*Chapter 15*
The group slowly approached Diet Cola Mountain's secret entrance; the glitch between the two sugar free lollipops. Everyone arrived at the entrance with hesitation.
"Does this entrance still work after the game's reset and upgrade?" Ralph asked curiously, his eyes glancing between Vanellope, Taffyta and Candlehead. Candlehead nodded in assurance.
"Yep! I was here with Taffyta and Snowanna the other day," She chimed, the candle brightly burning atop her head.
One by one, everyone stepped inside. The wall glitched and bulged as it let everyone in. The inside of the mountain looked pretty much the same. The whole inside of the mountain was warm with heat from the boiling soda pools. Everyone slowly approached the boiling soda lake, the broken and wretched racing tracks hung over it like looming memories. Ralph heaved a long sigh and put his hands on his hips, he took in the familiar sight and smiled.
"This place is creepy," Felix said nervously.
"It used to be my home," Vanellope said gently with a knowing smile, "I found that secret entrance a long time ago, and decided to make this my humble abode."
"We didn't have a single clue that you lived here," Candlehead chuckled, "We always knew that the Glitch was on the run, but we would've never guessed you lived here. We didn't even know you could get in here."
"I just found it by poking around, really," Vanellope laughed.
"I almost had a game over here," Ralph blinked a few times, gazing down at the boiling pool before everyone. He felt a soft hand on his lower, inner arm.
"You taught me how to race here," Vanellope said sweetly as she gazed up at Ralph through grateful eyes. Ralph chuckled and smiled back at her.
"Alright, lovebirds, let's get fixing," Calhoun barked as her, Candlehead and Felix began to trek up the pink road that led to the break in the bridge.
"C'mon," Taffyta chuckled knowingly as she nudged Vanellope.
"How are we going to go about fixing something that is missing parts?" Vanellope called after Felix as her, Taffyta and Ralph quickly skipped ahead to catch up.
"Good question," Felix rubbed his chin in confusion as him and Calhoun approached the break in the bridge up the hill.
"Don't get too close," Calhoun warned gently as they peered over the edge of the tracks down into the boiling pool of soda.
Vanellope quickly picked up a loose piece of pretzel and hurled it upwards towards the hanging looms of Mentos that had reformed. She clipped two Mentos off of their perch, sending them rocketing into the boiling soda. Two massive gysers immediately sprung up, shooting boiling soda up into the air. Everyone on the bridge quickly scrambled away. Candlehead squealed as her candle blew out.
"What was that?" Felix exclaimed as he clutched his chest. Calhoun looked upwards, the ominous Mentos hanging high above everyone.
"You made my candle go out!" Candlehead exclaimed as she waved her hand over the steaming wick atop her head.
"I couldn't resist," Vanellope laughed as she quickly picked up a dry piece of pretzel. She wisked it against the wall, causing the end to catch flame. She carefully lit Candlehead's candle once again before shaking out the flame on the end of the pretzel she was holding.
"Candlehead's precious candle," Taffyta chortled. Candlehead playfully rolled her eyes.
"It's all I got," Candlehead sneered with a laugh.
"Guys, I don't think the bridge is fixable, by Felix's hammer anyways," Ralph called as he stood on the edge of the broken bridge. It creaked under his weight, Vanellope nervously bit her lip.
"Whynot?" Felix asked sadly.
"It's missing parts. How can you fix something that is missing parts to fix it with?" Ralph asked as he peered down into the boiling lake underneath him, "All the parts we needed were probably lost in the soda pits."
"Jeepers," Felix sighed as he rubbed the back of his head.
"Well, maybe we can find extra pieces or something," Vanellope suggested as she looked around, "And then we can add to the bridge with Felix's hammer."
"Look, there's some extra broken pieces down there!" Candlehead said as she pointed under the bridge, between the cracks of the race track.
"C'mon," Felix chimed as everyone quickly made their way down the rough, chocolatey pretzel banks of the hill.
"I don't suppose we have enough in this pile to fix the bridge?" Candlehead asked as everyone began rummaging through the pile of broken, pink wafers.
"Potentially," Vanellope said as she put her hands on her hips and examined the broken gap in the bridge.
Everyone quickly helped haul broken pieces of wafer up to the top of the bridge. After about a half an hour, every piece of wafer they could find in the mountain was stashed in a pile at the ready. One by one, they began mending the bridge back together. They all grew wary as the bridge suspended further out over the boiling soda pit.
"Ralph, you're making the bridge creak," Felix stated in a worried way.
"What? No I'm not," Ralph chuffed as he firmly steadied a large wafer, waiting for Felix to fix it with his hammer.
"It's okay," Vanellope said, trying to keep everyone calm, "Let's just hurry and reach the other side."
"Ralph," Felix said in a shaky tone as the bridge quietly groaned under everyone's weight, especially Ralph.
"Felix, its fine, just hurry up and mend this together," Ralph bellowed, "We've almost closed the gap."
"I think Felix may be on to something," Calhoun said gently as the bridge creaked and bowed suddenly.
