*I come in the studio to find Vanellope von Schweetz and the Sugar Rush Racers inside*
Me: You're early.
Gloyd: No, you're just late.
Me: You guys here for the new chapter?
Vanellope: Yeah. I can't wait to see it.
Me: Here it is.
The 7 Medallions
Chapter 5: Sweet and Sour
In Castle Oblivion's circular throne room, Xaldin, Luxord, and Vexen appear out of a corridor of darkness and kneel to Xemnas. They were in Enchancia battling Mason and the young royals when they were summoned. The three stand up to hear the news.
"Master Xemnas, what reason do you have for summoning us?" Xaldin asked.
"Xaldin, Luxord, Vexen, one of our Nobody patrol guards has found one of the Elemental Medallions in Twilight Town." Xemnas answered.
"Elemental Medallions? Is this true?" Luxord asked with a clueless look.
"Yes. After you three left on your mission, Zexion has informed me that one of our patrol guards witnessed a black comet crash in front of the train station. This is what crashed." Xemnas said. A Samurai Nobody comes in bringing the Elemental Medallion on a pedestal. It has the same look as the Medallion of Light, only the face has a crescent moon on it. The three look at the Medallion.
"So this is one of the Elemental Medallions. Interesting." Vexen said inspecting the Medallion.
"Unfortunately, when Zexion located the Medallion, he also witnessed one of the Keyblade wielder's friends find another." Xemnas added.
"So they're after the Medallions also. Should we intercept them, Master?" Xaldin asked.
"Stand down. I've already sent Larxene and Lexaeus to their next destination." Xemnas replied.
"Are you sure they can handle them?" Vexen asked with doubt.
"Do not worry, Vexen. They are powerful enough to incapacitate one Keyblade wielder." Xemnas calmly replied with an evil look.
The Gummi Ship is traveling through an inter-dimensional bridge on their way to Sugar Rush. In the Gummi Ship's cockpit, Mason, Sofia, Amber, and James explain to Sora what happened in Enchancia, where they found the Medallion of Light.
"So let me get this straight, you were mysteriously teleported to Enchancia with no memory whatsoever, obtained a Keyblade from a strange light, rescued Sofia from Xaldin, met her family, and found the Medallion of Light in Dunwitty. Am I right?" Sora asked after hearing Mason's explanation.
"Yeah, that's what happened so far. How much farther are we to Sugar Rush?" Mason replied.
"The gate should open any minute." Sora reported, who was piloting the ship. Then, the heroes start hearing noises from the lower deck. "What was that?"
"I think it came from one of the cabins. We should take a look." James suggested. After Sora turns on the ship's Auto Pilot, they left to investigate the noise. They enter the cabin that the noise came from, only to find it empty.
"Weird. I thought we'd find someone in here." Sora said.
"Well, whoever was in here, I bet that they're long gone." Mason added.
"Yeah, you're right. Let's get back to the cockpit." James replied as he and the others turn around. But when the heroes were about to leave the cabin, they hear quiet snickering. Sofia almost instantly figured out who was in the cabin.
"Come on out, you guys. I know you're still in there." Sofia said. Then, a group of children come out of their hiding places. The rest of the heroes turn around to see them.
"How did they get in here?" Mason asked with a surprised look.
"They probably saw me landing the ship and snuck inside while I wasn't looking." Sora answered. Then, Sofia remembered something very important.
"Oh, why didn't I do this sooner? Mason, Sora, these are my friends from Royal Prep: Zandar, Hildegard, Clio, Vivian, Maya, Jun, Jin, and Khalid." Sofia said introducing her friends from the academy.
"Pleased to meet you both." Hildegard greeted. Sofia then explained how she and Mason met and what happened in Dunwitty.
"He sure sounds cool. Did he really save you with a Keyblade?" Zandar asked.
"He sure did. Show them, Mason." Sofia answered. Mason then showed everyone his Sleeping Lion Keyblade, which amazed them all.
"Wow! A real Keyblade." Jin said. "Can you show us some moves?" Then they heard an alarm go off from the cockpit.
"I would like to, but we're getting close to our destination." Mason answered as he, Sora, and the royals leave the cabin and make their way to the cockpit. After entering, Sora went into the pilot's seat and turned off the Auto Pilot. Then, a keyhole-shaped portal opens in front of the ship.
"What is that?!" Vivian asked.
"A Keyhole. It acts as a portal to our destination." Sora answered. "Hang on!" the ship travels through the Keyhole and it closes afterwards.
The Gummi Ship then enters through the Keyhole and lands in an open field. Sora, Mason, and the royals then exit the ship. They look at their surroundings and find themselves amazed by the environment, especially Sofia and Amber.
"Wow! This place is beautiful." Sofia said admiring the look of the game.
"I know, but this is no time for sightseeing. We have an Elemental Medallion to find." Mason replied. Despite the complaints he got from the two princesses, he is being serious.
"Now, according to the radar, the next Medallion should be that way." Sora reported, pointing towards a mountain in the shape of a soda bottle. They start their trek towards the mountain, when all of a sudden a candy-themed go-kart speeds past them. "Whoa! Where did that come from?!"
"I think we landed near some sort of race track in the game." James answered. Then, some more candy and sweets themed karts zoom by.
