Tales Of The Flame & The Ax: A Shooting Star Falls Story
Part Fifty-Three: One Summer Night In Iowa
The flight landed around three o'clock local time and after a short drive, the quartet arrived at the famed Knoxville Raceway, where Lyle and Logan would compete in one of the most prestigious events in all of sprint car racing, the Knoxville Nationals. The girls were impressed by the county fair like atmosphere that surrounded the racetrack and small town. Lyle had told the girls that this was the main event and had been postponed two weeks due to strong storms in the area, so that this wasn't even close to how festive it usually would be by the third night of the event. Almost as soon as they had exited the sport utility vehicle, Lyle and Logan began to be swarmed for autographs by fans. "If you want, you girls can explore the track. Just be back to the hauler by seven o'clock, alright?" Lyle said to the girls as he signed a model car for a child dressed head to toe in his gear. "Sounds great Lyle!" Pacifica said as she watched both he and Logan attempt to head towards the pit area.
"So, what do you wanna do first?" Mabel asked her sister. "I want to eat all the super unhealthy food I've heard so much about!" Pacifica replied. "Maybe we can go on a ride or two as well..." Mabel added. "Let's do that before I eat. I don't really feel like yaking all over the place..." the brunette suggested. They were about to head to the midway located behind the main grandstand when a woman stopped them. "Girls! Yeah, you two! How would you like to compete for Knoxville Nationals Queen?!" the blonde woman asked. "You're kidding, right?! Us two in a beauty pageant?" Pacifica replied in a heavily sarcastic tone. "Look, a lot of the girls who were gonna be in it a few weeks ago are unavailable and we could really use some help. Please?!" the woman asked with desperation in her voice. The girls mulled the offer over for a moment as the event promoter waited anxiously for an answer. "What do you think, sis?" Pacifica asked in a hushed tone. "I mean... We did say that we wanted to step out of our comfort zones a bit on this trip..." she said with uncertainty in her voice. "Yeah... It would be a hoot if nothing else. I mean, we're not ugly or anything, but I know we'll probably never win. What the hell? I'm in if you are..." Pacifica commented. "Sure. It'll make for a great story if nothing else..." Mabel agreed. "You know what? We'll do it." she said to the woman. "Great! Just give me your sizes and I'll run out and get you dresses to compete in! Just head over to the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame building and tell them Joanna Lee sent you. They'll take care of the rest. Good luck!" she said in an excited tone. After giving her their dress sizes, the girls headed off towards the building located just outside of turn four. "The shit we get ourselves into sometimes..." Pacifica said with a chuckle.
As the girls prepared for their competition in the pageant, Logan and Lyle tinkered on their racecars. "So, you're pretty sweet on that Mabel, aren't you?" the racing legend commented to his son while turning a socket wrench. "Maybe... I mean, she's just so different from all the other girls I've known. For one, I don't think she is after me just because of what we have. She just likes me for who I am and it's honestly refreshing. I'm not Lyle Karson's son or a free ride to a better life. I'm just Logan to her." he explained "I get it. That's how your mother was with me when we first met. She was already part of a racing family, so she understood what it was like. The long hours on the road. The fact that you don't just go to school like the other kids. Still, you know this won't last. We're literally probably not gonna see either of them ever again after this weekend. They'll go back to their lives, and we'll keep on with ours." Lyle explained. He knew that this would be a hard truth for the sixteen-year-old boy to hear, but that he needed to be truthful with him. "You're right... It just sucks. I'd give all this up if it meant that I could be with her. Still, I know that would never, ever happen. We live in different countries, on totally opposite sides of the continent." he said with a sigh. "Just focus on the race tonight. This is your first chance to make a hell of an impression on these guys. Who knows? If you do well here tonight, it could open a lot of doors for you and it would be on your own merit." Lyle reminded the teen boy. "Yeah. Focus on the race. Got it..." he said before walking into his hauler.