"Fine," Ralph barked as he suddenly shoved the wafer down. Everyone quickly took a step back and flinched with surprise.
He quickly stood and trudged across the bridge. It groaned and creaked nervously, everyone let out gasps and noises of worry as the bridge wobbled. Ralph quickly came to the side of the bridge that was stabilized by land and sat down with a huff. He peered at everyone down the bridge, all of their facial expressions were that of shock and worry. The bridge finally steadied and quieted.
"Go on without me," Ralph hollered in a sarcastically nice voice, "I'll just sit here."
"Ralph," Vanellope called before she quickly looked back at everyone. All eyes were on her, their looks a mixture of apology and frustration. She inhaled a deep breath, "You guys keep going, I'll be back."
"Sorry, Ralph," Taffyta called. Ralph chuffed.
"Ralph," Vanellope chuckled as she trekked across the long bridge. She approached her wrecker as he was sitting on the ground, his chin in his hand. He avoided eye contact with Vanellope and held true to a very annoyed facial expression.
"What?" Ralph asked in a dull tone.
Vanellope knelt down in front of him and gazed into his eyes as she bit her lip in contemplation. She gently took his hand from his face and brought it down between them. She held his hand with both of hers and smiled up at him through gleaming eyes. Ralph glanced at her a few times, his facial expression softening.
"Don't be upset," Vanellope sighed with a small laugh, "This is nothing you can help, you know."
"I can't help that I'm six hundred and forty three pounds," Ralph barked gently, "What I can help is choosing to surround myself with teeny candy people."
"What do you mean by that?" Vanellope said deeply, straightening her back and giving Ralph an upset look. Ralph immediately softened and gave her an apologetic look.
"I'm just spouting hot air," Ralph breathed as he looked sorrowful, "I'm sorry. I just wish I wasn't so bumbling and awkward."
"Don't beat yourself up," Vanellope said gently, "Ralph, you already helped a lot, just look at how far you got us!"
"Hmph," Ralph chuffed as he looked over Vanellope's shoulder. The bridge extended a good long ways across the soda pit, only leaving a few feet until the bridge closed the gap to the other side of the racetrack.
"The only reason the bridge doesn't support you right now is because it's not connected to the other side," Vanellope explained gently.
"I want to keep helping," Ralph said sadly, "I want to prove to people that I'm not just a wrecker. I can build things, too."
"C'mon," Vanellope smiled as she stood up, offering both her hands to Ralph, "Follow me."
"Taffyta, hold it lower!" Candlehead struggled as her, Calhoun and Taffyta held onto one of the large pink wafers. It wobbled and bobbed every which way.
"It's so heavy," Taffyta whined in a strained breath.
"Hold it still, you guys, I can't fix it if it's too high off the bridge," Felix explained as he tried to steady it with one hand, his hammer firmly in his other hand.
"You'd think wafers would be light and fluffy," Calhoun groaned, "Where did Vanellope go?" She asked as she struggled to look over her shoulder.
"Don't drop it!" Candlehead shouted in a struggled groan.
"Candlehead, it's practically crushing me!" Taffyta wheezed as she practically crossed her eyes, "Calhoun, stop moving!"
"I'm trying not to!" Calhoun barked.
"Guys, get Ralph back over here," Taffyta strained, "We need him."
"Here," Ralph said gently as he quickly grabbed onto the wafer to steady it.
He had met the gang on the other side of the bridge. Both his arms and his upper body were extended over the boiling lake of soda. Everyone's eyes widened with relief as Ralph effortlessly held the wafer steady. Candlehead, Taffyta and Calhoun quickly backed away as Ralph immediately took over. Felix smiled wide up at Ralph before quickly melding together the heavy wafer to the bridge. He brushed his hands a little before turning back.
"One more wafer and we've done it!" Felix chimed happily. The three girls behind him quickly scrambled to retrieve another wafer in their endless pile at the end of the bridge.
"C'mon guys!" Taffyta said in delightful determination as the three struggled to bring over the last piece to the puzzle.
They immediately handed it to Ralph, their eyes gleaming with appreciation. Ralph quickly placed the wafer in the right spot as Felix hammered it into its solid spot, completing the bridge. Both Ralph and Felix stood up straight and took in a deep breath. Everyone took in the sight of the new bridge, it glistened with pride and stood sturdy in its position. Ralph brushed his hands together and chuckled.
"Not so useless after all, eh?" Ralph chuffed, putting his hands on his hips.
"Ralph, no one said that you're useless," Felix stated softly, his expression endearing and honest.
"Why would we think you're useless?" Taffyta laughed through small heaves of breath as everyone gathered at the end of the new bridge.
"Didn't you hear Taffyta say we need you?" Candlehead said innocently, her face kind and hopeful.
"Ralph," Vanellope chuckled as she came up behind him to join the group. She pat one of his large hands, "No one here thinks you're useless. You've got to get that out of your head."
"Thirty years of a repetitive way of life is probably hard to shake," Felix said, empathetic towards Ralph.
