Ebony Returns to Radiator Springs
by Firebird (FireSaturn)

DISCLAIMER: Cars, its characters, plot, and setting belong to Disney Pixar (although I wish it were mine); Ebony is mine, Ondine, Mike, Abby, Darcy and Dallas belong to Northwestpassage, Johnny Ford belongs to Rizahawkeye.

She drove down the highway by herself, her neon darkened and only her headlights shining on the pavement. It felt good to just cruise about with nothing else to do. Ebony had managed to sneak away from Boost's watchful eyes and wandered off on her own.

Freedom was what she liked best. Just her on the road, just having fun. But she knew she needed to enjoy this kind of freedom while it lasted before Boost came looking for her. Ebony knew Boost worried about her, since she was his younger sister, but she also knew that her brother understood her need for independence and allowed her to wander further from the safety of the other tuners.

Her thoughts turned back to Radiator Springs and what had all occurred there recently. She knew her friend, Darcy MacIsaac, lived there now, with her live-in boyfriend, Johnny Ford, acting as the town's graphic artist. Ebony would occasionally visit the throwback couple and be entertained by Abby, whom the two were babysitting for Ondine and Mike.

Ebony headed there now. As she took the exit ramp that led to Radiator Springs, she heard a familiar engine approach from behind her. She recognized the engine's owner. It was her brother, Boost.

"Hey, Ebony," Boost called, as he caught up to his sister, "I've been looking all over for you. Why did you disappear like that? I worry about you."

Ebony sighed, "I'm sorry, Big Bro. All I wanted was to be by myself for awhile."

"I can understand that," Boost replied, "But tell me next time you do that, okay?"

"I promise," Ebony nodded, "I'm heading to Radiator Springs anyway to visit Darcy and Johnny. Just to see how they're doing."

"Alright," said Boost, "Then I'm going with you. I've been wanting to see how the town is putting itself back together after all that's happened with Tony Blitz, his girlfriend, and Darcy's stepfather."

Ebony silently nodded and led the way to Radiator Springs, where they soon met up with Sally, the Porshe who owned the Cozy Cone Hotel.

"Hey, nice to have you back here," said Sally, "It's been months since you were here last."

"You can never keep us away, Sally," replied Ebony, "Since we've been a big help recently, Doc's decided to be lenient with us, just so long as we behave."

"That's good," Sally smiled, "Are you looking for Darcy?"

"Yeah."

"She's over at Flo's with Johnny and Tanya," Sally said helpfully.

"Thanks, Sally," Ebony smiled at the Porshe.

The two tuners headed over to Flo's where Abby spotted them and rushed over excited with Darcy chasing behind her.

"Eb'ny! Boost!" she cried happily.

"Hey, there, Abby," Boost laughed as the little girl circled the purple Mistubishi Eclipse.

"Ebony!" Darcy cried happily and nuzzled her tuner friend's fender, "I'm so glad to see you again. How are you?"

"Fine," replied Ebony, "we just came to check on how the town's doing."

"It's better," Darcy answered, trying to calm Abby down.

"That's good," Ebony was pleased by Darcy's change of personality, all thanks to her decision not to run anymore, "Hey, where's Dallas?"

"Out at Willy's Butte with Lightning," replied Darcy, "Practicing that powerslide."

"Yeah, I'd bet," laughed Ebony, "That's a cool paint job you got there, Darcy. The flower stencils are gorgeous."

"Thanks," Darcy smiled at her tuner friends.

The two tuners, the throwback Superbird, and Abby headed back to Flo's since Boost and Ebony expressed their need for nourishment. They sat and sipped their gas drinks and talked for hours about what the other had been up to for the past few months after the aftermath of terror that the town had had to endure.

To be continued...

Okay, this was a bit mushy, but I think it went well.

What does everybody think?

Comments?