Chapter 1-Planting an Idea

Ralph was walking through what looked like a geyser in the shape of the hidden area of Sugar Rush. There was hot Diet Cola spraying out from under the ground which Ralph struggled to avoid and there was a lot of steam which made him unable to see what was in front of him. However, as he continued to walk, he saw a hooded figure in front of him and walked over to see who it was. But by the time he touched the hooded figure, there was an eruption that attacked Ralph which made him scream and wake up from the nightmare.

As soon as Ralph woke up, he started breathing heavily because the nightmare ended up scaring him very deeply. By the time he touched his right arm with his left hand, he started wincing in pain. Ralph rolled up his sleeve to find out that there was a burn. He began to question how he could receive a burn in his sleep. Ralph then took a deep breath and got out of bed.

During game time, Ralph felt monotonous. He never showed any emotional response in any place other than in his visual cues. By the time the game ended, Ralph tried to leave but Felix stopped to talk to him.

"Ralph, you're leaving already?" Felix asked "You usually wait until Mary serves you the 'bad guy' cake."

"I'm sorry, Felix, I'm just not feeling it today." Ralph answered.

"You know, you've been out of sorts lately." Felix commented "Every day for the past week, you've been out of sorts lately. I wasn't going to say anything about this, but I believe that you're screaming in your sleep. I've gotten noise complaints in the apartment building because of that."

"I didn't know I was causing that much trouble." Ralph replied "I'll try to get it under control."

"Come on, big guy, cheer up!" Felix exclaimed.

Felix gave a friendly fist bump. Even though he was reaching the shoulder, Felix was too short and ended up touching the left side of his stomach. Ralph exclaimed in pain because it was also where another one of his burns was located.

"Ralph, what's wrong with you?" Felix asked.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Ralph replied in an attempt of denial.

"Ralph, tell me what's wrong!" Felix demanded in reply.

Ralph had then sighed and rolled up his sleeve to show the burn on his right arm. Felix was astonished by it.

"Ralph, where did you get that burn?" Felix asked, yet another question.

"I don't know, I just woke up and found myself with multiple burns all over my body." Ralph answered worriedly "Do you know anyone who could help me with this?"

Felix had decided to take Ralph to be examined, and ended up being looked at by Sergeant Calhoun later when Felix brought Ralph to his room in the apartment building. Calhoun examined the burn on his right arm with a magnifying glass.

"You hired Calhoun to give me a medical examination?" Ralph asked in an upset tone.

"It was the best I could do, and besides she knows all about pain." Felix responded.

"Quit your talking, soldiers!" Calhoun enforced "You're breaking my concentration. Ralph, exactly how did you get this burn?"

"I told you, I got it right after I woke up from a nightmare." Ralph answered after rolling down his sleeve.

"Can you tell me what you saw in this dream?" Calhoun asked.

"I dreamt that I was in a geyser in Sugar Rush with multiple explosions of hot Diet Cola and steam coming from the ground and a hooded figure in the corner." Ralph explained "I soon woke up when I was attacked and the next thing I knew I found burns all over myself."

Calhoun had then muttered what Ralph just explained and began to rush over to her drawers in the bedroom to find something. She made a mess looking for an item which was unknown what it was. Calhoun then took out a small booklet containing notes she had written inside and turned to a page which contained the words Ralph said.

"Ralph, I believe I know what you've got." Calhoun claimed "I've seen these kinds of dreams happen to my soldiers in Hero's Duty. These soldiers are often haunted by these nightmares although none of it contains any candy themed setting as yours does."

"Wait a minute, how is Ralph been receiving these nightmares?" Felix asked "It's not like he's ever gone through what those soldiers have gone through. But then again, I don't have all the facts. So, do you think you can cure Ralph from these nightmares?"

"Usually these nightmares fade away, but do to Ralph's condition we need to try something a bit unorthodox." Calhoun answered.

"And that is…?" Ralph asked.

"Back in my game, we have specific equipment that we use on the minds of our soldiers to get rid of their post-battle depression." Calhoun explained "We use dream extractions where we plant items in their dream state to eradicate their nightmares."

"And you think that when we do this on Ralph, we can get rid of his nightmares?" Felix asked.

"I just said that." Calhoun confirmed "I'm going to go get the equipment."

As Calhoun left the area, Ralph's friend Vanellope came into the room.

"Hello, Vanellope." Calhoun greeted before leaving.

"Hello, Sergeant." Vanellope greeted before entering "So, what's with all the get up?"

"Nothing, kid, we're just having some grown up talk." Ralph lied in response.

"Ralph, I think it will be okay for you to tell her." Felix confirmed.

"What's going on?" Vanellope asked.

Ralph had then lifted his sleeve to show Vanellope the burn he had received from his dream which made her gasp in shock.

"How did you get that?" Vanellope asked.

"I would, but I'm tired of telling the story." Ralph replied "Anyway, kid, I'm just receiving a dream extraction with Felix and Calhoun to get rid of them."

"Can I come with you?" Vanellope asked eagerly.

"This isn't something for a young little girl like you." Ralph explained "I'm not putting you through any of that."

"Come on, Ralph, I'm your best friend." Vanellope replied "I come here to see if you're alright, and you begin treating me like a child. You've changed badly in the past week. You've kept me in the dark, you've refused my help and I haven't even heard you say my name."

"Is that what you want?" Ralph asked.

"Just say my name." Vanellope demanded.

"You want me to say your name?" Ralph asked again.

"Just say my name." Vanellope repeated.

"Alright, Vanellope von Schweetz, you can come with us." Ralph agreed "But you got to be careful, it might be dangerous."

"Come on, Ralph, I can take on anything." Vanellope replied.