Back in the mountain, Ralph had stepped outside to give the two girls some space, and to blow off some steam he still had after the big incident in Tappers. He would have to apologize to the bartender later for all the hassle he put him through.
Picking up a small chocolate pebble off the ground he began to chew on it while he thought to himself.
Vanellope was not this innocent little girl he had thought she was...but it was obvious that she still needed help standing on her two feet. He wasn't going to be able to be there for her like he wanted to be, he had too many obligations and too many people to look after in Niceland. Vanellope needed someone here for her. As much as it pained him, he knew Taffyta would have to be that person since Sour Bill clearly was lacking in the compassion department, and didn't protect her like he should.
It was hard for him to imagine, he thought Vanellope was going to be his little girl forever. Even though they just met, after everything that happened he considered himself like a father to the girl. He still couldn't fully comprehend the whole idea that Vanellope and Taffyta went out before he even knew her. He couldn't stop Vanellope from being who she was, he just wished she would slow down and stop acting so mature...she was a kid for goodness sake...
But was she really? It had been 15, almost 16 years since the game came into the arcade, and he wasn't really sure of when Turbo entered the game.
Vanellope didn't leave her game before, so not much was know of the ruler's identity outside of the gaming console. No one knew exactly what the ruler of Sugar Rush looked like back then. And this continued for a good amount of time. Then Turbo took over, and King Candy didn't leave the game much because he was obsessed with keeping others out of Sugar Rush. The only time he would go out was to go to Tapper's with some of the racers, which was where Ralph first met Turbo in his monarch role...but that was only a few years ago. What had happened before then? What history did Vanellope have?
This was something Ralph wanted to know, even if it was none of his business. He just wanted to keep Vanellope safe...he didn't want to see her brilliance burn out because of the others around her. He wanted to keep her that sweet but sassy girl he met on the top of the candy cane trees.
But he had to choice but to let her be who she was, even if it meant that Vanellope would change in his eyes.
-End Ch. 14-