*Chapter 14*
"I suppose it wouldn't be the end of the world if Taffyta found Vanilla Lake," Vanellope huffed, "But it's our secret, and-"
"And our secret, it shall remain," Ralph chimed confidently, "Now c'mon, she can't be too far."
"Vanellope?" Taffyta called, her voice closer. Vanellope exhaled a sharp sigh after walking in silence for a handful of minutes.
"Taffyta, we're over here!" Vanellope called. Ralph stood on tip toes to peer around the candy trees. He could spot Taffyta through the thick of the candy trees, far off. The three of them slowly closed the gap.
"There you guys are," Taffyta huffed as the three finally were in each other's presence.
"Is everything ok?" Vanellope asked. She suddenly froze as Taffyta began looking her over.
"I was jut going to come find you guys to see if you needed any help. Why are you guys all wet?" Taffyta asked, her voice oozing with curiosity. She crossed her arms quickly. She was dressed in her racing attire, her dark pink, short sleeved racing jacket tucked close to her body.
"W-we, were just," Vanellope stammered. She looked down at her soaked, dark green shirt. Her hair was also down and drenched. She could feel a lump gather in her throat.
"I-I accidentally pulled on a hollow candy tree branch," Ralph beamed sheepishly, "It was full of rain water."
"I see," Taffyta said in a disbelieving voice, "I thought you guys said you'd be at Diet Cola Mountain?"
"We got lost," Vanellope stated, suddenly realizing her mistake.
"The President, of Sugar Rush," Taffyta prolonged, "Got lost…"
"It was my fault," Ralph saved, again, "I thought I saw something and we got detoured."
"What did you think you saw?" Taffyta urged.
"It's not important," Ralph smiled as he pushed past Taffyta, "We're headed to Diet Cola Mountain now."
"I'll come with," Taffyta smiled as the two girls quickly began to follow Ralph. Vanellope rolled her eyes behind Taffyta and threw her arms up.
"Sure thing," Ralph said surely. Vanellope shot him a look, causing him to shrug a little in a confused way.
"That candy tree branch hull must've really been pretty big to soak both of you guys like that," Taffyta prod, her eyes curious and doubtful. She brushed her choppy white hair out of her face a little.
"I-I thought it was a double stripe," Ralph fibbed, "I grabbed it to watch it vanish but it just snapped and drenched us."
"Double stripes," Vanellope Taffyta, "Don't remind me."
"What?" Ralph urged.
"Rancis's sword was made from a double strip branch," Taffyta explained calmly.
"How is that possible?" Ralph chuckled, "It vanishes before you can do anything with it."
"Not if you're quick enough," Vanellope said plainly.
"Really?" Ralph asked as he looked up at the passing candy trees. They loomed over the three with mystery.
"They say, if you're smart and brave enough to actually cut a double stripe branch from a candy tree, it's a very high honor. As high as being President, quite frankly," Taffyta smiled playfully at Vanellope.
"It's true," Vanellope sighed, "Rancis struggled with that venture for nearly two years before finally making it work. Once he did, he carved a sword out of the branch and presented it to me. It's mostly why I let him remain so close to Taffyta, Candlehead and I in the castle. We felt safe with him around."
"That sword was legendary, and he was pretty smart with that thing," Taffyta said, peering at Vanellope, "Too bad it vanished with him when his code got deleted."
"It would be near impossible to dare to try to make a new double stripe sword," Vanellope frowned, hoping Taffyta wouldn't ever find out how Rancis really ended up dying.
"I heard that some guys would make double stripe rings for their girlfriends," Taffyta laughed, "It was a big deal if your boyfriend proposed to you with a ring made from a double stripe branch. It practically made you famous, in the romance department."
"These double stripe branches really mean a lot to you guys, huh," Ralph chuckled.
"The fact that double stripe branches are nearly impossible to cut down, yeah," Vanellope smiled up at Ralph, "They're a rarity."
The three continued to trudge through the forest. Ralph pondered and gazed up at all the candy tree branches. Only a select few were riddled with double stripes. He let his mind wander, wondering just exactly how to capture a rare double stripe branch. He bit his bottom lip and gazed up at the branches, his mind full of thoughts.
"When Rancis formed his sword out of the double stripe branch and presented it to us, especially Vanellope, he kind of figured that would be his way of slithering his way into Vanellope's heart, and Vanellope's 'kingdom'" Taffyta explained.
