Chapter Two
After Four Years of Friendship
Although he was unaware of it, a pair of small eyes had been watching Mr. Litwak when he had approached Fix-It-Felix Jr. They were those of the game's villain, Wreck-It-Ralph. The wrecker's ears had heard every word the old arcade owner had said. Glancing over at Q-Bert, who was standing beside him, Ralph winked.
"You hear that?" he said. "He still doesn't know how you got here."
" %$^," said Q-Bert.
"That's what I thought," said Ralph, turning away.
Just then, he overheard the voice of one of the dancers from Dance Dance Revolution calling out that the arcade was now empty.
"Anyway, I've got to be off," said Ralph. "I can't be late to Sugar Rush. Gotta find out what Citizen Vanellope has in mind for tonight."
"#$%%?" Q-Bert asked.
"Yes, I know it's not official. She just likes the title."
Q-Bert said something else.
"What, you mean she forget to apologize to you?"
Q-Bert nodded.
"I'll remind her," Ralph promised.
"%^&&**," said Q-Bert.
"Right, I'll tell her- no more putting whoopee cushions on Q-Bert's chair."
" #^*))!" Q-Bert added.
"Or he'll do the same to her," Ralph repeated. "Hey Q-Bert, isn't that a little low?"
Q-Bert's eyes narrowed.
"All right, all right!" Ralph said, raising his hands defensively and backing away. "I'll tell her."
"No sense of humor," Ralph muttered as he walked away.
Q-Bert shouted something else after him.
"Yes, I know you heard that," Ralph called over his shoulder. "Bye, Q-Bert."
In three months, it would be four years since Ralph had first met Vanellope. The four years since that November night had been the best of his entire life. So much fun and enjoyment had been packed within them that he could live with the occasional negative experiences he'd had- though he couldn't always forget them.
Dr. Despair. At least the creep keeps a low profile. Not that he has much of a choice. Who would welcome him anywhere after what he tried to do?
Of course, even that crisis had brought about good results, in that Vanellope had learned a little humility. Not that it had cured her mischievous nature. If anything, it had been amplified afterwards for a time. Considering what she'd gone through, Ralph was hardly about to begrudge her the pranks- even if he'd been the victim of several.
And then there had been the "No Vanellope" incidents. An ordinary gaming habit it may have been, but it had sent her spiraling into depression for over two weeks. The loss of Sugar Rush's status as the arcade's most popular game had sent the issue underground for a while. While the problem had occasionally resurfaced, it had never sent her into the dumps for so long again. Ralph had seen to that personally.
It was probably good for her in the end. She's more of a zest for life than ever.
And then, as he stepped into the cart that would take him to Game Central Station, Ralph remembered the incident with the hairdresser.
Then again, that's something of a two-edged sword for the rest of us. I hope she never discovers caffeine, or we'll all be in some pretty big trouble. I've kept her away from it so far, but…
As the cart began to roll forward, Ralph shook his head. "Enough of that," he told himself. "Think happy thoughts, Ralph. Think happy thoughts."
And then I'll be able to fly…
"Shut up, brain of mine!" Ralph exclaimed. "It wouldn't work, I don't have pixie dust."
The cart rolled to a stop at the end of the wire and Ralph stepped out into Game Central Station. The Surge Protector popped up, as he always did, and Ralph sighed.
"Name?" said the voice, a tad less monotonous than in former times.
"Wreck-It-Ralph," said Ralph, sighing once again.
"Destination?"
"Sugar Rush."
"Are you carrying anything?"
"Nope."
"Anything to tell me?"
"I'll never get used to you."
"That doesn't surprise me," said the Surge Protector, giving a small laugh that sounded like the fake, sarcastic laughing of somebody mocking another person.
Ralph looked quizzically at the Surge Protector.
"I have learned how to laugh," said the Surge Protector.
"That's…nice," said Ralph, stepping away. The Surge Protector sighed and vanished from sight.
As Ralph entered the wire that would take him to Sugar Rush, he slapped his forehead.
"I've gotta think happy thoughts," he reminded himself as he stepped into the cart and set it into motion. "No more worrying about the Surge Protector, no more worrying about what'll happen tonight…"
I hope they don't have caffeine where we're going-
"My brain," Ralph growled. "Will you please shut it?"
The cart rolled to a stop at the end of the wire and Ralph got out. Passing through the entrance, he found himself in familiar territory.
"I could probably find my way to the castle with my eyes shut by now," Ralph said aloud. "I think I'll try it."
