Three
The next day, Holley arrived early. She was ready to start her training again and was hoping Finn would be more like himself. "I just hope whatever was wrong yesterday is okay today…" Holley thought as she entered the simulation room. She crept slowly into the control room and saw Finn standing there, unmoving. She contemplated whether or not to say something.
"Finn?"
No response. Perhaps she said it too quietly?
"Hi, Finn…" she said a little louder. The silver classic turned slightly, a strange look in his eyes. He looked at Holley like he was unsure he could trust her. Suddenly, he smiled.
"Ah, good morning Agent Shiftwell! Lovely day, isn't it?" he greeted cheerily.
"Oh, yeah I guess it is." Holley looked at Finn a little strangely, and he noticed.
"I know I wasn't myself after we left the building yesterday. I saw that you were the only one to notice." he acknowledged. "I wasn't meaning to be rude, but I was having a slight hoodache that got worse after a while."
"Oh, did you? Do you think it could have been from doing those simulated races for nearly a day?"
"Maybe. I'm not really sure, but it was something in this building." Finn looked around, causing Holley to do the same.
Something in this building?
"But, I'm better today. Are you up for training again?"
"Yes, I am ready." Holley eagerly went out into the combat room, and Finn started them up.
With every simulation, Holley got better and better. And with every passing day, Finn acted stranger and stranger. It was very slow, but he was becoming different. When training for the day was over, he wouldn't really speak to Holley. He acted more distant and kept away from everyone almost all the time. There were days when Finn acted like himself, and Holley would give anything to make those days never ending; she didn't like it when he wasn't himself. Actually, she hated it when those close to her were not themselves. Especially for no reason, and she knew for a fact nothing happened that would change Finn's behavior. He wasn't aggressive, just…different. Holley thought he would eventually get better, but he never showed signs of it, or wanting to be his old self again for that matter.
...
After about three months, Holley had finished her training and become a true field agent. She was excited, and that day Finn was trying to be himself.
"I am finally an official field agent! No more working in the technical field." she excitedly triumphed. Finn seemed to be proud.
"Finally? Holley, I've always thought you to be an official field agent. You've done beautifully over these past few months. From the day we met, I knew you'd end up as my partner, and I was more than happy to train you personally." he said with a smile. "Now then, how about you share the good news with your charming tow truck lover?" Finn chuckled at his own choice of words. "I'm sure he'll be happy to hear you've nearly perfected backwards driving."
"I can't believe I haven't done that yet! I'll be right back."
As soon as Holley sped off to go make the call, Finn suddenly felt sick. He flinched as a sudden wave of nausea overtook his body and was immediately replaced with severe anxiety. The anxious feeling only lasted three seconds, and it faded into a sudden urge to kill. This was something Finn had gotten used to, and something he thought about often. These random bouts of slightly going insane that didn't last long. He refused to tell anyone about it or let it show. Especially around those he cared about. The only thing about it that scared him was that over time, he knew he eventually wouldn't care about those close to him. That would be when he would finally succumb to what was possessing his mind. The Faultless could only wish his friends would join him later. Now, he felt like he was getting close to the verge of losing his mind very soon. Finn shook his hood, trying to calm the feeling. "Not now… Later…" he thought to himself. Holley came back. "That was a fast call." Finn noted.
"Yeah, Mater wants us to go visit Radiator Springs. It has been a while since we've been there. I want to go, how about you, Finn?" asked Holley.
"Sure, I'll go." He smiled, hoping that visiting the American countryside and desert landscape would distract his mind.
"Great! I'll go tell Siddeley to get gassed up and ready to go." Holley turned and drove away a little faster than usual. Finn watched her go, and the feeling of losing his mind grew inside him again. He did not fight it.
They arrived in Radiator Springs rather quickly, but it wasn't quick enough for Holley. The entire flight had been uncomfortably quiet, there was hardly any conversation. Finn didn't talk much, and Holley mainly stared out the window. They spoke some, but it was never a full conversation. Just little sentences here and there that the young car tried so hard to turn into something that would last. No matter what it was - spy equipment, business, memories, past missions, even the weather - she just couldn't get him talking much. Holley gave up and began to just worry about Finn. It was obvious something was wrong, and even more obvious that he was not going to tell her. He hadn't been telling her anything, even if it wasn't important. Because of that, Holley had kept to herself. She used to be able to talk to him about anything, regardless of what it was. They had become quite close since they had met not even a year ago, and sometimes Holley would find herself going to Finn for more problems than she would go to anyone else for. Now she couldn't get within ten feet of him without feeling tiny, scared, and like he would harm her.
As soon as Siddeley landed, Holley got off and was immediately greeted by Mater.
"Hiya, Holley!" he hollered happily, driving quickly up to her.
"Mater! Hello!" Holley was so glad to see someone who looked happy, for a change.
