Chapter 6: Luminosity
The roads of Sugar Rush were filled with the noises of two vehicles rampaging at ferocious speed, partaking in a daring chase of cat and mouse, the mouse in this case being Taffyta's precious pilfered Pink Lightening.
The out-of-gamers cheered and jeered as they tore through the game at top speeds, taking no concerns for the candy citizens that got in their way. Worry was so low towards the tiny NPCs that every now and then junk would be thrown from the vehicle, the hapless candies serving as nothing more than targets for the kart-nappers strapped inside.
"Can't this heap'a junk go any faster?!" the driver barked, doing his best to control the swerving kart in the little space he had available. Upon second thought, controlling the hunk of candy on wheels was proving a little harder than he had anticipated but he kept his guns going as best he could, if only to retain the glee of knowing WHOM he stole the kart from.
"Who cares?" the second figure spoke up, the purple-haired feline propping her feet up on the dash, far too content in the fun she was having making waste to Sugar Rush "We just gotta get this teeth-rotter to the point and- MEOOOOORW!"
"What?! What is it, Felia?!"
The kitty mewed sharply, adjusting the side mirrors to see a rising dust cloud appearing from the horizon. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end and her whiskers twitched in fear, the correct reaction given who was coming up behind them.
The dust cloud that was approaching at accelerating speed was in no doubt Taffyta Muttonfudge but it was who was behind the wheel that had Felia snarling in disgust.
Candlehead!
The Ice Scream's engine ROARED with the might of a lion, the wheels burning road as the little racer behind the wheel kept her eyes on the target before her, the candle atop her head glowing brighter than any sun.
"Idiots in mirrors….." Felia hissed, her claws coming out "Are closer than they appear."
"Aww crud, it's Muttonflub and Canker-head!" the driver roared, going back and forth between looking at the road and the racers that were coming up fast behind him "Urgh, I didn't think tha flame-head would catch up so fast!"
Felia smacked her partner on the back of the head "Just keep your eyes on the road! We can shake 'em!"
Only a few tire's length away in the Ice Screamer, Candlehead's code was reaching its MELTING POINT! She knew that the out-of-gamers could be, as she quoted, 'meanie beanie heads' but to steal another kart was UNHEARD OF and she was determined to make this the last time it was attempted, especially as the particular kart belonged to her best friend.
She squeezed the material on her steering wheel, eyes looking like a dragon eager to set fire to its prey.
"They think they're fast, huh? Let's turn up tha HEAT!"
The Ice Screamer was now just mere inches from Pink Lightening, both vehicles ready to go toe-to-toe in a battle of supremacy and Candlehead wasn't going to give up her place. She knew the risk facing her given that she wanted to RESCUE the kart as much as she wanted to chase it down but dire times called for dire actions. Taffyta hung onto the side of the kart as best as she could, the cinnamon dust blowing into her nose and causing her entire head to tingle, her heart pump faster.
"C-Butt?!"
"Okay!" the candle-headed girl breathed out "Ya gonna have to trust me here, Taff! I gots some Molasses-Madness seekers in tha trunk an-WOOOOOAH!"
The two racers screeched in terror as Pink Lightening veered out of control in front of them, the driver doing his hardest to take the racers out of the picture, or at least out of the sights. Felia began grabbing anything she could in the kart, lobbing them at the racers behind them but given that she had used up much of the arsenal she was coming up empty on ammo.
"Gimmie somethin' I can hurl at 'em!" she called to her companion.
"I don't have jack!"
"Ya want me ta throw YOU instead?!"
"C'mon, I'm tha one DRIVIN'!"
Candlehead kept her hold on the road as best she could, remembering that there was an unbuckled passenger handing on for dear life close to her.
"Hang on, Taffyta!"
"S-Sure!" the white-haired girl meeped, clutching harder onto the kart for dear life.
"Kay, I know this may seem crazy-!"
"As if this isn't?!"
"Imma need ya ta go inta tha trunk, an' get those Molasses seekers! Ya hear me?!"
It was going to be a task given that the girl wasn't exactly STILL at the moment but Taffyta knew the plan. From the corner of her eye Candlehead looked back as she saw Taffyta rip open the trunk flap, the strawberry racer looking in only to find a massive collection of seekers, the girl surprised that Candlehead wasn't driving a time-bomb.
"Candlehead?"
"I always store 'em for emergencies!" the other girl said "Now lemme have 'em!"
The shiny candy orbs glowed with beauty, and deadliness, as Taffyta shuffled through them, taking the needed Seekers and shoving them into the power-slots of the kart. The Ice Scream chimed and glowed with power as the Seekers activated, the girl letting out a rather unCandlehead-like cackle. Taffyta knew what was coming, her hands gripping harder onto the kart.
"Ya wanna see what Candlehead can do?"
Two cannons appeared on the side of the kart, the barrels heating up as the pink passenger smelled the strong scent of boiling sugar inside of them.
"HERE'S WHAT CANDLEHEAD CAN DO!"
The girl JAMMED her fingers on the launch button, two massive gobs of molasses shooting from the cannon and right near the side of Pink Lightening, the two kart jackers crying out in terror. Taffyta's hat nearly flipped off her lid, her eyes wide in shock.
