"It's about time you woke up," Calhoun said wryly, "Gave me quite the scare when you stopped moving." I'd have kept panicking if not for the loading bar on your file..
"It's good to be back," Felix said cheerfully as he suddenly hugged her tightly, overcome by emotion seeing her again with all of his memories restored. I love you so much..
"Let's not celebrate too early, we still have to worry about this Dunderson character," Calhoun said wryly as she hugged him back, "And while you were sleeping, I found this key in here as well. Not sure what that's about." She was holding a tiny file with a key icon on it.
Felix looked at it curiously. What's it go to? I guess it doesn't pay to ask though, since she literally just said she doesn't know.
Calhoun floated over to her file and placed the key inside. A key generated in her hand. I thought that's how it'd work..
"Guess it goes to this box over here," Calhoun said as she floated over to what resembled an ammo crate. She unlocked and opened the box. "A memory for Markowski.. Is that it? Somehow I'm disappointed." She merged it into Markowski's memory file. "Alright, let's go find Ralph. Who knows what kind of trouble he's been getting into with Vanellope squared." That'll get a little confusing with two girls named Vanellope..
Somewhere over in Sugar Rush 2, Markowski suddenly remembered getting surprised from behind after nearly preventing Set and Jet from breaking into the code room.
Markowski and Spears were having lunch outside with Candlehead and Jubileena at 'Cafe DiCaramello', an indoor/outdoor restaurant. It used to be just a cafe that served coffee, tea, and sweets, but it expanded to include a larger menu over the years. It was a nice place with glass surfaced tables with metal frames. At each table was a large white umbrella with brown swirls to provide shade. The building itself was made of smooth white chocolate drizzled with milk chocolate and a caramel door. The corners of the building were bricked with dark chocolate.
"Are you okay, Leon?" Candlehead asked as Markowski briefly glitched when the memory returned. That looked a little painful..
"Yeah I'm fine, just remembered something that happened a while back, nothing important though," Markowski said after taking a sip of coffee with cream and lots of sugar. Otherwise he finds coffee undrinkable.
"You could have told me earlier I had stuff drawn on my face, you know," Spears said with a sigh. Not a good way to make a good first impression. Sheesh, and then there's the fact that they practically saw me naked. I'm surprised they can look at me with a straight face.
"You were wearing a helmet," Jubileena said with a laugh, "Besides, it's not like it was anything indecent." Like when you were just in your underwear.. I hope you don't think I'm being mean..
"I can't believe Sarge let that guy become a racer though," Spears said with a frown, "Well, as long as he doesn't do anything unnecessary it should be fine." At least the guy who was controlling me is dead.. He was the last one eating, a partially eaten lemon tart was still on his plate. At first he didn't expect to be all that great, but he could see himself coming again for another some other time.
"Well, we'll see how it goes," Jubileena said with a sigh, "I don't know if I can trust someone who used to control people though.." I'm not so convinced Jet is suddenly a good guy, but I'll at least give him a chance to prove himself. I'm sure I'd feel differently if he had actually taken over the game though. Either way, it's not like he can take over games anymore thanks to King Candy erasing those memories.
In Sugar Rush 2's code room, King Candy(1) floated over to where Ralph was to see why he was unresponsive. With a concerned look in his eyes he waved a hand in front of Ralph's open eyes. He looked over into the 'Guests' Memory' directory where Ralph was digging through and saw that his memory was at 2%. It slowly ticked ahead to 3%.
"Guess that's normal then," King Candy(1) said reluctantly before closing Ralph's eyes for him and floating off. It wasn't long before he finally located Vanellope's file. He hesitated for a moment before opening it. It's more ordered than expected, despite it having character data for two. "Vanellope, I found it. You should be the one to do it after all.. Vanellope?" She's passed out. This is worse than I thought.. So I've really got to do this then. Developers, please don't let me mess this up.. "Zombie, could you keep an eye on Ralph and Vanellope for me?" This isn't right. The game is forcibly merging the two of them into one entity, trying to work out which of the two it should prioritize..
