It had been two weeks since the poisoning. Crusher had woken up a few days within those weeks but was feeling weak because of the poison. Grammy had come to help him out as soon as he was out of the hospital.

For those past weeks, Blaze had been balancing himself over his police duties and his time for his lover. His police duties gave him a free way to investigate his parents' murder attempt, starting with the poison that Stripes and AJ were questioned.

And since they didn't pull through with the attempt, Phoenix and Flame were released but placed under the eye of the police. Sparkle forgave them once everything was explained, but Blaze still wouldn't trust them.

He couldn't.

And he was gonna show them that he was never going to be who they thought he will be every again.

.

.

.

"You're LEAVING?!"

Darington, Pickle and Zeg's jaws dropped open. Gasquatch looked shocked while Speedrick looked at them in disbelief. Crusher gulped and twiddled his tires while Blaze looked firm and nodded.

"Yes, we are," he confirmed.

"Grammy thought it would be safer if... Blaze and I moved out of Axle City, away from any danger," Crusher told them.

"And we will," Blaze agreed. "No crowd, all air and free. We'll both be safe,"

"But we're gonna miss you!" Pickle sobbed.

"You guys can visit," Crusher assured them. "We're staying at the house beside Grammy's, and you know where it is, Pickle, so you could lead Darington and Zeg there,"

"And we'll send you guys the address because we know that we can trust you all," Blaze added with a smile.

"Oh thank goodness," Darington sighed in relief.

"So Crusher and Blaze not racers anymore?" Zeg asked.

"We're retiring," Crusher told them with a shrug.

"Well, we know we can't stop you, so all I can say is, good luck," Speedrick spoke.

"We can also help you guys get out of Axle City without anyone following," Gasquatch offered.

"Thanks, Gasquatch!" Blaze beamed. "We actually told you all because we have a plan, and we really need your help,"

"Just tell us what to do, and we'll help you guys out!" Pickle grinned.

"It's simple," Crusher told them. "Darington and Zeg, you can distract the other racers,"

"Pickle, distract my family," Blaze went on. "Gasquatch, Speedrick, since you're both larger than us, block us from any crowd that might be watching until we get deep into the forest, where Swoops would be waiting for us. Officer Anna and the rest of the police would be doing the same thing, but more broad,"

"We can do that," Darington and Zeg nodded.

"Should be simple enough," Pickle grinned.

"We're on it!" Gasquatch cried out as Speedrick nodded.

"Thanks guys," Blaze smiled. "Glad we can count on you,"

X

"Hey, Darington and Zeg..." Stripes growled as the group watched the duo enter the Monster Dome.

"Stripes, calm," AJ told him but even he glared at the two.

"Hey, toxics!" Darington greeted smugly.

"Hey, idiots," Starla crossed her tires. "What do you suckers want?"

"Darington and Zeg just gonna race," Zeg rolled his eyes. "We no want trouble,"

"Mm-hm..." Watts narrowed her eyes at them before raising an eyebrow and looking around. "Hey, where is Blaze?"

"Had to take care of Crusher for the whole day because of... SOMEONE'S poison," Darington snarled at Stripes.

"I should have made a stronger one that killed him the moment he drank it," Stripes hissed. "That's my only regret,"

"Of course it is," Darington huffed as he and Zeg turned away.

As they did, the stunt truck gave a glance to Pickle, who had just arrived at the Monster Dome with a picnic basket. The green truck gave a wink and turned to drive over to the Blaze Family, who were at the sidelines and obviously waiting for Blaze to appear.

"Hi, Blaze Family!" he greeted.

"Hi, Pickle!" Sparkle greeted back. "Have you seen Blaze?"

"Nope," Pickle shook his head. "but I wanted to invite you guys to a picnic at the park,"

"What for?" Phoenix asked. "Not that we don't appreciate it, but we... haven't been in good terms for the past few weeks..."

"Let bygones be bygones," Pickle waved them off. "So, you guys want to or...?"

"I... think a picnic would clear out heads for the moment," Flame gave a nod.

"Great! Follow me!" Pickle beamed and turned to lead the way.

He drove out of the Monster Dome and towards the park. He then went the long way to avoid Crusher and Blaze, who were sneaking through the short way of the park with Gasquatch and Speedrick to help them leave Axle City without being noticed.

Hopefully they would make it out of the city without anyone seeing them, just as they wanted.

X

"Come on, guys, this way!" Gasquatch urged as they drove through the forest. "We're almost through!"

"Thank goodness for that," Speedrick sighed in relief. "Sneaking out is harder than I thought,"

"Thanks for your efforts, guys," Blaze thanked them as they zoomed through the ground.

"Let's just hope our efforts are rewarded," Crusher hissed with a shudder.

They headed through the trees and managed their way to a grass field. There, Swoops was waiting for them with a smile.

"Hey, guys!" he greeted. "Come on in!"

"Thanks for helping us out, Swoops," Blaze spoke as he and Crusher hopped inside.

"No problem!" Swoops reassured him. "Anything to make sure you guys are safe. I can't believe the others are so toxic to go against you guys,"

"Us either," Crusher sighed. "though I predicted as such..."

"Welp, I'll take you guys as far as you need me to!" Swoops declared.

"Bye, guys!" Gasquatch waved them all goodbye as the helicopter began to hover up.

"Stay in contact with us!" Speedrick yelled out.

"We will!" Blaze promised, with him and Crusher waving them off as they took flight up into the sky. "Bye!"

X

The day went quicker than they had predicted. At the Monster Dome, Stripes and AJ won the race, but Darington and Zeg couldn't care less. News from Gasquatch and Speedrick about Blaze and Crusher making their way to their new home made them happy enough.

At the park, Pickle also got the news, but he managed to contain himself as he watched Phoenix attempt to get in contact with Blaze.

"Hmm..." she hissed. "Hon, he's not responding,"

"He might still be mad at us," Flame told her with a sigh.

"Or he might be out of range," Pickle suggested calmly with a shrug.

"Out of range?" Sparkle looked confused. "How would that be? Isn't he just at the house with Crusher?"

"I don't know, is he?" Pickle grinned. "Or did you guys not realize that this picnic was just a distraction, so they could move out of Axle City?"

"WHAT?!" the trio's jaws dropped.

"Yep, they're both out of Axle City, far from any toxics," Pickle picked himself up and turned away. "And you guys will never find them now. Bye-bye!"

With that, he left the park and headed to the Monster Dome to meet up with Darington and Zeg.