The Magical Bond Between Two Hearts Chapter 7

The Magical Bond Between Two Hearts

Chapter 7: Let's Go To The Racetrack!

Lucy's hand was warm within Ralph's as they made their way through the candy tree forest.  He almost felt himself turn red, being it the first time he had ever held onto a girl's hand.  It was silly of him that he would be embarrassed by the touch of someone else's hand.  He silently watched Lucy as she looked around, taking in all of the candy trees they walked past.  

Ralph suddenly remembered that since they were in Sugar Rush, that would mean that they would encounter Vanellope at some point.  "She would no doubt ask who she is and how we met." Ralph wondered how embarrassing it would be to be seen by Vanellope, her best friend, with a pretty girl like Lucy.  

Silence surrounded Ralph as he kept walking.  He thought this rather odd, seeing that the forest was always making some sort of sound.  Turning to the side he realized why.  

Lucy was gone.  

"Where did she go?!" Ralph panicked, worrying that Lucy had somehow got lost.  

He retraced his steps back through the forest, looking at every candy tree he went past.  

"Lucy!  Where are you?" Ralph called as he ran faster into the forest.  

He was running through for a minute before he stopped, looking in every direction to see if Lucy was there.  

"Where could she have gone?"

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"Finally, I can have some peace and quiet!" Vanellope sighed leaning against the trunk of a candy tree.  Having gotten away from her presidential duties for a breather, she felt relieved that there was no race for the random roster today.  Silently she wondered how her big wrecker was doing on his date.  

"I hope he doesn't cause any trouble with her.  Or that she doesn't cause trouble for him."

A loud yelp below snapped her out of her thoughts, making her glitch a little in surprise.  She looked down to find something hanging from one of the tree branches below.  Raising an eyebrow, Vanellope looked down at this thing, wondering what in the world it was doing there.  

"Hey!" she yelled down at it, "What are you doing hanging there?"

The thing flinched and turned its head up to look at her.  

"Oh." Vanellope silently gasped as she looked at the golden eyes of a young lady.  

She smiled at her, seeming to not mind that she was just hanging above the taffy lake that was right below her.  

"H-Hello." she nervously called, "I-I didn't know someone was up here."

Vanellope blew a raspberry, pushing some hair out of her face, "What did you expect?  Candy cane birds?"

The girl gave Vanellope an innocent, naive look.  Vanellope assumed she never heard that joke before.  

"You're not from around here, are you?" she asked the girl.  

She shook her head, "No...I mean I'm just visiting.  I-It's my first time here."

"Really?" Vanellope leaned down closer to the girl, "No wonder I've never seen you before..."

She raised her eyebrow again as she looked at closer at the girl.  For some reason this girl looked familiar...as if she had seen someone like her the day before.  

"Hey, you look familiar girlie." she said, "Are you sure you've never seen me before?"

The girl looked at her closely, still having not noticed that she was still hanging from the branch.  

"I don't think so." she replied slowly.  

They stayed silent only staring intently at each other.  

"Um...girlie.  You know you're hanging by a thread on that double-striped branch."

Vanellope pointed down to the branch she held onto.  

"Oh, right!" the girl exclaimed.  Slowly she hoisted herself up onto the branch, then jumped up onto the candy branch Vanellope sat on.  Just then the double-striped one she held onto broke and fell into the taffy puddle below, dissipating before it hit the puddle.  The girl looked down at where the branch used to be, apparently surprised and intrigued by the fate of that branch.  

"Whoa, I could have fallen with that branch!" she laughed, causing Vanellope to nervously glitch a little.  

Now Vanellope could see fully what the girl looked like.  She wore a very odd, short golden dress that flowed each time she moved.  Her light brown hair covered the left side of her face, hiding one of the big golden eyes that stared curiously at her.  

"You're...just a little kid." she whispered amazed.  

Vanellope gave her a stern look, "Yeah, I'm a little kid.  But just because I'm a kid doesn't make me cute and innocent.  I happen to be the president of this game." she smirked as she straightened herself and crossed her arms.  

"Really?  That's amazing!" the girl squealed jumping once on the branch.  

Vanellope looked at her annoyingly and rolled her eyes.  Man, she's a little more stranger than me.

