs at Rebecca, Sakura, Sally, and Rancis, while throwing Three Twin Cherry Bombs behind, causing the other 4 racers to crash into the cherry bombs, and thus slowing them down.

Vanellope, Crumbelina, Sakura, and Rancis: "AAAAAAAAGH!"

Only Swati and Nafisa are in the front, but Fortunately for Arthur, his racer Vanellope recovered quick enough to catch up to Gloyd and Jubileena, but at the Starting/Finish line, Nafisa and Jubileena took Swati and Gloyd's lead and won the race! Swati and Gloyd came 2nd and Arthur and Vanellope came 3rd.

Jubileena: "YAAAY! I WON!"

Nafisa: "HAHAHA! VICTORY IS MINE!"

Gloyd: "Hooray for Jubi!"

Vanellope: "Alright JUBILEENA!"

Everyone cheered for Jubileena's Victory, and so did the 9 racers. Arthur and Vanellope got another 3rd Place trophy for their quick finish.

Arthur: "Guess there's a lot more to this whole Championship thing."

Molly: "Hey, Arthur, wanna go for another round?"

Arthur: "You know what, sure. I'll go for another one!"

Rebecca: "Guess I'll be off."

Sally: "Same, I'll be at Hero's Duty if you're looking for me."

Swati: "I'll go at Fix-It Felix Jr."

Nafisa: "Well, with me getting a free game, guess it's just the two of you against me!"

Rebecca, Sally, and Swati left the game after they quit and saved their data. And only Arthur, Molly, and Nafisa remain. Random kids would challenge the three. But while they are all busy racing, Jackson and Norton came back to the Arcade to see how the races are going, as they are planning to race Arthur. But whatever their challenge is, Arthur and Vanellope will not back down even bit.

To be continued...

Author's Notes

Yes, i'm still going, i just need to take breaks from time to time. And Speaking of the World Championship, i'm going to elaborate about the patrons. Now, generally, Fanfictions focusing on the arcade patrons usually use the generic "Getting sucked into the Video Game World" plot, and if not, probably just some sides. This is what inspires me to create one FOCUSING on the Patrons, and the story is AROUND THEM. If you follow the story from the Start, there are chapters not focusing on the patrons, but those are intentional, because if you read chapter 10, Random Roster Shock, Vanellope had a PTSD when an infamous two words sentence was said out loud, causing her to crash and get killed only to respawn, but she was traumatized, and the trauma was because someone who gave her the name, had mentally roughen her up, and this someone was Dead by the time the story starts.

And when the central Ralph characters like Vanellope, the Sugar Rush racers, and the other arcade characters for that matter, their chapters (Even the First one in Chapter 3 after the so called "Early Ralph Wrecks the Internet" flashback) HAVE something to do with the patrons. If you read Chapter 3, Vanellope told her adoptive mother Shank about Heather's Death and Shank reveals that a Main OC character named Jackson will step in to Arthur's life.

And this is a recurring theme: In Chapters where the Patrons don't play a role, the Characters INSIDE the Digital world carry the Impact, like how Vanellope's worries for Arthur is heavily used EVEN in Slaughter Race where she is worried if Arthur isn't ready to face off against Slaughter Race players in Sugar Rush.

I'm looking forward to write Drama chapters. Sugar Rush as a game franchise is mostly Sunshine and Rainbows, but the Community portrayed, is NOT.