*Chapter 35*
Vanellope glared across the court at Sonic, the look in his eye was that of ferocity, yet uncertainty. Vanellope quickly looked over her shoulder to Taffyta, who was serving. She quickly volleyed it over the court and rushed to the middle of the court. Tails' quickly spat the ball back to Sugar Rush's court. It whirled over Taffyta's head, the whole crowd practically fell silent. Taffyta quickly turned around and skid on her knees into the sand. She immediately clipped the ball backwards over her head with both of her hands, she was facing away from the net. The ball lingered above Vanellope, practically setting up for the perfect spike. Vanellope held her breath and jumped into the air. She hurled her arm at the ball, quickly catching eyes with Sonic. She gave him a fierce, death glare of a smile before rocketing the ball into the sand behind Sonic; he flung himself in the direction of the ball as sand blew up into his face.
Vanellope practically froze as she came back down to the ground, the whole arena was numb with cheering. She gazed across at Sonic's court, seeing the volleyball lodged into the sand. Vanellope suddenly felt the gears turning in her head as she quickly gaped and whirled around. She gazed at Taffyta in pure shock as her teammate threw her arms in the air and jumped up and down.
"Vanellope!" Taffyta hollered as the two girls quickly rushed to each other, wrapping each other firmly in a fierce hug as they jumped up and down. They let go of each other and looked around excitedly.
"W-We won?" Vanellope laughed in shock as she held her forehead. The whole crowd was practically overflowing from the stands as two of the judges came down to Vanellope's and Taffyta's side of the court. Both of the judges beamed with shock. They looked similar to Nicelanders, but they were taller and more suited for EZ Living. One of them came in between Taffyta and Vanellope; he grabbed both their hands and threw them up high into the air, the crowd went crazy, the arena was filled with victorious cheer.
"The winners, Vanellope Von Schweets and Taffyta MuttonFudge from Sugar Rush!" The announcer exclaimed loudly as Vanellope and Taffyta were handed a sleek, beautiful trophy. Vanellope gaped as the two girls gazed down at their prize before beaming into each other's sweaty, sandy faces.
"We did it!" Taffyta exclaimed as the two girls squealed and quickly hugged each other. Vanellope beamed and pulled away from Taffyta before the two girls quickly peered out to the crowd with excitement. Everyone was alive in shock and cheer. Vanellope finally inhaled a nervous breath and scanned the audience for Ralph. Her face quickly flushed once she caught eyes with his figure.
"They won! THEY WON!" Felix hollered as his light body jumped up and down a few times, everyone around them clapped and wailed.
"They did it," Ralph breathed in surprise as Felix laughed cheerfully and nudged Ralph's arm over and over, "They actually beat Sonic and Tails!"
"This is the most exciting volleyball game I've ever been to, that's for sure," Felix chimed as the audience very slowly began to finally calm down.
"I promised myself I'd go down and ask that dark haired beauty out, if Sugar Rush won," barked the EZ Living local next to Ralph. Ralph furrowed his eyebrows at Felix, in raged annoyance, before quickly whirring around to the guy next to him. He was bigger built, his dark brown hair looked messy, a usual surfer's look. Ralph inhaled sharply, his blood hitting the boiling point.
"I thought I already told you," Ralph said deeply as he clenched his fists, "That's my girlfriend."
"Yeah yeah yeah, we all want THAT cluster of pixels in our hands tonight, Wreck-It, I get it," the guy said sarcastically as he waved Ralph off.
"Well," Ralph said with a sudden, sly smile, "You should go down there and ask her out, then. See what happens."
"Maybe I will," the guy snapped with an eager smile before standing and weaving his way out of the seating area. Ralph slumped his shoulders and rolled his eyes before he nervously looked down at
Felix.
"Well THAT guy is certainly in for a wrecking surprise," Felix chuckled nervously as he pat Ralph's arm. The two stood as everyone else in the audience began to slowly mosey away from their seats and out of the arena. Felix gazed up at Ralph eagerly, "Just don't get too carried away, with your anger there, Ralph."
"I'll play nice," Ralph muttered with a sly smile. The two quickly began to walk down the large set of stairs that led to a long hallway. It eventually hooked around and led out to the sandy volleyball court.
"I certainly hope you don't make this guy game over," Felix said with an apprehensive smile as the two kept their gaze down the long hallway. The sand at the other end of the tunnel gleamed with perfection, "You know, YOU'RE the only one who gets to give Vanellope her REAL reward, tonight, eh?"
"Felix!" Ralph barked, though his face broke free in an embarrassed smile. He nudged Felix's little shoulder with his large hand.