Closing his eyes, he stepped forward, went down the rainbow, and entered the fields below. Everything went perfectly until he tripped over a massive jawbreaker and fell flat on his face into a pool of green icing.
"Never-mind," said Ralph, opening his eyes, standing up, and brushing the icing from his face and clothes. He kept his eyes open the rest of the way to the castle.
Vanellope was waiting for Ralph inside the entrance hall of the castle. As soon as she saw him, she turned several cartwheels and began shouting: "Yes! You're here, you're here!"
"Yep," said Ralph. "I'm here. You said you had something in mind for tonight?"
"Yeah- a beach party in Lifeguard!"
"Oh," said Ralph.
Vanellope stopped turning cartwheels and turned to face Ralph. "What's the matter? You got a problem with Lifeguard?"
"Nah, no problem with it," said Ralph. "I just…I don't think I've got a swimsuit stashed away anywhere?"
"Who said you have to swim, silly?" said Vanellope. "This is Lifeguard- the water's crawling with sharks anyway. Duh."
"So, we stick to land then," said Ralph, smiling. "Great."
"And build sandcastles!" Vanellope cried. "Huge sandcastles! And-"
She stopped, a smile on her face. The smile quickly widened into a grin and within moments, she was laughing hysterically.
"What?" said Ralph. "What is it?"
"You're…you're…" Vanellope broke down again into another fit of giggling before exclaiming: "your hair's green!"
Ralph glanced into a nearby mirror. His hair was still coated in green icing from the pool he had fallen into. "Oh, that," he said, grinning sheepishly. "It's a…new fashion I'm trying…yeah."
Vanellope's expression and tone were deadpan. "You fell in a pool of icing, didn't you?"
"No, no," said Ralph. "I was just scooping some up, figured I'd use it to fix my hair and…okay fine, I fell in a pool of icing."
"While walking with your eyes shut?" Vanellope asked in the same deadpan voice.
"Hey, no need to rub it in," said Ralph.
"Whatever, Stinkbrain," said Vanellope. She laughed once more. "It does look good though."
"You mean that?" Ralph asked.
"Yes!" Vanellope cried, posing melodramatically.
"Okay, I'll wash it off then."
Ignoring Vanellope's look of disappointment, Ralph said: "You know, I've been down to Lifeguard once before. I don't think the sharks attack anyone when the arcade closes- they're actually pretty friendly."
"Cool!" Vanellope cried. "We can go surfing then."
"Yeah, well…maybe I'll pass on that one," said Ralph. "I'll let you and the other racers do that."
"Aw, come on Ralph," said Vanellope. "Surfing's fun."
"Well, if there's a board big enough for me…"
"I'm sure we'll find one," said Vanellope. "Let me go tell the other racers we're ready."
As Vanellope hurried away towards another door, Ralph looked in the mirror again. Glancing around to make sure no one was looking, he scraped the green icing from his hair into a nearby pot. As he turned back, he saw Vanellope returning with the other racers. Each of them wore a backpack containing supplies for the party.
"Where'd the icing go?" Vanellope asked as she approached Ralph.
"I ate it," said Ralph. He licked his lips for added effect. "It was actually pretty good."
"Okay Stinkbrain, have it your way," Vanellope replied. "Anyway, you ready for the party?"
"Ready as I'll ever be," said Ralph.
"Great, then let's go!
As the other racers headed for the doors, Ralph took Vanellope aside. "Listen," he said. "I gotta tell you- Q-Bert's pretty mad about that prank you pulled on him, says you never apologized."
"Huh? Oh I thought I did," said Vanellope. "I'll dip by his house later and tell him sorry."
"Alright," said Ralph. "Good."
Ralph decided to leave out the rest of Q-Bert's message for the time being. It wouldn't do to have Vanellope freaking out over Q-Bert getting his revenge on her when they we're about to go to a beach party.
Think happy thoughts, Ralph, he reminded himself.
The last of the racers was exiting the castle; only Vanellope was left. "Come on, Ralph!" she cried, beckoning him forward with a wave of her hand. "Forward, my minion- or shall I sprinkle pixie dust on you to make you fly?"
Ralph sighed at this last comment.
"What- did I say something wrong?" said Vanellope, looking concerned.
"Nah, don't worry about it," said Ralph. "It's nothing."
"Oh, okay," said Vanellope. She dashed out of the castle. Shaking his head, Ralph followed her.