It had been a year since Crusher found the Moonstone, stolen the Sunstone, and was corrupted by it, thanks to the demoness Zhan Tiri. Thankfully, the demoness herself had been defeated, and Crusher was named the wielder of the Moonstone while Blaze was named the wielder of the Sunstone. In addition to that, Crusher had been adopted by the Blaze Family and was currently living with them.
Of course, things never started out as great as they sounded. Crusher had difficult time adjusting to the family, along with trying to use the Moonstone without fear and nightmares of corruption. Not to mention the return of his cruel parents, Krisha and Calvin, trying to claim him and hurt him once more.
But thanks to his new family, Krisha and Calvin had exposed their true colours and had been sent the prison after a trial. And with Blaze and Roarian's help, Crusher had learned how to wield his Moonstone with no fear.
He had never been happier in all his life.
And he was so happy that he could never thought anything could break it...
Until...
It was late at night in the largest prison of Axle City. All the lights were out, and all of the prisoners were asleep.
In the middle of that night, a figure slipped inside the prison, moving through the walls each prison until she got to the most sealed prison; the one she had been looking for.
She slipped through the walls and grinned-- Calvin and Krisha... just the trucks she needed. The two said prisoners were chained to the wall, restricted from any movement. She chuckled and moved forward to face them.
"Hello, Calvin and Krisha. Lovely night, isn't it?"
Krisha glanced up and narrowed her eyes at the strange figure. "And who are YOU?"
"A friend," Zhan Tiri faked sweetness. "An ally, you might say. Or at least I hope to be."
"An ally, you say," Calvin scoffed. "You look like a child. What can YOU possibly do, hmm?"
"Simple. Free you from these wretched chains that horrible Blaze family put you in."
The two looked doubtful. Zhan Tiri cackled and snapped her fingers together. Immediately, the chains around them fell to the ground.
"How... how did you do this?"
"I am more than you realize," Zhan Tiri smirked. "I am Zhan Tiri, the most feared demoness. But more information later. For now, we must leave before—"
Suddenly, an alarm came and rang through the prison.
"Get us out of here! Now!" Calvin yelled.
Zhan Tiri used her magic to teleport them away from the prison. They reappeared in a dark palace, landing on the ground with a thud.
"What... is this place?" Krisha asked.
"My dark palace, far away from any… heroes to stop me," Zhan Tiri smirked. "Now, let us get on to business,"
"Answer our questions first," Calvin sternly spoke. "First of all… how do know of the Blaze Family?"
"Oh... that wretched Blaze and Crusher stopped me when I had almost taken over the world." Zhan Tiri growled.
"And you know us… how?" Krisha raised an eyebrow.
"I've been watching you." Zhan Tiri smirked. "I've learned plenty about you as well through your son's memories, used you both to make him lose control of himself… which is still exactly what I plan to do,"
"What's in it for us?" Krisha questioned, crossing her tires.
"Power!" Zhan Tiri sneered. "And a chance to take vengeance on Crusher, Blaze and their family,"
"I like the sound of that!" Calvin smirked. "Okay, we're in!"
"Excellent!" Zhan Tiri cackled. "Now, here's the plan…"
X
X
Back in Axle City, morning had just broken through, but the Blaze Family were up and gathering up party supplies.
"Are you sure we have everything, Mom?" Blaze questioned.
"Yep, that's everything!" Phoenix beamed and nodded. "Ooh, this is going to be so exciting! Crusher's first birthday with us, and we're throwing a party at the park! He's going to be so surprised!"
"Yeah!" Sparkle agreed. "Let's hurry and set this up!"
"Hey, Blaze, you sure Crusher doesn't know about the surprise?" AJ asked.
"Don't worry, he doesn't, he's still sleeping," Blaze assured him. "Come on, let's go and head to the park before he wakes up!"
"Right!"
They headed out their house and off to the park. As soon as they found the perfect spot for the party, they began to set it up.
It was Crusher's first birthday party. Not just with them but ever. Grammy had told them that she couldn't afford parties when Crusher was younger, so a small one with just her and Crusher did the trick.
As they were, a voice from behind them called their attentions.
"Blaze! AJ!"
"Officer Anna?" the duo turned to see the officer drive over to them, looking rattled and worried.
"There you two are!" Anna sighed in relief. "You two on early duty too?"
"No… we're setting up for Crusher's birthday party," Blaze replied.
"Why do you look so worried, Officer Anna?" AJ asked. "Did something happen?"
"Yes, something bad," Anna nodded. "It's Krisha and Calvin! They've escaped prison!"
"What?! Oh no!" Blaze gasped.
"I've been tasked by the chief to track them down, but we need more help," Anna added.
"We'd love to help, Officer Anna, but not right now," AJ told her.
"Yeah," Blaze agreed. "If Crusher found out that Krisha and Calvin escaped—"
"KRISHA AND CALVIN ESCAPED?!"
