Arcade Angel

by paintbaby

Summary:

Sunset V. Soleil is the lone survivor of a silent unplugging. Her and Surge form an unlikely bond, which helps him uncover more of her mysterious past and the game she originated from.

Chapter 1: Friend Request Accepted

Was loneliness the right word?

 

It had been so long for someone like Surge. Sure, most of the time he acted cold and unenthusiastic in his work, and maybe it was because of that, there wasn’t anyone interested in him. When was the last time he had someone to call a friend? Did he even have friends? He sometimes caught himself glancing over at the many colourful cast of characters in Game Central Station, and how they’d interact. Like Ralph and Vanellope.

 

Ralph and Vanellope were friends in the way they laughed and joked about anything they could think of, but also friends in the way that they had care and respect for one another. How nice it would be to share a bond like that with someone. Someone he didn’t have to act so cold around. Felix and Calhoun were… definitely more than just friends. Surge never gave love a second thought.

 

Surge didn’t have time for friends. With how long he had been here, he’d seen the failure of so many friendships, the failure of sacrifice and communication. It all looked horrible. A few minutes of smiling and happiness just so you can spend the rest of your time thinking about how well things could’ve been if you didn’t mess up? No thank you. Not as if he had anything to give. He’d be just fine on his own, he said. He wouldn’t think about friendship anymore, he said. He wasn’t lonely, he said. 

 

Friends didn’t matter.

 

…

 

He was passing by a certain game, one that stuck with him ever since it got plugged in. “Knight’s Honour” was displayed in the familiar large red letters that sat atop the rest of the entrances, but there was nothing familiar about the game itself. Upon it being plugged in, there was no one to greet. Nothing ever came through the entrance and the silence proved to Surge that it wouldn’t be a good idea to go through. There could be something terrifying lurking in there, waiting for company so that it could strike. 

 

But Surge had heard indistinct whispers about the game’s cabinet and the medieval setting it had. Was there a large dragon being kept at bay so as to not destroy Game Central Station? Or something else more sinister going on? Surge heard as some people said it’d be another redo of the Turbotime and Roadblasters incident. How this would end bad, and that history was repeating itself. 

 

Whatever it was, it made him feel uneasy. Time to focus on something else.

 

-

 

And just like that, it disappears right before your eyes. 

 

One day, everyone realised that without noticing, the mysterious game had been unplugged. A strange decision, since plenty had seen the game being played. It wasn’t popular, but every so often someone would slip a quarter into the machine. It's not like there was anything to mourn, though.

The game was pretty much nothing anyway. It didn’t matter.

 

The game didn’t matter.

 

As everyone disbanded and went their separate ways, Surge was left there by himself, staring into the now empty tunnel of black where the game’s entrance once stood. Nothing was there, but he couldn’t tear his eyes away from the void that stood before him. What was he doing? He had work to do. Wasting time like this wasn’t an option. 

 

…

 

A pair of eyes shimmered through the dark.

 

 It took Surge a moment to realise what he had just seen, shivering slightly. There was no chance that something was there, staring back at him. Right? Surely not. His mind was playing tricks on him. He was losing his mind due to loneliness. Stop thinking about friends! Get back to-

 

Surge picked up on the panicked, messy footsteps that echoed through the quiet walls.

 

Something was there. He waited, his work now displayed in front of him. Finding out what that thing was, cloaked in darkness. Surge had almost forgotten about the torch he had, 

as he switched it on and let the light purify the dark. It had spotted a small, black star against a yellow background before whoever it was, moved to the left. Definitely a person. Surge finally spoke up. “You’ve been caught, now come on out.” Hopefully not sounding too shaken up. He switched his torch off upon seeing the person coming forward. 

 

The first thing Surge picked up on was the eyes. They were a gradient of red, orange and yellow. The pupils in the middle looked like a strange eclipse. The more he scanned, he picked up on more royal motifs, like the black, pointy crown and puffy dress, with the same warm colours. A very cute design. He didn’t say that. 

