hear me out for a cars au
@penguinotaku @champmorado @gaystappen
imagine one day, when lightning and mater are just having fun a goofing around the desert that surrounds radiator springs, mater spots something shiny in the sand and picks it up out of curiosity. it happens to be a small circular golden hoop, a ring. on it is enscribed something in a foreign language that he nor lightning has ever seen, but he takes it with him without knowing the darkness within it.
over the weeks, mater starts growing obsessed with the ring, and after a month, he hasn't even left his old shack, instead fawning over his "precious."
Lightning sees the harm that the ring is inflicting on mater, so he takes it and hides it away. that proves to be a huge mistake, as mater confronts him violently, first demanding in his newly shrill and haggard voice to give back the ring "that came to us", and then biting and attempting maul lightning with his tow hook when he doesn't comply. Fortunately Doc and Sheriff interfere and guard Lightning before it can get too heated, and restrain Mater.
Cut to Gandalf (because he got transported to the cars universe too) sensing the presence of the ring and following the “scent” to radiator springs, where everyone is scared and confused, especially Lightning. Gandalf meets with Lightning and he shows him the current state of Mater, who keeps on shivering and grunting in an animal-like state in his sleep at the impound lot. Seeing his best friend so alien and unlike his cheerful lovable self makes Lightning suddenly break into tears, saying that he just wanted his best friend back. Gandalf reassures him, and says that the only way to get Mater back was to destroy the ring. So he, Lightning, and Sally journey to the heated mountains of Mordor back in Middle Earth, in hopes of getting their loved one back.
