"Come on!" Serah called excitedly "It's this way!" she said before she ran ahead, grinning with every step she took. And she was about to get away, to become one with the crowd until something stopped her.
"Serah." a cold voice snapped from behind causing Serah to stop, but not drop any of her own charm. Instead, she just turned around to face the person who called out to her. With pink hair like her that fell to the left side of her face, and blue eyes to match was her older sister. But where they didn't match was when Serahs bright, sunny disposition came face to face with a more stormy blank face "Do not get too far ahead of me." Lightning told.
Tilting forward Serah peered at her older sister "You don't have to worry about me." Serah assured her with a smile as Lightning came to a stop before her. "We're just here to have a good time, ya know." she jumped excitedly in place.
Lightning said nothing as her sister came back to the ground. Instead, she turned her head to view everything around her. Crowds of moving around for just that. A 'good time'. The Grand Prix Circuit wasn't where she was expecting to be now. But Serah wanted to go to see the new race, so she'd go with her. This race they advertised was to be one of a kind as it featured racers from another world and that was what excited her younger sister the most.
Lightning couldn't say she was as excited, however.
Her static stare remained as she moved her head from side to side to take it all in again, seeing much of the same no matter where she looked. The wide and winding silver tracks flanked by the high stands and overlooked by large transcendent screens so all could see and follow the race no matter how fast or how far away they were.
She let out a half relieved sigh, giving in to her sister.
"Where do we go from here?" she asked turning back to her. Serah's alright bright outlook brightened considerably.
"Our seats are right over here!" Serah told as she turned around to go into the crowd again "Come on, I'll show you the way!" she said cheerfully as she raced ahead.
"Wait!-" Lightning called, reaching out a hand for her sister, but she was already too far gone and lost into the crowd. Lightning stormed ahead through the people, but saw no sign of her sister, having disappeared into the crowds.
"Come on!" Serah called behind her "It's right over here!" she said pointing ahead where she saw a seat right by the railings directly overlooking the starting position of the racers, though like them they had yet to take their places. She heard no reply from behind, and though it was usual for her sister, she expected something from her eventually. Maybe she might even have a good time after all.
She turned her head happily ready to see her sister. The only problem was when she turned around, Lightning wasn't there. Happiness gave way to shock when she didn't see her. Worse was as he looked around there was still no sign of her.
"Lightning?" she asked turning her head, but still not seeing her no matter where she looked. She took a few steps forward, retracing them now heading back the way she came, but still did not see her. Only the endless swarms of people trying to make their way around awaiting the race just as she was. Or was doing before "Lightning?" she called out, louder this time.
As she fretted looking for her sister she saw another voice from behind talking aloud.
"'Cuse me, 'use me." a thick drawl hollered. "Best friend cumin' threw. Yessir right here, tats me." he continued to jabber on, seemingly talking to every one around him as much as himself. The voice accompanied by the rolling of tires and the winding of a cable.
"Lightning!" Serah continued to call out in vain.
"Hm?" the other voice let out "Lighting?" he said aloud as if asking himself. Serah looked around for her sister as the loud voice got even louder, coming from behind. She turned her head only to see a dirty brown truck swerve right up to her!
"Ah!" she shrieked to get out of the way, only to fall back to the ground as she heard four tires screech to a sudden halt before her.
She shook her head on the ground, but then she heard the voice speak again. This time specifically to her.
"You doin' alright there lil sister?" she heard the voice asked. Yet she didn't see a person ask it. She looked up to see him, but the only thing she saw before her was a rusty old tow truck.
One headlight was out and it looked old and worn out, yet the most distinctive thing about it was the wide green eyes on its windshield and between its headlights was a mouth with two protruding buck teeth.
"..yeah.." Serah answered somewhat unsure herself.
"Well dad-gum!" the mouth moved and a voice from the car came out. The same thick, but lively voice spoke coming out of the care as it jostled in place "That's good te hear." he said "You need a lil lift up?" he asked as he swerved his back tires and shot out his bumper to the sound of an unwinding cord and a hook which swerved around to dangle before her "It's my specialty after all." he said as she grabbed ahold of the hook and then the car went in reverse, pulling her up off of the ground as it did. "There we go. All better." he laughed happily once she was back on her two feet.
"Thank you." Serah said letting go of the hook and looking to the car now.
"No problem at all ma'am." he replied dutifully "Is what I do." he declared proudly before moving on to something else as curiosity came over him "Say?" he peered in closer to her, specifically her ponytail that fell to one side "Is that yer tow cable?" he focused in on it.
