"Call off the dogs and put out the fire! We gonna crown us a new champion!" Minty stood up and shouted "That's my boy! GO!" as the family watched Lightning gun it down the track! He had such a lead, there was no doubt he was going to win the piston cup! He would be the first rookie in history to win the cup!
Then sudden! The Bolt's rear tire blew! BAM! "OH NO! McQueen has blown a tire!" Minty sat back down! She gasped! Chad was on edge! How dare Lightning not get those tires he needed! BAM! "McQueen's blown another! And a hundred feet from his piston cup!" Minty and Chad were loosing it! "COME ON MONTY!" Chad cheered! "COME ON! PLEASE, LORD PROTECT MY BABY!" Minty prayed aloud! Biting nails, on edge!
"The King and Chick rounding turn four.."
"GO GO GO!" Yelled Chad! "FUCK COME ON!" He shouted. Minty then scolding "CHAD! Language!" Chad sat back down and apologized for that. He was just excited.
"and it's.. it's...Too close to call! It's to close to call!" Said the announcer from the television.
Minty cheered! Chad stood up and shouted with excitement "That's my brother!" The family more than excited for Monty!...
Lightning pulled into the pits where he was cheered on by fans and other racers' crews. But not by his team. No, they were a little pissed off and frustrated with him. "How could you do that McQueen!? That was way too risky!" Lightning only rolled his eyes replying "Are you kiddin? I was great out there. Perfectly planned." "WHAT!?" Said one pittie. Another butted in saying "If you would have came in when we told you, you would have won!" "Oh please," Said Lighting. "I won fellas. So just relax. Go buy a drink or somethin." As he walked off into the crowd of fans and press. His crew was not happy and was very annoyed with the young racer.
Lightning smiled proudly as he was adored by so many people. "Lightning, over here!" "No, here!" "Smile!" "Show us the bolt!" "LIGHTNING!" They all screamed and cameras flashed! He was more famous now than ever! Strip pulled in and began his own little interview on the side as Chick came in as well. Each racer getting a moment in the spotlight while officials went over the tapes to see who exactly won the race.
Lightning smiled and waved for the fans, then approached by Kori. "We're here in victory lane awaiting the race results..McQueen, that was quite a risky move not taking tires. Are you sorry you didn't have a crew chief out there?" She asked. Lightning smiled charmingly as he answered. "Oh-ho-ho Kori.. There is so much more to racing than just winning..I mean taking the race by a full lap? Where's the entertainment in that? No, no. I wanted to give the audience a little sizzle." "Sizzle?" Questioned one of his crew mates. "And am I sorry I didn't have a crew chief? No. And you know why? Cause I'm a one man show." He bragged. Kori nodded with a smile. "And that is a very confident Lightning McQueen. Coming to you live from victory lane.."
The crew was getting in the way of the shot. One camera man pointed it out. Lightning was quick to scold. "Hey, yo.. Chuck.. What are you doing? You're blocking the camera. Everyone wants to see the Bolt." "WHAT!?" "Get outa the shot." "WHAT!? That's it!" said the pittie with a stomp of his foot then he and the other crew members began to walk off. Lightning noticed asking "Hey, woah, yo team.. Where you going?" Not Chuck turned around yelling "WE QUIT MISTER ONE MAN SHOW!"
Lightning rolled his eyes with a sarcastic chuckle. "Oh fine, leave.. How will I ever find anyone who knows how to fill me up with gas!?" HE joked and got a few fans and press laughing at that."Adios Chuck.". "And my name is not CHUCK!" "oh whatever.." Lightning chuckled. A few more laughs there.
Chick then grabbed Lightning's attention saying "Hey yo, Lightnin.. McQueen! That was some pretty darn nice racin out there.. BY ME! HHAHHA! Welcome to the Chick era baby. The piston cup.. It's mine dude, mine.. Hey fellas. How do you think I'd look in Dinico blue? DINICO BLUE!?" Laughed Chick. Lightning rolled his eyes and teased "Yeah right.. In your dreams Thunder.." Chick and his team were confused. "Thunder? What's he, what's he talkin bout the thunder thing?" Asked Chick. Lightning smiled and happily explained. "Well you know, cause Thunder always comes after.. Lightning.. Kapeer! Wapachow!"
Oh Chick was furious! "Who here knew about the Thunder thing!?" He asked his crew. All of them shrugged and shook a bit at the tone of Chick's voice...