"HOLY HO-HOS!"
"Is that kid CRAZY?!" called the male driver, panting as he could smell the burning sugar ON him, the heat seeping through his jacket and onto his skin "Ow, OOOW! What is this stuff?!"
"Whatever it is, I don't want it on me!" cried Felia, left to fear what would happen should the brown GUNK get caught in her fur.
"Sizzlin' cinnamon sticks, C-Butt!"
"Just consider that a warnin!" the mint-chip racer growled "I don't wanna hit your kart, Taffy! Just get those meanie-bo-feanies ta bail!"
It was always something to see Candlehead go from a complete fairy-floss head to such a hardened racer. In the time that had passed since the game had reset and the 'fans' had made their way in, Taffyta had completely forgotten just how SERIOUSLY her friend took her races.
And it was something she had to admit to herself that she loved.
If there was one person she knew she could count on for such an incident, Candlehead was the best and as she continued to shoot Taffyta realized she was in the best hands she could possibly want.
"Turn left, TURN LEFT!" Candlehead roared out, shooting more and more molasses bombs at the two "Less ya wanna end up coated! Tha choice is up ta ya, Smarties!"
Another blast went off, landing DANGEROUSLY close to the two. Felia yowled again as tiny droplets of molten sugar finally sprinkled against her skin, the painful prickle of the heat causing her to duck in the cab of the kart.
"Those kids are no joke!" she panted "Why didn't Snake tell us?!"
"Because Snake's never had ta do this much dirty work!" the driver growled "Where's that freakin' turn?!"
"Here! Right here!" Felia cried out, praying to all the programmers she could think of that Candlehead wouldn't shoot again.
Unfortunately for her….
KER-SPLAT!
"NYWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" she cried, sticky molasses ending up in her hair "MAKE THA TURN! MAKE THA TURN! THEY'RE GETTIN' TOO CLOSE!"
Candlehead kept up with the two, even as the road was getting rougher and the area darker.
"Where are they goin'?"
The road became bumpy and cragged as more foliage appeared before the two and much to their dismay, Pink Lightening became lost in the darkness of the candy wilderness.
"They lowered the lights!" Taffyta cursed to herself, the massive coverage of the woods causing everything around them to echo, only making the journey harder.
"Taff!"
"Y-Yeah?"
"I-I may hafta hit Pink full on!" said Candlehead, worry creasing on her face "It might be tha only thing I can do ta get it in this mess!"
The strawberry girl bit her lip, fearing the damage the kart would receive from the power molasses coating should it be hit dead-on but to return her beloved vehicle to her some chances had to be taken. She concentrated on the voices of the two kart-jackers as best she could, hearing them scream and shout every second about running into something and the more she thought, maybe a few bits of melted candy would be easier to deal with than the two going head-long into a tree with the thing.
Taffyta nodded in acceptance of the plan, as there was not much she could do.
"Just make it quick."
Candlehead felt the same feeling of bitterness as her friend, her eyes going to the launch button.
"Gotta time this right…."
With another press, Candlehead shoot out two more hot gobs of molasses at the kart and with a lucky shot she managed to NAIL it in the bumper, sending the two thieves crying out as the kart buckled forward.
"YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAURGH!"
"Got 'em!"
"I think there's a path we can take!" called the male driver "Tha next shot might be a HEAD one!"
"Then stop yackin' an' take it!" shouted Felia as she stood up "I'll take care of those brats!"
Much to the surprise of the races, the feline character stood up in her seat, claws aimed towards the two.
"What does she think she's-?!"
The cat hissed, claws out but she then swiped them through the air, LARGE lines of energy flying towards the girls!
"Oh no-!" gasped Taffyta "Candlehead, turn! TURN!"
The candle-headed girl let out a cry as she hit the steering-wheel to a hard left, the Ice Scream CAREENING out of the way just as the claw waves flew where the two had once been, going through a massive candy cane tree and slicing it with ease. Taffyta screamed as she held onto the kart, Candlehead trying her best to regain control.
"Hang on, Taffyta! HANG ON!"
There was a loud THUD as Candlehead crashed into a gumdrop, Taffyta thrown from the kart but landing in a billow of mint leaves. She could hear the air-bag going off, Candlehead grunting.
"C-Butt!"
The fading sounds of Pink Lightening were all that was left as the two lay dazed and exhausted in the thick woods but Candlehead pushed the bag back, throwing off her seat-belt and giving chase.
"Let's go Taffyta!"
The girls rushed through the dense forest, following the tire tracks to a clearing and as they pushed the leaves away.
"No….WAY!"
There before them lay the Sugar Rush Trash Heap, the massive area filled with the chocking smell of burnt sugar as the titanic-sized furnace billowed out black smoke and spewed burning orange embers of overbaked cookies and overcooked sugar.
Candlehead sank to her knees, shivering in fright. There were a few places she had vowed never to step foot in and on the top of her list was the Trash Heap, the place always having a sinister feeling about it.
Taffyta on the other hand was far too FURIOUS to even considering being scared, especially when a familiar figure came into view.
"Snake-Oil!"
The one and only.
