Chapter Eight- Examine
"What? Someone tried to attack Vanellope?!"
"There was a guy runnin' amuck in the game?!"
"Someone in a green coat?"
"Was he a virus?"
"Did he get caught?"
Those were the words, among many, that were dancing off the tongues of the inhabitants of Litwak's, news of this mysterious stranger reaching every game faster than any kart in Sugar Rush. It wasn't enough that the new child had appeared so suddenly in the midst of so many things happening, but to hear the child speak of Vanellope's name, as if he knew her-?
"Why is everyone lookin' at me?" asked the boy called Lumi, inching away from the crowd that had gathered around him "What-? What did I do?"
He turned towards Vanellope, the vanilla racer looking the most shocked of all but as Lumi inspected further he could see a familiar sight. It was her eyes; they looked the same as the other racers when he had first come online, so life-less and so confused. Right away Lumi knew Vanellope's response would be no different from that of the others, the boy swallowing back as he gripped his hands.
"You…you do remember me, don't ya?" he asked, hope vacant in his throat as he already knew the answer.
Vanellope on the other hand was still trying to take in everything before her. She saw the strange boy but she also saw the trio of other racers, the group huddled together in GUILT.
What had they done?
"Taffyta?"
The pink racer stood up, face scrunched in a frown but from the way her lip was trembling it was easy to tell how nervous she was.
"Yeah, Nelly?"
Vanellope said nothing, pointing over to the boy. By her expression alone, Taffyta didn't need to be told anything else.
"Um, I can explain this. I can!"
"Is this a new racer?"
Everyone turned, Felix stepping out of the crowd and looking about Lumi with a childlike look of curiosity. He observed the boy, looking at each and every detail about him, the unknown racer doing the same.
"Amazin'….EXTRAORDINARY!"
"Honey-glows?" Calhoun asked, arching a brow "Think that's a good idea?"
While Lumi entered the game in the worst possible way there was something to Felix's movements that eased the tension between himself and the other characters. The little Hero may have been moving too fast for the boy to keep track but he felt something comforting about Felix, something that felt so familiar.
"Well."
Lumi shrank back a bit as the Hero stood over him, seeing the smile on his face.
"Lumi was it?"
"Uh, yeah?"
Felix lowered his hand, his smile growing "Fix-it-Felix Jr! From tha game, Fix-it-Felix Jr!"
If the situation around the boy hadn't made him feel so small and powerful he would have shook the hero's hand back almost immediately, but with this many eyes and many whispers going around him, he just didn't feel comfortable enough to do anything to draw attention.
But it would have been rude to refuse.
"Uhm, Pastilli Gumbettino..." the boy whispered awkwardly as he gently shook the gloved hand. Lumi was surprised, feeling something warm and friendly from the Hero in blue that had since escaped him after being awaken.
Perhaps there was someone in this flipped game worthy of trust after all.
"Felix!"
Both the strange boy and Felix jumped, the large shadow of Snake dropping over them. Lumi felt his feet shaking in their boots, the eyes of the creature cutting into him menacingly.
"What is it, sir?" Felix asked, putting his hands on his sides.
"That might not be a wisssse idea!" the snake hissed, eyes narrowing towards the racer "Who knowssss what he could be hidi-!"
The repair man's nose wrinkled, he would said something SOUR had most of the crowd not been around, but at the risk of making it all worse? It wasn't worth it. In this case, it was far better to keep to his usual polite composure.
"I don't think there's anything I need ta worry about, thank ya Mr. Oil." The Hero in blue said, giving the brim of his hat a flick "Tha kid gives off good vibes."
For once since the whole ordeal began Lumi was starting to relax but it was not to last, at least not when Snake was concerned. The creature glared down at the boy in green, upper link quivering in anger, his needle-sharp teeth peeking through and only to remind the boy his first narrow escape.
"Don't like needles, don't like needles. Don't like needle-sharp teeth!"
The air in the game itself was one of confusion, but also uncertainty of the new arrival. From the mists of the crowd however, Vanellope was still hanging back as Snake Oil took full control of the lead, as if he believed himself to be the main protector of the game.
"I can ssssense it on him….he issss not of thisss game."
Lumi's eyes widened, cowering behind Felix "No, NO! I-!"
"He ssssmellssss of disssstrusssst! He ssssmellssss of BETRAYAL!"
"What, that's INSANE." said Felix, pushing Lumi back "From tha way you're goin' 'bout it, you're makin' tha kid out ta be some sorta VIRUS!"
"What else COULD he be?!" roared the ravenous reptile, rising high on his tail.
The whispers of the crowd soon began to grow more rowdy, demanding to see this new 'racer' in all his green glory, and it wasn't attention Lumi was looking for. If anything he just wanted to crawl away from the crowd and go somewhere quiet, but he knew that wasn't going to happen.
Not too far away, the sweet trio responsible for bringing Lumi forward remained stuck in their places, swept away by the confrontation.
"Taffyta..." Candlehead whispered as she backed away towards their end of the docks, "I don't have a good feelin' about this. We should get him outta here!"
The Muttonfudge knew there was no way of crawling out of this situation even if she wanted to, her legs speed nowhere fast enough to prove for a hasty escape. She looked at Lumi, the boy still cowering behind Felix as Snake and his gang inched ever closer to him, his sharp hands reaching out for the boy and looking as if he were ready to slice him wafer thin.
The girl scowled, her heart racing; she knew she had to save him, to do something but even she was terrified, if only because she could only dread the outcome should anyone else find out that part of the reason behind Lumi's sudden appearance was HER doing.
"Taffyta?"
The strawberry girl looked back, Swizz motioning his hand towards the fight, awaiting her direction and moves.
"Well?"
She was just too scared to move, something heavy in her mind holding her back.
"Taffyta, what do we do?!"
"I don't know!"
Back in the thick of the crowd Vanellope looked up, seeing the trio arguing among themselves and somehow not tangled up in the massive web of a fight. How had they managed to wriggle their way free, considering their appearance had coincided so perfectly with this Lumi character. She pouted, pulling herself away from the crowd and marching over to the others.
"Whu-oh!" Swizz gasped, shaking the girl in pink "Better be on the war-path!"
"What?! What's-?!"
"Ya got some explainin' ta do Taffyta!"
The strawberry racer gasped, looking towards her front to see Vanellope glaring at her angrily. She knew she wouldn't be able to evade trouble and from the looks of things it had only gotten DEEPPER.
"Oh no…."
The President huffed potently, the cool air between the racers only heating up as the two became more head to head, "I wanna know who in tha heck is this! An' what ya have ta do with him!"
Taffyta's hat nearly flipped off her head, her brows furrowing "What?! Why would ya think this is OUR fault?!"
"He shows up outta nowhere but you're chasin' him down!" Vanellope huffed, putting her hands to her side "I think that kinda clued me in."