Mabel and Pacifica walked into the museum and saw a registration table set up in the lobby. "Joanna Lee sent us..." Mabel said to an older woman seated at the table. "Good! Say, are you girls twins?" the grey-haired lady asked as she adjusted her thick glasses to get a better look at them. "As a matter of fact, we are!" Pacifica confirmed. "The crowd is gonna love that! So, I just need you two to fill out this small form and then you can head back to the dressing room." she said as a pair of papers were slid across the table. It was a questionnaire that asked things such as their age, where they were from, their favorite driver and what their interests were. After filling out the forms, they made their way back. "OMG! Are you twins?!" an overly excited teen girl asked as she rushed over to the Pines sisters. "Yeah. I take it twins aren't common in these parts..." Pacifica sarcastically said. "No, not really..." their fellow contestant answered. "Oh... I see." Mabel replied. "You guys should be really popular. Good luck!" the teen said before returning to the mirror to fix her makeup. "Do you think we're in over our heads here sis?" Pacifica asked. "Totally, but let's just roll with it..." Mabel responded with a chuckle. "Yeah... It'll certainly be an experience, that's for sure..." her sister responded. A few minutes later, Joanna Lee returned with a large shopping bag full of dresses. "Thank you all for agreeing to this at the last minute. Y'all are life savers. Now, come get your dresses..." she instructed some of the teen girls. "Mabel and Pacifica Pines, here you go..." Joanna said as she handed them dresses that looked ones you would see at a high school prom. "No way... There's no way she could have known..." Pacifica said with disbelief as she looked at the color of their dresses. Pacifica's was purple, while her siblings was pink. "This is kinda freaky..." Mabel agreed.
A few hours passed and several preliminary races were run on the fabled dirt track. Before the start of the last chance qualifier race that would determine the final starters in the main event, a small stage pulled by a farm tractor made its way onto the front stretch. A moment later, a passenger van arrived and dropped off a dozen dress clad women, who walked onto the makeshift stage. "Ladies and Gentlemen, if you could please direct your attention to the frontstretch, we will introduce the contestants for the 2032 Knoxville Nationals Queen." a booming male voice said over the loudspeakers. Lyle, Logan and several of their competitors walked over to watch the event on the video board. After a few women were announced, Pacifica was next to step up to the microphone. She looked out to the packed grandstand in front of her. By her estimate, there had to be nearly five thousand people looking right at her. Taking a deep breath, she began to speak. "Hello Knoxville! I'm Pacifica Pines and I'm from Gravity Falls, Oregon. My favorite driver is Lyle Karson, and this is my first race! I enjoy walks in the forest and hanging out with my friends. Thanks for your votes!" she said before joining the other young women who had already had their turn. She looked over as her sister was next. The redhead was taken aback by just how many people were in attendance, but quickly composed herself. "Hey, y'all! I'm Mabel Pines and I'm also from Gravity Falls, Oregon. Yes, Pacifica and I are twins for those curious. My favorite driver is Logan Karson, and this is also my first race! In my spare time I enjoy axe throwing, playing soccer and just hanging out with my family. Thank you for your consideration!" she said before joining her sister. "So many people..." she remarked in a hushed tone. "Dude, I know. Like, I knew this was a big race and all, but that's literally almost double the entire population of Gravity Falls..." she quipped.
"Mabel and Pacifica are competing in the Queen competition?! I did not see that one coming..." Lyle remarked to Logan as a look of confusion formed on his face. "Yeah... That one's a bit of a head scratcher for sure..." Logan agreed. "I think it's safe to say who our votes are for..." Lyle continued. "I'm gonna go live and try to get them votes..." his son said as he took his phone out of the pocket in his firesuit. "Hey! It's your boy Logan here! Can't wait for the main event in a few! In the meantime, I'm gonna cast my vote for Mabel Pines for Knoxville Nationals Queen. You guys should too!" he said before turning the camera to his father. "Well, my vote is for Pacifica Pines! She did say I'm her favorite driver, so she clearly has good taste! Vote for either of the Pines sisters for Queen!" he said before ending the live stream. "Hopefully that tilts the scales a little in their favor..." Logan said as he walked back over to his racecar. He tried to focus on the big race ahead, but the sight of Mabel in that stunning pink dress was all he could think about. They could hear the engines fire for the last chance qualifier and knew that in less than half an hour it would be time for them to attempt to collect the two hundred- and fifty-thousand-dollar prize for winning the race.
