169Nooooo! Why?! We're at the last chapter! *Sniffles*
Ramone: Oh, dude! Are you crying?
Me: No! I'm happy! I loved this story and since Cars 3 is my favourite movie, I'm happy to know I feel like I've done it justice in this fic! Sure, I'm sad to see it come to an end and wish I could do it all over again, but I'm glad I finished it and my readers enjoyed it.
*Red bursts into tears and drives off*
Me: Red, come back! There's still one chapter left!
Lightning: And we gotta reveal the answer to the final quiz question, which is... *Pulls out a child's drawing of the Radiator Springs citizens* A drawing of everyone!
Me: That's right! This chapter was originally part of the last one, but I split it in two! For the last time, please enjoy, guys!
Chapter 39: To the Future (Part 2)
Later that night, Fudge tried to wrestle a hairbrush through her wet, curly hair.
"Fudgie? Are you okay?" Luigi wanted to know, entering the bathroom. He was never going to stop worrying about her.
"Yeah, I'm fine."
"Do you need help brushing your hair?"
"Yes please!"
Luigi laughed and took the hairbrush from his daughter.
"Do you have your dress?" he asked her.
"Yeah, it's on my bed."
"Okay... How does your hair get knotted so quickly?"
"I don't know."
"Well, I am glad you got your hair cut!"
"Me too. I didn't want it too short. I didn't like it when I had it chin-length when I was ten. But I want it to be short enough to be easy to look after and not in my face while I'm racing. Sammy did a good job."
"Yes she did. You look beautiful, Fudge." Luigi gave her a kiss.
"Thanks, Luigi."
Once her hair was brushed, Fudge went to her room to put the dress Luigi wanted her to wear on. It was cobalt blue and came down to her knees. To go with it, Fudge had shiny cobalt blue flats. When she was fully dressed, she stopped to look at her reflection in the mirror. Not bad. It was a very nice colour. Staring at herself in the mirror made her think about how she felt like a new person now. She felt like a strong, confident young woman, excited for whatever her future held. It was that that reminded her of a song, which she began to sing to her reflection softly. The song was "Real Girl" by Mutya Buena.
"Fudgie?" Luigi got her attention. "We should go."
Fudge grinned. "Let's go." However, before she moved away from the mirror, she whispered to herself, "This one's for you, Doc!"
As soon as she got over to Flo's, everyone began exclaiming over how nice the human girl looked.
"Fudge, you look gorgeous, honey!" Flo proclaimed.
"You look beautiful!" Lightning added.
"I don't think I've ever seen you in a dress. You look nice!" That was Cruz.
"You know", Ramone began, looking Fudge up and down, "I think that's a good colour on you, Fudge."
"You really think so?" Fudge's face was beginning to go red.
Ramone nodded. "Absolutely."
"Well, thanks!"
The party was quite a mellow one. Old fifties music was playing while there was a small amount of dancing and cruising. Mostly, everyone milled around the café, talking animatedly and Flo served them all with drinks.
"Has everyone got a drink?" she quizzed them all.
"Yep", the crowd confirmed.
"Sammy? Diet Coke again?" Lightning asked in surprise, noticing that she wasn't drinking Junior's moonshine like the Legends all were along with most of the Radiator Springs residents (Fudge had Fanta and Fillmore had his own organic fuel).
"Yep", the rainbow-haired woman replied simply.
"What's with you lately?" the race car wondered. "You used to be able to drink everyone under the table."
"Yeah!" Ramone chimed in. "You could cream us all in those drinkin' contests we used to have!"
"Yeah, what's going on?" Sarge wondered.
"Is this because of your cancer or...?" Lightning wondered.
Sammy grinned. She knew it was time to tell the Radiator Springs residents. Fudge knew. Smokey and the Legends knew. RJ just found out that morning. She couldn't hide it from the RS gang any longer.
"I'm pregnant, guys."
The RS gang gasped in amazement.
"You are?!" Lightning exclaimed. "Wow! Great!"
Sammy's grin expanded. "It is pretty great."
"What's pregnant mean?" Mater wondered.
"I'm havin' a baby", Sammy explained.
"Dad-gum!" Mater cried excitedly.
"Well, we're all happy for ya, sugar", Flo announced, everyone else echoing.
"Thanks."
"And hey!" Sheriff shouted. "Does this mean our Fudge is gonna be an aunt?"
The rest of the Radiator Springs residents exclaimed, "That's right!", and turned to the aforementioned teen.
"Yep", she confirmed with a smile. "I'm kinda nervous, but mostly excited."