Felia and her partner finally rolled into the dump with Pink Lightening, Snake standing by impatiently.
"Can ya hear 'em?" Candlehead asked. Taffyta gave a shake of her head no, crawling down to get a closer look. Candlehead whined, not wanting to go near the area NOR the snake but she couldn't leave her friend behind!
The things she would do for Taffyta.
The two girls snuck their way down the path, ducking behind candies and leaves to keep their trail cold. Soon they were close enough to hear the mumblings and hissing of the out-of-gamers, Taffyta concerned on what they were planning on doing at all in the area.
"Took ya long enough." Snake growled, not at all moved by how roughed up and battered Felia and her friend looked.
"Baston did the best he could with tha drivin…" Felia said "But those two schnooks nearly NAPALMED us!"
"You're telling me that you almosssst got caught by thossssse lossssers?" Snake grunted, rolling his eyes "After all that bragging you two did."
"Look, we got ya tha kart." Growled Baston "What do ya want with it?"
Snake reached over for a large crowbar, patting it gently in his hands as he smiled at the pink vehicle, his poisonous smirk reflecting on its surface.
"Well, if Muttonflub likessssss to play, maybe ssssshe'll enjoy a puzzle or two or three, or MORE!"
Taffyta's body nearly went as white as her hair, her eyes bugging out.
They were going to dismantle Pink Lightening!
"Oh, this is gonna be fun." Purred Felia, reaching for a large axe "I wanna see tha lil cavity cryin' her eyes out once she finds a tire on her doorstop!"
"An' a fender at tha track!" laughed Baston, the trio ready to lay waste to the kart.
Taffyta didn't have a plan, her mind telling her to jump right in and wallop all three but she was greatly outnumbered in both size and strength; what could she do?
"No, no, no, NO!" she whispered to herself, ducking down and digging her hands into her head "NO NO NO NO NO! WH-?! WHAT DO I DO!? WHAT DO I-?!"
Candlehead too was beside herself in sickening terror as she watched the gang of thugs ready themselves to destroy the kart but at the last moment-
A spark from her flame.
Time felt like it had slowed down as Taffyta saw Snake-Oil raise his crowbar higher, higher, higher-!
But Candlehead had other plans.
The girl jumped up, the older characters completely unaware of her presence as she threw off her jacket and OUT FLEW a swarm of seekers, the orbs flying up into the air as they blinked and glowed!
RAMPAGING RUNTS!
CHERRY BOMBS!
Snake and his two underlings stopped, the sudden voice taking them by surprise.
"Hold on, wh-?!"
KA-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
Before any move could be made, the Cherry Bombs EXPLODED, the stinging, fruity-smelling smoke choking the area and coating everyone in a thick layer of cherry dust. Snake hacked, trying to clear his throat of the substance but everywhere he turned he ran into more.
"W-Who'ssss there?! I-! *COUGH!* SS-SS-SSSTOP IT! ST-TOP I-!"
Suddenly the air was filled with quick chittering and chattering, everyone looking down as a swarm of sentient RUNTS ran their ways, swarming over the three like fire ants.
"Aurgh! AUUURGH!" cried Felia as she desperately tried to brush the creatures off of her but the more she fought, the more they swarmed over her "GET THEM OFF! GET THEM OFF!"
"Urgh! I HATE banana runts!" shouted Baston "They're the worst!"
The runts continued to jitter, scratch, and bite the three, leaving them with no choice but to run for their lives rather than risk the chances of being eaten alive!
"But what about the kart!?" screamed Baston, the banana runts clawing at his face.
"L-Leave it!" shouted Snake, nearly falling over and rolling on the ground to rid himself of the dastardly sugar demons "Jussst-! OW!"
The trio ran from the junk yard, screaming all the way and with their presence gone, Taffyta and Candlehead slowly tip-toed from their cover.
"Whoa…." Taffyta blinked, in complete awe "Candles…"
"You'd do tha same for me…" the little racer panted, wiping her brow "Now….is your kart okay?"
Taffyta rushed over to Pink Lightening, looking over it feverishly. It had taken quite the beating during the chase and as a result there was much damage.
"Oh nooooo…." The girl mewled sadly as she looked at her kart "The wheels are melted in the back, the fender is bent and busted."
"S-Sorry…" Candlehead meeped, returning to her usual self "I-I guess I was layin' on those bombs too hard?"
The strawberry girl sighed "No, no. It's not your fault, C-butt. You're not the one who took Lightening."
"But how are we gonna get it back?"
"Ya got some licorice in your trunk?" asked Taffyta, her friend nodding "Then maybe we can do a hitch. I know your kart is strong enough ta handle anythin' so this shouldn't be a problem."
Taffyta tried to play positive but the moment she placed her hand upon the kart, it completely feel apart, all four wheels coming off and the back breaking in shards. Candlehead cupped her hands over her mouth, wanting to scream at the sight while Taffyta could do nothing but hold in her anger. She turned red in the face, she clenched her teeth…
Then it faded.
Could things get any worse?
"Maybe I have a Sweet Heal in tha trunk?" suggested Candlehead "That can work on all of…THAT."
