Chapter 4: Friends and Family
Night had fallen over the Magic Kingdom, bright stars twinkling around a pale, full moon. In one section of the Kingdom, the land gave way to an expansive sea, with white, sandy beaches leading into the gentle lapping surf. A few palm trees grew out of the sand, their broad, shady leaves blowing gently in the sea breeze.
Sitting beneath one of the trees were a pair of girls, Sofia and a girl of Polynesian descent with long, black hair and wearing in a red, floral dress. A short distance away from them, Vanellope sat by the sea, looking out over the ocean as the waves crashed against the beach a few feet away. Laying in her lap was a strange, blue furred creature that was roughly her size. It had large, black-tipped ears and equally large black eyes. Its mouth also seemed large for the creature, filled with sharp teeth and a long tongue that lagged out the side comically as Vanellope scratched the back of his head.
Sofia watched Vanellope for a few moments, worrying her bottom lip as she did, before turning her attention towards the girl sitting next to her.
"We should do something," Sofia said quietly.
"I know, but what?" the other girl questioned.
"I don't know, Lilo," Sofia admitted with a sigh as she buried her face in her hands, "I just don't know what to do."
"Maybe Dash will know," Lilo suggested, "You called him too, right?"
"I did," Sofia confirmed with a nod, "I don't know when-"
The sound of rushing wind met the girls' ears a second before an object approached them at breakneck speed, appearing as nothing more than a blur of motion and color. A second later, the object came to a stop next to the girls, kicking up a small cloud of sand as it slowed. A moment later, the cloud dissipated, revealing a boy roughly the same age as the girls standing there, his blond hair swept back from his face.
"Hey guys," the boy greeted.
"Hey Dash," Lilo and Sofia replied in unison as they brushed sand off their clothes and out of their hair.
"Where's…." he began to say, before he looked over to where Vanellope was sitting. His gaze lingered on Vanellope for a few moments before he turned his attention back to the other two girls.
"How long has she been like this?" Dash questioned.
"Since what happened today in her game," Sofia answered as she played with her hands nervously, "I've tried talking to her but….well, you know how she can be sometimes."
"Have you guys tried finding Ralph?" Dash suggested.
"He's busy doing something," Lilo explained.
"Vanellope made a point to tell us not to bother him," Sofia added.
Dash looked back over at Vanellope, smiling slightly as he watched her scratch the furry creature's stomach.
"Stitch seems to be cheering her up," Dash observed.
"A little," Sofia agreed, "But she's still clearly upset over what happened."
"Alright," Dash said with a nod, "I'll try talking to her."
"Good luck," Lilo commented, earning a snort of amusement from Dash as he began making his way across the beach towards Vanellope. Stopping next to the girl, Dash looked out at the ocean and listened to the waves crash against the shore.
"Hey," Dash said after a moment had passed, causing Vanellope to glance up at him as if she had just noticed he was there.
"Hey," Vanellope replied before she turned her attention back towards Stitch as the creature let out a pitiful whine.
"I heard you had a bad day," Dash stated off handedly.
"I guess," Vanellope answered with a shrug as she continued to scratch Stitch's stomach absentmindedly, not looking at Dash as she spoke.
"You want to talk about it?" Dash suggested.
Vanellope sighed loudly as she let her head fall back and hang loose.
"Sofia just doesn't know when to quit, does she?" Vanellope questioned as she glanced over at Dash.
"Can't say I blame her," Dash answered with a shrug, "She is, like, your best friend and she's clearly worried about you."
"What about you, Dash?" Vanellope questioned as she put on a mocking voice and fluttered her eyelashes at the boy, "Are you worried about me?"
"I'm worried you don't have enough brain cells to keep your body running if that counts?" Dash replied, earning a snort of amusement from Vanellope, "But seriously, do you want to tell me what happened?"
"...Not particularly, no," Vanellope answered with a sigh as she turned her attention back towards the ocean, "I just kind of want to forget today."
"Well, forgetting something doesn't mean it never happened," Dash pointed out.
"Look, I get you want to help," Vanellope said in annoyance as she looked at Dash again, "But I don't exactly see how you can."
"Try me," Dash replied with a shrug as he walked over and sat down next to Vanellope, "You might be surprised."
"Fine," Vanellope relented with another roll of her eyes.
"So, I heard that Taffyta was being a jerk today," Dash prompted.
"What else is knew?" Vanellope questioned with a snort.
"Okay, so she was being a bigger jerk than normal today," Dash amended, "What did she do?"
"Didn't Sofia tell you all of this already?" Vanellope questioned in return.