"Hi, Finn!" Mater waved as he looked behind his girlfriend.
"Hello." Finn's British accent made his tone more sinister than it should have been. Mater didn't seem to notice.
"Let's go inta town and greet ever'body else. I'm sure they'll be happy ta see you two!" he urged them to follow. "So Holley, have ya perfected the skill of backwards drivin' yet?"
"Not entirely. I've still got to practice more if I'm ever to be as great as the World's Best Backwards Driver." Holley admitted, nudging Mater slightly.
"Well, it's a self-proclaimed title, but I'll bet my towin' hook it's true!" Mater jumped and turned around, driving backwards. "Hey, how's 'bout we have a little friendly competition later? Me an' you driving backwards to see who's faster?" Mater eagerly swung his cable back and forth, mimicking a tail.
"Of course! That sounds like it could be fun. It'll help me better my skill, too. Ornament Valley has the perfect terrain, and Tailfin Pass has all those turns to practice on." Holley remembered. While those two talked, the two behind them were just out of earshot.
"Finn, you hardly talked on the way here. You feeling okay?" Siddeley questioned with doubt.
"Yes, I'm fine." answered Finn in an almost annoyed tone. He realized his attitude and changed it. "I'm just a little tired. I have been for these last few days."
"Are you sick?"
"No. Actually, I don't know." Finn sighed heavily. Just like he wasn't going to tell Holley, he wasn't going to tell the jet, either. "I don't know what's wrong with me."
That, was a straight-up lie.
"Well, you seemed like you didn't really want to come here. I wouldn't have the slightest idea why, as the folks here are very nice cars and the town itself is quite charming. In fact, if you two stay for more than a day, I may stay a while as well. I've become acquainted with the friendly staff and airplanes at the Ornament Valley Airport." Siddeley told Finn, gazing around at the landscape. The two went into town in silence, and Finn tried to make himself more like Finn McMissile, not whoever he was turning into. It was extremely tempting to snap and run away, but he didn't want the others to go after him. He would do it soon, because he wanted to and because he felt he couldn't control it for much longer.
...
"Almoooooost! You gotta go faster'n that if you wanna beat me!" Mater triumphed after he and Holley did their little competition. "But I think you can do it one of these days."
"Oh, I don't know about that. Everyone has their unbeatable talent, and I know that yours is driving backwards. I don't think I could ever be as great as the world's best." doubted Holley with a good sportsmanship smile.
"Well, just remember one thing. Ya don't need to know where you're going. Just need to know where you've been." The couple made their way back into town and stopped at Flo's, where a lot of the townsfolk were talking and laughing. Holley was so glad to be around such cheerful, kind cars; it was a nice change from so many awkward, uncomfortable days with Finn. She pulled into a stall, and Mater went to the one next to her. Flo pulled up to them.
"There you are, Holley! I was wondering when you were going to stop by the V8!" Flo warmly greeted in her southernly sassy tone. "What can I get you, honey?"
"I guess I'll take a quart of oil." Holley smiled, always loving the atmosphere the show car brought anywhere.
"Comin' right up!" Flo's eyes drifted to the dent Holley refused to get rid of. "I see you still have that dent there."
"Why, of course. I have learned to appreciate dents and see them as valuable." Holley looked over to Mater, who had just got his order taken by Mia. "It may not look like it, but this dent is embedded with the memory of the first field agent mission I ever went on. And when I met this massively charming tow truck." She reached out her tire and brushed it against Mater's, causing him to smile at the compliment.
"You two really are perfect for each other. Both just as crazy as the other." said a strangely cheerful voice. Holley jumped at the sound of it and couldn't believe she had pulled into the stall right next to Finn without realizing it. She looked over to him, but didn't see anything unusual about him. "Of course, I don't mean that personally. Just as a friendly joke." Finn added. Holley suddenly smiled at him and found herself talking to him before she could prevent herself from it.
"I don't take it personally. Not from anyone close, that is." she added. "If a random stranger said that, I'd get offended, and I am not a car to mess with." Her gun popped out of her side, pointing at nobody but the sky, and disappeared back into her.
"Which is why you make an excellent spy. You can take advantage of any car easily. Especially using that one really impressive tactic you pulled in the simulation. Pretending to be the victim." Finn recalled, genuinely smiling at Holley. "No one will want to mess with you, and I'm glad to call you my partner. It helps to have a very sneaky car by your side." he added.
"I'll bet it does. Sometimes, I wish Holley lived here so I could see her more an' have someone to look out for me when I get distracted." Mater said. "Sheriff and Lightnin' say I tip tractors too much, and they have stampeded through the town more than once. Guess I need some convincin' not ta tip tractors as much, but it does pass the time when no one needs a tow."
"Well don't worry Mater. If those tractors get out, this sneaky spy will help you stay out of trouble." Holley winked at Mater, slightly revealing her mischievous side.