A few officials then started rounding Lightning, Chick and Strip to the winner's circle. Trying to get the fans off of them. Lightning was held up the most of the three. "Lightning! Lightning!" Screamed some familiar voices! Lightning turned to see Mia and Tia in jeans and tight red 95 shirts. "I'm Mia." "I'm Tia!." "Do you remember us!?" They squealed with excitement. Lightning nodded. He did, who wouldn't. The together, both girls shouted "WE'RE YOU'RE BIGGEST FANS!" and lifted their shirts up over their breasts! Lighting stared, no, gazed at them. "Oh I love being me..." He muttered as he just took it in. Oh what he would love to be doing to these two after being announced the first rookie to win a piston cup. He blew them a kiss as he was gently forced to the winner's circle alongside Chick and Strip.
Lightning walked up the back stage steps where Strip stood waiting. "Hey, Buddy. You are one gutsy racer. You got more talent in one lug nut.. Than a lot of cars got in a whole bottle." Strip complimented. Lightning smiled and lit up. "Really?" Being told that by one of the greats felt so good! "Awe well, Tha"-"But you're stupid." Strip added. Lightning's brows lowered. Did he hear that right? He thought. "Excuse me?.." "This is the real deal kid.. You need to wise up and get you a good crew chief. You're not gonna win if you don't got a good team behind you and let them do their job like you should and you blah blah blah.." Lightning fell into a sorts of day dream. Dreaming of Dinico.. The fans.. The girls.. The fame.. money.. Parties.. Girls... SO many girls...
"You figure that out, and you're gonna do alright." Strip finished. Lightning snapped out of his day dream. Clearing his throat saying "Oh yeeah, yeah.. That is spectacular advice.. Thank you.." "Ladies and gentlemen.. For the first time in Piston cup history..." Oh that news made Lightning happier than ever. That sentence put Strip and Chick out of the running.
Lightning was quick to react and jumped out with a flash of his white smile and shiny lightning bolt on the suit! "YES!" HE shouted! Then the announcer with "WE HAVE A THREE WAY TIE!" Everyone cheered loudly! Strip came out slowly and stepped aside. He knew the kid embarrassed himself a bit there and wouldn't bug or tease. Chick stepped out laughing his butt off at Lightning. "Oh ho.. Hahaha.. Man.. You know.. I wouldn't worry about it.. Know why? Cause I didn't do it!" He laughed hard!
Chad and Minty watched as they announced that a "Tie breaker race will be held in California to determine the winner of this year's Piston Cup." Kristine was passed out asleep by now on the couch. Minty and Chad looked at each other. "My baby is going to California.. He's going to California!" She exclaimed and cheered! Her and Chad were basically jumping with excitement over Monty's victory!...
Chick nudged Lightning saying "Hey.. First one to California gets Dinico all to himself.. No not me! You rock! You rock and you know that!" He shouted at a fan. Lightning started thinking about that. He was usually late.. Not really anyone's fault.. But Dinico.. If he was there before Chick and Strip.. He could get in on the track.. Smooze over Tex.. And the girls... Oh the girls in those baby blue torquoise outfits and boots.. Chick was NOT getting there first!...
Lightning began walking back to his trailer. Talking to himself. "First one to California gets Dinico all to himself.. Oh we'll just see who gets there first Chick." But then. Gasp. "Where's my Trailer? Mack.. Mack! Come on, saddle up! I gotta get to California before Chick and get in on Dinico." Mack walked around with a smile answering "Oh the trailer? Yeah, I parked it over your sponsor's tent." Lighting's eyes widened! "WHAT!?" "Yeah. Gotta make your appearence." "What? No.. I hate wrinkly old guys.." "Awe come on, they did give you you're big break." Mack reminded. Lightning glared at Mack there. "Oh would you stop, please... Just go get hooked up." He ordered then walked over to the tent. How was he going to sneak out of this one? He needed to get ot California, NOW.
He looked over to see a life size cut out of himself holding a bottle of Rusteze... "That'll work..." He muttered with a sly smile. He stepped behind the cut out and used it to slowly walk with.. Stopping every few seconds when one older person looked over.. Suspicious.. Continue to walk.. Stop. Almost tripped over a cane.. "Almost there... Almost there.." HE whispered as he sneak. Then Lightning stepped in something.. He looked down at his boot and gum. "Awe.. Gross..." He muttered as he looked at the bottom of his shoe. The thud. The cut out fell and all the old people stared at his wide eyed face! "THERE HE IS!" Shouted Rusty!
"Our almost there champ!" Added Dusty. Lightning sighed. "Get your ass over here kid!" Said Dusty. With an eye roll.. Lightning reluctantly walked through the crowd. trying to be careful not to let ANY of these old geezers touch him even slightly. Forget it, don't even breathe on him. Gross. "Mr. MCQueen! Awe you're my hero Mister McQueen!" Said one man. Lightning tensed up and faked a smile replying "haha.. Yeah.. Thanks uh.. Fred.." Then continued to walk as the man seemed so happy that Lightning knew his name that was on a work tag on the shirt the man was wearing.
