History Fanfic / TheUnexpectedRookie

* TooAnnoyedToBeAfraid: the Delinquent Road Hazards are trying to plan an act of vandalism they can play on Radiator Springs -- and accidentally get themselves caught by the Dinobots. While three of them are understandably terrified (as they're being held prisoner by dinosaur robots and Swoop is holding Boost [[AndCallHimGeorge a little too tightly]]), Wingo is shown to be more annoyed than scared.

** Lightning and Mater take down Megatron in a similar fashion to how rebels would take down an Imperial Walker. The movie is mentioned in universe as [[JustForPun "Car Wars"]].

* ZeroPercentApprovalRating: After what he did to the King at his last race, Chick Hicks is liked by no one...and doesn't seem to care so long as he still gets to race and insult Lightning, along with anyone who associates with him. The Autobots dislike him so much that a few of them are convinced that he's really a Decepticon spy. To their disappointment, they're wrong.
* ActuallyPrettyFunny: ''Prowl'' of all 'bots laughs himself to tears after Mater, Sideswipe and Sunstreaker accidentally cause chaos via tractor-tipping.
* AlienArtsAreAppreciated: While car racing exists on Earth, neither the Autobots nor the Decepticons ever took an interest in it...until they got to the world of Cars and all get sucked in to the sport. Even ''Megatron'' drops a potential assassination to watch the last race.
* AllLovingHero:
** After his CharacterDevelopment in the first film, [=Mcqueen=] is this. He cares a lot about his students (even forming a friendship with Hot Rod) and is the first car to side with the Autobots after they reveal themselves, convincing his friends and even the government (to a degree) to do the same.
** The Autobots are this, as they make a point to protect sentient life wherever they find it (be it humans or sentient, non-transforming vehicles).

* GiantRobotHandsSaveLives: [=Mcqueen=] is taken out of danger at the beginning of the fight by Jazz. Justified, in that Jazz only pinned him to the ground rather than picking him up, and they're both made of metal.
* GrumpyOldMan: Doc can be this, distrusting the Autobots at first (before realizing that they were actually there to help) and being the first to snap at anyone disrupting his town.
* HeroesGoneFishing: For Prime and the Autobots, their entire stay in Radiator Springs is practically a vacation (minus a few incidents that usually involve Mater or Sunny and Siders).
* HiddenDepths: Apparently, Sunstreaker and Sideswipe speak Italian.

* InternalReveal: While watching Lightning, his trainees, and Rod practice, Prime tells Doc the story of the war between the Autobots and the Decepticons. Acts as exposition for anyone who isn't familiar with the Transformers franchise.

* NoodleIncident: Not only is this not the first time that the Autobots have come to the world of Cars in disguise, but the last time they came Sunstreaker did something that landed Sideswipe and himself in an impound lot. Sadly, we're not given any more information than this (other than the fact that Sideswipe ''swears'' he was innocent).
* NotSoAboveItAll:
** Sheriff, when he sees Boost and the Road Hazards captured by [[spoiler: the Dinobots]], has a ''very'' hard time not busting out laughing.
** The Decepticons initially plan to [[spoiler: kill Optimus Prime by shooting him with sniper fire while he's distracted watching Hot Rod race against Lightning. However, all of them (except Starscream) end up enraptured by the race and put off killing Prime until it's over...which gets them all captured by Prime's [[TheCavalry reinforcements]].]]
* OhCrap: Wheeljack's reaction when he realizes that the Delinquent Road Hazards are heading right for [[spoiler: where the [=DinoBots=] are camped out]]. He has this reaction again when [[spoiler: one of his experiments accidentally blows up Filmore's house.]] Sheriff and Prowl get one when Mater, Sunstreaker, and Sideswipe anger Frank so badly that he breaks out of his pen and looks [[AddedAlliterativeAppeal ready to rampage through Radiator Springs]].
* OlderThanTheyLook: The Transformers are all millions of years old...and most of them are still young for their age. The cars express shock and disbelief at this, and Lightning states that he's done making jokes about Lizzie's age.