"Just leave it." Taffyta grumbled as she stomped passed the other girl, eyes stinging once again "As everyone said, our karts are 'automatic' unlike Miss Special Different. I can make 'another one'."
"But ya had that for so long…" said Candlehead "I mean….at least from tha last time someone did somethin' ta it."
"CAN WE JUST-!?"
There was a rustle around the two girls, Taffyta going silent as she felt her ears perk. She looked to her left, then to her right but her eyes saw nothing. Candlehead on the other hands was still in fright, her head feverishly looking around for whatever made the noise.
"W-W-W-What was that?"
Taffyta stood still, once more trying to pick up on the sound but there was nothing.
"T-T-Taffyta?"
"Shhh!"
The two stood in the middle of the junkyard, hearing the grumbling of the furnace as it cackled and belched out the thick sugar smoke.
"I guess it's nothin'…." Said Taffyta, Candlehead gulping.
"N-N-Nothin'?" the cupcake racer shivered "B-B-But-!"
"But WHAT?"
"Th-th-tha TWISTIES!" Candlehead finally chocked out, grabbing her friend by the arms "H-How could we forget about tha TWISTIES?!"
"Twisties?" Taffyta grumped "Candles, there's no reason for ya to-"
*clink clink*
The girl spun around, noticing a piece of kart rolling down a pile of junk. She gulped slightly and balled her hands into fists, trying to remind herself that there was nothing of threat there.
*CLINK CLINK*
A large piece of scarp fell, making both girls freeze in place upon an unstable sheet of candy, the thing tipping closer to the ground and before Candlehead could scream, she was face-first on the ground on the other side of the pile, the racket of metallic candy making a horrific screech to her ears.
"Candlehead!" Taffyta cried out, her legs launching her towards her friend "Are ya okay?!"
The racer huddled herself on the ground for a second, whimpering ever so slightly at the fall before she began to pick herself up.
"Owie… Ow ow…" she whimpered, looking at the cuts on her arms and elbow "Oooow."
This was just great; not only had Taffyta succeeded in getting her kart stolen but now because of her, Candlehead had gotten injured. It seemed as if life was trying to prove more and more that Taffyta could do nothing right.
"Let's…let's just go." The strawberry racer said in a depressed tone "At least that way, we can get ya cleaned up an'-"
*GRRRRRR*
Taffyta felt that sinking feeling in her stomach again.
"Uhm…. C-butt?"
"Yeah Taffy?"
"That was your stomach, right?" The girl whimpered. Candlehead blanched, not requiring a second guess to know what was coming next.
*GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!*
The duo looked ahead, seeing yellow eyes appearing in the dark nooks and crannies of the junk pile; HUNGRY looking eyes.
"Aw, dang."
Out of the darkness lumbered many creatures, BURNT creatures with ash-black skin and cragged chunks of molten orange seeping through.
The Twisties.
It appeared that Candlehead was correct on her assertion of the creatures being around and with all the noise that had been made by both the racers and Snake's gang, the Twisties were not looking at all too happy. They were both hungry and tired and seeing as they were no longer asleep, they were now just PLENTY tired.
Candlehead shot up on her feet, eyes bulging and her body shaking.
"T-Taffyta!"
"Don't move, don't move YET!" the strawberry racer cried as she clutched onto her friend's arm, moving backwards as slowly as possible.
The Twisties inched closer to the girls, their yellow teeth dripping with thick, dirty drool as their appetite was whetted at the thought of munching on something SWEETER and FRESHER for a change.
"Why couldn't these guys come out when Snake-Grease was here?" Taffyta scowled, knowing she had to get herself and Candlehead away from the place as soon as possible.
The leader of the Twisties let out a guttural snarl, arms and claws flailing about as it readied itself for an attack.
"Three."
Taffyta breathed out deeply, sweat dripping from her brow as the creatures watched her from a distance, plotting their moves.
"Two."
Candlehead twitched ever so slightly, her feet wanting to do nothing but take her away from the awful place.
"ONE!"
Taffyta gave a push and the two girls jetted forward, rushing through the maze of a area with the rabid Twisties howling and snarling behind them.
"An' people think DEVIL DOGS are evil?!" Candlehead panted, running as hard as she can "Those things are PUPPIES! THESE things are-!"
"BLUAAAAAAAURGH!"
The girl screamed as one of the Twisties leaped into the air, ready to land upon her and rip her from limb to limb.
"HAAAA!"
Taffyta moved in, giving the creature a good kick in the face and sending it back towards the others.
"Gotta admit…" the girl in pink panted, brushing her hair from her eyes "That felt kinda good."
"Runnin' away will feel better!" Candlehead shouted as she took Taffyta by the hand and rushed, the Twisties continuing their chase.
Perhaps dealing with Snake would have been the better option for the two, both girls zigging and zagging from the monster but the chase only served to make the Twisties HUNGRIER and the racers TIRED.
"I-I don't think I can keep up!" Candlehead panted, going red in the face.
"I'm not gonna let 'em get ya, Candles!" Taffyta boomed, taking the girl by her hand.
"B-But I can come back! I-!"
"SO YA WANT TO BE EATEN?!" the pink girl roared "NO WAY!"
