"Gonna have to try harder than that, Taffyta!" Vanellope calls back as she glitches far ahead of the strawberry themed racer, to her dismay. Taffyta had her spot in first place for so long during this race! And that glitch had to ruin it all.
Zooming past the finish line, Vanellope drives a bit further and stops her car, fist pumping the air in celebration. Taffyta soon follows the president, muttering curses under her breath as she stops a few feet from the black haired girl. Looking behind her, Taffyta sees the next batch of racers cross the candy coated finish line in order, Gloyd Orangeboar, Snowanna Rainbeau, Adorabeezle Winterpop, Candlehead, and Minty Zaki.
The rest must be still racing. They took a lot of power up damage from what Taffyta had heard.
Vanellope gets on top of the hood of her car and peers back out onto the track for the sight of the last two racers who would be the next day's nine avatars for the gamers to play as.
"Here comes Rancis and Swizzle!" Vanellope calls, and almost at that same moment, Swizzle uses his "Sugar Rush" power up and powers past Rancis, who's jaw drops slightly as he had almost gotten 8th place, but was reduced to 9th. Rancis sighs when he passes the finish line.
Soon the remaining racers cross the finish line, but knowing they didn't make the roster, they just look down and either scowl or sigh. The roster winners step out of their cars and take their helmets off, Taffyta doing it a bit angerly and tossing her helmet inside her kart's seat with spite. The winners crowd around Vanellope, who is still on her car's hood, announces to them,
"Congrats my fellow racers! You guys are the next avatars, like you don't already know that already, heheh."
Gloyd smiles. He hasn't been a roster winner for awhile now, and he was running low on gold coins. This was a lifesaver for him.
Taffyta was one of the richer characters from Sugar Rush. For years when King Candy was still in rule, she won a lot. That is, when the king let her win. Which wasn't often, even though he was a jolly king then it was obvious to Taffyta that he got really mad when he didn't win. Taffyta didn't blame him, it really peeved her off NOW when Vanellope always does her little cheat to win the roster race, and everyone called it fair just because she was royalty. It was unfair, she was a much better racer than Vanellope and everyone knew it. Hopefully, they knew it…
Oh if only King Candy was still in rule, Taffyta thought bitterly, I'd still be winning with pride, at least. Second place then was much different than second place now. King Candy always played fair.
None of the other racers would be able t know how Taffyta felt. They all loved Vanellope, Taffyta didn't.
Vanellope seems to take notice of Taffyta's bitter mood, and says to her, "Oh, cheer up, Taffyta! You might win next time!"
Taffyta scowls when she hears a few of the racers giggle around her. She does not look up, and the rim of her hat shadows her eyes.
Candlehead nudges Taffyta encouragingly. "C'mon, Taff. Vanellope means that! You'll beat her one day!"
No she doesn't, Taffyta thinks.
Vanellope chuckles. "Well, since the arcade is about to open, I suggest you all get in positions around the starting line until a quarter alert sounds in maybe.. Thirty minutes. Maybe fifteen. I'm not keeping track of time here!"
As soon as the president's words have been spoken, the racers all do so, getting in position due to the place they got in the roster race. Taffyta, getting second place, is a bit farther behind than the glitch, but in front of everyone else.
As soon as Vanellope drives her trashy junk kart into its position, she gets out and announces, "I'm gonna go visit Ralph real fast! Be back in a few minutes!"
She starts to run down the track and two the rainbow bridge, glitching herself forward so she wastes no time and she pushes herself through the barrier. She could leave the game now, not being a glitch anymore. But somehow she still had that little teleport power that cost Taffyta her hard-earned wins for the past weeks since King Candy's downfall. Taffyta guessed only having a tiny, controlled ability to glitch somehow didn't qualify as a character being a real glitch, and she could still leave the game now.
Taffyta remembered that first real day of Vanellope being a playable character again. She, Candlehead, Rancis, and a few others took her outside of the game for the first time and she was thrilled, especially being able to see her best friend Ralph's game, Fix it Felix Jr.. Vanellope remembered that to be her first time seeing a real animal not made of candy: Ducks. For some reason, Felix was terrified of the ducks. Taffyta didn't know why but didn't really want to ask. Visiting Heros Duty was a bit tough for Vanellope, Cybugs being horrifying creatures that nearly tore Sugar Rush literally to pieces, but she managed. And the wedding between that sergeant lady and Felix was never interrupted by the scary things.
Taffyta stands by her hard candy kart and pulls out a lollipop from her jacket's pocket, and chews on it. This last set of minutes better go by fast. Maybe, just maybe, a player would choose her and she could win. Players always chose that dirty-haired brat Vanellope only because she could unfairly cheat and none of the other racers could. Plus, she was always on the roster. Why? Her cheat.