"But everyone will still-a know who tipped the tractors." Luigi pointed out, who was on the other side of the V8 stalls. "And now we know who will be in on-a tipping them."
"Which means you'll just get in trouble too." Finn smirked. "So much for being a sneaky spy."
"You all act like it's already happened. And Finn you were the one who called me sneaky." Holley shot him a playful glare.
"Well, this is tractor tipping we're talking about, which you've never done. And I've been wrong before." the older spy said, shooting back a playful glare of his own.
"Whatever." Holley sassed, exaggeratedly rolling her eyes for effect. "You still don't know for a fact that I can't do it. I've never gone, as you said so, ha! Can't assume things!"
"Or can I?"
"If I may interrupt, tractor tipping can get you in trouble." Sarge suddenly piped up. "Are you sure it's a good idea to discuss doing just that, while Sheriff is here?" The café went silent as Holley realized Sarge was right. Acts of stupid fun can land one in hot water, and Sheriff was looking at her with a windshield frame raised.
"You plannin' something later?" he asked accusingly. "Surely not. Spies are more responsible than that, right?" Holley and Finn looked at each other.
"Most of the time. We can have our days of just goofing off." Finn admitted. "Like that time you and all and the racers from the World Grand Prix came to London and played around with the simulations."
"Oh yeah, I remember that." Sheriff remembered. Then he got a puzzled look. "I just still don't know why we brought Chick Hicks with us. He certainly was a jerk when we first met him." Everyone nodded in agreement.
"I'm surprised the Queen requested to race with us." Sarge put in. "That was an honor to compete with Her Majesty."
"We oughta do it again sometime, man." Fillmore suggested. "The battle races were especially great." All the cars gave him a strange look. "What?" he questioned when all eyes were on him.
"Tu, il hippy chi è tutti per pace e amore, è piaciuto sabbiatura noi con missili, il tiro noi con pistole macchina, che soffia noi fino con Skate Jacks, e lato bashing vostro modo a al primo posto?" Guido looked in disbelief. "Io non lo credere esso."
"Uh, Luigi?" Fillmore began to ask.
"Guido says that he is-a shocked you enjoyed harming us all." the Fiat answered. "And by the looks of it, everyone else is too." Fillmore's eyes scanned over everyone, and he quickly explained.
"I sent all those attacks with love, dudes." he assured.
"Even when you side bashed the crap out of us?" Flo reminded, coming back with Mater's and Holley's oil. "Even though they're fake, those simulations can hurt!" She dropped the cans in front of the two.
"But it was all with love, man. Just a friendly competition, like Finn called it."
"It sure didn't feel friendly." a loud voice objected. "Y'all are lucky ya didn't take my spoiler off with those explosions." Everyone at the V8 turned to see a very colorful group of cars approaching.
"Wingo?" Sheriff said, surprised. "And the others? What are you all doing here?"
"Eh, just taking a drive around on the interstate. Decided to go down Route 66 and see ya guys." answered Wingo. "Y'all act like it's a surprise to see us."
"I remember you four. And coming from me being here, it kind of is surprising to see you." affirmed Holley. "You four look like you don't belong here at all." They all looked at themselves with their mirrors.
"Heh heh, I guess it would be a shock." Boost chuckled. "It's not every day you see three imports and a flashy muscle car in, ahem, Hillbilly Hell." That prompted everyone to laugh, remembering when Lightning gave Radiator Springs that nickname. "But in all seriousness, we actually love comin' here."
"Especially on karaoke night!" DJ of course had to say. "Yo Flo, when's the next one?" The former Motorama Girl turned to the Reko-Do Spinner.
"Hm, how about one tonight? We have the party car here, so why not?" she suggested.
"Ooh, yeah!" DJ said happily. He looked at the two spies. "Holley, Finn, hopefully you two will stay 'till tomorrow. 'Cause when DJ's in the house, heh, let's just say you will forever know my name." Finn and Holley had only heard of the kinds of dance parties DJ has. Add in singing, and one can only imagine what that would turn into.
"Can we please stay, Finn?" the younger spy asked. Finn chuckled.
"Well I don't see why not." Suddenly, Finn looked mischievous and playful. "In fact, I'd love to see how Americans party and compare to the discos of Britain." He smirked challengingly. DJ smirked back. Challenge accepted.
"Devon Montgomery Johnston the Third and you will remember it." he said. "Let's party."
