Chapter Six: Trusting Each Other
The next day, race officials equipped the human of the race with oxygen tanks and masks before the racers took off for Nepal. As they neared the Himalayas, Dusty kept to flying low as he travelled through the mountains themselves.
"There's the Iron Compass." Sky said her oxygen mask making her voice sound muffled and strange through the radio. Dusty looked down to find the railroad tracks Ishani mentioned, and he immediately began following them. "Let's hope Ishani was right." Sky said. She didn't necessarily agree with Dusty's plan when he explained it last night, but she found no reason to doubt Ishani or her advice. Unfortunately, they were still high up enough that Sky needed to keep her oxygen mask on, just in case.
Dusty looked ahead and his eyes widened. "Uh oh."
Sky's eyes widened behind her goggles. "Uh, Dusty? Your girlfriend didn't mention that!" A tunnel rested just ahead of them, going through one of the mountains. There was only one other way to go: up. Sky tightened her grip on the handlebar. "Come on, Dusty. You can do this."
Dusty gulped, but pulled up and began climbing up the side of the mountain. But he only made it up so far before he looked down, despite Sky's protests, and began feeling dizzy again. He fell back and began flying back the way he came. "Dang it…."
"Dusty, come on." Sky urged. "There's no way you can get out of it this time."
"There's gotta be another way." Dusty protested.
"Well when you think of something, I'm happy to hear it." Sky said in a half-sassy tone. "But we're gonna fall behind. What do we do? Turn back?"
She had meant to sound sarcastic, but maybe Dusty didn't catch on because his eyes narrowed into a glare. "No." He knew of another option. It was crazy dangerous, but it just might work and they didn't have time to think too much about it. He pulled up, looping back around and darting down the railroad tracks again.
Sky hoped Dusty would try pulling up again, but her eyes widened in horror when she noticed his very direct route of flying. "Oh no! Dusty Crophopper, no way! You go through that tunnel, you go through without my help!" Dusty kept going. "I mean it, Dusty!" Still, the crop duster kept flying, even when Sky let go of the handlebar and broke the connection. Dusty felt himself slow down a bit, but didn't hesitate to slightly roll as he shot into the tunnel. The opening was barely wide enough to fit his wingspan, and Sky ducked down a bit to decrease her chances of hitting her head. Dusty's wings scraped against the walls and floor of the tunnel a few times, sending sparks flying. Sky gripped the handlebar again, gulping a bit. She half-wanted to reactivate the connection, but more than anything she just wanted Dusty to get the heck out of that tunnel. Unfortunately, it would be next to impossible to back out now.
Suddenly, a horrifying sound rang out: a train whistle.
"Whoa!" Dusty shouted.
"I take it back! I'm with you!" Sky said hurriedly, using her powers and activating the connection again. Dusty picked up speed, but he and Sky could see the train coming in fast. The train saw them too, quickly applying his brakes. But there's no way he would be able to stop in time to avoid the collision.
Dusty and Sky screamed, the latter giving an extra burst of power.
Whiteness.
Dusty and Sky looked around, but only saw clouds all around them. Soon, they could spy the foliage of the trees and a small airport on one of the tall rock formations. Dusty smoothly came in for a landing, Sky pulling the oxygen mask off her face. They looked all around for any signs of life, the only sound being the crashing from the nearby waterfalls. Sky unhooked herself from the harness, slowly dismounting and standing on Dusty's wing. The area they landed in certainly looked beautiful, but where the heck were they?
"Hello?" Dusty called, rolling up to a nearby building that looked more like a temple than anything else.
"Anybody home?" Sky called.
Then, three small vehicles appeared at the temple gates with three wheels and Mohawk-like hairstyles. Two humans joined them, wearing orange robes and completely bald. "Is this where we're supposed to be?" Dusty asked.
"That is one of life's great questions." One of the vehicles said, clearly a monk.
Dusty gasped. "I'm dead!"
"If you're dead, that means I'm dead." Sky realized. She glared and began punching and kicking the crop duster, much to Dusty's chagrin. "You big dolt! You got us both killed! I'm going to spend all of eternity pounding you for that!"
"Mr. Crophopper, Ms. Riley."
Sky paused in her assault and Dusty's pained yelps quieted as a few more vehicles arrived, no doubt the race officials. "Welcome to Nepal." The vehicles said, bowing.
