((Okay, I got the votes from the previous chapter regarding a new name for Vanellope's kart. Two votes for Sweet Zipper, and two for Butterdream, so we got a tie. Other people suggested different names for her kart. If you wanna vote between the two names I got, you can, unless you have better creative names you can suggest, lol. Hopefully I can get a name for it by next chapter.

BTW, I won't be calling Vanellope's the Candy Kart, because that name is exclusive to the movie only and it was made by ONLY her and Ralph, and it happens to be a work of their friendship. Vanny's new kart for this story is different and it is made by her and Swizzle only))

Chapter 15

"I can't believe it!" Swizzle shouted.

He was sitting a good distance away from Vanellope, as they both sat on caramalized candy rocks in front of the diet cola lava pit. He had his arms crossed while Vanellope hugged her legs; they were refusing to look at each other in the eye.

"What did you think?" Swizzle demanded, he was fuming. "Do you actually think you'd MAGICALLY win the race because you really want to? Do you have any idea what you've put me through today? I went all over Sugar Rush looking for parts for you. I almost got burned alive by a rabid uni-candy-corn! ... What do you have to say for yourself?"

"I'm not saying anything to you!" Vanellope replied, still not looking at him. She picked up a small candy pebble and tossed it into the before catching it. "You wouldn't understand how I much I felt being mocked and bullied for fifteen long years. It isn't my fault why I existed this way!"

"That's the problem! You weren't supposed to exist in the first place!"

Vanellope launched the pebble into the stalactite and watch the Mentos fall into the lava pit, causing a gushing explosion as usual.

Swizzle threw another candy rock which made another Mentos fall, followed by another boiling geyser. This made him calm down and think clearly. He sighed, turning to Vanellope.

"Look, Vanny," he began gently. "Why did you want to go through the trouble to make a kart when you knew you couldn't drive?"

Vanellope sighed as she stared into the lava pit. "Well... I just thought that if I have a real kart, then maybe you and the rest of the racers would finally accept me, and let me be on the roster list with the rest of you."

She turned to Swizzle, glitching momentarily. "I know I'm a racer, I can feel it in my code."

"But why would you still keep trying, if you know the risks of you racing?" he asked.

Vanellope shook her head. "Swizzle, let me ask you something... why are you so desperate to win the Anniversary Race or being a great racer?

Her question took him off guard, but he answered without hesitation. "For as long as I can remember, King Candy has told us the purpose of our roles in the game is to only race and win," he told her. "I can't think of any other reason why I want to race, but I know it's in my code. I also want to be a winner so I can have parties thrown for me, people will compliment and respect me, and maybe even hang out with me! I'm just... tired feeling alone. But whenever I'm on the racetracks, I can feel alive and I can assure myself that I at least I had a purpose in this game."

"That's exactly what racing would do for me," she said, standing up. "I wanted to find something that gives my life meaning... and I'm willing to die just to have a chance to race."

The two kids stare at each other in the glow of the diet cola lava pit. Swizzle suddenly gets and idea. He stood up and then takes her hand, leading her to their karts.

"Wait, where are you taking me?" Vanellope asked.

"You'll see," he smiled. "But first, help me tie your kart to mine."

Swizzle's Tongue Twister towed Vanellope's kart into a secluded wooded area far from King Candy's castle and the royal stadium. Vanellope was getting impatient.

"Are we there yet?" she asked from her seat.

"In fact, we are!" Swizzle said as he cut the engine. "Welcome to my private training track!"

Vanellope was amazed to see what she just saw; a curvy track with peppermint fences to keep the karts from going of course. There are gumdrop stones and chocolate syrup puddles in random places of the track. Going down further, she can see a very steep ramp that leads to another the other side and between them is an extremely wide pit of sharp-looking peanut brittles.

"Wow!" she gasped. "So you trained here?"

"Yup, I found this place a long time ago and I used to come here to practice my skills, but I didn't need it anymore since I'm already talented enough," Swizzle grinned as he sets up Vanellope's newly created kart in the track. "Starting today, we'll be using this whole track to teach you how to drive!"

Vanellope jumped around ecstatically. "I'm gonna drive, I'm gonna drive!"

"Okay, pay attention," Swizzle said. "It's time for your first lesson."

Vanellope slides into her seat eager to experiment as soon as possible. Swizzle teaches her what the pedals and gear stick do, as well as buttons used for power-ups, to the best he can. It was really hard for Vanellope to learn how to drive because she keeps bumping into things and her kart often stalled every few seconds. However, she's an eager driver and is slowly making less mistakes.

As time went by, Vanellope is steadily zipping around the track, avoiding the gumdrops and the puddles. Swizzle is now in his own kart, driving alongside her.

"You're doing great, Vanellope!" he said.

"I told you, racing is in my code!" she exclaimed.

"How about a little practice race?" Swizzle asked, as his kart began to pick up the speed. He's starting to feel a little cocky. "Let's see if you can do this!"

The Tongue Twister took off like a rocket and it drove up the ramp which lead to the gap between where he is, and the rest of the track. His go-kart flew across the peanut brittle pit and landed safely on the other side. Swizzle then performed a sharp drift until he stopped.

