Edit: This is my new version.
Here is my Planes: Fire and Rescue story. I'll admit, of the five Cars/Planes movies, this one is my least favourite, but I couldn't leave it out when I've done all the others. I hope you enjoy!
Like I said at the end of Fly Away, I was going to make this story focus on Celeste, but I decided to do David instead. I thought it would be more appropriate and interesting, given his personality and backstory.
Quick note: Although Planes: Fire and Rescue was released in 2014, sources say that it takes place three years after the first movie. So, this story is set in 2016.
Disclaimer: All recognisable characters belong to Disney. All human characters and vehicle OCs belong to me.
A Special Kind of Person
Dedicated to the brave and courageous firefighters around the world who risk their lives to save the lives of others.
Chapter 1- The Trouble Begins
Life is wonderful in Propwash Junction. That was the conclusion I came to on that fateful day and every single other day before that. I had lived in the small country town of Propwash Junction, Minnesota my whole life (well, apart from the first three days of my life, which I spent in the hospital in Saint Paul where I was born) and I loved it. I loved the clear blue skies. I loved the fresh country air (which could only be marred by the scent of Vitaminamulch). I loved the peace and quiet. I loved being at one with nature. Most of all, however, I loved the friendly people who weren't just my neighbours or even my friends. They were like my family.
I've always been especially grateful for that because, in the literal sense of the word, I don't have much of a family; just my mom. My dad died in a tornado about two months before I was born. (I don't know much about what happened. Usually, my mother is an open book; she's told me all kinds of stories about my dad, but she never talks about when he died.) On top of that, I have no brothers or sisters; no aunts, uncles or cousins either. My mom was an only child like me and her parents were both killed in a road accident when she was eighteen. My dad had parents and a sister in Kansas, but I hadn't seen them since I was three or four. They send cards and money for Christmas and my birthday, but other than that, I never really hear from them. It's just been the two of us for as long as I can remember.
Of course, we weren't really alone. We had plenty of farm animals on our property. Plus, everyone in Propwash Junction was always there for us, especially Mayday, the town's fire truck, who had always been a father figure to me; my two best friends, Dusty the crop dusting plane and Chug the fuel truck; and Dottie the forklift and town's mechanic. In recent years, the Wright family (fellow humans), especially Celeste Wright, and Skipper the retired Navy plane and his assistant, Sparky the grey forklift, had folded into our friendship circle as well. Still, sometimes, it felt like it was just me and Mom against the world. (By the way, "me" is David; David Franklin Hazelwood, Junior, if you want to be formal.) It's a good thing we're very close. Or, more likely, that's why we're so close.
So, why was I thinking that life was wonderful on this particular day? Well, for one thing, Dusty and Celeste, who are now champion air racers and had been travelling across the country for races, were home now. I'd missed them. Sometimes, I attended their races, but not very often. I don't like to travel much. I'll always be true to Propwash Junction. At least they were home now and they were planning to do two very local performances: one for the town's Unity Day celebration and one for Propwash Junction's fiftieth annual Corn Festival. I'd been to every Corn Festival since I was a baby and it was always a blast, but I knew that this one would be the best yet.
The other reason I was so happy was because, well, last year, I got married, to the most beautiful woman in the world, Susannah. Now, we were expecting our first child. Susannah was put on bed rest for most of her pregnancy, but according to the tests, the baby was a healthy boy. We were so excited to become parents and my friends were excited to become aunts and uncles (well, Celeste was already an aunt; in March, her brother, Marshall, had a son named Farley Edward Wright. Still, she was excited for Susannah's and my baby.)
My son wasn't due for a couple of months, but I was already so excited and running around, baby-proofing our home. I just hoped that I could be a good father. Mom says I've been ready my whole life with the way I took care of her and protected my friends. I guess we'll see.
Anyway, on this particular day, I was heading for the convenient store when I caught sight of my friends. There were Dusty, Chug, Sparky, Celeste and Emma. They were gathered outside the Fill 'N' Fly, busy examining newspaper and magazine articles about Dusty and Celeste's latest victory at the Red Bulldozer.
"Awesome picture, guys!" Sparky declared. "Except, uh, your eyes are closed, Dust."