 

“You’re not a game character, am I right?” She spoke, pointing a finger at Surge. A very blunt beginning to their conversation. “That doesn’t matter, what were you doing in there?” He said whilst getting his clipboard out, trying to steer back to getting answers out of her.  “My game was unplugged.” Looking back up, her expression had shifted from wall-eyed to concern. “I was… the only one that made it out.” 

 

Yikes. 

 

Something like that had never happened before, with an unplugging only having one survivor. Presumably an important part of the game as well had been left behind. This was bad, she looked like she was about to cry, and here he was, interrogating her like she was some criminal. “Oh.” He began to drone. “My mistake…” 

 

“It’s no problem.” She said, extending her gloved hand. “My name is Sunset…” Her eyes squinted as she said her name, as if there was something she wasn’t telling him. Surge hesitated, but her lips shifted into something soft and gentle, making her expression seem more joyous than anything. “We should be friends.” A sentence that made Surge’s face go blank.

 

A friend?

 

…

 

Maybe…

 

Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad.

 

He silently shook her hand, noticing how her hand only had four fingers, whilst he had five. Her eyes caught the sight of his nametag. 

 

“We’re friends now, Surge.”

 

“I… I guess we are.”

Chapter 2: Departure

Finding out where Sunset could stay was a no-brainer. Ever since the game Fix-It Felix Jr opened up East Niceland for all of the homeless residents, there have been no cold nights on the floors of Game Central Station. Just as Sunset was about to go up the escalator, Surge could feel her eyes on him. 

 

“Is it okay if you tag along?” She asked, tilting her head slightly. It was as if her huge pigtails were weighing her head down. “I can’t. I have to monitor Game Central Station. You have to go by yourself.” He answered firmly. Her face fell into a tiny frown. “But- I don't know what I'm doing!” Sunset’s hands gripped onto her pigtails, clearly stressing out. This wasn’t good. 

 

“You’ll be fine. Calm down.” Surge said dismissively before trying to walk off, hearing Sunset’s whines for help. “Pleeease…” Her frown had grown and her pigtails looked deflated. This was getting ridiculous. There wasn’t much to worry about. Surge teleported abruptly, leaving Sunset to cry about it in her own company.

 

Admittedly, it was kind of nice to see how much she enjoyed his company, especially since they had only met a few hours ago. But he had things to do. He couldn’t let Sunset drag him around by the hip because she was scared. He’d have to find out more about her when he had the time, because during their long conversation, she hadn’t mentioned her game, or how it worked. Then again, he never directly asked.

 

Whatever.

 

-

 

Surge didn’t expect the abandonment to eat him alive more than it did. As soon as he had the chance, it was an immediate teleportation over to Fix-It Felix Jr. Time and time again, the thought of Sunset’s wobbling stature as she tried to explain herself to the Nicelanders would worm its way into Surge’s mind and it did nothing but distract him. A small check-up wouldn’t do any harm. 

 

He spotted Felix about to enter the penthouse. Perfect. Upon calling his name, he turned around, his face going from confused to slightly surprised. “Surge? Can I help you?” He asked, turning his whole body around. “Did you run into Sunset?” He held his clipboard so that he wouldn’t fidget. “Oh, the princess? I sure did! She’s nice and settled now in East Niceland.” Felix said, plastering a large smile on his face. “Did you get any information about her game?” Surge asked, clicking his pen.

 

Felix’s face fell slightly. “Actually, I…” A look of shame spread across his face. “She wasn’t very talkative when the Nicelanders and I were touring her around.” Felix could hear Surge scribbling away in his clipboard, his eyes peeking over it, prompting him for more information. “A-And kept asking when you’d come back.” Felix blurted out. Surge felt himself buzz in surprise. Felix surely wouldn’t joke about something like that. 

 

Regaining his composure, Surge nodded. “Thank you for your help, Felix.” The handyman smiled once again, before turning around and walking back into the penthouse. Very interesting. Hopefully this wouldn’t escalate and grow into separation anxiety or anything. 

 

It didn’t even take him a few steps into East Niceland for Sunset to come back into his sight. Surge watched as her head popped out of a window on a low floor, her mouth wide and screaming in joy. And just like that, she disappeared before bursting through the front door of the building, running towards Surge like a missile.

