Author's Note: So...this is a project that started several months ago when the lockdowns started to hit in the US and I started posting the chapters at Archive of Our Own. But seeing I have a lot of readers that are only on and since COVID is starting to get ugly again in several states I thought I probably should get my butt into gear and work on getting this story properly cross-posted. I hope that these little shorts help bring a bit of brightness to your day. Oh...and as a heads up, this advent calendar is a bit different than my Christmas ones. I will be cycling through the alphabet until we get to the other side of this crisis.

Disclaimer: I am adding some detail because some readers have been a bit confused by where this story fits in relationship with films they love. This story is written for the Planes side of the Cars Universe. The Planes side of things was created by Disney, while the Cars side of the story was created by Pixar. There are a number of minor crossover characters and locations that exist in both stories. I do not own Planes or Cars, I just borrow them and get them in trouble every once in a while. If you are new to this universe I would suggest checking out Planes:Fire and Rescue before reading this series. It will make a whole lot more sense if you are introduced to the characters first.

A is for Advice

Maru had worked around Hollywood's lots long enough to know when somethings were going to get interesting. The moment that Nick Loopin' Lopez gave out a cry of dismay that could have probably been heard two film studios over, he knew that this was going to be one of those moments.

"Quien escoriando ate all of the maple bars!"

Everyone on the lot knew that the Maple bars in the refreshment tent were specifically purchased for one particularly picky star. They were set aside away from the other doughnuts so that no one would accidentally snag them and eat them. Everyone knew this unwritten or were able to figure it out by looking at how the refreshments…everyone but the apparently newest star on the lot…

"Do you want my advice kid?" Maru asked while eyeing the guilty-looking helicopter in front of him. "Go to the store, purchase some more doughnuts, and then go and apologize."

"It wasn't my fault…" Blazin' Blade Ranger gulped as he refused to make eye contact with the mechanic. "I didn't know…"

"Doesn't matter Blaze." Maru sighed and patted the helicopter on his nose. "Nicky's a diva, but he is darn good at his job, which is why we put up with all of his quirks…"

Maru left his words hanging in hopes that Blaze would put two and to two together. Nick Loopin' Lopez was an established tent pole actor while Blaze was a relative newcomer. If there were issues between the two leads, Blaze would be the one who would be shown the door and because there was a long line of newbies perfectly willing to step into his landing spot.

"Thank you." He muttered under quiet after a few long rotor beats, before rolling off towards the film lot's front gate.

The helicopter was missing for a good hour and a half…which was fine because the morning's filming schedule had already been shot to slag. For a while the mechanic wondered if Blade had just given up and run, but then Maru spotted the blue and white painted helicopter nervously making his way towards Nick's trailer with a box of donuts from a very expensive bakery. Maru couldn't help grinning into his coffee. It seemed like Maru's advice had been taken and Blazin' Blade Ranger did have some common sense after all.