Chapter 18: Radiator Springs
"Where are we this time?" asked Red, looking over the beautiful landscape. There were canyons, deserts and sand. Nothing much to see.
"I think we're in Agrabah." said Sky, looking around.
"Does Agrabah have cactus plants?" asked Summer pointing at a few cactus.
"Well this world looks unappealing." said PJ.
"Well, Axel and Vanitas are here. And we will follow them." said Sky.
"Why would he lead us to this world?" wondered Red.
"It could be because it's a desert. And maybe he's trying to dry us all up." said PJ.
"I feel like we're missing something," said Summer.
"Hewey, Dewey, and Louie. I sorta miss them now." said Red.
"Weird, but yeah." said PJ.
"They were like a comedy trio." said Summer.
"Comedy? Them? I was surprised that they didn't do much trouble." said Sky.
"What do you mean?" asked Summer.
"Uncle Donald told me that they were little demons. They looked innocent to me." said Sky.
"Even the most innocent creature has darkness inside them." Thundered a voice.
Sky, Summer, Red and PJ stood their ground and Vanitas appeared in a dark corridor. Summer, Red and PJ gasped at the sight of him. Tall with the white tunic and the large black wings behind him. Not to mention the terrifying large horns.
"What happened to you?" asked Summer.
"Take a guess. Starts with a capital M." said Sky.
"It would seem that I have chosen Radiator Springs, one of the tamest worlds I could find." said Vanitas.
"Why this world?" asked Red.
"You see, this world is inhabited by talking cars. No people. No animals. Just cars. And these cars live in houses, own businesses and even live in cities. I wonder who was the child who came up with this world after the Keyblade War." said Vanitas.
"A Hot Wheels fan, that's for sure." said PJ.
"Why did you choose this world? There is nothing of value to you." said Summer, clenching her fists. She wanted to run up to Vanitas and punch him for stealing away her beloved.
"Axel insisted on coming to this world. His shadow form of course. I take it he is hungry for some hearts." said Vanitas.
"You said the world is populated by talking cars. How the heck does a car have a heart?" asked Red.
"The engine." replied Sky.
Vanitas laughed. "Believe it or not, children, this world does have hearts. The cars themselves have knowledge of their own existence!" said Vanitas.
"This does not make any sense." said Red.
"None of it does. Even I'm baffled as to why Axel came here." said Vanitas.
"Did he choose this world on his own free will? If that's so, then you know what that means for our bet." said Sky.
Vanitas shook his head. "It was the shadow that came here. Axel started to bark like a dog." said Vanitas.
With that, Vanitas was knocked to the floor. Sky and PJ were taken aback. It was NOT Summer who socked him. No. It was Red himself. He ran up to Vanitas, and punched him straight to the jaw, just mere seconds after that remark.
"You miserable unhappy…." Red was saying angrily. Summer and PJ quickly went to hold him.
"Calm down!" cried PJ.
"Nice one Red! But I think we're dead." said Summer.
Sky ran up in front of his friends when Vanitas got up and his hand was engulfed in a black flame.
His mouth was bleeding and his eyes were bright orange as fire. But Sky stood his ground, protecting the others.
"Please don't. My friend just lost control. I'll take responsibility." said Sky.
Vanitas looked at Red angrily, then turned to Sky. He put out the fire on his hand and wiped the blood from his lips.
He looked straight at Red. "This brat won't protect you forever. When we are alone, I'll even the score." said Vanitas.
"Fine by me!" snapped Red.
Vanitas opened his wings and flew into the sky. Everyone tried to calm themselves.
"What was that?" asked Summer.
"That was a racist remark! Bark like a dog. Eat like a dog. Fight like a dog. Those are words filled with hatred!" cried Red.
"I bet you Vanitas didn't know that," said Sky.
"You're defending him!?" cried Red.
"No! Not at all! But Red, be careful! Vanitas isn't the same anymore. He's much more dangerous than ever before!" cried Sky.
