Still don't own Cars.
The scene where Marina meets Lightning is a nod to her cameo in a fic that ProcrastinationIsMyCrime is working on called Radio Impact. They gave me permission to do the reference.
- 3 Welcome to Radiator Springs -
The next morning, Marina was woken by some sort of trumpet fanfare playing, interrupted by equally loud rock music.
"WILL YOU TURN THAT DISRESPECTFUL JUNK OFF!" someone yelled.
"Respect the classics, man!" was the reply. Marina groan and slowly rolled off the lift. Doc was already gone, probably gone to Flo's for breakfast. She yawned as she left the clinic and crossed the road. Several cars were already there, some of whom she didn't know.
"Morning, Marina. What can I get ya?" Flo asked.
"Whatever the chef recommends. Surprise me." she answered. Flo nodded, then flourished a tire at a yellow Chevrolet.
"Marina, this is my husband, Ramone. Nobody rocks a paint job like him."
"Yellow, baby." He chuckled at what appeared to be the couple's inside joke. Marina eyed a car at a far end pump that was an even older model than she was.
"That's Lizzie," Ramone said, "She can sleep through anything." Indeed, she was sleeping through her breakfast. Just then, a small Fiat and a little forklift entered the station.
"Ello, Miss-a Marina. I'm Luigi," said the Fiat, "and Guido, he speak only Italian."
"You're the tire guy Flo talked about last night! When she told me about how Doc won't take a paycheck." There was a loud spitting sound, followed by Ramone complaining that he got gas on his paint.
"You told her that, Flo?" Marina hadn't even noticed Doc was at the pump next to her until he spit out whatever he was drinking and coated Ramone.
"Well you weren't, ya stubborn ol' lemon." Lizzie piped up suddenly. Marina then noticed the fire engine beside her.
"That's Red," said Doc, "He doesn't talk much." Before Marina could ask why, two more cars joined them, a Volkswagen van and an Army jeep.
"Excuse me a moment, I'll be back." Doc said when he saw them, and pulled out rather quickly. The two bickering cars entered the station.
"Why do you even come here, Filmore, you never drink anything." the Army Jeep said. So the VW was Filmore.
"Everybody hangs here, man." Filmore responded.
"Sarge, leave him alone and have somethin' to drink." Flo said. The jeep was Sarge, then.
"'Lo folks. Marina, I see Doc got ya all fixed up and running again." Sheriff said as he pulled up to the pump across from her.
"Yeah, he's just having me stay for a day to keep an eye on it and make sure he doesn't need to do anything else."
"Mornin' sleepin' beauty!" Mater exclaimed as he arrived.
"Hey Mater." Marina answered. Just then, Doc returned.
"Marina, this is Sally, owner of the Cozy Cone and Wheel Well motels." A sky blue Porsche pulled up and smiled at her as another engine revved slightly. Sally rolled her eyes and laughed.
"This is my boyfriend-"
"Lightning McQueen." Marina said as a familiar red racecar pulled forward, "We met in Nashville. He thought I was Doc. He took me to a clinic after I got sideswiped by some idiot on my way home."
"See, she looks just like you, Doc!" McQueen remarked.
"Funny, since I'm the same age as you." Marina smirked at him.
"And now you know everybody in town." Flo said as she took everyone's orders. Lizzie was already sleeping again.
Marina watched as Doc and Lightning blazed around the dirt track at Willy's Butte. They were training Lightning to keep him in practice for race season, but judging by their laughter, they were also having fun. She watched in awe as the two drifted around a turn side-by-side, as if they were one car with two bodies. She felt a familiar rush building within her.
Well, there's only one way to truly test my engine and make sure it's fine.
Doc and McQueen flew toward the two tires with a rope between them. Once the two racers passed, a third engine revved and joined them. The two were neck and neck when a huge black blur shot between them, already starting to drift around the turn.
"What the-Doc, was that what I think it was?" McQueen cried.
"Yes." Doc answered. "That was Marina Stryder." Sure enough, there she was, out of breath but grinning at them from the finish line.
"Sorry!" Marina called.
"Don't be. That was really good!" Lightning said. Doc nodded in agreement.
"A little too much outta the gate, but you get trained, you could be as good as McQueen here." the old Hornet said.
"Wow, thanks, Mr. Hudson. I never thought about it before. Do you know where I could go to at least learn how to do better?" Doc seemed to think on it a little. McQueen whispered something to him that she couldn't hear. Doc nodded.
"If you don't mind staying here longer," he answered, "I could teach you while I train Lightning." Marina's eyes lit up.
"I would be honored to learn to race from you, Doc." Marina smiled, "After all, I've already decided to stay for karaoke night at Flo's on Friday."
"You sing?" Lightning asked.
"Yeah. I used to be a bartender at a place in Chicago, and sometimes I would provide live music on Fridays."
"So you're pretty good then?"
"You'll just have to wait and see, Stickers." Both Hornets snickered a little as McQueen made a face at that.
Sally gave Marina a room at the Cozy Cone to stay in. She was eager to get up in the mornings. She went down to the dirt track before dawn for solo lessons with Doc, where he guided her through basic skills every racer had to know. This was different from street racing that she'd witnessed in the city. This was what the professionals did. Of course, Doc also went over all the rules and demonstrated what moves were allowed and which ones were not. He showed her the correct way to pass someone, how to come out of a start versus a restart, how to pit correctly and exit the pits without doing herself any damage, and everything else. She turned out to be a fast learner. After breakfast, he would have her apply what she'd learned in a race against McQueen. Both wore speakers that connected wirelessly to Doc's crew chief headset so he could instruct and guide them in real time as they raced. Marina had a blast. It was the most fun she'd ever had working at something in her life. And the fun didn't even stop when the sun went down.
"Hey Marina," McQueen called after dinner.
"Hey, great racing today. You almost beat Doc."
"I know. Stupid cactus." They both laughed before McQueen spoke up again.
"So, Mater's taking me tractor tipping tonight, and, well, I was wondering..."
"If I wanted to go?" Marina finished, "Sure. Sounds fun."
"Oh, it is." Lightning assured her, "It's way more fun than it sounds. Meet at the traffic light in an hour."
"Got it. Be there or be square." Lightning stared at her oddly. "Just something my dad used to say. See you in an hour."
Marina turned out to be a great tractor tipper, too. She would honk loudly, like Doc when he called for order in the court. The dim-witted tractors would the tip and backfire, causing the three cars to burst into fits of laughter. The grand finale was McQueen revving his engine, which caused all remaining tractors to tip and backfire at once. Then they would laugh so hard their sides hurt.
"I don't care who y'are, that's funny right there." Mater said.
"You said it," Marina laughed, "Did you see the two I got that landed on top of each other?"
"Oh, that was HYSTERICAL!" McQueen cried. The three laughed as they headed to their separate sleeping quarters. Mater to his shack, McQueen to his racing headquarters, and Marina to Cone #2 (#1 was always in demand since Lightning had stayed in it before) Marina smiled as she settled in to sleep. She'd only been here for a few days, and already she was starting to get attached. Maybe, just maybe, she'd finally found her place in the world. Just maybe.
Please review.
Just for fun, tell me who you would put Marina in a relationship with, what kind of relationship it is, and why you chose that character/ship.