"Dammit, Dusty!" Celeste groaned, pretending to be annoyed. "You had to ruin a perfectly good picture, didn't you?"
Dusty laughed. "And I suppose you always look picture perfect?"
Celeste nodded with mock seriousness. "You know it!"
"She certainly does!" Emma Proulx spoke up, leaning in to kiss Celeste. The two of them had been together for three years, since Dusty and Celeste won the Wings Around the Globe and Emma had recently moved to Propwash Junction. I happened to know that Emma was hoping Celeste would propose soon, especially since Susannah and I tied the knot. Unfortunately, I also happened to know that, after her parents' divorce, Celeste was completely turned off by the idea of marriage. (Celeste's mother, Rebecca, was cautious too; she and Sparky had been dating for three years, but she won't let him put a ring on it just yet.)
Dusty and Ishani were still together too as best as they could be, what with the long distance. At least being planes made it a heck of a lot easier.
"Racin' with your eyes closed, huh?" Chug laughed as he refuelled Dusty. "So that's your secret!"
"Oh yeah. You figured it out, Chug."
I smiled, but said nothing. I've always been the quiet one of the group. I'm not shy; I'm just not a big talker. Dusty and Chug had been my best friends forever. We had grown up together and they were even co-best men at my wedding. Everyone says that the three of us have always balanced each other out. Without my voice of reason, Chug and Dusty probably would've gotten themselves killed a long time ago. Then, without their goofiness and sense of fun, well, I never would've really been a kid.
"That was some pretty fancy flying, Dusty", Mayday complimented our friend as he rolled over to join us. "And some fancy moves from you too, Celeste. Saw it all on my radio with pictures."
"You mean your TV?" Dusty assumed.
"No, no, that's clearing up. My bumper was nearly corroded right though. Disgusting looking. Ah, yeah, it was all rusty and blistered", Mayday informed us casually.
Celeste groaned. "TMI, Mayday!" She'd explained to me ages ago that TMI meant too much information.
"Anyway, what else is going on?" Dusty tried to change the subject.
"Dottie gave me some of that Rust-Eze Medicated Bumper Ointment. Ka-chow!" Mayday spun around to show us. We were all quick to look away. "How's it looking now?"
"Looks great. Fine", Dusty answered hurriedly.
"Take a closer look!"
"That's close enough!"
Thankfully, Sparky was able to change the subject. He had some pretty exciting news for us. "Oh, hey, hey, guys, guys! Listen to this, listen to this!" He read aloud from the newspaper he was holding. "'After their Red Bulldozer win, Dusty Crophopper and Celeste Wright….'"
"That's you", Chug informed Dusty and Celeste.
"Really?" Celeste asked, feigning surprise. "I didn't know!"
"'….return to Propwash Junction…'"
"That's here", Mayday told us.
"Really?" Celeste repeated in the exact same tone as before.
"'….where they will be performing at the town's annual Corn Festival!'" Sparky concluded, overflowing with joy.
"They mentioned the Corn Festival?!" Mayday sounded both surprised and impressed.
"Really?" Celeste repeated. This time, she sounded genuinely surprised.
"Whoa!" Chug cried. "It's national news!"
I just shook my head in amazement. I couldn't believe it! I never thought that little old Propwash Junction would ever make national news. Until the whole Wings Around the Globe thing, this place wasn't even on any map. As happy as I was for Dusty and Celeste, I honestly preferred things the way they were before.
"Seriously? That's great!" Dusty proclaimed.
"Yeah, who ever thought that little old Propwash Junction, not even on the map till now, would make national news?" Celeste mused.
"I'll say!" Brodi agreed, calling to us from The Landing Zone, which he ran with his wife, Barbara. "The phone's been ringing off the hook here at the motel! Gonna have to get out the inflatable hangars."
"Oh, yeah!" Barbara put in. "Everybody wants to see you two!"
"And I've had to order in three times as much stock as usual", Mrs. Singer, the African-American human woman who owned the convenient store, added. "Propwash Junction has never been this busy."
"It's gonna be the biggest Corn Fest yet!" Dusty vowed.
Celeste grinned. "Can't wait!"
