A/N: So this is it. This is the last chapter of my Cars and Planes series. I'm not gonna cry. I'm not gonna cry. (goes into a corner to cry).

While I gather my composure, enjoy this finale!

Chapter Nineteen: Certified Heroes

Day five.

The team was getting restless. The joy of Sky scaring the paintjob off Spinner wore off the next morning when Dusty still didn't wake up. Sky nearly broke down into tears, but Blade was quick to comfort her. Maru seemed to work casually now, tinkering with something on his workbench. He only took a break to fix Blade's hoist and reattach the helicopter's retardant tank back on him. The helicopter emerged from Maru's garage looking better than new, but Blade agreed it was a hollow victory if Dusty still didn't wake up from his own injuries.

It was on this day, the base received another visitor: the Secretary of the Interior himself.

"I heard Cad's idiocy really hit you hard." The Secretary said, speaking to Blade.

"One of my teammates is still in repairs." Blade confirmed.

The Secretary glanced to Sky, ever present at Blade's side. "Based on Cad's quite terrified description, am I to assume you are the 'demon child' that scared him so badly?"

Sky looked rather proud. "You bet."

The Secretary chuckled. "You should've seen him tearing down the path to the lodge. But back to the matter at hand. How is your remaining teammate's repairs coming along?"

"Our mechanic has been working on him almost nonstop for the past five days." Blade reported. "We're waiting for him to wake up." He kept his tone even, despite lingering emotions making his stomach twist into knots.

The Secretary nodded and sighed. "I see."

"Let's just be happy Cad's getting what's coming to him." Sky huffed. "He thinks a dirty park is so bad, wait until he gets to a jail cell."

The Secretary sighed again. "That's also why I came up here."

Blade and Sky stared at the green SUV before them. "What do you mean?" Blade demanded, his tone almost dangerous. He had to mentally remind himself who he was talking to.

The Secretary paused. "Dusty and Skylar here are training under you to become firefighters, correct?" Blade gave a crisp nod, giving a glare that told the Secretary to get on with it. "That makes them employees to the Piston Peak Air Attack. Therefore, their crash is seen as a work-related incident. Ergo, Cad does not face jail time for it."

"What?!" Blade barked, his anger rising again.

"Are you kidding me?" Sky scoffed.

"I'm not happy about it either!" The Secretary snapped, his irritated tone sounding rather foreign when it came from the usually calm vehicle. "But, legally, he can't be punished for what happened."

"He almost got them killed." Blade growled.

"And he will be punished for it." The Secretary assured. "I can put him someplace where he'll be miserable enough that he'll wish he could be in jail." He smirked a bit. "I hear Death Valley National Park is looking for a new head ranger."

Avalanche suddenly began laughing, and of course the entire base could hear it. The rest of the Smokejumpers soon joined in. Cad Spinner, in Death Valley? This was the same guy who kept his office at below freezing temperature on the hottest days at the park because he hated the heat. To be in one of the hottest places in the world was enough to make the Smokejumpers laugh so hard they almost made themselves sick.

Blade still glared. "Not good enough."

The Secretary looked down. "I know. I wish I could do more. But I'm getting him out of Piston Peak and I've made Ranger Jammer the new superintendent. At least he knows what he's doing."

Blade didn't stop glaring, even as he turned and taxied off. Sky sighed. "So we still get some justice, even if it's not what we expect."

"I've heard of people getting away with a lot worse." The Secretary said. "But there was no way Spinner would get away with this one. I was in that fire." He looked to Sky and smiled. "Don't worry; the base isn't in trouble for flying out at night to take care of it."

Sky blinked. "Really?"

"You all came out despite the danger and your actions saved the lives of hundreds of people." The Secretary said. "And then you and your friend go out of your way to help two more campers? It wouldn't be right to let this team be fined for doing their jobs, even if they ended up breaking the rules."

Sky smiled. "Thank you, Mr. Secretary. That means a lot, believe me."

"It's nothing really." The Secretary said. "You should be proud of yourself, Miss Riley. You did a great thing."

