The next morning Vanellope woke up to the sound of revving engines and the screeching of wheels. She hopped out of the guest bed and ran straight towards the window, just outside was a group of racers all working on their karts. Vanellope smiled and rushed out of the guest door tripping over Marshmallow as she did.
"Marsh…ouch" she complained as she once again hit her head, but lost her will to be angry with him when she noticed how worn he looked. "Did you not sleep well at all last night?" Vanellope asked and the Marshmallow shook his head no. "Next time just come be with me okay, it's scary sleeping alone!" she laughed and picked up the little Marshmallow carrying him along with her to the outside of the castle.
Once outside Vanellope got quite an eyeful of what exactly had changed among the Sugar rush characters. There was some change in each one of them whether it be the color of their kart, outfit, or personality Vanellope found that this was definitely not the same crew as before.
Rancis had black hair, like Vanellope's, and had a huge grin on his face as if nothing could go wrong in the world. Gloyd had a giant apple on his head instead of a pumpkin, his outfit was a mix of red and green, and (although it didn't matter to his looks) had his hair flipped the opposite way.
Adorableezle, Jubileena and Minty were the only ones who hadn't changed much, just staying a shade darker or lighter than the racers Vanellope knew. Swizzle was red and yellow instead of blue and green, he seemed shyer than the swizzle she knew. Creumbelina who usually wore a tan and dark brown outfit was now a milky white with a light shade of brown.
Snowana had red, white and blue colors instead of her usual orange and purple. Candlehead had a pink and vanilla color to her with rainbow sprinkles on her hat and her pigtails were a bit longer. As for the other racers, Vanellope didn't see there lookalikes anywhere.
Vanellope watched them all with Marshmallow sitting on her shoulder not wanting to disturb them but after a few moments the racers started to take notice and before long the whole group surrounded Vanellope.
"Are you that second princess?" Gloyd asked and looked her over, "Where's your big puffy dress?". Gloyd received a punch from Snowana, "Please Gloyd, she doesn't need to always be fancy….by the way I'm Snowana!" the lookalike to the actual snowanna said and shook Vanellope's hand. Vanellope smiled and introduced herself as well.
Candlehead stepped forward than and touched Vanellope's dark hair, "I really like your hair, I was always telling our princess she should dye it…!" she giggled and a few others from the crowd chattered in agreement. Vanellope felt so special with all the attention.
The racers continued to ask her question after question about her journey, why she had come to their game, why she was so tomboyish. The answers went on until Vanellope felt dizzy with attention. Marshmallow even had to sit out, for fear of someone squishing him, and sat just outside the group examining some of the karts.
"Guys, let the poor girl breathe!" Rancis said and hung his arm around Vanellope, he smelled sweet like chocolate and his smile could melt the sun with how shiny it was.
Suddenly an alarm went off and the racers rushed off to the speedway. Vanellope was almost caught off guard with how fast they all zoomed away from her and she turned to watch them go. Rancis was falling behind and turned to face Vanellope, "hey you coming?" he called and Vanellope felt her heart soar.
Looking down at Marshmallow to see if he was coming as well, the marshmallow shook his head no and smiled rushing off towards the safety of the castle. Vanellope laughed and ran to catch up with Rancis.
Taffyta was awakened by an alarm that shook the castle walls, frightened at first she jumped out of bed and rushed to the window. Nothing was breaking, thank goodness, and nothing looked as if it was being torn apart but she did see racers running off towards the track. 'Is that Vanellope…'? Taffyta questioned as she spotted the girl taking ahold of what looked to be Rancis' hand and heading towards his kart. Taffyta clenched her fist and turned away, not wanting to look at them anymore.
"The alarm is for the game, it's about to start." a voice behind Taffyta said and nearly startled her right out of her pants. Turning she saw it was Nelly, when she had walked in Taffyta wasn't sure.
"Ah Nelly!" Taffyta said trying not to sound like she was about to cry, seeing Vanellope run off with friends without her hurt and not only just run off but flat out ditch her. Nelly seemed to notice Taffyta's sadness and offered her, her hand "Want to go for a walk with me, I don't race often" Nelly said flashing her greyish blue eyes at the girl. Taffyta looked at it a moment more and took it. 'If Vanellope wants to spend the day with Rancis, fine, I'll spend the day with her copy'.
The racers all had taken off in their karts towards the speedway along with Vanellope sitting in Rancis' kart behind him. The race was obviously played by some sort of pro who knew what they were doing with the game. They played several times and picked every single character including Rancis with Vanellope in it.
