*Chapter 13*
Ralph gazed at her nervously, still gripping her hand. She gazed gently into his eyes, her hazel eyes true and confident. Ralph slowly nodded and hesitantly let go of her hand. She calmly turned back towards the lake and began to venture towards it again, her eyes eager yet nervous. Ralph took a few steps closer as if to spot her, he was praying that she'd be reachable if anything were to go wrong. Ralph winced with every confident step she took closer to the vanilla ice. He watched her every single move, becoming one with her gestures; he stayed within arm's reach of her, terrified out of his mind.
Vanellope gently took a confident step into the lake. The lake flinched and bulged, as if to welcome the presence. The vanilla ice around her ankle slowly began to turn crystal clear, a calm light blue. She gazed down at the lake and continued to step in. Ralph stopped at the very edge of the lake and held out his arm to her as she steadied herself on his large arm and hand. She eased her way into the lake farther, the lake jolting and glitching, trying to identify the new presence. The Lake was alive with all sorts of different, playful movements. Vanellope smiled as she got about waist deep. She looked all around, noticing the lake quickly turn from vanilla ice to a clear, crystal mint blue. The water reflected like blue diamonds under the cherry trees. She gazed down to the bottom of the canyon like lake, noticing the massive red vines at the bottom. They were glowing a luminescent light blue, lighting up the whole entire lake with beautiful blues of all sorts. Light blues, dark blues, turquoises; Vanellope didn't even know that she could see so many different kinds of colors.
Ralph eased and gazed into the lake, it being transformed completely. Vanellope glitched a few times, but it was smooth and delicate. It bulged and showed her code in a graceful way. It swirled around her, the water simply replying and glitching in the same way in return. She turned back to Ralph with an eager smile before diving into the crystal water. The lake lit up like lightning had struck, it bulged and moved with her, as if it were completely alive. Vanellope swam all around, laughing with joy. She gently perched herself on a small boulder that was emerged from the lake. As she climbed out of the water, the lake quickly grew icy vanilla again. It swirled in its usual method, sparkling like the sun. Vanellope quickly beamed at Ralph and waved. Ralph nervously waved in return.
"Ralph, join me!" Vanellope called happily.
"Hooo no," Ralph laughed as he took a few steps backwards, "I may not be the smartest guy in the arcade, but I know that has to be the stupidest decision ever."
"Ralph," Vanellope whined. Ralph shook his head.
"I-I can't," Ralph frowned, gazing across the icy lake to Vanellope.
"Why not?" Vanellope asked calmly. Ralph slumped his shoulders.
"I'm a bad guy," Ralph uttered, "Do you know how many buildings I've destroyed, how many people have scampered out of my way in Game Central Station?"
"Ralph, those are all things you can't help," Vanellope explained, "Those aren't wrongs you can help. You were programed to wreck the Niceland building. People are always scared of bad guys. It's nothing you can help."
Ralph stayed silent and gazed out at the lake as if to contemplate his decision. He heaved a long sigh before giving Vanellope a scared look. Vanellope smiled lovingly towards him.
"Ralph, you're a bad guy, but that doesn't mean you're a BAD guy," Vanellope chuckled. Ralph heaved a long sigh, wondering how many times he's heard that.
"I-I don't think it's smart," Ralph frowned.
"Ralph," Vanellope smiled, "Trust me." Ralph gazed at her intently before gazing back down at the lake. He nodded slowly and heaved a shaky sigh as he took one nervous step forward.
Apprehensively and slowly, he sunk one of his feet into the vanilla ice. The water suddenly jumped and jolted, turning all sorts of colors before settling and wrapping itself around Ralph's foot. Ralph nervously continued to walk into the lake, feeling his heart race. The water jumped and jolted, almost with glee, as it finally settled to a calm crystal red and orange. Ralph made all sorts of noises of protest before tripping and falling into the water, submerging himself completely. The water popped and sparked with fierce purpose. He gasped for air and began to wade in the water nervously. The warm water hugged him and was glowing intensely with blushed reds and oranges. Ralph laughed and quickly began to swim over to Vanellope.
"I-I'm alive!" Ralph laughed in disbelief. Vanellope chuckled and shook her head.
"I told you so," She sneered playfully.
"Th-that, was terrifying," Ralph laughed as he quickly waded to a large boulder that was submerged under the water. He stood on it, the water now just below his upper chest.
