I don't normally do this, but given the amount of chapters I have written, but unpublished, I decided that just this once, I'd upload two chapters at the same time. Enjoy! :)
Chapter 6- Going Off the Rails on a Crazy Train
Mater's POV
Howdy, Holley!
How was your Christmas? Ours was pretty good, but now, me and my friends are on vacation! It was colder than an air conditioner in a freezer at the North Pole in Radiator Springs. So, we done decided to go to the Freewheeler Islands for two whole weeks!
We is all having the best time here! I've ridden nearly every roller coaster at Action World and I can't wait to check out Ocean World. The only thing that would make this vacation better is if you was here.
That's all I have to say for now. Say hi to Finn for me.
Love,
Mater.
I just couldn't tell Holley the truth. Holley is a super spy. She ain't afraid of nothing.
The truth was I didn't want to be on this vacation. Well, when we were first at Flo's, planning it, I thought it sounded like more fun than a field of sleeping tractors. Okay. Maybe not that fun, but pretty close.
Then on our last night in Radiator Springs before heading to the airport, I was so excited, I couldn't sleep! So, I done snuck over to the Cozy Cone lobby 'cause I knew Miss Sally had a TV over there (so, she can watch McQueen's races) and I done found a TV show about vacations.
Whaddaya know? I thought. We is going on vacation too! So, I watched that.
Only, now, I wish I hadn't. You see, I didn't realise that this TV show I was watching was about the world's scariest vacations! Folks were telling all kinds of scary stories about nearly drowning while snorkelling; hotel fires and them fancy cruise ships sinking.
After that, I still couldn't sleep, but going on vacation didn't seem so fun anymore.
When we first arrived at the resort, I didn't wanna go outside. What if something like that happened to me? So, I stayed in our room. I was still afraid that there was gonna be a fire or an earthquake or something, but I figured it was safer inside than outside.
Then on our first morning, McQueen done asked me, "D'you wanna go to Action World with me and Fudge?"
I didn't want to, but I done said yes anyway. I didn't want nothing to happen to McQueen and Fudge either. And they'd probably be suspicious if I spent the whole vacation in our room.
Besides, I didn't think we was ever gonna get to leave anyway. Luigi kept asking Fudge things like, "Do you have your phone? Do you have your medication?" At least I wasn't the only one who was worried. I was kind of hoping he'd keep asking and then we wouldn't have time to go to Action World after all.
I think Luigi might have done that if McQueen hadn't gotten tired of waiting and interrupted him. "Just go!" He pushed Fudge along and I had to follow. I should've known we was going to Action World eventually. Just like how I should've known we had to get on the plane, even after I got me and Sarge arrested at the airport.
"Boy, I didn't think we were gonna make it!" McQueen told us once we was on the boat.
Fudge smiled and nodded. "Yeah, me neither."
"Me neither", I agreed. I tried to sound like I was happy about it. I didn't want anyone asking any questions.
But McQueen did anyway.
"You okay, buddy?"
I nodded. "I'm fine." I couldn't tell my best buddy what was wrong neither. He's always saying, "I'm Lightning McQueen. I can handle anything." Besides, I didn't want anyone to know how scared I was.
I thought McQueen was gonna leave me alone after that, but he didn't. "Something's been bothering you since we got here. I can tell. You know you can talk to me, right?"
I nodded again. "I know." But I didn't want to talk about it. I just wanted to get off the boat and go back to the resort. Sarge was planning on playing golf. That sounded safer than a theme park.
Even though I was already more nervous than a balloon at a cactus farm, I heard some Australian cars and forklifts who was just getting on the boat talking.
"Have you ever been to Action World?"
"Nah. I can't wait to go, though. It looks awesome!"
"It is! I've been, like, ten times. Me and my family have been coming here for a holiday for years."
"You know, my mate says a human got decapitated on the Cranium Shaker last year."
"It's true. I was there that day."
"What does decapitated mean?" I wondered.
"It's when a human's head gets chopped off", Fudge explained without looking up from her phone. (Luigi was messaging her already.) "Why?"