Sky sighed. "Good. Not dead."
Dusty also sighed in relief. "Have the others left already?"
"Actually, no one else is here yet." The lead vehicle said. "You're in first place."
Sky blinked. "We are?"
"Really?" Dusty asked. He exchanged looks with Sky, and they smiled broadly.
Word spread quickly about Dusty and Sky's daring move that landed them in first place. Needless to say, everyone was shocked, and soon the two racers found themselves surrounded by reporters once more.
"Dusty, Sky, how does it feel to be in first place?"
"It feels great." Dusty said, Sky nodding in agreement. "But, more than anything, I'm just happy I fit through that tunnel."
"I'll say." Sky laughed.
"Sky, did you really accept this plan?"
"Uh, actually no." Sky said, rubbing the back of her head nervously. "I wasn't exactly all for it. But it turned out to be a good call." She smiled at Dusty. "I promise I'm never going to doubt my racing partner again. That's how our partnership works, after all, is by trusting each other."
Dusty smiled back before looking to the reporters. He paused when he noticed Ishani, or more specifically the new propeller she wore. Dusty's face fell. "Excuse me, guys." Dusty politely pushed his way through the reporters to approach Ishani.
"Want me to beat her up for you?" Sky whispered. "I'm not afraid to hit a girl."
"Give her a chance to speak." Dusty whispered back. He smiled and spoke up to get Ishani's attention. "Crazy day today, huh?"
Ishani gasped, not hearing them coming, and turned with a weak smile. "Oh. Yes, indeed. Quite a risk you took."
Dusty nodded. "Hey, your propeller, is it new?"
"Oh!" Ishani glanced back at the black and green propeller blades on her tail. "I suppose it is."
"Sky Slycer Mark Five, right?" Dusty guessed. "Aren't those made exclusively for Ripslinger's race team?"
"Are they?" Ishani asked, looking down.
"Yeah. Yeah, they are." Dusty confirmed.
Ishani stared at them, feeling guilt weighing like a hundred tractors on her engine. She stared at the ground, not wanting to look at Dusty out of shame and a little afraid of Sky's furious glare. "Dusty…Skylar….."
Now Dusty glared at Ishani. "You set us up."
"Look, I didn't ever want to hurt you." Ishani said.
"Why?" Dusty demanded, looking more betrayed than anything else.
Ishani paused. How could she explain this? "It's complicated, okay?"
"Lame excuse." Sky growled.
"You could have gotten me killed out there today!" Dusty snapped. "You almost got Skylar killed! What was I supposed to do if something happened to her?"
"And what was I going to do if something happened to him and I managed to survive?" Sky added.
"I really thought that you'd just…turn around." Ishani said.
"Well, you were wrong." Dusty said. "And I was wrong about you." He turned and rolled off, passing Ripslinger on the way. "Hey Rip! Thanks for first place." If he noticed Rip's furious growl, he didn't show. Sky, however, stuck her tongue out at the green and black racer.
Thanks to their first place spot in Nepal, the next leg over to China was a snap for Dusty and Sky. Their popularity around the world grew, everyone amazed by the underdog team. They stayed modest in their new fame, still not completely used to the attention. But they couldn't hide their excitement when they checked in at Propwash and heard their friends cheering for them. After their rocky start at the beginning of the race, this all felt like their dream was really coming true.
"You're really showing them big-time racers a thing or two, huh?" Skipper said.
"Yeah." Dusty sighed, still unable to believe it. "We head out across the Pacific tomorrow, Skip. You were stationed there for a while, right? Got any advice?
"Back in '41, during the Battle over Wake Island, the Wrenches ran into serious monsoons with embedded CBs that could tear your wings right off." Skipper said. "Be careful."
"Great confidence booster, Skipper." Sky droned, shaking her head with a smile.
"And one more thing." Skipper said. "I'm proud of you. The both of you."
Dusty smiled. "Thanks…wingman."
Sky cleared her throat. "Dad?"
Skipper laughed. "All right, all right. And Dusty, since Sky clearly seems to be doing all right with you, I promise I won't tear your wings off and shove them down your throat."
Dusty laughed. "I appreciate that."
"Thank you, Dad!" Sky called.
