Vanellope's eyes cracked open while she moaned. Her brain felt sluggish and her mind was having immense difficulty just waking up. Her fingers gently brushed over the warm comforting feeling of her heavenly blanket and then she froze. She felt a lump, not just any lump, but one that moaned and breathed.

"What happened last night?"

She closed her eyes and tried to remember and then it all came crashing down like a ton of jawbreakers. The night before, walking Taffyta to her bedroom, tucking her in, the little fight with the other racers, all of it. She carefully unfurled the covers over her and made to stand up.

"What, did the barf breath tuck me in? Sheesh, Ralph, there's mushy and then there's cheesy."

Glancing over to her left, she had to admit that she herself wasn't much better in the mushy department.

She was crying her eyes out! What else was I gonna do, shove her aside in the mud?!

Staring down at the strawberry themed racer, Vanellope really wasn't sure how to feel. She could still remember being shoved in the mud while she and her little bully gang wrecked her only kart. A kart which she had spent weeks building, no less. When she thought back to that moment, it was always so strange. Despite everything they did to her, despite the name-calling, shunning, pushing and all around treating her like something lesser. She wasn't mad at any of them. Not even Taffyta.

At least I don't think I am…

Shaking those thoughts aside, she finally took in the details of the sleeping Taffy Butt and couldn't help but look on in pity. The girl's hair looked ragged and wild like she hadn't brushed it in days. Drool had leaked all over her side of the pillow, and if that wasn't enough, there was the unmistakable dampness around her eyes.

I didn't even know you could cry while sleeping…

Hesitantly, she brushed Taffyta's hair out of her eyes as gently as she could.

She's really upset over this. She thought back to the state of all her trophies and really it didn't take a genius to figure that out.

"Don't deserve them? What does she mean by that?"

Vanellope had watched all the racers on the tracks for years. She'd even secretly cheer a few on when she was in the mood (and they hadn't treated her too badly that week). Of all of them, Taffyta always seemed to have her eyes on the prize. She was a good racer, perhaps even one of the best. To Vanellope, it just didn't make any sense.

"Hmmm… to- too bright," Taffyta mumbled.

Vanellope jumped a bit and watched the previously drunk girl rather intently. The president very much doubted that she was even aware of her presence.

"Oh, um, here," she said and hopped off and quickly shut the candy laced blinds. "Better?"

The girl nodded and even smiled slightly. Vanellope watched the girl snuggle into her pillow after flipping it and almost seemed to drift off to sleep. She looked peaceful and Vanellope smiled a bit.

That's when all hell broke loose.

Taffyta's eyes shot open in shock, she looked over and met Vanellope's then yelped in shock falling over onto the floor in the process. The girl groaned in pain and rubbed her head.

"Um, morning?"

"...Not a good morning," Taffyta replied.

Vanellope offered her hand but the Taffy racer brushed it aside and stood up on shaky legs. No doubt the girl was still trying to figure out where she had been the night before and Vanellope really couldn't blame her for that. Taffyta gently rubbed her head a few times and sighed.

"T- Time is it?"

"Um, probably still early," Vanellope guessed. "How are you feeling?"

Still, in a rather groaning mood, Taffyta brushed the bangs out of her eyes and shrugged. "Like Ralph decided to use my head as a punching bag, for an hour."

Vanellope snorted. "You do jokes?"

The racer closed her eyes and seemed to shudder in pain. "Who said I was joking?"

Rolling her eyes, Vanellope patted her on the back. Taffyta didn't smile but didn't shrug off the gesture either.

"So, um, there's a bathroom behind that door," Vanellope said, but before she could even point, Taffyta had darted inside and locked the thing.

The president blinked and nodded. "Okay then."

Vanellope heard her shower turned on and nodded to that. "Well, least she's cleaning up."

There was a gentle knock on the door and she called out in response. "Come in!"

"Vanellope, er, President Vanellope," Sour Bill drolled. "Your guests are wondering on the state of Taffyta's health."

Quirking an eyebrow, Vanellope stared past the sour candy and spotted Candlehead, of all racers, standing there while nervously toying with her fingers.

"Uh, you can come in, Candle," she replied and patted her bed.

Beaming, the girl jumped over Sourbill and scooted onto her bed.

"Thanks!"

There was an awkward silence while Vanellope shifted on her bed to get more comfortable. "Uh, did you all sleep well?"

Candlehead considered the question for a second before shrugging. "S- sort of. Not that the beds weren't comfy or anything! I guess we just couldn't sleep, you know?"