"All thanks to my Dad's mistress, no doubt." said PJ.
"If Axel got away, you don't suppose he really did get out of his free will?" asked Summer.
"Vanitas could be lying to us. I don't want to take any chances." said Sky.
"Nor false hope." said PJ.
"So what's the plan? Go explore this world and see if we can get any leads?" asked Red.
"Yes. The sooner the better. If this world is not like the others, then the "people" who live here are in danger." said Sky.
Meanwhile, in Radiator Springs, Axel's Shadow appeared. But it was not feasting on any hearts. It was actually fighting for it's life. For the shadow of Axel was fighting with Roxanne, who arrived in that world.
"Snap out of it! You're in danger in that form!" cried Roxanne. She used her large golden whip and hit the shadow of Axel many times.
Roxanne jumped out of the way and ran backwards. She grabbed a small ball in her pocket and threw it.
"Go Bolt!" she cried.
The little golden ball Roxanne had was a small heart binder that summoned a small white dog with a thunderbolt painted on it's side. Bolt, the super hero dog, jumped high into the air and summoned lightning from the heavens.
Roxanne ran up to the shadow to kick it, but it slashed it's large claws at Roxanne. She avoided the attack and Bolt ran up to bite him.
"Bolt! Use the Lightning Dash!" she cried. Bolt did as he was told to do and ran towards the shadow in a quick dash.
Roxanne pulled out another ball from her pocket and threw it. "Flubber, help Bolt!" cried Roxanne.
Flubber was a green goo that was actually sentient and got up to help Bolt in the fight.
The shadow screamed, but it did not scare Bolt and Flubber. They both quickly did their corresponding actions. Bolt ran around the shadow in lighting speed and Flubber tied the shadow down by stretching its own liquid body.
Roxanne threw another heart binder into the air and summoned the spirit of Aladar, the Iguanodon.
"Give it the mighty roar Aladar!" cried Roxanne. Aladar nodded and let out a giant roar against the shadow of Axel. The shadow fainted and the three summons stood by Roxanne's side.
"I'm glad it's over. You guys did a wonderful job." said Roxanne to her friends. The spirits of Bolt, Flubber and Aladar smiled and they vanished into the heart binders. Roxanne grabbed her long sword and pointed it at Axel's shadow face.
"Break free, young warrior of light." said Roxanne softly. However, unbeknownst to Roxanne, Vanitas snuck up behind her, and he was about to use his Keyblade against her. Roxanne saw the shadow's face twitch and Roxanne quickly turned around. But it was too late. Vanitas was about to struck her down.
That is until a towing cable swung into the air and pulled Vanitas's tunic. Vanitas was sent flying and he hit the side of a building. Roxanne looked up to see a Tow Truck, who was alive, smile at his victory.
"Dad gum! That was a close one! A couple of seconds and you would have been squashed like a bumble bee." said the truck.
"Mater!" cried Vanitas as he got up from where he was. Mater, the tow truck looked at Vanitas and blinked.
"How do you know my name?" he asked.
"Your name is on you. I can faintly see it. But you dare attack me!" sneered Vanitas.
"You were about to hit the poor little lady! What kind of unholy tarnation are you?!" cried Mater.
Vanitas got up and spread his wings to intimidate Mater. The poor tow truck backed away as Vanitas sneered. "Your worst nightmare fool."
Roxanne jumped high into the air to strike Vanitas, and he defended himself quickly with his dark infused Keyblade.
His eyes turned yellow and smiled.
"You're with child…."
Roxanne jumped once more, and stood beside Mater.
"You better go and hide!" she told the tow truck.
Mater's eyes turned to Roxanne and shook his "head."
"You want me to leave you here with this demon?" he asked.
"You'll get hurt." pleaded Roxanne.
"Young lady, I've faced ghost lights and evil rich van's with an oil conspiracy. I can take on anything." said Mater.
"What?" asked Roxanne.
Vanitas laughed. "Unbelievable. The one hero in this world happens to be a lowly tow truck? Give me a break? Who came up with this crap!?"
