As everyone looked at Shadow in shock, Doc continued to stare at him with a mix of emotions.
"Tell me, kid, do you know a car named Light? He was an old race car that used to race in the Piston Cup before going to the European circuits," asked Doc, staring at Shadow.
"Hn... that's my old man..." replied Shadow lazily as he turned to leave for the village.
Doc kept staring at Shadow before turning to head in the same direction toward the village, followed by Martin carrying McQueen. McQueen was reattached to the machine and started his journey from the beginning again under the watchful eyes of Tom and Shadow.
"Well, to think the great Flash McQueen finds himself here while Chuks is talking to Dinoco," said Shadow in a sarcastic tone.
McQueen simply shot him a dark look and continued his work. Further away, Sally was watching the conversation between the two race cars with Luigi by her side. Feeling a gaze on his back, Shadow turned to look at Sally in return.
"Mmh... is something bothering you, princess?" asked Shadow.
"N... no, well, yes. What is a race car doing in a village like this? Especially with a race coming up," replied Sally, also asking a question.
"What am I doing here? I don't know either. My friend was tired and asked for a rest, so we came to the nearest village, which happens to be this one. Though I think it's partly because of fate," replied Shadow, turning to look at McQueen.
To continue the conversation, Sally moved closer to stand beside him.
"Fate?" asked Sally, looking at McQueen.
"...Yes... I mean, what are the chances I'd come here and meet a princess like you?" replied Shadow lazily.
Sally blushed on the side before regaining her composure and turning her eyes away from McQueen. She saw the whole village behind them, listening to their conversation.
"Is it because of that?" Sally continued to ask.
"...Not really. I've always left everything to fate, whether it's my daily life or during races. I never really cared about what I was doing. Like the last race for the Piston Cup, I could have stayed in last place, but fate decided otherwise when McQueen's tires exploded, and then I remembered why I race, so I accelerated to win the race," replied Shadow, closing his eyes.
"Oh, what's your goal?" asked Sally in a curious voice.
"When I was little, I would say it was to make my father proud... but now, it's just to race the way I want, without caring about expectations... I've always been told I was a genius, that as long as I raced with the goal to win... I would win. But during a race in Europe that was going to determine the winner of the Grand Prix, a car that had always been behind me intentionally hit me out of jealousy, making me roll several times... For a moment, I thought I was going to die... It was at that moment that a question came to my mind... why... why does everyone give everything to be the best? Glory, power, women... all of that is just attained because of greed, and in the end, when we die, none of that comes with us..." explained Shadow before starting to drive at a slow speed under the gaze of Sally and everyone.
The door of the truck opened, and Shadow entered without looking back, then the door closed, letting him sleep in peace.
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Sorry for the short chapter but I write them taking my own story, just to offer you a chapter showing my return I suppose