Chapter 15: Lost in the Fog

(Intro)


It had been a few weeks since the danger at the Ancient City Zone. Stanford was sitting in his bedroom, playing one of the saddest songs on his violin. Just then, he got interrupted when he heard his door slide open. He looked over to see Zug at the door. "Apologies for interrupting practice, Master." Zug apologized. "It's okay, Zug. You have something?" Stanford asked. "Master Vert wants to talk in living room." Zug said. "I'll be there in a couple of minutes. You go on ahead." Stanford said. Zug obeyed and did as he was told. After he left, Stanford walked over to his desk and looked over at a picture of him when he was 5-years-old. He was with his older brother, Simon, when he was 8-years-old and his late parents. He stared at it for a while and deep down, he felt grief and lonely, having been isolated from the world for 14 years ever since the incident that happened to Simon during their childhood and caused him great fear before their parents' deaths in that plane crash. He shook that off and left his room to head for the living room.

It didn't take long for Stanford to reach the living room. As he walked in, Vert, Olivia and the rest of the team, along with Sage, TRINA, the pets and slugs, were waiting for him. "What did you guys need?" He asked. "We need to have some serious talk." Vert said. "We want to know what happened during your childhood after Zug told us about your secret before re-entering the Ancient City Zone." Olivia said. "Alright. I'll tell you guys everything." Stanford said as he started telling his story.

[Flashback]

"14 years ago, when I was 5-years-old, I was a talented young violinist, along with my older brother, Simon." 5-year-old Stanford and 8-year-old Simon were both playing their violins during a talent show in school. "I had a great loving family." Stanford was loved by his parents and Simon. "But that was until it happened. Simon had suddenly grown jealous of me when I started getting attention from other violinists." Simon glared as Stanford was getting praises and handshakes from other violinists in school. Just then, one day, Simon confronted Stanford and shoved him to the ground. "He started bullying me. That's when I snapped, awakening my past life's powers and unleashed them." Stanford felt his anger build up and shouted loudly, unleashing his power. Simon was telekinetically lifted up and hurt all over his body before being dropped back to the ground. "That resulted to fatally injuring him very badly." Stanford was horrified by what he did. He rushed to Simon's body to see if he was still breathing. "I was horrified. I never wanted to hurt my brother, but I did." He started to cry and blamed himself for hurting his older brother.

"When my parents heard about what happened, they separated me and Simon into different rooms to keep him safe from me." Simon walked down the hallway of his house until he saw Stanford walking to his new room. Stanford glanced at his brother for a moment before going into his room as he shut his door. "And that's when our isolation began." Simon was sad and worried for his little brother. "As we grew up, we grew apart. And I grew apart from the world and led me to having a lack of social interaction as I never interacted with anyone." Stanford, now 10-years-old, sat against his wall as Simon, now 13-years old, walked up to his door and knocked on it. "I remember when Simon would come to my door, knock and ask me the same question every day." "Stan? Do you want to play violin with me?" Simon asked. "But I denied wanting to play with him and refused to come out, fearing that I would hurt him again." "No. I don't want to play." Stanford said. "Okay. Bye." Simon said sadly before walking away. "And I continued to ignore Simon's offers until he finally gave up." Stanford sat against his door, staring in fear at the mess he made of his room as his unstable psychic powers grow stronger than before when years passed. "But as the years went by, my powers grew stronger and more unstable as I couldn't control them. My parents tried to help me, but I didn't want them. I was afraid I would hurt them too. Just like I hurt Simon." Stanford, feeling scared, was being hugged by his parents.

"6 years later, my parents were packed up for their business trip and were going to be gone for 3 weeks." Before they left, the parents embraced Simon, now 19-years-old, while Stanford, now 16-years-old, bowed to them to say goodbye. "Do you have to go?" Stanford asked worriedly. "You'll be fine, sweetie." His mother replied. "But that was the last time Simon and I ever saw our parents. Their plane got caught in a huge thunderstorm. Lightning struck the plane, causing it to lose power and crash into the mountains, killing everyone on board. Including our parents." The plane got struck by lightning, lost power and crashed into the mountains.