"Thanks for understanding," Ralph said gently as he glanced at Vanellope, "Guess I'm still not used to people being kind to me."
"Well, take your time then," Calhoun chuckled as her, Taffyta, Candlehead and Felix made their way off the bridge, "The kindness isn't going anywhere anytime soon, Wreck-It."
"We're going to get a better look at the bridge from the ground!" Felix called to Ralph and Vanellope.
"We'll be down in a minute!" Vanellope called with a smile before averting her attention to Ralph.
"This whole, 'having friends' notion is going to take a whole lot of getting used to," Ralph chuckled as he rubbed the back of his head.
"Ralph, we're your family now," Vanellope said softly, "You've got to give us some credit. No one has deemed you useless for a long time, now. Not after what you did to save Sugar Rush."
"I know, I know," Ralph huffed as he looked up at the looming Mentos, "I always had you as a friend, and Felix, but suddenly having a whole group of friends that actually accept me is something I'm having a hard time wrapping my mind around."
"Just give it some time," Vanellope said softly.
"Not to mention the fact that someone like you would even think to, well…" Ralph trailed off, his face hot red, "You know…"
"Ralph," Vanellope chuckled as she weaved her way underneath Ralph's large arm. She gently wrapped one arm around his back and gazed up at him happily, his large arm draped over her shoulder. Her eyes were warm with happiness, "The life you were dragged out of wasn't a normal lived life. All the stuff that's happening to you lately is what is considered to be normal."
"That's hard to believe," Ralph breathed in a chuckle.
"Welcome to the normal club!" Vanellope laughed, "Well, I-I guess I wouldn't totally call us 'normal'… Welcome to the weird club."
"That sounds about right," Ralph laughed.
"The bridge looks great!" Felix said cheerfully as Taffyta, Calhoun and Candlehead all high-fived each other, "Great work you guys!"
"Ralph did most of the heavy lifting," Taffyta said with a chuckle.
"Poor guy," Calhoun said gently after a few silent moments between the four, "Those thirty years of banishment really did a number on his insecurities, didn't it."
"I think he's slowly finding his feet in all this newfound friendship," Felix smiled as everyone gazed up at Vanellope and Ralph on the bridge. Vanellope and Ralph were looking in a different direction, their chatter muffled by the sounds of the bubbling lake beneath them.
"Newfound friendships," Candlehead prolonged, "And a newfound love."
"They do make a mighty fine couple, indeed," Felix said with a small, happy sigh, "Watching them is like watching a melody progress from a bumbling, sweet tune to a mysterious, passionate chorus. I don't think I've ever seen the guy so happy in my life."
"I just hope he doesn't wreck her heart," Taffyta chuffed as she crossed her arms, though she gazed hopefully up at the two.
"If there's one thing I've learned from my brother is that he's a lover, not a fighter," Felix said gently to Taffyta, "I know that may be hard to believe due to past experiences you guys may have had with him."
"Besides, we don't even know if there are any feelings between them or not," Calhoun said gently as she waved a hand up at the two.
"Well, they DID kiss," Taffyta said plainly. Candlehead, Calhoun and Felix all whirled around to face Taffyta, their facial expressions stunned.
"They what?" Calhoun exclaimed in a hissed whisper.
"Ohhkay," Taffyta put her hands up defensively, her face suddenly hot red as she beamed sheepishly, "I-I actually wasn't supposed to say that so if you could keep that to yourselves that'd be great!"
"Wait, you're serious?" Felix chimed.
"I-I wouldn't be about to offer you guys money to keep your mouths shut if I WASN'T serious, Fix-It," Taffyta stated nervously as she cocked her eyebrow.
"I knew it!" Candlehead pumped her fist in the air and beamed.
"Way to go, brother," Felix laughed as he gazed back at the two on the bridge.
"Guys, seriously, this doesn't leave the four of us," Taffyta said nervously, "I-I told Vanellope I wouldn't tell anyone."
"You heard it straight from the kisser's mouth?" Calhoun laughed.
"I can't imagine Ralph being a romantic kind of guy," Candlehead chuckled.
"Guys, honestly, you didn't hear it from me," Taffyta worried.
"It's okay," Felix said, quelling Taffyta's worries, "Nothing was said. Who kissed who? I don't know what you're talking about."
"Real smooth," Calhoun said sarcastically as Ralph and Vanellope started to make their way down the bridge.
"They're coming," Taffyta hissed, "Act natural."
"The bridge looks awesome!" Vanellope exclaimed as Ralph brushed his hands clean.
"Sure looks good," Ralph said as him and Vanellope gazed up at the bridge, all eyes were on the two in a knowing way.
"We should celebrate!" Taffyta exclaimed as Candlehead nodded, "Let's head back to the castle for some drinks, shall we?"
"That sounds great!" Vanellope smiled wide as everyone began to head towards the exit.
"I just hope Felix doesn't hit the drink too hard like that one time," Calhoun laughed.
"It was an honest mistake!" Felix innocently pleaded.