"From the look of those karts, I'd say those must be the racers." Sofia reported.
"You mean we're in a candy-themed racing game?" Zandar asked.
"Yeah. We should be able to catch up to them if we follow the track." Sofia suggested. The heroes then followed the racers to a large castle in the distance. "This must be where they're going." They enter the castle and find themselves in the throne room.
"Could this be where those racers we saw live?" Sora asked.
"That's correct." a voice answered. The heroes turn to see who said that. It came from a girl with black hair tied in a short ponytail with various candies stuck to it wearing a teal hoodie with a brown candy wrapper skirt, mismatched teal stockings and black boots.
"Were you with those racers that sped past us?" Sora asked the girl.
"Yeah, they're my friends. My name's Vanellope von Schweetz. I'm the President of Sugar Rush." the girl introduced "What are your names?"
"My name's Mason and these are my friends: Sora, Sofia, Amber, James, Zandar, Hildegard, Clio, Vivian, Maya, Jun, Jin, and Khalid." Mason said as he introduced himself and his friends to Vanellope. "We were wondering if you or your friends have seen an object crash into your game."
"Oh yeah, come to think of it, I did see a cyan comet crash near Diet Cola Mountain yesterday." Vanellope answered.
"That's where we were going before you drove past us." Sora replied.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't see you when you came here. I was too focused on the race." Vanellope added.
"Race?" James asked.
"Yeah, the game's Random Roster Race. We race one lap around the speedway and the first nine racers becomes tomorrow's roster." Vanellope explained.
"So this race helps the players decide who they can choose?" Mason asked. Vanellope nodded. "Sounds interesting."
"Excuse me, but I've got a question. How exactly did you become President of your game?" Sofia asked. Upon hearing that question, Vanellope only sighed with a bit of disappointment.
"I had a feeling you'd ask me that. Let me answer your question with a little history of my game." Vanellope replied as she sits on her throne "Sugar Rush was one of the most popular racing games in all of Game Central Station."
"Game Central Station?" Clio asked.
"It's where all of the games you know about are connected." Vanellope answered "Anyway, 15 years ago the day my game got plugged in, a sinister game character known as Turbo infiltrated Sugar Rush in the middle of the night, disguised himself as his alternate persona, King Candy, tampered with my code box turning me into a glitch, and imprisoned the memories of all the others."
"How could this Turbo turn you into a glitch? You look perfectly normal." James said.
"Actually…" Vanellope replied as she got off her throne and began to glitch before returning to normal, which shocked everyone. "That's right, and the worst part is that glitches can never leave their game."
"What a shame." Hildegard said.
"Yeah, I know, but I managed to get my glitching under control. After that, he made a law stating that no glitch should be allowed to race." Vanellope added continuing her story "He was worried that if I entered the race and crossed the finish line, the game would reset. He then ordered the other racers to destroy my karts every time I tried to enter with one."
"Sounds like something a coward would do." Jun said. Vanellope nodded in agreement and continued her story.
10 minutes later…
"…And that's how I became President." Vanellope finished. The heroes are awestruck after hearing Vanellope's story.
"Wow. I can't believe they treated you like that." Clio said with a surprised look.
"Who would've thought that you used to be a princess until now?" Sofia asked.
"Well, like I said, after crossing the finish line, the code restored me into a princess, but I decided to change my title to President." Vanellope answered. Then, 14 other children wearing candy-themed clothing come into the throne room. "Guys, you made it." She then glitches to the other racers.
"Are those your friends?" Sora asked.
"Yeah, they are." Vanellope answered "Everyone, these are my friends: Taffyta Muttonfudge, Rancis Fluggerbutter, Gloyd Orangeboar, Minty Zaki, Jubileena Bing-Bing, Adorabeezle Winterpop, Crumbelina DiCaramello, Swizzle Malarkey, Snowanna Rainbeau, Candlehead, Citrusella Flugpucker, Torvald Batterbutter, Sticky Wipplesnit, and Nougetsia Brumblestain."
After Mason introduced himself and his friends to the rest of the racers, Vanellope then asked Sora and Mason why they are here. Just as Sora was about to answer, they hear a buzzing noise outside the castle.
"What is that sound?" Mason asked.
"Sounds like Cy-Bugs are attacking the game!" Vanellope answered as she, the other racers, and the heroes exit the castle to see a colony of Cy-Bugs flying about in the game.
"Those are the Cy-Bugs?!" James asked with fear.
"Yeah, and it looks like we have to drive them out." Rancis answered.
"You just read my mind." Mason replied as he and Sora summon their Keyblades and prepare for battle.
To be continued...
Me: So, what do you think? *The lights unexpectedly go out* Hey, who turned out the lights?! I can't see a thing!
*I find the light switch and when I turn them on…*
Everyone in the story: SURPRISE! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ARCHER!
Me: Whoa! As Johnny Test would say, I did not see that coming!
Rancis: What do you think bro?
Me: You guys did all this for me?
Zandar: We sure did. The party was Sofia and Vanellope's idea.
Me: Thanks you two. This is gonna be the greatest birthday of my life.
Vanellope: No problem.
Sofia: It was you who helped us, so we decided to return the favor.
Me: Thank you all. You readers please review. Peace!