Crusher yawned as he got up from his bed. He headed out of his room and headed to the dining room breakfast.

"Mom, Dad, sorry for being late—"

He halted his tires, however, when he found the place empty, only a covered tray on the table. He blinked in surprise and confusion.

"Huh, wonder where they headed off to…?"

He drove over to the tray and opened it to find pancakes stacked up with a candle on top. There was a card beside it, and he picked it up to read.

['Happy Birthday, Crusher! Here's your birthday breakfast! Love, Family.']

Crusher smiled and set down the card before taking the tray. As he started eating, there was a thud from the door, and he turned to see Blaze barge inside with a grin.

"H-Hey, Crusher!"

"Hey," Crusher greeted, swallowing the piece he was chewing. "Uh, you okay?"

"Yeah! Just… rushing back," Blaze picked himself up as AJ dismounted from his driver's seat. "Oh, and Happy Birthday, bro!"

"Thanks," Crusher smiled. "Soo, where did you rush off from?"

"Nowhere!" Blaze smiled.

"Anyway, Blaze and I were gonna pick you up for a friendly, birthday race at the Monster Dome," AJ told him. "Pickle's already there, waiting to cheer us on,"

"He he, right," Crusher giggled. "Okay, but let me finish up my breakfast first, okay?"

"Okay, okay," Blaze smiled. "Go ahead, and we'll wait for you outside,"

Crusher nodded and watched as his brothers took their leave. He was just about to take more bites on his pancakes when he felt himself shudder as a bad feeling crept up on his stomach.

A familiar bad feeling.

"Hmm…" he hissed before shaking his head. "No, Crusher, this is your first birthday with an amazing family. Everything will be fine. It's got to be…"

He finished up his pancakes and went to the sink to was them. As he did, he began to glow blue with his crescent moons as the bad feeling refused to leave him be. Even as he tried to shrug it off, black rocks glowing blue rose from the ground.

"Oh no…" he waved his tire in attempt to lower down the rocks.

After a while, the rocks subsided and lowered down. He sighed in relief.

"Oh, thank goodness…"

He went back to washing his dishes then he placed them inside the dish rack before turning to leave. He met up with his brothers at the entrance, who waved over at him before they set off to the Monster Dome.

X

X

"There is the party." Zhan Tiri smirked as she, Krisha and Calvin spied on the group in the park from a nearby bush.

"But where is that annoying son of ours?" Calvin snarled. "He should be HERE."

"Patience, Calvin, you'll have your chance to kill him and the rest of the family soon," Zhan Tiri told him. "For now, we must wait and hide,"

"Who is that?" Krisha pointed over to the flying lion.

"Roarian! That dreaded lion that's training Crusher and Blaze how to use their magic!" Zhan Tiri snarled. "Come, let's hide before he senses I'm here,"

X

X

Meanwhile, in the Monster Dome, Crusher and Blaze zoomed through the race track. Pickle and AJ were cheering for them at the sidelines as the brothers raced.

"GO BLAZE!"

"GO CRUSHER!"

Crusher and Blaze were soon side by side, smirking at each other before they dashed to the finish line at the same time. AJ and Pickle let out a cheer.

"Great job racing, guys!" AJ said.

"Yeah! That was awesome!" Pickle agreed.

"Thanks," Crusher smiled.

"Oh, by the way, here's a present from me!" Pickle took out a blue and green box and handed it to Crusher. "Happy birthday, big fella!"

"Aww... thanks!" Crusher beamed. "I'll open it when I get home—"

"Or you can open it up when we get to the park!" Blaze suggested.

"The park? Uh, sure…" Crusher blinked at his brother in confusion but nodded. "Are we heading there next?"

"Yeah! We, uh... thought we'd stop there for a game or two." Blaze grinned.

"Uh-huh…" Crusher didn't look convinced but shrugged and nodded anyway. "Alright, let's go!"

They headed out of the Monster Dome and towards the park. As they drove, Crusher and Pickle were in a happy conversation while Blaze and AJ watched, with the red truck looking a bit worried, much to the boy's concern.

"Hey... you okay?" AJ whispered.

"I'm fine, it's just…" Blaze hissed. "Crusher looks so happy… that I… I don't know if we should tell him about… Zhan Tiri… or his parents…"

"We have to-- for his sake. But after the party when we get back home."

"I… you're right," Blaze sighed and nodded. "After the party. Thanks, AJ,"

"No problem. Now come on!"

They zoomed ahead to the park, with Crusher and Pickle right behind them. Just as they were near, Pickle placed a blindfold around Crusher, much to the dark blue truck's surprise.

"Hey! What's this for?"

"You'll see!" Pickle giggled.

"But I can't see where I'm driving…"

"Let me help you out, bro," Blaze gently took him by the tire and led him through.

They drove into the park, with Crusher feeling the change from cement to grass in his tires as he drove. He waited a while until they came to a stop, with Blaze letting go of his tire.

"There. You can take off the blindfold now!"

Crusher sighed in relief and removed the blindfold. As he opened his eyes, he was met by a…

"SURPRISE!"

The whole gang and all of his family jumped out and greeted him, with the whole place decorated for a party. He let out a gasp.

"A surprise party? For me?"