A human's head got chopped off on one of the rides?! There was no way I was going on any of them rides now. I wanted to get off the boat. I wanted to go and join Sarge at the golf course. But it was too late. The boat was leaving.
What was I thinking? I couldn't go on a boat! Even before I done watched that TV show, I was afraid of the water. I can't swim! I looked around to see if there was any life jackets around, but I didn't see any. McQueen and Fudge didn't even seem to notice how scared I was. They were too busy talking about all the things they wanted to do at Action World. That is, when Luigi wasn't calling to make sure Fudge was okay.
"If he wants to make sure Fudge is okay, maybe we should head back", I suggested.
McQueen shook his hood. "No way. Even if he does want Fudge to come back, it'll be better for him if she doesn't."
Dad-gum.
"Mater? Are you sure you're okay, buddy? You've been pretty quiet."
"Well, quiet for Mater", Fudge added before I could say anything.
McQueen laughed. "You're one to talk, Fudge!" Then he done figured it out. Or half of it, anyway. "Oh, that's right! I'm sorry. I forgot you're afraid of water. Well, don't worry. We'll be there soon. I guarantee we're gonna have a lot of fun."
That didn't make me feel better at all.
Finally, the boat ride was over, but the worst part hadn't even started yet. After what felt like the shortest bus ride in the history of bus rides, we had arrived at Action World. Them roller coasters was so big, some of them were even higher than the clouds! Then they just came straight down faster than lightning! There was also rides that spun people round so fast, I thought they was gonna go flying through the air.
McQueen didn't seem concerned, though. Neither did Fudge. In fact, she was excited. "Awesome!"
I wouldn't say that.
The line for admission was slower than a drunk snail, but it wasn't slow enough. Before I knew it, we was in the park and had a whole day of rides ahead of us.
"So", McQueen began, facing me and Fudge, "what do you guys wanna do first?"
"Go on Superman Escape!" Fudge answered right away.
"Mater?"
"Which one's Superman Escape?" I asked.
Fudge pointed. It was one of the tallest roller coasters and I looked just in time to see it shoot out of a tunnel at full speed. Tall, fast and dark? I did not want to ride.
But I didn't want McQueen and Fudge to think I was a chicken neither.
"That looks like fun", I lied.
McQueen seemed happy too. "Great!"
By then, Fudge was running towards the ride. "Slow down, Fudge!" he called, chasing after her.
I was glad that just as we was putting our stuff in some lockers, so we wouldn't lose them on the ride, McQueen's phone rang again. I was sure it was Luigi and I hoped he'd keep talking, so we never had to go on the roller coasters.
Fudge groaned. "Let me guess. Papà?"
McQueen checked. "Yep." He answered the phone. "Hey, Luigi. Fudge is fine, but we're about to go on a ride, so we won't be able to answer the phone for a while." Then he hung up.
And that was it.
At least the line was long, so we still had to wait. The line was actually kinda cool. It looked like we was in a train station. There was screens with train schedules on it and posters, talking about Superman saving people from disasters. I wished he could save me from going on the ride.
"It looks pretty cool, doesn't it?" McQueen done asked me. Maybe he could read my mind.
"Yeah", I agreed.
"It would look cooler if it weren't so blurry!" Fudge complained. She only said that 'cause her glasses had to go in the locker as well. I guess she can't see too good without her glasses. McQueen even had to carry her.
That was when we done heard a siren and someone shouting, "Attention, attention! The earthquake tremors are increasing!"
I screamed. "Earthquake?!"
McQueen laughed. He wasn't laughing at me; he was just laughing. "It's part of the ride."
"Yeah, the ride has a story to it", Fudge added. "We get stuck in the subway during an earthquake and Superman saves us."
"I knew that", I lied.
So, we got in the line.
"Oh, no!" I heard Fudge whisper.
"What's wrong?" McQueen and I both done wondered at the same time.
Fudge looked embarrassed. "Nothing."
That was when a Porsche, a Ferrari and a human a few spaces in front of us turned around and looked at us. Then they done started giggling.
"Are you Lightning McQueen?" the human done asked.
"Of course he is, dummy!" The Porsche laughed.
"I just, like, totally can't believe the Lightning McQueen is really here!" the human squealed.
