It was another race day, and the crowd all gathered at the Monster Dome to watch the race. At his pit, Crusher anxiously glanced up at the crowd.

It had been a few days since his attack. Everyone remembered it well. They all knew it was him who almost killed them all.

He was worried about how much it would affect them to see him racing again after all his crimes.

"Crusher?" Crusher glanced up to see Blaze driving over at him with concern. "You okay?"

"I… I'm not sure," Crusher shook his head with a shudder. "The crowd… they hated me before… I… they'll hate me more now, and I… I don't know if I can handle it this time…"

"Don't worry, Crusher," Blaze patted his shoulder gently. "Everything will be alright,"

"How? You're not someone who nearly killed them all just cause he was so jealous and enraged..." Tears began to form in his eyes, and he quickly tried to get rid of them. "If they didn't want me as a racer before, then I don't think they'd want me here now..."

"Well, if they have something to say, they better make sure it's good," Blaze smiled and wrapped an arm around the other. "I'll be here to help. Pickle will too. And so will the rest of our friends,"

"Really...?"

"Mm-hmm," Blaze nodded. "Just trust me on this, brother,"

"O-Okay..." Crusher gave a nod and a smile.

"Then let's go."

Blaze led Crusher to the starting line, where their friends were waiting on them. Soon, Bump Bumperman started the race, and they all dashed through the track.

Crusher, as per usual, was taking an early lead, a confident smile on his face as he sped. His smile faltered, however, when he saw the expressions of the audience, who looked clearly unhappy by the fact that he was even allowed to race after what he did. They kept murmuring to each other and glancing down at him with a stink eye.

"You know... I don't think I can do this..."

He didn't even bother the fact that he was slowing down and the others were passing him, and now Stripes was in the lead.

However... one truck noticed Crusher slink off to the side, and watched as they all crossed the finish line together.

"BLAZE AND HIS FRIENDS WIN!!!" Bump cried. "BLAZE AND HIS FRIENDS WIN!!"

The crowd erupted in their usual happy cheers as the team celebrated. Crusher was too heartbroken to see that Blaze was only half cheering, seeing how Crusher had been done by the crowd.

But, the celebrations didn't last long when they saw the crowd booing at Crusher, calling him horrible names, even throwing rocks and fruit at him, causing him to hang his head and drive off, tears flowing.

Blaze gasped. "Guys... look."

"Hmm?" Everyone turned to see the dark blue truck zoom away.

"Crusher!" Pickle cried out after him but couldn't catch up to him on time. "What happened?!"

"The crowd... they were giving him such awful looks," Blaze sighed. "Threw fruit at him, called him names... I think I heard one say they wished he was never born."

"WHAT?!" Pickle snarled and took out a bat. "WHO SAID THAT?!"

"Pickle... easy..." Gabby said before letting out a sigh. "Poor Crusher... they had no idea what he went through growing up, and now they're treating him worse than ever!"

"AJ and I'll go make sure he's okay," Blaze told them before he and his best friend zoomed after their brother.

They found Crusher at his pit, trying to hide himself away and crying endless tears.

"Crusher, I am so sorry..." Blaze sighed. "We're here for you, bro."

"I… I told you that they'd hate me," Crusher sniffled as AJ dismounted to offer him comfort. "They'd hate me more than they already did…"

"They just don't understand what you went through," AJ said, rubbing his side.

"They wouldn't have cared anyway..." Crusher sighed.

"I'm gonna think of something to show them," Blaze promised. "I'm gonna—"

"B!" Darington zoomed to them in panic. "You've gotta come back out! Quick!"

"Why, Darry?" Blaze turned to his love run confusion. "What's wrong?"

"It's Pickle!" he motioned for the other to see Pickle being held back by Zeg, Stripes and Starla. "He found the truck that said that he wished that Crusher was never been born, and he's ready to KILL!"

"Oh no..." Blaze gulped. "AJ, you stay here with Crusher! I'll be right back!"

He sped out of the pit and drove to where Pickle was raising the bat at one of the audience. His whole body glowed with sun marks while his eyes glowed gold as he called on the rocks to separate Pickle from the crowd.

"Pickle, stop!"

"But, Blaze--!"

"Pickle, NO." Blaze gave him a firm look. "I'll handle this."

Pickle sighed and backed up for the red truck to confront the crowd.

"All of you, that's ENOUGH!" he yelled, voice uncharacteristically angry as he glared at them. "Which of you said it? The one who wished that Crusher was never born?"

"That was me," One of the trucks at the back raised a tire.

Blaze took a deep breath to calm himself before he crossed his tires. "Introduce and Explain yourself, please,"

"I… I just stated a fact!" the truck cried out. "Everyone would be better off if that villain was never born!"

"Come forward... NOW."

The truck drove forward, a little wary because of the… unusual tone their local hero used as he spoke. Blaze took a deep breath for calming his temper as he faced the truck.

"What's... your name?"

"F-Frankie...?"

"Well, Frankie, I think you all need to know the truth about Crusher."

"The… truth?" Frankie glanced up in confusion.

"Just... lemme explain."

Meanwhile, AJ was still comforting Crusher, who was still huddled up at the corner of his pit.

"I'm sure Blaze will have things under control soon."

"But what if he can't get them under control...?" Crusher whimpered.

"Oh, he will," AJ smiled. "They've never seen Blaze mad, and that's something to fear as much as seeing Pickle mad,"

"But... they've been really quiet."

"Now that you mention it... it has been quiet. Lemme go check it out." AJ offered before running out of the pit. His eyes lit up to find Blaze explaining everything to the crowd.

"Good to see that everything's going okay," he let out a sigh of relief as he watched Frankie and the crowd suddenly look shameful and guilty.

"So you see?" Blaze finished. "Crusher never meant to be such a bad person. He was just alone and unloved a lot. I hope you guys see it my way now. Thanks for your time."

The crowd began to murmur, eyes guilty as the red truck turned over to his friends. His glow had ceased a few minutes ago, and his eyes were back to normal as he smiled.

"Everything's all taken care off," he said then he turned to AJ. "How's Crusher?"

"Still pretty sad..."

"Okay," Blaze nodded. "Come on, AJ, we'll take him home, so he could get some rest. Crying usually knocks out a person,"

"Alright," AJ hopped onto his driver's seat before they drove off to fetch Crusher.