"Yep!" Blaze grinned. "Happy Birthday, Crusher!"

"Happy Birthday, son!" Flame ruffled the dark blue truck's head.

"Happy Birthday, my child!" Phoenix hugged Crusher tenderly.

"Wow... thanks, Mom! Thanks, Dad!" Crusher was beaming. "This is so amazing! Thank you all!"

"Come on, Crusher! Open your presents first!" Darington squealed.

"Ooh, I have more presents?!" Crusher turned to the table where gifts were flowing down the line.

"One from each of us!" Blaze spoke with a smile.

"This is awesome!" Crusher took out the present Pickle gave and smiled.

This birthday was turning out perfectly.

X

X

"There he is." Krisha smirked as they watched the dark blue truck begin to open his presents.

"So... what's our first move?" Calvin questioned.

"An element of surprise." Zhan Tiri cackled. "Follow my lead,"

X

X

Roarian felt his sunstone glow in warning as he felt a shudder run down his spine. He glanced around, finding no one near, but feeling like there was someone nearby.

Blaze seemed to notice this and drove over to him in concern. "Is something wrong, Roarian?"

"Yes…" Roarian hissed. "I could feel… Zhan Tiri nearby, but I cannot pinpoint where exactly is she…"

"What do we do...?"

"Keep our guards up. There's no telling what she might do—"

Suddenly, the there was a crash, and smoke began to fill the air. Everyone gasped, confused as they coughed out the smoke and backed up.

"What's going on?!"

Evil laughter soon echoed through the air, familiar laughter that made Crusher shudder and hide behind the others. There was suddenly blue mist appearing out of nowhere, and out of the mist came three familiar figures…

"Wait... Krisha, Calvin and Zhan Tiri?!" Starla cried.

"Hello, mortals!" Zhan Tiri cackled. "We're back!"

"And ready to have our vengeance…" Krisha grinned and took out her gun.

"No... no! This-- this can't be real!" Crusher said, holding his tires to his head. "Someone, get rid of them! HELP!!"

As he panicked, his powers went out of control, black rocks sprouting out from the ground. They managed to form a wall between them and the villains, giving them a chance to escape.

"We have to hide!" Watts cried.

"We have two options; Monster Dome or Gabby's Garage!" Stripes yelled out.

"Let's head to the garage! Roarian, make a shield around the garage so they can't get in!" Blaze told the flying lion.

Roarian nodded. Pickle helped the dark blue truck drive off and follow the others as they headed to the garage. As soon as they were all inside, the flying lion created the shield, protecting them from the villains.

"That was too close, huh, Crush--"

But as the others looked, they saw Crusher crying softly, tears of fear pouring down his cheeks as he trembled.

"Crusher, baby," Phoenix soothed. "It's gonna be okay..."

"No, it's not!" Crusher cried out. "Those three… they… they're after me… they… they've hurt me… and I… I'm scared of what else they want to do to me…"

"Don't worry, Crusher, we won't let them hurt you or anyone else," Blaze reassured his brother.

"But it seems that Zhan Tiri is stronger now than she was before." Roarian spoke solemnly. "I don't think our stones alone can stop her or her new allies,"

"Then... what can we do?" Sparkle asked. "It's not like there are other stones out there!"

"Actually, there ARE more element stones out there," Stripes spoke, taking out his book and opening it. "According to this there are many element stones, but the core stones, like the Moonstone and the Sunstone that Crusher and Blaze are possessing, are the most powerful ones of all,"

"So, all we have to do is find them, and those villains will be gone for good?" Sparkle asked.

"I've heard of those stones before," Roarian nodded. "They are not easy to wield. Once we have those, we need something to help wield them in harmony,"

"Like... a staff or wand?" AJ asked.

"More specifically, a scepter," Roarian corrected. "A scepter built by the rocks of the Sun and Moon stones. Only then can we use their powers in harmony,"

"So... where can we find them?" Blaze questioned.

Stripes took out a map from his book and laid it on the floor.

"Well... The Earth Emerald is in the Fairy Forest. The Water Sapphire is in the Mermaid Kingdom. The Sky Diamond is in the Unicorn Kingdom, and the Fire Ruby is in the Volcano of Dragons,"

"Fairies? Mermaids? Unicorns?!" Sparkle squealed. "Awesome!"

"But what about the villains?" Darington gulped. "Won't they go after all of us when they realize where we're going?"

"Good point. Some of us should stay here and protect the city." Blaze agreed.

"We'll do it, Blaze," Starla offered.

"Yeah!" Watts agreed. "You and your family can get the stones while the rest of us stay here to protect Axle City,"

"Thanks guys. Mom, Dad, we better take Crusher and Pickle with us, so Pickle can calm Crusher if his powers get out of control."

"With pleasure!" Pickle beamed.

"O-Okay…" Crusher nodded, still looking shaken.

"Good luck, my friends," Roarian told them. "Some of the creatures are not as friendly as they first appear to be,"

"You... can't come with us?" Sparkle asked.

"I am needed in this city, in case Zhan Tiri uses any of her powers on anyone," Roarian replied. "but do not worry, I believe you can all do this,"

"Okay... thanks. Let's get home and start packing." Blaze told them.