"I gotta call Stacey J!" the Ferrari added. "Why do we have to keep our phones in those lockers?"
"And who is this?" The Porsche was looking at me and Fudge.
"This is my best friend and my little sister", McQueen done replied.
"Oh." All of a sudden, they seemed to lose interest. They turned back around.
"Definitely not Lightning McQueen", the Porsche whispered to the other two.
"Must be an imposter", the Ferrari agreed. "The real Lightning McQueen would hang out with much better looking people."
More giggling.
"Idiots!" Fudge muttered.
The line wasn't as long as the one to get into the park, but it was still pretty long. Part of me was glad that I didn't have to go on the ride for a while. The other half was scared 'cause I knew I still had to get on the ride. McQueen and Fudge passed the time by comparing notes they'd heard about the ride and planning what they wanted to do next. I didn't really hear what they was saying. I was busy, trying to stop myself from shaking. I wanted to turn around, but I couldn't. I was too far into the line.
When we got near the front, the silver Volvo in front of us turned around and smiled at us. "Have you ever been on this ride before?" she asked. She had an accent, but I wasn't sure what it was. I think she was about Fudge's age. That's why she was talking to Fudge, but Fudge didn't seem to notice. So, McQueen done answered for it.
"Nope. This is our first time... Have you?"
"Oh, yes. Many times. I visit from Sweden every year since I was six years old."
"Wow!" McQueen sounded impressed. "You must love it then."
She nodded. "I do. First time I go on this ride, it was too scary for me. Then my big brother makes me go on again and I love it. Did you know it goes from zero to one hundred kilometres an hour in two seconds?"
Fudge turned to McQueen. "How much is that in miles?"
"Sixty-two." My best buddy's real good at math 'cause he always has to turn kilometres into miles and stuff like that.
Fudge looked excited. "Wow!"
That was fast. I ain't never gone so fast before. Well, except on my rocket jets that Finn and Holley done gave me. And the time I became an astronaut went to the moon. But that was before I found out how dangerous everything is.
"Is this the roller coaster where a human got decapitated?" I asked this Volvo.
"Oh, no, no, no", she answered. "That story was nothing but a mere rumour."
"But have there been any other, you know, incidents on this here roller coaster?"
She looked confused. "I'm sorry. I don't understand."
"Mater!" McQueen called from behind me. "Seriously, what's wrong?"
I didn't ask any more questions after that.
But this Volvo did. "Where are you from?"
She was looking at Fudge again, but she still didn't answer.
McQueen nudged her. So, she answered, but she didn't move her lips very much, so nobody could hear her.
"Pardon?"
So, Fudge put her hand over her mouth and repeated herself. "Arizona. In America." Her voice still weren't exactly clear, but you could understand her this time.
Before the Volvo could say anything, the gate at the front of the line opened again and she made it through. We was next.
"What was that?!" McQueen done asked Fudge when the gate was closed.
"What?" She shrugged.
"Were you practising your ventriloquism or something? She was being nice to you and you barely opened your mouth."
I guess something was bothering Fudge too, but she wasn't talking neither. Or, at least, before she could, the sirens and the announcement about the earthquake came on again. The Volvo and all the other riders disappeared. Then the gate opened again and this time, we went through.
McQueen and I were in the last row of cars, so that we could be in front of Fudge in the first row of humans. They could fit four humans in one row, but only two cars. As we waited for the roller coaster to come back, I done noticed that the two cars in the front row, a green Suzuki and a purple Honda, had cameras attached to their roofs. I wondered why they had them and how come they was allowed to bring cameras on the ride when Fudge wasn't even allowed her glasses.
"Mater?"
I looked away from the cars with cameras and realised that the ride had come back. It was our turn now.
I tried to control my shaking as a worker strapped us in and repeated the safety instructions. In a few seconds, we was gonna be moving. I just wanted to get off the ride, but if I did that, then McQueen and Fudge would know I was scared.
"Hey, Fudge?" McQueen called behind us.
"Yeah?"
"You okay back there?"
"Yep. I'm excited."
Well, at least someone was.