"Just speaking the truth," Felix beamed as he defensively put up his hands.
"Congratulations, you guys," Sonic said gently as he came up to the two girls, Tails' not too far behind him.
"Good game," Vanellope smiled sweetly as each competitor shook hands.
"You guys are faster than we thought," Sonic chuckled with a smile, "We'll have to compete again next year."
"Game on," Taffyta beamed as she put her hands on her hips.
"I'm there," Vanellope laughed as she high fived Sonic.
"See you guys around," Sonic smiled as him and Tails' slowly moseyed away with a small wave. The two girls waved them off before quickly jumping up and down excitedly.
"Oh, my User," Vanellope exclaimed as Taffyta held up their trophy.
"This will go in the castle, some place for everyone to see," Taffyta laughed as she held it up to the sunlight.
"Definitely," Vanellope laughed as she put her hands on her hips.
"Excuse me," Came a voice from behind Vanellope. She whirled around and flinched before coming face to face with, what she could assume, was an EZ Living local. He was about as tall as Ralph, but not built as big. He had a sly smile plastered on his face, "You guys did amazing today."
"Why, thank you," Vanellope said with a friendly smile, but she took a step closer to Taffyta apprehensively. Taffyta crossed her arms and cocked her eyebrow. She gripped onto their trophy.
"What do you say you and I go for a few drinks later tonight?" He said, his voice was charming as he tried to lure her in. Vanellope furrowed her eyebrows and tried her hardest not to laugh.
"Uh," Vanellope stammered before she noticed Ralph slowly mosey up behind the EZ Living local. She caught eyes with Ralph and could feel her whole entire code practically jolt with excitement, but she kept herself composed. She glanced back at the guy in front of her and stifled a small laugh, "Well, you'd probably have to see if that was okay with my boyfriend."
"Thought I was kidding, didn'tcha," Ralph said casually. They guy quickly whirled around and put his hand up defensively.
"I-I…how? Y-You mean, you're actually dating this sugar cube?" He asked in shock, Ralph furrowed his eyebrows and gestured out his large hands and arms.
"Look, I know I'm ugly but don't act TOO surprised, there, buddy…and she has a name!" Ralph barked in his face before the local quickly, and nervously, began to scramble away from the situation. Vanellope and Taffyta gave each other a dumbfounded look before both girls began to roar with laughter. Ralph slumped his shoulders and rolled his eyes as Felix quickly approached the group.
"I'm impressed, Ralph," Felix chimed, "You didn't wreck anything! Or anyone, which is good, cause I left my hammer at home."
"I was about to, believe me," Ralph breathed before he slid his eyes back to Vanellope in a shy way. He glanced down at her gorgeous body before glueing his eyes to hers. He struggled to keep his eyes from wandering.
"I'm glad you guys made it," Vanellope said as she heaved a happy, long sigh.
"You guys won!" Ralph suddenly chimed as he spread out his large arms. Vanellope squealed and quickly dove into his chest, her arms slapped around his neck. Ralph laughed and twirled her around once before setting her back on her feet. He squeezed her to him for a moment, though his heart practically gave out as his hands were introduced to the smooth, bare skin on her back.
"Congrats," Ralph smiled as Vanellope let go of him, she blushed. Ralph smiled at Taffyta, "To both of you."
"Thank you," Vanellope smiled before turning to Taffyta, she nodded and held up their trophy with a big grin.
"I can't believe we did it!" Taffyta laughed.
"You didn't think we could at first," Vanellope sneered before Ralph took her hand and inspected her arm.
"That was some dive," He worried with a frown, noticing Vanellope's scraped up arm.
"I think the ocean water would help with that," Felix said with a sly smile.
"That's salt water," Taffyta said warily, "Have fun with that."
"I don't want to spend the rest of my day in pain," Vanellope chuckled as the four slowly made their way towards the arena's exit. Mostly everyone had left the stands. They strolled onto the beach slowly, both girls had a bounce in their step. Vanellope and Taffyta high-fived firmly, both of them had a fierce, excited gleam in their eye.
"Where do you suppose we should put our trophy when we get home?" Taffyta asked with a small laugh, Vanellope beamed.
"Maybe in the kitchen? Or above the living room fireplace?" Vanellope suggested.
"You should eat ice cream out of it," Felix laughed.
"Sounds like a job for Taffyta, to be honest," Vanellope laughed as she softly slid her hand into Ralph's. Ralph raised his eyebrows and looked down, trying to avoid letting his eyes wander past her arm.
"That's rude," Taffyta sneered as the four came up to Calhoun, who was still perched under the large beach umbrella they brought. Tammy was laying on her back, babbling up at the small toy Calhoun dangled above her happily.
