I decided to try something a little different. The idea for this was heavily, heavily inspired by three people, so I need to credit them. I used to read a lot of fanfictions by Wattpad users @EZ-Dayz and @HannahBanana2604. (Fantastic writers, and absolutely wonderful people by the way. Check out their profiles and works if you get the chance!) They began a book together, doing something they called lyric writing. You'll see what it is soon enough if you don't know already.

As for the third and final person, it is user iCantEvenRn on YouTube. They put together this astonishing video which hugely inspired me to write this one-shot. I'll put the video down below, here. That way, you'll even have the music to go along with the story.

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

I did change a few words just to make the song fit even better. Also, this isn't a CruzXLightning thing, I DO NOT ship them. To me, they have more of a father/daughter relationship, just like Lightning had a father/son relationship with Doc.

I had an absolute blast writing this, so I hope you enjoy!

"I think that's enough for today, Cruz." Lightning spoke into his headset as the canary yellow racer finished her hundred and tenth lap around Willie's Butte.

"Alright, if you say so." Cruz glanced into her rear view mirror longingly as she slowed and drove up to where her mentor sat, parked up on the ridge where he had a perfect view of the entire dirt track.

"I'm sure I don't need to tell you why I've stopped you." Lightning raised an eyebrow quizzically at Cruz.

"I'm guessing I'm starting my hiatus in preparation for my next race." Cruz responded flatly. Lightning smiled, a clear indication she'd guessed correctly.

"Doc always made me take the full week preceding my races off from training." He told her, his smile becoming wistful as he recalled his days with his own mentor, the Fabulous Hudson Hornet.

"Ah, so this is one of Doc's methods, eh?" Cruz said without losing her usual smirk. "Considering the fact that he was a certified GP and crew chief, I'm guessing you took his advice pretty seriously."

"Very." Lightning's gaze flicked over to the Butte again. A million memories flooded into his mind, making his engine ache slightly.

"What was the best advice he ever gave you?" Cruz asked suddenly. Lightning looked at her, slightly shocked.

"Um.. a-about racing?"

Cruz shrugged, becoming more serious. "Life in general."

Lightning frowned very slightly. "Come on. Let's get back to town." As the two cars drove on the worn dirt path, Lightning thought about what Cruz had asked him. What had been Doc's best advice?

When they drove into Radiator Springs, Lightning turned right instead of going straight. "Cruz?" He called, and she followed him. "I think I have an answer for you," he began. Pulling up to a small shed next to the racing history museum, Lightning went inside, leaving the doors wide open. He turned on a light, illuminating a newspaper headline.

HUDSON HORNET OUT FOR SEASON

Cruz said nothing, she simply stared at the newspaper clipping.

"When I arrived in Radiator Springs, I was.. difficult, you could say. Arrogant and hot-headed. You know how Jackson is?" Lightning asked. Cruz raised her eyebrows and nodded.

"Well, I wasn't quite that bad." Lightning revised his implication. "I was a jerk, though. Anyway, soon after I got here, I drove up on Doc while he was practicing out there, at the Butte." Lightning flicked his eyes to where the two race cars had just come from.

(A/N: I recommended playing the video now, and continuing reading.)

"When he realized I'd watched him racing, he stormed off, retreating to this building." Lightning hit the floor gently with his tire.

"I tried to convince him that his driving was something else, but he didn't want to listen. Finally, I asked how a car like him could quit at the top of his game. Well, that did it." The statement ended with a small chuckle.

"He didn't quit." Lightning's voice had became very low and quiet. His eyes rested on the newspaper clipping again. "I remember exactly what he told me, word for word."

"He said, 'I was in my early forties, with a lot of life before me.. when a moment came, that stopped me on a dime.'"

"'I spent most of the next days.. looking at the X-Rays.'" Lightning continued, staring into space. "'Talkin' bout the options, and talkin' bout sweet time.'" Lightning stared at the floor, remembering how he'd reacted. Cruz listened intently, hanging on every word.

"I asked him when it sank in. That this might really be the real end. How's it hit you? When you get that kind of news? Then I asked him, what'd you do?"  