"I am sure you will be a wonderful auntie, Fudgie!" Luigi proclaimed, kissing her forehead.
"Thanks..."
"Wait. Half-aunt or full aunt?" Lightning wondered.
"Let's not overcomplicate this!" Fudge laughed.
"Aunt Fudge", Flo mused softly. "I like that."
"Me too!" Fudge proclaimed.
Sammy beamed. "You're all going to be aunts and uncles!"
As everyone chattered away about how great Sammy's pregnancy was, Sally grinned at Lightning. "So, if Sammy's having a baby..."
"Don't start!" Lightning teased.
Sally laughed. "Seriously, Stickers!"
"Seriously... You know I've always been busy with the racing and now I got a new job with Fudge and Cruz." He sighed. "I do want one some day, though."
Sally smiled. "Me too."
Lightning pushed his oil forward, clearing his throat. Everyone turned to face the stock car. "Congratulations, Sammy. Now, we got something else to celebrate here tonight. To Sammy! I think I speak for everyone when I say I couldn't be happier for you!"
"To Sammy!" everyone shouted.
"Now, I would like to propose another toast", Lightning announced. "To Cruz and Fudge." He looked to the two of them and gave a smile, which they returned. "I know what it's like to start a career in racing. And I know you guys do too." He waved a tyre towards the Legends. "It can be exciting and nerve-wracking, but I know they are gonna shake up the racing world. And I wish them the very best of luck and many years of good times on the track."
"To Cruz and Fudge!" everyone yelled while the two racers smiled and seemed to be embarrassed, but were secretly loving the attention.
"And to Lightning McQueen!" Fudge chimed in. "He's got a new job too as our crew chief. We wish you the very best of luck putting up with us and many years of good times doing that! We'll try to make you proud."
Lightning smiled. "You already have."
"To Lightning McQueen!"
"And to the future!" Lightning went on. "I don't know what it holds, but I am ready for it and excited."
"To the future!"
"All right. I guess there's one last thing left for me to say and that's..." He took a deep breath. "I think with where we are and what's happened, we should all take a moment... for Doc. Whether you knew him as Doc or Hud, I think we can all agree that he was a great car and none of this would've happened if it wasn't for him. To Doc!"
"To Doc!" everyone else echoed.
Then every single one of them fell silent, thinking about Doc (while Fudge used her headphones to listen to the song "If You Could See Me Now" by The Script). (AN: That song always makes me think of Lightning and Doc, especially since I first heard it on my way to the movies to see Cars 3 for the fifth time.) Thinking about their favourite memories with him, how he had impacted and influenced them and how things wouldn't be the way they were without him. Feeling his presence nearby told them all that everything was just how it should be.
Fudge gazed up at the star-filled sky and whispered, "Wherever you are, I love you."
"Mr. McQueen? Can you please tell me what's going on?" Cruz begged.
"Nope. It's a surprise."
"So, we've got our eyes closed and we're about to cross the street. Very good!" Fudge mumbled sarcastically.
It was a couple of days later and the sun was only just rising over Radiator Springs. Lightning, Cruz and Fudge were awake early to get on the road. They had a race coming up in a few days and first, Tex wanted them to check out the new Rust-Eze Racing Center as he'd made changes to it since buying Rust-Eze. Then they would take a brief visit to Thomasville to see Smokey and the Legends again. Plus, Fudge would go with RJ and Sammy for the latter's first ultrasound!
Fudge was excited! She wore her new Dinoco 51 outfit, which she loved. Only, right now, all she cared about was the big surprise that Lightning and Mack were hyping up for her and Cruz. They insisted on making them close their eyes and walk to the middle of Main Street.
"You ready?" Lightning quizzed them with a huge grin.
"That depends!" Fudge responded. "For what?"
"Open your eyes and see for yourself."
When Fudge and Cruz opened their eyes, they widened. In front of them was a brand new trailer! It was mostly blue with CRUZ RAMIREZ AND FUDGE ROSSI-TOPOLINO 51 DINOCO'S DYNAMIC DUO written on it in yellow. (Dinoco's Dynamic Duo was the nickname given to them by the press.) It also had an image of the two of them upside-down, obviously a reference to them flipping over Storm.
"Wow!" Cruz squealed excitedly.
"That looks awesome!" Fudge exclaimed, unable to take her eyes off the trailer.
"I love it!" Cruz added.
Lightning smiled. "I was hoping you would. Champions like you two deserve to ride in style!"
"If the inside looks as good as the outside, then I'm sure we will!" Fudge declared.
