Cold Heart Chapter 4: Heart to Heart
Guest: Oh no offense taken. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
Cromenoa000: Forte: a person's strong suit, or most highly developed characteristic, talent, or skill; something that one excels in. I hope that helps :)
(Back with Ralph and Vanellope)
The Nine-foot tall wrecker awoke with a start when a few Mentos detached themselves from the ceiling of the volcano and fell into the broiling hot Diet Cola Hot Springs Below. The resulting explosions jolted the wrecker awake. Ralph smacked his lips and rubbed his eyes with his left hand several times to get the sleep out of his eyes. He shook his head to get his vision back before looking down at his chest with a warm smile. Vanellope was curled up under his right arm, holding onto his thumb with her hand, sleeping soundly with her ear listening to his heartbeat so she could be as close to her dad as possible.
Ralph's face warmed even more when Vanellope mumbled in her sleep. But Ralph knew that the two had to get up soon, so he shook Vanellope awake. "Hey, hey kid, wake up for me," he said. Vanellope's hazel eyes fluttered open and she stretched with a long yawn. Her tiny little hands rubbed her eyes until she could keep them open for longer than two seconds.
"Ralph, how long were we asleep for?" Vanellope questioned as she hopped down from Ralph's chest and stretched some more. The wrecker shrugged his overall covered shoulders since he didn't have a watch.
"I don't know kid, but it feels like we were out for a few hours," Ralph replied and ruffled the President's hair.
"Well then, let's go do something!" Vanellope exclaimed and dragged Ralph along outside the volcano. The sky inside Sugar Rush was painted a beautiful dark purple and pink as dusk settled in. The game's theme song went from the loud, contagious electronic beat to a soft piano-like melody whose notes danced around the eardrums. The kart garage sat quiet, no tools clanking around, no engines running, no chatter from the other nine-year old racers. If Simon and Garfunkel were there, they would've written 'The Sounds of Near Silence.' The game felt slightly empty to the two characters, even though Ralph spent many a night alone on the outskirts of his game with nothing but bricks and his lucky stump.
"Wow, it's actually, peaceful for once," Ralph sighed with a pause and set Vanellope on his shoulder. The Wrecker picked a sucker from a lollipop tree and popped it in his mouth like a cigarette.
"Wow Ralph, you're lookin' a little too sophisticated to be a stinky one man demolition crew," Vanellope giggled to herself. The President's face then fell as she remembered why herself and Ralph were in the volcano. "Ralph, can we still be friends with Uncle Shrimpy?" Vanellope asked Ralph. The lollipop flew from Ralph's lips as he froze. He took Vanellope off his shoulder and set her down in front of him.
"Look kid," Ralph started and knelt down, "I think it would be best if you steered clear of Felix, just in case she might be with him," Ralph explained. Vanellope's face fell even more than before while a tear threaten to stream down her right cheek. A small, sad whine escaped her lips.
"But Ralph," Vanellope whined before Ralph cut her off.
"No buts Vanellope, I just don't want you hurt again," Ralph explained. Tears really did start to fall down Vanellope's face as she pushed Ralph's hands away.
"Ralph, I love spending time with Uncle Felix. And he always looks forward to hanging out with me; just because his wife is a meanie shouldn't make him a bad guy!" She cried out. Great, just great. Now Vanellope was crying again, but Ralph was seriously out of ideas on how to fix it.
"I'm sorry Vanellope; I have an idea though," Ralph quickly tried to reassure his daughter. She ceased her crying and removed her hands from her hazel eyes, waiting to hear Ralph's idea. "What if I go get Felix from my game, and have him come over here sometime so he can hang out with you?" He suggested with a smile, "would that work for you?" He asked.
"Or maybe we can go see him now? I think Sergeant Butthead would be in her own stupid game shooting things because she's mental!" Vanellope yelled from thinking of the Sarge again. Ralph sighed again and rubbed the back of his neck. He wanted nothing more than to make his daughter happy, but this was cutting it as close as possible.
