Chapter Seventeen – The Strong Souls

Nick and Leland hid in the trees while everyone else returned to Nathan's tribe. Nathan and most of the townsfolk waited for them, and Nathan pulled Sky into a tight hug.

"Don't ever scare me like that again!" Nathan scolded his granddaughter.

"Sorry." Sky said. "But you're not going to believe what happened out there!"

"Besides the wildfire?" Nathan scoffed. "After we lost track of Simon, we had to run out of the forest before the fire could catch us."

"Then we saw that fireball in the sky! It was so cool!" one of the psyche humans behind Nathan said.

"Also, Miss Katherine, we found your wheelchair." A vehicle said. "It looks like someone smashed it to bits with a baseball bat."

"Figures. But I can get a new one." Katherine assured.

"We've got you a temporarily replacement right here!" another psyche human came up with an old wheelchair, helping Katherine ease herself into it.

"What happened to Simon?" Nathan asked. "Did you find him?"

"The whole thing was a trap set up by Simon!" Sparky announced.

"It's true." Katherine said. "Simon could control liquids with his powers, and he used those powers to lift me and Sparky and carry us into the forest."

"He tried to kill us." Sky said. "He caused that fire."

Nathan looked both shocked and saddened. He sighed. "It's late. We should get to bed, and we'll talk more in the morning."

Nobody argued with that. It had been a tiring evening. But Sky did lead Nathan out to the forest to show him Nick and Leland. Nathan was too tired to fully process it, so he simply led the young men to his house where they could hide. He also placed Simon's body in a safe place to await burial.

The next day, Nathan sat with everyone and heard the whole story from start to finish. He was saddened to hear of Simon's actions, and then astonished when Sky described their interactions with Seishin. Nathan promised to keep that meeting a secret. When the townsfolk gathered for a meeting, Nathan told them only of Simon's plot to kill Sky and the visitors. Nathan claimed it was fear of outsiders that caused Simon to do it. Though everyone was ashamed of Simon's actions, they were saddened by his death and agreed he should be buried and receive a proper funeral.

The entire day, Sky, Harley, Katherine, and their friends spent resting after such an ordeal. Nick and Leland spent time with Katherine and Harley to learn how to adjust to their new human forms. Blade and Finn stood by for moral support, and to chuckle at their friends' clumsiness. Sparky called Skipper and finally confessed everything that happened. He received quite an earful from the concerned Corsair. Skipper made Sparky promise that Sky would come home to Propwash Junction for a few days to recuperate and assure Skipper she was okay.

Sky and Nathan oversaw Simon's funeral arrangements. They arranged for his burial to be within the next couple days, and Simon's few friends would come to speak kind words about him. As Sky discovered, Simon wasn't necessarily liked by many people in town.

"Did Simon ever find his Soul Connect Partner?" Sky asked Nathan as they journeyed home.

"No." Nathan said. "Then again, Simon never went searching for his Soul Connect Partner."

"Did he think his Partner would just appear?" Sky asked.

"Nope. Simon believed he didn't need a Soul Connection." Nathan explained. "He thought he could be strong without it. Yes, he discovered his power of controlling liquids without his Partner. But Simon's powers have always been weak. Limited to abilities akin to telekinesis."

Sky looked down sadly. "That's terrible. To leave his Partner hanging like that."

"Well, his Partner never knew about him, either. Nobody knows who Simon's Partner could be." Nathan said. "Honestly, perhaps that would-be Partner's life is better without Simon's poor, damaged soul."

"Does Simon have any family?" Sky asked.

"Only a sister in Louisiana." Nathan said. "Doesn't visit very often. She's had a rough life, too, but tries to keep her hopes up. I'll have to tell her about Simon's death."

Sky remembered Seishin's curse. The thief who stole the amulet and his children would live miserable lives until the amulet was returned. Now that Seishin had the amulet again, the curse should be broken. I hope Simon's sister will have better luck, and a better life, now that the amulet is back with Seishin. Sky thought.