The wait had been long, but it felt too soon when the ride started moving.
"Attention, attention! The earthquake tremors are increasing!" that voice shouted as the sirens began and we headed into a dark tunnel. The wait was over.
But the torture hadn't even begun yet.
I was relieved that the trip through the tunnel was slow. It was dark too and even though I was scared of the dark, at least no one could see me shaking.
There was some other scary stuff in that tunnel too, not just the dark. There was some stairs and lots of water came rushing down. I think a pipe burst or something!
"It's okay, buddy. It's part of the ride", McQueen whispered to me.
How'd he know I was scared?
Finally, I could see the light! Even better, we'd stopped moving! Was the ride over? It had to be. Why was nobody letting us off? There was a voice over the speaker, but I couldn't hear nothing they was saying.
Then I heard, "I'll push you out." What?! "Fast. Superman fast."
ZOOM! We was out of that tunnel faster than... I don't know what. We was heading straight up too. Then we came straight back down.
I had my eyes closed by then and I couldn't stop screaming. McQueen was next to me, laughing and behind us, Fudge was yelling, "Awesome!"
It was not awesome! I just wanted it to stop!
The second I thought those words, I realised that the ride was slowing down.
"Is it over?" I asked McQueen, not wanting it to be another trick.
He done smiled. "Looks like it."
I weren't too sure about that.
"Welcome back! Thanks to Superman, you have all survived!" a voice done told us.
I weren't too sure about that neither. At least now, we could get off.
"That was awesome!" Fudge repeated the second we got off.
"Yeah!" McQueen agreed.
I nodded, trying to look like I was having a good time.
"Look! They got our picture!" McQueen done pointed to a photo of us on the ride. Everyone looked like they was enjoying it. Everyone except me. "D'you want me to buy it?"
"No!" I shouted.
Fudge looked a little disappointed, but said nothing until we was opening our locker. That's when she done asked, "Can we go on again?"
Before I could shout, "No!" again, McQueen done answered for me. "Wouldn't you rather go on a different ride first? We can come back later if we have time."
"Okay! Can we go on Wild West Falls?"
"Sure!"
"Yay!" She ran off.
McQueen chased her. "Fudge! Come on! We gotta stick together."
I should've known. The ride was called Wild West Falls. I should've known it was a water ride. We got there just in time to see it speed down a big drop with a huge splash. I started shaking. I didn't wanna go on another ride at all, especially not a water ride.
"Awesome!" Fudge seemed to be saying that about everything today.
"Well, let's get in line." McQueen started driving that way.
"I think I'm gonna sit this one out", I done told them.
They both stopped. They done looked at me and then each other in confusion.
"You sure?" McQueen done asked.
I nodded. "Yeah."
"'Cause of the water?" McQueen guessed.
I nodded again.
"Okay... Do you want me to stay with you?"
I shook my cab. "No, I'm good."
"All right then. Do you mind looking after our stuff? I'm guessing Luigi's gonna call any second now." So, they left me by a bench and dropped their stuff. "C'mon, Fudge-O!" They took off and McQueen done called back to me, "We'll try not to be too long."
I didn't mind the wait. I just kept an eye on our stuff and, after answering another call from Luigi, watched people go past. I saw the Honda and Suzuki head in the direction of Wild West Falls. I saw the Ferrari, Porsche and human from the line for Superman Escape talking on their phones and eating ice cream. I saw the Volvo from Sweden lining up to ride the Ferris wheel. I saw lots of little kids, most of them crying. Other than that, it was nice just sitting there, not having to go on any rides. The weather was nice. The food people had looked and smelt delicious. Almost everyone was having fun.
I was almost enjoying myself when McQueen and Fudge done came back. When I saw Fudge's wet T-shirt, I was glad I didn't go on Wild West Falls. She was waving something around.
"That was awesome!" she shouted.
"Show Mater the photo!" McQueen done instructed her.
She showed me what she had just been waving. It was a photo of them going down a drop. They looked like they was having the time of their lives.
I tried to smile. "Dad-gum! Looks like fun."
"Where should we go now?"