Vanellope nodded while biting her lip and looking at the bathroom door, the shower had been running the entire time.

"Right. Um, yeah," she said rather lamely.

Without warning, Candlehead gently placed her hand on the girl's knee and looked up. "Hey, you been okay? You look super tired and stuff."

Vanellope closed her eyes and contemplated what to say. How much should she reveal? There were too many things bugging her, some she would hardly even admit to herself! Let alone a random racer.

Not random, she's Candlehead…

"I…" Trailing off, she took a very deep breath and continued. "You didn't see it, Candlehead."

The girl tilted her head. "See what?"

Vanellope cast a nervous glance at the door before continuing. "Taffyta," she said and immediately Candlehead stood at attention. "She was a mess. I don't… " the president bit her lip, still wondering how much she should say. "I don't know if she wants you all to know… all of this, yet."

Candlehead pouted and glared at her. "Vanellope…" she started in a rather warning sort of tone.

"No, I'm serious okay? That would be, just…" she trailed off again and slammed her fists into the bed. "Will ya just, you know, lay off it for now?! I'm not gonna say anything if she doesn't want you all to know. And that's that," she finished with a huff, her arms crossed while looking away.

The candle atop the racer's head seemed to glow a dim red as she stood up. She scoffed, stood up and left the room without so much as a word. It took Vanellope all of three seconds to realize her mistake. The girl groaned and buried her head in a pillow just as the bathroom door was swinging open.

Vanellope didn't bother looking up, even when the bed ruffled and she could feel Taffyta lay down next to her.

"Um, the shower's free."

Vanellope rolled over on the pillow, glancing at Taffyta with a far off look. "Taffyta…"

"Nope. Look, it's been cool and I appreciate what you did for me last night, but I think I should head home and-"

Before Taffyta could even stand, Vanellope had grabbed her arm to keep her on the bed. "No. We're gonna have a little chat, Taffy."

The girl scoffed. "No thanks."

Vanellope narrowed her eyes.

"I wasn't asking. You either hear me out or… " She trailed off and tried to think of a suitable punishment while Taffyta merely stood with crossed arms. "Or, I'll ban you from racing for a week!"

Her widened in shock. "Y- you can't d- do that!" she stuttered.

"Wanna make it two?"

Taffyta scowled and slowly shook her head.

It was a rather strange situation. Most would assume Vanellope to be the youngest, given her height and overall mannerisms when it came to everything.

Technically, I am younger than them… Vanellope reminded herself. She had seen the code of each racer and, apparently, the programmers gave each Sugar Rush occupant varying age ranges for whatever reason. They don't need to know that though…

"Look, just hear me out and you can go home and maybe we can forget about this. Okay?"

The pouting racer continued to simply pout, though she did give a simple nod.

"You know I forgave you all, right?"

"Hmm…" she nodded and mumbled something barely audible.

"I really did! I promise! I'm not mad or upset or anything."

"..."

Vanellope sighed. "I… I think if anything, I'm relieved."

"Huh?"

"I just wanted to be a racer for so long. I thought I was going crazy or something. Like, why was I even in this game if I couldn't be allowed to race? You know?"

Taffyta took a deep, shuttering breathe but nodded all the same.

"You told me something in confidence, and I haven't told any of them, yet," she clarified. Taffyta shut her eyes and nodded. "Maybe… maybe I should tell you a secret of my own.

Vanellope stood up and made sure the coast was clear before gently shutting her door. "Do you remember when you were first turned on? When the game was first plugged in?"

Taffyta considered this question for a moment before shrugging. "Not really. I… I remember it happened. I know it did, but it was so long ago."

"I- I don't. I can't…" She tried to say and groaned before kicking her bed in frustration.

Why is this is hard to admit?! Stupid mushy feelings… being all… feel-ey.

"You don't what?"

"I don't. I can't remember ever being switched on. I didn't know I was your princess this whole time and… and I don't think I ever did," she admitted while nervously playing with her fingers. "Even when the game reset. It gave me that stupid dress, b- but I didn't feel like a princess. I never did."

The full ramifications of what Turbo had really done to them all hit Taffyta like a series of sweets seeker missiles. The "greatest racer ever" hadn't just messed with all of their memories and the code, she had ripped out Vanellope's purpose in the game and made it so she never even knew of it in the first place?! It just seemed too crazy for words.