"No." she ran a hand through it "It's just my hair."
"Oh" he shifted back, "Well, I like it!" he complimented her stomping a tire as if it was a foot to add to his declaration. "Even if it don't function like mine." he said swinging his around. She thanked him for the complement; strange as it was.
No doubt about it, this car with a mouth that spoke, eyes that could see and a heart that could feel. It was definitely alive. She never heard of anything like that in all of the world. Or rather in her world. Which could only mean one thing.
"You're not from this world are you?" she asked.
"Who me?" the truck let out "No sir-ee ma'am. I come all the way here for Radiator Springs."
"Are you one of the racers?" she asked.
"Me?" his eyes went wider "Shoot." he shrugged "I just cum all this way to watch this way, since my good ol' buddys a' racing in it." he told. And at that moment the giant screen that overlooked the race track showed just who he was talking about.
She saw several of the other racers flash across the screen. The wheelless, slender pods that always dashed across the tracks that she was used to seeing race here. But then there was a flash of bright gold, like a lightning bolt followed by the words 'Featuring' written boldly across it. Another flash took over the screen and this time it showed a bright red race car, with four wheels, a gold lightning bolt on his sides with the number '95' written inside it. Bright blue eyes on its windshield and a mouth just like this tow truck here, only this one was smirking. Serah's eyes widened in shock as the realization dawned on her.
"Your friend is Lightning McQueen!"
"You betcha." The tow truck answered happily "You know won them seven Piston cup trophies so they invited him all te' way out 'ere for a race."
"It's what I came to see." she told, her excitement coming back to her now.
"Me too." he guffawed "Names Mater. What's yers?"
"Serah." she answered with a nod. Then a playful smile flashed across her face.
"Well miss Serah, I first heard you callin out for Lightning? What fer?"
"I'm looking for Lightning." Serah told.
"Looking?" he repeated "Well, you ain't gonna hafta look too far to see. He'll be right down there in a jiffie." he nodded down off to the race track, happy that he could help her.
"No," Serah shook her head, but not to dismiss Mater but correct him "I came here with Lightning too."
"You came here with us?" Mater asked "I dun' remember seeing you on the way over here." dropping his eyes and drinking into a reflective thought, whatever came to him.
"No." Serah said with a little giggle "I came here with my sister Lightning."
"Yer sisters Lighting?" Mater blurted out coming alive again "I didn't know Lightning had a sister..." he paused as he leaned in closely to eye her up and down, but then fell back away "..or that he was a woman."
"No!" Serah laughed "Lightning is my sister."
"Yer sisters a Lightning too?" he chuckled "Well what're the odds of that?" suddenly his eyes shot open and a gleeful dumb little smile came across his face "I'd love to meet another Lightning." he said moving to look past Serah on one side and the other and she giggled in amusement.
"I was trying to find her." Serah told, becoming quieter now "I lost her."
"Lost!" Mater exclaimed centering back on her "Well, let's go find her Miss Serah." he proposed "Say," he let out energetically "An' you know what woul' be real fun?" he rolled up to her.
"What?" she asked tilting her head to him as her ponytail fell to one side.
"We shoul' get yer Lightning to meet my Lightning." he said unable to contain his giddiness. Serah went silent for few moments contemplating that. True her sister wasn't the most outgoing in a sense like this, she didn't even seem like she wanted to be here other than with her. But the thought of meeting the star from another world who shared the same moniker along with Maters giddiness won her over.
"I think that would be fun." she agreed.
"Alright!" Mater cheered as if he watching the race right now. "Well hol' on tight lil lady." Mater said rotating around her, putting his bumper to her as the hook on the edge of his tow dangled down before her. Serah reached up to grab ahold of it. And once she had Mater drove off through the crowd, swerving through them with Serah skidding along behind him. All the while he called out the name "Lightning!"
Lightning had lost track of Serah faster than she had expected. Now she walked amongst the crowd, just like it she had the brand all over again. Taken away from her with no protection. The crowd moved indifferently to her and she slid past them as if she wasn't there.
But just as she was looking for someone, she was being looked for as well.
