"Okay-- one... two... three!"

They raised their tires and focused their magic on the stone. At first, nothing happened. All was still, and as was the stone.

But suddenly, the stone began to glow in red and blue, glowing brighter and brighter, making the group gasp.

"Is it working…?" Pickle asked.

"I think so..." Sparkle slowly nodded.

Suddenly, the stone glowed so bright that they were all knocked down. When they got up, their eyes all glowed white before

they found themselves into a trance, destroying their surroundings and making them land in a white background.

"W-What the what?" Blaze groaned. "W-Where are we?"

"Welcome, newcomers,"

The group turned to see a white alicorn with glowing rainbow hair and mane gallop towards them. Her astral white and pink wings flapped in the air as her golden hoofs tapped the non-existent floor below them.

"W-Who are you?" Sparkle asked.

"I am Imaria, guardian of the Rainbow Unity Stone's pure core. And whom might you all be." The alicorn spoke.

"My name is Blaze," Blaze drove forward. "And this is my brother Crusher and the rest of our family,"

"Wow... you're so beautiful..." Crusher said, flabbergasted.

"Thank you," Imaria smiled. "Now what do you seek in the Rainbow Unity Stone?"

"Well... we need to find out why the phoenixes and ice dragons are fighting," said AJ.

"And fix it to save our city from being destroyed by their war!" Pickle added with a cry.

"I see... I think I can show you this. The human can ride on my back if he wants, for we have a lot of history to cover."

"Really? Cool!" AJ beamed before he hopped onto Imaria's back. "Wow... her fur is so soft and warm!"

"Imaria? Quick question-- how did we get in here anyway?" Pickle asked. "We all know Crusher and Blaze used their magic on it, but then the rest is a big blur."

"The ice dragon and phoenix magic combined with the magic of the stone cast a spell on you, causing you to fall in a trance so deep, you came right in."

"Ohhhh... that makes sense!" Pickle chirped.

"Is everyone ready to begin our journey through time?"

"Ready!"

"Then let's go!"

Imaria led the way, galloping ahead. The group followed after her with a zoom.

"So how far are we heading?" Flame asked.

"As far back as we need to-- preferably, Flame, when you were only a child."

"We get to see Dad as a kid?" Sparkle asked. "Oh-ho, this I have to see!"

So, jumping through a portal, they landed in a place very dear to Flame's heart.

"Home…" he chuckled. "I never thought I'd ever see the place I live in feel so… happy,"

"Wow, Dad... it's so beautiful!" Blaze said. "But... why did we come to this time specifically?"

"Why, this was the time that the Ice Dragon Colony moved in across those trees."

They looked over across the trees to see the ice dragons flying in. The leader of the Ice Dragons, King Glacius, and the leader of the phoenixes, Queen Calida, approached each other regally.

"I am Queen Calida of the phoenix shifters," the red truck greeted. "Who art thou?"

"I am King Glacius! Leader of the Ice Dragons!" the other spoke.

"I see that you have moved to the other side of our forest, King Glacius. I am willing to share it as long as we form an alliance between our two kingdoms."

"Hmm... seems fair," said King Glacius. "We have a deal."

"The alliance went well for many years," said Imaria. "But... there was one who was viciously jealous of the new-formed friendship."

And who she pointed her hoof to was shocking to Flame.

It was Dalia!

"Who's that?" Pickle asked.

"Dalia... she's the fairy that declared the future war of the kingdoms!" Flame gasped.

"But why would she be jealous?" Sparkle asked.

"Dalia took on the position of the queen's assistant/future heir in order to seize control of the kingdom. She set up false claims between the two kingdoms that got them bickering, and once the queen died, she declared that King Glacius killed her himself!"

"That's horrible!" AJ gasped.

"The phoenixes and ice dragons never got suspicious of anything, and they have been at it ever since." Flame sighed.

"We have to show all of this to the dragons and phoenixes! It's the only way to get them to stop!" Phoenix declared.

"Okay," Blaze smiled. "so here's what I have in mind..."

As the rest of the family and Pickle listened to Blaze's plan, Crusher slipped off to the side and sighed-- there beside the king was a younger version of his mother, when she was only a little kid.

This made him wonder... was she as bad as she is now?

"Thinking about something, young one?" Imaria asked when she approached.

"Yeah…" Crusher sighed. "Was... my mother always cruel and heartless? Did she... ever act like she cared for me the way Dad does...?"

Imaria let through a kind smile and wrapped her wing around him.

"I wish I could tell you that there was such a time. But, I think you already know the answer to that question deep in your heart."

"Oh… I see…" Crusher began to tear up, but he quickly wiped his tears away. "W-Why would she even keep me if she hated me so much...?"

"I don't know," Imaria gently soothed and she wiped the truck's tears off his cheeks with her wing. "But, I do know you have the potential to get rid of her and your step-father for all the abuse they put you through. I am going with you, to make sure a war like this never happens again."

"You're... you're coming...?"

"Yes, and I will make sure you get the justice you deserve."

Crusher glanced up at her with a smile. "Th-Thank you, Imaria,"

"You're welcome," Imaria then turned to everyone else. "Now, are we ready to go all?"

"Yep!" Blaze nodded. "We've got a plan all settled, and we're ready to go!"

"But... how will we get back to town?" asked Pickle. "It took us forever to get here!"

Blaze smiled, for he knew the exact answer. "What about some Blazing Speed?"