Dad-gum! Fudge was wilder than the west falls! She was running around, this way and that way, wanting to go on nearly every ride. And she wanted me and McQueen to go on all of them with her.
I guess it ain't her fault. Fudge is really nice and if I had told her I didn't wanna go on the rides, I'm sure she would've been cool with that. But I didn't tell her. I was still worried that they would think I'm a baby. So, I went on nearly every ride too. And I didn't like any of them. The Intergalactic Supercoaster (which looked like we was in outer space) was too dark. The Tree Swing was too high. The whip ride was too fast. And on all of them, I was scared that something was gonna happen. We was gonna crash or one of us would go flying out of our seats. That never happened, but it was only a matter of time.
The worst ride of all, though, was called the No Limits. Even Fudge done got nervous on that, but she loved it in the end. Apparently, it was the tallest, fastest and longest roller coaster in this part of the world. I could see why. Even though it was too fast, I didn't think it could end fast enough. And guess what! You could even ride it backwards!
"You'd like that, Mater!" Fudge done laughed.
McQueen laughed too and I tried to as well, but it didn't sound right.
After we done got off the No Limits ride, Fudge done shouted (again!), "That was awesome! What should we do next?"
Rest! I thought. I was dizzy and still traumatised from that ride.
So, I was relieved that McQueen done suggested, "Well, I don't know about you guys, but I'm starving!" He checked the time on his phone. "And it's just about time for your medication, Fudge-O. What do you say we go grab some lunch?"
"Good idea, buddy!" I agreed. Those words sounded sweeter than a gallon of Rocky Road ice cream with sprinkles on top.
"What about you, Fudge? You hungry?"
"I guess so." I think she knew she didn't have a choice. Not only was we hungry, but she needed food with her medication.
So, McQueen done lead us to Around the World Alley. This part of the park with food and craft stalls from all over the world. It took a while to decide what to have for lunch, but eventually, we all agreed on sushi. (Everybody seems surprised that I like sushi and I'll be honest. It surprised me too. But when we went to Japan, McQueen done insisted I try some. He called it "cultural eating" and I didn't think I'd like it, but I did.)
We done sat down to eat and the second we did, Fudge's phone done rang. Fudge groaned. McQueen rolled his eyes. I hoped they would be on the phone for at least two hours.
"I'm fine, Papà", was the way Fudge answered the phone. "We're just having lunch... I haven't forgotten. We just haven't had chance to do that yet. I haven't taken a single bite of my lunch yet... We're taking a break now, so I'll put sunscreen on then. I am wearing a hat, but I can't wear th-" All of a sudden, Fudge just stopped talking.
"What happened?" McQueen asked.
Fudge looked confused. "He's gone. I don't know what happened."
That got me worried. "You don't think something happened to Luigi, do you?"
Fudge shook her head. "I don't think so. We probably just lost connection or something."
"That's right", McQueen agreed.
"Hey! There's them cars again!" I noticed. They was just getting burgers.
"What cars?" McQueen and Fudge done wondered at the same time.
"The cars with the video cameras on their roofs! Why do they have them?"
"Let's ask them", McQueen suggested.
But we didn't need to ask them. They had overheard us.
"Eyeing our headgear?" the green Suzuki asked with a smile. He had an accent.
I nodded. "Why d'you have them?"
"They are for our FlewTube channel", the purple Honda explained.
"FlewTube channel?" I repeated, confused.
"We are theme park reviewers", the Honda went on. "We film theme parks rides, give our opinions and post them to FlewTube. We have been doing that for nearly two years now."
"Wow!" McQueen done sounded impressed. "What made you decide to do that?"
"We are film students in Tokyo- that is where we are from", the Suzuki done told him. "And when went to Disneyland and Disney Sea there, we got some shots there and posted them online. People were interested and so, when we are not in school, we decided to work on Atsushi to Kazuya. Or, in English... Atsushi and Kazuya!" He laughed.
"I am Atsushi and he is Kazuya", the Honda added.
Fudge smiled. "Douzo yoroshiku." She done told me later that that means, "Nice to meet you" in Japanese. She learned that while we was in Japan. Fudge is so smart. She knows how to say everything in Italian too.
