((Here's the newest chapter. Anyway, my sister made a suggestion that Vanellope's new kart would be called the Sweet Van, because it's a pun of her name Vanellope von Schweetz. Should I go for that or choose the different name I picked before?))

Chapter 17

"Your Candyness!" Swizzle gasped. He fearfully looked around to see if Wynchell or Duncan were nearby ready to arrest him. "How long have you been standing here, waiting for me?!"

"Just five minutes ago, Swizzle! I'm so glad you returned safe and sound!" King Candy happily said. "Don't worry, I'm not here to arrest you or anything. I came alone~"

Swizzle stared at him, flabbergasted. "But... I broke your rule again! I game-jumped!"

"I know what you did, my boy. ... But even though I should be angry and disappointed that you deliberately disobeyed me again... " King Candy paused, his mouth formed into a sad smile. "... I was just glad to see that you've returned safe and sound."

"You were actually worried about me?" Swizzle asked.

"Of course, I am!" the king said. "You and the rest of the racers are like my own children!"

Something what King Candy said triggered a memory in Swizzle's mind. He was reluctant to ask, but he mustered up the courage. "Hey, King Candy, I got something to ask and I should have told you about it earlier... when I first game-jumped, some bartender named Tapper mentioned a princess ruling Sugar Rush when this game was first plugged in. Now, I don't remember everything that happens in this game, but I could have sworn that we have never heard of or seen a princess living around here before... Does she really exist, and is she a racer like us?"

Swizzle saw King Candy fidgeted and casting side glances, as if he's trying to find the right words to answer the questions. His expression turned melancholic and he sighed deeply.

"Come walk with me, my boy," he said in a pained, low voice which Swizzle noticed and is curious about the king's sudden change of behavior.

They walked away from the tunnel until they reached King Candy's kart that was parked nearby. King Candy sighed again and turned to Swizzle; he seemed reluctant to tell the young racer something.

"To answer your question regarding the existence of this mysterious princess you mentioned earlier," he spoke up in a strained voice, "I have to say yes. There was a princess who existed here in Sugar Rush."

"Was?" Swizzle repeated.

"She... she no longer existed. She was also my daughter," King Candy said. His round eyes were forming tears. "It happened back on the first game was first plugged in, my daughter was one of the playable characters and she was a very excited and curious child. Too curious... She wanted to leave my game and see what Game Central Station was like. Since I was her father, I let her go and made her promise to come back before the arcade opens." King Candy paused, trying to keep his composure but his lower lip was quivering. "She... she never returned, Swizzle. There was a fatal accident..."

Swizzle couldn't believe what he just heard. There was a racer and princess who existed in Sugar Rush, but she was gone on the same day Sugar Rush was plugged into Game Central Station. He then noticed a terrible realization: tomorrow's event won't only be the anniversary of the game, but as of the death of the late princess.

"Now I see why you were upset that I game-jumped," Swizzle said in a low voice. "Even if I were careful, you still didn't want me to end up the same way like what happened to your daughter."

King Candy sniffs as he takes out a silk handkerchief from his coat and blows into it, making a loud honking sound. Then he returned his attention to Swizzle.

"That's right," he said, smiling weakly. "There's a reason why the contestant board at the stadium shows sixteen spots instead of the usual fifteen. We have been missing one extra player for many years. Now I have a request for you... Never leave the game again."

Swizzle hesitated for one whole minute but he eventually nodded. "Alright, Your Majesty."

King Candy gave Swizzle a big smile and tucks away his handkerchief. "Now, what happened to my daughter is all in the past now, but I know she'd expect me and everyone else to move on. Anyway, the main reason I was looking for you is because I want to give you this!"

He whips out a shiny platinum coin, the same one he made when he hacked into the code room. Swizzle takes and inspects it with wonder.

