*Chapter 9*
Vanellope gently looked up and let her eyes get lost in the chandelier above the dance floor. A million thoughts raced through her mind. She heaved a silent sigh and let her mind delve into what she had been wanting to ponder for a long time now. Before she could forbid it once more, she felt as if her inner code began to rewrite itself. The only person she wanted in this moment was Ralph. The only midnight kiss she wanted to share with was Ralph. She wasn't going to let Rancis take that away from her, though he had already stolen a part of her first dance. Vanellope looked back at Rancis and figured this night couldn't get any worse. She shook her thoughts of Ralph away, knowing that thinking about him and longing for him like this wouldn't make the night any better. She inhaled a sharp breath and wiped her mind free of Ralph.
"Are you alright?" Rancis snapped her back into focus. Vanellope blinked a few times and stared at him with an innocent smile.
"I'm fine, sorry, I-I have two left feet when it comes to dancing," Vanellope smiled sheepishly, looking down at their feet, "This is just, new for me."
"That's ok," Rancis smiled as he tugged Vanellope closer. Vanellope widened her eyes and looked at the space between her and Rancis, or lack thereof.
Vanellope took a deep breath and looked out to the crowd again. She spotted Taffyta. She had a bit of a shocked look on her face and Candlehead quickly began whispering in her ear. Vanellope resisted rolling her eyes. She knew the girls would not let her live this down. Vanellope glared at Taffyta, who still looked stunned. Vanellope raised her eyebrow at her and slightly shook her head as if to question Taffyta's expressions. Vanellope suddenly tensed as she could feel Rancis's hand slowly travel down her backside. She opened her mouth to quietly protest but was immediately stopped.
"Excuse me," came a deep, caring voice from behind Vanellope.
Vanellope's eyes widened as she glitched for a second, causing Rancis' code to jerk around by accident, unable to control it. A chill shot up her spine as she tried to pin point exactly why that voice sounded so familiar. She quickly let go of Rancis and turned around.
"Ralph," Vanellope breathed, she gaped a little with a smile. She cupped her hands together just under neck and scrunched her shoulders with girly glee.
"Sorry to butt in, but I can take it from here," Ralph said softly and kindly to Rancis, who was frozen solid, Ralph inhaled nervously to continue, "That is, if this beauty will have me."
"O-of course," Vanellope stuttered before looking back at Rancis, she almost felt a pang of guilt in her heart as she gazed at Rancis's annoyed face, "Is that, okay Rancis?"
"I guess one dance wouldn't hurt anyone," Rancis snapped deeply and slyly as he held his hands behind his back and slowly sunk away.
Ralph ever so gently took Vanellope's hand in his and hugged his hand and arm around her waist as best as he could. Vanellope melted into him with ease as she gladly put her hand on his shoulder. Vanellope could hardly breathe. She gazed up at Ralph with girly adoration and surprise. Ralph kindly looked back at Rancis, sincerely smiling.
"Thank you," Ralph said to Rancis with a confident, sheepish grin. He then averted his attention to Vanellope as the two seamlessly melted away from Rancis. Ralph's facial expression was soft and innocent. Vanellope shook her head and heaved a shaky sigh.
"R-Ralph, everyone said you weren't coming," Vanellope stammered, still in shock. She looked down at Ralph's chest and noticed he was wearing a sleek black tux with a pretty cream and teal flower in the chest pocket, matching the flower in her hair. Vanellope blushed and glitched just barely, her code showing red in between the usual blue. The two swayed methodically. He carefully led her; they kept their gentle rhythm, not a single step faltered or fumbled, much to her surprise.
"I wouldn't miss this for the world," Ralph said deeply with a small smile as he bowed his head to look into her eyes, showing his sincerity. Vanellope blushed and looked down in a shy manner, beaming like the sun. Ralph squeezed her small hand in his and very softly chuckled, keeping his eyes glued on her.
"You look absolutely beautiful," Ralph smiled a small, gapped tooth smile, "Your dress is a work of art."
"Thank you," Vanellope couldn't widen her smile any more than what it already was, "It took me forever to make."
"Well, it sure did pay off," Ralph smiled sweetly.
"Nice tux, Mr. 'these events just aren't my thing'" Vanellope quietly laughed. Her warm, hazel eyes earnestly gazing up into his.