Lightning walked up and onto the stage. Rusty and Dusty talking saying. "Thanks to you Lightning, we have had a better year!" "We may even have enough to buy you some headlights!" "Are you saying he doesn't have headlights?" "That's what I'm saying!" Lightning then added "Well, you know.. Racers don't need headlight because the track is.. Always.. Lit.." That got all the old people laughing! "Yeah well, so is my brother, but he still needs headlights!" Joked Rusty. So gross thought Lightning. They laughed and cheered for the young man.
Then Rusty and Dusty stepped back saying "Ladies and Gentlemen.. Lightning McQueen!" And a spot light shined right down on him! Lightning's eyes squinted at first. He cleared his throat then "Free bird!" Yelled someone in the crowd. Lightning took a deep breath and spoke. "Well.. The Rusteze team ran a.. Good race today.. And you know.. With a little rusteze.. and an insane amount of luck.. You to, can look like me.. Ka.. chow..." They all cheered! Dusty saying "Good luck out there kid!" Rusty adding in with "Yeah, and we're looking forward to another great year! Just like this year!" Lightning smiled and nodded as he shut the door. "Not on your life..." He growled once alone then sighed with releief.
In all honesty though, Rusty and Dusty knew that Lightning did not like them. They knew the kids was eager to leave and probably wouldn't stick around with them after the cup. Sending Rusteze into a hole possibly...
It was hours into the trip. Lightning sat in the back of the trailer. Sitting in his massage chair as he relaxed and winded down from the race. Ring ring... Ring ring..
"Hello?"
IS this Lightning McQueen the world's fastest racing machine?!
"Is this Harv? The world's greatest agent?"
Sure is! And it is such an honor to your agent that it almost hurts me to take ten percent of your winnings and merchandise and yadayadayada, anyways! You were great! I mean right baby!? I mean I.. I didn't see the race, but I heard you were great! So they are giving you twenty tickets for the tie breaker race kid. You shoot me the names and I'll get them out. You let Harv rock it for you baby, okay?
"Yeah, yeah, yeah! Right.. Friends! There's uh... Um..."
Okay I get it Mr. Popular.. Got so many friends you can't narrow it down. It's cool. But when you get to town, you better make time for your BEST friend. Gotta make time for your smashooka here, alright?
"Yea, yeah, yeah! We should totally"-
-Yeah sounds great kid, I gotta go.
Lightning sighed as the phone hung up. He realized that he really didn't have anyone anymore.. He hadn't even talked to his family at all this passed year. Suddenly he looked over and saw a mini van passing.. "What?.. A mini van?" He muttered. The he got inside the bolt and switched on the close contact radio. "Mack, come on, what's going on?" "Just stoppin over for a quick breather here kid.." "What?! NO, no, no. We gotta drive straight through to California all night. We agreed on it!.." The kid whined. Mack sighed asking "All night?.. Let me remind you, federal guide lines state that"-"Look, it's easy.. I'll stay up with you." "All night?" "All night long." Lightning assured.
A few hours later...
Was that honking?.. "Wha, wha..." Lightning began to wake up. He heard honking. Yep, for sure. He blinked a few times. Slowly opening his eyes and then HEADLIGHTS!? He was wide awake now! Turned the key, hit the gas and swerved hard right! Gassing it and gunning down the highway! Three trucks! ANother hard right! Gassing it and then plowing right into the dirt between the highways. Lightning breathed heavily as he panicked! His heart racing like never before! How did he get here!?
The race! The cup! California! MACK! "MACK!" He yelled as he hit the gas and shifted hard! Making his way through traffic fast! Getting honked at and almost hitting a few other drivers! "Mack! Mack!" He yelled and searched in panic for his trailer. Then he saw ine truck getting off an exit. "Mack!" He yelled then cut off another dirver to get off the exit and barely made it!
He caught up to the trailer and read the side... Some piston.. Peter built?.. That wasn't Mack.. Lighting stopped next to the truck. The truck driver looked down and yelled "Turn on your lights you moron!" Then continued on with a right turn. Lightning sat there a moment and sighed. He lost Mack. He was still waking up and coming to terms with what might have happened. "Mack..." He muttered. Thinking. He could make it. He was fast enough to catch up to Mack if he hurried! "The interstate!" He exclaimed aloud then gunned it and turned left down the back road!
