*Chapter 47*
Ralph quickly stood and wiped the mud off of his face and clothes. He clumsily began to stumble towards his game cabinet's train as the 'closed arcade' announcement chimed. He was eager to head to Sugar Rush. He smiled a wide smile and stumbled a few times as he tried to get the mud off of his heels; he was thrilled the game day was finally over so he could meet up with Taffyta. He glanced back at the Niceland building, everyone was cheering and patting Felix on the back. Ralph quickly steadied his stumblings and began to hustle to the Niceland train.
"Ralph!" Felix called after him; Ralph wrinkled his nose and shut his eyes tight, feeling immediately annoyed.
"Yeah?" Ralph grumbled as he turned around, Felix approached him with a worried facial expression.
"I'm curious if you can watch Tammy today for a few hours? Calhoun has asked me to come over and fix a few things around Hero's Duty. I guess some of the Cy-bugs didn't properly respond to the beacon, yesterday, and laid waste to the game." Felix explained apologetically.
"Um," Ralph mumbled as he rubbed the back of his head, "Sure, I can watch Tammy for you."
"Do you not want to?" Felix worried, "I know she's a bit of a handful."
"No no, it's not that," Ralph slumped his shoulders and smiled sheepishly at Felix, "I'm going over to Sugar Rush to meet up with Taffyta."
"What about Vanellope?" Felix asked innocently.
"Well," Ralph breathed with a smile, "Taffyta is going to help me get a double stripe branch ring for Vanellope. I'm going to propose to her on New Year's."
"Good on yah, brother!" Felix hissed with excitement as he clenched his gloved fists, "I knew this day would come!"
"I would love to bring Tammy along, as long as she's good at keeping this a secret," Ralph said gently.
"I'm sure she will," Felix said confidently, "Just explain to her how important it is. She's a smart girl."
"Uncle Ralph!" Tammy chimed happily as she skipped over, her short blonde hair flicked around; she was wearing her usual blue polo with a comfortable pair of cargo shorts.
"Looks like you're hanging with me today, kid," Ralph smiled as he got down on one knee to welcome her into his arms.
"What are we going to do today?" Tammy asked excitedly as she gazed up at Ralph, her facial expression beaming with excitement.
"I'll tell you on the way to Sugar Rush," Ralph smiled as he stood up and nudged Felix's arm, "See you later, brother."
"Good luck," Felix beamed as he tipped his hat.
Ralph and Tammy quickly left their game cabinet; Ralph wondered how in the world he was going to avoid Vanellope for the day. He was hoping Taffyta would have some ideas. Tammy eagerly babbled on about how much she loves Sugar Rush as the two stepped into the sweet, sugary evening air. Ralph quickly scanned the area, hoping to see Taffyta or Candlehead.
"I wonder where auntie Vanellope is," Tammy asked as she hugged Ralph's arm and gazed up to his shoulder. She jumped up and down a few times, hoping Ralph would get the idea.
"I'm not sure," Ralph said as he gently hoisted Tammy up onto his shoulder; she hugged the side of his head with her small arms.
"Ralph," Candlehead called up the rainbow road; she waved eagerly.
"Candlehead," Ralph smiled, "Have you seen Vanellope?"
"I think she's in the castle with Taffy," Candlehead said as the two quickly approached each other.
"I need you to distract her," Ralph said eagerly, Candlehead furrowed her brow.
"Distract her?" She asked in a confused way before giving Ralph a knowing look, "Ohh, you going to go with Taff to get her ring today?"
"You're getting Vanellope a ring?" Tammy asked curiously,
Candlehead shot Ralph an apologetic look.
"Oh sorry," Candlehead frowned, "Was she not supposed to know?"
"No, it's okay," Ralph smiled, "I was going to tell her."
"Tell me what exactly?" Tammy giggled as she hugged Ralph's head tighter. Ralph chuckled and carefully took Tammy down from his shoulder. He set her in front of him and knelt to her level on one knee, taking her small hands in his.
"Tams," Ralph smiled into her eyes happily, "I need you to keep this a secret."
"A secret?" Tammy asked eagerly, her undivided attention on Ralph.
"Mhmm," Ralph nodded, "You can't tell Vanellope this, no matter how much you want to."
"Why not?" Tammy asked innocently.
"Well, because it'll spoil the surprise," Ralph said.
"What's the surprise?" Tammy beamed.
"I'm going to ask Vanellope to marry me," Ralph smiled down into Tammy's eyes, which quickly widened with surprise.
"Really?" Tammy asked with a wide smile, Ralph chuckled and nodded.
"But you have to promise me you'll keep this between us," Ralph said seriously, "If Vanellope finds out, it'll spoil the surprise."
"We don't want that," Candlehead added, hoping Tammy got the idea.
"I promise," Tammy said confidently as she squeezed Ralph's hands; Ralph chuckled and stood.
"Thanks, Tams," Ralph smiled as he ruffled her hair a little.