 

“Oh, Surge! You’re finally back! Thank the lord!” She squealed and jumped around as if he’d just come back from war. His cold stare was trying its best not to falter. “I’ve been gone for a few hours.” Surge noticed how Sunset’s arms were grappling onto the air, as if she was trying her all to not hug him. Her face was beaming with excitement.

 

“Please calm down.” Surge said, trying not to let Sunset’s enthusiasm rub off on him. She ultimately did calm down, though Surge watched her fingers twitch. “Yes, a few hours. That’s… not very long.” Her embarrassment started to settle in as she started walking back to the building. Surge sighed and began to trail behind. 

 

The apartment Sunset had been assigned to was typical, with basic necessities. She suddenly spoke up much to Surge’s surprise. “Do you think I'll be happy here?” Asking with her back turned, her tone flat. Thinking more about it, there could surely be things for Sunset to spend her time doing. There were so many worlds for her to visit, and potential friends to make. Maybe Fix-It Felix Jr just wasn’t a game she was too interested in.

 

“I’m sure you’ll be happy.” He replied. Sunset turned around, her smile returning to her face. “With you here to guide me, I'll be happy. Thank you, Surge.” After all this time, it was nicer than he’d thought to hear someone thanking him. And from royalty he assumed, no less.

 

It was unlike anything he’d ever experienced.

 

…

 

He really needed to stop teleporting away during conversation. It could come off as rude. But it was hard. No one had ever wanted to hold a conversation, or took him seriously like they were supposed to. 

 

Sunset did.

 

And maybe he kind of liked it a little bit.

 

Notes:

bruh

Chapter 3: Sickly Sweet

Summary:

Sunset ventures into Sugar Rush as Surge remembers another royal who used to tread the grounds.

Notes:

I’m sorry that this took longer than expected. My new kitten, Kevin, has been taking up my attention.

Kevin says hi.

A few days have passed. 

 

Sunset had been getting used to how the place works, of course with Surge not following far behind. After closing hours she had been granted permission to visit other games. Strangely, through these visits, she didn’t seem to make any new friends. Sunset was so full of life and always so willing to make an effort to talk to him, even when he wasn’t feeling up to it. It really was unusual how she never did that to anyone else.

 

There was one game however, that Surge refused to show her. It had been made clear from the start that they’d be quite the bad combination judging by the wrappers he’d find around her apartment. 

 

Sugar Rush was completely off-limits. The sugar-coated surfaces of almost everything in that game was bound to light Sunset’s flame of passion for everything sweet and sour and everything in-between. Surge always made sure to distract her with something else whenever they passed the entrance. 

 

But it seemed as if his efforts were futile. After watching everyone scurry into their game as the arcade opened, Sunset was nowhere to be seen. This wasn’t like her at all, just a few days ago she was whining about being separated from Surge. Now she was completely wandering off without telling him, during arcade hours too.

 

Zipping around Game Central Station wasn’t doing him any favours either. No matter what angle he looked down or up from, it was as if she had completely vanished into thin air. She had definitely wandered into a game without a second thought. The uncomfortable idea of having to pry her out by the ankles of a game like Sugar Rush made him shiver, a volt of electricity fizzling out on the top of his head.

 

What was he going to do? 

 

“Hi Surge!”

 

Sunset’s sudden appearance caught him so off guard he teleported on accident, before coming back seconds later. “For goodness sake, Sunset! Don’t creep up on me like that! Where were you?” Despite the lecture, her composure didn’t falter. “In my house.” Surge felt himself exhale with relief. “Okay, that’s… that’s good. I thought you’d wandered off into Sugar Rush.”

 

…

 

“What’s Sugar Rush?” 

 

“Uh…” 

 

“Is it a game??”

 

“Uhhh…”

 

“Does it have sugar in it???”