The Twisties brayed out again, Taffyta looking out to see a large pile ahead of the two. An idea came to her brain as she jumped behind the pile.
"Push, C-Butt! PUSH!"
The two girls pushed the large pile of junk forward, the tower giving a low metallic moan as it then fell upon the nasties but they were not out just yet. The racers knew their time was of the essence and it wouldn't take long for the baddies to claw their way through.
"This way!" Taffyta waved towards her friend as she led her down a narrow tunnel, both going on their hands and knees "Everyone keeps sayin' this game is nothin'. That there's nothin' dangerous here an' WE don't know anythin' about it. They can eat my shoes if they tell me that-!"
*BONK!*
"OH!"
In the midst of the crawl, the girl hit her head upon something. She stopped deadway in the path, Candlehead running into the back of her.
"Urf, Taffyta?"
"Shhh! SHH!"
The two ducked in the little passage, hearing the Twisties shuffle about above them. After a few seconds the lead creature sniffed the air and gave a furious cry, the bunch of them scampering off somewhere.
"Candles…." Taffyta whispered "I'm gonna need your light."
Candlehead leaned forward slowly, her candle illuminating the small tunnel to reveal-
"What tha-?!"
"It can't be-!"
The two begin pushing the dirt away from the buried object, its dark purple and red coloration coming through. They were stunned into silence as they looked down at what appeared to be a box, but not just ANY box-!
"Taffyta!"
"Candlehead!"
The two exchanged looks before looking back at the object below.
"Is this-?! IS THIS A CODE BOX?!" shouted Candlehead, Taffyta pushing away more dirt. She knocked on the surface of the thing, an echoy sound coming from within it.
"I….no, it can't be! But…but it is!"
In the midst of all the junk and in the midst of trying to get Pink Lightening back the two girls had made an even bigger discovery.
An unused, inactivated code box!
Taffyta rubbed her eyes, making certain that she was not seeing things.
"This is real."
Candlehead nodded.
"This….is REAL!"
Candlehead nodded again, hitting her head on the top of the tunnel.
"What….what's this doing out here?!" the strawberry racer gasped before slamming her palm on her forehead at her own statement "I mean-! I mean, broken boxes end up here all the time to be recycled but-!"
"But…this one looks whole!" said Candlehead "This one looks fresh! This one looks-!"
"This one looks like it was taken RIGHT from the code room!"
The two looked back at the box again, the name on the object unfamiliar to them.
"Paaaas….what?" asked Candlehead "Taffyta, I can't read this."
Taffyta continued to dig through the dirt, no longer caring if her dress or gloves got messy. Candlehead joined in on the effort as well, the power of both uncovering the heavy box in no time.
"J-Just gotta get this thing outta here!" Taffyta panted as she crawled out of the tunnel with her end of the box clutched in her hands "It's too big to fit in your trunk but maybe we can hitch it on-!"
"TAFFYTA!"
The girl screamed as she looked forward, the Twisties laying in wait for the two.
"Aw, c'mon!"
The relentless creatures peered at the racers, taking notice of the item they held in their hands and the moment they saw what they were doing they went into a maddened fit.
"Um, I guess this belong to them?" Candlehead gulped.
"Not today, it doesn't!" growled Taffyta "RUN!"
Both girls turned towards the opposite path back towards the junk yard's entrance and the Ice Scream, a task made all the more arduous with the heavy code-box in their hands.
"Urgh, this thing weighs a ton!" Taffyta huffed "I thought code was supposed ta be light-weight!"
"I guess code is more weighty than we think!" panted Candlehead, trying to keep up with Taffyta's pace. The Twisties inched closer to the girls' trail, nipping dangerously close to their little heels.
"Taffyta, is this a good idea?! They don't seem ta wanna share this!"
"We gotta take it back, C-Butt!" cried the other girl "It could be something IMPORTANT!"
One of the Twisties jumped up towards the girls, snarling as he readied to snap Taffyta's head in its maw!
"TAFFYTA!"
Candlehead tried to reach for the creature but in doing so she fell forward, her hat flying off and revealing yet another Sweet Seeker hidden underneath. The power-up flew through the air and struck the Twisty as it was just inches away from the strawberry racer's eyes.
CADBURY CANNON BALLS!
The Twisty was struck…and in an instant, turned into a chocolate cream stature of itself, its body landing with a thud on the ground. The girls looked at the creature for a moment or two as did its companions…
All before they swarmed over it and began devouring the sweet delight limb from limb.
After eating nothing but trash and burnt bits for years, such a chocolatey treat was too much to pass over!
"GO! GO! GO!" chanted Taffyta, Candlehead taking up her end of the code-box once more as they made it to Ice Screamer. Taffyta quickly tied the box onto the back of the kart with licorice rope and hopped on, Candlehead taking off, looking in her mirrors to see the Twisties still feasting upon the chocolate body of their fallen friend.
As strong as her appetite was, seeing such carnage diminished it quite a bit.
"Orph…that's why ya gotta be careful 'round power-ups…."
"An' why we gotta be careful 'round CODE-BOXES." Taffyta replied, looking down at the trove they had taken.
The two said not a word as they steadily began to make their way back into civilization, the main Sugar Rush village coming up into view.