Racing again on a completed Sugar rush track made Vanellope feel alive again, especially since she had such wonderful friends to be sharing in this moment with. As the last race was completed for the day Rancis shot in at second place behind Snowana who was being played by the pro. The game was left and the racers returned their karts back by the castle.
Rancis hopped out of the kart and helped Vanellope out as well, "That was truly epic!" Vanellope yelled and Rancis laughed. The two had very matching personalities or at least this Rancis was. He was silly, made tons of jokes and was always wearing a smile on his face like Vanellope. Especially when driving.
"You'll ride with me again tomorrow right Vanellope?" Rancis asked and smiled thoughtfully at Vanellope. Vanellope wanted to say of course and was very excited to get the chance to race again but then she thought of Taffyta and Marshmallow who she had literally left all day waiting at the castle.
"ah..well" she started to say and Rancis' smile started to fade causing Vanellope to feel terrible. "Sure Rancis." She said and felt like a part of her was letting her other friends down. Rancis smiled his big beautiful smile he'd been flashing all day and leaned forward saying, "Thanks Vanellope, seeya later!".
Vanellope waved him off and headed for the castle, the sky was turning dark and she was feeling sore from racing all day. Vanellope entered the castle and had the guards lead her to her room. She entered it hoping to find Marshmallow but couldn't find him anymore.
Calling for him the creature never showed himself and she figured he was sleeping in his own room. "Well…I wonder what Taffyta's up to then." She thought out loud and went to the girl's room. Taffyta's room was empty as well and it started to worry Vanellope.
Vanellope peaked outside the window thinking maybe the two had gone on a walk together. Nothing. She walked up and down the halls trying to think where either might be and even looked in Marshmallow's room but again nothing.
Feeling even more worried or just plain curious the girl wandered the hallway until she started to hear laughing. Slowly she crept through the halls and listened until the laughter became louder and louder and eventually she was able to pinpoint it to a single room.
Vanellope poked the door open and through the crack she caught site of Marshmallow and Taffyta sitting and sipping tea, eating cupcakes and talking with Nelly. She knelt down and pressed her ear to the door to listen.
"No I'm actually what the kids would call, a locked character." Nelly said proudly and placed her tea down at the table, "I don't start racing until the scores go up a little, I'm sure whoever was pro-playing today was trying to achieve that.", Taffya looked amazed at this girl. She had never had to sit out a race before, maybe once when she didn't make it in time, and everyone else in the old Sugar rush was the same. They had never encountered a character that had to be achieved to play.
"But don't get me wrong, I really value the racers.." she added. Taffyta smiled and looked down at her tea, "Well they should really value you honestly" Taffyta said blushing a litte, "You being a locked character is what's going to keep the game busy…its actually amazing what this new Sugar rush is like.". Marshmallow nodded in agreement and chewed on a cupcake slowly.
Nelly smiled and held Taffyta's gaze, "Well it's the racers who have to work hard, I just sit here and wait…I owe them everything." Nelly said. Taffyta smiled and looked down at her tea again. The girl was charming and caused Taffyta to blush every few minutes or so, nothing new to that day.
The girls had spent the day walking about the castle, both inside and out, and just talking. As they were coming in towards midday, they found Marshmallow who eagerly followed them around. In a lot of ways this girl was like Vanellope, at times Taffyta had wished Vanellope had joined them and not run off with Fludgerbutter.
Nelly noticed the sad look on Taffyta's face and moved to sit on her side of the couch, she had been sitting across from her but the poor girl looked like she needed a hug. Opening her arms up Taffyta smiled and hugged the princess. Marshmallow was caught between them and managed a little squeak which surprised both the girls and caused them to laugh. Marshmallow laughed as well, or what they assumed was laughing since no noise came out of him.
After some time of laughing the girls finally calmed down and continued to talk about things that varied from racing to pink dresses. Marshmallow yawned and grabbing one more cupcake he dashed out of the room and straight into Vanellope. Luckily she grabbed him before he could squeak or knock him over.
Vanellope held a finger up to her lips indicating she wanted him to be quiet, Marshmallow looked at her and then sat down watching her watching them.
The mood seemed to change as Marshmallow exited the room, Nelly moved a bit closer to Taffyta and lowered her eyes to meet the other girls. "Taffyta.." Nelly started and placed a hand over the girls. "I needed to talk to you about something but I didn't want to upset Marshmallow or Vanellope.". Taffyta nodded her head, seeming to lose words as the princess moved closer.