"Yes!" Zombie said, "Zombie have faith in Candy Kane."
At the same time, inside Vannie's mind. Her and Vannie were having a heated discussion, seemingly in Sugar Rush's Junkyard, surrounded by jawbreakers.
"Well this is just great," Vanellope said sarcastically, "I like you and all, but I don't need to have anyone else inside my head.." I'd like to have my body to myself, thanks. You can keep yours.
"It's not like I wanted it to be like this either, you know?" Vannie said with a sigh, "It's your game's fault this all happened."
"Look, we can toss around blame all we want," Vanellope said, "But in the end, one of us is going to disappear.."
"Oh? How do you figure?" Vannie asked incredulously. Don't be ridiculous..
"Well I mean think about it," Vanellope said somberly, "It's been all you out there for a while now, I've just been swimming around in here unable to do anything. I can't see any other outcome here. But that's fine though.. Ralph probably can't choose one of us, but in the end this is what he needs.." He's such a numbskull. He's holding himself back because of me..
"What? No it's not!" Vannie said incredulously, "How can you even say that?" He needs you more than me, if anything.. I accessed a few memories I really shouldn't have, so I know that for sure..
"Yes it is! He's been eyeing you up for a while now. Don't think I didn't notice," Vanellope said insistently as she blinked away her tears, "It's all my fault that he's being such a numbskull about it. He's so stuck on the fact that we've got the same name and similar appearance that he's having a hard time seeing us as two people, just like this stupid game here." She sniffled. "It's for the best that I just disappear.. It's not like I want to go away.. I love Ralph too." He's practically my dad.. "He's an amazingly good guy.. but I just can't make him happy the same way you can. Besides, Sugar Rush did just fine without me for 15 years. The players won't even notice I'm gone." I know he'll miss me a lot. But that's what you're here for.. "I know you love him. Just accept it.."
"I'm saying it's not like that!" Vannie said insistently, hugging Vanellope tightly as tears streamed down her cheeks, "You're right, it's something he has to work on.. But it's exactly because Ralph loves both of us that you can't just disappear like that. Do you honestly think that he'll be happy if you disappear? That he won't carry a wound in his heart for the rest of his life because he failed to protect the one he loved most? If anyone has to disappear, it would be me, but I have no intention of letting myself go either. Ralph needs both of us, otherwise we wouldn't even be here in the first place."
"It's not really our choice to make," Vanellope said weakly as she pulled herself away, "Look, see? I'm already fading out." Her entire body began to slowly disappear.
A nearby jawbreaker broke in half as Vanellope finally disappeared entirely.
"No.." Vannie said as she fell to her knees.. It can't end like that..
Vannie and Vanellope woke up, completely separated.
Zombie was hovering above them, watching like a hawk. "They awake!" he yelled before backing away and floating around. Floating around in zero gravity was an interesting experience for him, to say the least. King Candy(1) floated over to where they were.
"Dear, you're going to have to have your father fix your code once you get back," King Candy(1) said softly, looking Vannie in the eye, "I did what I could, but your game might not recognize you as a racer, or even a character from your game until he does.." I'm sure I probably messed up somehow. Hopefully he has an easier time of it than I had..
"Thanks, Dad!" Vannie said sheepishly as she hugged him tightly, "Oh.. Well, you know what I mean.." She released him and floated backward slightly. "Where's Ralph?" I'm so glad she didn't disappear.. I wouldn't be able to cheer Ralph up after that.. How could I possibly have done something like that?
"He.. He's," King Candy(1) said before clearing his throat, "He's over there, taking a nap." He pointed in the general direction Ralph was in. You could say that, at least..
Vannie swam over to Ralph as Vanellope stayed back to talk to King Candy(1).
"I'm sorry!" Vanellope said as she tightly hugged King Candy(1), "Thank you! I just.." I don't really know what I can say.. I should have trusted him as soon as I saw him earlier. King Candy from Sugar Rush 2 should have made it obvious I can trust him.. I wish I knew sooner he was suffering all this time too.. I could have maybe done something about it. If only I had gone back to Diet Cola Mountain with Ralph the next day after Turbo was destroyed, we could have made up sooner.