Both Ralph and Vanellope were in the middle of Vanilla Lake, perched on their landings. Vanellope quickly pointed to the large red vines on the bottom of the lake. They were glowing a vigorous, bright red, making it look like the water was lit on heavenly fire. The tops of the red vines were bulged. They looked a lot like flower buds, not yet bloomed. They flickered with calm light, the crystal red water around Ralph becoming warm and soothing. Vanellope chuckled and smiled at Ralph as he shook his head, his wet hair suddenly a lot messier than before.
"See?" She started, "This here is proof you're not a bad guy."
"I guess you're right," Ralph said kindly as he looked down, as happy as ever. He heaved a long sigh before gazing back up at Vanellope, "I wonder what would happen if we both were in the water?" He asked curiously. Vanellope shrugged and gently slid down the boulder she was perched on.
"I wonder," She whispered as she gently put her foot in the water before yanking it out, "Ow!"
"What's happened?" Ralph worried.
"It's hot," Vanellope beamed as she slowly eased her foot into the hot water. She suddenly slipped and dunked into the water all at once. She gasped and scrunched her face from the heat.
Instantly, the whole lake jolted and seemed to explode with life. The water immediately rumbled and turned a deep purple, flashing all sorts of colors of blue, purple and red. The lake seemed become quick and energetic with more life than before, causing the cherry trees to rattle. Little pink cherry blossoms began to fall from the heights of the trees, floating down to the water. Vanellope quickly scrambled in the water for a boulder to stand on, similar to the one Ralph was on. She stood, still submerged up to her waist.
"Whoa," Vanellope chuckled as she smiled at Ralph. The water stayed hot and soothing, but reflected deep purples and blues. It sparkled like nothing they've ever known.
Vanellope quickly gazed down at the massive red vines at the bottom of the lake, the water was crystal clear and bulging with colors. The red vines glowed a deep, dark red, as if they were mere embers from hot coals. She noticed the flower like buds at the top of each individual red vine begin to spread and open, as if to bloom. The large flowers burned hot with red and blue fire, the petals marked with delicate, dark purple flecks, each one different from the rest. Vanellope gasped silently and gazed into each iris of the flowers, each one so intricate and detailed. They shone like the sun, as if a kindled ember was encouraged by roaring winds. The water was alive, excited, hot, fast. Vanellope beamed and quickly looked up at Ralph.
"This is amazing," Vanellope smiled before gazing back into the water, "I supposeā¦this, is what our friendship looks like."
"Yeah," Ralph breathed in amazement, the hot, blooming flowers stretching its petals, as if to make sure there was no room left on the lake bed. They reached for the surface of the water as if it was a treasure from the heavens itself. Small embers, from the blooms, flickered to the surface to kiss the cherry blossom petals that had graceful landed on the water from above.
Suddenly, the water came alive around the two. It began to whirlpool behind Vanellope, sending her off of the boulder she was perched on under the water. She slipped and was gently pushed across the small gap between her and Ralph. She scrambled her arms and legs, trying to steady herself before her back quickly pushed into Ralph's chest. Ralph put his hands out around her a little, as if to protect her. Ralph chuckled as Vanellope struggled to push away from Ralph; she pushed on his chest a little before finally wading away.
"S-sorry, I slipped," Vanellope laughed as she slowly waded back to her perch. She heaved an embarrassed sigh and quickly got comfortable. She stood on the boulder again, the water to her waist. She put her hands on her hips and gazed down to the lakebed, the flowers blooming more with each longing gaze. She opened her mouth to speak, but was quickly swept off of her boulder again. Vanellope squealed and tried her hardest to swim back to her perch but was swiftly turned around and forced back into Ralph again, this time facing him. She pushed on his chest a little and noticed the current wouldn't let her leave him. Vanellope gazed around at the water as Ralph softly put his arms around her. Vanellope laughed and gazed up at Ralph in a confused manner, her eyes sweet and innocent. She blushed and opened her mouth to speak as she nervously looked around.
"I-I'm sorry," Vanellope stammered as she quickly tried to move her wet hair out of her face, failing slightly, "I-I guess I'm just really clumsy today."
"That, o-or I think the lake is trying to tell us something," Ralph chuckled, his face bruised with a red blush.
Vanellope gazed into Ralph's eyes, her throat suddenly feeling as if it was closing. She swallowed hard and felt her whole face get hot as Ralph's warm eyes gazed into her coded soul. She let her hands rest on Ralph's lower chest, her hands submerged in the water. She could feel the warm current on her back gently keeping her to him. She half chuckled and smiled into his eyes as she could feel his arms tighten around the small of her waist. She could feel glitchy, pixels of goosebumps slowly travel up her spine as his thumb gently stroked the back of her shoulder. She inhaled a shaky breath and looked down suddenly, feeling shy and nervous.
