Knights of Sugar Rush CH1 unedited

“So you’re sure this thing will work?”

 

“Most positively, mr. Litwak. This machine will update all your cabinets, restore broken programming, detect malfunctions, and-“

 

Mr. Litwak cut off the Asian gentleman's sentence“Yeah yeah, I heard it the first time. I just hope that everything you’re telling me is true. This is costing me quite the penny.”

 

“I assure you, Mr. Litwak, by tomorrow morning your machines will be operating at peak efficiency.”

 

“Hmmmm. We will see.”

 

Mr. Litwak  closed the door behind him and walked to his car to head home home the end of the day. Even though the company that wanted to test their new invention promised to pay double price for any damaged machines, that wasn’t enough to stop him from feeling restless.

 

The man was left to the store overnight to man the device. It looked little more than a laptop connected by dozens of wires to each and every machine, but that laptop contained a database of every single video game program since pong.The man sipped a cup of coffee and placed it on the desk next to the laptop. While the machine was processing terabytes of information he leaned back on his chair, and opened up a tab.

He took another sip and began to play his favorite RPG.

--------

The mooncake shone brightly in the night sky and the Kingdom of Sugar Rush lay quietly asleep within its borders. The princess rested still in her bed, wrapped in wrappers and dreaming the kinds of dreams little girls have. However, her quiet slumber was soon interrupted ; the Princess bolted awake, as Candy soldiers burst open the door and poured in. Her two personal guards Sir Duncan and Sir Wynchel ran in panting.

 

“What is going on?” Vanellope demanded, rubbing her eyes.

 

“Your Highness-” Wynchel panted “Your Highness! There’s an intruder in the castle. We’re here for your saftey.” As they spoke the soldiers began to barricade the doors with candy furniture.

 

“An intruder?” Vanellope snapped awake “Who? What? Where? I must know!”

 

“We’re trying to contain the situation as we speak. It’s a real mess out there, and-“ Duncan sniffed the air. “Wynchell, do you smell something?”

 

Wynchell took a whiff. “Yes. It smells like. . . cinnamon toast?”

 

“I smell baked cookies.” Duncan replied

 

“Hot chocolate?” Vanellope said

 

Their conversation was interrupted by the screams of candy soldiers, and a loud thumping noise heading towards their room. The candy guard gathered around her majesty’s bed, aiming their sharpened candycane spears at the door. The thumping grew louder and louder, and the smell of baked sweets and unbearable heat slowly permeated the room. As the noise seemed like it ready to crash through the wall, abruptly there was silence.The silence was almost as unbearable as the noise. It felt like very room was a time bomb, ready at any moment to-

 

Explode.

 

The massive shadow tore a gaping hole through the wall, tossing the tiny candy men aside. Wynchel lay with his body embedded in Duncan’s donut hole, both were unconscious. The room became like an oven, and the great black beast melted the ground under it’s clawed feet.

Alone, Vanellope backed up against a wall stared into a giant pair of fiery eyes floating in the darkness. The raging inferno outside of the room intensified the shadow of the hulking silhouette towering above her.  A blacked armed reached out for her.

Her scream pierced the night air.

--------

It was a bright and cheerful day in the Kingdom of Sugar rush. The river of chocolate flowed silently, while the birds chirped. Nice and quiet.

 

Which was the problem.

 

By now the daily horse races were supposed to be in full swing. Knights from across the land were supposed to be duking it out on the paths throughout the kingdom, clashing swords, casting spells, and throwing bombs whose explosions would ring throughout the land. But no, all was deathly still save for one place.

The castle was in an uproar and it seemed the whole kingdom had descended upon it. Thousands of candy denizens loitered outside the walls, gawking at the ruined castle. Smoke billowed from its battlements  and in the highest tower gaped a massive hole as though something melted right through the walls.

As the crowd gossiped amongst themselves, a voice shouted above all others.

 

“Oi, everyone make way!”

 

The two knights atop their steeds parted the crowd like the red sea. Sir Rancis the Prince of Fluggerbutter, and Sir Gloyd the Duke of Orangeboar rode astride their horses through the crowd and into the courtyard.

