To FeatherSunfire : Yep, I'm very agree with you. Thank you for reviewing as always!
Shooting Star (Darren) : Chapter 9
At 7.30 a.m...
"Wake up, son. It's already morning" Doc said.
Darren who had been sleeping on his own bed, which was built by Doc, woke up. He actually already awake when Sarge and Fillmore started their usual shouting morning routine, which he just know since 1 month ago, that was a usual routine of them.
It's already been 2 months since the first day he dropped here at the Cars world. In the first one month, he woke up at 6.30 a.m because of Sarge and Fillmore morning 'shouting' routine. Darren needs exactly 3 weeks to finally able ignore the shoutings. You can imagine what Darren's experienced in the morning in his first 3 weeks in the Cars world...
"Morning, Dad" Darren said, while rubbing his sleepy eyes.
"Morning son. Go get a shower and get downstairs, we'll eat some breakfast at Flo's" Doc said.
"Okay" Darren said.
Darren then went to the bathroom and get a quick shower. He then put his usual clothes, which are, white long sleeves shirt, brown vest, brown tie that match his brown hair colour, black long pants, black socks, black shoes, and lastly, brown flat cap. Doc recommend that he needs to always put his flat cap on, because the Radiator Spring can be a little hot sometimes.
When Darren went downstairs, he can see Doc with his usual coffee, while reading the newspaper.
"Come on, son. Let's get some breakfast" Doc said.
Darren nodded and follow Doc outside the clinic, then went to Flo's. All the residents of Radiator Spring are there too, to have their usual breakfast.
"Morning" Darren greeted. One thing that the residents like him the most, is his polite behaviour. Even though Darren is not a very social Uplanders, he always greet someone when he pass them.
"Morning young soldier" Sarge greeted back.
"Morning sunshine" Flo greeted with a smile.
"Morning kid" Ramone greeted.
"A-morning to a-you too, Darren" Luigi greeted, while Guido smiled exitedly and nodded, agree with Luigi.
"Morning man" Fillmore greeted.
"Morning kiddo" Sheriff greeted.
"Morning, Darren" Sally greeted.
"Morning to ya too, Darren!" Mater exitedly greeted.
"Morning to you too, young whipper snapper!" Lizzie said.
Red just nodded with a smile.
"I'm making you some pancakes, Darren. Your favorite, blueberry pancakes" Flo said smiling.
"Thank you Flo" Darren said with a smile.
Flo gave Darren his blueberry pancakes. Then after Darren done finishing it, Mater went closer to him.
"Hey, hey Darren! Guess what!" Mater exitedly said.
"What?" Darren with some little curiousity asked.
"There are some coyotes here last night! Want to help me find them?" Mater said, whispering. Unbeknownst by him, that all the residents there at Flo's heard him clearly.
"Why are you whispering?" Darren asked.
"Because he knows that it was forbidden to find the coyotes" Sheriff said, while driving closer to where Darren was sitting and Mater.
"Aww, but you are allow to find them Sheriff! Why we can't?" Mater disappointedly said.
"It's too dangerous Mater. Besides, you don't know how to handle the coyotes like Sheriff do" Doc gruffly said.
"And you want to bring Darren aswell! You know that he still new to the surroundings around here" Sheriff said.
"Coyotes? All I know is wolf..." Darren said to himself. Doc heard it, but gladly didn't heard about the wolf part.
"You are not allow to find them, Darren, or went closer to it. Do you understand?" Doc said sternly. And the other residents, except Mater, look at him sternly too. Means that they were really mean it.
"Yes, Dad" Darren said. A little surprised with the stern look that the residents gave him.
"You too Mater" Sheriff said.
"Aww...alright..." Mater said pouting.
"So, what do you want to do today, Darren?" Ramone asked.
"I..don't know.. Maybe I'll go to the waterfall bridge" Darren said.
"You always go there, Darren" Sally said.
"Well, it's calm there and quiet too. Might as well read my chemistry book too" Darren said.
"You really like those chemistry book of yours" Sally said.
"Yep" Darren said shortly.
"Have a mind to be a doctor too?" Doc said, with a grin.
"I am, I will, and I have too. There is no way I could avoid my destiny to follow my father footprints as the leader of the royal doctor" Darren said.
The others who heard this stay quiet because of shock and confuse...
"I said too much..." Darren said, then quickly take his leave and went outside.
