Spooky Tales From Radiator Springs

I got the idea for this short story from the short Cars movie Mater and the Ghost Light. In this fanfic, all your favorite cars from Radiator Springs and two visitors gather together for a night of fun scary story telling! Enjoy!

*This is a fanfiction. I do not own Disney, Pixar, the Cars franchise, or any of its characters/locations etc.*

It was a warm, dark night in Radiator Springs. All the residents were parked just outside Flo's V8 Cafe, chatting lightheartedly with each other and having a good time. Lightning McQueen and Sally were nuzzled up right next to each other. Mater was enthusiastically telling stories about his spy adventures with Finn MacMissile and Holly Shiftwell. Luigi and Guido were arguing over tires, and Flo and Ramone were gazing lovingly into each other's eyes . Red was watering his flowerbed as Lizzie snored fast asleep at her Curios souvenir shop. Fillmore blankly gazed at the stoplight, Sarge listened to Mater's stories, and Sheriff stood on guard, watching the townsfolk casually interact.

Suddenly, a new pair of headlights approached, and a young, grinning yellow coupe came into view. "Hi, everyone!" she greeted warmly. She was panting as though she had rushed to get there. "Sorry I'm late. The traffic was terrible!"

"Cruz!" Lightning McQueen called joyfully. "Glad you made it!"

"Well, shoot! I was startin' ta think you wasn't gonna show up!" Mater exclaimed.

Cruz chuckled. "Yeah, me too," she admitted. "One of the traffic lights took like ten minutes to change!"

"Well, we're all happy to see you here safe and sound," Sally said.

"Oh, I wouldn't miss a chance to hang out with you guys for anything!" said Cruz.

"Aw, well aren't you just the sweetest thing , sugar!" Flo gushed.

Cruz parked in between Lightning and Mater. After getting all settled, she gazed around at everyone. "So," she said. "Anyone have anything fun planned?"

"We could-a rebuild the a-leaning tower of a-tires that Guido knocked over," Luigi suggested, shooting a glare at his blue forklift friend.

Guido began angrily spitting arguments in Italian.

"We could try out my new organic fuel," Fillmore offered.

Sarge sighed in disgust. "Get a carwash, hippie."

"We could go tractor tippin'!" Mater piped up.

Cruz gave him a funny look. "What's tractor tipping?" she asked in confusion.

Mater grinned. "Aw, shoot, it's fuuuun!" he said. "Dat's all ya need ta know!"

Lightning rolled his eyes with a chuckle. "Mater...I don't know if Cruz would be up for something like that."

Cruz scoffed. "Mr. McQueen...whatever it is, I'm pretty sure I can take it."

Lightning wagged his eyelids. "Oh-ho-ho!" he laughed mockingly. "Sounds like someone thinks they're pretty confident, huh?"

"I am pumped, Mr. McQueen!" Cruz exclaimed enthusiastically. "I can handle anything tonight! I'm curious to see what this 'tractor tipping' thing is. I mean, I know you're probably too old to handle it, but I am totally up for it!"

"Yo!" Ramone said. "You gonna let her dis you like that, McQueen?"

Lightning just laughed. "Trust me, Cruz would come crying home with Frank right on her taillight," he said.

The other residents shared a laugh.

Cruz looked at everyone in confusion. "Wait, who's Frank?"

Suddenly, Mater stopped laughing and his green eyes lit up. "I just got an even better idea!" he cried. "Let's tell some a 'dem scary stories! Ya know, da ones dat make ya rattle 'til yer paint falls off!"