Author's note: I'm not sure where this story idea came from but here it is! For those of you expecting huge amounts of drama and tears, you may be disappointed. This is a fun little story with some humour, a sprinkle of heart and a few plots woven into each other. The main characters are Fillmore, Sarge, Luigi and Guido.
There are of course OCs but none of them take the spotlight. The contestants were invented by the-kings-tail-fin and Adventurelife. Angela and Bill belong to me, MSN. And to those of you who are wondering, yes, Bill is the same camera guy who first appeared in No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service and Any Other Way. He started out his career with MTV, switched to the Piston Cup, but still does some reality tv off season.
Again, many thanks to the-kings-tail-fin and Adventurelife! Enjoy the story!
No one in Radiator Springs expected it. Heck, not even Fillmore expected it. But when the letter came saying that he'd been accepted to be on the Bachelor, Sheriff conducted a quick investigation. Lightning and Mater cracked under the pressure almost immediately. It had been them who signed him up. They'd actually signed a whole bunch of other cars up just for a joke, without taking into account that one of them might actually be accepted.
What really surprised everyone in Radiator Springs was the fact that Fillmore decided to go participate. Apparently, this would be the perfect opportunity to 'spread some love' in a 'cold and desolate world'. No one was exactly thrilled at the idea, but no one was exactly against it either. Except for Sarge. He was slightly worried. What if Fillmore came back with a lady he was in love with? They'd move in right next to him and he'd have two useless neighbours to deal with. Or worse still, what if Fillmore moved away completely? Who would he have to argue with then? The Jeep took it upon himself to do whatever needed to be done to sabotage the show.
He enlisted the help of Luigi and Guido. It wasn't easy, but their imaginations were over-active. All he had to do was tell them to consider what Fillmore would be like with a wife. Maybe she'd be bossy. Maybe she'd come in and tell them how to run their tire store. Luigi was outraged at even the thought of it and so in his haste agreed to help.
The Bachelor truck and camera crew rolled into town on a Friday. They stayed the whole day, video taping Fillmore's home, having interviews with friends, and being chased off Sarge's lawn. Fillmore packed a few belongings and got in the truck at dusk, his friends waving goodbye and promising to watch every episode.
No one noticed a military truck waiting by the Radiator Springs sign and slipping in behind the brightly lit Bachelor truck. Sarge was cramped in the back with Luigi and Guido, along with grappling hooks, binoculars, and everything else Sarge thought they'd need. Luigi was uncomfortable and started to regret his quick decision to come with the veteran. Guido's forks were crossed. He had tried to warn Luigi against this.
They drove all the way to the mansion in California. Fillmore was oblivious to their presence.
"Alright," Sarge stated once they'd set up camp. "Here's what we're going to do."
Luigi looked distastefully at all the equipment they'd had to push out of the truck. He was starting to think he'd been tricked and was second guessing his commitment to this mission. Guido made a little fire in the middle of their setup, happy to be out camping.
"Luigi," Sarge continued. "You will watch the first episode," Sarge tapped his tire against the old television set.
"Can we not just take Fillmore home?" The Italian reasoned.
"No!" Sarge snapped. "Those ladies will come for him. We need to scare them off. This is a long mission, soldier. And you will gather data."
Gathering data didn't sound too difficult to Luigi.
"And what will you be doing?" He asked the veteran after Sarge had pushed the television into his tent. Guido hooked it up to the generator and fiddled with the antenna.
"Sorting the equipment," Sarge nodded towards the pile. He handed Luigi a clipboard and the Fiat turned into the tent. Guido had managed to find the right channel and Luigi watched in boredom as several advertisements started playing. Hopefully this would be over soon.
Fillmore parked in front of the mirror, making sure he was presentable. The Bachelor mansion was huge. He'd already been through the car wash and been waxed 'til he shone. The forklifts had offered him several little trinkets but he had declined. He didn't need a bowtie. This was who he was.
In all honesty, the Volkswagen wasn't looking for love. That didn't mean he was opposed to it - maybe it would come, maybe it wouldn't. But these ladies coming onto the show, they were looking for love. Fillmore hoped he'd be able to give them a little bit of love, a little bit of direction. He wasn't young anymore, but he hoped he had some wisdom to impart. If he helped at least one lady he'd be meeting tonight, that would make it worth it. And who knew, maybe he would end up finding a soulmate.
"Fillmore?"
Fillmore turned and saw a dark purple Mini Cooper come in. It was Angela, the hostess of the show. Behind her was Bill, the small Chevy pickup truck that would follow him around with the camera.
"Are you ready?" Angela asked.
"I am," Fillmore said confidently.
"And how do you feel?" Angela asked.
"Confident, Ang," Fillmore nodded. "You know, I'm gonna just be myself. It's gonna go smooth, Ang, I just know it."
He was led down to a beautiful garden that was cozily lit. The first truck rolled up and Fillmore relaxed. He wasn't nervous at all. He was ready.
Luigi glanced at the tv screen, watching as the camera panned over the mansion the where show would be taking place. He scribbled a vague map on the notepad, figuring Sarge would like the 'information.'
