Later that night, Vanellope sat on the rooftop inside Fix-It Felix Jr. , resting her chin in her hands and staring out into the dark, quiet arcade. It was depressing to see the Sugar Rush console sitting by the front door, waiting to be picked up by Mr. Litwak's salvage guy.

Ralph bumbled onto the roof carrying food and camping supplies. “Okay, here we go,” he said cheerfully. “I raided Gene's fridge. Good news—he has pie! Oh, and I took a bunch of his pillows and junk. I'm thinking we can make a fort up here. Or a yurt. Or we could stack the pillows and make an igloo. A pillow igloo. A pigloo!” He began stacking pillows. “So whaddya think, kid? Fort, yurt, or the obvious best choice, pigloo?”

But Vanellope didn't respond. She continued to stare out at her game, sad and lost in thought. Finally, she said quietly, “I can't believe I don't have a game anymore. What am I gonna do all day?”

“Are you kidding?” said Ralph. “That's the best part. You sleep in, you do no work, then you hang out with me every night. I've literally just described paradise.”

“But I loved my game,” said Vanellope.

“Oh, come on,” said Ralph. “You were just bellyaching about the tracks being too easy.”

Vanellope looked up at her friend. “That doesn't mean I didn't love it. Sure, it was predictable, but still…… I never really knew what might happen in a race. And it's that…… it's that feeling—the not-knowing-what's-coming-next feeling—that's the stuff. That feels like life to me, and if I'm not a racer anymore…… who am I?”

“You're my best friend,” said Ralph.

“That's not enough,” said Vanellope.

“Hey,” said Ralph, wounded by her words.

“No, I just……” Vanellope started to glitch.

“Are you—are you okay?” asked Ralph, concerned.

“It's fine. I'm fine. It's nothing.” Vanellope took a few deep breaths and managed to stop glitching. “I'm sorry,” she continued. “I know I'm being weird. I think maybe I just need to be alone right now.” Vanellope hung her head and turned away.

“Oh,” said Ralph. “Okay. I'll meet you over at our favorite restaurant in a little while.” He watched helplessly as she walked away.

Down below, Felix and Calhoun's apartment was packed with Sugar Rush characters, as well as some characters from other games.

Felix addressed the group. “All right, we've found good homes for so many of our chums from Sugar Rush . And we're just hoping a few more of you will open your doors and your hearts to those in need.”

Gene pointed at Sour Bill as he stirred his drink. “That large green olive will fit in nicely with my décor,” he said.

“I'm a sour ball,” said Sour Bill bluntly.

“Well, beggars can't be choosers, can they?” said Gene. “Come along, condiment.” He gestured for Sour Bill to join him.

“Mmm-kay,” said Sour Bill as he followed Gene out of the apartment.

“Marvelous,” Felix replied. “That just leaves the racers, ten spirited youngsters looking for a home.” He knew Vanellope would stay with Ralph.

The Sugar Rush racers lined up against the wall.

“We're, like, adorable,” Taffyta said in the most unconvincing way.

“So, any takers?” asked Felix. Silence fell across the room as the remaining characters averted their eyes. No one was willing to take the colorful racers. “Anyone?” he repeated.

Calhoun grabbed Felix's hand and smiled at him. “Felix, I know we've never really talked about a family before……”

“I know,” said Felix, understanding what Calhoun was suggesting. “And it does feel like the kind of thing you just jump into with both feet and nary a plan.”

Just like that, they'd made their decision. Calhoun turned to the others and announced, “Felix and I will give them sanctuary!”

Surge Protector nearly spit up his drink. “Can I have a word with you two?”

Felix and Calhoun looked at each other and then followed Surge into the kitchen. He closed the blinds and turned to them dramatically. “I get it. You've been married six years; you're looking to spice things up. But trust me, this is the wrong kind of spice. Those things are basically feral.”

Calhoun stepped up to face Surge. “Pardon me, sir, but those youngsters are lambs in need of two kind, caring shepherds.”