"She gave me the quick version," Dash answered, "I figured you could go into detail about it."
"Fine," Vanellope replied with a huff, "It was a pretty normal day. I was in Sugar Rush like usual, doing some races. McQueen and Turbo had stopped by to be special guests."
"Turbo?" Dash asked in confusion, "You let the bad guy from your movie race with you?"
"I'll get to that, don't worry," Vanellope assured him, "Anyway, everything went normally until Sofia stopped by to try playing the game and she decided to play as me."
"Sounds good so far," Dash commented.
"It was," Vanellope confirmed with a nod, "It was fun, like the races always are. It was at the end where things went bad."
"What happened?" Dash prompted.
"I wanted to win for Sofia so I…." Vanellope paused and let out a sigh before continuing, "I told her how to activate my glitch."
"Oh," Dash said, realization dawning on him, "I'm guessing Taffyta didn't take kindly to that."
"Nope," Vanellope confirmed with a shake of her head, "She called me a cheater and things kind of got worse from there."
"Worse how?" Dash questioned.
"She said some things," Vanellope replied vaguely, "Things that hurt….mostly because they were true."
"You're not a cheater, Vanellope," Dash sighed.
"Aren't I?" Vanellope retorted, "What do you call what I did?"
"Utilizing your unique strengths," Dash explained, "You use your skills as a driver when you're racing, don't you?"
"Yeah," Vanellope replied, her brow furrowed in confusion, "What the bits does that have to with what I said though?"
"Well, you use your skills as a driver to win races," Dash explained, "You're using your natural abilities to your advantage. You do the same thing when you glitch."
"That's not the same thing at all," Vanellope argued, "I had to practice to get good at driving."
"And you had to practice to get good at using your powers," Dash stated, "You told me that yourself."
"I-I don't know," Vanellope replied with a sigh, "It….It doesn't feel like the same thing."
"But it is," Dash explained, "Just because you're skilled at something doesn't mean that you don't need to practice. The best people in the world are those that are skilled at something and practice it."
"What are you trying to say, Dash?" Vanellope questioned.
"I'm saying that you shouldn't be ashamed of what you can do," Dash explained, "You're good at racing. Not only is it something you're born to do, but you've also got a special power that gives you an edge. That's not your fault and if people have a problem with that well, I guess they'll just have to get better."
Surprised by the statement, Vanellope could only blink owlishly at Dash.
"From what you've told me, people have been making you ashamed of what you can do your whole life," Dash continued as he rested his hand on Vanellope's shoulder, "Maybe it's time you start being proud of it."
Vanellope continued to look at Dash silently for a few moments before she leaned forward and pulled him into a hug. After a moment of surprise, Dash smiled and returned the hug. Another moment passed before Stitch let out a whine and forced his way between them, pushing Dash's face away with his hands.
"Alright, alright, I get it," Dash said with a laugh as he broke the embrace and took a step away from Vanellope, "You can have her."
"Stitch," Vanellope complained with a giggle, "Stop being a booger face."
"You're a booger face!" Stitch retorted childishly with a high pitched voice, earning laughs from both of them.
"Well, I'm going to take laughter as a good sign," Sofia commented as she and Lilo wandered over.
"Yeah," Vanellope confirmed as she smiled at her friends, "I think I'm done being moody."
"There's nothing wrong with getting upset about things," Lilo stated, "But we're glad that you're feeling better."
As Vanellope grinned, Stitch suddenly reached up and began pawing at her face, trying to bring her attention back to him.
"That's enough, Stitch," Lilo stated as she beckoned him over, "I think you're getting tired. You always turn into a booger face when you're tired."
"You're a booger face," Stitch whined as he made his way over to Lilo's side.
"I think we're all getting tired," Vanellope commented as she stifled a yawn, "Why don't I take you guys home?"
"Sounds good," Sofia agreed with a nod.
"Well, in that case, I think I'm going to take off," Dash said as he pointed over his shoulder, "I'll see you guys later?"
"Yeah," Vanellope confirmed with a nod before she gently smiled at him, "Thanks again, Dash."
"Don't mention it," Dash replied as he grinned and scratched the back of his head before waving and racing off.
A few quiet moments passed as Vanellope continued to look in the direction that Dash had run off in, a smile on her face. As she did, Sofia and Lilo shared a glance.
"Hello?" Lilo questioned as she stepped up next to Vanellope and waved her hand in front of the other girl's face, "Earth to Vanellope. Anyone there?"
"Huh?" Vanellope questioned before she blinked a few times and shook her head, "Sorry, I was-"
"Daydreaming about Dash?" Lilo suggested with a quirked eyebrow.