In the distance she heard a voice call out "~ing~." She paid it no mind as her head swiveled around to find her sister. Though all she kept seeing and bumping into were just other people. One thing that did change was that, that loud irritating voice hollered out more only louder and closer to her this time. "~tning!" it finished. Among all the noised and sounds being made around her that one was growing louder. But it still meant nothing to her. Then finally, she heard it in its entirety. The voice that called out to her wasn't familiar, but what it said was "Lightning!" a voice called. She responded to it naturally, but when she turned around the only thing she saw was a brownish orange rusty tow truck.
Unlike others though, this one could talk.
It rolled to a stop before her, as two eyes as wide as his windshield ogled her up and down.
"Lightning?" he asked unsure of who stood before him. She wasn't sure how to respond to that, but thankfully another and more familiar voice did.
"That's her!" a lively woman's called out. Lightning perked up at the sound of it and the tow truck leaned back too, adjusting his rear view mirror so that it revealed a woman's face, once she sprouted out from behind him.
"Serah!" Lightning exclaimed emotionlessly as her sister hopped out from behind the tow truck and came around towards her "Where did you go?"
"I just went to find our seats." she explained despite her sisters cold glare.
"We got seperated." Lightning stated.
"But we're together now." Serah said "Not without help. Look who I came across." she turned back to the tow truck "This is Mater." Lightning stared the truck over, more intently now that her sister had introduced him.
"Wow, Miss Serah, yer sister sure is pretty." Mater said causing the slightest of changes to come over Lightning. Surprise and embarrassment hidden under her stare "But she sure don't look nothing like my Lightning." That comment from Mater only deepened Lightnings uncertainty in all this, causing the smallest of embarrassment to go to confusion.
"What-" Lightning asked.
"Hold up, hold up." Serah put her hands up as Mater drove up on an angle around the two and then backed up and Serah walked back with him. It seemed they were making room for another, as a red hot car drove up to them all on it's own coming opposite Lightning as Serah and Mater now stood on the side between them.
Like Mater the tow truck, Lightning noticed this car was very much alive.
"Lightning." Mater began as he eased towards the red car, leading hood first before he turned back over to look at the other woman.
"Meet Lightning." Serah finished pointing to her sister. The two Lightnings looked from the Serah on the sidelines and to each other. Her eyes meeting with the bright blue ones in the windshield of the car. He spared her a few blinks as she offered him nothing other than a distant stare. Between his headlights she saw the mouth swerve up into a smile.
"So your a Lightning too huh?" he asked in a voice far removed from Maters thick drawl. But as the smile grew in his face so did the amusement in his voice.
"I am Lightning." she responded coldly.
"Oh a superfan." he said flattered, but her demeanor didn't change at all. If anything she was getting more annoyed.
"I'm not a fan." she replied flatly. She thought that would shut this down easily, but Serah and Mater watched on giddily and taking a que from them and not her, Lightning McQueen kept persisting.
"Oh I see," he said with a nod and voice of understanding that made Lightning though this would be the end of it "one of the shy ones." he concluded. It seems they still had more to go. "Alright," he said genially "I got something for ya." he said calmly, but then suddenly erupted "Ka-Chow!" he dramatically swerved his body and shot a light out from his front left headlight beside his mouth.
Mater and Serah were amused, with him bursting out in laughter as she clapped, but Lightning's face only scrunched up from the light shining on her face blinding her. Grumbling, she brought up a hand to cover her face and wave it away.
When it finally dimmed, she put her hand down to see her sister and Mater still watching on from the sidelines, but Lightning McQueen was grinning ecstatically. Apparently really taken with the idea of another Lighting, seeing them cut from the same cloth.
"You know what," McQueen said "it's not every day I get to meet a fellow Lightning. What's say we have a little race?" he revved his engine letting it rumble to a low roar. "You and me? Mano e mano? Get to see who see whose the real lightning bolt." he flashed the lightning bolt on his side. He revved his engine louder and rolled his tires in place as if goading her into a challenge.
It wasn't working.
Everyone else however was very taken with the idea "I think Lightning'll win." Mater said.
"I think Lightning will win too." Serah said and the two shared a laugh.
Lightning herself glanced to those two and then back to McQueen, seeing the eagerness on his face.
"I think not." Lightning said as she then moved to walk around Mcqueen.
"C'mon!" Lightning cut in front of her, his tired screeching as he did, burning rubber as he stained the ground black and even kicked up a little smoke.
"I don't race." Lightning told bluntly as she attempted to walk around him again, only this time Lightning pivoted his body, cutting in front of her again and cutting of her escape around him.
"You sure? There may never be another chance like this." she teased her.
"Then let it pass." she said flatly.
