Rancis' POV:
I stood on the track with Taffyta and Candlehead. I had just finished polishing my cart, the RV1 and was now admiring it while the two girls argued about the last race.
"I was in front of you on that turn and you totally cut me off!"
"Yeah right, Taffyta! You're just mad 'cause I beat you at that turn everytime!"
"At least I won."

Ooh! Taffyta hit a sore spot with Candlehead and it won't be pretty.

Candlehead looked livid, "Is this why you keep me around, huh? To make fun of me and make you look good? You-you candy crunching wench!"

I sighed, it looks like I'm gonna have to fix it. Again. Taffyta's jaw dropped, but before she could answer, I intervened.
"Ladies! Please stop arguing! You guys are best friends. Besides, it really doesn't matter does it? The race is over. Come on, please make up. I hate to see you two fight." With that, I gave them the most pathetic, unmanly pout I could muster. 'Hey, you do what you have to to make girls stop talking right?'
The girls turned their hard glares to me, but one look at my face and their anger falls away. Soon, they both look like they're on the verge of tears for 'making me' sad.
Taffyta turned to Candlehead, "Oh, he's right, we shouldn't be fighting! I-I'm so sorry! You really are the best at that turn!"
Candlehead sobbed in reply, "and you're the best at winning races!"

As the two girls hugged, I turned away and rolled my eyes. Do they really think they're that good? Honestly, the best racer by far is President Vanellope. They don't even compare and suddenly I was far away from the track. I was imagining the sun beaming down on Vanellope's raven-colored hair. The gleam in her hazel-green eyes…
I jumped back to reality and looked about nervously to see if someone had noticed my disappearance, so to speak. No one here knows about my secret crush on our president. Even before she was our president, I knew I liked her. Sure, I picked on her all the time, but it was only because if I had been nice to her the others would've laughed at me. Of course, I feel guilty and weird around her now. How could I not?
I would've continued thinking about Vanellope, when Sour Bill's voice called monotonously over the speakers.
"Attention all racers, President Vanellope has called a mandatory meeting on the track. All racers must report to me on the track in 15 minutes. That is all."
Taffyta and Candlehead cast bewildered glances at me. I don't know what this meeting is about, so I just shrug.
Taffyta waves her hand, "Well come on then, guys. We may as well get this over with."

I follow closely behind, silently eager to hear what our lovely president has to say. I blush at the thought, but luckily no one is paying any attention to me.
As we approach the throne that King Candy used to sit on before each race, Jubileena whispers nearby, "Does it still creep anybody else out? I mean, we had Turbo for a king and he…" she shudders.
I know what she means, the guy seemed so normal and he could've killed us all without any second thoughts. Now, looking upon the empty throne brings back some unwanted bad memories. Heck, sometimes just going around the track in a certain way still makes me squirm. That part of the forest where we tormented Vanellope… I don't think I've set foot there since. I look around guiltily. I don't think any of us have.

Sour Bill comes around and has us sign some paper with our names on it so he doesn't have to count. He hands the paper to me and I find my name. Rancis Fluggerbutter right under Crumbelina DiCaramello and sign my initials next to it. Sour Bill takes back the form and hands it to Taffyta to sign and heads to each racer until we've all signed in.
Everyone seems confused and I know why. This is normally around the time we have our daily Random Roster Race to see who will be tomorrow's avatars. Never before have we had a mandatory meeting instead. I hear some of the others whisper around me.
"What is this about?"
"Is something wrong?"
"Maybe it had something to do with that soldier guy."
"What soldier guy?"
"The guy that came in here and asked the president for help after the arcade closed."
"Maybe"
"Maybe it has something to do with Ralph."
"Ralph?"
"Yeah, that big smelly guy from…"
"I know who he is! Why would it be about him, though?"
"Haven't you noticed the president's been spending an awful lot of time with him?"
"You don't think…?"
"No way!" I say, without realizing I've said it. Everyone turns to stare at me and I blush and turn away. I quickly try to remedy the situation I've caused, "What I mean to say is. I think they're just friends."
At least, I hope so…

