The family headed home to pack the stuff they needed. As they did, black rocks glowing blue and gold were coming out all over the place. They sighed.

It was no surprise that Blaze and Crusher were growing worried. The three villains were the most cruel of all enemies they've faced in the past, after all.

"Alright, alright, do we have everything?" Blaze spoke, a little nervous as he held out his stuff.

"I think so. I don't know how long we'll be gone, so I packed plenty of things for a few days," Sparkle nodded.

"I've packed food for us to eat on the way," Phoenix spoke.

"And I've got everything else, in case of emergencies," Flame added.

"Okay, good," Blaze nodded with a sigh of relief. "Okay… did anyone get the map from Stripes?"

"I got it!" AJ said, holding it up.

"So, where do we go to get to the Fairy Forest?" Pickle asked.

"Hmm…" AJ looked at the map with a hum of thought. "According to this, it says that there's a passage somewhere in our world. In the deepest part of the jungle, we need to find the oldest tree with a dead end,"

"Let's go!" Blaze beamed.

As they turned to leave, however, Crusher looked hesitant as he dragged his tires after them. The red truck noticed this and frowned.

"Hey... I know you aren't okay. Wanna talk about it?"

"I… I can't believe they're all back…" Crusher hissed. "And on my BIRTHDAY, of all days…"

"Crusher—"

"My birthday's always such bad luck, and this is just an example of it,"

"No, no, don't say that, brother…" Blaze sighed and patted his shoulder. "Your birthday is NOT bad luck. We're gonna find a way to drive those villains away,"

Crusher looked unconvinced but forced a smile anyway.

"Okay,"

X

X

"This is the place," AJ spoke as they stopped in front of a withering tree. "The oldest tree in this jungle,"

"Wow! It's so big!" Sparkle gasped. "And so… old,"

"How are we going to find the passage?" Pickle asked.

"Maybe it's through there!" Blaze pointed over to a giant hole in the tree.

They drove closer and gasped to find sparkles coming from the tree.

"PRETTY!" Flame gasped.

"This must be the way then!" Phoenix concluded.

"Come on, Family, let's go!" Blaze urged.

They zoomed into the hole and yelped as they zoomed through a tunnel of rainbows. They cheered, with Crusher partly shrieking as they fell through the tunnel. When the tunnel ended, they landed in a bright new place of grass and trees as they fell into a large bush with a thud.

"Ow~" Crusher groaned they all picked themselves up. "Where are we…?"

"Look! Look!" Sparkle pointed up at the magic sparkles floating around in the air.

"What are those?" Pickle asked.

"I don't know…" Blaze hummed as he watched the sparkles get closer.

The sparkles soon fell to the ground, and with a beam of light, beings with sparkly, transparent wings appeared in front of them.

"Fairies...!!!" Sparkle held her breath to prevent from squealing.

"Greetings, newcomers," the first fairy spoke, her sparkly blue wings shimmering under the sun's light. "I am Misty, and this is my sister, Blossom,"

She motioned to the fairy beside her, who had sparkly pink wings as she bowed.

"Greetings! What brings you to the Fairy Forest?"

"We, um... we came searching for the Earth Emerald," Blaze stammered. "You see, three villains are trying to eliminate us, and we need the four elemental stones to stop them."

"The Earth Emerald?" Misty gasped.

"Oh dear…" Blossom frowned. "If that is what you seek then you must face our ruler, King Gravel. He is the keeper of the Earth Emerald,"

"Can you... take us to him? Please?" Crusher pleaded.

"And maybe give us sparkly wings like those?!" Sparkle finally blurt out.

"Sparkle!" Phoenix scolded with a frown.

"Sorry, Mom... I couldn't hold it in anymore! They're just soooo beautiful!"

"Ooh! I want them too!" Pickle agreed with a squeal.

Misty and Blossom gave a giggle before they waved their magic towards them. Sparkly wings soon appeared on each of their backs, red for Blaze, orange for AJ, pink for Sparkle, yellow for Flame, white for Phoenix, blue for Crusher and green for Pickle.

"Wow! They are beautiful!" Blaze gasped.

"Come-- follow us!"

Misty and Blossom took to the skies, fluttering their wings up. The group slowly took off after them, adjusting to their new wings.

They soon managed to flap their wings as quickly as the fairies. They soon flew up to the largest tree in the forest, where a bunch of fairy guards were standing with spears of gold.

"Uh... maybe this isn't the safest place after all..." Pickle gulped.

"The king is just very wary of thieves that might steal the Earth Emerald," Misty told them. "Though he himself is… not quite friendly, so please be on your best behaviours,"

"You hear that, sis?" Blaze eyed her.

"Okay, okay! I got the message!" Sparkle sighed.

The fairies headed to the entrance, with the group following behind him. The guards blocked their path and glared down at them.

"U-Uh... may we come in please?" Sparkle asked. "We have to speak to your king-- it's real important!"

The guard growled at her, causing Sparkle to gulp and hide behind the rest of her family. Misty sighed and headed forward.

"We seek the presence of King Gravel. Please,"

The guards seemed to think about it before turning and motioning them to move forward. Misty and Blossom smiled over at their new friends before they all moved forward. As they entered, the guards followed behind them to keep an eye on them, spears pointing at them threateningly.