And Taffyta couldn't do anything about it because Vanellope was the president, and she had to show Vanellope respect if she ever spoke to her. Vanellope was fine at Taffyta being mad at her for winning, but Taff could never go out and insult the games ruler. King Candy was much more deserving of this kingdom than this cheating glitch!
Rancis takes notice of Taffyta's irritation, and walks over to her a bit awkwardly. "Hey, Taffy, you okay?" He asks with his small accent.
"I'm fine, Rancis…" Taffyta spat, tearing a sugary chunk off of her lollipop.
"You don't look fine. And I'm your friend, you can tell me things." He replies, with a concerned smile, trying to urge Taffyta to say what's on her mind.
"Fine. It's the glitch, Fluggerbutter."
Rancis seems taken aback by the old nickname they had used to give Vanellope. "Uh, Taffyta, it's kind of rude to call her 'glitch' when she's our ruler…"
"I don't care!" Taffyta says, tossing the remains of her lollipop on the ground and glaring at Rancis. "I've had quite enough of her cheat! I haven't won a single race since she took to power, and I always nearly do! Its her little unfair power that gets her the win she didn't earn fair and square!"
Rancis puts his hands behind his back and nervously looks as his feet and rocks back and forth slightly on his heels. "W-well, Um, Taffyta… Not to be rude or anything, but, she IS the rightful ruler of Sugar Rush, right? I guess we should let her be able to cheat-"
"No! Just because she has a stupid little princess or president title over her name doesn't give her any racing advantages! Sour Bill does most of the real work for her, she just takes the credit! King Candy should still be in power, he respected the rules and always won fairly!"
The chocolate themes boy's eyes widen at the mention of the old dictator of this sugary racing game. "Taffyta, I don't think you know what you're talking about-"
"Of course I know what I'm talking about! Vanellope gives me nothing but sass after these races! All she does is take advantage of her 'right' to live in the castle and be royal, all she does is race and race and race and enjoy herself with that smelly wrecker Ralph! And everyone here loves her for it! Well, Rancis, news flash. I don't take that too lightly."
Rancis, unsure of what to say next, just awkwardly steps back to his own kart and says nothing more.
A few of the other racers had saw Rancis and Taffyta's argument, but they decided not to interfere. They all knew how angry Taffyta could get.
About ten minutes had passed before Vanellope came glitching back through the portal-gate and into the game, looking as happy and giddy as ever. Taffyta narrowed her eyes at her, and huffed.
"Hey, guys, did I miss anything?" Vanellope asks as she skips back to her trash kart and leans on it casually.
"Not much," Rancis says, and backs down a bit with Taffyta gives him a warning glare, and he doesn't mention his argument with Taffyta.
"Great!" Vanellope says, jumping a bit for joy. "I'm ready to race! The arcade should be opening any second now, Ralph said so. I would have stayed longer but I had to come back to my game."
She was right. Vanellope needed to be here because she was on the stupid roster…
And she was also correct about the Arcade opening. In the distance, the sugary racers heard the sound of kids entering the arcade eagerly. A Quarter alert sounded almost immediately, and the racers all put their helmets on, except for Vanellope, who didn't have any sort of protective gear. She didn't need it because of her glitch ability.
Taffyta got into her car as Vanellope did to her left as well. Taffyta barely anticipated the player choosing her. Which, she didn't need to. Vanellope's movements became slower and more, what's the word, controlled. That player had chosen her, of course. At this rate Taffyta would forget what it meant to be played as.
A floating marshmallow floated in front of the starting line, and began to count down, holding his white fluffy hand out with each word and gesturing the number with his fingers. On the player's screen it showed actual numbers flashing on the screen. But as soon as the countdown hit zero, all the racers short forward.
Vanellope's driving movements were visibly different than normal, the player was driving, not her. But she did manage to glitch in front of Snowanna, who had taken the lead. Taffyta passed her and tried catching up with Vanellope. She had a chance at beating her here, since it wasn't REALLY Vanellope driving. But she still had that darn glitch she could control… She always glitched in front of someone when the player found his or herself an opportunity. Vanellope cheated even though she was being controlled. It was unfair. Completely and utterly unfair.
But Taffyta couldn't seem to drive ahead of the glitch. The player was too good, and Vanellope's cheat made it hard. And her ugly kart was so sloppily made that it basically had all of the good things about a kart and barely any flaws, besides being a completely vile thing to look at. It was the best kart in the game, an all around, and was hard to beat. Taffyta was fast, but didn't have the best handling, unfortunately. But Taffyta wasn't being controlled, so she knew exactly how to drive her kart so she could find advantages at her poor handling and incredible speed.