"What's wrong with him?" Ramone asked.
"He wasn't a very open Uplanders... Just give him some space, he will open up more in the future" Doc said.
"What did he mean by 'I have too'? He was force to be a doctor?" Sally asked.
"I don't know Sally. I will ask him when the time is right. But for now, he needs to adjust with his surroundings first" Doc said.
Meanwhile...
After Darren went out from Flo's place, he quickly went to the clinic, grab his chemistry book from his room, and then went to the waterfall bridge. After he get there, he sits at the bridge and started reading.
When it almost dark, Darren close his book and then stand up, but a pair of eyes make him stop and freeze. Not just a pair of eyes, but a few pair of golden yellow eyes. They aren't wolves, so that means, they are...
Coyotes...
Darren was calm outside but frantic in mind. He clutches his book with his hand so thightly, afraid that he might loose it. He freezes and so does the coyotes. He know that the coyotes will pounce at him in any seconds if he didn't move right away. So Darren pulled out his skateboard from his pocket.
Uplanders transportation are their wings and skateboards. Every Uplanders have their own skateboards since they were born. The skateboard can be mobile anywhere, because it was put in their clothes pocket. So the Uplanders, who already know how to use the skateboard, can pull it out from their pocket and use it anytime and anywhere. The skateboard itself have boosters. The boosters speed is control by the Uplanders mind. So they just need to press the flat button on the front part of the skateboard, the boosters then will on, and now it's up to your mind.
The skateboard can go really fast, but it's up to, if you are a pro or not. If you aren't a pro, you can't go that fast. If you are a pro, you can go fast. So Darren is one of the beginners pro, so he can go fast, but not really fast.
Darren went down the road with the coyotes hot on his heels. He wanted to go to the town and find some help, because it's already dark outside. But he didn't want to disturb the residents, so he turn to the right and then went missing in the forest.
Darren was quickly blame himself to go into the forest, because he doesn't know where is the right way to go, but the coyotes know. And it make Darren stressed out. He zig zag around the forest so he won't hit the trees and in hope that the coyotes will get some obstacles so they would stop chasing him. But it didn't work. The coyotes are natural in the forest, they are unstoppable.
Darren try his best to lose them, but they aren't giving up. And most of all...
He's lost...
While he was frantic that he can't get away from the coyotes, he also can't find the way home. But while he was panicking, he saw some blur lights near.
'That looks like a headlight. It can't be...' Darren thought and then shout, while getting closer to the source of light.
"Mater! Help!" Darren shouted. Mater was surprised, but when he saw the coyotes behind Darren, he quickly pulled out his tow cable, and then throw it to Darren.
"Grab on! And don't let go!" Mater said and drive as fast as he could, out from the forest. Darren grab on to Mater's tow cable, really tight, so he won't fall off.
After they were out from the forest, they can see that the coyotes already stop chasing them. Both of them relieved and then went home. But in the way home, Darren realizes something...
"My book! It's gone!" Darren exclaimed. Mater jumped a little at that, because Darren rarely shouts.
"Maybe it fall off when we were being chased by the coyotes?" Mater said. But Darren's mind is panicking again.
"I have to find it! I can't loose it!" Darren said and then turned around to find his book. But to his surprise, Mater stop him.
"Mater! Get out of the way! I need to find it!" Darren shout. But Mater wasn't quiver by that and didn't get out of the way. Instead, he look at Darren and said...
"It's already dark, Darren. We can find it tomorrow. Besides, Doc will be very worried of ya" Mater said wisely, which surprised Darren a little.
But Darren knew what Mater said is true. So he just nodded sadly and then followed Mater to the town. In their way there, Darren asked...
"So, you disobeyed Sheriff's and Dad's orders to stay away and not to find the coyotes?" Darren asked curiously.
"Ehm... No..." Mater said nervously.
"Liar" Darren said.
"I was curious! Besides, ya too!" Mater said.
"I didn't!" Darren said.
"If ya didn't, then why did ya were being chased by the coyotes?" Mater said, saying the facts.
"I was reading as I was saying at Flo's earlier! Then when I want to go home, the coyotes are already eyeing me and chasing me around!" Darren said, defensing himself.
"Why they were chasing ya around?" Mater said, wondering aloud. While Darren put back his skateboard, back to his pocket, and in his pocket, the skateboard went missing, so his pocket was empty. It almost work like the way their wings appearance.
