Ch.2

The next few days were quite uneventful. The arcade seemed to be functioning well, and every game character seemed to be happy. All but Ralph. Since he last spoke with Vanellope, she seemed quite suspicious since the last Random Roster Race. He realized that every time he saw her, she seemed to be spending quality time with Rancis, which made Ralph even more suspicious about her. He spoke to Felix and Calhoun, but they didn't know any business about the young munchkin. Ralph grew frustrated, making his way to Sugar Rush. There was only one person who knew Vanellope better than he does.

"King Candy, I need to speak with you." Ralph demanded.

King Candy jumped in his throne, dropping his book. How long have Ralph been standing in front of him, and how come Sour Bill didn't anyone inform him of his arrival? He looked at Ralph as if he just threw a bucket of cold water on him, before regaining his composure. He stepped down from his throne and put on a smile. "Ralph, what a surprise," he chuckled. "I wasn't expecting y-"

"Your candiness, I need to speak to you. It's quite urgent."

King Candy looked puzzled. "What is it that's so urgent, Ralph?" he asked. Ralph momentarily remained silent before asking, "You're daughter, Vanellope. Are there times when you get worried about her?" King Candy looked at Ralph warily, crossing his arms. "Well, as a father, of course I worry about her. Why?"

"Oh, just wondering. I just figured that you're concerned about your daughter, you'd take action, like a powerful ruler would do," he simply explained.

"Ralph, I'd really appreciate it if you tell me what you're rambling about."

"What I'm rambling about is that your 'little girl' is seeing someone, a boy, and I'm not comfortable about this, don't you agree?"

King Candy looked at Ralph for a moment, not quite understanding. "A boy? What are you- are you referring to Rancis?" He implied. "Well, what's so wrong about that?" Ralph frowned and shook his head. "Your candiness, you don't understand. Vanellope is still a tad too young to be dating, don't you think? I can understand if she's just friends with the boy, but dating is just above and beyond. I'm just saying-"

"What you're saying is that Vanellope cannot interact with kids her own age?" King Candy asked crossing his arms.

"Yes- I mean, no! I mean, I'm just not comfortable with the fact that Vanellope is spending quality time with him in particular!" he yelled. "Your candiness, can't you prevent Vanellope from seeing certain people?" he asked. King Candy shook his head and crossed his arms. "I'm afraid I can't do that, Ralph. If preventing Vanellope from seeing other people will give you a victory, then I won't help you." King Candy replied. Ralph remained quiet, not knowing what to say exactly. King Candy sighed heavily and looked at Ralph sympathetically.

King Candy frowned and looked at Ralph with understanding in his eyes. "Ralph, I know what you're thinking, but you must know something: Vanellope have to socialize with other people," the king stated. "You must comprehend that Vanellope and the other racers are only children."

Ralph grew silent and stared at the ground. He didn't know what to say. King Candy walked up to him and patted his hand.

"I'm sure she'll be fine, Ralph." King Candy assured him. "Just give her a chance.

"You're right, your candiness. I guess I was overreacting over her sake." Ralph looked up and smiled a bit. "I'm glad we had this little talk. Thank you for your time." Ralph grabbed the monarch's hand and shook it, before turned around and exiting the room. King Candy stared blankly for a while and smiled, adjusting his bow tie.

"Why do i have a feeling this isn't going to end well?" he mumbled to himself, sitting back on his throne and picking up his book, turning the pages.


"Gotta trust the kid. Gotta trust the kid." Ralph chanted to himself. He sat down at Tapper's and silently drank some root beer. He replayed the small talk with King Candy in his head, but it wasn't working. He sighed, pounding his fists on the table in frustration. He knew that King Candy was right, but can he help but to feel over-protective over the kid? She's like a sister to him, and he wasn't going to let some pretty boy come in and whisk her off her feet. For all he knew, Rancis could be the type of guys who sees several girls at once. What would happen to Vanellope then?

"What's wrong with you, soldier?"

He looked up and saw Felix and Calhoun sliding into the other side of the booth. "You seem down in the dumps today. And I don't mean that literally."

"Tammi," Felix silently scolded her.

"What? Just saying," she replied.

Ralph shook his head and ruffled up his messed up hair. 'I just came back from talking to King Candy. And-"

"Ralph you didn't!"

"I had to! You think I'm going to let the kid be around a boy at all times? Felix, she's nine!" He argued. Taking a swing of his drink, he wiped off the foamy mustache. "Besides, I'm doing her a favor. She thank me one day." To this Felix shook his head.

"So your goal is to keep Vanellope from seeing a boy?" he inquired.

"Exactly!" Ralph exclaimed.

Tamora joined in the conversation. "Don't you think that the girl might one day fall in love?"

"No. She's too young for a boyfriend. No kissing, no hugging, no touching, no looking at each other, no dating, and so on and so forth!" Ralph snapped. Felix glared at Ralph, irritation boiling inside of him.

"Ralph, she's only nine!

"Exactly too young."

"She's only bonding with a boy. Is that so wrong nowadays?"

"In my head, yes."

"Ralph, you're being insensible about this."

"I'm doing what I think is right, Felix, whether you like it or not!'

Felix shook his head and ran a hand through his hair and looked at his wife. "Tammi, help me," He begged. Calhoun sighed and set down her drink. "Listen, Wreck-it, Vanellope may be a little girl, but you can't keep her from doing certain things, or liking certain people." She advised. "If she likes someone, leave her alone. After all, she's still young. Cut her some slack." Felix nodded and looked at Ralph.

"Ralph, you have to remember that Vanellope is just a young girl-"

"Exactly, too young!" Ralph interrupted. By now things began to escalate from there.

"She's only bonding with a boy. Is that so wrong nowadays?"

"In my head, yes."

"Ralph, you're being insensible about this."

"I'm doing what I think is right, Felix, whether you like it or not!'

"Ladies, easy on the shouting!" Calhoun interrupted. "Besides, here comes the tyke now with the boy now."

They all looked across the bar and twisted their heads to neck a better look. There, making their way to a vacant booth was Vanellope and Rancis. They slid into an available booth as Vanellope called out, "Tapper! Two root beers, please!"

"I don't believe this," Ralph spoke softly, his eyes widened.

"Oh…my…land," Felix added, astounded.

Calhoun laughed at this. "Well, Wreck-it, seems like the kid and Mr. Handsome are getting along just fine." She teased him. But Ralph did not hear a word she just said. A fiery rage was burning in Ralph's eyes as he saw Rancis and Vanellope share a drink together.

"Pretty boy's going to get wrecked... hard," Ralph growled through his clenched teeth.