"They aren't," Ralph chuckled with a shrug, "But you're worth it."
Vanellope beamed up into Ralph's eyes, his face sincere, honest and true. She gently slid her hand from Ralph's shoulder and put a warm hand on his cheek. She slowly leaned up and placed a gentle kiss on Ralph's other cheek before wrapping her arms loosely around Ralph's neck. She rested her head on Ralph's upper chest as he quickly, yet gently, wrapped his arms and hands around the small of her back. She closed her eyes for a few moments and bit her lip, wanting to jump up and down like crazy, but she quietly contained herself. She could practically feel Ralph smiling as he rested the side of his head against the top of hers. Vanellope beamed a closed mouth smile as they continued to sway back and forth. She opened her eyes and gazed across the dance floor to the crowd that had gathered. She immediately spot Felix and Calhoun standing and watching. Felix and Vanellope immediately caught eyes. She widened her smile at Felix as he kindly winked in return, his hands gentlemanly folded over his handy belt, as if to show pride in his cleverness.
The two continued to slowly sway as the other dozens of couples around them moved and danced slowly as well. Ralph tried to hold her in a way that didn't wrinkle her dress, but she didn't seem concerned. She pressed the side of her face against Ralph's upper chest and shoulder, her arms still loosely around his neck. She heaved a relaxed sigh and rested against him, wanting to be nowhere but here in his embrace. She opened her eyes and peered into the crowd again. The crowd had gotten larger, meaning more and more couples were starting to leave the dance floor. The music slowly faded to a different song as everyone began chattering more. Vanellope gently let go of Ralph and smiled up at him, he gently kept her hands in his. The two remained standing in the center of the dance floor as everyone began to walk around and mingle again. Vanellope shook her head and beamed.
"I'm so glad you decided to show up," Vanellope smiled, "Who knew you could dance, and hey, you didn't wreck anything."
"Yeahh," Ralph said as he looked away sheepishly, "I had a little help from good ol' Fix-It."
"Who woulda thunk," Vanellope laughed sarcastically, squeezing his hands.
"Ralph, you made it! We have twenty minutes until the countdown!" Candlehead exclaimed as her, Taffyta, Felix and Calhoun made their way over with unlit sparklers. Felix gave Ralph a subtle bro fist as Vanellope began chatting with Taffyta and Candlehead.
"Oh my User, Vanellope, he showed up!" Taffyta said quietly and excitedly to her, Vanellope nodded quickly and beamed.
"I-I can't really believe it either," Vanellope stammered.
"Now you can get your New Year's kiss!" Taffyta whispered to Vanellope, both Taffyta's and Candlehead's expressions lit up. Vanellope shrugged as her face turned bright red.
"I-I, don't know," Vanellope beamed, "I was confident before but now I think I'm too nervous."
"Well, either way, he showed up," Taffyta beamed, "You got your New Year's wish either way."
"I did," Vanellope beamed as she glanced over at Ralph, who was chatting with Felix, Calhoun and Sonic, who had casually moseyed over.
"I just hope Rancis isn't too upset… We'll never hear the end of it," Taffyta worried as she glanced around. Rancis was nowhere to be found.
"He seemed to be okay with it," Vanellope worried a little as she too glanced around for Rancis.
"When's it gonna be my turn," Candlehead playfully began to pout. Both Vanellope and Taffyta began laughing before Ralph gently tapped Vanellope's shoulder. She eagerly turned around.
"Hey, uh," Ralph rubbed the back of his head, "There's, kind of something I wanted to show you."
"Sure," Vanellope beamed as both Taffyta and Candlehead looked at each other knowingly. Vanellope looked around eagerly before looking back up at Ralph.
"Okay, great," Ralph beamed, his face red, "Follow me," He suggested softly as he held out his hand to her. She gently grabbed his hand without hesitation.
Ralph quickly began leading her to the Sugar Rush outlet, hand in hand. Vanellope gently hiked up her dress a little bit and took her shoes off so she wouldn't trip over them. Taffyta and Candlehead waved them off, silently squealing and jumping up and down.
"Go get 'em, brother," Felix beamed. Taffyta gave him a knowing nudge as Ralph and Vanellope vanished through the crowd.
"Ralph why are we going to Sugar Rush?" Vanellope called with a giggle, Ralph glanced back at her with an eager smile.