"I don't know" Darren said shortly.
When they reached town, they can see that the vehicles are all out from their houses and look around franticly, like they were trying to find something.
"What are they doing?" Darren asked, while Mater look a little scared.
"We're busted" Mater said. Darren was confused though. But then Ramone noticed them and then shout...
"Hey man! They are here!" Ramone said. Then he quickly went to both Mater and Darren. The other vehicles followed too. Soon, the two, already surrounded by the vehicles of the town, minus Lizzie, because she's already asleep.
Doc and Sheriff were directly in front of them. Mater and Darren gulped, they know that they were in serious trouble. Mater, for went to the forest to find the coyotes, and Darren, for staying out late and pass his curfew.
"Where have you boys been?" Sheriff asked sternly.
"We...uhm..." Mater said trailing off.
"I met him on the way back, and I just came back from the waterfall bridge" Darren said, in hope that he and Mater didn't get into any trouble.
"And pass your curfew?" Doc said sternly, in a statement tone.
"Well I..." Darren want to say that he was being chased by some coyotes, but he knew he wouldn't be allowed to go alone again if he told that to Doc, because Doc will become overprotective to him. Even now, Doc is already protective...
"Well he ain't got no choice. He was chased by some coyotes before" Mater said, spoiling all the truth over.
"Mater!" Darren whispered to him, but Mater didn't hear him and keep talking.
"Coyotes?" Sheriff asked.
"Yeap, a dozen or so" Mater said. Still didn't realize the frantic look from Darren's face.
"A dozen?!" Doc exclaimed. Doc rarely raise his voice, so Darren knew that it wasn't a good sign.
"Yeap, and we managed to get away!" Mater said proudly. By this time, Darren's face is already turn white. Mater finally noticed it and then asked...
"Darren? What's wrong with ya?" Mater asked, confuse. Darren didn't answer him and try his best to avoid the stern looks from the townfolks, especially Doc's, but minus Lizzie and Mater.
"Darren..." Doc said warningly. Darren never like that tone.
"I..at least we get away..." Darren said nervously, trying to convince his surrogate father and soul partner. But Doc wasn't going to have it in anyways.
"And you still pass your curfew" Doc said gruffly. Darren cringed at that.
"How about you Mater? What were you doing before you met Darren in the way?" Sheriff asked sternly. While Mater was lost of words.
"I..just passing through...like usual" Mater said with an unsure look in his face. Sheriff knew that there's more behind that statement, so he said...
"Fine. But we haven't finish, Mater" Sheriff said. Mater nodded and sighed slightly, because he knew that means he's going to hear the lectures from Sheriff in the morning.
"As for you..." Sheriff said while looking at Darren. The other residents, except Lizzie and Mater, then look sternly at Darren. Darren cringed at this.
"I'll deal with him in the morning. It's already late, let's have some rest" Doc said, while eyeing Darren sternly. Darren was a little relieved though, that he was out from the residents stern looks.
Everyone went to their own homes. Darren and Doc went to the clinic, which was their house. All of the residents of the Radiator Springs went to sleep fast enough, because of the tiredness from searching Darren and Mater. In the morning, both Mater and Darren got their lectures and then finally being released after 2 hours of lectures. They both meet at Flo's to eat their breakfast as usual.
"Hey Mater..." Darren said, clearly tired from all the lectures that the residents gave him. Especially Doc's.
"Heya Darren..." Mater said, clearly tired too.
"How many lectures that you got?" Darren asked curiously.
"2...from Sheriff and Doc" Mater said.
"Lucky..." Darren managed to say.
"How about you Darren?" Mater asked, curious too.
"I got it from Dad, Sheriff, Ramone, Sally, Flo, Luigi, Guido which I don't understand even a single bit, Sarge, and what the hay, I even got it from Fillmore! The most layback car in this town!" Darren exclaimed, clearly annoyed with so many lectures that he got in one morning.
"Guido and Fillmore never giving lectures before" Mater said, wondering aloud.
"Well they are now" Darren said, annoyed.
"Hey cheer up a bit, today is a special day ya know" Mater said.
"What day is it?" Darren asked.
"Shooting star's day!" Mater exclaimed happily.
"Shooting star? But it's at night time" Darren said.
"Yeap, what's wrong with night time?" Mater asked confuse.
