Chapter 12. Vanellope's Little Secret
The sun rose over the hills of Sugar Rush the sugary ground sparkled with each shining ray of sunlight hit the crystals. Vanellope slept next to her dotting little sister, when the light peeked into the room of the young president of Sugar Rush. Vanellope's room was not much there were two double doors, a small closest and a box full of un-played with toys, everything Vanellope found valuable she left in her mountain. The 9 year old stretched and looked to her side, she smiled to see the mistaken blueberry themed little child wrapped up near where her chest was. Vanellope stood up yawned and stretched even higher on the bed, now that this kid was a part of her life how was she going to keep her loved and happy? When Bill finds out, or IF Bill would ever find out Vanellope made it part of her mission to keep Vanilla a secret from Bill.
Sour Bill hated when animals walked in the castle off the street he did not even enjoy Gloyd Orangeboar visiting Vanellope. He would often call him a Street-Rat even if Gloyd had a home of his own. If Sour Bill found out Vanilla had nowhere to go he may cast her out and aside like she was a little thief. Although Vanellope caught Vanilla in the act of stealing her golden coins when she took her in the behavior did not seem to linger. When he saw this he was going to throw a fit. How could she possibly keep her fed and around the castle. She faced the facts that perhaps soon she was going to have to confess and own up to it. She reached down and stroked Vanilla's hair rising up and out of her bed putting the sprinkles back in her hair.
"Squirt, hey kiddo rise and shine. Right now." Vanilla wiggled a bit under the blanket lifting her head up and crawling to the edge under the blanket. She peeked sleepy eyed at her. "Hmm? What is it?" Vanellope opened her arms up "First of all did you have sweet nightmares?" Vanilla looked at her questionably. "No . . . for once it was a good dream." Vanellope rolled her eyes playfully "Come here, were gonna go downstairs to get some breakfast." Vanilla seemed confused as to why Vanellope felt the need to carry her. "But, President Vanellope, I don't need help I can walk yenno." She wiped her hand over her own face. "You will call me sis or something not president. Come on it's fer your own good!" Vanellope lifted her up carrying her like a baby for a while until setting her on her back. Practicing scurrying around for a bit before heading out the bedroom double doors. "Shouldn't I get my shoes back on?" Vanilla questioned her. Her sister shook her head. "Nah, it's all part of the basic package of having a home. Plus you're just gonna go right back to my room." The smaller kid's face scrunched squinting at her "Aww! I wanna explore this place." Vanellope massages her temple listing to her whine was not on her to-do-list. "Yeah well hate'ta break it to you Squirt, but not everyone is too keen on keeping little ole you here." Vanilla's eyebrow pricked "What do you mean aren't you the boss?" She questions. "Well there's a grumpy old advisor we have to watch out for!" Vanilla shriveled back on Vanellope's back climbing off of her forcefully pointing her tiny finger at Vanellope with a bitter look in her eye. "You mean I can be hunted down? You said I was safe here! You Promised!"
Vanellope reached for her but she took a step back from her crossing her arms. Of course the nine year old felt bad but Bill wasn't dangerous just strict. "Look Squirt, I don't have time'ta argue about this now, you're gonna have to trust me!" "Why would I trust you, your lying to me right now, what if you really don't want me to stay here, what if your just trying to do away with me cebause I stole your coin!" Vanilla seemed to get more and more agitated with Vanellope's words of plea. She crouches down to Vanilla's level, "Why would I endanger such a cute kid? I want ya here with me. You're at the moment, all I got. Please, I swear, I promise Billy-Boy won't hurt'cha now come on. "You gotta trust me." Vanilla didn't get back on her back but she walked over and held her hand, doing as she was told still frightened. Right then and there Vanellope picked her back up resting her on her hip. The baby-face racer seemed to sink into Vanellope's shoulder knowing she was not welcome here. The raven hair girl hated to see her in this state she moved on to the kitchen and made them both a hardy breakfast. Burping occasionally in Vanilla's face while the younger child tried to remind her of her manners, holding her nose in disgust.