After the girl stopped jumping up and down in excitement she cautiously sat gingerly on the candy branch.  She looked back at Vanellope, who was shifting from foot to foot nervously.  

"So...what's you're name if I might ask girlie?" Vanellope eyed at the girl.  

She fidgeted a little, shifting where she sat.  She said nothing, suddenly looking away from her, as if she was embarrassed.  Interesting. Vanellope thought.  

"My name is Lucy." she said bashfully still looking away, "What's yours?"

"President Vanellope von Schweetz." she stated putting her hand out for a handshake.  

The girl looked back at Vanellope, then she stared at her extended hand.  

"Well come on!  Haven't you ever seen a handshake before?" Vanellope said annoyed.  

"Oh, sorry." she apologized, taking her hand and gently shaking it a few times.  

Vanellope chuckled loudly, "I'm guessing you're not a 'people person'."

"No, I guess I'm not." Lucy giggled happily.  

When they finished their handshake, the two girls sat on the branch in silence.  Lucy sighed, looking out onto the rest of the forest.  Vanellope could not take eyes off of her.  

"I know I've seen her someplace before...but, where?" she thought about it a long time, looking at Lucy as if she was already well acquainted with her.  

"Well...Lucy right?"  

The girl nodded still gazing out on the landscape.  Vanellope then developed an idea.  Though she hoped it wasn't true.  

"You...don't happen to know a certain friend of mine do you?" she stated slowly, a smile spreading across her face.  

"Friend?" Lucy asked tilting her head.  

"Yeah.  You know...people that are close to you.  Friends." Vanellope put her hands on her hips, still very annoyed.  

"Oh.  You mean a person who you are around with a lot?"

"Exactly." Vanellope huffed, "She finally gets it!  Took her long enough."

"I have a friend."

Vanellope looked back up at Lucy, who was brightly smiling now.  

"He helped me face my fear of walking in the dark...well sort of." Lucy sighed.  

"Is that so?" Vanellope muttered.  

Lucy nodded, looking over now to the racetrack in the distance.  Vanellope looked in her direction, realizing what she really wanted to see.  

"Can you...take me to the racetrack?  I've been wanting to see the racetrack ever since I heard of that story--"

"Story?  What are you talking about?" Vanellope interrupted cocking an eyebrow upward.  

"Oh!  You know the story of the one that game-jumped to this game?"

"Well..." Vanellope paused thinking back to what stories she had heard.  Game-jumped?  She doesn't mean...

"I-If you don't know that's fine." Lucy fidgeted nervously.  

"Actually...I was there when it happened." Vanellope stated slowly.  

"Really?!" Lucy squealed again, her smile growing wider than she had ever seen.  

"Y-Yeah I was." Vanellope stammered.  Then she developed another idea.  

"But...tell you what, I'll lead you to the racetrack and tell you how I know on the way.  In return though...I want to know more about you." Vanellope held her hand out for the handshake deal, "Deal?"

Lucy looked at her hand once more, hesitant to reach hers out for Vanellope's.  

"Deal." she beamed as she quickly grabbed Vanellope's tiny hand and shook it twice.  

A huge grin came across Vanellope's face.  She gestured the girl to follow her down the candy tree.  

"Okay, be careful when coming down.  It can be dangerous, so just follow what I do."

Lucy nodded as she followed her branch by branch down the candy tree.  When they finally reached the bottom, Vanellope skipped and hopped across the gumdrop stepping stones one by one, until she reached firm ground.  She watched Lucy follow suit, hopping not as quickly as Vanellope had, but was careful not to fall in.  She stumbled a few times but recovered as she finally found her feet on solid ground.  

"Come on then girlie!  Time's a wasting!  Let's go!!" Vanellope called as she skipped on her way towards the track.  

"HEY!  WAIT FOR ME!" Lucy called back as she raced to catch up with her.  

Vanellope could only hope that this girl was not the one who Ralph was talking about.  Oh please just let it be another girl.  

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"I can't believe I'm actually going there!" Lucy smiled as she caught up with the little girl Vanellope.  

She looked down at the little girl beside her wondering how in the world she had become a president of this game.  