"A funeral was held as people gathered to say goodbye to their loved ones who died on the plane." People gathered at the funeral. Simon was there too, crying. "Simon attended, but I didn't." When the funeral was over, Simon returned home and went up to Stanford's room. "Simon came home after the funeral, came up to my room and knocked on my door." Simon knocked on the door. "Stanford? Please, I know you're in there. People are asking where you've been. I was told from them to have courage. I tried, but failed. I'm right out here for you. Please, Stan, let me in. We only have each other now. And I don't know what to do." He said. He leaned against the closed door and slid to the floor. "Do you want to play violin with me?" He asked before he started crying again.

On the other side of the door, Stanford was in the same position as Simon. "I was overwhelmed when I heard the news about our parents. It caused my unstable psychic powers to run wild and destroyed half my bedroom." Feeling overwhelmed, Stanford's unstable psychic powers went wild and destroyed half his bedroom. "And I knew it wasn't safe anymore. So, I packed a few of my things and ran away from home, never return, just to keep my brother and everyone else safe." Stanford packed several things in his backpack, snuck out the window and ran away from his house, only stopping to look back just once more before continuing.

[Flashback End]

As Stanford finished his story, the team felt sad. They never knew Stanford went through so much. "Ever since I hurt Simon, I managed to erase his memories all about the incident so he wouldn't remember what I did to keep him safe. But when I heard about the death of my parents, I was so overwhelmed with grief and cried, but no tears spilled from my eyes. It was strange." Stanford explained. The living room went silent for a few moments. "I feel sorry for you, Stanford." Spinner said. "I agree. You really had a very tough life throughout your childhood. Not to mention that you were bullied by your own brother because he got jealous. That's very unacceptable." Sherman said. "How many years has it been since you ran away?" Vert asked. "I ran away 3 years ago. Before I met you guys." Stanford said. "Simon must be very worried about you, Stanford." Olivia said. "I doubt it. Simon probably blames me for not opening the door for him and leaving him behind when I ran away." Stanford said. The team looked at each other with worry before looking back at Stanford.

Just then, before anyone could say anything else, Sage's eyes glowed. "I sense a Stormshock opening." She said. The team hurried to the deployment station, hopped into their rides and drove out to the Salt Flats. Iguanarox and Zug stayed behind with Sage and TRINA. The team drove towards the Stormshock ahead of them. "Here we go, team! It's Storm-riding time!" Vert called. The team drove into the Stormshock and disappeared through the portal.

Upon passing through the opening of the portal, the team ended up in a Battle Zone covered with gentle, white fog. "Brr! Something about the fog in this Battle Zone is giving me a spooky vibe." Spinner said. "It'll be difficult to see through the fog and find the Battle Key." Ivan said. "Alright, gang, stay close and don't wander off. Or else you might get lost." Vert said. With that, Battle Force 10 drove down the road, staying close to each other to make sure they don't get lost.

Later, they had been driving through the fog for almost 40 minutes. But no luck with finding the Battle Key. "Sherman, think you can locate the Battle Key?" Olivia asked. Sherman tried using his scanner, but couldn't pick up a signal. "No good. I can't pick up a signal out here." He said. The team decided to stop their vehicles in their tracks to discuss their problem in this peculiar Battle Zone. "I have a theory that this fog might be blocking the Battle Key's signal and preventing us from finding it." Agura said. "Maybe. But there's something off about this Zone. I can sense some weird spiritual energy all over the place." Zoom said. "I feel it too. But I don't know what it means." Olivia said. As the team continued discussing, Stanford started to hear a gentle, yet haunting ghostly female voice in the fog calling to him. "Stanford…" Stanford froze a bit when he heard the voice, a voice that sounded very familiar to him. "Stanford…my little birdy…" The voice called again. Stanford was shocked to hear that nickname. The only one who called him that was his deceased mother. "Mommy?" He whispered softly. "Yes, my little birdy…I'm here." His mother's voice called. "Where are you?" Stanford asked softly. "Follow my voice." His mother's voice said. Without hesitation, Stanford quietly drove off to follow his deceased mother's voice, leaving his team unnoticed as he drove into the fog until his Reverb disappeared from sight.


