Chapter One: No More Games

Vanellope Von Schweetz snapped her eyes open. She looked up to see the unsteady lightshade hanging from the discoloured ceiling and sighed. The old game systems were piled precariously in one corner of the room and the morning sun streamed through the odd blinds that hung at the window. Vanellope sat up, rubbing her eyes. Had it really all been a dream? The bright world; the car racing; the adventure; Ralph? Ralph... He had been a good friend in the end, Vanellope thought. She then reminded herself that he wasn't real – just a figment of her imagination. So she wasn't in an arcade game. Everything came rushing back then – Great Uncle Kati and his cigarettes, the school that hated her, the countless visits to the police station. Vanellope, once again, sighed.

She flicked the stray black hair that had fallen out of the loose ponytail. Why did it always go in her eyes? She dragged her feet to the bathroom and gave herself a long hard look in the mirror. Vanellope was quite small for a fourteen year old girl: small build, fairly short, skinny and, in some ways, weak. Her knees always seemed to be skinned at one point or another and there was that bruise on her left wrist from the times the police officers had dragged her into the station. Her hair was black and tousled and her green-brown eyes were tired.

A quick thought went through her head: how late did I sleep in? But Vanellope decided school wasn't worth it today; she had other ideas. The alarm clock read 10:41. How hadn't Kati woken her before then? Vanellope supposed he was still asleep himself after a night of heavy drinking. Vanellope splashed cool water from the tap onto her face, blinking the sleep out of her eyes afterwards. She redid the messy ponytail with little care, leaving it only slightly neater than before, pulled on her teal hoodie and leather jacket on top, and made for the door. She grabbed an apple from the table in the hallway, took a bite, and headed outside.

Vanellope strode into the town. She was fairly new to San Fransokyo – a resident of only six months. And once again, Vanellope had been an outcast, though she hadn't minded much. She looked up at the hanging lanterns and across to the takeaways on the roadside. She spotted a bakery selling doughnuts and grinned. Doughnuts seemed good about then. She swiftly slid a wallet from a man's back pocket, turned the corner and then ran to avoid capture. Out of breath, she crept into an alleyway to open the wallet. Inside was a credit card, which was useless without the PIN number, and several banknotes. Vanellope pocketed the money, content on spending it on a day's cruise of San Fransokyo.

Up first came the doughnuts – a warm, sugary bag of six. She ate them as she walked along past the shops, eying a pair of shoes or a top here and there. Vanellope had never been the shopping type since she had never had the money for that kind of leisurely activity, but now she cocked her head in speculation. The bag of doughnuts went in her bag, and Vanellope entered the nearest shop.

Whilst she had entered with tattered jeans, a two-sizes-too-big leather jacket, and a hoodie that needed a wash, Vanellope exited with much more style. She wore denim shorts, black tights, a teal (her favourite colour) sleeveless top and a new, shiny, black leather jacket. Vanellope Von Schweetz had finally gotten the real deal. She let down her hair around her shoulders, leaving it messy as always, and stuffed the remaining wads of money in her pockets. She was rich.

After a day of wandering and spending heaps of cash, Vanellope decided to do what she did best – car racing. She found a car seemingly abandoned in an alleyway, quickly broke inside and started it up. The clock in the car read 12:54. Vanellope wasn't exactly old enough to drive but enough car-breaks had provided the skills and she had that knack for driving. She pulled out of the alley and into the street. She smiled. Car-racing was so fun.

Eventually, she drove into another alley, hearing some noise from within. She narrowed her eyes in confusion for a moment before she understood. There was a bot-fight going on. A boy with a mess of black hair stood outside watching, clutching his bot in his hands.

"You going to fight?" Vanellope asked, rolling down the window.

The boy turned around at the sound of her voice. "Yeah," he said, "maybe. There's nothing to do since I've graduated high school."

"You look a bit young for a senior," Vanellope commented.

"Well you look a bit young to drive," the boy quipped, raising a single eyebrow.

"Fair enough," Vanellope shrugged. "Good luck."

"Same back," said the boy before entering the building.

Vanellope flashed a quick smile. She shook her head with a slight roll of her eyes before driving off. Unfortunately, luck didn't seem to be on her side as the police car came after her out of nowhere. It was a hopeless car chase and Vanellope was soon outrun. She had to stop the car and get out, her hands raised above her head. "Alright, alright, you've got me," she muttered with a sigh.

