DISCLAIMER: Does it really seem like the kind of person who owns such a glorious ensemble of colorful vehicles?

June 17, 2017

"…Okay. You're good. Focus…. Speed. I am speed. Faster than fast. Hide in the shadows, strike when ready. I. Am. S– "

"Hey, Lightning. You ready for another win, me bucko?"

"You've got great fuel in your tank, man."

"Be wishing you the best, soldier."

"Git 'er done, Lightnin'! Wishin' ya some last minute luck, buddy!"

"Go on out there, Stickers! You ready to show 'em who's still got it?"

Lightning McQueen smiled as he opened his eyes.

"Yeah, guys," he muttered into his radio, "I'm ready."

Slowly, his trailer door opened, flooding the trailer with the blinding light.

The outside spectators took one look at his face, then, they went ballistic. Paparazzi immediately began snapping photos, yelling at him to "show his good side" and "show us the bolt!" Reporters whipped around to face their respective camera crews and started their usual coverage for RSN. Behind the nearby fences, in the VIP seats, McQueen spied several fans actually weeping into their tires in their joy.

McQueen's grin grew slightly wider. He strode out of his trailer, sinking low on his chassis. Then, when he was on the ground and a few of the reporters had reversed far enough, he leapt up, striking his routine pose and flashing his right headlight.

"Ka-chow!"

As if the crowd couldn't get any louder.

"Dad-gum, buddy!" he heard Mater say to him via radio, "Ah'm startin' tah think dis might be yer biggest race yet!"

McQueen laughed as he made his way past the flashing cameras. "Mater, I think you've said that about every race you've come to."

He heard Sally chuckling back. "He's just excited, Stickers," she said. Then, after a beat, she added, "…and, I must admit, you've seemed pretty excited, too."

"Heh. Yeah," said McQueen, pausing to flash the bolt at a few more reporters before continuing, "It's my tenth consecutive racing season since I even started my career! How can I not be excited?"

At this, Sally let out a flurry of giggles. "You sound like an overly enthusiastic teenager!"

"What? How?"

"Your voice cracked just now and it went high-pitched for a seco– "

"Hey!"

McQueen flinched at the sudden interjection. "Uh…" He took a moment to recognize the voice, "Uh… Y-Yeah, Sarge? Did you want to say something?"

"No," Sarge groused, "I just think you should be getting a move on before you end late for your own race!"

"Oh… Oh, okay. Thanks, Sarge." McQueen couldn't resist taking a moment to roll his eyes. He drove marginally faster as he tried to push his way past the many cameras and microphones shoved into his face. "Um… Oh, yeah, love you guys too, yeah… uh… excuse me, pardon me, coming through…."

After what felt like at least five minutes of doing his best to push past them, McQueen finally let himself breath again when he reached the open road closest to the track. He looked back, at the swarm of screaming paparrazzos, and his tank churned a bit.

"Jeez Louise. Feels like those guys are getting more pushy every year…"

"Hey, bud?"

He almost jumped at Mater's voice, practically filling his eardrums. "Yeah, Mater," he replied, turning away from the cacophonic audience, "What is it, buddy?"

"Can yah turn 'round? We can see yah! We're in dah pits already!"

McQueen's engine fluttered. A grin pulled at his lips. He turned, searching for any sign of….

There they were.

Mater, Sally, Sarge, Fillmore, Mack, Flo, Ramone, Luigi, Guido, everyone. All sitting in his pit stop area. All beaming, and, when they realized he'd found them, all waving a bit too fast.

McQueen couldn't stop his creeping grin as he waved too.

"Alright, son. Time to buckle down," Sarge butted in again, "I've done some research, and you've got some pretty talented competitors this time around."

"Yeah, but there's some pretty nasty rookies as well, man," Ramone added, "Yo, Lightnin', have you met that new guy yet? The one with the electric engine?"

McQueen nodded. "Yeah. I know who you're talking about. You're thinking of that guy Jackson Storm, right? Don't worry, I can take him on. I've taken on tons of rookies before!"

"We know, but…" Sally said, "Just don't get cocky, okay Stickers? You remember what happened a few years ago…"

"Aw, dun't worry 'bout 'im, Miss Sally!" Mater chuckled. McQueen saw him give her a light nudge. "He's a great racecar! Yah know he'll do great!"

Sally took a moment, and then started laughing too. "Okay, okay, maybe I'm a bit paranoid." She addressed McQueen. "Don't listen to me. I know you'll do great, sweetie. I love you!"

"Now, dat's dah spirit! Ah know ya'll do great, Lightnin'!"

"Yep. We all believe in ya, sugah!" Flo chimed in.

"They shall not know what bit them!" said Luigi, "Especially not when you have us as-a your team!"

"Ti vogliamo bene, fulmini! Potrai mostrare loro chi è il campione!"

"We're sending you all our positive vibes, man."

McQueen let himself laugh again as his friends' rallying cries filled his eardrums. He soaked in their praise, letting it warm his engine. Then his eyes wandered, up to the crew chief's podium, where, if he tried hard enough, he could almost see a spirit tinged with blue and silver.

"Yeah. I know I'm ready now."

Hey guys! It's Pixel, again! I got a bit tired of uploading separate oneshots that really aren't all that long, and since I've got tons of Cars story ideas floating around in my head, I thought, why not make a whole series of oneshots to celebrate all the new promotional material for Cars 3? :D

Now, these are going to take place within the ten years in chronological time between the first movie and the third one (yes, they have confirmed the third one takes place ten years after the first movie), hence all the dates at the beginnings. But, just because I'm human, I only have a handful of ideas that could be turned into stories, so I would love to hear suggestions from you guys for future story premises! Let's see if we can do it as one big Cars-fandom family :3

With all that said, see you in future instalments!

~Pixel