The other girl growled but moved back, her stance relaxing as she flipped her hair "Oh, so NOW ya care about what we do?"
Vanellope blinked in confusion, stepping back a bit "What's that supposed ta mean?"
The girl in pink rolled her eyes "Here we all are, tellin' ya for weeks how your new 'FRIENDS' have been gunnin' for us but ya put it in tha back pocket. But then somethin' happens ta disrupt your fun an' SUDDENLY ya notice an' then blame it on us?"
A smirk curled on Taffyta's lips; she knew she was risking it but there was a part of her enjoying pushing Vanellope back for a change.
"I'm surprised ya even care, really." The girl in pink continued "Or is it somethin' else?"
Vanellope knew better than to let Taffyta get her but she could not avoid those eyes, that smirk that was sending shivers down her spine. It was clear that Taffyta was no longer scared of her and wasn't planning on standing down anytime soon but the vanilla racer wasn't planning the same.
"Maybe you're scared'a lil competition." Taffyta snorted, tapping her foot on the ground "Another racer? Another chance ta lose out in front of your buddies?"
Vanellope shook in anger, glitching and balling her little hands "Oh, I'm tha one who's scared, Muttonfudgy? Then what do ya call all that slinkin' about ya were doin'? Tryin' ta get a better view or things or were ya gonna turn tail an' run?"
"Vanellope, wait!" Candlehead shouted as she jumped between the two girls, pushing them away "We-! I can explain-!"
"Don't even think about it!" Taffyta ordered "No matter what we say, ya know they won't believe it!"
"But Taffyta-!"
"Yeah, Taffyta!" Vanellope snapped "If ya just gave me a chance-! I mean, if ya just told me what was goin' on then maybe-!"
"Hey! LET ME GO!"
The group turned, Lumi trying to escape his way from Snake's clutches, the large snake grasping onto his coat. Lumi fought and tugged back but there was no escape. Candlehead gasped in horror and ran forward, waving her hands in front of the reptilian rough-houser.
"Hey, HEY! WHAT ARE YA DOIN'?!"
"Getting rid of thissss piece of garbage!" Snake hissed, flinging Lumi to the side "I know a virus when I see one!"
"He is NOT a virus!" Candlehead shouted loudly, Felix appearing beside her and pulling her away for her safety "So-! So leave him alone ya big brute!"
Lumi opened his eyes, shocked to see the cake-themed girl looking so angry.
"C-Butt?"
"Lemme handle this, Miss Candlehead." Felix said as he stood before the snake again, grabbing his hand and yanking it off of Lumi "Is that any way ta treat someone?"
Lumi tumbled forward and landed at Candlehead's feet. Thankfully the spill wasn't too much on the boy but his head was still spinning from the encounter.
"Are ya okay?!" panted Candlehead, scrambling to pick Lumi back on his feet "You're not hurt are ya?"
If there was anything that was hurt in that moment it was the boy's pride. He smiled sheepishly, his head still swimming from the crash.
"Me? Heh, I-I'm okay, C-Butt."
"Now I understand why everyone is on edge here…." Felix continued, trying to regain control of the situation "But we're not gonna get anywhere if we keep buggin' out like this! Give us a moment ta find out what's really goin' on here!"
"An' let thissss potential virussss take over the game and put Vanellope in danger?" Snake hissed, once again purposely omitting the other racers from the apparent threat "Felix! How could you be sssso thoughtlesssss?!"
Even Vanellope had to do a double-take at the comment, glitching beside her friend "Now hold on, Oil! That's not-!"
"That green menace could be a ssssleeper!" Snake continued, stepping over Vanellope once more "A time bomb! If Vanellope doesn't know who or WHAT he issss, it can't be any good!"
"Is it my fault everyone here seems ta have am-he-sia?!" Lumi protested, not realizing he had said the word incorrectly "Or are we still playin' a game? I wanna know-!"
"THISSSS ISSSS NO GAME, VIRUSSSS!" Snake shouted towards Lumi, knocking both he and Candlehead over "Do not think you can fool ussss! I KNOW you're here to causssse trouble! You're here to caussse harm to Vanellope!"
Lumi wanted to get a single word out, to say anything to fully explain what was going on but no matter which way he turned he felt bombarded by so many words, so many faces. He just couldn't understand what was happening in the game and more importantly why he was seen as a virus. Was it his color, was it how he had greeted himself? No one had the answer but they sure were content in throwing accusations around.
"W-wait, I can prove that I'm from here!" Lumi shouted as he got to his feet "I can name tha king an' queen!"
"King Candy doesss not rule here, Virussss!" Snake growled, not even giving Lumi room to breathe.
"WHO is King Candy?! King Tobias rules this place!" Lumi blurted out, Vanellope's eyes going wide.
"King….King Tobias?"
"Yeah! King Tobias-! Le-Lerone! Tobias-Lerone!" Lumi continued, his mind going faster as so many names were going through his head "An' Queen Milka! They ran this place so where are they?"
"I told you he wassss lying!" Snake crowed again "No characterssss of ssssuch namesss live here!"
"Yes they do!" Lumi cried out, everyone hearing the desperation in his voice "They-! They live in tha candy castle an' Mr. Flubbutters would help them an'-!"
"Wait."
The crowd when silent as everyone turned their focus on the president of the game, her face pale.
"Mr. Flubbutters. As in…Rancis Flubbutters?"
"Mr. Flubbutters is his dad." Lumi said "Mr. Flubbutters, Mr. Reese? He was tha King's right-hand man. Would always be on tha look out for some sticky business but then somethin' would happen an' he'd end up sticky instead!"
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Once more, Candlehead found herself in a fit of giggles, laughing at a joke that all else were oblivious to. Lumi smiled hopefully at the girl, rushing over to her.
"Yeah! Yeah, do ya remember, Candles?"
"N-No!" Candlehead laughed, wiping a tear from her eyes "B-B-but it sounds so funny! St-sticky situation! Hahahaha, PEANUT BUTTER!"
Lumi deflated a bit; again, no one could recall the memories he was certain were true in his head and with how angry everyone around him looked.
"What am I gonna do?"
"Yesss, what ARE you going to do, Presssident?" Snake hissed, leering down upon the other racers "Ssssomething musssst be done in order to take care of thissss invader."
"I am not an invader, Snake Bite!" Lumi finally said, stomping his foot towards the creature "If there's anyone where who looks like they crawled outta tha ugly pit an' invaded somethin', it's YOU!"
"WHY YOU LITTLE TWERP-!"
Ralph knew he had to say something as he was in no mood to handle another argument but he also didn't trust the boy. The last thing the Wrecker wanted to happen in the game was another usurper to steal the throne from under Vanellope's feet but perhaps it was his own want in protecting her that made him jump too quickly. He reached down and picked the boy up, his tiny cries filling the air.
"Hey, put me down!"
"I think Snake may have a point on this one." Ralph said, observing Lumi "Who knows where this one came from."