"Come on," said the female police officer, "get in the car. You're coming to the station, young lady."

Vanellope looked up at her. The woman was ridiculously tall, though the high-heeled boots may have contributed to that, with a short, dirty-blonde pixie-cut and a long side fringe. She wore her uniform with style, and donned a bright red lipstick. "And who do I owe the pleasure?" Vanellope asked dryly.

"Deputy Calhoun," said the officer, "Now, in the car."

Vanellope got into the police car and silently mulled over her situation during the ride. She'd seen the inside of that station many a time but never been taken there by Deputy Calhoun. Vanellope sighed. She supposed she'd never done anything bad enough before to earn the Deputy's attention. They reached the station and the deputy ushered Vanellope inside. Vanellope thought of her bruised wrist and was glad Calhoun hadn't been so rough. She was shown to one of those plastic chairs opposite the desk and waited.

The man that came to the desk wore the Police Force uniform too, signifying his role as an officer. He was quite a small man with light brown hair and a pleasant face. His mouth seemed on the verge of a smile, though it would take a kind gesture or a funny joke to get it there.

"I've told you, Ralph, it's not my fault," he was saying. "The Force tried you out once and you broke one of their cars, and the window. They won't let you back."

Another man followed the officer through to the hall. He was the complete opposite: a huge man with broad shoulders and hands the side of dinner plates. "But can't you try, Felix?" he asked. "I really need this job."

Vanellope stared at him. This was the Ralph from her dream! She had to take a double-take but he was still there when she looked at him again. She just couldn't believe it. It just couldn't be true.

Deputy Calhoun came in, greeted by a cheery smile from Felix. "Not now, officer," she said, "I've got this kid to deal with. What's he doing here?"

"He was just leaving, weren't you, Ralph?" Felix said pointedly.

"Sure," Ralph sighed, "Think about it, though, please." Then he walked out of the station, his thudding footsteps becoming more and more distant until they could no longer be heard.

"Right, what's your name, kid?" Deputy Calhoun asked.

Vanellope sighed. "Vanellope," she answered. Calhoun waited expectantly so Vanellope added, "Von Schweetz," in a mutter.

"Vanellope Von Schweetz," Calhoun repeated. "What were you doing stealing a car then, huh?"

"Dunno," Vanellope shrugged.

"So, Tamora-" Felix began but was cut off by a call, "- oh wait, urgent in west downtown - bot-fighting."

"I'll go," Deputy Calhoun said immediately.

"No, Tamora, I'll deal with it," Felix answered. "You handle the kid. See you in a bit, Deputy."

"Are you sure?" Calhoun asked. "Bot-fighters can be dangerous. Maybe I should-"

"I can deal with it," said Felix with a wry smile. "See you."

Calhoun nodded her head and then turned back to Vanellope. "So, kid, we'd better ring up your parents," she said. "It's easier if you just give me the number, instead of this mindless waiting around."

"My parents are dead," said Vanellope, looking the deputy in the eye as she tilted her head to one side.

"The amount of times I hear that, kid-"

"They died in a storm off the coast ten years ago," Vanellope interrupted.

Calhoun looked at her. "So, who can I call?"

"No-one," said Vanellope. "I don't want you to call anybody."

Calhoun gave her a look and sighed. Her walkie-talkie crackled and she picked it up, holding it to her ear and said, "Yeah?"

"Car-chase, Deputy," Felix replied. "We got two boys on a motorbike."

"Alright," said Calhoun, "bring 'em here when you catch 'em."

"Will do," said Felix, his voice a little crackly from obvious movement on his side. "You want to deal with them?"

"Sure." Calhoun nodded, "Over and out."

"Over and out," Felix responded before the walkie-talkie fell silent.

Deputy Calhoun went over to the desk to file some work and Vanellope stubbornly sat in the bright blue plastic chair, swinging her legs, determined that the officer wouldn't call Uncle Kati. She looked down at where her knee stung and realised that she had ripped her tights in the chase, leaving a long ladder in them and a graze on the surface of her skin. So much for brand-new tights. Vanellope sat there for quite a while, watching the hands on the clock tick away the minutes. Eventually, Felix came into the station, ushering in two teenage boys. The older one was about seventeen or eighteen years old with short black hair and a blue cap. He gave the other boy, who appeared to be his brother, a look which said: You got me into this mess. But the biggest surprise was when Vanellope saw the younger boy. It couldn't be him... could it?