I tried to smile. "Should be fun." Of course, I was excited for the Corn Festival, but not the influx of tourists, who, I was sure, would ruin the peace and quiet of small country town life.
"Yeah! It's gonna be so, so cool!" eight-year-old Jackson Singer declared.
"Yeah!" five-year-old Yazmin Singer agreed. "Dusty and Celeste are the best!"
Six-year-old Isabella, who was very quiet and shy, just smiled and nodded.
"Dusty! Celeste!" Skipper came over to join us. "Ready to do some flying?"
"Absolutely, Skipper", Dusty confirmed as Celeste climbed aboard.
"Miss Proulx, you are most welcome to come along as well", Skipper extended an invitation.
"If it is no trouble, then I would love that, Mr. Riley." Emma climbed aboard.
"'Course not!" Dusty assured her. "The more, the merrier, right, guys?"
Celeste grinned. "You can say that again!"
"Don't stay out too late!" Mayday cautioned.
"Later, guys!" Sparky added.
I waved. "See ya!"
"Remember to open your eyes!" Chug teased.
"Well, I better go too", I announced, heading in the direction of the convenient store. "Susannah wanted me to pick up a couple of things."
"How's she doing?" Sparky wanted to know as he and Chug followed me.
"She's fine", I assured him. "Although, bed rest is driving her a little crazy. Understandably."
"Have you decided on a name yet?" was Sparky's follow-up question.
I smiled. "We're still tossing up between a few. We'll let you know when the baby's born."
"I had some great ideas for baby names", Chug offered.
I raised an eyebrow. "Such as?"
"If it's a boy, Chug. If it's a girl, Chugette."
I burst out laughing as I opened the door to the convenient store. "I'll see what Susannah says."
As I went around the store, grabbing blueberry pancake mix, peanut butter, guacamole and all other kinds of things my wife was craving, I caught a glimpse of Dusty, Celeste, Emma and Skipper training. I was glad that all four of them were happy. Dusty and Celeste were following their dreams now and Skipper seemed to have healed quite miraculously from his troubles from the war. That was something to be happy about.
As for me? People ask me if, living in a town mostly full of aeroplanes, do I like to fly? The answer is no. I'm afraid of heights and once when I was sixteen, I broke my leg falling off a horse. That was bad enough. Falling off a plane had to be a million times worse. Besides, I like to watch air and car racing, but apart from that, I could not care less about sports. I mean, I know it's good to play to get exercise and all, but I don't understand the competitiveness that goes into sports. I guess I'm just not a competitive guy. No, I prefer to just watch the planes fly.
"Uh-oh!" Sparky gasped from beside me.
"What-oh?" Chug wondered.
"Look!" He pointed towards Dusty.
I gasped too when I saw him. The former crop duster's prop had stopped spinning completely and he was descending rapidly. Skipper dove after him and somehow, Dusty was able to straighten himself out.
"What happened?"
"Let's find out!" Sparky cried. "To the Fill 'N' Fly!"
"What about Susannah's groceries?" I asked.
"I'll take care of that!" Chug offered, taking the groceries and the list off of me. "You go help Dottie!" Sparky was also a mechanic and I was a mechanic-in-training, so it made sense for the two of us to go.
"Thanks, Chug!" I called over my shoulder as I hurried out of the convenient store. "I owe you one!"
"No problem!" he called back.
"I don't know what it was", Dusty informed us as we examined him. "I wasn't doing anything different. Pylon turns, a vertical, like we do every day. I mean, I feel great… now, but-"
"You okay, C?" I quizzed her. She was sat on the floor, hugging her knees anxiously, waiting for Dottie's verdict.
"A little shaken up, but fine", she reported.
"Well, whatever it is, I'm sure it's an easy fix", Dusty assured her confidently.
"I've got a love-hate relationship with you, Dusty", Dottie declared. "Love that you're my best customer, hate what you're doing to yourself." That was true. Dottie was never entirely on board with Dusty's racing career. Obviously, she wanted him to be happy, just like the rest of us, but she was worried about him, which was perfectly understandable. I worry about him racing too.
"Come on, Dot. You saw us at the Red Bulldozer race. We kicked Aston Martin out there!"