"Whoa!" Vanellope stared with awe. Deciding not to be overshadowed by this show-off, she pressed the gas pedal and zoomed up the steep ramp. "Hey, Swizz, watch this!"

Swizzle watched as Vanellope went airborne... and then unexpectedly glitched higher which made her scream. Swizzle ducked, trying not to see what happens next.

However, her kart did not fall and she landed safely on the other side. Swizzle peeked up just in time to see her kart screeched to a halt right next to the Tongue Twister. She was breathless and her hair a little untidy after her first exciting practice.

"So, how did I do?" she asked, grinning.

"That was so wicked!" Swizzle gasped. "You did a good job on your first try. How does it feel to have that sweet adrenaline rush?"

"I like it! I can't get enough of it!"

"But you gotta keep that glitching under control," he said. "We don't want any more accidents, especially if you want to be in the roster."

"Okay, okay, I will! I just can't help it," Vanellope said nervously. "Just tell me... do you think I have a chance?"

Swizzle smiled at her. "What do you think?"

"YES!" Vanellope shouted happily, raising her arms in victory. "I'm going to race!"

"High-five!" Swizzle holds up a hand for her to slap. She high-fived him back. "Until the day of the Anniversary Roster Race, I'm going to teach you more driving lessons, as well as some tricks you can do in the race."

Soon, the two are now driving back to Diet Cola Mountain since nightfall is coming. It has been a very long and eventful day for them; Swizzle isn't interested returning to his old room at the castle any sooner while Vanellope is humming the Sugar Rush theme.

Inside the volcano hideout, they parked their karts side by side. Vanellope suggested that Swizzle should sleep beside her so they can share her bed.

"Nah, you don't need to," he chuckled. He was blushing because he had never slept next to a girl before. "Besides, I like sleeping on the dirt more..."

"Look, will you just do it?" Vanellope rolled her eyes at him. "Think of it as my way of thanking you for today."

He sighed. There's no way to change her mind. He kicked off his shoes and removed his beanie and jacket. The two kids grabbed their own candy wrapper blankets and snuggled on the bed. However, Swizzle turned on his side with his back facing Vanellope, so she wouldn't see him blush.

"When I win the 15th Anniversary Roster Race," Vanellope happily sighed, "I'm gonna treat Taffyta like the way she treated me... I'm gonna push her into the mud and call her names."

"Well, that is if you can win," Swizzle spoke up. He was glad to hear that they share a common enemy. "Once I get my hands on that Platinum Cup, I want Taffyta to bow down and kiss my feet whenever she sees me. Ooh, and probably make her eat live gummi worms!"

"You're nasty, Swizz!" she chuckled.

Vanellope sighed again and looked up to the ceiling of her home-made hut. She can feel her heart beating fast since the boy she's trying to figure out her feelings is now lying next to her. Maybe it wasn't a good idea after all, but what else can she give him after all the wonderful things has done for her?

"Today is the best day I ever had," Vanellope said. "I don't want to ever forget this. I finally got my own kart, I learned how to drive, and best of all, I got a cool friend... My life has never been this sweet until today. Swizz, do you think I'm dreaming right now?"

"Nah," Swizzle replied. "If this were a dream, I'd already won the anniversary race."

Vanellope yawned. "Well, I'm gonna get some shut eye. Good night, Swizz-Cheese~"

Swizzle snorted. He admit, he had a hectic day but it was fun; he got to learn more about Vanellope and he has never been this close to someone like a friend before. A small voice in the back of his head slyly suggested that he should try to be more than a friend...

He blushed again and slapped his face. He can't believe what he was thinking! He never had a steady relationship with a girl before and he's not thinking of starting one. Besides, he enjoyed dating the other Sugar Rush girl racers but only because he wasn't serious with them, and he only wanted them because he likes the attention.

With Vanellope, it's different... for some reason, she makes him feel good and comfortable. Despite being a glitch, he finds her the most interesting person he has ever known in Sugar Rush. He'd be lying that he couldn't admit that he's slowly realizing his new feelings for her.

But what if she doesn't like me? he wondered to himself. His mind is clouded with worry. After all, I ignored her and tormented her all these years. Just because we're on friendly terms now doesn't mean she wants to date me at the drop of a hat... Man, I wished I was nicer to her back then. We could have had months and years...

Swizzle could feel his eyelids getting heavy and then he drifted off to sleep, dreaming of his future glory, newfound respect from the other racers, and Vanellope.

Meanwhile in the lower levels of the castle, King Candy had closed the door of the Code Room after spending long hours hacking and pulling together some game codes. His green assistant Sour Bill is standing beside him.

"Are you sure it's okay to keep messing with the Code, sire?" he asked slowly. "It might make the game unstable."

"You worry too much, Sour Bill," King Candy giggled. He is holding up exactly fifteen platinum coins. He had difficulty creating them but it was all worth it. "My plan will go very smoothly, and there won't be any further trouble with our racers. This 15th Anniversary Roster Race will be going perfect!"

((Hopefully, I can upload the next chapter as soon as possible. Stay tuned!))