"I have a name, ya big gorilla!" Lumi fought back "It's Pastilli Gumbettino an' don't ya forget it!"
Vanellope sighed; this situation was just getting more and more heated for her to handle, and even then what other evidence did she have to support the claims of danger?
"Ralph, put the kid down." Felix said "It's one thing ta be cautious but I don't think tha kid's a virus."
"Then what is he?!" Ralph demanded, Lumi seeing that the big man meant business "Vanellope's never seen 'em, I've never seen 'em! The guys could be right! He might be a VIRUS!"
Felix crossed his arms, giving Ralph a look "So you're just gonna jump ta conclusions like that? Gonna put labels on a person without knowing THA FULL STORY?"
Ralph knew exactly what Felix was hinting at, the big man feeling flustered and a bit embarrassed at how quickly he had jumped the gun.
"C-Can ya blame me for bein' a bit jumpy? I don't want anythin' ta happen ta tha game anymore!"
"So how did ya get here, Gumbo?" Vanellope asked, her purposely mocking the boy's name "Tha stroke dropped ya off or somethin'?"
"No." the boy began, finally breaking free of Ralph's grasp and landing on the ground "I just woke up in Swizz' lab, Taff an' C-Butt around me!"
"Swizz' lab? How did ya get that far out?"
"I dunno. I just woke up there." The boy continued, rubbing the back of his neck "An' that's when all this fuss an' stuff happened! I thought we were just plugged in so-!"
"Wait! Code boxesss aren't jussst found outta thin air!" shouted Snake, once more bumping his snout into the conversation "If you ARE part of thissss game assss you claim then that meanssss that ssssome HAD to take your box from the code room! SSSSOMEONE LIKE-!"
All eyes turned to Taffyta, the girl feeling her hair standing on end. She knew that Snake was once again turn the blame on her and the others, the sneer already forming on his face.
"SSSHE did it!" Snake said, pointing a clawed finger at Taffyta "SSSSHE broke into the code room and SSSTOLE the box!"
Like clockwork the crowd started murmuring again, everyone making up their minds on how Taffyta went about her dastardly deed of breaking into Vanellope's abode to make use of the precious code herself but the girl wasn't having it. She twisted her cap around, walking up to snake.
"Of course I didn't STEAL the box!" she shouted "We found it at the junkyard!"
"Oh, yeah right!" cackled Snake "Ssssince when are code boxessss jussst thrown out like TRASSSH?"
"I dunno." Taffyta said cooly "I guess since butt-faced reptiles an' there goon friends STEAL karts an' try ta break 'em apart for SCRAP? Maybe since THEN?"
Snake froze, feeling the cold glare of Calhoun hitting him. She had already caught the creature terrorizing the Zaki triplets and another incident was only adding to her confirmation list. He may have had a few people under his oily charm but he was smart enough to know that if he were to get caught again, Calhoun would not go easy on him. He kept to his scales, deflecting the blame right back onto the pink racer.
"But that'ssss not posssssible! Code cannot lassst that long outssside a main room!" he hissed and slithered next to Vanellope, placing his hands on her shoulder "And assss we all know, only SSSSUPERIORSSSS have that kind of accesssss….unlesss-!"
Calhoun snorted, ready to hear whatever story the snake was going to cook up next "Pfft, unless what?"
"Unlessss SSSSHE broke in!" Snake shouted towards Taffyta once more "I KNOW ssshe broke in! Sssshe HAD to have broken in!"
"On what grounds, Snake?" the marine asked, Lumi watching her in awe "What PROOF do ya have that could lead us back ta Taffyta breakin' inta tha code room?"
"SSSShe is TURBO'SSSS girl!" growled the reptile "That'ssss all the evidence we need! She could have all kinds of information-!"
Calhoun took a hold of Snake's wrist and pushed it down, shaking her head "Still not enough, bucko. You're just throwin' round guesses an' that ain't gonna get us anywhere."
"It'ssss the only way!" Snake cried out again, refusing to be backed into a corner or let the other racers escape "Ssshe hasss all the meansss, all the motivation!"
"Now, wait a second here-!"
The crowd only began to get louder and more voiced as Snake Oil approached the three racers, smiling deviously as he saw that they could not escape from his presence.
"Ssso Muttonsssludge, care to tell ussss how you BROKE inta the code room in order ta get him out?!"
He grabbed for her arm, pulling her forward with such force she screamed, Candlehead and Swizz ducking in fright.
"Tell me! You can't lie to ussss you worthless-!"
"BACK OFF, SNAKE BREATH!"
Snake gave a shout as he felt a heavy push on his chest, his grip lost upon Taffyta.
"Who wassss-?!"
"Boooy, your attitude STINKS worse than week old fish!" Lumi growled, the boy leaping in front of the other racers as he stood before the snake "What's your problem anyway, Snake-Eyes?! Just because she's a Muttonfudge doesn't mean ya can throw her around like some football!"
He may have been tossed about but Lumi knew when it was time to help a friend, this situation loudly calling for it! He knew he was small but he had to do something to protect the three racers from the advancing snake; one HUGE snake that was hungry for pain.
"Y-Yeah, I ain't scared'a you! My dad's used creeps like ya for CHUM!"
"His dad?"Candlehead whispered to her friends, still confused.
"Y-Yeah, I guess things here HAVEN'T changed that much!" Lumi continued, keeping a steady eye on the snake "Tha precious attention-seekin' Pwincess can't go ANYWHERE without her goon-squad sniffin' her butt! Only this time it's not candy but a buncha barfy lookin' scale faces!"
The three behind Lumi exchanged looks of disbelief, shocked that Lumi would bite off such a chance, along with continuing his princess stance with Vanellope.
"I knew ya were nothing but trouble!" the creature growled, tripping Lumi with his tail before wrapping him tight in his coils "And ssssince you want to help Muttonssssludge sssso much, why don't I give YOU the beating I was ssssaving for her?!"
Candlehead's eyes nearly popped from her skull, the girl beside herself in horror "PASTILLI! NO!"
*BOOM BOOM BOOM!*
Snake let out a high-pitched wail as gunshots went off behind him, dropping Lumi back into the group of kids as he ducked. Behind him, Calhoun blew the smoke away from her gun.
"Alright, ya guys. I think we get the point." The Marine said as she returned her weapon to its holster "But before we get ta tha main wrestlin' event can I at least say I KNOW no one broke inta tha code valut."
"Wait, Sarge. How could YA know?" Ralph asked the woman, realizing his mistake once he saw her smirking.
BWREEEEEEP! BWREEEEEEEEEEEEP! STEP AWAY FROM THE VAULT! STEP AWAY FROM THE VAULT! ARRRRRRK ARRRRRRRRRRK ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRK!
The crowd of character covered their eyes in agony, shouting out to the heaven as the alarm continued to blare, the entire castle shaking.