But the road didn't seem to end.. "What?.. Where's the highway?.." Lightning whispered to himself. He tried the radio. "Mack.. Mack can you hear me!?" He shouted. Nothing. He was way to far from the truck to get signal. He sighed. Then a flashing lights behind. Lightning looked back.. "Oh no.. Oh! Maybe he can help me!" He smiled. POP POP! "WHAT!? Why's he shooting at me!?" Lighting panicked even more! Swerving back and fourth on purpose! "Serpentine!" Back and fourth. Then ahead.. Wait.. "What?.." He muttered as he began to see lights.. Not headlights though.. And orange.. Spikes.. Cones?... A diner?... "That's not the interstate..." THUD! He ran into something.. Cones! Over and over! "SHIT!" He yelled! cone, cone, cone! "Sorry Bolt!" Turn left!
"AAHHH!" GIANT CONE! TURN BACK! FENCE! "No, no, no!" He yelled! Turn left! "DRIVE THROUGH!? AHHHH!" He continued yelling and turned into it sharply! Through the drive through and making a mess everywhere! Almost hitting a few parked cars! Knocking over cans and signs! "WOAH WOAH WOAH!" He yelled! TIRES! "AAAHHH!" Sharp turn right again! Lighting barely made it out of that as tires flew everywhere! He sighed with relief as the road ahead looked clear, he looked back. The cop wasn't chasing no more then back ahead, "AAHHHH!" Statue! Use the break, turn sharp! He drifted around the statue completely! Almost flipping the bolt over. Wrapping the fencing around the thing though.
Lightning breathed heavily. He had to get out of here, NOW! He out the car in reverse and gunned it! Spinning out hard! "Come on.. Come on..." He was pushing the poor race car that had already been through so much now. Like a whip, the car snapped back and Lightning hit the breaks. Panting with relief. He made it. Now just to turn around and home free! BAM! "AAHHH!" Freaky statue in his face! Lighting backed up, turned around and hit the gas! Pulling the statue through the town! Not even paying attention to the mess he was creating or rather destroying behind him! "AAHHH!" He yelled as he plowed through the town!
An old trailer parked aside caught the statue and it went airborne! Catching the telephone wires, Lightning pushed the bolt hard! Red lining her hard! "Come on.. Just.. A bit... More.." He pushed it! Then SNAP! He was whipped back hard! Flipping up and tangling into the wires. The bolt was dangling.. Nose down.. Lightning panted and felt dizzy.. "awe..." he moaned in a bit of pain.. Everything hurt.. This was bad.. A bad dream.. That's all.. He saw the cop approach, but he closed his eyes and just went out...
Lightning began to wake up. Hard.. Horrible hard bed... He had a headache. "Mornin sleepin beauty!" Someone yelled! Lightning sat up quick "AH!" "HAHA! I was wonderin when yous was gonna wake up!" Said the older man. Lightning panicked once more and pressed his back against the wall saying "Please don't hurt me! T-Take whatever you want.. Just don't hurt me!" He then realized it. He was in a jail cell. "Wait.. Jail?.. Why am I in jail!? What's going on!?" He panicked! The old man chuckled replying "Shoot.. I like you already. My name's Mater." Lightning stared a moment.. "Mater?" He questioned. Mater nodded explaining "Yeah. Like To-mater.. But without the TUH!" He spit at Lightning. Lightning wiped his shoulder then Mater asked "What's your name?" Lightning raised a brow asking "Wait you? You don't know my name?" Mater shook his head then said "Awe wait.. I know your name.."
He then leaned into the bars and quietly asked "Is your name Mater to?" Lightning just stared. Okay.. Old guy, whatever. "Where am I?" The racer asked. Mater stepped back asking "WHERE ARE YA! SHOOT! You're in Radiator Springs! The cutest little town in Carburetor county.." Lightning sighed.. "Great.. Just great..." "Think that's great? You should see the rest of the town!" Suggested Mater. That gave Lightning an idea! "You know.. I'd love to see the rest of the road!" "REALLY!?" Asked Mater! Lightning nodded.
"Sure thing! So why don't you get the keys.. open these doors up and you and me can go cruising.. What do you think? How does that sound To-Mater?" Asked Lightning. Mater was jumping with glee! "DAD GUM!" The old man exclaimed! Then an old gruff voice shouted "MATER!" IN a scolding tone! "What have I told you about talking to the accused?.." Mater looked down with shame answering "To not to..." Sheriff grabbed the keys and unlocked the doors and motioned for Lightning to get over here. Lightning sighed and walked over. Sheriff cuffed him and read him his rights as he walked him to the courtroom...