Her off putting tone and glare to McQueen turned everything uncomfortably silently. The enthusiasm on McQueens face faded and watching them Mater and Serah shared a concerned glance. Lightnings hard stare never faded.
"Alright." McQueen chuckled as he eased back away from her. His grin dimmed and his eyes were wary of her "Hope you enjoy the race." he said politely before he turned around and drove off, pausing for a moment to flick his mirror back to see her in them, though her glare alone could track his mirror. As she watched the other Lightning leave, Mater and Serah approached her from behind.
"Lightning." Serah practically scolded "I thought we were having fun."
"Guess we figured out which one is better." she said as Lightning McQueen turned down towards the tracks. She then turned down to see a saddened disappointed look on her sisters face. And that softened her up. "Come on." she let out a sigh "Let's find our seats." she said taking a step to walk away.
While they may have been rid of the other Lightning they were not rid of the one who brought them together.
"Well, right this way ladies!" Mater hollered beside them as he drove backwards rolling through the crowds as seamlessly as if he was moving forward regularly. Serah was amused by his driving, but Lightning still wasn't amused by the antics.
Mater turned himself around so he could face the track, having a perfect view right above it. Lightning and Serah made their way over to him.
"Come on over, best seat in the house." Mater said as he parked by the edge to look down at the track. Serah happily took him up on his offer as she hoisted herself up to sit atop his head, crossing her legs and peering ahead over his eyes as he did the same. Beside them Lightning resigned herself to leaning against the railing.
As she stood there brooding next to them Mater and Serah picked up from a conversation they left off.
"You know," Mater spoke up his eyes rolling up to Serah as she sat above them "this Snow guy sounds like a real stand up feller." Mater said.
"He's just this super cool guy ya know." Serah responded before rambling on "he doesn't care about the way he looks but that just makes him so much cooler. He's not just kind, he's reliable too. He always means what he says and you can totally trust his word."
"Ya know that sounds like something special. Like what me an' Holly got." Mater said likening himself to them, though Lighting eavesdropping thought there was hardly anything similar. She did feel bad for this Holly, though.
"I know right!" Serah agreed "I mean he's my hero." The two then continued to ramble on about their significant other, as Serah talked down as Mater spoke up back to her. Lightning the whole time leaned on the railing. She just continued to stare down at the race track where she found them taking their places.
Beneath them the racers stirred to their places. The streamlined pods she was used to seeing were countless, but they were all there. But her eyes were naturally drawn to one racer down there who was different from all the others.
His red color was reflected along the other racers before he finally nestled himself at the front of the pack. But he did some further inspections from there.
Lighting McQueen brought a tire up and poked at the ground he'd race on.
"Hm." he mused "Weird track." he said as he looked to the other racers beside him. The sleek pods took their places beside him. But he found none of them touched the ground as he was able to bend low and look under them. "What the?" he let out as peeked around.
"Hey buddy!" he heard Mater call. Looking up he saw him honking from the stadium. Serah sitting atop his head was waving too.
And beside them, dour and distant as ever was the woman who shared his name. He flashed them a far off 'Ka-Chow' and got a kick out of their ecstatic reactions. But his eyes settled on the woman who didn't react at all, save for rolling her eyes. He was going to send another her way, only for voice to call out on the loud speaker and snap him back to looking ahead at the blank race track.
"Let us forge ahead with unflinching courage." the voice spoke over the loudspeaker and appearing on the screens taking the images of the racers away "And honor the fallen with action." Lightning McQueen saw the other racers ready themselves. So he did too.
"I am speed." he whispered to himself, amping himself up, revving his engine "I am speed." he repeated getting into his groove.
"With these hands we shape the future." the voice echoed and the fanfare grew louder.
Lightning was ready for a flag or an announcement to go. Instead, all he heard was the snap of fingers. All the other racers then took off and half a second later realizing what that meant he did too. The crowd cheered as they sped out through the track.
"Whoo!" Mater cheered and Serah clapped above him.
The racers sped ahead. Starting from behind but moving between them was a red flash. A lightning bolted passed one, eased through two and since they had no wheels passed under another. Making up for his late start, he was moving all the way up to the front in quick succession much to the surprise of and excitement of the audience.
"That's my buddy!" Mater shouted among all the others.
"Whoo!" Serah cheered him with.
A grin was embedded on Lightning's face as he dashed his way to the front. He passed by another racer seeming like a blur beside him, though he spared himself a wink when he saw his reflection. But with that one gone, he had passed all the competition and made his way to first place. He had come to Eden for a challenge and to give every one a show and he was doing just that.
