Life For A Life

What Has Changed

{Years later…}

Blaze smiled as Gabby led him and AJ through the Monster Dome. It felt like de javu remembering how he'd done this before, how he and AJ had come to Axle City for the first time, feeling everything was new and exciting.

It still felt new and exciting, knowing that some bits of the future has changed because of him.

As they passed through the pits, Blaze's eyes caught sight of Crusher's. He parted from the two humans and drove over to the pit.

The pit wasn't as messy as it was from the time he was from. It was clean, tidied up a bit. Part of it was fill of trophies, the other part was full of pictures, but it wasn't of himself.

They were pictures of his family. Him, Pickle and Hanna, with the girl growing up with each picture on the wall. The sight made Blaze smile.

"It worked... that means Sparkle should be okay!"

"It worked... that means Sparkle should be okay! And Hanna too! I have to get back and check!"

"Uh, hello?"

Blaze yelped and jumped at the familiar voice. He turned to see Crusher standing behind him.

"Oh, uh... hi! I'm Blaze, and I'm new."

"Oh, hello, Blaze," Crusher smiled.

"You have a beautiful daughter," Blaze said, looking at one of the photos. "What's her name?"

"Hanna," Crusher glanced at the photos proudly. "My precious baby girl… well, not so baby anymore, but still my baby girl,"

"You and your husband must be really proud of her."

"We are... but Hanna wouldn't be alive if it weren't for her guardian angel."

"Oh?" Blaze acted innocent as he glanced over. "Really, now?"

"He saved us from my wicked family, and he used magic to heal my daughter's blindness and muteness. If I ever see him again, I'm gonna thank him again for everything."

"I'm sure… you'll get the chance," Blaze smiled and turned. "It's good that you lived a great life,"

"I had the best life. Maybe, I'll... see ya around?"

"Sure you will. You'll be seeing a lot more of me," Blaze winked before driving away.

He soon rejoined AJ and Gabby. The boy smiled and waved over at the other.

"Hey, Blaze! Ready to watch the race?"

"Oh, yeah-" Blaze stopped mid-sentence when he thought to himself.

Would Crusher still need to cheat?

And if he didn't... how would he be able to race? Even he had to admit Crusher's cheating helped in showing everyone how fast he could go.

"Hey, Gabby? You know that dark blue truck racer? Does he, you know, cheat during races?"

"No, he races like everyone else," Gabby shook her head and smiled. "He's actually the most hardworking here, selling his trophies sometimes to provide money and tuition for his daughter,"

Okay, Blaze knew now he had a problem.

And he'll just have to try to fix it himself.

"Oh, I see," he smiled. "Say, AJ, I have a better idea than just watching the race,"

"Oh? And what is it?"

"What if we JOIN the race?" Blaze suggested. "You know, for fun!"

"That's a great idea, Blaze!" Gabby agreed. "You guys can go right on ahead to the starting line, if you want!"