And so they partied. All night, to be exact. What started with 18 cars, ended with 800. The dance and karaoke were held on Main Street in the middle of Radiator Springs, and it was just about as loud and crazy as anyone could think. It wasn't a private party, so everyone could join, and it didn't take long for cars to start piling in. Anyone passing through was urged to stay, and most of them did. The party was so loud, that cars on the interstate heard it and were drawn to it. Guests who were staying at the Cozy Cone and didn't want to party, were moved up to the Wheel Well Motel. The party also grew from cars calling their friends to join. So many cars had joined, that before midnight the chaos had spilled outside of town. Sometime during the night, somebody had called for a portable stage and dance floor, and got it set up. At some point, neon lights were brought in with black lights, and every car glowed in the moonless night. A little bit later, while arguably the best dance song was playing, fireworks were brought in by some random cars to set off later, as a way to end the party with a bang. They were placed behind the stage and it was so dark that Snot Rod, who had wandered back there by accident, didn't see how close his side was to them. One fiery sneeze later, and the dark sky was lit up with the most colorfully insane display of fireworks anyone has ever seen. The cheer that rose after nearly peeled the paint off of Snot Rod, and he shyly got on-stage and took the credit for the show. Every car said the party was one of the best they had ever gone to, even though it was hastily thrown together and not planned out. Needless to say, DJ was quite proud of that near rave of his. And indeed, by the end, everyone knew his name.
The next morning, if one could call it a morning, the early sun shone on the mess of last night's event. Confetti and streamers littered the ground, broken bottles and crushed cans lay here and there, and cars were scattered around, passed out and some were drunk off ethanol. After the party, some cars had left, but a majority of the ones who stayed ended up falling asleep. A few had woken up already and left, but there were still a lot more to go. Among the ones who hadn't woken up were the townsfolk, the Tuners, and both spies. Holley was asleep leaning on a rock, and was having a horrible dream...
...
"Please don't do this!" Holley pleaded. There was no way to escape. He had her cornered and was not letting her go. "Finn, please… Make him stop!" The silver car only looked down at his former partner, who was stuck in a deeply caved-in part of the facility.
"I'm afraid I can't do that, Miss Shiftwell. You know too much, and I've been looking everywhere for you." Finn smirked. "I guess I have taught you well to stay out of sight." He looked down at her again. "I never meant for you to learn all that information. You refuse to have your memory erased, so you force me to extreme measures. I've nearly torn up all of Great Britain searching for you. Now I've got you right where I want you." Finn looked to his right, at the vehicle who held the gun. "Mater?"
"Yes, Finn?" the tow truck answered, not taking his eyes off the trembling purple spy.
"Any last thing you'd like to say to Holley?" Mater's tire holding the rifle lowered a little. He sighed, blinked slowly, and fixed his hazel eyes on Holley's green ones.
"Holley, I'm sorry it has ta come to this." he said quietly.
"You wouldn't do this! Don't you love me?" The question hung in the air like a frozen raindrop, and at this point nobody could guess the answer. Even Finn was curious to know.
"I did. An' I still do. But I'm sorry I have ta do this." Mater pointed the rifle at Holley again.
"You don't have to do this! What is wrong with everybody?" Holley was so full of mixed emotions, being confused, angry, and terrified at the same time really sucked.
"You can still join us. Just give yerself over to our side, and you'll be fine." Behind the hate, Mater almost had a pleading look in his eyes, as if he wanted her to.
"Never. I could never be with your side." Holley spat. Mater looked up in an annoyed way and sighed.
"Ah-'ight then." He aimed again for the third time. "Dadgum, Holley why do ya have ta make this so hard for me?! Part of me is gon' regret this, but I'll git over it soon."
"Wait!" Holley pleaded again, raising up her front end. "Tell me what is wrong with everybody!" For the third time, Mater lowered his gun.
"You wouldn't understand. He got me, and that's all I can say." Holley was confused.
"Who is 'he'? Is it Finn?" she demanded. Both males shook their hoods.
"No." Mater said, aiming the gun for the last time.
"Far from it." Finn sighed, and his voice was the last thing she heard. Mater shot Holley.
...
"Holley? Holley! Holley wake up! Wake up, my dear!"
"AH-! Huh? What?" Holley felt someone shaking her. She barely opened her eyes and saw the first light of dawn spanning over the desert. She was also seeing Finn, shaking her fully awake. "Finn?!" Holley nearly screamed and had an urge to run away. That dream felt so real, like it actually happened. But she stayed in place, and just shrunk back against the rock. "What happened?" she breathed out heavily.
"You were having a nightmare. I was asleep over there, and your cries woke me up." Finn looked at her with real concern. Even before he asked, and regardless of whether or not she told him the truth, he knew what she was dreaming about. "What was it?"
"It was a bad one…" Holley shook a little. Where Mater had shot her, right above the windshield, was burning. She kept looking up at it.
"Something wrong with your roof?" Finn inquired.
"Uh, no." Holley said quickly. "You said I was crying? Was I yelling anything?"
"Something about 'Finn make him stop', and something else about what is wrong with everybody." His eyes searched hers for answers. "What was that dream about?" Holley looked down.
"Nothing. Nothing important, at least." She couldn't tell him. The older spy reached out a tire and placed it under Holley's face, forcing her to look up.