** Optimus Prime counts. When they are guests in Radiator Springs, Sunstreaker and Sideswipe cause chaos with their hijinks. Prime makes sure that they clean up every mess they cause, and allows Doc Hudson and Sheriff to punish them how they see fit (although it's nothing worse than a night in the impound and community service). He also doesn't hold Wheeljack's mistakes against him [[spoiler: (namely bringing the [=Dino Bots=] to Radiator Springs and blowing up Filmore's house)]], knowing that the former was ultimately a good call [[spoiler: as the Dinobots can be loose cannons]] and the latter was a genuine accident.

* TemptingFate: When Wheeljack speeds up to Prime, panicking [[spoiler: (because the Road Hazards have just been captured by the [=Dino Bots=)]]], Prime wonders why, as he hasn't heard any of Wheeljack's trademark explosions. [[spoiler: Guess what Wheeljack does later]].
* TooAnnoyedToBeAfraid: the Delinquent Road Hazards are trying to plan an act of vandalism they can play on Radiator Springs - and accidentally get themselves caught by the Dinobots. While three of them are understandably terrified (as they're being held prisoner by dinosaur robots and Swoop is holding Boost [[AndCallHimGeorge a little too tightly]]), Wingo is shown to be more annoyed than scared.
* TheUnseen: Several Autobots (such as Mirage) are mentioned or have one line, but are never actually met by the Cars characters. Considering the sheer number of Transformers characters, this is understandable.

* YourMom: While distracting Starscream, Ramone shouts out "Your mother was a Cessna!" Prime admits to himself that it was [[ActuallyPrettyFunny a good one]].
* ZergRush: This is how the Radiator Springs team gets Megatron to retreat. Optimus doesn't try to stop it, as Megatron admittedly deserves it.

** Vince [=DeLorean=], one of [=McQueen's=] racing students, is all but stated by the [[WordOfGod author]] to be one to ''Film/BackToTheFuture''. No time-traveling shenanigans here, though.

* WhamLine: When the Decepticons attack the track, Prime shouts the command that officially drops TheMasquerade: "Autobots, transform!"

* LetUsNeverSpeakOfThisAgain: This is the attitude the government has about the Transformers on their planet. As far as they're concerned, it never happened. The only reason the 'bots are allowed to stay on the planet at all is because they are the only ones who can insure that the Decepticons won't cause another incident.

* LetUsNeverSpeakOfThisAgain: This is the attitude the government has about the Transformers on their planet. As far as they're concerned, it never happened.

* OhCrap: Wheeljack's reaction when he realizes that the Delinquent Road Hazards are heading right for [[spoiler: where the [=DinoBots=] are camped out]]. He has this reaction again when [[spoiler: one of his experiments accidentally blows up Filmore's house.]]

** Vince [[=DeLorean=]], one of [=McQueen's=] racing students, is all but stated by the [[WordOfGod author]] to be one to ''Film/BackToTheFuture''. No time-traveling shenanigans here, though.

** After his CharacterDevelopment in the first film, {{Mcqueen}} is this. He cares a lot about his students (even forming a friendship with Hot Rod) and is the first car to side with the Autobots after they reveal themselves, convincing his friends and even the government (to a degree) to do the same.

* GiantRobotHandsSaveLives: {{Mcqueen}} is taken out of danger at the beginning of the fight by Jazz. Justified, in that Jazz only pinned him to the ground rather than picking him up, and they're both made of metal.

* OhCrap: Wheeljack's reaction when he realizes that the Delinquent Road Hazards are heading right for [[spoiler: where the {{DinoBots}} are camped out]]. He has this reaction again when [[spoiler: one of his experiments accidentally blows up Filmore's house.]]