"So..." Lucy started after a moment of walking silently, "You said you were there when it happened right?"

The girl looked up at her.  "Yes, I was." she said sincerely, "I found him trying to get a medal of all things!"

She gave a small chuckle.  Lucy cocked her head a little, her curiosity taking the best of her.  

"Anyway...he was trying to get back his medal he earned from another game, and I managed to take that medal to enter in the random roster race." Vanellope continued, "Then he wanted it back, so I offered him the deal--"

"To get his medal back if he helps you build a kart and win the race." Lucy finished.  

She stopped walking and turned to look at Lucy head on.  Lucy realized what she had done, covering her mouth in embarrassment.  

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to...I mean it's just...."

"It's okay girlie.  You don't have to apologize." Vanellope smiled warmly.  

She took one of Lucy's hand in hers, the little hand grasping tightly onto Lucy's.  She started to pull with anticipation.  

"Come on, come on!  The racetrack's this way!" she exclaimed pulling Lucy along with her.  

At this Lucy smiled and hurried along with the girl, until they reached a little hill leading downwards to the track.  

The girl let go of Lucy's hand and gestured out onto the scene below, "Miss Lucy, I give you the Sugar Rush racetrack!"

She couldn't believe her eyes.  The track was so much more amazing than she imagined.  
In rows of three she saws miniaturized go-karts that fit about the size of a kid.  Each one was different in design.  One had a pink triangular design that looked very much like a lollipop.  Another one was designed like a green slice of cake, with the candles sticking out to the sides of the kart.  There were many more karts, each designed in its own way.  

The archway finish line beyond the karts was more magnificent to behold.  A white and pink checkered strip lay below.  The arches of the finish line led up to a huge, golden trophy at the top.  Around the trophy she saw tinier karts go around it like a carousel ride.  She took it all in, glancing in awe at one thing, and the next she gazed in amazement at another.  It was all so beautiful to her.  

"Amazing." she gaped in awe still taking in everything.  

"Well, that's the thing about big race tracks, they are pretty big." she heard Vanellope say.  

"Then...can I ask you something?"

"Wait a minute, girlie!" Vanellope interrupted making Lucy flinch, "You still got to tell me more about you."

Vanellope gave her an annoyed stare, causing her to be a bit nervous.  She had never told anyone about herself before, on top of that she did not have any social conversation with anyone in a long time.

She fidgeted her hands, clasping them tightly and letting them go nervously.  Suddenly Lucy looked down at her arm and realized that her arm that was once blackened, was not so black anymore.  Most of it had disappeared!  In the corner of her eye she saw Vanellope's expression turning into concern.  

"Hey, are you okay?  You don't look so good."

Lucy turned around quickly to face her, "I-I'm fine, don't worry about me.  I-It's just...I haven't spoken to...a-anyone else...for a long while...." Lucy felt her throat turn dry as she got more and more nervous.  

"Oh, it's alright!  Besides, I'm not much for conversation either." Vanellope smirked playfully.    

Lucy looked at the little girl, standing with her on the edge of the hill looking downwards on the racetrack.  

"Well...okay.  It's...it's gonna sound a little weird, but I...I am a magical girl." she held her breath waiting for her to react.  

Vanellope just looked back at her in silence.  Then quite suddenly, she busted out laughing.  Lucy flinched, surprised at how she was taking this.  But she desperately hoped she was taking this well though.

"I'm sorry girlie, I couldn't help it." she chuckled after the long laugh, "I've never heard of a magical girl before."

"You haven't?" Lucy said taken aback.

"No, not particularly." Vanellope straightened up, looking back at her with happy tears still in her eyes.  She wiped them off onto the sleeve of her hoodie.  

"I see.  Well...I could tell you, if you want." Lucy hesitated looking expectantly at the girl.  

She stared at her with her big hazel eyes, making Lucy nervous.  "Yeah.  I would, since I've never heard of a magical girl before."  

Lucy blinked at her response.  A smile spread across her face once more.  She was willing to try again.  

"Alright, let's see...a magical girl, is someone who has special powers." Lucy began.  She sat down to Vanellope's level where she could see her more clearly.  

"You mean...as in magic, not special abilities?" Vanellope asked moving closer.  