"Hey, look at me. That was not a normal dream." Finn said firmly yet gently, pulling his tire back. "Now tell me, what was that nightmare about?" Holley was too afraid to tell him, but it was hard to lie to Finn McMissile. She told him all about it and noticed that he never took his eyes off her until after she was done. Finn was looking past her, thinking.
"Hm." was the only noise he made.
"What does it mean, Finn? If it means anything at all…"
"I don't know." He did know. "But don't worry about it too much. What were you thinking about before you passed out?"
"Honestly, the party. I don't know why I wouldn't dream about it." Holley shook her hood and changed the subject. "Whatever, I guess. Dreams are strange, to say the least."
"Very." Finn turned around to see the others begin waking up. "Looks like everybody is coming alive finally." Holley peered around her partner and saw a few random cars opening their eyes. A green car blinked sleepily and yawned. A sliver of white appeared across a black car's windshield as he opened his eyes. A bright yellow car stretched her axles and shook off the tiredness of sleep. Here and there, cars were waking, and Holley's eyes scanned the desert and landed on Mater. He was awake and heading straight for her and Finn. Holley got a little nervous again and hid behind Finn like a little kid. She wasn't scared of her boyfriend, she just wanted to get that dream out of her mind before talking to anyone else.
"Mornin', Finn." Mater's voice sounded much friendlier than it did in the nightmare. "Boy that was some party last night! That DJ can really turn Radiator Springs inta a town that don't sleep!" The closer Mater got, the closer Holley got to the ground and the more she dug herself into Finn's side.
"Americans sure know how to 'throw down', as some would say." Finn nodded in agreement, fidgeting slightly as Holley's fender pressed into his door. "I don't think I've ever danced quite like that before or seen moves like some were doing." He positioned himself to conceal his partner better.
"I didn't even know ya could dance, what with being such a serious spy and all. Hey, is that Holley on the other side of ya?" Finn felt her press herself more into him.
"Yessssssss, but she needs a moment alone." He drew out the word 'yes' in an uncertain way, not sure of what Holley wanted him to do. Mater looked a little concerned.
"Uh, okay, I guess." Mater saw that she seemed to be hiding and didn't question it further. Holley would come around and talk to him when she was ready. The rusty truck backed up and turned, heading over to Lightning. The racecar was awake but unmoving as Sally was still sleeping and leaning on him. Finn looked at Holley with his mirror.
"I'm going to go over to everybody and help clean up this mess. You stay here until you've woken up completely." he instructed.
"But I am awake."
"Not entirely, my dear." Finn drove off, and Holley watched him go, knowing exactly what he meant. It didn't take long, but Holley forced herself to forget the nightmare and socialize. She really perked up when Mater kissed her on the fender out of nowhere. Luckily for her, no one was around.
"What was that for?" she asked, feeling her hood start to burn close to her windshield. Her purple color wasn't enough to hide the blush, though.
"For you." Mater poked. "Ya had me worried this morning, hidin' on the other side of Finn and needin' a moment alone. I asked him what was wrong with ya, but he wouldn't say."
"Oh, well don't worry about it. Just a silly nightmare. Needed to shake it off for a second." Holley said rather quickly, hoping Mater wouldn't keep asking about it.
"Uh-huh…" Mater sounded like he didn't believe her. "Musta been scary if it freaked out an adult."
"Yes, horribly scary. Please don't tell anyone I was afraid of a little nightmare. That's embarrassing…"
"Alright I won't. Why would I tell anyone that? Simple nightmares." But Mater knew better. He may be a hillbilly, but he's not stupid. He knew for a fact that was no childish nightmare Holley had. It was more than that, and he wanted to know what it was. Another thing he knew was that Holley wasn't going to tell him anytime soon, so he let it slide. Again, she would come around and tell him when she was ready.
That whole morning and some of the afternoon was spent cleaning up the mess. The stage and dance floor were the first to go, then all the lights were packed up and all the sound equipment and speakers went with them. Many random cars stayed behind and helped clean the confetti and litter, while the hungover and still drunk cars were all sent to the car wash for a cold shower. Eventually, the desert looked, well, deserted, and everyone went home. The townsfolk all went back to Radiator Springs, freshened up, and began to open up the shops for the day. Everyone did their own thing, and Holley was at the end of town by the statue of Stanley, looking down Main Street.
"That sure was some party, wasn't it?" commented a voice next to her. She was ripped from her idle thoughts and jumped.
"Huh? Oh, Snot Rod! Ha ha, you scared me!" she exclaimed. The muscle car smiled.
"Sorry. Usually I sneeze before I startle anyone." he laughed, pulling up close beside her. Holley could feel the heat from his side exhausts, and immediately remembered why cars called him 'Snot' Rod. She cautiously sidestepped away from him while looking at the four flame-shooting pipes.
"Um…" she started, not wanting him to take it personally that he was being avoided.
