"Watch out for sweet seekers, those pack a real punch," Vanellope says, breathlessly ticking off advice on her fingers. "And if you start to spin out make sure you turn into the spin, and oh yeah you get a boost at the starting line if you hit the accelerator just as the last yellow light turns green."

Zelda nods and pulls her borrowed goggles down over her eyes: there's the light, and her kart's engine roars to life, the kart leaping forward, and she opens the throttle and laughs and laughs, unrepentantly eager for every new adventure this world has to offer her.