"Nice to meet you guys", McQueen done told them. "I'm-"
"Lightning McQueen", Kazuya interrupted. "And Sir Tow Mater. And Lady Fudge Rossi-Topolino."
McQueen laughed. "Guess we got some fans. Why don't you join us?"
They agreed and sat down with us.
Over lunch and then ice cream (I got Rocky Road, McQueen got chocolate, Fudge got coconut, Atsushi got mint choc chip and Kazuya got mango), we done told them about us and everyone in Radiator Springs. We even talked about McQueen's racing. Then they done told us about all the theme parks they done been to and which ones they liked, which ones they didn't like. Then they said they was working on a screenplay for a horror movie as well, but I didn't wanna hear much about that.
In fact, I didn't pay much attention to the conversation at all. I was just worried that the second we was all finished eating, Fudge was gonna get up and drag us on another ride. But I forgot something important: Fudge had to have her medication and she's always real sleepy after that
"I guess we gotta leave if Fudge is asleep", I done announced, trying to sound as though I were upset about it.
McQueen shook his hood, just as he was finishing a postcard to Sheriff, Red and Lizzie (I'd just written one to Holley too). "We don't have to go. She should only be asleep for about an hour or so. And the ferry's not for another hour, anyway."
Lucky us.
"Sugoi!" Atsushi smiled at us, "We were just about to go to the Stunt Driver show. Do you guys want to come? Or will that wake Fudge up?"
"I doubt it!" McQueen laughed. "She's a pretty heavy sleeper. Let's go! It'll be better than just waiting around for her to wake up. C'mon, Mater."
Didn't I get a say in this? I'd rather wait around for Fudge to wake up.
Well, I didn't think that the Stunt Driver show was gonna be too bad 'cause all I had to do was just sit in the audience. I didn't have to go on a ride. But it was pretty bad. The stunt cars was driving really fast every which way. I was always sure that they was gonna crash into each other. Luckily, the sound of everyone cheering drowned out the sound of me screaming, "They is gonna crash! They is gonna crash!" Even McQueen, Atsushi and Kazuya didn't seem to hear me. They was all excited too and somehow, Fudge done slept through the entire thing!
She was awake about ten minutes later and immediately done asked, "What should we do next?"
"I think we should go home!" I done blurted out. I was thinking of how crazy Fudge had been all day, wanting to go on all the fast, high and scary rides.
Both she and McQueen gave me a funny look.
"I mean, back to the resort", I corrected myself.
"Back to the resort?" McQueen repeated. "Already?"
I thought fast. "I ain't feeling good."
"But I don't wanna go back just yet!" Fudge done complained. I felt bad. I didn't want no one to be mad at me.
"Fudge, if Mater's not feeling well..." He didn't say nothing else. Fudge got the picture.
"Oh, all right." But she still didn't sound happy.
"We'll come back another day", McQueen done promised her. "Remember we're on vacation for two weeks. We've got plenty of time to come back."
That made Fudge feel better, but I think she still wanted to stay.
Atsushi and Kazuya seemed disappointed too, but said they hoped to see us again.
"Yeah." McQueen done smiled at them. "I'd like that."
So, we done parted ways with our new friends. The second they was gone, Fudge had one last request. "Can't we just go to the gift shop? I promise I won't be long."
"Well, that's up to Mater." McQueen looked at me. So did Fudge. She didn't say nothing, but I could almost hear her going, Please, please, please!
"Well, okay. If we ain't too long."
"Thank you!" Fudge ran to the gift shop and me and McQueen was right behind her.
At least the gift shop was better than the rides, but I still didn't wanna go in. I just agreed 'cause I didn't want Fudge to be more disappointed. Why didn't I wanna go in? 'Cause the gift shop was full of souvenirs, things to make people remember their day at Action World. And I just wanted to forget mine.
I can tell you from experience that writing from Mater's POV is hard! If it seems too OOC, then maybe he's read Fudge's writing and tried to copy that! XD
Anyway, some of the rides are based on ones I went on at Movie World on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. That was the best vacation I've ever been on and it was the memories of that that made me want to write this story.
Please review before moving on to the next chapter. :)