** Optimus Prime counts. When they are guests in Radiator Springs, Sunstreaker and Sideswipe cause chaos with their hijinks. Prime makes sure that they clean up every mess they cause, and allows Doc Hudson and Sheriff to punish them how they see fit (although it's nothing worse than a night in the impound and community service). He also doesn't hold Wheeljack's mistakes against him [[spoiler: (namely bringing the {{Dino Bots}} to Radiator Springs and blowing up Filmore's house)]], knowing that the former was ultimately a good call [[spoiler: as the Dinobots can be loose cannons]] and the latter was a genuine accident.

** Vince {{DeLorean}}, one of {{McQueen's}} racing students, is all but stated by the [[WordOfGod author]] to be one to ''Film/BackToTheFuture''. No time-traveling shenanigans here, though.

* TemptingFate: When Wheeljack speeds up to Prime, panicking [[spoiler: (because the Road Hazards have just been captured by the Dino Bots)]], Prime wonders why, as he hasn't heard any of Wheeljack's trademark explosions. [[spoiler: Guess what Wheeljack does later]].

** After his CharacterDevelopment in the first film, Mcqueen is this. He cares a lot about his students (even forming a friendship with Hot Rod) and is the first car to side with the Autobots after they reveal themselves, convincing his friends and even the government (to a degree) to do the same.

* GiantRobotHandsSaveLives: Mcqueen is taken out of danger at the beginning of the fight by Jazz. Justified, in that Jazz only pinned him to the ground rather than picking him up, and they're both made of metal.

* OhCrap: Wheeljack's reaction when he realizes that the Delinquent Road Hazards are heading right for [[spoiler: where the DinoBots are camped out]]. He has this reaction again when [[spoiler: one of his experiments accidentally blows up Filmore's house.]]

** Optimus Prime counts. When they are guests in Radiator Springs, Sunstreaker and Sideswipe cause chaos with their hijinks. Prime makes sure that they clean up every mess they cause, and allows Doc Hudson and Sheriff to punish them how they see fit (although it's nothing worse than a night in the impound and community service). He also doesn't hold Wheeljack's mistakes against him [[spoiler: (namely bringing the Dino Bots to Radiator Springs and blowing up Filmore's house)]], knowing that the former was ultimately a good call [[spoiler: as the Dinobots can be loose cannons]] and the latter was a genuine accident.

** Vince DeLorean, one of McQueen's racing students, is all but stated by the [[WordOfGod author]] to be one to ''Film/BackToTheFuture''. No time-traveling shenanigans here, though.

%%* CloudCuckoolander: Mater.

A crossover fic between the [[WesternAnimation/TheTransformers 1980s Transformers show]] (Generation 1) and Pixar's ''WesternAnimation/{{Cars}}''. It can be found right [[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/3372350/1/The-Unexpected-Rookie here]]. The sequel story, ''The Gathering Storm'', can be found [[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/4915989/1/The-Gathering-Storm here]].

The Decepticons have come to the world of Cars, having a terrible plan in mind for Tex Dinoco and his company. To stop them, the Autobots have disguised themselves as denizens of the world, and have entered Hot Rod (under the alias Rod Witwicky) as a rookie racer in the Piston Cup.

* CallBack: At the end of the first Cars film, Tex Dinoco arranges for Mater to take a ride in the Dinoco helicopter. After Mater tows Dinoco to safety during the fight with the Decepticons, he thanks the millionaire for the ride.
* CloudCuckoolander: Mater.

* AlienLunch: While most of the Cars drink fuel for sustenance, the Autobots rely on Energon (or convert typical fuel into Energon). Wheeljack had the foresight to pack extra Energon for their trip, and is trying to turn some of Fillmore's fuel to Energon when [[spoiler: he blows up Fillmore's house]].

* ShoutOut: Lightning and Mater take down Megatron in a similar fashion to how rebels would take down an Imperial Walker. The movie is mentioned in universe as [[JustForPun "Car Wars"]].

