Chapter 10
Not too far away was a hidden forest lab, owned and ran by Doctor Buddy Syndrome.
Inside was a wall of glass cells, one containing containing Disgust and Dash.
"There's not enough air!" Disgust complained, trying to find a way out. "We're going to die!"
Syndrome opened the door to his lab, glaring at his prisoners, and threw Vanellope into the cell next door.
"Vanellope!" Dash exclaimed running over to her.
"Dash! Are you alright?" Vanellope asked.
Dash was about to answer, but Disgust ran over to her.
"You!" She exclaimed. "This is all your fault!"
"Excuse me?" Vanellope asked, "how is this my fault?"
"Some things just are!" Disgust retorted.
The prisoners turned to look at Syndrome who had someone strapped to a table.
"Don't worry..." he was telling the person reassuringly. "I just want to know if you're one of those abnormal people."
"Maybe we shouldn't panic..." Dash began. "He just wants to know if we're abnormals."
"If you are, you'll stay for more testing." Syndrome continued, "if not, well, I'll make it fast so you don't feel anything."
He put on some gloves and carefully dabbed some ether on a cloth. Pushing a button, the table flipped up revealing a trembling Mirage.
"MIRAGE!" Disgust screamed.
Vanellope looked over at Syndrome who was getting his tools ready.
"I have an idea." She began, before stepping back.
"That's the girl of my dreams..." Dash sighed happily.
"Unfortunately," Disgust replied, "she's about to become the girl of your memories."
Vanellope ran straight through the glass, shards piercing her.
"No!" Dash screamed, looking at Vanellope.
"What's going on?" Syndrome demanded. He set the cloth down, not too far from Vanellope, and turned to look at her.
"Come... closer." Vanellope whispered, her body glitching.
"You're an abnormal?" Syndrome asked.
Vanellope nodded. "Yeah... but fading fast. Please come... closer."
Syndrome leaned closer.
Vanellope quickly grabbed the cloth and pressed it against his nose, causing him to black out. "Sweet dreams, Doc!" Vanellope jeered before running over to table and cutting Mirage free.
"I always knew you were something..." Mirage began, hugging Vanellope in thanks.
Vanellope quickly searched through Syndrome's pocket until she found the key. Going over to Dash's cell, she quickly unlocked it.
"He'll wake soon." Vanellope began, "we have to..." she paused and turned.
The lab was filled with cells, and each one had at least one prisoner.
Going over to each cell, she unlocked it, earning a sincere "thank you" each time.
"Why did you do that?" Asked Dash.
Vanellope shrugged. "Cause I was once living like those people."
Dash smiled at Vanellope's selflessness, then opened the door and everyone ran out.
Once they were out of the lab, Dash handed Vanellope her shoe.
"Thanks." She said, slipping it back on.
One of the prisoners went up to her. "Come with us!" He exclaimed. "The others will want to thank our heroes."
Dash and Vanellope looked at each other in surprise. They had never been considered HEROES before. None the less, they followed the people into a village.
This one was rather poor, but everyone was working hard to make the most of it. When the villagers saw the return of their lost neighbours, they happily went over to welcome them back.
"These two saved us!" One explained, pointing to Dash and Vanellope.
A blonde girl with extremely long hair pushed through the crowd.
"In that case! I, Rapunzel, declare a celebration for these two heroes tonight, in honour of their bravery and our friendship! We're going to have dancing, music and hazelnut stew!"
Dash and Vanellope gagged at that last one.
"We like hazelnut stew..." Vanellope and Disgust began, coming up from behind.
"Room for two more?" Asked Vanellope.
"Of course!" Rapunzel replied.
Meanwhile, back in the nightmare castle, Pitch was furious, his hands clamped around Frogslip and Llort's throats.
"You useless toads let her get away?" He screamed. "Find her!" He finished tossing his minions aside.