-Dusty-

It was dark, it was cold...And the unknown was terrifying.

I had been dusting crops for the humans for awhile now and it was nice to see them happy. I know others don't see them as beings to be respected but they were no different than us. I saw no reason to be cruel to them.

They were so nice..

Or at least...The humans I knew were.

How I wound up in this place...This dark cold place was another story entirely…

They were another story entirely.

I was resting, just content to have a break after a morning of dusting crops and getting rinsed off. The kids had left not long after helping me get cleaned up. Olivia hadn't wanted to go but Andy managed to pry her off my wing since it was lunch time for them.

"Go on, listen to your big brother we can play after." I had told her, Olivia was for such a small girl very kind and loyal, she seemed to like nothing better than just being with her friends.

"Okay…" She pouted but leaned up and hugged me one last time. I gave her a gentle nuzzle as she giggled. "Bye bye!"

"Bye.." I closed my eyes listening to their retreating footsteps, I was like that for awhile just drifting.

Until they came. One moment I was borderline falling asleep, the next thing I knew I was being lifted off of the ground!

My eyes snapped open as I struggled hearing a loud 'clank' as two large magnets were stuck to me keeping me suspended.

I looked around feeling panic starting to set in trying to take off but the magnets were too strong. There were humans. But they weren't any of the ones I had seen, since starting my work here.

They were all dressed in dark clothes, some of them had guns, and...Tools.

"You sure love humans don't you?" One had asked me with a sneer eyes covered by dark glasses.

"S-so what if I do?" I couldn't help the way my voice shook. It was terrifying, if they wanted to kill me, dismantle me and sell my parts or...Or I don't know.

"Well...Since you love 'em so much...Why not be one?"

I didn't want to know what that threat entailed. I struggled. "ANDY! OLIVIA!" I screamed for my friends.

"Oh quit your whining." The one who had spoken moved the joystick on something as the magnets carried me over to a large travel container. I swallowed hard. "You'll see them again...Maybe."

"If they recognized you."

Everyone laughed as they dropped me in and before I could get out they sealed the lid.

It was dark...And cold…

I still don't know what they have planned for me. I don't want to know what "You might as well be one." meant. I just want to go home. To Propwash, to Dottie, to Chug, to Skipper and Sparky..To Ishani...

I sighed lowering myself as much as I could. "Home…" I murmured. Am I ever going home again?

There were footsteps, people talking. I gulped wincing as the light hit me when the container was finally opened. "Get out."

I hesitated, feeling myself start to tremble. They were all around me and had guns. "Now...Be a good machine...Or face the consequences."

I didn't have a choice, I was brought into this strange room, a lab within a hanger where more humans were…

And this strange machine that was almost as big as Skipper. I gulped feeling myself trembling, as all eyes seemed to turn to me.

"Aww...Is the widdle plane scared?" One mocked as everyone laughed.

"He should be."

"W-what do you want with me..?" I asked swallowing hard, looking around me.

One of them a man in a white coat smirked. "You machines own the land...Believe we humans are nothing, just worthy of taking our land, pushing us away."

What!? Is...Is that what they think I believe!? "NO!" I shouted. "I don't think that way!"

"Liar...You know you do...Hook him up." The white coat gestured to the others as they approached me, I was still being aimed at and couldn't run..

Honestly...There was no place to 'run' to.. They connected me to this machine, I looked at it terrified.

Were they going to kill me? Short me out and strip me down for parts?

"Please...Let me go…" I pleaded.

"You love humans so much...You might as well be one."

Another gesture as someone flicked a switch, the machine began to hum...Sparks started to fly from it.

Then everything hurt. "AUUUUGH!" It hurt like I was being burned alive, like my metal was being stripped off, like..Like I was melting.

Please no…

They were laughing, they were enjoying this.

Stop it…!

I screamed again, as the charge going through me halted. Next thing I knew I was on the ground.

"Perfect.." One sneered.

"The experiment worked perfectly."

Ex...Experiment? I looked down at where I was, seeing instead of wheels hands keeping me propped upright.

Hands…? I looked at them raising one and moving the hand. It was mine.

It was mine.

"What...Did you do to me?" I breathed feeling horrified. If this is what I thought it was...Oh no...NO! NO! NO! I could never fly again.

But..I want to!

"Welcome to the human race."

That confirmed it..I was human. I don't know how they did it but they did it.

"Huh clothing as well..Easier than just dumping a man in the nude in the woods." One snickered as I grimaced. I was still sore and afraid of what was going to happen next.

"Get him out of here...See how he survives being treated like we have for years now."

With that, they dragged me from the room and took me somewhere. I passed out during the way.

There was a dog barking.

"Ngh…?" My eyes slowly opened looking around myself. I was in a field somewhere behind a large house.

There were other sounds too, besides the dog's barking. "THEO! SHUT UP ALREADY!" A boy's voice shouted.

I knew that voice. "A-ANDY!?" I called trying to get to my feet. I could barely keep upright winding up falling right back over. "Oof!"

Andy soon ran up. "Dust-" He slowed immediately when he saw me eyes wide.