"Each racer must throw this into the trophy cup at the stadium later today to register for tomorrow's Anniversary Roster Race," King Candy told him. "There's exactly fifteen coins for all fifteen of us, no more no less. It's important that YOU must register to play with this coin, and if you somehow lose it... Then I'm afraid you'll no longer race. But once you register and cross the finish line, you will never have to pay another coin to race. That means, no pay but all play! Hoo hoo!"

Swizzle mentally made a headcount, and he realized that if Vanellope wants to race, there would be sixteen racers but no platinum coin for her to register. She won't be an official racer, and crossing the finish line without the payment won't register her as playable. In fact, what if she made it to the roster list without a coin and the gamers couldn't pick her? They'll think the game is broken...

Swizzle realized what he must do. He bid King Candy good-bye and then he walks back to his own kart.

"See you at the stadium tonight, Swizzle Malarkey!" the king waved a hand, looking more cheerful than usual.

Swizzle returned to Diet Cola Mountain and saw Vanellope was busy crafting something in her little shack. She noticed him entering and quickly hid small project behind her bed, and then ran to him.

"Hey, Swizz, what took ya so long at Game Central Station?" she asked, grinning from ear to ear. "I thought you were taken hostage or decided to live another game!"

"Nah, I had swell time," he replied. "Listen, King Candy came to me and gave me this."

He showed her the platinum coin and told her what's the purpose for it. Vanellope was silent and she looked at him with concerned eyes.

"Swizzle, there's only sixteen of us and only fifteen coins," she said slowly. "How am I going to race when I can't register myself a coin?"

"You are going to race tomorrow," Swizzle said to her in a firm voice. Then he placed the coin in her hands. "You'll be registering with my coin."

Vanellope's mouth dropped as she looked from the platinum coin to him. "But, Swizz! I can't take this, it's yours!"

"No, I've done my share of racing already," he said in a soft voice. He smiled. "This is your only chance to shine. Besides, maybe in the next fifteen years, I'll try and register to another anniversary race..."

He stopped talking because Vanellope wrapped her arms around him. She hugged him so tight, which made him blush tremendously.

"I will never forget all the things you've done for me," she told him. "When I become a racer tomorrow, I will find another way to get you back on the track."

"You'll really do that for me, Vanellope...?"

The two kids pulled away and stare deeply into each other's eyes under the glow of the diet cola lava. Vanellope's cheeks were red and she was twiddling her fingers; Swizzle thought it was weird to see her act all shy but he held her hands to reassure her.

"What is it?" he asked her.

"It's just," she began. "Days ago, I thought I was alone because I thought I shouldn't exist. Now, my dreams are coming true tomorrow. For the first time... I don't hate myself for being a glitch."

Their faces were inching closer. At this moment, they didn't care of what will happen tomorrow, what anyone would think or say about them, or their future together. It was just the two of them right now.

Before their lips can touch Vanellope suddenly glitched, causing Swizzle to glitch as well since he was holding her hands. Swizzle saw flashes of code and memories he has never had before, but they moved too fast for him to see properly. When both kids moved away from each other to stop glitching, Swizzle stare dumbfounded at Vanellope. For one second, he thought he seemed to know her somewhere... However, he quickly forgot about and he chuckled nervously.

"That was some kind of spark, eh?" Swizzle smirked, rubbing his neck awkwardly. "Well, shall we spend the rest of the day practicing your skills before you enter the platinum coin?"

"Huh? Yeah, that'll be perfect!" Vanellope quickly nodded. She made a huge grin. "Oooh, I wanna challenge another race with you before that!"

Swizzle snorted. "I won't lose this time, Vanilla Pee!"

"Whatever, Swizz-Cheese!"

She then slides into her kart, trying to clear her thoughts but she was still grinning to herself. Sure her glitching ruined their moment, but she's still happy to know that she almost had her first-kiss. Then she began to worry if there'll be another opportunity where she and Swizzle will try again...