Lightning shook his hood and laughed, his voice cracking with emotion. "He said, 'I went skydiving, I went Rocky Mountain climbing. I took two point seven seconds to round the bend at Willie's Butte.'"

"'And I loved deeper, and I spoke sweeter, and I gave forgiveness I'd been denying.'" Lightning took a deep breath and steadied his voice, smiling sadly at Cruz.

"Then he said, 'Some day I hope you get the chance, to live like you were dying.'"

"It changed me in a huge way." Lightning said hoarsely, then his voice grew stronger. "And I was finally the husband that most of the time I wasn't, and I became a friend a friend would like to have."

"And all of a sudden, going fishing wasn't such an imposition.." Lightning shut his eyes tight. "And I went three times that year I lost my mentor."

Cruz frowned sadly, then looked around the shed at the various boxes of newspapers and video reels.

"Well I finally read the good book, and I.. took a good, long, hard look," Lightning's voice came, very small, from beside her. "At what I'd do if I could do it all again."

"And then?" Cruz prompted softly. He looked up, and she followed his gaze to the numerous photos of Lightning and Doc, and of herself and Lightning.

"I went skydiving, I went Rocky Mountain climbing, I took two point seven seconds.. to round the turn at Willie's Butte. And I loved deeper, I spoke sweeter, and I even gave forgiveness I'd been denying." Lightning turned to face her, with a smile coming back onto his face.

"And you know, Cruz, well, I hope you get the chance.. to live like you were dying. Like tomorrow was a gift, and you've got eternity to think about what you'd do with it... What did I do with it?" He mused. "What would you do with it?" He stopped.

"What will you do with it?"

"Skydiving! I'll go Rocky Mountain climbing, I'll take two point seven seconds, to round the turn at Willie's Butte!" Cruz promised excitedly.

"I'll love deeper, and I'll speak sweeter, and I'll watch an eagle as it goes flying!"

"Lightning, I promise that I will take this chance, to live like I am dying."

"To live like you are dying?" Lightning prompted, his voice cracking.

"To live like I am dying." Cruz vowed. "Doc lived like he was dying." She said slowly, turning again to the photos of Doc and Lightning and herself.

"He lived like he was dying." Lightning repeated, his eyesight still misty.

"I think we'd better get to Flo's. Everyone will be wondering where we went." Lightning said.

"Oh. Yeah." Cruz started to go out the doors, but stopped, turning around slowly. "Lightning?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks for telling me all of this. I.." she trailed off. "It makes a difference. I won't break my promise." She added quickly.

Lightning opened his mouth to respond, but couldn't find the words. Cruz exited the building. "You coming, old man?" She called teasingly.

"I sure am, Fluffy Cloud." He snickered, then raced out the doors to cut her off.

"I don't think so!" Cruz laughed, then swerved around him and surged ahead, beating him by three lengths onto Main Street.

Kid's got a lot of stuff, Lightning thought as he pulled into Flo's station behind Cruz. Doc would be proud of her.

Ahh that video gives me chills every time I watch it!

While I'm on the topic of the Cars franchise, if you guys are looking for some quality fanfiction, may I recommend Sidelined on fanfiction.net? It is about Lightning having a severe crash and having to work his way back up to racing again, and him attempting to win the Piston Cup. I don't want to give too much away, but it also has a fair amount of LightningXSally shipping (which is a big deal to me, it's the one ship I'm crazy about).  Doc is in there as well, and the grammar and storyline are just amazing. I can honestly say that this is one of the best fanfictions (Pixar or otherwise) that I have ever read. And the best part is, it is a complete story, and so are it's two sequels! The succeeding books, Distractions and (the title gives away the plot, but I'll tell you guys individually if you're interested) are almost as good as the first, which is rare. I wholeheartedly recommend these books, seriously, go check them out!

Okay. I'm done now.

Side note, make sure you click on the 2007-2009 books. Another person went and rewrote those books in 2014 or so, and they are not nearly as good, unless you like a whole lot of swearing and sexual content.

Anyway, what'd you think of the lyric writing? Should I do it again? With what movie?

As always, constructive criticisms and requests are more than welcome! Thank you so much for checking out this chapter, and I will see you all next Friday!