Sour Bill at this time had just finished his morning bath and searching for the young princess/president. He picked up her scattered clothes off the floor in an exasperated huff. "tst, tst, taffy vine stains, you try scrubbing, soaking! I thought I told her to pick these up! "Vanellope von Schweetz! You get up here and clean your room." He rounded the corner coming down in a hurry looking for her. Vanellope herd the skittering of his jelly bean feet picked up Vanilla and held her behind her back covering her mouth. "Dub!" Vanilla yelped in surprise with huge blue eyes. "Oh Hey, Hey! Sour Boy. What's up?" Sour Bill angrily stomped over with a dirty spoon Vanellope had used to leave the kitchen in shambles he was turning red in the face like a fire ball! "You know perfectly well why I'm here young lady you know it's your responsibility to clean up and take better care of your things." Vanellope groans "Get a load of this guy Squirt. "Too bad dude, you know I really don't care. I've got my own problems Bill." Sour Bill tried to get closer to her and protest "Don't start with that attitude of yours, there will be no more diversions until you do as your told. I knew it was a mistake putting a child in charge, even if you are the only heir, you have no right to treat me like a servant. If you don't mind I would gladly like for you to show me a little more respect in the future!"
Vanellope waved him off "Yeah, yeah sounds great I'll see what I can do." Sour Bill shrugged her off till he saw a blue bear on the floor. "Oh dear oh dear, oh dear. Vanellope, child. It seems I have found a stowaway in the kitchen, care to explain!" Vanellope growled behind her oh my god she forgot about Vanilla's silly little bear. "Um that's um one of the bears I'm giving away for the gameless folks in the arcade some of them need companions." He sneered well you won't have any good coming out of it relinquishing this it's in such rough shape, it's not likely anyone would want it. Since it's not Our companion shall we dispose of the little creature?" He held the bear by the ears. "No! I mean I know a kid that would love this thing!" She grabbed the bear from him. "A lot, a lot a lot! And she couldn't be say in another home without him. No, no, I'll deliver Bill. Thanks!"
"Your acting a little off, but kids these days no control." He grabbed a hold of Vanellope's hand and her stomach sank. He pulled and twirled Vanellope so that he could look her over. "Hmmm. I was almost certain you were up to something. . . Vanellope scoffed at him full of malice "When am I not Billiam?" She looked behind her thank goodness Bill saw nothing. He frown and exited the scene. Vanellope sighed relived looking behind her "Kid? Kid where'd you go?" She walked around the kitchen worried she had gone without her around the castle. "Okay real funny, now please come out!" Vanilla had scurried to the nearest broom closet behind her as soon as he left out of sight the door gave way and she fell on top of Vanellope! The broom fell on Vanellope's but and the cleaning supplies fell leaving a cloud of dust. Vanellope and Vanilla coughed in unison from the putrid smell and sugary fix of dirt. "What are you trying to do? Scare the tick out of my ticker!" Vanellope grabbed hold of her and noggied her Vanilla giggled "Pretty good right?" Vanellope was shocked at her but she lightened up a little "Yes, yes cool. Don't ever do that again!" With that Vanellope tried to scoop her up again, "I'm serious your gonna fall." Backing up though Vanilla's feet had other plans betraying her she stepped back stepping on a bar of pez-soap falling backwards into buckets her but in a water filled bucket and a bucket fell off the shelf onto her head. Vanellope laughed doubling over in excessive laughter at Vanilla's predicament. "Hahaha!-Hahaha! See I told ya! Ha-ha-ha!" She lifted the bucket off her head Vanilla was sniffling "Aww, you little kidder come here." Finally she had the soaked child in her hold again. "You need a bath."
Weeks passed it was a regular game of ring around the rosy mixed with hide and seek and Vanilla was growing tired of running away from Bill he seemed like such a good parental figure, which was a touchy subject for Vanilla she never knew too much about parents she didn't even know how to feel about her fabled own. Vanellope had just bathed her without any of the staff catching her it helped to be the president no one questioned your actions. She had just got Vanilla all clean and bubble gum flavored from the soap and slipped her into a pair of her own pajama's long sleeves and shorts that were waaaay too big on Vanilla slipping over her hands. They bonded the rest of the night, play wrestling, swapping some secrets. Joyfully excited Vanellope told her story about races with Taffyta feeling such pride in having beat her so many times. She loved that Vanilla listened to in the most adorable way resting her hands over her cheeks fascinated by her new sister's stories. Vanilla opened her mouth to speak twirling her wet clean hair.