Sky stared off into space for a moment. "I wish people would stop saying that. Dusty and I….we came here to become firefighters, not heroes. I know so many other people who are actual heroes: my dad, who taught me so much even when I thought I didn't care; Max and Mayday, who always look out for others; Blade, for going to such lengths just for the sake of his team. Dusty and I didn't do any of that. We just did our jobs as firefighters."

The Secretary still smiled. "Miss Riley, being a hero is part of the firefighting job."

Sky looked to him, contemplating his words. It seemed like the rest of the team were heroes for what they did, but then what did it mean if she and Dusty did the same thing? What have people been saying about their actions? Harvey and Winnie took the time to call and make sure they were okay; Winnie even cried over them. What seemed like "part of the job" to Sky was seen as an act of heroism to others. She and Dusty saved lives. It didn't seem to hold much an impact at the time, but Sky began to think about what might've happened if they hadn't broken off to save Harvey and Winnie, or what could've happened if the team didn't help the campers on the main road. It would've been like a massacre, but it was stopped because they "just did their jobs."

Sky sighed, smiling softly. "Can't argue with you there, Mr. Secretary."

Sky journeyed to the garage that night, hoping to get one last look at Dusty before she went to bed. Most everyone had gone to sleep, even Dipper as she sat outside the garage, but Sky found she just couldn't rest easy. Maru sat at his workbench, completely still. Sky came around, glancing briefly at the still-unconscious Dusty, and came to Maru's side. She noticed the tug looked extremely exhausted, but rather proud of himself. She looked to the workbench, discovering a strange piece of machinery.

"Is that what you've been working on?" Sky asked.

"Working on and just finished." Maru said. He spun the gears on the item, smiling when all of them moved smoothly. "It's ready to be implanted. You wanna help?"

"Sure." Sky nodded. Maru carried the item across the room to Dusty, he and Sky going up the ramp to Dusty's nose. Sky opened up the panel to Dusty's engine, helping Maru gently lower the item into the plane…..where his gearbox used to rest.

"There we go." Maru said, securing the item in place.

Sky stared. "Maru. Is that….?"

"A better than new gearbox? You bet." Maru nodded.

Sky's hand flew to her mouth in shock. "You…you….."

"I had to build it mostly from scratch, but it should run perfectly." Maru assured. "He'll need it if you two want to get back to racing again."

Sky nearly fell over from shock, but Maru caught her and carried her back down the ramp. But the raven-haired girl caught him off-guard when she suddenly hugged him tightly. Happy tears fell from her eyes. "Thank you, Maru. Thank you so much. I promise I'll never doubt you again."

Maru chuckled. "Don't worry about it. I started doubting myself now and then. But I knew that if you were willing to hurt yourself to save Blade, then I had to bust my aft helping Dusty." He hugged the girl back, sighing. "It's all up to him now."

"You think he'll wake up soon?" Sky asked, wiping her eyes dry.

"I don't know." Maru admitted. "But I do know he will wake up. He cares about you way too much to let go now."

On the morning of the sixth day, everyone finally caught a break as Maru's shout carried across the base.

"He's awake!"

Sky brightened up considerably, hobbling over towards the garage with Blade and Windlifter on either side of her. They saw Dusty slowly rolling out of the garage, looking disoriented and tired but alive and well.

"Mornin', mud dropper." Blade greeted.

"Dusty!" Sky felt overjoyed at seeing Dusty awake, and she didn't bother hiding it.

Dusty looked equally ecstatic, and he smiled broadly as Sky hobbled over and hugged him. He nuzzled her, sighing in relief. "Oh Sky. I thought you were a goner for good this time."

Sky rolled her eyes. "Please. If crashing into the Pacific Ocean didn't kill me, this certainly wasn't going to." She and Dusty laughed. "Besides, I had someone watching out for me." She looked to Blade, and Dusty followed her gaze. The plane smiled at the chief.

"Thanks." Dusty said. "Thanks for keeping your promise." Blade nodded, looking quite relieved himself to see Dusty awake. Dusty sighed tiredly. "How long have I been out, anyway?"

"Five days." Blade reported. Soon, the rest of the team gathered around, cheering at the sight of Dusty awake at last.

"All aircraft, the superintendent has entered the base." Patch announced, actually sounding happy to announce the superintendent's arrival.