"You'll see!" He breathed as the two quickly took the empty train into Sugar Rush. They came to Sugar Rush's rainbow road entrance and slowed down. The sky in Sugar Rush was a beautiful, dark lavender. Bright, twinkling stars dotted the sky as the cotton candy clouds loomed overhead. Vanellope beams at the beauty of her game and sighed before Ralph grabbed her hand. The two rushed down the rainbow road and came level with the ground.
They weaved through the dimly lit candy tree forest for a few minutes, Vanellope gripped Ralph's hand tight. The forest started to get really thick, there hardly was any room for her and Ralph to squeeze around the trunks of the trees. The two remained silent as Ralph eagerly took her across creation. Vanellope kept up with ease, glancing up at the gorgeous night sky every now and then. The two had been walking for quite a while, Vanellope became worried that they had become lost. They weaved in a maze like manner through the woods. Vanellope kept close to Ralph as they pushed deeper into the heart of the forest. They finally began to approach a small clearing before Ralph quickly got behind Vanellope and put his hands over her eyes.
"Rallllph," Vanellope whined with a laugh, Ralph chuckled.
"C'mon, little farther, no peeking," Ralph hurried with a smile, he tried not to cover her whole face with his big hands. Vanellope beamed and softly put her shoes down before putting her hands on the backs of his as she continued to walk forward. They walked for a good few minutes.
"Ralph, I've been all over my game a hundred times, anything here won't surprise me," Vanellope said softly, playfully annoyed.
"We'll see about that," Ralph said as he gently uncovered her eyes. Vanellope blinked a few times and tried hard to take in what was in front of her. She squinted into the dimly lit area as Ralph quickly moved ahead of her. He spread his arms and hands out wide, presenting the beauty before them.
Beautiful cherry blossom trees drooped over an icy vanilla lake. Thousands of big, delicate cherries hung from branches and vines of billowy cherry marshmallow blossom trees, each cherry glowing from the inside out, making them look like intricate glassy, magical orbs. The vanilla lake looked like liquid snow, it sparkled like a thousand stars in a white sky. The dark black bark of the cherry trees contrasted magnificently with the pink and white leaves and marshmallows, the candy trees hugged the tops of the canopy of the cherry trees, as if to hide the surrounding cherry tree grounds. The dome of high canopies dimly glistened against the peeking night sky. Vanellope stepped closer to the edge of the lake, her wide eyes scanning the majestic tree canopy above her, each cherry orb sparkling like captured dreams; flickering proud and true.
"Ralph," Vanellope breathed with disbelief, "Vanilla Lake has been off the map since our game was reset years and years ago, since even before King Candy was in charge, no one could ever find it."
"After about the thousandth time we played hide and go seek in the candy tree forests, I thought I had covered every single inch of it," Ralph chuckled and looked up at the beauty above him, "I stumbled across this haven on the last day we saw each other."
"Why didn't you ever tell me about it?" Vanellope asked, the beautiful red orbs danced in the reflection of her glassy, happy eyes.
"Well," Ralph sighed, rubbing his arm, "I wanted to wait for the right opportunity. Once I thought you guys were unplugged for good, the one thing that hurt me most was the fact that I could never show you this place."
"Ralph," Vanellope chuckled and shook her head, her eyes becoming watery, "This place has been a myth, a thing of stories and fables… I can't believe you found it. Vanilla Lake is stuff of legends."
"Let's keep it that way," Ralph said happily as he stepped closer to her, "This place can be our little secret. What do you say?"
"Deal," Vanellope beamed as she quickly hugged Ralph around his neck. They embraced for a handful of seconds before Vanellope pulled away, keeping her arms around Ralph's neck.
"Ralph?" Vanellope smiled, her face as red as the cherry orbs above her.
"Hmm?" Ralph smiled down into her curious, hazel eyes.
"Happy New Year," She smiled with a small chuckle, she slid her arms down his broad shoulders and rested them on his upper chest. Ralph kept his arms around her, not wanting to let her go.