"Sheesh... the guards sure are... not friendly." Pickle shuddered.

"They're just… cautious, remember?" Blaze reminded. "We're in their land, so they have every right to be cautious,"

They soon made it to the throne room, where King Gravel, a fairy with grey wings as he sat on his throne, blood red eyes glaring down at them. Misty and Blossom bowed at his presence.

"Your majesty... we have new visitors entering our land, and they need to speak with you right away."

"New visitors?" King Gravel raised an eyebrow and stood up. "Newcomers, what do you wish from my forest?"

"I-- uh, uh, well-- t-t-they--" Pickle stammered.

"We need the Earth Emerald to defeat three evil villains attempting to assassinate us," Sparkle finished for him.

King Gravel stared at them for a moment before scoffing. "You want me to lend mortals the Earth Emerald for villains that are of no concern of mine? How pathetic and weak. No. Now leave at once!"

"Please your highness!" Pickle pleaded. "Crusher and Blaze need even more power than the Sundrop and Moonstone if we're gonna stop Crusher's parents and Zhan Tiri!"

"The Sundrop and Moonstone, you say…?" King Gravel suddenly gained an interest. "I have heard of those stones in my studies… but I never knew they existed…"

"Me and my brother, Crusher, we uh... we discovered them in our realm a year ago," Blaze said with a bow. "We beat Zhan Tiri before, but she has new allies and power, and we need all four elemental stones to stop them. Please... I... I can't lose my brother again..."

"Hmm…" King Gravel gave it a thought before nodding.

He waved his magic around, and a giant emerald appeared on top of them. They all gasped in amazement.

"Whoa..."

"I will only allow the Moonstone or the Sundrop to take it," the king spoke.

"Oh... thank you, thank you!" Pickle cheered.

Crusher sighed in relief and fluttered his wings up. He headed towards the emerald, but just as he touched it, a glass cage surrounded and trapped him before dropping the emerald on the ground.

"H-Hey! What gives?!"

"I suppose I should've been clearer," King Gravel smirked. "You can have the emerald… in exchange for either the Moonstone or the Sundrop,"

"What?!" Sparkle gasped.

"Your majesty, please! This really doesn't seem right!" Misty pleaded.

"It seems fair," King Gravel shrugged. "A power for a power. You can have the emerald if I get to keep the Moonstone. Now that you have the emerald, you may go now,"

"Let me out!" Crusher pleaded, banging on the glass. "Please!"

"Please, your highness! Crusher, he... he's been through a lot! If you keep him in here, he could be corrupted again! I... I can't lose him again!!" Blaze begged.

"Well, are you willing to take his place, Sundrop?" King Gravel raised an eyebrow.

"Blaze, no!" AJ tried to plead.

"You can't do it!" Pickle cried.

"Either the Sundrop or the Moonstone, make a choice," King Gravel huffed.

"You can't just keep one of our sons like that!" Phoenix yelled.

"I can, and I will! Now leave!"

"Mom... i-it's okay," Blaze said. "I'll be okay, just as you guys continue on without me."

"No!" Crusher hissed and shook his head. "No, Blaze, you go, and I'll stay. I… I'm already here… might as well face the consequences of my birthday luck…"

"No... no..." Blaze hissed and shook his head.

Suddenly, their bodies both lit up in crescent moons and sun rays. Their lights glowed so bright that they blinded everyone, causing them all to cover their eyes. When the light ceased, the cage around Crusher also ceased, freeing him.

"Wha... what just happened?"

"Interesting…" King Gravel smirked. "I had read that the Sundrop and the Moonstone had linked in magic bond, but this seems to confirm it!" He flew up and pointed his sword at them. "Now I don't need just one! I need them both! Guards, arrest them!"

The guards surrounded them, spears all out and ready. The group gathered together, back to back as they were surrounded and trapped.

"What now...?" Sparkle asked.

"We get out of here!" Blaze held his tire up. "Hang on!"

He stomped his tire down, and black rocks glowing gold sprouted up from the ground. Crusher nodded and followed his brother's lead, using his own magic to release his own rocks to attack. As they did, Pickle grabbed the emerald with a beam.

"Got it! Now let's go!"

They all zipped out and flew out of the large tree. Crusher and Blaze backed up and sprouted up enough rocks before zooming and flying out after their family.

"That... was... too close!" AJ sighed.

"On the bright side, we have the emerald!" Pickle grinned. "Just three more elements to go!"

"Okay, so let's get to that Mermaid Kingdom. Which way do we go, exactly?" Blaze asked.

"I've still got the map!" AJ held the map out. "It says here that the kingdom is underwater,"

"And how exactly are we gonna get there?" Pickle asked.

"I know a way to the ocean," Misty offered, flying over to them.

"You do?" Sparkle asked. "Are you sure the king didn't send you to capture my brothers?"

"Do not worry, he did not," Misty assured them. "In fact, Blossom had given the king and the guards some sleepy pollen, so you are free to escape,"

"Thanks..." Blaze sighed. "So... can you show us the way?"

"Of course," Misty nodded. "Follow me!"