Dusty was confused, especially when Ol' Jammer rolled up with André the concierge, Pulaski, and his assistant following. "You had us worried, Dusty." Jammer said. "Glad to see you're out and about."

Dusty blinked. "Wait, what happened to Cad?"

Pulaski chuckled. "Sprinkler saved the lodge but not his job. Secretary of the Interior put Ranger Jammer here in charge."

"YAY!" Avalanche cheered.

"Good choice if you ask me." Sky said, unable to keep the smile off her face.

"Maru, did you tell him?" Windlifter asked.

"Tell me what?" Dusty asked nervously, knowing it had something to do with his repairs.

"I managed to fix most of you: replaced the prop, repaired the wing ribs, got your pontoons back on. I hammered out everything I could." Maru reported. "But your gearbox…" Everyone else looked down, and Sky bit her lip to keep her smile at bay.

"I know." Dusty sighed, disappointed. "Thanks for trying, Maru."

Maru smiled broadly, as did everyone else. "You're welcome! 'Cause you're fixed!"

"Wait, really?" Dusty gasped in surprise.

"You bet, buddy!" Sky laughed, hugging the plane.

"That was the hardest thing I've ever done." Maru admitted. "You've got yourself a custom-made, epicyclic, concentric reduction gearbox."

"A new gearbox?" Dusty smiled happily.

"No!" Maru scoffed. "It's better than new!"

"Crophopper, Riley, I'd say you've earned your certification." Blade announced. Dusty's and Sky's smiles grew, if it were even possible at that moment, and everyone began cheering happily. Dusty could hardly believe it as Sky congratulated him.

"We did it." Sky breathed.

Dusty's smile never faded. "You bet we did, co-pilot."

Dusty was so ecstatic over the events he couldn't stop smiling for the rest of the day, even when Maru gave him a thorough checkup to make sure everything was still running right. Then he practically begged Maru to let him go on a test run with his "better than new" gearbox, and Maru finally allowed Sky to mount the racer and let them race off into the air. Dusty and Sky soared, pushing the torque into the red and smiling excitedly when they didn't hear or see the warning light go off.

"That was amazing!" Sky whooped as they returned to the garage for Maru to do another checkup. "Just wait until everyone back home hears!"

Dusty froze. "Oh my gosh! Skipper and Chug and everyone back home!"

Sky's eyes widened in realization. "Aw, man! That fire was so big it had to have made national news. I totally forgot to call them to let them know you were awake!"

"I did." Blade said, rolling up alongside the pair. "I just got off the radio with Skipper. He and everyone in Propwash Junction are looking forward to your return."

"Good." Dusty sighed in relief.

"Raven, he also said when you get home, he's grounding you for scaring him so badly." Blade noted.

Sky rolled her eyes. "Nineteen years old and he thinks he can still ground me." She blinked. "Actually, he is a Jolly Wrench. I wouldn't put it past him."

Blade chuckled. "Well, unfortunately, you two aren't going anywhere for a while. Maru says he wants you two to stay another week until you can properly heal up, and he'll bolt you both to the ground if he has to."

"Bolt us to the ground, huh Maru?" Dusty laughed as he rolled into the garage.

"And duct tape you to the floor." Maru confirmed, beginning his checkup. "How's the ankle feel, Raven?"

"A lot better." Sky said. "Windlifter did some sort of magic Native American healing thing on me, so it's not as painful as before. I should be able to walk normally by the end of the week."

"Good." Maru nodded. "You're cuts and burns should heal nicely, but you might come out with some nasty scars."

"Cool!" Sky said, making Maru laugh and Blade roll his eyes.

Dusty found himself staring at Blade, particularly where the helicopter's burn used to be. He sighed. "Hey Blade? I never got a chance to apologize for…..you know…almost getting you killed….."

"No need." Blade said without hesitation. "It wasn't your fault."

"But if I hadn't been so stupid—"

"Say you hadn't been." Blade said. "Say you did everything I said and yet we still ended up grounded. It wouldn't have changed anything. You're part of the team, Champ, and it's my job to look out for my team."

Dusty stared at Blade for a moment before smiling a bit. "Thanks. And thanks again for helping Sky."

"Well what kind of Soul Connect partner would I be if I let her go?" Blade cast a smirk to Sky, who shoved him teasingly. Everyone laughed lightly. It seemed like the raging inferno from almost a week ago never even happened.