"C-Butt, slow down…" Taffyta said, putting a hand out "Don't….don't head towards the village! Not now!"
"Why not?" the girl asked in confusion.
"We can't let anyone see us with this." Taffyta said in a low voice, ducking down "I know we took this thing outta tha dump, but-"
"Shouldn't we be takin' this box ta Vanellope?" Candlehead asked weakly from the front of the kart, getting a better view of what was imprinted on the thing now that they were in the light, "I mean-! It's HER game after all right? Sh-she would know what ta do with things like this, huh?"
Taffyta couldn't help but shiver at the way Candlehead had put emphasis on Sugar Rush once again being Vanellope's property and after the confrontation at the tracks again?
No, she certainly wasn't going to deliver the box to her.
"We'll go somewhere else…." Taffyta said with a scowl, Candlehead looking all the more worried.
"But-! But ya think that's such a good idea? I mean-!"
"Why interrupt her an' her 'friends'?" the girl in pink mocked, flicking her bangs out of the way "All the dealing's at the track was JUST TOO MUCH for her to handle so maybe taking THIS would stress out our precious President."
"Then…then who should we take it to? I mean, I don't know anythin' 'bout tinkerin' with stuff like this!"
Taffyta ran a finger over her lips, snapping her fingers.
"Yes!"
"Taff?"
"Make a U-Turn, C-Butt!" the strawberry racer smiled "We have visit a certain Mister S. Malarkey!"
"An ES Malarkey?" Candlehead blinked "Tha only Malarkey we know is Swizzle! Not ES!"
"Just drive…."
It was still early in the evening when the racers finally pulled up to the quaint cottage of one Swizzle Malarkey, the lights dim in his windows.
"Oh, I hope he's home." Candlehead said, biting her nails in nervousness.
"'Less someone phoned the big nerd about someone findin' a connection between here an' Tobikomi HQ, I doubt it." Chuckled Taffyta as she lifted her end of the code-box up "Help me with this, C-Butt."
The two girls inched their way to the boy's home, Taffyta kicking the door with her foot.
"Swizz!"
The two could hear music but nothing else.
"YO SWIZZ!"
"I thought we were bein' stealthy, Taff!" Candlehead blanched.
"With Swizz, it takes a lot to get his attention."
Taffyta kicked the door again, the sound of footsteps approaching.
"Okay, okay!" the voice inside said grumpily "If this is another joke, I'm gonna-!"
Swizz opened the door but before he could get another word out, he was TACKLED back into his house, Taffyta swinging her legs and shutting the door behind her.
"Swizzle!"
"Urgh, Taff?" the boy puffed as the wind was knocked out him "Taffyta?! What is-?!"
The toottie-frutie racer looked at the two girls, their clothes burnt and dirty, their skin scratched and bruised.
"Sweet Mary Janes! What-!? What happened to ya two?!"
"A midadventure." Taffyta said, easing with Candlehead to place the large code-box on the floor, Swizz still concerned with their well-being to even notice the large object now in his home.
"Did-!? Did that Snake guy do this to ya?!" the boy gasped.
"Sorta-kinda." Taffyta snorted "He's the reason we wound up WHERE we were but he didn't do all'a this to us!"
The boy moaned, putting a hand to his forehead "Man, Minty was right 'bout those guys roughin' us up! They did it ta Sticky so I guess it was only a matter of time before-!"
At long last Swizz took notice of the code-box on the floor, his brow arching as he pointed towards it.
"Taffyta?"
"Yeah, Swizz?"
"What….is THAT?"
"We were hopin' ya would know!" said Candlehead as she bounded towards the boy "We found this buried in the junky-junk yard an'-!"
"Whoa, ya guys went ta tha JUNK YARD?!" the boy said, startled "Are-?! Are ya INSANE?! Ya know tha Twisties are lookin' for any chance ta nab ya if ya don't go with tha right fightin' gear!"
"Somethin' tells me that Snake n' Company didn't know that. Otherwise they may have chosen a 'SAFER' destination to jack my kart."
"So they drove out that far…." The boy said in worry "Man, if they're brave enough ta travel that far, an' with no in-game immunity-!"
"Swizz, enough about Snake! We wanna know what this is!"
The boy looked at the box, then peered back at the girls.
"Um, it's a code-box."
"We KNOOOOOOOW!"
"Shhh, SHHHH!" Swizzle rushed about the room, checking every door and window in his tiny home "Not so loud, not so loud! Ya want anyone else ta find out about this?"
"Well, NO. So-?"
Swizz ran for his work-room, the girls hearing the sound of many-a tools being turned on and thrown about.
"Maybe if I-? No, where is my-! OUCH! That's not it!"
"Swizz?"
His name called, the racer rushed out of the other room carrying a loud of tools as well as pulling along a rather strange looking contraption on a cart.
"Huh, I've always wondered if I this would come in handy." He smiled.
"What is that thing?"
"Gals, this is my-!" Swizz prepared himself, arms out proudly "Code-Box Cracker Jacker!"
Both Taffyta and Candlehead cocked their heads to the side, seeing nothing more than an old computer entangled in several, not at all grounded, wires.