"You see…Taffyta how did you find Marshmallow?" Nelly asked and Taffyta looked away from the girls gaze to think. The land was a mess then, so an actual pinpoint of where they had indeed picked up Marshmallow was unsure. "We found him on our journey." Taffyta said and added, "He was just around I guess."
Nelly stood and walked towards the window looking concerned. Taffyta waited a moment and then stood to join her, "Is everything okay?" Taffyta asked. Nelly smiled and said, "In your old sugar rush game…did you have creatures just walking around like Marsh?" Taffyta nodded and the girl continued, "You see…here, it's very different…I will always make an acception for Marshmallow but.." she stopped as she saw Taffyta's face grow concerned.
"What do you mean…?" Taffyta asked, she didn't like where this was going. Nelly sighed and put her hands on Taffyta's shoulders, "We just have a policy…I will show you sometime instead of wasting words trying to explain to you." Nelly said and squeezed the girls shoulders. Taffyta smiled and felt dizzy, this simple talk had sent her on a roller coaster.
"Until then we should head to bed, it's been a long day!" she smiled, her mood changing quickly. Taffyta nodded in agreement and Nelly reached for her hand, "Until tomorrow Taffyta." She said and kissed the palm of her hand again.
Vanellope and Marshmallow stood at the door exchanging looks from the two girls and back at each other. 'What do they mean policy, is Marshmallow not allowed here..?' Vanellope wondered. She looked down at Marshmallow and thought. Honestly for the first time ever she realized that there were no other candy creatures just hanging around Sugar rush, there was only servants and guards maybe…
Vanellope wasn't able to finish her thought before Taffyta had opened the door and nearly fell over them. "Vanellope?" Taffyta asked in an almost annoyed voice. Vanellope looked behind her to see if the princess was following, thankfully she had taken another door saving her from any more awkwardness.
"Oh uh…" Vanellope stammered, "Hi Taff…" Vanellope quickly stood up, Marshmallow in her hands. "What are you doing?" Taffyta asked, again sounding annoyed. Vanellope furrowed her eyebrows, "Why do you sound so annoyed with me?"
Taffyta huffed and walked past Vanellope saying, "It takes someone annoying to make a person annoyed". Vanellope gasped and followed after her wanting to add her two cents in, "Well it also takes someone whose stubborn to be annoyed Taffyta."
The two girls once again started bickering, taking the argument into Taffyta's room, or more Vanellope following Taffyta to her room. Marshmallow rushed off to Vanellope's room not wanting to hear any more of the arguing.
"I'm sorry for eavesdropping but did you hear how she talked about Marshmallow?" Vanellope asked, obviously sounding distressed with the situation. "She wasn't really talking about Marsh, she was talking about the other candy creatures!" Taffyta threw back and Vanellope hollered back, "Like that's any better!"
The girls hung in silence for a moment or two, "Taffyta are you honestly agreeing with her, what if some of our old candy friends had heard you…would…you be fine with that?" Vanellope said feeling sad with how Taffyta was treating the situation. Taffyta huffed and folded her arms, "Please Vanellope don't bring up old Sugar rush with me.".
"Old Sugar rush?" Vanellope hollered, "This is still Sugar rush, now all of a sudden we are the old and she is the new?" Vanellope's face grew red but she was more angry than willing to cry. Taffyta turned to her and said, "Don't start acting like you aren't excited for this new place too, I saw you with Rancis this morning , you two seemed to have a great time together."
Vanellope raised her eyebrow at Taffyta and crossed her arm, "We were just racing." She said calmly and Taffyta huffed a "sure". Vanellope stomped over to her and looked straight into her eyes, "At least Rancis hasn't been kissing me." And stomped out of the room leaving a stunned Taffyta.
Entering her guest room she slammed the door shut as if that was going to automatically keep anyone from coming in. Marshmallow flinched and hid under the covers which made Vanellope remember that she shouldn't be so brash around him. "Hey I'm sorry Marsh.." she said smiling and walked over to the bed. The Marshmallow slowly came out and sat down on the bed with Vanellope.
Vanellope stroked his head and smiled lovingly at him, while doing so she remembered the things Nelly had said and she felt an anger arise in her. 'I will never let her hurt you marsh..' Vanellope thought. 'Never.'