Lightning couldn't sleep. Nightmares catched him. He dreamed of Sally and Doc being captured by someone he knew. He saw his racing friends amd suddenly the King, Strip Weathers uncoupled from the group. "You need to focus Lightning. If you want your friends back you have to focus." But suddenly Kings face turned into other familiar faces. Into Danny Bush, Kevin Newman, Ryan Harvick, Chick Hicks. And suddenly Sally. Lightning flinced and fell out of his bed.
"Ouch", he scubbed his shoulder. Stupid bed! The small digital clock on his nightstand showed 2:47. Great!, he thought. Sleep was gone. The rookie pricked himself off and gazed through the window. He had forgotten to close the curtains yesterday evening. His mind was lost in thoughts. Thousands of small stars shined through the dark night. It was stunning. Lightning always forgot how much darker the nights out here were. When he was on tour and in one of the big cities the stars never shone so bright. Without hesitation he grabbed his shoes and went outside. He took them on while he walked and trotted over the black pavement of the main street. Lightning smiled when he remembered the cause of this new asphalt. Fate had sometimes unusual impact on his life. If he never had stranded here, his life would've never changed. And it changed for the better.
Mater was still awake and drank his last can from his storage. He looked at the pile of empty canisters, which lay next to his veranda on which he sat. All empty. He sighed. Tomorrow he would assign a giant order of new beverages at Flo's. Mater chuckled as he imagined Flo's resigned face. He looked up to the stars and suddenly, a wave of guilt overwhelmed him. He thought of Lightning and Sally and Doc. His best friends was deeply sunken in his training. And Mater couldn't blame him but he wished he could tell him... But Lightning would get really mad at him and Mter didn't wanna lose another friend. So he just shut up. They would find a way.
Mater threw his empty can onto the pile and froze. A movement catched his eye. He squeezed and saw Lightning McQueen stumbled through the streets. Mater made surprised noise. Shouldn't he be asleep?
Mater grabbed his brown leather jacket and followed his friend. Right before Luigis shope he catched up with him. "Hey buddy"
Lightning screamed and jumped like three meters into the air. "Wha- Mater!?What are you doing here you scared me!"
Mater pulled his jacket on. "Sorry man. But should ya be asleep? Ya have much trainin' tomorrow, so..."
"Yeah.", McQueen rolled his eyes. He strolled to Flo's cafe and sat down onto one of the benches. Mater followed him.
"I couldn't sleep. That's all."
But Mater didn't believe him. "Oh no there's more." They looked at each other. "C'mon. Tell uncle Mater!"
The racer sighed. He looked at their reflection in the window. Mater was a head taller than him. Himself looked worried, tired. His blonde hair was tousled and his freckles darker than they were a few weeks ago. He wore a simple shirt with the Rusteze logo on it.
"It's just... I think I... It's my fault! Everything!" Mater was off guard. "Err, how could that be yer fault?"
Lightning wrangled with himself. "Look, I... Normally they always come with me. And I thought they would be safe here. And with Doc's flu... I mean, if I payed more attention to the other racers, I would've recognised his voice already and I could call the cops and everything was good again. And Sally- I was so seflish and I-"
"I really don't know what ya wanna say". Mater mumbled. Lightning stared at his friend and groaned. "I don't know. I am sorry. Everything is just a bit too much lately." Mater smiled understanding and placed a hand on Lightning's shoulder. "We'll get them back. I promise."
His guilty conscience came back but Mater ignored it.
"You're the best friend ever you know that?", Lightning asked silently.
Mater declined with a "Phew!" and smiled broadly. "Let's bring ya back to bed. Ya should sleep." And while they walked down the street they put their arms around their shoulders. And for one second everything was fine.