The girls were escorted to a private viewing tent to watch the race while staying clear of the dirt that would be kicked up by the powerful racecars. The last chance qualifying race was about halfway through when one of the cars ran high on the track and began to violently flip. "Holy shit!" Pacifica called out as she nearly spat out the sparkling water she had been drinking. After a few tense moments, the racecar was placed back on its wheels and the driver emerged unscathed. "You don't think something like that has happened to Lyle or Logan before, has it?" Mabel asked her sister. "Oh, of course they have. Every driver has that happen eventually..." another contestant remarked. "Oh man..." the redhead said as she began to worry about the well-being of her crush. The race restarted and about twenty minutes later had concluded. The stage was once again pulled out onto the track and the dozen contestants made their way onto it to hear the results of the vote for Knoxville Nationals Queen. "First of all, let's give it up for all these wonderful ladies here tonight! With the race being delayed, a lot of our original contestants couldn't make it, so these young women stepped up to keep the show going." the host said as cheers and applause rained down on them. "Third runner up is Meghan Barkdall of Norman, Oklahoma." he announced as a petite blonde girl made her way to the front of the stage. "Second runner up is Emily Hinson of Battle Creek, Michigan." he continued as a brunette made her way forward. "First runner up is... Wait... Is this right?" the host asked a woman in front of the stage. She nodded that it indeed was. "Okay folks... There is no first runner up. For the first time that I can recall, there are going to be co-Queens. Your Seventy-First Knoxville Nationals Queens are Mabel Pines and her twin sister, Pacifica Pines." he announced. The girls shook as it began to sink in that they had won. "Holy shit, is this for real?" Pacifica asked her sister. "I... I think so?" she responded with disbelief in her voice.
The twin sisters held each other and jumped up and down as they realized that it was real. Making their way to the front of the stage, they took in the cheers and applause coming from the large grandstand across the track from them. Joanna Lee came on stage and presented the Queens and their court with their tiaras and sashes. Pacifica decided to wear the first runner up sash, as she felt it was more of Mabel's moment than her own. Lyle and Logan watched from the pit area as they were about to strap into their racecars. "I can't believe it. That's so cool..." Logan said with a large smile on his face. His crush was waving to the crowd as she wore the large tiara upon her head. All Lyle could do is watch as his son took it all in. "Drivers to your cars!" a voice called out. "Time for us to go out there and get that win!" Lyle said as he placed his hand on his teenage son's back. "I'm either winning or bringing back the steering wheel..." Logan said as he climbed into his car. "See you on the other side..." Lyle said as he shot the sixteen-year-old a hang loose hand sign. The girls exited the stage and stood in victory lane as the cars took to the track.
