Meanwhile, Blaze and AJ had just won the race, and Crusher was anything BUT happy about it.

"Hmph... I should've won," he grumbled. "and Pickle would agree. Speaking of Pickle, where is he?"

He looked around but failed to find his best friend. He frowned and checked the forest to try to find him.

"Pickle? Piiiiiiickllllllle!!!"

Just as he was about to give up, a roar suddenly echoed through the air, causing him to jump.

"What was that...?!"

A shadow soon loomed over him, and something large suddenly landed in front of him. He froze in his place before slowly turning to find himself staring face to face with an owl beast.

"Ahh... ahh... AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!"

Crusher turned to run when the beast flew up and used it's claws to grab him. He screamed as the beast had him in it's grip.

"HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELP!!!!!!!!"

"Crusher?" Blaze, AJ and their friends glanced up and gasped to see an owl beast flying over them with Crusher.

"That monster is carrying Crusher away!" Stripes gasped.

"We've got to rescue him!" Blaze declared before they all dashed off towards the forest to follow the beast.

"HELP ME!" Crusher pleaded. "SAVE ME!!!!"

"Hang on, Crusher! We're coming!" AJ exclaimed

The beast roared at them before flying higher into the sky, about to disappear into the clouds.

"AJ..." Blaze spoke as they all skidded to a stop. "does that monster seem familiar...?"

"Yeah..." AJ hummed in thought. "but where have we seen it before...?"

"I don't clearly remember..." Blaze shook his head. "but let's not worry about that now. We need to get to Crusher before we lose that monster in the clouds!"

"But how? He's so high!" Watts exclaimed.

"You guys will need to transform into something that can fly just as high!" Gabby added.

"Good idea!" Blaze's eyes lit up. "I'll be... a jet!"

He jumped up and transformed into a red jet with golden and yellow markings.

"Come on, AJ! We have to catch them!"

"Yeah-heh!" AJ cheered before they took off after the monster.

They managed to catch up to the beast, who turned to them with a roar as it's grip on Crusher tightened.

"Guys! Get me outta here!" the dark blue truck begged.

"We're coming, Crusher!" Blaze zoomed forward. "Let him go!"

The monster let through a fearsome roar.

"I don't think it wants to, Blaze," AJ pointed out.

"Yeah, I noticed," Blaze sighed. "Then we'll have to grab Crusher before it takes off again,"

He zoomed over in attempt to get his rival. The beast was startled and shrieked, his claws releasing Crusher, who began to fall to the ground.

"AAAAAAHHHHH!!!"

"I gotcha, Crusher!" Blaze swooped in and managed to catch the dark blue truck on his wing. "You okay?"

"Yeah," Crusher nodded. "but I'm worried that thing will find Pickle if we don't find him!"

"Wait, Pickle's missing?" Blaze's eyes widened.

"He never showed up at the finish line to greet me," Crusher said. "And I didn't notice it until before that monster appeared!"

"Huh, that IS strange," AJ frowned.

"Let's discuss it once we're down," Blaze told them as the beast let out a roar towards them. "It looks like that monster isn't going to give up easily!"

They zoomed down towards the ground, and Blaze detransformed as they reunited with their friends. The monster roared out and dove down, it's claws ready to grab.

"Oh no! It's coming this way!" Starla shrieked.

"RUN!" Blaze cried out out.

They all zoomed to the forest to hide within the trees. They came to a stop to catch their breath as the beast looked around in an attempt to find them before flying off.

"I think we lost it," Gabby sighed.

"Thank goodness," Crusher sighed in relief.

"Where monster come from?" Zeg asked.

"No idea, but it seemed really familiar," AJ sighed.

"Familiar?" Darington tilted his head. "Have you guys... seen that kind of creature before?"

"Yeah, we have," Blaze nodded. "but I don't remember from where..."

"Hey, where's Pickle?" Stripes questioned, noticing that the green truck was not with them.

"I don't know," Crusher sighed. "All I know is, he wasn't there when that monster came around."

"Hmm..." Blaze seemed to think through the situation. "so, when the monster came, Pickle was already gone?"

"Yeah," Crusher nodded. "Weird,"

"Weird... but also not," Blaze spoke. "Has anyone noticed that the creature is lightly green?"

"Come to think it... yeah!" Zeg nodded

"Blaze, maybe it's just a coincidence," AJ said, already catching up to his best friend's train of thought. "Besides, how could that happen? Only your mom had been able to cast that spell,"

"Well... it never hurts to try..." Blaze shrugged.

"Try what?" Starla looked confused, as were the others. "What's going on, Blaze?"

"Hold on a second, guys," AJ promised before turning to his best friend. "You sure you can do this?"

"I know I haven't done it in years, but yes, I'm sure I can," Blaze gave a nod.

"Okay..." AJ nodded in confirmation. "go for it."