"Hm?" Snot Rod saw what Holley was doing, and he too looked at his side. "Oh, don't worry 'bout my flames. I can always tell when I'm about ta sneeze, so I won't burn you. Trust me, bro." He gave her a trusting smile, and Holley returned it, liking the slight gangster slang he put on his words. For some reason, she suddenly felt like it was silly to back away from the orange car.
"Okay, just don't light me up and I'll trust you." Holley giggled.
"'kay." Snot Rod went silent. "ACHOO!"
"ACK!" Holley shot forward, but stopped as soon as she heard laughing. "What the-?" She turned around and saw Snot Rod, laughing his rear bumper off.
"Oh man," Snotty interrupted himself with laughter. "you, you thought I sneezed fo' real! Ha ha haaaaaa that's too great!" Holley just stared at him and couldn't help it. She also broke into laughter and took her place between him and the statue.
"You sure got me good. I honestly thought you sneezed!" she laughed out. "I oughta give you a good scare back." She playfully smacked his hood with her tire.
"Ouch, ha ha, suuuuuuure. Good luck with that, spy-girl." he taunted. Holley slapped Snotty again. "Hey!" He raised his left tire and rubbed at where she hit him twice. "Okay, I understand the abuse, but why my hood?!"
"Would you rather I hit your undercarriage?" The purple spy looked evilly at the muscle car, whose bright green eyes went wide.
"You wouldn't!" he panicked.
"Try me." Holley dared. "It'll be easy, since those oversized back tires of yours put you on display a little." Snot Rod instantly tried lowering his back end, which didn't really do much. "But I don't think I'll hit you there anytime soon. Besides, your front is closer to the ground, making your hood the easiest sensitive thing to punch." Holley raised her tire like she was going to hit him, and Snotty instantly flinched hard and backed up. But he stopped when he heard her laughing.
"You-!" he started, knowing exactly what just happened. "That was your scare fo' me, wasn't it?" Snot Rod pulled up beside her.
"You better believe it was! I told you I was going to get you back, and I did." The spy smiled, happy with herself.
"I'll say ya did more than just that. Look at my hood! Ya put a small dent in it!" Snotty narrowed his eyes. "Oh, you're in for it now. Next time you guys invite us ta do those simulations, I'm gonna getcha so good!"
"I'm sure you'll try." Holley brushed off his threat airily.
"I won't try. I wil-a-ah, ah… ACHOO!" Snot Rod kept his earlier promise. He shot forward a little so he didn't burn his friend with his sneeze. Holley watched in amazement as flames taller than Snotty himself shot up into the air.
"I wonder what he looks like at night time…" she thought. "Wow, Snot those are some pretty impressive exhaust pipes you got there." she complimented.
The muscle car sniffed hard. "Huh? Oh, ya I guess dey are. Dey sure help clear da highway." Snot Rod backed up and coughed, clearing his throat, and voice. "These allergies… Can't get away from 'em." he said in a defeated sigh. "Not even gettin' some clean mountain air really helps."
"You would think it'd help."
"Kinda. My sneezes weren't as bad when the doctor was here. Sadly, Doc Hudson passed a while back." Snotty backed up again to sneeze, this time less powerfully.
"I wish I could have met him. He was the Fabulous Hudson Hornet, right?" Holley asked.
"Yeah. A doctor, judge and legendary racer. He sure was a great car." The muscle car pulled back up to his spot. The two were silent for a second. "So, you just chillin' here for the time being?"
"Yes. Nothing to do, so I'm just taking in my surroundings and observing everybody."
"Cool, cool. How long are you and Finn gonna stay?"
"Um, I don't know actually. I hope we stay a little while longer, but I think it's up to Siddeley when we leave. He's how we got here, so that means he's how we're leaving, too." answered Holley.
"But don't you have wings and the ability to fly? You could leave whenever ya want."
"Yes, but I'm no plane or jet. I would run out of fuel before I got back to London."
"Yeah, probably." Snot Rod peered around his supercharger. "I don't know 'bout you, but I'm kinda hungry and gas sounds real good right now." he said, still looking at the V8.
"I'm feeling kinda low, too." Holley was looking at the sky. It was a nice pretty blue color.
"Also, I think someone wants you ta join him." Holley looked at Snotty.
"What?"
"Heh, you're doing an excellent job of observing everybody, aren'tcha?" Snot Rod shook his hood slightly.
"What do you mean?" prodded Holley with cut eyes.
"Well considering the fact that-" he backed up to sneeze "UHKCHOO! Ugh, dat sownded weird…" He cleared his throat again and sniffed. "Uh, like I was saying, considering the fact that your boyfriend has been tryin' ta get yo attention for the past two minutes, you clearly must be the "master" of observing." Snot Rod joked while driving forward.
"Are you serious?" Holley pulled out next to him and saw Mater, waiting for her with smiling eyes and an empty stall next to him. "Well you were distracting me. It's your fault."