The only thing ahead of him now were those small black puddles forming along the track.
"What's that?" Serah leaned forward from atop Mater. Alarmed Lightning did as well.
"Some one leaking oil?" Mater asked unsure peering forward himself. The crowd went deathly silent as they awaited what was forming ahead.
Everyone held their breath as the black puddles moved up into clouds began to clump together and form a small black menacing shape.
"No." Lightning whispered beneath her breath, as it she didn't want to believe it but there it was. The black clouds had started to appear on the track in the forms of small yellow eyed monsters with a distinct red symbol on them. "Heartless."
Once they saw them manifesting on the tracks, the crowds began to panic. Shrieking and running from place as more and more appeared. But Lightning McQueen was already travelling too fast and heading right for them!
"Wha-whoa!" he let out as he made a last minute as he swerved past a Darkball Hearltess which chomped down at him. "Ah!" he shrieked as he cut around it barely managing to swerve past it's teeth. But right as he was rid of one another was on him. He darted out of that ones path only to head right into another. He spiraled onto the track getting away from that one, knocking into another which disappeared from his blow. Quickly he tried to right himself and keeping up his speed, he kept trying to outmaneuver them as he continued going down the track. But more and more kept appearing on the track and he was running out of room on it.
Panic broke out among the crowds as they began to stampede their way from the new commotion building on the tracks. Not an unfamiliar sight for Lightning having caused it last time, but this time she was among those that ran though she remained in place. For now.
Mater hunkered down in place as Serah braced herself ontop of him. The crowds flooded all around them, and amongst it all she lost sight of her sister again.
"Lightning!" Serah cried out to her sister and reached out to her. But she remained completely calm and frozen in place. That was until one of her arms trailed down towards her waist. Looking over with Mater, they saw Lightning beside them had unsheathed her sword, her eyes on the race track the entire time. Lightning McQueen continued to race along it, coming to another bend as he made his way to come back to the starting position with, but the only welcome he would recieve would be from the Heartless waiting for him there "Lightning." Serah repeated only to her now. Her sister said nothing and without any hesitation leapt over the railing and down to the track below.
On the track Lightning McQueen skidded, losing control of himself as he flew past more heartless. But they were closing in on him as he closed in on the starting position. At this point it was his only way out.
Two appeared on his sides. They charged him together, but he sped up managing to not get caught in their teeth as they chomped. Yet that increase in speed only send him hurtling for another one and he was going too fast to top, unless he would spin out.
He closed his eyes as the distance between him and the darkball was nothing. The heartless opened his mouth and he awaited for what came next.
He felt not the bit of teeth, but a sudden hard thud as something landed on top of him. He was certain it was a heartless, that was until he opened his eyes and the black monster before him evaporated from the distinct slash of a sword that dangled before his eyes.
"Huh?" Lightning let out. His eyes rolled up where he could see someone was bent down on top of him, bracing themselves on top of him. And he knew just who it was. "Lightning!" he exclaimed excitedly.
"You drive." she said kneeling down and bracing herself on top of him "I'll take care of the rest."
"Alright!" he grinned as he steadied his eyes on the track ahead "This is what I'm talking about! Two Lightning bolts bringing the storm! What a team up!" Now he wouldn't mind staying on the race track, to rid themselves of their shared problem.
"Don't get ahead of yourself." she said as she slashed at another heartless cutting it into nothing.
"Oh we're already way ahead of everyone else." he grinned beneath her. It was only them on the race track now "Hang on!" he advised as he picked up the speed and took down further on the race track.
She slashed her sword to the right cutting through one before she turned over as one leapt up at her and she cut it down just as easily. Suddenly overtaking them on both sides were two black cars with menacing looking faces and more cartoony shapes, having come from Timeless River. They were all black save for the red traces of the Heartless emblem on them.
"They're cars now!" Lightning exclaimed.
"Looks like you." she said dryly, slightly amused by the prospect. The one on the left then swerved to the side bumping into them. Lightning was almost knocked off of him, until he managed to steady himself. "Keep it steady." she said from above.
"Keep em off me!" he cried as he swerved out of the way of one only to be hit by the other. Suddenly from above she stabbed her sword through one, and it dissipated on it, allowing her to pull her sword free. Turning over and seeing the other one come at them "Hang on!" he cried and then put the breaks on as the Heartless car swerved past them. Lightning braced herself for the move, but they both looked ahead now to see the Heartless car coming at them from down the track.