"Yeah, we did!" Celeste cheered, reaching out to give me a high-five.
"You're not even listening to what I'm saying", Dottie groaned.
"And hey, Speed City Airfest is just a few weeks away!" Dusty noted. "And Celeste, I think if we get a little more speed coming out of our turns, really work that radial-G, we can definitely improve our time. Yeah! I'm feeling it! What do you say, partner?"
"I say, we get started the second we can get out of here!" she laughed.
Emma laughed too from where she was kneeling next to her girlfriend. "Take it easy. You just had quite a bad scare. And we do not even know what the problem is yet."
I shook my head in amusement. Racing was their lives now. It seemed to be the only thing on their brains.
"Well, no damage to the casing or compressor blades", Dottie stated.
Even though I was sure that there was a but coming, Dusty didn't appear to be the least bit concerned. "See? I told you Just a hiccup."
Then there it was. "But there is-"
"Dusty! Celeste!" Chug screeched to a halt in the garage. "What happened? Are you guys okay?"
"It's okay", Dusty assured him.
"Was it your fuel?" Chug wondered anxiously. "I tested it this morning! I always take a little sip. Gets me going."
"Dammit, Chug!" Celeste groaned. "That is disgusting!"
"It's okay", Dusty insisted. "We got quite a little scared there-"
"A little scare?!" Celeste repeated incredulously. "You were like..." She imitated him, hyperventilating quite badly.
Dusty rolled his eyes. "Yeah, whatever. Anyway, Dottie here- and it's all good news- gave me the all-clear."
"Dusty!" Dottie's tone said otherwise. Then came the but. "Your reduction gearbox is failing."
Dusty hesitated. "My- my gearbox?"
"Your chip detector had a cluster of steel shavings on it", Dottie elaborated. "Flakes from the gears. That's what caused the trouble."
"Well, you can just replace it", Dusty responded. "We'll order a new one from AG Parts. It'll be here by the end of the week." He laughed nervously. "Right?"
Dottie said nothing. She wouldn't even look at him.
Everyone turned to face Dottie anxiously. I jumped down from the scissor lift where I'd been examining Dusty and made sure my tools were exactly where I keep them. Then I plopped myself down next to him, ready to comfort him when we heard the bad news.
"Dottie?" I ventured.
After what felt like an eternity, Dottie spoke. "Your gearbox... It's… it's out of production. Long since discontinued." She sighed. "Can't even remember the last time I saw one."
Celeste frowned. "So... what? They just... don't make 'em anymore?"
"I'm afraid not", Dottie confirmed.
"But Dottie…come on. Can't you just build Dust a new one?" Chug asked.
"No", Dottie replied. "It's too complex. It has to be factory."
"Maybe we could find one!" Celeste suggested, brightening a little.
"Maybe." Dottie didn't sound convinced. "But I wouldn't count on it. Dusty, from now on, you have to back off the torque. Keep it under eighty percent."
"What?!" Dusty gasped. "Eighty percent? Dottie, you've got me cranked up to one-forty. Celeste and I need that to race!"
"If you push yourself into the red, your gearbox will fail", Dottie began. "And then your engine will seize."
"No, no, Dottie!" Dusty shouted, shaking his nose. The poor guy was in complete denial "Maybe the test that you did was wrong!"
"Dusty, listen!" Dottie shouted.
"But I've got a race coming up!" the former crop duster protested.
"YOU'LL CRASH!"
That shut him up. We all stared at each other in horror.
"You push yourself into the red, you'll crash", Dottie repeated softly. "Look, I'm gonna install a warning light on your panel."
"A warning light?" Dusty echoed softly.
"If it comes on, you'll need to pull power." Dottie instructed. "Slow down."
Devastated didn't even begin to describe how Dusty looked just then. "But Dottie, you're… you're saying… I... I... can't race anymore."
"I'm so sorry", Dottie murmured.
For the longest time, you could've heard a pin drop as the weight of Dottie's words settled in. Then Dusty started sobbing. A second later, Celeste joined in. Emma hugged Celeste. So, I hugged Dusty.
There's gotta be something I can do, I thought to myself.
