//------------------------------// // Witness Protection: They're First Race // Story: The CMC's Adventures in Radiator Springs // by Timelordderpy //------------------------------// Mack entered the raceway’s garage and parked his truck in the #95 spot. The girls jumped out the back completely ecstatic. “Wow! This is awesome look at all of these racers! This place is so cool!” Scootaloo was looking around everywhere with the biggest smile on her face, while Lightning just smirked at her. If she likes this just wait until the race starts. … The girls just sat around for a bit while everyone was getting everything prepared, getting cars and racers prepped and ready to go. While waiting the girls decided to headed over to the snack stands to get some snacks- “Ouf!” Scootaloo had just bumped into someone. The man reached out an arm and pulled her to her feet, that’s when she got a good look at him. He looked about the same age as Lightning with short black hair and green eyes. He was wearing black jeans, blue sneakers, a pale blue shirt, and a black leather jacket. Scootaloo looked up at him smiling nervously. “Thanks man! And sorry about that we’re trying to get to the snack stands before the lines get too long.” He waved it off “Hey don’t worry about it kid. No harm done.” and he pointed over to the empty stands “And I don’t think you’ll have to worry about a line.” Scootaloo waved goodbye and the three ran over to the empty stands. They got quite a few snacks and began their trek back to the pits- “Hey girls look!” Sweetie Belle stopped and pointed over to a table where a guy was sitting with his..dog? I thought Doc said dogs weren’t allowed at races? Sweetie Belle ran over to the table and stopped a good feet in front of them “Excuse me? Would it be ok if I pet your dog?” The guy turned to her and said with an apologetic look “Sorry kid you can’t she’s working right now.” he seems to stutter a bit with the words Working? Sweetie Belle was confused so she asked “Um...How is she working?” The guy looked at her confused “She’s a service dog.” Sweetie Belle’s expresion didn’t change, then the guy finally got it and asked her straight forward. “Kid? Do you know what a service dog is?” again stuttering with his words Her blank expression was the answer he needed. “A service dog is a dog that helps people with certain medical or mental problems.” “What kinds of problems?” Sweetie Belle really just wanted him to get to the point He thought for a moment “Well for example I have a stutter and Stella helps with a lot of everyday life things like helping me pack bags, turning on and off lights, holding the door open, ect.” Sweetie Belle understood the stuttering now but was now confused as to why he needs a dog for such basic thing, not wanting to be be rude she just smiled and nodded. “Oh ok! I get it now!...Mind if I ask what breed she is and how I would know if a dog is a service dog?” “She’s a vizsla and service dogs always wear a vest that tells you they’re working.” Then the guy proceed to pat the vest, that Sweetie Belle hadn’t noticed before, and pointed to the big patch reading DO NOT PET! WORKING SERVICE DOG. “Oh Ok. Well thanks for the lesson! Bye!” Sweetie Belle waved goodbye and headed back over to Scootaloo and Applebloom. “What was that all about?” “Well..I now know what a service dog is.” They both looked at her with the same blank expression and Sweetie Belle repeated what the guy explained to her while on their way back to the pits. ... The girls sat with Doc and ate their snacks while watching the other racers prepare to start. Scootaloo glanced over to her side and spotted the man she had bumped into earlier. When the guy turned in her direction she waved at him as did Sarge who was standing next to them. The guy raised a hand in acknowledgment and turned back to watch the other racers. “Who was that?” Sarge looked up at them “Scootaloo had bumped into him by accident when we was run’in ta get ta the snack stan’s.” Applebloom explained behind the chocolate she was certainly chewing on- ALRIGHT! IS EVERYBODY READY!!! THE RACE IS ABOUT TO BEGIN!!! The girls turned their attention back to the track as they watched Lightning and the other racers get in their cars and enter the track. The green flag was out and the racers were off! … The race had ended and everyone was preparing to leave, the girls entered Lightning’s tent to see him just finishing an autograph for kid and he ran out wearing the world’s biggest smile. Doc turned to the girls as they entered the tent a smile across his face “So what did you girls think of your first race?” “It was AWESOME!” Scootaloo was practically floating in the air, then stood completely still, a small tint of red on her cheek when she felt her wings flutter a bit under her jacket. Then looked at everyone with a nervous smile.. “Ehehe...um..oops..my bad.” Lightning bent down in front of her, ruffling her hair a bit “It’s ok Scoots. But you really need to learn to control that, you’re lucky it’s just us in here right now-” “Howdy Y’all!” “Eep!” Tex had just stepped into the tent behind Sweetie Belle, she jumped not hearing him approach. “Woops! Sorry little lady didn’t mean to startle ya.” Nervous she immedietly ducked behind Doc, while he and the others just laughed a bit. Though not as sudden as Sweetie Belle, Applebloom and Scootaloo backed up behind Lightning and Sarge not taking a step closer to the new men that had just walked in. Strip Weathers (The King), his son and current driver for DINOCO Cal Weathers came in after Tex, and behind them came Bobby Swift. Lightning went to shake Tex’s hand “Hey Tex. Guys. Great race today.” “Keep this up and I just might replace Cal with ya.” Said racer gave them an unamused look “You know I’m standing right here. I can hear you.” And we all just laughed at him, he glanced down a smirk pulled across his face as he nudged his father, and he did Tex, smiling at them remembering that there are three new faces in front of them. “Well Well. What do we have here?” Tex bent down to meet Scootaloo at eye level and tipped his hat to her “And who are these little ladies?” She remained silent and kept her grip on Lightning’s leg, Lightning himself chuckled at this and patted her head. “This is Scootaloo-” he pointed to the other two “-and that’s Sweetie Belle and Applebloom.” Bobby grinned at Lightning “So you and Sally finally h-” Cal jabbed him in the gut before he could finish. Bobby clenched his stomach and shot a glare in Cal’s direction, he returned it nodding his head in the girls direction. The girls themselves looking confused curious about what he was about to say. After fixing Bobby with a glare of his own, Lightning explained. They had already come up with explanations for anyone who asked where the girls came from. Lightning didn’t like lying to his friends but he knew he had no choice. People wouldn’t understand and worst of all the girls might..no they will be taken away. And no one was going to let that happen. “Actually no she’s my little sister. My parents have been working a lot lately so they can’t really look after her that often anymore. So now I’m taking care of her.” He point to Sweetie Belle “And her story is pretty much the same. She’s Ramone’s little sister.” Then he pointed to Applebloom and Sarge held up a hand “No need soldier, I’ve got it.” Sarge patted Applebloom’s head “And this little cadet here is my daughter. Well adopted. She didn’t have anywhere else to go so I took her in.” “Wow. I never really fancied ya a father Sarge. But this kid seems real keen on ya-” After a while the girls decided that these guys were friends and started talking to them as well. Eventually the adults were the only ones deep in conversation, so the girls decided to go meet the other racers while they were still there. Applebloom told Sarge where they were going and he told them to make sure they’re back at the tent once the speaker announces there’s only fifthteen minutes left until it’s time to leave. The girls assured him they will and were out. And that’s when things took a very very bad turn...