Red And Blue

The Decision

Blaze had never cried harder in his entire life.

He hadn't even realized that he reached the cave where the Lake of Wonders was, and just collapsed at the lake's side, his stomach knotting from all the crying he had been doing.

He really thought things were gonna work out in the end... that they would all be together.

As a real family.

But why wasn't it?

[Something troubles you, young guardian?] the lake questioned.

"I'm no guardian..." the red truck quivered. "Can't you see that? Crusher's dead... all because of me..."

[I see… the death of a loved one is causing you trouble…? Many die despite a guardian's efforts.] the lake told him. [Was it you who had killed him?]

"No... but I was supposed to prevent him from getting hurt! You and Roarian are both wrong about me! I'm no guardian! I... I'M NOTHING!!"

His shout caused the whole cave to tremble. The lake didn't speak for a moment before reaching out to him with it's waters.

[Come, let me help you.]

"No... no one can help me..." Blaze rejected. "Why would you WANT to help me?"

[Because you need it, young guardian.]

With that, it made Blaze dive down into it's waters. Blaze sighed as he drove down. His surroundings soon changed into an astral plain. There, a truck of light blue and white eyes stared at him with a smile.

[Welcome, young guardian.]

"W-Who are you? What do you want?" Blaze asked, scared.

[I am the lake itself.] The truck spoke. [Welcome to the core of the Lake of Wonders.]

"The... core?"

[The core, my home.] the truck nodded. [Welcome, young guardian.]

"It's... beautiful..." Blaze stopped being sad just for a millisecond to look around, but then his heartache returned.

[The pain is still there, isn't it?]

"Yes..."

The truck nodded and motioned him to follow it. Blaze obliged as the truck led him further into the astral plain. They soon approached a door hovering in the middle of the plain.

"A... a door? What's that doing here?"

[Enter and find out.] the truck spoke.

"Uh... okay...?"

Blaze entered the door and found himself in a room of silver. He went further inside to find Crusher and Dynama, eyes closed as they hovered at the astral plain.

"Crusher...? Dynama...? W-Why are they here? Is this another image?"

[No.] the truck shook its head. [It is their spirits.]

"Their... spirits? Why aren't their spirits in heaven?"

[They both died of magical poisoning, even with your efforts of removing it.] the lake responded. [Dynama is not accepted in heaven, and Crusher is debatable. Their spirits are lingering here, at my waters, until it is decided what must be done.]

"What do you mean?"

[A decision must be made.] the lake clarified. [YOUR decision, young guardian.]

"M-Me? Why?"

[It is YOU who removed the curse from Dynama's skin, and it is YOU who attempted to heal your lover.] the lake spoke. [It is up to you if they live or not.]

"They… I can still… get Crusher back…?"

[You may, but it comes with a price.] the truck spoke. [Bring him back, and you will bring Dynama back as well.]

Blaze thought for a long time.

He really didn't wanna let Dynama back into the world, because Crusher and Glacier would suffer.

Crusher looked so... at peace, yet... so out of reach.

It pained Blaze's heart, but... he made his choice.

"Crusher deserves to be in heaven... not hurting because of what his family and life gave him."

The lake nodded. [Final choice?]

A few tears trickled down Blaze's cheeks as he nodded. "Final choice. But... can I... get a little closer? So I can say goodbye one more time?"

The lake nodded. Blaze took a deep breath and drove closer to the spirit of his husband.

"Crushy... I know you can't hear me or probably see me... but I want you to know that the times we had were some of the best in my life. Meeting YOU was in those moments. Having the twins is one of those moments too. Please... never forget those memories. I... I'll always love you..."

At the words, his tire ring began to glow, as did the tire ring on Crusher's tire. The spirit opened it's eyes and glanced down at the red truck, who gasped in surprise.

"Crusher...?"

The lake gave a smile before raising it's tires. The room vanished in an instant, as did the spirits. Blaze felt himself began to get lifted up out of the water and by the side of the lake.

[A remarkable decision, one even I could not predict you would make, dear guardian.] the lake spoke out. [Anyone would have chosen to raise their most beloved from the dead despite the consequences, but you did not. May I ask why?]

"Well... looking at him... he finally felt happy. To be away from all the pain the world had caused him. I would never inflict that pain on anyone. It may not make my pain any easier, but... I'm glad he isn't in pain anymore."

[And this is what makes you the guardian Roarian spoke you are.] the lake told him. [The feelings of others before your own. You are too good-hearted, guardian.]

"I... I guess I am... but, will the pain of losing him ever go away?"

[With this reward, I am sure it will.]

"Huh?"

The lake glowed a color of gold before parting. Blaze was surprised as the lake proceeded to part it's waters, revealing a familiar tire ring in the middle of the lake.

"Is this… what I think it is…?"

Blaze approached the tire ring, his own glowing. He soon took the tire ring into his tires before it gave a glow so bright that it made him gasp and let go of it.

"WOAH!"

The glow soon ceased, and Blaze gasped, his heart pounding in surprise as a familiar figure hovered over him…

"C-Crusher…?"