"Vanitas!" cried Sky. He came running with his friends and they all pointed their weapons at him. Vanitas spread his wings, ready to leave.
"Now is not the time." he said to himself.
Just then, Axel's shadow appeared, roaring with hot anger. Vanitas grabbed him by the shoulder and pressed on it really hard. A large chunk of ice formed in Axel's shoulder and it froze him in place.
"M-Magic!" cried Mater.
Vanitas held on to Axel and flew into the air with him. "On to the next world! I don't know why the hell we arrived here! This was a waste of precious time." said Vanitas. He once again vanished into the darkness.
"There he goes. Running as he always does." said Summer angrily. Sky turned to see Roxanne who was walking towards them. Red looked at her and his cheeks went red.
"R-Roxanne? You're here?" he asked.
"Red! How are you?" she asked sweetly. She ran up to Red and hugged him.
"Why are you here? And out in the worlds?" he asked.
"I came looking for you and the others." said Roxanne.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Summer." said Summer.
"I'm Sky."
"Yes. You two are the reason why I was looking for you. And is that PJ?" said Roxanne. She ran up to PJ and hugged him as well.
"Nice to see you again Roxanne. It's been ages." said PJ.
"So you guys are them Guardians of light?" asked Mater.
Sky turned to him and was taken aback by what Mater said. He knew the order, of not telling others where he came from, but so many people knew the existence of worlds that it was no use hiding it.
"Y-yes we are." said Sky.
"How is Sora doing?" asked Mater.
"You knew my father?!" asked Sky surprised.
"Your father? Well dad gum! Yeah I knew him! I was one of his summons a while back. I'm still am. Sort of." said Mater.
"You mean your spirit is the summons." said Sky.
"Yeah. Your father sealed our Keyhole long ago. And I gave him my Heartbinder to summon me." said Mater.
"That's so cool!" said Sky.
"That reminds me, now that you guys are here, I might as well tell you something that happened." said Mater.
"Is it about our enemies?" asked Roxanne.
"Yes. That shadow boy came and took something from here. I don't know what it was. But it was glowing light a firefly." said Mater.
"A heart. He took a heart." said Roxanne.
"No, it wasn't that. It was like a small object. Like a star shaped good luck charm." said Mater.
"A Wayfinder. He was carrying a wayfinder." said Summer.
"So he was calling us. To get to him. He was breaking free from his shadow form. But Vanitas got him." said PJ.
"Then this means we have to keep going." said Sky.
"I'm going with you. I will fight alongside you guys." said Roxanne.
"Really? But it's dangerous." said Red.
"I'll be fine. Goofy trained me." said Roxanne.
"Yeah, but your still…. You know…" Red was saying.
"Redy. I'm going to be okay." said Roxanne.
Summer and Sky exchanged looks and smiled. "He's got a thing for her huh?" whispered Summer.
"I guess so." said Sky.
"Sky? Can you do me a favor?" asked Mater.
"Sure! Anything for a friend of my Dad's." said Sky.
"Tell your Pop I said Hi!" exclaimed Mater with a smile, showing his buckteeth.
Sky put his hand on his trunk. "I will. That's a promise." said Sky.
In the light corridor, Roxanne managed to speak with the others much more privately this time.
"Maleficent is following our steps?" asked PJ.
"Yes. Apparently that what she's doing." said Roxanne.
"We had a run in with the famous witch back in Matonui." said Summer.
"It was a random encounter. First there was this crab, then Vanitas and Axel showed up. It was crazy." said Sky.
"Anyway, I also have a question to ask of you all. Have you seen… Max?" she asked.
Summer scoffed. "You mean that loser? Nope. Haven't seen him." said Summer.
PJ shook his head sadly with his ears pointing down and Red looked away.
"If we have, we would have taken him into custody." said Red.
"Who is Max?" asked Sky.
Everyone looked at Sky in surprise. "You don't know who that is?" asked Summer.
"You hang out with Goofy don't you?" asked PJ.
