"The Lost Prince?" Blaze repeated. "Do you know how he looks like? Or his name, at least?"

"Well... he was rumored to be dark blue, with lightning bolts."

"Dark blue with lightning bolts..." AJ gave a thought. "That sounds... familiar..."

"Do you know where we can find him?" Pasha asked.

"I think so... come with us."

Varya nodded and followed the family out of the park. They headed towards a restaurant nearby, where Pickle was out helping and serving delicious meatballs to the customers.

"Hey, Pickle!"

"Oh, hey, guys!" Pickle greeted before gasping at the sight of the tiger cubs. "AWWW! THEY ARE SO CUTE!!"

"This is Varya and her three cubs, Pickle. And we actually came to talk to Crusher. Is he busy?"

"Yep, but I think he can talk," Pickle turned back to the open restaurant door. "HEY, CRUSHER, CAN YOU COME OUT HERE FOR A SEC?!?"

"Okay, okay! I'm coming!"

The dark blue truck came out of the restaurant, handing off a few plates before he turned to face Blaze. The sight of his rival made him groan.

"Oh... hey, Blaze. Come for lunch?"

"Actually, some tiger friends of ours wanted to see you," said AJ, letting Varya come forward.

Slowly, Varya walked around Crusher, sniffing as she went. Suddenly, her eyes lit up, and a smile formed on her face.

"It's… It's him!" she cried. "It's really him?"

"Huh?" Crusher looked confused.

"You're the Lost Prince!" Feliks said, putting his paws on his tire. "You can help us save the kingdom from your dad!"

Crusher froze at that.

His dad was still alive?

The one that caused him all that misery over the years?

No... he couldn't go back.

Not after what his father did to him.

"Huh," Pickle looked surprised. "What are they talking about, Crusher?"

"I… I have NO idea," Crusher shook his head frantically and turned around. "Sorry, but I think you got the wrong truck…"

"I smell the royal family scent on you," Varya frowned. "We tigers have a sense about these things. You have come of age, so you're the only one to stop your father and aunts!"

"I… no, NO, I… I still think you've got the wrong truck," Crusher drove forward more. "Now if you don't mind, I've got customers to feed,"

Varya's ears lowered. "But… I'm sure that you ARE the prince…"

"Crusher... is there a reason you don't wanna return to your home...?" Blaze questioned.

Crusher wanted to protest, but the cubs' and Blaze's eyes caused him to sigh.

"Ugh, maybe…" he hissed.

"You can tell us," said Polina sweetly. "Mom says I'm a great listener."

"I…" Crusher turned back to them with a wince. "Grammy took me away from the kingdom when I was 5, cause... Father killed Mom right in front of me..."

"Oh…" Blaze's eyes widened while the rest of the family exchanged shocked glances. "Crusher, we're so sorry..."

"She was my only friend..." Crusher began to sniffle. "I always had nightmares because of what Father did, and I've always been scared to go home..."

"Look at it this way," said AJ with a comforting smile. "If you go back, you could get rid of your dad and what evil he did for good!"

"He could also try to hurt me again," Crusher grimaced.

"We won't let him, we promise."

Crusher seemed to think about it as he set his chef's hat down and crossed his tires.

"Okay… even if I DO want to help, I don't understand what I can do TO help…"

"Yeah, what CAN Crusher do to help, Varya?" Pickle wondered. "The only magic I've seen him do is invent,"

"Well, since Grammy was the one to take care of Crusher, maybe she knows what happened to his magic?" Blaze suggested.

"Good idea! Let's go ask her!" Pasha bounced.

"She should be at her farmhouse, right outside the city," Crusher said. "Let me close up real quick, and I'll take you to her,"

"Sounds good."

After serving the customers and finishing up the place, the group left and made their way through the city. They finally made it to the farmhouse, where they found Grammy watering her plants.

"Grammy!"