Alright, everyone, get ready for the next original chapter in Hot Wheels Battle Force 10. Enjoy!
Chapter 6: The Serpent Mistress
(Intro)
Olivia was asleep in her bedroom peacefully. Suddenly, she started to twitch and cringe as she started to have a dream.
[Olivia's Dream]
In her dream, Olivia found herself in the center of a void filled with a gentle mist. She looked around, wondering where she was. Just then, she saw a shadowy figure within the mist walking towards her. As the figure came into Olivia's view, she appeared as a young woman with fuchsia hair and wore an amaranth purple battle suit. Olivia was shocked to see that this woman was a splitting image of herself. When the mysterious woman came a bit closer to Olivia, she reached out her left hand and gently touched her cheek. "It's time to wake up. Your destiny awaits you." She whispered. And with that, everything went white.
[Olivia's Dream End]
Olivia woke up almost immediately with a gasp. As she sat up from her bed, she recalled her dream and meeting her lookalike, telling her that her destiny awaits her. Suddenly, she heard Zoom scream, which caught the attention of the rest of the team.
Everyone rushed out of their bedrooms and immediately headed over towards Zoom's bedroom. Vert opened the door to see Zoom standing on his table. "What's wrong, Zoom?" Spinner asked. "There's a snake in the corner of my room!" Zoom exclaimed fearfully. The team looked over to the corner and to their fright, except Olivia's, they saw a big brown snake sleeping in the corner. "Where did that snake even come from?" Agura asked. "I don't know where it came from or how it got in here, but please get it out of my room!" Zoom begged. But the team just looked at each other with uncertainty, not knowing how to get the snake out due to being scared of it because of its large size. Just then, Olivia walked up to the snake without hesitation or fear. Sensing her approach, the snake woke up and sees her. But instead of attacking her, the snake slithered up her leg to her neck and shoulders, and ended up resting on her out of affection. The team was surprised by this while Zoom shivered out of disgust.
Later, Olivia released the snake back into the wild outside the garage as it slithered away to the Salt Flats. "Liv, how were you able to do that?" Vert asked as they walked back in. "I don't know how I even did it." Olivia said. "I might have a theory on that. Olivia, your past life, Ophiuchus, was also known to be Serpent Bearer. She had the power to control snakes." Sherman said. Olivia was surprised to hear this. "So, I have the power to control snakes? That's…really cool." She said, looking at her hand. "Hey, Zoom? Why were you so freaked out by that snake?" Spinner asked. "I…I have…ophidiophobia." Zoom said hesitantly. "Ophilidili-what?" Rayona asked, finding it hard to pronounce. "Fear of snakes." Sherman translated. "It happened when I was a kid. I encountered a snake back in my home village. It bit me on my right leg. I freaked out that it might've injected venom in my body. But I got lucky that it wasn't venomous and the bite was just a dry bite. But my fear didn't go away after that incident. Whenever I see a snake, I just freeze up in place. But when it's a really large snake, I freak out and scream like crazy." Zoom explained. The team felt sorry for Zoom's ophidiophobia. But before anyone could comfort him, the alarm blared. "Alert! Stormshock detected!" Sage called through the P.A. "Not a drill, people! Get to your vehicles immediately!" TRINA exclaimed through the P.A.
The team rushed into the Hub's deployment station, hopped into their respective vehicles and drove out into the Salt Flats, heading their way towards the Stormshock. "I love this part." Olivia said as the team entered the Stormshock.
The team passed through the portal as it opened and entered the Battle Zone. The Battle Zone was completely deserted with only bumpy roads, tall stone pillars and large lakes everywhere. "Man, look at this place." Talia said. "I wonder where the Battle Key is." Stanford wondered. "There!" Olivia called, pointing towards a lone pillar. The Battle Key was located right on top of it. "Uh oh. Looks like we're about to receive unwanted company." Sherman said, seeing another portal opening down south. The Vandals entered through the portal. "Secure the Battle Key!" Kalus ordered as they made towards the pillar. "Man, I hate it when these guys crash the party!" Rayona exclaimed. "Quickly! To the key!" Vert called.
