Adorabeezle and the Aurora
Some might call the Sugar Rush racers LOUD.
They call them high-energy, they call them boisterous, they call them jumpy. All of them seemed to be chock full of energy and ready to go at a moment's notice.
All except for one.
Adorabeezle Winterpop was a shy little girl. The smallest of the racers, the youngest of the racers, Adorabeezle had a small little voice and a timid little demeanor. When everyone else was out and about, jumping here and there, she always remained hidden in the back, much too shy and scared to come out with the others.
With the exception of two racers, of course.
Snowanna Rainbau was a friend Adorabeezle knew she could confide in, someone who always had her back when things got tough.
But there were times when even Snowanna tried to break the racer out of her, as the rainbow racer so gracefully put it, 'Out of her frosty shell!'.
There was also Nougetsia, Adorabeezle's sister. Unlike her sister, Nougetsia was much more confident, much brighter, much more outgoing but she always had an ear to lend to her little sister.
But like Snowanna, Nougetsia would always attempt to push her sister forward, to finally break through the shyness that always kept Adorabeezle back.
As hard as they tried though, as hard as they worked it seemed like nothing was going to help Adorabeezle.
Even on the track, she could feel nervousness coming over her as she raced down the lanes of Sugar Rush. The sound of the karts, the rushing wind always made her feel better but there were times when her heart would begin to race, her hands would begin to shake.
Did the crowds think she was a good racer? Did they think she was the worst? She didn't know but the fear was always there with her. She had to concentrate on her racing, she had to let go of her fear! This was the thing that made her feel free!
*ZOOOOM!*
"ADORABEEZLE WINTERPOP TAKES SECOND!"
And sometimes, it did pay off.
The racers prepared to part their ways after another successful race but before they could leave….
"Hold up everyone!" shouted Candlehead, standing up on the stands, arms out and candle flickering bright.
"What is it, C-butt?"
Candlehead was grinning from ear to ear, a sure sign that she had something grand planned.
"Guess what's happenin' in a few daaaaays?" the racer chirped.
"C'mon, Candlehead. Tell us." Gloyd said in an annoyed tone.
"In a few days, tha Grand Aurora is gonna happen!" Candlehead said brightly, nearly unable to keep herself from hopping up and around "Ya know it's tha brightest an' best night of tha year!"
"Yeah, so?" said Taffyta.
"So I was thinkin', maybe we could all go up ta Powdered Sugar Forest!" the racer said, her candle throwing off great sparkles everywhere "We can all camp down there, have a party n' EVERYTHIN'! It would be GREAT!"
The racers all agreed; that would sound like a great way to spend the night! Soon, everyone was talking about the event.
Everyone that was, except for Adorabeezle.
"Powdered Sugar Forest?" she meeped, slinking down in the crowd. Before she knew what was going on, she rushed off to her kart and drove off.
"Beezie?" said Nougetsia "Wait, where are ya going?"
Adorabeezle tore off as fast as she could back towards her little home, flinging the door open and going into her room.
Oh why, oh why of all places and things? Powdered Sugar Forest? It might have been the best low-land area to see the aurora but near inches away (at least in Adorabeezle's mind anyway) there was a dark, jagged forest.
An extremely SCARY dark and jagged forest!
The very thought of the place made the little racer shake in fear as if there was one thing she hated more than feeling so painfully shy in front of her friends…
It was the dark.
Deep, horrifying, creepy dark.
"No, no, no! I can't!" the girl whimpered to herself, burying her head in her stuffed penguin "I can't!"
A knock was heard on the door but as Adorabeezle turned, she saw Nougetsia let herself in.
"What are you doing back here?" asked the older popsicle girl "You took off in a hurry."
Adorabeezle drew her knees closer to her face, her lip quivering "Nougie, I can't!"
"You can't WHAT?"
"I can't go to the party!"
"Oh, why not?" her sister smiled "When I do get you out, you always manage to have some fun. What makes this so much different?"
The small girl shook her head "It's just…it's just-!"