"GOOD LORD IN HEAVEN! WHAT IS THAT?!" Felix screamed out, unable to even hear himself as he knelt to the ground.
Calhoun, her ears protected with some well-placed plugs, pushed the button on the wall, the alarm finally going silent.
"THAT is the alarm I set for tha code-room. Had Taffy or anyone else gone near this thing, everyone within a twelve game radius wudda heard it."
"When did ya install THIS thing?!" Ralph panted, hitting the side of his head as his hearing was STILL muffled.
"Last week when ya guys were asleep." Calhoun smiled "Thought I just added somethin' ta keep tha place safe."
"I don't even know tha code for it, Sarge! How am I supposed ta turn it off?!" Vanellope cried, her ears still ringing.
"Just be glad it didn't come equipped with GUNS." Ralph grumbled, the Marine slapping him heartily on the back.
"No, that's the UPDATED model! I'd be glad ta install that for ya!"
"NO!"
"S-S-S-So I'm in tha clear?" Taffyta trembled, still reeling from the effects of the alarm "It-it-it-it-!"
She put up a finger, turning around and catching her breath.
"Blurtgh! Holy CRACKER-JACKS, what was that?!"
"I should say you're in tha clear." The marine said, a slight haughty tone in her voice "Less tha Pres wants ta go over tha tape feeds, there's no way anyone cudda broken inta tha code room without SOMEONE knowin'."
"YES! I CAN SEE THAT!" Swizz yelled out loudly, not sure if anyone could hear him as he could not hear himself.
"See? She was tellin' tha truth!" Candlehead said as be bounced forward, having recovered from the sound blast a lot faster than expected "Me n' Taff found this box when we were tryin' ta stop Snake from breakin' up Pink LIghtenin'!"
Once more Snake felt a shiver go down his scales; it was bad enough that his attempts at framing Taffyta had once again failed but Candlehead was about to spill the jellybeans on his crooked activities. He had to do anything to keep suspicion off of him.
"I-I sssstill think itssss impossible for a code box to lasssst that long in the elementssss without noticccce!" he cut in, fingers twitching nervously.
"Actually…."
All eyes went to Swizz, the boy pacing back and forth as his big sugar-coated brain began to think.
"There is no real 'expiration date' for a box that has been removed from tha void. True, more dangers are posed towards it given it is out of tha safety zone of tha void which it can be easily repaired an' restored to its proper functions…."
A few in the crowd gave the boy curious looks, not at all used to seeing him turn in such a way but for Taffyta and Candlehead?
The two girls smiled, Taffyta taking in the moment with an air of arrogance about her, loving the confused looks on the others' faces.
"A code box can last for YEARS outside tha void if it's kept well hidden an' guarded an' I think that's EXACTLY what happened to our boy Lou-. Louis. Louie."
"LUMI."
"-LUMI here!" Swizz finished, snapping his fingers excitedly.
"You're just making that up, Drizzle!" said Snake, once again trying to knock the other racers down "Who would have gone through sssso much trouble jussst to hide ssssome code box! The green one is a VIRUSSSS! A virusss that Muttonflub-!"
"There WAS one person who'd do such a thing."
Snake turned, Calhoun walking up to the boy.
"Sarge?"
"Turbo." The woman began "Who else but him?"
Vanellope glitched in fear at the very mention of the name and the very thought of him tearing his way through the code void again.
"After all, this was tha guy who unplugged an' tried ta delete Vanellope. I wouldn't put it past him that he'd do tha same ta any other bit of data here what would uncover his plans."
"But what does this kid hafta do with it?" asked Ralph "I mean, we've never seen his name on tha board before, no one's ever mentioned him so how could he exist?"
"I got tha answer for that, Mr. Wreck-It!" Swizz smiled up to the man "When I gave Lou-?"
"LUMI."
"-LUMI'S box a look through when tha girls brought him over, I found out he was an unused asset!"
Ralph blinked in surprised "An unused asset?"
"Yeah! His code is nearly complete but I guess because of somethin' that happened while tha game was finished, he was never really put into tha main core."
Calhoun pondered for a moment, her own brainwaves starting to align with that of the lollipop racer "An' seein' as this kid wasn't hooked up, Turbz could have easily just removed tha box without a major ripple goin' through tha game an' no one would have been tha wiser!"
Lumi remained silent, so lost to what was going on. Who was this Turbo and what exactly had he done to the game while he had been 'sleeping'. It was bad enough to hear people call him an asset so loosely but could this explain why no one recognized him? How was this possible, considering HE was able to recognize them?
"S-So it's not like me then, Swizz?" Vanellope asked nervously, breaking free from Snake's shadow and approaching the racer "Turbo didn't make Lumi a glitch?"
"No, no. In order for that ta have happened, Lumi would have had ta be connected ta tha main core like I said but he wasn't. He may have just been put in tha storage area of tha game like anything else that went unused."
Vanellope felt something forming in the pit of her stomach, a sense of sickness that always resurfaced whenever she or anyone else reminded her of the things that Turbo had done to her code in order to break his way through. The very thought that Turbo could have done the same to others made his rule all the more terrifying to her but it wasn't as if she were the only one who had been effected.
Even if they themselves were not glitched, Vanellope remembered how the racers had had their memories and their stories stolen by the man, everything replaced by his image.
If Lumi had been tossed away in the dump in such a manner, could that have meant there were others just like him hidden about? And if so, just how much was missing from the President's code if she herself could not recall it.
"Wow, ya really got that through!" Calhoun chuckled to herself as she looked down at Swizz "Didn't know ya had it in ya, kiddo?"
The boy blushed, quickly getting into a more 'suave' stance around the older woman "Th-That? Pa-SHAAAW! I debug stuff harder than this on my freetime! Tis what I do ta keep my mind sharp for racin'!"
"So…so does this mean that this kid is real?" Ralph asked, Lumi not taking too well to being called 'this kid' "He's not a virus or anythin' like that?"
Calhoun approached the boy and took out one of her own devices, the light going up and down the startled child. After a few moments the device beeped, the marine giving a nod.
"Mm-HMM!"
"What is it, honey?"
"I'm gettin' a readin' of one-hundred percent-!"
Everyone waited on baited breath, some hoping for a good outcome while others thought just the opposite.
"One-hundred percent Sugar Rushian code!"
Lumi felt like flipping over right out the window. He KNEW he was part of the game, he felt he was part of the game and to have someone finally CONFIRM that was the icing on the cake for him.
"YEEEES!" Candlehead cheered, jumping up and down on her feet "We gotta new racer! We gotta new racer!"
"What did I tell ya?" Taffyta snickered, pulling her friend back to the ground "There was nothin' ta worry 'bout this at all."
"Kinda wish….."
The children turned, Vanellope giving them a harsh, and somewhat sick, look.
"Kinda wish ya guys wudda told me." The vanilla racer said "I….I didn't wanna be outta tha loop with this, ya know."
