EPILOGUE

It took a while to explain. After a small argument with Tooth I got her to agree that the candy man could stay in the real world. I told them all about Sugar Rush and Turbo and... and Ella.

"Wait, wait, wait!" Bunny held up his hands. "You want us to believe you were sent to a children's video game to help a fake video game girl.

"She is isn't fake," I tried to stay calm. "And yes."

"He is telling the truth," candy man nodded. He seemed so contented to be back in the real world. Once we had convinced Tooth to let him stay he had calmed down. "Ask Toothina."

Bunny turned to the fairy with an incredulous look as did North and Sandy. She blushed and nodded. "I thought it fitting to trap the lord of sweets to a land of sweets."

"But a video game?" North asked. "Is a bit strange."

I shook my head and pulled a mint from my hoodie. "It was cool. I could've lived there forever if not for the... ya know, melting thing."

"Are you sure you're ok?" Tooth inquired, looking me up and down.

"Of course I am," I smiled. Bunny leaned forward and pulled something from the back of my head. "Ow!" I gasped.

I whirled around as Bunny twirled a lollipop in his fingers. "You might want to take a bath mate."

"Probably."

North directed me to the bathroom where I stood under the freezing water for a long time, letting the chocolate and anything else in my hair wash out.

North washed my clothes and I tried to keep a cheery face on but once clean and in fresh clothes I still felt dirty somehow. Guilt. It wasn't a new feeling. But I didn't know why I felt it.

The guardians had spread out, back to their homes. Flying over seas I kept wondering why I felt so bad. I had turned everything right, hand't I?

I walked into a closed shop through one of the open sky lights. It was late december almost a year since I had become a guardian.

Jamie had grown a lot since then and maybe I had to. he had offered to take me to this place many times but I always refused. I had never come back to this place since that day in mid spring. I'm not sure what kept me from it... fear, but of what I didn't know. Maybe I was scared she wouldn't remember me. Or maybe I hoped she wouldn't.

All around me I saw characters in their games doing things out of the ordinary. There was sonic arm wrestling a huge guy with an orange shirt and abnormally big hands. I saw pac man talking to princess peach and the list went on. all of the video game characters Jamie loved and idolized were finally being themselves.

None of them saw me but I didn't mind. I didn't expect anyone to, but either way i walked over to a giant pink game in the middle of the room and looked into the screen where I saw a happy bunch of kids on g carts.

There was one in particular I was looking for but I didn't see her. The land around the racers had changes slightly. There weren't so many guards and everyone looked happier. The candy seemed to be growing better.

The race ended and the speakers at the top declared "Vanelleope Von Schweets wins again!"

I heard the happy cry of a young girl and my heart melted. There she was. Her crazy dark hair hadn't changed a bit. Her blue-green hoodie was darker, covered in chocolate powder from racing so fast.

"Ella?" I said softly. Terrified faces turned to the screen and people- both candy people and racers- screamed and ran everywhere.

"No stop!" shouted Vanelleope over the noise. She looked back up at me and I saw that happy little face with the cherry red cheeks and big brown eyes smile up at me "There's no need to worry it's just my big brother."

I touched the screen and only the thin glass kept me from her hand "Hi Ella. did 'ja miss me?"

THE END

thanks for all your love. I'm sorry it took so long to post this one. I didn't get a lot of reviews for the last chapter :(

reviews for this one? (I know it's kind of short I did try to make it longer)