"Crusher?"

"Pickle, please leave me alone," Crusher spoke as he laid down on one of the branches of the big tree that held up the fairy palace.

"Not when you're THIS upset," Pickle shook his head and made his way beside the dark blue truck. "You were so calm when during your outburst. You know how I worry about you whenever you react too calmly,"

"I... I didn't want to lose control of my magic again," Crusher sighed.

"I know you don't," Pickle let out a sigh. "but whenever your calm, it means your trying to pull yourself together and trying not to break down,"

"...you know me well," Crusher chuckled and allowed the green truck to hug him.

"Crusher?"

The duo turned to see Blaze and AJ flutter over to them. The dark blue truck groaned.

"I'm not going back and apologizing,"

"That's not why we came after you," Blaze assured him. "Trust us, we understand,"

"No, you both don't," Crusher shook his head. "You knew who you were the whole time. I... I didn't,"

"Okay, we can't relate," AJ admitted. "but we can understand that you won't forgive them for what they did. If we were in your place, we wouldn't either,"

"Then... why ARE you guys here?"

"We came to see if you were okay," Blaze offered a smile. "ARE you okay?"

"... do I look okay?" Crusher grumbled with a raised eyebrow. "I'm trying to take in the fact that I'm A) A lost prince, a fact that I should be proud of but to no surprise, I'm not, B) Someone who is being forced back into a world I was not born in, and C) Someone who is being tricked by those I'm suppose to call family to try to get me to forgive them very easily. Unfortunately for them, I'm not a fool,"

"Man, you're right," AJ agreed with a nod and a frown. "When you say it like that, it seemed like that it's a lot to take in,"

"I probably shouldn't ask this, but was it to grow up without your parents?" Blaze asked.

"No, it's fine," Crusher sighed. "If I told you, I suppose you'd understand my pain more,"

"You don't have to," Pickle leaned against the dark blue truck with a sympathetic smile.

"It's fine, really," Crusher waved off the concern before taking a deep breath. "To answer your question, Blaze, growing up without parents... is just... incomplete, I guess? I mean, I have my Grammy. She's like a mother to me, but at the same time, I just... I just don't feel the same bond as a child should feel towards their parents, so growing up felt like something was missing from me.

"Of course, I would never say that out loud to Grammy. I mean, she was doing her best to raise me, and I couldn't complain because she gave me everything I wanted and kept me from all kinds of danger. We only lived simple, in a small cottage outside of a rich city. I always envied my classmates and friends, in richness and in completeness of family, so... I never told anyone that my parents were gone and pretended to be rich. To no surprise, I got so much friends.

"One day, however, someone found out my lies and exposed me. All my so-called friends left me. All except Pickle," Crusher glanced at the green truck with a grateful smile. "He stuck by me no matter what. That's when I realized that I shouldn't be a fool to trust everyone and anyone so easily, so I don't, and I've stuck by that motto ever since,"

"Oh, Crusher," Blaze gave his rival a sad glance. "I'm so sorry,"

"Eh, it had been all in the past," Crusher sighed with a shrug. "Anyway, I had asked Grammy about my parents so many times, and with every ask, she had always answered that they were dead. I was never convinced. There had always been something in her voice that made me doubt her, but she was sacrificing so much for me that I believed her anyway.

"So many of the kids made fun of me when I was exposed. They all called me an orphan, a failed abortion, a lonely freak, an unwanted child. Even the teachers were always scoffing at the fact that my parents aren't around. They never believed me when I said that I had no parents to come to events and etc, always thinking that I was just hiding from my parents to get away with things, so they always have to call my Grammy to confirm it.

"It hurt. It always hurt, but I just learned to roll with it." Crusher hissed, wiping away the tears with a hitched breath. "Only Pickle and his family were the only ones who accepted me. My Grammy and I got along with all of them well, and they became more family, but... but it still never felt the same,"

"Wow, Crusher," Blaze placed a tire on the other's shoulder. "I... I'm so sorry. I have no idea how that must feel,"

"Yeah," AJ agreed and offered the dark blue truck a sad smile. "We're sorry. I really wish there was something we could do to help you out,"

"I wish too," Crusher sighed. "but there isn't,"

"Oh, Crushy..."

The four turned to see Diana flying over to them with a sympathetic expression. The dark blue tensed.

"G-Grammy, did you—"

"Yes, baby," Diana nodded. "Every word,"

"Oh..." Crusher swallowed and glanced down, a little shameful.

"Oh, Crushy, why didn't you tell me?" Diana frowned and slowly drove over to him.

"I..." Crusher let out a hiss before glowering. "You're not the only one who's allowed to keep secrets."

"I... I guess you're right," Diana let out a sigh. "Crushy, you know that I didn't mean to hurt you like this. Zilina, Nina and I mean well, honestly. We don't want to force you back here, promise, but we want this world to be welcoming for you. For you to know that this can be a second home for you. If you don't like to then it's fine. It's alright. We don't want you to feel like you don't have a choice,"

"Even Nina, the same fairy that just tried to get rid of us?" Crusher raised an eyebrow.

"She is reformed now," Diana told him gently. "She had asked us to reform her and remove all her wickedness and the dark magic that had taken over his mind and heart,"

"And it was all for you," Blaze added. "She said that she wanted to reform just for you,"

"She... what?" Crusher's eyebrows raised in surprise. "You... You guys aren't lying, are you?"

"No, no, we're telling the truth," AJ shook his head. "She really did reform just for you,"

"I told you that you are her world, her precious treasure," Diana chuckled. "She would do anything for you, even when she knows that you wouldn't forgive her so easily,"

"How does she know that he wouldn't?" Pickle asked.

"Because... she knows that she wouldn't if she was in his tires," Diana replied. "You and Nina are more alike than you think, Crushy. If you give her even the slightest of a chance, she will do anything to keep it,"

"I..." Crusher looked hesitant but the look in his Grammy's eyes were honest and soft, not pressuring or urging as she waited for his response.

On one tire, it would be great to finally know his mother. To finally get to spend some time together with his parent, a parent he's been longing for years now.

On the other tire, Nina was a stranger, someone he swore to never to trust after years of pain, especially after she tried to kill him. She could always try to kill him again when she and him were alone.

He turned to Blaze and AJ, who both gave him a shrug and a smile. He then turned to Pickle, who smiled and passed back the decision with his tire. He gulped before sighing and turning back to his Grammy with a nod.

"Alright, Grammy, I'll give her a chance,"