Taffyta knew Vanellope had a point but she stuck to her own guns, kicking the floor with her foot "We were just excited, kay? Ya can't blame us for that, now can ya?"
"Taffyta, wait-!"
"Do not worry yoursssself sssso much about thissss, Pressssident."
The unsettling sounds of Snake's hiss filled the ears of the small racers again, the lot of them turning around to see the creature looking down upon them but there was something different about his stance this time around. He seemed more relaxed, calmer and clearer but it was but something sweet trio knew not to trust. Taffyta readied herself for any attack, not at all trusting the creature's chuckle.
"I guessss I took thingssss too far." The character said, eyes scanning on the racers below "But there have been sssso many thingssss that have happened ssssince the Presssident regained her posssition."
"Why do ya keep callin' her that? President?" Lumi asked "Vanellope is a PRINCESS."
"It isss a long sssstory, Racer." Snake said, feeling the need to regale the tale to Lumi himself "One that I sssshould be happy to tell if you come with ussss."
Lumi blinked, thrown off by Snake's sudden turn to kindness. Wasn't this the same character who only moments before was shrieking he was a virus, throwing the other racers around and more or less wanted to crush the lot of them between his scales? Why was he acting so nice now?
"I think WE can handle that." Taffyta growled, making a move for Lumi but Snake acted the quicker this time, pulling the boy back towards himself and Vanellope.
"I do believe that WE may be better ssssuited for thisss, Muttonfudge."
By now Taffyta KNEW that Snake was playing face, the creature having no respect for the girl to even call her by her correct name on a good day.
"Presssident?"
Vanellope looked up at Snake-Oil, her ponytail twitching "Wha um, ME?"
"Thisss boy is new. He needssss your guidanccce and care to enssssure that nothing bad happenssss to him or that he end up in the wrong crowd!"
Wrong crowd? As in Taffyta and the others?
The strawberry racer wrinkled her nose, Snake having absolutely no shame in trying to get Vanellope to go along with his plans once more. It wasn't as if HE were the one who started the entire mess, stealing Taffyta's car and leading them to the junkyard in the first place and NOW he was trying to play innocent? Especially with a kid he had only before tried to slice apart?
"Um, are ya sure that's a good idea?" Lumi said "I think I was better with Taffyta an'-!"
"Nonssssenccce!" Snake chirped, placing Lumi in front of Vanellope and beginning the stroll down the long palace halls "You need a fressssh sssstart here and what better way than to be with Vanellope! Sssshe will inform you of the TRUTH in thissss game more than thosssse OTHER raccccers."
OTHER racers?
It was a stigma the racers could no longer escape.
"Vanellope, wait up!" Ralph cried out as he followed the group, the other adults following suit until no one was left.
That is, with the exception of three racers who still stood in the middle of the throne room.
"Taffyta?" Candlehead meeped, seeing the look of annoyance on her friend's face.
"All that work…" the strawberry racer said "An' once again, Vanellope takes all the credit."
"Wait, we can't just leave him!" Candlehead squeaked, pulling Taffyta back "I mean, we should at least wait or-!"
"There's no point in it." The girl responded, looking uninterested and if anything, absolutely DEFEATED "Vanellope an' her squad have him now. Once they tell him tha story, he won't wanna bother with us."
Swizz sighed, agreeing with the girl "Man, an' I was hopin' we'd have a new friend or somethin'."
Taffyta had felt the same as well, at least in thinking that with the boy going along with them for the ride they'd have SOMEONE who'd at least know them for who they were, NOT for what the arcade WANTED THEM TO BE.
Her throat ached in anger, her eyes narrowed; the little Muttonfudge knew it was wrong to leave but she couldn't think. She needed a bit of peace to clear her mind and to at least come up with a good way of telling Lumi the racers' side of the story.
That was, if he would even want to be around them after he heard Vanellope's.
"I'm goin' home." Taffyta huffed, hands in her pocket and her gait slow "I don't need anymore of this."
Swizz parted ways as well, looking just as upset and downtrodden as the strawberry girl. And Candlehead?
Candlehead had ideas of her own.
She looked back at the castle, hearing the soft chatter of a few people echo off the walls. She knew she was taking a great chance on her own but she knew she had to do something of her own actions to show Lumi that the other racers were good and they meant no harm to him should be told something against them.
And what better way to show her care than with her favorite delight in the whole world?
She smiled and skipped off to her own home, Taffyta and Swizz looking on in confusion.
"What's got her so excited?"
"And as you can see…." Sour Billy droned on as he and the donut guards looked through the cameras, the four heroes looking on "No one has been around the code room in the last twenty-four hours."
"An' given tha amount of time between Pinkie getting' her kart snatched an' this kid comin' up." Calhoun thought to herself "There's no way that she cudda broke in, silenced tha alarm an' go back without a single one of us noticin'."
"So maybe she was tellin' tha truth." Ralph grumbled, feeling a mixture of relief but also little short-changed at the moment. He didn't want to admit it to the others but part of him had wanted Taffyta to be in the guilty party, if only to come to the simplest conclusion to it all.
"Still wish ya had told us 'bout tha alarm, honey." Felix sighed "But at least we know no one's been messin' with tha code room! Right, kid?"
Vanellope said nothing, sitting in the chair with a pout on her face.
"Kid?"
"I still don't trust him." She finally responded, shaking her head and glitching "Some new kid comes in that I don't recognize an' he keeps sayin' all this stuff that doesn't make sense. It doesn't sound right!"
"I'm with tha kid on this." Nodded Ralph as he looked at the couple "All'a this is too suspicious, especially after all the havoc that Turbo brought here. Who's ta say that tha kid isn't somethin' ol' Turbo concocted himself? I mean, he was able ta make a King Candy shell no prob so what's ta say he couldn't make his own racer?"
"That takes a LOTTA skill, Ralph. FAR too much credit you're lendin' over ta Turbo." Calhoun said "I can believe that he was able to make a shell. That's KID-STUFF! But a FULLY FUNCTIONAL character? One that has his entire code tied directly ta tha game?"
"But Sarge!"
"Sorry Ralph but tha data on tha monitor had everythin on it! It even showed the original make date of tha kid. Nineteen ninty-six, like everyone else here! He IS a part of the game!"
"Then why would Turbo just DUMP him like that?!" Ralph demanded, losing track of how upset he was becoming "Ya can't tell me for a second that he'd dump a racer like that, especially one of tha placeholders an'-!"
"Ralph!"
The man looked down, Felix staring up at him in astonishment.
"Did…did ya really just say PLACEHOLDER?"
Maybe Ralph hadn't heard himself in his anger, the man drawing in a quick breath as he came back to himself.
"I meant racer! Just-!"
Being called GLITCH had once been an insult but Ralph knew better, as Placeholder was the new word of the day for 'useless racer' and he himself had started to throw the term around without thought.
