Cars, Planes, and Changelings

Small Talk

Chrys found Blade right where she said he'd be, on the cliff near the base. It overlooked the forest, and the changeling knew it was his favorite spot to think. She laid next to the helicopter in the grass. 

"If you're here to ask if I'm angry with Spinner-." Blade didn't tear his gaze from the forest. 

"Nah, I'm here to make sure you don't beat yourself up too much. I found Nick's picture on the wall, and Maru told me what happened." 

The helicopter glanced at Chrys for a second before going back to the trees. "Sometimes I forget you can decipher things pretty quick."

Chrys shrugged and played with a piece of grass. "Heh, not much can hide from me. But I just want to make sure you were okay; Spinner had no right to say anything about your past." 

Blade sighed and opened up a bit. It seemed the changeling was easy to talk to. "You're right. I do miss Nick, especially when others mention the show. It's hard to think about sometimes." 

The changeling nodded and took a deep breath, Doc's face flashing for a second. "I miss my grandfather, even after coming out here I do have moments when I feel like he should still be here." 

*Flashback* 

Chrys rushed into the hospital and burst into Doc's room. She panted as she saw Lightning and Sally, along with the rest of Radiator Springs. "Doc!" 

"Give us the room, everyone." The old racer coughed, and the others drove out of the room, leaving the two alone. "Chrys, I can't tell you how proud I am of you. Of whom you grew to be." 

The rogue came closer and laid down. "You helped raise me right. I'm proud of you too." 

Doc smiled weakly and took a deep breath. "Chrys, I'm gonna have to leave you." 

"No, no, don't say that. You have so much to live for, you can't leave." Chrys felt her eyes burn with tears as her throat tightened. 

The old car only chuckled. "I'm always with you, Chrys. I'm proud of the person you've grown into, and am so happy to have called you, my granddaughter. So, never give up, even when moments are tough."

With that he closed his eyes and the monitors beeped and Chrys called to him over and over. But Doc wouldn't wake up. It wasn't until the rogue was dragged out of the room before she broke down. 

She knew he died.

*Flashback End*

"I went into a depression after that. I wasn't taking care of myself, anytime someone mentioned Doc I'd hide. But when I heard you, guys needed a changeling, I figured that would be a good way to make him proud." 

Blade listened closely as Chrys spoke. It was hard not to with the nearly indestructible creature next to him being vulnerable. 

"I can tell that isn't the only reason." With her sigh, he was right. 

"I felt like I was doing nothing with my life. I felt lost and confused on what I was supposed to do with anything. But I found that purpose out here. This is home, my life now." Chrys looked out to the forest with a smile. "Radiator Springs is my home too, don't get me wrong. But out here, I feel freer than I have in a long time."

The wind blew and the changeling felt something on her shoulder and back, so she looked for a minute before looking back to the forest. "I gotta call my sister. I haven't heard from her in a few weeks." 

Chrys left Blade to continue his look out and went to her hanger. Like Maru says, it was better than new. She fixed it up into a good home too, her nest on one side, her keep sakes on some walls and shelves, and a radio and crystal on a table. 

The rogue sat in front of the crystal and called her sister, not knowing that the rest of the team were talking about her and Blade. 

In the main hanger, the team got done watching Blade's old show and arguing about what happened. But then they got on the subject of Chrys. 

"What about Chrys? She seems close with Blade." Dusty was the one to suggest this, but Maru didn't agree. 

"Chrys isn't gonna tell anyone anything. She's somewhat secretive herself, not talking much about her species, sometimes being so quiet she scares others, and even keeping to herself when she feels like it. Chrys is a lot of things, but not someone to squeal secrets." 

Windlifter agreed. "Scorpion can be an enigma." 

Banging on the hanger door made everyone jump, and Avalanche scream. "I'm not gonna die today!" 

"Guys! I know you're in there! I have news!" It was Chrys, and no one knew how she knew they were there. But they let her in anyway. 

She had the face of the happiest thing alive. It was scary how she bounded in and did her toe tapping excitement on the floor. 

"You alright, Chrys?" Dipper was the first to ask. 

Chrys spun around and hopped forward. "I'm better than alright! I called my sister, and she told me something that made me really happy."

Dusty then remembered. "Oh yeah, Queen Ruby's your sister. What did she tell you?" 

More tip-tapping excitement before Chrys blurted it out. "Ruby's with whelp! I'm gonna be an aunt!" 

Silence before everyone cheered and congratulated her. It was incredible to hear Chrys was gonna have a new addition to her family, and that the hive she was born into will get a new royal arrival. 

"She wants me there for the afterbirth ceremony in a few months. But I told her I might not make it if Blade doesn't give me the day off." 

"I'm sure he would." Maru patted her leg as she flicked her tail and antennae at the same time.