"Hey, Vanny?" Swizzle spoke up, interrupting her thoughts. He had hopped into the Tongue Twister and started up the engine. "It's nothing really important, but have you figured out a name for your new kart yet?"

Vanellope turned to him. She seemed proud about something. "Yeah, I do..."

Hours later, the arcade has now closed. The racers zipped up to the starting line in their candy and pastry go-karts as the crowd cheered. Hidden in the shadows between the stalls, Vanellope and Swizzle peeked out and saw the racers gathering in front of King Candy's podium.

"Just in time," Vanellope whispered excitedly. She pulled up her hood and put on her red goggles.

"Go for it, Vanny!" Swizzle wished her luck.

He then hopped into her messy kart and drove up to the starting line where he received disgusted and odd looks from a few passerby.

"What's up with your new kart, Malarkey?" Taffyta smirked nastily. "Did the Easter Bunny threw up on it?"

Rancis and Candlehead laughed, but Swizzle didn't care. He just wants to make sure everyone, including King Candy, to see him and assume he's going to register with his new kart when in reality, Vanellope will pop out of the shadows and enter herself instead. He can't wait to see the looks on their faces!

He joined up with the others as King Candy gave his usual speech but with some differences. Soon, it was time to throw in the platinum coins. King Candy went first, then Taffyta followed by Gloyd and Adorabeezle, and so on. When it was Swizzle's turn, he just moved aside and allowed a mysterious hooded figure to step forward.

King Candy covered the microphone and leaned over to Sour Bill. "Who's that last one?" he asked. Then he realized something was wrong. "Why didn't Swizzle throw in his coin yet?"

Vanellope knew this was her chance. She gave Swizzle's coin a kiss for good luck and tossed it into the air. It rolled around the rim of the pot before finally dropping in. She held her breath and while Swizzle crossed his fingers.

The racer's name appeared on the board. The announcer boomed, "SWIZZLE MALARKEY!"

"WHAT?!" Vanellope and Swizzle screamed in unison.

"That's... that's impossible! You threw it in!" Swizzle said.

Taffyta came up behind Vanellope and roughly pulled her hood down. Everyone gasped when they learn the identity of the hooded figure revealed.

"It's the glitch!" Taffyta growled.

"Vanellope?!" King Candy exclaimed in horror. He then asked Sour Bill, "How did she get a platinum coin?"

"Must have stolen it, or someone gave it to her," Sour Bill muttered grumpily.

King Candy realized what's going on. "Swizzle! I should have known all along, it was so obvious! The weird kart... the mini games... He was doing it all for her! I bet he even gave her that... coin..."

His voice trailed off in a eureka moment. He then remembered something and he began to laugh, much to the confusion to his subjects. He peered down at her with a smug smile.

"You silly girl!" he giggled. "Apparently, nobody gave you the memo that the platinum coin only recognizes the code of someone who has won a race before!"

Taffyta threw back her head, laughing and seeing how dumb Vanellope looked, standing by herself speechless. The other racers, minus Swizzle, followed Taffyta's example and they began to laugh.

"I'm afraid you're out of luck, Vanellope!" Taffyta told her haughtily.

WHACK!

Taffyta fell backwards in surprise, and she was caught by Snowanna and Gloyd. The racers fell silent when they saw who punched her. It was Swizzle.

"Don't you ever laugh at her again, Taffyta Rottenfudge!" he threatened her. Even Vanellope was shocked to see what he did.

"You... you hit a lady!" Crumbelina yelled, appalled.

"What lady?" Swizzle replied cheekily.

Unaware to everyone, something happened in the board which began to glitch up a bit. The platinum coin which Vanellope threw in had finished recognizing Swizzle's code, and it began to register another name it recognized...

The board lit up the last racer's name. "VANELLOPE VON SCHWEETZ!"

((Oh, my a cliffhanger! And it also looks like Swizz got suckered in by King Candy's speech earlier. But this won't be the last time he was fooled by a lie...))