A/N: Well, this'll be interesting. For quite a while now I have had a deep urge to write a Metroid-based piece of fanfiction. Since I have spent little time in the Metroid section, it may be odd not knowing what's cliché, overused or taboo, but I hope that I don't make any mistakes such as that in this story. I have also only played Metroid, Metroid: Zero Mission, Metroid Prime, and Metroid Fusion, so there may be a couple (hopefully not too many nor any too…ignorant) mistakes in this concerning the Metroid universe or timeline.

Also, this story in and off itself is of a slight AU, and will be concerning mostly with Metroid/Metroid: Zero Mission and anything before that, with a possible reach into the Metroid Prime area, but also will have things from a couple other of the games, so any mistakes there are in plot, will, most likely, be there purposefully.

Artistic license is fun, eh?

Oh, and as a warning I must say that there may be some…graphic scenes in this story. You can't have a galactic struggle and a war without fighting, bloodshed and death, right?

When reviewing (which I hope you will), please point out anything that you seem to see as a problem, no matter what it is. It would be very helpful.

METROID

Prologue

They were an ancient race, revered by all and hated by none, of which the galaxy had never seen the likes of before and most likely shall never witness the birth of another. Their technological breakthroughs eclipsed anything any other culture could possibly dream of and only their biological creations—little known by outsiders—were alone capable of making their technology seem even the slightest insignificant. What they were proudest of, though, was not some machine, living or metal, but their art. Wondrous feats of architectural design and amazing sculptures rivaling even the greatest artists of any other world or civilization.

They were the Chozo, a race as mysterious as they were impressive. For all their creations they kept to themselves for the most part, only venturing to visit—some say to study—other peoples and their worlds, sometimes leaving their grand temples and statues that they were so proud of amongst what many would call 'barbaric and underdeveloped' races compared to the them. They settled many worlds and left their marks upon countless others from one side of the galaxy to the other, including one unimportant blue and green planet in a system of nine others and a uninteresting average-sized yellow star. These temples would forever perplex the creatures that thrived upon the planets, making them constantly wonder where they came from, who created the great structures and, most importantly, why.

What made the Chozo so remarkable, even after taking in consideration all that they had done and were capable of, was their unwavering and awe-inspiring reverence for life. They cherished and loved all forms of life, childen in particular, and despite mastering hundreds of forms of battle and the fact that they must have been more than capable of immense destruction, the Chozo did all in their power to preserve every form of life they could, sometimes go as far as helping the more 'underdeveloped' sentient races. They surpassed every other in the universe immeasurably, why would they not help in tiny ways such as giving an insignificant piece of technology?

For hundreds of years, they, the great Chozo, lived and thrived, learning all they could about the galaxy and universe around them, mastering their art forms and sciences, leaving symbols of themselves across the galaxy as a reminder of their constant presence.

Now, though, those symbols are all that are left of their presence, for the Chozo, the most advanced culture in all of galactic history, disappeared. All that were left were the stone temples and the silent sentinels that were their statues. Many forgot they existed while others remembered the great teachers, as they were called on many a world. As time passed and other peoples grew and thrived, with or without the Chozo's past assistance, a great number dedicated their lives to researching their ancient history and attempt to unravel the mystery of their disappearance.

In the many years spent by thousands of archeologists from many different worlds, numerous theories came about. Some say another race destroyed the Chozo. To think anything capable of besting them in war, alone, was unusual thinking, but there was no proof of anything willing and able of something such as that….genocide on an immeasurable scale. Others say that they destroyed themselves, which was not something unusual for advanced beings to do, but the peaceful and caring Chozo? Few agree.

Still…others say that the Chozo are not gone. They are still alive, still around, watching the development of other races, learning out of pure curiosity and love for it, just as they always did, only now in secrecy, leaving their technology to become more apart of life itself. Of course, this is as much a theory as any of the others.

Whether dead or hiding, the fact is the Chozo are not willing to show themselves and have ceased interfering with any other culture in any way and taking their great presence with them, leaving a large hole in the galaxy, one that would have to be taken up by another intelligent form of life...

Sadly…this hole was, in fact, filled by another soon after the Chozo's disappearance…

Almost as brilliant and technological as the Chozo themselves, but as different as two sides of a coin, they cut a horrid swath of destruction throughout the galaxy. Moving like starved locusts, devouring dozens of planets' resources in relatively short time and committing genocide on a scale that was comparable to almost every war on every planet combined, they became synonymous with death and destruction, giving even the most hardened warrior nightmares. Their selfish disrespect for life was the exact opposite of the Chozo's, but was as deeply held and as great.

For a lack of a translated name, and due to their raid-like attacks on all vessels and planets, they have been coined the 'Space Pirates'. They are humanoid insects and act as one would expect of insects, constantly moving and using everything for as their own, and once they finish with a world, they move on, leaving nothing but a barren skeleton in the once fertile planet's place.

The Space Pirates, their weaponry and fighting skills comparable to even the Chozo's own, but lacking the Chozo's heart and spirit, have conquered innumerable worlds and peoples, and have killed off countless animals and creatures and hundreds of cultures, no matter how much resistance or hopeful negotiating was attempted.

All fall before their hunger and wrath, whether fighting to the end, wishing for mercy, or giving up themselves in hope for a quick ending.

It has come to light recently that the Chozo, before their disappearance, foresaw an incredible evil coinciding with their absence, leaving many to believe that they had knowledge of the Space Pirates, but were either unable or unwilling to stop them… But…the Chozo also foresaw a Great Defender, one that would rise in the face of such darkness and bring the galaxy to light, forever sending the evil back to the grim hole that it spawned from.

Whether true or false, the Chozo prophecies were little known and mostly ignored, while the areas of the galaxy that still thrived despite the Space Pirate onslaught, came together for the common goal of peace. Despite the grand quest and their courage, little progress has been made concerning the army of the Space Pirates. Many, many peoples have wished, hoped, prayed and begged for a miracle, possibly the return of the Chozo themselves, to halt the Space Pirates relentless and seemingly unstoppable conquest.

A Defender…A miracle…

On a little known planet in the far reaches of space, unknown to the rest of the more hurried and chaotic universe, a tiny miracle had been born…one's whose future was greater than anyone, even with the Chozo's art of prophecy, could possibly have imagined…