And so another week passed, Sky and Dusty continuing with their healing. By the end of Maru's designated recovery period, Sky's wounds closed up nicely. Her ankle fully healed, and her cuts almost all disappeared. Her burn still required wrapping for another week, but she could finally move her torso without pain flaring up. Maru was right; even though her cuts and burn began to heal, they left scars all over her. But she didn't mind. She wore her "battle scars" proudly.

Now, it was the day before they left to return to Propwash Junction. Dusty and Sky insisted the Air Attack team join them for the Corn Fest to celebrate their certification and to give the firefighters a break from the grueling experience. Blade finally agreed, especially when Maru pointed out that Jammer was still keeping the park closed so no fires would be starting again.

Dusty received a gift from Maru, at Blade's request: a new paintjob, red and black on white to match Mayday and Blade. Dusty wore the new scheme proudly, beaming at his mentor. Blade rolled his eyes, but he felt prideful himself. Maru even repainted the Jolly Wrench insignia back onto Dusty's nose. Sky also received a sort of new paintjob herself: a jacket and T-shirt, with a red bandana to replace her old one. The jacket and T-shirt were both colored red with black sleeves. The insignias for the Jolly Wrenches, Piston Peak Air Attack, and Propwash Junction Fire Team graced the back of the jacket and the front of the T-shirt, resting over Sky's heart. Sky pulled on the T-shirt, smiling proudly. Her sleeves weren't long enough to cover her psych-man birthmark, but she didn't mind anymore.

"There." Blade nodded in satisfaction. "Now at least you'll all match."

Sky smirked. "Why Blade, I didn't know you sew."

"I don't." Blade said. "Maru does."

Maru rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, whatever." He smiled, handing Sky the modified fire extinguisher he made for her. "You hold onto this. You're a true firefighter now, and you're gonna need it."

Sky smiled. "Thanks, Maru." She looked to Dusty, noting how they really did match now. "Just wait until everyone back home sees us!"

Finally, finally, Dusty and Sky made it back home to Propwash Junction. The Piston Peak firefighters flew in behind them, the Smokejumpers riding in Cabbie per the usual. Even Maru, Pulaski, and his assistant made the trip. Harvey and Winnie arrived a few days ago, looking overjoyed to see Dusty and Sky alive and well. Ryker had already arrived, allowing the aircraft to land at the airport. The TMST agent planned to check their progress and make the final decision at the beginning of the festival.

Sky waved when she spotted Skipper, Sparky, Mayday, Chug, and Dottie out on the runway. The second Dusty's tires hit the runway, Sky unhooked herself from the plane and leaped off him. She sprinted towards her family, tackling Skipper in a tight hug. The Corsair nuzzled her lovingly, sighing.

"I was so afraid I wouldn't see you again." Skipper sighed.

Sky sighed too. "I was afraid too. But I'm here and I did it. Dusty and I became firefighters."

"Certainly looks like it." Mayday said as he approached.

"Whoa, Mayday!" Sky gasped happily. "I barely recognize you!" Indeed, Dottie's modifications really paid off. Mayday didn't even wear his glasses, and Sky guessed he mostly likely didn't need them anymore.

"I hardly recognize you, Miss Skylar Amelia Riley." Mayday chuckled. "Max would be awfully proud of you."

Sky smiled warmly, feeling pride well up inside her. "Thanks, Mayday. And guess what: I found my Soul Connect partner!"

"I should've known you'd start bragging about that." Blade smirked as he and the rest of the Air Attack team came up. "It's good to see you again, Mayday."

"Glad you and the team could make it." Mayday greeted his old friend.

"No way!" Sparky gasped. "Sky, you Soul Connect with a fire chief?"

"I know, right?" Sky laughed. "Pretty cool."

"It'll be cooler when we can officially reopen the airport." Dottie noted.

"No word yet, but I think that TMST guy is looking pretty happy!" Chug noted excitedly.

"We still have some time before he makes his final decision." Dusty said. "So let's just make sure the festival's ready to go. Airport or no airport, the show must go on." Everyone else nodded in agreement.

