Filling in the Empty Spots
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Chapter 2: The Cherry Girl
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Wreck-It Ralph stood on the mountainside surveying the land below. It was another perfect day in Sugar Rush, just like almost every day in Sugar Rush. He'd just come down from the chilly heights of the Snowcone Range and was deciding upon a route back to the rainbow bridge that would take him home. There were no paths or roads in this area to follow, so he just decided to head in that general direction and go where his feet led him.
Starting down from the icy slope, he could see Red Twist Park below, and the road that cut past it on the west side, and his feet drifted in that direction, the bright red meadow looking so inviting to walk through. From there he could follow the road and eventually get back to the main area of the game. Occasionally someone would give him a ride if they happened to spot him following a track. But today that wouldn't be a concern. There was plenty of time to get back to Fix-It Felix, Jr. before the Arcade opened, a whole day in fact.
And as he was trudging across Red Twist Park his foot caught something hidden in the deep grass. Ralph nearly fell over but caught himself. Looking down he saw a girl wearing a long dress stretched out in the licorice. "Whoa! I almost tripped on you. I didn't see you!" he apologized.
Jubileena had squeaked as his toe had hit her leg, waking her. And then she screamed at seeing the huge man looming over her. She stopped screaming when she realized who it was. And then she simply felt foolish for having been so terrified, and next felt terribly embarrassed for having been discovered in her private retreat.
Ralph blinked at her, and then there was a little smile of recognition. "Jubileena?"
She nodded and sat up.
"What are you doing out here? And dressed like that too?"
"Oh...I was just trying my gown on." Her formal gown was of ivory satin trimmed with embroidered cherries and red satin ribbon. And while usually she had some of her hair up in pigtails, it was down and combed out, making it look much longer than usual.
"Out here?" He'd seen the Sugar Rush racers in their formal outfits on State occasions before, occasions he was once a regular fixture at. But that had all ended with the new reign. There were no invitations or even expectations.
"Ummm...yeah..."
"You look pretty."
"Thanks."
They looked at each other awkwardly for a moment, and then Ralph plopped himself down into the grass.
"So, what are you doing out here?" Jubileena asked. "This is a long way from the Speedway."
"I know. Just exploring. I can't seem to stay away from Sugar Rush," he sighed and then he toppled over to lie on his back in the grass.
"You miss her a lot, don't you?" No names needed to be mentioned. Everyone but the current princess knew that Vanellope had been his girlfriend, the girl he had loved and the girl he had lost.
Ralph's eyes lifted. "I do. I miss her every day."
"I wish I'd known her better. You know how it was."
"Yeah," he said, nodding slowly. "I think I was the only one who knew her really well. And admittedly, after her restoration, she still kinda kept to herself. Well, except for myself and Felix and Calhoun. The four of us were all so close...especially her and I."
"And is that why you still come to Sugar Rush? Because you miss her?"
"I guess. Every time I see the princess, it's like getting a little bit of her back, and it makes me smile." He sighed heavily. "And then the race is over and she's gone and I feel alone again. I hope no one thinks I'm some kind of creepy stalker."
"Naw...we all know who you are." Jubileena lay back down. "It's been nearly two years now, hasn't it?"
"And the new princess is great and all, but..."
"But she's not your Vanellope."
"Yeah." Ralph's hand went to his chest, the place the cookie medal had first hung. Now it sat in a locked casket in his house back in his own game. "So that's my sob story. What are you doing out here, Jubileena?"
"Oh...nothing," she said, blushing.
"Nothing? And all dressed up like that?"
"Well~" she said averting her eyes. "Hey, aren't you supposed to be in your game?"
"Remember...Tuesday. Arcade's closed."
Jubileena blushed again. "Oops! So it is."
Ralph lumbered to his feet. "Well, I guess I'd better be moving on."
Jubileena sat up again. "Can I give you a ride back to town?"
The big man shook his head. "Thanks, but no thanks. I'm in no hurry to get anywhere. I'll just keep wandering I think."
"All right. If you decide you'd like a ride or something, I'll be here for a while yet. But...please don't tell anyone else that I'm here."
"Why not? What are you doing out here?"
"Nothing...um...just...just daydreaming."
The wrecker smiled at her. "Sometimes I do that too. Sweet dreams, Cherry Girl," he said and continued on.
