"Tommy look, Sugar Rush is open again!" The girl exclaimed, dragging her friend to the console and taking the seat first.
"Who do you think I should play?" The girl asked.
The boy eyed the displaying kids who fierced their own poses. "Hmm. Oh, Vanellope's a pretty good racer."
"Yeah! She is. You know I haven't seen her on the roster last time I played. Sucks too, 'cause I really like her."
The boy continued playing on his Nintendo Switch. "Me neither. I think she came back when Mr. Litwak restarted the game."
"Good point."
"Well let me know when your done. I'll play Fix-it-Felix Jr." The boy notified as he walked to the console and poured some quarters in.
Vanellope proudly started her kart's engine, pep talking herself. She couldn't help but overthink what the player commented. Did someone out there really miss her?
"Good luck on the race, Vanellope." Adorabeezle praised, spinning her Rubik's Cube in her hands. "You deserve it. You feeling better?"
"Aww, thanks. And yeah I'm okay." Vanellope smiled shyly.
"Darn right, she does. Now stop all that talking. I need to focus on how I'm gonna beat you guys." Rancis intervened behind them, combing his hair in the mirror.
Swizzle groaned loudly, as he was getting tired of hearing Rancis' voice. "Don't worry 'bout him, Van. You're the sickest racer in the game. You'll win." He guaranteed.
"Thanks Swizz. Hopefully you'll be second place with me." Vanellope replied.
"Ready… Set… Go!" Said the announcer.
The grand marshmallow swiped the flag down in a flash, signaling the racers to roll out.
Vanellope was zooming down Sweet Ride in front of Nougetsia and Candlehead. Her regular technique was a bit off. Probably because Ralph wasn't there cheering for her and yelling, "You can do it, Vanellope! Just keep believing in yourself!"
She'd always laugh at those kind tips, but he had a duty in his own game; and that was wrecking the building.
Gee, this race is chill. No tasks, no kids bellyaching about how the game's so hard, she thought, the wind blowing in her hair.
She drove faster and farther until making it to Frosty Rally and finishing the race first, Snowanna coming in second.
"Oh my gosh, I won!" The girl gasped in shock as a huge trophy came into Vanellope's hands onscreen, a glowing expression on her face as she fist-bumped the avatar. Vanellope's heart swelled inside when the girl returned the favor.
Across from her, she saw Ralph on top of the penthouse roof with his fists up, indicating he won the battle against Felix. She waved at him buoyantly, to which he gave her a big goofy grin in return.
It was now quitting time for the game characters. Ralph pulled a pair of oven pads from out of the cabinets and slid the pie out of the oven.
"It's all done!" He announced as he set it down on the table.
"Oh, Ralph that looks splendid. I can tell you didn't burn it this time." Chimed in Mary as she gave him a pat on the arm. Ralph smiled at her earnestly.
Tamora rubbed her hands together, licking her lips at the satisfying pastry. Felix had a stack of plates and forks in his hands and was lining them up all around the table.
"What flavor is it?" Asked Crumbelina.
"If were lucky, it might be sour grapes." Swizzle answered.
"No way, it's definitely cherries." Jubileena exclaimed.
"Eh, I don't know J.B. It's purple so it's probably blueberries." Taffyta added as she typed on her new laptop.
"Can we please eat now, Mom?" Gloyd asked.
"Yeah, I'm starving and that pie's smell is gonna make me sing." Snowanna said.
"Wait, hang on kids. Gene, would you please do the honors for us?" Tamora asked politely.
"Oh, of course." Gene agreed as he poured himself a glass and raised it up.
"To Ralph, Felix, and Sargent Calhoun, who went out of their way to save the internet and Sugar Rush. Oh, and thank you Ralph for making this delightful pie."
Everyone softly applauded, while Candlehead hugged Tamora firmly as she was overly proud of her. "Mom, you and Dad are the best heroes ever." She whispered.
"Oh, thank you, my little birthday cake." She cooed back.
"Well everybody, why don't we start diggin' in?" Felix said as he began cutting slices and sliding them on the plates.
Just then, a rapid knock came tapping at the apartment door.
"Who the heck could that be!?" Taffyta asked with slight impatience.
"I'll get it." Nougetsia announced.
"Hey Vanellope, come on in!" She greeted, opening the door and letting her inside.
"Hey, Nougetsia. Hi guys." She waved kindly, to which they lovingly did back.
Ralph looked up, an excited smile on his face. "What's up, kiddo? How was the Roster Race today?"
His best friend glitched into his chest, giving him a bear hug.
"Guess what my high score was!"
"I don't know, uh, five hundred?" He asked.
"Three thousand!"
"Woah. kid, that's great. That's a whole new record, isn't it?" Ralph replied.
"Uh-huh!" She nodded.That player was the coolest. I thought I was gonna lose but she made me turn my kart in time."
She stole a chair from the kitchen island and pulled it up to the dining table next to the wrecker. "And am I crazy or did you beat Uncle Felix's butt?"
Felix side-eyed Vanellope, pretending he didn't hear that.
Ralph chuckled awkwardly, although he was quite proud of his accomplishment. "Oh that? Yeah. Guess my exercising's paying off." He said humbly.
"Is there some for me?" she wondered, hinting at the mulberry pie.
"Why wouldn't there be?" Felix said, plating Ralph and Vanellope's slices and the two friends thanked him.
Guests ate and chatted (some children flinging food at each other), and Ralph and Vanellope were smushing their pies, pretending they were mountains.
"Hey, Stinkbrain, How come you never answered me when I called?"
Ralph almost choked on his scoop of pie. Tamora and Felix stared at him as if they were waiting for him to give the little girl an explanation.
"Well, me, Felix and Spamley were on this loud ride on the internet, and I couldn't hear the phone." He scratched his head. "I knew something felt weird. "
"Oh." She cleared her throat, wiping pie crust off her mouth. "That's fine. I just thought… you were getting tired of me."
"What? Never, No way. Your too cool to be boring." Ralph encouraged, scruffing her hair and getting crumbs on it, and the two wouldn't even try to hide their giggles at the dinner table this time.