"Help...Please…"

"O-Oh goodness.."

-Andy-

I couldn't believe it. This guy laying in the field...He sounded just like Dusty. His clothes looked like Dusty's paintjob too.

But.. Dusty was a plane! This guy was just like us. But he needed help. I went over and helped him up as he leaned on me. "Easy now…"

"Sorry…" He murmured. I shook my head.

"Don't be." I got him over to a tree stump as I took a step back.

Looking him over I couldn't really believe what I was seeing. He had dark skin, like he had been working in the fields for awhile, red hair that was kind of messy, his clothing...It matched up perfectly.

And his eyes...They were the same eyes.

"Dusty...Is...Is that really you?" I asked in disbelief. How does a CROPDUSTER turn into a PERSON!?

"It's me...Andy...I..I've been through a lot…" He said looking down. He was shaking a little. I sighed and went over to him putting an arm around his shoulders.

"Wanna talk about it?" I asked.

He told me everything, how he had been captured after we had went off to eat, how he had been locked up in the dark for about as long as he's been missing for and lastly...What he believes changed him.

I winced at that part, I don't even want to imagine how much that had to have hurt. "And now...I'm stuck like this…By...Any chance do you got a mirror? I'm just really curious.." Dusty explained looking embarrassed to even ask. Poor guy.

"Yeah hold up a sec." I went over to the rubbish bin behind my grandparents house finding a piece of a cracked mirror my grandma had broken and tossed. It was just the right size. "Careful." I said when I got back over to him handing it over. "It's sharp."

Dusty nodded his thanks looking at himself grimacing feeling the tip of his nose.

I can only imagine what he's thinking.

-Dusty-

My propeller… I thought miserably feeling my nose and looking at myself closely. It was strange...I was used to looking in a mirror and seeing myself. A plane.

And now I was a human. A ground bound human.

I..I'll never fly again… I put down the mirror and put my head in my hands.

"Dusty…?"

"It's not fair...IT'S NOT FAIR!" I couldn't help it. It was just horrible, here I was trying to help and this was how I was perceived? A monster? A dictator? A liar?

I wasn't any of those. So why did they pick me? I felt strange, like there was something in my throat.

Andy gave me a worried look. "H-hey...It's gonna be okay…" He said quietly. "We're gonna find a way.."

"Y-yeah...Your right…" I hoped. I tried to stand being shaky on my new legs, I wound up leaning on Andy for support.

"Alright...First thing's first...Let's get you walking."

It took a few tries, and a lot of trying to figure out the right balance but I was soon able to walk on my own.

Andy grinned. "Nice job Crophopper."

I chuckled a bit. "Thanks Hayes.." I thought of something as I laughed a bit. "Goodness...Olivia's gonna flip."

He laughed. "Oh gosh she will never stop hugging you now that there's nothing to burn herself on."

I really did miss these two. "Well...Shall we go see her?"

"Yeah...Let's go."

When we got to Andy's place Olivia was reading looking upset about something. Did..She miss me that much?

"Hey Livvy." Her brother said going over to her and tapping her on the head. She looked up and blinked tilting her head to the side when her eyes landed on me.

"Hey there Olivia…" I said kneeling to her level when she went over to me. Olivia was quiet for a moment looking me over. "Recognize my voice?" I looked her in the eyes.

They went wide as it seemed to click. "Dusty?" She asked taking a few more steps closer.

I nodded. "Yeah kiddo."

-N/A-

"Yeah kiddo."

Olivia teared up before throwing her arms around the plane turned human as he gave a surprised look. She sniffled burying her face into his shoulder.

His gaze softened as he brought his arms around her. "Shhh…" Dusty whispered stroking her hair. "Shh...It's okay…"

"I missed you...I was worried you were hurt or sick or...Or…" She just went quiet curling up.

"Oh Olivia…" Dusty was touched that she had cared that much. He glanced up at her brother who looked like he was trying his best to hide any emotions.

Oh kids… After a few minutes Olivia calmed down giving her friend a quick nuzzle. He chuckled ruffling her hair. "Hee...Hey are you gonna live with us now?" She asked innocently.

"Well...If you guys don't mind…" He said honestly. "If it's not too much trouble."

Andy grinned. "Dude...Your not trouble at all. So yes Livvy...Dusty's staying."

She cheered and hugged her friend again.

"Thanks you guys…" Dusty smiled hugging Olivia a little tighter relieved he was finally somewhere safe. Somewhere where he wouldn't be locked up in the dark again.

"Your my best friend…" Olivia said looking up at him.

Olivia...Your gonna make a grown plane tear up at this rate… He thought cradling her in his arms a little sitting with her. "Olivia...Thank you."

She blinked. "For what?"

"For being yourself."

She cuddled close content to stay right where she was. "I don't like seeing the people I love hurt or sad...And I love my mom, my dad, my grandma and grandpa, Andy, Theo...And I love you too!"

Dusty smiled leaning back against the couch. For now...He was somewhere he could call home for awhile.

"Thank you…"

We'll find a way...One way or another…