Chapter 7

-Dusty-

I was nervous, but excited, the feeling of flight...It was a comfort as well as a motivator. I spent the last couple of days practicing til my new body was used to it.

But now it was time...To fly home...To see everyone.

I had radio'd in giving a heads up but asked Dottie to not tell a certain someone anything.

I wanted her to see me for who I was...Not what I was. I said there had been a change but I don't think anyone could be truly prepared to see me now. The kids had come with me for support, riding below, Olivia nestled between her brother and the horse to keep her in place.

Flying over my hometown, was nostalgic. Propwash was the same as it was when I had left it. It was good to be home.

Swooping in, I shifted so as I came down to land I broke into a run before my momentum left. Andy slowed down his horse Whiplash the black stallion snorting throwing his head back.

"Whip we know your crazy. we never thought you were sane." Olivia said petting him. I chuckled a bit before sighing.

"Think they'll take me back?"

"If they don't then your welcomed at our place still." Andy said as his sister nodded.

"Thanks guys." I said before walking to where I knew the others were most likely waiting. I came up from behind keeping quiet. They were looking at the skies, Skipper had his binoculars probably thinking I was going to fly in.

I grinned, this would be a little fun.

Creeping up behind Dottie I tapped her as she whirled around. "What in the-"

The others turned around as I smiled. "Hey Dottie...Hey everyone."

Their eyes grew wide.

"DUSTY!?"

"I-is that really you!?" Dottie drove around me looking me over. "Oh my goodness...What happened?"

I sighed. "It's a long story-Hrk!" Chug used his gas tube to give me a side hug. "Ahaha, hey Chug!"

"Good to see you buddy." He smiled.

"Easy now on the boy." Skipper warned as he let me go.

I gave a salute as he fired off one as well. "Good to see you Skip...Good to see all of you."

"It's good to have you home."

"What happened?"

I sat down taking a deep breath before I began to explain.

"And that's how I wound up becoming a flying human." I finally finished sighing a bit. That had taken awhile. Dottie gently hugged me, I hugged her to the best of my ability.

"Dusty...I'm sorry this happened to you...I'm glad your okay." She said trying to hide the concern in her voice, but I knew it was there.

I decided to focus on something else. "Thanks...Um...Quick question..Is...Is She here?" I asked.

From the looks I got, she was. "Yeah, she's by your hangar waiting."

I gulped a bit and stood up. "Then I better get over there...Wish me luck."

With that I took off into the air feeling nervous once more.

It was one thing to tell my friends, practically my family about this...And have them accept me. But her…

I needed to know. I could see her, her paint glimmering in the sunlight, looking around.

My new heart beat a little faster, she looked so beautiful.

Ishani… I landed coming into view of her. First she looked surprised, like the others had. "Hey Ishani…"

Her eyes widened as she came closer looking me over. "Dusty….My word…"

I looked down feeling a little ashamed now. "I know...It's weird…"

"Don't say that!" She scolded me a little. My head snapped up in surprise. "Dusty Crophopper...You are not weird. In any way shape or form."

I was touched, I leaned up laying my hand on her nose bringing my cheek against it looking her in the eyes. "Ishani…" My voice cracked a little.

"Dusty...My feelings will never change...Even if our forms do." She said quietly, looking her in the eyes I could see she was telling the truth...Being sincere.

"I love you.." I murmured nuzzling her a little. Ishani nuzzled back being as gentle as she could to avoid hurting me.

"I love you too...So very much."

If I could I would kiss her right now. We stayed like that for awhile, me with my head against her, feeling the comforting warmth she gave off. "So warm…"

"So gentle.."

After awhile I felt a little tired. I got up stretching a bit. She giggled quietly. "Why don't you rest on my wing for awhile?" She suggested, I blinked. I mean I knew I did that for Olivia and sometimes Andy when they were tired. I just didn't expect her to give me the same option.

"Are you sure?" I asked before she nodded.

"I am."

I smiled and curled up on her wing folding my arm under my head. "Thanks Ishani…" I closed my eyes, I knew the kids were keeping out of trouble so all I had to worry about right now was this moment.

Was her.

"Anytime my love.."

"I missed you…"

"And I you."

That's how we stayed, me curled up to her, Ishani keeping still singing quietly.

I've missed these moments...I've missed the sound of her songs...Of her voice…

Without intending to I drifted off the sound of her singing fading away.