Nathan and Sky returned to the house just in time to see Nick and Leland tumble down the stairs and land in a heap on the floor. "Are you two all right?" Nathan asked worriedly.

"I landed on my tailbone!" Nick laughed. "I have a tailbone to land on!"

"That's really no reason to celebrate." Leland rubbed his head. He had bonked it on the railing on his way down.

"We've had mixed results, so far." Blade chuckled.

"Maybe we should teach them how to wash up for lunch." Katherine suggested.

"I'll go pull out some stuff for sandwiches." Nathan offered.

"I'll help." Blade followed Nathan into the kitchen while Katherine guided Leland and Nick to the bathroom. The others followed, mostly to watch in amusement.

Blade helped Nathan gather ingredients for lunch. He made sure no one could hear him before looking to Nathan. "I've been wondering something, and maybe you can answer this for me."

"What is it?" Nathan asked.

"Raven has two Soul Connect Partners because she's a descendent of Seishin." Blade explained. "But now, I have two Partners, too: Raven and, now, Nick. Why is it I'm able to have two Soul Connections like Sky?"

"You have the soul for it." Nathan said. "Sky has a strong soul, too. She's strong enough to hold two Soul Connections equally. You're like that, too. The strength of your soul and the care you have for your friends allow you to create and keep those connections. It's almost like you're a psych-man yourself."

"I wouldn't go that far." Blade said. "I'm a firefighter. It's my job to protect people."

"You weren't always a firefighter." Nathan pointed out. "But you've always been protective, haven't you?"

Blade thought about it. "I guess so."

Nathan grinned to himself as he set the table. "You have a strong soul, Chief Ranger. It's battered and burned here and there, but its strength is resolute."

Blade wondered how Nathan could've known that. What was it about him that gave Nathan that idea? But, instead of asking, Blade realized some things may always be a mystery. Nathan did have a certain intuition about him. So, Blade just smiled and said, "Thanks."

Sky, Harley, Katherine, Finn, and Blade wandered around the town, chatting with the enthusiastic townsfolk who wanted to know more about their abilities and Connections. This was their last day in the town, after all. Now that the switching situation was resolved, Blade had to get back to Piston Peak for fire season. Sky had to get to Propwash Junction to assure Skipper and Dusty she was still alive, and then return to Piston Peak.

Nathan hosted them at his house for dinner, and Nick and Leland laughed about their misadventures learning to use their human bodies. It would take some time before they were fully accustomed to their new forms. Katherine insisted that she needed to take them shopping for new clothes, or else they'd wear the same outfits Seishin gave them for the rest of their lives.

The rest of their lives. Sky and Harley loved that thought. Here were Nick Lopez and Leland Turbo, ready for a fresh start. It warmed their hearts to know their mission was a success, and they brought their friends back. Finn and Blade looked like a couple of the happiest men in the world. Finn and Leland laughed about some of their mishaps in spy work. Nick and Blade went back and forth, describing the pranks they played on each other while on the "CHoPs" set.

After dinner, the conversations moved into the living room. Harley and Sky were the last to clear their plates.

Harley looked up and out the window above the sink, and she gasped. "Sky, look!"

Sky followed her gaze, and she gasped happily. The girls slipped out the back door and ran out across the grass. Sky leaped into Max's arms while Harley hugged Doc.

"We're glad to see you safe." Doc said. "We had to split after the light appeared, but we came back when we heard you were okay."

"We were worried." Max tousled Sky's hair.

"I'm glad you two were there to help us." Sky said.

"Yeah, thanks for coming." Harley said. "We would've been toast without you."

"I doubt it." Max laughed.

"You two did some amazing things back there." Doc agreed. "What did you need us for?"

"Well, it was cool to see my 'royally ticked off' dad fighting a crazy guy." Harley laughed.

"I didn't know you knew how to fight, Max." Sky said.

"Really?" Max mused teasingly. "I could've sworn I mentioned something about being a black belt in tae kwon doe."

"No, you didn't say that at all." Sky giggled.

Max chuckled. "Well, when you knew me, I was much too old to be doing such a thing."

Sky laughed, hugging Max again. "I really miss you. Mayday misses you, too."