"Fine, but I do want to get you back home so you can go to bed so you'll be wide-awake tomorrow," Ralph pointed his finger at her and walked her out of her own game. Vanellope's tears started to dissipate as a smile spread across her face. Even though Ralph was her father figure, Vanellope knew that talking to Felix could help anybody having a craptacular day. As the two walked along the power cord that linked Sugar Rush to Game Central Station, a thought crossed Vanellope's mind. What if Calhoun forbade Felix from talking to his brother anymore? The thought seemed ridiculous since Ralph and Felix were very close now that the misunderstandings of the past 30 years were cleared up. But then again, a crazy psycho took over her game for 15 years and no one ever suspected a thing. The pint sized girl shuddered as her eyes skipped over the sign above the outlet for Hero's Duty. "You doin' okay Vanellope?" Ralph asked.
"Y-yeah, just a little nervous that she might be with Uncle Felix," Vanellope replied.
"Don't worry kid, I'll go forward and check the apartment," Ralph assured her and put her back on his shoulder. The President enjoyed the first class rides on top of Ralph's tall shoulder. She felt like she was getting a ride on a Helicopter as Ralph towered over the rest of the game avatars. But, that special feeling couldn't bury the nervous butterflies in her stomach that reminded her that Calhoun might be with Felix at the moment. "Hey, you can trust me kid," Ralph comforted the little chibi racer and patted her back.
"I do Ralphie, it's just, my tummy is churning," Vanellope said queasily. The Wrecker pushed aside a few other fellow game characters while thundering through the station. Vanellope felt a chill go up her spine as Ralph turned for his own game and passed through the gate. Vanellope whimpered silently to herself as she had a sudden flashback of Calhoun's angry face yelling at her.
"Hang on kid," Ralph warned as he sat down in the train. The little President flinched at Ralph's sudden exclamation. The train lurched forward, almost making Vanellope fall off, but she grabbed on Ralph's neck flab and stayed put. "You don't have to see Uncle Felix right now if you don't want to," Ralph said.
"Uncle Felix is our friend Ralph," Vanellope stubbornly said, "I just worry about how Calhoun treats him if she blew up at me," she admitted. Ralph's eyes grew as the new thought crossed his mind. But since Felix literally spilled everythingto him, Ralph quickly dismissed the idea.
"Now kid, Calhoun wouldn't do that on purpose to Felix," Ralph reasoned, "I mean we can give her a little credit that she loves him since he fixed her heart," he muttered. Lurch. The train came to a sudden stop at the buffers of Niceland Station. "Come on then," Ralph said and set Vanellope on the ground. Her little legs padded the ground as she jogged her way to the apartment building.
"Well, hello there Wreck-It," a stern voice behind Ralph said. The wrecker glared and turned around to see who it was.
(With Vanellope and Felix)
Felix had requested that he be left alone in silence to the Nicelanders. The only sound that resonated throughout the Penthouse was the ticking of a clock. Felix had laced himself across the leather couch near the Patio doors and covered his eyes with his gloved hands. The trademark blue hat with the "FF" logo was tossed aside onto the bar top, all alone. Even his golden hammer, the symbol of hope and accomplishment, was laying on the floor near the elevator doors, quietly glistening to itself.
The Carpenter still hated having to raise his voice at his wife, but to save his family, Felix knew he had no other choice but to get his wife to 'wake up' and smell the gun smoke. The ticking of the clock grew louder and louder by the minute, boring into Felix's mind. It was an all too familiar reminder of the loneliness that imprisoned him when he was locked up in jail in Sugar Rush. Knock, Knock, Knock. "Whaa!" Felix screamed as the unexpected loud knocking intruded into the quiet penthouse. He flung himself off the couch and landed on his face. "Ow, Son of a Mary Sue that smarts," Felix rubbed his cheek. The brown work boots clumped on the floor while he fast walked towards his hammer and tapped his cheek. Knock, Knock, Knock. "Uh, I'm coming!" Felix called out, as cheerily as possible.