"So why are we avoiding Vanellope then?" Tammy asked curiously.
"Because you, Taffyta and I are going to go out and try to get Vanellope a ring today," Ralph said down to his niece.
"Vanellope can't know what you guys are up to, or else the surprise will be ruined," Candlehead said gently.
"I get to come with to find the ring?" Tammy beamed with excitement.
"Yes, you do," Ralph chuckled, "But only if you keep this a secret."
"My lips are sealed," Tammy urged with a smile.
"So, how am I going to possibly distract Vanellope?" Candlehead said with a frown, "Vanellope is VERY hard to surprise."
"I don't know," Ralph grumbled as he rubbed the back of his neck, "Maybe tell her that Calhoun and Felix need help over at Hero's Duty? I guess a Cy-bug ignored their beacon and destroyed parts of the game."
"I'm not sure Vanellope will buy it, but I will try," Candlehead groaned as Vanellope and Taffyta slowly began to approach them.
"Hi guys," Taffyta called as her and Vanellope waved.
"Vanellope," Candlehead called as she put on her act.
"What's up?" Vanellope asked as she furrowed her eyebrows.
"I guess some parts of Hero's Duty got destroyed due to a faulty Cy-
Bug, Calhoun and Felix need our help assessing the damage," Candlehead explained.
"Oh," Vanellope said in a worried way as she gave Taffyta a concerned look; Taffyta shrugged, "I guess we should all head over there and see what's going on."
"Yeah," Taffyta said in an unsure voice as she glanced at Ralph. Ralph strained his face and just barely shook his head at her. Taffyta inhaled sharply, getting the idea, "A-actually, I need Ralph for the day. I have a few things that need to be lifted across the warehouse and he's the only one that can help me."
"What things do you need moved?" Vanellope asked as she wrinkled her nose. She gave Taffyta a disbelieving look.
"Just, um, a few of the toolboxes," Taffyta fibbed as she looked at Ralph and Candlehead nervously, "Th-they're in the way of some things."
"Okay, c'mon Vanellope," Candlehead urged as she grabbed Vanellope's arm, "We don't want to keep Hero's Duty waiting."
"O-okay," Vanellope mumbled as the two stumbled towards the exit; she eagerly looked back at Ralph, "I-I'll meet up with you later, Ralph!"
"Meet me at my house," Ralph called with a smile; Vanellope and Candlehead waved as they quickly left Sugar Rush.
"That was a close one," Tammy chuckled as she hugged Ralph's arm.
"Too close," Ralph breathed as she gazed down at Tammy; he averted his attention to Taffyta, "You almost lost it there."
"I am a terrible liar when it comes to trying to surprise Vanellope," Taffyta frowned as she rubbed her face, "That girl is sharper than Rancis's double stripe sword."
"Nothing gets past her," Ralph chuckled as he shook his head; he gently grabbed Tammy's hand as the three began to make their way down Sugar Rush's rainbow road entrance.
"You don't have to live with her," Taffyta grumbled.
"Yet," Ralph laughed, Taffyta lulled her head to the side and chuckled.
"So where are you guys going to live after you get married?" Taffyta asked as the three slowly moseyed towards the candy tree forest past the start line of the race tracks.
"I'm not sure," Ralph sighed with a small smile, "There's more than enough room in the castle here in Sugar Rush."
"You wouldn't live in our game anymore?" Tammy asked sadly; Ralph squeezed her hand and gazed down at her apologetically.
"Nothing is set in stone," Ralph reassured, "But if I do end up living here, you know I'm only a game away. You can come visit me any time you'd likeā¦and, of course I'll be in our game every day while the arcade is open."
"Good," Tammy said firmly with a smile as Ralph quickly hoisted her up onto his shoulder again, "Someone's gotta clean up after yah."
"I think that will become Vanellope's job after they get married," Taffyta snorted a laugh; Ralph rolled his eyes and breathed an annoyed chuckle.
"Taffyta was sure acting strange," Vanellope muttered as her and Candlehead made their way across Game Central Station.
"She was?" Candlehead tried to look oblivious, "I didn't notice."
"I'm bummed I won't get to see Ralph much today," Vanellope said with a frown.
"Well, you can see him later tonight once we're done helping out," Candlehead said happily.
"What could those toolboxes possibly be in the way of?" Vanellope hissed to herself as she held the sides of her head and gazed into space, "They're all against the far wall!"
"Maybe Taff is just mistaken," Candlehead said nonchalantly, hoping to avoid the topic further, "I wonder what kind of damage that rogue
Cy-Bug caused."
"Those toolboxes aren't THAT heavy," Vanellope barked as the two strolled into Hero's Duty.
"Vin," Candlehead sighed.
"I hope there isn't much to do here in Hero's Duty, cause I'm already itching to get back," Vanellope rolled her eyes, "I think Taff is losing it."
"You're thinking too hard about it," Candlehead chuckled, hoping Vanellope would eventually lay off the topic.
"What else is new," Vanellope sighed.