Driving into the Gumball gorge, Taffyta easily maneuvers around the falling gumballs, while some racers behind her are hit and spin out. Vanellope is still far in front beside Rancis, easily glitching around the boy and driving onto the boost pads and she's launched into the next part of the track.
"Sweet Seekers!" The announcer yells. A large cannon grows out of the front of Taffyta's kart, and driving off of the booster pads, shoots her three rockets. The first hits Rancis, who spins out, and the next goes for Vanellope. But, the player knew what to do. Vanellope drops a Cherry Bomb behind her and the rocket hits that instead. The final rocket hit's the wall. Taffyta is just about to ready to punch the wall.
Gripping the steering wheel with an iron fist, Taffyta puts her foot down on the gas pedal as hard as she can. She wanted to yell insults at Vanellope, but knowing she couldn't for two reasons, the Arcade was open, and Vanellope was the president, she keeps her mouth shut and just sends a death glare at the back of Vanellope's head. If looks could kill, Vanellope would be off the track by now. The rest of the racers are far behind the two girls now, as they were the best of the best in this game. But what made Taffyta the angriest is that Vanellope shouldn't be the best of the best.
Taffyta, seeing the finish line approaching, just manages to pull ahead of Vanellope, gritting her teeth with anticipation. She might be able to win this time. But looking over, she sees Vanellope winking at her. Her jaw dropping a bit, all of her chances of winning this race were crushed by a blue flash of 0's and 1's over the president, and she appears in front of Taffyta and she crosses the finish line. The player says, "Yes!" in the joy that they had one at such a tight race with Taffyta.
Taffyta pulls across the finish line too, and stopping when the player's screen switches to "Continue by inserting two more coins" Or something like that, Taffyta pounds her steering wheel as hard as she can with her fist. Assuming the player left, Vanellope regains control of her body and snickers at Taffyta's fit.
This just makes Taffyta angrier.
"Hey, Muttonfudge!"
Taffyta froze. She didn't like her last name being used to address her. Especially by that.. That glitch. Especially after that day where Vanellope teased her by saying her last name suited her, with "Mutton, as in the chunkiest of all the Sugar Rush racers".
Looking over with a scowl, Taffyta spits out a reply. "What is it, Miss president?"
"You okay over there? You look really angry! Mad I beat you again? Better luck next time, Taff!"
All the racers pull up to their positions again and wait for the next player to come and race with them.
And that day was painful. Taffyta just got angrier and angrier by the minute. Each and every race she nearly got the finish line, but Vanellope stole her rightful spot with a glitch blue teleport. Each. And. Every. Time.
As soon as that girl from Dance Dance Revolution announces the coast to be clear. Taffyta rips her helmet off and puts it in her lap, tired of it being on her head and she drives off, fuming, before anyone can stop her. She needs time to be alone. Perhaps in the candy cane woods. Didn't matter. She couldn't take to be around that annoying little glitch any longer. Or anybody for all that matter. She has had enough of everyone taking to Vanellope's side.
She thought she heard someone calling her name, but she didn't look back. She didn't care about them at the moment, she needed to cool down.
When she was finally far enough away when all that could be heard was the gentle breeze through the candy cane trees, Taffyta got out of her kart and threw her helmet into the driver's seat.
Stomping with rage, Taffyta makes her way to a tree and just pounds her fist on it. It hurts her hand, but she doesn't care. Turning around, she leans against it and slides to the ground, burying her face in her hands as she tries not to cry. She knew she was ruining her reputation and she hated it. All because of that stupid glitch taking the throne she didn't deserve- that she never deserved. From the start she was a spoiled brat.
But before King Candy took to power, she wore that frilly pink dress of hers more often, and raced in an official racing suit rather than her ratty hoodie and skirt. But she was only like that for a couple days. Then she basically vanished and King Candy appeared, and since the racers all lost their memories of her at the time, they were just fine with King Candy. He looked royal, after all, so he was accepted.
Just as Taffyta feels tears forming at her eyes, she looks up to hear her name being called. Probably Rancis and Candlehead. They were her closest friends. But, they didn't seem to get the hint that Taffyta didn't want to be bothered. Taffyta wiped her eyes and got up, and didn't bother to get back in her car. The roar of her engine would just attract unwanted attention, and Taffyta was in no mood to explain why she ran off like that. Besides, they would never agree with her. Taffyta liked King Candy as ruler much better. They didn't. They all loved Vanellope. Taffyta would never fit in that way.