The three turned to see the rest of the Blaze Family looking horrified, with Sparkle being more scared as she held onto her mother.
Anna sighed. "Yes, they escaped, and we need all the help we can get to find them,"
"But it's Crusher's birthday!" Phoenix opposed. "How are we gonna tell him that his cruel parents escaped?"
"We don't," Blaze told her. "We won't tell him anything until the end of the party. We don't want to alarm him today, of all days,"
"Good point, Blaze," AJ said.
"I guess you won't be staying for the party, Officer Anna?" Sparkle asked.
"I wish I could, but I need to go meet up with the other officers," Anna sighed and nodded before turning away. "Hope to see you all later!"
"Good luck, Officer Anna!" Blaze said.
As soon as the police was gone, the family had gone back to decorating. As they did, stones glowing yellow sprout out from the ground. Flame noticed this and turned to Blaze, who was blowing up the balloons.
"Blaze, are you worried about Krisha and Calvin?"
"Just... a little..." Blaze muttered. "I mean, what are we gonna do? Crusher is gonna be terrified when he finds out! And, I... I don't want his corrupted self to come out again..."
"Don't worry, Blaze, we won't let that happen again," Phoenix hugged her son.
"I just hope they don't crash the party…" Sparkle gulped.
"Don't worry, Sparkle," AJ reassured her. "From what Crusher told us, they don't even know when his birthday IS,"
"Wrong..."
"Guys, look!" Blaze exclaimed. "Our friends are here!"
And pretty soon, all the rest of the gang rolled into the park with smiles.
"Hey, B! Hey, everyone!" Darington greeted.
"We came to help set up for the party!" Starla beamed.
"Aww, that's so sweet of you!" Sparkle beamed. "Zeg and Stripes can help me hang the streamers!"
"On it!" Stripes nodded.
"Yay! Zeg love streamers!" Zeg cheered as they zoomed after the girl.
"Watts and I can go pick up the cake at the bakery," Gabby offered.
"Good plan. Darry, why don't you and Starla start blowing up the balloons?" Blaze suggested.
"You got it, B!" Darington grinned and nodded.
As they all continued on decorating for the party, a familiar voice called out to the group.
"Hello, my friends!"
"Roarian!" Blaze exclaimed happily.
Roarian smiled as he flew down to them. He then landed by the red truck's side.
"Hmm, it seems that there's going to be a celebration," he observed.
"We're setting up for Crusher's birthday party," Sparkle informed. "Do you wanna stay and help?"
"I wish I could, but I came with dreaded news," Roarian's face darkened. "It seems Zhan Tiri is still alive,"
"W-What?!!"
Everyone gasped in horror. Blaze was the most horrified, his whole body lighting up in gold as more rocks came from the ground.
"Honey, honey!" Phoenix gasped, holding him tight. "Please... it's going to be okay..."
"Roarian, how in the world could Zhan Tiri still be alive?" AJ asked. "Blaze told us he and Crusher destroyed her!"
"Apparently, we had only destroyed her physical form," Roarian replied. "Her spirit form was still in tact, thus it allowed her to leave and roam as freely as she pleases,"
"Oh no..." Blaze muttered softly out of fear. "What are we gonna do...?"
"Hmm…" Roarian gave a thought. "Perhaps I shall stay for the party. To help protect you all if Zhan Tiri was ever to appear,"
"Good thinking, Roarian. We don't want Crusher to freak out over Zhan Tiri and his parents being back." Blaze smiled with a sigh of relief
"His parents?" Roarian blinked in surprise. "What do you mean, my friend? I thought they had abandoned him. Why would they come back for him?"
"They tried to get him to hurt him again," Blaze answered. "We sent them to prison for negligence and near-murder, but today, we just heard news that they escaped,"
"Oh dear... and... are you worried for your brother?"
"More than anything," Blaze nodded. "At the trial, Krisha had already tried to shoot him. Now that they've escaped…"
"Do not worry, Blaze, I am quite certain that we can protect him from them," Roarian assured him.
"Yeah… but that's not all I'm worried about…"
"What is the other thing you're concerned about?"
"I'm worried that… that Zhan Tiri, Krisha and Calvin are going to find a way to bring out Crusher's corrupted self again…" Blaze sighed. "He's had these… nightmares… about him getting out of control, and I… I'm worried about how real those nightmares would be…"
"Do not worry, Blaze, I am sure that those nightmares are mere illusions Zhan Tiri is casting," Roarian assured him. "She is aiming to veer you away from focus. Do not let her worry you so much,"
"Okay... I'll try."
Blaze nodded and gave a smile as the stones around them subsided and lowered. Roarian returned the smile.
"Good to know. Now, it is still Crusher's day of birth, is it not?"
"Oh yeah!" Blaze beamed. "Come on, AJ, let's go get Crusher. It's so late he's probably confused why we left him alone at the house,"
"Coming!"
AJ ran to him and hopped into his driver's seat before they both turned to head back to their house.