“How hard can parenting be?” Felix asked. “You treat the child like your best friend, you give them everything they want, and you just love their little socks off. Right, Tammy?”

“Darn tootin,” said Calhoun.

They turned away from Surge and opened the kitchen door. Out in the living room, the kids had taken over, knocking over furniture and bouncing around.

Taffyta, irritated, held up a remote control. “Your dumb TV doesn't work, Mommy.”

Felix and Calhoun looked at each other, suddenly uneasy about their decision.

Surge popped out. “I told you so……” Then one of the kids threw a trophy across the room and struck him on the forehead. “Ow!”

“Eee-oh, boy,” said Felix. At that moment, Felix and Calhoun realized they were entering a strange new world.

Later that night, Ralph sat alone at the counter in the restaurant with an empty stool beside him. “Hey—” he started to say to the waiter.

“No, Ralph,” the waiter interrupted. “I haven't seen Vanellope. Not since the last time you asked, thirty seconds ago.”

“Sorry,” said Ralph. “I'm just worried about her. She's glitching like crazy and acting super insecure. And get this—she said being friends with me wasn't enough for her. I mean, that's crazy. I'm a great friend.”

“Who's being insecure, Ralph?” asked the waiter. “Come on, the kid just loves her game. Give her a break.”

Ralph sighed and nodded as the waiter walked off to help another customer.

Just then, the door opened and Felix entered. He stepped up to the empty stool beside Ralph. “Is this seat taken?” he asked.

Ralph was surprised to see him. “Felix? Since when do you drink soda?”

“Oh,” replied Felix, looking at the soda in front of him. “Since tonight.”

“I hear that. This one was supposed to be for Vanellope,” said Ralph, nodding to the soda. “I guess you can have it.”

“Oh, thank you,” said Felix. He took a sip and winced, nearly choking. “Smooth.”

“Why do I have to screw everything up?” said Ralph with a sigh. “I mean, it figures, just when my life was finally perfect……”

“Mine too,” said Felix. “But hey, now I'm a father of ten. Isn't that just a blessing?” Felix swung his head back as he chugged down the rest of his drink and coughed. “Eee-oh, boy!” he croaked, slamming the empty glass onto the counter.

Ralph turned to Felix. “Wait, what'd you say, Felix?”

Felix looked at Ralph, confused. “Um, isn't that just a blessing?” he repeated.

Ralph shook his head vigorously. “No, no, the weird sound thing.”

“Eee-oh, boy?” asked Felix.

“Eee-oh, buh?” repeated Ralph as something in his brain began to click.

“Eee-oh?” said Felix.

“Eee-buh?” said Ralph.

“Eee-oh, boy,” said Felix.

“Eee-oh, boy! EBoy! EBoy!” Ralph shouted.

“What're you getting at there, Ralph?” asked Felix, still lost.

Ralph was excited. “That kid out in the arcade said there was a steering wheel part in the Internet at something called eBoy, or……” He grabbed his head as he tried to remember. “No, it was eBay. That's it—eBay!” he exclaimed.

“Ralph, are you thinking about going to the Internet and finding that part?” asked Felix.

“Getting that part's the only thing that's gonna fix the game, and that's the only thing that's gonna make Vanellope happy again.”

Felix smiled. “And if Sugar Rush is fixed, all those lovable scamps living in my house—and destroying my sanity—will have homes of their own again!”

Felix placed a hand on Ralph's shoulder. “Ralph, this is an important mission. A noble mission. I'll cover for you.”

“Thanks, pal,” said Ralph, heading for the exit.

“Ralph, what about your tab?” called the waiter. “You owe me for the soda.”

“Oh, Felix is gonna cover for me,” said Ralph. Then he turned to the crowd in the bar. “Felix is paying!”

The crowd cheered.

“Eee-oh, boy,” said Felix. Uucv/n76QTE7N6iFJjUiYZSom3bWVZpOuk/kA2NHdSuaV4/iKD/GOREonzWsYhk/