"My fault? Nooooooo no no, ya only have ya-self ta blame." Snotty passed in front of Holley to cut across the street, and she got a good look at his license plate.
"Drag City, huh? You a drag racer?" she guessed.
"Oh yeah! Ya wanna race me sometime?" he challenged. The two pulled into the V8 and went into stalls on opposite sides.
"Maybe someday." Holley looked at Mater. "Sorry I didn't notice you were trying to get my attention. Mr. Sneezer over there was quite distracting." Snot Rod cut his eyes towards her.
"Of course. Blame the guy with allergies." He rolled his eyes.
"Well your sneezes do clear roads, like you said." Holley reminded him.
"Which is why we loving havin' ya with us on the highway." Boost put in, who was next to the muscle car.
"Y'all are just using me?! Gee, thanks." Snot exaggerated an annoyed tone. Boost laughed.
"No, your allergies are just a bonus, bro." Everyone around watched as the two Tuners put on a small show of arguing, though none of it was actually real.
"They say best friends argue a lot, but me an' Lightnin' hardly argue." Mater said after watching them for a few moments. "I mean, we have fought before, but I'm glad it's over and we'll never have ta fight again."
"I hope we never have any serious fights." Holley hoped quietly.
"We won't." Mater smiled brightly at her. "I don't like fightin', so I'll never induce any."
"I won't either." Holley touched Mater's tire, and they stayed like that for a long time. Sometime later, a small thought popped up in the back of Holley's mind, but she immediately pushed it away. She didn't want to think that kind of stuff, especially about Mater. But that nightmare had other plans. As the day went on, it poked at her with a relentless persistence that made the spot above Holley's windshield burn again. She pushed it down in her mind, trying so hard to lock it away, and put on a fake act of being happy when someone noticed she was acting strange. "Why is this nightmare attacking me so?" she thought angrily. "It was just a simple dream with a sinister tone, right...?" Holley talked to Finn about it again, but as much as he wanted to, the elder spy couldn't help much.
"I honestly do not know what is wrong." Finn said once he and Holley were taking a drive alone and away from eavesdropping ears. He really didn't know what was wrong or why she dreamed that, but he certainly was interested. Holley took note of how interested he was.
"I got rid of it earlier, but it came back and I literally cannot stop thinking about it." she complained. Finn thought for a moment.
"I don't know what to tell you, my dear." he sighed, shrugging his tires. "Just do something that will get your mind off of it. Hang out with your friends. Do a few laps on Willy's Butte. Or just wait. It should go away in time."
"I hope so." Holley sighed. "Usually when I have nightmares, I can get them to go away within an hour. But not this one. It felt so real too."
"Don't dwell on it. Forget about it, Holley. It didn't happen, Mater didn't shoot you, you're not dead, I am not…" Finn hesitated for the fastest second ever. "evil, and that's all."
"Okay. I just don't know why I feel uneasy about it all." Holley and Finn pulled back into Radiator Springs. "But I'll do what you said to get my mind off it."
"You do that, and when we go back home, I want to hear about zero nightmares, alright?" Holley nodded. Finn smiled. "Okay then. Go spend time with your friends and do whatever you crazy kids do these days." At that moment, Wingo zoomed by with a little kid following him. The Tuner drifted gracefully around the corner by the Courthouse, but the kid ended up spinning, losing control, then slammed into the building Mrs. Muffler. Wingo turned around and his eyes went wide when he saw her.
"Ouch!" The little car backed away from the wall, with a tire rubbing her fender as best she could. "Wow! Did you see that?! I almost drifted that time, Mr. Wingo!" she exclaimed happily.
"You crashed." he monotoned.
"Yeah, but I almost drifted. Do you think I can do it like you and your friends someday?"
"Eh, you'll get the hang of it soon. C'mere, lemme see your fender. Your parents will kill me if ya have scratches." The little car rolled up to Wingo, and he raised her face with his tire, examining the kid's paint.
"Do I have any?" she asked with excitement.
"Uhhh, yeah but Ramone can fix that within a minute." Wingo slid his tire across the girl's fender. "Yeesh, ya got dents too."
"Ooh, my mom said I have to go back without a scratch." she giggled. "If she sees this, you're in trouble!"
"I'm gonna getcha fixed, don't worry." assured Wingo.
"Only if you can catch me!" The little kid turned to make a run for it, clearly wanting to get away from her drifting instructor and get him in trouble.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you, tiny car." Wingo warned, trying to sound like he wasn't the least bit afraid of the kid's parents coming out of nowhere and seeing her. The small vehicle got about halfway down Main Street before stopping.
"Why not?" she asked.
"There's a reason my gang is called the 'Tuner Cars'."
"What does that mean?"
"It means I can catch ya in an instant."
