It was rainy day in Axle City. The Blaze Family were in the living room, playing a friendly game of Uno.
Crusher had been with the family for two months now, and needless to say, he hasn't been happier.
But, there was one thing that worried him-- his parents' trial was tomorrow, and he was super nervous, and had been thinking about it so much, that it startled him when Sparkle finally spoke up.
"Hey, Blaze, what would the trial for criminals be like?"
Blaze looked at his parents and AJ, unsure how to answer.
"Well," AJ said in his place, "there will be lawyers for the prosecution, and lawyers for the defense... Crusher's parents' side."
"Defense for criminals?" Sparkle's eyes widened. "Why would there be lawyers when it's obvious that they're guilty?"
"It's hard to explain," Blaze shrugged. "Anyway, there will also be a judge to listen to a statement from both lawyers, and then the laywers can call witnesses."
"Oh..." Sparkle slowly nodded. "What can the witnesses do?"
"The lawyers call up a certain person, and ask them questions about the crime or the defendant," Phoenix explained. "They can't lie in court, so they have to tell the truth."
"How do they know if the person told the truth?"
"They would have to have proof with what they tell," Flame replied. "If found that the witness is lying then that person is committing perjury,"
"Perjury?"
"It's punishment for lying in court," Crusher explained.
"Okay... then what?"
"There will also be 12 trucks watching, called a jury," Blaze explained. "They'll decide if Crusher's parents are guilty or not guilty."
"What happens if it's guilty?" Sparkle tilted her head. "Prison?"
"Yes," Flame nodded. "They will have a sentencing a few days later to find out how long they'll be in there."
"Oh, okay," Sparkle nodded. "but I'm curious... what would happen if the jury is bribed to make Crusher's parents not guilty?"
"Some lawyers will do that," AJ shrugged. "But hopefully, for Crusher's sake, they'll have a lawyer who's decent."
"So... will we be doing anything tomorrow beside watching?" Sparkle asked again.
"We'll be witnesses," Phoenix told her.
"Even... me...?" Crusher asked quietly.
"As the child they tried to murder, yes, even you," Blaze nodded. "You need to state what they did to you for the case,"
"I... I guess..." Crusher sighed. "I'm just worried about facing them,"
"Don't worry, Crusher," Blaze assured him. "The other police would be there to make sure they can't do anything while you make your statement,"
"Okay... can I bring Little Trucky along? It may sound stupid, but he's been with me through every family ordeal."
"Of course, Crusher," Phoenix nodded.
"Better get some sleep though, kids," Flame yawned as he looked at the clock. "Long day tomorrow."
"Okay, Dad," they all nodded and cleaned up the cards before heading to their rooms.
As they did, Blaze noticed Crusher glowing with crescent moons as he nervously drove to his room.
"Whoa, Crusher! You're glowing again. Everything okay?"
"Yeah..." Crusher stiffly nodded. "Just... nervous and anxious for tomorrow, you know?"
"I know. No one should have to go through this, but don't forget-- I'll be there too. So will AJ, Sparkle and our parents."
"Right," Crusher smiled and turned. "Thanks. Goodnight, Blaze,"
"Night, bro,"
X
Soon, it was the next day. The trial was about to begin, and the Blaze Family were making their way to the courthouse.
"So... you still nervous, honey?" Phoenix asked, running Crusher on the back.
"A little," Crusher nodded, gripping tightly to Little Trucky.
"Don't worry," Sparkle said gently, touching his tire. "I'll hold your tire until it's your turn." She quickly brought out her stuffed Bengal Tiger toy and touched Little Trucky with it. "And Snowpaw will too."
"D'aww, thanks, Sparkle," Crusher smiled.
"Come on, we better hurry inside."
They all zoomed inside the courthouse to find crowded with trucks watching and the jury bustling to their seats.
"Come on," Flame whispered. "We have to sit near the prosecution table."
They made it to their seats. Crusher turned to the other table and gulped to see Krisha and Calvin sitting behind it, with the woman that he had once considered his mother glaring over at them dangerously.
"Blaze...?"
"Yeah?" his brother whispered back, concerned.