"Happy New Year," Ralph said quietly with a smile. He gazed deep into Vanellope's warm eyes, knowing full well that she wasn't going to budge. Ralph inhaled a silent, shaky breath before ever so slightly leaning down. He was surprised to see Vanellope lean into him as well, as if on cue. Just as Ralph was about to close his eyes, something a few yards behind Vanellope caught his eye. He immediately stood up straight, his facial expression shocked as he gazed past her. Vanellope furrowed her eyebrows at Ralph in confusion before whirling around, Ralph kept his arms firmly around her. She pushed into his chest a little.
"Rancis?" Vanellope breathed in disbelief, her eyes widened as he stood almost hunched, his feet firmly planted on the ground, his facial expression nothing but hatred. He had taken his tux coat off, and the sleeves of his undershirt were rolled to his elbows.
"It wasn't so smart of you to mindlessly enter a game that's not yours, Wreck-It," Rancis hollered to him as he pulled out the fateful candy tree sword from its sheath. A blood stain from Ralph's previous encounter still remained on the red and white candy cane blade. The cheerful design mocking and ironic. Rancis inhaled maniacally, "Because now, I have you cornered."
"Rancis, can't we just talk about this?" Vanellope urged as she stepped away from Ralph and towards Rancis.
"No one will hear your cries, your fateful game over at Vanilla Lake will be a thing of scary bedtime stories," Rancis said, his voice was slick with maniacal sweetness.
"Vanellope," Ralph quietly urged as he failed to grab her hand, not wanting her to continue her venture over to Rancis.
"Defend him all you want, Schweetz!" Rancis hollered before quickly slashing his sword downwards as Vanellope got closer. He effortlessly tore the bottom half of her handmade dress. Rancis beamed, "It won't save his sorry hide, now." Vanellope stumbled backwards, glancing down at her dress with a shocked face. She gaped and tensed as she could practically feel Ralph's rage from yards behind her.
"HEY!" Ralph hollered deeply as he quickly rushed over. Rancis pointed his sword outward, making Ralph slow down. Ralph fumed as he gently pushed his trembling Vanellope behind him.
"This is our fight," Ralph barked, "Leave Vanellope out of it."
"Wouldn't want your little flower to get hurt now, would you?" Rancis sneered, "She's mine, Wreck-It. Step down, and just maybe I'll spare your life."
"Over my game over," Ralph practically growled.
"Suit yourself," Rancis said as he raised his sword.
"Ralph!" Came a voice behind Rancis.
Rancis quickly whirled around to see Felix rushing towards the scene. Ralph immediately flung his hand and arm sideways in a harsh swipe, sending Rancis rocketing into a cherry tree trunk. Ralph knew it was a cheap shot, but he felt as if he had no choice. Felix rushed over, golden hammer in hand.
"Golly, what's going on here?" Felix exclaimed.
"We have to get out of here, Felix. Rancis has gone mad," Ralph breathed as he put his arm around Vanellope protectively.
Rancis slowly got on his hands and knees and shook his head; he looked discombobulated. Ralph immediately rushed Rancis, noticing he dropped his sword. He quickly ran for the sword that had slid a few feet away from him. Ralph reached out to grab the handle, but just as he was about to wrap his hand around it, Rancis yanked it away. Ralph gripped his hand as tight as he could around the blade by accident. Rancis harshly yanked the sword out of Ralph's grip, slicing Ralph's hand practically in half. Ralph hollered in pain as he opened his large hand, the bloody gash bled from the base of his fingers and palm. Ralph immediately began to back up as Rancis began waving the sword in Ralph's face.
"Ralph!" Vanellope cried as Felix held her arm, tears billowed in her eyes.
"You die outside your game," Rancis harshly panted, flailing the sword in a maniacal way, "You, don't, regenerate!"
Ralph panted and clumsily continued to step backwards as Rancis was quickly pushing him closer to the icy vanilla lake. Ralph awkwardly continued to dodge each of Rancis' swipes. Ralph clenched his wounded fist as best as he could and tried to throw a punch, but Rancis' sword quickly swiped at his knuckles. Ralph winced as he stumbled down the bank, the lovely white lake suddenly looking very menacing, as if it could just swallow you whole with one dip.
"I thought those stupid notes I wrote would keep you WELL away from Sugar Rush," Rancis barked, pushing his sword in Ralph's face, "Look at ALL this mess you caused by coming back!"
