A Girl Who Races

A Journeys Beginning

There is a time jump between this chapter and the last chapter, a year later.
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Amelia is still actively looking for a sponsor to get her racing, she has been turned down 16 times.

"Ugh, Lightning! I don't know what I'm gonna do. Nobody is accepting me." She says as she hits her head on the desk in the Cozy Cone office. Sally is letting her use the computer in there.

If she doesn't get a sponsor soon she won't be able to race this up coming season. She's been doing as much training as she possibly can without a car for herself, she's been learning the rules and how to execute problems if anything were to go wrong. Doc and Lightning have been showing her all the tips and tricks on Willies Butte, but there's only so much she can do without her own race car.

"Ugh, I wish I was born a race car like you! This is so frustrating."

"Nobody said this was going to be easy." Lightning replies.

"I know, I know."

Lightning watches Amelia slump.

"You know, maybe I could talk to Rusteze, see if they'll let another racer in besides myself." Lightning suggests.

Amelia immediately sits bolt up right, do you mean it!"

"Yea why not." Lightning says slightly rolling his eyes.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!!" Amelia says as she gets out of her chair and hugs lightnings roof. "But wait... I should talk to them, I should make a good first impression."

"Amelia, you've already made a good impression. They've met you before, remember."

"Lightning, I'm 19 I should be able to ask them myself."

"Ok... at least let me come with you."

"Deal!"

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Lightning calls Mack to see if he is ok with driving Amelia and Lightning to Rusteze headquarters. The two wave goodbye to the townsfolk before they leave, everyone wishing Amelia good luck. Doc still insists on coming but McQueens trailer can only hold two cars, so Doc decided it was best to stay in town, he trusts Lightning is knowledgeable enough to help the rookie girl.

Amelia is still blown away by McQueens trailer, she's only been in it once, when McQueen first came to Radiator Springs.

"So." Lightning started. " if your accepted, we're going to have to figure some things out. This trailer is big enough to haul two cars but..." Lightning stops when he notices Amelias excitement and adds on "that is if you get your race car today." Emphasizing the word if.  Amelia nods. "It's rare that one sponsor will have two racers in a race at once and we'll need to find you a crew if you want to race with me."

"I can't use Guido and Luigi and Doc?" Amelia asks.

"Doc can handle being our crew chief even if we're both on the racetrack at once. Ive already discussed that with him."

"Ok." Amelia impatiently waits.

"Your tires on the other hand, Guido cannot handle both of us at once so we're going to have to find someone who can change your tires and do fuel."

"Oh, ok." Amelia says a little disappointed, she quickly cheers up though.

"How do we find my own crew then?"

"Hopefully Rusteze will have some people or cars ready to help you out. If not, we'll have to find them ourselves."

"Ok. I'm ready" Amelia says still marvelling at McQueens trailer.