"She's looking at us like she wants to kill us..."
Blaze glanced over and held his brother close. "It's okay. They won't be able to do anything while the police are here. You're safe,"
"Okay... if you say so..."
The trial soon began, with the attorneys stating their opening statements. After the statements were presented, the attorney presented the evidence for the case against Calvin and Krisha.
"My first evidence is the destroyed cottage," the attorney spoke, presenting the folder of pictures. "After a thorough investigation, the door of the cottage had been discovered locked,"
"Of course we locked it!" Krisha defended. "We left to—"
"The attorney is not done presenting his case." the judge spoke. "You are to remain silent until he has presented his evidence,"
"Fine..." Krisha snarled.
"As I was saying," the attorney cleared his throat. "we investigated the reason behind the locked door, and we had discovered tracks driving away from the cottage. Small tracks along with large ones, leading us to conclude that there HAD been a child inside the cottage when it had been locked,"
Crusher grimaced at this, but Phoenix held him closer.
"Defense, do you have anything to say to this?" the judge questioned.
"Despite the investigation, I can deny the fact that there would be a child in their cottage for they do NOT have a child," the defense attorney spoke, taking out a folder. "No birth certificates had been recorded whatsoever in their files,"
This struck Crusher deep. They... didn't even bother to make him a birth cerificate? Their own flesh and blood?
"Ah, yes, they have no birth certificate," the offense attorney nodded. "Which means the child they have would have been either stolen or illegal, and that's also a crime,"
The defense attorney paused at that for a while, looking at his files to try to counter. Calvin nudged Krisha, who growled but nodded before discreetly taking out some cash from out of nowhere and passing it to their attorney. The defense attorney's eyes lit up as he took the money greedily, something which the Blaze Family saw immediately.
"Bribery..." Flame hissed under his breath.
"Oh no..." Crusher gulped.
"I can assure you, judge, that I have VERY believable evidence that they did NOT have a child," the defense attorney proudly said. "In fact, a DNA test from our paramedics would prove just that!"
As he spoke, no one but the family managed to see Calvin sneak the nearby paramedic a smirk and some cash.
"What do we do now...?" Crusher asked.
"Don't worry, Crusher," AJ took out his phone. "We've got a mechanic/paramedic ourselves, and she's got our DNA in her computer in case we need it,"
"Really?" Crusher sighed in relief. "Phew..."
The paramedic came forward and showed the false DNA test, causing the jury to murmur. The offense attorney wasn't fazed and simply smirked.
"Your honor, I believe that Perjury has been committed in the court,"
"What?" the judge looked shocked. "What makes you say that?"
"Because I'VE got the real DNA test," Gabby spoke up as she entered the room with Watts, holding out a tablet.
"Gabby?" the judge asked. "You have the test?"
"Yes, I do," Gabby nodded and dismounted to present the result typed down in her tablet. "I have all the racers' DNA written down to study their status and for other reasons, and I can confirm that Crusher IS Calvin and Krisha's biological child,"
The defense attorney began to panic but managed to stiffen himself and turn to the mechanic. "How DARE you present us with lies?! Officers, arrest this lying human girl!"
"Just look at it," Gabby said simply, handing the results to the judge.
The judge took it in his tires and glanced over at it. He gave a nod and turned to the police.
"This is licensed as truth! Officers, you may arrest the offense paramedic,"
"WHAT?!"
The officers drove over and handcuffed the offense paramedic. Calvin gritted his teeth in rage while Krisha was looking murderous as she glared at Crusher with a hiss.
Crusher let out a small whimper, before the prosecution attorney cleared his throat.
"For my next evidence, I call upon… Ms. Phoenix!"
"Well... that's me," Phoenix said, kissing her kids. "Wish me luck."
"Good luck, Mom," Blaze spoke as they watched her head front.
"Ms. Phoenix," the attorney spoke. "you had once been friends with Mr. Calvin and Ms. Krisha, yes?"
"Yes."
"Have they any word of a son to you and your husband?"
"No... just a servant who WAS a young child."
The jury gasped. Krisha snarled while Calvin glared Flame then at Phoenix.