The little car scoffed. "Yeah, right." she sassed. "I doubt that." Within a second, she found herself staring right at Wingo's grille, inches from her front. She looked up at him, eyes wide and mouth agape. "What? How did you…?"
"What was that? Couldn't hear ya." The Tuner was smirking confidently; he loved showing off his speed as much as his paint job and spoiler. "Doubt me now?"
"No…"
"Good."
"How are you that fast!?" the little car exclaimed. "You must have been going a million miles an hour!"
"Nah, I wasn't goin' that fast." Wingo chuckled. "Ya see, what most cars don't know, is that I'm detailed on the outside, but under my hood, I'm all tuned up."
"What's under your hood?"
"A lot of powerful stuff ya wouldn't understand, kiddo. Now follow me, Sasha. I ain't gettin' in trouble because of some kid today."
Back in front of the Courthouse, Finn and Holley watched the whole thing. And Holley couldn't help but say something.
"Having fun babysitting, Ladderbutt?" she called. Wingo's brake lights came on, and he slowly backed up, turning to face her.
"What was that, spy-girl?" he asked, windshield frame half-raised.
"What? I didn't say anything." Holley said, looking round innocently. "Ladderbutt…" she added quietly. Wingo was in front of her within seconds.
"I heard that! You betta watch it, sweetheart." He paused. "And who told you to call me that?"
"Guess."
"I am SO killing DJ later…"
"So, this is what you crazy kids do nowadays." Finn observed before anything else was said. "Harshly joking around with each other. Things sure have changed." He looked Wingo up and down. "And styles." he added.
"Well, I look good, right?" The Tuner smirked at Finn, then looked to Holley again. "And ta answer your question, I'm not exactly babysitting. Jus' teaching this little one how ta drift." Sasha pulled up next to Wingo and shyly waved a tire 'hello'. "She saw us Tuners drifting up in Tailfin Pass and begged to be taught."
"I still can't believe my mom and dad let me play with him and his friends!" Sasha exclaimed, suddenly not shy anymore. "They are the coolest! They're all so pretty, they glow, they all know how to drift, one goes really fast, one plays music and can dance, one can shoot fire from his sides, and this one is teaching me how to drift!" It was so amusing, seeing how excited a little kid was about three imports and one muscle car, that the spies could only smile. If she was so impressed by the Tuners, one could only imagine how she would be with spy cars.
"Well that sounds like loads of fun." Holley smiled, resisting the urge to show off her wings and fly.
"Do you two know how to drift?" the kid asked curiously.
"Yes, actually. It's very easy." nodded Finn.
"Whaaaaaaat? Everybody knows how to drift!" Sasha had to have been the easiest kid to surprise. "But that's why Mr. Wingo says I'm learning."
"And Mr. Wingo doesn't wanna get in trouble by Sasha's parents, so he has ta take her to get her dents and scratches repaired." Wingo reminded. He backed up and began to drive off. "Come on, squirt. Let's get ya fixed."
"I've never had a dent removed. Will it hurt?"
"No. Feels funny, but no pain." Wingo turned his body a little. "Later, spies." he bid them.
"See ya around, Ladderbutt." Holley snickered and got glared at by Wingo in his mirror. Sasha laughed at him.
"Hey, can I call you Mr. Ladderbutt?" she giggled.
"No." said the Tuner.
"Please?"
"No."
"Why not, Mr. Ladderbu-?"
"No."
That most likely went on the whole way to Ramone's, but the two spies didn't stay to find out. They went their own ways to do their own things for the day. The rest of the day wasn't that eventful, just customers coming and going and cars going to Willy's Butte for a quick race, or to hang out. All was calm in Radiator Springs, and all was normal in Carburetor County. Well, almost all. While everyone was sane and doing their own thing in the town, someone high up on a cliff was totally the opposite as far as sanity goes.
...
"Perfect…" he murmured to no one but himself. He looked down at the tiny machine by his tire. "Oh, Miss Shiftwell. If only you knew the truth about that nightmare. You're welcome for the warning, by the way." He slid the mechanism under him, where it folded itself up small and attached itself to his undercarriage. Scanning over the county, he turned and drove onto his helicopter. "It won't be long now..."
Hmmm who could this mystery car be? Could it be an actual character, or one of my OCs?
This is all I have completed so far. I am working on chapter four, so be prepared for it! This chapter had more of a humorous tone, with the exception of the dream. Hope y'all liked it! And thanks for the reviews! Finn's dark side will be fun to write about for sure, PASTAAAAA.
Britishlover123, I've written a couple other fanfics, but this is the first one I've uploaded to this site. Thank you kindly for your review; I'm glad to see people enjoy my ideas I've had for stories!
Blue, is the story surprising to you? It'll be a real shocker later on!
And Feather, I do believe the person was joking about my story being cancer, because they have only read three fanfics and barely know what Internet Cancer is. Whew!