 

“No…”

 

Sunset squinted her eyes at Surge. Sometimes he could be such a terrible liar. The moving letters of “Sugar Rush” caught her attention. “Oh, there it is!” She pointed before making her way over to the entrance. A game called Sugar Rush was bound to have oodles of sweet treats waiting at her fingertips. She felt her stomach growl as she sauntered over to-

 

Sunset felt a grasp at her wrist. “I can’t let you in there.” Surge stated firmly. “During open arcade hours.” Sunset’s eyebrows furrowed. “I won’t make my presence known. Also, I'm hungry.” Her serious tone was something completely foreign to Surge, surprising him as she took off into Sugar Rush. He took to teleporting directly in-front of her. “You’re- not going- in there..” His speech was interrupted multiple times by Sunset trying to get her way past.

 

Whether it was mirroring her movements or standing his ground, Sunset was becoming more and more agitated as she tried to reason with him, which was like talking to a wall. Eventually, she somehow managed to shove Surge out of the way, sending him splatting onto the ground like a sopping wet Webkinz, meanwhile Sunset sprinted towards the escalators like she was running a marathon.

 

“Oh, for crying out loud…” Surge muttered under his breath. But it was too late. Sunset had already begun her journey into Sugar Rush. He could already hear the sound of the subway taking off, paired with Sunset’s roaring joyous laughter. Seems he’d have to follow behind and make sure she wouldn’t get herself into trouble…

 

—

 

Upon reaching Sugar Rush’s actual entrance, which Surge could definitely tell by the sugar-coated rainbow path he was walking, he could see a Sunset-shaped silhouette in the distance, the bright colours illuminating her. Surge surely thought she would’ve sent the place into a famine by now. When she turned around, she had a look of awe on her face.

 

“Surge, I don't think I've ever seen something so beautiful.” She remarked, looking back as if in a trance. “You’re still not supposed to be here.” He replied, attempting to grab her wrist again. Sunset retaliated by running off and tumbled down the makeshift slide that led into Sugar Rush. Surge watched in dissatisfaction as she toppled down, her body being coated with tiny shards of sugar like a corndog.

 

Sunset licked the sugar around her lips. It was unlike any sugar she’d ever had, how the tingling sensation of sweetness danced upon her tongue before departing down her throat. She needed more of it, and luckily for her it must be scattered all around this candy-coated map. That was all it took for her to run off like a wild animal just as Surge teleported to the bottom trying to catch her.

 

“Sunset, please could you just get a hold of yourself?” Surge pleaded, catching up and finally managing to grasp onto her wrists, putting them behind her back. “Do you think the ground tastes like a rocky road?” She asked, looking back at Surge with a smile. He was not amused. “You’re not going to find out because WE are going back to Game Central Station.”

 

Sunset slipped out yet again, this time leaving her orange gloves in his hands. All four of her fingers had unkempt nails that had clearly been bitten at, which she was now using to dig at the ground. Surge grimaced as Sunset surfaced a good chunk of the ground, taking a piece of it in her mouth.

 

She chewed, her eyes demonstrating a plethora of emotions and reactions.

 

“Chocolate… a hint of peanut butter and… caramel.” 

 

—

 

Some time after sinking her teeth into countless treats and confectionery, Sunset needed something to wash it down, and Diet Cola Mountain wasn’t hard to spot. Surge, at this point, had completely given up on trying to escort her out. No matter how many times he grappled, caged or trapped Sunset, she always found one way or another to slip out and continue her feast on Sugar Rush. 

 

But, she had at least made an effort to keep out of sight from the racers, who whizzed around the map in their little go-karts. Sunset had caught a glimpse of them earlier, gushing about their adorable, chibi designs. Surge had to remind her that interacting with them was off-limits for now. 

 

As Sunset made her own race over to the mountain, 

something happened. She abruptly tripped over her own dress and face planted into the ground below, making Surge stifle back a chuckle. When she got back up however, she noticed that her black crown was… in the wall? It glitched and abstracted between two lollipops. 

 

Before Surge could even think to hold her back, Sunset was already picking her crown back up and walking through the wall, phasing through it like it was nothing. Almost immediately afterwards, a hand phased back through the wall, beckoning Surge to join in. It wasn’t like he had a choice, right?

 

Passing through, the two were met with… an eerie sight. An unfinished level, with a janky raceway above a large pool of cola. It boiled and bubbled, they both watched as something large and white fell from below. It splashed into the cola, making a geyser erupt shortly after. As Sunset stood there, mouth wide open, a few drops of it landed onto her cheek.

