Hello, dear readers!
It's been thirty seven years again, hasn't it?
I'm v v sorry, but here's your long awaited update!
A very talented author, Miss Wipplesnit, asked to be a co-author for me! She did a very good job and wrote this chapter, so I hope you all enjoy it! Please visit her profile and read her other fics as well as leaving a comment here!
Sometimes you just need a friend
Vanellope dived into the bushes and hid there, the leaves rustling over her head. She daren't breathe as she heard the racers pull up.
"Meh. We'll get her again tomorrow. Teach her for coming onto the track in game time." She heard Taffyta spit, and then Pink Lightning drew away, followed by all the others.
As soon as she knew they were out of earshot, Vanellope broke down. She stumbled out of the bushes and fell to the floor, dragging herself into a sitting position with her good arm. She inspected her right arm, the one that Taffyta had got – it was twisted, but nothing that wouldn't repair.
She felt tears sting her eyes. Why couldn't they just like her? Why couldn't they accept her? She tried her very hardest to be like them – she was always rejected. Recently, their bullying had become even more vicious. Before, it was only name-calling and teasing, but now… well, here arm was enough proof.
She drew her knees up to her chest, and buried her face in them before she started sobbing. She only had herself in this world, and she knew that – so she had to stay strong for herself. She just had too.
But it was so hard.
Crying properly now, she let the tears roll over her cheeks freely, her vision blurring. The little sugary droplets soaked her tights, but she didn't care.
No one in this game wanted her… She wished she could go somewhere else. She wished she could go to some of the other games she could see, like DDR and Whack-a-Mole. But she couldn't, because of that stupid barrier that stopped her every time she ever tried to get out.
But her deepest desire was to race. As a natural racer – and she was sure she was one – she had a need for speed that the karts she made herself would just not satisfy. Watching the others race though… even if she hated the people in the karts, she loved their speed. She loved watching hem zoom by. But occasionally, she got a little to close…
And bam. Cue the screaming. Cue King Crazy shouting at the guards. Cue the dirty looks from the other racers. And then … cue the torment. The jeers, the names, the shoves, the hits, all of it. Jut for one second of speed.
By now, her face was red and blotchy, her eyes bloodshot and puffy. She kept sobbing, and, try as she might, she just couldn't stop the flow of tears.
But then, suddenly, she felt something. Something was sniffing around her right hand, which was lying, limp and useless, on the floor as her code repaired it. She blinked the tears away and was astonished.
Smelling her hand was a small devil dog, more of a puppy really. He didn't have a collar – he obviously wasn't palace property. He looked nice enough though; when he saw her look at him he bounded up onto her knees and licked her face.
The little girl giggled, surprising herself. She hadn't been happy in a while, but this little dog was so cute.
He jumped off her knees, and then pulled at her tights. Laughing now, she stood up. "Alright boy, alright, I'm coming – where d'ya want me to go?"
He bounded up to the foot of the path near the bushes that were her savior's; a tall path that led up and round the hill.
Vanellope cracked a grin. "Alright, then!"
Together, they ran up the hill, Vanellope's twisted arm ignored as it glitched and twitched. The last part of the hill was extremely steep, but with a little fancy footwork they managed to get up.
The little puppy got to the top first, and then turned to bark excitedly at her. "I'm coming, I'm coming!" The girl chuckled as she pulled herself over the top. "Wow, that was some climb! I—wow..." She stood up, and turned to stare at the view before her.
She could see nearly all of Sugar Rush from this hill, from the far off beaches and coves to the small village just beneath her. Their world glowed with a sweet aura, and, for once, Vanellope was proud to be a citizen of such a beautiful place, even if it was only as an outlaw.
She plopped to the ground, letting her feet dangle over the edge of the steep cliff, and smiled as the little devildog next to her climbed into her lap. It looked up at her.
"This is some view, ain't it?" Whispered Vanellope to the little dog, who barked in approval. "You need a name. What should I call you? How 'bout Herman?"
The puppy bark again, wagging its short tail. "You like that? Herman it is then!" Said Vanellope.
Herman head-butted her stomach affectionately, then yawned. After circling her ap a few times, he flopped down and fell asleep.
"Sleepy, huh?" Yawned Vanellope, "Me too."
She leant back, careful not to disturb him, and then looked down one more time at the little dog on her lap.
"Thanks Herman." She breathed. In his sleep, Herman wagged his tail.
Vanellope was happy. She couldn't remember the last time she'd been happy. Then again, she couldn't remember the last time she'd been around someone who liked her.
But sometimes we all just need a friend.