The thunderstorm was a large one by the park's standards though Blade had seen bigger ones. The rain and wind buffeted him as he rolled up to the crest of a hill overlooking the base. It was well past midnight so his team was asleep. Sleep was something he couldn't get, not on this day. The day that his life changed forever.

Halting at the top, he peered down at the valley below. The storm was drawing closer but it was of no concern to him for the moment. It'd be funneled into the valley like every other weather pattern that came through the park.

In his lonesomeness, Blade thought back to days long gone. Days when he didn't have to fight fires, days that he wished had never left. How long had it been, 37 years now? The wounds from that day still felt as fresh as the day on which they were made. The day everything changed. The day his best friend was taken from him.

"Oh Nick." He whispered. "Why did you have to die?" Tears ran down his nose as they poured from his eyes, mingling with the rain. "I'm sorry." He sobbed. "I wish I could've done something to save you."

As lightning crackled down to the river from the sky above, Blade let out an anguished roar. The heavens seemed to reflect his emotions as the sky crackled and boomed with thunder and lightning once more.

Inside the base, the team's newest recruit, Dusty Cropphopper, woke to the sound. He rolled out of his hanger and looked up to see Blade at the top of the hill, outlined by flashes of lightning. He was about to roll towards him when Maru blocked him.

"I wouldn't bother him if I were you." The forklift said. "He's only like this once a year." "Why?" Dusty asked. Maru shrugged. "Your guess is as good as mine. Blade's past is shrouded in mystery, what he knows is his own business. He hasn't told anything to us and we never ask." Dusty nodded, looking back to the hill. The next flash of lightning revealed the red helicopter rearing his nose into the air, letting out another anguished roar that mingled with the roll of thunder as it echoed across the valley. "He looks so distraught, so pained..." Dusty murmured. Maru nodded. "He'll be alright. It's always on this night, once a year. He'll be back in the morning." He said. He left for his workshop to get some rest but Dusty didn't want to try and sleep. He was known to be caring for others and wasn't about to leave when another needed his help.

He knew Blade would never admit it but Dusty knew he needed him, he needed someone to help ease his pain. "Blade, if only there was something I could do to help you." He whispered as the helicopter gave another anguished cry.