 

“Can you believe this Sir Gloyd, the enemy attacks the castle in the night! And the race is cancelled nonetheless!”

 

“Aye, truly treacherous, Sir Rancis. I pray the princess is safe.”

 

“So it is true what they say then about you and her majesty.”

 

“What? How dare you! I am but a loyal servant of her majesty. Why I ought to duel thee for such insolence. I-“

 

Gloyd’s angry rant and Rancis laughter was cut short by the sight of the mangled bodies of the Princess’ finest. The all lay in agony, their bodies burnt and torn while peppermint nurses and licorice nuns attended to them. Their agonized cries filled the air:

 

“My legs! I can’t feel my legs!”

 

“You never had legs Joe.”

 

“Oh, right. . . My arms!”

 

The two knights, now sobered and informed as to the seriousness of the situation, passed the dead and dying. They tied their horses in the stables then their way to the meeting hall. I

Rancis and Gloyd sat in their seats in the round cookie table which lay partially eaten. Gloyd looked around and saw the tension on everyone’s faces; he noted Rancis’ eyeing in the fear at the empty seat of the princess. Gloyd also noticed Duchess Tafyta’s absence, but little he cared for that wench. Royal Advisor Sourbill presided over the emergency meeting. He now sported and eyepatch, and his left arm lay in bandages.

 

“Royal Knights of Sugar Rush” Sourbill said, somehow even more serious than normal, “I have gathered both of you here today with grave news. Last night, and without warning, a vicious monster attacked the castle. Our soldiers fought bravely, but failed to even slow the beast down. I myself barely escaped its wrath. Most grave news of all, her majesty Princess Von Schweetz as well as Duchess Taffyta were abducted away by the beast.”

 

“What!” Gloyd shouted, he stood up and banged his fist on the table. Rancis rolled his eyes.

“This is an outrage! How could this have happened? Where was the Royal Guard when this treachery occurred!”

 

“What little soldiers we have left I have posted on our borders to watch for further attacks and to warn the foreign knights that the race is cancelled. What you saw on your way here, apart from the both of you, is what remains of our military forces.” Sourbill said.

 

“Then we muster what we have left and ride out in search of the Princess! . . and the duchess. There is not a moment to spare!”

 

Rancis spoke this time. “Bravo, sir Gloyd. Your enthusiasm for her majesty’s safety is most pleasing, but pray thee? Where dost thou think we should look hmmm?”

 

“The beast has left a burning trail in its wake.” Said Sourbill. “Follow it before it grows cold and surely it will lead you to her majesty. I will send you what’s left of our finest riders and provisions for the journey. The royal armory and treasury is at your disposal knights.”

 

In the royal armory boasted many of the kingdoms finest gear and spoils of war. The former consisted of peanut brittle armor and candy cane spears, while the latter was nonexistent.

 

“What is this, is this made of actual candy?” Gloyd said, biting into a lollipop axe.

 

“These aren’t even healing potions, they’re jars of grape jelly.” Rancis said.

 

"Unfortunately,” Spoke Sourbill  “most of the weapons and potions not destroyed in the battle against the monster are of a ceremonial sort, meant for show not foe. You two may be the only ones in the kingdom with anything worthy of a fight.” The treasury was even more disappointing. Where the two expected to see the vast riches and mountains of gold coins, instead they were greeted with a few dusty shelves of old vases.

 

“What happened to all the gold!”

 

“Most of it was melted by the monster, were trying to recover it from the sewers as we speak.We spent the rest on repairs to the castle.”Picking the vases and smashing them, they were left only a few dozen coins richer.

 

So with what little they had, they set off on their quest to the cheering crowd. Many were already placing their bets on whether or not they would return. The two knights and their escort rode along the path of ash and brimstone and two days they rode nonstop. Rancis begged for an opportunity to rest while Gloyd seemed like he would ride till doomsday before he found the princess.

 

The farther the left the kingdom, the darker the landscape became. The candy cane trees meshed into pines, and finally the path led them through a land shrouded in darkness. The trees and the grass were touched by death, and the wind wailed through the gnarled oaks like banshees. The dark forest seemed to encroach upon them.

 

“What is this place, my lords?” Spoke the donut lieutnenant.