 

She hissed in pain as the lava-like fizz scorched her face, stepping back and almost tripping on her dress again. Surge, however, stood there unbothered. He remembered how he accidentally eavesdropped on Ralph and Vanellope, how they described the situation they had endured, with a name he never thought he’d hear again. How the hot springs were transformed into a great beacon, to end the corruption of an invasive species.

 

 For once, Sunset was the one pulling on Surge, talking about wanting to go home. “I- I don’t know if this place is safe.” She stammered, looking back to the exit. He never thought he’d hear her say that, but here we are. He chuckled a bit, before beginning to walk back. 

 

“I guess you’ve heard about that place before.” Surge remarked on their way back. Sunset went poker faced. “I’ve never been in this game before, it was you that never told me about it.” It wouldn’t hurt for her to know. Maybe it’d teach her to not game jump during open arcade hours.

 

And it was then that Sunset was let in on the most chilling story that the arcade had to offer.

 

Turbo.

 

When the arcade first opened all the way back in 1982, Surge recalled how exhausted, but exhilarated Turbo always looked when he came out of his respective game, Turbotime. For years, he raced around doughnut after doughnut, basking in the spotlight he was given by players. Surge told her about how he saw the other racers gritting their teeth behind forced smiles as Turbo held countless trophies. 

 

1987 was when it all crumbled down, as a new game was plugged in. Roadblasters sat perfectly adjacent to Turbotime. Another racing game. As the spotlight was taken away, Turbo was filled to the brim with jealousy. So jealous that he left his own game behind and tried to take over Roadblasters from within. He made a mistake of doing it during open hours, when people were actively playing Roadblasters, and in the end, Roadblasters and Turbotime were both hauled out of the double doors, never to be seen again.

 

But Turbo didn’t die. He never left. It was unclear what he was doing for a while, but when Sugar Rush was plugged in, he succeeded in what he tried to do with Roadblasters. He took on a new role, King Candy. He made it so that the world of Sugar Rush revolved around him, at the cost of the actual ruler, Vanellope.

 

 It went completely under everyone’s radar, and it seemed as if Turbo had won. It was all thanks to Ralph’s mistakes that he was able to free Vanellope of her special hell, and put Turbo’s reign to an end, Diet Cola Mountain being where he’d draw his final breath. Surge tried his all to best tell the complete story.

 

“That was the last we’ve ever heard of Turbo, since the game hasn’t ever been plugged back in. No separate cabinets either.” Surge was so concentrated on telling the story correctly, he never thought Sunset could be so quiet. Until he turned to look at her. A look of terror marked her face, her eyes wide and her mouth reduced to a small line. Sunset’s head didn’t turn, but her eyes moved to look at Surge. 

 

“Did that really happen?” She asked, her voice now quieter, an octave lower. Surge nodded. “I’ve been around here since the beginning. I always thought that Turbo went down with Roadblasters, but…” He droned, not knowing how to finish his sentence. He didn’t notice that Sunset was holding his hand, tightening her grip.

 

“Do you think I've gone Turbo?” Sunset asked, now looking straight ahead. 

 

“No, you haven’t. You haven’t hurt anyone.”

Notes:

https://highlight.straw.page/

Chapter 4: This is Fine

Summary:

lol

Game Central Station was empty. Everyone was in a bed, fast asleep, or enjoying the night as if it would last forever. Sleeping was optional for them. The more energetic, childlike characters wouldn’t take sleep into consideration as they spent their free time living to their hearts content, but others would spend their time relaxing after countless hours of quarters being put into slots and having to let their bodies be controlled by another.

 

Surge did not know what to do during this time. It was times like this that he felt more isolated than anything else. He had no desire to sleep or eat, lacking in the human-like attributes that the others had. Their fleshy skin, hair that wasn’t so wiry, the need for exhaustion. Not even Sunset could be around all the time. She slept quite often in her apartment in East Niceland.