"Um. Vanellope?" The slightly older racer raised her eyebrows. "You know you can just call me sis by now Squirt. I think it's about time you came up with a nickname for me! She cackled sneak attack tickling her toes "Come on I'm doing all the work here!" Vanilla giggled jolting rolling away from her "Cheap tactic!" Vanilla laughed harder as it only earned her more on the bottom of her feet, Vanilla yelled that Vanellope was such a cheater and that she was trying to talk to her. It didn't phase Vanellope, she didn't seem to think so as she just poked her at her toe again making her sister squeal. "I'm serious! Vanellope stop." At this point Vanellope could see Vanilla wasn't in the mood to play so she stopped scooting closer to her "Something wrong Squirt?" Vanilla nodded, she bunched up her knees holding a vulnerable position. "What's wrong? Are you sick or something?" Vanellope felt her forehead she seemed fine. "I was. . . . just wondering I've been at your castle for a long time now.. When can I finally meet the people in' it." Vanellope's face dropped, "Oh well when they're ready to accept you or something, I'll pick a good day." Vanilla frowned a little "You introduced me to your buddy Ralph." She ruffled her hair. "Well that was different, Ralph's different; He doesn't judge on a count'a his background. The people in this game are… well Judgmental to other glitches." The blue ice cream labeled child dropped her head in her knees "I thought so." Quickly Vanellope tried a new approach. "It looks bad, kiddo but I'll find a day. In the meantime I'm so proud of you little buddy. You're taking this so well." She hands her, her blue gummy bear. "You might wanna keep that thing on a leash it's so old and torn I can always get'cha a new one."
Vanilla stood up and yelled at her outraged "NO!" Vanellope jumped back into the wall "Calm down Vanilla it's just a toy." Vanilla held him tighter to her "No Vanellope! You don't understand! "He is not just a toy not to me." Intrigued Vanellope laid on her tummy laying by Vanilla with a bit of distance between them. "So why the importance?" Vanilla held him tighter with tears running down her eyes. Vanellope edged closer to her trying to fix whatever she did. "No! Just stop! Leave me alone." Vanellope stumbled back a bit. "Come on you can tell me. Are we not sisters? Let's not hide things from each other." The younger child hugged her back for a moment before letting go. "We are, it's only… This bwear is really special to me, it was given to me, I'm real sure when I was a baby, I only saw a glimpse of as much as I can remember but, it's the only thing I have left of my mother's. Vanellope looked at her bright eyed. "Your mom?" "Awww that's too bad, I know how important family can be, that's why I decided you needed a home. You're just too little to be on your own, I don't really care if you are a gameplay avatar. You're staying with me." She looked up at her hugging and snuggling into Vanellope's chest. "It's kinda funny really, there's really not a lot I member of my family. I was maybe too liddle or too dumb to understand. I do know though my mommy gave me this bwear and my daddy gave me a hat." Vanellope glitches a bit right where her brain would be located. "One that not funny that's real sad, and second I .. think I knew a kid with a hat but it was real long ago eh, could have been anyone. I don't really remember too well either." She looked up at Vanellope's eyes meeting her blue ones "Sis, what was your mother like?" Vanellope shrugged "Darned if I know, it's been so long I don't even reconcile nothing from a parent radar, I would think though she would be sweet like you probably to everyone in the kingdom and dad would be a bit of a badass." She covered her mouth. "I mean really, really cool. Anyway that's a pretty that's a very special bear you have there. "No wonder you got so mad at me, I'm sorry. In all the rage, do you know what your mother was like?" Vanilla shrugs and a few loose tears dripped out of her eyes. "I-I never met her, she and my dad disappeared off the face of the console when I was a baby maybe even before I'm not really sure."
"Well then, Vanellope began. "We shall just have to keep pealing back our mysterious pasts, and yours will just be that. "Mysterious." She lay her head back holding Vanilla to her resting her arm on her head. "From the moment I found'ya I felt like you belonged in my family, there's just something about you." Vanilla blushed. "Well I didn't mean to end up looking like ya sis, It just happened."
"Awww its okay, you big baby you can help me do announcements tomorrow while I zip off to see Ralph!" Vanilla's eyes crossed each other at that comment of signing her up for things she didn't volunteer for. "Say what?!"
"You wanna meet Billiam don't you?" Vanellope held her to her laughing while Vanilla kept blubbering about how this was a bad idea. Till they both passed out with the moon shaped like a cookie shined bright in the sky. Something had changed Vanellope's mind about her meeting her caretaker. It was going to be possibly a huge regret or success but she seemed to believe. If she loved her as much as she did hopefully Bill would too after all she did even half way act like him. Orderly, well mannered. Boring. As much as she loved her she had to teach Vanilla how to act more like her to scare the color off of him. She cackled in her sleep before passing out. The candy creatures made noise throughout the night but it was nice and toasty as the s'more chefs in the castle.