The team drove towards the pillar. Kalus saw them coming. "Hatch! Griz! Hold off the sub-creatures!" Kalus ordered. Hatch and Griz drove ahead to intercept the Battle Force 10. "Head's up! Bug Boy and Honey Sucker coming our way!" Sherman exclaimed. "Talia, take out Hatch. I got Griz." Vert said. "Time to squash that bug." Talia said, preparing her spiked pom-poms. "Feel the sting of my Scarib!" Hatch exclaimed, activating his Stinger. "You want a sting? I'll give you a sting!" Talia exclaimed. She slammed her spiked pom-pom into the Stinger, breaking it off. Hatch was shocked by this. "And here's another sting for you, Hatch." She said as she slammed her other spiked pom-pom into the Scarib, sending it flying as it crashed into one of the pillars.
Vert and Griz drove towards each other. "You want to match blades with me, sub-creature?" Griz asked daringly as he activated his Iron Claws. "Hardly. My blades are sharper." Vert said, activating his Saber's blades. The 2 continued driving towards each other, looking like they were about to crash into each other. But suddenly, Vert maneuvered around Griz and slashed at his tires. Griz spun out of control without his tires and tumbled across the ground as he crashed.
Meanwhile, as the other Vandals got closer to the lone pillar and the Battle Key, Kalus caught sight of Battle Force 10 approaching. "Vandals! To battle!" He ordered. The Vandals activated their vehicles' weapons and prepared to fight. But before anyone could start fighting, the ground started to shake violently, catching Battle Force 10 and the Vandals off guard. "Sherman, what's going on?" Vert asked. "Something's coming up from one of the lakes! And it's coming up fast!" Sherman alerted. Everyone looked over to the lake beside them. Something big was coming up towards the surface. It revealed itself to be a giant snake! The giant snake glared down at everyone with an angry hiss, flickering its tongue. "Oh boy." Vert said with worry. Zoom let out a terrified scream as he felt his phobia kicking in. The giant snake let out a loud hiss, calling its friends as they rose out of the water. They then started attacking Battle Force 10 and the Vandals. But they immediately drove out of the way to different locations. But the giant snakes started chasing them. "Why are these giant snakes attacking us?!" Spinner exclaimed in terror as they avoided the snakes. "We must've woken them up from their slumber with our fighting with the Vandals!" Agura exclaimed as she made her Tangler sharply move to the left to avoid an incoming attack from one of the giant snakes.
During the mayhem, Kalus climbed up the pillar and grabbed the Battle Key. "Victory is ours!" He exclaimed as he dropped back down to his Fangore. "Vandals, to the Earth portal!" The Vandals drove for the Earth portal. "Battle Force 10! Kalus has the key! Stop him before they get to the Earth Portal!" Vert called. Battle Force 10 drove after the Vandals. "I got him, Vert!" Olivia called as she activated her Jetray's booster. She sped up and caught up to Kalus. "I'll take that, thank you." She said, snagging the key from Kalus. "SUB-CREATURE!" Kalus roared angrily. Suddenly, Olivia slammed on her brakes and gasped in horror as a very huge snake, possibly the alpha, appeared out of nowhere. It smacked the Jetray with its tail, making it crash into a pillar. Poor Olivia was knocked out from the impact. "Liv!" Vert exclaimed with worry. He tried to drive over to her, but the giant snakes continued their attacks on the team. Kalus walked over to the Jetray and took back the Battle Key, chuckling evilly. "Vandals! To the portal!" He ordered. "Kalus has the key!" Talia exclaimed. "Get that key!" Vert exclaimed.
As the team tried to get the key back from the Vandals while avoiding being eaten by the giant snakes, Olivia lay unconscious. Her slugs tried to wake her up, but no avail.
[Olivia's Mind]
In her mind, Olivia woke up in a void filled with gentle mist. The same place as her dream. "Olivia." The same voice from her dream said, coming from behind her. Olivia turned to see her lookalike. "Are you Ophiuchus, my past life?" She asked. "Yes. I am Ophiuchus of the Zodiac Guardians. And I have been asleep inside you ever since you were born after my death during the war against the forces of evil protecting the Multiverse." Ophiuchus explained. "But now it is time for you to wake up. Accept your destiny and embrace the power of Ophiuchus." Olivia was then shown a vision of her past.
[Vision]
Ophiuchus fought beside Aries and the other Zodiac Guardians against the forces of evil. She used her powers, commanding an entire pack of giant snakes to attack their enemies. She even rode a giant white cobra.
[Vision End]
Olivia snapped out of it in shock from what she saw. "I…remember." She said as the glowing amaranth purple symbol of Ophiuchus appeared on her head, showing that she has awakened her past life; Zodiac Ophiuchus.