"KNOXVILLE RACEWAY! YOU WANTED THE BEST! YOU GOT 'EM FOUR ABREAST! OFTEN IMITATED, NEVER DUPLICATED! THE KNOXVILLE NATIONALS!" the announcer bellowed over the speakers as the racecars began their formation laps. The Pines sisters were in awe at the spectacle of it all. Flames shot up from the top of the Victory Lane stage and fireworks seemed to encircle the raceway as the cars paced four-wide around it. The roar of the crowd almost drowned out the extremely loud vehicles. After a few more parade laps, the cars settled into their normal starting formation and the green flag was waved. Lyle had started third and Logan sixth due to their qualifying efforts a few weeks prior. The fifty-lap feature had plenty of action early on, as two incidents slowed the pace momentarily. Dust from the racing surface danced in the lights that illuminated the raceway. The final restart saw Lyle move up to second and trade the lead back and forth with a hotshot rookie named Deaken McKaskill while Logan raced for third with long time competitor Lee Hansfeld. There were only two laps to go, and it seemed as though the top four cars were right up against the outside wall all the way around the track. Deaken looked to have the win secured on the final lap despite Lyle throwing every move in his bag of tricks at him when the rookie jumped the cushion and slammed into the metal fence in the middle of turns three and four. Lyle and Lee checked up. Logan knew this was his chance to win and made a wild dive to the bottom of the track. He cleared the wrecking car, as had his father. It was a drag race to the finish line and in a photo finish, Logan had done what many had considered improbable and won the prestigious race in his very first start.
The crowd roared as Logan's blue and yellow sprint car made its way into victory lane, where Mabel, Pacifica and the two other girls in their royal court greeted the winner. "IT IS OFFICIAL! THE WINNER OF THE SEVENTY-FIRST KNOXVILLE NATIONALS IS LOGAN KARSON!" the announcer shouted as fireworks boomed overhead. Several of his crew members ran up to the car as it came to a halt on the black and white checkerboard floor of victory lane and slapped the metal of his car. Inside the driver's seat, a look of pure elation was on the face of the sixteen-year-old driver. He was handed a bottle of water and after taking a few sips of it, poured the rest of it on him. He held his hand to his face and began to openly cry as the reality of the situation began to set in. "THE EMOTION OF LOGAN KARSON, YOU CAN SEE IT! THE TEARS FLOWING! HE CANNOT BELIEVE IT! THE RACING PRODIGY HAS WON IN HIS FIRST EVER START! THE CROWN JEWELS OF SPRINT CAR RACING ARE HARD TO COME BY AND THE YOUNG MAN FROM NORTH CAROLINA POUNCED ON A ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY! YOU CAN SEE THE LOOK ON HIS FACE! HE'S GOT NOTHING LEFT IN THE TANK!" the announcer said over the sound of the roaring crowd and barrage of fireworks. Logan leaned back in his seat as a large smile formed on his face. He put a hat on and climbed onto the large wing on top of his car. "HE'S ON TOP OF THE CAR! LET'S MAKE THIS PLACE SHAKE FOR DAYS! LOGAN KARSON IS THE KNOXVILLE NATIONALS CHAMPION!" the announcer narrated as Logan waved a pair of checkered flags back and forth; a flurry of confetti fluttering through the air as he did so.
Logan pumped his fists and shouted before climbing off the wing. He hugged his crew members as they congratulated him on the monumental win. He saw Mabel standing towards the side of the victory lane and made his way over to the pink dress clad young woman. "LOGAN! You did it!" she shouted in an elated tone. He picked her up by the hips, spun her around and kissed the soft lips of his crush as a fresh wave of cheers rained down from the massive grandstand. Mabel was briefly taken aback by the action before she melted into the kiss. After what seemed like an hour, the two pulled apart. "I... I'm sorry... I don't kno-" he began to apologize before Mabel leaned in and kissed him passionately. Pacifica and the rest of the girls watched as the two teens celebrated. Logan excused himself as he was called to the podium by the host. "WHAT A KISS FROM THE KNOXVILLE NATIONALS QUEEN! LOGAN, COME UP HERE WHERE YOU BELONG!" he said. Logan stood on the top of the podium and yelled at the top of his lungs. "I thought you were gonna jump clear over that car!" the man with the microphone said before placing it in front of the elated teen racecar driver. "HOW ABOUT THAT BOYS AND GIRLS! I JUST BEAT THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS! THIS CAR WAS FAR FROM PERFECT, BUT IT WAS PERFECT WHEN I ABSOLUTLEY NEEDED IT TO BE! It's not easy against the toughest competition in the world..." the sixteen-year-old said as he continued to try and catch his breath. He took a swig of sports drink. "Your car looked like it was all over the place all race long. Just really wicked on those tires for whatever reason." the interviewer continued. "Yeah... I made a few mistakes early on... Goddamn, I can't breathe! I think I held my breath those last two laps. I still can't believe that all of that just fell into my lap right there. I knew I had to give it a shot on the bottom there or I was gonna end up plowing into the back of those guys ahead of me. I told myself that I was either gonna pull off the heist of the century or bring just the steering wheel back there..." he said before stopping to catch his breath once more.
