Ch.4

Vanellope ran into Diet Cola Mountain's entrance, plopping on the gelatin bed, crying loudly. How could Ralph be so harsh to her like that? He never yelled at Vanellope, never. She admits, there were times when they got into arguments, but never about a boy before. Vanellope draped the candy wrappers around her and began to sulk, tears dripping off her face.

"Of all the rudest, cruelest, meanest thing Ralph had to do," she sobbed, burying her face in the marshmallow pillow. "That rat, how could he hurt me like that?"

Just thinking about it got Vanellope all teared up. She sobbed and sobbed her eyesight being blurred due to the excessive tear overflow. She didn't even notice Rancis walking towards her. Rancis frowned at this. He hated seeing his princess so upset. Making his way over to her, he grabbed her chin softly and wiped away her tears. "Figured I'd find you here," he said, kissing her forehead. Vanellope sniffed and looked up, then jumped into Rancis' arms, buying her face in his neck.

"I-if Ralph wasn't so harsh about us, I would have never said anything," Vanellope whimpered, her salty tears soaking through Rancis' jacket.

"Shh, it's all right, Nellie. Don't cry," Rancis cooed her, rubbing her back. "Everything's going to be okay. I'm right here." He pulled away and wiped off the tears that cascaded down her face. "I'm sorry you had to see me like that. It's just that I'm not really used to Ralph screaming at me," Vanellope complained, resting her head on Rancis' shoulder. "I knew he'd be upset. But yelling at me? Threatening you? Rancis, if this is how Ralph is going to be like, why even bother talking to him?" she sighed and collapsed on her bed, rolling on her side. Rancis sighed and sat next to her, nudging Vanellope lightly.

"Hey, don't be like that! I'm sure if you talk to him-"

"Talk to him? After what he said to me?" Vanellope shouted, sitting upright. "What part of, 'if this is how Ralph is going to be like, why even bother talking to him?' do you not understand? I'm not talking to that giant, smelly skunk!"

Rancis rolled his eyes and smiled. "Come on, Vanellope. He's your best friend. You're bound to talk to him someday, you know," he said. Vanellope groaned and laid herself down, sighing heavily. "Even if I did talk to him, he'd just end up yelling at me, Rancis. I want nothing to do with him. Period." She declared. Rancis sighed and played with Vanellope's ponytail, watching her nestling under the candy wrappers.

"I mean, would you try to make amends with someone who did something terribly wrong and just forgive them?"

"Uh, you did." Rancis pointed out. "You forgave us after the game was reset, despite the fact that we tormented you for a long time."

"That doesn't count!" she exclaimed, her face flustered. She sighed and looked at him, her face tearing up. "All I wanted was for Ralph to see past the vain Rancis, and befriend the super sweet Rancis. How'd I end up in this mess, butterfingers? What did I do wrong?" she closed her eyes and wept silently in her hands, her tears falling faster and faster. Rancis felt a pang of guilt hit his stomach. He couldn't stand to see his girlfriend in this state. Just watching this sad moment made him want to cry, too. He smiled and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer.

"It's okay, Vanellope. Ralph's not here now, so don't even think about him," he said in a comforting tone. "All that matters is that we're together now, so let's take advantage of this time before Ralph comes back."

Vanellope sniffed and turned on her side, facing Rancis. She stared into his bright blue eyes and smiled, wiping off the tears off her face. "Rancis, even if Ralph doesn't accept you, will you still love me?" she asked in a quiet tone. Rancis smiled and kissed her lightly on her lips. "Forever and always." He replied. She smiled and buried her head in his chest, slowly falling sound asleep. Rancis watched Vanellope as she slept peacefully, kissing her forehead.

"Sweet dreams, princess. Sweet dreams."

"You went too far, Ralph!"

While Rancis went to talk to Vanellope, King Candy was giving Ralph an earful. He was quite furious, to say the least. Calhoun and Felix was there as well, watching as Ralph get harshly scolded by the king.

"Not only did you cause a scene, you completely broke my daughter's heart, which I have to tend by the time she comes home. What do you have to say for yourself?!"

Ralph held up his hands in defense, trying to protect himself from the monarch's serious words. "I did what I thought was right, you candiness. You, being Vanellope's father, should keep her from making a horrible mistake. I was just doing what I thought was right." Ralph argued. "Ralph, what you did was beyond helping. You only made things worse. And I'm pretty sure Vanellope is quite upset right now," King Candy shot back. "If anything, Vanellope is upset. I know my daughter, Ralph, I can see it in her eyes."

"King's right, Wreck-it. You went too far on this one. I'd think it'd be best if you just let it go-"

"I'm not letting anything go until those two are separated from each other…. For good!" Ralph bellowed out. "Pretty face or whatever is name is the worst of them all, and I'm not having that mushiness go on between them!"

King Candy shook his head in dismay. "Ralph, you don't need to do this. Stop this foolish idea of yours before it gets out of hand." He advised. "And trust me; it will get out of hand." Felix nodded and smiled nervously. "Ralph, now we understand how you're feeling right now, but do you honestly think separating a boy from Vanellope is going to help anything?" Felix asked. "Ralph, please. Don't do something you'll later regret." Ralph stared at Felix and shook his head.

"Felix, you don't get it. None of you do! Vanellope is out there with a boy, and you think I'm going to sit back and let that kid manipulate Vanellope like that? Wrong. I'm going to stop him from ever messing with Vanellope, whether you support me or not!" Ralph snapped, heading towards the door. Calhoun walked up at him and placed a hand on his bulky shoulder. Ralph turned around and stared at the sergeant dead in the eye.

"You really want to cost your friendship with that little girl all because of some pretty boy?" she demanded. "Why is it so hard to accept one's happiness, huh? As her best friend, don't you think you should support her decision?"

"Vanellope's only a kid! She doesn't know what's she's getting herself into?" Ralph protested. "One day, she's going to look back and say 'what was I thinking?' and I'm going to be there to fix her mess."

"You mean the mess that you have already created?" King Candy inquired.

Ralph glared at King Candy with an evil eye. "Listen, your puffiness. You and Vanellope may not appreciate what I'm doing for the both of you. And I can see that you're still on Wacky Island. So let me just make it clear: I'm keeping those two apart, whether you guys like it or not," Ralph snarled viciously. "As king of Sugar Rush, and as Vanellope's father, I forbid you from doing such a thing." King Candy sneered back. Ralph just glared at the monarch and shoved his finger in his chest.

"Watch me," he scoffed, storming out of the Throne room.

Everyone stared at Ralph as he walked out, slamming the door behind him. King Candy sighed and turned to look at Calhoun and Felix. "Can I count on you two to talk Ralph out of this?" he asked hopefully. Felix took off his hat and shook his head. "I don't know if we can talk Ralph out of it, but I promise, you candiness, that I will prevent Ralph from making such a mistake. This I swear!" he declared, sticking his hand up in the air. Putting his hat on, he dashed out through the door, yelling, "Ralph, you don't know what you're doing!" with Calhoun in tow.