[Battle Zone]
The Vandals were almost to the Earth portal, and the Battle Force 10 weren't any close to catching them, especially with the giant snakes still attacking them. "They're almost to the portal!" Sherman exclaimed with worry. "We'll never catch them now!" Rayona exclaimed with worry. Suddenly, the giant snakes ceased their attack and started slithering towards the Vandals. "Vert, the snakes are heading after the Vandals." Agura said. "And I think I know why." Vert said.
"Victory is ours!" Kalus exclaimed victoriously. Just then, the giant snakes blocked the Vandals from the portal, hissing angrily. "Out of our way, you filthy reptiles!" Kalus roared. "They're not gonna listen to you, Kalus. They only listen to me." Olivia's voice said. The Vandals turned to see her standing on the alpha's head. The glowing symbol of Ophiuchus was on her forehead. The Vandals gasped at this. "The symbol of Ophiuchus! But that's impossible!" Krocomodo exclaimed in shock. "Nothing is impossible, Krocomodo." Olivia said. She motioned her hand and the giant snakes slowly started circling the Vandals, who started to worry. "Sick 'em!" She ordered. The giant snakes started attacking the Vandals, forcing them to scatter. One of them swatted Kalus, causing him to lose the Battle Key. Vert caught the key as it flew over to him. The giant snakes continued to attack the Vandals. "Retreat! We cannot win against these giant serpents!" Kalus exclaimed, not seeing any way they could win. The Vandals retreated through their portal, back to their home world.
The giant snakes gathered around Battle Force 10 as the alpha lowered its head, letting Olivia off. "That literally has to be the greatest thing I have ever seen." Spinner said. "I…beg to differ." Zoom said, still feeling phobic around the giant snakes. Olivia turned to face the giant snakes. "Thank you for your help. I promise you; your Battle Zone will be under our protection." She said. Just then, the alpha lowered its head. A little baby snake slithered down the alpha's head and slithered up to Olivia's shoulders. "You're…giving her to me…as a thank you?" Olivia asked. The alpha nodded its head. "Thank you. I'll take care of her. I promise." Olivia said. The giant snakes slithered off and dove back into the lakes. Olivia looked at the little snake. "Well, little one, I think I'll name you…Serpentina." She said. The little snake hissed happily, licking Olivia's nose with her tongue. "Just so you know, I am not going to be comfortable with this!" Zoom exclaimed fearfully.
Later, after returning to Earth and locking down the Battle Zone, the team celebrated at Zeke's Diner. "To another Battle Zone locked down." Vert toasted. "And to gaining a new pet." Olivia toasted. The team clinked their drinks together. "So, what do you guys think the next Battle Zone we go to is gonna be?" Rayona asked. "Who knows? Each zone seems to be different with so many different elements." Vert said. "Just as long as if there are no giant snakes." Zoom said fearfully. "We might as well get used to it, Zoom. Especially with Olivia's new pet." Spinner said. "It's okay, Zoom. I promise Serpentina won't bother you." Olivia assured as Serpentina slithered to her shoulders and nuzzled her. Zoom shuddered from seeing that.
Just then, there was a news bulletin on the TV coming from somewhere called Copper Canyon. "Hey, Grace, can you turn that up, please?" Vert asked. Grace turned up the volume on the TV so everyone could hear it better. On the screen, several reporters were interviewing 6 people in strange suits. "How does it feel to have saved all of Copper Canyon?" "What can you tell us about THI?" "Are you 6 strange visitors from another planet?" "What are your names?" The reporters all questioned. "Max." "Steel." The first hero said, strangely with 2 voices. "And the Mana Quints." One of the 5 heroes said with a female voice. "And there you have it. Copper Canyon saved by its very own superheroes, Max Steel and the Mana Quints." The reporter said. Vert and Olivia stared at the 6 heroes with interest. "Vert, do those 6 heroes seem familiar to you?" Olivia asked. "I think so. But where have we seen them before?" Vert asked. The Wheeler siblings began to think about these new superheroes, Max Steel and the Mana Quints, hoping that the answers will come to them somewhere in the future.
Well, how was that for an original chapter, everyone? Olivia's past life as Ophiuchus has finally awakened as Battle Force 10 battle the Vandals. She commanded an entire pack of giant snakes to aid her brother and her friends. And as a reward, she got a little baby snake for a new pet.
And to make things even more curious, the team caught the news from Copper Canyon on the sudden appearance of Max Steel and the Mana Quints, whom Vert and Olivia have a familiar interest in. Will Battle Force 10 ever uncover the truth about these new heroes? Are there any other heroes out there? Leave a review if you want.