"Hey Dusty and Sky!" Dottie said. "We have a surprise for you!"
"Oh!" Chug called excitedly. "You hafta let me tell them!"
"Go ahead, Chug." Dottie chuckled.
"Tell us what?" Sky asked.
"We're gonna meet you in Mexico!" Chug announced.
"Really?" Dusty asked excitedly, Sky bouncing a bit from her spot on the crop duster's wing.
"Yep!" Chug confirmed. "Tickets are on Sparky and me."
"That's so great!" Sky cheered.
"You sure you're up for it, Skipper?" Dusty asked.
"You bet!" Skipper said. "Somebody else is doin' the flying."
"That's great news, guys!" Dusty said excitedly. "We'll see you in Mexico!"
"Bye guys!" Sky called. "Bye Dad! See you all in Mexico!" Their friends bid them farewell before hanging up, and Sky did a little victory dance. As much fun as this race has been, she started to feel quite homesick lately. But she knew it was only two legs left and she'd be back in Propwash Junction, hopefully helping Dusty carry a trophy home; and now, she only had to wait one more leg before she could see Skipper and Sparky again. She was still giddy as Dusty rolled out for a walk in the cool night air, but she paused when there was a crashing sound and El Chu raced from his hanger. "El Chu?"
"Hey, El Chu!" Dusty called, halting the Mexican racer. "Where's the fire?"
"It is in my soul!" El Chu cried passionately. "Tonight, I shall win the heart of Miss Rochelle!" He gave a swish of his cape and took off for Rochelle's hanger.
Sky pinched the bridge of her nose. "Oh, this can't end well."
"What do we do?" Dusty asked.
Sky sighed. "Doesn't his team play in a mariachi band?" Dusty nodded. "Then it's time for an intervention."
By the time Sky and Dusty caught up with El Chu, the Mexican racer had a spotlight set on him and he was blaring music from a stereo next to him. The rock music echoed out across the area, and Sky covered her ears as El Chu began singing wildly. Based on the fact that Rochelle slammed her hanger doors shut, she wasn't exactly impressed herself.
"Oh boy." Dusty sighed.
"Nah-uh, not happening." Sky hopped down from Dusty's wing and picked up the extension cords attached to the stereo. She yanked on them, unplugging the cords and shutting off the music and lights.
El Chu blinked in surprise, then noticed Sky and Dusty off to one side with the extension cords still in Sky's hands. "Dusty, Sky, what are you doing?"
The pair didn't answer as a group of forklifts in mariachi outfits came out, beginning to play a smooth, slow tempo song as they gathered around El Chu. One of the racer's teammates lit a trio of candles on a tall candlestick, and Dusty gently pushed it over closer to his Mexican friend. El Chu cast Dusty and Sky a strange look.
"Low and slow." Dusty instructed. One of El Chu's forklifts held up two signs: the first stating "How low can you go?" and the second "Mas suave." Sky gave El Chu a thumbs-up, nodding encouragingly. El Chu finally nodded in understanding, and he began singing again. This time, he voice carried smoothly and passionately up towards Rochelle's shut doors.
Dusty rocked back and forth to the tune of the music, and Sky looked out to see Rochelle's hanger doors opening slowly. Sky smiled broadly and guided the red forklift beside her towards a scissor lift, quietly directing him up to the spotlights.
Sky switched the spotlights back on, giving a motion to the forklift above. The red vehicle put a tinted screen over the spotlights, casting El Chu in a soft, golden glow. Sky looked up to see Rochelle was actually smiling down at them, and Sky quietly gave a cheer. She returned to Dusty's side, holding out her hand palm up. He tapped his wing against her palm, both of them smiling victoriously.
El Chu smiled warmly as the song finished. "Buenos noches, carina." He and his band gave a bow to the Canadian racer.
Rochelle giggled. "Mousier El Chu." She said something in French before giggling again and disappearing into her hanger.
El Chu blinked. "What does that mean?"
"No idea." Dusty shrugged.
"Clueless." Sky agreed.
"But French-Canadian is the language of love…in Quebec." Dusty noted. "So, it's gotta be good."
"I am in your debt, compadres." El Chu said as they left. "If ever you need me, I shall be there."
"Compadre." Dusty repeated, smiling. "I like that."