Vanellope quickly glitched out of Felix's arm and shot up straight in front of Rancis. She shocked him enough to make him stumble backwards. She quickly grabbed his wrists, fury built up inside of her. She was able to avoid his sword for mere seconds before he jerked her away, shoving her to the ground. He sliced her shoulder in the process. Vanellope let out a painful yelp as she skid to the ground, dirt kicked up in her face. She coughed and tried hard to get to her feet, but she was quickly overwhelmed with a dizzy spell. Her code glitched and bulged uncontrollably as her shoulder began to bleed.
Rancis continued to swipe at Ralph in an uneducated, messy manner. His pupils were small, as if insanity had quickly taken him over. Ralph furiously swung his hands towards him repeatedly, only to be pushed back and swiped by Rancis' sharp sword. Ralph grunted and groaned in pain as the skin on his knuckles continued to tear. He could feel the ice cold liquid snow on the backs of his ankles before a sudden whirring sound was present. Suddenly, Rancis was decked in the side of the head by Felix's golden hammer. His hammer hit the ground and tumbled into the icy lake, quickly melting into its unforgiving grip. Ralph glanced at Rancis before smirking at Felix, who looked enraged. Rancis immediately began to tear towards Felix in a clumsy manner.
Ralph loudly and urgently protested as he tried to dive for Rancis' ankles, but the ice surrounding Vanilla Lake forced Ralph to the ground. Ralph scrambled to get up, his balance was no match for the slippery ground underneath him. Rancis flew past Vanellope, who was still shaking on the ground. Felix suddenly wished his hammer was a boomerang as he stood frozen solid in fear. Rancis grew closer to Felix, his look enraged. Vanellope gasped and quickly glitched herself over and over to catch up to Rancis. She quickly hurled herself at his ankles, but only managed to grab one foot. Rancis tumbled, his sword awkwardly flailing, before he quickly regained speed towards Felix. Felix braced himself for a fight. He gave Rancis a look of death and clenched his fists. He knew he had to buy Ralph some time to throttle Rancis. Felix felt tears sting his eyes in rage as Rancis drew closer, yelling a war cry, his sword pointed right for Felix.
"Felix!" Ralph hollered as he quickly regained footing on solid ground. He booked it as fast as he could over to the two. Vanellope couldn't get up fast enough. She felt as if she was stuck in molasses. She quickly scrambled to her feet, her dress bunching underneath her. She quickly glitched, popping up in front of Rancis again, to defend Felix. Her hands swiped at his wrists again, trying to stop him. Enraged, he quickly shoved her out of the way using the blunt end of his sword. Vanellope skid to the ground again. She weakly looked up in time to see Rancis roughly stab his sword straight into Felix's side. Rancis laughed maniacally as he twisted the sword a little.
"Let me see you fix THAT," Rancis spat as he yanked the sword out of Felix's side. Felix immediately fell to the ground in agonizing pain, gripping his side.
Ralph yelled Felix's name in terror as he stampeded towards the two. Vanellope gasped and quickly scrambled out of Ralph's way. Without hesitation, Ralph clenched his wounded fist and sent his large, wrecking hand straight into Rancis, sending him skidding to the edge of the icy lake. Rancis scrambled to try to save himself from its icy grip. He quickly clawed at the ground as his foot sank into the sweet vanilla mockery. He hollered Vanellope's name, begging and pleading as the current began to drag him away. Vanellope stared at him in shock as she quickly and clumsily stood. She gave him an unforgiving glare and kept herself where she was. She knew the myths of Vanilla Lake. She knew the lake would claim him. She shook her head in disbelief and closed her eyes, as if to silently mourn his game over. Before she could open her eyes again, Rancis was gone. The lake slowly regained its gentle current, pretending to be inviting.
"Felix," Ralph called softly as he bent down to him on the ground. Felix groaned but managed a weak smile.
"I-I can fix it," Felix coughed. Ralph quickly supported him in his hand and arm, keeping his lower body on the ground.
"Wh-where's his hammer?" Ralph exclaimed. Vanellope stood and searched all around the ground for his hammer. It was nowhere to be found.
"The lake claimed it, Ralph," Vanellope said sadly as she knelt on the other side of Felix.
"Vanellope, we have to get him back to our game," Ralph urged, his eyes becoming glassy, "I-If we don't, he'll…"
"There's no time to waste," Vanellope urged as she gently tried to scoot Felix into his arms. Ralph picked Felix up with no hesitation.
