1
Dusty slept soundly in his comfortable hanger, under his tarp, unaware of the approaching danger.
A solitary plane flew silently through the darkened sky, a scowl settled firmly on his face. Oh how he was going to make that youngster pay for ruining him he thought to himself. His engine roared as he quickened his pace as the small town came into view.
The old ex-Navy plane snorted awake. He looked around his hanger and settled his sights on his long-term friend, Sparky. He could have sworn he had heard the sound of an unfamiliar engine but perhaps he had imagined it he mused to himself, his eyes closing once more.
The solitary flier landed, as quietly as possible, in a bare field not far from his target's home, not wanting to attract any unwanted attention. He moved slowly on his wheels as he entered the still and quiet town of Propwash Junction
He quietly scouted out each hanger, just managing to look through each window, peering in, looking for the correct place.
Arriving at the third hanger, he peered in to find the walls lined with merchandise and posters. His eyes landed on the individual who was mostly protected from sight by a tarp. The plane sneered at the familiar wings poking out from underneath the shelter.
A sinister grin appeared on the plane's face as he wheeled round to the front of the hanger.
2
Dusty groaned as he heard his hanger doors open slowly,
"Skipper? What is it?" he grumbled sleepily as he made his way out from underneath his tarp.
His eyes widened as he took in the figure standing before him, his brain trying to piece together what was happening,
"Rip? Wha…"
"Hello, Dusty" the green racer grinned as he approached closer to the young plane, pleased to find the orange plane trembling in front of him.
Before Dusty could comprehend, the older racer rushed him, his propeller digging painfully into his nose. He desperately tried to back away from the offender, his tail hitting the back wall, knocking over a shelf and some of his prized possessions.
He cried out as the rival shot forward, colliding with his side. As the other reared back once more, Dusty shot forward, his prop spinning in defense as he forced his way into Rip and out into the open. Before he could face his attacker, Rip bashed into Dusty's wing, spinning the smaller plane round. Dusty whimpered before screaming out for his mentor.
3
The old plane violently startled awake at his charge's blood curdling scream. Sparky's eyes shot open as the old corsair barged his way out of the hanger, racing towards Dusty's hanger.
Dusty cried out once again as the plane mercilessly attacked him. He could feel fluid leaking from his under belly and wings, he whimpered at his panting rival.
"What is it, farmboy? Are you hu…oomph!"
Dusty gasped as his mentor ran into the green racers side,
"Skipper" he hiccuped
Skipper growled, baring his teeth in a feral grin as he placed himself in front of Dusty, hiding the youngster from Rip's view.
Rip groaned before growling back at the ex-navy plane, pacing to and from in front of the corsair before realising he wouldn't stand a chance against Skipper alone., he backed off.
"You'll pay for this!" Skipper snarled at the retreating plane
"And it won't be the last you see me, old man." Rip sneered back before taking off
Skipper's engine roared as though he was going to take off after the other before he abruptly stopped, hearing the meek voice,
"Skipper?"
"I'm right here, kid, right here" he soothed as he veered round to the young plane, taking in the damage done
"Oh, kid…" he whispered
"I didn't even do anything, Skip" the youngster whimpered out
"I know, I know but let's go find Dottie"
Skipper lead his young charge towards Dottie's garage, telling the few individuals who had come out after hearing the fight, to go back into their homes.
Dottie was already in front of her garage, tears in her eyes and in apparent shock after seeing the end of the commotion. She drove forward slightly as the two planes, one she considered as a little brother, rolled towards her,
"Dusty" she sobbed, turning quickly to open the doors further, "Come on, w..we'll patch y… you up." Drawing in a shaky breath, she tried to calm herself for Dusty's sake, not wanting to upset him any further. She rushed around collecting the tools required.
4
Dusty sat still, too weak to move, as Dottie cleaned up his wounds, only flinching when Dottie sealed up the deeper injuries. Skipper had gone off quietly to tell Chug, Mayday, Sparky and Leadbottom what had occurred. He believed that it was only right to let the closest members of their dysfunctional family know exactly what had happened to their youngest member, although he advised them not to rush off to go and see Dusty until Dottie allowed visitors.
Unsure whether or not to go back to his own hanger or go back to Dusty, he decided to go with the latter. He quietly entered the garage, sitting in front of the injured plane, he noticed that the bleeding had been stopped and Dottie was currently fixing the wings.