Taffyta started to run. She wasn't sure where, but it was away from the voices of her friends. The trees started to get thicker, and the atmosphere soon got darker. Taffyta has never been this far in the woods before. She slowed to a slow trot, then a nervous walk. She shivered. The tree's branches seemed to be curling around each other, trapping Taffyta in.
But of course she was just paranoid. Hopefully she wouldn't get TOO lost in this forest…
The ground began to turn brown with matted, dirty, or as dirty as candy could get, chocolate dust dirt. The trees seemed to darken as well as the ground, and the voices of Rancis and Candlehead faded in the distance.
The eerie silence unnerved Taffyta, and she eventually stopped next to a taffy swamp pool. The green color of the murky taffy was darkened as well as the rest of the scenery, and Taffyta saw down next to it, propping her arms up with her elbows against her knees, and put her chin on her closed fists.
Staring at the taffy, Taffyta just sighed and tried to get herself under control. Everything was going to be fine. Once she let Rancis and Candlehead find her she'd just tell them she needed time to be alone. She'd get back to her car, drive to her house, and everything would be alright. She wasn't really in the mood to race anymore tonight. She didn't need to have Vanellope beat her again.
"What are you going to do with yourself, Taffyta?" Taffyta muttered to herself, looking into her murky reflection in the water. "You used to the best of the not-royal racers… Now you've been reduced to a jealous mound of a candy-filled jerk…And now everyone abandoned me to Vanellope…"
Of course, she remembered she had Rancis and Candlehead. But Taffyta knew they would choose Vanellope's side if Taffyta started to get mad and throw insults at the princess.
Taffyta gets up and sighs, crossing her arms and kicking a hard candy rock into the swamp. It slowly sinks under and isn't seen anymore.
…Clink.
Taffyta perks up and looks back down into the swamp. She heard a clink from under it. Did that rock fall through this swamp and into a cave below?
Taffyta kneels down, and rolls her jacket sleeve up and sticks her hand into the sticky marsh. It went down to her elbow, but Taffyta pushed her arm farther, all the way up to her shoulder, and it got on her jacket anyway. But, the tips of her fingers, at the bottom of the pool, seemed to poke out of it into open air. Or.. A cave for that matter.
A hidden cave under the taffy swamp? Pulling her gooey arm out o f the marsh, Taffyta realizes she would have to mark this area so she wouldn't lose it again. Turning her head toward a large, dead and rotted Candy cane tree, and runs over to it and wipes off her arm all over the tree, so it's dark colors contrast with the ooey green swamp taffy. It was incredibly noticeable, Taffyta surely wouldn't lose this place now.
Taffyta realized that if she wanted to see what was in that cave, she'd have to jump in that swamp and sink down too. But at the moment, Taffyta told herself she could wash her clothes later.
Stepping up to the swamp, Taffyta hesitates. Just how far down did this thing fall?
"Taaafffyytaaa!"
Taffyta whirled around to the sound of Candlehead calling her name. They were getting closer, and obviously were riding in the same kart. If she didn't act fast, she'd be asked about what she was doing. And she did not want to see those people, and this could be her only chance at finding a place all to herself! Taffyta told herself to suck it up and jump.
Holding her breath, Taffyta ran full speed to the swamp and made a jump for it, she landed in the swamp with an ooey splash, that hopefully wasn't loud enough for Candlehead and Rancis to hear, and she began to sink.
Taffyta had to urge herself not to fight to swim to the surface, and closed her eyes as her head went under.
Tafftya felt her legs being exposed to open air, and the rest of her body fell out of the taffy covering and onto the ground below her.
"Euugh.. Gross…" Taffyta complained, wiping the dark green taffy out of her eyes and off her arms, and she tried to comb it out of her hair with her fingers.
Looking up, she realized that the taffy swamp acted as a thick covering of a hole next to a candy cane tree. The roots to the tree were behind her. She looked around, and she was in a dark cave. It was really dark, and the only light there was the little light that made it through the taffy swamp around Taffyta. Everything else was pitch blackness.
Taffyta slowly got up. Somewhere at the surface she heard the rumbling of a kart driving around. They wouldn't find her now, that's for sure.
Taffyta wiped the taffy off of her jacket and started to shake the rest of it off. Most of it came off easily, it wasn't as thick as taffy could be, it being kind of warm down here, it didn't harden much.
Once she was almost clean, Taffyta heard a noise.
"…Chriiiiii…"
Taffyta spun around, wide eyed to meet the monster beside her. Glowing green eyes met her own in the darkness. Taffyta's mouth opened slowly in a silent scream.
It was a cybug.