"The Radiator Springs Traffic court will come to order!" Shouted Sheriff as he walked Lightning to his place. A bunch of angry town folks were there and furious with the damages he had caused. Sheriff shoved Lightning down into a seat. "Officer.. Look.. talk to me babe.. How long is this gonna take?" Asked Lightning. Then Sheriff asked "Where's your lawyer?" Lightning snickered with a shrug. "I don't know.. Tahiti maybe.. He's got a time share there." Sheriff rolled his eyes replying "If the defendant has no lawyer, the court will assign one to him.. HEY!" Everyone stared. "Anyone wanna be his lawyer!?" The sheriff asked. Everyone stepped back and or leaned in their seats.
Mater smiled and suddenly raised his hand saying "Shoot! I'll do it!" Lightning rolled his eyes. This entire town was a joke.. "All rise!" Shouted Sheriff. Everyone stood. "The honorable Doc Hudson presiding.. May Doc have mercy on your soul..." Growled Sheriff.. Lightning glared at the cop. Then the doors opened and here came in Doc! "ALRIGHT!" He yelled!
"I wanna know who's responsible for wreckin my town Sheriff!.. I want his head on a platter.. I'm gonna put him in jail til he rots. No, check that. I'm gonna put him in jail until that jail rots on top of him and then I'm gonna move him to a new jail and let that jail rot. I'm.." Doc stared at the kid a moment. Lightning faked a stupid and nervous smile.. This was really bad...
Doc glared at the kid then looked at Sheriff and said. "Throw him outa here Sheriff.. I want him outa my court room! I want him outa my town! Case dismissed!" Everyone was shocked! How could Doc just let him go!?
The doors suddenly opened and "Sorry I'm late your honor!" She shouted. Lightning turned around as everyone else did to. He stared in shock.. She was stunning. "Holy Porsche..." he mumbled quietly.. Perfect platinum blonde hair.. Was that natural? The rest of her was all natural for sure.. Sporting a white t shirt, black blazer and dress pants.. Heels.. She looked way to good to be from this dump of a town. "She's gotta be from my attorney's office.." he thought. The woman walked up and began to pass Lightning by. "Hey." He called, grabbing her attention. "Thanks for comin, but it's all set.. He's letting me go." He smiled. The girl raised a brow asking "He's letting you go?" Shocked.
Lightning nodded and looked her up and down saying "Yeah, looks like your jobs pretty easy today.. Now all you gotta do is stand there and let me look at chya." Her jaw dropped. She was probably just shocked that the great Lightning McQueen wanted to give her his time later. "I'm gonna cut to the chase.. You, me, dinner, kachow!" He shifted his shoulder and the suit gleamed a light off and right into her eyes!
The lady stepped back and squinted saying "What the- ow.. Please!" Lightning snickered proudly. "Yeah, I know.. I get that reaction a lot.. I create feelings in others that they themselves don't understand. I'm sorry.. Did I scare you?" He asked. The blonde glared. Not amused at all. Mater, who was standing next to Lightning answered "Well a little bit, but I'll be alright." Lightning glared and ignored the old man there. The woman sighed saying "Okay.. I'm gonna go talk to the judge.." "Do what you gotta do baby. Oh, but be careful. People round here are nut firing on all cylinders if you know what I mean.." The lady stared and smiled a bit replying "I'll keep that in mind.. Hey there Mater..." She stepped back. "Hi folks!" She greeted loudly.
Lightning was confused. "Wait.." He looked at Mater. "You know her?" Mater nodded answering "Yeah, she's the town attorney." He then leaned and quietly added "And my fiance.." "WHAT!?" Lightning's eyes widened with complete disgust! What!? Why!? How!? Mater chuckled. "Nah, just kiddin. She just likes me for my body." He bragged and smiled proudly about his beer gut. Lightning stared. Old people... Gross.
The woman then began a speech about the town and the history of the town and how the person responsible to tearing up the place, should fix it. The people argued. Doc hit the gavel then yelled "ALRIGHT! Order! Order in the court!" Everyone became quiet and looked up at the judge. "Seems like my minds been changed for me.." He growled. Lightning felt heavy! "What!" He whined! The woman smiled proudly at him. But Lightning was furious! "OOOH! I am SO not taking you to dinner!" He snarled. The woman rolled her eyes replying "Oh that's okay, Stickers.. You can take Besse." She teased. At this point, even the way she talked pissed him off!
Mater nudged Lightning saying "Awe man! You get tot work with Besse! I'd give my left two lug nuts for something like that!" Lightning raised a brow asking "Besse?.. Who's Besse?".. He quickly regretted asking that...