"Uncle Goofy? What's this Max got to do with him?" asked Sky.
Red and Roxanne exchanged looks and she nodded. "Max is Goofy's younger son. He's Red's brother." said Roxanne.
"You have a brother Red?" asked Sky.
"I did once." replied Red, trying not to say more.
PJ however stepped in. "He's fallen into darkness like my old man." said PJ.
Sky gritted his teeth. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know." said Sky.
"I'm out in the worlds looking for him. You see everyone…. I know we have just got together but I need all your help. I'm… holding his baby." said Roxanne. She placed her hand on her stomach and Red's face fell.
"Can I speak to you in private?" he asked. Roxanne nodded and the two walked away. PJ stood by Sky and Summer. "What's going on?" asked Summer.
"It's grown up talk." said PJ.
"She's pregnant? She can't be with us! She can get hurt." said Sky.
"She's capable of fighting." said Summer.
"Well… I don't know." said Sky.
Red and Roxanne got a little far from the others and they spoke.
"Max does not love you. He's abandoned you." said Red.
"He doesn't have a choice. It's his responsibility." said Roxanne.
"Does my father know?" asked Red.
Roxanne nodded and Red shook his head. "Good lord."
"I did what I had to do." said Roxanne.
"Please leave my Dad out of this. You know how fragile his heart is after Max left." said Red.
"Red. Please understand." said Roxanne.
"Max hurt you in more ways than one." Red said.
Roxanne looked at Red sternly and she put her hands together.
"Red, I'm looking for him because it's Max's responsibility. He left without telling me. I don't want you to suffer with me." said Roxanne.
Red clenched his fists tightly. "I cannot believe this Roxanne. You're much better than this. You don't need Max. You have me. You have my father's support. You can do much more without Max. He doesn't deserve you." said Red.
Roxanne placed her hand on Red's face. "Red, please. I want to make things right." said Roxanne.
"He left you and it isn't fair." said Red shaking his head.
They both couldn't help it. Roxanne hugged Red and he hugged her in return. "Why are we arguing? Why are we doing this to ourselves?" asked Roxanne.
"It's Max. He's doing this to us." said Red.
"If we find Max, what are we going to do?" asked Roxanne.
"Take him into custody for his crimes against the light. And against you. I will not forgive him for slapping you that one time." said Red.
When Red and Roxanne returned, Sky noticed how red their eyes were. He knew something happened. "What has been decided then?" asked Sky.
"Axel is not the only one we need to find. We also need to find Max. He's just as dangerous and we have to stop him." said Red.
Roxanne nodded, but Sky felt uneasy. "Okay. But first we need to find Axel. Wherever he is next." said Sky.
"There is only one person who knows where Max is." said Roxanne turning to PJ.
"My old man?" asked PJ.
"Apparently so." said Red.
PJ looked at Roxanne's pleading eyes and nodded. "If I run into my old man, I'll get the truth out from him." he said.
Roxanne smiled at PJ and he blushed.
"Welcome aboard Roxanne. It's about time there's another girl in the group." said Summer.
"What is the next world?" asked Red. Sky didn't answer right away. His mind was fixated on Roxanne joining them. He trusted her, it would seem. But the fact that she and Red went to talk in private and the way they stood there hugging each other reminded him of his parents.
Whenever something bad happened, his parents would hug it out. He remembered this one time when his father returned home with a wound on his chest. He got into a big fight with a very dangerous Heartless that almost destroyed one of the islands in their world. It did destroy some houses, and it managed to take a few hearts with it. Sora never forgave himself for that. Kairi gave him a hug and a kiss as they stood by the side of the beach, letting the waves touch their toes. Sky was only a baby when that happened. He remembers that vision of his parents standing by each other.
"Sky?" asked Summer.
"What?"
"The world? Where to?" asked Roxanne warmly. Sky blushed at her beauty and innocent looking face.
"W-we are going straight ahead. Up to where the wayfinder is pointing." replied Sky.