"C'mon, sis." Nougetsia smiled, her frosty cheeks lighting up. Whenever Adorabeezle saw that, she knew she was in safe hands. What reason did she have to hide things from her sister, a person she knew she could trust?
"Nougie…I'm scared." Adorabeezle sniffed "I-I know what that forest is like at night and…and even with an aurora, I would be too scared to enjoy it! An-and worse than that, what if the others see me acting so scared? Th-they'll just LAUGH at me the whole time!"
"Aw, no they won't!"
"Yes they would!" Adorabeezle cried "I know they would!"
Nougetsia held her sister close, realizing how upset she was. Adorabeezle was being serious in how she felt about the trip and as her sister, she couldn't just FORCE her to go.
But she could HELP her.
"Beezie?"
"Y-Yes?"
"I want ya ta know one thing…" the older girl smiled "You're not gonna be alone if you go."
"But-!"
"Listen ta me, lil sis. We're all gonna be there an' there is no way I'm gonna let some forest prevent MY Beezie from watchin' the best light show of the year!"
Looking at her sister, Adorabeezle began to fill with a sense of warmth and security.
"Nougetsia?"
"Ah-huh?"
"I-I want to go on the trip…." Adorabeezle smiled "But can you promise me it won't be so scary?"
"I'll do better than that!" smiled the older girl "I have an idea!"
The next morning, Adorabeezle woke up to a surprise. There before the house was not only her sister but Snowanna as well.
"What are you two doing?"
"We're about to have a lil fun this mornin'." Snowanna smiled, getting into her kart "Don't waste a beat! It's gonna be a busy day!"
Adorabeezle was a tad nervous as the girls took her to the village but soon they arrived at Candlehead's bakery. The place was busy as usual with Candlehead standing in the forefront as the little candy people walked around her.
"We hafta make sure tha cakes are ready!" Candlehead said, holding a large cookbook in her hands "We wanna make this trip SPECIAL!"
"Hello, C-Butt!" smiled Nougetsia.
"Great ta see ya!" Candlehead beamed "Thanks SOOOOO much for helpin' me out today!"
"What do you mean?" asked Adorabeezle.
"I just wanted ya to see what everyone is doing for this celebration." Nougetsia said "This event is supposed to be super special, Beezie so maybe if ya saw what was going on you'd see there's gonna be a lot more to tha trip than some scary forest."
Adorabeezle's eyes widened as she realized what was going on but a troubled feeling came over her, the same feeling that would arise when she felt shy, when she felt that she would do something wrong. It looked as if Candlehead was working so hard to prepare the goodies for the trip but what if Adorabeezle slipped up? What if she did something wrong?
She began to back away, feeling like running out of the bakery as fast as possible but she stopped.
She looked.
She couldn't just leave. These were her friends before her, her friends who wanted nothing more than to have fun with her. Her heart to racing, her hands still shaking, Adorabeezle began to see that she had nothing to be frightened about, at least not this time. She smiled up at Candlehead, taking her hands.
"L-Let's get started!"
It didn't take long but Adorabeezle was now helping Candlehead in the bakery, the two making star-sprinkled cupcakes for everyone who was going to show up.
"Do ya think this will do?" Candlehead smiled, handing Adorabeezle a cupcake. The tiny popsicle racer took a bite, the flavor wonderful.
"They're PERFECT!"
"GREAT!" Candlehead cheered, always happy to have someone approve of her baking. She then went over to the table and grabbed a large handful of cupcakes "Take them!"
"But C-Butt!"
"Ah-bah-bah! I insist!" the girl smiled, wrapping them up a pretty star-patterned cloth "An' use this ta carry 'em in!"
"Thank you, Candlehead!" Adorabeezle said cheerfully "Thank you so much!"
Not soon after, Snowanna took Adorabeezle to Swizz, the boy showing the girl his star maps and charts.
"Before the big event happens, there will be plenty of things to see!" Swizz pointed out on his map "The night will be so clear, we'll be able to see so many constellations that would be hidden on any other night!"
"So you'll be showing this to us?" asked the other racer as she looked up at the map.