"Mater, I was grounded because of yesterday. I have to be at home at 5 p.m, one hour early than my usual curfew" Darren said desperately.
"But ya can sneak out, right?" Mater asked with a hint of hope in his voice.
"Mater..., I can't..., if I sneak out tonight, Dad won't trust me anymore. And besides, what so special with this Shooting Star's day anyway?" Darren said, a little annoyed.
"Ya can make a wish from it, and most of all..." Mater said, trailing off.
"Most of all, what?" Darren asked.
"I won't be all alone if ya come with me tonight" Mater asked, clearly hoping that Darren will come with him.
Darren seems to be thinking about it too. Deep inside, he wants to accompany Mater because he look so lonely and hopeful. But Darren also knew the consequences from his action if he snuck out. He might loose his soul partner's trust with him. But...might as well take some chances, don't we?
"Fine. Where is the best spot to see it?" Darren asked. They both were speaking in their normal voices though, because no one in the cafe now, and Flo is in the kitchen, so no one can hear them. But unbeknownst by them, there's someone eavesdropping on them since the beginning.
"Up at the Wheel Well Motel! Ya know that place, right?" Mater asked, cheerfully. Darren never went to that place though, but he certainly knew where the place is.
"Sure. I'll meet you there at?" Darren asked, because he was uncertain with the time when the shooting star will show up.
"10 p.m. It always show up at that time every year" Mater said excitedly.
"I just want to ask though. Why didn't anybody else come too?" Darren asked curiously.
"They do, past years ago. But then they loose their spirits because of the new highway. So they never went up to Wheel Well Motel again" Mater explained sadly. Darren understands though, because he knew from Sally, that the highway makes their town, didn't have anymore customers.
"Oh..okay then, I'll meet you at 9.45 p.m" Darren said shortly.
"Ya are a very on time person, aren't ya?" Mater asked, amused.
"Not a person... I'm an Uplanders and it's my nature to be on time" Darren said, smiling. Mater smiled back, he was glad that Darren want to open up a little to him.
At 9 p.m...
"Darren, it's time for bed" Doc said to Darren, who was reading 'his now back' chemistry book. Darren told Doc about his chemistry book, which fall the night before, then Doc immediately went to find it and gave it back to Darren in one piece. Darren was very happy about it.
"Okay, Dad" Darren said, but didn't feel a single tiredness. All he feels is an exitement to see a shooting star. Can't blame a 6 year old to be exited about that.
Darren then brush his teeth and then went to his bedroom. Doc bid him goodnight and so does Darren. Doc turn off the light and left Darren, then he went to his own bedroom to go to sleep. Now, Darren just need to wait.
Right on 9.30 p.m, Darren snuck out from the clinic as quiet as possible. He then went up to Wheel Well Motel and met Mater.
"Heya, Darren! Ya made it!" Mater said happily.
"Yep" Darren said.
"And ya managed to snuck on Doc!" Mater said, cheerfully.
"Nope. He failed miserably"
Both Mater and Darren jumped by the voice and then turned around. They find Doc already park there and look sternly at the two. Doc already know about Mater and Darren's plan since when they were at Flo's, because he accidentally heard them talking about it.
"O...kay..." Mater said. While Darren's colour face drained. He was so busted.
"Sorry.." Darren said.
"I'll let it slide just for this once because today is the Shooting Star's day" Doc gruffly said.
"You went out to see it too, Dad?" Darren asked curiously and clearly trying to change the subject.
"Yes. And we will talk about it again tomorrow morning" Doc said sternly. Darren just gave up and nodded a little.
"It's almost 10" Mater said exitedly. Darren and Doc was exited too, even though Doc didn't show it.
"Hey look! Up there!" Darren said. Both Mater and Doc look up too to the direction Darren pointed. They can see a big shooting star, passing by, right on time at 10 p.m. Darren quickly make a wish. And when the shooting star is gone, Darren was finished too. So Doc asked...
"What do you wish for, son?" Doc asked gently. Darren, with a warm smile, just said...
"I wish my family here at Radiator Springs, could be together forever, and will never change" Darren said.
Doc was touched. He nuzzled Darren gently, and Darren lean on his touch. For the rest of the night, the three of them watch the night sky before they went back to town to get their well deserved rest...
A.N : Pretty sweet, right? I'm enjoying my time when I'm making this one. Thank you for reading and reviewing! See you in next chapter!