"Well, there's not much on the inside just yet", Lightning informed them. "We thought that was a job for you guys."
"That sounds fun!" Cruz commented, hugging Fudge.
"Yeah, it does!" Fudge agreed. She'd never decorated a trailer, but she'd never been good at any kind of design, whether it be art or fashion. Still, decorating the trailer sounded fun. Then her eyes widened as an idea came to her. "Maybe I could get a beanbag to chill on!"
"Good idea!" Cruz cried enthusiastically and the two immediately launched into discussing ideas on how to style the trailer's interior.
"Tyres coming through!" Luigi called out at that moment as he and Guido drove past, loaded with tyres.
"Grazie!" the two racers chorused.
"Got your fuel right here, man!" Fillmore hollered as he and Sarge came through.
"Thanks!" Fudge and Cruz replied in unison.
"Here's your bag, Fudge!" Sally handed Fudge a large bag filled with her racing gear, changes of clothes and toiletries.
"Thank you, Sally!" Fudge recited in a slightly singsong voice.
Mater came racing towards them, sporting the biggest hat of all, complete with details of Lightning, Fudge and Cruz's adventures to train for the Florida 500- the Rust-Eze Racing Center, Fireball Beach, Thunder Hollow, Thomasville, Lightning being crew chief for Cruz and Fudge, the three of them in victory lane with a devastated Jackson Storm looking on. His hat prompted laughter from his friends as he yelled, "I got Fudge's iPod!"
Everyone laughed even more.
"Why don't you put it on for me, Mater?" the sixteen-year-old suggested with a grin.
"Yes, Fudge!" Mater drove off into the trailer to do just that. Although they heard him groan, "Dad-gum technology!", pretty soon, he got the song "Ready to Go (Get Me Out My Mind)" by Panic! At the Disco started.
"Well, this is it!" Lightning announced, standing next to Fudge and Cruz as the three of them watched the sunrise. "We're heading off on our next big adventure."
"Yep. I can't wait", Cruz added.
Fudge smiled softly as she leaned up against Lightning. "Me neither."
"No matter how many adventures we have together. I always look forward to the next one", Lightning informed the human girl, giving her a hug.
"Me too. You know why?" she quizzed the other two as they made their way inside the trailer, ready to head off on said next big adventure.
Lightning shook his hood. "No. Why?"
"Because life is a highway and I wanna ride it all night long!" Fudge answered with a grin as she let out a little giggle. "You hear me, Monty McQueen? Ride! Ride!"
The End
Well, that's it then. My four main stories- Life Could Be a Dream, When Life Gives You Lemons, Ride, Driven to Win... They're all over!
By the way, I deliberately ended both Ride and Driven to Win at sunrise to symbolise new beginnings.
At least we still have the Q and A to look forward to! Here it is!
Okay, our first questions are from Colonel Beanbags:
How did you all initially feel when finding out Sammy's pregnancy and how happy do you all feel?
Lightning: We were all really happy for her, obviously and we all can't wait to meet the baby. It also got me thinking about what kind of future I want with Sally. I am open to having kids with her, but only time will tell if that's gonna happen...
Fudge, how do you and Cruz feel to finally have reach your dream? I would like to say keep at the fantastic work and you two will be unstoppable.
Cruz and Fudge: Thanks!
Cruz: It's awesome! I pretty much gave up hope on becoming a racer, but now, it's real and to be a racing alongside my best friend, my life has never been better.
Fudge: I feel the same way! I always wondered if there was ever a possibility Lightning would ever let me race again after the accident, but now that he has... It just seems too good to be true! I swear this is all a dream and I'm going to wake up any second!
Sammy walks over and slaps Fudge.
Fudge: Ow! What did you do that for?!
Sammy: Showing you you're not dreaming!
Now, SV has some questions for you all:
This question is for Flo: When you were part of a show girl group, was it a singing group? If not, what kind of group was it?
Flo: Well, it was mostly modelling, but there was some singing involved as well.
This question is for Ramone: Since you change your paint job all the time, is purple and yellow your real paint job? If not, what color is your real paint job?
Ramone (laughing): My original colour used to be beige, actually.
Me and Fudge: You're kidding!
Ramone: Nope. I guess that's one of the reasons why I love colours so much! Beige was so boring!
I'll say! These questions are for McQueen: When you broke Cruz's trophy, did you really want to break it or did you do it accidentally? Be honest.
Lightning (cringing): God, I feel so bad about that. It really was an accident! I'm really sorry, Cruz!