"What?" Vanellope asked in confusion, her cheeks turning slightly red as she did, "Why would I be daydreaming about him?"
"I don't know," Sofia replied with a shrug as she climbed into Vanellope's go-kart, "You were looking at him dreamily at the end there."
"Dash and Vanellope sitting in a tree," Lilo sang as she and Stitch climbed into the back of the go-kart, "K-I-S-S-I-N-G."
"That spells kissing!" Stitch said with a cackle.
"Well, I just wanted to let you all know that I've decided instead of bringing you all home, I'm just going to go ahead and drive directly into the sea," Vanellope stated as she sat in the driver's seat and started the go-kart up.
"That's okay," Sofia stated with a grin, "I'm sure Dash will come back and save us."
Stitch let out another cackle of amusement as Vanellope pressed her foot against the accelerator, causing the go-kart to go shooting back towards Downtown in a cloud of sand, Vanellope lowering her head as she drove in order to hide the blush and small smile she was wearing.
Later,
Vanellope's go-kart, now holding only herself, slowly rolled down the street towards Flynn's Arcade. As she approached the building, Vanellope was able to spot Ralph sitting on the bench outside the arcade. As Ralph turned his head to watch her, Vanellope glided to a stop on the street in front of him. Killing the engine, a quiet moment passed as the two merely looked at one another.
"Hey," Ralph greeted quietly, giving Vanellope a small smile.
"Hey," Vanellope replied as she hopped out of her go-kart.
"Where have you been?" Ralph inquired.
"I was hanging out with my friends," Vanellope answered with a shrug as she walked over to the bench and sat down next to Ralph, "How did your thing go?"
"Better than expected," Ralph stated.
"How many people showed up?" Vanellope asked.
"Three," Ralph answered.
"That's not a lot," Vanellope observed, her brow furrowing, "How many were you expecting?"
"None," Ralph replied with a snort of amusement, "So, with that in mind, I think it turned out pretty great."
"I can't argue with that," Vanellope stated with an amused chuckle, "So, who showed up?"
"Well, Hades was first," Ralph answered, "That wasn't too surprising. I figured if anyone was going to show up, it was going to be him, even if his wife had to twist his arm to do it."
"So, I take it he wasn't thrilled to be there?" Vanellope inquired.
"Not at all," Ralph replied with a chuckle, "But I think he was warming up to it by the end."
"Who else came?" Vanellope asked.
"Well, the surprise of the night was Loki," Ralph commented.
"Loki!?" Vanellope questioned, her eyes going wide with shock, "You mean the creepy wizard guy with the cat?"
"Yep," Ralph confirmed with a laugh and a nod, "You're reaction was pretty much the one I had."
"What was he doing there?" Vanellope inquired.
"Well, he was there to be a jerk," Ralph answered with a grimace, "Basically, he just showed up to laugh at me when I fell on my face."
"So, did you toss him out?" Vanellope questioned.
"No, actually," Ralph replied with a shake of his head and a small smile, "Hades was able to get him to sit down and shut up."
"He did that?" Vanellope asked in surprise, "And Loki listened?"
"Yeah," Ralph confirmed with a nod, "You know, I think I was starting to reach him a little at the end there."
"Yeah, right," Vanellope commented with a snort, "Maybe you can reach some of the bad guys around here, but Loki's a straight up supervillain. He probably stole candy from a baby on his way out."
"We'll see," Ralph replied with a chuckle, before the smile fell away from his face as he looked at Vanellope somberly, "There was a third person too."
"Who?" Vanellope questioned with a smirk.
"Turbo," Ralph answered simply.
The smirk fell away from Vanellope's face.
"Oh," Vanellope said as she looked away from him, "I guess he told you everything."
"Yeah," Ralph confirmed with a nod, "He seemed kind of worried about you."
"He did?" Vanellope questioned in surprise as she looked up at Ralph in confusion, "Why would he be worried about me?"
"If I had to guess, he feels a little guilty about everything he put you through," Ralph stated with a shrug.
"A little guilty?" Vanellope questioned defensively, "He should feel more than a little guilty. Are you trying to make me feel bad for getting mad at him?"
"Not at all," Ralph reassured her quickly, "You have every right to be mad at Turbo. He did some pretty bad things to you. But I also can't help but wonder if it's Turbo you're really mad at."
Vanellope went quiet again as she turned her gaze towards her hands, watching as her fingers played nervously with one another.
"No, I guess not," Vanellope admitted, "I mean, yeah, I am mad at Turbo, but I'm more mad at someone else."