"I know you're doin' this because ya wanna keep Nelly safe."
Both racer and Wrecker looked up, Felix giving them concerned looks.
"An' I want Nelly ta be safe. We all do. But I don't wanna make that mistake again."
"What mistake, Felix?"
"I don't wanna make that mistake of lettin' someone who needs help DOWN. I don't wanna make that mistake of ignorin' problems right in my face an' I don't wanna make tha mistake by lettin' a whole new wave of HATE take over this place." The little man said "Turbo had his control over his game RIGHT UNDER MY nose an' I cudda help if I had known…"
"Felix, wait…" Vanellope said "Don't feel bad 'bout that. No one knew! I didn't know, Ralph didn't know-!"
"Yeah, but we shudda saw somethin'! It feels like it was right in our face!"
"We get it, Slim." Calhoun said as she drew her love closer, holding him tight. Billy and the donut cops turned their heads away, not wanting to be privy of the affection happening before them.
"Look, this is gonna sound crazy, I know….but I've been around games for thirty years. I know they can hide a lotta secrets tucked away so tha idea of this kid bein' somethin' unused? It makes PERFECT sense ta me!"
Ralph looked to the side "Okay, gotta point ta that."
"I guess….I guess he was just easier ta throw away if he wasn't finished." Vanellope said, thinking back "Turbo only took me out because I was tha Princess of tha game so it meant he could rule. Green-Boots doesn't even have a car so no wonder he just threw him out."
Calhoun scowled, her fist ITCHING to punch the grey-racer in the face.
"Unplugs characters, mind-erases kids, throws people away like their TRASH! Getting' blasted by light was too good for tha guy! He needed a GOOD thrashin' before bein' taken out if ya ask me!"
"Tammy, calm down."
"Okay, I'll give, um, Loomers? Loo...ney? I'll give tha kid a chance." Vanellope stated "But if he tries anythin' funny, he's goin' ta tha Fungeon."
"Sounds fair if ya ask me." Ralph agreed, looking at Felix "Don't ya think?"
"I hope it doesn't come ta that but yeah. We can't have real bad guys runnin' about."
"Speakin' of runnin'…." Calhoun looked about "Where is tha kid at?"
"Snake-Oil has him." The little racer replied, Felix's face going ashen.
"HE has him?!"
"Felix, don't worry! I trust Snaky!" the girl said "He's a little rough on tha edges, I know but-!"
The girl stopped herself, finding it difficult to find a fitting compliment to give the character. Suddenly the idea of letting Lumi stroll around with Snake was looking less and less bright by the second but she couldn't back out on her choice now.
"Heeeee's in good hands, I'm sure!"
"And thisss issss where the Presssssident resssidessss." Snake said, acting as tour guide for the young boy as he lead him down the halls "Assss you can ssssee, thissss exquissssite home hassss been programmed only for the besssst. No one elssse in Litwak's livessss in ssssuch a gloriousssly built place!"
Lumi had not heard a word the snake was going on about, his attention focused on the very structure of the castle itself. He was transfixed, amazed but had Snake or anyone else paid attention to him they would have seen the concern on his face as well.
The walls, the colors of the velvet drapes, even the style of the carpeting on the floor; it was all WRONG.
The boy continued to think to himself as Snake bragged on and on, as if he lived in the palace alongside Vanellope, the tour stretching on and on.
"Where are tha pictures? Where is King Tobi? Queenie Milka? All those new pictures an'-!"
"Boy?"
Lumi yelped, turning around to see Snake looking down at him.
"Are you alright, boy?"
The candy citizen in green looked nervously at Snake for a moment or two before running his fingers through his hair "Um, I'm fine! I'm cool, I'm fine! An'-!"
"Yessssss?"
Lumi was starting to regret not saying anything against being pulled away from the others. Even if the other candy racers were a little loopy, he felt far more comfortable in their presence than he did with Snake-Oil, even if the baddie put on his most plastic grin he could muster up.
"Um, it's Lumi. It-it's easier ta 'member than that massively long name'a mine!"
"Okay, Lumzee." Snake said, once more missing the child's name "Why don't I sssshow you Vanellope's trophy room?"
"Um, maybe we-?"
Before the boy could object he found himself PUSHED into the aforementioned trophy room and as soon as the glittering gold hit his eyes-
"Whoooooa….."
It felt as if all of this worries melted like chocolate. The beautifully decorated room was FILLED to the brim with trophies of various sizes, all neatly organized on shelves in a room that seemed to stretch out towards the heavens.
"There would be more…." Snake began "Had Turbo and thossse rotten racccers not gotten in her way."
Rotten racers?
The others?
Lumi stood up straight, trying to present himself as collected as possible before the snake.
"Um, yeah….about them."
"Vanellope issss catching up though." Snake continued, walking up to a massive first place trophy and taking it off the shelf "Who would have thought that ssshe would earn sssso much in ssssuch a sssshort time?"
"Y-Yeah, that's cool but-? But what happened again?"
"The raccccers were jealousss, of courssssse….." Snake sneered, the metal of the golden trophy squealing under his fingers "They were jealoussss becaussssse unlike Vanellope they're programmed for nothing!"
Was Snake aware that Lumi was also part of those 'other racers'? After all, it wasn't as if HE had been given a royal backstory.
"Hhmp, they try to deny it but I know the truth…." Snake continued, chuckling "I KNOW they let Turbo in. I know they let him take over the game becaussssse they are TALENTLESSSSS. They could never beat Vanellope back then and now? They all ressssort to CHEATING! No one can beat her GLITCH!"
"Cheating?"
Snake looked back, Lumi now poised at the door.
"How elsssse could they win at anything?" the Snake purred as he slithered up to Lumi "Esssspecially that Muttonsludge?"
Lumi's skin went cold as the snake continued to wrap himself around him.
"Don't trussst that white-haired BRAT. Sssshe wassss alwaysss Turbo'ssss favorite! The leasssst talented of them all! The BAD GUY?"
"Umph, bad guy?"
"Every game hassss one." Snake said, pride rising in his voice "I am one mysssself but as Ralph hassss proved, bad guysssss no longer exissst to be walked on. But SSSSSOME bad guyssss? We can make EXCEPTIONSSSSS."
Lumi finally squirmed his way free, smiling nervously towards the snake "Well-! Er, d-don't worry about that with me! I-I can handle myself against-!"
"Ya know ssssomething, Luner."
"L-Lumi."
"You're DIFFERENT." Snake began "You're not like thossssse other cavitiessss. I can tell that you're going to be a GREAT friend of Vanellope and USSSS."
"R-Really?"
"Of coursssse!" Snake hissed, his smile growing wider "Jussst sssstick with ussss and you'll be on top of all thosssse other wasssste of sssspacesss!"