"Your going the wrong way!" Lightning McQueen called out. Above him bracing herself Lightning gripped her sword.
Suddenly a revving was heard surprising the both of them. Weren't they the only ones on the track?
The two looked to their side to see a motorcycle overtake them. Everything seemed to slow down as they got a look of the man coming alongside them, his long hair flowing in the wind. Riding on it the driver of it flashed them a cocky grin before he sped past them.
He reached the heartless before them, pulling out a sword which looked different from Lightnings, but using it for the same purpose, he used to cut the car in two.
Then in a spectacular fashion pulled back, rearing the motorcycle up for a wheelie which he used to turn around, flinging the bike and himself into the air only to come back down to the track racing towards them. The two Lightnings eyes followed him as he circled them and came around to their side.
"Whose that?" McQueen asked as the motorcycle settled beside them.
"No idea." she answered.
The motorcyclist bearing his sword turned to point it to them, causing McQueen to flinch and Lightning to ready herself for another fight.
"Is that the best you can do?!" he cackled reering up on the bike as it did another wheelie "You feel that?!" he cried as he brought his sword to drag it along the track beside them producing sparks "The engine roars with excitement! It hungers to be set free!"
"What are you going on about?" Lightning snapped at him bearing her own sword now.
"Hm." the motorcyclist let out disapprovingly "And here I was looking for a new dance partner."
Lightning was less amused by him than with Maters antics before, but even though she didn't take the bait from before the other Lightning did now.
"He's got style." he grinned beneath her. "Alright, you wanna race big guy? Let's see what you got."
"This isn't the time." Lightning warned, but the motorcycle had already accepted the challenge, taking off on the track and the race car with her on top went right behind. Slashing through Heartless all along the way.
Hammerhead
On another world just on the outskirts of town, was another car meeting another group of people. A small white little buggy; red, white and blue stripes ran over him and the numbers '53' on his hood. He wasn't much of a talker, but he was no less aware of the world around him.
He was not being driven, but guided on all sides as he was pushed down what seemed like the longest road ever paved with nothing on either side, but dry desert and towering mountains. The only sign of their journey ending was the outpost just beyond the horizon, and the large letters above that read 'Hammerhead'.
The three gave one final push and pushed the car into the lot letting out one final aggravated grunt together as they did. Afterword's the car came to a stop and they had to collapse onto the ground from sheer exhaustion, taking their place at each side of the car and behind it, save for the one who rode stylishly inside, though the car itself was far from stylish.
Peering through the mirrors, he saw each one of his comrades sprawled out on the ground on each side by the tires and behind on the bumper. He, as the driver did just that, drove comfortably inside while the others pushed though there wasn't much driving to be done. He heard another sound now and looking not at the mirrors but through the windshield, he saw someone approaching, though he heard her before he saw her.
The sound of a belt rattled; full of metallic tools jostling against each other. Jostling to the rhythmic skip of the person who wore it the all, it came to a sudden stop when she did. Seeing the placement of the car and the people around it, one could be mistaken for thinking it was some kind of accident. Of course, being accustomed to the sight of these four together, she knew better and instead took in the amusing sight before her.
"Hmm." Cindy let out as she bent over to observe the beat up old buggy, the three grown men sprawled out beside it and the one still tucked away in the drivers seat. A smirk then crossed her face. "Ya'll all look like you've been worn ragged."
At the sound of her voice the driver, Ignis scurried out of the car with energy to spare as the other three pushed themselves up from the ground; Gladiolus using the wheels of the car to help himself up, Prompto trying to rise as if nothing was wrong at all and Noctis without too much effort even if he rested on one knee for a moment.
"Nothing we couldn't handle!" Prompto insisted.
"That road went on forever." Gladiolus grumbled right after, seemingly contradicting him. Cindy only raised a hand to suppress a giggle at them. Her eyes then went from the four of them to the very thing they circled around.
"Well look at that!" she exclaimed lively as her eyes lit up "Ya'll found it!" she let out as she bounded forward towards the car "Aw, Paw-paw's gonna be real happy when he sees this!" she bent over to look into the car more. She couldn't see it since she was ogling the car, but instead of ogling her each of the four looked to each other exchange blank surprised looks.