"R-Repeat that?"
"If ya want it in layman's terms, it's somethin' I whipped up ta look at code, any code! From our game ta tha next! If it's code, it can be cracked an' this baby'll do it!"
"Wow, ya sure do have a lotta free time on your hands…." Taffyta nodded, still not sure how to feel about the situation.
"Ya brought this thing over so ya APPARENTLY wanted me ta look at it, so don't bust on me!" the boy frowned as he went over to the code-box, wiping off the dirt from the surface.
"Taffyta?"
"Yeah, C-Butt?"
"Have…have ya EVER seen a code-box outta tha code room before?"
The strawberry girl thought for a moment, her mind taking in all those fifteen years spent in the arcade and as far as she could remember-
"No…no, I've never seen a single box outside of the room!"
"Then how did it get ta tha junk yard?" asked Candlehead "An' more than that, who put it there?"
"One of the guys?" shrugged Taffyta "I mean, it looks like it's been there for ages an' if Vanellope hadn't found it then-!"
"AH-HA!"
The girls yelped and jumped, Swizz' cry of excitement catching them off guard.
"Wh-what is it, Swizz?"
"Looks ta me, what we have here-! Is a character code-box!"
The girls felt like jumping up again, this time through the roof! It was enough that they had found a CODE-BOX outside of the code room but to find out that it belonged to a character? That was indeed a massive surprise!
"Wait…this thing? This code? It belongs to someone?" Taffyta said, Swizz nodded.
"Yeah, tha name is right there!" the boy said as he pointed towards the surface "It's more common ta see names put in a more formal version when they're completed but it's there. Pas_Gum. Exe!"
"Pas….gum?" Candlehead blinked.
"Sounds like an NPC." Said Taffyta, but Swizz shook his head.
'Nah-ah, tha character build is too large for an NPC. An' given what I'm seein', he's not a background creature either!"
Taffyta's eyes began to widen, her heart racing again. If the code did not belong to an NPC or a candy creature that could only mean one thing.
"Don't tell me…." She said, her voice shaking "Don't tell me it's-!"
"It's WHAT?" Candlehead said again.
"What we have here, girls…..is a code-box of a RACER."
The entire game felt as if it were hit by the pause button the moment those words left Swizz' lips.
A racer?
A racer that no one knew?
Taffyta stumbled, sitting on the couch with a *whomp*.
"No way…." She mumbled to herself "No way, no, way, NO WAY!"
"An' tell me again. Ya found this in tha junkyard?"
The two nodded towards the lollipop racer, his focus returning to the box.
"This….this is strange. Even if the game contained unfinished areas an' other things, it would all be in our memory."
"Oh, but some of us have terrible memories!" said Candlehead "Like that one time, I promised Nougetsia I would help her make a cherry scream pie but then I forgot because Rancis told me about a contest they were havin' at Burger Time an'-!"
"No, that's not what I meant!" said Swizz "Well, it's SORTA not what I meant."
"Then what are ya talkin, about Malarkey?" Taffyta asked, still trying to take everything in.
"What I mean is, our INTNERAL memory." The boy continued "Ever bit of data, finished or not, should be stored in or memories as a fail-safe in case somethin' happens with tha game-!"
"But Swizz, somethin' did happen with the game, remember?!"
Indeed; King Candy.
A terrible thought hit the trio with a massive bang; what if this had to do with Turbo? It only made sense given everything he had done to the racers and Vanellope for so long. Taffyta looked back at the code-box, only fearing who it had to have belonged to and what reasons it was dumped and never plugged into the main interface of the game.
"Oh my gobs…."
"I-is tha code broken? I mean, Turbo pulled out all of Vanellope's wires an' it made her glitch so-?"
"As far as I can see…." Swizz said as he continued his inspection "This box was never plugged in at all."
"What?"
"Why?"
"It's only ninety-five complete!"
"So….what?" said Taffyta "Does this mean that whoever inside isn't whole? Or will they glitch like Vanellope?"
"No, not at all. The character model an' basic code seems ta be complete. But I don't see tha code extension for a kart an' just a few other details. Other than that, whoever is inside would walk around like normal if they were activated."
IF.
That was a BIG if.
Taffyta looked at the code-box before her, a tingling feeling coming over her from the tips of her toes to the top of her head.
There was just something about this that she wanted to see, the curiosity of discovering who was inside.
"I feel sorry for whoever is inside." Candlehead said sadly "I mean, if they've been in there that long, I bet they're lonely!"
"Candles, it's more like bein' asleep! Or at least that's what I've heard." Swizz said, trying to reassure the girl "Tha box hasta be activated in order for someone ta hear an-!"
"Let's do it."
"What?"
Taffyta placed her hands on the surface of the box, looking at her fellow racers.
"Let's activate it!"
"Taff, are ya NUTS?!" Swizzle said, astounded "I mean, we don't even know who's in here!"
"Ya said it was a racer!" the girl shot back, hands on her hips "If anythin' that should be a GOOD thing to hear!"
"Um, how an' WHY?!"
"Well, for starters that means it won't be a monster an' it's not somethin' that Turbo made ta get us!" said the girl "An'….an' why should we leave 'em like this?"