"It was very impressive," Vanellope said plainly, "I've never met someone who had the wit to actually break off a double stripe branch."
"It can't be THAT hard," Ralph barked as he quickly reached up and grabbed a double stripe branch. He immediately yanked on it. It snapped harshly and quickly came crashing down to the ground in pieces. Within a few seconds, it bleeped twice and quickly vanished. Everyone froze and stared at the space it laid mere seconds ago. Everyone was silent. As if on cue, Vanellope and Taffyta both shot a shocked expression upwards at Ralph. Ralph felt his face get hot.
"Was, that supposed to happen?" Ralph questioned weakly.
"Not exactly," Taffyta laughed, "Usually once your skin comes in contact with a double stripe, it immediately vanishes. It's not often that it'll stick around for a little while."
"Well," Ralph proudly put his hands on his hips and shot Vanellope a smile, "Would yah look at that."
"Don't let your head get too big, Ralph," Vanellope laughed as both girls began walking in the direction they were headed. Ralph slumped his shoulders and quickly followed.
"Breaking it off the tree is only the first step. Keeping it from disappearing is what has had mostly everyone in Sugar Rush stumped. What's frustrating to that is, the secret to catching one isn't even in our code book," Taffyta sighed. Ralph furrowed his eyebrows with frustration and shot a glance back up at the candy trees. Taffyta nudged Vanellope and winked at her. Vanellope rolled her eyes and blushed.
Just as the three slowly emerged from the candy tree forest, they could hear a loud race car making it's way towards them down the large, dark chocolate road. It was Candlehead, who also had Felix and Calhoun on the back of her cart. Candlehead's large, intimidating race car growled around the corner, the back ablaze with fire and sparklers. Ralph chuckled and shook his head.
"Is Candlehead trying to make a statement?" Ralph said as the cart slowed to a stop before them.
"As usual," Taffyta chuckled as the three emerged from Candlehead's cart.
"Hey guys," Felix chimed, his face happy and peppy.
"How was your lunch date?" Vanellope asked sweetly as the six friends gathered.
"Pretty darn good," Felix smiled as Calhoun ruffled his head. She was in more casual attire for the New Year's day off, including everyone else but Ralph.
"You guys lookin' to fix the abandoned race track in Diet Cola Mountain?" Candlehead asked as she put her hands on her hips.
"Yep!" Vanellope said excitedly, "I hope it's fixable, it's seen a lot of wear and tear."
"I'm sure we'll be fine," Felix chimed as he whirred his golden hammer around a little; everyone laughed.
"Vanellope, why are you all wet?" Calhoun asked as she crossed her arms.
"Oh, uh," Vanellope shot Ralph a look, "Long story."
"Psh," Taffyta scoffed as she shook her head.
"So, we heading out now?" Ralph urged with an awkward smile as he began to walk towards the large mountain. Everyone followed suit in confusion, but it was quickly shrugged off.
"So, what were you two REALLY doing that caused you guys to become drenched," Taffyta said quietly to Vanellope. The two trailed behind the rest of the group as everyone chattered with each other, the group was lively and bustling. Ralph was all the way at the front, chatting with Calhoun.
"I can't tell you," Vanellope said wistfully with a smile.
"What do you mean you can't tell me," Taffyta laughed softly, "C'mon you can tell me. I won't tell anyone."
"Taffyta, I can't," Vanellope sighed.
"Of course you can," Taffyta urged, almost whining. She jumped up and down a few times before tugging on Vanellope's arm, "C'monnn, you can tell me."
"I promised Ralph I wouldn't," Vanellope looked at Taffyta pleadingly, "It's our secret."
"You guys have a secret?" Taffyta perked up curiously before gasping, "Did you two kiss?"
"Taffyta," Vanellope whined and looked away, her face red.
"He kissed you!" Taffyta hissed in a whisper. The group ahead of them oblivious to their conversation.
"Yes, Taffyta, you satisfied?" Vanellope chuckled, her face hot red.
"I knew it," Taffyta beamed, "You had this becoming look on your face."
"Becoming?" Vanellope wrinkled her nose and laughed.
"Yes! You both looked as if a million pound weight had been lifted off of your friendship," Taffyta explained with her hands.
"Well, that's a good sign," Vanellope beamed sheepishly before skipping to catch up with the rest of the group, Taffyta eagerly following suit.