 

Gloyd pulled out a map. “This is black forest, from which neither man nor beast has returned alive.”

 

“T-t-the black forest?” The lieutenant said in fear “Legend claims the dead festival is here!”

 

“The wicked carnival? That’s just a legend, lieutenant”

 

“Legend or no” said Rancis “we cannot see through this darkness,”

 

“All the more reason to make haste through this accursed forest.” replied Gloyd

 

“Nay, we must get a fire going and set up camp. We must wait till dawn arrives.”

 

“You seem eager to rest. What? Afraid of the dark, or do you want to fix your beloved hair? The princess would be most ashamed, if she weren’t probably being eaten by that beast. Every second we wait puts her in jeopardy, we must press on!”

 

In truth, Rancis did feel his beautiful hair was in a mess right now but even he saw everyone was tired. “As much as we are ever inspired by your devotion to her majesty, Sir Gloyd, the horses are run ragged and we are low on supplies. Worse, we cannot see a foot past this pitch black darkness. There would be no hope against an ambush, and we cannot save the princess in death.”

 

Camping on a nearby river, the set a fire and all were grateful for the rest. The soldiers and Rancis slept gratefully in their tents, instantly reaching unconsciousness the moment their heads touched their pillows. Gloyd stayed up late in the night studying the map, plotting their route. As his eyes grew dim, he was barely able extinguish the campfire and to walk to his tent. Before going in, turned around and gave one last gaze up at full moon in the night sky. He turned a raised fist to the sky and swore to the stars.

 

“I swear, my princess. I swear I shall find you if it means the death of me!” Exhausted, he dropped his fist and fell backward into his tent with a loud thump.

 

In the dark forest, a light danced through the trees, and glowing eyes stared at the embers.

 

----------

Rancis groggily walked to the river to take a well needed leak. “Argh, I need to drink more water in my diet before I start pissing lemonade” Having finished, Rancis walked back only to see the camp lit up by the campfire, and a figure hunching over it.“What the, hey! Stop there!”

 

The figure looked at him, and time seemed to slow to a halt. Rancis was staring at a skull with a candle on it’s head. Green locks flowed from the skull’s sides, and it looked back at him with glowing green eyes. He swore he had seen it somewhere before.

When it bounded off, Rancis sprinted and took chase.

 

“Stop! Wait!”

 

Rancis followed the skulled figure, and though he thought it wouldn’t be that hard to lose her due to her candle, there were moments where he nearly lost sight. In fact, as of now, he did lose track of it.

Rancis, exhausted, sat down. It was then he heard voices. Following the sound he hid in a bush as he saw two figures. It was the skulled person and a tiny gray green clothes. Then he heard the skull speak.

 

“I told you I wasn’t up to anything!” The voice came from inside the skull, which didn't move.

 

Rancis could’t believe his ears, it spoke like a girl.

 

“Maybe you are and maybe you aren’t, makes no difference to me.”

 

“Leave me alone!” The skull backed away.

 

“Stay right there! or I’ll stick this blade in your gut.” Rancis saw the elf with the unmistakable pattern of sharpened candy cane.  The skulled figure put her hand in the air, but nothing happened; the elf tackled her to the ground.

 

“Hah! Thought you could just burn me could you? I brought me this” The elf pulled some sort of trinket from under his coat. “You’ve always been in my way, ever since you arrived. I would’ve gotten that promotion by Umlaut if it were for you! Who knows, maybe if I gets rid of you I’ll still have my chance!” The elf put the blade to her throat.

 

“Nooooo!” The voice in skull screamed.

 

Rancis remembered his knight training and would not stand while the weak were to be killed. He leapt out of the bush he hid in, sword in hand. “Don’t touch her knave!”

 

The elf turned and looked at him. “Well, well, so you were hiding something after all. Who’s this then, your boyfriend?”

 

Rancis stopped “What? No I- I am a knight of the Sugar Rush! Release her, knave, and I swill spare you your life!”

 

“You want your girlfriend boy, come and get her.” Rancis and elf stood each other down, then encircled each other blade in hand. The Rancis lunged at the elf, who dodged and sliced his chest. Rancis shouted in pain and swung back, and blade met blade.