This wasn't sitting well with the boy because no matter how many ways Snake tried to paint it, no matter how many times he tried to dance around it, Lumi was STILL part of those 'other waste of spaces'. He WAS one of the non-royal candy racers but there was something more to it. Even if what Snake had said was true, it just didn't sit well with him.
It had to be Candlehead, the way that she had treated him when he was brought online.
Even if Taffyta and Swizz had chased him when he made his 'daring' escape, Candlehead was the only one who seemed to TRUST him. She was the only one who didn't treat Lumi like a threat.
And the flip Snake had done, going from vicious to valiant, as if he stood by Lumi's side the whole time and was the one who vouched for him.
No….it was those 'horrible waste of spaces' that had done that. So why was he still allowing himself to stay in Snake-Oil's company.
"I really do hope you help cheer Vanellope on when sssshe racessss…." Snake said, putting a clamy hand on Lumi's shoulder "Sssshe needssss all the help and ssssupport ssssshe can get from thossssse bulliessss."
"Um…okay…." Lumi said nervously "I-I guess I can help."
"Great!" Snake said as he led the boy away from the room "The more, the merrier! That'ssss what I've ALWAYSSSS ssssaid!"
The boy in green only responded with a nod, his gut telling him to keep his mind and wits about him around the snake.
"Um, there's somethin' I need ta ask."
"Yesssss?"
"I don't have a home anywhere." The boy began "Where can I stay?"
"Hmmm, we can assssk the Pressssident if you can bunk here for the time being…." Snake said, rubbing his lip "I know there are plenty of guessst roomssss ssssso sssshe'd have no problem with it!"
At least there was some place he could stay, the boy thought to himself but as he moved further down the hall a sight caught his attention.
"Oh!"
"What issss it?"
The boy dashed to the window and looked out, seeing Candlehead skipping her way up the path.
"Ah, C-Butt!" the boy said happily, relieved to see another racer approaching.
He had forgotten his previous attempts to keep Snake's suspicious at bay but luckily enough, Snake was too occupied with his own thoughts and plans to worry about Lumi's excitement to see a racer he had previously branded an enemy.
"Candlehead?" the Snake hissed, going to the window and seeing the girl getting closer, spying the basket in her hand "I guess sssshe thought it would be better to come and try to appologizzze for causssing so much trouble?"
Again, Lumi held his tongue; if there was anyone who caused a lot of trouble it was SNAKE.
"I'll go talk to her!" the boy said as be bounded off, wanting to get away from the creature as soon as possible "An' she doesn't look upset so-!"
"We can both meet her." Snake said, Lumi stopping in his tracks.
Was this bag-of-scales going to follow him wherever he went? It wasn't that long ago that Snake wanted Lumi OUT of the game but now he seemed to refuse to leave his side!
"O-Okay…if you think that's a good idea."
The two made their way down the stairs just as Candlehead arrived at the front door. She knocked, grinning from ear to ear as a wonderfully decorated basket was clutched in her hands. Lumi quickly opened the door and jumped out, his eyes looking around nervously.
"CANDLEHEAD!"
"Hello, Lumi!" the girl waved, her voice fluttering like the wings of a butterfly "How are ya right now?"
"Er, could be better. A LOT better."
"Ooooh, I'm sorry." The girl whimpered "I hope this isn't because of how me an' tha others went all crazy on ya when we popped outta your box."
"No, no, no, no, no! It isn't! I promise!" the boy blurted out "I just-! Um, I just was so super excited when everythin' started ta happen! I, well, I didn't know what ta do!"
Candlehead's smile slowly returned, her eyes glowing "Okay! As long as I didn't do anythin' ta hurt your feelin's!"
"No…." Lumi responded, crestfallen "No, ya didn't."
"I got ya somethin'."
Lumi blinked, noticing the basket again.
"Whenever a new game comes here, I ALWAYS give 'em a welcome basket!"
"Ya do?" the boy asked. The girl nodded, her pigtail going everywhere.
"Yup! Ever since we got here! King Candy didn't really like it even I always managed ta sneak out an' give everyone a basketful of sweets n' treats!"
Once again, the man called King Candy was mentioned and once again Lumi found himself lost to what and who this person was. In his mind there was only ONE true king of Sugar Rush but no one believed him. Would ANYONE believe him?
"An' I know this isn't a new game or anythin' but YOU'RE new here so here's your gifts!"
"W-Wow…." Lumi blushed, surprised to see the basket of goodies, their contents looking simply DELECTIBLE "Y-ya didn't hafta do this, C-Butt."
"Yes, I did!" the girl giggled "Just somethin' ta make everyone feel welcome!"
Lumi was getting lost in his thoughts, Candlehead's kindness once more bringing about a string of memories and tales that he were certain were real in his mind but the outer surface of the game were proving impossible to exist. More than that, Candlehead's behavior towards him was going against everything that Snake had warned him against the other racers. From the way the creature had described anyone outside of Vanellope, the other racers were MONSTERS, completely incapable of understanding an outside, of anyone who did not match up to their levels.
But Candlehead was acting completely against that, providing the warmth that Lumi had wanted and at the moment NEEDED. Snake simply pulled the boy along, his voice nice enough but it was clear from his mannerisms he still EXPECTED the boy to go along with him and to ACCEPT his side of the story with no questions.
Candlehead was giving him a release, a feeling that even if he were still lost in a game that he was proven to belong to there were people around who wanted him.
"Thanks…."
"Huh?"
Candlehead looked up, Lumi smiling at her.
"Thanks, C-Butt! This looks GREAT!" the boy said. Candlehead laughed again, her cheeks blushing.
"Daaaw, ya don't hafta be that way!" she laughed goofily, flicking her hand about "It's just that I-!"
"It's jusssst that YOU'RE-!"
In a moment darkness fell over the two racers, Lumi feeling his heart freeze in place once he remembered that he was indeed with Snake the whole time. He managed to look up in time but the creature was far too swift, the only sight in his eyes being Snake's evil grin as he took ahold of Lumi's hands-
"WAIT!"
By now it was far too late to fight back, the Snake's strong grip CRUSHING the boy's hand as he felt his arms lift up-!
"-NOT WELCOME HERE, PLACE HOLDER!"
And before Lumi knew what had happened, the basket of Candlehead's goodies were SMASHED upon her head! The girl gave a cry out as she felt the basket crunch and break around her upper body, cream, icing, and the other contents smashing against her. Lumi opened his eyes, seeing the girl fall onto the ground in a complete heap of a mess but he couldn't say anything, he couldn't even scream. What he COULD hear however were Snake's cold cackles, the creature finally letting him go as he laughed at the sight of the messy racer.
"That'll teach you to come where you're not wanted!" Snake hissed and laughed, patting Lumi on the back in triumph.
What had happened? What was going on?
"Thissss isssss how we treat placccce holderssss around here." Snake said, almost as if he were PROUD of Lumi "Howssss it feel to take care of your firsssst one?"