"Bot-fighter-boy?" Vanellope murmured louder than she meant to.

The boy turned his head to look at her. It was him. He had the same mess of black hair, the same brown eyes and the same bot in his hands. "Hey, racer-girl," he said, a slight grin gracing his lips.

"You know her, Hiro?" the brother asked, taking off his cap and sitting in a nearby plastic chair of the same hue. He looked at Vanellope in suspicion.

"I saw her before... before the bot-fighting," Hiro replied.

"Hiro, huh?" Vanellope asked.

"Yeah," Hiro said, holding out his hand in greeting. "You got caught then?"

Vanellope shook his hand. "Yeah, I did. I'm Vanellope, by the way."

"And as long as we're all making introductions, I'm Tadashi," said the brother. "Ugh, Aunt Cass is going to be so mad when she gets here."

Deputy Calhoun came over then. "Tadashi and Hiro Hamada," she addressed them, "Your aunt is coming to collect you. You'll be let off on a warning this time, but any more bot-fighting and things could get serious."

"Yes, ma'am," said Tadashi with a nod.

"And Miss Von Schweetz," Calhoun continued, turning to Vanellope, "Since this isn't your first time down here, things may be more serious for you, unless you give me the number of your guardian."

Vanellope sighed and reluctantly reeled off the number of Uncle Kati. "He probably won't answer though," she said. "He's most likely still sleeping..."

Calhoun gave her another look whilst she tapped in the number and waited. As expected, the phone went on to voicemail. "The girl in your care, Vanellope Von Schweetz, is in the police station. If you hear this, please come and collect her or I will have to personally drive her home. Thank you."

"Told you," Vanellope shrugged. She had known Kati wouldn't answer.

A woman with a short brown bob came into the station. "Thank you, officer," she said. "Can I take these two?"

"Cassandra Hamada?" Calhoun asked. The woman nodded. "Sure," said Calhoun. "They've been let off this time on a warning, but any more trouble and it could be much more serious."

"Thank you," said Cass. "Come on, boys."

"See you around, Vanellope?" Hiro asked, whilst Tadashi raised his eyebrows.

"Maybe," Vanellope smiled, shrugging her shoulders.

"Cool," said Hiro before he was dragged out by the ear by his aunt.

"Looks like we'll just have to wait for your uncle to turn up then" said Calhoun, turning to Vanellope again.

"He won't," Vanellope replied. "He won't have heard your message."

"Well then," said Calhoun, "I'll just have to drive you there. Get in the car."

"See you tomorrow, Tamora," Felix said from the desk.

Deputy Calhoun slid into the driver's seat and Vanellope got in the back of the police car. They set off down the road, hardly a word passing between them until Vanellope said, "So... you and Felix?"

"He's Officer Junior to you, kid," said Calhoun shortly.

"OK," said Vanellope with a small smile.

"Is it this turning?" Calhoun asked, quickly changing the subject.

"Yep," Vanellope sighed.

They reached Vanellope's house and got out of the car. Calhoun marched up to the house and hit her fist against the door. You could hear Kati jumping awake and rolling off the sofa before he groggily answered the door. "Yes?"

"My name is Deputy Calhoun," said Calhoun. "I left you a voicemail but decided to bring Vanellope home myself. This is her third and last warning. Any more trouble and she'll be put in Juvenile. Good evening." And with that, Calhoun marched back down the path and drove off.

"Get in then," said Kati. "You heard the lady. No more trouble." Then Kati lay back down on the sofa and dropped off asleep again.

Vanellope sighed and went to her room. She might not be allowed to get in any more trouble, but the thought that maybe she had a new friend was enough to keep her spirits up. Hanging out with Hiro Hamada sounded like fun.

A/N: Hope you enjoyed this chapter :) I had been thinking of putting this story up for a while - hope you liked it! Please review and tell me what you think! Should I upload the next chapter? Thanks for reading and please R&R!