* LetsGetDangerous: Red has a moment of this when he jumps into action after Wheeljack's experiment makes Filmore's house explode. He switches from his normally docile, happy demeanor to dead serious in a second flat.

* OhCrap: Wheeljack's reaction when he realizes that the Delinquent Road Hazards are heading right for [[spoiler: where the DinoBots are camped out]]. He has this reaction again when one of his experiments accidentally [[spoiler: blows up Filmore's house.]]

* ZergRush: This is how the Radiator Springs team gets Megatron to retreat.

* AndCallHimGeorge: [[spoiler: Swoop isn't exactly gentle when he's examining Boost.]]

* CatharsisFactor: Optimus Prime gets a little bit of this when Megatron takes a ZergRush to the face.

* EasilyForgiven: While experimenting with new fuel for the Autobots, Wheeljack [[spoiler: accidentally blows up Filmore's house.]] He apologizes multiple times and offers to fix everything, but Filmore (being Filmore) isn't upset at all.

* GiantRobotHandsSaveLives: Mcqueen is taken out of danger at the beginning of the fight by Jazz.

A crossover fic between the [[WesternAnimation/TheTransformers 1980s Transformers show]] (Generation 1) and Pixar's ''WesternAnimation/{{Cars}}''. It can be found right [[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/3372350/1/The-Unexpected-Rookie here]].

* EasilyForgiven: While experimenting with new fuel for the Autobots, Wheeljack accidentally blows up Filmore's house. He apologizes multiple times and offers to fix everything, but Filmore (being Filmore) isn't upset at all.

** For both Chick Hicks and [[spoiler: the Stunticons]]. While trying to overtake the disguised Hot Rod in the race, Chick rams into Hot Rod, who acts on instinct and rams him right back. Because he's a Transformer, his shove has enough power to send Chick flying through the air. At that same moment, [[spoiler: the Stunticons had been moving in and climbing the fence so they could attack the Autobots hidden in the pits. Chick accidentally takes them all out when he goes flying, and allows for Ratchet and Mirage to capture them.]]

* MundaneUtility: When Mater takes them tractor-tipping, Sunstreaker (to his brother's annoyance) transforms to his robot form and uses a Cybertronian weapon to wake/scare every tractor in the field. Mater thinks it's hilarious.

* NoodleIncident: Not only is this not the first time that the Autobots have come to the world of Cars in disguise, but the last time they came Sunstreaker did something that landed Sideswipe and himself in an impound lot. Sadly, we're not given any more information than this.

* OhCrap: Wheeljack's reaction when he realizes that the Delinquent Road Hazards are heading right for [[spoiler: where the DinoBots are camped out]]. He has this reaction again when one of his experiments accidentally blows up Filmore's house.

* PaperThinDisguise: The only thing the Autobots do to disguise themselves is transform into their vehicle modes and put on holographic eyes and mouths. This is justified, however, as they don't need to do anything more than that; in a world of living cars, their appearances don't attract attention (unless they transform into robots of course).

* TakeThat: Ramone gives Optimus Prime a paint job that's not too dissimilar from the one he'd have in the 2007 movie. He politely states that he doesn't like it (Prowl agrees while Jazz laughs). He manages to convince Ramone to cover it with something more akin to his old paint job (although Ramone insists on metal-flake paint).

* ZergRush: This is how the Radiator Springs team gets Megatron to retreat. The narrative implies that Prime found it a little cathartic.

* AllLovingHero: After his CharacterDevelopment in the first film, Mcqueen is this. He cares a lot about his students (even forming a friendship with Hot Rod) and is the first car to side with the Autobots after they reveal themselves, convincing his friends and even the government (to a degree) to do the same.

* HumanAliens: Of a variant. So long as they stay in their vehicular modes and project holographic eyes and mouths on their fronts, the Transformers look exactly like any other inhabitant of the Car world. Most vehicles they come across don't even realize that they're aliens.