"It's okay," King Candy(1) said softly as he hugged her back, "You had every right to feel the way you did after everything that happened."
"You can have your job back if you want it," Vanellope said sheepishly as blinked away more tears, "Just don't bully Sour Bill too much, he might go ballistic." She chuckled. A stupid pun..
"I need to apologize to Sour Bill as well. Poor little guy.." King Candy(1) said, "I know you want to see Ralph, so I'll leave you three alone. Just don't let him wreck anything else." He laughed and left the code room with Zombie. I guess we should just wait in the hall.
The two girls hovered around Ralph as he slept.
"I told you so," Vannie said with a sheepish grin. I almost thought you really would disappear though..
"Yeah well, so what?" Vanellope said with a sheepish chuckle. I'm glad we got separated okay..
A few minutes passed and Ralph finally woke up.
"Mmm.." Ralph mumbled. Oh, come on! It was getting to a good part! He slowly opened his eyes. Double vision.. Focus, focus.. Oh. He smiled warmly at the two girls as they rushed him.
"Ralph!" Vanellope and Vannie yelled as they hugged him tightly.
"I uh.." Ralph said with a nervous chuckle. I don't know what to say, honestly.. He simply hugged them back. I'll find the words later..
"How's your brain?" Vanellope asked wryly.
"Aside from the stink?" Ralph asked jokingly, "I'm good.. I was thinking.."
"That's dangerous," Vannie said with a laugh. I hope it's good news for me..
"Can I maybe call you Vannie?" Ralph asked Vannie, "I mean, just to make it easier, you know?" I don't know how to just come out and say it..
"Hmm.. Well I don't know," Vannie said mischievously, "What do I get in return?" That's a nudge in the right direction..
"Okay, well.. How about lunch?" Ralph asked sheepishly, "Just the two of us." You know. Like you wanted..
"Deal!" Vannie said as she kissed him on the cheek, "I'll hold you to it!" So he's saying yes, right? He's going to go out with me, right?
"Blehhh," Vanellope said while rolling her eyes, "I think I'm gonna be sick.. No, but really. I'm happy.. Let's get out of here already, this place creeps me out." Well, Ralph came around, I guess. Even better. Go get 'em 'Vannie'.. I like that nickname. It suits her.
"So where's King Candy?" Ralph asked as they floated toward the exit, "I've gotta thank him." He really came through, it seems.
"I'm over here!" King Candy(1) said with a laugh as he waved from the exit of the room, "You're welcome!" Now if we can just get this door fixed!
"Zombie here too!" Zombie yelled.
"Thanks, Zombie," Ralph said, "It's good to have you around."
"This door is really going to be a problem, you know.." King Candy(1) said with a sigh, "You said 'Felix' will fix it, but where is he exactly?"
"Oh.. Sorry about that," Ralph said softly as he looked at his knuckles which were still bleeding slightly, "We'll go look for him now if you want.."
"Please do!" King Candy(1) said. Otherwise I can't really leave this spot..
Ralph, Vannie and Vanellope left Sugar Rush. All the while Ralph was being quizzed by Vanellope on past events they shared together.
Author's Note: Some of you may remember that locked box Markowski found way at the beginning. I kept forgetting to find a good way to work that in, but what happened with it this chapter was intended all along. It's just kind of late to help anything.
So there we have it, everyone's memories are restored and romance is beginning to bloom. If you're curious about King Candy(1)'s side of things, that was written in one of my other stories, 'Zombie Candy'. But if you're curious why they're successfully split up, let's just say that King Candy was able to tinker with the code enough to make a guest directory. Somewhere for files of non-native game characters to be saved to so that it didn't happen again (such as other characters from Sugar Rush 2 visiting). It's not the solution King Candy would have gone with, but it certainly helps.
I'm not sure if I'll end up rewriting Zombie Candy in this style. If I do it will be a long while from now.