Cruz: I've told you, Mr. McQueen. It's all right. I know it was an accident and it reminds me of all the good times we had in those two weeks.
Did your fight with Cruz and Fudge remind you of your fight with Mater in Japan back in 2011?
Lightning: Not at the time, but when I thought about it later, it definitely did. I felt really bad about that as well. I guess I really need to work on that. I keep lashing out on people I love when I'm stressed.
Since your air flaps keep you from flipping, does that mean you can't do Doc's flip move or would you be able to do it?
Lightning: I don't know. I've never tried it. I'll have to some day.
Cruz and Fudge: Good luck topping us!
Lightning: *Rolls eyes*
How come Mia and Tia were not at your races cheering for you? Are they still fans of you?
Lightning: You know, I haven't seen them in a while. I don't really know, but I guess they have just lost interest in me.
Fudge: Can't imagine why.
Lightning: Well, a lot of people did when Jackson Storm showed up. Besides, they've said they were fans of me, not racing, so maybe they've gone back to movie stars or something.
How long are you going to be dark blue?
Lightning: I don't know. I haven't really put a deadline on it. If I miss being red, I'll go back to red.
Me: You know, I once saw on Tumblr that someone headcanons that Sally makes you change it back.
Sally (confused): Why? I like it.
Me: Because apparently, you don't want to think of Doc when you're kissing Lightning.
Lightning and Sally (disgusted): Thanks for ruining it!
*Lightning hurries over to Ramone's and returns in his normal red paint job*
Lightning, now that you're back, we have one more question for you: In a way, your dream of racing for Dinoco has finally come true. How does that make you feel?
Lightning: Well, it definitely didn't happen in the way I would've imagined when I was a kid and young racer, dreaming of racing for Dinoco, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I love how my racing career has gone so far and I can't wait to see where it goes from here.
This question is for you, Fudge your OC and Sammy, if you heard of Harry Potter, have you read all the books, seen all the movies or both?
Me: It's not really my thing, but I was forced to watch a couple of the movies a few times.
Fudge: Yeah, same.
Sammy: I've read the books and seen the movies. They're pretty cool.
This question is for Fudge, Sammy, Cruz, McQueen and the Radiator Springs gang: have you guys seen a movie called Marley and Me?
Cruz: I have. I cried.
Fudge: I don't wanna see it! I don't like sad movies involving animals.
Sally: Stickers cried at the end too.
Lightning: How could you not? Only a robot wouldn't! The only part of that movie I liked is one of the characters sounds just like me.
Me: That's because you have the same actor.
Lightning (confused): Actor?
Me: Never mind. Here's two more questions S.v came up with for Fudge, Sammy, Cruz and the Radiator Springs gang: have you guys heard of a video game character named Sonic the Hedgehog?
Fudge: I'm not really into video games, but Sonic the Hedgehog's pretty cool! Speed has always appealed to me.
Lightning: Yeah, that's why I always liked playing Sonic video games when I was a kid.
This question is for Fudge: What cartoons did you watch when you were younger?
Fudge: When I wasn't watching any cartoon with race cars, I watched Dora the Explorer and Thomas the Tank Engine, stuff like that. I also watched cartoons called The Backyardigans and Little Robots. I barely remember Little Robots now, but when I searched it up on YouTube, I realised I'd forgotten how catchy the opening theme is! When I got a little older, I watched cartoons like SpongeBob, Phineas and Ferb and Recess… I still watch SpongeBob, actually.
The following questions are from Emily:
Have Doc, Smokey, Louise, River and Junior known each other since they were kids or teenagers?
Junior: God, how long has it been?
River (trying to remember): Long time.
Junior: I think we must've been in our late teens when we met, somethin' like that.
Louise: But Smokey's a little bit older than us.
Me: How much older?
Smokey: I ain't answerin' that!
Did Smokey ever have eyes for anyone back in Thomasville? (Like Louise did for Doc, or Hud, as the Legends like to call him!)
Smokey: A few...
Junior: Hundred!
River: He wanted them all!
Louise: And he thought being the mentor for the Fabulous Hudson Hornet meant he could have them all!
Smokey: All right, so I wanted them all, but still, I treated them with nothin' but respect!
Legends: That's true.
When will Sammy have her baby? And when she does, will she have a boy or a girl, and what will she name him or her?
Sammy: The baby is due in November 2017. I know the answers the other questions, but I don't wanna say anything just yet...
And last, but most certainly not least, we have some questions from Foxy Hedgehog:
(Author) Fudge, what would you say, is the best part of being a Fanfiction Writer?