Lucy thought for a moment, hesitating.  "Well...yes I guess you could say that."

She smiled a sweet smile, urging her to go on.  

"Anyway these magic powers are used to push away any darkness or evil, such as..." Lucy gulped nervously before continuing, "...as shadows."

"What are shadows?"  

Lucy became very nervous then.  She never really talked about the shadows to anyone openly.  They were always a bad sign, and did not want to put this girl in any danger.  "But...she wants to know.  I...guess it couldn't hurt."

"They...are creatures that don't take on any real shape or form.  These shadows can keep changing their appearances according to what they want to appear as..."

"Then...could they turn into people like us?" Vanellope asked her.  

"Well, the thing is...I've never seen one that's taken a human form." Lucy responded hesitantly, "I guess they only take the shapes of creatures or animals.  Like...they are not human at all."

The two of them stayed quiet, the sound of the Sugar Rush theme song playing all through the game.  Lucy listened to the song, intrigued by the language it used.  But what really intrigued her was that somehow she could understand what the words were.  She then found herself humming to the tune, her head swaying back and forth to the beat of the music.  

"Hey girlie, do you know this song?" she heard Vanellope ask.  

"No, not at all.  But for some reason...I can understand what they are saying." Lucy looked back down at Vanellope, her eyes having grown wide.      

"Hmm..." Vanellope hummed thoughtfully, "You are indeed--strange...but not as strange as my friends."  

She clasped Lucy's hand again, "So...what is it you wanted to ask me about?"

Lucy looked over to the racetrack, wondering now if indeed it was possible to do what she had in mind.  She looked back at the little girl, smiling brightly.  

"May I...with your permission of course... go racing on this track?" Lucy brightly asked.  

Vanellope gave her a shocked expression as she stared back at Lucy, her hazel eyes having gone wide again.  

"OF COURSE YOU CAN!!!" she exclaimed loudly.  

Lucy flinched, surprised by the outburst.  Then her smile grew wider.  

"You would really let me?!!" Lucy replied loudly to match her voice.  

"Yeah, of course!  You're not as bad as you look."  

Vanellope crossed her arms, examining Lucy from top to bottom.  

"You do look like you would be a great racer...except you're older and taller than the others." she chuckled, still examining Lucy, "But I think you'll do."

"VANELLOPE!"  

Lucy flinched, turning towards the sound of another little kid running up towards them.  She was just about Vanellope's height, except her hair was white and she wore pink opposed to Vanellope's green hoodie, brown skirt, and candy-dirtied hair.  

"Hey, Taffyta." Vanellope called waving to her as she closed the gap between them.  

"Do you know where Candlehead went--oh!" she turned, finally noticing Lucy.  

Lucy began to feel awkward, not knowing if this girl was friendly to strangers.  What do I do?  What do I say?  

"Taffyta, this is Lucy." Vanellope pointed at Lucy, "She's going to race with us today.  See if she's got the material to be a racer."

Taffyta narrowed her eyes as she stared Lucy down.  Now Lucy was beginning to feel as if she was not wanted around.  Then Taffyta gave her a sliver of a smile.  

"I think she's got the material." Taffyta winked giving her a thumbs up, "Can't wait to see what you've got."

With that Taffyta walked off, leaving Lucy and Vanellope alone once more.  Lucy still could not get over the nervous feeling.  Like there was something wrong.  

As she was contemplating what she could possibly think was wrong, something whizzed just right past her ear.  Giving a surprised yelp Lucy quickly got up just in time to dodge another one that was flying toward her head.  Looking over she saw that Vanellope had quickly moved in front of her.  "But it was in an instant...how did--"

That was when Lucy noticed that blue pixels were surrounding her completely, but only for an instant she caught glimpse of it.  

"Who's out there?!!" Vanellope's voice boomed.  

Lucy was surprised that this little girl was a lot braver than she looked.  "No wonder she's President of Sugar Rush."

"I know you're out there, ARCHER!!" she yelled.  

Lucy gasped as an arrow came whizzing past the two of them, hitting the arch of the finish line below.  Then out of nowhere he jumped out in front of them, his bow raised and pointed straight at Lucy.  

"Hello there, Miss Lucy." Archer smiled.