She opened her mouth to speak but before she could get anything out, the water behind her suddenly jolted against her back as if to say 'get on with it', shoving Vanellope forward a little. It gently splashed over her head, soaking Ralph's face in the process. Vanellope immediately looked up as the two began to laugh at the lake's persistence. Ralph shook his head free of water and chuckled, curiously looking behind Vanellope a little. He quickly caught eyes with Vanellope again, bringing himself back to her. He gave her an innocent, warm smile. He silently admired her beautiful face, her hazel eyes sparkling with the fire beneath them. Her rosy cheeks warm with life. He didn't want anything but her in this moment. His heart jumped and twitched with nervousness, but still he slowly began to lean down, eager to finally close this longing gap.
Vanellope gazed deep into Ralph's eyes as he grew closer, almost searching for an answer. She suddenly felt vulnerable, but she welcomed it. Vanellope gently began to lean up into him, feeling her heart practically stop. She tried her hardest to control glitching as she could feel Ralph's warm breath on her nose and cheeks. Just as they were mere inches away from their first kiss, Vanellope's code slowly glitched, it bulged and pixeled with hot blue code. She snapped out of it and gave Ralph an innocent, apologetic look as Ralph flinched and stopped his daring venture. He silently chuckled and smiled through his barely parted lips. Vanellope inhaled quickly and bat her barely parted eyes a few times, truly trying to take in their closeness. She scrunched her shoulders and blushed hard.
Before her mouth could form a whisper of a small apology, Ralph carefully filled the gap. Vanellope raised her eyebrows; the two closed their eyes quickly as they melted into each other for the first time. Their hearts immediately caught flame like a dry match in pitch black. Vanellope smiled gently on Ralph's lips, feeling her heart race faster than her best cart on the tracks. Ralph kissed her gently and carefully, his hot breath practically turning her cheeks red for her. Vanellope felt her inner code jolt as she slowly slide her arms up Ralph's chest to hug his neck. Upon her action, Ralph followed suit; he tightened his arms around her middle and gently tugged her up and into his grip. She inhaled sharply and hummed a satisfied hum on his lips as she gently held the back of his head, her fingers eagerly gripped his thick hair.
Just as Vanellope leaned further into Ralph to deepen their kiss, she couldn't control her glitching little self any longer. Her code quickly wigged out, making its usual electrifying sound. Vanellope broke the kiss as she inhaled sharply and suddenly. Her code flickered around her face a little before vanishing. Ralph gazed at her in a stunned way, his face flush, as if he had just been struck by lightning. He immediately beamed and began to chuckle. Vanellope slumped her shoulders and gave Ralph an eagerly pathetic look as her code bulged and wigged out in different places all over her face and shoulders. She shook her head, as if to rid herself of it.
"I think you actually electrocuted me slightly, there," Ralph said softly with a small laugh, both of them beaming like the sun, feeling as if a two ton weight has been lifted from their shoulders.
"I-I would apologize, but it is your fault entirely," Vanellope laughed as she continued to hold the back of Ralph's head.
"As usual," Ralph said softly with a loving smile, his dazed facial expression showing nothing short of relief.
"Should, we try again?" Vanellope innocently suggested in almost a whisper, her eyes glued to his.
"I don't think you need to ask," Ralph stated softly as the two leaned into each other again. Just as their lips barely touched, Vanellope's code shocked both of them with a spark, causing them to gently jolt their heads away from each other. The water around them popped with excitement; the water's hot purple code glitched and acted as if it were cheering them on.
"I don't suppose your code comes with a manual on how to kiss, does it?" Ralph playfully sneered as Vanellope rubbed her mouth with her palm, her facial expression annoyed.
"Ok, that one was painful," Vanellope laughed before relaxing and glancing up at Ralph. She suddenly noticed his brow was crowned with beads of sweat. She gazed at his forehead, confused, before looking around eagerly, suddenly realizing that she was sweating a little too. The lake they were in had steam rising from it. Vanellope chuckled in disbelief and smiled.
"This water is so warm," Vanellope laughed quietly as Ralph gently hugged her closer. She gazed out at the water as Ralph wrinkled his nose and beamed down at her.
"I can't imagine why," He chuckled.