"Ladies and gentlecars," the host of the show announced. "Thank you for tuning in tonight during the first live session of the Bachelor. We're looki...
"Yes, yes, come on," Sarge grumbled, parking himself beside Luigi. "Show us the enemy."
"They are not the enemy," Luigi rolled his eyes. "They are just girls looking for a soulmate."
"Fillmore is not soulmate material," Sarge growled. "And knowing him he'll pick another hippie. Dealing with one is hard enough."
Luigi rolled his eyes and watched as the first truck rolled up the driveway. The ramp was lowered into a sea of rose petals and fake smoke drifted onto the scene. The first car rolled out.
She was a 1970 Chevrolet C10, white and yellow two tone.
"Howdy," she greeted Fillmore with a smile. "I'm Cheyenne Roughtread."
"Evening," Fillmore nodded slowly. "On behalf of myself and our wonderful hosts, I'd like to welcome you to this journey."
"Thank you, that's mighty kind of you," Cheyenne grinned. "What're you hoping to discover?"
"Some might say we're here to find love," Fillmore spoke. "But we don't need to come here to find love. Love is all around, man. In the sky, in the grass. What am I hoping to discover? That I can share the love I see everywhere."
Sarge groaned and rolled his eyes.
Cheyenne was led to the courtyard to wait while the next contestant was introduced. Lilith Bolton, a sunny yellow Volkswagen Beetle with dark roses painted down both sides.
"Hi," she greeted Fillmore. "I hear you're into organic fuel."
"Her," Sarge pointed a tire. "Put her on 'high priority'. She's dangerous."
Luigi did so.
"Hi, I'm Claire LeTracke," the next contestant introduced. She was a light blue Chevrolet Corvair Corsa drop-top. "Wow, look at all of these flower petals!"
Luigi thought she looked a little ditzy.
Next was Everly Wheelmington.
"Just so you know," the forest green 1960 chevy truck announced. "I'm a girl, not a guy."
"Of course," Fillmore nodded, as if completely agreeing with her. "You have such a beautiful, soft complexion. Thank you for coming."
The normally grumpy truck was startled by his friendliness.
"Oh... thank you," she smiled softly, trailing a tire through the flowers on the ground.
"Guten tag... I mean, hello," Karin Wagoner, a 1960 Opel Rekord introduced. She was teal green and white.
"You were manufactured in Germany?" Fillmore asked.
"Ja, I was," Karin smiled, her accent still strong.
"Well, then allow me to welcome you to America," Fillmore bowed. "And thank you so much for coming tonight. Your presence will show the world that despite our differences, we are connected in our search for love and belonging."
Sarge wanted to drive into a tree repeatedly. However, he perked up upon seeing the next contestant.
"Tia Welltread," the dark blue Jeep introduced. "Pleasure to make your acquaintance." She shuffled the rose petals away, frowning at their messiness.
"Welcome," Fillmore bowed. "Say, that's a nasty bullet hole you have there," he nodded towards her license plate.
"Got it during the war," she said proudly. "I was a correspondent during Vietnam."
"She doesn't seem too bad," Luigi glanced towards Sarge.
"What could she possibly be doing here?' Sarge muttered.
"Just so you know," Tia started. "I don't know if I'm exactly comfortable with this."
"Oh, I understand completely," Fillmore nodded soberly, understanding her hesitation.
The seventh contestant burst out of the trailer eagerly. She was a white 1965 Datsun Fairlady with a black drop-top.
"Hi, I'm Li Caramake!" She introduced excitedly. "You must be FIllmore!"
Luigi was getting pretty bored and shoved the notebook aside.
"How many contestants are there?" He muttered to Guido. The forklift replied that there were eight and Luigi turned to the screen again. One last contestant then he could call Lightning to ask how Casa Della Tires was running without him.
"Good evening," a voice with a silky smooth Italian accent floated through the speakers. Luigi gasped, dropping the notebook.
"Guido… It can't be," he turned towards the forklift. The camera panned out, showing a beautiful, deep red Ferrari 250 GT Lusso driving down the ramp.
"IT IS! A Ferrari," Luigi drove right up to the screen, watching with a star struck expression as the Ferrari's front tires touched the petals.
"Calm yourself, soldier," Sarge snapped, reaching forward with his left tire and pushing the Fiat back.
"Good evening and welcome," Fillmore bowed low on the screen. Sarge strained his ears to hear the lady's introductions past Luigi's swooning.
"I am professor Bianca Lusso," the lady introduced. "So nice to finally meet you, Fillmore."
"The pleasure is all mine," Fillmore kissed her offered tire with more sauveness than Sarge thought he had.
He drove with her towards the courtyard where the other contestants were waiting.
The Mini Cooper appeared on the screen, a mic attached to her fender. She rattled on about the schedule for the next couple of days and Sarge turned back to the clipboard, tuning her out as he examined the enemy.
Guido listened curiously.
"Eight contestants, one bachelor. Will Fillmore find true love? Tune in next week to find out."