"HMMM?"
"Doesn't it seem kinda mean ta leave a racer that's almost complete in their box like this, even after Turbo threw 'em away!"
"Taff, we don't even know if it WAS Turbo who threw him away. For all we know, there could be a reason why this was left in the junkyard! An'-!"
Taffyta tapped her foot on the ground, crossing her arms against her chest "What is it, Swizz?"
The boy faltered, looking so nervous as he wrung his hands together.
"...It's Vanellope…." The male racer finally confessed, seeing Taffyta narrow her eyes.
"Of course it is…"
"How is she gonna react to having a new racer on the block? Especially if we went in without tellin' her first! It's not gonna go well with her." Swizz sighed, wondering what the best course of action was.
"I don't care." The strawberry racer growled, taking a step forward.
"But Taffyta!"
"For months it's been Vanellope THIS an' Vanellope THAT!" the girl jeered, rolling her eyes "She's not tha only one in this stupid game an' she sure isn't our keeper!"
"But she's our PRESIDENT!" protested Candlehead.
"She MADE herself President to make herself feel all special n' different, as if being Princess wasn't enough!" the girl snorted "An' after everythin' she an' her goon squad have put us through, I think it's time WE took control of somethin'!"
"But we don't know what we're takin' control OF!" Swizz said.
"Ya said it was just a racer!"
"Y-Yeah, but we're still bringin' someone online without tellin' anyone! How are tha players gonna react!"
"They didn't react so badly when Vanellope showed up with her cheat-glitch! Why would a racer LIKE us be any different?!"
"Taffyta-!" Swizz struggled "I can't!"
"Why not?!"
"I-! I just don't wanna get inta trouble, okay?!"
"Swizz, stop bein' scared of Vanellope for ONE SECOND an' just do somethin' on your own for once!"
"I'm not scared of Vanellope!"
"If ya aren't ya wouldn't be all worried 'bout her gettin' mad at ya!"
"Taffyta, don't touch it!"
Before anyone knew what was going on, a tussle began between the three racers. Taffyta reached out for Swizzle's device in an attempt to turn it on but he moved on, blocking her hand. Soon Candlehead jumped in as well, trying to pull the two away from each other.
"Guys, STOP!" she wailed "F-fightin' like this isn't gonna help! IT'S NOT!"
"Just activate it, Malarkey!"
"No, Taffyta! NO!"
"YES!"
"NO!"
"YE-!"
Far too excited for her own good, Taffyta tried to move forward but she tripped and fell into Swizzle. Both racers tumbled to the ground but so did the boy's code-scanner, the device crashing right on-top of the code! Eyes went wide as the entire house lit up with a bright light, the flash seen and felt for miles.
Back at the candy castle Vanellope felt the ground tremor, her guest as surprised as she was.
"Hey, kid?" Ralph asked as Vanellope glitched to the window "Is somethin' tha matter?"
Vanellope could see the glowing from far into the village, the light fading. Even as the light disappeared, her worry only grew.
"Oh no, not again."
Back at Swizzle's cottage things began to settle down, the three racers rubbing their eyes from the bolt of light.
"Wait…nothin' happened?" asked Swizz, his sight clear as ever "All that….for NOTHIN'! I would have at least expected a BOOM or a POP or a WHIZZ-BANG or a 'Om my gobs! It's an alien! You were right Swizz! You were-!"
"Elo, EVERY BOD-DEE!"
Once more the kids cried out in horror, Swizz leaping into Taffyta's awaiting arms.
"You're a lot lighter than I expected, Swizz…."
"Who are YA?!" gasped Candlehead, all focus turning towards the figure before them.
The figure? WHAT figure?
Much to the astonishment of the others, a boy in green stood before them, his rubber wellingtons and slicker squeaking as he posed proudly, a few sparkles and stars coming off him.
"PASTILLI GUMBETTINO!"
Silence filled the room, the strange boy the only one smiling amongst the four. After a moment or so he looked, noticing the odd stares he was receiving.
"Aaaaah…."
The strange green boy blinked, looking at the other racers with curiosity but his eyes went alight, a smile forming on his face.
"C-Butt! Taff! SWIZZ THA WIZ!"
Taffyta dropped the boy on the ground, the action her only reflex.
"AURGH!"
"I-! I can't believe it! We're plugged in!" the boy said all a-smiles "This-! This is so exciting! So where are we?! Manchester? Florida? Did we make it to that cool game place in Tokyo?!"
The racers remained silent as they stood before this stranger; who was he and how did he know their names?! They surly did not recognize him!
"Guys, why so silent?" the boy asked again, this time giving a smirk as he rubbed his nose "Oooh, don't tell me. Gloyd's planned somethin' for our arrival! I shudda known with him! He's always got somethin' up that sleeve of his!"
Once more, the racers said nothing as they were faced with this stranger. Finally realizing that no one was answer his questions the young boy stopped, seeing the fear coming over the other's faces.
"Hey…" he asked, tilting his head over to the side "What's gotten into ya? An'….an' where are we?"
"Wh-where are we?!" stammered Candlehead "Who-?! WHO ARE YOU?!"