Skipper looked into the eyes of the orange plane, noting that the other was in some sort of daze. He guessed the kid was just trying to figure out what had happened.
"Hey Dusty, you doing okay?"
Skipper supposed it was a stupid question to ask but he had to try and get a word out of the youngster somehow.
After a moment of silence, Skipper noticed a faint shake of the kids' nose and tears welling up in his eyes.
"It'll be alright. Dottie will get you fixed up, I'll make sure Rip never gets near you again and we'll get your hanger sorted out…" He droned off as he noticed the flinch Dusty made at the mention of his rivals' name, the tears finally falling down his nose.
Skipper nuzzled the young plane, "It'll be alright, kid. I promise."
5
Dottie continued her work on Dusty throughout that night and into the following day, finally releasing him late that evening. Chug had immediately rushed over to his best friend only to be surprised, and somewhat hurt, when Dusty reversed back, nearly bumping into Skipper.
Skipper explained when he realised Dusty wasn't going to,
"Sorry Chug, I don't think Dusty feels up to talking at the moment. He just needs to rest up a bit." Oh how he wished that last bit was true but he somehow doubted it.
"No problem, Skipper. Hey Dusty, we are here for you, you know?" Chug smiled at him before heading over to Dottie's place.
Skipper lead Dusty on, stopping at the kids' hanger, pushing the door open to witness in full the damage that had occurred.
The old corsair gasped at the state of the place. Dusty's possessions littered the floor, most broken, his shelves had been knocked over and his beloved tarp had torn slightly and lay over a fallen shelf. Managing to position the tarp on to his wing, he led the now sobbing plane quickly over to his own hanger.
He helped Dusty on to the thin, blue mattress before asking Dusty if he would like a can of oil. He smiled at the quiet 'please' he received and turned to leave.
"I'll get it, Skip." Skipper smiled at Sparky and thanked him as his friend left.
Sitting next to his charge's side, he managed to get the tarp over Dusty so it was resting over his back and tail. Skipper could have sworn he saw Dusty relax slightly.
As Sparky returned, he placed the can of oil in front of Dusty. The exhausted plane smiled and thanked him.
As Skipper and Sparky spoke quietly, Dusty sipped on the can of oil, comforted by the sound of his friend's voices. He still felt shaken but he started to feel safer at his mentors side.
6
Sparky had gone over to his own side of his hanger and promptly fell asleep a good few hours ago however Dusty and Skipper where both still awake.
"C'mon, Dusty. You really do need to get some sleep you know" the elder mumbled
The young plane shifted restlessly beside him, "I know but I can't for some reason"
This bothered Skipper more than he would like to admit. The kid had always been an easy sleeper, managing to drop off wherever he sat. Skipper suddenly got an idea,
'Warmed oil has always been said to help youngsters get to sleep.' He thought to himself
"Dusty?"
The orange and white racer looked up to him,
"Do you think you'll be okay waiting here for a moment? Sparky is right over there"
He received an unsure 'yeah, where are you going?'
"Just to the bar, I'm going to get you something that will help you sleep."
Dusty nodded and stared after the elder plane as he disappeared towards the bar.
7
Thankfully Skipper hadn't taken too long and Dusty quickly relaxed further knowing his mentor was back.
"Here kid" Skipper placed the can in front of him "Drink some of this"
Dusty looked at the corsair questioningly, "I'm not thirsty though"
"Humour me. I think you'll find it will help you fall asleep. Watch it's not too hot though."
Dusty nodded before contently sipping on the warm oil.
Skipper settled next to the young plane once more, relaxing down on his wheels fully. Finding the silence slightly awkward, Skipper started to tell Dusty one of his more light-hearted stories when he was with the Jolly Wrenches.
Half way through his story, Skipper heard the quiet yawn of his charge and felt the weight on his side increase.
Looking down at Dusty, he noticed the kid's eyes start to droop as he nuzzled himself further into the safety of the elders' side. Skipper gently grabbed the tarp with his teeth and pulled it further up and along Dusty's back.
Nuzzling Dusty's nose, he whispered, "Good night, Kid" and through a yawn, Dusty replied, "G'night, Skip. Love ya" before falling into a deep sleep.
Skipper smiled fondly down at the young plane, "love you too" and as he too fell asleep, a protective surge for the youngster at his side swept over him.