Chapter 1
"Vanellope! Wake up!"
Vanellope opened up an eye. She had been having a wonderful dream about finally being able to escape.
Staring back at her was the slasher grin of King Candy.
"The next show is about to start!" He exclaimed, "get dressed. This is our final show in this city, then you can have the rest of the time off until we reach our next destination."
Sleepily, Vanellope staggered out of bed and into her closet, where she threw on her usual outfit, a hoodie and skirt done to look like candy. She tied her hair into a fountain ponytail, and clipped in three dozen candy shaped barrettes.
"Hurry it up!" King candy finally said, before going to wake up the others.
"Hurry it up." Vanellope angrily mocked.
This has been her life for as long as she could remember: She was forced to wear candy-like outfits and go on stage with a bunch of other boys and girls, dressed similar, and sing very fluffy and sweet songs for an audience of plenty.
Adjusting her licorice-like hair tie, she headed out where the rest of the kids were already awake and getting ready for their show. King Candy walked over to them.
"Brats! This is the final show! I want to hear you all sing your best. If anyone messes up, you'll be put in the chamber!"
Taffyta and Rancis, the kids who Vanellope were closest to, shuddered.
The chamber was a punishment room where the child that misbehaved, or ruined the show, would be stored in until the next show. It shut down all their senses, leaving them into oblivion.
Then he turned to Vanellope. "And none of your static, my little glitch." He added.
Vanellope nervously nodded. For some reason, whenever she experienced high amounts of emotions, her body would almost short circuit and she would become static and pixel-like with blue sparks.
At first, she thought everyone could do it, but after enough times being locked in the chamber, she knew better.
"Now, get on stage. Taffyta, Rancis, Vanellope, you three are our opening act."
The three nodded and went into place behind the closed curtain. King Candy popped his head out.
"I want to see my Neo-Trio smiling from ear to ear."
With that, he turned and left. The kids watched before sticking their tongues out at him.
He made his way to the center of the stage, the seats filled with spectators, and cleared his throat.
"Ladies and gentlemen! Boys and girls of all ages! King Candy presents his Candy Kids!" The audience burst into applause. "Presenting our opening act, we have the one! The only! Neapolitan trio!"
The curtains parted and in the middle of the room stood Taffyta, Rancis and Vanellope in front of three microphones.
A pop song started up, and the three began to sing a very bubblegum-like song.
As Vanellope sang, she felt something stir inside her. A familiar static feeling.
"Oh no not now!" She thought. Eventually they sang their last line and bowed.
The audience went wild with applause.
"Thank you! Thank you!" King Candy exclaimed.
One guy raised a hand.
"Yes?" He asked.
"Where do you find these talented children?" The spectator asked.
King Candy looked over at them. "These three were found in dumpsters. Unwanted by society."
Upon hearing that, Vanellope lowered her head, the static building up in her again.
King Candy turned to the audience. "Haven't you ever heard something as magnificent as my Neo-trio? Don't they just melt your heart?"
Unwanted... that word rang through Vanellope, the static growing until she felt it release.
Immediately she began glitching, screams uprising from the audience.
When King Candy saw what happened, he angrily grabbed Vanellope and towed her backstage.
"What did I say?" He asked her. "I tell you not to glitch, and you glitch anyway!"
"Look at it this way." Vanellope replied, "I probably just made publicity for the next show."
King Candy paused. "That's true..." then he glared at her. "You're growing up smart, and I don't like smart!"
Vanellope smirked.
"You are irritating me, you hear?" King Candy asked, glaring at her.
"Oh, I hear you." Vanellope replied, "I'm irritating you."
"And I don't like people who are irritating."
"Who does?"
"Especially when the irritating person is YOU! I think you need to be put in the chamber!"
He grabbed Vanellope and lead her to the caravan.
"Please no! I hate the chamber!" She screamed, "I'm scared of the dark!"
In the back of one cart was a part sectioned off. He opened the door, threw her in, and slammed it. Vanellope couldn't hear him leave, but she curled up in a ball.
"He's right..." she thought. "I am unwanted... there's no one that's weird like me..."