Me: I guess it's a two-way street. I enjoy imagining these scenes and later bringing them to life in my stories and you guys enjoy reading them. Then it goes back the other way and I enjoy reading your reviews. Reviews always make my day, so even if I've never replied to yours personally, please know that I see them and I appreciate every single one!
Who, or what, would you say is your biggest inspiration for being a Fanfiction Writer?
Me: Well, I've always liked writing and ever since I was little, I would imagine myself hanging out with the characters from my favourite movies and TV shows. So, when I was introduced to fanfiction by a cousin, I knew it was perfect for me!
I used to write short stories in exercise books. I was inspired by the oneshots written by CarsCars2Fanatic to do that.
Now, it is my many awesome readers and reviewers like you, Foxy Hedgehog, who inspire me to keep writing. So, thanks, guys!
Cruz and Fudge. What was it like for you two, when you were working together in the big race?
Cruz: Well, as you know, it didn't get off to the best start.
Fudge: Yeah, I think we were caught off guard more than anything, I mean, we hadn't really had a chance to prepare for it. That's why we didn't start off so well.
Cruz: But luckily, once Mr. McQueen was able to get through to us, we were able to not only focus, but it gave us the confidence to race together and help each other.
Fudge: After that, we fell into a rhythm and it was pretty exciting. That was our first time racing together and we found we work really well together.
Cruz: I can't believe I didn't think of getting a rider earlier. I feel like I work better with Fudge than I do on my own.
Fudge: And obviously, I race better with Cruz too! *Laughs*
Lightning, how did it feel to you, when you were being the Crew Chief for Fudge and Cruz?
Lightning: You know, I wasn't even really thinking when I got on that platform. I didn't think about this possibly being a career for me or anything. I just had to guide the girls through their race. You saw how nervous they were and Smokey wasn't getting through to them, so I did what I had to do.
Fudge: And we're very grateful for that.
Lightning: Well, I understand you guys. After all, I've been teaching you about racing for over ten years now. I know what approaches work and what approaches don't. Now, in hindsight, I'm glad I did it. I'm glad I could help them win and I found something else that makes me happy!
Me: Now, I have a question for Herman: Why do you hate Fudge so much?
Herman: Honk!
Me: Well, I guess that just about sums it up. Thank you to everyone who asked questions.
Next thing is to reveal the Easter Eggs!
1. 616 (the official release date for Cars 3 and, on a side note, Fudge's birthday!): the time it was when Cruz and Fudge head off to Thunder Hollow.
2. 624 (the day I saw Cars 3 at the movies for the first time): Lightning's hospital room number after the crash
3. A113: the entrance Smokey and Sammy enter the pits from at the Florida 500.
Did you spot them?
As I did with Ride, I want to dedicate this story to my faithful readers and reviewers, including (again, in no particular order): Colonel Beanbags, S.V. Dinosaur Imperial Soldier, kristinalprime23 and Foxy Hedgehog! You guys are my Cruz Ramirez! You guys inspire me to keep writing and keep posting! Now, this is my most reviewed story and I never imagined I'd get this many reviews; it's awesome! So, thanks, guys!
I also want to dedicate this story to all of the Cars voice actors, who are no longer with us:
Joe Ranft (Red): 1960-2005
George Carlin (Fillmore): 1937-2008
Paul Newman (Doc Hudson): 1925-2008
Tom Magliozzi (Rusty Rust-Eze): 1937-2014
Lynda Petty (Mrs. The King): ?-2014
Katherine Helmond (Lizzie): 1929-2019
Junior Johnson (Junior Moon): 1931-2019
RIP, guys! :(
On a more positive note, I just want to say thanks again for the reviews and support! I loved this story and I'm glad you guys did too! And I just want you to know that this isn't the end! The story of Cruz and Fudge racing is going to continue in the Cars Origins trilogy, but that won't be up for a while. I only have rough ideas for that right now.
*Turns to all of the characters from Driven to Win* Come on, guys! Let's take a bow! I think we've earned it!
*They all approach*
*I shove Sterling, Jackson Storm, Zara and Layla away* Not you!
*Everyone else bows with me while readers clap, cheer and whistle*
French SpongeBob narrator: Two hours later...
*I'm stood in empty theatre as a janitor sweeps the floor*
Janitor: What are you doing? The show ended two hours ago!
Me: I don't wanna leave.
Janitor: I'm trying to clean here!
Me: All right, all right. I'm going. *Starts walking out, but stops and turns around in exit, raising my arm* Thanks, guys! See you soon!
*Walks out*