 

And there was still nothing from her. Surge had tried his best to be subtle about asking her questions about the game she had come from, but nothing would ever spill out of her mouth that he could jot down and think about. It really made him regret not teleporting in there sooner. Surely, there was something she wasn’t telling him. Maybe it wasn’t that bad, and she thought it wasn’t worth mentioning?

 

Surge didn’t admit it out loud but he had gotten quite used to having her by his side. It was a strange feeling, knowing that someone wanted to be around him, but she needed someone, right? It was that feeling that Surge had welcomed along with Sunset. It was nice. He caught himself looking down at his clipboard, at the page he was supposed to be writing down stuff about her.

 

It was mostly empty. 

 

His hands shook with frustration. What was he doing? What wasn’t he doing? He was just sitting there wallowing in his own thoughts instead of getting the answers he needed. Sunset wouldn’t tell him. Because he was always asking, not letting it slip out by itself. Surge needed a more relaxed environment. Sunset was asleep right now, wasn’t she? 

 

—

 

His own cyan light was the only thing that illuminated the bedroom. Clipboard in hand, Surge loomed over the sleeping princess. Listening out for any sort of distinct sleeptalk whilst trying to stay as unseen as possible. No idea if she was a heavy sleeper or could wake up at the slightest of noises. He had replayed the same sentence over and over in his head. This isn’t weird. Everything is fine. This is fine.

 

This was not creepy at all. 

 

Sunset didn’t toss or turn. Her breathing made the duvet rise and fall. Surge knew nothing about sleep, but something like this looked like a peaceful rest. Her pigtails sat next to her head like two large pillows, keeping her head upright. She had never mentioned dreams before, but Surge entertained the thought of her dreams. 

 

Did she ever dream about him? That would be cute. 

 

A sudden wave of discomfort washed over Sunset, her neutral face now contorting, her eyebrows furrowed. Surge watched as a single tear streamed down her cheek and… 

 

Did she always have that scar?

 

Her voice came out shrill. 

 

“Sparrow..” She murmured to herself. 

 

Sparrow?

 

The sound traveled throughout Surge’s mind like that of a foreign language. Like clockwork, he began to scribble down the word on his clipboard, his hands shaking like never before. Electric currents buzzed off of him in satisfaction. He was finally getting somewhere in this vast mystery. Baring his teeth in excitement like a weirdo. He’d never live this down if anyone walked in right now, scrawling down the seven-letter word and churning out theories in his head.

 

But he wasn’t too lost to hear Sunset groaning, looking down from his clipboard to see her rubbing her eyes and yawning. That was his cue to leave. In an instant he had left the apartment, leaving Sunset in her house alone, groggy and confused. She had gotten the stomach-churning feeling that someone was watching her. Her room felt uncomfortably warm as she kicked back the covers and stood up. 

 

Someone had been here, and she knew exactly who it was.

 

—

 

It was early morning. Sunset was quiet upon sitting next to Surge. He jolted slightly when he felt her sleeve brush against his. It felt like forever with how they didn’t talk. There was no way that she could’ve seen him, right? He had left so impossibly fast that pointing fingers towards him would’ve been unreasonable. Why wasn’t she saying anything? It wasn’t the same without her voice to fill the agonising quiet.

 

Did he dare say anything? Or would it lead him to an earful and an abrupt end to their friendship? She didn’t look his way, but kept glancing off to the entrances to other games. He grappled at his clipboard, flipping pages to look busy. “I think someone was watching me.” Sunset spoke, still not looking at him. Surge stopped to put his clipboard down, but he didn’t talk, lest he’d fall into her trap. She shuffled closer. “And you’re the only one I can trust right now.” 

 

She didn’t suspect him in the slightest. “Ok…” Surge said quietly. The guilt began to weigh down on him as he tried his best to keep his composure. Here she was, terrified that someone out there was stalking her. Her body shook ever so slightly as she spoke about what happened. Of course, Surge had to act concerned but it was mostly his guilt coming through. 

 

He gave her a pat on the back.

 

“I’ll keep an eye out for anything suspicious.” Sunset’s smile returned as she heard those words. 

Notes:

i'm back on a roll!!! my writing time is finally back and now i can feed you all :P