"Calhoun, you decided to join us!" Vanellope beamed as Felix plopped down on the blanket next to his daughter, he kissed her forehead.
"It's not so bad out here after all," Calhoun chuckled sheepishly, "What's the trophy for?"
"We won the volleyball tournament!" Vanellope beamed happily as Calhoun raised her eyebrows in surprise.
"And I missed it?" Calhoun said angrily, "You guys didn't tell me they were playing!" She barked to Felix and Ralph.
"We didn't even know until they came out onto the court!" Ralph bellowed with a chuckle of disbelief.
"My code is parched," Taffyta sighed as she nudged Vanellope as she set the trophy safely down on their beach blanket, "I'm going down to the water, you coming?"
"Right behind you," Vanellope beamed as she slipped her hand out of Ralph's; she gazed up at him happily, "Ralph, you comin'?"
"I'll meet you guys out there in a second," Ralph said gently, his face flushed. Vanellope beamed and nodded before her and Taffyta quickly began to head down to the crashing white caps. Ralph let his facial expression fall as he kept his eyes glued to Vanellope. He swallowed hard and rubbed the back of his head.
"Ralph, you look like you're having a bit of a hard time keeping your eyes off of Ms. Schweetz, there," Calhoun laughed as Ralph whirled around, his face hot red.
"Jiminy cricket, you should've seen him at the game," Felix muttered to Calhoun; she beamed a knowing smile up at Ralph.
"What? I don't know what you're talking about," Ralph chuffed as he sat down, half on the blanket, half on the sand.
"Well, you do have good taste," Calhoun chuckled as she picked Tammy up, "She's President, she's athletic, she likes you."
"Looks like you hit jackpot, buddy," Felix laughed happily towards Ralph. Ralph eased up and finally let a small smile cross his face.
"She is beautiful," Ralph said softly as he gazed down the sand at the two girls, they were standing just at the water's rising point, "I'm still surprised she agreed to be my girlfriend."
"Don't be too surprised, Ralph," Felix said calmly as he wrinkled his nose, "You're a great guy."
"Thanks, Fix-It," Ralph sighed as he continued to gaze at Vanellope, who was a mere speck down the water, with Taffyta.
"User, this water is cold!" Taffyta exclaimed as the cool ocean water lapped over her feet. Taffyta jumped up and squirmed before beaming at Vanellope, "I dare you to jump in."
"Yeah right, Taffyta," Vanellope hollered as she raised her wounded arm, "I'm going to avoid getting salt in this wound, thank you very much."
"You know if you don't clean it, you're just going to regret it later," Taffyta wrinkled her nose, "You'll have to game over in Sugar Rush just to regenerate with no wound."
"I have gone over a year without a game over," Vanellope pointed a finger at Taffyta, "I'm not going to lose our bet just for some measly wound."
"So what are you waiting for, then?" Taffyta beamed as she motioned out to the water, "You know if you don't clean it, it's just going to get infected or something."
"It won't get infected," Vanellope rolled her eyes as Taffyta gazed up the beach; she pointed and grinned.
"Well, Ralph won't let you get away with not cleaning it, so you better just man up and do it before he decides to throw you in the water," Taffyta laughed. Vanellope whirled around and gazed at Ralph as he trekked down the beach, slowly approaching them.
"He wouldn't throw me in the water," Vanellope hissed to Taffyta as Ralph came within earshot.
"How's the water?" Ralph asked as he approached, Vanellope hid her wounded arm behind her back.
"It's freezing!" Taffyta exclaimed before eyeing Vanellope, "And very salty."
"You can't tell it's salty just by feeling it, Taff," Vanellope sneered as she shook her head.
"It's the ocean," Taffyta laughed as she threw her arms out, "Besides, we've been here before!"
"Are you going to get in the water, or are you too chicken?" Vanellope barked as she crossed her arms, revealing her scraped up arm to Ralph again.
"I think you're the one that should get in the water," Ralph chuckled as he gently grabbed her upper arm to inspect her cuts, "This looks gnarly, Vin."
"Told you!" Taffyta pointed at Vanellope. She heaved a long sigh and gazed up at Ralph in a pleading way.
"Please don't throw me in the water," Vanellope frowned. Ralph glanced at Taffyta before grinning his sly, gap toothed smile at Vanellope, "Ralph…I'm warning you."
"What's that, now?" Ralph chuckled as he stepped closer to her. Vanellope took a few steps back, her lower legs submerged in the small, crashing waves. Taffyta began to giggle uncontrollably as she covered her mouth and watched the two.
