"First Hug" Pt.2 Vanellope's POV
It was time for the arcade to open. Part of me knew Ralph had to go back to save his game, but the other part of me wanted him to say. He couldn't return to such a terrible place; he just couldn't! Just because I got my happy ending, doesn't mean he had to go on without his! He deserves it just as much as I do! He then knelt to say goodbye, and I didn't know what to do. I looked up at him sadly and hesitantly. I had to do something. I had to give him gratitude for saving my life and my game. All I could think of was hugging him, but I didn't know if he'd accept it. I had never received any form of affection before because everyone here was afraid my glitch would infect them, hurt them, or worse. So I had never known what a hug felt like. But I wanted to hug him so much! I knew he wouldn't physically hurt me. He was too soft and big-hearted to do something like that! He may have been a giant, strong, and scary force to others, but to me, he was the sweetest and most gentle person I had ever met! So, with mild hesitation, I ran towards him and leaped up on his shoulder to give him the biggest hug I could. I grabbed his shirt tightly, while I squeezed my whole self onto him and nuzzled my head into the side of his, squishing my cheek into his shoulder. He then wrapped his hands around me in a gentle yet warm embrace. His hands felt so warm and safe. It was the safest I had ever felt in my life, like a huge blanket being wrapped around me, with a massive soft and steady heartbeat soothing me to serenity. "You know, you could just stay here and live in the castle," I told him. Snuggling deeper into his neck, and gently stroking his shoulder. "You'd have your own wing where no one would ever complain about your stench or treat you bad ever again. You could be happy" We then let go of each other, and I looked up at him with tears in my eyes, wanting him to say 'Yes', as he propped me up in his hands that I wish I could still be wrapped in, he told me that he was already happy because he had me, the coolest friend in the world. I blushed at what he said. He thought I was cool? No one had ever called me cool before... I was so touched. When we first met, I never would have imagined that such a grumpy brutish lout would deep down have enough compassion and kindness to not only help me achieve my dream but WANT me to be a part of his. He then said that even though it wasn't the fanciest job in the world, compared to being President, it was his duty... A BIG "duty" at that! That admittedly made me chuckle... As Felix called him back to the ship, he sat me down on the ground as we "Top Shelved" once more until he returned to show me worlds bigger than I could have ever dreamed of after being trapped for 15 years. As he left, we exchanged some ingenious nicknames, that will come up more often than naught in the future, and we waved goodbye till the ship was out of sight from Sugar Rush. As I walked away with the other Racers to prepare for the next race, I thought about all that had happened today. That not only did my dream finally come true, and that I was able to give and receive my first hug... But I had finally received the greatest trophy ever... my very first Friend.