A Race Car In Axle City

Meeting Crusher And Pickle

"...and this is the Monster Dome!" Blaze spoke as he and AJ led their friend inside the huge dome. "It's where most of our races take place. Or at least begin,"

"Interesting..." Speedrick looked around with a surprised expression. "So... your roads aren't naturally race tracks?"

"Nope," Blaze shook his head.

"Axle City's a... well, city," AJ added with a shrug. "A busy city. Plus, they're all monster machines. They work better with roads than with tracks,"

"Ah, I see," Speedrick seemed to nod. "Are there any races now, though?"

"The next race we know of that's happening here is next week," Blaze replied. "You can always watch,"

"Watch? Oh, no!" Speedrick shook his head with a grin. "If you can turn into a race car then you can help ME turn into a monster machine, so I can race with you all,"

"I... guess we can do that," AJ exchanged a glance with his best friend, but before they could say anything else, a voice cut them off.

"Hiya, Blaze! Hi, AJ!"

"Pickle!" Blaze smiled as they turned to see the green truck drive over to them.

"Hey, guys!" Pickle beamed before noticing the race car. "Oh, who's your friend?"

"I am Speedrick," Speedrick spoke with a proud smile. "Fastest race car to ever race the world. An honor it is for you to meet me, I assume?"

Pickle's eyes widened, his smile faltering in an instant. Blaze and AJ were surprised when they saw the usually calm and happy-go-lucky truck suddenly tense and narrow his eyes at the race car.

"What did you just say?"

"An honor it is for you to meet me, I assume?" Speedrick repeated with a smirk. "I AM the fastest and best racer of all time, after all,"

Pickle blinked at the other in disbelief, internally questioning whether the other was serious or not. When he realized that the race car was dead serious on his behavior, he forced a sweet smile.

"Oh, I see," he cleared his throat and turned to Crusher, who was approaching them. "Hey, Crusher! Do you still have my wand?"

"Uh, yes?" Crusher took out said wand from his pouch. "Why? And who's this race car?"

"He's our race car friend from Velocity Ville," Blaze answered humbly.

"Speedrick, fastest race car in Velocity Ville and in all the world," Speedrick held his head high. "And you are?"

"Crusher," the dark blue truck replied as he handed the wand to his boyfriend, who grabbed it enthusiastically. "And this is Pickle,"

"It's nice to meet you!" Pickle gritted his teeth in his smile as he held his wand, which started to glow faded red. "Say, Blaze, are you giving Speedrick here a tour? I can take over, if you want!"

"Um..." Blaze glanced over at AJ, unsure of how to answer.

"We... We don't want to bother you and Crusher on your date," AJ told the green truck.

"It's no bother at all!" Pickle waved him off with a laugh. "I know a GREAT way for him to see Axle City. Call it an... exclusive tour!"

Crusher immediately recognized his boyfriend's 'laugh' and slowly backed up for safety measures. Blaze and AJ noticed his behavior and gulped.

"Uh, okay," the red truck himself drove back in surrender. "All yours, Pickle, I guess,"

"Great!" Pickle pointed his wand at the race car and grinned darkly. "The greatest view of Axle City... is from on top of a building!"

"Wait, WHAT?!" Speedrick's eyes widened in horror, but before he could escape, he was launched out of the dome with a blast of magic.

AJ's jaw dropped while Blaze stared at Pickle in shock. The said green truck looked proud as he kept his wand and turned away, dragging his boyfriend with him.

"Come on, Crusher! Let's take this date to the park!"

"Okay," Crusher merely nodded as he followed after the other.