"Hey, you know I'm always there." Max said, returning the embrace. "I'm keeping an eye on Mayday, too."

"And Stanley and I are working together to keep you safe." Doc said. "Don't think I don't see the looks that Turbo fellow gives you."

"He gives me looks?" Harley asked innocently.

Doc rolled his eyes. "Smart-aleck."

"Hey Harley!" Katherine's voice called from the house. "Sky! Where'd you go?"

"Guess we better get going." Sky sighed.

Max gave her one last hug. "We'll see you around."

"Promise?" Harley asked, hugging Doc.

"Promise." Doc assured.

The next day, after a hearty breakfast, it was time to say goodbye. The townsfolk bid Sky and her friends farewell, and Nathan accompanied the group on their way to the airport in another nearby town.

"You can come back whenever you want." Nathan said once they reached the airport. "In fact, I hope you'll come visit more often, Sky."

"Absolutely." Sky agreed. She shared one more hug with Nathan before he hopped in a taxi and returned to his tribe.

"Siddeley will be here any moment now." Finn said. "How shall we split up?"

"Well, you and Leland should stay in Radiator Springs for a while." Harley suggested. "Take some time to recuperate. Leland can get used to his new human form, too. Katherine can help with that."

"I can also take that time to find out what I want to do with my life." Leland said. "I can't be a spy, but I want to do something like my old job. Those instincts are still alive."

"How about law enforcement?" Nick suggested.

"Yeah!" Harley agreed. "Sheriff can show you the ropes!"

Leland thought for a moment, and the nodded. "I think that could work!"

"And, Miss Riley, we'd be happy to give you and Sparky a ride back to Propwash Junction." Finn offered.

"That would be great. Thanks." Sky nodded.

"As for you, Lopez, you're coming to Piston Peak Air Attack with me." Blade said. "I think we can find a place on the team for you, if you'd like."

"That sounds awesome." Nick agreed. "Maybe Maru will let me work in the garage with him."

"Oh! Maybe you could be a medic!" Sparky suggested.

Nick hummed in thought. "Yeah. Is it hard?"

"Oh, not really." Sparky said, starting into a story about some of his work on the Flysenhower.

Sky, Harley, and Katherine moved off to one side to say their goodbyes. "What an adventure this has been." Katherine chuckled.

"Yeah. I feel like I could write a book about all this." Harley agreed. "Although, I don't know a publisher who would accept it as nonfiction."

"I'll say." Sky laughed. "What a turn of events."

"So, are you satisfied, Skylar?" Katherine asked. "Do you have all the answers you need?"

"Yes. I do." Sky admitted. "And I feel like a whole new person."

"Well, it's the start of another adventure for our ragtag group of friends." Harley noted, looking to the boys as they laughed about one of Sparky's stories.

"Not friends." Sky said. "We're a family. We'll always be a family, connected by our powers and the experiences we've had together."

"I agree." Katherine nodded.

"Me too." Harley said. "I can't wait for Leland to start his new life. Nick looks excited, too."

Sky blushed. "Yes. It's going to be very fun working with him on the base."

"Just don't have too much fun." Harley snickered, elbowing her friend good-naturedly.

"You're one to talk." Katherine mused. "Let's not forget a certain former ghost who has feelings for you."

"Yeah, and I might have feelings for him as well." Harley said. "I don't know. We'll find out as time goes by."

"Do you think our lives will ever settle down?" Katherine wondered.

"I doubt so." Sky said.

"Maybe we won't have any major adventures like this one, but we've got a lot of possibilities ahead." Harley said.

Sky looked up. Not a cloud could be seen. She smiled broadly. "Let's go home."

THE END

A/N: Gosh, I hope that ended well. I had a hard time finding the right wording without being corny.

A special thanks to Livvy Leopard, for kicking my tail into gear so I could write this final installment! If I hadn't been reminded, I might've forgotten all about this story.

Now, I do intend to put Harley into Cars 3, but that won't come for a while. I need to find out how I'm going to work it out. Until then, see ya!