"Heh. Um, there. Secret's out. Oh Sega," she mumbled and clutched her head. Taffyta watched as the president took a seat on the floor then raised her legs and clutched them with her arms for comfort. "I never told that to anyone before, Taffyta. Not even Ralph."

The other racer just stood there in a state of pure shock. It merely too much to bear, though thankfully she hadn't broken down and cried. Even if she really wanted to. Everyone already knew of her cry baby status. Wasn't like it was a big secret. But she couldn't help but look down on Vanellope with outright pity. But now was not the time for tears.

She took a seat on the floor and copied the other girl in hugging her legs. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Vanellope. I- I don't know what else to say."

The girl chuckled a bit. "You know I'm not unhappy, right? I have good friends, like Ralph and Felix. And I have all of you!"

Another snort. "Oh yeah, we're such good friends that we don't even invite you to parties or talk to ya much."

The second it came out of her mouth, she regretted ever thinking it. Vanellope looked down at her feet, looking rather uncomfortable.

Taffyta banged her head on the back of the mattress several times. "Sorry. That was… really stupid of me to say."

Vanellope simply nodded and spoke up, "If any of you know anything about me, it's that I hate being mushy and I don't like sharing my feelings. But there it is, out in the open. Um, now you say something?"

"Taffyta Muttonfudge, best known for spilling out and discussing her feelings."

"Heh. So what now? You just hold this in forever and we pretend nothing's wrong?"

The girl quickly stood up and dusted herself off. "Nothing is wrong. I just… I just had a little meltdown, okay?" she snapped.

"A little? You tried to… you… I saw you hurt yourself. You were off your gizzards on root beer and crying your eyes out!" she whispered harshly to her.

Again, Taffyta tried to leave and again Vanellope stopped her. "Can you at least promise something? But I warn you, it's gonna get mushy."

The strawberry racer yanked her arm away and scowled even deeper. "Or what? You gonna force me off the track if I don't comply?!"

"No. Just… talk to your friends if you feel this way again. Okay? Just promise me you will instead of going to Tapper's every night."

The girl rolled her eyes and nodded. "Kay. I promis-"

"Not to me, Taffy Butt. I warned ya, it's gonna get mushy. You have to promise them all of them. All of your friends. That you'll trust them to help you when something's the matter." The president hesitated before saying one more thing. "Like Candlehead for example."

The president stood up on her bed and crossed her arms, waiting for a response.

Taffyta closed her eyes, feeling content to simply sit there and not think. Vanellope could sense that she may have struck a nerve, mentioning her best friend, but decided to remain silent.

Finally, the racer scoffed and stood up herself. "Are they here or something?"

"Who- Oh. Yes, they've been waiting for you to wake up."

Vanellope waved her arms over toward the door, inviting her to come. Hesitating for what felt like an eternity, the pink racer eventually groaned and nodded.

"Let's just get this over with," she mumbled, sounding very annoyed.

"That's the spirit, Taffy!" Vanellope exclaimed while pumping her fists.

"Programmers, give me strength…"

Another day and another finished race. It felt so strange not being on the track, but something in the back of her head urged her to keep coming back to such a strange place. It was dark on the inside, but strangely warm and welcoming the deeper she trekked. It hadn't exactly occurred to her to even glance at her surroundings before; it was simply a place to visit and sleep when the need came. A quiet and comforting home to rest in when she wasn't racing.

A home. Her home.

She blinked in confusion and suddenly stopped walking. Something about that thought seemed strange to her.

Is this my home? Is this where I belong?

But was belonging to something, to somewhere, something that she truly desired? Did it really matter?

Yes!

The thought came out of nowhere, but she couldn't really argue with it. It just made so much sense. Smiling a bit, the strange girl walked further into the caverns, following the now familiar sound of bubbling cola and crackling candy.

Smiling a bit, she neared the now familiar bed with its strange candy wrapper blankets and a random assortment of other treats, wrappers and other candied oddities which littered the surface of her bed.

Her bed.

It wasn't the prettiest sight she had ever seen, but it was rather comfy and it was certainly hers. Sighing, she carefully climbed onto the waiting bed, though she was forced to kick up from the ground a few times given the immense size and height of the thing. She rolled over and stared up at the ceiling while enjoying the warm glow of the lava which washed over everything.

Why does this feel so… safe? Or familiar?

It was a mystery she aimed to solve, but the clues alluded her for now. Shrugging, she rolled over again and drifted off to sleep. Mysteries could wait; nap time was far more important in her eyes.