A few hours passed. The time of the aerial performance grew closer. Dusty and Sky received a second surprise from the Air Attack team: an offer to perform for the Propwash residents. Not only did the pair agree, they insisted their friends perform alongside them. Sky hurried home, returning with Max's old firefighting helmet under one arm. She determined she would wear the helmet to honor Max, seeing how she always kept him in her thoughts as she trained. It seemed the late firefighter always watched out for her, and she couldn't have been more grateful. Leadbottom even approached the girl and apologized for doubting her, congratulating Sky and Dusty on getting certified.

Finally, Ryker called everyone together and to make the announcement. Dusty, Sky, and Mayday stood beside him, the Piston Peak team standing by mostly for moral support. When Ryker announced the Propwash Junction Airport was recertified and open for operation once more, everyone cheered. Before long, it was time to hit the festival and prepare for the air show.

"Dusty, Sky, we're all so proud of you two." Mayday said as he and his new firefighters hung back.

"Thanks, Mayday." Dusty said gratefully.

"It wasn't easy." Sky admitted. "But I'm glad we did it."

Mayday looked like he tried really hard to not choke up. "To do what you did….it takes a special kind of plane. And no small amount of bravery on your part, Skylar."

Dusty and Sky exchanged smiles, proud of themselves. We did it.

Everyone in the bleachers set up near the runway watched excitedly as they waited for the show to start.

"Okay, Chug." Sky said over the fuel truck's radio. "We're good to go!"

Chug nodded. "Ladies and gentleplanes, turn your attention to the skies for today's aerial presentation. The Propwash Junction Corn Festival is proud to present the Piston Peak Air Attack team and our very own world champion racers and firefighters Dusty Crophopper and Skylar Riley!"

The Smokejumpers leaped out of Cabbie, leaving trails of water in their wake before deploying their chutes and beginning to float down towards the ground. Dusty and Sky led the way as they, Blade, Windlifter, and Dipper came up towards the runway, where several ramps waited. Sky and Blade exchanged smiles before the aircraft split up. Dipper, Blade, and Windlifter pulled ahead first, dropping water from their tanks to the amazement of the crowd. Once the Smokejumpers reached their dropping points, they slid down the half pipes and ramps and began performing tricks alongside each other. Sky half-expected them to crash into one another, but it seemed all their practice out on the base paid off as the ground team performed gracefully and skillfully. Dusty and Sky came up last, the two speeding along and Dusty pushing his engine deep into the red. He smiled when the alarm on his panel remained silent, and he looked to see his friends smiling proudly at him. Sky patted the plane's side, preparing herself.

"Ready, Dust Storm?" Sky called.

"Got for it, Soarin' Sky!" Dusty laughed. Sky nodded, unhooking her harness from the handlebar. She held on tightly as Dusty shot off, turning up and looping around in the air. At the top of his loop, Sky pulled her feet from the stirrups and pressed them to Dusty's back, pushing off him and diving towards the ground. Skipper stared a little nervously, hoping his daughter knew what she was doing. Luckily, Sky warned Blade about this, and the AgustaWestland was quick to swoop in with hoist out and ready. He threw the hook, and Sky caught it before spinning around and planting her foot in the cable. She clipped the hook onto the cable and allowed the loop to tighten around her foot, letting her stand on the hoist cable. She looked down and saw her Soul Connect thread, and she followed the line up to smile warmly at Blade. The fire chief smiled back, reeling in the girl so she could climb into his hoist hatch.

Good move, partner. Sky thought, patting Blade's side. She and Blade watched as the team banked around to pass them, Dusty pulling up last and dropping his load of water. Sky beamed with pride.

Nick and Max watched from the roof of the bleachers, the two ghosts smiling. "Those two are gonna do great things." Nick said.

"You better believe it." Max agreed.

THE END

A/N: This was a true pleasure to write and it was an even greater pleasure seeing your reviews. I'm a little backed up on stories to finish, so I need to get working on those. Next up is a Digimon fanfic I started a while back. Since my other two projects involve adapting characters to episodes, I do want to take some time now and then to work on original one-shots for my Into the Psyche characters.

So keep an eye out for my next installment titled Psyche Stories, featuring the life and times of Harley Hudson and Skylar Amelia Riley.

TTFN! Ta ta for now!