*Chapter 32*

The day after everyone's day long reset, Vanellope woke up feeling well rested. She cleaned hers and Taffyta's wing of the castle, hoping Taffyta would come out and join her before everyone went over to EZ Living. She knew it was still early morning, but she was eager to get to the beach. She walked down Taffyta's long hallway that lead to her bedroom, in her wing of the castle. She gently tapped on the door a few times before inviting herself in. Taffyta was snoozing away in her bed, sprawled and chaotic like always. She was in a big, orange night shirt. Her tan skin looked dark against her light colored bed sheets. Vanellope rolled her eyes and marched over to Taffyta's window, flinging the curtains open and letting in the morning sun. Taffyta immediately croaked a squeal and flailed her arms and legs to get under her big, poofy peach colored blanket.

"Vanellope von Schweetz!" Taffyta hollered sleepily, and angrily.

"C'mon, get up! We need to go soon," Vanellope laughed as she looked around Taffyta's room, "Your room looks like it threw up racing gear and everything Sugar Rush."

"That's only because you keep your room sprinkle-less," Taffyta groaned under her large blanket, "Anyone's bedroom is a complete disaster, to you."

"Not Ralph's," Vanellope laughed.

"That's legitimately shocking," Taffyta groaned sincerely as she quickly sat up, giving Vanellope a death glare; her white hair was ruffled and bent in weird ways.

"You look absolutely stunning, Taffy," Vanellope laughed as she looked down and weaved her way around the mess on her floor, "Will you marry me?"

"No," Taffyta barked as she glared at Vanellope still, her eyes sleepily closing.

"Come on, I'm bored," Vanellope whined, "And EZ Living is calling my name."

"Did you sleep at all during your day long reset?" Taffyta complained.

"Yes," Vanellope said, "I woke up about two hours ago and got some cleaning done. You look like you've accomplished quite a bit as well."

"Bite me," Taffyta spat as she remained still sat in her bed, her shoulders hunched with annoyance. Vanellope giggled and approached the edge of Taffyta's large bed. Big, peach and cream colored downs and pillows were strewn all over, her haven was housed in a creamy white bedframe, swirled with a marbled, girly touch.

"Which bikini of yours are you going to wear?" Vanellope asked curiously.

"Probably my red one," Taffyta said, her tone softening. She sighed and rolled her eyes, "Can you please not wear a t-shirt over your bikini this year? It makes you look horrendously huge."

"What? I like being comfortable," Vanellope blushed.

"You're such a tom-boy. Well, this year you have an excuse to show skin," Taffyta grumbled as she rubbed her eyes, "Besides, you won't want to wear a huge t-shirt while playing volleyball."

"Good point," Vanellope sighed, "I just don't like being so exposed."

"You'll be fine," Taffyta groaned as she got out of bed and slowly moseyed up to her bathroom, slowly shutting the door behind her,

"You'll fit in with everyone else on the beach."

"Another good point," Vanellope rolled her eyes and slumped her shoulders in defeat.

After a few long moments, Taffyta emerged from her bathroom in her beautiful light red bikini. Small, light orange swirl designs feathered her bathing suit. She had on a pair of mint green board shorts and a small, white tank top. Her white hair was thrown up in a messy pony tail. She rubbed her forehead and looked around her room; she grimaced.

"Yeah my room is a disaster, isn't it," Taffyta said quickly through grit teeth as she looked around.

"It's beyond that, Taff, you can't even see the tile," Vanellope laughed as both girls made their way towards her door.

"I'll clean it later," Taffyta smiled as she grabbed her bag, prepacked with all the stuff she will need for the beach, "I have all week."

"You said that last Spring Break," Vanellope said plainly as the two girls made their way to the main hall of the castle. They both peered down Candlehead's wing.

"Do you think Candy's awake?" Taffyta asked as she slumped her bag in front of the castle doors.

"Yes, she left right after I got up. She said she'd meet us there," Vanellope said softly with a smile, "Doesn't the surf competition start early today?"

"Yeah I think so," Taffyta said, "The volleyball tournament isn't for another hour or two."

"So we have plenty of time," Vanellope said as the two made their way to Vanellope's room.

"Well, we still have to sign up," Taffyta grumbled.

"I'm excited to kick butt," Vanellope said eagerly as she threw her fist in the air; Taffyta sat on the edge of Vanellope's bed as Vanellope vanished into her large bathroom.

"I think our butts are what's going to get kicked, quite frankly," Taffyta called as she yawned and rubbed her face.

"Oh well," Vanellope called, "It'll still be fun."

"Sonic and Tails are a really good team," Taffyta chuckled, "No two players can beat them, what makes you think we're going to?"

"Stop being such a downer," Vanellope barked as she emerged from her bathroom wearing a mint green bikini, lined with light pink licorice like fabric. She had on a pair of hot red board shorts that faded to pink from top to bottom.

"Oh, User, Vanellope," Taffyta laughed as she held her head in her hands, "We couldn't represent Sugar Rush more if we tried."

"What, do you want me to show up in all black?" Vanellope laughed as she threw a small, mint green short sleeved shirt on, "Sugar Rush: Hero's Duty edition."

"That'd be awesome," Taffyta suddenly pondered, Vanellope slumped her shoulders.

"Are you seriously considering this?" Vanellope whined.

"Yes!" Taffyta laughed as she stood up, she quickly rushed to Vanellope's dresser and rummaged through her few bikinis, "I know you have a black one."

"That was only for Halloween one year, Taff!" Vanellope squealed as she joined Taffyta at her dresser.

