Author's Note

Having the characters go to the internet is a common story device in the Wreck-It Ralph fandom, and I'm certainly aware of this. I thought long and hard about it before I decided to use the internet as a major setting in this story. If any of you, my readers, are disappointed by this, I ask that you please bear with me. If the story, the characterization, and the themes did not stand to benefit from the internet's presence in the story, I would not have included it. Hopefully, when you finish the story, you will see why I felt the need to use it. For now, rest assured of one thing: while there will certainly be jokes and references related to it, I am not including the internet exclusively as a source for gags.

I should also mention that this story is a sequel to A Dying World. Knowledge of that story is a good thing to have going into this one.

Thank you again to all my readers. You make my time here worthwhile.

And now, here is the story. I hope you enjoy it.

Prologue

Gene had never been so humiliated in his entire life.

In the early hours of the morning, he'd been greeted in Game Central Station by the sight of Ralph returning with Felix. He'd opened his mouth to hurl a reprimand at Ralph, but the words had died in his throat. The bad-guy had seemingly either not noticed, or simply didn't care; he'd had the look of someone whose mind was on other things. As for Gene, he'd simply stepped aside to let his game's hero and villain enter through the wire, leaving him to hurriedly gather the rest of the Nicelanders and bring them the good news that their game wouldn't be unplugged after all. A good day's work had followed, but the joyous outburst of Mr. Litwak at Ralph's return had been the defining moment. That was when Gene finally put his feelings into a coherent thought.

Without Ralph and Felix, we're nothing.

He didn't fail to note that his mind had put Ralph's name first in the sentence.

And now, Felix had told him the story. Gene knew now- knew of the savage battle with the cybugs, of the reemergence and final defeat of Turbo, of Ralph's compassion, and willingness to sacrifice himself for a greater good. The handyman had departed some hours ago, but Gene was still sitting in his room in the penthouse, alone with his thoughts. The other characters had all left for Game Central Station for the evening, but he would not move. He was too distracted by his epiphany.

There really was more to Ralph. And I never gave him a chance.

He remained in the chair behind his desk for much time, his head resting in his hands, a glum expression on his face. Only the sound of the returning characters disturbed his bitter reflections. Standing up, Gene moved towards the windows. Through one, he saw Felix and the other Nicelanders moving towards the Penthouse entrance. Through the other, he saw Ralph waving goodbye to a short, dark-haired girl in a turquoise jacket and a brown skirt. The wrecker watched until the girl was out of sight, and then turned back towards the dump that was his home.

Gene gulped nervously and fingered the tie around his neck. He glanced towards the door, and then back through the window. Ralph was climbing atop the pile of discarded bricks, apparently preparing to catch a bit of rest before the arcade opened in a few hours.

I'm not looking forward to this, Gene thought, but it has to be done. It's the only decent thing to do. I just hope he'll listen to me.

He strode towards the door, giving Felix and the returning Nicelanders brief nods of acknowledgment. Straight into the elevator he went, punching the button that would take him to the first floor. When he reached the entrance hall, Gene checked his watch. It had taken him only five minutes to get there, but the trip felt as though it had taken an hour.

He went outside and turned to observe the mound of bricks to the penthouse's left. He hurried towards it, only to hesitate a few yards from its edge.

Courage, Gene, courage. You won't live with yourself if you don't do this.

Taking a deep breath, he steeled himself and walked to the pile's edge. "Ralph?" he called. "Ralph?"

There was a shifting motion among the bricks, and a familiar face popped above the pile's surface, eyes blinking groggily.

"Wha-? Oh, it's you, Gene. What do you need?"

"Did I choose a bad time?" said Gene. "If you need to sleep-"

"Nah, I've got time," said Ralph. "Come on up."

Gene looked hesitantly at the mound of debris. For a moment, his habitual prissiness asserted itself, and he wrinkled his nose in disgust- but only for a moment. Banishing all thoughts of bad odor from his mind, he hopped upwards until he was standing beside Ralph. Ralph, for his part, moved into a sitting position.

"What's on your mind?" he asked Gene.

"I…" Gene hesitated once again.

"Uh-huh?"

"Look, Ralph," said Gene. "I think I said some pretty horrible stuff last night."

"It was kind of true."

Gene blinked. "What?"

"I was being pretty selfish, just wanting a medal for myself. I'd already gotten a good jolt before we spoke, but you made it permanent."

"Well, maybe you're right," said Gene. "I'm in, ah, no position to judge." He looked nervously at his feet, fingering his tie once more.

"Something the matter, Gene?"

"Well, ah, Ralph…the fact is…" Gene looked Ralph squarely in the eyes. "Ralph, I need to apologize. Felix told me about what happened. About what you did." He straightened his tie and let go of it. "I was wrong. You really are a good guy."

He watched as Ralph absorbed his words.

"I know thirty years is a lot of time to let go of," Gene continued. "I'll understand if you can't, but still: I'd like to ask your forgiveness." He held out his hand. "Can we let bygones be bygones?"

Ralph looked reflective for a moment. "Gene," he said. "You're right. Thirty years is a lot to let go of. I don't know if I can forget. But after what I've been through, I'd be ashamed if I couldn't forgive."

He took Gene's hand between his thumb and index finger, and shook it.

"Thank you, Ralph," said Gene. "This…means a lot to me."

"No problem," said Ralph. "Have a good rest of the night now. I'll see you when the arcade opens."

"And you can throw me out of the window again," said Gene. He smiled briefly, before hopping down from the pile of rubble. Back to the penthouse he went, into the entrance hall, up the elevator, and down the hallway, until he reached the doors of his room. Entering, he changed into his nightclothes, ready to obtain a short rest himself. He climbed into his bed and closed his eyes. Already, his heart was lighter.