Work Text:
"The sky was the was blue, the sun was shining, a cool breeze blew past and the clouds looked so pretty... just like cotton candy. It was a perfect night for a race. Days had raced past since I became Princess Vanellope Von Schweetz. Well, I guess I mean become Princess once again. I'm sure you already know the story... I was Princess and then my game got taken over by King Candy A.K.A. Turbo whom erased everyone's memory - including my own - and then reprogrammed the game so he was King. He also tried to erase my code but instead that turned me into a glitch. To prevent the game from being reset when I crossed the finish line he then banned glitches from racing to "protect everyone". I was unable to race and humiliated. The other racers bullied me whenever they could. The only sanctuary I could get was hidden inside the diet cola mountains near the diet cola hot springs and a seemingly unfinished bonus track. although if I could have left the game during those times of torment I would have, but alas, glitches can't leave their games. The life of hiding and being bullied lasted until one night Wreck-It Ralph appeared. After stealing his medal and entering a race with it (finally) I was able to convince Ralph to help me become a real racer. We had a few little hiccups along the way such as learning how to drive a kart, creating a kart, that whole misunderstanding where he betrayed me which then caused me to land in the Fungeon and finally, when the Cybugs almost destroyed the entire game. In the end, everything worked out and now, not only am I princess but everyone's being nice to me... the only issue with this is: them being nice is a bit of a problem for me.
"I can't believe it, you won again! No, wait I can believe it. I mean you ARE the best racer... and our princess." Taffyta said. Taffyta had raced to my side the moment the random roster race ended. Candlehead and Rancis were walking behind us a few steps. "Hey, I know you've been busy but we would still like to hang out with you sometime. Is it possible you can spare a few minutes to hang out with us?"
She asked me that every night after the race. Today was no different. "Actually, I'm still working on that project, so I can't tonight." I answered her question the same as always. Then before she could object I ran off towards Diet Cola mountain.
Oh, by the way, the project I'm working on is real but I like working on it alone in the comfort of the place I used to call home. No one can bother me there and I can work on completing the bonus track in quiet.
Running through the secret door to the Diet Cola Hot Springs, I run for and spring onto my bed which I remade after the game reset. I don't know why but I feel like the Hot Springs don't feel as comfortable without them. "I'm home again." I say out loud to myself with a giddy smile on my face. Then I hear something that catches me off guard.
"What do you mean by home?" I sit up straight and swing my head to look at the entrance only to see Rancis in the entrance. My secret home had been discovered. I would no longer be able to escape here. I looked down in shame and then I feel the bed sink down a bit more as I turned and saw Rancis sitting beside me. I looked at him shocked. "Hey now, what's with that look?" he questioned me and I immediately looked away. We sat in silence for a moment until he asked me a question. "So, this track is your secret project? A bonus track?"
I look back at him shooting him a curious glance and then responded. "Yeah, this is it... my project." I finish my sentence and almost immediately advert my eyes back off of him and onto the track in front of me.
"It looks pretty good so far. If your doing this alone than this is extremely impressive. I do have a question though? Why are you avoiding us for this?" I wasn't looking at Rancis but I could feel his cautious and sympathetic gaze on me.
"Well, everyone just started acting nice to me after years of bullying because I'm the Princess. It's as if people are pretending nothing happened, and everything is okay. I'm not okay with this. I'm not used to people being nice to me. Whenever it happens it just feels... faked. And that makes me feel... Ugh." I say starting to rant my true feelings to that racer next to me.
"Well, what about me? Right now?" He asks me.
I look back at him and meet his gaze. His eyes look gentle and his voice seems true. "With you, I don't know, I guess you're okay. I don't think you're lying or faking anything with me at least." I respond.
He smiles at me and warm smile and hops off where we were seated. "So, how can I help?"
I smile back and go grab to hammers and throw him one. "We can start on the ramp, maybe?" Then we both walk off the work on the project together.