Before anyone can question my weirdness, the president herself shows up. She looks troubled for a second before she notices us and smiles warmly. She stands in front of the throne and addresses us, "My fellow racers! I come to you now because my friend Calhoun is getting married soon!"
Taffyta stares up at Vanellope and yells back, "Uh, duh we know that already! It's all over the arcade!"
"I wasn't finished!" Vanellope takes a deep breath, even when she's upset, she's pretty. I sigh under my breath and Candlehead gives me a confused look. I shrug and mutter that I'm tired. Candlehead nods, though she doesn't look convinced, and turns her attention back to the president.
"Calhoun is upset. The last time she was getting married, a Cy-bug showed up and ate her fiancé."
Gasps of horror filled the track around me and I heard Crumbelina murmur under her breath, "How awful!"
Vanellope waved her arms for silence and continued, "It was a terrible tragedy and now Calhoun is afraid the same thing may happen to Felix. Her troops are doing all they can to secure and check the area, but she's not convinced."
Everyone fell into mournful silence until Taffyta spoke up, "That is sad, but what are we supposed to do about it?"
Vanellope took a deap breath, "I've volunteered us all for extra watches after the arcade closes…"

Indignant shouts filled the air around me and nearly deafened me. I covered my ears and looked up to see a pained expression on poor Vanellope's face. My heart cried out to her, but it didn't seem like this yelling would be as easily calmed as Taffyta and Candlehead's had been.
"What do you mean 'extra shifts?!'"
"What about our free time?"
Malarkey cried out louder so he could be heard over the crowd, "Why should we help her?"
Similar cries echoed around, but I noticed Vanellope looked livid.
"Why should we help her?' If it weren't for Calhoun, we'd all be homeless or more likely dead by now! You guys really think we shouldn't help her get a better life when she did so much for us? What's wrong with you people?!"
Everyone around me looked ashamed. They bowed their heads and shuffled their feet sheepishly.
Vanellope knew she had won, "Then it's settled. We'll take turns taking shifts with the soldiers of Hero's Duty."
Everyone nodded. Then Taffyta bit her lip and raised her hand slightly, "Uhm, I just have one question."
Vanellope sighed, "Yes, Taffyta what is it?"
"Well, if we have to take shifts each night, how will we decide the roster?"
"Don't worry. Sour Bill showed me a way to pick a random roster using the code's computer system. It'll only be until the wedding is over, then everything will go back to normal, ok?"
Murmurs of agreement floated around the crowd.
Vanellope turned to Sour Bill who nodded. Then our president addressed us, "Now it is time to decide who gets the first shift. The random roster will decide the nine avatars for tomorrow's races. Anyone not on the board will report to Hero's Duty to receive orders."
We all turned our attention to the giant monitor board. It's deep voice announced the racers one by one.
"Snowanna Rainbeau!"
Snowanna breathed a sigh of relief and headed toward the small Sugar Rush Residence's Square. She's probably gonna take a nap, I thought. She had seemed awfully tired today.
"Taffyta Muttonfudge!"
Taffyta shrugged, "I can live with that." Though she stuck around, I assume to see if Candlehead would have the night off as well.
"Swizzle Malarkey!"
"Sticky Wipplesnit!"
The two racers smiled at each other and walked off hand in hand. Those two have always been pretty close. I cast a hopeful glance at Vanellope, but she's too focused on the board to notice. Maybe I'm just kidding myself. I feel a deep pang in my chest before I turn back to the board.
"Gloyd Orangeboar!"
"Jubileena Bing-Bing!"
"Torvald Butterbatter!"
As those three disappear, Candlehead and Taffyta exchange uncertain glances. I know they're best friends and inseparable. They're probably worried that Candlehead will have a shift and that they wouldn't be able to hang out.
"Candlehead!"
Both take deep breaths, laugh, and head off towards the Candy Cane Forest. I guess I should be upset that my two closest friends have seemingly forgotten all about me. Right now though, I'm just hoping that neither my name nor Vanellope's will be next. I may be in over my head, but I'd like a chance to try…and it's…

"Adorabeezle Winterpop!"

'Yes!' I look back at our president who looks at the board with an approving nod.
"Ok, everyone who is not on that board, follow me! We're going to Hero's Duty to be briefed on our…uh, mission," she chuckled.
My heart soared. Finally a chance to work with the president on something other than carts and racing, maybe even get to know each other better…?