As the team continue discussing, Olivia suddenly felt something. "Guys, I just remembered something from a memory of my past life. I know what Zone this is. This is the Mist Fog Zone." She revealed. "The Mist Fog Zone?" Spinner asked. "Explain yourself, Olivia." Horace said. "This Battle Zone has a mind of its own. It has the ability to…*gulp*…create illusions of dead loved ones." Olivia explained. That shocked the team. "That's not the worse part. If someone is so desired to see their loved ones again, to be with them again, they'll never come back again as they get spirited away, forever to stay with their dead loved ones with no choice." Olivia continued. Just then, Agura started to feel dreaded. "Oh no. We have someone who has 2 loved ones who died from a plane crash." She said. Horrified, the team looked around and quickly realized Stanford was gone! "Alright! We need to find Stanford fast! Split up and search everywhere!" Vert ordered. "No! If we split up, we'll get lost in the fog and never find each other again!" Olivia exclaimed as she protested. "Wait! I think I can track Stanford with his aura. Aura trails are easy to track. I've been practicing back on Earth." Zoom said. "Sounds like a good idea. Okay, Zoom, find Stanford." Vert said. Zoom closed his eyes and focused his aura powers to track Stanford's aura. In his aura vision, Zoom saw a purple trail that belonged to Stanford's aura. "I got Stanford's trail." He said, driving his Chopper forward to follow the trail with the team following him close from behind.

Meanwhile, Stanford continued following his deceased mother's voice. "You're getting closer and closer. We'll be reunited at last, my little birdy…" His mother's voice said. Stanford, growing more urgent, drove his Reverb faster, wanting to reunite with his beloved mother, completely unaware that he will soon be spirited away. Suddenly, he came across a large lake, causing him to stop the Reverb at the shoreline. He climbed out of his ride and walked over to the lake. "Mom? Where are you?" He called. Just then, there was a glow in the lake. He looked over and saw a beautiful middle-aged woman in a white dress. But she wasn't alone. Beside her was a handsome middle-aged man, bearing a strong resemblance to Stanford and Simon, dressed all in white. They were both hovering over the lake's surface. "Mommy? Daddy?" Stanford whispered, recognizing his deceased father. "Come to us, son…" His father said. "We've missed you, my little birdy…" His mother said. Their arms were wide open. Without thinking, Stanford started walking into the lake, making his way towards his beloved deceased parents, wanting to embrace them and…never let go, not knowing that he'll be spirited away.

Meanwhile, the team continued to follow Zoom. "We're getting close!" He called. And sure enough, they arrived at the lake. The team got out of their vehicles and started looking around. "Search everywhere. Stanford has to be here." Vert said. Just then, Agura spotted the Reverb by the shoreline. "There's the Reverb!" She called as she rushed over with the team following. As they reached the Reverb, they saw that Stanford wasn't inside. "Stanford's not in here!" Sherman said with worry. "Where is he?" Horace asked. Just then, Talia looked over to the lake and saw Stanford walking into it. "HE'S IN THE LAKE!" She alerted, pointing out toward him in the lake. The team turned and gasped in horror when they saw Stanford as he walked into the deep depths of the lake. Without hesitation, Agura ran into the lake. "Agura!" Vert exclaimed. "Agura, come back!" Olivia exclaimed. But Agura ignored her team's callings, determined to stop and save Stanford. "Stanford!" She cried. Stanford was getting closer to his deceased parents as Agura was desperately trying to stop him. "Stanford! Stop!" Agura cried, reaching her right arm out in attempt to stop him. Stanford was about to race over to his deceased parents to hug them. "No! I won't let you do it!" Agura cried as she grabbed him by wrapping her arms around him just in time. This caused to trigger a memory from Zodiac Scorpio's past life.

[Memory]

Scorpio was preparing to destroy another planet. "No! I won't let you do it!" Virgo cried as she threw her arms around Scorpio, stopping him.