"Of course!" the boy said, swelling with pride "In fact!"
Adorabeezle blinked "Hmm?"
Swizz dug around his supplies, tossing a few books and papers here and there.
"Ah-HAH!"
Swizz then returned, holding a small telescope.
"Take it."
Adorabeezle was astonished "W-What? For ME? REALLY?!"
"Yes!" smiled the boy "It would be prefect for you so you can see things better! Ya an' Nougie have the best view of the sky from your house anyway!"
This was too much; first Candlehead and now Swizzle? Everyone was being so nice!
"Thank you, Swizz!"
And as the rest of the day continued, Nougetsia and Snowanna took their friend all around Sugar Rush, showing Adorabeezle just what everyone was doing to prepare for the trip and along the way, she received a little token from everyone.
She got a mini camera from Sakura.
"To take all sorts of pictures with while we're there!"
She got a journal and pens from Taffyta.
"Write down what you see. You can draw too!"
Minty, Sticky, and Torvald gave her a little blanket they had made together.
"Some place you can sit!"
Rancis gave her a peanut-butter cup shaped canteen.
"Never know when you might need something like this."
Vanellope gave her a compass.
"To guide your way!"
Gloyd gave her a jack-o-lantern faced flashlight.
"Ya know, so it won't be TOO dark!"
Jubileena and Citrusella gave her a comfty little pillow.
"In case you fall asleep!"
Crumbellina gave her a first-aid box.
"It's always good to be prepared."
Before she left, Snowanna had given the girl a tiny silver harmonica.
"In case ya wanna join me when I play at the camp!"
Adorabeezle had never felt so happy in her life but she had also never felt so secure as well. She had always felt that the older racers saw her as nothing more than an annoyance, someone who got in the way, someone who couldn't keep up.
But with each one she visited, she soon began to see just how close they were.
And how close she wanted to be with them.
"So, what did you think?" asked Nougetsia.
"I can't WAIT to go!" Adorabeezle jumped up, her hands in the air.
"Hold on, here's one more thing…." The older sister said, reaching into her pocket and pulling out a tiny, penguin shaped bell "I got us matchin' charms. I think you'd like somethin' like this!"
Adorabeezle was just filled with warmth and love, holding the bell tightly in her hands. Her friends; they had done so much for her.
But what could she do for THEM?
A few nights later, the day had finally arrived!
"Are ya ready?" Nougetsia said, putting a few last items in her backpack "We're about ta head off!"
Adorabeezle made sure she had everything inside her backpack, checking again and again to ensure she had not forgotten anything.
"Almost, almost!"
"Sis, c'mon." smiled Nougetsia "By the time you're done, it'll be night already!"
"No, no I'm ready!" Adorabeezle chirped, rushing out the door before her sister "Don't be slow! I wanna see the show!"
How happy Nougetsia was at that moment. It usually took a lot to make her sister smile in such a way but to see her so excited about going out, to see that some of her shyness was being pushed aside and she was being more open?
That was something even better than the aurora itself.
The two drove along the path and found their way to the others. The entire campsite was already set up and the racers were all milling about, talking about this and that but most of all their thoughts on the aurora.
"They say THIS year, the conditions are just right to make the lights even BRIGHTER! The temperature is just right, the way that the reflective-GAH!"
Swizz flailed a bit, Minty next to him as she grinned, his cheeks pinched between her fingers.
"Egg-head, can't last ONE second without goin' full-nerd on us huh?"
"Urgh! MEEH-TEE!"
Adorabeezle remained around her sister and Snowanna but she smiled. This was just so much fun, so exciting. She remembered that only days before she was TERRIFIED to go, scared to view the sky near the forest.
But all that fear was quickly dying down, replaced by the laughter and sight of her friends.
She was happy, she was glad.
She was thankful.
"Ya okay, sis?" asked Nougetsia.
"Nothin' botherin' ya, huh?" asked Snowanna.
Adorabeezle smiled, her cheeks glowing a lovely shade of rose "I-I'm fine. Just fine!"
"Hey, Beezie!" called Vanellope "C'mon an' play volleyball with us! We need an extra player!"