 

The battle seemed even, but ever slowly Rancis was winning. With fear and desperation the, the elf kicked him in the gumball; Rancis dropped to his knees, coughed blood, and fell on his back.  Just as the elf was ready to make the final blow, he was yanked back. The skulled figure had ripped the trinket from its chain, and as the elf turned to stab her he burst in flames and in an instant became ash.

As his vision failed him, he thought he saw the skull of death itself walking up to him. He shut his eyes accepting his fate. Bleeding profusely from his chest, he felt himself drifting away.

 

Just as the blackness overtook him, he realized something. His chest felt warm, and he felt like something was breathing warm air into him. He could feel his lips were locked with someone else’s, and life flowed back into him. It was then that the warm sensation on his chest turned to white hot burning. Rancis bolted awake, and his head collided with another.

 

“Ow!” Two voices yelled simultaneously. Rancis rubbed his head, then remembered the pain in his chest. His armor was removed and his shirt was ripped open.  However, where gaping wound should’ve have been was instead a cauterized scar in the shape of a hand. Then he looked up and saw her.

 

She had taken off her skull, and he could see she was human. She had green eyes, and green hair which fell into two pony tails and was matted down as though she always wore a hat. “Ow, ow, ow” the girl was rubbing her forehead. “That really hurt!”

 

“I’m sorry" said Rancis. He turned and looked at his chest. "Did-did you do this?”

 

The girl turned and looked at him. “Um, yeah. You we’re bleeding really bad so I did that thing Marie told me to do, and then you stopped breathing and so I sorta. . .helped you breathe.”

 

“Uh, thanks" Said Rancis, blushing slightly. "Hey, I know you! You’re Illumina, the fire mage. You nearly burnt of my hair in the race last week.” Rancis also wanted to say that he remembers she never won a race. She was good at sabotaging the others, but she never could outpass the duchess.

 

“I did?" said the girl  "Wait. . .You’re Sir Fluggerbutter! You got 3rd in the last race!”

 

“Yeah, I got so worried about my hair I led my horse into a ditch. . . wait, what are you doing here?”

 

“I sorta live here, in the CarnEvil.”

 

“The-the infernal festival! But why would you work at a horrible place like that? You’re not practicing black magic are you?” Rancis eyed his scar with a new fear.

 

“No! no, I- look. My parents drove themselves into debt sending me to Wizard school . Ever since then I’ve been taking up any opportunity to pay them back. It’s why I’ve been work for the CarnEvil and why I always race even if. . .even if I’ve never really won. But I know that someday I will win that prize, and I will repay them.”

 

“Well, I don’t  want to disappoint you but as of now the race is cancelled indefinitely. And even if it’s not, the prize money is completely gone.”

 

“WHAT! Why!?”

 

“The gold was melted by a monster who also took the princess and the duchess”

 

“What? It took Tafyta too! Oh, this is bad”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“Me and the duchess are close friends, and that monster that took them? Well, it came to the CarnEvil and it took Marie also!”

 

“The monster was here? So you know where it went. That’s great!, we’re on a quest to find the beast.”

 

“You are? Wait, you’ve got to let me come with you! I must find Marie.”

 

“You? This is a dangerous quest  and no place for a girl!”

 

“Hey! I just saved your life, and don’t forget-“ she put her skull back on and raised her arms and sparks flames shot out of her hands “I am Illumina the Pyromancer!” As she reveled in her glory, a flaming tree branch was about to crash down upon her. Thinking quickly, Rancis tackled her out of the way. For a moment Rancis was on top of her, but he pushed himself off.

 

“Hmm, I guess that makes us even now. Alright, we could use a good mage on our journey.” Rancis held out his hand, but the girl only looked at it. “Well? We haven’t got all night.”

 

Pausing, she grabbed his hand and he lifted her up. “I’m sorry. It’s just that most people are afraid I’d burn them to ashes if I touch them.”

 

“Well, I can’t understand why. If anything your touch saved my life Illumina.”

 

“Thanks, and please call me Candlehead, it’s my real name.”

 

And so they walked through the darkness back to the camp, with Candle head’s light illuminating their path. Little did they know that even now their every step was being watched.

 

It was waiting for the right time to strike.