[Memory End]

This caused Stanford to finally snap out of his trance. He turned around to see Agura, who sighed in relief as she let go of him. "Agura? What're we doing in a lake?" He asked. "You nearly got spirited away because you desired to see your dead parents." Agura said. Stanford looked back to where his deceased parents were, but they weren't there anymore. They were nothing, but an illusion. He couldn't believe it. "Stanford, I know you're grieving for your parents. But you need to let your grief go. Otherwise, you'll be no different than you were in your past life." Agura said with comfort. "But that's the problem, Agura. I lost my family." Stanford said sadly. "Wrong. Your family's still here. Not just Simon. We're your family. Me, Vert, Olivia, Sherman, Spinner, Zoom, Talia, Ivan, Rayona, Horace, Sage, TRINA, Iguanarox, Zug, the pets and the slugs too." Agura said. Stanford listened to her every word as he put all this to thought. "Stanford, Sage brought us all together after millennium years of reincarnation when no one else even knew us. But Sage made us more than just a team. She made us a family." Agura said. "We're all a family." With those words of comfort, Stanford let go of his grief as a single teardrop rolled down from his right eye. Agura gently wiped it off, knowing that Stanford finally cried a tear for the first time. Suddenly, a light appeared before them. They looked over and saw the Battle Key. They were surprised to see the Battle Key as it floated towards Stanford, and he grabbed it. He and Agura looked at each other with big smiles before hugging each other tightly.

Later, Stanford and Agura returned to the shoreline, where the team was waiting for them. "Are you guys okay?" Rayona asked. "We're okay. In fact, we're better than okay." Agura said. Stanford showed them the Battle Key. The team was surprised. "How did you guys get the Battle Key?" Sherman asked. "It just appeared after I saved Stanford." Agura said. "Hmm. I have a theory that the Battle Key showing itself is probably because Stanford let go of his grief and started to move on." Olivia said. "That and Stanford shed a tear for the first time." Agura said. The team was more surprised from hearing that and looked at Stanford, who looked away with a bit of a blush. The team couldn't help, but smile at him, knowing that he finally let go of his grief.

Later, the team returned back to Earth, returned to the Hub and gave the Mist Fog Zone Battle Key to Sage. "I'll have this Key locked away since this Zone has proven to be very dangerous as we nearly lost Stanford to it." Sage said, after she was informed about the Mist Fog Zone by Olivia. "Amen to that." TRINA said as Sage locked the Key in a different vault, separated from the other Battle Keys, never to be used again.

Later, the team, minus Iguanarox and Zug, were in Zeke's Diner, celebrating their latest successful mission. "Guys, I'm sorry for what happened in the Battle Zone, for letting my grief nearly leading me to my end." Stanford apologized. "It's okay, Stanford. We're happy to see you know that you're not alone anymore." Vert said. "Yeah. Because you've got your friends here as your family now." Olivia said. "And take it from me and Sherm as brothers. No brothers can hide their fears of hurting them forever." Spinner said. "Yeah. You'll know when to reconnect with Simon someday." Sherman said. "Thanks, guys. Maybe I will one day." Stanford said.

Just then, Agura gave Vert and Olivia a signal. The Wheeler siblings nodded as they knew what the signal meant. "Come on, guys. Let's head back to the Hub and see if Sage locked up that Battle Key." Vert said. "Yeah. Let's give Stanford some time with Agura." Olivia said. The team got up and followed their leaders out of the diner, leaving Stanford and Agura alone. "Agura, thanks for saving my life back in the Battle Zone. Again." Stanford said. "Again?" Agura asked in playful confusion. "When you grabbed me, I saw a memory of our past lives when Virgo stopped Scorpio from destroying another planet. That was the first time you saved me from my grief." Stanford explained. "You're welcome. I would've done anything to help the man I care about." Agura said. Stanford smiled at those words and took Agura's hand in his own. "And I would do the woman of my life." He said. They smiled at each other for a while. And then they shared a short, but passionate kiss before going into a hug. "I love you, Stanford." Agura whispered. "I love you too, Agura." Stanford whispered. The 2 stayed like that for a good long while.

Wow. So sad, right? Stanford told the team his whole life's story of his childhood before he joined Battle Force 10. And when they entered the Battle Zone, Stanford was nearly spirited away by an illusion of his deceased parents. But Agura saved his life the same way her past live saved his, and they were given the Battle Key. And now the Battle Key to that Battle Zone is locked away from good and Stanford's beginning to be more open with his new family. He and Agura even entered into a relationship. But will there be other challenges for the team? Will Stanford ever see Simon again? Leave a review if you want.