"Ahem." Prompto cleared his throat loudly, though he didn't get Cindy's attention since she was still inspecting the car "Well, it's just what you asked for." he admitted, though unsure of himself. Why they sent them out for a car like this, none of them really knew for sure, but given the little they were told it was more than just a project. That curiosity and doubt spread to the others in the group.
"You really sure this is the one?" Gladiolus asked as Cindy poked her torso into the car to get a better look of the interior.
"It was the only one." Noctis answered "Found it right where she said it was."
"Certainly doesn't handle very well." Ignis said crossing his arms looking at the car himself "Can't believe you had us come all the way out here for a piece of junk."
"Junk?" Cindy let out offended from the sound of that, her voice echoing from the inside of the car. Pulling herself out of the car and back upright, she put her hands on her hips to stare over at him from the passengers side as he remained as the drivers side "This aint no junk." she scolded him defiantly.
Ignis faltered a bit under her stare "Listen, you're the mechanic you can fix up anything-" he faltered looking down from her and to the car "but-I mean look at it." Ignis said unfolding his arms to look down at the beat up little car.
As soon as he said that the drivers door suddenly and with no warning or aid from anyone else shot out to hit Ignis on his side knocking him forward and back onto the ground.
He fell to the ground, joining the spot where everyone else rested before, but he missed out on. Until now. There was a small pain in his rib sand arms, there was confusion everywhere else. Glancing up, he saw that everyone else was peering down at him and wondering what just happened. The look on his face showed the same disbelief. And only he would voice it.
"Was that the car?" Ignis asked.
"Best watch yourself." a haggard, worn voice called out warning him. Everyone's attention was taken away from Ignis on the ground and how he got there. They turned to see dirtied from head to toe Cindy's grandfather lumber up to them. He came to a stop on the outset of the group, but his eyes glared down at Ignis "And watch your tone." he scolded just as she had done, only his glare and voice was harsher than hers.
Having had enough of the ground, Ignis pushed himself back to his feet and mounted a defense as soon as he did.
"All I'm saying is-" he stammered looking to his friends, Cindy, the car, back to his friends before finally back to the car careful of what he said now. "Look at this thing!" he threw his hands at it, not wanting to say anything too definitive one way or another less he incurs another strange wrath.
Cid smiled warmly "Pretty thing aint he?" he said as he walked up to get closer to it.
"Pretty? This thing?" he questioned and questioned some more as Cid stopped before the hood of the car and looked down at it.
"I thought cars were a she?" Noctis questioned.
"Thought that was just boats." Prompto replied.
"Maybe we'll have to find those next."
Ignis continued on with his ranting "It just looks like a hunk o-" he stopped short when he heard a squeak of a door and quickly turned back defensively as he felt one of those doors would open suddenly again causing laughs or grins to come over the others.
"Hm." Cid huffed as everyone else laughed at him, but he was more introspective. For he still looked at the car clearly seeing something they did not. "Let me put it in a way maybe you'll understand." said cutting the laughter off and getting all of their attention as a hand was brought up to affectionally touch the car. He paused for a moment, to regard the little buggy with extreme care and admiration "They make 10,000 cars, they make 'em exactly the same way.." he paused and caressed the hood of the car, as if it were a prized pet, running his hands over the '53' plastered over it "and one or two of them turn out to be something special." he finished as he starred down, his voice hard but there was a loving admiration in it. Affection in his hand as he wiped it over the car.
A thin remnant of a smile came across his face as he gazed down at the car. It continued for a few moments more before he finished it off with a few solemn pats.
"Get him inside." he pointed back to the shop with his thumb "We'll get him nice and ready for your race." Cindy hopped to it as she moved towards the car. The four who brought it in, however, were in complete shock.
"What?!" they let out together.
"You expect us to race with this thing?" Ignis asked shocked.
"I expect you to win." Cid let out snuffing out any protest, though complete disbelief was still written all over their faces "Course it won't be you who does all the work." he said slyly before he walked away. He wouldn't be explaining any more to them as they became more and more perplexed.
"Whoa!" Cindy cheered rising a fist in the air ready to get back to work, especially on such a car that her 'Paw-Paw- treated with such reverence. Admittedly even she wasn't sure why, though she was about to find out.
With the car in the shop and those four gone back to their own adventure, she was ready to work. Her grandfather set himself up on the outside of the shop, easing himself into his chair.
She bent over at her work bench, tools and trays scattered all around her. Dirtied and oil stained, they were the signs of a hard days work, which is exactly how she would have it. She moved some of the tools aside with a brush of her arm, making more space available on the bench.