I was home..

-Lightning-

I think the best way to describe how my day had gone would be "weird". Maya had kept coming around until finally someone from her territory came and dragged her back home because of something. A chore she forgot or something like that.

I admit, it was fun racing her around town but getting a chance to do some serious practice was a good way to spend time.

I was alone but I couldn't shake the feeling of being watched.

Drifting along the dirt, I sped up shifting gears to accommodate the turn I was about to make.

Only to swerve grimacing as something rammed into me. "Ow!" I skidded to a halt wondering what just dinged my side.

There was what looked like an old fashion battering ram being held by harnesses to two horses...With humans who had weapons atop their backs.

"What the…?" What is this? "Hey what's the big idea!?" I growled.

"The beginning of an idea." One pointed at me as I lurched forward trying my hardest to pull back.

A magnetic pull however had another idea as I was stuck to the magnet lifted up. I revved and growled. "LET GO OF ME!" I screamed, as the humans moved me to a container. I struggled but they still dropped me into it.

Oh no...They ain't stopping Lightning McQueen. I revved my engine slamming into it, again and again.

It just wouldn't budge though. There were dents but I couldn't bust through and it was starting to hurt. "Ngh…" I sighed lowering myself further to the floor. I was tired now too, but I didn't try to fall asleep. I didn't want to sleep not knowing if I was even going to wake up.

There were voices, and the sensation of the container swerving a little as it was moved. I tried ramming it again only to hear the humans outside laughing.

I am SO running them over..SO running them over! I growled engine roaring.

When it finally came to a stop they left me there for awhile.

I wasn't sure how much time had gone on until they finally opened it.

There were humans with weapons pointed. "Come out, now...Slow and steady."

No thank you. I sped out dodging around them, making sure to knock one over as I went. They were NOT going to keep me here!

Only….I didn't count on something else.

There was a clang as I skidded to a halt. I looked to my wheel and tried moving it, but there was a parking boot on it...As on my other wheels.

I growled as they dragged me to a hangar...It looked decked out like a lab, more humans were moving about, a large machine in the center of the room.

"What do you want with me!?" The humans were connecting me to this machine, I would be lying if I said I wasn't afraid. This wasn't right..

"Your a mistake...A fluke on humanity...We made a mistake and we're correcting it." One said, a white coat who had a hood covering part of his face.

I gasped a little. "W-what..? You think...We're mistakes?"

"The biggest mistake." One said.

"The worst mistake."

"We should've never created your kind."

No...I'm not a mistake...We're not mistakes! "I'm not a mistake! We're not mistakes!"

"Your a liar...You machines took over our world...And think we're not the least bit bitter? You pathetic machines...You'll soon see what it's like to suffer!" The one with the hood roared as he gestured to the machine.

Someone flicked the switch...And everything started to hurt.

"AUUUUGH!" My body felt like I was being burned alive, it hurt...I could hear pops and whirs as something was happening inside. "STOP IT! PLEASE!"

They laughed. I closed my eyes screaming as this burning sensation continued to go through me.

"Stop it…" I felt myself hit the ground, dizzy, exhausted. "Please…" Something was wrong, I opened my eyes finding myself looking up at the humans around me. They looked proud of what they had done.

"The process is complete...Take him out of here…"

Dots danced in front of my vision, I could only register being hauled up onto something…

Before everything went black..

When I came to, my head was spinning, I felt hot..Like I was overheating. I felt thirsty too, I really needed some oil or something.

"Ngh…" I tried running my engine, but nothing happened. My body was still sore, everything ached.

And I was still face down now on the dirt in the middle of...Somewhere. It looked similar to the path along Route 66, but it was too far from Radiator Springs...And I couldn't see much else except the outline of buildings in the distance.

It didn't look familiar at all. "Ugh…" I pushed myself up glancing down before taking a double take.

I wasn't on wheels anymore…

There were hands...I had hands. I raised it up looking and it, moving it. It was attached to me. I forced myself into a sit, looking the rest of myself over.

I was wearing clothes that looked similar to my paint job, but it was dusty from being in the dirt, still had the Rust-Eeze logo on the front of it. There was no doubt about it...I was human.

And right now...I felt pretty darn tired.

Hot, tired, thirsty..

My head swam as I sunk back to the ground closing my eyes.

"Help…"

Someone..

Please….