"I'd say that was a heck of a way to make your name in your first ever start here. A drag race with your legendary father coming to the line. What gave you that little bit of an edge?" the announcer asked the clearly worn-out driver as he took another large gulp from the bottle of sports drink. "Mabel! Get up here!" Logan called out to his crush. A moment later she joined him on the podium and felt his arm wrap around her. "This woman right here! She's so amazing and I'm glad I get to spend this special moment in my life with her. We're gonna celebrate and have a lot of fun tonight!" Logan said as he ended the interview. Lyle made his way to the podium and took his spot in the runner's up position. He gave a big hug to his son. "You're not Lyle Karson's son anymore. You're Logan Karson, Knoxville Nationals Champion! Nobody can ever take that away from you, son!" he said to the teen boy. "Man, you and Deaken were trading absolute jabs at one another those last few laps." the announcer said to Lyle. "Yeah, that was a lot of fun. It was a good race for sure. I felt like we were the best two cars out there. Lots of fun racing Logan to the line there. I'm just so happy for Logan. This is so, so cool. I mean, you couldn't have scripted a better finish than that. I mean, if I have to lose to someone, I'm glad it's him. I'm happy with how my car drove. I don't know how I was able to keep from plowing into the back of Deaken there, but somehow, I did, but like I said, I'm so happy for Logan. I wanted to get the win, of course, but to finish second to him is almost like a win itself. Second year in a row we've finished second, so hopefully next year I can finish one spot better. This is the toughest sprint car race in the world in my opinion and to have already won it four times, it's always just as special every single time you can get a win here." Lyle said. Logan snuck up behind him and grabbed his father by the shoulders. "I GOT HIM! Finally!" the teen excitedly said with a huge smile on his face. Lyle grabbed him by the shoulder and pulled him in for a hug. The two exchanged some more words and then the announcer went on to interview the third-place finisher.
Dipper and Wendy had made their way home after making sure that Tambry was going to be relatively alright. They had a small dinner and settled in to watch a Seattle Navigators baseball game when an incoming video call message appeared on the large screen. "It's the girls. Wonder what they're getting into?" Dipper asked as he accepted the call. What he and his wife saw on the screen immediately raised a few questions. Their daughters were wearing what appeared to be prom dresses and they sported tiaras on their heads. Behind them, a large celebration appeared to be taking place. "HI MOM! HI DAD!" the girls said in unison. Wendy read the sash that Mabel was wearing. Hi girls! What in the world is going on?" Dipper asked. "Oh my god! So much! First of all, Paz and I got asked to be in the Knoxville Nationals Queen competition. We figured why not and somehow, we won! We tied in the vote, so we were named Co-Queens. Then, Logan won the freakin' race! He beat his dad! It's a big deal!" Mabel said as she handed the phone to her sister. "It's so nuts! Like, this is some of the most fun I've ever had! It's like a huge party at the county fair! There were, like, twenty-five thousand people here, I think! So crazy! Here's Mr. Karson!" Pacifica said as she handed the phone to the racing legend. "Hi guys! What a night! I'll send you a link so you can watch the replay. We're probably not getting back to North Carolina until early tomorrow morning, but don't worry... I'm still teaching your girls how to be good drivers. I think they're good luck charms or something..." the muddy firesuit clad man said with a smile. "Thanks, Lyle. We'll give it a watch. Thanks for taking care of the girls." Wendy said. "No problem. Someone wants to interview me, so I'm gonna give you back to the girls..." he said before handing the phone back to Mabel.