She turned around now tugging the rag at both ends wiping the air before her as she skipped towards the car. She stopped in front of it, taking a few moments more to take in it. There was definitely something special about this car, she just wasn't sure what yet. Her grandfather sure was, though. In fact he insisted she treat it like any customer. So naturally she would sweet talk it.
"Alright now," she began cheerfully "hope your ready for your bath." she said straightening the rag out to show it off. Naturally the car just sat there. So she bent over putting her torso over it. Then pulling on both ends ran the rag across the hood of the car. Whatever grime was on it was wiped off and onto the rag, dirtying it but that was it's purpose. The pale white of the car became clearer now. The '53' more distinguished and the stripes more noticeable allowing the color to pop more. But that was just where it started.
"There ya go!" she said as she knelt before it, seeing her faint reflection in the lights "Ain't you purdy now." She paused as if waiting for a reply before she continued again "Though I kinda like ya with some dirt, like me." she said standing up "Shows your a hard worker like me." she said as she turned around and threw the dirty rag over her shoulder and returned to her work bench. She discarded the rag there and busied herself further.
A small sputter came from behind her. She thought nothing of it at first. Cars make all kinds of sounds, that's why they bring them to her; to fix them. Though as far as she could see so far, she didn't see anything too bad about this one. She'd just have to dig deeper to find out she supposed.
The sputter sounded again, a bit louder now as if closer. Only this time it was accompanied by the sound of rolling tires. She felt a sudden cold metallic bump against the back of her legs.
"Hm?" she let out as she turned around, only to find that the car was rolling up right to her. "Ah!" she let out sudden shriek, taken by surprise. The car stopped right before her now. Her shock turned to annoyance as she put her hands to her hips "Those guys." she let out frustrated "Don't even know now to put the break on." she said rounding the car to go to the drivers side and poke her head inside. Peering in she saw that not only was the break on, there wasn't even a key. Popping her head out, she looked to her bench to see that she in fact had the key and had left it on the hanger. Coming back around to the front of the car, she looked at it strangely now, wondering exactly what it was that was brought into their shop.
She now felt like she was having a staring contest with a car, but that didn't make any sense. Then as if in reaction to her, the car sputtered again and moved what she equated to half a step towards her.
She backed up, but found she had nowhere to go for she was up backed against her bench. The car teetered closer before it's rolls came to a sudden stop.
"Paw-Paw!" she cried out, her voice carrying through the shop "You won't believe this!"
She heard a ruckus form the other room and her grandfather merged from the door.
"Wha?! Wha?!" Cid lunged into the room to see his granddaughter pressed against her workbench and the car he requested those four to find right before her.
"This car!" she pointed down to it "It moved all it's own!"
The same smile Cid had on before graced his face again.
"Ah course he did." he said as he came towards it, confusing her like he did the others. He patted the roof of the car "Think he was just trying to say 'Thank You.'" he paused looking everything over "Musta said something nice to him." he looked down to the car looking now like he was looking a person in the eye. "Right, Herbie?" he said as he did.
"Herbie?" his granddaughter repeated. Who was that? There were only two people in the room. Her and him. And... the car?
"That's right." Cid nodded "Everybody's gotta have a name don't they?" he asked.
That rationale seemed to settle Cindy down "Yeah," she agreed setting herself back on the floor "you're right." she said lightly as she watched her grandfather watched over the car. "He's feisty." Cindy said observantly.
"He's more than that." Cid gargled agreeably. She took a few quiet reflective moments to look over her grandfather and the car. "He may not look like much compared to all them other ones," he told as he paused to take a brief look at all the other newer, slick and tricked out vehicles in their shop "but he's got something they don't."
Cindy's head fell to one side "Was that?"
Cid's smile grew a little wider, and he put a hand to his chest "Heart." She looked the car finally with the same glint in her eye as he did. "And that's gonna win us that race tomorrow."
"You got that right!" she threw her hands in the air "And I got just the thing for you." she said as she reached back onto her bench, and when she tuned back did so holding up a small red tin can for display "And this here car wax'll give you a glisten as you glide down the road."
As if in agreement and excitement for what she said Herbie rattled in place and even honked the horn a few times.
Character Appearances: Lightning, Serah(FF13), Roche(FF7R), Lightning McQueen, Mater(Cars)
Herbie(The Love Bug) Cindy, Cid, Noctis, Prompto, Gladiolus, Ignis(FF15)