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Ralph clung to the top of the race car driven by Sarah, one of the two female racers. She sped to the scene of the accident and Ralph hopped off as soon as she screeched to a halt. He ran over to the burning wreckage where four formula one cars were piled up and burning. Ambulance sirens squealed in the distance.
"Vanellope!" he screamed and ran to where her pink car lay on its top. He tipped it right side up, ignoring the flames that licked at him. Desperately he tore off her seatbelts, lifted her tiny body out of the wreckage, and carried her back to the car he'd arrived in. "We have to get her back to Sugar Rush!" Cradling the tiny body in one arm Ralph climbed back onto Sarah's car and she took off immediately.
"Ralph...I hurt," Vanellope moaned, apparently conscious again.
"Hang in there sweetheart. We'll be back in Sugar Rush soon and then you can let go."
She managed a weak smile for him.
The raceway seemed to go on forever, and Ralph clung tightly to Vanellope, every second seeming to take too much time to pass. Her bubblegum-pink blood was soaking into his clothes. But eventually Sarah pulled up at the exit to Game Central Station and Ralph jumped out and ran for the train that would take them there. The four Formula One Xtreme racers ran right behind him.
"Ralph...not so fast." Vanellope whimpered.
"Time is critical. You've been badly hurt."
"A-doy," she said, her sass still there despite her desperate condition.
Reaching the train terminal they were horrified to find the train wasn't there. Joey ran to the end of the platform and punched the summons button several times frustratedly. "Of all the times for the train to be in the tunnel!" he cursed.
"Stinkbrain..." Vanellope said calmly, "I'm dying."
"Just hang in there. You're not allowed to die yet," he said, looking anxiously down the tracks that lead into the long dark tunnel. "Where is that train!?"
She looked up at Ralph with another weak smile. "Ralph, I'm glad you're here."
He looked down at her and tenderly brushed back her bangs, trying to ignore how much blood there was. He was now soaked in it.
"We just have to get you back to Sugar Rush. Just hang on a bit longer, sweetie," said Sarah, taking the girl's hand. Vanellope's skin looked far paler than usual.
And then a light appeared somewhere down the tunnel, and Ralph's spirits rose. He moved to the edge of the platform. Why was everything moving so slowly in Formula One Xtreme tonight?
"Vanellope!" shrieked Sarah suddenly.
The five looked at her, and the panic on their faces was clear. Ralph watched in horror as Vanellope's body crumbling into red crystals of sugar.
"Vanellope! No! Don't go! Don't let it take you! You can't die here!"
But it was too late. The girl was gone, melting through Ralph's fingers into a pile of sugar, and then disappearing altogether.
"Vanellope..." Ralph mumbled in shock. "Vanellope..."
Traci put her hand on Ralph's shoulder, and Sarah turned away, burying her face in her hands.
"She's gone...she's gone just like that..." the wrecker stammered.
"Ralph, I'm so sorry..." Larry choked. He had died in the accident as well, but had immediately regenerated at the finish line.
Ralph stood up, still dazed and not wanting to accept what had just happened, unsure that it actually had. This was all some bad dream, wasn't it? One moment he was having a great time watching Vanellope race in Formula One Xtreme, and the next there had been a horrible accident. Surely this wasn't real, was it?
Ralph looked down at his hands again, huge hands that had just been holding the girl. His singed fingers were painful from the fire and hot metal when he had pulled her out of the car.
And then he collapsed to the platform and began to cry.
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Filling in the Empty Spots continues in:
Chapter 3: The Ice Cave
Chapter 4: Soda Water Shores
Chapter 5: Pie, Performance, and Pleasantries
Chapter 6: A Painful Anniversary
Chapter 7: Changes
Chapter 8: Breakdown
Chapter 9: Little Cabin in the Woods
Chapter 10: Back to the Meadow
Chapter 11: The Spring Solstice Ball
Chapter 12: The President's Legacy
Chapter 13: A Heavy Crown
Chapter 14: The Final Secret
Chapter 15: Filling in the Empty Spots Commentary
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Wreck-It Ralph and all related concepts, characters, worlds, and events are property of Walt Disney Pictures. Original characters and story elements are property of E. Potter, writing under the pen name of Miratete.