Chapter 7: Revelations for Desserts?

At his house, Ralph was getting ready to for the dinner. He was happy that he could spend some time with Vanellope & have fun with her, but the best part about this dinner for him was that there would be NO JAMES. As Ralph walked out the door, he stopped & looked at the room he had made for Vanellope. "It's funny…" Ralph thought as a tear formed from his eye; "I just let what could have been the best thing in my life slip away from me." Ralph smiled before wiping the tear away. "No, Ralph. Think happy thoughts." Ralph thought as he kept walking towards the trolley; "You have to. For her." He then grinned as got on the trolley, finally feeling happy for the first time in a while, but what he didn't know was that that day, no one was happier than Vanellope.

Later: Sugar Rush|Castle

After Ralph finally entered Sugar Rush, he walked to the castle & knocked on the door. To Ralph's surprise, Gabrielle opened the door. "Hi Ralph, I'm glad you're here. Vanellope's been waiting all day for you to come." Gabrielle said with a big smile on her face.

"Hi Gabrielle. So where is Vanellope anyway?" asked Ralph.

"She's getting dressed up stairs." Gabrielle answered, causing Ralph to scratch his head.

"But Vanellope never changes her clothes for anything besides taking a shower and going to bed." Ralph thought before he saw Vanellope walk down the stairs in a sparkly, blue dress with a green bow on the side, matching gloves & a slightly blue-green crown. Vanellope smiled as soon as she saw Ralph, then glitched into his arms & gave him a hug. Ralph was surprised at first, but finally hugged her back. He then held her up so he could smile at her. "I know it's a 'royal' dinner, but why are you dressed up kid?" Ralph asked as he put Vanellope down. "James wanted me to wear 'more appropriate' clothes for when I wasn't racing. Plus Gabrielle made it." Vanellope said before grinning; "Besides, it beats wearing that stupid pink dress." "You got that right kid." Ralph said as he grinned slightly as they went finally inside.

Later: Sugar Rush|Dining Room

Gabrielle had already set the table, but was wondering what they were gonna eat before Vanellope interrupted her thought process. "Hey Ralph, guess what?" asked Vanellope.

"What?" asked Ralph.

"I'm not the only glitch anymore." Vanellope answered, causing Ralph to scratch his head. "What does she mean she isn't the only glitch anymore? Hoping it's not James." Ralph thought before asking; "Then who's the other glitch kid?" As soon as Gabrielle realized what Vanellope was saying, she quickly put her hand around Vanellope's mouth and said; "Vanellope is just playing. There is no other glitch." Vanellope pushed Gabrielle's hand off her mouth & said; "Yes there is Gabrielle & you know it."

Ralph put his hands up defensively repeatedly as he said; "Hey-hey-hey, calm down. Just tell me who the other glitch is."

Gabrielle looked at Vanellope with an expression that mixed a death stare with a silent plea for Vanellope not to continue. "Don't. You. Dare." Gabrielle quietly said coldly, in hopes to scare Vanellope out of it telling Ralph the truth. "He has to know Gabrielle." said Vanellope. "Please…don't." Gabrielle silently begged. Vanellope took a big breath & looked back at Ralph. "Gabrielle is the glitch." said Vanellope.

Ralph's eyes widened in surprise. "Wait, Gabrielle's glitch?" Ralph thought before shaking his head, "I was not expecting that." Ralph turned his gaze at Gabrielle, who now looked embarrassed as tears started to fall out of her. ''Let me ask you a question." Ralph said seriously, causing Gabrielle to look at Ralph timidly; "If you're a glitch, why did you hide it from me?"

"Well, you see…James said it was too dangerous for me to tell anyone." answered Gabrielle.

"But that doesn't make sense. Vanellope's a glitch, so wouldn't she have to keep it a secret too?" asked Ralph.

"No. Well, you see…" Gabrielle said as she awkwardly twirled a part of her hair; "I don't just glitch like Vanellope does. I can also bend code to make it into whatever I want, whenever I want. But James said that it could destroy everything in my path so I never practiced this power of mine."

Ralph looked at Gabrielle, awestruck, as he simply said; "Wow." Vanellope smirked at Ralph as she said; "Told you Ralph."

Gabrielle grabbed what she could of Ralph's hands & looked into his eyes while hers held the presence of fear. "Please-PLEASE do not tell anybody Ralph." begged Gabrielle.

Ralph looked at Gabrielle with a reassuring look as he said; "Calm down Gabrielle."

Gabrielle then started wiping away her tears, though Ralph noticed hope & relief in her eyes now. "I promise that I won't tell anyone without your permission. I swear I won't let anyone know." Ralph promised as Gabrielle smiled as her tears finally stopped flowing before she hugged Ralph tightly. Ralph was surprised at first, but then smiled & hugged her back.

"Thank you Ralph…" Gabrielle whispered into Ralph's shoulder; "Thank you..."

Soon after, Gabrielle finally served dinner. Throughout the dinner, Ralph praised Gabrielle's ability to cook, causing her to blush. Afterwards, Ralph and Vanellope played hardcore while Gabrielle cleaned the table. As soon as 9:00 hit, Vanellope was fast asleep on Ralph's lap. Ralph smiled before gently picking her up & carrying her to room. Once he put Vanellope in her bed, he tucked her in & kissed her forehead. Soon, Ralph was on his way back home by himself when he happened to notice James finish yelling at Gabrielle for something, making Ralph feel for her.

"I wonder if I should have done anything." Ralph thought before James walked up to him; "Pretty fast for a fat man."

"Nice to see you Ralph. I'm terribly sorry if Gabrielle has said or done anything that made the dinner less amusing." James said apologetically.

"She hasn't done anything like that at all. In fact, she was very sweet." Ralph said before he grinned; "Really made the night, you know?"

"Oh…well then…" James said awkwardly; "Sorry I couldn't make it for dinner. It's just that I've had to take care of some business." James then leaned in close to Ralph & whispered; "If you know what I mean."

Ralph just nodded his head & said; "I completely understand."

"Outstanding. May I clarify something?" James asked cheerfully.

"Sure. Shoot, but not literally." Ralph answered before they both laughed for a few moments.

"Oh Ho-Hos, that was clever." James said as he wiped a tear from his eye; "Anywhoo, I was wondering if you would be available 2 days from now?"

"I should be. Why?" asked Ralph.

"I shall be holding a Royal Announcement Party at that time & I wanted to make sure if you could be present. My little sugar cube enjoys your company so much that since you've left, all she's been doing after-hours is staying in the castle. She interacts with Gabrielle, but only when Gabrielle checks up on her." James explained, making Ralph realize that he's been hurting Vanellope with his actions.

"I never knew…" Ralph thought as he looked at James determinedly before saying; "Of course I'll be there." Ralph grinned before continuing; "How could I miss it?"

"Splendid!" James said as he clapped his hands together before reaching into one of his pockets; "You'll need one of these to get into Sugar Rush that day, so make sure not to lose it." James handed Ralph a keycard with a royal stamp on it.

"Thanks." said Ralph.

"It's my pleasure Mr. Wreck-It. Now if you will excuse I'm going to head back to the castle to get ready for the coming days." James said as he started to walk away, tipping his hat; "Have a pleasant night!"

"You too." Ralph said as started to make his way back to his game.

A.N.: As always, remember to review if there are any problems you see so far with the story.