After the arcade closed Vanellope decided to tell the other racers the truth. Sour Bill went first to prepare them.
"Everyone, you've probably been wondering why President Vanellope had been gone for a long time." Sour Bill said. "Well it's because she was looking for a way to become an adult, and she did."
Vanellope then revealed herself. The other Racers dropped their mouths open.
"Vanellope?" Taffyta stared.
The other racers stared at Taffyta.
"Uh, don't you mean President Vanellope?" Candlehead reminded her.
"Oh...right sorry." Taffyta blushed slightly.
"It's okay." Vanellope smiled. "I don't know why but you just calling me Vanellope sounds...familiar. Right even."
"Yeah...it feels that way too." Taffyta frowned with confusion.
Sour Bill sighed. While he had gotten his full memories back President Vanellope and the other racers were still slowly getting all their memories back. He guessed it had something to do with the age differences, as far as candies went he was an adult and the racers were kids. It could also be why President Vanellope was starting to remember things faster, since she was now an adult. Or maybe it was because while he had always kept his role even after Turbo took over President Vanellope and the other racers had their roles altered either slightly or completely. So maybe they were still getting used to getting their roles back. Who knew.
"Anyway, I should let all of you know why I did this." Vanellope went back to the original subject. "I, well, I've fallen in love with Ralph about a little over a day ago. I didn't want him to become an outcast again - since it might happen if he started dating a kid - so I decided to make myself an adult to prevent it. Don't worry, I altered a few of my codes so that the gamers won't notice anything. And this won't give me an advantage over all of you on the track either, I kept The Blender's engine the same so it's still around as fast as the rest of yours."
The Racers actually smiled approvingly.
"Well, Ralph is a great guy." Rancis shrugged.
"That he is, we're very happy for you." Taffyta agreed. "Does he know yet?"
"No and he won't until he loves me back. I want him to love me on his own." Vanellope explained.
The other Racers nodded understandingly.
"Well, heh, I'd better go let Ralph, Felix, and Tamora know about my new look." Vanellope rubbed the back of her head awkwardly. "Something tell me this is gonna get awkward...anyway, I'll be back later tonight for the Roster Race. I missed racing a lot."
The other Racers said goodbye as Vanellope left. Vanellope waved 'bye' back.
Meanwhile, Ralph and Felix were waiting in Game Central Station for Tamora.
"Tammy." Felix smiled. "Just in time, Ralph and I were going to see if Vanellope was back."
"Yeah I'm getting a bit worried." Ralph agreed.
"Hey guys."
Ralph, Felix, and Tamora turned around and dropped their mouths open. There was adult Vanellope.
"Uh, as I was exploring I started wondering what it would be like to be an adult and so decided to see if there was a way to temporarily turn me into one." Vanellope explained...kinda. "I mean after all my best friends are adults, not counting the other Racers...anyway, I found this wizards' game that had an age changing potion so I gave it a try. Don't worry about the gamers though, I altered my code so that I'd still look like a kid to them."
Tamora recovered first, having been trained to handle surprises of all kinds.
"Well, can't call you 'kid' anymore." She remarked. "You don't make a bad looking adult either."
"Thanks." Vanellope grinned. "I'm glad I hadn't changed that much myself, no matter what age I am I'll always want to be the same on the inside."
Ralph slapped his face.
"Uh, same here." Ralph said. "Hey Felix, brother, you okay?"
Felix shook his head rapidly.
"Yeah, I'm fine now." Felix nodded.
"Well, this'll take some getting used to." Ralph said. "But I think we can handle it. Especially since you're still Baroness Boogerface."
"And you're still Admiral Underwear." Vanellope laughed.
Ralph laughed too.
So the four of them hung out for the rest of the evening. It was almost like nothing had changed, except of course other characters had noticed Vanellope's new look and asked about it.