"Ralph, I will dump you," Vanellope laughed with a pleading smile as she held her hands up.
"Not if I dump you first," Ralph laughed as he suddenly swept Vanellope into his arms. He carried her, bridal style, out into the near crystal clear water. Vanellope squealed and slapped her arms around Ralph's neck as water sloshed everywhere, getting both of their lower halves drenched.
"Ralph, no!" Vanellope squealed with a laugh as she tucked her wounded arm in between hers and Ralph's chests, "It's so cold!"
Ralph laughed and slowed down before looking back at the beach. Taffyta was standing at the shoreline with her hands on her hips, a look of delight on her face. He then quickly looked down at Vanellope; her teeth chattered as she sat in water from her waist and down. Ralph was submerged to his lower chest. He chuckled and held her close to him.
"Okay, now let's see what we can do about that arm of yours," Ralph said gently as he slowly let go of Vanellope. She stood by herself on the sand underneath the water, now being submerged up to her upper stomach; she gripped the chest of Ralph's shirt and froze, besides her crazy shivering. She made sure her wounded arm didn't touch a drop of the cold, salt water.
"S-so c-cold," Vanellope said through teeth chattering as her code glitched its minty blue a few times. Ralph chuckled and rubbed her back before softly grabbing her wounded arm.
"You'll get used to it," Ralph said breathed gently on the top of her head before ungluing her arm from his upper chest, "Come now, we need to get this fixed up."
"Ralph," Vanellope whined as she gazed at her arm and wrinkled her nose. Ralph wrapped his free arm around her firmly and lovingly.
"You're not going to let a few cuts get the better of you, are you?" Ralph chuckled as he gazed down into her eyes.
He smiled a friendly smile but wrinkled his nose; Vanellope slumped her shoulders and softly took Ralph's shirt in a death grip. She inhaled a deep breath and shook her head as she finally gave up resisting Ralph. She knew in a matter of split seconds, he could easily have her arm mercilessly pinned under the water, his strength was obviously far beyond her, but he kept his grip on her gentle and patient. She smiled down at Ralph's chest a little, loving the feeling of his warm arm around her.
"No," Vanellope finally breathed as Ralph steadied her hand above the rising and falling water.
"This might sting," Ralph said gently before carefully dunking her lower arm into the water. Vanellope gasped and shoved into Ralph, pushing her whole face into his upper chest. She groaned a loud noise of protest as she tried to yank her hand away, but obviously Ralph's firm grip didn't budge.
"You're alright," Ralph said gently as he tenderly brushed his large thumb over the three gashes on her inner arm, just before her elbow. Grains of sand and a small amount of blood softly floated into the lulling motion of the water. Ralph winced down at her arm and held her closer as she practically trembled. Ralph inhaled shakily, "That was a nasty fall."
"You're telling me," Vanellope grunted through clenched teeth. She relaxed after a few moments of Ralph's thumb stroking her arm up and down. She slowly un-tensed her shoulders and gazed down at her arm. The three gashes looked clean and were a soft pink. She sighed softly and lifted her arm out of the water to inspect the damage. It looked much better, but still was apparent. She gazed up at Ralph and shivered.
"All good?" Ralph asked genuinely with a small smile, causing Vanellope to smile a little.
"Yeah," She breathed as she couldn't control her shivering, "Thank you."
"You're welcome," Ralph chuckled as he wrapped his arms around her middle, Vanellope gazed up at him in an unsure way.
"Just dunk her already!" Taffyta hollered; she was waist deep in the water, about ten yards away from the two. Vanellope gaped at her before shooting her eyes back to Ralph in a nervous way.
"Ralph," Vanellope beamed nervously, "You wouldn't."
"I would," Ralph chuckled as he kept his arms glued around Vanellope so she couldn't go anywhere, "And I will."
"Ralph, no!" Vanellope squealed as Ralph effortlessly lifted her, throwing her a few feet away. She crashed under the surface, water sprayed everywhere. Taffyta and Ralph laughed with each other as Taffyta managed to make her way over. They high fived as Vanellope broke from the surface, her facial expression nothing short of surprised distress.
"Ralph!" Vanellope squealed as she flailed around. She immediately began to trudge towards the shore, a shivering mess. Ralph chuckled as Vanellope quickly left the two in the water. Ralph sighed and nudged Taffyta.
"She's going to give me the silent treatment for the rest of the day because of your sour ideas," Ralph laughed as him and Taffyta slowly followed Vanellope.
"She couldn't keep from talking to you if her life depended on it," Taffyta laughed as she nudged Ralph back.