Lumi said nothing, still far too shocked at what was going on to hear the Snake. And then Candlehead looked at him.
He could see her eyes through the cream and the broken wooden splinters, asking him what he had done. The boy shook, a choked gurgle the only thing escaping his throat.
"Let'sssss go." Snake said as he waved his hands back towards the boy "I'm sssssure Vanellope will be pleassssed to-!"
Snake looked back but in the place of the racers….
"Huh?"
Was just a pile of cream.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm SORRY!" Lumi stammered as he rushed Candlehead down the trail, looking back ever second to make sure that Snake and his cohorts were not following him "I-! I didn't want to hurt ya! I didn't know he was gonna-!"
The boy panted in fear, his heart racing. How could he tell Candlehead what he meant after what he had done to her? She hadn't spoken a word since the two made their escape and it only served in making Lumi feel worse. What if she never forgave him, what if she saw him just as another creep like Snake? He knew he felt bad around the creature but he did not expected to be used in such a way!
"Candlehead-!" the boy choked, feeling tears coming down his face "I'm sorry! Please don't be mad at me! I didn't wanna mess up your cakes or-!"
"Oh, ya didn't mess 'em up!"
Lumi's eyes shot open, startled to see Candlehead SMILING. She took a big dollop of thick icing off her head and placed it in her mouth, the flavor hitting her like the bountiful rays of the sun.
"Mmmm! This was my best batch of triple-thick whipped mint-chip icin' YET!" the girl said, almost as if nothing had happened "Ya see, tha trick is ta whip it RIGHT but not get TOO much air in it so-!"
"Wait, wait, WAAAAIT!" Lumi cried out, waving his hands "Why-? Why aren't ya mad at me?"
"I'm SUPPOSED ta be mad at ya?" Candlehead said, this time reaching for a chunk of cake and chomping it without so much as a care "Um, why? Ya didn't do anythin'."
"Yes, I did!" Lumi shouted out again, looking at his hands "I-! I ruined your cakes! Everythin'! I got ya all messed up because of-!"
"Snake?" Candlehead piped in, taking a cookie into her maw "Oh, yeah. That guy. He's always like that."
Lumi was stunned, surprised that the girl was taking to the situation as calmly as she was.
"When Snaky first came here when Vanellope came back, I tried ta give him a basket but he did tha same thing."
"WHAT?!"
"Yup." Candlehead replied, finally finishing off the contents "Aaah. I just figured it was because I didn't get tha right stuff for him tha first time but he kept doin' that so I guess I still need ta know what sweets he likes an'-!"
Before the girl could finish, Lumi took her by the hand and led her down the path.
"Ah, Lumi?"
"Where does Taffyta live?"
"AUUUURGH! I can't believe it!" Taffyta growled as she give a pillow a good kick, sending it crashing right into an unperturbed Swizz "After all we went through, after all we did! What happens?! Vanellope sweeps up another one!"
"Taaaaaaaaaaff…."
"I can't stand this, I just can't!" the pink girl continued to fuss, her face turning red "I'm sick of all'a this, Swizz! I really am! An' I know that Snake-Drool guy is only gonna fill that Lumi-Kid's head with us bein' bad an' blah blah an' before ya know it, he's gonna be on our butts too!"
"Give him some credit, Taffyta." Swizz said as he got up, placing the pillow back on the seat "I…I kinda got a feelin' that kid is smarter than that. He may be able to give Snake the shake off."
"IF we're lucky." Taffyta moaned, rubbing her forehead "But knowin' our luck, we just released another member for Vanellope's cheerleadin' squad."
Even Swizz had to look down in disappointment at the statement as despite his own attitude towards the whole situation, he had hoped that by any chance Lumi would be someone who could at least help the racers prove their mark in the game. His very existence was enough to tell the tech-boy that there was still so much within their own game yet to be found but now that he had been taken under the wings by the very group who sought to make their lives MISERABLE.
"Aye, aye, ayyyyyyye….."
"Rugh, I should just give up." Taffyta said, flopping on the tiny couch in her cramped living room "What's the point of even tryin' ta be somethin' good when no one is gonna believe ya?"
Swizz knew Taffyta wasn't one for giving up so quickly but even he did not know what to say. All he could do was clutch onto another pillow, finding his own genius could not solve this problem.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!
Taffyta jolted up, worried that Vanellope had arrived with her fans in tow but once she saw the figures outside the little window.
"Is that-?"
She rushed to the door, opening it to find an exhausted looking Lumi and a cake-covered Candlehead before her.
"C-BUTT!" the girl gasped, pulling her friend in with such force that Lumi fell forward onto the ground.
"OW."
"Candles, what happened?!" Swizz jumped up, rushing to help the girl.
"Yeah, I'm just fine. Thank you…."
"Your basket! Your face!" Taffyta cried out "Ya look like you've been in a fight!"
"She was….kinda."
The other two looked down, Lumi getting on his feet as he brushed himself off.
"Wait, what are YOU doin' here?" Taffyta glowered, not at all taking well to seeing Lumi "I thought ya were back with Vanellope an' Snake!"
"I was…." The boy said in a gruff voice as he shut the door, leading Candlehead further into the strawberry racer's cottage "But I had ta get outta there…"
Taffyta squeaked, unprepared for the reply. She watched Lumi make his way through her home, getting a damp dishcloth to clean the cake-themed girl off. Much to her surprise, the boy began to help Candlehead get clean, removing the broken basket and wiping the cream and cake crumbs off her face. Swizz glanced over towards her, his look telling her that she had been proving wrong in her judgements as what type of person who had abandoned as she claimed would come back and HELP?
The girl in pink tip-toed towards the boy, slowly looking at him.
"Lumi? That's your name, right?"
"Yeah." The boy said, no longer expecting Taffyta to remember anything about him.
"Why'd ya come back?"
For a moment, the boy did not respond. He pretended to look over Candlehead again but he knew he wouldn't be able to keep his mouth shut for long.
"Lumi?"
"Taff?" the boy said, turning around "What happened here?"
"H-Huh?"
"Snake-Boil said somethin' about a King Candy, a Turbo. How ya guys did somethin' awful ta Vanellope?"
Taffyta's skin flushed red, goose-bumps raising "Did….did ya believe it?"
"I just wanna know." The boy said "I wanna know what happened here. I wanna know what happened while I was asleep."
"Would it make any difference if we told ya?" the girl responded, arching a brow "If we told ya EVERYTHING. Would ya hate us? Would ya go back ta tha Castle an' go back ta Vanellope where everyone WANTS ya?"
The boy looked at Candlehead, his hands still shaking at the action he had partaken in to hurt her. Even if things were different in the arcade than what the story of the game told, he knew nothing could justify what Snake had done. He gave Taffyta another look, telling her that he would at least listen, no matter how bad it was.
She sighed, sitting down on the couch and looking away in shame.
"Alright. Sit down for this one because it's quite tha story…."