His gloved fingers curled around the door handle and slowly, the door creaked open. The site before him, brought a comforting smile to his face. "Heya Uncle Felix!" Vanellope exclaimed and hugged her Uncle's legs. The kind Carpenter wrapped his arms around his niece and hugged her tightly.
"It's good to see you again Vanilla," the man smiled and patted her head. Vanellope savored the hug that Felix gave her. It was a warm hug, just like Felix always gave. "Would you like to come in? I can make you a cup of Hot Cocoa if you want," he offered and gestured into the Penthouse with his hand.
"That sounds awesome Uncle Felix!" Vanellope replied and glitched right in. Felix sighed again, but happily again. The little Nine-Year Old waited patiently on the leather couch that house Felix only moments prior while the Carpenter 'fixed up' a cup of hot cocoa. 'She looks so innocent,' Felix thought to himself as he put the chocolate milk into the microwave to heat up, 'why would anyone lash at her?' he questioned.
"Would you like some whipped cream Vanellope?" Felix asked.
"Of course!" Vanellope happily replied, "it wouldn't be hot cocoa without it!" she exclaimed. Felix chuckled and took the cup out of the microwave and handed it to Vanellope who started to sip it immediately. "Wow, this is really good!" She exclaimed and continued to sip the beverage.
"Thank you Vanellope," Felix thanked with a smile. "So, what brings you here tonight Vanilla?" the fixer questioned.
"I just wanted to see you Uncle Felix, is there anything wrong with that?" Vanellope asked. Felix raised his hands up in defense.
"No of course not Vanellope," Felix said, "I'm always happy to see you, but you were pretty upset earlier," Felix tip-toed around the subject.
"Yeah, I was sad and hurt because your wife blew a fuse, but that doesn't mean I don't want to hang with you," Vanellope explained.
"I talked with Tammy a while ago," Felix blurted out. Vanellope ceased sipping on her Hot Cocoa and set the mug down on the coffee table. "It wasn't a pleasant conversation I can tell you that Vanilla," Felix admitted.
"And what did she say to you Uncle Felix?" Vanellope demanded, "And Don't Sugar Coat it!" She demanded.
"I-I don't think she wants to talk to you right now," Felix admitted. It wasn't really the truth, but it wasn't a lie necessarily. Vanellope scoffed.
"Why am I not surprised?" Vanellope rolled her eyes.
"Now hang on a minute Vanellope, what is that supposed to mean?" Felix asked.
"She's too proud for her own good," Vanellope explained, "she thinks she's above everyone else and doesn't have to treat everyone with respect, oh and how about how she treats her own men? They try their best but she treats them like garbage, I'm not surprised that she doesn't want to talk to me, she'll never apologize, and you know what? I couldn't care less Uncle Felix. Let her rot in her own little isolated world," Vanellope coldly explained. Felix's mouth hung open in utter shock at what a little girl just said.
"Vanilla, Tamora means well, just because she had a bad day and took it out on you doesn't mean she's a bad person!" Felix exclaimed.
"It just means she has an anger problem Uncle Felix, and she needs to get it under control," Vanellope set the now empty mug on the counter top.
"I think you're being a little unfair to my wife Vanilla," Felix actually angrily said. Vanellope caught wind of the sense and glared.
"Oh I get it Uncle Felix," she began, "just because she's your wife, she can yell and berate anybody in the arcade, no problem for you, but the minute I or anyone else says something bad, we're the bad guy! That's unfair Uncle Felix," she replied with just as much anger and venom.
"No! That's not what I meant at all Vanilla!" Felix said worriedly. He was about to continue, but Vanellope cut him off.
"If you're just gonna be blind about this and just automatically support Sergeant Meanie-Head, then I'm leaving!" She declared and stomped her way out, slamming the door. Felix's eye twitched and he shouted to the heavens.
"WHY IS IT SO HARD TO GET MY FAMILY BACK TOGETHER!?"
End Chapter 4
And just when you thought the mending might begin, it all goes to Hell in a hand basket again. Please review!