The attorney nodded. "Just as suspected. Not only have they been illegally having a child, but they have also been committing illegal child labor,"
"FALSE STATEMENT!" the defense attorney shouted. "The child was… um… paid! Yes, paid! He was paid to labor the housework!"
"Really? That's what you've got?" the offense raised an eyebrow.
"H-Hey! It's a fact!"
"No, it isn't," the offense attorney shook his head as he looked through his files. "Especially since it had been clarified that Krisha and Calvin has NOT been rich before the landslide incident,"
"I…" the defense attorney was running out of ideas with a gulp but a glare from Krisha told him to think of more FAST. "They didn't have to be rich in able to pay children workers—"
"Alright… but as concluded from the first, the child that they 'paid' to work for them is their own child," the prosecution attorney spoke then he turned back to Phoenix. "Ms. Phoenix, did they have their child on the exact date and time that the near-murder had been attempted?"
"No, they didn't," Phoenix shook her head.
"Child negligence! Another crime that must be noticed!" the attorney spoke. "Thank you, Ms. Phoenix. I would like to call in our next witness; Ms. Grammy!"
Crusher looked around, but didn't see his grammy anywhere. "Where IS Grammy?"
"Right here!" the doors burst open, and Grammy came driving in with more folders in her tires. "I apologize for being late, your honor,"
"It's all right," the judge smiled. "Please, come forward."
Grammy headed from, placing the folders on the table before heading to the stand as Phoenix headed back to sit next to her family.
"Ms. Grammy, were you aware that your grandchild had been left alone in a locked cottage in the middle of a forest?" the attorney questioned.
"Yes I was," Grammy nodded. "There had been a landslide just a few minutes after I realized, so I rushed over to save Crushy,"
"And did you give any notice to his parents that you had saved him?"
"I tried to call them, but there was no answer,"
"Then there it is!" the attorney claimed. "Child negligence at present!" He then looked at his files. "Krisha and Calvin had known that their child would most likely be killed in a landslide and left him anyway! Child murder and child negligence at it's worst, I tell you!"
The jury murmured at the claim with nods. The defense attorney was growing nervous and panicky with every second. Krisha and Calvin were looking murderous with every second as they whispered to each other before smirking, something which the family didn't fail to see.
"They're planning something…" Crusher winced. "I know that look in their eyes all too well,"
"Oh no..." Sparkle whimpered.
"Whatever they might be planning, we'll handle it," Blaze assured them. "Don't worry,"
They soon watched as Calvin whispered something to their attorney. The defense attorney grinned and nodded before clearing his throat.
"If I am following your train of thought then shouldn't Ms. Grammy charged with child negligence as well?" he spoke.
"What?! What are you talking about?" the other attorney cried.
"Ms. Grammy had known the fact her 'precious' grandchild was at the cottage," the defense attorney confidently said. "Right, Ms. Grammy?"
"Uh, well, uh..."
"You cannot deny it now!" the defense shook his head. "You had already stated that you did, and it still look you a landslide for you to come and get him,"
"I…"
"So I further conclude that if my client is to be charged with child negligence, so shall Ms. Grammy," the attorney concluded.
"No..." Crusher choked.
The Blaze Family all looked worried and glanced over to see Calvin and Krisha exchange nods and smirks.
"How could they do this?!" Sparkle whispered.
"They… They've been finding an excuse to get rid of Grammy since back then," Crusher spoke, trying to not to cry.
"We have to stop them!" AJ snapped quietly.
"But how?" Sparkle asked.
"Well," the judge spoke up. "as strong as your evidence says, sadly, we cannot arrest Ms. Grammy,"
"WHAT?!" Krisha screeched. "WHY NOT?!"
"For one thing, she is a senior citizen," the judge spoke. "And for another, she had been legalized as his guardian since he was a child,"
"Phew..." Crusher sighed.
"BUT, since this evidence is presented, we would have to run a thorough investigation on the issue," the judge went on. "Officer Anna, would you take Ms. Grammy to the police station?"
"Of course." Officer Anna nodded and drove over to gently take Grammy out of the courthouse.
Crusher glanced at his grandmother, who glanced back reassuringly before she left through the door.