A few pieces of confetti still fluttered through the air and in the background Dipper and Wendy could see the top three drivers spraying each other with champagne bottles while a fresh wave of fireworks sounded overhead. "We'll let you girls get back to the celebration, but we're glad that you're having a good time. Talk tomorrow?" Wendy said with a chuckle as she heard some people hooting and hollering in the background. "Sounds good! Love you!" Mabel said. "Love you guys too! Night..." Dipper said before the call ended. "We did the right thing... Right?" Wendy asked her husband before taking a sip of her red wine. "What do you mean?" he inquired. "That we let our girls go to another country with a relative stranger for an entire week?" Wendy explained. "I think so? It looks like they're having a blast and Lyle sends those video updates of how they're doing every day, so I think it's fine. They may not be saving the world like when we were their age, but it's good for them to have their own adventures." her lover said. "Yeah, I guess so. This will be something that they talk about years from now. I guess I just worry too much..." she agreed. "No you don't. You're just being a good mother..." Dipper reassured his wife as they cuddled up on the couch and put on the replay of the race on the television.
After the interviews had concluded it was a little before midnight. "I don't know about you guys, but I'm starving..." Logan said as he rubbed his stomach. Both he and his father were still wearing their muddy, champagne stained racing suits. Mabel and Pacifica had also remained in their dresses, although they now had some mud, champagne and confetti on them. "Yeah, I can eat..." Pacifica replied. "I know just the place..." Lyle said as they walked towards their sport utility vehicle. A short drive later, they arrived at the local Flapjack Shack. The quartet made their way inside the restaurant, Logan carrying in his trophy as he still didn't quite believe that this wasn't all just some sort of dream he'd wake up from any moment now. They found a booth and sat down; Logan plopping the trophy down on the center of the table. "Looks like you guys had a night..." a waitress commented from across the restaurant. "Sure did..." Logan said with a smug smile on his face. It was quite the sight as the two men in racing suits and young ladies in pageant dresses placed their orders. The food quickly arrived, and they began to chow down. "Is it always this crazy? Like this whole racing thing?" Mabel asked before taking a bite of her toast. "Nah... Not usually, but tonight is special." Lyle said as a fellow diner came up and asked for a picture. Soon, more hungry race fans filed into the restaurant. After finishing their meals and taking a couple dozen more photos with excited patrons and the staff of the restaurant, they were on their way to the airfield. Mabel and Pacifica reflected on what a wild night it had been as they boarded the aircraft and began the journey back to North Carolina.
Author's Note: So, this was one of my longer chapters that I've posted in a while, but I just had this idea in my head for so long and it came so easily to me. It should come as no surprise that I am a huge race fan and that I could just go on and on about it. Needless to say that this was a lot of fun for me to write and I hope I didn't get too technical for those that aren't familiar with it. Onto the story. Mabel and Logan have fallen hard for each other. What will happen when they realize that their time together is quickly coming to a close? What will happen when Lyle presents one final test to the girls that may push them to their limits behind the wheel? How will Wendy and Dipper spend their final few days apart from their daughters? Just what have Mabel and Pacifica's friends been up to lately? Answers to all these questions and more as we get close to the end of this story. Until then, thanks for all the follows, reviews, fan art and DM's. - iKLOT
My Playlist:
Kenny Montgomery - "Dirt Track Thing" (Sets the tone for this whole chapter imo)
Revivalists - "Kid"
Naked & Famous - "Young Blood"
Linkin Park - "Fighting Myself" (What I would play as Logan & Lyle prepare for the big race)
Twenty One Pilots - "Shy Away"
Cannons - "Loving You"
Glass Animals - "Life Itself"
Motion City Soundtrack - "Everything Is Alright"
The Used - "Take It Away"