Adorabeezle gave her sister an unsure look but the older girl nodded. This was HER chance to have fun.
"Here I come!" the little racer said as she dashed off to join the others.
Throughout the day, Adorabeezle had the time of her life. She played all sorts of games, sang so many songs, and took so many pictures. It seemed like there was always something to do, some more fun to have!
And Adorabeezle wouldn't have had it any other way.
The hours slowly ticked away, the sky growing dark as the countdown began. It felt as if everyone was on pins and needles, their breaths held.
"It's almost time, almost time!" chanted Jubileena, eyes up towards the sky "Eee! I can't wait to see the colors!"
Adorabeezle rose to her feet, standing on her tip toes to get a good view. She wanted to see it, she wanted to see everything!
But then-!
"HO-HOOOO!"
The girl felt a sudden gust of wind blow past her head, a great force knocking her on her bottom. She cried out, the others turning in shock as they watched their friend fall.
"Adorabeezle?!" said a concerned Nougetsia "Sis, are you okay?!"
Adorabeezle sat up, rubbing her sore head but to her graces, she didn't feel too bad. That was until she realized something was amiss. Something was missing.
Her hat.
"M-my hat!" she cried, both hands placed on her head. She turned back, watching a large Snowball Owl run off into the forest. She couldn't let the thing get away with her hat, not now! Before she knew what she was doing, the small racer jumped to her feet and tore off after the creature, the others left behind.
"Adorabeezle!" cried out Nougetsia "WAIT!"
The small racer was far too concerned at the moment to even hear the cries as she ran without thought into the woods, her eyes seeing the white feathers of the owl, her colorful hat clutched in his claws.
"Give it back! GIVE IT BACK!"
The owl responded not once to the sounds and continued to swoop through the trees. Adorabeezle wasn't going to give up. She wasn't going to let the bird ruin her night! She stopped and glanced around for a second, seeing a stray candy-cane branch by the side. She picked the branch up and aiming as best as she could.
"HO!"
BULL'S EYE!
Adorabeezle DID have a good pitching arm….
She hit the owl on its tail, the shock just enough to make it let go of her hat as it flew off.
"Gotcha!" the girl cried, happy to find her hat in one piece but as she looked around…
Where was she?
"G-Guys? Guys? Anyone?"
There were no voices, just the sound of the whistling wind.
Oh no.
Adorabeezle was lost.
And what was worse? She was lost in the Powdered Sugar Forest!
The girl felt a chill go up her spine was she realized the danger she was in. She had zigged, she had zagged but she still had no idea where she was. All she knew was that she was surrounded by the twisted form of dark candy-canes, their branches looming over her like jagged, boney hands. She whimpered, she shook, she tried to move back but each turn she made, she only saw more and more twigs, more and more darkness.
"Someone?! Anyone?! HELP ME!"
Her voice echoed but no one came.
Was this it? Was this how things were going to be?
Adorabeezle felt breathless as she looked about, not a sign of escape anywhere and only a dim bit of light from the skies above.
This couldn't be happening, this couldn't be so.
It was if her greatest fear was starting to come true all around her. She was lost, separated from the others and felt as if the woods were only growing darker and more closed in than before!
"H-help!" she said, her voice growing smaller "Nougetsia! Help!"
But again, there came no replies. Everything was silent.
The girl felt her entire body shaking as she collapsed to her knees. She leaned on a tree, crying softly without a clue to do. Why did she have to run off by herself? Why did she have to run so far?
Why, why, why?
Her hands covered her face, her sobs muffled. All she wanted to do was finally have some fun with the others, finally break out of her shyness but in doing so it felt as if things had only gotten worse.
"I-I just want to go back! I just want to go ba-!"
*Jingle!*
"H-Huh?" the girl sniffled as she looked towards her side. She then realized that her backpack still rested on her back and the sound she had heard?
It was the sound of the small penguin bell that her sister had given her.
Her tiny fingers still quaking, she reached out and touched it again.
*Jingle! Jangle!*
It was so nice to hear.