"Taffyta," Ralph surmised.
"I'm guessing Turbo told you what she said?" Vanellope inquired.
"More or less," Ralph answered as he looked away from Vanellope, "I get why the comment on your leadership skills or your glitching made you angry, but not the stuff about me."
Silence fell as Vanellope said nothing, causing Ralph to turn his gaze towards her again.
"That is, unless what Taffyta said was true," Ralph commented, a surprised expression crossing his features, "Was it?"
"What?" Vanellope questioned in return, "That part of me sees you as the closest thing I've ever had to a dad? Is that really that hard to believe?"
Ralph merely blinked at her in stunned silence.
"Yeah, it kind of is," Ralph replied after a moment, "Why me?"
"Why not you?" Vanellope inquired, her cheeks glowing red as she spoke while avoiding eye contact with Ralph"You were the first person to care about me at all. Does it really surprise you that I'd maybe consider you as….something like my…."
Vanellope fell silent as Ralph reached out and gently rested one of his large palms on her shoulders. Looking up at Ralph, Vanellope locked her brown eyes with his and found him smiling at her.
"Back when I was living alone in a dump pile, I found myself wishing for a lot of things," Ralph stated, "At the end of the day, most of that amounted to just wanting someone else in my life. Back then it was more friends and admirers I was looking for, but now I feel like I'm looking for something more than that. Someone to be a big part of my life, whether that'd be a, I don't know, a girlfriend or something, or maybe its something like-"
Ralph was interrupted when Vanellope suddenly turned towards Ralph and embraced him as much as her short arm span would allow her to. Ralph looked down at Vanellope in surprise for a moment before a warm smile spread across his features and he wrapped one of his massive hands around the small girl and pulled her closer to him. Eventually, the two pulled apart and Vanellope wiped at her watery eyes before she smiled up at Ralph.
"You must think I'm such a big baby," Vanellope stated.
"Maybe a little," Ralph teased, prompting Vanellope to giggle and swat him on the arm, "Come on, you know I'm kidding. Obviously, you're a little baby."
Vanellope responded by climbing up onto Ralph's leg and repeatedly punching him in the chest, causing the both of them to break out into fits of laughter. As Vanellope's playful punches became weaker, Ralph reached out and wrapped his large arms around the girl. A smiling spread across her face, Vanellope returned the hug, wiping the tears that had begun to well up in her eyes on his shirt. After a moment, Vanellope pulled away and looked up at Ralph.
"Feel better?" Ralph questioned.
"Yeah," Vanellope replied as she wiped away the remaining tears away, "I think so. You don't think I'm weird?"
"I always think you're weird," Ralph replied, "But I've gotten use to it."
"I could start hitting you again, you know," Vanellope said with a warning tone.
"Well, I wouldn't want that, I bruise like a peach, you know," Ralph joked before his expression settled into a warm smile, "I don't think you're weird. I'm….I guess I'm touched."
"Well….at least that means Taffyta can't use that to be a jerk to me anymore," Vanellope commented with a small smile of her own, "Though, does that mean I have to get you a Father's Day gift?"
"I wouldn't worry about it," Ralph said with a snort as he tousled Vanellope's hair and stood up, "Now, if you ask me, I think both of us have had pretty long days and we should try getting some rest."
"I guess," Vanellope replied as she stood up and rubbed at her eyes, "I'm still not sure that I can go back into Sugar Rush and not claw out Taffyta's eyes out yet though."
"I'm sure you'll manage," Ralph stated with a chuckle as he reached down and scooped up Vanellope's go-kart before tucking it under one of his large arms. As he did, he happened to glance down the street where the movie theater was. Catching sight of the large poster sitting near the box office, an idea formed in Ralph's head.
"Hey, here's an idea," Ralph commented, "How about I take you to that new movie coming out? I hear it's a pretty big deal when something new comes out in the theater."
"That new Snow Queen thing?" Vanellope questioned, looking uncertain, "I don't know. Not sure if it's my thing."
"Come on, it will be a good time," Ralph argued, "Besides, won't a new princess be coming in the next day? Isn't it your job to show her around."
"Ugh, you're right," Vanellope sighed as she pinched the bridge of her nose, "I guess I'll have to go. Hopefully it won't be too cheesy."
"I bet you're going to love it," Ralph teased as he made his way towards the arcade.
"Sure, Ralph," Vanellope replied with a roll of her eyes as she followed him, "I'm sure it's going to change my life."
A/N: Hey guys, been awhile on this one, huh? Still I had some fun writing this one, hope you guys liked it as well! As always, feedback and critiques are always welcome, so please review! Later!