Vanellope heaved a shaky sigh and avoided eye contact with Ralph, her code gently bulging and wigging out a little, it flamed electric blue. It flickered and traveled down her arms, making Ralph's large arms flicker with his red code as well. Vanellope exhaled sharply and shook her head a little.
"Is everything ok?" Ralph asked in almost a whisper as he bowed his head a little with concern.
"I-I'm fine, I'm fine," Vanellope mumbled with a small smile as she rubbed her arm. She exhaled a nervous, yet excited, sigh and bit her bottom lip slightly.
"Hey," Ralph cooed as he relaxed his grip on her slightly. He could feel Vanellope shaking slightly out of nervousness in his strong arms. He chuckled softly and deeply, his eyes still caught with hers, "It's ok, it's just me."
"I'm sorry," Vanellope chuckled as she put her hands on Ralph's lower chest. She gently fiddled with the wet fabric of his shirt under the water. She inhaled slowly and relaxed, keeping her eyes fixed on Ralph's. Her fidgeting code settled.
"Don't be," Ralph chuckled and looked away sheepishly, "I'm feeling a little out of my element as well."
"Really?" Vanellope asked, her eyes innocent and hopeful.
"It's not every day a beautiful upgrade shows affection to a retro bad guy," Ralph laughed, his face blushed.
"You sound surprised," Vanellope said with a smile.
"Surprised, look at me," Ralph said with a pathetic laugh, "I'm designed to live in the garbage and destroy people's homes. I'm sure User didn't have a love interest in mind for me. Who would ever find this bumbling hunk of hands attractive?"
"Guilty," Vanellope chimed softly as she looked away; her hazel eyes slid back to his in an innocently smoldering way. Ralph grumbled in playful disbelief and gave her a sincere look.
"Well, you're the first," Ralph said with a pathetic smile, "And probably the last."
"Well, good," Vanellope sneered playfully, squinting her eyes and shaking her head.
Vanellope relaxed her shoulders a little and casually glanced at Ralph's mouth. She felt as if the two were sharing at least a dozen different silent conversations with just a single look in the eye. She could feel the pull, but she couldn't explain it. She felt as if someone had plugged in a missing wire in her brain. She hesitantly continued to very slowly lean up towards Ralph, and to her surprise, he bowed in return, both eager for the same thing. That thing being something their code has never explored before. Vanellope swallowed her glitching insecurities and very gently gripped the collar of Ralph's orange plaid polo, his hot breath was present on her cheeks and mouth. She closed her eyes and shivered an inhale as the two turned the world off. She could practically taste him.
"Vanellope!" a voice in the distance echoed.
The two froze, their mouths almost touching. Vanellope parted her eyes, feeling as if she had to yank them from the back of her skull. She exhaled a gentle, patient sigh on Ralph's mouth and stayed put. Ralph unglued his eyes from being shut hesitantly. He gazed down at her nose and face as he softly slumped his shoulders.
"Who is that," Ralph whispered in a breath with mild, desperate annoyance.
"Taffyta," Vanellope breathed in return.
The two remained in suspended stand-still. Ralph tried not to breathe, hoping somehow he could continue this moment of in-between. He could feel a split second of silent decision making between himself and Vanellope as they both slowly continued to try and fill the minor amount of lingering gap between them. Ralph slowly shut his eyes and felt a chill go up his spine as Vanellope gently slid her hands up Ralph's shoulders. She tilted her head just barely, eager to quell their hearts.
"Vanellope, where are you!?" Taffyta hollered, her voice sounded closer than before.
Vanellope groaned aloud and pried herself from Ralph with dismay. She turned around in the water and gazed past the icy banks, through the cherry trees. Ralph gently let go of her waist, the water around them swirling with steam.
"She's getting closer," Vanellope said gently before turning around and gazing at Ralph nervously, "This place is our secret. We need to find her before she finds us."
"Good idea," Ralph stated as the two quickly began to swim towards the shore.
The beautiful hues of purple, blue and red swirled around the two in a harmonious manner as they reached the shore. They gently emerged from the water, both of them curiously gazing back at the lake. The lake quickly swallowed whatever color was apparent and immediately began to churn itss white liquid snow. The steam quickly rose into the air and vanished. It sparkled in pride, sealing away its mysteries. Ralph chuckled and shook his head in amazement as he averted his gaze to Vanellope. He flinched and noticed she had begun trekking towards the candy trees that surrounded the cherry trees. Ralph quickly snatched up her hoodie and ran to catch up to her; he shook his head with a wide, beaming smile.