"N-Nougie?"
And then she remembered. She remembered the other things that were in her backpack. She quickly took off the pack and looked inside, so many things inside. Everything, all the trinkets from all her friends. It was then she began to remember. She began to remember how much fun she had with them, how much they wanted her to be with them. How much SHE wanted to be with them.
But again, the smallest item was the one that caught her attention the most.
The charm from her sister.
She knew right away that she couldn't just stay in the forests. She couldn't just sit by and shiver. She had to get back. She had to get back somehow.
"I-I can do this!" the girl said to herself as she forced herself back onto her feet and began to make the trek back. She took out the flashlight, shining it in the woods. She tried her best to take her eyes off the trees but after looking at them again, they didn't seem so scary to her after all.
"Th-they're just branches. They're just twigs!"
The candy-canes began to seem less and less scary the more she looked at them. She then took out the compass, trying her best to remember which way to go.
"If only I hadn't run in so many turns…." The girl moaned to herself but she knew she had to keep her wits about her. There was no time to fret and panic. She marched forward but her attention turned towards the sky. From what little she could see, she saw a few stars appear but no sign of the aurora.
"Did I miss it?" the girl asked herself. That couldn't have been; she knew she was lost but there was no way she could have been lost THAT long!
"I have to get back! I have to get back NOW!"
*Jing jing jing!*
Adorabeezle stopped in her tracks as she heard a familiar sound. It was like a bell, HER bell but it was much further away.
"N-Nougetsia?"
*Jing jing jing!*
Yes! It was her sister!
"ADORABEEZLE!"
"I'm here, I'm here!"
"ADORABEEEEEEEEEEEEZLE!"
The woods were vast and the girl knew that the sound was bouncing around from all directions. There had to be a better way to signal to her sister that she was there, that she was close.
But with what?
Her bell.
She still had her own bell!
Adorabeezle took the chain from her backpack and began to shake them, the bells twinkling loudly in the air.
"Can you hear me? Can you hear me?!"
*Jing Jing Jing!*
The sound was getting closer! They were so close!
Adorabeezle ran as fast as lightening towards the source, still shaking the bell as she ran.
"I'm here, I'm right-!"
"ADORABEEZLE!" cried out a happy Nougetsia "Oh, you're alright!"
Everyone in Sugar Rush couldn't have been happier as Adorabeezle ran right into her sister's arms. After so much worry, after so much fear, the group was back together!
"I'm so happy you're safe…." Nougetsia said, hugging her sister tight "Nothing happened to ya, did it?!"
"Nope, nope, nope!" smiled Adorabeezle "I'm fine!"
There was something to the girl's voice that surprised Nougetsia; she was sure that Adorabeezle would be much more worried after the events that had taken place but if anything, SHE was the one who was in a tizzy. Adorabeezle on the other hand was much more calm.
And it was a sight Nougetsia was happy to see.
"Is everyone ready to get back?" Adorabeezle asked "We wouldn't want to miss the show would we?"
"It's gonna take us some time to hike back down…" said Swizz, pointing towards the path "But if he leave now, then we should-!"
"Guys look!"
Everyone looked ahead, Vanellope moving further up the path towards an opening "Ya gotta check this out!"
"Vanellope, what is it?"
"It's the aurora!" the girl said as she pointed up towards the sky "An'-! An' it's BEAUTIFUL!"
As the others stepped out, they found that during their search Adorabeezle's path had lead them to the edge of a rather large hill and as they stood near the top they could see the aurora, shining brightly and beautifully over them.
The swirls of light flowed and danced through the air gracefully, their colors rippling together. The racers had never seen a sight so beautiful in their lives but what was the most astounding of all was WHO had gotten them to the spot in the first place.
Adorabeezle Winterpop
The smallest racer, the youngest racer, the shyest racer had taken her friends to a sight they had never seen before.
"Ya feel okay, sis?" Nougetsia asked, placing a hand atop the smaller girl's head.
Adorabeezle smiled, smiled bigger than she had ever done before.
"I'm great, Nougie! Just great!"