"Well, we'll surprise everyone if we show up in black," Taffyta beamed as she shoved Vanellope's black bikini into her stomach, she then quickly flew out of Vanellope's room, "I'll meet you downstairs!"

"Taff," Vanellope whined as she slumped her shoulders and stumbled back to her bathroom.

She pushed herself into her bathroom and gazed at herself in the mirror in a disgruntled way. She held up her black bikini over herself and bit her lip. She heaved a long sigh and rolled her eyes as she quickly changed into her black bathing suit. She gazed at herself in the mirror and shrugged with a small smile.

"Not too shabby," Vanellope breathed as she quickly put her board shorts and mint green shirt back on.

"Vanellope we're going to rock this!" Taffyta called from the castle's main hall, her voice echoing all over the place. Vanellope rolled her eyes and chuckled.

"Oh, NOW you're all confident!?" Vanellope called after her as she quickly left her room and met Taffyta downstairs.

"Black clothes are empowering, and we look awesome," Taffyta laughed as she lifted the strap off her shoulder, letting it snap back to her skin. Vanellope laughed and rolled her eyes playfully as the two quickly head for their front door.

"Felix," Ralph chuckled as he held Tammy in his arms; he gazed down at her curiously, "Is she hungry? She's gnawing on my shirt."

"I just fed her," Felix sighed with a tired smile as he rubbed his forehead, "I think she's having a growth spurt or something."

"How fast do these buggers grow?" Ralph asked curiously as he carefully held his niece. He and Felix slowly trekked towards EZ Living's outlet, their train ride to the back of the arcade was long and cramped.

"Well," Felix sighed as he adjusted their beach bag on his shoulder, "A month in our world is a year in the human world."

"Wow, like weeds," Ralph wrinkled his nose and gazed down at Tammy; she smiled a gummy smile and drooled on Ralph's shirt a little. Ralph chuckled and shook his head. He carefully held her upright into his chest with one of his large hands.

Ralph and Felix slowly moseyed into EZ Living. Both boys were wearing their swim trunks and a cover up t-shirt. They were immediately greet with hot sunshine and cool, ocean air. Gorgeous patches of tall palm trees swayed in the morning air, the sound of seagulls and happy gamers was more than abundant. Ralph inhaled deeply and smiled, but it quickly faded once he realized just how many gamers were there for Spring Break celebration. Ralph slumped his shoulders and gazed down at Felix with an annoyed facial expression. Tammy babbled and stared up at Ralph with curious eyes.

"Felix, there's no way we're going to be able to find a spot," Ralph gazed amongst the crowd, "Let alone find Vanellope and Taffyta."

"Do you think they're here yet?" Felix asked curiously as the two quickly began to walk down the long beach, looking for a good, uncrowded spot.

"I don't know," Ralph breathed, "With how comfortably Vanellope sleeps, I doubt it."

"Ralph, Felix!" Candlehead called from a few yards away. She ran up, holding a surf board, soaking wet.

"Candlehead, you made it!" Felix chimed happily, "Are Vanellope and Taffyta with you?"

"No," Candlehead chuckled as she wiped her face free of water, her long turquoise hair was drenched, "I think they said something about entering a volleyball tournament of some sort."

"THE volleyball tournament?" Ralph wrinkled his nose, "You mean the one Sonic and Tails never loses?"

"I think that's the one," Candlehead pondered, "Where's Calhoun?"

"I think she's going to meet up with us later," Felix sighed, "She's not really one for fun in the sun."

"Understandable," Candlehead giggled as she took a few steps back, the surf competition still going on, "I'll find you guys after the competition, good luck in finding a spot!"

"Thanks, see you!" Felix waved happily as the two boys continued on.

"We're going to need it," Ralph sighed as he looked around; happy, lazy people were everywhere, all chatting and hanging out with their friends.

"There's some space over there by the volleyball arena," Felix smiled, "I can't believe Vanellope and Taffyta are actually going to compete."

"I think Candlehead must've heard wrong," Ralph said as he looked up to the vast, blue sky, "Vanellope is competitive, but I don't think any sport that deals with a ball is her thing."

"Yeah, it doesn't sound like something she'd be interested in," Felix laughed as the two slowed to a stop in the middle of a fairly large, open spot on the beach, "Looks like we found a spot after all!"

"Good," Ralph chuffed as Felix spread a large blanket out.

"Alright, alright, I'm here," Calhoun suddenly barked as she moseyed up. She was wearing a rough pair of black board shorts, a black bikini and a black tank top. She had on cool sunshades as well as a scowl. She was holding a large umbrella.

"You don't look so thrilled to be here," Ralph laughed as Calhoun quickly opened the umbrella and plopped down on the blanket underneath it.

"Just count your lucky stars you guys actually got me to come out here," Calhoun scoffed as she took off her shades. Felix gave her a kiss on the cheek and beamed.

"I'm glad you decided to come," Felix smiled as he stood up and put his hands on his hips, setting the bag down, "It wouldn't be the same without you!"

"Oh I'm sure it would've," Calhoun sighed as she rubbed her eye a little.

"Ralph, you want to go with me to check out the volleyball tournament?" Felix asked with a smile.

"Sure, why not," Ralph asked as he gently handed Tammy over to Calhoun. A smile spread across her face for once as she hugged Tammy close to her.

"I'll see you boys later then," Calhoun chuckled as she waved them off.

"Do you really think Vanellope would be in the tournament?" Ralph chuckled, almost feeling nervous.

"I don't think so," Felix laughed, "I'm sure Candlehead just heard them wrong. Maybe they're going to go WATCH the tournament."

"Good point," Ralph chuffed.