Later on Vanellope had to get back for the Roster Race, so Ralph, Felix, and Tamora decided to go with her and watch the race from the sidelines. Vanellope ended up in third place, partially on purpose and partially because she was getting used to The Blender's new size in comparison to the track. Unlike Turbo Vanellope let other racers come in first place now and then, except when a gamer was controlling the karts of course. Vanellope had been deprived of racing for so long that she didn't care about coming in first anymore, she just liked racing for fun. So as long as she was on the roster she didn't care what place she came in, though sometimes she lost on purpose so that one of the racers who didn't end up on the roster that often would take her place.
The days passed. Ralph and Vanellope hung out as usual, with Felix and Tamora joining them now and then of course. Ralph had to admit that despite Vanellope's new look not much had changed. Since he was one of the strongest characters in the arcade he could still carry Vanellope on his shoulders, and Vanellope still liked doing the same things she did when she was a kid.
Something had changed a little though: Ralph was starting to want to hang out with Vanellope more than ever. Before he could handle being apart from her when the arcade was open, especially since he saw her a lot through their game screens, but now his heart kept feeling this painful twist whenever he and Vanellope had to be apart. He couldn't figure out what was going on with him, and the weirdest part was that it hurt more when he saw her through the game screens than when he didn't see her at all. Although to his relief, changing her code worked. She still looked like a kid through the game screen.
In Vanellope's case she just kept falling further in love with Ralph. It wasn't long before she knew that Ralph was the one. For one thing she couldn't imagine being with anyone else, and for another thing she always felt complete whenever she was with him. Plus she too felt a painful twist in her heart when she had to be apart from Ralph, and like Ralph it hurt more when she saw him through the game screens then when she didn't see him at all. Although unlike Ralph she knew why: because not being able to go to him despite being so close to him hurt more than not being able to see him at all. At least when she couldn't see him she could ignore how close he really was, but being able to see him made it hard to ignore.
All too soon, there was only a week left. Vanellope had been calm about the deadline before but now she was growing worried. Sour Bill came into her bedroom, where she was sitting on her bed. She was also looking at the photo of Ralph.
"President Vanellope?" He said. "I was wondering how things were going between you and Ralph. There's only a week left."
"I know, and things have been pretty much the same...unfortunately." Vanellope hung her head. "I don't know if Ralph has developed feelings for me or not. And if he has then he just hasn't realized it yet, or is scared to tell me. Oh Sour Bill what am I going to do? I've fallen hopelessly in love with him. If things don't work out..." She started to sob. "My heart will break."
"There there." Sour Bill put a hand on her leg comfortingly. "You two do have a special connection, I can see it. I'm sure Ralph does love you back and just doesn't realize it yet. Things will work out, you'll see."
Vanellope smiled gratefully at Sour Bill and hugged him.
"I hope you're right." She said.
"Would you like to race with another Racer or something?" Sour Bill asked after they finished the hug. "It might help you get your mind off your troubles."
"Thanks, but I'd rather be alone for now." Vanellope looked at the photo of Ralph again. "I'll come out for the Roster Race."
"Very well." Sour Bill bowed. "I'll come get you when it's time for the Roster Race."
He then left. Vanellope continued looking at Ralph's photo.
"Oh Ralph, if there was only some way of detecting how you really feel about me." Vanellope sighed. "Then I could help you realize your true feelings."
She sang:
Oh Ralph, you're a sweet guy
And you look so fine
All I ever wanted
Is to make you mine
Give me a clue
Tell me what I need to do
To get lucky with you
Ralph I really love you
With my heart and soul
Honey won't you take me
Where I want to go
Give me a clue
Tell me what I need to do
To get lucky with you
Getting lucky hmmm getting lucky
Is what's its really all about
Getting lucky hmmm getting lucky
Is something I can't do without
Honey I've been waiting
Waiting patiently
Let me unlock your heart Ralph
I think I got the key
Give me a clue
Won't you tell me what I need to do
To get lucky with you
Give me a clue
Won't you tell me what I need to do
To get lucky with you
"Please Ralph, just one sign." Vanellope said to the photo of Ralph. "Just one."