CHAPTER 4

As he approached the penthouse door, Ralph could hear the guests chatting happily inside.

"Great party, Felix!" Nicelander Roy was saying. "Why, thank you, Roy," Felix replied.

Out in the hallway, Ralph pressed his giant finger to the tiny doorbell.

"I'll get it, Felix," he heard Nicelander Gene say. A moment later, Gene opened the door, took one look at Ralph—and slammed the door shut.

"It's Ralph!" Gene whimpered.

"Ralph who?" Another Nicelander asked. "Wreck-It Ralph!" Gene squealed. "Hide the finery!" Someone shouted.

Unfortunately, Ralph heard the entire conversation as he waited, still outside the door.

"Felix, fix it!" Nicelander Roy pleaded.

"Oh, of course. I'll go talk to him. Carry on, everyone," Felix replied. Ralph heard his footsteps approaching the door.

Then Felix slipped into the hallway, closing the door behind him. "Ralph, can I help you?" He asked politely.

Ralph shuffled his big feet and said, "Hey, Felix. I just wanted to check on you. I saw a big explosion or something over the building. Is everything okay?"

Felix smiled. "Oh, those were just fireworks." "Ohhhh. Fireworks," Ralph said. "Okay, whew. You had me scared there. Is it, uh, somebody's birthday?" "Well... ," Felix said reluctantly, "it's kind of a birthday. More of an anniversary. The thirtieth anniversary of our game, actually."

"Is that tonight?!" Ralph said, hoping to sound surprised. "I'm such a dummy with things. Yup, we've had a heck of a run, haven't we? Everyone of us doing our part for this game. Anyway, congratulations."

"Thank you," Felix said politely. "And you, too."

A turtle poked his head out the door. Ralph's jaw dropped. That turtle was not even a Fix-It Felix Jr. character! Felix and the Nicelanders had invited someone from another game, but they had ignored Ralph.

"Just a heads-up, Felix," the turtle said, "they're bringing the cake out in a few shakes." The turtle turned and slammed the door again.

"Cake?" Ralph asked. "Never had it. No one ever seems to throw it out, so it never ends up in the dump. So I've never actually tasted it."

Felix looked uncomfortable. Finally, he said, "I don't suppose you'd like to come in and have a slice, would you?"

Ralph grinned from ear to ear and pushed past Felix. "Don't mind if I do," Ralph said, striding through the door, ripping it off its hinges. As he straightened up, Ralph's head crashed through the ceiling. A big chunk of plaster fell out... and dropped on Felix, who flickered and fell to the floor. A little flower floated just above his motionless body.

The room went silent as the Nicelanders stared in horror.

After a long moment, Felix flickered again, this time regenerating back into existence. "I'm okay! Fit as a fiddle!" He called, popping to his feet. "You know Ralph." Ralph forced a smile as he looked at the cringing guests.

He stooped and greeted each one. "Evening, Nel, Lucy, Don, Dana."

"Deanna," said Deanna coldly.

Then Ralph turned to Nicelander Gene, a character he often tossed across the screen during official game play. "Big Gene," Ralph said, nodding amiably.

"Why is he here?" Gene snapped, clearly irritated. "He's just here for a slice of cake," Felix explained. Ralph shrugged as he looked at their hostile faces.

"And... I am a big part of this game, technically speaking." He bent down to Gene's level. "Why are you here, Gene?"

"Oh, look! The cake!" Felix announced nervously as Nicelander Mary wheeled in an elaborate cake that looked just like the Niceland apartments.